Content Warning: This content discusses mental health issues, suicide, and peri and post-natal depression, which may be triggering for some audience members. Help is available below. 

Just over 25 years ago, Louise "Gidget" Cotton became a mother for the first time. Not long after, she died by suicide after experiencing peri and postnatal depression that those around her didn't recognise in time. She left behind a heartbroken family and an eight-and-a-half-month-old daughter. 

In this episode of The Australian Women's Weekly Love Stories, Tiffany Dunk sits down with Louise's mum, Sue Cotton, her sisters Jacqui and Simone, who co-founded the Gidget Foundation, and her daughter Jasmine to reflect on the woman they lost, the family she left behind, and the extraordinary legacy that grew from unimaginable grief. 

They share memories of the vibrant, funny young woman they knew as Gidget, the devastating aftermath of her death, and the moment they discovered there was nowhere to direct donations in her memory, sparking the creation of what has become one of Australia's leading perinatal mental health organisations. 

They also open up about the realities of peri and postnatal depression, the importance of recognising the signs, and why they're determined to ensure more parents receive the support Louise never had. 

Moments you’ll hear: 
How a family's champagne-and-long-lunches bond set the stage for the conversation 
How Louise and her husband Dave met at a party and became inseparable from their first date 
Why Louise wore a red wedding dress inspired by Kerri-Anne Kennerley 
How Louise fell instantly in love with motherhood the moment Jasmine was born 
Why Louise's quiet plea, "What about me?", still haunts Sue today 
The devastating morning Sue spoke to Louise for the very last time 
The tragic way the family learned Louise had died 
How Louise's nickname "Gidget" came from her bubbly, gullible charm 
Why 200 people and $20,000 raised at the first memorial lunch proved how much this cause is needed 
How The Gidget Foundation grew from one rented house to 45 (soon 50) locations nationally 
The moment Dave finally told Jasmine the truth about how her mother died 
Why Sue's letters to Louise became a source of healing over the years and how grief brought the sisters even closer than before 
The family's tradition of eating Portuguese tarts and wearing red to remember Louise 

Thank you for listening ❤️   

If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised, help is always available. Gidget Foundation Australia offers free perinatal mental health support at www.gidgetfoundation.org.au or 1300 GIDGET (1300 443 438). Lifeline can be reached on 13 11 14. 

More support services can be found here: https://www.womensweekly.com.au/health/support-services/ 

Before you leave... 

🗣️ Get in touch 

What did you think? We are a brand-new podcast and would love to hear from you as we build this together. Join our friendly Love Stories community and visit us at www.womensweekly.com.au  

Email us your love stories (and any feedback) at awwlovestories@aremedia.com.au 

If you share your love story on social media please tag us, we're @womensweeklymag, and use the hashtag #AWWLoveStories 

Subscribe to The Australian Women's Weekly at www.womensweekly.com.au 👈🏽 

Our special thanks to our partners at Vixin 

Vixin real results, simple skincare that's a little bit fancy: vixin.com.au 

Use the code LOVESTORIES for 30% off your order at Vixin now! 

Credits 

Host: Tiffany Dunk 

Edited by Phoebe Zukowski-Wallace 

Supervising Producers Leah Porges and Helen Smith 

Our wonderful The Australian Women's Weekly team 

Our Head of Vodcasting is Rachel Fountain 

Learn More: The Australian Women's Weekly website 

Content Warning: This content discusses mental health issues, suicide, and peri and post-natal depression, which&nbsp;may be&nbsp;triggering for&nbsp;some audience members. Help is available below.&nbsp;
Just over&nbsp;25&nbsp;years ago, Louise "Gidget" Cotton became a mother for the first time.&nbsp;Not&nbsp;long after, she died by suicide after experiencing&nbsp;peri and&nbsp;postnatal depression that those around her&nbsp;didn't&nbsp;recognise&nbsp;in time. She left behind a heartbroken family and an&nbsp;eight-and-a-half-month-old daughter.&nbsp;
In this episode of&nbsp;The Australian Women's Weekly Love Stories,&nbsp;Tiffany Dunk sits down with Louise's mum, Sue Cotton, her sisters Jacqui and Simone, who co-founded the Gidget Foundation, and her daughter Jasmine to reflect on the woman they lost, the family she left behind, and the extraordinary legacy that grew from unimaginable grief.&nbsp;
They share memories of the vibrant, funny young woman they knew as Gidget, the devastating aftermath of her death, and the moment they discovered there was nowhere to direct donations in her memory, sparking the creation of what has become one of Australia's leading perinatal mental health&nbsp;organisations.&nbsp;
They also&nbsp;open up&nbsp;about the realities of&nbsp;peri and&nbsp;postnatal depression, the importance of&nbsp;recognising&nbsp;the signs, and why&nbsp;they're&nbsp;determined&nbsp;to ensure more parents receive the support Louise never had.&nbsp;
Moments&nbsp;you&rsquo;ll&nbsp;hear:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">How a family's champagne-and-long-lunches bond set the stage for the conversation&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">How Louise and&nbsp;her husband&nbsp;Dave met at a party and&nbsp;became inseparable from their&nbsp;first date&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">Why Louise wore a red wedding dress inspired&nbsp;by&nbsp;Kerri-Anne&nbsp;Kennerley&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">How Louise fell instantly in love with motherhood the moment Jasmine was born&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1">Why Louise's quiet plea, "What about me?", still haunts Sue today&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="7" data-aria-level="1">The devastating morning Sue spoke to Louise for the very last time&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="8" data-aria-level="1">The&nbsp;tragic way the&nbsp;family learned&nbsp;Louise had died&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="9" data-aria-level="1">How Louise's nickname "Gidget" came from her bubbly, gullible charm&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="10" data-aria-level="1">Why 200 people and $20,000 raised at the first memorial lunch proved how&nbsp;much this cause is needed&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="11" data-aria-level="1">How The Gidget Foundation grew from one rented house to 45 (soon 50) locations nationally&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="12" data-aria-level="1">The moment Dave finally told Jasmine the truth about how her mother died&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="13" data-aria-level="1">Why Sue's letters to Louise became a source of healing over the years&nbsp;and how grief brought the sisters even closer than before&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="14" data-aria-level="1">The family's tradition of eating Portuguese tarts and wearing red to remember Louise&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Thank you for listening ❤️&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised, help is always available. Gidget Foundation Australia offers free perinatal mental health support at <a href="https://www.gidgetfoundation.org.au">www.gidgetfoundation.org.au</a> or 1300 GIDGET (1300 443 438). Lifeline can be reached on 13 11 14.&nbsp;
More support services can be found here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.womensweekly.com.au/health/support-services/">https://www.womensweekly.com.au/health/support-services/</a>&nbsp;
Before you leave...&nbsp;
🗣️ Get in touch&nbsp;
What did you think? We are a brand-new podcast and would love to hear from you as we build this together. Join our friendly Love Stories community and visit us at <a href="https://www.womensweekly.com.au">www.womensweekly.com.au</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
Email us your love stories (and any feedback) at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:awwlovestories@aremedia.com.au">awwlovestories@aremedia.com.au</a>&nbsp;
If you share your love story on social media please tag us,&nbsp;we're&nbsp;@womensweeklymag, and use the hashtag #AWWLoveStories&nbsp;
Subscribe to&nbsp;The Australian Women's Weekly&nbsp;at <a href="https://www.womensweekly.com.au">www.womensweekly.com.au</a>&nbsp;👈🏽&nbsp;
Our special thanks to our partners at&nbsp;Vixin&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.vixin.com.au/">Vixin</a>&nbsp;real results, simple skincare&nbsp;that's&nbsp;a little bit fancy:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vixin.com.au/">vixin.com.au</a>&nbsp;
Use the code LOVESTORIES for 30% off your order at Vixin now!&nbsp;
Credits&nbsp;
Host: Tiffany Dunk&nbsp;
Edited by Phoebe Zukowski-Wallace&nbsp;
Supervising Producers&nbsp;Leah Porges&nbsp;and Helen Smith&nbsp;
Our wonderful&nbsp;The Australian Women's Weekly&nbsp;team&nbsp;
Our Head of Vodcasting is Rachel Fountain&nbsp;
Learn More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.womensweekly.com.au">The Australian Women's Weekly&nbsp;website&nbsp;</a>

What’s your love language? The Australian Women's Weekly Love Stories is for the chronically curious about the strongest of our emotions. Hosted by Tiffany Dunk, this podcast swaps cliché romcom endings for real, messy, magnetic connections told by unforgettable voices from The Australian Women’s Weekly universe. From lifelong mateship to unexpected soulmates to finding love both within and beyond yourself, Love Stories is intimate, surprising and quietly empowering.

What&rsquo;s your love language? The Australian Women's Weekly Love Stories is for the chronically curious about the strongest of our emotions. Hosted by Tiffany Dunk, this podcast swaps clich&eacute; romcom endings for real, messy, magnetic connections told by unforgettable voices from The Australian Women&rsquo;s Weekly universe. From lifelong mateship to unexpected soulmates to finding love both within and beyond yourself, Love Stories is intimate, surprising and quietly empowering.

Love Stories

Content Warning : Suicide. In 2000, Louise "Gidget" Cotton died by suicide after experiencing peri and postnatal depression that wasn't recognised in time. In this episode, Tiffany Dunk speaks with Louise's mum Sue, her sisters Jacqui and Simone, who co-founded the Gidget Foundation, and her daughter Jasmine about the woman they lost, the legacy she left behind, and how their grief inspired one of Australia's leading perinatal mental health organisations.  