Annie's Coming Out

Anne McDonald was one of Rosemary’s star pupils and quickly learned to read and communicate using an alphabet board and a head pointer. Anne asked to leave St Nicholas but the management refused, questioning her ability to communicate her wishes. Anne took her fight all the way to Victoria’s Supreme Court and was ultimately judged able to communicate. She was released into the care of Rosemary Crossley and her partner Chris Borthwick where she lived until her death in 2010.

Anne completed secondary education and gained an arts degree from Deakin University. She constantly advocated for the rights of people who cannot speak and won a National Disability Award in 2009 for her work as an advocate. Anne and Rosemary wrote a book about their experiences called Annie’s Coming Out, which was made into an award winning feature film. Anne and Rosemary became part of a broader push to close down all disability institutions and move people out to live in the community.