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"I am lucky to be here": Julie Goodwin opens up on childhood trauma

Julie Goodwin has opened up about the childhood abuse she experienced in her latest memoir. The 53-year-old MasterChef Australia star wrote about how she was sexually abused as a child and later attempted suicide as a teenager in her autobiography, Your Time Starts Now. Speaking to The Australian Women's Weekly, Goodwin recalled how the memory of the abuse which she had buried for a long time returned when she was 16. "Nothing triggered it, it was just like the memory was always there, like a dusty book on a library shelf," she said. "And one day I took it down and looked at it and went, 'Holy crap, how have I not thought about that for nine years?'" Goodwin, however kept the resurfaced memory to her self and maintained an excellent academic record at high school, even becoming school captain, until a year later when she attempted suicide at the age of 17. She shared that following her hospitalisation, she returned to school a few days later and acted as if nothing serious had happened. The TV star then opened up on her road to recovery and the tremendous amount of help she received from her husband Mick, who gave her the love and support she needed. "I am living my second life," she told Women's Weekly. "I am lucky to be here." Images: Channel 10

Books

Australian Idol host opens up on painful health battle

Australian Idol host and singer Ricki-Lee Coulter has revealed that she has been battling endometriosis for over a decade. The 38-year-old took to Instagram to share the process that led her diagnosis, straight from the hospital bed, following her laparoscopy and excision surgery. "For over a decade I’ve been dealing with chronic pain that has progressively gotten worse,” she began the post. “Anyone with endometriosis knows it takes a long time to get to the point where you have surgery and can get any kind of diagnosis — and that you have to advocate for yourself and keep pushing for answers. “Over the years I have seen so many doctors and specialists, and have been down so many different paths to try to figure out what was going on — and for so long I thought the pain was just something I had to deal with. “But the past couple of years, it has become almost unbearable and is something I’ve been dealing with every single day. “I met with a new GP at the start of the year, who referred me to a new specialist, and we went through all the measures that have been taken to try to get to the bottom of this pain — and the only option left was surgery. “So this week I had a laparoscopy and excision surgery — and they removed all the endometriosis they found, and I can only hope that is the end of the pain. “I’m now at home recovering and feeling good. Rich is taking very good care of me xxx," she ended the post. She also shared a few photos after her surgery, and of her recovering at home. One in nine women suffer from endometriosis, a condition where the tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the womb, which sometimes moves to other areas of the body. Friends and followers shared their support in the comments, with reality TV star and fellow endo-warrior Angie Kent saying: “Sending you lots of love! You’re not alone in this — it’s a marathon not a sprint, unfortunately. “But there’s an amazing chronic invisible illness sista-hood out here! I hope you have a good support system with the recovery including an amazing women’s health practitioner.” “Sending lots of love,” Sunrise host Natalie Barr added. “Sending you so much love. Been where you are now and it gets so much better honey,” wrote Jackie O. Images: Instagram

Caring

Matt Shirvington opens up on marriage and fatherhood

Matt Shrivington has opened up about marrying his "first crush" when he tied the knot with his wife in 2001. The Sunrise host spoke candidly to Sydney Morning Herald about the early days of his relationship with his wife Jessica, sharing how the pair "made it official" when they were just 18 years old. The 45-year-old reflected on his whirlwind romance, sharing how the couple met at a house party when they were teenagers. “We went to separate schools but had mutual friends and saw one another often at house parties,” Shirvo said. The former Olympian said the couple had a “false start” after Jess came down with chickenpox, while he was focused on his athletics career. “But by the time we’d finished our Higher School Certificate (Year 12, in NSW), we’d made it official. We moved in together aged 18 and started our lives as a couple,” he added. Jess and Matt married in 2001 and moved to London a year later, after Matt was based in England for his athletics training. Their family grew in 2006 when they welcomed their first child Sienna, before deciding to return to Australia in 2008. The couple had a second daughter, Winter, soon after, and went on to have a son, Lincoln, who is six. Shirvo shared how much he loves raising daughters and getting to see their sense of independence grow. “They’re great young women, strong and powerful, and I love seeing their desire for independence,” Shirvo said. “Sienna is extremely artistic and Winnie is ambitious about sport – she just competed in the under-17s National Rowing Championships." “It doesn’t matter what it is, if your kids have a passion for something and love waking up in the morning to do it, you’ll back it to the end of the earth as a parent.” On Monday morning's episode of Sunrise, Nat Barr praised the article and Shirvo for his heartwarming words about his family. “Interesting article in the paper over the weekend about our very own Shirvo — who got candid about life, love, and family,” Barr said, referring to the piece. “I wanted to give you a shout-out — it was really lovely, I loved reading it.” “My favourite part was when you said, ‘I never had a celebrity crush growing up, but I did marry my first crush’ It was a really gorgeous story,” Barr said of the piece. Image credits: Instagram

Relationships

“I told him not to open it": Flight attendant forced to hold plane door shut

A flight attendant was forced to hold an emergency exit door shut after an allegedly drunk passenger tried to open it shortly after takeoff. Footage shows a female flight attendant with one hand on the plane’s roof and another holding the lever of the emergency exit, after a man allegedly tried to pull it open during their flight from Qingdao, China on Saturday, according to the New York Post. “I told him not to open it,” the flight attendant said to another colleague in Chinese, according to JAM Press. Her colleague then asks the passenger: “Sir, did you open this?” The male passenger looked confused as he started gesturing at the lever. “Why did you open it? Didn’t you know it is prohibited to open this kind of thing?” the flight attendant asked again. But the passenger ignored him and looked down at his phone, as the male flight attendant continued to question him. The passenger eventually admitted that he had been drinking before he tried to grab the lever, and the man eventually had to change seats with another passenger sitting in the same row. He was allowed to remain on the flight, which managed to land safely at Harbin, China without incident. Images: New York Post

Travel Trouble

Jackie O opens up on loneliness post-divorce

Jackie 'O' Henderson has opened up on being gripped with feelings of loneliness in the years following her divorce. Speaking with fans at Luke McLeod's book launch for Everyday Enlightenment on Thursday night, the 49-year-old admitted she is "desperate" to find love and companionship. After being single for over five years, Jackie said it feels like "something's missing" in her life. "I just really want to find someone. I can't find him and I'm sort of a bit lost at the moment," she said. When Luke asked why she was so desperate to get into a relationship, Jackie said she couldn't quite put her finger on it, but it felt like "a piece" of her was "missing". "I have a lot of love to give or I want that affection, that company. It just feels like there's something missing in my life," she added. Jackie went on to tell her fans that Luke had previously given a piece of advice that "changed my life". He said she was giving off too much "desperate energy", and if she really wanted to attract love in her life, then she needed to be grateful for what she already has. "I said to him, 'How am I meant to change what I want and need? I feel like I need that in my life and I really want that. I can't just switch that off,'" she admitted. Jackie has been adopting Luke's technique, and makes time every day to express gratitude for what she already has, and not for what she's missing. 'Now I'm at a place where I've almost gone the other way. I'm so happy being single and not looking for someone because I'm genuinely happy with my life,' she said. Jackie O separated from her husband Lee Henderson in 2018 after they married in 2003, with the pair now co-parenting their daughter Kitty. Image credits: Instagram

Relationships

“I was silenced”: Jelena Dokic opens up on her difficult relationship with her father

Jelena Dokic has opened up about her difficult relationship with her father, and why she attempted to reconcile with him over ten years ago. The former tennis champion shared the details of the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father, documenting that he inflicted regular beatings in her new book Unbreakable. The 40-year-old said her victories on the court made no difference to her father’s violence, writing, “Even if I won, I would still at times be beaten and be abused. I had some very difficult moments where I was beaten and kicked and punched to the point of being unconscious.” Throughout her tennis career, her father Damir was her coach, and accepted nothing less than perfection from his daughter. “I was silenced for my whole life. From the very first day that I started playing tennis, the No. 1 rule was ‘Never tell anyone anything, or there will be massive, massive consequences’,” she said of his dominating personality. Now, Dokic has candidly shared the details of the last time she saw her father, who left her mentally scarred. “I last had contact with him about 10 years ago. And yeah, I even tried to reconcile with him once or twice,” she told the <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/why-i-and-so-many-others-needed-to-apologise-to-jelena-dokic-20240125-p5f050.html">Sydney Morning Herald</a>. “I think no matter what happens, you kind of hope that maybe you can kind of salvage a relationship when it comes to family.” “Those dynamics are always very difficult. But it's very hard when someone doesn't have any remorse or can't say sorry. In fact, what he says is that he would do it all again. So, for me, that is very, very hard.” “I had to make a cut and go, ‘I don't need a toxic person or a toxic relationship in my life’.” Thankfully, the star player turned tennis commentator is in a much better place with her brother and mother. “I have a great relationship with my brother, which I'm really glad about because my father used my brother and weaponised our relationship - not allowing me to talk with him for about seven years, because he was so much younger than me,” she said. “We pretty much talk every day, and with my mum, as well. I've had some tough conversations with her because she was on my father's side - but we're in a good place today.” Image credits: Getty Images / Instagram

Family & Pets

Sofia Vergara opens up on divorce

Sofía Vergara has revealed the reason why she and Joe Manganiello decided to call it quits after seven years of marriage. In an interview with El País, the 51-year-old actress revealed that Manganiello’s desire to have children led to their divorce. “My marriage broke up because my husband was younger; he wanted to have kids, and I didn’t want to be an old mum,” she said. “I feel it’s not fair to the baby.” The Modern Family actress added that although she respects those who wish to have children later in life, the path is just not for her anymore. The actress already has shares a 32-year-old son with her first husband, Joe Gonzalez. “I had a son at 19, who is now 32, and I’m ready to be a grandmother, not a mother,” she said. “When my son becomes a dad, let him bring the baby to me for a while and then I’ll give it back to him and go on with my life; that’s what I have to do," she added. Despite this, the actress is open to love again - as long as her next romantic partner has kids of his own. In July 2023, Vergara and Joe Manganiello announced their <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/sofia-vergara-and-joe-manganiello-announce-separation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">separation</a> in a statement shared to Page Six. “We have made the difficult decision to divorce. As two people that love and care for one another very much, we politely ask for respect of our privacy at this time as we navigate this new phase of our lives,” the statement read. Manganiello, has since moved on, after making his red carpet debut with his 33-year-old actress girlfriend Caitlin O’Connor in December 2023. Image: Getty

Relationships

Nick Kyrgios admits tennis career "may be over"

Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios is seriously considering retirement as he revealed that he is "at a crossroads" in his career. In a column written for The Sydney Morning Herald, the 28-year-old said that despite his desire to compete at the highest level, he might never make it back to playing professional tennis. He also said that he has enjoyed being away from the courts doing the media rounds. "I sat down with my agent, Stuart Duguid, a couple of days ago to talk about my future," he wrote. "The reality is, there is a part of me that knows my time in the sport may be over. And I'm OK with that. "It's a conversation that needed to be had. I'm at a crossroads in my career and have reached a point where life after tennis is a prospect that excites me." He also added that despite knowing he can still compete for titles, his body is letting him down, as he continues to recover from his <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/nick-kyrgios-pulls-out-of-australian-open-a-day-before-first-match" target="_blank" rel="noopener">knee injury</a> in January 2023. "I sit there and watch some of the players on tour and know within myself that this generation is not as strong as some of the players I have gone up against," he wrote. "I know I can be one of the best in the world and win major tournaments -- if my body lets me. The fire still burns, but it's not my everything." The 2022 Wimbledon finalist also confirmed that he won't be making himself available for this year's Paris Olympics, saying that the treatment he got from the Australian Olympic Committee in the lead-up to the 2016 Rio Games was one of the key factors. "I was No. 13 at the time and had a genuine chance at winning a medal. For them to forbid me from representing my country for behavioural reasons is something that I just can't forget," he said. He added that his "mentality has changed", and despite still having the desire to play for his country, his decision is final. Kyrgios has barely been on court after withdrawing from last year's Australian Open, but he has been commentating on the tournament for Eurosport, adding that his future may be in the box, rather than on the court. Image: Getty

Retirement Life

Jimmy Barnes shares updates on "long road ahead"

Jimmy Barnes has shared another update about his recovery from open-heart surgery, saying that there is "a long road ahead" following his latest check-up. The 67-year-old was admitted into hospital for <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/bad-news-jimmy-barnes-rushed-into-emergency-open-heart-surgery" target="_blank" rel="noopener">emergency heart surgery</a> after complications from a bacterial infection just weeks before Christmas. Since then, Barnes and his wife Jane have been keeping fans updated on his recovery progress. “Always good to leave the hospital smiling. There’s still a long road ahead and many more check ups,” the Aussie Rocker shared to his Instagram followers on Thursday. “There was a team of seven specialists working on me, so there is a lot to follow up on.” The Flame Trees singer shared that he'd had enough of intravenous medications and couldn't wait to have his peripherally inserted central catheter removed. “Another set of good bloods and it’s off with the ‘PICC Line’,” he wrote. “I’m sure it’s saved my life but I cannot wait to be free.” Despite everything, Barnes still looks on the bright side, and showed his gratitude for his wife Jane and her excellent cooking skills. “Thai beef curry is just what the doctor ordered,” he concluded the post, with a picture of Jane's homemade dish. Fans took to the comments to share their support. “Great stuff! As Rocky would say ‘It’s not how hard you hit, but how hard you get hit and keep getting up again’, wrote one fan. “You can do it Jimmy,” another commented. “That’s great news Jimmy. You are in the best hands both on a medical and personal level," a third added. “Great news and good to see you’re recovering well, nurse Jane is doing a fantastic job with all your meals,” wrote a fourth. Images: Instagram

Caring

Cruz Hewitt makes his Australian Open debut

Twenty-seven years after a young Lleyton Hewitt made his entrance into the tennis world, another young Hewitt has made their Australian Open debut. Cruz, the 15-year-old son of Lleyton and Bec, made his big debut in the junior boys’ singles on Sunday, taking on American teen Alexander Razeghi. Cruz Hewitt is the youngest player in the draw and came out as a wildcard in the tournament, with Razeghi ultimately proving more experienced, as Cruz lost 6-2 6-3 in 1 hour and 26 minutes. Despite not claiming the match, the similarities between the young tennis star and his famous father were uncanny, with Cruz sporting the backwards cap and almost identical two-handed backhand. Before taking to the court for the anticipated game, the youngster got in one last masterclass from his dad, a former world No. 1 and two-time grand slam champion, with a quick father-son training session. Undoubtedly filled with nerves for his son, Lleyton spoke to Nine News before the match, saying he was, “Just unbelievably proud, to be honest.” “They asked me late last night if I would go out and warm him up this morning on Show Court 3. Just a really special moment.” “My first ever main draw match at the Australian Open was actually out on Show Court 3 as well.” “Just some great memories coming back of me playing here. He’s been around the traps, but he’s worked extremely hard to get this opportunity. He is playing well.” The crowd rallied behind the 15-year-old player during his match, while proud parents Lleyton and Bec watched on eagerly from the stands. While he fell short of claiming victory against his 17-year-old opponent, Cruz got plenty of encouragement from the crowd as he made the first small steps on his tennis journey. “He’s still very young. This is all a learning experience,” Lleyton said. “That’s what the junior event is all about. You want to get the opportunity to play here as seniors one day.” “He’s been fortunate enough to get a wildcard and hopefully goes out, has a lot of fun.” Image credits: Getty Images

Family & Pets

"Wokeness gone mad": Steve Price slams AO Australia Day boycott

Steve Price has slammed Australian Open organisers for choosing not to celebrate Australia Day for the second year in a row. The decision came after the Victorian government axed its Australia Day parade last year, amid growing backlash from athletes about celebrating on January 26. “This started last year and ended Australia Day celebrations, they used to feature fireworks, the playing of the national anthem and special musical events to mark the day at the tennis,” the Sky News host said. “So we have First Nations day, no drama from me about that, then the organisers have set aside a day for Australian Open Pride Day, an Australian Open All Abilities Day and an Australian Open Glam Slam for the LGBTI+ folk that will run across January 26 to 28. “You can’t make this stuff up.” Price also slammed the AO's decision to move the induction day for the tennis player who made it into this year's Australian Tennis Hall of Fame. The event normally takes place on January 26, but this year Lleyton Hewitt’s induction has been moved to the 24th of January. “This year it’s going to be Lleyton Hewitt – you couldn’t get a more Australian Australian than Lleyton Hewitt,” Price said. “They’ve changed the date of that event from Australia Day, when it used to be, to the 24th, two days earlier. “This is just crazy wokeness gone mad. “Can anyone at Tennis Australia defend this disgraceful snubbing of our national day by a tournament that carries the name of our nation," he ranted. Price then slammed the AO organisers for their decision. “It’s a pity the woke directors who run Tennis Australia don’t have the courage to drag the South African bloke running the organisation Craig Tiley into line and insist we recognise the great nation that lends its name to his tennis tournament," he said. A few others have agreed with Price, including Journalist Joe Hildebrand, who said that the decision is “counter-productive” in terms of making any meaningful difference. “The idea that these sorts of ridiculous virtue-signalling gestures are going to make any difference … is absolutely ridiculous – in fact, it puts people off even considering or wanting to address these issues, “This sort of stuff is what cost the Yes vote its victory … and it’s just so counter-productive, self-destructive, idiotic – you could use any name.” Radio Personality Tom Elliott, also called the move ridiculous. “If you’re going to call yourself the Australian Open and it happens that our national day takes place during the tournament, you have to acknowledge Australia Day,” he said. “Maybe the date will change down the track, but right now it’s January 26.” Images: Getty/ Sky News

Travel Trouble

“Utter madness”: Australian Open thriller drags past 3am

Day five of the Australian Open has seen a nail-biting match between Russian champion Daniil Medvedev and Finnish player Emil Ruusuvuori drag on until 3:30am. The epic match would’ve lasted even longer, if Medvedev didn’t blow away Ruusuvuori in the fifth set, claiming his victory and winning 3-6 6-7 6-4 7-6 6-0. Before the Australian Open began, the ATP and WTA introduced new rules that would force night sessions to begin prior to 7:30pm and prevent matches from going on court after 11pm. However, the Australian Open is not bound by these rules meaning that when Medvedev and Ruusuvuori stepped on court at 11:15pm, there was little chance of them finishing anytime before the early hours of the morning. The match was already in its fourth hour before the fifth set began at 3:20am, as Ruusuvuori lost his steam in the final set. Speaking after the match, Medvedev paid tribute to the fans who stuck around, saying he wouldn’t be among them if he didn’t have to play. “Honestly guys, I would not be here,” Medvedev said. “Thanks for staying.” “If I’d have been a tennis fan and I had come, at 1 I’d be ‘okay, let’s go home, we’ll catch the end of the match on the TV, we’ll watch 30 minutes and then go to bed’.” “So I guess thanks guys, you are strong.” Sports fans and commentators echoed Medvedev’s statements online, as journalist Ryan Sidle wrote on X that the match has descended into “utter madness”. The epic showdown now makes it two years in a row that an Australian Open match has gone into the early hours of the morning, with Thanasi Kokkinakis and Andy Murray taking their AO battle to 4am in the 2023 competition. Image credits: Getty Images

News

“Say it to my face”: Novak Djokovic confronts Aus Open hecklers

Novak Djokovic has confronted rowdy Australian Open audience members, saying the “tough guy” in the crowd “crossed the line” with his unsolicited commentary. The Serbian tennis player was on his way to a victory against Aussie player Alexei Popyrin when he got caught in a verbal altercation with a spectator. The frustrated defending grand slam champion was heard during the match yelling, "Come here and say it to my face" to a fan seated behind him at Rod Laver Arena. "Come here! Come here!" Djokovic could be heard yelling in response to the mouthy spectator. During his post-match press conference after the match win, the world No.1 elaborated on the clash with the spectator, telling the media he won't tolerate such behaviour from disrespectful audience members "I mean, you don't want to know [what he said]. There were a lot of things that were being told to me on the court, particularly from that corner, and the same side the other corner. I was tolerating it for most of the match," Djokovic said. "At one point I had enough, and I asked him whether he wants to come down and tell it to my face. Unfortunately for him, he didn't have the courage to come down. "That's what I was asking him. If you have courage, if you're such a tough man, tough guy, come down and tell it to my face, and let's have a discussion about it.” "He was apologising from far away. That's all it is." "I'm not going to sit and say 'it's all good'. It's not good," he said. "Of course, it upsets me. I'm frustrated. I don't want to be experiencing that, but I have to accept it as it is.” "Sometimes I don't tolerate when somebody crosses the line. That's it." The veteran player declared he would continue to "confront" patrons who attempted to throw him off his game, saying, "I was feeling a lot of mixed emotions today on the court. Not a great atmosphere to play in to be honest for me." Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

Sports journalist dies during Australian Open broadcast

Renowned sports journalist Mike Dickson has passed away while reporting on the Australian Open. The father-of-three was just 10 days away from celebrating his 60th birthday when he collapsed on Wednesday, with his heartbroken family confirming the news of his passing. “We are devastated to announce that our wonderful husband and Dad, Mike, has collapsed and died while in Melbourne for the Aus Open,” his wife Lucy wrote, also attributing the statement to their children Sam, Lucy and Joe. “For 38 years he lived his dream covering sport all over the world. He was a truly great man and we will miss him terribly.” Australian Open organisers said tournament officials were shocked by the news of the popular journalist. "We are shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Mike, our long-standing colleague and friend. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family," the organisation said on X. The UK Daily Mail reporter’s passing has led to scores of tributes including from tennis greats such as Tim Henman and the organisers of the US Open and Wimbledon. The organisers of Wimbledon said it was “deeply saddened” by Mr Dickson’s death. “Mike covered so many of our Championships during his remarkable career in journalism and brought so many stories to so many sports fans around the world.” The US Open said he was “one of the most well respected journalists in the industry,” while the World Tennis Association said Mr Dickson was a “highly respected figure on Tour among players, coaches, staff and everyone connected with tennis”. British tennis player Tim Henman held back tears on TV when discussing Mr Dickson, saying, “It’s incredibly sad that he passed away in Melbourne. He was a great friend of the tennis community”. Image credits: Getty Images

Caring

“Sky’s the limit”: Why Alex de Minaur is the one to watch at the Australian Open

The tennis world is buzzing with excitement as Alex de Minaur, the 24-year-old Australian sensation, extends his remarkable winning streak in the lead-up to the Australian Open. In a recent charity match held in Melbourne, de Minaur displayed his lethal form by securing a notable victory over the reigning Wimbledon champion, Spain's Carlos Alcaraz. Despite the match's charitable nature, this win marks a significant milestone for de Minaur, who is now ranked No.10 in the world – the highest ranking he has ever achieved. As he gears up for the upcoming Australian Open, de Minaur's triumphs and confidence are setting the stage for an electrifying tournament. The charity match against Alcaraz proved to be more than just a philanthropic endeavour, as de Minaur secured his first-ever win over the reigning Wimbledon champ. Alcaraz, currently ranked No.2 in the world, faced a resilient de Minaur who claimed victory with a 6-4, 5-7, (10-3) scoreline. This triumph not only adds a feather to de Minaur's cap but also instills a newfound confidence as he prepares for the intense battles ahead in Melbourne. De Minaur's recent success in the charity match adds to his growing list of upsets, notably highlighted by his stellar performance in the United Cup tournament. The Australian tennis star showcased his prowess by defeating formidable opponents, including Team USA's Taylor Fritz, tennis legend Novak Djokovic, and world No.7 Alexander Zverev. Leading Australia into the semi-finals, de Minaur's exceptional form during the United Cup laid the foundation for his current confidence and high world ranking. Despite his commanding victory in front of a packed Rod Laver Arena, de Minaur remains humble and focused on the challenges ahead. In a post-match statement, he expressed his gratitude and outlined his motivational mantra, quoting, "'How big would you dream if you knew you couldn't fail?' ... I'm pushing myself every day and hopefully the sky's the limit." As the Australian Open approaches, de Minaur's exceptional form and recent triumphs are capturing the attention of tennis enthusiasts worldwide. With a newfound confidence and a career-high ranking, de Minaur is poised for an exciting and potentially groundbreaking performance in Melbourne. The stage is set for a riveting Aus Open, and fans eagerly anticipate witnessing how far de Minaur can push the limits in 2024. Image: Getty

Jelena Dokic reveals health scare

Jelena Dokic has been forced to cancel scheduled appearances in Adelaide for the Adelaide International Tennis Tournament after being struck down with a mystery illness. The 40-year-old, who has become a major name in sports commentating since retiring from playing tennis in 2014, shared with her fans that she has been rushed home to Melbourne due to a viral infection. The former World No. 4 tennis star left Adelaide on the eve of the year’s first grand slam, and hoped she would recover before the start of the Australian Open next week. “I have come down with a viral infection and I have to leave and get back home to Melbourne asap,” she wrote on Instagram. “I am so sad and disappointed as I absolutely love Adelaide and this amazing tournament but I have no choice." “Off to Melbourne now and hopefully I will be ok soon and by Sunday for the start of the Australian Open. Fingers crossed.” Jelena was also forced to cancel a book signing in Adelaide, where she was due to meet fans who had purchased her latest book Fearless: Finding the Power to Thrive, which focuses on her ongoing campaign against body shaming and her mental health struggles. In an interview with <a href="https://www.news.com.au/sport/tennis/saved-my-life-jelena-dokic-shares-private-battle-for-first-time/news-story/052d69ef432a3d3de447fe6e481568c1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stellar</a> magazine last year, the former tennis player shared how writing the book helped her heal from her past traumas of dealing with an eating disorder, and ongoing abuse at the hands of her father. “I actually haven’t talked about my eating disorder (before) because, for so long, I didn’t understand it. But now I know that more than 90 per cent of people that do have eating disorders, it comes from trauma,” Jelena told Stellar. “Getting professional help saved my life. I find the eating disorder quite complex. I’m working really hard on it." “But the writing of the book (Fearless) was a massive step for me because I’ve realised I’m not eating like that anymore. I’ve got more balance now.” Image credits: Getty Images

Caring

"Our Jimmy made it": Barnes' happy message from the ICU

Iconic Australian rock singer Jimmy Barnes has emerged victorious from a challenging battle with a bacterial infection that led him to undergo emergency open heart surgery. The Cold Chisel frontman, at 67 years young, faced a sudden health setback but is now on the road to recovery in the ICU. The journey began at the end of last month when Barnes was <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/jimmy-barnes-hospitalised-with-major-health-issue" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hospitalised with pneumonia</a>. His wife, Jane, has now provided a heartening update on Instagram, sharing a photo from the hospital and revealing that the surgery was successful. Gratitude poured out to the dedicated medical team who played a crucial role in his recovery. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0yULk4hvT6/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0yULk4hvT6/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Jimmy Barnes (@jimmybarnesofficial)</a> </div> </blockquote> "I’m happy to let you know that our Jimmy has made it through his surgery and is now recovering in the ICU," Jane wrote. "We are so grateful for the incredible medical team looking after him. Thank you for all the love and support." Earlier, Barnes bravely shared the news that the bacterial infection had <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/bad-news-jimmy-barnes-rushed-into-emergency-open-heart-surgery" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spread to his heart</a>. Despite this unexpected challenge, he faced the situation with courage and underwent open heart surgery to clear out the infection and replace a valve. The infection had affected a valve replaced years ago due to a congenital defect. Barnes, who was set to headline the Rock the Boat 2023 cruise festival before falling ill, reflected on his recent peak fitness just weeks prior. The sudden turn of events required adjustments to upcoming shows, causing some frustration for the singer. However, his son, David Campbell, reassured fans on the Today show, emphasising his father's frustration for the fans and passion for supporting the music industry. "He is in wonderful hands," Campbell said, expressing confidence in the medical team. Barnes' son also encouraged fans to reach out to him on social media, assuring everyone that the rock legend would make a great recovery. As the music community rallies around Barnes, sending waves of positivity and healing energy, we look forward to a speedy recovery and many more years of rock and roll from the indomitable Jimmy Barnes! Images: Instagram

Caring

"Bad news": Jimmy Barnes rushed into emergency open heart surgery

Jimmy Barnes has shared a major health update with his fans, just hours before heading into an emergency surgery. The iconic musician took to Instagram to share that he is set to undergo open heart surgery, after a dangerous infection was unable to be controlled. The 67-year-old, who has only recently recovered from pneumonia, announced the news from his hospital bed on Wednesday. "Unfortunately I got some bad news yesterday….despite everyone's best efforts the bacterial infection I've been battling over the last fortnight has apparently now spread to my heart," Barnes wrote. "It's infected an otherwise healthy valve that was replaced some years ago due to a congenital defect, so l'll be getting open heart surgery over the next few hours to clear out this infection and put in a clean valve." <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0xKOuBhSpS/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0xKOuBhSpS/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Jimmy Barnes (@jimmybarnesofficial)</a> </div> </blockquote> After announcing the news himself on social media, Barnes' son David Campbell spoke about his father's condition on <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/today/jimmy-barnes-undergoes-open-heart-surgery-after-bacterial-infection-spreads/f4c56d1e-cd25-4a2d-8b24-11b592a4aae8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Today Extra</a>, saying his dad was more frustrated at letting his fans down than anything else. Just before being struck down with the infection, Barnes was due to headline the Rock the Boat 2023 cruise festival. "I am here to allay everyone's fears, he is in wonderful hands," Campbell said. "He loves to work and he is frustrated for the fans who have been booking tickets and coming to his shows, he is passionate about getting crews back up and running in Australia and performing with his band, but is grateful for the nurses and doctors and if he hadn't got bacterial pneumonia, he wouldn't have had this picked up." Campbell said the family were confident in the medical staff looking after his dad and said "it was a blessing" that the infection was picked up when it was. "He is in great hands and he will make a great recovery, so reach out to him on social media because all the love in the world will be good for him," he said. Image credits: Getty Images

Caring

"It was a relief": Rebecca Gibney opens up on mental health struggles

Rebecca Gibney has revealed what a "relief" it was to finally open up about the mental health struggles she faced from 14 to 30-years-old. The New Zealand actress, 58, said she spent a lot of that time "pretending" she was okay despite growing up around domestic violence, as her mother suffered from abuse in the hands of Gibney's late father, Austin. In an interview with Stellar on Saturday, the Packed to the Rafters star shared that she is "loving" how mental health is now being framed. “When I started talking about my mental health struggles and anxiety ... it was a relief,” she told the publication. “I could drop the mask of pretending that I was OK. What I’m loving seeing is that more and more people are now going, ‘I’m not OK’”. Gibney first opened up about her struggles in 2017, when she opened up about the abuse her mother faced and how she was “beaten so badly she had bruises for six months on her legs. “She’d always shut the doors ... you’d hear the yelling and the shouting and the slapping, but you’d never actually see it," she told Women's Day, at the time. After Gibney's father died in 1982, the actress began seeing a therapist, but was "on Valium and in a dark place for quite a while”. In her latest interview with Stellar, Gibney also added that more needed to be done to prevent domestic violence and help survivors. “We still don’t want to talk about it. We need to really drill down (and question), ‘Why is this happening?’ We need more education, more centres," she said. “We need people to be able to get the help they need.” Images: Instagram

Mind

"Betrayed": Shannen Doherty opens up on tough divorce amid cancer battle

Shannen Doherty revealed it all on the debut episode of her new podcast Let’s Be Clear with Shannen Doherty. The actress opened up on her tough split from her husband of 14 years, Kurt Iswarienko, after she found out he had been having an affair for two years, while she was battling brain cancer. She recalled the moment she found out, right before her surgery to remove the tumour in January. “I went into that surgery early in the morning and I went in after I found out that my marriage was essentially over, that my husband had been carrying on an affair for two years,” she said. “To not go in that surgery, even though, being very clear, he wanted to go, I couldn’t go into that surgery with him there. I felt so betrayed.” “At the end of the day, I just felt so incredibly unloved by someone I was with for 14 years, by someone I loved with all my heart,” Doherty continued, adding that she had her family and friends by her side. Though the Charmed actress is currently focusing on her health and the future, she did admit that the entire experience has been overwhelming. “Just to have to go through all of that while trying to figure out if you’re going to get a frickin’ divorce and trying to get to the truth of that,” she said. She added that she was "obsessed" with finding out the truth of the affair, “through conversations, expecting someone to be honest with me.” “If you share 14 years together and you cheated, doesn’t that person deserve the absolute truth regardless of how much that hurts them? If they’re the ones asking for it, if they’re the ones saying, ‘Listen, I get it, I may cry, I may get angry, and this may really suck to hear, but I need to hear it because I need closure and this is how I get my closure.’ So I had a lot of months of trying to figure out what I was going to do,” she explained. She added that the reason why she was trying so hard to make sense of the situation was because she herself does not condone cheating, “If you cheat on me, you’re out," she said. “Then when someone you really, really love, someone that you regard as your absolute best friend in the world, when you’re lied to and you discover they cheated on you, or they finally tell you they’re cheating on you because they’re riddled by guilt or whatever, I didn’t walk away. I couldn’t. I was so confused.” She added that the confusion was also a side effect from her surgery as she was undertaking a bunch of medication and steroids to prevent her brain from swelling. Doherty and Iswarienko tied the knot in 2011 and filed for divorce earlier this year in April. The actress revealed that she struggled with her decision to file for divorce, and did talk to “girlfriend of two years that he cheated on me with.” “And honestly, it’s still really hard. Yes, I made the decision to file for divorce, but I have a lot of memories with this person,” she said. She added that although she takes responsibility for some of the issues in their marriage, she does not take responsibility for the "demise" of it. “I take responsibility not only because of how I was but because of how cancer impacted my marriage and how it impacted him the second time around," she said. "I do not take responsibility for the demise of our marriage because I am not a quitter. If somebody is still showing me loyalty and respect and love, I’m going to hang in there. I’m going to try my hardest," she added. Despite three failed marriages, the actress said that she still believes in love. Images: Getty

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