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Olivia Newton-John's daughter reveals health issues

<p>Olivia Newton-John's daughter, Chloe Lattanzi has opened up about a few health struggles in a candid video posted on Instagram. </p> <p>The 37-year-old daughter of the <em>Grease</em> star shared that she had been struggling with the effects of grief, around one year after her mother's passing. </p> <p>"Since my mum's passing and the year and a half with her going through cancer, I have not been OK," she said. </p> <p> "If I have forgotten to return your calls – I've had extreme memory loss, I've had difficulty getting out of bed. I've stuck to my commitments but I have been neglecting myself."</p> <p>She also revealed one of the messages her mum told her before her death. </p> <p>"One of my mum's biggest messages was 'take care of you',"  she added. </p> <p>"If you don't take care of you, you cannot give your full capacity of love, wisdom, kindness and power to everyone else."</p> <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/reel/CwJJkSLNkWW/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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/reel/CwJJkSLNkWW/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Chloe Lattanzi (@chloelattanziofficial)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>She then explained that she would be going to Newton-John's annual Walk for Wellness on October 8 in Melbourne, but will disappear for a few weeks after that to honour her mum's words and focus on herself. </p> <p>"After the walk I'm going to disappear for about three weeks, just to honour my mind, body and spirit because I'm developing a little bit of health issues in my mind and my body," she explained.</p> <p>Following Olivia's death on August 8 last year, Chloe revealed that she will be continuing her mum's cancer advocacy by taking over the Walk of Wellness that her mum lead. </p> <p>Her post has been with overwhelming support from fans. </p> <p>"Absolutely - your Mom wants you to take good care of you so please do that &amp; remember she’s always with you 💕" wrote one.</p> <p>"We all love you and we all want to see you at your best healthy and thriving and I’m sure mama would want the same too. We totally all understand and take care of your body, mind and spirit," commented another. </p> <p>"Sending you love Chloe. Look after yourself and always know, you are loved," wrote a third. </p> <p>She has previously opened up about her <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/olivia-newton-john-s-daughter-reflects-on-her-mother-s-life-one-year-after-her-death" target="_blank" rel="noopener">struggles with grief</a> and how she will continue to work tirelessly to keep her mother's legacy going. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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John Travolta’s teary tribute to Olivia Newton-John

<p dir="ltr">John Travolta has been moved to tears while paying tribute to his late friend and co-star Olivia Newton-John.</p> <p dir="ltr">As he introduced the In Memoriam segment during the annual Academy Awards ceremony, Travolta gave an emotional speech for those in the entertainment industry we lost this year.</p> <p dir="ltr">As he battled his tears, he made a poignant reference to their 1978 film <em>Grease </em>as he remembered his friend, who died in August 2022.</p> <p dir="ltr">Taking to the stage, Travolta said, “Each of them left an individual and indelible mark that shared and informed us.”</p> <p dir="ltr">As he continued, his voice was breaking, “They’ve touched our hearts, they’ve made us smile, and became dear friends - who we will always remain hopelessly devoted to.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">John Travolta choked up when referencing his late 'Grease' co-star Olivia Newton-John while introducing the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Oscars?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Oscars</a> In Memoriam segment, featuring Lenny Kravitz <a href="https://t.co/R6cFFuIgGP">pic.twitter.com/R6cFFuIgGP</a></p> <p>— NowThis (@nowthisnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/nowthisnews/status/1635180894943051776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">That, of course, was a reference to the hit Newton-John song from <em>Grease</em>, <em>Hopelessly Devoted To You</em>, which she sings about Travolta’s character Danny Zuko.</p> <p dir="ltr">On several occasions, Travolta thumped his fist to his heart as he spoke, as he tried to contain his emotions.</p> <p dir="ltr">After Newton-John’s death last year, Travolta released an emotional statement on social media.</p> <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/ChAtHO1psCS/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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/ChAtHO1psCS/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by John Travolta (@johntravolta)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better,” the actor wrote on Instagram.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Your impact was incredible. I love you so much.”</p> <p dir="ltr">In his tribute, Travolta added, “We will see you down the road and we will all be together again.”</p> <p dir="ltr">He signed it, “Yours from the moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your John.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Seven / Getty Images</em></p>

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How Olivia Newton-John's family remember her

<p>Seven months on from the passing of Olivia Newton-John, her family are still navigating their emotional journey of grief. </p> <p>Her daughter Chloe Lattanzi and her husband John Easterling opened up about how they are remembering Olivia in all aspects of their life, as they believe she is still with them in spirit. </p> <p>Chloe and John told <em>A Current Affair</em>'s Ally Langdon that they regularly look back on the fond memories they shared as a family, and connect with her in a unique way. </p> <p>"I talk to her every day," Lattanzi said while remembering her late mum in the emotional interview.</p> <p>"She's always there and I wear her every day, so her energy is on my body," Lattanzi said as she touched a cross necklace around her throat.</p> <p>"But I would love to hold her again."</p> <p>John also looks back on their "15 extraordinary years together", saying "There was a little bit of magic."</p> <p>Chloe admitted that when she had to get up and speak at her mother's state memorial on Sunday, her "heart was beating out of her chest".</p> <p>"As soon as I stepped up there I felt my mum come inside of me, my body. I felt her energy … and it was supernatural. The love in the room carried me through that," she said. </p> <p>Lattanzi said she talks to her mother every day when she meditates or is walking, saying "It might sound crazy to some but whenever I have a doubt or I have a question I speak to her."</p> <p>Olivia Newton-John died in August 2022 after a long battle with cancer, which Chloe said her mother always handled in a positive way. </p> <p>Lattanzi said her mum was always very positive and never considered her cancer diagnosis as a "war or battle".</p> <p>"She wasn't in a battle or fighting cancer ... we were living life and living life well," Easterling added.</p> <p>Her daughter said despite her positive attitude, her mother also shared moments of vulnerability with her, which she wanted people going through their own cancer journeys to know was normal.</p> <p>"I don't want people who are going through cancer to think that it's not ok to break down and have a hard day, or cry, or be scared," Lattanzi said.</p> <p>"I know my mum would want them to know that."</p> <p>Chloe went on to say she believed her mum had comes to terms with dying, as she admitted, "I think she stayed for me and John."</p> <p><em>Image credits: A Current Affair</em></p>

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Olivia Newton-John's daughter's emotional memorial tribute

<p>Olivia Newton-John’s daughter Chloe Lattanzi has delivered an emotional speech at her mother’s memorial service, saying she “feels like a little girl”.</p> <p>Almost six months after her death at the age of 73, Newtown-John was remembered at a star-studded service at Hamer Hall in Melbourne.</p> <p>She passed away on August 8, 2022, after battling breast cancer for three decades.</p> <p>Newtown-John’s husband John Easterline spoke at the beginning of the service followed by his daughter’s emotional tribute.</p> <p>“My heart is broken in two. The other half is with my Mumma,” Lattanzi said with tears.</p> <p>“I know she is holding it for me until we meet again. I stand here before you so desperately wanting to feel strong and confident and speak eloquently. But the truth is, I feel like a little girl lost without her mother.</p> <p>“She was my safe space, my guide, my biggest fan and the Earth beneath my feet.”</p> <p>Lattanzi also said she knew her mother was “standing beside her” and could hear her voice telling her not to be afraid.</p> <p>The grieving daughter mentioned her and her mother had the same “cackle,” and revealed although her mother would never tell a dirty joke, she would “laugh the hardest at them”.</p> <p>“I loved making her tea and then making it five times again until I got it right. I loved our snuggles. I would crawl into bed with her late at night even until I was 20 years old. I loved the way that she smelled,” Lattanzi said.</p> <p>“I loved writing music and singing with her and how she would always notice if I was slightly off-key.</p> <p>“She cherished her friends and her family and she was so grateful to her fans and she loved you all so dearly. She would want us all to laugh and reminisce together, enjoy and celebrate her life.”</p> <p>Aussie singer and actress Delta Goodrem broke down at Newtown-John’s memorial service as she was giving a speech about how the late actress was so special to her.</p> <p>“It’s beautiful to see everybody,” Goodrem said as she was interviewed at Hamer Hall in Melbourne, ahead of a moving performance.</p> <p>“It’s beautiful,” Goodrem continued, flooded with emotion. “Sorry.”</p> <p>“I’m so happy to see everybody coming together on a day to celebrate someone who touched all of our lives,” she said when asked why she was so emotional. “I think that’s really what it is.”</p> <p>In a video shown at Melbourne’s Hamer Hall, Dolly Parton said, "The world lost one of its greatest talents when Olivia left us.”</p> <p>Nicole Kidman also paid tribute, saying that Newton-John was "just a light in the world" and that growing up, she "wanted to be Olivia Newton-John.”</p> <p>Some of the other celebrities and friends who paid tribute to Newtown-John during the service included Hugh Jackman, Keith Urban, Mariah Carey, RuPaul, Pink and Sir Elton John.</p> <p>Image credit: Getty</p>

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Grease star's emotional tribute to Olivia ahead of state memorial

<p>It's been six months since Olivia Newton-John passed away, breaking hearts of entertainment lovers everywhere. </p> <p>Now, her celebrity friends and family have begun arriving in Melbourne for her state memorial on Sunday, with thousands of fans joining to pay their respects. </p> <p>Among those sharing fond memories of Australia's sweetheart is Olivia's long-time friend and <em>Grease</em> co-star Didi Conn, who starred as Frenchy alongside Newton-John as Sandy. </p> <p>In an interview with <em>Today Extra</em>, Didi became emotional while reminiscing on a sweet moment from the set of the hit 1978 musical. </p> <p>"It's not good when you can't talk, you know, on a talk show," Conn said as she tried to compose herself.</p> <p>Didi revealed the first scene she filmed with Newton-John, sharing that the Aussie was actually quite nervous, but that was the moment they became great friends.</p> <p>"We were waiting for them to set up the shot and I just looked at her and she was shaking," she said.</p> <p>"I said 'Oh, Sandy, I'm so happy to have a friend from Australia, tell me all about Australia' and she looked at me like 'is this in the script?'"</p> <p>Olivia then cottoned on that Didi was improvising and by the time the cameras started rolling she was much more comfortable thanks to that little bit of help.</p> <p>"When the scene ended, she hugged me and that was the beginning of our friendship," she said.</p> <p>The women shared over 40 years of friendship and she revealed one of the last sweet moments she got to share with her.</p> <p>"I hadn't spoken to her in a couple of months and I called her and she said, 'why haven't we spoken?'," Conn said.</p> <p>Conn had been unwell recently and Newton-John was in hospital with a broken leg.</p> <p>"The next day I received this gorgeous orchid plant, it was beautiful with so many buds," she said.</p> <p>"The day before she left Earth, one of the buds fell down and I thought, oh no, and sure enough, I heard the news."</p> <p>"But her beauty will last forever, in everyone's heart, because she had the biggest heart, she was the most beautiful person."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Paramount Pictures / Today Extra</em></p>

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Standing ovation for Pink's stirring tribute to Olivia

<p>P!nk has received a standing ovation for her emotional tribute to Olivia Newton-John at the 50th annual American Music Awards. </p> <p>The singer, whose real name is Alecia Moore Hart, took to the stage in front of a monitor flashing images of the late singer and performed a rousing rendition of <em>Hopelessly Devoted to You</em>. </p> <p>The song was originally sung by Newton-John for the hit musical film <em>Grease</em>, and its accompanying soundtrack went on to reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and number seven on the Adult Contemporary chart.</p> <p>Melissa Etheridge first came on the the AMA stage to introduce P!nk, but before the pop star came to the stage, Etheridge shared a few sweet sentiments about Newton-John.</p> <p>"From the moment you were in the presence of Olivia Newton-John, you sensed her sweetness, you stood in awe of her welcoming beauty, and you basked in the feeling that she was connecting to you alone," she began.</p> <p>She went on to share how to hear her sing "was to feel the power of art to transform feelings, the feelings we all have of love and elation and disappointment into something sublime."</p> <p>P!nk then took to the stage for her emotional performance, with members of the audience singing along. </p> <p>By the end of the performance, the crowd erupted into a loud applause that quickly transformed into a standing ovation, that was led by Pink's husband Carey Hart, 47, and their two children, 11-year-old daughter Willow and five-year-old son Jameson. </p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dOmHZj8n71w" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Olivia Newton-John's selfless final wish

<p>Olivia Newton-John's final wishes have been revealed by her husband, as the star continued to lobby for fair and equal medical treatment until her final days. </p> <p>Olivia's husband, John Easterling, shared that Olivia wanted other patients to have the same access to alternative treatments that she felt "privileged" to be able to use. </p> <p>Speaking with the Herald Sun, John said, "Her dream with the Olivia Newton-John Wellness Centre was to have Australians going through cancer have access to the similar types of treatments."</p> <p>According to John, treatments such as medicinal cannabis "undoubtedly extended Olivia's life and gave her quality of life.</p> <p>For much of her life, Olivia lobbied for politicians to change regulations around medicinal cannabis to make it available to patients at Melbourne's ONJ Cancer Wellness and Research Centre.</p> <p>Olivia publicly advocated for alternative treatments even in her final hours and John noted his late wife didn't need "toxic chemicals or addictive painkillers" to manage her terminal illness.</p> <p>John also revealed to The Herald Sun that Olivia was "pain free" and "cheerful and joyful" in her final days.</p> <p>After her first breast cancer diagnosis in 1992, Olivia tried herbal formulas, meditation and "focused on a vision of complete wellness," which inspired Olivia to establish the institution after wanting to "help others going through the same journey".</p> <p>Olivia died after losing her decades-long battle with breast cancer in August. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

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Olivia Newton-John’s foundation makes cancer breakthrough

<p dir="ltr">Just over two months after her passing, the cancer research foundation Olivia Newton-John founded has made a significant discovery that could affect the treatment of a highly-aggressive pancreatic cancer.</p> <p dir="ltr">The study, led by Professor Matthias Ernst, the director of the ONJ Cancer Research Institute in Melbourne and the head of LA Trobe’s School of Cancer Medicine, investigated potential targets for treating pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).</p> <p dir="ltr">This aggressive form of cancer has a five-year survival rate, with nine out of ten patients still dying of the disease after receiving chemotherapy treatments due to reoccurrence in the same area or metastasis (where cancer spreads to other parts of the body).</p> <p dir="ltr">Approximately 4,260 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer each year in Australia, with many experiencing few or no symptoms during the early stages.</p> <p dir="ltr">Professor Ernst and his team identified a novel drug target that could make PDAC tumours more responsive to chemotherapy and immunotherapy and published their results in the journal <em><a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(22)01329-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cell Reports</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">They identified a protein called HCK (hematopoietic cell kinase), which has previously been correlated with poor survival rates and has been found in 95 percent of solid tumours, including PDAC.</p> <p dir="ltr">After comparing PDAC tumours to non-cancerous samples, they found that the tumours expressed this protein at a higher rate.</p> <p dir="ltr">They then wanted to determine whether HCK was involved in the growth of tumours and metastasis, by inserting PDAC tumours into normal mice and mice that have had the gene responsible for making HCK removed.</p> <p dir="ltr">In comparison to the normal mice, the mice without the HCK gene had smaller tumours and didn’t develop metastatic lesions. </p> <p dir="ltr">This confirmed that HCK is involved in the progression of this kind of cancer and that preventing the gene from creating HCK proteins could be a potential target for new cancer treatments.</p> <p dir="ltr">The team reported that targeting HCK could help reduce immune suppression caused by the increased levels of cancer cells that reduce the ability of our immune system to identify and fight cancer, making immunotherapy treatments more effective.</p> <p dir="ltr">While he cautioned that the study was still in its early stages, Professor Ernst is hopeful that the ONJ Institute can build on their findings and run clinical trials in the future. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Because we work in the same building as our oncologist colleagues at Austin Health, our discoveries in the laboratory can be quickly translated into patient trials,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Dr Ashleigh Poh, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow from the ONJ Institute added that the findings could have big implications for pancreatic cancer treatment.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The survival rate of pancreatic cancer has not improved over the past few decades,” Dr Poh said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We hope to eventually translate these findings into the clinic and improve survival outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients.”</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ab3ceb5a-7fff-1dce-ba56-1a7edeb562a8"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: The ONJ Institute</em></p>

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"I trusted anyone": Olivia Newton-John's daughter shares drastic health decision

<p>Chloe Lattanzi has opened up about a recent health decision, announcing she is planning to reverse a lot of her cosmetic surgery enhancements. </p> <p>Chloe said she is going to have her breast implants removed, just months after her mother Olivia Newton-John died from a turbulent 30 year battle with breast cancer. </p> <p>Lattanzi, who has reportedly had $845,000 worth of plastic surgery over the years, took to Instagram to talk about her health.</p> <p>She shared that in trying to be the healthiest version of herself, she has already had fillers in her face dissolved and plans to remove her breast implants.</p> <p>“I’ve had the fillers removed from my face. When I had it done, I had body dysmorphia so I had very low self-esteem,” Lattanzi admitted.</p> <p>“I think I started doing (fillers) about 10 years ago,” she continued.</p> <p>“My face looked very puffy and strange. There’s a product called hyaluronidase that can take it out, it basically dissolves it, which is an ongoing process that I go through.”</p> <p>Speaking about her breast implants, Chloe said she “wasn’t aware” of the potential health problems that implants can bring.</p> <p>“I trusted anyone in a white coat and I wasn’t aware that there was any side effects or consequences,” she admitted.</p> <p>“I’m actually looking into removing them. It does cost a lot of money.”</p> <p>Lattanzi also spoke about her lip fillers, explaining she has injected them “so much” they are “permanently stretched out”.</p> <p>“Not that this is anyone’s business, but it hurt to see some of these comments and I just wanted to educate people,” she said.</p> <p>“You can believe me or not, but it’s the truth, from having them filled so much, they’re just stretched, I haven’t had them done in years.”</p> <p>Since her mother died in August after her journey with breast cancer, Lattanzi has been outspoken about “preventative care”.</p> <p>“I’m so excited to be carrying the torch for my mum continuing to not battle cancer, but finding out what’s causing it,” she said.</p> <div> </div> <p>“Preventive care was something she was very passionate about, you know we need to think about all the drugs that are put into our body."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

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"Happy Birthday my Olivia": John Travolta's touching message

<p dir="ltr">Olivia Newton-John's <em>Grease</em> co-star John Travolta has wished her a beautiful tribute for what would have been her 74th birthday. </p> <p dir="ltr">The actress would have celebrated her 74th birthday on September 26 but unfortunately lost her battle to breast cancer on August 8. </p> <p dir="ltr">John Travolta wished Olivia a loving tribute on his Instagram story with a photo of the pair in the classic 1978 musical movie.</p> <p dir="ltr">The photo showed the pair as lovebirds Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson with the caption, “Happy birthday my Olivia”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Olivia’s daughter Chloe Lattanzi also marked the special day with an intimate dinner with close family and friends. </p> <p dir="ltr">She shared a video of the event with everyone wishing Olivia a “happy birthday mama”.</p> <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/reel/Ci_lOl4D9Xw/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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/reel/Ci_lOl4D9Xw/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Chloe Lattanzi (@chloelattanziofficial)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <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/Ci--tsdPyXw/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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/Ci--tsdPyXw/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Olivia Newton-John (@therealonj)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The post comes a few hours after Olivia’s husband John Easterling shared an <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/olivia-newton-john-s-husband-shares-sweet-anecdote-on-her-birthday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">adorable story of their married life</a> with a never-before-heard story of how the couple got caught in a dangerous storm while on a boating trip.</p> <p dir="ltr">John Easterling was the one to announce the <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/honouring-dame-olivia-newton-john" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news of Olivia’s passing</a> on her Instagram, in which he included an appeal to continue her good works in the field of cancer research:</p> <p dir="ltr">“Dame Olivia Newton-John (73) passed away peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends. We ask that everyone please respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time,” he wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in her memory to the @onjfoundation."</p> <p dir="ltr">Her daughter Chloe also shared a series of <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/no-words-emotional-images-from-olivia-newton-john-s-daughter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heartwarming photos</a> upon the news breaking as celebrities and fans alike offered their condolences.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

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Olivia Newton-John's husband shares sweet anecdote on her birthday

<p>Olivia Newton-John's husband has shared a sweet anecdote about a holiday the couple took, on what would have been her 74th birthday. </p> <p>John Easterling took to the late entertainer's Instagram to share a rare glimpse of their married life, while sharing the previously unheard story of how the couple got caught in a dangerous storm while on a boating trip. </p> <p>Recalling the eventful trip, John wrote, "I remember the first birthday when we were together and I took Olivia on a week-long adventure in the Out Islands of the Bahamas surrounded by beautiful, peaceful, spectacular turquoise water."</p> <p>"I rented a house on an island with no roads so we got a boat to go with your house and we would take our supplies over to the house which had a generator."</p> <p>He described how they could boat across to another one of the many beautiful islands if they wanted to eat at a restaurant or explore, "just the two of us".</p> <p>"It was private, it was wonderful," John recalled, but the weather turned one day when they took their little boat up to Great Guana Cay and the trip home was treacherous.</p> <p>"The wind was howling and the boat was rolling and slamming into the waves, rain was stinging like someone throwing thumbtacks in your face," he wrote.</p> <p>"Olivia got behind me holding on tight as I was navigating this 23-foot runabout with a centre console."</p> <p>John explained how the couple only had a magnetic compass to navigate, and low visibility threatened their safe return. </p> <p>As they started to fear the worst, the storm suddenly disappeared and they were greeted with a magical scene through the clouds. </p> <p>"The rainbow started on the left and crystalized all the way over - horizon to horizon - and that's when the dolphins started jumping at the bow of the boat leading us under the rainbow."</p> <p>It was a moment that has stuck with John ever since and he reminisced on how "Olivia looked at me like I was a superhero".</p> <p>"We both recognized the fingerprints of the supernatural were all over this – and that's the way we lived our life," John added, signing off with "Happy birthday honey – I love you!"</p> <p>John lost his soulmate in August when Olivia died at age 73 after a long battle with cancer. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Olivia Newton-John’s daughter shares more rare, unseen photos

<p dir="ltr">Olivia Newton-John's daughter has once again paid tribute to her mother in a series of stunning photos. </p> <p dir="ltr">The Grease star lost her battle with breast cancer on August 8 when she passed away peacefully at the age of 73 at the family home in California. </p> <p dir="ltr">Chloe Lattanzi took to Instagram to share heartwarming never-before-seen photos of her with her mother. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Good old days with mama and my Hanna banana,” she captioned the post. </p> <p dir="ltr">The photos show memories that Chloe cherished with her mother Olivia including one where she is preparing a strawberry birthday cake for her daughter. </p> <p dir="ltr">Another one shows the pair getting ready to board a private jet, while the last photo shows them at a theme park. </p> <p dir="ltr">The last photo shows them outside in their backyard next to the swimming pool enjoying the sun. </p> <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/CinoRWHvOmr/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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/CinoRWHvOmr/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Chloe Lattanzi (@chloelattanziofficial)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Fans commented on the post thanking Chloe for sharing the photos and the memories with them. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Thanks for sharing. Beautiful memories,” one commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Aww, thank you for sharing the beautiful photos, Chloe. I love the photo of your mama cutting the cakes. Sending you much love,” another wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Aweeeee thanks for sharing some of your family photos. Most amazing,” someone else commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">The <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/honouring-dame-olivia-newton-john" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news of Olivia’s passing</a> was announced by her husband John Easterling on Instagram via his late wife’s account, and included an appeal to continue her good works in the field of cancer research:</p> <p dir="ltr">“Dame Olivia Newton-John (73) passed away peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends. We ask that everyone please respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time,” he wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in her memory to the @onjfoundation."</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Rare Yarra Valley winery with intriguing history up for sale

<p dir="ltr">A sprawling homestead - complete with its very own winery - has hit the market for the first time in 40 years, and comes with owners with an unusual story.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sitting on over 36 hectares in Victoria’s Yarra Valley, the Gracedale Hills Estate and accompanying Hill Paddock Winery first came to be in the late 1990’s, after a chance meeting between Australian wine writer and critic James Halliday and Dr Richard Gutch OAM, the man who delivered Olivia Newton-John.</p> <p dir="ltr">As the doctor to Netwon-John’s mother, Irene, Dr Gutch brought the famed Aussie singer and actress into the world on September 26, 1948, in Cambridge, England.</p> <p dir="ltr">Years later, he and his wife Verna purchased the property in Healesville, with the intention of retiring, from Newell Cowan, who established the neighbouring Eyton on Yarra and Rochford Wines.</p> <p dir="ltr">At Eyton’s opening in 1996, Dr Gutch sat next to James Halliday, who advised him to plant vines on his estate.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Because of the northeastern slope, James Halliday said: ‘You’ll never get a frost’, and we never have,” Penny Gutch, Richard and Verna’s daughter, said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Gutch, who turns 60 next year, has been managing her late father’s property with her husband Chris and said she has decided it’s time to sell.</p> <p dir="ltr">Hill Paddock Winery produced its first wine in 2003 under the Gracedale Hills label, going on to release 100 cases of shiraz, chardonnay and rosé until the COVID-19 pandemic hit.</p> <p dir="ltr">Now, the winery is leased under a ten-year agreement with well-known Yarra Valley winemaker Mac Forbes, where he produces the Gracedale Hills “Hills Paddock” wines and his own.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Gutch said the new owner of the estate - about half of which is separately leased to farmers for animal grazing - could decide to get involved in the winery or let it operate under the lease.</p> <p dir="ltr">But its farming and wine-making qualities aren’t the only highlights, with the three-bedroom house located on the estate boasting 360 degree views of Mt St Leonard and The Great Dividing Range.</p> <p dir="ltr">Trevor Lavigne, an agent with Philip Webb Real Estate, said he had received inquiries about the estate from local, interstate and international buyers, and that it could be used as an Airbnb or developed further, pending council approval.</p> <p dir="ltr">The estate has been <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-acreage+semi-rural-vic-healesville-140230475" target="_blank" rel="noopener">listed</a> with an asking price of $5.3-5.8 million, with private inspections available.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-39e138cb-7fff-9c36-8339-efdc113e2e83"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Realestate.com.au</em></p>

Real Estate

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Chloe Lattanzi shares footage of Olivia Newton-John officiating her wedding

<p dir="ltr">Chloe Lattanzi has been reflecting on memorable moments shared with her mother, Olivia Newtown-John, before her devastating death last month.</p> <p dir="ltr">Lattanzi, aged 36, stumbled upon a video from her wedding to James Driskill which she has revealed was officiated by her famous mum.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Scrolling through my phone this morning I found this," she said as she shared the video on Instagram.</p> <p dir="ltr">In the clip, Newton-John could be seen standing by the couple as they held hands on a beach in the Bahamas.</p> <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/reel/CiIXsCWDC4W/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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/reel/CiIXsCWDC4W/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Chloe Lattanzi (@chloelattanziofficial)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">"This is one of the most precious moments of my life," read a note Lattanzi added to the video. "Years ago in the Bahamas I asked my gorgeous mama to marry me to this incredible man. Thank you mama. For everything. I miss you every moment."</p> <p dir="ltr">Lattanzi had been engaged to the martial arts expert since 2010 after one year of dating. Rumoured to have married James in a secret ceremony in 2017, talks of the marriage escalade when she updated her Instagram bio to read: "Wife to James Driskill."</p> <p dir="ltr">While Chloe confirmed a ceremony did occur in her latest post, it's unknown if the couple made it official with a marriage license. She still refers to Driskill as her "fiancé", and has opened up about their wedding plans.</p> <p dir="ltr">"My fiancé and I, we are unconventional," she told the magazine, adding that have "been married in spirit since the moment we met" but hoped to officially marry in 2021.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Food & Wine

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Little known fact about Olivia Newton-John

<p dir="ltr">Chloe Lattanzi has revealed a little known fact about her mother, the late Olivia Newton-John.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Grease star lost her battle with breast cancer on August 8 when she passed away peacefully at the age of 73 at the family home in California. </p> <p dir="ltr">A few weeks after her tragic death, her daughter Chloe is still coming to terms with the loss, sharing three incredible photos of herself to Instagram. </p> <p dir="ltr">In the caption she explained that her mother took the photos and that she was an “excellent photographer”. </p> <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/Ch7z5c_vqOa/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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/Ch7z5c_vqOa/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Chloe Lattanzi (@chloelattanziofficial)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Through mama’s lens,” the caption began with three heart emojis. </p> <p dir="ltr">“She always got the best and realest out of me. Helped me with my shyness. Like my grandmother, my mama was an excellent photographer! </p> <p dir="ltr">“Don’t know if you knew that about her. One of her many talents. Thank you for these mama.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Fans commented on the post saying that Olivia took “beautiful” photos of Chloe and that she would be so proud of her. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Your mama took the most beautiful pictures of you and you of course always looked absolutely stunning in those pictures.. Sending you the biggest hug and lots of love,” one commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Absolutely stunning! She had a great gift…to add to her list of many for sure!” another wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“​​Absolutely beautiful Chloe, you're such a beautiful, strong and kindhearted soul. Your mom is always around you and in your heart. Sending you so much love. Always here if you need you know how to reach me x,” another read.</p> <p dir="ltr">The <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/honouring-dame-olivia-newton-john" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news of Olivia’s passing</a> was announced by her husband John Easterling on Instagram via his late wife’s account, and included an appeal to continue her good works in the field of cancer research:</p> <p dir="ltr">“Dame Olivia Newton-John (73) passed away peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends. We ask that everyone please respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time,” he wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in her memory to the @onjfoundation."</p> <p dir="ltr">Her daughter Chloe also shared a series of <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/no-words-emotional-images-from-olivia-newton-john-s-daughter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heartwarming photos</a> upon the news breaking as celebrities and fans alike offered their condolences.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Stirring musical tribute to Olivia Newton-John

<p>In honour of Olivia Newton-John, two musical powerhouses have delivered an emotional tribute to the late entertainer. </p> <p>While on their world tour, British rock band Coldplay were joined on stage at London's Wembley Stadium by singer Natalie Imbruglia to perform a hit song from <em>Grease</em>. </p> <p>Together, they performed the track <em>Summer Nights</em> to the 90,000-strong crowd, with the audience singing along to every word. </p> <p>For their rendition, Imbruglia handled the role of Sandy while Coldplay’s Chris Martin sang the part of John Travolta’s character, Danny, duetting on its shared chorus along with Jacob Collier.</p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1PEqVarGq14" width="100%" height="400" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>Before the tribute to Olivia, Coldplay and Imbruglia also performed <em>Torn</em>, which Imbruglia popularised when she released her version of the Ednaswap song as her debut single in 1997.</p> <p>Natalie Imbruglia was among the thousands of entertainers to pay tribute to Olivia Newton-John after she died of breast cancer at age 73, writing an emotional post online. </p> <p>She said, "Devastated to hear of the passing of Olivia Newton John. When I was a little girl I used to close my eyes and sing her songs and dream of one day being on a stage somewhere, singing, just like her. She was magic."</p> <p>"A huge inspiration to me and so many other young kids who where singing into their hairbrush."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

Music

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What Olivia Newton-John wanted after her death

<p dir="ltr">A never before seen interview of Olivia Newton-John before her tragic death has aired on TV.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Grease star lost her battle with breast cancer on August 8 when she passed away peacefully at the age of 73.</p> <p dir="ltr">Olivia appeared in a special interview on <em>Spotlight: Olivia - A Magical Life</em> where she explained what she wanted to happen when she died.</p> <p dir="ltr">The beloved singer said she wanted her ashes to be scattered in Byron Bay, California and “in other places I love”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Olivia’s late mother and sister also had their ashes scattered in the popular holiday destination.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I don’t think I’ve really thought about it that deeply. We all should,” Olivia said in the interview.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But I’d like to be with them, I’d like to be with them … that would be nice.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/honouring-dame-olivia-newton-john" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news of Olivia’s passing</a> was announced by her husband John Easterling on Instagram via his late wife’s account, and included an appeal to continue her good works in the field of cancer research:</p> <p dir="ltr">“Dame Olivia Newton-John (73) passed away peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends. We ask that everyone please respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time,” he wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in her memory to the @onjfoundation."</p> <p dir="ltr">Her daughter Chloe also shared a series of <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/no-words-emotional-images-from-olivia-newton-john-s-daughter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heartwarming photos</a> upon the news breaking as celebrities and fans alike offered their condolences.</p> <p dir="ltr">The family have also accepted a state funeral from Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Seven</em></p>

Caring

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Olivia Newton-John’s daughter shares never seen before footage

<p dir="ltr">Olivia Newton-John's daughter has shared a beautiful behind-the-scenes video of a duet she did with her mother.</p> <p dir="ltr">Chloe Rose Lattanzi shared the video to Instagram of her and her mum singing <em>Window In The Wall </em>at Olivia’s home studio.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 36-year-old could be seen smiling at her mother as the pair hugged, smiled and began to sing the beautiful song.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You are my lighthouse mama. My safe place. My heart space. It has been my honor and continues to be my honor to be your baby and best friend,” Chloe wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You are an angel on earth and everyone touched by you has been blessed. I love you forever my life giver, my teacher, my mama.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The song was released in January 2021 and at the time Olivia knew it was one that she wanted to sing with her daughter.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’ve always enjoyed singing duets more than singing on my own, and when I first heard this song, I knew immediately that I wanted to sing it with my daughter Chloe,” she previously said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The lyrics and melody really resonated with me, and I hoped Chloe would feel the same way – and luckily, she did!”</p> <p dir="ltr">Chloe at the time also knew it was a song she wanted to perform with her mother when she played it for her.</p> <p dir="ltr">“When my mom played the song for me I knew I wanted to record it, not only because it was with my mom but, I felt the lyrics and message might help people see things from another perspective,” Chloe said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We are all part of the same human race and if we listen to each other, respect each other and love each other - for both our likenesses and our differences - we might just understand each other a lot more.”</p> <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/reel/ChC-Nr8j1_w/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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/reel/ChC-Nr8j1_w/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Chloe Lattanzi (@chloelattanziofficial)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The heartwarming behind-the-scenes video comes following the devastating news of Olivia’s death on Monday at her home in California.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 73-year-old fought her breast cancer diagnosis for 30 years but unfortunately succumbed to it.</p> <p dir="ltr">The news of <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/honouring-dame-olivia-newton-john" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Olivia’s passing was announced by her husband</a> John Easterling on Instagram via his late wife’s account, and included an appeal to continue her good works in the field of cancer research:</p> <p dir="ltr">“Dame Olivia Newton-John (73) passed away peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends. We ask that everyone please respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time,” he wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in her memory to the @onjfoundation."</p> <p dir="ltr">Her daughter Chloe also shared a <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/no-words-emotional-images-from-olivia-newton-john-s-daughter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">series of heartwarming photos</a> upon the news breaking as celebrities and fans alike offered their condolences.</p> <p dir="ltr">The family have also accepted a state funeral from Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Unlikely classmates: Olivia spotted in same row as another Aussie icon

<p>An Australian icon has shared their primary school class photo, which features a young Olivia Newton-John before she shot to stardom. </p> <p>The photo also unearthed the little known fact that Olivia went to school with another giant of the Australian entertainment industry: Daryl Braithwaite.</p> <p>Just days after Olivia <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/honouring-dame-olivia-newton-john" target="_blank" rel="noopener">died from breast cancer</a>, Braithwaite, 73, shared the black-and-white class photo taken at Christ Church Grammar School in Melbourne in 1961. </p> <p>“This is a lovely shot to look back at when Olivia was at (school) with all her friends back in 1961. Olivia is 2nd from the right and 3rd row from the bottom,” wrote Braithwaite, who is in the same row on the very far left.</p> <p>He added, “She also loved all animals and was a beautiful soul who left a legacy that will endure forever.”</p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/08/289791995_622869719154215_9160388663808533621_n.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p>His post was flooded with comments, as people couldn't believe Daryl and Olivia's friendship went all the way back to primary school. </p> <p>One person said, "Who would of thought that two of Australia's greatest ever singers would come out of that class photo."</p> <p>Braithwaite has previously opened up about how the duo were briefly “boyfriend and girlfriend” while at the same school, before Newton-John moved to London in her teenage years. </p> <p>“She was one of the prettiest girls in the class, (we were) 11 or 12 I think,” he told <em>The Morning Show</em> in 2017.</p> <p>“I don’t know how, we must have sat next to each other and thought, ‘Oh yeah that’s good’ and we were talking and then we held hands and then it was over.”</p> <p>After their fleeting romance, Braithwaite said that the pair always stayed friends. </p> <p>He told <a href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/celebrity/celeb-news/daryl-braithwaite-olivia-newton-john-romance-64213" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Now to Love</a> in 2020, “It is one of those friendships where there was a decade, or maybe more, where we didn’t speak to each other, mainly because we were too busy or whatever, but over the last year or so I have made more contact with her than ever before, and she is lovely, she really is.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

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Olivia Newton-John gave a voice to those with cancer and shifted the focus to the life of survivors

<h2 class="legacy">Olivia <span class="nobr">Newton-John</span> gave a voice to those with cancer and shifted the focus to the life of survivors</h2> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alex-broom-121063">Alex Broom</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a></em></p> <p>Since news of Olivia Newton-John’s death this week, many have paid tribute to her character, humble nature and cultural significance.</p> <p>She also made a significant contribution to cancer survivorship and the ideal of treating the whole person, not just their disease.</p> <p>Newton-John was <a href="https://www.onjcancercentre.org/about/olivia-newton-john">diagnosed</a> with breast cancer in 1992 and underwent a partial mastectomy, chemotherapy and breast reconstruction. Her cancer journey spanned three decades, and as she <a href="https://www.onjcancercentre.org/about/olivia-newton-john">explained</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p>The whole experience has given me much understanding and compassion, so much so that I wanted to help others going through the same journey.</p> </blockquote> <p> </p> <h2>Bringing our attention to cancer</h2> <p>Getting the community mobilised around difficult topics like cancer can be tough. Celebrities – and their experience of illness and healing – have become one of the most powerful means for mobilising action.</p> <p>Olivia Newton-John was one of the first to share her experience of breast cancer with a wide audience and her advocacy opened the door for others such as Kylie Minogue and <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13058-014-0442-6?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000618">Angelina Jolie</a> to share theirs.</p> <p>Stories like theirs have mobilised cancer <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13058-014-0442-6?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000618">screening</a> and <a href="https://www.onjcri.org.au/">research</a>, prompting reflection and normalised the experience of living with cancer.</p> <h2>The ‘alternative’ voices of cancer survivorship</h2> <p>The diverse approach Newton-John took to cancer treatment was a distinguishing part of <a href="https://www.womanandhome.com/life/olivia-newton-john-reveals-how-cannabis-has-helped-her-during-stage-4-cancer-battle/">her legacy</a>. As she explained when establishing the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness &amp; Research Centre:</p> <blockquote> <p>I did herbal formulas, meditation and focused on a vision of complete wellness.</p> </blockquote> <p>Explaining her “pro cannabis” stance on <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/olivia-newton-johhn-60-minutes-cancer-medicinal-cannabis-key-to-recovery/3fe1b1ce-f8dd-43fd-b534-d2f4000dfd1e">60 minutes in 2019</a>, she reflected a growing recognition of community interest in diverse approaches to pain and symptom management, and how such community views often rub up against legal and regulatory constraints. Australia only <a href="https://www.nps.org.au/australian-prescriber/articles/prescribing-medicinal-cannabis#:%7E:text=The%20Australian%20Federal%20Government%20legalised,flower%20products%20are%20also%20available">legalised</a> medicinal cannabis in 2016, and many reservations persist among the Australian medical community.</p> <p>Being open about her experience, Newton-John gave voice to things which many Australian cancer patients try, and believe in, but many in the medical community continue to push back on. In Australia, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1743-7563.2010.01329.x">more than</a> <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1744388118307679">half</a> of people living with cancer use alternative treatments over the course of their cancer journeys. Yet, alternative practices, including herbal products and medicinal cannabis, remain largely absent from mainstream cancer care. This risks putting mainstream medicine out of step with community beliefs.</p> <p>As regularly noted, managing patient interest in “alternative” cancer care is a tricky area, but what is clear is that openness and frank discussions serve everyone best. A <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jnci/article/114/1/25/6189098?login=true">harm-reduction</a> approach, which discusses and detects any dangerous side-effects or interactions, is safer than silencing what people living with cancer are doing or believe in.</p> <h2>Challenges to unhelpful cancer narratives</h2> <p>Cancer has suffered from a wide range of misconceptions and misrepresentations, ranging from ideas about cancer as a “death sentence”, or the idea that you either beat it or succumb to it. People often feel this does them a disservice.</p> <p>People with cancer are so much more than a “cancer patient”, and they don’t want to be trapped in that frame. They can live well with cancer, without focusing entirely on trying to be cancer-free to the exclusion of all else. Newton-John <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/oct/26/olivia-newton-john-i-dont-wish-cancer-on-anyone-else-but-for-me-it-has-been-a-gift">emphasised this idea regularly</a>.</p> <p>Likewise, the expectation of “<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0038038502036001006">cancer heroics</a>” is an all-consuming and unhelpful cultural ideal. Sometimes “fighting” works and is needed, but in many contexts and particularly for long-term survivors, focusing on quality of life and wellness is critical.</p> <p>This is likely why various alternative practices have gained traction, despite the slim evidence base for many. The world of “alternative therapies” has tended to present to the community a more person-centred approach, regardless of whether this is actually achieved by many practitioners in practice.</p> <h2>Towards ‘survivorship’</h2> <p>Cancer “<a href="https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/cancer-information/living-well/after-cancer-treatment/adjusting-to-life-after-treatment/who-is-a-cancer-survivor/">survivorship</a>”, in its broadest sense, denotes a broad focus, inclusive of the mind, body and the social life of the person living with cancer, not merely their disease, symptoms or treatment side-effects.</p> <p>Even two decades ago, the emphasis was almost exclusively placed on curative cancer treatment, treatment discovery, or post-curative experiences. This overly disease-centred focus tended to marginalise the many people who will continue to live on <em>with</em> cancer.</p> <p> </p> <p>Person-centred approaches, in their many forms, show <a href="https://bmcnurs.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12912-017-0206-6">considerable benefit</a>, although there continues to be a diverse set of understandings about what it <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959804921003403">actually means</a>. The broad principle of person-centredness is that we are much more than a disease and this matters throughout all aspects of care. Our care needs to be structured around our beliefs, psychological and social needs and <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jocn.14312">life experiences</a>. This may sound simple, but it is often not a central part of the picture.</p> <p>While we are making progress, as Newton-John was acutely aware, there is so much more to do in this realm. Based on our <a href="https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/impacted-cancer/what-cancer/cancer-australia-statistics">most recent estimates</a> more than one million Australians alive today are either currently living with cancer or have lived with it. Strategies which help all of us touched by cancer to <em>live well</em>, whether cured or not, should be the priority moving forward.</p> <p>While we must be careful not to push too far in the other direction – a <a href="https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9780822394716/html">cruel optimism</a> which threatens to <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1357034X15586240">sideline</a> the hard, sad and often difficult experiences of cancer – a balance is needed which we have not quite reached.</p> <p>Olivia Newton-John’s death will likely be difficult for some living with cancer. Important survivorship stories, when they come to a close, are difficult. So, let’s not pretend. Endings are hard, but a life well lived it also something to celebrate.<!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alex-broom-121063">Alex Broom</a>, Professor of Sociology &amp; Director, Sydney Centre for Healthy Societies, The University of Sydney., <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a></em></p> <p>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation.</a> Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/olivia-newton-john-gave-a-voice-to-those-with-cancer-and-shifted-the-focus-to-the-life-of-survivors-188444">original article</a>.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

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