theceomagazine.com | 25He has a lot more energy too, after a
recent health kick. “You hit 50 and you’ve
been putting on a kilo and a half every
year for the past 15 years, and suddenly
you look down one day and say, ‘Geez,
I’m fat.’ And when you get to this stage
of life, diabetes and heart disease come
into play, so you have to look after
yourself. I can tell myself that it’s hard
because I get up at 4.30 every morning
and work long hours, but sooner or later
you realise that’s an excuse, not a reason.
These should be the best years of your
life, and if you want to live the lifestyle
that you have worked hard to build, then
you might as well get yourself in shape
to enjoy it. So, I’ve got myself back to
being fit, and I feel fantastic.”
It means that when he does carve out
a bit of free time, he can keep up with
his wife, Carla, and two sons, Joe (16) and
Xander (14). “My family is really the
centre of my whole life. My wife and
our family have been a constant source
of joy and pride for me. Carla and I have
a great relationship, thank goodness. And
I’ve got two ripping kids who are coming
into that stage in life where they are
turning into young men and it’s a pleasure
to see them do so.”
Xander has made guest appearances
on Neighbours, and even joined Eddie
on stage at the TV Week Logie Awards,
poking fun at his father’s less-than-stellar
first day as a television reporter. He
says his family are his most “trenchant
critics” and have no trouble keeping
him grounded. Of course, his upbringing
keeps him in check too. He only needs
to remind himself of Eddie Senior’s
swag of laborious jobs, and missing
out on dinners with his mother, Bridie,
because of her factory shifts. He says
what you see is what you get too.
“I’m always ad-libbing, so you can’t
make that stuff up. There’s no point
trying to be somebody who you’re not.”
His modest Broadmeadows background
has no doubt played a part in his passion
for philanthropy. Magpie Nest is one
of the initiatives he and Collingwood
chaplain Major Brendan Nottle pushed
through the club, known for its working-
class roots. The pair orchestrated the
residential program after a woman escaped
a domestic violence situation only to find
herself with nowhere to go. “After she
confided in us, it brought us to tears, and
we looked at each other and said, ‘We’ve
got to get in and do something here.’ ”
The project now provides accommodation
for 300 people who are “doing it tough”,
and it also serves 3,000 meals a week.
Eddie and his family also spend every
Christmas Day handing out food and
presents to the less fortunate. “There are a
lot of people to whom life deals some bad
cards, or they are left on the side of the
road of life. So, to be able to come in and
provide a beautiful room, great food and
music, and genuine love and warmth on
what can be such a lonely day for people,
is a wonderful thing.”
So, when he cops a barrage of abuse
for a slip of the tongue taken out of
context, he only needs to remind himself
of how fortunate he is. And make no
mistake, that luck has been earned. “If
there is one thing I’d like to tell my
20-year-old self, it’s not to be afraid
of making mistakes because you will –
the critics are always there. Take on what
they say because sometimes those things
can be constructive, but don’t take to
heart the comments from those who
might criticise you for the wrong reasons.
“Above all, live a good life and
enjoy yourself.”“ My family is really the centre of
my whole life. My wife and our
family have been a constant
source of joy and pride for me.”
Cover story