perfect because it was a culmination of a
dream of my lifetime to be able to stand
in this beautiful space with my family and
friends who I really love.I didn’tneed
anything else.
“It’s never great to be inhosp
was one of the most lovely expe
me to actually experiencemyo
When I was going throughc
the first time, I had treatm
acupuncture, homeopathy,m
yoga and meditation. I want
these things to be availableto
patients to help them through
journey, and now it’s a beau
centre in Melbourne.”
Following the fracture,Oliv
who also believes in the medi
use of cannabis to combatpai
anxiety – had to learn to walka
“I went from walking with
walking without anything. Major
milestones teach you to begratefulfor
things that you took for granted.”
Of her health now, she says: “I’m doing
great, thank you. I’m doing well.”
Olivia’s upbeat approach is typical. In
her memoir she writes of how she has
coped during difficult times – of which
there have been many, including several
miscarriages, her daughter’s anorexia
and addiction, and the mysterious
disappearance at sea of her then
boyfriend Patrick McDermott in 2005.
She tends to not to dwell on the
negative: “I let it go. I try to stay in the
moment because that’s a happy way to
lead your life.”
POSITIVE THINKING
Born in England and raised in Australia,
where her family emigrated when she was
five, Olivia secured a record deal with
Decca in 1966 and had hits with songs
including If Not For You and Take Me Home,
Country Roads.
She describes herself as strong rather
than tough. Does the power of positivity
play a big role in her life?
“Oh, absolutely. You have to think
positively. Your life is a huge part of your
healing, and your mental wellbeing is just
as important as everything else. Staying
positive and seeing good things ahead of
you and having good things to reach for is
really important to me.”
Olivia says of the year ahead: “My goal
is to get healthier and stronger, and that’s
happening. But my main goal is that, in
my lifetime, with our research institute,
we can see an end to cancer.
“My husband is a herbal plant-medicine
man who’d been running his own company
for many years, and now he formulates
products for other people, so I’m lucky to
have this wonderful man in my life who
can give me the right herbs and who
knowswhatworksandwhatdoesn’t.
“EvenbeforehimI wasverymuchinto
naturaltherapies,sonowI’musinga
combinationofWesternmedicineand
naturaltherapiestostayhealthy.”
After 50 yearsinthespotlight,could
shebetemptedtotouragain?
“I’measingintothedecadewithout
a micinmyhands.I’mjustbeing.”
‘Age is a number.
I’m grateful just
to get to 70’
Olivia is “doing well”
after being diagnosed
with cancer for the third
time in 2017. “I’m usinga
combination of Western
medicine and natural
therapies to stay
healthy,” she saysINTERVIEW:SARAHCURRAN
PHOTOS:DENISETRUSCELLO.KATHRYNBURKE
H
Don’t Stop Believin’ by Olivia Newton-John is
published by Simon & Schuster, priced £20.
PHOTOS: ALLSTAR. FILM MAGIC. WIREIMAGE
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