The first of many luncheons in Wollongong focused on International Women’s Day lived up to its name of Inspire for all those who attended at Villa D’Oro on Friday.
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The keynote speaker was someone who has tasted plenty of success in business and media. But Lyndey Milan’s story was also an example of how cancer can affect anyone and any family.
There was also an inspirational panel discussion at the Inspire lunch that resulted in thousands of dollars being raised for the Leukaemia Foundation.
Ms Milan, of Jamberoo, spoke about her career and incredibly close bond to her two children Blair and Lucy who always enjoyed freshly cooked meals together and went on restaurant reviews with her. She recalled how her eighth book, which complemented her TV series Lyndey and Blair’s Taste of Greece, was launched in 2012 and became her favourite. That is because it has become a beautiful tribute to her son Blair. She was meant to film the series with John Mangos but with an election looming he was unable to get time off from his news-reading duties. A friend suggested her actor son Blair replace him and she now describes that as serendipity.
“He was to die from Acute Myeloid Leukaemia, only three days after diagnosis and before the show went to air,” she said.
Ms Milan’s son was only 29 and had consciously chosen to be happy every day of his life. He also worked out, didn’t drink from Sunday to Thursday, ate well and made daily positive affirmations.
Taste of Greece was the first production for Flame Media, a business launched by Ms Milan and her partner five years ago. The series was aired on SBS, 7TWO, UK’s Good Food Channel and Food TV in New Zealand. It has been televised in 34 countries.
After Blair died Ms Milan and her partner set up the Blair Milan Fund in association with Charles Sturt University Foundation to help keep his name alive. There have been four annual winners, who use the funds to travel and do internships or extra courses...and four group winners, who use the funds to tour their shows.
Ms Milan is also patron and co-founder of Tasting Success, a mentoring program for female chefs run through TAFE which matches top chefs with female apprentices. She also works with charities such as Cure Cancer, Starlight Foundation, Cancer Council, Victor Chang Institute, Leukaemia Foundation, OzHarvest and Butterfly Foundation. And she encouraged people to support the Luekaemia Foundation’s Worlds Greatest Shave in March. The Inspire lunch was organised by Margaret Biggs and Virginia Wren and supported by the Commonwealth Bank.
