In 2009, a phenomenon swept our television screens as the debut season of Masterchef introduced millions of Australians to a mum-of-three from the NSW Central Coast, Julie Goodwin - but she was silently suffering.
"I tried to avoid my mental health issues for years ... it's a generational thing and you don't talk about - even my generation," she told The Senior.
"But you have to and it's what heals people these days."
As Julie battled through cooking challenges every week, ultimately being crowned the first-ever winner of Masterchef Australia, off-screen she was facing her own battles, and had been for years.
April 23 sees the release of her memoir, Your Time Starts Now, the brutally honest and soul-baring memoir of a woman who won hearts across the nation, who lived many highs and many lows, often in the public domain.
For the first time, she is courageously opening up about her own battle in a way she never has before, in the hopes her honesty will help anyone else who is struggling with their own mental health.
"Once I'd spoken about my struggles on TV, people came to me and thanked me for talking about it and I realised I had to do it," she said.
The master chef is obviously no stranger to writing books with a string of best-selling cookbooks to her name but writing her memoir was different.
"It's incomparable," Julie said. "You can't put the two together. Writing my memoir was very hard."
In 2009, the world saw Julie propelled from a middle-aged, working mum to front-page news week after week, year after year, let alone a woman who would cook dinner for the family to cooking for Marco Pierre White.
Then she achieved a dream: establishing her Central Coast kitchen and cooking school, Julie's Place, and the heartbreaking loss of that dream.
All the while, Julie and husband Mick ran a successful IT business and she became a breakfast radio star for a few years.
It all came crashing down the night she and Mick hosted 15th anniversary celebrations for their business at Julie's Place, culminating in her being arrested for drink-driving.
Julie was committed to mental health clinics as she sought treatment for depression and anxiety and finally overcame her denial of mental health troubles to actively seeking treatment and help.
Her downfall was a shock to her fans who saw her meteoric rise and couldn't believe what had happened.
"It certainly was a juggling act," Julie said. "But I had so many opportunities presented to me that I had to do it. You have to take these opportunities and run with them.
"In the end, we're finite beings.
"You have to have a full cup to be able to pour from it. A half cup won't do and that's what I learned. The hard way."
Your Time Starts Now (Penguin, $36.99) chronicles Julie's life, including:
- Her childhood, meeting her husband Mick, her soulmate and love of her life.
- Life before MasterChef: after leaving university, Julie taught and played music, worked in aged care, and did an eventful stint in a juvenile detention centre.
- What it was like to be propelled from a middle-aged, working mum to front-page news week after week, year after year, let alone a woman who would cook dinner for the family to cooking for Marco Pierre White.
- Achieving a dream: establishing her Central Coast kitchen and cooking school, Julie's Place, and the heartbreaking loss of that dream.
- The importance to her of family, community, and love: Love of family, love of life, and love of self, and being able to find joy in the key moments.
- Her battle with alcohol over the years, and the dark places it took her.
- An insight into Julie's recovery; an ongoing journey, where no two days are the same.
Her ongoing journey includes recently participating in the next series of Dancing With The Stars.
"Now, that was fun," she said. "I really enjoyed that.
"I will be touring with this book and I have other commitments but I've learned to look after myself.
"Today, before chatting with you, I had two Zoom meetings. After talking to you, I will get stuck into some art before going to the gym and then going home to cook dinner for my family.
"Not every day can be the same but that's OK."
Therese Murray
Wordsmith. Senior journalist. Editor. I have a proven track record in helping people and communities solve their problems. My career is all about telling stories.
Wordsmith. Senior journalist. Editor. I have a proven track record in helping people and communities solve their problems. My career is all about telling stories.
