APRIL 8, 2018

Jesinta Franklin goes old-school

Nicole da Silva shares her baby news

Jason Clarke: Aussie rules It was the most challenging thing I have faced reveals the health scare that changed him forever – and how wife stood by him

AN EXPERT’S GUIDE TO FOODIE GETAWAYS F AST ITALIAN MEALS FOR A WEEKNIGHT COULD MATT PRESTON TURN VEGETARIAN?

STR08APp001 1 29/3/18 6:15 pm cover “My mind went to places I didn’t want”

eter Overton vividly recalls the abysmal.’ Jessica said: ‘Go to the GP.’ So I got an appointment moment his doctor uttered the word, the next morning. He looked at it and then he said, ‘I’m really and remembers exactly what he concerned about this, Peter. This could be lymphoma.’” thought once it was said. “Is this what Unable to reach Rowe, who was busy at work, Overton it feels like?” The question ricocheted went alone to have his CT scan. On the way, he phoned through his head as he absorbed the director Simon Hobbs. That’s when the reality diagnosis from his GP. He could have of the probable diagnosis hit him. It was hard for Hobbs to lymphoma. Cancer of the blood. hear, too. “It’s like the world just stops for a second,” Hobbs During his years reporting for tells Stellar. “I could hear how scared he was.” 60 Minutes, Overton has interviewed Hobbs says that only “two or three key people” at the many people about their own cancer network were told what Overton was facing – the rest of diagnoses, and was touched by their stories. Now the tables the newsroom were led to believe he just had a heavy cold. had turned. The strange symptoms he began to experience A stalwart at the network, where he has worked since 1991 Plast August had finally forced him into his doctor’s room, and and is marking 10 years at the desk for the 6pm edition of were pointing strongly towards that very disease. Nine News in , Overton is widely liked. Every day he His mind flashed back to Dr Chris O’Brien, a respected enjoys a cup of tea and a chat with the cleaner. He spends surgeon who had died of an aggressive brain tumour. And to time with the security guys, talking about their families. And Olivia Lambert, the six-year-old who died in 2012 from a rare though he has his own office, he prefers to be in the bustle of childhood cancer called neuroblastoma. “Having done all the newsroom where he can better mentor young reporters. those stories, I was suddenly in Chris O’Brien’s seat thinking, That is why, Hobbs says, he took pains to keep Overton’s ‘I wonder whether he felt the same way when he got his illness a secret. “It would have been like putting a rocket diagnosis,’” Overton tells Stellar, talking about his experience through the newsroom,” he says. “Because people really care for the first time in the hope he will spur others to see a for Pete. He’s genuinely good – the Mr Nice Guy that everyone doctor if they have their own health concerns. “I had never sees. You would find very few newsrooms around the country been in that situation myself. I have reported on it. I have sat where people are as loyal to their leader as they are to Pete.” in front of families with kids dying, and with Chris O’Brien. One colleague who knew the truth was . “But suddenly my mind was there. It wandered to places “I felt sick to the core,” confides the Today show co-host, who I didn’t want it to wander. I was calm, but it was going. This filled in for Overton for the two weeks he was away. “But was the most challenging thing I have faced.” I tried to be as positive for him as possible. Filling in was During that unnerving check-up on September 12 last year, business as usual, but on a personal level thinking about for the first time in his life Overton had no questions. He what Peter was going through was very much front of mind.” merely listened as the doctor got on the phone and began Gardner has been friends with Overton and Rowe for years; making urgent appointments with various specialists for as such, she says, “The first time we all met up, all three a barrage of tests. Hopefully, they could explain the lumps of us hugged for a little bit longer than normal.” that had suddenly sprung up all over his body, why he felt Later in the same day of his diagnosis, Overton’s GP called so rundown all the time, and why his neck had swollen so with more bad news: the scans were also pointing towards much that he struggled to button his shirt collar. Despite all lymphoma. So when Rowe pulled up outside their home that, Overton, 52, confesses he had to be pushed into seeing that night, he raced out to her car. He was mindful that a doctor by his wife Jessica Rowe, 47. sharing the news with his wife inside would distress their “Typical male,” he laughs. “I thought I had an ingrown hair. daughters, Allegra, 11, and Giselle, eight. I thought I was just overtired. One night, I recall saying to my “I only knew that he’d gone to see the GP,” Rowe tells Stellar. colleague on set: ‘God, I can’t wait for the news to be over, I feel “I didn’t know any of this other stuff had happened. He came

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STR08APR18N009 9 29/3/18 5:39 pm Peter Overton and Jessica Rowe talk for the first time about the health scare that upended their lives last year – and brought them even closer together Photography DAMIAN BENNETT Styling GEMMA KEIL Interview SIOBHAN DUCK

PETER WEARS Country Road shirt and pants, countryroad.com.au; Christian Louboutin shoes, (02) 8355 5282; his own socks JESSICA WEARS Rebecca Taylor dress, (02) 9327 3377; Georg Jensen earrings, georgjensen.com GISELLE WEARS (left) Country Road top and skirt, as before; Pandora necklace, pandora.net ALLEGRA WEARS Notes du Nord dress, (02) 9327 3377; Pandora necklace, as before; Converse shoes, converse.com.au

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STR08APR18N008 8 29/3/18 5:39 pm STR08APR18N010 10 the early hoursofthemorning. “Ididn’t sleep very well,” he results were complete, butadmitsthat panicsetinduring it againfromhissisterRebecca,herself aGP, when shecalled. John’s voice when heexplained what was going on. He heard a matter ofcourse. That night hecoulddetectthe worry in of paediatric anaesthesiology, every night onthephoneas the news. tohisfather Hespeaks John, aretiredprofessor says sheputonabrave face.Inside? “I was sicktomy stomach.” go andhave toseeaspecialist tests.’ I was juststunned.” Rowe trying toparkthecar.And hesaid, ‘Now,pussycat… Ihave to out thefront andI wound my window down asI was still 10 then you canweather

“ Overton was determinedtoremainpositive until histest Overton’s parents, intheir80s, both also struggledtodigest stellar If you agree on those all sorts of things” big issues inlife, cover

O knocked himsidewaysknocked andgiven himthescareofhislife. wasn’t lymphoma, butaparticularly vicious virus that had to alleviate stress.This timearound, thenews was better. It (“raking ormowing”),his chosenlocation for when heneeds results arrived. When thecallcame,Overton was inthegarden was everyone else who was [stressed].” Your run. minddoes But thenIjust went into acalmandit room.This was allat 3am. I was thinking worst-case scenario. Allegra’s andjuststaredat room her.Then I went toGiselle’s the accountant andtheinsuranceguy. I went andkneltin writing notes. I was makinglistsofthingsto do, likering says. “Ithengot upand was lymphoma. Googling I was together.” Ofherdecisiontoleave Studio10,Rowe says, “You coffee. We’d sitonthecouchandjusttalk. We’d makethelunch our timetogether at 5.15inthemorning.Every day we’d have a one thingIamgoing Jessica tomissabout doingStudio10is theirchildren,up anhourbefore just toenjoy timealone. They stillenjoy company eachother’s somuchthat they get big issuesinlife, then you can weather allsortsofthings.” that’s what tiesustogether asacouple. If you agreeonthose solidonis are rock we sharethesamemoralcompass, and built together. “Yes,we different. tobe appear But what we show down from her jobasapanellistonNetwork Ten’s morning the demiseofhisfirstmarriage. into going out with Rowe because he was stillgetting over in2001.at theLogies Even thenafriend hadtotalkOverton sparks didn’t fly until years later, whenthey clinkedglasses student doing work at experience theNineNetwork. But and with Olivia’s family.A lot ofpeople would just walk away.” work forChrisO’Brien’s Lifehouse[cancertreatment centre] someone it’s morethanjustaninterview. somuch He does himself.when itcomestotalkingabout When Petey meets generous andgivingcaringtoeveryone. Hejuststruggles proclaiming,before Overton “Heisso at glance sideways interview subject.Rowe agrees,throwingknowinga than hedidfacingoffagainsteven themostadversarial sittingdownabout nervous tospeak more with Stellar felt he story that hehasfoundhardesttoshare,and confessesthat each year,believes everybody hasataletotell. Itishisown the folks likeDrO’BrienandOlivia. Overton, who isstillapartof arguably hisstrongest work hasbeen with everyday people, once famously toldhimto“puthismannersbackin” – but but allI wanted todo was this. [I wanted to]soakuptelevision.” The family spent several nervous days waiting the before “We have an extraordinary relationship,” Overton says. “The Fourteen years onfromtheir wedding,Rowe – who stepped Rowe andOverton firstmet whenRowe was auni He has interviewed and politicians celebrities – Tom Cruise 60 Minutes teamandcompilesseveral forthem reports on Good FridayStudio 10onGood –marvels at thelifethey have Economics at MacquarieUniversity, tape he now works to watch Ray Martin him totheSydney studios where in themirror.At 15, his mum took he’d practiseinterviews at home didn’t want areporter. tobe As aboy, verton can’t recallatime when he Midday. “IdidaBachelorof

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OTHER PHOTOGRAPHY: . HAIR: BRAD MULLINS USING O&M. MAKE-UP: SAMANTHA P USING ELLA BACHÉ STR08APR18N011 11

OTHER PHOTOGRAPHY: NINE NETWORK. HAIR: BRAD MULLINS USING O&M. MAKE-UP: SAMANTHA P USING ELLA BACHÉ my feelings,” shesays ofherrocky stint at Today in2006. from thenetwork,she shakes her head. “Ofcourse, it hurt she has forgiven the people who facilitated herdeparture that sofamously herfromtheToday “boned” show. Asked if him nuts.” Besides,she isnotkeentoreturn tothe workplace working together. “God,no!” Rowe exclaims. “I would drive TV,a return to quicklythough both dismissany ideaof her advocacy onmental-health issues.She hasn’t ruledout altogether. Sheplansto write, expandherblog and continue quickly disappear Childhoods re-engaged.” butcareerscanbe Adds Overton: “We arelucky,as afamily, that we candoit. present forourdaughters.I wanted thereinthemornings.” tobe you,and Iknew that it was time. Ineededand wanted tobe have tolisten what your instinct and your heartaretelling Rowe says leaving notmeangivingup Studio10does work he says quietly.says he haven’t“I toldJessie that,but Ido.” has undertakenanew hobby. “Icuddlethekidsharder,” to say no,and toscalebackhis workload. And, he reveals, he he says. With apushfromhis wife,he adds, he islearning changing? No. ButIcansmellthebrakes hittingtheground,” made himappreciate thefragility of every new day. “Isitlife of Australia, that proud. makesthemboth disorder.bipolar Itisthis work, which earnedheranOrder herpostnatalabout depressionas well ashermother’s struggles in Australia; shecontinues forthrightly speaking leading thediscussionarounddestigmatising mental-health again andfeelconfident in my voice and whoIam.” times. merediscover DoingStudio10helped my senseofself strong we areuntil we go through somereally challenging me stronger. We don’t know what we aremadeoforhow through postnatal depression… allsortsofthingshave made care. Because ofthat, and going ever been. I amnotperfect, butIdon’t more comfortableinmy skinthanI’ve “But Iamnow almost48 andI amfar Overton,meanwhile, says hisown healthscarehasalso Rowe,with Overton at herside,says she wants tokeep Bondi Beach;hotelravesis.com Bondi Pde, Ravesis, 118Campbell atHôtel Shot onlocation assignment for60Minutes. Overton marriedin2004;on Sydney desk;JessicaRoweand NineNews 10 yearsbehindthe year seesOvertonmark in” duringaninterview;this back him to“puthismanners Tom Cruise,whofamouslytold Peter Overtoninterviewing (clockwise from belowleft) georgjensen.com; herownring Jensen earringsandbracelet, Georgtheundone.com; Christopher Esberdress, JESSICA WEARS blazer, knitandpants,asbefore own ring;(opposite)Trenery his boots, rmwilliams.com.au; longines.com.au; R.M.Williams trenery.com.au; Longineswatch, sportscraft.com.au; Trenery pants, Sportscraftshirt, WEARS PETER (opposite)

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