Noosa’s own celebrity chef Matt Golinski has shared his story of overcoming tragedy in the first book in an upcoming series, Campfire for the Heart.
Airlie Beach author Natalie Stockdale wrote the book while living on her boat on the Sunshine Coast, to showcase the indomitable human spirit.
Published by Big Sky Publishing, the uplifting books were written to help mental health and suicide prevention through the sharing of inspiring, true stories of recovery after experiences of tragedy, loss, injustice, natural disasters, war, trauma, terror, illness, injury, abuse and disability – life experiences shared by humanity.
Natalie said that currently, nine Australians die of suicide every day and one in eight people are experiencing high or very high psychological distress.
She believes there is power in storytelling to heal ourselves – and help others.
“By learning how other people have converted their darkest times to personal growth and success, we can discover how we too can grow from hardships – and help others in theirs,” she said.
The 30 storytellers in Campfire for the Heart are mostly unknown heroes of their personal journeys, but several names from the Sunshine Coast stand out including Lindy Chamberlain, Steve Parish OAM, Ann Ballinger, the Hon Brent Mickleberg MP, and celebrity chef Matt Golinski.
“The idea came about because as a resilience coach, I remember very vividly one of my clients was pacing up and down suffering with anxiety and he said ‘how do other people find happiness again’,” Natalie said.
“I thought that was a very good question. While living on my boat I began writing this book about incredibly inspiring people who have overcome adversity.
“I wanted to cover a very wide range of life experiences and tragedies. In Matt’s case, he lost his wife and three daughters in the most tragic circumstances, and also endured his own physical and mental struggle after the fire.
“When I met Matt, he came to my yacht and I interviewed him and I was just so genuinely in admiration of his recovery and his warmth and kindness and generosity of spirit.
“All the storytellers have a generosity of spirit because they’re wanting to share their stories, only for one reason, and that is to help people.
“They don’t share their stories to glorify themselves, they share their stories to inspire and help readers. So it was an absolute pleasure and privilege to hear Matt’s story.”
Campfire for the Heart has been praised by national mental health leaders, other authors, respected journalists, Dr Arun Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson), and various Australians of the Year, including cave-diving legend and Australian of the Year 2019, Dr Craig Challen, who wrote the foreword.
The book launch will be held around a campfire at Noosa Eco Retreat in Pomona on 26 November from 5pm to 9pm, where you’ll get to meet the author and some of the extraordinary and inspirational storytellers.
“It will be nice and relaxed, around a campfire as that is the traditional place to share stories,” Natalie said.
“We’ll have a beautiful backdrop of the Noosa Hinterland and there will be food, drinks and live music. It’s going to be a wonderful fundraising event.”
All profits raised from the book launch ticket sales will support local wildlife charity, Noosa Koala Rescue Centre.
The second book in the series, Campfire for a Woman’s Heart, features the remarkable stories of 25 international women including an Australian Paralympian champion, a gutsy barrister who stood up to ICAC, a legendry ice-water swimmer from the UK, a brave young student from Afghanistan, a mother from war-torn Ukraine, a former First Lady of Timor Leste and many other extraordinary resilient women.
Campfire for a Woman’s Heart will be released early next year.
Campfire for the Heart is available now online through the publisher (Big Sky Publishing), and at local book shops, news agencies and some post offices.
Books will be available for purchase for $29.99 at the book launch at Noosa Eco Retreat on 26 November.
Ticket prices: adults- $110, children up to 17 years old- $70 (All inclusive). RSVP at mygivingtable.com.au
BYO outdoor chairs, if possible.
