The thing about writing a memoir, says Hayley Holt, is that it forces you to reflect on parts of your past you might rather skim over. Lifting the lid on an extraordinary life was never going to be easy, but it wasn't the broadcaster's battle with alcohol or the devastating loss of her first child that took the most courage to write about. Hayley was surprised to find that it was looking back on her childhood that brought up those conflicting emotions.
As a young ballroom dancing champion, she loved her adventurous life, but she'd always known her world was a little different that of her peers. It wasn't until she put pen to paper and removed those rose-tinted glasses that she began to suspect the "overscheduling" of her younger years and her devoted mother Robin's relentless enthusiasm for her children had perhaps led her to rebel. Regret and recrimination aren't the aim of the game, though. Hayley has accepted her intense younger years with a mix of gratitude and grace.
"I used to look at my friends and cousins, thinking, 'You're so lucky,' because it felt like they could do what they wanted and had time to just be kids. For me and my brother, life was totally full. Drama lessons, dancing, elocution classes, talent agencies, auditions, swimming, every sport you can imagine... It was hectic.
"But there are two ways of looking at my childhood. Yes, it was very overscheduled and intense, but I'm appreciative of it because I wouldn't be where I am now without it. I don't wish my childhood was any different - it was a lot of hard work, but it was also a lot of fun and adventure."
This story is from the July 2023 edition of Australian Women’s Weekly NZ.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 2023 edition of Australian Women’s Weekly NZ.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Spotlight on Vitamin D
Sunlight is the best source of vitamin D, but safe sun exposure is still essential.
Coming up roses
Driven by a renewed interest in the flower’s power, a rose renaissance is dawning.
'I was given a 5% chance of survival'
When Caroline Laner Breure was hit by a car in an horrific accident on a Spanish holiday with her boyfriend, her body and her dreams were shattered. Somehow she found the will to go on living.
Time to celebrate our mothers
Author Kathy Lette gives a heartfelt thank you to her magnificent mum, Val - a baker of fairy cakes with the patience of a saint.
"I am lucky to be here" ”
Since the day she walked onto the MasterChef Australia set back in 2009, Julie Goodwin has openly shared her life. But in writing a memoir, she had to examine the demons she'd battled privately... until now.
JAMIE OLIVER at your service
Returning to the set of MasterChef Australia to help steer a path through grief and spread happiness, the celebrity chef is also at a turning point - he opens up about failure, love, second chances and his endless reservoir of joie de vivre.
From one mum to another
Princess Catherine's public announcement struck a chord with mum-of-two Jane Gillard. She shares her story of parenting through cancer- and offers hope for the princess and mums navigating their own health journey while raising primary-aged kids.
The courage of Princess Catherine "You are„, not alone"
It was a rare personal address that she shouldn’t have had to make. But with conspiracy theories swirling and the slimmed-down “Firm” under fire, Princess Catherine silenced critics with searing courage and dignity.
THE MAN WHO WASN'T THERE
When Tracy Hall fell for Max Tavita, she fell for a mirage. Max was a false identity created by a con man, and Tracy was the latest in a long line of women whose life savings hed stolen.
Amother's GIFT
In December last year, Australia’s first uterus transplant recipient, Kirsty Bryant, gave birth to Henry, a happy, healthy baby boy. The uterus that had made this little miracle possible had been donated by her mother, Michelle. Five months later, their first Mother’s Day since Henry’s birth feels especially precious.
