Queen's birthday honours for Olivia
LOS ANGELES.- Olivia Newton-John’s life has had more than its share of wonderful highs, but lurking not too far behind there have also been some terrible lows.
Newton-John battled and defeated breast cancer 14 years ago and she has endured a broken marriage, bankruptcy and the mystery disappearance of her boyfriend of nine years, Patrick McDermott.
Despite the tough breaks, she has always bounced back, tuming tragedy into a positive force with charities and movements ranging from cancer research to the environment.
The 57-year-old has received many honours and today she is celebrated again after being appointed an Officer in the Order of Australia.
Her appointment is for “service to the entertainment industry as a singer and actor, and to the community through organisations supporting breast cancer treatment, education, training and research, and the environment”.
In 1991, Newton-John tumed tragedy into a cause when her daughter Chloe lost her best friend, Colette Chuda, to cancer. She helped form the Colette Chuda Environmental Fund in the United States.
A year later, Newton-John was herself diagnosed with breast cancer, which she battled and beat.
She has also actively supported Melboume’s Austin Hospital in building a new cancer centre.
On environmental issues, Newton-John assisted with the foundation of Planet Ark in 1993 and has served as Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations Environment Program.
Her singing and acting career is just as impressive. She has four Grammy Awards, an Emmy, numerous Country Music Awards, American Music Awards and Peoples Choice Awards.