Koala Blue Something To Sing About

thanks to Philippe

Olivia Newton-John can do no wrong. Not content with a super-successful singing career, she's now picked up a major business award in the US, Celebrity Business Woman of the Year. Detractors may call her the Singing Milkshake, but there's no question that whatever she touches seems to turn to gold. Since she opened the doors of her first Koala Blue sportswear boutique on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, nearly 30 more stores have started trading. It is one of the fastest-growing fashion companies in the world. More importantly, in an age of buy-outs, mergers and takeovers, Koala Blue continues to be privately owned and funded, with retai1 sales expected to reach $35 million by 199l.

Olivia has come a 1ong way since her first hit single, If Not For You, launched her career on an international scale. She has, according to the people who run the business awards, a gold and platinum touch. To her mother, though, Olivia is, first and foremost, a wonderful daughter. Back in Melbourne after a holiday at Olivia's sprawling ranch home, which looks out on the Pacific Ocean at Malibu, in California, Irene Newton-John was torn between longing to boast about her famous child and trying to be as circumspect as possible.

It is clear, though, that she thinks Olivia is terrific. She's not just a wonderful daughter to me, she's a wonderful mother to her own daughter, Chloe, who had her third birthday while I was there, Irene said. Olivia is so sensible with her. She never raises her voice, never loses her temper, and patiently explains everything to Chloe. There's a lot of laughter, lots of humour, around the home. It's paying dividends. Chloe is a lovely, contented child, and super bright. She just talks and talks...

It is hard to estimate the total worth of Olivia Newton-John's empire. It's easier to marvel at the way she's managed to stay sane and sensible in a world where fantasy is the norm and a glittery image a necessity. Perhaps that is the reason for her on-going success. She is, above all, a practical woman who isn't afraid of mucking in.

She is adept, too, at keeping her public and personal lives separate. If sceptics thought her marriage to younger Matt Lattanzi was doomed from the start, they weren't reckoning on the quiet strength of Olivia. Even her recent miscarriage, which devastated Olivia and her husband, has remained a private grief and, according to family members, actually made an already strong marriage stronger.

Irene said: Olivia was always very bright and could have done anything she wanted to. She's gifted, and not just with a beautiful voice. I've never tried to point her in any and a career direction, though. I wanted my children to develop their own talents and their own lives. She wasn't at all surprised to learn Olivia had picked up a business award. The stores have done brilliantly one recently opened in Tokyo and more are planned, she said.

Irene says everyone wants to know the latest news of Olivia, but she hates to gossip about her family, or give away family secrets. Olivia's life with her husband and child is very private. It's not for public consumption. She is very shy of publicity, and I would hate to upset her by letting out secrets. What I can say, happily, is that she is a wonderful daughter. She's kind and thoughtful and I couldn't wish for more from my child.

Irene was surprised to hear that Olivia had said she wished that she'd been nicer to her mother when she was a teenager: I don't remember any bad times so I suppose they couldn't have been too bad. Irene is justifiably proud of her whole family her daughter Rona, an interior designer also based in Los Angeles, and her son, Hugh, a high-profile doctor at Melbourne's Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital. I love them all very much I only wish they all lived closer to one another. America is such a long way to travel.

In future she may be forced to do even more travelling to see her two daughters. Olivia, apparently, plans to sell her country retreat near Byron Bay, in NSW, if a big new property development in the area gets the go-ahead. She will not be the only one to forsake the idyllic beach hideaway. Neighbours Paul Hogan and John Cornell are said to be unhappy at the idea of their unspoiled paradise becoming just another arm of the rat race. The plans are for the development of 55 units on an adjoining block to the Newton-John property. She has written to the Byron Bay Council in protest and has signed a petition collected by local residents. Olivia and Matt felt it was the one unspoiled part of the world where they could find peace and quiet, Irene said. Who knows what will happen?