Lyndey Milan, much more than a cook
By Brian Milroy
Lyndey Milan is known to millions of television viewers and women's magazine readers as a practical, down-to-earth character who really knows how to cook. For about 15 years Lyndey been seen regularly on our television screens and in magazines. She could be called Australia's answer to America's Martha Stewart or England's Delia Smith.
Like Martha Stewart and Delia Smith, Lyndey is much more than a cook. She is a multi-award winning communicator, author, teacher, consultant and presenter. Now, you would think with Lyndey's workload that she wouldn't have much time to give but you'd be wrong.
She has strong opinions about food education and nutrition and believes that she has an obligation to put something back into society. She plays an active role in the promotion and fundraising activities of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, the Breast Cancer Network Australia and the Eating Disorders Foundation. Lyndey estimates that voluntary work takes up about 34 working days a year.
When asked why she would stretch herself to such an extent, Lyndey said: "Because I want to make a difference. I have been blessed with good health, a good education and upbringing and I have been lucky to enjoy a reasonably high profile professional career."
Until recently, Lyndey was the food director of The Australian Women's Weekly for nearly nine years. She has also just ended eight years as co-host of the Fresh television show which airs daily on the Nine network.
Honorary positions she has held include president of both the Food Media Club Australia Inc and Wine Communications Australia (formerly the Wine Press Club of NSW). She has also sat on the Food and Wine Tourism Advisory Committee for Tourism NSW. In 2006, she won the Fine Wine Partners Award for Best Food and Wine Writing in The Victoria Australian Food Media Awards for her book Balance, Matching Food and Wine: What Works and Why co-authored with Colin Corney.
In 1999, she was the inaugural food and wine editor for Australian Table, shaping the food and wine content of the magazine. During her time, the magazine won two Magazine Publishers Association awards. Under her guidance, The Australian Women's Weekly won the Bronze Ladle in the World Food Media Awards for the Best Food Section in a magazine in 2001. The Weekly also made the finalists in the category in 2003 and 2007.
The charter of Lyndey's charity work with the RAS primarily centres on promoting agricultural excellence throughout NSW. The RAS is a non-profit organisation that has been helping to shape agriculture in Australia since 1822. Boasting a membership of 12,000 volunteers, the RAS is responsible for conducting the Royal Easter Show in Sydney and the Sydney Royal Wine, Dairy and Fine Food Shows.
Lyndey gives a lot of her time to personally promoting local agricultural product through metropolitan and rural food and wine shows. It is her high profile through television and magazines and her involvement with the RAS that enables her to promote and support the hands-on volunteers in rural communities. "These people give so much strength to the fibre of our rural communities. They are often the unsung heroes who, in tough times, help to hold the place together," she said. "By supporting their communities, we support all of their volunteer efforts."
As mentioned previously, Lyndey is an ambassador for the Breast Cancer Network Australia. The Breast Cancer Network is the peak national organisation for Australians personally affected by breast cancer. The charter of the organisation is to ensure that Australians diagnosed with breast cancer and their families receive the best information, treatment, care and support possible, no matter who they are or where they live.
This organisation is represented by the pink lady silhouette. "About 13,000 women and 100 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, Lyndey said. "Last year the network staged the Field of Women on August 11 where the same number of women (and some men) dressed in pink ponchos and 100 men in blue ponchos formed the shape of the network's pink lady silhouette on the field at the Sydney Telstra Stadium.
"It was a very emotional event. I was thrilled to be part of it and to help in its planning and promotion through the Fresh program and on Nine's Mornings with Kerri-Anne."
Also mentioned previously, Lyndey makes time to support and promote the Eating Disorders Foundation Inc. "It's a unique service providing support and information to those affected by eating disorders. It recognises the needs of these people whose illnesses are often misunderstood and trivialised."
Being in the food and wine industry, happy eating is of paramount importance to Lyndey. She explained: "Statistics reveal that about half a million people in NSW alone currently suffer from some sort of eating disorder. Girls, and increasingly boys and women, are literally starving themselves. I was the mother of teenagers a while ago and so I think it is great that someone, who works in food and clearly has a healthy relationship with it, should be an ambassador. The woman who founded this and the people who work in it are extraordinary. They provide the real practical help. If I can use my profile to help publicise their work, then I will."
With this in mind, Lyndey has been appointed associate food director and major contributor to the new magazine BBC Australian Good Food. It is the result of a publishing partnership between ACP Magazines and BBC Magazines. She also has a new cookbook in the pipeline. As well, she appears on Mornings with Kerri-Anne every Thursday and can be heard on Radio 2GB every Monday night on Murray Wilson's The Good Life.
More information
The Centre
for Volunteering [ABN 28 002 416 024]
Level 2, 228 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
T: 02 9261 3600 | F: 02 9261 4033 | E: info@volunteering.com.au
www.volunteering.com.au