Curious as to what MasterChef Julie Goodwin would serve at Christmas, journalist SELINA VENIER caught up with this busy mother of three “between courses”
AUSTRALIANS have fallen in love with Network Ten’s MasterChef winner for 2009 Julie Goodwin.
And it’s no wonder.
The Catholic from Our Lady of the Rosary parish, Wyoming, on the New South Wales central coast, is as personable and pleasant as they come, radiating a certain love of family and of course – of food.
On this month’s cover of The Australian Women’s Weekly and as part of “The Weekly’s Food Dream Team”, 38-year-old Julie remains humble through it all and still focused on family.
“The win has changed the day-to-day things that happen but it hasn’t changed the heart of our family life,” she told The Catholic Leader.
“We are still the same as we were.”
Julie is married to Mick and together they have three sons – Joe, 13, Tom, 12, and Paddy, 10, – the family enjoying “new opportunities” made possible by the win.
“The chance to travel to Hong Kong together, the chance to take the boys to the Nickelodeon Kids’ choice awards, the evening spent at a Central Coast Mariners’ (A-League football) game in the chairman’s box – these are things that would not have happened without MasterChef and we are loving every minute,” she said.
“It is humbling to think that I have been lucky enough to have a part in that.
“I am grateful that it was such an inspiring production – but I didn’t produce it. I was just fortunate enough to be chosen for the ride.”
Julie’s “ride” was supported by fellow parishioners.
“It is a beautiful community,” she said, noting how many had “stepped in” to help with music ministry in her absence.
“Mick and I do the music in Mass every fortnight,” Julie said.
“While I was away people pitched in and helped with the music commitments.”
The practical help didn’t conclude there – with the boys also given meals by members of the Goodwins’ Family Group in the parish.
“Plenty of people … brought meals and helped to look after the boys and take them to their afternoon things and have Mick and the boys over for dinner,” Julie said of her four-month absence from home, taping MasterChef.
“I will always be grateful for that.”
The Goodwins have been involved in the Passionist Family Group Movement since it began in their parish 14 years ago and have been co-ordinators in the ministry for five years.
They joined because Julie’s parents had when she was a child.
“It provided some of the best memories of my childhood,” Julie said.
“Family Groups provide the extended family that may not be available to all of us. “They provide a network – a community – where we get together and have fun once a month.
“(And) we know that we are there for each other if we need a hand in any way.”
Knowing many locals already, now Julie is stopped and questioned at the supermarket more than ever.
“I do get stopped in the supermarket and elsewhere but it’s only because people were so excited about the show and want to share their stories with me,” she said.
“It’s very good-natured. I have always loved talking to people and I am meeting so many wonderful people I never would have met – so I don’t mind.”
There’s one certain ingredient in the Goodwins’ lifestyle and ever-present at Christmas time.
“My faith to me is first and foremost the people present in our lives and supporting each other in community,” she said.
“I have done the full circle with faith – from blindly following, to deep questioning, and everything in between.
“Things have happened this year that would make anyone cry out to God and ask why – but at the end of it all I am so grateful that Mick and the boys and I have faith to rely on and draw comfort from.”
This faith resonates in practical ways just as much as spiritual ones, Julie saying she “never replaces the Christ in Christmas for an ‘X'”.
“People complain about the consumerism of Christmas,” she said.
“We prefer to keep as much of the real meaning in the season as we possibly can. “For my family it is part of the excitement and the celebration and the joy – to share gifts and eat too much and put lights outside for people to enjoy.
“We love Christmas in our house. We make every effort to keep the truth of the season at the heart of what we do.
“We choose to see the fairy lights and the gifts and the food as a celebration of a beautiful event. The spirit of Christmas is palpable and uniting.”
This Christmas Eve, for the first time in a decade, the Goodwins won’t be leading worship in their parish.
They will attend Mass however and later will enjoy a roast dinner at home with Julie’s parents.
“On Christmas morning my sister and her family will join us and Mum and Dad for lunch at our place,” Julie said.
“We keep it very easy – big glazed ham, fresh prawns, lots of salad and stone fruit and cake and chocolate.
“Boxing Day is our second Christmas – we get together with Mick’s side of the family and do it all again.
“I am most looking forward to time that is uninterruptible – time with family.”
Asked what she would prepare if she knew she only had one meal left to eat, Julie was as likeable as ever.
“What would I make?” she queried.
“Cook my own last meal, who ever heard of such a thing?
“If I had one last meal to eat, I would get Gary, George and Matt (MasterChef judges) to cook it.
“And it had better be good.”
