Exclusive: Getaway host Catriona Rowntree shares an update on her sister's cancer treatment and the importance of family
Getaway host Catriona Rowntree has spoken out about the importance of family – particularly through difficult times – in an emotional new interview.
Speaking to 9Entertainment, the 52-year-old gave an update on her "beloved" sister Lucinda following news of her stage four cancer diagnosis and her trial treatment in June this year.
Stream the latest Getaway episodes for free on 9Now.
"She is beginning the process of chemotherapy," Catriona revealed.
"She was on a trial from the US. We had great hopes and unfortunately that hasn't worked," she kindly shared. "It's not 'no', it's just a 'not yet'."
Catriona with her sister Lucinda. Instagram
Catriona said that the journey has been a "massive learning process", and one they're still in together.
"Lucinda showed me a photo of herself," Catriona recalled.
"She went out on the weekend to a Greek themed party, and wore a white dress with a blue bum-bag holding her medication."
She laughed: "Everybody thought she just looked like a Greek tourist!"
Through her sister, Catriona found a wonderful charity called Dreams2Live4 and hoped to shine a spotlight on the "amazing" work they do.
"It's for people who are members in the 'world's worst club' and they are Stage 4 cancer," she explained.
The Australian charity makes dreams come true for adults living with metastatic cancer.
"That's been a really lovely thing to discover," said Catriona.
Catriona sits down with 9Entertainment. (@phillipcastleton) @phillipcastleton
During her 30-year career, Catriona understands how important it is to "very gently and lovingly tend to the valuable relationships" in one's life.
"That's a balancing act in itself," she reflected.
"I'm definitely an example of you can have it all, but not all at the same time."
She also learned that relationships and careers come with compromise.
"I'm a big believer in Saturn Return. Basically, when you are around the age of 28, that's when you really start to take a serious look at yourself," said Catriona.
It was huge time of change in Catriona's life where she had to choose whether to follow an opportunity overseas, or step into a job she truly loved.
"Being at that fork in the road led to all these wonderful things happening in my life," she said.
Further down the track, that included the moment she met her now husband James.
Catriona with her husband. Instagram
"I sort of wondered, 'Oh my God, should I marry this farmer and leave the big smoke for a farm?'"
That's exactly what Catriona did.
"I remember my boss said at the time said, 'Look Catriona, I don't care where you live as long as you can get to an airport'. Well, post-COVID that was a prophetic statement."
She's also learned the value in finding what makes you happy.
"Dare I say, 'What makes your heart sing?'" she added. "Sometimes you do need to declare openly, 'What is the job I would do for free?'"
For Catriona, that was becoming a journalist, a job she had her heart set on since the age of 14.
Catriona celebrates 30 years in TV. Instagram
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"The truth is, I was always in trouble for at school for talking, I wanted to share other people's stories," she revealed.
"Sometimes you've got to make that job happen, or it's just one foot in front of the other."
Getaway airs on Saturdays at 5.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now. Stream the latest Getaway episodes for free on 9Now.
