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Herald Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Herald Sun
Bachelor's Irena Gilbert reveals Covid burnout battle and mental health journey
Don't miss out on the headlines from Health. Followed categories will be added to My News. Filming a reality TV show on which she fell in love with her future husband might seem like the most emotionally intense thing that could have happened in Irena Gilbert's life that year, but in 2020 it was only part of the story. The 34-year-old nurse had fallen in love with her future husband, entrepreneur Locky Gilbert, 35, in front of the cameras on The Bachelor, but behind the scenes she was navigating the challenging reality of a healthcare worker in Melbourne during the Covid pandemic. 'While you hear a lot about nurses experiencing burnout, I think the events of that year really made things a lot more intense,' she said. Keeping her relationship with Locky a secret as per her contract, as well as being a frontline worker in some of the harshest lockdown conditions on the planet began to take its toll on Irena. 'I started dreading going to work,' she said. 'I'd have this panicked feeling just walking into the building.' Locky Gilbert and with Irena Gilbert (then Srbinovska) fell in love on The Bachelor. Picture: Channel 10 But as their love story was airing, things were not so smooth behind the scenes. Locky, who had returned home to Perth, could only provide support from afar. 'Everything in Perth was open, and so it was hard for him to fully grasp the gravity of the situation, but he was always there for me, sometimes for hours on end on the phone. I'd debrief at the end of each day during my one-hour walk,' Irena said. It was Locky, too, who eventually broached the solution to Irena's burnout. 'He said: 'why don't you move to Perth and take some time off?'' recalls Irena. 'Part of me was like, 'I've worked so hard to get to this point in my career,' and the other part of me was thinking: 'but I don't even want this job right now!' So I quit my job, moved to Perth and took a year off from nursing.' Australia is in the grips of a mental health crisis, and people are struggling to know who to turn to, especially our youngergenerations. Can We Talk? is a News Corp awareness campaign, in partnership with Medibank, equipping Aussies with the skills needed to have the mostimportant conversation of their life. Irena credits the move, as well as seeking professional help - 'I started seeing a psychologist, and I still see one,' she says - with healing her burnout and radically improving her mental health. And while openness about the ups and downs of life has become something of a hallmark for Irena, who has been candid about the heartbreak of suffering miscarriages in her journey to becoming a mother to Ava, now 18 months old, Locky has, for most of his life, struggled to get in touch with his own emotions. 'I've just always been kind of hard, masculine, 'don't talk about it', eat your feelings, 'get over it' - all that kind of stuff,' says Locky. 'And I think since having Ava, it's made me realise that's not at all the way it should be. I want Ava to be able to come to me and Irena with absolutely anything. And if I've got that hard exterior, no one's going to want to talk to me.' Becoming parents to 18-month-old Ava has changed the couple, especially Locky who has realised the value of openness. Picture: Philip Gostelow/ This instinct is in line with new research by News Corp's Growth Distillery in partnership with Medibank, which found that while family dynamics can play a crucial role in mental health conversations, notable communication gaps exist between parents and children in Australia. The research also found relationships are central to discussions about mental health, and partners were the most frequent confidants with 79 per cent of participants comfortable opening up to their significant other when it came to mental wellbeing. Strong relationships were found to have a big influence on our mental wellbeing, with more than half (53 per cent) citing their relationship as a key factor in having a positive impact. Earlier this year, Locky began seeing a holistic therapist - both individually and together with Irena. 'The first time I saw her, she laid me down and did some healing that had me absolutely bawling my eyes out,' he recalls. 'I hated it. But since then I've just learned so much - I hate the word trauma, but I'm learning about what it means to heal from your past, and the importance of dealing with emotions. Long story short, I've learned that opening up and just talking to someone can change a lot. It's been very helpful.' Irena and Locky Gilbert have both benefited from seeking professional help with their mental wellbeing. Picture: Instagram 'Locky's changed so much since he's been seeing our therapist and opening up,' Irena says. Picture: Philip Gostelow/ One of the most surprising things for Locky was the support of his inner circle when he began to be more vulnerable with them. 'The funny thing I realised was that (before therapy) in my head, I was constantly telling myself: 'don't show your emotions, this is what needs to be done.' That's what I had in my head,' he said. 'But when I came to all of my best mates and said, 'hey, I'm seeing a coach, and I'm trying to release all my emotions, and all this trauma kind of stuff,' they were all super proud of me. 'They're like, 'man, this is awesome. This is amazing'. Irena, my mum, everyone that was close to me was super happy that I was showing these emotions, and they're the people that I care about.' It's still early days and 'a work in progress,' says Locky, but he's been stunned at the change he's seen even in a matter of months. Irena agrees. 'Locky's changed so much since he's been seeing our therapist and opening up,' she says. 'He's never been a very naturally empathetic or compassionate person, but he's definitely changed. He was always just raised to think that 'men have to be men'. They don't show their emotions, they don't share their feelings. And because of that, he shut off his own emotions and his level of compassion and empathy. Now, he's realised that he's actually being strong by sharing this.' 'I'm still grappling with that,' Locky admits. 'But no one wants me to be bottled up emotionally. Everyone that I love wants me to express myself. I'm still having trouble with that, but I'm getting there.'
Otago Daily Times
01-07-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Kindness, faith of Polish WW2 refugee endless
Irena O'Brien in the ' photo was taken as part of the Red Cross initiative to reconnect her with family she lost in World War 2. Photos: supplied Gore locals may remember Irena O'Brien as the friendly Polish woman who was always in a headscarf and sunglasses. To her friends and family, she was a selfless, devout Catholic, who coped with the pain of fleeing war-torn Europe with her faith, quirks and a strict routine. She died on June 7 aged 96. She was visible in the community due to her daily walks. So visible, that her daughter Janice Rabbitt said people gave her lifts if they saw her walking by. "I think she was the most picked up female in Gore," Mrs Rabbitt said. Her longtime friend and fellow Pole, Renata Brumby, said Mrs O'Brien had a good sense of humour and was a very "structured person". "Even if she wasn't in the church going to mass, she was still in the chapel," Mrs Brumby said. "If you were in town and you wanted to see Irena, if she wasn't home, you'd go to the chapel." Born in Poland in 1928, Irena was raised by her grandparents, slept on straw and only had one pair of shoes to share with her siblings. Because of all that befell her in her early years, Mrs O'Brien felt unworthy of new things, wearing the same pair of purple crocs until they were worn through. A young Irena O'Brien (nee Pawlak) in Germany before being relocated to New Zealand as a refugee after World War 2. Her beloved Christmas decorations were made using cheap or recycled items such as tinsel or CDs, giving her home a shiny festive look all year round. Her daughter Veronica Swain said Mrs O'Brien had infinite generosity. "She'd give whatever she had on her back to anyone," Mrs Swain said. Mrs Rabbitt said growing up, she and her seven siblings were not told much about their mother's origins. "It was never talked about in the family," she said. "I remember [my dad] saying that it was too bad, you don't want to know." Germany invaded Poland in 1939, when Irena was 11. Her loved ones were unsure of the specific details of Mrs O'Brien's past because she did not like to speak of it. "She would only tell you so much and she'd stop talking," Mrs Brumby said. "Because you could tell there was so much hurt and pain." The ship Irena O'Brien came to New Zealand on in 1949. After the invasion, Irena and her family were put into labour camps in Germany, which housed Eastern-European workers. The camps were separate from SS-run concentration camps but their conditions were still lacking in food, medicine and clothing, while working long hours. Irena's mother died in one of these camps and it pained her for years how the Germans buried her, she used to say it was like a "dump area" to her. At the end of the war when Russians seized the German camp, Irena fled and her family were separated. "[Her remaining family] went one way and mum went the other way," Mrs Rabbitt said. Irena was taken in by a German woman and worked on the farm. Three years later, she was found by American soldiers and told she would be sent to a new country, like England, that would be her new home. "She must have felt so lonely and frightened," Mrs Rabbitt said. In 1949, at the age of 21, Irena arrived in Wellington and stayed in Camp Pahiatua, which housed more than 700 Polish children. A few months later she was relocated again, alone, to Gore. Irena O'Brien with her children Paul, Janice, Peter and Theresa at their Broughton St home in the '60s. The first time her future husband, Bill O'Brien saw her, she was coming off the train. She worked in the Gore Hospital as a domestic in the children's ward, and was taught how to speak English by the nurses and looked after by the nuns. A few months later, the nurses threw a party for Irena's birthday and Mr O'Brien was invited. It turned out they had the same birthday. A courtship began from there and two years later, they were married and they went on to have eight children together. Decades on, with the help of the Red Cross, she was able to find a living relative in Poland. In 1992, Mrs O'Brien received a letter from her brother who had thought she was dead. Mrs Brumby said the letters back and forth showed the separated siblings trying to piece together their broken memories. Mrs O'Brien's brother yearned to see his sister again but due to his difficult financial situation in Poland, he slowly realised this was unlikely. "He was dying to see her again and you can see how . . . his faith slowly is dropping, thinking, I'm not going to see you, this is too far away," Mrs Brumby said. The registration papers of Polish World War 2 refugee Irena O'Brien (nee Pawlak), issued by the New Zealand Government as part of the Aliens Act 1948. "Then he says, I realise we probably won't see you again but I'm grateful that I found you and could help. And then he's hoping that maybe the children, our children, you know, will be able to meet each other one day." Later that decade, Mrs O'Brien lost one of her sons and her husband followed just three days later. Mrs Swain remembered, after her father's funeral, she found her mother in what they called "the boys' room", looking out the window. "She said, 'how can I keep my faith?' and I said, you've just got to," Mrs Swain said. "And she did, she just stuck with it." After that, Mrs O'Brien disconnected her phone for good, as her daughters said, she could not handle any more bad news. Mrs O'Brien was strong, both in herself and in her faith, which kept her going. In her final years, Mrs Rabbitt recalls one of her mother's carers recognising that strength. "She had a lot of respect for her, and said she was 'one tough cookie'."
Daily Record
01-07-2025
- General
- Daily Record
15 minute chicken curry is a great mid-week dinner 'loved by all the family'
If you're in a hurry for a curry, this simple recipe uses pre-cooked chicken and is ready and on the plate in minutes With the kids off on summer holidays, keeping them fed and watered can feel like having another full time job. Cries of 'I'm hungry' are commonplace as they forage for food throughout the day, often stripping the kitchen cupboards bare. So when it comes to the main meal of the day, something quick, easy and filling is a bonus. This is especially true mid-week when the juggle of work, chores and c hildcare start to see you flag. Curry fans are covered though thanks to a 15 minute recipe for a delicious chicken curry which can be ready in a hurry. Irena Macri, culinary expert and founder of Cooked and Loved, shared her super simple "chicken curry in a hurry" recipe that takes just 15 minutes to prepare. The secret to it is using pre-cooked chicken to get it on the table fast. And best of all, it's one for all the family to enjoy. Irena said: "It's inspired by Indian curries like chicken tikka masala or butter chicken. The sauce has a tomato coconut base, which works superbly well with chicken. "It has a little kick but isn't too spicy; it's lovely and mild. You can always add more chilli if you like." And she added: "This is a perfect quick dinner meal to make during the week when you're short on time. Kids will love it, partners will love it and your granny will enjoy it." The trick to this dish's speedy preparation is using pre-cooked chicken to cut down on cooking time. It could either be leftovers or you can use the meat from Rotisserie-style or cooked chicken from the supermarket. Here's everything you need to make it, as reported by the Express. Quick chicken curry Ingredients Two cooked chicken fillets (diced) One tin of diced tomatoes One tin of coconut milk (full fat) One small carrot (diced) One clove of garlic (diced) Half a large onion (diced) One teaspoon of grated ginger One teaspoon of garam masala One teaspoon of mild curry powder Half a teaspoon of turmeric powder One tablespoon of olive oil or coconut oil Handful of fresh coriander (for serving) Salt and pepper Method 1. Start by chopping the onions and carrots, then warm the oil in a frying pan on a medium-high flame. 2. Toss the chopped onions and carrots into the pan, season with salt and pepper, and saute for about five minutes until they soften. the garlic and grate the ginger before adding them to the frying pan, stirring for around 10 to 15 seconds. 4. Sprinkle in the turmeric powder, garam masala, and curry powder, mixing them in well. 5. Finally, pour in the tinned tomatoes and coconut cream, combining everything thoroughly. 6. Lastly, add the diced cooked chicken and stir until it's heated through. Sprinkle on the fresh coriander and your mouth-watering curry is now ready to be served.
Trade Arabia
03-06-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
Brazil, Irena to co-host first global energy planning summit
The Government of Brazil and the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) will co-host the 1st edition of Energy Planning Summit which runs until June 4 at the BNDES Headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. The event will mark the official launch of the Global Coalition for Energy Planning (GCEP), a landmark initiative emerging from Brazil's 2024 G20 Presidency to help close the investment gap in the clean energy transition through improved energy planning, said the organisers. The Summit and the Coalition will contribute to building momentum ahead of COP30 in Brazil and other key global milestones, they stated. "Although significant investment opportunities exist in emerging markets and developing economies, perceived risks remain a key barrier to investment, particularly from private sources," said Irena Director General Francesco La Camera. "Brazil has demonstrated how long-term energy planning, which incorporates investment-ready strategies, can help reduce those risks, attract private capital, scale up renewables, and strengthen local supply chains," he stated. "As GCEP Secretariat, Irena will leverage its near-universal membership and extensive repository of best practices for renewable energy planning and modelling to support countries, particularly in the Global South, in developing energy strategies that align with national development and climate goals," observed Le Camera. Alexandre Silveira, Brazil's Minister of Mines and Energy, said: 'Promoting a just and effective energy transition necessarily requires recognizing the leadership of developing countries. By advancing the Global Coalition for Energy Planning, Brazil reaffirms its commitment to multilateral dialogue and to strengthening tools that connect strategic planning, public policy, and financing mechanisms in support of a more inclusive and sustainable energy future.' This high-level event will bring together senior officials from energy planning and finance ministries in a structured dialogue to establish a new global platform for cooperation. Expected outcomes include agreement on priority workstreams, a roadmap for thematic coordination, and an initial mapping of partners ready to collaborate, said the organisers. By demonstrating how robust planning can reduce risks and unlock investment, the Summit aims to strengthen political commitment to use energy planning as a strategic tool to inform national and international development strategies.
The Courier
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
Kirriemuir camera obscura under threat due to volunteer shortage
Kirriemuir's camera obscura is facing a new fight for survival – a decade after local volunteers saved it from closure. The attraction on Kirrie Hill is one of just three of its kind in Scotland. It is housed in a pavilion gifted to the Angus town by Peter Pan creator, Sir J M Barrie in 1930. Until 2015, it was managed by the National Trust for Scotland. But when Angus Council pulled a £10,000-a-year subsidy to keep open, Kirriemuir Regeneration Group was set up to secure its future. Since then, the camera and pavilion café have welcomed thousands of visitors. The 2025 season has been delayed by a technical issue with the camera in the roof space of the building. And while it has now been fixed, KRG treasurer Irena Krasinska-Lobban said volunteer numbers were critically low. 'This year, for some reason, we really are struggling for volunteers,' she said. 'March was the tenth anniversary of KRG being formed. 'I've been involved from the outset, but we've never struggled for volunteers as much as this year.' However, a plea on local social media has offered a glimmer of hope. 'One of our volunteers put a message up on Facebook. I've already sent out 20 emails to people who have said they might be interested in helping out. 'All we ask is for them to do a shift of three hours a month in the camera obscura or the café. 'It's not a big ask, but we need to know that we have volunteers so we can let people know we will be open. 'Ideally we'd like to open Saturday, Sunday and Monday. 'We are to be open this Monday, then we will try to arrange something with the people who have been in touch. 'If we could get even half of them to volunteer regularly it would make such a difference,' Irena added. Anyone willing to volunteer should email krg7630@ The pavilion features a host of items relating to Kirrie-born author Barrie. Those include prized pieces of history connected with his love of cricket. He first enjoyed the sport at Kirrie Hill. Thousands witnessed a match there to mark the gift of the pavilion on the day he was made a freeman of the town in June 1930. Irena added: 'Last summer was really excellent. 'The camera was busy with visitors, and the café has also become a place where Kirrie folk like to meet. 'It is lovely for them to come in for a coffee and a scone after enjoying a walk up The Hill. 'KRG is involved in a lot of other things, but I really hope we can get the volunteers to keep the camera open. 'It would break my heart to see it go.'
