Tonia Todman: From TV personality to Australia’s version of Martha Stewart
Affectionately referred to as Australia’s Martha Stewart, spanning 20 years Tonia Todman graced us with her presence (and extensive craft know-how) as a TV personality when she appeared on many popular shows including, Healthy Wealthy and Wise, Good Morning Australia and Rove Live.
Recognised as an authority on cooking, craft, home decorating and DIY, Tonia also spent 10 years with Australian Vogue, where she was involved with designing, marketing, product development, teaching, plus photographic styling for fashion, craft and home interiors.
Now 66 years young and showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon, these days, however, if Tonia isn’t raising awareness for one of the many issues close to her – like in her role as ambassador for Connect Hearing – you'll likely find Tonia on her property, The Stables at Highbank in Kyneton. Set in a tastefully restored, 160-year-old bluestone Clydesdale stables and blacksmiths, as well as making for lovely accommodation, it’s also a school for cooking, interior design, gardening and craft. As Over60 sit down with Tonia we ask her about this amazing place and why she decided to take it on – her reply is very candid. “My life had reached a real crossroad,” she reveals. “TV had ended abruptly, it always does. Twenty years of successful national television evaporated brutishly in five minutes around the boardroom table of Channel Ten. The wash-up from a disastrous very brief second marriage was nearly over and I found myself needing to re-think my life,” Tonia adds.
As a true Australian woman with spirit and gusto, Tonia mustered the strength to carry on and what happened next is the stuff worthy of a movie script. “My lovely Michael, whom I'd met when I was 18, came back into my life,” she smiles, continuing, “and it seemed the perfect opportunity was being handed to me to realise some long-held dreams.”
After seeing Highbank advertised one Saturday in The Age, Tonia and Michael promptly inspected the property that day and bought it on the Monday. “It was a large derelict bluestone dating back to 1848, with good bones, an historic garden and enough surrounding fields in which to sow with some sort of crop, probably roses – so I could continue to work as a florist, especially for weddings,” she explains.
The stables and the tack room are today used as the B&B and a part of the house was turned into a big kitchen so Tonia could conduct cooking classes. “Its been an amazing journey,” Tonia beams, adding, “and its all happened at the right time in my life.”
But when it comes to what she is most proud of achieving, Tonia is quick to say, “I'm proud I've been able to work with what are, apparently, my God given talents – and that through those, I've been able to support myself, and, at times my family. Add to this the important bonus of teaching people skills they would never have otherwise had.”
Proving – like many other Australian seniors nowadays – that age is but a number, Tonia’s zeal for life and the energy she’s put into her new project are palpable. The key to success as you age, she says, is having a desire. “Nothing in life is successful unless you are passionate about it. Age really doesn't matter, providing you have the energy, focus and attitude to carry a project through,” she enthuses. “I'd say to anyone that is contemplating a fresh start – go for it!” After all, with years comes wisdom, right? Well that’s exactly what Tonia loves about being over 60. “Your accumulated wisdom is available to be shared with others, you are wise about the situations of others – you've probably been there already, you are experienced in all that life has to throw at you, people know that you have a generally practical outlook on life, you are focused on tasks and always in possession of lots of common sense. In other words, you have to be this old to be this good!!” she tells Over60.
So with Christmas not far away, will Tonia take a well-deserved break? Unfortunately, not quite. “I'm looking forward to spending time with my beautiful granddaughter Poppy – who is turning two at Christmas,” she smiles. But while Tonia plans to spend time with family and friends and take a rest where she can, no holiday as such is possible. “We are too busy,” Tonia explains, adding “and it's always difficult to get away from a farm and business such as ours.”
As the year draws to a close, although Tonia might have a busy silly season ahead of her, hopefully 2015 will bring some rest once the restoration of Highbank is complete. “I can see some time becoming available for both of us,” she says. “Michael may go back and complete his PHD in criminology, and I'd like to return to studying horticulture, or start a new range of dresses for little girls. Perhaps I'll do both!” The perfect attitude, and New Year’s resolution, that is no doubt the basis for why Tonia has realised success after success in her life all while maintaining her effervescent spirit for life.