LUNCH WITH Lisa Curry

For Lisa Curry, it’s been a long week. Having just released her long-awaited memoir, simply titled Lisa, she’s hit the publicity trail hard and the strain has clearly taken its toll. Australian Story, breakfast television, podcasts, radio and more have been on her agenda. At each media destination she has relived the worst day of her life, the day she lost her oldest daughter, Jaimi, after a long battle with mental illness, an eating disorder and alcohol addiction. “I’m tired of crying,” she admits frankly, those famous blue eyes shadowed with bone-deep weariness.

We’ve arranged to meet at The Weekly’s office ahead of our lunch across the road at new Sydney eatery, Reign.

“The kids will never have to wonder who Granny was. It’s nice to have it all on paper.”

It’s a short walk and gives her an opportunity to meet the whole team. We are all instantly charmed as she introduces herself, shakes hands, asks questions, takes genuine interest. She’s exactly who you hoped she would be; the epitome of the golden-haired national champion who won hearts both in and out of the pool.

The chatter is light, the mood buoyant and despite the rain battering the city as we make our dash for the restaurant, Lisa stays upbeat and chipper. The server takes our order (we decide to share scallop ceviche, crab fritters and a broad bean hummus with house-made flat bread. A coffee