Lifeline Push-Up Challenge: Celeb chef Matt Golinski to tackle physical ordeal in the name of mental health

Celebrity chef Matt Golinski knows the challenges of mental health all too well, after the heartbreaking loss of his wife and three daughters in a house fire, so no one knows better why you should support him in this most physical of challenges.

Chef Matt Golinski with daughters Tillie 3, and Aluna 7, who are encouraging all Queenslanders to get behind this year’s Push-Up Challenge in June to raise much-needed funds for Lifeline. Picture: Lachie Millard

Matt Golinski says setting himself physical challenges has been his saviour in the face of his heartbreaking mental health challenges.

The celebrity chef, who lost his wife Rachael, and their three daughters – Sage, Willow and Starlia – in a house fire in 2011, revealed exercise has helped him in battling the dark days since the tragedy.

The 53-year-old, who suffered third-degree burns to 40 per cent of his body, said it began with a 5km fun run he did while still in the early days of his recovery, and extending to marathons, the gruelling 96km Kokoda Challenge on the Gold Coast, and the Noosa Ultra-Trail just two months ago.

“What’s helped me over the years through my demons, my mental problems, my stress, is to always have a physical goal,” the Sunshine Coast resident said.

“I’m always doing something and I kind of do it for a reason and that’s to keep me on the straight and narrow and to give me something to work towards and at the end of it I feel awesome.”

But it doesn’t mean that he doesn’t still experience hard days.

“What happened to me is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life and there are certainly things that will trigger how I’m feeling, but I tend to talk myself down fairly quickly now so I don’t let myself spiral,” he said, with birthdays and milestones the biggest challenges.

“I have to keep things in perspective, and to me that’s a big part of it.”

Chef Matt Golinski says setting himself physical challenges has been his saviour. Picture Lachie Millard

Now, the popular cook is set to perform a whopping 3214 push-ups in just 23 days for an important cause close to his heart.

Golinski has taken on the fitness stunt to shine a light on Australia’s suicide rate, after five of his hospitality friends took their own lives.

The number of push-ups represent the number of lives lost to suicide in 2023, and is at the centre of this year’s annual Lifeline Push-Up Challenge, raising much-needed funds for mental health.

“I know of a number of chefs that have suicided over the years and it’s a really sad thing,” he said.

“It’s kind of something that you go, ‘Wow, I had no idea that that person was going through that’, so to have Lifeline there when we need it is really important.”

He said the hospitality industry was particularly rife with mental health issues brought on by the constant stress of the job, with many turning to alcohol or drugs to cope.

“You’re always under pressure as a cook to get things done on time and perform well, so there’s that part of it, (and) we also tend to numb that pressure by often drinking to calm us down and that takes its toll,” he said, adding that chefs were often told to “harden up” if they shared they were struggling, rather than being offered help.

“You’re told just to get on with it,” he said.

Golisnki will take on the Lifeline Push-Up Challenge, from June 4, alongside his partner of 12 years, Erin, 39, cheered on by their daughters Aluna, 7, and Tillie, 3.

“(Erin) is a personal trainer so she’ll probably kick my butt. She’ll be fine, it’s going to me that struggles,” he said.

Those interested in donating or taking part, see thepushupchallenge.com.au

Originally published as Lifeline Push-Up Challenge: Celeb chef Matt Golinski to tackle physical ordeal in the name of mental health