While guest-editing Australian Women’s Weekly‘s July issue, Bartholomew revealed why she and her husband, Neil, ultimately walked away from city life and relocated to country NSW.

The decision was driven not only by a desire to give their children, Molly, 6, and Tom, 4, the best possible upbringing but by a need to improve their own health and wellbeing.

The couple’s decision came during a difficult period for the family, with both Bartholomew and her husband battling significant health issues.

The beloved Channel Seven star revealed her chronic myeloid leukaemia diagnosis live on Sunrise in 2024.

After managing the rare blood and bone marrow cancer with medication, she shared last year that she had reached molecular remission.

“We didn’t just come to the country to give our kids the best life possible, we wanted to do the same for ourselves,” Bartholomew said.

“The reality was that we were getting crushed in the city. Originally from Lithgow, Neil was done with the urban rat-race and wanted to return to the west.

“He was so sick with chronic fatigue that parenting wasn’t even possible.

“It was the toughest time we have ever faced as a family. Something had to shift.”

Bartholomew was asked to guest-edit the special July issue (on sale now), which focuses on rural and regional Australia.

While celebrating the extraordinary women who live, work and raise their families in the bush, she also reflected on how a chance discovery ultimately changed the course of her own family’s life when they needed it the most.

“On a driving holiday, we happened upon the tiny town of Carcoar,” Bartholomew said.

“There was a Brigadoon quality to it, a figurative mist parting to reveal a quaint little town hidden in the hills.

“We had found our new home.”

Since then, Bartholomew has documented the family’s journey, including the mammoth task of renovating a sprawling heritage guesthouse — a project she admits “is not for the fainthearted”.

Despite the challenges, she says the move to the country has been worth it, with both her and Neil’s health dramatically improving.

“With constant diligence, Neil’s chronic fatigue is all but cured,” Bartholomew said.

“My own health battles are also behind us.

“After revealing to The Weekly for Mother’s Day last year that my Chronic myeloid leukaemia was in molecular remission, I am now happy to report it is completely out of my system.”

While Bartholomew still travels to Sydney for her role on Sunrise, the family’s life is now firmly rooted in the country.

“We no longer live in the city,” Bartholomew said.

“Sure, I go back and forth for work at Sunrise on Channel Seven, but the kids always stay put in the country in the care of my husband, Neil.

“I relish that time to myself in the big smoke doing a job I absolutely adore while the kids are thriving in their new rural routine.

“After school, Neil takes them to feed our cows, collect firewood or dangle their feet in the river at the back of our house.

“It’s a Possum Magic childhood.”

For the special edition, Bartholomew said she wanted to shine a light on the women who choose to build their lives in regional Australia, while also acknowledging the realities that come with living outside the city.

“We plan to give this country life a very good crack, and we are certainly not the only ones,” Bartholomew said.

“I wanted these pages to be beautiful and vibrant but I didn’t want to ignore the challenges of living in the country.

“I travel back to my hometown of Whyalla in South Australia where the red sands of the outback meet the turquoise Spencer Gulf.

“I have relished this opportunity to showcase all the wonderful things I love about country life.”

Source: https://7news.com.au/entertainment/sunrises-edwina-bartholomew-opens-up-about-the-toughest-time-her-family-faced-c-22437624