But, since her beloved husband Bruce died from cancer in 2006, Ms Stafford’s life has taken some very unexpected twists.

“Seven years ago, if you’d told me where I’d be now, it would have been a huge surprise,” Ms Stafford said.

“I’m launching a brand new Julie Stafford.”

Ms Stafford was guest speaker at the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute Melbourne Cup Day lunch and praised the benefit of a top quality regional cancer research centre.

“Fiona was inspiring. She’s led her community with her inspiration.”

Ms Stafford also talked about her seven-year journey, beginning six months after her husband’s death after a second battle with cancer.

Struggling with grief, Ms Stafford turned on her television for the first time in months and saw a TV show on Croatia’s Dubrovnik, which had been the site of heavy bombing during the 1990s War of Independence.

“The city and the people had been reborn and they were inviting tourists to go there.

“I thought surely there would be some lessons there for me. I went by myself for six weeks and it was a difficult period to be away from home, but I needed to decide who I was going to be.”

Ms Stafford now travels for three to five months each year and is just about to release her new book, The Seagull.

The title is inspired by a seagull she began photographing at her Point Lonsdale beach house, with an exhibition of her seagull artworks to begin at the South Yarra Art House on November 30.

“I wanted to honour the love story I had with Bruce and I also wanted to question whether we are entitled to one great love story or whether I could be open to love again.”

Ms Stafford said one day she suddenly felt compelled to travel to Paris, where she wrote an open letter to herself about what any future love would be like. Very shortly after she met her partner Reda Moutawakkil.

“I never intended to write about it, but when I travelled this journey, it made me look back at the connections and the different scenarios.

“You need to question the deeper meaning of life, you need to have faith, you need to have trust and you need to persevere through the rough times and usually you will find the road you were always meant to walk.”

The Seagull will be available on Amazon.com from November 30.

fiona.henderson@fairfaxmedia.com.au