Named last week as the ambassador for Johnson Property Group's $388 million Trinity Point development on Lake Macquarie, Hawkins says she is still incredibly grateful for everything that has happened as a result of claiming the Miss Universe title.

"You can never know what you will be doing. But I've worked hard. Everyone gets out what they put in," she smiles. "I definitely look at everything and go 'Wow', it feels nice."

Jennifer and husband Jake Wall finally moved into their latest project, their new home in North Curl Curl, three weeks ago.

"We've just moved in. It has been a pretty hectic time. We're going to be here for awhile, I love it," she says. "It's weird, we've moved a lot. Way back from when I was renting and we'd move from one place to the next. We're in and settled finally."

The big move coincided with the beginning of filming for Australia's Next Top Model so Hawkins did what any other girl would do, she asked her mum Gail to help her move in.

"Mum came and stayed a few nights and helped me organise everything. You always need your mum's help," she smiles. "The bottom line is, we've moved in, it's our home, it's our private sanctuary. I love Curl Curl, I love this area."

With a love of design, Hawkins had plenty of input with Koichi Takada Architects on the plans of their new home.

"I find that lots of fun. I enjoy it. Jake, he obviously builds, but he's interested in the architectural side as well," she says.

Property investment and development has long been a hobby for Hawkins.

"I find it thrilling. In the beginning it was an investment thing, investing my money wisely, it was the right thing to do when I was jumping into this industry," she says. "Then the design side really attracted me and I find it really enjoyable, to be honest."

"You have a team of people and you start from scratch and then you have the plans and then you're in this amazing house," Hawkins says. "It feels really rewarding, it is enjoyable and it does interest me."

With all that room, is there a baby nursery planned in her new home?

"Oh, wow!" Hawkins laughs. "There is room, yes! But not any time soon!"

Hawkins is back filming Top Model, which she admits is a different vibe, following the tragic suicide death of cast-mate Charlotte Dawson earlier this year.

"It feels like a different show. Everyone has grieved in their own way. Everyone speaks about her in such a positive light," Hawkins says. "Charlotte would like us to make a great show."

Johanna Griggs puts craft skills to good use for charity

Johanna Griggs has clearly learnt a thing or two about craft, hosting Seven's Better Homes & Gardens all these years. Which is lucky, considering she is one of 40 celebrities creating their own bespoke chair for online homewares retailer Temple & Webster's Take a Seat campaign to raise awareness and funds for charity Legacy.

"I got the chair and looked at it for three days. Then I walked around Lincraft,  racking my brain about what I was going to do, then I came across this gorgeous wool," says Griggs. "It triggered a mantra from Better Homes & Gardens  where all you need is good structure or good design and you can make it warmer with textiles and texture."

"The wool was really thick, it had great colour grading and I knew I could play around with the patterns in the colours of it," she adds. "I came home and did a practice piece. My husband Todd thought I was completely nuts, he said 'how long do you think this is going to take?' and I said 'No, no it's fine, it won't take long at all!" It took 18 hours! He was right and I was wrong."

Griggs' chair took eight balls of wall, numerous glue sticks and rendered her dining room table useless for a week.

"I was stirring Tara Dennis and Carolyn Burns McCrave from Better Homes & Gardens about how I was finally allowed to do something and look what I've done!" says Joh. "They were just gorgeous, encouraging and excited for me."

"I was actually chuffed with my chair, I said to Todd, 'Oh my God! It looks better than I thought it would!'" she laughs. "I was tickled pink with it. It's all the colours I love – neutrals and greys."

The project, which Griggs has dubbed "competitive craft", as she was decorating her chair alongside good friends like Seven newsreader Chris Bath, was a true test of patience.

"I am not the most patient person and I also get completely obsessive about what I am doing. One night, I had almost finished it and I ran out of glue sticks. Todd and the boys all said 'Walk away from the chair; there's literally nothing you can do!'" She laughs. "The next day I was at Bunnings for Better Homes & Gardens so I bought more glue sticks and that night at 9.30pm they looked at me and said 'We know you're really close to the end but we're just wondering if we're going to eat dinner tonight?'"

Take a Seat for Legacy Exhibition presented by Temple & Webster will be on display at The Grounds of Alexandria on October 24-26.

To view and bid on one of the chairs go to www.templeandwebster.com.au/takeaseat Sale runs from 7pm Wednesday October 22 until 11pm Thursday October 30. All  proceeds go to Legacy.

Crabb hooks a great catch in Hawke

Having Bob Hawke cooking you barramundi for lunch, no matter what your politics, that's a pretty big pinch-yourself moment.

Political journalist Annabel Crabb is back knocking on the doors of politicians' homes around Australia for series four of ABC TV's Kitchen Cabinet.

First stop is Australia's 23rd prime minister, Bob Hawke, Labor's longest serving PM and his wife Blanche D'Alpuget's harbour-side home in Sydney.

"I was really keen to get a former PM on the show to have a talk about how politics has changed. And popularity as an issue - as a political commodity - is something I really wanted to discuss." Crabb says. "Bob is a perfect person to reflect on that stuff. I did ask John Howard to come on the show, too, and I think he'd be a great guest. But I think Vegemite toast is his speciality! Bob went into training and made a very creditable steamed barramundi."

It must be said, Hawke did have some assistance from his sculptor stepson and "fish concierge" Louis Pratt.

"Bob is certainly a huge public favourite, and my guess is that people love him because they sense how much he deeply loves the Australian people. Actually - that's not my guess. Bob told me that over lunch! I think he's probably right," she adds.

Although approaching the age of 85, Hawke's recall is really good and he "loves a chat", Crabb says.

"Every time we stopped to reset lights or move locations he'd just scoot off and get stuck into the Sudoku - I guess that's his secret. I must say that he and Blanche were utterly charming, and the perfect hosts."

With all her years reporting on Australian politics, was there anything Hawke revealed that surprised Crabb?

"Well, I had no idea that he was supposed to be a girl called Margaret. That would have changed the course of Australian history somewhat!" she says, referring to the belief of Hawke's parents that they were expecting a daughter.

Series four of Kitchen Cabinet returns Tuesday at 8pm on ABC TV.

Putting best foot forward for brain cancer

Neurosurgeon Charlie Teo knows all too well how terrifying those words – brain cancer – can be.

"It's always difficult and never gets any easier," says Teo, of how he copes, dealing with patients going through this frightening life stage. "This is the reason I set up Cure Brain Cancer Foundation more than 10 years ago; I wanted to do something more than surgery. I wanted to shift the emphasis from prolonging life, to actually finding a cure."

With so many cancer charities pleading for your dollar in October, Teo says he wishes there was more unity in funding and research.

"The more we consolidate funds, the greater the impact of research. Small amounts of funding are typically less productive. However, there are many rare or 'orphan' diseases, such as brain cancer, that despite their high mortality rate, get disproportionately little public support due to the fact that they are less common," he says. "We do therefore need specific charities, such as Cure Brain Cancer Foundation, to help redress that balance." 

Brain cancer kills more children than any other disease in Australia. It also kills more people under 40 than any other cancer. Yet brain cancer receives a tiny fraction of cancer research funding – a fact that irritates Teo.

"While it is less common, brain cancer has very low survival rates, which have barely improved in the last 30 years," he says. "The survival rates for more common cancers, such as breast cancer and childhood leukaemia have improved dramatically in the same time frame; this is a direct result of research funding, so It's time to emulate that success in brain cancer."

November is Cure Brain Cancer Foundation's Walk4BrainCancer month with walks being held around the country to raise funds. Charlie will be leading the walk at Centennial Park on November 2.

"It's a great day out, for walkers at any level – it suits the whole family, from young to old," says Charlie. "Bring a picnic and make a day of it. There are walks all over Australia so find one in your area or organise your own."

Register to walk at www.walk4braincancer.com.au. Raise over $200 to be in the draw to win a five star trip to Queenstown staying at The Rees Residences.

A sizzling success

The Boys Can Cook cooking school in Bondi Junction initially started as a joke for advertising executive, Kim Terakes. Ten years on, it has spawned five top selling cookbooks and the biggest BBQ clubaussiebarbie.com.au in Australia.

"I honestly thought it would go for a month or two," says Kim.

Despite the cooking school's moniker, 50 per cent of classes are made up of women. The most notable was the late (Lady) Sonia McMahon.

"Sonia was there every week, giving me stick about the amount of butter I would use," smiles Kim. "Many were initially surprised to see her there but she became great mates with a lot of my students."

See www.boyscancook.com.au

Morsel

Better known for his television work as a producer and documentary-maker, Harley Oliver's first love was painting. Husband of radio and tv personality Amanda Keller, Harley's first solo exhibition,  Inappropriate Nudity,is at Darlinghurst's Stanley Street Gallery from October 29.

"They're serious paintings but highly inappropriate," says Oliver.

Although Amanda is clearly Harley's muse, he declares he is "not an idiot" when asked if she is one of his nudes.

"Oh,no! That would be highly inappropriate as opposed to inappropriate!" he laughs. "Amanda has been terrific but the kids [Liam and Jack] come home from school and go 'Oh, Dad!'"

monique@moniquebutterworth.com