Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2020 i Australian Women’s Weekly NZ

Hello! It’s so nice to be here writing to you and reconnecting with our treasured community of readers. For a time, like many of you out there, we weren’t sure what the future picture looked like for our industry. But it is with great happiness and excitement that we’re back. And back doing what we love – telling stories, sharing experiences and encouraging inspiration. If the year 2020 has taught us anything, it is that life is unpredictable. That the world can change in what seems like a blink of an eye and that the life plan most of us have so carefully crafted may as well be fish and chip paper at this point. Yet through all the change and challenge around us, there has been one constant –…

The last weeks of 2019 were a challenge unlike anything Turia Pitt had faced for a very long time. Bushfires raged through forests surrounding her home town on the south coast of NSW, the sky was alternately black and angry red, houses were evacuated and thousands of people were trapped on the roads heading north. On New Year’s Eve, the fires roared into the outskirts of Milton, just five kilometres away. Turia stood on her balcony and watched “as two angry plumes from the fires north and south joined over Mollymook Beach. “And then, the power went out. Mobile reception became spotty. Internet was down. Rumours swirled around town like the ashes that rained down on us. Embers in our backyards. Homes had been lost. Whole streets obliterated. A girlfriend’s…

There aren’t many middle-aged women brave enough to deliver a speech in their togs to a live audience, let alone tens of thousands worldwide. Writer and playwright Pip Hall is such a woman. But what, you might ask, was she thinking?! Here’s the thing. It was a TED talk about water ballet. But really it was about finding the joy in life, having fun, and the power of friendship and laughter. All things dear to Pip’s heart. If you haven’t seen this TED talk, look it up on YouTube. Her infectious enthusiasm will have you hooked and if synchronised swimming is not for you, I guarantee you’ll be thinking about what might spark joy in your life. And a bit of joy is something we could all do with right…

Dazzling in a flowing magenta gown, Australian singer Helen Reddy’s smile was equally bright as she strode on stage to accept the Grammy Award for her global hit, I Am Woman, on March 3, 1973. Having beaten out stiff competition in the form of icons Barbra Streisand and Aretha Franklin, the 31-year-old thanked her husband, Jeff, “because he makes my success possible”. Then, without missing a beat, she continued, “And I would like to thank God, because she makes everything possible”. Polite applause followed, but many in the crowd were visibly shocked. The televised ceremony was held in Nashville that year, the traditionally conservative home to country music, and the atmosphere in the city’s Tennessee Theatre was tense. For while the singer’s words, spoken with conviction, delighted her fans, not…

Whether because of a late night or a laissez-faire attitude towards skincare, it’s likely you’ve skipped the cleansing step once or twice. But the simple act of washing your face could be the key to a youthful complexion, say skin experts. Cleansing is incredibly important. It removes dirt, oil, debris and environmental pollutants that can contribute to inflammation, acne and premature ageing. A proper cleanse also prepares your skin to receive serums, oils and moisturisers effectively. Here, we reveal the best formulas, techniques and tools for getting a fresh, radiant glow.…

BE GENTLE It’s a myth that vigorously scrubbing your face equates to a thorough cleanse. Be gentle, as over-scrubbing causes irritation and dryness. BAR THE SOAP Avoid regular bar soaps, as they can be harsh on skin. And if you have sensitive skin, steer clear of fragranced cleansers as they may cause further irritation. RETHINK WIPES Face wipes may be convenient, but they can move grime around rather than remove it. It may be better to use them as an on-the-run option instead of everyday.…

GENITAL HERPES: “This is a lesion – a sore or painful ulceration on the vulva or, if you’re having oral sex, potentially around your mouth,” Dr Farrell says. CHLAMYDIA: “Tends to be asymptomatic but can be associated with a discharge. It can cause severe pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).” GONORRHOEA: “Sometimes no symptoms, but can have a discharge and, if untreated, can lead to PID. If a woman has unprotected sex, then she should have an STI check that will include gonorrhoea.” TRICHOMONIASIS: “A fishy smelling, greenish, frothy discharge with associated itching.”…

This is the story of a year-long experiment in mindfulness meditation and mental health. I’d like to say that it started because I decided to tackle a big problem: the global mental health crisis. That would have been a worthy motive for any unshrinking journalist because, after all, the leading medical science journal, The Lancet, has declared that every country in the world is facing – and failing to tackle – a host of mental health problems. But the truth is, the inspiration for this whole endeavour was also very personal. For me, the wounds of mental illness run deep. As a child, I witnessed the devastating effects of depression, addiction and bipolar disorder. At age 24, during a lonely period when I was living far away from family and…

Basque cheesecake SERVES 10 PREP AND COOK TIME 1 HOUR (+ COOLING TIME) 1kg cream cheese, chopped, at room temperature 1½ cups (330g) caster sugar ¼ teaspoon sea salt flakes 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste 6 eggs, room temperature, beaten lightly ¼ cup (35g) cornflour 1 cup (280g) Greek yoghurt 1 cup (250ml) cream 2 blood oranges, 2 navel oranges, peeled and sliced ¼ cup (80g) Seville orange marmalade, warmed 1 Preheat the oven to 220°C (200°C fan-forced). Cut 2 x 40cm sheets of baking paper. Grease a 24cm springform pan. Lay the sheets of baking paper slightly overlapping, extending about 3cm above the edge of pan. Use a 22cm plate to hold down the paper while making the filling. 2 Using a stand mixer, beat the cream cheese, sugar,…

SERVES 12 Offer a few quality cheeses instead of many mediocre ones. Choose three types (or five at most) – although it is possible to create a board with a single cheese, such as a spectacularly large, round, perfectly ripe brie. Balance the selection by providing a variety of cheese flavours – take your pick from our suggestions, then fill the board with crackers, bread, fresh and dried fruit, and nuts, in an eye-catching display. Buy Hard or semi-hard cheese: Gruyère, Beaufort, Tilsit, Manchego, cloth-bound or vintage cheddar. Goat’s cheese: fresh, natural or ashed goat’s cheese. White mould/soft creamy: Fromager d’Affinois, Brillat-Savarin (triple crème), brie, camembert, double crème. Blue: Cashel blue, Fourme d’Ambert, Tarago River Shadows of Blue, Milawa blue. Washed rind: Tarago River Jensen’s Red, Taleggio, Port Salut. Bread-like…

With close to 2000 cheese varieties, where do you start when creating your cheese board? Smaller producers craft their cheeses with time-honoured methods, which is evident in the taste, while large producers aim for consistency. If buying from a specialist cheese shop, ask for tasting samples. Buy cheeses of differing shapes, age, texture and milk styles. Fresh These unaged cheeses have a high moisture content with mild tastes ranging from creamy to sweet and lactic. They are made from cow’s, goat’s or buffalo milk. Try goat’s curd, mozzarella, fetta, or fresh goat’s cheese marinated in oil (pictured). White mould cheese With a white bloomy rind, this group includes classics like brie and camembert. Traditionally made versions ripen from the inside out, while modern methods create a stable cheese that is…

Ask THE WEEKLY Q: When I buy watercress or rocket, the leaves only last for 2 or 3 days. How can I keep them fresh for longer? J. Lewis, Darling Point, NSW. A: Buy the freshest leaves (check the date), wash in cold water, dry in a salad spinner, pack in a plastic container lined with a paper towel, place another paper towel on top, cover with a lid and store in the fridge. Pot luck When you’re potting flowers for spring colour, cut a piece of old kitchen sponge to fit snugly in the bottom of the pot – it will stop the soil escaping, and help to keep the roots of your plant moist. Fruitful solution To remove a splinter, tape a small section of ripe banana peel,…

Kate Mildenhall, 39, is an author and teacher whose Melbourne childhood shaped her passion for books. “I was a massive reader. Our house was filled with books and it was very normal to spend all day curled up with books. I started (like so many writers!) writing terrible poetry and stories,” she says. Her acclaimed 2016 historical debut, Skylarking, was long-listed for the Voss Literary Prize. The Mother Fault is futuristic but ultimately, says Kate, is about her protagonist’s “experience as a woman – a daughter, sister, wife, lover, mother – and how she is able to reconcile a space within herself for all these different roles she plays.”…

Lifestyle A Table for Friends by Skye McAlpine, Bloomsbury A joyful book that celebrates entertaining for two or 20. Food writer Skye McAlpine keeps her recipes simple and creates “the kind of food you can plonk down in the centre of the table for everyone to tuck into, towering platefuls of it, higgledy-piggledy, unpretentious, colourful and overflowing”. It’s the sort of occasion we all want to be at and will have you heading to the kitchen to recreate her recipes from buttery lemon chicken to vanilla pannacotta.…

Diana & Debicki AS THE CROWN approaches its climactic final seasons, Australian star Elizabeth Debicki has revealed she’ll step into the role of Diana, Princess of Wales. Since lighting up the screen as the coolly beautiful golfer, Jordan Baker, in The Great Gatsby, Melbourne-raised Elizabeth has given gripping performances in The Night Manager, The Kettering Incident and Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster Tenet. But it seems her latest role is her most coveted yet, with Elizabeth saying, “Princess Diana’s spirit, her words and actions live in the hearts of so many. It’s my true privilege and honour to be joining this masterful series.” A star-studded baby boom IN A WORLD full of uncertainty, life finds a way, and some of The Weekly’s favourite couples have annouced the very best kind of news.…

In a fire-engine red wool coat purchased “on sale at Neiman Marcus [department store]” for maximum impact – and warmth – her hands waving aloft and lashed together with sharp, plastic zip-lock cuffs, octogenarian actor Jane Fonda is out of her comfort zone but in her element. From Capitol Hill she bellows thanks to BAFTA for the Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film as police lead her away to the jailhouse. It’s a scene that lit up news channels around the world last October and featured in the iconic actor’s acceptance video, played with pomp and glory on a big screen at the Beverly Hills BAFTA gala she couldn’t attend. To the uninitiated it looked like a piece of choreographed theatre, filmed in Washington D.C. perhaps for a…

The morning she lost her only child to suicide, Linda Collins woke up basking in the aftermath of a blissful dream. Her daughter, Victoria Skye Pringle McLeod, was spinning through the universe. The sky around the 17-year-old shone bright blue, like a kingfisher’s wing. Her hair was long and golden, her clothes filled with light as she rose above the ground. She stretched out a hand to Linda, who tried to catch hold, but she rapidly soared too high and too far away. “She was looking upward, smiling. She was so happy. That is what made me, in turn, euphoric. For her, that she felt that way,” the bereft mother painfully recalls. “I woke up, lying in the position that Victoria always slept in – on her back, with her…

Washing your face twice daily is optimal, according to dermatologists. In the morning after waking, it’s important to cleanse to remove grime accumulated overnight. In the evening, wash to remove make-up and dirt deposited on your face throughout the day. And if you engage in a workout session, lather up afterwards to remove sebum and sweat. In terms of technique there are no hard and fast rules. It’s a good idea to use enough product and water to create a slippery surface so you’re not pulling on the delicate skin. And remember, your face doesn’t end at your chin, so include your neck and décolletage when you cleanse.…

YOUNGER BRAINS A study comparing the brains of 50 long-term meditators with the brains of 50 non-meditators found that, at age 50, the brains of meditators were seven and a half years younger than non-meditators. MENTAL HEALTH A meta-analysis of 209 studies concluded that mindfulness-based interventions showed “large and clinically significant effects” in treating anxiety and depression – effects that were maintained through follow-up. CHRONIC PAIN A review of 38 randomised controlled trials found that mindfulness meditation improves pain, depression symptoms and quality of life. (Although further research is needed). QUIT SMOKING A randomised controlled trial demonstrated that four weeks of mindfulness training was five times more successful than a gold standard program designed to help people quit smoking. BETTER THERAPISTS One study, in which therapists in training were randomised…

Quickest white fish tagine SWEET CHERRY TOMATOES, HARISSA, ASPARAGUS & FLUFFY COUSCOUS  SERVES 2 TOTAL TIME: 15 MINUTES 150g couscous 4 cloves of garlic olive oil 250g ripe mixed-colour cherry tomatoes 250g asparagus 2 heaped teaspoons rose harissa 2 x 150g white fish fillets, skin off, pin-boned, from sustainable sources 1 lemon 2 tablespoons natural yoghurt 1 Place the couscous in a bowl, add a pinch of sea salt and black pepper, then just cover with boiling kettle water, and cover. 2 Peel and slice the garlic, then place in a shallow casserole pan on a medium-high heat with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, stirring while you halve the cherry tomatoes, adding them to the pan as you go. 3 Snap the woody ends off the asparagus, roughly chop the…

• To work out the quantities required, aim for 60g of cheese per person, plus a fist-size of accompaniments, such as cured meats, crackers and fruit. If the platter is in lieu of a meal, allow two generous fist-sized amounts of food per person, or 120g protein, plus a fist-sized portion of accompaniments. You can modify this if you know you have a particularly ravenous crowd. • If you feel you have over-catered, just put half the cheese or food down and replenish as amounts get low. • Some fruit oxidises and turns brown over time. To avoid your beautiful spread turning brown before your guests arrive, remember to dip cut fruit, such as apples, pears and figs, in a bowl of water with a generous squeeze of lemon juice.…

Paprika pork skewers with herby yoghurt potato salad SERVES 4 PREP AND COOK TIME 30 MINUTES (+ MARINATING TIME) 750g pork fillets 4 cloves garlic, crushed 1 tablespoon honey 2 teaspoons hot paprika ¼ cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 1 tablespoon olive oil HERBY YOGHURT POTATO SALAD 16 baby (new) potatoes (640g) 1/3 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped coarsely 1/3 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped coarsely 1 clove garlic, crushed ½ teaspoon ground allspice 2 tablespoons lime juice ¼ cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oil ½ cup (140g) Greek-style yoghurt 100g watercress sprigs 1 Cut pork into 1cm thick slices. Combine garlic, honey, paprika, parsley and oil in a large bowl; add pork, toss to coat in mixture. Cover; refrigerate for 1 hour or overnight. 2 HERBY YOGHURT…

Brightening bombs These small, scented descaling shapes fizz up to freshen sinks, baths and toilets. Wearing rubber gloves, pour 300g bicarbonate of soda and 100g citric acid into a bowl. Carefully add 10ml of your chosen essential oils and stir with your hand to incorporate. The mix should hold together when squeezed – if it’s too dry, add a couple of sprays of distilled water. Push the mix into silicone moulds and allow to dry out. When ready, push the shapes out of the moulds and store in sealed, moisture-resistant jars. Add a decorative label – we printed out a ticker-tape label and mounted it onto pretty paper. Cover the label with clear, sticky-backed plastic and stick to the jar with adhesive. Herbal cleansing spray Using a sterilised jar, blend…

Royal caper STEALING THE CROWN by TP Fielden, Thomas & Mercer This is the first of a rollicking wartime trilogy set behind Buckingham Palace gates and while clearly fiction, it plays intriguingly with real life figures and events. It’s London in 1941 and air raids are punching holes in the city. When Major Edgar Brampton is found dead in his Palace office, rumours swirl. Suicide is given, but the truth is far murkier. Courtier Guy Hartford investigates and his trail goes to the top of the royal family and involves Nazis and a daring plot. Literary fantasy PIRANESI by Susanna Clarke, Bloomsbury In this haunting and surrealist story, Piranesi is our narrator and along with his master – the Other, who he sees on Tuesdays and Fridays –…

She could – almost – have been one of The Survivors. Standing there, outlined by the weak light, her back turned and the salt water lapping at her feet. Then she moved. Just a small shift in weight and an in-out of breath, but enough to break the illusion before it was fully formed. She was still looking away, focused on something he couldn’t make out in the dark. Somewhere, a wave broke and the sea surged, fresh and cold against his own legs as it fizzed white around her bare calves. He watched as she reached down with her free hand and gathered her skirt hem above her knees. The air was filled with a fine haze and her T-shirt clung to her back and her waist. The sea…

TWO LITTLE DEVILS Conservation organisation Aussie Ark has welcomed two tiny Tasmanian Devil joeys, Itchy and Scratchy, who are being hand-raised by keeper Hewin Hochkins. PENGUINS ON SHOW The whole world can now watch the nightly march of the fairy penguins at Phillip Island, which is being livestreamed from 6pm to give relief to a pandemic-weary world. View at penguins.org.au A DOG’S LIFE Pets of the Homeless cares for the pets of those at risk of or experiencing homelessness, like cute pup Vindi (above) who found a loving temporary home. For details visit petsofthehomeless.org.au…

JUST WHEN WE NEEDED reliable information more than ever, bushfire-related fake news proliferated last summer, to the point where the Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, Paul Fletcher, warned Australians to maintain a “healthy scepticism” about posts. Queensland University of Technology researchers later uncovered more than 300 Twitter accounts that were promoting an “ArsonEmergency” hashtag, trying to convince followers that arson was the primary cause of the unprecedented fire season. And many of those accounts exhibited the type of “inauthentic behaviour” typical of online trolls and bots. A 32-YEAR-OLD SYDNEY MAN was recently charged with disseminating fake news about Labor candidate (now MP) for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain. A deluge of fake emails to voters in the contested seat (mis)informed them that McBain had contracted COVID-19 and withdrawn from…

Since bestselling British author Frances Hodgson Burnett first wrote The Secret Garden in 1911, it has been adapted into four TV series, four films, a bunch of plays and a Broadway musical, so it’s fair to say this is a story with a universal message. For Dame Julie Walters, co-star of the latest version – a mesmerising adaptation combining eye-candy effects conjuring a magical realism of blooming flowers and verdant butterfly-filled woodlands with filming in some of Britain’s most beguiling gardens – the film couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time. “I read the book as a child, so knew it well and loved it. The themes of loss and friendship, and then regeneration and light at the end of the tunnel, I think will always resonate. It’s pertinent…

Shape shifter TRANSFORM FROM RELAXED COOL TO CINCHED CHIC BY ADDING A FEW ACCESSORIES. Stylist tip One of the easiest ways to transform your look is to add a classic belt to a dress, jacket or coat. Cinching in the waist draws the eye inward and accentuates the narrowest point. Wide belts are a hit this season – choose one in classic neutral tones to pair with your summer wardrobe. How to wear a busy print THERE ARE SOME SIMPLE HACKS WHICH HELP MAKE THE MOST OF THIS CLASSIC SPRING/SUMMER STAPLE. Stylist tip I call this the “double duty” dress. Wear your shirt dress open, like a trench, over one solid colour. White is fresh and clean and works beautifully with the bright blue in this print. Adding bold yellow…

Exfoliating BEST FOR FLAKY SKIN These double-duty beauties have a host of benefits, from dissolving dead skin cells to stimulating collagen production. An exfoliating cleanser doesn’t have to feel gritty – ones with lactic acid not only clean, they also smooth and brighten skin, too. Try Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser, $62, or Natio Dual Action Cleanser & Exfoliator, $21.99 Oil BEST FOR REMOVING MAKE-UP In the past, oils were thought to clog pores and cause congestion. But in actual fact, these silky formulas bind to surface oils and make-up, allowing them to be rinsed away. Oil cleansers are great for removing heavy make-up, while nourishing skin at the same time. Try Trilogy Rosehip Transformation Cleansing Oil, $34.99, or BareMinerals Oil Obsessed Total Cleansing Oil, $53 Milk BEST FOR DRY…

Over the course of her incredible life, activist, poet and storyteller Maya Angelou wrote many wise words that inspired women worldwide. Yet one of the most resonant quotes remains sadly unrepresented by her many readers. “When women take care of their health,” she opined, “they become their best friend.” While we’re quick to offer a helping hand to our children, family and friends, when it comes to looking after our own needs, we often put them last on the list. And that is especially true when it comes to issues we find difficult to talk about, such as sexual health, incontinence and other intimate matters. Enter Dr Elizabeth Farrell AM, Medical Director of Jean Hailes for Women’s Health, who we’ve enlisted to answer a multitude of questions that many are…

“Fresh artichokes cooked like this are an amazing taste sensation.” Roast baby chicken with herb stuffing SERVES 4-6 PREP AND COOK TIME 45 MINUTES 2 tablespoons dried currants ⅓ cup (80ml) verjuice ½ cup (125ml) extra virgin olive oil 1 large (200g) brown onion, chopped coarsely 2 cloves garlic, chopped coarsely 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary 1 ½ cups (100g) stale coarse breadcrumbs 1 tablespoon orange marmalade 2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted ½ cup chopped fresh parsley 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind 4 x 500g baby chickens 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, extra DRESSING 1 cup (250ml) good quality chicken stock ¼ cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar ½ teaspoon vino cotto 1 Place the currants into a microwave-safe glass bowl; add the verjuice…

1 Position cheese and wedges of fruit pastes on a large round or rectangular board towards the edges. 2 Place lengths of baguette and cut-up slices near cheese, on a diagonal to balance the other shapes. 3 Group and stack crackers near cheese, repeating across the board for a lovely visual effect. 4 Fill larger gaps with fresh and dried fruit, keeping berries whole, grapes in clusters and slicing others. 5 Assess and tweak the board for colour, shape and balance, then fill the small gaps with piles of nuts. 6 Add finishing touches, such as sprigs of herbs, grissini and honeycomb chunks, layering them on top.…

Houses are getting smaller, more of us than ever are living in apartments, and in these uncertain times we’re sticking close to home. So what can we do to get the most out of our abodes? According to Sydney-based interior designer Sarah Yarrow (sarahyarrowinteriors.com) it’s all about making sure that the space we do have can fulfill more than one function … Living area & indoor garden When outside space is at a premium, bring the outdoors indoors by making one room or corner of your home a green retreat. It can be your living room, spare room or even your bathroom: you choose. As a place to sit and relax, add as much value as you like with curated greenery, sympathetic decor and even a water feature…

Sci-fi thriller The Mother Fault by Kate Mildenhall, Simon & Schuster There’s a grizzly scene in The Mother Fault when Heidi, the friend of protagonist Mim, is trying to surgically remove tracing implants from the arms of her friend and two children. It involves anaesthetic, a scalpel and digging around in flesh and veins for the tiny “silver sliver” that keeps our now on-the-run family on the radar of ‘The Department’. It’s a messy task, and after mopping blood and gluing together wounds, Heidi secretes the chips in some rats to put Big Brother off the scent. These chips are both convenient – an implanted bank card, a form of identity – and sinister, allowing a disconcerting level of government control. And right here is Kate…

Thriller WILD by Kristin Hannah, Macmillan Child psychologist Dr Julia Cates takes her seat at the courthouse, a defendant in the trial of a child killer, one of her patients for three years. She has been dodging the press, who along with the parents of the dead children, want to know why she did not know the girl was becoming violent. Vindicated by the judge, she retreats to Rain Valley, the small timber community where she grew up and where she shall take on her most challenging patient ever. Julia’s sister, Police Chief Ellie, is dealing with a terrifying discovery. A wretchedly thin child, about six, is spotted up a tree, clutching a wolf pup. Julia agrees to help the shackle-scarred, growling girl who walks on all-fours and ravages…