Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2024 i Australian Women’s Weekly NZ

Inspiration is different for everyone. For some, a single picture can provide the kickstart for a new project, while others will need to research in depth, taking in everything about a subject before they take the leap. Regardless of which camp you fall into, there’ll always be something that creates that initial, “I wonder if…?” For me, it’s always people’s stories. It’s probably why I became a journalist – well, that and the fact I needed to find a way to get paid while I indulged my natural instinct to be nosey! There’s no greater privilege than when someone chooses to share elements of their journey with you. To hear their experiences (the happy and sad), the impact that had, the decisions they made, the feelings that went on, the…

Love. Love. Love. That’s what defines J.Lo. It’s undone her so many times, yet she still believes in love even when it doesn’t believe in her – and that’s what makes her one of us. She’s vulnerable, yes. She thinks that’s what makes her real and it does, of course. But in fact, we don’t like her to be too vulnerable. We like her to experience the highs and lows of her love rollercoaster, but for her to always make it through. We like her as a survivor. It helps that J.Lo is shimmeringly gorgeous at 54. Her fashion sense has never been to follow trends but just to look hot, while maybe having the latest Gucci or Versace in her wardrobe. It means she’s aspirational yet relatable. It also…

King Charles III was a shy child and still suffers when meeting large numbers of people, but he is courteous. He never passes a footman in a palace corridor or a stranger while walking in the countryside without acknowledgement, whatever his mood. While others of a lesser social standing might ignore the staff – he loathes the word “servants” – he is meticulous about saying thank you. Charles is more like his mother than he would admit. The late Queen was painfully shy, and never comfortable with strangers, but she was very gentle and always listened to what they had to say. When she’d had enough, she would say “Reaaaally” as a signal to her ladies-in-waiting to move her on. The Queen’s former press secretary, the late, enigmatic Martin Charteris…

“Can it be that in 1990, people will remember the ’60s as so sweet? When Stockholm’s inner city was being torn down? When we lived with old-fashioned morality?” The song was Ljuva Sextital (Sweet Sixties), a hit in 1969 for Brita Borg, a Swedish songstress with a deep voice. Composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, it was their first hit together. The lyrics were written by Stikkan Anderson, a record company boss who had recently become their manager. ‘Sweet Sixties’ was at once happy and sad, lightweight and serious. Andersson/Ulvaeus would write many more complex and multi-layered hits in the coming decade. The 1960s could be characterised as both fun and laborious for the four ABBA-members-to-be. Each of them slaved away making music, seven days a week, year-round. The…

Plump & firm 1. Dermalogica Pro-Collagen Banking Serum, $180, works to future-proof skin and protect against the signs of premature ageing by preserving existing collagen. 2. The smoothing Kora Organics Plant Stem Cell Retinol Alternative Moisturizer, $189, delivers a nourishing antioxidant boost. 3. Weleda Firming Eye Cream, $46.90, tackles dark circles and puffiness around the delicate eye area. RETINOL RADIANCE SKIN SAVIOUR The latest skincare must-have? Elizabeth Arden’s new Retinol + HPR Ceramide Capsules, from $95. Retinol meets moisture-boosting ceramides in this skin-renewing serum to smooth stubborn lines and wrinkles, and improve clarity, texture and tone. It’s gentle enough to use both day and night – even for first-time retinol users. THE GREAT ESCAPE – take me to ... France A sensual mix of florals and spice, Hermès Twilly D’Hermès,…

Author William Somerset Maugham once noted “to acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life”. Though he died over 50 years ago, research indicates he was right. During the pandemic, our appetite for books surged. In a crisis we turn to stories for escape, and science says it comes with benefits beyond simple pleasure – it’s good for your health. Mental health Research shows a gripping novel can lower stress levels faster than other relaxation methods such as going for a walk or listening to music. Emotional health Psychotherapists sometimes use books to help clients develop a deeper understanding of what they are working through, but bibliotherapist Lucy Pearson says books can help everybody. Bibliotherapy “originates from the Greek…

The style There was so much to love about the interiors of the late 1960s and ’70s, when vibrant, often clashing colours and patterns defined our homes, and design features centred around connection – like the sunken living room or “conversation pit”. I love this modern take on the classic look. It’s a lighter, more laid-back version that encourages interaction and a sense of flow. The stylists used artwork, sculptural lighting and oversized lounges, along with shades reminiscent of shoreline blues, gentle terracotta and creamy clay tones, to bring the owners’ vision to life. Key elements Embracing a retro renaissance means looking at colours and materials that speak to the era, with a modern twist – no polyester, thank you! Warming rust and ochre pair so well with modern pinks…

Pisces Feb 20 - Mar 20 The celestial symphony of Saturn, Neptune, the sun and this year’s new moon all in Pisces on March 10 to celebrate the beginning of your astrological year offers a personal portal for downloading specific life guidance. Make quiet time and space around this date to tune in and receive the rich gifts of your inner wisdom. From mid-month onwards, as magical creator Venus flows into your compassionate sign, followed by energetic Mars in the last week of March, your words and work can encourage others to feel valued, supported and inspired. Aries Mar 21 -Apr 21 If the steamy astrology of early March has you too fired-up to deal with emotionally charged challenges diplomatically, then step away from situations with inflammatory potential until you…

NEW ZEALAND Editor-at-Large Sarah Henry Editor Sebastian van der Zwan Chief Sub-Editor Denise Bowden Art Director Mirella Monteiro Designers Anna Pétursdóttir, Béla Trussell-Cullen, Debby Wei, Hayley Pearce Photo & Editorial Coordinator Kellie Blizard ADVERTISING Sales Director Claire Chisholm Sales Manager Chloe Jordan Commercial Brand Mananger Bridget Hewitt Campaign Manager Angela Wei Directory Sales Manager Kim Chapman EXECUTIVE Chief Executive Officer Jane Huxley General Manager Publishing Stuart Dick General enquiries to: The Australian Women’s Weekly, PO Box 52122, Kingsland, Auckland 1352. For delivery enquiries: delivery@magshop.co.nz. Published by Are Media © 2024. All rights reserved. Printed by Webstar, Auckland. We are... This publication has been printed by Webstar, a Toitū enviromark diamond certified company and a winner of the Green Ribbon Award. AUSTRALIA Editor Sophie Tedmanson Editor-at-Large Juliet Rieden Deputy Editor Tiffany…

As a presenter on Fair Go, Pippa Wetzell is used to being on the right side of justice and there’s one oft-maligned group of society that she’s very passionate about sticking up for – teenagers. Her eldest two children, daughters Brodie, 17, and Cameron, 14, are both smackbang in their teen years and Pippa is here to tell you that the bad press that age group gets is very unfair. “I just think teenage girls are the most awesome people on the planet,” she enthuses. “They’re so on to it. They have so much coming at them, but they’re clever, creative and sociable. I know it’s not the same experience for everyone, but I’m loving these teenage years.” There’s a heightened sense of appreciation to this time, partly because it’s…

The second day in a row that Michelle Bridges “forgot” to exercise, she knew something was wrong. For months, she’d been feeling lethargic and unmotivated. While others might be tempted to brush this feeling off, for Michelle, a high-energy and intensely motivated woman whose body was her business, this was unfamiliar territory. Michelle, 53, a former Les Mills trainer, first found fame as the tough yet compassionate fitness expert on the reality weight loss series, The Biggest Loser, in 2007 and has since built an empire aimed at helping women feel their best selves. She launched her popular 12WBT (12 Week Body Transformation) program of customisable diet and exercise routines in 2010, building a community of hundreds of thousands of eager subscribers who sing Michelle’s praises while sharing photos of…

Eating your cereal in front of cartoons packed with superheroes is a rite of passage for young children. Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, the Incredible Hulk … Kids are glued to the set watching the action unfold over breakfast. But three-year-old Robert Irwin’s favourite superhero was far closer to home. Bounding out of bed each morning, he would beg his mum, Terri, to put on an episode of his own favourite show – to “play a daddy doco”. “That was with breakfast, every morning,” he says now, aged 20 and about to start a new chapter in his life. “I remember studying it and watching everything he did. Mum made sure he was in the living room. Dad was part of everything.” Steve Irwin looms large in our conversation today at Australia…

I’m sitting in the back of a pick-up truck with three Maya women and, although it’s so hot Mexico’s Yucatán jungle appears to be steaming, that isn’t the reason I’m blushing. They are telling some of the dirtiest jokes I’ve ever heard …and because I’m a fledgling Spanish speaker, they’re illustrating them with the help of the heritage vegetables piled under and around us. The women are on their daily commute from the petite pueblo (village) of Espita to Mestiza de Indias, an agriculture project that supplies restaurants and hotels with rare fruit and vegetables, some so rare they are in danger of dying out. The project combines ancestral knowledge such as the ‘Three Sisters’ companion planting method – beans act as a natural fertiliser, squash maintains soil humidity and…

When I was growing up, every morning before school you’d find me in my family’s garage doing my pliés (knee bends in ballet) at my little barre. I could easily dance and move for hours. That feeling of joy and energy from being active led me to become a professional dancer, dancing around the world, doing the cancan at casinos and performing in chorus lines on cruise ships. Life took an unexpected turn in 2008. Despite my love for movement, I found myself unable to engage in the very activity that had always brought me happiness. I had a beautiful baby and a delightful toddler, but I had become trapped in a state of despair, consumed by guilt and shame. My mind was haunted by dark and truly terrifying thoughts…

PG 103 Cheesy corn & spring onion fritters Note The regular beef mince from the supermarket, which is generally 80 per cent lean and 20 per cent fat, is best for the patties. Leftovers Refrigerate cooked patties for up to 3 days. Reheat or eat them cold. Make ahead Freeze uncooked patties for up to 2 months (without salt); thaw completely in fridge overnight prior to cooking. Note The water helps to deglaze the pan and create a sticky, caramelised glaze on the chicken. If the chicken is starting to caramelise very quickly and stick to the base of the pan, you can add the water sooner. Make ahead Marinate the chicken up to 24 hours prior to cooking. The tzatziki can be prepared and refrigerated in an airtight container…

New beginnings  Want to bump up your bank balance this year? According to feng shui master Jane Langof, it could all start at your own front door. “Your front entrance symbolises the ability to attract wealth and new opportunities,” explains Jane. Here are her top tips. Place a cabinet or Do: console table with beautiful artwork or flowers opposite your front entrance to attract a lush, positive energy inside your home. This will also keep your entrance organised, which is crucial to success. Do: Ensure your front door is visible and free of obstacles. Don’t: Place mirrors opposite site your door as this is said to reflect energies and opportunitiesortunities right out again. Spring to it! Now is the time to get bulbs planted if you want them to be…

What’s one of the last photos you took on your phone? This is a selfie with my colleague and friend Dan Pannett. We were covering a political story in America’s Midwest and it was about -17 degrees Celsius at the time. We’re loving life but freezing cold! What’s the most precious thing in the world to you? My family. That’s something that has always been important to me, but family has definitely been front of mind more often since moving to New York. My parents are the most supportive people I know, so I consider myself incredibly lucky. What’s your standout childhood memory? Travelling to the Marlborough Sounds each summer growing up – camping, swimming, boating and long days just hanging out. It’s also where I met my wife, but…

Kylie’s GRAMMY She won in a heartbeat Aussie pop icon Kylie Minogue has won her second Grammy –the first was 20 years ago for Come Into My World. This year’s award was for her global popdance hit Padam Padam, named onomatopoeically to sound like a heartbeat. The secret to her current renaissance? “I like change,” she says. “Not changing is more weird to me than evolving with the times ... I’m thankful I’ve had so many opportunities over the years to keep going.” Women we love Serving kindness Ash Barty has launched a foundation to help “young girls and boys through sport and education ... It’s a passion I’ve had for a long time,” the tennis champ said. Gold rush Dunedin swimmer Erika Fairweather became the first Kiwi ever to…

If you go down to the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise. It could be the sight of a group of naked billionaires drinking gin fizz out of a fire bucket, or a line-up of world leaders singing showtunes in drag. And look out for when everyone gets together for the ritual sacrifice to the great owl god. The problem is that going down to these particular woods is extremely difficult. Held among the drifting shadows of a giant redwood forest, the annual July gathering of the ultra-secretive Bohemian Club is one of the more hotly debated but little observed events on Earth. Carried to northern California in fleets of private jets and blacked-out limousines, hundreds of powerful, wealthy and eminent men vanish into a 10-square kilometre chunk…

Just after I turned 21, I planned my own funeral. Not because I was curious about what it might look like, but because I had to. End-stage cystic fibrosis (CF) had forced my hand into making choices I did not want to make, and my remaining hope for survival was in receiving a double lung transplant, the likelihood of which was growing slimmer by the day. Then, with just days to live, I got “the call”. From a young age I became an expert in the art of adaptation. While being born with a life-limiting (and life-ending) illness may have coloured my life with an underbelly of darkness, I could always trust myself to grasp onto splinters of light in the inky mire of hopelessness. These were key to my…

When hair stylist Lauren Mackellar first began looking for natural solutions to hair thinning, she had no inkling of the cruel twist of fate that was to come. In her twenties, with a flourishing career in Sydney and Los Angeles, she put her own hair loss down to stress. “It was something that really affected my confidence. I laugh when I think about it now, but I tried so hard to hide it from everyone because I was so worried about what people thought about me losing my hair at that age. We associate thick hair with health, vitality and attractiveness, even if it is a subconscious thought.” In hindsight, Lauren sees her initial hair loss as a blessing as it prompted her to experiment with natural herbs and supplements.…

This is what happens the second you get emotional: Adrenaline and cortisol flood your body, your heart begins to race, arteries constrict and your blood pressure rises. You are physically pumped to flee. What’s interesting, though, is that your brain doesn’t really distinguish between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ excitement – the same fight or flight response is triggered regardless of whether you’re caught up in a thrilling grand final or whether you’re fleeing a fire. Sudden stress “Unequivocally yes, acute stress is a factor in heart attacks,” says Professor Jason Kovacic, Director and CEO of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute and practising cardiologist. “We see an uptick in heart attacks after sporting events or natural disasters. It’s also well documented in stressful family events.” This is confirmed by clinical cardiologist…

Four syrup variations STRAWBERRY, CINNAMON & BAY Place 1 cup (220g) caster sugar, ½ cup (125ml) water, ½ cup (100g) halved strawberries, 1 cinnamon stick and 1 bay leaf in a small saucepan over medium heat; stir to combine. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low-medium; simmer for 10 minutes or until reduced. Strain through a fine sieve; discard solids (makes ¾ cup). LEMON & ROSEMARY Place 1 cup (220g) caster sugar, ¾ cup (180ml) water, 4 rosemary sprigs and thinly peeled rind and juice of 1 lemon in a small saucepan over medium heat; stir to combine. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low-medium; simmer for 10 minutes or until reduced (makes 1 cup). MANDARIN, HONEY & THYME Place ½ cup (175g) honey, ¾ cup (180ml) mandarin…

How to help … other women Learn from locals Joining a women-only tour is an excellent way to explore the world while empowering women in other countries, particularly in places where they’re traditionally restricted from entering the workforce. Intrepid Travel’s Women’s Expeditions are a prime example of Girl Power-fuelled adventures with tours led by female guides (intrepidtravel.com). On my eight-day tour of Morocco, we venture from Marrakech (left) into remote regions of the North African nation, visiting women-run co-ops along the way. Our encounter with the Tawesna Association in Aït Benhaddou, in the High Atlas Mountains, is a highlight. This co-op supports more than 30 women, upskilling them and improving livelihoods. We feast on colourful tagines at their outdoor teahouse and restaurant before touring the astonishing World Heritage-listed town on…

Like Fire-Hearted Suns by Melanie Joosten, Ultimo Press Most of us recall stories of the suffragettes from school – the horrors endured, the courage summoned in the battle for women to win the vote. We take that right for granted now, but like author Melanie Joosten I was captivated by these fearless warriors. Her new novel, Like Fire-Hearted Suns, is essential reading, an extraordinary tale that takes us right into the heart of that vital period in history. Melanie says her inspiration was “a picture I saw in a high-school history class of women prison warders forcibly feeding a suffragette – I wondered how something so brutal could come of demanding the vote and knew there was more of a story there.” The novel opens in 1908 in London. Catherine…