The Australian Women's Weekly July 2019

Picking on millennials, those born in the ’80s and early ’90s, is a popular pastime for media commentators and the like. If you believe the narrative, they’re a generation at once entitled and lazy, self-obsessed and rudderless. Labelled “snowflakes” they are painted as overly-sensitive whiners who think the world revolves around them. True, to witness the behaviour of some infamous millennials like, say, the Kardashians or anyone on a reality dating show, you could be forgiven for throwing your hands up in despair about the future of humanity. With a young daughter of my own I will admit to moments of sheer panic at the world she’s growing up in. What we hear and see less of, however, are the amazing women (and men) of this generation who are driven,…

MARRIAGE MEMORIES Alison Brahe’s description of the survival of her marriage (Open Mic, AWW, June) mirrors my own almost exactly. Married at 19, I also had what she describes as a ‘Fire Danger Rating, catastrophic’ reaction to my husband. Next year, we celebrate our 60-year wedding anniversary, and our marriage has also been through many deaths and rebirths. And yet we, as Cameron describes it, “still choose to love each other.” Well done, you two. Hopefully, one day, you will be able to look back on as many years as we can. Name withheld, Gold Coast, Qld. GOLDEN GIRLS Bravo to Matildas’ star footballers, Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord (AWW, June), who are not only the best in the world, but also made remarkable comebacks after devastating injuries. These young…

My husband and I had been in Indonesia for 62 days when I flew back tired and quite stressed and emotional so it was wonderful to open our letter box and find Sam Armytage smiling at me (AWW, June). A load of washing on, my husband made me a cuppa and I sat in my favourite chair and had a relaxing couple of hours reading about Sam turning her life around, meeting the new Royal bundle of joy as well as enjoying the fashion and the yummy food pages. Thanks AWW for the best welcome home ! D. Bowden, Rosebud, Vic.…

ONE-YEAR-OLD Prince Louis just couldn’t get enough of the Red Arrows’ fly past as the youngest Cambridge attended his first Trooping of the Colour to celebrate the official birthday of his 93-year-old great-granny. The red, white and blue smoke trailing through the sky was captivating and Louis cooed and waved and then pulled the best grumpy scowl as the action paused. When, later, Louis spied Grandpa – Prince Charles – he reached out for a hug. Prince William was every inch the proud father as he watched over his happy trio, laughing with his wife. And to cap off the perfect Trooping, the Duchess of Sussex took time from her maternity leave to join the joyous family occasion. The Buckingham Palace balcony show of royal unity has become a highlight…

SIXTY YEARS AGO Sydney doctors Catherine and Reg Hamlin answered an ad in The Lancet medical journal seeking gynaecologists in Addis Ababa. Little did they know that decision would revolutionise maternal healthcare in Ethiopia forever and transform the lives of more than 60,000 women. When they arrived in Africa in 1959 they were confronted by the prevalence of obstetric fistula – a horrendous but preventable childbirth injury that left women without dignity or hope. “We were touched and appalled by the sadness of our first patient: a beautiful woman in urine-soaked rags, sitting alone in our outpatient department away from others. We knew she was more in need than others,” Catherine, now 95, said. The couple decided to dedicate their lives to treating the condition. In 1974 they opened a…

Cover star Carrie Bickmore has been honoured with an Order of Australia Medal for her tireless work raising awareness of brain cancer, and services to broadcast media. When Carrie won the Gold Logie in 2015, she used the opportunity to make a plea for greater support for brain cancer research in honour of her late husband, Greg. The foundation she started, Carrie’s Beanies 4 Brain Cancer, raises much-needed funds for this vital work. Other Australians recognised for service to the community are ABC chair Ita Buttrose (above, left), Hugh Jackman for his work to eradicate poverty as well as his service to the performing arts, and Guy Sebastian, whose charity work was also mentioned alongside his work as a music artist. Domestic violence crusader Rosie Batty (left) also received an…