Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2020 i The Australian Women's Weekly

It has long been said that the pen is mightier than the sword, and in today’s world that may be truer than ever. Words have the power to unite and inspire, but in the wrong hands they can also cause great destruction and division. This month our fascinating and frightening investigation into Fake News (page 42) shows how it’s much more than just Donald Trump’s favourite put-down. It took just three little words – ‘I AM WOMAN’ – to create the rallying cry for a generation of women and to make Australian singer-songwriter Helen Reddy a feminist icon around the world. We get a uniquely personal insight into the woman behind the anthem from her daughter Traci (page 76). Meanwhile, the esteemed judges of our 2020 Women of the Future…

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…

While COVID-19 has played havoc with the royal diary, it was comforting to see some things haven’t changed, as Her Majesty The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh left Windsor Castle to take up residence in Balmoral for their annual summer holiday in the Scottish Highlands. A Palace spokesperson was eager to point out that all arrangements would be “in line with the relevant guidelines and advice”, but otherwise it was a return to normal life for the couple in the place they most love, probably the only place they feel truly free. What that means for the 94-year-old monarch and her 99-year-old husband has been described by granddaughter Princess Eugenie as “walks, picnics, dogs”. Add horse-riding for Her Majesty and al fresco staff-free barbies on the estate and you…

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…

The blue jewels in Deborah Wallace’s earrings are jiggling as she re-enacts her mother throwing a curtain rod, like a javelin, at a milk thief. The year was 1969 and mother-of-four Aileen Wallace had booby-trapped the verandah of their Western Sydney home to stop their milk delivery being snatched. When the thief was ensnared, she sprang to her feet and tore the curtain rod off the window. “All I remember is she said, ‘He’s here!’ and I saw her running down the road in her cotton nightie,” Deb says, laughing. “She launched the rod at the offender like a spear, with the lace curtain still attached.” The man fled but, Deb adds, “we never lost another bottle of milk!” It may seem like an auspicious story from the childhood of…

Is there anything sweeter than farm-gate honey or more delicious than a bottle of wine purchased at a cosy cellar door? Is there anything more reassuring than popping in to the local chemist, who knows the family, for a bit of medical advice or chatting about new releases at your neighbourhood bookstore? As retailers brace for tough times, a new campaign called Go Local First is encouraging Australians to explore the provedores and shops close to home. Small businesses – whether that’s a stall at the local farmers’ market or your corner hardware store – account for one-third of Australia’s economic output and employ roughly six million people. Keeping those businesses alive in precarious times like these is critical, not just to local communities but the national economy. And according…

Throughout history, what we deem ‘beautiful’ is essentially a reflection of our values. So, not surprisingly, the post pandemic-lockdown world has left an indelible mark on the beauty-scape, prompting a shift from the superficial to a more-than-skin-deep, feel-good beauty. Skincare sales surged this year as self-care and skin health, rather than flawless selfie opportunities, became our aesthetic priority. “Skin is a stress perceiver and a target for stress response, it’s squarely in the firing line,” explains Madeline Calfas, naturopath, nutritionist and The Wellness Group founder. “We get more oxidative damage and increased inflammation to skin in times of stress.” Inflammation has become the buzzword in beauty as it leads to cellular damage that’s difficult to reverse. “Chronic inflammation is one underlying cause of ageing,” says Zoe Devine, skincare expert at…

SERUM-TONER HYBRIDS ARE A NEW INNOVATION IN STREAMLINED SKINCARE. COMBINING THE PORE-REFINING BENEFITS OF A TONER WITH THE HYDRATING AND SOOTHING PROPERTIES OF A SERUM, THIS DOUBLE-DUTY PRODUCT IS IDEAL FOR OILY AND COMBINATION SKINS. Dr Dennis Gross Alpha-Beta Pore Perfecting & Refining Serum, $104, mecca.com.au; Votary Toning Serum, $150, sephora.com.au…

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…

CHEST The chest is collapsed when you’re typing and reading. To open it up, lie on the floor with a cushion under your shoulder blades or down the length of your spine. Bend your legs, place your feet on the floor or couch and spread your arms wide to relax and open up the chest. HIPS To stretch the hip flexor, which is shortened from sitting, lower into a kneeling lunge with hands on the floor. Sink hips forward to extended back leg. (Note: there’s nothing wrong with using chairs – people at standing desks are also getting collapsed arches and tight calves; just change position often). GLUTES The piriformis is a muscle under the glutes and it governs how the sciatic nerve functions. If it’s tight, it will compress…

“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 1½ 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 and…

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) ⅓ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped coarsely ⅓ 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…

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…

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…

YANKEE FAN A lovely group of Aussie women I met last year in New York gifted me an incredible box of national treats. Among the items was The Weekly. I’m so delighted with your publication, which introduced me to some Aussie slang such as “skerrick” and “spanner” and gave me insight into topics of interest to women throughout the nation. The photography is marvellous and I loved the advertisements for Australian products. It’s clear you have a fabulous read in store every month and I feel “Down Under” with you! L. Roman-Williams, Richmond, Virginia, USA COMFORT AND HOPE I’ll never forget the catastrophic fires that raged through eastern Australia last summer (Forged in Flames, AWW, September), nor the men and women who risked their lives to save others, or the…

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…

It’s an overcast afternoon in the Sydney suburb of Gladesville and the Parramatta River is the same dull grey as the sky above, but inside singer Maria Venuti’s home, there’s a riot of colour. The entertainer is posing for The Weekly’s cameras in red feathers, orange satin, saloon ruffles and crimson lipstick. A glass of champagne fizzes in her hand while the camera snaps away, and as Maria smiles, she looks just as gregarious as always, proving that even though a catastrophic stroke robbed her of her voice, she is still a performer at heart. It’s clear, however, as the shoot pauses so Bianca can adjust Maria’s hair, that what really keeps her going is the love of her daughter. “Let me fix your feathers,” Bianca says gently, as she moves…

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…

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…

Voluminous waves are back in the spotlight for spring. Top hairstylist Brad Mullins tells how to master curls to rival Pia Miller’s (above) at home. “Always start with the right shampoo and conditioner,” advises Brad. “The Pantene Pro-V Sheer Volume variant offers instant volume without heaviness. With tools, invest in a great blow dryer, a round bristle brush and four section clips – these will help ensure you don’t miss any strands.” And then, he promises, all you need to do is follow these fool-proof steps. Step 1. After shampooing and conditioning, apply a Pantene Pro-V Intensive Rescue shot for moisture and hydration, plus a mousse to lift your roots. Tip your head upside down and start blow-drying until hair is 80 per cent dry. Step 2. Section hair into…

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,…

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 – or…

‘Pull over! I see pink ones!” My friend Dianne and I are on a long weekend road trip through Western Australia’s Golden Outback, and it’s August, the early days of the wildflower season. What began as a pleasant way to escape the city for a few days has become an obsessive hunt: searching for wildflowers now seems as serious as spotting game on an African safari, and as much fun, too. The pursuit of ticks on our wildflower bucket list – multi-coloured everlastings, various orchids, unusual wattles, the rare but spectacular wreath flowers – has my eyes obsessively darting along both road edges as we drive, and I yell when I see a flower patch that needs closer examination. The contrast of colourful flowers with the striking red dirt and,…

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…

Brooke BONEY Entertainment reporter for Today, Channel Nine As the high-profile entertainment reporter for the Nine Network’s Today, Brooke Boney is full of enviable stories about Hollywood premieres. But she’ll just as quickly turn the conversation to examples of inspiring strength – political and otherwise – that she has admired this year. “Some of the best leadership we’ve seen around the world has been from female leaders,” she says. “If there’s anything we can take from this, I hope that it is you don’t have to be the toughest, the loudest, the strongest to succeed and to win.” Brooke’s background is in political journalism, on which she cut her teeth in Canberra for National Indigenous Television (NITV). She also produced Sydney’s Koori Radio morning program Blackchat before going to her…

Remember the golden age of travel? You should – it ended only six months ago. That was a time when cruise ships zigzagged oceans, safari parks were full, tour guides on the Inca Trail actually had people to lead – and my husband and I thought nothing of pulling our four small children out of school for a year-long adventure crisscrossing four continents. You can probably guess how that worked out! In mid-March, just two-and-a-half months into our “trip of a lifetime”, we were forced to beat a hasty retreat to Australia as international borders, from Istanbul to Johannesburg, slammed shut around us. Locked down in the Margaret River region (I know, I know, poor us), we spent the next two months plotting how we could salvage the rest of…

Danielle Macdonald has been in lockdown in Los Angeles. It’s not ideal, but the Northern Beaches girl whose star has been soaring in Hollywood these past few years is counting her blessings – and she’s had a few. At 29, she’s worked alongside Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Aniston and Joanna Lumley. She’s sung with Dolly Parton. She’s made a bunch of films she’s genuinely proud of and one that she reckons would have, if she’d seen it as a teen, changed her life. For a while there, people who had seen Danielle play Willowdean in the heartwarming 2018 beauty pageant comedy Dumplin’, would approach her in the street and cry. “They were so touched by the movie,” she says with her warm, sunny smile, “and I understood why. It was the…

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. Get the look 1. Mimco heels, $199. 2. Sportsgirl sunglasses, $39.95. 3. Bianko necklace, $120. 4. Kooringal hat, $49.95 at birdsnest.com.au. 5. Trelise Cooper trench, $899. 6. Mimco clutch, $229. 7. Baum und Pferdgarten dress, $405 from Order of style. 8. Baum und Pferdgarten belt, $179. 9. Mimco earrings, $149. 10. M.N.G basket, $79.95 at theiconic.com.au 11. H&M wedges, $49.99.…

Repair COVID-chafed hands with this natural, cruelty-free balm, which promises to be 10 times richer than a hand lotion. Herbs + Heart After-Sanitiser Overnight Hand Mask, $24, herbsandheart.com One plastic-free combined shampoo and conditioner bar (using fully ecosustainable ingredients) equates to a whopping six shampoo and conditioner bottles. Clover Fields Shampoo With A Purpose, $15, cloverfields.com This ocean-friendly, vegan, chemical- and cruelty-free SPF50 cream protects with vitamin E and rosehip oil hydration boost. Edible Beauty Basking Beauty Natural Sunscreen, $39, ediblebeautyaustralia. com.au…

OCTOBER 1-31 Moving for 31 minutes each day of the month will not only boost your health, it can help raise funds for programs aiming to increase exercise in Australian schools. Head to bluearth.org for details. OCTOBER 11-17 Show your appreciation and learn about the millions of carers and caring in Australia this National Carers Week. Details at carersweek.com.au OCTOBER 20 With 1.36 million Australians affected, mark World Osteoporosis Day by checking your own bone health. Visit thebigo.com.au to find out more. OCTOBER 26 Pink Ribbon Day marks close to the end of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Visit cancer.org.au/pink-ribbon to raise funds for prevention programs, support services and vital research.…

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…

Chai time For centuries, chai tea has been revered for its health benefits in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic medicine. Learn how to blend and brew your own chai in the comfort of your home and immerse yourself in the aromatic world of chai! This delightfully spicy tea may help boost heart health, reduce blood sugar levels, aid digestion and assist with weight loss. Go to teaesk.com.au Fresh swag No more ‘clean out the crisper’ soup every few weeks! The Swag produce bags keep fruit and vegetables fresher for longer. The multilayered, unbleached, unseeded cotton bags help retain the moisture and nutrients in food, therefore reducing food waste and saving money. Go to theswag.com.au for loads of helpful tips on how to reduce your food waste and run a greener,…

RAVENSTHORPE WILDFLOWER SHOW AND SPRING FESTIVAL Until September 16, 2020 More than 600 different species of wildflowers will be on display as the Town Hall dons fancy dress and becomes a herbarium. wildflowersravensthorpe. org.au. While you’re there: do a scenic drive in the Fitzgerald River National Park (pictured, bottom right). NANNUP FLOWER AND GARDEN FESTIVAL Until September 20, 2020 This five-week extravaganza features a cast of 10,000 tulips and lots more. nannupgardens. org.au. While you’re there: Go canoeing on the Blackwood River and indulge in ‘forest bathing’ – Nannup is surrounded by state forests. KINGS PARK FESTIVAL, PERTH Until September 30, 2020 Kings Park & Botanic Garden is a must-visit place for the views of the Swan River and WA capital (pictured, top). Each September the festival showcases more than…

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 –…

5+ EMBRACE YOUR BODY by Taryn Brumfitt, Puffin A line of bullies laugh at a roundish girl with pigtails and bright pink dungarees. But she still sings and dances under a spotlight. “My body is unique, every body’s different.” A girl in big reading glasses stand-up paddles. A boy in a wheelchair shoots at basketball. “My beauty is inside, my beauty is my kindness … kindness is key.” 4+ ELEPHANT ME by Giles Andreae, Orchard Books It’s time to enter The Elephant Games when King Mighty hands out names. Nina is Elephant Strong. Little Num-Num can’t wait to discover his moniker as Mighty asks “Tell me what marvellous trick you can do?” Num–Num tries his hardest but is named “Elephant-Nothing-At-All.” Moving away, he meets a kindly lion, who…