The Australian Women's Weekly February 2021

As we put the finishing touches on our first issue produced in 2021, it dawned on me that despite how different the world has become, some things never change. For me that includes the slightly restless feeling that always accompanies the start of a new year and the return to the routine of post-holiday life. It’s amazing how quickly habits created over the year can fall away when you have time to just do nothing. Over the break my ritual of a rushed breakfast while preparing my daughter for kindergarten and myself for work was replaced with lazy mornings of puzzles and pancake making. The biggest decision of the day became whether to hit the beach or the park. While it’s true my first days back to deadlines and dressing…

HAPPY NEW YEAR It’s been a long time since articles in AWW caught my attention as the January 2021 issue did. Sam Neill, already tucked away in my heart, has a bigger piece now (Home at Last), as has Naomi Watts (Lessons in Life & Love). Favel Parrett’s story about wild dogs was fascinating (How a Dingo Changed My Life) and Juiced TV made me cry with happiness (Lights, Camera, Happiness!). Thank you to all who put the magazine together. C. Francis, Deception Bay, Qld AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE The Quietest Killer (AWW, January) really got to me. I was in tears by the end. I was involved in a violent relationship but was lucky to get out of it. It took seven years of leaving and going back and I’ve…

It is a joy to see Brooke Hanson and her family so happy again after the devastating loss of baby Jack (The Brightest Star, AWW, January). I particularly liked that their children know they have a baby brother and he is included where possible in their lives. I lost our first-born son, Russell; he was born at 34 weeks sleeping. I went on to have three beautiful sons who all know about their baby brother. I always tell people I have four sons, three here with me and one sleeping. K. Heathcote, Evandale, Tas…

10 years of twinning DENMARK’S YOUNGEST royals are growing up! Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik released a series of portraits to mark the 10th birthday of their twins, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, who were born 26 minutes apart on January 8, 2011. Photographer Franne Voigt captured the royal duo looking affectionate and relaxed, with Princess Josephine glowing in a marigold suit and bow, and Prince Vincent sporting a crisp shirt. For the occasion, the twins were also granted their royal monograms. Holly and Luke tie the knot HOLLY WARLAND and her partner, Luke Amos, have tied the knot. Last year, The Weekly spent a day with inspiring pair Holly and Luke to talk about Holly’s advocacy and her fight to have control over her own life –…

MUMS ON THE RUN Turia Pitt has launched ‘Run With Turia’, a program to help new mothers regain their fitness. The mum-of-two says running’s an easy habit to get into: “All you need is a pair of sneakers and a solid sports bra.” FASHION CAPITAL CALLS Cheryl Creed has become the first Indigenous Australian designer to grace the catwalk at Milan Fashion Week. Her label, Murrii Quu Couture, repurposes discarded garments as gowns inspired by Old Hollywood glamour. LEADER’S SOFT TOUCH Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen, 64, has returned to power for a second term in a surprise victory. The leader earnt the nickname “Iron Cat Lady” because of her love for her cats. The felines featured prominently in Tsai Ing-wen’s re-election campaign.…

WHEN AIDEN, now 15, first started school he was a strong reader, but in a few short years he fell behind in class. His family didn’t have much money, so they relied on the uniform pool for his school clothes. When the other kids saw his faded uniforms, they teased him, and Aiden began to lose confidence and retreat into himself. “Aiden used to come home and be quite upset,” his mother, Kiara, says. “When you’re a kid in a younger age group and you’re already wearing faded uniforms, you get teased.” At a time when Aiden was feeling overwhelmed, The Smith Family intervened. “I was able to get back on track. I could look decent at school … I could concentrate on my learning,” he says. Aiden and his…