Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2021 i The Australian Women's Weekly

“So when is baby number two coming?” I’ve been asked this regularly over the past five years. At various times work associates, friends and even my dentist have probed me about when I’d be going back for a second pregnancy. I’ll never forget a cheery supermarket cashier insisting loudly – while ringing up my groceries – that I should hurry up and give my poor then-three-year-old a sibling. For weeks afterwards my daughter told everyone she was getting a baby sister, which led to some red-faced backtracking at day care pick-up! I know this was just harmless small talk – but it stung every time. Because what people didn’t know is that I’d been trying my best to get pregnant – naturopaths, compulsive temperature taking, the works. We succeeded on…

Sylvia Jeffreys is reclining in a make-up chair, eyes gratefully closed, as she has the final touch-ups before beginning her photo shoot with The Weekly. With her son, Oscar, having just turned one and her second child (another boy, whose name she and husband Peter Stefanovic are keeping to themselves for now) due in April, it’s a precious moment to rest. Oscar is an active baby – too young to grasp the concept of a new arrival – and has spent the past few hours clambering happily all over his mother’s growing bump. In the phase of her pregnancy where she’s “feeling a bit slow and like I’m entering that fatigue stage again”, Sylvia’s desire for a brief break is understandable. But her eyes snap open when her mother Janine,…

Seven-time world champion, Layne worked four different jobs to pursue her dreams and has said her drive to win came from her belief that, having been put up for adoption, it was the only way to earn love. Now married to INXS musician Kirk Pengilly and living on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, she continues supporting women. She set up a women's surfing event – the richest competition in the world for seven years. She also launched the Aim for the Stars Foundation which supported a range of women from disability advocate Carly Findlay to mountain biking and BMX world champion Caroline Buchanan.…

It was devastating finding out what had happened to Grace, so to see her now using her voice to empower herself and other survivors is wonderful. The trauma associated with child sexual abuse is significant and complex. Survivors suffer destroyed self-esteem, reputation, identity and dreams, so rebuilding is no small feat. It’s a testament to Grace’s resilience and strength that she’s come through this experience empowered. Family and close friends never wavered in support of Grace and this was also integral to Grace’s recovery. We’re from a large family and we stuck together, supporting Grace and each other after we heard the devastating news. We were shell-shocked but we believed her, we didn’t blame her. When Grace numbed her pain with alcohol and drugs, we tried not to judge but…

* The Royal Family is descended from a) vampires, b) cannibals or c) humans who once mated with alien reptiles, thus the queen can shape-shift into the form of a lizard. * Harold Holt was abducted by a Chinese submarine. * Jacinda Ardern is a Freemason bent on world domination, and part of a cabal of cannibalistic paedophiles with Oprah Winfrey and Hillary Clinton. * COVID-19 lockdowns were created to keep people off the street so Donald Trump’s Space Force could secretly move in on  that cannibalistic cabal. * Oprah secretly captures and tortures children, and sells their blood on the black market as an elixir of youth. * Elvis Presley was an undercover FBI agent who went into witness protection in 1977 and  is still alive today. * Princess…

I was in the middle of a meeting, and my phone wouldn’t stop buzzing. I ignored her call the first several times, but then I started to get worried. My best friend, Chrisette, was blowing up my phone. Her children are my godchildren. Had something happened? I stepped out and called her. “What’s going on? Is everything okay?” “Yes, everything is great. You’re going on a date,” she said. “I am?” “You are,” she replied with total certainty. “I just met this guy. He’s cute and he’s the managing partner of his law firm, and I think you’re going to really like him. He’s based in Los Angeles, but you’re always here for work anyway.” Chrisette is like a sister to me, and I knew there was no use in…

Richard Glover is stroking the leaves of his prodigious basil plant expounding the secret to its fragrant glossiness. “It’s the worm poo,” he announces as he leads me to a boxy structure at the back of the garden distilling murky liquid into a plastic bucket. The newspaper columnist, author and ABC radio host proudly lifts the lid of his worm farm to reveal the rotting kitchen scraps on which the Glover 1000-plus worm colony feeds, ultimately resulting in the perfect fertiliser for his basil, which I understand is used in significant quantities for home-made pesto. Inside the house Richard’s partner of 40 years, creator of hit TV series Offspring, award-winning playwright and best-selling novelist Debra Oswald is busy with The Weekly’s styling team, while sleeping soundly in his mother (daughter-in-law)…

The sun dips behind the Manhattan skyline outside Susan Sarandon’s window. It’s a crisp winter evening in the last days of 2020, a year that has swept through her life bringing gusts of challenge and change. There was lockdown in New York and the death of her much loved Maltese-Pomeranian, Penny – “curious and bright … ambassador of love, friend of 17 years,” she wrote. “You leave a hole in my heart. Travel on sweet girl, surrounded by our love”. Also last year, Susan sold the enormous Manhattan loft in which she and her long-time partner Tim Robbins raised their three children and where she lived for almost 30 years. Then Susan’s mother, Lenora, passed away. She died peacefully in August, at the impressive age of 97, surrounded by family…

Chocolate: UK researchers measured the effects of people exposed to synthetic food smells including onion, garlic, chocolate, almonds and strawberry. The only scent to have a significant impact on brainwaves was chocolate, which lessened theta activity, indicating a reduced level of attention. Lavender: A Seattle study measuring the brain’s response to lavender found “mental states become more stable and relaxed after aroma inhalation”. Another study found that people who had had five minutes of lavender aromatherapy had lower stress levels before an injection and reduced pain intensity. Ylang-ylang: In 2008, 140 volunteers underwent a range of standardised tests to measure if and how aroma influenced cognition. Researchers found the aroma of ylang-ylang impaired participants’ memory, lengthened their processing speed and decreased alertness, yet made them more calm. Bergamot: In a…

TO NOURISH… Treat dry hair like you would skin and add hydration. Hask’s leave-in spray has coconut oil, nourishing locks, leaving them shiny and smooth. HASK Coconut Oil 5-In-1 Leave-In Spray, $14.99. TO PROTECT… Defend damaged hair from dehydration and the dulling effects of environmental pollution with this lightweight protector. REVLON Professional Eksperience Sun Pro Instant Two-Phase Hydrating Conditioner, $32.95. TO REVIVE… Transform second- or third-day hair with a blast of dry shampoo, which absorbs oil and helps build volume and texture without weighing locks down. EVO Water Killer Dry Shampoo, $38.…

The paradox of our era is that we are hyperconnected through digital media yet increasingly drifting apart from each other and suffer from loneliness because we lack authentic connection. This absence of real connection is epidemic, and medicine is increasingly recognising it as having dire physical, mental and emotional consequences, especially among older adults. People with fewer social connections have disrupted sleep patterns, altered immune systems, more inflammation, and higher levels of stress hormones. In a 2016 study, isolation was found to increase the risk of heart disease by 29 per cent and stroke by 32 per cent. Another analysis that pooled data from 70 studies and 3.4 million people found that individuals who were mostly on their own had a 30 per cent higher risk of dying in the…

Part-day fasting – where you eat for eight hours and take a break for 16 – gives our body a rest from constantly processing food and flooding our blood with sugars, as well as an opportunity to burn fat stores for fuel. During the fasting period, the body is under mild stress, causing a few really fascinating things to happen in our cells; things that – as research is showing – can be beneficial to our health. These changes include an increased protection against degenerative diseases, enhanced cognition and a reduction in insulin levels, bad LDL cholesterol and cravings for high-sugar foods. Another benefit: part-day fasting encourages normal eating, with a focus on nutrition and moderation rather than ‘good’ and ‘bad’ foods. That means you avoid the feelings of guilt…

GOING ON HOLIDAYS… Even if your eating window isn’t eight hours, simply sticking to the principle of two main meals and one or two snacks a day can keep you in a good routine for when you’re away, and it makes it easier to slot back into your routine when you get home. FAMILY EATING AT DIFFERENT TIMES… I really believe it’s important to have at least one meal a day together as a family, especially if you have children. I’d encourage you to create your fasting times to allow for family eating and the rest of your window can work around that. A PARTNER WHO DOESN’T WANT TO FAST… I see this most often being an issue with the evening meal, as it’s a time to be social, entertain…

Swap out the lentils for chickpeas if you like and substitute baby spinach for the kale if you prefer. You can assemble the salad ahead of time. Add the bread at the last minute or serve bread on the side. Pumpkin fatteh SERVES 4 PREP AND COOK TIME 45 MINUTES Fatteh is an Arabic word that literally means “crumbs.” It’s usually day-old bread that is repurposed to create another meal. Play around with the choice of roasted vegetables; you could try eggplant, fennel or baby carrots. 1kg small Kent pumpkin, cut into thin wedges ¼ cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon za’atar 2 medium red capsicums (400g), sliced thickly 1 medium red onion (170g), cut into thick wedges 1 large wholemeal Lebanese bread round (100g), split into two…

Apricot lattice pies MAKES 4 PREP AND COOK TIME 30 MINUTES 410g can apricot halves in juice ½ cup (160g) apricot jam 1 teaspoon ground ginger ½ cup (70g) macadamias, roasted, chopped finely 1 sheet frozen shortcrust pastry, thawed 1 sheet frozen butter puff pastry, thawed 1 egg, beaten lightly vanilla ice-cream, to serve 1 Drain apricots; place on a tray lined with paper towel, pat dry with more paper towel. Combine jam, ginger and macadamias in a small bowl. 2 Meanwhile, line an oven tray with baking paper. Place shortcrust pastry sheet on a floured surface; cut into 1cm wide strips. Weave pastry strips on lined tray into a lattice pattern. Freeze for 5 minutes. 3 Lightly grease and preheat a 4-hole (⅓ cup/80ml) pie maker. 4 Using a…

Family drama The Moroccan Daughter by Deborah Rodriguez, Bantam The Moroccan Daughter is a quenching oasis in the current COVID-induced travel desert as Deborah Rodriguez leads us through the alleyways of the ancient medina of Fès and up into the remote Atlas Mountains with her pacy tale of family secrets, forbidden love and clashing cultures. Protagonist Amina lives in Carmel, California and as the book opens is planning to return to her childhood home in Morocco for the wedding of sister Naziha. The two siblings currently inhabit very different worlds – Amina, free from the constraints of her strict childhood, wallowing in the freedom of the West, and Naziha the jewel in her father’s palatial home, preparing for her perfect-match nuptials. But, as we soon discover,…

Historical fiction A NET FOR SMALL FISHES by Lucy Jago, Bloomsbury Mistress Anne Turner, wife of the Earl of Essex’s physician and a “fuss-a lot” mother to six children, is courageous and unconventional. When she’s summonsed to the chamber of the 17-year-old Duke’s wife, Frances Howard, a life-changing bond begins. Angry she is still a virgin two months after they wed, Frances’ back is covered in the Duke’s whipping welts. “Frankie” wants to know how she can arouse him. Anne is a formidable talent, using saffron to produce yellow material at a time when yellow signified treachery. Launching Frankie into the Jacobean court, resplendent in exotic make-up as a sexual goddess, causes outrage. Based on fact. Mystery THE BEACH CAVES by Trevor Shearston, Scribe Uni students Annette and…

Gussie Feldman didn’t enjoy swimming but she did like to lie on the wet sand, in the shadow of Atlantic City’s Steel Pier, and wait for the tiniest ripple of a wave to wash over her. If she positioned herself just so, her body rose with the incoming tide, and for a brief moment, she felt weightless. She was lying in just such a manner, staring up at the bright blue sky, when her aunt Florence’s face came into her field of vision. “I discovered a lovely note when I arrived home,” Florence said. “I want to give my compliments to the artist.” Gussie grinned. She had devoted more than a quarter of an hour to writing the note, which she’d carefully positioned on the Oriental rug in the entryway…

While minimalism involves paring back your home décor, the rising trend of maximalism is the complete opposite – instead you’re encouraged to embrace an explosion of colour, prints and layering. But there’s an art to creating this over-the-top style. Award-winning interior designer Greg Natale (gregnatale.com) shares his top tips for nailing your own lavish look. Layer upon layer Take your room apart before putting it together, says interior designer Greg Natale. “The first layer is your shell – walls, floor and ceiling – so it’s important to consider the right treatments, carpet, tiles, wallpaper or paint colour. The next layer would be curtains. That’s followed by sofas, rugs and lounge chairs. Then do your smaller pieces before the final layer of accessories such as flowers and books.” Start small Begin…

Taking control of your finances is empowering, but did you know that more than 1.2 million young Australians are born into disadvantage they have no power to change? The Smith Family believes the best way to break the cycle of poverty is to support children in need, so they can fully participate in their education. The Smith Family’s evidence-based programs deliver long-term positive benefits – and you can help by becoming a sponsor. To learn more about sponsorship and The Smith Family’s work, visit thesmithfamily.com.au…

A CALL FOR JUSTICE I had just finished reading Miscarriage Of Justice (AWW, February) and then heard the awful news of the young couple in Queensland who, together with their unborn son, were killed by a selfish driver. These people commit deadly crimes, not minor offences! The law needs to change to address how serious these crimes are by issuing much greater sentences. The general public is rightly horrified by these crimes and the lenient sentences received. Let us hope that after all the petitions and submissions to the government that we will at last see justice served, as we all believe it should. J. French, Onkaparinga Hills, SA YOUNG AT HEART It was lovely reading about Kiwi actor Sam Neill (Home At Last, AWW, January), who we have adopted…

Meghan is relaxing in the grass, her head languishing in Prince Harry’s lap, right hand resting on her bump, and both are beaming uncontrollably as they stare into each other’s eyes. The picture (on page 10) says it all. After all the pain of the past year – moving to the US, court battles, their heartbreaking miscarriage, family rifts and virus restrictions preventing travel – this was truly exciting and welcome news. “We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child,” a spokesman for the couple said. The black and white photo was taken remotely by long-time friend and photographer Misan Harriman. The Nigerian-born British photographer and social activist who shot UK Vogue’s…

Winner of the 1988 world amateur and 1993 professional crown, Pauline won a total of 20 World Championship Tour events. This feat was made even more remarkable by the fact she was crippled by rheumatoid arthritis and would often have to recover in a wheelchair after a heat. Although she struggled for money, she refused a rare sponsorship offer from an alcohol company because children looked up to her. Now a school bus driver in the Northern Rivers of NSW, an excruciating and rare skin condition has meant she’s had to swap surfing for gardening – and eschew make-up for this shoot.…

Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann AM SENIOR AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR The sun was setting beyond the Canberra hills when Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann stood to speak at the Australian of the Year Awards. A hush fell as she made her way to the stage, her dress the colours of the landscape along the Daly River where she’s spent much of her life. Miriam is 73, a Ngangikurungkurr woman from a community called Nauiyu in the Northern Territory. Ngangikurungkurr, she explains, means “deep water sounds”. She speaks of dadirri, the practice of “deep listening and silent, still awareness,” which she first shared “as a gift” with the Australian people back in 1988. “Dadirri is our Aboriginal spirituality,” she tells The Weekly, “but it’s yours as well. We’ve been smothered by challenges…

The eucalyptus trees cast long shadows in the late afternoon. A hot wind ruffles the grass. Curious cattle rush bellowing to the fence, ears twitching, hooves stamping, loudly wanting to know what is going on. In the distance the city of Brisbane shimmers in a heat haze, but here in the rolling, pastoral pocket of Pinjarra Hills, Pip Courtney looks as cool as a mint julep walking down a track with Bella, a resident horse of uncertain temperament. Bella is being coaxed into posing for the camera by the sugar lumps Pip has stashed in her pocket. The two are old friends. Landline’s esteemed presenter comes here to the University of Queensland’s Veterinary Science Farm every Wednesday to stand among the corrugated iron sheds and wooden fences to film the…

It was the middle of the night when the small, limp baby girl was brought into the emergency department of Geelong Hospital. She had blood in her nappy and was cool to the touch. The nurse noted she had open wounds and grazes, which her father insisted were nappy rash. Sarah Michelle Adams* had just turned one, but when the nurse put her on the scale she weighed 6.04kg, about the same as an average four-month-old. “Wow, she lost 3kg. When did that happen?” her father said. He told the nurse she had been vomiting and had diarrhoea, but she had been eating and drinking normally. Normal was not an accurate description of Sarah’s diet. Court documents show that two days earlier, on August 5, 2018, Sarah’s father had sought…

By day, she seemed just another ordinary housewife, mother and wife living cheek-by-jowl with the neighbours in a rundown row of terraces in Sydney’s working-class inner west. She looked like the perfect mum to her two children, and appeared to ignore the gossip that her husband, a known gambler and drinker, was secretly seeing other women. But in the evenings, when Yvonne Butler handed Desmond his favourite beef tea, Bonox, to keep up his health, she had exactly the opposite in mind. For she was heavily lacing the drink with deadly rat poison and was actually killing her childhood sweetheart with kindness. Their friends, family and neighbours in the tight-knit street where most had lived for over a decade were mystified about Desmond’s constant illnesses and his deteriorating mental health.…

A fellow mother smiled and pointed to a table laden with toys. “Take something for your little one,” she said. I walked over to the table, in Ronald McDonald House, Parkville, on which was piled every kind of Christmas gift a child could dream of. Games, jigsaws, books, dolls – they had been donated by the local fire service for kids in the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, over Christmas. I looked at them, feeling awash with the kindness of strangers. Knowing someone cares about you, who doesn’t know you, when your life is unravelling, was profoundly comforting and would stay with me forever. I remember standing there, bewildered, overwhelmed by the choice. My son, Teddy, was only nine months old, but had spent most of his life in and…

It’s fair to say that we humans have been obsessed with maintaining youthful eyes since time immemorial. The proof was in a recent discovery by archaeologists who, on a dig near the town of Aizanoi in Turkey, discovered a 2200-year-old soldier’s tomb that contained a pot of eye cream made from an anti-inflammatory goji berry-like ingredient. Thousands of years on, the quest to find the holy grail of eye creams remains high on our skincare to-do list. “All our expressions and feelings are unveiled by our eyes,” says Marie-Hélène Lair, Clarins Innovation Director. “Fine lines are the first sign of ageing for two reasons: there are 22 muscles directly connected to the eyes, and the skin around the eyes is four times thinner than on the cheeks.” That delicate skin…

1. Focus on the relationships and activities that you enjoy the most, such as a team sport or interest groups. 2. Ask others for help in removing barriers to social interaction. For example, the fact you don’t drive. 3. Maintain social connections with people of different ages. That means people older and younger than you. 4. Keep in touch with your grandchildren, or volunteer your time at a nearby school or community centre. 5. Look for programs in your community that allow you to pass along skills, such as cooking or coaching a team. 6. Try to have at least one trustworthy and reliable confidant to communicate with on a weekly basis. 7. Add a new relationship or activity. Place yourself in everyday situations where you can interact with others,…

When we begin a fasting period, glucose is used first as it’s our major source of fuel, but it’s usually used up in a couple of hours. Our body then moves on to its next source of fuel: the stored glycogen in our muscle and liver cells. Finally, after those sources of fuel are used up, we begin burning stored fat. Our adipose (fat) cells break down into glycerol and fatty acids, and these are converted into ketone bodies, which are the major source of energy during fasting. This is called metabolic switching, and it can take between nine and 12 hours to experience this switch. Those new to fasting may notice that if they were feeling a little hungry before, that feeling dampens during this process.…

Whole-egg pasta dough Both my nonnas were fresh pasta magicians. They would roll out sheets of transparent pasta in a seemingly effortless way, beating the dough into silky submission through the sheer force of their hands. Although one was from Abruzzo and the other was from Emilia-Romagna, they both agreed on a ratio of 1 egg for every 100g of flour, bridging the age-old gap between north and south. Stick with that and you will never get it wrong. If you want to speed things up you can mix the dough in a food processor in a matter of minutes. Process the ingredients until they resemble wet sand, then tip onto a floured board or bench, bring together with your hands and knead for 3–4 minutes until smooth. Although this…

Tea-brined roast chicken SERVES 4 PREP AND COOK TIME 1 HOUR 30 MINUTES (+ COOLING & REFRIGERATION TIME) You will need to start this recipe a day ahead. 1 litre (4 cups) water ½ cup (30g) Russian Caravan tea leaves (see tips) ½ cup (175g) honey ½ cup (110g) white sugar 2 lemons, 1 sliced, 1 whole ⅓ cup (40g) sea salt flakes 1 bunch fresh sage 1.8kg whole chicken 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 1 Place the water and tea leaves in a saucepan over high heat; bring to the boil. Remove from the heat; stand until cooled completely. Strain; discard leaves. 2 Stir honey, sugar, sliced lemon and salt flakes into tea mixture until well combined. 3 Place a large zip-top bag in a large bowl; add…

Hairdresser, mother, grandmother and author Deborah Rodriguez was born and raised in Michigan, US, until she moved to Afghanistan, which informed her international bestseller The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul and memoir The Kabul Beauty School. She spent five years teaching at the first modern beauty academy and training salon in the nation, and is also the founder of Oasis Rescue, teaching women the art of hairdressing in post-conflict areas. “For some, learning this trade can make the difference between their family eating, or not,” she says. Deborah currently lives with her partner in Mexico.…

Art Streeton edited by Wayne Tunnicliffe, Art Gallery NSW Arthur Streeton is Australia’s most significant landscape artist and this stunning tome, published to accompany the Art Gallery of NSW exhibition, is a dreamy keepsake of more than six decades of painting. Alongside his local topics, Streeton also painted portraits and scenes in Cairo and Venice, and his impressionist paintings are glorious. Read about the artist and marvel at his work from your armchair. Love story Everything Is Beautiful by Eleanor Ray, Hachette Amy Ashton, 40, hides an 11-year hoarding nightmare. She only eats sandwiches because she can’t reach the fridge. She collects porcelain birds, wine bottles and pots, which pile perilously in her garden. There was happy-go-lucky Amy with flatmates – her…

IT WAS A VERY SPECIAL VALENTINE’S DAY for Prince Harry and Meghan, who chose the day of love to share the joyous news they are expecting their second child. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex look ecstatic in the photograph released to accompany the announcement. The date holds significant meaning for Prince Harry – on Valentine’s Day in 1984, the British press reported Princess Diana was expecting her second child. Women we love GREEN GIRL WONDER Eighteen-year-old Greta Thunberg has been recognised for her work to “preserve Sweden’s unique nature for future generations” with a beautiful commemorative postage stamp. POETRY IN MOTION The world collectively caught its breath as 22-year-old Amanda Gorman read her poem The Hill We Climb at the US presidential inauguration. The National Youth Poet Laureate embodied…

At 15-years-old, Grace Tame was insidiously groomed, stalked and sexually assaulted by her 58-year-old maths teacher. He thought she’d be silent, but hadn’t counted on Grace’s resilience, her sense of justice, her fighting spirit. At 16 Grace found the courage to report Nicolaas Bester to the police, after which he was convicted and imprisoned. At 22, she campaigned against an archaic law that allowed her abuser to speak publicly while she was forbidden from using her name to tell her story. Grace has helped to change laws, spread understanding, and has given strength and hope to other survivors of abuse. Now, at 26, she is Australian of the Year. “Well, hear me now,” she said as she received her award, “using my voice amongst a growing chorus of voices that…

Jitarth Jadeja is a nice guy. He’s 33, he lives in a comfortable house in suburban Sydney with his family, who he loves and who emigrated from India when he was a tot. He cares about things like a fair go for all Australians, looking out for your neighbour, respecting your parents, being a good friend. But two years ago, Jitarth wanted to see a whole bunch of people, whom he’d never met, publicly hanged. Two years ago he believed that Hillary Clinton was at the centre of a satanic paedophile ring, and admits with deep regret that he’d have been happy if she’d been murdered. “It’s a mass delusion that’s being passed from person to person,” Jitarth says now, looking back to the two-and-a-half years he spent obsessively following…

* Australia is the third-fastest growing vegan market in the world. Dieticians Australia spokeswoman and accredited dietician Kate Di Prima says that well-balanced vegan and vegetarian diets can be healthy for all stages of life with one caveat. * “Babies between zero and six months should not be having any food. It’s mother’s milk or infant formula. I don’t prescribe to any home-made formulas at all,” Kate says. “All formulas should be the right osmolality, which is the right concentration for their little guts, and all the nutrients they need. * “If a mother wants to have a vegan baby diet, we can use tofu and legumes and those lovely things. Up to 12 months if the baby is being fed appropriately on breastmilk or formula, there is no problem…

Matt Shirvington felt as if he was sticking out like a sore thumb in the backyard of a rowdy house party on Sydney’s lower North Shore. At 17, he’d recently qualified for the World Juniors, already on people’s radar as the Australian next big thing in athletics. And his hectic training schedule meant that he was tonight’s – indeed, every night’s – designated driver. Still, he perked up as a willowy brunette wove her way through the bustling crowd to introduce herself. Little did he know this moment would kickstart an incredible relationship that now sees the pair preparing to celebrate 20 years of marriage and two award-winning careers, whilst also parenting three children, two of whom are now teenagers themselves. “I spotted him and had just enough Dutch courage…

Sitting in an airy warehouse among hundreds of small glass bottles, I detect a familiar scent and am transported to a time and place that no longer exists. “It’s the third bedroom in my grandmother’s house in the 1980s,” I tell perfumer Ainslie Walker, who has just handed me a card doused in fragrance. I can picture crystal jewellery boxes and doilies. “My great-grandmother lived in that room. She always wore Chanel Number 5,” I add. The scent on the card is a perfume called Two Hugs that Ainslie created for a domestic violence shelter, and she’s not surprised it has awakened memories connected to that famous French scent. Our sense of smell and our memory are intertwined, and the two perfumes both have notes of amber in the base,…

“My go-to outfit is a blazer or jacket with jeans, worn over a basic Tee. It will take you from work meetings to school pick-ups, without feeling out of place.” Nail the basics “The items of clothing I tend to buy again and again are black pants in a great cut – they’re both versatile and timeless – as well as black and white T-shirts that I wear both summer and winter. I spend less on the T-shirts and replace them more often to keep them looking crisp.” Find fashion twists “I have so many style icons. I’m always saving looks on Instagram for later reference, it can be handy when you’re in a rush and need inspiration.” Embrace all aspects “I have split personalities when it comes to fashion!…

“I never did cheesecake like Ann Sheridan or Betty Grable. I just used my hair.”– VERONICA LAKE SMART MOUTH GIVE YOUR LIPS A WASH OF ROSY COLOUR, WHICH CAN ALSO BE DABBED ON CHEEKS FOR A HEALTHY GLOW. THESE MULTITASKING, CREAMY FORMULAS MAKE TOUCH-UPS 1 A BREEZE, TOO. (1) Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick, $80; (2) RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek in Paradise, $58; (3) Trinny London Sheer Shimmer in Jenita, $40. Light touch When the mercury soars, barely-there skincare will leave your face feeling hydrated and refreshed. If you’re used to the comfort of heavier formulas, rest assured these lighter, fast-absorbing iterations are packed with hydrating ingredients that protect the skin barrier. The Fresh Cleansing Treatment smoothes skin with kombucha; Fenty’s toner evens skin tone; while Glow Recipe’s dew drops…

TAKE BABY STEPS Living longer might be easier than you think: 11 minutes per day is the amount of time you need to spend moving to increase your lifespan, according to a recent study. However, participants who exercised 35 minutes per day saw the biggest boost in longevity. TEST YOUR TICKER Climbing four flights of stairs in less than a minute indicates good heart health, according to research by the European Society of Cardiology. Researchers noted that if it takes more than one-and-a-half minutes, see your doctor. TRY TAI CHI This low-impact form of martial arts is fitness-boosting, meditative and also pain-relieving too. A small study has shown a 12-week program significantly reduced arthritic pain and stiffness.…

Cajun-spiced fish with roasted corn salad We used blue-eye trevalla in this recipe, but you can use any firm white fish fillets. The fish can also be barbecued. If you like a crispy surface, flip the fish halfway during roasting. SERVES 4 PREP AND COOK TIME 30 MINUTES 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 tablespoon butter, melted 2 teaspoons sweet paprika ½ teaspoon ground cumin ½ teaspoon ground white pepper pinch cayenne pepper ½ teaspoon salt flakes 4 x 200g firm white fish fillets, skin removed 3 trimmed corn cobs (750g) 1 medium red onion (150g), thickly sliced 1 medium avocado (250g), chopped coarsely 250g cherry tomatoes, halved ¼ cup coarsely chopped fresh coriander 1 lemon, cut into wedges grilled flour tortillas, to serve 1 Preheat oven to 220°C (200°C fan-forced).…

Green salad & vinaigrette  SERVES 4 PREP TIME 10 MINUTES 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 1 small clove garlic, crushed ⅓ teaspoon salt flakes ⅓ cup (80ml) extra virgin olive oil, plus 1 tablespoon extra 1 butter leaf lettuce 200g cos lettuce hearts 2 cups wild rocket 2 cups baby spinach leaves Whisk mustard, vinegar, garlic and salt in a small bowl until combined. Slowly drizzle in oil while whisking until combined; season with pepper. Trim the base from each lettuce; discard outer leaves. Tear large butter lettuce leaves in half and separate cos leaves. Wash lettuce, rocket and spinach; drain. Spin dry in a salad spinner or place in a large bowl lined with a clean linen tea towel to absorb excess water. Place leaves…

Autumn f lush Papaya is the tropical fruit that can brighten up the cooler months, and is packed with vitamin C and gut-boosting goodness. We love the locally grown papaya simply served with a spritz of fresh lime juice and sprinkled with a little chilli powder and sea salt flakes. GLUTEN-FREE TREATS To celebrate Coeliac Awareness Week try these moreish Peanut Butter cookies. Combine 1 cup dark roast crunchy natural peanut butter, 2/3 cup brown sugar, 1 egg, 1 teaspoon gluten-free baking powder and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Using a fork, mix all ingredients in a bowl until well combined. Shape level tablespoons of the mixture into balls and place 3cm apart on trays lined with baking paper. Flatten slightly and sprinkle each cookie with a few sea salt flakes…

Epic tale THE FOUR WINDS by Kristin Hannah, Macmillan Elsa Martinelli is living her dream raising her family on the Great Plains of Texas until four years of drought brings the Dust Bowl. Her husband has fled and Elsa must choose between the land she loves and a better life in California. She heads off with her children, but the going is cruel – they face discrimination, a migrant camp and the onset of America’s Depression. Emotionally charged, the lyrical prose impeccably crafted will stay with you, as will Elsa’s moving courage. Comedy MY DAUGHTER’S WEDDING by Gretel Killeen, Hachette There’s a hint of Bridget Jones to Gretel Killeen’s new novel, told in a confessional diary form – only this is a mother’s tale. Nora was devastated when daughter Hope…

0-6 THE DADDY ANIMAL BOOK & THE MUMMY ANIMAL BOOK by Jennifer Cossins, Lothian These easy-to-understand books deliver simple facts – a daddy polar bear is called a boar and can be as heavy as a car, but cubs weigh about as much as a jar of honey when born. A mummy pig is called a sow and she sings to her piglets during feeding! Cute illustrations. 7-12 TREE BEINGS by Raymond Huber, Exisle Explore the secret world of trees. Julia Butterfly Hill lived in a redwood in California for two years to protest logging. Himalayan women began tree-hugging in the ’70s when rain washed villages away – roots of felled trees had held soil in place. 8-12 THE ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF DANGEROUS ANIMALS by Sami Bayly, Hachette  Seventy dangerous…

• Qantas (qantas.com) flies between Perth and Exmouth, and the best season to travel to Ningaloo is between March and October. WHERE TO STAY • RAC Exmouth Cape Holiday Park has campsites and cabins in town: parksandresorts.rac.com. au/exmouth. • For something more upmarket, try Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort on the shores of Exmouth Gulf: mantaraysningalooresort.com.au. • Camping is available at Cape Range National Park beside Ningaloo Reef: parks.dpaw.wa.gov. au/park/cape-range. WHEN TO GO • March to July is the best time for the whale sharks, and swimming with humpback whales is possible August to October, though the timing varies slightly each year, depending on the animals. • There is something to see at Ningaloo all year, but during the summer months it’s very hot.…

Search for an app to help you spend, save and track your cash and you’ll find there are literally thousands on the market. So how do you know which ones are worthwhile – and trustworthy? Victoria Devine is a financial planner, the creator of personal finance podcast She’s On The Money, and an app connoisseur who has road-tested every app in the Top 20 budgeting apps in The App Store. “I love apps that put you in a better financial position where you’re able to see your finances more clearly or you’re able to save money,” Victoria says. But, on the flip side, she’s wary of those that aren’t what they seem. To help us sort the good from the bad, Victoria reveals her favourites. Earn Apps like Cashrewards and…