Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2021 i The Australian Women's Weekly

As I think about what has transpired across the country in the past month, my thoughts go immediately to Victoria. To the poor souls who, as I write this, are experiencing the uncertainty and upset of another lockdown. As a nation we have been fortunate in our path through this pandemic, but our friends in Melbourne can be excused for feeling not quite as blessed as the rest of us. For my family it is the international border closures that continue to be the toughest challenge. Last week my husband, Tom, and I stayed up until midnight to Zoom into his sister’s wedding in England. With restrictions around numbers for indoor gatherings still in place there, it was an intimate affair with only their nearest and dearest in attendance. In…

Princess Charlene of Monaco has been on the ground fighting to stop the “quite drastic” decline of the rhino population in her native South Africa. The former Olympic swimmer, who married Prince Albert of Monaco in 2011, returned to her home country to work with the South African Anti-Poaching unit. Royals roll up their sleeves The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge enthusiastically shared photos of their first COVID vaccinations. “I’m hugely grateful to everyone who is playing a part in the rollout,” Kate said.…

At the 1976 Olympic Games, as big-name runners blasted from the blocks and heavyweight boxers battered their way towards glory, a tiny 14-year-old girl in an off-white leotard became the greatest sporting superstar on earth. Nadia Comӑneci, a car-mechanic’s daughter from a down-on-its-luck town in eastern Romania, twisted and whirled her way to the first “Perfect 10” in gymnastics history. The packed Montreal arena went into meltdown for more than one reason. The electronic scoreboards had been programmed on the assumption that such a score was impossible, and were unable to display Nadia’s marks. Several minutes of confusion followed before the dark-eyed schoolgirl’s feat was confirmed. Then she went on to score six more perfect 10s. Mesmerised by her pixie-like presence as much as her skill and poise, the world…

It was love at first sight the moment 15-year-old Dianne Westman set eyes on her baby daughter. She felt she was the most beautiful creature she’d ever seen, with long black hair right down to the nape of her neck. “Hello, sweetheart!” she cooed when the baby was placed back in her arms after being bathed by the nurses. “I’m your mum. I’ll always be your mum, you hear me? We’ll never let anyone separate us.” Back then, in 1962, Dianne was right to be so protective. Already the nurses at Sydney’s Crown Street Women’s Hospital had tried to persuade the single mum to sign adoption papers to give her child away to a “more respectable” married couple. But knowing how many other young unmarried women had already been tricked,…

Walk into the Fountain Inn hotel in Port Melbourne on a Saturday night in the late 1950s and chances are you’d have been greeted by one of today’s most beloved entertainers. Denise Drysdale’s family lived in and ran the revered pub. And when her parents, Nancy and Keith, headed out on a Saturday night dinner date, she’d be drafted in to help behind the bar. “I’d sit with mum’s fur coat on when I was little and do the till,” the now-72-year-old TV veteran laughs. “I’m an only child, and Mum and Dad had the pub from when I was three to the age of 13.” Lest you think this is the start of a story on terrible parenting, Denise is quick to point out that her parents were far…

In the middle of a restless night, Mea Campbell had a light-bulb moment. Thinking of her late, much-loved grandfather, she realised how much the COVID-19 pandemic would have increased his sense of isolation. “There must be so many frail, elderly or disabled people in lockdown, cut off from the ones they love,” she thought. The idea nagged at her and wouldn’t let her go. “My grandfather became my inspiration,” says the rural lawyer, writer and mother-of-two with a smile. She is speaking with The Weekly from the cosy home she shares with husband Scotty, 36, and their daughters in country NSW. Mea is explaining the inspiration behind Connected AU, an inspiring grassroots organisation that was born in Dubbo’s lockdown but has expanded well beyond and now increases connection, community and…

To this day, I don’t know why I decided to sneak a glimpse at the phys-ed teacher’s notes in Grade 4. The very notion of a clandestine peek at the teacher’s clipboard was, for a rule-obsessed kid like me, tantamount to breaking into the principal’s office on a Mission: Impossible-style heist to rewrite the school curriculum. And yet, there it was – the purple clipboard with the hastily scribbled notes that would form the basis of our end-of-term reports. It was practically whispering, “READ ME”, and I was Alice in Wonderland. It was 1991 and I’d just moved from a Catholic primary school in Port Melbourne to the state school a few suburbs over. My old school didn’t even have PE class, much less extensive reports: I just had to…

As women, we often mark life’s pivotal moments with hair changes. Let’s skip over the questionable haircuts of our 20s, and fast-forward to the lush locks that come with pregnancy. My goodness, my hair was glorious. There was just so much of it. And then, in the aftermath, pillows covered in hair and a drain problem. Most women will also remember spotting that first silvery strand. Whether you were in your 30s or 50s, it’s another shift. Other changes include dullness, thinning and worsening frizz. “As you get older hair can become brittle and take on a coarser texture,” says Giles Robinson, Color Wow’s global director of training and education. “You may also notice hair doesn’t look as shiny or healthy.” The answer, he says, is to adapt. And that’s…

You never know where a compliment will lead you as a journalist. Most recently, after commenting on my colleague Olivia’s new wavy ’do, she revealed that she’d joined a cult hair community on Facebook called ‘Curly Girl Method Australia & NZ’ and was on a “hair journey”. This surprised me because I’d only seen her with smooth, poker-straight hair. “I’ve been desperately trying to flatten my curls for 13 years,” she admitted. “The problem is I’ve never learnt how to take care of them.” Having always had hair that hung like spaghetti, I was intrigued. Don’t curls just happen? No. Olivia patiently explained that there are many things that get between a woman and her best, well-defined curls, from weather (humidity, in particular) to certain ingredients in shampoos and even…

Hippocrates gave us the heads up around 320BC when he said all disease begins in the gut. If only we’d taken his word for it. The good news is that science has caught up, and we now know that our gut microbiome – a term that describes the trillions of bacteria and microbes that live there – plays a crucial role in our health and sense of well-being. “The depth of the microbiota is hard to fathom,” says Will Bulsiewicz MD, a gastroenterologist and author of an excellent new book called Fiber Fueled. “The numbers are so astronomical … and it’s a wondrous magical community with amazing healing powers.” Even better, it’s possible to change the health of your gut with your next mouthful. In the dark Given the power…

Q What can I do about my anxiety when asking a personal question at the pharmacy? A You’re not alone! However, rest assured that pharmacists are one of the most accessible healthcare providers in the community. Underneath the white coat, we’re just regular people … with pharmaceutical knowledge. If you’re pressed for time or have anxiety, call us and make an appointment. Alternatively, when you approach us, be as clear as possible to alleviate your concerns. For instance, tell the pharmacist you’d like 10 minutes of their time to discuss your symptoms and that you’d prefer it to be in a discreet location. Many pharmacies have rooms for this purpose. We may need to ask you a few questions to understand your condition or symptoms. And ultimately, keep in mind…

Cider-braised chicken with apple, fennel & rosemary SERVES 4 PREP + COOK TIME 50 MINUTES 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 4 chicken marylands 2 envy™ apples, each cut into 8 wedges 2 small fennel, cut into thin wedges, reserve fennel fronds 2 tablespoons maple syrup 2 cloves garlic, crushed 330ml bottle apple cider 2 tablespoons lemon juice 3 sprigs rosemary 200ml tub crème fraÎche 2 tablespoons seeded mustard crusty bread, to serve 1 Preheat oven to 220°C (200°C fan-forced). Heat oil in a large heavy-based flameproof pan over medium heat. Season the chicken with salt flakes and pepper and cook skin-side down for 5 minutes, or until golden. Turn and cook for a further 5 minutes; remove from pan. 2 Cook the apple and fennel in the same pan…

Shells with fresh corn, anchovies & pecorino SERVES 4 PREP + COOK TIME 25 MINUTES cup (80ml) extra virgin olive oil 10 anchovy fillets, chopped coarsely 4 garlic cloves, chopped finely 1 teaspoon dried chilli flakes, or to taste 3 large fresh corn cobs, kernels removed 500g medium-sized shell pasta (conchiglie rigate) 1½ cups (120g) finely grated pecorino, plus extra to serve 50g unsalted butter 1 cup loosely packed round mint, leaves torn 2 tablespoons pepitas, toasted 1 Combine the olive oil, anchovies, garlic and chilli flakes in a large frying pan over medium heat; cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until garlic is fragrant but not coloured. Add the corn kernels and cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes. 2 Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large saucepan of boiling,…

Frozen Turkish delight martini MAKES 4 PREP TIME 5 MIN TOTAL TIME 5 MIN (+ OVERNIGHT FREEZING) TM6, TM5, TM31 260g cranberry juice 160g gin 40g fresh lemon juice 50g rose water 4 egg whites Pashmak (Persian fairy floss), to serve 4 pieces Turkish delight 1 Place a jug onto mixing bowl lid and weigh cranberry juice into it. Pour juice into ice-cube trays and place in the freezer overnight. 2 When ready to serve, place gin, lemon juice, rose water and egg whites in mixing bowl, then mix 10 sec/speed 6. 3 Add frozen cranberry juice cubes and blend 15 sec/speed 6. Pour mixture into four martini glasses. 4 Top each glass with a tuft of Pashmak (Persian fairy floss). Insert a cocktail skewer through each piece of Turkish…

Gnudi, a deliciously rounded word for a deliciously rounded dumpling. True to the romanticism of Italy the name of these gnocchi-like morsels translates to “naked”, for gnudi are made with the filling of ravioli but without the pasta. Unlike gnocchi, which is made using flour and potato, gnudi are a little fickle as they rely on fresh ricotta to bind them. For those thinking that the jackpot has been obtained with a low-carb miracle dish, the calories are made up for with plenty of parmesan and the traditional sauce of beautifully browed butter. The most integral ingredient in gnudi is in fact the ricotta, a mild, sweet, fresh cheese that allows for the hint of nutmeg and sharpness of silverbeet to be rounded and smooth. Keep in mind that not…

Period mystery The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey, Allen & Unwin If you’ve yet to discover Sujata Massey’s deliciously fun murder mysteries this is a great one to start with. Our sleuthing protagonist, Bombay’s feisty first female lawyer Perveen Mistry, is contacted by Freny, head of Woodburn College’s student union for representation of a “political” nature. It is November 1921 and Gandhi, also a lawyer – if more famous – is campaigning for an independent India. The Prince of Wales is visiting – a rather aloof, if dapper Edward – and a body of students want to boycott the parade even though college rules dictate their attendance. They aren’t the only dissenters and protests abound. Then Freny is found lying in the college garden, “two rivulets of blood” running from…

Laugh out loud Double trouble (AWW, June) was such a super article. We have been married 50 years and have spent a lot of time in IKEA in Europe, Australia and Saudi Arabia. I gave the magazine to my husband, who laughed out loud at what Amanda Blair was saying. Add children to the one-way system, making shopping even more fraught, and at the end the meatballs or their soft whip ice-cream make it all bearable. C. Richards, Tea Gardens, NSW A creative vision I was greatly saddened to read that gifted artist and musician Martha Marlow has been diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (Creating hope, AWW, June). It’s simply heartbreaking to know that one so young and talented as Martha has had her life turned upside down as she deals…

When Will Dwyer tuned in to Farmer Wants A Wife back in 2008, it was to watch his mate, Rob Hodges, potentially find love. The pair had bonded at the Portsea Surf Life Saving Club; when they’re not on their farms, both men head straight to the beach. But little did Will realise he already knew the woman who would win Rob’s heart. During his childhood in Melbourne, Will’s next-door neighbour was Joanna Fincham – and his jaw dropped when he saw her arrival on TV. “Knowing Jo, I knew straight away they’d be a great couple,” Will, 39, tells The Weekly. “And I was right!” Thirteen years, one wedding and three kids later, Jo and Rob are enjoying their “happily ever after”. So when the casting call went out…

A clever rat named Magawa, who helped clear landmines from the equivalent of 42 football pitches, is being rewarded for his hard work with a retirement that will revolve around his favourite foods: peanuts and bananas. The seven-year-old rodent was trained to sniff out the chemical compound in explosives and has been working near Siem Reap, in Cambodia, since 2016, where he has detected 71 landmines and 38 items of unexploded ordnance. Imitating art An Italian street artist is suing the Vatican for using an original image she created in its Easter postage stamp series. Creator Alessia Babrow said the lawsuit is an attempt to protect her rights.…

heads into parliament for Ms Represented on ABC TV, July 13, at 8pm, and iview. I was drawn to politics because … I’m fascinated by how people make decisions; the visible and invisible factors that shape the way populations decide to govern themselves. Also, politics features some extreme character types, so it’s like personality tourism. If I could go back in time, I’d … take out a second mortgage on my house and put the lot on the Coalition winning the 2019 election. The first person on my speed dial is … my close friends. Daily disasters are mitigated by the fact the worse they are, the more fun they are to tell your mates about. When I screw up, that’s bad, but composing a text to relive it for…

There are few more heartwarming experiences as a mother than that moment when your child returns the lessons they’ve learned at your side. Natalie Barr, the newly appointed co-host of market-leading Seven Network morning show Sunrise, encountered one of those moments on February 22 this year, when she received a telephone call from her 19-year-old son Lachlan. Agitated and deeply affected, Lachlan told Natalie about a stunning online campaign created by Chanel Contos, a former schoolgirl who had posted a poll on Instagram asking if any Sydney girls had experienced or knew someone who had experienced sexual assault or had their consent abused. “Lachlan said, ‘You have got to have a look at this, and we’ll get Hunter to have a look at this, too,’” recalls Natalie, 53, whose other…

The official announcement came two days after the birth, with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcoming daughter Lilibet ‘Lili’ Diana Mountbatten-Windsor to the world. “Lili was born on Friday, June 4 at 11.40am in the trusted care of the doctors and staff at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, CA. She weighed 7 lbs 11 oz. Both mother and child are healthy and well, and settling in at home,” announced the couple’s press secretary. “Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet. Her middle name, Diana, was chosen to honour her beloved late grandmother, The Princess of Wales. This is the second child for the couple, who also have a two-year-old son named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor,” the statement continued. Shortly afterwards…

The young bride stepped out of a London church on a frigid February day in 1891. She shivered in her ivory gown of satin and old lace as she paused on the cold stone steps. The damp end of winter was not a romantic time to wed. She had little time to linger. Within hours, she was on a train with her middle-aged husband to his Berlin home. Miss Beauchamp, a merchant’s daughter, was now the Countess von Arnim. The 24-year-old had already travelled far from her Australian birthplace. She would travel much further. She would beguile high-society and become an international literary sensation known today as Elizabeth von Arnim. Although barely 1.5 metres tall – at first glance she was often mistaken for a child – Elizabeth had a…

“Your hair craves moisture,” says Giles, especially if it’s colour-treated. “This process removes the lipid layer off your hair, leaving it coarse and less shiny over time.” Giles adds softness and shine back to clients’ hair with Color Wow’s Dream Cocktail Coconut-Infused, $49, which replaces that lipid layer colouring has removed. As a general rule, focus treatments on mid-lengths and ends for best results. Other formulas with the AWW stamp of approval: Eleven Australia Miracle Hair Mask, $27.95, adds volume and moisture with rosemary leaf extract, aloe vera and jojoba seed oil; and Pantene Intense Miracle Shot in Collagen, $11.99, best suited to hair that’s coloured on a monthly basis or heat-styled weekly, only takes one minute to work its magic.…

HOT BUY Pretty in pink Created by female perfumers Violaine Collas and Julie Massé, this modern scent has top notes of neroli, Italian mandarin and tomato. Trussardi Eau De Parfum for Iconic Women, $110 [60ml]. French beauty For well-travelled readers missing their French pharmacy visits, a new local website (frenchbeautyco.com.au) can restock your favourites. Our pick: Cult formula Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentre is a moisturiser, primer and make-up remover in one, packed with plant extracts, shea butter and aloe vera. Lip service We’ve come a long way with liquid lipsticks. There was a time when they looked great but left lips tight and dry. However, the latest formulas deliver densely pigmented colour and feel feather light. Revlon Colorstay Satin Ink Lipcolor, $26.95, is formulated with blackcurrant seed oil and vitamin E…

“It’s important to understand the most important aspect of our diet is the diversity of whole plants,” says Simon Hill, a nutritionist and physiotherapist, and author of The Proof is in the Plants. “It’s like the foundations of a house – you simply cannot trade diversity of plants for anything else, including a supplement.” That said, Simon believes taking a probiotic may be useful to help nourish your microbiome and get you to the point where you can handle more diversity. “The issue is where one person’s gut needs support is going to be vastly different from the next person’s,” says Simon. “Fortunately, probiotics appear to be quite safe, so if you think your microbiome could do with some extra hands on deck, take a multi-strain probiotic that contains over…

Addiction is not just messy drunks, coke-heads or junkies. The biochemical reality is we can become addicted to many things that are much more subtle and that are so socially acceptable, we’d happily give them to toddler. Our brains operate a biochemical reward system to make us get off our bottoms and do stuff that keeps us alive long enough to produce the next generation. Without it, we wouldn’t get out of bed, we wouldn’t eat even if food was put in front of us, we wouldn’t go to the trouble of meeting other people and certainly wouldn’t bother getting to know them well enough to have children with them. This same system keeps us safe from danger by providing us with the motivation to run away or stand and…

Chicken & leek patchwork pie with sour cream pastry SERVES 4 PREP + COOK TIME 1 HOUR 55 MINUTES (+ CHILLING + RESTING TIME) 75g butter, chopped 1 large (350g) leek, thinly sliced 2 garlic cloves, chopped finely ½ cup (125ml) white wine finely grated rind and juice of ½ lemon 1 tablespoon CSR Caster Sugar ½ cup (80g) White Wings Plain Flour 3 cups (750ml) chicken stock ½ cup (120g) sour cream 1 tablespoon chopped thyme, plus extra sprigs for scattering 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 250g Swiss brown mushrooms, sliced thinly 750g chicken thigh fillets, cut into bite-sized pieces 1 egg yolk, beaten with 1 tablespoon milk, for egg wash SOUR CREAM PASTRY 1 2/3 cup (250g) White Wings Plain Flour 125g chilled butter, chopped ½ cup…

• If made ahead, the risoni will keep absorbing liquid. Add stock or water when reheating. • For a top-quality marinara mix, use: 200g peeled prawns, 150g baby octopus or cleaned calamari, 150g pipis (baby clams), 200g black mussels and 200g fish. Anchovies add a quick burst of flavour to pasta dishes and, once fried in olive oil, don’t taste super fishy – just pleasantly savoury. It’s worth making a double batch of Minestrone to freeze in serving portions for a convenient lunch or dinner.…

Roast chicken SERVES 4 PREP + COOK TIME 2 HOURS 15 MINUTES 1.8kg whole chicken 75g butter, softened 1 clove garlic, crushed 2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage or tarragon 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme 1 medium lemon (140g), quartered 4 sprigs fresh thyme 3 cups (750ml) chicken stock 2 tablespoons plain flour 1 Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced). 2 Remove excess fat from cavity of chicken. Rinse chicken inside and out with water; pat cavity and skin dry. Tuck wings under body. Place chicken on an oiled rack in a medium, flameproof roasting pan. 3 Combine butter, garlic and chopped herbs in a bowl. Run your fingers between the skin and breast meat. Spoon butter mixture under skin and push through skin to cover breast, tops of drumsticks and…

Woolly solution If you’re washing woollens this winter, make up a batch of rinse-free wool wash: combine 2 cups soap flakes (such as Lux), ½ cup methylated spirits and 25ml eucalyptus oil in a jar; shake until combined. Use 2 tablespoons per litre of warm water. Swap your single-use face wipes for a set of washable ones or knit or crochet your own – you’ll find lots of simple patterns online. Round the twist Save an appropriately-sized twist-cap nozzle from a squeeze bottle of tomato sauce or other condiment and screw it to the top of a bottle of liquid plant fertiliser – so much easier to measure without messy drips. Hairy situation When the brush on your vacuum cleaner is tightly clogged with hair and lint threads, a seam…

Great Xpectations Brisbane’s reputation as the nation’s capital of cool rooftop bars and pools has stepped up a notch after Hotel X, the city’s newest five-star hotel, unveiled its top-floor venue, Iris. With decor and food inspired by travels in the Mediterranean (exposed stonework, blossoming wisteria and groves of olive trees), it offers superb views of the city skyline from its location in Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley. Private dining and poolside bungalows are also available. More at hotelx.com.au Dam fine effort Collie in WA now boasts the world’s biggest dam mural, all 8000 square metres of it. The artwork, by Guido van Helten, adorns the Wellington Dam in Wellington National Park. Titled Reflections, it’s the highlight of Collie’s Mural Trail, designed to draw visitors to the town, 200km south of…

LITERARY FICTION Still Life by Sarah Winman, HarperCollins If ever there was a literary hotel you long to check in to, the Florentine pensione at the pulsating heart of Sarah Winman’s new epic novel is that place. The award-winning author confesses that this story found her back in 2015, when she was on a trip to the Renaissance city. “I was having a late lunch in a neighbourhood restaurant when I noticed on the walls photographs of Florence underwater – what I came to know as the flood of 1966. The owner brought out books for me to look at and told me about the Mud Angels, the young men and women who flocked to the city to help clean up. That was the moment the story came to me…

Something to Hide by Fleur McDonald, Allen & Unwin Jillaroo-turned-novelist McDonald brings all her passion for the land to this rural suspense. Love In Theory by Elodie Cheesman, Pan Macmillan Romy believes in data but in the heady orbit of the heart it’s not that logical. Or is it? A fun rom-com. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead, Hachette Lyrical novel about cotton plantation slave Cora’s bid to escape. The Hope Flower by Joy Dettman, Pan Macmillan Lori and her siblings have raised themselves. Their father’s dead. Mum is bed-bound. But she rises. The Girl Remains by Katherine Firkin, Penguin Fifteen years after the disappearance of Cecilia May the two girls she was with face scrutiny.…

The kid was dead. No doubt about that. The 911 caller thought so. The ER reported her DOA. The toxicologist showed cause. The ME signed the certificate. The kid was dead. That wasn’t the question. The phone rang. I ignored it. Beyond my window, the sky was a chaos of gunmetal, smoke, and green. The wind was blowing angrier by the second. I’d have to go soon. The palette on my screen mirrored the turmoil outside. Within the grey backdrop of flesh, the bones burned white as Arctic snow. I’d been analysing the X-rays for almost two hours, my frustration escalating with the storm. One last glance at the final plate in the series. The hands. Then it was adios. I forced myself to concentrate. Carpals. Metacarpals. Phalanges. Suddenly, I…

Cancer Jun 23-Jul 23 Happy birthday Crab crew! The sun and this year’s only Cancer new moon on July 10 are highlighting self-care, so it’s time to lavish that nurturing you give others onto numera una. This month’s emotional roller-coaster, a combined joyride and obstacle course, could see some stormy endings and scintillating beginnings. But with intuitive Mercury moving into your sign you’ll navigate July’s high tides with greater ease than most. As world-changing events ask you to step up rather than sidestepping, make sure you have plenty of support. And tune into the full moon on July 24 for guidance on a sensitive issue. Leo Jul 24-Aug 23 With King Mars and Queen Venus reigning together in Leo for its first three weeks, July’s spotlight shines on your majesties…

Climate triumph A Federal Court ruling saying the government has a duty to protect young people from climate change has been hailed as a landmark win. Slam dunk! Lauren Jackson has become the first Australian player to be inducted into the US Basketball Hall of Fame, joining greats like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Mission to Mars As the very first person to complete the NASA Passport Program, American Alyssa Carson, 20, is gaining momentum in her bid to be the first astronaut on Mars.…

buy tickets for: JPY: 50 Years Young – The Anniversary Tour It was half a century ago that John Paul Young was discovered and signed to iconic Albert Productions (home of The Easybeats) after a producer saw him sing at a pub in Newcastle. Now, the Love Is In The Air singer is celebrating 50 years of hits. The nationwide tour starts at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre on September 24. For dates and tickets, head to abstract.net.au. go and see: Buckley’s Chance Bill Nighy does an admirable Aussie accent in this family-friendly film. He plays the curmudgeonly grandfather of a boy who, along with a dingo he befriends, gets lost in the outback. Also starring Milan Burch (above), Kelton Pell and Martin Sacks. In cinemas June 24. binge watch: The Young…

Beloved Australian actress Lorrae Desmond has been remembered for her grace and enormous heart, following her death in May at age 91. Many fondly recall Lorrae as nurse Shirley Gilroy in 1980s series A Country Practice, but the Mittagongborn actress had already starred in many BBC series, and represented the UK at Eurovision, by the time she headed to Wandin Valley. Lorrae moved to the UK as a child, where she began her TV career. When she returned to Australia, Lorrae hosted her own variety show, and became the first woman to win the equivalent of a Gold Logie Award.…

Scientist and grandmother Mary White was 92 years old when she died in her nursing home bed one cold winter’s night in 2018. From the outside, the talented palaeobotanist’s death appeared to be a natural end to a full and productive life. The curls of her youth had long been white, and her final moments were watched over by her loving daughter, Barbara Eckersley. But when her doctor was asked to sign the death certificate, he refused. Something wasn’t right. Mary had lived actively on her Falls Forest eco-property on the mid-north coast of NSW until she was well into her 80s, when a heart attack and then a series of small, destructive strokes blunted her brilliant mind and left her paralysed down one side of her body. She was…

When she woke in the morning Margie Bauer would often discover she had been doing business deals with the US in the night. “I wouldn’t remember doing it.” The founder of a multinational publishing company, she would give radio interviews in a slurred voice, punctuated by the slurping of wine. While “drinking heavily” she had 30 employees working for her company that published magazines, books that sold in 20 different languages, a retail store and a children’s clothing company. But while her business “kept growing and growing” her own life was disappearing into the bottom of a glass. She went on health retreats every six months: “Cleanse myself and repeat,” she says. Margie separated from her husband, who stepped in to care for her children because she couldn’t. She became…

Australian woman Rebekah Lawrence leapt to her death from an office window in Sydney after participating in an intense self-help course, which a coroner said was run by people “ill equipped” to know she needed intervention. Rebekah died two days after completing a four-day seminar run by self-development company People Knowhow. After the inquest, her husband, David Booth, said of the company: “They didn’t mean to do it. It’s just unqualified people doing damaging things to people’s minds.” Meanwhile, in Quebec a woman died after a nine-hour sweating session in which she was covered in mud, wrapped in plastic and blankets, and had a box placed around her head. Chantal Lavigne, 35, participated in a “Dying in Consciousness” seminar led by a self-proclaimed therapist. Elsewhere, teen wilderness retreats were the…

Decades before Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were flag-bearers of the progressive and global, Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon were established as Britain’s hippest couple, peerless representatives of the ‘Swinging Sixties’ and living proof that the monarchy could be both traditional and modern. According to Lord Ardwick, editor of the Daily Herald, the Snowdons signified ‘a new kind of royalty’. He went on: ‘they had far more contacts among writers and artists and so forth, not among stuffy courtiers. They became the new family model of fast travelling, hard-working, affluent young people – but at a price, a cost that was not always welcome.’ Together, this bohemian couple raced through the streets of London on Snowdon’s motorcycle or in his new Mini, visiting street markets, jazz clubs and theatres. “Margaret…

Following a near-fatal bout of bacterial meningitis when he was only 12 months old, Max McIntyre developed a brain trauma. Today, he is blind, lives with cerebral palsy, uses a wheelchair and must be PEG-fed through a tube. But seven-year-old Max loves to listen, and to kick his legs when he’s happy. Recently, few things have made him more joyful than the missives and gifts he received via the Letterbox Project while his family was in COVID isolation. “We were so elated. They came at a time when we really needed them,” explains his photographer mum, Amy, 35. “There were happy and sad tears. We couldn’t be more appreciative of the project and how a small, beautiful gesture made us feel connected in a scary and isolating time.” Max is…

Like the move from heavy foundations to lighter ones, most experts agree it’s best to blend emerging greys into your natural colour than hide it completely. It’s less maintenance and allows you to avoid the regrowth line. Dee says clever highlighting is the modern way to blend in. “A few blonde highlights will make your greying hair seem creamy rather than yellow,” she says. “In salon, your hairdresser will choose a complimentary toner to achieve this, as they are designed to cover greys without damaging the hair.” If you’re colouring hair at home, “apply colour with a comb to blend the greys,” suggests colourist Pete Lennon of Crown Hair in Sydney.…

I was unaware of my brows – and their power – until my first photo shoot at age 19. I’d scored an editorial job at Cleo magazine and agreed (for the sake of my first byline) to model runway fashion. To be clear, this was not because I had a swan-like physique or jaw-dropping looks. My editor wanted to highlight how ridiculous runway fashion looked on the average person. I still remember the make-up artist’s horror: “Oh doll, look at those caterpillars. Have they ever been touched?” It took me a second to realise what he was talking about. “My brows?” I asked. I focused in on them. They did look quite full and dark. And I guess there were several hairs sprouting between the arches, creating what could only…

Easy stress-buster When you’re anxious or ruminating on negative thoughts, one of the most effective ways to nip it in the bud is surprisingly simple: feel awe. In her new book, Care: The Radical Art of Taking Time, author Brooke McAlary shares ways to find that feeling and promote a sense of calm. For instance, go for a brisk walk and focus on the sensation of blood moving through your body; read a book about a person you admire; or take a moment to look up at the stars. try THIS Wearable wrist weights According to a Harvard Medical School publication, neoprene wrist weights are a great addition to your fitness routine. Use them for targeted exercises, like bicep curls or standing rows. Don’t wear them while walking, though, as…

“Some evidence suggests it may aid sleep and reduce chronic pain.”– Dr Danielle McCartney What it is: The cannabis plant (also called hemp or marijuana) yields extracts with two main chemical components. There’s THC, the psychoactive ingredient responsible for giving people the high feeling, and cannabidiol or CBD, which does not have a psychoactive or psychotropic effect. How it works: Endocannabinoid receptors, found throughout our body and brain, form part of the endocannabinoid system. It’s believed CBD either stimulates CB1 receptors, mostly found in the central nervous system, so they produce more endocannabinoids, or prevents them degrading so they last longer in the body. The science: Researchers have been looking at the therapeutic uses of CBD for many years. Low-dose CBD, according to clinical research, may reduce or improve anxiety,…

When making burnt butter, cook it in a pan larger than you think you’ll need, as it will bubble and foam. Opt for a stainless steel pan, instead of a dark, non-stick pan, so you can more accurately see the colour of the butter – you want it to be quite dark in colour. Roll pastry out on a sheet of baking paper dusted with White Wings Plain Flour. Dip the pastry in the flour to prevent sticking. CSR Rapadura Sugar is an unrefined cane sugar, which means more of the natural nutrients remain. The molasses content in the sugar cane give its golden colour and delicate caramel flavour. A cast-iron skillet or metal pie dish will conduct heat better than a ceramic or glass one, resulting in a beautifully…

Brussels sprouts with broccolini & parsley pesto SERVES 4 PREP + COOK TIME 40 MINUTES ⅓ cup (80ml) extra virgin olive oil 800g brussels sprouts, trimmed, halved 2 bunches broccolini (350g), trimmed, cut into lengths 150g baby green beans, trimmed ½ cup small, fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves ¼ cup (40g) smoked almonds, chopped coarsely PARSLEY PESTO 1 clove garlic, chopped 1 cup firmly packed, fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves 50g rocket leaves ½ cup (125ml) extra virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon rind ½ cup (50g) grated gruyère cheese (see tip) 1 PARSLEY PESTO (Makes 1 cup) Process the garlic, parsley and rocket until coarsely chopped. Add oil and process until just combined. Transfer to a bowl. Stir in rind and cheese. Season to taste. 2 Heat 2 tablespoons…

Since Grace Mazur brought Thermomix to Australia 20 years ago, it has become a household name in Australia and New Zealand. Families, cooks, chefs and influencers have embraced this cutting-edge appliance that can do everything – from weighing, chopping, blending and grinding, to kneading, cooking and more. To celebrate its 20-year anniversary, this cookbook follows Thermomix’s journey through recipes that have inspired cooks, and stories that illustrate how this appliance has helped create something incredible for many of us. Thermomix: Creating Something Incredible, $49.99, is on sale in July. Pre-order by scanning the QR code (right).…

I can hear the forest breathing. Crackle. Crunch. Munch. In the distance a splintered branch snaps, waking the wildlife, as it plummets to the damp earth. “Krroo-krroo, krroo-krroo,” a bird calls out as nature’s soundtrack begins to play. I think I catch the trumpet call of a baby elephant searching for its mother deep within the jungle, but it can’t be. I’m standing in Christmas Island National Park staring skywards through a velvet canopy of Tahitian Chestnut trees, and there are no four-legged animals to be found on an island which is, ironically, shaped like a dog. In fact, the only park residents I’m likely to see have eight legs, ten if you include their razor-sharp claws. Crabs, it seems, are the main caretakers of the national park, which covers…

Need help with your NZ itinerary? Lonely Planet has launched five updated guidebooks, including New Zealand’s Best Trips – 25 Amazing Road Trips. “It’s hard to imagine a better country for a road trip,” the publisher says. “New Zealand’s two main islands serve up a feast of mountain landscapes, sublime forests, sweeping beaches and remote fjords, easily reached by scenic highways and quiet country roads.” The other updates are Best of New Zealand, one on North Island; one on South Island; and an overall New Zealand guide. More at shop.lonelyplanet.com…

British author Sarah Winman was born and raised in the eastern suburbs of London and trained and worked as an actor before she wrote her best-selling, award-winning debut novel When God Was A Rabbit 10 years ago. “I refer to myself as a storyteller rather than a novelist,” she tells The Weekly, adding that as a child “I wasn’t a big reader”, preferring to make up games. Still Life is her fourth novel. “I tend to see books in a very cinematic way. In many of my scenes I can visualise where the camera would be and what or who the lens would be focused on. I’ve especially employed that technique in Still Life,” she says.…

Ten Little Figs by Rhiân Williams, Walker A boy is sad when figs on his tree disappear … flying foxes and lorikeets love the fruit too! But daddy has plucked the last one for them to share. Introducing D’Lila La Rue by Nette Hilton, Walker D’Lila’s famous mum is “on the road again”, so she and Grandma are on their own. And you never know what adventures will happen with Nanny-Anny! Blue Flower by Sonya Hartnett, Penguin The kids at school all have something. “You are different. Something as wonderful as that,” says Mum. In a field of yellow flowers, the child spots one blue.…