The Australian Women's Weekly August 2021

I was sitting with my husband, Tom, at a large table filled with puzzle pieces watching my mum and stepmum share a joke with my sister and our father. In the background, my brother-in-law was preparing dinner while my daughter chased her cousins around the kitchen. We were away for a long weekend in the country, pre-lockdown, and in that moment I was truly content. On paper it shouldn’t work – there’s a seven-year age gap between my daughter and her cousins, my mum is sharing a house with her ex-husband and his new wife and Tom is a creative Brit among games-mad Aussies – but somehow it does. Don’t get me wrong, we are far from perfect, but we have learnt that any issues we have are worth overcoming.…

“Don’t settle for style. Succeed in substance.” – WYNTON MARSALIS Important message Thank you to Natalie Barr and her boys for openly discussing this topic – sexual assault/consent (The boys are my life, AWW, July). I read about Chanel Contos a while ago and I was alarmed at the results of her campaign. It’s so important that this topic is discussed openly. So often people brush it aside because they feel they can’t discuss it. As an educator, I am grateful that Respectful Relationships/Consent is part of the school curriculum. As a mother, it’s important my children can discuss this issue with me. S. Tsipiras, Collingwood, Vic Healing the trauma I was saddened to read of the trauma victims suffered under the guise of self-improvement (Slave to the guru, AWW,…

I was moved and felt empathy for Barbara Eckersley after reading of her mother’s struggle and the events that led to the tragic end to Mary’s life (A brilliant mother, AWW, July). My mother also suffers from the dreadful condition which robs beautiful, intelligent souls of their dignity and sucks the essence of who they are out of them. It seems Barbara dedicated her life to making her mother as comfortable as possible until the end. I hope Barbara and her family can move on, knowing Mary is at peace now.…

ROYAL outing By George, good shot Prince George looked all grown up when he got suited up to watch England face Germany in the European Football Championship at Wembley Stadium. The young prince, now seven, cheered and clapped with his mum and dad, Prince William and Kate, by his side. The Cambridges praised the English team’s “incredible performance” on Instagram. Sporting royalty David Beckham also popped over to say hello. BILOELA family Reprieve in Perth Priya and Nades Murugappan and their daughters Kopika, six, and Tharnicaa, three, have been full of smiles since they were reunited in Perth, and granted a reprieve from immigration detention, with the federal government approving three-month bridging visas. However, supporters say it’s not enough. Former PM Kevin Rudd has weighed in, saying, “There is no…

Cult member jailed Former Smallville actress Allison Mack has been sentenced to three years in prison for her role recruiting slaves for the cult NXIVM. Britney’s plea Singer Britney Spears has revealed the shocking level of control she is under, as she fights to end a conservatorship that has been in place for 13 years. PM’s unease Jacinda Ardern has distanced herself from a film set to be made about her response to the Christchurch terror attack, saying they should focus on the Muslim community.…

If I could invite anyone on my podcast it would be … Joe Biden,because I want to know what it feels like to become President after trying for the best part of four decades and more importantly, how he felt when he knew he had beaten Donald Trump. My motto is … in Tempestate Floresco. Latin for “I Flourish in the Storm”. I can’t live without … feeling useful. The last time I cried was … when Poh Ling Yeow exited MasterChef 2020. She tried to do too much and took yet another risk that didn’t pay off. If I was an emoji I would be … a cheerful round face with glasses. My karaoke song is … (Is This The Way To) Amarillo, sung like Tony Christie. My favourite…