The Australian Women's Weekly May 2023

If you ever needed reminding that happiness comes in all shapes and sizes, then this issue of The Weekly is for you. We celebrate the joy of young love as inspirational burns survivor Sophie Delezio announces her engagement to “best friend” and long-time partner Joseph. All who were on set with the couple for The Weekly’s photo shoot (page 18) were touched by their deep connection and obvious adoration of each other. Even more impressive is the mindset that has driven Sophie to become someone who not only survived two life-changing accidents, but who has truly thrived. As she embarks on this new chapter of her life we couldn’t be happier for her. On the other end of the spectrum, we caught up with eight women who represent the growing…

Family matters I can’t remember how many times over about 30 years I’ve almost grabbed pen and paper to thank Pat McDermott for bringing joyful laughter and great memories of ‘just life’, good or bad, into my life. Well, this time I finally did. I loved how you manage to bring being a human being all together, Pat, in such a great way. Thank you! G. Blieberger, Denmark, WA. An important lesson I am so enjoying my Women’s Weekly this month. Many of the articles are a dedication to individuals or groups that showed bravery and resilience. Some articles were inspirational but the one that was truly so was Sarah Donnelly’s story (My Story, AWW, April). It warmed the heart of this old chalky. She took on a challenge and…

Royal WEDDING A queen’s blessing When Queen Rania of Jordan celebrated the marriage of her daughter, Princess Iman, 26, and venture capitalist Jameel Thermiotis, she had one thought in her heart. “I pray this next chapter in your life brings you as much joy, love, and laughter as you have brought us over the years,” she wrote. The Jordanian Princess wore an exquisite Dior gown that was custom-designed by creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri. Women we love Blooming generous Sam Bloom has donated $100,000 to Project Spark, a program led by SpinalCure Australia, to help Australians like Alex Richter (above, right) living with a spinal cord injury. Ace umpire In its 125-year history, Wimbledon has never had a female referee – until now. Former player Denise Parnell, 62, will replace…

Exclusive interview “Everyone’s dream is to fall in love with their best friend.”– Sophie Everybody was in on the big secret, except Sophie Delezio. Her parents, brother, overseas friends – even her nail artist – knew boyfriend Joseph Salerno was about to pop the question in the most romantic way, on Valentine’s Day. “Oh my God, I had no idea,” laughs Sophie, her big blue eyes out-sparkling even the diamond and platinum ring shining on her finger. “Funnily enough, I got a heart painted on one of my nails the week before and joked that it might give Joseph the hint! That’s how little I suspected what he had planned.” Good mates for years before they became romantically linked, theirs is a love story against the odds. Terribly injured in…

It has been 70 years since the last British coronation and as The Weekly goes to press, we are counting down to what will be a very special and unique moment in contemporary history, the crowning of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on Saturday May 6. Whether you’re a royalist or not, this ceremony will be an extraordinary spectacle with perfectly choreographed pomp which, thanks to modern technology, will be watched by more people around the world than any previous coronation. Before the advent of television, stills photography and paintings have offered visual records of past coronations. But King Charles’ mother’s crowning on June 2, 1953 – covered back then by The Weekly’s royal correspondent Anne Matheson from London – broke new ground when it was televised, a first…

“I want to try and make up for the mistakes that I made.”– Jane Fonda Hollywood has long been pilloried for its clueless ageist casting which has seen – largely male – directors retire women from romantic leading roles once they hit the tender age of 40. But the tide has turned and heading the charge is the irrepressible Jane Fonda. At 85, Jane is the oldest of the star-studded quartet of women blazing a trail in Book Club: The Next Chapter, and also the sassiest. In the film we see her character, commitment-phobe Vivian, finally heading for matrimony after a life of fierce independence. Sporting a sizeable rock from the lover who first proposed to her decades before, she heads off on a bachelorette romp to Rome with her…