The Australian Women's Weekly June 2023

One of the great privileges of my job is the opportunity it gives me to meet talented and passionate people who love what they do. Some of those encounters are light and breezy, others inspiring and deep, and on rare occasions you leave feeling you have gained genuine insight into someone you’d previously only ever read about or seen on a screen. I was lucky enough to have one such day with celebrated chef Jock Zonfrillo. It was early 2021 and he had agreed to appear with his family in an interview for our Easter TV special. It was clear from the start that there was no celebrity attitude to navigate with Jock. Eschewing our offer to book a studio or location house, he welcomed us to into his Melbourne…

Strong and independent The May issue was excellent, with a wide range of interesting pieces. The article on living solo (The Power of One, AWW, May) really struck a chord with me, though. I am a single woman – not really by choice – in my late sixties, and I thought the benefits and pitfalls were covered very well. At my age living solo can present extra challenges. You need to be strong, independent and resourceful, making sure to do what you enjoy. Name and address supplied. Friendships are vital Jane Fonda, what a champion! (“Keep Your Girlfriend Close!”, AWW, May). I love how she values friendships. As we get older, friendships are vital. We learn how to be honest with each other and to ask for help. Admitting our…

Royal VISIT Mary’s green tour Crown Princess Mary set out to tackle the issue of climate change on a fast-moving, six-day Pacific tour, kicking off in Vanuatu and ending in her one-time hometown of Sydney. For more PAGE 20 Women we love Bluming brave Beloved author Judy Blume was honoured at Variety’s Power of Women awards. She used the moment to condemn book bans, saying “It’s history itself that’s under fire”. Shaneice’s Spark Talented teen basketballer Shaneice Swain, 19, has been drafted to the WNBA. The Yupangathi and Gangalidda/Gooreng Gooreng woman will join the LA Sparks. Sailing to glory Australian Olympic medallists Olivia Price and Nina Curtis are recruiting sailors for the first ever Women’s America’s Cup race in Barcelona in 2024. Show STOPPER Blondie is back Sparkling in a…

The women of Australia are flying our Hills Hoists at half-mast. Why? Because we have lost our most formidable ally; an icon who spoke up for us for 70 years. We sympathised when her son, Kenny, came out as a “practising homo” ... as in homeopath. We empathised when her daughter Valmai’s supermarket shoplifting brought shame on the family: “I mean, couldn’t it have been Harrods?”. We’ve even shared a few conspiratorial chuckles about her husband Norm’s silicone chip prostate. “Norm’s prostate murmur turned into a rumbling so loud it woke the neighbours. They asked me if I could keep the noise down – I said there is a knob but I’m not touching that.” Yes, I’m talking about our cherished and most beloved megastar, Dame Edna Everage, who died…

Maggie Beer is a good woman. If you cracked her open like a perfect free-range egg, you would find goodness in her soul.The Weekly’s food director, Fran Abdallaoui, says what she admires most about Maggie is that everything she does – from championing local growers and seasonal produce to developing better food for our elders – is grounded in a sense of kindness, conscience, generosity and care. When I mention this to Maggie, she laughs self-consciously, but when pressed to explain why she is this way, she begins thoughtfully, “I think it comes from life … I think it comes from life and from your parents. Having empathy is really important. Also, I was brought up in an interesting time, when things were … simpler and the ethics were entrenched.…

There was a moment at the heart of his Coronation service when King Charles III almost teared up. His eldest son, Prince William, had just knelt in front of the newly-crowned sovereign and pledged his allegiance as “your liege man of life and limb” – which literally means William is promising to be there for his father no matter what, obligated before God to honour and serve. Then, after Charles gently whispered “Thank you, William”, the heir to the throne lent forward and kissed his 74-year-old King on the cheek. After everything that has led up to this day – the grief of losing both parents within 17 months of each other, the painfully public battles with his “dear boy”, Prince Harry, at the most important time in his royal…