The Australian Women's Weekly August 2023

There are many joys that come with helming The Australian Women’s Weekly, joys which have been synonymous with the brand since its inception 90 years ago. One is hearing and sharing stories of extraordinary women from all corners of our country, another is the platform it provides to support and showcase talented female content creators. Those two pursuits came together this month as we named our inaugural Esme Fenston Fellowship recipient, Jessica Howard. In partnership with The Walkley Foundation, we established the fellowship to unearth and foster talented regional journalists who tell stories of life in rural Australia from a first-hand point of view. I had the honour of being part of the judging panel for this fellowship, along with journalist Narelda Jacobs and the The Weekly’s Features Editor, Samantha…

Grief connection I read with interest your story on Michelle Moriarty (Turning Tragedy into Purpose, AWW, July). Missing the little things, for me, was polarised when my son passed unexpectedly. My other children were my main concern, and that kept the frail connection to life in place. A couple of years later, when I was leaving my work place, they held a morning tea for me. I told the group that while they had been witnesses to the very worst experience in my life, I wanted to thank each one of them for doing the right thing. Those who embraced me did it right, those who asked me if I was okay did it right, those who summoned our manager when they knew I needed help but couldn’t approach me…

Barbie MOVIE Margot’s retro makeover The Barbie film caused a worldwide shortage of pink paint, and so far, star Margot Robbie has stuck to the costume brief of rose, flamingo and fuchsia. But at the global press tour kick-off in Sydney, she switched to a black and white mini to evoke Barbie’s original 1959 costume. Margot said it was important the film paved the way for more female-led blockbusters. “If Wonder Woman hadn’t done what Wonder Woman did, I don’t know if people would’ve given us the budget,” she said. She hinted she pulled some strings to start the tour in Australia, where adoring fans turned out in ecstatic, glittery droves. Women we love Super caring Australia’s first indigenous supermodel, Samantha Harris, has been getting her hands dirty planting new…

Renata and her husband Sharif had never thought about, let alone planned, on becoming foster parents. But when Renata heard her young nephew, Jack*, had entered the foster system, the duo felt compelled to open their home and their hearts. Renata’s brother had died of cancer when Jack was only a baby, and his grief-stricken mother had separated from the family. Renata learned Jack was in care in 2008, when he was three. While she and Sharif had two small daughters and were expecting a third, they knew they wanted to help. “We were extremely emotional finding out that Jack was in the fostering system,” Renata says. “Myself and my siblings had made a promise to my brother that we would take care of his son. To get the information…

Column As The Weekly’s royal correspondent and books editor, it doesn’t get better than an invite to Queen Camilla’s inaugural literary festival at Hampton Court Palace. A former home to King Henry VIII, this spectacular baroque palace and grounds (complete with outdoor maze) is normally open to the public, but for one day in June it was transformed into a heady literary wonderland with a program of special events celebrating literature and the arts. Book lovers flocked to the historic royal venue where we all also basked in an early summer heatwave. As I wandered through the courtyards I half expected to stumble upon any one of Henry’s many wives and their courtiers huddled in conversation – actually not such a wild imagining as Jane Seymour’s ghost is said to…

On July 22 Prince George turns 10. It’s a milestone birthday not just for the double-digit status, but because it takes the golden-haired eldest Wales son closer to his destiny in a year when everything is changing for his family. George’s parents are now The Prince and Princess of Wales, titles that come with huge responsibilities and an increased workload. His grandfather is now King and George and his two siblings have become the focal point for the future of the monarchy, their every move scrutinised, commented on and chipped away at on social media. When I was watching the young Prince hanging on to his grandpa’s robes, nervous but perfect as a pageboy at the Coronation on May 6 in a set-piece display of regal pomp and ceremony, I…