Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2023 i The Australian Women's Weekly

Welcome to this very special issue celebrating 90 years of The Weekly. It’s been such a joy for the team and I to dive into the archives and catch up with so many women who played a part in creating and nurturing this beloved brand. One such woman is our enigmatic cover star, Maggie Tabberer – or Maggie T as she is fondly known. She sat down with Editor-at-large Juliet Rieden to reminisce about everything, from her early modelling days to her recruitment to The Weekly by a “daunting but sweet” Kerry Packer (page 20). It was, of course, Kerry’s father, Sir Frank Packer, who first launched The Australian Women’s Weekly back in 1933. It felt like a full-circle moment watching our current Style Director, Mattie Cronan, work her magic…

Every morning without fail Maggie Tabberer fixes her make-up, dons her favourite jewels – currently the lush string of pearls with a boulder citrine clasp and matching citrine earrings that she is wearing in one of the poses for our photo shoot – and dresses for the day. The latter, she admits, comes with a little help from one of the two beloved carers who are with her for a couple of hours each day, and she accepts as a necessity in her autumn years. But at 86, while not as spritely as she once was, Maggie T still radiates the glamour, beauty and luminous presence that made her a household star for decades from the mid-1960s. Indeed, as those pools of blue captivate the camera lens once more, high…

From birth, the Sara Quads were big news – world famous before they even left the hospital. The first surviving quadruplets born in Australia (and only the fourth in the world), they came as a surprise to everyone, including their mother: Betty Sara only learnt she was having quads when she went into labour. “We weren’t expected to live,” says firstborn Alison Houssenloge. “They thought it would be too much of a shock for her.” The births were a shock and an ordeal nonetheless. Betty’s labour, which lasted 64 hours, was written up in medical journals. The quads were born between August 17-19, 1950, at a tiny hospital in Bellingen, NSW, where their father Percy was superintendent of the ambulance service. Betty was treated with aspirin, phenacetin (an analgesic) and…

When ABC’s award-winning drama The Newsreader was commissioned for a second series, leading lady Anna Torv was thrilled. Not only is the role of spiky, vulnerable news anchor Helen Norville “a joy to play”, her co-stars Sam Reid and William McInnes, director Emma Freeman and the whole team clicked right from the get go, which is rare. “Sometimes you do and sometimes you really don’t; you never know when it’s going to happen – but this was just a perfect little group,” Anna says. The new series begins in 1987, a year after season one left off, with Helen Norville and Dale Jennings now established as TV’s “Golden Couple of News”, perfectly matched on-screen and off. But behind the scenes cracks are starting to show with seismic changes about to…

Interview The year was 1994 and a little Australian film called Muriel’s Wedding was about to be released. For Matt Day – who had cobbled together enough work to get by after leaving a gig as the resident teenage heartthrob on A Country Practice a few years earlier – it was his debut film role. And he didn’t put much stock in it being successful. “I remember at the time going, ‘Oh, it’s about a girl obsessed with ABBA who is a liar and a bit depressed’,” he says. “‘Who is going to want to see this?’” Matt played Brice, an awkward 20-something who, to be close to his crush (Toni Collette’s titular character, Muriel), is a constant visitor at the video store she works in. Little did he know…

After three La Niña years in a row, many Australians are now hosting a silent but stubborn house guest: Mould. Inside walls, under floors and carpet, or at the back of your wardrobe, mould thrives in damp conditions and, left unchecked, can cause serious health issues. “I started developing some really unusual problems like migraines, hives and blocked ears. Then I woke up one morning with really severe nerve pain down my arms and legs. It was so bad that I couldn’t stand up,” says Corbin Halliday, who was working as a hairdresser in Hobart at the time. “I went to emergency and my blood pressure was so high the staff were worried I could have a stroke. It was scary. I was 25 and had a fit and healthy…

Sweet treats Chocolate hazelnut squares SERVES 12 PREP + COOK TIME 40 MINUTES 2 cups (200g) ground hazelnuts185g butter, softened1 cup (220g) caster sugar4 eggs¼ cup (35g) plain flour300g milk or dark (45% cocoa) eating chocolate, chopped coarsely2 teaspoons vegetable oilroasted hazelnuts, for serving 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Place the ground hazelnuts on an oven tray, bake for 10 minutes or until fragrant; cool. 2 Grease base and sides of a 20cm x 30cm slice pan. Line base and two long sides with a strip of baking paper, extending paper 2cm above the edge of the pan. 3 Beat butter and sugar in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until combined. Fold in ground…

Fresh & zesty Sage & zucchini-wrapped haloumi salad SERVES 4 PREP + COOK TIME 20 MINUTES 4 large zucchini (600g)2 large yellow capsicums (700g)16 fresh sage leaves2 tablespoons thin strips lemon rind225g haloumi, sliced lengthways into 8 pieces¼ cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oil2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice1 medium lemon (140g), cut into wedges 1 Using a mandoline, V-slicer or sharp knife, cut zucchini into 5mm thick slices. Remove seeds from capsicum, cut into 3cm pieces. 2 Place sage leaves and lemon strips on top of haloumi. Wrap each piece of haloumi with one strip of zucchini; secure with a toothpick. 3 Preheat a chargrill plate or pan over medium-high heat. Brush capsicum and haloumi with half the oil. Cook capsicums for 2 minutes each side or until charred. Cook…

Promise by Rachel Eliza Griffiths, John Murray The world of the Kindred sisters is at once powerful and vulnerable and that tension holds this heart-wrenching novel tight in its grasp right until the final word. Promise is Rachel Eliza Griffiths debut novel and the poetry that she has already won awards for seeps through the fabric of her tale. Exquisitely crafted words and images dance like fireflies illuminating our “path” through what unfolds into a terrifying dynastic drama. We are in Salt Point, a seaside town in 1950s’ Maine, where the Kindreds and the Junketts are the only black families in a community that barely tolerates them. Our 13-year-old narrator, Cinthy, is bookish like her schoolteacher father, and her elder sister, Ezra, is feisty like the grandmother we meet late…

Second life When a recipe calls for lemon juice but not zest, remove the zest anyway, then wrap it in a tiny clingfilm parcel and store in the freezer for next time. Don’t discard old shower caddies – fill tiers with potted succulents or line baskets with moss or coconut fibre, add potting mix and plants for a small hanging garden. Spring clean Combine 5ml eco-friendly dishwashing liquid with 500ml water and 15 drops peppermint oil in a spray bottle and use it to kill aphids on new spring growth. Dust cover If you rub a little cornflour into a tight knot in string or yarn, it will be much easier to undo. Sticking point A drop of orange spot and goo remover on a damp cloth, rubbed gently,…

Column As The Weekly goes to press, The House of Windsor is heading off on its first summer break since the death of the late Queen. King Charles and Camilla will follow tradition, holidaying in Scotland, with various members of the family expected to join the couple for informal get-togethers at Balmoral Castle in the second half of August. But the King will first visit the Castle of Mey in Caithness, on the northern tip of Scotland. The 16th Century castle was purchased by his grandmother, the late Queen Mother, in 1952 after the death of her husband, King George VI. She spotted it while staying with friends and was immediately smitten. It was in pretty poor condition but became a welcome renovation project for Her Majesty, who loved this…

Denise Scott’s front yard is picture-book pretty. A weeping crabapple tree is decorated with shiny red fruit, pansies bloom in an old metal wheelbarrow, late winter bulbs peek through the cold, brown loam. And Denise’s welcome is warm. She’s rugged up in jeans, a soft pink jumper and beanie. Her hug has real affection, and she chatters cheerily in the kitchen as she brews a restorative pot of tea. It’s been five months since her manager emailed The Weekly with this simple sentence: ‘Keen to have a chat with you about Scotty.’ The much-loved actor, comedian and author had been writing a regular column for us. She loved writing it and readers adored her. Surely nothing was amiss. Actually, rather a lot was. On the eve of perhaps the greatest…

There’s a quote which Kylie Gillies looks at as a constant reminder. Originally uttered by Mother Teresa, it has since become a mantra for many parents across the globe: “You will teach them to fly but they will not fly your flight. You will teach them to dream but they will not dream your dream.” The Morning Show co-host forced herself to think of these words the day her eldest son, Gus, sat her and husband Tony down to announce he was dropping out of university, getting a job in a pub and then planning an open-ended trip to travel the world in the hope of finding his purpose. She has continued to think of them in the 12 months since. For when Gus made his announcement, she admits, “I…

In 1947 The Australian Women’s Weekly correspondent Anne Matheson was crossing the grassy plains of South Africa on the King’s train; her tape recorder clutched in her white-gloved hand. Despite the oppressive heat, she and her press corps peers maintained an impeccable standard of dress. Anne’s dispatches included the only press interview the Queen consort ever gave, but Anne had discretly omitted spotting Princess Elizabeth sneaking out each morning to take a secret call from her beau, Philip Mountbatten. “There we were by the Zambezi River, with crocodiles nibbling our toes and the Queen in champagne georgette and frills,” Anne recalled in 1976. Africa was the first of dozens of royal tours Anne covered after proving her mettle in World War II. Female war correspondents were rare, unless you read…

The FULL SKIRT Popularised in the 1950s, the nipped-in waist created an hourglass silhouette. Today this shape remains a figure-flattering option, elevated here in neutral textures and tones. Jan Marie wears Voellk blouse and skirt, made to order. The COLUMN DRESS Sleek and streamlined, this was the go-to look of the ’90s. Now it returns, refreshed for a new decade. This classically simple style is as comfortable as it is chic. Bianca wears Trenery top, $129. Sir The Label dress, $780. The THREE-PIECE SUIT When Marlene Dietrich went to Paris in 1933 wearing a “masculine” three-piece suit, she was threatened with arrest. But by the 1940s women across the globe had embraced the outfit to make it their own. Today, this utilitarian look remains as popular as ever, going effortlessly…

In Oscar Wilde’s novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dorian makes a deal with the devil to stay young forever. The only thing that shows his true age is a portrait he keeps in his attic. Unlike Dorian, I never made a pact with the devil, and I don’t have an aging portrait in my attic. But I do keep a pair of hotpants up there – to remind me of the wasted opportunities of my youth. I bought these hotpants when I was 20 and working as a model. Every time I put them on, my eyes would zoom in on some perceived fault. A curve here, a dimple there, and I would decide that I didn’t look good enough to wear them, so I’d take them off again.…

The Weekly turns 90! from the Test Kitchen We used a cake turntable that turns in either direction for easy icing, combing and levelling. The decorated cake can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Pressed flowers Ensure the flowers you choose are unsprayed non-toxic flowers. We used 20 assorted violas, 20 assorted pansies, 20 small pink daisies, 20 geraniums, 15 nasturtiums and 10 lavender stalks. Place flowers face side down on a piece of copy paper to ensure the petals are lying flat on the sheet, then cover with a second sheet of paper and transfer to the pages of a large book. After all the flowers have been carefully placed, weigh down the book with several books or a heavy weight to ensure the flowers…

Korean fried chicken SERVES 4 PREPARATION 15 MINUTES RESTING 20 MINUTES COOKING 20 MINUTES 700g chicken breasts150ml milk2 teaspoons salt1 teaspoon mild paprika1 teaspoon mild yellow curry powder2 teaspoons garlic powder1 litre (4 cups) neutral vegetable oil3 crushed almonds (or peanuts), Korean preserved lemon (optional) for serving FRITTER BATTER 300g plain flour1 egg1 teaspoon salt100ml beer200ml water YANGNYEOM SAUCE ¼ apple½ onion3 garlic cloves100ml water75ml ketchup20g gochujang chilli paste3 teaspoons gochugaru chilli powder60ml soy sauce2 tablespoons sugar75ml corn syrup1 good pinch pepper 1 FRITTER BATTER Place the flour, egg, salt and beer in a bowl. Stir in the water gradually while mixing. The batter should be smooth and free of lumps. 2 Cut the chicken breasts into roughly bite-sized pieces. 3 Pour the milk over the chicken pieces. Cover and…

What is baking powder? Baking powder aerates and lightens a mixture during baking. It’s added to plain flour to make self-raising flour. For self-raising flour, mix two teaspoons of McKenzie’s Baking Powder per cup of plain flour; sift several times. Once opened, baking powder has a shelf life of up to six months. To check it’s still active: Stir ½ teaspoon of baking powder into ¼ cup of tap-hot water. Active baking powder will cause water to bubble. mckenziesfoods.com.au Pizza perfection Ooni Volt 12 Electric Pizza Oven bakes as beautifully as it looks. It’s lightweight, portable and suitable for indoor and outdoor use, using standard 240 volt power, and fits on a standard kitchen bench. The temperature reaches 450˚C, which gives you amazing stone-baked pizza in just 90 seconds. au.ooni.com…

Exclusive interview Ann Patchett has a confession. “This is such a hard thing to talk about, but I was very happy during the pandemic,” she says sheepishly. We are chatting via video call, Ann in her Nashville home, a picture of contentment surrounded by soft furnishing. “You don’t wish suffering and death on the world, it’s horrifying, but really my dream scenario is that I would just be locked in my house. I wouldn’t ever have to go out to dinner and I wouldn’t ever have to get on a plane, and the person I would be hanging out with would be my husband. The world would be really small,” she explains. “I had such a revelation during the pandemic. Everybody I needed to see was in a three-block radius…

Cruising UPDATE The new-generation ships are coming Multigenerational travel is a growing trend in cruising, and the newest ships from the likes of Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean are taking it to a higher level, with novel activities on board for all ages. The technological advances are eye-opening. Atop the first of Princess Cruises’ next-generation Sphere Class vessels, Sun Princess, is Park 19, a three-level area featuring nine activity zones. The most notable is Sea Breeze, the first Rollglider (aerial roller coaster zip-line) on a cruise ship. With the bird’s eye views, it aims to give a soaring experience akin to hang-gliding. If you don’t have a head for heights, try the Hammock Area, the pop jets in the Splash Zone, or the games and wellness offerings on the Recreational…

Virgo Aug 24 - Sep 23 With September’s astral emphasis in your service-oriented sign for the annual Virgo birthday circuit, this is your time to receive, to let others give back to you for all you do. Expect some wonderful peak moments when the mid-month trio of sun, new moon and your patron planet Mercury moving forward again are all delightfully aligned in your sign. When these celestial gears mesh, this year’s cosmic winds lift the life of Virgos into a fresh cycle, and beautifier Venus advocates a style makeover to suit the new spring you. Libra Sep 24 - Oct 23 This month’s planetary swings and roundabouts see Venus and Mercury back in action while Jupiter heads into hibernation. Savvy Scale-Balancers will have learnt by now that leaning into…

World CUP Miraculous marvellous Matildas The Matildas’ dreams of World Cup glory were dealt a blow when it was announced top scorer Sam Kerr would be out for the first games with an injury. A convincing win followed by a crushing loss had the entire nation on tenterhooks as the Matildas began game three knowing it could be their last. But diamonds are made under pressure, and the team stunned the world by obliterating Canada 4-0, their largest-ever World Cup win. It was a legacy-defining victory. Veteran Chloe Logarzo summed up the mood: “You can say we’ve inspired a nation.” Women we love Our Emmy hopes Australian actresses Sarah Snook (above left), Elizabeth Debicki and Anna Torv (above right) are all in contention for an Emmy this year. Turn to…

Bindi & Terri Irwin AM While it was “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin who blasted the family into public consciousness in 1991, it is the females in his life who have proved instrumental in protecting his legacy and continuing his conservation crusade. Daughter Bindi was just six years old when Steve was killed in 2006, but even at that early age she knew her purpose. Just months after losing her father, Bindi joined The Weekly as a columnist, sharing her passion for wildlife. Terri, meanwhile, not only stepped up as sole owner of Australia Zoo and the Wildlife Warriors foundation, but made them bigger, “because I promised”. Along with son Robert and Bindi’s now-husband, Chandler Powell, the Irwin women returned to Lady Elliot Island – a tropical coral paradise the Irwins…

In 2016, Janette* was at a Christmas soiree at the Sydney Opera House, enjoying a soft drink with her investment group to celebrate another year of strong returns, unaware she was on the precipice of catastrophe. The mood was festive. The company director, Tony Iervasi, liked to invite his clients to a get-together once a year and Janette, now 70, had previously been to a company party at Sydney’s Star Casino, and a day at the races in a roped-off area with free-flowing champagne and canapés. These gatherings made investors feel as if they were part of something but, Janette says, they weren’t ostentatious or extravagant. “It’s not like he hired out the Joan Sutherland Theatre; it was just in the lobby area,” she says of the Opera House event.…

Beauty If , like me, you don’t have the verve to squeeze another daily chore into an already full life, let me be frank: This is everything a regular gym session is not. Quick, easy and, dare I say, utterly delightful. A spoonful of honesty first – I have never even belonged to a gym for my body, let alone considered HIIT for my face, so the notion of a cardio workout to whip my nasolabal folds back into shape hardly elicits squeals of excitement. The only muscle I’ve ever successfully built is in my jaw (and with such enthusiasm in my sleep that it remains firmly clenched until the first drops of caffeine magically relax the deadlock grip). That only heightens Inge Theron’s excitement at introducing me to her…

Read THIS Mulch master With an endorsement from green warrior Costa Georgiadis, you know this is a book worth picking up! Sustainability educator Kate Flood breaks down (pun intended) the best ways to help you throw away less food and have a thriving garden into the bargain. The Compost Coach by Kate Flood (Murdoch Books) Spotlight on... Kip&Co bed linen This Aussie brand went overseas to find the most sustainable way to make their fashionable wares. Made from fibres inside the flax plant (native to northern France), when grown on home soil there is no need for pesticide or heavy irrigation – a crop can survive a year without rain. In addition, French flax linen is biodegradable – and Kip&Co will help organise recycling for you. Visit kipandco.com.au Did you…

Garlic butter roast chicken with heirloom tomatoes SERVES 4-6 PREP & COOK TIME 1½ HOURS 1 whole chicken (about 2kg)4 small white onions or eshallots, halved8 thyme sprigs1kg heirloom tomatoes, halved crossways1 lemon, halved125ml verjuice125ml chicken stock1 long sourdough baguette, halved rocket leaves, for serving GARLIC & PARMESAN BUTTER 150g butter, softened2 cloves garlic, crushed⅓ cup (25g) finely grated parmesan cheese 1 GARLIC & PARMESAN BUTTER Combine all ingredients in small bowl. 2 Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced). Rinse chicken inside and out under cold water, pat dry with absorbent paper. Place onto a large baking paper-lined shallow oven tray (wash the sink and benchtop with hot soapy water to prevent any cross-contamination risk). 3 Slide your fingers carefully between the skin and breast of the chicken to separate…

Beetroot & mustard seed raita MAKES ABOUT 2 CUPS 500g beetroot, washed, very fresh leaves set aside1 teaspoon ground cumin250g (1 cup) plain Greek-style yoghurt vegetable oil½ teaspoon black mustard seeds1 long green chilli, deseeded and very finely choppedhandful of coriander leaves6–8cm piece of horseradish, peeled and finely grated to yield about2 tablespoons, to serve (optional) 1 Put the whole beetroot in a saucepan of cold water over medium heat and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for about 20–40 minutes (depending on the size of the beetroot) until a skewer slips through them easily. 2 Drain and set aside on a plate or tray to cool. Once cool enough to handle, put on some kitchen gloves and slip skins off with your fingers. 3 Coarsely…

Spaghetti vongole SERVES 4 1kg live clams (vongole)125ml (½ cup) extra virgin olive oil4 garlic cloves, finely chopped4 French shallots, finely chopped½ teaspoon chilli flakes60ml (¼ cup) dry white wine400g dried spaghetti35g (¼ bunch) flat-leaf parsley, chopped 1 Clean the clams by giving them a quick rinse in water. 2 Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a large saucepan that has a tight-fitting lid. Add the garlic, shallots, chilli flakes and white wine and bring to the boil. Add the clams and cover. Steam over high heat for 3–4 minutes, shaking the pan, until the shells open. 3 Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti in plenty of boiling salted water until al dente (about 8 minutes), then drain well. 4 Add the spaghetti and chopped parsley to the saucepan and toss…

Happy PLANTS The power of 3 Indoor plant specialist Jane Marling from Plant Resort (plantresort.com.au) names a trio of fail-safe purchases that will survive and thrive in any home. The Giant Bird of Paradise, or Strelitzia Nicolai, requires minimal maintenance and thrives in bright, indirect light, like in front of a window. Snake plants, or Sansevieria, tolerate a warm environment with low light and limited water, great in rooms with a heater or indoors in a hot climate. The Zamioculcas Zamiifolia, or ‘ZZ plant’, is perfect for growing in positions where there is low or limited natural light. Getting warmer The latest shades for spring are inspired by colours found in nature. Gone, say the colour experts at Wattyl, will be the shades of grey interior walls that have dominated…

Travel River cruising has a special charm. There’s a soothing, hypnotic feel about the gentle currents, and something admirable about the water’s steadfast purpose, to go where it’s got to go, and do it in its own time. The scenery gliding by is a constant stimulation. You’ll wave at kids playing on the sands and at lone fishermen on the shore; smile at the antics of dogs frollicking in the shallows and – in Europe at least– men dozing in deckchairs, exposing their pinkish-white pot-bellies to the summer sunshine they’ve been craving for so long. Riverside properties are prime real estate: You’ll see castles, mansions, palaces, church steeples, big merchant warehouses and waterfront restaurants doing a roaring trade; bridal couples and their entourage posing for photos in pretty parks overlooking…

Find A Word Win 5 x $50 We’ve hidden a clutch of names of mythical creatures in the grid above. These words can read horizontally, vertically, diagonally, backwards and forwards, but always in a straight line. When you have found all the words listed below you should have 10 letters left over in the grid. These letters will spell the winning word. Write the winning word on the coupon on the last Puzzles page for a chance to win $50. APPARITION BANSHEE BASILISK BUNYIP CENTAUR CYCLOPS DRAGON ELF FAIRY GARUDA GHOST GNOME GOBLIN GRIFFIN HIPPOCAMP HYDRA IMP KRAKEN LEVIATHAN MERMAID MINOTAUR NYMPH PEGASUS PERI PHANTOM PHOENIX PIXIE SATYR SELKIE SPECTRE SPRITE THUNDERBIRD TROLL UNICORN VAMPIRE WEREWOLF WYVERN Solution in next month’s issue. Easy Crossword ACROSS 1. Might, strength5. Let happen,…

From the archive In addition to the gorgeously hand-painted cover, famed fashion illustrator Petrov’s work was triumphed in this “Big Fashion Issue” of The Weekly. As well as sketches of the latest dresses from Paris and needlework patterns for summer blouses, he highlighted a hot new headpiece “known of yore as the ‘Merry Widow’, the huge cartwheel-brimmed hat has achieved a fashion comeback … It is a madder and merrier ‘widow’ than ever before.” A “pressure treatment for wrinkles”, which included vigorous self-massage, was the lead story in the Home Maker section, while Mrs Waldron from Howlong, NSW, won the economical dinner cash prize for her three-course meal using a sheep’s head, rice, lima beans, bread, butter, sultanas, apples, carrot and onion. In more serious fare, the news pages reported…