The Australian Women's Weekly November 2024

PG 30 In her exclusive chat with The Weekly, Dame Joanna Lumley shares why she stays curious. I absolutely love the joy in Dame Joanna Lumley’s attitude to life: “I think you’ve got to make magic every day,” the actress and adventurer says in our cover story (page 30). As she embarks on her first speaking tour of Australia, we caught up with Joanna to talk Absolutely Fabulous, her beautiful love story with musician husband Stephen, and the things she’s seen while travelling the globe: “I’ve met extraordinary people – kings and queens, great warlords, and great men. I’ve met oligarchs in Russia with gold flakes flickering through their vodka. But the people who really stand out are practically always those who’ve got nothing – literally nothing at all. Their…

It was very encouraging reading the October issue of AWW as life after 50 featured in many instances. I found the feature Rise of the midlife fashion movement fascinating and as it said “style is ageless”. Models over 50, like Paulina Porizkova, are growing in numbers and redefining what it means to age. As we get older it’s good to dress up and feel beautiful and I admit wearing gold eyeshadow gives me a boost! Congratulations AWW for your excellent publication and I look forward to hearing more on midlife fashion. Woodend, Vic. Laundromat love Like Amanda Blair, (Gentle cycle, AWW, October) my happy place is the local laundromat. It’s peaceful yet busy with soothing sounds of whirring, sloshing, spinning, folding! l treasure the chats I have had with people…

Festival SEASON George’s best shot George Clooney has always been as comfortable behind the camera as in front of it, as demonstrated at the Venice Film Festival, where he jumped into the press scrum. He and wife Amal were also captured helping a photographer who took a tumble on the red carpet. Women we love Chanel’s swipe class Australian consent advocate Chanel Contos has teamed up with Tinder to develop a consent education program for online daters. Shooting for two Pregnant Paralympian Jodie Grinham’s baby knew something was up as she took a bronze medal and then a team gold. Jodie says the baby “hasn’t stopped kicking” through the Games. Four Moore years Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has been returned for a record sixth term, making the 78-year-old…

Greece: The once-lost town of Kallio has re-emerged as dry conditions have caused falling water levels in Mornos reservoir. THE UK Tykes on the track The women pinned their hair into victory rolls and the men wore plaid as they lined up to watch youngsters aged four to 11 race peddle cars in the Settrington Cup. Period clothing is a must for this celebration of iconic cars. NEW ZEALAND New Queen, new dawn The only daughter of the former Maori King was crowned on the sixth day of the King’s funeral. Nga Wai Hono i te po Paki has been hailed as a “new dawn” among Maori leaders. Afghanistan Secret radio school The BBC is running classes for children aged 11 to 16 who are banned from school. The four-month…

Kate Box was in Chicago recently when someone yelled, “Hey, sexy”. At first, she was taken aback. Then she realised she’d been recognised by a fan of award-winning Aussie crime comedy Deadloch, using her police detective character’s nickname. Ironically, she was in the American city for a Wentworth fan event – in which the terrifying prisoner she played, Lou Kelly, became a standout in yet another cult hit from Down Under, albeit for very different reasons. “It’s thrilling to be stopped on the streets and have people ask questions about your career,” she says with a wide smile. “I’ve been quite humbled the shows have had such an reach.” The 45-year-old actress has racked up an impressive list of film and TV credits over two decades. The beauty of her…

Sandra was in her early 50s, running a nightclub, when her mother, Audrey, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Giving it all up to help care for her mum was tough, but something she knew she needed to do. “I never left her for one day in 19 years,” she tells The Weekly now, five years after Audrey’s passing at the age of 96. “She died in my arms, which was beautiful.” A bright spot for Audrey during this time was a weekly trip to community centre Greenwood Cottage. Run by The Benevolent Society, the cottage provides social opportunities for older Australians while also giving their carers a little time out. “Mum would come back home lighter, because people were talking to her – people outside of me,” Sandra recalls. “They would…