Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2025 i The Australian Women's Weekly

“I’m a bit depressed. I used to love the rain, but not now.” It’s high summer in Tropical North Queensland and Yvonne Oakes is sprawled on a sofa with her arms outstretched, trying to keep cool in air that feels like hot soup. “I still haven’t got power,” she sighs. “It’s been 14 days.” Her generator hums in the background, pushing out just enough electricity to keep the fridge running but not enough for a fan or airconditioner. This isn’t how she and her husband, Peter, imagined their first weeks of retirement: Sorting through muddy belongings and dumping them in a steaming pile on the curb. The rain started as it always does in the wet season, hammering down on tin roofs and turning roads into glistening ribbons. As the…

They were a team of four in an Afghanistan village – two human, two canine. Their SAS unit had been hunting down a high-value target; subsequent firefighting had left casualties. Now, the quartet were scouting a safe place for a landing helicopter zone to evacuate the wounded. Ryan Wilson’s dog, Fax, was out front of the group when he suddenly darted down into the creek line. “It was probably 50 metres in front of us, and he started engaging with the Taliban who were waiting there to ambush us,” Ryan recalls. “Unfortunately, the Taliban were able to shake him off and shot him point blank. But it gave us enough awareness to react and neutralise the threat without either of us getting killed. I have no doubt that without Fax…

In the winter of 1926, a young Melbourne woman named Nell Stead and her sister Erin boarded a ship bound for what was then known as Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). The trip was their father’s idea, a brief holiday after nursing their cancer-ridden mother through the final two years of her life. Demure but feisty, Nell had been prominent on the city’s social circuit where, described as a “piquant beauty”, she had caught the eye of newspaper executive Keith Murdoch, among others. Yet with her mother’s illness she had stepped back from society and had now, aged just 24, given up on finding a husband, even describing herself in her diary as a spinster. But a chance meeting with a handsome young naval officer in a hotel swimming pool in…

EVERY THREE MONTHS That’s how often the Australian Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush. However, many of us aren’t. According to recent research commissioned by Pacific Smiles Dental, 46 per cent of us change our toothbrushes every quarter, with 24 per cent only binning their bristles when they look worn. A spoonful of cinnamon Cinnamon isn’t just delicious – it may also help keep your blood sugar in check. A recent study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people with prediabetes who consumed four grams of cinnamon daily (about one teaspoon) had significantly lower glucose levels compared to those taking a placebo. Read THIS Living a Life of Greatness by Sarah Grynberg Drawing from her own life stories, her work as a mindset coach and her…

7-hour lamb shoulder SERVES 6 PREP + COOK TIME 7 HOURS 10 MINUTES 2 tablespoons dried oregano 1 tablespoon finely chopped rosemary, plus 3 extra sprigs 2 tablespoons sea salt flakes 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper 4 cloves garlic, crushed ¼ cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oil 2kg lamb shoulder (with the shank on) 2 medium onions (300g), cut into wedges 2 bulbs garlic, halved 2 cups (500ml) chicken stock 2 medium lemons (280g), cut into wedges extra rosemary sprigs, to serve 1 Preheat oven to 130°C (110°C fan-forced). 2 Combine dried oregano, chopped rosemary, salt, pepper, crushed garlic and 2 tablespoons of the oil in a small bowl. Rub oregano mixture all over lamb. 3 Heat remaining oil in a large heavy-based ovenproof pan or casserole dish over…

Never-fail quick mix moist chocolate cake SERVES 10 PREP + COOK TIME 1 HOUR 15 MINS 1¾ cup (260g) plain flour 1/2 cup (50g) cocoa powder, sifted 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon bicarbonate soda 1 cup (220g) granulated sugar ½ cup (110g) brown sugar 1/4 teaspoon table salt 2 eggs, at room temperature ½ cup (125ml) olive or vegetable oil ¾ cup (180ml) sour cream 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup (250ml) hot water 1 Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Lightly grease and line the base and side of a deep 20cm round cake pan with non-stick baking paper. (We don’t recommend a springform pan as the cake batter is quite runny). 2 Sift flour, cocoa, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda into a large bowl. Add sugars…

Letter of the month Elizabeth Reid (You can’t keep a good woman down, AWW, March) is a true trailblazer, and learning about her incredible impact on women’s lives was inspiring. I couldn’t help but draw parallels to my own mother, who was ahead of her time – serving on the local council, participating in the Women’s Electoral Lobby, and running for election. All this while raising four children and managing her own business. How fortunate we are to have had such intelligent, extraordinary women paving the way for us. Avoca Beach, NSW. Remarkable woman I loved reading about Naomi Watts (pictured; ‘Menopause is not the end ... ’, AWW, March) and can’t wait to dive into her book! Naomi is a realistic, classy and talented role model. She encourages me…

From her earliest years, when she would bake cakes and biscuits with her grandma, Steph de Sousa loved to cook. At first it was old-school meals for her young family: Stews, braises and shepherd’s pie. Two years in Vanuatu working as a hair stylist while raising two young kids taught her to cook seasonally. In 2019, MasterChef Australia offered a pathway to a career in food, and she didn’t turn back. Today, Steph is known as the ‘air fryer queen’ and boasts more Instagram followers than the Danish royal family. (A Tasmanian, Steph’s sister knew the Queen back when she was just Mary Donaldson.) Her first cookbook, Air Fryer Queen, was a bestseller. As she prepares for the release of her follow-up, Steph reflects on the rewards that come from…

Walking onto the 20th Century Fox lot in Hollywood on a sunny March morning in 1964, Julie Andrews was as excited and anxious as the seven children awaiting her. Just 28 years old, she was a rising star in musical theatre but had only made two films (1964’s The Americanization of Emily and Mary Poppins) and neither had yet been released. To many people on the lot that day, she was a complete unknown, and it was with some trepidation that she approached the vast studio where the soundtrack to Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music was about to be recorded. “To walk in through the heavy door and see and hear 70 musicians tuning their instruments, practising a phrase, leafing through a score, is enough to make your…

It was August 2015 and Sarah Martin, a theatre nurse, was sitting in a seminar called Wellness for Life at a day surgery conference. A speaker was talking about her struggles with depression when Sarah was distracted by a Facebook friend request from a stranger in Istanbul, where her 21-year-old daughter, Alice, was travelling alone. After graduating from university, Alice was enjoying a European adventure. She had visited England and Spain before making her way to Turkey. Sarah’s first thought when she spied the friend request was “scammer”. Why would a friend of Alice’s be reaching out? But alarm bells rang when an iMessage from the same man hit her inbox an hour later – he thought Alice was suffering from a serious mental health episode. Sarah’s initial reaction was…

In August last year, amid weeks of violent far-right and racist rioting in the UK, one picture of a white cardboard sign featuring three simple, handwritten words went viral: “Nans Against Nazis”. Defiantly holding the sign, standing outside a mosque in the English rain, was Pat, 71, who had come out in peaceful counter-protest to the racist rioters. Hooligans had taken to the streets on the basis of disinformation spread by far-right figures on social media. They claimed the perpetrator of a mass stabbing in which three children were killed was a Muslim asylum seeker. He was, in fact, British-born with no links to Islam. Even so, rioters nationwide vandalised mosques and burnt down hotels housing genuine asylum seekers. Pat, wearing a hoodie emblazoned with slogans including “No Human is…

the coat Perri Cutten coat, $899. Kowtow dress, $389. Uniqlo knit, $49.90. OVERSIZED WOOL-BLEND INVESTMENT PIECE Pair with 100% MERINO WOOL ADD A SUBTLE PRINT Pair with the colourful knit From top to bottom: Alémais knit, $580. Uniqlo knit, $149.90. Uniqlo knit, $199.90. Mia Fratino knit, $399. McIntyre knit, $350. Jac + Jack scarf, $880. the colour trend - blue Lee Mathews shirt, $399, and skirt, $499. ECCO bag, $459.95. Bared Footwear flats, $279. SIZES 4-20 DRESS UP OR DOWN Pair with WESTERN-INSPIRED STYLE Pair with CLASSIC STRAIGHT FIT the ankle boot Clockwise from right: ECCO boots, $429.95. Bared Footwear boots, $369. ECCO boots, $339.95. Frankie4 boots, $359.95. H&M boots, $79.99. All prices are approximate.…

I always sensed Monday mornings were hazardous to my health and now I have proof: the alarm announcing the start of a new working week signalled the beginning of my dramatic unravelling. Woken by the thunderous thwack of my head hurtling through the wall, followed by the thud-thud-clonk of my body bouncing down the stairs, my daughter found me on the kitchen floor, dazed and confused, plucking gyprock splinters from under my jaw. Words refused to form through the nausea but I registered something was very wrong by the shards of tooth on my tongue and the panic on my little girl’s face as she took in the blood and rapid swelling. I’d missed the first step on the staircase curve, slamming headfirst through the plasterboard before careening down the…

from the Test Kitchen Instead of the red sorrel leaves you could fry off sage leaves, or sprinkle over finely chopped fresh chives. You can use sour cream in place of the mascarpone, if you like. Choosing Whole pumpkins should be unblemished, heavy for their size and still have some stem attached as a seal against disease and insect invasion. Cut pumpkin should be bright-coloured, look moist but not wet, have firm flesh and be free of soft spots or discolouration. Storing Keep whole pumpkins in a well-ventilated place away from heat and sunlight for up to 2 months. Hard-skinned varieties will store out of the fridge for longer, and over winter can become sweeter. Once cut, remove seeds, cover with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up…

Cucumber tabbouleh with coriander labne SERVES 4-6 PREP + COOK TIME 45 MINUTES (+ REFRIGERATION TIME) 1¼ cups (200g) coarse burghul 2 Lebanese cucumbers (260g), seeded, chopped finely 2 trimmed stalks celery (200g), sliced thinly, chopped finely 4 green onions, sliced thinly 1 cup (loosely packed) mint leaves, half chopped finely ⅓ cup (35g) walnuts, roasted, chopped finely ¼ cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons lemon juice toasted sourdough bread, to serve CORIANDER LABNE 150g labne ½ cup (firmly packed) coriander leaves 1 clove garlic, crushed ¼ teaspoon sea salt flakes 1 CORIANDER LABNE: Process labne, coriander, garlic and salt in a mini food processor until coriander is finely chopped. Spoon into a bowl; refrigerate until required. 2 Place burghul in a large bowl; cover with 1¼ cups…

Jam & passionfruit curd Easter egg biscuits MAKES 20 PREP + COOK TIME 40 MINS 180g unsalted butter, chopped 1 cup (220g) caster sugar 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract 2½ cups (375g) plain flour 1 egg 1 egg yolk, extra 2 tablespoons cocoa powder 2 teaspoons milk ⅓ cup (110g) strawberry jam 1/3 cup (100g) store bought passionfruit curd icing sugar mixture, to dust 1 Grease and line two large baking trays. 2 Place the butter, sugar and vanilla in a food processor and process until smooth. Add the flour, egg and extra egg yolk and process until a smooth dough forms. Divide dough in half. 3 Return half the dough to the food processor. Add cocoa and milk; pulse to combine. 4 Roll each piece out between sheets of non-stick…

Terrific transformations I like looking at how pieces of furniture can be used for a different use than their original intended purpose. Here, an antique French balustrade has been adapted into a towel holder, while the chest adds interest against the floor tile. Bathroom rituals I love to make the bathroom feel like I’m staying in a hotel: Fluffy towels, artisan soaps, a scented candle, a room spray, and music softly filtering through with a gentle jazz or R’n’B vibe. Elevated elements There are only a few surfaces you can play with, so I always consider how I can make them feel different yet in conversation with one another. I play with the architectural details: Applying panelling to walls where I might have used tiles, or introducing elements like a…

Summer NOIR Signs of Damage by Diana Reid, Ultimo Press If this book was a star sign, it would be a Gemini. There’s a duplicity to it. The story is marked by two events – a funeral and a wedding. It dances between two timelines, one in 2024 and the other in 2008, and is set in Sydney and a villa in the south of France. Ultimately, it shows how two people can have different recollections and interpretations of the same moment in time. Take this moment in 2008 for example: Cass, a 13-year-old girl on holiday with her friend Anika’s family in France, goes missing for a number of hours during the European summer. She is found – with no visible signs of damage – in an old ice…

The harried trio of business-suited, tripleespressoed women at the window were animatedly plotting the demise of someone named Bernard in audits. Or maybe they were just going to report him to HR. It was hard to hear over the usual coffee shop din. The two men on my right with matching wedding bands were having a passionate argument about closet space. In the rest of the world, most divorces centered around issues like money, children and monogamy. In Manhattan I was willing to bet money that closet space made the Top Five. The barista looked like she’d lapse into a coma if she got any more bored as she took and filled orders. Coma? I wrote on the notebook page. Would a heroine waking up from a coma make a…

Aries Mar 21 -Apr 21 This month’s breaking birthday news is Neptune moving into Aries (for the first time in nearly two centuries) for a decade and a half of spiritual and creative flowering. Thanks to Neptune’s influence, releasing things you’ve been hanging onto gets magically easier, so relax and enjoy this beautiful loosening till mid-April. Then, in the last days of April, your ruling planet Mars blazes into the sign of passion and radiance, and Mercury joins the sun, Chiron and Neptune in Aries to showcase your unique shine and genuine nobility of spirit. Taurus Apr 22 -May 21 If you’ve been feeling even slightly slothy lately, April’s motivating energetics light your inner fire so that you actually want to make those changes you’ve been contemplating. But Neptune’s life-changing…

Royal LIFE Dancing Queen Denmark’s King Frederik X and Queen Mary hosted a party to celebrate art and culture at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, during which the Knight Hall was transformed into a giant dancefloor. Guests, including dignitaries and members of the creative community, joined the Royal couple in dancing Les Lanciers, a traditional dance that dates back to the 1800s. Women we love Crabb cakes Annabel Crabb raised $6500 for a friend’s ovarian cancer treatment by auctioning a home-made cake. Ovarian cancer is the 10th most common women’s cancer. Byrne’s turn Rose Byrne won the Berlin Film Festival’s Best Performance award for her role in the dark comedy, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, which premiered at the festival. The film also stars Conan O’Brien. On the fast…

This month something wondrous happened to make me reflect on the importance of food in family folklore. When I was 12, my school had a “language showbag” where we did a term each of French, German and Spanish to see if we were more of a bonjour, hallo or hola type of gal. In our introduction to Spanish, we were given a biscuit recipe. I baked them one Sunday afternoon in 1986. My mum, Patti, took a bite and promptly lost her marbles. I’ve never seen her react to anything like she reacted to these little almond orbs of buttery goodness – before or since. From that moment on I made batches for her birthday, Mother’s Day, Christmas and sometimes for no reason at all. Slivered almonds were not cheap.…

This is a story that begins with a Sacher-Torte. “Not a small one. It was one of the big ones,” says Margaret Pomeranz, who, at 80, still has that glorious, playful manner, fierce conviction, and the Marianne Faithfull smoker’s laugh that became so familiar over almost 30 years on The Movie Show and At the Movies with David Stratton. But back to the cake. In her twenties, Margaret had been studying psychology and German at university, and had taken a two-year hiatus to live and work as a journalist in Vienna. “You know how you have points in your life when you make a decision and it sort of determines the other things in your life? Doing German at university led me to Vienna,” she says. And Vienna changed everything.…

Roses are perhaps more spellbinding than any other flower. Their everlasting allure is evident in the way they have permeated nearly every aspect of human life, from medicine to botany, politics and fashion. Steeped in mythology, they are the subject of fairy tales and folklore. The ancient Greeks loved roses, transforming them into golden wreaths worn at ceremonial events. Some even say they named their historical capital, Rhodes, for these blooms. In classical mythology, the rose sprang from the ground to greet Venus, Roman goddess of love, as she emerged from the sea. The rose is considered a symbol of the prophet Muhammad. And as an icon of the purity of faith, the Virgin Mary is often depicted as emerging from the white rose of heaven or within a garden…

Becoming a lawyer was never part of my plan. I had always pictured myself as a journalist, uncovering truths and shedding light on important issues. After university I secured my first job in media. It was an entry-level position but it was a start, and I was proud and excited. Yet life often takes unexpected turns, and I found myself drawn to the legal profession. I admired how lawyers stood up for what was right and fair – principles that resonated deeply with my values. The journey to becoming a lawyer seemed straightforward: Enrol in law school, navigate through rigorous studies and practical training, and prove myself a fit and proper person before the Legal Profession Admission Board. I decided to make the shift. While holding down my full-time job,…

Grounding Creamy musks and earthy woods can evoke a sense of calm and feeling present. When Clinique launched the fragrance Happy in 1997, it promised something entirely new: Not only could you smell good, this fragrance could make you feel good, too. There were those who turned their noses up at the suggestion that euphoria could be induced with a self-care spritz but it’s not as farfetched as it might sound – smell triggers a response in the part of the brain that processes emotions, releasing neurotransmitters like endorphins (the happy hormone) and GABA (a relaxation agent). Happy was the first fragrance created with mood mapping, a technique designed by IFF (International Flavors & Fragrance manufacturer) who have now amassed 40 years of data on how different smells affect our…

I love a one-pan dinner – and my boys love it even more, since they are the ones that do the washing up. This dish only takes a few minutes to prepare before you get to throw it in the oven to do its thing. It’s robust and delicious, and the best part is it can be served to the table in the pan for everyone to help themselves. Please note: I have nominated 6 chicken thighs, but if you have very hungry people you can increase this to 8. Any more than 8 and you’ll need to bulk up the sauce and potatoes, and use a heavy-based baking dish instead. Spanish chicken in one pan SERVES 4 PREP TIME 20 MINUTES COOK TIME 1 HOUR 1 large red capsicum,…

Moroccan-style tomato, eggplant & lentils SERVES 4 PREP & COOK TIME 2 HOURS (+STANDING TIME) 1kg medium eggplant salt for eggplants 180ml extra virgin olive oil 1 large onion, roughly diced 5 cloves of garlic, crushed 1 long green chilli, seeds removed, roughly chopped ½ cup (125ml) verjuice 3 medium tomatoes, roughly chopped ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika 400g can brown lentils, drained and rinsed 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon rind 1 cup mint leaves 1 cup flat leaf parsley leaves 300g ricotta 1 Dice the eggplants into 2cm cubes, spread out onto a tray lined with baking paper and sprinkle with salt. Allow to stand for 1 hour. 2 Add ¼ cup of the olive oil to a large non-stick frying pan over high heat. Once the oil is hot,…

Steak Diane SERVES 1 PREP + COOK TIME 25 MINUTES 1 beef eye fillet steak, trimmed (approx. 280g) 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil 1 small clove garlic, crushed 1½ tablespoons brandy 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 30g butter 30ml pouring cream 2 teaspoons finely chopped curly parsley steamed vegetables, for serving CREAMED POTATOES 200g small Desiree potatoes, peeled 10g butter 1 tablespoon pouring cream 1 CREAMED POTATOES Place potatoes in a small saucepan, cover with cold water, bring to the boil and cook for 15 minutes or until very tender. Drain and peel, then return to pan and mash with a potato masher. Add butter and cream, stir to combine and season to taste.  2 Cut beef in half to make 2 smaller steaks. Place between two sheets of plastic…

Read THIS! Budget book buy From ways to cut your energy bills to food storage hacks that extend the life of your produce and how to clean without chemicals, this book from sustainability expert Lottie Dalziel will help you leave a lighter environmental footprint while keeping some weight in your wallet. 365+ Ways to Save the Planet and Your Money at the Same Time by Lottie Dalziel, Murdoch Books. What is … midimalism? This trend falls between minimalism and maximalism. It allows for personality that the former discourages and embraces the eclectic nature of the latter while paring back clutter – think curated rather than crammed. Floral tributes These vases wow with or without blooms. Mattress match Did you know that your sleep position dictates the type of mattress you…

For more holiday inspiration from The Weekly’s experts, head to our website at WomensWeekly.com.au “That evening, the peach schnapps flowed like wine … the food was excellent.” What was I to do with a problem like Samantha? The Weekly’s intrepid News & Features Editor, Samantha Trenoweth, had arranged a trip to Austria, culminating in a tour of locations from The Sound of Music, about to celebrate its 60th year. Samantha doesn’t have curtains in her house because she’s made clothes from them all. The Von Trapp force is strong in her. But then, at the last minute, she couldn’t go, and I was asked to take her place. I’m loath to travel, but somehow, within 48 hours I was on a plane to Zurich. Boarding a bus from the picture-perfect…

The Colossus ACROSS 1. Expertise, skill (4-3) 6. Wounded, hurt 11. Sorrow, torment 15. Divided exactly into two 16. Wall plaster, eg 17. Spanish sausage 18. Arouse social action, … for reform 19. Overshadowed 20. Declare, attest 22. Charity money 24. Perfumes 28. Saoirse Ronan movie, Mary Queen of … 31. TV show comperes, eg 34. Holds up, … their departure 37. Queasiness 38. Long-fingered lemur (3-3) 39. Rugged mountain range, … Madre 40. Large sword 42. Thrashes about 43. Performance review, … about your work 45. First day of the weekend 47. Mock or scorn, … at their opinion 48. Strong sturdy horse 50. Muslim religious leaders 52. Stand about idly 53. Texas hold’em game 55. Escape from 57. Chase after 60. Holy places 62. Athens is there 65.…

The sweater modelled on our cover was made using wool in “a new bouclé, giving the pull-on a high-fashion look for winter”. This was a material very much front and centre in the issue, with a preview of the upcoming International Wool Parades – including designs by Dior crafted in our finest Australian wool – gracing pages 16 and 17. While a huge 30-page advertising special extolled the delights of Victoria from attractions to businesses, The Weekly’s Food and Cookery Expert, Leila C. Howard, hoped to inspire afternoon tea all across the nation. “The clever hostess knows that a swirl of frosting and a decorative touch or two can transform a simple cake into a luscious delight,” Leila stated, showcasing seven of the Test Kitchen’s proudest creations. Film writer Ainslie…