Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2025 i The Australian Women's Weekly

Royal MILESTONE 75 years of service As she celebrates turning 75, Princess Anne is busy as ever, attending around 450 engagements last year. Given she began her life as a working royal in 1969, we estimate the Princess Royal has attended more than 20,000 events in an official capacity, even when accounting for time off for motherhood and competing in the 1976 Olympics. Women we love First in fashion Tiwi woman Clair Helen Parker has won the Fashion Designer Award at the 2025 National Indigenous Fashion Awards. NIFA praised Clair’s “stunning” pieces. Policing milestone As Australian Federal Police’s first female commissioner, Krissy Barrett has pledged the AFP will continue to keep Australians safe, protect the vulnerable and disrupt threats to national security. Prodigy player Ten-year-old chess prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan has…

It was one of the hottest spring days on record in the UK when a small cluster of patients and hospital staff gathered at the gate of the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre in the ancient Wiltshire town of Salisbury. Flower and garden beds had been carefully weeded; tea and sponge cake set out in the shade in preparation for a much-anticipated royal visit. The car arrived bang on time but without security or entourage – and when its occupants emerged, both apologised profusely before running to find a loo. Princess Eugenie, 35, accompanied by her private secretary, Libby Horsley, had no interest in formalities (or curtsies) on this sunny, late May day. Dressed simply in summer florals and wearing flat shoes, the princess appeared intent solely on paying…

Hugh Bonneville (Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham) and Elizabeth McGovern (Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham) clasp hands and stroll through the green and pleasant grounds of Downton Abbey. English afternoon sunlight scatters in golden shafts across the manicured lawns of Highclere Castle, where much of Downton has been filmed. After 15 years and as much trouble as any couple could be expected to withstand, they look at each other with the kind of relaxed affection that’s earned with time. And so the phenomenally successful period drama comes to a perfectly crafted conclusion with its third and final cinema release, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale. Created by Julian Fellowes, on the back of the immense success of his 2001 period film, Gosford Park, Downton Abbey began as an ITV television series.…

The world’s eyes were on Alice Clarke that buzzy day in 1988. News of Alice’s one-month premature birth had leaked, and journalists rushed to record this landmark moment in reproductive technology – Australia’s first IVF surrogate baby, and the first publicly known in the world. There had been whispers of another birth overseas, but that baby’s identity remained secret. Eyes were also fixed on Alice’s family. Interest intensified when it emerged that her mother’s sister was Australia’s first surrogate. In an extraordinary act of sibling altruism, Linda Kirkman had carried baby Alice for her sister, Maggie. Linda and Alice switched hospitals to avoid the media, but their cover was foiled. Linda found the subterfuge “enormous fun. We even made up a story about why we were checking in, thinking we’d…

Joan Crawford once said, “The most important thing a woman can have, next to talent, is her hairdresser.” For many women, hair is a precious ornament, something Marie Antoinette expressed to maximum effect – her gravity-defying up-do’s stood two feet high, crammed with feathers, flowers, jewels and even a model ship on one occasion, to signify a French naval victory. The ill-fated queen’s elaborate pouf was an influential symbol of her lofty status and she used it to full advantage. Yet, it’s what happened while awaiting execution that truly immortalised her locks: The 38-year-old’s natural strawberry blonde allegedly turned white almost overnight, a rare event still known as “Marie Antoinette syndrome”. Sudden greying happens because pigment-making stem cells on the scalp become ‘stuck’ and fail to mature (though it’s usually…

Healthier tortilla chips with guacamole SERVES 4 PREP + COOK TIME 30 MINUTES 310g packet white corn tortillas 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 1 teaspoon salt flakes extra virgin olive oil cooking spray GUACAMOLE 2 medium ripe avocados (500g) 1 small red chilli, chopped finely ¼ teaspoon ground cumin 1 small clove garlic, crushed 2 tablespoons lime juice ½ cup finely chopped coriander Tabasco chipotle sauce, coriander sprigs and lime wedges 1 Preheat a 5.3-litre air fryer to 200°C for 3 minutes if advised by manufacturer. 2 Stack three tortillas on top of each other, then cut the stack into six wedges. Repeat with remaining tortillas. 3 Combine cumin, paprika and salt flakes in a small bowl. 4 Taking care, place a third of the tortilla wedges…

1 Remove steak from fridge one hour before cooking. 2 Pat steak dry with paper towel then place on a plate or tray. Drizzle with olive oil and season generously with sea salt flakes. If time permits, stand steak for 1 hour to come to room temperature and for seasoning to absorb into meat. 3 Use a heavy-based frying pan such as seasoned cast iron, a griddle pan or stainless steel. Preheat the pan to hot before you start cooking. 4 Add the steak to the pan, cook for 3 minutes each side, turning every 1 minute, for medium-rare. A final basting of melted butter and a couple of sprigs of fresh rosemary or thyme elevates the flavour, and finish with a grinding of freshly cracked pepper. If cooking more…

Read THIS! Garden helper Not a green thumb? If you could use some gardening education, this practical guide is for you. From feeding your plants the right stuff to easy DIY projects and more, this book for novices (or the horticulturallychallenged) will help you nail the basics in no time. The Rookie Gardener by Chloe Foster, Echo Publishing, is out now. Ride the wave According to the Temple & Webster team, sales of their wavy furniture and homewares have risen by 29 per cent this year. Jump on the trend with a few of their top buys. templeandwebster.com.au Trend alert! Pantone’s 2025 colour of the year, Mocha Mousse, has seen a shift towards warmer, earthy tones not just indoors but outdoors too. Also trending in the outdoor furniture space: Modular…

When I was 12 and we lived in Morningside on the top of the hill, there were three of us upstairs – my father, my mother and me – and four quiet souls living downstairs, underneath the house. My parents’ cars no longer fit down there, what with the four kennels and the raised bench for treatments, the second-hand ultrasound with its clicking dials, and all the tins and barrels and buckets, some empty and others filled with different kibbles and powders next to the perfectly good desk that my father had found at Tingalpa tip on which he mixed the dogs’ special meals. There were two sets of smaller scales for the food and big scales for the dogs, the double-walking machine with the broken belt on one side…

Out of all the questions I receive, there is one that appears with monotonous regularity: Were you always this bonkers? But coming in at a close second is “What’s with the bum bag?” And I get it, my little emotional support waist bag is probably a controversial accessory, but I do strap one on. Every day. Without fail. It’s not a phase – it’s who I am now. And here’s why. It started with practicality. I got sick of handbags. The weight on one shoulder, the digging for keys, the strap that slides off at exactly the wrong time or makes a spectacle of your bosoms by sitting exactly between them. I got sick of needing two hands and a torch to retrieve a lip balm. So one day, in…

The world is good, thought Kathleen Folbigg in 1988. The curly-haired 21-year-old was settling into marriage with a man she adored and she had just learnt she was pregnant. All the angst and uncertainty that had darkened her life so far was dwarfed by this happy truth. She was going to be a mother, and in doing so, would fulfill the dream she had nurtured through her tough and confusing upbringing. Tragedy had marred Kathleen’s life early. Orphaned before toddlerhood when her father was jailed for killing her mother, she was passed to an aunt, and then a children’s home, before being fostered into a family with a strict and volatile mother. “I wanted the opposite of my life for my kids – a family full of love and happiness,…

Abbey Holmes admits she loses track of time staring into her bub’s eyes, especially in the quiet moments when he’s nestled softly in her arms, feeding. “It’s the way he looks at me, his eyes are so intent and I wonder what he is thinking,” she says, gently rubbing baby Brax’s toes. As if on cue, the seven-week-old’s tiny fingers unclench and grasp for his mum, his little hand wrapping around her finger for comfort. “When he starts to wake up and his eyes are beginning to open, he looks at you with a knowing look, like he recognises us and he’s happy to see us, that’s my favourite moment,” says proud dad, former AFL player Keegan Brooksby. It’s not surprising to learn that within hours of his dramatic arrival,…

It’s 7am on a chilly Saturday. The sun’s barely up, the thermos is full, there’s a container full of sliced oranges, and the camp chairs are out. Around the country, mums, dads, siblings and grandparents line the edges of netball courts – rugged up, yelling encouragement, scribbling scoresheets, and quietly hoping their kid remembered to clip their nails. It’s a familiar scene in suburbs and small towns alike, and one that speaks volumes to netball’s place in Australian life. Because this isn’t just a game, it’s a rite of passage. And despite being the most played team sport for girls and women in Australia, with more than a million participants nationwide, netball is still fighting for recognition. The latest AusPlay data shows 1,017,000 Australians play netball, including more than 300,000…

Sidney Sheldon knew he was on to a good thing. The writer who had made the leap to the small screen after a storied film and Broadway career - had penned a new series about a genie and her unlikely master which tapped into the cultural zeitgeist of the times. It was 1964 and America was gripped with the Space Race -astronauts were the modern-day rockstars. That same year the comedy series Bewitched had launched to massive ratings, viewers entranced with the witchy antics of Samantha and her family. And so, Sidney had created I Dream of Jeannie. The series began with an astronaut landing on a deserted beach where he found a mysterious bottle. Rubbing it, a beautiful genie would emerge... and the antics would begin. After a long…

HAIR AND MAKE-UP: MONIQUE JONES. STYLING ASSISTANT: LILLY VEITCH. SET DESIGN: CARLA RUFFINO. FLORALS: MY VIOLET. PAPER FLORALS: NEUE BLVD. MODEL: JAN MARIE JACOBSEN @ CHADWICK.…

For years, I struggled with a chronic hip ache that just wouldn’t go away. It kept me up at night, made workouts miserable and had me bouncing (hobbling, if I’m honest) between specialists. I had MRIs, cortisone injections and enough ibuprofen to last a lifetime. The verdict? Overuse, inflammation, maybe even the early signs of arthritis. Not once did anyone mention hormones. When I eventually started MHT (menopausal hormone therapy), the pain all but disappeared. I’m not saying it’s the answer for everyone, but for me, it was nothing short of a miracle. It let me get back to doing what I love. Unfortunately, many GPs aren’t extensively trained in menopause care, which means symptoms like joint pain, anxiety or heart palpitations often get treated in isolation – without considering…

After decades of low-carb fads and confusing diet advice, many of us are still wary of carbohydrates. However, far from being something to fear or avoid, they play an incredibly vital role. Carbohydrates fuel our bodies, nourish our gut health and support our hormonal health through life’s many changes. So why are we still cutting them out? “We’ve got this idea that calories are bad but energy is good,” says Dr Emma Beckett, a molecular nutritionist and senior lecturer at the University of Newcastle. “But calories are where we get our energy, and carbs are one of the most accessible sources of that energy.” Why we need carbs One of the most common midlife complaints? Fatigue. Whether it’s juggling work, caring for family or adjusting to the symptoms of perimenopause,…

This is the simplest slice to make, and even to memorise – basically one of everything. One packet, one can, one cup. It’s a real hit too – and very rich, so a small bit will definitely cure any sweet cravings. You can change the dried fruit and nuts, or the flavour of your choc bits, to vary this however you like. SCAN for video Want to see this dish come to life? Watch Julie’s how-to video where she shares her tips and tricks for success. Scan the barcode (left) for quick access, or visit womensweeklyfood.com.au Magic slice MAKES ABOUT 24 PIECES PREP + COOK TIME 40 MINUTES 250g packet butternut snap biscuits 100g salted butter, softened 1 cup (150g) white choc bits 1 cup (70g) moist coconut flakes 1…

Snapper & tomato tray bake SERVES 2 PREP + COOK TIME 30 MINUTES 250g cherry tomatoes 1 large (150g) zucchini, sliced thinly ½ teaspoon finely chopped rosemary 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon rind 1 cup (70g) fresh sourdough breadcrumbs 40g butter, melted 2 x 180g snapper fillets, skin off salad and lemon wedges, for serving 1 Preheat oven to 220°C (200°C fan-forced). 2 Arrange the tomatoes and zucchini in a greased small shallow baking dish. Season generously with sea-salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper. 3 Combine the rosemary, lemon rind, breadcrumbs and butter in a shallow bowl and mix well to combine. 4 Arrange the fish over the tomato mixture and top with the breadcrumb mixture. Bake for 20 minutes or until crumbs are golden browned and fish is…

Cruise special For more holiday inspiration from The Weekly’s experts, head to our website at WomensWeekly.com.au Spain & PORTUGAL Life’s a breeze with Windstar Out to sea There’s something dreamily appealing and elegant about small ship yacht-style cruising, so when we saw Windstar Cruises was sending the Wind Spirit (left) to the Canary Islands for the first time, we went into dreamland overdrive. The Wind Star is on Canary duty in 2025 but the new nine-night itineraries for Wind Spirit from November 2026 to January 2027 will explore the quieter side of the archipelago. They’ll include the company’s first-ever visits to Porto Santo, Portugal – once home to Christopher Columbus – and to El Hierro, Spain, a UNESCO Global Geopark. That’s topped with camel rides through Lanzarote’s moon-like dunes and…

Looks like 60 really is the new 40. The number of Aussies who’ll live past their 85th birthday is set to double in the next 15 years. A woman aged in her 50s can look forward to another 36 years of living. And all this longevity is something to celebrate. However, it does bring a new challenge – making sure you don’t outlive your money over a retirement that could span 20, 30, maybe even 40 years. In financial circles, this is known as longevity risk. It’s an issue particularly relevant to women because while the life expectancy gap is narrowing, women still tend to outlive men. Not surprisingly, a survey by investment management company Challenger found one in three women over 60 are concerned about outliving their savings. The…

Libra Sep 24 - Oct 23 According to Libran philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, ‘We have art in order not to die from the truth.’ October’s sun and Mercury, followed by Venus, in your aesthetically-oriented sign bring a balance of beauty, levity, lightness and kindness to your birthday month. When partnering planet Venus swans into Libra midmonth, in harmonious aspect with Uranus who favours unconventional thinking, sudden insights and surprising solutions to relationship problems are possible. The peak moment for celebrating your astrological new year? Sun and new moon in Libra on October 21. Scorpio Oct 24 - Nov 22 This month’s Mars in Scorpio is considered the red planet’s strongest position, though its fire in your fixed water sign could generate all kinds of steam – exciting and otherwise – so…

Letter of the month I’ve just read Lean on me and How I learned to stop and say g’day (AWW, September). These stories show us the very best of humanity and prove we can all be an asset to friends and strangers. I didn’t know the backstory of R U OK?, which my workplace supports each year. Gavin Larkin’s dedication and determination have saved many lives ... Ally Langdon is a superstar, a true model of how valuable friendship can be. To “open the gate” is another easy concept, but we must be aware, take a moment to care, talk and show someone we care enough to go out of our way to check in. Thank you for these two positive stories. Although woven with sadness and despair, the message…

It was the scene that had people talking all around the world. At the culmination of the 2023 black comedy Saltburn, a naked Barry Keoghan boogied through an empty mansion as Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s 2001 hit Murder on the Dancefloor blared away. As a result of the controversial film, the iconic song found a whole new generation of fans, returning to the Top 10 charts for the first time in 22 years. “The band and I had just finished a UK tour when everything went properly crazy,” Sophie says of the Saltburn effect. “That meant we were all kind of match fit. We could get out and do all the work that came our way, we could keep up with the things we were already committed to. It meant that I…

“We work so hard and give this so much love, and to see it not do as well as we know it can – it’s heartbreaking.” On a freezing morning beneath Mount Razorback, north of Burra, a mob of sheep is bobbing behind John Quinn’s ute like they’re attached with bits of string. He hasn’t dropped a grain of barley yet, but the rumble of his engine is enough to draw them in. “We do this every second day at the moment,” he says, snaking across the dirt with daughters Belle and Lucy beside him, their cheeks rosy in the cold. “These ewes are looking pretty reasonable, considering they’ve just had lambs, and no grass for so long.” His wife, Jodie, drops in on her way to run Burra’s newsagency…

“She loves me very much.” “I provide the party, and she always wants to attend. It’s the party of life!” For three months last year, Giuseppe Santamaria scoured the parks, pavements and cafes of some of the world’s most iconic cities with one question in mind. Armed with his camera and a smile, Giuseppe asked the dog lovers of Paris, London, Tokyo, New York, Milan, Sydney and Melbourne, “If your dog could talk, what would they say about you?” Approaching perfect strangers and asking to take their photograph may seem daunting, but as a photographer with a particular interest in street style, Giuseppe was unfazed. Stopping unknown dog owners, he says, was surprisingly easy. “When people have their dog with them, their guard is down a little bit,” he tells…

When Anne Edmonds was around the same age as her daughter, Gwen, who turns four in October, she asked her parents for a microphone. A born performer, Anne carried that microphone along with a little beatbox everywhere she went, putting on impromptu performances for her family at any given opportunity. “It was often broken,” she says today, as she and her partner, fellow comedian Lloyd Langford, sit down to chat with The Weekly. “It never made sense. I’d be plugging it in, and it wouldn’t work. It’s only now, as a parent, that I realise it wasn’t broken at all.” At this, the pair laugh, giving each other the knowing look of those who’ve discovered plenty of things about their parents’ hidden tactics in the process of raising their own…

I wanted to be an ironwoman so badly. It was my single goal. I started training twice a day when I was 12, moved to the Gold Coast at 17, studied nutrition as my first degree, and eventually became a professional ironwoman. During COVID, our races were cancelled. The library was one of the first places to open back up, and I picked up three books. A book about Freya Hoffmeister, a German woman who paddled around Australia, was one of them. I’d never considered dabbling in ultra endurance – I’m a sprint athlete by nature – but it captured my imagination. The adventure aspect was what sold it to me. I thought, how amazing would it be to see these natural wonders from the ocean – like the Twelve…

Trusted ADVICE Things worth asking at your local Priceline Pharmacy counter • What over-the-counter options can support hormonal changes? • Are there supplements that may help with sleep, mood or joint pain? • Could any of my symptoms be side effects from my current medications? • Can you review my medications for interactions with MHT? • What do your free Health Station checks screen for, and how do they link to menopause risks? • How can I reduce my risk of heart disease or type 2 diabetes during menopause? • Which menopause-specific skincare products are worth trying for dryness or sensitivity? • Can you help me understand whether what I’m experiencing is perimenopause or menopause? Whether you’re seeking a second opinion, managing costs, or simply want to be seen sooner,…

Green beans, caponata style SERVES 4-6. VEGAN & GLUTEN FREE Caponata is a Sicilian dish of fried eggplant combined with other vegetables in a sweet and sour sauce. It’s a salad I made regularly during my delivery days with Arthur Street Kitchen, when I served it with pearl couscous and toasted almonds. For this recipe, I’ve taken caponata’s vegetal base of capsicum, celery and onion, and served it with beans. During New York’s summer, we’re blessed with beautiful varieties of beans – rattlesnakes, snappy flat romanos, robust runner beans and many more. While this salad is lovely fresh, I also enjoy it the next day, or the day after that. The flavours deepen and become rounder and richer. A perfect prep-ahead dish. extra virgin olive oil 1 red capsicum, deseeded…

Atmospheric CLIFFHANGER Left behind by Martine Kropkowski, Ultimo Press The white-sand beaches, isolated campgrounds and shark-filled seas of K’gari Island provide rich material for Martine Kropkowski’s new novel, Left Behind. The book was born out of a trip Martine took to the island years ago. “I was enamoured by the natural beauty and vastness … but also intrigued by the sense of remoteness and disconnection,” she says. “I found myself wondering: If everyone disappeared, how would I fare?” And so, the story begins. In the novel, Annabelle and her husband, Luke, arrive on K’gari with their friend Des and his new girlfriend, Julianni. The camping trip is meant to be a bonding experience, but cracks form as soon as their cruiser makes tracks in the sand. When Annabelle starts noticing…

Our French cover girl, noted the inside mention, “displays a fashionable colour against the background of a fashionable plant”. Lilac was in – so, too, was the Monstera deliciosa, which was now increasingly popular as an indoor decoration. Still in nature, page 11 showcased stunning photographs – a rugged coastal outcrop and a farmland valley – from a new book called Beautiful Australia. Equally stunning when you turned the page was a variety of new short hairdos recommended by leading international hair stylist Rene Henri, including tips for how to recreate them at home. On page 21, The Weekly was proud to introduce readers to 15-year-old Marilyn Jones from Newcastle, NSW, who had just won our Grand Ballet Scholarship. Her prize? A hefty £500, which was used to send Marilyn…