Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2025 i The Australian Women's Weekly

Maggie Beer has shown optimism and determination throughout her long career as one of Australia’s favourite cooks and beloved personalities. Yet never more so than when she had a serious accident last year that left her in hospital for several weeks, followed by months of rehabilitation. “I’m a very optimistic person,” the long-time friend of The Weekly tells our News & Features Editor, Samantha Trenoweth, in our cover story on page 22. “After each surgery, I would say to the doctors, ‘I’m going to make a full recovery’. I always knew I would.” Maggie’s resilience and boundless optimism is inspirational for us all, as is her 55-year marriage with husband Colin, whose love and support helped fuel her recovery. Whether she’s inspiring us in the kitchen or championing better meals…

November 2025 Danish ROYALS Summer sojourn King Frederik and Queen Mary enjoyed a four-day tour of Denmark aboard the royal yacht Dannebrog, visiting townships and the sand dunes of Råbjerg Mile. “We are deeply touched by the beautiful and warm reception we have received,” they said. Women we love Health advocate Edwina Bartholomew is The Leukaemia Foundation’s newest ambassador. Following her own blood cancer diagnosis, she’s eager to help “people feel supported”. Making waves NSW surfer Molly Picklum, 22, is the new women’s surfing world champion. “I’m grateful I let go, had fun and just went after it Molly’s way because that’s what made it so damn sweet,” she said on Instagram. Young politician In her first speech to parliament, Charlotte Walker, 21, pledged to focus on healthcare, housing, regional…

The smell of coffee wafts through the cottage, which is warm, even though it’s bitter outside. There’s been a cold snap overnight and a deluge. Raindrops hang in spider webs on the limbs of a peppercorn tree. Lemon trees and a pummelo are in full fruit. Herbs spill over the rims of clay pots in the courtyard, and an immense patch of Daphne spreads its heady scent by the back door. Stone fruit trees are covered in buds about to pop, and beyond the garden, green fields roll towards rows of vines, then forest. Everything appears verdant but “it’s what we call a green desert at the moment,” Maggie Beer explains. I tripped. I lost my balance because meals she truly enjoyed. “After each surgery I would say to the…

The apple blossoms in the spring will always be a reminder of that more innocent time, of sweetness and optimism, of a time before the terrible, ugly loss. Before Niamh Maye went apple picking and never returned. Niamh was the youngest of Brian and Anne Maye’s seven children, who had grown up running wild across their seven-hectare hobby farm at Armidale. Both Anne and Brian had spent their working lives at the University of New England. Brian had a PhD in agricultural geography; Anne had a Master of Education. She won the university medal while she was pregnant with Niamh. Their youngest daughter was creative. She read a lot and wrote short stories. She made a film – writing it and borrowing camera gear. Niamh went to France on exchange…

I had just turned 31 when I stepped on board the Heritage Adventurer, my suitcase packed for a month at sea. It would take a week of sailing across the infamous Southern Ocean before we crossed into the Antarctic Circle. I had a book to write and I was ready for the adventure of a lifetime. Some of that readiness had come from reading Madhouse at the End of the Earth by Julian Sancton. It tells the story of a rich Belgian seeking glory in 1897 who deliberately got his ship stuck in the ice, dooming his crew to months without sunlight in order to be the first humans to spend winter in Antarctica. Some of them died. Most of them lost their minds. Two men became friends during that…

Leonardo da Vinci was right: The human foot is an architectural marvel. It’s a triple-arch, load-bearing masterpiece in which a quarter of the body’s bones and over 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments work in concert to carry us through life’s crossings. Yet the seismic force of getting from A to B takes its toll – feet absorb more than twice your body weight just walking and, by the time you’re due to blow out 50 candles on your birthday torte, the plump cushioning on your soles has reduced by up to half. If you’re a devoted ‘clacker’ (high heels wearer), as they were famously referred to in The Devil Wears Prada, you’re probably also battling bunions and pesky callouses by midlife, or perhaps even an extra bone like Sarah Jessica…

“It inspired me ... to help you on your own health journey in the most authentic way I can.” I turned 50 this year and that shift from one decade to another really has given me a moment to pause and reflect on my own health, on what I need to do to get myself in the best shape for the future. And in turn, it inspired me to write this book, to share all the knowledge and insights I’ve garnered over the years, and to help you on your own health journey in the most authentic way I can, which is through delicious, abundant, joyous, beautiful food. When it comes to nutrition, you can be confident that l’ve covered all the bases. I’ve worked within a simple framework of…

Get-ahead Sundays perfectly poached chicken SERVES 4 PREP TIME 5 MINUTES COOK TIME 35 MINUTES (INCLUDING RESTING TIME) This poached chicken is the quiet achiever of meal prep – versatile, juicy and ridiculously easy. Plus, you can easily double this recipe if you’re feeding a crowd or want even more leftovers for meals throughout the week. 3 large chicken breast fillets (about 900g total weight) 1 Take the chicken out of the fridge and leave it at room temperature while you boil the water to poach the chicken. 2 Fill a large pot (wide enough to hold the chicken breasts in one layer) with enough water to cover the chicken breasts by at least 6cm. Bring to the boil. 3 Add the chicken breasts to the boiling water using tongs,…

Rail special For more holiday inspiration from The Weekly’s experts, head to our website at WomensWeekly.com.au There’s something incredibly satisfying about completing the transcontinental train ride from Perth to Sydney via Adelaide on the Indian Pacific. I like to think of it as the leisurely man or woman’s ultramarathon, done in comfort and style. It’s a 4352km route, and I’ve done it twice. I didn’t even raise a sweat. Give the man a medal! My first crossing was in 1990 when it was fun but functional, a three-day government-run service enabling people to travel long distances at a time when domestic flight prices were exorbitant. Now in the hands of Journey Beyond, it’s an easy-paced, five-day “experiential” odyssey. I’m looking forward to doing it in style and reviving the memories.…

From WWII reportage to knitting patterns for a new springtime wardrobe, this issue was jam-packed. First up, however, was an article reminding train passengers of the importance of not pulling the communication cord unnecessarily. “Some of these offenders,” fumed a guard of the 200 trains stopped that year in NSW alone, “have a communication-cord complex. Something snaps inside them whenever they see a cord, and they’ve just got to pull it; and the penalty warning just seems to make ’em madder.” On page 15, letters home from servicemen abroad talked of active fire, paratrooper landings and even taking part in a wedding. “Our bomb-aimer gave the bride away and our navigator played the organ,” wrote F/Sgt Jack Carr to his family in Queensland. On page 20, we met incredible 75-year-old…

Sophie Tedmanson EDITOR DEPUTY EDITOR Tiffany Dunk CREATIVE DIRECTOR Joshua Beggs FEATURES News & Features Editor Samantha Trenoweth Senior Writer Genevieve Gannon HEALTH & BEAUTY Health & Beauty Editor Ashleigh Austen STYLE Style Director Mattie Cronan Market Editor Lilly Veitch TRAVEL Travel Editor & Chief Copy Editor Bernard O’Shea COPY Deputy Copy Editor Bronwyn Phillips Deputy Copy Editor Nicole Hickson Copy Editor Georgia Moore FOOD – WOMENSWEEKLYFOOD.COM.AU Food Director Frances Abdallaoui Food Digital Managing Editor Sarah McInerney Digital Content Producer Chanel Gellin DIGITAL – WOMENSWEEKLY.COM.AU Digital Editor Orlaith Costello Senior Content Producer Tia Thomas Social Content Producer Jessica Parker Social Content Producer Lizzie Wilson ART & PHOTOS Shoot & Photo Director Jane Vincent Senior Designer Madeleine Wright Senior Designer Jennifer Mullins REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS Alley Pascoe (Books), Amanda Blair (Columnist), Chrissie…

It was just as Princess Anne was about to mark her 75th birthday in typically unshowy fashion that a ghost arose from her past. Fortified by a lifetime’s devotion to duty, the Princess Royal is a woman well-prepared for almost anything – except perhaps the return of the bizarre figure behind one of the most shocking events in modern royal history. On the night of March 20, 1974, as Anne and her then-husband, Captain Mark Phillips, were returning to Buckingham Palace in a chauffeured limousine, they were ambushed by Ian Ball, a 26-year-old gunman whose plan was to kidnap the princess, then demand a £3 million ransom from her mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Four people, including Anne’s police bodyguard, were shot before the chance arrival on the scene of a…

In 1938, the art world was in an uproar. Nora Heysen had just taken out the coveted Archibald Prize, the most prestigious portrait painting competition in the country. She was the first woman and, aged 28, the youngest artist to do so. Art, at the time, was seen as a man’s game. This was summed up by aggrieved fellow artist Max Meldrum, whose own work had been pipped at the post by Nora’s portrait of Madame Elink Schuurman, the French wife of the Dutch consul-general to Australia. “A great artist has to tread a lonely road,” Max opined. “He needs all the manly qualities – courage, strength and endurance. He becomes great only by exerting himself to the limit of his strength the whole time. I believe that such a…

On a blisteringly cold Melbourne day, rollicking laughter and familiar hugs warm the kitchen of Strathdon House. Little more than a year ago, the five spirited women gathered around this table hadn’t met, but today they are firm friends, relishing the opportunity to catch up for morning tea. Don’t be fooled though, the purpose of this gathering is anything but idle chatter. Over shared plates of Dilnaz’s Lemon Orange Jaggery Cake, KRin’s Burnt Butter Biscuits and Judy’s delicious Anzac Crispies, these women are participating in a groundbreaking program, The Biscuit Tin Project. They hope it will dispel myths about ageing and change the way older women in Australia are viewed, as well as provide an opportunity to support and connect with one another. “Our generation were the ones who marched…

The tranquil, Zen-inspired space doesn’t feel like the nerve centre of a thriving shapewear, fashion and beauty empire. Then again, Jules Robinson – with her abundant curves, flowing red hair and fondness for body-hugging clothes – doesn’t look like the traditional stereotype of a buttoned-up businesswoman. Yet, unlikely as it seems, the former hairstylist has triumphantly turned the tables on school bullies and keyboard warriors who tried to fat shame her in the past. “I wanted to turn pain into power,” smiles the 43-year-old dynamo, who somehow parleyed a reality TV wedding into her real-life happily ever after, complete with two cute kids and a flourishing career. “Great things happen when you’re just yourself,” she says simply, asked for the secret of her success. “Work it and be proud of…

Crispy spiral potatoes with rosemary garlic butter SERVES 6 PREP & COOK TIME 1 HOUR 6 long stems of woody rosemary, plus extra to serve 6 medium waxy white or pink-skinned potatoes ¼ cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oil 100g butter 2 cloves garlic, finely grated tomato chutney, to serve 1 Prepare rosemary by removing bottom leaves from stems, keeping tops intact. These will be used as skewers. 2 Using a metal skewer, pierce each potato lengthwise, loosening entry point by re-inserting skewer a few times. With skewer in place, use a small paring knife to spiral-cut potato, starting 1cm from the top and slicing around in 1cm-thick spirals down to 1cm from the base. Remove metal skewer; carefully replace with rosemary stem, ensuring sprig end sits out the top.…

Swedish cardamom morning buns MAKES 12 PREP + COOK TIME 1 HOUR 15 MINUTES (+ STANDING & REFRIGERATION TIME) 1 cup (250ml) milk, lukewarm 2 teaspoons (7g) dried yeast 2 tablespoons white sugar 2½ cups (375g) bread flour 1½ tablespoons freshly ground cardamom 60g unsalted butter, softened ¾ teaspoon fine sea salt 1 egg, beaten lightly ¼ cup (40g) pearl sugar (optional) ⅓ cup (75g) firmly packed brown sugar FILLING 200g unsalted butter, softened slightly ¾ cup (165g) white sugar 1½ tablespoons freshly ground cardamom ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt TOPPING 1 tablespoon white sugar ½ teaspoon freshly ground cardamom 1 Combine milk, yeast and 1 teaspoon of the white sugar in a medium jug. Cover; stand in a warm place for 10 minutes or until frothy. 2 Place flour,…

Look for art Keep your eye out for original art or well-framed prints. We’ve found so many beautifully framed paintings for under $5! Seek out frames made from solid timber. (If you don’t love the artwork but you do love the frame, you can always repurpose the frame.) Be consistent and persistent Visit op-shops, markets, emporiums and vintage retailers whenever you get the chance. You never know what special treasure is sitting there waiting for you. We joke that Courtney can’t walk past an op-shop without stopping in! But the persistence pays off. Don’t forget the fabric bin Op-shops usually have fabric offcuts. We’ve found so many pretty vintage fabrics this way. We also love looking in the linens section for vintage tablecloths – again, we’ve found some really pretty…

Historic EPIC A Great Act of Love by Heather Rose, Allen & Unwin Don’t be fooled. Heather Rose is not a writer; she is a magician. Her magic power? Being able to transport readers back in time to faraway lands. In A Great Act of Love, the destination is 19th century Hobart, where a young British woman, Caroline, moves into a cottage next to an abandoned vineyard. The vines were a starting point for Heather, who is a Lutruwita/Tasmania local. “At dinner in Hobart one night, a famous winemaker told me of an early vineyard in colonial Tasmania that had made sparkling wine which was so good it won an award in Paris in the late 1820s,” she says of the legendary story that sparked the initial idea for this…

Moonlight Express by Monisha Rajesh, (Bloomsbury Publishing) For her follow-up to Around The World in 80 Trains, British journalist Monisha Rajesh explores nightlife on the rails. Covering Europe mostly – but also Peru, India and the US east coast – we meet fellow passengers, eavesdrop on conversations, and share her pleasures and frustrations. It’s as much a journey through humanity as the terrains. Epic Train Trips of the World (Lonely Planet) Hail the new rail lover’s bible! Fifty splendid train journeys are brought vividly to life in this volume loaded with photos and illustrations, and for each of the 50 three “more like this” routes are suggested, so you actually have 200. Twenty travel writers take us on their journeys across eye-opening terrain, divided into five regions: Africa, Americas, Asia,…

Lite up your life Samsonite’s Oc2Lite luggage range now comes in a cheery shade of Lemonade, and the Spearmint option looks appealing too. Light but durable, they’re available in three sizes: 55cm as a carry-on, 75cm and 81cm. See the full range at samsonite.com.au Intrepid’s trips for nifty 50s+ Intrepid Travel has launched 10 new walking and trekking tours in response to a growing trend among over-50s: Embracing low-impact active adventures as a way to stay fit and connected to the world. In comfort and style, of course! The new Premium tours (Intrepid’s most comfortable travel category) range from three to nine days and feature hikes in Vietnam (top inset), Nepal (above), Italy, Morocco, Peru, Jordan, the US and Madeira (Portugal). intrepidtravel.com/au New ship alert! Cruise bigger and better Fans…

As I read the heartbreaking account of the catastrophic drought that has devastated the close-knit folks that call Burra home (The long dry, AWW, October), I was reminded of Dorothea Mackellar’s poem My Country, where she writes about this “sunburnt country, a land of sweeping plains, of ragged mountain ranges, of drought and flooding rains”. This was a wonderful story of resilience and community strength in the face of the most dire conditions. I wish them rain in abundance, and bright hope for their futures. Donvale, Vic. Happy customer I recently attended the AWW Health Summit in Melbourne and wanted to express how much I enjoyed it. Thank you for organising such a fun and informative event. I learnt a lot about perimenopause and it was so good to be…

The other week, the enormity of parenting came at me via a carton of Big M flavoured milk. My 14-year-old had ripped the carton open at the top, straw jammed in the flaps like some kind of milk vampire. As we pulled out of the servo, I casually enquired as to why he hadn’t used the little straw-sized hole under the cardboard latch. He blinked. “What straw hole? What latch?” And suddenly I was winded again by the endlessness of it all. As I breathed deeply into a brown paper bag (metaphorically, not literally), I wailed at him, “How could I have not told you this before now?” AND WHAT ELSE HAVE I FORGOTTEN TO MENTION?!? At first, parenting is all about survival. Instinctively swinging out your arm like a…

It will come as no surprise that Essie Davis is going out tonight, with an old friend, for cocktails and a spot of karaoke. Such a Phryne thing to do. One hopes it’s in a retro bar that serves dry martinis or sherry cobblers that’s frequented by undercover police and mobsters. To undertake all this, it’s critical that Essie leaves The Weekly’s photographic studio by half past six. She’s been here for a solid five hours already, dressing up in sparkly skirts and platform heels, twirling for the camera. All the while, entirely joyful – not even a yawn – though she’s mere hours off a plane from London via Bangkok, where she’s been on the promotion trail for Alien: Earth, a streaming series and prequel to the first Alien…

Melissa Leong would like to go to Iceland. It’s an off-hand comment, made at the end of a long and tear-streaked conversation about her memoir, Guts, in answer to a question about the future. Does she have some concrete goals, or will she go where the wind takes her? Melissa says it will be a little of column A and a little of column B. “I think you should always leave space for life to happen and for unique offers to come your way,” she says. “Send me to the farthest places that I can imagine and have me do the most unlikely of things and you will probably find that I will say yes.” She singles out Iceland. So we are putting that desire in print and out into…

It was a nondescript hedge on a bleak, cold street, part of the dog’s evening walk, lately trudged in a dark, unseasonably wet winter. A day later, however, something was different. The sky was still light from the sun lingering on the horizon, and winter’s cold fingers had softened their grip. From the hedge, the heady waft of jasmine announced a miraculous transformation – what had been drab green foliage was now draped in delicate white buds around which bees buzzed. Beside it, a protective magpie chaperoned its chick, and a collection of bare branches had blossomed into pink, tissue-paper-thin magnolia flowers. Spring had waved her magic wand, transforming the neighbourhood overnight into a world of sensory delight, lush and abundant. For the ancient Romans, Flora was the goddess of…

Nush Freedman was three months old when she first visited Ningaloo Reef. Growing up in Perth, her family would regularly holiday there, drawn back time and again by the beauty of the World Heritage-listed site. “My parents always said they could never keep me out of the water,” the underwater cinematographer and passionate conservationist tells The Weekly from her home in the region today. “Apparently, when I was three years old, I marched down to the beach and wouldn’t have a bar of the floaties anymore. I’ve always had a passion and obsession for the ocean.” Learning to dive at 14, she knew she’d found her calling during her first pool lesson. “I remember sitting down there and breathing underwater and I couldn’t believe it. You’re down there and it’s…

High-waisted bottoms flatter all COLOUR & PRINT The perfect way to add life to any outfit. Try a bold red or blush pink for some pep. Comes with removable, adjustable straps ISLAND VIBES Earthy tones and natural materials transport you to that idyllic island life. Poolside glamour is easy – just add bling! CLASSIC WITH A TWIST Pair a refined black swimsuit with bold accessories or go chic with a shirt dress. Also comes in a fun tropical palm print TEXTURE & LACE To add interest, opt for textural elements, like a beaded bag or crochet cover-up. This shirt crafted with a cotton/ linen blend STRIPES Bring a retro seaside vibe to your look by layering different striped pieces. A comfy, loose fit for all day wear FLORAL Embrace the…

The world is experiencing a loneliness epidemic. Even in the biggest and busiest cities, people are feeling socially isolated. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says loneliness is “a pressing health threat” and has launched the Commission on Social Connection to bring people together. The commission includes former US Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy, who believes that, in terms of impacts on our health, loneliness is equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. “Loneliness and isolation represent profound threats to our health and wellbeing,” he says. This epidemic has also gripped Australian cities, suburbs and country communities. Relationships Australia’s Relationship Indicators Report 2024 found that 5.1 million people often feel lonely. Similarly, Ending Loneliness Together, a network of organisations addressing the problem, says almost one in three people feel lonely, and…

This dish sits comfortably as a main meal, or as a side dish as part of a shared table. The spice blend is extremely versatile and will keep for months. Flavouring your meat with a dried spice blend saves the time it would take to marinate but still delivers a huge kick of flavour. Happy memories of holidays at the beach with my little sister Deb, a wonderful, carefree time. Spiced chicken with brown rice & cauliflower SERVES 4 AS A MAIN OR 8 AS PART OF A SHARED TABLE PREP + COOK TIME 20 MINUTES ½ head cauliflower, cut into small florets ¼ cup flaked almonds 2 x large (600g) chicken breasts, cut in half horizontally ¼ cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oil 250g cooked brown rice, cooled 1…

Sesame & soy stea salad SERVES 2 PREP + COOK 20 MINUTES 2 x 250g porterhouse (boneless sirloin) steaks 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil 1 bunch broccolini, trimmed 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds 1 tablespoon sesame oil 1 tablespoon soy sauce 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar 1 tablespoon honey 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 cup shredded red cabbage 1 cucumber, shredded 1 carrot, peeled and shredded ½ cup (75g) podded edamame beans, blanched 1 Brush steaks with oil and season generously with salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper. 2 Preheat a medium frying pan over high heat. Cook the steaks for 2-3 minutes each side for medium-rare or until cooked as desired. Remove pan from the heat; rest steaks, covered with foil, for 5 minutes. 3 Meanwhile, blanch…

Trend alert! Colour your world Dulux have released their forecast for 2026, which showcases the continued importance of calming and connecting hues in today’s fast-paced and often uncertain world. Our favourite? Dulux Ethereal, which is dreamily feminine and designed to inspire as well as soothe. The pastel palette is influenced by “fantasy fiction and restorative rituals”, say Dulux, to provide gentle escape. Read THIS! Make me over Every year as a nation, we discard close to 50,000 tonnes of furniture kerbside – most of which ends up in landfill. But dedicated upcycler and crafter Geneva Vanderzeil is committed to helping inspire a DIY movement to turn the sustainability tide! This book has over 100 projects to breathe new life into old decor, and make it suitably stylish in the process.…

On Monday, with James at work, Rusty huffs until I let him outside so he can roll around in the grass, scratching the spots he can’t reach himself, and snoozing in the gentle sun. But by Tuesday, his patience has run out, and he bops me with his nose every hour. He is desperate for another walk. James said there’s a pretty part of the Fish River flowing through the eastern section of the property that he wants to show me, but I’m sure Rusty can find it. The thought of a natural body of water to lower myself into, to numb the aches and cramps, is appealing. I miss the beach. At midday, the sun reaches its warmest point, and I say to Rusty, “Walk?” and he sneezes and…

Scorpio Oct 24 - Nov 22 November gets off to a spicy start with the sun, Mars and Venus in your smouldering sign – though trust and lust could cause issues when Mercury backtracks into Scorpio in week three. The sun and new moon joining intriguing Venus and magnetic Mercury in Scorpio on November 20 ensure there’ll be no shortage of sizzling chemistry and emotional intensity to celebrate your entry into your new astrological year. During which, be on the alert for unexpected opportunities to join forces – and possibly finances – in new or renewed partnerships. Sagittarius Nov 23 - Dec 21 Mercury in your voluble sign kicks November off with conversations – both confronting and enlightening – which could spark revelations, realisations and breakthroughs. But during week two,…