NewsBite

Good Weekend

The February 8 Edition

Travelling overseas at the end of school is a rite of passage for many young Australians. It can be a nervous time for parents, who are simultaneously happy to see their children stretch their wings and scared stiff about what might go wrong. When things do go wrong, it can be beyond devastating. Amanda Lennon knows this; her son Aston died in Bali in August. As she tells Andrew Hornery in today’s cover story, her grief was compounded by the difficulty of navigating the fallout in a foreign country, with different laws and customs to our own. – Editor, Katrina Strickland

11 stories
The February 8 Edition

‘Things work differently in Bali’: When Amanda’s son died, she learnt a difficult lesson

Amanda Lennon learnt via text that her son Aston had died in Indonesia. In the aftermath, she found that Australian money and connections were of little use.

  • by Andrew Hornery

Snipers, recorders – and secrets: Saving the Aussie parrot called ‘birdwatching’s Holy Grail’

For almost 80 years, the night parrot was believed to be extinct. Now: the race to protect a tiny population.

  • by Nick O'Malley
A 2019 research pamphlet by VicHealth found that 41 per cent of Victorian women “feel too embarrassed to exercise in public.”

The gender fitness gap, aka why women exercise less than men – and how we can change it

A committed couch potato digs into the stats on her stasis – and finally finds her fitness groove.

  • by Amanda Hooton
Advertisement

They help the needy – then the challenging times hit home, literally

CEO of Sydney’s Wayside Chapel Jon Owen and his pastor wife, Lisa, help some of society’s most disadvantaged while also facing their own family issues.

  • by Tim Elliott
“If something’s dangerous for people, we shouldn’t put it in our food. That should be simple, but it’s not how things work.”
Dicey Topics
For subscribers

‘He’s intense’: Chef Curtis Stone on meeting Trump – and food’s ‘nasty stuff’

The Michelin-starred chef on working with Donald Trump on Celebrity Apprentice, his beef with our food system – and the advantages of a tasting menu.

  • by Benjamin Law
A T-shirt from the Coach Spring/Summer 2025 runway show featuring Milton Glaser’s famous 
love-note to New York.

You might not love Valentine’s Day, but some accessories are adorable

Declare your love of fashion with these safe-for-work pieces.

  • by Damien Woolnough
Modern Guru
For subscribers

There’s a shirtless man in my yoga class. Do I have to grin and let him bare it?

Male shirtlessness is only acceptable within 50 metres of a body of water, writes our Modern Guru.

  • by Danny Katz
Kaitlyn Dever as Belle in Apple Cider Vinegar.

This you can believe: The new series about conwoman Belle Gibson is terrific

Plus: get ready for the weekend with these fresh diversions.

  • by Louise Rugendyke, Johnathan Seidler, Barry Divola, Damien Woolnough and Frances Mocnik
Danielle Alvarez’s prawn and tomato orzotto with pangrattato.

Prawn and tomato orzotto (pasta risotto)

This slightly “restauranty” but super-achievable dinner is perfect for Valentine’s Day.

  • by Danielle Alvarez
Advertisement
Julia Busuttil Nishimura’s blackberry and espresso hazelnut cake.

Blackberry and espresso hazelnut cake

Bake this simple cake for someone you love (or as a gift to yourself). All you need is a bowl and whisk, nothing fancy.

  • by Julia Busuttil Nishimura
Good Weekend Quiz online index image

Good Weekend Quiz

Trivia buffs: test your knowledge.

Original URL: https://www.theage.com.au/national/the-february-8-edition-20241126-p5ktho.html