The July 12 Edition
A magazine like Good Weekend is a living thing, drawing on fields as diverse as entertainment, politics, medicine, crime, sport, culture and lifestyle, conveyed through in-depth storytelling and fine writing. In today’s issue, as testament to this variety, we have a profile on the silken-voiced opera singer Danielle de Niese, and another on former Sydney Swans footballer turned novelist Brandon Jack, both of whom are, in their very different ways, storytellers. Opera, as Danielle de Niese will attest, is about telling a story through music, singing and movement; Brandon Jack has mined his time on the football field to write a fly-on-the-wall account of a football club, with all its testosterone-fuelled sturm und drang, and the oldest story of all: sexual conflict. On national issues, there’s Nick Bryant on the sad decline of history study in Australia; for sheer humanity, there’s a feature about breast cancer survivors taking up dragon boat racing as part of their healing. And for a bit of escapism, there’s Andrew Hornery’s peek inside super high-end private members’ clubs. – Greg Callaghan, acting editor.
From Young Talent Time to British aristocracy: The Aussie soprano hitting the high notes
Melbourne girl becomes a child star, conquers the operatic world and marries an English arts patron: Danielle de Niese’s life story reads like a libretto.
- by Amanda Hooton
‘We both cried’: Former Swans player Brandon Jack finally opens up on family feud
Former AFL player Brandon Jack knows all about sporting expectations and family conflict. But it’s writing, not football, that now speaks to his soul.
- by Amanda Hooton
History’s booming in podcasts – but many of its academics are out of a job
We live in momentous times. History podcasts and books are more popular than ever. So why is academic history in crisis?
- by Nick Bryant
‘Go us! Look at what we can do!’ The water sport empowering breast cancer survivors
The ancient sport of dragon boat racing is breathing a new spirit of joy and camaraderie into these rowers’ lives.
- by Sue Williams
Two of Us
Two of Us
‘I’m with you, mate’: Days after Rob’s son drowned, so too did Adrian’s daughter
Last year, Rob Maniscalco lost his 15-year-old son, Lachie, in an accident. Days later, Adrian Chen’s daughter Tegan, 10, died in similar circumstances.
- by Katie Cunningham
Dicey Topics
For subscribers
‘Not sexy enough’: Pia Miranda on the negative feedback young actors face
The star of Looking for Alibrandi and Australian Survivor winner on the challenges of showbiz, ideas of heaven – and a teen question that still haunts her.
- by Benjamin Law
Modern Guru
For subscribers
If I buy a gift on sale, do I need to buy something else?
Just hand over the goods and don’t mention the discount, writes our Modern Guru.
- by Danny Katz
At this private members’ club, discretion is everything – for a $25,000 price
Private clubs for the ultra-wealthy are beginning to boom in Australia.
- by Andrew Hornery
From Taylor Swift to Tom Hanks: Tapping into the charm of the typewriter
Paralleling the vinyl-record revival, celebs are among the many making a “conscious move” away from digital towards analogue.
- by Barry Divola
Strategic layering: The key to warm winter dressing
Until ski suits become acceptable office attire, a minimalist approach to dressing won’t keep you warm on your commute to work.
- by Damien Woolnough
Deliverance
Angie was kerbside chatting to Tony from next door when, in a flash of fluoro, the postie pulled up. She’d known him years, and they spoke regularly, but what she didn’t know – or had never remembered – was his name. She’d long felt awful about that – and hated calling him “mate” – but the moment to ask again had long expired. “Mornin’, Angie, Tony,” the postie said, proffering her mail. “G’day, Nick, howsitgoin’?” Tony replied – and just like that, her torment was over. “Thanks, Nick!” Angie all but bellowed as he zoomed off, tooting his horn in a way that was, well, classic Nick. Words by Paul Connolly. Illustration by Jim Pavlidis.
Minimal effort, max flavour: One-pan chicken is high-reward midweek cooking
This marinade is packed full of flavour, making for a minimal-effort midweek dinner.
- by Julia Busuttil Nishimura
If guests bring a bottle of wine to a dinner party, do you have to open it on the night?
It depends on whether they make it known, subtly or otherwise, that they’d like to drink it.
- by Huon Hooke
Original URL: https://www.theage.com.au/national/the-july-12-edition-20250522-p5m1gb.html