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Good Weekend

The October 18 Edition

As we were putting this edition together I realised a beautiful thread had emerged – that of family experiences. Megan Gilmour and her daughter, Mia, are the subjects of this week’s Two of Us column. They went through the harrowing experience of Megan’s son, Darcy, being diagnosed with cancer at age 10. Megan and Mia, who was just 13 when her brother fell ill, describe how the illness impacted, but ultimately strengthened, their mother-daughter relationship. For our cover story, Konrad Marshall spoke with jockey Michelle Payne about becoming the first – and only – female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup. Marshall charts how influential Payne’s close-knit family has been on her life and how she handled the aftermath of making history. Elsewhere, Jordan Baker details Antonia Marran’s role in continuing the groundbreaking work of her late father, Antony Kidman, in adolescent and  youth mental health. It’s a lovely illustration of generational change and renewal within a family. –Melissa Stevens, editor

14 stories
The October 18 Edition
Antonia Marran says taking on her father’s work is a “sacred responsibility” for her.

Antony Kidman’s work was pioneering. Now his daughter is stepping up

Antonia Marran has become the keeper of her father’s legacy: his pioneering work in adolescent and youth mental health.

  • by Jordan Baker
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“I just want to say to everyone else, get stuffed because they think women aren’t strong enough, but we just beat the world.”

Michelle Payne’s rise to the top was swift – then came stalkers, the agony and the heartbreak

The past decade has been filled with turmoil, horrendous injury and death for the retired jockey and expert trainer.

  • by Konrad Marshall
Five-day smartphone detox.

Smartphone detox: I spent five days without my phone and here’s what I learned

The challenge was to complete five common daily tasks without a smartphone. Just how difficult is it?

  • by Brodie Lancaster
Mark Bryant at his computer.

‘It’s 115 a day, almost every day’: Measuring America’s ‘insanely predictable’ crime

From his home office in Kentucky, a data and systems analyst tracks the grim totality of the country’s firearm incidents – and tallies some disturbing figures.

  • by Liz Gooch

The six words no one wants to hear from a tradie

Flight arrivals can be predicted to the minute, so why can’t tradies tell you when they’ll turn up?

  • by Michelle Cazzulino
Mia and Megan Gilmour.

Mia spent 18 months on a cancer ward with her sick brother. She left with survivor’s guilt

A narrowly averted family tragedy nearly broke the bond between Megan Gilmour, the co-founder of a not-for-profit, and her daughter, Mia, a yoga teacher.

  • by Nicole Abadee
Tony Birch: “When you’re a long-distance runner, at some point in a run, your mind empties out of any problems and anxieties. It’s like you have this clean slate.”

Having a serious political battle? There’s one approach this author will never take

Activist, historian and author Tony Birch on waging a political argument, the one type of friend he won’t have – and the joyful link between running and writing.

  • by Benjamin Law
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“If you’re being an idiot, I’m going to stare at you.”

Gen Z’s new weapon: The blank, zombie-like gaze that says ‘you’re an idiot’

It’s called the Gen Z stare, and it’s a thing.

  • by Tim Elliott

A taxi copped a fine after I said I was late. Should I pay up?

Drivers make the house rules, says our Modern Guru – unless you went full Jason Statham.

  • by Danny Katz
Crisp-edged, whisper-thin dough topped with a spiced layer of minced meat.

I ate this ‘revelatory’ pizza every day of my Turkish holiday. Here’s how to make it

Plus a tip to turn the humble flatbread into an irresistible wrap.

  • by Helen Goh

Are wines with leaked corks still drinkable?

Wine that’s been kept too long in a hot place is one of the most depressing sights.

  • by Huon Hooke
“Stairway to Heaven” sashimi selection.
Review
Sydney

This 10-course omakase party has a ‘high strike rate of deliciousness’

From swordfish belly with finger lime to a sashimi selection on a glass stairway, R by Raita Noda knows how to coax and balance flavour. 

  • by Callan Boys
Fava with caramelised onion and capers (left) and coal-roasted eggplant.

This charming gem of a venue has only 12 words on its menu

The Pontian Club, a new Greek restaurant at the city end of Smith Street, is extremely good value.

  • by Dani Valent
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Good Weekend quiz September 27, 2025, index image.

Can you score a perfect 25 in the Good Weekend quiz?

Trivia buffs: test your knowledge with today’s interactive superquiz.

Original URL: https://www.theage.com.au/national/the-october-18-edition-20250922-p5mwzf.html