The best of The Magazine

How to do you shrink a year’s worth of stories into a Top 10 list? Weekend Australian Magazine Editor Christine Middap ponders.

The best of The Magazine

“How do you shrink a big life into a small suitcase?” This was one of our early headlines for a powerful Kate Legge story about moving her father into a nursing home. I look at it now and wonder: How to do you shrink a year’s worth of stories into a Top 10 list?

We know from the letters we receive each week that every issue contains stories that connect with readers’ lives, move them to tears and rage, laughter and wonder. In this list I’ve highlighted the work of all our mainstay writers. The stories were all reader favourites, ranging from Alex Leapai, a struggling boxer preparing for a shot at the world heavyweight title, to David Walsh, the eccentric creator of Tasmania’s MONA. In between, we examine the dark dark double life of Rolf Harris, travel to Rwanda for an amazing story of cruelty and forgiveness, revisit the last remaining Aboriginal nomads to leave traditional desert life, and wade into the contentious topic of cyclist safety. All wonderful stories, but my personal favourite? Geoff Beattie’s Rich Dark Fruit Cake. A very simple story of a lovely old farmer from Queensland who bakes cakes. A must-read. Christine Middap - Editor