My father’s quiet existence was a lesson in living
In a world marred by darkness, confusion and division, my father’s final moments were a reminder to pay attention to glimmers of joy.
Columnists
Point scoring over sexual harassment has to stop
The Liberals’ campaign against Katy Gallagher ended with a breathtaking own goal. Peter Dutton should be very careful about stoking these kind of flames.
From Cairns to Bunbury, Australians aren’t all the same
As our language and habits show, Queenslanders are very different to West Australians, Victorians and South Australians.
Cricket and religion: more than just a coincidence
The following may come as a shock. Three stumps? The Holy Trinity. The red ball? Satan. The twelfth man? Who else but Judas Iscariot.
We have a ringside seat to the fall of the US
Trump, Biden in 2024. Opioid and fentanyl crises. The dystopian will to control women’s bodies. And now, the Titan, a parable of America the Failed. It’s the end of old certainties.
My Catholic upbringing introduced me to the most powerful language
Do other religions make use of words such as contrition, redemption, salvation, rapture?
How my late friend dispelled famous Disney urban myth
As a raconteur, my old friend Peter Ustinov had no equal. This story about the death of Walt Disney shows that.
The man born with pinot noir in his mouth
It’s a strange wine world when Tasmania looks to one of the least-known regions of France for a solution to its problems.
Digital divide leaves older Australians behind
We are being drawn further into a technology-enriched world. But this world only works if you have access to the skills required to navigate problems that arise.
Gran out, Glammy in: the new generation of grandmothers
When I think of the grandparent brigade when I was young, they looked uniformly old. Not this lot.
Is this the dumbest way to die?
‘The father of tragedy’ Aeschylus died when he was hit on the head with a tortoise. You might well laugh, but I survived a similar incident.
Three shining Canberra rieslings
Ken Helm first thrust his spear in the holy ground of the Canberra district 50 years ago, planting riesling and cabernet sauvignon. His impact is still felt today, writes James Halliday.
‘I don’t have favourites – but Maude was definitely my favourite’
This photo captures trainee vet Aldana Cantavenera bonding with an orphaned baby wombat – and there’s a happy ending…
Barbie movie speaks to generations of women
Back off, fellas, this one is ours. I hope the sneerers of the film industry allow us women this moment of cultural joy.
1960s a decade of change and rebellion … for some
Free love. The rise of the women’s movement. The decade is much celebrated for its social change, but for those of us who were too young to be hippies it was a very different experience.
There’s no way I’m bowing out to Sinatra’s My Way
I’d prefer something less self-aggrandising and more cheerful to be played at my funeral. Suggestions welcome.
Are we about to hit peak stupidity on Earth?
For the first time in human history, we are on the brink of developing something smarter than us. So, how soon could AI overtake us?
Why winter is the best time of the year
Coming in from the cold and sidling up to a heater or to an open fire is surely one of life’s pleasures. But to many older people, winter wasn’t a wonderland idyll, writes Bernard Salt.
If Australia had superheroes, who would they be?
Call that a mask? This is a mask. Superheroes tend to be all ultra-American. How about BradMan, Wombat Man and Beetroot Man?
‘An intense warm glow in my groin’
Behind the wheel of the futuristic first EV from Lexus, Stephen Corby was left with an unexpected, wholly welcome sensation.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/weekend-australian-magazine/columnists/page/15