The tantalising mystery of Picnic at Hanging Rock
My friendship with Lady Joan Lindsay lasted for years, with Joan playfully giving me hints as to the mystery of the missing Miranda at the Rock.
Columnists
The rise of monster trucks feels like an affront
The owners seem so unthinking about their impact on others. This feels like the supremacy of self-interest, a pointer to civilisation’s end point. The meaning: each to their own.
Fertility rates are plummeting — fortunately, we have migrants
Australia’s fertility rate today is half what it was at the peakof the baby boom, with single-child households and childlessness more socially acceptable options now than a generation ago.
An ode to the cinema of my youth, and to Tarzan
At the Saturday Matinee session for children we were treated to the classic cinema of the day, and eventually introduced to my celluloid hero Johnny Weismuller as Tarzan.
Is it time to stop encouraging kids to go to university?
The past 25 years have been the era of the university and knowledge worker. But Australia – and its needs – are changing.
Is it time to think about gathering Prince Harry back into the fold?
We were told Charles was ‘too busy’ to attend Harry’s Invictus service. Really? Here is a father who won’t see a son yearning for reconciliation, yet found time for David Beckham.
Let’s talk about bosses: the good, the bad and the ugly
Good bosses are fair and honest; they communicate clear standards; they are, or can be, inspirational. What makes a bad boss? Well, you tell me.
My life as a teenage communist
At 15, in the early 1950s, and not long after Menzies had failed to have the Communist Party of Australia banned, I signed up. And I stayed loyal to the CPA … until Khrushchev blew it all up.
It’s a tragedy women have to live like this
He was right behind me now. I walked on, slightly quicker, all senses alert. I hurried into my car, locking doors with pounding heart. The man walked on, innocently.
I never thought I’d say this, but this car is too fast
Perhaps the most shocking thing about this supercar-smashing sporty EV is the price, which feels at least $30,000 less than what Tesla could get away with charging for it.
This is an old-fashioned, dangerous car
If you get a corner wrong you’ll be going through the pearly gates at 300km/h with your trousers on fire.
Mum’s the word: It’s a relationship like no other
To have a mother who is loving and communicative across your forties, fifties and even into the sixties is a precious gift. I cannot fathom the pain felt by those who are denied this experience.
The greatest damage you can do to a child? Withhold love
My mother told me once that if she had her time over, she wouldn’t have had kids. An offhand remark, possibly not meant, but never forgotten.
My rescued joey became a minor celebrity
When I found a very young female joey chittering and shivering beside her dead mum, I took her back to the homestead. She recovered – and became a familiar sight.
This car stands out from the pack on its looks … but little else
If you drive like my grandmother – a woman who never saw a speed limit she didn’t think was 20km/h too high – you’ll find this car extremely pleasant.
There is a future for the combustion engine
If you want to save fuel and make fewer carbon dioxides, you shouldn’t dispense with petrol-powered vehicles. You should develop them. Hone them. That’s exactly what Mazda has done.
Hooroo! Like fashions, words come and go
When leaving a social group, what do you say? Sadly the endearingly rhythmic cheerio and hooroo have lost ground to today’s bye and bye-bye.
A post-mortem of PMs I’ve known (and not necessarily loved)
I’ve had personal contact with all our PMs from Robert Menzies. Four have been visitors in my home. The jury’s out on who was the best – but I can tell you the worst.
The little punctuation mark that is now a feminist issue
Ah, all the ways women are taught to police language and behaviour; all the rules to adhere to. All of it is about making ourselves nicer, sweeter. Smaller.
Why let the truth get in the way of a good story?
Years ago I wrote a column for this masthead on literary linkages between famous authors and Australia. But I came up short and filled the space with a furphy that backfired spectacularly.
Diversity will lead us to become a more productive nation
Not everyone is on board with the diversity, equity and inclusion mission of modern businesses and institutions, but look closely -there’s something in its uptake we can learn from.
In suburbia, we were taught to refer to police as pigs
Hatred, inexplicably, was indoctrinated – it was ugly and unfair. Because for the vast majority of frontline workers, the will is towards service. We owe them.
A hot little wine bar importing top Italian drops
This Western Australian has found time for a fruitful Italian side hustle, and we’ve got three of the best drops for you to try.
An impossible choice — even for an avowed dog person
The vet had spoken: the cat had to go. For dog’s sake. But, but, there was an odd situation in this household – and Frankie knew something was up.
I’m declaring war on war. Who’s with me?
The bombs and rockets that once razed parts of London are falling still – in Ukraine and Gaza. Are we humans in love with war?
No family was untouched by the two world wars
Every Australian family with links to this era has stories to tell of family members lost and, sadly, of the often broken men who returned. Now is the time for us to show our appreciation.
I was genuinely baffled by the split personality of this ‘Vette
Muscle cars, like this visually violent Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, seek attention and eyeballs in the same way. They’re big and loud, both the visual and aural sense. Or at least so I’d always thought.
The brutal new class division appearing in Australia
That silky game of inheritocracy is playing out all around me.
Millennial parents feel the call of suburbia
Throughout the 2010s Millennials emerged – blossomed, even – as tech-savvy knowledge workers favouring digs in the inner city. But they’re now discovering that kids change everything.
I’m clueless about tech — but it never stopped me
You know about fake news, the notion unveiled by the Donald. Today we discuss fake expertise, the fraud perpetrated by the Phillip.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/weekend-australian-magazine/columnists/page/8