ISSUE 108

JUL/AUG 2022
AUS: $12.95 INC GST
NZ: $13.95 INC GST
9 780645 369137

04
 issue 108 talented contributors

photographic
leanne dixon, shelley horan, charlie kinross, heather lighton, phoebe powell,
sarah ruhullah, carine thévenau, bridget wald, ben zucker

editorial
caro cooper, toby fehily, deirdre fidge, emily field, fraser harvey, em jensen,
giselle au-nhien nguyen, amna qureshi, eleanor robertson, james shackell,
kate stanton, rebecca varcoe, jack vening, elizabeth whitehead

illustration
hayley sinnatt

poster artist
hannah pahl

editor cover artist

emma do laura winstone
[email protected]
assistant editor
& digital editor
shannon jenkins
advertise in frankie
[email protected]
partnerships manager
senior designer
alice buda molly condon
[email protected] [email protected]

designer partnerships manager

caitlyn bendall claire mullins
[email protected] [email protected]
proofreader production coordinator
mel campbell lizzie dynon
digital marketing manager [email protected]
kelsey caruana
[email protected]
branded content director
emily naismith contact us
[email protected]
general enquiries
general manager [email protected]
gaye murray
[email protected] subscriptions
frankie.com.au/subscribe
[email protected]
1300 361 146
managing director retail orders
arek widawski [email protected]
general manager – can’t find frankie?
consumer publishing
visit frankie.com.au/find
carole jones
aust & n.z. distributor
production & digital
services manager are direct
jonathan bishop

submissions: frankie accepts freelance art, photo and story submissions, however we cannot reply
email addresses are published for personally to unsuccessful pitches. for submission guidelines please see frankie.com.au/submissions
professional communications only internships/work experience: unfortunately frankie is unable to facilitate any work experience or internship programs

ISSN 14497794 frankie magazine is proudly published 6 times a year by frankie press, a division of nextmedia pty ltd,
2 craine street, south melbourne vic 3205
We acknowledge the Traditional
views expressed by authors are not necessarily those of the publisher. copyright is reserved, which means you can’t
Owners of the land on which we
scan our pages and put them up on your website or anywhere else. reproduction in whole or part is prohibited.
work, the Wurundjeri, Boonwurrung,
Wathaurong, Taungurong and frankie magazine is printed on certified paper stock from sustainably managed forest and controlled sources,
Dja Dja Wurrung of the Kulin Nation. recognised in Australia by Responsible Wood.

frankie.com.au
 it’s never
part of the plan,
but every issue of frankie ends up becoming a Magic 8 Ball of
sorts. Give it a shake, turn it over and a little pearl of wisdom comes
into focus. Maybe it’s because we, like other creative souls, get caught
in cycles of self-doubt (read: extended periods of lying motionless on the
floor, fearing our work will never be good enough). Then when we’re
up and running again, we subconsciously cobble together
a pep talk on these very pages.

While making this issue, we’ve been telling ourselves: “It’s OK for the first
draft not to be Shakespeare.” (page 48) “Don’t be embarrassed to just ask.”
(page 120) “The stupidest and scariest ideas are the best ones.” (page 28)
And this gem: “Don’t be a turkey; fly like an eagle.” (page 106)

If you’re ever searching for a sign to just do the thing, we hope

you can flip open an issue of frankie and find the words
of encouragement you need. And to the Magic 8 Ball
manufacturers of the world: please get in touch.
We have an idea for you.

Enjoy the issue.

xx Emma and the frankie team
 Summer’s over...

Time to put some clothes on.

 what’s inside

road test: hormonal:

PAGE 118 PAGE 31
We gorge on classic Opening up about endo,
Aussie lollies. PCOS and fertility.

dolly parton parental

66 forever: guidance:
PAGE 26 PAGE 62
Why we’ll always Are we destined to
112 love her. become our folks?

gory stories: it’s all relative:

PAGE 98 PAGE 106
Behind our fascination Meet a few creative
with true crime. siblings.

008 letters 076 chocolate salami

010 frank bits 078 on the job
019 hold the line 080 sew a dress
024 all aboard 084 the photobook project
026 dolly parton 088 bags and shoes
028 a cup a day 096 meg mac
031 hormonal 098 gory stories
042 toro y moi 102 the great debate
044 spill the tea 104 i love my shop
51 046 collector 106 creative siblings
048 yassmin abdel-magied 112 afternoon tea time
051 looks we like 116 homesickness
054 the bold type 118 road test
056 chinese restaurants 120 put yourself out there
062 writers’ piece 122 everybody has a story
066 homebodies 124 tillie burden
072 the warm and fuzzies 126 working well
074 a place for everyone 128 badass grandmas
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 your say

dear frankie
YOUR THOUGHTS ARE PRICELESS.
PLEASE SEND THEM TO US!
[email protected]

Dearest frankie, I doubt it was coincidence, but instead fate at and we read the flip side of the argument too. I feel I understand
its finest, that on the day I was diagnosed with a molar pregnancy, her so much better. Fiona x
I bought issue 107 and found solace in Freya Bennett’s article . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Silver Linings”. I was utterly overwhelmed by my diagnosis,
but Freya offered a light at the end of a deep, dark mole tunnel,
helping me to see that I was in fact not a lone mole. Cheers to you, Kia ora, frankie staff, Just like most romantics, I really love
frankie, for embracing the tough subjects and always being there. wedding stories! But as a lesbian woman of colour, I have never
Love from a fellow mole, Laura really felt connected to conventional wedding ceremonies – that
is, until I read your “Just Married” profiles in issue 107. I love to
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
dream about my future wedding with my partner, and it was so
inspiring and heart-warming to see other queer couples celebrate
Dear frankie, As I sat down in my microeconomics tutorial at uni their love by embracing new unique traditions. I would really love
this week, the pink issue 107 tumbled out of my colourful tote bag and appreciate if you could publish people’s pronouns alongside
and onto the floor, alongside my floral pencil case. It was met with their names so I know how to refer to them with love and respect.
disapproving faces by the people sitting around me. Unfortunately, Thank you for warming my cold heart again! Ngā mihi nui, Kitty
this isn’t the first time I’ve felt like this in this class. Being a Wasasala (she/they)
creative, spirited female in such a male-dominated field rocks
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
the boat; I’m definitely not the stereotype! Thanks for making
me smile, even when the dull frown. Love, Mia xx
Dear frankie, I just want to say a big thank you and give Wendy
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Syfret a hug for her writers’ piece on break-ups (issue 106). I’m
going through my first ever real, proper, adult break-up and it
Dear frankie, I read issue 106 from cover to cover and when I got really, really sucks (even four months on). Thinking about Wendy’s
to the debate on being neat and tidy, I had one of those light-bulb piece is bringing (happy and sad) tears to my eyes! It really made
moments when I understood something for the first time. I am me feel much less alone. xx Maggie
neat and tidy and my 14-year-old daughter is not. It has driven me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
nuts for years, and as she happily picks her way through the mess
that is her bedroom, she quite often tells me, “It’s a functional
mess,” followed by, “Ask me where it is and I’ll be able to find it,” Dear frankie, You are one of the best cool things Australia has
just like the author wrote. I read the article to my daughter and given me in the last three years I have lived in the country. Your
she laughed and agreed wholeheartedly that it described her, pages warmed the coldest days when I was new here, inspired

008
me to create new ideas and encouraged me to develop new Dear frankie, I’m in the bath right now, reading the letters
projects. Soon I will come back to my country and I’ll have to section in issue 107, and it got me thinking about how long
figure out which issues I will pack in my luggage. I can’t decide. I’ve been reading you. It’s been years and I think this may only
Thank you for everything, Vanessa be the second time I’ve written to you. You’ve seen me through
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
high school, my nursing degree, my first job as a registered
nurse, a change in specialty, nursing through COVID and now
my master’s degree. As I wind down with a cup of tea after a
Dear frankie, I was flicking through issue 107 today when I came long study day, there’s no one else I’d rather be accompanied
across Lefa Singleton-Norton’s article. I absolutely loved it. I have by. Thank you for your years of companionship! Georgia x
narcolepsy and could relate to her fears about becoming a mother . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
with a disability so much. The ability to have kids has been at the
back of my mind since being diagnosed because it just seems
impossible when I’m already so tired all the time, so it was great to THE LETTER OF THE ISSUE WINS A MAEVA RESORT STRIPE
read about her success. I have always been told that my concerns PYJAMA SET, RRP $149, FROM MAEVASLEEP.COM
over becoming a mother are ridiculous, because not many people
believe that sleep disorders count as disabilities. It was incredibly Dear frankie, During high school, I came home
relieving to read that someone else has had these same thoughts. in tears after doing work experience at an
Love, Emma architecture firm, convinced there was no
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
job that would match my creative, artistic
personality. I felt doomed to work in a
stuffy office for the rest of my life. Then,
Dearest frankie, One week after stopping work due to burnout, I sat a few months later, I found you. I found
down with a coffee and copy of frankie (the first one in over three my happy place: a magazine that talked
years). I opened up my sparkling new issue 106 and wow – I read about creative people leading creative
EXACTLY what I needed to read at that EXACT moment in my life. lives, working creative jobs. I am
Those dolphins and the moment you described in the “First Thought” pleased to announce I started a
reminded me why we need to pause. Burnout has fried my head small business last year, making
and I wasn’t functioning. I wasn’t leaving space for anything. Every and selling handmade items.
moment was filled with noise, busy and chaos and I was filled with Fifteen-year-old me would be so
uncertainty and fear on how to recover. Thank you for reminding proud! Thank you frankie, for all your
me of exactly what I need to do. Love, burnt out Jacqui encouragement. Much love, Imogen

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 frank bits

fancy a shag?
When Sydney maker Rachel
closet mod Castle created this showstopping
shag cushion, she thought it apt
Back in the early days of air travel, it was common for holidaymakers to to name her Priscilla. Made of 100
arrive at the departure gate in their finest two-piece suits. Closet Mod’s new per cent cotton and dyed in desert
collection, Arrival, harks back to that glamorous time – and judging by the hues, Priscilla could bring a
array of jaunty frocks and button-ups on display, they’re dressing travellers whole busload of glamour to even
headed straight to Carnaby Street. Swing by closetmod.com to see more, or the drabbest space. Pick her up
throw your hat in the ring at frankie.com.au/win for a chance to score the stuffed ($119) or unstuffed ($89)
Heathrow dress in your size (pictured left). from castleandthings.com.au

diana dawn
Arizona lass Diana Dawn
is not your average
hatter. Armed with nimble please, mr postman
fingers and a keen eye, see my vest
she carefully embroiders Tired of tapping out daily
her custom hats with correspondence on a screen? Resentful Once favoured by grandpas, professorial types
soaring eagles, blazing that your pen licence was never put to and on-screen dorks like Chandler Bing, the
sunsets, pine forests and good use? Take heed of the message on knitted vest has had a rather hip makeover
other intricate designs. MC Pressure’s writing kit: letters are as of late. Case in point: this stripy wool and
Desert dwellers, festival- better! The $35 stationery pack includes mohair number from Nancybird, $179 at
goers and bohemian greeting cards, stamps and stickers, and nancybird.com. It offers a flattering shrunken
road-trippers can find them encourages you to flex your penmanship fit, warmth for your middle and uninhibited arm
at dianadawwwn.com for a special someone. mcpressure.com movement. Now who could argue with that?

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spellbound
If witches shopped for
a chinwag with… Calling all yoga-loving homewares (working
willow giles from dusty health nuts with
latent Augustus Gloop
on the assumption
that they can’t simply
What’s the band’s origin story? Annie, our lead tendencies (we all ‘magic’ themselves a
vocalist, always wanted to name a pet cat Dusty. contain multitudes) – new couch), we have a
It’s a coincidence, as my grandparents’ cat was skip Wonka’s chocolate feeling they’d frequent
called Dusty. She was the most gorgeous little factory and head straight Californian designer
character and lived a long life, but left us due to for Loco Love in Byron Lauren Lester’s shop,
health complications. A couple of weeks after she Bay, where former whileodinsleeps.com.
was put down, the band asked if I wanted to be model and naturopath Lauren makes rad, slightly
their drummer, which I took as a beautiful sign. Emica Penklis whips spooky jewellery and
I immediately said yes. I’m the final piece of the up delectable vegan accessories, including
puzzle that makes up Dusty and, since then, we’ve chocolates packed this $115 Lucite wall
been having so much fun. Who would you most with good stuff adornment that ticks
like to tour with? Ocean Alley, Spacey Jane or like goji, matcha both the ‘goth’ and ‘will
WAAX. When do you feel most creative? We all and ashwagandha. probably scare your
feel super-inspired after watching other bands Never mind the fancy mum’ box. Wicked.
perform and after our own gigs, as we get to reflect ingredients; she had
on our playing and work on ways we can improve. us at “butter caramel
We also draw from personal experiences – from pecan”. Nab a two-pack
relationships and friendships to partying and for $11 at locolove.com
late-night adventures. What’s the music scene
like in your hometown? It’s intense and full of other
like-minded musicians. There’s an abundance of
local bands around Brissie and everyone is really
supportive. What would you do if you won the
lottery? Have a bougie tour of the world, then
party heaps! What can we expect from a Dusty
gig? High energy, good vibes and flawless fashion.

frankie feel-good
twin peaks Drum roll please… frankie feel-good is back!
Our special-edition mag dedicated to matters
These mountain bookends ($92) from Hachi and Tegs are supposedly of the mind is chock-full of insightful reads,
for kids, but we think even adults would appreciate their jagged tops, comforting real-life stories and useful tips for
Scandi-chic aesthetic, and, of course, their ability to keep your books giving your brain (and bod) a boost of good
from falling off their perch. Plus, the next time you feel inclined to buy vibes. You’ll find its sunny yellow cover on
another book, you’ll be reminded of the mountain of reads you haven’t shelves near you from July 4th. (New Zealand
yet touched. hachiandtegs.etsy.com readers can expect to see it from July 25th).

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beanie days
You’d think that, by
puppy love now, evolution would’ve
better prepared our ears
What separates human for frosty winter days.
beings from other Other than protecting our
species is our tendency eardrums from dust, all
to go “awwww” over tiny those skin-coated bits of
meet our cover artist objects with animal faces cartilage achieve is getting
laura winstone on them. Exhibit A is this
mini doggo pot from
so cold that they induce
a headache. It’s a good
Polkaros, a homewares thing McIntyre Merino
Hi Laura, tell us a bit about yourself. I am a children’s book brand founded in started making lovely,
illustrator, artist and teacher from Norwich, England. I love Tokyo by Ros Lee. but, most importantly,
collage, sewing, pottery and going on bike rides. We sense Can’t resist, either? Pick warm and breathable
that you have a thing for cats… I created this artwork from one up at polkaros.com beanies ($80 from
an art challenge I set myself one week. Rosie is our little for about $54. You’re mcintyremerino.com.au).
black cat and she sits wherever she likes: on fresh laundry, only human, after all. Merino? Meriyes, more like.
beds, wool blankets, jumpers or my lap. Rosie moved in a
few years ago, and she has been infiltrating my brain ever
since! What’s your process like? I’m really into collage.
It requires simple materials and you can use as much or as
little detail as you like. I start from observational drawings,
move on to some loose collages and add more detail
as I go. It’s a slow process, which is good for my mind.
What do you tend to do when you’re stuck for inspiration?
Go for a walk or bike ride; visit a museum and look at the
ceramics and textiles; switch to a different type of making
(such as dressmaking or ceramics), which feels creative
but gives you a rest from overthinking one type of work;
chat with a creative friend; have a rest. Where can we
see more? Online at laurawinstone.co.uk or on Instagram
at @laura__winstone.

the candlestick maker

check mate
If your tastes sit on a spectrum between 1950s cake
design and Princess Diana’s wedding dress, you’ll The chill vibes radiating from this bag might have
dig this kitschy, antique-inspired candle holder from something to do with the fact that its makers call
polymer clay artist Anamaria Morris. New Yorkers both Bali and Melbourne home. They named their
can find her wares in select boutiques, but if you brand Liburan, the Indonesian word for holiday,
don’t plan on being Stateside anytime soon, follow with the intention of making products you can
Anamaria on Instagram at @all___kinds for updates. take anywhere, whether it’s on an overseas trip
or a leisurely stroll to the café. This knitted tote
($80) is versatile indeed, and it comes in plenty of
other colours at liburan-mlb.com. We also happen
to be giving away four of the chequered styles at
frankie.com.au/win.

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shaka
power
Hang your coats,
hang your hats and a bit c
remind yourself to
“hang loose, brah” Pop down the
with help from this binoculars, birders
brass hook shaped (or anyone with pierced
like every chill lobes and an affection
surf bro’s favourite for our avian friends).
hand gesture. If We’ve spotted a very fine
post hunk coastal décor makes pair of red-tailed black
your heart swell cockatoos (worth $70)
Where do tablecloths and beach towels go when like a bitchin’ at Brisbane’s binkabu,
they die? Hopefully not the tip, because textile waste wave, head to who specialise in acrylic
is super-bad for the planet, and because it would pineappletraders. accessories shaped
be a goddamn tragedy for cute fabrics to wind up com.au with $45. like birds. There are
in landfill. We like to think they’re all off to textile currently three pairs
nirvana, which probably looks a lot like POST HUNK, up for grabs over at
a chequered, gingham paradise presided over by frankie.com.au/win.
local stylist Kirsty Barros (the creative mind behind Or, if you’re in search
Client Liaison’s kooky onstage looks). Kirsty’s of a different species,
apparel afterlife includes one-off duds made from fly straight over
deadstock and vintage materials, available only to binkabu.com.au.
through Instagram at @posthunk. Heavenly.

going full tilt

Melbourne designer Danielle Brustman
wasn’t aiming to reinvent storage through
her Chromatic Fantastic project – what she
did was skew a simple cabinet and recreate
for it in myriad shades. The result? Punchy,
angular designs we’d very much like to
Though we can’t promise that an apron by design queen Georgia Perry display in our abodes. You can admire more
will make your food taste better, it’s sure to add a generous pinch of of Danielle’s work at daniellebrustman.com
pizzazz to the cooking experience. $59 at georgiaperry.com

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the late-
night sads
get to know… beckah amani Ever lie awake at
night after a long,
Where did you write your new music? In my room during cumbersome day, and
the 2021 COVID lockdowns. It was a weird time creatively, dread having to get
but writing and exploring narratives about who I am, where up the next morning a modern
I’m from and how I’ve been shaped by the world helped me
through that tough period. What led to your recent move
to do it all over again?
“When will it end?”
lumière
from Queensland to London? We moved to Australia from you think to yourself, A candelabra sounds like
Tanzania when I was eight, and I went through a huge phase before curling up into something from the home of
of discovering new music and genres. I became obsessed a ball. Anyway, here’s an ostentatious opera singer
with UK artists – Amy Winehouse, The Beatles, Queen, a cute trinket tray by with gold toilets and marble
Adele, Florence and the Machine, Ed Sheeran. Then, at 13, Magda Archer that columns. Sitting Pretty’s
music became more than something I consumed – it became perfectly expresses sleek pastel designs, however,
personal. I knew I wanted to one day live and write music this feeling. $38 from are more suited to arty
in that part of the world where artists I love came from. thirddrawerdown.com Scandinavian types. If that’s
How has your family influenced your music? My earliest your vibe, pick one up from
memories are of Mum and Dad harmonising and writing pinkysstore.com for $150.
together. Dad was also a choir director. Having parents
who are musical, and music from Burundi (where they’re
from) certainly influenced my music. Burundian drums and
Burundian choir-harmonising styles are elements from my
heritage that I’ve put into my music. Top thing on your bucket
list? To sell out the O2 Arena in London. What might people
be surprised to learn about you? I’m a farmer’s daughter.
In a way, growing up on the farm made me fall in love with
plants. Watching them grow and develop brings me so much
joy! I’m also passionate about ethical and sustainable fashion.
I thrift and upcycle my old clothes, and sew my own clothes!

lovely lattes ahead all wrapped up

Nursing a piping-hot cuppa is This glorious quilt has been hand-stitched by women
a mighty fine prospect, indeed, in rural Rajasthan and took months to complete. It’s
no matter which receptacle you Little Tienda’s take on the kantha – a traditional form
choose. But it doesn’t hurt to drink of embroidery originating from the eastern parts of
from a vessel as lovely as this India. If you’d like to wrap yourself in swathes of cosy,
lilac check cup by Bei Creative’s floral-printed fabric, swing by frankie.com.au/win
Belinda Hartwich. It’s all yours for – we have one Flora Quilt to give away. Or, you can
$40 from beicreativestudio.com. visit littletienda.com.au after saving up $420.

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my favourite things with…

cool sounds hello, birdy
Favourite way to rev up an audience? Dainis Lacey: Ambrin hitting All righty. Let’s just agree that this is
a cowbell seems to do the trick. Favourite gig you’ve played? DL: I’m one of the raddest cardies in existence
a big fan of unusual shows. In Europe years ago, we unknowingly and everyone else can stop trying. It has
supported a Scandinavian pop star who had just come off The X not one, but two mighty toucans perched
Factor. At another show, we unknowingly agreed to jam with some on either side! Its eye-popping colours blast
local musicians. When we became aware of this, we got frightened dopamine straight into your brain! And it
and let the locals jam with each other. Four identical bald men with comes from Brazil, a country whose climate
black t-shirts got up and played strange music. The owner worried barely dips below 20 degrees. Impressed?
that the crowd might leave because the music was too abrasive, so It’s yours for $250 from farmrio.com
she got up and started scatting. Favourite way to wind down after a
show? Pierce Morton: Watching clips from Woodstock ’99 or Michel
Gondry music videos, and peanut butter, baby. Favourite comfort
food? DL: Piragi – small, traditional Latvian buns that are filled
with onion and bacon. They are simple but delicious and make the
house smell amazing when baked. Favourite holiday destination?
DL: Ambrin’s hometown: Münster-Sarmsheim, Germany. It’s tiny
and everyone knows everyone. Ambrin’s dad, Firoze, seems to be a
local celebrity. Favourite experience as a band? Ambrin Hasnain:
Touring in Brisbane and the Northern Rivers area with Shan from
Jet Black Cat. Shan and her friends drove us around in a minibus
and planned swimming and food stops along the way, which made
the tour seem like a holiday.

nice knitting patterns

oliage
’Tis the season for freezing your bum off at
grown bored of their plain old the bus stop, so get ready to layer up! If you’re
ey’d prefer to be popped in these in need of woolly garms and are in the mood for
gu Country planters instead. some clickety-clacking, grab your needles and
els feature artwork by Glenda visit spektakelstrik.dk to scoop up pattern-maker
ud descendant of the Kalkadoon Mie Firring’s ‘Breathe’ tee (about $10). Mie is
t Isa region of Queensland. Nab Danish, so we reckon she knows a thing or
s for $99 at lalalandshop.com.au two about keeping cosy in style.

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one of one
be my vallentine
Let the record show that Hobart
If you’re starting a creative biz and are agonising over the designer Noah Johnson is one helluva
direction of your brand, wondering how on earth to focus talent. Using 100 per cent upcycled
on one damn thing, let us introduce you to go-with-the-flow and secondhand fabrics, Noah stitches
designer Bianca Vallentine. Her brand, The Vallentine Project, together show-stopping patchwork
was a Perth fashion label until 2006, when Bianca moved jackets that would make your Nan
to Melbourne to explore film and design installations for cry with joy. Each of Noah’s pieces is,
events (including bar mitzvahs!). Nowadays, The Vallentine naturally, a one-off, so if you’re keen
Project sells homewares that are pretty and practical, like on any, you’ll have to keep an eye on
this $145 linen tablecloth. thevallentineproject.com oneofonearchive.com or his Instagram
at @oneofonearchive for shop updates.

p
The curvy, two-handled
shape of Greek pottery
is so distinctive, you’d holy hot sauce it's not a compliment
recognise it anywhere,
even if it’s made in cobalt Have you ever eaten something so spicy Street harassment is already high up on the
blue velvet instead of that it immediately turned your cheeks list of all-time sucky things. But what makes
brownish clay. Melbourne pink and roused streams of tears from it worse is how we’re expected to just brush
artist Caro Pattle’s work, your eyeballs? We often wonder: what’s it off. What kind of BS is that? Melbourne
Amphorae, is handmade the point of spice if it drowns out all organisation It’s Not A Compliment launched
using traditional basket- the flavours in your nosh? The foodies specifically to fight against these attitudes.
weaving methods. Finally, at Apostle tend to agree, which is why Their project, Your Stories Matter, is collecting
pottery that’s perfect for they make heavenly hot sauces that stories of street harassment – including where
those of us with butter won’t turn you into the weeping Virgin it happens and what it looks like – with the
fingers. To glimpse more Mary. They’re handmade in Paekākāriki, ultimate goal of informing Melbourne’s city
of Caro’s shatter-proof New Zealand, and will set you back planning to provide safer streets for all.
work, visit caropattle.com. about $11. apostlehotsauce.co.nz Have your say at itsnotacompliment.org.

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lucky kitty
Is Mercury in retrograde?
first times, last times with… baby velvet Have you stepped on a
bunch of cracks today? You
First time you travelled overseas? It was with four of my high-school may be in need of a lucky
friends, aged 18, to India, because we had watched The Darjeeling cat, or maneki-neko, a
Limited. We took a sleeper train, had all our money stolen (we got it common Japanese figurine
back), and two of the girls went to hospital for dehydration. Last time you thought to bring good
read a good book? I just read Dolly Alderton’s Everything I Know About vibes to its owner. This
Love. Whenever I get drunk, I send Dolly Instagram messages telling her cuddly version is made
how much that book means to me. First time you did something illegal? from Merino lambswool by
When I was 19, I had two older male housemates and had a huge crush US maker Colette Bream,
on one of them. One night he asked me to drop him at the pub. I was on and it could be yours to
my learner’s at the time, but played it cool. The second I dropped him off, snuggle for about $70.
I was pulled over by the cops. I had to go to court and lost my learner’s colettebream.etsy.com
for a year. Last time a song gave you goosebumps? Someone sent me
Flyte’s album This Is Really Going to Hurt. I’ve been obsessed! First time
you picked up an instrument? At age nine or 10 – my mum enrolled me
in piano lessons and had to bribe me with Spice Girls collector cards.
Last time you did something creative that wasn’t music? I’m also a
visual artist (@hannahmarjorieillustration). I’m currently painting an A2
watercolour for my song “Normal People”. First time you met one of your
idols? I spent my high-school years being obsessed with Grinspoon. When
All Our Exes Live in Texas filmed our first video clip for “Tell Me”, I met Phil
Jamieson from Grinspoon. He was so kind and funny to us on set.

horvat
nian creative Alja Horvat diy rug
eamt of having her own
n label since she was a Ooh! Crafty kinds will be stoked to hear
ne. After establishing herself that you can make your own fluffy rug thanks to
llustrator first, she later Craft Club Co’s kits. The Psychedelia (available
ed a small line of clothing, at craftclubco.com for $89) comes with all the
you can now peep in its instructions, tools and materials you need to
y at byaljahorvat.com. get stuck into it. Did we mention we’re giving
yourself for psychedelic away two kits over at frankie.com.au/win
and intergalactic prints. as well? Good luck!

017
 how to nail your 
small-business
marketing strategy
Strap in, friends – in the next two
minutes, you might just feel super-
inspired to adjust your marketing
strategy for the better. We've made
a video where marketing guru
Trish Martin from small-business
consultancy Chromatical shares
her top marketing tips with us.
Watch the short video here:
frankie.com.au/marketing-tips

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( p s it's f ree! )

f ra nk ie. c om. au /s t r ic t ly-bu s i nes s

hold the line
helga stentzel sees magic
in the mundane.
INTERVIEW EMMA DO
 pretty pictures

Tell us, how did you end up on the arty path? I have always been
interested in visual arts and design. As a child I wanted to become
an interior designer, then in the later years, my interest shifted
to advertising. I was drawn to the power of a big idea and the
challenge of expressing it in the simplest possible way. I enjoyed
working in advertising but the hours were crazy, so I left the
industry and started designing children’s clothing. In 2014, I made
an Instagram account for my business and started throwing my art
projects into the mix. To my surprise, those projects were so well
received that I started getting commissions from amazing brands.
It gave me a much-needed confidence boost to pursue a career in art.

Where did the idea for your Clothing Line Animals series come
from? A few years ago, I spotted a sock and some pegs in the
bottom of my laundry basket. I clipped the pegs onto the sock,
making what looked like a horse head. I thought it could become a
storage solution for pegs. One day, I was doing laundry again and
noticed that a jumper I hung on the line resembled an animal’s
body. I came back to the sock idea and put some clothes on the
line to make a horse. I was so pleased with the result.

How did you shoot the series? Some of my animals were shot in
a studio and then superimposed onto landscape photos from my
archive, but there are also those that were shot on location. The
polar bear, for example, was photographed in Russia last winter,
when it was minus 32 degrees. That project tested my equipment
as I had to run indoors from time to time to defrost the camera
(and my hands!). But it was worth it in the end, as the detail in the
final image is incredible: you can see every snowflake on the bear
and the clothing line.

What was the trickiest part of creating these images? Making sure
I had the right garments for the job, which is not as easy as it seems!
When I failed to find a suitable colour-block t-shirt for the cow,
I ordered a can of textile spray paint and dyed my little one’s t-shirt.
It worked a treat! I also embroidered a hat for the polar bear and altered
my husband’s shorts to make a good head for the Laundrosaurus.

How have you trained your eye to see beauty in everyday

objects? I used to spend a lot of time with my grandmother in
a village when I was little. The entertainment was scarce: there
were newspapers on agriculture and two TV channels, which
were equally boring. I learnt to entertain myself from an early
age. While in bed, I would look at the carpet on the opposite wall,
squinting until I’d see the flowers on it change shape and blur
into a peculiar dragon. Same thing with the floor: I saw parrots
and hedgehogs in the wood knots beneath my bed. It was very
rewarding to discover something everyone else in the family
overlooked; I felt like an explorer on a special mission.

When do you feel most inspired? After a good exhibition or a

theatre performance. Also, on a plane or in some remote place
with no distractions and no internet.

How do you hope people feel when viewing your work? I hope
people feel more connected to their inner child. I hope that they
smile and appreciate the beauty of the mundane.

Where can we see more of your work? In my online shop at

helgastentzel.com. I sell signed limited-edition prints of my
work which can be shipped worldwide.

020
pretty pictures

021
pretty pictures

022
pretty pictures

023
 something to say

Photo Hansel Wong

all aboard packed with two-year-olds through fun-size tunnels and past cute
(actually functioning) signals, and that it was in fact part of my job
(I had excitedly pitched the idea and wrote about it for free for a
YEARS DOWN THE TRACK, EMILY NAISMITH now defunct city guide).
CHOO-CHOO-CHOOSES TO EMBRACE HER
I should have realised I was a closet railway buff when I saved
CHILDHOOD PASSION. literally ever single Metcard (Melbourne’s former paper train ticket)
I had during high school in a special box under my bed – for the art
and designs on them, OK? Or maybe when I arrived at the station
hours early for one of my many regional train journeys to soak up
the ‘atmosphere’ of the bustling station (it’s a nightclub and the
main acts are the diesel–electric locomotives appearing on stages
7A and 3B). Or maybe when I put my toddler to bed after reading
Have you ever suppressed an interest in something because you him a book called Steam Australia: Locomotives that Galvanised
didn’t think it was ‘cool’ or because you weren’t ‘allowed’ to like it? the Nation and then settled back on the couch to continue reading
I’ve just realised that thing for me is trains. Steam Australia: Locomotives that Galvanised the Nation.

As a kid, my brother was the one who had mountains of train It probably should have also clicked when I took my son (aka
toys and a party on Puffing Billy (a heritage railway with old my decoy) to see miniature trains and I was literally frothing at
steam trains in Melbourne’s outer east). Apparently, I was also the mouth when I saw a tiny functioning steam train get fired up
given the opportunity to play with trains but I gravitated towards with little lumps of coal and release puffs of white cloud out of its
dolls. This may be true; however, I do remember being supremely chimney. We watched that thing for hours, and then when the train
jealous of my brother’s stripy train-driver-inspired overalls and was ready to go, I piss-bolted to the ticket booth, sending children’s
hand-knitted jumper sprinkled with train silhouettes. For whatever lunchboxes and limbs flying to ensure my “train-loving son” (ahem)
reason – gender norms, feeling my personality was ‘set’, and later, could ride on it.
the belief that trains absolutely aren’t ‘cool’ – I subconsciously
decided it was best to deny myself trains. But no, it didn’t click then. It was only a few months ago, when I was
finally sitting on Puffing Billy with my two-year-old, and the station
It’s taken me quite a long time to realise this interest in trains master was walking the length of the train ringing a big brass
was buried somewhere deep inside. Sure, I definitely should have bell, shouting that the train was about to leave, and then it left
twigged this when, as a fully grown adult, I invited a friend to a with a sweet little ‘toot’ and my tears started welling up and I had
miniature railway as a normal Sunday-arvo activity, instead of going to suppress my sobs – it was only then did I realise: “Shit, I might
to the pub or the shops or whatever normal people do. At the time, be into trains.” My train may have been decades late to the station,
I told myself it was ‘ironic’ and ‘nostalgic’ to ride a tiny diesel train but it has finally arrived. Toot, goddamn, toot!

024
 something to say

why dolly parton

is the greatest
CARO COOPER COUNTS THE WAYS.

Dolly Parton is universally adored. For a while there, when I was Dolly is pro-LGBTIQ rights and has spoken out in support
little and too dumb to understand much, I just saw boobs and that of trans rights, but she sidesteps most political issues. She
was all I knew of Dolly. She was a blonde boob punchline. But as I loves, understands and forgives all, maybe even you. This
grew and learnt and listened, I got it. She’s so much more – she’s helps Dolly bridge the political, racial and social divides, but
a queen, a savvy businesswoman, a voice for women (especially when you think about it, it’s sort of… unsettling. I love Dolly
working-class women), a unifier and bloody smart. She transcends for her authenticity, but how authentic can someone be if
her genre in a way so few stars ever could. And her dumb blonde they don’t take a stand or pick a side? Dolly’s too smart not
jokes are better than any that get thrown her way. to have an opinion on political and social issues, but she’s
also smart enough to know that would split her audience.
This article would be easier to write if I could just list the reasons At what cost, though, Dolly?
I don’t love Dolly Parton, like how she won’t answer my calls or
give me a million dollars. Also, she won’t outright claim she’s a Imagine the power of Dolly getting behind AOC for president.
feminist even though she knows – we know; everyone knows – Rhinestone that flag and start a revolution. At 76 you’d think
that she is a feminist. A feminst icon, even. In her own Dolly way. maybe her empire was big enough and she’d be ready to
lift that veil of mystery that shrouds the real Dolly. But why
If you don’t love “Jolene” or “9 to 5” you either don’t have a heart or should Dolly do what we want? It’s another Dolly lesson:
haven’t had enough wine. For God’s sake, she wrote “Jolene” and set your own limits; do what works for you.
“I Will Always Love You” in one day. What have you done today?
Dolly’s written close to 3000 songs over her seven-decade long You know what else Dolly keeps under wraps? Her tattoos.
career. I haven’t written my name that many times. She also gets Apparently she’s got a bunch of colourful ribbons, bows
up at 3am every day – maybe try setting an alarm tomorrow. and butterflies covering old scars. Rumour has it her arms
are covered in them and that’s why she always wears long
Dolly is a giver. And not just musically. Education is close to her sleeves or gloves. Keep us guessing, Dolly.
heart: she started the Imagination Library, a free book program
which has donated 178 million books to kids so far. She launched Unlike most celebrities, Dolly didn’t come from money or
a buddy program in her hometown that drastically reduced connections, which makes her success all the more inspiring.
high-school dropout rates. Just this year, her theme park, Her family was poor in the real sense – as in, ‘12 kids in a one-
Dollywood, announced it would pay the college tuition fees of room shack’, not poor like ‘can’t afford to Uber home’ poor.
any employees who wish to study. Dolly cares about (and raises Her uncle wasn’t in the biz, her cousin wasn’t famous and she
money for) teachers, hospitals, victims of bushfires and COVID-19 isn’t the wife of the owner of Sony. She’s as self-made as it
vaccine research. She rescues and rehabilitates bald eagles gets, and she’s worth about $600 million. Oh, and she holds
at Dollywood. And she advocates for sleeping in your makeup. three Guinness World Records and can still rock a Playboy
Sorry Kanye, but she is a god. bunny suit at 76. Her brilliance never ends.

026
my project

a cup a day
A DRAWING EXERCISE BECAME A RAD
ART SERIES FOR ANNA MAY HENRY.

Tell us about yourself in 25 words or less. I’m a still-life artist who makes
drawings, paintings, prints and ceramics of familiar objects that are
mostly food or food-related.

What is your Cup A Day series all about? I work very hard to make a
living from art, which can sometimes limit creative exploration and
experimentation. When I started my Cup A Day series, I was feeling pretty
bored with making the same safe and reliable money-making pieces that
I typically do. Giving myself a daily challenge to make fast and fun little
drawings allowed me to feel free and not get caught up in monetary
creative pursuits. Oh, and I love cups.

Why are you drawn to illustrating household objects? I’m a Taurus!

Just kidding. I see so many stories in household objects, particularly
in food and food products and how we relate to them. Budget foods,
for instance, can tell stories of both desperation and joyful resilience,
depending on our history and relationship with them.

Who is your work for? Ultimately, I am making work to process and reflect
my own experience, but what is amazing is how many people connect with
it. The bulk of my work is about my experience of growing up poor and
how it has shaped me as an adult, which seems to really resonate with
people. It’s a very vulnerable and invisible experience, so sharing it with
others who have been through something similar has been powerful.

What’s your life motto? I don’t have one life motto, but more of a fluid
rotation of various concepts that serve me in different times and in
different ways. “I’m a spirit experiencing a human existence,” “Not my
monkeys, not my zoo,” and this gem from my therapist: “Feelings are
for feeling.” I still haven’t taken YOLO out of the rotation.

Any parting words? Anything I’ve ever done that was worth doing has
felt really scary at first. Each time I try something new, I fear rejection
and ridicule. I say this because it’s good to remember that sometimes
the stupidest and scariest ideas are the best ones.

See more from Anna at annamayhenry.com or on Instagram at @annamayday.

029
 real life

four women open up about

their battles with endometriosis,
fertility, pcos and menopause.
WORDS AMNA QURESHI

031
Photo Carine Thévenau
Lana Launay started suffering from endometriosis symptoms when support during her journey. “She heard me and saw me and she
she was 15. “The pain was so bad, I couldn’t stand up,” she recalls. knew it wasn’t normal. I was young and had accepted that maybe
“Sometimes I would even faint.” By the time Lana was 21, she had I was just ‘sensitive’, but my mum didn’t.” It was her mum who
seen roughly 10 different doctors and specialists and endured took her to the hospital one day, concerned about her worsening
multiple tests and ultrasounds which each came back with no clear symptoms. Thankfully, a midwife agreed to see Lana and listened
diagnosis. She knew that something wasn’t right, and that her to her story, telling her that it sounded like endometriosis, but that
experience couldn’t just be normal. “It got to a point where it affected they would need to confirm this with a laparoscopy.
every aspect of my life – my work, my study, all relationships,
my physical and mental health. I was defeated and depressed.” “It was the first time any medical professional had not only
acknowledged that it was a possibility, but had taken my condition
Endometriosis is a condition where some cells, similar to those seriously,” Lana says. The laparoscopy found endometriosis
that line the uterus, grow in other parts of the body. People who wrapped around Lana’s left fallopian tube and the endometriosis
suffer from endometriosis can experience a range of different was removed then and there. The impact was immediate – the
symptoms including abdominal or pelvic pain, heavy periods or pain went away and her energy levels increased. “The procedure
irregular bleeding, bloating, and anxiety or depression related to changed my life,” she says.
the pain. It’s estimated that 1 in 9 Australians assigned female at
birth will experience endometriosis by their 40s, resulting in tens Looking back, Lana says one of the hardest parts of her experience
of thousands of hospitalisations each year. with endometriosis was its impact on her mental health. “I thought
I was just a lazy and unhappy person, but after I had the procedure,
Since all of Lana’s tests kept coming back as normal, her concerns I suddenly had so much more energy and realised ‘Oh, that wasn’t
were repeatedly dismissed. She was told that she was “sensitive”, me.’” she says. “You really can start to think that your suffering is
“overthinking it” and must “just have really bad periods.” At the time, part of your character, as opposed to a symptom of your condition.”
there wasn’t much information available about endometriosis; few Even today, Lana feels discussions around endometriosis often
were aware of the condition. Still, even today, it can take several years neglect mental wellbeing. “As women, we are told that ‘period pain
to get a diagnosis – the estimated average is about seven years. sucks.’ We are conditioned to put up with it and not question it.”
Think about that for a second. Seven whole years. It’s kind of crazy.
It has now been over 10 years since Lana’s laparoscopy and
“As a young person, you really rely on adults and professionals to she still actively monitors her condition, using diet and regular
provide experienced guidance and to offer reasonable solutions,” scans to stay on top of her health. Her last scan found ‘superficial
Lana says. “You want answers. So for people to imply that my endometriosis’, which means she still has the condition, but it is
suffering was due to my weakness was infuriating and belittling.” not deeply invasive and overwhelming like it was for her earlier
in life. “I’ve realised that there’s been so much new technology
Lana tried to tackle the pain with contraceptive pills and elimination developed and increased awareness about endometriosis since
diets, and while she had moments of relief, nothing seemed to my journey began, which has been really comforting,” she says.
actually cure her symptoms. Her mum was her biggest source of “It gives you hope.”

033
Photo Carine Thévenau
Monique Cormack found out about her fertility issues when she was support services. “I would have liked to have a support
27. She was all set to spend a couple of years in London – working, network that also looked at diet, exercise, lifestyle and how
travelling and having fun with her then boyfriend (now husband). that impacts fertility,” she explains. “That is a direct influence
Then came the unexpected news that she was not ovulating. on the type of work that I now do.”

“I previously had an eating disorder, and when I went off the pill, Monique has felt the shift in conversation in recent years –
I just didn’t get my period back,” Monique says. “It forced me to more people are starting to talk about fertility issues. (Around
come to the realisation at an early age that I was going to have 1 in 9 Australian couples of reproductive age experience
problems. I had just moved to London and wanted to have fun, fertility problems.) “It’s not discussed because people feel
but it really impacted how I enjoyed those years.” shame or failure when they can’t get pregnant naturally,” she
says. “I really thought there was something inherently wrong
In normal circumstances, Monique doesn’t think she would have with me. I also think difficult pregnancies are not spoken
been considering children in her 20s at all – but knowing that about enough. You don’t want to whinge about it because
it was going to be challenging made her hyper-conscious of it. there’s this portrayal of pregnant women as always happy
“It changed me – I spent so much time worrying about it and it and glowing, and that’s just not always the case.”
made me want to have a child more.”
Monique found that joining fertility support groups, reading
Returning to Sydney a couple of years later, Monique started online forums, doing her own research and receiving fertility
fertility treatment. After two rounds of IVF, she became pregnant counselling helped her get through the hard times. She
with twins. Although it was everything she wanted, the anxiety and now thinks that the root problem is the lack of education
worry about fertility still seeped in. “I was really anxious about we receive about fertility. “You aren’t given information
having the babies once I was pregnant,” she says. “I kept thinking on it at all – we don’t even understand the basics about
that I wasn’t meant to be a mother. I didn’t believe that I could fertility. The education when you’re younger is all about
actually be pregnant because I’d experienced infertility for so long.” not getting pregnant, but no one sets you up to understand
what you may need to think about in the future if you decide
It didn’t help that Monique’s pregnancy was a difficult one, leaving to have children.”
her on bed rest from 24 weeks onwards, and in hospital for much of
this. Her babies were also born premature and were in hospital for Monique has had another child recently – this time without
two months after the birth. “My experience of starting a family, having any medical intervention. Reflecting on her experience, she
babies and bringing them home was not a normal experience,” she feels conflicted. “I’m only a few months postpartum and my
says. “It changes the way you start the journey of being a mother.” hormones are still out of whack,” she says. “I’m struggling
with feeling like I have to be so grateful that I was even able
Monique is now a nutritionist who specialises in fertility. Her to have kids. I put a lot of pressure on myself to be happy all
own experience made her realise that while there were medical the time, but the reality of being postpartum is that it can be
treatments available, there was a big gap in the complementary lonely and challenging at times too.”

035
Photo Ben Zucker
It was a terrible misdiagnosis that eventually led Mahalia Handley was a game changer for Mahalia, and it inspired her to start
to discover that she had polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). doing the same with her friends, as well as on Instagram.
After being incorrectly diagnosed with cervical cancer at the age “I think it’s really important to have those conversations – I now
of 18, Mahalia went through a very stressful time with her family, talk about ovulation and cycles with my friends a lot,” she says.
trying to figure out what was going on with her health. At 22, she “I am grateful that social media has really helped to expand the
was finally diagnosed with PCOS, a common hormonal condition conversation around period stigma and to find people who have
that can cause abnormal periods, excessive hair growth or loss, the same symptoms.”
and cysts to grow on the ovaries.
She’s found that sharing her experience creates space for people
Mahalia has experienced debilitating period pain since she was a to respond with empathy, and to relate to her story. “Having
teenager. “I’d have to miss school and be heavily medicated to get the support of other women is so helpful,” she says. “If I’m on
through the pain each month,” she says. The raft of symptoms that a photo shoot and I tell women on set that I have PMS, they
come with PCOS vary greatly – aside from irregular periods, they understand that I’m in pain right now.” Similarly, she’s found
can include acne, mental health problems and difficulty managing solace in having supportive friends and family who appreciate
weight. PCOS can also impact fertility. that she’s sometimes in too much pain to participate fully.

After trying different types of contraceptive pills, which all gave Mahalia is grateful to be where she is today, and credits reading
her negative side effects, Mahalia was told that it would be hard up on PCOS and BDD, as well as being in therapy, with helping
for her to have children, and to mentally prepare for that reality. her to feel stronger in herself. Her increased awareness about
“This means you have to start thinking about children even though the lifestyle factors that improve her symptoms has also been
you’re really not ready to,” she explains. empowering. “It was very hard for a really long time, but now after
being diagnosed with BDD and understanding the effects of PCOS
Mahalia also suffers from body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and on my everyday life, I feel like I’m coming back to myself.”
feels that the PCOS exacerbated her BDD and disordered eating
patterns. PCOS is directly linked to low self-esteem, and like other The hardest part of her experience was getting an actual
hormonal conditions, its impact on mental health is often overlooked. diagnosis. “If I had just been given the information that I
Trustworthy information about diet and lifestyle can be useful in needed at 19, I think I would have been able to get through
managing PCOS symptoms – something Mahalia wishes she’d had it more easily,” she says. “Still, I think there’s just a lack of
access to 10 years ago. “Certain types of workouts and foods just don’t understanding about menstrual health.”
work for PCOS,” she says. “So you think you’re doing everything right,
but you’re actually not. For me, this led to obsessing about controlling Her advice to young people experiencing PCOS or struggling
my exercise and diet, which impacted my experience with BDD.” to understand when something feels off is to just keep at it.
“Do your own research, look into diet and exercise, see what
Mahalia is now a successful model and PCOS and BDD activist. works for your own body and continue to search for the right
Reading stories from other people who talk openly about periods treatment for you.”

037
Photo Carine Thévenau
It was the difficult experience of having a miscarriage that through it.” Nausheen also admits that her generation just
led Nausheen Qureshi to discover that she was going through doesn’t talk about hormones. “People in my age group
early menopause at age 38. “After lots of tests, we realised still don’t talk about it – there may be a comment here
that my oestrogen level was very low, which led to more or there, but even now, when my social circle is probably
tests,” she explains. “Everyone told me I was too young for going through it or have gone through it, no one talks
menopause – and that’s what I thought as well!” Eventually, about it. It’s just this hidden, not-discussed thing. I do think
after all the tests were complete, it was confirmed: Nausheen this is changing with younger generations, though.”
was definitely going through early perimenopause.
When Nausheen received her diagnosis 15 years ago,
Most people experience menopause (a natural process there was a distinct lack of information about how diet,
when reproductive hormones decline) between the ages of exercise and other lifestyle factors can help manage
45 and 60. Nausheen was still in her 30s when she first started symptoms. Another challenge was the bone and joint
experiencing symptoms. She was put on a contraceptive pill and pain that can come with early menopause. “Most people
later offered hormone-replacement therapy (HRT), but found would experience these symptoms in their 60s, so having
the advice and discussions around HRT to be very polarising: to go through this so early and dealing with severe
some people strongly warned against it, while others advocated bone and joint pain from quite a young age has been
for it. “I felt quite confused and overwhelmed,” Nausheen says. difficult,” she says.
“I just didn’t know if it was safe or not and there was a lot of
conflicting information about it.” After experiencing a range of In the last couple of years, ‘menopause cafés’ have
symptoms including irregular periods, hot flushes, night sweats, popped up across the world, aiming to provide a safe
mood swings, tiredness and irritability, Nausheen eventually space for women to meet and discuss their experiences.
decided to try HRT. Fortunately, she found that it relieved We are thankfully starting to see a burst of content,
many of her symptoms. stories and businesses emerging to confront and discuss
the subject after years of just simply – nothing. “What
Nausheen is now in her early 50s. “When I first found out, I had would have been helpful for me is support groups, online
this feeling of ‘Oh I’m old’ – but looking back, I was actually so resources, the information about diet and exercise – that
young,” she says. “You feel a bit like maybe society is done with just wasn’t available or at least wasn’t provided to me
you. You aren’t attractive and you don’t have anything to offer. back then,” Nausheen says.
But you do get over those feelings with time and eventually
you can even be empowered by menopause.” So what’s her perspective now that she’s reached her 50s?
“Menopause is a big transition either way – whether you
Going through menopause in her 30s meant that none of experience it early or not,” she says. “I missed my periods
Nausheen’s friends, or even her three sisters, could relate. initially, but then I started to feel like there’s none of the
“The hardest part for me was going through it alone,” she says. restrictions that come from going through the monthly
“There was no one to talk to because nobody I knew was going cycle. Eventually I got a feeling of freedom from it.”

039
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 music talks

Photo Chris Maggio

getting nostalgic the last generations to have grown up without internet, so I do feel
a responsibility to be like, “Look, you can do it without the internet.”

with… toro y moi

I’m practising healthier habits online, but that said, my whole job
relies on the internet, so I can’t really get too far away from it.

ON PROMOTING HIS ALBUM VIA A JEEPNEY I wanted a vehicle

THE SINGER-SONGWRITER REFLECTS ON to do fun pop-up parties with. Then, even if the pandemic wiped
THE THEMES OF HIS NEW ALBUM, MAHAL. out touring, at least I’d be able to engage with my surroundings
and create something for the record. The cultural aspect of the
Interview Shannon Jenkins jeepney was kind of serendipitous. It just appeared on eBay and
sat there for a couple of months and no one bought it. I took that
as a sign that I should make a move. The paint job is original, but
I added some ornaments to it and I got some new wheels. I also
fixed the engine – that took forever.

ON MAKING MUSIC THAT REFLECTS HIS HERITAGE It’s kind

of inevitable. And I feel like I’m at a place now where I’m not
ON CREATING A TIMELESS SOUND Time has a magical power searching for a voice; I finally feel really comfortable with my
over us. I like to write about how we use our time as my own voice. It’s rare to see a jeepney in the States and, being Filipino,
reminder that it’s easy to waste. It’s hard to make a lot of projects I felt like it was a good time to show my appreciation for the
sound timeless – even electronic music. The thing I’m striving for culture. The Jeep was shipped to the Philippines during WWII from
in my music is a certain amount of progressive thinking mixed the US. After the war, the locals chopped it in half and turned it
with a certain amount of traditional thought, and finding the into a public bus. I feel like I see my heritage in it; I am American-
balance between them. Filipino and I am ‘split’, so it’s interesting to see these parallels.

ON RECORDS Records are my favourite form of tactile media. It’s so ON CONNECTING WITH A NEW AUDIENCE I wanted to connect
fun to make records and to pass them down from generation to with a generation that doesn’t live on the internet. We’re so used
generation, as opposed to an iTunes playlist. I feel like my streaming to trying to connect with the younger crowd. To change it up
habits have affected the way I absorb a record, though. and try to appeal to an older crowd feels like a type of maturation.
When we’re driving the jeepney around, it’s mostly older people
ON UNPLUGGING I can see why older generations try to tell us who react, being like, “Oh my gosh, a jeepney. What are you doing
how to do things, because there is something in that message here? What is this party?” We get to break the ice a little bit, and
that is important to remember – we don’t have to be reliant on that’s pretty much all I could ask for. It’s got something appealing
technology. I like to keep that in mind. And, being 35, I’m one of that the older generation can connect to.

042
 around the house

Photo Sixteen Miles Out

spill the tea then rinse with clean water and hang dry. Hot tip: when dying
with tea, only use natural fabrics like cotton and linen – it won’t
work on the synthetic stuff.
HANDY WAYS TO MAKE USE OF STALE
TEA BAGS AND FORGOTTEN CUPPAS. BANISH DARK CIRCLES If your peepers have more bags than
a Prada store, try treating your delicate under-eye area to a cold
Words Shannon Jenkins tea bag. Steep a couple of black or green tea bags in hot water,
squeeze out the liquid, then pop them in the fridge until they’re
nice and chilly. Place the cool little parcels under your eyes, sit
back and relax while the caffeine and antioxidants do their work.
To soothe irritation, you can opt for a herbal brew and apply the
NEUTRALISE THAT PONG Nasty odours, begone! Tea has a tea bags as a warm compress. Just please, for the love of ocular
few handy properties (including bacteria-fighting tannins and health, don’t put piping-hot tea bags on your face.
super-absorbent leaves) that allow it to replace bad smells with
considerably less-bad smells. To see (or smell) the humble pantry PLEASE YOUR PLANT FRIENDS Turns out sipping on a warm,
staple in action, pop a few tea bags in any place that could use nourishing cuppa isn’t just good for you, it could benefit your
some deodorising (e.g. your stinky runners). After a few days, the nitrogen-loving plant pals, too. Rather than pouring the cold dregs
pong should be replaced with a fresh scent. If you’ve been handling of forgotten mugs down the drain, splash them over the garden
pungent foods like garlic, dip your hands into a mug of tea afterwards (but remember: while you may prefer your cuppa with milk and
– it’ll neutralise the smell. Loose tea leaves can also be sprinkled sugar, your plants do not). Add soggy bags to your compost to
in your moggy’s litter box, on the carpet, and in an open container speed up the decomposition process, or bury them in your pot
placed strategically in your dank fridge – the dry leaves will absorb plants and garden to provide nutrients and retain moisture (just be
the odours (just don’t forget to eventually clean them up). wary of any plants that prefer alkaline conditions, as the tannic acid
in tea can increase the acidity of soil). You can also spray cold tea
DYE YOUR DUDS Thrifty folks of yore have used tea and other on the leaves of plants to keep fungal diseases and pests at bay.
plants to dye fabric for yonks, and now you can use black, green or
even fruit tea bags to liven up a white t-shirt. All you have to do is SOOTHE BUG BITES Teas aren’t just tasty – the nifty tannins in black
steep a few dozen tea bags in a large pot of boiling water (the more tea and the catechins in green tea are also pretty effective in treating
tea, the darker the dye). Once the tea is sufficiently steeped, remove mild nibbles from pesky mozzies and other teeny-tiny insects. The next
the bags, then dampen the item you wish to dye with clean water time you get stung, steep a tea bag, squeeze out the moisture and
and submerge it in the brew. Remove after a few hours if you’re refrigerate it before applying to your bite. The cold compress will
after a lighter colour, or leave overnight for a richer, darker hue. draw out fluid and reduce swelling. If you want to soothe itchiness,
To finish, soak your item in cold water and vinegar for 15 minutes go for a chamomile tea instead. (Of course, when it comes to serious
(about two parts vinegar to one part water should do the trick), bites and painful ailments, don’t be a wally – go see a doctor.)

044
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 mantelpiece

the drawing board

ZARA PICKEN COLLECTS ILLUSTRATED
BITS AND BOBS.

Hi Zara, tell us a bit about yourself. I’m am illustrator living What makes a piece good enough for your collection? I look for
in the UK. I create illustrations for editorial, advertising and striking images. If I keep returning to look at it again then I know it
publishing for clients around the world. I have been collecting probably belongs in my collection. I am always looking for intelligent
mid-20th-century illustration ephemera for over a decade. concepts with imaginative visuals. If an image wins me over on
a more aesthetic level, I am usually swayed by charm, a certain
How did you pick up this hobby? I have always been something combination of colour, shape and visual quirkiness. Having said
of a collector, but ephemera became an interest when I visited all this, I’m a sucker for anthropomorphism and I will buy anything
Prague back in 2009 and spent time exploring antique shops featuring an inanimate object with a smiling face!
(where I ended up discovering Czech matchbox labels). Vintage
illustrations still felt relevant and I wanted to better understand Where do you find these treasures? There’s a certain romanticism
their significance to my own practice. There’s a design appreciation to the idea of sifting through vintage stores, but the scope of
side to it, but also a treasure-hunt aspect which is a lot of fun! items available on the internet is far beyond anything I would
come across by chance in a local shop. I mostly find pieces
Why do you focus on the period between 1950 and 1975? online at eBay, Etsy and AbeBooks, where I have finely honed
There was a real shift towards fun and informality during this era. my keyword-search skills.
Illustrators were eschewing the conservative styles preferred by
previous generations – instead they were choosing to embrace What can we learn from your collection? Viewers can see how
character, colour, wobbly lines and rough-cut shapes. The best visual trends emerged and set a precedent for the images we
work produced during this era was playful, stylish and witty, see today, from the use of character mascots selling products
encapsulating not only the optimism of the era but also the to the decorative cover that persuades us to read the material
ingenuity of illustrators adapting to new media and audiences. within. Paper ephemera gives us an insight into how society
Post-WWII, people embraced consumerism, so I am able to find has changed. For example, the existence of equator-crossing
a lot of illustrated material that was produced to fulfil the new certificates shows the ceremony and value given to an event
demand for advertising, before the rise of photography. which is barely commented upon today.

What do you love most about collecting this stuff? I like to collect What’s the weirdest thing you’ve found? There is a greeting
pieces from this time as I don’t feel the artists or artwork have card by Albany Wiseman (1930–2021) featuring a kangaroo with
been fully acknowledged – probably due to the transient nature a joey, announcing the ‘birth’ of a new newspaper in 1961. It is
of ephemera. I enjoy researching their stories. There are many an unusual idea but beautifully executed. The kangaroo is even
women and émigré illustrators who forged successful careers holding a tiny newspaper!
against the odds, and their work stands up well against the more
celebrated illustrators of the time. Where can we see more? On Instagram at @ephemeramablog.

047
 creative people

10 questions with… How was the pandemic for you? For a lot of people I know, the
pandemic was very transformative because it was the first time
in their life when they stopped and were like, “Oh my god, what
YASSMIN ABDEL-MAGIED am I doing?” I already had that transformative time two years
earlier when I moved to London, and I was just about to start
Interview Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen living again when the pandemic hit, so it was tough. But two
years later, I would say that what the pandemic did give me
was the space to lean in to being a writer in a way that I wasn’t
before. I’m much more interested in craft and how to tell stories
in different ways, and I’m taking myself a little bit more seriously
Yassmin Abdel-Magied is one of Australia’s most passionate as a creative and as an artist.
social advocates, speaking truth to power through her
writing and activism. Now based in London, Yassmin fills What have you been working on over there? I started writing
us in on her life overseas and her new book of essays. plays, which is totally fun, because I get a bit lonely sometimes
as a writer; I get a bit stuck in my head. One of the things about
It’s been almost five years since you moved to London. writing theatre is that you get to hang out with other people
What took you there? In June 2017, I came to London for a and workshop ideas.
Muslim women’s event and I was telling them about all the
drama in Australia [Yassmin received daily abuse and death How do you feel about Australia now, with time and distance?
threats after a social media post she made referencing ANZAC I know people are going to feel uncomfortable with this, but
Day]. They looked at me and were like, “What’s keeping you in one of my essays in my forthcoming collection, Talking About
Australia? Come to London. This would never happen here.” a Revolution, is essentially me thinking about giving up my
I went to another event, and it was just a room of young, Black Australian citizenship. The longer I stay away, the less interested
Brits. I’d never been in a room where everyone was young I am in the modern project that is Australia. I’m very aware of
and Black and had grown up in the West. I had no experience the privileges that my citizenship affords me, and it’s something
of the African diaspora like myself, and I remember being like, I really grapple with. But how can I be an anti-imperialist and
“I’ve got to have more of this in my life.” I revelled in the fact continue to choose to live in a settler-colonial land that’s never
that nobody knew who I was, that I could experiment with my been ceded? Here in Britain, it’s not necessarily any better, but
identity and what I was interested in. I’ve been doing public- I feel really removed from the Australian landscape, politically
facing work since I was 13 or 14, so I never got to play around and socially. I think there was a time I felt like I owed the country
with that, and I really delighted in it. something, but I don’t feel that relationship or allegiance.

048
Photo Leanne Dixon

Talking About a Revolution includes new essays, as well as is really exciting. Also, I have the humour of a nine-year-old,
writing from over the last decade. How do you feel looking so I need to channel it somewhere.
back on your past work? I put my new self right next to my
old stuff because it’s a demonstration that we are constantly What are your tips for aspiring writers? The final version of
evolving as people. You don’t have to know your politics at 22 something is so far away from your first draft, so it’s totally
– they’re going to evolve by the time you’re 30. What’s edifying OK for the first draft to not be Shakespeare or Sally Rooney.
is that I’ve always been interested in social justice. The way It’s really helpful if you can find one or two writer friends
that I thought about it might have been different – the way because it can be a scary and lonely thing, and we have the
that I understood what fairness looks like, what community tendency to be secretive and not show anyone our work.
looks like, and what understanding other people looks like – Building a writing community is really powerful and will
but it’s nice to know that I’ve not become a whole new person. help you sustain a writing career.

What are the best ways for people to get involved in causes What’s an important lesson you’ve learnt over your career?
they care about? Not everyone has the physical ability to I often joke that the name of this job shouldn’t be ‘writer’ – it should
turn up to protests, and not everyone has the energy to be be ‘rejectee’. You’re going to get so much rejection and if you can
able to organise. We all have different capacities, but we all find a way to build emotional resilience; if you can find a way to not
have something specific and unique that we can bring to a attach your self-worth to commercial success or literary accolades;
movement. Find out the thing that you love doing – whether if you can find a way not to attach your work to external validation
you’re an amazing artist or a software designer – and figure from the industry – because that is fickle and uncontrollable
out a way to contribute that to the movement. – you’re going to be much happier. I have goals for how many
rejections I want to get a year. So rather than being like, “I want
You’ve written novels for children and young readers. Why to get this residency and this opportunity,” my aim is to get 50
does this type of writing appeal to you? When you’re at that rejections. I’ve reframed it for myself.
age, you’re so curious and hungry, so you’re really open to
absorbing the kinds of stories that I’m interested in telling. If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what
It’s really powerful to be able to speak to that audience. There would it be? Your life is not going to turn out the way that you
is also the element of writing stories that I wish I had at that planned it to, and that’s totally OK. Just enjoy the ride.
age – there was nothing except Randa Abdel-Fattah’s Does
My Head Look Big In This? which came out when I was 14. Yassmin’s book, Talking About a Revolution, is out now. Yassmin
I remember finding that on the bookshelf at the library and my is also an ambassador for the Emerging Writers’ Festival, which
mind being blown. Being able to do that for a new generation runs June 15th–25th in Melbourne and online.

049
get 25% off frankie subscriptions

simply regist er a nd veri fy your student st atu s

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 looks we like

woolly
wonders
there’s never a dull moment in
designer ýr jóhannsdóttir’s world.
INTERVIEW EMMA DO

051
Photos Gunnlöð Jóna

052
looks we like

Hi Ýr, where are you from and what do you do? I’m a textile
designer, artist and teacher from Iceland, but currently based
in Berlin. I’ve been creating colourful, interactive, wearable knits
under the name Ýrúrarí since 2012. I mostly upcycle unwanted
secondhand jumpers and give them a new life.

How did knitting become your thing? In Iceland we learn how to

knit in school, when we are nine years old; that played a big role
in where I am today. I instantly connected with the medium when
I was young – I could even read comics while knitting at the same
time! Then, when I was 18, I reconnected to knitting in a different
way: I created a small line of jumpers for fun. I knitted the jumpers
from scratch and knitted extra patches, turning the garments
into characters. There was no turning back at that point.

Where does a design begin for you? I usually get my ideas by

looking at secondhand jumpers. I’ve mostly been working with
“unsellable” jumpers, so I also have to consider the holes or
flaws in them; what I have to cover or hide. Knitting is my way
of sketching, and I usually see every piece as a new sketch. 

What type of person do you design for? Someone bold, with

brave fashion choices; a person who wants to be seen. I’ve heard
my jumpers have been quite the conversation starter. People have
even gotten dates from them, so they’re definitely good for single
people or people looking for new connections.

You also design custom knits for musicians. Do you have a

favourite piece you’ve worked on? I think my favourite piece is a
custom-made jumper I did for Tierra Whack when she performed
at the Adult Swim Festival. Her stylist reached out to me with
some ideas, and soon after, I stumbled upon the perfect jumper
to work with. I made that one a bit extra, with lots of colourful
tongues, eyes popping out and big teeth.

How did knitted faces and tongues become your signature? The
idea was to turn jumpers into characters by giving them their own
personality and ways of expressing themselves when they move
around. Then the tongues came in later. What I like about them
is how chatty and a bit rude they look – the opposite of what is
expected from hand-knitted pieces.

What’s the best thing about working with yarn? Calculating and
experimenting with knitted loops and seeing something as simple
as spun fibres being shaped into new things. I also specialised
in machine knitting in my BA program in textile design – that’s
even more satisfying: seeing small stitches become what I
visualised in my head.

What inspires you? The everyday inspires me: facial expressions,

human behaviour and movements of the body. My idea is to make
the everyday more fun; if everyone wore fun clothes, it would just
be more fun to look around and exist.

What’s the creative scene like in Iceland and how does it

influence you? The creative scene is quite colourful, and I’ve had
some good influences. Most artists from my generation had Björk
to look up to. Her style and approach are a huge inspiration. We
are also very lucky with nature. Being in such a small community,
it’s easier to stand out. I feel like people are less afraid of taking
risks when creating.

Where can we see more from you? On Instagram at @yrurari. I’m

also teaching quite a few workshops this year, mostly in Germany
and other countries in Europe.

053
 learn something new

OVERUSED, MISUNDERSTOOD OR
DOWNRIGHT UGLY – THE FONTS WE LOVE
TO HATE HAVE CURIOUS BACKSTORIES.
Words Toby Fehily

The world’s most hated font was Most people are shocked to learn that the Steve Matteson describes designing
technically not intended for human creator of Papyrus was paid only £750, type as almost like writing music.
consumption. When creating Comic Sans, or roughly AU$4,500 today, for his work. And the guy has cranked out a few
the typographer Vincent Connare was Some, however, would argue that even bangers over the last 30 years,
thinking about a dog. It was 1994, and that paltry sum is too much. In 1982, creating more than 90 typeface
Connare was tinkering with Microsoft Chris Costello was working at an ad families. But a lot of people may know
Bob, a user-friendly Windows interface agency and doodling on a piece of paper him best for his oeuvre’s equivalent of
featuring a talking pooch named Rover. when he accidentally hit on a calligraphic, the Crazy Frog song: Curlz. Released
Connare had no problem with the concept almost hieroglyphic style. (He was, in 1995, it’s a cutesy font riddled
of a talking dog per se – it was the font unsurprisingly, ruminating on peace, God with swirly curls resembling, in a
in Rover’s speech bubble that stretched and the Middle East at the time.) No one less-than-generous interpretation,
credulity. “Dogs don’t talk in Times New wanted to buy his font at first – except for ingrown toenails. Matteson stands
Roman,” he later explained. So Connare a small British company called Letraset, by it when it comes to some specific
set about making a font fit for man’s best which ended up writing Costello that very use cases, though. For example, he
friend, inspired by the hand lettering in small cheque in 1984. For more than a reckons the font worked rather well
comic books. Comic Sans shipped with decade, no one wanted to touch Papyrus, in the title sequence for the 2003
Microsoft 3D Movie Maker in 1995, then until it was licensed for Microsoft Office film Elf, its curls echoing the curly-
wormed its way into Windows 95. By in the mid-1990s and really took off. toed slippers of an elf. Outside of
1999, an online campaign was already Nowadays, you’d have to write cheques elf-related multimedia, however, you
calling for it to be banned. But that doesn’t to get people to stop using the font: it might be hard-pressed to find any
necessarily mean we should throw the font crops up everywhere – especially, as an overly relevant applications. Matteson
to the dogs: Comic Sans is recommended infamous Saturday Night Live sketch puts admits even his own daughter isn’t
by the British Dyslexia Association as an it, in the film Avatar as well as “hookah a fan, putting paid to the notion that
accessible font for people with dyslexia. bars, Shakira merch, off-brand teas”. it’s a font for girlz.

054
 learn something new

“It’s fresh, it’s crisp, it’s as modern as In AD 113, an ancient Roman with a chisel Fonts can get creative when it comes to
milady’s new chapeau…and it’s called bunged out an inscription on the base of a names. Georgia, for example, is named
COURIER,” read the ad copy. If the column, and according to one calligrapher, after a tabloid headline the designers
reference to “milady’s new chapeau” wasn’t we haven’t managed to top it ever since. used as a sample sentence when
already a strong hint that Courier may The American calligrapher and Catholic creating the font, which read “Alien
no longer be so fresh, crisp and modern, priest Edward Catich prized this Trajan heads found in Georgia”. Impact’s story
consider this: the font was first designed by alphabet, so named for its appearance is a bit more straightforward: Geoffrey
Howard “Bud” Kettler for IBM’s typewriters, on the Trajan Column, and called it “the Lee, a British advertising design director,
back in 1955. It managed to stick around for best roman letter designed in the Western meant it to “have an impact”. Be careful
so long in no small part due to the fact that world, and the one which most nearly what you wish for. Originally created
IBM chose not to trademark it, leaving it in approaches an alphabetic ideal”. Figuring in 1965, Impact was a bold font that
the public domain. While Courier remains ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’, an Adobe font stood out in front of pictures. By the
the font of choice for writing screenplays designer by the name of Carol Twombly time it was bundled with Windows 98,
(its monospaced uniformity makes it a used the ancient typeface as the basis Impact still led the pack when it came
breeze to read on the printed page), some for her newly created Trajan font in 1989. to legibility over images. And so, in the
see it as a dinosaur in the digital age. In Unfortunately, a lot of other people also early 2000s, as it approached its sixth
2004, the US State Department announced adopted this ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ decade of existence, the font finally
it was putting the font out to pasture as mentality – particularly movie-poster found its ultimate and unexpected
its official typeface, replacing it with the designers. While it would make sense in, impact: as the font of choice for cat
newer-sounding Times New Roman and say, Gladiator, Trajan keeps cropping up in pictures on the internet. Starting in
its “crisper, cleaner, more modern look”. the most unlikely, decidedly-not-Ancient- 2003 with a photo of a British Shorthair
Problem is, the “more modern” Times Roman of places as an almost default font, saying “I can has cheezburger”, Impact
New Roman is actually two decades older from The Bodyguard to Crouching Tiger, has since been plastered across millions
than Courier. Oof. Hidden Dragon and The Human Centipede. of ‘image macro’ memes.

055
 Photos Joshua Burns

Toy Yeon Cafe, Chelsea, Victoria

 our project

chinese
restaurant
road trip
anna satin and joshua burns’s side
project involves lemon chicken, vintage
duds and awesome interiors.

What made you start documenting Australian Chinese How do you find the restaurants in your photos? AS: I spend a
restaurants? Anna Satin: It began around six years ago as a lot of time looking online and I’ll dig around for up-to-date photos.
way of combining our love of road tripping, op shopping and I’ll home in on a particular area on Google Maps and virtually travel
vintage clothing. Our quest is to photograph Chinese restaurants from town to town, searching for restaurants that fit our aesthetic
that are time capsules and have noteworthy aesthetics. criteria. If the owner has used modern chairs or some other décor
that’s really jarring, then it doesn’t make the cut. There are only
What do you do for a crust? AS: I’m currently mothering a few restaurants that we have discovered out of chance along
a one-year-old, which is taking up all my time and energy. the way. The furthest we’ve travelled to take photos is Far North
When I do go back to work, I’ll hopefully return to freelance Queensland, and we really want to get over to Western Australia.
writing. I’m a very visual person and am passionate about
film, art and fashion. Joshua Burns: I currently freelance as an How many restaurants have you photographed now? AS: We lost
editor and audiovisual designer for stage productions and art count! Over 100, but not all have been published on our Instagram
installations. I take the photos for Chinese Restaurant Road account yet. And we’re nowhere near finished!
Trip and Anna location scouts and comes up with most of
the costume ideas. What do you love most about the look of these old-school
restaurants? AS: I love being transported to another time and
What’s your relationship to the classic Australian Chinese place. For me, they’re like living film sets that you can walk right
restaurant? AS: Growing up in a small town in Australia, into. You have elements of the traditional Chinese architecture
classic Chinese restaurants to me represented a way out – mingling with more low-key vintage details like wooden veneer.
a way out of the mundane, the Anglo-centric, the homogenised
and white-bread sameness of my surrounding cultural What have been some of your favourite experiences on your
landscape. It was my own portal to paradise. It was only later road trips? AS: There’s an intangible quality distinct to Australian
that I came to appreciate the fascinating migrant history behind Chinese restaurants. At the Sapphire Chinese Restaurant in Inverell
them. The Australian Chinese restaurant is an institution and (whose glorious interior dates back to the early 1960s), I fondly
an important part of Australia’s heritage. JB: Growing up, my recall fronting up to the smorgasbord during lunch rush, wearing
family would always frequent the local Chinese restaurant. We shorts and thongs and not feeling out of place. At Hing Wah in
moved around a lot and there was always a Chinese restaurant in Dubbo on a Saturday night, the sound of the State of Origin on
each town. It was often the first choice of venue for celebrations the transistor radio rose up over the clang of fiery woks sizzling in
such as birthdays. You could walk in with a large group – no the kitchen, and the shrieks of children at the neighbouring table.
booking required – and they would always be welcoming. It gave the place that unmistakably Australian ambiance.

057
Kingsland Chinese Restaurant, Boronia, Victoria

Any notable meals? JB: There was one restaurant we visited

which served a ‘Chinese Broccoli’ dish that was Chinese in name
only. It had steamed broccoli florets like you’d get down at the
local RSL, served in a sauce comprising of what we decided was
Heinz tomato sauce and freeze-dried garlic granules. There was
a mystery ingredient in it that to this day I can’t quite put my finger
on – perhaps Chinese five spice, although that might have been a
bit daring for this place!

What’s one thing that surprised you while embarking on this

project? AS: Finding regional dishes from China on the menu
in quite remote places, often due to a chef in the kitchen being
a recent migrant. That diversity is exciting when you come across
it. JB: The influence of the Chinese restaurant is more far-reaching
and integral than we first realised; they exist even in the most
spartan town. The number of Chinese bistros you come across
in bowls clubs around Australia is impressive.

Do you think old-school Australian Chinese restaurants have a long

future ahead? AS: Some are disappearing, and it is hard to say how
many will remain a time warp and not be modernised in the future.
However there is a growing interest, especially among younger
people, in vintage aesthetics and preserving and celebrating the
past. I think the age of COVID has made people look closer to home
for inspiration, and I hope this renewed interest will ensure longevity
for some of the overlooked classic Chinese restaurants in suburban,
regional and rural areas. The menus will continue to evolve, but
people will always be hooked on the classics.

Where can we see more? AS: On our Instagram at

@chineserestaurantroadtrip.

058
Kingsland Chinese Restaurant, Boronia, Victoria

059
Sing Hing, Sylvania, New South Wales

060
 writers’ piece

A CHIP OFF
THE OLD BLOCK
four writers wrestle with the age-old question:
are we destined to become our parents?

By two seconds for a waiter to bring

his pinot. I’m usually embarrassed
shame closet to rear her apoplectic
head and alarm all my loved ones.
Kate to be with him in public. Dad is
a former professional diplomat Once, I summoned New Jersey
Stanton – who is so undiplomatic he will Kate (like the witches from The
say, “Fuck the French!” directly Craft summoned Manon) when a
I refuse – absolutely REFUSE, to French people IN FRANCE. He creepy man refused to leave a cabin
do you hear me? – to believe we’re is never wrong; to him, almost I had booked in a national park.
all doomed to become our parents. all other people are [insert New When the unsuspecting innocent
I am determined to avoid this fate Jersey accent] “fuckin’ imbeciles”. working the phones suggested we
because it would mean turning into “share the cabin”, and I sensed my
my dad, the love child of Frasier I’ve spent my life trying to be kind, sweet-tempered husband on
Crane and Danny DeVito. I am not the opposite of my dad, peppering the verge of giving in, I unleashed
exaggerating. If you met my dad, phrases like “I hope this is OK!” New Jersey Kate. I puffed up my
you’d see that this is the most and “Sorry to bother!” through all chest, relished the white-hot
uncannily accurate description of conversations and correspondence. rage flowing through my veins
a person ever written. Dad has the I am hyper-self-critical, anxious and bellowed into the phone that
personality of Frasier Crane; he’s and insecure. If a waiter failed to there was “no way in hell, you
a demanding, pontificating elitist show up with my pinot, I would imbeciles!” At least that’s what I
prone to long-winded lectures probably apologise to them. think I said, because I swear to God
about wine, jazz and international I blacked out. They gave us the park
relations. Dad also has the jumpy, Unfortunately for me, and everyone manager’s actual house instead.
diminutive physical presence of around me, the DeVito–Crane
Danny DeVito; they are both from demon is my genetic inheritance. I’m afraid of New Jersey
New Jersey, and speak so similarly It’s always simmering under Kate. She’s the embodiment of
that watching DeVito play a the surface. When threatened, everything that annoys me about
degenerate wacko on It’s Always I possess a great and terrible my dad. I worry that my lifelong
Sunny in Philadelphia makes me power, which is to manifest my effort to be kind, moderate and
want to crawl out of my skin. dad’s persona and become someone compassionate is just a cover for
we call ‘New Jersey Kate’. She’s the latent megalomaniac lurking
It shouldn’t surprise you, then, that a bull. She’s unhinged. She will in my genes. But I have to admit,
I have a complicated relationship start convulsing if anyone has too, that New Jersey Kate is
with my dad. He’s not the fatherly the audacity to challenge her kind of a bad bitch. The gal has
ideal. I wasn’t raised with his opinions on important matters, chutzpah. She is not afraid to say
gentle guidance or strong but silent like the best adaptation of Pride what she wants. I wish I were a
presence. Instead, I grew up with and Prejudice or the correct version of her that could use those
a loud, opinionated, emotional way to assemble a pizza. Though powers for good. Because isn’t that
and impatient man who starts I usually keep her at bay, she what we’re supposed to do: become
convulsing if he has to wait over occasionally escapes my internal better versions of our parents?

062
By was not unlike my parents. By
Instead, pulling out some photo
Jack albums, I clocked in an instant Eleanor
that I was a terrifying deepfake
Vening – composite of my folks in their Robertson –
younger years – except one born
Recently someone asked me if I into a nightmare housing market, Let’s get this out of the way right
remember the first time I became with none of the lax smoking laws. up front: yes, I am turning into my
aware of my parents’ fallibility. parents. As night follows day, as the
Their wording was better: “When I began tallying similarities: I talk pope shits in the woods, you will
did you realise your parents could in my sleep like my mum does; turn into your parents. It’s like
fuck up as badly as you can?” I jump at loud noises like my dad. trying to hold back the tide. One day
I have the same apparent genetic you’ll be secure in your identity as
For me it was coming home from a predisposition for rolling my a successfully individuated adult
blissful Timezone outing to find my ankles if I walk on anything other human, and the next day you’ll
dad screaming on the floor. In a big than a mathematically perfect find yourself paralysed by the
dad mood, he’d thrown out his back plane. Sometimes when I blow conclusion that, much like your
and, unable to summon somewhere my nose it sounds like a trapped genome itself, you are a tightly
better to wait the hour until help animal crying out in distress. imbricated mesh of both your
came, he’d hobbled across the parents. Anything that seemed like
house to sprawl between the nice I felt uneasy for the rest of my your own kicky little texture is
big bookcases in the living room. visit. Then one night, creeping out revealed to be just a section of your
of the house long after midnight personality where the two threads
I’d been thinking about this to look at the big summer moon, combined in a slightly unusual way.
episode for other reasons, which a little drunk and full of ham,
have less to do with my parents’ I wondered for the first time if my All-time California state baton-
fallibility than my own. Firstly, parents had done this too. Did they twirling champion Karl Marx has
like many other people, I’m not sneak out in the summer? Did they a great line about this topic: “Men
fully convinced I’ll ever die. wake most mornings a little make their own history, but they do
For much of my life it was the scared of what the world would be not make it just as they please; they
same when I thought about ageing, like that day, before doing some do not make it under circumstances
too. Getting older was something breathing exercises they’d learnt chosen by themselves, but under
that happened to other people. through their equivalent of an app? circumstances directly encountered,
Meanwhile, I sort of assumed (A cereal box? Were cereal boxes given and transmitted from the
I’d always look this way: 6’2”, apps?) When did they realise they past. The tradition of all the dead
unsettlingly sun-damaged, having weren’t going to be everything they generations weighs like a nightmare
a blissful Timezone experience with thought they would be as children? on the brain of the living.”
a bunch of other 12-year-olds. And when did they realise that
this was OK – that all they had She was talking about cultural
This changed when I was visiting to do was care for themselves and and economic tradition here, but
home for Christmas last year and, others, and to try not to worry it applies just as well to the more
somewhere between finding out about fucking up, no matter how microcosmic questions of “Why do
the Wikipedia app is the most- badly or frequently it happened? I find myself sounding like a carbon
used thing on my and my father’s copy of my mother when I’m on the
phones, and discovering that my I’m still reckoning with how phone?” and “Why do I have a deep,
mum’s glasses prescription is much of my parents I am (my genetic urge to give people dire
just a fraction off my own, I was dad is British, so I’m waiting warnings about the dangers of using
struck with the sudden realisation to encounter the everyday horrors occy straps incorrectly?” (That one
that I was my parents. Not that I of becoming an Ageing British comes directly from Papa Robertson.)
was becoming them, or that I was Man). But time unkinks even
witnessing echoes of some future the most tangled of headphones. It is unavoidable that you learn
parentification. I was already them I know now that one day I will the habits of being human from the
and had been for longer than I knew. lie down to scream among the people who raised you. This isn’t to
bookcases. If I’m lucky I’ll have say that, if your parents are shit, you
How long had this been going on? someone I love come help me will inevitably repeat their mistakes
How deep did it go? I’d expected after an hour or two, depending – as Marx says above, we do make
a glacial turn, some slow dawning how well they went at Timezone. our own history. It’s just that the
of (gracefully, handsomely) I may also end up living forever, material we’re given to work with
becoming someone who, at best, but the jury’s still out on that one. is provided in advance. Even if you

064
successfully avoid turning out like By I love my mum, but if I ever
your deadshit folks, you’ve still start doing that, bop me on the
spent your life in conversation Deirdre head (that expression happens
with their failures. People whose to belong to my mother, also).
parents are really exceptional and Fidge –
successful often have a similarly I’ve never truly dreaded turning into
difficult time getting out from under A few months into having my driver’s my mother. She is a fiercely brave
the shadow of their achievements, licence and a car of my own, I realised and acutely intelligent person housed
worried they won’t measure up. I associated leaving my mum’s house in the body of a short, gentle woman.
with a feeling somewhere between She makes me laugh like no one
This might seem a little depressing annoyance and stress. But why? else. I’ve had friends and partners
or deterministic, especially in a I love my mother dearly, and we alike remark on how similar we
culture that values individuality are very close. Visits are lovely and are, and this feels like an act of
as highly as ours. Everyone wants rejuvenating. So why this feeling? nature, not nurture. We see things
to be a unique and precious flower in the same light and often reach
with unrestricted free choice. It was because Mum, god bless her, the same conclusions independently.
Anything that ties you down or has a tendency of remembering a
puts limits on your ambition is Very Important Thing To Say right My mother is a compassionate
perceived as toxic baggage you need before someone drives off. It doesn’t and sensitive person, and talking
to offload, so that you can be an matter if that person has spent a politics with her brings me immense
unencumbered beam of pure light whole day or week with her. “Oh feelings of solidarity and hope – a
and ambition. I am the distilled wait, just one more thing!” she’ll say dynamic I am very grateful for and
essence of pure creation! I am on a apologetically, while still waving appreciate that not every family has.
journey whose steps have never been goodbye. Her timing is perfect. Whenever I receive a compliment, it
taken before! …Daaaad! Why do I It’s always right when I close my feels like my mum is inadvertently
sound exactly like you when I burp! car door. That is when the Very being praised too, because any
Important Thing To Say bursts into good qualities I have are a direct
But that’s not the way I look at it. her mind. My response: annoyance. result of being her daughter.
People complain all the time that life
doesn’t come with a manual – but No matter our age, parents elicit Despite this, the prickles of familial
what are your parents’ lives if not a a childlike regression in us from annoyance crop up in me from time
valuable guidebook tailored especially time to time. We’ve all been around to time, followed by a cloak of shame
for you? Here are people who probably friends or partners when they and guilt. OK, so maybe there are
have the same timbre of tipsy snore talk to their parents, and it’s like things you don’t have in common,
as you do, as well as a bunch of more witnessing a momentary Benjamin like how every farewell becomes an
important similarities. What worked Button transformation. These fully information-giving session. That’s
for them? What didn’t? Here’s a great grown adults suddenly transform fine. Grow up and be patient.
shortcut life gives you so that you into teenagers, whining and
don’t have to reinvent the wheel, moaning and digging their heels in. I wonder if the intensity of fear
like a chump, and stumble around Why do they have to be so annoying? some people have of becoming their
blindfolded tripping on the same parents is as strong as my fear of
rocks your fourth great-grandmother “Every time!” I’d groan into the not becoming my mum. What if
Gertrude tripped on in 1828. steering wheel, before stepping out stress takes over my kindness,
to hear what parting words Mum or my neuroses fog my compassion?
It can be difficult to pull off this had to say. Without fail, it’d be What if my impatience takes over
move, especially in earlier life, something that would never warrant and I become a miserable, lonely
when every fibre of your being is my annoyance. “Don’t forget the book person instead of the open-hearted
telling you to differentiate yourself you wanted to borrow!” or “Good luck person who raised me? What if
from your parents, cut the apron with [whichever of my life crises she I forget how to be playful and
strings, and join a travelling circus calmly listened to for the last day].” spontaneous with humour and give
backpacking around Timbuktu. But Or sometimes, “Love you madly.” in to the self-critic and become a
chances are you’ll discover that one big, dark cloud who never smiles?
or both of your parents did something And so annoyance becomes guilt. (I told you I was neurotic.)
similar to escape their parents, How could I take this incredible
and there’s a collection of family woman for granted? We all have But then – something happens.
travelling circus portraits going little things about us that might Last week I walked a friend to her
back several generations. “Mum, you seem irritating; why can’t I just car, and as she was getting in, words
were a desert acrobat – which tax have more patience? And then burst out of me: “Oh wait, just one
form do I need to fill out for this?” an extra dollop of secret guilt: thing!” And with that, relief.

065
 around the house

homebodies
steph wilson’s london home
is chock-full of foliage.
WORDS GISELLE AU-NHIEN NGUYEN PHOTOS LEANNE DIXON

Stepping into Steph Wilson’s home, you’d be forgiven for thinking waterings,” she says. “People think you have to water your
you had somehow ended up in a jungle. Plants hang from the plants once a week, but it just doesn’t work like that. That’s
rafters and sprawl across the floors; leafy vines snake all the how you kill plants. You have to feel the soil and monitor
way up high ceilings. It’s a slice of tranquillity in busy Brixton. how it actually looks.”

The home, in South London, wasn’t always this dreamy; when the Steph’s hot tip for renovators who want to create a jungle home
photographer bought it five years ago, it was rundown and mouldy. of their own? Concrete floors. “When I water the hanging plants,
“It was not anything Instagram-worthy,” she laughs. But the 1880s there’s often water drainage on the floor and it just means I mop
building, designed by an architect who built churches, ticked all it up and it’s not an issue,” she says. “I’m very glad I didn’t go for
the right boxes: it had enough space for a studio, heaps of natural incredibly expensive wooden floorboards – that would have been
light and unusually high ceilings for a London property. Plus, the an absolute nightmare.”
only other prospective buyer was an Olympic trampolinist.
A former vintage-clothing seller, Steph is passionate about
Steph got to work creating her ideal home: somewhere that felt secondhand, and has sourced all of her furniture this way. “When
full but still open-plan and spacious. “I did a lot of renovation stuff is new and expensive-looking, it feels very ostentatious,”
work and completely gutted it – walls knocked down, new doors, she says. “I sourced the main pieces of furniture – the central
new kitchen, new bathroom, everything,” she says. “It was already sofa, tables, desks – up north at Newark Antiques Fair.”
a lovely space, and I think the reason it hadn’t sold previously
was because people lacked the foresight to see what they While the grand living room, which Steph sometimes rents
could do with it.” out for photo shoots, is the main attraction, her favourite part
of the house is the bathroom. Originally two separate bathrooms,
Steph shares the home with her partner Tom, their Pomeranians she combined it into a bigger space to allow for a bath and
Ham and Flower, an aviary of Gouldian finches and canaries, and open shower. A skylight lets the sun in. “It’s probably the most
a parrot named Tomato. Tom works at Kew Gardens, and has colourful room – it has a pink floor,” she says. “Plants do best
some nifty skills for maintaining the couple’s impressive plant there because it’s so humid and bright. Whether it’s a cactus
collection. “A lot of them are from eBay or Gumtree, or rehomed or a fern, everything seems to just thrive there.”
or gifted,” Steph says of her plants. “It’s really about form – I love
asymmetry. When a plant leans off to one side, I find that fun. The home is a stone’s throw away from Brixton’s bustling main
I don’t like plants that are too perfect.” strip, which is dotted with shops and food outlets. “Brixton is
known for being incredibly multicultural, but it is becoming quite
While an abundance of indoor greenery might suggest a strict gentrified,” Steph says. “Hopefully it can maintain the character
watering schedule, Steph says that it’s more about understanding it’s always had. There’s a fantastic Afro-Caribbean community
the needs of each individual plant. “If I see a plant and it looks like here with food and culture, vibrancy and energy. I’m hoping it
it needs some water, I’ll give it some – nature doesn’t schedule stays the same.”

067
 something to say

the warm and fuzzies Chewing it over, it makes sense that the objects that help us
deal with separation and loss often stay with us for life. But it does
suck when those very same things abandon us. Especially as there
EMILY FIELD PAYS TRIBUTE TO OUR seems to be some sort of dual fallacy that, just as you only get one
COMFORT OBJECTS. true love, you only get one true comfort object. The good news is
of course: that’s bullshit, because, what is the fluffy jumper that
smells of gran if not a comfort object? What is the pillow we bury
our face in when we can’t face the world? Or the old baggy t-shirt
we sleep in that feels like our night skin? What is a comfort object,
if not these things?
When I’m uneasy, I chew writing implements. I’ve been doing
this ever since I surrendered my dummy remarkably late in Plus, not all comfort objects are chew toys, or even soft and fluffy
life in return for “anything in the world. ANYTHING.” (I chose a either. Staring long and hard at colleagues over the years has
cheap doll’s pram and still regret not choosing a Baby Born.) made that abundantly clear. One former colleague had a rubber
Having been swindled out of my dummy, I turned to chewing Tyrannosaurus rex he clutched like a talisman when typing. Another
pencils and pens instead, and nothing has convinced me to stop kept a photo of a family I’m pretty certain didn’t come with the
gnawing them since. Not the dentist warning me of vertical frame. And one chap had a cushion he snuggled when anxious
cracks, or the frequent realisation that I’m chomping on someone and occasionally humped (he was an office dog, so). All of us cling
else’s soggy pre-chewed pen. Not even the passive-aggressive to something to calm the cortisol – whether we realise it or not.
TV script my colleague wrote about a woman with a “filthy
pen-chewing habit” has put me off it. Why? Because comfort. Just now, as I clutch a ‘hug mug’ while chewing a firm but yielding
HB pencil, I’m reminded of how many objects exist to provide
Most of us have something we cling to or chew for comfort. comfort – whether it’s a pair of fake glasses promising to make
At the very least, we had a transitional object growing up, like us feel smarter, a threadbare pair of grundies or indeed a cuddly
a dummy, blankie or teddy that helped us deal with emotions too teddy (the collective noun for teddies is ‘hug’, so comfort is basically
big for us. Apparently, many of us still have one. And, get this: guaranteed). Times being what they are, this is not something to
according to a Travelodge survey in the UK, a quarter of business turn our noses up at. These little anchors of luck or home can be
folk take their teddies on work trips. Shock, horror! We’re all as big as a doona and as small as a thimble. And if ever you do spit
just big babies. And if I, at age four, hadn’t left Ellie the Elephant the dummy or lose it, know that you can always turn to something
in a hotel, she’d still be travelling with me instead of hogging as readily available and stress-relieving as a pen. Just be sure
the place in my memory labelled ‘first loss’. to check it’s actually yours before you sink your teeth in.

072
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 my project

a place for everyone

ILIANNA GINNIS WANTS THE DESIGN
WORLD TO CONSIDER THE NEEDS OF
NON-VERBAL PEOPLE.
Words Kate Stanton

How good is a room of your own? A space where you feel safe Or there’s no place for non-verbal individuals to retreat when
and independent and are surrounded by stuff you love. Being in they have sensory overload,” says Ilianna. “Neurotypical people
a comfortable and functional space is especially important for are able to say, ‘I’ll leave.’ Non-verbal people can’t express that, so
people with cognitive disabilities, who might be extra sensitive they might cry or panic or cover their ears. Then they’ll never come
to weird sounds or lighting, and who can’t always express their back. That’s the result of not being considered in the process.”
feelings in the traditional way.
There are heaps of things we could do to make spaces more
Ilianna Ginnis learnt that first-hand while growing up in inclusive, according to Ilianna. More shopping centres, for example,
Darwin and Melbourne with her younger sister Michelle, who could have indoor gardens or access to nature, which is inherently
has an intellectual disability and is non-verbal, which means she soothing. Restaurants could have special menus with pictures
communicates mainly through gestures or with the aid of images. of the food to cater to folks who are non-verbal. Public buildings
Ilianna and her family made Michelle a room of her own – one could set aside times during the day where the lighting or sounds
decorated with calming pink and blue lights, as well as a special are more welcoming to people with significant sensory issues.
communication board. Part daily diary and part chat room, the
board is where Michelle and her family stick images to talk to What’s most important, though, is communicating with non-verbal
one another (when Michelle sees her teacher on the wall, she people and their families about what they might want and need in
knows it’s a school day). The family even covered a wall in fake a space. They can’t discuss their likes and dislikes like neurotypical
grass. “When Michelle feels a little overwhelmed, she comes up people do, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have opinions about
to the wall and presses her hands into the grass,” Ilianna says. ways to make interior design work for them. “Just because someone
“It soothes her.” can’t speak, it doesn’t mean they have nothing to say,” Ilianna says.

Public spaces are a bit harder to deal with, though, because When a Melbourne disability caring agency commissioned her to
they’re not designed with folks like Michelle in mind. “When she redesign its respite home, for example, Ilianna worked closely with
goes to a shopping centre, and there are all these people, she’ll five non-verbal folks to create a relaxing weekend retreat. She got
panic, because she can’t see from end to end, and the lighting to know them by exploring and interacting with the world the way
is so yellow,” Ilianna says. “She feels like she doesn’t have the they did – touching different textures around the home or watching
control to express herself.” dappled sunlight as it moved along a wall.

Now in the second year of her PhD program at Monash University, “If they want to play with rope, for example, I’ll mimic their gestures,
Ilianna is on a mission to give non-verbal people like her sister which creates a language between us. They can show me how they
a voice in the design world. As an interior architectural designer, like to tap the rope. I’ll tap it with them, and it creates this bond.
Ilianna is creating guidelines for including cognitively diverse They understand that I’m speaking their language,” Ilianna says.
people in the process of designing private homes, as well as “It’s using these non-traditional forms of communication to get
public spaces, like museums, schools or hospitals. someone to tell me how they feel, what they feel, and what they
like. I use that information to build a design with them.”
According to Australian government figures, about half a million
Australians have an intellectual disability, and a majority of those Most architects and designers don’t have any experience
have severe communication limitations. While architects and builders communicating with someone with an intellectual disability,
do tend to consider the needs of folks with physical disabilities Ilianna says. That’s a bummer, because they’re missing out
thanks to Australia’s Disability Discrimination Act, Ilianna says the on perspectives that could add subtle layers of richness to
profession is way behind when it comes to awareness of people any design. Ilianna is trying to fix that by bringing awareness to
with intellectual, non-verbal or cognitive disabilities. “They’re a small inclusive design through panels, speaking events and participatory
percentage of our community, and because they don’t talk, and they workshops with academics, designers, doctors and families of
avoid public spaces, you don’t see them,” she says. “Architects just people with disabilities. She says architects are super-receptive
haven’t been exposed to it as an issue.” to what she has to say, and curious about what they can change.

Ilianna also works casually as a disability support caregiver, “Exclusion is the worst part of architecture. So if architecture has
helping a range of clients from age five to 60 with tasks like the opportunity to create relationships, create empathy, and let
showering, cooking or running errands, so she hears from heaps people feel free in their spaces, architects should be aware of
of family members and carers who feel left out, too. “They’ll say they that,” Ilianna says. “That’s what I would love to see in the future
can’t go somewhere because it’s too loud, too bright or too dim. – holistic environments that educate and connect people.”

074
 075
Photo Sarah Ruhullah
 pots and pans

chocolate salami HOW TO

Makes 2
WHO CAN RESIST A SWEET SLICE?
Melt the chocolate in a heatproof glass bowl over a saucepan
Words, recipe and photo Sophie Hansen of simmering water.

Meanwhile, beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until
pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the egg and whisk on low
speed until well combined. Pour in the melted chocolate, whisking
slowly as you go, until fully incorporated into the mixture. Fold in
the biscuits, nougat and hazelnuts.
This chocolate, hazelnut and nougat roll ticks every box for me
when it comes to dessert – it’s done well in advance and it’s Divide the mixture in half and place each half on a sheet of baking
a hand-around situation, which means so much less fuss and paper. Using damp hands, form the mixture into two sausage
washing up. I like to serve it with some fresh fruit and jellies. shapes and wrap tightly in the paper, twisting the ends to seal.
Place in the fridge to set for at least 3 hours before slicing and
INGREDIENTS serving with coffee.

1 1/3 cups (200g) roughly chopped dark chocolate

1/2 cup (125g) butter, softened
1/4 cup (50g) caster sugar
1 egg
100g amaretti biscuits, roughly chopped
150g hard nougat, roughly chopped This is an edited
150g hazelnuts, toasted, skins removed extract from Around
the Kitchen Table by
PREP TIME Sophie Hansen and
Annie Herron, published by Murdoch
15 mins, plus 3 hours chilling Books and available now for RRP
$39.99. Scan the QR code for more
COOK TIME frankie recommendations.

5 mins

077
 nine to five

on the job I’m an environmental engineer by training – that’s my day job.

From October last year to March this year, I was lucky enough
to be working as part of the environmental remediation team in
KASEY WILLIAMS SPENT SEVERAL Antarctica. We work down there to remediate – basically, clean up
MONTHS CLEANING UP ANTARCTICA. – legacy fuel spills. I only stayed for around four months, but there
are also people who stay over the winter. There’s no scientific
As told to Rebecca Varcoe research that goes on over winter, but the tradies stay and keep
Casey Station up and running so that during the summer months,
when it’s warmer, we can actually do our work there.

Antarctica is such an incredible environment, and it’s so important

that we dedicate money and resources to keep it as pristine as we
can. It’s a fickle environment and it could all be gone in a matter
of years. Research needs to happen in Antarctica, but as a result
of humans being there, there is an impact on the environment.
There are a lot of generators and machinery needed to keep things
running, and every now and then there will be a fuel spill. My job
is to clean those up, but also to work out the most efficient and
environmentally friendly way to do that.

I know everyone says no two days are the same, but literally no
two days were the same down there. We’d be predominantly out in
the field, working, or sometimes at the station, cleaning up existing
spills. Or we could be air vacuuming – which is literally just like
using a big industrial vacuum to suck up contaminated dirt.

There are naturally occurring bugs in the soil – microbes and

microorganisms – and they degrade the fuel. They eat away at
the fuel to the point where it’s clean enough that it won’t cause
any human or environmental impacts. So we work to arrange
contaminated soil in a way that enhances the naturally occurring
processes of these little soil microbes. Then if we’re building a

078
road or we’re constructing a new building, we can use the recycled Sometimes we get to go off station and go on recreational trips to
soil as a base to build the new structure on. cool places like old explorers’ field huts. But of course there are
no toilets there, so you’re out in the middle of Antarctica peeing in
We get to go and take soil samples where the penguins hang a bottle because you don’t want to impact the environment. You
out so that we can replicate that soil when we’re fixing up the then have to carry that around until you get back to the station
land. We get to see seals, too. But polar bears are just in the and dispose of it. There are all sorts of things like that, that you
Arctic. When I applied for the job, they were like, “That’s the just don’t think of!
number one question people will ask you,” and they weren’t lying.
There are heaps of different birds in Antarctica, too. And there’s Casey research station can house up to about 100 people. That
a thing called tardigrades – they’re a little organism that can number fluctuates throughout the season, and people predominantly
survive in space. They may not seem that great or exciting, but come from Australia and New Zealand. I live at home on my own
the fact that they can all survive in such a harsh environment in Australia, so getting thrown into living with all sorts of different
is pretty incredible. Sometimes you just have to stop and have a people was a challenge, but also such an incredible experience
mindfulness moment and think, “Far out, I get to work alongside because you meet so many people with awesome stories.
these incredible species as part of the office.” It’s wild.
Never in a million, bazillion years did I think that my job would be in
There are awesome days where there’s not a cloud in the Antarctica. I’ve come from a mining background, and environmental
sky – we’ve gone and done our soil sampling and life’s good; consulting. I absolutely love that, and I just thought my life would
everything’s gone to plan. But on the flip side, there are also be working on different industrial sites around Australia and the
days when things are logistically challenging and things just world. I’ve had a great career so far and I’ve really enjoyed it, and
don’t line up. There are lots of challenges working in cold, then I wound up in Antarctica and it just shoved it up a notch.
windy environments – a lot of times we work in 30- to 40-knot
winds. When I was out working on a site towards the end of the Don’t ever think that you’re not capable of something incredible.
season, it was getting down to minus 18 degrees. Even going I came from a pretty low-socioeconomic area, and it was just about
to the bathroom can be really challenging because you’ve got getting through school and getting a job. I don’t know everything
so many layers on! there is to know, but I was still able to land this job and make a solid
contribution and grow and learn; you’re always learning.
But eventually you get the job done, and I’m very grateful to work
with such an incredible team down there. We all stick together, I know everyone says don’t give up, but I would just say: find
and when you reflect back on that, you think, “Holy shit, we’ve what you’re passionate about and work your absolute hardest.
grown so much.” That only ever happens when you’re outside You could end up with something really cool and make a positive
your comfort zone. contribution to the world.

079
Photo Rod Pilbeam Model Jessica Cook
 get crafty

how to sew a
balloon-sleeve
dress
OOH, HOW SWISH!
Words and project Daisy Braid

My projects are super-easy to make because they’re based on

simple shapes and are constructed with no buttons, zips or darts.
I think it’s much easier to understand garment construction
when you’re starting out if you break things down into basic
shapes. And then, when you see clothing in stores and on
runways, you will start to think to yourself, I can make that,
or even better, I can make my own version of that. And you can!

Remember that there is only one size: size YOU. This project is
self-drafted, based on your own measurements; there are no
patterns to trace, so you can customise it to fit your body the way
you want it to. You make the rules, choose the fabric, and decide
just how big the sleeves will be (never big enough, in my opinion).

MATERIALS

– sewing machine – pins

– iron and ironing board – safety pin
– woven fabric – tailors chalk or a
– matching thread washable fabric marker
– fabric scissors – pencil
– measuring tape – scrap card

PATTERN PIECES

Bodice: cut 2
width = full bust + 10cm (4in) + 2cm (3/4in)
height = high bust to belly button (includes seam allowance)

Sleeves: cut 2
width = top of shoulder to under bust x 2 + 2cm (3/4in)
height = edge of shoulder to wrist + 2cm (3/4in)

Skirt: cut 2
width = bodice width x 1.5 + 2cm (3/4in)
height = belly button to desired length + 2cm (3/4in)

Knitted elastic for wristbands, 1–2cm (1/2–3/4in) width: cut 2

length = circumference of wrist + 2cm (3/4in)

081
 diagram 2

diagram 1

diagram 3

diagram 4

How to clip seams

Reduce bulk and help curved seams lie

better by clipping the seam allowance.
Use this method for concave curves
on underarms and necklines.

To clip a seam, make a straight snip into

the seam allowance, stopping before the
line of stitches.
 get crafty

METHOD

MAKING THE BODICE AND SLEEVES With right sides facing together, align the centre marks on the skirt
with the marks on the bodice and pin. Align the side seams and
Hem the top edges of the bodice rectangles with a 1cm (1/2in) pin. Spread the gathers evenly and tighten or loosen as required
double-fold hem. To sew a double-fold hem, simply fold the until the circumference of the skirt loop is the same as the bodice.
raw edge over once and press, then fold over a second time Pin and then sew a straight stitch to attach the skirt loop to the
and press again. Pin and then stitch a straight seam along the bodice. Once you have attached your gathered fabric, you may still
edge of the fold. be able to see the gathering stitches, but don’t worry – these can
be unpicked when the garment is complete.
Hem three edges of the sleeve rectangles, starting with the sides
and followed by the top edge, with a 1cm (1/2in) double-fold hem. Sew the wristband casings and insert elastic at the end of each sleeve.

On the right (patterned) side of the fabric, mark a square on the A casing is a tunnel sewn into a garment to enclose a drawstring
top left corner of each of the bodice rectangles that begins 15cm or elastic. In this project, I use self-fabric casings, which means the
(6in) from the top and 15cm (6in) from the side. Repeat on the top casing is included in the design and measurements of the project.
right corner of both bodice rectangles. (See diagram 1.) The height of a casing will depend on the width of your elastic,
so I like to make a template using a piece of card.
With right sides facing up, align a top corner of one of your
prepared sleeves with the square marked on the front bodice To make a casing template, cut a piece of card to the
rectangle. Pin in place and repeat on the other side of the bodice following measurements:
rectangle. Repeat for both sleeves with the back bodice rectangle,
and then try on the bodice and adjust the placement of the sleeves length = as long as the card allows
to suit you. Ideally, you’d like them to sit in a way that they don’t height = width of elastic x 2 + 5mm (1/4in)
slip off your shoulders. Make any adjustments to both sleeves so
that everything is even. Once you are happy with the placement, Fold the garment edge over 5mm (1/4in) to the wrong side and press.
topstitch the sleeves in place with a square. (See diagram 2.) On the wrong side of the fabric and using the template, trace or mark
a line along the top pressed edge of the sleeve all the way around.
Fold the bodice with the right sides facing and sew up the side
seams of the bodice and sleeves. (See diagram 3.) Clip the seams Fold the top edge to the line and pin. Sew a straight stitch along the
under the arms to reduce bulk. Leave the bottom of the bodice casing edge, leaving a gap about 5cm (2in) wide to insert elastic.
unhemmed. Turn the bodice right side out and mark the centre
front and back along the bottom edge. (See diagram 4.) Pin one end of the elastic near the hole so it won’t get pulled all
the way through. Attach a large safety pin to the other end of the
MAKING THE SKIRT elastic and insert it through the hole. Guide it through the casing
all the way around until it reaches the hole again.
Place the skirt rectangles together with right sides facing and sew
the side seams to create a loop. Mark the centre front and centre Overlap the ends of the elastic by about 2cm (3/4in) and pin
back of the skirt loop. Gather the top edge of the skirt loop. together with the safety pin. Make sure the elastic isn’t twisted
inside the casing. Try on the garment and adjust the length of
How to gather fabric Gathering draws a piece of fabric into the elastic if required. Stitch the elastic ends together with a
puckers so it will fit into a smaller area. It involves adjusting the zigzag stitch, going back and forth a couple of times to make
stitch length to the longest length and tension to the loosest option it nice and secure.
to sew a basting stitch. Backstitching is not required when you sew
gathering stitches because you will need to spread and move the Push the elastic inside the casing, stitch up the hole and
fabric along the threads. snip loose threads.

Turn your machine to its longest stitch length and loosest stitch Lastly, hem the bottom of the dress. Snip loose threads and press.
tension. Pull out a long tail of thread – about 10–15cm (4–6in) long
– from both the top spool and bobbin threads.

On the right side of the fabric, sew a straight line 5mm (1/4in) from
the edge of the fabric. Your machine may start to gather the fabric This is an edited
by itself, so after sewing this first line, spread out the fabric again. extract from Sew
Then sew a second straight line 1cm (1/2in) from the edge of the It Yourself with
fabric. When you reach the end, leave a long tail of thread in case DIY Daisy by Daisy
you need to spread the gathers more. Braid, published by Hardie Grant
Books, available now for RRP
Gently pull either both of the spool or both of the bobbin strings $32.99. Scan the QR code for
to tighten the gathers, or spread the puckering along the stitches more frankie recommendations.
until the gathered fabric reaches the length required. Then pin it
onto your garment.

083
 a life in
pictures
the photobook project helps
people living with dementia
to share their experience.
WORDS ELIZABETH WHITEHEAD
 our project

Creative vision has always been at the heart of Ronald Amanze’s I support them through creative arts? How can I support them
life. A son of Jamaican migrants, Ronald drew on his love of to capture their experiences and keep their skills going?’”
reggae music to start Time Radio, a pirate radio station in London,
during the late ’80s. Then, at just 58 years old, Ronald received Ellie began introducing a disposable camera that was passed
a dementia diagnosis that would shape his life forever. around on the walks. Each week, the group focused on a different
theme that they wanted to capture: spring, textures, sounds.
Living with dementia has its challenges: the things we take for Each theme evolved into a multimedia photo book that included
granted, like our memory, concentration and speech, start to paintings, illustrations and written pieces by the participants.
wane. But Ronald wants others to know that living with dementia
is not only about loss: extraordinary beauty and possibility still Research shows that creativity can slow, and even reverse, cognitive
remain. This message of hope is what prompted him to become decline due to how it engages the brain. But for The Photobook
an ambassador for the UK initiative The Photobook Project project, the role of the arts extends far beyond the cognitive benefits.
– an arts-based project that empowers people with dementia “The project is making a case for the role of the arts and how it can
through creativity. Using disposable cameras (and other media), empower people with dementia to tell their stories and be active
participants are invited to document their everyday experiences agents and artists in that process,” Ellie says. “It’s about learning
and stories on a selected theme. The results are then curated into new skills and building new connections. It’s self-evidence of
professional photo books, enabling the artist to share their story what’s possible with dementia.”
and vision of the world.
Over the past few years, the project has collaborated with
Creative-arts practitioner and the project’s founder Ellie Robinson- communities from all over, extending across the UK and over
Carter understood the connection between art and wellbeing early to the Netherlands and Japan. The resulting photobooks offer
on. The seed of The Photobook Project was planted during her beautiful snippets of life from people with dementia all around the
teen years, when her grandfather received a dementia diagnosis. world. Through the dreamlike and distinctive graininess of 35mm
“My granddad was an artist, and I felt like he really responded well film, they show scenes of togetherness, joy, serenity and nature
to creative activity,” she says. “The importance of that was really, – people smiling, creating and spending time with loved ones.
really clear from his experience.” The intimate snaps depict a different side of dementia to what
we normally see – one full of colour and heart.
The Photobook Project bloomed a few years later when Ellie (then
studying illustration) began volunteering with a local dementia “People say things like, ‘I haven’t come out of my house for the whole
walking group in Cornwall. “I felt captivated by how important that pandemic. But this has brought me out, and I feel part of something.’
group was for the members,” she recalls. “They were having these People’s carers have said they feel like this is the first time they’ve
lovely conversations and moments in nature, but then maybe not seen life through their patient’s lens or perspective. I think it brings
remembering everything when they got home. I thought, ‘How can carers closer to them, and their loved ones as well,” Ellie says.

085
our project

She recalls one of her favourite photo books that she curated:
“There are a few participants who were bed-bound. One of
my favourite books is from one gentleman who took part from
his bed. He took a photograph every day for a month. You see
things around his bed changing, and you realise his life from
this particular space. It’s a really beautiful book.”

The Photobook Project aims to break the stigma surrounding

dementia by shifting the emphasis away from ‘loss’ to the possibility
that remains in life. The negativity in our cultural perception of
dementia is what causes many people to lose confidence after a
diagnosis. For those affected by the condition, the stigma can make
trying new things or engaging in creative arts seem completely out
of reach. “People immediately think, ‘Oh, I can’t possibly do that.’ But
actually, they can with the right support,” Ellie explains. “For many
of our participants, I think it can be the beginning of them realising
what’s possible with the diagnosis. People go on to have more
confidence to do other things.”

One of those people is Ronald Amanze. After a hiatus, he’s made a

comeback to music. He’s even hosted a reggae episode of the BBC’s
Memory Radio show, to start a dialogue surrounding dementia. Ronald
sees his diagnosis as an opportunity to embrace a new, enriching
phase of life. And by collaborating with The Photobook project, he
hopes to empower others through the arts: to help more people to
understand that life doesn’t have to stop with a dementia diagnosis.

Recently, Ronald co-produced My Dementia Life Matters, a photo

book series that captures the unique stories of 20 different BAME
(Black, Asian, and minority ethnic) communities throughout the UK.
“The Photobook project allowed me to actually be expressive of me,”
Ronald says. “I have a record of my life – physically, image-wise it can
be seen, it can be appreciated beyond just words.”

086
 it's in
the bag
say hello to some
eye-catching accessories.
PHOTOGRAPHY SHELLEY HORAN STYLING BRIDGET WALD
ART DIRECTION ALICE BUDA, EMMA DO
 style

Left: Dos Ombre Bengali Bag in Stripe 012, $55, dosombre.com. S-kin Studio Esme pearl chain bracelet, $89, Verona bracelet,
$79, Anna pearl bracelet, $199, Roma III signet ring, $142, Evangeline curved ring, $134, Dante ring, $128, s-kin.com.au. Above:
Bul Mirto bag in caramel, $220, bul.com.au. Rollie Derby City in pewter crinkle patent, $189.85, rollienation.com. S-kin Studio
Paperclip chain bracelet, $49, s-kin.com.au

089
 style

Above: Woven basket tote bag in purple, $180, knapstore.com. Radical Yes Adventure Awaits slip-on clog in mango nubuck,
$269, radicalyes.com.au. Right: Poppy Lissiman Kenny bag in lime green, $195, poppylissiman.com. S-kin Studio Anna pearl
bracelet, $199, Verona bracelet, $79, Dante ring, $128, Patricia heirloom ring, $89, s-kin.com.au

090
 style

Left: Perple mini Nami bag in red, $189, perplewomen.com. S-kin Studio Paperclip chain bracelet, $49, Patricia heirloom ring,
$89, Roma III signet ring, $142, Esme pearl chain bracelet, $89, Verona bracelet, $79, Anna pearl bracelet, $199, s-kin.com.au.
Above: Simétrie Thick Crescent Moon bag in lavender $599, M Crescent Moon bag in lavender, $349, simetrie.com.au.
S-kin Studio Dante ring, $128, Patricia heirloom ring, $89, Paperclip chain bracelet, $49, s-kin.com.au

093
 style

Above: Kimi Schieren two-toned velvet snake tote, $95, kimischieren.com. S-kin Studio Anna pearl bracelet, $199, Verona
bracelet, $79, s-kin.com.au.

094
 ART PRIZE 2022

CALL FOR ENTRIES

Global Exposure + Over US$57,000 In Cash & Prizes To Be Won!
The Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, now in its 5th year, is an annual non- “Giving the practices of representational artists validation and visibility,
acquisitive international art prize that celebrates diversity and excellence in particularly in the commercial gallery and museum sector where it is still hard
the representational visual arts.  to get representation, is what the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize aims to achieve. “
— Danijela Krha Purssey, Beautiful Bizarre Magazine
It includes all static mediums including Traditional Art media, Digital
Art media, and Photographic media; and all styles from realism and 2022 AWARD CATEGORIES
hyperrealism, to pop surrealism and lowbrow. • RAYMAR Traditional Art Award
• INPRNT Photography Award
The Prize seeks to inspire creatives from around the world to pursue a life and • iCanvas Digital Art Award
career in the arts, and to help careers grow through funding and increased • Yasha Young Projects Sculpture Award
exposure of their work to galleries, collectors and media globally. • ArtStation People’s Choice Award

For more information and to enter visit www.beautifulbizarreartprize.art. Entries close: 17 July 2022

SPO NSORS

Artwork by [L-R]: 2021 Traditional Art Award Winner, Tran Nguyen; 2021 Honourable Mention, Juli About
 music talks

10 things to
do before i die
WITH SINGER-SONGWRITER MEG MAC.
Interview Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen

1. LIVE IN A COTTAGE During COVID, I needed to get away. I’d just like Toy Story, so I would love to sing a song for one of those
scrapped a whole album that was meant to come out and had a movies, or to voice one of the characters. I love the James
bit of a meltdown. I found the cutest little cottage in a place called Bond themes and memorable songs from movies in general.
Burrawang in the Southern Highlands, looked at it the next day I want to have a song in a movie that captures the drama or
and two days later signed the lease. I loved it; there were sheep the emotion of the story.
and cows and chickens everywhere. It was just really beautiful
and so peaceful. I lived there for almost two years. I’d love to 7. DO A CARTWHEEL I’ve never been able to do a cartwheel,
have a cottage of my own one day. and yet all of my family can. I can’t even do a handstand. I’ve
tried against the wall, but maybe going upside down scares
2. RELEASE A LOOP-PEDAL EP Pretty much every time I use my me. I could probably go on YouTube and find easy steps and
loop pedal, I’ll do something weird on it and just put random stuff get my sister to coach me until I can do it, though.
over the top, and it goes to all these different places. I’d love to be
able to piece these things together but have it not feel like Meg Mac, 8. MAKE A DESTINATION ALBUM The producers I was
or make the songs not proper songs. I want to do something working with on my album were in LA, so we were working
with these weird little ideas that just sit in this pedal that no together, but we weren’t in the same room. It was such
one ever gets to hear. a disjointed, slow process. It would be so cool to make
an album from start to finish in one place, and just go
3. VISIT ITALY An astrology chart said I need to go there for great somewhere interesting. A guy who’s recording my vocals
things to happen in my life. I’ve never been to Italy, but I’ve got to was showing me this crazy studio in the middle of nowhere
go in case there’s some magical thing for me there. in Ireland. Or I’d love to make an album in a castle where
I can light fires and stay cosy inside.
4. PLAY GUITAR ON STAGE I can write songs on guitar, but I’ve
never been able to get up on stage and play it live. I’ve been trying 9. OWN A MINI COOPER Everyone has their dream car,
to teach myself guitar for over 10 years, but I’ve stayed at the and since I was a kid, I’ve been obsessed with MINI Coopers.
same level. Every time I pick one up, I have to relearn how to play. I love Mr Bean and he drives a MINI. There’s just something
I’d love to be able to actually get on stage, hold my guitar and about them – every time I see one, it makes me smile. I’d like
sing a whole song I’ve written. I just love the way it looks as one in British racing green or black.
well – being able to stand and accompany yourself.
10. HAVE A MENAGERIE We grew up with animals that my
5. SING A DUET WITH MY SISTER I have sung with my sister mum would find. She’s always rescuing dogs, and she found
Hannah my whole life, and she’s in my band. We sing lots of songs my cats that I have now. I didn’t even know that I was a
together where she’s singing harmonies, but there’s no song that’s cat person, but then I met these cats and took them to the
a duet. I would love to write a song for both of us. There’s one cottage with me, and now I’m looking for a little chihuahua to
song on my new album that she helped me write – there was a be friends with them. I want a house full of animals, like that
bit where she made up this crazy thing I wouldn’t have thought of. guy @wolfgang2242 on Instagram. He has all these senior
dogs that he’s rescued and a turkey and a pig, and he takes
6. BE PART OF A MOVIE I’d like to lend my voice to movies and not photos of all the animals together. It’s amazing. I’m probably
just release my own albums. I grew up loving all the Pixar movies going to be like that guy when I retire from singing.

096
Photo Heather Gildroy
 learn something new

gory stories
OUR FASCINATION WITH TRUE CRIME
GOES DEEPER THAN YOU MAY THINK.
Words James Shackell

It’s OK, you can admit it; we’re all friends here. You like grisly all of which migrated to the States with the invention of the
murders. The grislier the better. Abductions, embezzlements, penny press. It’s why Sherlock Holmes was such a smash hit.
disappearances, schemes in the shape of pyramids. You have There was already a market for murder – Sir Arthur Conan
a thing for serial killers. You especially like the mysteries that Doyle just added a hat.
haven’t been solved, like that of suburban husband Rey Rivera,
who received an anonymous phone call in 2006, ran out of But the real mystery is: why do we care? Why are we so
his house, and was later found dead in an empty conference collectively obsessed with crime? Are we all degenerate pervs,
room, apparently hurled from an unreachable balcony. or just ordinary people with a wholesome homicide fetish?
(Google it; it’s intense.)
There are a few things we do know. For starters, women are more
It’s not like you want Frank next door to be keeping a freezer full attracted to the genre than men. Social psychologist Amanda
of toes, but a small, secret part of you would kind of enjoy being Vicary from Illinois Wesleyan University did some research and
that neighbour on the news: “Frank? He always seemed too quiet. found that, while men are more likely to read or watch stuff
Lent me a cup of sugar once. Said I had lovely feet.” about war, women are way more likely to consume true crime.
One popular podcast, Wine & Crime, found that 85 per cent of its
Yes, true crime is here to stay. Podcasts, documentaries, movies, 500,000 monthly listeners were women. There’s a pretty obvious
TV shows, books, magazine articles (guilty as charged). Wherever reason for this: women are statistically more likely to become the
you look, there are stories about people doing horrible, gruesome victims of serial killers or domestic violence, so from a pure self-
things to other people. interest angle, true crime makes a lot of psychological sense.

When did it explode? Was it with Serial, the 2014 viral podcast In an interview in 2019, Amanda explained the findings of her
about the murder of 18-year-old student Hae Min Lee? Or research: “Compared to men, women liked reading about the
maybe we can go back to the unsolved (read: definitely solved psychological content of true-crime stories. Stories where a
but legally untouchable) murder of JonBenét Ramsey in 1996? killer was interviewed by an FBI profiler, for example. Research
Or maybe OJ Simpson two years before that? The truth is, shows that women fear crime more than men, since they're more
true crime has been around almost as long as crime itself. likely to be a victim of one. My thinking is that this fear is leading
women, even subconsciously, to be interested in true crime,
Most people credit Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood (1966) because they want to learn how to prevent it.”
with kicking off the true-crime genre, but the first true-crime
magazine, True Detective, was already selling like hotcakes in This research seems to suggest that true crime is less about
the 1920s. Britain basically had a true-crime cottage industry straight-up voyeurism and more about our own survival. By
going between 1550 and 1700, with publishers churning out watching and listening to stories about true crime, we feel a little
hundreds of pamphlets, chapbooks and gruesome street tales, more prepared, maybe even comforted. Hey, the cost of fruit and

099
 learn something new

we watch true crime for

the same reason we slow
down to rubberneck a horrible
accident on the freeway:
we simply can’t help it.

veggies might be going through the roof, and you haven’t been to fascination with them can be seen as a specific manifestation
the dentist in like three years, but at least you weren’t hunted for of its more general fixation on violence and calamity. In
sport or abducted by aliens. Life’s looking pretty good! other words, the actions of a serial killer may be horrible to
behold, but much of the public simply cannot look away due
Other psychologists reckon we expose ourselves to violent stories to the spectacle.”
as a way to “inoculate” against fear. Whichever way you slice it,
the world’s a scary place. Bad things happen all the time. Maybe True crime is like pressing your face up against the glass at an
by watching and listening to true crime, we can build up exposure exhibit marked, ‘Things You Hope Never Happen To You.’ It’s our
tolerance. Like getting over your fear of spiders by moving closer return ticket to a world we know is out there, but would never
and closer to a tarantula. Next time there’s a spree killer in your want to actually live in. A world of senseless violence, cruel
neighbourhood, you’ll think, “Cool, accept no rides from suspicious chance and sticky ends (the best kind). That’s why most true-
vans selling flowers late at night. Gotcha.” crime stories follow a pretty standard structure – from mystery
to chase to resolution – all in the time it takes to finish a packet
This might be part of the allure, but it doesn’t fully explain our of crispy M&M’s. As Scott Bonn explains: “They initially take you
obsession with exotic death, or why we’re interested in true-crime into the forest and scare the hell out of you. But then by the
stories that have nothing to do with us. Stories about people end of it, they bring you back out of the forest and you’re safe.”
we’ll never meet and places we’ll never visit. Why did people
watch public executions back in the day? Was it simply relief – This raises some interesting ethical questions. Questions like:
thank God it’s not me up there on the gallows – or are humans is it cool to sit back on a Friday night, pop a bottle of wine, and
hardwired for violence? actually enjoy someone else’s bloody murder? Should we get
pleasure from other people’s pain? Is true crime voyeuristic and
There’s some evidence that the latter might be the case. A lot of gross? Maybe the real monsters are – pause for reaction – us.
psychologists think we watch true crime for the same reason we
slow down to rubberneck a horrible accident on the freeway: we The jury is still out on this one. Personally, I think the real
simply can’t help it. Humans are drawn to the aberrant, the taboo, monsters are still the guys who wear other people as hats.
the unusual, the gruesome, and the unsolved. We like on-the-loose The trick is to enjoy your true crime like Hannibal Lecter
endings. True crime often depicts extraordinary things happening to enjoyed his fava beans: with a grain of salt. Go in with your
ordinary people – people like us – and for whatever reason, we can’t eyes open and your door securely locked. True crime is often
help but slow down and gawp. more sensational than real life. All the messy, boring bits get
trimmed off, like toes in a freezer. Remember, you’re watching
“Serial killers tantalise people much like traffic accidents, train someone’s subjective, carefully structured account of a thing
wrecks, or natural disasters,” Scott Bonn, a professor of criminology that happened, not the thing itself. Truth is always stranger
at Drew University, told Time magazine in 2016. “The public’s than fiction. That’s why we love it so much.

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 the great debate

do you hear
the people sing?
deirdre fidge and jack vening sound
off on a touchy topic: musicals.

MUSICALS ROB ME OF JOY BY JACK VENING

A few years ago, I witnessed a pretty jarring scene that I still home – it really should be, and it’s directly contributing to our
have some trouble processing today. Every time I bring it up, declining birth rates.
it takes people a little while to fully accept the horror of it.
“Surely,” they say, “surely it couldn’t have happened that way.” And please don’t think I’m not acquainted with the genre. I’ve
seen enough to know what I’m talking about – even enjoyed
I don’t blame them. How could I expect them to believe that I’d more than I’m happy to admit, though those viewings usually
really seen a co-worker – mid-conversation with several colleagues coincided with what musical theatre people would call “the
– interrupt the chat by singing show tunes to themselves, grumpies”, or “visceral depression”.
completely candidly and without explanation, as the conversation
slowly died around them. But like a lot of people who actually got invited to parties in
high school, I discovered musicals late enough to develop the
Not humming. Not singing quietly under their breath. A completely psychological resistance necessary to understand them for
full-throated rendition of some gaudy number from Cabaret what they are: factory farms dedicated to producing people
(Cabaret!) as if they were the only one in the room. Except they who won’t engage with a world event unless you explain
were one of several people in the room – in a meeting – and which side is Harry and which one is Voldemort.
none of these poor witnesses have ever been the same. It was
like something you’d see a Sim do, except there was no option Also, live musicals are the most expensive things on the
to push them into the pool and delete the ladder. planet (you have to sell your children into servitude to afford
a ticket to Hamilton, which is funnily enough a theme that
The co-worker, of course, was a Musical Theatre Person. Trying gets sanitised out of Hamilton), and musical movies usually
to understand the kind of brain that would do this is like trying to have the charm of an in-flight demonstration video about
solve one of those rural mysteries where a bunch of animals turn how to inflate your life vest.
up exploded in a field. All we know is that something terrible has
happened and that we may never know the truth. All up, musicals are what happens when a civilisation is
headed for a cliff. I’m sure if you travelled back to the fall of
Musicals emit a strange kind of radiation that makes normal the Roman Empire you would have seen terrifyingly wide-eyed
people unbearable and unbearable people social war criminals. 20- to 40-year-olds camping out at the Colosseum for last-
I hope you appreciate the bravery required to speak out about this. minute tickets to Guys et Dolls (little Latin joke there) while
You can’t pick a fight with something like musical theatre without meaty barbarians run around setting fire to their families.
seeming cynical or miserly. I get it, they’re fun in a “someone
else handles my tax” sort of way. So let me be clear: it’s not a Sure, it’s an ancient tradition. Sure, it’s as old as theatre itself,
crime to enjoy musicals, in the same way it’s not a crime to buy but do you know what’s also an ancient tradition? Dying of
industrial-strength pesticides from the internet to use in your dysentery, and I don’t see you busting that one out in the office.

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 the great debate

MUSICALS ARE A JOY BY DEIRDRE FIDGE

Have you ever wished your life was a musical? I certainly have. A common criticism of musicals is that they are cheesy.
Just this morning I sang “I feel pretty, oh so pretty, I feel pretty WE KNOW THIS. DO YOU THINK WE DON’T KNOW THIS?!
and witty and gay” (it’s from West Side Story). For as long as I That’s part of their charm! A lot of musicals are very camp,
can recall, I have always loved the combination of cinema and and that is not a bad thing. I saw the live action Beauty and
song. Yet musicals are a misunderstood art form people too often the Beast four times at the cinema to witness Gaston’s song
dismiss or make fun of, when their time could instead be spent in all its glory. No regrets.
singing about being pretty and/or gay.
The propensity for cringe leads me to believe there is
Almost everyone would agree they enjoy music, film or live a subset of the population who secretly enjoys musicals
performance in some way. A good musical combines all of these but is ashamed to admit it. I’ve met people who are
to harness the best elements of song, drama, comedy and dance, quick to say they aren’t musical fans, but who “did enjoy
whether on stage or on screen. The reason I say a good musical [insert musical]”. It’s OK to like a little song in your big
is because just like all art forms, there are some real doozies in serious movie, babe. It’s OK to tap your little foot and
this genre, and it seems to take just one encounter with a bad hum the score in the shower. It’s OK to watch clips of
musical to make patrons scream for the exit or break out in a Gene Kelly as a dancing sailor over and over until your
cold sweat at the sound of anything resembling a tap dance. neighbour calls the police.

But when a musical is good, it’s GREAT. The tortured misery I’ll admit that as an audience member it takes a level of
of Fantine singing “I Dreamed a Dream” (Les Misérables) or the cognitive flexibility to surrender to the art form: one minute
unbridled joy of Grease’s “We Go Together” just wouldn’t be you’re entranced by a tense conflict between characters,
the same if the characters described their experience in plain the next minute they’re boot-scooting and dosido-ing on a
speech. If you love music but hate musicals… it doesn’t add up. table. Relax, lean into it, enjoy. Maybe musicals are just too
You just haven’t found the right musical for you. Yet. psychologically demanding on some people, who prefer to be
spoon-fed their little stories in separate distinct categories.
I love musicals but this doesn’t mean I love all musicals
(apologies to Lin-Manuel Miranda). There is a subgenre of musical But generally speaking, I believe most people opposing this
for everyone. I once created a spreadsheet for a friend who art form just haven’t taken the time to give it a go. If you’ve
hadn’t seen many musical films. Categories included ‘modern ever spontaneously broken into song when going about your
adaptations of stage productions’ (Chicago); ‘animated family’ day, or made up a silly song for someone, or danced like no
(Frozen), ‘warning: contains blackface’ (West Side Story; Fred one was watching… I hate to break it to you, but you just may
Astaire in Swing Time). I guarantee there is a musical category enjoy a musical. Why not curl up with one this weekend?
out there for every person – even those who like their singsongs If you need recommendations, I know someone with a
with a Nazi subtext (Sound of Music; Cabaret). very extensive spreadsheet.

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Photos Phoebe Powell
 mind your business

i love my shop along the way. And now I work with a team of female powerhouses
between my Bali and Brunswick studios.

YOU CAN SPOT JEWELLER MILLIE SAVAGE’S What guided the look and feel of the shop? I just wanted the space to
BRIGHT PINK STORE FROM A MILE AWAY. be pretty and pink with a weird and wonderful flair. Once I acquired the
space and stripped the walls, I uncovered these beautiful green tiles
out the front that really helped my vision. I thought the green and pink
paired really well together, and then I just went ham with the pink.

Where is it? 608 Sydney Road, Brunswick, Victoria. Tell us about some of the amazing décor. Everyone’s favourite
piece in the shop is our big pointy glass cabinet. I really wanted it
What happens at the Millie Savage shop? Heaps of stuff! People to look like a spaceship! The boys from Proxima definitely achieved
come in all day long to get themselves some bling. At the back of that. The mural outside is also a favourite; it was made by artist
the store is my studio, where my team and I make rings and things. Minna Leunig. A friend made these gorgeous light fixtures out of
blown glass and another friend helped tile the doorway. Safe to
What does a typical day look like for you? I get in at around 10am say, I have heaps of talented friends!
after doing a coffee run for my staff. We have a quick meeting to go
through what everyone’s got on during the day, then we get stuck Who is your dream client? Ideally someone with an unlimited
into it. I usually design one-off pieces in the morning and then budget so I can go off and purchase some beautiful and rare stones
make them after lunch. If a customer wanting a custom piece comes for the piece. I love it when my customers have a bit of a vision
into the store, I’ll work with them to pick stones together and start so that we can then collaborate and make something very special.
designing – I love how collaborative this process is!
What’s one thing you wish more people knew about making
Describe the Millie Savage aesthetic in one sentence. Imperfect, jewellery? Jewellery-making is such a hands-on process;
organic, bespoke, shiny shit. everything takes time, skill and lots of patience. I also wish
people knew about the importance of ethically sourced materials.
How did you get into making jewellery? I did painting at RMIT for I only use recycled silver to do my bit for mother nature.
three years, then found out I wasn’t very good at it. I transferred
into silversmithing and did that course for about six weeks before What do you love about what you do? I love seeing people’s
dropping out. I moved to NMIT and tried to study there, but only vision come to life – it sometimes means more to me than it
lasted about six weeks before dropping out again. So basically, does to them. There’s a lot of sentiment behind it all.
I just started handmaking pieces in my garden shed eight years
ago, did lots of short courses and met some amazing jewellers Where can we find out more? Online at milliesavage.com

105
 young and arty

what’s it like to have a sibling

on the same creative path as you?
pretty darn awesome, according
to these folks.
INTERVIEWS EMMA DO

106
Photo Phoebe Powell

I was the first kid in the family to be like, “I’m doing what I want.” Our parents had a very traditional way of thinking, so seeing
I remember telling my parents at 15 that I wanted to drop out of my brother break boundaries and fight for what he wants was
school to study design. Our family is Sri Lankan, and I think most eye-opening. It gave me hope that anything is possible; I don’t
people who have immigrant parents deal with this – you’re expected have to stick to the narrow road of what’s expected.
to be a doctor or lawyer, and I fully understand why they want that.
I did complete high school (I spent all my time in art class), but We’re only a year apart, so growing up, we were very close.
I think my parents just didn’t expect me to go down a creative He was the one person who I’d follow around as a little kid,
path. They were like, “All right, do whatever you want – just don’t and I always saw him as a guardian angel who would look out for
influence your sister.” And then Hansika ended up doing design! me in school and every aspect of my life. DOCG got more creative
when he was a teen; he did group exhibitions with other young
I started freelancing when I was 16, doing design, graphics, logos and artists, which I thought was really cool. I’d see him doing art in his
art. By the time I finished high school, I was well ahead of people my room, then be in these cool art spaces. I thought, if he could do it,
age and had older mentors in creative spaces. I had already built then I can do it. But we didn’t do a lot of art together until I was
a nice little platform and career, so when Hansika started doing 17. That’s when we were seeing eye to eye.
creative stuff, I wanted her to have a space where she could flourish
and skip the bullshit. That’s one of the main reasons we started our Fashion is the one thing I’ve always related to: the one thing
fashion label docGIRL – so she could execute her ideas. that stuck with me and that I was always in tune with. As soon
as I figured it out, it was the thing I was driven to pursue. We’re
We’re very collaborative. I’m a firm believer that there’s no bad trying to build longevity with our brand docGIRL. We want to touch
idea – it’s just about how you execute it. When we work together, on different areas – not just fashion, but hopefully interiors too.
I’m like, “Sweet, does this sit within DOCG’s aesthetic or in docGIRL
world or is it solely your thing?” There’s not a lot of butting It’s more than just a business to us – we’re family at the end
heads – we figure out where the idea fits in the grand scheme of the day. I love that I always have someone by my side, whom
of everything we’re doing. Hansika’s a creative genius, and she’s I can trust. A lot of people don’t have a mentor; they have to
my best friend. We’re always pushing each other; she helps me find the answers on their own. So having a sibling who is able
commit to my ideas. That energy is really important because to share their experiences and give me the keys is the best.
it keeps you going. I’m really grateful.

107
 Photo Heather Lighton
Noni and I were often put in Nan’s care growing up – she’d have I feel like a lot of people don’t know what they’re going to do when
this big red bucket with scraps of paper and crayons that she’d they grow up. But with my brother and I, I felt like that was somewhat
dump in front of us. She’d be like, “Go nuts. I want to see this and predetermined. Dave and I have worked since we were teenagers
that,” and would rattle off birds and creatures. Nan lived up in and always invested our money into making art. I remember in high
Worimi Country, in the Bonny Hills area, so we would encounter school, I thought, “I have to be an artist. This is what I’m going to do.”
so much wildlife while bushwalking with her and Pop. Looking
back, that really influenced our art. Dave and I are both drawn to vibrant colour even though we
use it in different ways – I work with oil paints and Dave uses
I learnt so much from growing up with not much – we always spray cans and paint markers. We have a distinct style on our own,
watched Mum hustle. She’d go ‘kerb burgling’ stuff from council but when we work together, our styles marry up and it becomes its
clean-up runs and sell it at the markets. Noni and I would do own thing. And I feel like we both problem-solve quite organically
little missions around Sydney’s inner west together, too. We’d – we don’t really butt heads when it comes to art. The only big
find nice pieces of wood from old furniture and use them to make conflict we had was stealing each other’s clothes back in the day.
some good canvases. I pretty much only used recycled and found
materials in my first seven years of making art. Dave and I both have the same kind of goblin humour. Sometimes
on a job, we just communicate in grunts, weird noises and bird
Noni and I now work on murals together, which is really fun. calls. And I feel like he has a sixth sense for when I need food and
We’ve also done fine-art shows with complete collaborations that chocolate. As the older sibling, he’s a bit of a mother hen. He’s my
are half her, half me on the same canvas. I’m trained in graphic biggest fan and super-supportive – he can’t turn it off. That’s what
design, whilst Noni is trained in fine art, so there’s a lot of crossover. I love most about him.
I really admire how Noni can crank out incredible work so quickly
and easily. She doesn’t seem to labour over it very much at all. It’s immeasurable how much he’s helped me – we’ve always
When we shared a studio it was immensely helpful having her look exchanged skills, techniques and ideas. And it’s nice to have a sibling
over my shoulder, and with her painting knowledge, be like, “Love who understands how to navigate the art world. My favourite quote
what’s happening there.” I’d say things like, “Noni, no, you can’t plonk of Dave’s is “Don’t be a turkey; fly like an eagle.” I think the underlying
that dead centre – the rule of thirds! Come on!” We loved sharing message is: if people are being assholes, just keep focusing on
a studio space for that reason. It’s like we’re kids again. yourself. Rise about it.

108
Photo Charlie Kinross

Growing up, pretty much every single Saying “I’m bored” was a cardinal sin when My sisters and I had the same upbringing and
member of the family – our parents, we were growing up – mum would be like, did the same activities as kids, but the way our
aunts, uncles – had their own business. “Do a drawing,” which I obviously took quite creativity has manifested is really different.
So it was kind of inevitable that Eilish, seriously. As the eldest sister, I was definitely We spent a lot of time at our grandma’s house
Minna and I would go off into the creative the bossy one. Being the eldest is quite a when we were little, and she had a piano I’d
industry, or at least do our own thing unique experience. There’s pressure in being play. I’m so grateful that my parents noticed
and not work for somebody else, the first to graduate – you set the tone. my interest and put me in lessons, because
because that’s all we ever knew. I wasn’t the person who planted creativity that was my gateway to music.
in us, but I was the first to go out in the
My creativity was in textiles and sewing world and start doing creative things. I have never taken it for granted that my
– I was in the fashion industry for a family is supportive of us pursuing our
long time, but I’ve just switched over We’ve all taken quite different paths as passions. I remember when Minna went
to web design. I always send drafts of adults. Eilish does music, but I’d say her to art school – I was so impressed by the
my designs to the group chat with my creative mode is closer to mine – we both community she was surrounded by. I was
sisters and my mum, to get their opinion have our hands in different pies, and we quite a timid kid, so watching my big sister
before anybody else. And the chat are both more insular and introverted. do that was really inspiring.
goes off all day, every day – we share Whereas Eden is very motivated, upfront
exciting news with each other first. and has great people skills. She definitely I spend a lot of time watching my family
inspires Eilish and I to be more open and and how they move through life. I’ve never
I’ve always been so proud of my participate in the world. met anyone as charming as my little sister
sisters. I really admire their drive Eden – I’ve learnt a lot just by watching her
and determination to pave a path for We have weekly family dinners at Mum have conversations. Minna taught me to
themselves. Seeing Minna kill it in the and Dad’s house; a big part of our family stick to your guns and not to compromise
art world and Eilish do well with her life is chatting about what we’re doing, and the vision, even in the face of adversity.
gigs drove me to work even harder being open to robust feedback or criticism. Observing them has been more powerful
in my industry. We inspire each other You definitely go home thinking, “Yeah, than any advice they may or may not have
to strive for what we really want. they had a point.” given me over the years.

109
 Photo Phoebe Powell
My dad is a professor of animation, so my brother and sister and After high school, I was doing a project management degree that
I grew up with a lot of animation storyboards around. Our house I hated – totally unrelated to what I do now. I was really bummed
was a bit of a creative hub – we’d watch student films from Dad’s out, going to this uni I didn’t want to be at. That’s when Jesse and
classes, and my brother and I would draw a lot. Noah and I are I got the idea to make Bourne & Bred and start doing videos. I
really close – we’re like peers as opposed to just siblings. remember Jesse learnt how to edit our first video all in one night!

We were born in the UK and moved to the US when I was eight, We were discovering Melbourne’s creative scene at the time, and
then to Melbourne five years after that. The Melbourne creative with our young and ambitious brains were like, “Somebody needs to
scene is evolving now, but when we moved here, we felt that there document this.” We wanted to show off Melbourne’s culture to the rest
was a distinct absence of people who looked like us discussing music, of the world, and to our family and friends overseas who barely knew
culture and art from a Melbourne perspective, which is why we anything about it; even we didn’t know about it until we moved here.
started our YouTube channel Bourne & Bred. Having lived in lots
of different contexts as kids gave us the third-culture kid experience, Jesse’s creativity comes from more of an internal place – she’s
so a lot of our conversations are informed by that. extremely thoughtful and very introspective – as opposed to mine,
which is more external. I’m a verbal processor, so I get my ideas from
We’re now at a point where we’re exploring our creative identities talking with Jesse and mixing our thoughts. My influence on her is
as individuals. My main practice is illustration, whilst Noah’s is more about encouraging her idea to come out, rather than influencing
videography. There’s a lot of overlap with how we think, but then we the idea itself. The way Jesse can articulate thoughts in her art and
also have very different temperaments. I’m the refocusing presence, writing is just on a different level. And she’s very just – if she sees
bringing it back to the core thing we’re trying to achieve, whereas something wrong, she’s not going to overlook it, which is good for
Noah’s constantly expanding and adding. keeping yourself accountable.

I think a lot of people engage with their siblings passively, but because Having a sibling in the creative scene is everything. It’s the reason
we’ve been in so many situations where we’ve only had each other, why I’m doing what I’m doing now: videography, interviewing, radio.
we’ve had to lean on one another a lot. I’m constantly showing my Jesse was the push, along with my youngest sister Charis who we
siblings my work. I don’t even think about it – it’s second nature. They have constant discussions with. Without them, videography would
have an appreciation for certain details, and they don’t just gas me up. have just been a casual hobby for me.

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@hannahpahl • frankie.com.au
 afternoon
tea time
come round for a cuppa.
PHOTOGRAPHY SHELLEY HORAN STYLING BRIDGET WALD
ART DIRECTION AND STYLING ALICE BUDA, EMMA DO

Left stack (top to bottom): Beatrice the Potter Eucalypt Bark mug, $45, beatricethepotter.com. Hilary Green Pearl mug, $50, hilary-green.com.
Takeawei Circle Mug in Brightlight, $75, takeawei.com. Waymbul Studios Wubu latte cup, $45, waymbul.com Right stack: Shuh Lee Cheer Up
tumbler, $59, shuhlee.com. ABS Objects L70 mug in pink, $60, makersmrkt.com
Marimekko Oiva / Unikko teapot, $139, marimekko.com. Ghost Wares, white speckle teapot, $152, ghostwares.com.au. Hakusan Porcelain
Blossom teapot in large, $185, cibi.com.au. Nyis Studio Lollipop glass stirring spoon in blue, $9.95, nyisstudio.com
Clockwise from left: MirMir Organics green tea & tulsi pyramid bags, $10.50, mirmirtea.com.au. Orchard St Sticky Chai, $28, orchardstreet.com.au.
MOOD Get On Up, two-box set for $25, mood.org.au. LOVE TEA Moroccan mint pyramid tea bags, $14, lovetea.com.au. Fine & Dandy chamomile and
cinnamon tea, $15, fineanddandy.co.nz. Grounded Pleasures Seven Spice Chai, $12.95, groundedpleasures.com.au. Shuh Lee Cheerful ceramic
spoon, three for $29, shuhlee.com
Top to bottom: Shuh Lee Cheerful ceramic spoon (flower), three for $29, shuhlee.com. Paxxy and Flora Daisy spoon in small cream, $25, Spot spoon
in purple, $25, paxxyandflora.com. Sage and Clare Cleo tiny spoon in sherbet, $16, sageandclare.com. Paxxy and Flora Spot spoon in white, $25,
paxxyandflora.com. Sage and Clare Cleo tiny spoon in yuzu, $16, sageandclare.com. Shuh Lee spots and lines ceramic spoons, two for $33, Speckle
ceramic spoon, $15, shuhlee.com. Nyis Studio Lollipop glass stirring spoon in purple, $9.95, nyisstudio.com
 something to say

neither here nor there I worry I pulled my life up from the roots, only to discover I could
never really plant them again.

KATE STANTON HAS BEEN HOMESICK We tend to infantilise homesickness. Google strategies to cope and
FOR THE BETTER PART OF A DECADE. you’ll find that most are targeted at uni students, school campers or
kids at sleepovers who realise too late that other people’s houses are
weird and not conducive to a pleasant slumber. This makes homesick
folks feel wimpy, like we’re being overly sentimental or childish.
The conventional wisdom in many cultures is that leaving home
is good for you. To find yourself, you must first drive off in an I’d like to make the case, though, that homesickness isn’t just for kids,
open-top convertible, fly away to magic school or move into a and it’s not something you get over through frequent Facetiming or
New York City apartment with a lovable but chaotic group of joining a local book club. Homesickness is more than nostalgia for
rudderless 20-somethings. a specific place: it’s yearning for a time you felt tethered to everyone
and everything around you.
Leaving home is how we become sophisticated, independent
grown-ups. Go out into the big wide world, we’re told. You never I think most of us are homesick sometimes. Maybe you’re a migrant,
know where you’ll end up, or whom you’ll smooch! But now, like me. Maybe you miss your childhood suburb, your nan’s house,
whenever I hear someone say they want to move to a new city or the country your parents are from but you’ve never seen. Maybe
or country, I feel a silly twinge of panic on their behalf. Don’t be you resent people who moved away, leaving you adrift somewhere
so confident, I want to warn them. You’ll be homesick! you thought was home. You might long for your mum’s couch, which
is somehow cosier than yours will ever be.
I’ve been homesick for about 10 years. I left the US in my early 20s,
in search of wild Contiki-style escapades, and found my way to My husband, for example, is occasionally still so stricken by the sale
Melbourne, where I met a very nice person and settled down. I’ve of his family farm, where he grew up, that he once burst into tears
spent most of my adult life in a foreign country, which means it should watching Bruce Springsteen (the patron saint of homesick white
be just as ‘home’ to me as anywhere else. I did all the right things to dudes) sing “My Hometown”. It’s not so much the farm itself that he
adapt: made new friends and adopted local habits. I can now add about misses, but the anchor the farm represented. Leaving a place like
7,000 stretched-out vowels into seemingly simple words like ‘yeah’ that is disorienting, even decades later.
(yeeeaaaahhh) and ‘no’ (nooaaarrrah) with almost native fluency.
Rather than curing it, I think I have come to terms with my homesickness.
But 10 years later, I still don’t know exactly where my home is, It’s probably always going to be there; it’s the unavoidable side effect
or whether I belong where I am. I’m a little homesick every day – of driving away on a grand adventure. There’s comfort, too, in having a
for old friends and comfort snacks and missed holidays. If I moved home to leave in the first place, and satisfaction in working to build a
back to the US, I’m not sure I would belong there anymore, either. new one. Knowing that, would I do it all again? Yeeeaaaaahhhhh.

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 road test

give me some sugar

EMILY NAISMITH AND FRASER HARVEY
GORGE ON CLASSIC AUSTRALIAN LOLLIES.
Illustrations Hayley Sinnatt

BANANAS These are absolute dregs of the party lolly bowl.

Once the guests leave and you’re cleaning up the mess,
you will almost certainly be left with a bowl of lonely banana
lollies, whose friends have all disappeared down the gullets
of your loved ones. Just slide the bananas into the bin and
wash the bowl. There is no joy to be derived from eating
a banana lolly. I can’t decide if they’re hard or chewy; they
always feel stale and taste like a musk stick gone wrong.
They can be made worse, too: by placing them on top of a
soft serve, like on Wendy’s Agro ice-cream (it’s an ice-cream
shaped like Agro the mangy puppet, with banana lollies for
cheeks). Ooh, a banana lolly that is both rock-hard and soggy
at once! Dismal. EN

BLACK CATS The first party-mix bag I bought for this road
test was 100 per cent black-cat free, which is how I prefer
my party mix. Unfortunately, the second bag had two inside,
FANTALES In my lifetime, I’ve had the pleasure of having so after decades of actively avoiding them, a couple of black
four teeth removed thanks to Fantales. All between the felines have finally crossed my path. Bad luck for me. As an
ages of 9–11, each incident occurring at a Birch, Carroll & adult, I’m not as offended by their aniseed flavour as I was as
Coyle cinema in suburban Brisbane. Why this fact has never a child, however I prefer my aniseed flavour in fennel – I feel
been printed on a Fantales wrapper, we will never know. like I’m being punished when I eat it, but ultimately, it’s good
Despite this, I’m still a beloved fan of the chocolate-coated for my body. The same cannot be said for black cats. There
caramels. I became aware of Fantales in the early ’90s when is no benefit to your body and there are no benefits to your
you’d still get biographies of black-and-white film stars no tastebuds either. They taste of sludge-flavoured chemist
one had heard of or mentioned since the ’50s. In fact, before medicine. It baffles me that some people choose to buy
the internet, 90 per cent of my pop-culture knowledge was entire bags of black cats. Who are you monsters? EN
obtained via a Fantales wrapper. Who knows what I might
have learnt if my brain wasn’t so chock-full of actors whose
careers peaked around the same time as polio. FH

RED FROGS These take me back to the time I wandered

home from the Lorne pub as a fresh year-12 graduate,
brimming with cheap tequila. I chanced upon a group of
extremely friendly and extremely sober young people
who invited me to sit on a dilapidated couch on the side
of the road and proceeded to ply me with red frog lollies
while asking me 600 questions about my life. I have had a
raging sugar addiction since my grandparents began filling
their lolly jar with four-kilogram bags, so I accepted their
gracious offer by the fistful while trying to work out if I
was about to be dragged into a cult. I think they were just
overzealous youth workers, but it seems their long game
worked because now I don’t drink and I’m sitting on my
own dilapidated couch eating red frogs. Yum. EN

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 road test

WIZZ FIZZ Nobody forgets their first Wizz Fizz experience. It’s a
pivotal coming-of-age moment when you realise that food can
give you sensations other sugary treats for some reason refuse
to deliver. Admittedly, I can’t remember the first time I tried Wizz
Fizz (though there was a minor mishap at a friend’s 10th birthday
party where I allegedly stole all the packets of Wizz Fizz and was
found hours later in a delirious stupor, speaking in tongues under
the kitchen sink). This zany sherbet treat has a remarkable,
almost palate-cleansing quality (which may be due to whatever
artificial sweeteners are currently burning the tastebuds clean
off your tongue), but in essence, Wizz Fizz is best enjoyed in
between other lollies. It helps you find your bearings if you’re
trying to move from raspberry bullets to a fun-size Picnic,
eliminating the unpleasant flavour clash that can result. FH

SNAKES There’s something extremely (PG-rated) ~sexy~

about eating lolly snakes. I thought this as a tween attending
my brother’s football presentation night. All the boys will
turn and stare if I dangle a green snake out of my mouth as
I walk into the club rooms, pulling the snake so it rips as
I swish my plaits around. I’d filled my pink inflatable backpack
with at least 500g of lolly snakes so I could repeat this highly
arousing stunt for every player in the team. I didn’t actually like
any of them; I just wanted to be desired. Thinking back now,
I may have subconsciously known they desired the lolly snake
more than me. Regardless, I had a great night slamming snakes
– particularly the yellow ones that have the best flavour
and maximum stretch and dangle capabilities. EN

MUSK STICKS Musk. What in the hell is musk? I grew up with

it and I still have no idea what the flavour profile is, other than
‘I can feel this on my teeth’. I guess it’s one of those ambiguous
words they used to slap on lollies, that really just mean ‘sugar’.
I defy you to find anyone who says musk is their favourite lolly.
It’s never once happened. When you bite into a musk stick,
something amazing happens: you think, “This is pretty good!”
So you take a second bite, and that’s when it hits you what a
bad idea it was. There’s now some kind of weird rosewater fairy-
floss-flavoured chalk swirling around and sticking to your teeth
and the roof of your mouth, and you feel the immediate urge to
replace it with anything else within reach. And really, that’s as
good as it gets. FH

MINTIES Much like Fantales, Minties cottoned on to the fact that

if you put something on the wrapper – in their case, a wacky
doodle – people will read it. This was of course pre-internet,
so there was literally nothing to do except read wrappers lying
around. Believe me, I lived through it. Unfortunately for Minties,
the wrapper is where this confectionery peaks (and even
then, the wrapper has really gone downhill). A mint should
be immediately cleansing and then be gone not long after, but
with a Mintie, you’re left labouring to the point where your jaw
is sore from chewing one measly lolly. And what’s the pay-off?
They’re not even strong enough to give you fresh breath! A mint
that won’t give you fresh breath. Think about that for a minute
and then tell me you don’t want to walk into traffic. FH

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let’s get down to business

Photo Scott Williams

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 let’s get down to business

it’s time to put

yourself out there
YOU REALLY DO GET WHAT YOU ASK FOR.
Words Em Jensen

I’ve been running my own business for the past five years, I waited a few days before checking my emails, because I had some kind
which means I’m about five years late to learning the most of weird, almost superstitious fear that if I opened my inbox too early
important lesson of doing business. It’s a simple, obvious piece there’d be no replies and I’d feel awful and ashamed for ever putting
of advice that we so often hear, and yet very rarely follow: myself out there. When I did eventually open it, I had a few replies;
you get what you ask for. the most exciting was a letter of acceptance to exhibit with a huge photo
festival – one I’d dreamt of being included in for years. Even though
For so many years as an aspiring photographer, I was too scared I didn’t hear back from a lot of them, that was enough for me to
to show my work to anyone I thought of as ‘important’ in the have a little faith in this whole ‘putting yourself out there’ concept.
creative world. I had lists of galleries I’d love to exhibit at and
magazines I’d like to be published in. I didn’t touch those lists for So with that small bit of momentum, I decided to do it again. I emailed
a long time – out of fear that my work wasn’t good enough, that podcasts I wanted to be interviewed on, and they all said yes.
I wasn’t ready, and ultimately, for fear of rejection. I felt that if I emailed a major radio station, almost laughing as I pressed send
they saw my work too early in my career – before I became some at the arrogance of even trying to get an interview with them. And
flawless, amazing photographer – they’d never want to hear from the next day they called me and offered me a radio interview. I read
me again. Impostor syndrome as an artist really does continue to an article about a country pub offering an artist residency and called
hold us back, until eventually we decide, even if we really are an the publican to ask if he’d be open to having an exhibition there.
impostor (I highly doubt it), to just do something anyway. I showed him my work and he offered to pay me to exhibit at his pub.

So, I did something. One night in the midst of a lockdown in More has happened in the past six months of asking people for
Melbourne, I had a glass of wine, sat down at my laptop and pulled what I want than in the prior five years of being too embarrassed
out my list. I emailed the curators of all my favourite galleries, to just ask. I’ve realised that all these ‘important’ people are trying
producers at radio stations and editors at magazines and blogs. to find us, too. They only have so much time to scour the internet
I shared with them my work (Sheilas, a documentary photography or search Instagram hashtags, and it’s a lot easier for them if you
series following female motorcycle clubs) and told them about just pop an email in their inbox or give them a call.
why my work deserved to be published or exhibited, and how I
thought it would resonate with their audience. I personalised each Ironically, in one of the podcast interviews I’d asked for, the
email I sent and shared how long I’d been a fan or follower, and interviewer brought up my exhibition with the photo festival.
which of their exhibitions or stories I’d loved the most. I made sure He questioned how it’d come about, how I could be exhibiting
to do my research, and to share my genuine feelings about how with such a renowned photo festival. I didn’t know what else
much it would mean to me to be given an opportunity. Still, I felt to say, so I told him the truth: I’d literally just asked for it.
a tiny twinge of shame every time I pressed send on an email,
and resisted the urge to throw my laptop into my cupboard, slam Head to frankie.com.au/strictly-business for more ace small-
the door and hide under my doona.  business stories and sign up to our monthly newsletter (it’s free!).

121
 real life

Photo Heather Lighton

everybody There are the bystanders who see wrongdoing and think, “This is
none of my business,” and there are the people who, when they

has a story
see wrongdoing, have to speak up. You can’t explain it, but there’s
just an urge that gets you angry when you see wrongdoing. All my
life I knew something was wrong with the system in Saudi Arabia.
I was angry for always being considered a minor and needing
MANAL AL-SHARIF IS A TECHNOLOGIST permission to do anything. I felt very disrespected by that. I was
AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SHE WAS divorced with a kid and I was paying my own rent, but I still had
to call Dad to ask permission to do anything. He legally had to
JAILED IN 2011 FOR DRIVING AS A WOMAN sign paperwork for me to have a life. I worked and lived in the US,
IN SAUDI ARABIA AND CURRENTLY LIVES and living there was very normal. So, when I came back to Saudi
IN SYDNEY. Arabia, I had a different point of view.

As told to Shannon Jenkins The Women2Drive movement started at the time of the Arab Spring,
and activists were using social media. I thought it was amazing that,
in a country with no elected parliament like Saudi Arabia, I could
use social media. That’s how I started the movement. I started a
Facebook page and a Twitter account, and I posted a video of me
driving on YouTube that got me put into jail. It was the number-
one trending video in Saudi Arabia for a week or so; I think it was
just shocking to society. The activist who videotaped me, Wajeha
al-Huwaider, had uploaded a video years before of her driving, but
it didn’t have the same impact because she drove inside a gated
community where women were allowed to drive. I drove in the city,
where women were not allowed to drive. I wasn’t actually violating
any written law, but the authorities were troubled because they
didn’t want it to create unrest in Saudi Arabia.

Jail was a window into a world that I didn’t know existed. I found
women who were less fortunate than me. I thought I was unfortunate
until I met those women who’d been raped, experienced forced
labour, were unpaid… I couldn’t believe what was happening there.

122
 i was divorced with a kid and
i was paying my own rent, but
i still had to call dad to ask
permission to do anything.

It was a hard time. I didn’t spend a long time there because I got I’m off all social media – the same tools that I used to
media attention worldwide for being locked up for driving while deliver my message are now being used by dictators and
female, and, when my father went to the King to ask for a pardon, authoritarian regimes to deliver their message on a large
that really helped my case. They let me off because there was too scale and oppress people like me. I felt I had lost my voice and
much pressure on the King. there were so many things I wanted to talk about. Through the
podcast, I can still add value to society without social media;
I continued campaigning for seven years. I wrote a book, spoke I’m educating people about their rights in the digital world
everywhere, did hundreds of interviews, and that really helped and human-rights violations. I think that’s the best thing I’ve
shed light on the discrimination in Saudi Arabia. At that time, done in the last two years. I’m trying to write a book on the
I started reading feminist books and learning about discrimination. same topic – that’s the big thing I really want to focus on this
I didn’t understand any of these things until I started the movement. year. I’ve also started the Ethical Technologists Society, which
Months after I published my book, the ban was lifted with a royal questions the ethical practices of technology companies.
decree, and in 2018 women were finally allowed to drive.
I left the Middle East because I was very targeted, and I looked
There was a lot of anger, a lot of personal suffering, a lot of for a place that would take me. Australia was number one and
work using social media and speaking up, but it worked. I lost my I applied for a permanent residency. It was very easy for me
house; I lost my job; I lost custody of my child. I wasn’t expecting to get it and I’m very thankful. I came with my ex-husband and
that I would pay such a high personal price – a financial price, my second son, and I’m applying for my citizenship now. I call
too – and I was targeted and intimidated. Had I known that I Sydney my little piece of heaven. I can find work; I can have
would lose everything, maybe I wouldn’t have done it. But it’s a normal life; I can just be me without anyone’s permission.
happened. Maybe it’s good that I didn’t know, because I pushed That’s what I love about Sydney and Australia.
and it happened, and I know it’s just a matter of time until I see
my kid and make up all of the financial losses of the past. I hope I can return to Saudi Arabia one day. A lot of my
friends who were sent to jail have been released, whilst
Way before I became an activist, I studied computer science. journalists, scholars and academics who were outspoken
I graduated in 1997 and in 2002, I joined the first security team at remain in jail. It’s not safe for activists who live abroad to go
Aramco, the largest producer of oil in the world. I worked there for back now. It’s been four years since I was there and I miss
10 years. I was well trained and worked with a lot of professionals. my kid – I haven’t seen him all this time. We talk almost
Very few people were talking about cybersecurity at the time. Now every day and play video games and watch movies together
I host a podcast called Tech4Evil that talks about the intersection – technology has been helping me. He is now 16 and lives
between technology, human rights and digital rights. I love doing it with his grandmother. I’m just holding onto hope until the
because I’m combining my human-rights activism with my career. next time we meet.

123
 handle
with care
tillie burden uses fire and glass
to make precious objects.
 my project

What led you to glassblowing? I knew I wanted to be an artist What’s your process like? Most of my ideas come when I sketch;
from an early age and was fortunate to grow up in a very then there is the planning stage, where I try to anticipate technical
crafty home with lots of access to materials and knowledge. issues. I test a lot, whether it be to find the right colours, textures
After high school, kind of by accident, I fell into a BA in glass or expressions. Some pieces require a lot of practice and
at Monash University in Melbourne and it was everything I repetition until I can execute the piece to my liking. New works
hoped for. I really fell for glassblowing and sculpting, although tend to develop quite slowly and take time to create, so I am
we also had classes in casting, fusing and slumping as well. often working on several ideas at once.

How did you end up in Sweden? Shortly after finishing my What themes do you like to explore through glass design?
degree in 2004, I left Australia to explore Europe. I worked The tropical series is different from my other works, which tend
in a glass studio in London, before ending up in Denmark to be more one-off exhibition pieces where I explore themes of
for nine years and taking further studies in glass. There surrealism and symbolism. I like to use humour and present an
came a point where it made sense to move to Sweden, alternative version of what glass can be.
and to Boda Glasbruk.
How physical is the glassblowing process? I wouldn’t say
Tell us more about where you live and what makes it special. it requires athlete-level fitness, but it is quite physical, and
Boda Glasbruk (population: 200) is a very tiny forest village. strength and stamina certainly help. It is hot and sweaty and
The Boda Glassworks factory is today a glass museum – you are almost always in motion, moving the blowpipe which
The Glass Factory – with workshop space for glassblowers has to be kept in constant rotation. The leverage factor means
and contemporary artists. I work out of this space, and it’s the glass feels heavier on the end of a pipe than when you
a real creative community which operates at a national and would pick up a finished glass object.
international level. If you’re in Sweden, the Kingdom of Crystal
is definitely worth a visit! It’s a historic region of glassmaking What’s the best thing about glassblowing? I love the teamwork,
dating back to 1742. Currently, there are 14 factories and the coordination required, and the focus needed. I work solo
studios within an 80km radius, each full of talented or in teams of up to five (where there is usually a mix of master
artists and craftspeople. glassmakers and assistants), always with music blasting.
Although there is planning and prep beforehand, things happen
What inspired your collection of shells and flowers? in the moment that create chaos and drama. Pieces crack if
It started off as a very small project just for fun. I was feeling they’re too cold, or deform if too hot. There is something primal
the distance between myself and Australia – a lot happens in navigating the molten material with quite basic tools. We have
in 15-plus years – so there was a longing to reconnect, even furnaces to keep the glass hot, but most of the shaping is done
just in a small way. It started with the frangipani, which has with wood or metal tools, and a thick newspaper pad kept wet.
such strong childhood connotations for me. These have now
evolved into more generalised tropical flowers and shells, Where can we see more from you? Online at tillieburden.com
but the feeling I wanted to capture was ‘fun in the sun’. or on Instagram at @tillieburden.

125
 working well
a few tips for looking after your
brain and bod while running a small
biz, courtesy of nungala creative
founder jessica johnson.
WORDS KATE STANTON

Jessica Johnson is squeamish about offering tips on prioritising product range is a great meditative tool. “Making art really is a
wellbeing in business because, truth be told, she’s still figuring beautiful act of mindfulness,” she says. “Creativity is really healing,
it out herself. The Warumungu/Wombaya woman and founder so having it as the foundation to a career is a win-win.”
of Nungala Creative design agency recently recovered from a
tricky bout with COVID and had to force herself to “be horizontal STEP AWAY FROM THE SCREEN “I definitely have moments where
for a while.” Even then, she was “just horizontal, creating with I think, ‘Do I cease to exist when I’m not in front of a computer?’”
my iPad,” she laughs. “It’s a challenge to switch off sometimes.” Jessica says. She grounds herself in tactile, everyday joys: laughing
with mob; chilling with her pug, Pickles; or cooking up. “Eating good
It helps, though, that Jessica finds so much joy in her work food sparks joy for me,” she says. “I’ll look at a pasta or salad, with
creating content from a First Nations perspective and designing all its colours, and it’s so satisfying even before I’ve eaten anything.
accessories as playful as they are pointed (like her super- I love how food can do that.”
glittery, heart-shaped ‘Decolonise’ necklaces). She is also
the founding director of BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation, which FIND TECH THAT MAKES YOU FEEL LIGHTER It’s a good idea to
advocates for Blak queer representation, and founder of the look around for digital tools that lighten the load, especially if that
Trading Blak Aboriginal business collective. “Maybe I just don’t particular task isn’t a strength or passion (we’re looking at you,
turn off,” she says. “I’m passionate about what I do, but I’m also bookkeeping). Jessica uses Xero accounting software, along with
conscious of becoming a slave to the beast.” an accountant, to help her tackle the burden of financial admin.
“Xero is a conduit to a world I don’t fully understand,” she says.
We asked Jessica how she tries (and sometimes fails) “It streamlines everything I don’t really enjoy focusing on, so it’s
to set boundaries and take breaks from business. Spoiler: a breath of fresh air for me.”
good food helps.
FIND STRENGTH IN YOUR COMMUNITY For Jessica, working on
KNOW THAT YOU’RE IN CONTROL The pressures of owning projects with a tangible benefit for her community helps her feel
a small business can sometimes detract from the rad benefits. empowered and focused. Seek out people who know what you’re
But, heck, you’re the boss: organise your life in a way that suits going through and are ready to lift you up. Every young, queer or
you. Jessica started her own agency when the daily grind of Blak-owned start-up is a statement of what’s possible, Jessica
work in media began to feel “relentless”. Now, she works on her says. “Know your worth and don’t underestimate your value. You
own terms, with people and on projects that matter to her. Set come from 60,000-plus years of unbroken culture and belonging,”
boundaries and say no to projects that don’t align with your core she says to Blak business owners. “You’re kind of a big deal.”
values, she advises. “I try to curate an existence for myself void
of the fuckery,” she says. “But be kind to yourself, too. It’s OK to
be a work in progress.”
These helpful tips were brought to you
RELISH THE ‘CREATIVE’ PART OF YOUR CREATIVE BUSINESS in partnership with our pals at Xero.
It’s hard not to get bogged down with the business-y stuff, but Whether you lead a small team or are
nourishing your creative side is a fab source of strength. Growing going it alone, Xero’s online accounting
up around artists and activists like her dad, John Johnson, helps you do business, but better.
Jessica saw first-hand how art helps people process tough Find out more at xero.com/au
experiences. A super-crafty, hands-on design session for her

126
FRANKIE X XERO

127
Photos Carine Thévenau
 learn something new

Illustration Alice Buda

ART, ACTIVISM AND HEAVY METAL
AREN’T ONLY RESERVED FOR
THE YOUNG.
Words Kate Stanton

GRANDMA MOSES The next time one of those unnerving ‘30 under Qiu Yuan, to be published in 2020 (she was 80 at the time), but the
30’ lists make you feel late to the game, think of Grandma Moses, book went on to become a bestseller in China. Known by her fans
a celebrated American folk artist who didn’t start painting until her as the “writer by the stove”, Benfen, now 82, describes writing as
late 70s. Born in New York, Anna Mary Robertson Moses was a farm a “lifelong pursuit” and plans to turn Qiu Yuan into a trilogy.
worker and grandmother of nine who only dabbled in art until 1938,
when a collector spotted her pastoral landscapes in the window of THE LADIES FROM MACHSOM WATCH Anyone who’s faced the
a chemist. By the 1950s, the lady the press dubbed ‘Grandma’ Moses withering stare of a sharp-eyed granny knows how powerful they
had become a national sensation – one who hobnobbed with US can be. Since 2001, a dedicated group of volunteer Israeli women
presidents and whose paintings were worth tens of thousands. In 1948, (many of them grandmothers) have patrolled checkpoints in
Mademoiselle magazine named the then-88-year-old ‘Young Woman the West Bank, looking for signs of Israeli soldiers mistreating
of the Year’ for her ‘flourishing young career and the youth of her Palestinians travelling in and out of occupied territories. Known
spirit’. Grandma Moses is proof that you’re never too old to be young. as Machsom Watch (machsom means ‘checkpoint’ in Hebrew),
the women work in shifts to prevent and report wrongdoing,
MOTHER JONES Mary Harris ‘Mother’ Jones technically wasn’t and to help Palestinians travel into Israel for work or medical
a grandma (her husband and four children died of yellow fever). care without incident. Their watchful presence keeps soldiers on
But the 19th-century Irish-American union organiser and self-styled their toes. “There is an attitude that with these older women you
“hell-raiser” was once called the “grandmother of all agitators”, can deceive them,” one watchwoman has said. “But it’s not so easy.”
working well into her 80s. Known for having a ‘matronly’ appearance
that belied her fiery attitude (and rather foul mouth), Mother Jones THE ROCKER GRANDMA Forget sex and drugs – here’s what’s
devoted her life to organising strikes for mill workers, railway workers really rock ’n’ roll: opening your mind to new experiences.
and coal miners, whom she referred to as “my boys”. Even today, Widow and mum of five Ángeles Rodríguez Hidalgo was 70 when
she remains a powerful figure in the union movement, remembered she accompanied her grandson to her first rock concert in 1980s
for her fearless commitment to the working class and her famous Madrid. That night, she fell in love with heavy metal; thus, a
battle cry: “Pray for the dead, and fight like hell for the living.” septuagenarian headbanger was born. Soon, Ángeles was a fixture
on Madrid’s booming metal scene. She had her own column in
YANG BENFEN In a story straight out of every writer’s wildest Heavy Rock magazine, and was often spotted backstage with
dreams, the idea for Yang Benfen’s first novel came to her on a rockers decades her junior. Metal band Panzer put her (sporting
whim, then turned out to be a ginormous hit. Benfen, from Nanjing, some rad studded leather) on their 1984 Toca Madera album cover.
China, was in her 60s when she sat down to write her mother’s After she died in 1993, a sculpture of la abuela rockera (the rocker
life story. She wrote the whole thing in her apartment kitchen, in grandma), brandishing the universal hand signal for ‘rock on’,
the short spurts of free time she had between cooking and looking was erected in her home suburb of Vallecas. Long live rock ’n’ roll.
after her granddaughter. It took a whopping 10 years for her novel, Long live la abuela rockera.

128
 our mental-health special
meet interesting folk and clever animals, make some
lovely things and discover a few rad activities that don’t
involve your mobile phone. it’s all there – and loads
more – in frankie feel-good.

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