Innholdsfortegnelse for 20 August 2018 i New Idea

The thought of turning 40 can be overwhelming for some women. But for actress turned radio host Kate Ritchie, the milestone marks a new beginning. Feeling fresh and looking radiant, the former Home and Away star recently returned after taking time out on an exotic European getaway. And after spending more than two years shrugging off niggling rumours that her marriage to former rugby league star Stuart Webb is on the rocks, it seems the holiday has brought the couple even closer than before. ‘It [travelling] was something I’d thought about doing for a very long time,’ Kate explains of her decision to go abroad without Stuart and the couple’s daughter, Mae, three. ‘But I think I’m done now. I’ve ticked that box. I did the Italian escapade, but I’m…

It was a rocky week for the Nine Network, as the power struggle to rein in host Karl Stefanovic continued in the wake of the Today show receiving its worst ratings in four years. The worrying statistics came in as the network’s highest paid presenter was sipping cocktails in Europe on yet another luxury holiday with fiancée Jasmine Yarbrough – right when they needed him the most. ‘Where is his focus? That’s the question that’s being asked at the station,’ reveals our well-placed spy. ‘Everyone is desperate to keep their heads above water, and the star of the show is living it up in Italy for two weeks during their peak season. He has gone too far this time.’ Adding insult to injury, The Project host Lisa Wilkinson, 58, has…

She’s one of Australia’s most successful, popular, and in-demand entertainers, but recently, it would appear that Delta Goodrem’s heart has been elsewhere. Making an emergency dash to Adelaide last week, the songstress made it clear that there was something else far more important than just her work commitments. The 33-year-old dropped everything to be by her brother Trent’s side as he welcomed a new baby – and it was clear for all to see that the clucky star couldn’t contain her excitement over the new family member. ‘Delta has a lot on at the moment. She just launched her new perfume and was jetting from one country to another for media commitments. Her feet have barely touched the ground, but she knew no matter what happened she wanted to be…

‘IT IS DIFFICULT FOR BRODY BECAUSE HE AND ZIGGY NEVER SEEM TO HAVE TIME ALONE’ It’s meant to be the happiest time in the lives of Summer Bay’s favourite newlyweds Ziggy (Sophie Dillman) and Brody (Jackson Heywood). But the course of true love never did run smooth in the small town. And that certainly proves to be the case this week. Brody is finding living with his new wife and her family at the Astoni house is far from the start to wedded life he’d envisaged. ‘It is difficult for Brody because he and Ziggy never seem to have any time alone together,’ says Sophie. ‘Ziggy is really young – she’s only 20 – and she’s never lived with anyone else before – she’s only ever lived at home. ‘She…

LAST BOOK YOU READ. I’m about 10 pages from the end of The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society . I’m gobbling it up! LAST MEAL YOU ATE. Leftover turkey rissoles with lovely salad, avocado, beetroot, raw mushrooms, a slice of cheese and a boiled egg. LAST PERSON YOU TEXTED. Our publicist Sophie. LAST HOLIDAY YOU TOOK. Last week when my partner Paul and I went to Rylstone in New South Wales for a couple of days with Shane Withington [who plays John Palmer] and his wife Annie. We came home, did some washing, threw things in a bag and went down to the Yarra Valley in Victoria, and then to Melbourne. LAST PHOTO YOU TOOK. It was of a beautiful kookaburra I saw on a…

INXS might have been one of the world’s hottest bands, but it was a sultry Michael Hutchence who truly set hearts racing. From a humble start in a Sydney garage to the bright lights of the world stage, Michael was more than just a lead singer. He was a man with charisma, talent, and a seductive nature that enthralled audiences across the globe. Aside from garnering attention for his lyrics, Michael remained popular for his sex-symbol status. With a number of high-profile girlfriends, Michael’s romantic endeavours were starting to read like a little black book of female celebrities. Says close friend Richard Lowenstein: ‘He would flirt with everybody – women or waiters in restaurants. He had a magnetic effect on men as well as women.’ FOR MORE GREAT OZ ROCK…

EJ WANTS MORE WOMEN TO CONSIDER A ‘SELF-MARRIAGE’ CEREMONY LINDA SAYS THE CEREMONY WAS ‘BEAUTIFUL’ After a relationship break-up, Linda Doktar decided to embark on a wedding with a difference – one that saw her saying ‘I do’ to herself. The Gold Coast blonde vowed to love, respect and cherish ‘me’ after finding herself newly single last year. In February 2017, Linda held the self-marriage ceremony to confirm the emotional journey she had been through and to officially recognise her spiritual transformation. The 34-year-old took part in the intimate occasion, with the help of close friend Ej Love – a relationship coach who calls herself the ‘love priestess’. ‘Ej had just begun to hold these ceremonies for others, and I thought this was a beautiful concept to symbolise my journey…

Choc-Hazelnut Scrolls with Coffee Icing Makes 10, Prep and Cook: 1 hour 2¼ cups self-raising flour, plus extra for dusting 2 tblsps icing sugar mixture 75g cold unsalted butter, finely chopped ¾ cup milk 1 egg, lightly beaten ²/ ³ cup chocolate hazelnut spread ¼ cup hazelnuts, toasted, coarsely chopped COFFEE ICING 1 tblsp instant coffee granules 1 cup icing sugar mixture 1 Grease a 20cm round cake pan. Line base and side with baking paper. 2 To make dough, combine flour and sugar in a large bowl. Using your fingertips, rub in butter to form fine crumbs. Make a well in the centre. Add combined milk and egg. Using a flat-bladed knife, gently stir until mixture forms a sticky dough. 3 Turn out onto a lightly floured bench and…

Over five million Australians are affected by incontinence – that’s one in four of us! Many women assume they suffer from bladder leaks as part of the ageing process or because they’ve had children, but there is much you can do to cure, manage, or improve the condition, says continence and pelvic floor physiotherapist Annabelle Citroen, who is an ambassador for the Continence Foundation of Australia. Here, she explains the strategies that can help. DEVELOP GOOD BOWEL HABITS Constipation can put increased pressure on the bladder, leading to poor emptying or more frequent or strong sensations of needing to wee. On top of this, frequent straining to empty the bowel can weaken the pelvic floor muscles over time and contribute to bladder or bowel leakage. As a start, healthy bowel…

SATISFY YOUR LOW-CARB LIFESTYLE Looking for a guilt-free, low-carb snack on the go? Atkins Harvest trail bars are packed with roasted nuts, dried fruit and protein and free from artificial colours, preservatives, gluten and flavours. Visit au.atkins.com A HAPPY MEAL® THAT MAKES YOU HAPPY TOO! Feel good about treating your family at Macca’s with the new range of healthier Happy Meal options, including: • Grilled Chicken Bites, with 100% Australian Chicken Breast Fillet • Wholemeal Snack Wraps, using a new Wholemeal Tortilla • Yoplait Petit Miam Strawberry Yogurt pouches, made with real fruit • 100% Aussie Juicy Grape Tomatoes. LITTLE BIG SHOTS: AUSTRALIA’S NUMBER #1 FEEL GOOD HIT IS HERE! Seven’s hit entertainment show returns with a swag of new pint-sized performers set to melt hearts. Hosted by Shane Jacobson,…

#1 EAT AT LE ROCHER CREPERIE (NOUMEA) Indulge in freshly made, mouthwatering crepes at Le Rocher for lunch or dinner. With a wide selection of sweet and savoury crepes and a stunning view of Lemon Bay, it is not to be missed. Go to facebook.com/lerochernoumea . #2 GO ON A GECKO EVASION TOUR (BOURAIL) From boat trips to Green Island (another amazing snorkelling spot), to kayaking river adventures, or private camping and hiking packages, these tours embrace the stunning nature of Bourail. For info, visit geckoevasion.nc. #3 TAKE A GLASS BOTTOM BOAT TOUR (BOURAIL) Embark on a boat ride around the lagoon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Discover the sea life while staying dry on board, or dive into the waters and snorkel through the reef. Tours…

My beautiful poodle, Tiffany, passed away last November while she was boarding at our wonderful, dog kennels. An autopsy showed she had developed a tummy bug that claimed her life suddenly during the night. My heart is still broken and I feel guilty that I wasn’t with her at the time. Could you please tell me if she suffered at all and if she is happy and at peace? DELIA, VIA EMAIL. Tiffany’s energy and beautiful, kind spirit have never left your side and she communicates she has already appeared to you in a dream. Tiffany wants you to know she is doing well on the other side and does not hold any blame for the care she received when in the kennels at that time. Tiffany knows they always…

IMAGINATION I asked my MM son why he didn’t attend a meeting after school that we’d talked about that morning. He assured me: ‘No Mum, we didn’t talk – it must be a pigment of your imagination!’ S. ABRAM, HUGHESDALE, VIC. RAISE YOUR HAND A MM colleague has the job of pushing patients around the hospital to my gym. His favourite saying is: ‘Right, has everyone arrived now? Put your hand up if you are not here!’ Always gives people a laugh, but no-one puts their hand up! NICOLE RYAN, MIRANDA, NSW. LOST FILLING My brother-in-law was staying with me recently and asked if I had a torch as he’d lost a filling. So we looked under the bed and shook the doona but could not find it. I said:…

‘WE ALL HAVE SOME SPECIFIC GIFT OR TALENT. IT’S UP TO US TO TRY TO FOSTER THAT TALENT’ She’s been a regular on our screens for more than four decades. Yet Noni Hazlehurst isn’t about to start resting on her laurels. In fact, the star of Foxtel’s acclaimed A Place To Call Home is working harder than ever – something the mother of two grown-up sons isn’t complaining about, even for a moment. ‘I’ve never been so busy, and it’s just fantastic,’ she says. ‘I’d be crawling up the walls if I wasn’t working and my kids would be saying: “When are you working again?”’ These days Noni is based at her country home, inland from the Gold Coast. And, at the age of 64, the performer at last feels…

The Medical Team were all smiles as they wowed the judges with their energetic performance of Britney Spears’ Toxic on Dance Boss . But behind the scenes, nurse Bella was battling one of the toughest times of her life. Just a week before filming started, the 22-year-old’s mum, Suzie, was admitted into intensive care with triple organ failure. ‘Mum had been feeling unwell for a couple of days, but convinced herself it was just a stomach bug,’ Bella tells New Idea. ‘But we knew something was wrong when my dog scratched her arm and she bled for the rest of the day.’ Suzie was rushed to hospital, where she was almost immediately taken to ICU and put on life support. The doctors found…

The resemblance between Princess Charlotte and her great-grandma, Queen Elizabeth has been widely commented on. But royal fans have noticed that the gorgeous three-year-old tot’s looks are also very similar to another member of the royal family... her late grandmother, Princess Diana. ‘I have been saying – for a while now – that Charlotte is going to look a lot more like Diana than anyone thinks,’ one royal fan commented on an Instagram page dedicated to Diana. ‘The lips and the way she is smiling is similar to Diana,’ commented another on an image of Charlotte next to an old photo of Diana as a child.…

Pink came under fire this week when she was forced to reschedule an entire week of her Beautiful Trauma show in Sydney on ‘medical advice’, after suffering a gastric virus and respiratory problems. The 38-year-old, who was pictured frolicking on the beach in Byron Bay just days earlier, apologised via Instagram to fans, many of whom were furious that shows were cancelled less than two hours before doors opened. ‘I want to say thank you to all of the kind people out there for your well wishes,’ she said. ‘On Monday, we were absolutely planning on going ahead with the show, and about 20 minutes before I left for sound check, I was rushed to the hospital in excruciating pain.’ Pink’s tour promoter revealed the extent of the star’s illness.…

It’s been just three months since she married Prince Harry in the wedding of the century. Yet the Duchess of Sussex’s fairytale is slowly starting to unravel as the stress of life in the royal inner circle begins to take its toll on the former actress. In fact, things are so bad for Meghan – who is said to be at her wit’s end over her father and half-sister’s continued public betrayals – that Harry has made the drastic decision to give her some space. Plans have been put in motion for Meghan, 37, to take a back seat from public appearances for now. ‘NEVER IN HER WILDEST DREAMS DID SHE IMAGINE ALL THIS ATTENTION’ In fact, New Idea’s exclusive Kensington Palace sources can reveal that Meghan may even pull…

It’s no secret that Tracy Grimshaw has become Nine’s golden girl after her Logie nomination. Now the A Current Affair host is gearing up for a major career move. The TV presenter is said to be pulling out all the stops for a potential new gig hosting the Today show. ‘Tracy has made a lot of lifestyle changes,’ says a source. ‘And everyone thinks it’s because she is about to land the top job on breakfast television. It’s an obvious choice because the viewers love her, and bosses know she is a great fit.’ Swapping her make-up free selfies for false eyelashes and a new workout regime, it seems the star couldn’t be happier with where her career is heading. ‘She has…

Families across the country went into meltdown last week when The Wiggles couple Emma Watkins and Lachlan Gillespie announced that they were ending their marriage. ‘We wanted to let you know that privately for the last six months we have been navigating through a trial separation, and we have made the decision to separate as a couple,’ Emma, 28, shared on Instagram alongside a photo of the pair during happier times. While the couple, who wed in an elaborate ceremony in 2016 at Hopewood House in the NSW Southern Highlands surrounded by 200 guests, have tried to keep the details behind their shock split under wraps, New Idea can now reveal that co-founder of the internationally acclaimed children’s entertainment group and fellow Blue Wiggle Anthony Field has gone into crisis…

They say all good things must come to an end. And that is certainly the case for 25-year-old Raechelle Banno, whose three-year stint on Home And Away as Olivia reaches its conclusion. For Raechelle, who joined the hit series as a relative unknown, the role presented her with the opportunity of a lifetime. ‘To be able to be thrust into 46 weeks [of filming] a year – all day, every day – it was just the education I’d always dreamed of,’ she says. Not surprisingly, when the director called ‘action’ on Raechelle’s final scene, which sees her character farewell the Bay to take up an exciting work opportunity in Melbourne, the star struggled to keep her feelings in check. ‘It was a really emotional journey for…

THE ACTOR OPENS UP ABOUT HIS MARRIAGE AND THE LATEST SEASON OF 800 WORDS With two kids and 19 years of marriage under their belts, actors Erik Thomson and Caitlin McDougall are more in love than ever. But having a successful showbiz marriage isn’t always easy. In fact, Erik, 51, revealed that last year was a difficult one for the family of four. He had to spend a lot of time in New Zealand where he was filming the hit show 800 Words, while his wife and two kids, Eilish, 11, and Magnus, seven, stayed at their family home in Adelaide. ‘WE TRAVERSE THE NEW LANDSCAPE OF LOVE AT A DIFFERENT TIME OF OUR LIVES WITH DIFFERENT RULES’ ‘We had a bit of a hard year last year,’…

Whether he’s slaying it on stage as the lead singer of Cold Chisel, or killing it as a solo act, Jimmy Barnes always brings guts and glory to his performances – not to mention his fair share of heart and soul. But his ongoing journey to success and happiness hasn’t been an easy one. Born on the kitchen floor of his parents’ home in Glasgow, Scotland in 1956, James Swan experienced a harrowing childhood filled with domestic violence, alcoholism and instances of sexual abuse. When Jimmy’s parents decided to move to Australia in 1961, little did they know they weren’t in for a picture-perfect experience. Hopes and visions of new beginnings where dashed as Jimmy’s parents continued to engage in a violent and tumultuous relationship, which saw his mum and…

JEN AND BILL MAY STAND AT AROUND A METRE TALL, BUT THEY DREAM BIG Imagine never being able to wash your hands in a public bathroom because you just can’t reach the basin. Or unable to reach the table at a restaurant without a heightened chair. Such is the reality for mum Jen Arnold, just 96.5cm high, and her businessman husband Bill Klein, who stands at 122cm. ‘Hey, I drive a great sports car and I have a beautiful, sexy and highly intelligent wife and two wonderful kids. What could be better?’ beams Bill, 43. Further, he and Jen, 44, a physician, are now celebrities with millions of followers worldwide – they’re the stars of the hit reality television show The Little Couple. In it, viewers follow the highs and…

Beef and Mushroom Stew Serves 4, Prep and Cook: 1 hour 1kg beef blade steak ¼ cup olive oil 1 onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, crushed 2 medium carrots (240g), peeled, cut into 1cm slices 250g whole button mushrooms 1½ cups beef stock ¹/ ³ cup chicken-flavoured instant gravy granules 2 tblsps barbecue sauce Mashed potato and steamed peas, to serve 1 Trim fat and sinew from beef steak. Cut into 3cm pieces. Season with salt and pepper. 2 Heat 2 tblsps of the oil in a stockpot over a high heat. Add beef in three batches. Cook, turning occasionally, for about 2 minutes, or until browned all over. Remove. 3 Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining oil to the same pot with onion, garlic, carrots and mushrooms. Cook, stirring…

MONDAY Eggplant and Lentils with Couscous Serves 4, Prep and Cook: 20 mins 1½ cups couscous ½ cup chopped roasted almonds 4 green spring onions, thinly sliced ¼ cup olive oil 500g eggplant, cut into 2cm cubes 2 cloves garlic, crushed 290g jar ajvar relish 400g can brown lentils, drained, rinsed 1 vegetable stock cube (10g), crumbled 1 tblsp red wine vinegar 1 Place couscous in a large, heatproof bowl. Add 1¼ cups boiling water. Cover with plastic wrap. Stand for 5 minutes. Uncover. Separate grains with a fork. Stir in almonds and half the onions. 2 Meanwhile, heat oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add eggplant, garlic and remaining onions. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 8 minutes, or until eggplant is tender. 3 Add relish,…

The delicate skin that surrounds the eyes is one of the first areas to show fine lines and visible signs of ageing. We all know that we should treat this skin with TLC, but do we really need a targeted eye cream or is a moisturiser doing the job? Nivea Skincare expert Robyn Hutch shares her wealth of knowledge on picking the perfect cream for eyes and the key ingredients to focus on. WHY YOU NEED ONE The skin around your eyes is the thinnest of your face and other parts of your body. ‘An eye cream is a great way to target issues such as puffiness or fine lines, or dry skin around the eye area,’ says Robyn. WHEN TO USE IT ‘You can actually use an eye cream…

The international airline of New Caledonia, Aircalin, operates 12 flights per week non-stop from Australia to Noumea, New Caledonia. Flights take just over two hours from Brisbane, less than three hours from Sydney, and under four hours from Melbourne. For reservations call 1300 655 737 or visit aircalin.com . Chateau Royal Beach Resort & Spa, located on the most beautiful beach in Noumea, is in the heart of an extraordinary 3-hectare tropical park and faces the stunning sunset. Visit complexechateauroyal.nc. Sheraton New Caledonia Deva Spa & Golf Resort offers a unique South Pacific location at the base of the Deva Domain with its hills and valleys facing the translucent blue waters and UNESCO World Heritage barrier reef. Located 90 minutes drive north of…

ARIES MAR 21 – APR 20 It will take thoughtful proactive efforts to show someone dear how much you care. Embracing their world and getting to know someone important to them will be learn-as-you-go experiences. Expansive financial prospects will offer exciting promise. Watch a tendency to over-stretch with a bold investment, costly plan or purchase. A tough personal or work project, handled creatively, will be an opportunity for success. LUCKY NUMBERS: 14, 24, 40 TAURUS APR 21 – MAY 21 A labour of love will require personal sacrifices – going the extra mile to help someone dear or for a cause close to your heart will speak volumes. A PR challenge on the job will be the chance to improve relations with colleagues. Special family plans will stretch the budget.…

Q I own a small business and I have two individual customers that continually come into my shop and they smell really bad. My staff, other customers and I have to hold our breath when they are in the shop. After they leave we have to open all the doors and air the shop out. Is it rude to tell them, and how do I do it politely? I think I need to do something, because I feel like I will lose other customers if they keep making my shop smell. VIOLET, VIA EMAIL. A Not sure asking customers to leave your shop because they smell is politically correct. Burn strong scented melts – papaya is a great one for disguising bad odours. The market offers heaps of products to…

How do you describe drought? What is it? How do you cope? How can we help? This is what I’ve been asking farmers all week on Sunrise and everyone has a different answer. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to the drought, except for rain, and there is none of that forecast. Here are the facts. It’s been the driest autumn since the Federation drought in 1902. One hundred per cent of NSW is now in drought and 60 per cent of Queensland. Some parts of the country haven’t seen decent rainfall for six years. The statistics are stark but seeing the devastation first-hand is a lot more confronting. As we leave Sydney and travel through the Upper Hunter, the ground gets drier and drier. We come…

Celine Dion is reportedly increasingly concerned for her eldest son Rene-Charles. The budding singer has been hanging around a whole new crew, but it appears the stress has been getting too much, with him recently posting to Twitter: ‘Damn I got so much pressure to make it big in this industry it’s kinda f*d up.’…

MEG RYAN The 56-year-old has undoubtedly changed over the years thanks to a few nips and tucks. Plastic surgeon Mark Youssef says: ‘The most obvious thing that she’s had done is some sort of filler in her cheeks. It’s definitely too much because the apple of her cheek is too full and too large now.’ SHANIA TWAIN The 52-year-old sparked rumours of plastic surgery when she stepped out earlier this year as a guest mentor on The Voice . NYC-based plastic surgeon Dr Yoel Shahar observed she ‘appears to have filler under her lower eyelids to maintain her youthful look. She’s also likely had Botox to her crow’s feet.’ CHRISTE BRINKLEY The 64-year-old model admits to maintaining her youthful looks by using mild plastic surgery procedures such…

WHO HUGH SHERIDAN ‘Are these Sheridan Australia sheets?’ Hugh added to this hot shot. Yeah that’s the first thing we wondered too. And whether the curtains are from Spotlight. WHO JULIA ROBERTS ‘I LOVE NY,’ Julia captioned this pic that has more of an ‘I’m scared of NY’ look to it. Or, ‘I’m surprised to have just found a laptop in the back of this cab.’ WHO SAM BURGESS It looks like the NRL tough guy has met his match after ‘he copped a right boot in the shnozz’ from his toddler daughter Poppy.…

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s custody and divorce war has gone nuclear with both stars coming out swinging in the latest stage of their conflict. And in what’s shaping up to be the most toxic separation in Hollywood history, Angelina’s now so desperate, she’s pulling out all the stops by hiring a new legal team, clearing her work schedule and accusing Brad of being a deadbeat dad. In a blistering attack, Ange spoke through her attorney accusing Brad of ‘a blatant attempt to obfuscate the truth and distract from the fact that he has not fully met his legal obligations to support the children.’ To which Brad hit back claiming he had paid over $12 million in the past 18 months. In a statement to Us Weekly, Angelina’s legal team…

One of the royal family’s most shocking scandals has been kept hidden under wraps for nearly four decades... until now In a move that is sure to rock the monarchy, New Idea can exclusively reveal intimate details about the affair involving Princess Anne’s former husband, Captain Mark Phillips. Over 20 years ago, Phillips fathered a secret love child with New Zealander Heather Tonkin. The little girl, Felicity, was just four years younger than her royal half-sister, Zara. However, royal sources have revealed to New Idea that Mark has ‘been in denial’ about his daughter since the day she was born. ‘He just never accepted it and couldn’t cope with it,’ says a close friend. Mark and Heather – a former art teacher and model – are believed to have met…

Things are set to explode on The Block between contestant Spence and host Scott Cam. According to on-set insiders, the pair clashed constantly throughout filming at The Gatwick in Melbourne. ‘They didn’t see eye to at all,’ our source reveals. ‘Spence is a builder and thought he knew better than Scotty, and that didn’t go down well. It was almost like he was looking down at him.’ In fact, tension got so bad that Scott wanted to kick Spence and his wife Kerrie, 49, off the show. ‘There’s nothing Scotty hates more than cockiness and he felt disrespected by Spence,’ our insider adds. ‘He really didn’t want him there at all.’…

Bet you never thought you would see the day when chickens started sporting beanies and jumpers – but believe it or not, that’s the latest trend in poultry fashion. Chicken farmer Max Cosgrove, 11, is the brains behind the trend, having created a unique range of Cheanies (beanies for chickens) and Chumpers (jumpers for chickens), and they have taken the world by storm! After getting into chicken breeding at only eight years of age, Max couldn’t get enough of it. Fast-forward three years, he is hatching 30 chicks a week and selling around 10 chickens from the farm, and many more, at the local markets. Some people even drive up to eight hours just to buy one of his chickens. But, the young entrepreneur revealed that the idea for the…

Straight male musicians, wearing lipstick, jewellery and colourful flares? In the early ’70s that was completely outrageous. So when Skyhooks emerged on the Australian rock scene, fans had never seen anything like them. But as the flamboyant Melbourne band strutted across the stage on music show Countdown, the national was mesmerised. For the first year, the band wasn’t especially popular, and were even booed off stage. But all that changed when Shirley Strachan joined the group in March 1974. A 22-year-old carpenter who loved surfing, he got his nickname because his curly bleached hair reminded mates of Shirley Temple. With his charisma and distinctive high voice, Shirl bought star quality to the band. Rock historian Ian McFarlane says Shirley, ‘was a natural frontman: young and gifted... with a sweet, yet…

Best known for their 1990 song I Touch Myself , Divinyls, fronted by Chrissy Amphlett, formed in 1980, playing pubs and clubs around Sydney’s Kings Cross. The band also had hits Boys In Town and Pleasure And Pain , and in 2006 they were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. But many would be surprised to know the inspiration for their music came from a controversial source – a heady mixture of A-class drugs, alcohol and Chrissy’s fiery and dysfunctional relationship with guitarist and on-off lover Mark McEntee. ‘We had screaming matches that sometimes degenerated into physical fights,’ Chrissy admitted. Their manager at the time, Vince Lovegrove, believed their best work came when the pair were ‘at each other’s…

‘I HAD TO TEACH MYSELF HOW TO COOK AND MEAL PLAN’ Growing up, Paige Taylor thought it was normal to be hungry. When she was fed, she remembers chip sandwiches were a dinnertime staple. ‘I was denied food,’ the 23-year-old from Melbourne says of her childhood. ‘Some nights I wouldn’t be given dinner. When I went to friends’ houses and was offered food, I would gorge because I didn’t know when I would get any more.’ Painfully, food was only one of the ways in which she suffered throughout the years that her stepfather, who is now deceased, lived with Paige, her mother and brother. ‘I was hit, yelled at, dragged across tiles, put in my room every day, and not allowed to come out,’ she tells New Idea emotionally.…

Tomato and Pea Gnocchi Serves 4, Prep and Cook: 15 mins 1 tblsp olive oil 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, crushed 400g can chopped tomatoes, basil & garlic flavour 1 chicken stock cube (5g), crumbled ½ cup drained, sun-dried tomato strips 300ml tub light thickened cooking cream 1 cup frozen peas 500g packet fresh potato gnocchi ¹/ ³ cup pine nuts, toasted Shaved parmesan, to serve 1 Heat oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add onion and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 3 minutes, or until soft. 2 Add tomatoes, stock cube, tomato strips and cream over a high heat. Bring to boil. Add peas. Simmer, uncovered, for about 5 minutes or until sauce is slightly thickened. 3 Meanwhile, cook gnocchi according…

‘Since the eye area is so delicate you want to look for ingredients that will be nourishing and also help fight signs of ageing,’ says Robyn. • Q10 IMPROVES THE SKIN’S ABILITY TO produce cellular energy. Energy is needed by skin cells to perform important metabolic functions and repair processes. • VITAMIN C WORKS TO C R E AT E younger-looking, firmer-feeling skin by energising dull and uneven skin tone. It’s a supercharged antioxidant that slows the rate of free-radical damage – free radicals are unstable molecules that damage collagen and cause skin dryness, fine lines and wrinkles. • HYALURONIC ACID OCCURS NATURALLY, particularly in young skin, but slows down in production as we age. This ingredient gives the eye area a plumper, firmer appearance.…

When the Queen failed to turn up to Prince Louis’ christening the poor little royal was regarded as the victim of ‘third child syndrome’. Clearly the fifth in line to the throne wasn’t important enough to warrant Her Majesty’s presence, but is the notion of the neglected third child really warranted? Sure, no-one visits you in hospital when you’re born and photographs are thin on the ground, but here’s a few reasons why it’s best to be number three! YOU’LL GET AWAY WITH MORE Parents practise on number one and try to do better with number two, but when a third child arrives they’re chilled and lenient. Curfew? What curfew? YOU’LL BE CALLED THE WRONG NAME This will make you resilient and adaptable, and if you can answer to three…

QI have fears of my husband being unfaithful after I messed up a few years ago. I have tried to move forward but there is always this voice telling me that he is doing the wrong thing. We don’t discuss the future and I feel he is not interested in the things I am. He becomes angry if I ask him to do things. What does my future say about where we will be? Anxious Aquarius. A Anxious Aquarius, it sounds like there are unresolved hurt feelings between you and your husband. I’d start with couples’ therapy to resolve the old feelings, because if you can’t, your past ‘mess up’ will continue to erode your relationship. The things irritating your husband are requests that you’re making of him to fulfil…

IVORY TICKLE While visiting friends, I overheard the mother of Miss Four tell her to sit down and get comfy on the couch as Pop was about to ‘tickle the ivories’. Miss Four looked up at her mother, very confused, and said: ‘But what if they’re not ticklish?’ JANE LAWRENCE, SHEFFIELD, TAS. SMELLY NELLIE I was trying to get Miss Six to take her bath before bed but she wasn’t listening, as it was going to interfere with her playtime. Finally she let out a big sigh and said: ‘OK, I will take a bath. But when I grow up I am NEVER going to take a bath again.’ RICK BLANCHARD, WATTLE GROVE, WA. WINDSWEPT Master Five gazed in awe as we drove past numerous wind turbines north of Perth,…

MAPPING IT OUT Savvy Traveller (NI, 30 July) was certainly an eye-opening read. With all the advancements in technology, it’s just incredible to see, hear and learn, of all the new apps available. They offer help to save money when planning, while travelling, or once you’ve reached your destination. I especially like the sound of the WiFi Map app, so you’re not left aimlessly wandering around looking for free WiFi, when you could be out exploring and enjoying the place instead. On the flipside, I still love a good travel guide and map in hand! CHRISTINE ANDERSON, GEOGRAPHE, WA. EXPENSIVE I couldn’t believe the cost of the clothes worn by Duchess Meghan (NI July 23)! I simply cannot see why they would be so expensive. I recently paid $160 for…

Alex Greenwich Passionate about social justice, Alex has been an independent member in the NSW parliament for the inner-city seat of Sydney since 2012. He was a prominent leader in the marriage equality campaign. Alli Simpson Cody Simpson’s little sister, Alli is famous in her own right, working as an actress, singer, model and social media influencer. She has an Instagram following of over 1.4 million people. Cameron Daddo After acting in Hollywood for 25 years, Cameron returned home to Oz and has been working in theatre productions and presenting for Smooth FM. Ben Law Author and journalist, Ben has written for over 50 publications in Australia and released several books, including his memoir The Family Law – which is now an award-winning TV series produced…

In a candid interview with Vogue , Beyonce discussed giving birth to Sir and Rumi in June 2017. ‘I was 218 pounds [99kg] the day I gave birth,’ she said. ‘I was swollen from toxaemia and had been on bed rest for over a month. My health and my babies’ health were in danger, so I had an emergency C-section. We spent many weeks in the NICU.’ She also discussed the pressure she felt to get back to her pre-baby body after having Blue Ivy. ‘I put pressure on myself to lose all the baby weight in three months, and scheduled a small tour to assure I’d do it... that was crazy.’…

Matt Newton’s past may be coming back to haunt him with the troubled actor facing a backlash after it was revealed he was set to direct Eve , starring Jessica Chastain. A vocal advocate of gender equality, Jessica faced a flurry of Twitter fury given Matt’s history of physical assault accusations: ‘Matthew Newton to direct? [He] has a long history of domestic violence? Why not a director who’s never assaulted anyone? Or a female director?’ wrote one fan.…

HEALTH KICK Life’s not as much fun at Rihanna’s these days, as she says the new healthy RiRi ‘can’t play the mac’n’cheese-in-the-middle-of-thenight games’ any more. Now that sounded like fun, and a whole lot better than kale’n’quinoa-in-themiddle-of-the-night games. NIP SLIP ‘The nipple rubs were definitely spontaneous. I thought they’d be edited out,’ Adam Garcia said of his bar-top dance in Coyote Ugly . Ah, if only we could edit out the embarrassing moments from our lives. Quite a few of our big nights out would be edited to just the cab ride to the pub. CITY LIMITS Kim Kardashian is all for giving her youngest daughter choices. ‘She can decide later if she wants to be called Chicago or Chi,’ the Insta queen said. Having been named…