Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 34, 2024 i New Idea

With a cheeky smile and muscles in all the right places, Blockhead Ricky has fast become this season’s resident heart-throb, but the Victorian plumber has also had more than his fair share of heartache. He left home at 16 and turned his back on his parents amid allegations of a toxic home environment, only to lose his best friend seven years later. Lachy Beaton was killed by a drink driver at age 23 and his death changed Ricky forever. “It took me a very long time to stop going to his grave and crying,” Ricky, 34, tells New Idea. “I was the same age. People kept telling me I needed time, and I had other mates who had lost their mates, and they said to let time heal. “I stayed…

At a crossroads in his career, Keith Urban has shocked wife Nicole Kidman with his request to relocate the family to Hollywood full-time. The couple have called Nashville home since 2007, raising daughters Sunday Rose, 16, and Faith Margaret, 13, out of the spotlight. The 56-year-old is said to be worried that he’s getting older and will soon be past his use-by date when it comes to competing with the ‘cool kids’ of country music. “One of Keith’s keys to staying clean and sober is keeping busy,” an insider tells New Idea. “It’s a worry when Keith isn’t working on a big new project or writing and recording, but he’s taken a ton of downtime this summer and is making noise in his circle that he wants to work more…

Celebrating Father’s Day! Asa single dad of four who runs his own dry-cleaning business, Adam Desmond doesn’t have much free time. But when he’s not at home, you’ll find him on the basketball court, inspiring thousands of Aussie kids. “I was going down a bad track as a teenager, but I became a dad at 17 and that changed everything for me,” Adam, 45, tells New Idea. “I turned my life around and years later, I saw young people in our area who could be set on that same track I was.” Adam, who lives in Perth, launched Binar Futures 13 years ago. What started as coaching a basketball team of six kids has now turned into a huge community organisation that helps more than 2000 primarily First Nations kids…

SPLITTING CAKES in half To cut a cake horizontally in half, measure the height of the cake, then insert toothpicks around the side at the halfway mark. Gently resting a large serrated knife on the toothpicks, cut through the cake using a gentle sawing motion. Remember to keep the knife blade flat to ensure the halves are even. HOT STUFF Koko Black is known for making some of Australia’s most decadent chocolate products. So if you like hot chocolate, you’ll love Koko Black’s lush Hot Cocoa range that will see you ditching your local cafe for something even more delicious at home. Choose from Chilli, Mocha and Salted Caramel – or stay safe with indulgent Dark Hot Cocoa – for a brew that will prove the perfect afternoon pick-meup or…

Virgo AUG 24 – SEP 23 Your horoscope is awash with activity, but if you’re feeling the strain, finding the right balance might be this month’s challenge. Fresh air should help you to switch off, so pack a picnic and head for the hills. And don’t discount a left-field idea – it might just work! Lucky symbol: Double rainbow Sagittarius NOV 23 – DEC 21 Your brain will be buzzing this week, so keep a notepad handy. There’ll be plenty to jot down, including some interesting moneymaking ideas. With Venus spinning into your social sector, a weekend get-together could prove bigger than expected (and more indulgent too!). Lucky numbers: 2, 16, 25, 30, 31, 40 Pisces FEB 20 – MAR 20 Smile! Not only is Mercury lifting the mood, but…

BEST OF THE WEEK WINS $100 Recently Rhiannon Petris won your Best of the Week. She sent in a photo of her daughter Maggie checking their mailbox and stating it was a shame they didn’t receive much mail. So I decided to rectify this and sent Maggie an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ card. Would you be able to send it on to her? Thanking you as this will make one little girl very happy. LESLEY FERGUSON, ARARAT, VIC. This is Sadie waiting to play with someone. HELEN MORRIS, GLADSTONE, QLD. Nan and Isaac – no fish but we all had a great day. LEONIE MEADE, TERANG, VIC. Royal backlash New Idea’s (June 10) cover with Fergie was not a good look for the royal family. King Charles would have been disappointed…

DRAMA INHERITANCE by Genevieve Gannon Emily didn’t hesitate to ensure her baby was as healthy as could be with genetic editing when getting pregnant. Fast forward several decades, and political staffer Adelaide and her husband’s plans are derailed by an unexpected threat. OUT SEPT 3 THRILLER THE HITWOMAN’S GUIDE TO REDUCING HOUSEHOLD DEBT by Mark Mupotsa-Russell When Olivia’s past catches up to her, she creates situations to dispose of the men hunting her to purposely mislead the police and keep her conscience clean. OUT NOW THRILLER ESTELLA’S REVENGE by Barbara Havelocke Estella, the daughter of Great Expectations’ Miss Havisham, has been raised to hate men. Finding herself married to abusive Drummle, she must decide if she’ll embrace her darkness and seek revenge. OUT SEPT 3 HISTORICAL FICTION THE DEATH OF…

Ricky makes no secret that Shelley Craft has won his heart. Last week he looked like an adorable puppy dog as he unashamedly pleaded for some attention from The Block co-host. And even though she gently ribbed him for his Week 1 bathroom when they did meet, the starry-eyed plumber confessed that, after Shelley gracefully gave in and gave him a hug:“I may or may not have had a crush on her. I still do, but who wouldn’t.” Of course, Shelley, 48, is happily married to husband Christian Sergiacomi, with whom she shares two daughters – but it seems as if Ricky’s heartfelt encounter with the star has boosted his confidence when it comes to finding a love of his own! With Shelley clearly not a viable option, Ricky tells…

For many young women, the idea of solo travel means heading to European beaches or backpacking through South America. But when farmer Sarah Wheeler dreamt up her adventure, it looked a little different. The 26-year-old is currently riding solo with her two horses, Shifty and Sally, across outback New South Wales and Queensland. She is completing the 5500kilometre trek in memory of her beloved mum, Terri, who passed away from a rare form of gastrointestinal cancer in 2022. “When we lost mum, my sisters and I were left to look after our farm,” Sarah tells New Idea. “I was sitting at home and two movies came on the TV; one was about a woman who walked across Australia with her camels, and the other was about Jessica Watson who sailed…

Australian resident Jessica Wongso was all smiles as she walked free from an Indonesian jail last week, eight years after she callously murdered her friend with a lethal coffee. Wongso was convicted in 2016 for fatally poisoning Mirna Salihin, 27. The 35-year-old laced Mirna’s iced coffee with cyanide. She was originally sentenced to 20 years in prison, but served less than half of that time, walking free from Jakarta’s Rutan Women’s Prison on August 18 for good behaviour. Wongso, who has always maintained her innocence, must remain in Jakarta until 2032 as part of her parole conditions. Waving to local media as she left the jail, Wongso said she felt “relieved” and had forgiven those who she felt had wrongly accused her. Wongso added that the hardest thing had been…

PERFECT YOUR PREP Before you even go in with a foundation, be sure to hydrate your skin first to avoid any dry patches. “If you have had very dry skin throughout winter, I’d recommend opting for a balmy moisturiser under your foundation,” says Holly. “This is going to give you that plump, glowy finish when you apply your makeup.” CHOOSE HYDRATING FORMULAS Has the cold weather caused havoc with your skin? “When choosing a foundation, make sure you are choosing something hydrating with a soft glow to combat the dryness and give your skin a fresh finish,” advises Holly. As we move into spring, look for formulas with hydrating ingredients like peptides and hyaluronic acid. GLOW ALL OUT Sometimes the right base is worth the investment. For a luxurious, everyday…

While you’re busy spring cleaning indoors, don’t forget to give the garden a seasonal spruce up too! To help get your yard ready for sunny days ahead, Victoria Vanderkolk from Mitre 10 outlines some easy and inexpensive ways to prep and polish your space. 1 Keep it clean The best place to start is with a general tidy up. “After a long, chilly winter your garden is likely to be a bit windswept and dishevelled,” says Victoria. It’s a good idea to invest in a good quality blower to banish leaves and mess. “This will save you both the time and effort of sweeping up leaves and other debris, and will leave you with a nice, clean foundation for your spring garden,” adds Victoria. To rid your yard of algae,…

Glenn Close can pretty much do it all. She’s been a bunny-boiling mistress, a scheming French Marquess, the perfect Stepford wife, and of course, a dalmatian-napping fashion designer! But her new movie, The Deliverance, sees Glenn, 77, venturing into new territory – horror. The film is loosely based on real events, about an Indiana family who are plagued by supernatural and demonic occurrences. Andra Day plays struggling single mother Ebony, who is raising her kids and caring for her ill mother Alberta (Glenn). Mo’Nique and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor also star. Getting the chance to explore a new genre is something that excited eight-time Oscar nominee Glenn greatly. “It was one of the best, most joyous, challenging and humbling experiences of my career,” she says. Earlier this year, Glenn spoke fondly of…

1 At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Australia picked up its first gold medal in which sport? A) Breaking B) Skateboarding C) Road cycling D) Canoe slalom 2 Which of these famous artworks was not created by artist Leonardo da Vinci? A) Mona Lisa B) Vitruvian Man C) The Last Supper D) The Birth of Venus 3 Which iconic Aussie rock band is behind hits such as ‘When the War Is Over’, ‘Choir Girl’ and ‘Breakfast at Sweethearts’? A) AC/DC B) INXS C) Cold Chisel D) Crowded House 4 Which of these book titles is the last in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series? A) Order of the Phoenix B) Deathly Hallows C) Prisoner of Azkaban D) Half-Blood Prince 5 Complete the line from the famous Don McLean song ‘American Pie’: “The…

After a rough year for Catherine, Princess of Wales, the last thing she needs is to be worrying about her split from Prince William being rehashed in the media. But with the release of a revealing new biography, unflattering stories from the couple’s past are resurfacing, causing embarrassment. “William is doing what he can to shelter Kate from the headlines,” an insider tells New Idea. “They’re trying to put a wall up, but it’s stressing them both out and dragging up old wounds that haven’t fully healed. The timing couldn’t be worse.” Robert Jobson exposes new details of the pair’s brief split while studying at St Andrews University in Catherine,the PrincessofWales. According to the account, William broke up with Kate over the phone during an “emotionally charged 30-minute conversation” in…

Ina plot twist that could’ve come straight from a cliffhanger episode of Home and Away, Kimberley Cooper’s dream wedding to fiancé Bryan Crocker almost didn’t go ahead. As the big day dawned on Saturday, August 17, the actress and screenwriter bride was struck down by a stomach bug that went way beyond a case of bridal butterflies! “I ended up with an upset tummy all weekend,” Kimberley tells New Idea. “The main thing it buggered up was that I couldn’t pull my dress’s corset as tight as I wanted to – and I couldn’t stomach all the delicious food I’d chosen for everyone!” But Kimberley, who portrayed Summer Bay’s lovable Gypsy Nash for four years from 1998, was determined that the meticulously planned show would go on – and nothing…

Rebecca Gibney was the toast of the town after being inducted into the TV Week Logie Awards Hall of Fame last week. After four decades on our screens, the New Zealand-born Packed to the Rafters star was brought to tears as she was deservedly presented with the prestigious honour by her son, Zachary Bell. Twenty-year-old Zac, who is studying acting at the Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School in Wellington, proved a chip off the old block as he took to the stage with poise and confidence to introduce his mum. “I feel so lucky to have been raised by someone with so much love to give and be guided through life watching her show so much kindness to everyone that she meets,” he told the packed auditorium. Now, New…

SAY CHEESE, MUM! Where the bloody hell is Lara Worthington? Well, it appears that she and her husband Sam Worthington have been enjoying some relaxation and recreation on a low-key family holiday in Costa Rica! The Aussie model and the Avatar star recently took their three sons, Rocket, Racer and River, on a trip to Central America, where they were pictured splashing about together in the water. The famous family took a digital camera to capture their memories, happily posing for photos as the boys snapped away. Lara, 37, was later seen wrapping up in a towel while her youngsters – who are aged between four and nine – refuelled with some snacks. New Idea’s insider says that despite their jam-packed schedules, Lara and Sam, 48, have always made a…

One of the nicest things about getting older is realising that life is too short to feel guilty – especially about things like your weight. I used to weigh myself all the time, but one day I stopped and thought to myself, “This is a stupid way to live! That’s it, they’re going!” It was the best thing I ever did. A HEAVY INHERITANCE Weight has been something I worried about most of my life. I didn’t realise it but in hindsight, Mum was bulimic. We didn’t know what it was called back then. She was obsessed with thinness and put her issues onto me. She’d give me Laxettes (laxatives) and got me doing exercises to slim down. When I was 14, she had me at Silhouette Slimming, a weight-loss…

There’s something special about travelling overseas. But you don’t need to spend thousands and endure hours in the air to enjoy another country. Our Kiwi neighbours inhabit one of the most spectacular places on Earth. A flight to Auckland and a leisurely drive will see you in the magnificent Central North Island – the perfect region for a motoring holiday. DAY 1 Our first stop is the funky little beachside town of Raglan. Famous for its stunning beach, quirky boutiques and cafes, it’s a great lunch spot. Less than an hour away is the spectacular Hamilton Gardens. We were blown away by the themed garden designs. It’s like taking a trip around the world in an afternoon, and oh-so-hard to pick a favourite. But the Surrealist Garden was an utter…

Q Do you have any news for me about my family, health, cat or job? I’ve had many emotional challenges. – MICHELLE A You are a strong yet sensitive soul who is all things to all people. I can see you are a central person to your family who gives so much of yourself, but at times I can see you don’t always get the recognition for the beautiful being you are. Your gorgeous fur baby makes up for this in the hugs and kisses you receive when you return home from work. I also see that there are other fur babies in spirit who are also close to you in the spirit realm. I feel a strong male energy that feels like your father is close at hand. He…

ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING SEASON 4 Returns Thu. on Disney+ The ante will be upped in Only Murders in the Building’s fourth season, with the action moving in part to Los Angeles. Following the runaway success of Mabel (Selena Gomez), Oliver (Martin Short) and Charles’ (Steve Martin) podcast, the trio become the subjects of a film adaptation. So who’s playing them? Eva Longoria, Zach Galifianakis and Eugene Levy! “It was announced I was on the show and [friends] were like, ‘What character are you playing? Are you the murderer?’” Eva told IndieWire. “And I was like, ‘No. But I will tell you, it’s the best character I’ve ever played in my life: It’s me!’” In a truly meta season, Eva, Zach and Eugene will be playing themselves, as Mabel,…

Guy Sebastian The singer teamed with Jessica Mauboy for a rendition of ‘You’re the Voice’ as a tribute to John Farnham. TV WEEK Logie Awards 2024 Felix Cameron It was a big night for the 15-year-old Boy Swallows Universe winner, who brought the A-list crowd to tears with an emotional acceptance speech. Poh Ling Yeow The MasterChef favourite and fellow new judge Sofia Levin served up kisses on the red carpet. Kitty Flanagan The Most Popular Actress winner had much to celebrate: “I got a Logie and they didn’t take away my dessert.” Larry Emdur It only took three decades for the TV presenter to nab a coveted Logie. And he walked away with two – including the Gold! Johanna Griggs The Better Homes and Gardens stalwart revealed she plays…