The House of Wellness Spring 2023 Magazine

Beauty STEP BACK IN TIME

FINDING FRANCESCA

Model and actress Francesca Hung on why she no longer feels invisible

SPRING

5 ways TO CLEANSE LIKE A PRO TURN A CRISIS INTO A PIVOT KNOW YOUR BREASTS

EASY TIPS TO ASTHMA-PROOF YOUR HOME

THE HOUSE OF WELLNESS is published for Chemist Warehouse by News Corp Australia

PUBLISHER

Chemist Warehouse

COMMERCIAL CONTENT

DIRECTOR, SUDDENLY

Fiona Welsh

EDITOR

Laeta Crawford CREATIVE

Pascale Clearihan

Meisha Reynolds DESIGNER

Sheridan Frawley

SUB-EDITORS

Maureen Doyle

Joanne Trzcinski

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News Corp Australia

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PRINT PRODUCTION MANAGER

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houseofwellness.com.au

thehouseofwellness@ news.com.au

The House of Wellness is published quarterly by The Herald & Weekly Times (ABN 49004113937) on behalf of Chemist Warehouse.

Prices correct at time of printing. All products subject to availability. Not all products or promotions are available online. Information correct at time of going to print.

AC-004321

She confesses she felt scared and selfconscious at times, but instead of succumbing to those feelings she has risen above them.

Francesca made history in 2018 as the first ChineseAustralian to be crowned Miss Universe Australia, paving the way for a cultural shift in attitudes.

In our cover story the face of Swisse Beauty reflects on how she has helped to alter misconceived stereotypes — “(it feels) like I’ve helped change representation in our medialandscape”.

We also celebrate the talents of three amazing Australians who are making positive changes in the world. From aspiring astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg to Nedd Brockmann, who ran across the country

5

to raise money for homelessness, and cancer researcher Dr Nicole Seebacher, who wants to help those diagnosed with melanoma, we are in awe of these hardworking people.

With the AFLW season under way we meet twins Jess and Sarah Hosking whose special relationship is having an impact on and o the field. And it’s all about taking a simplified approach in the style stakes this spring, as our resident beauty expert Jade Kisnorbo shows how lavender hues are a hit at any age. Plus, enjoy all our regular health and lifestyle features. Stay w l and enjoy!

From the team at The House of Wellness

PHOTOGRAPHY CAMERON GRAYSON STYLING BEC COLE HAIR AND MAKE-UP CHANTELLE BAKER

MAIN Francesca wears Elka Collective top and pants, Versace bracelet from Be Glitzy, her own engagement ring, stylist’s earrings ON COVER Flannel dresses layered together, her own engagement ring, stylist’s accessories

Growing up, Francesca Hung always felt a little out of place as she struggled with her identity.

1 OF 5 SWISSE BEAUTY PACKS

Each pack contains a range of products from the Swisse Beauty range.

Simply tell us in 25 words or less your favourite beauty tip.

Competition entries open at 12.01am on September 23, 2023, and close at 11.59pm on October 29, 2023. Email your entry, name thehouseofwellness@news.com.au

In this i ue

Trends

8 We are loving

Fresh take Style

11 Beauty notes

Modern classics

14 Colour code

Lavender patch

18 All-in skin

Texture and tone

22 Beauty forecast

Pretty in sync

25 Come clean

How to cleanse

27 Fine print

All in the detail

29 Bold statement

Reds rule

31 Men’s fashion

Perfect the accent

33 Scents of vitality

Fragrance to feel good Features

42 Friends for hire

The price of friendship in the modern world

45 Game changers

Working toward a better future

50 Late arrival

Make way for the mid-life reset

53 Dressed to thrill

Heart of fashion

54 Our story

AFLW players Sarah and Jess Hosking

57 Beautiful you Bella Davis on self love

Health

59 Feel your way

Breast check tips

63 Shifting barriers

Negotiating early-onset dementia

67 Positive e ect

Food and your mood

69 Check the link

Creating new habits

70 Breathe easier

Asthma-friendly home

73 Painful insight

Dealing with endometriosis

75 Honouring Dad

Daniher’s Drive

77 Dr Sally Cockburn

Calcium for bones

Live well

79 Tea and flowers

The icing on the cake

84 Aroma therapy

Scents for the home

86 Show on the road

Outdoor art adventure

90 Fitspo influencers

Exercise good judgment

Also

93 Decor

95 Books

96 What’s on & quiz

98 Columnist

Pediatrician

Dr Lexi Frydenberg

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FirstBLUSH

It’s the perfect time to make a fresh start, keeping it au naturel with organic, touch-me textures and a pretty flush of dusty hues

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FROM TOP

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NAILS FOR INSTANT APPLICATION

KEEP IT SIMPLE

Adopting a simplified approach to beauty has never been more on trend

Words Charlotte Brundrett

Step back in time

This season has seen a sharp departure from viral micro trends in favour of more timeless looks, signalling a shift in how Australians are embracing trends. It’s not just the beauty world, either.

Classic wardrobe essentials are dominating runways and street style with people drawing fashion inspiration from minimalist icons such as Sofia Richie Grainge and the late Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.

According to Melbourne based make-up artist Michelle Nguyen, the revival of classic trends is a welcome change of pace. “It’s great to see the return of effortless make-up that embraces naturally flushed and sunkissed looks as opposed

to polarising, trend-driven beauty,” she says. “I feel like baby pink dominated make-up for the past few seasons, so it’s nice to see more universally flattering colours like corals and reds make a comeback.”

From statement red lips and flushed blush to French manicures and cat eyes, the appeal of classic beauty lies in its proven ability to enhance a look with minimal effort.

According to Michelle, a pop of colour can transform the face. “As the weather heats up, warm-toned blush can liven up your appearance and mimic a sunkissed look,” she says. “Even a small amount can lift and enhance the cheeks, and if you aren’t adventurous, try using a shade similar to your lips.”

BERLIN FASHION WEEK

Martin HAIRSTYLIST

THE APPEAL OF A MID-LENGTH DO

Often overlooked and rarely celebrated, medium-length hair is finally getting some love thanks to the revival of chic ’90s-style blunt cuts and bobs.

But is the look for everyone? Koda Cutters senior hairstylist Asha Martin says certain face shapes suit this length better than others. “A lot of factors come into play. I’ll even consider my client’s neck, since short and medium lengths draw attention to this area,” Asha says.

Mid-length cuts aren’t always an attempt to awkwardly grow out a cropped hairstyle, nor do they have to be high maintenance.

“It really depends on the hair’s density, texture and colour. Beyond getting a trim every six weeks it doesn’t have to require a lot of effort,” Asha says.

WE LIKE Toni & Guy Dry Shampoo Matte Texture, $15.49

“A LOT OF FACTORS COME INTO PLAY. I’LL EVEN CONSIDER MY CLIENT’S NECK, SINCE SHORT AND MEDIUM (HAIR) LENGTHS DRAW ATTENTION TO THIS AREA.”

Cool-toned pink blush was everywhere last season, but this spring it’s all about warmer, earthier blush tones, which help give a naturally flushed appearance to your look. “As the weather heats up, warm-toned blush can liven up your appearance and mimic a sunkissed look,” Michelle says.

WE LIKE Rimmel Maxi Blush Shade Wild Card 003, $13.49; MCoBeauty Cheek & Lip Tint Assorted Blush in Red, $13.99

IT’S ALL IN THE SHEEN

Self-care doesn’t stop at the face, with body-care becoming an equally important factor in our daily routines. For a lot of people, moisturising your body post-shower will suffice, but if you want to dial it up a notch, consider regular exfoliation by incorporating a physical or chemical exfoliant designed for the body or opting for a dry body brush, wet body brush or loofah.

It’s also important to give some TLC to our body’s extremities, which are more prone to excessive dryness and calluses. Peels and exfoliating masks designed for the feet are a great way to hydrate your feet and reduce dead skin, while your hands can benefit from glove masks that help to repair dry skin.

Much like plump skin is trending in skincare, so too is the finish on the body. To achieve the look, start with a smooth and freshly exfoliated base, and to further enhance the sheen, use a body illuminator or body shimmer.

WE LIKE Body Blendz Body Coffee Scrub Coffee Buff 200g, $9.99; Manicare 3-in-1 SensiScrub Silicone Wet Body Brush, $13.49; Hawaiian Tropic Aloha Coco Shimmer Edition Body Mist, $14.99; The Hemp Company Pink Pomelo Body Lotion 300ml, $8.49; Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Illuminator, $16.99

Lavender remains a firm fixture in beauty and the trending shade is not restricted to the eyes. For a more experimental take on the look, try using a shimmery purple eyeshadow as a makeshift highlighter, applying it on the outer perimeter of your eye and temple for an elevated glam look.

WE LIKE MissGuided Lids Lids Lids High Pigment Cream Eyeshadow Sangria, $13.99

MILAN FASHION WEEK

House of Wellness beauty

LAVENDER CHROME EYE How to

Step away from the neutral eye in favour of something more vibrant and of the moment.

Lavender chrome — a modern take on Y2K pastel lids — is right on trend and it’s being seen everywhere: on the eyes, nails, as a blush and even beauty packaging.

Needless to say, lavender chrome won’t be fading into obscurity any time soon, which is why it’s worth getting acquainted with the look by trying it out for yourself.

The trend can be very flattering and wearable despite involving colour because lavender chrome involves soft, reflective tones.

It’s particularly suited for people with green, hazel or brown eyes, as these shades contrast against purple on the colour wheel.

Lavender isn’t just trending in beauty, but also in fashion. Fully embrace the trend by co-ordinating your eyes with a lavender outfit for a monochromatic moment.

Or opt for a brown ensemble — much like purple make-up flatters brown eyes, it also pops when paired with chocolate. Another thing I love about lavender chrome is that it encourages people to use more variation with their eyeshadow finishes.

Reflective, shimmery, metallic eyeshadows and paint pots can look high impact without requiring much work in terms of application, which is why this lavender chrome eye look is suited for readers of all levels of make-up experience.

1Apply your chosen base products, building up your coverage gradually to achieve a skin-like finish that is free of cakiness.

2Taking your preferred eyeshadow palette, apply a lavender chrome shade over the entire lid. Depending on your personal preference, you can apply the shadow on your lid only or extend it outwards and upwards for a fresh and youthful look.

3Take your favourite lengthening mascara and apply one coat, allowing it to dry before repeating the process for maximum impact. If you want to amp up the eyes even further, add some individual lashes.

4To complete the look, apply some clear gloss so that your lips have some dimension without distracting from the eyes, which are the focal point of the look. Once you’re happy with how everything looks, spritz your entire face with some setting spray to lock everything in place.

Photography: Cameron Grayson; hair and make-up assistant: Renee Presti; styling: Pascale Clearihan; model: Ritu/Giant

‘Refl ective, shimmery, metallic eyeshadows and paint pots can look high impact without requiring much work in terms of application, which is why this lavender chrome eye look is suited for readers of all levels of make-up experience.’

JADE KISNORBO

The

expert

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Flower Seal The Deal Long Lasting Setting Spray Matte Finish, $13.99; MissGuided Lip Juice Supershine Lipjuice Lemonade, $14.99; Revlon ColorStay Day To Night Eyeshadow Quad Seductive, $22.49; MissGuided Meet Your Match Contour Stick D8, $15.99; Maybelline The Falsies Surreal Extensions Washable Mascara, $27.99

TAKE THE TREND ONE STEP FURTHER FOR A PULLEDTOGETHER EFFECT

‘Lavender isn’t just trending in beauty, but also in fashion. Fully embrace the trend by co-ordinating your eyes with a lavender outfit for a monochromatic moment. Or opt for a brown ensemble — much like purple make-up flatters brown eyes, it also pops when paired with chocolate.’

Watch Jade’s lavender chrome eye tutorial

As the beauty industry continues to stride towards greater diversity, it has also inspired a push for wider representation in the skincare community.

First popularised on TikTok, the skin positivity movement is helping to encourage people of all ages and skin types to embrace their skin — pores and all — serving as a reminder that skin texture not only exists, but is entirely OK and normal to have.

Melbourne specialist dermatologist Dr Rose Mak says it’s encouraging to see a wider variety of skin types embraced in the media.

“I think the movement has the potential to be a great thing, especially if people feel more represented,” Dr Mak says.

Although the skincare industry offers a wide range of products and treatments catering to various skin types and concerns, “normal”, blemish-free skin is clearly overrepresented in advertisement campaigns and packaging, further perpetuating unrealistic skin ideals.

GET REAL

Words Charlotte Brundrett

We are constantly told to embrace the skin we are in, yet most types are underrepresented in the media

Lifting the filter

Social media often bears the brunt of warping and homogenising beauty standards, especially since the rise of beauty filters, Facetune and other editing apps, which further distort our interpretation of what skin should look like.

“Terms like ‘Snapchat dysmorphia’ are commonly used to describe social media’s impact on body image and there is a belief it may have contributed towards a culture of body dysmorphic disorders, which refers to the preoccupation with perceived defects or flaws in appearance that can affect all genders,” Dr Mak explains.

“These sentiments can make us lose touch with reality and could also promote an increase in cosmetic procedures, which is not always a good thing; particularly if it makes people want to look like someone else rather than the most confident, best versions of themselves.”

The rage against retouching

Traditional print media has also experienced the ramifications of the skin positivity movement due to the expansive history of advertisement campaigns, magazine covers and photoshoots perpetuating unrealistic skin standards due to excessive retouching.

In response, celebrities such as Jameela Jamil, Keira Knightley and Lupita Nyong’o are among some of the high-profile names that have voiced their desire to not contribute to the problem by requesting their images not be heavily retouched, allowing their natural skin texture to shine through.

There is also a spate of accounts on Instagram that post high-definition images of celebrity skin texture. The idea behind this phenomenon isn’t to troll famous people, but to lift the lid on the realities of skin texture and the fact that even the most famous and “perfect” people in the world have fine lines, pores and acne.

Shifting skin perspectives

The increasing influence of beauty content creators and skinfluencers is helping to change beauty standards for the better, with Lavinia Rusanda at the forefront of the skin positivity movement.

“Some people can’t comprehend how I can love my skin the way it is, but I think it’s important to understand that happiness is a choice and a daily practice. Overall, I have received very positive feedback from followers and I do feel that I am making a significant impact in the beauty space.”

Lavinia has also vocalised her disapproval of Facetune and filters due to their impact on self-image.

“Filters change your face in ways you don’t even consider and this can create new insecurities,” Lavinia says. “I encourage all beauty influencers to take down the filters and be real

G d to know

Dr Mak explains some conditions that contribute to skin texture changes

ACNE

Raised, pimply/ bumpy skin

ACNE SCARRING

Can lead to atrophic acne scars (pitted scars)

PSORIASIS

Scaly, thickened skin

ECZEMA

Scaly, dry skin

ACTINIC KERATOSIS

Scaly red skin due to chronic sun damage

The Canadian YouTuber, content creator and LoudTalk with Lavi host went viral last year after documenting her filter-free journey with cystic acne.

“I noticed that my skin wasn’t as smooth as all the influencers and models I saw on my feed and observing these differences made me insecure and lonely in my skin,” Lavinia says.

Frustrated and dismayed by the lack of representation, the content creator decided to initiate change in the skincare community. “I began using my platform to show my textured skin and acne, and I was blown away by the response. People were surprised to see someone with skin like theirs because all they saw online was flawless, poreless skin,” Lavinia says.

and transparent with audiences because, at the end of the day, we all have real skin and we are not filters. That’s something that should be celebrated.”

Lavinia says the only way we can learn to love certain features is to face them and embrace them.

“Positive movements against beauty standards help us build a more confident attitude towards our own appearance and I hope the skin positivity movement leads to creators recognising the issues that come with using filters and Facetune,” she says. “The more we can inspire transparency in the industry, the more beauty standard walls we can break down.”

AGEING

Wrinkles, loss of skin elasticity, skin

sagging

KELOIDS

Raised, lumpy scar from injury to the skin

SEBORRHEIC KERATOSIS

Raised, roughened, warty lesions

VIRAL WARTS

Raised warty lesions

VITILIGO

White areas on skin

ROSACEA

Red face, broken capillaries

MELASMA

Brown pigmentation

SOLAR LENTIGO (SUN SPOT)

Brown pigmentation

@LAVINIARUSANDA

“FILTERS CHANGE YOUR FACE IN WAYS YOU DON’T EVEN CONSIDER AND THIS CAN CREATE NEW INSECURITIES.”

Lavinia Rusanda

YOUTUBE CONTENT CREATOR

RUSTY TONES

Cool toned make-up dominated winter, but now the weather is heating up, warmer earthy tones are becoming popular.

“Rusty, earthy tones have been a popular trend on the runway, but for an everyday approach I recommend applying matte eyeshadows on the upper and lower lids, extending it to the outer corner,” Sydney make-up artist Brooke Low says.

BEAUTY FORECAST

Expect a return to polished glamour and pretty, doll-like looks

24

Romantic waves have made a welcome resurgence, and it’s not just girls who are embracing the look. The trend is defined by loose waves, but you can further enhance the look by styling it half-up, half-down, and adding a bow or brooch for an extra touch of glam.

SAGABOI SS24

WE LIKE Luna Ceramic Curling Wand, $29.99; Kristin Ess Dry Finishing Working Texture Spray, $22.99; My Beauty Hair Clip Large 2 Pack Demi Amber, $3.99

MILAN FASHION WEEK

PARIS FASHION WEEK

CHARLOTTE BRUNDRETT

Beauty editor

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NATASHA TONIC RESORT

BLURRED LINES

If you like the effect of a bold lip, but would prefer a softer appearance, diffusing your lip line can achieve just that. Dubbed the “blurred lip”, this technique involves using a lip brush to blend, blur and diffuse your lip line for a softer finish. “I love the look of blurred lips in editorial and advertising campaigns, however it’s most flattering on people with larger, well-proportioned lips,” Brooke says.

WE LIKE MissGuided Pick Up Line Lip Liner in No Way Rose, $10.99; L’Oréal Paris Glow Paradise Balm-In-Lipstick 193 Rose Mirage, $20.99; Nude By Nature Lip Brush 23, $13.99

Try these

LOOK OUT FOR THESE INNOVATIVE NEW BEAUTY PRODUCTS

Revlon Illuminance Skin Caring Foundation, $36.49

Amid demand for natural-looking bases, Revlon’s latest foundation offering provides an illuminating, satin finish combined with skincare benefits.

POLISHED AND PREPPY

Exquisite presentation — for both women and men — is back in a big way. “If you want your make-up to look immaculate and put together, ensure your base is well-prepped,” Brooke says.

WE LIKE Nude By Nature Hydra Stick 3-in-1 Foundation, $30.99; L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Lift Mascara in Black Boxed, $26.99

Hyperfeminine make-up continues to dominate beauty, and this season it’s all about “dollcore”. An offshoot of “coquette beauty” and “balletcore”, the look is characterised by strong blush, pink lips, lots of highlighter and spidery, dolllike lashes.

WE LIKE Flower Pots Powder Blush in Warm Wildrose, $13.99; Covergirl Clean Fresh Yummy Gloss in #400 Glamingo Pink, $16.49; Manicare Glam Pro Magnetic Infused Lashes in Quinn, $17.99

Bali Body

Face Tan

Mist, $25.95

Thanks to innovative mist technology, achieving an effortless and natural-looking face tan has never been easier (and streak free).

Changing Lip Balm, $17.99

evidenced by this pH-activated lip balm that adapts to the pH levels on your lips and changes colour.

2023 MET GALA

@JANICLETO_

SASHA LUSS

FENDI SS24

CLEANSE LIKE A PRO

Cleansing is an essential daily beauty ritual but could you be doing it better?

Words Sarah Vercoe

Non-negotiable

We all know we should cleanse every day but there is more to it than you might think.

Fabienne Rich, dermal clinician and The Facial Room Bondi owner, says cleansing is imperative, not only to wash away impurities, but to maximise our cleanser’s active ingredients.

“Cleansing helps to unclog the pores, allowing skin to absorb active ingredients more effectively, maximising their benefits,” Fabienne says.

Cater your cleanser to your skin

With foams, gels, creams and lotions all an option, Fabienne says the cleanser you choose comes down to catering to your skin. “They all have a place depending on your preference and skin type,” she says.

“A gel or foam is great for oily, acne skin.

“Use a cleanser with BHAs and AHAs to help dissolve excess oil, such as salicylic acid or mandelic acid.

“If your skin is sensitive, treat the sensitivity with a

gentle oil-free lotion cleanser instead,” she says, noting gel or foam cleansers can leave sensitive skin feeling irritated.

For normal to dry skin, Fabienne recommends cleansing lotions. “These will not strip the skin barrier and will (remove) impurities from the surface but leave skin feeling fresh and hydrated,” she says.

And for very dry skin, Fabienne recommends a thicker, cream-based cleanser. “They work very well to hydrate and nourish at the same time as cleansing.”

WE LIKE Elizabeth Arden 2 In 1 Cleanser, $32.49; Trilogy Cream Cleanser, $12.50

Don’t aim for squeaky clean skin

The Medispa clinical director and head esthetician Vanessa Grech says skin should never feel tight or squeaky clean after cleansing.

“Tight skin is not squeaky clean skin,” Vanessa says.

“It’s your skin’s way of telling you ‘I don’t like what you’ve put on me’,” she says.

“When your skin tells you it’s tight or uncomfortable

or irritated, you’re going to accelerate your skin’s ageing process because you’re promoting dehydration.”

And “because the skin’s barrier function has been impaired, you’re also promoting sensitivity and pigmentation because the skin doesn’t have the ability to respond appropriately to sun exposure”.

Vanessa says a good cleanser will leave your skin feeling soft and silky, and you should have an automatic afterglow. She adds, “we shouldn’t be afraid of oily skin”.

Double up for a good cleanse

If you’re not double cleansing at night you may be leaving some of the day’s impurities behind.

“Double cleanse at night using a pre-cleansing oil to dissolve make-up, SPF, excess oil and waxy residues from products,” Fabienne says.

She recommends this even for oily, acne-prone skin saying it benefits from a pre-cleansing oil because oil attracts oil and it helps break

down fatty molecules while drawing them out without stripping the skin.

“Cleanse with your normal cleanser after that to thoroughly remove all traces of pre-cleansing oil,” Vanessa says.

Magic ingredients that love your skin

“Mandelic acid is brilliant for rejuvenation no matter the skin type or condition, it has wonderful brightening properties,” Vanessa says.

Fabienne also loves mandelic acid, saying it’s very gentle on skin and can help promote cell turnover.

Vanessa recommends cleansers that contain vitamin E, saying it can do wonders for dry skin.

Another type of cleanser that loves dry skin, says Fabienne, is one that includes lactic acid: “It is gentle and hydrating and is amazing for softening texture and brightening the complexion.”

WE LIKE CeraVe Blemish Control Cleanser 236ml, $20.99;  Antipodes Gospel Vitamin C Skin Glow Cleanser, $33.99

EARTHY PRINTS

This season, skip minimalist designs in favour of statement pieces

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP Asymmetrical earrings, $27.99, hm.com; Capri silk plunged slip midi dress, $396, shonajoy.com.au; Carla Zampatti Sun RX18, $199, specsavers.com.au; Rhea mahogany dress, $575, ilionema.com; Oversized broderie anglaise jacket, $129.99, hm.com; Mimi crochet halter top, $109.99, dissh.com.au; Alice short, $175, outlanddenim.com.au, Milani bracelet, $85, armsofeve.com; Harlow natural crochet sandals, $199.95, tonybianco.com/au; Flower Shimmer & Shade Gimme Gold eyeshadow palette, $13.99; Yves Saint Laurent EDP 90ml, $159.99; Fairmont short, $320, viktoriaandwoods.com.au; Aruma strapless top, $240, shonajoy.com.au; Amelie drop earrings, $39.95, and Gisele heels, $199, countryroad.com.au; Beaded bag, $49.95, sussan.com.au; Falcon Stone sandals, $179.95, tonybianco.com/au; Textured-wave wrap skirt, $49.99, hm.com; St Agni minimal thong, $299, st-agni.com

RED ALERT

Spice up your spring wardrobe with pops of pink and red

Silk shell top, $199, oroton.com; Drop earrings, $16.95, sussan.com.au; Spoerri sculpted mini dress, $440, sirthelabel.com; Carla Zampatti Sun RX19, $199, specsavers.com.au; Kinetic beaded maxi dress, $420, sirthelabel.com; The Allegra dress, $379, realisationpar.com; Essie Nail Polish Really Red 60, $13.49; Theta bustier, $390, and Verse trouser, $550, viktoriaandwoods.com.au; Theo tank, $49.99; dissh.com.au; Crochet trim terry short, $120, venroy.com.au; Guy Sebastian Embrace EDP 75ml, $29.99; Aranaz Luha shoulder bag, $586, farfetch.com/au; Isola plunged cross-back mini dress, $340, shonajoy.com.au; Ciser pump, $179.95, ninewest.com.au; Expo top handle bag, $599, katespade.com.au; Dana sandal, $219.95, aliasmae.com.au; Zoe jean, $259, outlanddenim.com.au

SUIT the OCCASION

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP Cotton linen twill jacket, $769, calibre.com.au; Oliver Peoples Kasdan sunglasses, $577, sunglasshut.com/au; Frescobol Carioca Rafael panama hat, $463, farfetch.com/au; White stretch modal T-shirt, $115, zegna.com/en-au; Ischia stem floral seersucker camp collar shirt, $180, and relaxed poplin pant, $180, venroy.com.au; Maybelline Tattoo Studio Kajal Smokey Black Eyeliner, $16.99; Arizona sandal, $184, theiconic.com.au; AIRism oversized T-shirt, $24.90, uniqlo.com/au; Stay Loose carpenter pants, $149.95, levis.com.au; Nike x AMBUSH® Air Uptempo sneakers, $270, incu.com; A.P.C. Diane shopping bag, $319, revolveclothing.com.au; Essie Expressie Nail Polish Daily Grind 440 10ml, $11.49; Classic zip-around wallet, $125, incu.com; Cotton linen twill pant, $299, and Hothouse botanic skinny tie, $169, calibre.com.au; Issey Miyake for Men 125ml EDT, $79.99

The right accent colour can make beige anything but boring

FALSIES SURREAL Extensions Mascara

+36% LENGTH 10X VOLUME

HYBRID FIBRE TECHNOLOGY FOR VISIBLY LONGER LASH

EXTENDED HELIX BRUSH TO EXTEND EVERY LASH

FEELGOOD VIBES

Spark up your sense of vitality with a fresh new spritz

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Francesca Hung

FINDING HER OWN WAY

rowing up, Francesca Hung was always encouraged to dream big, but it wasn’t until she embraced her identity in its entirety that she really hit her stride.

The House of Wellness speaks with the 29-year-old Swisse Beauty ambassador she is in the midst of wedding plans following her engagement to long-term partner Nick Lowry, who she calls her biggest advocate.

“We’re only a few months out now so it’s very exciting,” the model, actress and presenter says.

“I haven’t even started working on a dress yet so I should probably get a move on.”

The couple have been together for years, but have known each other their whole lives.

“Our mums became friends after joining the same mother’s group, so I’ve always known his family and we have a very

comfortable connection,” Francesca reflects. “We weren’t even going to have a wedding at first, but it’s kind of rare to get all of the people you love in one room, so that’s what I’m most excited about. It’s going to be a very chill occasion and all I care about really is the dance floor.”

It’s a change of pace for Francesca, who’s had an action-packed few years after making history in 2018 as the first Chinese-Australian to be crowned Miss Universe Australia.

“I always wanted to do (Miss Universe Australia) growing up, but it felt like a pipe dream because I never thought I’d see myself represented on a stage like that,” she says.

As Francesca got older, she felt the culture start to shift and decided that now was the time to push the envelope.

“I remember feeling a bit lost in life, sitting at my desk in a job I didn’t feel passionate about.

HAIR AND MAKE-UP CHANTELLE BAKER

After holding herself back in her self-conscious teens, the Australian model, actress and presenter has well and truly found her feet and is up for “just about anything”

Words Charlotte Brundrett

“SOME PEOPLE DON’T REALISE THE GRAVITY OF BEING A MINORITY … BUT WHEN YOU FEEL INVISIBLE, IT CAN CHIP AWAY AT YOU.”

MAIN Francesca wears Aje Cari ruched crop top, Elka Collective pants, stylist’s own earrings LEFT Rachel Gilbert Briar jacket (worn as suit), stylist’s own earrings

“So I decided to hit submit and never anticipated what came next,” she says. “I don’t think I even realised the significance of it until I won. I hadn’t even spoken on stage before. I was the kid at school that would cry and fake sick to avoid doing speeches in front of class.”

While Francesca’s parents were proud, it was the messages of support and encouragement from people she had never met before, telling her how important it was that their children felt seen, that have had the most lasting impact.

“Some people don’t realise the gravity of being a minority because it’s not everyone’s lived experience, but when you feel invisible, it can chip

had our suitcases because we were travelling. Someone called out from a car to go back home and yelled racial slurs and that’s always stayed with me.”

Francesca’s dad emigrated during the White Australia Policy, and although she’s had a less volatile experience compared to him, she hopes the next generation has increasingly less confronting anecdotes.

“It takes effort from everyone to pave the way for progress, and representation is needed in order to facilitate that,” she says.

Now that Francesca is older, stereotypes no longer dictate her life, and she’s gone on to earn a master’s degree in publishing in addition to excelling in ballet, piano and Italian. She is currently learning

highlighting the changing face of Australia,” she says.

It’s another full-circle moment for Francesca, as her skin was a major insecurity growing up.

“I have freckles, which was kind of frowned upon on my Chinese side, and I also had really bad acne, which became something I was super selfconscious about,” she says.

According to Francesca, what’s shifted is her maturity, getting healthy and working with Swisse Beauty. “Focusing more on nourishing and nurturing your inside and healing from within can really impact what’s going on externally,” she says.

Francesca has taken a similar holistic approach to her fitness, keeping healthy by walking her Hungarian vizsla with her fiance,

away at you. So for me, the greatest and most memorable accomplishment to have come out of winning Miss Universe Australia is feeling like I’ve helped change representation in our media landscape.”

Raised on Sydney’s North Shore by her Chinese father and Australian-Irish mother, Francesca was one of only two Asian students in her primary school.

“That was the norm back then; feeling like an outsider looking in when all you want at that age is to fit in. I remember being conscious of stereotypes that Asians were really smart, so I would actively hold myself back in class in an effort to fit in, which is crazy,” she says.

“Growing up is hard enough and then you throw in these other aspects. Once I was heading to the beach with my brother and my dad, and we

Chinese to better connect with that side of her identity, in addition to juggling her fashion label Frankie Lane, which she co-founded with her mother.

“When I think about my younger self, I remember being so self-conscious and scared, but life gets so much better when you stop caring about other people’s opinions of you,” she says. “Nowadays it’s cool to be smart and part of it comes down to wider diversity, so if I’m contributing in some small way, then my job is done.”

In addition to her fashion line, Francesca has gone on to model, be a TV host on E! Australia, further her skills in acting and writing, and is now the ambassador of Swisse Beauty.

“It’s such a privilege and joy to partner with Swisse Beauty and I feel honoured to represent an iconic Australian brand while

MAIN Francesca wears Elka Collective top and pants, Versace bracelet from Be Glitzy, her own engagement ring, stylist’s earrings

INSET Rachel Gilbert Briar jacket (worn as suit), her own engagement ring, stylist’s earrings and ring

“I REMEMBER BEING SO SELF-CONSCIOUS … BUT LIFE GETS SO MUCH BETTER WHEN YOU STOP CARING ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE’S OPINIONS OF YOU.”

doing pilates and barre classes, and playing the odd game of golf or tennis on the weekend.

As for her relationship with beauty, Francesca credits much of what she’s learnt about make-up to insider tricks she’s absorbed working in the modelling industry. “I’ve had the privilege of working with many make-up artists over the years, but I actually love doing my own make-up — so much so that I’m planning to do my own wedding day glam,” she reveals.

Reflecting on her career to date, the thing that Francesca loves most is being in a field where she can juggle multiple pursuits at once.

“Originally I got into modelling, then I wanted to become a book publisher, then I pursued writing, then I was a TV host, now I’m a business owner and I’m pursuing acting, so I think the takeaway is I don’t like being limited to one thing,” she says. “I’m someone that needs constant change to remain challenged and that’s how I thrive.”

With two local acting projects under way, Francesca’s message to readers is that it is never too late to achieve the things you want in life.

“My motto is to go for everything — what’s the worst that could happen? I feel alive when I’m challenging myself, and I think that relates to holding myself back in my teens to now reaching a point in my life where I’m up for just about anything,” she says.

“People talk about being scared of getting older, but for me it has been the most freeing experience. Now that I’m in my late 20s, I am more self-assured and the fear of people judging me has faded away. I can’t wait for my 30s because if I already feel like this now, it’s only going to get better.”

Go behind the scenes of Francesca’s cover shoot

Wanted: PAID PALS

They say money can’t buy love, however it appears it can buy friends — but at what cost?

Humans are social animals who need relationships to thrive, so having friends has huge benefits for our health and wellbeing.

They also play a critical role in keeping us active, entertained and feeling connected, ReachOut clinical lead Linda Williams says.

“Our friends are usually people that we can do things with that help us proactively look after our mental health like going for a walk, going to the movies together or just hanging out and relaxing,” Linda says.

But in today’s busy world, it’s not uncommon for people to feel a lack of social connectedness — Australian research shows 54 per cent of people are lonelier after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Often, a lack of friends is situational — you may have moved to a new city. Other times it’s because your life has gone in a different direction. For many people, it may also be a lack of time.

There is plenty of advice out there on how to make friends, such as joining a group with a common interest, rekindling older friendships or taking up a hobby. But some people are also taking a new approach.

Friendships for hire

As many people report being time poor or lacking confidence, the number of those seeking mutual friendships online or turning to professional friend sites is on the rise.

Rentafriend.com founder Scott Rosenbaum says his site, which matches friend seekers and professional friends, now has more than 600,000 members worldwide.

“Surprisingly, the majority of our members are business professionals,” Scott reveals.

“We have a lot of doctors and lawyers. We also have members from 18 all the way up to their 80s.

“It’s becoming more popular for many reasons. Lots of single people are choosing to

focus on their careers and have a work party or event and need someone to bring along. Or maybe they want someone to go to the gym with.

“Someone might want to see a movie or go out to a restaurant but don’t have anyone to go with.”

Friend seekers pay their professional friends in person with rates that typically range from $10 to $60 an hour.

Jilly, a 54-year-old mum in western Sydney, has been a professional friend for several years now.

“It’s not a regular income but it’s nice to sometimes

meet someone and go for a coffee,” she says, adding that sometimes conversation can be hard to start but usually she “has a nice time”.

“Often people just want to share things about themselves and what’s going on in their life.”

Jilly says interactions are strictly platonic and that she hasn’t continued any of the friendships outside of the professional arrangement.

Unpaid alternatives

If paying for a professional friend is not an option, there are also unpaid options.

Online companion sites allow people to create profiles and connect. But be aware that scammers can operate on these portals, targeting vulnerable individuals.

Another option is FriendLine, an Australian phone line manned by friendly, trained volunteers who will happily chat with you, which may help ease your loneliness and reconnect socially.

Be social wise

Hiring a friend seems like a great solution, but is it guaranteed to help you feel less lonely?

How to make friends in adulthood

WAYS TO WIDEN YOUR SOCIAL CIRCLE

Making friends as an adult can be hard. Here are some fun ways to expand your friendship circle

JOIN A LOCAL BOOK CLUB

Meet over a cup of coffee and discuss your thoughts on the book of the month. A book club is a place for easy conversation and even if you aren’t a big reader, it can be a great laid-back way to chat with like-minded people. Your local library can help you find a book club.

TAKE PART IN TEAM SPORT

on the same journey. Enjoy your workout and take the opportunity to chat with others after class. To find yoga classes near you visit mindbodyonline. com/explore

EXPLORE YOUR ARTISTIC SIDE

USE AN APP

“When we think about what it really means to have and to be a friend, that includes things like trust, mutual respect and someone whose company you enjoy,” Linda says.

“So, while a service might be marketed as ‘renting a friend’ you might find that it doesn’t lead to the type of lasting connection you’re looking for.

“In addition, many people might not be able to afford to ‘rent a friend’ and your safety always needs to come first when it comes to meeting someone for the first time.”

Sign up for a team sport and meet people with a similar interest. Sport is a way to connect and work in a team to build a sense of community. Team sports include a range of sexes and ages, making them an easy way to meet new people. To find your local sporting club visit sporty. com.au/clubs

TRY YOGA OR PILATES

Improve your mental and physical health and meet people who are

Learn to paint, make pottery, or create your own jewellery in group art classes. Whether you have experience or not, art classes are a fun way to meet new people and have some creative fun. To find art classes near you visit classbento.com.au

IMPROVE YOUR COOKING SKILLS

Join a cooking class and work with people while creating some delicious food. Cooking classes can be a fun way to work alongside others and meet people who share the same passion for good food. To find cooking classes near you visit classbento.com.au

Forget just dating — some apps are now giving you the option to swipe right for friends. Meet people who are also trying to form friendships and chat over similar interests. To match with friends on an app try a site such as Bumble BFF.

TRAVEL ALONE

It might seem daunting but travelling solo is one of the best ways to meet interesting and new people. Chat with those staying at the same hotel or hostel or join a group travel tour and meet people while you explore the world.

HOLD A MARKET STALL

Grab all your unwanted items or homemade goods and set up your own market stall. Chatting with fellow sellers or the buyers that visit your stall is an easy way to interact with others and meet new friends.

“OFTEN PEOPLE JUST WANT TO SHARE THINGS ABOUT THEMSELVES AND WHAT’S GOING ON IN THEIR LIFE.”

PROFESSIONAL FRIEND

DARK SPOTS FINE LINES ^

REACHING for the STARS

Celebrate the spirit of three visionary game changers,

Words Liz McGrath

Imagine if Marie Curie, Isaac Newton or Nikola Tesla hadn’t been born. So much of what we take for granted in our modern-day lives would be different. Every generation has its visionaries, pioneers who put it all on the line for what they believe in. We catch up with three extraordinary Australians who are fearlessly pushing the boundaries and refuse to let barriers slow them down. Each is making positive change in the world in their own way and inspiring others along the way.

who have shown how dreaming big has the potential to shape a better future for everyone

Photo: European Space Agency

Astronaut

Kath ine Benn l-Pe

ASTRONAUT IN TRAINING

WHEN KATHERINE BENNELLPEGG WAS GROWING UP ON SYDNEY’S NORTHERN BEACHES, HER FACE WAS ALWAYS TURNED TOWARDS THE SKY.

“I don’t remember the exact date I became fascinated by space, but I was always looking up as a kid, whether we were camping or at the park,” Katherine recalls.

“When I realised the stars weren’t just pretty, twinkling lights but whole planets and worlds, I had a childhood desire to explore. I thought being an astronaut was a way I could do that.”

Earlier this year, the space engineer’s dreams became reality.

After years of hard work, rigorous physical training and incredible perseverance, she was one of only 25 people from 22,500 around the globe to be chosen for training as an astronaut by the European Space Agency.

For the 38-yearold, it meant creating history — the first Australian woman to be trained as an astronaut by an international space agency — and a move to Germany with her family.

Her training, which started in April and takes 13 months, is a mix of classroom, lab and gym, with topics such as space walking, robotics, fluid science and more.

“I’m still pinching myself,” she says. “As well as all the science and theory, there’s rigorous physical training — you need a lot of fitness to go to space, as your muscles, bones and cardio health all become massively degraded in microgravity.

“In space walks, you’re manoeuvring multi-tonne equipment, which takes strength, even in a weightless environment.”

As well as pushing her own boundaries, Katherine is passionate about helping others, particularly young women, navigate STEM careers (in science, technology, engineering and maths).

A director of space technology at the Australian Space

Agency (she remains an employee while she completes her training), Katherine says Australia didn’t even have a space agency when she was growing up.

“These days the global space industry is thriving but women who are astronauts are still in the minority, so I’m excited to use this opportunity to inspire others,” she says.

With her sights firmly set on heading to the moon one day, she has this advice for others.

“Dream audaciously and ferociously but understand nothing’s given to you on a plate.

“Think about what you want to contribute and the problems you want to solve and go your own way. There’s not always a role model to follow.”

HOMELESSNESS FUNDRAISER

Last year, the then 23-year-old with a legendary blond mullet became the fastest-ever Australian to run across the country, and the secondfastest in the world, raising more than $2 million for homelessness as well.

His incredible journey, from Perth’s Cottesloe Beach to Bondi Beach in Sydney, saw him cover around 80km a day across almost 4000km.

And it captured the hearts of thousands of Australians who followed his heroic quest via daily Instagram updates, falling in love with his cheeky humour and tenacious resolve.

“The world we live in is so comfortable — everything comes pretty easily — so I started doing marathons as a way to push myself and better myself,” Nedd explains.

“I thought the more you have to work for something, the more it’s worth.”

In 2020 the tradie, one of three kids to parents Ian and Kylie, got his first taste of running, completing 50 marathons in 50 days and

Nedd Brockmann

“GET COMFORTABLE BEING UNCOMFORTABLE” IS NEDD BROCKMANN’S MANTRA IN LIFE. AND WHILE HE’S ONLY 24, IT’S A MAXIM THE SPARKY FROM CENTRAL WEST NSW HAS PUT TO THE TEST IN THE BOLDEST OF WAYS.

Dr Nicole Seebach

CANCER RESEARCHER

FROM HER EARLY DAYS AS A MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY, DR NICOLE SEEBACHER HAS BEEN PASSIONATE ABOUT MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

raising more than $100,000 for the Red Cross.

“Then I decided I really wanted to do something about homelessness,” he says.

“When you see people who have no job and no family, no one to fall back on, it’s heartbreaking.”

What better way to raise awareness, he thought, than crossing the continent for homelessness charity Mobilise.

Running for about 10 hours each day, he suffered hurdles that would sideline most, including severe tendonitis in his shin muscle that saw him unable to lift his ankle, and blisters so full of pus he had maggots in his toes.

While he fell short of the 43-day record, on day 46 Nedd ran into Bondi to the applause of thousands of fans.

“I knew putting my body through that was going to make some noise but the amount of support I had and the money we raised was mindblowing,” he says.

In his bid to keep changing the world, one step at a time, Nedd has written a book, Showing Up, that he hopes will “inspire, motivate, make people laugh, lift the human spirit and give everyone the tools to believe and back themselves”.

The medical scientist committed to researching the most challenging cancers, including melanoma, after a friend died of the disease.

“I think we’ve all had that personal experience with cancer,” Dr Seebacher says.

“I’ve had multiple family members with it and when I first began in research, my co-worker and friend died of melanoma — he was only 21. It was devastating to see someone so young die of a disease that really should be preventable by now.”

Since deciding to dedicate her life to assisting cancer patients, the groundbreaking investigator, now 34,

has researched new cancer treatments.

Her perseverance and passion have contributed to ongoing clinical trials of a new drug for advanced cancer patients.

She has also received numerous awards, including being recognised as a finalist for the 2019 NSW Young Australian of the Year and featuring on the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 list.

Dr Seebacher says it was her early university days that provided the first taste of research, lighting a fire that has continued to grow.

“For the first time, I felt like I might be able to contribute something to the world,” she recalls.

“The degree was cancer-focused and really encouraged curiosity and discussion in a way I hadn’t experienced before.

“With research, you get to come up with an idea that no one else has, that has some kind of benefit to the world, and 99 per cent of the time you don’t get the outcome you want. But one per cent of the time, when it all comes together, it gives you a feeling like nothing else in the world; it’s absolutely incredible.”

She is now also a second-year registrar with the Australasian College of Dermatologists, working at Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital.

“That’s the translational side of things, where I get to use research on patients and see the benefits, so that I can get involved in bigger clinical trials of melanoma therapies,” she says. “The immunotherapy agents we’ll see in the next few years are incredible. You can literally see cancer melt away — it’s the coolest thing.”

Showing Up is available from neddbrockmann.com, with $15 from every purchase going to Mobilise

100% OrganicCotton

NEW HORIZONS

Can a midlife crisis be turned into a midlife pivot?

Middle age is a stage in life that brings many challenges. There’s the busyness, work and family commitments, not to mention weight gain and lack of sleep.

So, unsurprisingly, it is a time that a lot of people start questioning what they are doing with their life.

For some this may lead to a full-blown midlife crisis, but for others it’s an opportunity to reimagine their whole life.

Beyond the stereotypes

The phrase “midlife crisis” was first coined by Canadian psychoanalyst Elliott Jaques in a speech to the British

Psychoanalytical Society in 1957 to describe a certain period in life.

“It’s actually very common, but a lot of people might not always identify it’s what they’re going through,” Geelong psychologist Chris Mackey says.

“The stereotype of a midlife crisis is that someone does something impulsive like buy a sports car or have an extramarital affair.

“But quite often it might be someone feeling stuck in a rut, unsure of life direction, anxious or depressed.”

It can strike any time between 40 and 65, although Chris says he most commonly sees it in his patients in their early 40s.

It affects all genders, but men and women tend to

exhibit different behaviours. “Quite often, women have spent their whole lives focusing on relationships and they think, ‘Hang on, I’m going to do something for myself’,” Chris says.

“They often reach for more creative things, do more adventures. Dare I say, they develop what is seen as more masculine characteristics, like asserting themselves.

“Men, on the other hand, have typically been focused on things like external achievement, so relationships often become their focus.”

Chris says midlife can be a tough time, and many people will benefit from therapy or reaching out to an expert.

Suddenly stuck

In 2018, Melbourne mum Kate Holmes was a respected architect at the top of her field, but couldn’t shake the feeling that she was no longer fulfilled.

“I had come out of my university degree, started an architectural practice and essentially worked in that for 30-odd years, and I suddenly just didn’t want to be an architect anymore,” she explains.

With the support of her partner, the 55-year-old embarked on a stint of longservice leave, planning to open up a dance fitness studio, Glow Dance.

“I just wanted to find something to do that brought positivity to the world. I realised

that many of my friends didn’t exercise or dance anymore. I’d always complained about the fitness industry being too focused on the young, and it was a light bulb moment that came to me within the first couple of weeks.”

In Melbourne, she found a space, renovated it and opened her doors in January 2020, right before Covid hit.

“We’d only been open for a few months before we had to shut down.”

It’s a point Kate believes people need to know — that life transformation is not meant to be easy.

“You’ve got to be prepared for what rocks and turns and obstacles are in the way, and you’ve just got to navigate

ARE YOU READY TO PIVOT?

If you think you’re ready for a midlife refresh, here are some tips to help

1TIME TO ADAPT

The first step to turning your midlife crisis into a midlife pivot is to embrace change. Learning to adapt instead of resisting will help you better identify doors of opportunity.

2REASSESS YOUR LIFE

Take time to look at your life and determine what is important to you.

Identify the things that bring you joy and fulfilment, then consider what changes you can make to improve your life.

3EXPLORE NEW OPPORTUNITIES

A midlife pivot is an excellent opportunity to explore new things. Consider taking up a new hobby, learning a new skill or travelling to a new place. Stepping outside your comfort zone will help you discover new passions and interests.

4TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEALTH

Midlife is a crucial time to take care of your health. Eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, visit the dentist and get enough sleep.

5SEEK SUPPORT

Midlife pivot points are not easy, so seek support. Talk to your friends and family about your goals and aspirations or consider seeking professional help from a therapist or life coach to help navigate the transition.

through them,” she says. These days Kate operates the studio while continuing architectural work on the side — a mix she says is “working perfectly”.

Unexpected changes

In some cases, rather than being internal, the midlife crisis is caused by external factors. That is what happened to author and writing coach Jane Turner.

“I spent my whole working life in the public service up to the age of 51, when I was

made redundant,” she shares. To make things worse, Jane was going through menopause while competing against younger candidates for jobs.

“I couldn’t get another job for love nor money. So I decided I needed to look after myself and change my mindset.”

Jane overhauled her diet, got a personal trainer and started focusing on getting enough sleep.

“I was feeling so much better by just looking after myself, and then I started tinkering

with the idea of a book,” she says. She ended up publishing Thrive in Midlife — something she would never have done without a midlife crisis.

“I’ve got to be grateful for being made redundant, not only because I have healthier habits now, but also because writing the book completely changed the trajectory of my life,” she says.

“It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it. You just have to keep an upbeat view and look out for the opportunities.”

“I HAD COME OUT OF MY UNIVERSITY DEGREE … AND ESSENTIALLY WORKED IN THAT FOR 30-ODD YEARS, AND I SUDDENLY JUST DIDN’T WANT TO BE AN ARCHITECT ANYMORE.”

Kate Holmes

DRESSED to impre

Can’t a ord the right clothes for a big occasion? Help is at hand thanks to community support

Words Elissa Doherty

Coco Chanel famously said, “Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman”.

But for those doing it tough, it is not always easy to dress for success. And that’s why a band of fairy godmothers (and godfathers) is helping out.

Whether kitting out people for job interviews or helping them become the belle of the ball, they are cloaking droves of Australians in kindness — and clothes that hit the perfect note for the occasion.

It’s a service that is much needed. With cost of living pressures, not-for-profit organisations that donate outfits for important life events have reported skyrocketing demand. In Brisbane, Formally Ever After is working overtime to dress teens from top to toe for school formals and other special events.

Owner Tammy Robinson does it all for free using items donated from around Australia, and is seeing hundreds more people coming through her doors this year.

“First we had Covid, then the floods, and now people are struggling to keep their houses or cover the huge rent increases,” the mum of four says.

“A lot of people can barely afford food, let alone a formal dress. It breaks my heart when I hear some of the stories.”

Tammy runs the service out of her house, opening the doors to her super-sized, sparkling wardrobe to as many as 60 people a week.

The ground floor is packed with sequined ball gowns, tiaras, shoes, suits, handbags and jewellery, with some dresses worth as much as $3000.

“People say what an amazing person I am to do this, but it’s not just me,” the aged care support worker says. “It’s all the

generous people who donate. One girl might be dressed by seven different strangers. I tell the young people I dress: ‘The whole community is wanting to support you. They are cheering you on’. It’s really important the kids know that.”

In a small warehouse in South Melbourne, staff and volunteers at Ready Set help disadvantaged job hunters prepare for interviews and rebuild their confidence.

Everything from interviewready outfits to career coaching, CV writing and interview skills are available at no cost, setting women and men on the path to success.

Operations manager Ian Herd says the tough financial climate has made fundraising more challenging, and the charity is desperate for more good quality donations.

Calls for help are flooding in this year from all tiers of society, as financial pressures hit across the board.

“We had a GP come through who was needing a nice interview outfit, as her clinic had gone bust,” he recalls. “She told us she never expected to be in this position.”

Visit facebook.com/ FormallyEverAfter and readyset.org.au

It was a winter’s night in 2022 when a real-life fairytale unfolded in northern Australia. Barefoot and beaming, a group of 25 young people attended their first NAIDOC Ball in Aurukun, Cape York, resplendent in glittering gowns and sharp suits.

They strolled down a dusty road to the community centre as friends and family snapped away like paparazzi on their phones. In this remote Queensland town, there’s no school formal, and this was the first time most of the group had ever donned fancy clothes.

“At first they were nervous and didn’t want to walk out in front of everyone,” recalls organiser Norma ArmstrongRavula, a youth support co-ordinator at Aurukun’s Police & Community Youth Club. “But as soon as they walked out the door of the PCYC, the shoulders were back, heads were high, everything changed. They were like different people.”

Norma says the event would not have been the same without the gift of 40 outfits from Formally Ever After.

“These were not just any dresses, they were really extravagant, Disney princess-style,” she says.

“If we didn’t have the suits and gowns, it wouldn’t have been the success it was. They all felt like a million dollars.”

The ball was such a hit, a second one is being staged this year to celebrate the community’s Elders.

Styling up for the NAIDOC Ball in northern Queensland.

JACQUI FELGATE

The House of Wellness TV co-host talks to Jess and Sarah Hosking about their special twin bond and what it means to make a di erence

HOSKING TWINS O story

Jess and Sarah Hosking are AFLW stars — both playing for Richmond Football Club — but the sisters say they couldn’t have made it to the top without each other

MAIN Sarah and Jess Hosking are always there for each other. INSET The AFLW players have embraced the power of sport in community.

Jess was born with a cleft lip and palate and was bullied through childhood. Speaking out about the condition has empowered her in ways she never thought possible.

“I used to be insecure and shy. I was pretty worried that people would start saying things,” she says.

“Growing up, I copped a fair amount of bullying because of how I looked. In my first (AFLW) season I got asked to do an interview and I thought it was about my footy … but it was about my cleft and I was horrified.

“But once it came out, the response was overwhelming, especially from cleft kids, parents and anyone who was related in some way.

“It was the moment I realised the importance of sharing those stories and opening up.”

For Sarah, it was di cult to watch her twin being bullied growing up.

“It’s given me a lot of perspective. It was extremely hard seeing someone I loved — my best friend — struggling at times. Being twins we were so close but there

was a period where we didn’t talk about it because I couldn’t relate. I stand back in awe seeing how many people (she has) reached.

“One of the hardest things I saw was someone saying they would terminate their baby because they were going to be born with a cleft palate — because of a lack of awareness. I look at Jess and what she is doing now and I could not imagine her not being here because of a cleft palate. She lives a full and amazing life — she’s a crazy kid! But she’s no different to anyone else.”

of footy, when Jess was drafted to Carlton but didn’t play a game.

“We had this big family day and these kids turned up with number 11 on their backs. She hadn’t played a game, but two kids turned up with clefts, and that’s a testament to what she’s been doing.”

Multiple surgeries haven’t stopped Jess from living her dream.

“I’ve had 23 surgeries and I had my last cleft surgery about three years ago when I was at Carlton,” she says.

“I had my first one at three months old. You go through bone and cartilage grafts, my nose has been broken and my nose realigned.

six years, along with footy. I also do some renovating on the side. I keep asking Sarah to help me and she says she will but she never turns up on time!”

“Growing up, I didn’t have an idol who had a cleft and I spent hours and hours searching online and I couldn’t find anything … not one person. For me to be able to run through the banner with two cleft kids on my 50th (AFLW) game, it’s pretty humbling to know that I can do that for these kids. I just can’t stop smiling.”

Sarah recalls a surprising moment during the duo’s first year

“You typically have your last surgery when you are fully developed. For girls that’s usually 16 to 18 years old and for boys, 20 to 24.”

They’re sisters doing it for themselves.

“We don’t want to have to hide our personalities for anyone, even if it does mean we end up in the media,” Sarah says.

“We think it’s important to be relatable. We haven’t changed and we don’t take ourselves too seriously. We love playing little pranks on each other. We grew up as country kids and we are just trying to enjoy the ride.”

Most AFLW players have a second job.

“I work on the railways and do night shift,” Jess says.

“I have done that for five or

Sarah commentates with Triple M and, during the AFLW season, with Fox Footy. “And mid-week I do a few days in a business development role. It’s hard but you have to learn to prioritise. Other people have families and jobs, too, but I think it’s about not overcommitting to too many things.”

There’s no bond like a twin bond. Jess says the duo can “share anything and do anything together”. Their connection runs deep.

“We will have days where one of us feels off and you call the other one and we realise we are feeling off because something has happened to that person. It happens often,” she reveals.

Sarah loves that Jess always has her back. “We live together and I have someone who I can trust, lean on and rely on,” she notes. “It’s a unique, special bond that we have.”

Visit cleftpalsvic.com

Jess, who is an ambassador for CleftPals Victoria, believes the old adage rings true: you can’t be what you can’t see.

Bella wants you to know there is no such thing as a “bad” body. “All the features we are told are flaws — like cellulite, hip dips, body hair, everything else — they’re just normal features of the human body,” Bella says.

“We’re made to feel so much shame about our bodies, so I want people to know their body isn’t wrong, it’s not flawed, it doesn’t need fixing, it’s not imperfect. It’s beautiful the way it is and it is normal.”

Despite having more than 264,000 followers on Instagram, the 27-year-old is not your stereotypical social media influencer, nor does she want to be.

Bella, who lives in Sydney, often shares photos of herself before and after gaining weight.

Her Instagram feed is flooded with candid snaps of her enjoying her body — dancing, wiggling and jiggling.

It all started a few years ago when people were posting about using Covid lockdown as a time to lose weight and get a “better” body.

“I was just honestly sick of it,” Bella says.

Instead she took a photo of her cellulite and posted it online.

“I wrote about the fact that I had been editing my photos for so long and I was sick of it,” Bella says.

“I said, ‘This is what I look like; this is what my cellulite looks like; this is what my legs look like’.”

The response was overwhelmingly positive, and what began as a way for Bella

to heal from her own body image struggles grew into something far bigger.

“It started reaching people I didn’t know it would reach — people from the other side of the world — and people were saying, ‘Thank you for sharing this; this is what I look like, too’.”

According to the Butterfly Foundation, more than a million Australians live with eating disorders. Its recent youth survey found social media made almost half of young people feel dissatisfied with their bodies.

Bella says she has dealt with poor body image, and admits when she was younger she had an “unhealthy obsession” with being thin. Many of her followers have struggled with eating disorders and have posted about how much Bella has helped them.

“I’m really happy to be able to help people,” she says.

“I find that by helping them I’m also healing myself at the same time — so I’m open about the struggles; I’m pretty vulnerable.”

her body changed.

“It’s OK if your body changes, because our bodies will change throughout every stage of our life. We might gain weight, we might lose it, and that’s OK,” she says.

“I need people to know that your body shape is the least interesting thing about you.

“The people around you, like family and friends, love you for you. They’re not worried about how much you weigh or what the size of your clothes are.”

Bella acknowledges it is not realistic to love your body every second of every day, so she promotes the idea of being body neutral, where you exist in your body without thinking too much about how it looks.

She also recommends being kind to your body and appreciating what it can do.

“It’s a vessel that allows you to do things. Your body allows you to play with your kids, allows you to make memories and it allows you to eat the foods that you love.”

When she is having a bad body image day, Bella reminds herself it’s just that. “Somehow that really helps — just that phrase reminding myself that I don’t have a bad body, I’m just having a bad body image day and that’s OK.”

And she has this reminder for us all: “You’re worthy and deserving of love, happiness, joy, success, everything you want right now. You don’t need to change yourself to be worthy of those things.”

Butterfly Foundation helpline: 1800 334 673, butterfly.org.au

Her body image journey has not been easy — Bella admits she struggled when

Known as the “self-love hype girl”, the popular body-acceptance influencer is on a mission to help more women learn to embrace their bodies

Words Bianca Carmona

BELLA DAVIS

KNOW yo BREASTS

As you get older, the chances of getting breast cancer increase. But knowing this part of your body and being alert to any changes can help you cut the risk

Words Charlotte Brundrett

It’s the most common cancer in the world and the No.1 cancer for Australian women

More than 20,600 people were diagnosed in Australia with breast cancer in 2022, and the average age was 62 years old, according to Cancer Council.

The good news is that medical breakthroughs and national screenings are helping to improve survival rates. However, that doesn’t mean you should turn a blind eye to breast health.

Breast and oncoplastic surgeon Dr Jane O’Brien

says women of all ages and breast cancer risk categories should aim to be “breast aware”, which means understanding what is normal for you — as everybody’s breasts look different.

“Knowing what is normal for your breasts increases

the chance that if a change occurs, it will be detected,” Dr O’Brien says.

This October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a global campaign shining a light on breast cancer and spreading the message about being breast aware.

How to self-examine

The current advice for selfchecking your breasts is to simply look at and feel them regularly.

“Being familiar with the feel, texture and appearance of your breasts should become part of your everyday routine and it can be done while showering, applying body lotion or simply looking in the mirror,” Dr O’Brien says. She adds consistency is more important than technique.

“You don’t need to be an expert or use a special technique to check your breasts. Monthly breast self-examinations using a step-by-step technique was heavily promoted by health authorities in the past. However, randomised studies indicate it has not been shown to reduce deaths from breast cancer and is associated with an

increased rate of medical interventions for false positives, which is why it’s no longer recommended.”

Breast Cancer Network Australia chief executive Kirsten Pilatti also encourages women of all ages to simply get into the habit of checking their breasts.

“Remember to check all parts of your breast, your armpits and up to your collarbone and try to be mindful of any changes,” Kirsten advises.

It’s natural to be anxious if you do detect something, but it’s just as important to remember that most breast changes are unlikely to be cancerous.

“Unlikely as it may be, whenever you observe a change in your breast that’s unusual for you, see your doctor without delay,” Kirsten says.

BREAST SELF-CHECK

Look out for changes including:

•A new lump

•Nipple changes, such as crusting, redness or discharge

•Skin dimpling, flakiness or redness

•Change in breast size or shape

•Swelling, thickening or pain

Most changes will not be cancer, but see a doctor if you notice them.

Cause for hope

THE CHANCE OF SURVIVING BREAST CANCER FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS INCREASED FROM ABOUT 77 PER CENT IN 1989-1993 TO ABOUT 92 PER CENT IN 2014-2018.

SOURCE: BREAST CANCER NETWORK AUSTRALIA.

Don’t skip screening

Breast screens (also known as mammograms) are an X-ray of the breast and are offered free every two years to Australian women aged 50 to 74.

They are vital because they can detect breast cancer in the early stages before there are any signs, increasing the chance of survival.

Women in this age group are sent an invitation for a mammogram from the government’s national breast screening program, BreastScreen Australia.

But if you are aged 40 to 49 or over 74, you are also entitled to have a free mammogram every two years through the national program — you just won’t receive the invitation. If you are aged over 74, be aware the lack of an invitation doesn’t mean you are out of the woods.

“Many women unfortunately interpret the discontinuation of routine invitations from BreastScreen as an indication that their risk of breast cancer has subsided,” Dr O’Brien says. “However, nothing could be further from the truth, as the risk of developing breast cancer increases with age.”

Risk factors

Breast cancer is common. Breast Cancer Network Australia notes the risk over a lifetime is one in seven for women and one in 555 for men.

Only five to 10 per cent of breast cancers occur in people who have inherited a gene abnormality from a parent. The biggest risk factors are being a woman and getting older. About 75 per cent of breast cancers occur in women over 50, according to Breast Cancer Network Australia.

Other risk factors can increase your chances of developing breast cancer. These include: being overweight or obese, especially after menopause; drinking alcohol; smoking; and physical inactivity.

Making lifestyle changes — such as eating a healthy diet, reducing alcohol, quitting smoking and regularly exercising — may help reduce your risk.

NOT JUST A FEMALE DISEASE

Breast density may play a role in breast cancer. Women with dense breast tissue have a higher risk of breast cancer. Dense breasts can also make it trickier to find cancer.

“It can be more difficult for radiologists to identify cancer because dense tissue, masses and cancer all appear white on a mammogram and this can make it hard to differentiate,” Dr O’Brien explains.

Breast density refers to how much fibrous and glandular tissue there is in your breast compared to fat tissue. Dense breasts are common and aren’t considered an abnormal breast condition or a disease.

“Australian data shows that 66 per cent of women below the age of 50 have dense breasts,” Dr O’Brien says, adding the rate drops with age to 33 per cent for women over 75.

BreastScreen Australia does not advise women (except those in WA) if they have dense breasts, and there are mixed views in the community on whether it should.

Those “for” say it helps women decide whether to seek supplemental screening. Those “against” say it may cause undue anxiety for women with dense breasts, and a false sense of security for those with low breast density.

If you are concerned about breast density, seek advice from your GP.

After noticing a suspicious lump during a routine self-check in 2020, Rahki Hilary was diagnosed with early breast cancer. The registered nurse was 38 years old at the time and contemplating IVF when she received the news, forcing her to put her family plans on hold.

In the space of a week, Rahki went from having a fun weekend away with her girlfriends to having an emergency mammogram, ultrasound and various scans that confirmed two types of aggressive breast cancer in her left breast, which had spread to her lymph nodes.

“After I got diagnosed, I left the GP’s room, went to my car and just bawled my eyes out,” Rahki says.

What followed was a gruelling period of treatment that included chemotherapy, much of which was spent in isolation at the height of the Covid pandemic.

She used humour to help make things less bleak. “Even when my hair started to fall out, my brother helped to shave it off with clippers and gave me funny haircuts in the process, which took the edge off things.”

Three years on and Rahki is cancer free. She credits her early diagnosis to breast awareness.

“Breast checks should be taught in high school so Australians can be aware of changes to their bodies from a young age. These small habits have the potential to save your life.”

In Australia, 212 males and 20,428 females were estimated to be newly diagnosed with breast cancer last year, according to government figures.

“Men, trans and gender-diverse people should be aware of any changes to their breasts or chests,” Kirsten says.

FOGGY OUTLOOK Lifting the

Dementia doesn’t only a ect the elderly — it can strike young people, too. But there are things you can do that may help you dodge it or slow its progress

In her 30s and 40s, Donna Lee noticed she seemed to be a little more forgetful than the average person.

But it wasn’t until more than a decade later that she realised something was definitely wrong.

Fights with her partner at the time over her behaviour had increased, and occasionally he had accused her of lying about ridiculous things, which left her genuinely dumbfounded.

“It sounds stupid, but he was trying to borrow money from me and I couldn’t remember I had these bank accounts,” she says. “He thought I was lying, but I just couldn’t remember.”

Around the same time, at the age of 52, Donna suddenly lost her job as a cleaner, for forgetting to return a vacuum to the office when she went on holiday. Now, looking back, she admits she had been struggling

with confusion over everyday tasks in the lead-up to being sacked.

She went to the doctor, hoping for answers, but was referred to a psychiatrist and then a neurologist before receiving a younger-onset dementia diagnosis.

“It was such a shock,” Donna says. “I didn’t understand what it meant and a lot of people in my life didn’t know either.”

Because Donna wasn’t elderly, many family members

didn’t believe her diagnosis, while her children struggled to grapple with what the diagnosis would mean moving forward.

It wasn’t until she started attending support groups that she began to understand dementia and its impacts.

She also started to realise her experience was similar to that of her mother, who had been diagnosed with dementia in older age.

“She used to write everything down on the calendar — like what she did, what she

she shares.

“I

Writing down things is a strategy Donna, now 58, also uses to cope.

To keep her mind active, she has also become an ambassador for Dementia Australia — attending events and handing out fact sheets to the public in western Sydney to help raise awareness.

“I felt really alone when it happened to me, and I don’t want other people to feel that,” she says.

“People feel really confronted by dementia because they don’t know what it is or understand how to deal with it, which is why I am doing this.”

NEED TO KNOW

Demystifying dementia

Dementia Australia

chief executive Maree McCabe says more than 400,000 people are living with dementia nationwide, but the vast majority are more than 65 years of age.

“It is more common with age, but younger onset is when someone has dementia in their 50s, 40s and even in their 30s, which has a profound impact on their lives,” Maree says.

It is estimated about 28,000 Australians are living with younger onset dementia, which in extremely rare cases can include young children and teens.

“It is less common in younger people,” Maree says. “(And) a reason it can go undiagnosed is because practitioners just don’t look for it in younger people.

“And for many people under the age of 65, it can take up to seven years to uncover a diagnosis.”

She notes that a general lack of understanding of dementia adds to the problem.

“People often think it’s about just being forgetful,” she says.

“But there are 100 different types of dementia, and it’s known as the invisible disability because what we don’t often see we don’t understand.”

Seeing the signs

One of the most important things for people dealing with this condition is to pick up the diagnosis early, Flinders University senior research fellow Monica Cations says.

“People might be experiencing memory loss, but often this is associated with depression or nutritional deficiencies or a stroke — so it’s really important to get those ruled out,” Monica explains.

“Or often there can be some really big changes in behaviour that are very out of character for the person.”

Disinhibited behaviour means normally conservative people start acting out, gambling, drinking and having extramarital sex, despite no previous interest in these activities.

Problems with language and words are also often a sign, along with becoming disorganised and losing emotional control.

Another common indicator can be whether dementia runs in the family, Monica adds.

“For a very small group of people there is a direct inheritance of dementia. If you are young, chances are higher that you do have directly inherited dementia — but that’s a minority of cases.”

A new reality

While an early-onset dementia diagnosis is distressing, Professor Julie Stout from Monash University says it is a myth you can’t prevent dementia or do anything about it once you have it.

“Dementias have a very gradual onset, so there are things you can do to reduce the likelihood of getting dementia or how fast it happens,” Prof Stout says.

“One way is to keep the cardiovascular system healthy and keeping your brain healthy — by keeping your blood sugar under control and not having diabetes, and keeping your brain active by engaging in mentally challenging activities.”

In Australia, there are approved drugs to help manage dementia, but no approved drugs to specifically treat younger onset dementia (overseas trials are underway).

Some common dementia drugs can help relieve symptoms, but Prof Stout says the most effective approach for younger patients is about healthy life habits.

“We need to work with people and their families to help them strengthen some of their habits and skills and to provide the kind of support they need … so they can live well.”

“I FELT REALLY ALONE WHEN IT HAPPENED TO ME, AND I DON’T WANT OTHER PEOPLE TO FEEL THAT.”

Donna Lee

ate and even if it was a good day,”

thought it was quite odd but now I understand what she was going through.”

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POSITIVITY ON A PLATE

The power of food, mood and herbs

RAVINDER LILLY Nutritionist and Complementary Medicines Australia communications manager

As the link between nutrition and good health becomes increasingly evident, more Australians are seeking natural ways to improve their well-being and mood.

If you have been prescribed conventional medicine for mood disorders, it is vital to follow medical advice.

Food and complementary medicines can influence emotions. So, could the right combination of food and complementary medicines positively impact mood and contribute to overall mental wellness?

The gut-brain axis

There is an intricate relationship between the gut and the brain, known as the gut-brain axis. Home to trillions of microorganisms collectively known as the gut microbiome, the gut plays a vital role in digestion and immune function. The microbiome also communicates with the brain, influencing mood, emotions, and cognitive function.

A balanced and diverse gut microbiome is crucial

for maintaining mental well-being. Opt for a fibrerich diet, whole grains that contain prebiotic foods to nourish the organisms in your microbiome, and fermented foods such as kefir, kombucha and kimchi, containing beneficial gut bacteria that support the production of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, which are vital for mood regulation.

Omega-3 fatty acids

Fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines, and flaxseeds and walnuts are rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

Omega-3s are linked to improved mood. These essential fatty acids are good for brain health, promoting the growth and maintenance of brain cells. It is believed that omega-3s may help reduce inflammation in the brain and thus enhance communication between brain cells, ultimately benefiting mood.

Antioxidant-rich foods

Incorporating antioxidant-rich foods into your diet can be highly beneficial. Antioxidants help combat oxidative stress, which occurs when harmful free radicals are imbalanced in the body.

Colourful fruits and vegetables, such as berries, spinach, kale and broccoli, are excellent sources of antioxidants. Additionally, foods rich in vitamins C and E,

such as citrus fruits and nuts, can further bolster your body’s defence against stress-related damage.

Herbal supplements

Some Australians use complementary medicines, including herbal supplements, to support their mental well-being. It is important to note that while some herbal remedies have shown promise in improving mood, they should not replace professional medical advice or prescribed medications.

Balanced approach

While complementary medicines and food can support mood, they are just one part of the puzzle.

A holistic approach to mental well-being includes regular exercise, adequate sleep, stress management techniques and seeking professional support. As more Australians seek natural ways to enhance their mood and overall mental health, the link between food, complementary medicines, and

the mood becomes increasingly relevant.

A diet rich in gut-healthy foods, omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants can positively influence emotional well-being. Some herbal supplements, when used responsibly, may also offer support for managing mood-related concerns.

Remember, individual responses to these interventions vary, and it’s essential to consult with healthcare professionals for personalised advice.

FORCE of HABIT

Start small

Consistency is key, so start with a goal that is small and manageable. Rather than say you’ll go for a 5km run every day, scale down your goal to something simple like, “I will run for 10 minutes every day”.

Choose a cue

Decide on an existing part of your routine to stack your new habit on to. In the case of going for a run, your cue could be taking off your work shoes at the end of the day and putting on your runners.

Going to the gym every day, meditating in the morning, reading a book before bed.

At some point, many of us have wanted to commit to building a habit, but actually putting it into action can be a different story.

However, what if we said that you could piggyback off existing habits to make the process easier? This is called habit stacking.

The technique uses a habit that already exists to help establish a new one.

For example, if you are trying to build a habit of flossing your teeth daily, you would use brushing your teeth as the prompt for your new habit. First you brush, then you floss.

It’s a concept written about by behaviour scientist Dr BJ Fogg and self-improvement author SJ Scott and popularised in James Clear’s New York Times bestseller Atomic Habits. And it makes sense when you think of how a habit is created.

“(Building a habit is about) the connections between neurons — the nerves in the brain that do the thinking,” says Professor Gail Robinson, a consultant clinical neuropsychologist from the Queensland Brain Institute and School of Psychology at the University of Queensland.

“When you have a habit or a behaviour, the same set of neurons wire together. What wires together, fires together, so a habit strengthens the firing of a set of prescribed neurons, which forms a circuit in the brain.”

In short, using an existing circuit to build a new habit allows you to take advantage of a neural pathway that has been strengthened by years of repetition rather than trying to establish an entirely new one.

Habit-change expert Dr Gina Cleo explains every habit has three key ingredients — a cue, routine and reward.

The cue can be a time, place, emotion, social situation or preceding action. The routine is completing the action over

and over again. The reward is the benefit you gain from that action. In the case of habit stacking, your cue is always the preceding action. Dr Cleo says to build any habit, the cue should “have a flow to it”, as it will offer you more chance of succeeding.

Want to go to the gym every day? Pick an action that you do during the day that makes sense for you to go to the gym afterwards. That might be packing up your desk at work. But if your evenings are busy, you wouldn’t pick packing up your desk as your cue as it doesn’t have a natural flow with your routine.

Habit stacking improves your chances of maintaining a habit in the long term.

An English study notes that once an action is activated by a cue — for example, putting on a seatbelt (the action) when getting in the car (the cue) — you no longer have to depend on “conscious attention or motivational processes” to keep the habit going.

Be specific

As with all goals, be specific in the habit you’re trying to achieve, but also in your cue. For example, if you want to do 10 situps in the morning, would you do them straight after rolling out of bed or straight after you eat breakfast? The clearer you are, the more chance you have of success.

Set a timeline

A deadline allows you to have a timeframe to work to, and having an end in sight makes it a little less daunting. It also allows you to self-monitor and track your progress, which is important. “When we give ourselves a tick (for carrying out a task), our brain gets a little hit of dopamine. And our brain goes, ‘Well, that felt good, so I’m going to do that again’. And it actually helps to reinforce the habit,” Dr Cleo says.

We often let our new practices slide. But this trick may help them stick

Words Tania Gomez

BEAT THE WHEEZE

Su er from asthma?

Breathe easier by setting up your home to cut the exposure to triggers

Words Joanne Trzcinski

Eight reasons to get rid of mould

If you’re one of the 11 per cent of Australians who has asthma, you will know the lung condition is not to be taken lightly. Symptoms such as wheezing, breathlessness, coughing and a tight chest can affect your quality of life.

The condition can also be life threatening: 351 Australians died from asthma in 2021, according to National Asthma Council Australia.

“The cause of asthma is still being explored,” Asthma Australia chief executive

Michele Goldman notes. “What we do know is that it’s partly genetic and partly environmental, and it impacts people of all ages, not just children.”

With asthma, the airways to the lungs narrow when exposed to “triggers”.

While it can’t be cured, it can be managed by avoiding or reducing the triggers and taking medication, most commonly through an inhaler and a spacer.

There are hundreds of triggers but usually people

are only affected by a few. Unfortunately, many triggers are in the home — and a third of asthma sufferers have their worst symptoms at home, according to an Asthma Australia 2022 survey.

The six most common household triggers are: dust mites, mould, pets, chemicals or volatile organic compounds (VOCs), smoke and pollen, National Asthma Council Australia Sensitive Choice program manager Adele Taylor says.

Reduce dust mites

These microscopic creatures live in beds, carpet, curtains, soft furnishings and soft toys and can be a major cause of asthma flare-ups. Wash bed linen and soft toys weekly in water hotter than 55C or use a laundry product designed to kill dust mites in cold water. Use miteresistant cases on mattresses, pillows and quilts and let sunlight into your bedroom, as mites dislike bright light.

Choose blinds or shutters rather than curtains; and leather or vinyl couches rather than fabric. Vacuum floors and soft furnishings weekly with a vacuum that has a good filter, such as a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter.

Get rid of dust on surfaces, which may also contain triggers such as pollen and pet dander (skin flakes), but don’t use a feather duster, Adele advises.

“Use a damp or electrostatic cloth, as these trap the dust on the cloth,” she explains.

Get rid of mould

Inhaling mould spores can set off an asthma reaction. Bathrooms, in particular, can get mouldy as they are warm and damp.

Try scrubbing mould with white distilled vinegar and ventilating your home better by opening windows regularly.

Use extractor fans in bathrooms, kitchens and laundries; a dehumidifier to remove moisture; and an air purifier with a HEPA filter.

You may need to resort to replacing mouldy surfaces.

Don’t go near organic mulches and compost heaps, where mould can flourish.

Manage pets

Many pets may be a trigger, including dogs, cats, rabbits,

guinea pigs and birds, usually because of their dander. Wash your hands after touching pets, don’t let your pets in bedrooms, vacuum carpets and upholstery frequently and keep animals outside where possible, ensuring they are warm, safe and content.

Avoid chemicals

Chemicals come in many forms, including VOCs in furniture and house materials.

Buy no or low-VOC products where you can. If you buy products with VOCs, put them in a spare room, shed or outdoors while they off-gas.

Also, aim to paint and renovate when your home is unoccupied or when it’s warm, when you can ventilate it.

Be aware scented candles, body scrubs, diffusers, perfume, nail polish, laundry detergent and cleaning products can also set off your asthma.

Stop the smoke

“Smoke can be from woodfire or similar heating devices but also cigarette smoke and vaping,” Adele explains.

Stop smoking or vaping, remove wood-fire heaters, use extractor fans if you have smoke-producing heaters, and use an air purifier with a carbon filter to help remove smoke particles from the air.

Rethink plants

Plants can be triggers because of their pollen.

“Pollen manages to infiltrate the home through cracks in window sills, under doors, on your clothes or on pets when they come in from outside,” Adele says.

On high pollen days, keep windows closed and hang washing inside. Choose nonpollen-producing plants for your garden.

Consider removing all indoor plants — not just because of pollen, but also mould growth, dust and fragrances.

Go electric

“Nearly half of all Australian homes use gas for cooking,” Michele says. However, gas cooktops produce invisible pollutants that are a common asthma trigger.

As homes transition to more climate-friendly electric cooktops, the problem is likely to lessen. Meanwhile, ensure you have a good extraction fan in your kitchen, and open your windows when cooking.

Unflued gas heaters can also trigger asthma. Electric heaters are a better option.

IF YOU NEED ADVICE

ASTHMA AUSTRALIA asthma.org.au

NATIONAL ASTHMA COUNCIL AUSTRALIA nationalasthma.org.au sensitivechoice.com/creating-ahealthy-home

Michela Semeraro,

33, is a vigilant cleaner after her son, Francesco, 4, was diagnosed with asthma as a baby. “During the bushfires of 2020, Francesco started coughing and wheezing — Melbourne was very smoky. But when the bushfires stopped, he continued to cough, and he was diagnosed with asthma at the age of one. My husband and I immediately tried to reduce possible triggers in our rental home. We decluttered every surface, took up the floor rugs, and removed a macrame wall-hanging and soft toys from his room. The bathroom and window sills were mouldy, so had to be cleaned all the time. Every week, we also washed our bed linen and towels at 60C, and vacuumed and cleaned really well. Now we are in our own home, which is much more asthma-friendly. We’ve kept surfaces clear so they’re easy to wipe clean, and kept up a strict washing and cleaning routine. We now have a dog, but chose a moodle (hybrid maltese/poodle), which is hypoallergenic. Francesco is doing really well. He’s only had to have asthma medication once this year.”

“POLLEN MANAGES TO INFILTRATE THE HOME THROUGH CRACKS IN WINDOW SILLS, UNDER DOORS, ON YOUR CLOTHES OR ON PETS WHEN THEY COME IN FROM OUTSIDE.”

NATIONAL ASTHMA COUNCIL AUSTRALIA SENSITIVE CHOICE PROGRAM MANAGER

PERIOD PAIN More than just

instead of out of the body. Other theories paint it as an immune system disorder or due to genetic factors.

A new Japanese study published in Science

endometriosis, early age of first period (before 11 years), a short menstrual cycle or longer periods (more than seven days).

Endometriosis is a common condition that a ects about 190 million women and girls worldwide. Yet, awareness about it still remains low, meaning it may go underdiagnosed in a ected women.

Endometriosis presents with a wide variety of symptoms and due to its non-specific nature, it is a complex condition that can be di cult to diagnose.

It often takes an average of seven to eight years for women to receive a proper diagnosis, meaning living with endometriosis can cause frustration and anxiety.

The condition occurs when tissue similar to the uterus lining grows outside of it, often on the ovaries, fallopian tubes or other organs in the pelvic region.

This tissue can cause pain, inflammation and even infertility in some cases. The exact cause of endometriosis is unknown, but there are several theories.

One theory suggests it may be caused by menstrual blood flowing back into the fallopian tubes and pelvic region

Translational Medicine has found it could also be due to a bacteria entering the uterus, which potentially could be treated with antibiotics for women positive for the bacteria.

Symptoms of endometriosis include painful periods, bowel movements or urination, infertility and pain during intercourse.

Period pain is a universal symptom that can often be ignored and has a tendency to be dismissed as exaggerated or unnecessary.

This can be incredibly frustrating and invalidating for women who are affected by it but, more importantly, it can lead to a delay in seeking medical help if pain is severe and interferes with daily activities.

The diagnostic process can include physical exams, ultrasound or MRI to look for signs of endometriosis, such as cysts or other growths.

However, the only way to definitively diagnose endometriosis is through a laparoscopy, a minimally invasive surgical procedure.

Risk factors include having a first-degree relative with

There are several treatment options for endometriosis, including pain relief medication, hormone therapy and surgery.

Pain relief medication can help manage symptoms, but does not treat the underlying condition.

It can include over-thecounter pain relievers for milder pain, or prescription medications, such as hormonal contraceptives, to help manage more severe symptoms.

Speak to your doctor or pharmacist about the appropriate pain relief medication for you.

Natural medicines may also be used to manage symptoms, despite the lack of good-quality research in this area.

Certain supplements can have anti-inflammatory effects and while more research in endometriosis is needed, there are ways to help to relax the uterine muscles and reduce chemicals that cause period pains.

It is so important that women listen to their bodies, don’t dismiss or ignore their pain and seek medical attention early to get the best outcome.

While

1Heat therapy

A heat pack or hot water bottle can help with abdominal discomfort and cramping.

2Physical activity

Exercises that strengthen pelvic floor muscles, such as pilates, can help to reduce pain and are also good for managing stress and anxiety caused by endometriosis.

3Anti-inflammatory diet

Include citrus fruits, vegetables, wholegrains and omega-3 fatty acids in your diet to help reduce endometriosis symptoms. Limiting alcohol and coffee may also help.

4Stress management Meditation, yoga, deep breathing or getting a massage can help with pain and discomfort.

Endometriosis can be a debilitating pelvic condition that should not be ignored or dismissed

medication is an effective way of managing endometriosis symptoms, there are also nonmedicated options.

JALA MOUSHI Community pharmacist

FIND SOME RELIEF

RALLY to the CAUSE

Words Kate Salemme

It’s been 10 years since Gareth Roberts lost his beloved dad to motor neurone disease (MND), but he’s only ready to talk about it now.

Ian Roberts was a vibrant and fit 55-year-old who was given the shock diagnosis after experiencing knee pain and undergoing tests.

“It was a life-changing diagnosis for everyone in the family,” Gareth recalls.

A month later, Ian had “a little bit of a limp and muscle twitching” in his upper arms, but by mid-year he was relying on a walking stick and his motor control was affected.

“He lost the ability to talk. He lost the ability to walk or use his arms,” says Gareth, who will participate in this year’s Daniher’s Drive FightMND fundraiser, from October 12-15.

“He was basically bedridden for the last couple of months and struggled to communicate. That was the hardest part of the lot — knowing it affected his motor control but not his mental faculties.”

Ian died in October 2013, less than two years after his

diagnosis, at the age of 56. But he inspired his son until the end. Despite having little motor control in his legs, Ian mounted a horse for the first time while battling the disease.

“He never dwelt on the fact he had a terminal illness,” Gareth says. “He would take every day as a bit of a blessing and would do whatever he could to enjoy life.”

Gareth was only 31 when his dad died. “It was heartbreaking — knowing my future children wouldn’t get to know Dad and knowing that my mum, who had been amazing through this, was going to have to learn to live by herself.”

But his dad had found a way to be present for the future grandchildren he wouldn’t get to meet. Before losing the ability to speak, Ian recorded himself reading children’s book My Grandpa and Me and also made a recording to place inside a bear so Gareth’s future kids — Sam, 7, and Ellie, 5 — could hear his voice.

“My kids have that book and little bear and they can listen to Papa reading them a bedtime

story whenever they want,” Gareth says.

“We try and keep his memory alive with my kids, even though they weren’t fortunate enough to meet him.”

Gareth and his dad shared a special relationship, which included playing tennis, racquetball, squash and table tennis together. Gareth’s memories also include the many cars Ian owned, especially his 1981 Skoda 120L.

“It was a faded orange, slightly beaten-up, very cheap, old car to get back and forth to work in, but he just loved that thing,” Gareth says. “He’d take us on family outings every week in it. We would go up to Macedon to see the grandparents and basically go anywhere.”

In January, Gareth bought the same model for $250. Since then, he’s dedicated his weekends to getting it road ready and completing paintwork so it looks exactly like his dad’s, right down to the “turbo” sticker on the back.

Gareth will drive the car in the annual Daniher’s Drive FightMND four-day road trip, through Victoria’s Swan Hill, Shepparton and Creswick.

“This is part of me coming to terms with losing Dad 10 years on,” reflects Gareth, who will drive with his brother-in-law Alex. “I thought it’d be nice, on the 10-year anniversary, to give back to FightMND and bring a bit more awareness and raise money.

“I want to make sure that my kids and their generation don’t have to go through this. We shouldn’t be losing people in the prime of their life to something like this.”

Scan for tickets to win a Jayco caravan, valued at $63,790, with all money going to help FightMND, or donate at your nearest Chemist Warehouse store

After losing his father to MND, Gareth Roberts wants others to be spared the same devastation

MAIN Gareth Roberts has restored a 1981 Skoda 120L so it looks just like his dad’s old car. INSET His father Ian with the family original.

For the short term treatment of primary insomnia, characterised by poor quality of sleep, in adults aged 55 years or over. Primary insomnia is insomnia without an underlying medical cause or any other clear cause.

TO YOUR BONES? How much debt are you in …

Check on your calcium intake and boost your balance

DR SALLY COCKBURN General practitioner

Ithink of bones as a bank where the main currency they deal in is calcium, and because our body can’t make calcium, we must ensure we provide an adequate supply throughout our life. Are you doing enough to keep your calcium bone stores up?

OK, I’m sure you know that calcium is a mineral that makes your bones strong and that you need enough calcium in your diet to maintain strong teeth and bones. However, you may not be aware of the other important functions your body uses calcium for.

Calcium is also essential for diverse bodily activities such as enabling muscles to move, helping nerves send and receive messages, keeping our heartbeat regular, assisting blood to clot, helping glands release hormones and, very importantly, in pregnancy, helping grow a healthy baby.

Pretty important, huh?

So, what does this mean for your bones?

Only about 1 per cent of calcium is circulating in our bloodstream to be available

for that array of functions just described. The other 99 per cent is stored in bones — yes, importantly, keeping them strong but also being ready to give calcium up if blood levels get low.

The body has a debit arrangement with bones. If our calcium intake isn’t enough to maintain all the important calcium-requiring functions, our body will start to “borrow” calcium from bones, pushing it into the bloodstream to keep those functions going as a priority.

Are you getting enough calcium in your diet to keep bone stores up?

Daily calcium requirements change throughout life.

During childhood and adolescence, as we are growing rapidly, good calcium intake is vital so we can reach a good peak bone mass by our early 20s.

Pregnancy is an important time when our bone bank may be called upon if our diet is inadequate. A fetus will take precedence over a mother and if there is not enough calcium available, maternal bones and teeth will suffer.

While this debt to our bones can usually be repaid through improving calcium intake and

physical activity, unfortunately we may not be aware the bank balance is getting low, and if our calcium intake remains poor our bones will just keep on giving up their calcium store until our bank of bone may literally crumble.

Yes, I’m talking about osteoporosis long-term.

Unfortunately, as we age another issue creeps in — the ability to absorb calcium decreases. Women over 50 and men over 70 may think they are OK because their diet hasn’t changed (much), but sadly our gut is less efficient than it used to be.

Compounding this may be low vitamin D, medical conditions (such as coeliac), some medications that reduce stomach acid and even excessive caffeine and alcohol, which may all reduce calcium absorption.

So, what can we do?

Review and reassess your diet. Healthy Bones Australia (healthybonesaustralia.org. au) states that 50 per cent of Australians do not achieve their daily calcium intake. There’s a reliable article called Calcium & Bone Health on its website. It lists recommended daily intake for age groups and also what amount of calcium is present in which foods.

Yep, it’s not just dairy — even seafood and pork chops are up there. Vitamin D is freely available through sunshine. However, being mindful of skin cancer, you may need more and a blood test can measure this level. Over to you on caffeine and alcohol issues!

Please don’t just rush out and grab calcium supplements, as excessive calcium can cause problems, too. Do your intake sums and talk to your GP or dietitian first. It’s actually a good opportunity for a general health check. Remember, there are many parts to this bone bank story.

HEALTHY GROWTH

development

Always read the label and follow the directions for use.

SWEETKeep it

Bake a cake and serve it up with a perfectly matched cup of tea and blooms

Words Mariam Digges

Few smells are more comforting than a freshly baked cake emerging hot from the oven — that magical alchemy that occurs when everyday ingredients, a little heat and time converge.

Even more delightful is when the cake is paired with tea and flowers to really set the tone.

For Tilly Pamment, baking cakes is as much about forging friendships as it is about creating delicious buttercreamiced or cream-filled creations. And it’s the inspiration for her new cookbook,

The Plain Cake Appreciation Society

The self-taught baker and food stylist accidentally built a community of likeminded cake lovers during the pandemic when she was flung into a prolonged lockdown with her young family in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales.

“I started writing one recipe a week and sharing it on Instagram,” Tilly says.

“Every Friday, I’d post a recipe and people would start commenting. It was a lovely connector when we couldn’t see people and I was home

with small kids with not much else going on.”

For Tilly, a plain cake is one that is unfussy, sometimes unadorned, and evokes a nostalgia that only comes with the beating of eggs, sifting of flour and stirring of sugar.

“Mum would call and ask, ‘What are you doing, what are you baking?’ and I’d say, ‘Just a plain cake’ — a fruit cake, citrus madeleines, cupcakes; simple, uncomplicated cakes. That’s how the name came about.”

Tilly is a lifelong lover of tea and her appreciation for brews only grew during her time working for Australian tea company T2.

“We’re big tea drinkers in my family — you have a tea in your hand before you say hello. When I moved out of home and to Sydney and discovered T2, I thought it was just magic. At that time, it was a much smaller company, and they were amazing with their tea knowledge, workshops and tastings.”

Tly Pamment

Growing up, Tilly recalls climbing up on to stools in her family kitchen, tea towel pegged on, hands covered in flour.

“Every Friday, we’d have dinner with family friends and it was all very food-centric. It wasn’t ever about fancy desserts but there was always something comforting on the table, like a lemon delicious pudding. Mum was always relaxed about the mess, which was lovely.”

Tilly has adopted the no-fuss attitude to buttery fingers and floury benchtops with her own children, aged 4 and 7, as evidenced by the countless photos of tiny hands scattered throughout her book.

“We bake together a lot. The book was baked and tested with them. I try to take the time. It’s not always possible if we’re shooting something particular, but they love it, so I’m trying to make the most of it while they’re interested.”

Also featured throughout the book are stunning seasonal blooms and brews, each matched with a cake recipe.

With both parents sporting green thumbs (her dad taught permaculture and her mum always maintained a thriving flower garden), it comes as little surprise that Tilly landed a weekend job at the local florist.

“I’ve just left — it’s been wonderful. I’ve really loved that side of it all as well.”

The Plain Cake Appreciation Society might brim with photos of whimsical flowers paired with cakes. But Tilly, who has a background as a visual merchandiser, is fast to dispel any illusions about pictureperfect aesthetics being an everyday norm in her home.

“Tea and flower-matching, for me, is the perfect ‘ideal world’ kind of scenario,” she says.

“If you can have your cake and gaze at your flowers, that’s the goal. But it rarely happens. The book was shot at my home, on my kitchen floor and in my garden — it’s not a reflection of how our house looks all the time.”

But, she reveals: “I will always bake over clean, so there will always be cake on my table.”

HOW TO PAIR TEA WITH CAKE

“Like with baking, I often start tea selection with my mood. Sometimes you need something comforting; for me that’s a milky chai or a big cup of English breakfast with milk. And if I’m having one of those, a coconut cake works well. I often talk about breakfast cake, which is any cake with fruit or crumble:

granola in cake form. A strong black tea, like an Irish breakfast or Assam, is great with these to wake you up in the morning. Obviously, the flavour profile is the most important thing with pairing. I like to echo or complement the flavours in the cake with tea. The cake is the star — you don’t want to overwhelm it.”

Edited recipes and images from The Plain Cake Appreciation Society by Tilly Pamment, published by Murdoch Books, RRP $39.99.

Photography: Tilly Pamment.

“I WILL ALWAYS BAKE OVER CLEAN, SO THERE WILL ALWAYS BE CAKE ON MY TABLE.”

CHAMOMILE TEA CAKE

Makes one medium bundt cake

• plain flour, to dust

• 1 tbsp chamomile tea leaves (or 4 chamomile teabags)

• 2 tbsp boiling water

• 150ml hot milk

• 185g unsalted butter, softened

• 185g caster sugar

• 1 tbsp runny honey

• 3 eggs

• 225g self-raising flour

• pinch of bicarbonate of soda

• pinch of salt

Chamomile glaze

• 80g icing sugar

Tea and blooms match

Pai mu tan tea and chamomile flowers

Preheat the oven to 160C fan-forced and grease a 1.5-litre bundt tin thoroughly with butter. Dust with a little plain flour, tapping out any excess.

Place the chamomile tea leaves in a small jug and pour in the boiling water. Add the hot milk, stir and set aside to steep and cool.

In the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, cream the butter, caster sugar and honey until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the self-raising flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt. Add half to the creamed butter mixture and stir gently.

Strain the chamomile-infused milk, reserving 1 tablespoon for the icing before adding

the rest to the batter. Add the remaining flour and stir until the batter is smooth.

Spoon the batter into the tin, smoothing the top and tapping the tin on the bench a few times to eliminate any air bubbles. Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes or until the cake is golden and cooked through.

Allow to cool in the tin for 10 minutes or so before turning out on to a wire rack to cool completely.

When the cake is cool, make the glaze by mixing the icing sugar and reserved tablespoon of chamomile-infused milk in a small bowl until smooth. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cake and allow to set.

Slice the cake and serve with tea. This cake will keep happily in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days.

A SIMPLE CHOCOLATE CAKE

Makes one 22cm cake

• 200g self-raising flour

• 65g Dutch (unsweetened)

cocoa powder

• ½ tsp baking powder

• ¼ tsp salt

• 220g caster sugar

• 300g sour cream

• 125ml full-cream milk

• 3 eggs

• 1 tsp vanilla bean paste

• 125g unsalted butter, melted and cooled

• sprinkles or dried edible flowers to decorate

(optional)

Chocolate icing

• 200g icing sugar

• 30g Dutch (unsweetened)

cocoa powder

• 25g unsalted butter, melted and cooled

• 2 tbsp boiling water

Tea and blooms match Wattleseed tea or English breakfast, and anemones, sweet peas and roses

Preheat the oven to 160C fan-forced. Grease a 22cm round tin with butter and line the base and side with baking paper.

Place the flour in a large mixing bowl. Sift in the cocoa and baking powder, before adding the salt and caster sugar and whisking to combine.

In a separate bowl, whisk the sour cream, milk, eggs, vanilla and melted butter together until smooth.

Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients. Mix gently until the batter is smooth.

Spoon the batter into the tin, smoothing the top and tapping the tin gently on the bench a few times to remove any air bubbles.

Bake in the oven for 55-60 minutes or until the cake has risen and is cooked through.

Allow to cool for 10 minutes in the tin before carefully turning out on to a wire rack to cool completely.

When the cake is cool, make the icing. Place the icing sugar, cocoa and butter in a mixing bowl. Add the boiling water and stir until smooth.

Spread over the cooled cake and top with sprinkles or edible flowers (if using).

Store any leftover cake in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days.

Grab Hismile and say hello to a whiter & brighter smile

SET THE MOOD

Using di erent aromas in di erent rooms can help you defi ne your spaces — and may even help boost your wellbeing

Words Bianca Carmona and Tania Gomez

Remember the days when we scented our homes with a bowl of potpourri on the hall table and perhaps an incense stick in the kitchen?

We’ve come a long way since then. Perfumed candles, room sprays and diffusers (both reed and electric) are now regular buys for many of us.

But have you tapped into the latest trend in home aromas?

“Scentscaping”, or fragrance layering, involves using scents to define spaces in your home and create distinctions between activities, moods and even the time of day.

A recent Oxford University study noted the “olfactory atmosphere” (smell) of your home can profoundly affect your mood and wellbeing.

Naturopath and aromatherapy specialist Madeline Calfas says that similar to paintings and decor, scents and fragrances can help set the ambience in a room and also affect how you feel.

“The olfactory sense is actually the strongest sense out of all our senses,” Madeline says. “You can really harness and manipulate different essential oils and fragrances to stimulate the mind.”

Healing touch

Aromatherapy has been used for centuries to help heal the mind, body and spirit.

Holistic Studio director Elizabeth Greenwood, who has spent three decades researching and practising naturopathy and aromatherapy, believes aromatherapy is often underestimated.

“A lot of people think, ‘Yes it smells nice’ but there is a growing body of scientific evidence behind it as well,” Elizabeth says. “To me, aromatherapy is the purest form of plant chemistry.”

Choosing the right oil

True essential oils are made using the stem, leaves, twigs, flowers, seeds, resins, bark and more of a particular plant.

Aminya Natural Therapies Academy director Denise Lynd says it’s important to ensure that you’re buying from a reputable supplier.

The bottle should show the botanical name of the plant on it, the country of origin, as well as the part (or parts) of the plant that the oil comes from.

With essential oils, you definitely get what you pay for, Denise says.

“It takes over a tonne of rose petals to make one 12ml bottle of rose essential oil, so that’s where the price comes in,” Denise explains.

How to use aromas

Madeline recommends using distinct fragrances for different rooms, depending on what the space is used for.

You could also “divide” your day using different scents. For example, you could use one scent for working hours and a different scent for when it’s time to wind down.

Consider how you want to feel when you’re in that zone — do you want an energising space, a restful escape or an area to focus in?

Follow your intuition

Working out what scents suit you best is a matter of trial and error.

Scentscaping your home is a very personal process — what works for someone else might not work for you.

“Different oils match different people,” Elizabeth says. “It’s important for people to find the scent that resonates with them, rather than just taking a one-size-fits-all approach.”

IDEAS TO TRY

1 Embrace Australian essential oils

Elizabeth says we are blessed with high-quality, local essential oils with unique profiles, such as lemon myrtle, rose myrtle, various eucalyptus, blue cypress and Buddha wood.

Change yo en gy

LIFT YOUR SPIRITS

To create an invigorating space, Madeline recommends citrus, lemon myrtle, orange or even a touch of ginger.

For a positivity boost, Elizabeth suggests rose geranium.

“If you’re feeling a bit down or negative, burn some rose geranium,” Elizabeth says.

EVOKE CALM

Lavender is a favourite if you’re looking to create feelings of calm, comfort and relaxation.

But if you find lavender too heavy or intense, Elizabeth recommends trying cedarwood or Australian sandalwood.

“Those woody oils are very grounding, nurturing and centring,” she notes. Her other calming favourites include orange blossom and mandarin.

2Add depth to your scents

Layer your fragrances by mixing and matching a selection of scented options, such as candles, electric and reed diffusers, atomisers, incense and room sprays.

3 Do your research

With candles, “when you smell the wax and like it, be mindful that when you burn the candle, they don’t always throw a very good scent”, Madeline says. Research candles before purchasing.

ART of ESCAPE

and human creativity

So art

VICTORIA

Like street art but on a massive scale, murals painted on silos have been bringing visual excitement to our nation’s flat, sparsely populated grain belts in recent years.

That includes western and northwestern Victoria, where Australian and international artists began using silos as giant canvases in 2016.

Their subjects are local people and wildlife, including a native owl painted by Jimmi Buscombe, in Avoca. As Australia’s first glow-inthe-dark silo art it’s a literal highlight, while others include Adnate’s towering depiction of Aboriginal Elders and children set against a vivid sunset.

Take a road trip to the region or see select silo art on a scenic helicopter flight.

australiansiloarttrail.com grampianshelicopters.com.au

She eld murals TASMANIA

Forty years ago, some northern Taswegians had the then-radical idea of reviving their little town’s fortunes through murals.

Since the first mural was painted in 1986, and especially after the annual Mural Fest began in 2003,

more than 130 large-scale artworks have enlivened Sheffield’s walls.

This colourful, accessible street art celebrates the area’s past, such as steam trains and the tree stump where mail was once collected. The art also features surrounding wilderness, including

Cradle Mountain, and the long-lost Tasmanian tiger. Watch this year’s finalists painting for the top prize during Mural Fest’s annual competition at Mural Park on November 6-11, or view art around town any time. sheffieldtasmania.com.au muralfest.com.au

Nature

are a powerful force for beauty and education that can be seen all across the country

Words Patricia Maunder

Photos: Destination NSW; Duncan Wright; Jason deCaires Taylor

Wintjiri Wiru NORTHERN TERRITORY

You may have been lucky enough to see how the Field of Light installation has brought a spectacular after-dark experience to Uluru.

Since May, another breathtaking nighttime experience has extended the bucket list of good reasons to visit Australia’s red heart.

The Wintjiri Wiru sound and light show illuminates the desert and sky with lasers, projections and more than 1100 glowing,

Sunset Sculpt es

NEW SOUTH WALES

Discover 12 extraordinary sculptures in the 2400ha Living Desert State Park, just outside Broken Hill.

The monumental sandstone artworks were created soon after the park was established in 1992. Gathered on a hill called Sundown, they include Tiwi Totems by Indigenous artist Gordon Pupangamirri and Bajo El Sol Jaguar by Mexican Antonio Nava Tirado, a favourite

of photographers for its striking shape and circular forms.

Linger a while to ponder what each sculpture means, watch their golden hues and shadows shifting with the daylight, and marvel at the endless outback panorama.

Explore the park further — there’s the Sundown Nature Trail and a flora and fauna sanctuary with a cultural walking trail. brokenhill.nsw.gov.au

Museum of Underwater Art QUEENSLAND

choreographed drones Sharing an ancient story of the Anangu people, the ongoing cultural storytelling spectacular includes a soundscape with traditional ceremonial music and narration in Pitjantjatjara and Yankuntjatjarra with an English aural translation. Consider booking the sunset dinner option so you can enjoy vistas of Uluru and Kata Tjuta before the main event. ayersrockresort.com.au

Giants of Mandurah WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Five friendly giants have taken up residence amid the bushland and waters of Mandurah, south of Perth.

Made from recycled wood and up to 5m high, the sculptures include Yaburgurt Cirkelstone, which arrived in May.

See the works on a self-guided trail from the Mandurah Visitor Centre, and check out the extra giant in Perth. The sculptures are by Danish recycle artist Thomas Dambo, who has created larger-than-life artworks worldwide. giantsofmandurah. com.au

Jason deCaires Taylor is a British artist and marine conservationist renowned for underwater sculpture gardens from Norway to Indonesia. He has created underwater art installations on the Great Barrier Reef near Townsville. Take a snorkel or diving tour to the reef to see them. In and around a submerged open structure called the Coral Glasshouse, find sculptures of plants, Reef Guardian children and the recently added Ocean Sentinels. moua.com.au

RIGHT FIT The

Words

If you’re into fitness, you possibly follow along to workouts you have come across on social media. And perhaps the fitness influencer you follow is a slim, young, muscular woman who posts motivational phrases such as “Strong is the new skinny” or “Sweat is just fat crying”. There’s no doubt “fitspo” posts can inspire us to get off the couch and break into ab crunches and squats. But it’s important to ensure who you are following is qualified to give advice — or you could be risking your health.

Delve deeper

Perth fitness trainer Amanda Bisk, who has 641,000 followers on Instagram, says many fitness influencers are not qualified.

“It’s a huge issue,” the former pole vaulter for Australia says.

“If you follow unqualified influencers, you can really put your health at risk — for example, you could be exercising with incorrect form, which could result in injury to your joints and ligaments, or muscle strains, or even more serious injury like muscle and ligament tears or overexertion.”

While Amanda’s Instagram page features gorgeous photos

of her in gravity-defying poses against stunning beach backdrops, she offers more than just an enviable bod and pretty pictures — she also has first-grade credentials.

She is a qualified personal trainer, has a bachelor of sports science, studied for two extra years in exercise rehabilitation and has qualifications in coaching gymnastics, athletics, pilates and yoga.

She recommends people “delve a bit deeper and do more than just looking at the bio”.

Unrealistic goals

Research from Dr Rachel Curtis from the University of South Australia shows why delving deeper is necessary. Dr Curtis and her team analysed the content of the top 100 fitness influencers.

Although professing to inspire individuals to be strong, fit and healthy, many posts lacked credible health information based on sound scientific advice, they discovered.

Almost two-thirds published dubious fitness information, with about a quarter presenting hypersexualised content, objectification or nudity. “Scroll through #fitspiration or #fitspo

on your Instagram feed and you’ll be bombarded with images of thin and athletic women promoting exercise, fitness and healthy lifestyles,” Dr Curtis says.

Following “fi tspo” influencers can be motivating, but be cautious about who you take advice from

Susie O’Brien

“IT’S A HUGE ISSUE. IF YOU FOLLOW UNQUALIFIED INFLUENCERS, YOU CAN REALLY PUT YOUR HEALTH AT RISK.”

Amanda Bisk

FITNESS TRAINER

“Many of the accounts promoted unhealthy or unrealistic body shapes — with a strong focus on ultra-fit, slim physiques — implying that only thin and toned bodies are considered healthy and beautiful.”

Fitness trainer Sam Wood, former star of The Bachelor, is frustrated about the poor quality of much fitspo content.

“If it helps you get moving, good. But don’t take everything you see as gospel,” he cautions. “Half of those offering advice have no qualifications and no credibility. They may be young, fit and beautiful, but they have never trained anyone.”

Don’t focus on image

Melbourne yoga and pilates teacher Stef Wild suggests fitness followers look for those who emphasise “how bodies make us feel rather than how they look”.

Personal trainers Felicia Oreb and Diana Johnson from Base Body Babes also like to put the focus on gaining strength and confidence. They recommend looking at how influencers have achieved results, and not only for themselves. “Always look for the proof and ask yourself: is this coach/influencer getting results for others?”

New mum minefield

NSW trainer Tanya Poppett, a certified pre and post pregnancy trainer, says new mums as a group are targeted by some unscrupulous fitness influencers preying on their insecurities.

“It’s a minefield out there for new mums, who see posts wanting to fix their ‘mum tum’ (and) using this kind of derogatory language for women’s bodies,” she says.

She suggests new mothers see a women’s health physio before getting back into shape.

Follow sound advice

Fitness trainer “Commando” Steve Willis, former star of The Biggest Loser, warns against following people who look sexy without ensuring they are professionals offering “information that’s sound”.

Another Biggest Loser star, Michelle Bridges, a big name in fitness thanks to her 12 Week Body Transformation program, says it’s important to “take what you see on Instagram with a grain of salt”.

“You don’t know who’s creating it and where they’ve come from,” Michelle says.

EXERCISE TIPS FROM THE PROS

MICHELLE BRIDGES

“Incidental exercise can help you get moving. If you see stairs, go up them. If you are at the playground, go on the swing. Informal activity does count.”

FELICIA OREB AND DIANA JOHNSON

“Lift weights! When we lift weights and get strong, we build muscle (and) lose fat, and with that, the aesthetic gains come.”

COMMANDO STEVE WILLIS

“Pick something that aligns with your life. If you’re in your mid-40s with a full-on job, you don’t want classes that lock you in. But that might not be a problem for a 25-year-old.”

SAM WOOD

“When it’s warmer it does get easier to get out of bed, so use this in your favour and get moving in the morning.”

@ BASEBODYBABES

@ TANYAPOPPETT

@ STEFWILD

@ AMANDABISK

Fact or furphy? Fitness myths tested

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Amanda Bisk, Stef Wild, Diana Johnson, and Tanya Poppett with son Laurie.

Salute the new season with a return to interiors that are playful, bold and bright

Compiled by Penny Harrison

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Lavender Fields check blanket, from $240, curiopractice.com.au; Ceramic book ends, from $14.95 each, gigiandtom.com.au; Marumitsu mini daisy plates, $25 each, bonnieandneil.com.au; Arizona planter, $670, retroprintrevival.com; Daisy bunch mustard quilt cover, from $159, kipandco.com.au; Pedestal side table, $395, bonnieandneil.com.au; Spinning Pumpkin chair, $599.95, gigiandtom.com.au; Liewood Nara bowl, $54.90 (set of two), designstuff.com.au; Butterscotch velvet cushion cover, $59, castleandthings.com.au; Assorted Madeleine Stamer and Home Life Series cushions, from $79, kipandco.com.au

DREAMING IN FRENCH

Vanessa McCausland (HarperCollins)

RRP $32.99

Saskia Wyle is a mother of two and artist living in Sydney when she discovers she has been bequeathed a villa on a remote French island. A generous gift from a French heiress, she shares it with a reclusive film star. And it is this unexpected gift that turns Saskia’s otherwise routine world upside down. She was just aged 19 when she befriended Simone Durant and Felix Allard, and memories of that long ago European summer have dulled over time. But the tragedy that befell the trio during that summer still lingers in the shadows.

Author Vanessa McCausland has created an enthralling storyline and her ability to produce such evocative prose will ensure you won’t want to put this book down until the last page is turned. A stunning tale of betrayal, it is certain to stay with you long after you have finished reading.

CHOCOLATE ALL DAY

WEEKENDS WITH THE SUNSHINE GARDENING SOCIETY

Sophie Green (Hachette Australia)

RRP $32.99

It is said that gardening is good for the soul — and so too is Sophie Green’s latest novel about women, friendship and community. The healing powers of nature come to the fore for newly divorced Cynthia, who has returned home to the Noosa Shire to reconnect with her pregnant 19-year-old daughter. Cynthia convinces her friend Lorraine to join the local Sunshine Gardening Society where they meet young widow Elizabeth, whose garden needs care, and heartbroken Kathy, who is reluctant to put down new roots. Their friendship blooms as they lend a helping hand to locals’ gardens — and lives –that need care. In the process they help weed out each other’s issues while planting new seeds of hope for a brighter future. Despite its slow pace, this book is comforting, like a warm hug.

Kirsten Tibballs (Murdoch Books) RRP $49.99

FOR GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT

PERFECT-ISH

Jessica Seaborn (Michael Joseph)

RRP $32.99

Sydneysider Prue is fast approaching the milestone birthday of 30 and is feeling rather despondent that her life isn’t exactly where she thought it would be. She has a failed engagement under her belt, is crashing at her brother’s house and is rather directionless after dropping out of university. Her best friend Delia provides a supportive shoulder to cry on. Together they come up with a list of three goals for Prue to aim for — a new job, a new home and new love. But achieving those goals isn’t easy, and cracks start to appear in their relationship when a few truth bombs are revealed. Perfect-ish is the debut novel by Sydney film and television publicist Jessica Seaborn and the themes of questioning life around milestone events, self-esteem and forging new relationships as an adult are all highly relatable.

recipes ranging from hot chocolate churros to lamington ice creams. But there are also plenty of classics such as a decadent chocolate flan and steamed chocolate puddings with hot fudge sauce. If mastering sweet treats intimidates you, there are useful tips about working with chocolate scattered throughout the recipes to ensure you get a great result.

GRANDPARENTS

Michael Carr-Gregg (Allen & Unwin)

RRP $29.99

The best-selling parenting expert and psychologist’s new book shares the joys of being involved in grandchildren’s lives, and addresses tricky topics such as screen time and divorce.

PROPERTY WITH SHE’S ON THE MONEY

Victoria Devine (Penguin Life)

RRP $32.99

Buying a property can be one of the biggest life decisions you will make. This guide aims to arm you with all the information you need to make a foray into home ownership.

THE HOME STYLE HANDBOOK

Lucy Gough (Hachette Australia)

RRP $55

Give your abode the makeover you’ve always wanted with tips and tricks from interior stylist Lucy Gough. She covers how to identify your style and bring it to life in your own home.

WHAT’S ON

OCTOBER

Floriade, Canberra, September 16-October 15

Feast your eyes on more than a million stunning blooms at Australia’s largest celebration of flowers, at Commonwealth Park. Opt to see the garden beds illuminated with cutting-edge light technology after dark during NightFest on select nights. Food, market stalls and performers are all part of the fun. floriadeaustralia.com

Pink Ribbon Breakfast, October 1-31

Gather your friends, family or colleagues and host a Pink Ribbon Breakfast event at your home, work or local sports club to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. The foundation is Australia’s leading not-for-profit organisation funding world-class breast cancer research. Its vision is zero deaths from breast cancer. Pink Ribbon Breakfast is celebrating its 21st birthday this year. nbcf.org.au

NOVEMBER

Feast Festival, Adelaide, November 1-19

Celebrate diversity and inclusivity this “Pridevember” at Adelaide’s leading LGBTQIA+ arts and cultural festival. Kicking off with a pop music festival and family favourite Picnic in the Park, the program features more than 100 events, including comedy, theatre, cabaret, art and music. Party with drag queens, dance your way into the evening and check out the adorable dog show. feast.org.au

Movember, November 1-30

Guys, shave your face on November 1 and grow a moustache over the month to help raise money for men’s health and suicide prevention. Mo-growing not your thing? Fundraise other ways — run or walk 60km in November, host a “Mo-ment” with friends and family, or create your own challenge with a “Mo Your Own Way” event. You could also simply make a donation to the life-saving cause. au.movember.com

TO

BOOST

THE JOYFUL FRUGALISTA

Money coach Serina Bird is on a mission to help women spend less, save more and earn more as they tread the path to financial empowerment. Topics span property investing, relationship separation and channelling abundance.

PODCASTS

YOUR FINANCIAL LITERACY

UNCENSORED MONEY

Financial educator Melissa Browne believes finance is a feminist issue and talking about money should not be considered crass. Tune in to improve your financial confidence and learn how to flip bad money habits and change your money “story”.

MY MILLENNIAL MONEY

Does money buy happiness? Should you consolidate debt? Is it wise to buy a property with an older parent? Host Glen James, a former financial adviser, explores all things money with special guests in a podcast for Millennials.

YOU’RE IN GOOD COMPANY

From investing in the stock market to running your own business, hosts Maddy Guest and Sophie Dicker, and their guests, aim to equip you with the confidence and information you need to take action.

DECEMBER

The Big Design Market, Melbourne, December 1-3

With more than 250 stalls selling distinctive products by Australian designers and makers, this is the place to get your Christmas shopping done. Peruse fashion, homewares, art prints, ceramics, toys and more, by those who value ethical production and creativity, in the historic surrounds of the Royal Exhibition Building. Stay fuelled with the array of food and drink, including fine coffee and award-winning spirits. melbourne.

thebigdesignmarket.com

Woodford Folk Festival, Queensland, December 27-January 1

The iconic music and cultural festival is Australia’s largest gathering of artists and musicians. Soak up the entertainment and atmosphere as more than 2000 musicians, artists and presenters put on 400-plus acts over six days and nights for a 132,000-strong crowd. Concerts, film, dance, street theatre, comedy and an entire children’s festival are part of the program. woodfordfolkfestival.com

Quiz yo s f

1 William “Bill” Sikes is a fictional character and the main antagonist in which Charles Dickens novel?

2 Which perennial herb is also referred to as wild marjoram?

3 On average, how many skeletal muscles are in the human body: 400-500, 500-600 or more than 600?

4 In Roman mythology, who is the goddess of flowering plants and spring?

5 French Island, Churchill Island and Herring Island are all located within the boundaries of which Australian state or territory?

6 Cosmos and marigolds are both birth flowers belonging to which month?

7 In what season of the year is the Melbourne Cup horse race contested?

8 Verminophobia is the fear of what?

12 What part of the human body is affected by glaucoma?

13 What does “http” stand for in computer technology?

14 In which US state is the location of the technology region known as Silicon Valley?

15 Which Australian children’s group had the hit songs The Shimmie Shake, Hot Potato and Toot Toot, Chugga Chugga, Big Red Car?

16 What letter is between the “w” and “r” on a standard computer keyboard?

17 Asuncion is the capital city of which South American country?

18 Which actor is the father of actress Angelina Jolie?

19 Before extinction, the moa bird was endemic to which country?

20 What is the hardest natural mineral?

APPS

TO HELP WITH ALLERGY CONTROL

ALLERGY PAL

Manage your child’s allergies with this tool by Australian allergy experts. Share your child’s profile and action plan with carers, keep track of medication and access the latest research.

FOODINI

Find restaurants with the best options for your food allergies and dietary needs. See a breakdown of what you can and can’t eat on each menu and search by cuisine, category and location.

AIRRATER

Have asthma, hay fever or a lung condition? Get details on pollen, pollution and temperature for select locations across Australia, and see what triggers could be making you flare up.

9 In which 1995 film did Mel Gibson star in the leading role as William Wallace and also collect the Academy Award for best director?

10 In what country is the beer named Sahti traditionally brewed?

11 What does the acronym AIDS stand for?

21 What is the name given to a group or gathering of witches?

22 Which Nirvana hit song has the opening lyrics: “Load up on guns, bring your friends; It’s fun to lose and to pretend”?

23 In what decade was the Tim Tam chocolate biscuit introduced by Arnott’s?

LEXI FRYDENBERG

ASK AN EXPERT

How can I best manage my child’s hay fever?

There is no cure for hay fever, but you may be able to improve the symptoms, bringing your child some relief.

The most important thing is to identify the cause of their allergic reaction and try to minimise contact with it.

The most common causes of allergies/hay fever include pollen, house dust mites, animal fur and mould.

You can check the pollen count in your

area on websites or apps. If it is high, avoid or limit your child being outside, keep windows and doors closed, and dry clothes inside (as pollen can stick to clothes).

If you are worried about the symptoms or they are interfering with daily life, seek advice from your pharmacist or GP on medications, such as oral antihistamines and/or nose sprays, which may help.

My toddler strains every time he does a poo. How can I help him?

Constipation is the most common gut problem we see in children and it is really common. Luckily most constipation in infants, toddlers and kids is not caused by serious disease.

Occasional constipation can happen when there are changes in diet (starting solids or dehydration), changes in toileting (potty training, starting school) or inactivity, and will generally respond to lifestyle measures.

However, if the constipation is long-lasting or recurring, it is important to take your child for a check-up at your GP. Managing constipation depends on the cause and your child’s age. We often start with lifestyle changes (more water/fluids, diet changes) and toileting reminders for older kids. But if these are not working, speak with your pharmacist or GP to see whether laxatives might be needed.

My three-yearold has hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) and has blisters on her palms and soles and in her mouth. What do I do?

HFMD is highly contagious, so often spreads quickly through daycare centres and schools.

Most children don’t need to be treated at hospital and will recover in a few days or weeks.

Antibiotics don’t work, as HFMD is caused by a virus (and antibiotics work to treat bacteria), but it is important to make sure your child is comfortable. Watch for dehydration and ensure your child drinks water, fluids or oral rehydration solution. Offer food that is soft and easy to swallow.

Your child may need regular pain relief. Consult with your pharmacist or GP on the best option. And don’t pop the blisters as this spreads the virus even more!

My daughter is itching her head. How can I check if she has head lice? Head lice and nits (eggs) can be tricky to find. The best place to look is close to the scalp, behind the ears and at the back of the neck. Here is a good way to identify if your child has head lice:

1Put lots of hair conditioner on to your child’s hair — this will immobilise any head lice.

2Separate the hair into sections and comb the conditioner through a section with an ordinary comb.

3Now comb the section with a head lice comb, wiping

the comb on a white wet wipe or paper towel to see if it has collected any lice or nits — you might need a magnifying glass that comes in many head lice kits.

4Repeat for all the sections. If you find head lice or nits, it is time to start treatment!

DR

General pediatrician