AUGUST 7-8, 2021

ELISSA LAWRENCE Former AFL star Justin Clarke’s epic journey from career-ending concussion to becoming a Rhodes Scholar HEALINGHEALINGMYBRAINBRAIN

BRISBANE FESTIVAL LOCAL STARS SHINE BRIGHTLY SCENE OF THE CRIME THE REAL CSI FEEDBACK

ROAD TRAGEDY My heart aches for these parents losing their beautiful daughter (“Her legacy”, July 24-25). Why do teenagers need cars at 17? We came 8 12 from Victoria and you had to be 18 to get your Ps. I do not think a 16-year-old is capable of driving a car. They can walk to school or bus it, there is plenty of time to worry about having a car. I don’t think mentally they are able to drive a car safely. Marlene Leggo, Warner THIS ISSUE When Justin Clarke made the decision to PERFECTLY COOKED retire from AFL, not only was he giving up his A caution to the editor: there is nothing dream career; he was grappling with the “ordinary” about Judith Anderson (Ordinary knock-on effects of the brain injury that People, July 24-25). She is one of a prized team forced him to quit. As Elissa Lawrence of speechwriters and volunteers at discovers, what he did next is a remarkable Government House. I read Judith’s book, story of persistence and recovery. Clarke Earning a Crust, with absolute intrigue. A Upfront Life+Style topped his undergraduate degrees in science fascinating tribute to the history of the town and engineering at the University of and its wonderful people – and Judith! Mel Buttle 3 Culture Club 19 Queensland, and is now heading to Oxford to Governor Paul de Jersey, Government House, William McInnes 3 Fashion 20 undertake his doctorate as a Rhodes Scholar. Paddington You and Me 15 Cafe 21 And Phil Brown takes a look at what’s coming up at this year’s Brisbane Festival. In Ordinary People 16 Dining 23 these travel-restricted times, Festival director CONTACT US: Write to the editor, Travel 24 Louise Bezzina is making the most of local Qweekend, and include full contact details talent, putting together a diverse and so we can establish bona fides. Please Features Books 26 exciting program. keep letters to 100 words or fewer. Letters Hard knocks 4 Weddings 28 may be edited for brevity and clarity. Back with a bang 8 Big Quiz 30 EMAIL [email protected] Body of evidence 12 My Life 31

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“The urn, tea, coffee Ekka brings and a large pack of squeals of joy

Arnott’s Assorted There’s nothing like early August for Ekka fever. I always think of my mum and her sister arguing over which was Creams will be their favourite breed of dairy cow. And arranging to meet for lunch at “the thrown in gratis” pigs”, an area with green tables and benches situated by the pig pavilion. Odd sort of a place for a picnic area, just by the stalls full of squealing, ow that the green and gold snorting pigs, but nevertheless we streamers are in the pigged out happily with all the noise wheelie bin and the surrounding us. I remember thinking fanfare has died down, it’s the place remarkable because it had a time to get the butchers hot tap in the middle of it where people paperN out and start locking in venues could make cups of tea. for Brisbane Olympic events in 2032. Around this time of year I think of a I’ve had a bit of a go here. I’ve kept it theatre director who once yelled at me Brisbane-specific on this occasion. at the top of his voice demanding where We really have got this covered. I’d found my performance: “Did you get it out of a Bertie Beetle showbag?” Sailing: could there be a better spot I admitted to him I was impressed he than Wynnum? Hardly any water traffic knew of the legendary Bertie Beetle, to reroute while racing is on, only some which only comes out into the open for occasional old blokes in a tinny bringing agricultural shows like the Ekka. I also their crab pots in from Lota. I’m sure informed my roaring director that if he Keith and Brian wouldn’t mind going the was trying to shame me into a better long way round for a week or two. Lots of performance he was way off the mark. viewing spots for linen-clad sailing “Mentioning me in the same breath spectators from the esplanade. I’m sure as Bertie Beetle is one of my finest the Island View Cafe could knock up an moments in the theatre,” I said. Olympic special cod, chips and can snack Years later, at the funeral of an old pack for the occasion. Parking snarls colleague, I was approached by the very could be avoided by catching the council- same, though more sedate, director. provided shuttle bus from Westfield “Hello Bertie,” he said, “good to see Carindale. you still about with your showbag of beach on the river at Colmslie that that they’d be the most equipped to host performances.” Fencing: Any number of Brisbane inner- would be perfect for the beach volleyball, an event of this calibre. I’d recommend For some reason when I think of city private schools would have the showcasing the sights, sounds and smells looking into St Luke’s at Annerley. No showbags I still refer to them as sample facilities on hand to cover this event with of the more industrial end of the river. At stranger to the martial arts, its calendar is bags, which they once were. The Ekka aplomb. I’m unable to go into specifics present it’s a dog park cum jetski launch chockers with karate and taekwondo at has that odd nostalgic effect, although I here as googling “fencing in Brisbane” spot, but you’ve got to think of those present. Safe hands indeed. was told by a friend she found men who throws up results for companies that can watching at home around the world, and We do need to be thrifty with our really liked the Ekka a bit creepy, often provide an outdoor 2m-high barrier it does have a lovely view of our twin Olympic budget, so we can save by not with a “mother complex”. I think she around your yard and not the sport. Let’s gateway bridges, not to mention the building a custom venue for the slalom was trying to be funny but as she was just assume Brisbane Grammar School vacant industrial land that could catch the kayaking. Instead, if we get the timing training to be a psychologist I wasn’t will have this in the bag, along with a eye of a Ukrainian investor. right and hold off until it rains, the going to argue. parents and friends group who’d do a Toombul carpark would come to the fore. Today, sideshow alley’s laughing stunning wine and cheese soiree for the Taekwondo: I’d get the committee vetting Similarly, the marathon could be run clowns make me think of braying VIPs. church halls across Brisbane. The benefit alongside the M1 on the way down the politicians in question time and I of a church hall is the urn, tea, coffee and a Gold Coast on a Saturday morning, with remember the sign above their swaying Beach volleyball: I suppose this one large pack of Arnott’s Assorted Creams selected drivers stuck in traffic serving as open mouths, “Every child wins a prize”. depends on how you define beach. For me will be thrown in gratis. water stations along the way for the If you’re lucky it’ll be lovely it’s sand plus water with some form of Church halls are the home of runners. Brissy! Brissy! Brissy! Oi! Oi! Oi! memories of the Ekka. current. With that in mind, there’s a strip taekwondo classes in Brisbane, so it fits Mel Buttle is a Brisbane comedian William McInnes is an actor and author

V1 - BCME01Z01QW AUGUST 7-8, 2021 QWEEKEND.COM.AU 03 MY MEMORY IS GETTING BETTER AND I’M ABLE TO RECALL MORE CONVERSATIONS AND NAMES BUT IT IS STILL QUITE CHALLENGING

TURNAROUND: Former Brisbane Lions player Justin Clarke, above and inset right. Picture: David Kelly

04 QWEEKEND.COM.AU AUGUST 7-8, 2021 V1 - BCME01Z01QW COVER STORY

he brain is an incredible, mys- aware of what that does to my brain and terious, complex organ that make sure I have appropriate breaks. will always fascinate Justin “In a lot of respects I’ve been able to Clarke. adapt and work my way through it but big The former Brisbane days need a bit of planning. I need to be Lions key defender, whose aware of what my body is saying.” AFL career was snuffed out Despite these challenges, Clarke by a severe concussion in a has excelled academically. training session in January Consistently a high achiever, he 2016, knows just how life changing a was an engineering intern at Boeing brainT injury can be. Defence Australia and did a summer At 22 years old, in the prime of his HARD placement with a government re- elite sporting career, Clarke suffered a search organisation, Defence Science sickening mid-air crack of forehead and Technology (DST) Group in against knee in a routine marking Melbourne. In December, he gradu- contest. Coaches, staff and some fans ated with a Bachelor of Engineering watched, horrified, as he lay face with first class honours majoring in down and unconscious on the ground mechanical and aerospace engineer- at Giffin Park, Coorparoo, in Bris- ing and a Bachelor of Science major- bane’s southeast. He has since endured ing in mathematics. He was named a long and ongoing recovery. valedictorian of his graduating class. For more than a month after his head And, impressively, Queensland’s 2021 knock, despite Clarke’s elite-fitness he was KNOCKS Rhodes Scholar. This year, he has also unable to manage more than a slow, flat walk begun learning French. in the cooler part of the day. He found it ex- Next month, Clarke will leave Australia hausting to walk up the stairs of his Queens- with his lawyer girlfriend Jess Evatt-Davey, lander home. 28, to begin up to four years of study at England’s He endured months of memory loss – he has Oxford University, where he will undertake his no memory at all of the weeks before the head PhD at its Thermofluids Institute modelling “hy- knock and not much memory for several months personic pulse tunnels”. He wants to make a afterwards. He also struggled with low energy, meaningful contribution to aerospace research mood swings, slurred speech, headaches, mental which “can radically change the way we travel fatigue, inability to concentrate and debilitating around the world and improve access to space”. tiredness. Doctors advised him never to play A concussion injury ended Justin Clarke’s AFL career, His brain is not, and perhaps never will be, contact sports again and he officially retired but against the odds he topped his university degree quite the same. But Clarke is still determined to from AFL, after 56 senior games, on March 31, make his mark. 2016. and now is Queensland’s Rhodes Scholar Walking away from his dream job was crush- At no more than three or four years of age, ing. To some extent, it still is. But Clarke, now 27, Story ELISSA LAWRENCE Clarke would gaze up from his home under the has always been determined to remain positive big sky of South Australia’s southern Flinders and move forward. Ranges and be filled with wonder at the majestic He committed to doing everything he could soaring wedge-tailed eagles. to heal his brain, to forge new neural pathways Clarke grew up on his family’s 1600ha cereal and challenge himself academically. head). Even in his fourth and final year of study, cropping (wheat, barley, canola and peas) and In June 2016, picking up the goals he set be- he would still struggle with concentration levels sheep property 300km north of Adelaide, be- fore he was drafted to the Lions, he began study- that would “fall off the edge of the cliff” in the tween Booleroo Centre and Melrose, as the ing aeronautical engineering at The University last hour of big exams. He still needs to plan youngest of four children to parents Ian, a of Queensland. for the inevitable “brain fog day” that fol- fitter and turner, and Sue, a former He started with just one subject as his brain lows an extended period of looking at teacher. injury made learning and retaining information computer screens. “I’ve always loved spotting wedgies. difficult and he had to relearn and revise con- For the most part, Clarke says he It was something I was just fascinated cepts many times. He was often vague, some- feels back to normal, though, more by,” Clarke says. “When I was in the times disorientated and regularly suffered than five years on, there are still diffi- ute with dad, looking out the window, “brain fog”. culties. “There are still memory and re- I’d spot them. Watching a wedgie His concussion symptoms have gradually im- call issues,” Clarke says. “My memory is thermal – when they are riding the ris- proved, however there have been several set- getting better and I’m able to recall ing hot air currents, gliding with their backs along the way, including his attempts to more conversations and names but it is huge wingspan – is spectacular, it’s a reintroduce competitive and even social sport still quite challenging. sight to behold. back into his life. “I have to make sure I eat really well and “Then, even more impressively, they The slightest head knock will still render him go early to sleep. I need a lot of sleep … nine spot something, fold their wings in and plum- “cactus” (there has been a recent car boot inci- hours is about the minimum amount I can func- met to the ground. They go from graceful and dent as well as a beach volleyball that hit his tion on. If I work on the computer, I’ve got to be elegant to being so aggressive and attacking.”

V1 - BCME01Z01QW AUGUST 7-8, 2021 QWEEKEND.COM.AU 05 COVER STORY

In Year 11, Clarke applied to be a pilot in the air force but was knocked back because he was too tall (he’s 195cm). He obtained his pilot’s li- cence at age 16 (though hasn’t returned to flying I WOULD DESPERATELY LIKE TO BE ABLE TO STILL since his concussion because of some “hesita- tions” about trusting himself in a potential hit of PLAY. I WAS ABOUT TO HIT MY STRAPS turbulence and dizziness) and graduated from Booleroo Centre District School with an ATAR of 99.95, the highest possible rank. league, rugby union and He credits his parents with filling him and his soccer) have all introduced siblings – brothers David, 38, a mining engineer, rule changes for assess- and Greg, 35, a software developer, and sister ment of players suspected Sally, 32, a veterinarian – with curiosity about of being concussed. the world and a love of learning. In 2016, and updated in “We all did well academically and it was very 2019, the Australian Medi- much fostered by Mum and Dad,” Clarke says. cal Association, the Aus- “Driving around with Dad to different tralian Institute of Sport, properties when I was a kid was a chance to in- Australasian College of terrogate him with different questions about Sport and Exercise Physi- everything and anything.” cians, and Sports Medicine Clarke returns to the family farm when he Australia launched a land- can, most recently at harvest time at Christmas. mark Concussion in Sport “It is a beautiful part of the world,” he says. Position Statement addressing growing public “It’s very grounding to be back there doing a bit health concerns. One of the key recommenda- of hard labour and being told I’m not responsible tions was that a more conservative approach to enough to drive the heavy machinery yet. managing concussion be adopted for children “We have all got roles – my brother drives the and adolescents aged 18 and under, with no header, dad drives the truck and I do all the farm sporting activities until 14 days after all symp- hand type of jobs, which is a typical younger toms have resolved. brother thing.” Dr Fatima Nasrallah, a senior research fellow in traumatic brain injury from UQ’s Queensland After his AFL career ended, and desperate to fill Brain Institute (QBI), is working to develop a a void left by elite sport, Clarke began rowing for quick and cheap test to accurately measure brain UQ. And he was good at it, part of the winning recovery. She is using advanced MRI to collect 2017 Queensland State Rowing Championship data on mild traumatic brain injuries and when it Men’s eight in January 2017. is safe for an athlete to resume sport. Nasrallah is But the next month, competing in the Men’s scanning the brains of volunteer athletes in high- Pair event in humid, 45C temperature at the contact sports including AFL and rugby, fighters NSW State Rowing Championships, he suffered and kickboxers. heat stroke. The combination of physical exer- She is researching changes in biomarkers – tion and extreme heat “completely floored” him, molecules in the blood or saliva – when con- regressing his physical and mental improvement game) and his first love, cricket. As a kid, he ty young for a key defender. Even now at 27, FOCUSED: Justin Clarke, cussion occurs that she can match to the brain far left, at the University since the concussion, he estimates, by six played cricket with his siblings from “as soon as I there are still very good key defenders floating of Queensland; above left, scans. She aims to identify biomarkers specific to months. Again, he was physically reduced to could hold a bat” and was good enough to play around the league at that age. playing football for the the brain to determine whether there is a brain only being able to walk, taking at least three with Woodville District Cricket Club in Adelaide “But with the Magpies, it was really nice to be Lions and being tackled by injury or when the brain has fully recovered. months to be able to run again. His memory, until he was drafted to the Lions. involved in football, and be happy to be involved Bulldogs’ player Jake “You may feel fine – recovered from head- Stringer in 2015; on the concentration and functioning were all impaired During his time interning with DST, he with football again, and not be driving home family farm with pet dog aches or blurred vision – but your brain takes and it was a stark reminder he could not push his played cricket at Deepdene Uniting Cricket Club frustrated. I could go there, have a good session Bindi in 2016; with his longer to mend and is still recovering behind the body like he used to. and has also played for the Surfers Paradise and drive home happy, instead of leaving frus- parents Sue and Ian, and scenes,’’ Nasrallah says. “If you get another With rowing out of the question, he tried Cricket Club First XI. He plans to try out for the trated that I couldn’t be on the field myself doing sister Sally on the day of knock during this time, the effects are cumulat- his 50th AFL game in beach volleyball, which also didn’t end well. Oxford University team in the annual match something that I loved and was good at. 2015; announcing his ive and can lead to long-term consequences. While playing a social match in an indoor sports against Cambridge University at the hallowed “The fact I could do that meant I had let go a retirement as Justin “Brain scans are costly and take time. We are centre in 2019, a ball spiked straight at his head Lord’s Cricket Ground, London. little bit of that dream. So there was a bit of Leppitsch looks on in using them now to gather data but ultimately we and he was left “wiped out”. “It’s one of those things that you have to bal- growth there. And that will keep improving as I 2016. Pictures: David want to develop a quick and cost-effective test Kelly; Matt Roberts/AFL He was disorientated, wobbly, dizzy, his spa- ance living your life … there are risks and re- get older and out of my prime.” Media/Getty Images; Sarah that can be used to judge whether someone’s tial awareness was “shocking” and he was unable wards that everyone makes every day,” Clarke Reed; Tara Croser; Darren brain has fully recovered.’’ to look at computers for about three weeks. He says. “I’m the type of person who will seek to do Sport-related concussion has emerged as a England. Clarke, who signed up as a QBI ambassador admits the incident “really shook me around”. different things and push myself in different growing health concern in Australia and inter- in 2016, says concussion education is working Then, at Easter last year, Clarke bumped his ways. Sometimes I’m not the smartest with it; nationally and amid a growing body of evidence but there is still more work to be done, especially head closing a car boot and within minutes was being a young person, we often make poor deci- to suggest repeated concussions increase the risk in lower community leagues where losing a play- “on the floor sleeping” without much memory of sions. As I get older, the temptation to run of developing neurodegenerative diseases. er may impact the outcome of the game. what happened. around is getting a bit less and I guess the temp- A number of former athletes who have ex- “Rules have changed quite a lot, which is a “These things are a bit of a wake-up call and it tation will be removed as I get older. Sometimes, perienced concussion while playing sport have great thing, which means we are listening to the vindicates my decision to retire (from AFL). the body wants to do what the head can’t.” later developed dementia and believe the trauma research, particularly at the elite level,” he says. There have been times when I feel normal and In 2018, Clarke also became involved with is to blame, including rugby league great Steve “For athletes, in that moment, with adrena- THERE NEEDS TO BE THE I’m back out running around and doing different AFL again, filling an assistant coach position Mortimer, who revealed his battle with the dis- line plus inhibited cognitive function, you are non-contact sports, and I’ve questioned … maybe with the Western Magpies at Sherwood. ease in June. not thinking clearly at all and it’s very difficult to RECOGNITION THAT IT IS JUST A I could be playing footy,” he says. Being close to AFL has been something of a A traumatic brain injury, concussion occurs make appropriate decisions about whether you “But it’s those type of moments that would be difficult issue because Clarke would still dearly from a knock to the head or body and can be diffi- are fit to continue playing. This is the classic equivalent to a half-decent hit in the shoulder love to play. cult to recognise. Obvious symptoms include un- problem with concussion. GAME AND IT’S NOT LIFE OR DEATH. and I’d be no good from it.’’ “I still watch the Lions. I wouldn’t say I’m an consciousness, convulsions or difficulty “There needs to be the recognition that it is Clarke loves sport and is good at just about avid watcher … if I don’t watch the Lions, then balancing or walking but there are more subtle just a game and it’s not life or death. The brain is THE BRAIN IS WORTH PROTECTING everything he tries (except swimming, “I swim I’m aware of the results,” he says. “When I do signs such as headache, neck pain, nausea, fa- incredible. It is a phenomenal bit of hardware like a crowbar”). watch … it’s one of those things that I would des- tigue, irritability, sensitivity to light, sadness and that we can’t really compare with our modern He has also had a go at playing mixed netball, perately like to be able to still play. I still want to of being “in a fog”. technology. It’s such a beautiful thing and AFL 9s (a social, non-contact version of the play. I was about to hit my straps. I was still pret- Australia’s major football codes (AFL, rugby worth protecting.” ■

06 QWEEKEND.COM.AU AUGUST 7-8, 2021 V1 - BCME01Z01QW V1 - BCME01Z01QW AUGUST 7-8, 2021 QWEEKEND.COM.AU 07 I WOULD DESPERATELY LIKE TO BE ABLE TO STILL PLAY. I WAS ABOUT TO HIT MY STRAPS

league, rugby union and soccer) have all introduced rule changes for assess- ment of players suspected of being concussed. In 2016, and updated in 2019, the Australian Medi- cal Association, the Aus- tralian Institute of Sport, Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physi- cians, and Sports Medicine Australia launched a land- mark Concussion in Sport Position Statement addressing growing public health concerns. One of the key recommenda- tions was that a more conservative approach to managing concussion be adopted for children and adolescents aged 18 and under, with no sporting activities until 14 days after all symp- toms have resolved. Dr Fatima Nasrallah, a senior research fellow in traumatic brain injury from UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), is working to develop a quick and cheap test to accurately measure brain recovery. She is using advanced MRI to collect data on mild traumatic brain injuries and when it is safe for an athlete to resume sport. Nasrallah is scanning the brains of volunteer athletes in high- contact sports including AFL and rugby, fighters and kickboxers. She is researching changes in biomarkers – molecules in the blood or saliva – when con- game) and his first love, cricket. As a kid, he ty young for a key defender. Even now at 27, FOCUSED: Justin Clarke, cussion occurs that she can match to the brain far left, at the University played cricket with his siblings from “as soon as I there are still very good key defenders floating of Queensland; above left, scans. She aims to identify biomarkers specific to could hold a bat” and was good enough to play around the league at that age. playing football for the the brain to determine whether there is a brain with Woodville District Cricket Club in Adelaide “But with the Magpies, it was really nice to be Lions and being tackled by injury or when the brain has fully recovered. until he was drafted to the Lions. involved in football, and be happy to be involved Bulldogs’ player Jake “You may feel fine – recovered from head- Stringer in 2015; on the During his time interning with DST, he with football again, and not be driving home family farm with pet dog aches or blurred vision – but your brain takes played cricket at Deepdene Uniting Cricket Club frustrated. I could go there, have a good session Bindi in 2016; with his longer to mend and is still recovering behind the and has also played for the Surfers Paradise and drive home happy, instead of leaving frus- parents Sue and Ian, and scenes,’’ Nasrallah says. “If you get another Cricket Club First XI. He plans to try out for the trated that I couldn’t be on the field myself doing sister Sally on the day of knock during this time, the effects are cumulat- his 50th AFL game in Oxford University team in the annual match something that I loved and was good at. 2015; announcing his ive and can lead to long-term consequences. against Cambridge University at the hallowed “The fact I could do that meant I had let go a retirement as Justin “Brain scans are costly and take time. We are Lord’s Cricket Ground, London. little bit of that dream. So there was a bit of Leppitsch looks on in using them now to gather data but ultimately we “It’s one of those things that you have to bal- growth there. And that will keep improving as I 2016. Pictures: David want to develop a quick and cost-effective test Kelly; Matt Roberts/AFL ance living your life … there are risks and re- get older and out of my prime.” Media/Getty Images; Sarah that can be used to judge whether someone’s wards that everyone makes every day,” Clarke Reed; Tara Croser; Darren brain has fully recovered.’’ says. “I’m the type of person who will seek to do Sport-related concussion has emerged as a England. Clarke, who signed up as a QBI ambassador different things and push myself in different growing health concern in Australia and inter- in 2016, says concussion education is working ways. Sometimes I’m not the smartest with it; nationally and amid a growing body of evidence but there is still more work to be done, especially being a young person, we often make poor deci- to suggest repeated concussions increase the risk in lower community leagues where losing a play- sions. As I get older, the temptation to run of developing neurodegenerative diseases. er may impact the outcome of the game. around is getting a bit less and I guess the temp- A number of former athletes who have ex- “Rules have changed quite a lot, which is a tation will be removed as I get older. Sometimes, perienced concussion while playing sport have great thing, which means we are listening to the the body wants to do what the head can’t.” later developed dementia and believe the trauma research, particularly at the elite level,” he says. In 2018, Clarke also became involved with is to blame, including rugby league great Steve “For athletes, in that moment, with adrena- AFL again, filling an assistant coach position Mortimer, who revealed his battle with the dis- line plus inhibited cognitive function, you are with the Western Magpies at Sherwood. ease in June. not thinking clearly at all and it’s very difficult to Being close to AFL has been something of a A traumatic brain injury, concussion occurs make appropriate decisions about whether you difficult issue because Clarke would still dearly from a knock to the head or body and can be diffi- are fit to continue playing. This is the classic love to play. cult to recognise. Obvious symptoms include un- problem with concussion. “I still watch the Lions. I wouldn’t say I’m an consciousness, convulsions or difficulty “There needs to be the recognition that it is avid watcher … if I don’t watch the Lions, then balancing or walking but there are more subtle just a game and it’s not life or death. The brain is I’m aware of the results,” he says. “When I do signs such as headache, neck pain, nausea, fa- incredible. It is a phenomenal bit of hardware watch … it’s one of those things that I would des- tigue, irritability, sensitivity to light, sadness and that we can’t really compare with our modern perately like to be able to still play. I still want to of being “in a fog”. technology. It’s such a beautiful thing and play. I was about to hit my straps. I was still pret- Australia’s major football codes (AFL, rugby worth protecting.” ■

V1 - BCME01Z01QW AUGUST 7-8, 2021 QWEEKEND.COM.AU 07 ON FIRE: Demolition by Polytoxic. From left, Alinta McGrady, Lilikoi Kaos, Lisa Fa’alafi, Abbey Church, Zayah Bond, Leah Shelton, Mayu Muto, Ghenoa Gela. Picture: Joel Devereux

Story PHIL BROWN BACK WITH A From racy cabaret, theatre with dogs and a floating, inflatable installation, there’s something for everyone in this year’s Brisbane Festival

08 QWEEKEND.COM.AU AUGUST 7-8, 2021 V1 - BCME01Z01QW FEATURE There’s a clear sense of optimism involved in this year’s festival s Daniel Evans crazy? The talented The difference being this year we will know Brisbane director and occasional mad where they are popping up. Last year it was a sur- scientist of the Queensland theatre prise although your correspondent got the scene admits he may be just a little bit heads-up on a few so he could go and witness the that way. magic of Street Serenades at work. Who else would try to put on a One of my fondest memories of last year is show with dogs? Real dogs. rocking up to a park in Hendra to watch Tyrone Let’s Be Friends Furever is bound to be one of Noonan and friends, who had just arrived in a lit- theI hits of Brisbane Festival next month. It’s tle pink caravan, play a 20-minute gig. billed as one part dog show, one part TED Talk, Watching folks trickle out of nearby houses to three parts family photo album and it will be a congregate with kids and dogs was just so lovely theatrical homage to dogs and their owners and and the spirit of that will be retained this year a kind of theatrical love song to pooches and with an extensive program featuring everyone their people. from Camerata and Queensland Ballet to Bear It will be presented in the Powerhouse and Boy, The Seven Sopranos and some star Theatre at Brisbane Powerhouse where, presum- turns including performances by Montaigne and ably, staff will have pooper scoopers on hand. Christine Anu. Daniel Evans can’t quite believe he’s doing it. Bezzina says she had last year in mind pro- “What am I doing?” he says when we chat. gramming this year’s festival. “I have never worked with more divas before ducer, will be one of the stars. She will be wran- “I’m looking back at last year and feeling in my life. Do you know how hard it is to direct gling her three rescue dogs, a “motley crew” – proud,” Bezzina says. “Last year was very much dogs on stage?” We can guess. They do say one Scout (labrador cross), Brett (staffie cross) and about coming together as a community. We should never work with animals or children. Put- Steven (10-month-old blue heeler). learnt to cherish what we have. We had to rely ting on a show like this requires what Evans de- “I laughed when I heard about the show,” Ba- on local talent and we’re doing that again a lot scribes as “dogistics”. bore says. “But if anyone can pull it off Dan can. this year but just because it’s locally focused “I mean, it’s a military operation,” he says. It’s a calculated risk. I’ve got no idea what’s going doesn’t mean it’s not extraordinary.” “But we have been encouraged by all the interest to happen though. It’s theatre at it most primal. I She says shows such as Let’s Be Friends Fu- in the show. People have been waiting for a show said to Dan … if this isn’t my big break I will rever will add a feel-good factor. like this.” never speak to you again.” “I fell in love with that show from the minute Evans is a respected theatre director and will The show will explore the highs and lows of Dan Evans told me about it,” Bezzina says. “It’s be seguing back into his normal theatre career dog ownership and people will talk about loving such a clever idea and so heartfelt. But a festival after this when he directs Michael Gow’s classic and sometimes losing beloved pets. needs to be broad and diverse and offer some- Australian play Away for La Boite. But before It’s a warm and fuzzy idea and just the sort of thing for various tastes. It needs to be inspiring that he has his Brisbane Festival passion project, thing that appealed to Bezzina who has a knack WARM AND FUZZY: and comforting and there’s a clear sense of opti- Daniel Evans, above, will inspired by his own family’s love of canines. of programming things that resonate with a direct doggy divas in Let’s mism involved in this year’s festival.” “I grew up with two toy poodles, Oscar and wider audience. Her festival is a broad church be Friends Furever; Last year’s was dubbed Boldly Brisbane while Nelson,” he explains. “That’s where this show with everything from edgy, even controversial, Brisbane’s Art Boat’s Sky this year it is Brightly Brisbane. Over 23 days came from. When me and my sister left home fare to feel-good family shows and the long- Castle; Brisbane Festival from September 3-25 this year’s Brisbane Festi- artistic director Louise they became Mum’s empty nest fur babies. They awaited world premiere of the stage version of Bezzina, below, says that val will present 18 new works, 15 world premie- both had to be put down together in 2019 and Trent Dalton’s much-loved bestseller Boy Swal- show will add a feel-good res, deliver 139 productions and present events in watching my mum go through losing them made lows Universe from Queensland Theatre. factor. Main picture: a staggering 223 locations across me think. I was inspired and I wanted to create Bezzina’s artistic directorship is a lesson in re- Lachie Millard the city including major hubs something that was a homage. When I first silience. She brilliantly snatched the festival from of activity QPAC, Brisbane pitched it to Brisbane Festival artistic director the jaws of defeat last year pivoting to present a Powerhouse, The Tivoli Louise Bezzina the first thing she did was laugh. Covid-safe event that was a triumph against the and the newly refur- Then she got serious and said … I’ll do it.” odds. One of the programs that made it so bished The Princess Evans says the show will be a series of inter- special last year was Street Serenades, a Theatre, among views with dogs and their owners (who will be on series of pop-up performances right stage) interspersed with a “dogumentary” across Brisbane. Every suburb got a go screened in the Powerhouse Theatre. Meagan and that will happen again this year Babore, 36, from Ipswich, a teacher and pro- with Street Serenades: At Our Place. BACK WITH A

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We like to draw people in with the sexiness and then challenge them to see the world in a different way

other venues. The program will engage 63 a new way,” Bezzina says. “It was my dream from LOCAL HEROES: Meagan ville-based Dancenorth Australia who will be Babore, with her daughter Queensland companies and employ 1183 artists, the beginning to use the river and use a boat. Our Queenie Dell, 15 months, performing a show called RED in a warehouse 1011 of who are local. And this year’s festival will river is so beautiful. Then I had been travelling and pooches Scout, Brett space at the Northshore Hamilton hub. deliver the largest First Nations program yet in Europe I had seen how European cities use and Steven. Babore and The program describes the show this way. with 168 First Nations artists. The festival com- their rivers.” her dogs star in Let’s be “Air is slowly emptying from a large, transparent Friends Furever; Naomi mences with Jumoo, a smoking ceremony at Using local talent as well as geography is a Price and Luke Kennedy inflatable structure, ultimately sealing its inhabi- South Bank on September 3 and South Bank will hallmark of Bezzina’s work, honed over eight channel James Bond in tants in preserved isolation.” be the main festival hub with the BOQ Festival years as director of the Gold Coast Bleach festival Skyfall; Dancenorth’s RED “It sounds like a deflating experience,” I sug- Garden and includes productions such as Heart prior to taking up the role at Brisbane Festival. features two red-headed gest to Dancenorth’s artistic director Kyle Page dancers; Ilbijerri Theatre is a Wasteland by the Ilbijerri Theatre company. Company reimagines John and he laughs adding that one of the central Circa’s major immersive work Silver City was Among local heroes at this year’s festival is the Harvey’s Heart is a ideas is a “poetic comment on the accelerated to be performed on the Rainforest Green at the edgy Brisbane company Polytoxic which is cre- Wasteland. loss of biodiversity around the planet”. BOQ Festival Garden but the giant constellation ating a new show, Demolition, which will run for One unique thing about the show is that the of chrome bubbles in which Circa’s acrobats a week at Brisbane Powerhouse. Described as dancers have red hair. “Tens of thousands of were to perform were held up in Europe and that “an explosion of cabaret, theatre and social activ- years ago a genetic mutation gave rise to red hair event had to be cancelled. When I spoke to Bez- ism set to rebuild the world from the ashes up” it in humans. Now, like many, they are endan- zina she was scrambling to replace that work will feature music, dancing and provocative so- gered,” reads the program. “The two dancers with another attraction. cial commentary with a tradie aesthetic. Poly- both have this beautiful red hair,” Page says. One thing she has done this year is look to the toxic is led by two intersectional feminist Of course the subtexts can be explored freely river, and Northshore Hamilton, another festival performance makers, Lisa Fa’alafi and Leah but with contemporary dance it can also simply hub, will be one of two ports of call for a most Shelton and they are renowned for smart, sexy, be enjoyed for the aesthetic. Dancenorth’s work surprising offering … Brisbane’s Art Boat … a new confronting work that challenges audiences. is always compelling and this 45-minute work floating art experience cruising between South “We like to draw people in with the sexiness (always leave people wanting more, Page says) Bank and Northshore Hamilton, immersing au- and then challenge them to see the world in a promises a rich artistic experience with an orig- diences in a glowing world and bathing the Bris- different way,” Shelton says. “In Demolition we inal soundtrack. Of course you don’t have to be a bane River in a new light. say let’s tear it all down but then we ask – what ranga to attend. Just saying. Airship Orchestra, a multisensory inflatable can we put in its place? The stage is set up as a Queensland’s north offers rich talent and installation up to six metres high sets sail on the work site and people will feel like they are enter- though Christine Anu lives in Wollongong, Art Boat from September 3-12 with Sky Castle, ing a demolition site. We go through a series of NSW, nowadays she hails from Cairns and an interactive dreamscape of inflatable, lumi- scenes looking at different experiences and have Rockhampton originally and she’s coming home nous arches and ethereal symphonies taking to eight incredible femmes and Lisa and I are back to Queensland, Covid willing, as one of the stars the water later in the festival. on stage this year.” Last year they served as pup- of Street Serenades: At Our Place this year. A festival that happens by the river and finish- pet masters with Snapshot, a performance and Anu, who has Torres Strait heritage, loves the es with an explosive event above the river, Sun- projection work that told the stories of local art- idea of performing in the community and prom- super Riverfire, is now going on the river too. workers using the front of Brisbane Powerhouse ises that she will sing her most famous song, “You have to kind of use your imagination as a kind of screen. My Island Home, which has become something sometimes and I think people will really respond Bezzina has cast her net wide for Queensland of an anthem. to this idea of travelling on the Brisbane River in talent and has drawn in the acclaimed Towns- “That song reminds me that the north is al-

10 QWEEKEND.COM.AU AUGUST 7-8, 2021 V1 - BCME01Z01QW ARTS EDITOR’S CHOICE Phil Brown’s picks for Brisbane Festival

ISHMAEL SCHUBERTIADE – MAGGIE NOONAN Cremorne Theatre, August 30 to AND JOHN WOODS September 11 Main auditorium, Brisbane City Hall, I can’t wait to see how Dead Puppet Society September 7 have managed to turn Moby Dick into a Her son Tyrone gets a mention so it’s only space opera about climate refugees fleeing fair I mention Maggie Noonan too. She’s an the Earth in a spaceship called the opera singer who is one of our most Pequod. Yes there are still loved performers, and lovers of characters from the book – a classical music and lieder Captain Ahab and Ishmael (German songs) will be and even Queequeg – thrilled that they get a though they may not be whole concert what you or I expect. concentrating on this art form. Maggie is SKYFALL: THE MUSIC accompanied by Mr Music OF JAMES BOND himself, John Woods, who South Bank Piazza, is well known to local music BOQ Festival Garden, lovers. What a treat and September 14-18 even better, it’s free! What a brilliant idea but then again The Little Red Company has BUNGUL plenty of them. Naomi Price and Luke Concert Hall, QPAC, September 24 and 25 Kennedy star in this tribute to the music of This tribute to the talent and musical legacy the James Bond movies and that includes of Gurrumul Yunupingu features a live some terrific songs like Goldfinger and performance by Yolgnu dancers (pictured), Skyfall which Naomi Price belted songmen and musicians from the out of the park at the Brisbane Queensland Conservatorium, Festival program launch. Do Griffith University as well as not miss this one! Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra and WHAT’S GOING ON others. It is a ceremonial ways going to be my home,” Anu says. “I still go HEART AND HOME: South Bank Piazza, celebration of Gurrumul’s Christine Anu is one of the for the Maroons. My team is still the Broncos al- stars of Street Serenades: BOQ Festival Garden, final album, Djarimirri though a lot of my Torres Strait island friends At Our Place, and September 23 (Child of The Rainbow) and family switched to the Cowboys. Queens- promises to sing crowd Tyrone Noonan and will be a very special, land is still home for me.” favourite My Island Home. (pictured) (formerly of moving event. Anu says, “It’s always great when music can George) and Palimpsest are go ahead.” She’s been in lockdown lately al- hot as you will know if you LET’S BE FRIENDS FUREVER though she has been able to travel to Sydney for have ever seen any of their jazz Powerhouse Theatre, Brisbane her Weekend Evenings ABC radio show. shows. Recently they did a beautiful Powerhouse, September 16-25 We hope she makes it to Brisbane for her gigs. tribute to Nat King Cole at La La Land at the Being a dog lover this has to be on my list. Fingers crossed. Bezzina acknowledges that it’s Prince Consort Hotel. In this show they will Not sure if I can take my dog though? Can’t still a difficult time but she’s buoyed by our track celebrate the cool, funky music of Marvin wait to see what happens when director record of keeping Covid at bay. The return of Gaye just in time to celebrate the 50th Daniel Evans gathers dogs and their owners Sunsuper Riverfire will be a very special finale anniversary of his iconic album What’s on stage. It will be interesting, that’s for this year. Touch wood. ■ Going On. sure. I’m smiling now just thinking about it. Brisbane Festival, September 3-25; brisbanefestival.com.au

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*Corporate Knights 2020 To be able to have people come to me and say ‘will you help me tell the story?’ is so incredibly rewarding FEATURE BODY OF EVIDENCE

The real story of how crimes are solved and who solves them is explored in a new book from author and podcast host Meshel Laurie

Story AMY PRICE

eshel Laurie feels a fam- After early success in the Melbourne comedy iliar lump catch her circuit, her stage show The Whore Whisperer throat when she remem- opened the floodgates in 2000 and she began her bers the emails that radio career co-hosting Enough Rope on Mel- dropped into her inbox bourne community station 3RRR. By 2004 she from Jeremy Dixon, the was hosting ABC comedy show Stand Up! and father of murdered Mel- was a regular on Rove Live. bourne comedian Eurydice Dixon. The following year Laurie returned to MShe was interviewing a variety of detectives, Queensland to join Nova 106.9 in Brisbane as a pathologists and victims from well-known crimi- founding breakfast presenter on Meshel, Ash, nal cases at the time for her latest book, CSI Told Kip and Luttsy, where she remained, also co- You Lies, which she did from her home in Alto- hosting with Tim Blackwell and Marty Shear- na, in Melbourne’s southwest, during the lengthy gold, until late 2011. Covid lockdown last year. It was during her time on Nova breakfast in- But it was Jeremy’s emails sharing simple sto- terviewing My Kitchen Rules judge Manu Feild- ries about Eurydice that Laurie says shocked and el that she realised the limitations of only having touched her “many times in beautiful ways”. a few minutes to interview someone. “I can feel a tear ball in my chest now when I “Every year they would go ‘OK guys, My think about when he told me where they got Eu- Kitchen Rules, do you want Manu or Pete rydice’s name from, just the fact he shared that,” (Evans)? And every year we’d go ‘Manu’,” Laurie Laurie, 48, says during our Zoom chat, cursing recalls. “But I’d crack the s---s and go: ‘God, what having gone back into lockdown in July. are we going to talk to Manu about?’ I love him, “I was like ‘oh, my God, you are such a beauti- I’m living here now and she didn’t get to do any SURVIVOR’S GUILT: but honestly, so boring. By the time everyone has Comedian and author ful man’ and to think about what’s happened to of that’.” Meshel Laurie (main) sees a chop at Manu it’s pretty tedious.” him as a man, and everything he’s lost.” It was around that time in 2018 that Laurie parallels between herself While driving home she heard Feildel on Eurydice was 22 and building her comedy ca- was introduced to the Victorian Institute of For- and murdered Melbourne ABC radio in a 45-minute interview that re- reer across venues in Melbourne when she was ensic Medicine (VIFM), having been asked to comedian Eurydice Dixon vealed his interesting background studying as a found murdered at Princes Park in June 2018, for help them produce a web series. (above). circus performer in France. which her killer, Jaymes Todd, was sentenced to “I was just thinking to myself: ‘This is crazy, life in prison. As a well-known comedian, radio and TV this is what you can do when you’ve got enough It hit home for Laurie, who, after growing up presenter for the previous two decades, true time.’ So that was it. It’s all down to Manu. I’ve in Toowoomba, moved to Melbourne to pursue crime might seem an unexpected departure for told him,” she laughs. comedy at a similar young age and vividly re- Laurie – and it’s because of that confusion that After she moved to Melbourne – where she members meeting her comedy hero, Tim Fer- the opening line of her book is “so, why true bounced around other top-rating radio shows for guson, at a show there. crime?” But it’s a passion that’s been bubbling in a number of years – she learnt about podcasts so “He said to me, ‘you should stick with it be- the background throughout her career. she could tune into Conversations with Richard cause stand-up comedy will open doors for you Along with her comedy ambitions growing up Fidler, who she used to listen to every day in that you could never imagine’ – and he was so in Toowoomba, where her grandmother still Brisbane. By 2015 she launched her own inter- right,” she says. lives, Laurie loved the non-fiction genre. She view podcast, Nitty Gritty Committee, and the “That was nearly 30 years ago and look at me, never watched fictional dramas such as CSI following year she began the Australian True I’ve written a true crime book. It’s taken me to and early on in her career she didn’t accept Crime podcast alongside Emily Webb. the most amazing, crazy places, wonderful pla- stand-up gigs on a Tuesday night because “It’s funny because the podcast in particular to ces, and it would’ve done that for her and it she’d be at home watching the back-to-back me is a natural progression, but then I think ‘oh should’ve done that for her, and I felt this sur- forensic documentaries that aired on Foxtel yeah, I guess if you think of me as a comedian, of vivor’s guilt because I was like, ‘it’s so unfair that each week. course you would (be surprised)’,” she says.

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You & Me Interview LEANNE EDMISTONE They met at the Ekka decades ago and this couple who have made their life in the country have kept Pene and I hit Peter’s an the town that extremely returning ever since night, and that friendly person, was it. We just he’ll talk to clicked anyone Peter Hood, 62 Sheep farmer and grazier, VIFM odontologist (or forensic dentist) Dr Pittsworth Richard Bassed, also her good friend, who re- counts dropping his children at their mum’s How did you meet? Pene and I met in the house before spending months identifying bod- Members Bar at the Ekka 32 years ago. I’d ies during both the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami had a very successful show exhibiting prime and the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. lamb and achieved the record price at the The chapter with Anthony Maslin and Mar- sale that day. (Late) agent Stanley Wallace ite Norris, who lost their three children when – himself a larger-than-life character who the Malaysian Airlines MH17 flight was shot used to write for Queensland Country Life down in 2014, was the most challenging for Lau- – introduced us. He used to call himself rie. She hadn’t met them before she reached out “Cupid” because he’d introduced a few “I was passionate about both comedy and filled to the brim with 10 cats and two dogs. DIVERSE CAREER: (From through the foundation they set up in their child- couples that later married. Pene and I hit left) Meshel Laurie in the radio but they weren’t emotional. This (true When she left radio in 2018 to spend more time studio at Nova; and as ren’s honour. The couple are proud custodians of the town that night, and that was it. We’ve crime) is a very emotional passion for me and I with her twins, she promised them they could part of Nova’s Meshel, their children’s story and they wanted to work been married 30 years in September and feel very lucky that I was successful enough at foster kittens and the family was simply unable Ash, Kip and Luttsy on the chapter with Laurie, who would send ex- have three children – William, 28, Amy, 27, both of those things that it sort of bought me this to part with the litter of abandoned newborns breakfast crew; and cerpts every few months and nervously await and Lucy, 25. Anthony Maslin and Marite opportunity, literally really.” they cared for. Norris, who lost their their feedback. When she began spending time with the for- “It was challenging to write with the kids at three children when Flight “To know they’ve got it, they are reading it, it How did you decide Pene would be the ensic pathologists at VIFM in 2018, Laurie was home; it was hard, really hard, just to get that MH17 was shot down in would take them a while to get back to me, so perfect life partner? We just clicked. She surprised, not only about the work they did – concentration because to me it was really im- 2014. Pictures: Adam wondering ‘have I hurt them?’ That was really used to come up to the farm, Plainview how you can’t decipher time of death by study- portant for a lot of reasons to be telling stories of Armstrong, Peter Wallis hard, waiting to hear back, but ultimately incred- Texel, and I’d visit her in Brisbane. We ing maggots on a body as CSI would lead us to victims,” Laurie says, pausing our interview to ibly rewarding,” she says. “That’s always the way liked to go across to Stradbroke Island too. believe – but the sensitivity of the pathologists. chase a cat named Crystal off the piano for a sec- isn’t it? The most rewarding things are the hard- She spoke about their work in her circle of ond time. “To have so many distractions was est, so I’m really proud of it. What's it like spending all your time friends so much in the following year that when hard. There were times when I didn’t think I was “I really like this book ... I love all the people in together on the property? It’s just what we she also mentioned it to her literary agent, he going to make it.” it … so I feel like I’ve done a good job for them. do. We fit in with each other. We run told her to write a book, and she signed the deal Her work still revolves around being a moth- It’s a love letter for all the people.” Plainview Texel sheep stud, with 80 per for CSI Told You Lies in November 2019. er, squeezing in writing between supervising ac- With the book hitting shelves, her podcast cent agriculture. This country – first settled “I did not expect the emotional engagement tivities such as painting in the lounge room while production company, Smart Fella, is also gaining by my grandfather Wilfred in 1908 – has that they had. I was taken aback by that,” Laurie they watch TV each night and making the 10- momentum. She has employed four people in been developed into some of the best grain WELL GROUNDED: Peter and Pene Hood, with their dog Whisky, met at the Ekka’s Members Bar 32 years ago. Picture: Edwina Robertson says. “They are not desensitised at all and I minute trip to their school for drop-off and pick- the past six months to keep up with their ex- country around. He was a sheep man who wanted people to know that in case you ever up each day. Her mother, Mary Therese Laurie, panding portfolio. Meanwhile, Laurie is con- went into cropping. have a loved one who ends up in the mortuary, I lives nearby and helps when she needs it. sidering her next book, resolute about Stewards Bar now, but probably should go Australia and I enjoyed working with the me in the sheep yards. We bottle feed a few wanted everyone to know how sensitively True crime continuing in the true crime genre she is so Apart from agriculture, what interests do check out the Members Bar again and see rest of the aircrew. lambs too, which my dog Whisky likes to it’s treated.” Laurie wanted each chapter of her book to passionate about. you share? We both support the Wallabies where things all started. go and talk to. They’re all constantly in and She had already published four books by that highlight a different issue, from the problematic is a very “Just yesterday I had a really interesting true and the Reds. I played rugby for too long Did you have concerns about a life on the out of the house, so sometimes it’s nice if I time – memoir The Fence-Painting Fortnight of sentencing of sex offenders in her conversation crime person pop up who wants help telling their and Pene’s worse than me at refereeing Pene Hood, 62 land? My grandmother was from the land, can have a day to myself. Destiny in 2013 and three books on Buddhism – with Melbourne serial killer Peter Dupas to the emotional story, so that’s exciting. I love being a hustler,” from the couch. I’m a mad fisherman and Sheep farmer and grazier, my great-grandfather managed properties but this project was a new challenge. impact of early childhood on young men like the broadcasting star smiles, contemplating the we love Noosa, where I’ve been holidaying Pittsworth and my brothers both became jackaroos. What do you most admire about Peter? CSI Told You Lies is a behind-the-scenes ac- Todd, Dixon’s killer, whose predilection for passion unimaginable doors her comedy career will open since I was in nappies. Pene can fish but So I do have a connection to the land but I Well, I’m still with him! How’s that? He’s count of the work of the forensic scientists on the homicidal rape fantasies went undetected in his for me for her next. prefers to read a book and de-stress. What were your first impressions of had to give it a lot of thought. It took me a very friendly, very much a “have-a-chat”, frontline of Australia’s major crime and disaster dysfunctional home. “To be able to have people come to me and Peter? He was the youngest man in the long time to settle into country life. It’s and he’s very loyal to family and friends. investigations. Others touched by the investiga- But the overarching motivation is for the say ‘will you help me tell the story?’ is so incred- What has kept you coming back to the group I was introduced to, that’s why we been an interesting 30 years, adjusting to We’re very much in tune. tions are drawn into the story. Laurie initially reader to consider the people involved – the first ibly rewarding.” Ekka all these years? I’ve lost count of started talking. Peter’s an extremely drought and flood and a lack of a regular reached out to the friends and contacts – pathol- responders we don’t hear about until the trial And for these people to put their trust in her how many Ekkas I’ve been to. When I left friendly person, he’ll talk to anyone, where income. But now I love the quiet and the What does the Ekka still mean to you? ogists, former homicide detectives, criminals and but who are pulled from their families when to share personal details of their lives, such as school in 1975, everyone from the bush I’m more on the quiet side. space, and would never return to life in Growing up in Brisbane, my family went to victims’ families – she knew through her podcast. bodies are discovered, day or night, to me- Jeremy Dixon, Eurydice’s father. In yet another used to show up at the Exhibition and we’d Brisbane if I had to leave here. the show every year, it was tradition. When And then she began apprehensively to reach out ticulously examine a corpse and determin- parallel with Laurie, he told her Eu- party for days. I started showing prime Where did you grow up? In Brisbane, the Peter and I met, the Cattleman’s Bar was to people she didn’t know, those connected to ing crucial information for the rydice was named after a radio pre- lamb in 1978 and have been every year, middle child between two brothers. I Have you been immersed in work on the the big attraction because I used to catch other crimes that she wanted to write about. investigation, and prosecution, to come. senter her mother Karen liked. apart from one or two. Now I’m the followed my dad in working for stock agent land? I have always refused to drive a up with people I knew from out west. I like With the global pandemic locking down Mel- “In every chapter it’s to think about who “I also liked the name and there steward for that section and still trying to Dalgety for a few years, before spending 10 tractor; that was part of the agreement we to look at lots of different exhibits and used bourne in early 2020, she conducted interviews does these things for us as a community; who we were,” he wrote in one his emails win the broad ribbons. This year we’ve years as a flight attendant with TAA, which made when we got married. I mainly to love a strawberry sundae but, now, being via Zoom and began the tedious writing process, goes and identifies people after bushfires, who to Laurie. ■ entered in sections for prime lambs, sheep became Australian Airlines and then handle the accounts, records and coeliac, I can only look on with longing. all while schooling her 11-year-old twins – son does that for us? Someone does that,” Laurie CSI Told You Lies, by Meshel Laurie, (ram lamb, ewe lamb and ewe), and Qantas. It was a great job where I got to administration side of the business, but I’m Louis and daughter Dali – in their home, which is says emphatically. The answer to that question is Penguin, $35 breeders group. I spend more time in the visit lots of different places around on hand if Peter and (son) William need The Ekka, August 7-15, ekka.com.au

14 QWEEKEND.COM.AU AUGUST 7-8, 2021 V1 - BCME01Z01QW V1 - BCME01Z01QW AUGUST 7-8, 2021 QWEEKEND.COM.AU 15 RELATIONSHIPS

You & Me Interview LEANNE EDMISTONE They met at the Ekka decades ago and this couple who have made their life in the country have kept Pene and I hit Peter’s an the town that extremely returning ever since night, and that friendly person, was it. We just he’ll talk to clicked anyone Peter Hood, 62 Sheep farmer and grazier, Pittsworth

How did you meet? Pene and I met in the Members Bar at the Ekka 32 years ago. I’d had a very successful show exhibiting prime lamb and achieved the record price at the sale that day. (Late) agent Stanley Wallace – himself a larger-than-life character who used to write for Queensland Country Life – introduced us. He used to call himself “Cupid” because he’d introduced a few couples that later married. Pene and I hit the town that night, and that was it. We’ve been married 30 years in September and have three children – William, 28, Amy, 27, and Lucy, 25.

How did you decide Pene would be the perfect life partner? We just clicked. She used to come up to the farm, Plainview Texel, and I’d visit her in Brisbane. We liked to go across to Stradbroke Island too.

What's it like spending all your time together on the property? It’s just what we do. We fit in with each other. We run Plainview Texel sheep stud, with 80 per cent agriculture. This country – first settled by my grandfather Wilfred in 1908 – has been developed into some of the best grain WELL GROUNDED: Peter and Pene Hood, with their dog Whisky, met at the Ekka’s Members Bar 32 years ago. Picture: Edwina Robertson country around. He was a sheep man who went into cropping. Stewards Bar now, but probably should go Australia and I enjoyed working with the me in the sheep yards. We bottle feed a few Apart from agriculture, what interests do check out the Members Bar again and see rest of the aircrew. lambs too, which my dog Whisky likes to you share? We both support the Wallabies where things all started. go and talk to. They’re all constantly in and and the Reds. I played rugby for too long Did you have concerns about a life on the out of the house, so sometimes it’s nice if I and Pene’s worse than me at refereeing Pene Hood, 62 land? My grandmother was from the land, can have a day to myself. from the couch. I’m a mad fisherman and Sheep farmer and grazier, my great-grandfather managed properties we love Noosa, where I’ve been holidaying Pittsworth and my brothers both became jackaroos. What do you most admire about Peter? since I was in nappies. Pene can fish but So I do have a connection to the land but I Well, I’m still with him! How’s that? He’s prefers to read a book and de-stress. What were your first impressions of had to give it a lot of thought. It took me a very friendly, very much a “have-a-chat”, Peter? He was the youngest man in the long time to settle into country life. It’s and he’s very loyal to family and friends. What has kept you coming back to the group I was introduced to, that’s why we been an interesting 30 years, adjusting to We’re very much in tune. Ekka all these years? I’ve lost count of started talking. Peter’s an extremely drought and flood and a lack of a regular how many Ekkas I’ve been to. When I left friendly person, he’ll talk to anyone, where income. But now I love the quiet and the What does the Ekka still mean to you? school in 1975, everyone from the bush I’m more on the quiet side. space, and would never return to life in Growing up in Brisbane, my family went to used to show up at the Exhibition and we’d Brisbane if I had to leave here. the show every year, it was tradition. When party for days. I started showing prime Where did you grow up? In Brisbane, the Peter and I met, the Cattleman’s Bar was lamb in 1978 and have been every year, middle child between two brothers. I Have you been immersed in work on the the big attraction because I used to catch apart from one or two. Now I’m the followed my dad in working for stock agent land? I have always refused to drive a up with people I knew from out west. I like steward for that section and still trying to Dalgety for a few years, before spending 10 tractor; that was part of the agreement we to look at lots of different exhibits and used win the broad ribbons. This year we’ve years as a flight attendant with TAA, which made when we got married. I mainly to love a strawberry sundae but, now, being entered in sections for prime lambs, sheep became Australian Airlines and then handle the accounts, records and coeliac, I can only look on with longing. (ram lamb, ewe lamb and ewe), and Qantas. It was a great job where I got to administration side of the business, but I’m breeders group. I spend more time in the visit lots of different places around on hand if Peter and (son) William need The Ekka, August 7-15, ekka.com.au

V1 - BCME01Z01QW AUGUST 7-8, 2021 QWEEKEND.COM.AU 15 ORDINARY PEOPLE Valmai Dennis Retirement village manager, 61, Toowoomba

Interview LEANNE EDMISTONE

’m very proud of my Blue Star. It is an award given by Blue Care in recognition of extraordinary commitment and dedication to Blue Care, its clients and residents. I got it on my anniversary of 40 years with the organisation. A lot of people say it’s unusual for someone to stay in one workplace for such a long time but I haven’t done the same job for 40 years – I’ve had a variety of roles, in a variety of places, so it’s like having lots of different jobs with the same employer. I was always going to be a teacher – I just hadn’t decided if it was in home economics or accounting. I was born in Brisbane, due to possible complications, but grew up on a mixed dairy farm at Quinalow, 73km north of Toowoomba, with my late Mum Gladys, late Dad Charlie, older brothers Barry, 71, and (late) Jeff, younger sister Elva, 59, and younger brother Kel, 57. I had a great life growing up on the farm. I applied for the I loved position of junior office assistant with working with Toowoomba Garden the residents Settlement, as it was 2009, I have managed all like family to me. I had tears writing my LUCKY STAR: Blue Care’s Valmai Dennis has so much, I loved working with the elderly and received called then, before I four retirement villages resignation letter. I’ll miss them so much. the Blue Star (inset) in recognition of her graduated from Oakey never left across Toowoomba, My husband Russell (60, retired dedication. Picture: Mark Cranitch State High School and I got Stanthorpe and Toowoomba Mail Centre manager) it, but they were good enough Ipswich. and I met in 1978, driving up to let me finish my exams before Growing up without the main street of used to just pass like ships in the night, so it I started. The plan was to work grandparents, I guess when I Toowoomba. I had a green will be nice to spend some time together. 12 months to earn money to go to teachers’ first started that was part of the Mini minor and he had a We love to travel; to just get in the car and college. My first jobs were delivering mail connection, knowing that white Datsun. That’s what take off. Wherever we go Russell will play to residents and collecting their fortnightly something had been missing. Now young people did in those golf, while I just want to relax and read rent. It was all done in cash those days. I they’re more like my mothers, than days: they got together of a books. Apart from my gardening, I haven’t loved working with the residents so much, grandmothers! But I think I have night-time in their cars in taken up any other hobbies yet. I can knit, I never left. an affinity with the residents. the main street. Some of the sew and crochet but they’re not passions. When I fell pregnant with my twin I’m a very hands-on manager. girls I lived with knew some We’ve also talked about volunteering boys, Matthew and Simon, 32, I did resign I like being able to play a of the boys Russell was in a together down the track. but after six months, the general manager small part in their lives, group with. He was cute, active Our grandson Liam – Simon and wife asked if I would come back on a part-time trying to improve their and we were both interested in Reegan’s son – has just turned two. Russell basis. They set up a home office for me, quality of life. sports. He’s played everything – he’s Pop and I’m Nan – has been doing a which was fantastic, and gradually the I don’t regret not but mainly cricket and golf, and we bit of babysitting since he retired earlier hours went back to full time in the office. going into teaching at all; played night tennis together. I this year, and I miss out. I’m looking In 2001, I transferred from Blue Care working with the elderly has wasn’t to his standard but, anyway, he forward to being part of Liam’s growing up, Toowoomba to the southeast regional made me more caring and put up with it! to taking him to the park. He’s a very active office where I looked after accounts compassionate. I get as much from the Retirement (in October) is really going little boy, who’s just starting to speak in receivable and government funding residents as they might get from me. It’s a to be about doing things together. Russell sentences. It’s amazing how clever he is. acquittal for the region. Since September feeling that’s hard to put into words. They’re worked shift work, I had long hours and we Liam’s such a delight.

16 QWEEKEND.COM.AU AUGUST 7-8, 2021 V1 - BCME01Z01QW HOT DESTINATION GAME OF LOVE See North Queensland’s The scavenger hunt that remarkable lava tubes led to a proposal Page 24 Page 28

Plate class Next-level creativity and service are on the menu at a Gold Coast favourite.

Page 21 ARTS

Voyage into space A reimagining of Moby Dick by the Dead Puppet Society takes flight in a fresh new way

SPACE OPERA: Ellen Bailey has the title role in Ishmael, a reimagining of classic novel Moby Dick; below, Dead Puppet Society’s David Morton and Nick Paine in previous production Laser Beak Man.

Story PHIL BROWN climate refugees on a voyage into outer with Screen Queensland) weaving space. Dead Puppet’s creative producer elements of miniature sets and a trio of live Nicholas Paine says Ishmael will “blur the performers with an original score by Indie pace. The final frontier. These are boundaries of what is considered a puppet”. pop musician Bec Sandridge. the voyages of … not the starship “The biggest difference is rather than us Ellen Bailey, 32, has worked with Dead Enterprise but, rather, the MV playing with human or animal figures, we Puppet Society before and says Morton has Pequod. Pequod, it sounds have built universes and worlds, a knack for “getting to the heart of things” familiar,S right? As it should. It’s the name miniaturised landscapes and fully in his work. of the ship in the epic novel Moby Dick by functioning spaceships,” Paine says. “The thing he always comes back to is Herman Melville. The captain of that ship? But if it’s all based on Moby Dick, why an audience should care,” Bailey says. Ahab. There was also, among others, a there’s an obvious question and writer and “That’s important to think about.” sailor by the name of Ishmael (the book director Morton sees it coming. She has been thinking deeply about her opens famously with “call me Ishmael”) “There are no whales involved,” he says. role and though she is not modelling and there was a mysterious South Sea “But they are on a quest for a giant white herself on the character of Ripley played by Islander by the name of Queequeg. Behemoth.” a laboratory. “They are still on a hunt and Sigourney Weaver in Alien, that sort of Those three all feature in Brisbane outfit That sounds intriguing but he doesn’t Captain Ahab is still central and does have female space heroine does resonate with Dead Puppet Society’s reimagining of want to give too much away. a ship called Pequod,” Morton says. “And her. Star Wars has also been an inspiration. Moby Dick. It’s called Ishmael. Ishmael is billed as a “reimagining of the there are some nods to the original story “I’m not nuts over sci-fi but it can be Dead Puppet’s David Morton has turned timeless novel Moby Dick for a new sparsely sprinkled. And it’s pretty much interesting,” Bailey says. “In this one the Moby Dick into a kind of space opera that millennium”. It is set in a future where the rough waters from the moment they set Earth has been destroyed by humans and will be one of the treats of this year’s Earth is beset by the after-effects of climate out and they are chasing something … but now the only place that is safe is space.” Brisbane Festival when it begins in the change. The crew of the Pequod set off into none of them really knows what it is.” Bailey hasn’t read Moby Dick though. Cremorne Theatre, QPAC, on August 30. space on a journey of exploration led by In Ishmael, Ahab must navigate the And after all, this is not Moby Dick. But Instead of the usual clever puppet Captain Ahab, a woman this time around immensity of space in the same way that that’s where the inspiration comes from creatures that we saw in productions such (Barbara Lowing). Ishmael is also a girl, Ahab in Moby Dick had to navigate the and it will be fascinating to see what David as Laser Beak Man and Storm Boy, this one popular Brisbane actor Ellen Bailey and vast ocean. Morton has done with it. will feature constructions that will be Patrick Jhanur is Queequeg who is, in this This modern production plays out like a Ishmael, August 30 to September 11, Cremorne projected during the play, a story about instance, an AI droid that has escaped from film on stage (it is presented in association Theatre, QPAC. qpac.com.au

18 QWEEKEND.COM.AU AUGUST 7-8, 2021 V1 - BCME01Z01QW ARTS

Phil Brown CULTURE CLUB

Watch Dr Death Stan What Dr Christopher Duntsch (pictured), played by Joshua Jackson, did to his patients was criminal. How he was able to keep doing operations that killed and maimed will have you screaming at the medical “club”.

Read Animal Lisa Taddeo Simon & Schuster, $28 From the author of the bestselling novel Three Women, Animal is the disturbing and difficult tale of Joan, a woman who has spent her life being abused and taken advantage of by men. Explores female rage and friendship.

Watch Thin Ice SBS On Demand JOB PERKS: The cranky Richard E. Grant; Barry Humphries and Phil Brown at Philip Bacon Galleries; and jazz and piano lover Viggo Mortensen. A research vessel is attacked off the Greenland coast just yarn and a terrific film. And I have also as the Arctic Council is “I have also met Lord Archer met Jeffrey Archer (Lord Archer) a about to meet to vote on a treaty to number of times. I like him. He’s a ban oil extraction in the Arctic. scoundrel. Incredible scenery and a taut plot a number of times. I like OK, I know all this sounds like name against a background of climate dropping, and it is, but it’s part of the job change politics. him. He’s a scoundrel” and it makes it all the more interesting. I have got up close and personal with Hugh Jackman, which was a delight (he’s Read exactly as you imagine him) and have Futuresteading ne of the perks of my job over but was rebuffed by his manager. The interviewed Kylie Minogue and even Jade Miles the years has been the people photographer and I lurked nearby for Hoges. Willem Dafoe was another Murdoch Books, $40 I have met and interviewed. a while though, undeterred, and when his standout, a real sweetheart. Sometimes The author lives with That started early on when manager went to deal with some these people are just voices on the other her family on 8ha OI worked at Radio 4GG on the Gold Coast paperwork there was Cleese sitting by end of the phone … like Daniel Craig who Black Barn Farm in which was a bit of a celebrity hub. I got to himself so we pounced and got our scoop. was charming. One of the nicest blokes Victoria and has devised a guide to meet people such as Barry Humphries I had a minute or two with him before the I’ve interviewed was that terrific Danish taking your future in your hands, with and the actor Noel Ferrier and even irate manager chased us into the car park. American actor Viggo Mortensen, who tips for repurposing goods, growing, Bernard King who was what they used to I have met many other celebrities in was so great in Green Book. We share a creating and cooking, with loads of call flamboyant. the arts and entertainment sphere since love of poetry and jazz and at the end of simple, nourishing recipes. A little later as a callow young reporter and I guess I’m rather fortunate. I got to the interview he asked for my address so at The Morning Bulletin in Rockhampton know Humphries over the years as he’s he could send me some books and his I got to meet Spike Milligan, for example, been a regular visitor to Queensland and latest CD. (He plays jazz piano.) Read one of my comedy idols and the late great despite once describing Australia as “the I didn’t really expect him to follow Footy Banners Sir Harry Secombe, actors Googie Brisbane of the world” he loves the joint. through but a couple of weeks later a Leigh Mayrick and Withers and her husband John I even covered his art exhibition at Philip package from Viggo arrived. What a guy. Matt Hagias McCallum, and many more. Bacon Galleries some years ago and that Of course sometimes an interview can Simon & Schuster, $33 Then I shunted back to my home was quite something. Humphries is a go wrong. I was really looking forward to For more than 80 territory to work for The Gold Coast talented painter and a charming man, a interviewing Richard E . Grant when he years, the banner, or run- Bulletin where I got an exclusive comic genius and I’m glad to know him. came to town. We met by the river at the through, has been an integral part of interview with John Cleese. That was in I’ve met many authors I admire, Stamford Plaza Brisbane and the AFL, and now the tradition has its own the early ’80s when he was huge. They including Peter Carey on a number of interview was a disaster from the get go. book that celebrates the best, funniest told me he wasn’t doing interviews but occasions, the great David Malouf (a He was grumpy and dismissive, possibly and most controversial banners from I was sent to Coolangatta airport to try humble, lovely man), and I once got to tired after being on the road for a while. every club. It’s a great gift for the footy and get one anyway as he arrived. meet Frederick Forsyth who wrote that Or maybe he just didn’t like the fact we tragic in your life. I spotted him and his small entourage classic The Day of The Jackal, a ripping had the same hair style? I’ll never know.

V1 - BCME01Z01QW AUGUST 7-8, 2021 QWEEKEND.COM.AU 19 FASHION

Racer rib tank, $130, Inside My Wardrobe byjohnny.com.au Sonia

Amaia blazer, Kruger $700, camillaand TV presenter, 55 marc.com

Interview ANNABEL FALCO

She’s the queen of talk shows and statement red carpet dressing. Effortlessly switching from classic neutrals by day to red Dolce and Gabbana suits by night, Sonia makes anything look Sonia’s stylish. She claims confidence, a good pair of jeans and a Jimmy Choo crossbody bag will take you STYLE QUEEN: The anywhere. Voice host Sonia Kruger Tempo check wide claims to be a fashion leg trouser, $695, minimalist in her zimmermann How would you describe your downtime but certainly wear. com personal style? I’m probably a brings the wow factor fashion minimalist in my when the camera’s on. personal time. I don’t like to think too much about getting dressed. I tend to stick to neutrals and dark colours and What would you buy if money were very rarely wear anything bright no object? The Cartier Panther ring unless I’m presenting. (pictured).

Who are your style icons? I love Summer or winter fashion? Summer. seeing pics of Rosie Huntington- Whiteley as she looks amazing in What kind of handbag do you use? A everything. Robin Wright in character on crossbody bag that lets me be hands- House of Cards also inspires me with free and is big enough to fit work and strong, sexy, boss lady vibes. mum stuff. My current favourite is a Jimmy Choo shearling bag I bought on What’s the oldest thing in your sale in New York 10 years ago. It never wardrobe? A little burnt orange Gucci at the last minute I went down Sunset dates and is the perfect winter bag. bag with an antique gold chain I bought in Boulevard and bought a red Dolce and Madrid while I was there shooting an Gabbana suit. It was super pricey but I loved Denim or dresses? Denim. interview with David Beckham. It was it and it gave me the confidence I needed to Alex Perry, Addilyn the very first designer item I ever wrangle movie stars on the red carpet. Minimalist or clothes hoarder? I try to be sequined crepe purchased and people still comment on a minimalist but it’s a work in progress. midi dress, it today. What is the most surprising thing in your $1,664.73, net-a- wardrobe? A snake-print Balmain Heels or sneakers? Sneakers at home and porter.com What are your favourite brands? I have a jumpsuit. heels at work. lot so stand by … Alex Perry, Toni Maticevski, Dion Lee, Balmain, David Top three wardrobe must haves? A good Is there anything from your wardrobe Koma, The Row, Prada, Shona Joy, pair of jeans, a cool pair of sneakers and a you’ve regretted throwing out? I had an Baker in sky Zimmermann, By Johnny, Scanlan cosy warm overcoat. amazing pair of OneTeaspoon shorts that I blue leather, Theodore, Manning Cartell, Carla literally wore to death … RIP Bandits. $219.95, Zampatti, Bianca Spender, Nicola Finetti, What is the most sentimental item in aliasmae.com Ksubi … and so many more. your wardrobe and why? The dress Alex How many pairs of shoes do you own? 35 Perry custom made for my 40th birthday … yep, probably don’t need any more shoes. What’s the most you have ever spent on an (pictured inset left). Not only is Alex one outfit? I was covering the Academy Awards of Australia’s best designers, he’s also The Voice, Channel 7, Sunday, 7pm in Los Angeles and the weather made the a dear friend and he made me the perfect dress I was planning to wear not practical so party dress that I will keep forever.

20 QWEEKEND.COM.AU AUGUST 7-8, 2021 V1 - BCME01Z01QW FASHION CAFE

Racer rib tank, $130, Inside My Wardrobe byjohnny.com.au Burger Sonia with the lot

Amaia blazer, A Gold Coast eatery opposite the Kruger $700, camillaand beach is a vibrant venue that TV presenter, 55 marc.com delivers on every front

Review ANOOSKA TUCKER-EVANS

Interview ANNABEL FALCO y god that’s a good burger,” I declare, handing it over – rather reluctantly – to my She’s the queen of talk shows and friend for a taste. statement red carpet dressing. Effortlessly ‘M“I love the bun and that tomato relish on the switching from classic neutrals by day to bottom – it really makes it,” he says, analysing red Dolce and Gabbana suits by night, each bite of the wagyu creation ($19) Sonia makes anything look Sonia’s encompassing a plain but juicy beef pattie, fresh It’s the deliciously healthy antithesis to the cafe’s stylish. She claims tomato slices, baby spinach, smoky bacon, a stupidly good white chocolate and Oreo confidence, a good pair of good glug of garlic aioli and barely melted aged milkshake ($9.50), so thick with cookie crumbs jeans and a Jimmy Choo cheddar on a toasted, just-sweet, buttery bun. and vanilla ice cream it’s like slurping up cement. crossbody bag will take you STYLE QUEEN: The In a culinary landscape where everyone from My friend also raves about the new Biscoff anywhere. Voice host Sonia Kruger Tempo check wide the local pub to fine dining restaurants are hot chocolate ($7), with the popular caramelised leg trouser, $695, claims to be a fashion rolling out burgers, Elk Espresso at Broadbeach Elk Espresso cinnamon shortcrust biscuit blended into a minimalist in her zimmermann How would you describe your wear. com on the Gold Coast is nailing it with this classic sugary, almost chai-like milky mix. Elk is also downtime but certainly Food personal style? I’m probably a brings the wow factor rendition served with a side of shoestring fries. loved for its coffee, with the strikingly strong, fashion minimalist in my when the camera’s on. And it’s this skill and ability to master the hhhhk jolt-inducing brews using beans from Proud personal time. I don’t like to basics that feeds the award-winning cafe’s Ambience Mary Coffee Roasters for their house blend; think too much about getting signature inventive and trendsetting breakfast hhhhj whereas alternative brew methods are made dressed. I tend to stick to creations. Changing every three months to Service All SEASONS: Elk Espresso (top) creates innovative with beans from a rotating list of Australian neutrals and dark colours and What would you buy if money were make the most of each season’s finest fresh and hhhhk dishes, including its peach cobbler French toast. roasters. A tight list of cocktails, wine and Stone very rarely wear anything bright no object? The Cartier Panther ring locally sourced produce, the out-of-the-box & Wood beers are available too; plus booze unless I’m presenting. (pictured). menus at Elk have given the eatery cult status in Value hounds can celebrate brunch from 10am-2pm Queensland. hhhhj offering of salads, burgers and more, such as the daily with bottomless mimosas for an hour for Who are your style icons? I love Summer or winter fashion? Summer. There’s the always photogenic panna cotta – Overall peach cobbler French toast. While the “breaky $39 including a meal. seeing pics of Rosie Huntington- this winter a banana and maple version served hhhhk bowl” undergoes a few tweaks to become a Although the food is always the focus at Elk, Whiteley as she looks amazing in What kind of handbag do you use? A with house-made granola, fresh fruit and “winter salad” ($17) after 12pm, packing in brown it’s the expertly efficient service team taking on everything. Robin Wright in character on crossbody bag that lets me be hands- blackberry yoghurt; the waffle, which this time Shop G044, Oasis rice, chunks of charry zucchini, cubed butternut the supporting role that enable it to shine as House of Cards also inspires me with free and is big enough to fit work and takes on a sweet-savoury profile combining Shopping Centre, pumpkin, XO-glazed brussels sprouts, which brightly as it does. strong, sexy, boss lady vibes. mum stuff. My current favourite is a buttermilk fried chicken with salted caramel Broadbeach have been fried until blackened and crispy, So whether you’re lucky enough to score a Jimmy Choo shearling bag I bought on bourbon ice cream; and a breakfast pasta dish of elkespresso.net rocket, creamy feta, pepitas and a beyond table outside with glimpses of the ocean, or What’s the oldest thing in your sale in New York 10 years ago. It never some sort – currently a gnocchi shakshuka. Open 5.45am-4pm generous scattering of Moroccan-spiced roasted settle into the charmingly buzzy, mint green wardrobe? A little burnt orange Gucci at the last minute I went down Sunset dates and is the perfect winter bag. The breakfast menu stops at midday, but (kitchen closes at 3pm) macadamias. There’s also the option to add interior space with its hanging plants and elk bag with an antique gold chain I bought in Boulevard and bought a red Dolce and some of the specialties roll into the lunchtime proteins such as grilled chicken or salmon. mural, this cafe provides year-round appeal. Madrid while I was there shooting an Gabbana suit. It was super pricey but I loved Denim or dresses? Denim. interview with David Beckham. It was it and it gave me the confidence I needed to Alex Perry, Addilyn the very first designer item I ever wrangle movie stars on the red carpet. Minimalist or clothes hoarder? I try to be sequined crepe purchased and people still comment on a minimalist but it’s a work in progress. midi dress, it today. What is the most surprising thing in your $1,664.73, net-a- WHAT’S NEW wardrobe? A snake-print Balmain Heels or sneakers? Sneakers at home and porter.com What are your favourite brands? I have a jumpsuit. heels at work. lot so stand by … Alex Perry, Toni Maticevski, Dion Lee, Balmain, David Top three wardrobe must haves? A good Is there anything from your wardrobe Koma, The Row, Prada, Shona Joy, pair of jeans, a cool pair of sneakers and a you’ve regretted throwing out? I had an Baker in sky CARRY ON Zimmermann, By Johnny, Scanlan cosy warm overcoat. amazing pair of OneTeaspoon shorts that I blue leather, Kind Bag UNDER SEAL Theodore, Manning Cartell, Carla literally wore to death … RIP Bandits. $219.95, recycled from Pivot wine Zampatti, Bianca Spender, Nicola Finetti, What is the most sentimental item in aliasmae.com plastic bottles in preservation Ksubi … and so many more. your wardrobe and why? The dress Alex How many pairs of shoes do you own? 35 pomegranate, system, $184.95, Perry custom made for my 40th birthday … yep, probably don’t need any more shoes. medium $19.95, coravin.com.au What’s the most you have ever spent on an (pictured inset left). Not only is Alex one until.com.au outfit? I was covering the Academy Awards of Australia’s best designers, he’s also The Voice, Channel 7, Sunday, 7pm POUR ME CRYSTAL CLEAR in Los Angeles and the weather made the a dear friend and he made me the perfect Hav 1.2 litre teapot with bronze handle, Irish Lace hand-blown and hand-cut large dress I was planning to wear not practical so party dress that I will keep forever. $799, royal.copenhagen.com.au crystal bowl, $1199, waterfordcrystal.com.au

20 QWEEKEND.COM.AU AUGUST 7-8, 2021 V1 - BCME01Z01QW V1 - BCME01Z01QW AUGUST 7-8, 2021 QWEEKEND.COM.AU 21 RECIPE DINING BIG MEATBALLS From Every Night of the Week Recipe LUCY TWEED

Makes 8 Roll the mixture into eight balls. Ingredients Cut the mozzarella into eight 3cm l 1 sourdough loaf chunks (thinly slice whatever is left and use l 2 cups (500ml) milk it to top the meatballs later). l 1kg mixed pork and veal mince Push a chunk of mozza into the centre l 1 white onion, diced of each ball, moulding the mince back l 3 garlic cloves, crushed around it into a ball. l handful of chopped flat-leaf parsley Preheat the oven to 200C. l 3 tbsp finely chopped oregano Spray the base of a 35cm non-stick l 1 tbsp freshly ground black pepper ovenproof frying pan with oil, then sear the l 2 tbsp sea salt meatballs over high heat for 1-2 minutes l 200g mozzarella each side. l olive oil spray This is a delicate procedure, and you l ½ bunch basil, leaves picked and could cheat a bit and just brown them chopped under the grill for 5 minutes a side. l 700g tomato passata (pureed tomatoes) Either way, you are bound to have one l Optional ingredients: Friends that splits but this is a super-rustic messy affair, so embrace whatever happens. Remove the meatballs from the pan, Depending on the time of day, you can then place the pan over medium heat. enjoy these with reckless abandon. The joy Saute the remaining garlic for 5 minutes, of eating these, especially with a group of then add the basil, passata and 1½ cups like-minded freaks, will have you sliding (375ml) of water and simmer for 5 minutes. into a state of lipsmacking euphoria. Pop the big boys back in (any splits should face up) and top with the thin slices explosion burger of pulled pork, brisket and Method: of mozza. bacon with coleslaw and cheese; plus the Cut the loaf of sourdough in half. Remove Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, until traditional platters of your carnivorous dreams. the crust and tear up the bread from one cooked through and oozing melted Barbecue The Phat Boyz Box ($40) says it serves one – half (about 2 cups’ worth), and save the insanity. but only if that one is a 120kg rugby union player other half to serve. Soak the torn bread in No plates + giant chunks of hand-torn who has been starving for a week. Enough to the milk for 20 minutes, then drain and bread + linen napkins + red sauce = big fat From Every Night of the cause some serious meat sweats, the box discard the milk. smiles* of “Really? We’re just going in like Week by Lucy Tweed, Phat Boyz features chunks of fatty, tender beef brisket; a Place the milky bread, mince, onion, 2 this?” from your guests. photographs Lucy Tweed, outlet’s smokin’ Smokehouse nest of juicy pulled pork; two finger-licking cloves of garlic, parsley, oregano, pepper and *I will often ignore/wilfully misread a Murdoch Books, $35. and Kitchen chicken wings in an almost fruity mustard-based salt in a large bowl and mix to combine. grimace as a smile. I recommend it. vinegary sauce; the spice-laden sausages known Patrons can’t get in the door quickly enough at a bold new Food as jalapeño and cheese links; a bowl of what’s blockbuster operation in Ipswich that’s not afraid to take risks hhhjj supposed to be smoked tex beans but is purely Ambience acidy tomato and onion minus the beans; a hhhkj butter-hued milk bun and a tangle of coleslaw. Grange. The Superblends were bottled in more peach and nectarine on the palate – Review ANOOSKA TUCKER-EVANS Service It’s perfectly paired with the Lemon Lime secret. Superblend A (68 per cent cabernet, and a talc and chalk minerality – in hhhkj Sour beer from the Hunter Valley’s Hope 32 per cent shiraz) has a palate of plums Penfolds Bin 311 Chardonnay 2020 ($50). Estate, which cuts through all that connective and berries, and is effortlessly luxuriant. Schroeter and his team were also n a newly developed housing estate in an It’s casual, relaxed and befitting a barbecue Value tissue and gelatine fattiness with its Warhead- There is a faint hint of polished timber with responsible for the Penfolds Bin 51 Eden outer suburb of Ipswich comes one of joint, with the 5m, two-tonne smoker hhhhj like sourness. The drinks list also boasts plenty tasting notes suggesting this was because of Valley Riesling ($40). Cool fermentation Queensland’s hottest restaurant openings nicknamed “La Loco Moonshine Express” and Overall of other Australian craft beers from the likes of its 22-month “slumber” in American oak and early bottling preserve the fruit quality. of the year, the surprising hit Phat Boyz the magical-looking copper and brass “Sweet hhhkj Black Hops, Ballistic and Slipstream. Wines hogsheads. Superblend B (55 per cent Bin 51 smells vaguely of lemon curd, honey ISmokehouse and Kitchen in Walloon. Smoke Express” used to produce barbecue come almost exclusively from Hope Estate and cabernet, 45 per cent shiraz) was aged for and poached pears, and delivers attractive The American barbecue venture is the work desserts the stars of the space. Must try it would be nice to see a bit more variety, but for Quaff 19 months in French oak and has savoury lime and barley water flavours. of Ipswich local Luke Saggus, who began With the restaurant’s catering arm booked Beef brisket that there is the kooky cocktail list, including a demeanour. It’s dusty, with chocolate and Penfolds’ “house style” of blending ripe competing in barbecue competitions from his out until 2023 and an online following of more Tom Collins made with green ant-infused gin. DES HOUGHTON sweet paprika flavours with a core of pure fruit from several regions is on show in backyard shed in 2017, and selling a range of than 21,000, the venue had thousands of 7001 Parkland Drive, Ribs are a ubiquitous smokehouse inclusion fruit. Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 smokers, charcoal, sauces and utensils online, at customers reach out, desperate to be among the Walloon and here they come as a half ($32) or whole rack The Penfolds Grange 2017 ($950) is NEW RELEASE: Penfolds secretive Superblends. ($650) with lashings of blackcurrant fruit local markets and even from his home. first to reserve a table. Since the June 5 opening, 5464 5198 ($50) of pork in a not-too-sweet, pepper- rather special in that it is only the seventh with violet and herbal fragrances like dried The demand for his carnivore creations the interest has been unrelenting with weekends phatboyz.com.au dominant barbecue sauce with tangy slaw and enfolds Grange may be this Grange to be made entirely of shiraz. would “patiently await judgment in 2071”. lavender and cigar leaf. quickly boomed, prompting him to lease a continually booking out at lunch and dinner. Open Mon-Thu 6am- chips. Ours are a little dry, but what isn’t is the nation’s ultimate expression of As expected, there is aromatic The pristine Penfolds Yattarna There is an equally lavish and warehouse in an industrial area in Bundamba, Friendly and helpful staff run diners through 9pm, Fri-Sat 6am- fried chicken patty inside the American-inspired hedonism. complexity, a torrent of rich fruit and ripe Chardonnay 2019 ($175) is simply exquisite entertaining tasting note that speaks of where he cooked everything from butter-soft the ordering system – an iPad menu operating 10pm, Sun 6am-8pm quirky Peanut Butter and Jelly Fried Chicken The release of the 2021 tannins. The firm tannins will ensure it and a triumph for Penfolds chief white “bursts of sea spray” and hints of “roasted brisket to pulled pork for endless queues. like an online shopping cart where guests can Burger ($24). The buttermilk and flour-coated, PPenfolds collection coincides with the 70th matures well over the next two decades. wine maker, Kym Schroeter. On the nose meats”, “rendered fat in tandem with After three years running the hugely popular add their names to their order to allow for big southern-style poultry is juicier than a freshly anniversary of the mighty Grange. The ageing potential is phenomenal, Yattarna delivers a wet stone minerality. cinnamon”, “iodine” and “haemoglobin”. takeaway-style operation, Saggus was finally tables to split bills by name. It’s easy enough to picked orange, and comes with a sweet bacon However, the historic Grange was said chief winemaker Peter Gago. “The On the palate there are citrus, white peach, Haemoglobin? Now I’ve heard everything. ready for a more permanent operation and so use and makes ordering faster when the place is jam, lettuce, tomato and satay sauce. My friend somewhat overshadowed at the launch by original aspiration for Grange was to create pear and nectarine flavours. Penfolds RWT Bin 798 Barossa Valley the Walloon eatery was conceived. pumping on weekends, while a call button is also loves it but I’d prefer it without the PB element. a set of impressive whites – and the a red wine “capable of staying alive for a Schroeter told me he likes to pick early Shiraz 2019 ($200) is densely purple, The first retail tenancy in the new Waterlea included for any questions. MEATY SERVES: However, points have to be given for being mysterious arrival of two new “flagship” minimum of 20 years”. to capture the “limey, grapefruit flavours”. exceedingly complex and marked by estate, Phat Boyz sits in a lofty, industrial The menu is a behemoth running from (Clockwise from main) experimental and Phat Boyz Smokehouse is wines to stand alongside Grange. “Tell that to sexagenarian vintages such While Yattarna is a multi-regional blend cedary French oak. building with a well-stocked, timber-fronted bar entrees like loaded fries, vegetable stacks and Phat Boyz Smokehouse certainly that. From opening in an untested Penfolds Superblend 2018 802 A as ’52, ’53, ’55 and ’62. (They are still) the Penfolds Reserve Bin A Chardonnay Penfolds St Henri Shiraz 2018 ($135) is a and counter inside, while the majority of the wings to fancy low and slow dishes including a and Kitchen, the Phat market in an unknown location to trying out Boyz Box and the Peanut Cabernet Shiraz, and Penfolds Superblend stunningly drinkable in 2021.” 2020 ($125) is solely from Adelaide Hills multi-regional blend and this is a superb seating is outdoors under a multi-level, pitched smoked beef ramen and asado chicken salad. Butter and Jelly Fried smoked desserts and breakfasts, this is a 2018 802 B Cabernet Shiraz ($900 each) Modern Grange vintages such as ’08, ’10 fruit. Bin A is more ostentatious. It and the vintage, effortless, and mouth-watering. roof looking over a perfectly mowed lawn for There are also burgers, hotdogs and sandwiches Chicken Burger. Pictures: business that’s unafraid to take risks and that have been released globally with the and ’16 had massive cellaring potential and Yattarna will improve with age. There was [email protected] kids to play on and a sprawling green space. like a Philly cheesesteak; the signature meat Mark Cranitch should always be applauded.

22 QWEEKEND.COM.AU AUGUST 7-8, 2021 V1 - BCME01Z01QW V1 - BCME01Z01QW AUGUST 7-8, 2021 QWEEKEND.COM.AU 23 DINING

explosion burger of pulled pork, brisket and bacon with coleslaw and cheese; plus the traditional platters of your carnivorous dreams. Barbecue The Phat Boyz Box ($40) says it serves one – but only if that one is a 120kg rugby union player who has been starving for a week. Enough to cause some serious meat sweats, the box Phat Boyz features chunks of fatty, tender beef brisket; a outlet’s smokin’ Smokehouse nest of juicy pulled pork; two finger-licking and Kitchen chicken wings in an almost fruity mustard-based vinegary sauce; the spice-laden sausages known Patrons can’t get in the door quickly enough at a bold new Food as jalapeño and cheese links; a bowl of what’s blockbuster operation in Ipswich that’s not afraid to take risks hhhjj supposed to be smoked tex beans but is purely Ambience acidy tomato and onion minus the beans; a hhhkj butter-hued milk bun and a tangle of coleslaw. Review ANOOSKA TUCKER-EVANS Service It’s perfectly paired with the Lemon Lime hhhkj Sour beer from the Hunter Valley’s Hope Estate, which cuts through all that connective n a newly developed housing estate in an It’s casual, relaxed and befitting a barbecue Value tissue and gelatine fattiness with its Warhead- outer suburb of Ipswich comes one of joint, with the 5m, two-tonne smoker hhhhj like sourness. The drinks list also boasts plenty Queensland’s hottest restaurant openings nicknamed “La Loco Moonshine Express” and Overall of other Australian craft beers from the likes of of the year, the surprising hit Phat Boyz the magical-looking copper and brass “Sweet hhhkj Black Hops, Ballistic and Slipstream. Wines ISmokehouse and Kitchen in Walloon. Smoke Express” used to produce barbecue come almost exclusively from Hope Estate and The American barbecue venture is the work desserts the stars of the space. Must try it would be nice to see a bit more variety, but for of Ipswich local Luke Saggus, who began With the restaurant’s catering arm booked Beef brisket that there is the kooky cocktail list, including a competing in barbecue competitions from his out until 2023 and an online following of more Tom Collins made with green ant-infused gin. backyard shed in 2017, and selling a range of than 21,000, the venue had thousands of 7001 Parkland Drive, Ribs are a ubiquitous smokehouse inclusion smokers, charcoal, sauces and utensils online, at customers reach out, desperate to be among the Walloon and here they come as a half ($32) or whole rack local markets and even from his home. first to reserve a table. Since the June 5 opening, 5464 5198 ($50) of pork in a not-too-sweet, pepper- The demand for his carnivore creations the interest has been unrelenting with weekends phatboyz.com.au dominant barbecue sauce with tangy slaw and quickly boomed, prompting him to lease a continually booking out at lunch and dinner. Open Mon-Thu 6am- chips. Ours are a little dry, but what isn’t is the warehouse in an industrial area in Bundamba, Friendly and helpful staff run diners through 9pm, Fri-Sat 6am- fried chicken patty inside the American-inspired where he cooked everything from butter-soft the ordering system – an iPad menu operating 10pm, Sun 6am-8pm quirky Peanut Butter and Jelly Fried Chicken brisket to pulled pork for endless queues. like an online shopping cart where guests can Burger ($24). The buttermilk and flour-coated, After three years running the hugely popular add their names to their order to allow for big southern-style poultry is juicier than a freshly takeaway-style operation, Saggus was finally tables to split bills by name. It’s easy enough to picked orange, and comes with a sweet bacon ready for a more permanent operation and so use and makes ordering faster when the place is jam, lettuce, tomato and satay sauce. My friend the Walloon eatery was conceived. pumping on weekends, while a call button is also loves it but I’d prefer it without the PB element. The first retail tenancy in the new Waterlea included for any questions. MEATY SERVES: However, points have to be given for being estate, Phat Boyz sits in a lofty, industrial The menu is a behemoth running from (Clockwise from main) experimental and Phat Boyz Smokehouse is building with a well-stocked, timber-fronted bar entrees like loaded fries, vegetable stacks and Phat Boyz Smokehouse certainly that. From opening in an untested and counter inside, while the majority of the wings to fancy low and slow dishes including a and Kitchen, the Phat market in an unknown location to trying out Boyz Box and the Peanut seating is outdoors under a multi-level, pitched smoked beef ramen and asado chicken salad. Butter and Jelly Fried smoked desserts and breakfasts, this is a roof looking over a perfectly mowed lawn for There are also burgers, hotdogs and sandwiches Chicken Burger. Pictures: business that’s unafraid to take risks and that kids to play on and a sprawling green space. like a Philly cheesesteak; the signature meat Mark Cranitch should always be applauded.

V1 - BCME01Z01QW AUGUST 7-8, 2021 QWEEKEND.COM.AU 23 TRAVEL

e’re almost 1700km from context the geology, history, flora and Brisbane, 255km from fauna of a unique part of Australia. Cairns, many metres Undara runs specialty tours through the underground, and immersed tubes, their knowledgeable guides Cool visit Win the remnants of a series of fortunate shepherding visitors onto minibuses and geological events. then walking them through the Almost 200,000 years ago, the Gulf underground experience they’ve come so Savannah country above us was a very far to see. different place as molten lava flowed The tubes are impressively large and are to molten 160km from a North Queensland volcano. accessed via stairs and boardwalks which The lava followed a river bed and its begin in patches of remnant dry rainforest outer shell cooled into a pipe (or tube) then head underground. while the red-hot liquid rock inside The tunnels offer respite from warm continued to flow. conditions above ground (even during memento Now, what was once red-hot rock is winter) and are a pleasant place to wander a cool travel experience because sections on a hot day. of those pipes collapsed, creating giant If you’re planning on photographing lava tube tunnels that are the focal point underground, be aware that you can’t use Undara Volcanic National Park in north Queensland offers up of Queensland’s Undara Volcanic flash so a portable tripod and a wide-angle a fascinating brush with Australia’s natural history National Park. lens is handy. They’re also the basis of a family-run The walking is easy and on our tour, tourism business called the Undara we’re offered the opportunity to take our Story NEALE MAYNARD Experience, an operation that puts into shoes off and walk barefoot through

24 QWEEKEND.COM.AU AUGUST 7-8, 2021 V1 - BCME01Z01QW TINY RETREAT FIRES THE IMAGINATION

Story SIMON BEVILACQUA

There is something cathartic about stirring the embers of a fire with a poker. And that sense of comfort is enhanced when the Southern Cross shines brightly alongside a yellow moon overhead. Such moments of tranquillity are usually to be found in the outdoors but what if you could find such simple pleasure in the most densely populated quarter of a capital city? That is precisely what Monty’s Hideaway offers, among a range of BOOK IT NOW BUSY SITE: The lava tubes at Undarra, seen from walkways; and (below right) the meals area, boutique apartment accommodation to including an opened-up train carriage; and a rainbow lorikeet. Pictures: Neale Maynard be found at the Old Bishop’s Quarters Old Bishop’s Quarters, in Hobart’s leafy inner-city suburb of 26 Fitzroy Place, Sandy Bay Sandy Bay. Tucked away in the privacy ● The Old Bishop’s Quarters offers of a beautiful old established garden on self-contained, boutique apartment- the historic 1837 property, the delightful style accommodation, from the School little hideaway is a converted shipping House to the Old Housekeeper’s, and container that has been transformed Tutor’s Apartment, in the grounds of into a very luxurious cabin. a heritage home and garden. There’s a small brazier on its tiny ● Rooms range in price from $150 to veranda, with comfy chairs and $240 a night; Monty’s Hideaway is blankets to chase away the chill. $150 a night. Inside the cabin it is toasty warm, ● (03) 6240 1887 with just enough room for a large ● bishopsquarters.com.au bedroom, and an adjoining bathroom which is as good as you will find in the very finest hotels. The cabin has reportedly always in trouble and often BOOK IT NOW What’s surprising is how many people underfloor heating, a heated towel rail, ran away into the gardens for long come to Undara – considering its relative Sonos, Wi-Fi, TV, fridge, tea and coffee periods, perhaps somewhere near Undara Experience, remoteness it’s a tourist magnet and not facilities, high-quality linen and towels. where the hideaway is now. Undara Volcanic National Park, just for grey nomads and those on outback But the most wonderful aspect of the But along the path to manhood Savannah Way, North Queensland bus tours. cabin is that there is a little button next Monty lost his childhood appetite for ● We stayed in a Pioneer Hut Good sealed road to Cairns means that to the bed that opens the roof to expose hiding to lead British and Allied forces (airconditioning, fridge and tea and you don’t need a four-wheel-drive to get the night sky, the stars, the moon and in full-frontal assaults in World War II. coffee-making facilities and private here, and good facilities mean that when the passing clouds – all to be seen from He commanded the British Eighth veranda) for $195 a night; railway you arrive, you’re not roughing it. the snug warmth under a thick doona. Army from 1942, through the Second carriage stays cost from $188 per night; Undara made a name for itself by Monty’s Hideaway is named after Battle of El Alamein and on to the final twin-swags tent costs $80 a night. offering accommodation in restored Field Marshall Bernard Law Allied victory in Tunisia in 1943, and ● Bookings essential railway carriages, but the operators also Montgomery, 1st Viscount was at the helm for the invasions of ● [email protected] offer more modern airconditioned cabins Montgomery of Alamein, arguably Sicily and Italy. He was also in charge of ● 1800 990 992 as well as camping spots for those who Tasmania’s most famous resident. Allied ground forces in the Battle of ● undara.com.au want to get closer to nature. Monty, as he was known, grew up in Normandy from D-Day, June 6, to The railway carriages (with one side Hobart on this property after his father September 1, 1944. removed so the seats work as dining was made Bishop of Tasmania at the This is definitely a property with a receding water from an unseasonal flood booths) also line part of the central meals start of the 20th century. Monty was sense of history. event. Local wildlife includes wallaroos, area of the resort. birds, and microbats which live inside the Tours are the best way to make the most lava tubes. of the visit and the Archway Explorer tour As well as the guided tours of the lava is $60.50 per adult and $32 per child, tubes, there’s a self-guided walk which bookings essential. Undara also offers a leads to a ridge overlooking the main Wind Tunnel Explorer tour (same prices as Undara camp and the trail continues to a the Archway tour) and a Wildlife at Sunset nearby swamp area with a healthy bird tour ($60 per adult and $30 per child. This population. For twitchers, there are includes refreshments with a fruit and rainbow lorikeets in the trees around the cheese platter). cabins, a cheeky kookaburra which perches We flew to Cairns and included Undara in the rafters above the main eating area as part of a week-long tour of the far north, looking for an unguarded steak, and overnighting at Atherton on the beautiful striated pardalotes (as well as 134 Tablelands the night before our 10.30am other species, according to Queensland’s tour, which lasted two hours. There’s also a Department of Environment and Science). 1pm tour of the same duration. After a day touring the lava tubes you’ll The Atherton-Undara drive is 190km or build up an appetite (and a thirst) and about 2¼ hours. Undara’s operators cater for both with Make sure you book ahead – it’s a good meals and a well-stocked bar. popular spot. SNUG: Monty’s Hideaway; and (top) the School House. Pictures: The Tasmanian Tuxedo

V1 - BCME01Z01QW AUGUST 7-8, 2021 QWEEKEND.COM.AU 25 BOOKS

CHAMBER PIECE: Author Alice Pung explores the excesses of parental control in her new REVIEWS Love novel. Picture: Courtney Brown excesses of parental control, which is not confined to just one culture. I had a friend growing up whose parents loved her so and much that they did not let her read Harry Potter because they believed that was work of the devil; and another who fell pregnant and had to let her mum raise the baby, while she was forced to be the baby’s control “sister”. In fact, this “control” kind of child- rearing was the commonly accepted way of A novel about a pregnant bringing up children half a century ago.

teenager confined to a flat by Racism is also a big theme and the Fiction Thriller her mother has real-life experience of first-generation migrant The Enemy Within The Favour children. All generations seem to Tim Ayliffe, Simon & Schuster, $33 Rebecca Freeborn, Pantera Press, $30 resonance for Alice Pung experience it, unfortunately. However,

PICTURE: GINA MILICIA there is a particular virulence directed John Bailey is a journalist researching the Best friends are often called partners in n Melbourne author Alice Pung’s against immigrants and refugees who are rise of Australia’s alt-right but he becomes crime – which turns out to be literally true fractured fairytale One Hundred first generation, especially if they are the story. The recovering alcoholic and in the friendship of Quinn and Hannah, Q+A Days, 16-year-old Karuna falls perceived not to speak English properly. father of one sets off a chain of events the central characters in The Favour. pregnant in an act of defiance and Also, female Asians experience a rather that puts a target on the backs of the Since meeting at uni their lives have taken Ilust. Her mother is furious and confines her nasty form of objectification, especially people around him. It is a book about opposite paths – Hannah a married stay- to their 14th-storey housing commission when this book is set (1987) in the murder, corruption, racism, neo-Nazis, at-home mum with three kids, Quinn a MICHAEL flat to keep her safe and away from the aftermath of the Vietnam War. homelessness … and a sooky greyhound single, successful advertising executive. outside world. named Campo. It is fast-paced but with a When Quinn is assaulted at work her life How important was humour in your brilliant balance of action and substance. spirals downwards and revenge VEITCH This is a story about teen pregnancy but novel? The novel is a claustrophobic The characters, plot and settings are all dominates her thoughts. She reminds also about the mother/daughter chamber piece with only five main believable. Almost too believable. Set in Hannah of a long-held secret and the debt The comedian-turned author’s new book unpacks the relationship. How much of your own life characters and two main settings, so it was Sydney at the beginning of 2020, there she owes her. A compelling page turner and relationship informs the story? Last really important to make Karuna amusing are many references to the major news with characters who are in turns relatable forgotten battle that saved the Pacific during World War II year, Melbourne was under a strict in her own head, just as a means to keep stories and social issues of the day. and frustratingly foolhardy, this is a timely lockdown for more than 100 days. This was herself – and the reader – sane. Ayliffe is a veteran journalist and while exploration of grooming, sexual assault a case of truth mirroring fiction more than this is the third in a series it can easily be and toxic masculinity. South Australian anything else, since I began writing this You have written YA but did you read and enjoyed as a stand-alone novel. locations add to the fun. book four years ago. But I had to move intentionally write a book for adults? MELANIE BURGESS MAUREEN SHERLOCK Why was the 1943 Battle of the Gilbert’s The Signature of All Things. back in with my parents because I was was interested in exploring the educational Absolutely it is about control! She doesn’t Societally, we have this idea that teenagers Bismarck Sea so important? But stand by … pregnant. My mother is a little like and class gap between the two generations. want Karuna to get up to any more are still children, but in many cultures, and This was the final attempt made by A book that had a pivotal impact Karuna’s mother – she has a lot of love to Karuna’s mother is an illiterate, working- mischief. To this constantly stressed even here in Australia, in adverse the Japanese to take New Guinea, in on your life? A piece of military give, but she also cannot separate love from class single mother from a migrant working mother, staying home all day with circumstances these children have the the form of a large convoy carrying history by the brilliant but now control. I read somewhere that our parents background. Some reviewers cannot see a pantry full of food and a television set is duties and responsibilities of adults. It several thousand troops and their forgotten Fred Majdalany about the have a duty to feed and clothe us, but they the love in this novel and read it only as a the height of luxury, so she cannot fathom baffles me, this distinction between books equipment. Had they succeeded, Battle of Monte Cassino. I told myself don’t have a duty to understand us. I keep case of abuse, but I wanted to show the why her daughter would protest. for adults and teenagers – there is no line in the Pacific War would have dragged that if I could ever write something thinking about that. enormous stress such a woman would be the sand for me. on longer and been a far bloodier one tenth as good as he, I’d be under. Her parenting approach is not Even though the book explores these affair, particularly for Australia. happy. Still yet to achieve it. Karuna, the main character, is a Chinese- supportive, it is reactive; but she believes traditional Asian values, do you think What are you working on Has history always been a The book you couldn’t finish? Filipino Australian who is battling an she loves her daughter beyond measure. many people will see themselves or their now? A children’s book with fascination? Always. I think I’ve One or other of Barry Humphries’ overprotective mother who has lots of mothers in this story? I did not set out to my friend, the talented spent most of my life with my mind memoirs. superstitions. Is there a cultural gap as Karuna’s mother’s motivation for write a book about Asian values v Western illustrator Sher Rill Ng. in the past. A book you wish you had read well as a generational gap you wanted to keeping her confined for 100 days is values because I don’t believe in these fixed One Hundred Days by Alice Pung, Memoir Nonfiction Is there a book that made you but haven’t got to? Ulysses. I think explore? Not only is there a cultural gap, I cultural but is it also about control? concepts; but I did want to explore the Black Inc. $33 A Runner’s High The Beat of Life love writing? Gormenghast by I’ve missed the boat there. Dean Karnazes, Allen & Unwin, $30 Reinhard Friedl, Schwartz Books, $25.70 Mervyn Peake. I read it when I The book you are most proud to was 14 and it has never left me. have written? The Forgotten Ultra-marathon runner Karnazes is Making the long journey to English from Set in a vast Gothic castle so large Islands. Very few books have been nothing short of a superstar in his sport. the cardiologist author’s native German, that none of the inhabitants had written about the magical islands NON-FICTION RELEASES He has run 50 marathons in all 50 US The Beat of Life immediately grabs the ever seen the outside. I had no of Bass Strait, so I’m pleased to have states in 50 consecutive days, he’s run a reader’s attention as it veers dramatically idea such writing even existed contributed to this modest oeuvre. marathon to the South Pole and across away from the usual tried and tested at the time. What book do you re-read? Dissolve A Week in Too Migrant, Burnout The Platoon America’s Death Valley in summer. He’s scientific advice on heart health. This What’s the best book you’ve I’ve never successfully re-read a Nikki Gemmell September Too Muslim, Gordon Parker, Gabriella Commander been named by Time magazine as one of book is all about respecting the heart in all read? Impossible question! In any book, though not for want of trying. Hachette, $30 Peter Rees and Sue Too Loud Tavella and Kerrie Eyers John O’Halloran and the 100 most influential people in the its mystery, listening to it, and nurturing it case the list is constantly changing. What books are on your bedside A personal, intimate Langford Mehreen Faruqi Allen & Unwin, $33 Ric Teague world. Already a best-selling author, San- to maintain optimum health. Rather than I didn’t think anything could beat table? Meg Mason’s wondrous reflection on love HarperCollins, $17 Allen & Unwin, $33 Parker, who is a Hachette, $35 Francisco based Karnazes has written serving up more impenetrable Gormenghast, then Great Sorrow and Bliss, and Patrick and female creativity A cache of World From the Greens professor of From Tamworth in another memoir, a “love letter” to his information about drugs and physiology, Expectations when I was young. Lindsay’s The Coast Watchers. in a man’s world, and War II letters reveals senator for NSW, a psychiatry at UNSW NSW, O’Halloran sport. With a subtitle of “Older, Wiser, Dr Friedl encourages us to explore the That was then topped for a while Strange bedfellows, I know, but there what happens when it all the story of Scott Heywood, a civil and environmental engineer and founder of the Black Dog was called up for national service Slower, Stronger”, Karnazes writes that nexus between heart, brain and psyche. by The Fatal Shore, which was in you are. collides. Having lived through prisoner of war on the Burma and an advocate against racism Institute, and his co-authors just after the start of the Vietnam running, for him, is a way to escape If we all had Dr Friedl as a cardiologist, turn knocked off by Catch-22, Love What are you writing now? That the humiliation of having her Railway. On hidden scraps of and misogyny, this is a memoir examine why burnout became War. Aged just 21, he guided “humanity’s trappings”. He says: “I didn’t many of us would probably live a lot in the Time of Cholera, The Count last title might just be a clue. fiance cancel their wedding, paper he wrote almost daily to his and a manifesto. It details a life of rampant in 2020 and why certain 6RAR’s B Company 5 Platoon run to live longer; I ran to live fuller.” longer, or at least give ourselves the best of Monte Cristo, and many, many The Battle of the Bismarck Sea Gemmell resurfaced and, decades wife, Margery, home in Victoria. challenging dominant mindsets work environments and through conflicts such as Engaging, mind blowing and also possible shot at it, placing our heart at the more. Lately, it’s been Elizabeth by Michael Veitch, Hachette, $33 later, she has written a These letters tell of enduring love and being the first Muslim woman personality types combine to Operation Hobart and Long Tan. humorous, his book will have wide appeal. centre of existence. meditation on women’s lives and how he dealt with the most in any Australian parliament and create increased risk. First-person It’s a first-hand account of the ELISSA LAWRENCE MILES KEMP and creative desires. brutally testing circumstances. the 100th woman in the Senate. case studies are included. realities and brutalities of war.

26 QWEEKEND.COM.AU AUGUST 7-8, 2021 V1 - BCME01Z01QW V1 - BCME01Z01QW AUGUST 7-8, 2021 QWEEKEND.COM.AU 27 BOOKS

CHAMBER PIECE: Author Alice Pung explores the excesses of parental control in her new Love novel. Picture: Courtney Brown excesses of parental control, which is not confined to just one culture. I had a friend growing up whose parents loved her so and much that they did not let her read Harry Potter because they believed that was work of the devil; and another who fell pregnant and had to let her mum raise the baby, while she was forced to be the baby’s control “sister”. In fact, this “control” kind of child- rearing was the commonly accepted way of A novel about a pregnant bringing up children half a century ago.

teenager confined to a flat by Racism is also a big theme and the her mother has real-life experience of first-generation migrant children. All generations seem to resonance for Alice Pung experience it, unfortunately. However, there is a particular virulence directed n Melbourne author Alice Pung’s against immigrants and refugees who are fractured fairytale One Hundred first generation, especially if they are Days, 16-year-old Karuna falls perceived not to speak English properly. pregnant in an act of defiance and Also, female Asians experience a rather Ilust. Her mother is furious and confines her nasty form of objectification, especially to their 14th-storey housing commission when this book is set (1987) in the flat to keep her safe and away from the aftermath of the Vietnam War. outside world. How important was humour in your This is a story about teen pregnancy but novel? The novel is a claustrophobic also about the mother/daughter chamber piece with only five main relationship. How much of your own life characters and two main settings, so it was and relationship informs the story? Last really important to make Karuna amusing year, Melbourne was under a strict in her own head, just as a means to keep lockdown for more than 100 days. This was herself – and the reader – sane. a case of truth mirroring fiction more than anything else, since I began writing this You have written YA but did you book four years ago. But I had to move intentionally write a book for adults? back in with my parents because I was was interested in exploring the educational Absolutely it is about control! She doesn’t Societally, we have this idea that teenagers pregnant. My mother is a little like and class gap between the two generations. want Karuna to get up to any more are still children, but in many cultures, and Karuna’s mother – she has a lot of love to Karuna’s mother is an illiterate, working- mischief. To this constantly stressed even here in Australia, in adverse give, but she also cannot separate love from class single mother from a migrant working mother, staying home all day with circumstances these children have the control. I read somewhere that our parents background. Some reviewers cannot see a pantry full of food and a television set is duties and responsibilities of adults. It have a duty to feed and clothe us, but they the love in this novel and read it only as a the height of luxury, so she cannot fathom baffles me, this distinction between books don’t have a duty to understand us. I keep case of abuse, but I wanted to show the why her daughter would protest. for adults and teenagers – there is no line in thinking about that. enormous stress such a woman would be the sand for me. under. Her parenting approach is not Even though the book explores these Karuna, the main character, is a Chinese- supportive, it is reactive; but she believes traditional Asian values, do you think What are you working on Filipino Australian who is battling an she loves her daughter beyond measure. many people will see themselves or their now? A children’s book with overprotective mother who has lots of mothers in this story? I did not set out to my friend, the talented superstitions. Is there a cultural gap as Karuna’s mother’s motivation for write a book about Asian values v Western illustrator Sher Rill Ng. well as a generational gap you wanted to keeping her confined for 100 days is values because I don’t believe in these fixed One Hundred Days by Alice Pung, explore? Not only is there a cultural gap, I cultural but is it also about control? concepts; but I did want to explore the Black Inc. $33

NON-FICTION RELEASES

Dissolve A Week in Too Migrant, Burnout The Platoon Nikki Gemmell September Too Muslim, Gordon Parker, Gabriella Commander Hachette, $30 Peter Rees and Sue Too Loud Tavella and Kerrie Eyers John O’Halloran and A personal, intimate Langford Mehreen Faruqi Allen & Unwin, $33 Ric Teague reflection on love HarperCollins, $17 Allen & Unwin, $33 Parker, who is a Hachette, $35 and female creativity A cache of World From the Greens professor of From Tamworth in in a man’s world, and War II letters reveals senator for NSW, a psychiatry at UNSW NSW, O’Halloran what happens when it all the story of Scott Heywood, a civil and environmental engineer and founder of the Black Dog was called up for national service collides. Having lived through prisoner of war on the Burma and an advocate against racism Institute, and his co-authors just after the start of the Vietnam the humiliation of having her Railway. On hidden scraps of and misogyny, this is a memoir examine why burnout became War. Aged just 21, he guided fiance cancel their wedding, paper he wrote almost daily to his and a manifesto. It details a life of rampant in 2020 and why certain 6RAR’s B Company 5 Platoon Gemmell resurfaced and, decades wife, Margery, home in Victoria. challenging dominant mindsets work environments and through conflicts such as later, she has written a These letters tell of enduring love and being the first Muslim woman personality types combine to Operation Hobart and Long Tan. meditation on women’s lives and how he dealt with the most in any Australian parliament and create increased risk. First-person It’s a first-hand account of the and creative desires. brutally testing circumstances. the 100th woman in the Senate. case studies are included. realities and brutalities of war.

V1 - BCME01Z01QW AUGUST 7-8, 2021 QWEEKEND.COM.AU 27 hen it came to their first dance, this couple knew how to put on a show. Bride Louise Emanuel Mystery hunt knew her groom Bradley WAnderson was “not a dancer by any means”, but the couple decided they would make their first dance fun regardless. Louise taught Brad a choreographed dance to proposal You Spin Me Right Round by Dead or Alive for the big day, to ensure their wedding guests would have a laugh at their expense. “I choreographed the dance based on the They’ve known each other all their lives … and it was a sense of fun hilarious music video and it was hilarious that brought them together and carried on in their big day teaching it to Brad, and so much fun to perform,” Louise says. Pictures AMANDA HAMILTON, The Bracken Ridge couple, who have been together for four years, married on June 11 this PEPPERMINT PHOTOGRAPHY year at Bundaleer Rainforest Gardens, in Brookfield in Brisbane’s west, in front of 100 guests. The couple put a lot of effort into putting their own personal touches into the day. “I wanted it to be very eclectic and feel like ‘us’,” Louise says. “For the decorations at the reception we had all different colours of flowers, lots of candles and repurposed wine bottles for the larger centrepieces. “The favours for the guests were vintage stemmed glasses – all of different shapes and sizes that I sourced from various op shops around Brisbane.” The couple also curated their own music for the playlist – mostly 70s and 80s dance party classics – and put some gold velociraptors dressed as a bride and groom on the top of their cake for a little humour.

How did you meet? We grew up together so we both don’t really remember when we first met, we have always been in each other’s lives in some way. Brad realised he had a crush on me on one of our family holidays to Tangalooma when he was about 16. I always thought he was pretty cute as well but he was more like “that one friend’s hot older brother that’s off limits”. We lived our own lives for a while, travelling, working, going out and then eventually got together when Brad invited me over for tacos after we had bumped into each other at a trivia night.

How did he propose? When Brad and I first started dating, he kept asking me to be his girlfriend and I kept saying no because I knew if we ever got together it would be forever. Eventually he got tired of it and decided I had to ask him out. So when I asked him to be my boyfriend, I made a super cheesy scavenger hunt around my flat that ended with a painted banner that said “will you be my boyfriend?” Brad proposed by sending me on a much more epic scavenger hunt that involved our family and friends. As far as I was aware, Brad was interstate for work. I went to the Carseldine Markets in the morning where I always get my coffee from our friends Jeremy and Ev at Honey Badger, and they gave me my first clue. I was so confused I tried to give it back. Once I figured the clue out, I knew exactly what was happening. Eventually, all of the clues I was given matched together to form a picture of where I would find my last stop. Brad was waiting with the banner that I had painted when I asked him to be my boyfriend.

28 QWEEKEND.COM.AU AUGUST 7-8, 2021 V1 - BCME01Z01QW WEDDINGS

The Bride Louise Emanuel, 23 Profession Art therapist Parents Sharlene Emanuel Bridesmaid Tatum O’Toole Dress Angelic Bridal (ceremony), ASOS (dance floor) Hair Elizabeth Crossley Make-up Karissa McLaren (KM Makeup Studios) Flowers Northside Flower Market Engagement ring KR Jewellers

most unique wedding people had been to in a popped the clasp on the back of my dress while. We just wanted the day to reflect us and because I jumped so much. The Groom our quirks so I think it was a success. We wrote Bradley We … even replaced our own vows and even replaced the guest book What would you do differently? I would have Anderson, 27 with a custom artwork of us as Rick and Morty eaten more! I was so busy enjoying myself, Profession Medical the guest book with (our favourite cartoon). running around, talking to people that by the technician time I got back to my food I scoffed down a few Parents Brett and a custom artwork of Hens and bucks night? It was a combined event mouthfuls and kept going. Katrina Anderson us as Rick and Morty where we stayed with our friends and family on Best Man Rylie the Gold Coast in a penthouse. On the first One thing you wish people told you about Thompson-Bagshaw night, the girls went on a sunset boat cruise and planning a wedding and best advice for other Suit Hockerty He had crossed out the “boyfriend” and out for drinks and dinner later. The boys went couples? I wish people had told me how Videographer AJ replaced it with “wife”. axe throwing dressed as lumberjacks and also confronting it can be. We put so much time and Cinematography went out afterwards. The next night, our effort into planning the day, picking the dress, Celebrant Natalie Where did you honeymoon? To NSW where wonderful best man as a wedding gift to us flowers, and venue but we can forget the reason Enlund from The we stayed at Tallaringa Luxury Camping in the offered to perform his first ever drag show, with why we are doing all of that in the first place – Celebrant Co Tweed Valley for a few days – drinking wine, lip sync battles, judges and even a trivia game. we are committing to a life with each other. It’s a Caterer Bundaleer visiting the gin distillery, playing with cows and life-defining time, so just remember to take it all Rainforest Gardens watching movies under the stars. We stayed at What was the standout moment of the day? in and communicate with each other about how an Airbnb on the way back in Mudgeeraba. When we were trying to get the champagne you are feeling about getting married, not just If you’d like your bottle to pop and it took Brad about 10 attempts about the wedding plans. Lastly, don’t plan the wedding featured in Any unique details about your wedding? We so by the time it popped we were all so in day for anyone but yourselves, don’t worry QWeekend, email had a lot of comments on the day that it was the suspense that the reaction was genuine shock. I about what people will think, do it for you. [email protected]

V1 - BCME01Z01QW AUGUST 7-8, 2021 QWEEKEND.COM.AU 29 [11] True or false? The musical Fiddler on [42] Bourbong St is the main street in the Roof was written by Gilbert and which Queensland city? Sullivan. [43] Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee is a song [12] Francesca Hilton was the daughter from which popular musical? of Conrad Hilton Sr. and which [44] In June 2021, Barnaby Joyce well-known actor? replaced which person as the [13] What is the most populous city Deputy Prime Minister of in Brazil? 29 Australia? [45] Coles and the S.S. Kresge [14] Which former member of the Company combined to create Models was also in the bands which retail chain in Australia Beatfish and Moondog? during the 1960s? [15] Gold Coast-based athlete Liz [46] What was Miguel Ferrer’s Clay qualified to represent character’s name on the TV Australia in which track event at series NCIS: Los Angeles? the 2020-21 Summer Olympics? [1] Who won the 2021 Wimbledon [47] In which decade of the 20th Wheelchair Quad Singles tournament? [16] Who won the 2021 series of century was the Meccano model MasterChef Australia? [2] Jakarta is located on which construction system first made Indonesian island? [17] Which two countries starting with the available to the public? [3] Who was the first Queensland letter A have a coastline on the [48] Who was named Man of the Match politician to be the official (not Mediterranean Sea? for the third game of the 2021 NRL interim) federal leader of the [18] What is the nickname of the State of Origin series? [32] Lake Awoonga is the main water Australian Democrats? Australian women’s national field [49] In which state or territory is Hanging supply for which region? [4] Robin Williams starred as Theodore hockey team? Rock located, featured in Picnic at [33] Australia’s first female Nobel laureate, Roosevelt in which movie series? Who were the three prime ministers Hanging Rock? [19] Elizabeth Blackburn, was awarded of Australia when Richard Nixon was [50] Terence Graham Parry Jones is best [5] Thursday Island-born Indigenous the Nobel Prize in which category the US president? remembered as being a part of which musician Seaman Dan released a in 2009? 2004 ARIA award-winning album classic comedy troupe? [20] What type of nut is included in a [34] Which country hosted the 2021 titled, “Perfect” what? standard Toblerone chocolate bar? Dakar Rally? [6] Who wrote the 1990 children’s book, [21] In June 2021, it was reported that [35] The house-elf Dobby made his first Oh, the Places You’ll Go!? which former boxing heavyweight appearance in which of the Harry [7] Which liqueur is added to Cointreau champion is suing Culture Kings for Potter books? 41 and lemon juice to make a Japanese misuse of his image? [36] What are the three colours on slipper cocktail? [22] Famous author Jane Austen lived the flag of the Northern [8] How many feet are in one mile? during which two centuries? Territory? [9] Les Gock was the lead guitarist for [23] In November 2021, who will succeed [37] The 2020 album Please which classic Australian glam-rock Paul de Jersey as Governor of Leave Your Light On is a band during the 1970s? Queensland? collaboration between [10] As at 2021, who is the only person [24] What type of animal is a komondor? which two iconic Australian from the United Kingdom to win the musicians? men’s World Surfing Championship? [25] In which Queensland town could you visit the Waltzing Matilda Centre? [38] What is the full title of the 2021 series of Australian [26] John Wayne won the Best Actor Survivor? Oscar for his role in which classic [39] Chukkas are the time periods in 1969 movie? which sport? [27] There Is Such a People is an [40] Which 1960s cartoon character had influential populist political party an alter ego called Hiram Fly? that was founded in which European country in 2020? [41] Alpacas are native to which continent? [28] In 1990, Tré Cool became the drummer for which rock band? 4 [29] Redcliffe-born swimmer PalindromicThis sequence of puzzle words should read the same backwards Kaylee McKeown broke the as forward e.g. Mad as Adam women’s swimming world The sequence of words should read the same backward as they do forward; eg. Mad as Adam record for which event in CLUE: Survive on circumventions? Negative, June 2021? myselfClue: Survive rescue on circumventions? nix wickedness. Negative, myself rescue nix wickedness. [30] Crimea is located on the northern coast of which sea? L ? [31] Who was the first Australian sportsperson to have to pull out of the 2020-21 Summer Olympics after testing positive to Covid-19? N ,

australian word games 167

Palindromic solution: Palindromic 50. 49. 48. 47. 46. 45. 44. 43. 42. Live on evasions? No, I save no evil. no save I No, evasions? on Live Python. Monty Victoria Hunt Ben 1900s Granger Owen Kmart McCormack Michael Grease Bundaberg

41. 41. 40. 39. 38. 37. 36. 35. South America America South Fly Fearless Polo Brawn V Brains Survivor: Australian Grabowsky Paul Kelly, Paul ochre white, Black, Secrets of Chamber the and Potter Harry

Solution: Live on evasions? No, I save no evil. Arabia 34. 33. 32. 31. 30. 29. 28. 27. 26. 25. 24. Saudi Saudi Medicine or Physiology Region Gladstone Minaur de Alex Sea Black course) (long backstroke 100m Day Green Bulgaria Grit True Winton Dog Young

23. 23. 22. 21. 20. 19. 18. 17. 16. 15. Dr Jeannette Jeannette Dr 19th and 18th Tyson Mike Almond Whitlam Gough McMahon, William Gorton, John Hockeyroos Algeria Albania, Narayan Justin hurdles 100m Freud

14. 13. 12. 11. 10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. Answers Quiz James James Paulo São Gabor Zsa Zsa False Potter Martin Hush 5280 Midori Seuss Dr. Pearl Museum the at Night Kernot Cheryl Java Alcott Dylan

30 QWEEKEND.COM.AU AUGUST 7-8, 2021 V1 - BCME01Z01QW MY LIFE Stephen Peacocke Actor, 39, Sydney

Did RFDS (Royal Flying Doctor Service) able to work through most of it and thank resonate with you especially because of your goodness I haven’t had anyone I know get sick country background? I was really excited to be or contract Covid-19. It saddens me to see so able to play a character from the country, many small businesses going to the wall for within a story that was also set out in the something they’ve got no control over. I feel country. Although I grew up in a big regional terrible for how it’s affecting other people, and I centre (Dubbo), I did spend a year out in the feel fortunate to be healthy and working. proper bush, out past Bourke in NSW. The more isolated somewhere is, the more What did you binge watch during lockdown? interesting it is for me. In the case of RFDS, I Mr Inbetween. I binge-watched it a few times. was excited to be able to do the job that I love Besides the UK version of The Office, I reckon in a part of Australia that I really love; to be it’s the best thing I’ve ever seen. Going through based out in Broken Hill for close to three uni, The Office was my show. I still think that’s months for the duration of filming. the best comedic piece of film or TV, but Mr Inbetween is almost on par. Another show I What did that experience bring to your watched was Baskets, with Zach Galifianakis. character? There is a way of talking to and It was a really bizarre show but one of the dealing with people I think, which is different best performances I’ve seen from a bloke when you live in an isolated or rural called Louie Anderson, who is brilliant. community. When you live in a city, just by virtue of the fact that there are millions of What’s the most sentimental item you people, your friends and family are the only own? Probably my boots. I’ve had my old pair people that know you. In a country setting, you of RM Williams boots since 1998, and I’ve tend to have an identity within the whole town. worn them at least once a week for that entire In Broken Hill, everyone knows the flying time. And it’s funny to have gone on a journey doctors. Just from my own experiences, I would with them, because I wore them all through uni throw in a few improvised lines and a lot of and everyone used to go, “What are you them made the show. Ninety-nine point nine wearing those boots for you grandpa?” – and per cent of what you see is scripted because we now everyone is wearing them! They’re selling were so lucky to have really awesome writers them everywhere. on the show, but sometimes the directors would ask, “How would Pete say this?”. What makes you happy? Being with my family, that’s as good as it gets. You were a jackaroo and studied communications. When did you decide to What’s next? The second season of Five make acting a career? I knew I wanted to be Bedrooms is about to launch on Paramount an actor from when I was in year 9, but I didn’t Plus, as is The Newsreader on ABC. I would start pursuing it until I was in university. also really love the chance to shoot a second season of RFDS. How has the pandemic affected you? Personally, I’ve been very lucky to have been RFDS, Channel 7, starts Wednesday, 8.40pm PICTURE: DANIEL ASHER SMITH PICTURE: DANIEL

try to be good but it’s not easy. For the rum balls that sit almost overflowing in a soon. I’ll give it one of my boy reads, a quick example, I know I should eat fruit in bowl in the fridge. I even swear that I will flick through so I can at least tell her I have the evening for dessert but I eat not eat them. read it, in my fashion. biscuits instead. And I know I should “Don’t let me eat any more rum balls,” I So what have I been reading instead? Iwatch an educational documentary on TV will say to my wife but, when she’s not Sherlock Holmes short stories and also a or something edifying but I end up watching looking, I sneak into the kitchen and scoff book of South Pacific tales by James A. Aussie Gold Hunters or Seinfeld. more. Wanting to do the right thing is easy. Michener. Really good page turning stuff. Wanting to do the right thing but doing Doing the right thing is harder. Given the choice I will often opt for the the wrong thing instead is part of the human It extends to my literary habits, too. I easy way out. If faced with the choice condition. Saint Paul wrote about it and have so many worthy books on my list and between watching Three Colours: Blue or once said: “I have the desire to do what is there’s a book on my bedside table right Dumb and Dumber I know which one I good but I cannot carry that out”. That’s a now that I know I should be reading. should watch but I can pretty well guarantee human dilemma, not just a Christian A friend who insisted I read it lent it to I would choose Dumb and Dumber, again. dilemma. In others words we are talking me and I have had it now for a couple of And put two platters in front of me – one Last Word about human nature. weeks and have read exactly one paragraph. groaning with fresh fruit and the other with I suffer terribly around Christmas time I mean I get the gist but I have now Tim Tams – and you can guess which one I PHIL BROWN each year because I know I should not eat promised, yet again, that I will read it … will go for. Sad isn’t it?

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