Innehållsförteckning för Issue 41, 2024 från New Idea

The team and I are constantly in awe of carers, and through our company’s Cost of Caring campaign, we’ve been lucky enough to meet many inspiring Aussies. This week is no exception. Writer Craig Bennett caught up with TV icon Susie Elelman, who pays tribute to those looking after her beloved nephew, Matthew. Read their beautiful story and find out more about Cost of Caring on page 36. Meanwhile, we’re preparing for royal fever to sweep the country, with the arrival of King Charles and Queen Camilla on Friday for their first tour Down Under since they took the throne. News editor Maisy and digital content producer Lizzie will be joining Their Majesties on tour, so keep an eye on newidea.com.au and our social…

Bindi Irwin and husband Chandler Powell faced a worrying wait last week, as Hurricane Milton raced towards his parents’ home. Chris and Shannan Powell’s lakeside home in Seffner, Florida, was directly in the path of the record-breaking storm, which made landfall as New Idea went to print last week. Chandler’s elder brother Cameron and his family are understood to live in Tampa, which was expected to be hit the hardest by a terrifying three-metre seawater surge. “Bindi and Chandler would have been beside themselves – it’s never easy being so far from family at the best of times,” admits a source. “But Chris and Shannan are pragmatic people and if they needed to evacuate, surely they would have.”…

Sophie Falkiner had no intentions of having a hen’s party ahead of her wedding to Steve Wood – but her girlfriends had other ideas! On social media, the former Wheel of Fortune star explained she was reluctant to plan a party as she’d already celebrated several major events this year – including her 50th birthday and an engagement party. “I’m sure everyone is sick of me,” she joked. Yet her requests fell on deaf ears, with Sophie’s nearest and dearest surprising her with a send-off at the Bathers’ Pavilion restaurant by Sydney’s Balmoral Beach. “I had families buying us celebratory champagne,” Sophie wrote on Instagram. “Laughs, tears and a truly special day with amazing friends.” Sophie and Steve are expected to wed later this year.…

During her all-tooshort life, Lisa Marie Presley struggled to escape the legacy of her father, music icon Elvis Presley. But now through her posthumous memoir, From Here to the Great Unknown, she’s able to share some personal truths. With Lisa Marie having begun writing the book before her sudden death last January at age 54, the incomplete tell-all has since been finished by her eldest daughter, Riley Keough. “Few people had the opportunity to know who my mum really was, other than being Elvis’ daughter,” said Riley, 35. “I want to give voice to my mother in a way that eluded her while she was alive.” Completing the book wasn’t an easy process for Riley. She says sifting through hours of…

Block Island’s resident larrikin Ricky is loving life in front of the cameras so much that he’s reportedly angling to make them a permanent part of his life. New Idea hears the Melbourne-based plumber wants to secure a permanent gig on The Block ’s crew next season, following in the footsteps of previous tradie contestants Dan Reilly, who is the current site foreman, and Tom ‘The Plumber’ Calleja. According to our show insider Ricky, 34, has opportunity that will come my way,” he told us. Our source adds: “Ricky went on the show to become famous. Sure, like every other contestant he wants already “sounded out” host Scott Cam and the show’s producers about his plan. Ricky has made no secret of his desire to become a…

Only in New Idea There’s an extra special reason why popular My Kitchen Rules contestant Pete is eager to take out this year’s competition. If he and his teammate Mike win, Pete plans on donating 25 per cent of his share of the prize money to Perth’s King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women. The hospital and its dedicated staff have helped Pete through some of his darkest times – namely when it comes to his quest to become a father. In a candid chat with New Idea, Pete, 49, shares that starting a family is something he and his husband Chris, 40, have always longed for. However, their first attempt at welcoming a child via adoption proved unsuccessful. Pete explains that trying to do so in Australia as a same-sex…

Fans of The Voice are in uproar over Kate Miller-Heidke’s recent antics on set, but the coach is standing by her controversial actions. Kate, 42, raised eyebrows in the recent Knockout Rounds, when an empty spot suddenly became available on her team. Her contestant Matthew withdrew from the competition. But instead of bringing back one of her own eliminated mentees, Kate chose to give Tom, a cast-off from Adam Lambert’s team, a second chance instead! The decision enraged viewers, who thought Kate should have extended the invite to MJ, who lost to Matthew in The Battles. Kate has always been a huge fan of Tom’s. During the Blind Auditions she turned her chair around for him, but was unsuccessful in wooing him to her team. “Kate was gutted not…

When you get to my age, you’ve probably seen the inside of a hospital once or twice. I’m no different, and while I can’t stand being sick, being in hospital gives you a renewed appreciation for your health, sometimes in ways you don’t expect. NOT A FAN OF NEEDLES I was in hospital for eight days when I had trigeminal neuralgia. Before they worked out what was wrong with me, they were pumping me with antibiotics 24/7 through a drip. It was awful. I’m a total wimp when it comes to having a shot of the medical variety. After I had my sons, I remember the nurses came to take blood and I said, “I’d rather give birth again!” SOAKED THROUGH One night, while I was in hospital that same…

Nothing feels better than starting the week with a clean and organised home. If you’re on social media, you may even have spotted the ‘Sunday reset’ trend in your feed. This reset is a way to ward off the also viral ‘Sunday scaries’ by reorganising, decluttering and prepping for the week ahead. To make sure you’re not spending your entire day drowning in chores, Shannon Tweedie, marketing manager at LG Electronics Australia, shares ways to polish up your cleaning routine so you can spend more time enjoying your freshly reset space. 1 MAKE CHORES MANAGEABLE It’s all too easy to get overwhelmed by a never-ending list of tasks. To make tidying more manageable before you even get started, Shannon suggests breaking it down into smaller jobs. “Tackle the chores by…

As the capital of Southland, Invercargill is a city with lots of charm and character. The city offers plenty of restaurants, bars, cafes, shops and attractions. Set aside a couple of days and take the ferry from Bluff to Stewart Island and the Ulva Island Bird Sanctuary. EAT & DRINK Brew’d: Located in The Langlands Hotel, this spot is not only convenient, but also perfect for coffee and a warm bacon and cheese scone. thelanglands.co.nz/brewd Hayz @The Anchorage: The best seafood in the south! Hayz owner and chef Haylee Simeon is passionate about seafood and using homegrown produce and ingredients, and tries to source locally. Sometimes the fish has been caught by her sons or the vegetables picked by her daughter. Try the seafood platter she prepared…

Brendan Cowell might have follow Brendan’s character written the novel his new ABC drama, Plum, is based on, but he never actually intended it to make its way to the small screen. “That sucks … I hate [when authors do that],” he admits. “I think you can tell when books are written with big cinematic endings. There’s not much fun reading that. “I just wanted to explore and reclaim my love for writing. I didn’t care if it ever became [anything]. I just needed to restore my faith in writing.” Both the book and show follow Brendan’s character is a proper Peter ‘The Plum’ Lum, a retired footy legend who is suddenly confronted with a brain disorder. Asher Keddie plays Peter’s ex-wife. She and Brendan previously starred together in the…

You can take the girl out of Summer Bay, but you can’t take Summer Bay (or rather a Sydney beach) out of the girl! Former Home and Away actress Tessa James was all smiles last week as she enjoyed a day at Bronte Beach with her husband, Nate Myles, and their four water babies. Tessa, 33, and retired NRL player Nate were kept busy wrangling sons Saynt, Jaguar and London, while also pushing their youngest in a pram. The low-key couple secretly welcomed their fourth child earlier this year, and have yet to reveal its name or gender. The rare sighting of the family reveal how fully immersed Tessa and Nate, 39, are in the joys of parenthood. Meanwhile, the fun…

Hugh Jackman has kept quiet since his shock split from wife Deborra-lee Furness last year. But a teasing picture released on his social media last week suggests this may be about to change. “More on this later”, Hugh captioned the image of himself sitting in front of a camera, leading insiders to suggest he may be preparing to do a tell-all interview. “Hugh’s a year on from his divorce and he’s ready to open up now that he’s gotten to know himself as a solo man,” says a friend. “He’s been fielding offers for a formal interview but his priority has always been making sure his kids were comfortable with the new family dynamic. All four of them are in a better place right now.” This comes as Hugh revealed…

It’s been more than 30 years since a little sitcom called Hey Dad..! brought them into each other’s lives. But for the show’s close-knit cast, it feels like no time has passed at all. Simone Buchanan, Julie McGregor, Christopher Mayer and Christopher Truswell recently reunited in Sydney, where they toasted the 30th anniversary of Hey Dad..! airing its final episode. Only in New idea ‘We laughed and laughed’ Sharing photos from their get-together exclusively with New Idea, Simone, 56, tells us: “It was the most beautiful day. We laughed and laughed and many memories were shared. “It’s so nice to still be so close and have these opportunities to reminisce.” Hey Dad..! premiered in 1987 and produced 291 episodes before concluding in 1994. Simone and Chris M, 63, played…

Reese Witherspoon truly believed she was done being a wife after divorcing Jim Toth last year. The actress, 48, assured friends she “was never doing that again”, as she navigated the disappointment of her second divorce while caring for three heartbroken kids. “It’s a vulnerable time for me,” she told Harper’s Bazaar magazine last August, sharing that she’d turned to painting to help her get through those tough moments. Reese admits divorce number two was much less traumatic than the first, which was a tabloid-fuelled nightmare after husband Ryan Phillippe was linked to his then co-star, Aussie actress Abbie Cornish. problems but one of their greatest achievements is their amicable divorce,” says a longtime pal. “It was humiliating for Reese to go through another break-up and she might have vowed…

Following the huge success of Nobody Wants This, New Idea has learnt that Hollywood is rushing to greenlight more romantic comedies that pair up nostalgic television leads. And at the top of the wish list is a reunion between Dawson’s Creek stars Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson! TV insiders say a big part of why Nobody Wants This resonated with viewers was the thrill of seeing The O.C.’s Adam Brody and Veronica Mars’ Kristen Bell acting opposite one another. “Katie and Josh are even bigger names than those two,” says the insider. “An entire generation of Dawson’s s fans would pay dearly to see them reunited again.” New Idea is told executives are now desperately trying to find “the perfect rom-com script to pitch” to the pair. The insider adds…

We’ve all heard the saying that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but is this just a marketing ploy or the truth? Interestingly, the phrase was popularised by John Kellogg in 1917 to promote Kellogg’s breakfast cereals! Personally, I’m a big believer in the power of a healthy breakfast. It replenishes your glucose stores, making you feel alert and energised. Research shows that those who eat breakfast not only feel more energised, but are also more likely to maintain a healthy weight and have a lower risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. RUNNING ON EMPTY People skip breakfast for various reasons – a lack of appetite, no food at home, tiredness, fasting or simply forgetting as they run out the door. However, research shows that…

Libra SEP 24 – OCT 23 As opinions fly, you might find yourself smack-bang in the middle. Thankfully, your diplomatic approach should come in handy, and by Friday, the picture should look rosier. On the financial front, a sense of optimism is building: a payment or small windfall could prove timely. Lucky crystal: Rose quartz heart Capricorn DEC 22 – JAN 20 Your trust in someone may be wavering, but don’t jump to conclusions. Accusations may be misplaced, and by next week the situation should look better. Meanwhile, tackle a task that’s been playing on your mind. Late spring could bring a flurry of social events. Lucky numbers: 11, 15, 21, 23, 35, 38 Aries MAR 21 – APR 20 You’re attracting drama like a lightning rod. Someone close may…

How lucky are we. Three beautiful great-grandchildren to love. HAZEL WATTS, GYMPIE, QLD. With love Father’s Day poster from my son: “Thanks for the lessons in this life … gratitude, integrity, honour and respect to all.” He added this quote: “Love weighs more than gold.” PETER PALLARIS, DONCASTER, VIC. Holidaying in Venice, I came across this beautiful decorated ice-cream statue which was truly a masterpiece. PAMELA DECKERT, NHILL, VIC, BEST OF THE WEEK WINS $100 An adorable shot of my two-year-old grandson Jaxon playing with his two-year-old Staffy buddy, Thor! Lots of giggling and licking! DEE PARKER, VIA EMAIL. PET OF THE WEEK My five-month-old puppy Jasper with a fresh carrot from the garden. BELINDA MOUK, GIRRAWHEEN, WA. Making Mum’s day A big thank you to New Idea for the…

THRILLER THE PUZZLE BOX by Danielle Trussoni Mike Brink, the world’s greatest puzzle master, has been invited to Japan to open the legendary Dragon Box, which has remained unsolved for more than 150 years. The catch is he only has 24 hours to do it – or die trying. OUT NOW ROMANCE CATCH AND KEEP by Erin Hahn After turning down a proposal, Maren leaves her job and flees to her childhood hometown to accept her inheritance – a waterfront bait shop. She’s been fishing her whole life, but is she finally ready to be caught? OUT TUE. FANTASY A DARK AND SECRET MAGIC by Wallis Kinney Hedge witch Kate is perfectly happy living in a cottage with her black cat. But that all changes when she finds an old…

Heidi Klum Getting a jump on the spooky season silliness, Hollywood’s Queen of Halloween was spotted with villain Maleficent at Disneyland in California. Carrie Bickmore The glamorous radio host turned heads at an event in Melbourne. Chloe Lattanzi The late Olivia Newton-John’s daughter got ‘physical’ with her mum’s niece, Tottie Goldsmith, and her stepdad John Easterling at Olivia’s Walk For Wellness in Melbourne. Matt Smith Rocking a gravity-defying rainbow mohawk, the former Doctor Who actor had many asking “who is that?” as he filmed the crime thriller Caught Stealing in New York. Ariel Winter Once a Dunphy, always a Dunphy! The Modern Family actress caught up with her on-screen brother Nolan Gould at a black-tie event in Beverly Hills. Keanu Reeves No-one was better placed to put the pedal…

Michelle Pfeiffer has gone against her own marriage rule – to keep her work and personal life separate – by agreeing to work on her husband, David E. Kelley’s new TV show. Michelle, 66, says she is “excited” to be part of the upcoming series Margo’s Got Money Troubles, which is being produced and written by David, and co-stars Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning. It’s a surprise move, as Michelle said in 2021 that she and David, 68, had sworn off collaborating as they felt it would be “too risky” to their almost 31-year marriage. “I’ve seen a lot of couples where they seem to have a really great marriage, and then they work together and next year they’re filing for divorce,” she explained.…

Renée Zellweger is not very happy with Hugh Grant, after he blabbed that the new Bridget Jones movie is going to be “very, very sad”. Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy will be released next February. But a source tells New Idea that Renée, 55, thinks Hugh, 64, and his comments might deter fans. “People want to have a laugh with Bridget and her calamities for 90 minutes,” the insider explains. “Hugh telling everyone it’s a ‘sad’ movie could affect its appeal.”…

Rodney Alcala was tall, handsome and charming. So much so, in 1978, he was tapped to be an eligible bachelor on the popular US game show The Dating Game – and won it! What viewers did not know though, as Alcala threw around banana innuendos and joked that night-time was when he “really gets good”, was that he was actually a seasoned serial killer. During the ’70s, Alcala had gone on a horrifying murder spree that saw him placed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. Alcala evaded police by moving around a lot. His victims were women and girls (as young as eight). Fortunately for The Dating Game’s female star, Cheryl Bradshaw, she did not become one of them. Despite choosing Alcala over the two other men on…

From world-famous landmarks to beautifully intricate Christmas designs, the art of egg decorating knows no bounds for the women of the Victorian Egg Decorators’ Guild. The group, who are known affectionately as ‘Eggers’, use real eggs to make their incredible creations and remain dedicated to keeping the 60,000-year-old craft alive. “Decorated eggs have been found in ancient graves – and we don’t want it to die out!” guild president Helen Schweiger says. Helen, 53, has been practising for several years. She says the women are now experts in this delicate art form. They cut and decorate eggs – including ostrich, emu, goose, chicken, duck and quail eggs – to create the decorative ornaments. The result could be anything from a beautiful, beaded egg to one that’s been turned into Cinderella’s…

Susie Elelman’s face lights up, her famous smile radiating pure joy, as she lovingly tells New Idea all about the number one man in her life – her plucky nephew Matthew Elelman. “He’s the love and light of my life. Matty is one of the happiest people I know, and it rubs off on everyone lucky enough to be in his beautiful orbit,” says Susie. Matthew is the son of Susie’s brother, Eddie. He was born with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and other disabilities. “He lives his life in a wheelchair, is blind in one eye, has limited vision in the other, possesses an almost bionic sense of hearing, can speak, but can’t close his mouth so he’s hard to understand,” Susie adds as she leans in close to give…

Black Forest Cupcakes MAKES 12 PREP & COOK 1 HOUR 15 MINS ■ 180g block 70% dark cooking chocolate ■ 2 eggs ■ 1 cup caster sugar ■ ½ cup milk ■ ½ cup vegetable oil ■ 2 tsps vanilla extract ■ 1½ cups plain flour ■ ¼ cup cocoa ■ 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda ■ 300ml tub thickened cream CHERRY SYRUP ■ 670g jar pitted morello cherries ■ 1 tblsp cornflour ■ ¼ cup caster sugar 1 To make cherry syrup, drain cherries through a sieve over a medium saucepan. Set cherries aside. Blend cornflour with 2 tblsps water in a jug. Add to pan with sugar. Stir over a medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Bring to boil. Add cherries. Cook, stirring, until thickened. Remove from…

Do you spend ages looking for your glasses and find that they were already on your head, or have no idea why you’ve just marched so purposefully from one room to another? Most people experience something similar as they age, but what is the difference between ‘normal’ ageing of the brain and possible dementia? POOR JUDGEMENT DON’T WORRY If you sometimes make impulsive decisions. WHAT TO DO Slow down. Make a conscious effort to consider decisions carefully, and don’t be afraid of asking the opinion of those friends and family whose judgement you trust. WHEN TO SEEK HELP You’re putting odd combinations of clothing together or dressing inappropriately for the weather or occasion – especially if you start making rash decisions about money, like giving cash to scammers, for example.…

ADD SOME H20 Introducing water to a garden is a sure-fire way to get wildlife attracted to your space, as it brings in every type of animal, especially birds and frogs. I have designed all sizes of water features, from the smallest water bowl up to large-scale dams and natural wildlife ponds, each one quickly heralds the arrival of wildlife. THINGS TO PONDER If you’re thinking of introducing a wildlife pond you need to consider a few things for the wildlife that will visit it: Can they easily get in and out of the water? How deep do you want it to be, or can it be? This will help regulate temperature, minimise evaporation and have an impact on the variety of plants you can grow in the water, which…

Q I would love to learn more about my purpose and spiritual path. I’ve become quite fascinated with foreign religions and have started to meditate. Can you see anything interesting coming up? – CHRIS, GOLD COAST, QLD. A As Neptune – the ruler of dreams, magic and music – moves closer to your Pisces-ruled sun and Mercury, your desire to explore life’s spiritual and artistic realms is likely to intensify. Daily meditation is a great start. As you switch off from external chatter, you might even tap into hidden healing or artistic abilities, so follow your heart and keep exploring. Q I would like to ask if you see my future getting brighter? I am feeling lost and confused at the moment. – JULIE, CAIRNS, QLD. A Astrologically, you’ve hit…

Morgan Freeman might bemoan that it has a “terrible title”, but there’s no denying that The Shawshank Redemption has overcome that, and its middling box office returns, to become one of the most beloved films of all time. The prison-set movie was released 30 years ago last month, and tells the story of loyalty and unlikely friendship between two inmates. To celebrate the milestone anniversary, New Idea looks back on some interesting facts from its production… CINEMATIC REDEMPTION Despite expectations, the film opened in the US to very little fanfare on September er 23, 1994. Filmmakers drove from theatre to theatre, only to be met by empty seats. “It didn’t do well in the box office simply because the best way…