Hello

New Feed Test 2601

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 05:08:15 GMT

I am new 26012021

This is a test feed for blog and rss

Meet The Activist Fighting For Justice And A Better Future

Wed, 27 May 2020 23:47:07 GMT

The year 2020 marks 250 years since James Cook’s first voyage to Australia, yet today Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people still aren’t acknowledged in our constitution.

The time is now for recognition and reform, as called for in the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

This month, marie claire joins forces with some of Australia’s biggest and brightest names to unite for change. Here, Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts talks about fighting the good fight...

“I was 11 when I was removed from my family and placed into the foster-care system. I was lying in bed in the night and saw the red and blue flashing lights. My dad said, ‘I’m so sorry bub, they’re coming to get you.’ There was a knock at the door and 12 police officers came into the house. They said, ‘Hug your dad one last time, you’re coming with us.’ It’s one of the only times I’ve seen him cry. The reason they gave for taking me was neglect, but it was really unconscious bias. I had a black dad and mum with mental health issues. We lived in social housing. Indigenous people are having their kids removed for being poor. Our kids are going from care to incarceration, and I refuse to be silent. We’re hurting, and we need to destroy this patriarchal ideology that is harming First Nations people and start healing. I’m studying law and social work because I want to be in a position of strength that allows me to lift my sisters and brothers when I’m rising. We’re exceptional. Our lives matter. Black lives matter.”

8 Wellness Experts On How-To Practise Self-Care During COVID-19

Wed, 27 May 2020 23:45:19 GMT

As the world continues to struggle against the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, our regular daily routines have been disrupted beyond recognition. While the virus forces us indoors to self-isolate and prevent the spread, it is now more important than ever to focus on self-care to keep us feeling calm, grounded and give us a sense of normalcy during these unprecedented times.

How To Be Alone, But Not Lonely, In Quarantine

Wed, 27 May 2020 23:42:39 GMT

There's no way of sugar-coating it: the COVID-19 pandemic is having a catastrophic effect on our livelihoods with jobs, family milestones and day-to-day routine under threat.

Throw in government regulations instructing us to stay home and we're having to adapt to a stranger (and potentially lonelier) world.

Having arrived back in Sydney just shy of two hours before the Australian borders closed after a brief trip home to the UK, I was ordered to self-isolate for two weeks.

With the office shut for the foreseeable and a knack for working from the kitchen/dining room table/bed, I didn't think I would mind the solitude (I believed I might even relish it) - but going day-after-day without seeing a soul soon took its toll on my mental health.

You'd think that holding everyone's social plans under quarantine would ease the all-too-recognisable tinge of FOMO but it only struck harder with friends showcasing their freshly-baked banana bread on Instagram whilst isolating families whipped out old fashioned board games to pass the time.

RELATED: Online Courses And Apps To Help You Learn A New Skill In Quarantine

It's important to highlight that not everyone is thriving (let alone, enjoying) isolation. The reality is that many of us are far from home, bunking with housemates or obeying social distancing laws without a pal to turn to.

"There are many Australians who are already suffering from loneliness and self-isolation so the pandemic will only compound that," Nick Tebbey, National Executive Officer for mental health organisation Relationships Australia, told marie claire.

"When you combine the requirements with the uncertainly around how long this will last for and whether or not we've seen the most stringent of requirements yet, there is an awful lot of stress and anxiety.

We will definitely see consequences to people's mental health and wellbeing as a result of that."

So with our 'old lives' dangling frighteningly out of reach for an unimaginable timeframe, how can we navigate the blurred line between loneliness and solitude?

Follow a daily routine

It's all too tempting to bury our head beneath the covers after a quick scroll of the morning headlines but creating a daily routine (and getting dressed) will trick your brain into thinking it's just another day.

"We might not be able to control what's happening outside but we can control what's happening in our house," Tebbey stresses.

"Plan to get up at a certain time and maybe incorporate some exercise into your schedule before work. A daily routine makes it easier to cope with all of the uncertainty that's surrounding us."

Marie Claire Book Club: Must-Reads This April

Wed, 27 May 2020 03:20:12 GMT

We've rounded up four of the best Laugh Out Loud Literature (LOLL - yes its a thing) novels we can find. Spend your isolated, social distancing days devouring these must-reads and laughing until your belly hurts.

The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley (Bantam Press, $32.99)

Julian Jessop, a lonely, elderly artist, writes in a notebook: “Everyone lies about their lives. What would happen if you shared the truth instead?” He then leaves this notebook in a cafe, where it begins its journey through the lives of six people who all struggle to find balance between their public persona and their true selves. The perfect balance of warmth and wit, the authenticity project will make you laugh out loud in lots of places and feel all warm and fuzzy in others.

The Drop-Off by Fiona Harris and Mike McLeish (Echo Publishing, $29.99)

The Drop-Off is a lighthearted depiction of parenting, told through the points of view of three polar opposite parents in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. An effortless but satisfying read, its characters live a fortunate existence where insignificant concerns about getting older and still not having it together are mended with a wine night or three and pose no real danger to the broader context of their lives. First World problems at their finest.

The Adversary by Ronnie Scott (Penguin Random House Australia, $29.99)New Paragraph

6 Indigenous-Owned Businesses To Get Behind Immediately

Wed, 27 May 2020 03:20:10 GMT

Now more than ever, local small businesses need our support. We spoke to six entrepreneurs doing good and getting shit done...

Marley Morgan - Barefoot Wandering Photography

Marley Morgan held her very first camera at age 10. It was a Polaroid. “That’s when it all started,” she explains of the moment her passion for photography was ignited. Inspired by her father, a man who snapped pictures of the family at every available moment as well as the sunburnt landscape of Lightning Ridge, Marley picked up that I-zone Polaroid camera and never looked back.

Now age 30, she launched her own business, Barefoot Wandering Photography, in 2018. Growing up within the Yuwaalaraay tribe, and later joining the Wiradjuri and Gumbaynggirr nations as she made her home on the NSW Mid-North Coast, Morgan proudly celebrates her Indigenous culture through her pictures.

Her work captures the beauty of Aboriginal women, men and children, and it’s easy to see how she turned her side hustle into a profession. “I got quite a few compliments and was asked if I would be interested in paid work, so I thought why not grow my hobby into a business?” says Morgan, who wants to push First Nation stories and people into the spotlight – where they belong.

As an Aboriginal woman in an industry dominated by white people, she know what it feels like to be silenced and underestimated. “My work still isn’t taken seriously, compared to my non-Indigenous friends in the same field of work,” explains Morgan, who has overcome all the obstacles she has faced, and plans to keep doing so. “It’s 2020, guys – we’ve got this.”

Kristy Dickinson - Haus Of Dizzy

It started with a house party. In 2015, Kristy Dickinson and her flatmates (whom she affectionately referred to as “dizzy moles”) made a Facebook event for their house-warming; DJ Izm from Bliss n Eso was on DJ duties and a photo booth was set up in the corner. They called the event “Haus of Dizzy” and the name stuck. At the time, Dickinson was between jobs, sick of working in retail and ready to embrace her creative side. She sold her vintage clothes at Glebe Markets in Sydney and saved to buy materials for the jewellery brand she had dreamt up in her head, bringing her “fancy as fuck” style to the masses.

Five years later, Dickinson is still hand-making all of her pieces in her Melbourne studio, she’s now stocked in the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney and online at The Iconic, and counts Lauren Hill and Drew Barrymore as fans. Her line has evolved to include statement “Stop Adani” earrings, a blingy “Faboriginal” necklace and a collection of “Dizzy Chick” pins featuring cartoon girls of colour.

The loud and proud statement pieces are conversations starters and have led to deep-and-meaningful chats in the supermarket check-out line about the climate crisis, queer rights and domestic violence. “I like to start important conversations, and what better way to do it then with an in-your-face earring?” says Dickinson, 38, who grew up in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire, where she was teased for her Aboriginal heritage.

“When I was younger, I felt like I didn’t have a voice because I was shy and didn’t stick up for myself. So I want people wearing my jewellery to feel confident, to speak up and hold their head high,” says Dickinson, holding her own head high as a proud Wiradjuri woman.

'We Wear Australian' Is The New Initiative To Help Aussie Founded Brands Amid COVID-19

Wed, 27 May 2020 03:20:08 GMT

The impact the COVID-19 pandemic has been exponential on small Australian businesses in the fashion industry, with the closure of stores and diminishing sales just the start of what could be a months-long ordeal. New initiative We Wear Australian is hoping to help make the transition a little easier, aiming to drive awareness to the Aussie brands who have been deeply affected by the global situation.

“The Australian fashion industry has never experienced tougher times," Richard Poulson, co-founder of Morrison and CEO of new eCommerce environment Showroom-X, said. "But we are a creative and resilient industry, by uniting and putting a spotlight on the industry impact and response we are able to support each other and contribute to the rebuild of Australia,"

The three-week initiative - which will begin on April 9 - sees the participating designers offer special offers to consumers. Partners include The Daily Edited, Manning Cartell, Ellery, Mara & Mine, Matin, We Are Kindred, Bassike, Rebecca Vallance, Le Specs (among many other leading labels).

'We Wear Australian' Is The New Initiative To Help Aussie Founded Brands Amid COVID-19

we wear australian

Participating brands will also make a cash or clothing donation to support two Australian charities, Dress for Success who assist women wanting to return to the workforce and Thread Together, who takes excess new stock from designers and manufacturers and redistributes to vulnerable people, while at the same time ensuring it stays out of landfill.

Leila Naja Hibri, CEO of The Australian Fashion Council said, “Despite the havoc of these unprecedented times, it is so wonderful to see the Australian Fashion community step up and come together. For those who can, please support your favourite Australian designer by buying Australian and wearing Australian. Help Australian Fashion unite, help Australian Fashion survive.”

By buying Australian brands you are supporting our fashion industry right now when it needs you, and in turn, ensuring we still have a thriving industry once we get to the other side.

Learn more here.

LocalSpots Is The New App Designed To Help Australian Small Businesses Survive Coronavirus

Wed, 27 May 2020 03:15:23 GMT

While the growing COVID-19 pandemic has had an immeasurable impact on the health and safety of Australian citizens, its effects have also placed an equal amount of strain on the economy – particularly on local small businesses. During this difficult time, many of us have been left unsure of how to support these businesses, as several of our local hotspots have had to reduce their trading hours, transition to online or takeaway only, or in many cases, shut their doors completely.

Thankfully, a team of volunteer developers have found a solution, creating an app that will bring small businesses some relief. LocalSpots is a not for profit app that allows you to purchase gift cards for shops and restaurants in New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT that will remain valid for three years.

The total amount you spend goes directly to the business you choose to support, with a three per cent transaction fee to cover the payment-processing provider, server hosting and other operational costs. Listing a business on the platform is completely free, and the process is incredibly simple.

While you’re scrolling, you’re sure to come across several favourites, like Sydney’s Bistecca, cult-favourite Melbourne café Higher Ground, as well as some of your favourite florists like Hermetica Flowers and Grandi Flora. Not only is your gesture helping to alleviate some of the fixed costs that businesses incur, but it could also be a much-needed gift for a friend, family member or even yourself during these challenging times.

An Ode To Claire Waight Keller's Most Iconic Givenchy Fashion Moments

Tue, 19 May 2020 00:37:15 GMT

Last week, the fashion world was met with the news that Clare Waight Keller was stepping down from Givenchy after only three years at its helm. Following in the footsteps of Riccardo Tisci, Keller brought a renewed sensibility to the house as the brand’s first female creative director.

Watch below: Meghan Markle reveals touching detail about her Givenchy wedding gown

Keller’s vision was one of urban sophistication; confidently pairing denim skirts with high-neck blouses, replacing Chantilly lace with latex, and accessorising dreamy summer dresses with elbow-length leather gloves. Her approach was a symbiotic relationship between streetwear and couture – the ultimate tribute to the discerning woman of today.

While her tenure was short, there’s no denying that Keller certainly made her mark and in turn, managed to assemble an enviable fan club of celebrities and fashion lovers worldwide. Not only was she responsible for one of the most memorable and highly anticipated wedding gowns of the century by creating Meghan Markle’s dress, but she also had the opportunity to work with several red-carpet greats. Rihanna, Julianne Moore, Cate Blanchett and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley are just some of the designer’s loyal clientele who donned her gowns over the years.

While we wait in anticipation for the appointment of a new creative director, let’s take a look back at some of Clare Waight Keller’s most iconic Givenchy fashion moments.

Gal Gadot at the 90th Academy Awards

5 Ways To Take A Holiday While Self-Isolating

jem@thecamel.co — Tue, 19 May 2020 00:36:56 GMT

While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to sweep the globe and we're forced indoors to self-isolate in order to stop the spread, it seems a holiday adventure afar won't be on the cards anytime soon.

WATCH BELOW: Courteney Cox Dances While In Quarantine Amid COVID-19 Coronavirus

But, don't fret. With a little out-of-the-box thinking, it is possible to enjoy a luxurious escape at home.

RELATED: Uplifting Hashtags To Connect Us During The Coronavirus Pandemic

Take A (Virtual) Tour

A slew of virtual tours of some of the world's most breathtaking natural wonders, monuments, and museums are now being offered online totally free of charge.

Our picks? Scale Peru's Machu Picchu, take in the artworks at London's Tate Modern or lose yourself in the many exhibits at The Louvre in Paris - all from the comfort of your own couch.

Check out some more of the best free virtual tours on offer here.

3 Hair Styling Tricks Even Lazy Girls Can Pull Off In Self-Isolation

jem@thecamel.co — Tue, 19 May 2020 00:18:51 GMT

There's no denying 2020 is a strange time for beauty. Regular grooming and pampering sessions at our local haunts have been swapped for DIY face masks and letting the au natural lead the way. While we learn to adapt to the new normal, including morning Zoom meetings and Friday night Houseparty sessions, our hair doesn't have to be left to the wayside.

Watch Below: How To Master The Natural Blow-Dry

Brodie-Lee Tsiknaris, GHD creative artist and owner of Rokstar salon has given us some foolproof tricks to keep your hair game simple and effective during these uncertain times. Because we all know a good hair day can take us from feeling blah to put together in an instant.

Sleek It Back

"You can't go wrong with a quick straight sleek look," says Tsiknaris. "It never goes out of fashion and screams sophistication in twenty minutes or less." Using the ghd platinum+ styler, glide over the front sections of your hair, pull back and spritz with a holding spray. Use your hands to glide the hair into place, and voila! To get the most out of the pulled-back look, before styling spray damp hair with a smart spray such as Living Proof Restore Smooth Blowout Concentrate, which protects hair from heat damage, adds shine and increases the manageability of stubborn frizz.

Coronavirus Could Devastate Indigenous Communities

jem@thecamel.co — Tue, 19 May 2020 00:18:51 GMT

In another week filled with coronavirus clichés, “COVID-19 doesn’t discriminate” has become something of a catchcry. Tom Hanks got it, Prince Charles beat it, and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is recovering from it, having just been released from intensive care.

And yet despite this smattering of headline-grabbing, high-profile cases, history tells us that pandemics do indeed discriminate.

During the Spanish Flu of 1919, Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families accounted for 30 per cent of the death toll in Queensland. When swine flu hit in 2009, Indigenous people made up 11 per cent of cases nationally (despite only representing 3 per cent of the population) and their fatality rate was six times higher than that of non-Indigenous citizens.

Now, as coronavirus spreads across the country, fears for First Nations people are at an all-time high. In the words of Pat Turner, CEO of National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO): “I can’t be any blunter. If COVID-19 gets into our communities, we are gone.”

Deep-seated health and socioeconomic inequity are at the heart of this vulnerability. “Many Indigenous people have chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, which leads to worse outcomes if they’re diagnosed with COVID-19,” explains Dr Jason Agostino, NACCHO Medical Advisor. “In addition, overcrowding and poor facilities in homes, particularly in remote communities, mean the virus could spread very quickly if there’s not space to isolate and quarantine.”

Meanwhile, a lack of personal protective equipment could be catastrophic. Last week The Guardian reported that one Aboriginal health group in Victoria had stopped all COVID-19 testing and was considering shutting its doors due to the shortage.

“There are PPE shortages all across Australia,” confirms Dr Agostino. “But it can be particularly bad in remote areas. We did an audit in our communities recently, and in one, there were 10 masks to go around for 350 people.”

For human rights advocate Debbie Kilroy, these stats and facts are gut-wrenching. “I’m absolutely terrified for Indigenous communities,” she says. “My husband, children and grandchildren are Aboriginal.

“We’re hearing from elders in isolated communities that the government is not sending them medical services or support – they’re sending them body bags for children. That breaks my heart. I cannot believe that this is happening and no one really knows about it.

“The government is telling elders to stay in the community, knowing they’re more at risk there. The elders will die very quickly when this hits isolated communities because there’s no medical support.”

So how do we help to halt this spread?

George Pell Accuser Speaks Out After High Court Judgment

jem@thecamel.co — Tue, 19 May 2020 00:18:50 GMT

Write about something you know. If When news broke yesterday that the High Court had overturned Cardinal George Pell’s child sexual abuse convictions, our hearts went out to the survivor who bravely testified against Pell.

Now, the survivor – a former choirboy known as Witness J – has released a statement saying he is relieved the court process is over.don’t know much about a specific topic that will interest your readers, invite an expert to write about it.

“My journey has been long and I am relieved that it is over,” he said in the statement through his lawyer Dr Vivian Waller. “I have my ups and downs. The darkness is never far away. Despite the stress of the legal process and public controversy I have tried hard to keep myself together. I am OK. I hope that everyone who has followed this case is OK.”

As well as assuring supporters he is OK, Witness J shared his acceptance of the High Court judgment, which acquitted Pell of his child sexual abuse charges due to a lack of evidence – despite a jury finding Pell guilty in 2018 after Witness J gave credible evidence.

“I respect the decision of the High Court. I accept the outcome,” he said in the powerful statement. “I understand their view that there was not enough evidence to satisfy the Court beyond all reasonable doubt that the offending occurred… It is difficult in child sexual abuse matters to satisfy a criminal court that the offending has occurred beyond the shadow of a doubt. It is a very high standard to meet – a heavy burden. I understand why criminal cases must be proven beyond all reasonable doubt. No-one wants to live in a society where people can be imprisoned without due and proper process. This is a basic civil liberty. But the price we pay for weighting the system in favour of the accused is that many sexual offences against children go unpunished.”

Not everyone has been as gracious and accepting of the High Court decision as Witness J. Thousands of people took to social media yesterday to share their disgust and dismay at the ruling and Australia’s legal system.

Journalist Lucie Morris-Marr, who cover the Pell case, wrote on Twitter: “The essential question today is what is the point of the jury system? I watched up close as the jury that found Pell guilty worked diligently, writing notes, sending questions. They took three and a half days to deliver a verdict. They too, like many involved, must be devastated.”

She added, “My deep fear is this judgment will stop those with allegations of child abuse coming forward… The judgment effectively believes the word of the powerful man.”

In his statement, Witness J, echoed the same worries: “It remains important that everyone who can report to the police does so. I would hate to think that one outcome of this case is that people are discouraged from reporting to the police. I would like to reassure child sexual abuse survivors that most people recognise the truth when they hear it.”

As well as thanking the police and office of public prosecutions for their work and support, Witness J ended his statement with a message of hope.

“This case does not define me. I am not the abuse I suffered as a child. I am a man who came forward for my friend who, sadly, is no longer with us. I am a man doing my best to be a loving dad, partner, son, brother and friend. I am doing my best to find and hold joy in my life and to provide a safe and loving home for my family,” he wrote, with undeniable humanity.

Witness J, we thank you for your strength, courage and dignity.

NEWS CRIME STRESS HEALTH

Alley Pascoe

Alley Pascoe is marie claire’s Acting Features Editor and resident country music fan. She spends her days interviewing inspirational women, including career highlights Kasey Chambers, Serena Williams and Julia Roberts (for seven minutes on the phone).

FREE Elizabeth Arden Gift-WORTH $135

When you subscribe to marie claire.

SUBSCRIBE NOW