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The Australian Women’s Weekly Commonwealth Bank Road Train — a giant, purpose-built yellow truck, complete with Test Kitchen cooking demonstrations, fashion shows, beauty advice, health and finance forums, and great prizes and personalities — continues its 12-month tour of 100 country towns in Victoria and South Australia this autumn. Find out when it will be in a town near you by checking the schedule below.
We hope to see you on the road!
Wangaratta, Victoria
We’re at Apex Park from 11am to 3pm with a musical performance by 2007 Victorian Entertainer of the Year Paul Costa; a comedy routine by the Clown Doctors; food, beauty and finance demonstrations; a Sussan fashion parade, and free giveaways.
Swan Hill, Victoria
We’ll be at Swan Hill Showgrounds (cr McCallum and High streets) from 10am to 1pm with live performances from Paul Costa and local singer Hutch Lawrie, beauty makeovers, finance advice, fashion from Sussan, and giveaways from Dairy Farmers.
Echuca, Victoria
Come down to Hopwood Gardens on High St from 10am to 1pm today. Stop by to catch a performance from Paul Costa and local group Rhubarb Pie, beauty, fashion and finance demos, free giveaways and an important message from the National Breast Cancer Centre.
Bendigo, Victoria
Start off your day at Lake Weeroona (Napier St) with the Today show and stick around for the Road Train. Steve Jacobs will be at the truck from 6am to 9am and we’ll stick around until 3:30pm with cooking demos from our Test Kitchen Director Pamela Clark, a talk from The Weekly’s vet James Ramsden, a live musical performance by Paul Costa, an appearance by Max and Milly from New MacDonald’s Farm and free face painting for the kids, and much more.
Stawell, Victoria
We’ll be parked at the Stawell Bowling Club at Victoria St from 11am to 2pm for the famous Stawell Gift today. Join in the festivities and enjoy a live performance by Paul Costa and Revlon makeovers.
Hamilton, Victoria
We’re at Brown St today from 11am to 2pm with country singer Paul Costa performing, financial and beauty advice for the Hamilton Races and free giveaways from Dairy Farmers.
Ballarat, Victoria
Drop by Lake Wendouree between 10am and 1pm to watch country singer Paul Costa perform, get a chance to be picked for a beauty makeover, try out some new Dairy Farmers yogurt and much more.
Shepparton, Victoria
Catch up with the Today show’s Mike Dalton at Victoria Park Lake from 6am before we start up today’s Road Train events from 9am to 12pm. What’s on offer today: a live performance from Reg Poole, beauty demos and giveaways, financial advice seminars, a fundraising campaign for a local charity and more.
Bairnsdale, Victoria
We’re down at Main Street Gardens today from 10am to 1pm with lots of entertainment, giveaways, beauty demonstrations and more.
Sale, Victoria
We hope to see you at Port of Sale (near the Farmers Market) from 8.30am to 12pm with free entertainment, interactive financial workshops, beauty and food giveaways and more.
Traralgon, Victoria
We’re at Kay St Gardens from 10am to 1pm with live musical performances, beauty and financial workshops and free showbags to the first 50 comers.
Warragul, Victoria
Civic Park will host a morning of beauty and finance advice, as well as important information from the National Breast Cancer Centre. We’re there from 10am to 1pm.
Healesville, Victoria
Stop by Coronation Park (near the River St Reserve Area) between 10am and 1pm for live entertainment, food demos by the Women’s Weekly Test Kitchen, financial and beauty advice and lots of giveaways.
Hobart, Tasmania
Come and see The Weekly’s Test Kitchen in action with Kellie-Marie Thomas at Salamanca Place from 10am-2pm.
Launceston, Tasmania
Join us at AgFest (AgFest Quercus Rural Youth Park, Oaks Rd between Carrick and Bracknell), where the Road Train will help celebrate the agricultural community by providing an action packed day of entertainment, food, fashion and beauty from 9am to 4pm.
Mornington, Victoria
The Road Train rolls on to Blake St from 10am to 1pm for a morning of activities, including Revlon makeovers in the stunning Victorian town of Mornington.
Geelong, Victoria
The Road Train invites all mums and their families down to Steampacket Gardens on the Geelong waterfront from 10am to 2pm for a special morning of pampering, including makeovers by Revlon, a Sussan fashion parade and Test Kitchen demonstrations.
Apollo Bay, Victoria
Don’t miss the Road Train event next to the Apollo Bay Surf Club, on the Apollo Bay foreshore from 10am to 1pm, the heart of Australia’s scenic Great Ocean Road.
Warrnambool, Victoria
The Road Train brings the pages of The Weekly to life at the Carnival Site, 74 Pertobe Rd from 10am to 1pm with food demonstrations by deputy food editor Frances Abdallaoui and Revlon makeovers.
Mount Gambier, SA
Come down to the Cave Gardens in Watsons Terrace from 10am to 2pm for a day filled with community spirit and local produce in South Australia’s vibrant Mt Gambier, including cooking demonstrations by Frances Abdallaoui.
Murray Bridge, SA
Join us at Sturt Reserve on the banks of Australia’s most famous river from 10am to 1pm, where the rural city of Murray Bridge will host a full morning of activities on the Road Train, including live performances by country singer Dave Prior.
Victor Harbor, SA
Come down to meet The Weekly team at Warland Reserve from 9am to 3pm and enjoy a full day of entertainment to celebrate the Cancer Council’s Biggest Morning Tea. The day will feature beauty demonstrations by Revlon and beauty director Kate Mahon, cooking demonstrations by executive food director Lyndey Milan and a Sussan fashion parade.
Barossa, SA
Come and see us at the Barossa Farmers Market Vintners Shed (corner Angaston and Stockwell Rds, Angaston) from 7:30am to 11:30am for an extravaganza of fine foods, including Women’s Weekly Test Kitchen demonstrations with Lyndey Milan.
Clare, SA
Join the Road Train at Old North Rd, adjacent to Mill Place, from 10am to 1pm.
Berri, SA
Come and visit the Road Train in Berri from 10am to 1pm. We’ll be located adjacent to the visitor’s information centre at Riverview Dr at the bottom of Vaughan Terrace.
Mildura, Victoria
Lyndey Milan from the Women’s Weekly Food team will combine our great recipes with fantastic local produce to create a taste sensation at the off street car park on Lime Ave from 9am to 1pm.
Broken Hill, NSW
We’ll join the start of Broken Hill’s Relay for Life at the Memorial Oval on William St from 4 to 8pm and add our support to the Cancer Council.
Port Pirie, SA
Down by the water at the Port Pirie foreshore (151 Ellen St), we’ll meet the locals and have a few laughs from 10am to 1pm.
Port Augusta, SA
Don’t miss a morning of free fun and activities with On the Road at Gladstone Square on Mackay St from 10am to 1pm.
Whyalla, SA
Westland will be hosting the Road Train (Westland Shopping Centre Carpark, corner Nicolson Ave and McDouall Ave) as we bring our fashion, food and beauty activities to Whyalla from 10am to 1pm.
Port Lincoln, SA
Join Mike Dalton from the Today show for his live crosses at 6:50am and 7:50am next to the life sized statue of Makybe Diva on the public holiday Monday, for our last South Australian stop. We’re at The Foreshore on Tasman Terrace from 9am to 12pm.
Kalgoorlie/Boulder, WA
After our trip across the Nullarbor, we’ll join the locals at the Boulder Market Day from 10am to 1pm on Hamilton St (between Burt and Piesse Sts), our first stop in Western Australia.
Esperance, WA
Get on board the Road Train in Esperance at Museum Village on Dempster St between 10am and 1pm.
Albany, WA
We can’t wait to taste the local goodies when the Road Train joins the vibrant Albany Farmers Market on Collie St from 8am to 12pm.
Manjimup, WA
Bring the family down to the new Manjimup Reqional Aqua Centre next to Finch St car park, jump in the pool and then check out the road train from 10am to 1pm.
Bridgetown, WA
Start your week in style by joining the road train when we set up in Bridgetown at Railway Reserve (corner of Steere and Spencer sts) from 10am to 1pm.
Margaret River, WA
The Weekly’s Pamela Clark will be mixing food and wine at our stop in the Margaret River from 10am to 1pm.
Busselton, WA
The Road Train will enjoy a coastal break from 10am to 1pm in Busselton (Signal Park, Queen St), for the latest make-up tips from Revlon and cooking tips by the Weekly.
Bunbury, WA
Make the road train a Saturday morning stop to catch up on the latest food, fashion and beauty tips. We’re at Bicentennial Square on Blair St from 10am to 1pm.
By Annette Campbell
So you’ve decided it’s time to get into shape?
You really want to enjoy all the benefits of exercise, but joining a gym’s too expensive, buying exercise equipment to use at home is even pricier, and the thought of walking, jogging, swimming or cycling on your own is just way too lonely.
Well, what about a team sport?
Every weekend there are hundreds of thousands of Aussie women and men getting out there and playing for their team.
Netball is by far our favourite sport, but others like soccer, hockey and water polo are also enormously popular too.
Kerry Turner, Manager of Community Sport and Recreation at NSW Sport and Recreation (and a former member of the Australian Water Polo team), says there are loads of reasons why a team sport could be perfect for you.
“The most special thing about being in a team is the social side — the friendships you’ll make,” she says. “And your family will know that you’re committed to that one training session a week, and the game on the weekend. That’s when you’re going to walk out the door and have some time for yourself.
“And there are lots of benefits for a busy person — mainly that once you sign up, you’ve already made a stronger commitment than deciding to do something individually.
“You’ll feel you’ll be letting the team down if you don’t turn up. And you’re committed to the team for the season.”
Kerry adds that we’re more likely to stick with regular exercise if it’s fun.
“In a team, you can get fit — and have a chat. And the sense of achievement is different than with individual pursuits, because you’re sharing it among the group,” she says.
“You’ll learn more about respect for each other and that transcends into the workplace. You’re helping each other out — and that has benefits in other areas of your life as well.”
And if you’re watching your budget, the best thing about team sport is that it’s a really inexpensive way to get fit.
“It’s really good value, when you think about how many ‘sessions’ you get,” Kerry explains. “You might play up to 20 games in the season, plus one night a week of training … so that’s 40 workouts; and if your team registration is about $100, which most are, that’s less than $3 a workout.”
More than one in four Australians are involved in a team sport.
There are more netball players in Australia than rugby league, rugby union and Aussie rules players combined.
A total of 419,600 Australians aged over 15 rank outdoor soccer as their favourite physical activity. And more than 100,000 of them are female!
A few years ago I was working as a nanny in Sydney. My employer, Sylvia, was a single, immensely successful barrister. She was also utterly gorgeous, with a flawless complexion, luminous feline green eyes and a mane of tumbling, red curls.
Sylvia also had a vicious temper. She would frequently lash out at me and I quickly learned to stay well out of her way when she had her claws out. Her daughter Isabel was four and just as gorgeous and as vicious as her mother.
Isabel simply adored her mother. All she wanted was to be with her, but Sylvia worked long hours and often many days would pass before Isabel even got a glimpse of her.
Isabel blamed me for her mother’s absence and thought that if I wasn’t around, her mother would spend more time with her. Sylvia must have preferred that Isabel believed all fault lay with nanny and did nothing to dissuade her daughter of this notion. Thus, I was marooned for long days on end with an angry and spiteful little girl who did everything in her power to make nanny go away.
I was miserable, but I was also heavily in debt. Sylvia paid well and I could not afford to just walk away.
Each Saturday, we would stroll to the local beachside cafe for breakfast. Sylvia and Isabel would promenade ahead, a veritable vision of the perfect mother and daughter. I would trail behind dutifully, tottering under the week’s supply of newspapers and glossy magazines for Sylvia and colouring books for Isabel.
One Saturday morning, Sylvia purchased two instant scratchies from the newsagent, one for herself and one for Isabel to scratch while waiting in the cafe for breakfast. We had just sat down at the table when Sylvia’s mobile rang for the third time that morning. On cue, Isabel instantly began to mewl piteously. Sylvia shot me an exasperated look and moved away to take the call at a far table.
In an attempt to distract Isabel, I passed her a key and encouraged her to start on her scratchie. She sourly scratched the cover of the Cleo magazine instead. Knowing better than to stop her, I scratched her scratchie for her.
To my shock, I saw I had uncovered the jackpot, the $100,000 prize!
I stared down at the scratchie on the table before me. Sylvia was still talking into the mobile and Isabel had started defacing a second magazine. Without thinking, I automatically pushed the magazine out of her reach.
Isabel jumped down from the chair, ran to her mother squealing and clung tightly to her legs. Sylvia glared at me over the top of Isabel’s red curls. I heard her say loudly into the mobile that it was high time she got a decent nanny with a modicum of intelligence and ability.
I dug about in my bag for a similar scratchie I had purchased and scratched a few days ago. Luckily, it was still there. Without hesitation I switched the scratchies, just in the nick of time. Sylvia snapped her mobile closed and angrily stalked back to the table, Isabel tearfully triumphant behind her.
Before Sylvia could say a word, I announced that I didn’t think the arrangements were working for any of us and that I was resigning, effective immediately. Then, with a rush of joy, I walked out of the cafe to start the rest of my life.
Picture posed by model.
By Judy Davie
**”I have just had a baby and am finding it hard to lose weight. I am not a junk food eater or a fatty eater but love my food and eat a lot of it, mainly because I can’t get full on just a little bit of food. Can you please help me? If I can control the amount of food I eat without being hungry then I will be fine as I Iove exercise and the rest would be a breeze.”
— Ashley**
I don’t know how long it is since you gave birth, which is quite important. Considering it took nine months to gain the weight, it’s realistic to allow nine to 12 months to lose it. It’s also important not to diet if you’re still breast feeding. Despite this, there are some things you can do, with exercise, to help with weight loss.
Studies have shown that a diet higher in protein when combined with low-GI wholegrain carbohydrates provides greater satiety and can encourage weight loss. Lean meat, chicken, fish, tofu, eggs, low-fat milk and yoghurt are all great sources of protein.
Swap all white carbohydrates for their wholegrain equivalent, i.e. white pasta to wholemeal, white breads to wholegrain and replace rice for ancient grains such as quinoa, bulgur, and freekeh. These whole grains are much better than processed grains, they contain more nutrients, have a low GI and will keep you feeling full for much longer. Other great carbohydrates that really fill you up are beans; chickpeas, butter, kidney, cannelini beans and lentils — usually sold in good fruit and vegetable stores or the supermarket, you’ll find them dried or in cans. Heat them, mash them or serve them cold with salads. With the added flavour of garlic, a little olive oil and some seasoning they’re delicious.
Most importantly you can eat huge amounts of vegies to fill up without stacking on the kJs. Load your plate with as many green leafy veg as you please. Decorate the greens with lots of colourful vegetables such as capsicum, sweet corn, asparagus, and beans and go easy on the hard root vegies that grow underground, in particular potatoes and parsnip — they have a high GI.
By Judy Davie
**”I have recently moved into a new house and away from family for the first time. While I have always had a sweet tooth, I feel that I am losing control. I cannot eat just one biscuit or scoop of ice-cream. I have to finish it all. I feel that my cravings just get stronger and I am losing control. I have a history of binge eating and I don’t want to go down that track again. Are there any diet suggestions for what I can do to get these cravings under control again?”
— Kat**
Most of us as children grew up with sweet foods offered as a reward or a treat for doing something well. Whatever the reason, maybe we ate all the vegetables on our plate or behaved when a parent took us shopping, our association with sweet foods as a consequence is a feel-good experience. Taking that on into adult life it’s very common to seek comfort in sweet foods when we’re feeling a little sad, lonely or anxious to help us feel better.
While it’s very important you analyse why you have these cravings, the easiest and most obvious place to start is by clearing the house of ice-cream and biscuits. If they’re not there, you can’t eat them.
Being away from your family for the first time might be the reason you’re finding comfort in sweet foods. Perhaps you’re feeling a little vulnerable and scared without the safety of a family whose love for you is guaranteed. It’s very challenging starting out on your own in the world but hugely rewarding in the long run. It will get easier and, provided you make the effort to get out there and meet people, it will also be a lot of fun. It’s the time of life where you learn who you are and what you want without being influenced by anyone else’s opinion. In time you’ll learn that it was this time that helped you become truly comfortable with your own unique self.
There’s no magic trick to this other than having the faith that it will all get better. Practical steps to take include:
Find something to do during the times you are most vulnerable and likely to comfort eat. Things like going for a run, attending a yoga class, taking yourself to the movies, phoning a friend or restoring a piece of furniture are a few things that spring to mind.
Make it your mission to find some friends near you; introduce yourself to the neighbours, maybe ask them to have dinner with you one night. Be bold. One thing you’ll come to recognise in life is that everyone is fighting their own personal issues and as long as you extend a hand of friendship — even if they don’t all want to accept it — they can only be grateful that you tried.
When you feel your life is under control, the cravings will be too — work out what you need to do to feel happier and put a plan in place to make it happen. We’re all entitled to be happy. You are too.
Finally, back onto the subject of food, it’s very important that you make the time to prepare a well-balanced meal for yourself with a serve of protein, carbohydrate, lots of veggies and a little fat. You should be putting down your knife and fork at the end of each meal feeling satisfied and content. If not there’s a great temptation to find satisfaction from eating something else. Take some time in the week to plan your meals and shop for the ingredients. Use the Internet to find recipes or buy yourself a nice cookbook for ideas. And, if you have to end the meal with something sweet, try stewing some plums with apples, adding a few sultanas and having it with natural low fat yoghurt and a mug of herbal tea.
My 2-year-old Spoodle, Bailey! He loves to dress up and is always ready for a photo!
Jenelle
Lucille (tan) is an Australian Terrier cross (3 years) and Millie (black) is her daughter. They came to us a year ago after being taken in by Monika’s Doggie
— Stefani
Sam the boxer. He loves to sleep on my coffee table.
— Dhonalda
Sumo, showing off her belly after weighing in at 6.1kgs (1kg lighter than 12 months ago).
— Sasha
This is Tessa Davis, my 1-year-old staffy cross. She’s a Super Dog, with or without the costume!
— Gena Davis
This is our family pet Jack Russell ‘Russ’ who just loves digging holes. I am hoping he stops soon.
— Jess
Diego the Husky is a kleptomaniac. He steals everything and takes it out to the backyard. And Mikey the Maltese encourages his bad behaviour. They also love to steal the bed.
— Cougar
This is my dog Lucy and my cat Sammy. When people say that dogs and cats don’t get along, it’s a lie. Have a look at this…
— Emma
This is my cute ridgeback x greyhound called Pharoah. Oh so cute!!!
— Annika
Biggest Loser contestant Mel Russell talks to Woman’s Day about her time on the show.
**Starting weight: 108.4kg
Elimination weight: 88kg**
How do you feel now that you are out of the Biggest Loser competition?
Its mixed emotions. I’m so excited to be going home to my family. I said I didn’t want to go home until I was in the 80s and I hit that. I’m 88kg and I’m stoked with that. I feel so much healthier and stronger. You’re tired from training but I’m feeling a real buzz at the moment and know there’s no way I’m going to stop now that I’m out of the house.
Who didn’t you get along with?
It’s no secret I didn’t get along with Kelly. She was a real manipulator. She didn’t train very hard and that frustrated me. She started spreading stories that weren’t true and trying to hook in with the Red team. She was trying to get people to vote against me and telling people there are alliances with people that never happened. When she left, things rose up again and it was much more positive. Gerard was very negative. I found that hard to deal with. He would never celebrate his weight loss. The divorce definitely had an effect on him. He kept saying, “When I did Jenny Craig I lost this much weight and I’m not losing that much here.” It was hard for the trainers to deal with that.
Has this experience made you more confident to enter into your first real relationship like you hoped it would?
I’ve still got work to do and I’m looking forward to getting there and have no doubt I will before the reunion. I wouldn’t say I’m ready to put myself out there but I’m much more willing to do it. I’ll be confident enough to walk along the beach and not be covered up. I’ll need more toning but the only thing I joke about is I might need a boob job.
Who would you like to see win?
I’m crossing my fingers Damien will win. We gave up our space for him last night. He’s a fantastic person. He Jules and I have formed a great friendship. His journey is so much longer than everyone else’s. He needs to be there and have Shannon next to him.
Biggest Loser contestant Greg Koutsouridis talks to Woman’s Day about his time on the show.
**Starting weight: 148.8kg
Elimination weight: 114.7kg**
How do you feel having to leave at this stage of the game?
I’ve got 9 kilos to go before I reach my goal weight but I’m really happy. I feel much sexier. I’ve got my cockiness back and my ego’s been recharged. People might see it as bad but if I don’t do it for myself, who will?
Did it have the impact on your life you hoped it would?
It changed my life considerably. Before I went in the house I was a very vindictive person, I hid behind closed doors. I’m happy to be alive now and I know my wife’s going to be happy and that makes me happy. She stood by me all this time even though she didn’t like how I was. I’ll definitely make it up to her, she’s very special. I want to take her fishing, bike riding and on holidays. I know she’d be up for it.
Is there any one you won’t miss from the house?
Gerard was very snappy and moody. He had issues with his marriage breaking up, being a dad to three kids, and being the oldest contestant. I found Courtney disrespectful to people in general. His attitude was “F**k everyone”. He smelt too, he had a stench about him. He never used to shower before bedtime, only in the morning. His clothes were so sweaty and when they would dry out he would wear them again.
You seemed to change your tune in regard to Jillian?
Going into the house I never wanted Jillian. I always thought she hammed it up for the cameras. I picked Michelle because I felt sorry for her as Shannon was getting everyone. It was the best move I’ve ever made. It turns out Jillian’s like that off camera too so I started to like her because I saw that she wasn’t fake. She cared about us and put us first and Michelle kept that going.
Who would you like to see win?
Marty. When he left I put my hand up to go instead of him. We never made an alliance, we had a mutual respect. He could see that I wasn’t scheming, just working hard. That progressed to a friendship and from that came a very strong bond, we could see we were different from everyone else. We backed each other up so when he was voted out, I asked Ajay if the Blue team could reconsider as I was the biggest threat at the time with my strength and endurance but it was not to be.
Woman’s Day Fashion Editor Olivia Waugh solves your fashion dilemas.
