The September 9 Edition

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Good Weekend

The September 9 Edition

Danielle Laidley: From star AFL player to transgender role model | Training for bushfire season | Me time: Australia’s mania for memoirs | Split Enz co-founder Tim Finn on the art of songwriting | The welcome return of cocktail service

14 stories
The September 9 Edition
Danielle Laidley views “just being seen” as her greatest responsibility while she comes to terms with her role in the transgender community.

‘I’m just being me’: Danielle Laidley on life after transition

From star AFL player and top coach to transgender role model: Danielle Laidley on the childhood sweetheart and footy mates helping her come out the other side.

  • by Konrad Marshall
Australian’s appetite for memoirs has more than doubled in the past two decade.

Stranger than fiction: Why are we so mad for memoirs?

Australian sales of memoirs have more than doubled in 20 years. What’s behind our insatiable appetite for them?

  • by Jane Cadzow
Nick Moir’s photo from the Green
Wattle Creek fire in December 2019. “The more I train, the more I realise how little I knew,” says the trainee firey.

As volunteers prepare for bushfire season, there’s one signal they don’t want to hear

With life-and-death memories of Black Summer indelible and a heightened bushfire risk ahead, trainee firefighters are learning far more than they’d anticipated.

  • by Maddison Connaughton
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Ben Mckelvey: “I realised that life is short. I knew soon after we met again that I was in love with her.”

‘I love you’: Claire didn’t reply, but Ben wasn’t worried

The couple met more than two decades ago, drifted apart and then Ben almost died. Fast-forward to a lockdown romance …

  • by Fenella Souter
“Even on the best days, the best songs don’t come unbidden.”
Dicey Topics
For subscribers

‘Trust in mistakes and accidents’: Tim Finn’s commandments for songwriting

The singer-songwriter and founding member of Split Enz on the art of making music and managing money from it. Plus: the blissful side of being raised Catholic.

  • by Benjamin Law

Tough day at the office for a wound-up under-one? Enter the baby day spa

Plus: get ready for the weekend with these fresh diversions.

  • by Frances Mocnik, Jill Dupleix, Amanda Hooton, Damien Woolnough and Nicole Abadee
Modern Guru
Modern Guru

Modern Guru’s advice for an aspiring novelist with a tiny attention span

Books are hard to write when you can’t focus long, explains Danny Katz.

  • by Danny Katz
Roasting tomatoes intensifies the flavour, which pairs perfectly with the black barley.

Crumbed flake with roasted tomato, black barley and herb salad

Tomato aren’t their best in the cooler months. Roasting them intensifies the flavour, which pairs with this barley and herb salad served alongside crumbed fish.

  • by Karen Martini
A one pan wonder full of vegetables, protein and rice

Chicken, chorizo and rice bake with dill and feta herb salad

This chicken, chorizo and rice is bright, spicy and salty and easily comes together in one pan.

  • by Danielle Alvarez
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The “rainbow” trout is striped with finger lime, salmon roe, chopped chives and dashi pearls.

This Yarra Valley winery restaurant has always been worth visiting. Now, it’s almost essential

The restaurant at TarraWarra Estate is only getting better under chef Joel Alderdice, writes Dani Valent. And this dish might just one of the prettiest in Victoria.

  • by Dani Valent
The assorted tempura selection ($38).

‘Addictive, comforting food’: Izakaya Tempura Kuon’s deep-fried seafood is a light and lovely surprise

The secret to great tempura has been revealed at this relaxed Japanese restaurant. Reviewer Callan Boys would like it injected into his atoms.

  • by Callan Boys

Shake it up: Speciality cocktails are all the rage with Australian diners

From designer martini service to oyster shell infused gin, there are more trends in the cocktail world than you can shake a swizzle stick at.

  • by Terry Durack

Good Weekend letters to the editor: September 9

Want to chat? We’d love to hear from you. Send your letters to goodweekend@​goodweekend.com.au

Good Weekend Quiz online index image

Good Weekend Superquiz and Saturday Target Time, September 9

Trivia buffs: test your knowledge with today's interactive superquiz and target.