The July 13 Edition
There was a vacant block near my friend Robyn’s house when I was growing up. It was our favourite place to scamper to; away from adults, full of trees to climb and redolent of my favourite book at the time, The Magic Faraway Tree. There was a derelict home nearby, too, that we called Witchy Poo’s house. I was petrified of it, and never took up the dare to breach the gate and go inside. These were outliers in an old-fashioned area full of family homes – magic to kids precisely because of their rarity. Today, judging by Greg Callaghan’s cover story, such vacant blocks and derelict houses have mushroomed across Sydney and Melbourne – this at a time of dire rental shortages and spiralling home prices. In his meticulously researched story, Callaghan asks why this is so, what can be done about it – and why there’s not more of an outcry about it from the political class. Editor, Katrina Strickland
Left to rot: The ‘ghost homes’ scourge in our big cities – amid a housing crisis
Tens of thousands of homes sit empty across our major cities, while luxury units replace old apartment blocks - all while debate rages about our home shortage.
- by Greg Callaghan
Australians are becoming Camino converts in record numbers. Why?
More and more Australians are walking the Camino de Santiago, often as a pivotal reset in their lives – and returning transformed.
- by Helen Pitt
I hired a male sex worker for my 70th birthday. It didn’t go as planned
Mitch, in his 30s, seemed like a perfect gift to self. But then...
- by Gail Rice
‘I had to stop’: An Adelaide photographer on his home state’s striking landscapes
From the country’s biggest windmill and one of its loneliest roads to Henley Beach in high summer: a collection of Alex Frayne’s most-loved landscapes.
- by Alex Frayne
Two of Us
Two of Us
On an early date, Sammy introduced Rachael to his sport. Now, he’s her Olympic coach
Olympic breaker Rachael Gunn needs Samuel Free to be her husband some days, her coach others. The two aren’t always the same.
- by Kimberly Gillan
A pig, an alien and a staircase: The meaning of Aaron Chen’s tattoos
The comedian and actor on how he chooses work (and his tatts), being intimidated in a Korean spa – and eating 40 cheeseburgers with a mate.
- by Benjamin Law
Modern Guru
Modern Guru
She wants to roam the planet. He wants to stay put and save it. Which argument flies?
Let her scratch that travel itch, writes our Modern Guru.
- by Danny Katz
The wave
They were negotiating the skinny, inner-city streets when Nev pulled over to accommodate an approaching car, blasted the horn and waved sarcastically at the oblivious, passing motorist. In the back seat, Emma and Tom exchanged a look. “No wave?” Tom said. “No f---in’ wave,” Nev confirmed. “It’s what’s wrong with the world, I reckon,” Emma said, mimicking Nev’s baritone. “If you ask me,” Tom growled, “the social contract’s breaking down.” Nev eyed them in the rear-view mirror. “Mock all you like. But you’ll see,” he said. Scowling, he drove on, scanning the streets for more slights, insults, portents of doom. Words by Paul Connolly. Illustration by Jim Pavlidis.
Men’s jewellery: Dare we brooch the topic?
Plus: get ready for the weekend with these fresh diversions.
- by Deborah Cooke, Greg Callaghan, Melissa Singer, Katrina Strickland, Dani Valent and Barry Divola
Tartiflette galette (cheese and potato tart)
Two classic French recipes combine to create this open-faced, cheese-and-potato pie.
- by Helen Goh
Double-lemon loaf cake with sugar crust
Danielle Alvarez’s lemon cake of dreams also happens to be dairy-free.
- by Danielle Alvarez
You might think you’re ‘helping’, but leave the plate-stacking to the professionals
When empty plates disappear without you even realising, you’re in good hands. However, we don’t always make it easy for waitstaff.
- by Terry Durack
