A good friend of mine, and bride-to-be recently asked me what it takes to have a successful marriage. I was surprised by the question and then she explained that my marriage is one that she admires, and she looked to me for advice as she and her fiancé prepare for the rest of their lives together.

The question led to me to reflect on my relationship and on what I have learnt in the five years that I have been married. Upon my reflection it seems my friend was right to ask me for my advice. It turns out that I do know a few
things about being married.

Here are my tips for newlyweds and new couples on how to have a strong and successful relationship.
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Breaking the taboo of talking about periods, Jean Hailes for Women’s Health has released an innovative new animation that helps women of all ages and cultures understand what happens in their body.

“All you need to know about periods” is a gentle, simple and engaging 2 minute 20 second animation that explains in clear steps what happens during a woman’s menstrual cycle.

After a series of focus groups and discussions with clinicians around Australia, Jean Hailes identified a gap in understanding of the menstrual cycle in some multi-cultural communities and among some adolescents.

“The illustrations are done in a warm, hand-drawn style,” says Jean Hailes Deputy CEO, Dr Mandy Deeks. “In conjunction with the friendly voice-over, the animation appeals to young women as well as older women where menstruation might not be widely discussed. Women whose levels of English might be low can also easily understand the messages.”

Dr Deeks says the link to the animation on the Jean Hailes website should be freely shared and can be viewed online or via a smart phone. “Our animation can put any girl or woman’s mind at rest—that having a period is a natural and very normal part of life. No one is alone in their experiences.”

Jean Hailes is grateful to the Collie Foundation, managed by Equity Trustees, for funding for the animation’s creation.

View the animation.

The period animation’s permanent home is on the Jean Hailes website.

 

ABOUT JEAN HAILES FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH Jean Hailes for Women’s Health is a not-for-profit organisation committed to improving women’s knowledge and understanding of complex health issues. Jean Hailes has a unique model, comprising three fully integrated business units: The Medical Centre; Translation, Education & Communication Unit and the Jean Hailes Research Unit, which is a formal partnership with Monash University.

 

Dear childless me,

I hope you’re enjoying your independence and freedom.

When you turn 17, your life will change forever.

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Women experience higher rates of depression, anxiety and eating disorders than men but constantly fall through gaps in the health system, a new paper from the Australian Health Policy Collaboration at Victoria University has found.

The Australian Health Policy Collaboration (AHPC) is urging the Federal Government to address poor understanding of women’s mental health needs and boost prevention, treatment and management programs.

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Comic cabaret gold
★★★★ The Scotsman

Can one arrogantly named girl gang save the world? Taking on gender inequality one glorious harmony at a time, Lady Sings it Better give the comedy-cabaret finger to the world’s greatest male musicians, reinventing tunes by David Bowie, Prince, Kanye West, Justin Bieber, John Farnham, Maroon 5 and a whole lot of boybands.

A high energy, hilarious & devilishly bizarre adventure through the darkest corners of misogynist pop, rock, hiphop and RnB, Lady Sings it Better gets audiences dancing in their seats, faces aching from laughter. Lady Sings it Better rips through your expectations of well-loved songs revealing strange themes, surprisingly hideous lyrics and untapped musical potential.

“We’re thrilled to be bringing our new show to Melbourne after we had such a fun season last year,” says Director Maeve Marsden. “We’re tired of this absurd debate about whether or not feminism is needed, and if so, what form it should take. We’re taking the stance that all that’s needed for gender equality to be achieved is the perfect one-hour comedy show. What could possibly go wrong?”

A night of wicked fun that may leave you listening to the radio a little differently on the drive home
★★★★ 1⁄2 AdelaideNow

Recently nominated for a Green Room Award for Best Musical Direction, the Ladies deliver complex harmonies with ambitious and unexpected arrangements, accompanied by a highly skilled band. Lady Sings it Better are committed to more than just music, though, collaborating with the AIDS Council of NSW (ACON) to release a not-quite-safe-for-work comedy cabaret cover of ‘Closer’ by Nine Inch Nails to promote women’s sexual health.

“We’re delighted to be partnering with Lady Sings it Better on this project,” said ACON HIV and Sexual Health Director Karen Price. “It showcases sexual desire, it’s incredibly funny and off-kilter, and we’re confident it will resonate with a broad range of women thereby encouraging them to access more information about sexual health.”

The video reinvents the ‘condom on the banana’ demonstration from school sex education classes in a decidedly fun, feminine and fruity way: iloveclaude.com/lady-sings-it-better/

Lady Sings it Better have enjoyed full houses and critical acclaim, performing to raucous crowds at Sydney Comedy Festival, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Sydney Mardi Gras, Adelaide Fringe Festival, Festival of Voices (Tasmania), Glitter Festival on the Gold Coast and Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

What reviewers are saying…

Sassy, passionate, and downright hilarious, Lady Sings It Better is comedic cabaret at its best.
★★★★ ArtsHub

When the performances are this strong and the crowd is this pleased, it’s impossible not to leave with a buzz.
aussietheatre.com

Hilarious and musically satisfying.
Daily Review

Beautiful, talented and fully rounded individuals, hotties even, that embrace and paint the universe a resplendent colour with a minxy grin and a cheeky wink… [They] energetically prowl like six sexy and playful kittens, hanging loose in the vibrant land of cabaret.
★★★★★ Broadway Baby

A sheer joyful explosion of sound
★★★★ Adelaide Advertiser

Talk about sisters doing it for themselves…the showstopper was just the start of the show.
Australian Stage Online

Armed with tongues in cheeks, slick banter, and heavenly harmonies.
★★★★ Fest Mag

This is quality cabaret: quirky, naughty and a bit sexy.
★★★★ Adelaide Theatre Guide

 

Booking details:

TICKETS: comedyfestival.com.au/2016/season/shows/here-to-save-the-world-lady-sings-it-better

April 11, 7.30pm at Hares & Hyenas (wheelchair accessible)

April 12 – 17, 8.30pm at The Butterfly Club

Links:

ladysingsitbetter.com
youtube.com/ladysingsitbetter
facebook.com/ladysingsitbetterfans
twitter.com/lady_sings_it

One of the most famous traditions around the ‘leap year’ is that women propose to men on the rare date of 29 February, falling just once in four years. This leap year, media personality Gretel Killeen is calling on women who have proposed or are serious about proposing to #QVtakealeap and celebrate with an adventurous day at QV Melbourne.

In a study of recent Australian brides, fiancées and women with long-term partners via Australia’s leading and largest bridal fair One Fine Day, QV Melbourne found that less than 2% of all respondents had proposed to their partners with just 4% considering popping the question.

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Today marks the official opening of The Happy Garden at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick. Located on a sunny, open‐air balcony on level one at the Hospital, The Happy Garden provides sick kids the chance to heal quickly in a cheerful, healthy, sunlit environment. Continue reading

Article by Jessica Morris

As a very boisterous child, I loved ballet. I wanted to learn all about dancing and wear pointe shoes, perform and be admired on stage. I was told I was too big to be a ballerina. I shouldn’t have listened, but before I could fathom a reasonable decision, I was singing in a choir instead. In the background, because I had a crushing feeling that my size meant I wasn’t supposed to be in the spotlight like I wanted to be. Continue reading

Article by Kelly Sargent

 

“What is going to happen to the girl on the next table after this meal? What is going to be done to her at night? And the night after and the night after until someone steps in and offers her an alternative life?”

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Article by Vanessa de Largie

 

I didn’t want to die.

I didn’t want to exit this life via domestic violence. The abuse was getting worse and I had to commit to saving myself. My parents’ deaths from cancer had given me strength. My inability to cope with physical, emotional and sexual abuse whilst grieving, forced me to take action. Continue reading

Article and poem by Sarah Gill

In January 2014 just after my birthday I suffered a bit of a mental breakdown, things had been accumulating for a few weeks prior but I didn’t really understand what was happening to me. Continue reading

Article by Darren Tendler

Article by Emily Lighezzolo

 

I am sure many of you have found yourself in the middle of an awkward situation before (of your own making, more often than not). Suffocating in embarrassment you look up to see that “Exit this Way” sign. It’s mocking you; its fluorescent green lights blinking in your peripheral vision. Continue reading

Opinion: Vanessa de Largie

Dear Apparent Feminists,

I’m grateful that Australia is finally having a conversation about violence against women, thanks to the wonderful work done by Rosie Batty.

Unfortunately this much needed dialogue has brought out the vultures. I feel like I’ve been thrown into a blender of hatred which apparently is justified when you are advocating to stop violence against women. How can this be?  Does anyone else see the absurdity?

One only has to visit Clementine Ford’s Facebook page to witness a never-ending stream of vitriol by Ford and her supporters, towards any man who dares to have an opinion. Admittedly I’m a past supporter of Ford’s.  I’ve written her emails and sent her a copy of my book on domestic violence.

Recently an article by Jack Kilbride was published by New Matilda. Although I may not agree with the contents of his article, Kilbride did not deserve the disproportionate response he received. It was indeed a witch-hunt.

In general, commentators seem anxious to make headlines rather than offering sincere support and advocacy to women. In the past year, digital media has become a spiteful, vengeful and man-hating pit where issues of domestic violence, verbal abuse and rape are used as an excuse to spit venom at men and cause controversy.

I’m a survivor of domestic violence and rape. It’s taken me two decades to get to a point where I can talk about it. I still have days, where I feel incredibly vulnerable but I see myself as a work in progress.

Do these apparent feminists realise how damaging the ‘anger’ and ‘bandwagon antics’ are to actual survivors like myself and our families? It tears us apart – it’s damaging.

These women do not represent me or how I feel. I don’t subscribe to their brand of male-hating feminism. I don’t hold all men accountable for my rape, only the perpetrator that did it.

Spitting vitriol at males doesn’t change what occurred, it only creates an environment of hostility between the sexes and blocks the possibilities of an open and honest discussion. The dialogue surrounding ‘violence against women’ has to be inclusive of males.

If violence against men is how we fight violence against women – count me out!

Warmly,

Vanessa de Largie

The Australian Mitochondrial Disease Foundation (AMDF) hopes to connect all mitochondrial disease sufferers.

One of its main purposes is to provide support and practical information that will improve the quality of life for sufferers and their families.

The AMDF wants to raise the profile of this debilitating disease among the medical profession and society at large. The support of the Australian philanthropic community will be essential to fulfil its ultimate aim, a cure.

For more information visit their website