Women Beyond Forty - Fifth Edition - Theme: She Rocks

Issue 5

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Cover Art - Fierce Female - Kara Cooper - Page 20

WB40 Magazine acknowledges the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation upon whose lands we live, work and play. We pay our respects to Aboriginal elders past, present and emerging.

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Magazine Issue No. 5 She Rocks

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Features Holding Space

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How to be a Rockstar at work

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Fashion - Godesses of Rock n Roll

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What I learned about the media in 1997

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She Rocks: Women in Music

Adalita Srsen

Kate Black

Kylie Sahb

Eliza Hull

Tana Douglas

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How to Choose the right Vibrator

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Is it Time to take a break from Alcohol

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Contents

Cover Artist - Kara Cooper

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Food - Lemony Lamb Shoulder with Mint and Broad Beans

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Subscriptions

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She Endeavours

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5 Podcasts we are loving

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WELCOME

H

ello to everyone and if you are reading this in Australia, we’re thinking about everyone currently navigating lockdown restrictions as we watch the numbers of Covid’s Delta strain rise too quickly. It’s been a long and difficult path for many living in these surreal times. To everyone else around the world, we hope that you and your loved ones are safe. We understand covid fatigue is a real thing and it’s a roller coaster ride.

It’s so hard to believe that Issue 5 of Wb40 Magazine is here as we head into Spring. The theme of Issue 5 – She Rocks – is a nod to how resilient women can be. We talk with women in the music industry at a time where the creative community has been hit so hard. Their optimism for better times ahead is brilliant.

We are so thrilled also that Women Beyond Forty was named a finalist in the AusMumpreneur Awards in the Women’s Champion category. We’ve also been nominated for two awards in the Roar Success Awards – Rebel Business of the Year and the Making Waves award - we are thrilled and honoured. While I’m often seen as the face of Wb40, it takes a team to make each issue come to life. The kick-ass writers and the women who share their hard-won wisdom are the lifeforce of Wb40, and of course you – the readers and supporters of this magazine. You are our community and our sisters. When Wb40 is recognised for awards, or you send us your brilliant pictures with the mag, it reminds us that we’re on the right path and that the stories of women need to be told.

So much is going on in the world outside of the pandemic.

As the Olympics and the Paralympics come to an end we looked on with huge admiration at Simone Biles, the US gymnast who made an unprecedented decision to out her mental health ahead of the games, then watched as some sections of the media took offense to her courageous decision. Mental health is such an important issue and, in that moment, Simone Biles sent a clear message to others who are struggling - it’s okay to put your mental health first. We saw so many amazing women rising above in the Olympics. The German gymnastics team challenged the status quo by wearing unitards, explaining they were sick of the sexualisation of the sport. Rockstar Pink offered to pay the fines imposed on the Norwegian Volleyball team who wore shorts rather than bikini bottoms. What the actual hell? In 2021 it’s hard to believe this actually caused any controversy, but sadly it did.

Laurel Hubbard became the first Transgender woman to be chosen to compete at the Tokyo Olympics while Quinn (they go by one name), Canada’s soccer midfielder, made history as the first openly transgender, non-binary athlete to win a gold medal.

In world news, we are scrambling to comprehend the news that Afghanistan are once again under Taliban rule, and our hearts are breaking that so many women will lose basic human rights and are left fearing for their safety. It feels so deeply wrong. In the words of American writer and feminist Audre Lorde, “I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when their shackles are very different from my own.”

We are watching as laws in Texas and North Carolina threated the right for women to seek a legal abortion.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg must have been raging from the after world. We stand with the women impacted in the USA and send you courage as you rightfully march for your rights. Our bodies, our choice.

Sending all of you love. Please take care of yourself and please be gentle with yourself. We’d love you to write to Dear Wb40 and let us know how you are.

x y d n Sa

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acknowledgments

The Team Founder | Creative Director | Editor Sandy Lowres- She/Her Design & Layout Sandy Lowres - Michael Smedley - He/Him Food Editor Sandra Reynolds -She/Her Fashion Editor Nikki Hind - She/Her Career Columnist Amalia Chillianis - She/Her Advertising Michael Smedley | Sandy Lowres Social Media

Pay it forward Are you a charity or a not-for-profit supporting women and girls, and need more exposure, donations or volunteers?

Wb40 Magazine is committed to giving away free ad space to such organisations.

This is

completely free. We believe that your invaluable work for women should be supported. This is our way of paying it forward.

For this edition we proudly support: Ad for Love Your Sister

Debbie Larsen - She/Her Editor Paris Lowres - She/Her

Contact us via email:

info@wb40.com.au

Thankyou

Recycled Paper

Susan Jarvis - The Spicy Boudoir

Digital Printing:

Am.pm communications

https://www.thespicyboudoir.com/ Trish Rist - Fierce One Online https://www.fierce.one

COPYRIGHT © 2021 All rights reserved. This publication or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means — electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise — without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by Australian copyright law.

The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily the opinions of the Publisher.

WB40 is an independent magazine published bi monthly by:

WB40 PO Box 8 Altona Vic 3018 ABN: 658 766 98304

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ISSN: 2652-9556 (Print) ISSN: 2652-9564 (Online)

We thank the writers who have shared their talent for both the Wb40 Magazine & for our website - wb40.com

Amalia Chillianis

Nikki Hind

Sandra Reynolds

Jo Pybus

Sandy Lowres

Susan Jarvis

Simone Michelle

Want to write or contribute for wb40?

Head to the website for more details - https://wb40.com

f @womenbeyondforty l @womenbeyondforty 9

Dear Women Beyond Forty

FIERCE.ONE JEWELLERY https://www.fierce.one/

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Dear Women Beyond Forty Drop us a letter about Women Beyond Forty for your chance to win this necklace and earring set from Fierce.One Jewellery Editors Choice Letter Congratulations to Tabitha!

As the Editor’s choice letter, Tabitha has won gorgeous candles from https://flamingflamingo.com.au/

D

ear Wb40,

Yesterday I was talking to a colleague in Perth about menopause and oestrogen patches and the impact it had on her life for the better so I went to Wb40 and read the menopause articles. I have a doctor appointment today to discuss patches. It’s amazing how it’s kind of a taboo subject that I had no idea about.

Thank you!!

Tabitha, Point Cook Vic

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ear Wb40,

I’m enjoying this magazine so much.

It’s so great to find something that for older women like me. As an older woman, a mother and grandmother, it is really so nice to feel seen.

Susan, Rowville Vic

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ear Wb40,

Loved Carly Findlay’s article on skating! It makes me want to strap my skates on. Thanks for highlighting women who are over 40. I was worried about turning forty and this magazine is making me feel like I’m in great company.

D

ear Wb40,

Working from home during the pandemic has really changed my views on my job so I have appreciated the articles in the magazine [by Amalia Chilianis] about careers. I’m working on a plan to hopefully leave the corporate world and start a venture of my own. Covid has put a lot of things into perspective.

Rahni, Adelaide, SA

Sharon M, Fulham Gardens, SA

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ear Wb40,

I got a bit teary reading the stories about sisterhood and friendship. My friends have been my biggest support while going through a divorce, and it really makes me realise how lucky I am to have strong women in my life.

I’m 54, and thought life was ending but now on the other side, I know it’s just a brand new chapter.

Amanda, Surfers Paradise, Qld

Thanks so much for everyone who sent us your thoughts! We love and appreciate your feedback!

Email us at: info@wb40.com.au | Add ‘Letter to the Editor’ in the Subject line 11

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Holding Space

BY SIMONNE MICHELLE

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sn’t it time men held the space? If my 6 year old daughter can do it, dudes can too

I’ve been told many times I’m great at holding the space. It’s an evocative image - holding space - one of celestial beauty, of impossibility, grace, even.

It elicits an image of a cosmic mother, her arms wrapped around the stars like she birthed them. Is this how people see me? A divine mother, nurturing the universe? Or is that how I’ve decided to see myself? Because, in reality, holding the space can be anything but divinely graceful.

As women, most of us have an innate understanding

of what holding the space for someone is, and how to do it. Not to say it’s an inherently, fully-formed thing, because doing it well takes practice, no matter how mother-goddessy we are. But, in my experience, women seem to be able to access it more readily, and employ it much more often, than men.

And I wonder, because of that, what our daughters and sons are learning about how women hold the space, what it means for the holder and the holdee, and who gets left out.

Holding the space for someone is more than just listening to them as they grieve or share, feel anxious or worried or afraid. Sometimes you just hold

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the space in silence. I’ve held the space when the other person didn’t know I was. It’s a stepping out of the self, while remaining fully in the present, to help another person feel they’re in a safe space, but not crowded.

Global men’s group facilitator, Connor Beaton sums it up perfectly: Holding space is the process of witnessing and validating someone else’s emotional state while simultaneously being present to your own. It’s this being present to your own where I think men struggle. It’s certainly what Connor has found in his three decades of working with men: that there is a strong desire to fix a problem, or feel like in order to validate someone or something you must also agree, or view someone else’s challenges through the prism of your own experiences. And when we do all that, we layer our own judgements and value systems on top - and that isn’t holding the space, it’s just creating another one. Don’t get me wrong, women are not immune to wanting to fix things. But, as Beaton points out in his work, men genuinely do struggle to find that sweet spot where you’re not trying to fix and you’re also more invested than just listening and nodding your head. There is nuance involved; a selflessness; a trust and vulnerability; and often an intuitive response required. And let’s face it, these are not the most inherent of male behaviours.

My ex-husband is a feminist, artist, designer who whips up glorious baked goods (yes, he’s currently single, yes, he’s extraordinary, yes, call me), and my current partner is a man’s-man, with a big beard and a penchant for war movies, and neither of them could hold the space for me. I had to teach them. It was hard. I almost gave up and continued to let my women-folk do this most important of humAnnsses exclusively for me. But we persevered - these most disparate of men and me - because I needed it, their own hearts needed to learn it, and their children needed it.

There is a profound beauty in watching two adults care for one another in this way. When they are sideby-side, swathed in vulnerability, trust all around.

There is also a deep, personal learning to be had when we do this. Can you imagine if we held the space for ourselves more often? Imagine how our lives might change if we all practiced holding the space between our initial, emotional reactions to things and what we say about them? When we give our inner wisdom time to ruminate before we respond, personal growth naturally occurs. But oh, this breakneck world does not conspire to assist us

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in this at all. Hence why it’s a practice - it takes time and patience and repetition to slow down like that when everything else is moving at warp speed.

I worked with an extraordinary leader once who practiced this in the workplace. Whenever someone else was speaking, she would lean her elbow on the desk, put her chin in her palm, and place her index finger over her lips, effectively shutting her mouth.

She listened, and when the urge to jump to a response arose, that most purposeful of fingers allayed that response.

I starting practicing this with my never-stops-talking-reacting-exclaiming-defending then five-year-old daughter. Not the finger over the lips thing, but near enough. I extended my pauses, stopped my movements - held the space. This is not an easy feat. Mothers of young children know this. When you’re multi-tasking, there is a cascading of things and events all interrelated, and a change of tack can see that bath-dinner-bedtime routine come crashing down around you with alarming and yet predicable veracity. But after a while, I got the hang of it, and we all benefitted.

What I found was that often my responses to my daughter in those moments where I was knee-deep in the minutiae of life were rote or rushed or insincere. It’s not hard to throw out a “yes, I see”, or an “uh-huh”; enough that they are getting a response while the bath runs and the potatoes cook, but certainly not a taking in of nuance or a connecting of hearts. Not that you have to have this level of connection all the time, you don’t. But you can get closer to it while also feeling less overwhelmed by just being in each moment as it comes. I’ve found that a rote response to running a bath or getting things on the stove is easier and better all round than a rote response to anything my daughter has to say. And in those times, where I am feeling like I am everything to everyone and utterly tired by it all, when I hold the space for myself within the pauses and tiny spaces that those times allow, I am infinitely happier.

As I flexed this muscle more, my daughter would observe the sometimes longer pauses before I answered her or my partner. She got to hear me say to my partner - what do you mean by that? - or - let me sit with that for a minute. Our conservations became more considered, and our care for one another deepened.

One day my daughter and I were out and an older man in a supermarket turned to her blonde-head-

ed, bouncing self and said: “you’re a feisty one”. She looked up at him and said: “what do you mean by that?” Oh how my heart swelled. I felt a deep joy for the next generation - not just the girls who are standing in their power - for everyone who will benefit. His comment made her uncomfortable and she questioned him. It was a revelation to me. I still don’t do this with older men. She didn’t stop there either - she held the space - looked up him with her huge eyes and waited quietly for his response. She wasn’t bouncing anymore, she was still, feet planted. Hell, she might as well have been holding a finger over her lips as she held the space for this man to learn and grow. And she held the space for herself - to experience what demanding truth to power feels like.

The man looked at me and I purposely made myself

unavailable; kept my eyes on her. No way I was going to let him deflect - ignore her power. He laughed then and winked at her. “Feisty indeed!” And he walked away.

My daughter didn’t like that he didn’t explain what he meant, but she didn’t hold onto it either. She bounced back into her day with all the exuberance of a kid after a Kinder Surprise. But, oh, how I replayed that moment in my mind. To me, she was Fearless Girl in front of her bull - except it was my bull, and I think maybe she’d held the space for me.

About the Writer Simonne Michelle is a Melbourne-based writer, philanthropy professional, and feminist. She has just started using Medium as a way of jotting down some of her musings on life, womanhood, and creativity. https://simonne-91050.medium.com, l simonnemichellewriter

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How to be a Rockstar at work

BY AMALIA CHILIANIS

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remember seeing a shift in how others saw me as I moved from my thirties into my forties. I was noticed less, passed over more, leap-frogged in the queue and even at work despite my proven success and achievements was still having to fight for my own space daily. It’s time for more of us to step out of the shadows and be a Rockstar in our own way, whatever your work or profession. If you’ve started a new role, are keen to get ahead at work or just want to step out the shadows, here are my top 5 tips for being a Rockstar at work.

and get to know each other. Ultimately, this person will hopefully suggest you for opportunities when they arise and say good things about you to others.

This might be your manager or someone in a senior leadership role.

3 Confidence of a Rockstar

First, be great at the fundamentals of your job and build relationships with your manager, colleagues and key customers. Make sure that you are using your strengths as often as you can. Your strengths are the things you are good at and that energise you. Using and developing your strengths at work can result in greater enjoyment, better performance and provide you with more energy and vitality. Your strengths and being known for great at your job are the foundations for rocking it.

More than likely you are highly capable and a dedicated worker. Unfortunately, hard work doesn’t always get noticed or get you to where you want to go.

Your confidence in your skills and ability can either accelerate or halt your career. If your confidence is holding you back, then I encourage you to try new things to build your confidence. Start with trying small steps like getting to know more people in the business or taking on a project or piece of work outside your comfort zone. Try one new thing at a time, reflect on each activity and keep track of progress.

These small actions see you building new relationships, experimenting and learning and will ultimately increase your confidence. You’ll prove to yourself that you’re able to achieve more than you thought possible.

2 Build your support crew

4 Be a proud band member

Make at least one friend at work, as this is all it takes not to feel lonely in the workplace. Not only will this increase your sense of belonging at work, which is crucial for motivation, but happy people are more productive, so everyone wins. Then find someone in a position of influence that can help you advance your career. Build a strong relationship with them

While you likely bring a wealth of experience, constantly referring to your former band (previous employer/s) and talking about how you did things there can put others off-side. Make it known you are proud to be a member of the band. Take an approach of seeking to understand and when you offer ideas and opinions of how things might improve, make your

1 Famous for …

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suggestions in a thoughtful and considerate way that acknowledges all the good work that already exists.

5 Stand out from the crowd A good way to stand out or make a good impression is to demonstrate a strong willingness to learn and enthusiasm. Look for opportunities to initiate solving a problem. If you can find a way to solve problems for others and make life a little easier for your manager or colleagues, then you will certainly stand out. There are not too many missteps or wrong moves from a career perspective if you are focused on what you can learn and gain in experience. Every Rocker has a gig that bombed, but even terrible experiences can

help you grow; in fact, it’s possible that we advance and grow more through challenge. So, take a risk, initiate solving a problem that helps others and ultimately it will help you advance.

It’s time to step out of the shadows, be a Rockstar in your own way, get famous, build a crew, be confident, be a proud member of the band and stand out from the crowd. Whether this is where you work now or your next place of work, be the amazing Rocker you were meant to be.

About the Writer Amalia Chilianis is a coach with over 25 years of corporate experience. She is a courageous leader and an encourager of others who is determined that the next 20 years of work and life will be different to the last. Her book Work-a-holistic, A practical guide to changing your career is available now on Amazon and other online retailers. Visit her website for the links and more information. www.amaliachilianis.com

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"Success is liking yourself, liking what you do and how you do it" Maya Angelou

NEW BOOK OUT NOW!

W O R K - A - H O L I S T I C

By Amalia Chilianis Register via my website https://amaliachilianis.com Or email: amaliachilianis@gmail.com

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Cover Artist Kara Cooper Amanda Starr photography

Cover Art - Fierce Female https://mountvicandme.com/

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Kara’s love of vintage textiles started at a young age as her mother ran a 2nd hand clothing business. 1950’s frocks, hat boxes and Hawaiian shirts still inspire her design work today. Kara worked as a teenager for Sheridan store, David Jones, where she discovered the fabulous joy of 1980’s-1990’s bed linen (lots of ruffles back then and big bold prints!).

The beauty of the Blue Mountains has always inspired Kara as a child with so many happy memories. She and her husband and kids moved to the quaint village of Mount Victoria in 2012 after living in the Mountains for many years. The old caravan sits out the front waiting for the next adventure while her pug and rescue cattle dog wait ready for the next walk.

Established in 2013, Mount Vic and Me® is the brainchild of designer Kara Cooper who resides in the historic village of Mount Victoria high up in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, Australia.

The quirky, unique range of apparel, homewares, wallpaper and fabrics are created in a fabulous 100 year old cafe on the highway in Mt Vic. The studio shop is a mash of colour, textures, retro fun and nostalgia.

Kara’s work is bold, delightful and humorously Political and you can find Kara’s range of Australiana designs across upholstered retro chairs, cushions and linens.

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“Kate Bush is an insight into the female imagination”

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Kate Bush

Kate Bush on becoming a Rock and Roll pin-up girl: “Sexuality is something I find very confusing, because I think the essence of all art is sensuality, and sexuality, I mean I don’t suppose I understand it fully, but I always tend to think that’s something that’s projected. Sensuality is where art is at, it’s a much more subtle form of expression.”

The Fashion Goddesses of Rock n Roll

BY NIKKI HIND

W

hen our glorious leader, Sandy Lowres, told me that this issue was going to be all about ‘Women Who Rock’, I was so excited as I got to research and write about my favourite influence on fashion – the Goddesses of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Ironically, the list featured 23 men and only 7 women; one of whom was model Jane Birkin, so she doesn’t really make the rock list. Of the 30 people listed, 26 were white, with the exception of Jimi, sly, prince and Freddie Mercury.

And of course, no disability to be seen.

As both a designer and a consumer of fashion, the music industry has always been my favourite muse. So, I was really interested in delving into the women behind some of our most iconic Rock Fashion images. How were these images born? Was the very male dominated industry pulling the image-strings, or were the women firmly in control?

When I researched the 6 Rock Goddesses who made it into the list, all of them spoke about not consciously separating their sexuality from their male counterparts when they were initially inspired to rock.

The first thing I did was research how rock and roll influenced fashion. Nearly all the lists and articles I found, featured male rockers only.

There were articles about the fashion of the female muses and girlfriends of the male artists; but where were Suzi Quatro or Stevie Nicks?

I did find them, in an article called: ‘The Diversity of Classic Rock – 30 Iconic Fashion Moments in Classic Rock’.

I have chosen to examine four of the most archetypal Goddesses of Rock: the original rock badass bassist Suzi Quatro; the vulnerable, mystical Stevie Nicks, the androgenous Patti Smith and the fairy-tale, glam rock of Ann & Nancy Wilson of Heart.

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“I can’t say without any honesty that I went out there and said, ‘I’m gonna make a difference for girls.’ What I was doing was making a difference for me. I didn’t think of myself as a female musician. I was just being natural in the way I stood and played and acted with no ulterior motive. They always say, ‘You broke down the door.’ The truth is I broke down the door because I didn’t see the door. That’s how it happened.” (July 2020 FORBES)

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Suzi Quatro T

he original leather-clad pocket-rocket; right from the get-go little Suzi was a tomboy who wanted to be a star! What a potent Rock Goddess mix.

at a Cradle gig; he called her over and asked her the question she was born ready for: “Do you want to be a star?” Before she knew it, she was in London, with her 1st number 1 hit.

“I wanted to be a star, that was and still is a huge part of who I am”

Even in the studio, they knew that Can the Can was the no#1 hit Suzi had been working so hard for. With a hit single Mickie was adamant that leather was out – old fashioned, done to death.

Suzi refused to, they needed to talk about her image. Suzi instantly wanted leather, but Mickie was hesitant. She didn’t budge on the idea of leather, telling him, “It hasn’t been done by a woman.

Suzi was a huge Elvis fan; her leather look was inspired by him. The first time she saw Elvis was on the Ed Sullivan Show, when she was seven years old. She knew straight away that she wanted to embody whatever it was he had. She vividly recalls an electric realization: “Ah, I’m gonna be him.”

She got her first leather jacket five years later, when she was 12.

It was her sister, Patti, who formed the first band Suzi was in. After watching the Beatles for the first time, the four Quatro sisters were all completely enthralled. Patti said: “Lets form an all-girl garage band!”

In 1964, when Suzi was 14, they formed Detroit’s first all-girl band, The Pleasure Seekers, which later morphed into Cradle. “[The ‘all-girl’] bit was over my head, I don’t think of gender very much,” she once said.

Patti, Arlene and Nancy chose their instruments, leaving Suzi with the bass. She didn’t know how to play it and it was an odd instrument for a girl to play given girls didn’t play bass or drums at the time.

In 1973, after nine years of local Detroit success, major music producer, Mickie Most, spotted her

All 5’1” (154cm) of her stood her ground. Eventually Mickie gave in and suggested a compromise – the now iconic leather jumpsuit.

When asked how much of the image represented her, Suzi responded: “If it was anything but me, it wouldn’t have been successful. I’ve never liked contrived images.”

Gary Marshall, the producer of Happy Days, famously offered her the role of Leather Tuscadero, without an audition, after seeing a poster of her on his daughter’s wall. They were looking for someone tough, but also sweet. Debbie Harry and Joan Jett were both turned down for the coveted role.

“You need to make the choices. People will be hurt, you will feel bad, if you make a choice and you get it wrong, it’s your fault; and If you’re not prepared to take all that onboard, then you should let somebody else do all your thinkin’ for you !” Suzi Quatro 25

Su

“I’m timeless. I got that Dickensian, London street-urchin look in high school. I’ll never be in style, but I’ll always be different.” –Stevie Nicks on her fashion sense (USA Today 1991)

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Stevie Nicks S

tevie Nicks describes herself as a ‘Performance Artist’. Her grandfather, an aspiring country music singer, taught her to sing; and by the age of 4 she was tap-dancing and performing duets with him at his live gigs. He made and gifted her a guitar for her 16th birthday; that night she wrote her first song.

While still in high school she met Lindsay Buckingham at a religious youth group called ‘Young Life’.

usie Quatro

“Everyone went, to get out of the house,” she once said of the youth group. The two sang the Mamas and the Papas hit California Dreaming together, and discovered they had perfect harmony. In Lindsay, Stevie had found a replacement for her beloved Grandfather.

Stevie loved the Everly Brothers, but Lindsay forced her to listen to The Beatles to establish and perfect musical form.

The duo joined Fleetwood Mac on New Year’s Eve 1974. Lindsay had been asked to join the band, and he agreed on the condition that they also include his creative partner and girlfriend Stevie, 26, in the line-up. Fleetwood Mac had already been around for seven years and released nine albums; only one of which had made it into the top 40.

In 1975 Fleetwood Mac released their first album with Stevie and Lindsay; the self-titled, ‘Fleetwood Mac’. It reached number 1 in the US and rocketed the band to fame. Their follow up album, ‘Rumours’, remained number 1 on the US charts for 31 weeks, and sold over 40 million copies, making it one of the best-selling albums in history.

At 5’1”, it’s perhaps not surprising that Stevie Nicks is credited with making platform boots famous; however, it’s her deeply vulnerable, exquisitely feminine and mystical ‘white witch’ image that left the world hanging on her every warm, husky, quivering, contralto word.

It’s an image that seems to bare her soul and draw you into her ethereal world.

Stevie exemplifies the divine strength in vulnerability. When asked to reflect upon her vulnerability, Stevie said, “… If I’m not vulnerable, I won’t ever write anymore songs about vulnerability and then what am I doing? I need to help people; I need to make people believe that it’s alright to be vulnerable and to be a little naive and to be sweet and kind and good”.

Stevie says she never knew that the band was getting big because they never checked. “We were out on the road for a year SOLID. We didn’t know, or even really care, how well we were doing in the charts. We were a serious touring band’.”

In a 1986 interview with Molly Meldrum, Stevie spoke about her discomfort with the music video making process. “… It didn’t feel right. Fleetwood Mac didn’t have to make videos to sell records. It’s difficult because I’m A ROCK N ROLL SINGER! I’m not a model, I’m not an actress. I could never be a model in Vogue…because I’m 5’1” tall and you know what, I don’t care about being pretty that much. What I wanna do is, I wanna sing to you.”

For Stevie it’s all about that walking out on stage. “…I’m really an entertainer, I’m not a studio, I’m not a perfectionist, I’m a live entertainer.”

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Su

“I know fashion is a material thing, but we live in a material world and i love clothes”.

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Patti Smith Patti Smith, daughter of a jazz singer, turned waitress, was a shy, introverted, tomboy who mostly played with male friends.

As a genuine original rebel, she performed poorly at teachers’ college because she continually insisted on breaking away from the traditional curriculum and focusing on new, experimental ideas.

Patti was first and foremost a poet and a communicator of ideas. In 1970 she wrote a poem called ‘Oath’, which opened with the line: ‘Jesus died for somebody’s sins, but not mine’.

She performed this poem at her first live reading in New York City in 1971, and quickly gained attention as a rising star in the NY Arts scene.

After publishing her first poetry book in 1972, Patti started writing song lyrics for other artists and even dabbled in Rock Journalism; writing for Rolling Stone and Creem magazines.

In 1974 she formed The Patti Smith Group, and wrote ‘Piss Factory’, her first recorded song; based upon her first job (which she hated), in a toy factory. The song was popularly tagged as the first purist punk song and gathered a cult following.

usie Quatro

In 1975 she released her iconic first studio album ‘Horses’. The album was a merging of poetry, covers of others’ songs and experimental improvised punk. Controversially, the album opened with the opening line of her poem ‘Oath’, written 5 years earlier. Patti tried to explain the meaning behind the opening line, saying: “I was a young girl, I wanted to take control of my own actions.” “…for me the most important thing is communication. I don’t mind if make a fool of myself, fail a little, get a laugh, so long as I feel that the people and I are staying in tune with each other.”

When asked, did the industry want to change you, Patti laughed: “They wanted me to comb my hair! but I didn’t want to, I like being rough!”

Many people felt that she ‘sold out’, with the song with the hit song, ‘Because the Night’, written with Bruce Springsteen, but Patti didn’t care, saying: “…If I could I’d write the hit of the world! I’d love to have a song that everybody sang!”

Patti’s image transcended gender and was very much shaped by the concept of merging punk rock with spoken word poetry, male with female, alien with human, others’ lyrics with her own, adversity with joy. Robert Mapplethorpe’s iconic cover photo for the Horses album perfectly captures this spirit of defiant oneness.

The images Robert captured of Patti were ahead of their time. You now see it on every catwalk and in every fashion magazine because it’s strong and demands attention.

Patti met photographer Robert Mapplethorpe in 1967. They had a tumultuous love affair, marked by his struggles with poverty and his sexuality. She immediately became, and remained, his lifetime muse; he was able to see and capture her spirit. Patti considered him to be one of the most important people in her life, both personally and creatively.

In 2012 Patti received an Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from Pratt Institute; where, she says, she wouldn’t have been accepted in her youth.

Robert and many of her friends studied there and she spent many hours on the campus.

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“X XXXXXX X XX xxxxxx”

“I think a heavy person can tell a story just as well as a person of the correct weight” – Ann Wilson

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S

Heart

isters Ann and Nancy Wilson were raised by very supportive parents, who encouraged them to have direction and follow their ‘bliss’. They describe their mum as being a strong, pioneering, self-made type woman; “… we were raised to always question – it was in our DNA.” Ann was shy in high school, due to a stutter and being bullied for being overweight.

The sisters describe seeing The Beatles for the first time on The Ed Sullivan show, as a ‘shape shifter’ for them. They would get so frustrated with their friends’ listening to The Beatles, and all the girls on TV, screaming and yelling and passing out - “Would you shut up so we can hear them play!”

“We knew we wanted to do that. It lit us up. It was so much more than wanting to be their girlfriends, it was too big for that. We wanted to BE them, not be with them. Come through the same door, as humans. We were still kids; it was before we had our sexual identities put together, so we had no concept that girls weren’t necessarily supposed to do that”.

Their very first live performance was at their parents’ church. They played ‘When the Music’s Over’, by The Doors – which includes the line: “cancel my subscription, to the resurrection”. “We didn’t know there was anything wrong with it, we thought it was mind expanding. By the end of the performance, half the congregation had left, and half had stayed.” It was the perfect initiation into being contrary.

The sisters were in their early 20’s when they released their first album, ‘Dream Boat Annie’, in 1975.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame describes Heart as: “… the first women to front a hard-rock band, and pioneers… inspiring women to pick up an electric guitar.”

“We shouldn’t have had to pave the way for women in rock. We take great pride in it on one hand, but for us to have to really go to work to make ok for women to be in rock, we shouldn’t really have had to do all that

work …. But we did! and we bear the scars of saying “oh yes we will!”

In 1977 Mushroom records placed an article in Rolling Stone magazine, after Heart’s first big gig – opening for Rod Stewart – with the headline: “Heart’s Wilson Sisters Confess: “It was only our first time!” Inferring they were sister lesbian lovers. The sisters were furious at the click bait headline and fired everyone. A huge two-year legal battle followed.

That year having been confronted by a male journalist still making jokes about it and filled with anger, Ann went back to her hotel room and penned Barracuda!

When asked if they felt respected by the industry, and does it even matter, Ann said: “No, it matters, honestly it does matter.”

Like many artists in the 1980’s, Heart struggled with MTV’s strong focus on image. Ann’s weight became a full-blown threat to the band. In the videos they would use clothing, camera angels and outright avoidance of putting her on camera. She would starve herself and take diet pills, with executives putting so much pressure on her around her image as the front woman of Heart.

The image machine would create high budget, overblown, over produced music videos, then there would be an expectation to replicate that in their live stadium shows – with the hair, the corsets, the high heels, the smoke machines and being suspended in harnesses above the crowd.

“You’re in show biz, so you’re going to try to create mythology about yourself, but to then have to try to embody it in life, that’s where it gets tricky.”

For Heart it’s always been about the songs. In 2009 they were honoured by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, in recognition for their work as song writers.

About the Writer Nikki Hind, WB40’s Fashion Editor is the founder of fashion label Blind Grit, and is an Inclusion and Diversity Media Adviser, with a passion for inclusion in fashion. Nikki is Australia’s first blind fashion designer, and has a background in PR, communications and event management. www.blindgrit.com 31

Sandra Reynolds

o L er

H

d o o f f o ve

I have a list of things I want to do when lockdown is over. No doubt you do too.

Now in the midst of Lockdown 6.0 here in Melbourne, my to-do list involves activities and outings and the people I want to share it with. Opening night of Bangarra’s latest work with my friend Lisa. A catch up with my friends Mark and Deb to celebrate his 60th . Sundowner drinks with my daughter on Terrigal beach. Long overdue catchups with nearest and dearest, the more the merrier, the sooner the better.

In the meantime, I content myself with regular catchups with my bubble buddy Lisa.

We both live on our own and our fortnightly get togethers, which are the only contact with another human we have for now, are a balm for each of us and a welcome break from the travails of lockdown life. I love cooking for these occasions and put as much effort into it as I would a party for a larger number of people.

This dish uses a lamb shoulder, weighing

about 1.5kg with the bone in, and enough for 2-3 people. The quantities are all for 2 greedy people, meaning you and a bubble buddy can make the very most of seasonal spring fare. If you - joy of joys – have a larger number to cook for, simply double the amount. After all, better days are coming.

Lemony Lamb Shoulder with Mint Labne and Broad Beans Photo by: Sandra Reynolds

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Lamb Ingredients ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

Lamb

1.5kg lamb shoulder, bone in Olive oil Salt and pepper 2 browns onions, diced 3 cloves garlic, crushed 1 cup (250 ml) dry white wine 400g tomato passata or 400g crushed tomatoes 1 cup (250 ml) beef stock 1 tbsp chopped fresh oregano 1 lemon 1 cup pitted kalamata olives

Lamb Method 1. Preheat oven to 150°C fan-forced.

2. Pat the lamb shoulder with paper towels and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Heat olive oil in a large enamelled cast iron pan or heavy-based fry pan over medium heat. Brown the lamb for a few minutes on each side, then remove the meat to a plate.

3. Add onions and garlic to the pan and sauté for 5 minutes until translucent.

Add the wine and scrape up all the meaty bits off the base of the pan and simmer until reduced by half.

4. Add the stock, passata, oregano and a 6cm strip of lemon zest (reserve the lemon) to the pan. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a very gentle simmer. Return the lamb to the sauce and spoon some of the sauce over the top.

5. Place a firmly fitting lid over the pan, or use a double sheet of foil and place the dish in the pre- heated oven and bake for 90 mins. Turn the lamb over and baste with the sauce, then bake for a further 90 mins. Add the olives and the juice of the reserved lemon to the pan, stir and bake for a further 15 minutes.

6. Serve straight from the pan with the sauce on the side or remove the bone and shred the lamb. Serve with minted labne and beans or a green salad and plenty of pita bread and celebrate with your buddy.

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Mint Labne with Broad Beans Broad beans are in season now and worth the effort of lightly cooking them, then peeling them out of their tough leathery skins. You can also buy them frozen. If this seems like too much trouble, use regular green beans or peas. This is all about the salt and zing of labne, with the mint and lemon of the greens. Which greens you use is up to you. ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

2 cups plain or Greek yoghurt Salt 2 tbsp finely chopped mint 700g fresh or frozen broad beans 50g butter Juice and zest of 1 lemon 1 tbsp mint leaves, extra

1. Begin the night before. Stir the salt and chopped mint through the yoghurt to thoroughly combine. Place a sieve over a bowl and line it with a clean Chux-style cloth. Pour the yoghurt into the cloth, cover and place the lot in a fridge overnight or for at least 6 hours to drain and firm up.

2. Steam the beans for 3 minutes until just-cooked and when cool enough to handle, slip them out of their tough grey skins. Set aside.

3. Heat the butter in a small pan until bubbling. Add the mint leaves, finely grated lemon zest and about 2 tbsps of lemon juice. Season with a pinch of salt. Add the broad beans and stir through to combine.

4. When ready to serve, turn out the labne into the centre of a plate and spoon the beans and lemon sauce over the top. Serve as a side with the lamb.

About the Writer Sandra Reynolds is a Melbourne based Cookbook Author, award-winning blogger, columnist and recipe queen who is the Founder of the $120 Food Challenge. Sandra has published over 1300 nutritious, low-cost and family-friendly recipes for her platform The $120 Food Challenge. Sandra’s passion is sharing her love of food with others. delishforless.com

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38

What I learned about the media in 1997

BY JO PYBUS

I

f there was a more watershed moment for my

change in some countries preventing dangerous

perceptions of the media before 1997, I cannot

and reckless pursuits of celebrities and their

remember it. On the 31 August that year, Princess

children, but not far enough to stop the erosion of

Diana, 36, was killed in a car that was trying to evade

mental health through words.

the paparazzi. A high-speed car chase to secure photos of her new relationship with Dodi Fayed, all

Has much changed in the portrayal of women in

to feed the tabloid press.

media since 1997? Not even close. In an article I wrote just last year, I discussed a complaint about a

George Clooney gave a speech soon after, “Princess

headline f rom the Woman’s Day magazine that

Di is dead, and who should we see about that? The

read “PALACE CONFIRMS THE MARRIAGE IS OVER!

driver of the car? The paparazzi? Or the magazines

WHY HARRY WAS LEFT WITH NO CHOICE BUT TO

and papers who purchased these pictures and make

END IT.”

bounty hunters out of photographers?” Laws did

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The Australia Press Council responded with, “The

of appetite for bringing to account those who

Council acknowledges that celebrity and gossip

perpetuate this vile narrative, thanks largely to

magazines are purchased for light entertainment,

the #MeToo Movement, and here in Australia the

with

March4Justice.

readers

not

necessarily

assuming

that

everything presented is factual.” At a Senate Enquiry into Media Diversity in Australia that started in 2020,

Some sections of media who in the past may have

News Corp Australia photographer, Anna Rogers,

sat uncomfortably on a fence, are now giving airtime

made the following statement.

to stories they know 50% of the population expect them to run. Pleasingly, I could not find one negative

“When I was employed by the Sunday Mail in 2011

comment about Norway’s Female Volleyball team’s

to do social photos, I was told by the acting picture

decision to wear shorts rather than bikini bottoms,

editor that they did not want any photos of pigs in

nor about Pink’s decision to pay their fines.

lipstick”. I found this was extremely derogatory to women, but to keep my job I had to apply this test,

Now back to 1997, and to that Monday following

which meant that women who were overweight

Diana’s death. Picture me counter-balancing my

or over 35 did not get a run in the paper – Anna

heavily pregnant belly as I reached into my letterbox.

Rogers.” Ten years ago, surely things have changed.

Newsagents around Australia that day had signs up

She added, “When the current editor started in

explaining the latest issue of the Woman’s Day was

2015, the ratio of male to female photographers and

withheld whilst they put together a special edition

journalists was fifty- fifty. In mid-2020, there was

commemorating Princess Diana.

one female staff member in that team and 12 men – Anna Rogers.”

My mailed subscription copy was not withheld, however, as it was posted before Diana died.

Ok then, no change. Now at this point you could

Through the clear plastic wrap were two paparazzi

argue that I’m citing tabloid and right-leaning press

photographs of Diana and her boyf riend Dodi with

which would seem unbalanced. But unless I live

headlines reading “Aussie sailor: I SAW DI SEDUCE

under a rock with a direct-line f rom my sensory-

DODI: All the intimate details.” I did not break the

cortex to the ABC, it is hard to avoid. Today I feel

seal on that plastic cover in 1997. I cancelled my

that visceral knot in my gut of women being a long

subscription to the Woman’s Day and have never

way from treatment that is respectful and without a

bought another since.

gender lens by the media, whenever I think of women like Christine Holgate, Britney Spears, Simone Biles,

I was not alone as it was reported at the same time

Naomi Osaka, and every female politician.

the British Sun and Mirror recorded their lowest sales figures since 1962. We choose what we consume in

I do see light at the end of the tunnel, however, and

the media. Today, curating your newsfeed can be

it is happening now. We may not be able to stop

complex but worth the effort. If you are sickened

some media outlets saying dumb shit about women,

by the treatment of women, if you expect what you

but we can call them out. There is a groundswell

read to be factual, if you want your entertainment

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to come from those who seek to entertain and not their personal life, then turn off, unlike, unfollow, unsubscribe those that don’t meet your standards.

It is all economics. Supply and demand. They can’t sell what we won’t buy.

About the Writer Jo is a Columnist for Her Canberra. who shares observations from her life in the middle-ages through another late onset pursuit; writing. Having been a late onset athlete, her love of an endurance event led her to write a novel and become an advocate for menopause awareness.

l @jo_pybus_writer hercanberra.com.au/author/jo-pybus/

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She Rocks Women in Music

The live music scene around the world has been impacted more than any other industry by the global pandemic. We know how resilient women can be, but we also know that we are living through such incredible times, so we chatted with five incredible women who have left their mark on the music industry in their own way and inspired other women, and creatives, along the way.

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Image Credit: Matt Houston

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Adalita Srsen

-

Indie Rock Goddess of Cool BY SANDY LOWRES

The Melbourne music scene in Australia is synonymous with Adalita Srsen. Known largely by her first name only, I’m struck by her poise. She is obviously intelligent and witty, and the cool factor is still extremely high. Still, she is genuine and talks as if we are old friends. During our chat, she is open and generous with her story. Her sense of humour is so refreshing.

a learn-to-play book and started teaching myself some chord progressions, and it was really hard at first. At some point the lessons in the book got too hard so I shut it and did it my way.”

Six months later she bought an electric guitar and doing things her own way gave way to her unique and instantly recognisable musical sensibility, as well as her fiery stage presence. Forging a reputation as an exceptional guitarist, in 2005 Since she exploded on the scene Image Credit: Lisa Businovski Adalita would become the first in the 90’s as the front woman of female artist to appear on the cover Magic Dirt, she’s been delighting of Australian Guitar magazine. crowds with her savage riffs, raw and gritty performances, and powerful vocals. Adalita is a singer/ It’s fair to say that meeting Dean Turner, one of the songwriter with an impressive career both with founding members of Magic Dirt, changed her life Magic Dirt and as a solo artist in her own right. forever. When he heard her rough recordings, on cassette tapes, he knew instantly they were had to Growing up in the Victorian seaside town of Geelong, Adalita surprisingly didn’t aspire to be a Rockstart a band. After a couple of iterations, Magic Dirt star, but thankfully the universe had other ideas as launched in 1991, and almost instantly they were she walked past a music shop in Melbourne. supporting huge acts like Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jnr. “I got obsessed! I bought this acoustic guitar and

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Over the years Magic Dirt has supported and worked with the who’s who of local and international bands.

Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Foo Fighters, Blondie, The Pretenders, Powderfinger, Jebediah and Paul Kelly to name a few. Some highlights in her career, she tells me, were hanging out with Iggy Pop during the Big Day Out festival and supporting Courtney Love and her band Hole.

On Courtney Love, she says, “She was such a huge star. I mean, she still is, and just to be in the presence of that band at that time. Like, I’m pretty sure it was when Kurt [Cobain] had already passed away and we did the national tour so, yeah, she was under a lot of pressure…We really felt like we were the support band, in the way we were supporting them with morale and we wanted to do our best…it was a huge feather in our cap…And Just the fame and the Hollywood of it was intoxicating. We were really young and wide-eyed! It was incredible to watch.”

In 2009, the music industry mourned the passing of Dean Turner, 37, who had privately been fighting a nine-year battle with a rare form of cancer. While they finished a tour in his honour, Dean’s loss was so intense for Magic Dirt band members Adalita, Daniel Herring and Adam Robertson, they took a hiatus from 2010 to 2018.

“He was such a good dude, and so stoic, and he was gigging as much as he could. He did things like get us in the studio to record. He had such foresight. He just wanted to work. When he passed…to this day, it’s still a shock. It took a long time to process because he was so young, and he was such a big part of everything. So, we lost our everything really. So, the

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band…we didn’t think about the band at that point.

We didn’t think about the music. It was all about the fact that we’d lost him. There was nothing else but to mourn. We didn’t think about the band for a long time, for years. We didn’t post on socials. The music just died.”

Adalita had already branched out into solo endeavours, encouraged by Dean who was producing her songs, but continuing after his passing, gripped with the grief of losing such a close friend was daunting.

In 2011, Adalita’s self-titled solo album Adalita won her an ARIA award for Best Independent Album and in 2013 she was named Best Female Artist at the Victorian Music Awards.

In 2018, Greg Dodds, the publican of the Barwon Club Hotel in Geelong for 32 years was retiring. The venue was the original stomping ground of Magic Dirt and the band came together to honour him which sparked something for them. Shortly after they were approached to be part of the Hotter Than Hell tour along side Spiderbait, Shihad, Bodyjar and 28 Days.

“There was a lot of trepidation, lots of fear but the overriding feeling was we need to continue the legacy of the band and there was a lot of stuff Dean still wanted to do. We’ve also been releasing some music from our days at the Au Go-Go label. Dean had spearheaded for us to acquire the rights for the music. We all wanted that, but he spearheaded it.

The fans are respectful, and they are loving it and we love our fans. They are the best fans in the world.”

Coinciding with Magic Dirt touring again after 8

to the planet. I think humans can’t see themselves above all else…we have to remember there is a lot of good happening too.”

Never afraid to push her own boundaries, in 2018 Adalita was cast in the Australian tour of the Greenday musical American Idiot as St. Jimmy, a devil-esque character. Treading the boards for the first time since her teenage years, she shared the role with Phil Jamieson of Grinspoon and Sarah McCleod of Superjesus.

“It was very different, but I got some great feedback and some new fans that hadn’t heard of me who are now coming to my solo shows and Magic dirt shows…it’s good to do as much stuff as you can.”

During her early solo touring, Adalita was thrilled to support Blondie and the Pretenders, and loved that Debbie Harry was still wearing tiny gold shorts while performing which she found inspiring.

Image Credit: Sandy Lowres

years, the band was inducted as the inaugural Live Legends at the National Live Music Awards. Although they had been nominated for many awards over the years, this was their first award gong, and one that recognised their huge body of work and their undeniable stamp on the Australian music industry.

“We got up to the stadium and it was such a big honour. We finally got to say this big speech and Dean would have been so proud.”

Adalita is passionate about her music, but from a young age she has also been an animal rights advocate and a conservationist. She has performed at many fundraisers for the Bob Brown Foundation, a non-profit promoting the protection of environments, wildlife, and marine ecosystems in Tasmania, around Australia and in Antarctica.

“I just want to preserve the planet, and look after it, and I love nature. Who doesn’t love greenery and the ocean, you know? A beautiful spring day, you know?

That’s all brought to you by nature, so we have to look after it. I’ve always been drawn to animals. I think there’s such an anthropocentric view from a big portion of society which I think is detrimental

When we talk about ageing, she says, “It remains to be seen how I navigate or how things go as I age in the industry. It’s not so much a worry but a curiosity.

There’s part of me that loves ageing and watching how my face changes and my body changes. Like I really enjoy it and I love the wisdom that comes with it. That’s priceless. Wisdom is so spunky! You just don’t give a shit! It’s not my place to be a role model and not what I aspired to be, but if I back myself and be authentic then the bonus of that is you might be inspiring for others.”

There is no doubt about it, Adalita has no plans of slowing down anytime soon. While Covid has made touring difficult, she is currently working on a new album. This is an album that she will be producing in its entirety. While she has produced previously for bands like local duo Dark Fair, her eyes light up when she talks about releasing new music.

“I’m really excited to see the album out there.”

And so are we.

You can follow Adalita at https://www.adalita.com

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Kate Black To the beat of her own drum Melbourne based Kate Black has been tearing up the drums for 25 years and is currently the drummer for two bands - Exit Music and Oh Kamikaze!

Poised and cool, we chatted with Kate about her life as a muso, how she started and what inspires her.

rest is history. I also thought Cindy Blackman, the drummer from Lenny Kravitz band, was a bad-ass so it made the decision an easy one.

How old were you when you first started playing music?

When I was younger I was often spoken down to or treated differently by other drummers or people in drum shops. These days things have gotten a lot better, but there are still some jerks out there.

My current set up is a 3-piece silver sparkle Ludwig Classic Maple kit, Ludwig Pro hardware, Ludwig Black Beauty snare, Zildjian A Custom Cymbals and a DW5000 kick pedal.

I first started to play the drums when I was 13.

What drew you to the drums?

Well it’s actually a funny story. I thought Sophie-Lee from the Freaked Out Flower Children (who was also the host of the Bugs Bunny Show) was really cool, and she played the saxophone. So I convinced my mum to pay the $50 for saxophone lessons through my school, but the school had only one saxophone left and it was broken. My choice was to either play the Trombone or the drums. I chose drums and the

Oh Kamikaze! band members: Darren Gibson, Pete Lawrey, Kim Wall, Kate Black, Chris Black

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What is it like to be a female drummer, and what drums do you play?

Tell us about the bands you have been in?

I’ve been in quite a few over the past 25 years, most notably Tirany, Winterpark, with my current 2 bands being Exit Music and Oh Kamikaze!.

Tell me about Oh Kamikaze! and where the band name come from?

Oh Kamikaze! was named after a Something For Kate song. (Fun fact: the band suggested about 100 names before we landed on this one). There are 5 of us in the band, including my husband on guitar and a bunch of friends from other bands that I have had the pleasure of playing alongside over the years.

What’s been a highlight of your career?

It’s hard to pinpoint one specific thing. I often talk about my experiences to my husband and he always comments on how blasé I am about it all. I love recording, playing shows and touring. Sadly, I don’t get to do much of either anymore. Hearing that people like something you created out of thin air is always something really special.

How do you juggle motherhood with bandlife?

I’m not going to lie, it can be difficult. With Oh Kamikaze! it can be a struggle to find rehearsal time as my husband and I need to find a babysitter along with a date and time that works for everyone else in the band. With Exit Music we rehearse every second Friday night which is easier to arrange as my husband will be home with the kids. My oldest son has just started to learn to play the drums, but I’m not cool enough to teach him so he learns from someone else!

What has been the highlight of being a drummer and or being in a band?

It has to be the friends I’ve made. The music community is so close and I consider a lot of the people to be family.

Who do you admire and why?

There is so many people, however the one that stands out the most is Stephanie Bourke. She founded Rock’n’Roll High School in Melbourne and used to be my drum teacher and mentor. Not only is an awesome drummer, but she went out of her way to teach me and so many other young women about the music industry and support our bands in so many ways. Steph has now gone on to start the Kings Cross Conservatorium in Sydney, helping a new breed of kids fulfill their music potential – she is truly amazing!

What do you like about the Melbourne Music scene?

Everyone is family, oh and the amazing music that people make!

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Lany: Image by Kylie Sahb

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Kylie Sahb

Behind the lens K

ylie Sahb is an award-winning photographer who has combined her love of music with her passion for photography. She is the Founder and owner of The Rocker Rag music magazine where she reports on what’s hot and what’s rock around the globe. Kylie has had an impressive career, and her images have her in hot demand as a wedding photographer as well as a music photographer covering band press releases, gigs and tours. Some of her music photographs will appear this year in the Number One | Gudinski – an Exhibition in celebration of Michael Gudinski’s legacy, held by the Ballarat International Foto Biennale in partnership with Mushroom Group. We chat with Kylie about living her dream and how music feeds her soul.

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Photographer Portraiture | Weddings | Press/Headshots Events | e-Commerce 54

WWW.KYLIESAHB.COM

How did you get into photography?

I was always interested in photography and remember wanting to play with Dad’s camera but was never allowed to because it was the “good’ camera. Then as I finished high school, I studied a diploma of Make-up artistry. Whilst I wanted to get into movies and special effects, a friend was opening up a photographic studio and needed a full-time make-up artist, so I jumped aboard. It was the 90’s and the age of ‘Glamour” photography- soft lens and tulle for miles! It was here though that my love of photography grew. I became the office all-rounder as well. The studio assistant, helped with sales, greeting clients etc. It was here that I learned how to pose clients, learned the complexity of lighting and exposure and even learned the dark room side as there was no digital back then. I learned so much with on-thejob training but didn’t realise just how much until I started shooting myself and I found it felt so natural to pose people. I still think that I am so lucky to have that previous on the job training and still to this day that training has been invaluable.

How did The Rocker Rag come about and what inspired it?

I remember seeing U2 10 years ago in Melbourne. I saw these people walking across the stage with camera in hand and stood at the front area of the stage, or ‘The Pit’ as it’s known. They took photos of the band for first three songs and left. I said to my partner at the time “I am going to do that” and here we are years later!

and he really encouraged me not to give up. I kept hearing him say to me ’Check out my website. check out my website.” So I did and I thought to myself I can do that.

One week later, The Rocker Rag was born. Through the contacts I had already made in the industry and help from other magazine editors, it has been a pretty good transition. I have a small team of contributors but never wanted it to be too big. I never wanted my photographers to feel that they need to be “quick on the return email” and it’s a great little team. This platform gives us the opportunity to photograph and review gigs and I even get to interview some musical legends too which I love. I have spoken to some amazingly talented musos and will forever be super grateful for Jackie and David’s help.

Did you always want to be a music photographer?

I love music. I have always loved it. I was right into playing when I was younger. I play a lot of instruments in an extraordinarily mediocre way, but when I was about 14 or 15, I had a really bad experience singing on stage and from that moment I have had incredible stage fright.

So, since I can’t be the talent, I wanted to photograph it, so I am still immersed in it. Whilst I have always had photography in my life, the music photography side really came about after the U2 gig. From then on, it’s been like an addiction. I need it, I crave it.

When the pandemic happened, we gig photographers

By Lord it was hard to break into the industry though!

I didn’t know anyone, couldn’t ask for advice from anyone as I didn’t know anyone. I was in my late 30’s and was just at a dead end. But there were two key people that helped me get there. I came across an unreal woman – Jackie Jetson who was in a closed Facebook group when we were studying for our Diplomas in Photography. Jackie had just sold some photos for a Live Music DVD cover for a huge band. I think it was Black Sabbath from memory. I messaged her and asked her how she got started and she gave me the information on how to get started, giving me contact details to become a contributor to just one of many Melbourne online music magazines. Sadly, that magazine is now defunct.

Fast forward a few months and my first live gig was Dan Sultan and Benny Walker at the Zoo sessions. It was March 2015 – I was on cloud nine, not only because I was photographing two incredibly talent indigenous singers that I loved, but I felt ‘the rush’ for the first time. I started to contribute to more and more magazines but then things started to dry out. It was more about who was fastest to reply on the ‘gigs available email’ and so the work started drying up and started thinking about giving up for the first time.

I then met the lovely David Harris at a Tash Sultana gig

Jimmy Barnes: Image by Kylie Sahb

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Secret Squirrel – I was so overcome with emotion, there may have been a few tears, but of course I was super professional, took the photos, remembered to actually breathe and watched the rest of the show from the side lines in awe!

Who are your major influences?

There are a few actually.

Robert Plant: Image by Kylie Sahb

were lost. We lost our natural high, our drug, the rush.

It’s like we all had withdrawals. It seriously is a natural high photographing live music. You are limited with time - the first three songs with no flash so you need to know how to really work your camera and you need to capture the best photos within that time. The adrenaline rush is exhilarating. There is nothing like it. And then you get to relive it all over again when you get home and start to edit; hoping you have THAT shot. The hero shot.

That golden ticket.

What’s been the highlight so far of your photography career?

It’s hard to put it down to just one. Probably three big highlights come to mind though. The first one, was the first gig I got access to when I created The Rocker Rag and it just happened to be a favourite of mine. Robert Plant - The Led Zeppelin legend. I was so nervous just being in his company that I had to remind myself to breathe. It was like a dream came true and it certainly was a “I did this on my own and nailed it” moment. Being able to photograph him on my own merits, that was pretty awesome.

The second one is seeing my photography on merchandise for artists. The biggest deal for me has to be the photo I took of the band Rose Tattoo, that now appears on their marketing and t-shirts, and I have sold many prints to their dedicated fans.

The final big moment for me and there is a bit of an emotional back story to this, but it was finally being able to photograph Aussie legend Jimmy Barnes. I have now photographed him a few times, but he was the first musician I saw in concert and still so angry at my Aunty and Uncle for not taking me to see Cold Chisel’s Last Stand in the 80’s. Mind you I was about 10 at the time! But being able to finally capture him was a my-heart-is-full moment.

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Firstly, there is Katarina Benzova. She is phenomenal.

She is the touring photographer for Guns and Roses, but I came to know her more for her work with The Dead Daisies. I am a huge Jon Stevens fan and when he created the supergroup, she went along for the ride as their photographer. Her work is predominately black and white and is superb. She does a lot of work within the industry but is also known for her charity work and auctioning her work to help causes such as the Animal Asia Campaign and the Nelson Mandela: The Legacy of Hope Foundation.

Another photographer that is inspiring is Melbourne local Michelle Grace Hunder. Michelle is predominantly a hip-hop photographer but has been instrumental in sharing information and helping newcomers to the industry. She is more than willing to share experiences, advice and just helped me with pricing etc when I first started. Its these little things especially since I started when I was in my late 30s that have left an impression with me. It was hard to get any assistance, but Michelle was instrumental in me continuing in the industry. And her work. Just wow. Her work says everything.

There are also two other Melbourne photographers – First is Nate Hill, whose work is simply sublime. He combines his photography and his stunning graphic design and produces these stunning pieces of artwork which have been seen on many an album cover and in fact one of my walls at home is a little Nate Hill gallery. I now can call Nate a friend and am proud to have him as a contributor to not only The Rocker Rag, but lucky me (and wedding clients) as is he is also my trusty second photographer for my wedding bookings.

Finally, there is Jaz Meadows. His unique live portraiture is out of this world. He is also known to capture the “pit view” where he captures photographers when we are shooting. He shoots in black and white, and his captures always tell a story. I am truly lucky to have these people by my side and always willing to help and most importantly laugh with.

Who would you most like to work with?

There are so many artists that I would love to work with.

Jimmy Barnes, Jeff Martin and The Tea Party, Red Hot

Chilli Peppers, but the ultimate would have to be the nicest guy in rock, Dave Grohl and the Foo fighters. I’m such a huge Foo Fighters fan, it would be a dream come true to do a world tour with them. It is so much harder for women in this industry to break into touring. Music photography is very male dominant, but slowly more women are getting to tour with these big bands which is awesome to see. One day I will tour with them! One day. I will never stop that dream.

What’s your impression of the Aussie music scene?

The Aussie music industry is phenomenal. They are the first industry to donate their time and resources to help people. Look at all the fundraising gigs that have happened over the last few years for flood and fire relief. The industry is always there to help, donate their time and resources but it’s been disappointing to see the lack of government support that they got during this Covid Pandemic. The Arts were one of the last to receive any financial assistance. The music industry are givers - not just musicians, but the whole music industry – from roadies, to sound and lighting techs to venues.

They will always give their time, and talent to help causes. It’s a passion and that’s just what they do. Industries like these are far and few between. We must continue to Image by Kylie Sahb support live music and venues and it’s times like these that the helpers need our continued help.

I have met some unreal people within the industry.

From Musician’s to photographers and we are like a family. We stand together. From the covid shutdowns

with the whole industry decimated in that time, we always support and guide each other.

No one can understand the rush you get from photographing live music like other music photographers. It’s a bond. You do need a thick skin in this industry and if you can’t accept rejection, you won’t last long. We all try to help each other. Be nice and people will love working with you but that relates to any industry, not just the music industry.

What has music brought to your life?

It makes my soul happy. It doesn’t matter if you are in a good or bad mood, there is music for every occasion.

Music is a memory maker and is just a way of life. It’s my everything. My life would be very still and boring without music. It’s a part of my make up.

Music has also given me the opportunity to photograph some amazing talent. From emerging bands to some of the world’s biggest performers. I have created some amazing friendships, some amazing memories and have had the opportunities to meet some crazily talented people. When it comes down to it, it has given me the platform to really be me; not me as a mother, partner or friend. And as clichéd as it may sound, I am living my dream as a music photographer. It’s pretty awesome to realise that and I do need to pinch myself sometimes. https://kyliesahb.com

King Parrot: Image by Kylie Sahb

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Eliza Hull

Owning her musical space A

ustralian indie folk artist Eliza Hull is known for her stirring lyrics and haunting vocals and it’s not hard to understand why she has a huge loyal following. Eliza is a proud disabled artist having lived with a neurological condition called Charcot-Marie-Tooth since she was five years old which effects the way she walks and causes muscle and sensory loss. She understands through lived experience that representation matters and would like to see more accessability in music venues for both artists and fans. Eliza was recently named as a finalist in the 2021 Australian Women In Music Awards. Eliza, a soulful singer/songwriter, shares chats with us about her journey in the music industry and we’re looking forward to her next EP. How long have you been writing music and singing? How did you first get into music?

I started singing when I was five years old and wrote my first song when I was fourteen. I was given a piano by a family friend who passed away and began to write songs whenever I was feeling like I needed to get something out. This helped me so much during my teenage years!! When I moved to Melbourne when I was eighteen I started studying Media at RMIT University but music kept calling my name. I knew that’s what I really wanted to do, so I deferred university and dedicated my time to writing, record-

ing and performing music. Was a wonderful couple of years, luckily I did go back and finish my Media degree as now I have both in my life. I am a reporter for ABC Audio News and Current Affairs & I am a singer-songwriter.

What has music brought to your life?

Where do I start? It’s given me a vehicle to express hard feelings and emotions. It’s given me a way to share what I am thinking and feeling, and given me a platform to advocate for people with disabilities. I have met incredible people and formed a community I am proud of being part of. It’s given me confidence in speaking my mind. It’s also just given me a sense of purpose and a whole heap of joy!

Has Covid-19 impacted your career or the way you create?

It’s given me more time to go inward and reflect so I have had the chance to write the songs for my next EP. I have had shows cancelled though which has been hard. I really miss live music and being on stage!

How did you get into the music industry?

When you create music and release it as I do, I guess that automatically means you’re in the music industry. It’s an industry that I am really proud of being part of, one that is rapidly evolving and for the better!

Is your relationship with music the same now as it was before breaking through?

I have been thinking about this a lot lately. Just recently I opened up some old journals and noticed how creative and free I was in the way I expressed myself lyrically. I think when you know you’re going to release something into the world it can be scary. I am working on my new EP at the moment and I am trying to push through this fear. I want to go back to my younger self where I just expressed myself freely, I had no boundaries put in place, this is where I want to get back to.

Why is inclusive representation in the industry important to you?

Almost 20% of the population in Australia have a disability, yet there is still a lack of representation of musical artists with disability. I want to see more disabled musicians on TV, hear them on the radio, see them winning awards. And in order for this to happen we need to create an inclusive and accessible industry so people with disability feel enabled and welcomed. I want young people with disability who aspire to be a musical artist to see themselves represented and know it’s a possibility! That is so important!

Who are you listening to right now?

Too many to list!!! The last five artists I listened to on Spotify are Taylor Swift, Odette, Solange, Highasakite and Julia Stone. https://elizahull.com

What’s been the greatest highlight about your career so far?

Singing at the Natural History Museum in London was incredible! To be on those steps performing in that incredible space was so beautiful. Curating the recent ‘Accessible All Areas’ live stream with Isolaid was also great, to see people responding to that during a pandemic was really affirming. It was representing musical artists with disability, something I am very passionate about.

As a proud disabled artist, what are the challenges you’ve faced in the Music industry (if any)?

Attitudes! People staring or making judgment. Also physical barriers such as stairs so I can’t access the backstage area, or get up onto the stage. I remember I used to dread performing when I didn’t know what the stage was going to be like, it made me so incredibly nervous. Since learning about disability and ableism I now ask the venue before I perform whether the stage is accessible and whether it’s accessible for audiences.

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Tana Douglas

First Lady of the backstage crew

BY SANDY LOWRES

A

s a teenage runaway from Brisbane, Australia, Tana Douglas didn’t join the circus. Instead, she joined the music industry, an adventure that would take her on a thirty-year journey around the world. Recognised as the world’s first female roadie, Tana has released her memoir LOUD to tell her incredible story.

“I didn’t realise I was the only one out there in the world. Over the years it’s evolved and that’s how it is. It was lonely out there for a while.” Leaving home in 1973 at the age of fifteen after what she describes as a “rotten childhood”, Tana headed to the Nimbin Music Festival, and set about making herself useful so no one would ask her to leave. The inaugural Nimbin Aquarius Festival was a ten-day counter- culture arts and music festival with an aim of celebrating alternative thinking. Often described as Australia’s version of Woodstock, Nimbin became the birthplace of Australia’s Hippie movement.

“I think my advantage was that I grew up really quickly as a survival technique and no one ever asked me my age. Like no one ever said, “You look really young. How old are you?” Never. It was the strangest thing.”

It was in Nimbin that Tana met the now famous French tightrope walker Philippe Petit and went with his crew to Sydney and helped with what would become her first production. Petit walked a tightrope across Sydney Harbour Bridge, a feat that not only incredible to witness, but also highly illegal.

Tana continued to travel, returning to Sydney, eventually moving in with two other young girls who knew all the clubs. The Whisky a Go Go in Kings Cross was the first club she ever went to.

One of her housemates really needed to get back to Melbourne, and as it happened the band playing that night, Fox, was heading that way.

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lings Malcolm and Angus Young, and stepped forward to introduce Tana to everyone.

“There was just an energy in the room, and I thought I don’t know what this is, but whatever it is, I’m in. Sign me up! The good deal with this was I also got somewhere to live! We spent nights sitting around and listening to different music and talking about music.”

Tana helped the road crew to load the band’s equipment onto the truck as a way of helping her friend get a lift, much to the amusement of the band.

Two weeks later the band called her asking if she wanted a paid job that would take her to Melbourne, and she was thrilled. Within a couple of months, she finds herself at the original Mushroom house, where she was offered a job

by Bill Joseph, a band manager, to work with a new emerging band. The band was made up of young musicians and a tough front man named Bon Scott. The band of course was AC/DC. “There was something about them, even then.

They had conviction. They had an energy and you just fed off it. I thank them to this day for my work ethic, which is the same work effort they had themselves.”

As soon as she agreed, she was swept off to the now notorious house in Melbourne where the band were all living while they were recording High Voltage. George Young, known as Brother George, was there with Bon Scott and his sib62

Working and living with AC/DC looking after their equipment, this was a steep learning curve for Tana who suddenly found herself promoted to their front of house sound technician and the work was endless. Deciding that being a roadie could be a long-term career, Tana was determined to continue learning the business. Leaving AC/DC, she started working for Paul Dainty, one of Australia’s largest band promoters and knowing there were many brilliant sound technicians in Australia, she made the conscious move towards becoming a lighting technician, an area that was new ground at the time. This would prove to be a game changer, as she started working for only international acts.

“I had to get my dad to sign my passport because I wasn’t old enough, but again, I wasn’t going to wait. I figured if I stood still, they [the bands] would leave me behind and it was so important for me to keep moving. I realised that changing countries would mean starting over, and it was.”

Living in London was initially tough, having left with a one-way ticket and very little money. What she had was a defiant will to make it. She made herself indispensable and had a reputation as a hard worker, and a jack of all trades.

“At one stage I was sleeping in Paul McCartney’s car! His assistant found out I didn’t have a place to stay and let me sleep there. There was a crystal decanter in the car, and I used it for my toothbrush.”

Fate would step in, and Tana landed a job at a warehouse building a huge lighting rig from scratch for Status Quo, who she then worked with for four years. At the end of that four year

gig, she took the lighting rig to a well-known production company. It was a perfect fit and Tana became head of the lighting department.

From that day on she worked with Production companies, and she could pick the tours she went on.

Throughout her career, Tana has worked with incredible artists, including Ozzy Osborne, Status Quo, Iggy Pop, Pearl Jam and a three-year gig working with Elton John.

words: “Fuck off – she is a roadie.” For Douglas to get through all that was pretty amazing. She did it by the size of her balls. And she was very good at her gig.’

What an extraordinary life she’s led in what is still a male dominated industry.

“I’m fortunate enough to work with mentoring up and coming women in the industry and I do a lot of speaking events and I look forward to supporting other women in the industry as much as I can. It’s a good thing. It’s nice when someone reaches out and says thank you. If you have the time to mentor others, do it…my advice would be to young people, that theory is good, but you need hands on experience and you need to listen. As soon as you can, get an internship and get a mentor, and really listen to their advice.

The whole thing about the industry, it is about adapting. You have to think on your feet. It’s a career that is unmatchable, it’s a career I’m so happy I chose. It’s a career and lifestyle I still live today.”

After 9 years in England, Tana was transferred by production company Tasco to the USA and continues to live in California even now. She loved the weather and the vibe of California, and continued working with British production companies, touring with bands across America. So cemented into the music industry, Tana has been mentioned in several published books. She was once even approached by someone wanting to write a film treatment of her life, which is easy to imagine. While in Australia to help promote Stuart Coupe’s book Roadies – The Secret History of Australian Rock’n’roll she was approached

by Harper Collins to write her memoir.

In Stuart Coupe’s book, Howard Freeman remembers Tana at the Sunbury Music Festival. “‘Someone didn’t want her backstage in the security area, and I told them to get fucked,’ he says. ‘That was the first time I got to say the

Tana’s Memoir, LOUD, published by Harper Collins, is available at all good outlets including Booktopia and Amazon. It is also available via Audible.

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“It is true that women don’t need a vibrator to have an orgasm but just like you don’t need shoes to run, it sure does help!” Susan Jarvis, The Maven

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How to choose

the right Vibrator

BY SUSAN JARVIS

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I

was 35 when I bought my first vibrator and I wish that I had had one from a much younger age! If you have never used or owned a pleasure device and you are thinking about it, please trust me when I say that owning a vibrator is an empowering experience. Generally speaking, women are not taught that our sexuality is an important element of our identity. Female sexuality in the entertainment industry is rarely celebrated and sex scenes are pretty much always focused on male pleasure. In real life, the (little) sex education provided covers mainly reproduction and STIs but doesn’t delve deep into the psyche of sex, relationships, sensuality, and sexuality. Oh, and of course, menopause is never mentioned (!).

I know from personal experience that tapping into my sexual energy was a confidence booster, and restored my physical and mental health. I believe that it helps to maintain emotional resilience and it shouldn’t be a secret!! Sadly, many women don’t discover this until they are well and truly much older and burnt out or worse, never realise their full sexual and sensual potential. Embracing your sexuality is truly a ‘stop and smell the roses’ moment in life. Trust me, you want to create for yourself a lifetime of deathbed memories that will have you go out with a smile!

Look at me, the image on the left is me aged 34 and the image on the right at 51! The changes in my life didn’t happen overnight but they did happen. If you’re looking for a change in your life and don’t know where to start I suggest exploring your sexuality and sensuality by investing in quality pleasure toys as an investment in you. We all deserve pleasure.

What’s the best vibrator for older women and how do you choose the vibrator that’s right for me?

I can help answer that. Firstly, let’s all admit that we have in our head our very own ‘wank bank’ or orgasmic fantasy. Do you know yours? Such as intimacy that is soft and gentle or perhaps pushing your boundaries into areas such as submission or domination? Knowing what your orgasmic fantasy is - or what I like to call ‘orgasmic preference’ - will help you determine if you prefer a pleasure device that is realistic looking or one that is modern with a contemporary aesthetic designed for pleasure and one that also suits your physical needs (comfortable to hold).

Your orgasmic preference will also influence features such as size and vibration intensity. Do you prefer just clitoral stimulation or do you want to experience vaginal stimulation or both? There’s no right or wrong approach in how to experience pleasure though it’s important to consider preferences as part of your purchasing decision.

Let’s face it, you should get the best bang for your buck – and that’s not just a well-deserved pun!

What’s the difference between a dildo and a vibrator?

That’s a good question. Traditionally, a dildo is a phallic-shaped instrument that does not contain any mechanisms to create vibration whereas a vibrator contains a motor and requires power to operate.

Interesting fact: Dildos have been around for thousands of years!! Don’t believe me? Just Google it.

Are sex toys safe for my body?

Just like you wouldn’t inject yourself with disinfectant to fight COVID-19 (thank you to Trump for that one), you shouldn’t place anything in your body that is made of harmful materials.

We have detailed advice about materials and cleaning of your pleasure toys which you can read here: https://www.thespicyboudoir.com/ cleaning-toys-and-bodysafe/

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Own your sexuality, it belongs to you forever. - Susan Jarvis, The Maven

WARNING: if the product you are considering says ‘For novelty use only’ – DO NOT use it internally! It will not be constructed out of body-safe materials such as medical-grade silicone and could contain harmful chemicals.

To vibrate or not to vibrate? That is the question.

choose to use it as your mood suits.

It ‘comes’ down to your preference but when you spend your dollar I recommend pursuing value in a device that serves both functions, that way you can

There are literally thousands of products on the market, to save you time and energy I have curated a range of products for you to consider.

Penis inspired play You can’t go past the opportunity to experience a quality-made dildo that incorporates temperature play!

wave these dildos or put them in your fridge/freezer to step up your pleasure time to a whole new level!

What a brilliant idea!

They come (oh, there’s a pun!) in different sizes...from 6” up to 9.5”

The RealRock range by Shots allows you to micro-

RealRock Flesh dildo cock Thermal Reactive

Turbo Rabbit Vortex by Femme Funn

The range from Femme Funn takes Nature’s design of the penis and puts a spin on your G-spot exploration with a 360 rotating head that is sure to tickle your fancy. We can’t see evolution changing the design of the human penis to match this in the near future but you never know!

Sculpted to replicate the human body. Its realistic feel and sculpted g-spot precision will bring you to life with 8 vibration modes and 360 degree motion.

Ranges from $44 to $105 thespicyboudoir.com

$219 thespicyboudoir.com

Modern with a contemporary, aesthetic feel There are so many beautifully designed products out there, far better than what was available 20 years ago.

One of my all-time favourites is the Queen by Zalo.

The design is reminiscent of ancient Egypt and the form and function of the pleasure device is not a ‘one fits all’ approach. Now that’s clever!

RealRock Flesh dildo cock Thermal Reactive The Queen allows for enjoyment in multiple ways. With a motor in the shaft and pulsating plate in the tip, you can dial the intensity up or down and switch the vibration patterns so that you can tailor it to your orgasmic preference. Slip-on the silicone sleeve and the vibrator converts to a device that will suckle your clitoris or nipples, whichever turns you on the most!

The Queen by Zalo G-spot pleasure

$229 thespicyboudoir.com

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External vibration

Big Boss G5 by Fun Factory From the small and delicate Volito to the large Big Boss G5 for that ‘filled’ sensation in your vagina or anus, Fun Factory is one of the original product developers and their products are of the highest quality. They have even developed a range of self-thrusting vibrators (the Stronic range), who would have thought of that?! Only a company that thinks outside the box, that’s who.

$179 thespicyboudoir.com

Now, this is where you can really extend the value of your purchase. There are external vibrators that can be used all over your body and some that have attachments to adapt the massager for internal play.

Doxy Massagers - power tools for women!

Engineered and machined to perfection. The Doxy range is without a doubt a premium pleasure product, one that will last you for many years. It too provides the option to purchase the accessory kit to convert your external vibrator to internal delights as well as providing satisfaction and enjoyment for penis owners.

$249 thespicyboudoir.com

Direct Direct Clitoral Clitoral stimulation stimulation The The wonders wonders of of technology technology are are truly truly amazing amazing and and We-Vibe has set the benchmark when We-Vibe has set the benchmark when it it comes comes to to pleasure pleasure technology. technology. Introducing Introducing The The Melt...it Melt...it will will have have you you melting melting between between the the legs. legs.

Secondary Secondary features features are are the the wireless wireless control control via via an an app on your phone meaning that your partner app on your phone meaning that your partner could could be be part part of of your your pleasure pleasure play play even even if if they they are are on on the the other other side side of of the the world. world.

Melt by We-Vibe The Melt by We-Vibe for clitoral stimulation https:// The only Pleasure Air™ stimulator designed for www.thespicyboudoir.com/~2521959 couples. Melt surrounds the clitoris with pulsating waves and gentle suction, while the curved design The only Pleasure Air™ stimulator designed for fits perfectly between 2 bodies in any position. couples. Melt surrounds the clitoris with pulsating

Vibrators for your handbag and purse Moderate vibration We don’t sell guns at The Spicy Boudoir but we still If bullets. you are Compact, someone discreet who hasbut difficulty tolerating sell still packing a the feeling of vibration in your hands and punch where you need it. forearms then the Ultra Wand by Femme Funn may suit you.

Purelythat for external only, the I recommend bullets attach touse your fingers, power of the vibration is concentrated in the that way you can concentrate on your pleasure and head of about the unit, not in the wand.the sheets – they not worry losing it amongst can get very slippery!

Ultra Wand by Femme Funn

waves and gentle suction, while the curved design Melt uses subtle changes in air in pressure to gently fits perfectly between 2 bodies any position. massage the clitoris, without actually touching it, which helps to avoid numbing Melt uses subtle changes in and overstimulation.

It has 12 levels air pressure to gently massage the of intensities that feel like gentleit, clitoris, without actually touching kisses stronger suction. which to helps to avoid numbing and overstimulation. It of intensities that feel $209 kisses to stronger sucthespicyboudoir.com

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has 12 levels like gentle tion.

$119 thespicyboudoir.com

Vibrators for your handbag and purse

Tips for before and after pleasure

We don’t sell guns at The Spicy Boudoir but we still sell bullets. Compact, discreet but still packing a punch where you need it.

Lube, glorious lube!

I recommend bullets that attach to your fingers, that way you can concentrate on your pleasure and not worry about losing it amongst the sheets – they can get very slippery!

Mini G $59 thespicyboudoir.com

Fin by Dame $170 thespicyboudoir.com

DiGiT by Hot Octopuss $129 thespicyboudoir.com

Clitherapy Vibrator $34 thespicyboudoir.com

If you, like me, are in the thick of menopause you will need to take care of the health of your vulva and vagina and use quality lubrication during your play.

I recommend and use products by Sutil (organically sourced) and Pjur (medical grade) and Happy Pause Menopause balm.

Products can be cleaned using one of the many cleaning products (Pjur is a quality brand) or if none is available at the time of your play then hot water and soap until you can spray with an anti-bacterial.

Squirting during play Every woman has the ability to experience female ejaculation during sexual activity. It is an experience quite like no other and requires specialist equipment to protect your furnishings. We say, ‘don’t use a daggy old towel’ invest in a quality blanket that will add to your decor and protect your bed, lounge or favourite rug... wherever you are having fun! The Decor Fascinator by Liberator is plush, soft to touch and moisture-proof.

Perfect as a throw across the bed during a getaway.

Decor Fascinator $170 thespicyboudoir.com

My last advice to you. “Sex is as natural as the air we breathe, there is no need to choke on it!

Please do not feel any shame exploring your body, your sexuality and your fantasies. If you find it difficult to deal with shame and stigma I urge you to reach out to a Sexologist.

If ever you need assistance to choose a pleasure device or have questions about sexuality please do not hesitate to contact me: themaven@thespicyboudoir.com Here’s to your joy and sexual empowerment!

About the Writer Susan Jarvis is a positive sex and body positivity advocate and is the owner of The Spicy Boudoir, an online sexual health and wellness store to celebrate the sexuality of people living with disability and for people aged over 50. Susan is also the host of podcast The Maven’s Private Diaries. thespicyboudoir.com

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Is it time to

take a break from Alcohol ?

We chat with Sarah Rusbatch

BY SANDY LOWRES

I

s it time to take a break from alcohol?

With so many of us living with Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, alcohol consumption seems to be on the rise with many women using alcohol as a crutch to cope with anxiety and covid fatigue. According to an article published on the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre women are catching up to men in rates of alcohol consumption and this has important implications for how we think about what we view as harmful alcohol use.

We recently chatted to sobriety coach Sarah Rusbatch about the benefits of signing up to an alcohol-free challenge and what to expect over the course of the month of not drinking. Sarah explained that for those of us stuck in that murky ‘grey area’ of drinking, a month off can be an excellent opportunity to re-evaluate our relationship with alcohol and decide whether it’s starting to hold a too prevalent position in our day to day lives.

So what is ‘grey area drinking’? Grey area drinking can be thought of in terms of a scale of 1-10 when it comes to someone’s drinking patterns with 1 being ‘hardly ever thinks about it’ and 10 being ‘end stage, physical dependency’. The grey area is those hovering around that middle area, perhaps a 4-8 on the scale. Grey area drinkers often

don’t drink every day, don’t identify as being an ‘alcoholic’ but are perhaps using alcohol as a bit of a crutch to cope with stress, overwhelm, anxiety and all of those common emotions we often feel by 6pm after a busy day at work.

Let’s face it, if we are not in the grey area ourselves, we most probably know someone who is.

For Sarah, some warning signs started creeping in that first led to her deciding to take a break from alcohol back in April 2017.

“Poor sleep every time I drank, always waking at 3am unable to get back to sleep, imbalanced hormones and high oestrogen, weight gain, poor skin, anxiety, lethargy, lack of motivation, feeling disconnected to myself and an overarching feeling of “is this it?” when I thought about my life, but not knowing what to change or how”.

Another way of assessing our drinking is to consider how many days of the week we are on our ‘A’ game, fulfilling our potential and feeling our best. We know that many Australians drink without thought every weekend, sometimes quite heavily from Thursday to Sunday. It takes 48 hours for alcohol to leave the system so perhaps by Wednesday they are starting to feel ok and their energy levels have resumed. If they then decide to have a couple

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of drinks on a Wednesday night, this will still affect their sleep, mood, motivation, output levels and concentration the next day. This would mean that many people are actually only living up to their full potential both at work and in their personal life for 1 day of the week.

When Sarah embarked on a period of sobriety (one month turned into three after she felt so good), she was pleasantly surprised by the unexpected positives she experienced in a relatively short time.

“My skin began to glow,” Sarah explained, “and all the spots along my jaw line cleared up. My eyes got their sparkle back. I lost weight, I had so much energy and such a positive outlook. I gradually began to feel more positive, had so much more time to enjoy my weekends and evenings and loved going to sleep each night knowing I wouldn’t wake with the dreaded 3am sweats and insomnia. I felt like I was

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being more present with my kids and was no longer shooing them to bed early so I could get back to my wine. My productivity at work shot up and my motivation towards my health and fitness dramatically improved. I felt like I was truly on the path to creating a happier and healthier lifestyle that meant so much more to me than sitting at home with a bottle of wine each night”. Although Sarah did initially return to drinking after her 3 month break, it was the start of what would become a complete lifestyle change for her.

She has just celebrated two years of sobriety, and has retrained as a women’s wellbeing and sobriety coach, working with women all over the globe to change their relationship with alcohol.

To join an alcohol free challenge with Sarah www.slrwellness.com

Dr Mia Schaumberg

magazine

A magazine for and about women podcasters.

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She Endeavours

Wb40 is shining some love on female owned micro & small businesses that make our heart sing because as we all know, when one woman rises, we all rise. Please support these women in business.

Mira Ciccone

The Life of a Virtual Assistant I lost my cushy 9-5 job through Covid in 2020 and pivoted to start my own business. To nobody’s surprise.

The Life of a Virtual Assistant soon became a THING and has been evolving & growing ever since.

What started out as VA services for CEOs quickly led to Social Media Marketing and everything that goes with it. It’s what I love and I’m pretty DAMN good at it. I’m incredibly proud of the 60+ business owners I’ve helped to the aha-moment that their Social Media presence is ACTUALLY making a difference. Watching them thrive on Social Media has been a passion and it can be what we can do for you.

Fi Mims Photography I’m a personal branding photographer that specialises in photographing women in business, and I also have a membership that helps women build a powerful brand, show up online consistently and confidently, and grow their business. fimimsphotography.com.au

thelifeofavirtualassistant.com.au

Bae Bands One day I was looking in the mirror at my postpartum hair loss and the ever evolving grey hairs (thanks Melbourne Lockdown).

Whilst my hair was up in its usual spot (mum bun) I thought that there had to be a way to jazz it all up (whilst covering it at the same time).

Bae Bands was created! A luxurious Boho Wire Headband (or headwrap) that can be styled up to 10 different ways.

Forget the scrunchies and hard headbands, our soft wire headbands are all anyone needs.

baebands.com.au

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She Endeavours Executive Entourage At Executive Entourage we focus exclusively on recruitment, coaching and training of Executive Assistants. It is run by our Founder who is an award-winning Executive Assistant in Australia and APAC region with 20+ years’ experience as a C Suite Executive Assistant.

We know the Executive Assistant landscape and we understand how powerful the EA and Executive relationship can be when both individuals are aligned and focused on business success. We take the time to understand the business and Executive’s requirements and find the right fit for your business for now and in the future.

Contact us today for a confidential conversation to find the right fit for your business needs. executiveentourage.com.au

Lisa Stockman - Personal Stylist Lisa is a Melbourne-based personal stylist whose mission is to empower women to step into their confidence and shine. Lisa is a personal stylist to a diverse range of clients and specializes in working with people who are experiencing life-changing events such as gaining a job, getting divorced, beginning to date, post-surgery, post baby, or getting ready for an event of a lifetime such as a wedding or anniversary. l @lisastockmanstylist f Lisa Stockman Personal Styling lisastockman.com.au

Jumply Jumply is on a mission to create the best gear for adventurous families based on real mum innovation that solves real everyday parenting problems. They are a Melbourne based family business, that believe that it shouldn’t be hard to get outdoors and make amazing memories with your kids. They understand that it can all feel too hard to take your little one out sometimes, which is why they design all their gear (Adventure Carrier, Flex Frame Sunglasses and Sun hats) from their experience with their kids.

Their latest innovation the Adventure Carrier combines a nappy backpack with lightweight baby and toddler carrier. It allows you to walk out of the house with just ONE bag and NO pram, making an effortless escape for your adventure! jumply.com.au

Door20a

Business Strategist + Connector | Speaker Michelle Bowditch is the founder of Door20a, a tech consulting agency supporting Women in Business and Executive Assistants to accelerate their careers to the next level. Through strategic coaching, she helps professionals amplify their workplace presence, master influence, and road map their ambitions into existence. door20a.com/

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The Good Girl Confessional

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Podcast

@thegoodgirlconfessional facebook.com/GoodGirlConfessional The Good Girl Confessional Podcast 77

She Endeavours

By Ali Marie

I live on Darkinjung Country, Central Coast NSW, on the water between the bush and beach.My work is inspired by my natural surroundings, and an abundance of bird life and strong creative women.

I started creating during lockdown 2020. I quit my government job at the end of the year to focus on my health, I was diagnosed with a rare genetic brain condition that requires surgery that I’m hoping to avoid.

Art is mental and physical therapy for me, and my passion.

My commissions are inspired by the personal quirks, in-jokes, and guilty pleasures of my clients. My work includes tokens, talismans and secrets hidden in plain sight.My pieces encourage you to seek and find delight in your unique and quirky joys.

Every work features ink doodles in some way, and as much colour as I can find, with a small blank space because your weird is never finished. www.byalimarie.com Insta @byalimarie

After being diagnosed with cancer over 2 years ago, and experiencing constant overheating throughout chemotherapy, Tara Lock started sourcing and testing over 30 different cooling fabrics before perfecting and bringing the Chilly Towel to life in 2015.

Initially sourcing a towel that would keep her cool after the gym, she discovered this product can assist people for various reasons from overheating; fevers, hot flushes, medical conditions, bad circulation, menopause and sports & heat stress.

Due to the unique hyper-evaporative fibres in the Chilly Towel, this unique towel becomes cooler than ambient air when wet, which enables the towel to maintain a temperature that feels cool to the skin. The fibres retain water, which provides cooling relief while staying dry to touch for hours. https://chillytowel.com.au/

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5 Female Podcasts

we are loving!

Fierce, female and Feminist – here’s some podcasts the Wb40 Team has been listing to this Spring!

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Money Power Freedom Money Power Freedom is a six-part series hosted by Cal Wilson (comedian) and Santilla Chingaipe (journalist and filmmaker). In each episode, Cal and Santilla work together to decode money and power, and what it means for our freedom.

Featuring experts & real life stories balanced with money how-tos, Money Power Freedom digs into our collective money story, reminding listeners that the financial hurdles so many women face aren’t personal — it’s political.

This podcast was Shortlisted 2020 Australian Podcast Awards – Bullseye Award Category and it’s a great listen!

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2

Broad Talk

BroadTalk is a podcast about women, power, and the wayward world. Presented by Virginia Haussegger, the series casts a razor-sharp gender lens over politics and policy and explores big ideas and imperfect lives. Following Series 1 in 2020 which focused on ‘new leadership’ – a ‘feminised’ style of leadership that emerged during the global coronavirus pandemic; Series 2 in 2021 gets personal, as Virginia tackles the impact of gender equality in individual lives as she asks ‘are we there yet? And if not why not?

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I Dont Know Her Hosted by Amanda V. Mead and Rita Vigil, these hosts are on a mission to share the stories your history books left out. Every episode they tackle the brave, complicated, courageous, and important stories of women you’ve probably never heard of, but you should have. Many of thier episodes specifically highlight women of colour and LGBTQ+ folks. Both educational and entertaining, this podcast is about women we all should have heard of.

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3

A Podcast of Ones Own with Julia Gillard Former Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard presents a podcast in her role as Chair of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership. In each episode Julia leads a thoughtful but fun discussion with well-known female (and some male) leaders from the worlds of business, entertainment, media, sport and many more. By celebrating their stories and learning the lessons from their lives, the podcast gives us insight into what needs to be done so more women get to lead.

Earnings from the podcast will go back into funding for the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, furthering the work they do to create a world in which being a woman is no barrier to being a leader.

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5

Women Who Sarcast

Host Kathy Barron describes her podcast as applying the lowest form of wit to the social issues of our time. This podcast shares the stories of women and is informative and at times comedic.

Topics range from roller derby to the history of sarcasm. Kathy Barron is the Editor and Founder of US based magazine Women Who Podcast with a view to raising the profiles of grassroots female podcasters.

For more of our favourite podcasts click here: https://wb40.com/contributors/sandy-lowres/9-podcasts-were-loving/

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‘Love Your Sister’ is Australia’s most honest and trusted cancer vanquishing charity. Founded by Gold Logie winning actor, Samuel Johnson OAM, Love Your Sister is a million-strong village of everyday Aussies committed to curing all cancers with hard science.

Love Your Sister’s unique campaigns and direct communication style have resonated widely and garnered national support to the tune of over $13M raised so far.

Love Your Sister proudly passes 100% of all donations received to research. No skimming. No admin. No BS!

Scan here to watch our story so far and get to know Love Your Sister.

To host a fundie, get your business involved, visit our Village Market, or get in touch with us, visit...

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“

“It remains to be seen how I navigate or how things go as I age in the industry. It’s not so much a worry but a curiosity. There’s part of me that loves ageing and watching how my face changes and my body changes.”

AUD $14.90(Print) AUD $7.99 (Digital) ISSN: 2652-9564

“

Adalita