Issue 4
1
Pretty in Pink 30 ml Pink Gin 60 ml Cranberry Juice Top with equal amounts of Prosecco and soda Add a squeeze of lime juice Top with mint, lemon slices and raspberries
BY NIKKI HIND
20 6
WELCOME
F
irstly, I wanted to apologise that this issue of the Women Beyond Forty Magazine – Sisterhood has taken longer than expected. As a small team, the business end of the Magazine, or as I like to say ‘the magic’ happens here in Melbourne, and as some of you may know, the state of Victoria recently experienced the fourth lockdown, again with some pretty tough restrictions. No visitors to homes, masks to be worn at all times when leaving home and only leaving your home to buy groceries or to care for someone, or work if your work is deemed essential. Many businesses were shut during this period, including our wonderful printers. A photoshoot planned to be the main feature of this Issue involving many kick ass women and a rock star photographer needed to be postponed until later in the year when it is safer for all. Perhaps the biggest hurdle however was the psychological impact of being in lockdown 4.0, and feeling like those in Melbourne have shouldered the lion’s share of restrictions in order to control the numbers of this virus. Looking at the extraordinary Covid-19 numbers in many countries, Australia’s low numbers have been enviable but we are feeling for everyone who has been impacted directly by the pandemic. So many lives have been lost globally, as health care and front-line workers are breaking under the pressure. Personally, I felt I handled the first few lockdowns fairly well, although I definitely gained ‘Covid kilos’ mostly because I, like so many people, baked sourdough bread and then proceeded to eat it with lashing of butter. Quite often I was washing it down with too many glasses of wine, or a cocktail or two. Lock down 4.0 has felt different. It has felt like everything has taken longer than it normally would, almost like walking in quick sand. I have felt at times foggy, and aimless. I found myself staring at my blank laptop, or procrastinating. Being mindful that some of the incredible women involved in Issue 4 were also struggling, we decided to practice what we preach and encourage some self-care during this time. Our priority was to make sure we put people ahead of the publication.
I’m grateful for the WB40 Team and the women in my life who helped to keep me smiling and helped me to find optimism during this strange time! I am honoured to be part of the Sisterhood of women – those that I have met in real life, and those I am meeting along the way in this incredible community of women.
x y d n Sa
7
Your Body Your way
thespicyboudoir.com The Spicy Boudoir is an all-inclusive space aimed at liberating sexual wellbeing from behind closed doors. 100% Non Toxic Materials
REGARDLESS OF GENDER, AGE, MOBILITY OR SIZE WE CHAMPION FOR SEX POSITIVE CHANGE. Together, let’s strip away the stigma and stereotypes to create an empowered community free to explore and express their sexuality. 100% Non Toxic Materials
16
Free from known Irritants
Easy Clean
Non Porous Materials
A time for healing Life beyond HSV2 BY SUSAN JARVIS
S
aying goodbye to 2013 was one of the happiest moments of my life. I had finally extricated myself from a long-term relationship with a beautiful Bogan-man. Seven years of good times and lots of great sex wasn’t enough. My brain needed oxygen and I was starving. The last three years our relationship can only be described as flapping about like a goldfish gasping for breath before being put back in the tank (that’s code for great sex) only to jump right back out and start gasping again. I was the goldfish. In the end, it was easy for me to end that relationship but not for him. In between romantic, over the top gestures to ‘win me back’ there was childish petulance, anger and sobbing howls of “I love you, why can’t you love me?” I despised him for putting me through that emotional crap. I’d spent years telling him what I needed in our relationship and years suppressing my inner light and dreams so that I could maintain a level of sanity to be with him. In the end, I just couldn’t live his bong Bogan life anymore. I was thirsty for culture and intelligent conversation, sick of pretending to be something I wasn’t (a bogan) and I could not bear to watch life from a couch any longer. Time, gentlemen, time aka, Run, Susan, Run. Fast forward six months and I was living on my own and on the cusp of relocating my life from North Queensland to new adventures in Brisbane. I had
plans. Huge f*cking plans to reinvite myself and invest time in ME. I was looking forward to living a single life and taking a lover (or two!). I wasn’t looking for a deep relationship, I wanted a male friend (either straight or gay) to accompany me on day trips, music gigs, theatre, movies and comedy shows. I was also looking for someone to guide my journey of sexual exploration from vanilla to spice. I was a hot blooded woman on fire with excitement for her new future. So hot that I sizzled! I kid you not, I was glowing with happiness from the inside and out. I was finally going to live my life for me and do it my way. This was my new chapter and at the age of 47 I was going to embrace it and ride it by the fucking horns. And then, just like that, my life changed with a burning sensation in my vulva. My life was suddenly smashed sideways and the rug ripped under my feet. What. The. Fuck? I went straight to my wonderful GP, Dr Michelle. (Fuuuuck): ‘Susan, I’ll need to do a swab to confirm however I am sure that this is HSV2’. Me: ‘What, I’ve got a Holden in my vagina? I’ve always been a Ford girl!’ (That was me trying to bravely hold on to humour to stop me from bursting into tears).
17
Sisters
in
steel caps BY BECKY PAROZ How does one write about sisterhood when referring to the masculine and male-dominated world of construction, mining, building, and the associated industries like trades, transport, and logistics?
The perception is that we either turn to our more masculine traits or turn away f rom this industry. While it is true that it is a very harsh industry to have babies and balance the juggle, it can and has been done by many amazing women I have met over the years while working on project sites. There is still a perception that those women are the exception rather than the rule. The media doesn’t help when it bangs on about that one woman who dared speak up over a rude and sexist
32
33
Professional Video Editing Book Trailers
Online Courses
Short Films
BW BarronWorx
38
barronworx@gmail.com
Skate - Mates
BY CARLY FINDLAY 39 Photo by: Myekal Benham
Sisterhood in the time
of Pandemic BY SANDY LOWRES
Photo by Yaroslav Danylchenko from Pexels 48
49