Mother Love
Robyn Davidson’s solo desert trek made her famous 46 years ago, setting the course for her extraordinary life. But before that, her mum’s suicide shaped the woman she would become. Words by Susan Horsburgh.
Nov 01 23November 01, 2023
PDF at The Australian Women's Weekly
Rad times: Rip Curl’s new CEO and the wipeout of surfing’s boys’ club
From CEO of Layne Beachley’s “life” to the first female boss in Rip Curl’s history, Brooke Farris is riding a COVID-inspired surfing boom that’s seen more people than ever, not least women, take to the water. And there’s not a Chiko Roll in sight.…
Dec 03 21December 03, 2021
Article at The Age
Matilda composer Tim Minchin - the family man
Behind the wild hair and kohl-eyed stare, Tim Minchin is a devoted family man, married to his teenage sweetheart, writes Susan Horsburgh. Tim Minchin helped conceive my third child – which means he can add embryo whisperer to his prodigious list of…
Sep 29 17September 29, 2017
Article at The Australian Women's Weekly
How Linda Burney found strength after overcoming unimaginable tragedy
Having lost both her husband and son, the Minister for Indigenous Australians has dealt with grief through the fortifying power of her female friendships. By Susan Horsburgh Linda Burney’s historic first speech to federal parliament in 2016 was a…
Mar 05 23March 05, 2023
Article at The Age
The Miracle Musical
Wrangling kids for a school musical is tricky enough, but what if they were scattered across the outback and had to rehearse over the air? Somehow the Longreach School of Distance Education pulled it off. Susan Horsburgh reports.
Mar 01 19March 01, 2019
PDF at The Australian Women's Weekly
Why Soft Skills in the Workplace Are More Important Than Ever Before
As artificial intelligence and automation take over, the only way to guarantee a professional future in business is to work on your "soft skills". Find out what they are and why machines can't replace them. Any episode of BBC mockumentary The Office…
Jun 16 21June 16, 2021
Article at Qantas Magazine
Two of Us: How pyjama king Peter Alexander and his mum built an empire from their kitchen table
By Susan Horsburgh May 11, 2019 — 12.08am Save Log in, register or subscribe to save articles for later. Share Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text size This article features among the best Two of Us columns of 2019 Pyjama king Peter…
May 10 19May 10, 2019
Article at The Sydney Morning Herald
Brave New Psychedelic World
As the world's mental health crisis worsens, once-maligned illegal drugs such as magic mushrooms and MDMA are emerging as promising new treatments. Susan Horsburgh reports.
Oct 01 21October 01, 2021
PDF at The Australian Women's Weekly
‘You want sex? I’ll kill you’: the capers that bonded these 90-year-old twins
By Susan Horsburgh April 1, 2022 — 12.00pm Together, 90-year-old Melbourne twins Liliana del Porto and Lydia Marcuzzi have survived wartime bombing, a taste of Italian Hollywood and a total of five husbands. They’re happiest at home watching TV…
Apr 01 22April 01, 2022
Article at The Age
The Loneliness Generation
One in three Australians suffers from loneliness, yet most of us are loath to admit it, reports Susan Horsburgh. Wealth, youth and friends can't inoculate us, so what's the answer?
Sep 01 15September 01, 2015
PDF at The Australian Women's Weekly
A Holocaust survivor’s lesson in optimism
In the spring of 1944, Phillip Maisel had reached the lowest ebb of his life. Held captive in an Estonian labour camp, the 21-year-old Polish-born Jew and his fellow inmates were forced, every Sunday, to haul a pile of rocks from one end of an icy…
Jul 31 21July 31, 2021
Article at The Sydney Morning Herald
Michelle Payne and her brother Stevie reflect on a life of tragedy to movie stardom
As kids, Michelle Payne and her brother Stevie used to wake up early every morning, jump out of the bed they top-and-tailed in, and put on Phar Lap, the 1983 movie about Australia's most famous racehorse. Michelle reckons they watched it hundreds of…
Nov 17 19November 17, 2019
Article at The Australian Women's Weekly
Qantas Magazine: Breathing Space
At a spiritual retreat in the Japanese countryside, Susan Horsburgh immerses herself in the country's culture - under the tutelage of a kooky monk.
Jul 01 23July 01, 2023
PDF at Qantas Magazine
How the Declutter Queen can change your life
Inspired by Marie Kondo, the global titan of tidying, Susan Horsburgh sifts through her closet in the quest for clothes that “spark joy”. Sure, I’ve tidied before, but Marie Kondo promises this time will be different. I pore over her latest book,…
Apr 19 16April 19, 2016
Article at The Australian Women’s Weekly
Why Mental Health is Being Discussed in the Boardroom
Corporate Australia was already concerned about mental health. Then COVID made the issue unavoidable. Now that it’s a topic of boardroom discussion, companies are working to transform their cultures, keep employees happy and attract new recruits.…
Mar 11 23March 11, 2023
Article at Qantas Magazine






