FROM THE E DI TOR

We’re here, we made it! We’re an extraordinary 85 years young. If I’m completely honest with you, for a long time, I thought the Weekly was just another magazine. I’d passed its posters outside dairies and seen it sitting in the homes of my relatives and then, for nearly 10 years, I worked alongside it at the same magazine company.

I watched as Nicky Pellegrino steered the magazine to success each week, and then got to know more about its inner workings when Sido Kitchin took over and also became my wonderful boss. I was editor of a teen magazine and was starting to wonder where I should go next (permanently damaging your hearing at a One Direction concert can spark these kind of musings!).

By then, Sarah Stuart was at the helm and one night she called me, asking, “Could you fly to Christchurch for the Weekly tomorrow?” A roadshow was travelling around the country to celebrate the Weekly’s milestone 80th birthday, but the fashion editor had fallen ill and they were in a pickle. Against my better judgment, I said yes, and was suddenly in front of hundreds of women, talking about fashion. I needn’t have spent the night before worrying. Joining Kerre McIvor on stage and speaking with readers of the Weekly was like being enveloped in the warmest of hugs. It was the same in Dunedin and Hamilton – pure warmth.

And suddenly I got it. This wasn’t just a magazine – this was a community of women, this was a friendship, a true and trusty friend you could always rely on.

When, the following year, new editor Lou Wright told me there was a potential job for me at the Weekly looking after the lifestyle section, I leapt at the chance – and started my new job feeling like I was coming home.

It’s been such a pleasure and an honour putting together this special 85th edition with my truly extraordinary, hard-working team. It’s been months in the making and the question I’ve been asked most is, “Ooooh, who is going to be on your cover?”

It’s one question I’ve found easy to answer. We had the pick of the bunch, but to me, there was only ever one choice – Kerre and our awesome Weekly columnists. They’re the second family you turn to every week, so it’s only fitting to truly celebrate this wonderful magazine with them.

Thank you for taking a walk through memory lane with us. And thank you for sharing your stories and letting us into your lives each week. It is a pleasure to have your company.

Enjoy your week!