Editor’s letter:
from the desk of The Weekly’s Nicole Byers
Iam beyond honoured to be writing this, my first letter as Editor-in-Chief of Australia’s most loved magazine for women. I will be honest, though, the enormity of the position and the calibre of women whose legendary footsteps I will be following in did come with a sobering dose of nerves. Did I really have what it takes to bring my vision for this iconic magazine to life and could I do so while balancing my other cherished roles as a mother, wife, daughter and friend?
As the chorus of congratulations flowed in, my sense of responsibility only grew. From family in Mudgee and across the country to old school friends and the ladies on my netball team, the message was the same. You are joining an institution cherished by generations of women, with the unspoken implication being “you better not stuff it up!”
In a case of poetic irony, it was an issue of The Weekly that helped me silence that nagging voice of self-doubt. To be more precise, it was the words of our esteemed Women of the Future judges. They spoke eloquently about the importance of never shying away from an opportunity to fulfil your dreams, about embracing the fear and doing it anyway, and if all else fails, of “faking it until you make it”.
Their words also reminded me that I am not in this alone. I am blessed with the support of strong female mentors, a tight-knit group of friends and family, and most importantly, the talented team of professionals who lovingly put together The Weekly every month. Their intelligence, enthusiasm and warmth in embracing me during my first weeks at the helm embodies the spirit of The Weekly. On my first day, Beauty and Health Director Sheree Mutton passionately introduced me to the Know Your Risk campaign she has been working on tirelessly with cancer charity Pink Hope. She even solved the pesky problem of what to wear for my photo (left). I happily donned the campaign T-shirt, designed to help spread awareness of the importance of identifying your risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer (page 114). Like so many, I have been witness to the cruel hand of these insidious diseases and trying to curb their destructive path is a cause worth embracing.
My new colleagues were equally as passionate on the topic of the Women of the Future Awards, which see The Weekly team up with Qantas and those impressive judges I mentioned earlier to recognise and reward young Aussie women doing extraordinary things. Meeting our awe-inspiring finalists (page 90) leaves you with the distinct feeling that, if these ladies are anything to go by, our future is in good hands.
It also made me realise why this role and this magazine carry the gravitas they do. The Weekly is truly a voice for Australian women, it picks us up and supports us, tells our stories, shares our pain and our successes, and has the power to inspire a new generation of women to make a difference and leave their mark, just like those before them.
I can only strive to do the same in my new post and as the mother of a daughter, who I hope will also follow her dreams and make a difference in the lives of others.
I look forward to getting to know you all better as we embark on this exciting new
journey together.