EDITOR’S LETTER: from the desk of The Weekly’s Nicole Byers
I’M LUCKY ENOUGH to receive many letters from readers each month telling me how The Weekly has touched their lives, or thanking us for a particular story. Of course, there are also the odd notes of constructive criticism, which although harder to hear are no less welcome. But one particular letter hit home recently – it was from a dear friend of my mother’s. She had read about our Kindness Project, and suggested I look no further than my own mother to see the epitome of such a virtue. She explained how mum had bought her a subscription to her favourite magazine (The Weekly, of course!) to cheer her up as she recovered from major surgery.
This is just one of countless kind acts mum performs, without thought, not only for her friends and family but for neighbours, casual acquaintances and in some cases, for people she has never even met. Whenever I call, it seems she’s busy volunteering at the local community museum, helping someone or another get their internet connected, or making food for an unwell friend. She’s always been this way. As moody teens, my sister and I would beg her to stop beaming at and befriending every lost soul we encountered on a trip out. But as we grew older, we realised how special and rare those qualities are, and how lucky we and our own children are to have this influence in our lives.
They say one kind act, no matter how small, can set off a chain reaction that spreads goodwill across communities. Now, we at
The Weekly are hoping to help spread it across the entire country.
So if someone has performed a kind deed for you, or if you have extended a thoughtful gesture you believe could inspire others, please visit our website, nowtolove.com.au/thekindnessproject to log an act of kindness. See page 77 for details.
We were also inspired this month by the achievements of the indomitable Ita Buttrose. At age 77, the former Weekly editor added chair of the ABC as well as official Barbie doll to her already impressive resume, and of course we sat down with her to celebrate her wonderful journey (page 66). Speaking of icons, our first ever Women’s Weekly Icons magazine is on sale this month (see left). It’s been a labour of love for the team, and provides a wonderfully nostalgic trip down memory lane.
Enjoy the issue and never forget, it’s cool to be kind – mum said so!
Nicole Byers EDITOR-IN-CHIEF