The Australian Women’s Weekly — August 2017

14 AWW.COM.AU AUGUST 2017

[ Your letters ]

5 easy ways to lose30kg in 30 weeks

by a mum who did it

Her sons remember

The mystery ofINVESTIGATION

McCullough'sColleen

millions

RichardGere

Julie Goodwin's one-pot mealsPlusSlow-cooker sensations

A happieryou

The lost art ofspontaneity

symbol at 67Still a sex

The Aussie familyOUR AFRICANTREE CHANGE

saving giraffes

Fab fashionforover40swith Mrs Chris

Hemsworth

YOUR LIFE

Perfect pies& pastries

Diana

All we wantis to make

her proud

20 years on

Their support forassisted dying –

with her famouslyblunt language –

Ron and Patriciaon TV launched

Fellows into themiddle of the

controversy overeuthanasia laws.

Unbowed, theytellGenevieve

Gannonwant to end theirwhy they

lives their own way.

●ALANA LANDSBERRYPHOTOGRAPHY

passionate exchange with ethicistMargaret Somerville onABOVE: Patric a Fellows’Q&A

resulted in Patricia being referredto as “the swearing granny”.

no longer able to“When we’re

look after ourselves,we wish to say

goodbye.”

W

hen Ron and Patricia Fellowsmet in Montreal in the 1960s,Ron had to ask the Canadian

her Ron had fallen for the feisty Australian whoParliament to end his firstmarriage so he could marry

had moved to Canada to pursue a career, but theprovince of Quebec didn’t allow divorce In amove that demonstrates their refusal to let public

policy shape how they live, the couple applied tothe Canadian Parliament to be allowed to marryMore than 50 years later, Ron and Patti are

still very much in love and just as unwilling to letpoliticians tell them how to live their lives orhow to end them Aged 90 and 81 respectively,

Ron and Patti are the voices of a group whichbelieves people should have the right to die whenthey choose The pair is hale and hearty, but when

that’s no longer the case, they’re determined toend their own lives on their terms and in theirown way “When the time comes that we’re no

longer able to look after ourselves that’s when wewish to say goodbye,” Patti tellsnot about killing I’m taking charge of my own life”The Weekly“It’s

an emotionally charged appearance on ABC TV’sQ&AThe Fellows were thrust into the spotlight afterin which they clashed with prominent

ethicist Professor Margaret Somerville, who saidthe pair’s deaths would have an effect on societyPatti, an elegant, retired trainer for Lancôme

cosmetics, told the professor her views were“bullshit” “How could what Ron and I do affectsociety? It affects our family,” she says “This

question should be taken out of the hands ofpoliticians It’s to do with the individual ”In their tasteful, inner Sydney flat, the couple

explain they feel those steering the euthanasiadebate aren’t listening to those for whom thediscussion is a matter of life and death, and will

have consequences for their lives and familybefore the Parliaments in NSW and Victoria laterLegislation is currently being drafted to go

this year, which, if passed, will empower theterminally ill to end their own lives Professor»

A matter of

life and death

[Debate]

NSET PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF THE ABC

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Open line

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Sydney, NSW 2001, or email [email protected].

Pearl of

wisdom

Doing what you

like is freedom,

liking what you

do is happiness.

• Frank Tyger
  Sent in by D. Helen,
  Coffs Harbour, NSW.

The winner of our

Pearl of Wisdom this

month wins a 12-month

subscription to The

Australian Women’s

Weekly, valued at $83.80.

Letter of the month

My mother passed away in June at 95,

when a blocked oesophagus meant

she could not eat or drink. I visited her

every day and seeing her lying there,

starving to death, was cruel. She was

36 kilograms. If euthanasia was allowed

(A Matter of Life and Death, AW W, July)

and I was asked if I wanted this done, as

hard as it would have been to say yes,

I think it would have been more humane

than what I saw her go through.

Name and address supplied.

A glimmer of hope

My partner and I are experiencing the IVF

rollercoaster like Mary Coustas (“The Miracle

Was That I Didn’t Give Up Trying”, AW W, June).

This story left me holding onto a glimmer

of hope for my own struggle. Four attempts

in and we have been told this is just the

beginning. And yes, my partner caught me

with her mag. She simply smiled and gave

me a knowing look. Upon reflection, seems

the magazine could have been planted ... after

all, she knows my pain better than anyone.

Peter, address supplied.

Inspirational women

I was delighted to see Turia

Pitt on your July cover, and

to read of the remarkable

Invictus Games athlete

Melissa Roberts (When

Melissa Met Harry, AW W,

July). Our media is filled with

reports of “elite” sportspeople

misbehaving with drugs,

alcohol or violence. Despite

injuries most of us can never

imagine, Turia and Melissa

are outstanding athletes. These are the people

our “selfie”-obsessed youth should aspire to.

C. Clifton, Belmont North, NSW.

From one mum to another

Like the writer of last issue’s Letter of the Month

(Open line, AW W, July), we also adopted our

daughter from Vietnam. Our daughter was

also very tiny. Her two older brothers adore

her. Our girl is now a clinical practitioner, has

given us two beautiful granddaughters, and

we are so proud. So J. Trigg, your letter gave

me goosebumps. Our daughter is also named

Lee. Lovely to read your letter, from one

mother to another.

J. Mitford Martin, Port Augusta, SA.

Fans near and far

I am at Goodwood Station,

400km from Broken Hill, NSW,

visiting family, and I’ve been

bottle-feeding these lambs (left)

for five weeks. For many Outback

families, the outside world is

brought so much closer by

The Weekly!

F. Christie, Blackmans Bay, Tas.

COVER: DIANA, PRINCESS

OF WALES, WITH PRINCES

WILLIAM AND HARRY

Photography by

Patrick Demarchelier Inc.

Acknowledgement of Country

The Australian Women’s Weekly acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation as the

traditional custodians of the place we now call Sydney, where this magazine is published.

The Weekly also pays respects to Elders past and present.

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