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The April 25 edition

Like many of us, my parents were born overseas. They arrived as young adults, came from English-speaking backgrounds and had the good fortune to be able to establish a prosperous life in Australia. Even with all these advantages, there are still challenges when putting down roots somewhere new – the determination to give your children opportunities, the desire to be safe – all while your old home still has your heart. Today we take a considered look at the complexities of the migrant experience through the prism of Australia’s South Sudanese community. One hallmark of that community is the importance of family, a theme that also emerges in this week’s Two of Us column. John Kirk bought a block of land in 1971 for $9600 and started planting grapevines. A thriving winemaking concern has turned into a family affair. But it’s not all business for the Kirks, who have a ritual of weekly, multi-generational family dinners. Inspiration to get together with your people, whether they be family or friends, this weekend. – Melissa Stevens, editor

15 stories
The South Sudanese community in Australia is forging its own identity in a new land.

‘We don’t allow people like you in here’: The traumatised community working to rebuild their lives

Australia’s South Sudanese have been demonised and misunderstood – but strong family ties and successful public figures are helping to change the story.

  • Melissa Cunningham
Dr Pia Winberg at her lab in Ulladulla, NSW.

A scientist was scalped by a machine in her lab. Then her own seaweed research helped mend the wound

Marine biologist Pia Winberg has long known the bountiful properties of seaweed, from fertiliser to food and beyond. And after a horrific lab accident, it even helped save her own skin.

  • Tim Elliott
John Newman in his electoral office in 1991 after a bullet was fired through its window.

It was the darkest night of the month when a shot rang out, shocking Australian political circles

Three decades after a NSW MP was gunned down, the man jailed for masterminding the crime still says he is innocent – and a new book raises questions about the case.

  • Debbie Whitmont
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Anna Wintour may be leaving the editor’s chair, but she will still be the powerhouse at Vogue.

I once stood behind Anna Wintour waiting for the bathroom and yes, she is frosty

On the eve of The Devil Wears Prada 2’s release, an industry insider explains why the original was such a hit.

  • Maggie Alderson
 “I wouldn’t have minded if he’d become a priest – there were times in his life when I thought that was quite probable,” says John Kirk of his son Tim, “but this place, this vineyard, captured him.”

Why the ‘craziest’ idea this Australian winemaker ever had became a global sensation

Clonakilla founder and leading Australian scientist Dr John Kirk started making wines with his fourth son in a garage.

  • Stephen Lacey
“I was under the poverty level,” Martel says of the time when he was writing Life of Pi. “It didn’t matter because I was working on this book that I loved.”

The unexpected thing Booker winner Yann Martel was doing while writing two books

The Canadian author on writing his breakthrough novel Life of Pi, why he hates Trump – and dealing with “a tidal wave of money”.

  • Benjamin Law
The odds of surviving a crocodile attack are slim, writes Tim Elliott, but there are a few tips that might just save your life.

‘Fighting back is always the best strategy’: What to do when a croc attacks

Saltwater crocodiles have the strongest bite-force of any animal yet measured – but humans die from encounters with them for another reason.

  • Tim Elliott
Knee-high boots on show during February’s Milan Fashion Week.

A ’90s footwear trend is coming back – but this time, it should be easier

When the knee-high boot fad surfaced a few decades ago, this fashion editor had to console a distraught friend with a tray of Cosmopolitans.

  • Damien Woolnough
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The perfect white tee for $25, plus 10 other aviation-inspired looks

Top Gun turns 40, which means we’re feeling the need, the need for . . . some high-octane style essentials.

  • Kim Wilson
Helen Goh's apple, raisin and armagnac croustade.

Helen Goh’s ‘crumpled and generous’ apple pie is crunchy like autumn leaves underfoot

This rustic, brandy-spiked dessert is inspired by the apple pastries of south-west France.

  • 1-2 hrs
  • Helen Goh
Bistecca fritta, a crumbed T-bone steak pan-fried in clarified butter then finished in the oven, is carved tableside at Made In Casa.
14/20

You won’t find this showstopping Italian-style steak anywhere else in Melbourne

It’s no small feat to perfectly cook a large bone-in piece of meat, and this one, carved theatrically tableside, is exemplary.

  • Dani Valent
My Father's Yeeros.
13.5/20

For juicy yeeros and chips, it’s hard to resist the all-ages pull of this family-run Greek shop

The menu is stripped back here: marinated meat, swaddled in pita or served with Greek salad; souvlaki that puts up just enough fight with the teeth and, good heavens, those chips!

  • Callan Boys

Eco-chic and ethical: The modern mum’s gift guide

Eco-thoughtful gifts for a nurturing nature: the Good Weekend Mother’s Day gift guide.

  • Frances Mocnik

Sparkling contenders for a statement Mother’s Day gift

Thinking bigger than a thank-you hug this year? Some glittering offerings.

  • Frances Mocnik
Test yourself with the April 25 quiz in Good Weekend

Test your general knowledge with the Good Weekend quiz

Trivia buffs: can you get a perfect score in the interactive superquiz?

Other editions

The June 13 edition

Our next football superstar is here | Capturing beauty in 360-degree detail | A planner and protester on bridging differences | Tasma Walton on dicey topics

  • 10 stories

The June 6 edition

The Style Edit | Cinema icon Tony Leung | Kate Ceberano on staying in the game | Vintage fashion’s new moment | Sartorial tricks from the celebrity realm

  • 16 stories