Features Archive

‘Twas the Dream Before Christmas

‘Twas the Dream Before Christmas

It is Monday morning. Exactly what time it is and what I’m doing, I can’t recall. In the living room, the Christmas tree twinkles from beside the mantelpiece. My family is lounging in their pyjamas and morning faces. My mum begins to …
Beat about the Bushveld

Beat about the Bushveld

Stop! Quickly, reverse! Like a well-rehearsed play, the vehicle’s windows open, all cameras and binoculars veer to the potential sighting and except for the soft drone of insects from the scrubs, everyone sits in absolute silence. False alarm: a deceptive branch, which …
Out of Africa: The Medical Exodus

Out of Africa: The Medical Exodus

It is 11am and my brother, Cornelius, walks straight to the fridge, grabs a microwave meal and eats it straight from the plastic container. On his way to bed, he unhooks his stethoscope from his neck and flings off his Adidas trainers. …
The iTunes of Giving

The iTunes of Giving

Envision a world where spare change saves lives. Where credit card purchases of, say, $19.20, could be rounded up by consumer choice and the difference donated to charity. This is the future of giving and one of many initiatives the Give Easy …
Life on the outside: a plea for humanity

Life on the outside: a plea for humanity

In Australia, where repeated governments have pursued ever-tougher ‘Laura Norder’ policies, the barriers are high to establishing a human rights conversation around the rights of prisoners. Such a proposal is frequently dismissed as politically inconvenient – perhaps because the criminal justice system …