Swinging open her front door, the only thing brighter than the Sydney morning's unexpected sunshine is Jessica Rowe's beaming smile. Delivering a flurry of hugs and cheek kisses, Jess's excitement is palpable as she rushes to offer tea, coffee, water, bustling into the kitchen (which, she says, she cleaned ahead of time for us) to start up a round of refreshments. It's a gorgeous, open-plan living area that feels light and clutter-free. But look closely and it's not hard to spot the influence Jess has had on the decor. A cluster of kitsch cat figurines adorn a shelf in the butler's pantry. Her own devoted menagerie of pets (two cats, one dog) trail her as she wafts through the room. Vibrantly coloured cushions plump up the velvet armchairs in which we settle down to chat. And then there's the large collection of beloved family photographs taking pride of place on the sideboard.
Prominent among them is a picture from a Christmas photo shoot she, along with Channel Nine newsreader husband Peter Overton and their two daughters, Allegra and Giselle, took part in for The Weekly back in 2018. She's done, she guestimates, about 10 shoots for us over the course of her career, including one for the cover in November, 2004. But this picture - and the one we're preparing to take today - are particularly close to her heart.
"I had it framed because I love that it sums us all up perfectly. Petey is there going, 'Okay, I'll wear this daggy Christmas jumper', and I'm in a gown throwing glitter and the girls are all 'Oh!"" she says, pulling a face of mock embarrassment. "Can I just say that when I was asked to do the Christmas cover this year, I got all teary because it's such an honour. I cannot tell you what this means to me. I love The Weekly and have since I was a little girl. The Christmas issue is always so beautiful, so being on the cover? I really can’t believe it. Thank you!”
Denne historien er fra XMAS 2022-utgaven av The Australian Women's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra XMAS 2022-utgaven av The Australian Women's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Maggie's kitchen
Maggie Beer's delicious veg patties - perfect for lunch, dinner or a snack - plus a simple nostalgic pudding with fresh passionfruit.
Reclaim your brain
Attention span short? Thoughts foggy? Memory full of gaps? Brigid Moss investigates the latest ways to sharpen your thinking.
The girls from Oz
Melbourne music teacher Judith Curphey challenged the patriarchy when she started Australia's first all-girls choir. Forty years later that bold vision has 6500 members, life-changing programs and a new branch of the sisterhood in Singapore.
One kid can change the world
In 2018, 10-year-old Jack Berne started A Fiver for a Farmer to raise funds for drought relief. He and mum Prue share what happened next.
AFTER THE WAVE
Twenty years ago, the Boxing Day tsunami tore across the Indian Ocean, shredding towns, villages and holiday resorts, and killing hundreds of thousands of people from Indonesia to Africa. Three Australians share their memories of terror, loss and survival with The Weekly.
PATRICIA KARVELAS How childhood tragedy shaped me
Patricia Karvelas hustled hard to chase her dreams, but it wasn't easy. In a deeply personal interview, the ABC host talks about family loss, finding love, battles fought and motherhood.
Ripe for the picking
Buy a kilo or two of fresh Australian apricots because they're at their peak sweetness now and take inspiration from our lush recipe ideas that showcase this divine stone fruit.
Your stars for 2025
The Weekly’s astrologer, Lilith Rocha, reveals what’s in store for your astrological sign in 2025. For your monthly horoscope, turn to page 192.
MEL SCHILLING Cancer made me look at myself differently'
One year on from going public with her bowel cancer diagnosis, Mel Schilling reveals where she's at with her health journey and how it's changed her irrevocably.
Nothing like this Dame Judi
A few weeks before her 90th birthday, the acting legend jumped on a phone call with The Weekly to talk about her extraordinary life – and what’s still to come.
