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Mr Ripley’s
Quest to
Make Us
Believe
PAGE 114
A U S T R A L I A
A Future
King Makes
the Grade
PAGE 94
The Mouse
Who Ruled
a Household
PAGE 120
RD
TALKS
OUR STORIES
AS PODCASTS
Perseverance
A Writer’s Best Friend
PAGE 34
Hours of Great
Reading
2021 Classic
Collection
Shark! Rescue
on a Remote Island
PAGE 100
JANUARY 2021 $6.50
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CONTENTS
ON THE COVER: THE TURNING POINT OF MY LIFE - PAGE 34
JANUARY 2021
26
august 1951
Joey’s Quiet War
An unlikely heroine
emerges during the
Japanese occupation
of the Philippines.
THOMAS M. JOHNSON
34
february 1968
The Turning
Point of My Life
A city doctor embarks
on a new career, with
a little advice from a
wise old farmer.
A.J. CRONIN
40
july 1950
Beatrix Potter
Behind the beloved
tales for children was
a young woman in
Victorian Britain trying
to find independence.
MARGARET LANE
Features
72
august 1941
Abby, Her Farm
Can a child’s
imaginary farm
be transformed
into reality?
MARGARET
BUELL WILDER
80
october 1982
Trapped Under
the City Square
As the temperature
soars, a boy goes
for a swim in a
Melbourne fountain.
RICHARD SHEARS
88
august 1973
How We Broke the
Drought, Almost
A Queensland country
town turns to a rain-
making cannon.
GEORGE PARWELL
48
june 1987
Jahangir Khan,
the King of Squash
In 1979, a 15 year
old bursts onto the
international squash
scene and conquers
the game forever.
ASHOK MAHADEVAN
56
october 1998
A Dog Like No Other
A seafaring dog travels
the world – until one
day his luck turns.
PETER MUILENBERG
64
april 2003
Deadly Dose
When the body of
Greg de Villiers is
found by his wife, it
is strangely covered
with rose petals.
ROBERT HOWE
40
C O V E R I M A G E : G E T T Y I M A G E S
readersdigest.com.au 1
JANUARY 2021
CONTENTS
Departments
the digest
18 Pets
20 Health
24 News From the
World of Medicine
141 RD Recommends
regulars
4
Editor’s Note
6
Letters
10 News Worth
Sharing
12 Staff Picks
14 Transatlantica
16 Smart Animals
33, 77 Quotable Quotes
71 Patter
87 Viewpoints
98 Keep Up With the
World
126 Picturesque
Speech
humour
46 Life’s Like That
78 Laughter
112 All in a Day’s Work
the genius section
148 Family Fun
150 Puzzles
154 Trivia
155 Word Power
94
may 1948
Passed With
Flying Colours
A young man
displays fortitude in
the Royal Air Force.
JAMES WARNER BELLAH
100
january 1994
Shark Attack!
A meteorologist is
dragged underwater
while snorkelling.
RICHARD SHEARS
108
february 1967
When Mothers
Get the Bug
A soft bed awaits
most sick people
– but not mothers.
JOYCE LUBOLD
114
june 1959
The Unbelievable
Mr Ripley
The founder of
‘Believe It or Not’
sought the unique.
DOUGLAS F. STORER
120
march 1968
My Friend the Mouse
A boy and an
impudent mouse face
off against his parents.
ROBERT FONTAINE
128
march 2008
The Day I Died
Top Gear presenter
Richard Hammond
is used to cheating
death, until he tests a
jet-powered vehicle.
RICHARD HAMMOND
WITH MINDY HAMMOND
FROM THE BOOK ON THE
EDGE: MY STORY
SOME OF THESE CLASSIC READS HAVE BEEN
RECORDED AS PODCASTS FOR YOUR LISTENING
PLEASURE. TO HEAR THEM, GO TO
www.readersdigest.com.au/podcasts
16
108
2 january 2021
READER’S DIGEST
WITHOUT EXCEPTION, the editorial team looks forward to delving
into the Reader’s Digest archives. When the very first edition (February,
1922) was put together manually, with a typewriter, glue and letterpress
block letters, the intention of the pocket-sized magazine was to entertain
and inform busy readers. With a story for each day of the month, the goal
was to offer perspectives that were positive, inspiring and informative.
And, above all, celebrating kindness and hope in the world. These core
characteristics remain the pillars of our magazine today.
This year’s Classics Edition has articles and items spanning over
90 years, each one offering insights and experiences that is a timeless
reading treasure. ‘Passed With Flying Colours’ (page 94) was published
in 1948 and offers a dignified approach to royal reporting – not intrusive
or demeaning for the member of royalty involved. Also sure to entertain
is ‘A Dog Like No Other’ (page 56), ‘When Mothers Get the Bug’
(page 108), and ‘How We Broke the Drought’ (page 88) –
each one proof that a great story is timeless.
Although every one of the stories in this
compilation earned its place, my favourite is
‘Joey’s Quiet War’ (page 26), which beautifully
portrays the bravery and intelligence of a woman
who became an unexpected national hero
during a dark moment.
Write to us and tell us your favourite story
(see details on page 8). Happy reading!
Insights and Charm
LOUISE WATERSON
Editor-in-Chief
EDITOR’S NOTE
4 january 2021
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