Good Weekend

Ex-prisoners find themselves living in temporary accommodation after being released from prison.

Walking free: life after prison

After 19 years behind bars, a convicted murderer is released. How does he come to terms with his past – and create a new life?

Features

Chanel lands in Cuba, where doctors earn $80 a month

Models and dancers on the catwalk in Chanel’s fashion show in Havana in May.

After six decades of isolation, Cuba has this year not only hosted US President Barack Obama, but also its first Chanel runway show. Yet a local doctor earns $80 a month. What change is coming – and will it all be for the better?

The rise and fall of Sam Dastyari

Sam Dastyari.

Good Weekend writer Jane Cadzow was profiling the high-flying Labor senator just as the revelations of who paid his bills blew up in his face.

You've got mail

The Mail Plane story

For far-flung communities in Western Australia's huge Kimberley region, there's no postie on a pushbike.

The wood wide web

Illustration by Enzo Pérès-Labourdette

Like humans, trees warn each other of danger, look after sick family members and thrive in communities.

Emerging artist

Portrait of Australian Artist John Olsen photographed at his studio in Bowral, August 2016.

Over lunch at his home, John Olsen shares a lifetime of insights into landscape, poetry and painting.

Kid power

Sisters, Melati and Isabel Wijsen.

Two schoolgirls in Bali rallied against the blight of plastic refuse. Now the rest of Indonesia is following suit.

Rise of the plyscrapers

An artist’s impression of London’s skyline with the proposed “Toothpick”: “Timber has a very important place in the ...

Timber buildings are reaching towards the skies, thanks to breakthroughs in super-strong wood.

Real to reel

Australian artist Lynette Wallworth.

Australian artist Lynette Wallworth uses emerging technologies to deal with topics including global warming and refugees in unexpected ways.

Showcase: Mirka Mora

Mirka Mora in her studio wearing a Gorman dress featuring her work Naked Angel.

Why translating the Melbourne icon's artwork onto cloth made designer Lisa Gorman nervous.

Tight squeeze

Sydney architect Brad Swartz renovated his 27-square-metre apartment with space-defying results.

Take a tour of the tiny, as rising prices and shrinking space force a rethink of the great Australian home-owning dream.

Flight for life

Drone with first aid kit.

Specially adapted drones are offering new hope to organ transplant recipients.

Ricky Gervais: back to the office

Ricky Gervais aims to put a bit of hope and humanity into all his characters, whatever their flaws.

Ricky Gervais is reviving his most cringe-inducing character, David Brent, to expose the ugliness of modern-day bullying and the foibles of older men.

Doin' time

Patrick and Mel Jacob at their Blue Mountains home this month: “I’d fallen head over heels in love with his gentleness,” ...

A suburban dad’s poor decisions lead him to jail. How does his incredulous wife – and mother to his two children – adjust to the stiff sentence?

Showcase: the stair climber

Mark Bourne climbing the stairs of Sydney Tower: his aerobic capacity has been likened to that of a Tour de France cyclist.

Considering racing up the 1500-plus steps of Sydney Tower, or Eureka Tower? Canberra's Mark Bourne has some advice.

East to west

Mourners at the funeral of a man killed in the Istanbul airport attack in June.

Terrorism, an influx of refugees and a leader more sympathetic to Islam are combining to create new tensions in Turkey – and an ancient neighbourhood in Istanbul.

The scientist at sea

Church on the CSIRO research voyage in May. The instruments behind him collect water samples and other information.

Described as the “Don Bradman of sea-level science”, John Church’s sacking from the CSIRO left many observers gobsmacked. Can we – Australia and the rest of the planet – really afford to let him go?

Trumptown, USA

Donald Trump

Breakfast with birthers, an afternoon flag-burning, and lots of hateful Hillary masks. Welcome to the circus.

Two Of Us

Modern Guru

Danny Katz.

What's so funny?

I'm sitting between two young people laughing at something on their mobiles. Dare I ask for a look?

Adult Education

Benjamin Law.

Adult Education: colour TV

if spotting non-white, non-heterosexual or non-able-bodied people on Australian TV was a drinking game, everyone would stay sober.

Minutes With...

Endorsed

Living

The breathtaking hills and vineyards near San Gimignano.

Villa with a view

The Tuscan countryside is the perfect place to live like the Italians.

Illustration by Simon Letch

EAT: The no-show business

Not turning up for your booking is bad manners and bad for business - and restaurants are fighting back.