Vivienne Pearson
Vivienne Pearson is a freelance writer.
Assumed you were immune to measles and chicken pox? Think again
For people in certain high-risk scenarios, not having immunity to these diseases can be serious. Here’s what experts want you to know.
- by Vivienne Pearson
Latest
Opinion
Cars
Monster utes are symbolic of everything that’s wrong with our world
Bloated cars are effectively holding up a knuckleduster-decorated middle finger in the face of climate change.
- by Vivienne Pearson
Opinion
City life
Southern Cross Station’s ‘user experience’ is an epic fail – here’s how to fix it
The station’s roof may look good from above, but down on the platform level it is a dirty mess of inaudible announcements and poor signage.
- by Vivienne Pearson
Opinion
University
My daughter’s planning an arts degree. I’m proud (and quietly terrified)
They doubled HECS fees for arts degrees in a bid to drive students into more “job-ready” courses, but Australia needs to cultivate its future thinkers.
- by Vivienne Pearson
Opinion
Supermarkets
My supermarket accused me of theft. Pot, kettle, black?
Coles and Woolworths are treating their customers with contempt. Higher prices, fewer staff, more surveillance.
- by Vivienne Pearson
Opinion
Byron Bay
Byron gets the five-star hotel it ‘deserves’, but I have reservations
A new swanky hotel will not change Byron Bay, but it does misrepresent what this complex, miraculous place stands for.
- by Vivienne Pearson
Opinion
Sex & relationships
If you don’t welcome teens to sex, it could have unwelcome outcomes
I am left wondering what the parents objecting to the book “Welcome to Sex” want for their kids. Would they prefer they learn about sexuality from porn?
- by Vivienne Pearson
Opinion
Bills
Cost-of-living spikes don’t hurt everyone – life is cheaper when you’re rich
Here’s a cruel reality: it can actually be cheaper to live on a day-to-day, year-by-year level when you have more money.
- by Vivienne Pearson
Opinion
AFL 2023
Gut instinct and at least one curveball, but I could very well be the worst footy tipster out there
When it comes to tipping AFL winners, only 66 people out of nearly 800,000 are doing worse than me.
- by Vivienne Pearson
After 16 years of protecting my child, I was terrified to teach her to drive
Teaching a learner driver is a scary experience for a parent used to ferrying a child around. But there are ways to make it easier.
- by Vivienne Pearson
Opinion
Health
My daughter did not want to finish her Sprite. Then I read the label
The rebranded popular soda drink, Sprite Lemon+, contains enough caffeine to classify it as a beverage that is not suitable for children.
- by Vivienne Pearson