Ilona Nicola

Freelance writer

Australia

Portfolio
Herald Sun
07/25/2023
Chef's guide to Coburg

A guide to the best restaurants, bars and cafes in Coburg, from a Great Australian Bake Off contestant

www.kidspot.com.au
07/11/2023
Black forest profiteroles

This signature bake from the FOXTEL show, The Great Australian Bake Off is by this week's star baker, Ilona Nicola. "My classic profiteroles are given an international twist with flavours of the Black Forest. Airy craquelin choux puffs are filled with chocolate crème patissiere, Amarena cherries and

www.kidspot.com.au
06/13/2023
Vintage pineapple and cherry cake recipe

This signature bake from the FOXTEL show, The Great Australian Bake Off is by this week's star baker, Ilona. Her classic vanilla cake is layered with retro tinned pineapple and iconic Amarena cherries. The cake is also decorated with vintage piped buttercream. The Great Australian Bake Off - Tuesda

SBS Food
12/09/2019
Baklava vanilla slice

Aussie favourite meets Middle Eastern delicacy. Creamy vanilla custard scented with cardamom and topped with a caramel pistachio crunch, here’s my take on a timeless classic. #BringBackTheClassics

Right Now: Human Rights in Australia
06/19/2012
Acknowledgment of Country: Tokenistic or Meaningful?

Despite progress in the understanding and respect between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, the unique contribution of Indigenous Australians to our national life is not always consistently reflected.

Sunday Life Magazine
10/07/2012
Thrill of the Chaste

Vanessa Katsoolis tells Ilona Nicola why she has taken a vow of celibacy

Onya Magazine
07/10/2012
Boorun’s Canoe

Boorun’s Canoe celebrates the traditions of Victorian Aboriginal culture and intergenerational knowledge. The exhibition tells the story of how Senior Gunai/Kurnai Elder Uncle Albert Mullett taught his grandson and other young men in his family to build a bark canoe. Ilona Nicola reviews the exhibition. .

Onya Magazine
09/18/2012
Vitamin D Deficiencies; Not So Uncommon

A recent national study found that Vitamin D deficiency affects nearly one-third of adults aged 25 years or under. Ilona Nicola is one of them, despite adequate sun exposure. Why are so many Australians Vitamin D deficient? And has the slip, slop, slap campaign of our youth been taken too far?

Onya Magazine
08/28/2012
An Opportunity to Focus on the Mental Health of the Aboriginal Population

Ensuring the social and emotional wellbeing of the Aboriginal community is broad and multifaceted. It is not simply the remit of hospital and community mental health services. It involves a broad range of agencies, and the community as a whole. Ilona Nicola reports from the National Mental Health Commission.

Onya Magazine
08/06/2012
The Power of Story Telling

The Dreamtime is the Aboriginal understanding of the world, of its creation, and its great stories. Aborginal people keep alive their traditions and beliefs though story telling. ‘Bunjil’ is a creature of Aboriginal mythology, who is regarded as the spirit creator of the Kulin nation.

Onya Magazine
07/26/2012
Glorifying ‘Big Food’ Culture

The growing obesity epidemic, which many attribute to the convenience and affordability of highly processed and calorie dense food, is certainly a problem in the United States, writes Ilona Nicola. Is Australia also at risk of suffering at the hand of big food culture?

Onya Magazine
07/02/2012
Bangarra Dance Theatre: TERRAIN

Last Friday, Melbourne opened the world premiere season of the revered Bangarra Dance Theatre’s latest work TERRAIN, a powerful work of contemporary dance and storytelling, by celebrated Aboriginal choreographer Frances Rings. Ilona Nicola was there and she reviews the performance for Onya.

Onya Magazine
05/23/2012
Is It Really Possible To Feed Yourself For $2 A Day?

Last year, at around this time, there sat a crazed girl in the window of her local cafe. Her demented eyes beckoned the waitress, ‘Please, please, bring me some coffee.’ That girl was I and I had just participated the Live Below the Line campaign.

Onya Magazine
06/05/2012
The Oxfam Trailwalker – One Man’s Journey

The Oxfam Trailwalker is one of the world’s largest fundraising endurance challenges, driving teams of four people to walk or run a 100 km course over rough and uneven terrain, irrespective of weather conditions, in under 48 hours. Ilona Nicola spoke to one of this year’s competitors, Brian Murray.

Onya Magazine
11/19/2012
National Indigenous Television – Broadcasting Soon

National Indigenous Television (NITV) begins broadcasting on SBS4 digital television from 12 December 2012. NITV will televise content about Indigenous Australians, produced by Indigenous Australians, to every Australian household, writes Ilona Nicola.

Onya Magazine
04/05/2012
Indigenous AFL players - In crisis there is opportunity

The current controversy surrounding the AFL should be harnessed to raise the profile of Indigenous affairs in the AFL, and inform the public of the challenges still facing Indigenous Australians, writes Ilona Nicola.

Onya Magazine
04/20/2012
How to survive the Oxfam Trailwalker

Oxfam Trailwalker originated in Hong Kong in 1981 as a military training exercise for Nepalese soldiers serving in the Queen's Ghurkha Signals Regiment, an arm of the British Army. These soldiers were known for being fierce, brave and extremely fit (and for carrying very large knives).

Onya Magazine
12/07/2012
All talk and no activation

How accurately and truthfully do we report what we eat? There is a large body of research reviewing how (in)accurately we self-report our diets, writes Ilona Nicola. Is that why we're so interested in reading about the diets of others? And does Pete Evans really activate his nuts?