Reader's Digest Australia Feb/Mar 2026

I don’t remember owning a troll doll. By then, I was more interested in Elvis, the Beatles and boys than toys. Trolls saw a revival in the 1990s, mostly cheap imitations with fluores- cent hair. My daugh- ter, born in 1983, adored these goofy toys, and though I’d got it wrong, I would have told her that the inventor bought our house in Tauranga. She thought they were “cool and cute/ugly” and still sings the theme song from Trolls Musical Adven- ture. Her own daughters now play with a few of hers; the rest are boxed up in what she calls her “Museum of Childhood Memories.” In 2003, The Toy Industry Associa- tion named troll dolls one of the most memorable and creative toys of the 20th century. An iconic toy — and one with an unexpected thread back to my childhood in Tauranga. I found myself falling in love with these weird dolls, too, and had to have my own. I bought an original made in Tauranga on Etsy and named himHenry, after my kind and generous grandfather. Mary Garden is a New Zealand-born writer and journalist living in Australia. Her memoir, My Father’s Suitcase can be found in all good bookstores, or purchased directly at marygarden.com.au PHOTO CREDIT: MARY GARDEN (PROPERTY) , INK DROP - STOCK.ADOBE.COM (DOLL) Above: The property sold to Kristian Pasgaard (right of the row of silver birch trees) Above: Troll Dolls enjoyed a resurgence in the 1990s reader ’ s digest 112 february/march 2026 COURTESY OF APPLE. THE NOUN PROJECT (TV ICON) Shrinking Starring Jason Segel, Harrison Ford and Jessica Williams This warmhearted dramedy about therapists with some issues of their own returns for season 3, as widowed dad Jimmy (Jason Segel), a therapist with a quirky, impulsive approach, sends his daughter to college. His grumpy, lovable mentor, fellow therapist Paul (Harrison Ford), grapples with Parkinson’s disease and impending retirement while their colleague Gaby (Jessica Williams) navigates a new relationship and her own existential career questions. Meanwhile, Jimmy’s best friend, Brian (Michael Urie), and his husband gear up for fatherhood with input from bossy neighbor Liz (Christa Miller). The show’s insights on friendship, parenting and helping yourself by helping others can feel a bit like good therapy. Book an appointment. (Season 3 currently streaming on Apple TV) — Kathy Passero readersdigest.com.au 113 The RD List TV The RD LIST read, watch, listen