Year 8

from Blue and Gold 2003

by De La Salle College

Rest In Peace

Year8

Year 8 Encounter ‘Urban Seed’

Should children grow up in homeless/drug abuse shelters? Urban Seed provides temporary shelter for homeless and drug-abused people in the City of Melbourne. The shelter supplies short-term accommodation for families who, sadly, have children growing up there. The argument is that infants should not grow up in these shelters. These shelters are dirty, stinky, small and definitely not a place for a young child to grow and develop. A child should grow up in a clean, fun, big area and be able to go to a park across the road. Instead they walk out into the city and into a rotten smelling, unhygienic and hazardous laneways with syringes lining these alleys. When you have a child you make a choice to give it a good life. You give up drugs and put money towards the child’s benefit. Children should not grow up in drug-infested buildings in the city.

Sam Loader

The Laneway The Laneway smelt as bad as it looked, and it looked bad. We were told that the people who came there to shoot up used the place as a toilet. The People From urban seed told us that they had originally removed the tap to discourage people from taking drugs there. They had also removed the light to make it so that people trying to take drugs at night couldn't find their veins to inject into. I thought that this would have been a good idea but then we were told that if they could not see their veins then they would dig around their arm with the needle until they found their vein. (Urban seed put back the light and the tap and put in a used-needle box). They also had a sign up showing a man’s arm which had gangrene. He had got this by injecting the drug Tomazipan), as the poster stated. The drug is usually used as a sedative and taken orally. But when there was a shortage of heroin, drug addicts began to take the new drug. They crushed it up into a powder and took it as they would heroin. But since it is not made to be taken in this way, the drug dries out inside the vein, blocking it, and cuts off circulation. This means that the fingers in the hand that would normally receive blood stopped, so they began to die. They told us about people who solve their problems by making them someone else's problem and not really fixing it. Just making it worse by moving people that they don't value to be welcome just go away. That’s not the answer. Doing things like building rehabilitation centres, and safe injecting houses is the beginning of the end of the problem. We were also told us that the blue lights in public toilets and other public places were to stop drug users from taking drugs making it impossible to find their veins. We found out that the main drug that people take and die from is heroin. In the newspaper there is a road toll and there is also a heroin toll. At one point last year the heroin toll was actually higher than the road toll. The heroin tolls aren't usually higher, they are usually much lower. Drugs are still a problem and I don’t think it is one problem that isn’t just going to go away by putting a fence up and making people go somewhere else. That's just making the problem more and more concentrated until, some place sometime everything has to break down. But really in the end there isn't much you can do to stop people from taking drugs, because there is always going to be someone who has a problem.

Ben Meager Out of all the places that Chris took as to none were as foul as the laneway. This place was unlike any other — it was dirty and all covered in graffiti, it reeked of urine, it had signs up that drugs will kill you, it had a massive ‘sharps’ box for syringes. It also had a white nightlight so the people who shoot up cannot easily see their own vein. If I lived in one of those upper flats I would put up a big gate saying "KEEP OUT" and have a few guard dogs - so if any of them got through the dogs would scare them off. I still have pictures in my mind of this sick place and I said to myself ‘I'm never coming back to this place again, ever’. If I were writing the laws I would send all people that owned, used drugs and who sold them to jail so it would be safer for people in this world. Though the idea of the Urban Seed helping them to manage the drugs I don't agree with, they do give them shelter and some food to eat. They do this to help them survive which is good.

Tom Johnson

Expectations Wakes up in nice suburb, Wakes up on a bench chair, Gets brekky from his pantry, Doesn't need brekky today, Gets in nice BMW and goes to work, Begs busy business men for spare change, Has lunch at a city restaurant, Gets free lunch at cafe credo, Goes back to work and works late, Looks around the streets for loose change, Goes home to a nice home cooked meal, Eats leftover lunch from that day, Falls asleep in front of TV. Tries to sleep on freezing cold ground. The end of a bad day. The end of a normal day.

Luke Fisher The Goodbye The old clocked ticked over The last it would ever tick The old man sighed The end was near He knew he had to go The family all were sad They had all loved this man The good times they had The things they'd done The times they would not have He would be burned His ashes spread A week away from Thursday It was so sad to see him go And then to face tomorrow They all said their last goodbyes And with a final sigh The dragon swallowed him entire The family all went home To celebrate a life now gone. It would not be so bad They would all recover His life, so much like a fire One instant bright and powerful Next ashes, and a memory But all memories are a mark And his was no exception A wife three children One grandchild and his dog Left in the world from fire and flame. Eamon McGuire

God When I was alone and had nothing I asked for a friend to help me bear the pain, No one came except...God. When I needed a breath to rise from my sleep, No one could help me except... God When all I saw was sadness And I needed answers, No one heard me except. . . God So when I am asked who I give my unconditional love to I look for no other name except... God! Michael Murray The Bridge

Night had well and truly set in. Shadows and light from the single small fire flickered around the darkness. Dark forms hunched on rotting wood, swapping insults and brain defusers. Night sound filled the air, accompanying the soft swish of the cars speeding over over the bridge. The bridge itself cast a monolithic and total sheet of pure darkness over all that stood in its range. It stood out like a steel giant towering above all, dominating the surrounding area. A strange kid lurked in the shadows. Dyed blonde hair, dangerously thin, skin that hadn't seen the light of day for many days and to top it all off, a look on his face that would curdle milk. He looked and smelt as if he hadn't washed for days on end. The people that sat around the dying fire regarded him as a freak and he knew it. He was kind of proud of it too. He lurched around the steel girders that held up his concrete roof, his eyes probing, looking, watching, his face tense, his body ready to escape, to attack, his jaw set in a permanent frown. The bridge gave him shelter, and shelter was exactly what he needed...

Ben Meager

8 Dunstan

Row 4:Back Row : Andrew Errington, Matthew Smith, David Bliss, William O'Brien, Lewis Mottram, Paul Kitchen, John Bruce Third Row : Adam Rickard, Johnnie Lombardo, Steven Bourmas, Jason Twirdy, Daniel Rodway, James Noble Second Row : Jarrod Tuma, Angus McInnes, Matthew Alderuccio, Rory Murphy, Kristian Mandarano, Christopher Tinney, Mr Larry Evans Front Row : Joshua Allen, Nathan Stubenrauch, Alexander Lyell, Kieran Doohan, Marcel Marbani, Matthew Carland Back Row : David Falduto, William Hassall, Paul Beliga, James Barnden Third Row : Manuel Garginian, Michael Bugeja, Benjamin Griffin, Alexander Martin, Matthew O'Shea, Joel Parianos, Matthew McCart Second Row : Henry Eang Hak Ly, Sam Bennetts, Eamonn Crellin, Michael Pereira, Benjamin Forrester, Matthew Mitchell, Stephen Frangoulis, Mr Jonathan Edgar Front Row : Antonio Cafasso, James O'Gorman, Matthew Collins, Aaron Francis, Alexander Gattuso, Matthew Donaghey, Heath Browning

8 Jerome

Back Row : Sean Doyle, Ricky Taylor, Nicholas Brammer, Benjamin Nugent Third Row : Arnold Omanyo, Joseph Ramsden, Nathan Davey, James Terrenzani, Hayden Czwarno, Matthew Lowe, Gregory Bartling Second Row : Nicholas Lees, Luke Hennessy, Mitchell Reyment, Mitchell Waters, Thomas Naughtin, Nicholas Bourmas, Stephen Bird, Mr Philip Murton Front Row : Mark Sita, Steven Collis, Jack Baker, Nicholas Sestak, William Meehan, Nicholas Bowe, David West Row 4:Back Row : James Gates, Sevag Kherlopian, Luke Fisher, Shane Van Every, David Colmanet, Benjamin Healy, Simon McInerney Third Row : Matthew Rodgers, Daniel Zacutti, David Collins, Matthew Hearn, Jesse Slatter, Oliver Hagen, Tyson Parker Second Row : Aaron Kneebone, Oliver Waluk, Richard Pelikan, Zac White, Adam Dykes, Julian Trantino, Mrs Bernice Manuell Front Row : Ryan Altamura, Zachary Attard, Matthew Coutts, Thomas Casha, Parris Stamos, Woodrow Eke

The Basketball Comp

Throughout Term 2 and the first few weeks of Term 3, the Year 8 Homerooms participated in a basketball competition in the gym before school. Each Homeroom selected an ‘A’ and ‘B’ team and the games were umpired by qualified Year 10 students. Each game was hotly contested and the high standard of basketball showed how popular basketball is at De La Salle. The ‘A’ grade competition saw Mr. Edgar’s Benilde sit at the top of the ladder throughout the competition and finish the preliminary rounds undefeated. Other Homerooms to figure prominently were Roland, Solomon, Jerome and Miguel. In the ‘B’ Section, Vincent, Solomon, Hegarty and Jerome all performed well during the preliminaries, with Vincent losing only one game for the season. Grand Final day was fought out in front of the entire noisy Year 8 student population and resulted in two high quality games. A fast finishing Vincent were too good on the day for Solomon in the ‘B’ final, winning 25–21 and ending the possibility of a Br Gerry — Solomon clean sweep. In the ‘A’s final, illness and Rock Eisteddfod absences weakened the previously unbeaten Benilde combination. Led by Michael Murray, Solomon eventually ran out convincing winners, 32–12. It was a fantastic competition, enjoyed by the whole of Year 8. Mr Phillip Murton Director of Sport The Bushdance In September this year all the Year 8 boys went down to Presentation College, Windsor to have a Bushdance with the girls. The boys went down in two groups, Miguel, Roland, Solomon and Vincent went in the morning, they had to dance with the Year 7s (lucky them.) Then the boys from Benilde, Dunstan, Hegarty and Jerome went in the afternoon. First we all had to line up, then we were given our partners. After we got the hang of it all the girls paired with all the boys. We had a bit of a break then got back into it. Then we got to dance the Macarina and the Chicken Dance. Sadly the day was too short and we had to get back to the bus. All in all it was a fun day. Tom Casha

The Bush Dance

Year 8 Coordinator's Report

As the year draws to an end, it is time to reflect. Throughout the year, many of the Year 8s have given their time and talent to be involved in various college activities including involvement in the Choir, Band, one of the many sporting teams, Rock Eistedfodd, Chess, Science, Mathematics or English competitions. Not only have the boys themselves benefited from this involvement but the College has also become a better place as a result of their contribution. I have encouraged the boys many times both privately and publicly and I take this last opportunity to encourage them again to consider a school activity in which they can partake in 2004. Academically there are always areas in which the boys can improve. For some, organisation and home study, for others behaviour and making better use of opportunities provided them. I encourage all boys to continue to strive to do their best and positively tackle the demands placed before them. On behalf of the Year 8 teachers, I would like to take this opportunity of thanking you, the parents, for your wonderful support. Without your care, interest, cooperation and feedback we cannot be as effective as possible in our task as co-educators of your sons. Finally I would like to sincerely thank all Year 8 staff and in particular the Year 8 Homeroom staff, Ms Joanne Graham, Mrs Bernice Manuel, Mr Larry Evans, Mr Ian Oliver, Mr Phil Murton, Mr Jon Eager, Br Gerry Barrett, Mrs Jane Lawrence and Mr Bryan Smith. Their dedicated and professional approach makes my role that much more rewarding and I have appreciated their support and effort throughout the year.

Mr Charles Thompson

Year 8 Leaders

Back Row: William O’Brien, Haydn Czwarno, Thomas Curry Middle Row: Nathan Correale, Rory Murphy, Michael Hamblin, Timothy Leary Front: Sam Bennetts, Eamonn Crellin, Nicholas Sestak, Mr Thompson, Aaron Kneebone, Tyson Parker Absent: Steven Maraschiello, Adam D’Addazio

Congratulations to Academic Achievement Award winners Semester 1:

Tristan Balthazaar 8S, Antonio Cafasso 8B, Matthew Collins 8B, Eamonn Crellin 8B, Adam D'Addazio 8R, Markos Danoudis 8M, Charles De Fazio 8R, Benjamin Forrester 8B, Oliver Hagen 8H,

Tristan Hart 8S, Matthew Hearn 8H, Steven Maraschiello 8R, Matthew McCart 8B, Matthew Mitchell 8B, Matthew Rodgers 8H, Julian Trantino 8H, Gerard Twomey 8M, Oliver Waluk 8H