if:
revived
It is not the strongest, nor the most intelligent, who will survive. It is those who can best manage change. Charles Darwin
contents
about: 'if'...................................................4 a day in the life.............................................6 R.E.S.P.E.C.T................................................8 the power of conversations.................................10 dear delta..................................................12 COVID......................................................14 atticus finch................................................16 power & politics............................................18 era........................................................19 what day is it today?........................................20 read the room..............................................22 hope.......................................................24 the manual.................................................26 a year in quotes.............................................28 acknowledgments...........................................31
about If
was one of the original GGS student publications, which ran from 1929-1934.
If Revived
resurrected the publication, which ran from 1949-1959. Existing copies of the original publications can be viewed on request from the School Archives.
MISSION STATEMENT
if:revived is a periodical compilation magazine that aims to create a space for the broader GGS community; a platform to share creative written and pictorial expressions. The magazine is an independent and unique publication separate from the traditional Corian.
CORE VALUES
We aim to integrate the following core values into all of if:revived manifestations:
Heritage
Having consideration for past publications of If, the revived publication aims to continue to have a high regard for excellence in written and visual expression.
Empowerment
if:revived aims to give a voice to all members of the community, particularly who may feel their voices are not often heard.
Acceptability
Although if:revived seeks to provide an alternative voice to more traditional School publications, we will aim not to offend any individual or group. Furthermore, each and every publication of the 2021 if:revived has been printed on ecofriendly paper, as we value our planet, and seek to uphold our environmental responsibilties.
THE GOAL
Through this publication of if:revived, we aim to encourage viewers and readers to engage in critical discussions surrounding literature, culture, politics and the world, inside and outside of the School. We aspire to keep print culture alive through active engagement with contemporary and pre-existing zine formats and design, to provide space for information about current student led initiatives, and to develop a structure and format that can survive over a period of years. Conclusively, we hope that with this magazine, you find comfort, humour, vulnerability and empowerment. the if:revived team
Ludwig Hirschfeld-Mack, woodcut, 1944 (cropped image)
a day in the life...
a humourous parody of a GGS student's daily routine
written by ruby casey and eliza frazer
4:30AM
the fire alarm goes off.
4:40AM
exhaustion level: 100%. Note to self: rethink life choices up to this moment
4:50AM
still waiting for the trucks to come, and its ICE COOOOOLD
4:55AM
put fire trucks on snap story: caption 'fml', featuring photo of the hottest fireman
5:00AM
punish the fourthies for burning spring rolls at 4:00am, hence, setting the alarm off
5:55AM
back to bed we go; dream sweet dreams of who would win Squid Game at our school
7:30AM
the heavens have been summoned when the bell rings or the T.O.D serenades a wake up call:
8:30AM
discuss the meaning of life with our mentor, or rather, gather to hear who has to take the bins
8:55AM
commence class. occasional stare out the window, paired with a
9:00AM
the garbage truck rolls by the beehives, which somehow isn’t as annoying as listening tothe
10:40AM
smoko time!! time to whip up the most gourmet snack in twenty minutes with only bread and
12:55PM
finally made it to lunch, praying that it’s your year levels turn to get in to avoid waiting an
3:37PM
hanging on by a thread, longing for the teacher to let you out a few minutes early. instead
3:40PM
class=over. the thought then arises as to which excuse should be used for not going to sport
another day, another opportunity to rise and grind out that week debate of whether this work
actually needs to be done. eventually decides to put it off until due date arrives
rowing stories from the previous evening butter before realising class started 3 minutes ago eternity in the torrential rain to get fed before making it to that “lunch time tute”
told to “hang tight” and “wait to be dismissed” for the longest three minutes of one’s life
today, which is soon replaced with realisation that getting marked AWOL will be worse than actually going
5:30PM
the guessing game begins: what foreign meat will be for dinner tonight?
6:50PM
slog to roll call, well and truly aware 2 hrs of procrastination is about to begin.
7:01PM
oh sh!t, its already 7.01! I guess I have to start prep at 7.15 now...
9:00PM
time to catch up with friends (maybe try see the sneaky link before go on alarms?)
9:30PM
time to get tucked into the sheets and rest our weary bodies (or is it??)
R.E.S.P.E.C.T
When we initially started brainstorming for if:revived, it was clear to all of us involved that we wanted this magazine to be a time capsule of 2021 -- the events, movements and people that inspired change or were at the focus of global events. But most importantly, we all had a strong understanding that we couldn’t hide or gloss over the conversations that tend to make us uncomfortable. Because if they’re uncomfortable, it’s a conversation worth having. In February 2021, Brittany Higgins, a former member of staff in parliament, came forward with allegations of rape against a liberal staffer, followed by other women with similar allegations. As a consequence, students across the country demanded that the Australian curriculum must implement more explicit education on consent and start at younger year levels. Chanel Contos, a former Sydneysider and now student at University College London, launched a petition demanding more “holistic sexual consent education” through the use of social media and in an online petition offering students the opportunity to provide testimonies. So, I read through them. Six thousand, seven hundred and fifty six testimonies have been written at the time of writing this, with varying allegations of assault and harassment, including the sharing of private images, to drugging and raping. Although I was shocked by the extent of the graphic nature of these testimonies, I have heard stories like this before. Growing up in a country and environment that is widely viewed to be safe, I had little understanding of the gravity of sexual harassment until I was twelve.
On having discussions with my friends, it is clear that for many of us, our first experiences of harassment begin around puberty. However, like many of us we brushed these off as ‘normal’, it was just a comment, a small remark, a minuscule action in the scheme of things. “Don’t overthink it, it’s just the way things are”. However, Conto’s petition has revealed that many predominantly female students, are sick and tired of having to justify or defend their right to say “no.”
“We are the inheritors of this country and we must define our values now.” As a result of Conto's petition, the Victorian government announced consent education would be mandatory in all government schools. But regardless of going to a government school or not, sexual assault has no barriers, no class, age, gender, religion or ethnicity. This is not a matter for only some schools, but should be mandatory in every school across the country. To be perfectly honest there was a certain level of apprehension, when I decided to write on this topic. I did not want to blame or alienate anyone, and someone even suggested to me that I’ll be bullied for highlighting this issue.
That just demonstrated the need for this article. Sexual consent is not an issue that will ever go away and if talking about it ‘triggers’ us or makes us uncomfortable, it is evidence of how inadequate our conversation around it has been. There are some who see such education as a “war on men” – but this denies the fact that clear protocols around sexuality are good for both sexes, giving everyone a shared understanding of positive relationships and intimacy. If women are happier and more relaxed with greater trust about intimate relationships, men benefit equally.
"Respect comes in two unchangeable steps: giving it and receiving it." Edmond Mbiaka
It’s not a female issue. It’s a human issue. We can’t blame anyone; it is a fault in our education, but now is the opportunity to create change, an opportunity we must grasp. In a world that is constantly divided, is it too much to ask that we forget our differences, our gender, religion, class or politics to tackle this issue? Is it too much to ask that young Australians are given the education they need, so that every adolescent enters the world with a fundamental sense of how to treat each other? If the lines are still blurred enough to allow sexual trauma to happen, then there is obviously something wrong with our system.
“Don’t overthink it, it’s just the way things are.” Consent education should be fundamental to our schooling, along with English, maths and science, from year five to twelve. We are the inheritors of this country and we must define our values now.
written by lucie gill
the power of conversations There is something so powerful about the conversations we have in our lives. Moments in time. Split second interactions. I write this just after running into an Old rammarian, not at school but outside my home in a town across the bay from school, whom I’d never met. It’s quite incredible the power a place can have on you, can affect your moments in time. Our school, a unique boarding school, a second home and family to many for more than a hundred years from hundreds of places. What I find incredible is no matter the year, the house, the suburb, country or state we have come from, at Geelong Grammar we are all one. Yes, in hindsight you are inevitably the student graduating from Clyde 2022, but in the large scheme of things you are and always will be a Geelong Grammarian or member thereof (staff, parents, students included). It is the power of these two words that I have found have significant impact on my moments in time. The two words ‘Geelong Grammarian’ bring inevitable connections, pride, belonging and joy. Of all the times I have had a (random) conversation with someone, even if they graduated many years ago, or are still graduating or just embarking on their journey at this school, it always brings me joy. It’s hard to put into words or describe this exact feeling, but it’s like talking to an old friend who you haven’t spoken to in years, or a family member who you haven’t seen in a long time; it feels familiar, it is engaging and it always feels normal. Whilst I still have another year left of my time here, this is something that I will always take with me and hold with me in my years beyond Geelong Grammar.
written by amelia los
year 5
year 8
year 11
teacher
principal
HOH
matron
Who is the most powerful person in the world?
Joe Biden
Your best friend
Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India
Joe Biden
The person who chooses love and light, not hate and darkness.
You will never know, that is why they are so powerful
Mothers
Who is the most important person on campus?
Annabel Eastoe because she is an amazing fun teacher.
Ms Cody
Ms Cody
Rebecca Cody
The person who places civic duty above their own needs.
The next person you speak with.
The students
What is the biggest threat to humanity today?
Global Warming and Covid-19
Covid-19
The acceleration of globalisation
Deception
Fear.
The belief that you should always be ‘happy’
Climate change
Most positive thing that is happening in the world currently?
fight to stop racism
Vaccines are a thing
Vaccination rates are on the rise
The breaking of taboos about seeking self-help.
The courage and selflessness of our health professionals.
Being made to stop.
Awareness surrounding climate change
Any Covid habits?
Online Shopping
No motivation to work
Journaling
Cooking.
Lengthier than usual walks to release me from yet another problem-solving meeting on the screen!
Birthdays in a park to meet up with family!
Listening to more music
What is your favourite book?
David Walliams, Gangster Granny
Rick Riordan, Heroes of Olympus: House of Hades
Bill Browder, Red Notice
Robert Crichton, The Secret of Santa Vittoria
Dr Seuss, Oh The Places You’ll Go!
Tom Stoppard, Arcadia
Charles Dickens, Great Expectations
dear delta....
Dear Delta is an advice column allowing students to reach out anonymously via Delta's online webpage, voicing their problems and dilemmas in the form of a question. 'Delta' is the name that has been given to the panel of students providing honest and uplifting council to students in need, answering any questions submitted to help students struggling at school, and to provide advice. The name 'Delta' was chosen as it embodies the struggles of COVID-19 in the year 2021: the infamous Delta Strain, and the harships caused by it.
Q. Q.
Dear Delta, After a brilliant year at Timbertop, a countryside haven detached from the struggles of the urban buzz, I formed so many incredible friendships with girls who I thought would be my friends for life, however, after returning down to Corio, I am struggling with finding my place. Up in the bush, none of my friends gave a crap about how they looked or what they did; they were always their pure, authentic selves because they didn’t care who was watching. Down here, I feel like everyone has changed - all they care about is boys and their snap score! I feel so out of place, and just want things to go back to the way they were. Any advice? - Anonymous 43
A.
Dear Anonymous 43, One of my favourite quotes about friendship is "Friendship isn't about who you've known the longest. It's about who walked into your life, said "I'm here for you" and proved it." I couldn’t agree with this more. Although your Timbertop year was surely incredible, the memories and friendships you made there do not define you as a person, nor do they set in stone your friends forever. Year 10 is a big year for everyone, it is a year where people develop and find new interests, and with this comes new friendships. Don't beat yourself up or let yourself feel isolated around the people you once had so much in common with, but branch out and re-find the people that you still do have things in common with! My friendship group has changed countless times, and the best way to go about it is to not limit yourself to a set group of people, but rather, be friends with everyone. xoxo Delta
Dear Delta, I need your help. Amongst never-ending lockdowns and restrictions, I have been feeling super isolated and simply alone. Even without covid, I've always been an introvert, but now that we're constantly locked up, I've lost contact with even more of my friends. Worst of all, I don’t even have a desire to see them, but rather I am getting major social anxiety for when the time comes that I can see them again. What can I do to stop this? - Anonymous 37
A. Dear Anonymous 37, I totally understand where you're coming from. When you’re feeling your most lonely, you doubt yourself, feel anxious socially, or are just unmotivated and want to be on your own. It seems almost counterintuitive to interact with others, especially when you are feeling socially anxious, but that’s exactly what you need to do. Start off small, organise to go on a walk with one of two other friends and build it up from there. Believe in yourself - you've got this! xoxo Delta
Q.
Dear Delta, I'm so done! All I want to do is go home. School is crap. My grades are suffering. The dining hall food tastes like ancient snail dung from the 16th century, and the only thing getting me through each week is sh*tty takeaway from Corio on a Saturday night. Does this not sounds like the lowest of all lows? Who would've thought boarding life at Geelong Grammar could sink this low? How can I stop looking at all the downsides and find some light in all this madness? - Anonymous 6
"Don't be afraid to ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don't know something, and to learn something new." - Barack Obama
Q.
A.
Dear Anonymous 6, Optimism is a happy magnet. If you stay positive, good things and good people will be drawn to you. I know this sounds cheesy, and is easier said then done. If you chose to view life with a pessimistic lens, everything will seem to be heading south! I don’t want to drone on like one of your parents or teachers, but look around you! Life is good! You are fortunate enough to attend an amazing school, you have access to incredible facilities, you can see your teachers for extra help whenever you need. I know happiness comes from more than just this, but put your situation into perspective, gain knowledge and understanding of just how grateful you are, and soon you will learn to be happy, no matter how bad some things seem. xoxo Delta
Q.
A.
Dear Delta, OH HEY THERE DELTA just wondering if you would be able to help me bring up my GPA. It’s currently at a 6, but I want to get into BioMed at Melbourne Uni. What should a Gal like me do? - Anonymous 21
Dear Anonymous 21, It's so great to hear of your future goals and ambitions. My best advice is to find a fairly disciplined study schedule and routine that works for you now, however, ensure that it still supports your overall wellbeing. Balance is key - too much study can lead to burn out, and not enough will hinder your goals of BioMed. Speaking to someone who is currently in the field is also always good, as it help you understand or get an idea of a pathway to your future career.
Dear Delta, I'm seriously struggling. I used to be comfortable in my body, however, all my friends are stick skinny, count calories and seem to only care about how they look, traits which started to rub off on me, and only went downhill from there. I've started hating my body, my relationship with food has plummetted - I go days without eating sometimes - and I feel like there is no way out. I haven't told anyone, and i'm suffering in silence. What can I do to make this stop? - Anonymous 7
Q.
A.
Dear Anonymous 7, I know how difficult it must have been for you to reach out and seek help, and for that I am so proud of you. First and foremost - you are not alone! I know how isolating being trapped inside your own head can be, the feeling of thoughts on body image and food consuming you entirely, but it's so important to remember that there are so many people who love and care about you, however, may not even know that you are struggling. Baby steps, but the best thing for you to do is confide in someone you love and trust and let them know that you are not ok (and that's ok!) Opening up not only helps others understand your situation, but frees you from the burden of thoughts and fears surrounding food and body image. Of course, only do what you feel is right, and do so when you are ready, but a conversation is a great start to the road of recovery xoxo Delta
xoxo Delta
Delta, I've been talking to this guy in Perry for a while and I really REALLY like him, however, he is in year 12 and going to Uni next year. I don't know what to do, because it's pretty clear we are a couple, however, he hasn't even asked me out, and I know he would rather a college girl then a Year 11 still in school. What do I do? - Anonymous 3
A.
Dear Anonymous 3, Relationships, or 'situationships' in your case, can be tough. We talk about the power of conversations, and in your case, this rings true. Talking about the big things can be tough, but I think the best thing you can do is talk to 'said Perry boy' and discuss what you see your relationship looking like in the future. You may discover that you want to make this work, or that it's best you go your separate ways. There will be pros and cons to both, however, talking these through and weighing them out is the best way to go about it. xoxo Delta
COVID
COVID-19, or Coronavirus; an infectious disease caused by interaction with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus strain. A simple definition for a word that means so much more than a single sentence. A word that has been inculcated into our minds, that symbolises fear, disconnection, and a sea of lost opportunities. The lives of the students of Geelong Grammar School are no exception. For two years now, our education, our social lives, our sports and our relationships with our families abroad have been severely affected. The most discouraging aspect being that while the rest of the world had seen a significant return to normalcy, our lives seemed to have grown ever far from it. The end of this turbulent uncertainty seemed to be ever prolonged; the light at the end of the tunnel kept growing further and further out of reach. We are immensely blessed that our health has remained protected, the same cannot be said for other parts of the world. However, it cannot be argued that we have not missed out, nor that we have not suffered in other areas. The cycle of in and out of online learning caused extreme disruption to our education that, in some situations, played a detrimental impact on students’ futures and their willingness to endeavour in the classroom.
Further, staple high school experiences, Geelong Grammar experiences, were also foregone. Students were separated from their families, whether it be for weeks or months, and a sense of independence was forced on them in order to endure the challenges posed by this nightmarish situation. With the covid implications drawing on for so long, and us being still so young, it is sometimes difficult to remember what ‘normal’ actually is. Being able to get on a plane and travel across the world, or even venture through town without a mask on seems so foreign, so impossible, so unrealistic. It is easier to forget that we are living through a pandemic than one might think. We must remember that with each day, we are writing the pages of history that will be taught to generations to come. Yes, the past two years have been onerous to say the least, but with the conclusion of 2021 on the horizon and promises of a reduction in lockdowns and border closures following improved vaccination rates, it seems the end is finally within reach. This revolutionary, life-altering event is finally drawing to a close.
written by zarli dickinson
Live life to the fullest. You have to colour outside the lines once in a while if you want to make your life a masterpiece. Laugh some every day. Keep growing, keep dreaming, keep following your heart.
Atticus’ Speech
atticus finch
“I can’t breathe!” he cried. Ladies and Gentlemen. I shall not ponder nor waste your time. Today, I, Atticus Finch speak on behalf of George Perry Floyd Junior as sadly; he could not be here with us today. George was a father, a husband, a brother. He was a gregarious lad and a man of many talents. He accomplished so much and worked his back side off for all he achieved. I myself was never close with George but he was the kind of man you’d see from a yonder and would always flash you a grin. A genuine old soul was he. I have made it apparent that George was a well-rounded gentleman, a man of our town and hand on heart, I stand here amidst you today, and I tell you that man was not a criminal. He was wrongfully accused of a minor offence and the price he had to pay for it? His life. The deceased was not guilty, but someone in this courtroom is. “I can’t breathe!” he wept. Derek Chauvin addressed you this afternoon, his address heartfelt. But I cannot pity him, he is white. And he broke a rigid and time-honoured code. Ladies and Gentlemen, I ask you, as a society, are we stuck in the 19th century? Can we not move past this historic conception that whites are better than blacks? Allow me to tell you this and let me be lucid. If George Floyd was a white man, he would be making this statement today, not me. “I can’t breathe!” he gasped. I have faith in the Supreme Court of the United States. It is a place that provides me with hope that there is still equality and justice within our society. It is the one place that will always give everyone a voice, no matter their circumstance, gender, or skin colour. It is a place where the stupid man can be equal to Einstein. The court should be the one fair, justice institution but George Floyd didn’t even get the opportunity to appeal his case or plead for justice in court. This has become a story of judge, jury, and executioner. “I can’t breathe!” He yelled. I’ve noticed something in our lovely city of Minneapolis. There appears to be a misconception, a thought that most seem to be hung up on. This evil assumption that all men and women of colour lie, that all men and women of colour are basically immoral beings, that all men and women of colour are not to be trusted within our community, which we all know is a lie. Please don’t misunderstand me, I am not saying all men and women of colour are perfect but I sure as hell know one thing, even if they commit a sin, they are still a good person. So yes, some men and women of colour lie, some men and women of colour are basically immoral beings and some men and women of colour cannot be trusted within our community but how about the white man who is lying, how about the white man who is basically an immoral being, how about the white man who cannot be trusted within our community. Because last time I checked, he still sits here today.
“I can’t breathe!” he wailed.
Let me make my last point brief. You are an intelligent audience. You can see the colour of my skin. You can see that it is fair and pale. You do not need me to tell you I am not a black man and my skin is not the same colour as Georges’ was, you can see that. But here. I. Am. A white man. A white man standing before you, seeking justice for a black man. A black man, you heard me correctly. My skin may not be the same colour as Floyds, but it doesn’t change equality. Equality isn’t waiting for us to all be white; it’s waiting for us to support diversity. I find it in my heart to defend a black man even though I’m white. Do you know why that is? That’s because justice, kindness, fairness, they don’t depend on the colour of your skin. So, in the name of God, believe me when I tell you, George Floyd was an innocent man. It’s now been 5 minutes since I began speaking and George still can’t breathe.
Inspired by Atticus Finch's defence speech of Tom Robbinson in Harper Lee's 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. However Amelia replaced Robbinson with George Floyd, who died as a result of police brutality on May 25th 2020, and later sparked Black Lives Matter protests across the world.
written by amelia charleson
power & politics
"I never, ever grew up as a young woman believing that my gender would stand in the way of doing anything I wanted." Jacinta Ardern
“If you want to see the poor remain poor, generation after generation, just keep the standards low in their schools and make excuses for their academic shortcomings and personal misbehavior. But please don’t congratulate yourself on your compassion.” Thomas Sowell
"Fighting corruption is not just good governance. It's self-defense. It's patriotism." Joe Biden
“Corruption could lead to the collapse of the Party [Communist Party of China] and the downfall of the State [People's Republic of China].” Xi Jinping
“When life seems hard, the courageous do not lie down and accept defeat; instead, they are all the more determined to struggle for a better future.” Queen Elizabeth II “I don't want you to be hopeful, I want you to panic” Greta Thunberg
east vs west relations East vs West relationships in the 21st century are best symbolised by the current interactions between China and the USA. The greatest threat to the western-oriented world order is the rapidly emerging superpower China, whose rise to power is undoubtedly the biggest global geopolitical shift in the 21st century. China, bouncing back from a debilitating century of shame, has grown to become a major international actor, rivalling the USA in relevance and resources. The potential for destructive clashes between the two giants is, at this point in time, unregulated; yet the pair are intimately intertwined on many levels such as trade. If they fail to uphold mutually cooperative relationships, they have the ability to wreak havoc upon each other and upon the entire world, potentially inducing a second era of a Cold War. China and the USA’s relationship has become further strained due to the ubiquitous Covid19 pandemic severely impacting global politics and the world economy. By focusing on the global superpowers of the USA and China and the diplomatic steps each state must take to ensure global peace and prosperity is maintained, we conclude that "A sound China-U.S. cooperation can serve as the ballast for global stability and the propeller for world peace." Stable US and China relations are unlikely to develop overnight. Both powers need to establish diplomatic means to balance an equilibrium of power to ensure world order and peace is maintained to avoid conflict or another period of the cold war. Interaction between the powers cannot be avoided, as their futures are ultimately paralleled. The West must find a way to both understand and accommodate the rising influence of China in the 21st century through its institutions and established political relationships, whilst China also needs to find non-conflicting paths to establish common ground between the powers. Ultimately both sides need to find areas of cooperation in order to ensure a stable global future in their mutual interests. "Sino-U.S. cooperation will achieve things that are beneficial to both countries and the world, while confrontation will be disastrous."
written by gen whitford
s e t , e d a ” I
t e t ” g
era
Over the summer holidays my understanding and They believe the workplace should be “a meritocrainterest grew on the meaning of the United States cy”, based solely on performance. Equal Rights Amendment. This was mostly sparked But this fails to address the fact that outdated beby the television show ‘Mrs America’ which followed liefs, such as the belief that women should be home the second wave of feminism in the 1970s and the with the kids, or that they are intellectually inferior, attempt of American feminists to get the Equal or they lack ambition, have corrupted the system. Rights Amendment ratified, an explicit amendment Too many people still believe these self-interested to the American constitution ensuring gender lies. Women rarely get the opportunity to show equality. The show focused on the divide between their intellectual superiority because women make suburban housewives intent on maintaining the up only 34% of people who dominate the decitraditional position and determined feminists driven sion-making in most businesses in Australia (accordto make the future different to the sexist past. ing to the Australian Bureau of Statistics) and 19% of American businesses. Clearly, until women are The feminists argued that women should have the consciously promoted to senior positions, women right to choose if they worked outside the home will continue to be under-represented in profesand if they did, that they should be treated equally sional life and the world will continue to be shaped with male employees. The suburban, traditional primarily by male minds. women believed the ratification would imply that women would have to simultaneously work and be Outside the domestic world, the Me-Too movement responsible for the children, cooking and cleaning, has been ever-present in the media, along with the resulting in doing neither job well. It would also recent revelations of sexual assault in Australia’s denigrate women who wanted traditional roles. To parliament. The Western world seems finally to be some extent, they have in fact been proven right. grasping that despite feminist ambitions, the world As stated on the Australian government website, hasn’t changed enough, and that today’s young there is still a gap in workforce participation for women won’t tolerate inequality anymore. And people with young children. Sixty four per cent according to the United Nations, gender equality is of women with children five years old or younger still more than a hundred years away. participate, compared with 95% of men. The world may take a long time to change, but the The notion that women can “have it all” has been actions of women working collectively will end up discredited in recent years with some women blam- winning. You can’t turn back the clock but with the ing feminism for imposing impossible aspirations ERA to perhaps finally be included as part of the for women. The attempt to ratify the ERA failed American constitution after fifty years of persuasion, in both 1972 and again in 1982. A deadline had we should take heart that our consciences must been imposed both times and in order to remove drive our actions and will eventually triumph. As a the deadline, 38 states had to agree to it. This was matter of both practicality and morality, we have a finally achieved last year and there is hope that the duty to stand up and fight for a fair and just society ERA will finally result in a constitutional change. and this starts with explicit amendment to the American constitution, ensuring gender equality. This seems astonishingly overdue. Surely to deny America, a world superpower will set the example gender equality would be an ignorant decision, for countries to follow, inspiring gender equality right? I began to wonder why there was such and the opportunities for all. resistance to it. Could there be a valid argument against it? Those who fight against gender equality often profess to do so for some high-minded reason. For instance, they say that in a truly equal world, women would receive equality when the market demanded it. In other words, if women are good enough, they’ll be paid equally because businesses will want to retain them.
The ERA must be ratified.
written by lucie gill
CUTHBERTSON, SANDERSON & ISABEL HENDERSON
ESSAY PRIZE
"An essayist does not sit down at a desk already knowing all the answers, because if he or she did, there would be The essay is one of the most flexible and adaptable of all literary forms – an ideal vehicle for satisfying the human impulse to, as George Orwell notes, ‘see things as they are, to find out true facts and store them up for the use of posterity’. In 2021, GGS invites you to compose an essay that investigates the power of conversations in helping you generate a personal response to a broader political or historical event. The most compelling essay from each year group will be awarded the Cuthbertson, Sanderson and Isabel Henderson Prize.
2021 winners Manon Pirenc (8 KU) Millie Forwood (11 EM) Sophia Dallimore (12 HE)
& N
E
what day is it today?
Though ostensibly ordinary, a question I now find myself asking more often than not. A person usually far too caught up in the ‘now’, my customary angsts surrounding time have strangely grown increasingly meaningless to me over the past two years.
Citizens of this human world, we rely on the imposed pressure to adhere to timetables, itineraries, and meetings for our survival. The pressure to book ahead, to stay up to date, to not be late; it consumes us and relies on us to get with the program. But what exactly is the program? And why do I usually feel so guilty when I lose track, when I fall behind? Or more importantly, why have I suddenly stopped worrying about it?
Today, I woke up and checked the date on my calendar, then checked again. Thursday the 12th of August 2021. I was hit with the sudden realisation that eight months of this year’s twelve had already surpassed me, the equivalent of three of those months spent in lockdown. As a little girl, the 17th of July, though it occurred like any other day on an annual basis, was a date that consistently took virtual years to arrive. The date marked my birthday, and a day for which the planning would start months before. This year, however, the usual lengthy count down was eliminated as July swung around at lighting speed, and to make matters worse, on the 13th day of the month, the Victorian government decided to commence state-wide lockdown number five, one that would supposedly last a minimum of three days. Supposedly, they said, however, as I blew out the seventeen candles on my birthday cake four days later, I sat in the boarding house in my flannelette pyjamas, locked away. The sun on that winter’s day, pinned in a cloudless sky, rose and set without an audience, without anyone to sit out enjoy it, and rather than leisurely making its usually anticipated arrival, the 17th of July came and went like any other day. When did time begin to speed up, passing us by in such an unseemly manner? Not only that, but how does it somehow seem to move at such a glacial pace at the same time? These questions lead me to Martin Beaver, a well-respected man and one of the few who can somewhat tolerate my often-senseless shower theorems usually regarding the likes of the universe, space, and the art of living itself (with the occasional debate concerning the ultimate recipe for a flawless slice of toast). It was with Martin Beaver that my journey through the depth of time began. A tastefully humble soul who lives by the wind, and the type of guy to quietly protest for word peace while furtively walking his dogs, time spent in Beavis’ presence always seems to stop, yet somehow still pass by so incessantly. Discussions of childhood and growing up, boredom and sanity with Beavis made me addicted to the concept of time, but more so, thirsty for the answers to my questions. A particular conversation with Beavis ended with the ironic line that ‘only time will tell.’ It was then that I began to research. Time, essentially, is the measure of change, and is a concept once famously pondered by philosopher Aristotle. It does not merely exist as a receptacle to place things into; it is dependent on what
Time is the observation of what has been and what is yet to come. The never-ending beginning and the indefinite end. The coronavirus became the centre of change in 2020, and with that, something happened to time along the way. Things are no longer measured in days, but counted in COVID-19 cases like the ticking hands on the face of a clock. We now cynically determine our futures and generate tomorrow’s plans not based on our schedules or the weather, but on a tally of death. In Corona-Time, there is little separation between a day and a week, a Monday and a weekend, morning and night, the present and the recent past, and while the pandemic's impact has been unevenly distributed across geography, race, and class, these time distortions seem surprisingly uniform. For millennia, philosophers have been mesmerised by time's elasticity, and for generations, it has been a source of inspiration for writers. More recently, it has piqued the interest of psychologists, who have devised tests and trials to better understand how we as people perceive time when we are hot or cold, tense or relaxed, monitoring the clock or focusing on something else. But what psychologists found most interesting was the discernment of time in cases of extreme boredom. Our perceptions of time can become unbearably slow when nothing changes. Boredom and loneliness become periods that can feel both terribly long and, in retrospect, almost insignificant, and getting a grip on time becomes difficult and illusive. Especially if you're confined at home day after day. It is famously said that “The brain likes novelty”. To get geeky about it, the sluggish lump of brain that lives inside our head squirts dopamine every time something striking or magical transpires, and although scientifical, dopamine is what puts these experiences on a timeline. The brain clocks these novelties, these out-of-the ordinary experiences and stashes them away as memories, recounting them later to estimate the passage of time. However, no novelty means no dopamine, and in turn, time becomes an ever-rolling valley of nothingness. In this era of quarantine and isolation, seclusion and loneliness, we are deprived of novelty, drained from originality; the WOW factor that our brains crave and find so sexy is removed, and in turn, we lose our sense of placement in the discourse of time.
This led me to the interminable conclusion; it is not because we now exist in scenes of isolation that time has becomes extraneous, but it is the fact that we lack excitement, new joys and true sentimental passions in our lives that has me constantly asking the same million-dollar question:
What day is it today?
is shifting and remodelling, as well as what remains constant.
prize winning essay written by millie forwood
read the room Did you know, Sometimes when I say yes, I feel like I have to, Because I don’t want you to leave me.
Did you know Sometimes when I say I love you, I’m not sure how to leave, Mostly because I’m scared you’ll do something. Did you know, That sometimes I just have to give in, Because I feel if I don’t, You’ll go to your mates. Did you know, Sometimes I feel like I have to, So I do it, Because I don’t have anywhere else to go. Did you know, Sometimes I say stop, But you don’t hear me or you just don’t listen, So I just shut up. Did you know, That just because I am your girlfriend, Doesn’t mean I always want to. Did you know that I am not your doll? Did you know that you can’t do what you want with me? Because no means no, and sometimes yes doesn’t always mean yes.
prize winning poem written by prue devilee
RUSSELL & AUSTIN
PRIZE FOR POETRY The Russel and Austin Prize for Poetry is awarded to the poem or song lyric that most successfully captures a private emotional response to a political or historical event.
2021 winners Reu Phillis (7 HI) Prue Devilee (11 CL) Tom Chaney (12 A)
hope.
“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” Desmond Tutu
hope: the arts, the olympics and the world Bopping to Bjorn, belting to Benny, and practicing popping out of windows to perfection. This was the Mamma Mia musical 2021 production rehearsals. But not only this, it was walking in on a Sunday in the SPACE to a chaos of chatter, being met by Kriegs and KB our ‘musical matriarchs’ with a hug and smile, a meeting of the eyes also making us feel seen. A warm sense of connection and inclusion. What most of us have sought during this time of feeling ‘under attack’. A community to lift us through the lockdowns. Connection giving us hope. The arts have taken a big blow with COVID. Yet still, through music, through dance, podcasts, tv, cartoons and comedy – mostly online - we have been connected. Art keeps us sane and ensures we stay human. Also during this time were the Olympics. Like the arts, sports can provide a sense of universal connection. Tokyo 2021 played out in empty arenas, yet it bound eight billion people together. Hearing stories, watching races, chatting about it. A theme seemed to resonate throughout the Olympics. It was in Simone Biles’s decision to step back from Olympic competition. In the words of Czech volleyball player Marketa Slukova who tested positive for COVID two days into the games. “We cried, we swore, then we cried again.” In Tom Daley’s gratitude after he won his bronze in the 10m platform diving. It was there in all the stories of people training in garages, roads, and back gardens. When Mutaz Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi chose to share the gold medal in the high jump. Listening to all the competitors, from all those countries share their stories about how they - and the people around them - struggled for 18 months. A message of overcoming hardship resonated worldwide. A sense of the pandemic shared between eight billion people. Sports giving connection. Sports and the arts – facets of culture – have been key to our connection. It is through these vessels of culture that hope has come. Hope for fun and freedom. Hope for footy games on a Friday. Hope for films at the cinema. Hope that we will get through this.
written by katya ewing
hope: the grandfinal On Saturday the 25th of September, there was a day that could quite possibly be the most anticipated one in the Australian year. I am speaking, of course, about the AFL Grand Final. At first, people were on tenterhooks. Would the big day go ahead? More importantly, who would the winner be? All the usual preparations were made - pies ordered, scarves slung around necks and families all around the nation tuned into their televisions for the game. However, something was different this year. The legendary match was being held not at the famed MCG but Perth’s Optus Stadium. Victoria’s footy fans were confined to their couches, while WA’s streamed in through the gates, snapping up tickets with alarming haste. For many, the Grand Final is an annual celebration that has the same tradition every year, much like Christmas. Every family has their yearly tradition, that celebratory day that’s always the same. And when the schedule is rocked off kilter? That can be disturbing. Change, in particular, to a cemented tradition, is disturbing. The biggest tradition-flipper? COVID-19. This disease ripped through the country and changed everything. However, the Grand Final gave us a signal. Everything had been cancelled over the past year, everything we looked forward. So we waited with bated breaths, and when we discovered that the staple event of every footy fan’s year was still going ahead. This was the signal. The signal of hope. This Grand Final showed us something…that we’re not stuck. We can move on. We can fix this. Even if there’s changes to tradition, even if things aren’t the same, life can go ahead. This hope is important. Without hope, we have nothing to work for. Nothing to give us the promise of better. The Grand Final was one of the sparks to the fire that fuelled the nation’s hope.
written by ella borthwick
l
Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality. Jonas Salk
the manual:
a dummy's guide to surviving a global pandemic Survival tip #1: Self-care is of the utmost importance You know the drill, rule for losing oxygen while flying: If there is a loss of oxygen, put your mask on first. You can’t help others if you don’t help yourself. Especially now, you should engage in healthy practices and do your best to develop and sustain routines that bring you comfort and provide a base of stability. Survival tip #2: Self-compassion. Be very gentle with yourself. Anxiety and fear are primal and can fly and bounce around our minds and bodies to make us miserable. Emotions come and go, return and disappear again and – you want to trust that they will dissipate and that you DO NOT have to act on negative emotions. Survival tip #3: Keep informed! Seek out the facts, even the frightening ones. Anxiety and fear flourish in a vacuum. We fantasize and make up junk constantly, so feed your mind with the most relevant facts. Stay up to date on new developments. Survival tip #4: CONNECT, CONNECT, CONNECT. Albert Einstein wrote, “Our separation of each other is an optical illusion of consciousness.” Explore the ‘Illusion of Separability.” The principle is simple. Despite what you think or believe, we are all connected. If ever you had a doubt or considered it, the Coronavirus has driven this fact home. What you do and say affects me. What I do and say affects you. On the unconscious level, we all need to connect. You don’t have to isolate yourself mentally or spiritually. Technology has given us the miracle to stay connected. Check in on friends, neighbours, family and young people by calling, emailing, texting, using Skype, Zoom or Facebook live. A simple email can make a world of difference to both the recipient and the sender. Survival tip #5: Have the courage to ask for help. Be strong enough to stand alone, smart enough to know when you need help and brave enough to ask for it. You and I do not have all the answers and we often operate by what I term ‘the arrogance of assumption.'Seek out other clear-thinking people to give their opinion and share their information. Survival tip #6: Refuse to let fear and anxiety become another pandemic. As a conscious human being, your challenge is to do everything you can to manage your anxiety and do our very best not to pass it on to others. “We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men; and among those fibers, as sympathetic threads, our actions run as causes, and they come back to us as effects.” - Herman Melville
a yearin quotes "normal led to this" ed yong
“be safe, be smart, be kind” tedros ghebreyesus "Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less." marie curie
"Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness." Eckhart Tolle
"corona: more than just the beer" forbes
"waiting for perfect is never as smart as making progress." seth godin
"months. not days or weeks, months." daniel andrews
"Things could always be better, but things could always be worse,"-Marla Gibbs "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning how to dance in the rain." Vivian Greene
if: revived Chief Editors and Curators Millie Forwood Amelia Los Key Contributors Lucie Gill Zarli Dickinson Katya Ewing Gen Whitford Amelia Charleson Ella Borthwick Prue Devilee Art Sally Barlow Elsa Li Star Rose Miller Millie Forwood A word of thanks to... Iga Bajer Sophie Church Henry White Martin Beaver Will van Asperen
a
time capsule of the year 2021
