GULS Tips!: check out some handy apps to improve your study life
paperchase Edition 1 2016
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clerkships
travel tips
What do you do during a clerkship? Find out inside!
Thinking of travelling? Check out how you can keep yourself healthy while overseas
IntheKitchenwithGULS:
Healthy vegetarian pasta
editors’ welcome
U
niversity is back in. Final exams are ever approaching and I bet those readings are all ready piling up. Try not to be that person who reaches week six and realises they haven’t taken any notes. Law school can be exhausting which is why the Paperchase is here to keep you on top of it all. This semester each edition will contain the best law school tips from you very peers. Learn how to stay healthy and eat while between you hectic lecture schedule. And most importantly get an insight into the legal profession by reading articles from our very own alumni! But don’t forget to get organised. University is crazy and being a law student is even worse. A planner or diary can help you keep track of all your assessment and when GULS epic social events are on. Keep an eye out for the races and the up and coming junior moot competition! Figure out your own method for remembering dates. You could use your Gmail calendar or a bunch of sticky notes – whatever works for you. Here at GULS we hope you have a great semester and don’t drown in cases. Until next time,
Maddison and Aaron
Maddison and Aaron Maddison and Aaron are GULS’ 2016 Publications Officers. It is their job to bring you exciting and hilarious GULS content with every edition of Paperchase. If you have any ideas for articles or other content, please get in contact with them by emailing them directly at publications@guls.org.
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Contents what you do on a clerkship!
GULS TIPS
IMAGE PLACEHOLDER
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Lizzie Dowrie recently completed a clerkship and wants to share step-by-step what she did every day.
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Mark Alexander Hogg shares some tips on how to be successful in law school.
extra-curricular corner
what’s on guls?
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New Puppy Farm Laws
Philippa and Sarah have investigated the Queensland Government’s new puppy farm laws.
Model United Nations
Mariah Ritchie recently attended the Asia-Pacific Model United Nations Conference held in Malaysia. Find out more on page 8!
Work Experience: Crime Stoppers
Maddison Barker shares her work experience story from Crime Stoppers and explains how it might be beneficial to you.
In the Kitchen with Clare Shortt
This month we thought we would try a healthy recipe - Clare Shortt shows you how to make a vegetarian pasta.
Health in Focus: Travelling
The Griffith Health Services tells you how you can stay safe and healthy if you’re planning on travelling any time soon.
President’s Report
Keep up to date with what’s happening in Griffith Law School with Rhys.
Clerkships
Ever wanted to know what a clerk does? Hear about Lizzie’s experience clerking!
Guls Tips:
Mark Alexander Hogg wants to share some of his secret tips for successful law school study.
Back to Basics: Sem II
Prini tells you how you can get back to basics to help kickstart your second semester.
GULS Sports: Stretching Sports Coordinator Rob shares some tips on how to stretch properly for social sports.
President’s Report `
Rhys kasper GULS President 2016
what’s happening in
griffith law?
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elcome back to the second half of law school for the year!
Sign-ups are still open and can be found on our Facebook Page and Weekly Email. Our next big competition is the College of Law Junior Client Interview! Sign ups are still open, and we will be holding a seminar where ALSA competitors and a College of Law Representative will teach you how to give the perfect interview.
Second semester is filled with GULS events ranging from social, equity, health, social justice and education! Additionally the GULS Hoodies will be arriving in the next week, I will send out notifications once they are ready for pick up.
In terms of Law School goss it seems that the trimester will impact Winter Clerkships which will continue to be held in our shortened mid-year break. However, a few of our own students this year will be completing their time with their firm during the earlier weeks of the second semester, so all is not lost!
Mekka Races have come and gone and there were plenty of winners, particularly those who attended and got to the enjoy 3 ½ hour bar tab! Our last social event is also our biggest, the GULS 2016 Gala will be held late in the year! More news to come in later weeks, but get keen!
We also have Justice Applegarth coming to visit us in the coming months and he will be giving a few lectures during the week he is at Nathan. Keep an eye on Facebook and check your emails regularly for more information.
In the second half of each year GULS tends to focus our competitions on the junior law students. Our Herbert Smith Freehills Junior Moot is always very popular as it is held before the Contract II Moot and provides students with the perfect opportunity to hone their skills before the big assessment!
The GULS Door is always open and I’m always keen for a chat!
Rhys 5
disgusted animal advocate attacks lousy puppy farm laws BY PHILIPPA & SARAH
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he recent passing of the Animal Management (Protecting Puppies) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 has caused extreme controversy between animal advocate Debra Tranter, founder of Oscar’s Law; Australia’s most prominent anti-puppy farming campaign and Leanne Donaldson MP, the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries. This has sparked a Facebook war between the two, with Debra even suggesting for her supporters to ambush Leanne’s page and voice their disappointment. The amendment seeks to ensure breeder registration is compulsory to weed out illegal puppy farms and the success of this relies heavily on a public awareness campaign. Leanne gives some insight into the proposed scheme: What prompted the amendment? Through consultation with animal welfare organisations and those who were appalled by the associated cruelty, the former Bligh Labor Government prepared legislation to make puppy farming illegal. Bill Byrne, my predecessor opened consultation on puppy farms last April and I have now inherited this very important legislation. What will the public awareness campaign involve? It will be in conjunction with the RSPCA and ethical dog breeders. It is important that consumers understand how important it is to buy animals only from registered breeders. If we can change consumer behaviour, we can force cruel breeders out of business. Will there be regular inspections carried out to ensure registered breeders are acting lawfully? This is a central plank of the policy. Making registration compulsory will make it easier to carry out regular inspections of breeders. Debra Tranter has expressed her disappointment on Facebook, stating “your new legislation has simply welcomed them into Queensland Leanne”.
Activist Debra (above) believes the new laws will not work.
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She believes the legislation will protect legal puppy factories, rather than abolishing them completely along with the sale of animals in pet shops. This is currently what Victoria is working towards and is where Debra believes Leanne has failed. She revoices her objections in the following interview: What inspired you to start campaigning? I hate all forms of injustice and I have never been one to sit back and urge others to do something. I can’t rest until its fixed! When I found out about puppy factories back in 1993 no one was doing anything about it. I thought it was such a betrayal and injustice that I resolved to do something. What has been your biggest achievement? Getting puppy factories on to the political agenda in every state, it took 20 years but a huge achievement. Now instead of ignoring the issue, politicians have to deal with it and review legislation. Do you think this Queensland legislation will eradicate puppy farms entirely? I don’t think the QLD laws will achieve anything, it sounds good and it may score political points but in reality what they are proposing is weak and useless. So far Victoria is the only state implementing effective legislation that will bring about the end of commercial puppy factories and end the sale of animals in pet shops. Should Queensland follow in the footsteps of Victoria? We need every state to follow Victoria’s lead, national consistency is what is needed, already we know Victoria’s puppy farmers are looking to relocate interstate where laws are much weaker. It is unforeseeable whether or not the Queensland legislation will make an impactful difference, however without a doubt, Debra will continue to fight until puppy farming is abolished across the county.
Right: The Hon Leanne Donaldson MP, Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries
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amunc 2016
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he second semester of what feels like a never-ending year has commenced, and study commitments are as busy as ever. If you’re a law student who either has way too much time on your hands (not really sure who you are) or is searching for some more extra-curricular activities to fill those demanding resume requirements, I’m here to tell you there is an alternative option to mooting! I recently participated in the Asia Pacific Model United Nations Conference (AMUNC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, over the semester break and had the time of my life. Whilst the title sounds daunting, it really isn’t. The conference was made up of about 500 university students, studying a variety of degrees, from all over the Asia-Pacific region debating on behalf of their chosen country about current global issues in a pretend United Nations forum. I was somehow given the responsibility of representing Mexico in the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and I’m not going to lie, Enrique Peña Nieto would probably not have hired me as their new foreign minister if he saw what was decided in our committee sessions. However, that’s the half the fun of it. The whole conference is mere simulations. You can have fun learning other countries’ foreign policies, develop your public speaking skills and network with some of the world’s future leaders, in a relaxed, less pressured setting. And that’s just the boring stuff. Every night of the conference there was a variety of different socials including pool parties, cultural tours, balls and more. The conference is only around a week long, but with all the people you meet and the experiences you have, it feels like a lifetime. One of my favourite memories from the conference was running around Kuala Lumpur for four hours, (and I literally mean running), with two other law students I just met a few days prior, frantically try to find dresses for them for the ball on the last night. It doesn’t sound like that hard of a task, but in reality Malaysian dresses are just not built for typical Aussie girls. On our adventure I saw some of the ugliest dresses I’ve ever seen and heard the statement ‘hips too big’ from Malaysian shop assistants far too many times. Finally, after hours of searching, we found a modern-looking department store. There was hope in our eyes. The girls walked in and there was a few suitable ball length dresses that the girls proceeded to try on. Now, I’m going to use a bar analogy so that all of you alcoholic law students can really understand the situation. You know when a guy enters a bar and he looks around at the start of the night and sees a girl that he probably thinks
asia-pacific model united nations conference (AMUNC) 2016 Mariah Ritchie
is about a 3 or 4 and wouldn’t bother flirting with? Then, by 4am when everyone is starting to leave and there are few options remaining, the girl suddenly is looking more like a 7 or an 8 and a very real option? That is 100% what it was like with these dresses. The girls emerged from the dressing rooms in their hideous gowns. One was actually covered in swans. We all looked at the dresses and thought ‘maybe we could make this work…’ We stared at them for a while and burst out laughing at how ridiculous the dresses were and decided to give up. But, it was all part of the fun of being in another country with new people and gaining new experiences. I know a lot of you hard core law students will be at a point reading this article where you’re saying “why would I care about all of this international relations stuff? I just want to be
a barrister!” And it’s true, a lot of you probably don’t care, but there is almost certainly a topic that I’m sure all of you argument craving law students could get amongst. One of the girls I went with was studying dentistry and really got into the debate on gender inequality during her United Nations Women’s Committee session. Which just shows it doesn’t matter what you are studying, if you love to argue you will love Model United Nations Conferences (MUN). If you are interested in attending a MUN, Griffith University has a club that organises mini MUN’s and can let you know about all other upcoming MUN’s. This club is UNSA GU Brisbane and you can find them on Facebook or contact their president, Jake Logan, for more information.
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lizzie dowrie guls vp admin
what do you actually do in
a clerkship?
“You’ve been through a competitive process to get a clerkship – the firm already suspects that you would fit in well there”
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ike many others, for the first half of last semester I was swallowed up by clerkship application season. Although it was a stressful process, I was never short of advice from friends. There are countless publications and seminars that are dedicated to explaining how to get a clerkship. However, after offer day, I realised that I had no clue what I would actually be doing in my clerkships. Over the mid-semester break I clerked with Ashurst in their Brisbane office. Now, having completed my first clerkship, I can share my experiences and explain what you can actually expect as a clerk!
practice group we would be clerking in, and the details of our supervisors and graduate buddy. Knowing that this was essentially a four-week job interview, I was very nervous at the beginning. However, my experience was incredibly positive and supportive. We spent the first two days in induction training. This included the usual workplace health and safety necessities, but also a series of very helpful information sessions on how to write research memos and how to interact with your supervisor. We were taught how to use the online resources and house style. It was a fairly tiring couple of days – you have a lot of information to take in! However, it all comes back to you once you’re actually with your team and working through problems.
Relatively soon after offer day, I was sent a form to indicate my practice group preferences. About a month prior to the first day, we were emailed the Staggered throughout the
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four weeks was the Team Insight Series – a presentation about each practice group from a couple of people in each team. We also had sessions on international opportunities, what life as a grad is like etc. These were fantastic opportunities to meet other lawyers around the firm. On the third day, we were all nervous again because we were joining our teams for the first time. My grad buddy was incredibly friendly and helpful – she gave me an office tour and was a huge support throughout the clerkship. To my relief, the team was very welcoming – they even organised a morning tea! As seasonal clerks, we weren’t expected to work 100-hour weeks; most days, I probably worked from 8am to 6pm. The work you do is meant to give you an insight into what you
would be doing as a junior lawyer in the firm. Although I had designated supervisors, I received work from everyone in the team. In my experience in the commercial litigation team, the work was varied. I completed a lot of research! I prepared internal research memos, and drafted correspondence and other documents. I also ran to court to file documents or originate proceedings a few times (making Civil Procedure make sense!). Occasionally, I did a few administrative tasks like organising folders – however mostly I was doing much more interesting work! Surprisingly, not all of my research was legal - I looked into all sorts of topics I never thought I’d need to.
clerkship application process sometimes felt a bit like the Hunger Games, I was pleasantly surprised that the clerkship itself didn’t feel competitive. The other clerks were awesome people that I hope I’ll be working with in the future. We were able to catch up throughout the clerkship despite being in different teams, and I had lunch with them most days.
Heading into the clerkship, I knew I wanted to learn more about the pro bono program. Luckily I was able to get involved, and attended the Homeless Persons Legal Clinic one week. I also assisted a couple of the lawyers in my team with their pro bono matters. I was also able to attend a Society of Construction Law event with my supervisor, and a movie night with the Women’s Network. If there’s something you particularly want to get involved in, don’t be afraid to speak up. I’m sure most firms would be more than willing to accommodate you!
Although all the talk about ‘firm culture’ is enough to make you go crazy during the application process, I think you do get a good sense of whether you can fit in at the particular firm through the clerkship. You’ve been through a competitive process to get a clerkship – the firm already suspects that you would fit in well there. Your clerkship is a fantastic opportunity to decide if it feels right for you.
Every Friday night the firm had a drinks and chips night for all employees. As a clerk it was great to be involved in the social aspect of the firm. The graduates were super friendly, and took us out for Chinese food after our first week. Having only recently been clerks themselves, they had lots of Although sometimes you may feel fell helpful advice. Sport is definitely not my you’ve been thrown in the deep end, you thing, but as clerks we were also welcome have the resources to figure most things to play in the firm’s social sports teams. out on your own. I didn’t know how to do almost every task I was given, but you ar- At the end of the clerkship, there was an en’t expected to. People are also generally appraisal process. I completed a self-rewilling to help – the librarians are amazing, flection, and then had a casual chat with and anyone you email asking for help will my supervising lawyer over coffee. It was at least point you in the right direction. I fantastic to receive feedback on my perhad a very positive experience – if I made a formance and learn that they didn’t hate mistake or needed to ask questions, it was me. I also had an exit interview with HR, no big deal. You do have to be considerate which was also relaxed. Finally, the firm of the fact that they are very busy people, had a drinks night to farewell the clerks, but if you respect that and work around and we organised a dinner with the junior their schedule, they are more than happy lawyers afterwards. to help you out.
If you have any questions about my experience, feel free to come say hi!
Although the cocktail evenings during the
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secret law school study tips BY mark alexander hogg 3rd year law/science
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ello I’m Mark a third year double-degree, Law and Science, undergraduate and I hope to share some tips and tricks with you that may make university easier. With this in mind I’ll start with some skills and tips.
1. Time management is an essential skill in a Law-degree and can make or break a double-degree student. When it is utilised correctly it will help you balance workload and social commitments. By arranging a calendar with all of the due dates of assignments and tutorials it encourages an early completion of these tasks. Try downloading programs that allow you to block certain distracting websites. SelfControl for Mac and ColdTurkey for Windows are my favourites. 2. Academic writing and researching is not easy but with most degrees a course can be undertaken to refresh your memory regarding these skills. Download iwriteLegal it’s a free app that takes you step by step to high distinction worthy legal writing. Find out how to get CaseBase and AUSTLII for free on your iPhone here. 3. University isn’t just about getting good grades; it’s also about establishing friendly professional relationships with your peers. This happens by attending Orientation Week as well as your lectures and tutorials. This skill is about as important as time management as it will continue to be used during your professional life. Make sure you head to some networking events this semester. It’s never to early to start! Follows GULS’s Facebook Page and download ALSA’s mobile app to see what is out there. 4. Finally, sometimes it’s healthy to take a break. Not only does taking a break gives you time to comprehend the information you’ve acquired from your lectures but it also gives you time to socialise with your peers. You can’t take in information if you are overly stressed. Every 30 minutes take a 10-minute break. Try the free Pomodroapp to keep track of your time. Over the years of attending University I’ve found that these tips and skills have helped make my double-degree easier. Just don’t tell anyone my secrets.
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prini avia 2nd year law
back to basics
semester II
3 basic things to remember as you hit the grind Semester 2 is now in session, so it is time to wipe the sleep out of yours eyes, because it’s a new day, a new dawn, a new semester! Whether you’re in your first, third or last year, here are 3 basic things to remember before you hit the grind. 1. We are all Self Made As Earl Nightingale so eloquently put, ‘we are all selfmade, but only the successful will admit it’. Semester 2 is a blank page and it will be whatever you make of it. The marks that you get will be dependent upon YOU. Yes, there will be variables that you cannot control, but when you look back at the end of the year, you will be entirely responsible for your action and subsequent inaction. So this semester, take control of your studies. Make sacrifices, plan, wake up earlier, go sleep later, strategize! Do whatever you need to do (legally) to get where you want to be.
2. Vision is the source of discipline Upon commencing university in 2014, my future direction was fuzzy to say the least. Since I didn’t have a specific goal or dream to aspire to, the priority was not always where it should have been. So, in 2015 I did some thinking and figured out where I wanted to go and who I wanted to be. Having a clearer direction and vision helped keep procrastination at bay and to say that my second year was exponentially better than my first is an understatement. What I can tell you is that if you have a vision of where you want to go, then that will fuel your discipline. If it is something that you really want, you will make the necessary sacrifices. So, before you start back this year, try and figure out why you are at law school. Once you do, gather all your chips and go all in.
3. As a man thinketh, so is he At the end of the day, the person you believe the most is yourself. As you face assessment, readings and tasks, be aware of how you approach it. What is your thought process? Have you already thought yourself out of achieving a better mark? Of course, assessment can be stressful and challenging but what do you expect – we are in law school. Let this semester be the semester where you approach every task with a mindset of victory and triumph because your thoughts will create your reality. Remember, you got into law school - CONGRATULATIONS, you have got what it takes. In the sage words of Abraham Lincoln, ‘if you are absolutely determined to make a lawyer of yourself, the thing is more than half done already’.
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by maddison barker
Crime Stoppers: The Best Work Experience You Never Expected One of the hardest parts of being a law student is finding experience. Even unpaid volunteer positions have a waiting list! So don’t be afraid to look outside of the norm.
deadlines, emails and organising events always need to be done. As long as you do four hours worth of events or meetings every month your membership on the committee will remain. You can take on as much or as little work as you like. This could give you the skills necessary of a lawyer (drafting letters, emails etc.) and also the networks that could get you that dream job. Many who volunteer have backgrounds in law and crime prevention. On my first day I met a now retired chief superintendent of gold coast policing who had a lot of advice about legal internships that I could do.
Crime stoppers are an amazing organisation that protects communities. As a volunteer or member you get the opportunity to do a wide range of activities. One of the first events I did was handing out pamphlets about drug addiction. Only I was doing this in an area that is renowned for illegal substances. Having to communicate with people that clearly didn’t want us there was a challenge - but a very useful one for a future lawyer. Rarely will a client want to Volunteering for Crime Stoppers has not only be in a dispute or criminal proceeding. helped me make a difference in my community, it has accelerated my career faster than I There are also many positions that could of- thought possible. fer experience in areas that you may be lacking such as media, secretarial work or as a Check out some more information about Crime chairperson. Holding one of these positions Stoppers on the next page. can give you a glimpse of the corporate world;
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Crime Stoppers Crime Stoppers is a partnership between the community volunteer organisation Crime Stoppers Queensland Limited, the Queensland Police Service, Media and the public. Crime Stoppers provides and promotes anonymous contact mediums for the general public to report information and make a difference in stopping, solving and preventing crime. The Crime Stoppers program provides an avenue for the community as a whole to assist police to solve crimes and ultimately make our State a safer place. Crime Stoppers is unique and successful in Queensland because of the 550+ volunteers spread throughout the State who contribute their valuable time to ensure the success of each local Area Committee. Our volunteers are a vital link between the local community and the Crime Stoppers program. They ensure the public know they can trust Crime Stoppers with their information, when to call and that anonymity is guaranteed. In 2015, Crime Stoppers Queensland established a self-managed contact centre, thereby removing Police involvement in the process of gathering anonymous intelligence information about suspicious or criminal activity from the community. At the very core of our program is the provision of a telephone hotline (1800 333 000), website and mobile app for members of the community to provide anonymous information about suspicious or criminal activity. This information is electronically sent to a central unit within the Queensland Police Service, who then distributed it to the police establishment nearest to where the crime or suspicious activity is occurring for investigation. Information providers can share their knowledge without the fear of retaliation or reprisal from their actions. You should contact Crime Stoppers if you have information or suspicions relating to a crime, which has been committed or is being planned, or if you suspect anyone of being involved in criminal activity. If you wish to report a crime in progress or you require emergency assistance, you should dial the Australian Emergency Number (000). Gold Coast North Volunteer Area Committee of Crime Stoppers Queensland Limited A Registered Charity and Community Volunteer Organisation PO Box 1358 Oxenford Q 4210 E: goldcoastnorth@csql.com.au
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in the kitchen with
clare shortt vegetarian pasta
prep time: 10 mins cooking time: 25-30 mins
equipment
1 large pot (for the pasta) 1 deep saucepan or wok (for pasta sauce) 1 chopping board 1 wooden spoon 1 peeler 1 set of tongs 1 spaghetti strainer
ingredients
500g spaghetti no. 1 2 large carrots 2 large zucchinis 500g of red wine and garlic
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pasta sauce 1/2 teaspoon of raw sugar 2 sprinkles of paprika 2 tablespoons of garlic paste or chopped garlic 2 tablespoons of basil pesto paste Salt and pepper (for taste) 1 can of diced tomatoes
additional ingredients 1/3 of cabbage shredded A pinch of chilli flakes
submit your recipe Want your food to be featured in the next issue of Paperchase? Just submit your recpies and some pics to publications@guls.org
clare shortt
Clare is a Griffith Law Student, and (fun fact!) is a pescatarian
method Start by filling up a large pot (for spaghetti) 2/3 full. Sprinkle salt in the water so the pasta doesn’t sick. Turn on the stovetop and wait for the water to boil. Peel the zucchinis and carrots (enough to fill a bowl). When you’re peeling make sure you get long strands of the vegetables. Once the water has boiled add the spaghetti to the pot and stir every 30 seconds. Grab a deep saucepan for the sauce. Add oil and turn the stove on. Put garlic paste and basil pesto paste in to simmer. Add vegetables and the paprika. Stir until soft. Then add can of diced tomatoes and allow to simmer. Finally adding the pasta sauce. Add the extra ingredients now if you wish, make sure the olives are pitted. Stir pasta sauce. Check on the spaghetti - try a strand to see if it’s soft enough to eat. If it is pour the spaghetti carefully into the strainer (preferably in the sink) and wash with cold water. Make sure all the water is out and add the spaghetti to the pasta sauce. Stir for 2-3 minutes and the dish is ready to serve.
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guls sport update stretching robert kalaja
Stretching should be an essential component of any sporting activity, but it is often the most neglected. While many people look at the disadvantages of stretching, it’s important to look at the benefits it provides. The most obvious benefit that stretching has is that it increases muscle flexibility, which results in many other improvements such as injury prevention and preventing muscle soreness. It is thought that having flexible muscles can prevent acute injuries such as hamstring strains by gently stretching the muscle through its range before playing sports. Stretching after a game can also help minimise the muscles soreness as it releases lactic acid build-up that occurs 24-48 hours later. The two most popular stretching techniques that you can do are dynamic and static stretching. Warming up with dynamic stretching will prepare your body for the different types of movement that will be performed during game time. Static stretching is more beneficial when done after exercising. This means that you can sit or stand still while you hold a stretch for about 20-30 seconds. It is during these stretches that it is important to increase the circulation to the tired muscles and release any tension that may have built up. Lunge with Rotation Lunge forward with either foot, keeping your knee over your toes, and rotate your body toward the forward leg. Stand back up and repeat with the other leg. 10 reps each side. Groin Stretch Sit down and place the soles of your feet together. Grasp your ankles with your hands so that your elbows rests on your knees. Gently push your knees down with your elbows until you feel the stretch. If you want any more information about social sports or stretching contact Rob at sports@guls.org
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++health in focus
travelling The Griffith University Health Service provides medical consultations, emergency and first aid treatment and a full range of general practice medicine to all students. In each article we will provide health and well-being information to help you get the most out of your body and mind. This month’s focus is on nutrition. Here are a few tips to help you stay healthy this semester: griffith health service
Dreaming to travel...Or regularly travel overseas? Have you considered updating you vaccines? Memorize the following and make it your mantra: Good travel is the results of good planning. That applies to any trip you take, but it’s especially true when you’re heading to a foreign country. It can be tempting to book a ticket and stat fantasising about your getaway, but there’s work to be done. In addition to the planning any trip requires – lodging, restaurants, activities, and so on- international travel calls for extra steps and research to ensure a stress-free experience. Fortunately, we’ve broken it all down to help make your next international getaway a success. Register! Register! Register! Register your travel with a recognised travel site such as Smarttraveller.gov.au. Make sure you register your travel and contact details online before you travel to make it easier to contact you in an emergency, whether it’s a natural disaster, civil disturbance or family issue. The registration information you provide is protected by Australia’s privacy laws. Is my passport valid and when will it expire? Your passport is your most important travel document. Be aware that countries have different passport validity requirements. Make sure your passport has at least six months validity from your planned date of return. Carry extra passport photos just in case your passport is lost or stolen and you need to replace it while you’re away. Aside from the inconvenience and time taken to replace a lost, stolen or damaged pass-
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port, an additional fee will apply to get a replacement. A replacement passport may also have limited validity. By law, you are required to report the loss or theft of your passport to the nearest Australian embassy, high commission or consulate, or on the Australian Passport Office website, without delay. Insurance? Hmmmm I’m ok Organising travel insurance is an essential part of preparing for your overseas trip. If you are uninsured, you (or your family) are personally liable for covering any medical or other costs resulting from unexpected incidents or accidents. If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. Accidents can happen to anyone, including on short trips to familiar locations. Medical costs overseas can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Australian Government won’t pay for your medical treatment overseas or medical evacuation to Australia or a third country. Travellers without travel insurance are personally liable for covering any medical and associated costs they incur. Australians have faced financial hardship to cover costs when things go wrong. Dual Nationals – Have you heard this term? If you or your parents were born in another country, you may be considered a citizen or national of that country, even though you are also an Australian citizen. Before you leave, it’s important to know about the implications of local laws for dual nationals – for example, you may be liable for military service in the country of your other nationality. Taking spare underwear well why not spare documents? It’s always good to have a spare copy of your important documents. For the following documents, either scan them and email them to yourself, or make two photocopies, leaving one copy with someone at home and keeping the other with you, separate from the originals: Passport, Travel insurance policy, Itinerary and tickets, Visas, Credit card numbers, Driver’s licence or international driving permit. This is where WE can help! See a doctor 6-8 weeks prior to travelling. Book an appointment with Students Services Health Service G33 & N12. Be sure to bring all your vaccination records with you, we can
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find out if any vaccinations or health checks are required for your destination. Remember that some vaccines require a long period to take effect and more than one dose may be needed. It is strongly recommended that before you leave you check the vaccination entry and exit requirements of all countries on your itinerary. Get scripts for your regular medications so you have enough for your travels. Be sure to check that any of your medications you plan to take with you are legal at all your destinations. You could consider carrying a letter from your doctor detailing your medicine, and that it is used for personal use. We strongly recommend you go to Smarttraveller.gov.au / wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel to get more information about the country/ies you plan to visit and see what vaccines you require and what health alerts may be happening in that area. The fun part! Google, like, subscribe, add to favourites, pin the areas you are going! Check out what happening in the areas whilst you are there for a holiday. WE recommend lonelyplanet.com, wikitravel.org, tripadvisor.com.au, loveswah.com, cntraveller.com, eatyourworld. com, fodors.com, skift.com. Don’t forget our web page griffith.edu.au/health-service for any help and advice. References: Smart Traveller, CDC, Immunise Australia Program More information can griffith.edu.au/health-service
be
obtained
from
the
Griffith
Health
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