2011 What Matters? Entries

BEDE POLDING COLLEGE ENTRIES - 2011 What Matters? is a writing competition that gives Year 5 – 12

students in NSW and the ACT a chance to say what matters to them in society today.

What actions do you think should be taken to build a better society?

What would you change if you could?

What do you want other people to care about?

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?‟ Competition School: Bede Polding College Student: Alyssa Philpott (Year 9)

Nothing to Kill or Die for?

Are there really any justifiable reasons for war? War results in the loss of lives and total devastation of communities, soldiers, innocent men, women and children.

There are many causes of war, ranging from simple problems to catastrophic events. The duration of wars vary, for example, World War II lasted 6 years, whilst the Falklands War lasted only 3 months. Although the duration varies, the destruction that results does not. Yet, with all of this in mind, our world‟s leaders continue to believe that war is the answer to our problems and the way out of everything.

One of the most important and enforced laws is murder. So why are soldiers still at war? Is war an excuse for murder? Even if those we take action against are considered to be our enemies, they are human beings just like us. Even soldiers are the same as we are. So, how can taking the lives of innocent men, women and children be justified by the act of war?

If it weren‟t for unnecessary contribution from other countries, in support of their allies, wars would not escalate to becoming a global issue. Although it is a fight not worth fighting, they risk their lives to support their allies. For example, Britain gets attacked so America gets involved. America is bombed so Japan gets involved. And it continues until the whole world is at war.

There really doesn‟t seem to be a point to war at all. Soldiers believe they are fighting for a good cause, whether it be for their country or some sort of honour.

There is no honour in taking a life. You‟re responsible for taking a life, enemy soldier or helpless civilian, and the guilt will remain with you for the rest of your life. Dying for your country is glorified, though it is not a glorious action.

In addition to the countless lives taken during war, many soldiers‟ lives are destroyed beyond war. Hundreds of war veterans suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, which involves reliving the horrors of war long after the war has ended. No matter how much time passes, they continue to experience the horrors of combat on the battlefield each and every day.

The lives of many veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder result in divorce, loneliness and unemployment, as they are deprived of the skills to create lasting relationships. These veterans desire a life of solitude, far away from civilian life.

All in all, war is a brutal and horrible event that should have never even started. It's completely pointless.

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?â€&#x; Competition School: Bede Polding College

Alyssa Philpott

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?‟ Competition School: Bede Polding College Name: Amanda Walton (Year 9)

Death Doesn‟t Care 25 December 2005, Christmas Day.

Andrew‟s eight, Ashleigh‟s five and I‟m ten. Mum and Dad sit in the armchairs watching us playing with the presents which „Santa‟ has given us. Everyone is pleased with their gifts and enjoy spending time with family instead of colleagues and peers. No one really gives a thought about what will happen in the future.

26 December 2005, Boxing Day.

We receive a call from Uncle Kaz and Aunty Linda saying that Babica (Grandma) has taken a turn for worse. Everyone immediately gets ready to go to hospital and then we‟re off. We arrive at the hospital and visit her, seeing how ill she is. She lies in the bed, face gaunt and still. Family surround her, waiting for the despair which comes as the outcome. We kiss her goodbye as she receives her final rites by the priest and then is bathed by the nurse.

Sometime during this Babica passed away.

Death affects everyone throughout their life. Whether it‟s a family, friend or pet, the mood created is of remorse for those who knew the individual.

Approximately 41,317,000 people died worldwide in 2010, with an average of 2 people dying a second due to different circumstances.

Approximately 6,289,000 were killed by hitting trees, power poles or other roadside objects. 18 to 25 year old males were the ones most commonly killed. This number whilst large is half of what is was 30 years ago as the „trend‟ began reducing around seven years ago.

Cancer in Australia took 43,000 lives last year with approximately 120 going each day.

Breast cancer killed 2,625 women and 25 men, 1057 died from brain cancer; Leukaemia had 1459 deaths and 1430 died from melanoma. The several other forms of cancer had the rest of the death toll. This is a large portion of Australia‟s population who didn‟t get to live their life comfortably.

War takes many people‟s lives either through disease, wounds or the actual process of shooting or bombing. Many innocent individuals lose loved ones by the cruelty of another nation.

World War 2 cut millions of people‟s lives short. Hitler was a selfish man who despised his own heritage bringing everyone down with him. Naive children such as Hana Brady didn‟t understand what was happening when her Jewish parents were taken away by the Nazi‟s to be murdered at separate concentration camps. Hana was later gassed at Auschwitz on October 23, 1944; the day she arrived there. Young men risked their lives to try and bring pride to their country, with the consequences of death or injuries.

What matters to me is that death comes to all people sometime during their life through various situations. It doesn‟t matter whether they‟re an innocent child who thinks not being allowed to go to the movies is a huge punishment when in reality the whole of Europe was being bombed or if their an assassin who bring people to their death daily. It happens when we least expect it, affecting our lives in unique ways for gloomy periods of time. Death will ALWAYS be something which occurs in a human‟s life.

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?â€&#x; Competition School: Bede Polding College

Amanda Walton

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?‟ Competition School: Bede Polding College Name: Eden Sweeney (Year 9)

Conform to Your Own Standards I duck my head and keep on walking determinedly down the corridor. Even though I can hear them snickering at my curly hair and make-up less, inevitably flawed face, I keep my expression impassive. I don‟t let them see the tears that well up in my eyes when a group of boys loudly join them in their amusement at the state of my unpolished appearance. I try to quickly stride out of their line of sight, however before I can make my escape one of the boys can‟t help himself and calls out, “Hey nerd” in a carrying voice that he knows everyone will hear.

I ignore him and almost sprint to the girl‟s bathroom and into a stall. As I struggle to keep myself under control, anger and hatred courses through my veins and the dam that is holding back my flood of tears finally breaks and I start to sob albeit silently. Every one of these scenarios over the last three years of high school flashes in my mind as I reminisce over the reasons why I‟m the one targeted out of the 240 other students in my year.

I didn‟t cake my face with the artificial substance known as makeup which only created the illusion of beauty and could never replace the real thing. My eyes weren‟t encrusted with inexpertly applied eyeliner and mascara that was so obvious you could see it from a mile away. I didn‟t whinge about having to learn or make life difficult for my teachers by misbehaving. Conversely I was a straight A student who lacked the ability to deal with insipid girls and their malevolent conversations that often proved useless. Which was why I had been dubbed a „nerd‟, in fact I wondered if any of them actually even knew my name. I didn‟t fit in. I was different, unique.

What lengths would you go to, to fit in, to blend into the crowd? Would you purposely change your own personality, the one thing that makes you unique and can distinguish you from all other people on the planet, in order to conform to society‟s stereotypical standards?

In the 21st century, high school has ceased to be a place of learning and has transformed into a form of daily torment for extraordinary teenagers everywhere.

Individuality is frowned upon and laughed at. Girls are encouraged to be vapid and useless as they reapply their makeup during lunch time in the bathroom. Boys encourage sexism and like to make racist jokes in their spare time. Failing classes and misbehaving is supported profusely. If you‟re not considered „cool‟ you‟re avoided like the plague and the word nerd gets thrown at you if you get one too many A‟s. Teenagers are forever fearful of being different to the normal so they strive to repress their personality and follow whatever anyone else is doing no matter what it is; the behaviour displayed isn‟t that dissimilar to that of sheep.

Being unique should be encouraged because it makes our world the diverse place that it is. People shouldn‟t conform to society‟s warped standards as they don‟t promote change or growth. Make your own moral and life standards and then conform to those. Don‟t let other people live your life for you, be individual. Being unique is better than hiding behind some else‟s idea of perfection.

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?â€&#x; Competition School: Bede Polding College Name: Eden Sweeney (Year 9) continued

I left the bathroom and walked back to the corridor where they were all still standing and laughing. Suddenly I put on a big smile. As they all looked at me I started to laugh because being different was so much better than being the same person that they were all trying to be. I knew exactly who I was, but they all were still searching in the dark. Then I let it go and walked away.

Eden Sweeney

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?‟ Competition School: Bede Polding College Name: Eduardo Concepcion (Year 9)

Behind the Greatest of Society (The Value of Others) Amazing and inspirational people have appeared throughout our history. People such as John F. Kennedy, Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela have inspired millions of people around the world with their charisma and their desire to make their vision for the future come true. They hold up our society so it does not collapse. It is their example that many people try to follow.

It‟s natural for us to feel small and insignificant compared to them. They are just naturally good; there is no way we can be like them.

But in reality, the greatest of people are not as far above us as they seem.

Behind the fortress that is fame and glory lays an everyday person with everyday problems. Behind the aura of invincibility lays a person who experiences failure like everyone else. These superstars of society are, believe it or not, human.

And a single person can‟t soar to greatness alone.

A block of steel can make nails or steel beams. Steel beams are imperative to the structural integrity of the building. They are quite large objects and require much care.

Nails on the other hand are quite small, overshadowed by the larger steel beams. However without them, what would keep the steel beams in place?

The great people of society act as steel beams that hold up the structure that is society.

The nails are their followers.

You are faced with a choice during your life. Do you become one of many nails that provide essential support for the steel beams? Or do you become a steel beam that does the heavy lifting and holds up the structure that is society?

It is the people that choose the hard path and became the steel beams that are remembered by society. But without nails they won‟t achieve anywhere near what they have.

We can all make a difference in society without having to be the one everyone talks about.

For every amazing point scored in a game is there not a selfless player who helped it set up?

Like steel beams without nails holding it in place, a society of leaders without followers will fall into chaos.

The greatest people of society are really figure heads. They represent a wider group, not just themselves. The group they represent hold them up so they stand out in the crowd, at the expense of their own recognition.

Wise are the people that remember that without support they are nothing. But even wiser are those that sacrifice their chance at fame and glory to help someone else achieve it.

The only way we can achieve something worthwhile is by working together.

“Even if you are strong, you still need people who would support you all the way”-Corazon Aquino

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?â€&#x; Competition School: Bede Polding College

Eduardo Concepcion

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?‟ Competition School: Bede Polding College Name: Emma Camilleri (Year 9)

You don‟t realise what you have until it is gone.

A heart of gold stopped beating, two smiling eyes at rest, God broke our hearts to prove to us he only takes the best. These are the words that come to mind as I stand looking over my Auntie‟s grave. Here I remember her angel like eyes in so much pain yet so brave. I remember the brief earthly life which she offered to all who were dear to her and I remember the beauty of her heart breaking through her smile.

On the 24th of March 2001 our world was turned upside down. We received a phone call from my grandmother who was hysterical. She had phoned to see where my aunt was as she was supposed to pick her up. Instead of speaking to my aunt she spoke to a police officer who gave her the news no mother wants to hear.

We drove down the road to see a smashed up car. A car I recognised. I soon learnt that Aunty Sue, aged 26, had been involved in a serious car accident. That morning when I said goodbye to her, I didn‟t realise that that would be the last time I ever heard her voice or saw her smile and laugh.

Once help arrived she was air lifted to Penrith Hospital, with her life hanging in the balance. My Aunty was in a coma with a list of injuries. She had a hit to her left temple which was causing her brain to swell to dangerous levels, broken ribs, punctured lung and a broken neck. When the paramedics reached her she was not breathing and had to be resuscitated. Brain damage was expected from this trauma, how much was still unclear.

My Aunty was put on ventilator unsure if she would be able to breathe on her own if it was switched off. However the prayers that were said were answered. The ventilator was taken off and she continued to breathe. Aunty Sue woke up from her coma four weeks after on Mother‟s day. A sign of hope.

Due to the extent of her injuries, Aunty Sue was in hospital for the next 18 months. My grandparent‟s house had to be renovated so it was suitable for Aunty Sue. My Aunt was totally and permanently disabled. She could not eat, drink, speak, walk or move. All these things we take for granted. She was forced to live her life in a wheel chair and was feed through a food peg. She needed total care for all her basic needs. The simple pleasures of eating, going for a nice walk or just having a laugh was no longer possible for my aunt.

Aunty Sue was like this for 6 years until mid January 2007. Aunty Sue had pneumonia and the infection spread into her blood. She was unable to fight this illness because her immune system had deteriorated after 6 years of medication and constant infections. She died on 17th January 2007 at the age of 32 I am still here at my Auntie‟s grave thinking about how hard it is too lose someone so close to you. I never realised what I had until it was gone. Treasure every little detail in your life.

Treasure your family and the gift of life, never take it for granted. Don‟t just treasure big things that are obvious, look outside the box and treasure little things like your hobbies, your dreams, the smell of fresh air, the feeling of grass between your toes the ability to walk, communicate and the ability to be independent. Treasure these gifts while you have them because who knows what the future holds. You might end up like my Aunty or you might end up like my family and I, losing an aunty, a daughter, a sister or a friend. Love everything and everyone in your life while you still have it.

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?â€&#x; Competition School: Bede Polding College

Emma Camilleri

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?‟ Competition School: Bede Polding College Name: Jacob Grainger (Year 9)

What Matters I love my dog and consider myself a good pet owner. I care for him by giving him a safe place to sleep, providing him with food, water, plenty of exercise and yes, I even pick up his poo! Sure, some of these tasks are like yet another job to add to the list but because I love him, I don‟t mind at all and he seems very happy.

Unfortunately many pets aren‟t as lucky and thousands die each year due to neglect, mistreatment and bad pet ownership.

Dogs aren‟t disposable Macca‟s toys; you can‟t just throw them away once you‟re bored with them. Dogs live for up to 15 years and need love and care. They are very much a long-term investment. So dogs are not always a great Christmas gift for kids. It may come as no surprise that pounds get their largest number of dogs after Christmas. A dog surrendered to the pound gets no chances, it dies. You try driving past the pound on certain days. The stench of rotting flesh invades your nostrils and turns your stomach inside out. In Australia, 200,000 dogs are euthanized each year.

Cruelty to dogs involves more than just the obvious beating, dog fighting, and starvation. Some people are too ignorant and don‟t bother to learn how to care for their pet. This too is cruelty. The most common complaints the RSPCA receives are; failure to provide adequate food, shelter and vet treatment. A dog needs to be treated humanely. Dog owners must be responsible enough to know how to adequately care for their pet. They are a living, breathing animal, they have rights and needs that must be met. Just like a small child, a dog cannot meet all their needs without help from their parent. Yes, that‟s what you are as a dog owner, a parent. Child neglect is against the law and so is animal cruelty and neglect.

In NSW, dogs must be micro-chipped. If only every breeder, pet store and owner obeyed the law. A micro-chip contains the owner‟s details and this is registered with the local council. A lost dog that ends up at the pound therefore has a much greater chance of being reunited with its owner if it is micro-chipped. Of the poor dogs that do go into the pound, only half ever come out. Why only half?

Dog ownership should be seen as a privilege and not a right. It matters to me that dogs are well cared for and loved just like every other member of the family. Every dog owner has the responsibility to educate themselves in the care of their animal.

In doing so, they will contribute to keeping man‟s best friend alive, healthy and happy. Every dog deserves dignity.

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?â€&#x; Competition School: Bede Polding College

Jacob Grainger

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?‟ Competition School: Bede Polding College Name: Jade Vos (Year 9)

In A Lifetime “Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans”. Everyone plans into the future, but we all know, that one day, there will be no future for us. We make a habit of planning ahead, meanwhile, we are wasting the little amount of time that we have. It seems that the human race has been taking life a bit too seriously, and we often tend to forget how short and precious life is.

Would life be better without all of this planning? Without all of this technology that is slowly taking away the true meaning of life, and replacing it with the material items, that we think make us happy? Would it be possible with all of today‟s knowledge, to simplify life? School, work, all of this is planning. At school, we learn, so we can get a good job. We get a good job so we earn money. We earn money to live. Why must we pay this price? Why can‟t we just live, no stress, no pressure? Because as humans, we plan.

Most of us plan, so that we can live, but many people don‟t see that life is short and unpredictable. Many things can happen throughout life, usually when we are planning; not living, and everyone, at one stage of their life will experience something unpredictable, that would have been impossible to plan for, like breaking bones while playing sport, or even a loved one dying, in a car crash.

Instances such as these, where the unpredictable happens, define life. Life is fragile and short, and can all be over in a split second, and this is beyond human control.

Humans plan life, so they can make sure that it is happy. All we want is to live a happy, healthy and fun filled life. Many people aren‟t this lucky; some born with conditions such as brain damage and heart problems that may stop them from living life at its full potential. Others are affected by war and poverty, preventing from the fulfilled life that many of us live here in countries like America, European countries and Australia. Even though life is unpredictable anywhere you live, in these countries, people have the freedom to plan their lives, in order to be happy in the long run. This is very important to most people, to have the freedom to plan and live their own unique, fun and happy lives.

People plan their lives to be happy. Everyone has a dream job, dream house, or a dream family when they are young. They plan for this as they get older. Our parents explain how money is a big issue, so that is what we are taught to strive for in life. In order to be happy, we need to have lots of money. This is true, to an extent. Recent studies conducted by a local Australian newspaper have revealed that the saying „Money can‟t buy happiness‟, is becoming more true every year and people are starting to realise that fame and fortune, aren‟t the key to a happy life.

“Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans”. In the modern world, today, it makes more and more sense, but is realised by less and less people.

When we plan, we aren‟t living our life to the fullest, and the unexpected will always happen anyway. People plan to be happy, and realise the true meaning of happiness isn‟t money, or fancy houses or jobs, it‟s just the fact that we are living.

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?â€&#x; Competition School: Bede Polding College

Jade Vos

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?‟ Competition School: Bede Polding College Name: Jess Staveley (Year 9)

Every teen suicide has a murderer.

The killer? Society.

The suicide rate among teenagers is terribly high and frightening with around 5,000 every year. It is utterly and completely wrong in my opinion that teenagers are going through so much bullying that they resort to suicide and self-harm.

During October last year seven boys committed suicide due to homophobic abuse in their homes, their communities and their schools.

Some people cannot leave their homes without at least once being discriminated by a stranger. I know a boy, who cannot even simply visit a shopping centre without being called a name because of his sexual orientation.

A girl recently killed herself because she thought she was fat. Society told her she was fat. She was called fat by classmates and she believed she was fat as opposed to models in magazines. She was only eight years old.

Last year, my best friend attempted suicide, twice. When he called me, for help and told me what had happened, I felt my stomach drop. To think about losing someone so close to you is devastating, even seeing others going through the personal trauma is horrific. Although at the time, bullying someone for being „gay‟ or an „emo‟ or „fat‟ may seem funny to you, however imagine how you would feel if you caused someone‟s death. Imagine if your name-calling or bullying got to the extent that the victim felt the need to end their lives to escape the bullying. Let me tell you now: you wouldn‟t feel victorious or triumphant- you would feel incredibly guilty and upset.

Stereotyping is becoming a huge problem in society, today. You cannot wear certain clothing or listen to certain music without being stereotyped. We should be free to make our own decisions, listen to whatever music we want and dress the way we like without being labelled. There have been countless occasions where I have been called several names for the music I personally listen to, the way I dress and even the people I sit with at lunchtime.

When is society going to drop the labels? We are all just people that express ourselves differently. No one is the same. Even if we dress, act or feel similar - No one is the same. We are all different, creative individual human beings that all deserve a place on earth.

We should never let the media or others tell us what we‟re supposed to look like, we shouldn‟t let anyone bring us down and we shouldn‟t let anyone tell us who we‟re supposed to be. Everyone is beautiful, just the way they are and no one should ever make people feel otherwise.

Let‟s stop teen suicide. For good.

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?â€&#x; Competition School: Bede Polding College

Jess Staveley

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?‟ Competition School: Bede Polding College Name: Joshua Mayne (Year 9)

The World We Live In What goes through the minds of the modern day family when they sit around a table and eat dinner? Would they be thinking of how well the footy went last night?

Or if anyone would mind if they take the last piece of chicken?

Unfortunately, with for many families throughout the world, those would be the last things on their mind. They would be thinking of the many people who died last night while the West was enjoying their favourite team win the Grand Final. They would be thinking of their families who are being traumatized by a war that ravages their land, their lives and their people.

People disagree, people fight, and people get over it. But today, war has become a sport, to prove the better team. The Western world‟s view on war has become so diluted by propaganda to the extent that people no longer know what they are fighting for.

The white nations of the world have become so anaesthetised to war, killing and destroying people‟s lives that they even bring out games that simulate what happens in a war. To the point where people pride themselves on how good they are at killing people.

This scares me, as it should any human being that knows how terrible war is and the effects that it has on so many people. We are playing with lives here, and it shouldn‟t be taken lightly.

Let us for a moment think about how many wars the nations of the world have seen. The list exceeds the thousands, with well known names known by many like the: English Civil War, World War 1 & 2, Battle of Hastings, Trafalgar, Napoleonic Wars and even the Crusades that ravaged Europe in the 12th century. All these wars have something in common, people were killed and hurt and lives were forever affected.

At this point in time in the 21st century, people are rebuking and rebelling against the authorities and governments they belong to. This tells us that all the wars before us, haven‟t really worked, we haven‟t learnt our lesson. War does not work.

Instead it helps bring the population down, by killing all who stand in the way of the guy with the biggest gun.

Unfortunately many families in the midst of war have no idea if the meal they are eating, will be their last. The world says that they must be strong, and put up with the grief that their country is putting another through, and that it is all in the name of peace.

World War 1 showed the world that they could unite to fight against a common enemy and bring peace to their nation. World War 2 showed us that it didn‟t work, and that any peace that you want, must be fought for.

This is the world we live in.

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?â€&#x; Competition School: Bede Polding College

Joshua Mayne

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?‟ Competition School: Bede Polding College Name: Mollie Gorman (Year 9)

Death...Of a Life...

Grief is a terrible thing. It tortures countless millions around the world each year. Contrary to popular belief, one never learns to “get over it”, rather you learn how to live with it.

Personal experience is generally one of two things-it is either really good, or very bad. An example of good is going on the superman escape at Movie World. An example of bad is the death of a loved one. Especially bad when the one who dies is only 16 hours old.

Brigid, her name was. Brigid, her name still is. Brigid was born 14 weeks premature on the 7th December 2002. Just 24 hours later, on the 8th December 2002, she was deceased.

I was five years old at the time. I never met my tiny baby sister, whom I has desperately wanted, alive. I remember the day my father told me she had died. I don‟t recall what he said, but I remember the feeling. The feeling of your heart being ripped out of your chest, slashed into red, bloody strips and then put back. And then being told that the thing you wanted so, so badly for years was gone. Then realising that that thing would never, ever, ever come back.

The worst part of grief is not the actual pain, but the realisation that your loved one was gone. The aftermath. For an initial period of time, you can hope that it is all part of some horrendous nightmare. This period of „dreaming‟ can last from days, to months, to years. I remember being about seven years old, and catching „Santa‟s‟. The belief was that you caught one, told it your wish and then let it go. If it didn‟t touch the ground after you released it, your wish had been heard. It might even come true, so long as you told no one.

So what was my wish almost every time I caught one? For my darling little sister to come back to life. Somehow....

I didn‟t know how, I didn‟t know if it was even possible, but I didn‟t care-I was grieving and it was natural reaction. Many people have never experienced grief, and don‟t know its effect. As a young child at the time of my sister‟s death, all I could comprehend was that she was gone. As I got older, I began to understand why and how she had died. Her lungs had not developed properly, and therefore couldn‟t support her. If she had survived, she wouldn‟t have been able to live a normal life as her lungs would be too small. But what if

she had survived?

Grief is hard to live with. It is cruel and unrelenting. I still cry myself to sleep some nights.

It is probably best described as a particularly bad Aunt. You hate her, and want her to just leave you alone. But even so, there is a strong undercurrent of something that makes you not want to let her go in the same way. Some days I wish it would just go and leave me alone. But if it did, would that mean I forgot that Brigid ever existed?

So in the same way that I hate grief, I don‟t want it to go. I will never forget Brigid, and I never want to stop grieving for her - because than I might forget her. Brigid will always hold a special spot in my heart.

In loving memory, Brigid Gorman.

7.12.2002-8.12.2002 RIP my baby sister.

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?â€&#x; Competition School: Bede Polding College

Mollie Gorman

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?‟ Competition School: Bede Polding College Name: Nicole O‟Brien (Year 9)

Music Matters Music is everywhere you go and ranges anywhere between a bird chirping to a song on the radio and today, music is the worlds‟ most popular form of expression.

People express themselves through music because their audience can relate to the way they feel or to a point they are trying to get across which brings people together without discrimination. But the greatest thing about music is that it is completely unique.

However, Music is not just a way of expression, it also an art form and a more engaging way of telling a story. Emotions are mostly portrayed through music and can give you a greater understanding of issues and their stance. But by closing your eyes and listening to the lyrics or words you can easily pick up the mood and the story being told. A song I feel that strongly portrays emotion is a song called “untitled” by Simple Plan which tells the story of a close friend of the bands who was killed in a tragic drink driving accident. That said music is also a way of dealing with strong emotions like grief.

Music also has healing powers and today, is used for therapy because it relaxes the mind and promotes social and communication skills. Music therapy is most commonly used on infants, people with autism and patients recovering from a major surgery. In a 1991 case study, a 90 year old man named Ida Goldman testified at a senate hearing claiming “Before I had surgery they told me I could never walk again. But when I sat and listened to music, I forgot all about the pain” and before and after he said this he walked with assistance to and from the stand.

At the begging of the 20th century, scientists could see that if babies listened to gentle music, it developed their brains and they were healthier. These scientists then went on to find scientific grounds of music therapy and their experiment was conducted on premature babies. Their results showed that babies who had a lack of oxygen, and it doesn‟t matter if they‟re premature or not, his cell ferments are low but during and after listening to classical music, the babies activity of their cell ferments rose increasing oxygen intake.

Music is also used for worship, to meditate and uplift our spirits. These are just a few ways and explanations on why music matters and that even though many take music for granted and consciously don‟t acknowledge its benefits, healing properties and how it can alter our moods. So next time you listen to a song think of its benefits and how it makes you feel and, even though you may not realise it, change your mood.

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?‟ Competition School: Bede Polding College

Nicole O‟Brien

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?‟ Competition School: Bede Polding College Name: Oliver Daley (Year 9)

Gender Inequality Gender inequality forms many issues throughout our society and must be eliminated. Men and women obviously have points of difference including physical traits but this does mean that their rights or opportunities should differ. Women are the main focus of gender discrimination. It is defined as the inability to have equal opportunity and rights depending on that individuals gender.

Social status, economic input and politics are the three main features of our society where gender inequality is noticeable. Women are continually robed of their rights and opportunities including a quality education, career options, and a high level of respect. As many women are deprived of education, consequently their social status and economic input will decrease dramatically. Men in many circumstances have greater access to educational resources and health services.

It is an outrage that your gender determines social status and economic input.

Stereotypes also restrict women‟s ability to apply for careers. It is quoted that the roles of women are related to home-based activities which have a low status compared to the male gender. In effect it is estimated 70% of the world‟s poor are women and this is percentage is steadily increasing.

The sound of a wife being brutally taunted by her husband echoes throughout the hallways of the house as their child tries to fall asleep. Violence against women has become an increasing problem worldwide due to its normality. Violence against women is inhuman as it exploits a female‟s physical structure and misuses the power given to men. Referring to gender inequality men are much stronger than women and to use this power immaturely indicates a lack of responsibility. Power must be used with responsibility and with the consent of others. No female should have to deal with this act of cruelty but in some countries the legal system discriminates against many female rights. It is imperative in many countries that the legal system is reviewed for floors and improvements.

In aid of gender inequality Australia and many other countries have established various organisations and various days of commemoration. The establishment of Australian Agency of International development (abbreviated to AusAID) believes that a positive relationship is required for the advancement of women, to reduce poverty and to promote sustainable development. In coordination with other partners, AusAID addresses violence against women and strengthens women‟s economic empowerment. A number of days have also been established to recognise women as significant individuals in our society. These days include International Women‟s day and International day of eliminating violence against women.

Gender inequality is still a burden for many females and males but there have been some improvements in creating equality among genders. It is unbearable for many individuals as their gender restricts many opportunities and the choices they want to make in their life. In many countries gender inequality is still a concerning issue.

We may have won the battle but not the war.

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?â€&#x; Competition School: Bede Polding College

Oliver Daley

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?‟ Competition School: Bede Polding College Name: Paul Zaghoul (Year 9)

War As long as there are men to fight there will always be war. It never changes. Always two sides against each other in a continuous struggle until one side eventually overpowers the other.

War tears the chest of the strongest men open and destroys the heart, the spirit, and all that remains is a helpless little animal. It sends them to the abyss, to experience their darkest nightmares. War never gains anything but think of what it takes. Entire towns can be levelled, whole countries annihilated, thousands of bloodlines grind to a halt. And for what cause? The power or glory of one man, one „leader‟. It‟s not worth it.

Soldiers will fight brainwashed by the speeches of their leaders. “For your country, you are fighting for your country”. They will continue to fight for their leader, for this war, and most will forget why it began. The murder of one? The thoughts of another? Petty cases that leads to devastation.

Even now there is war, it will never end. An unrelenting assault, a civil battle against humans alike. Has it ever made happiness or just taken it away? It destroys, it takes it does not give. Nations will exhaust themselves fighting. When another takes over they will then battle again and again and again.

You might think it not so bad, shrug it off like it‟s nothing. Try that once you are in the midst of the destruction, the conflict once you experience it firsthand. The fear of dying, the fear for your friends lives, the sorrow once they are lost, and the regret for signing up for such living hell.

The question is not, “Will there be a World war III?”. It is, “When will there be World War III?” For it will come, you can‟t stop it. Go ahead, try, I dare you, become a leader, riot against it but I assure you it will fail it always does, you might as well be starting one.

Then again you can fight fire with fire. Start a war to end thousands of wars in the years to come, build an army become a military commander eradicate any opposing force that might pose a threat to your rule become a world of order but there will always be one little force that will resist and the circle of war starts again…

The strongest will win the wars and the weaker will fall. They will grow into an empire but even then they too will be destroyed, it is only a matter of time. The American empire will fall one day and another will rise to take their place it is only a matter of time, It has always been so. The Greek the Roman, the Mongolian empires all rose to great power and were defeated the way they grew, through war.

As humans discover new technology and have access to futuristic weapons, what will become of the world then. War causes immense damage now but it will become an event of monstrous proportions spanning across continents, killing millions of people just to achieve one goal.

Next time you are thinking of signing up for war, thinking that you are fighting for your country because of a just cause, think again…

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?â€&#x; Competition School: Bede Polding College

Paul Zaghloul

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?‟ Competition School: Bede Polding College Name: Tegan Head (Year 9)

OUTCAST As I walked past a girl and her friends, they looked at me and laughed, before walking away. I went over to the place where I usually sit every day, which is a rejected area on the cold, wet ground, away from the rest of my Year Group. I sit there lonely, every day, whilst being stared at all the time.

I can‟t even walk past them without hearing a rude comment being yelled out at me. I just simply ignore it and keep walking, not daring to make a single eye contact with anyone. It was hard to get used to, but now it‟s like a routine which I go through just to pass the time of each day.

I have everything that a normal girl has whilst she is growing up through her teenage years. But unfortunately, all these “symptoms” are much worse than you‟d expect. I have bright orange hair with freckles, which are covered with an overload of pimples. I don‟t even fit into the size clothes that I should be fitting into.

I would love to stop being who I am. I have dreamed of being able to be tough enough to stand up for myself against all those bullies. Maybe then they will understand what they are putting me through for no good reason. I have always been thinking of these things ever since I reached year 6. It was then when my life got turned upside down, just because a girl hit puberty worse than everyone else.

Suicide crosses the mind sometimes, but I am too much of a wimp to do that. I have seen stories on TV where students kill themselves because they had been bullied by some stupid kids. It was not until recently when I heard that a girl, who was described to be exactly like me, killed herself because she couldn‟t take the kind of behaviour that was being put against her. I felt so sorry for her because I know what kind of pain she would have gone through.

Why do I, and people like me, have to go through the kind of pain where we just want to kill ourselves? It‟s just not fair. Why don‟t people understand that we are all unique inividuals in the world, who just want to live a normal and happy life? What if it was them who were a victim of bullying? They would not like it. So why would they bully an innocent person?

I don‟t know why I am left out. I know I don‟t have what it takes to look beautiful or be cool, but why should I be judged any differently? I have been threatened about telling someone about how I am being treated. So now, I have stopped looking for help because my faith is below minimum and all of my hope is lost.

I am just an Outcast in today‟s society, but can someone…please… tell me the real reason why?

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?â€&#x; Competition School: Bede Polding College

Tegan Head

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?‟ Competition School: Bede Polding College Name: Caitlin Dorahy (Year 9)

A Walking Travesty.

The blood trickled down his leg as he hit the cement floor from a blow to his stomach. His pleas for truce rang loud and clear through the enclosed space as he watched the next fist hit his head. He squinted up through bruised and bloodied eyes just hoping they would stop. Ignorant insults slammed through his head as they laughed mockingly at him. Why wouldn't they stop? Couldn't they see the pain and terror this caused him? Couldn't they just be civil and realise what they're doing is wrong?

"You gay freak. Why do you exist?'

Left alone in the bathroom floor of the school, watching his life bleed out of him and feeling like he's worthless he decided to just stop it. Stop all the abuse that comes to him everyday. Stop all of the ignorance, war and hatred the world brings upon him. Stop these homophobic jerks that think it's funny to mess with his head.

He'll end it right then and there.

We live a society where everyone is constantly judged. It's unacceptable and does not need to occur. People shouldn't have to live up to anyone else‟s expectations. They shouldn't have to change for anyone and they certainly shouldn't be feeling like they're an out sider. Why would you put someone else down and make them feel like they're worthless? Why can't we just accept each other‟s differences and let people be themselves? One judgment, that's particularly an unpopular opinion in today‟s society that is made for absolutely no reason at all, is that homosexuals are 'different'.

Being homosexual won't destroy the world. It won't create some massive and horrible disease that‟ll end human race. It won‟t put a gun to someone's head and kill them. It won‟t corrupt the minds of young children; in fact, it‟ll show them that love can conquer everything and anything. However, there are many people out there who still think it's okay to cause disunity just because someone loves someone else. To those with brains, there is no legitimate reason against homosexuality. People do not realise how hard it actually is for homosexual people to live through the ridicule, hateful comments, wandering eyes, judgmental looks, and close-minded concepts from day to day. Is it really that fair that society makes homosexuals feel as though they don't belong, that they're different? Is it really that fair that because of this, they feel like a walking travesty that doesn't exist?

Why must someone be the victim of a hate crime because they are attracted to the same sex? Why is it that people feel the need to impose their ignorance and hate on innocent people?

Everyone deserves to have a wonderful life filled with harmony. Everyone deserves to be treated equally and feel welcome. Why cant we all just let love exist and that's all? No gender. No label. Just love. Why is it that we're constantly be treating and insulting people? They deserve to have a happy, beautiful life just as much as these homophobic people deserve to be punished for making them think they don't.

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?â€&#x; Competition School: Bede Polding College

Caitlin Dorahy

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?‟ Competition School: Bede Polding College Name: Stephanie Azzopardi (Year 9)

My best friend Sampson I remember when I used to pat his black and gold coat. I remember when he used to listen to my troubles when I was sad. I can still hear his bark. I can still see his smile and I can still smell him, my best friend.

It all began 14 years ago, when Dad brought home this beautiful, and may I say cute, Kelpie Cattle puppy. We named him Sampson. Although I was only a month old, my sister spent lots of time getting to know and playing with him. A few years later, my Mum, Dad, sister and I classified our new addition as „Sammy‟. He earned a soft spot in our hearts.

Undergoing many challenges throughout his life, including many arduous visits to the vet, Sammy always seemed to pull through anything negative that came his way.

Until one morning, my best friend was gone. Sammy was gone.

By his 14th birthday, it was obvious that Sammy had gone part deaf, blind and had arthritis. I tried to remain positive for him and ignored Mum and Dad every single time they attempted to give me the “Nobody lives forever” talk. The previous afternoon, Sampson had an accident and he couldn‟t move his leg from that point onwards. Sammy was in distress and immense pain. I remember giving him a kiss on the forehead and wrapping my arms around him to reassure him that everything would okay. Little did I know that that moment would be our last together.

I woke up the following morning to see no sign of Sampson. Together, my worried sister and I searched every aspect of our backyard for him. Still - no sign of Sampson. Crying in distress, we ran inside the house to ask Mum where he was.

“Dad took him to the vet. There‟s nothing they can do”.

The worst part was I actually thought Sammy would be able to pull through. All those moments of play, laughter and sadness are now left as memories. Never again will I call Sampson for dinner. Never again will he help me find my sister in a game of hide-and-go-seek and never again will he be there for me to lean on.

But I guess Sampson is in a better place now. He was enduring through strenuous pain and was suffering on this Earth. Even though I miss him sincerely, I know that God is looking after him. I know that he took Sampson into the care of his own hands not only for his sake, but for ours as well. It was heart-breaking having to see Sampson go through so much pain. Sometimes I think it happened for the better.

Now that his life and death have passed, I wonder if I spent enough time with him.

Was I there when he needed me most? Did he know how much I loved and cared for him? I hope he knew how much I valued him in my life. Although Sammy has left our lives, he will always remain in our hearts.

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?â€&#x; Competition School: Bede Polding College

Stephanie Azzopardi

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?‟ Competition School: Bede Polding College Name: Stephanie Quattromani (Year 9)

Poverty in Africa “Poverty is going empty with no hope for the future. Poverty is watching your mothers; fathers, brothers and sisters die in pain and in sorrow just because they couldn't get something to eat. Poverty is hearing your grandmothers and grandfathers cry out to death to come take them because they are tired of this world. Poverty is watching your own children and grandchildren die in your arms but there is nothing you can do. Poverty is watching those you love shed tears in their deepest sleep. Poverty is suffering from HIV/AIDS and dying a shameful death but nobody seems to care.” This is what poverty is like for those who do not know, and was said by an African woman because, “she knows poverty, just like she knows her father‟s name”.

Poverty is a serious issue, especially in the slums of sub-Saharan Africa. There, more than 800 million people go to bed hungry every day which is more than the whole population of Australia and America put together. Every three seconds, a child dies from AIDS and extreme poverty, and every minute of the day, a child in Africa dies from measles, when an effective measles vaccine costs only $1 per child.

Why should these people have to live like this? Why do they have to suffer this injustice?

HIV/AIDS has left 12 to 16 million African children orphaned, and has left them to fend for themselves. Two-thirds of the world‟s HIV positive population live in subSaharan Africa, which has wiped out whole generations.

Many people can‟t imagine living in poverty stricken places such as some of the towns and villages of Africa. When we want water, we simply turn on the tap, or if we are hungry we walk to the fridge and get out something to eat. We are so lucky in our lives; we have access to the basic things we need to survive. If we are sick, we can visit the doctor or the hospital, whereas less than 50% of Africa‟s population has access to a hospital or doctors. We take all of these things for granted.

In Africa each year, 6 million children under the age of five die from malnutrition.

Globally, one billion people do not have access to clean water, and have to drink contaminated water that often is home to deadly bacteria and leads to diseases such as river blindness and guinea worm. These people would go to bed dreaming about the life that we are living, the life that we take for granted. Any one of us could have been born into the world of poverty, a world so different to our own. As Nelson Mandela said, “Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity; it is an act of justice.”

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?â€&#x; Competition School: Bede Polding College

Stephanie Quattromani

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?‟ Competition School: Bede Polding College Name: Stephanie Scott (Year 9)

Life Wasn‟t Meant To Be Easy It isn‟t till life slows down, that we truly start to think what matters. We all go through life wanting and needing and finding happiness in things that we think matter. Cancer changes all of that.

I remember the day, the time, the mood and my facial expression when I was told you had cancer. Everything went down from that moment; I looked over my shoulder to find a room full of busted emotions. I was told it was a very rare cancer and that‟s what scared me.

The rest of the day was a distant blur. So much information to absorb. Couldn‟t think straight or even function. Just remembering that there was nothing to say to make it better.

We made a rule that day; not to cry; not to show fear; just to show that we would fight and keep hope within us.

Watching you was hard, seeing you in pain, struggling with the rarest cancer; it seemed like it was slowly winning, but know body wanted to think that.

A few months passed and you were left with no hair. It started to scare me, our conversations were slowly dying. You were using crouches for support, taking a dozen tablets every day, even had experimental treatments and still found the time to smile.

You were turning into what I would call my hero. Watching you strive, watching you keep your faith and watching you be strong made me realise that it wasn‟t time to say goodbye.

I was right, it clearly wasn‟t time to say goodbye. All your pain, hard work, struggling and stressed times payed off. The sarcoma was gone and you survived.

I look at you now I see the young adult there was meant to be. Having cancer made you stronger; it changed your life and made you a better person. Knowing that you‟re a thriving person with a body that‟s fighting makes not only me but the whole family smile. To have that feeling that you‟re well and back on course is what gets me up of a morning.

The mistake of waiting until you‟re dying to do what you want to do is a mistake that‟s been around for a long time. The meaning of life should be found during life and not while life‟s ending. Don‟t take life for granted and live life to the fullest because you never know what‟s coming your way.

Nobody ever said life was meant to be easy. It will always be hard finding out that someone you love or someone you know is becoming sick and that‟s when you live for hope.

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?â€&#x; Competition School: Bede Polding College

Stephanie Scott

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?‟ Competition School: Bede Polding College Name: Andrew Cauchi (Year 9)

The Hero behind the Mask Everyone has a bad side, but for some people this is the only side seen. How many people can tell me about Matthew Newton‟s childhood or what good deeds he has performed in his life? Is it just the paparazzi showing how he has assaulted his girlfriend or is he much less shallow than some people portray, not showing the face behind the mask. I believe everyone, whether they are a prisoner of a lunatic asylum, drug addict or an everyday person, should have the right and opportunity to show their good side. Most people have this, and can show it at any chance, but who is there to defend a criminal instead of drilling him for something he did.

Lately three quarters of the news is devoted to stories of criminal activity. The only other news you get is the sport and weather but really how often is it that we don‟t hear mention of a murder in the media? Hardly anyone would argue that you don‟t, because while listening to the news or reading the newspaper, the first thing you hear or read is a shooting, stabbing or stealing in the news. It would be hard for someone to prove you wrong if you thought that every criminal or semi-criminal had a very strong story and most likely an unfortunate life under their belts. I would not defend the crimes they may have committed but I can defend them in saying there is much more depth in a person like this than most believe.

A lot of this is media bias, and their ignorance towards the crimes. If you were to watch the news everyday for 7 days, there is a major chance of at least five or six of the days bringing up some of the news that nobody wants to hear. If media told it like it was, which will probably never happen, than I believe all criminals and partying celebrities could have their stories told which can never harm anybody.

Another example of this is the Taliban or other terrorist organisations. Once again I would never defend any of the acts of terrorism that they have caused but there is much more than killing on their minds. The Taliban is heavily formed on politics and religion. They have ideas that many see as disgusting and mental but that they see as correct and appropriate. Some of the things that they try to accomplish are understandable and are built on a very recognisable foundation of what many people want but it is the way these things are gotten that would be seen as acceptable to someone on the same page as these organisations. If we were given the opportunity to experience and understand the hero that some see these men and women as behind the dark mask that they are said to live behind.

No matter how dark some people are portrayed as to be while hidden behind their mask, I am sure that they all have traumatic stories, unfortunate events during their lives and a loving, caring and heroic side behind the mask. The other side of the mask always hides a hero, ready to help many people throughout the world and some are begging for the opportunity to show many what their minds and heart is really made up of, besides the things that people blindly see.

I believe anybody and everybody should have a chance to display the Hero behind the Mask.

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?â€&#x; Competition School: Bede Polding College

Andrew Cauchi

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?‟ Competition School: Bede Polding College Name: Jamon Windeyer (Year 9)

Normal?

Normal- Conforming to the standard or common type; usual, not abnormal; regular; natural. Serving to establish a standard... But what is the common type?

What is the standard? What exactly is regular or natural? And perhaps most importantly, who has the right to decide?

The definition above was pulled straight out of a dictionary, and yet even it doesn‟t have a solid definition for this elusive term. The term can be interpreted an infinite number of ways. Every person will have a different definition of normal. The dictionary cannot define such a term and neither can any scientist.

And yet people worldwide strive to achieve normality. To „fit in‟, and „conform to the standard‟. As a person, we crave to fit in, to not feel like we are one of a kind.

We don‟t like to feel alone. So, sadly, people will change themselves, change their opinions and values, to achieve normal. But if there is no definition of normal, just what are we striving for?

We are striving for what we believe to be normal. And what we believe to be normal is thrust upon us in every aspect of our lives. Our opinion is influenced by family and friends and our opinion is influenced by the media and advertising. Basically, we believe what we are told to believe. We don‟t have the chance to think for ourselves. And because of this, we change ourselves. We change ourselves to fit in, to be part of the norm. We change ourselves to look and act like that „normal‟ person in the magazines.

But why does it matter to us in the first place? Why do we strive to be normal? That is simple, we are afraid. Afraid to be against what everyone else is doing and afraid to be considered „abnormal‟. We are afraid to be alone, that is human nature. And thus, it is human nature to go out of our way to be „normal‟.

But why waste life trying to be something we can‟t even define? Why waste life copying someone else? Individuality is something to be treasured, not eliminated.

To be abnormal should be considered a gift, not a disability.

There is no such thing as normal. There are only trends, governed by the rich and famous, which is what all the „normal‟ people decide to follow. If you decide to not follow those trends, to be „weird‟, then all you are doing is being yourself, instead of what someone wants you to be.

The only normal - Alfred Adler

people

are

the

ones

you

don't

know

very

well.

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?â€&#x; Competition School: Bede Polding College

Jamon Windeyer

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?‟ Competition School: Bede Polding College Name: Mitchell Galea (Year 9)

A Life‟s that‟s Worth Living is a Happy One I‟ve never really been patient, I can‟t stand being slightly hungry and when I‟m tired I cannot stop complaining, so as I waited restlessly in a busy hospital at about 5 o‟clock in the morning on the 6th of January, 2005, I wasn‟t in the greatest mood. I didn‟t really understand why I was there, why I had to be put through an excruciating 2 hour trip to the hospital, but I did know that everybody seemed very upset and distressed. I didn‟t really understand why everyone was so sad, it was very early but I didn‟t really think there was a need to be crying about having an early morning.

My eyelids felt like they weighed a tonne as I battled to keep them open. Then suddenly my mother grabbed my hand and as a family we walked into the room on the right hand side. I first noticed my Nunna Carmen, standing beside the bed, with tears pouring out of her eyes. In struggled into the small room, to notice my Nunnu Tony laying on the bed with medical instruments attached all over his covered body. As a four year old boy I didn‟t really understand what was going on. We gathered around the bed, all staring into his bright blue eyes. With his withered voice, he quietly said to us, “Life is a complicated thing; we have many opportunities and many decisions to make. We have a choice to be happy or sad.

Promise me to make the right decision, live a life worth living, share your life with many people, but most of all live a happy life”.

As I sat there, confused in why he was saying this, I thought to myself about the life my Nunnu Tony lived. It wasn‟t necessarily an easy life. As a child he lived in Malta, and struggled most days for the bare necessities, living in an old shed with just a hessian bag to sleep in. As he grew up he worked nearly every day, and when he was about 30 years old he met my Nunna Carmen, a 17 year old lady that worked in a haberdashery. They married within a few months and decided to move to Australia. They did it reasonably tough for the first few years but set up a farm around Black town. As his life continued he fathered many children; that grew up to start their own families. As a 60 year old man he settled down and lived a simple life. To me this seemed like a hard life, one with many struggles, but as an 80 year old man, he was the admirable father of 7 adults, and the loving grandfather of 26.

Anybody who knew him would refer to him as the most loving, happy person that they‟ve ever met.

Then my Nunnu Tony said that he loved all of us and gave each of my family members a kiss. As I said goodbye to him tears ran down my face, he took my hand and told me, “Don‟t be sad Mitch, you have a whole, happy life to live”. After he said that I slowly walked out of the room.

The 6th of January, 2005 was the day my Nunnu Tony died; I probably should say the day my Nunnu Tony went to heaven cause that‟s what he would want me to say.

That day changed my life forever, each morning when I wake up I repeat the words he said to me, and throughout each day I try my hardest to live a happy life, and mostly to make my Nunnu Tony proud of who I am.

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?â€&#x; Competition School: Bede Polding College

Mitchell Galea

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?‟ Competition School: Bede Polding College Name: Ellie Compton (Year 9)

What would you do if you were in these paws?

Tiny brown eyes glancing up at me, fury tails wagging in excitement. There are ten puppies eagerly waiting to be chosen to take home. Out of those ten puppies, three will be mistreated. Six will get neglected at one point in time and nine have come from a puppy mill. So what I am saying is really there is not a lot of hope for any of them. If they get a responsible owner that is great they are cared and loved and adored. But we are forgetting the problem here, it‟s the irresponsible owners, the puppy farmers, the pure evilness of our world that we need to stop in their tracks.

What matters is that these people need to be STOPPED, as they have no right to do this to these dogs.

A puppy farm or puppy mill is where dogs are locked up in tiny, often rusty cages stacked upon another and are forced to breed. Many of these dogs have not reached maturity yet so it is the equivalent of a 6-year-old CHILD being forced to breed. We do not allow this to happen to humans, so why is it allowed with dogs?

There are many problems that occur when dogs breed at this young age and to this extent. Internal defects, brain damage, cancers and even psychological damage are done, all for the sale of a few puppies. When the dogs can no longer reproduce they are drowned, thrown out on the street to rot because euthanasia is too expensive, and they do not want the vets or any animal welfare activist to see the actual damage they are portraying.

You may think very well, this should not occur but who are we to stop it and how can buying one puppy cause so much damage. Buying these animals from the pet shop is only strengthening the power of the evil puppy farmers. They receive their money so their job is ongoing. Like any job, enough interest ensures a long satisfying job. But what is satisfying about torture and to those who inflict no harm.

It‟s not fair.

What matters to me is that these dogs are rescued form such horrors, rehabilitated given the attention love and care they deserve, they need. There are many ways you can purchase dogs responsibly. All my dogs have come from the pound the most we paid for them was $35 and I can assure you they are worth a lot more.

“The wire cage is cutting my paws; my empty food bowl is located next to my pile of waste, as I have no room. I am crying on the inside I have scars on the outside. I am evaluating my life and going over and over trying to work out where I went wrong.

Why I am being punished. What if you were in these paws?”

Next time you are in a pet shop, glance deep into the eyes of those puppies. Read their story, ask questions to the pet shop assistants, because nine out of 10 times they will not know nor tell you where these dogs came from.

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?â€&#x; Competition School: Bede Polding College

Ellie Compton

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?‟ Competition School: Bede Polding College Name: Alexandra Dickie (Year 9)

Bullying Anger, hatred, depression then death. What if this was what your world was like?

This is what it is like for bullies and their victims.

Bullying is one of the worst experiences in the world. Not fitting in, not having friends, not being able to stick up for what you believe in. What is the world coming to?

Society likes to label you and put you into categories based on your individuality and your looks. You could be large, small, extra-large, medium, extra small, pear shaped, apple shaped and hour glass shaped. You could be fat, skinny, curvy, normal, large, short and tall. We all fit under a label whether we like it or not, however, we are all different. „You are too fat, you are too skinny and you are ugly while you are gorgeous.‟ Sometimes these comments shape our lives and affect them controversially. Starvation, bulimia, anorexia, binge eating and obesity are some of the outcomes due to these names and taunts. These are outcomes of bullying.

Bullying tears people apart, inside and out. Some people don‟t know the power of their words and actions. Bullying can cause self-harm, hate, the changing of someone‟s image and even death. Over 200 million children and youth, yes 200 million, have experienced bullying from peers. Whether it is physical, emotional, spiritual or verbal, abuse can destroy lives.

Bullying is a dangerous cycle. When you are bullied you are extremely likely to bully someone else. It is so hard to get out of this cycle and it can continue throughout your whole life. Not being able to stop bullying can lead to horrific incidents and the sudden end of a life.

Could you deal with the guilt of killing someone because you judged them even when you didn‟t know them? No? I didn‟t think so. Yet, you continue to judge without knowing or experiencing the wonders in their life and the joy they bring to their family. Congratulations.

We are all striving for perfect and normal but what do they mean? What would you sacrifice for acceptance of people that are your „friends?‟ Your happiness? Your individuality?

No one is born as a racist or as a homophobic or as a bully. We learn and obtain these horrible factors from the environment around us, whether it‟s from school, home or even the media and news.

If we were meant to be the same, we would be. No judgment, no uniqueness. We would all be the same boring people with the same personality, hair colour, shape, culture and religion. What a horrible way to live.

You, you understand right? That no matter what the circumstances or the topic, you don‟t bully. Why would you do that to someone? Crush their hopes, dreams and aspirations. Why? I couldn‟t do that to someone, and I shouldn‟t. Neither should you. So before you say something, think. Before you hurt someone close to you, imagine. Imagine what would happen to them if they took your small, ignorant and stupid comment and made a huge mess of it, died because of it. Yeah that fat cow deserved it.

Enjoy your hypocritical, self-centred destructive life.

Love, an individual and love your individuality.

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?â€&#x; Competition School: Bede Polding College

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?‟ Competition School: Bede Polding College Name: Jared Smith (Year 9)

Should energy drinks be illegal for people under the age of 18?

Energy drinks are horribly dangerous to the human body and especially to miners.

The amount of caffeine these drinks are enormously high. It is even stated on the can that this drink should not be consumed by a young person. This is why it should be illegal for a person under the age of 18 to purchase this drink.

Advertisements make energy drinks so appealing and make you want to go and buy them, but actually they are doing harm to your body.

These types of drinks can do as much, and as worst damage as alcohol. Study has shown that people can become addicted to them like drugs. Energy drinks can completely ruin the internal organs; the amount of acid in these drinks can eat though your internal organs and slowly ruin them drink by drink. Parents should really sit down with their children and show them the effects of drinking these types of drinks. In these days drugs are easy enough for a kid to get and by allowing kids to drink this sort of drink it will increase the amount of violence in kids. Companies that sell these drinks often do deals, e.g. “2 for the price of one.”

This definitely increases the chance of children buying these drinks.

The government doesn‟t really care about the children that consume this drink because of the major profit that they generate. When the government collects tax they are getting a little bit extra because of children that are buying energy drinks.

This is why the drinks are not banned like cigarettes for children under the age of 18.

Energy drinks should be for people over the age of 18 because of the content of caffeine that is in these drinks and it is getting higher and higher. Energy drinks can put pressure of your family e.g. parents who tell their children not to drink these drinks eventually find out that they are actually drinking them which can cause a loss of trust. The amount of caffeine in these drinks can send kids in to a high mode which like alcohol enables their heart rate to rise; this could trigger a fatal heart attack. Would you want to see this happen on the streets?

Energy drinks do not only do the following above they also affect your liver, to a person under 18 your liver hasn‟t fully been developed. The following reasons are why persons under the age of 18 should not be allowed to consume energy drinks.

Drinking 2-3 cans a day can cause not only increase in the nervous anxiety or insomnia, but it can also cause fatal arrhythmia, this is a sharp increase in blood sugar and a rise in blood pressure.

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?â€&#x; Competition School: Bede Polding College

Jared Smith

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?‟ Competition School: Bede Polding College Name: Eliza Babazogli

Something in the air The world's temperature is increasing more and more every day. These past years have been some of the warmest years in centuries. Global warming is upon us. It is caused by an increase of greenhouse gases which absorb heat in the atmosphere.

The two main gases are water vapor and carbon dioxide.

Deforestation is one of the main factors. Because of photosynthesis, plants breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen. We do the opposite thus keeping a balanced cycle. What happens when the amount of people increase and the amount of plants decrease? The balance becomes unbalanced. This is exactly what is happening. It is estimated that about 30 trees are cut down every minute!

That's 43,200 trees per day. That's a lot of trees. The industrial world is also to blame. Since the industrial age started, carbon dioxide emissions have increased by one-third. The more fossil fuels that are burned, the more carbon dioxide emissions there are. The only time CO2 levels have decreased are during unpleasant times, such as war, oil shocks, or recessions.

The human-induced climate change that is occurring now will also trigger many more rapid changes, however this period of change may prove to be deadly for many species. The change we are causing to the world‟s climate is potentially more dramatic and disruptive than ever before. While some Australian animals and plants are adapted to withstand dramatic seasonal changes in climate each year, many species have quite limited ranges of long-term average climate.

Temperature ranges in the order of 1 – 2°C and 20 percent variation in rainfall mean that Australian animals and plants are vulnerable to long term climate change. Climate change affects ecosystems and wildlife in several key ways.

Inability to keep pace with changing times, a tougher environment, climate change suits some species and not others, effects on relationships and behaviors.

There are small things people can do to help prevent global warming. Conserve energy. Live closer to your work so you burn less fossil fuel. Use public transport, walk, or ride your bike when it is reasonable. Combine trips so that you drive less often. Insulate your house well. Lower the temperature on your home heating and water heater. Turn off lights and appliances when not in use. Look for energy efficient ways to recycle and reuse things as much as practical.

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?â€&#x; Competition School: Bede Polding College

Eliza Babazogli

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?‟ Competition School: Bede Polding College Name: Rhiannon Kenyon (Year 9)

I breathe in. I breathe out. And then I hold my breath, and dive under water. I sit at the bottom of the pool as my air supply slowly dwindles. I get desperate; I think that surely this is not natural. Then I surface. I take a deep breath in of sweet air, and it‟s full of energy. It‟s full of life.

You see, I take air for granted. Well, really, I take everything for granted. From food to shelter and from water to education, I know I have my values mixed up. I sit in front of my mirror, making sure not a hair is out of place and paint my fingernails blue and yellow, whilst really; I‟m losing my sense of what should be important.

I get cranky when I can‟t get to the shops to buy myself some more credit, and even when I‟m not allowed dessert. I‟m losing the bigger picture.

I‟m starving, one cheeseburger in six hours, you have to be joking me. I look in the pantry, ew, only a few apples left, I‟ll have to remind mum to go shopping. I go without food desperately until dinner and when that chicken hits my tongue, I am finally satisfied.

Our society today is a selfish one. We take all that we have for granted, and if we don‟t have it, we certainly want it. What we fail to see is how lucky we are to even have a meal a day, and fresh water to drink, to not have worms crawling around in our swollen stomachs. We are lucky to be able to go to school and we are lucky that we live under a roof. But the majority of us fail to see this.

Don‟t get me wrong, I have my moments. I feel like nothing could ever get worse than my life when I‟m not allowed to buy that dress displayed in the window. I am a huge victim of the saying, „You don‟t know what you‟ve got til it‟s gone‟ and I think that truly I will never change.

Oh my God. My hair and clothes are getting soaked in this rain! And I have to catch the bus home. Gee, I‟m going to have a great time, restraightening my hair.

Humph, this is so annoying.

What matters to me are the petty things, like my hair, credit and dessert. But I‟m missing the point. What should matter to me is that I am extremely lucky. I have shelter, money, and food. We all have those days where we feel like the petty things are life threatening, but we should remember that the basic necessities are the thing that really matter.

Food. Water. Shelter. Education. Money. Love. Matters.

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?â€&#x; Competition School: Bede Polding College

Rhiannon Kenyon

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?‟ Competition School: Bede Polding College Name: Brock Cauchi (Year 9) We sat there. As quiet as I could be. Not a single sound came out. Not even the sound of my breath. I watched the eyes of my innocent siblings. They were doing as I did, not disobeying. We gazed at each other. With fear. We wanted it to stop. We needed it to stop.

But it continued, for days. We sat there like corpses. There was nothing we could do. We couldn‟t stop what was happening.

What matters? Think about it, What is the one things that any human cannot live without?

The one things that money cannot but, nor replace. The one thing that supplies full contentment. The one thing that you can turn to at your time of need. Your family.

Family. Its one of those things that you take for granted. You don‟t really notice how important they are until you really think about it. They raised you from a baby; they make you feel good about yourself; they never criticize you for who you are; and are physically irreplaceable. They will always be there for you, through thick and thin.

But as we begin to age, adolescence begins to kick in, and most of this valuable information begins to drift from our brain. We don‟t seem to think about our family, and only ourselves. We think that we‟re in control. That the ones that mean the most don‟t matter anymore. Because of this selfish attitude, trauma and pain begins.

The household begins to run inefficiently, errands don‟t get done and the disobedient child is out of the house for most of the week. You seem to notice that their attitude has altered badly, and don‟t care about most important things. By this time, it isn‟t too major. There is still hope.

Fights begin to suddenly outburst, concerning that defiant, self-absorbed child. By this time, everything begins to go downhill, especially the relationship with their parents in which is still being held by just a thread. Hopefully, the child will be able to be saved from their idiotic ways.

But it keeps on continuing, over and over and over again. All hope that remained had begin to quickly fade out..

They approached him, finally! It has been a couple of weeks since it started. But not a word came out, He was as quiet as anything. He had never been this quiet. Like there was something to hide. Something drastic. But still, not a word. This drove them insane. I saw the tears of the mother trail down her pail face. They tried and failed, and it worsened significantly.

All hope was gone. All of it. The family was wrecked, mentally and physically. At this time, the parents couldn‟t take it anymore. Fighting over this greedy child. Divorce would be the best option, to escape from the family and all the trouble it possessed.

And most couples would. These being one of them. They break up, and wonder in their curious minds what the family could have been. There could have been so much. But the attitude of this child prevented this from happening.

What really matters? Its family! One of those things you take for granted. You think they

will always be there for you, no matter what you do. Until, it‟s too late. Until it‟s all your fault, and you‟re the only one to blame for the mess you‟ve caused.

The Whitlam Institute 2011 „What Matters?â€&#x; Competition School: Bede Polding College

Brock Cauchi