Metior Magazine - Edition #2 by Metior Magazine

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Murdoch Empire Telegraph & Indian Ocean Review

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Edition #5 July 2012

Murdoch Empire Telegraph & Indian Ocean Review – Since 1975 Edition 5, July 2012 Metior acknowledges that this is and always will be Aboriginal land. Metior is a Murdoch University student publication. For latest Guild news, events and info go to www.the-guild.com.au Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/metiormagazine Want to catch up on previous issues? Go to www.the-guild.com.au/metior Editor Phoebe Phillips

Copy Editor Nikita Wyllie

Graphic Design Karmen Lee

Photographers Alex Aitken Angeleo Di Benedetto Brody Oliver Charlie-Rose Peters Daniel Kwabena Craig Hana Smythe

Our undying everlasting gratitude to... Agnes Gajic Hannah Muir Katie Moore Luan Morely Meagan Ullrich Myra Colecliffe Nikita Wyllie Oscar Brittain Roland Belford

Jing Yi Chan Kingsley Norris Meagan Ullrich Pekka Rousi Samson Luca Virani Prima

Cover Photo Brody Oliver

Metior’s deadlines for the next three editions of 2012 are 17th August, 14th September, 12th October In future, if you’d like to contribute writing, photography, poetry, illustrations or ideas please email us at metior@the-guild.com.au Editor Phoebe Phillips

Advertising Kingsley Norris

Email metior@the-guild.com.au

Phone 9360 7634

Address Murdoch University Guild of Students 90 South Street, Murdoch WA 6150

Email k.norris@the-guild.com.au

Disclaimer Metior is published by the students of Murdoch University, under the governance of Murdoch University Guild of Students. Content should not be regarded as the opinions of the Guild unless specifically stated. The Guild accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of any of the opinions or information contained within the magazine.

CONTENTS From The President............................................................. 2 Editorial................................................................................ 2 Lifestyle Less Gold Medals More F-U-N �� 4 Spider-Man Winning �� 8 10 Olympic Sports Metior-ites Want Re-introduced �� 10 Knickers, Knockers, Knockouts �� 16 Go For Gold �� 20 Is This What Winning Is All About?................................... 22 Olympia.............................................................................. 26 Photography Samson Luca �� 3 & 11 Meagan Ullrich �� 5 Daniel Kwabena Craig �� 6 & 27 Virani Prima �� 14 Hana Smyth.............................................................. 14 & 15 Jing Yi Chan........................................................................ 12 Alex Aitken........................................................................ 18 Kingsley Norris �� 20 Angeleo Di Benedetto �� 21 Charlie-Rose Peters �� 23 Hana Smythe �� 14 & 33 Brody Oliver �� 28 Pekka Rousi �� 30 Poetry Stripping............................................................................. 24 Visual Art Oscar Brittain....................................................................... 9

FROM THE PRESIDENT Words by Bec Thompson When our Esteemed Editor told me to write about the Olympics, I told her that would require removing myself from a firm anchoring under my socially reclusive rock. “I’m a nerd!” I protested. And not a good one at that. The closest I’ve ever come to realising Olympic dreams were childhood aspirations to compete in the International Math Olympiad. I also wrested my way to second place in a game of ‘Fly’ in primary school. Think jumping hurdles, without the frames. That memory has really stuck with me…(like a stick in the mud?) What I can write about are competitions. My biggest personal win (I’m not going to mention Guild Elections. Those two weeks aged me 20 years) was the vegetarian meat platter to end all meat platters - a fruit basket – raffled at Curtin University O-day, 2005. Thanks, Bentley friends. We always seem to be running a few comps here, too. Right now it’s the National Campus Band Competition (NCBC) to find our own, home grown next Big Thing. Heats are on 2nd August, 3pm in our Tav and all you legal adults reading this should come along to support Murdoch students playing new, exciting live music. We also have the Brow Horn Orchestra performing. Brow Horn won a competition once. They’ve won several, actually. But most notable (to us) was a WA heat of the NCBC, representing Murdoch. So we’re claiming them as ours. It’s funny how putting someone on a stage - whether it be the Olympic stadium, a math panel or a national artist competition - can create identity-defining moments. You follow the highs and lows, tears and triumphs as if they were your own. I will certainly be rocking out (in the audience) at our Band Comp state finals, doing Murdoch proud.

EDITORIAL Words by Phoebe Phillips This Metior was published on the same day as the 2012 London Olympics began. While fireworks erupted, the Queen clapped and Duran Duran sang the opening tune, these bad boys were hitting the stands. Switch back to a month ago at a Metior writers night when we started talking about the Olympics. None of us had anything good to say about the Games. How could we connect to the idea of millions of dollars being spent on an event which had no other purpose than a bit of good natured competition between countries? How does a twenty year old university undergraduate student on Centerlink relate to fully grown men running around in circles in florescent spandex and striped lycra? How’d you switch from having the airwaves and TV’s dominated by the Arab Spring to images of synchronised swimming and close ups of Kate Middleton. But as the Games drew closer I caught myself reading the sports columns or lingering on the odd image of someone jumping off a ridiculously high diving board and I began to realise that I to was becoming a follower. It’s not the media frenzy or the elaborate advertising campaigns that got me hooked but the sheer will of the athletes. Their ability to train their bodies into the finest of instruments and hone their skill to their ultimate is what keeps me intrigued. These people represent what with sheer determination, passion and a bit of good genetics one person can achieve. It’s this that makes a crowd roar, makes you sit on the edge of your seat in front of the telly and scream at your housemates to turn their music down. So in our own little way this edition is a tribute to the Games. We have looked at the idea of competition in all its good and bad shades. We have checked out other types of sports and photographed sports locally. Most of all we have begun to see how games and competitions are everywhere, University Games and the National Campus Band Competitions to name a couple. So bring on the spandex and lycra I say and let the Games begin.

Hey peeps. Metior is using its Facebook page to put up notices about edition themes, writers nights and submission details. Get involved: www.facebook.com/metiormagazine if you aren’t connected to Facebook email us for more info - metior@the-guild.com

PHOTOGRAPHER Samson Luca

LESS GOLD MEDAL TALLIES MORE F-U-N Words & Photography by Meagan Ullrich Canoe Polo Most of you will be familiar with regular polo. Canoe polo is kind of the same – just swap your horse for a kayak. Games are played in ten minute halves, and points are scored by throwing a ball into a suspended net above the water. Teams are made up of five players each. Perth has its own all ages canoe polo club, and you can join in on Wednesday nights at Somerset pool in Victoria Park.

Five Perth sports that will not make you a gold medallist but a legend. BYO: a Broom and a Mascot. This year I have devised a list of amazing sports which are so far from traditional they are sure to get you out of your Olympic funk. You can also find every single one of them right here in little old Perth. So if you’re a little less into gold medal tallies and a little more into F-U-N, why not give one of these a crack.

Bike Polo Swap the horse for a bike this time, teams are made up of three players, and the ball is handled using mallets. First team to score 5 goals wins the game. All played on a bike in a car park. Hit up Mount Lawley High School on a Sunday arvo to take part.

Players have to do this while keeping one hand on their broom at all times. The snitch is replaced with a person, and beaters add a bit of a dodge ball element.

Roller Derby For those of you who thought the movie Whip It was having you on, for your information, there are actually two Roller Derby groups in WA - Roller Derby League of WA www.warollerderby.com.au & Perth Roller Derby www.perthrollerderby.com.au. Amazing.

Quidditch You may be asking yourself how this would even work. I can understand where you’re coming from. Here in the Muggle world our brooms don’t exactly fly. Well, it’s not exactly the same as what you may have seen in Harry Potter, but it sure comes close. The aim of the game is still to get the Quaffle (volleyball) through one of three hoops. Players have to do this while keeping one hand on their broom at all times. The snitch is replaced with a person, and beaters add a bit of a dodge ball element. The Murdoch Quidditch Club runs open sessions every Tuesday arvo below the Bush Court and is still entertaining from the sidelines, trust me.

I once ate a whole jar of vegemite in less than a minute. Eating Contests Possibly, the only true way to prove one’s worth. Don’t want to boast but I once ate a whole jar of vegemite in less than a minute. Painful, but worth the $30 bucks it earned me. Then after watching an episode of Man Vs Food I realised I was merely a rookie. However, this is not America. Perth’s selection of eating contests are few so I recommend places like Outback Jack’s, Novembar, and Antonio’s Pizza because you get prizes. Otherwise, get creative.

Underwater Hockey It’s exactly what the name suggests; hockey played underwater. The rules are kind of the same as regular hockey, but the puck is heavily weighted, and the stick looks more like a spatula. You’ll also need to pick up a set of flippers and a snorkel. And don’t stand on the bottom – it’s against the rules. Competitions run at the Belmont Oasis Leisure Centre several nights a week.

There will be an ice cream eating competition on Bush Court as part of Guild Festival Day - Thursday 2nd August.

PHOTOGRAPHER Daniel Kwabena Craig

SPIDER-MAN WINNING Words & Image by Oscar Brittain

Well, there are some beautiful conditions here in the cinema today bob.

Indeed. The new movie’s no pushover, though, with the Lizard and all.

That’s right, John. Today, we have the finals between Sam Raimi’s 2002 movie “Spiderman”, staring Toby Maguire, and this year’s new picture: “The Amazing Spiderman”, directed by Marc Webb, and staring Andrew Garfield. Over to you, John.

Yeah, Bob, it does, but I feel like it could focus those efforts a little more. It’s mid-round now, and so far it hasn’t pulled any tricks the original Spiderman can’t match. You’re right, John, but even then it’s a bit hit-andmiss. The 3D might be a saving grace, though.

Sounds great, Bob--Oh, wait! The competitors are taking the field... it looks like it’s time for round 1!

If you watch closely here, Bob, you can see that the original made the wise choice of only using CGI for big, fast shots. It’s a much more graceful.

ROUND 1-PLOT Well, Bob, the original Spiderman movie is off to a flying start, covering Peter Parker’s origins in little over 30 minutes!

Well, I think our predictions may have been on the money, as both movies seem pretty evenly matched at the end of this round.

You’re right, John! I think Spiderman is most interesting when both sides of his character are tackled.

ROUND 3-CHARACTERS Right off the bat the new spiderman has some heavy-hitters: Emma Stone, Andrew Garfield, and an early play by Martin Sheen.

Lagging behind by about 20 or so minutes is the new Spiderman movie... Now, Bob, I can’t really tell from here but it looks as though the new Spiderman might be getting weighed down by some of the new tween/highschool drama? Can you see that?

Bob, that man is an American icon.

I can indeed, John. The new movie is just floundering, and hasn’t drawn a clear line between Spiderman and Peter Parker.

You’re right, John. God bless America. There’s no doubting the chemistry of the new movie’s team, but Star players are no match for the original’s strong, consolidated forward-line.

You’re definitly right, Bob; there’s a much greater emphasis on what’s at stake in the original movie.

Indeed, Bob. John, do you think the strong opening by Sheen will get the new movie in the lead?

I also think this new movie is repeating a lot of story elements from the original movie, play for play. You?

It’s a fair call, Bob. Also, Garfield brings more to the game than Maguire did. He really gives it 110%.

You know, Bob, it could prove to be a fatal error on the part of the new Spiderman.

I disagree, John. Garfield brings his A-game, but there’s no character growth; his Peter Parker is unlikable. Maguire felt like a guy you could root for.

I concur, John. Coupled with a dud villain means this round goes to the original movie.

The round is over, and it seems the new movie didn’t quite get there.

ROUND 2-VISUALS Now, Bob, both movies are pretty evenly matched here, would you agree?

It’s a shame, John, but I think the original team just wanted it more. That, and the poor plot didn’t give the new team much to work with.

To an extent, John. The original movie is getting up there in years, but still holds it’s own against much younger players.

I think you’re right, Bob. Also, the over-confidence on the part of the new movie that didn’t do them any favors.

That’s a good point to make, Bob. It’s testament to the hard work the original movie put in bulking itself up that it can still hold it’s own, visually.

FINAL SCORE: ORIGINAL SPIDERMAN-2 | NEW SPIDERMAN-0 | TIES-1

10 OLYMPIC SPORTS METIOR-ITES WANT RE-INTRODUCED Words by Katie Moore & Photography by Samson Luca 1. Tug-of-war: (1900-1920) And you thought tug-of-war was only for primary school or team bonding activities. Still recognised by the International Olympic Committee as an official sport, it appeared in five Games and was one of the few carry-over sports from the ancient Olympics. Sadly, the rule requiring competitors to be naked was removed. In a poll conducted by the ABC before the Sydney 2000 Games, tug-of-war came in at number one as the sport people would most like to see revived as an Olympic event.

Solo synchronised swimming made its debut at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. How exactly do you synchronise one swimmer?

2. Art Competition: (1912-1952) Finally, a competition at a sporting event which does not actually involve doing any sport. Medals were awarded for art works that were inspired by sport and judged in five categories – architecture, literature, music, painting and sculpture.

6. 200-metre swimming obstacle race: (1900) What could make watching swimmers sprint 200m more exciting? Throw in a pole competitors have to climb up, a row of boats they have to climb over, another row to swim under, and swimming just got a lot more interesting.

3. Duelling pistol: (1912) Not quite as Wild West as its name may suggest, contestants were required to shoot at a bullseye on a mannequin rather than at each other. Although to make it a little more bloodthirsty the mannequin was dressed in a frock coat.

7. 56-Pound Toss: (1904, 1920) 56 pounds is equal to about 24.5 kilograms. The weight of the current shot-put used in the men’s event is 16 pounds (7.26 kilograms). The weight is similar to throwing around a small child. 8. Underwater Swimming: (1900) Another common backyard pool activity, this event also only appeared once. Competitors were required to swim underwater for a distance of 60 metres with points awarded for each metre swum and for each second underwater. Apparently withdrawn from the Games due to the lack of spectator appeal, with the introduction of underwater cameras this sport is long overdue for a comeback.

If duelling pistols seems too faint-hearted there’s always double-shot running deer, which isn’t as macabre as it sounds. Competitors shoot at a deer shaped target, or a live pigeon. Featured at the 1900 Paris Games, the object of the event was to shoot as many birds as possible. Over 300 birds met an untimely death and resulted in the worst clean-up after any Olympic event. 4. Plunge for Distance: (1904) Plunge for distance bears a remarkable resemblance to events common in many a backyard pool. Competitors began with a standing dive, and then had to remain motionless underwater for at least a minute, or until their heads broke the surface of the water. Whoever had travelled the furthest distance underwater won the event.

9. Jeu de Paume: (1908) Similar to squash, but played by using your hands to strike the ball instead of a racquet, the name literally means ‘game of the palm’. This game is also known as “Real Tennis” and it certainly takes some real balls to play a game of squash using your hands. 10. Solo synchronised swimming: (1984) Not all quirky events are limited to the ‘ye old days’ of the Games. Solo synchronised swimming made its debut at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. And how exactly do you synchronise one swimmer? The idea was that the swimmer would synchronise in time to the music. Apparently the idea of solo dancing in a pool never caught on as the event was dropped after the 1992 Barcelona Games.

5. Standing Broad Jump: (1900-1912) Basically, it’s just jumping on the spot. Unlike the current long jump event, competitors were not allowed any run up before their jump. Jumpers were required to rely on the power of bending their knees and swinging their arms to achieve momentum and height.

PHOTOGRAPHER Jing Yi Chan

PHOTOGRAPHERS Virani Prima & Hana Smythe

Knickers, Knockers, Knockouts Words by Hannah Muir I am by no means or by any stretch of the imagination what you would call a ‘sports fan’. Getting all ‘into’ games and emotionally attached to teams and players just ain’t my jam. I’m sure this will deeply disturb Mum and Nan, but to tell the truth I don’t even know or frankly care for the rules of AFL. However, I do remember the Titans.

ble-sided tape (sisters, can I get an amen?), wardrobe malfunctions are unavoidable and sometimes nipple happens. The frequent unleashing of lady bumps is just one of the humps causing concern amongst the more ‘straight laced’ members of society. Gold Coast Mayor, Ron Clarke’s displeasure with the sparsely clothed spunks appears to have turned into confusion, as he believes women in their undergarments are better suited to an equestrian show than a football game.

Despite my anti-sport appetite, there is one recreational activity that has become an exception to the rules. It’s an old game with a flash flesh spin to it and I am pleased to admit that I may have turned into your average and boringly stereotypical sports loving, women creepin’ wanker. The sport I speak of is a modern fusion of knickers and knockers with an aspect of traditional pigskin. Think hot, athletic women playing American Gridiron… in their unmentionables and you have stumbled across the obviously popular and aptly named Women’s Lingerie Football League. Adapted from a half-time show during usual Gridiron matches, Mitch Martaza is responsible for the ladies kicking off their dacks and the league kicking off back in 2009. Australian lady Chloe Butler was shaking her little cotton button as a Playboy bunny when she was complemented on her athletic physique and told she would be perfect for the league, an opportunity to which she ‘hopped’ at.

“If you want to play sport, I welcome it. But play sport, don’t try and be show ponies,” he said. Shultz, or as she’s known on field, X Girl, is adamant that the league is a way of empowering women. “We’re pushing hot and sporty. We want to celebrate being female. The league is about the athleticism of the girls” While the television and sponsorship interest leads one to believe the league will be welcomed with finely tuned televisions, open arms and tingling gussets, there has been a fair amount of audible disgust and shut down attempts. Collective Shout, an organisation committed to a world “free from sexploitation”, has collected over 3000 signatures for the Stop the Lingerie Football League in Australia campaign. Not surprisingly, the Catholic Sydney Archdiocese heavily endorses this.

Three years down the track and the league has continued to attract viewers and mans, sorry… fans, so much so that an Australian version is set to kick off in October this year, more exciting than the Olympics if you ask me.

The degrading-women-and-their-yonis kafuffle is even a tad askew. Yes, you will witness hot, big tittied women throwing each other down in their undies with a chance of cheeky cheek action, but look at it this way: the uniforms are quite similar to that of beach volleyball players (don’t even get me started on the barely there Lycra bizzo that sprinters trot around the track in). If I’m not mistaken, both of these are Olympic sports. Credibility for the league lies with their fitness; the lean, lady muscles that take to the field obviously work hard for what they’ve got. Shove the criticism and praise the athleticism I say. These women give up blood, sweat and tears for well-defined rears. Would I play in the league? Hell no. These buff-as-guts chicks are keen for a bit of rough and tumble.

The founder of the Australian based league, which is technically a little different to that of the USA, is Tala Shultz. So far she has mustered enough excitement among audacious and bodacious womenfolk that squads of shirtless Sheilas have already formed in Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia. Naturally there have been a few concerned and disgusted citizens that are trying to shut down the production all together. From personally conducted research, it appears the main issue seems to lie with the uniform, of which the following are mandatory: shoulder pads, elbow pads, kneepads, garters, bras, panties and an ice hockey style helmet. Even with the aid of the ever-celebrated dou-

PHOTOGRAPHER Alex Aitken

Sarana Haeata

GO FOR GOLD

Words by Roland Belford Photography by Angeleo Di Benedetto & Kingsley Norris There is a certain amount of tradition, pomp and circumstance around any night advertised as a ball. For most people their high school ball serves as reference point. The Murdoch Guild Ball retained the conventions of incredibly glamorous ladies and dashingly handsome gentlemen while jettisoning people trying to one up each other with elaborate entrances. Also gone were judgemental peers and embarrassingly forgetting to arrange a vegetarian option for your date, or maybe that was just me. People were even having photos taken without having to wait hours in line. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worry though, because our Guild Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attempt to be the centre of attention and arrive fashionably late backfired when she missed the first course of dinner. Five hours of included alcohol ensured that the final ball convention of standing around awkwardly, wondering what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing there, was replaced with animated conversation, rapturous laughter and embarrassing dancing.

IS THIS WHAT WINNING IS ALL ABOUT? Words by Agnes Gajic & Photography by Charlie-Rose Peters What is the nature of a competition that requires the presence of a Child Safety Officer? Perhaps a ‘Young Evil Knievel of the Year’? Or, maybe a ‘Toddler Trapeze Face Off’?

like losers simply because they do not fit into the pageant norms of beauty. Some may ask whether it is in fact a children’s competition at all when the parent’s interest is so heavily vested in the competition process. ‘Pageant Mums’ as they are known, are responsible for costumes, makeup, talent routines, grooming and not to mention funding each instalment of the extravagant process. The competition however is not without its spoils, the national winner of the Universal Royalty Beauty Pageant will take home a very attractive $10, 000 cheque. Whether a prize of this value would cover the cost entering the competition itself depends just how much each pageant parent has invested in their beauty queen. The financial cost of waxing, spray tanning, clothing, makeup, hair colouring and accessorising is far from cheap. Parents have been recorded on Toddlers and Tiaras spending over $30 000 on their children.

The controversial competition in question is the world of children’s beauty pageants. Children’s beauty pageants attract a world of bias and opinion from both those heavily involved in the scene and those who have merely watched a ten minute excerpt from the television series ‘Toddlers and Tiaras.’

Is it necessary, or acceptable to trim a four year olds eyebrows? Or apply a fake spray tan and teeth to a seven year old?

While most pageants have excessive glitz there are also pageants known as ‘Natural Pageants’. These pageants have strict regulations which control clothing, make up, hair and grooming.

Many Australians publicly expressed a barrage of clamour and distaste when it was announced that the Universal Royalty Beauty Pageant would travel from Texas to Sydney this year. Accompanying the tour would be the well revered Eden Wood, a five year old beauty pageant queen who somewhat resembles a Bratz doll. This competition creates opportunity for Australian girls to compete in formal wear, photogenic and congeniality contests. The minimum entrance fee to this pageant is $295.

Parents can enter their children into beauty pageants for a number of reasons. A parent might want to encourage the formation of important attributes such as self esteem, confidence, social skills and public speaking skills. In some cases it may be the child’s desire to compete. Many girls participate in beauty pageantry at a young age in the hope that they will be cast by modelling and acting agencies. It is a harsh realisation to admit that women and girls are judged on their appearance every day, even if they are not performing or competing. It could be suggested that pageantry helps girls to realise this from a young age.

The criteria of these competitions are questionable to say the least. To judge a woman, let alone a girl on her ‘beauty’ seems absurd, especially when this ‘beauty’ can be made more favourable if fabricated by various products and processes. Is it necessary, or acceptable to trim a for year olds eyebrows? Or apply a fake spray tan and teeth to a seven year old? Innocence has a new definition in the realm of children’s beauty pageants.

Parents push their children to pursue many ventures that may be recognised as valuable to their growth and development. Such activities could include organised sport, music, dancing, or language classes. Pageant parent insist that beauty pageant participation is in fact no different.

It is often argued a young girl’s self worth and self esteem can be improved through her participation in beauty pageants. This may be true for the lucky winners, yet quite the opposite can be said for those who fail to achieve this title. Young children can feel

But, what if a child’s beauty is not definable or quantifiable...come to think of it is any form of beauty?

STRIPPING

Poetry by Myra Colecliffe Her skin comes off like soggy streamers; she would take it out to the clothesline and peg it out to cool in the breeze,

dishonest light of the moon; deathless phantasms masquerading as images of life and beauty, disintegrating into lifeless soot at a touch.

the arms flapping in the wind, fingertips tracing circles around the fragile weed buds, swinging gently.

The dirt crumbles like breadcrumbs between her toes, the wispy lonely grasses stroke and break apart on her ankles; her feet look like they’ve been tossed in flour.

She’d put it back on next morning, fresh and cold like a still-wet bathing suit – smelling like grass and disinfectant.

She undoes the little silver clasp at the tip of each finger, shimmying the skin over her

She lies on her back in her nice white room and she counts all the little tiles on her nice white wall until she has enough to make everyone fall asleep;

shoulders with the sensuous movements of one discarding lingerie, casting it off until there is nothing but herself.

sometimes when the air is restless the screams that bounce and wave down the corridors hold the melody of longing and guilt and she runs out of tiles, out of walls and there is no sleep.

The air embraces her with a tender hint; soft as a scarf twirled over her face by the wind, every touch is warm lace trickled down her spine, her fingers search out the tender coolness of petals curling softly around her flesh, bound in the clawing protection of thorns which cry into her hands.

When the cuckoo clock strikes seven the little wooden figures twirl around each other, embrace, and return to the safety of their little rooms; the guards come out and clang on the bell - bent at the middle - stand to attention - guard the doors.

The cold of this place has penetrated the stone, and it burns her to touch its smooth skin - the water held within whispers and ripples hoarse secrets into her ear - pleading warm breath,

She sings to the tiles until they come and sit in her hands like frightened birds; she comforts them with tales of the outside - roses bitter and vicious in their beauty, stars that wink knowingly at your soul - until they hum with longing to escape from the little white room, until the cuckoo chirps thrice and she has the courage to leave them.

at the bottom of the echoing liquid her fingers trace patterns of bobbly knitted beanies, proudly caught earthworms, pancake Sundays, til the stars are swallowed and choked on like so much water breathed into the lungs of the sky; it vomits up a pale grey bile that stains the ether. The skin feels like lecherous water-weed; slimy and cold - a shiver of her suffocation.

She descends the stairs with the poise of a nun; quiet and humble, her hand grazes the balustrade, her ankles glowing a light blue under the hollow fluorescent lights; a fading autumn sky, or the bloated skin of a drowned child. The linoleum and concrete bite at her feet.

The click of her clasps is the sound of a cockroach being stepped on; the snap of a body breaking in two. The cuckoo clock strikes seven, the guards rap on the doors, the little moulded figures emerge in their beautiful white gowns, and choke on their beautiful white pills.

The grey and powdery moonscape of the garden transforms her skin to ash, the dripping passion of the roses turned sooty and shrivelled by the

OLYMPIA

Words by Luan Morley & Photography by Daniel Kwabena Craig I remember being a little mite sitting at my desk in primary school, staring intently at the board as my teacher introduced the Olympics to our classroom of 30 students. We learnt about the Ancient Greeks and how men travelled far and wide across the country, to show off their strength and physical prowess in the Olympia. We giggled behind our hands as we were told that they performed all the events naked (surely that would have been ten times more uncomfortable? Gentlemen?), picked our favourite sports and coloured in pictures of the 2010 Sydney Olympics Games mascots. We even wrote out letters to our favourite team members. Thinking back, I’m not sure how well received those letters would have been, knowing my primary school class. I hope someone screened them before posting them off.

don’t need to screen every piece of footage twenty four hours a day. Despite the critisms and the brutal fact that I just don’t like sports I can appreciate the Olympics for what it represents.

To be able watch as your countryman takes that step up onto the podium, have leaves put on their head, flowers in their arms and a gold disk around their neck.

I wonder if all those Greeks realised what they’d stumbled upon when they got together thousands of years ago, got naked and tried to out-do each other? Do you think they would have liked what the Olympics have become in recent years? I recently had a look at the London 2012 Olympics website, and had a flick through the different events. Table Tennis? Trampolines? Is this the height of human athleticism? Although you have to give kudos to the guys who take Ping-Pong, a game I’ve only ever played either as a kid or plastered, so seriously. It seems the prestige of the Olympics is becoming overshadowed by critisms and controversy in the recent decades. Who could forget the 2008 Beijing Olympics, not for the medals won, but for claims of fake fireworks, child gymnasts, media censorship and human rights violations?

To return to my primary school days, it reminds me of the dreaded faction carnivals and little athletics. All the arty kids would whine about having to run and sit in the hot sun, until that one event at the end of the day when the team captains race each other for the medal. Everyone painted their faces in the colours of their team and the excitement would start to build. The teams united, cheering and clapping and for one moment, it didn’t matter if you were the runner or that kid who had sat and chewed grass all day, you were that team. If your colour came in the top three you spent the next week at school boasting to everyone else that that was your colour that won and you could walk a little taller. That’s the real point of the Olympics. To be able watch as your countryman takes that step up onto the podium, have leaves put on their head, flowers in their arms and a gold disk around their neck that they’ll no doubt sell on eBay later. You’ll get a little misty eyed when in front of all those nations across the world, the beginning strains of the anthem will start up. The next day you’ll stand around the water cooler at work and group of people you’ve never spoken to before will all say, “Did you see we beat New Zealand. We only need five more gold till we beat the Pommes. Aussie, Aussie...” I guess, for now, there is a little room left in this world of ever blurring boundaries for a little respectable national pride now and then.

The London Olympics hasn’t escaped unscathed either, with commentators arguing that in this economic crisis, tax payers money should be better spent on things not involving giant donut stadiums and the colouring in of the London tube. For years there have been accusations of athletes misusing their funding, of drug use, bad sportsmanship and inappropriate behaviour (ahem, Nick Darcy) being part of the Olympics’ culture. The real issue for those of us at home is which ever commercial channel wins the rights to cover the Olympics has to be avoided for weeks on end. It seems that 30 games in, TV stations still haven’t figured out that showing the highlights is perfectly acceptable, that they

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