Opus Magazine 62 (1) - #OpusComeback

FREE STUDENT MAGAZINE Journalism Art Fiction Reviews Competitions Entertainment

Volume 62 / Issue 1 True student-led media #OpusComeback

Opus Magazine

Volume 62 / Issue 1 Š 2016 Newcastle University Students' Association (NUSA) NUSA Building, University of Newcastle Opinions expressed are those of student contributors and not necessarily those of NUSA. NUSA acknowledges the Pambalong clan of the Awabakal people, upon whose land Opus is published. NUSA pays respect to their elders past, present and future, and stands alongside them in their struggle for self-determination, land rights and social justice. This land was never ceded - it is and always will be Aboriginal land.

Editor: Barrie Shannon Contributors: Barrie Shannon, Phill Johnson, Michael Labone, Ashlea Brumby, Bobbie Antonic, Ruby Porter, Rachel Storer, Meghan Richardson, Claudia D'Amore, Laurise Dickson, Reilly Carroll.

Special thanks: Amber Sauni and Ayeesha McComb, Giacomo Arnott, the Media Collective.

Cover art: Guy Martin http://www.opus.org.au/ Opus Magazine

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@OpusMagazine

EDITORIAL 6 PRESIDENT'S REPORT 7 (SEMESTER) 2FAST2FURIOUS 8 WHY SECURITY OUTSOURCING IS SHIT FOR EVERYONE 10 ON THIS DAY 16 EAT CHEAP EAT WELL 18 CONVENER REPORTS 20 FUN 22 SIGNS WITH MYSTIC MEL 23 LEARNING AT A COST 24 GHOST 29 TOP 5 ALBUMS OF 2016 SO FAR 30 NOURISHING THE COMMUNITY ONE MEALAT A TIME 34 ALABASTER 38 THE MORNING AFTER 40 3

13.06.2016

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#WEAREORLANDO

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EDITORIAL Well, it's been a while. Three years is pretty much a lifetime in the university context.

Chances are, the vast majority of you have never seen an Opus, let alone picked one up and read one. I may as well begin with a bit of background.

Opus has been the University of Newcastle's student magazine since 1954. Not a typo. Students like you and I were making issues of Opus Magazine even before our parents' time. If you are a mature age student reading this, for context, Opus started when you were about thirty five. With a constantly changing editorial board, Opus ebbed and flowed with university life. When students thrived, Opus thrived. When students were challenged, Opus thrived harder. However, even for the most prolific publications, sometimes too much is too much. A perfect storm of neoliberal penny pinching from the University, poor student representatives and sub-par management within NUSA saw Opus dissolve into obscurity about three years ago.

And so, a vacuum was created. Students had no vocal presence on campus, and Yak Media rose to fill that void. And fill they have. However, NUSA has dusted itself off, and our current President, Phill Johnson has led significant positive growth and development within the organisation (there, I said it, now I want my Henny Penny nuggets).

This is the time for an #OpusComeback.

Why? We feel that, while great people - students - put a lot of time and effort into producing Yak Magazine, it can never truly be the voice that students need and deserve.

Yak Media sits within Student Central, and is ultimately responsible to the corporate and PR interests of the University. We feel that this is reflected in their style and content — from safe, apolitical themes, to fence-sitting on crucial University decisions, to a glowing review of the 'exciting opportunity' that the STAR 4000 course poses for Young Liberals everywhere.

But we’re not looking to sling mud. Wink emoji.

Opus, on the other hand, is run by NUSA, and is wholly democratically responsible to the student body. Opus is yours to publish what you want. You can say the 'F' word and everything. As your Media Officer, I implore you to get involved with Opus. It's time to reclaim that loud, political, raunchy, unashamed, critical, funny and edgy voice that makes university life so good — and is not afraid to take anybody to task in the interest of students' interests.

Barrie Shannon

Media Officer

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President’s Repor t Hi, I’m Phill Johnson, your 2016 NUSA President. This year is turning out to be a big year for NUSA and I’m determined to work hard for students here in Newcastle.

with one of our clubs is a great way to broaden your student life experience, meet new people and simply have fun. This year, NUSA is working to improve and expand on what we already offer to create an even better campus NUSA is the peak representative body for environment for all students. students at UON as well as the major student run service provider on campus. Our purpose We have a very wide and diverse range of is to make sure students get the most out student services. There’s lots of opportunities of their university experience whether it be to grab some food with free breakfast all day on academic issues in the classroom or the every day, regular free BBQ’s at meet ups with campus life outside. student reps and discounted fruit and vegie boxes. We also play a large role in on campus Importantly, NUSA is run by annually elected activities and events such as Autonomy day, student representatives that make up the O-weeks and Stress Less Week.

NUSA Council. NUSA is your student voice on campus, we are run by students for students. There are always plenty of opportunities to As your representatives, we fight for the rights get involved with our many student collectives of each and every student. NUSA has run covering Education, Welfare, Queer, Women’s, successful large scale campaigns in the past Disabilities, Indigenous, International, such as the one that helped defeat the Abbott- Postgraduate, Environmental or Transport Turnbull Government’s plans to deregulate issues for students. You can even make fees, slash university funding and charge contributions and submissions to our newly interest on HECS. relaunched student media through Opus.

Not only do we fight for your rights to education, we fight for any and all issues affecting students. NUSA has been running a campaign for a convenient and accessible public transport system for UoN students. We are also is actively lobbying the University to do something about fixing the parking problem once and for all to make traveling to Uni as easy and stress free as possible.

NUSA provides some excellent services and has a strong base of clubs and societies with more than 40 affiliated clubs. Getting involved

If you’re passionate about making your Uni a better place or even just looking for something new and interesting to do, sign up as a member with NUSA or even volunteer with us. You’ll be amazed about what a great experience it will be!

I look forward to standing up for students over the rest of the year and helping to make your university experience a really great time!

Phill Johnson

President

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SEMESTER

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2016 Planner, Semester 2

’ JULY

AUGUST

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday 1

Saturday 2

Sunday 3

Monday

Tuesday

1

Wednesday

2

3

Thursday 4

Festival of Autonomy 1 - 5 Aug

Tartan Day

5

6

7

8

NAIDOC Week 4 - 8 July Sleep Awareness Week 4 - 10 July

11

12

13

9

Semester 1 results released

14

15

10

16

8

9

Sunday 7

13

14

20

21

27

28

Jeans for Genes Day

10

11

12

16

17

18

19

23

24

25

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day

17

Saturday 6

Last day to add courses through MyHub

Bank Holiday World Breastfeeding Week 1-7

4

Friday 5

15

Int Youth Day Trimester 2 ends

Int Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

Blue Stocking Week 15 - 19

18

Semester 1 Supplementary Exams start

25

World Youth Skills Day

19

20

21

22

26

27

28

29

Semester 1 Supplementary Exams finish

Trimester 2 exams begin

Trimester 2 STUVAC

23

24

22

30

31

29

Wear it Purple Day

30

NUSA Council Meeting

SEPTEMBER

5

Trimester 3 starts

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Sunday

Monday

2

3

4

31

9

10

11

3

16

17

18

10

7

8

13

14

15

Tuesday

4

World Suicide Prevention Day

R U OK Day

Semester 2 resumes

Labour Day

21

27

28

Int Day of Peace

22

23

11

29

30

Uni Reconcilliation Day

12

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Internation Day of The Girl Child

World Mental Health Day

17

25

18

24

Nutrition Week 17 - 21

25

19

NUSA Council Meeting

26

Sunday

1

2

6

7

8

9

13

14

15

16

Pride Week 10 - 14

Oktoberfest 17 Sep - 3 Oct

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Wednesday

5

Australian Citizenship Day

NUSA Council Meeting

Mid-Autumn Moon Festival

20

Semester 2 Recess

26

Saturday

1

6

World Sexual Health Awareness Day

19

last day to withdraw without financial penalty

OCTOBER

Int Literacy Day

12

Census Date -

NUSA Council Meeting

Int Day of Friendship

Trimester 2 exams end

31

Semester 2 commences

Monday

26

Day of Rural Women

20

Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Day

21

27

22

28

29

23

World Food Day

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Reclaim The Night

NOVEMBER Monday

DECEMBER

Tuesday 1

Wednesday 2

Thursday 3

Friday 4

Saturday

Sunday

5

6

12

13

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday 1

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

2

3

4

9

10

11

Semester 2 ends

7

8

NUSA Council Meeting

9

10

11

World AIDS Day

5

6

Trimester 3 exams begin

7

8

Semester 2 results released

End of Year Exams start

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last day to withdraw without academic penalty

Remembrance Day

15

16

17

18

19

20

12

13

14

15

Universal Children’s Day

World Diabetes Day

21

28

International Day for Tolerance

22

23

29

30

24

25

End of Year Exams finish

26

Int Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women Transgender Day of Remembrance Trimester 3 ends

Natiotional Skin Cancer Action Week 20 - 26 Nov

27

19

20

26

27

UoN closes for 2016

28

Human Rights Day

16

17

18

22

23

24

25

29

30

31

Semester 2 supplementary exams start

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Semester 2 supplementary exams finish

Trimester 3 exams ends

Christmas Day

Boxing Day

Trimester 3 STUVAC

The key to the NUSA Calendar Public Holidays

Exam Periods

Uni Holidays

Days of UoN significance

Where is NUSA physically?

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Sup er Rec Fun Ou reati td on A oor erly rea Carpa

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NU is h SA ere!

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Commonwealth Bank

Between the Bar-On-The-Hill and the Commonwealth Bank

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Newcastle University Students’ Association Inc - NUSA

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Get social with us for updates!

he-H

Contact us! (We’re really nice)

Newcastle University Students’ Association NUSA Building University of Newcastle University Drive Callaghan NSW 2308 nusa.org.au office@nusa.org.au 0249216006

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WHY SECURITY OUTSOURCING IS SHIT FOR EVERYONE_ Feature Article

Y

Barrie Shannon

ou may or may not have heard that the University has given the green light to a plan to outsource security services on the Callaghan campus after a brief consultative period. This means that the University is going to put security out to tender, allowing large, for-profit companies to manage security at a lower price than it currently costs for the University to run its in-house security team.

This restructure of security is another in a long line of cost-cutting measures by the University that has seen dramatic staffing changes, reduced job security and the gutting of funding, especially in how student services are managed and delivered. The Abbott-esque ‘efficiency’ measures that the University has approved have been received negatively by staff and by union representatives.

The National Tertiary Education Union Opus understands that Transfield/ (NTEU) said in their submission during Broadspectrum is very likely to win the the consultative period that the University contract. If Transfield is ringing a bell for was looking to cut costs at the expense of you, it’s probably one of those huge ones you security staff’s wages and conditions. “After see on top of scary gothic mausoleums in years of cost cutting and job-shedding movies when some idiot is walking around across all campuses at our University it’s in a cemetery and is about to get fucked up. time to draw a line in the sand”, the NTEU said in a statement on their website.

By many accounts, Transfield is infamously anti-worker, and it is at least partly “Our university and wider community cannot responsible for running the miserable sustain cuts of more university positions refugee detention camps on Manus Island and services. We are greatly concerned and Nauru. To date, these centres have seen about the heightened levels of job-insecurity the deaths of over a dozen asylum seekers amongst [University] staff and the unabated who have been imprisoned for seeking a organisational restructuring within our better life in Australia.

University.”

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The NTEU refers here to the preoccupation that the University appears to have with regularly restructuring for ‘efficiency’, which has seen scores of staff displaced or cut altogether.

to recent restructuring suggests that there is a lot of confusion now about their objectives and their responsibilities. This is obviously not good news for the service delivery to students.

Previous victims of these restructure processes include UoN Services, Student Central, UoN Global, NUSA and NUPSA. An overarching trend in the University’s relationship with these bodies is an obsession with KPIs in combination with a “python squeeze”, if you will, on the allocation of SSAF funding.

“While NTEU’s focus is primarily on questions of working conditions, and job security, for its members,” NTEU President Tom Griffiths said, “we share student concerns about the impacts on their educational experience that come from these seemingly endless restructures of work across all areas of the University.”

Wringing out every possible dollar seems to be the only justification for outsourcing Callaghan’s in-house security. “University management provided just a 148-word rationale for this move to outsourcing that, at best, is simply self-referential by invoking the ‘New Futures Strategic Plan’ as justification for change”, the NTEU laments.

A member of the University’s security team expressed to Opus his disgust at what he perceived as blatant penny-pinching on behalf of the University. “It’s all about saving money,” he said. “Make no mistake.”

The NTEU agrees with this security member’s assessment. “As with most moves to outsource work, the intent from “There is nothing about the actual delivery management here is driven by a desire to of services currently by these staff, nor why reduce costs, and to relieve the University [or] how it needs to be changed. “ of direct responsibility for the delivery of services.”, Tom Griffiths alleges.

“

University management provided just a 148-word rationale for this move to outsourcing

”

Anecdotal evidence from staff whose positions or departments have been subject

“Promises that existing levels of service and service standards will remain, while savings in the millions of dollars are projected, can only mean that the future contracted providers pay their workers much less than those currently employed by the university to do the same work.”

You'll never see an article like this in Yak Magazine!

Opus is the only student publication that is not accountable to the University.

Send your article ideas and submissions to opus@nusa.org.au.

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I can hear the internal dialogue of our more conservative readers ask: “if it’s saving student and taxpayer money, what’s the big deal?”

contractors who represent the same, forprofit company that is at least partly responsible for the opprobrious human rights abuses in our offshore immigration detention centres? Let’s not forget that over The primary issue lies with the quality of a dozen people have died in these facilities. service that we are left with. Our in-house security team is bound by University policies The NTEU agrees, claiming that the which ensure acknowledgement of ethnic, University “cannot afford the loss in gender and sexual diversity. They have a quality of service which traditionally arises wealth of rich experience in dealing with when in-house services are outsourced mental health issues, and are acutely aware to private profit making organisations.” of the unique security needs facing women, international students and GLBTI students. The final question is quite simple. Are the experience, professionalism, and The University obviously maintains that we peace of mind we get from the men will be left with new, competent staff who and women of our in-house security will follow their same guidelines in the event worth their ‘cost’? I think so. that current security staff choose to leave instead of taking a significant cut to their Barrie is NUSA’s Media Officer and pay and conditions. is a PhD candidate in the School of

Humanities and Social Science.

But how are we supposed to accept that we will be just as safe and secure with

@BarrieShannon_

Mental Health First Aid The Equity Collective is offering recognised qualifications in mental health first aid. Courses will run Saturday 30 July 10-2 or Thursday 4 August 1-5 at NUSA. Cost is $50. There’s an online component that you can do in your own time, and then 4 hours face to face with lunch.

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Newcastle University Students’ Association (NUSA) is your student union, run by and for students. This means that our accountability is to our student members—we work for you.

NUSA provides: 

Free breakfast, tea, coffee and juice all day, every day



Free Food Fridays—thanks OzHarvest!



Free barbecues and pancake breakfasts



Free safe sex supplies, sunscreen and mosquito repellent



Free table tennis and basketball



Free activities and events



Cheap First Aid, RSA and RCG courses



$20 veggie boxes—packed with heaps of fresh produce



Safe spaces for women and GLBTI identifying students



Support for student clubs and societies



Advocacy on behalf of students

Come and visit us in the NUSA Building, next to Bar on the Hill on the Hunter side of campus!

Newcastle University Students Association - NUSA

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Opus needs contributors in 2016!

Get in touch if you are interested

in writing - in any form, style and genre!

Opus also (very obviously) needs talented and passionate graphic designers and artists.

Send your submissions to opus@nusa.org.au

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FOOD WRITER

EVENTS WRITER

STUDENT INSIGHT

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On this day...

Opus Magazine Twenty years ago 

Behold, Opus Magazine’s August 1996 edition. Note the edgy 90s cover design, pubes and all. So much about student life is different, and yet so much is still exactly the same. Mainly the whinging about shit Liberal Party higher education policies.

Mining for nostalgia, there was apparently a Something for Kate gig at Bar on the Hill (something I hear happened pretty often back in the day), and this issue of Opus had CD reviews - yes, CD reviews - of Manic Street Preachers’ ‘A Design for Life’ and Metallica’s ‘Load’. Some other nuggets of 90s goodness in this issue included: • A story about a famous Supreme Court case brought against NIB by a Newcastle gay couple who were denied ‘family insurance’ on the basis of their sexuality; • An interview with then-relevant Democrats Senator Natasha Stott-Despoja; • An entire story about which Olympic male athletes are the sexiest, with a special mention of Bruce McAveney for some reason; • Some angsty teen poetry reminiscent of the Dawson’s Creek era.

If you’re interested in perusing old issues of Opus going back to 1954, come to the NUSA Building and join the Media Collective. We’re in the process of digitising old issues of Opus and would love your help!

Cory Bernardi Just now 

homosexual 9/11 conspiracy election 2016 illuminati

Cory Bernardi shit that was meant to be a google search... sorry folks Like Reply

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Opus really is on Facebook - Search 'Opus Magazine'!

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ABCDEFG EAT CHEAP H I JEAT K WELL LMN OPQRSTU VQABCDE FGHIJKL MNOPQRS “ TUVQABC ” D E F G H I JKLMNOP QRSTUVQ Eating well while studying can be a challenge, especially with the added burdens of money and stress. Nobody feels like eating a plate of lean meat and vegetables when they've just realised there's an assessment due at midnight and it hasn't even been started. Assessments aside, it's hard to figure out what food to buy if you want a truly 'balanced' diet - and in the age of the superfood, there's no telling whether or not that organic chia and activated almond protein-boost museli is actually just a pile of crap. Opus spoke to Allison Roberts, a locallybased dietitian and diabetes educator for some advice, and to clear up some misconceptions.

Students on Youth allowance or AUSTUDY have little to spend on food.

What are your main tips for eating well on a budget?

Meal plan! Write down your meals for the week and take a shopping list to the grocery store. Try to buy in bulk where possible for things that you can include in multiple meals over the week. And most importantly try to buy seasonal and local produce as these foods will be cheaper.

What are some good ‘staples’ that can be used to whip up a nutritious meal?

Legumes, brown rice, high fiber pasta and potatoes are healthy and relatively inexpensive basics to start any meal with. Add in a small quantity of lean meat, chicken or fish and lots of seasonal vegetables.

‘raw foods’, ‘refined sugar free’ and ‘organic’ are not necessary for a healthy, balanced diet. Sure, some of these food products can be beneficial, but you can still meet all your nutritional needs without them. Basics like eggs, baked beans, spinach and bananas could also be considered superfoods without the expensive price tag!

Food trends such as 'superfoods'... are not necessary for a healthy, balanced diet

What are the benefits of gluten-free food for people who don’t have coeliac disease?

None! Coeliac disease is an auto-immune reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat, Food marketing is rife, and every obscure barley, rye and contaminated oats. There ingredient is lining up to be called a is no nutritional benefit for those who do “superfood”. What are some marketing not have coeliac disease to exclude gluten traps that we can avoid to save money? containing foods. In fact, some gluten-free Avoid as much processed food as you can, alternative products are higher in other refined particularly those with bold claims on the carbohydrates and sugars. packaging. Food trends such as ‘superfoods’,

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ABCDEFG HIJKLMN OPQRSTU VQABCDE beingI wellJ on campus FGH KL MNOPQRS TUVQABC D E F G H I JKLMNOP QRSTUVQ What are some good snacks for keeping alert and on task?

The best snacks whilst studying are those that provide you with both complex carbohydrates for energy and protein for satiety. The last thing you want is to be having sugar highs and hunger pangs whilst trying to concentrate! Think fruit, nuts, yoghurt, wholegrain sandwiches or crackers with avocado, salads or vege dips.

What are the best ways a student can work exercise into a busy schedule?

Plan it in to your week like you would an appointment! Being organised is a must for making the time to exercise. Keep a diary and schedule your exercise sessions in each week, just like you would your lectures, tutorials, study time and work commitments.

Allison Roberts is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian and Credentialled Diabetes Educator at the Diabetes & Endocrinology Clinic, 68 Belford

Street Broadmeadow. For individual consultations, call 4965 3800.

The Forum

The campus gym is located on the Hunter side of campus, a short walk north-east of Bar on the Hill. The Forum has a wide range of facilities including a 50 metre heated indoor pool, indoor courts, strength training, cardio, and cycling zones, a climbing wall and group fitness classes. The Forum University also has childminding facilities, personal trainers and an accredited dietitian. Membership to The Forum starts at $9.90 per week for students!

NUSA Fruit and Vegetable Co-op

NUSA offers members weekly fruit and vegetable crates for $20 each. Packed from the Jesmond Fruit Barn, these large crates are full of fresh, seasonal fruit and vegetables. It's great value for money, and a good opportunity to add more servings of vegetables to your diet. Their contents vary week-to-week, so you'll get to try a range of goods. You can order yours at the NUSA Building before COB Tuesday for pick-up on Thursday or Friday.

The Veggie Club

This student-run club supplies free vegetarian lunches on campus throughout the week.

These lunches are very generous portions of delicious curries sourced from The Bhakti Tree Hare Krishna restaurant in Mayfield, often accompanied by papadums or koftas. The Veggie Club has been giving free food to students for over twenty years, making it one of the longest-lived student organisations on campus. Free lunches are on Wednesdays at 12:30 at the City Hub, and Thursdays at 12:30 at Callaghan, outside of the NUSA Building.

To find out more, you can visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/VegetarianClubUON.

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CONVENER REPORT S

Believe it or not, but NUSA actually does more than supply free sausages from time to time. Nestled within our organisation are several collectives which cater to the diverse and often unique needs

of the student body. Collectives are free to join and participate in - and NUSA runs elections to determine who will lead each collective. These elected students are our collective conveners.

EQUITY

The Equity Collective brings together students with a disability, mental illness, chronic medical condition, and carers, who have an interest in promoting fairness & equality in all aspects of life. We strive to lead the way in promoting inclusion and accessibility for students with disability at the University of Newcastle.

When things are good, we offer accessible and inclusive social events, and assist other university clubs become more inclusive. When there are problems, we are a collective voice that advocates for rights of persons with a disability whilst studying at UoN. We can also help with individual disputes, trying

to make the scary people you have to talk to a little less intimidating.

We are an autonomous student collective that welcomes members who identify themselves as having a disability or chronic illness as well as students who are unpaid carers of a person with disability or chronic illness. We do not ask for “evidence” or documentation; if you identify, that’s enough for us.

-- Ashlea Brumby, Equity Convener You

can

contact

the

Equity

Collective

at

equity@nusa.org.au.

QUEER The Queer Collective exists as a support amd advocacy network for students who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex or otherwise queer (GLBTIQ).

The Collective is an autonomous student group, and has a permanent space within the NUSA Building which GLBTIQ identifying people can use at their leisure to socialise or access important information about their sexual health and mental wellbeing. ACON

T RANSPORT

Transport affects us all when we walk, ride a bike, ride a motorcycle, drive a car, catch a bus or catch the train to Newcastle University campus.

Affordable, reliable public transport and adequate parking is important for students. The transport collective will always advocate for these issues. If

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regularly visits the 'queer space' to offer advice and referrals specifically for GLBTIQ identifying students.

The Queer Collective also organises Pride Week, one of the year's main celebrations. In Pride Week, we host a range of events to celebrate sexual and gender diversity on campus.

You can contact the Queer Collective at queer@nusa.org.au or join the Facebook group by searching "UON Queer Collective".

you have any questions or suggestions please get in touch with us at transport@nusa.org.au.

-- Bobbie Antonic, Transport Convener

WOMEN'S The Women's Collective serves as a support and advocacy network for students who are femaleidentifying; the Collective does not discriminate on the basis of gender identity; it is open to anybody who identifies as female in whole, in part or in transition.

Driven by a strong feminist framework, the Women's Collective frequently holds events and lobbies for gender equity in social, cultural and political contexts.

This autonomous student group also has a permanent

EDUCAT ION

space within the NUSA Building which can be used by female-identifying students.

You can contact the Women's Collective at women@nusa.org.au or find it on Facebook by searching "UON Women's Collective".

-- Jacinta Mortell, Women's Convener

I’m Michael. I’m the Education Officer here at NUSA. I’m an Anarchist. A Communist. A Unionist. A Feminist. A Writer. A Musician. And most importantly a pretentious wanker.

seriously there was nothing going on in this portfolio.

Being of the creative genius I am we have had two successful protests against cuts to our Uni by the greasy Lib government.

With the Education Collective this year my focus has been on building something from the ground up. I came into the position through a by-election after the previous Education Officer decided to fuck off and be a neoliberal prick (I kid) and no resources and contacts have been carried over from then. But more

Anyway if you want to get involved send me an email at education@nusa.org.au and we can have beers and be cool peeps.

-- Michael Labone, Education Officer

ENVIRONMENT As NUSA’s Environmental Convener I assist our affiliated student environmental organisations on campus. I also provide a voice of representation for any students who have concerns about environmental issues at the university.

In my capacity as Environmental Convener for 2016 I hope that I can help UoN become a greener space.

This has involved investigating the viability of a bike share scheme for Callaghan campus, looking into providing a compost bin for the NUSA building and

INTERNAT IONAL

The International Students' Collective is organised around providing peer support and advocacy for students who have come from overseas to study at the University. The International Students' Convener represents the interests of International students on various committees within the University. Any

an electrical goods recycling service. I further seek to explore options for a park and ride scheme with the addition of the New Space campus.

If you would like to raise anything with me I will be in the NUSA building every second Wednesday of Semester 2 between 10-12pm and I am contactable via email at erin.c.richardson@uon.edu.au.

-- Erin Richardson, Environment Convener

grievances or issues that International students or cultural student clubs may have can be directed to the International Students' Convener at william. preetham@gmail.com.

No report received from International, Queer, Postgraduate or Part-Time Students’ conveners.

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fun * ACROSS

4. Where the gay men go 6. √64 11. MP for Lake Macquarie, Greg ----14. 32°56'29.9"S 151°41'52.7"E 16. A meal for a dingo 18. Baby Beedrill 19. Rick's sidekick 20. David's dad 21. VC's first name

..

su do ku In case for some reason you don't know how sudoku works even though it's 2016: Number each row (horizontally and vertically) 1-9... ...while simultaneously numbering each 3x3 box 1-9. * Fun may or may not actually be had. Participate in these activities at your own peril.

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DOWN

1. Avengers: -------- War 2. Perth FC 3. Where the sharks live 5. Trans Sense8 star's first name 7. Ice-T's last name on SVU 8. Buffy's female sidekick 9. Griffin family dog 10. SA Premier Jay ---------12. Anastasia's nemesis 13. Sailor Moon's cat 15. A cafe in the Hunter St mall 17. The 'Peace Capital'

Signs

with Mystic Mel

Capricorn (Dec 2 - Jan 19) You've been thinking of making a big purchase lately but now is simply not the time. Whatever you are thinking of getting, it's cursed by this little goblin son of a bitch and it's just not worth the pain and heartbreak. Just don't do it. Don't fucking do it.

Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18) Mercury is colliding with Jupiter this month which means there has never been a better time to meet a romantic partner. Go all out. Get into cars with strangers. Don't use protection. Throw away the knife you keep under your bed in case that robber that murdered your dog comes back to kill you too. Live life!

Pisces (Feb 19 - Mar 20) Work has been tough lately, and the stars are telling me you're struggling to cope. Take the time off to pamper yourself. It will make all the difference. It will also make a difference if you stop being such a little bitch about everything. The stars said that, I mean. Not me.

Aries (Mar 21 - Apr 19) You actually did pretty well at uni this semester, and you should feel proud of yourself. But don't be too proud.

Nobody wants to be around that one mate that won't stop rubbing in the fact that they didn't fail everything.

I'm looking at you, Jess from Law.

with all animals, and the ability to direct animals to carry out its bidding. Avoid the path between Shortland and Hunter unless you want to have your eyes pecked out while having your junk bitten by snakes.

Cancer (Jun 21 - Jul 22) A past anxiety has been haunting you lately. However, it's time to let it go. Go to the highest point you can find and slam down an entire goon sack at once. It's the only way. By the way, did you think there was going to be a cancer joke here because of how I did the Taurus one? Shame on you.

Leo (Jul 23 - Aug 22) Happy birthday for whenever your birthday is/was. Hope you manage to get laid. This is your present: a pleasant horoscope.

Virgo (Aug 23 - Sep 22) Even though Mercury's collision with Jupiter is good for an Aquarius, it's terrible for you. You will permanently lose your ability to attract a sexual partner unless you consume the blood of an Aquarius.

Hi Mel, I inherited my pet lorikeet from my grandma. I'm pretty sure she was a witch because all the lorikeet would say was 'bring me bones' and 'blessings upon the dark ones'. Anyway, it died. Can you tell me if it had a happy life?

-Scared, but interested

Hello my child, I can only imagine the kind of things your pet lorikeet has seen. I can safely say that he has seen some crazy shit. Upon consulting my allknowing crystal ball, I can make out the sillhouette of a tall, gaunt man attempting to remove a small bird from a pile of bones. The image is becoming clearer; they are in Hell.

These are the bones of the bird's victims! Good grief! Do yourself a favour and forget about the bird.

Spirits guide you,

-Mel

Libra (Sep 23 - Oct 22) A face from the past will re-appear in your life this month. Bang them; otherwise you will spend the rest of your life regretting it.

Taurus (Apr 20 - May 20) I once caught a Tauros in the Safari Zone and it's actually a pretty crappy Pokemon. I'm pretty sure it just knew Tackle and Tail Whip. Did any of you ever catch a Chansey without cheating? I didn't. It would always flee after I chucked food at it. It's sort of weird that something that fat can get away so quickly. Oh, horoscope, right. You're going to die in three days.

Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 21) The cops know what you're doing and quite frankly, they're disgusted.

You're not even going to get busted for it. You're fucking gross. Don't even talk to me.

Gemini (May 21 - Jun 20) That snail you stepped on the other day was actually the avatar of an ancient being which has an affinity

Send your questions to our resident psychic, Mystic Mel at opus@nusa.org.au.

Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21) It's a little-known scientific fact that there are actually no people in the world who are Sagittariuses. They just don't exist.

Star QUOTE "Bush didn't do 9/11. But what he does do is a mean chicken nuggets.�

Mila Kunis (Leo)

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LEARNING AT A COST Feature Article

I

Rachel Storer

f asked to work a 40-hour week without pay, what would your response be? For many university students, unpaid placement and internships are an unforgiving requirement usually resulting in relocation, stress and extreme financial strain. A recent Change.org petition has given a voice to 25,000 supporters who believe students should receive financial aid whilst completing vocational placement and internships.

Two months ago, Hayley Chandler, a nursing student from the University of Wollongong, started a petition addressed to government asking for students to be given financial support whilst on mandatory placement. Many degrees, especially health related, require students to complete weeks of unpaid placement to develop their skills and experience within the workplace.

Many students have to relocate for weeks on end with little or no income.

Hayley’s personal struggles drove her to start the petition which has been met with surprising support.

“During placement I have expenses such as accommodation, petrol, uniforms and parking, not to mention my other personal bills,” said Hayley.

“The uniforms themselves cost $300, and parking at my previous hospital

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placement was $25 per day. It is impossible to work a job whilst on placement as many employers won’t hire someone who can be away for weeks, maybe months, at a time, so I just watched my savings decline. I was extremely close to deferring my degree just so I could save money to go on placement as I have almost completed 12 weeks of unpaid work.”

Mandatory placement is also relocating students from their homes. Madeleine Baker is in her third year of a social work degree at the University of New England in Armidale. Social work has the highest amount of hours for work placement of almost any degree, as required by the Australian Association of Social Workers. Madeleine recently completed a massive 14-week placement here in Newcastle where she worked a 40-hour week, lived 400km away from her family and struggled financially on minimum Centrelink payments.

“At times I was really stressed. I was working huge weeks, and still had university assessments to complete.

My marks were falling,” she said.

“Being away from home was hard enough without the other pressures I had to face, I could barely support myself.

“I had no idea of how much I’d have to save to cover myself for three months.

I scraped by for the necessities, but it’s the unexpected things, like my car breaking down twice, that really hit my savings.”

Madeleine strongly supports Hayley’s petition saying placement is extremely valuable to students and any kind of support would make mandatory placement easier to handle.

“Apprentices get paid to learn, so why too can’t students?” she said.

Other degrees such as communications, encourage students to undertake unpaid internships to gain workplace experience. Dimity Mannering, the executive director of Interns Australia, is concerned that the developing culture of unpaid internships is removing real jobs from the labour market that young people should be getting paid for. Unpaid internships have replaced entry-level jobs and in the last five to ten years have become a virtual prerequisite for many professions placing pressure on young people to find jobs in a hyper-competitive market.

should be able to access opportunities, not just those who can afford it”.

“

...those who are unable to support themselves financially are denied the chance to develop their skills and knowledge

”

Under Australian law, students completing vocational placements are not considered employees and are therefore not eligible for payment or entitlements under the Fair Work Act (2009). Interns Australia encourage employers to pay students, whether on placement or internship, as it is essential that the value of young people’s work is recognised. Dimity says “Interns Australia is working hard to raise awareness among employers of the benefits of paying interns; it means young people are valued for their work”.

Dimity suggests Hayley’s petition is one way to address unpaid internships and placements, saying, “raising awareness of the problem is the starting point”.

“It is because of the weakening economy and the high rate of youth unemployment that we have seen the emergence of internships on this scale,” Dimity said.

“Once people are aware of the challenges faced by young people and begin to understand why it’s important, it will lead to action from the community to increase the number of paid placements,” she said.

Not paying students for placement also raises the issue of equality. It means that those who are unable to support themselves financially are denied the chance to develop their skills and knowledge. Dimity says “everyone

Dr Aniello Iannuzzi, a GP from rural NSW, disagrees with Dimity and Interns Australia view that students should be paid whilst on placement. Dr Iannuzzi has been teaching medical students at

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his centre for 18 years and believes the system is satisfactory.

“Students get enough assistance as it is, especially medical students” said Dr Iannuzzi.

Dr Ianuzzi admits that student placement in any degree is extremely valuable but suggests that there should be more students sent to rural areas.

“Students from all disciplines need to gain better understanding of life outside the larger cities and support regional areas”.

However, Dr Iannuzzi does believe that unpaid internships are a different matter to student placements, and agrees that Arguably, there is a legal grey area internships are removing entry-level roles. surrounding the matter of unpaid student placement and internships. An extremely fine “The influx of unpaid internships has line exists between what turns a vocational created an underclass of qualified graduates placement into an employment relationship. who are unemployed. This can be seen in Unpaid placements and internships are the field of law for example, but is not a designed to enable young people to observe, problem in Medicine. I believe it is result of learn and develop their skills. Other tasks, poor government policy,” said Dr Ianuzzi. that would usually be carried out by a paid employee, should not be completed by an “The sad reality is that it’s better financially unpaid intern or student, and this is where for young adults to get a trade or an many, unaware of their rights outlined by unqualified job not requiring an internship. the Fair Work Act, fall into the trap of being They are more likely to be financially stable”. manipulated by employers.

Image by Rachel Storer.

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“There are myriad questions that arise from the ambiguity in Australian law,” says Dimity.

The Fair Work Act contains no definition of employment. Therefore, establishing whether an employment relationship exists is extremely difficult as each case must be considered individually, often in court; a hurdle many students cannot clear. Dimity states that law reform could help young people on placement and in internships saying “it’s not the young people’s fault that so many are doing unpaid work, we need to provide structures that support them”.

programme businesses receive an upfront payment of $1000 to host an intern, while the intern will only receive $100 a week added to their Centrelink income support.

“

...when an employer doesn't pay minimum wage for an intern, the chance of employment is only 19%

”

This means the government would seriously be underpaying interns, those working a full week would receive a mere $2.50 an hour.

In the recent federal budget announcement, Employers that go on to hire an intern will the government has created a new receive up to $10,000 in wage subsidies, programme aimed at increasing young which raises the questions: who is reaping people’s employability. The Youth Jobs PaTH the benefits? The intern, or the employer?

(Prepare, Trial, Hire) programme consists of three stages that create a pathway for Hayley recently sent her petition to young job seekers. The first stage contains NSW Premier Mike Baird, expressing her intensive skills training, which is followed and 25,000 others’ view that multi-level by work placement and internships and collaboration is needed to address the the final stage is getting hired. There has issue of unpaid student placement. Hayley been backlash over the PaTH programme admitted she was upset by the response she with Dimity saying Interns Australia is very received saying, “I was honestly appalled to receive a two sentence reply saying thank outspoken on the matter. you for your correspondence”.

“This program risks turning Australia into a nation where all entry-level jobs, or jobs However, it has not deterred her efforts. for young people are unpaid or underpaid “You have to start from somewhere, and internships,” she said. my petition has reached people all over “Our research shows that when an Australia raising awareness for students to employer doesn’t pay minimum wage for receive some sort of remuneration for their an intern, the chance of employment is efforts. only 19%. Therefore, the success rate of this programme is unlikely to be high.”

A recent Sydney Morning Herald article raised the question of the proposed PaTH scheme’s legality, saying it breaches the current minimum wage standard. Under the

“I see the issue in the same light as the gender pay gap, it’s been ignored and allowed to go on for too long, but that doesn’t make it right. Something needs to be changed and awareness is the first step.”

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Many people brush the hardships of students aside through clichéd rants opening with “back in my day”. Times have changed, and the struggles students face are overwhelming. Jobs are surrounded with fierce competition and unpaid work has unfortunately become a requirement for many occupations. More awareness is needed so that students are valued and their welfare, both economic and emotional, is cared for. So I ask again, would you work a 40-hour week without pay?

So why should students?

Rachel is a second-year Communications student at the University of Newcastle.

If you're having serious financial difficulties, there is help available. Visit a Student Hub for information about hardship loans and grants offered by the University, or visit http://www.newcastle. edu.au/current-students/support/feesand-scholarships/financial-assistance.

Alternatively, there is a wealth of information available at http://www. moneysmart.gov.au/.

Have you got a burning issue you’d like to see covered in Opus?

Submit your own writing, or send our writers an article pitch. opus@nusa.org.au

Are you a postgraduate student enrolled at the University of Newcastle? Then NUPSA is your student association!

How do I become a member?

By being enrolled, you are a member of NUPSA. Honours students are encouraged to attend our events and seminars and we can assist you at any time.

Is there a membership fee?

Nope - there is no charge!

What does NUPSA do?

• Supports postgraduate students with issues of concern • Represents postgraduate students on a number of University committees and working parties • Conducts seminars and workshops during semesters • Holds social activities each semester at most campuses • Distributes a regular newsletter

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G H O S T Fiction Meghan Richardson I met my ghost. She was nice, but she can’t explain how she got here. Sometimes she follows me around, she’s not around all the time but sometimes I see her nearby. At night time she curls up at the end of my bed. I ask her where she’s from, how old am I when I die?

Her figure is a featureless glowing form. She sighs and curls tighter together, making herself smaller.

“Not right here,” she says. “Not right now.”

She watches as I microwave baked beans and she sighs wistfully. I can’t imagine ever coming to a point in my life where I feel wistful about eating microwaved baked beans. Perhaps you can only reach that point in death. She watches from the other side of the room while I tell my boy that I love him.

I heard her praying one day. Bent over our bed on her figurative knees. I have never prayed.

Part of me feels betrayed and I want her to leave. But more times passes and she lingers for longer. In the beginning she watched my experiences with longing but the more time she was tethered to me, the more frantic she grew. She was watching reruns of a life she could not pull away from.

Her presences close to me bred anxiety and contempt. I felt nauseous when I eat around her, to getting dressed, or have sex. She knew what would happen to my body, to my friends, and to the future and yet she refused to speak about it.

“Please go,” I begged her. “Please move on.”

She can’t cry. She doesn’t have tear ducts but she howled in their absence.

One day I was walking to put a letter in the mail. Her presence was increasingly occurring.

“Stop,” I heard her say in my voice. “Stop.

Stop.”

“I don’t know this place.”

Suddenly she disperses. There is no noticeable change in the air. She goes from an undeniable presence vibrating just out of my eyesight to empty space. Once she is gone I ask myself another time if I’m losing it. When I see her I feel so sure that she exists but one time I watched the Matrix and Donnie Darko when I was 15, so I’m pretty sceptical about perceptions of reality.

“You have the thoughts of a wanker,” She whispers behind me. I spin around but can only see her from the corner of my eye.

“I don’t know this place,” She repeats quietly.

I can’t say anything, there are people around.

She approaches me, and moves into my eye line. The closer she comes the more distinguishable her features becomes from the glow of light that emits from her skin. She begins to buzz again but it is softer, more excitable.

“What do you think is going to happen?” She asks me.

“Fucking hell,” I whisper. “I don’t know, you’re the bloody time traveller.”

She laughs, I watch the corners of my lips curl up the cheeks of my face.

“This is it.” She tells me. “I’m going home.”

I don’t know if she means where she came from or heaven. Do we believe in heaven? Is it a hard leap to go from meeting your own spirit to having faith?

“How does it end?” I ask again in desperation.

“Like any other day,” She replies. And then she is gone and leaves me feeling confused and frustrated. Just like the end of this story.

I don’t want to acknowledge her presence but I freeze. She buzzes loudly behind me, like an angry mob of bees.

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TOP 5 ALBUMS OF 2016 SO FAR

Art & Culture

Claudia D'Amore Salivating has already begun over some of the masterpieces released in the past six months. Records packed with anticipation, surprises and farewells have had the leading contenders attempt to steal the crown for best album of the year early. Here are our top five picks so far...

5. Kanye West – The Life Of Pablo

Arguably the most controversial man in music, Kanye West hasn’t shied away from the reins of the media elite.

Whether asking Zuckerberg to pay off his debts and 'invest in Yeezy’s ideas', or more recently causing chaos around NYC with a cancelled pop up show, it’s clear the rapper is always in the spotlight. But after announcing the constantly name-changed album ‘So Help Me God’ ‘SWISH’ ‘WAVES’ ‘The Life of Pablo’, fans united to praise God (Yeezus, not the other one/s). Kanye’s rants have become part of his image, and in the record he is explicitly able to explore the creative genius within. FML, Real Friends, and Wolves, show West in a raw and vulnerable state questioning his inner self, which is a fresh concept for Ye considering he continually talks about his God complex.

Apart from featuring the most sexist lyric on the record, “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex/ I made that bitch famous”, Famous nevertheless succeeds to be another explosive track. The Life of Pablo exceeds expectations, as Kanye emotionally shares his deepest thoughts and publicly battles himself for his own respect.

4. Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool

As former Oasis member, Noel Gallagher, superbly stated about Radiohead’s lead singer last year, “I reckon if Thom Yorke fucking shit into a light bulb and started blowing it like an empty beer bottle it’d probably get 9 out of 10.”

Unfortunately for Noel, no one’s opinion of Radiohead has changed, and with their entrant for this year’s best album, ‘A Moon Shaped Pool’, has only left fans in total awe. Burn The Witch heightens climatic suspense with a string the confines of Radiohead’s enlightening tactic

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they’ve pursued in the record, all while artistically sending Thom Yorke’s shrieks down the spines of listeners. Although its vibe contains more of a mainstream sound than usual, ‘A Moon Shaped Pool’ satisfies as another sublime Radiohead album.

3. David Bowie -  (Blackstar)

Utter tragedy struck all those influenced by the great David Bowie when news spread of his death earlier this year. The unconventional and highly esteemed pop star knew of his fate, and two days beforehand released his final gift to the world, ‘Blackstar’. With absolute grace, he philosophically searched for answers regarding life, death and liberty within his lyrics and by experimenting with electronic and brass instruments that resonate within each track. Eerie chills among magnificent harmonies suggest a conflicted angelic and satanic ambiance in the title track Blackstar, while Lazarus is a beautiful analogy of simply accepting death ‘Just like that bluebird/ Oh I’ll be free’. Ziggy Stardust has surely transcended into space at peace with his final thoughts left on the planet Earth.

2. Violent Soho – Waco

Aussie punters fell to their knees and bowed down for 2013’s ‘Hungry Ghost’ as it was the filthy vicious release needed to brutally bang heads to. Finally, the Brisbane boys embellished listeners with another punk infused record, ‘Waco’ basically continuing on from its predecessor. The winner for most supreme build up in a track goes to Like Soda as the lads have created their newest anthem encompassing a ‘screw you’ attitude. Viceroy surfaces a lighter side unknown by the band’s previous works, but downright thrives with pure croaky vocals. Their newest single, So Sentimental, as well as other tracks like How To Taste and Blanket, covers the grunge angst angle they frequently provide on tight drums and grimy chords. Although it seems to be a safer version of its prior successor, ‘Waco’ on its own still delivers authentic acid rock audiences have craved. So, what’s the verdict on ‘Waco’? Hell Fuck Yeah!

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1. Beyoncé – Lemonade

Who else would be topping this list other than Beyoncé Knowles Carter herself?

Similar to her last self-titled album in 2013, Beyoncé is the expert in minimal advertising when it comes to her music, all while rolling in stacks of paper and continually being gratuitous about it. A few clues on her Instagram involving lemon emojis and a debut HBO documentary named ‘Lemonade’, left the Beyhive oblivious to what this was all leading to. That is, until the visual album dropped and everyone went CRAY! This powerful record encompasses pop, hip-hop, alternative, rock, jazz and country influences throughout, yet flows easily track-by-track to express the struggles of life and love. Unfortunately most of the headlines involving the work of art are concerned with gossip of infidelity from her partner Jay-Z and who ‘Becky with the good hair’ is. ‘Lemonade’ is so much more than cheating and mistress rumours! This record is about everything Beyoncé believes in, while reflecting on stages of a relationship. Hold Up innocently fools the listener into thinking the track will be sweet with an uplifting beat and Knowles’ tone, though the strong lyrics give forth a bold attitude and suggest women don’t need to be boxed into a stereotypical cute batting-eyes figure for approval if they are hurt by someone. Sorry is anything but apologetic, gliding with pure confidence within an R&B vibe. Amid this, it gives the infamous ‘side chick’ of her spouse a name, and explains how Becky’s hair is celebrated throughout mainstream pop culture, unlike Beyoncé’s natural locks. Social rights and injustices carried out against African-Americans including police brutality and people’s lame excuse for not being politically correct, is expressed through upbeat chants in Freedom (feat.

Kendrick Lamar) and Formation, additionally conveying the need to celebrate the African-American culture and women. She has been publicly scrutinized for being brave enough to use her platform to speak on real social issues throughout ‘Lemonade’ and if they’re not enough justifications for her to be on top of this list, who knows what the qualifications are. Queen Bey is a queen for a reason, and ‘Lemonade’ is one of them.

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pride week October 10 - 14

Planning for Pride Week 2016 is underway!

If you'd like to get involved, contact the Queer Collective at queer@nusa.org.au.

You can also check out the queer space in the NUSA Building for news and updates.

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Nourishing the community one meal at a time Feature Article Laurise Dickson Imagine you’re a single parent of two young children. As you are unable to work, the only source of income you receive is a small, weekly benefit from the government that just covers your rent and household bills, with little money left over. With your remaining income, you struggle to feed your family each day and constantly worry about the future.

Khan deliver a seminar on food wastage as well as the numerous effects this wastage is having on society and the environment, Newcastle business man and restaurateur Neil Slater was inspired.

Moved by this eye-opening experience, he

began researching ways he could create a branch of the charity in Newcastle. “I thought Until one day, a little yellow van arrives at your I was well positioned and quite involved in the house, supplying you with an abundance of community at the time to make a difference,” fresh, locally sourced ingredients. With these said Slater. products at hand, you are now able to cook nourishing meals for both yourself and your With the help of Leonie Young, founder of children. the local business The Essential Ingredient, Slater established OzHarvest Newcastle This is the work of OzHarvest. within Soul Café in early 2010. The food rescue program was so successful in the To Rescue, Educate, Engage and Innovate first few months of operation, that it became – that is their mission. Shocked by the its own independent group, moving to The amount of food wastage within the hospitality Essential Ingredient in Darby Street in industry, event’s organiser Rhonni Khan November of the same year. wanted to make a difference in society. So, in November 2004, OzHarvest was born.

Since opening for business six years ago, Newcastle OzHarvest has served well over This not-for-profit organisation is the first 2.5 million meals to people in need. perishable food rescue group in Australia that collects excess food products from over Slater believes the organisation benefits 2,000 commercial businesses and distributes society as well as the environment. Not only is them to more than 800 charities that support it helping to reduce wastage, but it also feeds vulnerable people in the community. vulnerable people in the community with measurable outcomes. In fact, OzHarvest After listening to founding Director Rhonni Newcastle is able to deliver meals for only

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25c, which is half the national average.

“

Since opening for business six years ago, Newcastle OzHarvest has served well over 2.5 million meals to people in need

“It’s a great feeling knowing that you’re feeding people in need whilst helping the environment by saving tonnes of food that would otherwise end up in landfill.”

As the organisation does not receive a regular stream of income to pay for various aspects of the program, such as the van and petrol costs, OzHarvest Newcastle relies solely on donations and financial grants in “As our program purchases food for charities, order to operate. Since its establishment, it we enable them to spend their money in other has received various grants from the Lake ways,” says Slater. “So to put it differently, Macquarie Council and the Department of by giving them fish, charities can teach the Human Services, just to name a few. needy how to fish by using their money more Maguire said that in October 2010, NIB effectively.” offered provided the organisation with a Another person who has played a significant $100,000 community grant. In exchange, role in the establishment and continual OzHarvest Newcastle promised to deliver upkeep of the Newcastle branch is former 100,000 meals to those in need. It doubled this and was able to deliver 200,000. “This policewoman Monique Maguire. achievement demonstrates the power of our Maguire joined the OzHarvest team as organisation to make a positive change in the co-ordinator just before the relocation in community,” she said.

”

September 2010.

When describing the work of the organisation, Maguire told Newcastle Herald that it’s a ‘two pronged attack.’ OzHarvest van driver Shane Johns and one other volunteer travel throughout the Hunter region picking up and delivering food every day from Monday to Friday. Then, they visit local hospitality businesses to gather a variety of food that would otherwise be discarded, such as meats, pastries, fruit and vegetables and dairy products.

“The foods we rescue from these businesses can’t be sold as they may have a blemish or slightly damaged packaging,” says Maguire.

When the organisation was first established in Newcastle, Maguire and her team worked tirelessly to develop its profile, reach out to new donors and to form life-long partnerships.

As of this year, OzHarvest Newcastle now works together with 48 charities in the Hunter Region, including Newcastle and the Lake Macquarie area, and also receives regular funding and support from NIB and Newcastle Permanent.

Mary O’Connor and her husband Peter, owners of local business The Fresh Ingredient, started donating food products to OzHarvest Newcastle within the first few weeks of operation. As the couple have been

35

for social justice throughout their lives, it just seemed like the perfect way to give back to their community. “It’s a philosophy of life,” said O’Conner. “We love sharing our good fortunes with others and believe that every individual deserves to smile.”

The main focus of The Fresh Ingredient is to help build a sustainable environment by selling organic fruit and vegetables as well as gluten free food products sourced from local producers. The business is also a direct outlet for local suppliers who have too much produce to sell and want it to be used effectively; just as OzHarvest does.

For Maguire, the purpose of the organisation is simple. “Why wouldn’t people donate food?

If they didn’t, they would just throw it away,” she said. “We’re just starting to scratch the surface of this social issue, because the waste out there is incredible.”

OzHarvest Newcastle visits the business twice a week to collect at least one, prepackaged box that contains an abundance of fresh ingredients. “We regularly throw in some sellable produce from the shelf as well,” said O’Connor.

The next focus for OzHarvest is to connect with every charity in Newcastle and surrounding areas like Lake Macquarie and Raymond Terrace. “That is our future goal – to reach all of the local charities,” said Maguire. “And I know we will.”

Even though it’s a great benefit to receive read-made meals from organisations such as OzHarvest, the couple also believe that it’s important for members of the community to learn how to create their own meals using fresh ingredients.

Laurise is a second-year Communications student majoring in Journalism and Public Relations.

Both Slater and Maguire believe that the true spirit of the organisation lies within the tireless work of dedicated OzHarvest Newcastle volunteers.

“The efforts are motivated by a focus on improving the lives of people in the community less fortunate than themselves, one meal at a time,” said Maguire. “Without them, we would never have been able to feed over 2 million residents in the Hunter Region since 2010.”

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Slater believes that he should not be given credit for the success of OzHarvest Newcastle. “Anyone can either have an idea or help to develop a pre-existing one,” he said. “In reality, its smart people like Monique Maguire, Leonie Young and drive Shane Johns who really make it happen – that’s the secret to our success.”

EQUITY COLLECTIVE COMPETITION As many of you may know, there is no one story of the experiences of students with a disability.

So we are asking you to share yours. Photo(s), short stories, poetry; pick a medium and tell us your story. In addition to getting your story out there, there are prizes to be won.

Details at: http://bit.ly/EQUITYSTORY

speaking of OzHarvest...

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alabaster.

Fiction

Michael Labone

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The Morning After Fiction

Reilly Carroll 40

Submit your short stories to Opus: opus@nusa.org.au 41

True student-led media at the University of Newcastle. #OpusComeback opus@nusa.org.au http://www.opus.org.au/

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