stag@reddamhouse com au
126/02/24
A new year and some news additions to the team!
Welcome back everyone to the Stag Newspaper, with the first edition of 2024 With the turn of the new year, we are super excited to introduce you to our new year 10 writers This first edition is made up entirely of their submissions, and I’ve been blown away by their energy and skill. Furthermore, I’m just as thrilled to announce that we have big plans for the development and future of The Stag that will change the way you interact with your school news. Make sure to stay tuned, stay interested and as always, read on.
- Hugo Bendeich Stag EditorWHATSYOUROPINIONONTHESTAG?LETUSKNOW!
Contactusanytime!
Stag Review Form stag@reddamhouse.com.au hugo.bendeich@reddamhouse.com.au kayson.hu@reddamhouse.com.au
The White Rabbit Gallery Art
Chinese art is known across the world for its ornate porcelain, pristine calligraphy and blossoming landscapes, renowned for their traditional spiritual and cultural connections Far from China however, nestled in the heart of Chippendale, the White Rabbit Gallery is one of the most notable collections of modern Chinese art worldwide, with a range of styles that break the mould of traditional techniques
It was established in 2009 by the sole owner Judith Neilson, who became interested in the subject after a visit to China in the 1990s Neilson, inspired by the creativity and technological advances she saw in the local art, began to collect pieces each time she visited, eventually running out of room to hang the artwork She then decided to let her collection be open to the public via a refurbished 1940s Rolls Royce factory
The gallery exclusively features 21stcentury art from over 750 Chinese artists, providing a glimpse into the trials and tribulations of China in the modern day.
Hallie DwyerWith a total collection of over 3,000 pieces of art, the gallery unveils completely new exhibitions bi-annually, each forming a cohesive theme despite coming from multiple sources Previously, topics such as social hierarchies were examined in reference to modern-day China as well as the transition from traditional storytelling to political propaganda spread throughout the masses The most recent exhibition, ‘A Blueprint For Ruins’, available until early May, explores the impacts of urbanisation and the creation of ‘Ghost Cities’ in China It questions the consequences of rapid modernisation and communicates the stories of displaced families through many artistic mediums such as sculpture and film, each piece telling the story and memory of the artist and their surroundings.
The curators at White Rabbit often run free tours throughout the day, which enhance the experience further, and give a background on some of the more ambiguous elements of the artworks Virtual tours of current and previous exhibitions are available on the White Rabbit website. The gallery also provides an extensive gift shop and tea house, which includes a vast selection of traditional Chinese teas, with the addition of scones and dumplings By all measures, the White Rabbit Gallery is a wonderful place to view and gain an understanding of modern China and its art.
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PopCulture
Neve McNameraThe ‘Reusable’ Water Bottle Obsession
It’s no secret that brand-name cups have gripped the world In the USA, people have been flocking to Starbucks for Valentine’s themed Stanley cups, and right here in Sydney’s East, we ’ ve been buying up Frank Green water bottles for years on end. So what is the obsession with reusable water bottles? And is there anything wrong with them? Well, in theory, no These water bottles replace the single-use bottles that have been plaguing the environment for years But when I start to see viral videos of people’s Stanley collections- with cups in every colour and pouring water from plastic bottles into their reusable ones, I start to question - when does it stop being about saving the turtles, and become more about appearances Now, there’s nothing wrong with purchasing a few bottles in pretty colours; most of us are guilty of that. There is, however, something wrong with people’s willingness to start miniriots over cups
Starting fights and storming Target is quite an extreme form of collective hysteria and thankfully hasn’t reached Australia yet (as far as I know) We aren’t that distinguished from our American counterparts though While more affordable alternatives are on the market, people insist on Frank Greens This phenomenon can be applied to most purchases, as popularity isn’t usually unfounded, but also puts into perspective the firm grasp consumerism has on our society All that taken into account, the waste is inexcusable.
There are Stanley holders, purse attachments and other add-ons all available across various sites. Frank Green sells a variety of lids and accessories separately so that people can mix and match Sustainability is often performative, especially when money is a part of the equation. So if you can, don’t contradict yourself with a water bottle that helps the planet by buying things that will never break down to go with it Do you need a case for your phone on your water bottle? Or a cover for it? If we can all agree that those are somewhat superfluous, we can agree to stop buying them And while we ’ re at it, we can agree to not having four (or more) water bottles at one time as it quite literally defeats the point of conserving resources. I promise you don’t need the new edition of that bottle, and it won’t change your life.
PopCulture
Jethro JensenI didn’t get SZA Tickets. This is why.
Whether it be world-renowned pop stars or underground Indie bands, there is no denying that acquiring concert tickets these days is nothing short of a challenge
From saving up for months, to waiting in queues for hours, to battling the time crunch of the Ticketek timer, it is becoming nearly impossible to see your favourite artists in concert.
I am sure many of us can relate to the disappointment of missing out on seeing the artists we love most, a plight I succumbed to recently when attempting to buy tickets to SZA’s SOS tour After waiting in the queue for hours, much like many devoted fans, I missed out on getting tickets.
With the unjust, random, and deceitful purchasing systems of the modern day, tickets are no longer allocated to those who truly deserve them, causing many fans to be kicked to the curb But why is this?
Some say ticket prices have skyrocketed due to the greed of large companies, record labels, and sometimes even the artists themselves, forcing admiring fans to spend their hard-earned cash on seeing artists in concert Companies behind the artists are taking advantage of the pressing chokehold the performers have over their fans, and the fabricated, parasocial relationships they have established, not hesitating to inflate the prices above reason Additionally, the crazy prices have become so normalised, that many don’t think twice before purchasing tickets
It is important to discuss how concerts are no longer used as an outlet for artists to truly connect with their fans and share their artistry but instead are primarily used as a money-making ploy Tickets are far from affordable, and considering the current cost of living crisis, it is not justifiable to be spending upwards of $300 on a ticket.
With this being said, I’ll admit that I probably wouldn’t hesitate to spend huge sums of money to see the artists I love most, but before you buy your next concert ticket, I urge you to ask yourself- Is it really worth spending all the time and money to get them? And if you don’t truly love the artist, I beg that you leave some tickets for those who do.
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Sport
Alaina and Jess
Everything Soccer (or football)
Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw by Chelsea, with Rodri rescuing a late point for the champions, ending their 11-game winning streak, while Raheem Sterling's goal gave Chelsea the lead before half-time.
Liverpool secured their position at the top of the table once again following a convincing 4-1 triumph over Brentford, thanks to Darwin “Darwizzy” Nunez who opened the score sheet with a brilliant dink over Flekken along with goals by Mac Allister and Gakpo Mo Salah returned to the pitch in style with a goal and an assist, rightfully earning him the Man of the Match by fan vote
Roy Hodgson, the oldest ever manager in the English Premier League at age 76, left Crystal Palace just days after falling ill during a training session amid widespread reports he was about to be replaced. The seasoned former England coach explained that he chose to step down to facilitate Palace's swift transition to a new managerial era Shortly thereafter, the club announced the appointment of Austrian coach Oliver Glasner as Hodgson's successor, securing his services until the conclusion of the 2025-26 season. Glasner previously guided Eintracht Frankfurt to Europa League glory in 2022 before departing last year
Sport
Everything Soccer
Alaina and Jess
Manchester United are out of the danger zone and show signs of a strong pulse after four consecutive Premier League wins, including Sunday's 2-1 triumph at Luton Town Their recent performances showcase a renewed energy and positive mindset, positioning them just three points behind fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur and in contention for a Champions League spot.
Professional Footballers Australia has raised concerns over recent decisions made by A-League authorities as the league struggles to regain momentum. The recent decision by the Australian Professional Leagues to cut half of its 80-strong staff underscores ongoing challenges, including worrying attendance and TV ratings, since the APL took over from Football Australia However, there are positive developments, such as the recent acquisition of Perth Glory by Ross Pelligra and the imminent entry of Auckland and Canberra into the league, which offer hope for revitalization Despite positive trends like the emergence of young talent and growing attendance at A-League Women's matches, PFA co-CEO Beau Busch highlights a gap between current league standings and players' expectations, emphasising the significance of the collective bargaining agreement in providing stability for clubs and players.
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Formula One Sport
Shocking Switch!
Sir Lewis Hamilton, 7-time World Champion (6 of which were achieved with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team), has signed a multi-year contract with Scuderia Ferrari for 2025 He had driven for Mercedes since 2013 and even signed a contract with Mercedes that would have originally followed through until 2025 However, this has been cut short by his move to Ferrari. This move means that Charles Leclerc will remain at Ferrari and Carlos Sainz Jr will only remain at Ferrari until the end of the 2024 season Where will Sainz go next, and what is in store for Mercedes?
The Sydney mulch crisis CurrentAffairs
It all started in January, when a SouthWestern Sydney child had brought a handful of mulch to their parent in Nowra. It resulted in one possibly of the largest construction scandals of the decade.
Charlotte Tilbury x F1 Academy!
Charlotte Tilbury, a world-renowned beauty brand, has become the first beauty brand and the first femalefounded brand to become a sponsor of F1 Academy. This academy was designed to empower and encourage young female drivers to progress to higher levels of competition Currently, 40% of Formula 1 fans are female, and it only seems to be growing. The Charlotte Tilbury car will be driven by Lola Lovinfosse who is currently only 18 years old.
After finding asbestos in the homebound playground material, the parents were horrified They quickly called the authorities and eventually revealed a huge stock of asbestos-laden materials, resulting in a long-winded investigation of several other sites where the asbestos has now been found Appallingly, there are about 100 different sites where this mulch may have been contaminated
As of Tuesday, 41 other sites have been found to contain asbestos-contaminated mulch This ranges from schools, hospitals, parks, supermarkets, train stations, and more. Mardi Gras events have also been closed off due to the initial scare of whether or not asbestos would be in the area
A century ago, asbestos was commonly used within old walls, mostly for insulation, strength and fire resistance. In the 1930’s, asbestos was found to be dangerous to humans. In 1950, it was shown to give people lung cancer, officially being labelled as carcinogenic (cancerous to humans) In 2003, it was entirely banned from Australia outright The real question that arises is where, and how asbestos got into the country at all
The EPA has shown that most of the asbestos that has been discovered has been bonded with cement, and poses a much lower risk, especially if you ’ re a young child like the initial finder However, friable asbestos, or easily broken down asbestos, was found in Surry Hills recently. Both versions of asbestos pose a risk, though-- and it takes a long period of consistent inhaling of asbestos to show any real signs of lung cancer. Yet, the fact that it is fully banned, illegal and found on multiple sites, often near young children, is what we are walking the fine line with
So far, the EPA has banned the potential source of the asbestos mulch, Greenlife Resource Recovery, but they have repeatedly denied responsibility The EPA promises to find where the asbestos came from, and more importantly who the culprit is, so they can ‘throw the book at them.’
The ongoing legal battle will surely turn out to have a truth that will confirm either side of the story
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Bianca Townsend
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Advice from Mr Golan TeacherInterview
Our favourite maths teacher (Sorry Mr Charles)
This week, we ’ ve had the fantastic opportunity to sit down and have a talk with the one and only Mr Golan about his life and passions. For those wondering about maths, travel, philosophy, or those who just want to get to know him a little better, this is just the section for you A huge thank you to Mr Golan for this experience, and without much more to say, let’s get into it
Maya and Sarah
TeacherInterview
What is the Hog Algorithm?
What subjects and activities did you enjoy at school? Was Maths always your thing?
I enjoyed English, French and Mathematics at school Surprisingly, maths was not always for me., I had a private tutor and hated maths This was until Year 9, when I had a teacher who completely transformed my life, and in many ways, I owe her a huge debt of gratitude. I can only hope to become that teacher for as many students as I can
What did you want to be growing up?
I wanted to be a dog trainer, and I was for a while
What did you do before you became a maths teacher at Reddam?
I was a journalist for 8 years. I worked in London for the Guardian, and then I worked for other newspapers and finally, I went back to my first love which was mathematics
What’s your favourite movie?
My favourite movie is directed by Woody Allen, called Another Woman. It is a film about a woman who rents a room next to a psychiatrist’s room, and she overhears his conversations with his clients I think it is a very clever and moving film
The Hog algorithm started when I was teaching at Oxford I had an honours class, and we decided to look at the general equation of a line, to see whether it was always possible to find integer values that would satisfy that equation. We worked on it together and we found an algorithm that we decided to call the ‘HOG Algorithm’, ‘H’ for honours class and ‘OG’ for my initials
What are your favourite hobbies?
I have quite a few hobbies, and languages are one of them. I read a lot of French, German, and Hebrew, which is my mother tongue I do a lot of cycling and some of my other hobbies I’ve done less recently, but I enjoy scuba diving and travel very much
What is your favourite place that you have travelled to?
I think it was in Zambia, in Africa I’d never been to Africa before and I’d decided to take a year off for travel, and there I met a woman who owned almost nothing. She just owned a few clothes and a mud hut and she seemed to be the happiest person I’d ever come across, and that had a really profound effect on me.
Maya and Sarah
Do you have any cool success stories from one of your students?
I have lots; many students write to me and tell me how they’re getting along, but the one that I remember now because I talked about her yesterday for Valentine's Day, is Aza Aza came from Sudan and her family had nothing at all, and her father sold the last 3 chickens that they owned so she could go to school She then, because of the Sudan war, found herself as a refugee in London, and a few years ago she wrote to me to tell her that she’s now a doctor
What is your favourite book?
My favourite book, that’s a hard one because I read quite a lot, but I think the one that affected me most in the long term is To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee I thought it was very powerful
Do you have any advice for students struggling with maths?
I think a lot of it is about building confidence, believing in your abilities, and putting in the time Maths is like learning a new language, and it requires time and practice
Is there a famous Mr Golan’s maths problem you can give the readers to solve this week?
Solve: x² + x + ⅟x + ⅟x² = 4 - Good luck year 7s!
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ClassicFilm
The Third Man
“Death’s
at
the bottom of everything, Martins.Xavier Hanna
i Leave death to the
professionals.”
After coming to Vienna, writer Holly Martins finds that his close friend Harry Lime has been run down in front of his house while crossing the road. After the “accident” his two friends help him across the road, and his doctor confirms he is dead a few minutes later Everyone claims it was a freak accident, but there are a few who claim otherwise, and Martins becomes entangled in a plot more sinister than he could have imagined.
The Third Man”, directed by Carol Reed, is set in post-World War Two Vienna, split into a French, English, American and Soviet zone
The movie was quite revolutionary for its time partly due to the score, by Anton Karas, designed to conflict with what’s happening on the screen which helps add a strong element of suspense. Reed also utilised harsh lighting and many ‘Dutch tilt’ angles throughout the film to add to the element of mystery and to key the viewer's senses. Although the movie is in black and white the skill of the filmmaker makes it as powerful and entertaining as any colour film could ever be With a shocking twist towards the end, this movie will keep you glued to your seat and is a must-watch for any fans of the neo-noir thriller.
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