swine issue 1
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•
2020
contents Editor's Letter • Tina Tsironis
pg. 4
President's Address • Param Mahal
pg. 6
It's All A Balancing Act • Kushlani Premachandra
pg. 8
Love Myself Enough • Girish Gupta
pg. 10
The Pressure Of Never Turning Off • Jessica Murdoch
pg. 12
Brain • Tina Tsironis
pg.16
Kill Bills: Vol. Recreation • Sponsored Content
pg. 20
Holi • Ananya Shah
pg. 25
Clubs @Swinburne • Various
pg. 26
Book Review: The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton • Ana Tinc
pg. 36
Habit Trackers: How To Use Them To Improve Your Life • Joshua Daniel
pg. 40
Interview With An Activities Officer • Tina Tsironis
pg.42
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meet the team
I’m a Masters of Writing student who is seriously obsessed with Nando’s Peri Peri sauce. I’m serious – if you offered me that shit on a spoon, I’d slurp it straight up.
Hello! Fourth year Product Design Engineering student here who very much loves design with her whole heart and soul. (Everything is design, feel free to quote me on that.)
When I’m being slightly more ‘normal’, as if that’s a thing, you’ll probably find me binge-watching BoJack Horseman or nose-deep in a good book. Or throwing cheese into my mouth. Probably all of the above.
Otherwise notoriously known for loving bed linen, art, plants, and baking brownies. Those shitty Betty Crocker box ones from the supermarket only. That's where it's at. 3
editor’s letter W
elcome to a new year SWINE readers, contributors, and maybe even detractors!
I’m Tina, and I’m super excited to be your editor for 2020. The team and I have some grand plans for this year, and we’re very keen on sharing them with
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you. We hope you’ll join as us we progress through four separately themed editions, the (re)growth of our online platform, and a fresh new focus you might notice as you flick through this first edition, Recreation.
There’s nothing leisurely about fires incinerating entire towns, while our Federal Government scramble for meetings with their empathy consultants. But the level of sheer passion and creativity flowing throughout this edition, thanks to our first (seriously talented) contributors for the year, reminds me that art is necessary – in spite of the horrors happening around us and because of them.
Ultimately, however, our ethos this year is Students First. We want to showcase your work, your stories, and your diverse philosophies and experiences. Our aim is to help you throw your art out to the universe in the form of this nifty little print (and soon to be online) magazine. If you’re a student who has never submitted to the SWINE or if you hadn’t even heard of us until this copy fell into your hands, please submit! Prose, poetry, photography, feature stories, artwork – if you have something to say in whichever form, we want to hear it, and we’re happy to work with you until it reaches a level that you’re proud of.
Our contributors took Recreation and moulded it into forms deeper than the relatively simple concept of leisure. From habit tracker prototypes and the universal meaning of Holi, to finding a balance between study and recreation before things turn awry, Recreation delves deep into the often-paradoxical nature of ‘fun’, and how we might go about practising recreation while the world continues to turn – and burn.
Let’s talk about this first edition for a moment. If I’m completely honest, publishing a recreationthemed magazine as bushfires rip through Australia stirs some uneasy feelings within me. People, wildlife and houses have perished, so why should I sit here and ask people to create art about leisure?
So if you’re feeling it: lay back, crack open your drink of choice, and have a read of our first edition for 2020. Wishing you all the best this year, Tina xx 5
president’s address
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H
ello, and welcome to Swinburne! I am thrilled to be the Swinburne Student Union President for 2020. Swinburne Student Union (SSU), the student representative body for all Swinburne students, is run by a diverse, progressive and pragmatic group of students, who are here to support you with every aspect of your student experience.
university. The SSU is Swinburne’s only independent, student-run representation, welfare and events service in Swinburne. As your student union, we aim to improve the experience of all Swinburne students, both in terms of education and student culture. We have many dedicated and active collectives you can be part of and we've got a very fun and engaging volunteers program you can join to further enhance your university experience.
The SSU offers a huge range of services and programs - from delivering daily free breakfast to weekly BBQs, cheap printing and free weekly events, we've got you covered. There is always something happening. Make sure to visit Hammer & Swine (Swinburne’s only uni bar) to have a look around, or head over to our Facebook page for updates on services and upcoming events. Come and take your pick from the massive range of opportunities there are to engage with the SSU!
However you wish to pursue your life at Swinburne, there is a place for you to engage with the SSU. Also make sure to sign up as a member so you get the awesome perks and important updates that come along with membership. We'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas about how we can make student’s experiences at Swinburne better, so don't hesitate to chuck us some suggestions.
While we take care to provide a good campus experience, we also act as advocates for students to the
Param Mahal President Swinburne Student Union
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it’s all a
b a la n c i n g act
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n the words of Leslie Knope, ‘We need to remember what’s important in life… friends, waffles and work. Or waffles, friends, work ...it doesn’t matter. But work is third.’ When you begin a new calendar year it’s useful to sit down and have a little heart-to-heart with yourself, to re-evaluate your needs and see what patterns - or people - you could do without. Having this conversation can help you step back and sort through the overwhelming fog that was last year’s events. Here are five handy tips to help you get the ball rolling on a new decade: 1. Experiment with your routine. As you step into the daily grind you’ll find yourself riding that adrenalin high, while juggling shifts, soirees and semi-serious assignments. It might 8
pay off initially, but I can guarantee that pretty soon, you’ll end up on the floor of your bedroom, wrapped up in your doona cursing and asking yourself why you never found a sugar daddy. 2. Make time for your loved ones. It’s one of the simplest things but when you’re caught up in a flurry of activities day in and day out, the people outside of your immediate work/ study circle can fall by the wayside. Make sure to schedule quality time with your friends, family or partner. Seeing the people that love you and you love the most can restore some of that mental energy. At the very least they’ll distract you for a few hours and maybe buy you a meal if you’re lucky. 3. Resist the urge to yeet yourself from existence - talk to someone. After months of repetitive classes and parties you might find that you’re overwhelmed with feelings of dread and exhaustion, even when performing daily tasks. If so, there’s a chance that you could be burnt out. Taking that first step to talk to someone could make all the difference between flunking a quiz and failing a unit. Whether you’re confiding in a friend, family member or tutor, opening up will help, even a little. 4. Give yourself a break. Understanding that there is no perfect equilibrium is the first step. No one, yourself included, will ever be able to ‘have it all’, no matter how possible ‘it’ looks from the outside. Look at Natalie from your first sem unit. She may look like she has it all with her perfect hair and grades but come exam time, she’ll be skulking in the corner of the library with three-day unwashed hair, throwing back red bulls just like the rest of us. Focus your energy on what is right for you and what will help you do well personally and professionally. 5. Enjoy yourself! You’re at uni for fuck’s sake, this is one of the most exciting times of your life so make sure you’re getting out there and doing what you love. And lastly, don’t forget the golden rule: don’t have more drinks than you have tits. Kushlani Premachandra 9
love myself enough I’ve made us flower-topped beds,
not realising you weren’t intending on sleeping next to me. I’ve waited to have dinner together, unaware of the drinks you were having at the pub nearby. I’ve loved you like a home cooked meal, not knowing about the appetites you filled at your favourite restaurant, but maybe none of this is true.
Girish Gupta
Maybe you came home to sleep and the flower-topped beds were too pretty to ruin, and those drinks were forced down your throat while you wished you were at dinner with me instead, and maybe those restaurants were just starters before the meal we’d have at our dining table side
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by side, but what about the coffee I give you in the morning, still at your bedside when I return? Or the breakfast you cook that consists of two breads with butter but no eggs on the side like I asked? I know these seem like petty things and I sound like I’m ranting but this is how your coffee rants and my toast screams when I pick them up and throw them in the bin. I should be washing our whiskey glasses from the other night, but instead I stand in the closet, catching clothes and packing them. Not ‘our’ clothes this time but just mine because I need a week at the beach or mountains or maybe just a cozy hut away from you, to understand how I deserve to
be loved and to discover that while you’re out there giggling, I can build jokes of my own to laugh at. Maybe I’ll stay with a friend for a week and I’ll ‘flix and chill with a pizza in my hand till I pass out watching Friends again or maybe Suits for one last time or maybe, I’ll watch GOT to remind myself of the things we do for love. During all this I’ll smile and never speak of you but that won’t mean I won’t wonder if you had your lunch or slept in peace but when and if I come back, I won’t be making flower-topped beds. I’ll love you like I’ve always done but I’ll also love myself, enough.
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Photo by Florian Giorgio
the pressure of never turning off Jessica Murdoch
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I
feel like I have to make a confession at the top of this piece: it’s been somewhat of a struggle to write. I find myself sitting here, uncomfortably close to (another!) deadline, kicking myself for procrastinating (again!) and not having done this work when I ‘should have’.
is changing and the impact it can have on the way we feel and act. The importance of staying connected and informed shouldn’t be ignored (and is honestly a conversation for another day), but it’s hard to deny that the constant comparing of ourselves to others, the expectation to be always available, and the sheer amount of negative information available online can be overwhelming.
I wonder if anyone else finds this relatable? Students – and to be honest anyone millennial or younger these days – are constantly criticised and labelled ‘lazy’ or ‘entitled’ for the way they approach life. I know I for one have seriously internalised this guilt, I believe, to the detriment of not only my health and well-being, but ironically to my work output as well. Criticising younger generations is almost boringly predictable, and I think it generally comes from a lack of willingness to recognise the way the world is constantly changing.
Switching off from this, though, is more nuanced than it seems. The truth is, choosing to be completely offline is becoming harder and harder. It is often the go-to point now whenever you try to get anything done. Anyone ever tried to find a phone number to contact a business and been directed to an email instead? Or visited Centrelink and been told to ‘just do it online’? Job applications and other workrelated tasks have also moved online as well, and that’s just one way we are moving away from the job market and overall world that past generations are used to.
Social media and constantly being online is one way the world has rapidly changed. I don’t want to add to the often exaggerated moral panics that hand-wring about the ways social media is ruining the world, but I think it is important for us to recognise how fast technology
The concepts of freelancing and short-term contract ‘project’ work are also becoming more common – sure, this can mean freedom and creativity but it can also mean less 13
job security, the inability to switch off from work, and more pressure to work when we should be resting. Additionally, social media is full of individuals working on their ‘side hustle’ and anytime someone shares something they have made, it seems like the first response is ‘have you thought about selling these?’
I have decided to compromise and only write when I feel like sharing something). I don’t mean that you should never post about your hobbies. Just make sure that turning them into ‘content’ doesn’t become too much like ‘work’. Make sure that you keep some things that are just for fun.
Or anytime an influencer says something vaguely pithy, their comment sections are filled with, ‘can I get this on a shirt?’. There is often this pressure, especially for us in creative fields, to commodify our hobbies, meaning we can’t just be free to switch off and enjoy them.
Keeping things fun and undocumented is connected to my next concern: the anxiety of the to-do list. This idea of keeping up with lists of must-dos, just adds another layer of pressure to what is supposed to be fun. I feel like people are constantly suggesting new shows or books or artists that I should check out. Or that there is certain media I ‘should’ (there’s that word again!) be consuming. These suggestions are rarely made with any actual pressure, but the perceived expectations can be killer. And I love lists – there’s nothing more satisfying than meeting a target – but the flip side means making a list can ultimately feel like a failure when I can’t cross everything off. I often lament that there isn’t a giant pause button I can press to catch up on the content that all my faves
I love reading and sharing my opinions on books, so a couple of years ago I started writing reviews on Instagram until suddenly, it became a chore. Composing detailed reviews meant I was starting to dread having to ‘keep up’ with my posts. Last year I took a break from writing those long post, and found myself more excited to be reading and posting again. (As an aside, you should enable me by following my book posts @mermaidhairandtales *embarrassed face emoji* - this year
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(and potential undiscovered faves!) have created.
engage within the framework we do have. I don’t make resolutions (just another way to put pressure on yourself!), but one of the ideas that I’m hoping to work on in 2020 is true self-care - not the commodified versions that we are bombarded with in the media – but a genuine care that recognises balance. For me, that means acknowledging that my body and mind need breaks and that I must prioritise and let some things go.
It’s essential to recognise that there’s not enough time in the world to consume all the things, and you need to accept that you can’t be all over everything. In this environment of the constant hot take, there can be a feeling that you need to be consuming what’s hot RIGHT NOW. Maybe you need to prioritise – what is it that you actually want to do? Keep the lists if you like but remove the time pressure to complete them. Keep up with what you want but do it because you want to, and on your own timeline.
The truth is, recreation sometimes just means switching off. Doing nothing. Re-watching (or re-reading or re-listening) to an old favourite. Turning off your brain (and any guilt that comes with that) to recharge.
The way that I see it, these pressures – constantly being inundated with way more information than our brains are evolved to handle, the unreliable and stress-filled gig economy, and the need to be constantly ‘on’ and using our time productively – are unsustainable. The problem is, of course, that this is the world we’re living in, and there’s no quick and easy way to fix to that. So I’m trying to be a little more mindful of the way I
Make sure as you start this new year, you try, at least sometimes, to disengage from the feeling of what you ‘should’ be doing and simply do the things you love, minus the stress or guilt. Sometimes you do deserve a break.
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Photo by Gatis Murnieks
brain Tina Tsironis
M
y favourite part of the week is when finally, I shed the last five days from my skin.
scrubbing and scrubbing even while the water singes my hands pink, and let myself stop only when the film dissipates.
Deadlines and niceties and midafternoon brain blanks become deliciously inconsequential. Now there’s room for overpriced nachos, day-old prosecco and pooping with the toilet door open. there’s zero need for capitalised sentences, because i don’t need to pretend to be ‘on’ anymore…i can simply float above water. not float in an actual pool because i don’t own one, but float on the understanding that my racing goddamn brain is finally switched off. at least for a moment.
The near-full rubbish bin smells like shit and it needs to be emptied but I didn’t empty it last night, did I, because I’m a stupid shit. The washing needs to be done so I have clean clothes to wear on Monday but I forgot about that, didn’t I, and now all I can think of is dirty, musty clothes that smell of sweat and fluids and stuff that shouldn’t be seen as gross but fuck that, within this context I’ll see them as gross because this was my doing. Because of me I’ll have to wear dirty clothes forever, until I get my act together. Okay, I’m getting my act together right now. I’m taking out the rubbish
But then I remember: I can’t switch my brain off. Not yet, anyway. I still have to push myself through my apartment door. My bag needs to be placed carefully to the side of the room, so nobody trips on it by accident. The keys should be tucked away in my purse so I don’t lock myself out because hello, have you met me? I’ll definitely lock myself out. The dishes from yesterday need to be dried and put away, and if some of them are lined with oily film because I failed to rinse them properly last night, then shit, I suppose I’ll have to stand there 17
and doing the washing and putting my bag away and pretty soon I’ll be able to switch off but I just want to fucking S C R E A M and smack my brain because why is it so intent on putting one roadblock in front of the other and having me leap and bound over them, as if I’m a fucking mental gymnast? I’m no mental gymnast let alone an actual gymnast…my mum was gonna send me to gymnastics when I was six but she couldn’t find any schools near us, and maybe if she tried a bit harder I would be strong and not weak like I am right now, where I can’t let myself fucking eat something so I’m in the position to get stuff done without dissolving into a pile of shit?
the keys in my purse and then I’ll lock myself out of the house and this cycle will continue, only ten times worse. But I deserve some rest, don’t I? I can accept that I’m an adult and need to remember not to lock myself out of the house, but I refuse to accept that I’m not deserving of some food after a hard week’s work – or even because I’m hungry. What if I chucked the keys in my bag,
Shit. I shouldn’t have said that about my mum. It’s not her fault my brain’s broken. I’m just tired. I don’t want my brain to be broken, I want it to be sparkly clean, like the washing I’m placing on the clothes rack and like every single duty I’ve made myself do since I got home. all I want to do right now is collapse on the couch and eat, but I can’t do that because if I do I’ll forget to put
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where my purse is located, but not actually in my purse? I’m too weak and hungry to do this properly and nourishment will ease my brain so why don’t I just compromise with myself for a split second, and let myself eat something?
flawed. Maybe I am a gymnast of the mental variety? After all, I spend every Friday fighting with my own brain like this, yet somehow, I leap and bound over those roadblocks and finally tell my brain to shut the f u c k u p.
If I’m honest my brain isn’t broken, and I need to keep reminding myself of that. Sometimes my flight or fight response is faulty but that doesn’t mean I’m fundamentally
It’s no big deal if I half-ass a chore one night or hold off on completing it until later on. It’s NOT OKAY if I let those thoughts drown me and flood my brain until it expands into a big puffy beach ball and rolls along the sand that is my exhausted, endof-week body, telling me ‘you’re not allowed to rest until i say so, bitch’ and damn, i just realised i made the demon in my brain sound like a sassy movie star and maybe i wanna be her, and maybe i am her and woah, that’s deep, but i think I’m gonna give the deep thoughts a rest now and just let myself be. sometimes my brain just won’t switch off and i let it go on and on and on but then, after a while, i remember who’s in charge. that’s right bitch – it’s me Photo by Eduard Militaru 19
kill bills: vol. recreation
E
veryone deserves a little leisure time, even uni students struggling to balance study, work, and everything in between.
saving for larger-scale recreational activities like holidays, flights and festivals. When you throw these varying elements into the mix, you’d be forgiven for losing track of your finances – or for not understanding how to use certain banking tools to help you better manage your monetary situation.
But for many students, the terms ‘Bachelor’s Degree’ and ‘financially stable’ are often mutually exclusive. Devoting time and money to recreation can seem impossible when you’ve got a list of bills set to bleed your bank account near-dry. For those relying on subscription services and apps like Netflix, Spotify, or UberEats to keep them relaxed during their down time, keeping track of these billing cycles can become all the more stressful. Then there’s the students trying to manage these responsibilities while
This is where Up comes in. Up is a app-based digital bank that comes with a collection of nifty features designed to help you kill Your bills’ and streamline your money management. Designed so they’re super easy to use, Up is made to give you more time to relax – while enhancing your financial literacy, of course! 20
Figure 1. Set up multiple Up Savers to map out your 2020 goals
bills, apps and paid subscription services is an important element of healthy financial management. Yet it’s also something that everyone tends to forget about – until we receive that dreaded unprocessed payment email. After you’ve set up Up Savers for all your big recreation goals for the year, you can give them emojis and target amounts so you know what you’ll need to save for each holiday, music festival or big purchase you have planned. Then you can start the hard work of chipping away at them by splitting out a percentage of your pay, auto-transferring money or rounding up each time you buy that morning coffee. You’ll also earn interest across all your Up Savers*, which is sweet.
Up has automated the billing cycle process for you to predict your upcoming bills, charges and subscriptions. This feature helps you better understand what bills are coming up so you’ll better understand what you’ll have left money-wise for the weeks ahead, after those pesky payments are taken care of. After learning about your regular charges, Up is able to predict when they will next occur. So rather than relying on an anxiety-inducing email from Optus informing you that
Keeping track of direct debits and your seemingly endless array of 21
your phone bill wasn’t paid because you didn’t have the funds in your associated account, Up will send you a notification about each bill ahead of time.
Figure 2. Up helps you track how much you spend at merchants over time
Super insightful, right?
These insights aren’t designed to make you feel guilty about your Netflix subscription, or how much money you devote to your phone bill per month, by the way. They’re designed to help equip you with the tools necessary to understand how much of your bill-related money is going where. Knowledge is power, and with these specifics at your disposal, you’ll be better primed to make the financial choices that will propel your quality of life.
Alongside these notifications sits the ability to auto-track your previous bill payments – or indeed how much you’ve spent at any particular merchant over time. If you want to analyse which service you’d be better off pausing so you can save enough coin for that holiday later on in the year, this feature will be your best friend. By simply clicking into the Up app and tapping on a biller’s logo or bill payment, the nitty gritty numbers are provided to you, in real-time. You’ll be able to see just how many Netflix-related transactions you’ve made over the past year, for instance, while also witnessing the exact dollar amount you’ve devoted to coffees at your favourite coffee shop.
Figure 3. Up Auto-Categorises your spending into a range of categories
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Continuing Up’s empower-throughinsight nature are the real-time monthly spend reports provided to users.
stressful and/or boring chore. But when you use a service that takes the hassle out of the spend and save cycle like Up, you become much more empowered to reach a healthy balance between being responsible and engaging in downtime – whatever that looks like to you.
By categorising each transaction you make into an automatically assigned category this feature is like a nifty little budgeting tool that does all the reporting and categorising itself, rather than placing the often-tedious onus on you. The important thing to note here is that Up can automatically provide you with comparisons against your average spend. This way, you can track where you’re at compared to where you were previously over the last three months, categoryby-category. You can also set up tags for things that don’t fit the categories provided – or to curb habits you want to change over time. Whether you’re wanting to cut back on unnecessary spending in the “Good Life” or “Groceries” so you have extra spending money for your next uni break, or whether you want to see how a new recreational expense will fit into your life, Up has you covered.
Who wouldn’t say up yeah to that? If you’re keen to try Up, use the invite code “SWIN2020” to join and get $10 you can use instantly** through Apple Pay or Google Pay to try it out. Disclaimer: Up has supplied much of the info required for this post. T&Cs @ up.com.au. *Up Saver rates subject to change. 5 txns req’d. Cap $50k. **Invite code offer conditions @ up.com. au/huam. Product issuer Bendigo & Adelaide Bank.
Balancing bills, expenses and leisure more often than not seems like a 23
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holi Ananya Shah
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n the simplest of terms, Holi is the Festival of Colours. It is a celebration of joy and inclusivity. From every angle, it is fun, or even recreation. But Holi goes much deeper than that. If you unpack this festival, you realise that it conveys a subtle yet fundamentally important message. By throwing powdered dye and coloured water, by masking everyone in a mix of colours it communicates a message of equality and its history tells of a triumph of good over evil. Swinburne has its own way of celebrating Holi. In keeping true to the festival’s spirit, “We Party!”. The Swinburne Punjabi Club holds an annual music and colour fest on campus in March. In keeping with our club’s purpose, we share a bit of our home through our events, even beyond Holi. In 2020 expect groovy Bollywood hits, fistfuls of colours and free food. Please, join the club, keep an eye on our socials, have a chat with us on Clubs day and don’t forget: if you’re looking for a taste of zesty Indian culture mixed in with colourful and universal messages of community and goodness, we’ve got you covered. 25
clubs clubs clubs clubs clubs
@ SWIN BURNE 26
Swinburne is home to a beautifully diverse line-up of clubs, from the pop culture-related and sporty, to the religious and industry-based. Whether you’re a new or existing student, these societies can provide you with extra professional development and links to industry, a foundation from which to explore your obsessions/hobbies, or simply a community that over time, will become your very own uni family. We’ve compiled a guide to some of the best and brightest clubs floating around Hawthorn. They’re all super approachable, so drop them a line if you’re keen on padding out your university life with some extra enjoyment.
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Swinburne Advertising & Marketing Association
Swinburne Advertising and Marketing Association (SAMA) has been established for those who are passionate about the advertising and marketing industry in an ever-changing world. SAMA is about sharing information, news and events within the industry, on a global and local scale. SAMA also provide advice for academic and career development. We are excited to see what 2020 brings, as a new decade means further changes within this industry. If you’re passionate and want to engage in further discussion, follow on us on Facebook and LinkedIn. We are seeking new members so if this sounds like something you be interested in, send us a message!
The Kannada club at Swinburne seeks to share the vibrant culture from Karnataka and the beauty of Kannada language and people. The club will celebrate the festivals of Ugadi and Dassara amongst many others. We will also make people aware of the history and lore behind these festivals. All our events and activities will reflect the spirit of Karnataka, which embodies inclusivity and sharing. We are looking forward to celebrating our culture with the Swinburne community in 2020.
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Swinburne Kannada Club
What’s the difference between the Swinburne Aviation Society and Qantas? One has hard working, dedicated pilots and classy, intelligent airline managers, while the other has a Kangaroo as its logo. Swinburne Aviation Society (SAS) strives to deliver opportunities for society members through both academic and social events. Last year we facilitated site tours to companies such as Qantas (both training base and Melbourne Airport), Airservices Australia, Royal Brunei, Singapore Airlines, Jetstar - the list goes on. Our members have an opportunity to interact in areas that may not have been previously possible; stepping into simulators for aircrafts like the 787, touring operating centres, talking all things aviation with pilots, operating staff and senior management. Every year we grow and strive to be better than the previous year and this year will be no different. This is a club perfect for aspiring pilots, aviation managers and individuals with a passion and interest for Aviation and the aviation sector. Join us, and discover what an amazing industry Aviation can truly be!
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The Swinburne Design Collective is Swinburne’s largest club and the place to be for all students with a creative interest. We run events every week of the semester, giving members the opportunity to meet others, improve their skills and network with professionals in the design industry. We have a strong relationship with the School of Design, industry partners such as Adobe and a number of local design studios who we work with to support club activities and events. We take pride in delivering opportunities to students with a creative interest, to ensure their time at Swinburne is the best it can be. These workshops, along with club activities such as industry events and social evenings, all come together to support learning, preparing students for industry, and create long lasting connections. Joining the Swinburne Design Collective is free for all current Swinburne students. We look forward to seeing you at our next event!
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Swinburne Aerospace and Space Society
Swinburne Aerospace and Space Society is a growing club that creates high-powered rockets and other space technologies. We include students from all degree types - only a passion for space is needed! Previous projects have included a 1-km radar prototype, a rocket capable of 3500+ ft, designs for a 30,000 ft rocket and a hybrid rocket engine. In 2020 we hope to start a space outreach program with Victorian high schools and engage with more science students to produce payload projects. We are also a student-run branch of the Swinburne Space Office and can provide students with opportunities to study space units and work with Swinburne's space professionals. Finally, we also hold events throughout the year both on our own and with other STEM clubs. Last year we held personal development workshops, weekly build days, launch days, pub nights, a trivia night and networking events. In 2020 we want to grow the club and reach for the stars!
Swinburne Christian Union The Swinburne CU is a group of uni students who want to know God deeply. For these reasons, we get together to study the Bible in small groups, to hear Bible talks, to discuss books, to pray and to just hang out.
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Swinburne Cheerleading and Dance is, yes, a university sports club, but we are more than just a club - we are a family. Stepping into university life can be a struggle in many different ways; being far from home, not knowing anyone, getting lost on campus … but university is more than studying, it’s full of opportunities.
Swinburne Cheer & Dance
We provide an environment where you can keep fit but also be part of a supportive team. Our club offers a range of different competition cheer and dance teams for all abilities and interests, such as beginner cheer, advanced cheer, pom, jazz, lyrical and hip hop. You can meet lots of new people, work as a team to place at competitions, break out of your comfort zone on stage, and make memories to look back on, all whilst having many 'Instagramable' moments along the way!
The Swinburne Pop Culture Club (SwinPCC) is broad in name, and broad in the style of events they run. Winners of the 2019 ‘New Club of the Year’ award, SwinPCC focuses on putting on the events that members want to see. With past events such as weekly social gaming sessions in Hammer and Swine, private LIDO movie screenings, multiple trivia nights and a murder mystery party, it’s hard to describe exactly what you’ll be getting into by joining in 2020. 32
Welcome back to the Roaring 20s at Swinburne! But this time round, we have pigeons instead of flappers, coffee instead of prohibition and a Swinburne History Society! The History Society aims to bring together likeminded individuals to discuss all things history. We explore historical events and figures through weekly meetings, movie nights and trivia nights. In 2019 we welcomed 146 members to our club, hosted weekly meetings and movie nights, and also held Trivia nights at the Hammer and Swine. This year we intend to continue with our weekly meetings and fortnightly movie nights, and plan to introduce a new History Board Games night, featuring games such as Secret Hitler and Guillotine. So join us in this new decade by signing up on the student life portal, because if this decade is anything like the 20s, it’s sure to be a roaring time. 33
The Swinburne Poetry Club is open to all students interested in poetry and the written word. Providing a weekly safe shared space, the club encourages students to bring poetry they have written during the week or from their past and share it with the group. Prompts will also be provided each week, as well as fun writing challenges to mix things up. Past events have included open mic nights at the Hammer and Swine, as well as creative writing nights with word games and prizes. The club is free to join for current Swinburne students.
SWUJS provides a space where individuals can explore and foster their Jewish and Zionistic identity. As an affiliate of the Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS), AUJS Swinburne stages regular informal gatherings alongside more formal presentations through which members enhance both their broader knowledge of affairs concerning world Jewry, as well as their personal connection to Melbourne’s Jewish community. AUJS Swinburne is pluralistic in its religious outlook and utilises its strong Zionist ethos in support of Jewish life on campus and the State of Israel. 34
Swinburne Union of Jewish Students
Swinburne Volleyball Club The volleyball club is your opportunity to gain some fitness and competitive spirit in a welcoming and friendly social environment! This club is a very welcoming group – it’s very easy for beginners to join and learn from existing players. These players can also provide more experienced volleyballers with a bit of a challenge. All in all, volleyball uses an elaborate blend of agility, teamwork, technique and power. The Swinburne Volleyball Club provides the perfect environment for you to gain these skills and sharing achievements with peers, whilst becoming a healthier version of yourself. Join our Facebook group to keep updated on our latest activities - and sign up now!
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book review: the clockmaker’s daughter by kate morton
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othing screams recreation like going on a summer-long vacation – especially to your very own twin-gabled manor in London, despite only being in your early twenties. Yes, that was the reality
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for fictional character Edward Radcliffe in Kate Morton’s novel The Clockmaker’s Daughter. It was 1862 when the young artist and his friends, his muse and his youngest sister embarked on a retreat to a newly purchased house, where they could marvel in natural light and immerse themselves in their artmaking without distraction. But of course, there was a distraction, and it arrived in the shape of an antique shotgun. With one sapphire diamond gone, one woman shot and another nowhere to be seen, the summer getaway soon came to a chilling, premature end.
Does it invoke curiosity? Did I read the second sentence without even thinking about it? And if I’m still not convinced on which to pick, I’ll give the blurb a mull over. This was the exact procedure I conducted when I picked The Clockmaker’s Daughter to read at Manchester Airport, and it taught me one thing: the tempo and tone of the first sentence, no matter how good, may not be a reflection of the tone or tempo of the whole novel. Who would’ve known that the essence of complex novel can’t be summarised in a handful of words? The first two sentences of the book read as follows: ‘We came to Birchwood Manor because Edward said that it was haunted. It wasn’t, not then, but it’s a dull man who lets the truth stand in the way of a good story, and Edward was never that.’
The book, narrated in both past and present tense, is a treasure hunt of sorts answering one question: what happened on that summer’s day at Birchwood Manor? The story is dense with characters and subplots, all harmonising into one theme: the dichotomy of family safety and family secrets and how often times, they intertwine in the most surprising of ways.
I don’t know about you, but what a hook. I couldn’t find the cashier quick enough. It was like looking for the toilet after eating an off, spicy curry; I had to read it now. In such few words, Morton spoke to me of a potential romance, a potential quick-witted woman, a potential haunted house which ultimately insinuated a potential adventure. And it was all those things, just not
I choose the books I read very carefully. First, I analyse the cover (there’s no point denying my vanity: if it doesn’t look good, I’m convinced it won’t read good). Then, the first sentence. Is it striking? 37
the way I expected. The hook of the first page promised, in a way, that the story could be devoured greedily and with haste. But it wasn’t. It was instead a work of art, carefully crafted, that demanded attention and patience. The novel had a slow, seeping pace, like cold drip coffee - god the process was long, but it sure was worth the wait.
centuries, Morton painted a picture of it so clearly, so slowly and surely, leaving me with an ‘aha!’ moment as the resolution infused and brought the hidden treasures together. Would I read it again? Yes, probably. When I’m in no rush and have learnt to surrender to patience. Would I recommend this book to you? Yes, depending on who you are and what your taste in writing is. If quick thrillers are your thing, if you marvel in the rush of finishing a book in God’s speed, sit this one out until your mind begins to savour writing. But, for anyone who finds pleasure in studiously dissecting a novel and the author’s writing technique, this one’s for you. Morton flexes an impressive talent for description and voice. It’s a novel worth reading like a writer, it’s a novel worth getting lost in.
I think for this reason many people felt underwhelmed by Morton’s book. I too had to convince myself to carry on several times - it took me five months to read this book, as opposed to the usual week. Not because the story wasn’t there, but because all of a sudden, I was in an ultramarathon when I thought I signed up for a 100m sprint (despite the hefty page count). I wanted answers and Morton wasn’t giving me any. Not yet, anyway. The writing itself was impeccable - this woman can write - but the pull and urgency of the storyline is gentle. Even so, I found that the writing and dialogue married with the era and the attention to detail brought an enormous world to life; nowhere else have I read a setting so clearly. And the manor, the beautiful manor. With its secrets and its comfort, consistent through the
The Clockmaker’s Daughter would go perfectly with a rose petal tea: with its subtle tones and pleasant, far from potent, taste. A tea, and a book, that can be enjoyed without rush.
Ana Tinc 38
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Photo by Icons8 Team
habit trackers: how to use them to improve your life Joshua Daniel Habit trackers are an artistic, visual representation of your daily habits. They can be basic or as creative as you like, as long as they motivate you to stick to a habit – so they don’t turn into another bunch of unfulfilled new year’s resolutions. With the start of a new decade, revitalise your routine with a bit of creative, yet focused flair – while enjoying it too! Creating a habit tracker will allow you to put those art skills to use, while reshaping your life for the better.
Create your own habit tracker with the following steps: 1. Cut out the tracker on the next page. 2. Write down a habit you would like to stick to for 1 month. These are one-month trackers but feel free to use them for any time period you can commit to! 3. Once your habit is completed for the day, colour in the corresponding number. 4. Once the month or your nominated time period is over, look back and appreciate how far you’ve come. 5. Feel free to snap a photo of your finished tracker and post it on Instagram using #swinemag and #bestversionofme. 6. Enter our competition to design a habit tracker – the most creative design will be published on the SWINE website.
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interview with an activities officer
SWINE Magazine exists as part of the Swinburne Student Union’s (SSU) Media Department. The SSU simultaneously advocates for student’s rights, holds a bunch of regular events, and provides important welfare services for its members and for Swinburne students in general. As part of the SWINE’s first-ever SSU interview series, we’ll introduce you to some of its currently elected office bearers, who will unpack the ins and outs of being involved in the SSU. First up, and this is a totally on the nose choice when you consider the theme for this edition, is Activities Officer James Atkins. James spoke to our editor Tina Tsironis about what an Activities Officer actually does, what recreation means to him, and how he overrides some of the misconceptions floating around regarding student unionism. 42
T: What exactly does an Activities Officer do, anyway?
T: 2020 marks your second term as Activities Officer. What have you enjoyed most about undertaking this role so far?
J: The Activities Officer role ensures that the SSU is engaging students with our activities. So that includes ensuring our services like the free breakfast and Wednesday BBQs are being done in a way that helps students continuously engage with the union, ensuring students make use of their membership benefits, and understand how to access welfare services that can help them out.
J: Tangibly seeing the results of my work, actually being on the ground and helping students out. Even if it’s just doing the free breakfast every morning, or organising bigger events, and then also working on campus such as on Safer Communities (Swinburne’s on-campus support, intervention and risk-management service) to improve the student experience and safety on campus.
Then the other part is overseeing a lot of the social activities we’ve got on. Making sure they run safely and also ensuring people have the chance to make new friends, experience new things and basically have fun.
It’s also been great working with the volunteers over the last two years, and that’s been probably the highlight of my time at the union. It’s really inspiring to see so many people give so much time to help out other students. T: Earlier you mentioned Safer Community. How does your role feed into Safer Community at Swinburne? J: Pretty much any of the SSU executive reps, myself included, are involved in helping Swinburne be a safer place. But for my role it’s about making sure our queer 43
and women’s spaces and events on campus and off campus are safe. If there’s an incident that’s happened at our Hawthorn Campus during one of our events or at one of our spaces, we pursue that and make sure Swinburne makes informed decisions. T: What about your work with SSU volunteers? J: I provide training and continuity. And on the less glamorous side writing up procedure manuals, teaching volunteers how to do the nitty gritty volunteer stuff. I would definitely recommend to any new or ongoing student, if you want to get involved with the Swinburne community and make some extra friends, this is a good starting point. We don’t mind if you volunteer once, twice, or volunteer every day, that’s all good. We just want good people who want to do good things. I started off in the volunteer program in 2017, and I made a lot of friends that way and feel like I made an impact on campus, and that was quite empowering. T: What do you have planned for 2020, in terms of events and activities for students? 44
J: We’ve got a lot of themed trivia on the calendar which will be held at the Hammer & Swine (the union on-campus bar, open from 12PM Monday to Friday), and we’re actually going to open the year with Netflix trivia. We’ve also got our more traditional parties, and we’re going to be holding an Easter themed chocolate party, which will include some really nice chocolatey drinks.
towards less alcohol focused events. That’s been very nicely spearheaded by our President Param, starting with a lot of his cultural events that he’s run on campus, Diwali’s a great one. Moving towards events like that – that’s an easy way for students to engage each other and for us to get food, music going where alcohol isn’t the main focus. Other than that though, one of my reasons for bringing in more trivia events this year has been because trivia can be engaging even for students who don’t drink.
"Basically, my plans for 2020 events are making sure they’re new and fresh and easily accessible, so everyone feels comfortable going to them and everyone knows what they’re going to get."
T: How has your journey at the SSU shaped your overall experience as a Swinburne student? It’s definitely ensured that I made a lot of friends. Since I started as an SSU volunteer I’ve felt a sense of belonging with the Swinburne community.
T: That leads nicely to my next question - a big part of your role involves producing and coordinating events involving alcohol. As Activities Officer, how do you approach events for students who don’t drink?
It’s also given me a lot of skills that are really useful in a classroom setting, that has given me great responsibility and ownership of my work. Groupwork is the bane of any student’s existence but it’s relatively easy for me, because now I’m used to working in big groups, divvying up responsibilities and ensuring
J: In the last two or three years the SSU has still had a large focus on alcohol-based events. The last year though, there’s been a definite move 45
every student feels comfortable in their role.
T: How do you practice recreation as a Swinburne student?
T: What kind of misconceptions do you feel exist about student unions in Victoria?
J: I love a beer with a mate. That’s great stuff. I guess luckily for me though, in my role, I’m working with a lot of my friends. It’s work, but it’s work with friends. So that in itself takes away some of the need for ‘recreation’. Other than that I love going for a walk, plugging some music in and poking my nose around the neighbourhood.
J: As we touched on before, definitely the idea that a lot of our events are alcohol-fuelled – even though there’s always a big sense of responsibility there. They’re not just alcohol-fuelled benders. Our events are ultimately designed to help students make friends.
I also have an X-Box. The usage of that definitely goes up the more assignments I have to get done. And I work as a bartender at Holey Moley on the side, so that in itself is a lot of fun and recreation.
Another big misconception is that unions are overly political and overly activist, instead of focusing on the bread and butter needs of students. Things like free food, advocacy. I feel that’s a big misconception, especially with the SSU. We focus heavily on those on the ground services, those charity services. We focus on engaging and helping students, and it’s about being there on the ground, providing these services. For me, it’s important to be there talking to students, helping them out, and serving them a sausage at the BBQ. By being on the ground, being hands on, that’s how I seek to override this misconception. 46
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