ISSUE 10 // ANIMAL INSTINCT

Page 1

ANIMAL INSTINCT ISSUE // TEN WWW.TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU




T E O M A G

IN LOVING MEMORY OF TIGER 4

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

IN THIS

ISSUE

14

[ I N ] S TA - A W E

INSTAGRAM FEATURE

24

COHEED AND CAMBRIA TALK PUSHING LIMITS AND LONGEVITY

AFTER 10 YEARS AS A BAND, COHEED AND CAMBRIA CAN EXPLORE ANYTHING THEY WANT.

28

C R O W D E D C AT

ARTWORK BY BERTIE BLACKMAN

30

EVERYBODY’S ZOOING IT

FASHION EDITORIAL

40

IGUANA BE LOVED BY YOU!

REPTILES IN YOUR HOME.

48

P A W B A B Y

50 66

.

ARTWORK BY ALEX

FURNOMENAL

FASHION EDITORIAL COLD BLOODED

FASHION EDITORIAL

76

AFTER

THE ACCEPTANCE OF LOSS

78

T H E

PETS OF TEO

STAFF PHOTOS

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

5


T E O M A G

FEATURED

CONTRIBUTORS NATALIE MARROCCO STYLIST

My personal style is versatile. Like George Costanza, “I dress based on mood,” but I never limit myself to one style. The best place to shop in Adelaide is Savers…that way I don’t feel guilty for only wearing things once. If I had to describe myself as an animal, I would be most like a Chihuahua – small and feisty! My hobbies include sunsets and long walks on the beach...nah...but seriously, I love sewing, jamming on my guitar and piano, and eating wood oven pizza. If I could choose between having feathers, fur or scales, I would choose faux fur – it’s my obsession!

JONNY RATKE PHOTOGRAPHER

My favourite movie is Coming to America. My ideal photo shoot location would be in any busy city. If I could choose between flight or being able to breathe under water, I would choose flight, for sure! I would love to fly around the world! My weirdest habit is my addiction to pushing down the buttons on my takeaway drink lids. I think the coolest animals are sloths!

6

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

ABI WALES HAIR STYLIST

When I’m not styling hair for TEO editorials, I’m working for Davroe Hair Care Wellness as a Business Development Manager or I’m freelancing as a hair stylist. I was born and raised in the UK and have spent most of my life in Northern England. I have recently immigrated to Australia. If I could be an animal for a day, I’d like to be a monkey because I love hanging out and socialising…I also love monkeys! My favourite quote is, “Life is about making an impact, not making an income.” My go-to hair product is the Davroe Murray salt spray. I love texture and this product delivers a natural undone look that also cares for your hair with kangaroo apple leaf extract.

CANDICE STANLEY MAKEUP ARTIST

I’m a natural lipstick girl because you really can’t go wrong with it, it goes with any makeup look. My favourite animal is definitely a tiger, I just want to cuddle one! On the weekend, you’ll usually find me relaxing with my husband and playing with my two kids at the park. I’m listening to ‘Talk’ by Daniel Johns. If I had to listen to a dog barking all day or a cat meowing, I would choose a cat meowing. Barking dogs always seem to wake my kids up from their naps.

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

7


T E O M A G

EDITOR’S LETTER

WHETHER YOU’RE INTO FEATHERS, FUR OR FINS, WE’VE GOT SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR YOU! WE’RE NEVER TOO OLD TO APPRECIATE THE BEAUTY, INTELLIGENCE OR SIMPLY THE INDIVIDUAL QUIRKS THAT BELONG TO VARIOUS CRITTERS. FOR THIS ISSUE, WE HUNG OUT WITH SOME FUR-OCIOUS CATS AND DOGS, SPENT A DAY AT ADELAIDE ZOO AND SMUGGLED A FEW SCALY SERPENTS INTO ADELAIDE’S COOLEST NEW TATTOO SALON. WE TALKED ALL THINGS REPTILES WITH MATTHEW BONNETT AND GOT THE 101 ON SNAKE AND LIZARD-KEEPING! BE SURE TO SNUGGLE UP WITH YOUR CREATURE OF CHOICE AND TAKE A MOMENT TO FLIP THROUGH THE ANIMAL ABUNDANT PAGES OF ISSUE 10. RIP TO MY BEAUTIFUL CAT, TIGER. SUSANNAH X

8

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

9


T E O M A G

FOUNDER & EDITOR

SUSANNAH IOANNOU DEPUTY EDITOR

VANESSA LOCAMPO ART DIRECTION & DESIGN

COURTNEY ROBINSON MARKETING CONSULTANT

OLGA WINTER LOGO DESIGN

JANICE CUI

CONTRIBUTORS JOURNALISTS: Jonno Revanche Melina Scarfo Nicole Pope

PHOTOGRAPHY: Adam Stanley Gabriela Fleur Jesse Mullins Jonno Revanche Kane Overall Matthias Pfeil

STYLING: Stacey Hendrickson Susannah Ioannou

BEHIND THE SCENES: Jonny Ratke Krish Barton Natalie Marrocco Ryan Cantwell

HAIR AND MAKEUP: Davroe Hair Stylist – Abi Wales Candice Stanley Georgia Edgar Kristina Persichini

ARTISTS: Alex Bertie Blackman Nicky Irvine

MODELS: AZALEA Models Finesse Models

10

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

COVER MODEL HAIR: DAVROE HAIR STYLIST ABI WALES MAKEUP: CANDICE STANLEY STYLING: STACEY HENDRICKSON MODEL: AZALEA MODELS ERIN ROESLER FURRY MODEL: MAVERICK PHOTOGRAPHER: ADAM STANLEY ERIN WEARS STYLIST’S OWN OUTFIT

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

11


T E O M A G

12

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

FRESHLY BREWE D COLD DRI P COF F E E Delivered to Your Door

cooldropcoffee@outlook.com @cooldropcoffee cooldropcolddripcoffee.tictail.com

10% OFF for TEO readers. Just use this code at the checkout

CDCDCXTEO

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

13


T E O M A G

[IN]STA-AWE

14

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

NATALIE PARRA HONOLULU, HAWAII CO-FOUNDER OF KEIKO CONSERVATION @NATALIEKPARRA

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

15


T E O M A G

1. YOU’RE A CO-FOUNDER OF KEIKO CONSERVATION WHICH IS...

An international organisation formed to use social media platforms and trends to provide strength in numbers for a variety of conservation efforts worldwide. We also assist in many hands on activities at our home base in Hawaii, like public outreach, reef clean ups with our collaborators (One Ocean Diving and Water Inspired), and right now we’re specifically trying to get cetacean captivity expelled from Oahu and The Big Island.

2. YOUR ROLES WITH KEIKO CONSERVATION INCLUDE...

Oh goodness! We’re very hands on – so, everything [laughs]. Well, except Keiko’s mascot duties, that’s done solely by my giant hamster dog, Rooney.

3. FUN FACT ABOUT YOUR FAVOURITE SEA ANIMAL...

I’ll still never get over the fact that dolphins can sleep half their brain at a time. Anytime I tell that to people for the first time, I feel as if they don’t actually believe me and probably Google it when they get back home to make sure I wasn’t pulling their leg. It’s an incredible adaptation for a voluntarily air-breathing animal.

16

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

4. ONE THING EVERYONE CAN DO TO CONSERVE MARINE LIFE...

Watch the movie Earthlings. It’s such a powerful film that I think will spark passion in anybody who watches it, to do whatever they can to change things. With that kind of passion, incredible things follow, like being extremely careful with plastic consumption, speaking up against cruelty when they otherwise would have remained silent, or maybe switching to a plant based diet.

5. A COMMON MISCONCEPTION ABOUT SHARKS...

A rather unintelligible “journalist” reporting on shark attacks took a lot of backlash for saying things about sharks like, “you’ll get mauled if you’re in the way.” And I think a lot of people, from media outlets taking advantage of that public fear, truly believe if you are in the water with a shark and it sees you, it will bite you. People comment on my Instagram all the time, saying things like, “How do you get them to not eat you?” or even “Have the sharks you swim with had their teeth removed?” I owe my knowledge on sharks completely to my good friends, Ocean Ramsey and Juan Oliphant who have opened up their research boat for eco-tourism while they’re doing their daily data collection out on the water. I don’t even know DECEMBER ISSUE #10

17


T E O M A G

how many people I’ve seen be in complete shock that the sharks in the area are not trying to eat them and are just doing their own thing. Recently, due to quite muddy and murky water there have been a couple shark attacks on Oahu and I was expecting a lot of anger and backlash towards the animals. But it’s incredible that since their tour (One Ocean Diving) has become such a fun thing, not only for visitors but so many people living on the island, how much people are defending the sharks! Including the people who were bitten! You go through comments on news articles or social media and you see all of these people standing up for sharks after now having seen them in the wild. It’s really incredible and I hope the knowledge that we are in their home and taking so much of their food so fast continues to spread because it could really change things.

6. IF YOU WERE A SEA ANIMAL, YOU WOULD BE...

An orca! It’s super rare to see them around Hawaii so it is always a big deal when there are sightings. I always joke that if we’re out on the water and I see a six foot dorsal fin I’m going to be like, “Bye Felicia!” and just flop overboard towards them without a second thought. They are the most fascinating, mysterious, intelligent animals that we may ever know and I would do anything to spend even a day as one.

18

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

TIFFANY HENRY ADELAIDE, SA PSYCHOLOGY STUDENT @TIFFFHENRY

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

19


T E O M A G

20

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

21


T E O M A G

ANDREA GOH PERTH, WA FASHION BLOGGER AND FOUNDER OF @SHOPGOH @WHATSTHEGOH

22

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

23


T E O M A G

WORDS: MELINA SCARFO PHOTOGRAPHY: LEANN MUELLER 24

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

COHEED AND CAMBRIA TALK PUSHING LIMITS AND LONGEVITY / AFTER 10 YEARS AS A BAND, COHEED AND CAMBRIA CAN EXPLORE ANYTHING THEY WANT.

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

25


T E O M A G

Prog-rock band Coheed and Cambria is known for their science-fiction saga The Amory Wars, which guides their previous releases. But the New York band ventured away from their comfort zone with their eighth release The Color Before The Sun. An infectious, pop-fuelled and personal album, it’s a testament to the band’s chemistry and sincerity. Coheed and Cambria have a massive year of touring ahead of them. In 2016, they will take on the US, UK and Europe in support of The Color Before The Sun. We caught up with Coheed and Cambria to talk about the personal element of the new album and their willingness to explore.

26

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

TEO: After 10 years and eight albums, bands usually start to falter. But Coheed is sounding better than ever. What do you contribute your longevity to? Coheed and Cambria: I think you can compare it to a relationship or marriage. If it just stays the same and stagnant, it gets stale and dries up. We have had numerous accomplishments, dramas, meltdowns, high and lows etc. I think it’s the good, the bad, and the ugly that makes it all stay interesting and new. The drama isn’t a necessity but let’s face it: some great art comes from it.

The romantic ‘Here To Mars’ is our favourite track. How did that song come about? That was a song that Claudio wrote for his wife. That song is an example of what I described above. He knew exactly what he wanted in that track. I was able to add some of my own flavour with the guitar here and there but overall the grand vision was there already. I also believe with the whole record us cutting everything live added a very new energy and vibe. You can definitely hear that on Mars.

Was there any nervousness about abandoning The Amory Wars and creating a non-conceptual album? There was a little at first but it’s definitely not something that would have changed the decision.

The Colour Before The Sun could easily have been a solo record. Why did you decide this was something Coheed should pursue? I think that Claudio made the decision to bring the material to Coheed to show another dimension of what he and the rest of us can do. We have no boundaries and no set agenda. We can explore anything we want in Coheed – like doing an album like CBTS.

The Colour Before The Sun has been labelled a ‘dramatic departure’ from your prog-rock roots. But Coheed has always had that catchy element. How are fans reacting to the new record? There seems to be a super positive response. Especially with the songs live. Sonically, this record is bright and pop-fuelled. Is this a reflection of the band at the moment and the changes in your lives? It’s the most reflective of Claudio’s life of course but each one of the other band members speaks through their instruments in such a way that it represents them and what they are feeling. That has always been the case in Coheed. Sanchez writes lyrics from a personal perspective, exploring identity and parenthood, for the first time. With no science-fiction saga to guide the band, how did this affect the writing process? It was a very personal record for him so on a majority of the songs he had a very set idea of where he wanted to go. That has obviously happened with certain songs in the past. But on this record it was a bit more, mostly because the songs were so personal.

facebook.com/coheedandcambria

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

/

The band has a massive year of touring and festivals ahead of them. How do you deal with life on the road and being away from family? It’s tough, there is no way around it. But with today’s technology, FaceTime etc, it’s a little easier. How do you plan on fitting the new tracks into your already extensive set list? We have been doing it on the tour we are on now and the songs fit great. The shows have been awesome! Will Coheed ever return to The Amory Wars, or are you happy to just focus on the present? We are happy to focus on the present right now, but who knows what’s next. That is another really positive thing about this record – it’s us letting everyone know that we will not be limited. The next record could be right back to the concept. Or not! It’s all yet to be seen.

instagram.com/coheedandcambria

/

coheedandcambria.com

27


T E O M A G

CROWDED CAT – BY BERTIE BLACKMAN COMMISSIONED WORK FOR TEO

facebook.com/bertieblackmanartist / instagram.com/bertieblackman / bertieblackman.com 28

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

flakegoodsapparel.com facebook.com/flakegoodsapparel twitter.com/flakegoods instagram.com/flakegoodsapparel

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

29 Photo by Mitchell Richards / Instagram: @mitchrich_


T E O M A G

EVERYBODY’S ZOOING IT HAIR AND MAKEUP: KRISTINA PERSICHINI STYLING: SUSANNAH IOANNOU ASSISTANT STYLIST: NAT MARROCCO MODEL: AZALEA MODELS IMOGEN QUILL PHOTOGRAPHER: KANE OVERALL PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT: RYAN CANTWELL LOCATION ADELAIDE ZOO

IMOGEN WEARS

THUMPY AUSTRALIANA TEE FROM TIBBS & BONES | VINTAGE JEANS FROM SWOP | EAT ME DO TEA TIME SOCKS FROM TIBBS & BONES | CONVERSE OX RED FROM BARLOW SHOES | STYLIST’S OWN NECKLACE

30

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

31


T E O M A G

32

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

33


T E O M A G

34

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

IMOGEN WEARS

KULT CLOTHING X TIBBS & BONES KRIKE TEE FROM TIBBS & BONES | STYLIST’S OWN SUNGLASSES | VINTAGE LEATHER STUDDED COLLAR FROM BORN TO BE BAD VINTAGE

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

35


T E O M A G

36

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

37


T E O M A G

IMOGEN WEARS

VINTAGE TEE FROM SWOP | VINTAGE SKIRT FROM SWOP 38

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

39


T E O M A G

40

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

IGUANA BE LOVED BY YOU! REPTILES IN YOUR HOME. WORDS: NICOLE POPE PHOTOGRAPHY: MATTHIAS PFEIL DECEMBER ISSUE #10

41


T E O M A G

Think back to the kinds of pets you always wanted when you were a kid. Maybe you wanted a puppy, a kitten or a horse, before your parents settled on something affordable and easy to care for, like a rabbit or a fish. As we get older and take on work, study and sport commitments, the concept of having your own pet seems quite daunting. Will I have time to look after it? Will it go stir-crazy in the backyard while I’m not home? How many pairs of shoes can I afford to sacrifice because I love this creature?

be legally kept, but some obviously make better pets than others. Pythons are the most common pet snakes, while Bearded Dragons and Bluetongues are popular lizards. Having said that, I’ve heard crocodiles can be good to train!

Reptiles may not be as cute or as a loyal as a Golden Retriever, but they are pretty damn cool. There is something about them that makes them equally fascinating and kinda freaky too. Maybe it’s their lack of fur, their beady eyes or the fact that they often swallow other animals whole! Either way, reptiles make great pets!

When keeping them as pets, what important things do you need to buy? An escape proof enclosure with good heating is a basic requirement for all reptiles. Some species, like dragons and turtles, also need UV lighting. On the other hand, pythons don’t need much more in their enclosure than a box to hide in and maybe a branch to climb on.

TEO spoke to Matthew Bonnett, a reptile keeper and breeder for 25 years, about keeping these little scaly friends as resident animals.

How much of an investment are they, time and cost-wise? Common pythons cost one or two hundred dollars to buy and a well-furnished enclosure may be a few hundred dollars to set up. After that, you only have to spend a few dollars to feed them once every

TEO: What types of reptiles can be owned as pets? Matthew: All types of Australian native reptiles can 42

How long do reptiles live? Turtles are famously long lived and can live for many decades, while many pet snakes and lizards will live for around 15 to 20 years.

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

week or two and you’ll only need to clean out their enclosure this often. They’re really low maintenance pets! Lizards need to be fed more regularly, but make up for this by generally being thought of as having more personality.

reptiles over the years, it has happened occasionally.

How much love and attention do reptiles require, as pets? Reptiles don’t need our attention like dogs and some other pets, and they’re generally happy enough to be left alone. It’s a bit like keeping fish in this regard. However, pythons (like the ones in our TEO photo shoot) are happy to be held and some lizards will even choose to actively interact with their owners.

Which reptile do you think has the most character and why? Goannas are my favourite and definitely amongst the most intelligent reptiles. Unfortunately, most snakes aren’t going to win any personality contests!

What do we feed them? Pythons are normally fed whole rodents. These can be kept frozen in sealed plastic bags until they’re needed and are actually a really convenient source of food. Most lizards eat a broader range of meat and vegetables, as well as usually enjoying live insects! Have you ever been bitten by a reptile? I try to avoid it; however, after keeping lots of DECEMBER ISSUE #10

Baby snakes can get scared easily and will sometimes bite defensively and you always have to be careful

when feeding reptiles. You don’t want your fingers to be mistaken for food!

Best snake name you’ve ever heard… I don’t tend to name my snakes, but friends have given my snakes names like Rupert, Wallace, Ditzy and Fifi. We just don’t need any more pythons called Monty! Some people might not know this about snakes but… Pythons have the evolutionary remains of hind legs and, if you look closely, you can actually see them as small spurs down towards the tail. Male pythons will even wiggle them when they’re excited! 43


T E O M A G

BIO/PROFILE Matthew has had a lifelong interest in wildlife and what began as chasing skinks and geckos in his garden has expanded to over 25 years of keeping and breeding reptiles. His interest in reptiles is balanced by a general love of wildlife and this has resulted in experiences with birds, marsupials and fish along the way. Matthew completed a Bachelor of Science degree at Flinders University, which included an Honours project focusing on reptile and molecular ecology. Since graduating, he has been employed in a number of environmental roles, including as a reptile consultant. He has published a number of scientific papers and regularly presents on his reptile interests to a wide range of audiences, such as schools, societies and conferences around Australia.

facebook.com/prestige-pythons-571199799602869 facebook.com/snake-racks-australia-361842583899234 prestigepythons.com.au / snakeracksaustralia.com / users.on.net/~jbonnett

44

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

LINKS HERE DECEMBER ISSUE #10

45


T E O M A G

46

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

47


T E O M A G

PAW BABY – BY ALEX COMMISSIONED WORK FOR TEO

facebook.com/alexjustspat2 / instagram.com/alexjustspat / alexjustspat.com 48

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

FACEBOOK.COM/LUCID8FASHIONBOUTIQUE INSTAGRAM.COM/LUCID8_UNISEXAPPAREL LUCID8BOUTIQUE.COM

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

49


T E O M A G

FURNOMENAL HAIR: DAVROE HAIR STYLIST ABI WALES MAKEUP: CANDICE STANLEY STYLING: STACEY HENDRICKSON MODEL: AZALEA MODELS ERIN ROESLER PHOTOGRAPHER: ADAM STANLEY FURRY MODELS: BERNIE DANGER MAVERICK NED PRUDENCE

50

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

ERIN WEARS

STYLIST’S OWN OUTFIT

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

51


T E O M A G

52

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

53


T E O M A G

54

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

55


T E O M A G

56

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

57


T E O M A G

58

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

ERIN WEARS

CASPER+PEARL ALASKA TOP | STYLIST’S OWN BRIEFS

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

59


T E O M A G

ERIN WEARS

STYLIST’S OWN OUTFIT

60

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

61


T E O M A G

62

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

ERIN WEARS

STYLIST’S OWN OUTFIT

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

63


T E O M A G

17 HIGH STREET WILLUNGA

McLAREN VALE, S

HITHERANDY

64

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

CELL AR DOOR OPEN 7 DAYS

YON.COM.AU

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

65


T E O M A G

COLD BLOODED HAIR AND MAKEUP: GEORGIA EDGAR STYLING: SUSANNAH IOANNOU ASSISTANT STYLIST: KRISH BARTON MODEL: FINESSE MODELS JESSIE PHOTOGRAPHER: GABRIELA FLEUR PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT: JONNY RATKE LOCATION FIFTH SANCTUM

66

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

JESSIE WEARS

STYLIST’S OWN OUTFIT

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

67


T E O M A G

68

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

JESSIE WEARS

STYLIST’S OWN OUTFIT

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

69


T E O M A G

JESSIE WEARS

STYLIST’S OWN OUTFIT VINTAGE COWBOY BOOTS FROM MIDWEST TRADER

70

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

JESSIE WEARS

STYLIST’S OWN OUTFIT | VINTAGE COWBOY BOOTS FROM MIDWEST TRADER DECEMBER ISSUE #10

71


T E O M A G

72

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

JESSIE WEARS

STYLIST’S OWN OUTFIT VINTAGE COWBOY BOOTS FROM MIDWEST TRADER

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

73


T E O M A G

74

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

JAKI.COM.AU JAKI IS NOT JUST FOR STYLE INSPIRATION, BUT ALSO A PLATFORM FOR SHOWCASING AUSTRALIA’S FASHION AND CREATIVE TALENTS. BY JAKI WOODS

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

75


T E O M A G

AFTER

THE ACCEPTANCE OF LOSS

WORDS: JONNO REVANCHE PHOTOGRAPHY: JONNO REVANCHE

76

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

Open the door, I braise the margin of reality, I reach out to where you are. You collapsed days ago. We talked as a family about what we were to do, how we could change our lives so that it could be tolerable after you’d gone. We were offered remedies, we talked with a specialist. The doctor was always speaking in soft, assuring tones. To lose a family member is to experience a pain completely individualised – a human leaving a heart shaped hole that only they are capable of. I had become your caretaker, I lay with you for many hours, and I made sure I was always near the end with you so that when you passed over it would only be a short leap. And we were the last faces they would see. I watched your eyes flutter open in between suspended moments of three single seconds. Your melody, something deep behind the heart, a soft throbbing rhythm, representing itself for me while we locked vision. I kept my gaze. You breathed slowly, body heaving in and out, up and down. There were many moments of grace that found themselves caught in that silence. I lowered myself to your level a bit. “Hey baby.” You’ve been so brave. We’ve been together through struggle before. We had swum through the river near my house, the liquid the clearest of colour, danger pumping through blood streams, effervescently turning into excitement. We’d gone everywhere – we’d travelled across borders, stranded in regional Australia while wide-brimmed canopies of stars shouldered down on us, offering little direction or respite. Except now you’d reached a finish line of sorts, unable to communicate with me, but we shared an intricate history that couldn’t quite be explained, cemented in love and care in a deeply human way.

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

Despite those images of grandeur that had stitched together our relationship, the moments we were

sharing now were of a different majesty. I lay next

to your fragile, heaving body. You were too tired to talk or communicate, breathing heavily and looking

into my eyes, with a message. My hand was reaching out to yours now, trying to feel it, looking for a passageway. I passed through the archway.

I found myself on the other side, in a different

hall, in a body that was new but still my own. The setting was different but still rich in its realism,

its stark truthfulness. I walked a bit through the

house, my hand feeling the dusty surface of the wall, paying attention to patterns and painted

surfaces. I couldn’t hear your sound in the house

any more, your warm whisper, your always moving magic. Those things left a vacant staleness in

the new house, missing its angel. I was getting a glimpse of a world alone without you.

I could not spare a moment to hesitate or to lift myself out of the process.

I moved corners and sensed your echo, something that had always been, but now only remains as an

imprint. Your subtle sounds are nowhere and I cannot feel you, cannot detect you in the way I always used

to. So I relish this loss in what it has taught me, what it will continue to teach me. My dearest baby, even when you are gone I will keep a piece of you sewn underneath my skin, so that although no one can

see it, I know how much of my life fabric you have contributed to forever after this time.

I turn on my heel, see the barrier once again opening up to a portal, and step back into the present time where I am needed.

77


T E O M A G

THE PETS OF

78

TEO

ABBIE AND MILO

BARNEY

BELONG TO OLGA WINTER

BELONGS TO MONIKA PORTELLA

BELLA

BERNIE AND OZZY

BELONGS TO VANESSA LOCAMPO

BELONG TO EBONY STORY

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

HUGO

MISHKA

BELONGED TO TAYLAH MINCHINGTON

BELONGS TO GEORGIA EDGAR

INDIE

ORLA

BELONGS TO COURTNEY ROBINSON

BELONGS TO CANDICE STANLEY

DECEMBER ISSUE #10

79


T E O M A G

80

OSCAR

PRECIOUS

BELONGS TO MELINA SCARFO

BELONGS TO GABRIELA FLEUR

TILLY

WILLOW

BELONGS TO NICOLE POPE

BELONGS TO RHIANNON JACKSON

GOLDIE

HARLEM AND MILA

BELONGS TO RYAN ABBAS

BELONG TO AMANDA NASH

TEOMAGAZINE.COM.AU


T E O M A G

t h e e r Sha er DECEMBER ISSUE #10

wond

81


FACEBOOK.COM/LUCID8FASHIONBOUTIQUE INSTAGRAM.COM/LUCID8_UNISEXAPPAREL LUCID8BOUTIQUE.COM


Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.