THe voice . Volume 3 2020
Volume 3 2020
Editors: Jonathan Howles & Annaliese Collins Cover Art: Clare Long
This year, Earth Hour was on the evening of the 28th of March. And being in different locations didn’t stop RMC from getting involved and connected through the Earth House live stream! If you didn’t know already, Earth Hour is an event that happens every year where everyone turns off their lights for an hour! Turning off your lights might seem like a small action, but it has a significant impact when everyone comes together and does it at the same time. This is one of the reasons as to why this event is so important, as it is an important reminder of what we can accomplish when we work in unison! This year the live stream featured musical acts, comedians - most notably a Bob Ross look-alike who could play the ukelele, and a guest feature from Cody Simpson! We also had great commentary from Georgia and Laura throughout the night! Overall, even through these tough times, the residents of RMC came together under one cause - and I think that has to be one of my favourite things about RMC! - Bec
THe voice . Volume 3 2020
Earth Hour
International night is an RMC favourite for multiple reasons. Not only do we get to indulge in delicacies from around the world, but we get to eat and celebrate the diversity of RMC together. I think it’s so important to have this night so all residents can feel seen and appreciated. I especially love this night because we also get to learn about the dishes and their history. Exec this year had aimed to extend International night to International week, so residents at RMC could learn about different cultures through other means such as dance, music, and movies. Unfortunately, because of COVID-19, we’ve had to postpone this but I think it’s too important to let it fall on the list of things we can no longer do. So, if you have a recipe, a favourite song, or movie that you’d like to share, post it on the RMC student Facebook page or email to rmcsa.cultral@rmc.nsw.edu.au We already have a couple of recipes posted so it’s the perfect opportunity to learn a new skill and recognise the culture of your fellow residents. Get amongst it! - Leila
THe voice . Volume 3 2020
International Night
Semolina cake (Turkish Dessert) by Leila
Leek tart by Dan Apfelpfannkuchen (German for apple pancakes) by Beth
If you want to check out more awesome recipes like these, then head over to the RMC Student Association 2020 Facebook group.
A
From hanging in the hallways to having dinner in the common room, from girl’s night to Snap scav, A Block holds strong to its sense of community during these times. The girls even got to enjoy Easter by having their own Easter egg hunt. Let’s keep up this community spirit! - Beth
B
B-Block is running a movie club for the rest of the session. Each week Andrew and I release a new movie title, and by the end of the week residents comment on what their favourite part of the film is, and what their rating out of 10 is. There is also a theme for every three movies, and the person who guesses the theme correctly gets the highest of high fives, once the COVID-19 crisis is over of course! - Sophy We have planned for video calling on Zoom every Friday. The plan is to watch a movie together or play games. At this point, we have a number of apps from where we can play games. Apps like Houseparty, Bingo, Uno, Cards Against Humanity, Guess Who, and we have also decided to have a Karaoke session. With everything that’s going around it is difficult to cope at times, and so we need to be there for each other! - Koyel
THe voice . Volume 3 2020
What's going on in What' your Block?
D
E
With everything a little bit crazy at the moment, C Block is taking the extra time to get creative and stay connected. There is a photography competition running at the moment so we are encouraging everyone to take some snaps and get involved. Our wonderful RA's have also been putting together some hilarious vlogs to keep you updated and make you laugh. The vlogs have got lots of funny stories, news on RMC events, and new topics of discussion each week that you can join in with. You can share what you've been up to and catch up with your fellow C Block residents, so be sure to tune in! - Tully
Over the last few weeks, D Block members have really connected with one another in more ways than one. Boys got together and gave each other some great new hairstyles, a couple of girls got together to watch the church Easter service with Ziggy, and soon we’ll be holding a couple of Cards Against Humanity Zoom sessions. - Imogen
It’s been pretty quiet around E block in the past few weeks, thanks to lockdown and COVID-19. However, the RAs have been spicing things up with the weekly E Block “date nights”. While these “date nights” are not necessarily events where the E block residents attempt to find love, the activities have involved Netflix movie parties, and games upon games of Avalon. Not only have these events brought back some of the norm and fun from pre-lockdown, they’ve also taught us to never trust Tony in Avalon. - Justin
THe voice . Volume 3 2020
C
This time last year, we started up Friday afternoon baking sessions at RMC. A group of us - a slightly different group each week, but with a faithful core - gathered in the E2 kitchen to make cookies. We’d bake a batch of a different type of cookie each week, and then eat the entire batch. Whether there were five of us, or twenty-five, there would be none left by the time we had finished cleaning up. We covered the standards - choc-chip cookies, anzac biscuits, jam drops, vanilla snaps - and of course Katrina’s famous jersey caramel cookies. But we also varied our repertoire from time to time. Sticky date pudding fresh from the oven, served with ice cream, at 4.30pm? Yes please! Brownies and blueberry muffins were also a great success. This year, though, baking is out because of isolation rules. But we’re going to try to take our baking sessions online instead. Starting this Friday (17th of April), we’ll be having a group baking session at 3pm on Zoom. If you’re interested in joining, connect with us through the Facebook “Baking at RMC” group. We’re looking forward to this period of isolation being over, and going back to our regular baking together!
In the meantime check out this recipe for Katrina’s favourite cookie, the Jersey Caramel.
THe voice . Volume 3 2020
Baking with Katrina
THe voice . Volume 3 2020
A review by liv The depths of our isolation boredom has pushed us to new heights as RMC has succumbed to the next best guilty pleasure to hit Netflix since Kath and Kim - Tiger King. As we strapped ourselves into a world of gun-toting, toothless, psychotic pandemonium that is the Tiger King Joe Exotic, we somehow became accustomed to the tigers taking the backbench in the series. Rather, our attention bounces like a pinball between Joe’s husband’s three teeth, Carole Baskin’s cool cats and kittens, and a flaming polygamist known to his wife as “lord”; who has since found his own lord and is recently single FYI. But don’t be fooled into thinking redneck hillbillies could be categorised so easily. Carole Baskin (Joe Exotic’s arch nemesis) and that damned bike are all a sketchy guise to distract from the fact she murdered her first husband and fed him to the tigers in her own sanctuary. But please ignore the hypocrisy of her manipulation of her tigers to raise revenue from the sanctuary like Joe, and the audacity of her quest to have him imprisoned for a murder-for-hire plot to knock her off her high horse. What goes around comes around Carole. In a series prefaced by Joe’s gun-fuelled lunacy, and Carole Baskin’s search for animal rights, somewhere along the line Carole’s macabre past subverts our understanding of the whole tiger kingdom. Who’d have known their keepers were 10 fold more interesting than the tigers themselves? And who’d have thought the world would be taken by storm to satirise that b**** Carole Baskin? 10/10 recommend tuning in to Netflix to see for yourself, and long live Travis Maldonado.
#FREEJOEEXOTIC2020.
THe voice . Volume 3 2020
Tiger King
Comms RA’s decided to introduce a colouring competition as our first step in keeping the community atmosphere of RMC alive! There were so many beautiful entries that were all unique. Don’t forget that you can all go and view them hanging in the common room! Cheers - Mitch Winners: Butterfly: Shivalaxmi Dakshina Mask: Hayley Rogers Owl: Chrisandra Dcosta Lion: Georgia Rae Fox: Chrisandra Dcosta Special mentions: Jim Skinner and Zara Blackmore
THe voice . Volume 3 2020
Colouring--in Competition Colouring
THe voice . Volume 3 2020
How to cope during Isolation
Here are some great tips from Meredith about coping during isolation. 1. Establish and stick to a routine that keeps life a bit more normal and manages time well. 2. Have a break from screens and move. • Take regular short breaks, go outside, and look at what is around you. Feel the grass, notice nature, and the changing season. • Get out at least once a day, for at least 30 minutes to move your body. 3. Stay connected. • Reach out to others at least once daily for at least 30 minutes. 4. Stay hydrated and eat well. 5. Develop a self-care toolkit including: • A sensory component for each of our senses (slowly, mindfully noticing what each is like in the moment): o Touch eg. a soft blanket or stuffed animal o Taste eg. have a hot chocolate o Sight eg. look at photos of holidays, loved ones, mates, inspiring images or quotes o Hearing eg. listen to comforting music o Smell eg. lavender or eucalyptus oil, room fragrances • Learn some relaxation techniques 6. Be kind and gracious towards those around you - this can be a tough time for us all. 7. Be kind to yourself, lower expectations, and practice self-acceptance. 8. Limit social media and COVID conversation. 9. Refocus on the positive, beautiful, good, and hopeful things in the world. 10. Support others. 11. Get creative and have some fun. Get familiar with the things you enjoy, that make life fun, and meaningful. Creative or expressive outlets are beneficial. 12. Have a good laugh. 13. Reach out for help: • Your RMC counsellor is here for you as well as external supports. • Keep up your medications and your therapy sessions the best you can. 14. Remind yourself often that this situation is temporary. It is a season of life and it will pass. 15. Contemplate how you want to remember this season, how you behaved, what choices you made. Clarify what and who is important to you.
Tom S
THe voice . Volume 3 2020
Messages from home Where is home for you? Home is on a small farm on the outskirts of Armidale with family and my little Cavoodle called Molly.
What’s the best thing you’ve eaten since being home? My Mum is an excellent cook, and I had the privilege one night to be served beef Wellington, roast veggies and butter scotch pudding for dessert. What has been your go to isolation pastime? I have managed to keep myself very busy with Uni, cycling, reading and working out in my little home gym. How have you found your Zoom classes? Any mishaps? I have actually had a lot of fun on Zoom, with it being my only contact with the outside world. My tutor’s internet connection kept dropping out during my 2hr practical, meaning we spent about half an hour without anyone to teach us. How annoying. What do you miss most about RMC? I miss being thirty seconds away from my best friends. I’m sure everyone feels the same way. I also really miss cricket on the astro after dinner each night. What are you going to do first after isolation is over? That is a question with many answers haha. I’ll come straight back to college, and catch up with everyone because that’s what I miss the most.
Where is home for you? Newcastle. What’s the best thing you’ve eaten since being home? Home made caramel slice.
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Laura D
What has been your go to isolation pastime? To be honest - studying... Uni hasn’t stopped and 5 units keeps me on my toes. Other than that, lots of exercise and learning new hobbies. What do you miss most about RMC? Funnily enough, I miss the early dinners and regular meal times. What are you going to do first after isolation is over? After isolation I’ll hang out with friends in a public space.
Caleb
Where is home for you? Home for me is naturally wherever I feel most comfortable, but at the moment that’s Tamworth. What’s the best thing you’ve eaten since being home? The best thing I’ve eaten since coming home has been a home cooked steak with homemade peppercorn sauce. What has been your go to isolation pastime? My go to isolation past time has either been fighting with my brother or playing some old computer games I left here. How have you found your Zoom classes? Any mishaps? Zoom classes? What are those? My lecturers just make me post on discussion boards. What do you miss most about RMC? I miss my mates from RMC the most I’d say, I was really getting along with our fresher gang, and we were really gelling as a group. What are you going to do first after isolation is over? First thing to do? Either a trip up to Brisbane, or a night out at the pub with mates.
Music Edition with Scotty What were your top three picks for the Triple J Hottest 100 of the deacde? For those who have spent time with me, they will know that I listen to a LOT of music. From the moment I wake up, and until I go to sleep or sometimes even as I’m asleep, I will happily have music playing. As someone who listens to an obscene amount of music, I enjoy nearly all genres of music, from classical to heavy metal, provided I can get into the song or hear the skill in it. Despite listening to so much, often the stuff I listen to is not ‘radio worthy’ and thus when the Hottest 100 rolls around every year, I often find myself listening to 90 songs that I think are rubbish OR I have never even heard. With this in mind, I present to you my heavily biased TOP 3 songs that should’ve been in Triple J’s Hottest 100 of The Decade. 1. Nothing But Thieves - Trip Switch This song is a masterpiece from start to finish. This song was released in 2015 by the British band Nothing But Thieves, who can be best described as Coldplay, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Muse all combined. With an eerie beginning, incredible vocals combined with a punchy guitar riff, this song (if you like rock) is an awesome track, and a playlist favourite of mine. 2. Hockey Dad - I Missed Out Easily my favourite Hockey Dad song, this song has so much energy and makes me want to go hop into the mosh pit whenever I hear it. As a change from their slower and more relaxed music, this song is an absolute slapper, and you need to put it into every summer playlist you’ve got.
THe voice . Volume 3 2020
Keeping up with RMC
Why should we like Ocean Alley’s Confidence as much as you do? This song is infectious. For a long time, I was not a fan at ALL of any of the “surf groove/byron bay” rock scene that Triple J seems to absolutely froth over. I often found it too slow for me to really get into, and I had no interest in watching any more shows that I’d already seen live. Although this song is admittedly very repetitive, it is absolutely brilliant. The repeating riff is so so simple and yet it never fails to make me want to bop my head. This song alone opened my interest into an entire genre that I had listened to before and didn’t enjoy. For one song to completely change my mind on a genre, I think is pretty incredible. Ocean Alley is easily my favourite Australian band right now, and I look forward to their next album which will hopefully be released in the not-so-distant future.
THe voice . Volume 3 2020
3. Mac DeMarco - On The Level I imagine that floating around in space feels something like this song sounds. Very slow and mellow with a subtle echo, and pulsing but soft synth blasts. Released in 2017, this song epitomises, in my opinion, everything that is good about Indie music. Slow, soft, and yet still enough to have you swaying side to side. Made even better by a good set of headphones and having your eyes shut.
Codeword
THe voice . Volume 3 2020
these companies know what they're doing
*talking about threesomes* Long - If I wanted to dissapoint two people, I’d just go to my family dinner. *about eating worms* Carlos - From a distance it looks like some choice cuts! Vishmie - But I like sweaty men.
*in the context of THAT classic Kelis song and its implications and one of Seun’s most iconic lines* Natasha N - Why would you squeeze a milkshake?
Russell - You follow hot men so I can follow hot guys. Natsha N - If I did I would have a really tiny dick.
Sally - Whenever I think of a body roll I think of the death roll crocodiles do.
THe voice . Volume 3 2020
Wiretap
Natasha N - ...instead of being a two faced snail.
Sally - Bec you make me erect. *talking to cricket boys* Sarah Ali - Don’t break the window. Emma - Or just my face. Sarah - This could be worth millions one day.
Emily G - Doesn’t matter it’s a virual dick. Liv - Cats are Satan’s spawn.
Sally - I can’t read and eat at the same time.
THe voice . Volume 3 2020
Sally - I’m just drinking orange juice to get my vitamin D up.
Tees to Sarah - I will feed you nuts.
Jim - Her biological daddy.
*someone mentions Long* Allan - Long lost my glasses, I do not speak to him anymore.
Saraswati - Wasabi flavour tastes like fart gas. Mat Topping - I’m in for Hitler.
Grace S - I’m not a morning sausage person. That’s more of a night time meal.
THe voice . Volume 3 2020
*scooping and eating icecream with a knife* Sally - I like eating with weird cutlery.
Emma H - Dude he’s got little man syndrome.
THe voice . Volume 3 2020
Rowan - You can incubate other things (apart from babies).
Sarah A - I dont think I have ever seen you wear pants. Shun - Perfectly balanced. Carlos - Like everything should be. Rowan - Is that politics? Jono - No that’s Thanos.
Bec - If you can’t go high, go low. Pat - I’m not an edgelord.
Emma H - Oh my God! My butt’s too big... Now everyone’s gonna look at my butt.
Overheard a funny conversation? Said something that can be taken way out of context? Send them in to The Voice’s Facebook page to be featured in the next edition!
THe voice . Volume 3 2020
Trinity Chapel Macquarie church service times: Sundays @ 10am and 5:30pm - Find Zoom links on the Trinity Chapel Website. Crossroads: Tuesdays @ 7pm- Find the Zoom link on the Crossroads Facebook page. Talk to the Chaplaincy RA’s for more information.
RMCVOICE /thevoiceofRMC @thevoicermc issuu.com/thermcvoice