Yak Magazine - October Issue

Issue 38 // October 2016

By Students, for Students

Overcoming Fear // A Haunted Newcastle // Potions and Poultices // Shock Til’ You Drop //

THE

FEAR ISSUE

Yak Magazine // October 2016

Yak Magazine // The Fear Issue Issue 38 // October 2016 We are Yak Media: the University of Newcastle’s student media channel, run

by UON students. Our three platforms: Yak Magazine, Yak Blog, and Yak TV – are run by dedicated teams of students.

Yak works hard to bring you stories covering all aspects of student life, from health and wellbeing, to travel and entertainment, to politics and study tips.

Let us know if you like what we do, have any suggestions for story ideas, or if you would like to get involved.

SUBMISSIONS

The Yak editorial team is always on the look out for passionate student writers and graphic designers to contribute to the blog and magazine. If you would like to take the opportunity to get your work published, please send a sample of your writing or graphic design work to: yakmedia@newcastle.edu.au

STAY CONNECTED 2

www.yakatuon.com facebook.com/YakMedia twitter.com/YakMedia

instagram.com/YakMedia yakmedia@newcastle.edu.au

EDITORIAL

Managing Editor // Sarah Webb Deputy Managing Editor // Sarah James Digital Managing Editor // Bridie O’Shea Deputy Digital Managing Editor // Jack Moran Promotions Coordinator // Chelsea Groth Writer // Nadene Budden Writer // Angelique Carr Writer // Chris Daniel Writer // Bridget Gunn Writer // Georgia Mueck Writer // Kieran Resevsky Writer // Michaela Wagland

DESIGN

Lead Graphic Designer // Breanna Yates Lead Digital Designer // Jackie Brock Graphic Designer // Emily Cranidge Graphic Designer // Laura Unicomb

CONTRIBUTORS

Writer // Sally Barker Writer // Nick Smit Writer // Sebastian Wattam Writer // Bec West Designer // India Beletich Designer // Jessica McLeod-Yu Photographer // Redd Angelo Photographer // Georgia Blackie Photographer // Alexis Brown Photographer // Jordy Meow Photographer // J. Howard Miller Photographer // Wil Stewart Photographer // Alex Wong

COVER ART

Cover // Laura Unicomb

Check out the Yak Blog online! Scan here.

Yak Magazine is a free publication supported

by Student Central at the University of Newcastle © 2016. www.newcastle.edu.au Printed by PrintCentre on Callaghan Campus.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

A special thank you to Maitland Gaol for allowing our designer, Laura Unicomb, to take photos throughout their premises for this issue of Yak Magazine. To find out more about Maitland Gaol visit, www.maitlandgaol.com.au.

Yak Magazine // October 2016

CONTENTS 04 05 06 08 10 14 15 16 18 19 20 22 24 26

// Editor’s Letter // Have Your Yak: Editorial // Have Your Yak: Students // Something Psychological: The Origins of Fear // Fear and Terror // Clubs & Societies: The Psychology Club // Arts: The Art of Suspense // A Lesson from Inspiring Women Alumni // Staying Safe on Campus // Graduation Cap in Sight? Fear Not! // An Obsession with Horror // If Degrees were Fears // Middle Page Spread // A Guide to Fears & Phobias

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28 30 31 32 34 35 36 38 39 40 42 43 44 46

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Letters to My Fear Escape Rooms: The New Craze Fearing Fear Itself Horror Reviews: Shock ‘Til You Drop Mature Age Students Lead the Way 5 Tips: How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse Potions and Poultices: Witchcraft & Medicine Watt Space: National Campus Art Prize Overcoming the Fear of Otherness A Haunted Newcastle Health: Fight, Expose, Adapt, Recover A Day in the Life: A Daredevil Mic Drop: sleepmakeswaves What’s On

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Designed by Breanna Yates

Yak Magazine // October 2016

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EDITOR’S LETTER So, as you’ve probably guessed, October’s theme explores fear itself. As in: fear of the unknown, fear of being wrong, fear of f*cking up, fear of change, fear of creativity, fear of wasting time, fear of finding out about yourself, fear of asking for help, fear of saying what’s on your mind, fear of being boring, and, the fear of feeling.

I believe in the mantra, “Do one thing every day that scares you”. This sage piece of advice sounds like a good idea, right?

And one that people can appreciate.

Pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone not only feels good, but there’s the sense of achievement. There’s a particular feeling you get when you’ve done something that scares you a little bit; when you’ve faced genuine fear and then gone and done it anyway.

Of course, the more you put yourself in fearful situations, the better you get at dealing with them. For this month’s issue, we spoke to individuals who have done things that might be terrifying to mere mortals (daredevils, as we call them), but to them seem commonplace. Rather than run from fear itself however, they harness it, learn from it, and use it to inform their decision-making in life.

Because, here’s the funny thing about fear: yes, making it through a scary situation in one piece can make you feel amazing. This assessment is backed up in this issue with articles that explore the psychological studies behind fear, Designed by Breanna Yates

which suggest that it can have all sorts of positive effects on your mental health – including making you more balanced and better able to deal with everyday issues. Who knew scaring yourself could be good for you?

Another central idea on our minds when putting together this issue: one type of fear exists to protect us, but another could hold us back. It can often be difficult to know which one we’re experiencing. No matter how afraid you are of making mistakes, know one thing for certain: it will happen eventually, to us all.

This theme also makes us think about fear as a given, and the injunction to abandon or overcome fear as sometimes untenable. Experiencing or living with fear doesn’t necessarily mean a person isn’t also courageous, or isn’t living up to the truest, best, or most fully-realised version of themselves. At times, the challenge is to keep doing stuff even when fear is a condition of living.

Fear only mutates when you’re ashamed to be experiencing it, so maybe there’s a way to find even the most seemingly silly fears interesting, instead of embarrassing; to examine in an almost anthropological way the emotions we didn’t exactly choose to have.

Don’t be afraid to share your thoughts and feelings.

Sarah and the Yak team.

Yak Magazine // October 2016

HAVE YOUR YAK // EDITORIAL TEAM What is your favourite scary movie?

Sarah Webb Magazine Editor “Insidious.”

Sarah James Deputy Magazine Editor “The Cable Guy?”

Nadene Budden Writer “Scream. Very meta.”

Angelique Carr Writer “Record. The only scary zombie movie.”

Georgia Mueck Writer “Oculus.”

Kieran Resevsky Writer “Probably Despicable Me, because it’s not scary...”

Michaela Wagland Writer “The Conjuring.”

Chelsea Groth Promotions Officer “Suicide Squad. That movie is scarily bad.”

Breanna Yates Lead Graphic Designer “The Shining. Classic.”

Jackie Brock Lead Digital Designer “Sinister.”

Emily Cranidge Graphic Designer “The original Halloween.”

Laura Unicomb Graphic Designer “Shaun of the Dead - that counts right?”

Bridie O’Shea Digital Editor “None of them.”

Chris Daniel Writer “Blair Witch Project. So bad, but so good!”

Jack Moran Deputy Digital Editor “Cujo. Although I really just felt bad for the dog in that movie.”

Bridget Gunn Writer “I don’t watch scary movies because I’m way too chicken!”

Designed by Breanna Yates

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Yak Magazine // October 2016

HAVE YOUR YAK // VOX POPS What is your greatest fear?

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Christopher Burgess Newstep

Miao Chen Bachelor of Business

Mackenzie Enli Bachelor of Arts

“Being taken for granted.”

“Snakes.”

“Caves.”

Jordan Grant Bachelor of Information Technology

Eleanor Hart Newstep

Daniel Lee Bachelor of Engineering

“Brain aneurysms.”

“Being in ‘Have Your Yak’.”

“Taking too many ibuprofens.”

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Tarah Fekri Bachelor of Sports Science

Emma Gethings Bachelor of Medical Radiation Science

“Guns.”

Reid McManus Bachelor of Visual Communication Design “Being unconscious when I need to be conscious.”

Gabby Gibbs Newstep

“Accidentally inhaling a fly.”

“Being suffocated by a swarm of moths.”

Nicholas Ward Bachelor of Fine Art

Qian Xu Bachelor of Commerce

“Jellyfish.”

“Snakes.”

Design by Breanna Yates

Yak Magazine // October 2016

SOMETHING PSYCHOLOGICAL: THE ORIGINS OF FEAR Nick Smit puts some thought into just what ‘fear’ is.

It’s fair to say that all of us have a somewhat interesting relationship with ‘fear’. While a particularly unpleasant phenomenon to experience in most cases, fear has a hand in what makes theme park rides and horror movies entertaining, as well as keeping us from making poor decisions in the selfpreservation department, like walking through the bush at 3am looking for Gengar.

Considering the embedded role fear has in our lives, many of us don’t know much about it. Is fear something that is felt or thought, and how does this system stand up to the long-term, emotional and intellectual threats presented by modern human living?

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Firstly, what exactly is fear? Fear is considered by some psychologists to be one of the basic and innate emotions, which is low order and, at its base level, occurs before and without conscious cognition. Fear from a psychological perspective is very much a knee-jerk reaction, triggered by processes in the subcortical region of the brain. Perhaps the most important section in this process is the amygdala, which is tasked with scanning our senses for threatening objects worthy of fear.

In this case, both the mind and the body are more clearly involved, as the individual’s experiences trigger the fear response. The important aspect here is that processes on the neocortical level can affect the behaviour of the subcortex, and so ‘feelings’ constructed by the mind can translate into the emotional and physical response of fear.

From this, we can begin to understand some of the problems that may pop up, given how our brains are wired. Most of us are in physical danger extremely rarely, but it seems our bodies cannot really notice the difference.

Human physiology has changed very little in the time between hunter-gatherers, with immediate short-term dangers to be afraid of, and university students with looming major projects and crippling debt. And it shows.

While the things our ancestors feared either were swiftly dealt with or killed us, the vast majority of fear-inducing objects in modern daily life are not physical threats, but abstractions of the future which cannot be resolved quickly.

“Most of us are in physical danger extremely rarely, but it seems our bodies can’t really notice the difference.”

In this way, fear can be considered a biological and involuntary response to immediate physical danger, as typified by the popular understanding of the fight-or-flight response. Many of these fears are evolutionary adaptations to dangers our ancestors faced, such as a fear of heights that appears to be shared by all mammals, as well as the commonly shared fear of snakes and other reptiles.

Neocortical phenomena like anxiety over complex modern issues that feel unpredictable or out of our control, which can leave us in prolonged periods of fear and stress. While fightor-flight is useful in making split-second decisions, the effects of experiencing it for long periods of time can be catastrophic for one’s health.

Fight or flight is also one of the main reasons many people enjoy ‘thrills’, as the levels of adrenaline and other chemicals released when in situations the body perceives as dangerous, can also evoke pleasant sensations.

The brain has a very poor ability to construct and consolidate new memories while experiencing fear, which is one of the reasons recalling anything from that last minute, frantic study session is near impossible.

But to truly understand whether fear is an emotion or a feeling, finding an answer becomes a bit more nuanced. While an emotion is something the body physiologically expresses (thus, to emote), a feeling is more related to higher level processes and involves cognitive thought. The neocortex, or as a humanities-focused writer who paid very little attention in biology would call, “the thinky part”, is responsible for memory, abstractions, and making sense of our surroundings on a conscious level, as well as creating associations between different concepts and objects.

“The effects of experiencing it for long periods of time can be catastrophic for one’s health.”

Regarding fear, a great many can be learned rather than being simply imbued in us evolutionarily. A traumatic event or incident in one’s memory can cause someone to respond with fear when exposed to similar stimuli (see my letter in the ‘Letters to My Fear’ article on page 28).

So what solutions do we have? Well, it’s mostly hardwired into us, so… sorry for the bad vibes? But we’re not completely helpless; fear, as a reaction, can be treated and lessened by repeated exposure in a safe and controlled environment. This process is unsurprisingly called ‘exposure’ therapy.

Furthermore, by becoming aware of the origins of fear, and all the do’s, don’ts and truths about it, you can use this knowledge to combat their coalescence. Take stock of what’s really worth being afraid of, and once you’re aware, you can practise your ability to reject the fears that don’t make sense in an “I ain’t afraid of no ghost” style.

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Designed by Emily Cranidge

Yak Magazine // October 2016

FEAR AND TERROR

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Jack Moran explores the history of terrorism, the fear of it, and what can be done to combat it.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash // Jordy Meow

Yak Magazine // October 2016

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Yak Magazine // October 2016

On the morning of Friday, July 15 2016, Australians awoke to the news of a devastating attack in the French city of Nice.

85 people were killed and 307 more were injured when a truck was driven into crowds celebrating Bastille Day. The attack was another act of terrorism, something that seems to be becoming more commonplace as the year goes on.

With how often we see terrorism lately, it is easy to think of it as a modern concept – specifically one that only came into existence with the September 11 attacks.

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However, according to UON’s Global Terrorism: Politics and Problems lecturer, Dr Robert Imre, terrorism is most definitely not a new idea and, instead, has a long-reaching history.

“Terrorism has been around since, and always been a part of, the modern nation state,” he said. “With the birth of a modern nation state, we have always had some form of violent resistance to that state.” Dr Imre said that the practice of terrorism has its origins in anarchist movements that arose in post-monarchical European countries after the Industrial Revolution.

“It leads to a justification of a whole variety of things we would have never accepted twenty or thirty years ago.”

Terrorism is often difficult to define and there have always been debates in terms of what constitutes terrorism and what constitutes a resistance movement. According to Dr Imre, political science describes terrorism as acts of violence with political motivations that share a few key features.

“All of those terrorist movements in definitional terms are about territory,” he said. “They are about controlling the populations inside those territories and, typically, about conducting violent acts against established states, even outside that territory.” One key factor that Dr Imre noted is that while we might see a lot of what is known as religious terrorism, rarely is any form of terrorism purely religious and not backed by a political motive.

“Religious terrorism typically and, in almost all cases, has a political motivation at its core,” he said. “Political scientists would talk about it as political violence that has veneer of religion.” He also emphasised that if we focus on the religious motivations of terrorist groups, we lose sight of their real political goals and ambitions.

The definition of terrorism used by political scientists is often very different to the definition used by the media, as Dr Imre said.

“In political science terms, a number of the violent acts we have seen characterised by the mass media as terrorist activities are, by definition, not terrorist activities,” he said.

“Having someone commit a random act of violence and not being a part of a full blown resistance movement, or not trying to aid in taking over territory, doesn’t count as terrorism.”

One example he cites of this definitional disparity would be the Sydney siege. While the events of Martin Place were horrific, according to Dr Imre, there is no way that an event like that could be considered a terrorist act, as the media reported and government officials of the time, stated.

Terrorism has become a frighteningly common facet of our lives. With terror attacks occurring every other day somewhere in the world, the obvious question is what can be done about it. How can we solve a problem like terrorism?

Conceptually, it is incredibly difficult to answer this question in any real way, Dr Imre said.

“Most people who study political violence would tell you that it would be really difficult to see a complete end to any version of political violence,” he said. “It would be difficult to see that in terms of how modern nation states are set up today.”

While the broader issue of terrorism is seemingly impossible to eliminate, there are ways of dealing with terrorist movements and action that have proven successful in the past.

Yak Magazine // October 2016

“What we have seen in the past is that when governments actually negotiate with these groups, there is a way to successfully manage and end the political violence,” Dr Imre said, (citing the 1990s Good Friday Agreement that helped to broker a peace after the Irish Troubles, as a clear example of this). Militant incursion or hard power approaches, such as those seen in Ireland in the 1980s, are rarely effective.

“That has never worked in the past and we know that doesn’t work,” he said of the hard power method of combating terrorism. “But governments will often resort to that because they want to be seen to be doing something.” While these solutions appear to the public like something meaningful is being done to stop political violence, they’re not as helpful to solving issues as negotiations and the use of soft power.

“Negotiation has to be done, you just have to do it,” Dr Imre said. “If you want to get engaged in creating some kind of solution, that kind of thing has to be done.” This seems particularly ironic when we consider the “we do not negotiate with terrorists” maxim that seems to dictate US foreign policy in relation to political violence.

Dr Imre also emphasised that war is one of the least successful solutions to terrorism, and can often cause more issues than it solves.

“We clearly know that in any kind of war; any kind of large scale conflict, that there will always be some version of breakaway groups and subgroups that turn into, what is effectively, a terrorist organisation,” he said. This was especially true and foreseeable for the US Invasion of Iraq.

“Terrorism has been around since, and always been a part of, the modern nation state.”

“Colleagues of mine, political scientists, were saying ‘If you want to create a bunch of terrorist organisations, go and invade Iraq’, and it really was a dumb thing to do”, Dr Imre said.

and changed global culture, especially in a post September 11 world. What Dr Imre calls ‘security theatre’ – the increase in surveillance and policing, such as that found in airports, designed to combat terrorism – has had a powerful effect on how we see the world and government.

“People today who are twenty years old, or younger, are used to being constantly monitored and police having special powers in many places they go,” he said. They are able to be stopped, searched or asked for identification which, according to Dr Imre “has changed our perception of what it means to be an average, everyday citizen”.

“When governments actually negotiate with these groups, there is a way to successfully manage and end the political violence.”

The changes in culture brought about the crisis of terrorism we fear, which also allows for government policies that would have been considered unacceptable in the past.

“It leads to a justification of a whole variety of things we would have never accepted twenty or thirty years ago,” Dr Imre said.

“It leads to this whole culture around refugees and asylum seekers and how it’s okay to lock people up.”

“We’re really taking major steps back in terms of how a democracy functions,” he said.

From this political science perspective, our fear of terrorism is having crucial effects on not only how effectively we combat terrorism, but also how we exist and live in a modern nation state.

Looking to the history of terrorism, and looking at it from a more studied and academic approach than the one we see in the media and from our governments, could help to alleviate our fear of terror and find better ways of dealing with global issues.

While terrorism is undoubtedly a major concern, something else to examine is how the fear of terrorism has permeated Designed by Breanna Yates

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Yak Magazine // October 2016

CLUBS AND SOCIETIES // THE PSYCHOLOGY SOCIETY Georgia Mueck finds out what the Newcastle University Psychology Society has to offer.

14 Photo courtesy of Unsplash // Alexis Brown

Psychology students don’t just learn about navigating and understanding other people’s fears and anxieties, they experience their own as well. The stress to achieve high enough grades to continue in their field is something all psychology students feel eventually. So says President of the Newcastle University Psychology Society (NUPS) Taylor Hadlow.

“The Psychology Society isn’t just about hanging out with like-minded people, it also offers an element of practical experience that is not available in the Psychology degree.”

“Our club is primarily aimed at Psychology students, but anyone with an interest can be a part of it as our events are quite broad,” Taylor said. NUPS runs an annual trivia night, and alternates between hosting a professional development meetand-greet, and a volunteer day each year. It’s the volunteer day’s turn this year, and the event will be held after midsemester break.

“A lot of students don’t know where to start,” Taylor said. “So NUPS aims to balance a social support system at uni with professional networking opportunities.”

The Psychology Society isn’t just about hanging out with likeminded people, it also offers an element of practical experience that is not available in the Psychology degree.

“...NUPS aims to balance a social support system at uni with professional networking opportunities.”

“Psych degrees don’t have any practical elements,” Taylor said.

“So we give students the opportunity to volunteer at places they can gain experience for after they leave uni.” NUPS organises volunteer work with community driven organisations such as Lifeline, to enable Psychology students to get a taste of the kind of work they may be doing after they complete their degrees.

For Psychology students, or any student with an interest in psychology, who wish to join NUPS or the anxiety support group, you can sign up at NUPS events, and information can be found on the Shortland Notice Board.

Designed by Emily Cranidge

Taylor has also created a new anxiety support group in tandem with the Psychology Society that has fortnightly meetings, with free tea and coffee provided.

For any enquiries, check out the NUPS Facebook page or email uonpsychologysociety@gmail.com

Yak Magazine // October 2016

BOO! ARTS // THE ART OF SUSPENSE Bridie O’Shea looks into why we love (or hate) the build up to a good scare.

Ever had that heart thudding, spine tingling, gut dropping feeling when you’re yelling at the character in the movie to NOT GO DOWN INTO THE BASEMENT FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY, when they hear a strange noise?

Yes? Well you, my friend, have experienced one of the horror/ thrillers greatest (or worst) traits: suspense. These feelings of fascination and excitement, mixed with apprehension, tension and anxiety build from a mysterious and unpredictable set of shots to evoke feeling.

UON lecturer in Communication and Media, Dr Simon Weaving, said that good storytelling always evokes feeling.

In relation to the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, Dr Weaving said that it’s important to note the difference between shock and suspense, and SPOILERS likening it to the Red Wedding in Game of Thrones. “Now that wasn’t suspense, that was surprise. No one picked that was going to happen. Your emotion is shock. You’re still having an emotional response, but you’re dealing with your feelings after the event and you’re processing something you can’t change.”

“A lot of people love the pleasure of suspense.”

However, suspense reveals information to the audience that the character doesn’t have. “And we have a different emotional response at play,” Dr Weaving said. “You can draw it out longer and it can be triggered more. You can actually get pleasure from that too and I think that’s why a lot of filmmakers use it. A lot of people love the pleasure of suspense.”

Suspense plays on human curiosity and uses features like music, playing with tropes we already know, foreshadowing and maguffins (a device that the audience latch on to, that the audience is curious about). For example, in Pulp Fiction, there’s a suitcase that you never see inside of, but when the characters open it, it glows. You want to know what’s in it. “At an emotional level humans pick up on that kind of stuff. We feel anxious and we may not know why,” Dr Weaving said. And nine times out of ten, curiosity wins over self-preservation.

But what films do this well? Dr Weaving admits that The Shining completely freaked him out. “I didn’t sleep for weeks – that’s not really true. But that scene where he was writing something on the wall [redrum] and then you saw it reflected in the mirror ... Redrum spelt backwards is murder.”

Another notable favourite is The Blair Witch Project, which was the first of its kind doing ‘found footage’ horror. Dr Weaving said this is all suspense because you’re told right at the beginning something is taking these people, then you’re slowly finding out what it is and retracing footsteps. “You’ve got all the information and you’re waiting the slow connect.”

This film had an impact because it was doing something totally new and different. So can other found footage films have the same impact? Dr Weaving believes that anything can be great if in the hands of a great storyteller. “There’s a lot of imitators coming into that field after The Blair Witch Project and a lot of them failed because they just didn’t do a good job,” he said. “Paranormal Activity took off, but I think with a lot of franchises, they can drop. At the end of the day, it’s always about good storytelling and how you use tricks to tell your story.”

Designed by Laura Unicomb

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Yak Magazine // October 2016

OVERCOMING FEAR:

A LESSON FROM INSPIRING WOMEN ALUMNI Sarah Webb learns from industry professionals how to utilise fear in order to propel you towards happiness and success.

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Whatever it happens to be, overcoming fear can be challenging, but when conquered, very empowering. Often we know that our fears stand in our way – preventing us from reaching our goals or maximising our full potential as students.

ensures that I have a healthy perspective of what matters in life. I keep that perspective at the forefront of my mind when faced with challenges.

But what can help us to overcome our fears is to hear from UON alumni who were, once upon a time, in our position. They faced their fears head-on in order to become the inspiring professionals they are today.

Susie: One fear in the arts industry is being unemployed. If you manage your expectations, don’t take things personally, and diversify your skill-set, it’s a good way to get over your fear. It’s normal to have fears; it’s normal to have those thoughts. I don’t’ think fear disappears; it depends how you react.

Four inspiring women, each from different, respected fields are; Paralympian, Liesl Tesch (Bachelor of Science), Actor, Susie Porter (Bachelor of Arts), former National Ebola Coordinator, Neima Candy (Master of Public Health), and District Medical Officer at Port Hedland Hospital and a Wiradjuri woman, Dr Sarah Jane McEwan (Bachelor of Medicine).

“Sharing my fears with others has helped relieve a lot of stress for me. I have also read about the things that cause fear in me; all the dos, don’ts, myths and truths about it.”

What are some of the everyday fears or challenges one might face within your industry, and how do you overcome those fears, if you experience them yourself?

How important is it to have support systems in place in order to help people ‘face’ their fears? And what support systems do you have in place?

Liesl: My only fear is not having enough hours in the day; it’s my greatest challenge. Just having good time management skills and planning helps me overcome that.

Liesl: Without people around you, who believe in you, life would be so much more challenging. In my case, I’ve got my teammates and our coach to guide us.

Neima: My greatest fear during my time as the National Ebola Coordinator was getting infected with the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). It was very difficult to overcome that fear, but eventually, I learned to live with it and made sure that I adhered to all the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures put in place. I told myself that I wanted to live to tell the story.

Neima: I am a religious person and rely on the word of God first for words of wisdom and inspiration, whenever I am faced with fear. I also turn to my professional mentors for coaching, experience-sharing and talking about my fears. Sharing my fears with others has helped relieve a lot of stress for me. I have also read about the things that cause fear in me; all the dos, don’ts, myths and truths about it.

Sarah: Not knowing what will come through the door next and trusting in my abilities to have the skills required to apply to situations can be equally as exciting as it is daunting. When faced with emergency situations, not too infrequently, it

Sarah: Mentors are incredibly important people to have; to guide you by their experiences in life and to get you to your end goal. I am a believer in self-reflection as a means of self-

Yak Magazine // October 2016

Photography by Nicolas Roberts

development. I have many people who I value and respect their opinions that assist me, which allows me to grow both personally and professionally.

What advice can you share with others studying at UON, who might be facing some of their own fears or challenges right now, about life after graduation?

Susie: I think it’s important to have support systems in place.

The University has that set-up where you can go and talk to someone about any psychological issues you may be having.

I think it’s very important to be able to share how you feel with someone, professionally. My husband and my peers help me.

Liesl: Jump in, tick that off, and move on. Don’t procrastinate, then you can do another great thing that makes you fearful and you can overcome that as well.

What are your personal mantras to help you feel empowered to overcome your fears?

Liesl: My new personal mantra is born out of the, ‘We’re the Superhumans’ campaign that says, “Yes, I can!”. That’s something I draw on and I feel like I can do anything.

Neima: My personal mantra at work are the people I lead and the people I serve within the counties, communities we work with. They motivate me and allow me to not think about fear or failure.

Sarah: The first is, “What is the worst that could happen?” The second thing is, if I turn the opportunity down, will I be happy supporting someone else to thrive undertaking the opportunity that was offered to me? They go hand in hand to push my fear aside to undertake new opportunities.

Susie: There’s this thing I say to myself: Leap. As in, leap, and it will appear. Sometimes bad things happen, but sometimes, that can be a great thing to propel you into doing something else, or becoming the person you think you can become.

Neima: It can be difficult to think straight when you are going through fears and or challenges, but one thing that I would want to share is to always ask for help from UON, who are always ready to help. Believe in yourself and the work you do, no matter the challenges.

“Fear is necessary to drive change. Fear is necessary to challenge. If we were never to fear, we would never grow.”

Sarah: It’s clear that anything worth doing is never going to be easy, but the rewards at the end can be life changing. Fear is necessary to drive change. Fear is necessary to challenge. If we were never to fear, we would never grow.

Susie: Everything happens for a reason. The important thing is not to worry. Don’t worry and try not to define yourself by your career. It’s only a part of you. As long as you’re following your passion, and you love it, then things will work out.

If you or someone you know needs support, you can direct them to the UON Counselling Service on Callaghan, Ourimbah or Port Macquarie campuses, or contact counselling@newcastle.edu.au.

Designed by Jackie Brock

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Yak Magazine // October 2016

STAYING SAFE ON CAMPUS Sarah James looks into student safety and security on campus.

What was that sound?

Just the wind rustling through the trees? Or is it a possum?

needing to brave the walk to Warabrook train station or Stockland Jesmond.

Wandering around campus at night can make one feel like you’ve just stepped into a horror movie. The towering trees, echoing of wildlife and long walks through the bush at Callaghan is enough to put you off visiting campus once the sun has set.

You can hardly call yourself a uni student if you haven’t pulled off an all-nighter for an assessment. The only thing scarier than the assessment is the seemingly daunting walk from the library to your car. It’s enough to cause a shiver down your spine. If you ever find yourself in this position, don’t be afraid to make use of the after dark security safety escort. This service operates 24/7, and means you will be safely escorted to your car or residence.

This fear is one that tends to feed into itself. So could UON not be safe at night? I, personally, have never had anything happen to me at night, but I still jump when someone unexpectedly comes walking around the corner.

Upon surveying UON students, 136 indicated that they did not feel safe on campus at night. Some students even responded with, “I’ve literally avoided taking classes because they only run at night”. The main reason behind this fear was due to the poor lighting in some sections of campus.

UON can be a scary place. But with the wide range of security measures in place, the risk is significantly reduced. I’m not advising that students should not be wary of their surroundings, but you might be able to breathe a little easier knowing what security services are available to you.

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Manager of the Safety & Services at UON, Jamie Daniluck, spoke about these services.

Most students are aware of the Security Shuttle Bus Service. This operates between Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm, during semester, on campus. What students might not be aware of is the DoubleMap app. The app is free, and provides real time tracking of the security shuttle, which allows students to make more informed decisions on how to travel on and off campus.

Shuttle services not only operate on campus, but also off campus. From 6:30pm to midnight, Monday to Friday, the Security Shuttle Bus Service can take students home, as long as it falls within a 3km radius. This means no more

Designed by Laura Unicomb

To ensure students’ safety, and act as a deterrent to crime, Mr Daniluck confirmed that the University maintains a fully operational CCTV system. These are situated throughout university grounds and buildings. For example, one CCTV cameras monitors the path from the McMullin Building to the Great Hall.

“Upon surveying UON students, 136 indicated that they did not feel safe on campus at night. Some students even responded with ‘I’ve literally avoided taking classes because they only run at night’.”

The Security team are aware of the anxiety many students experience at the prospect of navigating campus after dark. In response to this, the Smart Paths program was established.

“With the assistance of our maintenance team, and using the Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles, we modify paths by upgrading lighting, pressure spraying, and undertaking vegetation changes,” Mr Daniluck said.

If you’re ever feeling unsafe on campus, do not hesitate to call Security on 02 4921 5888 (Callaghan), 02 4348 4222 (Ourimbah), 0412 595 054 (Port Macquarie) or 02 8262 6488 (Sydney).

Security is available 24/7.

Yak Magazine // October 2016

GRADUATION CAP IN SIGHT? FEAR NOT! Bec West tells you how to tackle those post-uni fears.

When the security of uni life is nearing an end, and that graduation cap is becoming all too real, students typically react in one of two ways: burning excitement and joy; somebody get that champagne ready! Or, they feel an overwhelming fear (maybe you could just do another degree, right?).

For many students, it can seem as though university isn’t just a part of their lives, rather it is their life. University becomes routine and familiar, and often a step into the real world, without taking that gigantic leap into the unknown. So when that daunting leap becomes a reality, it’s entirely justifiable to panic.

To overcome this new fear, it is important to understand what it is exactly that we’re so afraid of. Is it getting stuck in the same, monotonous job for the rest of our lives? Not getting a job at all? (Art students, I hear you). Or is it change itself?

Students whose degrees offer them a clear path toward a stable career after uni usually fear the first of the three. When a job is almost guaranteed, and its flexibility or variation unlikely, students often fear feeling stuck in a stagnant career.

If doing the same thing day in and day out terrifies you, it’s important to remember that there’s always room for change.

In an era where new careers and jobs are frequently emerging, there are plenty of opportunities for exciting career changes.

McCrindle Research estimated that a school leaver, as of 2014 would, on average, have five different careers before retirement and 17 different employers. Talk about job mobility!

very well fear not getting a job at all. Imagine completing all of those years at uni for nothing? Luckily, Cathie Shanahan, from UON’s careers services said there is plenty students can do to ensure their employability post-uni.

“Part-time work, volunteering and extra curricula activities will all help with employability,” Shanahan said.

This could include anything from work experience, to joining a student club on campus. It is these sorts of activities that help to develop networks, which Shanahan said “is incredibly important if you bear in mind that 70 per cent of jobs aren’t advertised”.

If the job side of things isn’t what is fazing you, then there is only one diagnosis for you: you fear change (AKA the classic creature of habit).

“Students are nervous about transitioning from uni into the workforce where there will be new people, a new culture and new expectations,” Shanahan said.

She suggests that students research potential employers to gain an understanding of the workplace culture. This may help in deciphering which working environment will best suit you and assist in your transition into the new environment.

If you’re feeling unsure about what to do after graduation, call the Careers and Student Development office for a chat with a careers consultant on 4921 5588 (Callaghan, City and Ourimbah), 1300 628 233 (Port Macquarie), or 8262 6470 (Sydney).

However, if your degree is slightly more fluid in nature, or positions have a reputation for being competitive, you may Designed by Breanna Yates

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Yak Magazine // October 2016

AN OBSESSION WITH HORROR Horror movies have intrigued audiences and formed a culture inside the genre, but why is our obsession with horror so prominent? Chris Daniel talks to horror icon John Jarratt and sets the record straight for Australian horror fans.

Instinctively, there is something about horror movies that appeal to us both psychologically and emotionally. The tension and suspense grabs us from the get-go, whilst the relevance of confronting our own fears sits in the forefront of our minds. Though indulging in the genre makes for a perfect Friday evening, the question is, have we become a desensitised global audience?

Undoubtedly, there are many theories suggesting that the horror genre has significant psychological effects, though it appears there are much larger variables at play when it comes to desensitised audience members.

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On a global scale, it seems almost impossible to divulge the reason behind our obsession with horror; however, pinpointing it in Australia becomes much easier. Perhaps it’s our traumatic experience with weather, or the idea that our own fauna wants to kill us. For Australians, it is easy to make anything seem terrifying. Films including Rogue or The Reef just go to show that no animal in our country is to be trusted, and teaches us a lesson: to steer as far from any body of water as humanly possible.

“Everything from our coat of arms, to our weather, wants to kill us,” Australian actor, John Jarratt, said.

The fear doesn’t just stop at our flora and fauna, yet extends to our ‘friendly’ folk too. Globally renowned film Wolf Creek horrified audiences worldwide, following a story loosely based on the murder of tourists in the outback. The film scored a sequel and an original series, developing not only an intense storyline, but a fear amongst the tourism industry.

“Everything from our coat of arms, to our weather, wants to kill us.”

The sideburn-crazed lunatic of Mick Taylor terrorized the screens of a nation, as rising suspicion formed questionable discussion about the Australian outback.

Jarratt, who managed to undertake the role of Mick Taylor sat down with me and describes his experiences within the role.

CD: For an Australian, playing Australian roles would be instinct by now. How do you slip into the menacing character of Mick Taylor?

JJ: I had to work the character out in the first Wolf Creek, and it began as an impersonation of my father. He wasn’t a serial killer, but instead, was a tough, outback bloke. So, I added psychopath to the mix. From there, I worked out a funny laugh for six months and developed a backstory. That was trialled in Wolf Creek, but you can notice how much it developed in the following film and series. When I get on set, it’s like riding a bike. I know who he is, and I can transform instantly.

CD: When you show up on set, do you have a method for snapping out of John Jarratt and transforming into Mick?

JJ: No, I don’t have a method; I just show up and act. [Mick Taylor voice] And I can turn into Mick Taylor really f*cking quickly, so what’s your next question d*ckhead?

CD: The most intimidating thing about your character is the laugh. How did you manage to develop it?

JJ: I originally wanted it to start out as a chuckle and it ended up as Jaws music. I practiced it for six months, until I perfected it. There was an instance where I did the laugh, and my dog looked utterly terrified, so I stuck with it.

CD: Wolf Creek is loosely based on true events. Did you at any stage find yourself frightened?

Frightened? I’ve never been frightened. My dad is really tough, so I was brought up by his standards, which were hard. If you did anything wrong, my old man would give you a pretty good ‘hiding’. No, the only thing that has ever scared me was my dad.

Jarratt’s role was developed under months of rigorous vocal training, insisting that behind the disturbing facial hair and husky laugh, he too is a normal Australian. The film, which went on to become a global success, has become a renowned and over exaggerated representation of the Australian outback.

So why are we obsessed with horror? Perhaps the suspense or confrontation of our own fear diverts us away from reality, though the real reason might never be known for sure.

Yak Magazine // October 2016

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Designed by Emily Cranidge

Yak Magazine // October 2016

IF DEGREES WERE FEARS For a bit of harmless fun, Bridie O’Shea takes degrees from UON and pairs them up with fears.

This is what happened. (Highly offensive area below...probably).

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BACHELOR OF COMMUNICATION

BACHELOR OF MEDICINE

Fear: Nomophobia – fear of being out of mobile phone contact.

Fear: Thanatophobia – fear of death.

Why: Most young people today are attached to their phones.

Their phones are like another limb and without it, you can feel your world crumbling at the fear that you may be missing out on some sweet banter in the group chat, or unable to click on that relatable post that you and five other friends have been tagged in. Now, add in that Communications students should be keeping an eye on the news. Without a phone, how can they do this? Read a newspaper? Don’t make me laugh.

Why: Doctors spend their lives curing diseases, saving lives, finding new ways to purify blood like using a pig’s liver (wait, no wait, sources are telling me that was just an episode of House M.D. Sorry). So it makes sense that the opposite of saving lives, the one thing that doctors are fighting against, would be their fear: death.

BACHELOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING

Fear: Claustrophobia – fear of being in enclosed spaces.

Fear: Gynophobia – fear of women.

Why: Picking what kind of science to study must be difficult and there are multiple reasons why someone would want to become an environmental scientist. Sure it integrates physical, biological and information sciences to the study of the environment, and the solution of environmental problems, but I think we know the main reason why people choose this path. Trekking about in the wilderness instead of being stuck inside a lab, that’s an aversion to enclosed spaces if ever I’ve heard one.

Why: Before the hordes start coming for me with freshly sharpened pitchforks, a friend of mine studying engineering suggested this. Stemming from the idea that engineers have poor social skills and that the ratio of men/women in the degree is a lot/not many, the fear of women (and, more specifically, speaking to women) is yes, a very stereotypical trait. But notions like this don’t appear out of thin air, right?

You can’t have a fire without a spark.

BACHELOR OF TEACHING Fear: Monophobia – fear of being alone.

Why: Most teaching students I’ve been around are incredibly social people. And they’re going into a profession that requires interaction with children five days a week. Let alone risking being spotted by their students when they’re just trying to buy some food at Coles on the weekend. There’s got to be a reason why they’d put themselves through this kind of agony…

BACHELOR OF LAW Fear: Atychiphobia – abnormal, unwarranted, and persistent fear of failure. The fear of being wrong.

Why: If there’s one profession where being able to argue a point is vital, it’s this one. A lawyer’s goal is to make the judge and jury believe that what they’re saying is correct. They can’t fail; otherwise it’s bye-bye to their client. I mean, after studying 24/7 for five years, you’d hope that all your hard work would pay off, but what if it doesn’t? *Insert crippling self-doubt and “I’m a failure” mantras here*.

Yak Magazine // October 2016

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Yak Magazine // October 2016

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Yak Magazine // October 2016

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Yak Magazine // October 2016

A GUIDE TO FEARS AND PHOBIAS Michaela Wagland explores the many phobias that exist and how they are treated.

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Most of us have that one fear that places us in a state of discomfort. It is then, in our experience, to have an emotional response to something we perceive as a threat to our personal safety. While some may shake these emotions off, those with a phobia may find it difficult.

Beyond Blue describes those who have a specific phobia may merely see an image and it can cause them to imagine or irrationally exaggerate the danger. And although most might be aware that their reactions are significantly out of proportion, they feel their reactions are uncontrollable.

Clinical Psychology Registrar, Paul Williams, is completing his Clinical Psychology PhD at UON. He said there are phobias about everything, from buttons (known as Koumpounophobia), to bananas (known as Bananaphobia).

Social Phobias These phobias are seen as an intense fear of social situations.

“A phobia is an exaggerated and illogical fear of a particular object, class of objects, or situation,” he said. “So, if you have a phobia, and you encounter the source of your fear, you will experience a deep sense of dread or panic.”

Paul said the overwhelming physiological sensations often associated with phobias are called panic attacks. These might include a pounding heart, nausea, dizziness, tightness in the chest, and hot or cold flushes.

So what are the different types of phobias? Psychologists consider phobias in three categories: Specific Phobias Paul said that phobias within this group are focused on a very specific object. These can include claustrophobia (fear of tight spaces), arachnophobia (fear of spiders), Coulrophobia (fear of clowns), or Haemophobia (fear of blood).

“People might fear being judged or humiliated, even in the most ordinary situations, such as having coffee with friends,” Paul said. “Social phobia can also be specific; where people fear a specific situation or few situations.”

Although it might seem normal to feel tense before a situation that places you under scrutiny, those with a social phobia suffer from extreme anxiety when experiencing such circumstances.

Affecting almost seven per cent of the population, social anxiety disorder is the third largest mental health care problem currently in the world.

Agoraphobia Coinciding with panic disorders, agoraphobia is the repeated occurrence of panic attacks, or persistent fears of experiencing one for an entire month.

Yak Magazine // October 2016

“It is assumed that people with agoraphobia are scared of open spaces and, while this may sometimes be true, more correctly, agoraphobia is a fear of being in situations from which escape will be difficult or embarrassing, or where help may not be available for panic attacks,” Paul said.

Being in a crowd, on a train, in a queue, or being alone are situations those with agoraphobia are fearful of.

As a psychologist, the most common phobias Paul encounters are social phobias and agoraphobia, but essentially, people can have a fear of anything.

There are countless phobias within the world and many people experience them without seeking psychological treatment.

However, when fear is significantly disrupting your life, treatment could be necessary.

Essentially, psychological treatment for anxiety embodies three sections: Psycho-education Here, we have the initial step; understanding why psychological reactions (known as fight-or-flight) and symptoms of anxiety occur in response to a phobic stimulus.

“Sometimes, just understanding that the symptoms of anxiety are normal (and sometimes useful), often makes people less fearful of the symptoms themselves,” Paul said. “And if we’re doing our job well, this education will motivate people to be aware of their breathing, and do some regular relaxation and aerobic exercise.”

Exposure to situations that provoke anxiety “Anxiety slowly shrinks the world that people are able to experience, because they begin to avoid more situations to manage their anxiety. In the long term, avoidance makes anxiety worse, and the world keeps shrinking.”

Within therapy, Paul said treatment involves the extreme gradual exposure of the person’s fear. With guidance and support, people are electing to place themselves within situations where they are confronted with their fear, essentially expanding their world. Although the anxiety may still be present, Paul said that it becomes a “tamed beast” and far more manageable.

“Watching someone make the choice to challenge their fear is incredibly rewarding,” Paul said. “At some point, people get to look back and see how far they have come in achieving things they never believed.”

Challenging unhelpful ways of thinking For example, people might think, “I will be trapped in the elevator and not be able to breathe.” Psychologists assist people to think more like, “The chances of getting stuck in there are slim, but even if it happens, I will be able to breathe.”

“Watching someone make the choice to challenge their fear is incredibly rewarding. At some point, people get to look back and see how far they have come in achieving things they never believed.”

These structural techniques intend on identifying the pattern, not just the thought. When the person in need discovers them, they can then consciously alter their patterns to new ones that minimalise anxiety. This can be difficult, however.

“People with phobias often realise their fear is irrational. The last thing you want to do is imply to someone with anxiety that they need to ‘change’ the way they think and they will get better. That shows them you have no idea what they’re going through.”

As we are not psychologists here at Yak, this guide shall leave you with some advice from Paul: to best judge whether or not psychological help will be beneficial. If the relationship you share with your psychologist is not working, his suggestions is to seek another.

“This doesn’t mean your psychologist is bad; it usually means you didn’t ‘click’,” he said. “And that’s fine.”

If you are seeking help and would like to talk to a professional, feel free to make an appointment at UON’s Psychology Clinic on 49215075.

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Yak Magazine // October 2016

LETTERS TO MY FEAR Sarah Webb gathers letters from students who wish to acknowledge, express or accept their fears in life.

We all experience it, we all either choose to accept it as being part of ourselves, or we wish to conquer it. It is part of being human. What I’m talking about is fear; fear itself and the innate desire to express these feelings openly without being judged. So, I’ve gathered some personal letters from a few brave students who wish to openly acknowledge and share their fears with us, in the hopes that others will be inspired to do the same. There is no shame in being afraid.

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Yak Magazine // October 2016

Nick Smit is a Bachelor of Communication student who wishes to one day work within the creative industries.

Dear Stingers and Stagnation, One of my fears is stagnation, that is, the thought that at some point in my twenties I would start doing the same thing, at the same time, at the same place, at the same job for the rest of my entire life. The other is wasps.

Let’s start with the slightly less terrifying ar*ehole cousin of the bee and the (retroactively) amusing story that accompanies it.

I was three years old and wandering around on the veranda in sandals and ended exactly how you’re guessing it did. Either by falling from the ceiling, or being built on the planks to begin with, a band of gits with wings found their nest on the floor. It was consequently trodden on by an unsuspecting toddler with no conception of ‘sting’.

I would then spend my lifetime flinching at anything that vaguely resembled the look or sound of a wasp. While it doesn’t sound ‘healthy’ to say I coped by turning fear into hatred, the side effect of blasting the beginnings of every nest on my house with a pressure hose, is a rather clean house.

Dealing with the looming stagnation is actually a pretty similar game of avoidance, given that I entered one of the most openended degrees on the planet. As a participant in the creative industries, I’ve done writing, scripting, directing, camera operation, editing, acting, voiceover work, and web design, just to name a few. I’d actually consider this ability to wear many ‘hats’ to be one of my greatest strengths, and a testament to the idea that not all fears need to be confronted head on like all the motivational posters tell us.

Sincerely, Nick

Bachelor of Arts student, Angelique Carr, is new to the Yak family and is a passionate writer.

Dear Mediocrity, I am so afraid of you that I had to look for twenty minutes to find the ‘perfect’ playlist before starting this letter. It’s easier to browse YouTube than to face the possibility of writing something mediocre. I know if this letter doesn’t win a Pulitzer, I’ll get kicked off the Yak team, fail my degree, volcanoes will explode and lava will engulf the earth. Okay, maybe it won’t be that bad, but why take the risk?

But then, when I’m two seasons into The X Files and the deadline is less than an hour away, the fear will intensify. If I don’t write this letter then I will be mediocre. I see you looming over my life.

You are a spotlight that shows with blinding clarity every way in

which I am not good enough. This happens every semester and I know how it will pan out; with no other options left, I’ll get to work. Not just on this letter and not just on assignments. I make goals, plan my life and try my hardest to be a better person.

Surprisingly, it works. I exercise more, eat better and take more chances. This fear has taught me how to take a negative and turn it into a positive. That is, until the cycle starts again. I’ll soon become terrified that I won’t accomplish my goals and the only obvious option is to open Netflix, settle back into bed and skip class. Being scared of you, mediocrity, holds me back. But it also drives me. It’s a complicated mix that, strangely, makes me want to hold onto the negative in order to keep the positive.

Yours fearfully, Angelique

Bridget Gunn is one of our new, talented writer’s at Yak and studies a Bachelor of Communication.

Dear Future, If there is one thing in my life that really gives me the ‘heebiejeebies’, it would be you. Mostly, I think I am scared of graduating and having to become a functioning member of society and, *shudder*, an adult.

It didn’t take me long to realise just how good I have it living the uni lifestyle. Previously, I would never have listened to people who told me that my days at uni would be the best of my life, but the message must have wormed its way into my subconscious at some stage.

The last few years, I have been racking up the stamps on my passport, making the absolute most of my Netflix subscription, and spending all my spare time doing what I love. Time is something we have plenty of at uni, and I know life won’t always be this way. One day I am going to have to get a ‘real’ job, pay ‘real’ bills (beyond my Netflix subscription), and make a ‘real’ life for myself. Or even worse, not getting a job. I can tell you, it’s all pretty terrifying.

I don’t think my fears of the future are something I will ever really overcome, but they are something I can deal with, mostly just by accepting what I can’t change. I just try to remember that, even though change is scary, it doesn’t have to be bad.

I hope that, wherever life has taken me by the time I graduate, I am happy. And for now, I will enjoy the student life and resist the urge to ‘accidently’ fail classes, so I don’t have to grow up just yet.

See you in a few, Future, Bridget

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Yak Magazine // October 2016

ESCAPE ROOMS: THE NEW CRAZE There’s a new form of entertainment in town and Nadene Budden has jumped right on the case.

Who, in their right mind, would pay to be locked in a room with the imminent threat of death looming, as their captor leaves them a trail of puzzles to find the key to get out?

The demand, it seems, is quite high – and on the rise. Just so long as the life-or-death situation these people are put in isn’t actually real.

Unexpected Exit is the only place in Newcastle that holds escape rooms. With three to choose from – one of which no one is yet to be beat – myself and a few friends set ourselves up for a challenge and had no idea of what was to come.

“The whole experience is like being dropped into a video game, to the point where you can even ask for up to three cryptic hints to help your group solve the puzzle and make it out alive.”

With 50 minutes flashing on a big screen, anxiety set in, in a few of us. Although not all rooms are like this, we started out handcuffed and blindfolded in the dark, cramped together in a small room filled with keys, locks and puzzles.

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After feeling our way around and screaming for a bit (something the manager, Robin, said was totally normal), we eventually stumbled (literally) across some torches and clues and managed to turn the lights on.

The thrill is all part of the fun and games, but if someone does need to make it out in a hurry, there will always be an emergency exit through some form of button or key located near the door.

Thrill-seekers of many ages can also enjoy the controlled terror of the escape room, as all visitors really need about them is some lateral thinking and the opposite of being afraid of the dark.

Upon entering Unexpected Exit, the hallways were covered in polaroids of the teams who had succeeded and attempted the different rooms available, ranging from families, to work colleagues, to a couple of engineering students.

There are people who have travelled across the country testing out different escape rooms and local first-timers like my own group.

The whole experience is like being dropped into a video game, to the point where you can even ask for up to three cryptic hints to help your group solve the puzzle and make it out alive.

It is certainly a unique way to spend an hour or two, but with plans to organise more events like the treasure hunt across Newcastle in August, escape rooms are sure to be the next big thing.

What a way to pull us out of the virtual reality of our phones!

Participants of escape rooms like Unexpected Exit, although willingly placing themselves within a dangerous narrative, can be placed in real danger if they are actually, completely locked inside the room. (It is also illegal for venues to actually lock people away completely). This real danger can be anything from a burst bladder, to a panic attack, to a fire.

Designed by Breanna Yates

Polaroid Images // Newcastle Escape Rooms

Yak Magazine // October 2016

FEARING FEAR ITSELF Bridie O’Shea looks into Phobophobia: the constant cycle of anxiety where the fear of having the phobia is more frightening than the actual phobia.

“The only thing we need to fear is fear itself,” President Roosevelt once said, in his famous inaugural speech. And for some people, this might actually ring true: the idea of being afraid of an object or situation causes anxiety. This fear of fear itself is known as Phobophobia.

Phobophobia is different from other phobias, because there doesn’t need to be any environmental stimulus, but rather an internal dread similar to psychological symptoms of panic attacks. But it is very self-limiting and self-replicating. A sufferer may even have an existing phobia but fears the development of more. On the other hand, a person may not have any existing phobias, but has a fear of getting one, which can restrict their daily activities.

And it’s this constant cycle of anxiety that means the sufferer avoids the feared phobia in order to avoid the fear of it. Don’t want to be afraid of the dark? They won’t go into a dark room.

Don’t want to be afraid of snakes? They’ll stay away from snakes. When the idea of having a fear is so terrifying, they’ll do anything to stop it from happening.

Associate Director of the Anxiety Disorders Research Centre at the University of California-Los Angeles, Dr Raphael Rose, said it is possible that you may be predisposed to experiencing anxiety.

In an article featured in Nation’s Health, Dr Rose said, “I think there’s a general misperception that most people think that if someone has a fear of a snake or spider that they must have been bit by one sometime, or had a bad experience.”

In fact, you don’t have to encounter any of these situations in person. Observations, reading about them, or seeing other people experience these situations, can be enough to create anxiety and a debilitating dread for someone with Phobophobia.

It is believed that people with existing anxiety disorders have an increased risk of developing Phobophobia, as it originates

from a panic disorder, resulting in sudden, reasoning, or hysterical fear.

However, Dr Thierry Steimer, from the Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit in Geneva University Hospital, said there is a difference between causes, response patterns, time courses, and intensities to justify a separation between anxiety and fear.

In his article The Biology of Fear and Anxiety Related Behaviours, Dr Steimer said, “Anxiety is a generalised response to an unknown threat or internal conflict, whereas fear is focused on known external danger.”

“When the idea of having a fear is so terrifying, they’ll do anything to stop it from happening.”

However, this doesn’t mean that they don’t cross over. Dr Steimer said. “In fact, anxiety may just be a more elaborate form of fear, which provides the individual with an increased capacity to adapt and plan for the future.”

Here, a sufferer may use ‘recycled’ ideas from other dangers to protect themselves from distant or virtual threats, and their mind becomes like a ticking time bomb waiting for the next anxiety inducing event.

But there is hope! The key is to learn to relax when an anxiety attack sets in. This can be difficult to master on your own, so it is advisable to seek professional help if Phobophobia is restricting your day-to-day life.

If you wish to make an appointment with UON’s Counseling Service, contact them on 4921 5801 (Callaghan), 4348 4060 (Ourimbah), 6581 6200 (Port Macquarie), 8262 6413 (Sydney).

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Yak Magazine // October 2016

HORROR REVIEWS: SHOCK ‘TIL YOU DROP Georgia Mueck reviews some horrifying stories on the big screen, the little screen, and the page.

Television: Stranger Things If you haven’t seen Stranger Things, stop what you are doing and go and watch it right now. I’m not kidding. Close this magazine, find a computer, jump on Netflix and watch it. (But take the magazine with you, duh).

Stranger Things is a sci-fi horror web series that pays homage to all the things most loved about the ‘80s. Think Stephen King’s It meets The Goonies meets The Twilight Zone, and all wrapped up in an epic, synth-heavy ‘80s soundtrack.

The series is set in 1983, in the seemingly sleepy town of Hawkins, Indiana. One thing to understand about this show, however, is that nothing is ever as it seems. Stranger Things makes a habit of setting up a cliché or stereotype, and then dismantling it more and more with each episode. This is best seen in Winona Ryder’s character, Joyce Byers, who begins as the frantic and hysterical mother to a missing child stereotype, but who only grows stronger and more compelling as the story develops. An equally notable performance is that of newcomer, Millie Bobby Brown, who plays the mysterious Eleven. Stranger Things boasts an incredibly talented young cast, but Bobby Brown steals the show with her innocent, yet powerful portrayal of a child who just wants to find where she belongs, but can, you know, also kill you with her mind.

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If an addictive storyline, an amazing soundtrack, and a fantastic cast doesn’t tickle your fancy, then hopefully the slow-building suspense and perfectly executed jump-scares will. Stranger Things is scary, but it doesn’t waste itself on typical genre tropes and over-the-top effects. It plays on the fears of children, the fears that we all harbour secretly, deep down; fear of the dark, fear of being lost, and fear of monsters.

With a second season promised to come next year, the only fault I could find with Stranger Things is that it is too long a wait to find out what happens next. This is one series you do not want to miss.

5/5 Film: Army of Darkness Bruce Campbell. Zombies. Medieval Europe. Pathetic special effects. One-liners. Need I say more? This movie is amazing.

Sure, it’s completely historically inaccurate, cheesy as hell, and beyond over-the-top, but that’s what makes it so damn magical. For those of you who have never experienced the wonder that is the Sam Raimi’s original Evil Dead series, let me fill you in. Army of Darkness is the third instalment of the original series. In The Evil Dead, Ash Williams, who’s played

by Bruce Campbell, and his girlfriend Linda (Betsy Baker) go to an isolated cabin in the woods with three of their friends for a spring vacation. As these things tend to go, they find The Book of the Dead, AKA the Naturum Demonto, AKA the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis, and accidentally release a demonic force that starts killing the group of friends one at a time.

Fast-forward two films later, and Ash is the only survivor, sans one hand, but with a chainsaw as a replacement. That’s right, a chainsaw. I told you this film was brilliant. He has been transported to medieval England (probably), where he must search for the lost Necronomicon, battle the forces of darkness, make out with hot feudal babes, and insult the locals. And that’s just in the first half-hour.

Honestly, if you haven’t seen this film, you’re missing out. If you have seen it, you should probably watch it again.

Groovy/5 Short Story: From Beyond Have you ever seen something out of the corner of your eye, or felt as if something was there, but then when you looked, there was nothing? Maybe it just looked like a shadow, a trick of the light. Maybe it looked like something else. Have you ever felt eyes on you when you were certain no one was around? You’ve probably convinced yourself that it’s nothing; that you’re being silly, but you still couldn’t prevent that thrill of terror running through you and making your heart leap rapidly in your chest.

These are the moments that H.P. Lovecraft draws upon in his short story, From Beyond. Written in 1920, the story is based around the idea that this plane of existence is not the only one and that, through science, it is possible to reveal the other alien plane to ourselves. While the story is not particularly frightening by modern standards, it is the concept of the unseen thing that can see you that evokes terror. An unnamed narrator details to the reader how his friend, a Crawford Tillinghast, created a device that would allow a person to perceive an alternate world filled with horrible, terrifying beings. Tillinghast has evidently gone mad from his experiences, and his ramblings add a sinister feel to the story.

The language is formal and somewhat stilted at times, and critics have gone so far as to label it trite and melodramatic.

Diehard Lovecraft fans will undoubtedly defend it, however, it does fail to convey the foreboding and dread that is achieved in filmic adaptions of the story, such as The Banshee Chapter.

2/5

Designed by Jessica McLeod-Yu

Yak Magazine // October 2016

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Yak Magazine // October 2016

MATURE AGE STUDENTS LEAD THE WAY Feeling afraid about returning to study? You’re not alone, writes Sarah James.

Studying at university is a prospect that can be incredibly daunting, even for those that have come straight from completing the HSC. Imagine how it must feel for adult learners who are returning to study later in life. Mature age students somehow balance study with all the other commitments life brings, whether that be children, employment, or financial stress. Yak took a look at what adult learners fear most about study, and the support services that are in place.

Student Transition Officer, Alison Hillier, is within the Learning Development team at the Centre for Teaching and Learning.

From her extensive work with mature age students, she has found that the most common fear that adult learners face is being the ‘odd one out’.

“Mature age students often feel they’re going to be the oldest person in the room, and that they’ll be surrounded by school-leavers, who already have all the academic and social skills to be successful in their studies,” Ms Hillier said.

Bachelor of Commerce student, Anna, returned to study in order to acquire the qualification for the job she had been working in for the last decade. However, she was “a little unsure what to expect, being older in a young environment”.

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Part of Ms Hillier’s role at Learning Development is to overcome this misconception by providing classes to help students learn and study effectively. “A lot of the time, mature age students feel that they have to apologise for not being confident with writing, reading and particularly, technology,” she said. “It can take a while for them to develop confidence in their capacity to

work to the high standards they set for themselves.”

What may come as a shock is that about half of UON students are classified as mature age students. And, according to Ms Hillier, in most circumstances they achieve far better results than they themselves expect.

“Often the social, organisational and resilience skills [possessed by adult learners] are exactly what is needed to be a good student, and translating these into academic situations means mature age students are not just as good, but sometimes even more successful than school leavers!”

“Often the social, organisational and resilience skills [possessed by adult learners] are exactly what is needed to be a good student, and translating these into academic situations means mature age students are not just as good, but sometimes even more successful than school leavers.”

After interviewing some mature age students, one thing they had in common was a fear of not making friends. To overcome this barrier, the Counselling Service hosts an annual Back to Study day during O-Week. Students are given the opportunity to explore their concerns about returning to study and get to know one another.

“Running the session for mature age students returning to study was the best session I have done, as I have met some beautiful people who I now consider close friends, and I couldn’t do this without their support,” Bachelor of Commerce student, Helen, said.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash.com // Alex Wong

Ms Hillier’s number one piece of advice for mature age students is to be present, and spend as much time as possible on campus.

“Students who attend face to face learning activities like lectures, and who take advantage of the physical services such as the library, Learning Development and getting help from counselling, Student Hubs and other support services as needed, feel more part of the university community,” she said.

For any students who still feel lost about undertaking further study, Bachelor of Laws student, Daniel Roworth, said they should just do it. “You can think about it and plan for it, but once you start, it’s all going to change and you can adjust as you go.”

If you need support transitioning into your studies, feel free to call the Learning Development team at the Centre for Teaching and Learning on 4921 8655.

Designed by Jackie Brock

Yak Magazine // October 2016

5 TIPS // HOW TO SURVIVE A ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE Destruction of mankind got you stranded? Chris Daniel has you sorted.

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Photo courtesy of Unsplash // Wil Stewart

The end of days are upon us. The once dead have reanimated.

A virus known as the Dominant Infection Epidemic (DIE) infiltrates human bodies worldwide. Hospitals have been marked dangerous and borders have been closed indefinitely.

You are safe, for now, but your lifespan is shortening by the minute. Keep calm and follow these five tips.

3. Choose your weapon You know that samurai sword replica you bought on eBay after binge watching The Walking Dead for weeks on end? Yeah, don’t use that. Take a trip to your nearest Bunnings Warehouse and select your weapon of choice. Anything from nail guns and chainsaws, to PVC piping, Bunnings has you covered.

1. Make a plan Before you hit the streets littered with the remains of the undead, you need to make a plan of attack. Where do you go?

Who do you save? What do you wear? These are the burning questions you need to answer before you leave.

4. Find a mode of transport Noise attracts zombies, but who cares when you are in an indestructible vehicle capable of ploughing through hordes of the undead? Speed or style does not matter; instead, find something monstrous and deadly.

2. Plan your outfit accordingly Imagine an epic garage door opening to the theme of ‘Eye of the Tiger’. Remember, the destruction of mankind is not the perfect time for a fashion parade. Layer up and get ready for the most terrifying days of your life.

5. Seek refuge Find somewhere notably safe, familiar and that has big heavy doors. The last thing you want is to be betrayed by thin windows. Grab a cold pint, sit back, and wait until all of this blows over.

Designed by Emily Cranidge

Yak Magazine // October 2016

POTIONS AND POULTICES: WITCHCRAFT AND MEDICINE Nick Smit finds that magic and medicine are closer than you might expect.

Depending on when you were born, the image that comes to mind when someone mentions “witch” could either be an old lady with green skin, or Emma Watson. But if there’s anything that the witches of myth and antiquity share with Hermione Granger, it’s a passion for potions, poultices and correct pronunciation.

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In fact, witchcraft extends far beyond mere myth, and finds much of its roots in the religious, cultural, and medicinal backgrounds of the ancient cultures in which the practice occurred.

Perhaps fittingly, the exact origins for the practice of witchcraft and, even the etymology for the term ‘witch’, remain somewhat shrouded in mystery. Associate Professor, Marguerite Johnson, lecturer for ‘Ancient Cultures: The Art of Magic’ at UON, said that “the most common explanation is that the word ‘witch’ comes from the Old English wicca (masculine) and wicce (feminine)”, but that even this has been contested.

Considering the exotic perceptions surrounding the practice, witchcraft was considerably widespread. “Witchcraft has been around for thousands of years in every culture worldwide,” Johnson said.

In many cases, these traditions were not diligently recorded or documented. However, we have rather extensive examples from the Greeks and Romans regarding the practices of witchcraft and other forms of magic. In the Greek and Roman case, “their practices and beliefs overlapped closely with their religious beliefs, with gods and goddesses worshipped as part of religious traditions, also featuring in spells and occult rituals”.

Perhaps most interesting from these examples is the connection between witchcraft and naturalistic medicine.

“Ancient peoples were experts in herbal and botanical knowledge, and the properties of plants and other natural ingredients,” Johnson said.

It was often the intention and process behind the use of natural ingredients that made the distinction. “If a natural mixture was placed over a wound to heal it, it would be designated as a medical procedure, but if the same mixture was placed over a wound to heal it and words were whispered over the injured skin, and perhaps a physical gesture enacted, it would be designated as magic.”

For this reason, the line between magic and medicine in ancient societies is understandably blurred. “Pre-modern peoples accessed whatever they needed to survive, succeed and live as well as possible. So if that meant visiting a physician or a witch, then so be it,” Johnson said.

“Pre-modern peoples accessed whatever they needed to survive, succeed and live as well as possible, so if that meant visiting a physician or a witch, then so be it.”

But it is possible the more successful techniques gleaned from the practice could have eventually found their way into medical knowledge. “Much of the herbal knowledge in the ancient Mediterranean came from illiterate and, sometimes, itinerant peoples who did not leave direct records. So, perhaps, it is their knowledge that was recorded by physicians and passed on.”

However, before works like Harry Potter turned the tables a bit in popular culture, witches haven’t exactly had the best wrap.

Perhaps some of this, Johnson posits, is due to the fact that the practice was rarely state sponsored, usually performed privately, and thus was seen as confusing or confronting from an outside perspective. “It’s the old idea of private rites being secretive because the practitioners involved have something to hide,” Johnson said.

Despite the age of witchcraft being seen as a bygone era, forms of Paganism including Wicca and other kinds of witchcraft are still performed today. “The 2011 census recorded that around 40,000 people identified their religious beliefs as ‘witchcraft’ or ‘pagan.’ While this is only around two per cent of Australia’s population, the numbers are on the rise.”

Yak Magazine // October 2016

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Yak Magazine // October 2016

WATT SPACE // NATIONAL CAMPUS ART PRIZE The National Campus Art Prize comes to Watt Space this month, writes Jack Moran.

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This month, Watt Space plays host to the exhibition of finalists’ entries from the National Campus Art Prize (NCAP).

includes nationally recognised, Newcastle based artists Brett McMahon and Lottie Consalvo.

The NCAP is run by the Tertiary Access Group and allows students from all member universities and TAFEs to compete, even if they don’t have a Fine Arts background.

Mr Gibson said that Watt Space has taken on the competition this year because it aligns well with the goals and values of the gallery.

“One of the key things about this prize is that it is open to all students, not just Fine Art students,” NCAP National Coordinator and Student Central Activities & Events Team Leader, Tone Gibson, said. “Anyone who thinks they have a contribution to make to the art world can put in an entry.”

The competition allows students to compete in three different categories. Entries can be submitted in the two-dimensional work, threedimensional or short film/video categories.

Each category winner receives a $1000 cash prize, while the overall winner receives a further $1000 prize, so there is some serious money on offer.

The competition is judged by an independent team of professional artists which, this year,

Designed by Breanna Yates

“Anyone who thinks they have a contribution to make to the art world can put in an entry.”

“It fits really well with the charter of Watt Space. Watt Space is all about exhibiting student works,” he said. “As well as providing opportunities to students on this campus, we thought that the Art Prize was a way of showing what students are doing nationally.”

Newcastle students have had successes in the competition in the past with UON’s Danielle Minett winning the three-dimensional art category last year, for her piece, Masks.

The exhibition runs from Wednesday, October 12 to Sunday, October 30. So, be sure to drop into Watt Space to see some great student artwork and to perhaps find some inspiration for next year’s competition.

Yak Magazine // October 2016

STUDY SNAPSHOT // OVERCOMING THE FEAR OF ‘OTHERNESS’ Michaela Wagland explores the psychology of connecting with others.

There are people who actively seek to engage with diversity.

They interact with different groups to learn about them, the world and, potentially, themselves.

“Our attention, our memory, our way of processing information seems to pay greater weight to negative things rather than positive things.”

However, there are also those who fear this interaction, and who avoid responding to people who are from different groups to their own. Why is this so? Social Psychologist and Senior Lecturer at UON, Dr Stefania Paolini, shares her thoughts on the matter.

Dr Paolini has an interest in what occurs within the brain of those who push through this fear of ‘otherness’ because, as she said, there a many benefits to be found for intergroup relations when contact occurs. However, there are many who don’t actively seek this contact.

“We know that everyday people experience diversity and it is overwhelmingly positive. So people have a much stronger repertoire of positive experiences with diversity,” she said.

“There is a general preference for people to socialise and spend time with people who are similar to them. We know that engaging with diversity is beneficial for the individual and for society, but most people don’t spontaneously seek out intergroup contact.

“But what happens is that the influence of this positive experience is comparatively slimmer than the influence that isolated, negative experiences with diversity actually has on the perceptions on others, on their behaviour, on their responses to others. There is greater prevalence of positive experiences, but there is greater influence of negative experiences.”

At the core of her current work, her PhD investigates the mental mechanisms that underpin why people have a bias perception of groups to which they don’t belong, and what can be done to eliminate this negative attitude.

“My area of expertise is around intergroup relationships, but in the last few years, my expertise has moved into looking at the impact of negative experiences with people of other groups. The work I’ve done in that area is called negative intergroup contact.”

“We found that people who think they can be themselves become better people and get a greater awareness of who they are themselves through others are actually those who will seek diversity.”

She said that her studies contain evidence which suggests that our body and minds are hardwired to respond more greatly to negative experiences than others. From a survival point of view, we find it beneficial to avoid risk situations that we fear. Dr Paolini said this seems to have an implication on the way various psychological systems work.

Her current study explores those who avoid or fear intergroup relations, in a project funded by the Australian Research Council.

Last year, for the first stage of the project, Dr Paolini worked with a Muslim Honours student, who ran a hijab stall one day per week throughout a four week period, on Callaghan campus. The intention was to enable non-Muslim women to gain knowledge about head coverings and other clothes worn in the Islamic faith.

Dr Paolini said what they are essentially attempting to do is analyse the personalities of those who approach and those who avoid contact, to understand whether there are unique qualities that differentiate them.

Although there are many levels to this study, including environmental, historical and social, self-expansion is a core idea that was found.

“We found this concept of self-expansion to be quite a powerful predictor of whether people will approach diversity or not,” Dr Paolini said.

“We found that people who think they can become better people, and get a greater awareness of who they are through others, are actually those who will seek diversity.”

If you want to know more about Dr Stefania Paolini’s Hijab Study, see her UON Profile at www.newcastle.edu.au/profile/ stefania-paolini Designed by Emily Cranidge

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Yak Magazine // October 2016

A HAUNTED NEWCASTLE Chris Daniel talks to Renata Daniel from Newcastle Ghost Tours and gives insight into Newcastle’s dark and poignant macabre.

Newcastle: Australia’s second oldest city is fuelled by a rich history of early settlement and criminal punishment, leaving what seems to be one of Australia’s oldest and most diverse landscapes. Though hosting astonishing historic sites, it also plays host to the remains of a grim and disturbing past.

Owner of the Newcastle Ghost Tours, Renata Daniel, recalls some hostile experiences whilst operating tours. “When we were still working with the old Police Lock Up on Hunter Street, we had the opportunity to do a few all night lock downs inside,” she said.

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As Newcastle’s astounding criminal history dates back to a time of horrific punishment, there is no doubt something is present during these tours. “We did encounter one rather aggressive spirit around the area at the back of the Lock Up, one particular evening. It was felt by a number of our group members, leading to a few of our participants being quite frightened,” she said.

“We had to stop the proceedings and make a quick departure, calm down and debrief the group, making sure everyone felt safe before they were allowed to leave for home.

“We do encounter many hostile souls in our search for paranormal experiences, but once in a while, we come across someone who just needs to be left well enough alone.”

Each tour is filled with tales of Newcastle’s dark and mysterious history, reimagined through the eyes of those who lived and worked there. There are a number of tours available, and have been complied through investigation and research.

Want more haunted history?

Take a tour at one of these historic sites.

NEWCASTLE AND SURROUNDS Morpeth Considered to be the most haunted town in NSW, the Morpeth Ghost Tour explores everything abnormal. Suicides, murders and folklore scattered around the historic town give insight into what was once, and what still remains. With an experienced and dedicated team of paranormal investigators, the tours operate regularly throughout the year.

Duration: 2hrs Cost: $35

Maitland Gaol Ghost Hunting 101 Operating on the first Friday of each month, Ghost Hunting 101 teaches groups of limited numbers how to use K2 Meters and voice recorders, for the full ghostbusting experience. Through the cells of the gaol, visitors will hear the stories that have been hidden in confinement for decades after its closure. Gaol tours can be booked through the website at www.maitlandgaol.com.au/visit/public-tours.

Duration: 2hrs Cost: $50

SYDNEY AND SURROUNDS Manly Quarantine Station With a range of tours from casual to extreme, the Quarantine Station finds its place amongst Australia’s most haunted sites. The lantern-guided tour has run for 20 years, exploring the site where over 500 people died in the age of disease and influenza.

Duration: 2hrs 30mins Cost: $50 The Rocks Regular reports of strange activity have emerged from a variety of tours around Sydney’s oldest town. The tour explores cellars, cottages and abandoned sites where grim and disturbing occurrences happened.

Duration: 2hrs Cost: $45

CENTRAL COAST Old pubs, haunted hotels and historic buildings take visitors beyond the limits of the living. Central Coast Ghost Tours offer some of the most interesting journeys through the small town, recommended to those astonished by the rich regional history in which the coast has to offer.

PORT MACQUARIE Port By Night Tours offer to intrigue you under the cover of darkness. Led by a descendant of a first fleet convict, the tours uncover the bizarre origins of the town’s folklore and macabre.

Duration: 1hr 40mins Cost: $24

Yak Magazine // October 2016

“We do encounter many hostile souls in our search for paranormal experiences, but once in a while, we come across someone who just needs to be left well enough alone.�

Designed by Laura Unicomb

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Yak Magazine // October 2016

HEALTH // FIGHT, EXPOSE, ADAPT, RECOVER Sally Barker explores the possibility of “curing” our fears once and for all.

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Photo courtesy of Unsplash.com // Alex Wong

Fear is one of those emotions that can be crippling. While it may be a welcome, programmed response in dire situations, irrational fear can seriously impact on one’s quality of life. And while being told to ‘conquer’ your fears seems like a good idea, how exactly can this be achieved?

The fear centre of the brain, the amygdala, learns by association.

Regardless of whether you’re running from a mugger, or a themed get-together with your degree buddies, the amygdala does not differentiate. And when posed with similar situations, the same response will be triggered. Once fear memories are stored, they can be very difficult to overcome. One method that can be used to help is exposure therapy.

Exposure therapy is a type of behavioural therapy used in the treatment of anxiety and phobia disorders. It has been used as a form of treatment since the 1950s and is undertaken by a psychologist in a controlled manner.

As the name suggests, exposure therapy involves repeated exposure to situations and environments that trigger a fear response in a way that aims to eliminate perceived Designed by Jackie Brock

danger. These exposures can be either real or imagined, and progressively minimises the fear by breaking escape patterns that condition the amygdala.

“Exposure therapy involves repeated exposure to situations and environments that trigger a fear response.”

Systematic desensitisation is one method used during exposure therapy. This is to help eliminate fear and involves starting with a situation that is only mildly threatening, gradually building up to the crux of the fear. It is a step-by-step process that gradually overcomes major fears by challenging smaller, associated situations that build in severity.

The key with exposure therapy is to remain exposed to fearful situations until the fear subsides, reassuring yourself that there is no danger via relaxation techniques. Repeatedly doing this allows you to better manage and, potentially, overcome your fear.

Yak Magazine // October 2016

A DAY IN THE LIFE // A DAREDEVIL Sarah James meets a student who pushes her fear of heights to the limit in the sport of parkour.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash // Redd Angelo

Bachelor of Speech Pathology student, Sarah Moran, once had a crippling fear of heights. Now, she has completely obliterated that fear by regularly training in one of the most energetic sports known to man: parkour.

“Parkour is about efficient movement,” Sarah said. “It’s about getting from point A to point B as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

Often described as take-on, military style obstacle courses, efficiency can be achieved through flowing, precision-based movement.

Parkour can look insanely difficult. However, it is more accessible than you might think. The beauty of parkour is that you can do it anywhere. Typically performed in urban environments, in recent years, there has been increasingly more people opening gyms.

For Sarah, part of the appeal is the individual nature of the sport and lack of competition.

“There’s no pressure to perform and your progression is only limited by your imagination. Parkour is exactly what you want it to be and it’s an amazing way to get creative with movement,” she said.

What are even more challenging; however, are the mental barriers to break through. Due to the relatively small size of the Newcastle parkour community, “sometimes practitioners find it hard to stay motivated when there aren’t many people to train with”.

“For those seconds as you jump, it’s like you’re flying!”

“I find it hard when I am the only female at a training session, but it is down to you to keep yourself motivated, which is part of the charm I think,” Sarah said.

By pushing through these barriers, Sarah has enhanced both her physical abilities and mental strength.

“Parkour is helping me overcome my huge fear of heights because I’m learning how to keep myself safe,” she said.

“There’s definitely a thrill when you make a big jump, or try a new movement, and that is what is brilliant about it.”

Part of this can be attributed to the encouragement given by the parkour community. Sarah has found them to be one of the most supportive groups of people she’s had the pleasure of interacting with.

“For those seconds as you jump, it’s like you’re flying!”

“There’s no condescension of feelings of not being good enough. Every person I’ve met is committed to building you up.”

People mistakenly believe that they are too weak or too uncoordinated for parkour, but you can start at any level and work to your ability. It is about putting in enough training to get what you want out of it.

One thing Sarah would like to see happen is more women participating, as there are only a few girls currently training in Newcastle. “There’s definitely a split in the number of women participating in parkour,” she said.

After first getting a taste for the sport, Sarah has been training two to three times per week since.

“There’s amazing communities around the world for girls practicing parkour, so I’d love to encourage more Newcastle girls to join,” she said. “I am the fittest, healthiest and most motivated about committing to my health than I’ve ever been.”

“I train strength and conditioning on Thursday nights to help me with the fitness and strength. Then I train parkour movement up to twice a week to work on my coordination, balance and proficiency of movement,” she said.

Pushing through these strength and coordination barriers is what Sarah considers one of the hardest aspects of parkour.

If you are interested in taking parkour lessons, feel free to reach out to the Newcastle Parkour community via their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/newcastleparkour.

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Yak Magazine // October 2016

Yak Magazine // October 2016

MIC DROP // SLEEPMAKESWAVES Sebastian Wattam chats to the bassist from sleepmakeswaves about the concept of success and the fear of remaining relevant in the arts.

Photo // Georgia Blackie

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In a café in Stanmore, I downed long blacks with Alex Wilson, the bassist for Sydney-based band sleepmakeswaves for a chat about the music industry. Alex is no stranger to Newcastle, attending the This Is Not Art (TiNA) festival. He loves Newcastle so much that his band will soon be performing here.

SW: How would you describe sleepmakeswaves’ sound?

AW: We’re an instrumental rock band and are sometimes really soft and, sometimes, really loud. We don’t have a singer, but we get by pretty well without one. Every band has its little unique thing.

SW: What is your musical background?

AW: I started learning guitar when I was 12 and I struggled for six months before I could really start to play songs I wanted to play; Metallica, Smashing Pumpkins, Rage Against The Machine, Tool, and The Offspring. However, my guitar teaching had taught me that I had a really good sense of rhythm and that I should learn bass. When I started to get good, I kept my acoustic skills and transferred my guitar skills over, which is why I play bass like a frustrated guitarist – very aggressive.

I spent most of high school playing bass in bands that were amidst the time of the hardcore music movement. At University, I met Tom Binetter. We wrote together in late 2006, then met Jonathan “Kid” Khor who joined and started playing guitar.

Tom brought along the drummer from his old band to a jam and, because we were all into these instrumental rock bands, we thought we worked really well together. That was the first line-up of sleepmakeswaves.

SW: As far as market prospects go, have you ever considered the viability of your music in a commercial sense?

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AW: I remember the gig for our first album launch in a little club in Sydney. We packed out this tiny room and met who would become our business manager. I remember thinking at the time that that was the definition of success. As I got older, I was able to break that up into several smaller things; artistic success, where we consider as a band whether or not we are staying true to our inspirations; commercial success, which is the business side of things, then there’s an overall sense of personal success based on the fulfilment I get from being in the band.

SW: What is the music market landscape in Sydney?

AW: It’s pretty small in a lot of ways. We’ve had lots of trouble recently with venues closing down thanks to ‘Casino’ Mike Baird and the lock-out laws. I think that in an artistic sense that this has been good in a way, because we’re essentially experiencing that ‘out-on-a-limb’ feeling as a group, and we have this raw feeling to grind against in our music. Generally, it’s very tough to get to a point where someone can make a living solely on being in a band, and bands work really hard to even have a shot at making that a reality.

SW: Where do you think the music scene in Australia is heading?

AW: People want to be able to create music for a living and will continue to try, even if the money stops. I would like to see our government recognise the role that the arts play in life. sleepmakeswaves has been touring with Cog on their national tour and played at Wests in Newcastle on Friday, 30 September.

To find out where they perform next, visit their facebook page at facebook.com/sleepmakeswaves

Yak Magazine // October 2016

MASS DEBATE // HALLOWEEN IN AUSTRALIA?

Kieran Resevsky // PROS

Bridget Gunn // CONS

Halloween, while historically drawn from old pagan rituals and witchcraft, has now evolved into a fun event that brings along monstrous amounts of joy and communion between its participants, wherever it is. While Halloween is not hugely celebrated in Australia, acceptance toward the event is at an increasing high, with influential retailers such as Coles and Woolworths spending millions each year on costumes, promotions and decorative materials for their targeted younger consumers.

To this day, I am traumatised by my childhood experiences with Halloween.

Fruit and vegetable wholesaler Moraitis sold over 100,000 Halloween pumpkins in 2010, and planting for Jack O’Lantern pumpkins has been on a 10 per cent rise each year since, showing an increased consumption and customer base of the iconic Halloween decorations.

Troy Shepherd, a nine-year-old Merewether resident, said “Halloween is fun because I can make lots of new friends and meet neighbours I don’t get to see when I’m at school. There’s more chocolate than Easter!”

Troy’s mother Lynne said she also enjoys Halloween, as she is able to mingle with the neighbours and have a drink with new friends. “The parents all end up with a glass of wine in their hand while we tail the kids along the street. It’s a great opportunity to meet some of the neighbours and has been the start of many new friendships and dinner parties,” she said.

With suburbs such as Merewether Heights having a Halloween opt-in policy, where residents place a piece of ribbon on their front door if they are in the Halloween spirit, kids don’t run the risk of facing angry residents, which makes Halloween a much safer and fun day out.

Undoubtedly, Halloween has roots in a darker and gloomier time, but with kids using the day for some good fun candy collecting, friend making and social skill practicing, who can stand in their way?

My parents were firm believers that my brother and I shouldn’t harass our neighbours for lollies; using the excuse of a holiday that wasn’t even celebrated in Australia, and so, they would only allow us to ‘trick or treat’ at our own front door.

Today, when the neighbours’ children come knocking on our door, my parents and I hide because we never think to get anything ready for Halloween.

As a young adult, Halloween makes me think of America, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Australians are always consuming American television shows, American food, American fashion, and even the stereotypical American mind-sets. We already have so many holidays that nobody really knows why they exist (sorry for never celebrating your birthday, Queen Elizabeth), so we should let the Americans do the ‘Monster Mash’ solo.

In America, at least it is possible to assume the pretence that Halloween is a cultural celebration. It would be safe to assume that most Australians wouldn’t be aware that the origins of Halloween are Celtic, a celebration by the ancient pagans, to prepare for the winter.

Doesn’t this mean that Australian children (and increasing numbers of adults) are donning costumes for no apparent reason whatsoever, other than to bully neighbours into dishing out free lollies?

At the end of the day, Halloween has never been and never will be an Australian celebration. Why should we copy Americans when you wouldn’t see them lounging around in thongs and boardies, stubby in hand?

Americans spend $6.89 billion on Halloween each year, with over $2.4 billion of this going towards candy alone. Australian supermarkets have reported an increase of 25 to 30% in ‘candy’ sales around Halloween.

But I can tell you, my family will not be a part of those numbers.

Designed by Laura Unicomb

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Yak Magazine // October 2016

WHAT’S ON // OCTOBER MON

TUES

WED

THURS

FRI

SAT

1. Terrigal Beach Markets Wyong/Entrance Farmers Markets

2.

SUN

Sunset Sessions Open Mic, Soldiers Beach Surf Life Saving Club

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast The Entrance Markets The Entrance Markets

3. Labour Day Public Holiday

4. Semester 2 Resumes

5.

Tanner Tuesday: Barry Morgan is Spaced Out, 6.30pm, Godfrey Tanner Bar

Trivia, 4pm

Cheap Eats, 3pm, The Cafe Bar

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7. Story Time Julie Mundy Taylor, 6pm

8. Mt Penang Parkrun 9.

The Entrance Markets

Conversation Club, 12pm

Woytopia Festival, Woy Woy South Public School Last show of Cirque du Soleil, KOOZA, Moore Park

Happy Hour, 4pm6pm

Giggle Games Monday 11. Create 2258, Movies: Deadpool Central Coast (R 18+), 7.30pm, Campus Derkenne Stress Less Courtyard Day, Auchmuty Create 2258, Courtyard Central Coast Giggle Games Campus Adapting to Giggle Games illness and injury

Day, Auchmuty Courtyard

Thirsty Thursday, 3pm

SSAF Music and BBQ

10.

6. Stress Less

12. Create 2258,

Central Coast Campus

13. Create 2258, Central Coast Campus

Giggle Games

14. Create 2258, Central Coast Campus Conversation Club A Nest of Skunks by James Balian and Roger Vickery

Cheap Eats Trivia - 4pm

15. Wyong/Entrance 16. Terrigal Farmers Markets

Mt Penang Parkrun The Entrance Markets

Antique & Vintage Fair Fair by the Sea

Terrigal Antique & Vintage Fair

Glenworth Valley Gourmet Breakfast Ride, 16th - 4th Dec

22. Mt Penang Parkrun

23.

Alex Lloyd Hardys Bay Club

Last day of Art and About Sydney

17.

Stress Less Week: SSAF Music and BBQ Giggle Games

18. SSAF Music and BBQ

19.

20.

Giggle Games

Stress Less Day, Auchmuty Courtyard

Absober

Oktoberfest, Music & BBQ

Nutrition and diet stall Free Silverhall Property Investment seminar Gosford

24. Monday Movies: The Truman Show (PG), 7.30pm, Derkenne Courtyard

25.

Giggle Games, 11:30am, The Health Bar

Tanner Tuesday: Lecture & Trivia, 6pm, Godfrey CC School Visits Tanner Bar Day & CA Workshop SSAF Music & BBQ Giggle Games

31.

Halloween

26. Giggle Games 11:30am Cheap Eats, 3pm

Mental Health Day

21.

Andre Rieu, Newcastle Entertainment Centre

Thirsty Thursday

Tough Mudder

Delta Goodrem, Newcastle Entertainment Centre

Avoca Beachside Markets

Newcastle UniverThe Jezabels, 7.30pm, sity Drama Society Bar on the Hill ‘Space Dragon Shakespeare’s ‘A Mid- Adventure’, 2pm summer Night’s Dream’ - 8pm, Newcastle Conservatorium of Music

Happy Hour, 4pm6pm

27.

The Entrance Markets

Fernleigh 15, Fernleigh Track Newcastle

28.

29.

Yourimbah Awards Dinner

The Entrance Markets

Halloween Party

Mt Penang Parkrun

Trivia with El Triviachi

Cattle Droving at Glenworth valley

Conversation Club

The Dreamers Market

30.

Yak Magazine // October 2016

WHAT’S ON // NOVEMBER MON

TUES

WED

4. Australian

SSAF BBQ and Music

Conversation Club

Semester 2 Concludes

Terrigal Beach Markets

Thirsty Thursday

Melbourne Cup

2.

14.

8.

Music Week

Happy Hour, 4pm6pm

Tanner Tuesday: Open Mic Night, 6pm, Godfrey Tanner Bar

2 End of Year Examinations commence

FRI

3. Australian Music Week

1.

7. Semester

THURS

9.

10.

11.

SAT 5.

The Entrance Markets

6. Live at the Foreshore, Wharf Road

Mt Penang Parkrun

Mt Penang Parkrun

This That Festival, Foreshore Reserve Newcastle

The Entrance Markets

12. The Entrance Markets

13. Mt Penang Parkrun

Mt Penang Parkrun

15.

16.

17.

18.

19. The Entrance Markets Mt Penang Parkrun

21.

22.

23. The End Party, Bar on the Hill

24. Trivia with El Triviachi, Hardys Bay Club

25. Semester 2 End of Year Examinations conclude

29.

Sunset Sessions Open Mic

The Entrance Markets

20.

Mt Penang Parkrun The Entrance Markets

26.

27.

The Entrance Markets

The Entrance Markets

Singapore Graduation

Mt Penang Parkrun

28.

SUN

Mt Penang Parkrun

Avoca Beachside Markets Cambridge Markets

30.

Designed by Jackie Brock

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Photograph taken at Maitland Gaol