Notes from the Editors Libby Robbins Bevis
Priyanka Sharma
Being an editor for Damsel in 2020 was a pure joy during a year that was far from joyful. As the year progressed the theme of Rebirth, which was conceptualised back in January, started to feel more and more relevant and necessary. How do we rebuild and grow and heal after a year as tumultuous as 2020 has been so far? For me, the answer was simple, surround myself with incredible, creative and passionate women and non-binary people. Being a part of Damsel and the UWA Women’s Department has provided me that opportunity. So, thank you to everybody that has been involved in Damsel 2020, it’s been an absolute pleasure. From the writers’ nights, both via Zoom and in person, to getting to read and be involved in the contributor’s creative pursuits, and simply getting to meet and speak to so many amazing people. I’ve learnt a great deal from everyone involved, about editing, about writing, about myself and about the community. Thanks to Pauline who allowed Priyanka and myself to make Damsel into our own, and supported and trusted us throughout this entire year. A special thanks to Priyanka, who is incredibly hardworking, passionate, and far more creative and talented than I am, and has been an absolute joy to work with this year. And, of course, thanks to everyone who has contributed to Damsel (either online or in print), this magazine wouldn’t exist without you. So, go out and write, create, grow and rebuild together!
2020 has been an absolute rollercoaster. We started the year with such high hopes; it was the beginning of a new decade, we were going to recreate the roaring twenties of last century - life was going to be a party. To say the least, things did not turn out the way we’d hoped. And yet, we showed such resilience. We made the best of whatever circumstances we found ourselves in. We did online assessments, worked from home, helped our neighbours, practiced good hygiene for public health, followed rules and did our part to stop the spread of the virus. If anything, 2020 has proven that every single person is capable of doing great things, and adapting to the most challenging of circumstances. We have made it through more than half of this year, and our social consciousness has been awoken. People have become more considerate of their neighbours and co-workers, and empathetic to the situations of others. In a roundabout way, selfisolation has allowed us to think deeply about our world, and ourselves, and given us a chance to slow down and come up with solutions to our issues as individuals, as well as larger scale institutionalised problems. I think this year has brought out some of the best qualities in humanity, and I am grateful to have witnessed them. Working on this magazine has been one of the best experiences of my life. Getting to know the 2020 Women’s Department committee, and Women’s Officer Pauline has been such a pleasure. It brings me so much happiness to know these strong, independent, passionate women are fighting to make the world a better place, both in our little UWA bubble, as well as out in the real world. Working with my co-editor Libby has been absolutely fantastic - her dry humour and witty personality have kept me tethered when I get distracted or go off on tangents, and her hardworking nature and intellect have helped shape my wild thoughts and jotted down ideas into an actual tangible magazine. Thanks to Libby, and all our dedicated, inspiring contributors, women’s and non-binary people’s voices have found their home for another year, in Damsel 2020.
Mushrooms - Priyanka Sharma
5
