2017 EDITION
POSTSCRIPT
ARTWORK BY SAMITHA MADDUMA PATABENDIGE
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Fluorescent cells Nicotiana benthamiana fluorescing cells By Martyna Broda
Falling in love with science In the research of basic plant biology very often a question of where a protein of interest is located is asked. Rather quick and easy assay is fusion with green fluorescent protein (gfp) and collocalization with another marker (like rfp, red fluorescent protein) targeted to a specific cell compartment. In order to do that researchers use leaves of tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) and transient transformation as a quick look. Cells of tobacco often have an irregular shape, in this case little hearts under fluorescent/ confocal microscope were visualised.
Picture taken at the Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation & Analysis, The University of Western Australia.
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CONTENTS 4
psa presitorial
24 forbidden love
Owen Myles
5
immediate past president report
24 lies i tell myself every day
Peter Derbyshire
6
from the desk of the council of australian postgraduate associations
Peter Derbyshire
7
memory: myth and modernity
Limina Journal
8
having a baby [or two[ during your hdr, what i wish i had known.
Liesel Gentelli
11 why science communication?
Bronwyn Ayre
13 the f word.
Amy Budrikis
Tina Varghese
Dennis Power
25 when the sky fell: legacies of the 1967 referendum
Karl Sagrabb
28 what’s cooking? dad’s chili
Elizabeth Velliky
29 what’s cooking? office mug cake
Laura Skates
30 what’s cooking? tina’s terrific tabouleh
Tina Varghese
31 what’s cooking? the best spaghetti ever
Laura Collier
14 whose idea was this?!
32 what’s cooking? raw carrot cake
Alina Naveed
18 a year in terrible jokes
Owen Myles
20 a day in the life of a podiatry student
Kate West
22 plant movies everyone should see
Elizabeth Velliky
33 what’s cooking? best ever one bowl banana muffins
Gracia Verde Selva
32 what’s cooking? veggies/ vegan mousaka
Beth Velliky
Laura Skates
DISCLAIMER: THE VIEWS PRESENTED IN POSTSCRIPT ARE THOSE OF THE INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTORS AND NOT THE UWA POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
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psa presitorial PSA President Owen Myles If you tried to describe 2017 in one word, boring certainly wouldn’t be the one chosen. At all levels 2017 has been uncertain and changing, be it international, national, state or at university level. This year has seen the insanity of the Trump Presidency, the failure of 2 attempts to bring in a compulsory plebiscite on marriage equality, a successful attempt to bring in a voluntary postal survey, a change of state government, the installation of a new ViceChancellor, the introduction of the new Research Training Program scheme, the introduction of oral examinations in PhD’s, the Human Rights Commission’s report into sexual assault and harassment on campuses across Australia and much, much more. Here at the PSA we started 2017 with a revamped newsletter now branded as The Post, complete with a terrible joke of the week, weekly tips and postgrad profiles. I hope you have all enjoyed the new look and found it easier to find the information that you want. We then moved on to opening our new postgrad space, the Postgrad Common Room. This marked the first time since 2013 that we’ve had a dedicated and permanent space for postgraduate students (since 2013 we’ve used temporary spaces). While small, this space has been well used since it opened, showing the demand postgraduate students have for dedicated postgrad spaces. As always, the PSA has run heaps of events throughout this year, including our ever popular monthly Connect. This year Connect has been bigger than ever, with one hosting more than 180 people, and averaging above the highest turnout from last year! We also introduced Postgrad Café, a lunchtime chance to take a break from work and chill out with other postgrads. This was hugely popular, with us running out of food on each occasion.
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We also ran special events including tours of UWA, stargazing at Perth Observatory, a wine and cheese night, a Scitech family evening and much more. The weather was our biggest adversary this year, forcing us to move 2 of our events, but in most cases we have sold out our events. This just goes to show that we need to keep expanding and making more social activities available to postgrads. But this Presitorial can’t just be about what we’ve done this year. It’s important for me to talk about the people behind these achievements. Firstly, I’d like to thank my executive team, Manpreet, Nancy, Shane and Peter. Out of these, I would particularly like to thank Peter who always stepped up whenever we needed help and was a huge contributor to our team. I’d also like to thank my officers, Faculty reps and general committee members who were the absolute backbone of the PSA team. In particular I’d like to thank Julian, who stepped into the difficult role of events officer mid-way through the year and immediately took up the challenge, Victoria and Laura who always stepped up to help with anything that was needed, and of course Alina, who helped make this edition of Postscript possible. There is one person in this who hasn’t been mentioned, and really should. Peter Derbyshire was last year’s president and is currently the President of the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations. Peter was an invaluable source of information, advice and support throughout this year and deserves a special mention for that. While my time as PSA President is coming to a close, I am sure that we have left the PSA in a strong state that will allow the 2018 team to come in and achieve some real progress for postgrads at UWA.
immediate past president report Peter Derbyshire I know you have all missed my rambling newsletters so watch out because it’s coming ‘round again! Usually, in the report, it is the duty of the Immediate Past President to praise the current President and all the amazing work that has been done. I was hoping to do something completely different but to be honest it is really frekkin hard to not feel a big dose of pride when seeing what the PSA has become under Owen’s leadership. Having been involved in the PSA for 5 years (in one capacity or another) I can safely say I have seen the good (PSA connect and the 2013 family day picnic), the bad (scholarship cuts and renewal) and the ugly (me after 8-hour guild council meetings). I know many of you are probably reading this and thinking “what the heck 5 years just finish already” or at least my supervisor says that regularly but if I had to go back and do it all again I would not change a thing. During the past 5-years I have seen the PSA become more and more prominent among the postgraduates, within university, the guild and even in state politics. I have seen it change to be more inclusive to international students and coursework students and become stronger when working on university policy. These achievements don’t just speak to the amazing hard work of PSA committees past and present but to all of the postgraduates that come to events, show support and provide feedback (although I admit if I had of received one more complaint about parking bad things would have happened).
But what comes next for the PSA? Well that is not really for me to say, now is it? It is for you, the upcoming postgrads to get involved and join in. I do know there are challenges on the horizon though for the postgrads of UWA. The way research training happens will change, coursework Masters students will become the norm, and the push for a 3-year PhD doesn’t look to be going away anytime soon. Like many of the presidents before me I will no doubt keep watching with great interest. If there is one thing I have learned during my half-decade sentence for my past sins, there will always be a PSA and it will always be filled with people willing to protect postgrads. But I would be remiss if I did not say thank you to the past committees I have been involved with. Also, the past presidents Aisling Blackmore, Gemma Bothe, David Raithel and Vikraman Selvaraja who have all taught me much in their own special ways and of course the current president Owen Myles who has done an exceptional job this year.
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From the desk of the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations Peter Derbyshire So, in the words of one of the PSA committee members this year “what’s CAPA?”. Well CAPA is the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations, the peak national representative body for postgraduate students in Australia. I have had the distinct experience of being the 2017 National President so why not take this chance to keep you all updated with the national landscape for postgraduate students as well as what CAPA has been up to. Unfortunately, one cannot talk about Higher Education policy anymore without money being a focus. Whether it is the issue of income support for students or funding for teaching and research there is no doubt that Higher Education funding is becoming a problem. The question of funding is not an easy one to address at the moment and most efforts are being directed to just keeping the status quo. But CAPA has made progress in the past by pushing for flexibility in research student stipends and will continue to push for more money for postgraduates especially income support for those not on scholarship. But as important as funding is that has not been the big issues for 2017. 2017’s phrase that was used so often it lost all meaning was “transferable skills training” and no that does not mean being able to trade in your skill points because you want to change class in an RPG. Actually is it? Now that I think about it that is a pretty good analogy but I digress. Nationally there has been a project looking into how research students can be more employable outside of academia which CAPA has played
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a part in. What this means is that research training will now include training in transferable skills such as networking and communication skills etc. Some universities are already doing this but before long they all will. The sexual assault and sexual harassment survey came out in August, it was challenging, it was confronting but it was necessary. One of the big findings was the incidences of sexual assault and harassment from staff towards postgraduate students, a finding that all universities should be concerned about. Not only has CAPA produced a set of recommendations to address this issue (proud to say Vice-Chancellor Dawn Freshwater was one of the many VCs to offer support for these recommendations) but we are now in the process of working with Universities Australia and the National Tertiary Education Union on a project that addresses the power imbalance between students and supervisors that allow this behaviour to occur. Last but certainly not least for the first time in anyone’s memory CAPA is happy to announce that we are coming to Perth for our Annual Council Meeting, even better we are coming to The University of Western Australia! So, for a week postgraduate representative from around the country will descend on campus to be amazed at how much better everything is here in the west. They will even be here for the December connect so make sure you are there to show them how a networking event is really done.
Memory: Myth and Modernity Limina Journal Memories are perhaps our most personal connection to the past, but if our memories are filtered by age, emotion, individual narratives, and collective biases, how do we understand them in the present and where do they take us in the future? The twelfth annual Limina conference (held 27-28th July at Saint Catherine’s College) brought together an international forum for a two-day discussion around the theme of ‘Memory: Myth and Modernity’, through the interdisciplinary lenses of forensic anthropology, philosophy, literature, creative writing, archaeology, fine art, ancient history, cultural studies, linguistics, law, and medicine. Highlights of the conference included the keynote presentation from Professor Susan Broomhall (Centre of Excellence for the History of Emotions), who spoke about Catherine de Medici to illustrate how emotions are used to control our historical memory of powerful women; and the public lecture given by journalist Estelle Blackburn (supported by the Institute of Advanced Studies) whose investigations into Perth residents’ memories led to the exoneration of two innocent men in the case of the infamous Eric Cooke murders. Attendees also spoke warmly of the opportunity to meet with and learn from academics with such a diverse range of disciplinary backgrounds, and Limina is proud to have provided a space for so many postgraduates to present their exciting new research. To keep in the loop about our 2018 conference and to stay in touch with Limina journal, go to www.limina.arts. uwa.edu.au, or find us on Facebook and Twitter @Liminajournal (from top to bottom) Final group photo at the end of another successful conference A few of the local, national, and international attendees (including Brisbane, India, and Egypt) on day 1 Professor Susan Broomhall delivering the keynote address Dr Brenda McGivern giving the opening remarks
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Having said that, if you (like me) find yourself expecting during your Masters or PhD, congratulations! You’re going to be fine! I have had two babies two years apart, one exactly in the middle of my PhD candidature, and one just after I submitted my thesis.
Liesel Gentelli
Having a baby (or two) during your HDR, what I wish I had known. 8 | POSTSCRIPT
First of all, the fact is; there’s no perfect time to have a baby. There are plenty of not-so-good times to have a baby, and just as many slightly-better times, but it all boils down to the simple fact that babies are hard work, and no matter what you do, it will be tough.
The difficulties you’re going to face are mostly external, in the form of other people’s opinions, well-meaning advice and decision making on your behalf. When I told my supervisors I was pregnant, they were mostly fine with it. Often the follow-up question was “What does your partner do?” A little investigation into seeing how well I might be able to cope, my financial situation, and the odds of me coming back to study. Some well-meaning (read; tone-deaf) advice I received included “You’ll hold your baby in your arms for the first time, look into their big eyes, and you won’t want to come back to research. It’s a proven scientific fact that women’s brains change when they have children.” When I assured them I would be back; “Yes you say that now, but when it comes to it you just won’t be able to leave your baby at day-care.”
Some tips for being pregnant on campus: Sometimes the undergrads are zoned out on the bus and won’t offer you a seat. Ask them. Don’t tough it out. Get lumbar support for your desk chair, and a footstool. Go to the Guild’s free yoga and pilates during semester. Get familiar with the GPs at the Medical Centre. Since you exist in the grey area between student and staff, people don’t always know what to do when you start looking pregnant around the office. I had a lot of “Oh! You’re pregnant! Are you... happy..?” as if I were a teen mum looking at dropping out of high school. When I left to go on maternity leave I sort of hoped to get maybe a big novelty card, or a hamper of baby things, or a morning tea, because I’d seen cards go around for staff, and cake in the kitchen for birthdays etc. But as I’m not staff and only ever drifted in and out of the day-today office environment, I think the line was drawn in front of me, and I quietly went on maternity leave without much fuss. Most PhD scholarships include maternity leave, which is fantastic. But only for one baby. Too bad if you have another one. You may be surprised to learn that the government’s Paid Parental Leave scheme will not apply to you.
Unsurprisingly, the Department of Human Services, the same people who say you’re ineligible for Youth Allowance or Austudy since your research looks too much like a job and not enough like study, now turn around and tell you you’re ineligible for Paid Parental Leave because your research isn’t enough like a job and is too much like study. To meet the eligibility criteria for PPL, you have to have worked 330 hours over 10 of the last 13 months, with no more than a 6 week break. So if you wanted to count your tutoring, you better have worked over summer. I have heard of some dodgy ways to get around this, including getting your sympathetic supervisor to sign off that they “employ” you to research, but I would advise against it. You don’t want an automated debt letter coming at you in a few years. Instead, my partner applied, as he met all the criteria and would be caring for the baby except for feeds. He was rejected, as he wasn’t the “primary caregiver”. When we asked why he wasn’t, we found out that the unofficial definition of “primary caregiver” is birth mother. I asked if Centrelink ever considered anyone but the birth mother to be the primary caregiver. Yes, they said, if, for example, the birth mother is dead or in prison. Great. Long story short, we didn’t get PPL and I had to go back to uni 12 weeks after giving birth. It was really hard. For a few months I came early in the morning or
late in the afternoon and set up my baby on the floor, dangling toys off the edge of my desk for her to swipe at. Then I enrolled her at Unicare. If you walk around the southern half of the campus, you will know Unicare as the daycare with the big black pig. His name is Macca, he has his own facebook. Choosing a daycare is (apparently) a pretty big deal for parents. You’re invited to go on tours of the facilities and have meetings with educators, you go to lots of different centres and ask lots of important questions and compare and contrast. We toured Unicare when I was pregnant because we live close to campus. It seemed nice. We put ourselves on the waiting list. Hey presto, we go to Unicare now. Talking to other parents, it turns out Unicare is one of the best daycare centres in the state, that it is very sought after, and that you win mummydaddy brownie points for choosing it. Similarly, I frequently get little nods of approval from other mums and dads for living in Nedlands, because I am within range of three of the five best primary schools in the state, and some excellent private and public high schools. The reality is of course that I just don’t want to deal with parking at UWA, so I live walking distance. Being a research student with small children is a lot easier than I anticipated. By and large people
are falling over themselves to make life as easy as possible for me and my baby. I went to a week-long writing retreat on campus and was supported to stroll in and out several times a day for up to an hour at a time to go and feed my baby. I have breastfed in meetings and if anybody was uncomfortable, I didn’t notice. Occasionally I feel a little uncomfortable and out of place feeding a baby amongst the undergrads in the campus cafes at lunch hour, but I imagine that’s mostly on me being envious of their youth, freedom, and intact pelvic floors. It is difficult when there are networking opportunities in the evening, you have to learn to pick and choose what will benefit you most, and organise weeks in advance. In the end, I had my two babies and still finished in just about four years, with a lot of help from a lot of people. There is no better motivation to get something done than a growing baby threatening to burst out of you at any moment. A research degree is by its very nature a fairly solitary experience, and that can be especially difficult when you feel like the only person who has ever had to navigate a pram through the bookshop during the first week of semester. You’re not alone! To paraphrase Dumbledore; “Help will always be given at UWA to those who ask for it.”
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ARTWORK BY ANNA NORMANN
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Why Science Communication? Bronwyn Ayre This year I had the incredible opportunity to take part in the Australian final of FameLabthe world’s largest science communication competition, where you’re tasked to explain your research in three minutes with no powerpoint or jargon. It’s not just a competition, but also a chance to take part in two days of intensive scicomm training. One session we did, with the amazing science communicator @DrEmilyGrossman (you might know her from Duck Quacks Don’t Echo), was all about the importance of science communication. So, in no particular order, I wanted to share some of the reasons that really resonated with me: 1. We do amazing, fascinating things! Some of my fellow FameLab contestants were working towards finding blood tests for dementia, understanding melanoma’s, MS and stem cells, saving our echidna’s and more. I have friends studying carnivorous plants, working on large scale restoration projects, looking at how amazing plants and animals survive in urban landscapes. And that’s just people I know! Imagine all the cool things we’re doing here in Australia, and around the world. The things you don’t hear about if you don’t go looking for them.
2. We have an obligation to: I’m currently on a Government supported scholarship, I work with Government scientists, in national parks, and my project is partially funded by a Government grant awarded to my supervisors (as well as funds from UWA, and the incredible Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment Fund). The “taxpayer” is paying for what I do, so they have the right to hear about it. Publishing a paper isn’t enough- for starters, it’s probably behind a pay wall. Even if it’s not, because of the technical jargon we use, it might not be clear. 3. Scientific literacy: If we want people to better understand science- what a p value of 0.05 actually means, why “peer review” matters, and sort out truth from fiction, then we need to expose them to science. Not just in textbooks at school, but every single day in an engaging way. We need to expose them to the stories behind science, how it works, how long it takes, and why sometimes it fails. 4. Trust: It might sound strange, but scientists ask for a lot of faith. We ask for people to trust in us, and the scientific process. I think it’s a lot easier to trust in science, and scientists, when you can put a face to the lab coat. When you hear their personal stories, and why the research matters to them.
5. We deserve credit, and should be proud of what we do. We work hard, long hours, and there often isn’t time to take a break and celebrate a result. You focus on the next grant, the next project, the next job. We deserve to take a moment to say- I’ve done this cool thing, found this amazing thing, isn’t this great?! We shouldn’t be embarrassed to want to tell the world about it. 6. Inspiring the next generation of scientists. This might sound corny, but I think it’s really important- I still remember meeting Professor Fiona Wood (of spray on skin fame) when I was 12. It was amazing to talk to a woman doing cutting edge science right here in Western Australia. If we want to inspire the next generation of scientists- from a diverse range of backgrounds- then we need a diverse range of scientists to be visible. We need to tell amazing stories, show how much fun science is, what a difference you can make. 7. It’s actually really fun! Terrifying at times, nerve-racking but really fun. Originally published online at https://alatusanthos.wordpress. com/
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ARTWORK BY ANNA NORMANN
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The F Word. Amy Budrikis There are two types of academics in this world: those who have experienced failure, and those who you don’t quite trust. So let’s talk about failure. Academia is the birthplace of failure. Nobody failed before academia, and now you can fail all the time and in so many different ways! Your results can be insignificant. Someone can ask a really mean “not so much a question as a comment” that you can’t respond to at a conference. Reviewer two hates you and your family. Your non-academic friends are doing way better than you at everything. Sometimes, you will fail because you didn’t care enough. Sometimes, you will fail because you weren’t yet good enough. Welcome to the club! When you fail, someone might tell you that “everything happens for a reason”. This probably won’t make you feel better. “Everything happens for a reason” sounds like “I don’t want you to tell me about your failure”. It also sounds like, “If you’re still bothered by your failure, you just haven’t looked hard enough for a reason, so it’s your own fault you feel bad.” I would like to offer this: when you fail, you should feel bad. And disappointed, and angry, and upset. You wanted a thing and you didn’t get it. That’s disappointing. Also? You can probably think of three other
people right now who did get the thing you wanted. That hurts worse.
person; and also, remember this the next time you have the chance to offer someone feedback.
Listen. Failure is never going to feel better than success. It just isn’t. But – you can do a lot with failure. Hear me out.
Not everything happens for a reason, but sometimes you can force a reason onto it. Like if your funding application gets rejected then you can get more practice writing funding applications. Fun! Or you can get a casual job to supplement your funding, where you get a range of different work experience, and you meet some cool new people. Maybe you will meet the love of your life at your new job at the cafe! Just kidding, this will not happen. But it’s always good to meet more people, and it’s always good to have experience making coffee.
When you fail, you learn about how much you wanted something. You learn that you are a person who wants things. (You may even learn that what you thought you wanted, wasn’t what you wanted at all.) This is your humanity. This is fuel for the fire. You need fuel. Back up the truck. When you fail you will start to notice that when someone else tells you about their own failures, you understand them in a way you didn’t before. You know what they’re talking about now. You may even say, “me too”. Congratulations - you have become an empathetic human being. Who said academia was soul-destroying? Failure in the form of negative criticism is painful. Sometimes this is because the criticism is not accurate, and the person is just working out their own issues on you. (That’s their problem, not yours, by the way.) Sometimes the criticism is accurate and it’s even more painful, because it reminds you that you are not where you want to be, and the person criticising you is where you want to be. Ouch. While they’re congratulating themselves for successfully exposing your deepest flaws, bootleg their criticism to make yourself a better
Allowing yourself to feel disappointment, rejection, and failure increases your capacity to feel satisfaction, belonging, and joy. It turns out you can’t numb negative feelings without also numbing positive feelings. You need the valleys to get the mountains. Imagine how good you’re going to feel when you succeed after all this failure. Hey. You should be failing more. Research professor Brené Brown once said that if you are brave enough often enough, you will fail. Failure is just a feature of the physical universe, probably; it’s the medal of honor you get for trying. Well done, academic. You tried. (You failed.) You were brave. Go and be brave again. And then come find us at the club. We have gin.
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Whose idea was this?! Alina Naveed
Wed 20th July, 2016 Perth, Australia
equipped and downright confused.
Please please please, may the universe please do me this solace, and spontaneously form a humongous hole where I am standing, which should engulf me.
And there are so many moments scattered throughout the duration of your course, and as clichéd as it sounds, those moments form one incredibly long, endless-seeming rollercoaster, where one moment you feel like a powerful scientist, a force to be reckoned with, to downright pile of dog shit sitting in the corner of a dark room. Except there may come a point, when you don’t feel like you are in a dark room, but out in the open, a spotlight consistently following your stupid ass 24/7. Visible for everyone to see, including your supervisor. There is always a fear you will end being looked down upon, disapproval washing over you. And again, you feel there is nothing you can do to shake off that feeling.
That’s how I felt when I heard the ever so complicated question the Head of School asked me. Imposter syndrome is definitely something every student feels, no matter what stage of study you are at, no matter what you are studying. You could be doing Science, or Arts or Law, or Business, anything, and there will always be a voice in your head telling you that you are not good enough to be doing what you are doing. However, it’s how loud or quiet you let that voice become that really makes or breaks you. One such moment could be the Head of your school asking you a difficult question in front of the whole school. It could be when your supervisor demands you to reach a near-impossible deadline. Its moments like these when, even though you want to convince yourself that you are smart enough, capable enough, to be doing a PhD, that life decides to absolutely shit on your confidence. The inner hope you possess gets skewed (and/ or screwed), and you feel there is nothing you can do to make yourself not feel completely useless, ill-
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And then, there are the other moments. Moments where, as clichéd as it may sound, you feel like a powerful scientist, a force to be reckoned with. Your Western Blot worked, or your supervisor is (seeming) super impressed with the fluorescent cell images you show them. You help a more junior student solve a seemingly straight forward trouble shooting problem, but for them, you have saved them from 2 months of agonising misery. It could be a phenomenally huge hard-tomiss moment of redemption. Like I got mine.
13th June 2017, Crete Greece Here I am, wearing my best clothes, wearing my most flattering (and expensive) shade of (M.A.C) lipstick, waiting with bated breath. Will they applaud won’t they? A split second later, people beginning to get their hands out from underneath their chins, and…. Applause. Lots of people in the front, whom I kept looking from time to time during my speech, watching their frowned faces as I spoke and spoke, had a few smiles on their faces. As if they were impressed. BY ME. All these genius, award winning, wellesteemed scientists sitting in the front row listening to me talk as I give one of the biggest presentation of my (student) life. Smiling at me. Looking impressed. Nodding. Big sigh of relief. Questions? One, from one of the organisers of this conference. Simple question. Not too complicated. And it’s these small, scattered moments, that build up, slowly and steadily, until one day you realise... I CAN. YOU CAN. As difficult as it sounds, the best way to feel like you are achieving something, is to go out there and ACHIEVE. You can at least try. You attempt to achieve, you may fail the first time. Second time. Third time. On and on it goes, until one day, BOOM. You have achieved a result, it could be the most miniscule thing to you, but
to your supervisors, it could be a big step in the right direction. And that’s why they are there. They are not there to be impressed, or to give you approval. Your supervisors are there to help you, to point you in the right direction as more senior, more experienced professionals, always ready to lend a helping hand, always ready to point you in the right direction. They are NOT there to pass judgement. And honestly, no one else is either. Imposter syndrome is predominantly about how you THINK others think of you. But that shouldn’t matter. What matters is what YOU think of you. But if you decide to stick through, you need to learn to realise that there simply is no room for Imposter Syndrome if you wish to do research, be happy doing it, and feel like a content scientist/student. Success, I won’t comment on, everyone has their own definition of success within research. But happiness? Truly feeling that the work you are doing brings you joy, it brings you enlightenment, that is very important, and its striving to achieve that will eventually make or break you as a scientist. And that, my friends, is what life as a postgrad is all about; enlightenment.
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ARTWORK BY SAMITHA MADDUMA PATABENDIGE
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a year in terrible jokes Owen Myles Q. What does a frog do if his car breaks down?
Q. Why do vampires believe everything you tell them?
A. He gets it toad away
A. Because they’re suckers
Q. What did the grape say when the elephant stepped on it?
Q. What do you call a computer that sings?
A. Nothing, it just let out a little wine. Q. What did Snow White say when her photos didn’t arrive on time? A. “One day my prints will come!” Q. Did you hear about the two satellites that got married? A. The wedding wasn’t much, but the reception was incredible Q. What do you call a belt made out of watches? A. A waist of time Q. Why did the Scarecrow get promoted? A. Because it was outstanding in its field Q. Why should you not write with a dull pencil? A. Because it’s pointless! Q. What are a ninja’s favourite type of shoes? A. Sneakers Q. Why can’t zoo animals take tests? A. There are too many cheetahs
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A. Adell Q. Where did the King keep his armies? A. Up his sleevies! Q. What do you call a big Irish spider? A. A Paddy long legs. Q. Which program do Jedi use to open PDF files? A. Adobe Wan Kenobi Q. What did one hat say to the other? A. “You stay here, I’ll go on a head” Q. Two windmills are on a date and one asks the other, “So what kind of music do you like?” A. The other replies, “I’m a big metal fan” Q. What do you give a sick bird? A. Tweetment Q. What do you call a fake noodle? A. An w! Q. What do sprinters eat before a race? A. Nothing, they fast!
Q. What did the big chimney say to the little chimney?
Q. Why do Ghosts love elevators?
A. You’re too young to be smoking
A. Because they lift their spirits!
Q. What type of music to mummies listen to?
Q. Did you hear about the two guys who stole a calendar?
A. Wrap Music
A. They each got 6 months
Q. What kind of pictures do turtles take?
Q. Why can’t bicycles stand on their own?
A. Shellfies!
A. Because they are two tired!
Q. Why did Mozart kill all his chickens?
Q. What do you call a big pile of kittens?
A. Because when he asked them who the best composer was, they all said “Bach bach bach!”
A. A meowtain
Q. What did the red light say to the green light?
A. It got mugged
A. Don’t look, I’m changing! Q. What did the overly excited gardener do when spring finally arrived? A. He wet his plants! Q. How do snails fight? A. They slug it out! Q. What did sushi A say to sushi B? A. Wassa B!
Q. Why did the coffee file a police report?
Q. How does a penguin build its house? A. Igloos it together Q. Why was the computer so tired when it got home? A. Because it had a hard drive! Q. Did you hear about the red ship and blue ship that collided in the Caribbean? A. Apparently the survivors are marooned
Q. Why did the picture go to jail?
Q. What do you get when you cross a vampire with a snowman?
A. Because it was framed!
A. Frostbite!
Q. Why does Piglet smell? A. Because he plays with Pooh!
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A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A PODIATRY STUDENT Kate West CONTENT WARNING: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE “Mummy, I’m proud of you”. Such an unremarkable sentence. No complex noun groups, no imperative verbs, simple present tense; yet, to me at least, it was intensely profound. Why? Simply because it was delivered in such a matter-of-fact manner from the mouth of my threeyear-old daughter one evening as I was strapping her in to her car seat after another long day at UniCare. Fatigued to a degree that would make even the hardiest of workers crawl crying to a Fair Work representative protesting their unreasonable working conditions, I stood there bemused. How, and more curiously, why, was my child proud of me? When did this happen? What did I do to deserve such accolades from a child who still hasn’t mastered putting her shoes on the right feet yet? I felt I was nothing special, just another young mum scrambling, floundering, fighting to make a better life for her and her child. I was nothing to be proud of, nothing worthy of a second thought. I cannot say that I have ever heard of any individual returning to post graduate study having taken their decision to do so lightly. Typically, it is a decision that they have laboured over for a not unsubstantial period of time. In some cases, like mine, this time has equated to years. Typically, in the individuals known as post-graduate students there is an existing desire to obtain a post-graduate qualification at some point it their existence. Let’s face it: we’re a competitive bunch of overachievers who are competing against our fiercest rivals: our own selves. Postgraduate study is just about the timing of such an endeavour. When will be “the right time”? Is now “the right time”? How about next year? Or the year after that? Maybe after I’ve built that dream house by the beach, run a marathon, visited the moon or nailed the perfect Mariahkareoke song? Or in my case, after I had kids. Let me answer that question for you: there will never be a right time. There is no such thing as “the right time” in life;
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there is just time. Now is the time. Time is a privilege, not a right. My daughter was about 10 days old and the writing was well and truly on the wall for her and I. Our future looked bleak. Having no idea what to do or where to turn, she and I had returned home from hospital to my parents’ house where we proceeded to live for several months. Reality hit me like a hard right hook. My father said one of the most profound things to me during this time. “Once you have children, you stop living for yourself and start living for them.” Now, at age 26, staring down the barrel at desperately trying to escape an abusive marriage and facing the uncertain future as a single mum, I had to step up to the plate. My and my daughter’s futures were at stake. My family offered assistance to get me back to university, to do a Masters, to get requalified, to set in motion a better future for us. Undertaking my Masters would be representative of so much more than merely getting a post-graduate qualification. It was representative of freedom, an exit strategy, the escape route. This was how I was going to make sure my daughter and I were okay, that we were set up, that I could provide for her and I in the future. Fast forward three years and here I am, studying for my Masters. The time in between having my daughter and arriving back on the familiar and supportive doorstep of UWA could be described as heinous at best. Domestic violence usually is. Like the common cold virus, it does not discriminate who it affects. I am educated. I come from a nice, polite, welltravelled, well-respected, loving, caring, well-educated family. During the darkest periods of those years in between trying to escape my marriage, living in fear of becoming the next statistic, I clung to the dream of returning to UWA to study once again. My parents, who I had been isolated away from, would secretly contact me. They would secretly visit me when he
was away, bringing me food, ensuring my daughter and I had enough to survive, noticing the bruises, watching me cry, listening to me recount the horrors and controls that plagued her and my existence. They would plead with me to get back to university. We all knew UWA was integral to my escape plan. Secretly, in mid-2016 I applied to be admitted in to my Masters’ program. When I received my letter of admission I was ecstatic. The great escape was now on. Methodically I began preparing, secretly taking supplies of clothing, toys, personal items of value and important documents to my parents’ house. The stockpile was mounting. Eventually, one night in October (Halloween, just to be auspicious), I called him whilst he was out of town. I told him I was leaving. Now I had to make a run for it. For freedom: UWA here I come. Suddenly, I felt I had a future again and truly was pursuing that, which for so many years, was the impossible. My daughter and I moved back up to Perth and began building a new life. We were starting from scratch and could not have been more hopeful, optimistic and downright excited. She commenced at day care and I at university. It wasn’t until towards the end of the first semester this year that I began to cautiously open up about my experience. The catalyst for this was having to apply for an extension on an assignment due to having to attend a Violence Restraining Order hearing whereby I would need to prepare an extensive affidavit documenting exactly why I needed protecting. In opening up to one amazing Associate Professor, whose humanity and humour showed me that I had nothing to feel ashamed about (domestic violence victims often feel intense shame) I cautiously opened up in a tutorial about being a single mother. The response was not what I was expecting. Expecting to be made an absolute pariah, shunned for the remainder of my time at university, I was absolutely floored to receive an email later on from my
tutor with offers of help and support. It honestly made me smile the biggest beaming smile and cry at the same time. I’m sure people at the BJM library level 2 computer pods must have thought I was an absolute head case. I made some new friends and one night over burgers at Varsity we got talking about why we were back at university, all having career changes and undertaking our Masters. One of my new friends opened up about escaping an abusive relationship, fleeing interstate and starting over at UWA, building a new life for herself. I was shocked. Here was this pretty, fashionable, intelligent, friendly, funny individual. How on earth was she too a victim of domestic violence? Then it hit me. Domestic violence is a secretive, dark, lurking crime that occurs behind closed doors. Rarely do you see it in broad daylight, in public view. No, that’s not its style. It’s desperate to go unnoticed; that how it could reach epidemic proportions in our society. It’s like drugs; it will seep in to every socioeconomic class, every suburb, every street. But you will never notice it because victims are fearful. Consequently, they become racked with feelings of shame and guilt and keep their mouths shut. That is, until they escape. My friend and I, we are the lucky ones. We survived. We did not become statistics. Not only did we survive, we escaped. Now, with the untold support of our parents, families, friends and UWA, we are carving out a new direction, an inspired future. When we stand up there receiving our awards at the end of our Master’s program, we will have achieved so much more than a qualification. We will have achieved pursuing the impossible. We will have achieved our dreams. We will now have new lives. We will now be in a position to help others. Perhaps, at this point, I will understand why my daughter is so proud of me. Since birth she has watched the story unfold. Except this tragic story will have a triumphant ending.
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Plant Movies Everyone Should See Laura Skates As a botany postgrad who studies carnivorous plants, I’m often asked whether my work is dangerous. Given the chance, would a carnivorous plant eat me and everybody I love? The answer, of course, is no. Carnivorous plants are not man-eating monsters! They’re actually pretty beautiful – Charles Darwin even called them “the most wonderful plants in the world”! I blame this man-eating monster myth on plant-related horror and sci-fi. But I also love plant-related horror and sci-fi! And I’d encourage you to check some of them out. Here’s a few of my favourites:
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS This is probably one of the most famous plant horror stories. Seymour is a meek kinda guy, totally in love with his co-worker Audrey, who has a terrible boyfriend. Seymour buys an unusual plant from a nearby market, which turns out to be some sort of weird alien carnivorous plant that came down to earth during a solar eclipse. And it’s hungry for blood. “Feed me Seymour!” Little Shop of Horrors started out as an offBroadway show, so I’d highly recommend it if you can catch a stage adaptation (always cool to see how they actually make Audrey II). Otherwise, you have to see the 1986 film version directed by Frank Oz, with an incredible cast including Rick Moranis (that guy from Ghostbusters, Spaceballs, and Honey I Shrunk the Kids) as Seymour, Ellen Greene as Audrey, Steve Martin as her terrible boyfriend, and Levi Stubbs as the voice of Audrey II. There’s also guest appearances from Jim Belushi, John Candy, Christopher Guest, and Bill Murray! Oh and did I mention it’s a musical? I’m going to have “Mean Green Mother from Outer Space” stuck in my head for the rest of the day now…
DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS Another classic. This story follows Bill Masen, a biologist who specialises in the mysterious triffids – plants that have a nasty sting, a taste for human flesh, and produce a highly valuable oil! So, they’re cultivated globally, despite the obvious dangers. Typical humans, amirite?
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So anyways, Bill gets a triffid-related injury and ends up in hospital with bandages over his eyes. Lucky for him, because he then misses the unexpected green meteor shower which causes anyone who witnesses it to go completely blind! Chaos ensues – triffids take advantage of the situation (by which I mean, they kill lots of people), whilst Bill and other survivors try to establish colonies and figure out a solution! So, if you’re keen on dystopian futures with strange astronomical phenomena and even stranger plants, then this is the story for you! I’d recommend starting out with the 1951 book by John Wyndham, but otherwise there’s plenty of other adaptations to choose from – including a 1962 feature film, three radio dramas, and two TV series!
ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES Okay now this one is the first in my list which doesn’t specifically involve carnivorous plants. Instead, the man-eating monsters are actually tomatoes. This seems fitting to me, because tomatoes come from the nightshade family (Solanaceae) which includes many highly toxic species. But, of course, unless you’re allergic to them, tomatoes are not deadly. I imagine most of us eat tomatoes every week! So you’d think that these killer tomatoes would have a pretty ingenious form of attack, right? Wrong. They roll at people and I guess that’s it? The opening scene is literally a tomato rising out of a garbage disposal unit and edging closer to a horrified woman. We don’t see how she’s killed, but the police discover that the blood she’s covered in is actually tomato juice. This is one of those “so bad it’s good” kinda movies – and it parodies a lot of the classics, like Steven Spielberg’s Jaws and Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds. To be honest, it’s a bit of a B movie (budget movie, not Bee Movie) so probably best enjoyed as a drinking game. Drink every time a tomato makes a weird noise! So the moral of the story is, be wary of strange plants and trust your botanist friends for good film recommendations. If you’ve seen all of the above, there are so many more plant-related sci-fi and horror fiction that you could check out – The Happening (directed by M. Night Shyamalan), The Ruins (be careful of the super gory R-rated version), and Please Don’t Eat My Mother (a lewd parody of Little Shop of Horrors)! And if you get the chance, go on a bush walk and check out some of the many beautiful native carnivorous plants we have here in Western Australia!
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FORBIDDEN LOVE Tina Varghese Forbidden love is like waltzing in the moonlight On Van Gogh’s Parisian terrace. But the break of dawn And swollen knees Leave a pain that never soothes. Nevertheless that one waltz Fills your soul like a brook that kissed the ocean An you willingly succumb to the pain Dare it last a lifetime.
lies i tell myself every day Dennis Power Today is going to be a good day I will work hard and try not to play My reaction is going to succeed I’m working at a reasonable speed.
I’ll do that task in a minute Plenty of time, no rush to begin it I’ll remember that, don’t write it down It’s ok if my product’s brown.
My schedule will have time for that It’ll be simple, I deserve a nap I will write that GRS report That was easier than I thought.
Tonight I will go for a run I’m going to leave before the sun Tonight I’ll go to bed on time My project is progressing fine.
That is surely a normal trend Monday… that’s nearly the weekend I’ll follow procedure to the letter Tomorrow things will be better
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When the Sky Fell: Legacies of the 1967 Referendum Karl Sagrabb
Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, 2 July- 20 August 2017 Presented in partnership with Aboriginal Arts Centre Hub WA Marking the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Federal Referendum, a catalyst point in the consideration of Aboriginal affairs in Australia, the exhibition at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, When the Sky Fell: Legacies of the 1967 Referendum, is beautiful and poignant, and an all too prescient evocation of the struggle of Aboriginal Australians for recognition and acceptance in a colonial society. The 1967 Referendum enacted changes to the Federal constitution, removing discriminatory clauses, yet the effect of such change was particularly limited, often being viewed as grand failure toward Aboriginal Australians. Including works from artists such as Sharyn Egan, Mervyn Street, John Prince Siddon, Rammey Ramsey, and Kathy Ramsey. When the Sky Fell: Legacies of the 1967 Referendum explores responses to consequences (or non-consequences) of the referendum, 50 years on, from an extraordinary and diverse group of Australians working in both traditional and contemporary mediums and imagery. In light of the broad, sweeping, changes effected by the Referendum, changes that failed to consider the needs and rights of individual and wildly differing communities, Sharyn Egan’s work, The Nullians (2017), makes a commentary upon the diversity of Indigenous Australians. Each exquisitely sculpted piece in The Nullians is intrinsically different from any other, bearing unique inscriptions, each becoming its own entity apart from the mass of objects. Mervyn Street’s works focuses heavily upon the droving days prior to the referendum, days that were hardy influenced by the changes put in place, and are a vivid evocation of place and country. Prior to the Referendum, many Aborginal Australians worked on cattle stations and were paid not in wages but in rations of flour, sugar, and tea. Following the Referendum, many indigenous Australian’s lost their jobs due to the reluctance of white Australians to pay them a wage, let alone a living one. Street conveys the little or negative effect the Referendum had, despite being hailed as a turning point for change. The Referendum, as such, may then be viewed as catalyst, not due to its inherent effects but because of the spark it ignited amongst individuals in a politically active climate. Prince Siddon’s work, like
Street’s and Egan’s, challenges the existing preconceptions of Indigenous Australian art. Siddon creates marvellously vivid and evocative etchings of life in Australia before the arrival of Europeans and makes a commentary upon the nature of the theoretical and flawed nature of the notion of the “Australian People” as a response of the Referendum. Siddon’s work reflects the distinctly negative impact that the arrival of Europeans had upon the welfare of Aboriginal Australians, an impact manifest in the Referendum, despite all its good intentions. Rammey Ramsey’s art speaks of connection to place, and brims with palpable vibrancy. Working in ochre and acrylic pigment on linen, Ramsey’s pieces form a figurative and literal connection to the land, whereby the ochre both represents and is a part of the landscape it serves to paint. Kathy Ramsey’s work is, like Siddons’s and Ramsey’s, a beautiful evocation of place. Painting her ancestral country, incorporating old Ngarranggarni stories and new tales of station life, Kathy Ramsey combines country and history in canvases created with strong compositional narrative and use of negative space. The opening celebration, celebrating both the opening of the exhibition and the launch of NAIDOC week, was beautiful and moving, as befits the exhibition of this calibre. A wonderful welcome to country, performed by Nyoongar Elder Rev. Sealin Garlett, was followed by a moving dance performance from Moorditj Moort, and talks from the curator, Clothilde Bullen, and artists Mervyn Street, John Prince Siddon, and Charmaine Green. Mervyn Street was creating a live sand-animation throughout proceedings that was projected on to the big screen in the Perth Cultural Centre to lend an air of grandeur and fascination for all to the occasion. A blight on proceedings came in the choice by the Hon. Paul Papalia MLA, Minister for Tourism; Corrective Services; Defence Issues; Gascoyne; Goldfields-Esperance, to refer to the inherent value of Aboriginal Australian culture as purely for tourism benefits and suggesting that what is occurring in Aboriginal culture now is “fixing the problem.” Whatever that means. What Paul actually managed to suggest was just how much the Australian federal and state governments don’t care about Indigenous affairs, or even cultural affairs, marking the need for such a poignant, prescient, and beautiful exhibition.
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ARTWORK BY ANNA NORMANN
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WHAT’S COOKING? QUICK, EASY AND/OR CHEAP RECIPES FOR POSTGRADS, BY POSTGRADS
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Dad’s Chili Elizabeth Velliky INGREDIENTS: 250g bacon, slices, not cubes 1 kg ground beef 4 garlic cloves, chopped 1 large onion, diced 1 green bell pepper, diced 2 tbs tomato paste 28 oz can whole tomatoes 1/4 cup chili powder (Mexican chili, not spicy chili) 2 tsps salt 2 tsps paprika 2 tsps dried oregano 1 tsp sugar 1 tsp worchester sauce 1/2 tsp red cayenne pepper 1 tbs cumin 2 tbs unsweetened cocoa powder 1 1/2 cups beef or chicken broth, more if needed 15oz can black beans 15oz can kidney beans Sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, sliced green onions for topping (optional)
METHOD Fry the bacon until crisp, around 6-8 min, set aside. Use around 1tbs of bacon grease (keep the rest in a cup) to fry the beef until browned. Drain the beef and transfer to a plate or bowl. Use another 1tbs of bacon grease to fry onion, then bell pepper until soft. Add garlic and salt and cook around 2 min, then add spices, sugar, and tomato paste. Cook until tomato paste is a deep red, around 6 mins (add some water if the paste starts to stick). Stir in beef and any juices from the plate, and add cocoa powder, canned tomatoes,
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Worchester sauce, beef brother, and beans. Stir and bring to a simmer over low heat. Stir occasionally and allow to thicken, usually takes around 1 hr and 30 mins. With chili, the longer you cook, the better, so this also works if you make it earlier in the day and let it simmer for several hours. To serve, scoop into bowls and season with salt and/or hot sauce. Crumble bacon on top with cheese, add sour cream and green onions. Enjoy!
Office Mug Cake Laura Skates
You may have come across some super fancy cake in a mug recipes, involving all sorts of ingredients like butter, eggs, hopes and dreams. I’m here to let you know that you can enjoy a cake in a mug even with just a few cheap ingredients, stashed away in your desk drawer or borrowed from the nearest tea room. Here are the steps: Get a mug. Add 3 tbsp self-raising flour, 2 tbsp hot chocolate powder, 1 tsp sugar, and a glug of milk (enough to turn it into a cake batter consistency). If you’re feeling it, you can add a bit of Nutella to the mix for extra deliciousness. Exact quantities may vary depending on your microwave and how you like your cake, but I hope that as a postgrad you’ll be happy to experiment until you find the ratio that suits you best. Mix well, then microwave for about 2 minutes, and it should puff up into a cute little soufflé. It might not be the best cake ever, but this cheap & simple mug dessert has seen me through many long nights of thesis writing. Enjoy!
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Tina’s Terrific Tabbouleh Tina Varghese Being someone who is almost always running late for classes, I prefer making food which is quick, easy and wholesome at the same time. Tabbouleh (ta-boo-leh) is an incredibly delicious and healthy middleeastern salad, which takes about 10 minutes to whip up for a hearty breakfast, lunch or dinner.
INGREDIENTS: 3/4 cup cooked cracked bulgur wheat 2 big tomatoes finely chopped 1 large onion finely chopped 1 large cucumber finely chopped 2 bunches of Flat leaf parsley 1/2 bunch mint (optional) 4-5 tablespoons of Olive Oil 1/4 cup Lemon Juice Salt - to taste/optional
METHOD: Literally, just mix everything (Yup, it’s that easy). Congratulations, you can cook now.
TIPS -For breakfast, dress it with a fried egg or over a fluffy omelette. -Wrap it in a pita bread for lunch. -Have it with grilled chicken or salmon for dinner. -Or just enjoy it by itself!
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The BEST spaghetti ever Laura Collier INGREDIENTS 1 packet of preferred pasta (I’m partial to the Coles brand spirals at $1.00 a packet) 500g mince 1 tub of spaghetti sauce (anything with red wine and garlic in tastes fab, but it’s all to preference/price) 1 large zucchini, diced 1 large carrot, diced 1 onion, diced 1 clove of garlic, finely diced (enough to fill a tablespoon) Handful of button mushrooms, finely chopped 1 tin of crushed tomatoes Coriander/basil/rosemary (any herb really), finely chopped Salt and pepper, to taste 1 tsp olive oil Grated cheese, if desired **All up, the total cost is usually around $15 if all the ingredients are bought cheaply (obviously will be more if you buy better quality), and will feed three people a large serving each or will serve one person for three to four days**
METHOD - Heat oil in a large frying pan, and add onion and garlic and cook until brown - Add mince and cook until brown - Add zucchini, carrot and mushrooms and stir until vegetables are softened - Pour in spaghetti sauce and tinned tomatoes. Half fill empty spaghetti tub/ tinned tomato can and mix well with remainder of sauce and add to mince mixture. - Add herbs and salt and pepper to taste
- Leave to simmer on low heat, occasionally adding a tiny bit of water if required. Make sure veges are soft before serving. - Boil water in separate pot and add pasta, cook for five minutes or until soft - Once boiled, drain pasta. - Mix pasta and bolognaise sauce, add grated cheese and voila! The best pasta you will ever eat! Total prep is around 15 mins, total cooking time around 15 mins.
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raw carrot cake Elizabeth Velliky INGREDIENTS 2 cups oat flour (made by processing rolled oats in blender, or just buy the flour) 2 cups carrot pulp from juiced carrots 1/4 tsp sea salt 2 cups dates, finely chopped or ground 1 cup nuts (I used walnuts, just seems natural for carrot cake) finely chopped or ground 2 tsp vanilla 3 TBS honey
(for frosting) 1 cup cashews (soaked 1 hr) 1/4 cup lemon juice 1/4 cup coconut oil 2 TBS honey/date syrup (or more, depending on how sweet you want it) 1/4 tsp sea salt 1/4 tsp vanilla
METHOD If your frosting is too runny at first, put it in the fridge for a bit to let it harden. Mix all ingredients together well. Knead and form into 2 rolls for slicing or layers for a layer cake. Enjoy!
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Best ever one bowl banana muffins Gracia Verde Selva I found this recipe a few years ago and haven’t stopped making it since. These are the tastiest, lightest, yummiest banana muffins and even my husband, who hates bananas, will gobble these. Even better is only one bowl to wash up! Don’t be afraid to use overripe bananas, they’re tastier!
INGREDIENTS: 3 brown bananas (1 cup mashed) 2 eggs 1 cup sugar (you can halve this if you prefer) 1 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional) 1/2 cup coconut oil (any edible oil will do) 1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
METHOD Preheat oven to 180ºC. Mash bananas in a big bowl then mix through the eggs and sugar. Add in all the dry ingredients and stir until combined. Finally add the vegetable oil and vanilla and mix. Spoon in to 12 muffin liners and bake for 1520 minutes. You can also make one big cake
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Veggie/Vegan Mousaka Beth Velliky INGREDIENTS Bechamel Sauce: 2 tablespoons margarine 2 tablespoons flour 1 cup soy milk Filling: 4 medium potatoes 1 large eggplant 2 tomatoes, chopped 10 mushrooms, sliced 1 zucchini, chopped 1 red bell pepper, chopped 1 large onion, chopped 1 package Yves (or other) veggie ground round (simulated ground beef) Seasoning: olive oil, salt, pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg and bay leaf
METHOD Peel and cut the potatoes to 1/4 thick slices. Cut the top and bottom off the eggplant and cut into 1/2 thick slices. Place potatoes and eggplant onto broiling pan, and drizzle with olive oil, as well as a shake of salt and pepper (you may have to divide into two batches, due to space). broil for about 10 mins on each side, or until you notice that the potatoes are golden and the eggplant is steaming and slightly mushy. turn off oven but leave potatoes and eggplant inside to keep them warm. In a skillet, fry the onion and ground round in some margarine until onions are translucent. In a large bowl, combine chopped tomatoes, mushrooms, zucchini and red pepper with onion and ground round mixture. Season with salt, pepper, and plenty of cinnamon and nutmeg. To make bechamel sauce, melt the margarine in a saucepan over low heat, and mix in flour but don’t allow it to brown. once you have a mushy mixture, SLOWLY add some soy milk. Mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon, then add more soy milk etc... until mixture is thick and creamy. Place a bay leaf in mixture as it thickens to add some flavour. Now to combine everything: In a large ovenproof dish, layer the bottom with some eggplant slices, top with filling mix, then potato slices, then filling and so forth. Finally, pour the bechamel sauce over the whole thing. Bake covered for 30 mins at 375o F (190o C) and then uncovered for another 20 mins (to evaporate some of the juices). Serve with plain soy yogurt and soy feta, and some nice crusty vegan bread. Tastes even better the next day! Serves: 6 Preparation time: 1.5 hours
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ARTWORK BY SAMITHA MADDUMA PATABENDIGE
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