FREE Edition 14 | February - March 2017 Your Student Mag
In This Edition Sonder Post Travel Blues Believe You Can I Belong to the City Laneway
Edition 14 | February 2017 - March 2017 Head Editor Caitlin Tait Editor Rubina Chitrakar Communications Editor Bridget Kerry Graphic Designer Rachael Sharman Contributors Sebastian Moore, Chloe Coates, Beth Merry, Elise Prestia, Carli Stasinopoulos, Taylor Summers, Gabriel Olaer, Caitlyn Burgess, Scott Gibson, Isabella Whittaker, Rufia Valiff, Taylor Summers, Frank D. French, Annabel Bowles, Sarah Sturm, Brooke Petrie, Tim Wood, Danny Jarratt, Simon Z.Telford, Madison Griffiths, Josie Withers, John Goodridge, Leigh Rowan, Emma Cuppleditch, Angela Xu, Jed Woolford, Adam Sikorski, Jack Kotek, Mia Wang, Ben Sarett, Aruna M.Raya Cover Image Tim Wood Printer Newstyle Design & Production Consultants Georgie Smith & Aaron Harvey The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily representative of the views of USASA or the editors. contact@versemag.com.au www.versemag.com.au
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Original Cover Image by Tim Wood
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Verse Magazine is brought to you by Edition 14 2017
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Editor’s Letter Head Editor | Caitlin Tait
Hello my dear pals! I hope you’re well, reading, and raring for another fantastic year. We sure are. And we have a brand new team to present. Drum roll please… Our editor is Rubina, communications editor is Bridget, and graphic designer is Rachael. These women are kind, funny, warm, empowering, and ridiculously talented in all things they do. You’ll soon love them as much as I do. And I’m Caitlin, your head editor. In this first edition you’ll find pieces on studying abroad, reflections of volunteering and the gratitude that comes with it, as well as art and poetry. In August of 2012, Laurie Penney wrote in The Independent, ‘Education isn’t a gun held to your head: it’s a weapon in your hands.’ Take this glorious gift we have, and run with it. Relish in it. Take all that you can from your teachers – you’ll find they give you more life lessons than you’d expect. Read everything. Consume it all. Question it all. You’ll meet some of your best friends during this time. Celebrate big and small milestones. Fall in love with what you’re doing each day. Until next time –
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Contents Edition 14 | February 2017 - March 2017
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02 Editor’s Letter 04 Sonder 06 I Know A Girl 08 Laneway 12 A Mix For: Road Trips to Nice Places 14 I Belong to the City 16 A Home Away From Home 18 Sea of Doom
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20 The Girl in the Cafe 22 Believe You Can 24 Art On Campus 27 Saturday Night Inside Out 28 Post Exchange Blues 30 Wild Flowers 31 In[ter]view: Fruzsi Kenez 34 Mini In[ter]view: Leigh Rowan
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36 Imag[in]e: Tim Wood 46 Vacancy 47 Tiny Gallery 48 Vox: Student Voice 51 Meet Your Student Reps 59 Event Calendar 60 The Memory of a Man 62 Horrorscopes
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SONDER Words by Sebastian Moore | Images by Chloe Coates
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Everyone is a little self-centred. Some more than others, but all of us are ultimately restricted to our own perspective. In times of anger, want, or desperation, it’s easy for this to be exacerbated; to see those around us as only pieces in our puzzle or extras in a story written, directed by and starring us. How will that person further me in my career? How does that person fit inside my group of friends? I came across the word ‘sonder’ recently, and its meaning proves a good antidote to this kind of thinking:
sonder n. the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own –populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness – an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background, as a blur of traffic passing on the highway, as a lighted window at dusk.
I’ve read this back a few times now and its words stir up feelings of both melancholy and a quiet kind of optimism. It suggests that, ultimately, our story really doesn’t matter in the scheme of things; that we’ll never be privy to so many of the world’s interesting hidden lives; that we still have so much to learn and discover from other people. Our ego can sometimes disavow this want for understanding, but I think it’s important to stay humble and be humbled when necessary. And with the state of the world right now – where some of its most powerful figures seem to run on ego alone – it’s something we have to exercise on a daily basis. We all have different experiences, marginalisations, and crosses to bear, whatever they may be. We also have pictures in our mind’s eye just as rich as the next person’s. So level down, reach out, and grasp at the life around you. It’s just as beautiful and incidental as you are.
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Words by Beth Merry | Images by Elise Prestia
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I know a girl of thunder
I knew a girl of poison
With fire in her veins
She was rotten through and through
She’ll strike you down with a single glance
She broke my heart, and she’ll break yours too
But her love’s strong as a hurricane
But she has her own issues accrued
I know a girl of sunshine
I knew a girl of silence
Who sparkles, glows, and beams
And never knew who she was
Her heart is pure and golden
But I knew that of course she was wonderful
A friendship from your dreams
With beauty that defies all laws
I know a girl of smoke
I know a girl who’s scared
Who’s all edges and straight lines
I know a girl who wants more
Her judgements’ clouded and she cannot see
I know a girl with a scatterbrain mind
Just how brightly she shines
And an emotional reservoir
I knew a girl of laughter
I know that she wants to be loved
Who flowed and surged like the sea
I know that she’s not into mediocracy
She took a wrong turn in our friendship
I know that she’s as strong as a warrior
But found who she was meant to be
I know that this girl is me
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St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival has come and gone for another year, blessing us all with a day of total bliss. Enter: incredible music, wonderful company, and a few of the cheapest drinks on offer at the bar. 2017 came with a stellar lineup, including Tame Impala, Sampa the Great, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Gang of Youths… and everyone’s girl crush Tash Sultana.
A day of non-stop dancing in Adelaide’s sweltering sun was nothing short of gorgeous.
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St. Jerome’s
FEBRUARY 2017 Words by Caitlin Tait | Images by Rachael Sharman
"THIS MUST BE THE DREAM LIFE" - truly alive kid
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"CLOSE YOUR EYES, OPEN YOUR EARS" - kid with sunsmart sensibilities
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A MIX FOR: ROAD TRIPS TO NICE PLACES Words and illustration by Caitlin Tait | Background Image by Elise Prestia
A collection of hearty, folky, lovely songs.
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Sleep On The Floor – The Lumineers From Eden – Hozier Self Control – Frank Ocean Borderline (An Ode to Self-Care) – Solange ft. Q-Tip Cosmic Love – Florence + The Machine 33 “GOD” – Bon Iver Delete – DMA’s 7 – Catfish and the Bottlemen Luv, Hold Me Down – Drowners In The Long Run – The Staves Magnolia – Gang of Youths Winter Song – The Head and the Heart Roll Away Your Stone – Mumford & Sons Rusty – Hein Cooper
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Words by Carli Stasinopoulos | Image by Rachael Sharman
A breath on embracing your surroundings
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I found myself dancing on Manhattan rooftops at one in the morning with nothing but the skyline and the distant sound of screeching tyres to keep me company and I love watching the sunrise over the city in the morning while drinking a big cup of coffee on my balcony and I found myself hoarding Chinese food boxes in my tiny apartment because I loved feeling like a true New Yorker and I would spend endless days in Central Park doing yoga and bike riding and strawberry picking and ice skating in winter because it felt like a magical jungle where anything could happen and all your dreams could come true and I basically lived down Broadway and Off Broadway and Off Off Broadway every night catching as many shows as my bank account allowed me to because I knew the feeling of being a struggling artist trying to make it with no support at all and even though I work a seemingly dead end job and the pay is quite bad I don’t really care because I'm working a dead end job with shit pay in a city most people could only dream of traveling to and I’ve learnt to adapt and pick up my pace and I can now spot the tourists in the crowd because they’re looking up and around instead of looking `forward and I’ve learnt that eating hot dogs and pretzels from carts on the side of the road isn’t as scary and unhygienic as it seems and although reading books in coffee shops is so overrated it’s how I like to spend my days off especially when it’s raining and the snow and cold is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before but a blanket over the city is gorgeous and it’s crazy how such a busy city can quiet down to nothing at all in the midst of a storm and I’ve gotten used to not driving anymore and taking the subway instead and in the city that never sleeps neither do I but that’s okay because I'm more alive than I have ever been and I’ve fallen in love with the neon lights and the busy traffic and the smell of cigarette smoke and the people and I’ve only been here for a short time but no place has ever felt like home
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Words by Rubina Chitrakar | Images by Taylor Summers
A word from the Verse Mag Editor on studying abroad.
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Every time an airplane flew over Kathmandu I would look up to it from my terrace and wonder when I’d be flying in one. Travelling, seeing new places and experiencing new things hold an appeal that I have not been able to overlook and so I took the first step towards realising that dream by deciding to study abroad. Then when the day of departure finally arrived, I started questioning my decisions. I grew up in Patan, an old yet culturally significant part of the valley, a place where I had lived for over two decades. Leaving all my friends and family behind and starting out on my own was certainly unnerving. Unnerving is an understatement. I had second thoughts but things had moved forward and soon enough I landed in Australia to begin a new chapter of my life. The idea of leaving home behind stayed with me. First thing to strike me after taking a step outside of Adelaide airport was the realisation that it was real and I really was in Australia. I had a made a request for airport reception and was received by David, who chauffeured me for the night. And that was my very first ride in a BMW. It was a warm summer night, I was still in my winter clothing (which I had on all the way from Nepal) but the temperature and season were the last of my concerns at that moment. I was busy taking in all that the surrounding had to offer: the spacious roads with yellow street lamps that towered over pedestrian pavements, the trees lined up perfectly on both sides of the road and a gentle yellow light that fell on façade of buildings. The traffic was sparse which allowed for more vision of the city despite it being late at night. From the dark window pane of the car, I managed to see life size statues, a few old buildings that I thought looked European and one of my university campuses and watched everything wide-eyed till I reached my destination.
The following days were filled with a mixture of feelings, an excitement of being in a new city and a longing to be back at home, in my comfort zone surrounded by familiar faces. I looked at everything with awe, just like a kid out in an amusement park. Australia is ethnically and culturally diverse and anyone would see that once they get here. The city are streets lined with many eateries and shops that serve flavours from every continent there is. The transportation system is well managed without long queues and huge crowds and but it took me a while to get used to all of it. Adelaide reminds me of Pokhara, a laid-back city in Nepal that is also a popular tourist destination, with people engaged in their own lives but not too swept away by the hustle bustle. Although the place wasn’t familiar, the feelings were. Adding that to the few perks of living here (including Google Now that I absolutely cannot live without now) didn’t seem that bad. Another thing that struck me during the first few weeks is the cost of living. I used to convert everything to Nepali rupees to see how much it really cost (tip: don’t do it, you’ll just end up gaping at it). Everything seemed so expensive; the food, the bus fare and the books (especially the course books that went from to $100-$200 for one) but eventually I came to terms with it. But despite all that, the thing I love about Adelaide the most is the artsy feel that engulfs the whole city. There are murals and art installations, people singing and playing on the streets and self-expression, anyone can be who they want to be. I like just sitting by myself in parks, hiking the trails in the outer edges of the city and watching the pleasant green all around. I also enjoy going around the city, just walking and getting lost in the alleyways and it evokes a feeling of joy and amusement. Just like I enjoyed back at home. And when I really think about it, maybe I will be able to accept this place as my home for some time. After all, home is where you want it to be.
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Casting nets tirelessly: day and night Desolate and destitute, a masquerade fuelled by poison Driven by the waves and blasts, strobing lights that alter emotion Wandering and wondering if things are right Where innocent angels go to falter And memories are made like a bad photograph Aimlessly shaking and licking every drop I remember that my presence I should wonder I look at the future, seek forever in a losing war? Caressing numerous devil’s tridents as melodic harps Allured with aromas concocted from an awakened corpse Strangers in the dark sit back and I become a salt pillar
SEA OF DOOM Words by Gabriel Olaer | Images by Caitlyn Burgess
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Words by Scott Gibson | Images by Isabella Whittaker
Darkness. One dim light. Empty café. Surroundings blur around the pretty brunette at the centre table, concentrating on her coffee, her face hidden beneath her yellow hat. It was quite unusual to see such a pretty girl, so young and unaware, dining alone at such an hour. The girl looked up, meeting the eyes of the observer, her eyes telling a story of love and loss. The observer looked down, embarrassed at being caught gawking at the young girl. Between the two strangers the obvious was unspoken; the empty chair that separated the girl from the bar. Why the chair was empty was unknown. Could it be a lost suitor, a sign of a failed courtship, love astray? Could the space be for a new possible love, the promise of unconditional love? Or was the space a reminder of what was lost – the empty chair a sign of a cruel, unforgiving world? The observer’s eyes wandered around the café. He could feel the heat radiating off the heater, warming his fair skin. He looked outside, the dark streets of New York promising a long night of fun, regardless of the cold weather dampening spirits.
The sound of a chair scraping against the polished timber floor pulled the observer’s gaze back to the direction of the young lady who moved past the bar towards the exit. She must have thought she was invisible to the patrons in the café, but to the observer she was anything but.
She was visible to him. He could see her like nobody else had. The observer, who was too slow in catching her attention, missed her exit in seconds. The only thing remaining of the lone girl in the café’s existence were the coffee granules stuck to the cup and saucer in the middle of the table.
Words by Rufia Valiff | Images by Taylor Summers
Gratitude, in every sense, can make life changing improvements.
Living in Australia, we are without a doubt one of the luckiest countries in the world. We don’t house the stupidity of American politics, the danger of South American gang infested cities, or the poverty of third world countries. It is therefore so important to remember that our duty as human beings, is to give back to our communities, acknowledge our privileges and use them to aid less developed countries and peoples.
shared between 20 students, and classes were held sitting on the floor. The volunteers immediately began working on expansion of the school, building rooms out of solely recycled materials as part of the sustainable project. Upon returning from Cambodia, Suem vowed to continue contributing to Smiling Hearts, and four years later, after having graduated from her degree, she began her own NGO - Believe You Can Foundation.
Volunteering for not-for-profit organisations and charities is just one of the ways to do this. UniSA graduate Suem Valiyff came to this realisation four years ago as a first year Education student, when she undertook the Safe and Sustainable Project provided by UniSA. Suem volunteered in Phnom Penh, Cambodia at the Smiling Hearts School founded by a local Cambodian woman, Ally.
So how does one go about starting an organisation from the ground up? First of all, through the powers of social media, volunteers who were willing to be involved were called for, forming the committee board. Members decided on a name for the organisation; it needed to be unique and non-specific to educational goals, and so ‘Believe You Can’ was born.
Ally formed the school in her own backyard in 2010, after she began to comprehend the effects of the poverty cycle within her own community and the lack of educational opportunities for the local children. In 2012, the school provided lessons to over 100 students aged 5 to 13, all in a single classroom comparable to the size of a chicken coop.
From there, goals of the NGO, relating to providing education, support, resources and structuring to underprivileged communities, were put forward. In the following weeks, lots of red tape was encountered, from acquiring sponsors, licenses and registrations to holding meetings, and lots of networking with individuals and groups wanting to be involved (usually over a beverage or five).
When the UniSA volunteers arrived, they were struck by how few resources the school had. Four desks were
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Today, Believe You Can has been established in Phnom Penh. Smiling Hearts now has four brand new
classrooms, including the purchase of new desks, uniforms, stationeries and books for each student. With the backing of local SA sponsors such as 13 Cabs, Parwana Restaurant and other local businesses, the foundation is also running three village schools in Cambodian rural areas, and looking at further projects involving training teachers and supplying more funding to schools. Throughout this process, the importance of fundraisers and ongoing support from volunteers cannot be understated. What began as a month-long visit to a school by an 18 year old, created the course for an international organisation touching the lives of hundreds of children who had never even seen a book in their lives. Volunteers are the most important resource that a community has, and the act is the ultimate illustration of human relationships: actions dedicated to the benefit of a deprived group, born out of a desire to contribute and give back. When like-minded people come together, as local, national or global citizens, then, sustainable change can happen.
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Have you seen these incredible works of art on campus? They are the winners of 2016's Campus Art Competition as voted by students! More info: USASA.sa.edu.au/Campus Art
City West Meg Bielby Rad alien girl embodies the uniqueness of the female figure
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Mawson Lakes Alex Hall Girl|ines
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Magill Leroy Lim Bringer of Day and Night
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City East Maria Kharitonova Falling
Words by Brooke Petrie | Images by Sarah Sturm
Spinning, twisting, the world and all its contents spiralling backward and rewinding like a film tape into my mind. Floating, focus closing in and out, the clouds dripping on the faraway hills and filling the plateaus with their melancholic friends, dew on the weeds, dew on the weeds, wet socks and a smile, limbs like rainbows and all those sneaky neighbours wondering: where are the toadstools? Where are the dandelions? The stars are just coming out, just shining through now, and one starts to move – it crawls across that slippery sky, sliding away in a streak of flashes, a ceaseless burning that is just a glow from here, it burns burns burns and pops like a lightbulb blown when its late and the shades are drawn, Peter Pan would have cried to have seen it‌ For what other universe did I momentarily see open? Where is it, what is it like, how can I get there? Follow the burning stars, follow the burning souls, follow the burning laughs and who knows what you’ll find.
Saturday Night Inside Out
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Words and Images by Bridget Kerry
Post Exchange Blues You always hear about how hard it is to go away and adapt to a new environment and new style of living. But what about when you go home? What happens post studying abroad? Departing for exchange, you knew you were going to be back. Although sometimes it felt like forever away, you always had it mind. But it creeps up on you as time goes by quickly and suddenly you must leave. Leave the new life you built. The life your friends and family back home don't know anything about. Okay yes, you TOLD them about it, they've seen the photos on Facebook and Instagram, but they don't know what it was like. They
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don't know the grocery store you shopped at. They don't know how you had to become used to repeating yourself because people couldn't understand your accent or use of slang. And they'll never know the deep connection you had with your new friends there and fellow exchange students. You no longer can relate to anyone on the emotions and feelings you experienced there. The memories you made. How great it was. They don't know what you had to leave behind. I was an emotional mess in the last few weeks of my exchange. On one hand, it was exciting to go back, to see my friends and family, and my home. I was excited
for the warm weather. I was excited for food (I have never wanted a meat pie so bad before!). But I was also extremely sad. When you leave your exchange, you don't just leave the country and your new friends, you leave the experience. You come to the realisation that it will never be that way again. Whilst you can always visit and see your friends again, it will never be the same. You no longer can cook in the common kitchen and expect to run into your friends. You're not going to be catching the same trains and buses for uni. You might not even see everyone together again as a group.
I like to think that it's not the end but a new beginning. There is life after exchange. And you will forever remember and cherish your time there. So maybe I will never be completely home again, but I guess that's why it's called an exchange. Whilst you take part of your host country and experience with you, you also leave part of you there.
"It has made me the person I am today." This is terribly scary to think. Although things might have been a little shitty at times, I would give anything to go back to my exchange semester. I now realise how good it really was. It has made me the person I am today. I will always cherish the memories I made there and I'm sure 90% of my stories will begin with 'on my exchange...' which will probably annoy everyone but that's because of how great it was.
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Wild Flowers
wild flowers grow from the depths of broken promises and empty hands they flourish weeds and all sunlight dances and twirls on their green nudity unbeknown to the next plastic bouquet and plastic love
Words by Annabel Bowles | Images by Rachael Sharman
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In[ter]view Verse Mag’s Regular Graduate Interview Words conducted by Rachael Sharman | Images by Josie Withers and John Goodridge
After finishing her undergraduate degree in Visual Arts, Fruzsi Kenez shares her insight into her work as curator and initiator of Adelaide's very own Peanut Gallery. on your practice. If you're passionate about what you're doing and you approach it with positivity, great professional relationships and opportunities will open up to you. How did the idea of starting a gallery come?
How do you usually pick the theme for an exhibition? For many years I had dreamed of opening a gallery space, and in that period, I had a lot of ideas for exhibitions I would like to curate. The concepts usually come to me when I draw parallels between the work of artists I come across, either in the flesh or on the internet. There is great variety in the work that inspires me but there is always a commonality that I can find which brings it all together. How has networking played a role in establishing this gallery? What was the process of networking? Having been a professional artist for the last eight years has put me in touch with a lot of people in the field. For any young artist, the best thing to do is to go to as many exhibition openings and art events as possible. I’d say meet people, chat with them and continue working
It has been something I always dreamed of doing and knew I would one day. I undertook a Bachelor of Visual Arts (Spec) at UniSA and enjoyed making and exhibiting my work. I also volunteered and later worked at the Samstag Museum. In my third year, I took a course in curation with the brilliant Dr Mary Knights, which really sparked a passionate interest in me. Then I moved to Tokyo for a year in 2014 and upon my return, I found that a lot of my creative peers had moved interstate or overseas in pursuit of greener pastures. What I feel is that there are many great art spaces in Adelaide but sadly, they tend to have a short lifespan. Peanut Gallery is an effort to fight against this, and foster both our incredibly talented and emerging Adelaide artists as well as interstate and international artists. What was your first post-university step? Moving to Tokyo, exploring my professional practice and then dedicating about six months of full time to preparing everything it takes to establish a creative space! I got lucky in finding my business partner Caroline who has been an invaluable asset and works tirelessly at making this gallery happen. We started discussing
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Above: Cosmic Visions Gallery Opening January 2017. Curated by Fruzsi Kenezou. Photo by John Goodgridge.
the potential for Peanut Gallery around April 2015, and in May I most serendipitously stumbled upon what was later to become this space. In June, I applied for a grant from City Makers to cover for our start up and renovation costs (which we were successful in securing) and then on the 30th of September 2015 we opened with our first exhibition, Of Land and Sea, which I curated featuring a line-up of 12 artists from around the world. And we haven't looked back since! Do emerging artists approach you if they want their artworks to get exhibited? They do, and we are honoured to receive all proposals and expressions of interest. Having said that, we have a lot of exhibitions in the works that we have been planning for some time and put a lot of time and effort into bringing them to fruition. Our vision for Peanut
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Gallery sees local artists intermingled with interstate and international talent to tell a unique story and provide Adelaide audiences with a poignant experience. We have a well-stocked bar with local brews and a custom cocktail in the theme of each exhibition as well as one night only events such as last week's Harry Potter Quiz Night Fundraiser to bring some much-needed pennies to our self-funded space. We love hearing from artists and involving as many wonderfully talented folks as possible in making our gallery a well-loved hub of creativity. Crash course in curation: what exactly is involved in curation and how do you go about the curation process? There is an incredible amount of time that goes into organizing exhibitions for Peanut Gallery, especially when it's curating shows opening very three weeks! At
Left: Photo byJosie Withers
any one time, I juggle correspondence with around 60 to 80 artists from around the world as we work on bringing together exciting exhibitions. To be a curator you have to be very well organized, good at problem solving and love what you do! You definitely have to be a people’s person and it helps to be a creative yourself. What kind of responses have you received so far for the gallery and exhibitions held here? The response has been absolutely and overwhelmingly wonderful! We've been blown away by the support we've received in regards to the numbers in attendance at every one of our openings as well as the number of artists who come in and thank us for being here and open to supporting their work. Peanut Gallery has been a true labour of love for both Caroline and myself, but we can't imagine doing anything else!
paradise paradise
Check out Instagram: @peanutgalleryadelaide Read the full story on the Peanut Gallery in the most recent issue of Frankie Magazine (MAR/APR) 2017 issue p 22.
OPENING NIGHT Friday 17 February 5:30 – 8:30pm Exhibition OPENING closes NIGHT12 March 2017 Friday 17 February 5:30 – 8:30pm Exhibition closes 12 March 2017
Visit the gallery at Shop 115, Balcony Level Adelaide Arcade, Adelaide SA. Open Wednesday - Sunday
Curated by Fruzsi Kenez
peanutgalleryadelaide.com
DORIS CHANG(ADL) DANIEL MOREIRA(PORTUGAL) Curated by Fruzsi (MEL) Kenez CHLOE DUFFIN(ADL) ALICE LINDSTROM (ADL) GEORGE AGIUS(ADL) ANDRE LAWRENCE DORIS CHANG(ADL) DANIEL MOREIRA(PORTUGAL) NAYANA ILIFFE(BYRON) CHLOE HARRIS(SYD) CHLOE DUFFIN(ADL) ALICE LINDSTROM(MEL) (MEL) KYOKO IMAZU(MEL) ESTHER SANDLER ANDRE LAWRENCE(ADL) GEORGE AGIUS(ADL)
NAYANA ILIFFE(BYRON) CHLOE HARRIS(SYD) ESTHER SANDLER(MEL) KYOKO IMAZU(MEL) Shop 115, Balcony Level Adelaide Arcade, Adelaide SA
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Mini In[ter]view A Verse Mag Mini Graduate Interview
Words conducted by Rachael Sharman | Images courtesy of Leigh Rowan
Leigh Rowan opens the door on the industrial design world.
Did studying a Bachelor of Industrial Design specify your understanding of the future career you wanted? As Industrial Design in general is such a wide and varied field, this is a bit tricky! I wouldn’t say that I finished my degree knowing exactly what I wanted to do, there were different areas of design that I enjoyed, but it was more the problem solving aspect of design and the challenges I encountered at Uni that I wanted to continue with. I was very open when I graduated to embrace whatever opportunities came to me. How did you pick up work in the early days as a designer? Graduating in 2008 at the height of the GFC was very unfortunate timing (especially for a designer), but I was lucky enough to get an opportunity to do 3 days
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casual work at a signage company not too long after graduating. This then turned into 2 years work at my previous employer. Both jobs I’ve had as an industrial designer have been gained through contact with lecturers at Uni SA. What has been the biggest challenge working in the design industry? How have you overcome this? Explaining what it is that an industrial designer does! Every day we encounter many different challenges, some are entertaining, others can be highly frustrating, but I’ve found that embracing these challenges, and the satisfaction you get from solving them can be highly rewarding. The biggest challenge usually seems to be the current one.
What current project are you undertaking? I’m currently working on many projects, designing some joinery pieces, coordinating the design and production of touchscreen software, managing an AV presentation and animation of a racing circuit in China, designing a 10m high observation tower, designing and managing the fitout of several Land Sales Centres, amongst other things. Where would you ideally wish to see your designs? Every time I see something I was involved with the design of, whether it’s just a small sign on the side of the road, or the museums at the Adelaide Oval, its always pretty cool. It’d be great to design something that ends up in a design museum somewhere, but as long as I can continue to work on things that I’m proud of, I’ll be pretty happy.
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The art of Tim Wood
Imag[in]e Verse Mag’s Regular Student Art & Design feature Words conducted by Rachael Sharman | Images by Tim Wood
2016 Graduating Bachelor of Illustration student, Tim Wood combines fineliner illustrations to create surrealist work that tests our imagination.
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You have a uniquely traditional meets contemporary style, where have you drawn this inspiration from? This is kind of a long story but I will try to condense it as much as I can. Early on my style was very much informed by the many comic books and graphic novels that I read as a kid. Quite different from where it is now, my work from that period had very thick lines and pitch black shadows. Then, while extremely lost and directionless at Uni someone pointed me towards Herge and Moebius, who are now perhaps the two biggest influences on my style. Though, I'm quite heavy handed so those thick areas of tone never stay away for too long. I also tend to colour all of my work digitally because I am kind of hopeless at using paint and I love experimenting with different colour schemes. This is far easier and quick to pull off when done digitally. What are some quirky projects you’ve worked on? Up until super recently I haven't really worked on anything for anyone other than myself. I like to think that all of my work to date has included some level of quirk or surrealist element. For me, having something a little strange or a little off in an image is as important as a signature and I would hope that I sign most of my work in such a way.
Left: Water Scarcity
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Is music a big influencer within your illustration process? Music is an extremely useful tool for me as an illustrator. Although, I tend to use it a lot when I'm rendering my final artwork and stay away from it while I'm trying to come up with ideas. The main reason being that rendering the works that have a lot of crosshatching and clean lines can be tedious as hell and without music to distract me from that, it probably wouldn't be long before my work isn't the strangest thing about me anymore, that'd be tragic. Also, I tend to leave stuff to as late as possible and nothing says "keep up dickhead" like a bit of Dance-Punk. Where would you most like to see your work featured? To be completely honest at this point in time I would be stoked to see it anywhere outside of my sketchbook. I like the idea of print, having something tangible that you can flick through in a very natural way and stop when something catches your eye. And the smell of a magazine is amazing! Yeah that's what I want. I want to flick through a magazine and see my work on a lovely smelling page. If you're reading this I guess I made it (thanks by the way). In saying all of that the comic book kid in me would still love to see me write and illustrate my own graphic novel. I think that would be pretty rad.
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Above: Nautical Playing Card-Queen
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What message do you aim to convey through your art? I don't really know if there is any one message as it depends on the work. But I think it is super important to find the interesting among the quotidian. There is weird shit all around us and I think it is important to stop and take notice of it, and if you can't see it, to create it. The thing is that a bad day can come out of nowhere and ninja stab you in the face, and the best treatment for a mortal face injury is laughter... I think... I'm not a doctor, I draw stuff.
How does the combination of animal meets man seen within your work reflect your personality traits? I'm not sure that they reflect my personality as much as I use them to give the character its own personality. In saying that I feel like I might be a little bit impulsive. So the second that I think about chucking a fly's head on an electricians body, I kind of just have to go for it and see what happens. I also get a kick out making people smile, or chuckle or stare at something trying to find any reason as to why something like that should exist. Simply put, Frankensteining creatures onto the bodies of humans is just fun to do and hopefully fun to look at. It comes back to that obsession I have with making something interesting out of something completely normal.
What’s your ideal holiday location? I'm not sure about a holiday but I would love to travel to and live for a bit in Canada. I've never seen snow before and I can't stand the heat so Canada seems like a good idea to me. Also what the hell is up with hockey? I have no idea what the rules are but I could watch that shit for days. There are also some really rad Canadian bands which I would love to see live but never make their way this far south (probably because of the goddamn weather). In saying all of that, I would love to travel all over the world. I have wanted to visit Tibet and Nepal for a long time now as well as Central Europe. At this stage in my life I think it is important to see as much of the world as I can and to meet as many people as I can.
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Left : Octopus Below: Nautical Playing Card- King
"the best treatment for a mortal face injury is laughter" Edition 14 2017
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Above: Anatomy of a Shark
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Words by Gemma Itropico | Images by Sarah Sturm
Once your words were not lost, Now they hover in confusion. Dispersed amongst the hollow fields, Swallowing the depth of your mind. Time ticks backwards to seal this fate, Do not ever believe you are alone. Creases engraved into burdened cheeks, A true smile held captive in restraint. Unleash the tension from hibernation, The reflection you seek can be broken in two. Heaviness is weighted with a deepened force, We endeavour to catch you as you descend. A lifetime now placed in reservation, You continue to battle as the spiral unfolds. Disillusioned as though walls engulf you, This loss threatens to separate us. Your love cascades through worried hearts, As your memory withdraws from our view.
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Tiny Gallery Emma Cuppleditch | A Dream | 35mm Black and White Film
At first, the people didn't notice the tiny specks of colour that danced about the town. We didn't notice the increase of joyous life that was spread between us as they drifted through our air. However before long they were undeniable, everywhere. The town was swallowed up by a huge, optimistic glow. The people came together and danced under the sun. The butterflies became one with us as they sat upon our skin. And as the day turned into darkness we gathered close and let them cover us, falling asleep united... I woke alone in my bed with bright colours glowing inside my eyelids and memories of an amicable town so real I could swear it might have happened. Instagram @emma_loo
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V
X: Student Voice
UniSA students offer us their tips on maintaining a healthy study/life balance in the lead up to the summer break. Words & Photos by Rubina Chitrakar and Caitlin Tait
Angela Xu Master of Teaching What do you think O-Week will be like? I think there will be lots of services on display for students. Personally, I’m looking forward to knowing more about majors, contact with program directors and information about my course and future learning.
Jed Woolford Third year undergrad student Do you remember what O-Week was like when you first started uni? It was stuff to help you get started and go through uni and orientation for your program and obviously, the freebies (which were good). What are you looking forward to in 2017? Finishing third year of my degree.
Adam Sikorski Bachelor of Commerce/majoring in accounting Have you attended O-Week before? No, I haven’t. Unfortunately it’s difficult to get out of work to attend O-Week, plus I’m a little bit older than most of the students. What are you looking forward to in 2017? I’m in the second year of my degree, so I’m looking forward to more of the content of the course. Gaining that knowledge, and enjoying university life. Also, looking forward to a cooler weather.
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Jack Kotek Double degree in bachelor of commerce/finance What are you looking forward to at O-Week? I’m most looking forward to getting to know the people who are also doing my course. And getting to know the campus, and learning the UniSA way of uni! What are you looking forward to in 2017? Doing well in studies so that I can have a good 2018 and go on exchange.
Mia Wang Master of Accounting What do you think O-Week will be like? I am hoping I’ll be shown around campus and be introduced to other students in the course, both local and international. That way I can know more about other opportunities like joining clubs, or volunteering or even part-time jobs. .
Ben Sarett Master of Project Management What do you think O-week will be like? II am not sure. Just a lot of students and people as well as international students I guess. What are you looking forward to in 2017? Getting along with studies.
Aruna M.Raya PhD candidate studying Australian and Aboriginal studies What was O-Week like when you started uni? It was ten years ago. We all had to go to this huge auditorium and then we had talks and more talks… And then they showed us some rooms. What are you looking forward to in 2017? I hope to finish my PhD and submit my research. I’m looking at mothers and daughters of Indian origin who are from Singapore, Australia, and India, and whether they still pass on their culture to their children and the challenges they face doing that. Hopefully, I’ll hand it in by the end of the year.
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Join a club at ClubsFest! • Sporting • Special Interest • Cultural • Social Justice • Academic • Meet student club members + music, food, games & prizes. Join a club to make friends, stay active, gain experience & have an awesome time at Uni! City West Tuesday March 7 11am-3pm
Magill Thursday March 9 11am-2pm
Mawson Lakes Wednesday March 15 11am-2pm
USASA.sa.edu.au/ClubsFest
City East Thursday March 16 11am-2pm
Meet Your Student Reps The eyes, ears and voice of UniSA's student body.
The USASA student representatives are elected by you to represent your interests to the University. They will help you have your say in the decisions that affect you and your fellow students.
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Hello All! I'm happy to introduce myself as the new University of South Australia Student Association President for 2017.
Kayla Dickeson USASA President What are you studying? A double-degree of Journalism and International Relations What made you want to become a student representative? When I first became Magill Representative in 2015, my school and degree had been through a lot of cuts and restructures, without any say from the student cohort in what was happening. Rather than being consulted about the changes, we were simply told that they were happening. I wanted to improve the level of student consultation and representation at the university. Where do you pick up your daily fix of coffee in Adelaide? The Flying Fig on Jeffcott Street does some pretty sweet coffee and has rad vibes.
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January so far has been spent setting up for the new year and getting ready for the students to come back in March. USASA has been busy preparing for events such as O’Week and ClubsFest at the beginning of the semester; and establishing strategic goals for the year. USASA Board Members have also been engaging with the state and local Education Action Group meetings to discuss how USASA might be able to support students at UniSA in terms of academic issues; and to map out any possible campaigns for the year that could benefit UniSA students. Let us know if there’s anything you’d like USASA’s help with! I’ve been contacting and meeting different Heads of Schools to see how USASA can engage with student representation in each school, advocate for student representation if that is absent, and to engage student representatives from each school in the USASA Education Collective in progress – great for students wanting to have an active voice or get involved in their education! At the end of the month USASA had our Board Retreat which was incredibly productive, with a big focus on the work that the USASA Advocacy Team helps provide for students who are facing Academic Reviews, Formal Inquiries and possible preclusion. Invaluable training was provided to USASA Board Representatives who will be attending these committee meetings throughout the year to advocate on behalf of USASA for the Academic Integrity cases. We all had fun learning (or refreshing, for returning Board members) about what the different sections of USASA do in terms of Advocacy, Events, Marketing; and the overall structure of USASA as well as NUS. We as a group decided our strategic objectives for the year and talked about how to engage students to build an active student presence at UniSA. Some amazing ideas were put forward around wellbeing, such as mental health initiatives, support for diverse students, engaging regional campuses and more! Supporting student representatives throughout the year to be active
and engaged was a core focus of the retreat, so we’re keen to get on the ground and speak to students! I’d also like to introduce new students to the National Union of Students [NUS]! The NUS is the peak representative body for students across Australian universities; it is a student-run organisation that has been instrumental in the higher education movement, fighting back against such issues as university fee deregulation and sexual assault on-campus. Each year the NUS has National Conference to elect their National Office Bearers and pass the policy and direction of the organisation. In 2017, the campaigns include the “Make Education Free Again” campaign from the Education Department involving a number of NDA student protests throughout the year including the first one coming up on the 22nd of March - and the “Your rights at Work, Uni & Home” campaign from the Welfare Department, which will also be supporting the March 22nd NDA. The Women’s Department will continue to campaign against sexual assault and harassment on-campus, as well as roll out new campaigns to lobby against the tampon tax, call for equal pay and fight against cuts to education which disproportionately affect women, whilst supporting the March 22nd NDA. The Disabilities Department has announced the establishment of a new Disabilitiesthemed conference for 2017. Other departments have yet to announce their campaigns for the year. Work is already underway for both the NUS Education and Welfare campaigns. The Welfare Department has been campaigning around the new Centrelink automated system, in which students, the disabled and pensioners are being disproportionately affected by the new system which has been sending out false debt notices and delaying payments. The Education Department is preparing for the March 22 NDA, lobbying the government to make our education system free and more accessible for students.
NUS funding comes from individual student unions across Australia who affiliate to the NUS and pay affiliation fees, which ensures that the NUS is able to run their national campaigns. USASA affiliates to the NUS and pays affiliation fees in the sum of $12,000. This means that the NUS is supported by USASA in being able to run campaigns that benefit students not only at the national level, but are of particular benefit to UniSA students. At the end of 2016, UniSA launched their new Well-Being Action Plan, which aims to “position the health and well-being of our whole community of students and staff as a strategic policy for the University” and includes the four pillars of Healthy Mind, Healthy Body, Healthy Culture and Healthy Spaces. Due to the support of NUS and the work of USASA in conjunction with the UniSA Well-Being management team, in the pillar under “Healthy Culture”, there is an initiative to establish a specific working group to update UniSA policy specifically to address sexual violence on-campus, which was a key campaign ran by NUS in 2016. The “Make Education Free Again” campaign comes at a pivotal time in the student movement, as nationally universities saw $2billion ripped out of their funding for 2016/17, under a shift towards online learning and casualisation of staff. USASA will continue to be vigilant to any cuts or restructures at UniSA in 2017 to ensure staff and students have access to quality education and working conditions! I’m looking forward to a really productive year and getting excited to meet all the new students at O’Week and ClubsFest in February and March! I’m keen to meet everyone and introduce myself, USASA and the NUS to UniSA students. Cheers, Kayla Dickeson Student President Contact: kayla.dickeson@unisa.edu.au
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Louise Kyriaki Postgraduate Representative
Kemal Brkic Whyalla Representative
What are you studying? Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Cognitive Neuroscience
What are you studying? Bachelor of Education
What made you want to become a student representative? I’m passionate about helping students to have a great experience when they’re at university, and I love being engaged with my university. My aim is to make UniSA a better place to be!
What made you want to become a student representative? My second term and loving it. I want to make the most of my uni experience and i enjoy making the uni experience enjoyable for others.
What can you achieve for UniSA in 2017? There are so many things that I hope to do in 2017! Two of the main goals are: To improve the range of food on campus (vegan, gluten free, Halal, and more), including healthier and cheaper food options. I also want to work with the university to create safe spaces on campus. Tell us a fun fact about yourself? I’m a classical guitar performer. What's your favourite thing about Adelaide? It’s the festival city; it’s a half-hour drive from our beautiful hills to our beautiful beaches; we have amazing wine; it’s small enough to make travelling convenient but big enough to feel like a city; we have beautiful parklands and wildlife; the cost of living is low….I guess that’s more than one thing, but I love Adelaide! Where would you go on your dream holiday? Through Mongolia to China, and then South Korea. Contact: louise.kyriaki@mymail.unisa.edu
What can you achieve for UniSA in 2017? Ears and engagement, the two e’s. What's your best piece of advice for fellow students? Smash the work so you can reward yourself however you like without feeling guilty! What have you been watching and listening to recently? Watching the big bash and listening to the new metallica album ( not at same time). Where do you pick up your daily fix of coffee in Adelaide? Best coffee is at my mums, short black bosnian coffee. If you had to run a vegetable farm, what would you grow? Spuds. Who would win a fight between Spiderman and Batman? Batman. Contact: brkky001@mymail.unisa.edu.au
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Monamee Afroze Ishika City West Representative
Ryan Kennealy City West Representative
What are you studying? Masters in Integrated Supply Chain Management
What are you studying? A Bachelor of Business (Economics, Finance and Trade), a Bachelor of International Relations & a Diploma of Languages (French)
What made you want to become a student representative? The desire to have self-growth while doing the work and use my confidence and knowledge to work for the betterment of the student community overall. What can you achieve for UniSA in 2017? The City West campus would be safer and more inclusive for all the students so that they can consider it as their second home. What's your best advice for fellow students? Do the best use of this time in a fun way; not only in doing studies but also enjoy the most during this time while finding future directions. What's your favourite thing about Adelaide? It’s weather!!!...Just kidding.. I love both the architectural (man-made) beauty and the natural beauty around Adelaide Where do you pick up your daily fix of coffee in Adelaide? I like Cibo.. Where would you go on your dream holiday? In a distant island with only close ones around to enjoy the rain sitting in front of the ocean. Contact: ishmy004@mymail.unisa.edu.au
What made you want to become a student representative? Since starting at UniSA in 2014, I have been able to see the really positive environment that we have here at UniSA. I wanted to be given an opportunity to build upon what the University already offers. Being elected to the Student Board does just that. What can you achieve for UniSA in 2017? My focus will be on three areas. First, reducing smoking rates among students and encouraging more cycling in and around campus. Second, building a positive and safe environment for all, especially for new students. And finally, by engaging with all students at City West to ensure USASA can help to create the best student experience. Who would win a fight between Spiderman and Batman? Please don’t make me choose between my two favourite superheroes. I think I want to be a fence sitter on this one. Can we call it a tie? Where do you pick up your daily fix of coffee in Adelaide? My favourite place to go is the Coffee Club on North Terrace. Great service, delicious coffee and really nice food. Contact: kenrt002@mymail.unisa.edu.au
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Izik Nehow Mawson Lakes Representative
Jordan Mumford Mawson Lakes Representative
What are you studying? Aviation
What are you studying? I’m currently in my third year, studying a Bachelor of Aviation, and an Advanced Diploma of Aviation.
What made you want to become a student representative? My drive for change and to help people. What can you achieve for UniSA in 2017? Well one thing I worked on last year was getting a food truck trial ready for this year so I’ll be continuing getting that implemented for students. What have you been watching recently? I’ve just got into the new season of Scandal, it’s one of my favourite shows I would definitely recommend watching it. Where do you pick up your daily fix of coffee in Adelaide? T Bar in Rundle Place. Where would you go on your dream holiday? Anywhere in the Oceania, I would love to go to Hawaii and Vanuatu. Who would win a fight between Spiderman and Batman? Batman, duh. Contact: nehiy001@mymail.unisa.edu.au
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What made you want to become a student representative? Having spent the last two years as a university student, I felt that I had a good understanding of the changes that ordinary students want to see, and could make a valuable contribution as a Student Representative. What have you been watching recently? I’ve just finished watching Season 4 of Orphan Black, I can’t wait for Season 5 to come out later this year. Where do you pick up your daily fix of coffee in Adelaide? Nothing beats Exchange Specialty Coffee in Ebenezer Place. They have the best coffee, good vibes, and amazing food. Tell us a fun fact about yourself? I’m a bit of a politics nerd. Who would win a fight between Spiderman and Batman? Batman obviously. Contact: mumjp001@mymail.unisa.edu.au
Natansh Modi City East Representative
Han Nguyen City East Representative
What are you studying? Bachelor of Pharmacy (honours) & Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science double degree
What are you studying? Medical Radiation
What made you want to become a student representative? I’ve always wanted to do more for our UniSA community, and becoming a student representative enables me to be a key player in bringing change for the benefit of the community. What can you achieve for UniSA in 2017? Any issues put forth by the students will be dealt effectively and efficiently. Remember that, I AM YOUR VOICE. Tell us a fun fact about yourself? I'm vegetarian Where would you go on your dream holiday? Kremlin Who would win a fight between Spiderman and Batman? Batman If you had a vegetable farm, what would you grow? Beets Contact: imodnd001@mymail.unisa.edu.au
What made you want to become a student representative? I want to make a difference in the uni, raise awareness about USASA and make student life easier. What can you achieve for UniSA in 2017? Focus on improving student wellbeing. What's your best piece of advice for fellow students? Get involved - the best years of your lives are passing by. What have you been watching recently? Gilmore Girls - classic Where do you pick up your daily fix of coffee in Adelaide? Cibos on Rundle Street - always a classic Tell us a fun fact about yourself? I can't drive. If you had a vegetable farm, what would you grow? Peaches (crossed out vegetable) Who would win a fight between Spiderman and Batman? Spiderman - he's superhuman, batman just has cool equipment. Contact: nguht043@mymail.unisa.edu.au
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Diana Xui May Wong International Student Representative
Julie Baum Mount Gambier Representative
What are you studying? Bachelor of Psychological Science (Counselling Interpersonal Skills) & Bachelor of Business (Human Resources Management).
What are you studying? Bachelor of Social Work
What made you want to become a student representative? I believe guiding international students on their wellbeing, and build a sense of community between local and international students. What's your best advice for fellow students? My advice to students is to come with an open mind and challenge yourself. Who knows? Something magical might happen. What have you been listening to recently? I enjoy listening to cover songs and EDM ( Electronic Dance Music) Where do you pick up your daily fix of coffee/tea in Adelaide? I don't drink neither coffee nor tea. But, I can tell you a great hot chocolate place that is St. Louis. Don't forget to ask for their small cookies instead of marshmallows.
What made you want to become a student representative? I have previously done volunteer roles such as epal, ASR & PASS Leadership. I feel this was an opportunity to expand on theseand work with the student body as a whole. What's your best advice for fellow students? Don't be afraid to ask questions and seek help What have you been watching recently? Code Black Where do you pick up your daily fix of coffee in Mount Gambier? Melzar's Coffee Shop What would your dream holiday look like? Tour America in a Winnebago for six months. Tell us a fun fact about yourself? I'm secretly a skydiver
Tell us a fun fact about yourself? My life is an open book.
If you had a vegetable farm, what would you grow? Red capsicums and tomatos (yummy recipes for both)
What's your favourite thing about Adelaide? Central Market and Botanical Garden.
What's your fabourite thing about Adelaide? Shopping
Contact: mumjp001@mymail.unisa.edu.au
Contact: bauja004@mymail.unisa.edu.au
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March ClubsFest Join a club at ClubsFest to make friends, stay active, gain experience & have an awesome time at Uni! Come along for a great day featuring music, food, games and prizes! City West: 7 March, 11am - 3pm Magill: 9 March, 11am - 2pm Mawson Lakes: 15 March, 11am - 2pm City East: 16 March, 11am - 2pm
What the heck is there to do around here? These things. 2nd - 5th: Clipsal 500 Adelaide 3rd - 19th: Adelaide Festival 6th: Verse Edition 15 Submission Deadline
10th: SP2 Enrol by Date 10th-13th: WomAdelaide 13th: Adelaide Cup Day 14th: UniSA Careers Expo
19th: Last Day ofAdelaide Fringe Festival 31st: SP2 Census Date
April Pac-Crawl: The Ultimate Pubcrawl! All students. All campuses. Drink specials & free food. Friday 7 April, 7pm til late. $20 shirts available online. USASA.sa.edu.au/PubCrawl
1st-2nd Oz Comic-Con
7th: Pac-Crawl- All Campus Pubcrawl 10th-21st: SP2 Teaching Break
If you’d like to organise an event, join or start a club! Visit USASA.sa.edu.au/clubs
Background Image by Danny Jarratt
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The Memory of a Man Words by Simon Z.Telford | Image by Madison Griffiths
I said I was sorry. She told me not to be. The realization of just how alone we were in the corridor hit me suddenly. There wasn’t a soul around except for the American lady with her lovely smile. Her last words hung in the air between us as I looked into her slightly teary eyes. I mumbled something about how pretty her dress was before turning away. As I stalked down the long empty corridor I heard her say, “Would you like to get a drink, go to the bar perhaps?” A smile danced across my lips before I turned back to her. “My dear, I would be honored.” I whispered in what I hoped was a smooth voice. She was grateful for the company. As we strolled through the maze of twisting hallways, arm in arm, towards the O-bar, a small booze filled bench on the observation deck. The sounds of men cheering in some foreign tongue could be heard behind one of the cabin doors. At last we had made it. The small talk had started to become slightly pathetic during the long walk and I was eager to have a glass in my hand. The American lady wasn’t boring or stupid by any means but the awkwardness that had settled over us was reproachful nevertheless. Nothing a few good gin and tonic couldn’t overcome however. “Gabriel”, she said with a nod as I brought our drinks over to the wooden table overlooking the harbor. “Well then,” I replied whilst flashing my best smile, “to you Gabriel, my American sweetheart.” We both drained our glasses in one go after raising them high and touching
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the edges with a soft clink. I called the waiter, standing still in his whites, over for another round and then turned back to Gabriel. From some deck below the cries of ‘England Forever’ drifted out across the blue water. “The Olympics really is a special time, don’t you agree?” she asked in that attractive accent of hers and I quickly looked up from my fresh drink to respond. “Oh yes, it truly is.” I answered after a short time. I could tell that she wanted me; I also knew that I would not have her. Too easy were the trademark signs of a woman still in mourning, still guilt ridden over thoughts of other men. Her crystal blue eyes darted away from mine when our sights met and her hand was clasped so tightly around the small purse she carried that her knuckles were white. How could I compete with the memory of a man? Alas, as I looked at her with the starlight on her hair, I thought one could spend a night in worse ways than providing some much needed company to a beautiful widow. “You still miss him?” “I do.” The End
SUBMISSIONS! Give us what you’ve got. Any topic. Any Style. We want it! Send your writing or artwork to contact@versemag.com.au Edition 14 2017
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How nice it is to welcome the presence of education and learning once again. Let us guide you in your studies this semester.
March 21 - April 20
April 21 - May 21
May 22 - June 21
Didn't know you had it? *eat the choccy bar*
What's on the other side? *pens down*
Can you please take a seat? *clap clap*
#FIND BELIEF
#LOOK AND SEE
#THANKYOU
September 24 - October 23
October 24 - November 22
November 23 - December 22
What's your end game? *implement your diary*
Darkness doesn't blind you. *go underwater*
Is life better in your head? *press send*
#DON'T THINK
#CALM
#REMEMBER LOVE
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Words and Images by Rachael Sharman
June 22 - July 23
July 24 - August 23
August 24 - September 23
Let the sun bask your face? *wear sunscreen*
Is it time to shake it up? *step out of the shadow*
Don't push it all aside. *open the blnds*
#INDULGE
#MAKE CHANGE
#SELF CONTROL
December 23 - January 20
January 21 - February 19
February 20 - March 20
Will expectation ruin you? *stand towards the back*
Is it time to cut them loose? *switch off the tv*
Let's get back to your life. *turn the page*
#SPEAK THE TRUTH
#MAKE ROOM
#DO YOU FOR YOU
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Free Student Diary
with every download of the USASA App •
Visit your USASA Campus Counter City West CS2-14 City East P3-06 Magill A1-34 Mawson Lakes F1-23 or speak to your regional rep!
•
Show the friendly staff the app on your phone to receive a free 2017 USASA diary!
USASA.sa.edu.au/App 64
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