Verse Magazine Edition 45 by Verse Magazine

VERSE

Edition 45 Free

Are Birds Real? City East Fashion

Lost Body Anonymous Letters

WORKING ON WELLNESS

USASA is bringing you a jam packed month of online, on-campus & off-campus events! Keep an eye out for these main events: • • • •

City West: Wed 4 & Thur 5 May Mawson Lakes: Wed 11 & Thur 12 May Magill: Wed 18 & Thur 19 May City East: Wed 25 & Thur 26 May

+ explore more activities at USASA.sa.edu.au/WOW

Contents cover art Liam MacRaild

2 4 6

Editor’s Letter

Verse Spotify A Dedication to Being Left on Read

30 33 34

Protect Your Daughter Or Educate Your Son Warm & Soft Interview with Trinity Faulkner

The Existential Dilemma of Being Aboriginal in an Occupied Country

Anonymous Letters

City East Fashion

Are Birds Real?

From Teaching to TV

The Verse Sub-Mag

Inside The Squares

When The Day Slips Away

Deteriorating Beauty

Calling Her Senseless

Lost Body

January Oval

Interview with Cooper Sayers

Interview with Sophie Gepp

A Storms Best Friend

Fear & Loss in Strange Times

58 60 63

Your Sign as: Inspirational Australian Women USASA Club: Women in Business President’s Letter

IT WAS AND ALWAYS WILL BE ABORIGINAL LAND. Verse Magazine acknowledges the Kaurna, Boandik and Barngarla First Nations People as the traditional custodians of the unceded lands that are now home to the Univeristy of South Australia’s campuses in Adelaide, Mount Gambier and Whyalla. Verse Magazine respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past, present and emerging. Verse Magazine also acknowledge the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia.

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You will recognise this issue is all-embracing of artistry and the artist; this is no happenstance. Art is a lifeline that doesn’t require a slowing heart—nor a tormented one—but simply an entity that enjoys gnawing into and being in the presence of beautifully, unforgiving things. This issue is abundant in such creations— we feature the likes of painter Natalie Bellardino, who swirls her paintbrush in a way alike to a wand. We include a special text that comprises topics of religion, fear and loss, written by the enigmatic Kerrie Lacey.

Editor’s Letter

In light of recognition, we attune to the hushed voices of women. In dedication to the foregoing sentiment, we have multiple pieces that offer commentary on sexrelated adversities; female artists who are rich in their femininity and more. We want to acknowledge that women are drivers of creativity, innovators, leaders and most assuredly: equals. We, at Verse, recognise you, and we are audient to what you have to say.

Autumn is here, and the cool piercing of it enfolds over the summer warmth that was—a change transpires, one we always expect but can never seem to truly embrace. We may love what the cold brings but we shudder at its chilling hands. Change is the inevitable autumn of our lives, and whether we welcome it or dread it, its footsteps never slow for our hesitancy… just as the weather won’t. The deviations of life offer us opportunity; and what do we encounter in the perplexing advent of change? A chance for recognition.

The illusive road to finding recognition and realising nonconformity doesn’t require a directory—look to the darkest parts of yourself and move towards them with a fervid nerve. And when the floodwaters of emotion attempt to swallow you with its mouth most wide, you’ll be submerged by the sensation of liberty; and never will you drown when the depths are where you feel most home.

Verse has not rested in pursuit to recognise. Our mission is a dual one: to offer a glimpse of great literature, artwork etc. and to challenge, find and inspire our readership with artforms most outstanding. In order to provide this rousing trip, replete with an abiding magnetism, we endeavour to notice—to discern the traces, voices and people unseen and unheard.

Shania head editor Shania Parker comms & digital editor Matisse Chambers graphic designers Isabelle Raven & Kyle Feirclough design & production consultant Jackson Polley design & production consultant Rachael Sharman printer Newstyle Print

verse magazine student publication

submit anything and everything, it’s time to share your content no matter the theme www.versemag.com.au/submit

submit now! closing MAY 2ND

photography Matisse Chambers artwork Isabelle Raven

Verse Magazine

Australia’s leading future-focused museum, MOD. Invites you to join the party at an event showcasing its 2022 exhibition — INVISIBILITY. Set for the 20th of May - 6 to 9pm at the Museum of Discovery. Come along and encounter unique experiences all in line with invisibility. Food not as it appears, magicians who control our attention to render things invisible, glow in the dark drinks and invisible sensory experiences.

Entertainment and catering providers: DJ Dominic Wagner aka cazeauxoslo, Magician, Matt Brandwood, Techspace, 48 flavours, Foodlore and Gomersal Wines.    This is an all-ages free event, over 18-year old’s will be required to wear a wrist band as service of alcohol will be at this event.   The launch will be a 3hr event from 6pm to 9pm, and we suggest coming early as doors will be open until at capacity. The event will provide complementary tastings, ice-cream and gin tasting (if over 18).

Immerse yourself in the exhibition, music, performers and activities all in the theme of invisibility.

About MOD’s 2022 Exhibition: INVISIBILITY Join us as we time travel underground, delve into the tech monopolies controlling our lives, and slow down to notice the importance of the land around us.

INVISIBILITY is everywhere. It’s the people we don’t notice, the environmental changes we can’t see, and the algorithms working hard behind the scenes. What becomes visible when we start paying attention?

INVISIBILITY opens on Tuesday 1 February and runs through to late November 2022.

In MOD.’s new exhibition, we’re shining a spotlight on the unseen to help us better understand the world around us and our place in it.

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The Existential Dilemma of Being Aboriginal in an Occupied Country Continued... words Colin Herring

Passing through a maze leads us to a final door of the ‘fourth world’ that bathes in the Gaia of our living planet. Emotions like anger and revenge should be realised as another stalling device of colonisation to interrupt our diverse destinies. The intellectual cleverness of the Cree, Sioux, Hawaiians, Maori, Pueblo, Navajo et al. bring to the International Indigenous confederation their uniqueness through metaphor of door and winds. They share the experience of a repressive singularity that requires healing from itself. They each have language, dance and song emanating from their ecological niches.

tribalism have the urban young reckoning the old have got it wrong. The Apache don’t attend the workshops that the Navajo youth frequent. Like the Yolngu the Apache are not fussed about imposed realities and cannot be manipulated.

Intergenerational issues over tribalism have the urban young reckoning the old have got it wrong.

Deloria (1973) perfectly captures the arrogance and stupidity of the anthropologist in ‘Custer Died for Your Sins’, a thoroughly entertaining caricature of his Navajo experience. His narrative style is the spirit of Navajo humour, transmitting much more than intellectual deconstruction. Slogans of ‘research’ paint pictures of people who don’t recognise themselves anymore. His dissertation of the anthropologist is hilarious. The mainstream fantasy manufactures a science of absurd stereotypes. Intergenerational issues over

The Navajo youth find themselves distanced from their elders because they are fully immersed in ‘lands of make believe’. More white farmers are encroaching on their lands.

Verse Magazine

Indigenous intellect and realisation is generationally dismantled, altered, incorporated and funding halted when their cause approaches mainstream consciousness. In only a few pages, Deloria provides a panorama of the Indian experience: religion, warriors, tribes, missions, wars, anthropologists, workshops and absurd theories about the warrior spirit being disarmed. Deloria views similar theories using statistics of the African-American parallax as Anglo-Saxon and stupid. The millions of dollars spent on research alone would solve any issue of housing. Deloria wonders about reciprocity and muses why the theory of ‘leaving us alone’ hasn’t yet been discovered—his research is unashamedly Indigenous. For a moment I was in direct Navajo conversation. Custard is not mentioned once in this very funny analysis.

After the demolition job on the Middle-East and Northern Africa, we know who is next. As definitions alter according to new research paradigms, whiteness still remains invisible. This failure to provide a self-analysis of racial profiling, whilst applying very debatable classifications to ‘otherness’ is captured in our current migrant and refugee policies. When John Howard said ‘we will choose who can come to our shores’, he is surrounded by white male privilege. The statement by Dutton to fast-track white South-Africans to Australia after twenty years of otherness’ being incarcerated is mind boggling. The blatant hypocrisy is the blindness of whiteness as the norm of 2018. Indigenous intellect and realisation is generationally dismantled, altered, incorporated and funding halted when their cause approaches mainstream consciousness. A white flag means ‘truce’ before the threat of mayhem. If we accept the white flag, we are playing their game—it is an intellectual confidence trick called diplomacy.

Anthropology defines artificial norms that silences truth. The coalition of whiteness regularly displays its might to the rest of the world using ‘shock and awe’. Australia is maintained as the white-zone and a platform to ‘otherness’ (Asia). A very profitable industrial-military complex regularly displays its might. Identifying a ‘hegemony of Western whiteness’ as shaping ‘the future of the rest of the world (Moreton Robinson 2004, p78-79). As whiteness bathes in democracy, tolerating the multiculturalism of the US, Canada, France, Britain, Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand, an imperial gaze on the doorstep of the ‘Orient’ is observed.

It validates the Foucauldian concept of bio-power through fear of death prior to the vicious attack we know as the pre-emptive strike that was Iraq, Libya, Syria and Afghanistan through shock and awe. This tactic was applied in colonising the world, and ‘otherness’ is portrayed as

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treacherous and savage. The white flag of reason disguises the wisdom of the black flag, which with a white skull and crossbones exposes the piracy of whiteness. Diplomats sent their pirates as agents out into the unknown (William Dampier, Cook, CIA & ASIO) to colonise. In accepting the white flag of reason, the invaders already know they have you beaten. Another flag is raised, of their total sovereignty.

enquiring whether I should wave the white flag of ‘research’ before, for instance, the local Ngarrindjeri Nation. Where the mighty Murray River spews the effluent of the most populated part of White Australia’s anus; at that significant location where the sparkling melted snow and salty desert floods seasonally meet the sea informing the Coorong. I wonder: what is the real name of that river? What is the real name of that lake whiteness calls ‘Alexandrina’? Where exactly did ‘Ponde’ swim, forming a bend in that river? Should I worry about being a ‘Woorange’ or ‘Joobardi Corni’?

The white flag of reason disguises the wisdom of the black flag.

The Bundjalung incorporate the Bundjalarm (Butterfly) as fundamental to their world view. We arrive at the cultural interface as a grub (outsider) that fixates on a plant (research) specific to the cultural environment. The grub spins cacoon (coming alongside,) and transforms (chrysalis) into a butterfly (accepted – or initiation). The blue/white butterfly flies toward the Bunyah Mountains (walking together). This occurs about once every 4 years. All engage in the festival of the ripened Bunyah Nuts as a gathering of the clans. In contrast, the dominance burns the whole lot down and a virus is released to establish a global suzerainty. Welcome to the brave new world of 2020.

This is as fantastic as the fabled Garden of Eden, where nature tempted the civilised through richness of resource. In exploiting, the original sin seeks forgiveness through the confessional of God. Indigenous values remain in that garden. The whiteness views our freedom as sin. So, in relating to my identity crisis and synthesising all that has come before in this article, I am left

This article is an amalgam of privileging Indigenous voices... To be continued...

Verse Magazine

artwork Ella Hunter

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illustration Alice Lam

Verse Magazine

photography Zen Zaccara

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ymous words Anon Raven lle artwork Isabe

To myself, 1 year ago…

Eventually, you were so weighed down by boxes, so loaded with bags, it became hard to go places. Having so much to carry makes large places feel stiflingly small.

A year ago, you found a problem. It wasn’t very nice to look at, so you stored it in a box. You took that box with you everywhere, because you can’t just leave your problems lying around— what if someone tripped over them?

It took a very long time, and a lot of struggling to realise that problems don’t belong locked in boxes. You have to open the lid sometimes and look them in the eye, until they’re not so hard to face anymore.

Every now and then, you would open the lid of the box and take a peek. But the problem was growing uglier and larger, and you worried about it getting out. So you stopped opening the box.

As much as I wish you had known this before one box became twenty, before the problems outgrew you, before the weight of boxes became something you were used to.

For months, you carried it around, as it rattled and shook, and made ominous scratching sounds— it scared you. So you bought a lock.

I don’t blame you. Because you didn’t know any better. And even though I still have days where I lock everything up in boxes again, and struggle under their weight for a while, I have better ways to carry them now, and I know to open the lids every once in a while.

After a while, that scratching became so loud, that box so heavy, that people started to notice. And it didn’t take long for more problems to find you.

And it might surprise you to know, that if you do drop a problem now and again, someone will often pick it up for you. And your problems don’t trip other people nearly as often as you imagined they would.

You’re a quick thinker, so you found more boxes— and when those ran out, you used bags. And you carried them all around with you, day after day.

- Anonymous

Verse Magazine

Dear friend, You were my best friend for our formative primary school years, and most of my memories from that time are with you. It does make me a little sad, thinking of what our friendship once was. After school calls on the home phone, friendship necklaces which never ever came off, secret notes traded in class (so we wouldn’t get caught talking). School sport, birthdays, you always had a spot at mine for dinner, inside jokes— we had it all. When you told me at the end of the school year that you were moving away, it hurt. What hurt even more was that you had been moving away from me that whole year. I was suddenly unwanted; tossed aside for ‘cooler’ friends. Your words hurt; I was ‘weird’, ‘annoying’ and ‘too loud’. You stopped wearing our friendship necklace. When you moved away, it hurt—I had lost my best friend, but really, I had lost you long before that. Now, you have found me on Instagram... no message, no words—just a follow request. I see how different you look, how happy you are, how different we are from those two little girls we once were. I’m happy for you. I hope you see when I like your photos, that you can tell that I’m happy for you. I hope when you see my handle pop up, that you think about me too, just like I think about you. - Anonymous

Dear other young singles,

it simply the fact that I knew I probably couldn’t say anything, because the action of liking someone’s photo on social media was a task I found myself and 90% of the other members of society doing daily?

I have a question for you: what does an Instagram ‘like’ mean to you? I know it’s a weird question, so here is some background.

Ever since, the concept of liking people’s photos on social media, has completely changed in my mind. If I was in a happy relationship and a boy I followed, who was not my boyfriend, took a photo at the beach and I ‘physically’ liked it, is that on some level insinuating ‘I am attracted to you’ Or can we simply not let that much weight lay on the simple action of pressing the like button?

Dating is the concept of finding someone you like and asking them, do you like me enough to spend all your time with just me and potentially stop the search for someone else, who is ultimately better? Terrifying, right? Yes. I know. I am 25 and single. To quote Charlotte York from sex and the city, ‘I have been dating since I was 15. I’m exhausted. Where is he?’

If I was romantically interested in someone, I would like their photo, whether it was a sunset or their exposed torso. Maybe the true meaning behind everyone’s like is too subjective to analyse. Either way, liking someone’s photo, no matter what percentage of sexual allure it is giving off, can be read into, especially by your significant other. Perhaps we need to think before we like.

However, the last time I found myself magically with a boyfriend, I discovered a side to modern day dating that I didn’t know existed. A simple ‘like’ from the man that I loved on another girls Instagram photo, threw me into a deep spiral of thought and panic. She was in a bikini… it was sexy, I wasn’t insecure but something about it felt off. Was it the fact that he might’ve physically liked the image— meaning, he mentally liked it? Was it that I knew that she would see his like? Or was

How much does an Instagram like mean to you? King regards, anonymous. 13

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Are Birds Real? words & image MOD.

Did you know that birds aren’t real? Those feathery things you see in the sky aren’t living creatures. They’re spy-drones piloted by the US Government. I’m not serious. Birds Aren’t Real is the biggest conspiracy theory to come out of Gen Z and plays on the misinformation epidemic that is sweeping the globe. Peter McIndoe, spokesperson for Birds Aren’t Real, says it started accidentally in 2017 when he wanted to put something absurd on a protest placard. Since then, it has exploded.

Verse Magazine

Misinformation is more serious than fake-spy-bird-drones. There is a lot of misinformation spreading about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and this is taking place across social media, but TikTok, in particular, is facing controversy for fake videos that are spreading fast.

Our current exhibit, called the Glass Room, is particularly useful for this. It’s an exhibit created by Tactical Tech, a Berlin-based technology collective that aims to educate us about how technology companies track us. This tracking is more than thinking your phone is listening to you, it’s about how these tech monopolies can control our lives.

TikTok was actually the way I found out about the invasion; my algorithm showed me a video of Russian soldiers in the snow. It seems that this has been lots of people’s experience—they’re happily scrolling when they’re suddenly shown videos of explosions and people in bunkers.

As part of your visit, you can watch some animations about the way that we leak our personal data and play with interactives that help you to detect deep fakes, fake news, and misinformation online. Top off your visit at the Data Detox Bar, where you can sit with your phone and go through your settings to tighten things up.

Some of this is good, it can help us to better understand the plight of people living in Ukraine. But some of it is bad, with people sharing misleading videos from events in the past—this is what causes issues.

The weight of all of this can be overwhelming—we get it. But don’t lose hope. MOD. and Tactical Tech want to empower you. It starts here.

So, what do we do? At MOD., we have been preparing to combat fake news for a while by exhibiting artworks and games that help detect fake news and fight misinformation.

The Glass Room is part of our current exhibition, INVISIBILITY. MOD. is open TuesSat 10am-5pm.

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THE VERSE

MAG SUB

THE HEART OF EACH EDITION HOLDS PLACE FOR DEDICATED CONTENT SURROUNDING MENTAL HEALTH, STYLE, TABOO AND THE ENVIRONMENT. TRIGGER WARNING

The following section contains content some may find disturbing or upsetting.

Mental Health

poetry Eliza Dunn

Inside the Squares The square house smiles that are tweaked and brightened. A picket fence of perfect white teeth, the mouths that hold them are pulled up in delight, lips like curtains that stay open and high. Their eyes barrel forward in a confident line, their gaze looking forward to the likes, comments, and replies.

illustration Lucy Turczynowicz

Mental Health

When The Day Slips Away I am full of still air and explosive skies, of calmness and uncontrollable panic. I burn with purpose, and then I burn into the ground, untethered.

I am full of wonder about other beings, and how they feel when they wander the wilderness. Do they understand it as part of the human process? Or do they understand the endless isolation, the loneliness. I am full of all the futures to be written, where every star has already been burnt, and every sunset has already sailed the lonely way of the sky. Threading amongst the timeless secrets— never ours to know, nor keep protected. I am full of the past, etched like the valley. Snaking inside of me with every tense punch of history. My movements match the voices in my head, the memory pulling the strings of my muscles— uncontrollable. I am full of curiosity about the way the world moves. When everything is sinking inward, do other people throw off the quilt and move forward? Witness to the darkness but not enveloped— freedom. I am full of hope that tomorrow will make sense. Not the stories of the minerals beneath me, but the magpies and how they holler from the gums, and the feel of the red dirt and the crackle of stormy skies. That new light, Born from the days that slipped away. words Georgia Lawrie

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Mental Health

Deteriorating Beauty words & artwork Natalie Bellardino

Deteriorating Beauty (2018) is a symbolic portrayal of ingratitude. By caring less for the smaller things in our lives, slowly, they become neglected and fade away into nothing—as they turn into things we take for granted, they progressively deteriorate and disappear. With its advanced focal point of a realistic rose, its wilted position reflects this notion of being rejected and consequently forgotten. Representing the death of the beautiful things in life, my symbolic colours: yellow (symbolising admiration and dedication) and orange (symbolising passion and energy portraying the intensity of life) deepen my meaning of loss of life, beauty and passion. Natalie Bellardino, Deteriorating Beauty, 2018, acrylic on canvas.

artwork Madeline Blake

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Calling her Sensless words Eiesha De La Cuesta photo Sofia Sansone

Mental Health

The waves crashed hard against the white sand, calling for her.

We search long and hard for the security, safety, and comfort that a sense of place and belonging brings into our lives.

She grew up in a concrete jungle, surrounded by the secrets of the sea. The turquoise waters had become a place that she needed to revisit so that she could find herself. It was a place that she was most familiar with and held many vivid memories—the good and the bad. As she walked through the congested streets or swam in the clear waters, she lived for the joys that may seem inane to others or in the grander scheme of things. Still, therein lied a feeling of attachment, association, purpose and place of belonging. So, when she returned to the city, you could still see how the sun shone in her eyes, the wind blew in her hair, the sand between her toes and the salt on her tanned skin.

Without a sense of place or belonging, we can feel a sense of isolation and disconnection instead. We can feel alienated. She used to feel lost. She had built a life in every environment she was placed in; however, she felt little to no connection to the lifestyle and routine she had built. She lived in a beautiful and vast land, rightfully belonging to its traditional owners. She had friends, family, and studies there that grounded her and provided some purpose and meaning to her life. Yet, she still didn’t feel a strong sense of attachment or association to her surroundings. she would sometimes see people who shared the same skin colour as her, similar features, the same brand of clothes and enjoyed the same interests as her; yet, her connection to these people did not compare to being surrounded by the people at home. At home, there was much more than similar skin tones and features... She had found comfort in hearing her language, accent and values in others. She lived for the small customs, beliefs, and traditions that she had long forgotten but were still practised by many. She drank in the memories that she didn’t realise she had missed. So, although she lived abroad most of her life, she always held her thoughts of home.

She had built a strong feeling of connection, influenced by a number of factors within her surroundings. This connection may be better described as a sense of place and belonging—a term that identifies our human, emotional need to belong or connect to a group or community, surroundings, or environment. A sense of place refers to our emotional bond and attachment to a location or environment—whether that be our home or to our home country. On the other hand, a sense of belonging involves more than our association with other people, it consists of feeling acceptance, support, belonging and connection to people, whether that is within our family, friends, workplace or religious community. Both principles involve the human tendency and need to form an inherent desire to belong or attach to other people or places. As we roam on our Mother Earth, we develop an instinctive need to belong. We are constantly looking for our purpose and meaning in each other, our work and interests and our surroundings. It could be something inside of us or out in the big world, but we search for something to claim as our own.

We are all looking for a connection with people and places, whether that be within a personal, cultural, religious, historical or social context—some of us may have found it, lost it or are still searching for it. Sometimes, the thought and feeling of where to belong and who to belong with changes as time passes. But, one day, we will achieve that sense of place and belonging... one day, we’ll find an answer to the calling.

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LOST BODY

words Nadia Brown

The Mademoiselles’ spines were rubber. Shoulders hunched forward, bodies hanging limply, resembling a wilted weeping willow tree. Body bare, translucent skin, no discernible pigment, as if the blood had drained from their stiletto feet. The Mademoiselles’ eyes were pristine beaten onyx. Glazed with a glassy layer of tears, robbed of their usual warmth. Soulless, bottomless pools of darkness, wreaking profound distress. The Mademoiselles’ hair was an avalanche of aged mahogany— once liquid sunshine, now resembling the brittleness of straw. As wild as a jungle, truly untameable; thin like cobwebs billowed in the breeze. The Mademoiselles’ mind was clouded grey— an extinguished fire leaving them stray. Innocent and delicate, like a daisy inside the protective layers of green. Bodies, once their homes, the petals are now surrendered and brown, falling helplessly like confetti to the ground.

Environment

artwork Abby Smyth

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January Oval words & photo Sarah Herrmann

I’ve had a / bad taste in my mouth / all day and / couldn’t place it / couldn’t / rid myself of it staleness / manifested there / rotting / decaying / dying outside now / it’s finally going away this place smells nutritious / lungfuls of yummy summer air / old and bending pine trees / eucalyptus, bottlebrush / blossom, pollen, lawn all the little bibs / and nubs that drop / full of fragrance and life / injected by the young / souls who play here / the birds / the bees / stay here and / gate-keep on the soft / supple bark / heavy / creaming with sap the leaves nod / welcome / stay I want to bottle / it up and spray it / all over / my corpse / it might / bring me back guess I’m glad / we came here / I feel better fly just tried / to crawl up my nose / time to go / home inside now / and the / bad breath is back.

Environment

ART

illustration Rachael Davies

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Protect your Daughter or Educate your Son?

words April Cretan

Content warning, references to sexual assault

Something desperately needs to change. Women take every precautionary measure imaginable to keep themselves safe from sexual harassment and violence during their lifetimes, but the question that is rattling around in my head: ‘what are men doing?’ For as long as I can remember I—a female—have been taught how to behave in public spaces in a way that would ensure my safety around the opposite sex. •

Going to the bathroom in pairs, and never alone;

•

never walking alone at night;

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always locking my car doors;

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never reacting to catcalling as it could cause aggressive retaliation;

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letting someone know where I am at all times;

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being wary of what clothes I am wearing.

These rules, that are endless and hammered into females from a very early age, are to be followed—if they are not and something is to happen, females are to blame.

Taboo

So, the question that keeps ringing in my brain, on loud, is ‘what are young males taught to protect them from the opposite sex?’ The question that rings around even louder:

us—triggering a much deeper fear—there were victims who did everything right and were still unsafe. This is frightening, as it reinforces the message that you can follow every preventative measure and you could still be a victim.

Why is the responsibility on females to protect themselves from a danger that is coming from males?

The responsibility should never on the victim, the responsibility should always be on the offender. The person who should have been taught how to act. Who should have been taught right from wrong. It is understandable to come from a place of no experience with unwanted sexual advances and feel there is not an issue. However, for too many women, it’s a daily reality.

Should males—at the same age that females are taught the former important lessons and rules—be taught about respecting human beings to ensure females do not have to constantly look out for danger and negative attention?

Plan International surveyed hundreds of women in Sydney and they found that nine in ten felt unsafe at night. In many cases, the underlying fear is the behaviour of men. “Without doubt, at the heart of harassment is a deep disrespect or disregard for women as equals, as something more than an object, a body, a sexual being,” says Susanne Legena, Plan Australia’s chief executive officer.

A survey conducted by the Human Rights Commission revealed that females are four times more likely to experience sexual harassment compared to men—the statistics are even higher if the females are mentally or physically disabled. The facts are clear.

If you are a male reading this, your thoughts the entire time might have been, “well I would never do that”. Even so, everyone within society has an important role in improving the situation for all females, and this should be instilled from a young age in males.

For women, safety considerations are only made more amplified when the many highprofile cases of women who have been viciously attacked, raped and murdered are in the daily news cycle. This is triggering.

Do you want females to feel safe?

These news stories remind me, as a female, how unsafe my world can be, purely because of my gender. High levels of fear are felt by females when these stories break, as it magnifies how vulnerable they are to sexual violence. The reports about females who followed every single one of those precautions taught

So, ask yourself, do you want to see change? Do you want females to feel safe? Do you think it is more important to protect your daughter or educate your son?

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Taboo

Warm and soft, our ankles crossed with fingers and lips under and open and breathing and being and driving, one hand steering and one resting warm and soft on my thigh. Sun streaming in to meet the squint and a smile from you, to me, back and forth and under and open and warm.

Warm and soft, ankles crossed, fingers and lips under and open and

breathing and driving, one hand steering, one resting warm and soft

up my skirt, sun streaming in to meet the squint and a smile from you, to me, back and forth, under and open and warm.

warm and soft words & artwork Lucy Turczynowicz

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In Conversation With

Trinity Faulkner What are you studying? What is occupational therapy?

A Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (honours) at UniSA. As defined by Occupational Therapy Australia, Occupational therapy (OT) is a client centred health profession that enables people to participate in activities they find meaningful. These activities include taking care of oneself (and others), working and participating in hobbies, social events and even sleep! OTs complete ongoing assessments with their clients to understand what activities they can do (and those they want to do), any current limitations, their goals and also to offer advice and techniques about how to do something more easily and safely.

What made you want to study/ become an OT?

When I was younger, I used to come along to my little sister’s OT appointments at a paediatric clinic, and it looked like such a positive, supportive and active environment for both the children as well as the therapists, so I thought ‘this looks perfect!’ I always knew I never wanted an office job, staring at a computer all day (no offence to all the people that do, I just simply have too much energy for that lifestyle!)

What would you say to someone wanting to get into OT?

I would say: get ready for a very practical course! I love how active and practical the OT degree is, as I find I learn so much better in a visual setting. There are definitely difficult aspects of the content we learn but as is the same in all courses! However, I definitely recommend that if you’re thinking about getting into OT, just do it! There are so many branches in OT, there is definitely an area for everyone!

What do you find most rewarding about your degree?

What I find to be the most rewarding about my degree is how much I am learning about people through a holistic lens. OT is a very holistic health profession, and I am finding that it is changing some of my attitudes and the way I used to think. Ultimately, it will be much more rewarding once I finish my degree and I’m out working with real people and helping them reach their goals and getting back to doing the things they love! That is what I think will be the most rewarding.

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What do you find most challenging in the field of OT?

The most challenging thing I have come across in the field of OT, so far, is the number of frameworks and models we need to know. There is a framework and model for just about everything in the OT world and it can be so confusing to know which one you need to apply in a specific context. Another challenging aspect of OT, there is so many different settings that OTs can work in. You can find OTs in hospitals, schools, workplaces, rehabilitation facilities, the community, in mental health and so many more places I cannot even think of right now—people do not realise how versatile of a profession OT is! When learning all these frameworks and models, we need flexibility and adaptability in applying them to all different settings, so I am finding it is taking a little bit of practice and revision!

How do you apply what you learn to your everyday life?

I find that I am applying what I am learning in my course to almost everything I do in my everyday life. In OT, you learn how important your environment is in being able to do all the things you want/ need to do every day. I just cannot help but always analyse my surroundings, how they are impacting me, why I am doing something well and why I am struggling with a task! I cannot help but overanalyse all the people around me and realising why they do the things that they do and why they do not like the things they do! Studying OT makes you become incredibly insightful, understanding and empathetic of other people, as you realise all the variables that are impacting people’s lives.

What are your plans At this stage of being halfway through my degree, I am hoping to after studying? work in paediatrics in the future, but who knows, I might change my mind after placement!

Find out more about the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)

interviewer Isabelle Raven interviewee Trinity Faulkner

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Cruise With

Cooper Sayers

interviewer Shania Parker interviewee Cooper Sayers

What are you studying at UniSA and what’s been your experience with studying online? I’m studying a Bachelor of Business Management and Law; I have been studying for the last two years after I transferred from a different degree. My experience with online study has been great. I started studying online just before Covid hit, so when everything went online, I was already prepared and comfortable to continue my study. I love studying online because it means that I can cycle/train and go to work without having to go on campus. It means that I can be far more organised and study in a flexible way; I can also prioritise my time if needed. The staff at UniSA are fantastic and always help you out where they can, it makes the degree super easy to do.

coming in u17’s with multiple national medals. Following that, I got hit by a car and fractured my L4/5 facet joint in my back, and both arms. I still have a lot of back issues now from the extent of the injury, but when you love the sport you do anything to get through it. In u19’s was when I had my best results, I became an Australian Champion in the Points race and won 3 other national medals. I also won medals in 4 Oceania championships (The best cyclists from Australia and New Zealand). This meant that at the end of 2017 I went to Italy to represent Australia at the Junior Track World Championships. The experience of riding for your country and wearing the green and gold colours was one of the best experiences in my life. I definitely thought that this would set my entire career up for success, however, that wasn’t the case. A few health issues meant that I wouldn’t progress as I had hoped. I continued to get fantastic results but I was

How did you get into cycling? I got into cycling in 2015—I was picked up by a schools “Talent Search”, which is where the South Australian Sports Institute select athletes that they think will be suitable for certain sports. At the time I was playing soccer at South Australia’s highest level and looking to break into the Junior Australian team. When I got this opportunity, I took it and never looked back... from then I have worked my way up through the ranks. I began in a school program and have reached the highest level in Australia. Tell us about your cycling journey I’ve enjoyed my time in cycling and I have come a long way since the start. Being quite late to the sport and joining when I was 15, I was behind the eight-ball, compared to my competitors who had been riding since they were around 7 years old. So, I developed quite quickly in the first few years, I made a lot of progression with my first big results

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told “You’ll never progress in the sport of cycling” and “You are physically incapable of ever achieving anything in the sport”. This was a huge set back, and trust me, in this sport, I have had so many of them, but this one almost had me walking away. Nevertheless, I picked myself up and selffunded a trip to Belgium because I had never accepted an opportunity in road cycling, I had only focussed on track cycling (which is on the velodrome). This trip made me love the sport again, I saw a new dream that I wanted to chase. But then of course Covid hit and being in the age category of u23’s these were the make-or-break years of your cycling, as this is when you get many opportunities and show professional teams what you’re capable of. In 2021, I was supposed to represent Australia in the Road World Championships, as I was one of the best u23 riders in Australia—there were multiple overseas races that I was supposed to take part in, but wasn’t able to. Again, a huge set back, but I was still focusing on what opportunities I could take, as there were limited races in 2021, I did what I could and had to in order to reach the top 10’s in Australia’s biggest races, which was putting me on the radar of bigger and better things—I just needed to break through and get a win. Instead, I took part in a competition where 150,000 people were competing for a Professional Contract to race on one of the worlds biggest teams. I travelled to Spain, where we were put through our paces and ended up finishing second. I was super happy to get to where I did but disappointed that I didn’t win. In 2022, I will be going overseas, to follow my dream and race in some of the biggest races in the world to get a professional contract.

you ready for when your time comes. I am so passionate about cycling, and I am excited about my future in the cycling industry. What has it been like to participate in world renowned cycling events? To participate in some big events has been incredible, it really makes you humble and grateful for the experiences that you do get to receive and more personally, it makes you reflect on the degree of hard work that you have put in. Cycling, like any big sport, is full of sacrifices and to get where I am in the sport has been tough, and making sacrifices make it tougher but being so dedicated to the sport makes racing and competing at the highest level so rewarding. It’s not until you finish racing these events that you look back and realise how far you have come and what you just did. In 2022, I’m going to be racing the Tour of Britain which I’m super excited about, it’s the UK’s biggest race and one of the world’s most prestigious. Where do you see yourself in the future having collected a degree and so much experience as a cyclist? I have been so lucky to experience everything that I have throughout my life—my cycling has taught me so much and has allowed me to grow as a person. My Uni degree has also helped me mature and show me that there is more to life than cycling and that I need to develop a pathway that goes beyond cycling. My degree has kept me very level-headed, and I know with the experience of learning online and my cycling it will help me stay motivated with whatever I achieve. I would love to run my own business or manage a business that I am passionate about. Using the experience from university and my cycling will help me in making decisions under pressure and make sure that I am always educating myself on the best direction to take. I hope to have a long career in cycling, but I know that with all the experiences I’ve had, I will be prepared for whatever life throws at me.

My journey through cycling has been a long and hard one, but a very enjoyable experience. I have had so many setbacks, but these are the things that make you increasingly hungry for success. I am so optimistic that things do happen for a reason and every bullet in your armour is just a character-building exercise to make

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City East Fashion words & photos Matisse Chambers

Need uni outfit inspo? We scouted some of the most stylish students at this year’s City East Campus Fair. From bright colours to thrifted shirts and the perfect white sneaker—these students have nailed the uni sheik brief. They even shared a bit of guidance with us, from their favourite places to shop, to their biggest fashion pet peeves.

Alner Borce Instagram: @alnerborce

Shirt: Thrifted from savers Shorts: Adidas Socks: Uniqlo Shoes: Nike Air Jordan 1 High ‘Blue Chill’ Favourite place to shop: Subtype Dream fashion purchase: Telfar Medium bag or Marine Serre’s crescent moon top Biggest fashion faux pas: inappropriate socks for shoes (e.g. black socks with white sneakers or weird length ankle socks with any shoes)

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Jessica Elmer Instagram: @elmer.jl @jessicaelmermua

Dress: Seed Shoes: Windsor Smith Favourite place to shop: Love Affair Dream fashion purchase: Louis Vuitton handbag Biggest fashion faux pas: wrinkles in clothes—everyone needs a steamer in their life!

Scarlett Hooper Instagram: @scarletthooper Shirt: Kookai Top: Nude Lucy Shorts: Cotton On Shoes: Veja Favourite place to shop: TUYU & The Iconic, but face brands are Scanlon Theodore & Glassons Dream fashion purchase: RM William boots Biggest fashion faux pas: wearing clothes that aren’t comfy, or guys wearing brown shoes with black pants!!

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From Teaching to TV - Jessica McCall

words & photos Jessica McCall

My name is Jessica McCall, I am 21 and I work as a kids’ entertainer in the Barossa Valley. Last year I created this commission piece for a short film called ‘FlugelBound’, made by UniSA students. There are in fact two paintings I prepared for this film—a complete and incomplete version of the same portrait; each to be used in two different pivotal scenes. These acts required me to copy the painting from a photograph of the actor, which was a rewarding challenge to undertake. I have produced a number of artworks throughout my life, including for competitions, exhibitions and commission pieces. As a child, I enjoyed having drawings, paintings and clay sculptures on display at the local country shows. In 2020, I participated in SALA’s exhibition ‘100 Barossa Artists’, which was a display of over 100 original self-portraits by local creatives. The following year, one of my oil paintings was displayed at the Barossa Regional Gallery as part of the Vintage Art Prize Competition—it was an excellent opportunity to create a piece which expressed myself and my journey as a creative. I previously studied a minor in Visual Arts as part of a secondary education degree, but I have since deferred to a Bachelor of Creative Industries with a major in Film and

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Television and a sub-major in Journalism. Although I enjoy creating visual art, my current program gives me an opportunity to follow my long-term passion for the television and entertainment industry.

have my own television show, where I can incorporate my skills in art and other forms of creativity—an occupation where I can combine my creativity with a highenergy media and community presence to positively impact others is very important to me and I am grateful I can work towards that at UniSA.

I have always been a creative person, whether it be through visual arts, acting, scriptwriting, singing or puppetry. Being given the opportunity to MC a local show last year truly helped me pinpoint the direction I wanted my career to head in, and the type of work I would like to pursue in the long run. My goal is to eventually

Find Jessica McCall on Instagram: @jessmccallart | @jessnmccall

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Sophie Gepp – Learning to Sew UniSA Creative Industries student Sophie Gepp, on how she went from learning to sew with her Nana to working in the studio of Adelaide’s well-known couture fashion houses. Sophie Gepp grew up watching both her grandparents as sewers. Her Nana was a dressmaker and seamstress, making garments for brides, bridesmaids and pretty much any formal occasion. After spending her years growing up, watching movies and admiring the costume designs (not the story line), Gepp always remembered wanting to make clothes but just not knowing how. It wasn’t until her teens, and much to her Nana’s delight, that she started to make the trek down to her house in Victor Harbour to start learning. No distance was too far. From there, they started to make pieces together, like pants and simple dresses. Her Nana went on to make her a dress for every formal occasion she had, like graduations, school formals and birthdays. Gepp, in particular, loved this process and watching her Nana fit her in a dress just like she did at the Myers store for many years. “Back then, you would literally go to a department store like Myers, pick out a garment and it would be made to fit you, so she used to fit people all the time. I got a first-hand experience multiple times when I watched her fit me—it helped me learn what to say and what to look for.” Sophie now uses everything she learnt from her nana when fitting people herself. Through Sophie’s process, she learnt that she doesn’t necessarily find the passion in designing garments but bringing other people’s designs to life and taking inspiration from aspects of garments like a sleeve or a ruffle into her own work. Sewing, embroidery and final touches are particular processes, and practices she

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enjoys the most. Couture fashion is among her favourite because it involves creating something that contours to someone’s unique body shape and fit.

by clothes because they don’t fit within my genre. I think it’s fun to explore different things and I want to be able to wear what I want to wear on that day. I also don’t want to buy something and only wear it once; I try to buy things that I can wear repeatedly, that can go with different items.”

After a few years of practice and making a few garments of her own (some of them as a result of boredom during isolation), in December 2020, Sophie bravely pitched for some work experience to her dream workplace and one of Adelaide’s most renowned, high fashion, couture brands— all it took was one email and next minute she was walking through the studio doors. She spent a week with the team and on her first day they had a bodice and skirt ready for her to work on and start sewing the side seams together. “In my head I was like ‘oh my gosh, what is a side seam’ but it was just brain fog because I was so nervous. But I said to myself, ‘calm down, you know what a side seam is.”

Gepp has goals to support more Australian designers, with some of her favourites being Shona Joy, Aje, Diish and Zimmerman. “I love colour and want to get more into colour blocking—I don’t love black, but I do wear it for professional purposes.” Like us all, Sophie does have a fashion faux pas: “people that don’t read the room” or dress to the occasion and environment.

A few deep breaths later, Sophie felt right at home in the sewing room with the rest of the team. They led her through the task, step by step, and were only ever a question away. “They were more than happy to help and were very welcoming—I never felt like I was being pushed out the door.” After the week was up, she decided this couldn’t be the end and asked if she could continue to come in. A year later, Sophie attends the studio every Tuesday completing little tasks like sewing side seams, covering bust cups, and making buttons on garments that are sold and extending her seamstress skills. “Working there has definitely helped me in different ways, I pick up on things like being very meticulous and making sure everything looks perfect—because it has to be.” When describing her own personal style, Sophie gives recognition to the beachy, boho and comfortable vibe she’s always been drawn to but doesn’t like to be exclusive to it. “Like Zendaya, for example, has mentioned in the past, I don’t want to tie myself down to one style or be restricted

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What’s most important to Sophie is when giving other people fashion advice she asks if they feel good and comfortable in it. Apart from her seamstress passion, Sophie also studies a Bachelor of Creative Industries at UniSA with a focus on social media and event management. Although, landing a role as a seamstress at Paolo Sebastian is still the dream, Sophie still wanted to study something that could closely align and open up additional opportunities. “I would love to do something in social media and fashion. I feel as though the degree is easily adaptable to lots of different careers and fashion in particular.” Gepp has just recently found a love for creating content for her pieces and other garments she loves—particularly showing the finer, close-up details through quality photography. She loves to view creators on Instagram put outfits together and style things, which again is something she’d love to delve further into. Her interest in social media also extends into her casual hospitality job, where she is applying her own skills and knowledge to running their Instagram account. If Sophie could give any advice to those wanting to start making their own clothes, it would be to make the most of upcycling and thrifting! “It can get quite expensive buying new fabric all the time, but thrifting is a good way to turn something you don’t like into something you do while learning basic skills like unpicking, sewing side seams and knowing what shapes fit you.”

You can find Sophie Gepp and her creations via her Instagram: @sophiegepp interviewer Matisse Chambers interviewee & photographer Sophie Gepp

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comic Ethan Harris

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comic Ethan Harris

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comic Francine Legaspi artwork Miriam Behn 50

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Fear and Loss in Strange Times

words Kerrie Lacey

My high-heeled shoes go click-clack on the wet pavement, the wind picks up and ruffles my jacket, while the rain pauses to allow the grey clouds to regroup and collude in the morning sky. Hand-inhand, my partner and I follow darkly-clad strangers towards an unassuming cream-bricked building, adorned with a simple white cross and the words ‘Lutheran Church’ written above the entrance. We step through the glass doors and into the embrace of the eccentric but kind-hearted aunty. Her eyes are red, but her smile is wide. ‘I’m sorry for your loss,’ I say. She says thank you, before welcoming the next in line.

here. Fucking ‘Rona. Straight ahead there’s a stage, with a wooden pulpit to the left; in the middle, there’s a long table with an open Bible and two fake candles on it. The wall behind is bare, except for a thin horizontal window like a strip of clear blue sky, and some stuck-on cardboard cut-outs of a dove falling from the sky into (presumably) the flames of hell. The overriding impression is one of austerity. The Priest, or Pastor—as I’m soon corrected—makes his way through the aisle to the stage. He’s dressed in a stiff white cloak with a bright green sash around his neck. He has eyebrows that give the illusion of spiders attacking his eyes. His mouth sits decidedly more to the right side of his face and it looks even more crooked when he smiles. His cheeks are flushed and beads of sweat are dotted on his forehead. He fiddles with his headset and tests his mic. After a beat, he opens his arms out wide and says in a thick New Zealand accent, ‘Helloi and wilcome to thee thenkssgiving seervuss for thee life of Gwinith Brissck’.

The inside is just as bland as the outside, from the cream coloured carpet to the cream-coloured walls, right up to the cream-coloured ceiling. It has the musky fragrance of a second-hand store. In the foyer, elderly men and women are seated in plastic chairs, spaced exactly a meterand-a-half from each other—they look like they could just as easily be going to the supermarket for a pint of milk as to a funeral. I see now why my partner suggested my black velvet hat might be, ‘a bit much for this crowd’. They give us the side-eye and we stand there awkwardly until the ‘charismatic’ uncle beckons us over. He booms ‘G’day’ to us from the front pew, like he’s just spotted us at a BBQ rather than at his mother’s funeral. We walk over, give muted hellos and air kisses, as though in compensation, and sit down.

I pick up the program and begin to flick through it. On the cover it says: If we live, it is for the Lord that we live, and if we die, it is for the Lord that we die. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord (Romans 14:8). On the second page, it says: Gwyneth fell asleep in Jesus—These words draw me in, my mind-expanding and contracting as I try to make sense of this paradigm, so utterly foreign to me.

I look around at the other attendees scattered amongst the empty pews and my heart sinks for those that couldn’t be

Then I hear the Pastor say, ‘I unvite yew to rise and sing her favourite sohng: There is a Redeemer,’ and my thoughts fall to the

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ground. An organ sounds from hidden speakers, and everyone stands in unison. As far I can tell, there’s no discernible melody. A man behind me sings loudly, albeit, out of tune, but with enough conviction that he leads the room in song. Apparently, volume trumps talent in this scenario.

them up from the airport and made a ‘hold-onto-your-hat’ U-turn across a threelane highway because she’d just spotted the cheapest petrol she’d seen all day. Other friends speak of her soft spot for those on the fringes of society, and recollect how she welcomed them into the congregation: ‘If you were standing alone in a crowd she would surely find you and introduce you to somebody’. I remember the time she did that to me, only I had a very different take on it. I was quite happy with my own company, in fact, I preferred it to the awkward conversation that ensued after she came up and grabbed me by the elbow, introduced me to a bunch of strangers as someone who ‘works very part-time in a frock shop’, and then walked off and left me there to fend for myself. Without the Christian lens to interpret her behaviour and personality, I had simply thought she was an arse-hat—maybe I’m the arse-hat? Highly likely, but still, I couldn’t help wondering how she would be perceived without the prism of her faith?

Then the Pastor says, ‘We may be seated,’ and reads a psalm, ‘The Lord is like a father to his children,’ to which the attendees respond like a well-versed zombie chorus, ‘tender and compassionate to those who fear him.’ Wait, what? So, His love is conditional… based on fear? But, before I can fully digest this little nugget of information, the charismatic uncle strides up to the pulpit to deliver the eulogy, so I put it away to nibble on later. He talks about what a good Christian woman his mother was and how we’re here to celebrate her life. He throws out jokes, like boomerangs collecting laughter and claps from the audience. ‘Is this a 21st speech?’ my partner whispers to me in an undertone. There is no mention of the death that brought us here, except to say we can ‘take comfort in the knowledge that she is with the Lord in heaven’.

One of her sons says she taught him forgiveness... but gives away no details about how she did so. There is no mention of love and other fuzzy feelings, so I was left with the impression that perhaps this had been a hard lesson learnt.

Next, tributes from friends and family come rolling in, starting—as you would expect—with her husband of sixty-plusyears. He speaks from the pulpit like he’s delivering a church service about the journey of his wife’s faith and love for Jesus. They met at church (of course). He is dry-eyed and unemotional, although he laughs about how Gwyneth would interrupt his speeches at church conferences to have her say from the front seat—all while she was darning his socks, no less. It was unusual for a woman to be present, let alone speak up like that, he says, but that was Gwyneth; she was ‘unique’.

A grandson talks about how she always had random things stored at her house: old phones, pots and pans, broken vacuum cleaners and the like and how he amused himself playing with these things when he had stayed at her house. The cavernous void of what was not said left plenty of room for the imagination to play. The only one to mention the L-word or shed a tear is her youngest daughter; the ‘cool’ aunty. When her tear turns into a torrent, as she chokes out ‘I miss you, Mum,’ her father is quick to come to the rescue: directing his granddaughter to take over, as though showing loss and grief at a funeral is unsightly, unwanted and

The word unique is mentioned by everyone who talks about her. Thrifty is another. Friends laugh about the time she picked

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fundamentally not okay.

staring silently at their shoes while all the pledging, pleading and praying is going on around them. Her husband and their two daughters are also the only brown-skinned people in the room.

Soon, the Pastor is back to encouraging everyone to take comfort in the Lord, ‘For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body) we will have a house in heaven’. Then, more woeful music and dreadfully dreary bargaining in the form of hymns:

The Pastor says something about Jesus winning the battle against death and the crowd claps and shouts ‘Praise Jesus!’ He continues, ‘In the sure hope of the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come, we take the body of our sister in Christ to its last resting place. May the Lord give you comfort and peace’.

Bid my anxious fears subside; Death of death, and hell’s destruction Land me safe on Canaan’s side Songs of praises I will give to Thee

The closing song plays while the grandchildren gather around the coffin, taking their positions as pallbearers. People sing the closing song as they walk the coffin down the aisle, ‘You are stronger than dying’ and outside, where the sky is grey, the rain is drizzling and the wind is ice-cold, ‘Jesus, please watch over us’, and place Gwyneth in the hearse, ‘Jesus, please take care of us’.

Followed by a pledge, in the form of the Apostles Creed, ‘I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth… I believe in … the holy Christian Church…’ Clearly, the thought that there might be those present who do not believe in the same thing was unfathomable. The ‘cool’ aunty and her family are, however,

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photography Zen Zaccara

artwork Abby Smyth

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The Signs as Inspirational Australian Women words & illustrations Kyle Feirclough

Aries

21 Mar – 19 Apr Germaine Greer Loud and proud is the best way to describe you. Shouting out how you feel is not always the way to go—write it down on some paper to share with the world later.

Cancer

21 June – 22 Jul Susan Carland Belief is at your core. Your friends are your religion, and you worship them. Advocate for your people and help them rise higher and higher.

Taurus

20 Apr – 20 May Jessica Gallagher You do it all and you win it all… what’s more inspiring than that? Nothing can stop you, and you’re unbreakable: you deserve to be on the podium.

Leo

23 Jul – 22 Aug Edith Cowan When you think of an inspiring woman, the first person who should come to mind is Edith Cowan, and with a face like yours, you better believe you deserve to be on the $50 note beside her.

Gemini

21 May – 20 June AJ Clemintine Identity and being your truest self are the most inspiring of all. Fight for what’s right and for the others that need your help.

Virgo

23 Aug – 22 Sep Marita Cheng Intelligence is you incarnate. You’re smart, you’re strong and you never stop working. You have so much to share and so little time to share it—that’s why you never slow down.

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Capricorn 22 Dec – 19 Jan

Ita Buttrose You are number one when it comes to stirring up energy. You’re a successful businesswoman at heart and you’re open and honest—especially when dealing with unpalatable matters.

Aquarius 20 Jan – 18 Feb

Cathy Freeman In the dictionary, the definition of remarkable is a picture of you. When people see you, they feel pride; when people hear you, they hear a roar. Being in your presence is nothing but awe-inspiring.

Libra

Pisces

Turia Pitt You are a sharer; you love to talk about yourself, especially when it’s as original and inspiring as you are. Sharing your knowledge with the youths of today is your passion.

Nova Peris Well-rounded in all areas, you’re a captain’s pick. Winning is your specialty… you’re the first in everything and you have the gold medals to prove it.

23 Sep – 22 Oct

19 Feb – 20 Mar

Scorpio

23 Oct – 21 Nov Grace Tame You’re a survivor. You’ve faced challenges in your life that no one should ever have to experience—these challenges make you stronger and have helped you grow into the icon you are today.

Sagittarius 22 Nov – 21 Dec

Nicola Spurrier In dire times, you are the shining star, and you want nothing more than to save the people that you care for the most.

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USASA Club: Women in Business C: The club is a mix of socialising and networking by connecting with professionals and getting the most out of uni that you can.

We caught up with Georgia (President) and Claire (Vice president) from Women in Business to get an insight into their club: what it has on offer for students and some of the awesome events they have planned for the year.

Although the name doesn’t necessarily suggest it, the club is not females only, but males as well, as a way to support women in what is sometimes a male driven industry.

The best friend duo are studying the same double degree, a bachelor’s in finance and financial planning. After attending the USASA Club awards night last year, they identified a gap in a business focused club that was open to people in multiple degrees and industries:

G: Even though our club is called Women in Business, it is actually open to men as well. Personally, I have a really strong belief that as women, we should not only be encouraging but actively involved in closing the gender wage gap and perusing high achieving goals because statistics show that there is a discrepancy between men and women in the industry. Our club offers a platform and space for men to stand alongside women and be a support for women in business. It’s important that we all get around each other and close the gap in business.

G: We recognised a gap within clubs, especially at City West, there was lots of women empowerment and speciality clubs but wasn’t anything business related. So many degrees like finance, HR and management can all come under the umbrella of business and doesn’t always have to be so specific. They found a lot of the clubs on offer were quite niche or targeted at specific degrees and cohorts. Having been unsure in the past whether or not they were able to join certain clubs, they created ‘Women in Business’ for all like-minded female and male, business passionate students!

C: The finance side is very male dominated, we walked into one of our first classes and only saw two other women in the room, which there is nothing wrong with, but we want to connect with those other women to have their support within the industry.

G: Something we have struggled with is networking within our own university and finding people that are just as passionate and ambitious about their careers. It’s not difficult to come across but it is much easier to bring these people together in a setting where we are on the same page, can progress together and people can share their own connections and networks.

With two very passionate and driven women at the forefront of the club, it is no surprise that they have some amazing and unique events (and maybe even merch) lined up for the year. G: We’ve got a lot planned. A collab with Human Resources and hopefully Commerce

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G: I really hope our members can start to see potential, put forth their own ideas for what they want to see and actively participate in the club.

Society, a social cocktail night and probably one big networking event. C: The networking event won’t be one of those sit down and interview each other type of things, we don’t want to have really intimidating activities that people would be hesitant coming to. C: We definitely have merch in the pipe line. We did a poll on Instagram a few weeks ago asking our members what kind of merch they want to see.

C: We are really making a conscious effort to ask our members ‘what interests you in our club’, ‘what would you like to see from the club’ and ‘what direction and what sort of things would you be interested in coming along to’—just so we can get a broad idea and make it a club for the whole community rather than just a club for us.

Not only this, but the pair put up their hands to host the business ball and are also planning on hosting some study sessions and possibly a ‘meet your tutor’ event.

G: We want anyone who has any needs within uni, whether it be they want to network more or do a workshop, we want to make sure that they have the guidance to be able to get there.

C: We are going to do some study events, so at the end of each semester we will put aside two days, book out rooms, have a bunch of snacks/food where our members can come along and just study together. Some people might find others who are taking the same courses, and sometimes it’s nice to be able to study with a group and like-minded people.

G: If there is something our club can’t do or provide, we are going to actively strive to make sure we can find someone that can. So, no matter if you are undertaking a business degree, have a side hustle or are just wanting to network and meet new people within the business realm, the Women in Business club is sure to provide you with the opportunities, people, and support to do so.

C: We have in the works a ‘meet your tutor’ event with a few of the tutors within business degrees. A lot of them have really interesting stories about how they ended up where they are, what courses they did etc.

Contact:

USASA-Women.in.Business@usasa.unisa. edu.au

G: The idea behind this one is that the uni semester is so fast paced you don’t always get a chance to make a deeper connection with your tutor. Lots of them have so much knowledge and this could bring out the possibility to have a working relationship with them or even a mentorship hopefully.

Instagram:

@womeninbusiness.unisa

Even though this is the pairs first time running a club together, it doesn’t get in the way of their goals and aspirations for the club.

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If we started the year with goals to eat healthily and exercise, are we still putting aside time for those things? At this time of year things can become hard both academically and financially. If you require any financial assistance, even if it’s just learning how to put together a budget, USASA offers a free and completely confidential financial counselling service to all students. If you ever run into academic trouble, our advocacy team are here to help, and if you ever think there is anything we could do better, or you need some assistance from a fellow student, our friendly USASA reps are only ever an email away.

President’s Letter We’ve reached that point in study period 2 where for many people, assignments start to become due, the excitement of being back on campus has started to wane and the excessive consumption of caffeine has become a daily ritual.

At the recent campus fair, many students joined our clubs and societies. If you are someone who recharges by attending social events and taking part in activities, there are a whole range of clubs, based on your interests, that hold social events throughout the year, which you can join via the USASA website. If you’re someone who prefers connecting online rather than in person, there are also a vast number of discord chats and online events held by USASA clubs.

It’s important that as we approach the middle of the study period, we have self-care in mind. The middle of a study period is undoubtably one of the hardest parts of the academic year. We’ve begun to form habits, good or bad, and the true workload of each course has finally become apparent.

It’s important that at this time of year we reflect on these questions and continue to show up to class and work hard, so that we will thank ourselves later when we’re finally up and over the hill. Best of luck for the rest of the study period.

During the coming weeks, we should take some time to reflect on how we are tracking so far. Are there some habits we’ve formed that we don’t like and need to replace with new ones? Are we intentionally putting aside time for ourselves to relax and refresh our brains?

Until next time. Isaac

Written by USASA SP5 Advocacy Intern, Owen

USASA Financial Counselling USASA Financial Counselling is a free, confidential, and non-judgmental service available to all UniSA students.

Financial counselling provides information, guidance, and advocacy to people in financial difficulty who want to gain insights about money management. This service can assist students who are experiencing financial stress related to issues such as debt, rent, utility costs and budgeting problems. A financial counsellor can help identify your options and give you the information you need, this ranges from establishing spending plan providing access to the grant support program. Find out more at USASA.sa.edu.au/FinancialCounseliing

Student Penpals Connect & meet new friends studying at UniSA. Open to all students.

USASA.sa.edu.au/Penpals

Showcasing student talent, on the first Wednesday of each month. USASA.sa.edu.au/LiveSessions

Contributors Abby Smyth Alice Lam April Cretan Colin Herring Cooper Sayers Eiesha De La Cuesta Eliza Dunn Ella Hunter Ethan Harris Francine Legaspi Georgia Lawrie Isaac Solomon Isabelle Raven Jess McCall Kerrie Lacey Kyle Feirclough Liam MacRaild Lucy Turczynowicz Madeline Blake Matisse Chambers Miriam Bhen MOD. Nadia Brown Natalie Bellardino Rachael Davies Sarah Herrmann Shania Parker Sofia Sansone Sophie Gepp Trinity Faulkner Women in Business Zen Zaccara

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