spot u o y Can the y Micke s? e ear s u o M
Can you score 100% on the Australia quiz? A guide to scrap pile bunting!
Cats Production 1 Exclusive! SEEKER
editor’s note As we part ways with the solstice, 1:00 AM study sessions and the cone of silence in the main corridor, so too does Semester 1 come to an end. The hot beverage preparation begins, onesies become an acceptable daytime attire (let’s be honest, the sun’s only up for what seems like 3 hours anyway), the struggle to roll out of bed becomes increasingly ‘real’ and the great indoors beckon as a preferred holiday destination. Winter comes from the old Germanic word ‘wintruz’ which means ‘time of water’. This is all schön und gut, but winter is actually Canberra’s driest season. Even the name that we give this time of year is mocking us. But it’s ok, because you can get back at winter and its attitude problems by turn the winter break into a time of fun and relaxation. ‘Oh no!’ we hear you cry, ‘What am I going to do with my time when I don’t have any assessment to procrastinate over?’. Never fear; The Seeker is here to help you every step of the way. So to keep you entertained over the winter break, The Seeker Team are keen to present you with a toasty warm edition of journalistic joviality. Flick to page 4 to get the inside info on our exclusive Cats production; unveiling the secrets behind some the creation of a musical spectacular. Take a trip down memory lane on page 10 and discover the history behind the naming of some of Canberra’s suburbs and streets. For something a bit more down to Earth, check out page 8 to see how Nutella and climate change are related or page 20 to find out why over 200 Nigerian school girls (#BringBackOurGirls) are still being held captive. To fuel your holiday film binge, there’s a movie for every mood on page 24. So kick back, put on some reggae music and pretend you’re in a tropical paradise. Relax and enjoy the break from assessment. May the heater be ever in your direction,
Caitlyn and Megan Editors 2015
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CONTENTS
cover story
4
Exclusive: Cats Production
An exclusive?! You have cat to be kitten me right meow
news and current affairs Political Party Pandemonium:
6
Australia’s Most Unusual Parties Crazy political parties that you can actually vote for!
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JUNE 2015 ISSUE 7
culture and lifestyle
14 Are You For Real?
WTF - Where’s the food? Right in this article!
The Nutella Recipes of Your Dreams 16
A recipe just as good as spreading it on your toast!
Where To Go in Singapore 18
Going to Singapore? Here is your guide!
#Lifegoals 20
Earthly Issues
It’s time to address the environmental issue: climate change
10 Heard of This Suburb?
How well do you know your Canberra surburbs?
Why Go Fair Trade and 12
Australian Made?
Have you ever noticed the Fair Trade symbol on your Cadbury chocolate wrapper?
13
Women destroying patriarchy!
arts and entertainment The Horrific Truths of Disney
21 Do you really know your favourite Disney story?
Movies For Every Mood 24
A guide of movies for whatever mood you’re in
Scrap Pile Bunting 26 Your one and only guide to bunting! 10 Fantastic Facts (You Wont Believe 28
One Year On – Why Haven’t Our Are True) Girls Been Brought Back Update of the kidnapping of nearly 300 girls in Nigeria
Some of these are totally crazy!
29 Australia Quiz
How well do you actually know your country?
16
Memes 30
We know you don’t need a reference for this one!
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School
Exclusive: Cats Production What It Takes To Make A Musical The Seeker goes behind the scenes of Cats to bring information about the ‘ins and outs’ of theatre productions to YOU the reader.
Izzy – (Deuteronomy) What warm ups do you have to do to get into the feline feel? Mrs Hendrie asks us become a ‘number 10’ cat. To do this we have to get on the ground; crawling, meowing, rubbing up against people – we have to hiss at each other – we genuinely have to become a cat. We then have to become a ‘number 9’ cat – adopt more humanistic traits. We do this until we become a ‘number 5’ cat. My life is so much like Cats now that I even meow to my dog sometimes *laughs*. How many hours do you rehearse a week? *thinks for a moment* There’s 2 hours on Monday, 2 hours on Wednesday, sometimes there’s extra Tuesday rehearsals or all day rehearsals; there’s a lot. Sometimes there are extra events too – the Gala dinner required a lot of work. I think we’ve practiced for about 180 hours all up. What are the most exciting and frustrating aspects about Cats in particular? I didn’t think I’d like Cats because I’m not a dancer, but there are so many people in so many different roles; it’s great that the musical accommodates for so many people. The most frustrating thing for me is the nature of my character. The whole time everyone is dancing around me and I’m just kind of there – waiting for my spiel… and having to wear the massive rug that the costume crew has made – it’s going to be so hot – the stage lights are killer (#SOS #goingtodie)
Mrs Hendrie How do you make the decision on which musical you want to run? I chose Cats because it is a dance show. As we have a strong dance program at St Clare’s I really wanted to feature a wide range of dance ensembles in this production. The show is also episodic and very much an ensemble piece, this enables a wide range of students to feature in solo numbers rather than relying on only one or two lead characters. The theme song ‘Memory’ also tied in really well with our 50th Year Celebrations. How do you manage a cast of approximately 100? The production features a wide range of different dance ensembles. Many of the numbers for the production have been rehearsed in class time. I am really lucky to have a wonderful creative team, led by Mrs Brown and including Mrs Darmody, Caitlin Schilg and Genevieive Hall generating much of the choreography. What will make St Clare’s Cats different from other productions? The production will feature a range of dance ensembles so in many parts will be more like a spectacular than a musical.
Brigid How did you begin creating the design? First we researched other productions of Cats, we had meetings with the actors and Mrs Hendrie to see what their thoughts were on the design. All these factors became mixed into a design What’s the hardest part about making the costume? Sewing Deuteronomy’s (Izzy’s role) robe was really hard because of how thick the fabric is (I broke three needles… oops). The head piece was a bit tricky at times too – because of how fiddly it was. What has been your biggest inspiration? The materials that we’ve been using – fake furs, wools, wool roving (what they use on the spinning wheel in Sleeping Beauty), they’re all really different from what you’d typically use when sewing, so it was a great experience getting to work with the obscure textures. Mrs Hendrie had a pretty clear vision of what she wanted and the actors also helped with the functional aspects – how the costume needed to sit in order to fit a microphone on and the weight of the costume so that they don’t boil under the stage lights *laughs*.
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News and Current Affairs
Political Party Pandemonium: Australia’s Most Unusual Parties
(that you can legitimately vote for)
tlyn By Cai
Baljak
After hearing about a few whacky parties that popped up after the ACT gained self-governance, including the Party! Party! Party! Party, the Sun Ripened Warm Tomato Party and the Surprise Party I just had to find out what kind of crazy parties still existed in the Australian political system that people can genuinely vote for. I was not disappointed.
Coke in the Bubblers Party Funnily enough, the obscure name of this party is what the group stand AGAINST; short selling voters with poorly thought out policies.
What they stand for: - Data backed forward thinking policy - Long term implementations (planning for the future) Every year, in primary schools across the country, students are elected to leadership positions on the promise of putting Coke in the Bubblers. Unfortunately, it feels like our political leaders are trapped in a system that still forces them to promise short and sell long – Coke in the Bubblers Party website
Australian Sex Party After much consideration at the Australian Electoral Commission as to whether the party name was too offensive to place on a ballot paper, the Australian Sex Party did exceptionally well in its first election (better than the Greens did in their first). They even have a seat in the Victorian Upper House.
What they stand for: - Mental health reform and awareness - Marriage equality - No data retention
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Bullet Train for Australia Party The Bullet Train for Australia Party just want to get from Melbourne to Brisbane by land in less than 7 hours and in a more efficient way than driving; is that too much to ask? What they stand for: - High speed rail on the east coast (from Melbourne to Brisbane)
Help End Marijuana Prohibition (HEMP) Party The HEMP part website is rather informative about the uses of the cannabis plant; as a food, fuel, cosmetics, medicines and recreation. Whether I’m convinced that they have a genuine point or not I can’t decide; their party symbol (a cannabis leaf breaking out of a prison) is rather comical and leads me to believe that even the party don’t take themselves seriously. What they stand for: - I feel the name is pretty self-explanatory
Pirate Party Yes, you read it right. Starting in Sweden in 2006, there are now 42 countries in which a Pirate Party (or similar equivalent) exists. They even have a member elected in the Czech Senate and three parliamentary members in Iceland. They haven’t been quite so successful in Australia, their best result was in Tasmania, wining 0.6% of the primary vote in the last Federal election. What they stand for: - Copyright reform - Internet freedom (an end to censorship) - Organisation transparency, individual privacy ‘We in the Pirate Party have simply decided that if sharing a love for culture, knowledge and information with our friends and family makes us pirates, then that’s what we are and we’re proud of it.’ – Pirate Party website
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News and Current Affairs
Climate Chan
It is time to address the elephant in the room; climate change. It is normal these days to completely ignore the issue because it is easier to do so than address it. This cannot go on any longer because it is a seriously damaging problem that is detrimental to our planet.
Many people do not believe that climate change is even an issue. They believe that our Earth has gone through climate cycles throughout history and we are currently in a warmer cycle. They assert that climate change is simply a natural phenomenon.
While this is a valid argument, the evidence against it disproves it greatly. Most scientists believe that the global warming of the Earth is due to the greenhouse effect. They have determined that human activities are adding excessive greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.
During the last 150 years of industrialisation, the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide has risen by 31%. Human activities such as driving cars and using fossil fuels have contributed to this increase. However, plants inhale carbon dioxide, don’t they? Can’t that reduce the concentration? Due to deforestation, this is a more difficult and unlikely prospect. Over this same amount of time, the level of atmospheric methane has increased by 151%. This is contributed to by excess rubbish and agricultural activities, such as rice paddies and raising cattle.
The consequence of all of this is a thickening atmosphere that traps heat that would usually be released into outerspace. This increased heat changes the climate, weather patterns and ocean currents. This hastens species extinction, sea level risings, influences the length of seasons, causes coastal flooding as well as more frequent and severe storms. There is already evidence of these events occurring.
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nge By Kimara Pillay
What can we do as humans to combat this massive issue? We can all do little things that are sustainable and environmentally minded. These include things such as taking shorter showers, turning things off at the power point when not in use, recycling and composting, catching a bus/walking/riding a bike instead of driving, turning lights off when not in the room, planting a tree, use renewable energy and avoid processed food by eating organic and local food. There are many other ways to reduce our effect on climate change and they are all really simple, we just have to do it. Collectively, these ideas will make a huge impact on the fight against climate change. I think turning a light off is a small price to pay for saving an entire species from extinction, don’t you?
Here are some things that you didn’t think would happen because of climate change… We will get lazier - rising temperatures and humidity will result in a sluggish work force Crime and violence will rise –Violent crime is linked to temperature anomalies i.e. the hotter it gets the worse we behave. In Africa, it is expected that by 2050 crime will rise by 40%. People will also be displaced due to climate change, not everyone will be nice when it comes to finding a place to live. Pokémon- Pokémon was inspired by particular creatures on land and sea, the sea creatures are being threatened with ocean acidification. The pika bunny, who inspired Pikachu, needs cooler climates to survive. This is difficult with climate change at play. New moral and psychological problems - feeling helpless in global climate change will result in a changing feeling of crushing guilt Crush in Finding Nemo - the temperature of the ground determines the gender of unhatched sea turtles. With hotter temperatures, more females are expected. However this results in less males to mate with, threatening the turtles with possible extinction. Business in the North - with the Artic Circle’s ice expected to completely disappear by mid-century if it continues to melt at its current rate, trade between countries such as the UK, Canada, the US and Russia will be easier. New York will sink - with rising sea levels, low-lying cities such as New York, Tokyo, Mumbai and Miami will go down. COSTCO - from personal experience, it is easy to get out of control at COSTCO and walk out with a 500 pack of straws and 4kg of frozen Dim Sims. However this will all change, the world will shift its thinking and become more sustainable in its spending. Basically we will stop buying unnecessary objects! NUTELLA AND CLIMATE CHANGE Yes Nutella, in all its deliciousness, is contributing to climate change. In France they even tried to roll out the ‘Nutella Tax’, increasing the price by 3 cents due to its environmental damage. Don’t get me wrong, Nutella is one of man-kind’s greatest acheivements. Who doesn’t want spreadable happiness in a jar? The problem is Nutella’s main ingredients; sugar and palm oil. The harvesting of palm oil is a major leader in deforestation, this displaces local wildlife (e.g. orangutans) and contributes to harmful climate change. Sugar cane farming produces pollution and run-off which is detrimental to ecosystems nearby. In Australia, for example, the contaminated run-off from sugar cane farms in Queensland poses threats to the Great Barrier Reef with suspended sediments, nutrients and pesticides. I bet you didn’t know this did you? Consumers who are provided with zero information unknowingly purchase products which are harming our environment. Fair trade labels provide consumers with the education and comfort that this product is sustainable and made under fair practices. There is progress in addressing these issues such as education and legislation, however more needs 9a to be done. I’m not saying you should ditch Nutella all together, but be educated on what you purchase as SEEKER consumer.
News and Current Affairs
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News and Current Affairs
by Meg Lillie My most recent obsession involves checking the details and information on the back of products before I buy them. Now you may think I am trying to diet or am just being really picky but rather, I am looking for two very important symbols: Fairtrade and Australian Made.
These days it is very easy to find a cheaper replication of nearly anything from a famous brand of shoes to chocolate; but often, things are more expensive for a reason. You will find that most companies sell products with one major goal in mind: to make a profit. The difference is that some companies make their profits ethically and others only think about how much money they can make. A real eye opener for me was completing my first sewing project at school, where I made a bag. I can guarantee that many bags very similar to the one that took me a whole term to make could be easily sourced from many chain and bargain stores for around $10. After purchasing the material, cutting out the pattern, then the fabric, then sewing all the pieces together and hand sewing 20 buttons to adorn the front, I would be very disappointed to have my bag sell for a measly tenner. But on top of this, imagine I was working for a company when I made this bag. The company would take some of my $10 to pay for the materials and also to make a profit for themselves. When you deduct the money they take, you'll find I hardly get any reward for my hard work. This is a reality for many workers around the world but often it can be even worse than this; many people work in unsafe and unhealthy conditions. So we need to start asking ourselves this question: do we want to compromise the rights of others in order to get the cheapest product? Although Fairtrade and Australian Made products are often more expensive, this is a price we can afford to pay in order to ensure everyone has access to basic human rights.
So what do you need to look out for and what do the symbols mean? You need to look for the piece of information on the back of the packet or the tag that states where the product was made. If this information is not visible anywhere on the product or packaging, it is unlikely that it is ethically made. Companies that produce items ethically are likely to be proud of this fact and happily display it. If the product is made in Australia, it is most likely to have been produced under healthy and fair conditions but the most reliable products are those that carry the Fairtrade or the Australian Made symbol. The Fairtrade symbol represents better trading conditions, assistance in achieving sustainable practices and fair prices for producers in developing countries. By purchasing a product with the Australian Made symbol you are supporting local businesses, the economy and fairly made products. It is definitely worth taking two seconds of your time to flip over the packet or find the tag to make sure you are supporting the cause. So for the sake of our brothers and sisters around the world, remember to think before you buy.
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One Year On - Why Haven’t Our Girls Been Brought Back?
By Lottie Twyford
Some of you might remember the Nigerian schoolgirls who were abducted by extremist group Boko Haram in the middle of the night on April 14, 2014. 276 schoolgirls were shepherded into trucks by the men, who were, at the time, pretending to be police. It is believed that since then many of the girls have been sold into sex slavery for 2000 rials, roughly equivalent to AU $15. One year on from this tragedy these girls remain faceless, voiceless and nameless. Since then, some of the girls have managed to escape, but over 200 are still being held captive by the group. Around 40 of the girls are escaped the initial kidnapping by leaping from the moving trucks that were carrying them away. One girl told The New Yorker, “I thought it was the end of my life”. Videos have been released, many of them quite horrific, showing the “visibly terrified girls” in Muslim dress being forced to recite passages from the Quran. Government search efforts have been completely unsuccessful, despite international attention through social media. Last year it was all the rage to post pictures with the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls but still nothing is physically being done to save these women. Dozens of world leaders, countless influential people, all have called on the Nigerian government to step in and stand up to the extremists. Unfortunately, the social media “action” never resulted in any real political action. “Emotional stories like this one play particularly well on social platforms, which further speeds up sharing and spreading,” said Kate Brodock, a professor at Syracuse University. But feeling emotionally connected to a story is not enough to make a difference. We see this consistently in the world, everyone gets excited about something for a couple of months. Everyone seems to be posting pictures, the likes are piling up and then suddenly the buzz is over. But the buzz is not over for the people involved. So what is happening in Nigeria? Is anything being done at all to help? As Nigeria marked a year since the kidnapping President-elect Muhuammadu Buhari said he could not guarantee those still missing would be found. “This new approach must also begin with honesty. We do not know if the Chibok girls can be rescued. Their whereabouts remain unknown. As much as I wish to, I cannot promise that we can find them.” On April 14 2015, the activist group dubbed “Chibok ambassadors” marched through Abuja, Nigeria’s capital chanting “bring back our girls now and alive”. These girls truly show us what standing up for injustice really is. Even after the initial media buzz had died down these BBOG activists continued to gather each and every afternoon, demanding action from a government that refuses to accept assistance from international leaders. Amnesty International published a report called “Our job is to shoot, slaughter and kill” documenting some of the crimes Boko Haram has committed in the last 12 months alone, to coincide with the one year anniversary of the Chibok kidnapping. I guess the next thing we need to ask is what happens now? And what happens in the future when more tragedies occur? Do we forget and move on? Or do we need to actively challenge our leaders to make change. A hashtag is not enough, and a like is not enough either. The time to act is now; these girls must be brought home.
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News and Current Affairs
By Amelia Eveston
I have the firmest belief that in order to think well, move well, act well and be well; we must first EAT well. We find this to be a really big challenge, but really, it’s you and you alone, who decides what you eat. No one else is making these decisions for you. So make sure you take the time to actually think about what you are eating. Take the time to think about what the consequence of eating this food will be now and in the future. Realise that large amounts of sugar-laden, processed foods are not only going to make you feel sick and sluggish in the next few moments, but will leave you with little energy to do the amazing things you are capable of, negatively impacting your health and the way your body should function. Instead, think about fueling your body with real food. Real food that is going to keep you satisfied for longer; real food that specifically makes sure your body performs to its optimum level.
Many may ask, ‘What is real food?’ I can see, taste and touch these Doritos, they must be real? Or are they? (Cue Mr. Corson philosophical analysis) However while, yes, the packet of chips are real, they are packed with so many processed substances and unnatural flavourings that it forfeits its right to be real, natural food.
The definition of real food is pretty easy to understand; it is food grown or raised with few or no chemicals, hormones, sprays and without processing - like the food you would grow in your own backyard. Naturally grown fruits and vegetables are the most identifiable real foods. They are packed with ridiculous amounts of minerals, vitamins and anti-oxidants that make sure your body works in the best way it can.
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“In order to think well, move well, act well, and be well; we must first EAT well.”
Broccoli, spinach, rocket, lettuce; these foods cleanse the liver, help blood flow and even improve memory because of their folate content. You can make sure that they taste great by incorporating them in smoothies with sweet tasting fruit, or salads with different toppings.
Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries; I’m a little biased to these fruits, but only because they are just so good. Full of antioxidants and fiber, you can put them on toast with a nut spread, in smoothies, with yoghurt or on their own and will give you a better sweet fix than any lolly.
Oranges, mandarins, grapefruits, lemons; these fruits contain vitamin C that helps improve your immunity; stop the infamous oral day cold! They’re in season now, which means not only are they cheaper, but they taste their best.
Real foods also include whole grains, proteins and (good) fats. Whole grains are what slowly release energy for long periods of time, keeping us energised and satisfied for longer. Brown rice, quinoa, wholegrain breads, granola and muesli all fall under this umbrella. Protein strengthens muscles and aids the function of hormones. Some of the best picks of these foods are white fish and (free range) chicken and eggs. While it may be hard to resist the temptation of fake food (Maltesers!!!!), before you consume excessive amounts, stop to consider all the good things that real food is going to do for you. Focusing your attention to all these positive things makes eating the right thing so much easier. Get excited about fueling your body with the good stuff and see how much better you feel. What you think might be enjoyment of fake food doesn’t come close to the enjoyment and fulfillment of real food.
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Culture and Lifestyle
The Nutella Recipes Of Your Dreams (and no, Netflix, a spoon, and a jar of Nutella isn’t a recipe)
Written by: Olivia Jamson Designed by: Jacinta Evans
Creamy Nutella Cheesecake with Chocolate Ganache and Toasted Hazelnuts INGREDIENTS: Crust: • • • Filling: • • • • • • • •
1 1/2 cups chocolate cookie crumbs 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 1/2 cup melted butter 680 grams cream cheese, softened 1 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 egg yolks 1 whole egg 1/2 cup milk 1 (369 grams) jar of Nutella
DIRECTIONS: For Crust: Heat oven to 180 degrees. In a small mixing bowl, combine crust ingredients. Pat into the bottom of spring-form pan and bake for 10 minutes. For Filling: In the bowl of a mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar, flour and vanilla extract until just combined. Add egg yolks and egg, beat on low until just combined. Add milk and Nutella and mix completely. Pour filling into spring-form pan. Reduce oven temperature to 150 degrees. Place spring-form pan on baking tray and then place in oven. Bake for 1 1/2 hours, or until centre appears set when shaken lightly. Remove and cool on a wire rack. For Topping: Bring cream to a boil. Pour over chocolate chips. Stir until smooth. Spread evenly over top of cheesecake. Sprinkle toasted hazelnuts over chocolate. Refrigerate cheesecake for at least 4 hours to set.
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Nutella Hot Chocolate – Serves 2 INGREDIENTS • •
1 ½ cups of milk 1/3 cup of Nutella
DIRECTIONS:
Combine milk and Nutella in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, whisking until smooth. Divide
between 2 teacups.
Gooey Nutella Cookies INGREDIENTS • • • •
1 cup Nutella, at room temp 1⁄2 cup Nutella, that has been chilled 1 cup flour 1 egg
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 180 C (350 F) and line 2 trays with baking paper. In a large bowl, mix together the Nutella and the egg. Add the flour and stir until incorporated. The mixture will be quite thick. Roll a small teaspoon of dough into a ball and flatten in your palm. Place on the lined baking tray. Put a teaspoon of cold Nutella in the centre of the cookie. Roll a second small teaspoon of dough into a ball and flatten in your palm. Place it over the Nutella and press the edges of the two cookies together, sealing them like ravioli. Repeat the process until all the cookie dough has been used. Bake for 6 – 8 minutes, (less for a chewier cookie). Makes about 18 cookies.
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Culture and Lifestyle
Where to Go in Singapore
By Claire Bennett
Singapore is a small country that was colonised by the British on the border of Malaysia. It is a very multi-cultural country and is clean, safe and a popular holiday place. Here are some places you should go to if you ever visit Singapore. Universal Studios - Based in Sentosa, (an island that is a short metro train ride [or a long boardwalk] away from Singapore) this is a popular theme park with something for everyone. There are rides for the thrill seekers, rides for mild tastes and rides for the people in between as well as shows and shops. The theme park has seven different worlds in it and is especially good at decorating them - particularly Far-Far Away, Madagascar, Ancient Egypt and Sci-fi City. They even have Sesame Street based attractions and if you’re lucky you might get a hifive from the Cookie Monster! Singapore Botanical Gardens - These beautiful gardens have been visited by many and have a wide range of gardens and flowers. The orchard and the frangipani gardens are quite beautiful and have a variety range of the flowers in many different colours. The gardens are free to go to, they are extremely peaceful and are definitely worth a visit. Little India - Little India is a beautiful place filled with markets, temples and shopping centers. Little India can be quite busy on the weekend so it is better to go during the week. The markets are a great place to get some small souvenirs for your friends and family and they are great place to get some food as well. The temples are extremely beautiful and are well worth a visit. China Town - China Town is a great place where everything is cheap and beautiful! It is a great place to get small beautiful gifts for your friends (and yourself) for a great price! They also have beautiful temples and great little Hawker markets where you can try the traditional Singaporean dish of Hainanese chicken rice. Night Safari - The Night Safari is a great way to see animals in their habitats at night. As Singapore is very hot the Night Safari is perfect as you never get cold. There are plenty of walks to do to see all the animals as well as a guided tram where you can see everything up close and your guide will give you fun facts. There is also a creatures of the night show that is very entertaining and definitely worth a look.
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Gardens by the Bay - the Gardens by the Bay is a very beautiful place where you can see plants inside of air conditioned eco-domes and you can go across the top of the giant flowers on a board walk with an excellent view of all the flowers. If you go at night you can go to the top of the hill and watch the light show, which shows the giant flowers have different lights and is accompanied by Disney songs. The hill is also a great place to see a view of Singapore. Hope you enjoyed the advice of where to go in Singapore!
Madagascar world, Universal studios
Gardens by the Bay
Night Safari
Botanic Gardens
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Culture and Lifestyle
Rita Levi-Montalcini (1909-2012) Rita went from having a makeshift lab in her bedroom, to a Nobel Prize winner for medicine. She was born in a time when women weren't encouraged to pursue science, and she went against her father's wishes in doing so. Rita began her university research soon before the rise of Benito Mussolini, the Italian dictator in WWII. She graduated in 1936, with a degree in medical science. Soon after the rise of Mussolini, she returned to university as a researcher. Because all people of Jewish descent were restricted from working at universities, Rita didn't want to abandon her passion and set up a makeshift lab in her bedroom. During this period, she created surgical instruments out of sharpened sewing needles (which is pretty awesome). She studied nerve growth in embryos, which wasn't valued by the scientific community at first. It was later discovered that nerve growth is important for battling Alzheimer's disease, infertility and cancer. Rita won her Nobel Prize in 1986 for her extensive work with cell growth and continued her scientific work until her death in 2012 at the age of 103.
Margaret Hamilton (1936-Present) You know how you never hear about female engineers or computer scientists? Well, Margaret Hamilton was the OG lady engineer. She studied mathematics in college, which was not a typical degree for women to do in her time. When in her 20’s she happened to take an interim position developing software for weather prediction at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). When Margaret started working with very early computers, software design was the type of work that you had to learn on the job. At only 29 years old, she became the director of software programming at MIT. At the time the research team were working on the Apollo mission (you know, the one where humans landed on the moon for the first time), which led Margaret to work for NASA. She and her team were responsible for pioneering the software that made the Apollo on-board guidance systems land on the moon. She is credited with coining the term "software engineering" and is an inspiration for anyone who aspires to become an engineer. Margaret is a pioneer for women in engineering, mathematics and computer science and continues her legacy today.
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Frida Kahlo (1907-1954)
Instantly recognisable from her self-portraits, beautiful outfits and stunning features, Frida Khalo has become a pop culture icon. Frida was born just before the Mexican Revolution into a large family. When she was six, she contracted polio, which caused damage to her right leg. For this reason she started to wear the long, traditional skirts that she is famous for. In a time where people died from minor accidents, she survived a massive bus crash in which she suffered a broken spinal column, a broken collarbone, broken ribs, a broken pelvis, eleven fractures in her right leg, a crushed and dislocated right foot, and a dislocated shoulder. After her accident, Frida was in a full-body cast and was immobilised for three months. During this time, she turned to painting. In her short lifetime, she created over 140 paintings, many of which are currently in prominent galleries such as the Louvre. She married Diego Riviera (another famous Mexican painter) in 1929, and was sadly only known as "Diego Riviera's wife" for a major part of her life. However, she overcame this in her death by becoming more widely known than him. Frida was very shy around large crowds, but had a whip-quick wit and vast intelligence. She serves as a role model for people who have difficulty overcoming hardship and aspiring artists everywhere.
The Horrific Truths of Disney By Megan Braido
As a child, I loved fairy tales. I loved the endless tales of brave women who overcame cruel caretakers and pursued their dreams. I took a particular liking to Disney movies for the heroic women (Mulan), unique plots (Alice in Wonderland) and happily-ever-afters (Beauty and the Beast). I can’t deny that I was one of those little girls who dreamt of a fairy tale love similar to Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. I’m sure wasn’t alone in wanting a knight in shining armour to sweep me off my feet or a Prince Charming to ride off with into the sunset (or realistically an awkwardly dressed guy in tin foil picking me up in his 2003 Toyota Corolla). Disney has fuelled our imaginations for decades with their fantastical stories but they seem to have left out one detail: the truth. How well do you know your Disney stories? Best read on and find out…
Cinderella We all know the Disney story of Cinderella; a mistreated servant for her step-mother and two step-sisters who deny her permission to attend a royal ball. A fairy god-mother appears and with the help of her and some mice, Cinderella is turned into a beautiful princess. However, she is only a princess for that night and once the clock strikes midnight, Cinderella must go. When the clock strikes midnight, Cinderella flees the castle and in her wake leaves a glass slipper. Prince Charming endeavours to find the owner of the glass slipper and once he finds Cinderella, weds her and lives happily-ever-after. The Grimm’s version of Cinderella contains darker elements that were not revealed in the Disney story. Firstly, Prince Charming spread tar on the palace steps to ensure that Cinderella would not escape (hence the shoe being left behind). Cinderella’s sisters are so determined to fit their feet into the glass slipper, that one sister slices off her big toe and the other slices off her heel. Continuing from this scene, Cinderella’s enchanted birds point out the blood on their stockings to the Prince and as punishment for their cruelty and deceit, their eyes are pecked out. The Cat Cinderella written by Giambattista Basile, is equally gruesome. Cinderella confides in her Governess about her step-mother’s cruelty. The Governess convinces Cinderella that to fix her problem, she must kill her step-mother by slamming the lid of a large wooden chest on her step-mother’s throat. Cinderella’s father marries the Governess who then reveals her own seven beautiful daughters. This makes Cinderella’s father lose interest in her and sends her to the kitchen to work as a servant where she faces constant abuse. The story continues with a relatively tame and happy ending. One of the reasons why we enjoy this story is discovering that Cinderella isn’t so innocent after all.
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Arts and Entertainment Pocahontas The plot of Pocahontas goes as follows: Pocahontas is the daughter of Algonquin chief Powatan. The chief promises Pocahontas’ marriage to Kocoum, a brave man who she does not love. To put it in perspective, she would rather be wandering the forest or paddling in her canoe, communing with her nature and animal friends, Meeko (a raccoon) and Flit (a hummingbird). European settlers arrive on their land and Pocahontas becomes enamoured by handsome John Smith. Grandmother Willow (a talking tree) encourages their attraction. The situation from their people is tense and the settlers, led by Governor Ratcliffe, want the gold that they are convinced the natives are concealing. A dutiful sentry, Thomas, follows Smith into the woods while he is secretly meeting with Pocahontas and a tragic mistake leads both groups to the brink of war. The love between Pocahontas and Smith is the only thing that can prevent bloodshed. Pocahontas is based on a falsified and sterilised English account of the early history of the Virginia Colony. When Smith first made contact with the Powhetans (Pocahontas’ people), Pocahontas was only around ten years old. Though it is true that he was captured by the tribe, Smith’s account reveals that he was treated very kindly. Many years later, when Pocahontas’ name became known in England, that Smith fabricated the story about rescuing him from execution. Pocahontas was captured by the English and held for ransom when she was seventeen years old. Her husband Kokoum was murdered and from there, Pocahontas was raped repeatedly and consequently impregnated. To make her pregnancy seem legitimate, she married a farmer by the name of John Rolfe. The Rolfe’s travelled to England and Pocahontas wore a corset in public as a ‘symbol of the tamed Virginia savage’. The Rolfe’s begun their journey home to Virginia after two years in England but Pocahontas prevented the trip from going underway. She suddenly started to vomit violently after dinner and began to convulse. Pocahontas died, horribly and painfully. The English historical accounts are unsure of the cause of her death but it is speculated that she may have succumbed to tuberculosis, pneumonia or even smallpox.
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The Little Mermaid The Little Mermaid we all know and love features a mermaid named Ariel; the daughter of King Triton. A curious mermaid, Ariel swims to the surface after spotting a ship. She discovers a wild storm and a terrified crew, of whom; the handsome Eric is a member. Her Erin-induced stupor is soon broken by a deadly lightning strike. The ship catches alight and all of the men make it onto life boats except Eric, is thrown into the treacherous waves, unconscious. Mermaids are forbidden from interacting with humans but this does not stop the ever curious Ariel. She rescues Eric by guiding him safely to shore and disappears before he wakes. When King Triton discovers that his rebellious daughter has saved a human’s life and has kept human treasures he becomes enraged. Ariel and King Triton have a terrible fight and Ariel turns to a sea witch, Ursula. Ariel makes a trade with the sea witch who gives her ‘land legs’ (to explore the shore) in exchange for her voice on the condition that Eric to falls in love with her as well as acquiring true love’s first kiss within three sunsets, or else her soul becomes the property of the wicked sea witch. The Little Mermaid is a Hans Christian Andersen original that Disney based their movie on. The difference between the Disney and Andersen version, is that Andersen has the Little Mermaid’s tongue is cut out. She also has to live in horrific pain and her feet bleed ceaselessly. To make matters worse, the prince marries another woman anyway. The Little Mermaid was given a choice; that she can kill the prince and turn back into a mermaid or she can throw herself into the ocean to die. The Little Mermaid was unable to kill the prince and thus commits suicide.
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Arts and Entertainment
Movies for Ev So, you’ve just finished your English creative or aced the maths test that you’ve been studying for over the last two weeks and you feel like a well-deserved chill out session with a good movie. If you’re stuck for choice, I’ve got you covered. Whether you’re into comedies or classics, there’s a movie out there to fit every mood!
Glum When you’re in need of a good cry, you can’t go past Disney’s Up. The first 5 minutes of the film will have you welling up if not crying your eyes out over Carl and Ellie’s story. Carl and Russell’s adventures (no spoilers, I promise) will make you want to volunteer at a retirement home or spontaneously hug your grandpa, but either way, a great Disney animated movie and one to definitely get your tear ducts flowing. Runners Up: Titanic, Marley & Me
Lazy We’ve all pretended to be sick to get out of a day at school before, don’t try to deny it! The epitome of lazy (with a heap of fun thrown in) is Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. As tough as it is to be a high school senior, I wouldn’t advise actually taking your friend’s dad’s Ferrari for a joy ride before it ends up in a ravine near your house when you need to let off some steam. However, taking a couple of hours to appreciate Ferris Bueller’s adventures while secretly wishing you could do something as crazy is the perfect solution to the boredom you are currently feeling. Runners Up: Billy Madison, Wall-E
Stressed Out We all know how stressful school can be, particularly in the middle of a semester when you have 5 assignments and 3 tests coming up and you’ve hardly started. When you need a break from all the thinking you are procrastinating actually doing, picture yourself at Kellerman’s Holiday Resort, having the time of your life. (Get it?) You can meet and fall in love with Kellerman’s gorgeous dance instructor, Johnny Castle, and forget about all the work you should actually be doing instead!
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Runners Up: Clueless, The Breakfast Club
very Mood! Uninspired Good Will Hunting is a poignant underdog story guaranteed to give you hope when you’re feeling uninspired. Will Hunting is a 20-year-old janitor working at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who possesses a genius level IQ and an eidetic (photographic) memory. He has a talent for advanced mathematics, and after personal struggles and a physical altercation which lands him in trouble with the law, Hunting is introduced to therapist Sean Maguire (the legendary Robin Williams) who shares his story and convinces Will to take a chance on himself. Ultimately uplifting, this movie will make you want to get up and take a maths class or help someone or do some good in the world; the perfect solution for when you’re feeling less than inspired.
By Ashleigh Watson
Energetic When you literally feel like you just wanna cut loose, definitely watch Ren McCormack’s fight against a small Christian town for the right to dance in public (the original, please). Other than the amazing soundtrack, you’ll wish Rusty was your best friend, Ren was your gorgeous boyf and Willard was the adorable goof sitting in the corner watching you kick off your Sunday shoes. Runners Up: Fame, Whip It
Runners Up: The Pursuit of Happiness, August Rush
So Happy You Feel the Need to Break Out in Song for No Particular Reason Is there really any other option? High School Musical was my entire childhood and I am completely okay with admitting that I still love it with all my heart. I am however slightly embarrassed to admit to you that I literally cannot watch High School Musical 3 without crying my eyes out. I want the rest of my life to feel just like a high school musical; and I’m not even ashamed. #troyandgabriellaforever Runners Up: Grease, Pitch Perfect
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Arts and Entertainment
By Meg Lillie You’ll need: o Twine, yarn or any thin rope to hang the flags on o Flags (material cut outs, doilies, photos, clippings or those free postcards from the library work a treat!) o Hole punch o Scissors o Tacks, hooks, blue tac, washi tape to mount bunting
First of all, you may be wondering what exactly is bunting? My friend Dictionary.com can help you with that one: bunting is any ‘decorative flags, pennants, and/or streamers’. So now we’ve cleared that one up, let us move on to making some cool bunting with easily sourced materials to liven up your wall.
How: 1. Choose your flags. Mine are all postcards from the library and a sticker.
1.
2. Make one hole in the top corners of each flag with hole punch.
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2.
3. 3.
4. Thread twine/rope through holes and don’t cut the twine/rope until you have woven through all flags (leave a small length of twine/rope at each end for hanging). I wanted my rope to be mostly hidden behind the flags so I threaded the rope through from front to back but it depends what you prefer.
Place flags in desired order.
4. 5. Space out flags evenly (or unevenly if you want to live on the edge) on twine/ rope.
5. 6. Now your bunting is ready to hang!
6.
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10 Fantastic Facts (You Won’t Believe Are True)
Arts and Entertainment Some of facts of history, science, geography, and maths are so crazy that they sound madeup— but they’re actually completely true and if you don’t believe me just check for yourself. 1.
Anne Frank and Martin Luther King Jr. were born in the same year, 1929.
2. Babies are born without kneecaps.
3.
4. Cleopatra lived closer to the invention of the iPhone than she did to the building of the Great Pyramid. 5. Play-dough was first made to be a wallpaper cleaner 6. A con man, named Victor Lustig, once sold the Eiffel Tower to an unsuspecting scrap-metal dealer.
7. The toy Barbie’s full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. 8. France was still executing people with a guillotine when the first Star Wars film came out. (The last person was executed September 10, 1977 and Star Wars came out 25 May, 1977.) 9. In the last 4000 years, no new animals have been domesticated. 10. There are more stars in space than there are grains of sand on every beach in the world.
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Mario hits blocks with his hand, not his head.
AUSTRALIA QUIZ How well do you know Australia? 1) a)
How many countries are larger than Australia? 12 b) 4 c) 5 d) 7
By Meg Richardson
2) What is the highest grossing Australian movie? a) Australia b) Crocodile Dundee c) Rabbit Proof Fence d) Bran nue dae 3) Australians hold the world record for which amazing feat? a) Fastest Beer bottle opening b) Largest Christmas Cracker c) Most Sheep Sheared in 24 hours d) Largest Chicken 4) Who wrote Waltzing Matilda? a) Banjo Patterson b) Mem Fox c) Ned Kelly d) George R.R Martin 5) Which Australian actor starred in the movie Avenger: Age of Ultron? a) Robert Downing Jr. b) Chris Evans c) Chris Hemsworth d) Scarlett Johansson 6) How did the iconic Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin die? a) Heart Attack b) Sting Ray b) Crocodile Attack d) Drowned 7) In which year did Prime Minister Kevin Rudd give the Apology speech? a) 2008 b) 2005 c) 2013 d) 2009 8) Which of these movies were not filmed in Australia? a) Babe b) The Railway Man d) The Matrix c) Tron 9) How many people live in Australia? (Estimate) a) 30 Million b) 24 Million c) 22 Million d) 27 Million 10) What was the year that captain Cook colonized Australia? a) 1740 b) 1788 c) 1730 d) 1790
Answers: No Peeking! 1. C 2. B 3. B
4. A
5. C
6. B
7. A
8. C
9. C
10. A
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Arts and Entertainment Brought to you by Temaire Bannister!
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Your Team 2015
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Amelia Eveston Angie Lu Ashleigh Watson Caitlin Davies Caitlyn Baljak Charlotte Twyford Claire Bennett Clementine Wraith Elizabeth Crane Jacinta Evans Katelyn Tsipiras Kimara Pillay Meg Lillie Meg Richardson Megan Braido Megan Phipps Olivia Jamson Sarah Smyth Sophie Mateer Temaire Bannister