Ngarra Magazine Edition 14

WELCOME

TO OUR WINTER 2022 EDITION OF NGARRA

The challenge of writing a reflection in the middle of 2022 is not the lack of things to say but the ways in which COVID has homogenised the last two and a half years into one long series of lockdowns, outbreaks, operational changes, adaptations, PCRs then RATs, sanitiser, and the move from blue masks to making our own masks to becoming experts in the attributes of an N95 mask. And, along the way we have all had to become amateur epidemiologists, statisticians, and risk evaluators.

With two years’ experience in managing change, risk mitigation and supporting students through the pandemic, I am even more convinced of the need for students to live and study with peers in a connected community. There has never been a more crucial time for students to live together (re)building peer networks, exchanging ideas, and experiencing rites of passage and life changes in community and with each other.

For first-year students as well as many returning students, living in College has been the most people they have been in close contact with since before the pandemic. For many, the opportunity to take part in sport, join a musical or eat together has been a much-welcomed change. At the same time, this has been extremely difficult for others requiring a careful balance of renewed freedoms with support structures such as vaccinations, providing isolation rooms for students feeling unwell and a continuous supply of RATs to ensure everyone feels safe.

All of this has relied on the extra and selfless effort from the staff and student

leadership teams. The College owes them a sincere thanks for the many additional hours spent rearranging rooms and furniture (sometimes weekly in response to new rules released at one of the daily ‘pressers’), taking students to PCR tests or medical appointments, delivering ‘quarantine’ supplies and meals, sourcing sanitiser, masks and more recently RATs, all on top of their normal responsibilities and while undergoing the same personal stresses as everyone else.

The last two years have been the most stressful and unpredictable years I can remember in over twenty years of College life, and there is a lingering sense of exhaustion as we all refocus on building back together with a sense of optimism for the future.

I grew up with the Māori proverb: “He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata” What is the most important thing in the world? It is the people, it is the people, it is the people – and it has been the key point of reference throughout the pandemic.

Remaining connected with and supporting each other has enabled us to successfully navigate what we hope will be a once in a lifetime event, and this sense of connectedness remains the most important value to hold on to as we move forward together.

Vale Emeritus Professor Glenice Hancock AM

Glenice was the second Principal of Dunmore Lang College, from 1984-1986 and served on the Board from 1993-1994. Glenice went on to join CQ University in 1997 as Deputy Vice-Chancellor and in 2001 was appointed as the first female Vice-Chancellor (of any Queensland University) until her retirement in 2004. At Glenice’s funeral service in May we were reminded, through moving eulogies, of Glenice’s strong leadership, great strategic vision, and commitment to accessible education for everyone.

Vale Mr John Almgren AM

DR. ALASDAIR MURRIE-WEST PRINCIPAL

John was an ardent supporter of the College from 1992 having served on the Board and, up until 2020, the Academic & Scholarships Committee. He and his wife, Yvonne, were the College’s greatest benefactors. Due to their generosity and genuine interest in the education and wellbeing of our students, we have been able to provide financial assistance to many students over the years. Their history with Dunmore Lang College lives on with the administration building, the Almgren Centre, named in their honour.

DUNMORE LANG COLLEGE 50TH ANNIVERSARY

While 2022 is the College’s ‘official’ 50th anniversary since we opened in 1972, we have taken a lead from the Olympics and delayed the celebrations until 2023. These events are planned many months out and require significant resources, however the College was not in a position to do this work due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first event will be a tree planting on the same day and time as the original opening celebration – 3.00pm on 29th April 2023 followed by an afternoon event.

Other events will be announced later this year, and we are looking forward to inviting students, families, Alumni, Company Members, and associates of the College to join us at one or more of the anniversary events.

In the meantime, we are reaching out to Alumni and past staff to reconnect and also help us to update the College’s Alumni database. If you have friends who would like to be included, please ask them to email: alumni@dlc.nsw.edu.au or call the College +61 2 9856 1000 to update their details as well as suggesting any other additions.

WELCOME TO OUR NEW STAFF

AIMEE WOODS ASSISTANT DEAN

Aimee Woods started in the role of Assistant Dean in March 2021. Aimee is a Wiradjuri woman living on Barramattagal country in NSW. She graduated with an Arts degree in Anthropology from Macquarie University in 2018 and received the John Dunmore Lang Senior Scholarship.

Aimee first came to College as an undergraduate student in 2013 on a Macquarie University / Dunmore Lang College Indigenous Incentive Scholarship. She went on to become a Resident Adviser in 2016 and subsequently a member of the Senior Duty team.

Since graduation Aimee worked in Indigenous technology design and development at the University of Technology Sydney then moved to take up a position as the Events and Outreach Officer with the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research also at the University of Technology Sydney.

In addition to her role as Assistant Dean, Aimee is studying her Juris Doctor at University of Western Sydney and is steadily growing an indoor plant garden. She has two lovely cats – Fish (who was born under the College bins and rescued by staff) and Roger.

HADI JOHARI COMMUNITY SUPERVISOR

Hadi started tutoring at the College in Security Studies, Criminology, and Intelligence subjects in 2018. He holds a Double Master’s degree in Intelligence and Cyber Security Analysis and has a keen interest in researching the effects of cyberspace on Human Intelligence (HUMINT) operations.

His hobbies include researching and practicing open-source intelligence (OSINT).

In his free time, he has participated in investigative journalism projects focussing on current important security issues.

He enjoys helping young adults recognise their potential and make positive choices in life.

O-WEEK

TWENTY TWENTY TWO

Every year, a new cohort of excited and nervous students start their time at Dunmore Lang College, a place bustling with smiles and laughs that echo through every corridor. Before everyone jumped into their academic studies and embraced the wonders of Macquarie University, the ADS Executive team organised and ran the Freshers’ Orientation Week (O-Week). This week is filled with numerous opportunities to bond with others, navigate the challenges of living away from home for the first time, and slowly step outside of your comfort zone by participating in a variety of activities.

This year, the theme was Clued-O Week. Students adopted the role of detectives trying to collect clues, question motives, and interrogate individuals to solve the Dunmore Lang College mystery.

During the week, activities such as College Quest, Courtyard Events and the Silent Disco provided students to interact and engage with each other over music, food, and beverages. Furthermore, whether it was an outing to Darling Harbour for our Boat Party, or a brisk walk to campus for the Ubar Dance-off, everyone was able to branch out both within and outside the College and to experience how Dunmore Lang College fosters such a strong sense of inclusivity and community.

Inevitably, there were some early mornings, contrasted with some late nights. Adapting to a new schedule with brand new faces is no easy task but the openness and enthusiasm meant that despite coming from all corners of Australia and around the world, all with different interests, passions, and beliefs, we came together as friends. O-Week was just the beginning. Throughout 2022, these bonds will only become stronger.

We all come together at the end of the day, the week, and eventually, the end of 2022, and will be able to reflect on all the opportunities and endeavours that we have all experienced during the year. The highs, lows, and everything in between. We gain valuable insight into others, but more importantly, ourselves. There are many more memories to create in the future, and we all get to share them with each other together at Dunmore Lang College.

SAM MOSS | TAREE, NSW

SALLY HURST | GUNNING, NSW

If you ever discovered a fossil, or an Indigenous artefact –what would you do with it?

Maybe you’re walking along a beach, or out on a bushwalk, or even at your family farm, and you happen to stumble across something special. It could be something like an Aboriginal stone tool, or a fossil from some prehistoric animal or plant, millions of years old. But what would you do with this discovery after you’ve found it?

This is the question I’m trying to answer.

Australia has its fair share of incredible heritage objects and places. From the remains of some of the largest animals to have walked this Earth - the Titanosaurs, to cultural objects, artworks, and sacred places of the oldest living culture in the entire world – the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

But are these objects, places, and the stories they tell being protected?

In answer to the first question about what you might do if you discovered something, you may be thinking ‘I would have no idea what to do, who to call, or what the rules are about finding a fossil or artefact’. Chances are, you are not alone in this thinking. A quick google search may not do you any good either, with the rules on what to do differing across states, and are generally a struggle to find, and even more difficult to actually understand what each legislative act is saying.

In Australia, we don’t really have ANY data about these perspectives or difficulties, so no data to say that the heritage legislation and its communication to the public (or lack thereof) is effective in its protection of heritage (which, let’s be real, is literally its one main job).

ENTER, THE FOUND A FOSSIL PROJECT.

As part of my current Master of Research at MQ, I created the Found a Fossil project as a way to address these issues in heritage conservation, and as a platform to try and answer this question about what the Australian community would do if they ever discovered a fossil or Indigenous artefact. Through an Australia-wide survey in 2022 I collected responses from over 1000 people from all over the country – farmers, miners, students, Indigenous communities!

The “Found a Fossil” survey will provide some much-needed data on the current state of our heritage legislation and it’s communication, and raise awareness for how everyone in the community can help to celebrate and protect the incredible heritage material we have here in Australia.

The Found a Fossil website itself is a platform providing people with stateby-state breakdowns of what they can/ should do and who they can contact if they discover a fossil, or an Indigenous artefact (as they are covered under separate legislation/agencies). Found a Fossil is my labour of love, and has already allowed me to connect with museums, universities, communities and individuals all across Australia. In future, I’m hoping that I can share this passion even further, travelling to schools across NSW to deliver an interactive outreach program I have designed – getting the next generations of palaeontologists and archaeologists excited about history in all its forms.

Now, with everything else going on in the world [pandemics, wars, even that uni assignment you still haven’t started yet], you may be wondering:

WHY SHOULD I CARE ABOUT FOSSILS AND ARTEFACTS?

If we neglect our history and heritage objects, places and stories now, in the future, after wars or pandemics, or assignment deadlines have passed, what will be left to pass on?

It would be an incredibly sad and dull world without dinosaurs, or the rich Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, objects, or stories they can tell, and the intrigue they both inspire.

To me at least, that seems like a history worth protecting.

For more information go to: WWW.FOUNDAFOSSIL.COM

STUDENTS MAKING THEIR MARK ON LINKEDIN

Students past and present are making the most of the LinkedIn training they received from Roger Norton, Founding Director of Norton Crumlin & Associates, as part of the workready training at College by posting to the platform.

It is wonderful to see students flourishing in their chosen fields.

MUSIC FROM THE SOUL

How ya’s goin’? My name is Kamden Walker and I’m a Gumbaynggirr man from Scotts Head. I’m a third year at Dunmore Lang College studying a Bachelor of Music, and I write and compose my own music.

My artist name is ‘Baajim’, and I’ve had this name since I was a child. It originally was just a nickname that my family called me and I thought of it as just that, a nickname. As I began writing music though, that nickname became something a lot more personal and powerful.

‘Baajim’ comes from the Aboriginal language and land that I was born and raised in — Gumbaynggirr. In Gumbaynggirr language, ‘Baajim’ means ‘magic’. I think originally this nickname was given to me due to my pretty crazy abilities with sports as a child, but as I grew older I began finding other interests and hobbies, slowly losing that ‘magic’ about me.

That was until one day when I began writing songs. Music was always apart of my life as I would listen to it non-stop throughout High School, whether that be on the bus ride there, in-between walking to classes, even

during classes. I was essentially reliant on music to get through doing school work, and one day I decided — “why not try make my own music?”.

Through High School I wrote lyrics to music I found on YouTube and posted them to my FaceBook and YouTube channel. It was so weird the next day after I released a song and went to school as people would actually say that they liked the stuff I was making, and the thought of people actually listening to what I had to say in my songs was just insane to me. It filled me with pure connection to others and it sparked something inside me that nothing had managed to do before. It was a true passion that I could see myself doing for the rest of life, purely for that personal connection to others though the magic of music. That was when I remembered my nickname, and there I decided to officially name myself Baajim.

HERE ARE SOME CASUAL LIL’ QUESTIONS JUST FOR INSIGHT INTO MY CURRENT AND FUTURE MUSIC PLANS AND IDEAS:

How long have you been composing?

Originally, I used pre-made music that was uploaded to YouTube, wrote lyrics to them, recorded vocals and released it. Last year in 2021 though I realised I could not do that forever, so I began using Ableton Live 11 to begin composing music for the first time, and I am still developing my own unique sound to this day. My genre/ style of music is Hip-Hop based, but is evolving into a more chill, ambient, RnB, Jazzy, alternative type of sound — (some of my favourite artists that inspire my sound are XXXTENTACION, Lil Nas X, Joji, The Weeknd, Mac Miller, Tasman Keith… just to name a few).

What is your favourite instrument?

The piano to me seems to be my favourite instrument as I always play the piano to begin composing a song. There is just something about playing the piano that makes me hear the sounds being moulded into any sort of feeling/ emotion/vibe I wish to create. It can be grand, simple, sad, happy, inspiring. There are so many different avenues of sound you can adventure with a piano.

What inspires you to compose/play?

There are two main reasons I create music; I want to speak about the things I feel, think, experience and anticipate, and express that in a beautiful way through music. I want to leave a mark on the world, even if it isn’t that large of an impact.

I also want to create a connection to the people who listen to my music. Maybe not directly connected, but create a sort of ‘safe-space’ where people can relate or understand their own experiences, thoughts, feelings through listening to my music.

I just want to create a response inside somebody who listens, whether if it makes them think about themselves or others, or even if it just makes it easier for them to study, or makes them get through the day easier with a distraction.

What are your plans for the future?

So far, I am planning to finish a full length project I have been working on for the past month or so. I have been working on an album that consists of 10 songs with a duration of 30 minutes.

It is only in its beginning stages, with the music being finished, and all I need to do now is write lyrics and record my vocals when the time comes.

This new album is named ‘from dusk til dawn’ and I aim to release it sometime this year (maybe in a few months).

I also want to include my Aboriginality and more personal aspects of my life into my music, as well as release ‘from dusk til dawn’ on Spotify.

If you’re interested in hearing some of the music I have already released and are intrigued by my new album, find the ways to find me to the right y

Anyways, that’s what I’m about! I’m most likely out skating, exercising, or doing assessments throughout my days, but if you see me in college or just walking about, feel free to say hey!

Thanks to anyone who read this, I appreciate you and I hope you have an awesome day/arvo/night. Don’t forget to drink water :)

KAMDEN WALKER SCOTTS HEAD, NSW

INSTAGRAM

/BAAJIM_

where the majority of my announcements and updates on music happen.

SOUNDCLOUD /BAAJIM

some really old songs on there from high school so enjoy that hahahaha

SPOTIFY

listen to one of my newest releases ‘LOW.’ with an artist I collaborated with in America! It’s on Spotify and currently has over half a million streams!! search: ‘Baajim Low’

YOUTUBE /BAAJIM

AN INTERVIEW WITH A SCHOLARSHIP HOLDER

JADE BUNT | DUBBO, NSW

Which scholarship do you hold?

I hold the Macquarie University Dunmore Lang College Rural and Regional Scholarship.

Why did you apply for this scholarship in particular?

I took a tour through Dunmore Lang College and realised that it was not just a college accommodation but a community. Moving 6 hours away, this was important as I wanted to make the transition as easy as possible. Dunmore Lang houses primarily rural and regional students so I knew I would be surrounded by like-minded people from similar backgrounds to me.

Did you think you would be successful in your application at the time?

When I first heard about the scholarship, I thought I had no chance in being successful. I was lucky enough to work in many youth volunteer groups that exposed me to the tenacious and hard-working young people from regional and rural areas all around the state, so I was sure that this scholarship would be filled with a plethora of other deserving applicants.

I was so convinced of this that I almost didn’t apply. It wasn’t until I had my interview with the Dean of Dunmore Lang College that I definitely decided to apply as she reminded me I only had a chance if I applied. From there, I just hoped my hard work would pay off.

How did you feel when you received your notification of award letter?

I remember walking to the courthouse to file some documents for my job as a

legal assistant and opening the email that said my scholarship application had been successful. I was so excited and rushed back to the office to tell my co-workers who all shared in my excitement. This afternoon was pretty symbolic for me; I was working in my dream industry at 18, about to move to Sydney to study my dream degree and had just found out that my volunteerism had landed me a full scholarship for 4 years. Years of putting long hours into community work while balancing the HSC, working, and dancing competitively had resulted in a huge pressure being taken off my shoulders; I could now relax and reap the benefits of hard work.

I told my mum after work that I was successful, and we celebrated that night with a roast special at our local pubnothing is more ‘true blue Aussie’ than that!

How has the scholarship made a difference to your education and career trajectory?

Having this scholarship has allowed me to focus on my studies without the worry of managing my finances. I have greater free time as I have less pressure to get a job and earn money to ensure that I have a quality standard of living. As a result, I have been able to continue my work with Headspace as a youth volunteer, work with the Fair Treatment campaign, be a Novice Moot Champion, as well as a member of the Association of Dunmore Lang Students, work part-time as a Legal Assistant, and this year work as a Residential Advisor at Dunmore Lang.  This has significantly impacted my career trajectory as I am

able to keep enhancing my employable skills through community work and dedicate greater focus to my studies.

What would you say to someone who was considering becoming a donor to the scholarship fund?

Living in a regional community certainly presents with innate difficulties and disadvantages. There are particular social and financial discrepancies impacting on our community, but also a significant difference in the opportunities for regional students. This is evident for many rural students who have difficulty transitioning into higher education in a Sydney area such as Macquarie. Comparatively in size to our metropolitan cousins we are not huge, however in strength and determination we are mighty. Donating to the scholarship fund is aiding this strength and determination and providing equal access to all students.

What advice can you give to students considering applying for a scholarship? Don’t underestimate the importance of young people and the true difference you can make in your local community. I will always encourage young people to get involved in their community and have their voices be heard; so many opportunities opened up for me when I took this advice. University can seem unattainable because of your postcode, but there are so many pathways, scholarships, and chances available that university can be for you if you want it! In total, be confident, believe in your abilities, take every opportunity that comes your way, and the rest will fall in place!

THE COLLEGE PATCH

The College veggie patch was planted at the start of May 2021 as a way to encourage students to interact with green space during the COVID-19 outbreak and lockdowns.

It has been wonderful to see so many people get involved in an environmentally friendly initiative that is also beneficial for students’ mental health. The patch has been utilised frequently in lockdown by students to incorporate a positive, relaxing outdoor activity into their daily routines that gives us much needed access to outdoor green spaces.

The kitchen staff have been doing amazing things with our home-grown products - using the carrots, snow peas, cauliflower, broccoli, beans and beetroot from the plot and putting them in dinners and lunches over the semester. Having our very own veggies to eat has been a super rewarding experience that we will continue in the future.

Spending time in green space can be so helpful for our well-being and mental health, and as a result, we intend to use the veggie patch to maintain this positivity for as long as we can manage. The success of the veggie patch has been overwhelming and we cannot wait to try our hand at a summer crop after mid semester break.

PORSHA BOLTE | WYALONG, NSW

ABOUT HER DUNMORE LANG COLLEGE - CEF SCHOLARSHIP

‘OVERTHE MO O N ’ LOUISA

The Dunmore Lang College at Macquarie University and CEF Partnership, now in its second year has helped another regional student begin her education journey.

Louisa and her family have always lived on the land. The remote property her dad farms is 70 kilometres from the nearest town and her school, but this challenge of distance did not hinder her love for learning.

Louisa Gilmour who hails from the small town of Warialda, NSW is the 2021 recipient of the part accommodation scholarship and says she is so thankful and ‘over the moon!‘

Her mum, a secondary art teacher at Warialda High School for 27 years, instilled her passion for learning, art, music and leadership.

The CEF Gwydir Learning Region supported student has recently made the big move to Sydney to study her dream course, a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Media and Communications at Macquarie University.

THE BIG MOVE

“I am a little nervous for this big change, but I am also really excited for the endless opportunities and cultural exploration the city has to offer. Leaving my family will be the biggest challenge but I will look forward to the visits and little pieces of home that will come with them.”

Louisa says that during her search for a new home-away-from-home, she heard from friends that Dunmore Lang was a “very community-based and supportive college with a large percent of country kids” and felt it would be the perfect fit for her.

“This accommodation scholarship will alleviate so much financial burden. The assistance will allow me to focus on my double degree without financial stress and pressure to also work while I find my feet in Sydney.

It will also take the burden off my parents as we sold our family farm and relocated to another property due to the drought in 2020. I am so appreciative for the support.”

GETTING CREATIVE

Louisa aspires to graduate from university and gain a job and career in the creative industries. “I would love to gain international experience in film composition and media production so that in the next 10-15 years I could become established within the production of creative media.”

Louisa says she is aware of the gender discrepancy between men and women in producer roles and wants to “exert my creative ability whilst setting a new standard for women in the industry.”

A LOVE FOR COMMUNITY

While music and art are Louisa’s passions, the rural community she grew up in has played a large role in shaping her individualism. Every year her family dedicates time for their community members and events. Louisa and her brother have judged sheep, fleece, produce, grain and cattle at the Royal Easter Show in Sydney.

She was also on the Student Representative Council for the past 6 years and was elected School Captain in 2020. Through this, Louisa and other student leaders founded the Gwydir Youth Council, with the aim to form a youth group to be the voices for others in her community.

“We have taken concerns to Sydney Youth assemblies and to Parliament through our local members. I hope that I can further these traits in the coming years at university and Dunmore Lang College.”

FOR WOMEN IN THE

TWENTY TWENTY ONE BALLIN

The 2021 Dunmore Lang College Ball at Lauriston House was indeed a night to remember.

Both Sophie Kirkman and Hayley Dowling had a handful dealing with the changing Covid restrictions, but managed to pull together a fantastic evening, filled with music, good food and lots of smiles.

The night goes to show how the spirit of College can indeed be reignited even after two years of lockdowns, so well done Dunmore Lang!

PASSION + PURPOSE

SWAZI SHARMA | DUBBO, NSW

As I have grown as an individual, I have come to realise that my passion and purpose revolves around science and the human body, giving back to the community and sharing what I know to make a meaningful impact. With time I realised that a career in medicine would allow me to combine all my passions.

In 2019 I commenced a Bachelor of Medical Sciences with a major in anatomy and physiology and last year started my preparation for the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT).

Preparation for the test was difficult and I was floundering.

One morning, I got an email from Liza, Dean of Students, asking me to come to the office. There is something about an email from the College office that makes your heart start racing. But when I went to meet Liza, she started talking about the GradReady programme. I already knew about GradReady GAMSAT preparation as it is well known for helping students prepare for the exam, but I also knew the programme was expensive and more

than I could ever afford. Liza then told me that I had been selected as the 2020 Principal’s GradReady Scholarship recipient, which meant I was able to attend the programme for free. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to express how grateful I felt, and still feel, for awarding me the GradReady Scholarship.

The programme is usually delivered face-to-face; however, due to COVID-19, it was shifted to an online mode. The programme enabled me to attend many online classes covering all the core areas including humanities, physics, biology and chemistry and I had access to the 4000+ multiple choice question bank so I could practice questions under exam conditions. I was also able to submit essays for marking and feedback on my writing style, all of which was very helpful. I always felt

the tutors wanted me to succeed and I was grateful for the extra time they gave to answering my questions and ensuring I grasped concepts fully.

The academic support I have received from the College over the last two and a half years has helped me maintain a competitive GPA and being awarded the GradReady Scholarship has helped me prepare for the GAMSAT with confidence. A high GPA and a competitive GAMSAT score are crucial to securing an interview for medical degrees, so I am very grateful Dunmore Lang College believed in my potential and provided me with these opportunities to grow and succeed. My dream of becoming a doctor is not unattainable anymore, thanks to the support I have received during my time at the College.

REFLECTING

It is too early to see the full extent of the changes and lessons learned from COVID-19; some changes will revert, but others will be embraced and become a permanent part of who we are and how we relate.

While universities and schools performed near miracles reimagining their traditional teaching to an online-only environment in just a few weeks, it also became apparent that something was missing – the need for students to be on campus. Not just for lectures and tutorials, but for shared coffees, walks around the lake, sports, student club activities, and building those important connections that often last a lifetime.

Knowing the importance of peer connections for student wellbeing, we knew it was vital to remain open and provide a safe environment for Dunmore Lang students. That having a place to live and a community of peers is essential to maintaining emotional and mental wellbeing during what is an exceedingly difficult situation.

Stressful experiences like a pandemic exact a heavy toll but finding ways through this builds new strengths and skills as well as affirming the importance of personal connections and community.

“Smaller and more often” became our guide as our usual events are downsized to fit new regulations and new activities also emerge. From sewing classes

to bingo nights, fashion shows to baking sessions, and from self-care Sundays to ‘cork and canvas’ afternoons, plus the very popular College Tuck Shop quickly became the norm.

Over the last two years in the College, both in and out of lockdowns – we have seen students building stronger connections, re-aligning and changing priorities as well as generating new and creative responses. And the positive impact of these shifts has been evidenced by strong retention and academic results.

Facing adversity and stress refocuses who we are and where we find meaning. Studies of frontline workers in stressful environments highlight significant shifts in perspective: Seeking meaning in possessions or popularity gave way to looking for ways to make life count, aligning values with roles that made a difference in the world while prioritising and investing in close relationships and connectedness with others.

Over recent years, loneliness and isolation have been growing concerns as life is increasingly experienced online. Prior to COVID, the UK appointed a Minister for Loneliness while others sought to measure their happiness indices.

Interestingly, as we are forced to connect virtually there is a much more pronounced desire for people to be together. The opportunity to ‘just drop in’ or hang out with friends has become a much-missed norm.

These losses are difficult, but it has also refocussed what we see as important not only as individuals but as teams and friendship groups. There are many reasons to believe we will not just deal with this pandemic but use the experiences to reimagine and rework how we structure our work, education, and relationships – for the better.

Next year will be important for new and returning students as they head back to campus armed with new digital tools but also a clear appreciation of the things they missed and why they were important.

We lost a lot through COVID and the recent natural disasters, but in that space, we have also realised the opportunity to choose what we take forward and where we focus our energies.

DR. ALASDAIR MURRIE-WEST PRINCIPAL

ON LIFE AT DUNMORE LANG COLLEGE THROUGH THE PANDEMIC

For some, living with a bunch of other uni students would be their worst nightmare but for me, it has been a lifesaver. Dunmore Lang College is one of the many student accommodation options at Macquarie University and for myself and about 250 others, it’s home.

Before you ask, no it is nothing like the American colleges you see in movies. In my opinion, this is far better and far less culty. Dunmore Lang College, more affectionately known as DLC, is a place to have fun, meet other people you never thought you would, and create a family you never knew you needed. Oh, and it is a place to focus on your tertiary studies too.

You will find us nestled between Robert Menzies College and the ever growing towers of apartments along Herring Road. Blink and you will miss us, but those who you meet here will leave a lasting impact on your life.

From the outside, it looks like the Abnegation buildings in Divergent (you’ll appreciate the 2014 reference once you see it), but on the inside, it is bursting with colour, vibrancy and excitement. If there is one word to describe the exterior (and interior for that matter) of DLC, it would be bricks. Every inch of this building is covered with soft honey bricks. Bricks that residents here have grown fond of over the years. Years from now, if we ever see an Instagram photo of someone with these bricks behind them, we will instantly know it is DLC and be flooded with memories.

I am originally from a small suburb called Kings Langley. Which is kind of near Blacktown but also kind of near Glenwood. Yes, I’m aware that is literally only 20 minutes away from Macquarie but I was fortunate enough to gain a scholarship here at DLC. For various reasons, Kings Langley wasn’t right for me anymore, and DLC provided me with somewhere I could feel at home.

I am one of the very few people who live here who are from Sydney. A large portion of DLC is made up of rural and regional students who come from all over the country. Mostly from small

country towns that I had never heard of, and probably would never hear about if I didn’t live at DLC. There are also a number of International students that enrich DLC like breaths of fresh air.

The dining hall is the beating heart of this college. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, weekend brunches, 9 pm supper during exams, Monday night pancakes, Wednesday night toasties, formal dinners – it all happens in the dining hall.

The weekday lunch rushes are always filled with excitement. You’ll either find people buzzing around trying to quickly eat their Friday fish and chips before their class, or those who have just gotten out of bed just in time to make it to lunch. Either way, you will always catch yourself having a chat and a laugh with someone. This is a stark contrast to the weekend brunches, where the smell of bacon wafts through everyone’s windows, cooked by a groggy resident who is still recovering from the previous night’s expeditions.

Every year, the Residential Advisors will go to extreme lengths to decorate their floors with different themes. From Disney and Monsters Inc. to Stranger Things and Star Wars, every floor you enter is like entering a different funhouse filled with memes and cutout photos. The Residential Advisors are like our parents away from home, who give up their time to make sure their floor is supported and having the best time possible.

DLC is also a unique college in that it has various student-led groups that ensure everyone here is respected and made to feel like they belong. There is an established student-led group, called Narrilila (Darug for Standing Together), that promotes Indigenous excellence and ensures that there is a strong connection to culture

at DLC. There is also a student-led Queer and Allies group that provides a safe space for LGBTQI+ residents.

I consider DLC to be a micro utopia of what this world could look like if we treated each other with kindness, compassion and respect. The people who choose to live at DLC are compassionate, generous and most importantly, respectful. It is not every day that you can be sitting at a dinner table with people from all over the world and get to learn about their lived experiences that differ so greatly from your own. No one here is categorised by who they are or where they came from. Irrespective of sexuality, gender, class or ethnicity, you are a DLC resident and you belong in this family.

Here you will find friends whose paths would have never crossed if they didn’t bump into each other in the halls, or at an O-Week event, or at dinner, and now they can’t imagine a life where they didn’t know each other. All it took was one small decision to move to DLC and they never looked back.

I could go on about this place for hours, and I’m sure my fellow residents could too. Everyone here has a unique story filled with resilience, perseverance and love. So if you are ever in a class with someone who says they live at DLC, or you spot these iconic bricks in the back of their zoom call, ask them about where they have come from and what they think about DLC. I can guarantee that you will find out so much more about this world than you previously thought to those with questions.

KY STEWART KINGS LANGLEY, NSW

VALEDICTORY DINNER 2021

AWARDS:

John Dunmore Lang Senior Scholar Swazi Sharma

Dean Frost Memorial Award for Academic Excellence Matthew Downing

Academic Excellence Faculty of Arts

Claudia Minter

Academic Excellence Faculty of Science and Engineering Hayley Dowling

VALEDICTORIANS:

Aidan Moriarty Bachelor of Clinical Science

Aidan Porter Bachelor of Business Administration

Allastassia Carter Bachelor of Social Science

Breanna Forbes Bachelor of Commerce

Brooke Linnegar Bachelor of Arts

Corazon Garcia-Kytola Bachelor of Arts

Dylan Barnes Bachelor of Arts

Grace Ellis Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Media & Communications

Ky Stewart Bachelor of Media & Communications

Max Jones Bachelor of Arts

Melinda Burke Bachelor of Chiropractic Science

Academic Excellence

Macquarie Business School

Jonty Kingham

Margaret Saville Prize Sarah Wood Joseph Hodges

Dorothy Knox Bursary Bridie Martin Benjamin Ridges Courtney Fyffe Georgia Griffiths Samuel Moss

Principal’s Award

Darcy O’Donnell

Joseph Hodges

Lauren Fisher

Samuel Grant

Sportswoman of the Year Olivia Anderson Sportsman of the Year Liam Blanch

Dunmore Lang College Medal Thomas Burke

GRADUANDS:

Michael Corry Bachelor of Commerce

Nicholas Morrison Bachelor of Business Leadership & Commerce

Norman Thien Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), Bachelor of Science

Rinca Capewell Bachelor of Marketing & Media

Samantha Bailey Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), Bachelor of Arts (Education)

Sarah Wood Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts

Swazi Sharma Bachelor of Medical Sciences

Tole Roebig Bachelor of Security Studies, Bachelor of Laws

Dilara Ozdemir Bachelor of Human Rights

Frederick Learoyd Bachelor of Arts

Grace Flynn Bachelor of Clinical Science

Jordan Henshaw Bachelor of Ancient History

Ryan Lam Bachelor of Arts

Stephanie Smith Bachelor of Criminology

A LIFE OF WRITING

RAELEE LANCASTER | DUNMORE LANG ALUMNA 2013-2016

I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was five years old. At least, that’s the first time I remember thinking—after a trip to the local library—how much I wanted my name to be on the cover of a book. While I don’t have a book or collection of writing yet, my work has appeared in The Guardian, SBS Voices, the Fire Front: First Nations poetry and power today anthology, and more.

When I’m not writing, I’m presenting my poetry, research, and ideas to audiences all over the country and working full-time as a library assistant. As you might be able to tell, literature and reading are extremely important to me.

I lived at Dunmore Lang College from 2013-2016 on a Dunmore Lang College / Macquarie University Indigenous Incentive Scholarship while studying a Bachelor of Ancient History at Macquarie University. Being so close to the University allowed me to join social groups such as DRAMAC and the Ancient History Association (MAHA), where I co-produced, co-wrote, and acted in the Ancient History Revue from 2015-2016. Throughout my degree, I honed my creative writing talents by writing and editing for Grapeshot Magazine. I wrote my first published poem in my room in New Wing at College in October of my final year. Having the capacity to write and follow my creative passions was a wonderful experience—and one not many young writers are afforded.

After graduating from Macquarie University, I decided to follow my creativity and began writing and

publishing poetry. In 2017, I was shortlisted for the Judith Wright Poetry Prize and the Fair Australia Prize. In 2018, I won the Nakata Brophy Prize for Young Indigenous Writers. From 2018-2020, I produced and subsequently co-directed the National Young Writers Festival based in Newcastle, where I grew up. In 2019, I was awarded a Copyright Agency First Nations Fellowship.

As my writing career developed, I found myself missing the study of history and cultural heritage. I enrolled in postgraduate studies in heritage management and archaeology before finding my feet in archives and library services. As I followed these two seemingly different career paths, I noticed a lot of crossover between the two. Both careers require good verbal and written communication, emotional intelligence, community engagement, critical thinking, and the ability to form a cohesive narrative from collected data.

While I grew to be a social and extroverted person, this was not always the case. When I first moved into College, I was shy and reserved,

and I only came out of my room for class and meals. I often think about the young girl who would sit in her room and wonder what she would become after the safety of Dunmore Lang College disappeared. However, I was lucky enough to live under the same roof as other staunch, proud Indigenous students who provided me with cultural and familial support and love. They helped me become the strong, confident person I am today. While we’ve gone our separate ways and chased our independent dreams, I will cherish the memories and friendships I made throughout my time at College.

Currently, I live and work in Meanjin (Brisbane) on the lands of the Yagera and Turrbul peoples. Here, I plan to complete my Master of Information Management, continue my library services work, and develop my creative writing. My overall aim is to combine my writing career with my career in information and library services to promote empathy, listening and laughter within my communities. My parting advice would be to use this time at College to make new friends, challenge yourself, and follow your dreams.

TWENTY TWENTY BALL

SOPHIE CANT | BATHURST,NSW

After months of uncertainty, lockdowns and changes surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, The College community was beyond excited to be able to attend the annual College Ball.

COVID-19 restrictions put limits on our ability to travel into the city as a group so, this year, the Ball took a turn closer to home at Curzon Hall in Marsfield –so close, in fact, that we were able to walk to the venue in small groups.

Curzon Hall is a magnificent historic venue, and everyone was in awe of the buildings and beautiful gardens

– especially as the backdrop for the allimportant photographs. We enjoyed a lovely meal in the amazing surroundings and a huge thank you to Max Jones and Holly Balcombe who stole the show with their musical performances in between courses. Despite the restrictions on dancing and singing we had a very enjoyable evening and created what will be many long-lasting memories.

Congratulations to the students who received an award on the night – you all worked hard for these successes and deserve the accolades. Thank you to the students who were recognised for their

contributions to the College – your care for others and commitment to ensuring everyone had an enjoyable and fun year, despite the many restrictions on activities and events, is very much appreciated.

Many thanks to all the students and staff who attended the 2020 Ballit was an absolute honour organising this event and seeing everyone’s gorgeous dresses, handsome suits and smiling faces throughout the evening made all the stress worthwhile.

I’m looking forward to seeing what the Ball Committee in 2021 has to offer!

SUPPORTING PAULINE

Research shows that the fastest way to beat poverty and alleviate suffering in a country is to educate women. This shows that women’s education in the developing world is clearly of critical importance. In light of this, Dunmore Lang College has partnered with Resilient Women’s Organization (RWO; resilientwomenuganda.org) to sponsor a young Ugandan girl to complete her high school education.

Resilient Women’s Organization is a not-for-profit organisation working within the Ugandan community. RWO runs outreach programs in rural Uganda to educate communities on domestic violence, sexual health, sexual abuse, hygiene, and self-sustainability.

In addition to the outreach programmes, RWO has a small number of shelters used to house young girls and women between 9-20-years-old who are facing homelessness or domestic violence. The girls at these shelters are provided with a warm bed, hot meals, and regular skill-building workshops and activities to foster self-sustainability. With the help of sponsors, some of these girls are able to achieve their dream of attending high school.

In 2020 the community at Dunmore Lang College committed to sponsoring a young girl named Pauline. In 2019 Pauline, aged 13 at the time, found herself at the shelter due to misfortune. Pauline’s father is absent, and her mother is sick with HIV and unable to take care of her. She was initially placed into the care of a guardian but was given up to RWO when the guardian could no longer afford to care for her.

Before coming to the shelter, Pauline had only just finished primary school. Pauline expressed that she was very upset that she could not afford to continue into high school, and she missed school a lot.

Because of her love for education, RWO chose her to be the recipient of our sponsorship.

Each Dunmore Lang College student donates $5 each year. This donation is sent to RWO to pay for Pauline’s high school. Residual funds will go towards funding her basic needs such as lunch money, textbooks, sanitary products, and medicine. We hope to support Pauline through her 6 years of secondary schooling to see her finally graduate in 2026.

Thank you to the College community for supporting Pauline. You’ve given the gift of opportunity to someone who would otherwise have very little.

NAOMI FENTON | CENTRAL COAST, NSW

WHY DOES SHE STAY?

NAOMI FENTON | CENTRAL COAST, NSW

Content Warning: Mention of domestic violence

After a 20-year marriage and five children, my mum left my dad in 1999. Growing up, I couldn’t understand why she had stayed with him for so long.

I felt resentful that it took her so long to stand up for herself and for her children.

The statistics say that women return to their abusive partners up to an average of 7 times before successfully leaving for good. Many of these women have children. Approximately one of these women are murdered every week in Australia. When we don’t understand the nature of domestic violence (DV)—when we don’t understand the isolation, degradation, fear, toxic love, and lack of support— we don’t understand why women continue to stay with partners that treat them so poorly.

When I received the opportunity this year to work as a case worker in a women’s shelter for women and children fleeing DV, I jumped at the chance. I knew that it would be incredibly difficult, but I also knew the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of families would be worth it.

And it is. But it was nothing I could have prepared for.

* While DV by men against women is most common, there are also instances of violence against men. I speak here only of the former because I have no experience with the latter. However, the message is the same in both instances: the fault does not lie with the abused, it lies with the abuser.

** If children are involved, it is important to let someone know. You can make an anonymous report to the child protection helpline on 13 21 11 at any time.

The first time one of my clients left the shelter to go back to her abuser for the fifth time, I felt helpless. I had spent hours talking with her about his abuse. She told me that she never wanted to go back, and this time she was finally leaving him for good. She told me of all the horrible things he had done to her. But she also told me that, really, he’s a nice guy. When he’s sober, when he’s not hitting her, he’s a great man. He’s always really sorry after he abuses her. He just makes mistakes.

She, like so many other clients, didn’t believe that she deserved any better. She, like so many others, had grown up in a household of severe mental, physical, or sexual violence. She, like so many others, didn’t know what to look for in healthy relationships. She, like so many others, lacked the support and friendships in her life that help stave off a deep sense of loneliness and isolation—an isolation that drives women to stay with partners who abuse them, simply because it’s better than being alone.

Many women who come into the shelter spend their first few days or weeks in near-constant tears, unable to face a life without their partner and equally unable to return to their partner for fear of their safety and well-being.

Something I have learnt in my few short months of working at the shelter is that we should not be shocked women don’t leave their abusers. We should be shocked instead that women are ever capable of leaving. It is a tremendously scary, isolating, and heartbreaking thing to leave your abuser.

I have learnt that we should not be disappointed in the women that stay with their abusers. We should be disappointed in the men* who continue to abuse their partners, even after promising never to do it again. We should be angry at the men that gaslight, degrade, and isolate their partners to such an extent that women feel they have no choice but to stay, or that the abuse ‘isn’t that bad’.

I have learnt that leaving and returning to an abuser is not a failure, it is simply a part of the process. Every time a woman leaves and returns, they are one step closer to leaving for good.

It’s common for women to lose their friends and remaining support networks during this process. Their friends get fed up with hearing the same stories and being unable to help, unable to force the woman to make safe decisions for herself. But losing these friendships just makes it even harder for the woman

to finally leave for good. The best thing you can do as a friend of someone experiencing DV is to tell them that you hold no judgement towards them. Tell them that you will always support them if and when they choose to leave their abuser**. If you can, direct them to some support services so they can choose to engage with when they’re ready to, such as 1800 RESPECT. Be there for them, non-judgementally and compassionately.

Recently, I had a chat with mum about her relationship with my dad. I understand it now, or at least better than I did before. My mum also came from a violent childhood and didn’t know what was normal in a relationship. They lived in a rural area, largely isolated from social support for the majority of their married life. She had tried to leave once or twice but didn’t know if it was the right thing to do. One day, she made up her mind for good. She had no savings, no job, nowhere to live, few friends after having recently moved from the country, five children in tow, and she was leaving the man that she loved.

I don’t resent my mum or her decisions anymore. I am incredibly proud of the sacrifices that she made. I’m no longer shocked that my mum stayed for 20-odd years. .

I am shocked that she had the courage, resilience, and strength to leave for the sake of her children. I feel incredibly loved that she made this decision for us.”

The decision to leave an abuser cannot be forced, but it can be supported. It is up to all of us to educate ourselves on DV and address unhealthy behaviours within our own relationships. By living it out in our own lives, we have the power to cultivate a culture where DV behaviours are not accepted, and victims feel empowered to get help.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON RECOGNISING AND ADDRESSING DV, VISIT 1800RESPECT.ORG.AU

VALEDICTORY DINNER 2020

After a year of COVID-19 restrictions THROUGHOUT 2020, it was very special for the College to gather at Curzon Hall to celebrate the students’ achievements and to farewell the Valedictorians and Graduands.

During the night, the 2020 ADS and RA teams were thanked for their service to the College and the incoming 2021 ADS and RA teams were announced and congratulated on their appointment.

Under the grand ceilings and sparkling chandeliers of the

historic Curzon Hall ballroom, Max Jones, Issy Ellerker and Aidan Porter provided the musical highlights for the evening and helped students to forget the ban on the more usual singing and dancing.

Congratulations to all the Valedictorians and Graduands of 2020.

AWARDS:

Dr Hugh McCredie 2020 Sportswoman of the Year

Grace Flynn

Dr Hugh McCredie 2020 Sportsman of the Year

Elijah Roberts-Smyth

2019 Dean Frost Memorial Award for Academic Excellence but presented in 2020

Cooper Timewell

2020 Dunmore Lang College Medal Nick Aveyard

2020 Dr Margaret Saville Prize Isabelle Ellerker

Jack Croake Corazon Garcia-Kytola

2021 Dorothy Knox Bursaries Hayley Dowling Vikrant Nayar

2020 Tutor of the Year Anirudh Gogia

VALEDICTORIANS:

Andrew Hennessy Bachelor of Science

Anirudh Gogia Bachelor of Applied Finance and Professional Accounting

Brandon Gooley Bachelor of Human Sciences

Brendan Geoghegan Bachelor of Science

Caitlin Kemp Bachelor of Commerce

Dewayne Trewlynn Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education (Secondary)

Emily Behan Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education (Secondary)

Grace Frith Bachelor of Science

Jack Croake Bachelor of Business Administration

Jessica Phelan Bachelor of Arts

Jordan Cini Bachelor of Social Science

Kathleen Cutajar Bachelor of Psychology

Maddison O’Gradey-Lee Bachelor of Psychology, Bachelor of Human Sciences

Nicholas Trappett Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Media

Rebekah Fritz Master of Clinical Audiology

Tetei Bakic Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Human Sciences

Tyren Ah-See Bachelor of Human Sciences

GRADUANDS:

Huda Sedeeck Master of Clinical Audiology

Hui Ying Lee Master of Commerce

Jun Zeng, (Nolan) Master of Professional Accounting

Nikita Salian Master of Clinical Audiology

ADS AWARDS:

2020 Fresher Spirit Award

Grace Beavis

Robbie Wilson

2020 Committee of the Year Social Committee – Taylor McCoy and Breanna Forbes

2020 ADS Contribution to College Award Corazon Garcia-Kytola

2020 COVID Champion Sami Bailey

SCHOLARSHIPS CHANGE LIVES

Enabling access to university study changes not only students’ lives but those of everyone else around them. By undertaking tertiary study, students become role models for other members of their schools, their wider communities as well as opening up new pathways and opportunities.

The College works closely with donors and Macquarie University to provide scholarships (academic merit based) and bursaries (needs based) for students from rural and regional Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island students as well as students who are the first in their family to attend university to not only access life-changing university study but to do this within the safety and support offered by the Dunmore Lang College community and programmes.

LIVING AT DUNMORE LANG COLLEGE PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS THROUGH:

• A strong and engaged pastoral care programme comprising onsite staff and peer support, in College Psychologist available each week plus overnight support from the Community Supervisor

• At least one Resident Advisor on each floor

• Academic support sessions, including time management, essay writing, study skills and examination techniques

• Additional tutorial support by subject area

• Academic breakfasts where groups of students meet with university academic staff and industry professionals

• Leadership training certificate that develops skills for peer leaders in the College as well as preparation for students’ future careers

• Work-ready transition programme for senior students to develop important professional skills

Currently we are able to provide 20% of students with financial assistance including twentynine fully paid accommodation places. Our aim is to grow the number of donors and supporters so we can offer scholarships or bursaries to 50% of our students and increase our outreach.

Please help us to achieve our aim by logging on to our new website to donate to the College at: DUNMORELANGCOLLEGE.NSW.EDU.AU/APPEAL/SCHOLARSHIPS-FOR-STUDENTS

SCHOLARSHIPS IN ACTION

Macquarie is the only university to offer what I want to study so I was resigned to the fact that I would have to settle for something else.

Receiving a scholarship to stay at Dunmore Lang was incredible and has undoubtedly changed my life, allowing me to live and study in Sydney. I will be forever grateful for the opportunities Dunmore Lang has given me.’

Claudia Minter | Maitland, NSW

Leaving my small hometown of Esperance WA was extremely difficult, but the scholarship I received from the College made the move so much easier.’

Anna Smith | Esperance, WA

Receiving a scholarship to College gave me the extra support I needed to move away from home and step into university life. It gave me the opportunity to leave rural NSW where I grew up and experience a different lifestyle, without the added financial stress of living in Sydney’

Isabelle Harrison | O’Connell, NSW

Receiving a scholarship was honestly an amazing privilege. Not only did it really help my family, but for me personally it made the transition to College life so much easier - the College was so warm and kind about it all, and I felt like they were really bringing me into their family.’

Greta Ward | Borenore, NSW

GROW YOUR FUTURE AT DUNMORE LANG COLLEGE

Dunmore Lang College is an independent Residential College affiliated with Macquarie University, Sydney.

Welcoming students from around Australia, we offer fully catered accommodation options in an inclusive and friendly community that supports your transition and success at university.

We provide tutoring and academic support, leadership experience and opportunities to develop work-ready skills, as well as a wide range of cultural, social and sports activities to ensure you find a home away from home.