1993 Silver and Green

About the cover .. .

The Editor's theme was CREATIVITY So, under the current artistic climate, I thought surrealism I began thinking of surreal images like Dali's Lobster Telephone and Magritte's The Lovers and ways of linking these to MLC I decided against these coined images

The cover of Silver and Green had to be original and striking Striking, like a bolt of lightning. I had it. A flash of lightning strikes MLC with creativity delivered by God's hand, taken from Michaelangelo's renowned painting The Creation of Adam. Here was something surreal A classical image set in a modern landscape taking the entire picture beyond reality, which is the aim of surrealism

The next stage was to transpose my mental picture to a finished piece of art work I scanned a photograph of the MLC tower I had previously taken into the computer, along with the hand found in an art book These two images were printed, forming a base on which I worked dry pastel, oil pastel, conte and silver pen exaggerating colours and contrasts

The culmination of these mental and physical processes has produced, for each reader, a creatively designed cover

By Lucy Elliot, 12

lThe Committed Committee' Year 12

L to R: Top offountain: Rebecca Wilcox, Ines Gegenhuber. Middle Row: Katherine Gibney, Anna Thwaites, Melinda Tam, Melinda Baker.

Front: Jaquie Taylor, Sara Moodie, Katie Barnett, Belinda Terpenou, Kathryn Wright,. Sprawled across laps: Emily Hudson.

Editorial

September 24th, 1993; Friday afternoon, 3.45pm

The birds are singing, the sun is shining and your hapless editors are lying in a deep sleep on the lawns of the front garden. After a week of laying out the 1993 edition of Silver and Green (sacraficing our holidays, we might add, but we'll refrain from using this space for a mere sob story), we are both mentally and physically exhausted...do you appreciate us?

* *

Emily and Rebbecca, two starry-eyed science students, were appointed as editors of the school magazine Little did they know the task ahead of them; the organisational skills required, the sleepless nights and the frustrations, yet every cloud has a silver lining (to rely on a cliche) and regardless of all the difficult times, they found the task thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding. Do you have any idea how disconcerting it is to stand up in assembly and try to convince a hall full of girls that what they most want to do is write for Silver and Green? The slightest mention of Silver and Green tends to switch students' brains into neutral But Emily and Rebbecca persevered.. * * *

We have endeavoured to create a magazine so exciting that people will be magnetically drawn to it...so people are falling over themselves to write for us But reality 'it us and we can assure you it 'urt There are so many different activities going on at MLC that one often wonders how people could find the time to write for Silver and Green. However many did, and the articles have been of a fantastic standard Creativity is the theme for '93, and we've enjoyed our dip in the sea of creative stories that have flooded submission boxes. * * *

Emily and Rebbecca enjoyed

watching The Late Show in between frantically editing and collating incoming articles

"You know what would be super?" Emily said

"What?" replied Rebbecca, envisaging a Family size block of Cadbury's chocolate

"We should interview The Late Show."

And so they did * * *

The knowledge we have gained, whilst editing Silver and Green, has been invaluable and a true indication of the process of producing a magazine. We really recommend that you get involved in future issues because ifs very rewarding and even (gasp) fun! We would like to thank the Year 12 committee, without whom this magazine could not have been

created Thank you also to Quynh Tran, our dedicated photographer, Amanda Crawley, our mentor and guide and Lynnda Heard, whose expertise was invaluable in layout. * *

Back on the front lawn, Emily and Rebbecca were basking in the sun, like Frank the Frill neck lizard, the Mascot and Page Holder. The were both dreaming, Rebbecca of the creative section, Emily of The Perfect Man' And they were impressed By Emily Hudson and Rebbecca Wilcox, Joint editors.

P.S. Don't be alarmed by the forboading wall of word. Just read it.

From Left: Emily &• Rebbecca

MLC- The Stellar School ?

I: Mr. Loader, if you had three wishes, what would they be?

ML: That's a very hard question...One of them would be to be thirty-five, rather than just a wee bit older....The other two would be to always be doing something exciting and challenging, and to be at peace.

I: What image do you think MLC should or does portray to the outside community?

ML: I think MLC portrays an academic and technological image to the school community I hope it also portrays a cultural one, and one where values and faith are important

I: Are you aware of any negative images MLCmight have?

ML: I know that MLC girls aren't always the best on trams and trains. However, as a school I think we have a good image at present.

I:What isthe future for MLC afterthe music school has been completed?

(Are you considering putting an MLC base on the Moon?)

ML: You're not too far off the track. We're looking at MLC in an international context...Australia is presently viewing itself much more as a competitor with a whole range of nations. So, to draw an analogy, you are not just 'building a car'for Australia, you're building a car to sell to a number of nations. We are looking at what it means to be international, so our thinking at present is not about buildings, but about this nation, and what it means to be international. Obviously, we have an international community; students comefrom all parts ofthe world. It's still being neutralised or...what's the word they use in milk, when you boil it up to a certain degree?

I: ...Pasteurised

ML: Pasteurised! The international community at MLC is being pasteurised. It is being dealt with, and we need to be in touch with the real international world. Whether that means more opportunities for students to study overseas, or for overseas students to study here, I do not know; but we're exploring the possibility of internationalism for MLC. We really aren't looking at inter-stellar transport at the moment, just across the oceans.

I: Are you pleased with the progress of the year thirteen programs?

ML: Yes. MLC has been involved in a variation of the year thirteen programs for a long time; we've had business school and catering. Now we are considering alternatives. We want students to have options and choices. Those options and choices reflect where students are. Whether they be academic like the accelerated programs taken infirst year university, or vocational, eg. catering, or cultural-academic studies such as the new art programs we're about to announce; there's an enormous range. There are other ones we are looking at too. It's simply broadening tlx concept; we're saying the education is not about school, it's something else. It's ideally about studying things that one wants to learn, or that are useful.

I: Are there any foreseeable new subjects to be added to the curriculum?

ML: Well, Mandarin, at some stage must come in. China is going to be one of the major partners, in a community sense, for Australia. Languages such as Indonesian, ' Thai, Cambodian perhaps, are all considerations. In

the sense of something new, we will probably introduce greater integration of subjects. For example, a History essay could be marked twice in terms of History, and in terms of English. The emphasis in thefuture will be on learning, rather than on teaching.

I: Is the role of the teacher at MLC changing, with the introduction of laptop computers?

ML: Dramatically! Someone has described the computer as being subversive, in the sense that it's subverting what is already there. It's like a third person; a new intervention in the classroom. The computer allows the student to explore in more open-mded ways; in a less judgemental environment. So the teacher becomes a supporter, and more relational to the exercise. Tim teacher becomes a person with whom one works and shares. The computer replaces the role of technician, but does not replace the teacher as an important part of the school.

I: Where do you see yourself in five years time?

ML: Very much where I am now; pursuing different things, pushing limits, looking to see that the school is still at theforefront of education, which I think we are now. All education should progressfaster than it is. If one school makes it happen, then others are forced to follow. Our move into laptops four years ago was laughed at by a lot ofschools. Some of those schools are now doing the same. If we can make something work, then we make it work for a whole range of other people.

By Ines Gegenhuber & Rebbecca Wilcox.

The new music school...

MLC has undergone some very radical changes over the last decade or so, such as the introduction of lap tops, and the development of the MLC Marshmead campus, but the most exciting and new change is the construction of the new MLC Music School, which will be situated along Grove Avenue up from the Chapel, and will go right across to join the Principal's Administration area It will operate as a completely new building with the current music school no longer being used for music Mr Loader agrees that the new music school is "to provide facilities that reflect the quality of the students' performance. .to provide a place where they can learn, where they can practice and where they can perform."

widened her knowledge, which enabled her ideas forth the new building to be fresh and innovative All staff members have reviewed the plan and older students have had considerable input into planning.

"A vision like no other"

The current music school, built in 1939, was at that time, sufficient for music students who learnt the 'traditional' instruments such as the violin, flute, solo singing and the piano The rooms were designed to fit only these instruments. However, over the years, as the College has expanded rapidly and students have widened their horizons, the original music school has proven insufficient for the growing needs of present music students and staff. Not only do staff have to resort to conducting lessons in the front gardens and other odd places, but also the size of the rooms are not adequate for the music students of today Originally, the classrooms under Fitchett Hall were designed for Business School, and not for the conduction of music lessons at all Mrs EltonBrown, Director of the Music School has also found that the classrooms are not sufficient for the progressive nature of music at MLC; "They're small and squashed and the wrong shape.. so there will be proper music classroom facilities in the new music school."

The plans for this new building have been drawn up very carefully with attention being paid to the needs of the school Mrs Elton-Brown has worked hard, in conjunction with other staff members and students, to produce a plan that will advantage students in many ways, travelling with Mr Loader to see other music schools in Perth and Sydney

Site of the future construction.

The new music school will consist of a large auditorium hall that will be able to facilitate the enormous size of the concert orchestra, which has increased from 30 players to the present 110 (currently, the orchestra must rehearse in either the Assembly hall or Betty Jackson hall) This space will also be able to double as a lecture hall, hence benefiting various other departments of the school as well Other features of the new music school will be an experiments sound laboratory, a recording studio and a library area with listening booths

Aside from all these other exciting features, the most outstanding feature of the music school is that the rooms will be set up in "suites" according to the type of instruments For example, there will be a strings suite, consisting of a store room, repair area, service area, office and rehearsal /tutorial room All the strings staff will be found here. "Similarly, we'll have an area for brass and percussion and so that the noise is contained.. those rooms will be built as double rooms, rooms within a room," explains a proud Mrs EltonBrown. There will be double concrete walls and a double concrete floor surrounding the brass and percussion rooms There will also be a woodwind, guitar, keyboard and piano area which will be set up similar to those of the string suite It will be a rather dramatic change from the current music school with the new building very large, but broken up into little working areas

Construction started in October this year and the building will be under construction for all of 1994 The aim is to open the new music school early in 1995., The new music school will benefit all facets of the College, providing a place where future students of MLC will be able to demonstrate and harness their musical abilities, in the pursuit of excellence Certainly, a vision like no other...

By Vicky Cheong, UM

IA "Big Fish" in the MLC Fountain

An Interview with Libby Gorr

t's har d to imagin e Libby Gorr being embarrasse d to accost someone; as Elle McFeas t on Live and Sweaty she has performe d numerou s outrageous feats with various football players, made Tim Watson wear lipstick an d eyeshado w and pretend to be a commentator and finally (and infamously) she confronted Paul Keating durin g the "Bowl, Keating, Bowl" campaign to demand his presence on the show As we said, it's hard to imagine her saying no to anything. This she did at the Dame Kiri concert

"It was very funny because Mrs Elton-Brown is fabulous, and when w e were at school she was fabulously scary and she still is. We had lovely seats u p the front and I turned around and there was the old MLC choir and Mrs Elton-Brown in one of her amazingly gorgeous frocks and I really wanted to say hello but I felt really stupid It was funny because m y companion said that I woul d shirt-front th e Prim e Minister but I won't say hello to my old music teacher at school because you're embarrassed And that was the only reason, I just felt silly."

For Gorr, MLC provided the opportunity to dabble is an many opportunties as she could find Athletics, debating, oratory, cricket, music and drama; you name it, Gorr was in it As Fitchett Drama Captain, she organised and directed the drama festival 'That's another good thing about this school, they give you a lot of responsibility," she comments

Mr Buckingham, her legal studies teacher, friend and dinner party companion, agrees: "They give you a lot of responsibility in this school and they'd let you get a long way dow n that road of stuffing things u p before they grabbed you, which is a good thing becuase you're still in a safe environment."

"You zuere encouraged to go for all the sporting pursuits, the drama, the music, the debating and to be seen as an achiever ivasn't seen to be unladylike

In case you haven't guessed by now, Libby Gorr went to MLC She entered in Year 7 in 1977 and soon became know as a "big fish" in the MLC pond (or fountain). Influential as she was, even Gorr admits she was in awe of MLC's most powerful leaders

"When I was at MLC, there was an amazingly terrifying group of women wh o were in positions of authority: Pat Wilkinson, Betty Jackson, Mrs Trigg, Mrs Elton-Brown. They were committed, scary an d committed; w e had lots of strong women role models But they were not scary as in bad, they were scary as in strong

"There was recently an article written about m e in a magazin e whic h wasn' t very complimentary A woma n wrote this article about how I'd spent my life surrounded by men and don't relate well to women And at that point, I put the article dow n and thought, she's got no comprehensio n abou t m e whatsoever I've developed the way I have because I've had such strong female role models You were pushed to achieve to your potential. That's why I didn't know I was a girl until I left There was nothing that you weren't meant to do or nothing that you weren't meant to try You were encouraged to go for all the sporting pursuits, the drama, the music, the debating and to be seen as an /rXy f achiever wasn't seen to be unladylike."

Gorr laughs "If you stuffed up, there'd always be someone there to catch you."

Elle McFeast has a flair for coming u p with ideas that others would think to be ridiculous This flair was present in Gorr when she was at school; Gorr describes her school friends as "a group of girls who were enthusiastic, intelligent and also a bit rebellious" This rebellious streak wa s not, however , channelle d into breaking rules, instead, Gorr and her friends challenged the boundaries of convention ("she had a lot of energy, not channelled in the way the school was used to," reminisces Mr Buckingham.)

Gorr, herself, is more blunt about her school days: "I wasn't as focussed as some of the other girls, I was more a ratbag with a mind to match."

But this ratbag was also a brilliantly clever ratbag. During Year 12, she was offered a part in the ABC children's series Home and her parents allowed her to do it on the condition that she studied really hard During her final exams, she would film in the morning from 6 until 12 then her mother would drive her to school for a 2 o'clock exam She still doubts whether the school knew what was going on Fortunately, or possible unfortunately, this was an indication of ho w she worked best - under immense stress She did phenomenally well, showing that if you put in you got out She subsequently went to Melbourne Uni to study Arts/Law

When she started at uni, it was the first time she had actually been educated with boys and "I was quite thrown because I didn't know how to handle it all. I stood in line outside the law school and all the boys were talking about whose dad did what and what

marks one got for HSC and I found it very strange because I didn't know ho w I should behave It took m e a good year to work out how to live and work with boys

"It wa s only in second year that I started getting involved And how did I find my place? I got involved with the Law Revue, this comic revue with Tommy Gleisner as producer and

Silver & Green 1993

Jason Stephens (he was my best friend) who are now both members of the D-Generation All of a sudden I met this amazingly different crowd."

When Gorr was at uni, her degree was not her first priority As in year 12, she was doing exams and getting things don e so she could go to rehearsals. This was the beginning of her entertainment career Starting with the

Gorr as Elle McFeast

Law Revue and then continuing with the Hot Bagels (an all-girl band on the comedy circuit in the '80s), Gorr soon found that she would rather pursue comedy than a career in law Elle McFeast was born in 1988 to do interviews with footballers on the Kick to Kick Show, a Melbourne radio program

Gorr explains that Elle is just "me being really cheeky It's a device to be as cheeky and flirtatious and naughtly and rotten as you wan't to It's a device, it's a comic device

"The motivation of Elle is to find a side of you, the interviewee, that you wouldn't normally see; making you laugh or making you say something you wouldn't normally say."

After starting on radio, she wa s invited by Andre w Denton to "come and play on the telly for a while." The program he was talking about is Liveand Sweaty, a sporting sho w aired on ABC TV on Friday nights It allows Elle McFeast to give her interviewees, mainly sporting personalities, a chance to play in a fantasy world as sh e tries to "unrave l the mysteries of achievement for the people underneath (the studio audience and people at home)

Gorr giggles delightedly as her voice rises a full txvo octaves.

"It's like a wall of women on Liveand Sweaty. For example, if we've got a female interview and a female band, I open u p the show, throw to the band, then to Karen Tighe at news followed by me and Debbie [Spillane], then Crackers (which breaks it u p a little bit) and then I would talk to a guest. No-where else will you find so man y different images and different personalities of women represented on the one television show, particularly on a sporting show In the past, women in the media have been represented as nurturers, carers or information givers Never are they allowed to express their sexuality, especially if they're reporting about sport If women went into sport they had to be really tailored A female sport s journalist ha d to desexualise herself in order to maintai n her credibility an d what's really funny is that we've spoilt all that and we didn't even mean to."

"It's just something that happened. ..."

Gorr giggles delightedly as her voice rises a full two octaves. "It's just somethin g that happened You turn on the telly and there are all these different personalities of girls. Everyone's got a distinct personality, none of them are typical, and that's a real achievement."

"I try to make people feel comfortable before they come on the show so they think it's a game with the interviewer, me and the live audience and we're all having a little bit of a joke with the person at home so I try to make it like a lounge room conversation."

Whe n Andre w left the show, she was the natural choice as his replacement. Now, she is herself a role model though it wasn't something she intended to do

So what advice would Gorr give to girls at MLC today?

"Be involved! Pay attention to everything It's really important to be well-rounded, well-read and involved. It might seem daggy to be a whizz at the flute in Year 10, but it's a fine thing to have because it open s u p all sorts of differen t opportunities It's those things that can give you an exciting or different life if you want to have one

Interviewers: Emily Hudson, Sara Moodie and Anna Thwaites.

The Regeneration of Australian Comedy

Over the past two years, The Late Show has given Australians an excellent reason to stay hom e on Saturday nights Performed by the D-Generation (Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner, Jane Kennedy, Judith Lucy, Tony Martin, Mick Molloy, Rob Sitch and Jason Stephens), the program has secured its place as one of the top comed y shows on Australian television and verified the strength of the comedy born from Melbourne University in the 1980s We wanted to find out more about The Late Show's success and the people behind it, so we went to Ripponlea an d talked with Molloy, Sitch and Stephens We began by talking about the role Melbourne ha d in the development of their careers

"In about year 11, my sister (who knew Santo from university) invited me to the Melbourne Uni revue, Let's Talk Backwards, which had Santo and Robbie in it, Mar g Downey, Nick Buffalo," explains Molloy. "And I sat there in the Union

Theatre and from start to finish I was consumed by it; it was the greatest thing I'd ever seen It was just inspirational When I got to Uni (I did Arts) I thought I'd check in, buy m y books and wait for a Revue to come around Since that point, I've never considered doing anything else."

"It's wasn't something I wanted to do when I grew up," says Stephens "I kind of fell into it It was a hobby during university Finally, it takes over your life and then you get the opportunity to work as a job and you know this is what you want to do."

Molloy was positive about the knowledge gained from touring in 1987 with the Melbourne Uni revue

"In that one year I probably got the experience you would normally get in five years of theatre work," he says "It was a tortuous pace, there were so man y unknow n factors, but I wouldn't trade it for anything."

(Continued ...)

From L to R: The D Generation are Rob Sitch, Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner, ]udith Lucy, Mick Molloy, Jason Stephens, Jane Kennedy, Tony Martin

The Late Show is unique among other comed y show s in that the cast are involved in all of acting, writing and often filming and editing the program

"Mos t of wha t make s yo u happ y is a combination of things," explains Sitch "We're workin g wit h friends , we'v e got control over what we do."

"That' s really important," agrees Molloy "On a lot of other shows, writers are employed to produce so muc h airtime each week It's kind of a dehumanisin g process because you get paid to hand your scripts over, then a script editor will have a look at them and make some changes and then the director will make a few decisions about ho w the piece will be shot and where the humour is, and when you see the piece on television you don't feel particularly close to it You think 'no, thaf s not what I saw at all."

you're thinking in that frame of mind anyway And the other is just completely inspirational."

"Here's another one I was talking with Tony [Martin] about," interjects Molloy "When you're watching someone do comedy, and you're trying to work out what he'll do and you'll go 'I know what he's going to do...oh, he didn't d o it Great, I'll have that.'"

"In 1987, the MelbourneUni Revue went on tour. In that one year I probably got the experience that you would normally get in five years of theatre work."

The control the cast get over the program makes there job particularly fulfilling. The ABC will advise them on the inclusion of certain sketches on a purely legal basis; other than that, the D-Gen will write about what they think is funny.

"If it makes us laugh then we'll put it on television an d peopl e can mak e their ow n judgements," Molloy says "We've never targeted audiences or demographics. It's got to be natural."

When asked about the critcism some sketches have received for being offensive, Sitch says that it's not illegal to offend people "We just think it's not fair in some ways," he explains. "We are probabl y a bit precious abou t evokin g that emotion in the community The fact is, everyone enjoys black humou r privately, so why doesn't it come out?"

H e answer s his ow n question.

"To publicly state that black humou r exists and we enjoy it is to undermine the moral fibre of society, but everyone in this room would have told a black humour joke and laughed at one That's why I say that maybe we take offense a bit too seriously because privately we're not as easily offended as we portray.'

"That was actually area (b) in my three areas," Sitch explains "It's the middle territory wher e you'r e writing something else and another idea occurs."

"I didn't realise Was that the middle area?" asks Stephens.

"Yeah, I didn't name them, sorry that I was my fault," replies Sitch, looking and sounding suddenly like Graha m from Graham and the Colonel. "I hadn't given them their titles, areas (a), (b) and (c) (c) is the most fun."

"Oh, I'm a bit partial to (a) myself," says Molloy

There is laughter.

One of the criticisms levelled against The Late Show is that there are more males than females in the cast When asked whether he thought this detracted from the program, Molloy said that "it's probably true that our humour is more male-orientated, but there's not a lot we can do about that with the current constitution of the cast." He added that a lot of their humour was gender free anyway

But why is it that there are far more males than females on the comedy circuit?

"For boys, it's encouraged in the playground environment: 'look at me, I'm going to jump off the roof and crack my skull open!' But the girls look on and go 'that's really stupid."

"You have to go back to when people start wanting to be a buffoon or muc k around," explains Molloy "For boys, it's encouraged in the playgroun d environment: 'look at me, I'm going to jump off the roof an d crack m y skull open!' But the girls look on an d go 'that' s really stupid.'"

"I suppose we've had role models to follow but for women there hasn't been a lot of women to follow," Stephens says "For us, it's natural to see a bloke on stage mucking around."

The writing process itself is a mixture of hard slog and inspiration

"You could break it u p into three parts," says Sitch "One is just hard grind The other is when you're just sitting around doing whatever and something just occurs to you because

Molloy continues. "I think it's harder for a woman to stand u p and put herself in a position where she's demandin g attention in public because boys didn't have a second thought about making a total fool of themselves - they were taught that that was what to do - so it's just a

braver thing to do for a woman."

"There is less humou r available for women to d o merely by the fact that it's not seen as politically right to send u p the role of women whereas men can send u p men rotten/' says Sitch "Most of the characters I do are sending u p men, putting men down, but because female humour is linked to the cause of feminis m currently it restricts the bod y of humou r available to them If yo u sen d u p wome n stereotypes , often it's seen as an attack on women."

"In time it will change," says Stephens

Sitch finishes his point "That's why Germany is not funny because Germany is so logical They haven't changed the door handles on a Mercedes in 25 years In Australia, we're always getting that stuff wrong, we're always revising thing, no-one can get the city squar e right In Germany , everything's right, everything's correct."

"A lot of Graham (from Graham and the Colonel) came from my dad. He tries to fight laws of nature by his own logic and he doesn't win. "

Sitch agrees "Yeah, in time it will even up."

Sitch was asked where the idea for Graham and the Colonel came from "It's being intensive about something that is stupid; a lot of it is m y dad He gets things wrong but in a quite deliberate way He tries to fight laws of nature by his own logic and he doesn't win. He has no feeling for the reality of today but he says it in such a way that he gives great thought to everything and gets it completely wrong

This is one of the reasons for The Late Show's success The characters portrayed and the situations shown are all things the viewers can relate to We all kno w someon e wh o is like Graha m an d we'v e all been to dinne r parties wit h guest s wh o compulsively name-drop or hosts wh o spend their whole time in the kitchen. The comedy is not fake

The Late Show's humou r is based on some friends thinking about what makes them laugh. A lot of the sketches come from them relating their experiences and mucking around together This is something that Sitch sees linking all comedians together: "I think it's got nothing to do with education but everything to do with not much responsibility and having time to enjoy it."

Interview by Emily Hudson Photography by Rebbecca Wilcox

Silver & Green spoke with from L to R: Rob Sitch, Mick Molloy and Jason Stephens. Santo Cilauro pops in after the intervieiv.

The Perfect Man

' ivir Dtn

By Mr Bell

A:

^•idlBlM^BPiLa"..^aMBWWfcg^g; VHPE IdlMHPOHR

s the late Freddie Mercury said, 'Terfection bores me" Icouldn't agree more The idea .of a perfect man is not only appalling but decidedly un Australian If the federal Parliament had a House UnAustralian Activities Committee (which it should) then the editors of this magazine, who suggested that there was such a thing as a perfect man, would be hauled before it and to asked to, "please explain"

A^b^^ L / A Hhk !

The concepts of perfect bodies and perfect minds and well regimente d neatl y manicure d workaholic men are nasty imports from America and Japan and should be resisted at all costs America sells us soulless perfect looking pop stars and spineless politicians with perfect smiles and haircuts. Japans sells us the idea of round pegs in round holes and men who work 25 hours a day singing "Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work we go" as they're jemmied onto the monorail.

Perfect looking people are almost inevitably uninteresting Many MLC girls dribble at the mere mention of Keanu Reeves. To them he is perfect. But is he interesting? Will future generations remember him? I have read an interview with Mr Reeves and he is certifiably brain dead If a thought crossed his mind it would be a short trip His views on life, politics, the arts were as profound of those of Linda Evangelista (an anorexic airhead icon of perfection whose banality even bamboozled Ray Martin at the Myer Fashion Parade) The most perfect of numbers is zero and that is about the sum of models of perfection such as Keanu and Linda: they are cyphers of absolutely no interest or value

Perfection of character is not particularly interesting either. Offhand, I can't think of one character in literature who could be described as perfect And those who approach perfection are intolerable. Do we read Gone With the Wind because we want to know what happens to Melanie Hamilton? Her death was one of the most entertaining moments of the novel. The biggest disappointment was that Ashley Wilkes survived the war The most interesting people in literature are th flawed and scared and imperfect: Rhett and Hamlet and Macbeth and Homer Simpson

The idea of a perfect man is alien to our ' culture The heroes of Australian history and

culture didn't use men's fragrancesor scruffing lotions They are larrikin Dinny O'Hearn and John Curtin and Patrick White Weary Dunlop was no picture and Ned Kelly's dress sense was not haute couture But these men mattered and they made a noise. Men should be uncooked and unpolished and a bit lazy and unpredictable and stubbly and have lots of knobbly bits. In a word - Australian.

: Castles

By Jeff Castles

W;' hen I was first requested to write on the "Perfect Man" I though "Why me?"although I must admit that after further cogitation I thought "Why not me?" After all, I'm a man who'll say yes to anything! The awful thought flashed through my mind - not another autobiography! I was rapidly going to pieces under the mental pressure (a characteristic of Perfect Men in this pressure-cooker society of MLC) Then I pulled myself together and recalled an adage made famous by that other close approximation of the Perfect Man - John Wayne - "A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do", so I put pen to paper

Although I have a remarkably modest opinion of myself, I do have some strong points that any Perfect Man should have I barrack for Collingwood I drink light beer. I am a Sensitive, New-Age Feminist. I can distinguish Germaine Greer from Sharon Stone I could continue extensively in this vein, but using a Perfect Man's self control, and taking my readers into account, I'll now outline a few qualities of Perfect Men at MLC

A Perfect Man is patient - he can put up with the Monday morning babblings of an MLC maths class for half an hour before blowing his stack

A Perfect Man is realistic - he knows that new boyfriends will always be more de rigeur than new maths.A Perfect Man is discreet - he can walk through the Nevile tunnel near the Year 10 lockers and hear nothing

Need I say more? A Perfect Man is swift to acknowledge MLC"s contribution to the wider society, and is always secure in the knowledge that, despite his occasional faults, he still has an important role to play in the construction of the MLC perfect woman

On our neverending quest for the perfect man, we asked the following male teachers at MLC who or what they perceived as their perfect man.

By David Dimsey

When one of the Silver & Green editors asked me if I would write and article on 'The Perfect Man', my immediate response was "Of course! Who better?" A mature (but not too mature) man, intelligent (but not too intelligent), good-looking (but not too good-looking), well-educated, modest, securely employed What more could the perfect man require? All right, so this particular man lacks the street cred of a Ron Bell, the sporting achievement of a Tim Doming, or the power and prestige of a David Loader Nevertheless, he had more hair than a Jeff Castles, less facial hair than a John Snell, and more dress sense than, well, almost anyone you could mention So what if he was married, we' re talking here of the idea (or the ideal) - lef s not be distracted by practicalities Besides, a commitment to family values is a desirable trait in the perfect man Taken overall, the choice seemed an entirely sensible one

It wasn't until I had suggested to the editor that all she need do was publish the title of the piece, together with a photograph, and let her readers do the rest for themselves, that I finally realised the truth of the situation Her response was surprisingly gentle, all things considered "Aaah, not exactly, Mr D" or words to that effect Looking back now, I suppose that "In your dreams, perhaps!" would have been more deserved I shudder even now to think of the effect on my ego if she had let rip with the raucous laughter which I now realise was her initial, politely suppressed, response. What she wanted was my opinion of what constituted the perfect man; expressed, in her mind, from a point of view considerably removed from the actual state of being such a paragon.

Since my recovery from this shattering experience (I really should have known better, though, I suppose), I have thought long and hard about "perfection", and its actualisation in the person of one, individual, male The criteria are many and varied, and never, so far as I can tell, found together in a single individual To some, the perfect man is he who can deliver the ball, with either foot, onto the chest of a fast-leading Jason Dunstall, and do it ten times out of ten To others, any connection with football is an automatic disqualification If you read some of the women's magazines, the perfect man is all face and body, and forget any reference to his mind, or other abilities (Just the criticism, when you think about it, that the feminists used to level at males' ideas of the perfect woman.) To others, wealth and power are the ultimate attractions, and actual appearance runs a distant Silver & Green 1993

second to the — — size of the bank account

So I don't really know who, or what, constitutes the perfect man What did help put it into perspective , however, was t h e announcement of the marriage of Julia Roberts to a man named Lyle Lovett

Now the beautiful Julia is, in many people's opinion, close to being the perfect woman Her choice of spouse must, surely, lay some claim to being the perfect man Have you ever seen a picture of Mr Lovett? He is tall and skinny, gawky even, with a goofy smile and a shock of hair that looks like a cartoonist's version of what happens to you in a horror movie. And what does he do? He is a Country and Western singer, with such gems to his credit as I Married Her fust Because She Looks Like You and She's Leaving Me Because She Really Wants To, to say nothing of a revival of that alltime C&W favourite Stand By Your Man. A better candidate, it would seem, for the spouse of Dolly Parton than Julia Roberts Yet, if you read the articles written as a result of his unlikely marriage, he is a sweet, honest, sincere and intelligent person He is an example to all of the rest of us sweet, gawky, sincere, ugly, honest, goofy men out there, and proof that, to the right woman, perfection exists below the surface, in qualities about which many women's magazines seem to know nothing at all

1993

Valuable Courting Education

PhoneNumber 1993 VCE MALES ASSESSMENT SHEET A s e

ADVICE TO GIRLS SEARCHING FOR THAT PERFECT MAN:

This assessment sheet will assist girls in allocating a grade to eligible males with reference to a prescribed set of criteria This 'criteria for the award of grades' reflects their physical attributes, intelligence and personality Girl's judgements on a boy's level of performance (High, Medium, Low, Not Shown) must be recorded by ticking H, M, L, NS as appropriate for each criterion Use performance on the criteria in conjunction with the typical features of an ideal male to d determine the grade allocated Once the grade A to E has been determined, refer back to the criteria to determine whether the boy shows qualities which place him in the upper level within the grade Boys in the upper level will be identified with a 'plus' (A+ to E+) Record the grade in the appropriate box The completed assessment sheet must be attached to each graded males' forehead so it can be easily read by interested females

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

The attention paid to dress and overall presentation

CRITERIA FOR THE AWARD OF GRADES

1 Physical Attributes H M LN

-size and state of upper body, arms and legs, -control and maintenance of facial hair, -blemishes and spots

-length, tidiness and cleanliness of hair

2 Intelligence

-ability to initiate a coherent conversation, -imaginative use of topics and language, -variation in interests and hobbies, -dedication to work, school, sport and anything

-fluency and confidence in phone voice

COMMENTS FROM EXPERIENCED WOMEN

Where the verified grade differs from the initial assessment you should identify and comment on the criteria that contribute to that difference

3 Personality

-tact

-sense of humour

-chance of survival without his mates, -consideration for others,

-ability to compromise, -guts and perseverance

4 Miscellaneous

-relationship with his mother, -independence and individuality, -ability to relax -capability to listen, -searching for his perfect girl (you)

GRADE ALLOCATED A+ TO E OR UG

TYPICAL FEATURES OF AN IDEAL MALE

Note: These are general statements for each grade and may not correspond exactly to the performance of the individual boy allocated to the grade.

A Has a toned body of reasonable strength and masculinity (not Arnold Schwarzeneger!) Is always clean and well shaven and rarely has a pimple Hair is no longer than collar length, always clean and tidy Confident, interesting conversation about relevant issues Believes in something and is dedicated to perfection in that area Strong personality that expresses a witty sense of humour Has a general high regard for the human race Loves his mother but doesn't rely on her to wash his undies Knows how to have a good time with his mates and/or his girlfriend

B Is in a reasonable state of physical fitness Facial hair and spots are at a controlled minimum Hair suits his face Confident when talking about topics of interest to him Dedication is obvious but sometimes mislead Occasionally witty Is civil and respectful towards all people Believes his mother is the be all and end all but has been known to argue with her Feels more comfortable with his mates along but is fun to be with

C Body is toned for his sport during season but has a tendency for "love handles" and skinny legs Is prone to monthly outbreaks of slight acne Has baby fluff on his upper lip His hair is ratty looking and often greasy Declares to believe in something but dedication is debatable Is friendly to his mates but sometimes childish around strangers Has a huge repertoire of personal jokes with his mates (excluding anyone he hasn't known since toilet training) Hates his mother and disregards her opinion Can only be entertaining after consuming eight beers, any more and he starts doing Kamahl impressions at the bar

D Skinny bod that has no promise of any definition Always has a pimple and his side burns (from a disgraceful Elvis style cut) grow down to make an extremely thin beard Is dedicated to sleep and food Has a small group of friends that he swears by and is downright rude towards anyone else Talks only of himself Doesn't understand satire or sarcasm Lets his mother dress him Isn't exciting to be with, let along fun

E Fat, roly and wobbly Severe acne and huge scars where he picked last year Mid-length back hair that has never been brushed or washed Doesn't care about anything, including personal hygiene Has no friends, sense of humour, conversation or guts Mother - has her tattooed on his cheek (face) Can't have fun because it would violate one of his good behaviour bond guidelines

Alsowetta was hunting, so to speak. She had arrived at University with the urgent instruction from her sister to "Get hitched and start living!" so Alsowetta was on a man hunt.

The Perfect Man

This soft haired woman had arrived from the country where she had spent many an hour wiping the noses of one or another of her eight younger brothers and sisters She had attended a dinky country high school of seventeen students, and returned home to cook the meals, milk the cows and pull the rings off her father's beer cans After the children were bedded Alsowetta sat down by candle light and worked through the night {until dawn} on her academic studies Her determination and obsessive ability to manage her time and organise information had paid off, and she was now enrolled in Arts/ Law

The high expectation she placed on herself coloured her expectations of others meaning that she was not just looking for any man, she was looking for the Perfect Man. The first was Kent, a dashing Commerce/Law student.

Her eyes had met with those of this dark haired man three times in the past week, and on Thursday he winked It was while standing in the cafeteria queue the following Monday, with her brown hair lying in waves upon her shoulders and her pale pink crocheted cardigan that her mother had just sent down hanging loosely over her long lemon frock as she was attempting {unsuccessfully} to decide between the red and green apples that he had brushed passed her,

holding her elbow just a little too long She was melting

He turned around and said to her 'Take the red, ma petite chouchou. The red's sweeter."

Later that month, at a 21st birthday party, he sauntered towards Alsowetta, who was perched awkwardly on a pouffe in the corner, and said, "May I have the honour of taking your hand in the following dance."

Suddenly, all the brilliant, witty and highly intelligent responses she had been constructing in her head in anticipation of this very moment left her body with the sweat that suddenly sprang from the palms of her hands The only response she could utter was, "yeah, all right" As they moved towards the dance floor, Alsowetta was momentarily paralysed by the shocking realisation that the only dance she knew was the 'Heel and Toe Polka', but the strong arms of Kent led her confidently onto the floor and gracefully through the circles of the dance As the music died away, in the softly lit hall, he leaned forward and whispered in her ear, "Your eyes shine like the stars, your skin is as pure as a virgin white lily and your cheeks as rosy as the apple you were contemplating buying in the cafeteria. I cannot sleep at night for the thunder I hear that is the beating of my heart that thinks only of you."

After dancing, Kent and Alsowetta began to talk

"Tell me a bit about yourself," said Alsowetta

This was where the problem began

"Let me see," Kent mused "Gosh, I don't know where to start I've really missed the competition with the boys this year."

"What competition?"

"I was Captain of Boats last year And cricket...and football I really miss the hard work and sweat Oh, and I was fencing captain as well."

There was an uncomfortable silence.

"Are you feeling okay?" Kent asked. "Is there anything at all I

can get for you?"

"No," she said "I'm fine I'm just not really into sport."

"Hey, I'm not really 10% brain and 90% brawn I do have a softer side to me."

"Sure."

"Look, if it makes you feel any better I had the lead of the school play and I was captain of debating and I got the top mark of my literature class You see, I have a real love for literature It's not just an interest, for me if s a - "

Kent's final words were lost forever as he choked on his drink. Vaughan, another Old Boy, has strolled over and slapped him on the back saying, "G'day, you old rascal." He then pushed past Kent, took Alsowetta's hand, knelt before her and kissing each finger separately said, "The pleasure [kiss] mademoiselle [kiss] is all [kiss] mine [kiss, kiss]."

Alsowetta thought this was a bit pathetic, but little did she know the worst was yet to come; Richard, Pritchard and Tristram trotted towards the expanding clique

Vaughan took charge

Alsowetta was momentarily paralysed by the shocking realisation ...

"Let me introduce the Old Boys Richard, Captain of Music, AMUS on oboe and harpsichord, composer of a school song, Arts/ Law Tristram, School Captain 1992, Champion orator, Premier's prize in VCE Mathematics and Chemistry, presently enrolled in Science/Law And Pritchard, Drama Captain, Vice Debating Captain, Hockey Captain Take a good look at Pritchard, you're lucky to be seeing him After taking out Premier's prizes in three subjects, and College Dux last year he was offered a place at Forgsythe in Medicine/Law."

Pritchard finished the ^ , saga, "I didn't feel the JV/VMjZ

Silver & Green 1993

Letme introduce the Old Boys.

status and prestige of such a course outweighed the lacking reputation of the university, so I refused the position and came to Deloraize University, the only University."

"Lucky for Forgsythe." said Alsowetta

Vaughan was taken aback, "Ah, you of course mean Deloraize He is now gracing the University with his involvement in Medicine/Arts."

Throughout the course of the evening Alsowetta heard more...much, much more Vaughan shared his detailed knowledge of first aid, , describing how a splint can be made from the

surrounding bush shrubbery, a tactic he had mastered when hiking the Great Dividing Range to gain his Gold Duke of Edinburgh award Pritchard laboured every single detail of the crisis and faults on his yacht during his multi-month trip across the Indian Ocean. In even greater detail he re-told his own victorious overcoming of these faults

Richard, a sky diving instructor, refused to detail his own true nature as a hero, so Vaughan was forced to tell of his actions the previous summer, when an old yobbo forgot to put on a parachute, and Richard whilst free falling, caught hold of

the screaming man, thus saving him from certain death

"I'm not a hero," Richard explained "Anyone in my situation would have done what I did."

It was during a lively reenactment of the trophy assembly that Alsowetta (remember Alsowetta?) awoke, and left.. forever

Alsowetta was disgusted There was nothing perfect about a person characterised by personal anecdotes and self appreciation.

Continuing her hunt, Alsowetta decided she would try the public bar For her, there was something unrefined and fresh

about these dishevelled, laid back people. The comparative silence, broken only by the periodic grunt or burp was like nothing Alsowetta had ever known (except for perhaps her father, but she didn't make the connection just then.) She sat beside a bunch of men who quickly drew her into the group that was in the midst of a burping competition The event of the day was to burp the chorus of 'Click go the shears'. The prize was.. free beer

Gradually, the group began to disperse as science students went to catch the summaries at the end of their lectures and the engineering students looked at the roster to see whose turn it was to go to theirs. One of the group left, complaining that he was always rostered on when something good was happening

As the morning progressed, Alsowetta became acquainted with these men. After seven years at university, Rob had just graduated to third year and was shouting everyone free beers He had a nasty feeling that he might run into problems in meeting the eight year restriction on gaining his degree because at the rate he was going he calculated it would take him 14 years to finish While pondering his future, Rob's mates, Steve, Geoff and Dave were staring intently at a television screen that was wavering between Sally Jesse Raphael and snow Alsowetta was confused but

intrigued when these three remained transfixed for an hour after transmission failed completely

There was not an untorn garment in the public bar and these men were no exception Steve, who did not yet know where the laundromat was in his suburb, was wearing an 'Expo-88' sloppy-joe which looked as though it hadn't been washed since he bought it but at least it fit him Geoff's windcheater had been two sizes too big when he bought it, but after years of stretching it had sleeves that doubled as gloves and was long enough to ensure that he never had to buy new shorts

Hours passed and the first mutterings that Alsowetta heard from Steve, Geoff and Dave was something to do with a disk The men snickered and proceeded to leave. Rob, unaware of their exact intentions, invited Alsowetta along She found herself in one of the computer rooms in the engineering department

Though all computers were occupied, no-one was typing One man was practising drawing beautiful women on the back of his pencil case. Another had all the equipment necessary for a lot of hard work; a full set of lead pencils (from 6H to 6B), an A4-size matho-mat, six different brands of highlighters, a metal ruler, a Hewlett Packard Advanced Scientific Calculator 28S, four

"I am presently unattached."

After seven years at university, Rob had just graduated to third year.

Silver & Green

Staedtler marsmicro pencils with varying lead diameters, a Solitaire miniature pen torch, a FaberCastell triangular ruler and a set of six Stanley screw drivers.. but none of this was in use Instead, he was reading a Wheels magazine and listening to his Sony Remote control/Auto reverse Walkman that was no larger than a cassette box

They couldn't get a computer straight away Three people were waiting for messages to be sent back from other universities on the Modem, but mostly students were sitting in front of computers, inert, staring blankly at the screen, or looking longingly towards the public bar A few students were eagerly playing computer games Alsowetta asked for an explanation of the game, but was told that being a woman, she wouldn't understand She became indignant and began explaining she was doing Arts/ Law and was quite capable of understanding. On hearing this however she was branded with a double handicap, of being an arts student and a woman Eventually a computer became free

"Have ya got the disk?" belched Steve.

"Yeah, course, doofus." replied Dave.

The main character of this game was wearing a blue singlet and had a cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth He was taking plates from a bucket and handing them to women who were attempting to escape from a kitchen When the women received a plate, they were forced to return to the kitchen to wash it When the game ended, and the honour board began flashing "Mr Macho", Alsowetta took it as her cue to exit

Alsowetta was becoming despondent, and began wondering if there were any men alive that treated women as equal to themselves.. not special, just equal These guys saw women as images to pass the time with and believed that women were truly appreciative of guys giving them a mark out of ten Their tear ducts had permanently dried up by the age of five and they believed human beings were capable of expressing only three JYyV emotions: hunger, anger, (V> rv T lust.. oh and a thirst for [

beer, that makes four

It was while walking towards the student unionthat she ran into Nathaneul, actually Nathaneul ran into her As her books flew haphazardly through the air Nathaneul gripped both her hands and said;

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry I've violated your personal space, can you ever forgive me?"

Alsowetta looked through gold rimmed glasses into alert and sensitive green eyes Long hair fell tenderly across this young face and Alsowetta had a secret feeling that her search was coming to an end. They found a vegetarian cafe and began chatting over a cup of herbal tea The discussion began with courses;

"I'm doing Arts." he said

The group I have established "Women's experiences for men"

"Oh, so am I what are you majoring in?"

"I'm doing honours year; I'm writing a thesis which I'm hoping will be of use to the women's' faculty called 'What men can do to help women through the emotional roller coaster of pregnancy.' I really believe no adequate literature exists today that emphasises the importance of the role of men during pregnancy Until now it has been thought of as the woman's job, but I'm hoping to revolutionise this through the statement I intend to make in my thesis."

"Have you been involved in having a child.. with your partner?" Alsowetta crossed her fingers, toes and legs for a "No" "No, and I'm presently unattached." Nathaneul sipped his herbal tea before continuing "I feel the inability to ever completely experience child birth would leave me incomplete as a man The group I have established "Women's experiences for men" is devising workshops that allow us to reach our true potential as people. I feel that men must become more aware of their responsibility

towards women in society."

"In what ways do you mean?" asked Alsowetta

"When I read about abuse of women in the newspaper I feel embarrassed and ashamed in the knowledge that I am joined to this man by my sex I feel a personal responsibility and the desire to right the wrongs men have been committing against women for thousands of years."

At this point, Alsowetta really needed a break

"I'm just going to the toilet for a moment," she explained

Alsowetta found the toilet. .in a cafe three suburbs away. She couldn't take it any more She had not only been unable to find the perfect man, she could not even find one who was normal In her search she had not found a man she could tolerate let alone someone she could fall in love with and spend the rest of her life with

She went She left university, intellectuals and education behind her in search of someone not poisoned by constant self appraisal Someone normal She found herself at the TAB beside Wayne, Dazza and Bazza Entering into conversation with Bazza, she asked him about his day

"I got up, 'n had last nights leftover dimmies 'n a beer.... 'n I put on my Fosters shirt 'n went to work. ,'n then Ijust sat around for a while. .'n then I had a break 'n I had a bit of a smoke 'n another beer.. then I read the comics in the paper 'n then I looked at the pictures 'n then I fell asleep...'n then it was lunch hour so I bought a pack of smokes 'n a slab for later 'n a pie 'n chips with extra sauce 'n I came down here to have a bet on the dogs."

Alsowetta was impressed by his simplicity and his satisfaction of his own uncomplicated life.

"What are you doing after?" she asked.

"Well, me 'n me mates might go for a drive 'n drink the slab.. 'n go to the public bar 'n sit around 'n listen to a band 'n have a smoke...'n per'aps go for a drive.. 'n hire a video 'n watch some telly.. 'n go for a drive. .'n per'aps find some chicks..." It was the 'chicks' that did it. Alsowetta had officially given up. She caught a train to go home Her

hunt was over She was tired of the chasing She didn't notice when he sat down beside her. It was only until half way through the conversation that it registered that she was talking to a man for she had been so interested in their discussion And he respected her so much he didn't seem to notice she was female As their discussion progressed he continued to ask her opinion as opposed to continually gloating about himself He was alive and full of ideas and questions. He wasn't trying to impress her or live out her expectations; there was no competition or comparison He was just trying to understand her He was a nice guy she could communicate with and she felt she was a person to him, not a body

They began to meet regularly as the months passed Their relationship intensified and they began to consider one another best friends One evening he said to her, as they arranged to meet at the theatre, "Do you mind if I bring someone else to introduce to you tonight who is as important to me as you? But of course in a very different way."

"Of course not, I'd love to meet them," Alsowetta replied.

She was waiting outside the theatre when he arrived with his friend

"Alsowetta, I'd like you to meet my room-mate," he said "This is Andrew."

He slipped his arm tenderly around his friend's waist as Andrew shook Alsowetta's hand and said, "I've heard so much about you."

Alsowetta realised that the man who came closest to perfection in this world would never be her perfect hudsband.

By Maria Andrzejewski and Emily Hudson

Author's note: We realise that the men in the story have been exaggerated to a ridiculous level and don't mean for people to be offended by our stereotypes.

The editors would like to thank Simon, Jordan, Bruce, Leon, Chris and Paris for participating in the photo shoot.

Teachers' quotes

Mrs Bayly: (whilst teaching Shakespeare): Be quiet MacDuff, you're meant to be grieving

Dr Castles: An engineer is someone who bluffs their way through maths without caring about fine details such as if the bridge will stay up or not.

Mr Dimsey: The good articles stand out in Silver and

Green

Dr Castles: You're like that little boy who saw that the King was naked

Mr Snell: You normally use 95% ethanol if you spike a drink

Ms Ray: Some of you won't have enough hands

Mr Doming: "Oh duh!" (afterseeing a blank page in the C&A CAT which had "This page has no words on it" printed on it)

Mrs Jarrett: And sometimes you eat your fingers and taste that metallic smell

Mrs Mason: I'm a meandering line that's sort of blurry around the edges

Dr Castles (singing): Old Father Thames, he's a lot like the log* graph (it just keeps going on).

Mr Snell: If you like dead mashed potatoes that's good because they're environmentally unsound.

Mrs Hannebery: I gave you that example as a trick question and I tricked myself.

Mrs Rawlings: You are not functioning at your usual optimum level, which is somewhere to the right of hysteria

Dr Castles: Anyone got a comb?

Mr Pryke: It's like those things you see in some women's magazines - there's always someone who's armless, legless and headless, and is married with 13 children.

Mrs Mason: I was driving along Canterbury Road the other day when I wondered if I was dead.

Mrs Morgan: That's your homework girls - go home and drink three bottles of beer

Mr Snell: You have all these free radical fats running around inside you It can lead to cancer.

tL JJ

Dr Castles: That's one thing I learnt at university.. never argue with someone smarter than you

Mrs Mason: A conversation which isn't a conversation but is a conversatoin underneath...

Mrs Jarrett: Imagine the particle is my head

Cole's Law: Thinly sliced cabbage

Mrs Rawlings: Ladies, I know that you think I'm the absolute epitome of walking cynicism

Miss Crawley: Come and see Mrs Crawley Why do I call myself Mrs Crawley? It must be my year eights.

Mr Snell: Since it only requires 11 minutes of work over a 16 day non-school attendance period you will only be required to do less than one minute a day

Mrs Mason: Night is dark.

a yy

By Alicia Williams, 5

We were moving house I was helping bring the furniture into our new house As I was helping to bring a little coffee table into the dining room, I noticed there was an old worn out chair in the corner When I saw it a shiver ran down my spine Mum said I could sit on it and try it out

For dinner, I was sitting on the chair we found when I started thinking about memories They weren't mine They were about the war and my parents being killed.

'That's silly," Isaid to myself "My parents aren't dead."

That night I went to bed feeling wierd and confused, but in the morning I had nearly forgotten about the memories I didn't have anything to do that day, so I decided to explore the house Firstly Iwent to the cellar but there was only old bottles of wine down there I decided to got to the store room out the back

CERES Excursion

During Term 2, 4F visited the Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies in Brunswick (CERES).

I really like the Energy Farm When we talked about animals being injured by pollution it reminded me of a day when my family and I went to Phillip Island We went to a big Information Centre quite near to where the fairy penguins come to shore each evening At this Information Centre, there was a display with writing underneath, showing an ocean black with oil, littered with pollution, and penguins lying standed everywhre; some penguins were strangled by plastic bags and others were prevented from swimming by the oil that covered them.

There were

Silver &Green 1993

When I got to the store room I opened the old metal door and went in Inside there was junk and broken furniture from the people that used to live there. I was fiddling around with an old wooden chest of draws trying to get a draw open, and just as if an invisible hand had pulled it out a little secret door opened Inside was a beautiful old wedding ring that looked very expensive At first I thought I should sell it but something told me to keep it and not to tell Mum about it After a long night of thinking, I decided to find out more about the thing or spirit that owns the chair

She was taken to an orphanage where she stayed until she was grown up She then moved to where I am living now and died in the old worn chair The article said that she spent a large amount of her life searching for information about her parents

At that point I had a thought -

The Spiritof the House

I went to the library and looked at the old newspapers and found out that a girl called Jessie was married to John They had a daugther named Megan Jessie and John had died during the war and Megan survived

penguins tearing around wildly during their last minutes of life and some were already dead I couldn't look I just couldn't bear to see these beautiful birds just dying Think, it is these thoughtless careless humans that kill, actually kill, these beautiful creatures. Some penguins have chicks and if these birds die the chicks might die too

This made me think, today, about pollution.

By Kate Robson, 4

what if the ring belonged to her parents? After I read that part I knew what I had to do. I'd gave to give the ring to the spirit After my parents had gone to sleep, Icrept out, put the ring on the old worn chair and went to bed

In the morning it was gone.

By Erica Dobson,

5

The Grampians

At 9.00am, 'May 3rd the MLC girls of Grade 4 boarded the bus bound for the Grampians It took five hours to get there. The air was not nearly so polluted and there was a lot more animals

There was a range of activities including the rope course, the flying fox, the reflector trail, the nature trail and climbing Mount Piccaninny

We thought the cabins were quite comfortable, but the floors were a little bit cold.

The food was very tasty and we even had dessert (unlike home!).

Overall, we thought the camp was marvellous

By Sarah Cheah and Catherine Rich,

4.

GRAMPIANS POEM

The sleepy wombats wake up late Wild flowers bloom wide

Koalas climb up their trees

Possums wriggle to find warmth

Crickets jump high in the sky

Birds laugh and sing and scream

Kangaroos jump across the grass

Mice run across warm ground

Magpie larks soar across the sky

Clouds rise in the blue sky

The sun rises along the clouds

Spiders climb across their xvebs

Raindrops like leaves fall

Snails wriggle inside their shells

The sun rises over the Grampians

Spring is at the Grampians

By Liz Reed, 4

AUTUMN

Autumn! Autumn!

As cold as ice. Leaves flutter down, Upon my little feet. They turn to red, Orange, yellozv and brown, And dance upon my head, And make a golden croivn. n

By

Jessica Lovey, 2 A

WILD JEWELS

The sun is gold, ^^^

The moon is silver, ^

The sky is sapphire, f

Raindrops are diamonds.

Grass and leaves are emeralds, Rocks are rubies, Violets are amethysts, Wild treasures of the kind, A

That people rarely find. JT+

By Liz Reed, 4 ' I

REMEMBER BERT

Remember Bert.

That silly old dog, He got hit by a car...

But now we have another dog, She is white and fluffy, She's awfidly play fid, And sniffs everything in sight, That's why we gave her her name Snuffy, But Bert was a different dog. He was a different dog, He was lazy and delightfidly small, He used to sleep on the mat in the hall, Nothing could replace old Bert, Not even my dog tiozv, Not something big, not something small, Remember Bert.

By Aimee Formosa Silver & Green 1993

WAR & PEACE

If I could only be free

So much as to be like thee.

What I would not give

To be certain that I will live

To be here for some time.

As I miss my father

And his music so sweet

If I could find him

AUTUMN LEAVES

I like to watch the leaves fall doxvn, Some are read, yellow, orange and brown, It's fun to hear them crackle and crunch, I like to gather them in a great big bunch. It's nice to see the leaves fall down, And end up as a pile on the ground.

By Sarah Loo, 2

I hope one day we'll once again meet.

Oh how I miss my Granny

So pretty and neat,

Why did God choose the time so soon for her and Grandpa to meet.

This war will end quite soon I hope Because I don't know how I'll cope.

I am waiting, waiting, waiting for God to make peace,

And let the friendship between everyone increase!

By Lucy Saaroni, 5

WINTER

The Autumn has passed, Wild Flowers have dried up. Wombats dig around in the earth. Ants go to find some food. Birds hide their faces in their wings. They cuddle to their mothers. It is so cold!

Mice stay in their holes. They wait for SPRING.

By Kay Lo, 4

By Natalie Forsuth, 5

POLAR BEAR

Goodbye, Mrs Atherton

*

Junior Secon dary School

Centenary building.

She says that although laptops have created a lot more work for teachers (and us kids!) they are great and have really helped MLC progress She could hardl y say anythin g else anywa y considering that she wa s on e of the mai n supporters of laptop introduction

In her spare time she cares for Guide dogs She also enjoys reading, walking spending time with friends, knitting, and wait for it...barracking for Collingwood (Ed What a Champ! other Ed (with no taste) Wha t a Loser! ( 'earn the Demons!))

Although she will only be working one day a week in 1994, she says that she intends to see and stay in contact with all her friends on the staff

By Daine Hall & Edioitia Scott

''Oliver'

Waiting in Mrs Atherton's office, you get the feeling that in the sixteen years she has been teaching at MLC she has achieved a lot She even has her own heater It may be dusty and old, but it is still a rare privilege at our 'dear old school of grey' Sitting on her shelf is a jar of M&Ms It reminds us a little of Hansel and Gretel We decide not to steal one

Mrs Atherton had always wanted to be a teacher, but two of her friends were, so she decided to do a LogoWriter course After her course, she still wanted to be a teacher, so she went to Teachers' College She left Teachers' College, teaching at St. Catherine's and Eltham College before starting at MLC She also met Mr Atherton They had two children who are now adults and living away from home

Now, I'll cut straight to what every one wants to know When is she retiring? She is not She intends to return next year on a part time basis She says she would miss the 'friendly staff'. She would also miss Mr Loader who has been at MLC nearly as long as she has

In her many years at MLC she has been able to witness many changes A year after she came to MLC Mr Loader became the principal He divided the school into four sections; Junior School, Junior Secondary School, Middle and Senior Schools This enabled teachers to give students a more specific curriculum Or as Mrs Atherton says; "What's good for Middle School is not necessarily good for Junior Secondary School" There hav e been physical , changes as well, eg the PEC, and the

A JSS Musical Production

Signing the form I hurriedly handed it into the music office, wondering if I was doing the right thing Ha d I bee n correctly informe d of everything I was letting myself into?

The choir who constituted the cast, began by learning a few songs in April, but there was no pressure to really think about the performance and what it involved until the first dancing class came around The 'company and 'boys' were split into two fairly large groups and from then on, we had different rehearsals as w e were learning separate steps.

I think many of us were surprised that the dancing did not come together with the singing sooner This took hours of practice, an d the actions we learnt took more concentration and thought than one might have imagined Once we organised props and costumes, as well as making our particular characters come to life on the stage, the pace increased

Yes, after tiring weeks of rehearsals in the Assembly Hall I was actually tying my baker's apron , adjustin g m y hat an d dabbin g on foundation, feeling my burning cheeks backstage, nervous, but ready for the first night's excitement

Strong performances were given by all of the principal characters which included Oliver, Fagin, Dodger, Nancy, Bill Sykes, Mr Bumble, Dr Grimwig and Mrs Bedwin The lighting created a wonderful atmosphere, the costumes and props played a very important role in illustrating scenes without sets and both singing and dancing were performed in a professional manner

'Oliver' gave all of the cast, especially the year sevens a great opportunity to meet new teachers, make new friends, and appreciate all the effort put in to performing a production We also learnt that helping and considering others is a major part of working as a team Participation is rewarded

A special thank you to a few people who made 'Oliver possible: Mrs Oswald (choreographer), Mrs Chesterma n (singing teacher), Miss Deppeler (singing teacher) Mrs Jenkenson (acting director), Miss Valerkou (stage manager), and Miss Francis (lighting and technical adviser) There are man y others wh o ha d important contribution, but the list is too lengthy

The songs that we learnt included: 'Oliver, 'Consider Yourself, 'Be Back Soon,' 'Food Glorious Food / 'Where Is Love?,' 'Who Will Buy?,' 'It's a Fine Life, 'Oom-pah-pah,' and 'As Long As H e Needs Me' These songs will be remembered for a long time, as will the memories of a very enjoyable learning experience

By Edwina Scott, 7

French LogoWriter

I am a new year eight student at MLC this year and so have been newly introduced to computers One of the subjects I learn is French and in our classes w e are given assignments to do on French Logowriter

This was an extra challenge for me because I ha d no previou s experience of ordinar y Logowriter However, I learned things about it very quickly and have been able to produce two assignments on my computer French Logowriter is good fun to do and interesting to see in action. By Verity Fisher, 8

I see these third world vlaces.

I these third world places, On my T.V screen at night, But to me they're just faces, Faces full of fright.

To me there's no starvation, In the places in which I live, But there's got to be an explanation, For the food some say they give.

The world in which in I live in, The world of fright and scare, Must mean nothing, Nothing to some people suffering out there.

We complain of our needs, When some out there care for nothing, Nothing but their children's feeds. When the most prized possession, Is a bag of seeds, This is a third world country.

If you evaluate the place in which you live, If you realise you've got a lot to give, Then share it with others that need it more than you, People who can't remember, What it is to chezv.

Now you have heard, What I have to say, See if you can help, You won't feel you've gone out of your way.

I wrote this poem because I was thinking about the stall w e had, 'Trading Partners' I was thinking about how sad it was that some people out there had nothing None of the things that we take for granted every day Just things food, water and shelter which we don't even consider as a privilege This really got m e started an d within half an hour, this poem was well under way.

I hope that maybe, just maybe, what I have written will make you think, and the next I hope that you will be generou s whe n aske d to donat e mone y to a third world country

By

Josta Slots, 8

Mrs Atherton

'Trading Partners' Chapel Service.

& Green

& Green

Farewell Mrs Fleming

She stands up in front of us with her big smile, curly hair and checked suit Who is it? You have guessed right, Mrs Di Fleming, Head of Middle School She always has a listening ear and is ready to lend a helping hand This was displayed in her involvement in the S.R.C. She was concerned about teenage girsls and their health, especially drinking, smoking and eating disorders such as bulimia. Through her concern about these issues, she allowed the S.R.C girls to go to conferences to learn about them. By doing this she enabled the S.R.C to help the girls with a problem to talk about their situation and understand what was happening to their bodies

Mrs Fleming also organised a day conference for students from all schools througout Melbourne She has encouraged girls in Middle School to use laptops To accomodate this, she placed printers in each level of Nevile and Nicholas

Mrs Fleming has made it easier for girls in Middle School to have a say about their school For instance, in some assemblies microphones are placed around the hall so that girls can speak on issues they are concerned about She has made many changes to Middle School and by doing this she has made it a better place 1 wish her good luck on behalf of all the girls in Middle School in her new principal role at Kilvington

By Lucinda Corr, 10

Middle School Mayhem

Marshmead Green, damp and peaceful...

The Marshmead rainforest would have to be one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen As I walk through the paddock and come to the entrance of the forest I am drawn into it

I walk along the path looking at all the tiny creatures crawling beneath me and the footprints of those that have wandered down this track during the night I feel so peaceful It gives me great satisfaction when I can look at the towering trees above me and recognise them, to be able to say "Oh yes, that is a Blackwood, about 40 feet." Some of the trees are so big I have to squint to see to the top.

I now notice the bark that had been laid down on the ground to give the roots trees some protection from those who trample upon it I now p-^fK understand why we Lfy- ^ propped up the vines

with logs; so people like us can wander through the forest and experience if s natural beauty with it being disturbed a little as possible

I love the green, damp and peaceful atmosphere that this forest gives. When I walk through the forest it is nice to stop and listen to the birds sing their song When I come to the end of my walk I feel that I now understand the rainforest and it teaches me something new each time I visit it The rainforest needs to be treated with care, and it needs us to help it

We must help!

By Julia Essing

The Creek

The sound of water was flowing fast, It reminded me of the traffic on the freeway. I sat on the sand and felt the grain, And smelt the air, the aroma ofall plants That tickle my nose.

It was quiet then suddenly the raindrops started Falling on my head.

The birds started to sing in different tunes, Like they were celebrating the pouring rain! 1 closed my eyes, felt the peacefulness. I could feel the rising sun, I opened my eyes and looked at the sky. It was still white with a lot of clouds, But it was bright.

By Judy Hsu.

Mrs Fleming

Work Experience

Every year, Year 10 students undertake work expereince to gain an insight into the work environment. Two girls write about their expereinces.

In the Editorial Department of "The Age"...

Work experience is the time for us to be away from school and encounter the real world. It is a chance for independence There are so many different types of places possible to visit that, no matter where we go or what we do, Work Experience will always be beneficial in some way. I believe that the greatest value of Work Experience is the opporunity it provides to observe the environment and atmosphere of the working world

I spent my Work Experience in the Editorial Department of "The Age" newspaper, at 250 Spencer Street, Melbourne. I was curious to see for myself what was involved in the production of a paper with such wide circulation I arrived at "The Age" on the Monday morning, hoping that my interest in journalism would be inspired and not terminated Fortunately, it was inspired I worked at thepersonnel desk which was on the same floor that housed the journalists.

How to succeed at Work Expereince

I received some letters recently from students 'worried' and 'concerned', anxious about how to go about getting work experience, what to wear and maintaining the right attitude I discovered an old friend who just recently did some experience in South Yarra Please put your hands together for Elsbeth Deleware!

Elsbeth recently went to a solicitors office, where on arrival she was greet with a shrieked "WELCOME", and then a slightly more subdued, but still quite loud, "HI, I'M RAZ!", from the lady behind the desk

"if some lunatic shrieks anything at you, just smile your winning Macleans smile,"

I began each day by sorting all the journalists' mail and then delivering it I also collected faxes and distributed newspapers The variety of newspapers delivered daily to the journalists is amazing. By the end of the day, their desks were covered with about six or seven different newspapers - various editions from papers all over Victoria

The ages of my co-workers were certainly a shock, as I had assumed I would be working with people older than eighteen, twenty-one and twenty-four They were great people and made me feel comfortable in an environment which could have been intimidating. They had a sense of humour that broke the ice For example, I was extremely surprised on my first day when one of them produced a fax of the "Top Twenty" and asked me to rate all the songs!

My main job of the week was to answer the telephones and assist with clerical work The telephone calls ranged from information for journalists such as leads for articles, to how many grams of butter go in cake recipes (printed over a month ago) It was fantastic working beside the journalists and being able to watch the way they approached their articles I had always imagined that a journalist was constantly racing around researching for an article In reality, most journalists sit near the phone at their computers

I had a fabulous week at "The Age""and I would certainly recommend doing Work Experience at a newspaper for anyone with interests in journalism

By Amelia Tooher, 10

She gives the following advice to those undertaking work experience

RULE NUMBER ONE: whatever happens, remember to stay cool, calm and collected at all times. Also, if some lunatic shrieks anything at you, just smile your winning Macleans smile, put out your $30 manicure and say "Hi, I'm (in my case) Elsbeth Delaware, but you can call me Ellie."

R ULE NUMBER TWO: If you're unsure what to wear, check with your employers beforehand to see what's appropriate. Unless you're going somewhere creative or potentially dirty, conservative dress is generally your best bet.

RULE NUMBER THREE: Just becauseyou're working at a legal firm doesn't mean you'll be dealing with law. Be prepared to be given all manner of jobs (filing, washing dishes, etc) but always ask if there's anything you ivant to do.

RULE NUMBER FOUR: Expect to learn how to make coffee everyway possible, black with one, white with three, and so on. I was even paged over the intercom to make a cuppa for the boss. His exact words were "Hey Ellie, a drink would be nice." If this happens, smile sweetly and make it (just remember who's paying you.)

RULE NUMBER FIVE: Do what the boss tells you. This sounds like a drag, but it sometimes has advantages.

When I thanked Elsbeth for her time, I asked her if she thought work experience was worthwhile for students "Yes," she chuckled, "I learnt a lot, met some great people and was paid for it!"

Well, I hope that this has given you an insight into work experience and all that goes with it

By Sarah Charles, 10

S.L.A.C.K.E.R.S.

MLC needs to undergo some major changes As President of the Society for Logical and Compassionate Knopfspieler (derived from German meaning 'improvements') for Everyone's Schools (S.L A.C.K.E.R.S.), I feel it is my duty to express the opinions voiced in our frequent annual meetings held once a month. There has been a great deal of concern about the Year 11 and 12s common room, or lack thereof The Committee, consisting of myself and my secretary, have an ideal solution

It has been verified that staff spend as little as one fifth of their day in their staffroom, and that time is usually used for marking As the average senior student spends half her day in the common room - if they had onestaff would have full use of the library for their marking, while the senior students occupy staff centre (now 'Student Centre'). That way, staff have access to students if they need to collect homework Teachers are reminded that students are only available after 1.30 Teachers will have the privilege of being allowed to carry a briefcase - of regulation size - into the library No food will be consumed on library premises Teachers will have full use of the upstairs study area, however there must be complete silence at all times Senior teachers only, will have use of the cafe bar on the top floor of Nicholas Spares may not be spent in the top of Nicholas or the bottom of Centenary and as a courtesy to all users of Centenary, teachers are required to keep the noise level to a minimum and dispose of all litter

S.L.A.C.K.E.R.S have looked into this matter seriously and have taken all points of view into account and believe that staff will not be disadvantaged (too much, anyway) Please see me if you have any problems with this proposal

S.L.A.C.K.E.R.S - working to give you the most comfortable VCE possible!

By Annabelle Roxon,ll

The Walk

A weary procession of bag laden backs wading their way through the year It is a distinctive mark of every Year 12 student, across subjects and uniformed boundaries. It is inherent in the way they move The resigned and passive plod deteriorating to a shuffle with the onslaught of CATs The head is lowered - preoccupied and burdened - the shoulders are stooped so that even grandparents remark No longer do the young have the free step of dreamers They have donned a heavy costume for a long year. When, as Cinderellas, it is escaped for a night the guilt is overwhelming and

the return of the study straitjacket is almost welcomed

An accomplice to the costume are the ubiquitous schoolbags Bags that are heavy with a weight far greater than the textbooks inside. Nor is it the weight of knowledge, but rather society's expectations and unmade decisions about the future When these bags are finally, irrevocably unpacked, what will they be exchanged for? For some a stern briefcase, others a graffitied backpack, medical bag, battered suitcase, swinging handbag, army satchel, toolbox, camera bag, so many people going in such different directions. Yet always exchanging one load for another. Will the transition be easy? Can school, the walk, the bag, the people, be shed like a uniform? Perhaps assimilation back into the community will take time, years to releam a carefree gait. The saddened tread still echoes as I watch another green figure turn the corner

By Sanya Reid Smith, 12

"Imaginative interpretations of the expression 'formal attire' by several ladies and gentlemen made for a colourful evening ..."

It began as a glittering point in the horizon at the beginning of Year 12, zvhich grew steadily in luminosity as the months swiftly passed. Time crept tozvards that one day in June that promised to be a veritable zvell of memories, a vessel from whch we will drazv bittersweet recollections in years to come.

But could this possibly be a description of the Year 12 Formal?!? Somebody slap me, I must be suffering from PNS - premature nostalgia syndrome. That's better Take two

In the exhausting second term, discussing the Formal was a welcome diversion from the painful reality of CATs Groups of girls huddled in the dark depths of the common room, plotting and scheming for the execution of a perfect evening of mindless, hedonistic enjoyment The gleam in their eyes, that spring in their steps, rubbing their hands together with glee

Formal Frenzy

Reluctant peers were cajoled into joining the revelry, and were unwitting enlisted in the desperate quest for the perfect dress Flattering, elegant, with you cleavage securely held in - nervous mothers have recurring nightmares of the inadvertent "exhibition" of their daughter's flesh during all the jumping and jostling on the dance floor

As part of the Formal Frenzy, the services of an unsuspecting male were required You may have expereinced numerous unwanted and embarrassing

suggestions from "helpful" parents and siblings Why

don't you take your cousin's friends' sister's boyfriend's younger brother? He doesn't pick his nose in public anymore What a comforting thought.

All pre-formal drama aside, the night was unforgettable Incredible transformations were wrought - "Where were all those fresh-faced girls I see every Monday morning?" Imaginative interpretation of the expression "formal attire" by several ladies and gentlemen made for a colourful evening Top hat, kilt, beret, yellow suit

Dinner was definitely frest, a lone feather protruded from someone's succulent chicken breast on our table

Yum The music beat pulsed and the teachers in attendance were persuaded to join the sea of hot bodies It's one of those things that makes you go hmm...

After dozens of photos and vigorous

dancing, the night eventually

close, and people departed for post-formal celebrations

Post mortems were conducted on Monday morning, with a thorough dissection and examination of the night The decision was unanimous It had been an overwhelming success A little gem for everyone to put away in their pocketful of school memories

By Eileen Lee

Caught in a typically happy moment

From L to R: Marcel, Marni, Jerome, Gert

From: LtoR Top: Yuh-Tyng Chong, Kym Armfield, Ben, Michelle

drew to a Goh, Amy Chen, Heem-Heem Poh. Bottom: Julian, Simon, Mei-Chwin Kang, Szvee-Lin Tan, Alex.

PREFECTS 1993

The Year Twelve of 1993 has turned out a very enthusiastic an d creative grou p of prefects Amon g us are the captains of all five houses, leaders of the Senior Madrigal Group, Captain of the Boats, School Athletics Captain, Hous e Athletics Captains, House Swimming Captains, School Play Director, and Senior Prefect of the Boarding House Despite such a range of interests within the group, we have all managed to find time most Monday lunchtimes to get together and discuss the things prefects are meant to discusswha t w e di d on the weeken d an d ho w the boyfriend is going!

Shocking truth ...

1993 had barely begun before the prefects were back at MLC Draped in our summer uniform whilst the rest of the school still lay on the sunny sand, we sat at school awaiting our first meeting of the year At this meeting we were confronted with our first shocking truth for the year - the Year Twelve's had missed out on Senior Centre. Although Mrs Collings may have seen this as a blessing from heaven, we were confronted with 360 unhappy faces. In making the best of a bad situation, with a little negotiation with Miss Cotes and some muscle from the maintenance staff, the once Year Eleven common room given a face lift The greatest satisfaction was the vending machine, (alias the "love box"), and the drink dispenser, apparently two of the most regularly stocked machines in Melbourne, being moved to the new Year Twelve common room

Change the world ?

Amongst the social chatter, we began the year with a run of well attended, fairly formal meetings The prefects set out, as every fresh lot of prefects do, with the idea that we could change the world Good in theory, terrible in practice Suddenly we realised that the organisation of even minor things had to be approved by the heads of several different committees before they could even be acted upon! Yet once the ball was set rolling things started to pick up pace However, most importantly, we quickly realised that meetings were a lot more productive and efficient when we all sat on the floor and tossed ideas around whilst eating lunch

".Poison ball skills poor"

Early mornings have been a common commitment, with the organisation of the uniform blitz, where the prefects patrolled Glenferrie Road in force The prefects have also been involved in the 'Big Sister' program This involves the assignment of a group of Year Twelves, including at least one prefect, to a Year Seven class These 'Big Sisters' act as a guide for the younger girls and introduce them to the many activities open for participation at MLC Throughout the course of the year through the enthusiasm to work with the younger children, the prefects all enjoyed a Teddy Bears' Picnic with Grade Five, who ran rampant through the Front Gardens By the end of the first round of 'poison ball', it certainly wasn't the Grade Fives who were exhausted

Year 12 Prefects: LtoR Back: Rachella Birch, Jane Steele, Sally Hall, Kylie Greig, Kate Macdonald, Maria Atidrzejewski, Nicolle Beynon, Rosemary Field, Jenny Martin.

Third Row: Anna Kent, Chloe Bevans, Sally Sinclair.

Second Roxv: Tamara Brawn, Esther Taft, Rebecca Scholes, Kate Simkiss. Front: Jenny Wood, Naomi McGain, Sascha Bond, Zoe Spark.

Grudge maintained

However, we could not let tradition slide, and so kept up with the annual grudge netball match against the Scotch College Prefects A good time was had by both the players and the packed Sports Hall of MLC spectators, who we knew had come to support us, not check out the guys

Comfortable spares

Throughout 1993 the prefects have achieved many goals on behalf of the senior students of the College, such as getting the vending machines and comfortable spares for the common room, as well as making the common room available for use in spares, computers in the common room, and quiet Year Twelve study rooms were made available in the library.

End of year organised

As the year progressed, and CATs replaced sleep on a regular basis, it was with great anticipation that the prefects took to organising the end of the year The Year Twelve song was chosen, and our T-Shirt designed as a keepsake of the past six years spent at the College Whilst reflecting on these past years, and with the end in sight, we must all admit we have enjoyed our fair share of good times ( Even though we did miss out on Marshmead.)

As for being prefects in 1993, we can honestly say the year has been extremely busy juggling our school work and our business, yet the experience has brought about changes in all of us Qualities, which undoubtedly, we will benefit from throughout our lives

By Tamara Brawn, Rebecca Scholes, Esther Taft. (Senior Prefects 1993.)

L to R: Senior Prefect: Tamara Brawn

Joint Deputy Prefects: Esther Taft, Rebecca Scholes.

MLC versus Scotch netball match teams.

Debating

Most people think debating is about arguing It's not Debating is about making u p statistics and steadfastly refusing to let the truth cloud the issue The most difficult part is convincing an audience (but it is a lot harder to convince an empty room as is often the case in the Carey Region). In the heat of the debate sarcasm and blatant aggression are useful in annihilating the opposition's case

As the only school with three teams into the finals, w e feel w e deserv e a fe w selfcongratulator y comments We proceede d smoothly to the quarter finals until a small mishap resulted in the elimination of 2 teams

Undaunted, MLC 2 soldiered on into the semifinals, until they succumbed to the weight of public pressure, losing to the topic "That the private lives of public people should be none of our business."

This, after all our desperate attempts to become knowledgeable on world events We had become overnight experts on genetic engineering for the topic "That the engineering of genes should be left to Levis" and attempted doctrates on US imperialism an d McDonald' s cuisine in the debate "That Ronald McDonald is poisoning us all".

For those of you who dare to face these topics, we have compiled a list of handy hints to aid, abet or probably hinder aspiring debaters:

1. Debating is about the art of sincerity. If you can fake that, you've got it made.

2. Eat pizza.

3. Eat garlic pizza.

4. Hold the anchovies.

5. Eat chocolate cake - remember, the density of the cake is directly proportional to the amount ofenergy that can be obtained from it, so stickier the cake is and the further it can be spread around the Common Room, the better.

6. Save provisions for the inevitable trek to Carey.

7. Eat the icecream on the way. If you have any left over, it will make a handy bribe for the adjudicator.

8. Avoid arrogance at all costs. (We really are a modest group of people. But the truth must come first.)

We cannot deny that we received a smidgin of assistance - OK, well, more than a smidgin - OK, a lot more than a smidgin - all right, Corinna Mitchell, our coach, was totally responsible for our humble success Our only regret wa s not being able to smuggle Corinna into the secret topic preparatio n rooms. If th e debate s themselves aren't amusing, then our drawn-onthe-spot pocket cartoons should prevent you/u s from lapsing into a potentially embarrassing slumber. Well, you try standing u p and rebutting a debater whose entire speech you have just slept through But we managed

And, in retrospect, where everything is in soft focus, we look back on our accomplishments and say, Corinna, we salute you Epilogue This is the end. You may stop reading now

By the Year 12 Debaters

From L to R: Back: Anna Thwaites, Melanie Baker, Fiona Taylor, Kate Macdonald, Katherine Gibney, Maria Andrzejewski, Terry Macdonald Front: Corinna Mitchell, Vanida na Ranong, Sanya Reid Smith, Wendy Wu, Christina Hadja

Strings

Only a few weeks into the year, MLC Strings got into full swing with preparations for the Chamber Music Concert which was to be staged in the final week of term one Tuesday afternoons were set aside for Bach's Fourth Brandenburg concerto Many smaller groups - quartets and the like - were prepared at mornin g rehearsals, lunchtimes and during spares After this our next task was to prepare Elgar's "Introduction and Allegro for Strings (Quartet and Orchestra)" for the Gala Concert The piece contained both musical and technical difficulties However we did eventually master these things (though I must admit with some help from the acoustics of the concert hall) after extra rehearsals Special thanks mus t go to our conducto r Mr McCulloug h ("Chives") and Mrs Drummond

Music

Training Orchestra

The training orchestra is an orchestra for Years seven and eight, conducted by Mr McCullough, and has players of all standards in it, ranging from those who have learnt for only a few terms to quite experienced people who also play in concert orchestra and string orchestra The works that we performed at the Gala Concert this year were music from the Royal Fireworks Suite by Handel and selections from Midsummer Night's Dream by Mendelssohn The orchestra rehearses before school at eight o'clock every Friday morning in the assembly hall or Betty Jackson hall It has most orchestral instruments in it, although there are some gaps, such as bassoons and double basses Training orchestra, which is led by Quynh-Nhu Nguyen who is in Year eight, has approximately 80 members. Some instrumental teachers from school play with the training orchestra to help us, including Mrs Waugh on cello, Mrs Drummond on violin, Mr Shilton on clarinet, Miss Wood on trumpet and Mr Bums on trombone.

Next year many of the Year eight musicians will go on to be in the concert orchestra and string orchestra

By Claire Vincent, 8

Symphonic Wind Band

On Tuesday afternoons either the Assembh; Hall Ol Fitchett Hall is reverberating with the sounds of Jazz, Popular and 20th Century melodies The symphonic band is together for their weekly one and half hour practice

The 60 student band comprises of clarinets, oboes, flutes, percussion, alto saxophones, trumpets, bassoon, French horns, trombones, euphonium, base clarinet and the occasional tuba players, musicians from years 7-12 contribute their varying skills and sh ies to make up a group who enjoy making music, learning and having fun in a relaxed atmosphere

Mr Burns is our ever-encouraging conductor who uses his unusual sense of humour to keep us blowing and strining in the right places The trumpet tutor, Miss Wood, helps out at practices, whele her trumpet is often the backbone of a new piece. She sometimes takes over conducting do Mr Burns can work away on his tuba

Since forming in 1988. the band has built up quite a repertoire with help from continuing contributions Practices are held throughout the year aiming for performances such as: 'The Autumn Concert', 'Gala Concert', Kew Cottages and Middle School Speech Night

By Kim Chia, 12, Kyra Armfield,

Madrigals

12

The senior madrigal group are rarelv seen sitting in corridors or common rooms during the week This is because wc rehearse, in total, three lunchtimes, some mornings, and one afternoon a week As you can see, madrigals is a considerable commitment I however, being in madrigals is both challenging and rewarding It gives everyone the chance to sing as a group at conferences and music evenings as well as in smaller groups at chamber music nights and church services In this way, all involved can develop their musical abilities and confidence.

We perform a wide range of pieces from 16th century madligals to modem 20th century works. The senior madrigals have, over the years, performed many works of the modern Australian composer, George Dreyfus The most recent of these was "Praise" performed at the Gala Concert. The song was written specially for the madrigal group and we performed it at Mr Dreyfus' tribute dinner in August (Unfortunately, it involved no telephone impersonations.)

Orchestra

The sickness of Mr Van Ernst this year brought two new conductors to the podium to conduct the 100 strong "Symphony Orchestra" of the MLC Concert Orchestra. Thus there were three conductors for the Concert Orchestra at the Gala Concert This created added interest for the audience and the performers. The two "new" conductors were Mr. Burns and Mr. McCullough. Mr Burns conducted Antonin Dvorak's "Symphony No 9 in E minor( Mr M.J.Isaac) Mr McCullough conducted "Moods of Mahler". However the orchestras favourite piece was an arrangement of Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet" Suite conducted by the new-look, healthier Mr Van Ernst. In addition, Mrs. Drummond, Mr. Shilton and Miss Wood were invaluable tutors. By Emma Tozvnsend on behalf of the Vetrans of the Orchestra

L to R: Rebecca Scholes and Wing Sze Lee ready for the House Variety Contest.

Lucy Elliott, 12 - TPP

Berry ... Teenage Purple Ninja Turtles

It's been a pretty tough year for Berry, despite the never ending enthusiasm, dedication and support shown by all Berryites Sometimes our results just didn't quite reflect our full potential! We've won some and we've lost some... OK, so we have lost more times than we have won The most important thing is the fearless, purple ninja turtles know how to have fun and we never give up! We have proven that we are the most rigid house at MLC

Everyone put in a mammoth effort at the swimming and athletics sports, with an big thank you to our extremely well organised swimming captains, Amanda Norton and Lucy Matthews, and our athletics captains, Anna Rattray and Octavia Schweitzer All four girls did an exceptional job making our final house swimming and athletics so enjoyable. Berry's continuing devotedness was evident in the senior house drama festival where we perfored "A Rose for Emily". This involved endless weeks of hard work by cast and crew alike, especially our captains, Olivia Harkin (also debating captain) and Charlotte Mirams Their dedication paid off, as the actors put in a supurb performance, resulting in a large applause from the audience. The finished product was perfect Lucy Matthews also won "Best Actress" which was a tremendous effort. Congratulations to all!

Michelle Francis, Claire Sterling (music captains), Chelsea Candy (conductor), Katherine, Yuh-Tyng and

Michelle (piano), Bronwyn and Peta (choreography) combined their musical talents in the music festival and boosted Berry's morale to an all time high They did an admirable job with "California Dreaming".

Berry blitzed in the cross country in the cross country once again this year with many people finishing in the top ten including Anna Ratray who finished in first place. In the rowing we were tipped hot favourites as the crew consisted of three inexperienced and one experienced Unfortunately our boat did not make the starting line dispite an excess amount of confidence in the boat Luckily we had our cox Anne-Marie reassuring us that everything would be all right when we told her we were disqualified.

Many thanks to Di B, Briony M, Narelle B, Kelly C, Kate P, Elize A, Bronwyn S, Browen S, Eileen L, Caitlin P, Anne-Marie, Anoushka J, Joe B, George C, Katherine G, Annalise C, Sarah K, Sarah P and all the girls mentioned above for their outstanding leadership A special thanks for our trendy house teacher, Mrs Chamberlain, for all her assitance and house spirit throughout the year. Alicia, Julie and myself and have really enjoyed leading such an enthusiastic and talented mob of Berryites and we sincerely hope that Berry can continue to be as inexhaustible and successful in the future! Thank you for all your support.

By Sally Sinclair, House Captain

• • The Proud House of Cato

The JSS Catoites have been a fantastic asset, and have been one of the most enthusiastic, and have done exceptionally well in the Atheletics and Swimming

Thanks to all the JSS sports captains who have made such an invaluable contribution Without their organisational skills we wouldn't havebeen able to offer such stiff competition to the other houses Thankyou also to the members of those teams wh o participated so enthusiastically and competitively A very high standard was set by Cato, and a great amount of sportspersonship was displayed

To our house mistress, Mrs James, we extend a very big thankyou , for all her work Her assistance has proved invaluable

We again thank all of Cato for everything and fell sure that next year Cato will again be one of the toughest teams to beat By Kate Franklyn, Claire McDonald, Nada Zito.

Silver & Green 1993

From L to R: Jane Steek, Nicolle Beynon, Terry Macdonald, Megan Curtis, Allison Toussaint. Front: Claire Macdonald, Nada Zito, Kristen Findlay

The final result cannot be predicted as yet, but the year of '93 is looking very promising for the mighty team of CATO

In the past, the blue house of Cato has been an easy going, cheerful , but unsuccessful house We would win a few, but lose a lot more That is, u p until now! The committed Senior School, dominating Middle School, an d competitive Junior Secondary School have combined to make u p a high spirited, powerful house Cato could not have gone unnoticed at the Athletics day this year. We led most of te time on the score board, and dominated the cheering from the sidelines On the day, no other house could have possibly revived old traditional songs into war cries and Top 40 songs into cheers with the style and pizzazz that Cato had Our house teachers, Mrs Phillips, Mrs James and Miss Warren are also to be credited on their effort and support of the house

Other pleasing results from the first semester were the win by Cati Middle School in the music competition, the Senior debating team that made all Cato members proud with their performance in Assembly, the cross country team all crossed the finish line withtheir chins held high. There were many good results in other sports

I think that this final year at MLC has been one that most year twelve Cato members can look back on with pride, and as Cato House Captain I believe a few people need to be thanked for making this year so successful. All teachers that organised the music, sport, and debating competitions deserve thanks, an d a special mention to the Senior Swimming and Athletic captains who organised and devoted a lot of time to the house Thankyou to the house teachers that I, and the rest of Cato were able to rely on for support Finally, to all the girls involved with the proud house of Cato in 1993, thank you By Nicolle Beynon, Cato House Captain 1993.

The other side of the swimming sports

Fitchett..• On the Prowl

If by any chance you just happened to be driving past the Yarra on the day of the MLC Swimming Sports, you could not have missed the vibrant yellow beaming towards you. This was a blazing beginning to an unforgettable day where the lion swam to victory in tribute to Suze and Andy our fantastic captains!

inspirational training by the captains Sanya and Bee

us e n d with

Our next triumph was on the badminton courts (Thanks Bee and co!i The lions showed their tremendous spirit at the athletics were rewarded the proficiency cup Our astoundin g athletic skills were shown in the year twelve threelegged race, where we blitzed the field, thanl;s to the

In the drama festival a cast of eight lions metamorphosed into a flock of birds and their mistress and came a stunning second on the night. Many thanks to Claire Carolinna and Rebecca for their expertise To the great surprise of everyone, especially us, back in the pool we romped it in to claim the waterpolo cup. (On ya Sanya and Emily)

The lions were not afraid to show the sweeter side of their roar at tile music contest under the -uidance of Suman and Rosie This year s fantastic Fitchett pride of lions was carefulltamed by a prowling Mr- Rawlings who gave her time and support to lead us to THE TOP! By Jenny Martin, Mia Podborsek, Amaruka Hazari.

L to R: Back: Sally Bayes, Michelle Eastxvood, Michelle Donaldson, Mia Podborsek, Amaruka Hazari. Front: Katherine Holland, Nikki Morris, Amy Bennett, Natalia Bobenko, Jenny Martin.

Installing the batts

The JSS Nevilities did really well this year Our unchallenged skill and enthusiasm combined with our good sportsmanship was displayed with a strong house spirit

Many thanks to all the Nevile captains (you kno w wh o yo u are!) wh o did a great job in organising team events an d even generating enthusiasm for attendance at morning practice sessions

A mega war-cry for Mrs Putt and to other Nevile teachers for all your time and support

While some of our results did not reflect our full ability, overall we did well We must thank everyone in Nevile for their fantastic effort - we couldn't have done it without you We're sure Nevile will continue to be great in '94

By Chantal Faust, Kate Guest and Rebecca Schwartz

Middle School has left its mark on every aspect of inter-house competition so far We sang to an audience "Try not to get worried and sleep well tonight" in the house music and then danced our way around the board-walk Nevile showed its strong and argumentative side in our fantastic debating result. We've had a co-operative and eager response to sporting teams followed by pleasing achievements such as in tennis and volleyball The athletics and the swimming sports, where Nevile was represented by .man y of the house' s outstandin g > members , lande d the hous e som e

pleasing results Thank-you to all those wh o participated and to everybody for their team spirit!

We hope to keep bringing home those great results in the drama, hockey, netball and table tennis coming u p soon. An "ace" effort Nevile! Keep u p the great work!

By Caroline Morgan and Alison Daley

The SS year began with a bright splash of pink as all the Nevile enthusiasts gathered on the banks of the Yarra for the infamous pre-swimmin g sports gala breakfast We may have been outnumbered by yellow and green folk, but the Nevile contingent ate pink pikelets, jelly and cake, and was still able to mak e it dow n the pool without sinking!

Next on the agenda were the Athletic Sports where Nevile triumphed in the Year 12 novelty race and the extremely demandin g crossball event. Records were broken and voices became hoarse The audience rolled in the aisles and the adjudicator composed himself for long enough to present Nevile with the trophy

Nevile's enthusiasm continued until to House Music Festival when the Pirates, with Cat Like Tread stole the sho w in the Variety item Thankyou to all the loyal Nevilites who, for so man y years have mad e Nevile the pinkest, friendliest, acest house ever!

By

Naomi, Rachel and Anna.

Krome Leaping ahead

This year J.S.S Krome has been enthusiastic and energetic At athletics everyone showed a true Krome spirit by winning the J.S.S Competition. We tried really hard in the swimming and we won the cross-country, thrashing everyone as we went Congratulations! We want to thank all of the captains of all of the sports for trying really hard to make Krome a team that was truly hard to beat Thanks to all Kromerians out there who tried out for all of the sports and played so hard to win Without you we wouldn't have been able to be such a hard team to beat We all hope to see you all next year with as much Krome spirit as you had this year, maybe even more You should all be proud to be part of such a great team. Without you, none of this would have been possible

Thanks also to Miss Johnson who has been a really groovy house teacher who gave us all of the support we needed and put up with us for the whole year!

By

Stephanie Andrew, Georgina Arnott, and Penny Evans

School was back for '93 as was the S.S Krome House spirit Voices were lost and the frog march was stampeded to an early retirement as Krome won the SS trophy, and the House came overall second Thanks to the immense effort put in by Sacha Bond and Annie Mecklem (SS Swim Captains) Silver & Green 1993

At the Aths '93 we jumped, we threw, we squatted and sprinted At the end of the day Krome was ecstatic. First place in each school division, second in Proficiency and victors of the 1993 Aggregate Cup On ya Krome!!

Unfortunately MS trophy wasn't ours to keep in the end, but with an overall win, who would dare deny Krome's athletic ability?! A huge thanks to Kate Simkiss and Fiona Taylor (SS Aths Captains) for their time and effort in organising the Aths - a fantastic job! Lunchtime activities ... softball, tennis, waterpolo ... etc., were strongly supported , and Krome put on a good show

At House Drama Festival Krome performed well in "Flowers for Algernon", thanks to Lisa Martin and Maria Andrzejewski

We know that Krome singers will spring forth for our music contest with "Mrs Robinson" A big thanks to the senior music captains, Wendy Wu and Natalie Yang for their work done in making sure our last music contest was a success

Thanks to Jackie Briggs and Susie Fox (MS House Captains), Stephanie Andrew and Georgie Arnott (JSSHouse Captains), and to Mrs Johnson, for the superb new Krome banner.

Thanks to Miss Pateras, and to everyone for all the green hearts and enthusiasm You've made this year a success.

"We are the mean green fighting machine. We are the envy of all the other teams."

By Jenny, Chloe and Melinda t

Si--* ' U'.jM-

"Common sense policies../' TJl

The occassion was definitely an auspicious one Year 11 and 12 politics students (as well as a few teachers and Silver and Green journalists) converged on Betty Jackson Hall for one of the MLC political highlights of the year Lights on, let the camera's role, introducing. .Premier Jeff Kennett!

This is no exaggeration, for along with Mr Kennett there arrived television crews and journalists from the print media and while I must admit that evening's coverage of Mr Kennett7 s visit was rather brief, it was nevertheless a thrill to see our humble college on the news

Mr Kennett began with a short speech on pressing matters for the state of Victoria, namely economics, economics and more economics His speech concentrated heavily on the point that his government's vision for the future is for the long-term not just the short-term and that the policies are "not based on Liberal ideology; all are based on common sense."

Mr Kennett also explained that the policy changes implemented were done so because of the massive financial problems his government had inherited

By far the most exciting part of the session were the questions from the floor. Beginning with Mr Kennetf s opinion on the wine tax and moving through tariffsand education cuts, Mr Kennett was bombarded with well-considered questions from Senior School girls.

When asked about Mabo, Mr Kennett said that he was concerned at the uncertainty brought about by the recent High Court decision He added that securing title would help improve confidence.

He continued by pointing out that if the Weipa claim is upheld it will allow any title since 1788 to be claimed and we'd be in a "hell of a mess."

Mr Kennett was also asked to comment on the media's treatment of him and his government He said that he "wouldn't wrap his fish and chips in the Sunday Age" and that the lady in charge of the Good Weekend had lost all sight of decency in allowing a computeradjusted photo of himself to be published on the cover

Mr Kennett's visit was beneficial in giving both politics and nonpolitics students the opportunity to increase their politica l knowledge and develop their own opinions

By Emily Hudson

Jeff Kennett at MLC

At MLC, senior students have the opportunity to study politics. The Year 12 course, although identically accredited, branches into two studies, either American or Russian politics.

With the split of the Soviet Union and the fall of the Berlin wall we are expected to believe that the world's political thermostat has edged back up to a comfortable warm Well, almost, but not quite There is a single place on earth where The Cold War has refused to thaw It continues with all the trapping of strategic defence, propaganda and espionage. Admittedly, the defence is limited to an "is too", "is not" discussion on the merits of privatisation, the propaganda confined to the memrobillia of Miss Phillips' political safari to the US last year and the espionage being the trade in policy information for the exam The battle between East and West still rages in MLC's senior politics facility.

in Kew POLI

How did such a denison arise in a normal peaceloving and apolitical school, you might ask?

Well it's simple At subject choices last year politics students were forced to make a choose They were asked the ultimate question Cheeseburger or Stroganoff? Vodka or Jack Daniels'? A baseball cap or

"I mean when you get down to the basics, sure Gorbachev revolutionised modern Russia and communism as we know it, but Clinton is cuter!"

one of those furry hats? Is your underwear red, white and blue or just plain red? The students had to decide whether to study Russian or American politics Despite the collapse of Communism there was still a large group of 'reds' under Mr Bell's desk eager to learn the ideas of Marx and the policies of Stalin Of, course the die hard capitalists and the fans of Bill and Hillary Clinton stuck with the good old U.S of A

The rivalry continued through two CATs

"Russian Politics is so hard."

"Yeah, so's American."

"Yeah, but its hard to get information about Russian Politics"

"Yeah, well its hard to decide what information to use for American because there's so much."

"Ah, shame you poor thing."

"Look you picked it, not me."

"Yeah, because it's better."

"Is not."

"Is too."

"Is not."

I think that gives you an idea of the type of mature discussion between the too parties I mean when you get down to the basics, sure Gorbachev revolutionised modern Russia and communism as we know it, but Clinton is cuter!

After extensive diplomatic discussion [Mr Bell and Ms. Phillips told both classes "It's for your CAT"] a resolution was reached The classes would join together as year 12's to attend the visit of Premier Jeff Kennet It was there the two former enemies came to a realisation. A year 11 sitting eagerly in the front row was heard to ask her friend "So what are you going to do next year? Russian or American?" As long as political science is studied The Cold War will continue So the cycle begins again. Hmmm, maybe I'll sell my notes to the year ll's Ok, Ok maybe that's not such a good idea Just the capitalist in me coming through I guess

By Emma Hines, 12 Politics Student

TICS

Abuse of fundamental human rights...

United Nations State Youth Conference

Worldwide abuse of fundamental human rights, the threat of nuclear "accidents", and environmental damage to the earth caused by humankind are few of the many critical issues tackled by the United Nations Youth Association of Australia UNA Youth is a democratic organisation committed to world concerns, which promotes international youth awareness and actively campaigns for the Australian Government to take action on certain issues

Each year, UNA Youth holds a state conference to encourage students to discuss and debate current world issues Yvonne Cox and I, both politics students, took part in this year s conference, which was held at Melbourne University in May Discussion groups concerning poverty, the environment, women, indigenous people, human rights, education and social justice were formed; Yvonne and I took part in the topic of women s role in society, with the pressing issues of abortion, equal pay, safety, political representation,

media portrayal, media coverage, and contraception all debated

Appropriate In this UN International Year for the World s Indigenous People, various speakers had been invited to the conference to talk to us about significant issues such as Koori and Torres Strait Islanders, Australian poverty, and the third-world conditions Latin-Americans are living in We heard stories of Salvadoran families living in immense poverty, while at the same time, some forty individuals own all of the wealth of El Salvador The wealth is there, yet the Government is not taking proper action to distribute it equitably The conference aimed for us to critically discuss important issues such as these

To conclude the day, we performed a model UN General Assembly, where all the students represented a different country Whilst Yvonne represented Cambodia, I stood for Argentina; not knowing much about the country themselves didn't matter, as we basically knew which issues affected each country Ihe format of the assembly was very similar to that of parliament, with a President, points of order, voting rights, proposals and amendments made to proposals. If a certain issue had no relevance to Argentina, it did not were made to vote one way, for a vote in return next time Proposals regarding such things as disarmament were raised, and many entertaining arguments were fought

From the conference, I learnt more about many of the problems the world is facing; the worldwide neglect and abuse of human rights, the oppression of women and many races, environmental damage to the earth, and the poverty of the Third World I realise the task of tackling these problems is massive, but every effort counts. I know now that I must not sit back from it all, and as the UNA Youth puts it, challenge the narrow way most people see the world By Lihhy Paul, 11

MLC Politics teacters Mr Bell and Ms Phillips.

John Marsden slouches in his chair and shreds a Butter Menthol wrapper In the confines of the classroom, Marsden's gaze, alert but inward, sweeps across his stocky boots and faded jeans He stretches his legs and crosses them languidly

There is an expectant pause Flakes of label flutter onto the table and are prodded into a pile. Eventually, Marsden begins to speak in his gentle lisp, "I guess I'm a kind of missionary I try to improve the writing of the people I speak to - especially children and teenagers - because I want to see the results. Children aren't taught to think deeply enough in their schools and their writing loses meaning and insight."

When visiting MLC, he encouraged students to be selective in their use of language: "Writing's gotta have a freshness and avoid repetition Never let your writing get boring by focussing on retelling the same story." He advises young people to avoid using tired words in their writing To describe honey he suggested 'slithering' or 'molten' instead of 'golden' or 'sticky' His experiences during his nine-year teaching career .prompted him to write

his first novel, which he completed in a matter of weeks, during a "white hot state" when he couldn't stop writing Initially the manuscript, inspired by an "exceptionally isolated" girl he'd met who hadn't spoken for eight months, was rejected by six publishers. One predicted the story would be"of no interest to high-school students" Eventually perseverance and determination paid off A friend showed the manuscript to publisher Walter McVitty and So Much Tell You went on to become 1988 Book of the Year for Older Readers It was the beginning of a phenomonal literary career

The subsequent success of The Journey, The Great Gatenby, Staying Alive in Year 5, Out of Time, Letters from the Inside, Take My Word For It and Lookingfor Trouble established Marsden's admirable reputation as an author of children's fiction

Even when he speaks he confronts his audience with the same powerful imagery that earned him the accolades and Australia Council awards As we tentatively ask if he is bored with the endless rounds of interviews, John shifts uncomfortably in his plastic chair It rocks onto one leg after another and tilts unsteadily.

He grabs the table at his elbow and clutches it for an instant before he regains his composure A sheepish grin flits across his face, before being replaced by an angry frown He spits his words out like sour cherry-stones.

"Sometimes I feel like I'm reciting these answers, that I'm saying stuff without thinking You listen to your own voice, and hear your words spewing into silence." Perhaps this is how he was feeling when he wrote So Much To Tell You.

Whilst most of his novels were agonized over for months, John admits that his latest book, Tomorrow When the War Began, a futuristic war novel, was written in a red-hot state and aims to "explore relationships and inner lives"

His trademark is capturing the language of Australian teenagers. Take Marina's reflections in her journal in So Much To Tell You: "Whatever was good isn't good any more; white becomes grey, music becomes dictionaries, honey becomes beer and the sky and curdled lemon There's no caramel any more." Marsden's insights into the lives of young people are frank, accurate and honest

It is Erie Gatenby, the cool teenager from The Great Gatenby,

An intervie w wit h

John Marsden

John Marsden

who sounds closest to John Marsden's character Erie's descriptions of his new boarding school Housemaster, "I tell you, this man would take nails to a crucifixion," are cynical yet open, just as John's lopsided grin resembles that of a teenager, smirking at the absurdities of adult life

John Marsden's passionate nature seldom remains hidden: it emerges regularly through his writing for young people "I like people who are passionate, " he says earnestly

He rates children as his main source of ideas and keeps a series of tattered exercise books in which he records "the things kids tell me" "I like piecing stories together I have something like 10,000 stories - episodes, reallywritten down It's my store of ideas." He estimates that two-thirds of his ideas come from his dog-eared notebooks, which he has kept for about eight years

When asked why he writes for children, Marsden has a simple answer He finds them more interesting than adults who tend to mask their true feelings He believes today's children possess more idealism and originality than any previous generation. They are also less inhibited when expressing emotions "I think that people underestimate children." he states "They are intellecutally more adventurous than they are often given credit for."

He becomes frustrated when adults do not react to his writing. "Adults seem to show less emotion, they are less eager to pursue thoughts When I speak to adults, I have to find a way through their masks they have created to protect themselves Children haven't put up these barriers yet."

Ducking his head, Marsden tugs at his grey-flecked beard An apologetic head appears around the door John is wanted elsewhere John Marsden hauls himself to his feet and brushes off his hands, ready to leave the room The discarded Butter Menthol wrapper lies tattered on the table, next to the pile of torn logos Intervieiv by Sara Moodie and Anna Thwaites

Surprise, surprisethe "new" Walton Library!

"The main thing that I want to project in a library is a welcoming, exciting, fun, vibrant, sort of atmosphere. I want the kids to feel that it is an exciting place to come, and that it will befidl of surprises."

- Ms Suzette Boyd, new Head Librarian, 1993

Some girls were puzzled by the new staff More were disorientated by the drastic rearrangement of furniture and resources Still more were astonished by the acquisition of new books 1993 has certainly been a year of surprises in the Walton Library

Few girls would not have followed the progress of our dear old den Gone are the days of work in peace, without distraction, within her silent grey walls Is anything sacred? No! Our dear old library has been modernised! These days, one must fight off men from Star Trek to even walk in her door!

Mrs Suzette Boyd, Head Librarian

Coloured posters cover her, and messages pop out from every corner Occasionally she'll even blare loud music Yep, our library's definitely a '90's woman now!

"I no longer see the library as a place for silence... The classroom is no longer a place xvhere the teacher stands up the front and just writes on the blackboard... and the library should reflect this change."

Behind all of these changes are the staff, nine women who are determined to bring the library in line with the progress of the rest of the school They want the library to be able to reflect the changes made in the classroom

With four new members joining the library "team" this year, this is more than a possibility New staff include head librarian, Ms Suzette Boyd, teacher librarians, Ms Felicity Carrol and Ms Kaye Powlesand and Director of Technology, Ms Janet Smith

Furthermore, the library of the future will not only reflect change Ms Boyd sees the Walton Library of tomorrow as an initiator of change, rather than simply the "service area" of the past, which responded to progress in other areas Her "mission", as she calls it, is to take the library to the forefront of change, and equally importantly, "to turn M.L.C into a school of readers"

Beware ! Complacency is out

- Ms Boyd is by no means finished yet 1993 is but a beginning In her words, she endeavours to provide students and staff at M.L.C with a service which is "nothing less than outstanding". Who knows what will surprise us next!

By Katie Bamett, 12

Why Chemistry is Not Boring

"Terry, you're losing moles on the desk!" is the dreadful cry of Year twelve Chem student, Marge, on a test tube of potassium permanganate solution being accidentally knocked over Luckily for the pair, Mr Snell (MLC Chem teacher) comes to the rescue and points them in the direction of cleaning up equipment. Meanwhile, fellow scholars stare bravely at their titration report sheet trying to work out how they're going to get concordant results So, as you see, with all these major crises going on in the lab during practical lessons, chemistry is far from boring!

During our non-practical lessons, we study the theory of chemistry The course is challenging and has a strong emphasis on how chemistry affects the Real World (especially the year twelve course) Gone are the days of students wildly exclaiming, "But how will this help me in the supermarket?", as the whole of Unit 3 chem is dedicated to that very topic: Chemistry in the Market Place We've studied the composition of laundry detergents, fertilisers and other household products.

On a more serious note, I'd like to make two important comments:

(1) Of physics, chemistry, biology and psychology, chemistry is (for many) the most useful to have studied because it provides an excellent background for numerous tertiary courses If you are contemplating any science or engineering degree (particularly in the biological and chemical areas), it is strongly recommended that you have studied chemistry; and

(2) Any subject has the capacity to be boring if you try hard enough The flip side of this is that any subject

can be made interesting If you put a bit of effort in and have the right attitude not only will chemistry be not boring but perhaps even enjoyable

How can I end? (Apart from with haste) Chemistry is definitely un-boring and I strongly recommend you consider it as a VCE subject

By Emily Hudson

Who Studies Physics?

In the April Australian Society for Medical Research Newsletter the Stereotypical Scientist was described following a survey performed by Sydney University History and Philosophy of Science students.

The subjects were given a blank sheet of paper and asked to record everything that immediately came to mind in reponse to the word 'scientist'

The responses included:

Physical Appearance: Bald, old, beard, nerdy, white-haired, bow tie, short, big cars, poor attire, male and unattractive

Accessories: Glasses, white coat, test tubes, calculator, chemicals, bunsen burners, periodic table and specimens

Personality: Dedicated, mad, strange, dry, boring, weird, eccentric, intellectual, absent minded, clumsy, serious, introverted, hard working, diligent, pedantic and unorganised.

It is interesting to note that the stereotypical scientist was not considered to be female MLC physics students are intelligent, well-organised, multitalented, cultured, enthusiastic, interesting, attractive, sporty, highly capable and witty None of them wears a bow tie!

By Mrs Dawborn-Gundlach Physics Co-ordinator

Dawborn-Gundlach'$ Year 12 Physics class

Creative Writing

Creativity is a central theme for the 1993 Silver & Green. This section is devoted specifically to Creative Writing, selected from competition entries and other submissions

Competition pieces where judged independently

Silver & Green

Nerida Simpson, 12 - Photography

The Door

I don't remember meeting Pierre; I don't remember being born Pierre was just there and so was I * * *

"Whaf s inside that door ?" "My bed."

"No, the little door on the stair." "Dog heaven."

"Really ! But there's no such place."

"Is too ! Mum said that's where Lena went."

"Can I see ?"

"No, only I can open the door. I'm the King of the Door."

"Open it!" * * *

Pierre's house was my home for the first three years of my existence His mother was born in Morocco, so by my standards today their house was weird At that time it was normal: it was my house that was weird. It was a museum of coloured cushions, old European maps and middle eastern artifacts The kitchen, however, was the picture of Australian conformity, the metal kitchen table, Simpson oven, cork tile floor and the Kelvinator, which sat and hummed in the corner Except the grapes

A gentle breeze

Ran lazy immortal fingers Through the expanse ofgrass at her feet

The sky, a fiery blaze of colour

In countless shades of red and gold Smiling down,

Willing the steely greys of yesterday to part Yet compelling her to escape further pain It promised her so much That she couldn't refuse.

"Tomorrow", said she "I will ride amongst the golden clouds

Upon a silver winged horse With the sun hot upon my back. And when the wind combs the tangles from my hair

Singing strange melodies in my ear, lean look down at this pitiful world And laugh."

Blue-green waves edged with silver Crashing against the cliff base Sprayedwhite specks offoam Upon the jagged rocks. She shut her eyes before the final step.

Not plummeting but floating. Drifting out toward the sea.

That overwhelming sensation of peace In a tranquil setting

Yet untainted by human hand.

By Shobana Kanagasingham

10

They had crept in, from the terrace outside, and hung their burnt sultanas above the stove Every heaven has its own hell Naturally mine followed the rule.There was a work shop under the house A grim place, where dust hung in clouds * * *

"I saw you!"

"I didn't do anything."

"I saw you ! YOU were going to look into dogs' heaven."

"Was not!"

"Was too !"

"I'm allowed to."

"NO If you look you'll die." * * *

Pierre's garden, the opposite of a desert, a thicket of undesert No lawns, no clearings, only green ponds of nastursiums with gold fish flowers How they survived under the canopy, I'll never know. But I never even thought about it either

Every Wednesday Mrs Proske would thrash her way through the scrub to the concrete back corner of the garden - to the washing line I don't understand why she bothered because her washing was always scattered with grubby leaves by the end of her journey.The washing line was fenced off from the invading wildlife by loose bricks and Roxanne. Roxanne, unjustly named after the beloved of Cyranno de Bergerac, was the beagle who guarded the washing line Roxanne would holler and howl at the washing as it spun around I would sit and laugh Laugh that is until a brick fell on my toe

"Ooooooooooh."

"Whaf s wrong ?"

"A brick fell on my toe."

"Which brick ?"

"That one."

Pierre took the brick and pounded it against the concrete

"Bad brick ! Bad, bad, bad brick !" I bawled

"You're hurting the brick." * * *

"One day when you're not looking I'll open that little door."

"You won't."

"I will."

"Do it now then. Go on, open the door... You're too scared."

"I'll do it later I don't feel like it now." * * *

It was all going The cushions, the maps and Pierre, all being transferred to France I was betrayed

I kidnapped Roxanne and vowed I would not give her back until the Proskes promised to stay So came the first of my broken vows * *

I moved through the empty house, determined, perhaps scared. No more museum, but yes more little door on the stair

I yanked it open The dust clouds in the work shop rippled from the draft I saw the grim, empty, concrete room. Hello reality.

By Christina Hajdu, 12

A Solitary Tear

The sun was slowly sinking dow n below the horizon They sky was a mixture of pastel shades of red, orange, yellow an d pink The lonely mountain s ringe d wit h fluff y clouds set a magnificent backdrop for the green, lush bush The trees stretched out for miles seeming to never end The old man sat alone on his old, rickety verandah , overlookin g the valley. Flies surrounded him, causing him to feebly swat them away with his browned, wrinkled hand

His dog, Bluey, chased fireflies in a field of daisies, leaping and throwing himself in hope of catching them, and then the man stood up "Bluey!" he called

The dog stopped, pricked u p his ears, and hurtled himself at his old master, both glowing in the warmth of the evening sun

"Goin' to be a big storm tonight I reckon. Better get some of those logs to keep the fire goin'

He trundled towards the pile of logs, Bluey at his side H e carefully picked u p one by one until he could carry no more and was led by Bluey into the house

He poked at the glowing, red embers of the remains of the fire with a stick, and then placed some logs on top In a few minutes, the fire was a crackling, raging inferno. H e drew the blinds, as the last fe w rays of the sun died behind the mountains and settled dow n on the old sagging chair with Bluey on his lap He dozed off for the night and so did Bluey, keeping one ear pricked for any prowling intruders

By ten o'clock the storm was raging fiercely into the night, attacking trees and bushes with its wild wind so strong it could conquer anything The thunder boomed and exploded in what used to be a quiet evening, makin g it soun d as thoug h everything woul d just blow up The lightning cracked in an angry reply, adding to the noise of the night. The wildlife dived for cover, cowering beneath shelters which might give in Then suddenl y an extra loud BOOM!!! of thunde r sounded followed by a violent crack of lightning which struck alight one of the gigantic gum trees way u p on the hill, which was surrounded the old man's hut.

The fire caught alight quickly, burning through bushe s an d leaves, leavin g everythin g as smouldering black ashes Little did the old man know, as he and his dog slept soundly after a hard day's work, that the fire had crept u p to the wooden hut and had begun to invade its way in Soon the hut was fully alight, lighting u p the entire hut and giving everything around it an eerie red glow Bluey suddenly awoke, barking and spluttering in an attempt to wake his master. Smoke was quickly

The Hunt

They let me loose and I ran for all I was worth, I ran till my sides were aching, and yet I did not dare stop, blow my steps are faltering, my body aching with exhaustion, When I suddenly neard the bark of the hounds,

The horses'hooves pounding on the ground, and I ran on then from renewed terror, Afraid to be caught, afraid ofdeath.

The hounds drew nearer, and, with a pounce they were on me, I struggled and I cried, but my cries went unheard,

The humans drew nearer, with their cruel laughter and their barbaric ways,

The hounds tore at my skin, pouncing and breaking my back, I heard the sickening crack as my legs gave way under me, crushed by the jaws ofa dog,

All this while, I suffered praying fervently only for the mercy ofdeath, If before I didn't want to die, now I only longed to escape this agony.

I looked towards the humans, there was glee and cruel satisfaction in their eyes,

My gaze collided with that of a human, a man,

His look was filled with pity, sadness, anger, honor and most of all of revulsion at the sickening pleasure ofhis fellow humans, He nudged his horse over to me, calling the hounds off, Then almost gently, he bent and plunged his spear into my side.

I breathed a blessing to this man,

This stranger that was once an enemy, a foe because he was a human, Now a friend because ofhis mercy, I thanked him, as death took away my pain.

By Adeline Pang 8

filling u p the room, and flames were starting to lick between the wooden planks, forming the walls of the small hut.

The old man awoke, Bluey tugging at his sleeve and growling softly H e got u p quickly, rushed to the door, opened it, an d was engulfed in more smoke. He ran as far as he could, with Bluey panting at his heels H e stopped, took a deep breath, and with pain, turned and looked at the smouldering remains of what was built by his great grandfather, and was passed dow n from generation to generation until it had finally become his house It had been his home for many years. It had also been the place where Margaret, his beloved wife, had died A place which was very special to him, and now all that was left of it were crumbling, black ashes

A large solitary tear rolled dow n his cheek, as Bluey lay dow n at his feet and whined His last words before leaving the present world

"My home is the earth."

Then he lay dow n of the soft mossy grass and fell into a peaceful eternal sleep and joined his wife, Margaret. Bluey stayed at his feet all night long, whimpering until he finally left him, in search of a new master

By Fiona Taylor, 7

Moonscape

Enter the night Over the landscape, drenched in daffodil yellow, the moon presided; a glowing silver disc tapering into the darkness Stars littered the midnight sky, shimmering like the sequins on his wife's favorit e dress. It was so cold, so bitterly , bitterly cold. The freezing air chilled his arms as he trod through the grass Thoughts race d through his mind, madly, lik e

bewitche d

horses The soft footfall of his old dog followe d close behind, as it had for the last ten twelve years Jake looked down at the frayingcollar rope gripped in his knotted, arthritic knuckles. When the dog was just a pup those palms were strong...he had been good with his hands Now they trembled as he reached into his overalls and withdrew the small flask

The whiskey was sour, burning his lips as it flowed down his throat. Slowly he re-screwed the flask lid, and adjusted the gun in its brace For the twelve years he had rented this land, it was a tradition; strangely compelling that Jake patrolled the top paddock before he switched off the mains. Ever since those soldiers had been found taking refuge in Mr. Whitechapel's field... "That damn war's bin over nigh on ten years ya fool!" his wife would yell "Why do ya need ta keep checkin' them paddocks?"

Jake found solace in his nightly patrol It was quiet out here in the cool solitude of the dreaming field, and he liked the company of his dog. By the time he returned to the house his wife would be asleep, and he could prepare for bed in peace

The grass grew higher as he strode on. Above his head bowing sunflowers danced in the breeze. The wind rushed past his ears, and he savoured its warmth and fragrance He blinked away the tears that stung his eyes and took a firmer grip on his rifle His dog whined softly as the wind teased her matted coat She was getting tired As a pup she had accompanied Jake on all of his trips, even when he was conscripted and had to go to Inverleigh She was a playful pup, always a nuisance to the farm hands and Jake's wife. These days, she spent the daylight hours sleeping under the house, only coming out with Jake on his rounds

The years had taken their toll on Jake also His face had hardened, and furrowed lines spread the length of his brow. His eyes were small, sunken. However, nondescript as they were, one sensed that they had once been bright and smiling Jake was enormous He stood at least six and a half feet, with broad shoulders and chest. He swore as icy water seeped into his enormous boots

The journey was drawing to a close, and all was well No unseen enemy crouched amongst the flowering camouflage Jake felt a sense close to disappointment. He knew that they'd never be here, but he had always harboured the secret hope that they might

What was that? A rustling noise stopped him dead in his path, and dog-like he cocked his head to the side, listening There it was again He spun around to face the old dog. She had lain down in the watery grass, paws stretched under her jaw She stared dolefully up at him through misty cataracts, her tail wagging in a feeble imitation of her puppyhood playfulness

"C'mon old girl," he whispered, wondering why he was whispering. She gave a low growl, and tried in vain to prop herself up on her hind legs Jake sank to his knees, and slid his arms around the dog. Hauling her to his chest, he discovered that she was too heavy for him. His throat grew dry, and with realisation rising sickeningly in his throat, he decided what he had to do.

He lowered the animal to the muddy ground, and stood up, wiping his hands, joints cracking She gazed trustingly up at him, and he turned, incapable of meeting her clouded eyes He remembered a scene in a film he had once seen The hero had killed his wounded friend, and been convicted of murder That same scene had passed through his mind when a comrade, Jimmy Baxter, had lost both legs in the war. Jimmy had screamed at Jake to shoot him, to put him out of his misery Jake couldn't His hands had trembled as he aimed his rifle, as they did now.

That scream; it was like nothing Jake had known...almost unrecognisable as human, and disturbing beyond belief. He shook his head, as if trying to shake the memory Taking three paces backwards, he realigned the gun, and squeezed the trigger. The dog was silent. As he walked away, slinging the cold gun over his shoulder, the grey steel reflected the moonlight, and its barrel dug viciously into his spine Turning, he looked for her, but she had been swallowed by the overwhelming blackness

He felt numb and empty as he mounted the stairs of his house. Raising his eyes, he sought comfort from the sky The moon hung stolidly overhead, like a decaying apple He hated that moon; the moon that had lit his passage over the years, the moon that turned his green fieldsto fields of blood It seemed to be grinning at him; a grotesque, moronic companion. Jake's fumbling fingers slid down the rifle's barrel There was one bullet left

By Rebbecca Wilcox, 12

The Game Mouths

There is a game, that you accidentally stumble across when you 're lost in the back alleys of The Show Grounds, or the corners of ancient amusement arcades. In the game nine or ten mouths on long metal arms shoot up from a box, all at once, baring long pointed teeth. As suddenly as they appear, they disappear again. The aim is to hit the mouths with a mallet and score points.

"What are you going to wear? You can't wear that grotty old jumper I've pulled it out of the cupboard to be thrown away!"

She ventures tentatively into a discussion "What else is there?"

"Nothing. That's the whole problem. I'm getting sick and tired of you always looking so scruffy and dirty. Why do you think we give you all this money?"

"I don't mind if you stop giving it to me."

"Don't be smart..."

The mallet is soft, covered in thick sponge and coloured vinyl. The mouths are made of metal, so only the paint has worn away. It's through repeatedly striking the mouths that the player gains points.

"All your friends seem to manage I mean I know you don't want to look trendy or sophisticated, but they manage to look individual without looking revolting."

Her mouth moved "I don't look revolting."

"Come off it. What single whole, clean, good quality outfit do you own? You can't even find something to wear to school on casual days You waste your money on ridiculous unmatching rubbish from the op - shop... Oh I know, you try to tell me op shop clothes cost next to nothing, but it all adds up Two dollars on something, then five dollars, then you come home with some monstrosity that cost fifteen dollars and saying "just this once, because it was so unusual." Plus six garments at a dollar each, and at the end of it all, nothing matches anything and you have no money Half of it needs mending, and the other half doesn't even fit you."

"Come on, I wear it."

"Not if I can help it And just think about it Have you ever worn that fake brown suede coat you paid

five dollars for? No! You wouldn't be seen dead in it You just wasted that money and now it clutters up your wardrobe."

"I have my blue jeans."

"You're not wearing those blue jeans, they look just awful on you You don't get to see them from the back, they make you look really wide. And you've managed to cover them with grass stains that won't wash out Seriously I don't know how you manage it You just have to take care of your clothes."

One of the tactics of playing this game is to guess which hole the next mouth will appearfrom, and strike in the chance of hitting a mouth as it shoots up. Sometimes you miss

"Mum, that doesn't solve the problem of today."

"You can't wear that awful green five dollar coat If you want to wear that this winter you are going to get the sleeves altered so they don't hang over your hands like an old man, and sew the hem up." She liked looking like an old man "I knew this mum, that's why I am asking."

Sometimes you hit the mouth halfway up, or down

"Well I suppose.. if you are going to wear that woollen singlet then why do you need a jumper. It's going to be 18"." "Because I do, this singlet doesn't keep me warm at all." The words came out, then the mouth moved "Then don't wear it, you only make it smelly and sweaty." "Then what should I wear?"

Sometimes you hit.

"I suppose you can take dad's Country Road jumper even though it is too small for you." She had lost dad's Country Road jumper before the summer She pulled a shirt she had made herself out of the ironing pile Not knowing how to, she had never finished the seams properly, so she didn't wash the shirt having been told numerous times that it would unravel and fray Her mother, unaware of this tactic had thrown the shirt in the machine after a storm clean up of her room

The player becomes more vengeful and determined as the mouths move faster and faster, and the mallet falls harder as the time runs out.

"You're not wearing that anywhere until you sew those seams, they've begun to fray Can't you see it's got threads hanging all over it." She began to iron, and missed "It will look so disgusting and scruffy You're not wearing that You're not taking it to school "

Then suddenly, the mouths stop moving.

She quietly dressed herself in the fraying shirt Then took off her whole clean black jeans and found her grass stained pair in a crumpled corner of her room She left the house without saying good-bye

The game stops when the mouths stop moving. There is no winner, just a paper token that spits out of the machine. If you collect enough tokens you can win a prize, but the tokens are easily lost. The number of hits is really only recorded in the memory of the player and of course, in the loss of paint on the metal mouths.

By Maria Andrzejezvski, 12

TheVisitor

"Perfect!" Elizabeth Baxter smiled surveying her handiwork with pride "That lace tablecloth looks so nice with the new tea set and those pretty ferns. The cream and and green blend beautifully they really do I must write to Linda She loves to hear all the little details." She smiled again and busied herself wiping minute specks of dust off the table with a corner of the dishcloth she held in her hand "Now," she thought "Is there anything more?...Ah, yes that picture needs straightening..."

She smoothed non-existent creases from her blue print dress and sat by the window, glancing anxiously from time to time at the clock "Oh dear, she is late," she murmured a trifle impatiently "The tea will get cold and those biscuits will go hard." Her gaze wandered listlessly, not focussing on anything in particular on the crowded street Groups of friends, families taking a quiet stroll in the park and a runaway laugh or two erupting from nowhere. Occasionally, something would capture her attention and a wistful smile would creep across her face

A sharp knock interrupted her thoughts. "That must be Gladys" she cried with relief, scuttling towards the door to meet her guest "Oh Gladys! Ho w good it is to see..." but the words died on her lips as she saw a woman walking into the opposite room. Her mouth drooped slightly and for a fleeting moment, her eyes glistened as she caught the faint sound of laughter. Very softly, she closed the door

Yet two hours later, she was chattering away to Gladys who had put in an appearance Her eyes sparkled and her cheeks were flushed as she brought up various memories of her childhood "Do you remember that lovely pink dress you wore to the dance at the town hall?" she asked with a laugh "Oh I can, ever so well Goodness me, how jealous we all were! It was...Wendy? Is that you dear?"

think me terribly rude This is Wendy...er, Wendy this is Gladys Anderson, my oldest and dearest friend!"

"Yes...well uh, pleased to meet you Mrs Anderson," replied Wendy, momentarily bewildered "But it's time for Mrs Baxter to go to bed. She needs her beauty sleep you know." The girl grinned as inspiration flowed "Perhaps you can have another visit tomorrow" She paused for a moment and then walked to the door. "OK, byebye for now See you soon then"

Wendy returned to the table and began clearing the dishes but her normally brisk, efficient movements were somewhat slowed as she tried to suppress her laughter 'Old bat's off her rocker,' she thought scornfully as she emptied the untouched cake into a black garbage bag 'Dunno how much longer I can stay around these psychos without going 'round the twist myself.' Her face, however, was perfectly controlled and her eyes wide and innocent as she asked Elizabeth when they could expect her friend to tea again.

"Do you remember that lovely pink dress you wore to the dance at the town hall?" she asked with a laugh. "Oh I can, ever so well. Goodness me, how jealous we all were! It was...Wendy? Is that you dear?"

But for the old lady, the glowing, artificial picture she had painted for herself ha d disintegrated The animation in her face melted away and she dropped her eyes, ashamed to look up "Did...did anyone ask for me today?" she whispered, playing restlessly with the bottom of her sleeve, suddenly looking frail and childlike, and Wendy did not feel like laughing any more She gulped, trying to force down the painful lump that had mysteriously found its way into her throat "No, I mean not yet...but tomorrow is another day," she concluded with feigned cheerfulness She blushed scarlet, her cheeks matching her lipstick and wished desperately that he could find tactful words to cover up the embarrassment they both felt, but was stuck. "Goodnight Mrs. Baxter," she said hoarsely and slipped out of the room

"Yep, sure is Mrs Baxter" A large, platinum blonde girl with brown roots and red lipstick walked in and glanced briefly at the untouched meal and back again at Elizabeth "Why haven't you finished your tea? I made it 'specially for you because it's your favourite"

"Dear me, do you mean to say it's over? I'm sorry, it's just that me and Gladys have been going over the 'old days' and we completely forgot about the time!"

"Huh...I mean, I beg your pardon?"

"Oh, I'm most dreadfully sorry, you both must

Elizabeth Baxter of Room 142 stayed awake long after every one else had gone to sleep. Homes for the elderly were not often quiet, but tonight it was silent

"Tomorrow certainly is another day," she told herself firmly "I'm sure Linda and the kids will come down I know they wouldn't have forgotten it was my birthday today". But her voice trembled and her reassuring words could not stop that single tear from rolling down her wrinkled cneek

By Shobana Kanagasingham, 10

Winner of the Middle School Writing Competition

Notes are our Letters, Bars are

our Words

Ifyou think Brahms is the 'King ofMusic', then Beethoven must be the God! Anyway, I don't think you should mile on the Library's score.

Of course Brahms is brilliant, but don't you think that Beethoven has achieved an unearthly status? I wish you wouldn't keep writing across the score

Please only make notes in the margin. Otherpeople have to study Brahms' First too, and we don't want your scribble getting in our way. You wrote "Isn't this a brilliant melody!" right across that gorgeous sequence that I was going to photocopy and quote for my analysis paper! Thanks a lot!

Hi Emma! At least I now know the name of the person who tore the corner off the first page of the second movement and stuck it on the back cover with chewing gum Yes, I love Brahms, but wouldn't you agree that Beethoven is the best of all composers? I nearly cry listening to some of his slow movements...and the late string quartets....

Was that you, Emma who stole the score from the Reference Section and kept it over the weekend? It must have been you. I was frantic because I have to get my paper written by next TuesdayHelp! That's only seven days away; one week - and I came in here this - morning to work, and the score was gone. Please be more considerate of others.

My Father:

"I do not understand you," he said, "but I still love you". I knew that could not be possible. Love is tangible only through understanding. Without it, love is a convenient, parental comment. You cannot love when you do not know what it is you are loving.

He will never seek to understand his daughter, and his love will remain implausible.

My Mother:

I am a teenage specimen to my mother. My emotions; my anger, my joy, my sorroivthey are not real.

I am not a person who feels because hutnan beings feel. I am a teenager who reacts because teenagers react.

She will study her daughter forever; eternally I will remain her specimen.

My Friend:

She argues and she bitches. She envies and she insults. Yet, an inexplicable bond exists betzveen us. We are simultaneous; living together now.

She listens and she laughs and she loves.

She respects my existence as equal to hers.

Her friendship sustains me, and I realise I am not alone.

Uy-rf By Jayne Tayler, 11

Dear Emma, Thanks for apologising for taking the score Please never do that again I'm really stuck at the moment I don't know how to write about the 'significance of the pizzicato section in the Finale', and there are only nine days to go Did you know Brahms finished the Symphony on holiday on a Baltic island? How lovely that would be, to just escape There comes time when you suddenly wonder about- the point of sitting in a stuffy library bent over a filthy score (thanks to a certain student with no respect for university property) just to get some kind of qualification, and for what? What will I ever do? Ifeel so lost So hopeless in the face of all the genii around me who can look; at a bar and write two pages before I can write one sentence that I don't scratch out I escape into daydreams but they never last long enough, and I am always jolted back into lecture and rehearsals and concerts If only I could be free.. I used to think that after I had finished school I would be free, but I have walked into a worse trap I'm sorry to bore you with all this, but I had to pour everything out to someone, and who better than someone who pours coffee over the cover of The Life of Johannes Brahms' - that was you wasn't it? Vicky

Dear Emma,

Thursday

Vicky, why stay? Leave if you can 'break the string': what you wrote back wasn't very helpful Yes, Brahms may have turned down an honorary doctorate from Cambridge, but he could afford to He was established Sadly enough, you can't get anywhere with nothing to build on And anyway, it would be too painful to break the string You cannot snap a cord without the loose ends flying in your face

Please don't be so unrealistic, Emma Please help me There are only eight days left and I still cannot get my introduction right I heard some other students talking on the train, having such a learned discussion about The Symphony, and I realized how little I had learnt about the work I must work on my essay, but I just want to write to you and read what you have to say It might not be practical, but you make me feel better Thank you, Emma. Vicky

P.S. What did you mean when you said that I must 'walk out into the sunlight'?

Dear Emma, Friday

I understand what you mean now, without your even having to explain it That gave me such a good feeling I read (between smears of beetroot) "Brahms was so trapped in the shadow of Beethoven that he was afraid to pen a symphony for fear of comparison with the great master, but when after twenty years of attempts he produced his C minor symphony, it was at once titled '"Beethoven's Tenth' by the Viennese" Have the courage to take the initial plunge, and you will win, at least over yourself Thank you, Emma Vicky

Dear Em,

I finished my paper last night This morning I came into the library to photocopy one last musical example from the score...and it was gone One of the librarians asked what I had been looking for, and it turned out that the score was behind the desk for 'repairs' I realized then that I could do without it anyway Vicky

By Kylie Vincent, 12

Lost In One's Self

I looked at her, really looked at her She was like an innocent child, helplessly lost in herself. She was so simple - her grey hair sitting properly, her wrinkles showing every curve in her face and her glasses tipping slightly to one side.

She sat there in silence, watching Pa make our sandwiches I remember when she would make our lunch. Always it would be steak and kidney stew with fat carrot and potato cut into squares To go with it I'd have a glass of milk in one of those plastic, coloured mugs, and afterwards there was a choice of fresh chocolate or fruit cake I always chose chocolate There is nothing like those lunches We haven't had one in a long time

We hardly talked during the meal; there was nothing to say really Of course they always love to see me I used to come and stay all the time when I was little, but I don't so often any more. I don't even know if Nana remembers my name Dad thinks she waits until Pa says it and then she uses it. I don't think she'd recognise me walking down the street

I watched as they both arose from the table to wash the dishes Pa scraped the plates and Nana got the water ready, both of them as though they were completing a set routine After lunch when I was younger we'd usually go for a walk down to the park. Pa would put on his 'runners' and make sure that the house was locked before we left In the park there was a small wooden bridge over a stream. At the end of each bridge there were trees which bore little berries Pa and I would pick them and throw them into the water, watching them go down. On the way home we'd always stop by the milk-bar and buy an icecream The park is a golf course now...I wonder if our berries are still there Pa's gone out to the back garden He hardly attends to it any more I remember that way up the back he used to grow beans and other vegetables His garden only has ordinary plants now; occasionally he gives us silverbeet though Pa offered for me to sit and watch television. There's not much else to do here now I remember when they'd get out the toy box for me It was a woven basket full to the brim. I used to dig out the doll and put Nana's rollers in its hair to make it go all curly Nana bought me presents also I was so spoilt!

She's sitting next to me now, picking her fingernails. Mum says she's gone back to her childhood habits; and that she does not realise It was scary once Pa had gone out for the day and came home to find Nana missing We were up all night calling her name around the local streets in case she'd gone for a walk and got lost The police were looking too The next morning a truckie picked her up in South Melbourne and

"The Face of Death"

Black on black, dark drifts of blood stain the water like mortal wounds. Green on Green, the shattered lillies betid, twisted underfoot. Red on red, blood soaked feathers float across the water; a silent tnbute.

Shadows upon shadows, lurk around every comer, waiting, waiting. The silence upon silence, is deafening, because I know that it means they are still prowling; this silence, is the fanfare of death.

Slowly oh, so slower, I release my breathe. The stench of rotting meat pollutes the air, so I try not to breathe. Fear, cold and certain fear, like a hard coiled noose, settles heavily upon my shoulders.

Then suddenly, inevitably, I glimpse the sharp silver shining in the night. I hear his call, that is all. Like a cold flat stone, the body snatched from the heavens plummets. Wet and rabid, the black hound retrieves the body. The raging volcano that is the dark hunter retreats.

By Belinda Terperou, 12

brought her home She had lived in the suburb as a child.

Nana wears two skirts I don't know why- I don't understand her and I do not try to. She's stolen from us before Not valuable things, but pretty ornaments that catch her eye She stashes them in her second skirt. Sometimes I think that Nana is quite smart In her second skirt are all kinds of things: lipsticks, hankies and stockings Does she store them there because she cannot remember where they're kept otherwise?

Nana wears the same dresses over and over. She washes them all by hand with a bar of soap Once I watched her ironing Pa's underpants, trying to remove all the little creases. She lent forward and she whispered to me, 'These are boy's you know"

She wears the same shoes too, the blue ones with a bow that clips on at the front. Once Mum was taking her shoes off for her and Nana had a huge corn where the clip had rubbed Nana hadn't felt it.

I wonder if Nana is happier this way. When she was younger she used to worry a lot She was nervous in the car and was fussing about things Has Alzheimer's disease brought peace within herself?

By Sarah Newnham, 9

Silver &Green 1993

CurCs

In grade three we dress up in olden day clothes The city of Heidelberg is eighty years old and our school is having a Pioneer day We are supposed to look like pioneer children as we parade our mothers' sewing My father's contribution isto record the day that has not yet been lived, to preserve the memory that has not yet been made My father takes the photographs

Four children line up in front of a low brick fence. One end of the fence is broken Some bricks, still cemented to one another have been knocked away from the bottom half of the wall. This is just near the letter box, and you can tell it is morning in the photograph because the daily paper is folded on the dissected brick work The postman has laid it there instead of trying to reach the box over the rubble It is our paper, and our fence My father probably picks up the paper after he has taken the photographs, but I don't notice. Papers didn't matter to us then

The children are my sister and me, and two girls from across the road Play friends of convenience. They are the same age as us, and live so close that we can be located by a bellowing mother without her needing to leave the house

We call ourselves friends The friendsare wearing what

look like cloth shower caps with big frills that cover their eyes Their hair is in two pony tails that stick out from underneath the caps like handle bars and their apron-like pinafores are white Ours are coloured, and secretly I know they are better Mine is best, because mine is patterned. My little sister's is just plain pink, with a burgundy bonnet and skirt The material of my pinafore has a print of tiny red berries with green stems and

When the roots of her short straw-like hair grow out her head matches her teeth. She wears thick gold belts and large plastic earrings and she is beautiful.

it has rufflesdown the sides

I am the only one with a dress underneath- (the others wear skirts and blouses) It is very old, made of cream stuff called calico I have never heard of a material called calicobefore this dress The namecalico reminds me of the Calico ghost town we visited the previous year, which gives the ancient material an attractively mysterious quality The sleeves are short and puffed, and my naked arms look obvious clasped in front of me

My sister and I are wearing bonnets that match our pinafores Underneath, although you can't really tell from the photograph, our hair isinrag curls The night before, our mother rang Grandma specially to findout how rags were done in the olden days when she was agirl. We cut up old sheets to have our hair wrapped around Now it is in ringlets to my shoulders I am feeling very pretty, and hoping no one is noticing me smiling to myself, but I glance at them, and glance again to see it they are admiring me just the same. We are doing this properly. They didn't have school bags in the olden days Instead I have a cane basket with lunch for both of us in brown paper

bags We have been told they didn't have peanut butter and honey on Saladas or Primas in the days of pioneers, so my mother has made us brown bread and butter- (wrapped in greaseproof paper instead of gladwrap) a hard boiled egg and apples

After the photographs we walk together down the main street of our suburb towards school Reaching the town hall street corner Inotice a yellow Datsun at the intersection I do not look a second time at the car, but I know there are two people in the front, and the back seats will be covered with large pieces of coloured cardboard and paint bottles with the plastic seals still wrapped around the lids It pulls around, parallel to the foot path we walk along And I am aware of myself talking to my sister, smiling and shaking my head of curls. I am laughing I think I look prettier to other people when I am laughing.. alive I am thinking about the vaseline I put on my lips this morning and wondering if it has made them shiny I am thinking about talking, not sounds but the shape, of lips parting, of slightly browned hands on basket handles, of muscles at the back of my neck tensing up as I smile and of the yellow in the corner of my eye as it grows into a car As it passes out of sight I forgetwhat it is I am saying.

We arrive at school to see children playing with hoops and sticks, skipping ropes, knuckles and marbles One of the teachers has brought a real pig's bladder I watch as he hands it around to a group of children in olden day dress ups Sitting on a wooden bench that backs onto the toilets, I watch. The bell rings and we line up forclass on the black asphalt Hurrying and pushing we gather on our grade's designated line.Girls stand closeto one another, bumping shoulders, knocking elbows, Sarah and Kirsty hold hands Between boys and girls a gap is left, shoulders are pulled in and both children are aware of air that prickles their naked skin. I am between two boys The girl I sit next to in class is overseas, but I have realised it does not matter, because you're always beside someone, whether you know them or not

At lunchtime the boys play with the pig's bladder on the oval. A wall of irregular grey stones defines one side of our oval In places there is a large drop between the top of the wall at playground level and the oval, so there

is a cyclone fence at shoulder height to stop kids in the playground accidentally falling or being pushed over the edge Istand on top of the wall, hook one finger around a piece of wire and lean my body out over the drop From here I watch them play with the bladder I want to join in,but today my clothes are too long and pretty

After lunch my art teacher stops me in the corridor At the intersection of lines of children she singles me out and speaks to me Just me Teachers work on mass, to groups of faces and for answers flagged by hands They speak of long division and crossings of fs and colours of paint Then, once or twice, one of them doesn't She says, she has seen me this morning, as shedrove to school Really? Isay and look at her, surprised Her thickly painted eyes laugh at something, but they do not laugh at me She likes my curls, she likes them a lot She sounds different to the teachers with processed cheese smiles who speak in 'I have decided to be nice to this child' tones... She sounds real. In the week that follows I do not wash my hair

Next art class she notices my curls again They have stayed in a long time, I wonder how much longer they will last, she says I count the days they stay in I can still see curls after seven days, then Iam made to wash them away

Every time I wash my hair Igo to bed with it wet. Secretly Icling to the proven untruth that I will catch a cold, or the flu and be allowed to stay home I long for sickness When you are sick you get to spend the whole day in pyjamas, wrapped in blankets Mother brings in vegemite toast, then apologising she hesitantly leaves for work and you get to spend

the rest of the day alone You get to lie stretched out for the full length of the couch and watch cooking shows and Spanish language lessons on televisions Youeat lemonade icy poles and read whole books from beginning to end without getting them confiscated But it seems the only time I ever get sick is on Wednesday, and if it is Wednesday I beg her to let me go anyway

Wednesday's are art days At the end of play time we line up outside the art room door and wait for her to appear As we wait an empty nervous hollow eats at my stomach and I pray she is not sick It is with both pleasure and relief that I see her figureclimb the stairs to meet us We sit on a mat at her feet and listen to her gravelly voice, roughened by smoke She holds up examples of work in hands that look slightly unfinished without a cigarette She has smoked cigarettes since the beginning of time, and they have discoloured her teeth to a translucent yellow, edged by grey When the roots of her short straw-like hair grow out her head matches her teeth She wears thick gold belts and large plastic earrings and she is beautiful. She smokes in her empty art room at lunchtimes She is not supposed to Smoking in classrooms isagainst health regulations, but I have often see her, when I happen to wander past on my way to the library at lunchtime: Breathing deeply in through the butt absent mindedly, half blinking as she concentrates on the task her hands perform Then she speaks, and speaks again until I decide the smoke has settled in her lungs forever,or escaped invisibly through her nose, or moved into her stomach to be digested. And just when Iam sure of it, she opens her mouth and lets smoke drift out, or blows a haze behind her and it dissipates I am left wondering where it is kept when she is talking

On principle I hate smokers They make me cough and wheeze and I become morally indignant But my art teacher eludes my blanket of judgement, and I watch with tolerant intrigue

Sometimes she does not answer when Ispeak to her,but smiles slightly from the corners of her mouth so I know she has heard At other times she listens to me, without looking up, preoccupied, but listening all the same as if the words I am speaking are worth waiting to hear, as if the syllables my

mouth is making matter, and I let myself imagine that she likes me

A story germinates in my mind Writing chapters as I lieawake at night Icreate a lifelimited only by the fertility of my imagination Before sleep I live on an island that encloses whisky rivers bedded with slimy boulders The houses are on stilts and made of dried reeds and palm wood, containing nothing but woven mats Knotted rope hammocks are strung between stilt legs, and the constant sun has browned my skin There is a small group of us living alone on this island, myself and those Ilove She is there, she is the first one there. I long for bed where the happiest moments of life begin before sleep

It is not until a couple of years later that this unuttered life is momentarily given roots in reality. I do not realise quite what is happening at the time until it is over There are just a couple of us in the art room. We have painted t-shirts in class, and the dye we have used is set by heat We are waiting for the iron to warm up. I am saying something sort of silly to her and she is laughing Ican see all her grey teeth surrounded by her crooked smile. I laugh too Her eyes look out at mefrom beneath her sticky lashes, and they almost smile The other kids are talking by the t-shirts as she puts her arms around me And I push away She keeps talking and it kind of slips by At the end of grade six I gave her a card And not knowing what not to leave unsaid wrote very little of what I meant I agonised for hours to condense onto one piece of card, into one line of words six years of my very self, without actually saying any of it When my art teacher finally opened it she turned her back so I could not see her faceand walked out of the passage way She left my primary school the same year as I did After a while I became careless and let a fractionof my subconscious wonder at the coincidence, and wish and hope

And now as a grown woman, most of the me looks at the image of myself as a child, and laughs at the extremity and intensity of childhood obsessions But a part of me, a fraction of a fraction of my very naked self, look out from the paper through those frozen eyes. I look out at my own adult eyes that laugh unconsciously, and continue to wonder and hope.

By Maria Andrzejewski, 12

Granny's House

It is to me what no other is

It is where I sit and wondrously think

Resembling a colony of ants sunned by a thirsty desert where everything ticks

It is where the cabaret roses meet the stone seats with the blood drained from within

And they sit on the edge of the lawn that is so green, it calls for me to dive in

It is the sea of my childhood memories

Where I played so fair in my innocence and my world consists of fairy stories.

I am like a ladybird to a labyrinth, feeling so small and happily overwhelmed

This is my world where everything is created before my eyes lay gently down

My surroundings are always new: changing.

I have no memory to restrict me

I roam and delve into the never ending walls that are my support and security

I step through into a different country

A new land of visionary sound, hair

Tickling smells and booming sights.

I BECOME: the teddy bear that I cuddle the doll house where I long to live the bed that cuddles me the creaky floor on which I tumble the continuing staircases zvho smile at me the monarchy of miniatures who dance at midnight the people who hang on the walls, my guardians and every stately chair

This home is my world, my escape and my family. Comfort massages me. And there my God stands, loving me in her giant world.

Me the ladybird. She, my Granny.

By Marian Arnott,ll

Portrait

I'm painting myself with xvords, burying me underneath metaphors I can smudge out and reshade discrepancies With thick paint, it clogs up the pores.

My brush is ugly and chewed on, unlike the traditional branch.

I'm not very skilled, I'm a dreamerpainting various body parts black.

It's a long-term career, quite demanding, but they're killing my cells, those fumes. I'd quit if I could- I'm addicted you see I'm painting myself with words.

By

Kelly Chandler, 12

My Place

A place of no one else

Secluded

Deserted

Unknown and unheard of

This place of only me.

Deep in ocean territory

Yet calm and peaceful

Cradled in its rocking arms

This place of only me.

Hypnotic and forceful

Mirages of peace

Looming ahead

Pulled along by power

I do not refuse

I am but a speck

In thisjung le of deceit

This place of only me.

No longer am 1

Tantalised

Out of control

Dread surges through my soul

I am at mercy

A victim

This cruel stranger

This savage beast

This place of only me.

By Chantal Faust, 8

Poetry

Untitled

The shops are shut, locked up tight, Waitingfor the morning light. The wind rustles the leaves and playfully blows balls ofpaper and dust along the road. The lamplightflickers and lights up the place, Where people once moved at a city'sfast pace. The Sun goes down and shadows appear, to perform their dark dance; twilight is here. The Moon is up and shining bright, casting moonlitfigures in the night.

By Sam Ng, 7

Glasses

Mrs. Rose would sob over vegetable soup. The soup reminded her of sewerage Her husband installed their sewerage system He didn't die installing the sewerage system or even on the toilet. Mr Rose had a heart attack

Mrs Rose was our neighbour Mrs Rose somehow forgot that Mr.Rose had tried everything with everyone; women that is Even my mother On such occasions my mother's eyes would freeze, a grimace would set in and her neck would stretch so far that even Mr. Rose commented that she was as beautiful as a giraffe I told Mr Rose that if I were called a giraffe I would put blue tack in the hair of the offender. This thawed my mother's mouth, slightly, but only for a moment

Mr Rose's house was a palace with white, simple arches and bright orange tiles This may not appear odd considering the mansions of today, but this was conservative Camberwell where speaking with a foreign accent was enough to class you as queer. Not that the arches didn't seem peculiar enough to many, but Mrs Rose's was the only house with a name painted on the front Adding horror to horrors it was a foreign name: "Conchita" This, according to Anne from the 'Kindergarten Mothers' Club', was Spanish for 'temptress'. Such scandalous information only increased my devotion to the house

As a child of four I wasn't to know what 'temptress' meant, which is why I heard these things. Indeed, I was allowed to listen to many conversations, merely because my mother presumed that I would not understand the topic

Mrs Rose had a fetish for hydrangeas As if this weren't enough, her front garden had no lawn. It was a thicket of hydrangeas It was spectacular in Spring, but nothing could redeem the missing lawn. It was embarrassing for my Anglo-Saxon neighbourhood to have to suffer the blatant insult of no lawn While others hosed and mowed the grass, Mrs. Rose happily saturated her hydrangeas.

In a further affront to our street, no footpath lead to the Rose's front door. I shall never forget the image of plump Mrs Rose, in bright floralrobe and extremely red lips, blowing kisses from her porch across a forest of green. Any visitor would have to thrash through the hydrangeas and arrive wet from the waist down

Every Christmas, my mother would bake cakes forall our neighbours and every Christmas I would deliver them I was annually commanded to visit Mrs. Rose's last, so that I wouldn't drip 'horrid plant water' onto our neighbours' doorsteps Because of this friendly visit I was the only person in our street to have seen inside Mrs. Rose's Gothic door

The inside would have been a Camberwell Council matter had my mother seen it. There was

no wall to wall carpet, only tiles and the occasional Persian rug The tiles weren't even the type a sane person would have in the bathroom, not shiny, but dull and black

Each alcove, each corner and the middle of each room was decorated with a statue Each statue was subtly moulded and finished to show the curves and corners of the human body Mrs Rose, like Michaelangelo, thought more of art than modesty and thought nothing of my fingers touching and poking at will There were no grapes, vine leaves or drapes to hide the areas a child of four wasn't expected to know about. I recall a particular Boticellian cherub who was well equipped with water to illustrate the function of certain parts of his body. <

Mrs Rose would be the last person from whom one would expect military precision and order. Yet, no one has seen her back garden Roses, in perfect rows, all wired for them to grow into shape Mrs Rose did not pick her roses, she harvested them. She would tie them in bundles and hang them around her kitchen Mrs Rose's always smelt of burnt roses Anne thought it 'an ugly smell as if something had suicided in her hydrangeas'. Perhaps she might have thought differently if she knew it was the smell of roses wafting from the house.

It doesn't smell of roses now

"Hello Mrs. Rose. Do you remember me?"

"Hello Darlingck, of course."

"Do you still live in Camberwell?"

"Yes Darlingck, still the same 'Conchita' ".

"Do you know who lives in my house now?"

"Your house?"

I met Mrs. Rose again yesterday. She is old. Her too red lipstick runs into wrinkles There are three houses on the street with names now She has a footpath through her hydrangeas. And the statues? Those fully functional cherubs? Plastic Even the outrageously bright orange tiles have been replaced with demure burnt ochre cement squares.

"See, same old 'Conchita', Darlingck."

"Well, no, not really You've had your roof retiled."

"No, Darlingck. Same roof.'

"You sure?"

"Yes Darlingck No money, pension no good."

"Oh I swear I remember...never mind The footpath That's new I'm sure you never had a footpath."

"No Darlingck, you remember wrong Always footpath Why would I not have a footpath?"

I was mistaken, completely mistaken.

By Christina Hajdu, 12

Plastic Trees

"Are we there yet?" "No."

"How long?" There was no answer "How long, Dad?" Still no answer "Dad! How long 'til we're there?"

"A while yet Why don't you do some drawing?" I groaned, bored Drawing! I'd been drawing for ten minutes already

"My bum's sore."

"Then change cheeks." I shifted my position, leaning on the car door and resting on my left buttock Trees shot past me I tried to count them but there were so many and we were going so fast,they blurred together into a streak of brown My eyelids drooped and threatened to close

we turned a corner I reached behind and caught one as it came towards me

"Can I have a apple?" "AN apple Yes, you may." It was soft and hot from the sun that had seared it all day, but I sank my mouse-teeth into its flesh and let the juice dribble down my chin I had taken off my T-shirt and the seat belt rubbed against my skin I complained about it "Then put your T-shirt back on" came the tired reply.

"It's too hot." I nibbled at the apple, leaving little trails with the gap between my two front teeth My best friend had lost one front tooth already, and the fairy had left fifty cents under her pillow for sleepy-eyed collection the next morning. I wanted to lose one of my front teeth before Christmas "Do you think the Tooth FairyTl find me if this wobbly one falls out?" Iput a grubby thumb and fore-finger to my loose tooth and played with it, testing to see how firmly the gums would grip before it hurt

"The Tooth Fairy can find anyone, anywhere."

I put a grubby thumb and fore-finger to my loose tooth and played with it, testing to see how firmly the gums wouldgrip before it hurt.

"Let's play eye-spy Mum? Let's play!" I could see my mother's head in front of me, her hair dancing with the sticky air that was sucked in from the countryside and swirled around our car before escaping through another window. It lifted pieces of my drawing paper and teased the empty chip and chocolate wrappers my brother and I had discarded "Eric! Let's play eye-spy." I pulled the leg of the teddy bear he was holding. My brother was asleep, his head tipped forward and nodding gently as the car sped over bitumen bumps His lips moved occasionally, as though he were trying to find the opportunity to say something to someone who wasn't listening. He often talked in his sleep. "Eric?" I tugged at his teddy bear, half heartedly

"Don't bother your brother."

"Why not? He bothers me." I stretched my short legs and kicked the seat in front of me Mum ignored it Ikicked again, but kept my legs outstretched so I could admire the array of bruises collected on my shins My legs were short and the skin was bumped and broken by eczema and play-ground falls Behind my knees it was sweaty, and although I knew I shouldn't, I leaned over to scratch them - half in boredom, half because it was too hot "Can we swim when we get there?"

"I don't think we'll stop and swim today, possum." I whined, but resigned myself. The apples that were lose under the rear window rolled from one side of the car to the other as

"Really?" I let the apple fall from my hand It was browning already, where my teeth had shaped pinnacles in the flesh of floury mountains I could never eat a whole apple, I always lost interest by the time it started to turn brown and lose it's taste

My brother stirred I looked, waiting for him to stumble from sleep, but he licked his lips and parted his eyelids just a slither to look out of the window for signs of life He slipped back into his dreams without a sound, and I rustled some of my drawing paper to see if Icould wake him again without Mum hearing I was still bored and the landscape stretched endlessly in mottled browns and greens

Sepia coloured apple flesh stared at me from next to my feet Ipicked it up "Is this bio-dee-grade-able?" I fought with this last word Dad had taught it to us days before,and I liked its sound Bio-degradable I held the apple for him to see, my fingers sticky with sweat and juice.

"It sure is."

"Can I chuck it, then?"

"Yes, you may throw it."

I wound down the window and stuck my hand into the wind I let go of the apple when Iwas kneeling by the window, and watched it bounce and splatter on the road side "Bio-degradable!" I yelled, as it cracked it's scull on the bitumen and faded into distance Satisfied, I twisted back in my seat and let my head rest against the glass Slowly, sleep began to wink at me and I allowed my eyelids to fall together. Everything was liquid in my pre-sleep haze and I conjured up the image of an apple tree by the road, growing fruit of plastic chip packets "Plastic doesn't grow into trees" Dad had told me, "like apple seeds do".

By Kelly Chandler, 12

Monsters In The Hallway

Every night it was the same, the dreadful throb of the beast's heart just outside the door David could see it now, deformed and drooling, lying in wait for him H e wanted to go to sleep, to forget about it and wake u p in the safety of the morning, but he could not The creature would not allow him to David was terrified, he hated the monster, he hated this house, he wanted to go home

Initially, this visit had seemed like such a good idea David had felt so gallant whe n he offered to spend his holidays with his grandmother She had, after all, been so lonely since Pop had died and every body had been concerned over her prolonged mourning . Yet possibly the most worrisom e problem of all was her unnatural worship of the clock he ha d made She spent hours staring at it an d woun d it daily at his exact time of death The family had all agreed that something had to be done about her morbid behaviour, so David, somewhat foolishly, ha d volunteered

There he lay, drenched in the cold sweat of fear, his mind active in his exhausted body H e knew that it was his fault that he was there David could see no escape, only a week of the 'holiday' had passed; only seven nights! It seeme d like an eternity Each night stretched never ending before him, promisin g the sam e lack of rest that the previous night had delivered. For hours he would listen an d contemplate the slow, deliberate noise of the monster in the hallway then finally he would fall into a fitful, nightmarish sleep

Durin g the da y David enjoyed himself; the house wa s old an d full of nooks and crannies

The Third World Girl

Bulging eyes against dry brittle skin,

She once had a life, but luck has worn thin.

Her dry parched lips like a gravelly road, cannot utter a word; emotion not showed.

Her frail chin is a picture of despair, Pointed in the same position; it will always stay there.

Her neck is like a tube; derelict now. When was the last time she swallowed? When? Where? How?

Ribs protruding from this neglected tummy.

Naked, exposed to the News Company's money.

A limp, ragged cloth loosely draped from belly button down, with a torn hole on the left side of the stick mound, covered by floppy, over-sized skin.

The battle over-powered her. She had no chance to win.

A mother bows over her, robbed of energy for a while. Starvation has murdered another third world child.

By Suzi Taylor, 8

Silver & Green 1993

With him playing, Grandm a appeared to be happy She would spend hours indulging him in game s of ches s befor e creatin g a culinar y masterpiece for dinner Still, despite David's best efforts, she never failed to wind the clock at four thirty-nine precisely; a fact that mad e David anxious So not wanting to worry her, he never mentioned the creature that tormented him during the night, with the constant an d threatening beat of its heart

Today, however was different, for David had given u p trying to distract her an d had adopted a despondent mood, born of too little sleep His Grandmother, concerned over the sudde n change in him, questioned him often before deciding he was unwell anfl marching him to bed

Despite his 'exhaustion, David felt more ill-atease than normal. Though he could not identify what it was, he kne w somethin g wa s awfully wrong. In the darkness he tossed an d turned, trying to pinpoint the source of his discomfort until he realised - the beast was silent! Straining his ears he listened for the tell tale tick tock, but there was nothing The quiet mad e him uneasy What if the creature was on the prowl? Surely he wa s not safe alone in the darkness What about Gran? She was so frail, so defenceless, it was his duty to protect her

Blindly David prodded in the darkness until his hand grasped his baseball bat Gaining courage with his weapon, he entered the passageway and began to hear noises- the soft paddin g of feet coming nearer Panicked, he raised the bat aloft and waited, waited until the shuffling monster was within striking distance H e swun g wildly, the bat connected and glass shattered H e was realigning for another shot when a moonbea m swept through the window, reflecting off an old lady's frightened eyes. They were the eyes of a woma n wh o had forgotten to wind her clock for the very first time.

By Melanie Baker, 12

Anger is not easily defined....

At birth an angry mother elicited only happy gurgles As a toddler, threats and scolding brought bewildered silence, Reprimands to a preschooler caused unreasoned tantrums

Primary school response to refusal of permission was:

"But Jenny's Mu m let her.. "

13 year olds received lectures with studied indifference A few years later warnings and upbraiding is ignored with cool superiority Anger changes constantly - or is it only our understanding of it?

By Sanya Reid-Smith, 12

Dedication A True Story

5.30am. "Rinnggg."

Drat, the alarm Crawling out of bed, I stumble over the hockey stick left on the floor last night Yawning, I pull on m y trackie dacks, t-shirt an d green and white rugby jumper I run dow n the stairs, school ba g behind me, have a quick bite of breakfast, before jumping in the car - off to swimming squad

8.25 am. Arriving in the class roo m late again, I dum p m y school ba g on m y des k an d begin to unpack

"And the notices for today are.. there is a meeting in the RE.C at recess for anyon e intereste d in becomin g a member of the ski team."

"Meeting recess", I scribble on m y hand.

11.00am."Clare! Coming to the tuck shop?"

"Nah, I've got a meeting," I yell back as I begin the ritual jog to P.E.C.

..."Training will commenc e this Friday at 7.45 Please collect a notice on your wa y out."

11.20am Runnin g into the science lab I ban g m y book s dow n and sit in the only spare chair left

"Clare. Late again?"

"Sorry, the ski meeting went on longer than usual."

"Don't let it happen again."

12.55pm Grabbin g som e lunch out of m y locker I ru n dow n to the P.E.C - for the third time that day.

"Glad to see you here Clare We're playing Nevile, you'r e wing attack Do a lap around the sports hall an d then some streches I'll be with you in a minute."

1.45pm "Did you win the netball?"

"Yeah, 34 - 15 Nevil e weren't too good."

"Going to Volleyball after school?"

"Yep, wh o are w e playing?"

Nikita stared at her eyes With a cynical sneer she decided that they were her only redeeming feature Even r^ r when her skin looked sallow, her waist-line bloated, or her f ^ hair resembled a mop, her eyes remained constants They were olive-green, large and had a symmetrical dark fleck below each unusually dilated pupil Her heavy black lashes lent her a permanent, deceivingly dreamy expression

She was writing a novel, but the pen in her hand had ceased to move across the page and her eyes bored furiously into the polished glass, as though she were trying to reach her thoughts through the reflection of her pupils * * *

All tw o hundre d an d seventy-fiv e page s of he r manuscript flew u p into the air, gracefully spiralled dow n and finally came to rest on the carpet

Nikita screamed and flung her pen at the mirror Her ^Mtl g eyes flashed. She hated the ever-so-perfect hero she had Fw^created, whose flawless character seemed unrealistic and shallow H e had, "smiled an d taken the heroine's hand in his" Then he had draw n her close, bent his handsom e face over hers and then - this! jj The heroine's future happiness no w lay at her feet like j/0 litter; distasteful and futile. Nikita smiled grimly - her fate was in her hands What would the hero d o next?

Blue ink was splattered against the white wall behind her desk Broken pieces of silver-backed glass were scattered around countless sheets of paper Nikita ran her hand through her blonde hair, staining it red

The hero had vanished, whilst the heroine ha d died in a pool of blood, surrounded by broken glass She had been beautiful - dreamy green eyes an d blonde hair...Nikita smiled

v tit * * *

^ A cold win d buffete d the smal l grou p of peopl e Gsc surrounding the grave Nikita lay safely awa y from the * wind, beneath a covering of red roses and polished oak Her pale blue lips were smiling, her green eyes closed. To her chest she clasped a completed manuscript Her thin, white hands were laid over it so that no-one could see the slightly opened, purple lines which ran across her wrists By Ines Gegenhuber 12.

"Ivanhoe I hate Ivanhoe!" "Same, come on we'll be late for maths."

3.30pm "Di d yo u brin g your oranges girls." Silence

"Oh well Set u p the courts and start practising your serves Katherine, cut the few oranges we've got."

4.45pm "How did you go?"

"We lost."

"Who were you playing?"

"Ivanhoe I hate Ivanhoe!"

"Is that because they won?"

"Dad! Of course not."

"Going to Netball training tonight?"

"Yeah O h by the way, can yo u tak e m e to schoo l tomorrow...there' s hocke y training..."

By Clare Barnett, 7

& Green

MLC Maintenance

Swimming

This year, the M L C

swi m team has certainly proven its dominance in schoolgirls ' swimming They year began with a trip to Bendigo to compete in the Bendigo All Schools, which served to consolidate team hi spirit and establish MLC as a force to be reckoned with In the relay events, MLC won a majority of the gold medals and in one instance took out first, second and third places

The meet was a definite success, with MLC winning the Junior aggregate trophy, indicating that MLC will continue to be successful in future years due to the obvious talent amongst young swimmers coming up from Junior School We stopped at McDonalds on the trip home A big thanks to Mrs Dale and Steven Cleary for organising the trip, and most especially Mrs McLaverty who drove the mini-bus

Enthused by our successful trip away, MLC continued on a winning streak throughout the remainder of the season We won the ESA and the GPSVSSA carnivals most convincingly, and the efforts contributed by those girls competing was outstanding Although these meets were important, they were only a lead up to the climax of the swimming season - that Alls Schools

In preparation for the meet, we held a Saturday morning training session and were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to receive first class coaching from Olympic and World Champion breast-stroker, Linley .Frame The training

s e e s i o n w a s ^followed by a breakfast, f where Linley gave a lot of valuble advice on competing under pressure. The morning turned out to be a great success and I'm sure all would agree that it was very beneficial.

I Our performance at the All Schools was no less than breathtaking MLC won a medal in almost every event, despite the fierce competition Having won the girls section of the meet for the previous two years we were anxious to continue the

tradition

Naturally, ML C blitzed, and as the night progressed and the tense atmosphere of the State Swim Centre hotted up, it became obvious that we were in a feasible position to win not only the girls' section, but the entire competition Congratulations must also be extended to Swimming Victoria who did a great job in keeping us on the edge of our seats with their scoring, at one stage showing us in last position MLC was Victoria's number one girls' swimming school. The trophy was accepted with an uplifting sense of pride and satisfaction, feelings which I hope will continue to be associated with swimming at MLC in future years

By Annie Mecklam, 12

School Swimming Captain

Tennis

selection in the G.P.S.V.S.A representative team We competed in a singles and doubles tournament against the A.P.S schools The competition saw some great tennis with Michelle Driver, Donna D'Souza, Lindy Fidler and Kate Simkiss representing M.L.C The 3rd and most exciting competition we played in was the Victorian Coaches' Association tournament This was held at the National Tennis Centre After a close win in the semi final over Wesley we were asked to return the following week to play the winning school of the other half of the draw Again we were presented with a tough and competitive match against

MLC gets active!

Toorak College with the result being decided by the final points Our victory was rewarding The team was:- Donna D'Souza, Michelle Driver, Sonya Zorec, Lindy Fidler, Tania Di Pietro, Simone Vignaroli, Kate Simkiss, Rachel Wallace and Katherine Gove (emergency). Congratulations to Donna D'Souza who is the 1993 MLC tennis champion Thank-you to Miss Osborne-Smith and everyone who played school tennis for a very successful season

By Kate Simkiss, 12

Kayaking

The 1993 Senior School Tennis team had a successful and rewarding season, competing in 3 main competitions during terms 1 and 2 We remained undefeated in the E.S.A competition which involved playing schools such as P.L.C. and Carey. Our top 6 players were invited to trial for

While most MLC girls were spending their summer in idyllic surrounds the MLC kayak team was defending the school's honour in the Red Cross Murray River Marathon After rising to the strains of "Morning Has Broken" at five o'clock for the five days between Boxing Day and New Year's Day, the six member team

Silver & Green 1993

completed the four hundred and four kilometre course from Yarrawonga to Swan Hill in the School Relay Division

Despite being the most recent school to enter a team MLC's inaugural assault on the Red Cross Murray River Marathon was a raving success. In a newly established class of eight boats MLC came a close third to two of the three Toorak College boats and beat the four Camberwell Boys' Grammar boats

However, their success didn't come easily Once the six member team of Marquita Corr, Shannondoah Grant, Marni Kerseboom, Tanya Martinich, Susan Tegg and Anna Thwaites had been formed and the Parent's Association had very kindly provided the boat, training began in earnest Every Sunday from

May at seven o'clock in the morning, bedraggled, freezing but never the less cheerful girls could be seen dragging themselves up and down the Yarra

The class in which the MLC kayak team competed in was the School Relay Race This division allows high spirited competitions between schools However, because it is a relay no paddler paddles the full four hundred and four kilometres of the race Thus it is a race that is achievable by anyone prepared to give up two hours every Sunday morning After having such a wonderful time as a member of the inaugural MLC kayak team competing in the Red Cross Murray River Marathon, I would strongly recommend that anyone who is interested should give it a go.

By Susan Tegg

Rowing

1993 was nothing less than a challenge for MLC's rowers. Although the racing season didn't begin until February, training of the body and mind began in the third term of 1992. After months of preparation in the weight room, on the 'ergo', running along the Yarra and swimming laps, we finally got into the boat; only to find ourselves separated by a month of Summer Returning from the beach to go to school is always painful, but more so when you have to come back a week early for rowing training

For the year eleven and twelves the grind of the camp is something we dread; but the innocent, unexpecting year tens always serve as endless amusement The infamous first crew (coach Palf), was especially harsh this season on the weight and fitness of us poor girls, but we made it through That, I think, is the essence of rowing. The fact is; no matter how tough it gets we always make it through

MLC continued to remain at the forefront of Schoolgirls' Rowing by attracting the newest technology and best coaches. Under the guidance of these devoted coaches and the assistance of the loyal parents on the Silver Star Rowing Club, MLC had ten out of twelve crews make the finals (for the Head of Schoolgirls' Regatta) Two of these successful crews were the junior and senior quad sculls 1993 was the first year of their involvement in schoolgirls' rowing. In the sculling we were represented extremely well by Sarah Higgenbottam, who definitely fought against the odds (weeks without a permanent coach) to produce a 'memorable' race on the day

I commend all of the rowers and coaches for their dedication, perseverance, and guts Good luck and may your waters always be calm

By Tamara Brawn Captain of Boats.

Senior Rowing Team

"Join the army and get your head...."

I've had to put u p with a lot since I received the news, an d mad e the mistake of telling others, that I ha d b given a $1000 scholarship, and wa s eligible to enter the Australia n Defenc e Forces Academy, (ADFA) situate d in Canberra , next year Howeve r the new s prove d that th e lon g wai t ha d bee n worthwhile, an d I no w ha d anothe r optio n which could be taken u p at the end of '93 instead of a "normal" university course, an option with a great future

It began halfway through Year 11, an Army recruitment team arrived at MLC, telling students about a scholarship offered to all year 11 students

Annually , fifty student s aroun d Australia, (sometimes less), are awarded $1000 each after being considered suitable for officer training Even if you're successful, you're not required to accept at the end of year twelve, and I thought at least it migh t give m e som e free interview practice It certainly did that!

Looking back now, I'd say the worst part was the start I finally ventured into the Defence Forces Recruitment centre after school, and requested an interview I wa s show n a video of fit, healthy people jumping all over the place and enjoying themselves, whereas realistically I knew it must be harder than it looked an d I was warned that it would be tough, (for man y different reasons)! But I was optimistic, if they could do it so could I, and at this point I wasn't about to give up My application form was accepted and I came in with

about 50 other people, (99% boys I noticed) for a day of strenuous testing

It didn't seem funny at the time, I mean, there we all were, in starched uncomfortable clothes, at 6:45am, absolutely petrified We were told that by the end of the day we would kno w if w e had mad e it through to the next stage an d it was indeed an ominous moment, but I took a few deep breaths pretended that I didn't care and plunged straight in Afte r I'd finishe d the medical , aptitude, intelligence, an d family history tests I thought the worst was over, after all I had even gotten through the urine sample! I wa s very wrong, I still had to face a private psychological assessment Its all rather a blur at this point, but she was nice, she wrote lots of notes and there wer e severa l question s to whic h I simpl y answered 'I don't know, I have no idea' etc etc Howeve r I mus t have don e somethin g right because at the end of it all I was told I'd mad e it through, and never before have I so enjoyed leaving a building!

The final da y of testing was in a smaller group, involved oratory, and writing work as well as physica l exercises an d wa s actually very enjoyable even though more was at stake. Wha t w e did wa s classified, an d I can't really discuss the details, but I can say I learnt a great deal and cam e awa y feeling confident although tired It was not for several more months that I learnt I'd been successful, and that a helicopter was arriving to present a cheque. By then I wa s resigne d to the fact that m y "friends" were never going to let m e hear the end of it But more importantly I realised that I had gone for it and won!

I sincerely hope that all Year tens and elevens consider applying for an army, navy or airforce scholarship ; ther e are no obligations , th e prospect s are excellent, (female s hav e an advantag e by th e way) , th e experienc e is invaluable for any career you may wish to pursue, an d don't forget yo u could actually surprise yourself!

Go on, take a chance...Goo d Luck!

By Shenandoah Grant

Adventures of an Exchange Student

If I ever needed someone to blame for an Exchange Year, which COULD HAVE BEEN but WASN'T a disaster, I could always blame Dad! It was Dad who came home saying 'Boss' had had a 'Brain Wave', which meant Leightons was giving away an AFS Corporate Scholarship and wouldn't it be a good Experience to try for it

I never believed I would get that Scholarship - I'd never won anything and I wasn't going to 'get my hopes up'! That day, in November 1992, changed my life for good I was sitting studying for Maths when the Phone Rang; it was the Local AFS Lady, saying I'd won -1 still can't believe it! And I don't think my parents can either! From November until August it is 10 months, and in those 10 months I had heaps to think about; the end of year 10 and Unit 1VCE Pretty soon I was starting to count the days, and then, there I was standing at the Airport, waiting for plane...

I was to spend 11 months in Germany, from August 1992 until July 1993 My Host Family lived in Hanau, a town about 30km from Frankfurt. Hmmmm ! Hanau, the name may not say much to you, but to me it was 'Home' for one year and I can't easily forget it. And I won't forget it, not with the Photo's on my walls and the Diaries written by a sometimes happy, sometimes sad or sometimes a very confused person, who just HAD to let those feelings out

Something I remember was my first day at school, confronted with a new class, where half the faces were Male and a language

which just sounded like noise10R Eppstienschule I owe them an awful lot School scared me at first, I was the 'Outsider', who slowly became accepted; the more German I learnt, the more friends I had I became 'Die Kangariih' (the Kangaroo), a name which I hated, but it meant a lot to me, it meant I was 'accepted' (what a word) into my school I had found a place for me on the 'other side of the world'

I remember coming home from school, totally worn out from concentrating, but one day, I was suddenly able to understand It was the best feeling to come home to my Host-Mum with a German Test, where I'd finally achieved a good mark, but as my German got better, I began to receive letters from Mu m or Friends complaining about my EnglischI'd done it, I could think, speak, write and dream 'auf Deutsch' With this discovery, I discovered something about me. I had become a part of this community, I was able to communicate, to laugh at and with everyone and the faces which at first 'overwhelmed' me had now become faces of friends

When I boarded that Plane, on the 13th of July 1993, I wasn't coming home because home is now shared between two counties It was not easy to board that Plane, I had experienced so much and I was leaving a year of my life in a country on the other side of the world I might have now only been back a little over a week and I'm still realising all that I've learnt, my friends are still in my thoughts and will be for a long time Many things have changed, not just me

Experience was always the BIG word I returned after learning many more things, but knowing how much I still have to learn The change of culture, new people and the growing within myself were all experiences and I would never say that I didn't enjoy myself Thanks Dad, for such an Experience

By Wendy Rix

Central Australian Tour

Our Central Australian adventure began at 6.57am, Saturday 1 0 April, when our coach pulled out of the chapel car park.

On the first day we travelled to Adelaide The next morning we were upset to realise that we still had eight hours or so to travel that day, and the coach did not have a toilet, video or TV We arrived at Coober Pedy, and everyone fell asleep, aware of the 5.30am rise the next day

We woke up and were on the road to Ayers Rock (Uluru) We arrived by the afternoon and settled into camp at Ayers Rock Resort Tuesday was the big day, we travelled out to the rock, and attempted to climb it (Many realised that this would not be as easy as first thought.) The majority completed the 1.5km hike up to the top, and had a group photo taken

One night, with the help of Mr Olsen, some of us were able to have a swim at a motel, pretending we were guests!!

Then it was time to travel north to Alice Springs We set up our tents, this time at the Red Centre Resort Some of us dressed up and spent the night watching "Point Break" in the bistro of the motel The next day we were let loose shopping on Alice Springs. We then headed south for another night in Coober Pedy

Next stop, Wilpena Pound We were able to spend a day exploring the beauty of the Flinders Ranges, by taking a walk to St Mary's Peak. What most of us didn't know is that it is a seven hour return trip! By the time we reached half way, we decided it was time to turn back Those with enough water, energy or both continued to the peak

Our final day was spent in the coach. When we reached Kew, it was time to play the theme song and say our good byes

Twelve days in the Easter holidays provided 28 MLC girls with an experience to remember, thanks to Mr & Mrs Olsen, Dr Ince and Geoff and Pam!

By Jacqui Roscoe,

11 rc"/V / a -

Silver & Green 1993

Actuallte Gabriel Gate

• the man behind the accent!

Oh mon Dieu! A date with Gabriel Gate? What does one say to chef, T.V personality, author and Accidently Kelly Street impersonator extraordinaire!

Quelle horreur!

Well, he had us all tongue-tied for a moment, but it wasn't long before French students from Years 7 to 12 were asking Monsieur Gate his most personal of personal details The answers:

1) Sorry girls, Gabriel Gate is married The good news is, he has two teenage sons, although apparently they have not inherited their father's French accent!

2) No, Gabriel Gate is not leaving Australia forever He will, however, be taking a year's break in France very soon.

3) Yes, Gabriel Gate does eat take-away food! In fact, he was quoted as having enjoyed the "frites" at McDonalds! However he stressed the importance of eating diversely - so if you insist on the take-away, rotate the varieties!!

In between the goss, together with videos, Gabriel Gate told us a bit about his background and childhood in France, and described his biggest influences in life In fact, his most important influence, has been no other than his grandmother! Then came the serious stuff, as Monsieur Chef revealed his culinary secrets to French and Catering students with demonstrations of two tempting recipes - une mayonnaise and une vinaigrette

Throughout, Gabriel Gate stressed the importance of languages, especially of French ("C'est pratique!!"), but essentially of any second language He sees the advantages of a language as being multifaceted - in communication between cultures, as an exercise for oneself, and, of course, the use of French in cooking

Best of all, Monsieur Gate was able to give students a real sense of France, its culture and its cuisine His encouragement in this way will be long remembered. By

Katie Barnett, 12

Gabriel Gate and friends. (Photo courtesy of Progress Press)

petitConte

"Je m'appelle Brigitte," dit la vieille femme, qui porte une vieille rob e brun e avec beaucoup d e sacs en plastique et u n grand chapeau avec une fleur jaune Elle est un e mendiante et elle vit de jour en jour

Tous les samedis elle va a la Tour Eiffel ou elle vend des objets qu'elle a trouves dans les poubelles la semaine derniere Pendan t la semain e elle se promene dans les rues de Paris, cherchan t de s objets interessants qu'elle vendr a devan t la Tou r Eiffel a la semaine prochaine

Brigitte n'a pas de famille Elle s'est marie e il y a cinquante ans Mais l'homme qu'ell e a epous e est mor t pendant la guerre Elle l'aimait

La 'femme soldat'

beaucoup , son mari , il lui manqu e beaucoup Elle a habite avec son frere, il est mort il y a vingt ans. Brigitte sans argen t et sans maiso n est devenue une mendiante

Apre s avoir vend u ses objets - "d'art", Brigitte quitte la Tour Eiffel, quand elle voit dans une poubelle derriere u n gran d immeuble , u n vieil uniforme militaire. Elle pense qu'elle vendra la veste pour beaucoup d'argent Enfin elle prend l'uniforme militaire et part vers le pont o'u elle a etabli sa demeure En arrivant a sa demeure elle cherche dans les poches de la veste Elle decouvr e un e lettre qu'elle s'empresse de lire

"Ma 'petite fleur', je te donne mon coeur, je t'aime beaucoup, beaucoup, ma 'belle cherie', je te donne ma vie, je t'aime beaucoup, beaucoup, mon ange insouciant, je dis ton nom et pense, 'BRIGITTE, je t'aime, je t'aime beacoup'.

Pleine d'emotio n Brigitte endosse l'uniforme et met la lettre dans la poche pres de son coeur. Soit qu'il pleuve, ou qu'il neig e o u qu'i l fasse bea u Brigitte porter a cette veste pour le reste de sa vie, et tous ses ami s l'appellen t "La Femme Soldat"

By Gabby Deal,

12

P oesie

L'homme de la nuit

A la nuit, il est arrive, amical et affectueux

La nuit est froide, mais pas lui parce que nous sommes amoureux

Son ombre, son corps m'enveloppent, la passion est brulante

L'ange de mes yeux est gentil et fort. Je pense a lui tout le temps

De jour en jour la maitresse de soi m'aide dans m a vie

Mais je deteste le soleil, l'ete et la lumiere parce que mo n bien-aime est avec un e autre cherie

Seulement la nuit, la protectrice de l'amour, emmenera mon bel amant Et une nuit, une nuit, quand c'est brillant, cet homm e viendra rester, ici avec moi pour toujours

By Rebecca Scholes,

12

Kafkaund Kuchen

In secondar y schoo l learnin g Germa n mean s writing dialogues, grasping grammar, cooking and culture Then there is university, the Year 13 German Enhancement Programme looked forward to by teachers and students alike

The course consists of slabs of literature with liberal dollops of grammar

Ou r class of six studie d work s by som e of the most famou s Germa n writers , including Goethe, Schiller and Kafka You can imagine our horror at being hande d forty pages of eighteenth century German and being told to read and understand it So w e ran for the dictionary Rather than studying individual authors or texts in depth, w e analysed literature by movements, with a quick look at the authors' lives, schizophreni a an d mistresses. It was great to have the opportunity to look at the literary aspects of the German language, the Romantic era an d the Expressionist s for example The members of our class wh o were combining Year 13 with Year 12 found that they could use man y essays for VCE work requirements

Although this proved to be a stimulatin g an d welcom e break from the usual gramma r exercises, gramma r was by no mean s neglected We alternated between literature and grammar classes If w e are not driven to insanity by "Der Sandmann " (The Sandman ) from "The Tales of Hoffmann", w e will be safe in the knowledge that w e can spot a feral "wenn " clause from two metres

The less formal structure of the classes left plenty of room for discussion With six in the class in Language 5, it is the perfect numbe r to fit around the heater an d toast our brain cells Once a semester

Ms Tarran's place, attempting to explain an aspect of German literature to the class for our tutorial paper These talks resulted in intense, bizarre and amusing debates on our own theories of truth, law and the demonic It's a marvellous experience, even if w e needed to presen t that 45 minut e tutorial paper on the meaning of life according to Kafka We all enjoyed reading the often challenging literature and none of us regretted being the first to embark on the journey to Monas h Universit y Year Thirteen German by Ines Gegenhuber , Christina Hajd u an d Ann a Thwaites

ho w d o I kno w this? Accompanyin g eac h mathematical exposition is a little history lesson about these men

Each Monda y evenin g at 5.30 pm , in Centenar y 1.4, laden with supplies of pizza an d pies, w e embar k on a journe y of mathematica l challenge , complexit y an d perplexity Th e traditional partnership of gastronomical frenz y an d cerebra l callisthenics in Accelerated Maths continues, as notes are smeare d wit h greas e an d littered with crumbs . Miss Michell, to who m w e ow e man y thanks , is ou r mos t willin g mento r in this

Tertiary Programs

Mind-boggling Mathematics.

De Moivre , Gauss , L'Hopital and Rolles...Who?

M y thought s exactly upo n encountering them Yet, in the past four months or so, a group of twelve girls at MLC have become rather familiar with these gentlemen through their participation in University Math s 101 These name s belong to persons who have mad e som e significant contributio n (?!) to mathematics and subsequently have a theorem name d after them (Except for the scandalou s L'Hopita l wh o pinched Bernoulli's work!) But

inaugural year of University Math s 101 in secondar y schools, introduce d by Melbourne University

By Eileen Lee, 12

Art &Design

Thre e teacher s for on e subject? N o CA.T.s? Weekend trips to the coast? Detailed studies of leaves and skulls?

It may seem hard to believe that an y subject coul d be conducted in this way, but that is exactly what the year 12 Art an d Design course (formally the Tertiary Pilot Program or T.P.P.) is about

This year 15 students had the opportunity to participate in the cours e an d I thin k through the dedication of the

students, an d direction of the teachers,- M r Savage , M r McKenzie and Mr Pryke, it has given us a uniqu e

opportunit y to develo p an d extend , ou r drawing, painting, design and observational skills

T.P.P gives you some State accredited Units, but isn't a part of the V.C.E syllabus. This allows students to complete their V.C.E with four other V.C.E subject s (includin g English) but also enables us to develo p a folio for Tertiary selection It is not dissimilar to a first year TAFE or forme r TO P bridging course; but is conducted in normal school hours and slotted into periods as any V.C.E study

T.P.P is no ordinar y Art subject; it is divided into three sections: Genera l Drawing , Design and Lifedrawing, and Theory; and this is wh y three teachers are involved We do different types of exercises, either desig n related , observationa l based , or a combination of both, whic h often means detailed studies of the huma n skull, autum n leaves, reinterpretations of the works of masters, or your ow n face.

Th e cours e is fairly demandin g even thoug h w e don't have any C.A.T.s and the requiremen t of th e cours e necessitate s an extra sixty hours which has to be fulfilled out of school hours To meet this requiremen t w e hav e several options; Lifedrawing (drawin g nudes ) wit h Communit y Education on a Monday or Thursday evening,

coming into the school on one of our precious study days, or an Art camp

Th e Art cam p on Friday the 13th an d

Saturday the 14th of Augus t wa s probabl y on e of the highlight s of the year. Although the rain set in almost as soon as we arrived on the Friday, w e all foun d shelter (some on the bus, others under rock formations ) an d all manage d to complet e a numbe r of drawings These were exhibited that evening in the house that w e stayed in, along with other drawings that w e ha d don e at the house Saturda y wa s just as productive and w e all left that nigh t feeling relaxed an d contented We all found the cam p to be beneficial an d it was good just to be away from the pressures of V.C.E

I have really enjoyed being a part of the Art and Design course; and a m sure that the drawings and paintings I have done, will enhance m y folio and hopefully ensure my entry into a tertiary art and design course.

I think that it is a great program and encourage any 1994 year 12 student doing art, photograph y or Graphi c Communication to consider it as an option if they are serious about moving in the direction of art and design

By Emily Brigham.

The Catering Class of 1993

The Catering class of '93 came together for their first function earlier than expected

Prior to this year, girls did not begin functions until Semester two , bu t wit h the class consistin g of a handfu l of optimistic students, an d the help of a fe w Year 13 ML C caterin g students , w e successfully complete d our first catering function for 200 people The Catering course in Year 12, requires students to complete four VCE subjects an d a mixtur e of caterin g subjects in conjunction with the TAFE Hospitality course. Once this year has been successfully completed , th e caterin g student receives a VCE pass an d credit s toward s the Advance d Certificat e in Hospitality Operations These credits correspond with TAFE an d Willia m Anglis s an d therefore enable us to complete the course over the next year, an d receive a Diplom a in Hospitality Management.

During Semester two, most Fridays consist of catering for dinners Guest speakers often feature at these dinners such as Michelle Grattan and Stefanie Alexander. Othe r functions catered for are conferences and Old Collegians' Dinners Year 12 and 13 students are required to atten d thes e functions , one;one group will cook and the other wait on tables Mrs Fraser, ou r catering teacher usually keeps an eye on the time and the kitchen activities whilst Miss Cotes directs the traffic in the dining room The catering communit y at MLC has develope d into quite a team through the year, an d the course is a great opportunity for people like myself to obtain experience in the area of work in which I hop e to pursu e a career I would recommend the course to any girls interested in the catering an d hospitality profession

By Nicolle Beynon, Catering Prefect

Year 12 Group Photos

Photographer: Quynh Tran

L-R (top): Phuong Mach, Melissa Tetis, Shaneene Jones. (bottom): Heidi Yonng, Patty Chier, Donna D'Souza, Laryssa Jones, Chris Mazis, Sophie Antonopoulos, Eva Poon.

L-R (top): Esther Taft, Bronwyn Sutherland, (bottom): Tamlin Watson, Nikki Sidon.

Silver & Green

L-R (top): Melissa Glass, Lucy Elliott, Fiona Norton, Annie Mecklem, Sally Pace, (bottom): Emily Chapman, Jaquie Taylor, Emily Brigham-Dixon, Narelle Brezver.

L-R (top): Rebbecca Wilcox, Emily Hudson, (bottom): Emma Hines, Marge Borowski, Gabby Deal.

L-R (top): Bronwyn Sutherland, Melissa Glass, Annie Mecklem, Sally Pace, Lucy Elliott, Emma Maslen, Emily Chapnan. (front): Nina Adams, Sue Harvey, Emily Brigham-Dixon.

L-R (back): Nikki Sidon, Jenny Martin, Rebecca Scholes, Rosemary Field, Rebecca Sharkey, (middle): Tamlin Watson, Jo McNair, Chandra Dizvakarla, Sara Phillips, Katey Watt, Bronwyn Sutherland, Gina McLachlan, Esther Taft. (front): Kate Mills, Sam Grover.

L-R: Siobhan Quigley, Lorna Williamson, Pereka Gray, Janna Chen, Jodie Sharp.

L-R: Clare Gilderdale, Emma James, Kate Symes, Georgina Camplin, Sarah Bishop, Becky Estlin, Belinda Tolley.

Silver & Green

L-R: Renee Gill, Katherine Gove, Lindy Fidler, Simone Vigtiaroli, Michelle Dumbleton, Liz Clarke, Kerstie Allen, (front): Briony Mitchell.

L-R (back): Leanne Wong, Sarah Henshaw, Arminelle Hutton. (front): Andira Kaver, Kim Chia, Melissa Bell.

L-R (back): Quynh Tran, Kathy Haydon, Melanie Baker, Terry MacDonald, Michelle Francis, Anna Thwaites, Emily Hudson.

(front): Emily Overall, Kate MacDonald, Eliza Allender, Christina Hajdu, Lisa McLennan, Ines Gegenhuber. (sprawled across laps of front people): Sara Phillips.

Silver & Green

L-R (back):Jenny Cheung

2nd row: Alice Mak, Constance Lenng, Ada Fung, Sally Ma. Front: Vanessa Lew, Carol Chu, Alvina Chan.

L-R: Lindy Fidler, Jenny Martin, Kate Simkiss.

Silver & Green

L-R (fourth rozv): Rachele Gardiner, Kath Seow, Sarah Walters, Kirsty Hobbin.

Middle Upper Rozv: Jo Dally, Caroline Rochford, Melanie Wright, Jenny MacLaughlin.

Middle Lower Rozv: Melinda Wagner, Leanne Hassard, Sonia Lloyd, Libby O 'Shea, Lucy Kemelfield.

Bottom Rozv: Chris Nakhla, Michelle Goldberg, Vanessa Chambers, Sarah Cargas, Alex McCallum.

Absent: Sarah Tomlinson, Lisa Alderton, Connie Papworth, Yum Stynel, Sarah Kelly.

L-R (Top to bottom) fifth row: Sasha Robinson, Mia Podborsek.

fourth: Nerida Simpson, Jenny Wilcox, George Harper.

third: Belinda Hill, Racheal McGlade, Justine Frost, Melinda Taylor, Sally Sinclair, Sacha Bond, Alison Stewart, Maija Nance, Chloe Bevans.

second: George Smith, Nicolle Beynon, Kylie Greig, Emily Howie, Kelly Chandler, Trudie Jones, Tilly White.

first: Gabby Deal, Anna Clarke, Jen Smith, Alicia Smith, Mamie Rosenberg, Dannii McCallum, Jane Steele, Kylie O'Malley, Alex McCallum.

L-R: Kathryn Wright, Kelly McKirdy, Michelle Powell,Belinda Field, Cristy Symington, Tiffany Carroll, Rebecca Roberts, (up tree): Sonya Zorec.

L-R (back): Megaxvati Sulishyo, Yuh-Tyng Chong, Marlina Snriana, Agnes Tanizviranta. (front): Woeti-yean Lee, Amy Chen

Silver & Green

L-R (back): Melinda Boyd, Fiona Smith, Jo McNair. (front): Sara Philips, Chandra Diwakarla, Gina McLachlan.

L-R (back): Elsie McBeati, Winnie Li, Anita Mok, Valda Tsang. (front): Constance Leitng, Emma Toxvnsend.

L-R (back): Emma Hines, Mandy Stephens. (front): Jane Charles, Emma Toivnsend, Belinda Terpenon, Elsie McBean.

L-R: Marquita Corr, Anna Thwaites, Tanya Martinich, Shannon Grant, Marni Kerseboom, Susan Tegg.

L-R (back): Ines Gegenhuber, Shannan Bailey. (middle): Carolynne Baker, Wing Sze Lee, Nerissa Easton, Maria Andrzeiewski, Jacquie Steele, Amanda Forsyth, (front): Amaruka Hazari, Melinda Tam, Gaby Harris, Kendall Wilcox.

L-R (back): Nikki Sidon, Tamlin Watson, Susan fones, Zoe Spark, Amanda Norton, Julie Dozvdle. (front): Naomi McGain, Bianca Crosling, Melinda Boyd.

(back): Alex Ferris, Narelle Oberin, Michelle Chan, Belinda Swinbourne, Stephanie Howard. (front): Belinda Chung, Kirsty North,

Silver & Green

L-R

Kate Pilbeam, Carolyn Gellert.

L-R: Ria Davenport, Carolyn Mapp, Lesley Brooking, (front): Kyoko Shimizu.

Silver & Green

L-R (back): Penny Bottomley, Sue Harvey, Tracey Halves, Sanuki Jayaraiah. iddle):Anna Tram, Carly Sei (middle):Anna Tram, Carly Selan, Megan Wilding, Ingrid Wilson, Narelle Breiver, Kate Pearse. (bottom): Anna Rattray, Cindy Liu, Yvonne Cox.

L-R (back): Lewanna Morley, Rachel Wallace, Kylie Spiller. (front): Justine Ezvert, Renee Ferris, Megan McAlpine, Melissa Muir.

L-R (back): Jo Badger, Chrystele Adrien, Esther Taft, Patty Chier, Amaruka Hazari, Anne-Laure Finkel, Quynh Tran. (front): Emily Rattray, Katie Barnett.

Silver & Green

L to R: Julie Leong, Sara Moodie, Marni Kerseboom

L-R (back): Sanya Reid-Smith, Marni Kerseboom, Vanida Na Ranong, ]u-Li Leong. (middle): Anna Camming, Marge Borowski, Karen Spencer, Chia Ching Chang (Gert). (front): Eileen Lee, Emily Hudson, Wendy Wu, Parvinder Chaal.

We wish to acknowledge the following people for their contributions to Silver and Green:

Eliza Allender

Art Department

Katie Barnett

Mr Ron Bell

Margaret Borowski

Mrs Margaret Carson

Dr Jeff Castles

Sarah Charles

Vicky Cheong

Lucinda Corr

Miss Amand a Crawley

Mrs Merryn Dawborn-Gundlach

Mr. David Dimsey

Rebecca Eckhaus

Lucy Elliott

Summar Hamma m

Lynnda Heard

Junior School

Rachael Kirby

Paul McPherson

Mick Molloy

Sara Moodie

Mr Chris Notsis

Print Room

Edwina Scott

Rob Sitch

Jason Stephens

Anna Thwaites

Quynh Tran

Kathryn Wright

Year Twelve Committee

Year Eleven, Middle School, Junior Secondary School Committees

Photos courtesy of ABC (Pages 5 & 7)

ISSN 1039 - 138X

Methodist Ladies' College Kew, Victoria, Australia © 1993