1993 Silver and Green

About the cover .. .

The Editor's theme was CREATIVITY. So, u n d e r the current artistic climate, I t h o u g h t surrealism.

I began thinking of surreal images like Dali's Lobster Telephone and Magritte's The Lovers and w a y s of linking these to MLC. I decided against these coined images.

The cover of Silver and Green had to be original a n d striking. Striking, like a bolt of lightning. I had it. A flash of lightning strikes MLC with creativity delivered by G o d ' s h a n d , taken from Michaelangelo's r e n o w n e d painting The Creation of Adam. H e r e w a s something surreal.

A classical image set in a m o d e r n landscape taking the entire picture beyond reality, which is the aim of surrealism.

The next stage w a s to transpose m y mental picture to a finished piece of art work. I scanned a p h o t o g r a p h of the MLC tower I h a d previously taken into the computer, along with the h a n d f o u n d in an art book. These t w o images were printed, forming a base on which I worked d r y pastel, oil pastel, conte a n d silver p e n exaggerating colours and contrasts.

The culmination of these mental and physical processes has p r o d u c e d , for each reader, a creatively designed cover.

By Lucy Elliot, 12

l

The Committed Committee' Year 12 L to R: Top of fountain: 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 b i r d s are singing, the s u n is s h i n i n g a n d y o u r h a p l e s s editors are lying in a d e e p sleep on the l a w n s of the front g a r d e n .

After a week of laying out the 1993 e d i t i o n of Silver and Green (sacraficing our holidays, we m i g h t a d d , b u t we'll refrain f r o m u s i n g this space for a m e r e sob story), w e are both mentally and physically exhausted...do you appreciate us? *

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Emily and Rebbecca, two starry-eyed science students, were a p p o i n t e d as editors of the school m a g a z i n e . Little d i d they k n o w t h e t a s k a h e a d of t h e m ; t h e organisational skills required, the sleepless nights and the frustrations, yet every cloud h a s a silver lining (to rely on a cliche) a n d regardless of all the difficult times, they f o u n d the task thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding. Do y o u h a v e a n y idea h o w disconcerting it is to stand u p in assembly and try to convince a hall full of girls that w h a t they most w a n t to d o is write for Silver and Green? The slightest m e n t i o n of Silver and Green t e n d s to switch students' b r a i n s into neutral. But Emily a*n d Rebbecca * *persevered...

We have endeavoured to create a magazine so exciting that people will b e m a g n e t i c a l l y d r a w n to it...so people are falling over t h e m s e l v e s to w r i t e for us. But reality 'it u s a n d w e can a s s u r e y o u it ' u r t . T h e r e a r e so m a n y d i f f e r e n t a c t i v i t i e s g o i n g o n at MLC that o n e often w o n d e r s h o w people could find the time to write f o r Silver and Green. H o w e v e r m a n y did, a n d the articles have b e e n of a f a n t a s t i c s t a n d a r d .

Creativity is the t h e m e for '93, and w e ' v e enjoyed o u r d i p in the sea of c r e a t i v e s t o r i e s t h a t h a v e flooded* submission boxes. * * Emily a n d Rebbecca enjoyed

Silver & Green 1993

From Left: Emily &• Rebbecca w a t c h i n g The Late S h o w in b e t w e e n frantically e d i t i n g a n d collating incoming articles.

"You k n o w w h a t w o u l d b e super?" Emily said.

"What?" replied Rebbecca, envisaging a Family size block of C a d b u r y ' s chocolate.

"We s h o u l d i n t e r v i e w T h e Late Show."

A n d* so they * did.* The knowledge we have gained, whilst editing Silver and Green, has been invaluable and a true indication of the process of p r o d u c i n g a magazine. We really recommend that you get involved in f u t u r e issues because i f s very r e w a r d i n g and e v e n (gasp) f u n !

We w o u l d like to thank the Year 12 committee, without w h o m this m a g a z i n e could n o t h a v e b e e n

created. T h a n k y o u also to Q u y n h Tran, o u r dedicated photographer, A m a n d a Crawley, our mentor a n d guide and Lynnda Heard, whose e x p e r t i s e w a s i n v a l u a b l e in layout. *

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Back o n the front lawn, Emily a n d Rebbecca w e r e basking in the s u n , l i k e F r a n k t h e Frill n e c k lizard, the Mascot and Page Holder. T h e w e r e b o t h d r e a m i n g , Rebbecca of the creative section, Emily of T h e Perfect M a n ' . A n d they w e r e impressed

By Emily Hudson and Rebbecca Wilcox, Joint editors.

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

Just read it.

MLC - The Stellar School ?

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

ML: That's a very hard quest ion...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 MLC might 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 is the future for MLC after the 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 come from all parts of the 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 in first 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.

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 the future 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 the forefront of education, which I think we are now. All education should progress faster 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 of schools. 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.

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

Silver & Green 1993

The new music school...

MLC h a s u n d e r g o n e s o m e very radical changes over the last d e c a d e or so, such as the introduction of lap tops, a n d the d e v e l o p m e n t of the MLC Marshmead c a m p u s , b u t the m o s t exciting a n d n e w change is the construction of the n e w MLC Music School, which will b e situated along Grove Avenue u p f r o m the Chapel, a n d will go right a c r o s s to join the Principal's Administration area.

It will o p e r a t e as a completely n e w building w i t h the current m u s i c school n o l o n g e r b e i n g u s e d for m u s i c . Mr L o a d e r a g r e e s t h a t t h e n e w m u s i c school is " t o p r o v i d e facilities t h a t r e f l e c t t h e q u a l i t y of t h e s t u d e n t s ' performance.. .to p r o v i d e a place where they can learn, w h e r e they can practice a n d w h e r e they can perform."

The current m u s i c school, built in 1939, w a s at that time, sufficient f o r m u s i c s t u d e n t s w h o learnt the 'traditional' i n s t r u m e n t s such as the violin, flute, solo singing a n d the piano. The r o o m s w e r e designed to fit only these instruments. However, over the years, as the College h a s e x p a n d e d rapidly a n d students have w i d e n e d their horizons, the original music school has p r o v e n insufficient for the g r o w i n g needs of present music s t u d e n t s a n d staff. N o t only d o staff have to resort to c o n d u c t i n g lessons in the front g a r d e n s and other o d d places, b u t also the size of the rooms are not a d e q u a t e for the m u s i c s t u d e n t s of today. Originally, the classrooms u n d e r Fitchett Hall w e r e designed for Business School, a n d n o t for t h e c o n d u c t i o n of m u s i c l e s s o n s at all. M r s EltonBrown, Director of the Music School h a s also f o u n d that the classrooms are n o t sufficient for the progressive n a t u r e of music at MLC; "They're small a n d s q u a s h e d a n d the w r o n g s h a p e . . . so t h e r e will be proper music classroom f a c i l i t i e s in t h e n e w m u s i c school."

The p l a n s for this n e w building h a v e b e e n d r a w n u p very carefully with attention being paid to the n e e d s of the school. Mrs Elton-Brown has w o r k e d h a r d , in conjunction with other staff m e m b e r s and s t u d e n t s , to p r o d u c e a p l a n that will a d v a n t a g e s t u d e n t s in m a n y w a y s , travelling with Mr Loader to see other music schools in Perth a n d Sydney

widened her knowledge, w h i c h enabled her ideas forth the n e w building to b e fresh a n d innovative. All staff m e m b e r s h a v e reviewed the plan a n d older students h a v e had considerable i n p u t into planning.

T h e n e w m u s i c s c h o o l will c o n s i s t of a l a r g e a u d i t o r i u m hall that will be able to facilitate the e n o r m o u s size of the concert orchestra, w h i c h h a s increased f r o m 30 p l a y e r s to the p r e s e n t 110 ( c u r r e n t l y , t h e orchestra m u s t 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 d e p a r t m e n t s of the school as well. O t h e r features of the n e w music school will be a n e x p e r i m e n t s s o u n d laboratory, a recording s t u d i o a n d a library area w i t h listening booths.

A s i d e f r o m all these o t h e r exciting features, the most o u t s t a n d i n g feature of the music school is that the r o o m s will be set u p in "suites" according to the type of instruments. For example, there will b e a strings suite, consisting of a store r o o m , repair area, service area, office and rehearsal / t u t o r i a l room. All t h e strings staff will be f o u n d here. "Similarly, we'll h a v e a n area for b r a s s a n d p e r c u s s i o n a n d so t h a t t h e noise is contained... those rooms will be built as d o u b l e rooms, r o o m s within a r o o m , " explains a p r o u d M r s EltonBrown. There will b e d o u b l e concrete w a l l s a n d a double concrete floor s u r r o u n d i n g the brass a n d percussion rooms. There will also b e a w o o d w i n d , guitar, keyboard and piano area w h i c h will be set u p similar to those of the string suite. It will be a rather dramatic change f r o m the current m u s i c school w i t h the n e w b u i l d i n g v e r y large, b u t b r o k e n u p into little w o r k i n g areas.

C o n s t r u c t i o n s t a r t e d in October this year a n d the b u i l d i n g will be u n d e r c o n s t r u c t i o n for all of 1994.

T h e a i m is to o p e n the n e w m u s i c school early in 1995., T h e n e w m u s i c s c h o o l will b e n e f i t all f a c e t s of t h e College, providing a place w h e r e f u t u r e s t u d e n t s of MLC will b e able to d e m o n s t r a t e and harness their musical a b i l i t i e s , in t h e p u r s u i t of excellence. Certainly, a vision like n o other...

"A vision like no other"

Site of the future construction.

By Vicky UM

Silver & Green 1993

Cheong,

A "Big Fish" in the MLC Fountain An Interview with Libby Gorr

I

t's h a r d to i m a g i n e L i b b y G o r r b e i n g For Gorr, M L C p r o v i d e d the o p p o r t u n i t y to e m b a r r a s s e d to accost s o m e o n e ; as Elle d a b b l e is a n m a n y o p p o r t u n t i e s a s s h e c o u l d f i n d .

M c F e a s t o n Live and Sweaty s h e h a s Athletics, d e b a t i n g , oratory, cricket, m u s i c a n d p e r f o r m e d n u m e r o u s outrageous feats with d r a m a ; y o u n a m e it, G o r r w a s i n it. A s F i t c h e t t v a r i o u s football players, m a d e Tim Watson w e a r Drama Captain, she organised a n d directed the lipstick a n d e y e s h a d o w a n d p r e t e n d to be a d r a m a festival. ' T h a t ' s a n o t h e r g o o d t h i n g a b o u t c o m m e n t a t o r a n d finally (and infamously) she t h i s s c h o o l , t h e y g i v e y o u a lot of r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , " confronted Paul Keating d u r i n g the "Bowl, she comments.

K e a t i n g , B o w l " c a m p a i g n to d e m a n d his p r e s e n c e M r B u c k i n g h a m , her legal s t u d i e s teacher, on t h e show. A s w e said, it's h a r d to i m a g i n e her friend and dinner party companion, agrees: "They saying n o to anything. This s h e did at the D a m e g i v e y o u a lot of r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i n t h i s s c h o o l a n d Kiri c o n c e r t . t h e y ' d let y o u g e t a l o n g w a y d o w n t h a t r o a d of "It w a s v e r y f u n n y b e c a u s e M r s E l t o n - B r o w n stuffing things u p before they grabbed you, which is f a b u l o u s , a n d w h e n w e w e r e a t s c h o o l s h e w a s is a g o o d t h i n g b e c u a s e y o u ' r e still i n a s a f e f a b u l o u s l y s c a r y a n d s h e still is. W e h a d l o v e l y environment." seats u p the front a n d I turned G o r r l a u g h s . "If y o u s t u f f e d u p , a r o u n d a n d there w a s the old M L C there'd always be s o m e o n e there "You zuere choir a n d M r s Elton-Brown in one to c a t c h y o u . " encouraged to go of h e r a m a z i n g l y g o r g e o u s f r o c k s Elle McFeast h a s a flair for for all the sporting c o m i n g u p w i t h i d e a s t h a t o t h e r s a n d I really w a n t e d to say hello b u t the drama, w o u l d t h i n k t o b e r i d i c u l o u s . T h i s I f e l t r e a l l y s t u p i d . It w a s f u n n y pursuits, the music, the because m y companion said that I flair w a s p r e s e n t i n G o r r w h e n s h e would shirt-front the Prime debating and to be w a s a t s c h o o l ; G o r r d e s c r i b e s h e r Minister b u t I w o n ' t say hello to m y seen as an achiever s c h o o l f r i e n d s a s " a g r o u p of g i r l s old m u s i c teacher at school because w h o w e r e enthusiastic, intelligent ivasn't seen to be you're embarrassed. A n d that w a s a n d also a bit r e b e l l i o u s " . This unladylike t h e o n l y r e a s o n , I j u s t felt silly." rebellious streak was not, In case y o u h a v e n ' t g u e s s e d b y however, channelled into n o w , L i b b y G o r r w e n t to M L C . S h e e n t e r e d in Year breaking rules, instead, Gorr a n d her friends 7 i n 1977 a n d s o o n b e c a m e k n o w a s a " b i g f i s h " c h a l l e n g e d t h e b o u n d a r i e s of c o n v e n t i o n ( " s h e i n t h e M L C p o n d (or f o u n t a i n ) . I n f l u e n t i a l a s s h e h a d a lot of e n e r g y , n o t c h a n n e l l e d i n t h e w a y t h e w a s , e v e n G o r r a d m i t s s h e w a s in a w e of M L C ' s school w a s u s e d to," reminisces M r B u c k i n g h a m . ) most p o w e r f u l leaders.

G o r r , h e r s e l f , is m o r e b l u n t a b o u t h e r s c h o o l " W h e n I w a s at M L C , there w a s a n a m a z i n g l y d a y s : "I w a s n ' t a s f o c u s s e d a s s o m e of t h e o t h e r t e r r i f y i n g g r o u p of w o m e n w h o w e r e in p o s i t i o n s girls, I w a s m o r e a r a t b a g w i t h a m i n d t o m a t c h . " of a u t h o r i t y : P a t W i l k i n s o n , B e t t y J a c k s o n , M r s But this r a t b a g w a s also a brilliantly clever Trigg, M r s E l t o n - B r o w n . T h e y w e r e c o m m i t t e d , r a t b a g . D u r i n g Year 12, s h e w a s o f f e r e d a p a r t i n s c a r y a n d c o m m i t t e d ; w e h a d l o t s of s t r o n g t h e A B C c h i l d r e n ' s s e r i e s Home a n d h e r p a r e n t s w o m e n role m o d e l s . But t h e y w e r e not scary as a l l o w e d h e r t o d o it o n t h e c o n d i t i o n t h a t s h e in b a d , t h e y w e r e s c a r y a s in s t r o n g . s t u d i e d really hard. D u r i n g h e r final e x a m s , she " T h e r e w a s recently a n article written a b o u t w o u l d f i l m i n t h e m o r n i n g f r o m 6 u n t i l 12 t h e n m e in a m a g a z i n e w h i c h w a s n ' t very her m o t h e r w o u l d d r i v e her to school for a 2 c o m p l i m e n t a r y . A w o m a n w r o t e t h i s article a b o u t o ' c l o c k e x a m . S h e still d o u b t s w h e t h e r t h e s c h o o l h o w I ' d s p e n t m y life s u r r o u n d e d b y m e n a n d k n e w w h a t w a s g o i n g on. Fortunately, or possible d o n ' t r e l a t e w e l l to w o m e n . A n d a t t h a t p o i n t , I u n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h i s w a s a n i n d i c a t i o n of h o w s h e p u t t h e article d o w n a n d t h o u g h t , she's got no w o r k e d best - u n d e r i m m e n s e stress. She d i d c o m p r e h e n s i o n about m e whatsoever. I've p h e n o m e n a l l y w e l l , s h o w i n g t h a t if y o u p u t i n d e v e l o p e d the w a y I h a v e because I've h a d such y o u got out. She s u b s e q u e n t l y w e n t to M e l b o u r n e s t r o n g f e m a l e r o l e m o d e l s . You w e r e p u s h e d t o Uni to s t u d y A r t s / L a w . a c h i e v e to y o u r potential. T h a t ' s w h y I d i d n ' t k n o w I w a s a girl u n t i l I left. T h e r e w a s n o t h i n g h e n s h e s t a r t e d a t u n i , it w a s t h e f i r s t that y o u w e r e n ' t m e a n t to d o or n o t h i n g that y o u time she h a d actually been educated w e r e n ' t m e a n t t o try. You w e r e e n c o u r a g e d to g o w i t h b o y s a n d "I w a s q u i t e t h r o w n for all t h e s p o r t i n g p u r s u i t s , t h e d r a m a , t h e b e c a u s e I d i d n ' t k n o w h o w to h a n d l e it all. I s t o o d m u s i c , the d e b a t i n g a n d to be seen as a n in l i n e o u t s i d e t h e l a w s c h o o l a n d all t h e b o y s / r X y f a c h i e v e r w a s n ' t seen to be unladylike." were talking a b o u t w h o s e d a d did w h a t a n d w h a t

W

Silver & Green 1993

Gorr as Elle McFeast

m a r k s o n e g o t f o r H S C a n d I f o u n d it v e r y s t r a n g e b e c a u s e I d i d n ' t k n o w h o w I s h o u l d b e h a v e . It t o o k m e a g o o d y e a r t o w o r k o u t h o w to l i v e a n d work with boys.

"It w a s o n l y in s e c o n d y e a r t h a t I s t a r t e d getting i n v o l v e d . A n d h o w d i d I find m y place? I got i n v o l v e d w i t h the L a w R e v u e , this comic revue w i t h T o m m y Gleisner as producer and

Silver & Green 1993

Jason Stephens (he w a s m y best friend) w h o are n o w b o t h m e m b e r s of t h e D - G e n e r a t i o n . A l l of a s u d d e n I met this amazingly different c r o w d . " W h e n Gorr w a s at uni, her degree w a s not her first p r i o r i t y A s in y e a r 12, s h e w a s d o i n g e x a m s a n d getting t h i n g s d o n e so s h e c o u l d go to r e h e a r s a l s . T h i s w a s t h e b e g i n n i n g of h e r e n t e r t a i n m e n t career. Starting w i t h the

" I t ' s like a w a l l of w o m e n o n Live and Sweaty.

Law Revue a n d then continuing with the Hot F o r e x a m p l e , if w e ' v e g o t a f e m a l e i n t e r v i e w a n d B a g e l s ( a n a l l - g i r l b a n d o n t h e c o m e d y circuit i n a female b a n d , I o p e n u p the s h o w , t h r o w to the t h e '80s), G o r r s o o n f o u n d t h a t s h e w o u l d r a t h e r b a n d , t h e n to K a r e n T i g h e a t n e w s f o l l o w e d b y p u r s u e c o m e d y t h a n a c a r e e r i n law. Elle M c F e a s t m e a n d D e b b i e [Spillane], t h e n C r a c k e r s ( w h i c h w a s b o r n i n 1988 to d o i n t e r v i e w s w i t h f o o t b a l l e r s b r e a k s it u p a little b i t ) a n d t h e n I w o u l d t a l k t o a o n t h e Kick to Kick Show, a M e l b o u r n e r a d i o guest. N o - w h e r e else will y o u f i n d so m a n y program. d i f f e r e n t i m a g e s a n d d i f f e r e n t p e r s o n a l i t i e s of G o r r e x p l a i n s t h a t Elle is j u s t " m e b e i n g r e a l l y w o m e n represented on the one television show, c h e e k y . I t ' s a d e v i c e to b e a s c h e e k y a n d f l i r t a t i o u s particularly on a sporting show. In the past, a n d n a u g h t l y a n d r o t t e n a s y o u w a n ' t to. I t ' s a w o m e n in the m e d i a h a v e b e e n r e p r e s e n t e d as device, it's a comic device. nurturers, carers or information givers. N e v e r are " T h e m o t i v a t i o n of Elle is t o f i n d a s i d e of y o u , t h e y a l l o w e d to e x p r e s s t h e i r s e x u a l i t y , e s p e c i a l l y t h e i n t e r v i e w e e , t h a t y o u w o u l d n ' t n o r m a l l y see; if t h e y ' r e r e p o r t i n g a b o u t s p o r t . If w o m e n w e n t m a k i n g y o u l a u g h or m a k i n g y o u say s o m e t h i n g into sport they h a d to b e really tailored. A female y o u w o u l d n ' t n o r m a l l y say." sports journalist had to After starting on radio, she d e s e x u a l i s e h e r s e l f i n o r d e r to was invited by Andrew maintain her credibility and D e n t o n to " c o m e a n d p l a y o n Gorr giggles w h a t ' s really f u n n y is t h a t w e ' v e the telly for a while." The delightedly as her voice s p o i l t all t h a t a n d w e d i d n ' t e v e n p r o g r a m he w a s talking about rises a full txvo octaves. m e a n to." is Live and Sweaty, a s p o r t i n g "It's just something that s h o w aired on ABC TV on Gorr giggles delightedly as happened. ..."

F r i d a y n i g h t s . It a l l o w s E l l e h e r voice rises a full t w o octaves.

McFeast to give her "It's just s o m e t h i n g that interviewees, mainly sporting h a p p e n e d . You t u r n o n t h e telly p e r s o n a l i t i e s , a c h a n c e to p l a y in a f a n t a s y w o r l d a n d t h e r e a r e all t h e s e d i f f e r e n t p e r s o n a l i t i e s of a s s h e t r i e s t o " u n r a v e l t h e m y s t e r i e s of girls. E v e r y o n e ' s g o t a d i s t i n c t p e r s o n a l i t y , n o n e a c h i e v e m e n t for the p e o p l e u n d e r n e a t h (the of t h e m a r e t y p i c a l , a n d t h a t ' s a r e a l a c h i e v e m e n t . " s t u d i o a u d i e n c e a n d p e o p l e at h o m e ) .

So w h a t a d v i c e w o u l d G o r r g i v e to girls at M L C today?

"I t r y t o m a k e p e o p l e f e e l c o m f o r t a b l e b e f o r e t h e y c o m e o n t h e s h o w s o t h e y t h i n k it's a g a m e "Be i n v o l v e d ! P a y a t t e n t i o n t o e v e r y t h i n g . I t ' s w i t h t h e interviewer, m e a n d t h e live a u d i e n c e really i m p o r t a n t to b e w e l l - r o u n d e d , well-read a n d w e ' r e all h a v i n g a little b i t of a j o k e w i t h t h e a n d i n v o l v e d . It m i g h t s e e m d a g g y t o b e a w h i z z p e r s o n a t h o m e s o I t r y t o m a k e it like a l o u n g e a t t h e f l u t e in Year 10, b u t i t ' s a f i n e t h i n g t o h a v e room conversation." b e c a u s e i t o p e n s u p a l l s o r t s of d i f f e r e n t W h e n A n d r e w left the show, she w a s the opportunities. It's t h o s e t h i n g s that c a n give y o u n a t u r a l c h o i c e a s h i s r e p l a c e m e n t . N o w , s h e is a n e x c i t i n g o r d i f f e r e n t l i f e if y o u w a n t t o h a v e h e r s e l f a r o l e m o d e l t h o u g h it w a s n ' t s o m e t h i n g one. she i n t e n d e d to do.

Interviewers: Emily Hudson, Sara Moodie and Anna Thwaites.

The Regeneration of Australian Comedy

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

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v e r t h e p a s t t w o y e a r s , The Late Show h a s given A u s t r a l i a n s a n excellent r e a s o n to stay h o m e on S a t u r d a y nights. P e r f o r m e d b y t h e D - G e n e r a t i o n (Santo C i l a u r o , T o m G l e i s n e r , J a n e K e n n e d y , J u d i t h Lucy, Tony M a r t i n , M i c k Molloy, R o b Sitch a n d Jason S t e p h e n s ) , t h e p r o g r a m h a s s e c u r e d its p l a c e a s o n e of t h e t o p c o m e d y s h o w s o n A u s t r a l i a n t e l e v i s i o n a n d v e r i f i e d t h e s t r e n g t h of t h e c o m e d y b o r n f r o m M e l b o u r n e U n i v e r s i t y in t h e 1980s. W e w a n t e d t o f i n d o u t m o r e a b o u t The Late Show's s u c c e s s a n d t h e p e o p l e b e h i n d it, s o w e w e n t to R i p p o n l e a a n d t a l k e d w i t h Molloy, Sitch a n d S t e p h e n s . W e b e g a n b y t a l k i n g a b o u t the role M e l b o u r n e h a d i n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e i r careers. " I n a b o u t y e a r 11, m y s i s t e r ( w h o k n e w S a n t o f r o m university) invited m e to the M e l b o u r n e Uni r e v u e , Let's Talk Backwards, w h i c h h a d S a n t o a n d R o b b i e in it, M a r g D o w n e y , N i c k B u f f a l o , " e x p l a i n s M o l l o y . " A n d I s a t t h e r e in t h e U n i o n

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Theatre a n d f r o m start to finish I w a s c o n s u m e d b y it; it w a s t h e g r e a t e s t t h i n g I ' d e v e r s e e n . It w a s j u s t i n s p i r a t i o n a l . W h e n I g o t t o U n i (I d i d A r t s ) I t h o u g h t I ' d c h e c k in, b u y m y b o o k s a n d w a i t f o r a R e v u e to c o m e a r o u n d . S i n c e t h a t p o i n t , I've n e v e r c o n s i d e r e d d o i n g a n y t h i n g else."

"It's w a s n ' t s o m e t h i n g I w a n t e d to d o w h e n I g r e w u p , " s a y s S t e p h e n s . "I k i n d of fell i n t o it. It w a s a h o b b y d u r i n g u n i v e r s i t y . Finally, it t a k e s o v e r y o u r life a n d t h e n y o u g e t t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o w o r k a s a j o b a n d y o u k n o w t h i s is w h a t y o u w a n t to d o . " Molloy was positive about the knowledge g a i n e d f r o m t o u r i n g in 1987 w i t h t h e M e l b o u r n e U n i revue.

"In that one year I p r o b a b l y got t h e experience y o u w o u l d n o r m a l l y g e t in f i v e y e a r s of t h e a t r e w o r k , " h e says. "It w a s a t o r t u o u s p a c e , t h e r e w e r e so m a n y u n k n o w n factors, b u t I w o u l d n ' t t r a d e it f o r a n y t h i n g . " (Continued ...)

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h e Late S h o w is u n i q u e a m o n g o t h e r y o u ' r e t h i n k i n g in t h a t f r a m e of m i n d a n y w a y . c o m e d y s h o w s in t h a t t h e cast a r e A n d t h e o t h e r is j u s t c o m p l e t e l y i n s p i r a t i o n a l . " i n v o l v e d i n all of a c t i n g , w r i t i n g a n d "Here's another one I w a s talking with Tony often filming and editing the program.

[Martin] a b o u t , " interjects Molloy. " W h e n y o u ' r e " M o s t of w h a t m a k e s y o u h a p p y i s a watching someone d o comedy, a n d you're trying c o m b i n a t i o n of t h i n g s , " e x p l a i n s Sitch. " W e ' r e to w o r k o u t w h a t h e ' l l d o a n d y o u ' l l g o 'I k n o w working with friends, w h a t h e ' s g o i n g to d o . . . o h , we've got control over h e d i d n ' t d o it. G r e a t , I'll what w e do." have that.'"

"In 1987, the MelbourneUni Revue "That's really "That w a s actually area went on tour. In that one year I i m p o r t a n t , " agrees Molloy. (b) in m y t h r e e a r e a s , " Sitch probably got the experience that you e x p l a i n s . " I t ' s t h e m i d d l e " O n a lot of o t h e r s h o w s , would normally get in five years of writers are e m p l o y e d to territory where you're theatre work." p r o d u c e so m u c h airtime w r i t i n g s o m e t h i n g else a n d e a c h w e e k . I t ' s k i n d of a another idea occurs." dehumanising process "I d i d n ' t realise. W a s t h a t b e c a u s e y o u get p a i d to h a n d y o u r scripts over, the middle area?" asks Stephens. then a script editor will h a v e a look at t h e m a n d "Yeah, I d i d n ' t n a m e t h e m , s o r r y t h a t I w a s m a k e s o m e c h a n g e s a n d t h e n the director will m y fault," replies Sitch, l o o k i n g a n d s o u n d i n g m a k e a f e w d e c i s i o n s a b o u t h o w t h e p i e c e will b e s u d d e n l y l i k e G r a h a m f r o m Graham and the s h o t a n d w h e r e t h e h u m o u r is, a n d w h e n y o u s e e Colonel. "I h a d n ' t g i v e n t h e m t h e i r titles, a r e a s (a), t h e p i e c e o n t e l e v i s i o n y o u d o n ' t feel p a r t i c u l a r l y (b) a n d (c). (c) is t h e m o s t f u n . " c l o s e t o it. You t h i n k ' n o , t h a f s n o t w h a t I s a w a t " O h , I ' m a bit p a r t i a l to (a) m y s e l f , " s a y s all."

Molloy.

The control the cast get over the p r o g r a m T h e r e is l a u g h t e r . m a k e s t h e r e job p a r t i c u l a r l y f u l f i l l i n g . T h e A B C w i l l a d v i s e t h e m o n t h e i n c l u s i o n of c e r t a i n ne of the sketches o n a purely legal basis; other than that, criticisms levelled t h e D - G e n w i l l w r i t e a b o u t w h a t t h e y t h i n k is a g a i n s t T h e Late S h o w i s t h a t t h e r e funny. are m o r e m a l e s t h a n f e m a l e s in t h e cast. W h e n "If it m a k e s u s l a u g h t h e n w e ' l l p u t it o n asked w h e t h e r h e t h o u g h t this d e t r a c t e d f r o m the television a n d p e o p l e can m a k e their o w n p r o g r a m , Molloy said that "it's p r o b a b l y true that judgements," Molloy says. "We've never targeted o u r h u m o u r is m o r e m a l e - o r i e n t a t e d , b u t t h e r e ' s a u d i e n c e s o r d e m o g r a p h i c s . It's g o t to b e n a t u r a l . " n o t a lot w e c a n d o a b o u t t h a t w i t h t h e c u r r e n t W h e n asked about the critcism s o m e sketches c o n s t i t u t i o n of t h e c a s t . " H e a d d e d t h a t a lot of h a v e r e c e i v e d f o r b e i n g o f f e n s i v e , Sitch s a y s t h a t their h u m o u r w a s g e n d e r free a n y w a y . it's n o t i l l e g a l t o o f f e n d p e o p l e . " W e j u s t t h i n k But w h y is it t h a t t h e r e a r e f a r m o r e m a l e s t h a n it's n o t fair in s o m e w a y s , " h e explains. "We are females on the c o m e d y circuit? p r o b a b l y a bit p r e c i o u s " Y o u h a v e t o g o b a c k to about evoking that w h e n people start wanting "For boys, it's encouraged in the e m o t i o n in t h e c o m m u n i t y . to b e a b u f f o o n or m u c k T h e f a c t is, e v e r y o n e e n j o y s playground environment: 'look at a r o u n d , " e x p l a i n s Molloy. black h u m o u r privately, so "For boys, it's e n c o u r a g e d me, I'm going to jump off the roof w h y d o e s n ' t it c o m e o u t ? " in the playground and crack my skull open!' But the He a n s w e r s his o w n e n v i r o n m e n t : 'look at me, girls look on and go 'that's really question.

I ' m g o i n g t o j u m p off t h e stupid."

"To p u b l i c l y state t h a t roof a n d crack m y skull black h u m o u r exists a n d open!' But the girls look on w e e n j o y it is t o u n d e r m i n e and go ' t h a t ' s really t h e m o r a l f i b r e of society, b u t e v e r y o n e in t h i s stupid.'" r o o m w o u l d h a v e told a black h u m o u r joke a n d "I s u p p o s e w e ' v e h a d r o l e m o d e l s t o f o l l o w l a u g h e d at one. That's w h y I say that m a y b e w e b u t f o r w o m e n t h e r e h a s n ' t b e e n a lot of w o m e n take offense a bit too seriously because privately to f o l l o w , " S t e p h e n s s a y s . " F o r u s , i t ' s n a t u r a l to w e ' r e not as easily o f f e n d e d as w e portray.' see a bloke on stage m u c k i n g a r o u n d . " T h e w r i t i n g p r o c e s s itself is a m i x t u r e of h a r d M o l l o y c o n t i n u e s . "I t h i n k i t ' s h a r d e r f o r a slog a n d inspiration. w o m a n to s t a n d u p a n d p u t h e r s e l f i n a p o s i t i o n " Y o u c o u l d b r e a k it u p i n t o t h r e e p a r t s , " s a y s w h e r e she's d e m a n d i n g a t t e n t i o n in p u b l i c Sitch. " O n e i s j u s t h a r d g r i n d . T h e o t h e r is w h e n because boys didn't have a second thought about y o u ' r e just sitting a r o u n d d o i n g w h a t e v e r a n d m a k i n g a t o t a l f o o l of t h e m s e l v e s - t h e y w e r e s o m e t h i n g just occurs to y o u because t a u g h t t h a t t h a t w a s w h a t to d o - s o i t ' s j u s t a

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b r a v e r t h i n g to d o for a w o m a n . " Sitch finishes his point. " T h a t ' s w h y G e r m a n y " T h e r e is l e s s h u m o u r a v a i l a b l e f o r w o m e n to is n o t f u n n y b e c a u s e G e r m a n y i s s o l o g i c a l . T h e y d o m e r e l y b y the fact that it's not seen as haven't changed the door handles on a Mercedes p o l i t i c a l l y r i g h t t o s e n d u p t h e r o l e of w o m e n in 25 y e a r s . In A u s t r a l i a , w e ' r e a l w a y s g e t t i n g t h a t w h e r e a s m e n c a n s e n d u p m e n r o t t e n / ' s a y s Sitch. stuff w r o n g , w e ' r e a l w a y s r e v i s i n g t h i n g , n o - o n e " M o s t of t h e c h a r a c t e r s I d o a r e s e n d i n g u p m e n , c a n g e t t h e city s q u a r e r i g h t . In G e r m a n y , putting m e n d o w n , but because female humour everything's right, everything's correct." is l i n k e d t o t h e c a u s e of T h i s is o n e of t h e r e a s o n s f e m i n i s m c u r r e n t l y it f o r T h e Late S h o w ' s s u c c e s s . r e s t r i c t s t h e b o d y of "A lot of Graham (from Graham and T h e c h a r a c t e r s p o r t r a y e d a n d h u m o u r a v a i l a b l e to t h e s i t u a t i o n s s h o w n a r e all the Colonel) came from my dad. He t h e m . If y o u s e n d u p things the viewers can relate tries to fight laws of nature by his women stereotypes, to. W e all k n o w s o m e o n e own logic and he doesn't win. " often it's seen as an w h o is l i k e G r a h a m a n d attack on w o m e n . " w e ' v e all b e e n to d i n n e r "In time it will parties with guests who change," says Stephens. compulsively n a m e - d r o p or hosts w h o spend S i t c h a g r e e s . " Y e a h , i n t i m e it will e v e n u p . " t h e i r w h o l e t i m e i n t h e k i t c h e n . T h e c o m e d y is not fake. i t c h w a s a s k e d w h e r e t h e i d e a f o r Graham T h e Late S h o w ' s h u m o u r is b a s e d o n s o m e and the Colonel c a m e f r o m . " I t ' s b e i n g friends thinking about what makes them laugh. i n t e n s i v e a b o u t s o m e t h i n g t h a t is s t u p i d ; A lot of t h e s k e t c h e s c o m e f r o m t h e m r e l a t i n g t h e i r a lot of it is m y d a d . H e g e t s t h i n g s w r o n g b u t in experiences and m u c k i n g a r o u n d together. This a q u i t e d e l i b e r a t e w a y . H e t r i e s to f i g h t l a w s of is s o m e t h i n g t h a t S i t c h s e e s l i n k i n g all c o m e d i a n s n a t u r e b y his o w n logic a n d h e d o e s n ' t win. H e t o g e t h e r : "I t h i n k i t ' s g o t n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h h a s n o f e e l i n g f o r t h e r e a l i t y of t o d a y b u t h e s a y s education b u t e v e r y t h i n g to d o w i t h n o t m u c h it in s u c h a w a y t h a t h e g i v e s g r e a t t h o u g h t to responsibility a n d h a v i n g t i m e to enjoy it." e v e r y t h i n g a n d g e t s it c o m p l e t e l y w r o n g .

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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.

Silver & Green 1993

The Perfect Man ivir Bell Dtn By ' Mr s the late Freddie Mercury said, 'Terfection bores m e " . I c o u l d n ' t agree more. The idea .of a perfect m a n is n o t only appalling b u t decidedly u n Australian. If the federal Parliament had a H o u s e U n A u s t r a l i a n Activities Committee (which it s h o u l d ) t h e n the e d i t o r s of this m a g a z i n e , w h o suggested that there w a s such a ^•idlBlM^BPiLa" VHPE. IdlMHPOHR thing as a perfect man, would be hauled before it and to asked to, "please explain".

The concepts of perfect bodies and perfect m i n d s a n d well ^ b ^ ^ L / regimented n e a t l y Hhk! manicured workaholic m e n are nasty imports from America and Japan and s h o u l d b e resisted at all costs. America sells u s soulless perfect looking p o p stars a n d spineless politicians with perfect smiles a n d haircuts. Japans sells us the idea of r o u n d p e g s in r o u n d holes a n d m e n w h o work 25 h o u r s a d a y singing "Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to w o r k w e g o " as they're j e m m i e d onto the monorail.

Perfect looking people are almost inevitably uninteresting. M a n y MLC girls dribble at the mere m e n t i o n of K e a n u Reeves. To t h e m he is perfect. But is h e interesting? Will f u t u r e generations r e m e m b e r him? I h a v e read a n interview with M r Reeves a n d he is certifiably brain d e a d . If a t h o u g h t crossed his m i n d it w o u l d b e a short trip. H i s views o n life, politics, the arts w e r e as p r o f o u n d of those of Linda Evangelista (an anorexic airhead icon of perfection whose banality e v e n b a m b o o z l e d Ray Martin at the Myer Fashion Parade). The m o s t perfect of n u m b e r s is zero and that is a b o u t the s u m of m o d e l s of perfection such as Keanu a n d Linda: they are c y p h e r s of absolutely n o interest or value.

P e r f e c t i o n of c h a r a c t e r i s n o t p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t e r e s t i n g e i t h e r . O f f h a n d , I c a n ' t t h i n k of o n e c h a r a c t e r in l i t e r a t u r e w h o could be described as p e r f e c t . A n d t h o s e w h o a p p r o a c h p e r f e c t i o n are intolerable. Do w e read Gone With the Wind because w e w a n t to k n o w w h a t h a p p e n s to Melanie Hamilton?

H e r d e a t h w a s o n e of the m o s t entertaining m o m e n t s of the novel. The biggest d i s a p p o i n t m e n t w a s that Ashley Wilkes survived the war. The most interesting p e o p l e in l i t e r a t u r e are th f l a w e d a n d scared a n d imperfect: Rhett a n d H a m l e t and Macbeth and H o m e r Simpson.

The idea of a perfect m a n is alien to our ' culture. The heroes of Australian history and

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culture didn't use m e n ' s fragrances or scruffing lotions.

They are larrikin D i n n y O ' H e a r n a n d John C u r t i n and Patrick White. Weary D u n l o p w a s n o picture a n d N e d Kelly's dress sense w a s not h a u t e couture. But these m e n mattered a n d they m a d e a noise. M e n should be uncooked and unpolished a n d a bit lazy and unpredictable a n d stubbly a n d h a v e lots of knobbly bits. In a w o r d - Australian.

By Jeff: Castles Castles ' hen I w a s first requested to write o n the "Perfect M a n " I t h o u g h " W h y m e ? " a l t h o u g h I m u s t a d m i t that after further cogitation I t h o u g h t " W h y not me?". After all, I'm a m a n who'll say yes to anything! The a w f u l t h o u g h t flashed through my mind - not another autobiography! I w a s rapidly g o i n g to pieces u n d e r the mental p r e s s u r e (a characteristic of Perfect M e n in this pressure-cooker society of MLC). T h e n I pulled myself together a n d recalled a n a d a g e m a d e f a m o u s by that other close approximation of the Perfect Man - John Wayne - "A m a n ' s gotta d o w h a t a m a n ' s gotta do", so I p u t p e n to paper.

Although I h a v e a remarkably m o d e s t opinion of myself, I d o h a v e s o m e strong points that a n y Perfect M a n should have. I barrack for C o l l i n g w o o d . I drink light beer. I a m a Sensitive, N e w - A g e Feminist. I can distinguish G e r m a i n e Greer f r o m Sharon Stone.

I could continue extensively in this vein, b u t using a Perfect M a n ' s self control, a n d taking m y readers into account, I'll n o w outline a f e w qualities of Perfect Men at MLC. A Perfect M a n is patient - h e can p u t u p w i t h the M o n d a y m o r n i n g babblings of a n M L C m a t h s class for half an h o u r before blowing his stack.

A Perfect M a n is realistic - h e k n o w s that n e w boyfriends will a l w a y s b e m o r e d e rigeur than n e w maths.A Perfect M a n is discreet - h e can w a l k t h r o u g h the Nevile tunnel near the Year 10 lockers a n d hear nothing.

N e e d I say m o r e ? A P e r f e c t M a n is s w i f t to acknowledge MLC"s contribution to the w i d e r society, and is always secure in the k n o w l e d g e that, despite his occasional faults, he still has a n i m p o r t a n t role to play in the construction of the MLC perfect w o m a n .

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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 h e n o n e of the Silver & Green editors a s k e d m e if I w o u l d write a n d article on 'The Perfect Man', my immediate response w a s "Of course!. W h o better?" A m a t u r e (but not too m a t u r e ) m a n , intelligent (but n o t too intelligent), good-looking (but not too good-looking), w e l l - e d u c a t e d , m o d e s t , securely e m p l o y e d . W h a t m o r e could the perfect m a n require? All right, so this particular m a n lacks the street cred of a Ron Bell, the sporting a c h i e v e m e n t of a Tim D o m i n g , or the power a n d prestige of a D a v i d Loader. Nevertheless, he had more hair than a Jeff Castles, less facial hair than a John Snell, a n d m o r e d r e s s sense than, well, almost a n y o n e you could mention. So w h a t if he w a s married, we' re talking here of the idea (or the ideal) - lef s not be distracted b y practicalities. Besides, a commitment to family v a l u e s is a desirable trait in the perfect man.

Taken overall, the choice seemed an entirely sensible one.

It w a s n ' t until I h a d suggested to the editor that all she need d o w a s p u b l i s h the title of the piece, together with a p h o t o g r a p h , a n d let her readers d o the rest for t h e m s e l v e s , t h a t I finally realised the t r u t h of the situation. H e r r e s p o n s e w a s surprisingly gentle, all things considered. "Aaah, not exactly, Mr D" or w o r d s to that effect. Looking back now, I s u p p o s e that "In your dreams, perhaps!" would have been more deserved. I s h u d d e r even n o w to think of the effect o n m y ego if she h a d let r i p with the r a u c o u s laughter which I n o w realise w a s her initial, politely suppressed, response. W h a t she w a n t e d w a s m y opinion of what constituted the perfect m a n ; expressed, in her mind, f r o m a p o i n t of view considerably removed from the actual state of b e i n g such a paragon.

Since m y recovery f r o m this shattering experience (I really should h a v e k n o w n better, though, I suppose), I h a v e t h o u g h t long a n d h a r d a b o u t "perfection", and its actualisation in the p e r s o n of one, individual, male.

The criteria are m a n y a n d varied, a n d never, so far as I can tell, f o u n d together in a single individual. To some, the perfect m a n is he w h o can deliver the ball, with either foot, onto the chest of a fast-leading Jason Dunstall, a n d d o it ten times o u t of ten. To others, a n y c o n n e c t i o n w i t h f o o t b a l l is a n a u t o m a t i c disqualification. If you read s o m e of the w o m e n ' s magazines, the perfect m a n is all face and body, and forget a n y reference to his mind, or other abilities. (Just t h e c r i t i c i s m , w h e n y o u t h i n k a b o u t it, t h a t the feminists u s e d to level at males' ideas of the perfect woman.) To others, wealth and p o w e r are the ultimate attractions, and actual appearance runs a distant

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s e c o n d to t h e — — size of the bank account.

So I d o n ' t really know w h o , or w h a t , constitutes the perfect man.

What did help put it into perspective, however, was t h e announcement of t h e m a r r i a g e of Julia Roberts to a m a n n a m e d Lyle Lovett.

Now the beautiful Julia is, in m a n y people's opinion, close to being the perfect woman.

Her choice of spouse m u s t , surely, lay s o m e c l a i m to being the perfect m a n . H a v e you ever seen a p i c t u r e of M r Lovett? H e is tall and skinny, gawky even, with a goofy smile and a shock of hair that looks like a cartoonist's version of w h a t h a p p e n s to you in a horror movie. A n d w h a t does he do? H e is a C o u n t r y a n d Western singer, with such g e m s to his credit a s I Married Her fust Because She Looks Like You a n d She's Leaving Me Because She Really Wants To, to say n o t h i n g of a revival of that alltime C & W f a v o u r i t e Stand By Your Man. A better c a n d i d a t e , it w o u l d s e e m , for t h e s p o u s e of Dolly Parton than Julia Roberts. Yet, if y o u read the articles written as a result of his unlikely marriage, h e is a sweet, honest, sincere a n d intelligent person. H e is an example to all of the rest of u s sweet, gawky, sincere, ugly, honest, goofy m e n o u t there, a n d proof that, to the right w o m a n , perfection exists b e l o w the surface, in qualities about w h i c h m a n y w o m e n ' s m a g a z i n e s seem to k n o w n o t h i n g at all.

1993

Valuable Courting Education 1993 VCE MALES ASSESSMENT SHEET

Phone Number s

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ADVICE T O 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 u p p e r level will be identified with a 'plus' (A+ to E+). Record the grade in the appropriate box. The completed assessment sheet m u s t 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 -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 a n d 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)

H MLN

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 p e r s o n a l i t y 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 h o w to have a good time with his mates a n d / o r 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 a n d often greasy. Declares to believe in something but dedication is debatable. Is friendly to his m a t e s b u t s o m e t i m e s c h i l d i s h a r o u n d strangers. Has a huge repertoire of personal jokes with his mates (excluding anyone h e hasn't known s i n c e toilet t r a i n i n g ) . H a t e s h i s m o t h e r a n d 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 h a s n o p r o m i s e 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. D o e s n ' t u n d e r s t a n d 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 s o f t haired w o m a n h a d arrived f r o m the c o u n t r y w h e r e she had spent m a n y an hour wiping the noses of o n e or another of her eight y o u n g e r brothers a n d sisters. She h a d a t t e n d e d a d i n k y country h i g h school of seventeen students, a n d r e t u r n e d h o m e to cook the meals, milk the c o w s a n d pull the rings off her f a t h e r ' s beer cans. After the children were b e d d e d A l s o w e t t a sat d o w n by candle light a n d w o r k e d t h r o u g h t h e n i g h t {until d a w n } o n h e r academic studies.

Her determination and obsessive ability to m a n a g e her time a n d organise information had paid off, and she w a s n o w enrolled in A r t s / Law. The high expectation she p l a c e d o n herself c o l o u r e d h e r e x p e c t a t i o n s of o t h e r s m e a n i n g that she w a s not just looking for any m a n , she w a s looking for the Perfect M a n . The first w a s Kent, a d a s h i n g C o m m e r c e / L a w student.

Her eyes h a d m e t w i t h those of t h i s d a r k h a i r e d m a n t h r e e times in t h e p a s t w e e k , a n d o n T h u r s d a y h e w i n k e d . It w a s while standing in the cafeteria q u e u e the following Monday, with her b r o w n hair lying in w a v e s u p o n her shoulders a n d her pale pink crocheted cardigan that her mother had just sent d o w n hanging loosely over her long lemon frock as she w a s attempting { u n s u c c e s s f u l l y } to decide between the red a n d green apples that h e had b r u s h e d passed her,

holding her elbow just a little too long. She was melting.

H e turned a r o u n d a n d said to her 'Take the red, ma petite chouchou. The red's sweeter."

L a t e r t h a t m o n t h , a t a 21st b i r t h d a y party, he s a u n t e r e d towards Alsowetta, who was perched awkwardly on a pouffe in the corner, and said, "May I have the honour of taking y o u r hand in the following dance."

S u d d e n l y , all t h e b r i l l i a n t , witty and highly intelligent responses she had been c o n s t r u c t i n g in h e r h e a d i n anticipation of this very m o m e n t left her b o d y with the sweat that s u d d e n l y sprang from the p a l m s of her hands. The only response she could u t t e r w a s , " y e a h , all right" As they m o v e d t o w a r d s the d a n c e floor, A l s o w e t t a w a s momentarily paralysed by the shocking realisation that the only dance she k n e w w a s the 'Heel and Toe Polka', but the strong a r m s 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 a n d whispered in her ear, "Your eyes shine like the stars, y o u r skin is as p u r e as a virgin white lily and y o u r cheeks as rosy as the a p p l e y o u w e r e c o n t e m p l a t i n g b u y i n g in t h e cafeteria. I cannot sleep at night for the t h u n d e r I hear that is the b e a t i n g of m y heart that thinks only of you."

After dancing, Kent and Alsowetta began to talk.

"Tell m e a bit about yourself," said Alsowetta.

This w a s w h e r e the p r o b l e m began.

"Let m e see," K e n t m u s e d . " G o s h , I d o n ' t k n o w w h e r e to start. I've really missed the c o m p e t i t i o n w i t h the b o y s this year."

"What competition?"

"I w a s C a p t a i n of Boats last year. And cricket...and football. I really m i s s t h e h a r d w o r k a n d sweat. Oh, and I was fencing captain as well."

There w a s an u n c o m f o r t a b l e silence.

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

can get for y o u ? " " N o , " she said. " I ' m fine. I ' m just n o t really into sport."

"Hey, I ' m not really 10% brain and 90% b r a w n . I d o h a v e a softer side to m e . " "Sure."

"Look, if it m a k e s y o u feel a n y better I h a d the lead of the school play a n d I w a s captain of debating a n d I g o t t h e t o p m a r k of m y literature class. You see, I h a v e a real love for literature. It's not just a n interest, for m e if s a - " K e n t ' s final w o r d s w e r e lost forever as he choked o n his drink.

V a u g h a n , a n o t h e r O l d Boy, h a s strolled over a n d s l a p p e d him o n the back saying, "G'day, you old rascal." H e then p u s h e d past Kent, took Alsowetta's hand, knelt before her a n d kissing each finger separately said, "The pleasure [kiss] m a d e m o i s e l l e [kiss] is all [kiss] mine [kiss, kiss]."

Alsowetta t h o u g h t this w a s a bit pathetic, b u t little d i d she k n o w the w o r s t w a s yet to come; Richard, Pritchard a n d Tristram trotted towards the expanding clique.

V a u g h a n took charge.

Alsowetta was momentarily paralysed by the shocking realisation ...

"Let m e i n t r o d u c e the Old Boys. Richard, Captain of Music, A M U S o n o b o e a n d harpsichord, c o m p o s e r of a school song, A r t s / Law. Tristram, School C a p t a i n 1992, C h a m p i o n orator, P r e m i e r ' s p r i z e in VCE M a t h e m a t i c s a n d Chemistry, presently enrolled in Science/Law. And Pritchard, D r a m a C a p t a i n , Vice D e b a t i n g Captain, Hockey Captain. Take a g o o d l o o k at P r i t c h a r d , y o u ' r e l u c k y to b e s e e i n g h i m . A f t e r t a k i n g o u t P r e m i e r ' s p r i z e s in three subjects, a n d College Dux last year h e w a s offered a place at Forgsythe in Medicine/Law." Pritchard finished the saga, "I d i d n ' t feel the

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Let me introduce the Old Boys.

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s t a t u s a n d p r e s t i g e of s u c h a course o u t w e i g h e d the lacking reputation of the university, so I refused the position and came to Deloraize University, the only University."

"Lucky for Forgsythe." said Alsowetta.

V a u g h a n w a s t a k e n aback, " A h , y o u of c o u r s e m e a n Deloraize. He is n o w 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 k n o w l e d g e of first aid, , describing h o w a splint can be m a d e f r o m the

s u r r o u n d i n g b u s h shrubbery, a tactic he h a d m a s t e r e d w h e n hiking the Great Dividing Range to g a i n h i s G o l d D u k e of Edinburgh award. Pritchard laboured every single detail of the crisis a n d f a u l t s o n h i s y a c h t during his multi-month trip across the Indian Ocean. In even greater detail he re-told his o w n victorious overcoming of these faults.

Richard, a sky diving instructor, refused to detail his o w n true n a t u r e a s a hero, so Vaughan was forced to tell of his a c t i o n s the p r e v i o u s s u m m e r , when an old yobbo forgot to put on a p a r a c h u t e , a n d R i c h a r d whilst free falling, caught hold of

the screaming man, t h u s saving him from certain death.

"I'm not a hero," Richard e x p l a i n e d . " A n y o n e in m y situation would have d o n e what I did."

It was d u r i n g a lively reenactment of the trophy assembly that Alsowetta (remember A l s o w e t t a ? ) a w o k e , a n d left... forever.

Alsowetta was disgusted.

There was nothing perfect about a person characterised by p e r s o n a l a n e c d o t e s a n d self appreciation.

Continuing her hunt, Alsowetta decided she would try the public bar. For her, there was s o m e t h i n g u n r e f i n e d a n d fresh

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about these dishevelled, laid back people. The comparative silence, broken only by the periodic grunt or b u r p w a s like n o t h i n g Alsowetta had ever k n o w n (except for perhaps her father, but she d i d n ' t m a k e the connection just then.) She sat beside a bunch of men w h o quickly d r e w her into the g r o u p that w a s in the midst of a burping competition. The event of the d a y was to b u r p the chorus of 'Click go the shears'. The prize was... free beer.

Gradually, the g r o u p began to disperse as science students went to catch the summaries at the end of t h e i r l e c t u r e s a n d t h e engineering students looked at the roster to see whose turn it was to go to theirs. O n e of the g r o u p left, complaining that he was always rostered on w h e n something good was happening.

As the m o r n i n g progressed, Alsowetta became acquainted with these men. After seven years at u n i v e r s i t y , R o b h a d j u s t 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 a n d D a v e were staring i n t e n t l y at a television screen that was wavering between Sally Jesse R a p h a e l a n d snow.

Alsowetta was confused but

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

There was not an u n t o r n g a r m e n t in the public bar and these m e n w e r e no exception.

Steve, w h o d i d n o t y e t k n o w where the laundromat was in his suburb, was wearing an 'Expo-88' sloppy-joe which looked as t h o u g h it h a d n ' t been w a s h e d since he bought it but at least it fit him. Geoff's windcheater had been two sizes too big w h e n he b o u g h t it, b u t a f t e r y e a r s of s t r e t c h i n g it h a d s l e e v e s t h a t doubled as gloves and was long enough to ensure that he never had to buy new shorts.

H o u r s p a s s e d a n d 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 t h e c o m p u t e r r o o m s in t h e engineering department.

T h o u g h all c o m p u t e r s 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 - m a t , six d i f f e r e n t b r a n d s of highlighters, a metal ruler, a Hewlett Packard Advanced Scientific Calculator 28S, f o u r

"I am presently unattached."

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

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Staedtler marsmicro pencils with varying lead diameters, a Solitaire m i n i a t u r e p e n torch, a F a b e r Castell triangular ruler and a set of six Stanley screw drivers... but none of this w a s in use. Instead, he w a s reading a Wheels m a g a z i n e a n d l i s t e n i n g to his Sony Remote c o n t r o l / A u t o 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 f r o m 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 t h a t b e i n g a w o m a n , she wouldn't understand.

She became indignant and began explaining she w a s doing A r t s / Law a n d w a s quite c a p a b l e 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.

beer, that makes four.

It was while walking towards the student unionthat she ran into N a t h a n e u l , actually N a t h a n e u l ran into her. As her books flew h a p h a z a r d l y t h r o u g h 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 y o u n g 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.

" H a v e ya got the disk?" belched Steve.

"Yeah, course, doofus." replied Dave.

T h e m a i n c h a r a c t e r of t h i s game was wearing a blue singlet and had a cigarette dangling f r o m the corner of his mouth. He was taking plates f r o m a bucket and h a n d i n g t h e m to w o m e n w h o were attempting to escape f r o m a kitchen. W h e n the w o m e n received a plate, they were forced to return to the kitchen to wash it.

When the g a m e ended, and the honour board began flashing "Mr Macho", Alsowetta took it as her cue to exit.

"Oh, so a m I w h a t are y o u majoring in?"

"I'm doing honours year; I'm writing a thesis which I'm hoping will be of use to the w o m e n ' s ' faculty called 'What men can do to h e l p w o m e n t h r o u g h t h e e m o t i o n a l roller c o a s t e r 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 t h e w o m a n ' s job, b u t I ' m h o p i n g to r e v o l u t i o n i s e t h i s 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 t h e i n a b i l i t y to e v e r completely experience child birth would leave me incomplete as a man.

The g r o u p I have established "Women's experiences for m e n " is devising workshops that allow us to reach our true potential as people. I feel that men m u s t become more a w a r e of t h e i r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y

Alsowetta was becoming despondent, and began wondering if there were any m e n alive that treated women as equal to themselves... not special, just equal. These guys saw w o m e n as images to pass the time with and believed that w o m e n were truly appreciative of g u y s giving them a mark out of ten. Their tear ducts had permanently dried u p by the a g e of f i v e a n d t h e y b e l i e v e d h u m a n b e i n g s w e r e capable of expressing only three JYyV emotions: hunger, anger, ( V > r v T lust... oh and a thirst for

[

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

towards women in society."

"In what w a y s d o you mean?" asked Alsowetta.

"When I read about abuse of w o m e n in the n e w s p a p e r I feel embarrassed and ashamed in the knowledge that I a m joined to this m a n by my sex. I feel a personal responsibility a n d the desire to right the wrongs m e n have been c o m m i t t i n g against w o m e n 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 f o u n d the toilet.. .in a cafe three s u b u r b s 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 w h o w a s normal. In her search she had not f o u n d a m a n she could tolerate let alone s o m e o n e she could fall in love with and spend the rest of her life with.

She went. She left university, intellectuals and education behind h e r in s e a r c h of s o m e o n e n o t p o i s o n e d b y c o n s t a n t self appraisal. Someone normal. She f o u n d herself at the TAB beside Wayne, Dazza a n d Bazza.

Entering into conversation with Bazza, she asked him a b o u t his day.

"I got up, 'n had last nights leftover dimmies 'n a beer.... 'n I p u t on m y Fosters shirt 'n w e n t to work.. ,'n then I just 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 p a p e r 'n t h e n I l o o k e d at t h e 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 d o w n here to have a bet on the dogs."

Alsowetta w a s impressed by his simplicity and his satisfaction of his o w n uncomplicated life.

"What are you d o i n g after?" she asked.

"Well, me 'n m e mates might go for a drive 'n drink the slab... 'n go to the public bar 'n sit around 'n l i s t e n to a b a n d ' n h a v e a smoke...'n p e r ' a p s go for a drive... 'n hire a video 'n watch some telly... 'n go for a drive.. .'n p e r ' a p s find some chicks..."

It was the 'chicks' that did it.

Alsowetta had officially given up.

She caught a train to go home. Her

Silver & Green 1993

h u n t w a s over. She w a s tired of the chasing. She d i d n ' t notice w h e n he sat d o w n beside her. It w a s only u n t i l half w a y t h r o u g h t h e conversation that it registered that she w a s talking to a m a n for she h a d b e e n so i n t e r e s t e d in their discussion. A n d h e respected her so m u c h h e d i d n ' t seem to notice she was female. As their discussion progressed he continued to ask h e r opinion as o p p o s e d to continually gloating a b o u t himself. H e w a s alive and full of i d e a s a n d q u e s t i o n s . H e w a s n ' t t r y i n g to i m p r e s s her or live o u t h e r e x p e c t a t i o n s ; there was no competition or comparison. H e w a s just trying to u n d e r s t a n d her. H e w a s a nice g u y she could c o m m u n i c a t e with and she felt she w a s a p e r s o n to him, not a body.

They b e g a n to m e e t regularly as the m o n t h s passed. Their relationship intensified a n d they began to consider o n e another best friends. O n e e v e n i n g h e said to her, as they arranged to meet at the theatre, "Do y o u m i n d if I bring someone else to i n t r o d u c e to you tonight w h o is as i m p o r t a n t to m e as you? But of c o u r s e in a very different way."

"Of course not, I'd love to meet t h e m , " Alsowetta replied.

She w a s w a i t i n g o u t s i d e the theatre w h e n he arrived with his friend. " A l s o w e t t a , I ' d l i k e y o u to meet m y r o o m - m a t e , " he said.

"This is Andrew."

H e s l i p p e d his a r m tenderly a r o u n d his f r i e n d ' s waist as A n d r e w shook Alsowetta's h a n d a n d s a i d , " I ' v e h e a r d so m u c h a b o u t you."

Alsowetta realised that the m a n w h o c a m e c l o s e s t to p e r f e c t i o n in this w o r l d w o u l d never be her perfect h u d s b a n d .

By Maria Andrzejewski Emily Hudson

and

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.

Silver & Green 1993

Teachers' quotes

Dr Castles: Anyone got a

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 u p or not.

Mr Dimsey: The good articles stand out in Silver and Green.

Dr Castles: You're like that little boy w h o s a w that the King was naked.

Mr Snell: You normally use 95% ethanol if y o u s p i k e a drink.

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

Mr Doming: "Oh duh!" (after seeing a blank page in the C&A CAT which h a d "This p a g e h a s no w o r d s 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 f u n c t i o n i n g at y o u r u s u a l o p t i m u m level, w h i c h is s o m e w h e r e to t h e r i g h t of hysteria.

comb?

Mr Pryke: It's like those t h i n g s y o u s e e in s o m e w o m e n ' s magazines - there's always someone who's armless, legless and headless, a n d is m a r r i e d w i t h 13 children.

Mrs Mason: I was driving a l o n g C a n t e r b u r y R o a d the other d a y when I wondered if I was dead.

Mrs Morgan: That's your h o m e w o r k girls - go h o m e 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 m y head.

Cole's Law: Thinly sliced cabbage.

Mrs Rawlings: Ladies, I k n o w that you think I'm the absolute epitome of walking cynicism.

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

Mr S n e l l : Since it o n l y requires 11 m i n u t e s of w o r k o v e r a 16 d a y n o n - s c h o o l a t t e n d a n c e p e r i o d y o u will only be required to do less than one minute a day.

Mrs Mason: Night is dark.

a

yy

By Alicia

Williams,

5

We w e r e m o v i n g h o u s e . I was helping bring the furniture into our n e w house. As I w a s helping to bring a little coffee table into the d i n i n g room, I noticed there w a s an old worn out chair in the corner. When I s a w it a shiver ran d o w n my spine. M u m said I could sit on it and try it out.

For dinner, I was sitting on the chair we f o u n d w h e n I started thinking about memories. They weren't mine.

They were about the war and my parents being killed.

'That's silly," I said to myself.

"My parents aren't dead."

T h a t n i g h t I w e n t to b e d feeling wierd a n d confused, but in the m o r n i n g I h a d n e a r l y forgotten about the memories. I didn't have anything to do that day, so I decided to explore the house. Firstly I went to the cellar but there w a s only old bottles of wine d o w n there. I decided to got to the store r o o m out the back.

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 d r a w open, and just as if an invisible hand had pulled it out a little secret door opened. Inside was a beautiful old w e d d i n g r i n g 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.

I w e n t to t h e l i b r a r y a n d looked at the old n e w s p a p e r s 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.

She was taken to an orphanage where she stayed until she was grown u p . She then m o v e d to where I a m living now a n d died in the old worn chair. The article said that she spent a large a m o u n t of her life searching for information about her parents.

At that point I had a thought -

The Spirit of the House what if the ring belonged to her parents? After I read that part I knew w h a t I h a d to do. I'd gave to give the r i n g to the spirit.

After m y parents had gone to sleep, I crept out, put the ring on the old worn chair and went to bed.

In the morning it w a s gone.

By Erica Dobson,

CERES Excursion During Term 2, 4F visited the Centre for Education and R e s e a r c h in E n v i r o n m e n t a l Strategies in Brunswick (CERES).

I really like the Energy Farm.

When w e talked about animals being i n j u r e d by pollution it reminded me of a day when my family a n d I w e n t to Phillip I s l a n d . We w e n t 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, l i t t e r e d 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

5

The Grampians penguins tearing around wildly during their last minutes of life and some were already dead. I c o u l d n ' t look. I just c o u l d n ' t bear to see these beautiful birds just dying. Think, it is these t h o u g h t l e s s careless h u m a n s that kill, actually kill, these beautiful creatures. Some p e n g u i n s h a v e chicks a n d if these birds die the chicks might die too.

This made me think, today, about pollution.

By Kate Robson, 4

At 9.00am, ' M a y 3rd the MLC girls of G r a d e 4 b o a r d e d the bus b o u n d for the G r a m p i a n s . It took five hours to get there. The air was not nearly so polluted a n d t h e r e w a s a lot m o r e animals.

T h e r e w a s a r a n g e of activities i n c l u d i n g t h e r o p e course, the flying fox, the reflector trail, the n a t u r e 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 w e e v e n h a d d e s s e r t (unlike home!).

Overall, we t h o u g h t the c a m p w a s marvellous.

By Sarah Cheah and Catherine Rich, 4.

1

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

S i l v e r & G r e e n 1993

WAR &

PEACE

If I could only be free So much as to be like thee.

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

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 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

By Lucy Saaroni, 5

between

everyone

increase!

WINTER

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

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

POLAR BEAR

By Natalie Forsuth, 5

Goodbye, Mrs Atherton

Junior Secon dary School *

Mrs Atherton W a i t i n g in M r s . A t h e r t o n ' s office, y o u get t h e feeling that in the sixteen y e a r s she has been t e a c h i n g a t M L C s h e h a s a c h i e v e d a lot. S h e e v e n h a s h e r o w n h e a t e r . It m a y b e d u s t y a n d o l d , b u t it is still a r a r e p r i v i l e g e a t o u r ' d e a r o l d s c h o o l of g r e y ' . S i t t i n g o n h e r s h e l f is a jar of M & M s . It r e m i n d s u s a l i t t l e of H a n s e l a n d G r e t e l . W e d e c i d e n o t to steal one.

M r s . A t h e r t o n h a d a l w a y s w a n t e d to b e a t e a c h e r , b u t t w o of h e r f r i e n d s w e r e , s o s h e d e c i d e d to d o a LogoWriter course. After h e r c o u r s e , s h e still w a n t e d to b e a teacher, s o s h e w e n t to T e a c h e r s ' C o l l e g e . S h e l e f t T e a c h e r s ' C o l l e g e , t e a c h i n g a t St. C a t h e r i n e ' s a n d E l t h a m C o l l e g e b e f o r e s t a r t i n g at M L C . She also m e t Mr. Atherton. They h a d t w o children w h o are n o w adults a n d living a w a y f r o m home.

N o w , I'll c u t s t r a i g h t to w h a t e v e r y o n e w a n t s to k n o w . W h e n is s h e r e t i r i n g ? S h e is n o t . S h e i n t e n d s to r e t u r n n e x t y e a r o n a p a r t t i m e b a s i s .

She says s h e w o u l d miss the 'friendly staff'. She w o u l d a l s o m i s s Mr. L o a d e r w h o h a s b e e n at M L C nearly as long as she has.

In h e r m a n y years at M L C s h e h a s been able to w i t n e s s m a n y c h a n g e s . A y e a r a f t e r s h e c a m e to M L C Mr. L o a d e r b e c a m e t h e p r i n c i p a l . H e d i v i d e d the school into four sections; Junior School, Junior Secondary School, Middle a n d S e n i o r S c h o o l s . T h i s e n a b l e d t e a c h e r s to g i v e s t u d e n t s a m o r e specific curriculum. O r as Mrs. A t h e r t o n says; " W h a t ' s g o o d for M i d d l e School is n o t n e c e s s a r i l y g o o d f o r J u n i o r S e c o n d a r y School". There have been physical , c h a n g e s a s well, eg. t h e PEC, a n d the

Centenary building.

She says that although laptops h a v e created a lot m o r e w o r k f o r t e a c h e r s ( a n d u s k i d s ! ) t h e y a r e great a n d h a v e really helped M L C progress. She could hardly say a n y t h i n g else a n y w a y c o n s i d e r i n g t h a t s h e w a s o n e of t h e m a i n s u p p o r t e r s of l a p t o p i n t r o d u c t i o n .

In h e r s p a r e t i m e s h e c a r e s f o r G u i d e d o g s . S h e also enjoys reading, w a l k i n g , s p e n d i n g t i m e with friends, knitting, a n d wait for it...barracking for C o l l i n g w o o d . (Ed. W h a t a C h a m p ! o t h e r Ed. (with no taste) W h a t a Loser! ( 'earn the Demons!)).

A l t h o u g h s h e will only b e w o r k i n g o n e d a y a w e e k in 1994, s h e s a y s t h a t s h e i n t e n d s t o s e e a n d s t a y i n c o n t a c t w i t h all h e r f r i e n d s o n t h e staff.

By Daine Hall & Edioitia Scott

''Oliver' A JSS Musical

Production

S i g n i n g t h e f o r m I h u r r i e d l y h a n d e d it i n t o t h e m u s i c office, w o n d e r i n g if I w a s d o i n g t h e r i g h t thing.

H a d I b e e n c o r r e c t l y i n f o r m e d of everything I w a s letting myself into?

T h e choir, w h o c o n s t i t u t e d t h e c a s t , b e g a n b y learning a f e w s o n g s in April, b u t t h e r e w a s n o p r e s s u r e to r e a l l y t h i n k a b o u t t h e p e r f o r m a n c e a n d w h a t it i n v o l v e d u n t i l t h e f i r s t d a n c i n g c l a s s came around. The 'company' a n d 'boys' were split into t w o fairly large g r o u p s a n d f r o m t h e n on, w e had different rehearsals as w e w e r e learning separate steps.

I t h i n k m a n y of u s w e r e s u r p r i s e d t h a t t h e dancing did not c o m e together with the singing s o o n e r . T h i s t o o k h o u r s of p r a c t i c e , a n d t h e actions w e learnt took m o r e concentration a n d thought than one might have imagined. Once w e organised props a n d costumes, as well as m a k i n g o u r p a r t i c u l a r c h a r a c t e r s c o m e t o life o n t h e s t a g e , the pace increased.

Yes, a f t e r t i r i n g w e e k s of r e h e a r s a l s i n t h e Assembly Hall I w a s actually tying m y baker's apron, adjusting m y hat and d a b b i n g on foundation, feeling m y b u r n i n g cheeks backstage, n e r v o u s , b u t r e a d y f o r t h e first n i g h t ' s e x c i t e m e n t .

S t r o n g p e r f o r m a n c e s w e r e g i v e n b y all of t h e principal characters w h i c h included Oliver, Fagin, D o d g e r , N a n c y , Bill S y k e s , M r . B u m b l e , D r .

Grimwig and Mrs. Bedwin. The lighting created a wonderful atmosphere, the costumes and props p l a y e d a v e r y i m p o r t a n t r o l e in i l l u s t r a t i n g s c e n e s w i t h o u t sets, a n d b o t h s i n g i n g a n d d a n c i n g w e r e p e r f o r m e d in a p r o f e s s i o n a l m a n n e r .

S i l v e r & G r e e n 1993

' O l i v e r ' g a v e all of t h e cast, e s p e c i a l l y t h e y e a r s e v e n s a g r e a t o p p o r t u n i t y to m e e t n e w t e a c h e r s , m a k e n e w f r i e n d s , a n d a p p r e c i a t e all t h e e f f o r t p u t in to p e r f o r m i n g a p r o d u c t i o n . W e a l s o l e a r n t t h a t h e l p i n g a n d c o n s i d e r i n g o t h e r s is a m a j o r p a r t of w o r k i n g a s a t e a m . P a r t i c i p a t i o n is r e w a r d e d .

A special t h a n k y o u to a f e w people w h o m a d e 'Oliver' possible: Mrs. O s w a l d (choreographer), Mrs. C h e s t e r m a n (singing teacher), Miss Deppeler (singing teacher), Mrs. Jenkenson (acting director), Miss Valerkou (stage manager), a n d Miss Francis (lighting a n d technical adviser).

There are m a n y others who had important c o n t r i b u t i o n , b u t t h e list is t o o l e n g t h y .

T h e s o n g s t h a t w e learnt i n c l u d e d : 'Oliver,' ' C o n s i d e r Yourself,' 'Be Back Soon,' 'Food G l o r i o u s F o o d / ' W h e r e Is L o v e ? , ' ' W h o W i l l Buy?,' 'It's a Fine Life,' ' O o m - p a h - p a h , ' a n d 'As L o n g As H e N e e d s Me'. These s o n g s will be r e m e m b e r e d for a long time, as will the memories of a v e r y e n j o y a b l e l e a r n i n g e x p e r i e n c e .

By Edwina Scott, 7

French LogoWriter I a m a n e w y e a r eight s t u d e n t at M L C this year a n d s o h a v e b e e n n e w l y i n t r o d u c e d to c o m p u t e r s .

O n e of t h e s u b j e c t s I l e a r n is F r e n c h a n d in o u r c l a s s e s w e a r e g i v e n a s s i g n m e n t s to d o o n F r e n c h Logowriter.

This w a s an extra challenge for m e because I h a d n o p r e v i o u s e x p e r i e n c e of o r d i n a r y L o g o w r i t e r . H o w e v e r , I l e a r n e d t h i n g s a b o u t it v e r y q u i c k l y a n d h a v e b e e n a b l e to p r o d u c e t w o assignments on m y computer. French Logowriter is g o o d f u n t o d o a n d i n t e r e s t i n g to s e e i n a c t i o n .

By Verity Fisher, 8

Third World vlaces.

I see 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 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

you,

way.

I w r o t e this p o e m b e c a u s e I w a s t h i n k i n g a b o u t the stall w e h a d , ' T r a d i n g P a r t n e r s ' . I w a s t h i n k i n g a b o u t h o w s a d it w a s t h a t s o m e p e o p l e o u t t h e r e h a d n o t h i n g . N o n e of t h e t h i n g s t h a t w e take for g r a n t e d e v e r y day.

Just things food, w a t e r a n d shelter which w e don't even consider as a privilege. This really got m e started and w i t h i n half a n h o u r , t h i s p o e m w a s well u n d e r way.

I h o p e that m a y b e , just maybe, what I have written will m a k e y o u think, a n d the next I h o p e that y o u will be g e n e r o u s w h e n a s k e d to d o n a t e m o n e y to a third world country.

By Josta Slots, 8 'Trading Partners' Chapel Service.

Silver & G r e e n 1993

Farewell Mrs Fleming She s t a n d s u p in front of u s with her big smile, curly hair and checked suit. W h o is it? You have guessed right, Mrs Di Fleming, H e a d of M i d d l e S c h o o l . S h e always has a listening ear and is ready to lend a helping hand. This w a s displayed in her involvement in the S.R.C.. She w a s concerned about teenage girsls and their health, especially drinking, smoking and eating disorders such as bulimia. Through her concern a b o u t these issues, she allowed the S.R.C. girls to go to conferences to learn about them.

By d o i n g t h i s s h e e n a b l e d t h e S.R.C. to h e l p t h e girls w i t h a p r o b l e m to t a l k a b o u t t h e i r situation a n d u n d e r s t a n d w h a t w a s h a p p e n i n g to their bodies.

Mrs Fleming

M r s Fleming also organised a d a y conference for s t u d e n t s f r o m all schools througout Melbourne. She h a s e n c o u r a g e d girls in M i d d l e S c h o o l to u s e l a p t o p s . To accomodate this, she placed p r i n t e r s in each level of Nevile a n d Nicholas.

Mrs Fleming has m a d e it easier for girls in M i d d l e School to have a say a b o u t their school. For instance, in s o m e a s s e m b l i e s m i c r o p h o n e s are placed a r o u n d the hall so that girls can speak on issues they are concerned about.

She h a s m a d e m a n y c h a n g e s to M i d d l e School a n d b y d o i n g this she has m a d e it a better place. 1 wish her good luck o n behalf of all the girls in Middle School in her n e w principal role at Kilvington.

By Lucinda Corr, 10

Middle School Mayhem Marshmead Green, and peaceful...

damp

The M a r s h m e a d rainforest w o u l d h a v e to b e one of the m o s t beautiful sights I h a v e ever seen.

A s I w a l k t h r o u g h the p a d d o c k and c o m e to the entrance of the forest I a m d r a w n into it.

I w a l k a l o n g the path looking at all the tiny creatures crawling beneath m e a n d the footprints of those that h a v e w a n d e r e d d o w n this track d u r i n g the night. I feel so p e a c e f u l . It g i v e s m e g r e a t satisfaction w h e n I can look at the towering trees above me and recognise t h e m , to be able to say " O h y e s , t h a t is a B l a c k w o o d , about 40 feet." Some of the trees are so big I h a v e to squint to see to the top.

I n o w notice the bark that had been laid d o w n o n the g r o u n d to give the roots trees some protection from those who t r a m p l e u p o n it. I n o w p-^fK u n d e r s t a n d w h y w e L f y - ^ p r o p p e d u p the vines

with logs; so people like u s can w a n d e r t h r o u g h the forest a n d experience if s natural beauty with it b e i n g d i s t u r b e d a l i t t l e a s possible.

I love t h e g r e e n , d a m p a n d peaceful a t m o s p h e r e that this forest gives. W h e n I walk through the forest it is nice to stop a n d listen to the birds sing their song.

When I come to the end of m y walk I feel that I n o w u n d e r s t a n d the rainforest a n d it teaches m e something n e w each time I visit it. T h e r a i n f o r e s t n e e d s to b e treated with care, and it needs u s to help it.

We m u s t help!

By Julia Essing

The

By Judy Hsu.

v

-^V-1*"^

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 of all 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.

V I

*

m

Silver & Green 1993

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"...

How to succeed at Work Expereince

Work experience is the time for u s to be a w a y from I received s o m e l e t t e r s r e c e n t l y f r o m s t u d e n t s school a n d encounter the real world. It is a chance for 'worried' a n d 'concerned', a n x i o u s a b o u t h o w to go i n d e p e n d e n c e . There are so m a n y different types of a b o u t getting w o r k experience, w h a t to w e a r a n d places possible to visit that, no matter w h e r e we go or m a i n t a i n i n g the r i g h t a t t i t u d e . I discovered a n old w h a t w e do, Work Experience will always be beneficial friend w h o just recently d i d some experience in South in some way. I believe that the greatest value of Work Yarra. Please p u t y o u r h a n d s t o g e t h e r f o r Elsbeth Experience is the o p p o r u n i t y it p r o v i d e s to observe Deleware! t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a n d a t m o s p h e r e of t h e w o r k i n g Elsbeth recently w e n t to a solicitors office, w h e r e world. on arrival she w a s greet with a shrieked "WELCOME", I s p e n t m y W o r k E x p e r i e n c e in t h e E d i t o r i a l and then a slightly m o r e s u b d u e d , b u t still q u i t e loud, Department of "The Age" "HI, I'M RAZ!", f r o m the lady n e w s p a p e r , at 250 Spencer Street, b e h i n d the desk. " if some lunatic shrieks Melbourne. I w a s curious to see for She gives the following advice to anything at you, just myself w h a t w a s i n v o l v e d in t h e those u n d e r t a k i n g w o r k experience. p r o d u c t i o n of a p a p e r w i t h s u c h RULE NUMBER ONE: whatever smile your winning w i d e circulation. I arrived at "The happens, remember to stay cool, calm Macleans s m i l e , " Age" on the M o n d a y morning, and collected at all times. Also, if some hoping that m y interest in journalism lunatic shrieks anything at you, just w o u l d b e inspired a n d not terminated. Fortunately, it smile your winning Macleans smile, put out your $30 w a s inspired. I w o r k e d at thepersonnel desk which manicure and say "Hi, I'm (in my case) Elsbeth Delaware, w a s on the s a m e floor that h o u s e d the journalists. but you can call me Ellie."

R ULE NUMBER TWO: If you're unsure what to wear, I b e g a n each d a y b y sorting all the journalists' mail check with your employers beforehand to see what's a n d t h e n d e l i v e r i n g it. I also collected f a x e s a n d appropriate.

Unless you're going somewhere creative or distributed n e w s p a p e r s . The variety of n e w s p a p e r s potentially dirty, conservative dress is generally your best delivered daily to the journalists is amazing. By the bet. end of the day, their desks were covered with about RULE NUMBER THREE: Just becauseyou're working six or seven different n e w s p a p e r s - various editions at a legal firm doesn't mean you'll be dealing with law. Be f r o m p a p e r s all over Victoria. prepared to be given all manner of jobs (filing, washing The ages of m y co-workers w e r e certainly a shock, dishes, etc) but always ask if there's anything you ivant to as I had a s s u m e d I w o u l d be w o r k i n g with people do. older than eighteen, twenty-one and twenty-four. They RULE NUMBER FOUR: Expect to learn how to make were great p e o p l e a n d m a d e m e feel comfortable in coffee everyway possible, black with one, white with three, a n e n v i r o n m e n t w h i c h could h a v e been intimidating. and so on. I was even paged over the intercom to make a They h a d a sense of h u m o u r that broke the ice. For cuppa for the boss. His exact words were "Hey Ellie, a drink example, I w a s extremely surprised o n m y first d a y would be nice."

If this happens, smile sweetly and make it w h e n o n e of t h e m p r o d u c e d a fax of the "Top Twenty" (just remember who's paying you.) a n d asked m e to rate all the songs!

RULE NUMBER FIVE: Do what the boss tells you.

M y m a i n j o b of t h e w e e k w a s to a n s w e r the This sounds like a drag, but it sometimes has advantages. telephones a n d assist with clerical work. The telephone W h e n I thanked Elsbeth for her time, I asked her if calls r a n g e d f r o m information for journalists such as she t h o u g h t w o r k e x p e r i e n c e w a s w o r t h w h i l e for leads for articles, to h o w m a n y g r a m s of butter go in students. "Yes," she chuckled, "I learnt a lot, m e t some c a k e r e c i p e s ( p r i n t e d o v e r a m o n t h ago). It w a s great people a n d w a s paid for it!" fantastic w o r k i n g beside the journalists and being able to w a t c h the w a y they a p p r o a c h e d their articles. I had Well, I h o p e that this h a s given y o u an insight into a l w a y s i m a g i n e d that a j o u r n a l i s t w a s constantly w o r k experience a n d all that goes with it. racing a r o u n d researching for an article. In reality, most journalists sit near the p h o n e at their computers.

By Sarah Charles, 10 I had a f a b u l o u s week at "The Age"" and I would certainly r e c o m m e n d d o i n g Work Experience at a n e w s p a p e r for a n y o n e with interests in journalism.

By Amelia Tooher, 10

Silver & Green 1993

S.L.A.C.K.E.R.S. MLC n e e d s to u n d e r g o some major changes. A s President of the Society for Logical and Compassionate Knopfspieler (derived f r o m G e r m a n m e a n i n g ' i m p r o v e m e n t s ' ) for E v e r y o n e ' s Schools (S.L. A.C.K.E.R.S.), I feel it is m y d u t y to express the opinions v o i c e d in o u r f r e q u e n t a n n u a l meetings held once a month.

T h e r e h a s b e e n a great d e a l of concern a b o u t the Year 11 a n d 12s c o m m o n r o o m , o r lack thereof.

T h e C o m m i t t e e , c o n s i s t i n g of myself a n d m y secretary, h a v e an ideal solution.

It has b e e n verified that staff s p e n d as little as o n e fifth of their d a y in their s t a f f r o o m , a n d that time is usually u s e d for m a r k i n g .

As the average senior s t u d e n t s p e n d s half h e r d a y in the c o m m o n r o o m - if they had o n e staff w o u l d h a v e full u s e of the library for their m a r k i n g , w h i l e the senior s t u d e n t s o c c u p y staff centre (now 'Student Centre').

T h a t w a y , staff h a v e a c c e s s to s t u d e n t s if t h e y n e e d to collect homework.

Teachers are r e m i n d e d that s t u d e n t s are only available after 1.30. Teachers will h a v e t h e p r i v i l e g e of b e i n g allowed to carry a briefcase - of regulation size - into the library.

N o food will be c o n s u m e d on l i b r a r y p r e m i s e s . T e a c h e r s will h a v e full u s e of the upstairs s t u d y area, h o w e v e r there m u s t be c o m p l e t e s i l e n c e a t all t i m e s .

Senior teachers only, will have use of the cafe bar on the top floor of Nicholas. Spares m a y not be spent in t h e t o p of N i c h o l a s o r t h e b o t t o m of C e n t e n a r y a n d a s a courtesy to all users of Centenary, teachers are required to keep the n o i s e level to a m i n i m u m a n d dispose of all litter.

S.L.A.C.K.E.R.S. h a v e looked into this matter seriously and have t a k e n all p o i n t s of v i e w i n t o account a n d believe that staff will not be d i s a d v a n t a g e d (too m u c h , a n y w a y ) . P l e a s e see m e if y o u have any problems with this proposal.

S.L.A.C.K.E.R.S. - w o r k i n g to give y o u t h e m o s t c o m f o r t a b l e 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 a n d burdened - the shoulders are stooped so that even grandparents remark. No longer do the young have the free step of dreamers.

They have d o n n e d 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 a c c o m p l i c e to the costume are the ubiquitous schoolbags.

Bags t h a t are h e a v y with a weight far greater than the textbooks inside. Nor is it the weight of knowledge, but rather society's expectations and u n m a d e 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 m a n y p e o p l e going in such d i f f e r e n t d i r e c t i o n s . Yet a l w a y s 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

Silver & Green 1993

"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 b e a description of the Year 12 Formal?!? S o m e b o d y slap me, I m u s t b e suffering f r o m P N S - p r e m a t u r e nostalgia s y n d r o m e . T h a t ' s better. Take two.

In t h e e x h a u s t i n g s e c o n d t e r m , d i s c u s s i n g the Formal w a s a w e l c o m e d i v e r s i o n f r o m the painful reality of CATs. G r o u p s of girls h u d d l e d in the d a r k d e p t h s of the c o m m o n room, plotting and scheming for the execution of a perfect e v e n i n g of mindless, hedonistic e n j o y m e n t . The gleam in their eyes, that spring in their steps, rubbing their h a n d s together with glee.

close, a n d p e o p l e d e p a r t e d for p o s t - f o r m a l celebrations.

Post mortems were conducted on M o n d a y morning, with a t h o r o u g h dissection a n d examination of the night. The decision w a s u n a n i m o u s . It h a d been an o v e r w h e l m i n g success. A little g e m for e v e r y o n e to p u t a w a y in their pocketful of school memories.

By Eileen Lee

Formal Frenzy R e l u c t a n t p e e r s w e r e c a j o l e d i n t o j o i n i n g the revelry, a n d w e r e u n w i t t i n g enlisted in the desperate quest for the perfect dress. Flattering, elegant, with you cleavage securely held in - n e r v o u s m o t h e r s h a v e recurring n i g h t m a r e s of the inadvertent "exhibition" of their d a u g h t e r ' s flesh d u r i n g all the j u m p i n g and jostling o n the d a n c e floor.

As p a r t of the Formal Frenzy, the services of an u n s u s p e c t i n g m a l e w e r e r e q u i r e d . You m a y h a v e expereinced n u m e r o u s u n w a n t e d and embarrassing Caught in a typically happy moment suggestions f r o m " h e l p f u l " parents a n d siblings. W h y From L to R: Marcel, Marni, Jerome, Gert don't you take your cousin's friends' sister's b o y f r i e n d ' s y o u n g e r brother? H e d o e s n ' t pick his nose in public a n y m o r e . W h a t a comforting thought.

All pre-formal d r a m a aside, the night was unforgettable.

Incredible transformations were w r o u g h t - "Where w e r e all t h o s e f r e s h - f a c e d girls I see every M o n d a y m o r n i n g ? " Imaginative interpretation of the expression "formal attire" by several ladies a n d gentlemen m a d e for a colourful evening. Top hat, kilt, beret, yellow suit.

D i n n e r w a s definitely frest, a lone feather protruded from someone's succulent chicken breast o n o u r table.

Yum. The m u s i c b e a t p u l s e d a n d the teachers in a t t e n d a n c e w e r e p e r s u a d e d to join the sea of hot bodies. It's o n e of those things that m a k e s you go h m m . . .

A f t e r d o z e n s of p h o t o s a n d v i g o r o u s From: LtoR Top: Yuh-Tyng Chong, Kym Armfield, Ben, Michelle dancing, the night eventually d r e w to a Goh, Amy Chen, Heem-Heem Poh. Bottom: Julian, Simon, Mei-Chwin Kang, Szvee-Lin Tan, Alex.

Silver & Green 1993

S f

PREFECTS 1993 T h e Year T w e l v e of 1993 h a s t u r n e d o u t a v e r y e n t h u s i a s t i c a n d c r e a t i v e g r o u p of p r e f e c t s A m o n g u s a r e t h e c a p t a i n s of all f i v e h o u s e s , l e a d e r s of t h e S e n i o r M a d r i g a l G r o u p , C a p t a i n of the Boats, School Athletics Captain, H o u s e Athletics Captains, H o u s e S w i m m i n g Captains, S c h o o l P l a y D i r e c t o r , a n d S e n i o r P r e f e c t of t h e B o a r d i n g H o u s e . D e s p i t e s u c h a r a n g e of i n t e r e s t s w i t h i n t h e g r o u p , w e h a v e all m a n a g e d to f i n d t i m e m o s t M o n d a y l u n c h t i m e s to g e t t o g e t h e r a n d d i s c u s s t h e t h i n g s p r e f e c t s a r e m e a n t to d i s c u s s what w e d i d on the w e e k e n d a n d h o w the b o y f r i e n d is g o i n g !

Shocking truth ...

1993 had barely b e g u n before the prefects were back at MLC. Draped in o u r s u m m e r u n i f o r m whilst the rest of the school still lay o n the s u n n y sand, w e sat at school awaiting o u r first meeting of the year. At this meeting we w e r e confronted with o u r first shocking truth for the year - the Year Twelve's h a d missed o u t on Senior Centre. A l t h o u g h Mrs Collings m a y h a v e seen this as a b l e s s i n g f r o m h e a v e n , w e w e r e confronted with 360 u n h a p p y faces. In m a k i n g the best of a bad situation, with a little negotiation w i t h Miss Cotes and some muscle f r o m the m a i n t e n a n c e staff, the once Year Eleven c o m m o n r o o m given a face lift.

The greatest satisfaction w a s the v e n d i n g machine, (alias t h e " l o v e b o x " ) , a n d the d r i n k d i s p e n s e r , apparently t w o of the m o s t regularly stocked machines in Melbourne, being m o v e d to the n e w Year Twelve c o m m o n room.

Change the world ?

A m o n g s t the social chatter, w e b e g a n the year w i t h a r u n of w e l l a t t e n d e d , f a i r l y f o r m a l meetings. The prefects set out, as every fresh lot of prefects do, w i t h the idea that w e could c h a n g e the world. G o o d in theory, terrible in practice.

Suddenly w e realised that the organisation of even minor things h a d to be a p p r o v e d b y the h e a d s of several different c o m m i t t e e s b e f o r e t h e y could even be acted u p o n ! Yet once the ball w a s set rolling things started to pick u p pace. However, most importantly, we quickly realised that meetings were a lot m o r e p r o d u c t i v e a n d efficient w h e n w e all sat o n the floor a n d tossed i d e a s around whilst eating lunch.

".Poison ball skills poor" Early m o r n i n g s have been a c o m m o n commitment, with the organisation of the u n i f o r m blitz, where the prefects patrolled Glenferrie Road in force. The prefects h a v e also b e e n involved in t h e 'Big S i s t e r ' p r o g r a m . T h i s i n v o l v e s t h e assignment of a g r o u p of Year Twelves, including at least o n e prefect, to a Year Seven class. These 'Big Sisters' act as a g u i d e for the y o u n g e r girls and introduce t h e m to the m a n y activities o p e n for participation at MLC. T h r o u g h o u t the course of the year through the e n t h u s i a s m to w o r k with the y o u n g e r children, the prefects all enjoyed a Teddy Bears' Picnic with G r a d e Five, w h o ran r a m p a n t t h r o u g h the Front Gardens. By the end of the first r o u n d of ' p o i s o n ball', it c e r t a i n l y w a s n ' t the G r a d e Fives w h o w e r e e x h a u s t e d .

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.

Silver & Green 1993

MLC versus Scotch netball match teams.

Grudge

maintained

However, w e could not let tradition slide, a n d so kept u p with the a n n u a l g r u d g e netball m a t c h against the Scotch College Prefects. A g o o d time w a s had by both the p l a y e r s a n d the packed Sports Hall of MLC spectators, w h o w e k n e w h a d come to s u p p o r t us, not check out the guys.

Comfortable spares T h r o u g h o u t 1993 the prefects h a v e achieved m a n y goals o n behalf of the senior students of the College, such as getting the v e n d i n g machines a n d comfortable spares for t h e c o m m o n room, as well as m a k i n g the c o m m o n r o o m available for use in spares, computers in the c o m m o n r o o m , a n d quiet Year Twelve study r o o m s w e r e m a d e available in the library.

End of year organised As the year progressed, a n d CATs replaced sleep on a regular basis, it w a s w i t h great anticipation that the prefects took to organising the e n d of the year. The Year T w e l v e s o n g w a s c h o s e n , a n d o u r T - S h i r t designed as a keepsake of t h e past six years spent at the College. Whilst reflecting on these past years, and with the e n d in sight, w e m u s t all a d m i t w e h a v e enjoyed our fair share of good times. ( Even t h o u g h w e d i d miss o u t o n M a r s h m e a d . ) As for being prefects in 1993, w e can honestly say the year has been extremely b u s y juggling o u r school work and our business, yet the experience h a s brought a b o u t c h a n g e s i n all of u s . Q u a l i t i e s , w h i c h u n d o u b t e d l y , w e will b e n e f i t f r o m t h r o u g h o u t o u r 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.

Silver & Green 1993

Debating M o s t p e o p l e t h i n k d e b a t i n g is a b o u t a r g u i n g .

I t ' s n o t . D e b a t i n g is a b o u t m a k i n g u p s t a t i s t i c s a n d s t e a d f a s t l y r e f u s i n g to let t h e t r u t h c l o u d t h e i s s u e . T h e m o s t d i f f i c u l t p a r t is c o n v i n c i n g a n a u d i e n c e ( b u t it i s a lot h a r d e r to c o n v i n c e a n e m p t y r o o m a s is o f t e n t h e c a s e i n t h e C a r e y R e g i o n ) . I n t h e h e a t of t h e d e b a t e s a r c a s m a n d blatant aggression are u s e f u l in annihilating the o p p o s i t i o n ' s case.

A s the only school w i t h three teams into the finals, w e feel w e d e s e r v e a f e w selfcongratulatory c o m m e n t s . We proceeded smoothly to t h e quarter finals until a small m i s h a p r e s u l t e d i n t h e e l i m i n a t i o n of 2 t e a m s .

U n d a u n t e d , M L C 2 soldiered o n into the semif i n a l s , u n t i l t h e y s u c c u m b e d t o t h e w e i g h t of public p r e s s u r e , losing to the topic "That the p r i v a t e l i v e s of p u b l i c p e o p l e s h o u l d b e n o n e of our business."

This, a f t e r all o u r d e s p e r a t e a t t e m p t s t o b e c o m e k n o w l e d g e a b l e on w o r l d events. We h a d become overnight experts on genetic engineering for the t o p i c " T h a t t h e e n g i n e e r i n g of g e n e s s h o u l d b e left to L e v i s " a n d a t t e m p t e d d o c t r a t e s on U S i m p e r i a l i s m a n d M c D o n a l d ' s c u i s i n e in the d e b a t e " T h a t R o n a l d M c D o n a l d is p o i s o n i n g u s all".

F o r t h o s e of y o u w h o d a r e to f a c e t h e s e t o p i c s , w e h a v e c o m p i l e d a list of h a n d y h i n t s to a i d , a b e t or p r o b a b l y h i n d e r a s p i r i n g 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 of energy 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.)

W e c a n n o t d e n y t h a t w e r e c e i v e d a s m i d g i n of assistance - OK, well, m o r e than a s m i d g i n - OK, a lot m o r e t h a n a s m i d g i n - all r i g h t , C o r i n n a Mitchell, o u r coach, w a s totally r e s p o n s i b l e f o r our h u m b l e success. O u r only regret w a s not b e i n g able to s m u g g l e C o r i n n a into t h e secret t o p i c p r e p a r a t i o n r o o m s . If t h e d e b a t e s themselves aren't amusing, then our drawn-onthe-spot pocket cartoons should prevent y o u / u s from lapsing into a potentially embarrassing s l u m b e r . Well, y o u t r y s t a n d i n g u p a n d r e b u t t i n g a debater w h o s e entire speech y o u h a v e just slept t h r o u g h . But w e m a n a g e d .

A n d , in r e t r o s p e c t , w h e r e e v e r y t h i n g is i n s o f t focus, w e look back on o u r accomplishments a n d say, C o r i n n a , w e s a l u t e y o u .

E p i l o g u e T h i s is t h e e n d . You m a y s t o p r e a d i n g 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

Silver & Green 1993

Strings Only a f e w w e e k s into the year, M L C Strings got into full s w i n g w i t h p r e p a r a t i o n s for the C h a m b e r Music C o n c e r t w h i c h w a s to b e staged in t h e f i n a l w e e k of t e r m o n e . T u e s d a y a f t e r n o o n s w e r e set a s i d e for Bach's F o u r t h B r a n d e n b u r g concerto. M a n y smaller g r o u p s - q u a r t e t s a n d the like - w e r e p r e p a r e d at m o r n i n g rehearsals, lunchtimes a n d d u r i n g spares. After this o u r next t a s k w a s to p r e p a r e E l g a r ' s " I n t r o d u c t i o n a n d Allegro for Strings (Quartet a n d O r c h e s t r a ) " for the Gala Concert. The piece contained both musical a n d technical difficulties. H o w e v e r w e did eventually master these things ( t h o u g h I m u s t a d m i t w i t h s o m e h e l p f r o m t h e a c o u s t i c s of t h e c o n c e r t hall) a f t e r e x t r a r e h e a r s a l s . S p e c i a l t h a n k s m u s t go to o u r c o n d u c t o r Mr. M c C u l l o u g h ("Chives") a n d Mrs. D r u m m o n d .

Music Training Orchestra T h e t r a i n i n g o r c h e s t r a is a n o r c h e s t r a f o r Years seven a n d eight, c o n d u c t e d b y M r M c C u l l o u g h , a n d h a s p l a y e r s of all s t a n d a r d s in it, r a n g i n g f r o m t h o s e w h o h a v e l e a r n t f o r o n l y a f e w t e r m s to quite experienced p e o p l e w h o also p l a y in concert orchestra a n d string orchestra. The w o r k s that w e p e r f o r m e d at the Gala Concert this year w e r e music from the Royal Fireworks Suite by H a n d e l a n d selections f r o m M i d s u m m e r N i g h t ' s D r e a m

by Mendelssohn. The orchestra rehearses before school at eight o'clock every F r i d a y m o r n i n g in t h e a s s e m b l y hall o r B e t t y J a c k s o n hall. It h a s m o s t o r c h e s t r a l i n s t r u m e n t s in it, a l t h o u g h t h e r e a r e s o m e gaps, such as bassoons a n d d o u b l e basses.

T r a i n i n g o r c h e s t r a , w h i c h is l e d b y Q u y n h - N h u N g u y e n w h o is in Year e i g h t , h a s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 80 m e m b e r s . S o m e i n s t r u m e n t a l t e a c h e r s f r o m school play w i t h the training orchestra to h e l p us, i n c l u d i n g M r s W a u g h o n cello, M r s D r u m m o n d on violin, M r Shilton o n clarinet, Miss W o o d on trumpet and Mr Bums on trombone.

N e x t y e a r m a n y of t h e Year e i g h t m u s i c i a n s will g o o n to b e in t h e c o n c e r t o r c h e s t r a a n d s t r i n g orchestra.

By Claire Vincent, 8

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ii

Symphonic Wind Band On Tuesday afternoons either the A s s e m b h ; H a l l Ol F i t c h e t t H a l l is r e v e r b e r a t i n g w i t h the s o u n d s of Jazz, Popular a n d 20th Century melodies. The symphonic band is together for their weekly one and half hour practice.

T h e 60 s t u d e n t b a n d c o m p r i s e s of clarinets, oboes, flutes, percussion, alto s a x o p h o n e s , t r u m p e t s , b a s s o o n , 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 u p a group who enjoy making music, learning and having f u n in a relaxed atmosphere.

Mr. B u r n s is o u r e v e r - e n c o u r a g i n g conductor w h o uses his u n u s u a l sense of h u m o u r to keep u s blowing and strining in the right places. The t r u m p e t tutor, Miss Wood, h e l p s out at practices, whele her trumpet is often the backbone of a new piece.

She sometimes takes over conducting do Mr. Burns can work a w a y on his tuba.

Since forming in 1988. the band has built u p quite a repertoire with help from continuing contributions. Practices are held throughout the year aiming for p e r f o r m a n c e s s u c h as: ' T h e A u t u m n Concert', 'Gala Concert', Kew Cottages and Middle School Speech Night.

By Kim Chia, 12, Kyra Armfield,

12

Madrigals The senior madrigal group are rarelv seen sitting in corridors or common rooms during the week. This is because wc rehearse, in total, three l u n c h t i m e s , s o m e m o r n i n g s , a n d 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 a n d music evenings as well as in smaller g r o u p s at chamber music nights and church services. In this way, all involved can develop their musical abilities a n d confidence.

We perform a wide range of pieces from 16th century madligals to m o d e m 20th century works.

The s e n i o r m a d r i g a l s h a v e , over t h e years, performed m a n y works of the modern Australian composer, George Dreyfus. The most recent of t h e s e w a s " P r a i s e " p e r f o r m e d at the Gala Concert. The song was written specially for the m a d r i g a l g r o u p a n d w e p e r f o r m e d it at Mr D r e y f u s ' t r i b u t e d i n n e r in August. ( U n f o r t u n a t e l y , it i n v o l v e d no t e l e p h o n e impersonations.)

Silver & Green 1993

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

Orchestra The sickness of Mr. Van Ernst this year brought two new conductors to the p o d i u m 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 a d d e d interest f o r the audience a n d the performers. The two " n e w " conductors were Mr. Burns and Mr. McCullough.

Mr. B u r n s c o n d u c t e d A n t o n i n D v o r a k ' s "Symphony No. 9 in E minor( Mr. M.J.Isaac). Mr McCullough c o n d u c t e d " M o o d s of M a h l e r " .

However the orchestras favourite piece w a s an arrangement of Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet" Suite conducted by the new-look, healthier Mr. Van Ernst. In addition, Mrs. D r u m m o n d , Mr. Shilton and Miss Wood were invaluable tutors.

By Emma Tozvnsend on behalf of the Vetrans of the

Orchestra

Lucy Elliott, 12 - TPP

Berry ... Teenage Purple Ninja Turtles

It's been a pretty tough year for Berry, despite the never e n d i n g enthusiasm, dedication and support shown by all Berryites. Sometimes our results just d i d n ' t quite reflect our full potential!

We've won some and we've lost some... OK, so we have lost more times than w e have won. The most important thing is the fearless, purple ninja turtles k n o w h o w to have f u n and we never give up! We have proven that we are the most rigid house at MLC. Everyone put in a m a m m o t h effort at the swimming a n d athletics sports, with an big thank you to our extremely well organised swimming captains, A m a n d a Norton and Lucy Matthews, and o u r athletics captains, A n n a Rattray and O c t a v i a S c h w e i t z e r . All f o u r girls d i d a n exceptional job making our final house swimming and athletics so enjoyable. Berry's continuing d e v o t e d n e s s w a s evident in the senior house drama festival where we perfored "A Rose for Emily". This involved endless weeks of hard w o r k by c a s t a n d crew alike, especially our captains, Olivia Harkin (also debating captain) and Charlotte Mirams. Their dedication paid off, as t h e a c t o r s p u t in a s u p u r b p e r f o r m a n c e , 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!

M i c h e l l e 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 m a n y 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 c o n s i s t e d of t h r e e i n e x p e r i e n c e d a n d o n e experienced. U n f o r t u n a t e l y our boat d i d not make the starting line dispite an excess amount of confidence in the boat. Luckily w e h a d our cox Anne-Marie reassuring us that everything would be all r i g h t w h e n w e t o l d h e r w e w e r e 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 a n d house spirit t h r o u g h o u t the year. Alicia, Julie a n d myself a n d 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

Silver & Green 1993

• • • The Proud House of Cato From L to R: Jane Steek, Nicolle Beynon, Terry Macdonald, Megan Curtis, Allison Toussaint.

Front: Claire Macdonald, Nada Zito, Kristen Findlay

T h e JSS C a t o i t e s h a v e b e e n a f a n t a s t i c a s s e t , a n d h a v e b e e n o n e of t h e m o s t e n t h u s i a s t i c , a n d h a v e d o n e e x c e p t i o n a l l y w e l l in t h e A t h e l e t i c s a n d Swimming.

T h a n k s t o all t h e JSS s p o r t s c a p t a i n s w h o h a v e m a d e such an invaluable contribution. Without t h e i r o r g a n i s a t i o n a l skills w e w o u l d n ' t h a v e b e e n a b l e to o f f e r s u c h stiff c o m p e t i t i o n to t h e o t h e r h o u s e s . T h a n k y o u a l s o t o t h e m e m b e r s of t h o s e t e a m s w h o p a r t i c i p a t e d so enthusiastically a n d c o m p e t i t i v e l y . A v e r y h i g h s t a n d a r d w a s set b y C a t o , a n d a g r e a t a m o u n t of s p o r t s p e r s o n s h i p w a s displayed .

To o u r h o u s e m i s t r e s s , M r s J a m e s , w e e x t e n d a v e r y big t h a n k y o u , for all h e r w o r k . H e r assistance has proved invaluable.

W e a g a i n t h a n k all of C a t o f o r e v e r y t h i n g a n d fell s u r e t h a t n e x t y e a r C a t o w i l l a g a i n b e o n e of t h e t o u g h e s t t e a m s to b e a t .

By Kate Franklyn, Claire McDonald, Nada Zito.

Silver & Green 1993

T h e final result c a n n o t b e predicted as y e t , b u t t h e y e a r of ' 9 3 is l o o k i n g v e r y p r o m i s i n g f o r t h e m i g h t y t e a m of C A T O .

In t h e p a s t , t h e b l u e h o u s e of C a t o h a s been an easy going, cheerful, but u n s u c c e s s f u l h o u s e . We w o u l d w i n a few, b u t l o s e a lot m o r e . T h a t is, u p u n t i l n o w !

The c o m m i t t e d Senior School, d o m i n a t i n g Middle School, a n d competitive Junior Secondary School h a v e c o m b i n e d to m a k e u p a high spirited, powerful house. Cato c o u l d not h a v e g o n e u n n o t i c e d at the A t h l e t i c s d a y t h i s y e a r . W e l e d m o s t of t e time on the score board, a n d d o m i n a t e d the cheering f r o m t h e sidelines. O n the day, no other house could have possibly revived o l d t r a d i t i o n a l s o n g s i n t o w a r cries a n d T o p 40 s o n g s i n t o c h e e r s w i t h t h e s t y l e a n d pizzazz that Cato h a d . O u r h o u s e teachers, Mrs. Phillips, Mrs. James a n d Miss Warren are also to b e credited o n their effort a n d s u p p o r t of t h e h o u s e .

O t h e r p l e a s i n g results f r o m t h e first semester were the win by Cati Middle S c h o o l in t h e m u s i c c o m p e t i t i o n , t h e S e n i o r d e b a t i n g t e a m t h a t m a d e all C a t o m e m b e r s p r o u d w i t h t h e i r p e r f o r m a n c e in A s s e m b l y , t h e c r o s s c o u n t r y t e a m all c r o s s e d t h e f i n i s h line withtheir chins h e l d high. There w e r e m a n y g o o d results in other sports.

I t h i n k t h a t t h i s final y e a r a t M L C h a s been one that most year twelve Cato m e m b e r s can look back on with pride, a n d as Cato H o u s e C a p t a i n I believe a f e w p e o p l e n e e d to be t h a n k e d for m a k i n g this year so successful. All teachers that organised the music, sport, a n d debating competitions deserve thanks, and a special m e n t i o n to t h e S e n i o r S w i m m i n g a n d A t h l e t i c c a p t a i n s w h o o r g a n i s e d a n d d e v o t e d a lot of t i m e to the house. T h a n k y o u to the h o u s e teachers that I, a n d t h e rest of C a t o w e r e a b l e t o r e l y o n f o r s u p p o r t . Finally, t o all t h e g i r l s i n v o l v e d w i t h t h e p r o u d h o u s e of C a t o in 1993, t h a n k y o u .

By Nicolle Beynon, Cato House Captain 1993.

The other side of the swimming sports

Fitchett.. • On the Prowl 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.

If by a n y chance you just h a p p e n e d 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 s w a m to victory in tribute to Suze and Andy our fantastic captains!

O u r next t r i u m p h w a s on the b a d m i n t o n courts. (Thanks Bee and co!i The lions showed their tremendous u s e spirit at the athletics n d were rewarded with the proficiency cup.

Our astounding athletic skills were s h o w n in t h e y e a r t w e l v e threelegged race, where we blitzed the field, t h a n l ; s to t h e

Silver & Green 1993

inspirational training by the captains Sanya and Bee. In the d r a m a festival a cast of eight lions metamorphosed into a flock of birds a n d 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 w e romped it in to claim the w a t e r p o l o c u p . (On ya Sanya a n d Emily) The lions were not afraid to s h o w the sweeter side of their roar at tile music contest u n d e r the - u i d a n c e of S u m a n a n d Rosie. T h i s y e a r s fantastic Fitchett p r i d e of lions w a s c a r e f u l l tamed by a prowling M r - Rawlings w h o gave her time and support to lead us to THE TOP!

By Jenny Martin, Mia Podborsek, Amaruka Hazari.

• • • Installing the batts

«

K K to a <u -s: u a O U

o l-J

s

u, T h e JSS N e v i l i t i e s d i d r e a l l y w e l l t h i s year. O u r u n c h a l l e n g e d skill a n d e n t h u s i a s m c o m b i n e d with our good sportsmanship was displayed with a s t r o n g h o u s e spirit.

M a n y t h a n k s t o all t h e N e v i l e c a p t a i n s ( y o u k n o w w h o y o u are!) w h o d i d a great job in organising team events and even generating e n t h u s i a s m f o r a t t e n d a n c e at m o r n i n g practice sessions.

A m e g a w a r - c r y f o r M r s P u t t a n d to o t h e r N e v i l e t e a c h e r s f o r all y o u r t i m e a n d s u p p o r t .

W h i l e s o m e of o u r r e s u l t s d i d n o t r e f l e c t o u r f u l l ability, o v e r a l l w e d i d w e l l . W e m u s t t h a n k e v e r y o n e in N e v i l e for their fantastic effort - w e c o u l d n ' t h a v e d o n e it w i t h o u t y o u . W e ' r e s u r e N e v i l e w i l l c o n t i n u e t o b e g r e a t i n '94.

By Chantal Faust, Kate Guest and Rebecca Schwartz M i d d l e S c h o o l h a s left its m a r k o n e v e r y a s p e c t of i n t e r - h o u s e c o m p e t i t i o n s o far. W e s a n g to a n a u d i e n c e "Try n o t to get w o r r i e d a n d sleep well t o n i g h t " in t h e h o u s e m u s i c a n d t h e n d a n c e d o u r w a y a r o u n d t h e b o a r d - w a l k . N e v i l e s h o w e d its s t r o n g a n d a r g u m e n t a t i v e s i d e in o u r f a n t a s t i c debating result. We've h a d a co-operative a n d eager r e s p o n s e to sporting t e a m s followed by p l e a s i n g a c h i e v e m e n t s s u c h as in tennis a n d volleyball. The athletics a n d the s w i m m i n g sports, where Nevile was represented by . m a n y of t h e h o u s e ' s o u t s t a n d i n g landed the house some >members,

p l e a s i n g r e s u l t s . T h a n k - y o u to a l l t h o s e w h o p a r t i c i p a t e d a n d to e v e r y b o d y f o r t h e i r t e a m spirit!

We h o p e to k e e p b r i n g i n g h o m e t h o s e great r e s u l t s in t h e d r a m a , h o c k e y , n e t b a l l a n d t a b l e tennis coming u p soon. A n "ace" effort Nevile!

Keep u p the great work!

By Caroline Morgan and Alison Daley T h e SS y e a r b e g a n w i t h a b r i g h t s p l a s h of p i n k a s all t h e N e v i l e e n t h u s i a s t s g a t h e r e d o n t h e b a n k s of t h e Y a r r a f o r t h e i n f a m o u s p r e - s w i m m i n g sports gala breakfast. We m a y h a v e b e e n outn u m b e r e d by yellow a n d green folk, b u t the N e v i l e c o n t i n g e n t a t e p i n k p i k e l e t s , jelly a n d c a k e , a n d w a s s t i l l a b l e t o m a k e it d o w n t h e p o o l without sinking!

Next on the a g e n d a w e r e the Athletic Sports w h e r e N e v i l e t r i u m p h e d in t h e Year 12 n o v e l t y race and the extremely d e m a n d i n g crossball event. Records w e r e broken a n d voices b e c a m e hoarse. The a u d i e n c e rolled in the aisles a n d the adjudicator c o m p o s e d himself for long e n o u g h to p r e s e n t N e v i l e w i t h t h e t r o p h y .

Nevile's e n t h u s i a s m c o n t i n u e d until to H o u s e M u s i c F e s t i v a l w h e n t h e P i r a t e s , w i t h Cat Like Tread s t o l e t h e s h o w i n t h e V a r i e t y i t e m .

T h a n k y o u t o all t h e l o y a l N e v i l i t e s w h o , f o r s o m a n y years have m a d e Nevile the pinkest, friendliest, acest h o u s e ever!

By Naomi, Rachel and Anna.

Silver & Green 1993

Krome

Leaping ahead

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I This year J.S.S. Krome has been enthusiastic and energetic. At athletics everyone showed a t r u e K r o m e s p i r i t b y w i n n i n g t h e J.S.S. C o m p e t i t i o n . We t r i e d r e a l l y h a r d in t h e s w i m m i n g and we w o n 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 w o u l d n ' 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 w e needed and put u p with us for the whole year!

By Stephanie Andrew, Evans

Georgina Arnott,

and

Penny

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 B o n d a n d A n n i e M e c k l e m (SS S w i m Captains).

Silver & Green 1993

At the Aths '93 w e j u m p e d , w e threw, w e squatted a n d sprinted. At the end of the d a y Krome was ecstatic. First place in each school division, second in Proficiency a n d 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, w h o would d a r e d e n y K r o m e ' s athletic ability?! A h u g e thanks to Kate Simkiss a n d Fiona Taylor (SS Aths Captains) for their time a n d 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 k n o w 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 d o n e in making sure our last music contest was a success.

Thanks to Jackie Briggs a n d Susie Fox (MS House Captains), Stephanie A n d r e w and Georgie Arnott (JSS House 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

"Common sense policies../' The occassion w a s definitely a n auspicious one.

Year 11 a n d 12 politics s t u d e n t s (as well as a f e w teachers a n d Silver a n d Green journalists) converged on Betty Jackson Hall for o n e of the MLC political highlights of the year. Lights on, let the camera's role, introducing.. .Premier Jeff Kennett!

This is n o exaggeration, for along with Mr Kennett there arrived television crews a n d journalists from the print m e d i a and while I m u s t a d m i t that evening's coverage of M r Kennett 7 s visit w a s rather brief, it w a s nevertheless a thrill to see o u r h u m b l e college on the news.

Mr Kennett b e g a n with a short speech on pressing matters for the state of Victoria, n a m e l y economics, economics a n d more economics. His speech concentrated heavily on the point that his g o v e r n m e n t ' s vision for the f u t u r e is for the long-term not just the short-term a n d that the policies are "not based o n Liberal ideology; all are based on c o m m o n sense."

Mr K e n n e t t also explained that the policy changes i m p l e m e n t e d w e r e d o n e so because of the massive financial p r o b l e m s his g o v e r n m e n t h a d inherited.

By far the m o s t exciting p a r t of the session were the q u e s t i o n s f r o m t h e floor. B e g i n n i n g w i t h M r Kennetf s opinion on the wine tax a n d m o v i n g through tariffs a n d education cuts, Mr Kennett w a s bombarded with well-considered q u e s t i o n s f r o m Senior School girls.

W h e n a s k e d a b o u t Mabo, Mr Kennett said that he w a s concerned at the u n c e r t a i n t y brought about by the recent H i g h C o u r t decision. H e a d d e d that securing title w o u l d h e l p i m p r o v e confidence.

H e c o n t i n u e d b y p o i n t i n g out that if the Weipa claim is u p h e l d it will allow any title since 1788 to be claimed a n d w e ' d be in a "hell of a mess."

Mr K e n n e t t w a s also a s k e d to c o m m e n t o n the m e d i a ' s treatment of h i m and his go vernment. He said that he " w o u l d n ' t w r a p his fish and chips in the Sunday Age" a n d that the lady in charge of the Good Weekend had lost all sight of decency in allowing a computeradjusted p h o t o of himself to be published on the cover.

Mr K e n n e t t ' s visit w a s beneficial in giving both politics a n d n o n politics s t u d e n t s the o p p o r t u n i t y to increase their p o l i t i c a l knowledge and develop their o w n opinions.

By Emily Hudson

Jeff Kennett at MLC

TJlC C o l d

WSLY

in Kew 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 a n d the fall of the Berlin wall w e are expected to believe that the w o r l d ' s political thermostat h a s e d g e d back u p to a comfortable w a r m . Well, almost, b u t not quite. There is a single place on earth w h e r e The Cold War h a s refused to thaw. It continues with all the t r a p p i n g of strategic defence, p r o p a g a n d a a n d espionage.

Admittedly, the defence is limited to a n "is too", "is n o t " discussion o n t h e m e r i t s of p r i v a t i s a t i o n , the p r o p a g a n d a c o n f i n e d to t h e m e m r o b i l l i a of M i s s Phillips' political safari to the US last y e a r a n d the espionage being the t r a d e in policy i n f o r m a t i o n for the exam. The battle b e t w e e n East a n d West still rages in M L C ' s s e n i o r politics facility.

H o w did such a d e n i s o n arise in a normal peaceloving and apolitical school, you might ask?

Well it's simple. At subject choices last year politics students w e r e forced to m a k e a choose. They w e r e a s k e d the u l t i m a t e q u e s t i o n . C h e e s e b u r g e r or Stroganoff? Vodka or Jack Daniels'? A baseball cap or

POLI

"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 f u r r y hats? Is y o u r u n d e r w e a r red, white and blue or just plain red? The s t u d e n t s h a d to decide whether to study Russian or American politics. Despite the collapse of C o m m u n i s m there w a s still a large g r o u p of 'reds' u n d e r Mr. Bell's desk eager to learn the ideas of Marx and the policies of Stalin. Of, course the die hard capitalists a n d the fans of Bill a n d Hillary Clinton stuck with the g o o d old U.S of A. The rivalry continued through t w o 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 w h a t i n f o r m a t i o n to use for American because there's so m u c h . " "Ah, s h a m e you poor thing."

"Look you picked it, not me."

Silver & Green 1993

"Yeah, because it's better."

"Is not."

"Is too."

"Is not."

I think that gives you a n idea of the type of m a t u r e discussion b e t w e e n the too parties. I m e a n w h e n you get d o w n to the basics, sure Gorbachev revolutionised m o d e r n Russia a n d c o m m u n i s m as w e k n o w it, b u t Clinton is cuter!

After extensive diplomatic discussion [Mr. Bell and Ms. Phillips told both classes "It's for y o u r CAT"] a r e s o l u t i o n w a s r e a c h e d . T h e c l a s s e s w o u l d join together as year 12's to attend the visit of Premier Jeff Kennet. It w a s there the t w o former enemies came to a realisation. A year 11 sitting eagerly in the front r o w w a s h e a r d to ask her friend "So w h a t are you going to d o next y e a r ? R u s s i a n or A m e r i c a n ? " . As l o n g as political science is studied The Cold War will continue.

So the cycle b e g i n s again. H m m m , m a y b e I'll sell m y notes to the year ll's. Ok, O k m a y b e that's not such a good idea. Just the capitalist in m e coming through I guess.

By Emma Hines, 12 Politics Student

TICS Abuse of fundamental human rights...

United Nations

State Youth

Conference

W o r l d w i d e a b u s e of f u n d a m e n t a l h u m a n rights, the threat of nuclear "accidents", and environmental d a m a g e to the earth caused by h u m a n k i n d are few of the m a n y critical issues tackled by the United Nations Youth A s s o c i a t i o n of A u s t r a l i a . U N A Youth is a democratic organisation committed to world concerns, which p r o m o t e s international y o u t h awareness and actively c a m p a i g n s for the Australian G o v e r n m e n t to take action o n certain issues.

Each year, U N A Youth h o l d s a state conference to e n c o u r a g e s t u d e n t s to d i s c u s s a n d d e b a t e c u r r e n t world issues. Yvonne Cox and I, both politics students, took p a r t in this year s conference, which w a s held at M e l b o u r n e University in May. Discussion g r o u p s concerning poverty, the environment, women, indigenous people, h u m a n rights, education and social justice were formed; Yvonne and I took part in the topic of w o m e n s role in society, with the pressing issues of abortion, e q u a l pay, safety, political representation,

Silver & Green 1993

MLC Politics teacters Mr Bell and Ms Phillips. media portrayal, m e d i a coverage, a n d contraception all debated.

Appropriate In this U N International Year for the World s Indigenous People, various speakers h a d b e e n invited to the conference to talk to u s a b o u t significant i s s u e s s u c h as K o o r i a n d Torres S t r a i t I s l a n d e r s , Australian poverty, a n d the t h i r d - w o r l d conditions Latin-Americans are living in. We h e a r d stories of Salvadoran families living in i m m e n s e poverty, while at the same time, s o m e forty individuals o w n all of the wealth of El Salvador. The wealth is there, yet the G o v e r n m e n t is not taking p r o p e r action to distribute it equitably. The conference a i m e d for u s to critically discuss important issues such as these.

To conclude the day, w e p e r f o r m e d a model U N General Assembly, w h e r e all the s t u d e n t s represented a different country. Whilst Yvonne represented Cambodia, I stood for Argentina; n o t k n o w i n g m u c h a b o u t the c o u n t r y t h e m s e l v e s d i d n ' t matter, as w e basically k n e w which issues affected each country. Ihe f o r m a t of the assembly w a s very similar to that of parliament, with a President, points of order, voting rights, proposals a n d a m e n d m e n t s m a d e to proposals.

If a certain issue had no relevance to Argentina, it d i d not were m a d e to vote o n e way, for a vote in return next time. Proposals r e g a r d i n g such things as disarmament were raised, and m a n y entertaining a r g u m e n t s were fought.

From the conference, I learnt m o r e a b o u t m a n y of t h e p r o b l e m s t h e w o r l d is facing; t h e w o r l d w i d e neglect and abuse of h u m a n rights, the oppression of w o m e n and m a n y races, environmental d a m a g e to the earth, and the poverty of the Third World. I realise the task of tackling these p r o b l e m s is massive, b u t every effort counts. I k n o w n o w that I m u s t not sit back f r o m it all, a n d a s t h e U N A Y o u t h p u t s it, challenge the n a r r o w way most p e o p l e see the world.

By Lihhy Paul, 11

An interview John Marsden

with

John Marsden John M a r s d e n slouches in his chair a n d s h r e d s a Butter Menthol w r a p p e r . In the confines of the classroom, M a r s d e n ' s gaze, alert but i n w a r d , s w e e p s across his stocky b o o t s a n d f a d e d jeans. H e stretches his legs a n d crosses t h e m languidly.

There is a n e x p e c t a n t p a u s e .

Flakes of label f l u t t e r o n t o t h e table a n d are p r o d d e d into a pile.

Eventually, M a r s d e n begins to speak in his gentle lisp, "I g u e s s I ' m a kind of ... missionary. I try to i m p r o v e t h e w r i t i n g of t h e p e o p l e I s p e a k to - e s p e c i a l l y children a n d teenagers - because I w a n t to see the results. Children a r e n ' t t a u g h t to t h i n k d e e p l y e n o u g h in their schools a n d their writing loses meaning and insight."

W h e n visiting MLC, he e n c o u r a g e d s t u d e n t s to b e selective in their use of language: "Writing's gotta h a v e a freshness a n d avoid repetition. N e v e r let your writing get boring by f o c u s s i n g o n retelling the s a m e story." H e advises y o u n g people to avoid u s i n g tired w o r d s in their writing. To d e s c r i b e h o n e y h e suggested 'slithering' or 'molten' instead of ' g o l d e n ' or 'sticky'.

H i s experiences d u r i n g his nine-year teaching career . p r o m p t e d h i m to w r i t e

his first novel, which he completed in a matter of weeks, d u r i n g a "white hot state" w h e n he couldn't stop writing. Initially t h e m a n u s c r i p t , inspired b y a n "exceptionally isolated" girl he'd m e t w h o h a d n ' t spoken for eight m o n t h s , w a s r e j e c t e d b y six p u b l i s h e r s . O n e p r e d i c t e d the story w o u l d be"of no interest to high-school students". Eventually perseverance and determination p a i d off. A f r i e n d s h o w e d the m a n u s c r i p t to p u b l i s h e r Walter McVitty and So Much Tell You went on to b e c o m e 1988 Book of the Year for Older Readers. It w a s the b e g i n n i n g of a p h e n o m o n a l 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 a n d Looking for Trouble established M a r s d e n ' s a d m i r a b l e reputation as an author of children's fiction.

Even when he speaks he c o n f r o n t s his a u d i e n c e w i t h the same powerful imagery that earned him the accolades and Australia Council awards. As w e tentatively ask if he is bored with the endless r o u n d s of interviews, John shifts uncomfortably in his plastic chair. It rocks onto one leg after another and tilts unsteadily.

H e g r a b s the table a t his e l b o w a n d c l u t c h e s it f o r a n i n s t a n t before he regains his c o m p o s u r e .

A s h e e p i s h g r i n flits across his face, before being replaced by a n a n g r y f r o w n . H e spits his w o r d s o u t like sour cherry-stones. " S o m e t i m e s I feel like I'm reciting these a n s w e r s , t h a t I ' m saying stuff without thinking. You listen to y o u r o w n voice, a n d hear y o u r w o r d s s p e w i n g into silence."

Perhaps this is h o w h e w a s feeling w h e n he wrote So Much To Tell You. Whilst most of his novels were a g o n i z e d over for m o n t h s , John a d m i t s that his latest book, Tomorrow When the War Began, a futuristic w a r novel, w a s written in a r e d - h o t s t a t e a n d a i m s to "explore relationships a n d inner lives".

His t r a d e m a r k is c a p t u r i n g the l a n g u a g e of Australian teenagers.

Take M a r i n a ' s reflections in her j o u r n a l in So Much To Tell You: " W h a t e v e r w a s g o o d isn't g o o d a n y m o r e ; w h i t e b e c o m e s grey, music becomes dictionaries, h o n e y b e c o m e s beer a n d the sky and curdled lemon. There's no caramel any more." Marsden's i n s i g h t s into the lives of y o u n g people are frank, accurate and honest.

It is Erie G a t e n b y , t h e cool teenager f r o m The Great Gatenby,

Silver & Green 1993

w h o s o u n d s closest to John Marsden's character.

Erie's descriptions of his n e w b o a r d i n g school H o u s e m a s t e r , "I tell you, this m a n w o u l d t a k e nails to a crucifixion," are cynical yet open, just as John's l o p s i d e d grin r e s e m b l e s t h a t of a t e e n a g e r , s m i r k i n g at t h e a b s u r d i t i e s of a d u l t life.

John M a r s d e n ' s passionate n a t u r e s e l d o m remains h i d d e n : it e m e r g e s r e g u l a r l y t h r o u g h his writing for y o u n g people. "I like people w h o are passionate, " he says earnestly.

H e rates children as his main source of ideas a n d keeps a series of tattered exercise books in which h e r e c o r d s " t h e t h i n g s k i d s tell m e " . "I l i k e p i e c i n g s t o r i e s together. I h a v e s o m e t h i n g like 10,000 stories - episodes, really w r i t t e n d o w n . It's m y store of ideas."

He estimates that two-thirds of his i d e a s come f r o m his d o g - e a r e d notebooks, w h i c h he h a s k e p t for a b o u t eight years.

W h e n a s k e d w h y h e writes for children, M a r s d e n h a s a simple answer. He finds them more interesting t h a n a d u l t s w h o tend to m a s k their t r u e feelings. H e believes t o d a y ' s children possess more idealism and originality than any previous generation.

They are also less inhibited w h e n expressing emotions. "I think that p e o p l e u n d e r e s t i m a t e children." h e states.

"They are intellecutally m o r e a d v e n t u r o u s t h a n they are o f t e n given credit for."

He becomes frustrated when adults d o n o t react to his writing. " A d u l t s s e e m to s h o w less e m o t i o n , t h e y are less e a g e r to p u r s u e t h o u g h t s . W h e n I speak to a d u l t s , I h a v e to f i n d a w a y t h r o u g h their m a s k s t h e y h a v e c r e a t e d to p r o t e c t t h e m s e l v e s .

Children haven't p u t u p these barriers yet."

Ducking his head, Marsden tugs at his grey-flecked beard. An apologetic h e a d a p p e a r s a r o u n d the door.

J o h n is w a n t e d elsewhere. John M a r s d e n h a u l s himself to his feet a n d b r u s h e s off his hands, ready to leave the room.

The discarded Butter Menthol w r a p p e r lies tattered on the table, next to the pile of torn logos.

Intervieiv by Sara Moodie and Anna Thwaites

Silver & Green 1993

Surprise, surprise the "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, n e w H e a d Librarian, 1993.

Some girls were puzzled b y the new staff.

More were disorientated by the drastic r e a r r a n g e m e n t of f u r n i t u r e a n d resources.

Still m o r e w e r e astonished b y the acquisition of n e w books. 1993 h a s certainly b e e n a year of s u r p r i s e s in the Walton Library.

Few girls w o u l d not have followed the progress of o u r dear old d e n . G o n e are the d a y s of work in peace, without distraction, within her silent grey walls. Is anything sacred? No! O u r d e a r old l i b r a r y h a s b e e n modernised! These days, one m u s t fight off m e n f r o m Star Trek to e v e n w a l k in h e r d o o r !

Coloured posters cover her, and m e s s a g e s p o p out f r o m every corner. Occasionally she'll even b l a r e l o u d m u s i c . Yep, o u r library's definitely a '90's w o m a n 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 t h e s t a f f , n i n e w o m e n w h o are d e t e r m i n e d to b r i n g the library in line with the progress of the rest of t h e s c h o o l . T h e y w a n t t h e library to b e a b l e to reflect the c h a n g e s m a d e in the classroom.

With f o u r n e w m e m b e r s joining the library " t e a m " this year, this is m o r e than a possibility. N e w staff i n c l u d e h e a d librarian, Ms. Suzette Boyd, teacher librarians, Ms. Felicity Carrol a n d Ms. Kaye P o w l e s a n d a n d D i r e c t o r of Technology, Ms. Janet Smith.

Furthermore, the library of the f u t u r e will not only reflect change.

Ms Boyd sees the Walton Library of t o m o r r o w a s a n i n i t i a t o r of c h a n g e , r a t h e r t h a n s i m p l y the "service area" of the past, which r e s p o n d e d to p r o g r e s s in other areas. Her "mission", as she calls it, is to t a k e t h e l i b r a r y to the forefront of change, a n d equally importantly, "to t u r n M.L.C. into a school of readers".

B e w a r e !

C o m p l a c e n c y is out - Ms. Boyd is by no m e a n s finished yet.

1993 is b u t a b e g i n n i n g . In her words, she endeavours to provide students a n d staff at M.L.C. with a service which is "nothing less than outstanding". Who k n o w s w h a t will surprise u s next!

By Katie Bamett,

Mrs Suzette Boyd, Head Librarian

12

Why Chemistry is Not Boring "Terry, y o u ' r e losing m o l e s o n the desk!" is the d r e a d f u l cry of Year twelve C h e m student, Marge, on a test tube of potassium p e r m a n g a n a t e solution being accidentally knocked over. Luckily for the pair, Mr Snell (MLC C h e m teacher) comes to the rescue and points t h e m in the direction of cleaning u p equipment.

M e a n w h i l e , fellow s c h o l a r s stare b r a v e l y at their titration report sheet trying to w o r k out h o w they're going to get concordant results. So, as you see, with all t h e s e m a j o r crises g o i n g o n in the lab d u r i n g practical lessons, chemistry is far f r o m boring!

D u r i n g o u r non-practical lessons, w e s t u d y the theory of chemistry. The course is challenging and has a strong e m p h a s i s o n h o w chemistry affects the Real World (especially the year twelve course). Gone are the d a y s of s t u d e n t s wildly exclaiming, "But h o w will this help m e in the supermarket?", as the whole of Unit 3 c h e m is dedicated to that very topic: Chemistry in the M a r k e t Place. We've studied the composition of l a u n d r y detergents, fertilisers a n d other household products.

O n a m o r e s e r i o u s n o t e , I'd like to m a k e t w o important comments: (1) Of physics, chemistry, biology and psychology, chemistry is (for many) the most useful to have studied b e c a u s e it p r o v i d e s a n e x c e l l e n t b a c k g r o u n d f o r n u m e r o u s tertiary courses. If you are contemplating any science or engineering degree (particularly in the b i o l o g i c a l a n d c h e m i c a l a r e a s ) , it is s t r o n g l y r e c o m m e n d e d that you h a v e studied chemistry; a n d (2) A n y subject has the capacity to be boring if you try hard e n o u g h . The flip side of this is that a n y subject

Dawborn-Gundlach'$

can be m a d e interesting. If you p u t a bit of effort in and have the right attitude not only will chemistry b e not boring b u t p e r h a p s even enjoyable.

H o w can I end? (Apart f r o m with haste). Chemistry is definitely un-boring a n d I strongly r e c o m m e n d 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 w a s described following a survey p e r f o r m e d b y S y d n e y University History and Philosophy of Science students.

The subjects w e r e given a blank sheet of p a p e r a n d asked to record everything that i m m e d i a t e l y came to mind in reponse to the w o r d 'scientist'.

The responses included: Physical Appearance: Bald, o l d , b e a r d , nerdy, white-haired, b o w tie, short, big cars, p o o r attire, male and unattractive.

Accessories: Glasses, white coat, test tubes, calculator, chemicals, b u n s e n b u r n e r s , periodic table and specimens.

Personality: Dedicated, m a d , strange, dry, boring, weird, eccentric, intellectual, absent m i n d e d , clumsy, serious, introverted, h a r d working, diligent, pedantic and unorganised.

It is i n t e r e s t i n g to n o t e t h a t t h e s t e r e o t y p i c a l scientist was not considered to be female. MLC physics students are intelligent, well-organised, multitalented, cultured, enthusiastic, interesting, attractive, sporty, highly capable a n d witty. N o n e of t h e m w e a r s a b o w tie!

By Mrs Dawborn-Gundlach Physics Co-ordinator

Year 12 Physics class

Silver & Green 1993

C

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

Competition pieces where j u d g e d independently

Nerida Simpson, 12 - Photography

Silver & Green 1993

The Door I d o n ' t r e m e m b e r meeting Pierre; I d o n ' t r e m e m b e r being born. Pierre w*a s just* there a n d so w a s I. * " W h a f s inside that d o o r ?" " M y b e d . " "No, the little d o o r o n the stair." "Dog heaven."

"Really !

But there's n o such place."

"Is too ! M u m said that's w h e r e Lena went."

"Can I see ?"

"No, only I c a n o p e n the door. I ' m the King of the Door."

"Open it!" *

*

*

Pierre's h o u s e w a s m y h o m e for the first three years of m y existence. H i s m o t h e r w a s b o r n in Morocco, so by m y s t a n d a r d s t o d a y their h o u s e w a s weird. At that time it w a s normal: it w a s m y h o u s e that w a s weird. It w a s a m u s e u m of coloured cushions, old European m a p s and m i d d l e eastern artifacts. The kitchen, however, w a s the picture of Australian conformity, the metal kitchen table, S i m p s o n oven, cork tile floor a n d the Kelvinator, which sat a n d h u m m e d in the corner. Except the grapes.

A gentle breeze Ran lazy immortal fingers Through the expanse of grass 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 Sprayed white specks of foam 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, f r o m the terrace outside, a n d h u n g their b u r n t sultanas a b o v e the stove. Every h e a v e n has its o w n hell. Naturally m i n e followed the rule.There w a s a w o r k shop u n d e r the house. A g r i m place, w h e r e d u s t h u n g in clouds. *

*

*

"I s a w y o u ! " "I d i d n ' t d o anything."

"I s a w you ! YOU w e r e g o i n g to look into dogs' heaven."

"Was n o t ! " "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. N o lawns, no clearings, only green p o n d s of nastursiums with gold fish flowers. H o w they survived u n d e r the canopy, I'll n e v e r know. But I n e v e r e v e n thought about it either.

Every Wednesday M r s Proske w o u l d thrash her w a y t h r o u g h the scrub to the concrete back corner of the garden - to the w a s h i n g line. I d o n ' t u n d e r s t a n d w h y she bothered because her w a s h i n g w a s a l w a y s scattered w i t h g r u b b y l e a v e s b y t h e e n d of h e r j o u r n e y . T h e w a s h i n g line w a s fenced off f r o m the i n v a d i n g wildlife b y loose bricks a n d Roxanne. Roxanne, u n j u s t l y n a m e d after the beloved of C y r a n n o d e Bergerac, w a s the beagle w h o g u a r d e d the w a s h i n g line. Roxanne w o u l d holler and howl at the w a s h i n g as it s p u n a r o u n d . I w o u l d sit and laugh. L a u g h that is until a brick fell o n m y toe.

"Ooooooooooh." " W h a f s w r o n g ?"

"A brick fell o n m y toe."

"Which brick ?"

"That one."

Pierre took the brick a n d p o u n d e d it a g a i n s t t h e concrete.

"Bad brick ! Bad, b a d , b a d brick !" I b a w l e d .

"You're h u*r t i n g *the brick." * "One d a y w h e n you're n o t looking I'll o p e n that little door."

"You w o n ' t . " "I will."

"Do it n o w then. G o on, o p e n the d o o r . . . You're too scared."

"I'll d o it later.

I *d o n ' t feel * * like it now."

It w a s all going. The cushions, the m a p s a n d Pierre, all being transferred to France. I w a s betrayed.

I k i d n a p p e d Roxanne a n d v o w e d I w o u l d not give her back until the Proskes p r o m i s e d to stay. So c a m e the first of m y broken vows. *

*

*

I moved through the empty house, determined, p e r h a p s scared. N o m o r e m u s e u m , b u t yes m o r e little d o o r on the stair.

I yanked it open. The d u s t clouds in the w o r k s h o p rippled from the draft. I saw the grim, empty, concrete room. Hello reality.

By Christina Hajdu, 12

Silver & Green 1993

A Solitary Tear T h e s u n w a s slowly sinking d o w n below the h o r i z o n . T h e y s k y w a s a m i x t u r e of p a s t e l s h a d e s of r e d , o r a n g e , y e l l o w a n d p i n k . T h e l o n e l y m o u n t a i n s r i n g e d w i t h f l u f f y c l o u d s set a magnificent b a c k d r o p for the green, lush bush.

T h e trees stretched o u t for miles s e e m i n g to never end. T h e old m a n sat alone o n his old, rickety v e r a n d a h , o v e r l o o k i n g the valley.

Flies s u r r o u n d e d h i m , c a u s i n g h i m to f e e b l y s w a t t h e m a w a y with his b r o w n e d , wrinkled hand.

H i s d o g , B l u e y , c h a s e d f i r e f l i e s in a f i e l d of d a i s i e s , l e a p i n g a n d t h r o w i n g h i m s e l f in h o p e of catching them, a n d then the m a n stood up.

"Bluey!" h e called.

The d o g s t o p p e d , pricked u p his ears, a n d h u r t l e d himself at his old master, b o t h g l o w i n g in t h e w a r m t h of t h e e v e n i n g s u n . " G o i n ' to b e a b i g s t o r m t o n i g h t I r e c k o n . Better g e t s o m e of t h o s e l o g s t o k e e p t h e f i r e g o i n ' .

H e t r u n d l e d t o w a r d s t h e p i l e of l o g s , B l u e y at his side. H e carefully picked u p o n e b y one until h e could carry n o m o r e a n d w a s led by Bluey into the house.

H e p o k e d a t t h e g l o w i n g , r e d e m b e r s of t h e r e m a i n s of t h e f i r e w i t h a s t i c k , a n d t h e n p l a c e d s o m e logs o n top. In a f e w m i n u t e s , the fire w a s a crackling, raging inferno. H e d r e w the blinds, as t h e l a s t f e w r a y s of t h e s u n d i e d b e h i n d t h e m o u n t a i n s a n d settled d o w n on the old sagging c h a i r w i t h B l u e y o n h i s l a p . H e d o z e d off f o r t h e n i g h t a n d s o d i d Bluey, k e e p i n g o n e e a r p r i c k e d for any prowling intruders.

By t e n o ' c l o c k t h e s t o r m w a s r a g i n g fiercely i n t o t h e n i g h t , a t t a c k i n g t r e e s a n d b u s h e s w i t h its w i l d w i n d s o s t r o n g it c o u l d c o n q u e r a n y t h i n g . T h e t h u n d e r b o o m e d a n d e x p l o d e d i n w h a t u s e d to b e a q u i e t e v e n i n g , m a k i n g it s o u n d a s t h o u g h everything w o u l d just b l o w up. The lightning c r a c k e d i n a n a n g r y r e p l y , a d d i n g t o t h e n o i s e of the night. T h e wildlife d i v e d for cover, c o w e r i n g b e n e a t h s h e l t e r s w h i c h m i g h t g i v e in. T h e n s u d d e n l y a n e x t r a l o u d B O O M ! ! ! of t h u n d e r s o u n d e d f o l l o w e d b y a v i o l e n t c r a c k of l i g h t n i n g w h i c h s t r u c k a l i g h t o n e of t h e g i g a n t i c g u m t r e e s w a y u p o n t h e hill, w h i c h w a s s u r r o u n d e d t h e o l d man's hut.

T h e fire c a u g h t alight quickly, b u r n i n g t h r o u g h b u s h e s a n d leaves, leaving everything as s m o u l d e r i n g black ashes. Little d i d t h e old m a n know, as h e a n d his d o g slept s o u n d l y after a hard d a y ' s w o r k , t h a t t h e f i r e h a d c r e p t u p to t h e w o o d e n h u t a n d h a d b e g u n t o i n v a d e its w a y in. S o o n t h e h u t w a s fully alight, lighting u p the entire hut a n d g i v i n g e v e r y t h i n g a r o u n d it a n e e r i e r e d g l o w .

Bluey s u d d e n l y a w o k e , b a r k i n g a n d spluttering in a n a t t e m p t to w a k e his master. S m o k e w a s quickly

Silver & Green 1993

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 of death.

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 of a dog, All this while, I suffered praying fervently only for the mercy of death, 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 of his 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 of his mercy, I thanked him, as death took away my pain.

By Adeline Pang 8

filling u p t h e r o o m , a n d f l a m e s w e r e s t a r t i n g t o lick b e t w e e n t h e w o o d e n p l a n k s , f o r m i n g t h e w a l l s of the small hut.

The old m a n a w o k e , Bluey t u g g i n g at his sleeve a n d g r o w l i n g softly. H e got u p quickly, r u s h e d to t h e d o o r , o p e n e d it, a n d w a s e n g u l f e d i n m o r e smoke. H e ran as far as he could, with Bluey p a n t i n g at his heels. H e s t o p p e d , t o o k a d e e p breath, a n d w i t h pain, t u r n e d a n d looked at the s m o u l d e r i n g r e m a i n s of w h a t w a s b u i l t b y h i s g r e a t grandfather, and w a s passed d o w n from generation t o g e n e r a t i o n u n t i l it h a d f i n a l l y b e c o m e h i s h o u s e .

It h a d b e e n h i s h o m e f o r m a n y y e a r s . It h a d a l s o been the place w h e r e Margaret, his beloved wife, h a d died. A place w h i c h w a s v e r y special to him, a n d n o w all t h a t w a s l e f t of it w e r e c r u m b l i n g , b l a c k ashes.

A large solitary tear rolled d o w n his cheek, as B l u e y l a y d o w n a t h i s f e e t a n d w h i n e d . H i s last words before leaving the present world. " M y h o m e is t h e e a r t h . " T h e n h e l a y d o w n of t h e s o f t m o s s y g r a s s a n d fell i n t o a p e a c e f u l e t e r n a l s l e e p a n d j o i n e d h i s w i f e , M a r g a r e t . B l u e y s t a y e d a t h i s f e e t all n i g h t l o n g , w h i m p e r i n g u n t i l h e f i n a l l y l e f t h i m , i n s e a r c h of a n e w master.

By Fiona Taylor, 7

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Silver & Green 1993

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 f a v o r i t e

dress. It was so cold, so b i t t e r l y ,

bitterly cold.

The freezing air chilled his a r m s as he trod through the grass.

Thoughts r a c e d

t h r o u g h his mind, madly, l

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bewitched horses. The s o f t f o o t f a l l of h i s old d o g followed close behind, as it had for the last ten twelve years.

Jake looked d o w n at the fraying collar rope gripped in his knotted, arthritic knuckles. When the dog was just a p u p those palms were strong...he had been good with his hands. N o w they trembled as he reached into his overalls and withdrew the small flask.

The whiskey was sour, burning his lips as it flowed d o w n 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 p u p she had accompanied Jake on all of his trips, even w h e n he w a s c o n s c r i p t e d a n d h a d to go to Inverleigh. She w a s a playful p u p , 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.

Silver & Green 1993

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 u p 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 u p on her hind legs. Jake sank to his knees, and slid his arms a r o u n d the dog. H a u l i n g her to his chest, he discovered that she was too heavy for him. His t h r o a t g r e w dry, a n d w i t h r e a l i s a t i o n rising sickeningly in his throat, he decided what he had to do.

He lowered the animal to the m u d d y ground, and stood up, wiping his hands, joints cracking.

She gazed trustingly u p at him, and he turned, i n c a p a b l e of m e e t i n g h e r c l o u d e d eyes. H e 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 w a s like n o t h i n g Jake had known...almost unrecognisable as h u m a n , 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 n u m b and empty as he mounted the stairs of his house. Raising his eyes, he sought comfort from the sky. The moon h u n g 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 fields to 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 d o you own? You can't even find something to wear to school on casual days. You w a s t e your m o n e y on ridiculous unmatching rubbish from the op - shop.... Oh I know, you try to tell m e 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 u p 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 appear from, 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 m u m , 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 m e 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 Silver & Green 1993

The Visitor

t h i n k m e t e r r i b l y r u d e . T h i s is Wendy...er, W e n d y " P e r f e c t ! " E l i z a b e t h Baxter s m i l e d s u r v e y i n g t h i s is G l a d y s A n d e r s o n , m y o l d e s t a n d d e a r e s t h e r h a n d i w o r k w i t h p r i d e . " T h a t lace tablecloth friend!" l o o k s s o n i c e w i t h t h e n e w tea set a n d t h o s e p r e t t y "Yes...well u h , p l e a s e d to meet y o u Mrs. ferns. T h e c r e a m a n d a n d green blend beautifully Anderson," replied Wendy, momentarily t h e y r e a l l y d o . I m u s t w r i t e to L i n d a . She loves to b e w i l d e r e d . " B u t it's t i m e f o r M r s . B a x t e r to g o to h e a r all t h e little d e t a i l s . " S h e s m i l e d a g a i n a n d bed. She needs her beauty sleep you know." The b u s i e d herself w i p i n g m i n u t e s p e c k s of d u s t off t h e girl g r i n n e d a s i n s p i r a t i o n f l o w e d . " P e r h a p s y o u t a b l e w i t h a c o r n e r of t h e d i s h c l o t h s h e h e l d in h e r c a n h a v e a n o t h e r visit t o m o r r o w " . S h e p a u s e d f o r h a n d . " N o w , " s h e t h o u g h t . "Is t h e r e a n y t h i n g a m o m e n t a n d t h e n w a l k e d to t h e d o o r . " O K , b y e more?...Ah, yes that picture n e e d s straightening..." b y e f o r n o w . See y o u s o o n t h e n " .

She s m o o t h e d non-existent creases from her W e n d y r e t u r n e d to t h e t a b l e a n d b e g a n c l e a r i n g b l u e p r i n t d r e s s a n d sat b y t h e w i n d o w , g l a n c i n g the dishes but her normally brisk, efficient a n x i o u s l y f r o m t i m e to t i m e at t h e clock. " O h dear, m o v e m e n t s w e r e s o m e w h a t s l o w e d a s s h e t r i e d to s h e is l a t e , " s h e m u r m u r e d a t r i f l e i m p a t i e n t l y . s u p p r e s s h e r l a u g h t e r . ' O l d b a t ' s off h e r rocker,' " T h e tea will g e t c o l d a n d t h o s e b i s c u i t s will g o she t h o u g h t scornfully as she e m p t i e d the h a r d . " H e r g a z e w a n d e r e d listlessly, n o t f o c u s s i n g u n t o u c h e d cake into a black garbage bag. 'Dunno o n a n y t h i n g in p a r t i c u l a r o n t h e c r o w d e d street. h o w m u c h longer I can stay a r o u n d these psychos G r o u p s of f r i e n d s , f a m i l i e s t a k i n g a q u i e t stroll in w i t h o u t g o i n g ' r o u n d t h e t w i s t m y s e l f . ' H e r face, t h e p a r k a n d a r u n a w a y l a u g h or t w o e r u p t i n g f r o m however, w a s perfectly controlled a n d her eyes n o w h e r e . Occasionally, s o m e t h i n g w o u l d capture w i d e a n d innocent as she asked Elizabeth w h e n h e r a t t e n t i o n a n d a w i s t f u l s m i l e w o u l d c r e e p across t h e y c o u l d e x p e c t h e r f r i e n d to h e r face. tea a g a i n .

A sharp knock interrupted her But for the old lady, the "Do you remember thoughts. "That must be Gladys" g l o w i n g , artificial p i c t u r e s h e h a d she cried w i t h relief, scuttling that lovely pink dress t o w a r d s t h e d o o r t o m e e t h e r guest. you wore to the dance at pd iasiinn tt ee gdr a t efdo. r T h he earns ieml fa t i o nh aind " O h G l a d y s ! H o w g o o d it is t o the town hall?" she her face melted a w a y a n d she see..." b u t t h e w o r d s d i e d o n h e r lips as s h e s a w a w o m a n w a l k i n g asked with a laugh. "Oh d r o p p e d h e r e y e s , a s h a m e d to look u p . "Did...did a n y o n e ask into t h e o p p o s i t e r o o m . H e r m o u t h I can, ever so well. for m e today?" she whispered, d r o o p e d slightly a n d for a fleeting Goodness me, how playing restlessly with the m o m e n t , her eyes glistened as she b o t t o m of h e r s l e e v e , s u d d e n l y jealous we all were!

It c a u g h t t h e f a i n t s o u n d of l a u g h t e r . l o oking frail a n d childlike, a n d Very softly, s h e c l o s e d t h e d o o r . was...Wendy?

W e n d y d i d n o t feel like l a u g h i n g Yet t w o h o u r s l a t e r , s h e w a s Is that you dear?" a n y m o r e . S h e g u l p e d , t r y i n g to c h a t t e r i n g a w a y to G l a d y s w h o force d o w n the p a i n f u l l u m p that h a d p u t in an a p p e a r a n c e . H e r h a d m y s t e r i o u s l y f o u n d its w a y i n t o h e r t h r o a t . eyes sparkled a n d her cheeks w e r e flushed as she " N o , I m e a n n o t yet...but t o m o r r o w is a n o t h e r day," b r o u g h t u p v a r i o u s m e m o r i e s of h e r c h i l d h o o d . she concluded with feigned cheerfulness. She " D o y o u r e m e m b e r t h a t lovely p i n k d r e s s y o u w o r e b l u s h e d scarlet, h e r c h e e k s m a t c h i n g h e r lipstick to t h e d a n c e a t t h e t o w n h a l l ? " s h e a s k e d w i t h a a n d wished desperately that he could find tactful l a u g h . " O h I c a n , e v e r s o well. G o o d n e s s m e , h o w w o r d s to c o v e r u p t h e e m b a r r a s s m e n t t h e y b o t h j e a l o u s w e all w e r e ! It w a s . . . W e n d y ? Is t h a t y o u felt, b u t w a s s t u c k . " G o o d n i g h t M r s . Baxter," s h e dear?" s a i d h o a r s e l y a n d s l i p p e d o u t of t h e r o o m .

"Yep, s u r e is M r s . B a x t e r " . A large, p l a t i n u m Elizabeth Baxter of R o o m 142 s t a y e d a w a k e l o n g b l o n d e girl w i t h b r o w n roots a n d red lipstick a f t e r e v e r y o n e else h a d g o n e t o sleep. H o m e s f o r w a l k e d in a n d g l a n c e d b r i e f l y a t t h e u n t o u c h e d t h e e l d e r l y w e r e n o t o f t e n q u i e t , b u t t o n i g h t it w a s m e a l a n d b a c k a g a i n at E l i z a b e t h . " W h y h a v e n ' t silent. y o u f i n i s h e d y o u r tea? I m a d e it 'specially f o r y o u " T o m o r r o w c e r t a i n l y is a n o t h e r d a y , " s h e t o l d b e c a u s e it's y o u r f a v o u r i t e " . herself firmly. " I ' m s u r e L i n d a a n d t h e k i d s will " D e a r m e , d o y o u m e a n to s a y it's o v e r ? I ' m c o m e d o wn. I k n o w they w o u l d n ' t have forgotten sorry, it's j u s t t h a t m e a n d G l a d y s h a v e b e e n g o i n g it w a s m y b i r t h d a y t o d a y " . But h e r v o i c e t r e m b l e d over the 'old d a y s ' a n d w e completely forgot about a n d h e r r e a s s u r i n g w o r d s c o u l d n o t s t o p t h a t single the time!" tear f r o m rolling d o w n her w r i n k l e d cneek.

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

By Shobana Kanagasingham, 10 " O h , I ' m m o s t d r e a d f u l l y sorry, y o u b o t h m u s t

Winner of the Middle School Writing Competition Silver & Green 1993

Notes are our Letters, Bars are our Words If you think Brahms is the 'King of Music', 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. Other people 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 Tuesday Help! 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.

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? I feel 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 T h e 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

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

Uy-rf

By Jayne Tayler, 11 Silver & Green 1993

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, a n d afterwards there was a choice of fresh chocolate or fruit cake. I always c h o s e chocolate. There is n o t h i n g 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 k n o w 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 d o w n the street.

I watched as they both arose from the table to wash the dishes. Pa scraped the plates a n d Nana got the water ready, both of them as though they were completing a set routine. After lunch when I was younger w e ' d usually go for a walk d o w n 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 w e ' d always stop by the milk-bar a n d buy an icecream. The park is a golf course now...I w o n d e r if our berries are still there.

Pa's gone out to the back garden. H e hardly attends to it any more. I remember that way u p t h e b a c k h e u s e d to g r o w b e a n s a n d o t h e r 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 m u c h 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 a n d put Nana's rollers in its hair to make it go all curly. N a n a bought me presents also. I was so spoilt!

S h e ' s s i t t i n g next to m e n o w , p i c k i n g her fingernails. M u m says she's gone back to her childhood habits; a n d that she does not realise.

It was scary once. Pa had gone out for the day and came h o m e to find Nana missing. We were u p all night calling her n a m e a r o u n d 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 u p in South Melbourne and

Silver & Green 1993

"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 h a d lived in the suburb as a child.

Nana wears two skirts. I d o n ' t k n o w why- I don't understand her and I do not try to. She's stolen from u s 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 a n d 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 h a n d 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, ' T h e s e are boy's y o u know".

She wears the same shoes too, the blue ones with a b o w that clips on at the front. Once M u m was taking her shoes off for her a n d N a n a h a d a huge corn where the clip had rubbed. N a n a hadn't felt it.

I wonder if N a n a is happier this way. When she was younger she used to worry a lot. She was nervous in the car a n d was fussing about things.

H a s Alzheimer's disease brought peace within herself?

By Sarah Newnham,

9

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 f a t h e r ' s contribution is to 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 friends are wearing what t fj^i

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 ruffles down 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 calico before this dress. The name calico 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 is in rag curls. The night before, our mother rang Grandma specially to find out how rags were done in the olden days when she was a girl. 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 I notice 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 forget what 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 for class on the black asphalt. Hurrying and pushing we gather on our grade's designated line. Girls stand close to 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

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Silver & Green 1993

is a cyclone fence at shoulder height to stop kids in the p l a y g r o u n d accidentally falling or being pushed over the edge. I stand 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 she drove to school. Really? I say 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 w h o 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 I am made to wash them away.

Every time I wash my hair I go to bed with it wet. Secretly I cling 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. You eat 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 figure climb 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 is against 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 I am 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 I speak 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 lie awake at night I create a life limited only by the fertility of my imagination. Before sleep I live on an island that encloses whisky rivers b e d d e d 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 I love. 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. I can see all her grey teeth surrounded by her crooked smile. I laugh too. Her eyes look out at me from 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 m e a n t . I agonised for h o u r s 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 face and 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 fraction of 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

Winner of the Senior School Writing Competition Silver & Green 1993

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 this jung 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, Waiting for the morning light.

The wind rustles the leaves and playfully blows balls ofpaper and dust along the road.

The lamplight flickers and lights up the place, Where people once moved at a city's fast pace.

The Sun goes down and shadows appear, to perform their dark dance; twilight is here.

The Moon is up and shining bright, casting moonlit figures in the night.

By Sam Ng, 7

Silver & Green 1993

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 w a s 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 w a s a palace with white, simple arches and bright orange tiles. This may not appear odd considering the mansions of today, but this w a s 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 n a m e 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 f o u r I w a s n ' t to k n o w w h a t '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 p l u m p Mrs. Rose, in bright floral robe 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 for all 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 w a t e r ' onto our n e i g h b o u r s ' 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

Silver & Green 1993

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 h u m a n body. Mrs. Rose, like Michaelangelo, thought more of art than modesty and thought nothing of m y 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 k n o w 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 s o m e t h i n g h a d s u i c i d e d in h e r h y d r a n g e a s ' .

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. *

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"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 f u l l y f u n c t i o n a l cherubs? Plastic. Even the outrageously bright o r a n g e tiles h a v e b e e n replaced with d e m u r e 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 D a r l i n g c k . N o m o n e y , 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

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 "Are we there yet?" you think the Tooth FairyTl find me if this wobbly one falls "No." out?" I put a grubby thumb and fore-finger to my loose tooth "How long?" There was no answer. "How long, Dad?" and played with it, testing to see how firmly the gums would Still no answer. "Dad! How long 'til we're there?" grip before it hurt.

"A while yet. Why don't you do some drawing?" I groaned, "The Tooth Fairy can find anyone, anywhere." bored. Drawing! I'd been drawing for ten "Really?" I let the apple fall from my hand. minutes already.

It was browning already, where my teeth had I put a grubby thumb and shaped pinnacles in the flesh of floury "My bum's sore."

"Then change cheeks." I shifted my mountains. I could never eat a whole apple, I fore-finger to my loose position, leaning on the car door and resting always lost interest by the time it started to turn tooth and played with it, on my left buttock. Trees shot past me. I tried brown and lose it's taste. testing to see how firmly to count them but there were so many and we My brother stirred. I looked, waiting for him were going so fast, they blurred together into a the gums would grip before to stumble from sleep, but he licked his lips and it hurt. streak of brown. My eyelids drooped and parted his eyelids just a slither to look out of threatened to close. the window for signs of life. He slipped back "Let's play eye-spy. Mum? Let's play!" I could see my into his dreams without a sound, and I rustled some of my mother's head in front of me, her hair dancing with the sticky drawing paper to see if I could wake him again without Mum air that was sucked in from the countryside and swirled hearing. I was still bored and the landscape stretched endlessly around our car before escaping through another window. It in mottled browns and greens. lifted pieces of my drawing paper and teased the empty chip Sepia coloured apple flesh stared at me from next to my and chocolate wrappers my brother and I had discarded. "Eric! feet. I picked it up. "Is this bio-dee-grade-able?" I fought with Let's play eye-spy." I pulled the leg of the teddy bear he was this last word. Dad had taught it to us days before, and I liked holding. My brother was asleep, his head tipped forward and its sound. Bio-degradable. I held the apple for him to see, my nodding gently as the car sped over bitumen bumps. His lips fingers sticky with sweat and juice. moved occasionally, as though he were trying to find the "It sure is." opportunity to say something to someone who wasn't "Can I chuck it, then?" listening. He often talked in his sleep. "Eric?" I tugged at his "Yes, you may throw it." teddy bear, half heartedly.

I wound down the window and stuck my hand into the "Don't bother your brother." wind. I let go of the apple when I was kneeling by the window, "Why not? He bothers me." I stretched my short legs and and watched it bounce and splatter on the road side. kicked the seat in front of me. Mum ignored it. I kicked again, "Bio-degradable!" I yelled, as it cracked it's scull on the but kept my legs outstretched so I could admire the array of bitumen and faded into distance. Satisfied, I twisted back in bruises collected on my shins. My legs were short and the skin my seat and let my head rest against the glass. Slowly, sleep was bumped and broken by eczema and play-ground falls. began to wink at me and I allowed my eyelids to fall together.

Behind my knees it was sweaty, and although I knew I Everything was liquid in my pre-sleep haze and I conjured up shouldn't, I leaned over to scratch them - half in boredom, the image of an apple tree by the road, growing fruit of plastic half because it was too hot. "Can we swim when we get there?" chip packets. "Plastic doesn't grow into trees" Dad had told "I don't think we'll stop and swim today, possum." I me, "like apple seeds do". whined, but resigned myself. The apples that were lose under the rear window rolled from one side of the car to the other as

By Kelly Chandler, 12

Plastic Trees

Silver & Green 1993

Monsters In The Hallway E v e r y n i g h t it w a s t h e s a m e , t h e d r e a d f u l t h r o b of t h e b e a s t ' s h e a r t j u s t o u t s i d e t h e d o o r . D a v i d c o u l d s e e it n o w , d e f o r m e d a n d d r o o l i n g , l y i n g i n wait for h i m . H e w a n t e d to go to sleep, to forget a b o u t it a n d w a k e u p i n t h e s a f e t y of t h e m o r n i n g , but he c o u l d not. The creature w o u l d not allow h i m to. D a v i d w a s t e r r i f i e d , h e h a t e d t h e m o n s t e r , h e h a t e d this h o u s e , h e w a n t e d to go h o m e .

Initially, this visit h a d s e e m e d like s u c h a g o o d idea. D a v i d h a d felt so g a l l a n t w h e n h e o f f e r e d to s p e n d his h o l i d a y s w i t h his g r a n d m o t h e r . She had, a f t e r all, b e e n s o l o n e l y s i n c e P o p h a d d i e d a n d every b o d y had been concerned over her prolonged m o u r n i n g . Yet p o s s i b l y t h e m o s t w o r r i s o m e p r o b l e m of all w a s h e r u n n a t u r a l w o r s h i p of t h e c l o c k h e h a d m a d e . S h e s p e n t h o u r s s t a r i n g a t it a n d w o u n d it d a i l y a t h i s e x a c t t i m e of d e a t h . T h e f a m i l y h a d all a g r e e d t h a t s o m e t h i n g h a d t o b e d o n e about her m o r b i d behaviour, so David, somewhat foolishly, h a d v o l u n t e e r e d .

T h e r e h e lay, d r e n c h e d i n t h e c o l d s w e a t of f e a r , his m i n d a c t i v e in his e x h a u s t e d body. H e k n e w t h a t it w a s h i s f a u l t t h a t h e w a s t h e r e . D a v i d c o u l d s e e n o e s c a p e , o n l y a w e e k of t h e ' h o l i d a y ' h a d p a s s e d ; o n l y s e v e n n i g h t s ! It s e e m e d l i k e a n eternity. E a c h n i g h t stretched n e v e r e n d i n g before h i m , p r o m i s i n g t h e s a m e l a c k of r e s t t h a t t h e previous night h a d delivered. For hours he w o u l d listen a n d c o n t e m p l a t e t h e slow, deliberate noise of t h e m o n s t e r i n t h e h a l l w a y t h e n f i n a l l y h e w o u l d fall into a fitful, n i g h t m a r i s h sleep.

D u r i n g the d a y David enjoyed himself; the h o u s e w a s o l d a n d f u l l of n o o k s a n d c r a n n i e s .

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 h i m playing, G r a n d m a a p p e a r e d to be h a p p y . S h e w o u l d s p e n d h o u r s i n d u l g i n g h i m in g a m e s of c h e s s b e f o r e c r e a t i n g a c u l i n a r y m a s t e r p i e c e f o r d i n n e r . Still, d e s p i t e D a v i d ' s b e s t efforts, s h e n e v e r failed to w i n d t h e c l o c k at f o u r thirty-nine precisely; a fact that m a d e D a v i d anxious. So not w a n t i n g to w o r r y her, he never mentioned the creature that tormented h i m during the night, with the constant a n d threatening beat of its h e a r t .

Today, h o w e v e r w a s different, for D a v i d h a d given u p trying to distract her a n d h a d a d o p t e d a d e s p o n d e n t m o o d , b o r n of t o o l i t t l e s l e e p . H i s Grandmother, concerned over the s u d d e n change in h i m , q u e s t i o n e d h i m o f t e n b e f o r e d e c i d i n g h e w a s u n w e l l anfl m a r c h i n g h i m to bed.

D e s p i t e h i s ' e x h a u s t i o n , D a v i d f e l t m o r e ill-atease than normal. T h o u g h h e could not identify w h a t it w a s , h e k n e w s o m e t h i n g w a s a w f u l l y w r o n g . In the d a r k n e s s h e tossed a n d t u r n e d , t r y i n g to p i n p o i n t t h e s o u r c e of h i s d i s c o m f o r t u n t i l h e realised - the beast w a s silent! S t r a i n i n g his ears h e l i s t e n e d f o r t h e tell t a l e t i c k t o c k , b u t t h e r e w a s n o t h i n g . T h e q u i e t m a d e h i m u n e a s y . W h a t if t h e creature w a s on the prowl? Surely he w a s not safe alone in the d a r k n e s s . W h a t a b o u t G r a n ? She w a s s o f r a i l , s o d e f e n c e l e s s , it w a s h i s d u t y t o p r o t e c t her.

Blindly D a v i d p r o d d e d in the d a r k n e s s until his h a n d grasped his baseball bat. G a i n i n g courage with his w e a p o n , h e entered the p a s s a g e w a y a n d b e g a n t o h e a r n o i s e s - t h e s o f t p a d d i n g of f e e t c o m i n g nearer. P a n i c k e d , h e raised t h e bat aloft a n d waited, waited until the shuffling monster w a s within striking distance. H e s w u n g wildly, the bat connected a n d glass shattered. H e w a s realigning for another shot w h e n a m o o n b e a m s w e p t through t h e w i n d o w , r e f l e c t i n g off a n o l d l a d y ' s f r i g h t e n e d e y e s . T h e y w e r e t h e e y e s of a w o m a n w h o h a d forgotten to w i n d her clock for the v e r y first time.

By Melanie Baker, 12

Anger is not easily defined....

At birth a n a n g r y m o t h e r elicited o n l y h a p p y gurgles. A s a toddler, threats a n d scolding b r o u g h t b e w i l d e r e d silence, R e p r i m a n d s to a preschooler c a u s e d unreasoned tantrums.

P r i m a r y s c h o o l r e s p o n s e t o r e f u s a l of permission was: " B u t J e n n y ' s M u m let h e r . . . " 13 y e a r o l d s r e c e i v e d l e c t u r e s w i t h s t u d i e d indifference A f e w years later w a r n i n g s a n d u p b r a i d i n g is i g n o r e d w i t h c o o l superiority. A n g e r c h a n g e s constantly - or is it o n l y o u r u n d e r s t a n d i n g of it?

By Sanya Reid-Smith,

12

A True Story

Dedication 5.30am. " R i n n g g g . " Drat, the alarm. Crawling o u t of b e d , I s t u m b l e o v e r t h e h o c k e y stick left o n t h e floor last night. Yawning, I pull on m y trackie dacks, t-shirt a n d green and white rugby jumper. I run d o w n the stairs, school bag b e h i n d m e , h a v e a q u i c k b i t e of breakfast, before j u m p i n g in the c a r - off t o s w i m m i n g s q u a d .

8.25 am. A r r i v i n g i n t h e c l a s s room late again, I d u m p m y school bag on m y desk a n d begin to u n p a c k . " A n d the notices for today are... t h e r e is a m e e t i n g i n t h e RE.C. at recess for a n y o n e interested in b e c o m i n g a m e m b e r of t h e s k i t e a m . " "Meeting recess", I scribble on m y hand.

11.00am."Clare!

C o m i n g to

the tuck shop?"

"Nah, I've got a meeting," I yell b a c k a s I b e g i n t h e r i t u a l j o g t o P.E.C. ..."Training will c o m m e n c e t h i s F r i d a y a t 7.45. P l e a s e c o l l e c t a notice on your w a y out."

11.20am R u n n i n g i n t o t h e science lab I b a n g m y b o o k s d o w n a n d sit in t h e o n l y s p a r e c h a i r left.

"Clare. Late again?"

"Sorry, t h e ski m e e t i n g w e n t on longer than usual." " D o n ' t l e t it h a p p e n a g a i n . " 12.55pm G r a b b i n g some l u n c h o u t of m y l o c k e r I r u n d o w n t o t h e P.E.C. - f o r t h e t h i r d time that day. " G l a d to see y o u here Clare.

We're playing Nevile, you're wing attack. D o a lap a r o u n d the sports hall a n d then s o m e streches. I'll b e w i t h y o u in a minute."

1.45pm "Did you win the netball?" " Y e a h , 34 - 15.

Nevile weren't too good." " G o i n g to Volleyball after school?"

"Yep, w h o are w e playing?"

Nikita stared at her eyes. W i t h a cynical s n e e r she _ decided that they were her only r e d e e m i n g feature. Even r ^ r w h e n her skin looked sallow, h e r waist-line bloated, or her f ^ hair resembled a mop, her eyes remained constants. They w e r e olive-green, large a n d h a d a s y m m e t r i c a l d a r k fleck b e l o w each unusually dilated pupil. H e r h e a v y black lashes lent her a p e r m a n e n t , deceivingly d r e a m y expression.

She w a s writing a novel, b u t the p e n in h e r h a n d h a d ceased to m o v e across the p a g e a n d her eyes b o r e d furiously into the polished glass, as t h o u g h s h e w e r e t r y i n g to reach h e r t h o u g h t s t h r o u g h t h e r e f l e c t i o n of h e r p u p i l s . *

*

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A l l t w o h u n d r e d a n d s e v e n t y - f i v e p a g e s of h e r m a n u s c r i p t f l e w u p i n t o t h e air, g r a c e f u l l y s p i r a l l e d d o w n a n d finally c a m e to rest o n t h e carpet.

Nikita s c r e a m e d a n d f l u n g h e r p e n at t h e mirror. H e r ^Mtlg eyes flashed. She hated the ever-so-perfect hero she h a d Fw^created, whose flawless character seemed unrealistic a n d shallow. H e had, "smiled a n d taken the heroine's h a n d in his". T h e n h e h a d d r a w n h e r close, b e n t h i s h a n d s o m e face o v e r h e r s a n d t h e n - this! jj T h e heroine's f u t u r e h a p p i n e s s n o w lay at h e r feet like j / 0 litter; d i s t a s t e f u l a n d futile. N i k i t a s m i l e d g r i m l y - h e r f a t e w a s in h e r h a n d s . W h a t w o u l d t h e h e r o d o n e x t ?

__ ^

v

Blue ink w a s splattered against the w h i t e wall b e h i n d h e r d e s k . B r o k e n p i e c e s of s i l v e r - b a c k e d g l a s s w e r e s c a t t e r e d a r o u n d c o u n t l e s s s h e e t s of p a p e r . N i k i t a r a n h e r h a n d t h r o u g h h e r b l o n d e h a i r , s t a i n i n g it r e d .

T h e hero h a d vanished, whilst the heroine h a d d i e d in a p o o l of b l o o d , s u r r o u n d e d b y b r o k e n g l a s s . S h e h a d b e e n beautiful - d r e a m y green eyes a n d b l o n d e hair...Nikita smiled.

tit * * * A c o l d w i n d b u f f e t e d t h e s m a l l g r o u p of p e o p l e Gsc s u r r o u n d i n g t h e g r a v e . N i k i t a l a y s a f e l y a w a y f r o m t h e * w i n d , b e n e a t h a c o v e r i n g of r e d r o s e s a n d p o l i s h e d o a k .

H e r p a l e b l u e l i p s w e r e s m i l i n g , h e r g r e e n e y e s c l o s e d . To her chest she clasped a c o m p l e t e d manuscript. H e r thin, w h i t e h a n d s w e r e l a i d o v e r it s o t h a t n o - o n e c o u l d s e e t h e slightly o p e n e d , p u r p l e lines w h i c h r a n across h e r wrists.

By Ines Gegenhuber 12.

"Ivanhoe. I hate Ivanhoe!"

"Same, c o m e o n we'll be late for maths."

3.30pm " D i d y o u b r i n g y o u r o r a n g e s girls."

Silence. " O h well. Set u p t h e c o u r t s a n d start practising y o u r serves.

Katherine, cut the f e w oranges we've got."

4.45pm "How did you go?"

"We lost."

"Who were you playing?"

"Ivanhoe. I hate Ivanhoe!"

"Is that b e c a u s e t h e y w o n ? " " D a d ! Of c o u r s e not." " G o i n g to Netball training tonight?"

"Yeah. O h b y t h e way, can you take me to school tomorrow...there's hockey training..."

By Clare Barnett, 7

Silver & Green 1993

MLC Maintenance

Swimming M

This year, L C

the

s w i m team has certainly proven its dominance in s c h o o l g i r l s ' swimming.

They year began with a trip to B e n d i g o to compete in the Bendigo All Schools, w h i c h s e r v e d to consolidate team hi spirit a n d establish M L C a s a force to b e reckoned with.

In the relay events, M L C w o n a m a j o r i t y of the gold m e d a l s a n d in o n e instance took o u t first, s e c o n d a n d third places.

The m e e t w a s a definite success, with MLC winning the Junior a g g r e g a t e trophy, indicating t h a t M L C will c o n t i n u e to be successful in f u t u r e y e a r s d u e to the o b v i o u s talent a m o n g s t y o u n g s w i m m e r s c o m i n g u p f r o m Junior School. We s t o p p e d a t M c D o n a l d s o n the t r i p h o m e . A big t h a n k s to M r s Dale a n d Steven C l e a r y for organising the trip, and most especially Mrs McLaverty w h o d r o v e the m i n i - b u s .

Enthused by our successful trip away, M L C continued on a w i n n i n g streak throughout the r e m a i n d e r of the season. We w o n the ESA a n d t h e GPSVSSA carnivals m o s t convincingly, a n d the efforts contributed by those girls c o m p e t i n g w a s o u t s t a n d i n g .

Although these meets were i m p o r t a n t , t h e y w e r e o n l y a lead u p to t h e climax of the s w i m m i n g season - t h a t Alls Schools.

In p r e p a r a t i o n for the meet, w e held a S a t u r d a y m o r n i n g t r a i n i n g session and were fortunate e n o u g h to h a v e the o p p o r t u n i t y to receive first class c o a c h i n g f r o m Olympic and World C h a m p i o n breast-stroker, Linley .Frame. The training

seesio n w a s ^followed by a breakfast, f w h e r e Linley g a v e a lot of v a l u b l e a d v i c e o n competing under pressure.

The m o r n i n g t u r n e d o u t to be a great success a n d I ' m sure all w o u l d a g r e e t h a t it w a s very beneficial.

I O u r p e r f o r m a n c e at the All Schools w a s n o less t h a n breathtaking. MLC w o n a m e d a l in almost every event, despite the fierce competition. H a v i n g w o n the girls section of t h e m e e t for the p r e v i o u s t w o years w e w e r e anxious to continue the tradition.

Naturally, M L C blitzed, a n d as the night progressed and the tense a t m o s p h e r e of t h e State S w i m C e n t r e h o t t e d u p , it b e c a m e o b v i o u s that w e w e r e in a feasible position to w i n not only the girls' section, b u t the entire competition.

C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s m u s t also be e x t e n d e d to S w i m m i n g Victoria w h o did a great job in k e e p i n g u s o n the e d g e of our seats w i t h their scoring, at o n e stage s h o w i n g u s in l a s t p o s i t i o n . M L C w a s Victoria's n u m b e r one girls' s w i m m i n g school. The trophy w a s accepted w i t h a n uplifting sense of p r i d e a n d satisfaction, feelings w h i c h I h o p e will continue to b e associated with s w i m m i n g at M L C in f u t u r e years.

By Annie Mecklam, 12 School Swimming Captain

s e l e c t i o n in t h e G.P.S.V.S.A representative team. We c o m p e t e d in a singles a n d doubles t o u r n a m e n t a g a i n s t t h e A.P.S schools. The competition saw s o m e great t e n n i s w i t h Michelle Driver, D o n n a D ' S o u z a , Lindy Fidler and Kate Simkiss r e p r e s e n t i n g M.L.C. T h e 3rd a n d most exciting competition we p l a y e d in w a s t h e V i c t o r i a n Coaches' Association t o u r n a m e n t .

This w a s held at the N a t i o n a l Tennis Centre. After a close w i n in the semi final over Wesley w e w e r e asked to return the following w e e k to p l a y t h e w i n n i n g school of the other half of the draw. Again w e were presented with a tough and competitive match against

MLC gets active!

Tennis The 1993 Senior School Tennis team had a successful and r e w a r d i n g season, c o m p e t i n g in 3 main competitions during terms 1 a n d 2. We r e m a i n e d u n d e f e a t e d in the E.S.A. c o m p e t i t i o n w h i c h involved p l a y i n g schools such a s P.L.C. a n d C a r e y . O u r t o p 6 p l a y e r s w e r e invited to trial for

Toorak College w i t h the result b e i n g d e c i d e d b y t h e final points.

O u r victory w a s r e w a r d i n g . The team was:- Donna D'Souza, Michelle Driver, Sonya Zorec, L i n d y F i d l e r , T a n i a Di P i e t r o , S i m o n e Vignaroli, K a t e Simkiss, Rachel Wallace a n d Katherine Gove (emergency).

Congratulations to Donna D ' S o u z a w h o is t h e 1993 M L C t e n n i s c h a m p i o n . T h a n k - y o u to Miss Osborne-Smith and everyone w h o played school tennis for a very successful season.

By Kate Simkiss, 12

Kayaking While m o s t M L C girls were s p e n d i n g their s u m m e r in idyllic surrounds the MLC kayak team was defending the school's h o n o u r in t h e Red Cross M u r r a y River Marathon. After rising to the strains of " M o r n i n g H a s Broken" at five o'clock for the five d a y s b e t w e e n Boxing Day and N e w Year's Day, the six m e m b e r t e a m

Silver & Green 1993

completed the four hundred and four kilometre course from Y a r r a w o n g a to S w a n Hill in the School Relay Division.

Despite b e i n g the m o s t recent s c h o o l to e n t e r a t e a m M L C ' s inaugural assault on the Red Cross M u r r a y River M a r a t h o n w a s a r a v i n g success. In a n e w l y e s t a b l i s h e d class of e i g h t b o a t s M L C c a m e a close third to t w o of the three Toorak College b o a t s a n d b e a t t h e f o u r C a m b e r w e l l Boys' G r a m m a r boats.

H o w e v e r , their success d i d n ' t c o m e easily. O n c e the six m e m b e r team of Marquita Corr, Shannondoah Grant, Marni Kerseboom, Tanya Martinich, S u s a n Tegg a n d A n n a T h w a i t e s h a d b e e n f o r m e d a n d the P a r e n t ' s Association had very kindly p r o v i d e d the boat, training b e g a n in e a r n e s t . E v e r y S u n d a y f r o m

M a y at s e v e n o'clock in t h e morning, bedraggled, freezing b u t never the less cheerful girls could be seen d r a g g i n g themselves u p a n d d o w n the Yarra.

T h e class in w h i c h the M L C k a y a k t e a m c o m p e t e d in w a s the School Relay Race. This division allows high spirited c o m p e t i t i o n s between schools. However, b e c a u s e it is a relay no p a d d l e r p a d d l e s the full f o u r h u n d r e d a n d f o u r kilometres of the race. T h u s it is a race that is achievable b y a n y o n e p r e p a r e d to give u p t w o hours every Sunday morning.

After having such a wonderful time as a m e m b e r of the i n a u g u r a l MLC kayak t e a m competing in the Red Cross Murray River Marathon, I would strongly r e c o m m e n d that a n y o n e w h o is interested s h o u l d give it a go.

By Susan Tegg

Rowing 1993 w a s n o t h i n g less t h a n a challenge for MLC's rowers.

A l t h o u g h the r a c i n g season d i d n ' t begin u n t i l February, t r a i n i n g of t h e b o d y a n d m i n d b e g a n in the third t e r m of 1992. A f t e r m o n t h s of p r e p a r a t i o n in the w e i g h t room, o n the 'ergo', r u n n i n g a l o n g the Yarra a n d s w i m m i n g l a p s , w e finally g o t into t h e boat; only to find ourselves separated by a m o n t h of S u m m e r . R e t u r n i n g f r o m the b e a c h to g o to school is a l w a y s p a i n f u l , b u t m o r e so w h e n y o u h a v e to c o m e b a c k a w e e k early for r o w i n g training.

For the y e a r eleven and t w e l v e s the g r i n d of the c a m p is something we dread; b u t the i n n o c e n t , u n e x p e c t i n g y e a r tens always serve as endless a m u s e m e n t . T h e i n f a m o u s first c r e w (coach Palf), w a s especially h a r s h this s e a s o n o n t h e w e i g h t a n d fitness of u s p o o r girls, b u t w e m a d e it t h r o u g h . That, I think, is the essence of r o w i n g . T h e fact is; n o m a t t e r h o w t o u g h it g e t s w e a l w a y s m a k e it t h r o u g h .

M L C c o n t i n u e d to r e m a i n at t h e f o r e f r o n t of S c h o o l g i r l s ' R o w i n g b y attracting t h e n e w e s t technology a n d best coaches.

U n d e r t h e g u i d a n c e of t h e s e devoted coaches and the assistance of the loyal p a r e n t s o n the Silver Star R o w i n g Club, MLC h a d ten o u t of t w e l v e c r e w s m a k e t h e f i n a l s ( f o r t h e H e a d of S c h o o l g i r l s ' R e g a t t a ) . T w o of t h e s e s u c c e s s f u l c r e w s w e r e the j u n i o r a n d senior q u a d sculls.

1993 w a s t h e f i r s t y e a r of their i n v o l v e m e n t in schoolgirls' r o w i n g . In the sculling w e w e r e represented extremely well by Sarah Higgenbottam, who definitely f o u g h t a g a i n s t t h e o d d s (weeks without a permanent coach) to p r o d u c e a ' m e m o r a b l e ' race o n the day.

I c o m m e n d all of t h e r o w e r s a n d coaches for their dedication, perseverance, and guts. Good luck a n d m a y y o u r w a t e r s a l w a y s b e calm.

By Tamara Brawn Captain of Boats.

Senior Rowing Team Silver & G r e e n 1993

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

I ' v e h a d t o p u t u p w i t h a lot s i n c e I r e c e i v e d t h e n e w s , a n d m a d e t h e m i s t a k e of telling others, that I h a d b g i v e n a $1000 s c h o l a r s h i p , a n d w a s eligible to enter the Australian Defence Forces A c a d e m y , (ADFA) s i t u a t e d in C a n b e r r a , next year. H o w e v e r the news proved that the long wait had been worthwhile, and I now had another option which could be taken u p a t t h e e n d of ' 9 3 i n s t e a d of a " n o r m a l " u n i v e r s i t y c o u r s e , a n o p t i o n w i t h a great future.

It b e g a n h a l f w a y t h r o u g h Year 11, a n A r m y r e c r u i t m e n t t e a m a r r i v e d at M L C , telling s t u d e n t s a b o u t a s c h o l a r s h i p o f f e r e d t o all y e a r 11 s t u d e n t s .

Annually, fifty students around Australia, ( s o m e t i m e s l e s s ) , a r e a w a r d e d $1000 e a c h a f t e r being considered suitable for officer training.

E v e n if y o u ' r e s u c c e s s f u l , y o u ' r e n o t r e q u i r e d t o a c c e p t a t t h e e n d of y e a r t w e l v e , a n d I t h o u g h t a t l e a s t it m i g h t g i v e m e s o m e f r e e i n t e r v i e w p r a c t i c e . It c e r t a i n l y d i d t h a t !

Looking back now, I'd say the worst part was the start. I finally v e n t u r e d into the Defence Forces Recruitment centre after school, a n d requested an i n t e r v i e w . I w a s s h o w n a v i d e o of fit, h e a l t h y p e o p l e j u m p i n g all o v e r t h e place a n d e n j o y i n g t h e m s e l v e s , w h e r e a s r e a l i s t i c a l l y I k n e w it m u s t b e h a r d e r t h a n it l o o k e d a n d I w a s w a r n e d t h a t it w o u l d b e t o u g h , (for m a n y different reasons)! But I w a s o p t i m i s t i c , if t h e y c o u l d d o it s o c o u l d I, a n d at this p o i n t I w a s n ' t a b o u t to give u p . M y a p p l i c a t i o n f o r m w a s a c c e p t e d a n d I c a m e in w i t h

a b o u t 50 o t h e r p e o p l e , (99% b o y s I n o t i c e d ) f o r a d a y of s t r e n u o u s t e s t i n g .

It d i d n ' t s e e m f u n n y a t t h e t i m e , I m e a n , t h e r e w e all w e r e , i n s t a r c h e d u n c o m f o r t a b l e c l o t h e s , at 6:45am, absolutely petrified. W e w e r e told that b y t h e e n d of t h e d a y w e w o u l d k n o w if w e h a d m a d e it t h r o u g h t o t h e n e x t s t a g e a n d it w a s indeed an ominous moment, but I took a few deep breaths p r e t e n d e d that I didn't care a n d p l u n g e d s t r a i g h t in. A f t e r I ' d f i n i s h e d t h e m e d i c a l , aptitude, intelligence, a n d family history tests I t h o u g h t t h e w o r s t w a s o v e r , a f t e r all I h a d e v e n gotten through the urine sample! I was very w r o n g , I still h a d t o f a c e a p r i v a t e p s y c h o l o g i c a l a s s e s s m e n t . Its all r a t h e r a b l u r a t t h i s p o i n t , b u t s h e w a s n i c e , s h e w r o t e l o t s of n o t e s a n d t h e r e w e r e s e v e r a l q u e s t i o n s to w h i c h I s i m p l y a n s w e r e d 'I d o n ' t k n o w , I h a v e n o i d e a ' e t c . etc.

However I must have done something right b e c a u s e a t t h e e n d of it all I w a s t o l d I ' d m a d e it through, a n d never before h a v e I so enjoyed leaving a building!

T h e f i n a l d a y of t e s t i n g w a s in a s m a l l e r g r o u p , i n v o l v e d oratory, a n d writing w o r k as well as physical exercises and was actually very enjoyable even though more was at stake. W h a t w e d i d was classified, and I can't really discuss the details, b u t I can say I learnt a great deal a n d came away feeling c o n f i d e n t a l t h o u g h t i r e d . It w a s n o t f o r s e v e r a l m o r e m o n t h s that I learnt I'd been successful, a n d that a helicopter w a s arriving to present a cheque.

By t h e n I w a s r e s i g n e d to t h e f a c t t h a t m y " f r i e n d s " w e r e n e v e r g o i n g to let m e h e a r t h e e n d of it. B u t m o r e i m p o r t a n t l y I r e a l i s e d t h a t I h a d g o n e f o r it a n d w o n !

I s i n c e r e l y h o p e t h a t all Year t e n s a n d e l e v e n s consider a p p l y i n g for an army, n a v y or airforce scholarship; there are no obligations, the prospects are excellent, (females have an a d v a n t a g e b y t h e w a y ) , t h e e x p e r i e n c e is invaluable for a n y career y o u m a y w i s h to p u r s u e , and don't forget you could actually surprise yourself!

Go on, take a chance...Good Luck!

By Shenandoah Grant

m' Silver & Green 1993

Adventures of an Exchange Student If I e v e r n e e d e d s o m e o n e to b l a m e f o r a n E x c h a n g e Year, w h i c h C O U L D HAVE BEEN b u t W A S N ' T a disaster, I could a l w a y s b l a m e D a d ! It w a s D a d w h o c a m e h o m e saying 'Boss' had h a d a 'Brain Wave', which m e a n t Leightons was giving away an AFS C o r p o r a t e S c h o l a r s h i p a n d w o u l d n ' t it b e a g o o d Experience to try for it.

I n e v e r b e l i e v e d I w o u l d get that S c h o l a r s h i p - I'd n e v e r w o n a n y t h i n g a n d I w a s n ' t g o i n g to 'get m y h o p e s u p ' ! T h a t day, in N o v e m b e r 1992, c h a n g e d m y life for good. I w a s sitting s t u d y i n g for M a t h s w h e n the P h o n e Rang; it w a s the Local AFS Lady, saying I'd w o n - 1 still c a n ' t believe it! A n d I d o n ' t t h i n k m y p a r e n t s can either!

F r o m N o v e m b e r until A u g u s t it is 10 m o n t h s , a n d in t h o s e 10 m o n t h s I h a d h e a p s to think about; the e n d of y e a r 10 a n d Unit 1VCE. Pretty s o o n I w a s starting to c o u n t the d a y s , a n d t h e n , t h e r e I w a s s t a n d i n g at t h e A i r p o r t , w a i t i n g for p l a n e . . .

I w a s to s p e n d 11 m o n t h s in G e r m a n y , f r o m A u g u s t 1992 until July 1993. M y H o s t Family lived in H a n a u , a t o w n a b o u t 30km from Frankfurt.

Hmmmm!

H a n a u , the n a m e m a y not say m u c h to y o u , b u t to m e it w a s ' H o m e ' for o n e y e a r a n d I c a n ' t easily forget it. A n d I w o n ' t forget it, n o t w i t h t h e P h o t o ' s o n m y walls a n d the Diaries w r i t t e n b y a s o m e t i m e s h a p p y , s o m e t i m e s sad or s o m e t i m e s a v e r y c o n f u s e d p e r s o n , w h o just H A D to let those feelings o u t .

Something I remember was m y first d a y at school, c o n f r o n t e d with a n e w class, w h e r e half the faces w e r e M a l e a n d a l a n g u a g e

Silver & Green 1993

w h i c h just s o u n d e d like noise 10R Eppstienschule. I o w e t h e m an a w f u l lot. School scared m e at first, I w a s the ' O u t s i d e r ' , w h o slowly became accepted; the more G e r m a n I learnt, t h e m o r e f r i e n d s I h a d . I b e c a m e 'Die K a n g a r i i h ' (the Kangaroo), a n a m e w h i c h I hated, b u t it m e a n t a lot to me, it meant I w a s 'accepted' (what a w o r d ) into m y school. I h a d f o u n d a place for m e o n the 'other side of the w o r l d ' .

I remember coming h o m e f r o m school, totally w o r n out f r o m concentrating, b u t o n e day, I w a s s u d d e n l y able to u n d e r s t a n d . It w a s the best feeling to come h o m e to m y H o s t - M u m with a G e r m a n Test, w h e r e I'd finally achieved a good mark, b u t as m y G e r m a n got better, I b e g a n to receive letters from Mum or Friends c o m p l a i n i n g a b o u t m y Englisch I'd d o n e it, I could think, speak, w r i t e a n d d r e a m 'auf D e u t s c h ' .

With this discovery, I discovered something about me. I had b e c o m e a p a r t of this community, I w a s a b l e to c o m m u n i c a t e , to l a u g h at a n d w i t h e v e r y o n e a n d the faces which at first 'overwhelmed' me had now b e c o m e faces of friends.

W h e n I b o a r d e d that Plane, o n t h e 13th of July 1993, I w a s n ' t c o m i n g h o m e b e c a u s e h o m e is now shared between two counties. It w a s n o t easy to b o a r d that Plane, I h a d experienced so m u c h a n d I w a s leaving a y e a r of m y life in a c o u n t r y on the other side of t h e w o r l d . I m i g h t h a v e n o w only b e e n back a little over a w e e k a n d I ' m still realising all that I've learnt, m y f r i e n d s are still in m y t h o u g h t s a n d will be for a long time. M a n y things h a v e c h a n g e d , not just me.

Experience w a s always the BIG word. I returned after learning m a n y m o r e things, b u t k n o w i n g h o w m u c h I still have to learn. The change of culture, n e w people a n d the g r o w i n g within myself w e r e all experiences a n d I w o u l d n e v e r say that I d i d n ' t enjoy myself.

Thanks Dad, for such an Experience.

By Wendy Rix

Central Australian Tour Our Central Australian a d v e n t u r e b e g a n at 6 . 5 7 a m , Saturday 1 0 April, w h e n our coach p u l l e d o u t of the c h a p e l car park.

O n t h e first d a y w e travelled to A d e l a i d e . The n e x t m o r n i n g we w e r e u p s e t to realise t h a t w e still h a d eight h o u r s or so to travel that day, a n d the coach d i d n o t h a v e a toilet, v i d e o or TV. We a r r i v e d at C o o b e r Pedy, a n d e v e r y o n e fell asleep, a w a r e of t h e 5.30am rise t h e next day.

We w o k e u p a n d w e r e o n the r o a d to Ayers Rock (Uluru). We arrived by the afternoon and settled into c a m p at Ayers Rock Resort. T u e s d a y w a s the b i g day, w e travelled o u t to the rock, a n d a t t e m p t e d to c l i m b it. ( M a n y realised t h a t this w o u l d n o t b e as easy as first thought.) The m a j o r i t y c o m p l e t e d the 1.5km h i k e u p to t h e t o p , a n d h a d a g r o u p p h o t o taken.

O n e n i g h t , w i t h the h e l p of Mr O l s e n , s o m e of u s w e r e a b l e to have a s w i m at a motel, p r e t e n d i n g w e w e r e guests!!

Then it w a s t i m e to travel north to Alice S p r i n g s . We set u p our tents, this t i m e at t h e Red Centre Resort. S o m e of u s dressed u p a n d s p e n t the n i g h t w a t c h i n g "Point Break" in t h e bistro of t h e motel.

T h e n e x t d a y w e w e r e let loose s h o p p i n g o n Alice S p r i n g s . We then h e a d e d south for a n o t h e r n i g h t in C o o b e r Pedy.

N e x t stop, Wilpena P o u n d . We w e r e a b l e to s p e n d a d a y e x p l o r i n g t h e b e a u t y of t h e Flinders Ranges, b y t a k i n g a walk to St M a r y ' s Peak. W h a t m o s t of u s d i d n ' t k n o w is t h a t it is a seven h o u r r e t u r n trip! By the t i m e w e r e a c h e d half way, w e d e c i d e d it w a s t i m e to t u r n back. T h o s e w i t h e n o u g h water, energy or both c o n t i n u e d to t h e p e a k .

O u r final d a y w a s s p e n t in the coach. W h e n w e r e a c h e d Kew, it w a s t i m e to p l a y t h e t h e m e song a n d say o u r g o o d byes.

Twelve d a y s in the Easter h o l i d a y s p r o v i d e d 28 M L C girls w i t h a n e x p e r i e n c e to r e m e m b e r , t h a n k s to M r & M r s Olsen, Dr Ince a n d Geoff a n d P a m !

By Jacqui Roscoe, 11 rc"/V

/ a-

Actuallte

Gabriel Gate • the man behind the accent!

O h m o n Dieu! A d a t e w i t h Gabriel G a t e ? W h a t d o e s o n e say to chef, T.V. p e r s o n a l i t y , a u t h o r and Accidently Kelly Street impersonator extraordinaire!

Quelle h o r r e u r !

Well, h e h a d u s all tongue-tied for a m o m e n t , b u t it w a s n ' t long before French s t u d e n t s f r o m Years 7 to 12 w e r e asking M o n s i e u r Gate h i s m o s t p e r s o n a l of p e r s o n a l details. T h e a n s w e r s : 1) Sorry girls, Gabriel G a t e is m a r r i e d . The g o o d n e w s is, h e h a s two teenage sons, although apparently they have not inherited their f a t h e r ' s French accent!

2) N o , G a b r i e l G a t e is n o t leaving Australia forever. H e will, however, be taking a year's break in France v e r y soon.

3) Yes, Gabriel G a t e d o e s eat t a k e - a w a y food! In fact, h e w a s quoted as having enjoyed the "frites" at M c D o n a l d s ! H o w e v e r h e s t r e s s e d t h e i m p o r t a n c e of e a t i n g diversely - so if y o u insist on the take-away, rotate the varieties!!

In b e t w e e n the goss, together with videos, Gabriel Gate told u s a bit a b o u t his b a c k g r o u n d a n d childhood in F r a n c e , and described his biggest influences in life. In fact, his m o s t i m p o r t a n t influence, has been n o other t h a n his g r a n d m o t h e r ! Then came the s e r i o u s stuff, as M o n s i e u r Chef r e v e a l e d h i s c u l i n a r y secrets to French and Catering students w i t h d e m o n s t r a t i o n s of t w o tempting recipes une m a y o n n a i s e a n d u n e vinaigrette.

Throughout, Gabriel Gate s t r e s s e d t h e i m p o r t a n c e of l a n g u a g e s , especially of French ("C'est pratique!!"), but e s s e n t i a l l y of a n y second language. H e sees the a d v a n t a g e s of a l a n g u a g e a s b e i n g m u l t i faceted - in c o m m u n i c a t i o n b e t w e e n cultures, as a n exercise for oneself, a n d , of course, the use of French in cooking.

Best of all, Monsieur Gate w a s able to give s t u d e n t s a real sense of F r a n c e , i t s c u l t u r e a n d i t s cuisine. H i s e n c o u r a g e m e n t in this w a y will b e long remembered.

By Katie Barnett, 12

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

Silver & G r e e n 1993

petitConte "Je m ' a p p e l l e B r i g i t t e , " d i t la v i e i l l e f e m m e , q u i p o r t e u n e vieille robe brune avec b e a u c o u p d e sacs en plastique et u n g r a n d c h a p e a u a v e c u n e f l e u r j a u n e . Elle est u n e m e n d i a n t e et elle vit d e jour e n jour.

T o u s l e s s a m e d i s elle v a a la T o u r Eiffel o u elle v e n d d e s o b j e t s q u ' e l l e a t r o u v e s d a n s les p o u b e l l e s la s e m a i n e d e r n i e r e .

P e n d a n t la s e m a i n e e l l e s e p r o m e n e d a n s les r u e s d e Paris, cherchant des objets interessants qu'elle vendra d e v a n t la T o u r E i f f e l a la semaine prochaine.

Brigitte n ' a p a s d e famille.

E l l e s ' e s t m a r i e e il y a cinquante ans. Mais l ' h o m m e q u ' e l l e a e p o u s e est m o r t p e n d a n t la g u e r r e . Elle l ' a i m a i t

La 'femme soldat' b e a u c o u p , s o n m a r i , il l u i m a n q u e b e a u c o u p . Elle a h a b i t e a v e c s o n f r e r e , il est m o r t il y a v i n g t a n s . B r i g i t t e s a n s a r g e n t et s a n s m a i s o n e s t devenue une mendiante.

A p r e s avoir v e n d u ses objets - " d ' a r t " , Brigitte quitte la T o u r E i f f e l , q u a n d elle v o i t d a n s u n e poubelle derriere u n g r a n d i m m e u b l e , u n vieil u n i f o r m e m i l i t a i r e . Elle p e n s e q u ' e l l e v e n d r a la v e s t e p o u r b e a u c o u p d ' a r g e n t . E n f i n elle p r e n d l ' u n i f o r m e m i l i t a i r e et p a r t v e r s le p o n t o ' u elle a etabli sa d e m e u r e . E n a r r i v a n t a sa d e m e u r e elle c h e r c h e d a n s les p o c h e s d e la v e s t e . Elle d e c o u v r e u n e lettre qu'elle s ' e m p r e s s e d e 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 ' e m o t i o n Brigitte e n d o s s e l ' u n i f o r m e e t m e t la l e t t r e d a n s la p o c h e p r e s d e s o n c o e u r . Soit q u ' i l p l e u v e , o u q u ' i l neige ou qu'il fasse beau Brigitte portera cette veste p o u r le reste d e sa vie, et t o u s ses amis l'appellent "La F e m m e Soldat".

By Gabby Deal, 12

P oesie L'homme de la nuit A la n u i t , il est a r r i v e , a m i c a l et a f f e c t u e u x .

La n u i t est froide, m a i s p a s lui parce q u e nous sommes amoureux.

Son ombre, son corps m'enveloppent, la p a s s i o n est b r u l a n t e .

L'ange d e m e s y e u x est g e n t i l et f o r t . Je p e n s e a l u i t o u t le t e m p s .

D e j o u r e n j o u r la m a i t r e s s e d e s o i m ' a i d e d a n s m a vie.

M a i s je d e t e s t e l e s o l e i l , l ' e t e et la l u m i e r e p a r c e q u e m o n b i e n - a i m e est a v e c u n e a u t r e c h e r i e .

S e u l e m e n t l a n u i t , la p r o t e c t r i c e d e l ' a m o u r , e m m e n e r a m o n bel a m a n t .

Et u n e n u i t , u n e n u i t , q u a n d c ' e s t b r i l l a n t , cet h o m m e v i e n d r a r e s t e r , ici a v e c m o i p o u r t o u j o u r s .

By Rebecca Scholes,

Silver & Green 1993

12

Kafka und Kuchen In secondary school learning German means writing dialogues, grasping grammar, cooking a n d culture.

T h e n t h e r e is u n i v e r s i t y , t h e Year 13 G e r m a n E n h a n c e m e n t P r o g r a m m e looked f o r w a r d to by t e a c h e r s a n d s t u d e n t s alike.

T h e c o u r s e c o n s i s t s of s l a b s of literature w i t h liberal d o l l o p s of g r a m m a r .

O u r c l a s s of s i x s t u d i e d w o r k s b y s o m e of t h e m o s t famous German writers, i n c l u d i n g G o e t h e , Schiller a n d K a f k a . You c a n i m a g i n e o u r horror at being h a n d e d forty p a g e s of e i g h t e e n t h c e n t u r y G e r m a n a n d being told to read a n d u n d e r s t a n d it. S o w e r a n for the dictionary. Rather than s t u d y i n g individual a u t h o r s or texts in d e p t h , w e a n a l y s e d literature by m o v e m e n t s , with a q u i c k look at the a u t h o r s ' lives, s c h i z o p h r e n i a and m i s t r e s s e s . It w a s g r e a t t o h a v e t h e o p p o r t u n i t y to look at t h e l i t e r a r y a s p e c t s of t h e G e r m a n l a n g u a g e , the R o m a n t i c era and the Expressionists for e x a m p l e . T h e m e m b e r s of o u r c l a s s w h o w e r e c o m b i n i n g Year 13 w i t h Y e a r 12 f o u n d t h a t t h e y could u s e m a n y essays for VCE work requirements.

A l t h o u g h this p r o v e d to b e a stimulating and welcome break from the usual g r a m m a r exercises, g r a m m a r w a s b y n o means neglected.

We alternated between literature a n d g r a m m a r c l a s s e s . If w e a r e not d r i v e n to insanity b y "Der S a n d m a n n " (The S a n d m a n ) f r o m " T h e T a l e s of H o f f m a n n " , w e will be safe in the knowledge that w e can spot a feral " w e n n " clause f r o m t w o metres.

T h e l e s s f o r m a l s t r u c t u r e of t h e c l a s s e s l e f t p l e n t y of r o o m f o r d i s c u s s i o n . W i t h six i n t h e c l a s s i n L a n g u a g e 5, it is t h e p e r f e c t n u m b e r t o fit a r o u n d the heater a n d toast o u r brain cells. O n c e a s e m e s t e r

M s Tarran's place, a t t e m p t i n g to e x p l a i n a n a s p e c t of G e r m a n l i t e r a t u r e to t h e c l a s s f o r o u r tutorial paper. These talks resulted in intense, bizarre a n d amusing debates on our o w n t h e o r i e s of t r u t h , l a w a n d t h e demonic. It's a m a r v e l l o u s e x p e r i e n c e , e v e n if w e n e e d e d to p r e s e n t t h a t 45 m i n u t e tutorial p a p e r on the m e a n i n g of life a c c o r d i n g t o K a f k a . W e all e n j o y e d r e a d i n g t h e o f t e n challenging literature a n d none of u s r e g r e t t e d b e i n g t h e f i r s t to e m b a r k o n t h e j o u r n e y to Monash University Year Thirteen German. by Ines Gegenhuber, Christina Hajdu and Anna Thwaites.

how do I know this?

Accompanying each m a t h e m a t i c a l e x p o s i t i o n is a little h i s t o r y l e s s o n a b o u t t h e s e men.

Each M o n d a y e v e n i n g at 5.30 p m , i n C e n t e n a r y 1.4, l a d e n w i t h s u p p l i e s of p i z z a and pies, w e e m b a r k on a journey of mathematical challenge, complexity and perplexity. The traditional p a r t n e r s h i p of g a s t r o n o m i c a l frenzy and cerebral callisthenics in A c c e l e r a t e d M a t h s continues, as notes are smeared with grease and littered with crumbs.

Miss Michell, to w h o m w e o w e m a n y t h a n k s , is o u r m o s t willing mentor in this

Tertiary Programs Mind-boggling Mathematics.

De Moivre, Gauss, L'Hopital and Rolles...Who? My thoughts exactly u p o n e n c o u n t e r i n g t h e m . Yet, in t h e p a s t f o u r m o n t h s or so, a g r o u p of t w e l v e g i r l s a t M L C h a v e become rather familiar with these g e n t l e m e n t h r o u g h their p a r t i c i p a t i o n in U n i v e r s i t y M a t h s 101.

These names b e l o n g to p e r s o n s w h o h a v e made some significant contribution (?!) to mathematics and subsequently have a theorem n a m e d after them.

(Except for the scandalous L'Hopital who pinched Bernoulli's work!) But

i n a u g u r a l y e a r of U n i v e r s i t y M a t h s 101 i n secondary schools, introduced by M e l b o u r n e University.

B y E i l e e n L e e , 12

Art & Design Three teachers for one subject? N o CA.T.s? W e e k e n d t r i p s to t h e c o a s t ? D e t a i l e d s t u d i e s of l e a v e s a n d s k u l l s ?

It m a y s e e m h a r d t o b e l i e v e that any subject could be c o n d u c t e d in this way, b u t that is e x a c t l y w h a t t h e y e a r 12 A r t and Design course (formally the Tertiary Pilot P r o g r a m or T.P.P.) is a b o u t .

T h i s y e a r 15 s t u d e n t s h a d the opportunity to participate in the c o u r s e a n d I t h i n k t h r o u g h t h e d e d i c a t i o n of t h e

Silver & Green 1993

s t u d e n t s , a n d d i r e c t i o n of t h e teachers,- Mr Savage, Mr M c K e n z i e a n d M r P r y k e , it h a s given us a unique

o p p o r t u n i t y to develop and extend, our drawing, painting, design and o b s e r v a t i o n a l skills.

T.P.P. g i v e s y o u s o m e S t a t e accredited Units, but isn't a p a r t of t h e V.C.E s y l l a b u s . T h i s a l l o w s s t u d e n t s to c o m p l e t e t h e i r V.C.E. w i t h f o u r o t h e r V.C.E. s u b j e c t s ( i n c l u d i n g E n g l i s h ) b u t a l s o e n a b l e s u s to d e v e l o p a folio for Tertiary s e l e c t i o n . It is n o t d i s s i m i l a r t o a first y e a r TAFE or f o r m e r T O P b r i d g i n g c o u r s e ; b u t is c o n d u c t e d in n o r m a l s c h o o l hours a n d slotted into periods a s a n y V.C.E. s t u d y .

T.P.P. i s n o o r d i n a r y A r t s u b j e c t ; it is d i v i d e d i n t o t h r e e sections: General Drawing, Design and Lifedrawing, and T h e o r y ; a n d t h i s is w h y t h r e e teachers are involved. We d o d i f f e r e n t t y p e s of e x e r c i s e s , either design related, o b s e r v a t i o n a l b a s e d , or a c o m b i n a t i o n of b o t h , w h i c h o f t e n m e a n s d e t a i l e d s t u d i e s of the h u m a n skull, a u t u m n l e a v e s , r e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s of t h e w o r k s of m a s t e r s , o r y o u r o w n face.

The course is fairly demanding even though we d o n ' t h a v e a n y C.A.T.s a n d the r e q u i r e m e n t of t h e c o u r s e necessitates an extra sixty h o u r s w h i c h h a s to b e fulfilled o u t of s c h o o l h o u r s . To m e e t this requirement w e have several options; Lifedrawing (drawing nudes) with Community Education on a M o n d a y or T h u r s d a y evening,

Silver & Green 1993

coming into the school on one of o u r p r e c i o u s s t u d y d a y s , o r an Art camp.

The Art c a m p on Friday the 13th and

Saturday the 1 4 t h of A u g u s t w a s p r o b a b l y o n e of t h e highlights of the year.

A l t h o u g h t h e r a i n set in a l m o s t as soon as w e arrived on the Friday, w e all f o u n d s h e l t e r (some on the bus, others u n d e r rock f o r m a t i o n s ) a n d all managed to c o m p l e t e a n u m b e r of d r a w i n g s . T h e s e w e r e exhibited that e v e n i n g in the h o u s e that w e s t a y e d in, along with other d r a w i n g s that w e h a d d o n e at the h o u s e .

Saturday was just as p r o d u c t i v e a n d w e all l e f t t h a t night feeling relaxed and c o n t e n t e d . W e all f o u n d t h e c a m p t o b e b e n e f i c i a l a n d it w a s g o o d just to b e a w a y f r o m t h e p r e s s u r e s of V.C.E. I h a v e really e n j o y e d b e i n g a p a r t of t h e A r t a n d D e s i g n course; a n d a m sure that the drawings and paintings I have d o n e , will e n h a n c e m y folio and hopefully ensure m y entry into a tertiary art a n d design course.

I t h i n k t h a t it i s a g r e a t program and encourage any 1994 y e a r 12 s t u d e n t d o i n g a r t , photography or Graphic C o m m u n i c a t i o n t o c o n s i d e r it a s a n o p t i o n if t h e y a r e s e r i o u s a b o u t m o v i n g in the direction of a r t a n d d e s i g n .

By E m i l y B r i g h a m .

The Catering Class of 1993 T h e C a t e r i n g c l a s s of ' 9 3 c a m e together for their first function earlier t h a n expected.

Prior to this year, girls d i d not begin functions until Semester two, but with the class c o n s i s t i n g o f a h a n d f u l of optimistic students, a n d the h e l p of a f e w Year 13 M L C catering students, we successfully completed our f i r s t c a t e r i n g f u n c t i o n f o r 200 p e o p l e . T h e C a t e r i n g c o u r s e in Y e a r 12, r e q u i r e s s t u d e n t s t o complete four VCE subjects a n d a m i x t u r e of c a t e r i n g subjects in conjunction w i t h the TAFE Hospitality course. O n c e this year h a s b e e n successfully completed, the catering student receives a VCE pass and credits towards the Advanced Certificate in Hospitality Operations. These credits c o r r e s p o n d w i t h TAFE and William Angliss and t h e r e f o r e e n a b l e u s to c o m p l e t e t h e c o u r s e o v e r the n e x t year, a n d r e c e i v e a D i p l o m a in Hospitality Management.

During Semester two, most F r i d a y s c o n s i s t of c a t e r i n g f o r dinners. Guest speakers often feature at these dinners such as Michelle Grattan a n d Stefanie Alexander. Other functions catered for are conferences and O l d C o l l e g i a n s ' D i n n e r s . Year 12 a n d 1 3 s t u d e n t s a r e r e q u i r e d to a t t e n d these functions, one;one g r o u p will cook a n d t h e other wait o n tables. Mrs. Fraser, o u r catering teacher usually k e e p s a n eye on the time a n d the kitchen activities whilst Miss Cotes directs the traffic in t h e d i n i n g r o o m . T h e catering c o m m u n i t y at M L C has developed into quite a t e a m t h r o u g h the year, a n d the c o u r s e is a g r e a t o p p o r t u n i t y f o r p e o p l e like m y s e l f to o b t a i n e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e a r e a of w o r k in w h i c h I h o p e to p u r s u e a career. I w o u l d r e c o m m e n d t h e c o u r s e to a n y girls interested in the catering a n 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 Sophie Antonopoulos, Eva Poon.

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

Mazis,

Sutherland, Sidon.

Silver & Green 1993

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 Emma Maslen, Emily Chapnan. (front): Nina Adams, Sue Harvey, Emily Brigham-Dixon.

Silver & Green 1993

Elliott,

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 1993

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.

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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.

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.

Silver & Green 1993

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 Tiffany Carroll, Rebecca Roberts, (up tree): Sonya Zorec.

Symington,

L-R (back): Megaxvati Sulishyo, Yuh-Tyng Chong, Marlina Snriana, Agnes Tanizviranta. (front): Woeti-yean Lee, Amy Chen

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.

Silver & Green 1993

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.

L-R (back): Alex Ferris, Narelle Oberin, Michelle Chan, Belinda Swinbourne, Stephanie Howard. (front): Belinda Chung, Kirsty North, Kate Pilbeam, Carolyn Gellert.

Silver & Green 1993

L-R: Ria Davenport, Carolyn Mapp, Lesley (front): Kyoko Shimizu.

Silver & Green 1993

Brooking,

L-R (back): Lewanna Morley, Rachel Wallace, Kylie Spiller. (front): Justine Ezvert, Renee Ferris, Megan McAlpine, Melissa Muir.

L-R (back): Penny Bottomley, Sue Harvey, Tracey Halves, Sanuki Jayaraiah. iddle):Anna Tram, Carly Sei (middle):Anna Selan, Megan Wilding, Ingrid Wilson, Narelle Breiver, Kate Pearse. (bottom): Anna Rattray, Cindy Liu, Yvonne Cox.

L-R (back): Jo Badger, Chrystele Adrien, Esther Taft, Patty Chier, Amaruka Hazari, Anne-Laure Finkel, Quynh Tran. (front): Emily Rattray, Katie Barnett.

Silver & G r e e n 1993

4

k

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 Silver and Green:

to

Eliza A l l e n d e r Art Department Katie Barnett M r . R o n Bell Margaret Borowski Mrs. Margaret Carson Dr. Jeff C a s t l e s Sarah Charles Vicky C h e o n g Lucinda Corr Miss A m a n d a Crawley Mrs. Merryn D a w b o r n - G u n d l a c h Mr. D a v i d D i m s e y Rebecca Eckhaus L u c y Elliott Summar Hammam Lynnda Heard Junior School Rachael Kirby Paul McPherson Mick Molloy Sara M o o d i e Mr. C h r i s N o t s i s Print R o o m E d w i n a Scott R o b Sitch Jason Stephens Anna Thwaites Q u y n h Tran Kathryn Wright Year T w e l v e C o m m i t t e e Year E l e v e n , M i d d l e S c h o o l , J u n i o r S e c o n d a r y S c h o o l C o m m i t t e e s P h o t o s c o u r t e s y of A B C ( P a g e s 5 & 7)

Silver &

Silver & Green 1993

I S S N 1039 - 138X Methodist Ladies' College Kew, Victoria, Australia © 1993