1991 Silver and Green

r

EditoriaC

We hassled, harassed and even cajoled you to write articles, and then... we were inundated!! Our embarrassing posters really did work!.

The thought of having our faces plastered over the school was not particularly appealing, however, as designers Anne Neville and Sari Harris promised, our posters were noticed . Based on World War One propaganda posters, they were supposed to induce pangs of guilt, which would result in truckloads of articles coming in so you too could "have a part in history". The response was fantastic but the magazine was limited to only 60 pages, so there were some things we couldn't fit in. It was difficult to find the right balance, and we realise that there will be some people who are disappointed because there's not enough sport, or music, or drama... or whatever. Sorry to those whose work didn't get published, and to people whose articles we had to edit. All of the articles, photos and graphics we were given were of a high standard - and very original!!

In second and third terms we ran a writing competition. Each year level was given a specific school-related topic, and we received many interesting and inspiring entries. The winning articles - by Kathryn James, Rachel Brick, and Elizabeth Thomas are on pages 16, 20 and 55. Congratulations girls!!

MLC is progressive in that we are always seeking to improve and update. Throughout this edition of Silver and Green we focus on the changes that have taken place in the last six years (since the 1991 Year 12s were in Year 7), or even longer.

Year 12s may be surprised to see that the promised Leavers' Book is missing! (Don't worry, it hasn't been stolen) it has been replaced by a FULL COLOUR poster and specific LEAVERS' SECTION at the back of Silver and Green. Why didn't it go ahead? Well, the content wasn't quite what we anticipated. It would have ended up being a magazine full of black and white photos - and financial restrictions made even that impossible!!

The task of selecting, editing and laying out articles was a lengthy and demanding one. Staff members who passed through the Bookroom during the September holidays were surprised to see that, yes, we were "still there". The question of "When will you get time to study for your exams?" often left us in a state of despair. Would it ever be finished? Yes! (Well, obviously...)

We have had a great time editing Silver and Green this year, and hope that you enjoy reading it.

Madonna and Jane Co-Editors: Madonna Deverson and Jane Libbis Committee: Photography: Anne Neville and others Sports Representatives: Tina Johnson and Jenny Wong Exchanges Representative: Naomi Widmer Music Writers: Kathya Martyres and Jane Wilhelm Feature Writer: Deborah Neumann Yr 11 Representatives: Jodie Baker and Melissa Lawton Yr 12 Representative: Philippa Sholl Community Groups Writer: Wendy Teoh Leavers' Committee Rep. : Vicky Huang Catering Writers: Ellen Kelly and Sophie Allen Business School Rep: Chantelle Durelle

Win tot have a part history?

WRITE!

SILV'

Thanks to: Everyone who helped type (Sarah, Bronwyn, Bee, Opal...)

Junior Secondary School Committee Leavers' Committee Everybody who contributed (without you Silver and Green couldn't exist!

Ms Amanda Crawley - Supervising Teacher & Editors' Friend Lynnda Heard - Our wonderful (and irreplacable!) "Mac" Operator Margaret Carson - our Guardian Angel!!

Mrs Fallshaw - computer advisor Mr Notsis - Photography Anthony Kost - The Scan Man Junior School staff & students - for making the cover photo possible The Bookroom - for donating the gift vouchers for the competition prize Our parents

2

SILVER&GREEN

From the Principal contents Editorial

2

Principal

3

Features

4

Farewells

6

Prefect Report

7

Politics

8

Music

10

Drama

11

Staff Quotes

12

Retrospectives

14

Junior School

15

Junior Sec.School

16

Middle School

20

Boarding House

24

Business School

26

Art

27

Houses

33

R.E.

38

Ariel

39

Exchanges

40

Environment

43

Past Students

44

Community Groups

45

Adventure Club

46

Sport

47

Senior School

50

Taken from 'Silver & Green' 1960 The year 1991 is reviewed in this edition of Silver and Green by a number of authors. Each speaks from a unique perspective. This is w h a t m a k e s this magazine interesting. As my contribution this year, I submit my "Opening of Marshmead Address" as it provides an insight into my perspective of MLC in 1991. It is appropriate to c o m m e n t that this address was composed and typed, with a number of drafts, on my laptop computer.

This typing and word-processing skill I did not have last year.

Properly MLC is aplace of learning, not just for students, but also for teachers.

The Marshmead Opening occurred on August 31, 1991 at Kew and Marshmead simultaneously. This was possible because of technology that is increasingly becoming a normal part of our lives at MLC. The address: Last night, I dreamed that...Fortunately, or is it unfortunately, I won't be telling you about this dream! Mostly I am reluctant to reveal the contents of my dreams. This reluctance I blame on Freud. Freud would have us examine our dreams to see what we have repressed. Maybe Freud is right in having us be introspective.

However that is not my purpose today. I want to consider a different type of dream, one that is outward looking, a vision.

"I have a dream that one day, this nation will rise up...", said Martin Luther King. And the nation did!

And we remember with gratitude, the inspiration and leadership of King.

Jacob gained a new vision of God through a dream. Jacob dreamed of a ladder to heaven, with Angels ascending and descending, linking heaven and earth. We are assembled today because our founders dared todream. They "dreamed of a school in the far-off years, a school that should lighten the world's dark days,..."

It is in such a context that MLC continues to unashamedly and even brazenly dream. We dream of an even better school than we have now. In ourdreaming, we recognise that our graduates will be living in the different world of the 21st Century. At MLC then, we must h e l p o u r s t u d e n t s to c r e a t e tomorrow's possibilities.

drive and heat our village. Even the carbon cycle finds expression in our sewerage system and woodlot.

We introduced a scientific, environmental and future orientated emphasis into our curriculum. We dedicate Marshmead as a place of learning for all who will live there and for all who will enjoy it from a distance, through ISDN.

Marshmead is our most recent dream, established to broaden our students'education. Marshmead is not just a place, it is an experience.

At Marshmead we are not trying to recreate the past, where early settlers lived close to nature without the " h o m e " comforts that we expect in 1991.

Consequently we i n c o r p o r a t e d into M a r s h m e a d technology for comfort, safety and education. Marshmead is not just for Year Nine students who will live there. It is for their families who are without their daughters for eight weeks, for teachers, curriculum writers and students at Kew whose lives are also affected

by M a r s h m e a d .

I w o u l d be embarrassed if Marshmead was only for MLC. It is my hope and prayer that it is for all young Australians.

All these students cannot stay at Marshmead. But M a r s h m e a d ' s s u c c e s s c o u l d l e a d to t h e i n c o r p o r a t i o n of a s i g n i f i c a n t residential experience into school days for all students. Wouldn't that be better than compulsory army training for all young people?

Today w e celebrate the partial a c h i e v e m e n t of this d r e a m .

Marshmead is physically established. But there is more to the Marshmead dream than a set of buildings. The people who live there will write its history. You, the staff and students, will either make it great or let it be ordinary. Its f u t u r e is n o w in y o u r h a n d s .

Whatever Y O U will and do, it becomes!

The early evidence of its greatness is encouraging. Tina Tran, who was at Marshmead in term 2 writes: "Marshmead was a place that was special to me...There I discovered my own individual, who had been trapped inside me. I saw a person who had never been revealed to me before. A person who impressed me.

A person who thought differently (to others)..."

T o d a y w e c e l e b r a t e as o n e community, united by the stunning technology of satellite. We give thanks to God for the opportunity that is before us. We express appreciation to all the people who have worked to make this day possible. Most importantly, today we commit ourselves to the further development of the Marshmead experience.

At Marshmead we found the place where the God of creation can confront you. We chose a unique Australian setting that is already a world heritage. We overcame a lot of obstacles such as covenants, p e r m i t s , time, f u n d s , d i f f e r e n t visions....We found excellent planning and building consultants to help us translate our dream into reality. We established a village where isolation, interdependence and opportunity could allow true community spirit to develop. We designed Marshmead to use the power of the sun, wind, trees and, perhaps soon, flowing water to light,

Marshmead is not an end but a new beginning! "I have a dream", but as we know " A N Y dream won't do."

It has to be a Christian dream of W H A T M I G H T BE for girls and the college. This is the dream, the vision, that drives us forward. This is, at heart, what makes us MLC.

David Loader. Principal

3

MLC Changes.. .& Changes...&chang An M L C Girl For Such A Long, Long, Long Time Normal people would have entered MLC at Year 7, right?

No! There are some abnormal people who came to MLC as mere children, innocent unsuspecting youngsters. There are a few of us around, those who came in the Junior School, but I don't think you can actually find us very easily.

One of the greatest events in Junior School m u s t h a v e been the promotion in Grade 5 from using HB pencils to actual, genuine pens, and you could have liquid paper too! (Although it was frowned upon). Easter time brought the Easter hunt, up in Senior School. A senior student would dress up as the Easter Bunny for us and help us look for chocolate eggs. Now we know, she was a fake!

We spent our life as Junior MLC girls playing 'around the front'.

You wouldn't believe the luxurious pond and brand new play equipment - complete with a flying fox- that is there now. What happened to the good old rusty monkey bars? Does anybody recall going over the road?

Remember the pond? There must have been at least one person who fell into it, even though the water must have been pretty disgusting, considering it was dark green (to match the school colours?) How about the hill? It was prefect for rolling-down-and-gettingexcessively-dizzy. Who could forget the tram? That's right, playing 'stationary' behind the tram and jumping from one seat to another on the inside. The green tram must be legendary for every single girl who left the Junior School to f a c e the big, bad d e p t h s of Senior School.

Senior School - unknown faces, enormous buildings, scary looking teachers and, of course, 'big' girls.

Grade Six was getting used to the seven-period days and seven-day cycles, wearing big Senior School uniforms (the winter skirt fell off if you didn't have any hips!) and personal d e v e l o p m e n t (where would we be without PD?) This was also the last year where you knew almost everybody in the year level. Year 7 was the year when everybody came. All those faces!

All those names! I can imagine what it was like to come to a new school, but imagine what it was like to go to your old school and only know four of the girls in your class.

MLC changes in subtle ways almost every day and since the 1991 year 12s were in year 7, there have been many modifications...

(And not very well, I might add).

Horrifying! Old friendships were split up, but many new ones were made.

W h o could f o r g e t those first haunting tales about Nellie Fitchett?

Was it the historical trip down the stairs that killed her? Or the fatal dose of typhoid fever? Was she buried under the flags near the chapel? Or is her coffin in the highest room of the tower?

One of the most remarkable things about having come to MLC for fourteen of my seventeen years is that I've noticed the changes. In Grade Six we began voting for which colour socks would be best forthe uniform. (Those white socks in summer, and black in winter are far better than the grey socks with little green bands on them that nobody wanted!) The old Phys Ed building had the deep, dark storeroom, the multipurpose wooden hall (with so many lines on the floor you couldn't remember which game you were playing), the two squash courts that echoed well, the old swimming pool and the changing room with the little basin of freezing cold water to clean feet that everybody stepped around anyway.

Now, to replace the old building, we have a wonderful new PEC, but in a way I miss the old dingy building.

'J-(ozv

can it he that ait this

happened to our schoolin my lifetime at MLC? There are still more changes that c a n n o t be o v e r l o o k e d .

The centenary building was opened, new stairs and a r a m p in the old courtyard, new locker rooms for Middle School that looked old in three m o n t h s , the p o r t a b l e classrooms removed f r o m the quadrangle, the concrete dug up and replaced by green grass and young trees, the Big Tuck and Little Tuck became buddies and decided to move to under Staff Centre, the big old oak tree with the trunk as thick and wide as ten people huddled together, was cut down(firewood?).

The library has now been caught in the wires of technology (ugh, imagine sticking computer label s in all those books!), the boarders have plumbing and heat but they still have ghosts, the white arch near the chapel was erased, the seven red

tennis courts and green netball court were squashed under the PEC, the oval has shrunk, the Pink Palace became pink and the OLCD had a facelift.

How can it be that all this happened to our school, in my lifetime at MLC? I've noticed every single change, from the removal of the arch in the chapel gardens, to the new paint-job on the Music School.

Everything has been for us, the students, for future students and for the school. Looking around, I don't think there will be many students who won't see MLC as being a s i g n i f i c a n t part of their life, especially for those who had been there as long as I have. This is where I learnt the d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n " t h e r e " , " t h e i r " and "they're" and this is where I learnt Integral Calculus. Ahhhhhh! I feel very old and very soon, I will be an "old" MLC girl.

Michelle Ho. Yr. 12

The End of an Era. Latin had a profound influence on many students wanting to retain some of the splendours of the old world. The Latin students of 1990, all ten of them, are most likely to be the last in MLC. Latin, a language and a history.

We were able to study the history of the Roman Empire by translating fictitional stories set in that time. We studied Latin love poetry, the influence of the Roman Empire on modern civilization and architecture, and Latin in modern languages and in the modern world. A vast number of customs and beliefs have been passed down through the generations, originating from Roman superstitions and every day life. For example; the veil of a bride covers her face because when a man was buying a wife or slave girl, he did not see what he was getting until after the deal was made and he could not change his mind.

Both Latin and English grammar were studied in detail. Numerous aspects, helped to improve our English writing style, increase our vocabulary and make our writing more sophisticated. The grammar aided us in learning other languages, especially as most of the class were learning another language (other than Latin). Latin was most useful in learning German and French and also, to a certain extent, Japanese.

In 1988, 32 students chose to learn Latin as they commenced Year eight. There was over a 50% dropout rate going into Year 9 as the Year 10 students of 1988 had to finish Latin due also to low numbers. Out of the 13 students in Year 9, ten chose to continue into Year 11.

After being taught by the same teacher and having the same people in the class three years running, we got to know each other quite well. We had many conversations during classes about life and the new V.C.E., discussed issues relevant to us as teenagers and young adults, moral standards, religion, beliefs, experiences, English, universities and just about anything.

This is not to say that we didn't work. We did - learning vocabulary, translating stories, reading Latin aloud, reading about Roman life and most importantly, learning grammar.

If ever you have the opportunity to learn Latin, take it! It is an invaluable help for English, and any other language you might learn. It increases your general knowledge in a variety of areas and most of all, it is fun.

Ingrid Hopper Yr 11

CHANGES

40 TOP CHANGES since the class of '91 were in year 7 1. New House colours - they used to be a strip of coloured material sewn on top of blazer pocket, now a metal badge.

Re-dates have changed their appearance too.

2. Grade 6s have moved to Junior School, they used to be in Wood Wing.

3. Year 7 use computers in their classrooms.

4. Grade 5s and 6s have laptops.

5. Renovations to Junior School.

6. PEC has been built, used to have a gym where the Chapel Car Park is now.

7. The "Tower" outside the science labs has been built (and changed colour).

8. N e w Heads of J S S a n d Middle Schools.

9. N e w school uniform. No tie with winter uniform any more.

10. N e w c h o i r a n d o r c h e s t r a performance outfit, now a green skirt and white blouse, used to be a blue dress.

11. New House PE top, used to all wear MLC sport's shirts and rugby tops.

12. B o o k r o o m d e s k t o p publishing facility. Renovations to the Bookroom.

13. Fluoro House caps for aths and swimming etc.

14. Mallacoota.

15. Year 10 Outward Bound.

16. Face-lift to OLCD department.

17. Face-lift to Nevile and Nicholas.

18. Renovations to Boarding House.

19. New Year 11 Committee Badge 20. Middle School office has moved, it used to be in the Pink Palace.

21. MLC girls are allowed to play football in PE lessons 22. Year 7s can choose which language they will study, instead of having to do French.

23. Hot chocolate machine and vending machine in the Tuckshop.

24. Mr. Bell.

25. Renovations to the library.

26. Now have two careers counsellors, not just one.

27. Two female chaplains, compared to two male chaplains when w e were in year 7.

28. Year 12 Leaving Poster.

29. Leaver's Tee shirt.

30. New 'Big Band' in the Music School 31. MLC's Male Voice Choir 32. Year Ten spares 33. Year 8 social 34. Choir Folder for Concert Choir 35. Carpet in the Tuckshop 36. Art in Cato Wing 37. Mrs Chamberlain's office in Yr 11 Common Room.

38. N e w English office in Centenary level 3 39. Boarding House name change 40. Sickbay renovations and name change to the MLC Health Centre.

Do you have memory of. ?

a

Nicholas. Nevile. Concrete floors, icy winds and rain battering your tired bod as you battle the torrid elements in that search for the ever elusive class. The echoing sighs of relief as that last beautiful pane of glass was laid, the sense of peace, of warmth, the carpet curling and bouncing with a springy freshness as you took the first sacred steps upon it. But they, in their infinite kindness, have left us with a shrine to shed our precious tears upon Nicholas, downstairs, still fresh with the memory of an icy winter's day, the blood tingles with the anticipated excitement of a return to the days of childhood. I hear the youngens' calling in all the earnestness of their innocent days 'but we don't like it'.

'You'll get your turn my chillun' we answer (strength builds character). Glass bricks, carpet, paint - the amusement of small things.

Junior school laptops, the silent ferocity of the year five's tapping away with a wpm score that could give most of business school a run for its money. All out war to see who has the most speed. Gun fight, 9am, MLC corral - to surviiiive in this world, pilgrim, ya gotta start 'em young.

How they have changed

Tackling New Sports This year MLC has included Aussie Rules in its curriculum. Football is taught to year 10 girls for two lessons.

In these lessons, girls are taught the skills necessary to play a modified game of football, including marking, kicking etc. However, they are not taught skills such as tackling and shepherding. This is because Aussie Rules at MLC is played as a non-contact sport. It is school policy that prevents football from being played as a body contact sport.

The head of Physical Education, Mrs Armstrong, sees contact football as undesirable, "If a game can be played without contact there's nothing wrong with that game". Football is not seen as a traditional girls' sport and MLC's main intention is to promote women's sport. As football cannot be played by women at club or state level, it is not seen as being an important game, essential for teaching to girls. Soccer, however, is seen to have potential for women and is taught as a form of football.

Some of the young PE teachers seem to be in favour of the introduction of footy. The girls too, seem enthusiastic on the idea. Football at MLC is seen as something to "have a go at" and is something different and fun. _ Sonika Kapoor Yr 12

Remember the past ... fly back in time (it wasn't that long ago so don't go too far) - the woe of every fashion victim - the school uniform.

Sometimes I believe uniforms were primarily invented to give everybody something to whinge about. Do you remember those little things we used to do to our ties to make us feel o' so trendy - the fat bit tucked into our shirts with only the thin strip at the front showing the bane of every regulator and if we felt like being extra daring we'd even wear knee high socks instead of those ugly short ones that everyone who was anyone rolled down around their ankles as far as they would go.

A quick survey of Year 12 revealed these startling facts about the old uniform: ugly, grey stockings, starched collars, foul, disgusting, y ucky green checks and ties (oh my goodness don 'teven talk about ties).

'They (the ties) used to try and strangle us. They were in league with the teachers. How could we defend ourselves? We were helpless'.

With the new uniforms, we were given freedom. We gained the ability, born of necessity (as we all looked so much more attractive to the men of the world) to leap tall buildings in a single bound, or at least scale small fences.

Deborah Neumann. Yr 12

Farewell!

Mr Barry Fry kindly wrote the farewells for Mrs Johnson and Miss Pratt on behalf of Silver & Green.

GOOD BYE TO OUR CHIEF OF STAFF Mrs. Fay Johnson, our greatly loved and valued Chief of Staff, will retire at the end of 1991. As colleague of Fay's for the entire sixteen years she has spent at M.L.C, I'm sure she will quickly become involved in further educational and "extra-curricular" activities.

Fay has always been interested in the derivation and exact use of words. Not surprisingly, as her father was a newspaper editor, journalism was her particular interest.

Her first job was as a cadet reporter for the Christchuch Star-Sun. Three years later, she worked in the Talks Section of the New Zealand Broadcasting Service. Then, for a period of ten years, Fay concentrated on raising her family.

When the family moved to Australia in 1969, Fay resumed her professional career, working part-time in the Publications Branch of the Victorian Education Department. One of her jobs there included editing a teacher's magazine. During this time, she managed to complete her Diploma of Education parttime at Melbourne University by attending evening lectures.

Fay was appointed to MLC by Mr Woodgate in Term III, 1975. She taught mainly Senior English, but also Latin, which she describes as "a wonderful subject" and History. She was House Mistress of Nevile for four years.

As a newcomer to MLC, Fay enjoyed being associated with the house which was founded for first generation MLC students.

In 1982, Fay was appointed Senior English Co-ordinator, and two years later succeeded Miss Val Kerr as Chief of Staff, a position by which she is best known to most of her colleagues.

As Chief of Staff, Fay has shown great concern for the well-being of all staff members. Her quiet acts of kindness have been appreciated by many colleagues. Her task ensuring that staff members are happy is not an easy one - amongst other tasks she has to supervise the allotment of emergency periods when staff are absent through illness, excursions, or In-Service Activities, as well as organise yard Duty and Tram Duty - yet her daily interaction with so many teachers has been harmonious, largely because we are aware that we are valued by Fay. She describes the teaching staff at MLC as "hardworking and talented... a constant

source of amazement", and says, "Their praises need to be sung."

spent finalising timetable details so that the school can run smoothly from Day 1.

In addition to her duties as Chief of Staff, Fay took over the position of Editor of "The Star" in 1988, a job which she has particularly enjoyed and, to which, in the light of her previous journalistic experience and the contribution she made for a number of years to the school magazine "Silver and Green", she was particularly well suited.

But it is not just in her special areas of expertise -teaching, timetables, and school diary- that Miss Pratt never ceases to astonish those of us who work with her. She also has an uncanny knack of getting straight to the point and expressing a seemingly complex idea simply and concisely. For many years we shared the same staff workroom and though I was the English teacher and Nancy the Mathematics teacher, when searching for the apt word or phrase, I always knew whotoconsult. Many times in Senior School Committee meetings, after we had been discussing an apparently insoluble issue for some time, we would be rescued by a clearly worded Pratt motion which often had the effect of making us wonder why we had found the issue such a complex one.

When asked what aspects of MLC life she has most enjoyed, Fay referred to the "dayto-day relationships with students which are so rewarding in English teaching" and "helping the teachers to ensure that students..are learning productively."

Fay, we wish you every happiness in the years that lie ahead. We are going to miss you greatly. When the great nineteenth century Norwegian dramatist said farewell to William Archer, the man who translated his plays into English, thereby greatly widening Ibsen's reading and viewing public, his succint words were "Tak fur alt" (Thanks for all). These are the sentiments we want you to take away from us, Fay. B.A.F

"General info: Miss Pratt" This evening the Senior School staff are scatteredthroughoutthe Centenary Building giving information to parents about the subject material of their particular studies.

As Activities Co-ordinator, I have been placing notices around various areas of the building indicating where the study talks are being held. One large notice reads :"General Information - Miss Pratt".

How apt! In my experience, Nancy isthe one to go to when information about MLC activities is needed. She seems to have at her fingertips all the important dates, and the superbly detailed school diary testifies to this. Herfamiliarity with the school timetable, with which she has been involved since the end of 1974, is so great that she may be more aware than you of where you should be heading, whether you are student or staff member. How many hours of extra time including, much of our holiday time- she has

Nancy leaves us after 26 years at MLC. She was appointed by Dr. Wood in 1966, his last year as Principal, and is one of the few remaining members of staff whose teaching career at MLC spans three principals. During her time .here, Nancy has been a lady of many parts. Most of her teaching has been in Mathematics, but she has also taught Religious Education and Year 11 Geography.

During the 1970's, she was House Mistress of Fitchett and has continued to show a keen interest in the fortunes of the house named after the school founder. In 1974, she was appointed Year 11 Co-ordinator, a position she held for six years.

Before coming to MLC, Nancy had spent six years in Fijian schools, the first two years at a government boarding school for Fijian girls, and the following four years at a Methodist school established primarily for Indian girls. During this time, she taught English, Geography and even History as well as Mathematics. Both of these schools were relatively small; hence, coming to a place the size of MLC was a great contrast for her as a new Year 7 girl now finds coming to MLC from primary school. "For a long time it felt very strange to know so few of the staff and students", Nancy said.

Nancy enjoys immense respect from her colleagues, both teaching and administrative.

We are all going to miss her greatly, but wish her good health and happiness in her wellearned retirement.

B.A.F.

A Tribute: Mrs Eileen Wells...

W h e n asked to write an article about m y aunt, Eileen W e l l s , I had no idea where to begin. B e c a u s e E i l e e n h a d n e v e r taught m e , it s e e m e d sensible to ask s o m e of the students w h o were in her 7 E f o r m last year.

M i c h e l l e Y o u n g , S u z i e Kozaris, Kristie Scarlett, K a r e n T o n g and Catherine D e v i n e w e r e only too happy to tell m e a bit about how they r e m e m b e r M r s Wells.

O n e of her characteristics that the girls stressed w a s that " s h e never, e v e r got m a d " . I think this w a s very typical of Eileen; as a teacher, an aunty, m o t h e r , and a w i f e .

"Friendly, straight-forward, f u n n y , very c o m f o r t i n g , a l w a y s smiling, she w a s sort of quiet, shy m a y b e " . " S h e a l w a y s used to say, 'Quiet, chatterboxes!'".

"If the c l a s s r o o m w a s m e s s y , she w o u l d say; ' I ' 11 go outside and c o m e back in 5 m i n s . If i t ' s not tidy, you can stay in.' So w e tidied it". " S h e used to get our b a g s and hide t h e m b e c a u s e the r o o m w a s so m e s s y . O n c e w e c a m e to school and all our stuff w a s locked in the filing cabinet. I think she e n j o y e d that." " S h e a l w a y s c o n f i s c a t e d notes. She told us that if w e w a n t e d to send notes to each other, w e had to send t h e m discreetly". " S h e w a s n e v e r late to class and she a l w a y s got your w o r k b a c k o n time.

If we did a test, w e ' d get it b a c k the next day". " W e used to p u s h her desk b a c k w a r d s so that she h a d to m o v e it f o r w a r d to fit in. She a l w a y s went along with a j o k e " . " S h e was good at explaining maths", "...very c o m f o r t i n g . O n c e s o m e o n e w a s really upset and M r s Wells was very nice. I f o r g o t m y h o m e w o r k o n c e and she d i d n ' t get m a d " . " S h e w a s a great supporter. In the Grade 7 Sports she really e n c o u r a g e d us".

"She always wore bright clothes...she told j o k e s to m a k e e v e r y o n e laugh... and she gave us all Smarties at the e n d of the y e a r "

Eileen Wells, school teacher, will live on through the lives of all her pupils. W e miss E i l e e n ' s c h e e r f u l smile and w a r m personality.

Beth Fuller Yrl2 Miss Pratt, Mrs Johnson and Mrs Prest

The Bold & The Beautiful Emblazoned with our shiny gold stars; m a t u r e and r e s p o n s i b l e representatives of our grand, old school; role models for the 2000 strong student body; we are a group of 24 Year 12 students. Each week we must endure the tortures and hazards that come hand-in-hand with tram duty and uniform blitzes, yet we adamantly soldier on, hoping that one day, every single MLC student will have been transformed into a traffic-light-abiding, correctuniform-wearing, student of the 1990's!

Senior prefects, left to right, Megan Warrel, Beth Fuller and Angela Andrews

This year, we the M L C prefects of 1991, wished to focus upon one central theme, (besides encouraging s t u d e n t s to w e a r the u n i f o r m correctly!!): communication and interaction both within MLC itself, and with various other schools.

We commenced the year with this objective in mind. The first of our Summer Holiday commitments was to welcome the new Senior students of MLC to our school, taking them on a guided tour of the buildings and facilities and telling them a bit about school life. The new Overseas students were also in for a treat, when we offered to take them on a sightseeing trip around Melbourne in mid-January, which included a visit to the State Library and Museum. We wanted to make the students feel a little more at ease in their new environment and to help them get to know some of the "older" students a little. These two outings marked the beginning of some of the interesting and challenging extra-curricular activities that we were yet to encounter.

The annual Grade 5 picnic of food and g a m e s was held in early A u t u m n . About 60 lively and raucous Grade 5 students made their way up to the Front Gardens, where rounds of fairy bread and gallons of cordial were quickly devoured. Our new friends from Junior School thoroughly enjoyed games such as Cat and mouse and tiggy, protected from the sweltering sun by the large shady oak trees.

Visits by the prefects to the Grade 6 Assembly once a cycle were a new initiative this year, which helped to foster a new form of understanding and friendship between the "big" girls of Senior School, and the elder girls of Junior School, who are to embark on their own secondary school journey this coming year.

Mature and responsible role models??

P r e f e c t s , f u n c t i o n i n g b o t h as observers and advisers, also sat in on the Yr 11 Committee and Middle School S.R.C; good places for the exchange of ideas and experiences.

"we challenged the prefects of Scotch College to a game of netbalT A Year 12 barbeque was held midyear, with hordes of year twelves swarming to the back of Senior Centre, creating ajovial atmosphere away from the pressures of school work. The funds raised from this BBQ went some way in helping to establish the new L e a v e r ' s full colour poster, designed specifically for Year 12s. A year 12 T-Shirt was a l s o l a u n c h e d t h i s y e a r , and hopefully both the poster and the TShirt will become institutionalized as M L C traditions in the years to come.

The prefects made an enthusiastic mob of supporters for both the All Schools swimming and diving meet held at the state Swim Centre, and Regatta held on the Barwon River for the Head of School Girls'in Geelong. Due to the excellence of our MLC teams, (and the vocal support that we provided), we demolished our competitors in the swimming , and we spectacularly won the Open 8 in rowing.

In accordance with our initiative to enhance communication with other schools, we have invited our counterparts from other colleges to an informal afternoon tea. This will give us the opportunityto meet other school captains and the chance to discuss some of the problems that we have encountered as leaders.

Earlier in the year we challenged the prefects of Scotch College to a game of netball, held in our P.E. Complex.

O u r a m a z i n g ballh a n d l i n g s k i l l s , and t a c t i c a l expertise, as well as the support from the enthusiastic crowd helped us work ourwaytoagloriousv ictory ( well, that's our version of events anyway!)

We are also hoping to invite some

X a v i e r students to M L C f o r a lunchtime debate: "That Australian males should be returned to sender", with the Xavier students debating the a f f i r m a t i v e . It should be interesting to say the least!

The Prefects this year have not only had a full social and PR agenda, but have also initiated a proposal for a Prefect Budget to facilitate the smoother organisation of some of our functions, and have suggested modification in the awarding of school colours, as they are currently p e r c e i v e d to b e n o t e n t i r e l y equitable. We have been involved in various aspects of the Senior School Church Service; we ushered for the Gala Concert, supported the Jackson Family concert, as well as appearing at numerous other School functions.

T h e p r e f e c t s of 1991 h a v e experienced a busy, and often tiring, year, yet one that has been most productive and rewarding to all involved. We would like to thank Mrs McKenzie for her continuing support and encouragement, and to the staff and students of MLC who have made 1991 such a memorable year. Thank-you

Angela Andrews. Senior Prefect

POLITICS Jeff Kennett Visits MLC " A t t i m e s y o u will g e t i n t o trouble...but this is short term. Be honest and frank...and that won't effect you in the long term. Be honest all the time." Jeff Kennett offered these words of advice to Yr 11 and 12 Politics students when he visited on June 13. His visit was an impressive affair, with all forms of media attending to cover the event.

Many issues were covered with the dominant topic being the state of the economy.

In Mr Kennett's opinion the current political and economic situation is damaging to all Victorians, and that nothing is stable...The reason for t h i s is p r i m a r i l y t h e l a c k of c o n f i d e n c e ; f e w e r p e o p l e are investing.

In discussing the idea that an early election may be forced by blocking supply, Jeff Kennett was not giving anything away. However, he did state that he wanted an election as soon as possible, and would consider blocking the budget if it became necessary.

M a n y people believe that Jeff Kennett has a tempestuous relationship with the media. He claims he doesn't have a general complaint about the media and that he's open and honest about policies when discussing such topics with the media.

When Jeff Kennett was questioned about his opinion of Premier Kirner, h e c o n v i n c e d us t h a t t h e i r relationship was not how it is often portrayed in the media; they are not at each others throats all the time.

Nevertheless, he argued that as she has held several ministerial positions in her party, she should take some responsibility for the present economic disaster.

Mr Kennett pursued the idea that the opposition has an obligation to try everything they can. Therefore, they will keep trying to succeed.

'Sit back and wait...that's not what political parties are all about. We have to represent the public...They (the public) are angry, suppressed and depressed...We have to mirror their concerns... Success won' t come from sitting back and waiting. You have to fight for it."

"It doesn't matter who cause the problem, it just has to be fixed."

Jodie Baker and Melissa Lawton.

Yrll

(Politics is not merely a te\t book subject, it requires observation and appreciation of our political world.

Minister for Education: Mr Barry Pullen On Tuesday 3oth April, the current state Minister for Education, Mr Barry Pullen, visited MLC to talk with the VCE politics students.

The object of his visit was to meet the politics faculty and the students and, as to be expected, VCE was the main topic discussed.

Mr Pullen is the sitting member for the Province of Melbourne, and has previously held the position of Minister for Housing. He gave us the impression that it was one portfolio he really enjoyed having.

T h e h u g e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of Education was handed to him after Joan Kirner was elected Victorian Premier... a lady Mr Pullen has much respect for, saying that she had entered the job in most difficult circumstances showing nothing but "fantastic courage".

Avid Politics students questioned him on matters of current interest such as his reaction to Mr Kennett's r e - i n s t a t e m e n t as O p p o s i t i o n Leader, and the issue of blocking supply, or the reason why the government didn't simply quit due to its u n p o p u l a r i t y .

This p r o v o k e d a s t a t e m e n t about a government's entitlement to call an election whenever they feel it's appropriate.

M r Pullen was asked how he responded to the criticism VCE has attracted, he stressed that he is taking it seriously but is not about to back away from VCE.

Kylie's Views From the Gallery As part of the Politics course this year we have been getting to know politicians and their practices. During terms one and t w o , we met two very distinguished political figures: from each side of the house, Mr Pullen and Mr Kennett. To give us even more of an insight to the functions of parliament, we spoke to a political correspondent.

Kylie Davis, an MLC old girl, former editor of Silver and Green, finished school in 1987. Since, she has received a cadetship with The Australian. S h e has paved a way for herself in political journalism, and the job required her to join the "pack" in Canberra.

Kylie spoke candidly of her experiences with politicians, most notably Paul Keating and Bob Hawke, and explained how our front page stories came to be!

Kylie explained in detail how the top political correspondents, such as Laurie Oakes, Paul Kelly and Michelle Grattan, make and break stories that shape Australian's opinions. Part of t h e process i n getti ng good stories is findi ng important (and reliable) contacts within parliament and also becoming friendly with the numerous press secretaries who just about control our news.

Although journalism had gradually made her cynical about the parliamentary system, her knowledge of behind the scenes aspects was invaluable a n d gave us a n e w perspective of the Australian Parliamentary system.

Jodie Baker andMelissa Lawton. Yr 11

The view up Andrew Peacock's nostrils It was to be an adventure for the Yr 11 and 12 politics students (and a few historians and arty farties) to the place of worshipPARLIAMENT HOUSE!!

The political iconsofourtime. Bob,Paul,John and Andrew (I have to mention him,after all he is the member of Kooyong) were there and we were able to see them strut their stuff. This wonderful experience was to be suddenly jeopardized when I fractured my ankle. Impressing the boys with my political knowledge whilst perched on crutches was not my original idea and yet I was determined to remain poised and as inconspicuous as possible with crutches, school uniform, the works.

You can imagine my enjoyment as my crutches set off every alarm at the airport in Melbourne,Canberra and Parliament House.

If that wasn't bad enough, some kind old gentlemen minding the doors inside Parliament house decided that I would be better off in a wheel chair. And we aren't talking just any old wheelchair. Crikey! This thing had little feet rests and even a belt to strap you in. As you can imagine I felt good!!

No one else on the tour seemed to mind my predicament. How exciting, I got to go in the disabled elevator and was allowed to watch the parliamentary proceedings parked out in the aisle. So much for remaining inconspicuous.

Finally we came to the highlight of the day, an intimate chat with Andrew Peacock. I was hoping I could escape from my wheel chair and quietly slide into a back row somewhere.

No such luck. I was conveniently parked directly under good old Andrew's nose. Not the prettiest sight I can assure you.

So there I am staring into the depths and beyond of Andrew's nostrils trying desperately to take his discussion about Australia's involvement in the Gulf War seriously. I had nowhere to turn. Looking straight ahead was definitely out of the question! So much for my big break into the world of politics. The only time Andrew even looked in my direction (that was directly downwards) was to give me a sympathetic smile and a wink of understanding. Can you believe that?. Andrew Peacock winked at me! Unfortunately no one else saw. After all every other person was standing up looking normal.

Surprisingly, the tables were then turned, and we were asked what we thought about Australian Studies.

Mr Pullen admitted that the course would be reviewed and maybe made non-complusory. Other aspects concerning the VCE he said would also need fine tuning.

Mr Pullen seemed confident of achieving success in the future with both the VCE and another term for the Labor Government. The talk was ended with the cutting of a cake in honour of the Labor Party's 100 years in politics.

Well there you have it, my brush with fame.

My first intimate moment with an icon of the political arena, even if it was from a most unflattering position. Oh well as the saying goes,start at the bottom or should I say... .well you know where and work your way up.

Melissa Lawton. Yr 11

Debi Gravestock. Yr. 12 An adoring Gough Fan

I

P O L I T I C S

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M a d e His M u m Cry

Continuing our focus on the changes within M.L.C. here is perhaps one of the more significant alterations...

Mr Bell's image.

Mr Bell is lounging comfortably in his chair, eating a banana.

The coaching room is heavily scented with a mixture of Kouros and tropicana pizza as I struggle to conduct a probing, serious interview. I want to know what inspired him to u n d e r g o such dramatic changes to his appearance;

NAM| .

KorJ r,»,.

Manager , Before: subject of attack in Brunswick

Street.

After: Looks like everyone else in Brunswick St

Introducing... Wendy Phillips NAME: Ms Wendy Phillips AGE: Negotiable EYE COLOUR: Green POSITION AT M.L.C : Year 9 Student Co-ordinator Year 9 Debating Co-ordinator Senior Teacher Politics and History Politics Co-ordinator (term 3) DESCRIBE YOURSELF: Unique - that's what my friends tell me. Would you believe indescribable? A tad similar to Elle McPherson (same colour hair!)

HOBBIES/INTERESTS: Renovating my house,debating topical events, reading, dining out, the beach, travel, restoring old furniture, gardening, scuba diving, sailing, browsing antique markets, visiting friends, cricket (watching), parties.

FAVOURITE TV SHOW: Moonlighting!

FAVOURITE SONG: "Let It Be" FAVOURITE MOVIE: Gone With The Wind /Beaches FAVOURITE COLOUR: Blue, but yellow for Fitchett when in the vicinity of 207 Barkers Road!

W H O DO Y O U ADMIRE MOST A N D W H Y ? Elton John -the most amazing voice.

The Beatles - revolutionary entertainment. Gorbachev - politically inspiring. Gough Whitlam. Menzies.

W H A T W O U L D YOU TAKE IF Y O U R HOUSE W A S BURNING D O W N ? A hose to put the fire out! Then my Nana's letters from her overseas travels in the 1930's, 40's and 50's THE BEST THING ABOUT M.L.C.?: The Boarders, The Politics room (cent 3.1) THE W O R S T THING A B O U T M.L.C.?: That Politics is not compulsory at all year levels FAVOURITE SUBJECT AT SCHOOL?: Politics - without question!

Jenny Wona 12v

" M L C is a very progressive school.

A constant desire for change is built into this school, which can be a bit frightening because you just think you've mastered something, and then a change comes along". Mr Bell feels that after eight years of teaching here, and having witnessed the enormous changes made at the school, that it was time for him to catch up; "I was still stuck in 1978".

What other factors influenced the change? The Mr Bell of old was indeed a "seventies cultural icon" (his words, not mine!) living in an up-and-coming nineties yuppified suburb.

A s he w a l k e d d o w n Brunswick St he had little, if any, street-cred. Have you ever felt like the whole street was staring at you and laughing behind your back?

This is the kind of persecution Mr Bell had to cope with. Never again though; "I couldn't be seen on the streets without being assaulted. I was sick of being pointed at and sneered at, so I thought I'd give in to peer group pressure and look like everyone else in Brunswick St".

The first step in becoming remotely fashionable was to have his ears pierced.

After a particularly successful Men Against Patriarchy macrame pattern swap-session, he decided to be "shackled". Not one, but two holes were pierced into his previously unscathed lobes.

The second step in the transformation was the hair. The chosen hairdresser completely ignored what Mr Bell requested and went wild with the scissors. "He was an a b s t r a c t e x p r e s s i o n i s t , treating hair as an artform. I eventually ended up with the same cut he h a d " .

T h e result was unsatisfactory to begin with; "he shaved everything off. I have a long, thin face and I just looked like a pencil. I was horrified". The moustache of seven years went, Mr Bell discovered that he did indeed h a v e an u p p e r lip. T h e n e w hairdresser said "let's experiment with colour" and so they did.

Consider the political scene at the time; the Gulf War was in full swing and the mood was black. The black in our lives, and the black plumes of smoke rising f r o m the burning Kuwaiti oil wells, was a m a j o r influence on this passionate follower of world politics. He proudly confesses: " I ' m a walking political statement".

How did people react to the new look? His mother for instance? " M u m didn't like the first haircut because she could see my scalp.

The dyeing was also a problem, she c r i e d on the p h o n e , y e s , she whinged. When I went to my home town, I had to hide in the bedroom when visitors came so they couldn 't see me". The staff and students were equally shocked and horrified although, as new additions were made every fortnight, everyone gradually became immune to it all.

There are problems associated with such a sudden and dramatic change of a p p e a r a n c e ; " p e o p l e d o n ' t recognise me, they just walk straight past". Roots become a problem. A dye job is a lifelong commitment but Mr Bell is willing to persevere with the hassles of regrowth and redyeing because basically, he likes black.

Not satisfied with altering himself visually, the changes have extended to his whole lifestyle. Mr Bell has s u c c e s s f u l l y m a n a g e d to s t o p smoking. He admits that quitting was difficult but "it says to you that you havecontrol overyourself - I'll be a role model".

A project that Mr Bell is particularly excited about is the writing of a new textbook about T h e A m e r i c a n , Australian and Soviet political systems; a joint effort with History teacher, Mr Marks.

1991 appears to have made a lasting impression on Mr Bell. He has laughed in the face of predictability and made admirable changes to his lifestyle. The philosophy behind it all is straightforward; "You have to stop thinking the world is divided into those who bother and those who don't. You don't have to be particularly talented, you may get a f e w k n o c k b a c k s , but generally speaking; you can make m a j o r changes in your life if you just bother" -and it works!

Madonna Deverson Yr 12

Taken from 'Silver & Green'. ne 1956

A Gala Affair There must be hundreds - even thousands of names listed in a Gala Concert Program. A d d to that the number of people who drag themselves back from work or school on a Friday evening, dressed up in their finery and go to Dallas Brooks Hall to watch their daughters, grand-daughters, nieces and aunties display their musical know-how.

If numbers are any indication of a successful concert, t h e 1991 Gala Concert was quite an accomplishment.

Numbers aside, the music, from Junior School's "Who Killed Cock Robin" to the dramatic crescendos of the Mozart Mass, was a pleasure to listen to.

Mozart's Grand Mass

Senior School House Music

Special thanks to Dvorak, Mozart, Mrs Elton-Brown and all the others w h o contributed to these melodic moments.

Kathya Martyres Yr12.

Pity the girl who is elected House Music Captain: not only does she have to coax a house of sluggish and stressed girls into singing, but she also has the unenviable task of co-ordinating the i n s t r u m e n t a l , c h o r a l a n d variety selections for a day which comes too quickly. Regardless of whether their House comes first or fifth, there is no doubt that House Captains deserve the prize for the most anxious and strained expressions to be found in the school during the first three weeks of third term.

The 1991 Senior School House Music Contestwasatestamenttothediversity of musical talent at MLC. Instrumental pieces ranged from a concerto for two violins accompanied by a harpsichord to Mozart's "The Magic Flute" overture.

Similarly, the varied chofal selections included a negro spiritual, followed by Paul Simon's "Sounds of Silence." The massed singing section produced a more 'conventional' array of pieces, with the almost inevitable inclusion of at least one Billy Joel ballad. Finally came the long awaited section: VARIETY! With songs from 'Pirates of Penzance", "My Fair Lady", "Cabaret", "Dick Tracy" and Barry Manilow's colourful "Copacobana", the audience w a s treated to a feast of distinctive, highly polished productions.

The culmination of hours of rehearsals makes any House Music Contest an unforgettable day for all participants, regardless of final scores.

Jane Wilhelm

This year, w e had the rare opportunity of watching both fathers and daughters exercising their musical mastery in the Concert Choir's performance of the Mozart Grand Mass. A special thanks must go to the Male Voice Choir, without whom this production wouldn't have been possible. The concert was also our first opportunity to perform the M a r s h m e a d Cantata in its entirity, composed by Michael Easton with words by Mary Mason to celebrate the opening of Marshmead at Mallacoota.

The Piano M a n He is the man over there on the piano stool, the ever-present accompanist. Mr Brown sees his role as simply "helping out'" in the M.L.C music school, be it Concert Choir, Junior School choir or Chapel services. A man of few words at most rehearsals, he remains a mystery to the majority. We decided it was time to expose the man behind the music.

Krome Senior House Chorals

Having studied music at Melbourne University, Mr Brown spent many years as Director of Music at Wesley College.

His association with M.L.C began with the formation of t h e M.L.CA/Vesley Chorale, through which he met Mrs Elton-Brown. Having played at countless Gala Concerts with the M.L.C Concert Choir, whom he regards as "a wonderful lot of girls", Mr Brown has observed many changes in M.L.C whilst acquiring a large supply of chocolates and red wine.

Yoga, eastern philosophy, different religions and gardening all play a part in Mr Brown's life. Hisinterestsarediverse, although he confesses with a chuckle "I am as good a singer as I am cook".

Having never heard nim sing, his culinary expertise remains unknown to us.

Mr Brown's musical tastes range from Brahms to Billy Joel. He admits that he has never been to a rock concert, To wind down, a tinkle on the ol' piano is his preferred form of relaxation.

A Concerted Effort

So what does the man who "couldn't live without playing music"expect to be doing in ten years' time? "Adding to my repertoire", ne smiles.

Jane Wilhelm and Kathya Martyres

The Play's the Thing Taken from'Silve'r & Green"196l

Year 11 Common Room. They took me to Mrs McKenzie's office. I was told they wanted me to be one of the directors.

I was even happier when I found out that the other directors were Kate Doyle and Lucinda Fairlie. I had worked with them both before, and was glad that I'd be working with experienced people.

Kate and Lucinda had acted in, or directed school productions. Most of the work I'd done had been technical, and it seemed logical to have specific directors for technical and acting.

The first task was to choose the play. An Australian play, "Away", was our choice.

It is Christmas 1967, the beginning of the Summer holidays. Three families set out on separate holidays. They are driven together by a storm which changes their lives forever, and we learn about their problems, and how they overcome them.

It explores the themes of change, growth and development, tied in with clever humour and heart-warming scenes.

The cast of 'Away'

SCHOOL PLAY A personal view.

At MLC my ultimate goal was to become school play director. I have always loved drama and in the years leading up to Year 12 I took part in many productions, acting or stage managing.

At the interview with the 1990 school play directors and Mrs McKenzie, I was prepared, with a list of experiences to show I would be a good director. The interview was relaxed, we talked about my experience, and I presented them ideas about a play to do. I had read "Away" and loved it. Little did I know this was to be the 1991 school play!

Cato Senior House Drama

Two weeks after the interview, Tess Barling and Jackie Dillon, two of the 1990 directors, approached me in the

Auditions were strung over 5 days. The people we chose were all well known actors from school drama festivals, and performed brilliantly. The cast consisted of 34 actors, and dancers; choreographed

by N i c o l a C o o m b e s and C h a r l i e Robinson (who also acted).

There were 38 people in the technical crew. Four people who did a particularly tremendous job were Kim van Mastrigt and Stella Roditis who designed the magnificent set; and Tara Cavanaugh and Kylie Gillman who designed all the costumes. Sometimes it's thought that technical'stuff isn't important, that the actors can do it alone. If this were true, plays would have standard lights, and boring costumes and sets. Our technical crew had lighting and sound operators, three stage managers, set, costume and make-up designers, a large backstage crew to change sets and ushers.

Kate, Lucinda and I were pleased to hear of three full houses and people paying for standing room. The audience reaction was great, everyone seemed to enjoy it and some even cried at the end.

Susan Yip

MY VIEW OF THE SENIOR SCHOOL DRAMA I woke upon Thursday morning with astrange ache in the middle of my stomach which recurred at various stages of the day. The reason was that Thursday was the day of the Drama Festival, and I was to appear in Nevile's play "What are we going to do with Mamma?"

The start was delayed, but I was oblivious to outside influence. I walked around talking to other cast members as my character would, and then when the curtain finally did go up my heart gave a momentary jump, then went back to normal.

While on stage, I had an acute awareness of the characters around me, and seemed to understand more about how they felt than I had in the previous weeks of rehearsal. To me it seemed that the performance passed without a hitch, and I thought it was the best we had ever done it.

Katie Gore 12E

A scene from

'Away'

i

YOU'RE IN TROUBLE! What a Way to Spend a Saturday Occasionally, you lose count of the number of order marks you have been given. At the back of many school diaries, there is a section labelled "The Tally", which is usually added to after Tutor Group sessions. Those slips of orange carbon copy are a source of great amusement until the dreaded NUMBER FIVE arrives. Suddenly, Senior School office jumps into action and your parents receive a very detailed letter; describing each offence their daughter has been "marked" for. You try and laugh it off for your parent's benefit, trying to indicate that its not quite as serious as it sounds because "everyone's got one that weekend, it's not as if I'm going to be there by m y s e l f . Unfortunately, they become even angrier because they consider it to be a serious punishment for a series of serious offences. I wasn't that worried; I'd heard things from regular offenders that made a Saturday Detention seem like a rather pleasant way to spend a morning. Never trust rumour and hearsay.

The mood was serious, girls who never seemed to work in class were using this time to their advantage. People were working with strange dedication.

Usually, even under exam conditions, you can catch someone's eye and give a sympathetic eyeroll or sneer to make them laugh. This willpower was extraordinary. I was very impressed until I realised that they were all faking so as to increase our chances of being let out early on good behaviour. I decided to follow their lead by looking studious however, visions of Berocca flew alluringly before my eyes and caused everything else to fade and blur into insignificance.

Mrs McKenzie was comfortably dressed in a tracksuit while my winter skirt twisted and the petticoat itched.

Firstly, I was stupid because I went out the night before and didn't get to sleep until about 4am. When the alarm went off at 8am, I wasn 't impressed.

Thinking the detention began at 9.30,1 dawdled. Casually crawling into the shower at 8.55,1 reassured others that we had another half an hour before we needed to be at school. After the shower, I gave into pressure and checked my diary. I screamed. Initially intending to give a good impression, I arrived at my detention twenty minutes late. Even this punishment couldn't cure my faults. I was wondering if they gave more order marks if you were late for a detention; as I sat with my tangled and saturated hair and creased uniform.

Mrs McKenzie was comfortably dressed in a tracksuit while my winter skirt twisted and the petticoat itched. The collar of the shirt was strangling me and I couldn't wait to throw off the school shoes. When the Year 11 girls over the other side of the room started giggling sporadically, I grew more agitated. I was just waiting for the "I'll make everyone stay later if you persist in talking". It came. I was furious, a group of three girls had managed to catch her attention and therefore further ruin our morning. Couldn't they have passed anote instead of audibly whispering?!

I rolled my eyes so furiously that I almost lost my eyeballs.

This ill-spent morning was not funny. It was an infringement on my weekend time and I felt suffocated by the school's power over my life. I guess that is what a detention is designed for after all.

Madonna Deverson YrI2.

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Did you know? *That everytime you sit down, one million body cells are damaged? *That a fly beats its wings about 200 times a second, and that they travel up to 4.5 miles per hour? *That there are about 96 television sets to every 100 people in the world?

T h a t an American typist was recorded to be able to type 170 words per minute? (I wish they were here to type up all the Silver & Green articles Eds) *That an American policeman charged a man with illegal parking, after a train had demolished his car which had broken down on a level crossing?

T h a t the fattest living man became wedged in his bedroom doorway in 1987, and he had to be rescued by firemen? It took 9 men to carry him back to the reinforced bed, where he had been virtually a prisoner for 27 years.

It is estimated that he weighs in between 476kg and 545kg. ( I think Jenny Craig would be well advised to pay this man a visit! -Eds) *That the longest word in the world is the Swedish word for "Preparatory work on the contribution to the discussion on the maintaining system of support of the material of the aviation survey simulator device within the northeast part of the coast artillery of the Baltic"? It contains 130 letters. *That the longest ever kiss lasted for 17 days, 10.5 hours; in Chicago, USA?

M s R a y : Two order marks for not being in Assembly Student: I was in Assembly M s R a y : I counted everyone in our Tutor group, and you weren't there Student: But I'm not in your Tutor group!

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12

I

Things that M r Dimsey: I have a 14 month-old daughter, who has her Weet-Bix and orange juice and knows nothing about circular functions.

Dr Castles: The only thing I'm more attracted to is a belly dancer

Miss McLaughlin: I know I'm stupid but at least I don't wear Burger Rings [on my fingers] and drink green stuff.

M r Callister: Write out the formulas, stick them on the toilet door and everytime you have a sit, look and learn them.

make you go H M M M .

Term One Marshmead pioneers: Take us back!

Mrs Carlson: I just swallowed a thesaurus and I'm going to regurgitate it all over this essay.

Ms De Zilwa: You go to a uni library for two reasons: to do your History option, and to meet eligible young men.

Mrs Chrystie: How big are your beakers, smaller or larger than mine?

M r Fry: I remember...Gosh, what a memory! I remember my teacher training rounds in about 1733 I think!

Miss Tarran: Das ist ein song von

M r Snell: The oxidant that is behaving as an oxidant must be stronger than the conjugate oxidant of the reductant.

John Lemon ( This is a song by John Lennon)

Mme Feikema: That was excellent, a girl must have done it Miss Phillips: There aren't many bills in parliament, there's Bobs and Pauls and so on.

Miss Phillips: I remember my Year Nine Social. I had my lovely two-inchcork sandals with nice denim straps.

M r Snell: If you sniff battery acid, you won't just go on a trip, you'll get a trip in an ambulance.

Mr Dimsey : I don't make mistakes

Student: Mr Dimsey, are you free?

M r Dimsey: No, but I'm pretty cheap Mrs Elton-Brown: I need men.

Miss Shipp: I was having social intercourse.

Mrs Chrystie: I don't think you should electrocute yourself, it might muck up the experiment for the next person.

Miss Phillips: I've got dyslexic chalk.

M i s s Moss:lf you happen to die on Thursday night, you will have to bring a doctor's certificate to certify that you are in fact dead. Otherwise your life will not be worth living.

Miss Phillips: Delve deeply into the fibres of the Constitution.

Mrs Elton-Brown: I want you to explore your connections with the male world.

Miss Phillips: Where are the answers? I despair. Josie, Josie, don't you care?

Mr Comerford: I can recognise you by your ankles.

Miss T a r r e n : Tell Chloe I'm after her blood, but preferably her yellow or green form.

Ms De Zilwa: I was expelletTfrom kindergarten.

Mr Buckingham:People can b e c o m e addicted to c h o c o l a t e , cigarettes, even watching the Bugs Bunny show with Sophie Lee. M r s D a v i t t : Glasses make it terribly hard to see.

Miss Phillips: Euthanasia - that's nothing about young people in Bali by the way.

M r Edgoose: Remember, spend just as much time on Physics DOGs as Maths CATs. Mrs Collings: We don't ask you to go to PE because we are sadistic.

Mrs Leach: Where's my little CAT thing?

Dr. Castles: Who cares about Tom Cruise when I'm here?

M r Ellis: Abracadabra...*X#!! thing! (when the printers wouldn't work) M r Ellis: I used to be an animal.

Mrs Elton-Brown (describing herself): She's mean, horrible and she is totally unreasonable.

Mrs Miach: If I wasn't polite, I'd give you a sign.

M r Buckingham: Could you marry your mother-in-law?

Students: No!, we're girls

Miss Phillips: That's my dyslexic typewriter.

M r Buckingham:Did Helen Daniels survive her fall down the stairs on Neighbours. I missed that episode!

Miss Phillips: Journalism, or law, something with a bit of meat to it.

Mrs Gordon: Geez I'm dumb!

Mrs Elton-Brown: I'm not a stagey person.

M r Buckingham:You've made me forget what I was going to say, and that's completely unforgivable because the others will miss out on something brilliant!

M r s C h r y s t i e : We'll make Ghostbuster slime in the next few lessons.

Mrs Elton-Brown:

All Altos on

men... Tenors in on that as well.

Retrospectives MLC's Archives Preserving our History

The Woman on the Wall

M.L.C.'s MONA LISA ??

I'm sittingon the padded seats of the MLC assembly hall which whilst o f f e r i n g little s u p p o r t f o r our crooked spines, knotted with the frustrations of Yr 12, provide ample room for us to extend our aching legs and d o z e o f f d u r i n g an assembly. Another friendly prefect sneers into the microphone, warning us to wear our stars in the right place or else We are instructed to turn to hymn number 12 and there's a quick rummage in bags as girls pretend to take out non-existent, long-lost hymn books. The singing is a dilemma as we mime words and guess notes. As the sound fades into nothingness,a guest speaker is introduced, the chattering ceases, and my mind begins to wander, t r a v e l l i n g at l e n g t h f r o m the speaker's face, to the wings, to the walls of the assembly hall.

There it rests as I examine the face that stares out at me from either side of the assembly hall wall. This is the strange w o m a n who has baffled me for seven years running.

Who is she? How long has she been there ? How long does she intend to stay? In Junior Secondary School, awed by the large hall, I would peer up at her and wonder what secrets she held. At that stage, I was convinced she was the Virgin Mary, in her rather too tight blue T-shirt, eyeing generations of MLC students from the solid brown walls.

Under the gaze of her knowing eyes, I advanced slowly through the ranks of Middle School, where I learnt to look at her without squirming. By the time I reached the clutches of Senior School, I even dared to question her identity. I wasn't convinced by this stage, that the Virgin Mary would commission her portrait with a tennis racquet as a backdrop. Her talents with the recorder propped behind her huge face were equally unknown to me.

Only after my Latin vocabulary expanded to four words did I realise that this woman was not the Virgin Mary, nor was she Nellie Fitchett.

The words "Deo Domuique" - For God and for H o m e " painted so elegantly above her face, were to become my evidence. This woman was the original idea of an MLC

girl, worshipping God, and playing the role of a loving house wife and mother.

Not many students know about the MLC archives, and yet they should!

Eventually, it will hold records of all of us. After Year 12, when Administration no longer needs our files, they go to the archives (the little room at the back of Centenary Carpark), and are kept there as a record of our existence at MLC.

The guest speaker is waving her arms in the air, and telling us about an e n g i n e e r i n g c o u r s e , w h e r e w o m e n are b e c o m i n g m o r e prominent. She encourages us to lash out in a field where women are virtually unrepresented. To her left and right, the gentle face of the woman in the blue T-shirt smiles ironically, at us and at the rows of past M.L.C. students, who have grown up under her gaze.

In fact, the archives store thousands of school-related items, so many that it is impossible to count them all. The archives were started by the Old Collegians, in particular Mrs Edna Cornell, who used to urge old collegians to give whatever MLC history they had back to the school. The school later took over the administration of the archives to give the pieces a proper storage area, but even so, they are still running out of room!

She has watched the progress of individual girls, and seen the School grow up around her. Buildings have been torn d o w n and replaced.

Computers have begun to dominate over pen and paper, a new sporting complex has been built... She has certainly been there a long time.

Perhaps she blended in once, with the greens and b r o w n s of the Assembly Hall, now she is little more than a source of amusement in the routine ritual of an assembly.

Mrs Leslie is our resident archivist, and comes in two or three days a week to catalogue and organise all the items. Anyone interested in history would, I am sure, lrke to have Mrs Leslie's job. She is

In a school where everything else has been rebuilt and renovated, isn't it time for her to go too?

Kathya Martyres. Yr 12

surrounded by many pieces from MLC recent, and not so recent, past.

The oldest item is a book of records f r o m the Ladies' College Committee of 1879, formed to discuss setting up the school. There are also enrolment books from 18821947 detail ing each girl at the school for all of those years. Did you know that the first girl enrolled at MLC was Annie Baulch, and the second was Elsie Fitchett? Other pieces in the archives include: Fee Registers since 1899; copies of the school magazine from every year (soon to include this one!); some old Gala Concert recordings; annual reports and minutes of council meetings; prospectus; books showing the results of external exams; and Speech Day programs from as early as 1884, and so on.

Mrs Leslie's favourite items are the exercise books of past students. It' s fascinating to see the kind of subjects they studied - eg physiology, botany, elocution, as well as the way they kept their workbooks - they're so neat!

Primarily, the archives are used by people researching their ancestors, wanting to find out whether they actually did go to MLC, and for how long etc. If people want to do this, the archivist or the librarian (Mrs Day) will look up the Fee Registers for them, as these have a detailed list of all the girls at the school in every year. The people are not allowed to handle the registers themselves, to reduce wear and tear, as some people do not realise that old papers need to be handled carefully. People from tertiary institutions doing research also use the archives. Usually, the school is not too keen to let just anyone explore the archives, and is, understandably, reluctant to let pieces leave its sight, however when the school's centennial history was written, the author was able to examine everything in the archives.

Taken from 'Silver & Green' December 1960

It's good to think that even when we have all left MLC, and may have partly forgotten "our old school of grey", we will not be forgotten by MLC, as there will still be a record of ourpresence held in the archives!!

Jane Libbis 12P

14

Junior

Schoo

After School Care Changes to MLC Junior School The MLC Junior School After School Care Programme (ASCP)

The ASCP has been running for 5 years.

The original co-ordinator, Mrs Miller retired at the end of 1990 and the new co-ordinator, Mr Mark Narkowicz has introduced a number of changes.

From an Interview with Mrs Dettman

There are a lot of interesting activities at the ASCP, painting, drawing and other crafts. A very popular activity is one where a long piece of paper is spread on the floor, and paint-covered tennis balls are bounced on it.

The new building is mostly used by the girls for art and science, and as part of the construction process the library has been expanded, so that it is much more research-oriented and the girls can now "pop into the l i b r a r y and get i n f o r m a t i o n w h e n e v e r they need it", more accessibly than in the past.

There are about 20 regular girls who attend the programme, with ages ranging from grade one to 5. The girls come nearly every night of the week, and are picked up any time before 6pm.

At the ASCP, group games are played, the most popular ones being Poison Ball, and a version of continuous cricket (the Killer Tomatoes always won!).

There are many other things you can do at after-school care. There is a whole stack of board games that anyone can play and a big collection of dress-ups, that are mainly used for the many spontaneous plays that are performed each week.

Girls have many options of what they can do to entertain themselves. We have gym mats for girls feeling energetic, and many girls choose to do their homework. Lately, elastics have been really popular, with "confusions" being the latest way of playing. The new "grip" balls have appeared a few times and have been just as popular. We cook sometimes, and have produced many delicious bickies.

All-in-all, the ASCP is a great idea, and we have a lot of fun there.

Charlotte Rose. Yr 12.

give young girls a bright outlook for the future. In the multi-media room this is being done by showing girls that, although there are bad things happening in the world, good things are happening too; it's just that they h a v e n ' t been widely broadcast.

The recent construction of a new building has been one of the more major changes made to the Junior School in the past few years.

There have been other, more subtle changes to JS since Mrs Dettman's arrival two years ago. The laptop program was introduced by Mr Costa, the Deputy head, and the girls now actively talk to each other about their work and are more risk taking in their approach to learning.

Recently too, the Grade 6s have been introduced to Junior School life, and the kindergarten, which used to be part of Junior School, has moved to Haw thorn. There are also five male teachers on the staff now, compared to no males a few years ago. Mrs Dettman believes that having male staff members gives a new dimension to the school.

The Head of Junior School, Mrs Pam Dettman, is very positive about the building, believing that "the modern primary curriculum really needs certain facilities that just weren't in the old Junior School buildings". She feels that in order to be able to work properly, the girls need space in which to do art, including hanging space; an area for group work, a proper floor that things can be spilt on etc. Science needs a similar space, hence the new building; used for Art from prep to Grade 6, and for Science for Grades 5 and 6.

The M L C Junior School is yet another example of the way in which our school is progressing, moving rapidly towards the 21st Century, and already accepting the challenge of the technological age.

There is also a multi-media, or m u l t i p u r p o s e r o o m . T h i s is primarily for movement, drama, and learning to operate video cameras, as well as for viewing films and videos and analysing their contents. Mrs Dettman says that Junior school staff are trying to

Life at Junior School seems fun, and the 370 girls are enthusiastic about school life, due to the hard work of all the staff.

Jane Libbis 12P

Grin like a Cheshire Cat

15

Mrs Dettman

Grade 5 T-Ball J.S students also feature on this year's cover.

Junior MLC in the fifties Mrs Watier Reflects When Mrs Baker, Head of Junior Secondary school, was in Year 7 at MLC her classroom was in Cato House, a two storey Victorian mansion that stood where the green tennis court is now. The rooms in Cato House were tiny, and Mrs Baker's was up an old rickety staircase, round a corner, and down some more steps! The desks in the rooms were jammed next to each other, with just a very little aisle in between.

In Year 8, she was in the girls' Block, which was in the area where staff centre is today. The Girl's Block was much more airy, and lighter than Cato House. Her Yr 7 and 8 teachers were very kind, although Mrs Baker later found MLC to be quite authoritarian, and she would occasionally rebel against the system!

At school in the 50's most of the teachers were spinsters, reflecting the social situation when married women were not encouraged to

Year 8 C a m p Camp is one experience I will never forget. It all started on Monday, March 4th. Early. We had to be at school by 7am and soon after, we set off on our trip to Valley Homestead.

We arrived at our destination and were also introduced to John, one of the owners, who told us about the camp's activities, and rules.

Up on the hill behind the main building and the blackberries, was the bush activity centre and rope course. It had different obstacles as well as a swing made out of a tyre on a chain, tied to a tall tree.

Three hours later we all a)rolled, b)fell, c)walked, d)ran or e)all of the above, down the hill, back to our r o o m s , the showers and our beds.Then most people went swimming, as it gave us a chance to cool off in a slimy, smelly, green creek/water-hole opposite Valley Homestead.

After dinner we had a song session, singing some oldies and even learning some new ones. It was

Secondary Schoo work and there were many unmarried women. The principal, Dr Wood, was a man admired by many, and although he seemed remote from the girls, he knew all of their names!

Mrs Baker's over-riding memory of Year 12 is how hard it was being a prefect, and so becoming part of the authoritarian element of the school, helping to enforce the rules.

One of the rules was that all girls had to wear grey petticoats, and rumour has it that the teachers actually checked! Mrs Baker protested about the introduction of the grey petticoats, and also about the green cardigans that Dr Wood wanted to introduce to be worn over the summer uniform. When she was on the "Silver and Green" committee Mrs Baker wrote a letter against the new items of uniform, and was severely reprimanded by the "Silver and Green" teacher for daring to speak publicly against the decisions of the principal and senior staff.

role in the first production ever put on in the Assembly Hall, which was completed in 1957. She remembers when the painter of the murals in the Assembly Hall came to speak to her Yr 12 class about his ideas, and their symbolism, (see Kathya Martyres' article, p. 14) As the chapel hadn't been built, there weren't regular chapel services, instead students would occasionally go to Communion at the Methodist Church in Auburn.

The uniform then was a grey tunic, blazer, felt hat (grey straw hat in summer) and jumper with a pale grey shirt, green tie, grey gloves and grey stockings. Girls who were very good at sport had the privilege of wearing a green blazer.

In those days the tuckshop was a "little old, strange, dark, smelly building", which was close to Language Centre, and the prefects had to do tuckshop duty, although few of them bought anything themselves! Another duty prefects had was, when travelling to and from school on the train, to take down the names of any girl who got into carriages with boys and talked with them!

Mrs Baker enjoyed being an MLC student, although she felt a little bitter at the authoritarian approach she sometimes encountered. Junior Secondary girls can be pleased about this, as Mrs Baker values students' points of view, and sees the girls as fellow human beings.

Jane Libbis 12P

Mrs Baker, a member of Fitchett House, enjoyed being involved in choir, and drama, and had the lead

Mrs Baker

My First Year in High School Competition Winner Junior Secondary School SilverGreen & After a few weeks, I thought I had seen Well, it was finally here. After months of everything. The library, the cafeteria, buying and labelling uniforms, books Fitchett Hall. But I still had many new and stationery, of packing and repacking experiences left to discover. The school bags, it was here. My first day at swimming sports, for example. The MLC. mass of colours, the deafening noise, a I got up early and caught the bus without quick dip in the inviting water, then out any trouble. Why did everything seem again and dry. Or getting a Head of so normal? I felt like a penguin on Ayers School award, or having my form Rock. The first day was a blur of names, teacher die, or being in a play. faces, classes and green, green, green.

Finally I realized that I would never get I had come from a small school where used to it, and never really know it all. everyone knew everyone else, and the There would always be something new only new faces were the preps. I had to do, or see, or take part in. I was glad never known the feeling of literally of this because nothing, except maths knowing no-one. I remember asking on a hot day, would ever be dull. my friend if she had been here during the first week. She said yes, of course, Kathryn James 7E but I only believed her after checking the photos!

lights out at 10pm, the teachers had a very hard job enforcing this most nights, because even though we saw each other all day, we still had things to talk about.

On Tuesday morning we once again trudged up the hill to the bush activity centre. This was bush survival day, where we learnt about survival and safety in the bush, and about bushfires and snakes. We split into groups and made lunch (unsuccessfully) and stretchers from four bits of string. After that we had to race them against each other around a course.

On Wednesday we had a number of mishaps. We travelled by bus into Bright and some girls went to the doctor while we sat in the park and had leaf fights. When they got back we set out on our walk along the Oven's river. On the walk, directions were muddled and it took longer than expected. At the end, we waited for the buseswhich were also lost. Later came the rafting expedition on Lake Buffalo.

On Thursday we did the ropes course, art and earth keepers. For art we did marbling and made clay animals. That night was my

Taken from 'Silver & Green' 1959

campout night and we packed our equipment and set off up the hill to the camp-site. It was a "Total Fire Ban" so we had cold dinner. We played famous games such as "Matthew, Mark, Luke and John".

We went on a night walk but didn't see any animals, (which wasn't surprising because we were fairly noisy). After we had been to the normally dark, dark, toilet without a door -(which wasn't dark now because of the 31 torches shining on it), groups of three went to sleep in the two-man tents.

Can you imagine anything worse than three pairs of shoes, (don't forget the socks), in a tent already full of bodies? That problem was soon solved though, when the others put their heads out one end.

Next morning we cooked breakfast on the fire, packed up and went back to civilization. We cleaned our rooms, and packed our things.

Not much later, we all piled onto the bus, waved goodbye and set off for MLC.

Sarah Charles Yr 8

J.S.S. CREATIVITY The L I T E R A L Teacher

Loneliness All alone, In a dark and misty room Crouched against a wall, a small boy stands, Hands deep in his pockets Hair ragged and jagged, Clothes worn and torn.

An icy wind blows through the windows The glass has been smashed and bashed The boy is scared, his eyes show his utter despair The sadness of this sense is that No one really cares.

Julia Essing 7C

The rumour swept the classroom.

Mr.McLavity? Chopping off snail's horns? How awful. Who found out? Why did he do it? How did he do it?

He crept down the corridor, f o o t s t e p s silent as rainbows, clutching a bucket in one hand.

That is disgusting! Who spread it?

It can't be true! Why did he do it?

How did he do it?

He pushed open the door of the canteen, paused, checking that noone was there, then slipped inside.

All the classes knew about it now.

Some didn't want to believe it, but they had to. It was overpowering.

And again came the questions; why did he do it? How did he do it?

He juggled open the cupboard and then, tilting his bucket, poured snail's horns into the hot dogs, the sandwiches and the salads.

The group of friends sat eating their lunches. "This tastes disgusting", one said. "Can't you think of anything better than that?" her friend asked. "Say something like 'this tastes like snail's horns'."

"Oh, that's not original," someone pointed out. "Make something up yourself, like, um, toad's toes."

The others laughed. "That's a good one," they said, giggling.

"It certainly is", Mr. McLavity agreed silently. "But I'll have to fly all the way to Queensland, just to collect the toads!"

Kathryn James. 7E

'Ifie

(jiggle

A thought A smile The giggle The lights go up A smile. The giggle Uncontrolled.

Wild.

What's so funny?

The giggle.

Nothing!

Coming under control...

Silence... A conductor raises her brow.

It starts...The music flowing.

A smile. The giggle.

The conductor is staring.

So are the audience My face is red.

The giggle.

Humiliation.

The giggle.

Bronnie Haack 8B

Viae acl<i A JOURNEY BACK IN TIME It was three o'clock on Tuesday, 15th June, 1991. I was sitting outside Mr. Loader's office as I had been given a Tuesday detention. I had brought my laptop with me to finish off my work. All of a sudden the screen went blank and a message came up. It read.'PLEASE COME AftD HELP ME!!!!! PF^ESS THE C KEY!!!!!' Then the screen went blank.

I pressed the key.

There was blackness and a high pitched sound which was hurting my ears. I tried to cover them but couldn't move, I was paralysed. Someone was trying to tell me something but I couldn't make out a single word. Slowly I began to get it. It was saying over and over again, 'HELP!!!!!' I yelled out, 'HOW!!' It answered, 'WITH YOUR LAPTOP!!!!!', I shouted back, 'BUT I CAN'T MOVE MY BODY!!!!' It replied,'JUST IMAGINE YOU ARE SITTING IN FRONT OF YOUR LAPTOP A N D Y O U A R E TYPING IN ONE WORD! I CAN'T TELL YOU THE WORD BUT I CAN GIVE YOU ONE CLUE! THE WORD IS THE NAME OF SOMEONE IN YOUR FAMILY! YOU WILL KNOW THAT YOU HAVE SUCCEEDED WHEN YOU HEAR T H E W O R D , CHARLIE!!!!

GOOD LUCK!!!!'

I began to picture myself in front of my laptop; I typed in Mum's name; it wasn t the word. I tried all the names of my family, none of them worked. There was no-one left. I was puzzled. I started getting angry at myself because I thought I had fallen straight into a trick.

Then it clicked. I had to type in my own name. I tried it and knew it was the word because I heard the word, Charlie. Then there was bright light.

I had to cover my eyes because the light was so bright. I became used to it and found myself in a corridor outside an office. This place looked familiar. I looked into the office and found a face

that I had seen before on a wall somewhere.

For some reason I had to know who he was so I went in. 'Who are you?' I asked. He replied, 'Are you feeling ill, young lady? I'm Dr. Wood, of course.

YOU are being very cheeky. You need to be taught a lesson.' He went to the cupboara and pulled out a very firm looking cane. Just as he raised hisarm, I jumped back and said in a scared voice, 'You're not allowed to cane me.'

He obviously thought differently for he said,' As long as you are in this school you obey my rules. I got caned twice.

'You may go now,' he said.

I stood up straight, my behind sore, before I left, I saia, 1 am not trying to be rude but could you tell me the date?' He replied, 'Where have you been young lady? It is of course, the 15th of June, 1959. Now be off.' I opened the door and he said, looking disgusted, 'Where did you get those ridiculous pieces of clothing? Go and get the proper uniform that I expect you fo wear while you are inthisschool. Nowdon'tdawdle. Hurry along to your next class.' To be polite, I thanked him before I left.

I was walking towards Wood Wing when I bumped info a girl. Straight away she said/Are you from 1991? Please tell me you are or I've just made a total fool of myself.' I answered,'Yeah. Actually I am, but how did you know?' She replied, 'I was the one who called you here. My name is Charleen Smith. You can call me Charlie. By accident, this morning I came here. I don't know how I got here and I don't know how to return.' Let's go to the front gardens where we can sit and think quietly.'

We took the same path we would have taken if we were in the year 1991.

There were some other girls in the garden having lunch. Since we didn't want to be seen in our so called weird clothing, we hid behind some bushes.

pretend to type my name onto my laptop.

That might work because it did when I was coming here. Let's try it.' Charlie replied, 'I guess we could try but I just don't think this is the right place. But there is a possibility. Lefs try it.' So we joined hands and I pretended to type my name in. For a second there was the same blackness I'd seen before, but it disappeared almost as quickly as it had come. 'You were right Charlie. It almost worked but I guess it isn't the right place.'

We checked out the school which hadn't changed much except for the teachers, students and a few buildings like the Centenary Building and the tuckshop.

Besides these few things MLC was pretty much the same. We skipped Dr. Wood's office because I didn't want to bump into him again. We went down Glenferrie Road. Nothing much had changed there either except for the shops. They also had very olafashioned trams.

'Hey', I shouted, then lowered my voice, for everyone was staring at me now, I've got it. We need to go back to Dr. Wood's office. I'm certain that it will work this time.'So we ran back to MLC, excited.

We looked at each other. I knew that when we got back we would be close friends forever. Once again, we joined hands and I pretended to type my name in. There was blackness, then there was a bright light and I knew we were back.

Charlie and I hugged each other and jusf as we were leaving someone called out to us, 'Excuse me, young lady.' I recognised the voice and I turned around. It was Mr. Loader. He said, 'As a matter of fact, I don't think the uniform is ridiculous. How could I? I'm the one who made it the official MLC uniform.' I laughed as Charlie and I walked out linked arm in arm.

Amy Lee 8 H

Black is a deep dark tunnel stretching for miles into the deep dark underground, You walk down the tunnel first quickly, then hesitantly.

You are afraid.

Shadows lurk at you.

You fall!

You..., You try to fight this force, It's something....strange, You're not claustrophobic.

You push, You shout...

No sound, No air, No life.

Black is a deep dark tunnel going on forever where you'll never be found.

S.J. Danckert 7E

Peace. Means to Me...

Peace means to me shady trees and lush green grass.

Peace means the warmth of the sun and the splashes of the waves crashing down on my hot feet.

Peace means to me the hot sand, yellow and soft and the colourful shells dancing in my eyes.

Peace to me means looking up to the sky, watching the birds fly gracefully by.

Peace to me means sitting on the soft green grass and watching the ducks swim happily, leaving ripples in the water.

Tanya Jayasuriya 7C

we would both get back and then I could

17

JUNIOR

I s c u f f e d my s n e a k e r s on the footpath. I kicked the old Coke can I kick everyday, which was like a friend to me - always there ready to be kicked. The hot northerly breeze passed through my hair making it go out of place. " W h o cares" I said to myself, "nobody in the street looks at me a n y w a y . " "Wait up ugly!" My little sister Sarah called. I turned my head and slowed my pace. She caught up with me.

"Simon, what happened to y o u ? " "Huh, oh, just a fight" "Again!"

Over

the

'Hiiis

and

The sky is dark. Tiny sparks flicker amidst the blue-blackness of the heavens. The wind blows, a solitary leaf falls from a poplar and is swept into the whirling current. It is carried along the mossy floor with a circle of rotating dust until, at last, it rises as if it were a kite which has just caught the wind. Up, up, up. Above the green of the forest, past fields of yellow wheat, over hill and over dale. Then the wind dies and becomes but a breath of air. The leaf descends slowly and settles gently on the branch of an olive tree. It moves little as the night passes.

A fire has been lit in the sky. It blazes orange as the dawn breaks and the leaf is blown upwards once again. It is carried high overpainted cottages. Birds fly through the air singing to their mates a springtime melody. The leaf does not rest. Tumbling over men who wearily travel the roads as if they, too follow the wind on their journey. Floating over towns, forests, farms and old people

SECONDARY

SCHOOL

I grabbed her in a headlock. " D o n ' t tell M u m or Dad, now."

"Okay, okay. Let me go."

I let her go.

I sighed, unlocked the door and walked inside. I jumped on my bed and looked at my Maths homework.

I threw it on the floor. " I ' v e gotta get this place cleaned up."

I walked ahead, she trailed behind "You got the keys today brainless?" she asked. "I might." I answered, rummaging through my pockets and my bag. "Here we are. G o get the mail."

"No." "Alright, but I don't think I ' m going to let you in." " I ' m going to M a n d y ' s house." she said.

My bedroom is my own since David moved to his friend's house. I put up R.E.M posters everywhere. My bed is on stilts and underneath my bed is my desk. 1 have a window that faces the backyard, not that we have one. There is only room for the old clothes hoist and a kennel (for our dog; who died last week).

which Dad is going to replace with a shed for his tools.

My window is covered with grime and the cupboard is tiny, the wall paper (when you can see it) is torn and ripped and is a green-type of colour. I hate my street, which has a plain old name - "York St", and our house is the worst house in the street. From the description of my room, you can probably tell, we don't live like kings.

Sarah Danckert. 7E

who sit outside their lonely huts and pray to be young again. But still the leaf does not slow or settle, for it is at the mercy of the wind and it must go where it is led.

The yellow leaf flies through a circus, past tawdry side-shows and ferris wheels. Past bearded ladies and strong men with bulging muscles. Then over the big top and to the beach, where the water sparkles and the sand glows.

The leaf spins and is nearly lost in the depth of the ocean, but is saved at the last moment by a swift current which sweeps it up high into the cloudless sky. Seagulls sound their harsh cries and the leaf is swooped at many times.

Night is falling and the wind is slowly fading away. Suddenly the leaf is over the land again, over a road of bricks.

The wind takes it along the road and it finally reaches the city. Many people hurry around because the shops are closing soon. The leaf gently drifts down to the footpath. A man carrying packages stumbles into the leafs patn and crushes it. The pieces rise up in a whisper of air and scatter.

AdelaideWorcester. 7D

J.S.S. Girls

Dream In the silence of the night, I walked inside my mind My other life could live again, Reality left behind 1 wandered through a valley.

Of flowers blue and green.

In the distance shone a lake, The prettiest sight I'd seen.

The water sparkled brightly.

The sun was shining through, Birds were singing softly.

The sky was clear and blue.

I stood upon a mighty hill.

And sang the song of dreams.

The blossoms all were smiling.

In shades of pink and cream.

Then the scene began to blur, I felt a pang of sorrow.

My dream was ending all too soon.

But I'd return tomorrow.

Wind in the Willows, year 7

Helen Thomas 8E

MIDDLE SCHOOL M Ov

E

S

"I FEEL AS IF I'M HOME' An Interview with Mrs Fleming, new Head of Middle School " I ' m enjoying having a Home G r o u p " , says Mrs Fleming, "because they'll tell me how it is.

The girls are very open about all sorts of things: (including the colour scheme in h e r o f f i c e ) " 'Mrs Fleming don't wear tan in your office, the pink clashes!'". Her home group wouldn't have been happy with her today, she looks down in horror at her red tartan skirt, which definitely clashes with the pink!

The new Middle School Head projects a friendly image, characteristic of the warmth she would like to generate throughout the school. Mrs Fleming has a fascination and empathy, for boarders at M L C . When she was asked on her first day at M L C which part of the school she would most like to see, she answered - the Boarding House! Over time she hopes to invite all the Middle School Boarders to her home for dinner.

She enjoys working with M L C girls and finds us "very relaxed, warm, outgoing and welcoming." Stars are a part of M L C that she sees as special. "At Mallacoota the girls are wearing their stars on the inside".

Mrs Fleming didn't visit Marshmead until the first week of September,afterourinterview. She said that she deeply believed in its philosophy, but said that "until I get mud in my boots, and fall over, or half drown in a canoe, I w o n ' t feel I ' m really part of it." This is typical of her nature. She likes the challenge of being a Head of School, and has become immersed in school

life.

Mrs Fleming has many new and innovative ideas for further improving the Middle School curriculum as well as ideas for developing the school uniform imagine wearing "big, baggy pants with huge pockets to keep things in" for doing activities like drama or art!! She sees Middle School as two sequential years of development, and would like to implement a program for years Nine and Ten that is not unlike the VCE.

imM

1

.

Being at M L C is a pleasure for Mrs Fleming, as she has never taught at a single-sex girls' school before, and she's "really e n j o y i n g " herself, and feels as if s h e ' s " h o m e " . She had missed being involved in a church school (her last school was the n o n - d e n o m i n a t i o n a l Eltham College). She likes the "visibility of Christian witness", the chapel services and religious studies - this is an important part of her life that she missed at Eltham.

On a lighter note, Mrs Fleming's passions in life, besides M L C , are her f a m i l y - h u s b a n d , son and daughter; her garden, and entertaining - she has "a very strong herding instinct"! She also likes spending time doing aerobics at her local gym. Favourite food? " C r a y f i s h a n y t i m e , or lobster.

C r a y f i s h a n d c h a m p a g n e is probably the way to go. It's really special."

Mrs Fleming

Mrs F l e m i n g has already been absorbed into M L C life andlvliddle

of Middle School girls for a long time to come - and I hope she is!

Jane Libbis

YEAR NINE DEBATING After a nerve racking audition, and fresh out of our nappies in debating terms, the Year 9 Debating T e a m had a firey start to the season.

A f t e r a meeting and a practice debate, we were off! Because the debates weren't until 7 o'clock at night some of us needed to stay at school to prepare and practice. A 'roster' was drawn up as to which take away food shop we would invade in Glenferrie Road.

Debate: 1.Pizza (eaten at Victoria's place.)

2. Chicken ' n ' Chips (eaten while trying to avoid nervous sets of parents, waiting for their parentteacher interviews) 3. Pizza (eaten in the c a l m i n g environment of M.S. Office.)

4. Bye (this means we d o n ' t have to debate.)

5. Fish ' n ' Chips (yet to be eaten at time of writing.

In round one, the competition was tough, but M.L.C. D2 (Debating T e a m 2) managed to win while

M.L.C. D l ' s (Debating Team 1) opposing team were too scared to turn up!

SO both teams won their debates.

M.L.C. D l ' s opposing team (Whitefriars) didn't have much to say. (Personally we think they were flabbergasted by our astounding beauty!)

Both negative teams debating the topic: That teachers are justified in taking industrial action, won!

Unfortunately M.L.C. D2 was not one of these teams.

However, M.L.C D1 enjoyed another victory.

I f D l win our last debate against Carey (FormerChampions), we will be debating in the finals! Of course, we couldn't have done it without the excellent coaching and guidance of our star - Miss Phillips!

The two year nine teams are;

M.S. girls at the Aths sports

Farewell to Mrs. Prest In her role as Head of Middle School, Mrs Prest helped a decade of 14 and 15 year olds to cope with growing up. H e r support whenever we had a problem, the office door that was always open to MS girls and the words of encouragement and guidance spoken m assemblies and at Speech Nights, w i l f b e remembered by everyone w h o was part of Mrs Prest's MS. She w a s the first ever head of M S - when the new school structure (JS, JSS, M S and SS) w a s introduced in 1982. Appropriately, Mrs Prest opened M L C ' s M a r s h m e a d campus; marking the beginning of yet another successful M L C innovation.

Claire B o w e r n , Lisa C r o w , Jen Gorden.Erica Crosling. Louisa Oppenheim, Karen Jolly, Libby Smith, Sarah K e m p , Victoria Smith, Annabelle Roxon.

Good-bye Mrs Prest, and thank you.

Libby Smith and Victoria Smith . 9

19

JL

MARSHMEAD The Official Opening of L C Marshmead The excitement was electrifying.

The Choir and Orchestra members looked nervous but gorgeous. The T V c a m e r a s c r e a t e d an air of anticipation; this is not a dress rehearsal. The P E C looked huge, and was crowded with barefoot parents, guests, staff and students.

The stage was surrounded by native plants, hand-painted banners and the biggest T V screens in the world.

Technology has enabled both campuses to be linked up through the use of an Integrated Service Digital N e t w o r k ( I S D N ) .

This enabled Kew to "cross over" to Marshmead -and vice versa- during the opening ceremony.

W e were firstly given a glimpse of life at Marshmead in the form of a video in which girls analysed, read, hiked and laptopped to the gentle sounds of the Choir. The last view we had of the explorers was as they ran down sand dunes, leaving fresh footprints in the sand. Their Year 9 Kew counterparts either laughed in a n t i c i p a t i o n , o r g r o a n e d in r e m e m b r a n c e upon v i e w i n g the apparently rugged hiking expeditions, the freezing sailing conditions and the heavy backpacks.

Mr Glenn Wheatley hafidled his j o b as M C with ease, and the speeches from staff and students alike made observers proud to be a part of M L C .

The Chorale and O r c h e s t r a ' s performance of the " M a r s h m e a d Cantata" was suitably moving. The atmosphere brought tears to the eyes of some, and wide smiles to others.

W h e n the curtain c o v e r i n g the official plaque was drawn back by guest of honour, Mrs Prest, the auditorium was filled with thunderous applause and uninhibited cheering. In the words of M r Loader, Marshmead is "not just a place, it's an experience".

BEFORE

MARSHMEAD....

Winner of the Middle School Silver & Green Competition Marshmead is one of the most talked a b o u t i t e m s at M i d d l e S c h o o l assemblies, and I know that most people would like to know what it is all about.

It all began at the year six and seven speech day in 1989. In the middle of his traditional speech, Mr Loader threw in something totally new. He told us the school had bought a property out in the bush, and they were going to set up a campus for Year Nines, and we would probably be the first to attend.

All through the summer holidays w e w o n d e r e d a b o u t it, a n d c o n s i d e r e d w h e t h e r or not we wanted to go, still not knowing all that much about it.

For the greater part of year eight we were given little bits of information.

W e would go on hikes, go sailing and canoeing. W e still didn't fully understand what would really happen there.

About half way through third term, we were given a form to fill in, asking which term we would prefer to go to Marshmead. About two months later, we received a letter telling us when we were to go. There was a great deal of shuffling around as some people wanted to go in a time other than they had been allotted. Finally, it was all figured out, and there was a meeting for the Term one students.

W e met all the people who were to go at the same time as us, including the new students. W e were given information, clothing lists, maps and a certificate congratulating us on being the inaugural M a r s h m e a d students.

From that time until the start of this year, there was lots of shopping and running around for workboots small

enough to fit our feet. Then, just over a week before we were due to leave, we had our first day at school.

W e were told about the housing arrangements, and that not all the buildings were completely ready.

Eighteen people would be living in a house, at least until the " B " block was finished. With the houses made only for eight, this would mean quite a squash, but anything was better than not going at all.

The week before we left, we went to school and were taught some cooking, about Aborigines, and we also chose our house groups. Then the day came when we were to embark on an experience which would totally change our outlook on life.

journals, reading and writing letters.

O n e of the best t h i n g s a b o u t Marshmead was how flexible the classes were. For instance, after o n e g r o u p spent an ' E s t u a r i n e S y s t e m s ' l e s s o n w a d i n g up Harrison's Creek and discovered that, yes, despite frequent claims to the contrary, leeches do live in the murky waters! The class was hastily changed, and no other group had to walk through this creek (subsequently r e n a m e d " # @ * % creek".

Imagine living for tight weeks zvitfi your really good friends, in a place where students and teachers are virtual equals'

AT MARSHMEAD None of us knew quite what to expect. The pictures we had seen made the property look huge, a place in which a person could disappear for days. It sounded remote, like somewhere in a dream. As w e w a l k e d o n t o the p r o p e r t y , t h e vastness we pictured had disappeared. The corrugated iron on the houses we were to live in caught the sun, and the overall impression of the houses was that they looked like small shacks. W e walked down from the top shed, and took our cases to the houses, and once inside, they suddenly didn't seem so small. W e picked our rooms, a bit overcome by the strangeness of it all.

W e were into the routine of the place almost instantly, rising at six o'clock in the morning, and going to bed at nine. Core group one left on their first hike two days after arriving, and within two w e e k s everyone had been on hikes. W e discovered that "Free T i m e " was a thing of the past, the time we had for relaxation was spent writing in

About three quarters of the way through the term, we had a harrowing experience. Our parents came to visit. This was made worse for some, due to the fact that many parents couldn't make the trip. A day and a half spent playing cards, and cleaning up after other people' s parents, didn't make for the most exciting weekend.

Something that people have asked me is why did we all enjoy it so much. This is something which is really hard to answer.

Imagine living for eight weeks with your really good friends, in a place where students and teachers are virtual equals. A place where Saturday detentions d o n ' t exist; replaced instead by a fifteen minute jog which many people do for f u n . A place where you can be with your friends all the time, and for privacy, you could take a walk and if y o u ' r e lucky, see one of the spectacular sunsets over the inlet. A place where you can be yourself and still be accepted.

Rachael Brick 9Mc

Marshmead Souvenirs Porcelain Mug Teaspoons Apron Note Paper Set

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25 Sheets headed paper 25 sheets plain paper 25 envelopes

Umbrella (Golf size)

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All items are available f r o m the fMLC & 'Bruce Turner Mail Orders more than welcome.

PH. 810 1346 Open: Mon - Fri

Madonna Deverson 12

20

Hookroom.

MARSHMEAD

Thoughts of Mallacoota

A Letter from Marshmead:

Will I be able to cope with eight weeks away from home? Will I be able to cook edible meals? H o w will I manage to be pleasant to all my friends for eight weeks? Will my parents forget I'm their daughter? Will they still be in the country when I get back?

Dear Natalie, Thanks for your letter. I ' m writing this today because w e have a sleepin - it's 7.50am and I need to get up at 8.15 to clean the kitchen for house inspection, which we have whenever we have a sleep-in, isn't that ridiculous?! S o m e people get up at 6am to clean their house for 10am - we never do, but then again we c a m e last, last time. ....(Food came in today, one large crate and a box for our house Y U M , YUM!!)

Mallacoota.

Sometimes I'm really sick of hearing about it, and yet other times I c a n ' t wait to get there. I ' m going in term 4 and everyone I know who has c o m e back has really enjoyed it!

One girl said "You'll love it! It's the best experience you'll ever have in your whole entire life!"

The Marshmead Potteroo

There is so much stuff to take, all our outdoor equipment, walking and working boots, hundreds of jumpers, pairs of socks, underwear, tracksuit pants, bedclothes, towels, school books, not to mention an eight week supply of chocolate. But I have to survive Mirror Term before I think of Mallacoota. Mirror Term is a lot of h a r d w o r k , a l t h o u g h t h e homework department depends on how much work you accomplish in class time.

I' ve heard from many girls about all the activities you do, and about some of the teachers who are up there.

I' m wondering if our work in Mirror Term will connect-up with what we do at Marshmead. Girls have said that we go on hikes and you get massive blisters. The activities sound like heaps of fun, but really exhausting.

I haven't asked anyone if they m i s s e d h o m e and their parents badly, but at aged 14 or 15, eight weeks away from home and all the luxuries is going to be hard to adjust to. I just got a letter f r o m a friend at Mallacoota, and she said that one of the girls had sheep poo in her shoes!!

Talking about missing luxuries w h a t ' s going to happen to the styled haireach morning? No more looking human, instead we'll have a house full of scruffy females. What about T V and radio? No more Top 40. I also thought w e ' d get to sleep in, but no! One friend told me w e start at 6.00 and have a meeting at 7.30am - so we can forget sleeping in!

As we headed back to school refreshed f r o m the past two w e e k ' s break we were greeted with a new invention, commonly k n o w n as M I R R O R T E R M .

What was it?, we asked, as w e were confronted on the first day by a jumble of subjects all lumped together under the collective title, I N T E G R A T E D STUDIES. Some of us just sat there in disbelief. Where were our normal subjects, like maths, science, and geography? W h e r e was the safety and security of knowing that w e were studying World W a r I in history next period? Instead, we were presented with the mixed-up confusion of INTEGRATED STUDIES. The teachers tried to reassure us with promises of understanding and sympathy for ou, situation, but how could they calm sixty girls who had been snatched f r o m their everyday school environment and thrown into chaos? S o m e h o w we m a d e it through the first day, moving from class to class with only a pathetic grip on what was going on around us. Subject names like "Adolescence and Beyond" and "Urban geography" were barely audible above the hum of thirty girls per class each trying to comprehend what was happening to them. W e left school , as shaking nervous wrecks.

Next morning we arrived back, full of determination and strength. Mirror Term couldn' t be that hard, could it? We, as knowledgeable and experienced Year 9 students should have no problems conquering its wild and confusing paths. At the end of the day, we were brimming with success. With a bit of concentration, the j u m b l e of subjects suddenly made sense and w e finally started to understand what Mirror Term is all about. W e began to see how mirror Term ties in with Marshmead and w e knew w e were actually learning. With success in our blood, we fell into bed that night, exhausted.

All that concentration is hard work!

Sarah Davey 9J

However, I have yet to experience all this! I wonder what my thoughts will be after I return in November.

Catrina Hunter 9J

Students: 52 Staff : 13 Buildings: 19 Beds: 89 Litres of milk in a week:206 " " orange juice in a week: 92 Band aids: Each student has some.

Marshmead: The Statistics + nurse; approx 300 , How often and how many letters typically sent: 3 times per week about 200 letters each time. . Loaves of bread in a week: 96 . Bikes: 14 . Cakes of soap, approximately 100 . Saucepans: 84

21

Boats: 8 Canadian canoes, 2 kayaks, 3 pacer yachts, 2 power boats Tins of Milo: 40 Back Packs: 33 Animals owned by Marshmead and staff: 2 dogs, 80 cattle, 29 sheep

Miss Copenhagen was trying to teach Katie and I how to juggle apples last night. W e tried with our mouths, by this stage the apples were really bruised and juice was oozing f r o m them. They were good to squeeze on people's necks. They ended up everywhere, we had to clean them up - and of course the generator was having problems...

But after tea Miss C o p e n h a g e n washed the dishes, while w e did homework. ....Now we've had House Inspection, our pots were dirty and one bathroom mirror, wow! T h a t ' s pretty good for us. B2 (Block 2/ R o o m 2) got up early to clean - they always win. Oh well! ....Later Tonight we had Spaghetti Marinara, I had spaghetti and sauce because I don't like squid legs. A m a n d a and I checked to see if the spaghetti was cooked - do you know the trick of throwing it on the wall? - If it sticks its ready. It makes really good decoration and it comes off well too.

W e had recreation this afternoon cricket with Mrs Myers and Lauren - she's soooo cute! Yesterday I went on the scull with Mr Myers.

It's really easy to tip - but I d i d n ' t fall in.

T o n i g h t ' s a social e v e n i n g - a massive game of Pictionary is being organised Been to the social evening, it was pretty cool.

M y herbarium is due in tomorrow, I'll have to hurry to get it in on time.

Tonight I've got to write to M u m and Dad, and some friends - 1 really should go. It's 5 to 9. I love it here!

Good night.

Love, Anne xoxo

Anne Harrison. 9 . Compasses: 50 . Billys: 8 Extra: At the beginning of each term each girl brought 6 D cell batteries for their h o u s e t a p e recorder = 3 1 2 batteries.

Compiled by J.L. - Thanks to Mrs Dunwoody

MARSHMEAD

Marshmead Moments

Work

Melbourne

Urban Living

Work, work, work, work.

Keeping themselves busy.

Rain, hail, slippery streets.

Rushing cars, wet feet, Identical houses, tidy and neat, yes, that's Melbourne.

Travelling from place to place, There's always a crowded spot.

Entertainment is everywhere.

And that, I mean a lot!

Huge factories and office blocks.

Oil in the water and the docks.

Houses burgled, everywhere locks.

Yes, that's Melbourne.

Trams, buses, trains and cars.

Are the road's relations.

They take people wherever they want, T o reach their destinations.

Chemicals around, pollution in the air, Many rubbish dumps everywhere.

This place is disgusting, it's really not fair, yes, that's Melbourne.

The day starts.

A raised head A thousand lights go on It's breakfast time, most people eat, yet, most go hungry.

Time for work, Dress really smart, Many cars on the freeway.

The business of life Some win, some lose, But we all learn from our experiences.

W o r k ' s over, we go home. speeding cars return home from work on the many roads and freeways.

Day is done, gone the sun.

The d a y ' s work is over.

W e eat, have fun, a head goes down upon a pillow.

The world sleeps once more.

Getting ready for the next day of Urban Living.

T h e r e ' s lot of that in the city.

People travelling to and fro.

Rosie S 9M So venture into the city.

On a day when you are free.

There will be many things awaiting you, ' C o s it's the place to be!!

Carol Chong 9M

Justine Archer 9M

MIDDLE SCHOOL CREATIVITY ...And the wind blew gently on the Dandelion Clocks Myrandah Zhull Dropping the dripping paint brush into the tin, she stepped back to view her work and gave a satisfied sigh. The late afternoon sun filtered through the swaying trees and began to dry the now deep green door frame. She picked up two empty packing crates and carried them through the newly hinged gate into the small orchard. Dropping on to a crate, she sat perfectly still and allowed her excited mind to thaw. T w o great oaks cast a much needed shadow over the neglected yard, and a tangle of thorny brambles had pushed the back fence over, which was now held up by the twisted vines themselves. A slender young man appeared through the gateway with a tray; he sat d o w n beside her on the long grass with tea for two. She took the worn tin cup, placing it thankfully on her ever-swelling stomach, and closed her eyes as the garden began to grow f r o m within her, and beneath their feet grew dandelion clocks.

breath, relying on his life to bring purpose to hers. Then, smiling weakly, she produced the crispiest apple f r o m the orchard as a gift. He kissed her and broke free to show his father, ignorant of the bitter chasm between the kitchen and the garden. He was greeted awkwardly by a greying, slender man in the kitchen who was fumbling to m a k e tea for two. His father attempted to listen to his son's chatter; the son gulped his tea and tried to ignore his obvious disinterest. She returned her gaze to the literature, and the breeze blew lightly on the dandelion clocks.

The wire door swung in the evening breeze. She wandered in the silence around the d a m p orchard, fumbling as she attempted to break off the ripe fruit and place it tenderly in the woven sack. Only the cicadas could be heard against the soft padding of her slippers, and although her ankles ached she continued to gather the apples in the crisp twilight air, m u m b l i n g to herself, "I'll make him a big fruit pie., f r o m the crispiest apples, he'll like As she held the pencil intently in her elegant hands, her fingers made love that". to the delicate paper whilst her whole mind and soul focussed completely Brakes screeched in the distance and a pair of on the young Silver Birch. She did not notice Leaning down she picked up the head lamps swayed into view. The young the splinter of cane prodding into her spine. She driver leaped out suddenly and staggered over contented toddler, who had stuffed did not notice the tall figure lovingly place the to the garden bed. As he bent over to vomit, a china tea cup by her side, while she passionately into his piggy mouth a handful of m o p of thick hair tumbled across his sweating recreated the single rose that lay against the dandelion clocks. face. H e spat on the wooden step and slammed fence. He whispered softly f r o m the house and the wired door of the empty house as a stench she sighed, pushing back her soft curls; she slowly filtered through the d a m p garden. She did not feel the dew soak into tenderly closed the sketch pad as the broken yolk of the sun slid down the her slippers, or the woven sack slip from her fingers; she thought only of sky. how her son and sole companion, had once loved apples and the wind blew gently on the dandelion clocks.

Leaning down she picked up the contented toddler, who had stuffed into his piggy mouth a handful of dandelion clocks.

"What would you like me to make y o u ? " she asked gently as she fondled his hair. He steadied the chair and coaxed her to her feet. "Brandy snaps, I feel tempted by brandy snaps". "Well, well. We'll need some brandy."

He offered to buy the brandy. With her purse already in his hand, he bolted urgently for the gate. Picking up the chipped china tea cup. she faltered through the rusted iron gate towards the house in order to find the recipe for Brandy snaps.

The small boy threw himself towards the bouncing rubber ball, a m o p of thick hair tumbled across his grubby face as he skid on the grass and flopped into a heap beneath an apricot tree. Eagerly he rose on to his wobbly little legs and again chased his ball of blue towards the house, falling into a small rug of ivy. A strong protective hand swept down and lifted him towards the sky, and on to the shoulders of his father. He broke into shrieks of laughter as his mother blew raspberries on his naked feet.

And the sun fell in the path of the dandelion clocks.

Finally, the mixture complete (minus the brandy), she returned to her garden with an old sketch pad, to wait. She lowered herself gently and listened to the evening insects as they searched the garden. Fumbling with the pages, she gazed upon the beautiful drawings and remembered the irrepressible pain, and consuming loneliness, and the stench. Always the same lingering stench, like a blanket of death, the lull before the storm, the whistle before the gun. But now...only the quiet of her empty garden. Once again, she held tight to the real presence of her only son..

She heard the screech of familiar brakes before she saw the headlights, then the shattering of glass. This time, the stench came last.

She fought to absorb the cluttered black print that stared up f r o m the page, but once again her vision clouded, and she blinked away the stinging tears with frustration at her vulnerability. Sitting perfectly still in an attempt to ease the pain, she sweated in the blistering sun, beneath the concealing long-sleeved dress. Fighting off the consuming loneliness, she stared vacantly at the print as she counted the minutes. Not looking at the black velvet roses or the swaying birch.. She was waiting.

The gate squeaked and a slender boy fell into her covered arms. Wincing at the pain it caused her blotchy darkened flesh, she cried her unseen tears and clung to him dependently for those precious seconds, breathing his

And a gust of wind came up and blew against the bare stalks of the

A Walk in the Dark

Individuality

As I walk in the dark I start to feel scared That what is around me may not be there.

The shadows close in, the lights start to fade.

I am on a journey my feelings do not betray.

I k n o w I am safe for who could be there?

dandelion clocks.

W h o would hurt me, the facts I can't bare.

As the leaves start to rustle and the wind starts to blow, I suddenly wish today could be tomorrow.

No matter how many times I walk in the dark, I always feel scared for I am afraid of the dark.

Caitlin Porter 9K

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The follower has no freedom.

He surrenders himself to outside forces, a slave he becomes, Hooked by society's grappling

It's a tunnel that leads to nowhere.

And it'shardtoextricate, once you're in.

No room for personal growth.

N o room for individuality.

N o room for anything

He fears to detach himself f r o m routine and regularity.

The w o r l d ' s psyche has enforced its indifference and, has security.

Take the opportunity of life Respect your individual worth.

Sonia Esslinger Yr 9

The Boarding House

A Year in the Life of a Boarder This year as in all other years, the Boarding House began with the usual getting-to-know-you week.

This year, instead of g o i n g to Emerald Park Lake, we went to the new and exciting destination of Sorrento & Queenscliff. Enjoying ice creams and the best fish ' n ' chips in Australia, we felt as if we had known each other for years and, if these feelings weren't felt, at least we had something in c o m m o n sunburn!

Mallacoota girls have had difficulties adjusting to both the Boarding House and Marshmead, f r o m all accounts, it sounds as if the houses are nice and many years younger than the Boarding House.

The first group to go will not be forgotten in a hurry; they trampled loudly down the Senior W i n g stairs at a very early hour in the morning.

Billy Joel arrived in late February/

March. I ' m s u r e h e d i d n ' t e x p e c t s o many fans from the Boarding House but every night, girls would return with memories -and in one case a drumstick- to savour.

Blue table c l o t h s , p o o l tables, painted cupboards, half-doors leading into the staff room, and Sponsored A c c o m m o d a t i o n (the house down the road) were all new additions to the Boarding House this year.

Annual traditions and weekly crazes often coincide. One example of this was the year 9 rendition of Twin Peaks, where the murder plot was adapted to include members of staff, performed on Boarder's Birthday night. This night had a theme of c a s i n o s / J a m e s Bond and the mistresses' entrance was enjoyed by all.

Easter dinner complete with easter bonnet parade, had nothing over the day of the year 12 formal. Nearly

all year 12's were in the staff room before and after their trip to the hair dresser.

Tiddeman (Boarding House Team) made an extra effort this year with both swimmers and runners at their respective sports days. Although our new identity will arrive during term 3, with a name change ( The Margaret Tiddeman MLC Boarding House), we will still be distinguished from our dayschool counterparts with our B o a r d i n g House badges, in the traditional colour red.

Fiona Etherton . Yr 12

"Bags Not Cleaning the Bathroom" Sponsored Accommodation is an extension of the Boarding House, providing 6-7 year 12 girls with an alternative place of residence. This programme is designed specifically

to cater for those students who feel they require a more "negotiable" e n v i r o n m e n t in w h i c h to study during their final year.

Away from the Boarding House, these girls are able to plan their study according to their own needs.

Although Sponsored has retained the rules of the B.H.. there is room for more flexibility, and once a satisfactory routine has been negotiated and established, it is expected to be followed.

The girls take on the responsibility of m a i n t a i n i n g the house, supposedly to prepare them for "real life". This includes duties such as vaccuuming, washing dishes, and cleaning bathrooms.

The residents of this house must possess an ability to share problems, chores and ideas, and be willing to compromise, so as to ensure the smooth running of the household.

Madonna Deverson. Yr 12

BOARDING

HOUSE

Are you sure you're feeling sick?

Welcome to the Real World A lighthearted comparison of the lives of boarders and daygirls.

The bell rings and disrupts your dreaming. The mistress informs you of the time on the irritating public address system. She bids you " G o o d m o r n i n g " , and you wonder sleepily whether she really cares. You haven't been to sleep before midnight all year, although the lights are out, your roommates can be depended on to continue talking.

B o a r d e r s are a l w a y s lethargic, they want only to hide and sleep. While Day Girls are striding down Glenferrie Rd towards home, Boarders are likely to be snuggling up in bed.

You tend to work to a system of routines and you can trust that there will be another bell to wake you in half an hour, not unlike the "snooze" button on an alarm clock. At this bell, you will drag yourself f r o m slumber and dress in your ugliest dressing gown and slippers. At "early breakfast", you are able to wear your pyjamas. If you are slow in commencing your journey down the stairs to the dining room, it may be time for " n o r m a l breakfast"; requiring complete school uniform.

This means you have to climb the stairs again, without a pause for breath. Breakfast consists of plain, economical cereals and all varieties of milk. This is followed by a tedious queue at a toaster. Your friends, a Berocca and the orange juice, are the only elements you look forward to in the mornings.

Having an enjoyable shower in a Boarding House is often difficult.

Again, there are queues as well as problems arriving at the correct water temperature. Some people are scented with "tobacco s o a p " as they exit, requiring the exhaust fans to be on high.

Meals can become predictable and are occasionally inedible. W e order our own lunch; the difficulty lies in foreseeing what you would feel like eating on Friday when filling out y o u r l u n c h b a g s on M o n d a y .

Invariably, you choose the wrong thing. T w o days a week we have hot food, this is deliciously greasy and satisfying. There is also always a rush on the chocolate Big M ' s and if you are late, there's plenty of sickening strawberry.

Dinner is hard to cope with on occasions. When the bell rings, you d a w d l e to t h e d i n i n g r o o m

When Daygirls are sick they stay home. When Boarders are sick they stay in sickbay.

The mistresses at Boarders Birthday night. takes you half as long to get ready because there are no interruptions f r o m people wishing to borrow something.

It's pretty lonely actually.

unenthusiastically. You sit through the announcements and impatiently wait for your table's turn to go up for your meal. Not that you are all that eager to taste the night's dish, but the less time spent downstairs, the more of " H o m e and A w a y " you get to watch.

It' s still dark as you venture out into the world of peak hour traffic. The first sign of the transformation into a Day Girl is that you make sure you have your blazer and school star.

The second is the monthly Met pass.

Our homework time is supervised.

For the appropriate length of time, we are kept in our rooms without music or conversation. Just the fact that we are forced to do work each night is enough to make everyone paint their nails instead. This means w e stay u p e v e n later and are lethargic for the rest of the term.

E v e r y t h i n g is put off until the weekend when w e can escape to friend's or relative's houses, where the u n s t r u c t u r e d e n v i r o n m e n t encourages us to do work. This is a myth, but it sounds good on Monday night.

Public transport has always infuriated me. I don't quite u n d e r s t a n d w h y the T r a n s p o r t Authority even bothers to put up the timetables, there will never be a tram every six minutes as promised.

W h e n it's Winter, the lateness of trams is so m u c h more annoying; as you stamp the cramps out of your feet and roll your eyes at the time on your watch. On the first day of school, I forgave the half an hour wait and was surprised and pleased that the tram w a s n ' t as crowded as I'd been warned it would be. I travelled comfortably seated down Glenferrie Rd; wondering how all the other students got to school, seeing as they weren't on the tram.

My naivety was apparent the next morning when I was unable to find a seat and was also unable to get off the tram without swearing, pushing and stepping on toes. I was told that this was in fact the "real world"; hinting that Boarders lead a very sheltered existence because they need only climb a f e w stairs to arrive at school each morning.

There are advantages to living with your friends; you are never lonely, and there is always someone to give you a m a s s a g e w h e n required, they're y o u r f a m i l y . Unfortunately, you may feel stifled by the lack of privacy and "time out"; it is not u n c o m m o n f o r bitterfights tooccur.

The night I left, I felt sentimental and teary, though glad to be escaping the place at last. 1 was no longer a Boarder, I was now just an M L C girl. Boarding puts you in a separate category, you introduce yourself with " I ' m a Boarder", and use it as an excuse on m a n y an occasion.

•

Both lives are different even though we all attend the same school. The deciding factor is freedom versus regimentation, although once y o u ' v e seen both styles of living, you are able to recognise that there will always be someone questioning and placing restrictions on your activities.

It is dark outside when the alarm buzzes annoyingly. You have never been up this early in your life. The morning is silent; no one else is awake. It is so tempting to ignore it, arrive late and pretend that the trams were too confusing for "a d u m b country girl". The house is freezing; there are no central heating panels next to your bed to warm your feet against. There is no lengthy queue for the shower or the toaster. It

Madonna Deverson. I2L

25

Getting into sickbay, and therefore having time off school, is difficult.

You are really only able to appreciate Sickbay when you are legitimately "sick". It is not worth faking it because of a maths test!

You tend to get to know people you've never really spoken to before, as you compare ferocious coughs and pitiful groans. We sympathize with each other when the aniseed cough mixture comes around, laughing at those who also need to take the throat gargle.

There are special ways of sneaking out, and these are sure to be perfected by the time you are let out. You need to find the spots on the floor where the boards don't creak and; how to open and hold the door so it doesn't squeak or bang.

Boarders are expert escapists by the time they leave school.

Built above Music School, sickbay residents hear the latest Gala Concert piece before anyone else.

The strains of scales on piano, violin and trumpet, are not designed to soothe. As you toss in your bed, blocking your ears under the pillow to escape the Madrigal rehearsal at 8am, you wonder at the complete lack of consideration for the ill and wounded.

The school bell rings outside our window to inform students and patients when each and every period begins and ends. I suppose it really is quite handy; it does let us know what the rest of the school is doing whilst we are lying flat on our backs.

Madonna Deverson. 12L

Getting Down to Business Business School Choosing your career path is difficult but if you decide that you want to go into the world of commerce, then the Business School is for you.

The Business School is a two year course which offers a wide variety of subjects, so as to involve you in many of the activities and situations that you may face in the outside world.

The subjects which the course o f f e r s in Year 11 are: Accounting, Maths, English, Information Technology and Business Management. In Year 12: Oral Business Administration and Communication, Keyboarding, Accounting, Law, Economics, Audio Communication, Secretarial Practice, and Office Automation.

Through this large range of subjects, the course covers most aspects of the business world.

We find that this course helps us to learn the methods and better understand the Big World of Business. These subjects also show that we have a large breadth of knowledge, in many areas, and that we will not all end up as Secretaries or Receptionists. Over two years of this challenging course, we have obtained skills that are highly sought after in the market place. By choosing to do Business School, we are confident of having made the correct choice so as to fulfill our career objectives, having obtained the necessary experience and knowledge.

Chantelle Dwell Yrl2

Y e a r 12 B u s i n e s s S c h o o l s t u d e n t s

Catering 1991 's Catering Class consists of twelve dedicated hardworking girls.

The majority of these students are new to M.L.C life and have settled in well with the help of fellow classmates.

W e have had nine functions under the guidance of Mrs Fraser and Jill in the kitchen, whilst Miss Cotes kept the waitresses on their toes.

Although our functions have been a m a j o r success so far, there have been a few "slip-ups" behind the scenes. For example Ellen and Jenny were doing deserts, making two hundred Christmas Puddings for Winter Solstice when they forgot to add the eggs - all fifty-two of them!

The girls giggle in the kitchen particularly Klyie.F., much to Mrs

Fraser's annoyance. Melissa is the "bugs bunny" of the catering course.

Many carrots go missing during preparation for our functions. The prefect of the class Prue Larkins, does set a very good example for the other girls by sticking by her class mates rather than her teachers.

W e have one boarder in our class, Jenny.C., w h o while only living a few short steps away is mysteriously always late! Louisa is very quiet compared to the rest of us, but deep d o w n inside she is an a n i m a l !

Carolyn knows her meat well since she is always involved in preparing it for the functions. Nyree has a huge height advantage over us all, so we never step out of line!! Kylie is so fit that she doesn't have to attend P.E classes!?! (lucky she's not on the roll). Kari always likes to do everyone else's work in the kitchen - and so we let her!! If you

want to know where Sophie is try and find the closest soy-sauce bottle.

M r s F r a s e r " B l a c k - a d d e r the second" has helped throughout the year in and out of the kitchen. Jill is our protector, often saving many of our recipes from disaster.

(Thanks!!!) Lisa and Bee try to feed us high cholesterol dinners by preparing deep fried - chicken and chips. The catering department has many functions, and there is also the theory side, including, Food Studies, Food Science and Nutriton, Hygiene, C o m m o d i t i e s , Kitchen Operations, Professional Development, Maths, English.

Japanese and the occasional P.E lesson.

So far this year we have had a most enjoyable time and we hope the rest of the year will be just as fun.

By Ellen Kelly and Sophie Allen

ftrt (Department Canberra A r t Excursion

'91 GRADUATE ART EXHIBITION On March 21st this year MLC presented a selection of art works by the 1990 year 12 students. This was afirst for the college. It also gave these students an opportunity to have their work displayed.

On the 26th of July, eleven year 12 art students woke up a little earlier t h a n u s u a l ; they had to b e at Tullamarine airport by 6.30. Joined by t h e i r t w o art t e a c h e r s ; M s Medhurst and Mr McKenzie, the small group boarded the plane.

W e stepped outside into the morning air, and our fingers nearly froze off (it was minus 3 degrees). " W e l c o m e to Canberra" said Wayne our bus driver.

O b v i o u s l y he didn't understand that we were not yet awake. W e were too busy doing star j u m p s to warm ourselves up.

W e sat back and relaxed as W a y n e took us on the guided tour of Canberra.

W e all noticed h o w c l e a n o u r National Capital is. N o rubbish in the gutters, no graffiti in the bus shelters; h o u s e s with p e r f e c t l y manicured gardens, it was like a lego town.

Everyone drove e x e c u t i v e cars and no t r a f f i c .

E v e r y t h i n g was p e a c e f u l and beautiful, but so incredibly static and sterile.

From a look-out we viewed the W a r Memorial and the Parliament Houses. Canberra is in the middle of the bush; we saw three kangaroos grazing on the side of the road. W e drove past the foreign embassies and B o b ' s house. W e then drove to the art gallery, where we were to spend a large part of the day.

The gallery is a "must-see" for any art student.

It was great for the students involved to see the works we had been studying in class. W e w e r e all in a w e of M o n e t ' s Waterlilies, Jackson Pollock's Blue Poles as well as works by Matisse, Cezanne, Picasso and others.

After the art gallery, we went to the High Court and to Parliament neither of which were sitting when we visited. W a s Canberra a dead city?

W e sat by Lake Burleigh Griffin and munched on sandwiches, took a few group photographs and then it w a s o n t o B l a c k M o u n t a i n (or Telecom) Tower. The huge tower had magnificent views of the city..

I ' m sure everyone gained a lot f r o m the excursion.

Melissa Bedford.Yr 12

Congratulations to the MLC Art department.

Mrs. T: retiring after 17 years

Mrs.T Where would art students be without Mrs Tarrent, or Mrs T as we all know her? Whether it be a thread of cotton or canvas board, Mrs T always seems to have a large supply!

She has been secretary of the Art Depart, for the past 17 years, and retires at the end of this year.

Mrs T has seen a lot of changes and has gathered an assortment of memories.

When Mrs T first started the Art Dept. consisted of three cottages one of whichwasthe 'Craft Cottage' and the first floor and part of the second of Wood. There were no woodwork, glass, graphics, or photography classes instead just textiles and painting.

Mr. Savage: Art Director

INTERESTING Facts About the ART Dept

Mrs T has worked with two Art Directors, Mr Savage is the third.

Mrs T loves all her 'little girls' and she has seen many filter through the school.

In the past year the M.L.C Art department has managed to go through1. 400 metres of calico 2. 750 litres of acrylic paint 3. 1,000 rolls of machine cotton 4. 2,000 rolls of bulk loaded film 5. 3,000 tubes of paint 6. 50,000 sheets of photo paper 7. 60,000 sheets of cartridge paper 8. 4 tonnes of clay 9. 10,000 metres of radiator pine 10. And $2,000 worth of laminate

Having seen a lot of changes within the school she has gathered a lot of delightful and happy memories. A favourite would have to have been the house sports of 1975 when Mr Woodgate was then headmaster.

His silky white terrior named Joe had been dyed green by the boarders.

Mrs T has managed to cram a lot into her seventeen years and I can assure you a lot of us will miss her!

Anne Neville. Yr 12

Anne Neville. Yr12

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ART

DEPARTMENT

Art releases and explores our creativity...

Year 12 Graphics

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HOUSES

B ERRY Memorable Moments for Myrtle the Turtle Berry has been extremely successful in a lot of events this year due to the never ending enthusiasm of its members.

In C r o s s - C o u n t r y we blitzed the field, p a r t i c u l a r l y in S e n i o r School where we had five runners finish in the top ten; including Alisa Camplin's commendable first place. Middle School and J u n i o r S e c o n d a r y School contributed to the overall success, giving Berry aconvincing victory.

Thanks to Tina Johnston and Sally Gittens our Aths captains, for making our last H o u s e A t h l e t i c s competition so enjoyable.

The year 12's were enthusiastic and...quite frankly, legendary! The hard work at the 'Berry Working Bee' at Penny's house p r o d u c e d two spectacular banners and transformed Penny's bike

and our purple ra-ra skirts proved to be a great hit!

The newly made Berry banners complemented the dedication of all athletes who attended early

morning ballgames; we won the Proficiency Cup for the first time in ages.

The introduction of the fashionable purple caps lifted Berry's morale as we

Jasmine Goh and Valerie H u o n g ' s racquet skills proved to be yet another of Berry's great assets, to help achieve success in the Senior badminton and table tennis competitions.

loved the day, and give a huge thankyou to Kate and Bee. After an overwhelming win last year. Berry is looking likely to take the gymnastics cup this year.

Best of luck to Fiona Sutherland (Berry gym captain) and all other competitors.

Throughout the year the support and leadership of Alicia Smith ( M i d d l e School House Captain) and G e o r g i e Hall (Junior Secondary School House Captain) has been greatly appreciated in maintaining house spirit.

marched proudly around the Olympic Park stadium.

R o w e n a M u l l i n s and Sandra Bauer, our Swimming captains, helped Berry splash their way to a fantastic first place in the diving competition.

Pity about the swimming competition, we think our best swimmers got lost in the change-rooms. Oh well, better luck next year!

Katarina and Gabby codirected a very humorous version of "The Taming of the Shrew", earlier in the year for the Senior School Drama Festival. The cast had a great time presenting the play, and the audience loved it.

Kate Bergen and Rebecca Miller's musical talents and supreme organisational skills led Berry to a 'Blitzful' day at the house music competition. We won the Instrumentals, Choral and Variety items and came equal first f o r the Proficiency Cup. We all

The Senior netball squad was captained by Melanie Murphy, who once again led Berry to a welldeserved win.

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Many thanks for al 1 the help and support offered by our house m i s t r e s s e s Mrs Chamberlain, Mrs LeighJones and Mrs Brooks.

W e ' v e really e n j o y e d leading such an enthusiastic and talented house this year and we sincerely hope that Berry can continue to be an energetic and successful house in the future.

Thanks for all your support.

Penny James (House Captain) Beth Fuller (Vice House Captain)

HOUSES

CATO BLUE It was four-thirty in the afternoon. Kate and George were slumped in front of the heater in senior centre when out of the blue...Pooh barged in.

"Guys, I don't mean to be rude, but my arm is only attached to my body with a safety pin. Host it the other day you know!"

Kate and George gave each other a knowing look. "Yep, yep, yep..." they sighed with great satisfaction, "maybe it came off when we won Senior School swimming, and we gave you sixty whizzy-dizzies to celebrate."

"No, my nose fell off that time", Pooh sighed, "I think it was actually when we won proficiency in Senior School chorals - B E A R I L L I A N T effort," Pooh boasted, "Catherine and Sam worked really hard for that - You know I do fancy myself as a bit of an "uptown" kind of bear."

"We've done so much, and had so much to celebrate this year Pooh, you could have lost your arm at any number of our triumphant events. All we seemed to be doing this year was giving you whizzy-dizzies because you'd been so good, and you know what they do to your arms!" Kate said.

"I know it didn't come off at the swimming because I definitely had it when we won Middle School aths, and I remember it was still stitched on when we came runners up at the Senior drama...I did get kicked around a bit when Lisa Thurling came second in the cross country, but maybe it could have happened at the Senior School debating finals."

"You know Pooh, despite all your injuries, 1 still think you're a pooh-pushing spunk of a bear. Think of yourself as "rugged".

You're arms and your nose and your legs that are falling off look, well, sexy!" George sighed in admiration.

and to Mr Notsis not only for his help, but also for the ever-biased "Cato snaps" at aths and swimming.

"Yes, this is true-blue, but you know that my beauty is merely a product of Cato house spirit, and this year has been bearter than any other. Speaking of which, I'm off to prepare myself for a teddy bear's picnic on Sunday."

The hard work and dedication of Imogene Manton and Tania Andrew, Senior School athletics captains were invaluable and much appreciated, as was the huge effort put in by Jane Batrouney and Cathy Bowden as joint captains of the swimming. Many, many thanks also go to the Middle School and Junior secondary captains of these sports. Congratulations also to Sam Arcadipane and Catherine Fisher on their wonderful results at Senior School Chorals, Gillian Crawford and the whole cast of the Senior House play deserve heaps of praise for their fantastic p e r f o r m a n c e of "Stormy Weathers" which earned us second place in the Senior Drama Festival. Just as good, if not better results are expected from the Middle School girls who are yet to strut their stuff in drama and chorals - good luck guys! Finally, thanks to Jenny Monkhouse for her skills as Senior house recorder.

"Pooh, before you go, have you got anything to say to your loyal Catoites."

Pooh casually leaned against the doorway, and, after a long paws, he looked up and said, "Thanks to all you Cato chicks - you're a great bunch! I'm very proud of you all and 1 know that your top performance so far this year is just the tip of the honey jar - Oooh, I can't wait till next year..."

Pooh gave a sneaky grin and waddled off down the corridor, swinging his hips and whistling "We love you Cato, oh yes we do, we love you Cato and we'll be true, when you're not near us, we're BLUUUUUE ! ! ! ! ! ! , Oh Cato we love you....'

Remember: "We're in Cato be We're in Cato an rest We're in Cato an us so We're in Cato so GO ! !

The overall performance of the house this year has been outstanding - bigger, better, brighter and BLUER than ever ! Both individually and as a house, Catoites have excelled themselves this year, due not only to the talents and enthusiasm of every participant, but also to the organisational skills and support of all our captains. The smooth running of the combined events (swimming and athletics) must be greatly attributed to the Middle School captains, Nicolle Beynon and Terri MacDonald and the Junior Secondary captains, Kirsten Findlay and Megan Curtis. All captains at all levels have worked diligently to ensure a promising future for Cato. Many thanks to Mrs Anderson, Mrs James and Mr Miles for their help and support

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With half of 1991 still left, we have nothing but the highest expectations for Cato this year.

Now that we've seen your potential and got the results, it can only be a matter of time before Cato reigns supreme once more! Captaincy this year has been an honour, and we wish you and the house all the best in your coming years as TRUE BLUE CATOITES ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Kate Stewart (Senior House Captain) Georgina Lewis (Senior Vice Captain) Pooh Bear (ever faithful house mascot)

HOUSES

"We are Fitchett, mighty Fitchett.

If you can't hear us we'll shout a little louder."

-and shout we did at both the s w i m m i n g and the aths, to c o m e a victorious first place, carrying on the tradition f r o m last year. We were led to this triumphant climax by our fantastic s w i m m i n g captains, Nichola C o o m b e s and Ann Kelly (SS), and our fleet of foot Aths captains: Janet Stewart and Jenny Wilson (SS).

The combined, dedicated efforts of the girls as well as all the Fitchett followers in the grandstand helped to prove, not once but twice, that Fitchett m e a n s business and we just simply can't be beaten. In what e v e r e v e n t , F i t c h e t t p l a y e d w i t h skill a n d determination , together with a huge smile and oodles of house spirit. On ya Fitchett!!

In M a y we had Fitchett's exciting rendition of "Charlie's Case", superby directed by Justine Bolza and Josie Howie. Andrea Trembath played the lead role, and the cast and crew worked together for many hours to produce a most entertaining play that everyone enjoyed. Well done!!

We must thank our Middle School Captain, and our Junior Secondary School Captains, w h o we k n o w have put great effort in throughout the year.

Kate Webster has had a busy j o b as house recorder.

Everyone's enthusiasm in house activities has put Kate's organisation skills to the test, as have been the skills of and our Middle and Junior Secondary School recorders. We owe all of you a million thanks.

Lastly, but certainly not least, we would like to give a very big thank-you to the house teachers, for their willingness to help out whenever it was needed, and for their continual enthusiasm.

Megan War re I and Sylvie Sliskovic -(and Tuff S t u f f ) 34

Another great Year of the Frog!

Oh yes, the other houses were green with envy - and that suited us just fine.

First, the swimming sports in our favourite watery venue, The State Swimming Centre - and did we show the others that this was our lily pad.

Middle school triumphed in a grand green style (free-

...frogs legs are more than just a French dish... style, that is), and, led valiantly by Annie M e c k l a m and S a s c h a Bond, showed us just what frogful futures are in store for K r o m e .

Looking resplendent, the fluorogreen frog flashes were cheered enthusiastically by our numerous supporters and we are sure that the sight of gloriously unique and patriotic swimming caps will strike terror into the hearts of our adversaries for years to come.

There were plenty of individual frogsters and glorious team spirit as well as true green triumph by JSS, expertly led by Flora and Lorraine, frog stars in their own right.

Our finest hour was yet to come - SS House Drama Festival, involving many hours of hard work by cast and crew alike, most especially the captains; L u c i n d a and Siobhan.

Their dedication paid off, as the actors put in a superb and hilarious performance of 'Dags' that won the night.

received second place for badminton, but held on to win table tennis. The up and coming frogs of MS also put in an excellent effort to come second in the House Cross Country.

And last but not least, the tadpoles of the House put their little legs in to enjoy a second place for badminton, and showed that frogs legs are more than just a French dish, by coming second in the Cross Country.

Now to the thankyou's.

Well these ladies certainly don't need frog kisses to turn them into princesses they a l r e a d y are!

A humongous thankyou to the three house mistresses - Miss Heffernan who, with ever-green eyes discovered THE fashion statement of the Swimming Sports - the fluoro caps with us frogs in them. - Ms Johnson, for her never-ending support of JSS and all the wonderful frog-nacks she creates. - and Miss Pateras for the huge support and encouragement for the most stressed section of the school. Special thanks to MS c a p t a i n s , Chloe Messner and Jenny Wood, and JSS captains Suzie Fox and Amy Clerehan, and we hope that they will continue to be frogs through-andthrough for the rest of their years here.

Other highlights of our sporting year have occurred at lunchtimes, with the studious SS frogs showing they've still got some kick, winning the hockey, tying for second place in the softball, and a second place in the table tennis. MS girls also came a tied second in the softball,

In the Aths, the year 12 3legged-frogs leapt their way to victory, smashing a record in the process!

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Thanks also to the various team, music and drama captains in all the levels who have given up their time for Krome.

As all who have d i s c o v e r e d the green satisfaction of frogfulness know, participation is heaps of fun - winning's not too bad either. So, to all the frogs and potential frogs out there - YES! Kermit was wrong - it is easy being green!

These last two terms are shaping up well for Krome, and although there are many more house activities still to come, like the gymnastics and cricket, we, your SS c a p t a i n s would like to say that we've had a terrific final year of leading Krome.

Both our grandmothers were Scottish and fey, and we inherited "the Sight" the sight to see that Krome's victorious years have only just begun - our reign has started, and in years to come, Krome will be feared as "The Great Green House That Wins".

So, as we prepare to ascend to that grand green frog pond in the sky, with tears in our eyes, croaks in our throats and Frogs in our hearts, we charge YOU to Frog forward to total Frog domination.

Be Green forever, and may the FROG be with you...

Anna Shelley and Bronwyn Andrew (Senior Captains)

HOUSES

Nevile: In the PINK SENIOR SCHOOL HOUSE REPORT On the Senior School front it was Nevile all the way. If you couldn't see us on the field you could certainly hear us from the sidelines. Our pink caps, new age breakdancing and cheering helped make all our teams, if not successful, great, great fun.

Our Senior School results were absolutely stunning with 1st or 2nd places in nearly everything!

A special thanks must be given to what must be the best and nicest bunch of Year 12 Nevilites - Katie, Soula, Kasha, Sarah. Thank you for not only being dearest friends but being involved in nearly every house activity. Thank you for being part of the b a c k b o n e of the N e v i l e Family. I'll never forget our final year together.

Vicki Huang

(Senior House Captain) Angela Andrews (Vice Captain)

NEVILE HOUSE REPORT

Nevile MS House Report W e c a m e 4th in the swimming, congratulations to Belinda Tolley

Yeah Nevile!!! VICTORY! VICTORY! VICTORY!... well almost, Nevile did not actually take home any of the Aths. or Swimming trophies this year, but did come second, six out of eight times which is an excellent overall result.

who swam in 5 events, Sharon Lim in 4, and Emily Turner in 7 events.

There were five players in the Nevile M S tennis team. W e did well, and came runners-up to Cato.

Team

members were Lindy Fidler, Marnie Rosenberg, Sarah Kelly, Rachel

The stupendous Nevile showing can be attributed to all the enthusiastic Nevilites who cheered non-stop for all our talented stars. At all interhouse events the other houses paled against our dominant, glorious pink and our fluorescent pink caps naturally out-glowed all the other teams.

Wallace,Simone Vignoroli., Lindy Fidler, Captain.

Nevile performed well in the M S table tennis coming second.

Diana

Leske, Captain.

Nevile debaters performed well but

With our intoxicating house spirit Nevile produced teams of unrivalled skill and enthusiasm. Nevile warcries could be heard every lunch time on the softball field and in the showers of every dedicated panther fan.

were defeated in the final against Fitchett ("That Goldilocks should have been spanked").

The team

consisted of Anna Thwaites (C), Melanie Baker, Kathryn Hay don and Jennifer Gordon.

Pinkie is happy and cannot wait till next year when the Nevile Champions will rise once more and pulverise the other houses. I know that next year, like this year, Nevile will win in ALL areas of enthusiasm, house spirit and good sportsmanship. Well done girls! GO TEAM GO!!!!!

Nevile hockey played well as a team despite the small number of players we had. W e had a good time though, despite this difficulty, and thank you to all those that did play. Chloe Bevans, Captain.

Vicki Huang (Senior House Captain) Angela Andrews (Vice Captain)

Secure foundations were laid down on day one of the Nevile M S House Badminton tryouts.

Over twenty

eager shuttle smashers tried out.

All striving for a position in the team, where only approximately f o u r t e e n would m a k e the final

Nevile Table Tennis

squad.

The enthusiasm displayed by Nevile was overwhelming.

W e even had some crazy enough to come early in the mornings. The turnup was great, with many girls s u p p o r t i n g N e v i l e . All matches were pretty close, with some lost by one game.

O v e r a l l the r e s u l t s w e r e pleasing with Nevile coming third overall Thanks to all the girls w h o turned up and played their best, I ' m sure they had fun and e n j o y e d themselves.

Cato, Berry, and Fitchett

were no competition, and, although Krome posed a threat, the Mighty Nevile Panthers won outright.

I would like to congratulate and thank every player who contributed to our successful season. Well done N e v i l e B a d m i n t o n team

1991!

Natalie Tmong, Captain.

The

Middle

School

Nevile

softballers did really well this year.

W e played four matches against the other houses and won them all!

Nevile finished up first overall and

S a m Han - T a b l e T e n n i s Captain

received the trophy.

Well done!

Karen Mackenchnie, Captain.

37

e C i g i o u s

*

J - d u c a t i o n

the chaplains as having a pastoral care role, not limited to religious issues.

She w o u l d like to b e concerned with many aspects of people's lives.

"Not Just a P e r s o n U p the Front" An Interview with Mrs Potter

Interaction with students, and being with young people is an aspect of M L C that Mrs Potter particularly enjoys. She also likes teaching, and finds assemblies "a challenge" and, understandably, "sometimes a bit daunting".

Apart from being involved in the daily school religious activities, the chaplains also officiate at weddings and funerals in the chapel. Before a wedding service, she meets with the couple at least three times, during which she gets to know them, finding out a little about them, and tells them about herself, as it makes the service more meaningful. Mrs Potter says she enjoys weddings and feels she can contribute to helping a couple get a good start. Similarly, she says that "at times of grief you feel very much needed. You can really help a family through that time".

Have you everconsidered how much work our chaplains do?

Most people probably haven't, m o s t o f u s h a v e probabl y taken their presence for granted.

Reverend Potter was glad to be i n t e r v i e w e d f o r "Silver and Grqen", and to discuss her views on religion, and on life. She is friendly, very approachable, and sees Reverend Potter

Year 9 Excursion to Churches.

Our first stop was Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Father Maglica. This church was gorgeous, it inspired in me a deep feeling of r e v e r e n c e , as t h o u g h G o d w a s present. I felt that it would be easy to pray to G o d here.

The architecture was opulent. 1 felt Father Maglica w a s devout; he believed in what he was saying and this made me interested.

The next c h u r c h w a s the K e w Baptist Church. After the opulence of the Catholic Church the simplicity of the Baptist Church was almost a shock. The minister. Rev. Dennis Brennan, was an easy-going man. I thought that the Outreach work they are doing is fabulous, especially the work with school children.

Kew Uniting Church was our next stop. This reminded m e of our Chapel at school. The minister.

Rev. Robert Fowler talked to us about the clothes they wore and why. It is always interesting to find out why traditions are kept. The church was very subdued. It was dark, and it reminded me of a cave.

The Deacon, Helen Robinson talked to us about Marshmead.

The last visit was to the Holy Trinity Anglican Church. It reminded me of the churches you see in T V weddings. The church was dark, but the Chapel was light and airy.

W o o d was all around the church, which was small and homey. The R e v e r e n d showed us all of the scarves, and the meaning behind these was extremely interesting.

I felt that the differences between the churches was architectural, and showed the difference in the beliefs of that particular group. I felt, for m e , G o d w a s s t r o n g e s t in the Catholic Church.

Year 9 RE student

FOOTPRINTS

Many people think Footprints is apurely Christian group and often confuse us with Christian Fellowship. We originated from the R.E. Department and were led by one of the Chaplains. Since then we Preparation for sermons can be have developed into a student run group, lengthy, sometimes taking as many although there is still some guidance as ten or twelve hours! Preparing from Rev. Potter. for a s s e m b l i e s is easier.

"For assemblies I would like to be brief, Most of our activities centre around have a clear point to make- and one discussions of social and personal only. I would like to link a current issues such as sexism, drugs, the affair, or have a story to illustrate environment, stress etc. With adifferent the p o i n t . " U s e of m u s i c in girl leading the discussion each week, assemblies is something she sees as this can lead to heated debates, or beneficial, believing it can 'speak' to us. T h e m a i n t h i n g a b o u t more often discussion about different preparing a sermon, of any length, topics which we feel strongly about. is to do justice to the Scriptures, and In 1990, we had some liaison with our to get that point across. equivalent group from Trinity Grammar,"Centreiink". We had regular Mrs Potter, and our other chaplain, meetings and social activities with them.

Mrs Sterner, always take it in turns Meeting with other schools provides a to speak to us, whether it's at a diversity of opinions, values and church service, assembly, or chapel. backgrounds which give more insight Mrs Sterner is the R.E. (Religious Education) Co-ordinator for Junior, into the" other side" of an issue. and Junior Secondary Schools, Currently, Footprints consists of around 15 members from years 9 to 12 and we are looking towards increasing our " T h e J a c k s o n s " at M L C membership. Anyone wishing tojoin us On 12 August, M L C witnessed a contact Rev. Potter or any Footprints m a g i c a l p e r f o r m a n c e by The member.

Jackson Family. (Not to be confused Kim Robert 11J & Bek Oberin 11Q with the Jackson Five). This family is a gospel group, based in the United States, w h o perform a wide range of music, f r o m soft ballads to fast, vibrant contemporary songs spreading Christian messages.

1

M

Rev. Robert Fowler & Yr 9 students

38

The group captivated the audience with their opening upbeat-tempo song and soon had the large crowd of girls (not to mention the handful of Scotch and M e l b o u r n e High boys) on their feet, dancing and clapping. The usually austere Assembly Hall was full of life!

while Mrs Potter co-ordinates Senior and Middle Schools. They think it's good that we are able to see them both, as they each present the gospel in different ways, and they feel that some people will relate to Mrs Potter, others to Mrs Sterner.

R.E. Week, held this year between 20 and 24 May, is designed to promote R.E. as a subject equal in importance and value to Maths, Geography, or Science. Mrs Potter says, R.E. Week is "partly just to say 'we celebrate life, what w e ' v e got', and to celebrate Christ's life."

The aim of the week is not to force us to become more religious, but to ask us to think about celebrating our lives, and being happy. This year red balloons were given out on the first day, which f o l l o w e d Pentecost; singing groups came to the school, our o w n Big Band played; and stickers with significant words written on them were handed out. The words chosen were not overtly religious, but had a deeper significance, such as trust, love, forgiveness. Mrs Potter feels that R.E. Week went well. She says "the whole school is supportive, from Mr Loader down".

Even though M L C is a Uniting Church School,some students do not happily accept the religious aspect, it is the chaplains' goal to make us m o r e w i l l i n g to acknowledge religion.

"My challenge is to make it relevant, and make it interesting - and that's not easy. I ' m always struggling to find stories, especially for a large group".

In assemblies, there might be as many as 700 girls. "Classes you can make more personal", she says, and so in a way teaching provides the greater opportunity of the two roles. "Girls can get to know you better, they can know w h o you are, you're not just aperson up the front."

Jane Libbis 12P Monty, the most popular of the Jacksons, visited MLC lastyear with the gospel group " R e u n i o n " and was greeted this time like an old friend. His two brothers and three sisters make up the rest of the band.

Ranging in age from 26 to 18 the m e m b e r s are: M o n t y , Mattan, Maria, Maury. Monca and Micole.

After their performance at M L C , girls (and boys) had an opportunity to meet the band backstage for autographs and to congratulate them on the show. Everyone enjoyed the concert. Reverend Sterner should be thanked for arranging the concert and everyone looks forward to their next visit to Australia.

Sonika Kapoor 12H

!Axkt ARIEL Ariel is a group of Year 11 's and 12's w h o have been writing and illustrating creative stories this year, hoping to have them published by the end of the year. They are creating this book for children between the ages of eleven and thirteen, and have been meeting and consulting students of this age group for most of the year.

The idea for it to be a book created by students was first thought of by Mrs Anwar, an art teacher, who then approached Mrs Mason, the English co-ordinator. The idea was developed further by M r Pryke, Director of the Centre of Creativity in Arts and Sciences, and Lynnda f r o m the Bookroom.

M r Pryke, M r s A n w a r , M r s M a s o n and "Ariel" girls

A New Spirit of imagination for M.L.C. T h e r e are m a n y d i f f i c u l t i e s in writing a book like this. Students of this age have had little experience in writing for publication and also for this age group. Many of the students involved are committed to other things and as a result it is d i f f i c u l t to o r g a n i s e m e e t i n g s .

However, there is a feeling that the work that is being produced by the students is fresh and original and there is a chance for the publication.

The staff involved have met with a publisher's representative, Mr Jim Warberton, who will be trying to get the work published. It is expected that the book will include 12 stories with several illustrations, s o m e hopefully in colour.

All the staff involved feel it is very i m p o r t a n t that the students are recognised for the work they do, a n d t h e r e f o r e if t h e b o o k is s u c c e s s f u l , they should r e c e i v e some of the benefits. However, if Ariel is not successful in gaining publication outside the school, then t h e y are p r e p a r e d to o r g a n i s e publication within the school.

There have been several speakers organised to broaden the knowledge of publication for the students. For example Judith Crabtree, a children's story book writer and illustrator came to talk and give advice to the members of Ariel.

C a r m e l Bird, M . L . C . ' s f o r m e r Writer in Residence also took the time to read all the stories to be included in the book so far, and comment on these to the group.

So far the book has been going well and stories and illustrations are b e g i n n i n g to reach c o m p l e t i o n .

Whatever the outcome, Ariel has already been a success and all the teachers feel that they may try the exercise again next year.

Jodie Baker

W h e n Mr Pryke was installed as the 'Director of Creativity', he envisaged a new building within the school where students would have the opportunity to experience all the creative departments of the school under one roof. This building, which would be an extension of the present "Ariel" program, would include areas where art work could be displayed, music could be listened to, books borrowed and read, writing encouraged, discussions held, and much more.

Mr Loader sees "Ariel" as a very real possibility in the future, giving the students the chance to have their work recognized, and stimulating creativity. M r Loader believes this program would give girls the space and the f r e e d o m to flourish creatively.

This project is a very real possibility in the minds of both M r Pryke and Mr Loader, providing something very new for M.L.C. However, it is not likely to happen in the next five years, so we '11 all have to wait a while longer before we can view all aspects of creativity f r o m the school collectively.

Jodie Baker. Yr 12 The Beauty of Imperfection

By Uyen Tran

She Spits Out Starssss....

By Andrea Downing

Avocado Dip

By Vanessa Sowerwine

Mr Travesty beamed at his new class. Beautiful. They were excellent specimens. He had never seen a more superbly imperfect group of children. Ah yes. There was one with a hare lip, another with e n o r m o u s ears and, how wonderful - a child with warts. His eyes fell on a boy in the back row.

What a pity the child had such a sweet and innocent face. Mr Travesty began to sweat

I don't k n o w why I lied all the time.

Maybe it w a s something to do with that my life was being so ordinary.

I wanted to be different. There had to be something about my life that made people think, "Oh! Sophie!

Of course I remember her!" instead of s c r a t c h i n g t h e i r h e a d s a n d murmuring, " W h o ? " in response to my name. I ' d like to be an Egyptian Goddess, or a f a m o u s hang glider pilot, instead of plain old Sophie with plain black hair and brown skin, w h o lies all the time. Maybe if I tried hard enough, I could eat earth and spit out stars! But that was pretty doubtful. Even I knew that

This w a s n ' t the first time that I had been made a fool of in public. M u m and Dad were always embarrassing me; screeching my name across the top floor of Myers if they thought I was "getting lost", telling stupid jokes to my friends and always bringing up embarrassing subjects that I didn't want to talk about. I had had enough. I had to do something to stop them from doing these awful things, and the best way to do that was to embarrass them in the same way they embarrassed m e

The Annual Luncheon

By Sarah Nelms

Mothers'

No, I prayed as I heard my mother open the cupboard f r o m behind the closed door. It had been difficult to hear things I shouldn't have in the past, but listening at my parents' bedroom door had become a perfected art with a glass pressed against it. Sounds such as parental discussions about m e were still a little muffled, but my ear was trained for the sound of the cupboard door.

For it could only mean one thing.

My mother was getting dressed....

MLC & 'Bruce TurtierBoofcroom

Books, Cards, Gifts for all occassions.

Mail orders more than welcome.

Open:

M o n - Fri 8 a m - 4 . 3 0 p m (Vacation: M o n - Fri 9.30am-3.30pm)

Phone. 810 1346

39

AROUND THE WORLD IN MLC/TSUSHIMH Student Exchange

Program I was fortunate enough to be chosen

by MLC to participate in their annual student e x c h a n g e program with M L C ' s sister school, Tsushima, in Nagoya City in Japan. W e hosted a delightful girl called T o m o k o when I was in year 10 and not only did we have fun sharing Australia with her, I found it really helpful for my Japanese. During the Christmas holidays of 1990/91 I travelled to Japan and stayed with T o m o k o and her family and another host family.

It was definitely the best thing that could have happened to me and it has proved really beneficial for my year 12 Japanese.

Words do not do my experience justice, the seven weeks I spent there were some of the most emotion charged of my life. There were always hilarious and embarrassing moments (usually at my expense!) and everyone that I met was so kind and friendly.

Indeed, saying farewell was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, and I was only there for two months! I made some wonderful friends and my host families treated me as a m e m b e r of the family so that when I left, I left behind the older sisters and the dog I never had in Australia and my 'other parents'.

I feel compelled to challenge the myth that Japanese people do not

Embarrassing

PASCALE Pascale stayed with Katie Gore for 2 weeks and then with my family for 2 weeks. She spoke excellent English and this made m e feel very inadequate about my French.

Hosting her was a great experience.

She told us about her family, her life and the differences which she saw between Australia and France.

She was very keen to learn about Australia and we wanted to show her as much of Victoria as we could.

She had already been to those "tried ' n ' true" tourist destinations; Healesville Sanctuary, Sovereign Hill etc. and it was quite a challenge to think of original places to go. W e took her to Hanging Rock and also showed her our classic Australian film "Picnic at Hanging R o c k " and Lake Mountain - even though she was used to seeing snow it was quite a novelty to see snow-capped g u m trees under a clear blue sky.

Pascale also joined in our family life. She had the opportunity to try the traditional pav. on the occasion of a family birthday and declared that it was her favourite food! She e n j o y e d l o o k i n g t h r o u g h the f a m i l y ' s stamps and was pleased to be able to add s o m e Australian stamps to her collection. On the first night she stayed with us we began to teach her a card game "Racing D e m o n s " only to find that she already knew it - though, of course, by another name!

By the time she left we had learnt a lot about each other and had a great time. W e still write to each other and I hope to see her again in the future.

Sarah Goss 12L

like sweet food. I consider myself to be somewhat of a sweet tooth here in Australia, but I had nothing over my first host family. While this may not be true of all Japanese families, mine thought nothing of a breakfast consisting solely of leftover layered cream sponge cake with thick chocolate figurines definitely a "weight-watchers" special! My host sister and I also had different expectations of bread appropriate for breakfast, her norm being donuts, and slit sweet bread rolls with cream running down the middle.

An eye-opening observation for me w a s to f i n d v e n d i n g m a c h i n e s selling cigarettes and alcoholic

Moments

1 , There are many electronic uersions of western t o i l e t s in Japan that do e u e r y t h i n g from heating the t o i l e t seat to . , ah, ejecting a warm spurt of water in just the right position t o do w h a t a F r e n c h b i d e t w o u l d n o r m a l l y d o ! I When l o o k i n g f o r t h e f l u s h on t h i s computerised loo, I s t o o d and bent ouer the multitude of buttons t r y i n g to decipher their I abe I s .

Ui th the toilet seat up, I decided to pick the f i r s t b u t t o n my finger landed on, To my horror, i was s o a k e d by a spurt of water and in panic I f r a n t i c a l l y started to hit all the other buttons to get it to stop.

By t h e t i m e I finally found the stop button, the floor and wall were soaked,

in

Japan

I then realised that I s t i l l hadn't found the flush and as I glanced around the other side of the loo I spotted a p e r f e c t l y normal western style flush!

Ny host s i s t e r ' s reaction t o my embarrassing slip up, apart from hysterical laughter, was " O h don't worry, I do it all the

time!"

2. fit my school in J a p a n , you had t o change shoes when you entered and left the building, T h i s c a n be u e r y h a r d to g e t used t o and i t is e a s y to forget as I realised when I f o u n d I was s t i l l wearing my l i t t l e white c a n u a s s h o e s h a l f w a y down the road to the station!

Roche I ttacKay

?

drinks on almost every street corner and on train station platforms. They also sold everything from hot drinks to i c e - c r e a m s and h a m b u r g e r s (which I was not game to try!). The shopping was terrific in the city, some of the department stores were so huge that they m a d e Myers look like a cubby house!

F o r s o m e o n e as c r a z y a b o u t Japanese as I am, this has been the ultimate experience and I am so terribly grateful to the school for giving me the opportunity. I wait with anticipation until the day that I can return to Japan again, and 1 would encourage anyone w h o is considering an exchange to seize the chance.

Naomi Widmer 12T

Hosting a German Exchange Student For two months last year I hosted Britt Kuster, a German exchange student from Bielefeld in north-west Germany. I had spent 10 weeks with her in Germany during the Christmas holidays at the end of Y e a r 10, w h i c h w a s a g r e a t experience, so we knew each other, which made her settling in easier.

Britt's English was definitely much better than my G e r m a n (ie very good!).

W e were at the airport at 6.00 am on Friday, 25th May,to see Britt'splane land. I had to go to school that day but Britt, nor surprisingly, opted to go h o m e to bed. On M o n d a y morning however, she got dressed into her beautiful green skirt and j u m p e r (commonly known as the M L C winter uniform) and set off with me to school. For the first week she attended all my classes , but from then she could choose her subjects. She found school easy, because she had learnt most of the work back in Year 7 or 8! German classes were , of course, no trouble for her, and we were not surprised to see her get 100% in the listening comprehension tests!

At weekends we toured parts of Victoria with Britt, and in the two weeks' holiday in July, we spent a week in Adelaide (where we got to feed a baby kangaroo- much to Britt's delight!) and a few days in Canberra and Sydney. On July 21st Britt left Sydney airport to go back to Germany, and my family and I returned to Melbourne, ready for school again!

I'm really glad I had this experience, and I think both Britt and my family got a lot out of it. If you ever have the opportunity - go for it!

Katherine Dawson 12T

EXCHANGE

A Year In Japan When I stepped off the plane at Narita Airport in Tokyo, I had no idea what to expect. I was very shy, and nervous and my knowledge of Japan was very limited. Outside it was snowing and behind the doors of the terminal was a daunting and unknown crowd of faces.

Leaving the airport with my first host family, I remembered seeing the silent s n o w - c o v e r e d city stretched out on either side of the f r e e w a y , and l o o k i n g out the window at the brilliant blue sky wondering what life for the next 12 months would hold.

The town of Hatogaya (Pigeon Valley) became my home. It was close to Tokyo, yet mainly country.

I was the only foreigner in the area.

At school this was made more obvious when at an assembly of 850 Japanese students, there was a very tall (almost 6ft) girl with brown hair and green eyes, standing in the back row. For the first few months I was something of a novelty, but thankfully this wore off, and I was able to lead a more normal existence.

The first family I stayed with was a wonderful busy family of seven. I was given a bicycle and on the first day of school my host father rode through the snow in front of me, leading the way in his business suit, on his daughters pink bicycle. With great determination I assured him I could find my way home alone.

H o w e v e r , after school I f o u n d myself completely lost as I rode up and down the twisting and narrow side streets. Finally, some girls from my school recognised me and took me home. The next day I went to school by car.

Japanese food is great, regardless of what people might say. Yet, I must admit they are inclined to eat some unusual things. For example, I had known that Japanese people love eel on rice, but had never attempted it. For me, eels belonged in t h e B o t a n i c a l G a r d e n s , in Melbourne. I did not consider them a delicacy. But one night I found myself eating a delicious long fish on rice, in a wooden box. But it wasn't until I came to the soup that I asked my host mother what the unusual mushroom was, floating in the bottom of the bowl. Eeels Heart.

It was then that I realized I had just consumed two eels, and was about to eat the hearts. However, Japanese food does consist of more edible things; raw fish, seaweed, noodles and green tea. I even ended up enjoying eel on rice.

I did a lot of travelling with my host families and school. Kyoto was my favourite place; it's famous for its temples, traditional streets, homes,

c h e r r y b l o s s o m s and a n c i e n t bridges. Each temple was different and had its own special and sacred atmosphere. One temple I loved had a magnificent dragon painted on the ceiling, and by clapping your hands 3 times it was said that you were able to hear the distant roar of this mythical beast in the resounding echoes.

Another temple had a long hallway, with many statues of Buddha.

Among their wooden faces it is possible to find at least one which resembles a friend or a relative.

Despite liking Kyoto, it is back in H a t o g a y a w h e r e m o s t of my memories are.

During the festival of Ohon (Festival for the D e a d ) I was awoken extremely early, and told to put on my o l d e s t c l o t h e s , and c o m e downstairs. I had no idea why! I did as I was asked, and found the whole family in old clothes. We drove to the cemetry. In Japan each family has a plot reserved for them.

At 6 am, the feeling of peace is overwhelming as you enter the gates. Images of Buddha carved in stone are everywhere. Through the morning mist we went to the old well with buckets, we walked up the path to the family's plot, where we w a s h e d and scrubbed the headstones. I washed a small stone Buddha, the size of a small child, which had been erected in memory of two young children.

The feeling was indescribable, and yet no-one was sad. Like so many other families on Ohon, my host family were showing their respect and care for their loved-ones.

Rotary Exchange Rotary International is a large, nonprofit organisation devoted to promoting goodwill and international understanding. O n e c o m p o n e n t of Rotary is the exchange program.

Being a n exchange student is hard work. It's hard to smile sweetly when you really feel like pulling your hair out.

Often, it's an exercise in self-control. I feel that a large part of the program is based on your relationship with the people responsible for you. If you want to gain something out of the experience, you have to put in effort.

I found Rotary restricting in this way. At the same time, the program has given me more freedom and independence than I could have imagined. I've established standards in relation to the standards set by society. I've discovered that I have hidden resources to cope with, and adapt to just about anything, a n d t h a t I a m a b l e to l a u g h at catastrophes! Being on exchange has allowed me to come to know myself so much better.

T h e r e a r e pressures o n a Rotary student, the challenge is to find a balance between commitments with family a n d friends at home, Rotary meetings, dinners, speeches, trips and special occasions,and a little bit of time to myself and school.

I'll never forget this year, it has been a c o m b i n a t i o n of g o o d , b a d a n d e m b a r r a s s i n g times; a n emotional c h a l l e n g e . M o v i n g b e t w e e n host families has opened many doors for me and allowed meto meet so many people.

I could never thank everyone enough for everything they've done for me.

By the time my exchange came to an end, I had travelled from Kyoto to Hokkaido and back again, learnt Japanese, made new friends, and lived with six different host families.

For me, Japan will always be a country of autumn leaves and cherry b l o s s o m s , s m a l l t o w n s and overcrowded cities, of bicycles, rice-fields and temples. It is a country of friendship, warmth and tradition.

Danielle Jupp

Rotary exchange has been a lesson in tolerance, patience, and coping with different people and situations. After this year, I'll never be the same. Rotary e x c h a n g e h a s definitely been t h e opportunity of a lifetime!!

BEING AN OVERSEAS STUDENT It was hard to survive in a totally unfamiliar country speaking an unfamiliar language, pretending to understand every word people said.

My inability to speak fluent English impedes my success in the academic field. This is especially true if a subject demands good communication between teacher and student.

Depressed, despairing and frustrated...I then decided to learn this second language, if it took two or ten years. Being timid at first, I never uttered a word in class in Year 11. According to the teachers, I was an attentive, quiet, too quiet student. I started to read more books and tried to develop my vocabulary.

"Oh man ! There are so many words that I don't understand !" In order to develop communication skills, I watched TV during the holidays. " D a y s of our L i v e s " , " S a n t a Barbara"...etc, But I didn't want to learn the American a c c e n t ! " MLC's friendly atmosphere has encouraged me to talk to Australian classmates instead of locking myself within my cell. I asked them to teach me new words. To be frank, I admit I have forgotten many of those words (that's why my English is still at Year 7 level ! ). Anyway, I thank my friends sincerely for helping me to improve my English, especially in my Geography and Art class last year.

I have to balance my time between study and a part-time job. I decided to take up a part-time job because I did not want to draw every penny out of my parent's pocket. To maintain a good balance, I have to give up my recess, lunchtime and spares formy homework, and I have to give up time that I would like to spend with my good friends. " You work too much," my friends comment, but sometimes I find any excuse to slack. Just sitting by my table and doing nothing constructive. Luckily, this does not happen all the time.

Susanna Chan. Yr 12

Jacqui Vander Spry ITEXCHANGE TO THAILAND From three intensive interviews, and many pages of forms and photos, I have emerged as an outbound exchange student to Pran Buri, a smallish town in Thailand, for 1992.

Although the thought of arriving in a country where I speak so little of the language does make me nervous, (I know only that "Sawadee" means "hello"), it seemed that this would be nothing when compared to giving my introduction speech to Malvern Rotary Club (my sponsors). Two women and sixty men in business suits looked up at me as I spoke. From what I hear this may be the first in a long line of public-speaking occasions, but I have to admit that nothing ever sounded as sweet as the applause at the conclusion of my talk - which signalled that I could again take my seat.

Tina

41

Johnson

Internationally Speaking Germany...

It is very difficult to sum up a whole year in one short article. Of course there will be huge gaps in whatever 1 write, because to describe all the feelings that passed through me in that year would be equivalent to filling three diaries with the thoughts and the wishes that one so urgently needs to express in the course of a year. Sometimes it is easy to bore others with stories of an exchange.

I have sometimes felt alone because my friends in Australia d o n ' t know or understand the people who meant so much to me in Germany. In 1990 I went to Germany on a Rotary Youth Exchange Scholarship. I was sent to Stuttgart, a fairly large city in the south of Germany.

Stuttgart...even seeing the name written on paper fills me with a certain pride. I sometimes think of it as a city, a sort of home so far away from my other home here in Australia. In the beginning, there was a sort of strangeness of having to c o m m u n i c a t e in a f o r e i g n language. At night as I lay in bed my throat would begin to hurt after being used the whole day producing sounds that were new to my vocal

chords. My smile muscles too, would begin to ache in the evenings, worn out after a day of smiling expressionlessly at people 1 didn't k n o w , or n o d d i n g emphatically when I didn't understand, my teeth gleaming! I was terrified of being near people when they made jokes.

Invariably I wouldn't understand the joke. If I laughed I would feel

false, on the other hand if I didn't laugh I would appear cold and boring. It was a no win situation.

Slowly things began to change... I began to dream in German think in German, speak in German. My dim m e m o r y of English grammar rules slowly left my mind, as letters arrived from my friends complaining about my attrocious

Dans cette epoque on doit etre un arbre qui ne vacille pas dans le vent du monde.

Ce vent consiste en bigoterie et en mots rancuniers et qui ne veut pas qon tient bon.

II veut q u ' o n doute soi-meme et ses convictions afin q u ' o n ne resiste pas aux conventions sociales et afin q u ' o n se conforme.

C o m m e n t est-ce q u ' o n ecrit un poeme quand on necrit jamais un p o e m e ?

On prend les mots originaux et pleins d'imagination et on les melange j u s q u ' a ce qu'ils soient c o m m e une melodie que personne ne peut oublier.

Sara Kernick 12T Accents not supplied

English. T h e faces around m e became faces of friends. Faces I could even control. I learnt how to make those faces smile, to laugh with me in a language not my own.

Unlike most people would expect, an exchange doesn't c o m e to an end when the plane leaves for German ground heading for Australian soil.

1 have been back nine m o n t h s already, but my exhange isn't over and perhaps it never will be. The thoughts and wishes that came to life in Germany are still there. The people who became m y friends are still in my thoughts. Even the way 1 view my own country, my own family, is not the same as before I left. The sorting out process of comparing Germany and Australia still continues. In fact when I left for Germany I never expected to return having experienced so much.

Instead I returned to Australia aware of how little I knew.

More than anything else, the process of up-rooting myself and finding warm, solid earth in another culture gave me the chance to grow a little, as a person.

Kathya Martyres

J7 'adore J'adore les chevaux et les chiens J'adore I'herbe dans le jardin J'adore la France, cest tres beau J'adore Bahrein, cest tres chaud.

Anna Sanderson. 7

Quand Je Tense (De 9v[a Jeunesse Quand je pense a m a j e u n e s s e , je me rapelle mon ecole primaire.

Les jours chauds et les glaces fondu.

Les jeu amusants et les genoux sanglants.

Quand je pense a m a j e u n e s s e , j e me rapelle la simplicite.

Les devoirs faciles et les bonnes notes.

Les amities simples et les disputes rares.

Quand je pense a ma jeunesse je me rappelle la vive emotion.

Mes anniversaires et les cadeaux genereux.

L e s v a c a n c e s et l ' a m u s e m e n t interminable.

Pour la plupart, ma jeunesse a ete remplie de liberte et de naivete.

Josie Howie. 12 42

B o n j o u r c a v a ? Je s u i s F r a n c a i s et t o i ?

The Environment The Environment Committee Report All around the world, young people have taken the initiative to save our Earth; their energy is catching, rippling through schools and universities. In Canada and later Australia, the USA, England and France, concerned youth have f o r m e d the E n v i r o n m e n t Y o u t h Alliance (EYA). The Environment Committee at M L C was established this year, with the purpose of joining this dynamic world-wide youthdriven movement W e a r e all a w a r e of the environmental problems facing our Earth, problems which will no doubt a c c e l e r a t e in the f u t u r e . It is therefore becoming more important for students to become educated about environmental issues, so that w e e n t e r t h e c o m m u n i t y , as responsible and well informed as possible.

The Environment Committee has not only addressed practical issues facing our school but we have also concentrated on awareness and education.

In f i r s t t e r m t h e c o m m i t t e e addressed recycling of paper and aluminium, we campaigned for the introduction of recycled paper into the school and held an awareness campaign. Through "Green Tips" in the daily bulletin and assemblies we helped educate the school community.

W e have decided to concentrate on recycling and awareness within our schools and we are also working t o g e t h e r on c a m p a i g n s against logging and excess packaging.

The Environment committee has taken a hands on approach to helping the e n v i r o n m e n t .

In the July holidays, we spent two days in the w i l d e r n e s s , p l a n t i n g t r e e s in Yellingslo. Twenty-two students and a number of interested adults planted 1600 trees. As well as helping to reduce carbon dioxide in the a t m o s p h e r e a n d p r o v i d i n g natural habitat for wildlife, the trees are helping to save an endangered species; the Helmeted Honeyeater.

After a worthwhile d a y ' s work, we toasted marshmallows over a campfire, sang s o n g s and went owl spotting.

The E n v i r o n m e n t c o m m i t t e e is currently involved in a campaign a g a i n s t i n t e n s i v e l o g g i n g of Australia's remaining forests, this involves petitions and letter-writing stalls.

Introducing... Heather Shipp AGE (OPTIONAL): > 30 years EYE COLOUR: Green POSITION AT MLC : Geography/ Environment Co-ordinator FAVOURITE TV SHOW : M.A.S.H. FAVOURITE SONG : The Gift of Love - Bette Midler FAVOURITE MOVIE: Beaches FAVOURITE COLOUR: Green WHO DO YOU ADMIRE MOST AND WHY? : My mum because she has raised 5 intelligent people.

WHAT WOULD YOU TAKE IF YOUR HOUSE WAS BURNING DOWN? : Photo negatives/ camera THE BEST THING ABOUT MLC? : (1) Variety - choice of subjects, sports etc.

(2) House competitions

The E Y A is busy organising youth delegates to a world environment conference to be held soon in Brazil, as well as general e n v i r o n m e n t campaigns (contact P O Box 1504 C o l l i n g w o o d , V i c ) . Y o u t h are speaking up and being heard. Our actions are being felt and together, our combined energies will help to change the world.

P l e a s e be involved and remember you have to make your own impact to help save this Earth.

THE WORST THING ABOUT MLC? : Litter WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE SUBJECT AT SCHOOL? : Home Economics Jenny Wong .12

Kate Plowright. 12.

Year 12 Geography Camp February 22nd-24th The Geography c a m p was centred around visiting a number of different coastal systems along Port Phillip Bay and Bass Strait. W e passed t h r o u g h b e a c h e s in B r i g h t o n , Seaford and Portsea (just to n a m e a few).

W e stayed at a lovely, comfortable homestead. Each friendship group h a v i n g a cabin to t h e m s e l v e s , c o m p l e t e with ensuite, kitchen, lounges and, of course, beds!

As well as doing work and visiting beaches, we all managed to turn a study camp into a lot of fun. The day w e spent at Point N e p e a n N a t i o n a l Park w a s p a r t i c u l a r l y enjoyed by all.

The camp offered the opportunity to apply knowledge gained in class.

It was beneficial to see the processes operating within the beach systems along the Mornington Peninsula.

N o t o n l y did e v e r y o n e e n j o y themselves, but everyone was able to further develop their geographic skills.

Miss Shipp's Yr 12 (2) Geography class.

Yr 11 Biology Camp On two weekends in March, two groups of year 11 Biology students set out on the first ever Biology camp, to Queenscliff. S o m e were a little dubious about spending an entire w e e k e n d d o i n g B i o l o g y , however most of these doubts were overcome when w e learned that we would miss a day and half of school.

When we reached Queenscliff, we were relieved to find a cosy guest house with friendly owners (who were fantastic cooks!) The highlight of the trip , for those who d i d n ' t enjoy dissecting and gutting fish, was probably the day trip to M u d Island. If you're wondering why y o u ' v e never heard of Mud Island, d o n ' t worry - nobody has! It is a tiny, desolate uninhabited island.

However it does have some rather fierce crabs, as some girls found out the hard way!!

In Term two , we decided that we needed to harness the energy of the more concerned youth in order to make a greater impact. Our group initiated an "environmental linkup" with other schools in our area.

The aim was to facilitate on-going communication and coordination b e t w e e n local schools and encourage the formation of new environment groups. In this way we could all work together in a positive w a y f o r t h e b e n e f i t of t h e environment.

The day ended on a wet note, as we were forced to ' w a d e ' , or m o r e accurately swim, to the boat. It was fortunate that the island was so remote, because 15 fully-dressed girls, carrying backpacks on their heads while trudging in neck-deep water, were a sight to see.

The first meeting held at M L C was a great success with around 40 people in attendance, coming from different schools, tertiary institutions and e n v i r o n m e n t groups.

Despite this everyone seemed to enjoy the weekend, even though we are still trying to get the smell of dead fish off our hands.

43

Planting trees in Yellingslo

Danielle Dimond

Where are they now?

These are the replies received after sending letters to 20 ex MLC girls doing a variety of Tertiary N a m e : Stephanie Waycott Course: 2nd year Catering/Hotel Management Institution: Footscray First Impressions: Stunned at first by not knowing anyone on campus -only two other M L C girls went to Footscray Making Friends: In first year it was difficult to make friends -kept in close contact with old M L C friends. In second year it's easier Subjects: 1st year; Accounting, economics, computer organisational and

studies,

behavioural

management, food and beverage studies -comprised of one part food science and one part practical and cooking.

T h e c o u r s e is m o r e

interesting in second year, when more subjects are specifically related to your course. In first year, it's

general

business

faculty

subjects.

Social Life: Not as good as it's made out to be! (There are no pubs around Footscray) Comparisons with school: At school you know what everyone's doing, and w h o ' s where. At uni it's hard to keep in contact with people as many students have jobs too, and everyone goes to their course at different times.

Life is difficult at first if

y o u ' r e not good at going up and talking to people you d o n ' t know.

Name: Helen Mentha Course: Arts Institution: Melbourne University Impressions: M e l b o u r n e seems huge.

It f e e l s as i f , as

an

undergraduate, y o u ' r e just there to pay the fees, although lecturers and tutors are " v e r y w a r m " .

Most

subjects are friendly, except for Psychology, because there are so many students.

Expectations: Expected uni to be full of interesting, diverse people, but it's more of the same from school. Many people went to private schools, there's a real prestige thing at Melbourne - " H e a p s of Country Roads around! some people d o n ' t seem to be there to learn because they enjoy learning, more for a 'meal ticket'".

Name: Corinna Mitchell Course: 3rd Year Law/Commerce Institution: Melbourne University Orientation W e e k : Since y o u ' r e going to be at uni for a long time, Corinna advises that you should make the most of O Week, she went to lots of activities to try to meet people. Activities for Lawincluded an i n t r o d u c t o r y l e c t u r e to the subject, social things - like BBQs, the world's longest debate, camps and a pub crawl organised by the Commerce faculty. Ask people you meet anything -except what school they went to, or what score they got!

First I m p r e s s i o n s : A bit lost, especially in the 1,000 student Commerce faculty, Law was less daunting with only 200 first year students.

Discrimination: Because of your M L C grounding, you neverquestion your ability as a female. There is very little discrimination, only a few passing comments. The Law faculty is careful to use non-gender language.

Regrets: Because she wants to be a Barrister, C o m m e r c e i s n ' t that helpful, m a y b e Arts would have been better. C o m m e r c e is very different f r o m what you learn at s c h o o l , i t ' s m a i n l y m a t h s and diagrams. Doing Arts with Law would give you more freedom.

The Course: It's very dry, there are d i f f e r e n t t y p e s of d r y n e s s o r boredom, but it can be interesting if you do enough work! The social life gets you through! Law is very competitive, so it's difficult to do well -if you work and read, you can though.

Workload: Very heavy, because if you do c o m m e r c e / L a w you have to do a subject overload (5 in 3rd year Not many contact hours but heaps of reading, y o u ' r e expected to do 3 or 4 hours reading for every contact hour of Law. You write lots of essays.

Social Life: Involved in lots of clubs - m e m b e r of the Debating society which debates at Australasian and W o r l d l n t e r - V a r s i t y Championships; member of the Law student's society (Corinna is the W o m e n ' s Officer for the Society); running for the Education Vice President of the L a w s t u d e n t ' s society; water-skiing Club. Friends are great too, you can be out every night if you want to!

courses.

N a m e : Megan Bowater Course: 2nd year Pharmacy Institution: Victorian College of Pharmacy First Impressions: Pharmacy College is very small, only about 400 students, so it's caring, you d o n ' t get lost - there are only 3 buildings.

Subjects: 1st year - Chemistry, Maths, Physiology (how the body works), P h a r m a c e u t i c s ( m a k i n g d r u g s ) . 2nd y e a r - C h e m i s t r y , Pharmaceutics, Micro-Biology, Bio-Chemistry, Pharmacology (how the drugs act on the body) Social Clubs: There are only four Students for Christ, The Greek Student's Club, the Asian Student Club, and the Social Club (which Megan belongs to!). The Social Club organises activities like wine and cheese nights, and "Pharmastud Week"; when there is a quiz night, a pub crawl, sports matches between year levels and a ball at the end.

N a m e : Michelle Hanslow Course: 2nd year humanities Institution: LaTrobe University Subjects: 1st year - Philosophy, Music, Physics of Music. 2nd Year (Majoring in Music) - Music (choir, e n s e m b l e , t h e o r y ) , P h y s i c s of Music, Audio Technology.

Workload: Not that big, if you keep up with tutorials, for example last year in philosophy she only wrote four essays and had two lots of exams.

Advice: D o the work, otherwise you'll fail. D o n ' t just think of Uni as one big party. Tutors w o n ' t tell you again and again to hand in your work. It's all up to you.

Name: Tara Hannan Course: 2nd Year Environmental Science Institution: Melbourne University Impressions: Envi/Sci is only a small course, about 100 students in each year, so it's very friendly and there's not much need for specific social activities. It's easy to m a k e friends, right from day one.

S u b j e c t s : 1st Y e a r - B i o l o g y , Chemistry,Geography, Environmental Science, and some Economics and Legal Studies (to broaden the mind!)

Social Life: Horse Riding Club, C h o c o l a t e Appreciation Society (isn't e v e r y o n e in that?!!), P u b C r a w l s , c a m p i n g with f r i e n d s , certainly a better social life than at school!

Name: Julie Martin Course: 2nd year Architecture Institution: R M I T Julie speaks: The morning V T A C acceptances were printed in "The Age", my best friend rang and told me I'd been accepted into R M I T Architecture. I didn't believe her, I had to go and buy the paper myself.

I ' m now in the second year of Architecture, and I ' m not sure when itends! Actually the course is about 5-6 years depending on whether you do Masters, but there are people doing subjects with m e who have been there since the early 1970's!

The course is small, around 45 in my year, of which about 10 entered straight after finishing school. This is from around 2000 w h o sat the exam, and around 200 interviewed).

It's a tough course. T h e r e ' s no special treatment for anyone and Year 12 was a party compared to the workload (sorry guys!). But you do the work because it's what youwanttodo. Itisn'tfiveseparate, n o n - r e l a t e d s u b j e c t s w h i c h are getting you nowhere, because you d o n ' t e s p e c i a l l y w a n t to be a Geographer, B iologist, or whatever.

Uni life is fabulous. It's worth considering being a student for the rest of your life, especially when you think about the alternatives.

It's social, there are thousands of people to meet (you thought M L C was big!), there are never-ending things to do; and of course there are people of the opposite sex.

Some advice for those considering the d a r k , m y s t e r i o u s w o r l d of tertiary study:-if the intake is based on anything other than V C E results (ie folio, interview, exam etc.), G O A N D BUG T H E M ! Seriously, it's best if they take one look at you when you front up for your interview and say "oh no, not her again!"M a k e sure you k n o w w h a t is available and where. T h e r e are institutions all over the place with obscure courses which d o n ' t even get a mention in the V T A C book.

There is more to life than Arts and Accounting you know!

If you don't get what you want..don't give up! There are plenty of things you can do. Think about InterstateFinally, have fun! Uni life was meant to be enjoyed, it's the best time I've had and from the time you leave Uni on, it gets serious, so have a ball!

Compiled by JL

44

I

Clubbing it....

DOUBLE HELIX SCIENCE CLUB Did you know that a German magazine spent $4 million buying voluminous hand-written diaries of Adolf Hitler, only to discover later that they were fraudulent ?!! These diaries covered the periodfrom his accession to power in Germany in 1933 to just before his death in 1945.

When historians and document experts expressed concern that the diaries might be fake, they were analysed by a team of scientists in West Germany. The diaries and letters were subjected to various tests including thin-layer chromatography and infrared spectroscopy. The age ofthe writing was assessed using a test that measured the migration ofchloride ions, True enough, the results indicated that the so-called "Hitler diaries" werefake, and were in fact the work of an expert con-man!

T h i s is just one of the m a n y things that w e learn and discover at our D o u b l e Helix meetings. W e ' r e a really n e w , y o u n g c l u b w h i c h w a s

Aaaargghh! It's way past midnight [almost 2 a.m.] and you're still not in bed! Everyone else is fast asleep and even the batteries in your walkman have gone dead. All is silent, but there you are...at your desk dancing to a different tune....one of shuffling papers, frantic writing and typing, gulping coffee and silent prayers that you'll meet the deadline.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Maths CATS, English CATS and more CATS! MLC students appear to be ultra-efficient at organising theirtime since they manage to fit choir, madrigals, sports and drama into their already hectic schedule of homework and boyfriends. Yet, a seldom-mentioned area is their active involvement in communitybased programmes as well. More and more students are stepping to the forefront and participating in community groups which function within MLC and also well beyond the school grounds.

But hey! Don't get me wrong! Just because we're reaching out to help others in the community doesn't mean that we're any better than them. This "do good" attitude can often be misconstrued; as time and time again, we are being portrayed as the heroes helping out the damsels in distress. No! This misconception has to be eradicated because community involvement is a 2 way process where both parties reap the benefits.

True...we're helping and rendering our services to others, but we have to bear in mind that by being personally involved, we are also being provided with the opportunity to develop skills, and mature in understanding, acceptance and

started by M r s J C h r y s t i e at the beginning of 1991, and w e ' r e a pretty enthusiastic b u n c h . W h e r e did the n a m e c o m e f r o m ? W e l l , the D o u b l e H e l i x S c i e n c e C l u b is affiliated to C S I R O and the n a m e c o m e s f r o m the shape of a chemical f o u n d in e a c h cell of our b o d y which contains i n f o r m a t i o n inherited f r o m ourparents. T h i s c h e m i c a l - a n u c l e i c acid called D N A - a c t s as a building plan to provide the basis of our g r o w t h and d e v e l o p m e n t . In turn, w e p a s s o n o u r D N A to our ch i ldren.

T h e club operates in the s a m e way: the e x p e r i e n c e p r o v i d e d by D o u b l e Helix will also p r o v i d e the basis for students to d e v e l o p their scientific skills and interests. W e want to p r o v e that Science i s n ' t j u s t a b o r i n g old subject at school, but rather, a d y n a m i c and f u n subject b e c a u s e of its r e l e v a n c e to society and the world.

O u r s y m b o l is the twisted ladder shape of the D N A m o l e c u l e . W e h o p e that m o r e girls will b e c o m e

m e m b e r s of D o u b l e Helix and later share their e x p e r i e n c e s of science with f r i e n d s and family. S o m e of the a c t i v i t i e s w e ' v e h a d so f a r include d i s c u s s i o n s on various topics such as " C o l o u r s in S c i e n c e " which e n c o m p a s s e d the d i f f e r e n t c o l o u r f u l a s p e c t s of P h y s i c s , Chemistry and Biology. W e ' v e also had Mrs Fallshaw, the M L C C o m p u t e r C o n s u l t a n t , at o n e of our m e e t i n g s . She i n f o r m e d us about a certain c o m p u t e r p r o g r a m m e called TERC [Technical Education Research Centrejwhich involved students g a t h e r i n g data on the e n v i r o n m e n t o v e r a period of m a n y years a n d p a s s i n g it on to scientists for analysis, via a computer network.

In c o n j u n c t i o n with " S c i e n c e in Schools W e e k " which was celebrated n a t i o n w i d e f r o m A u g u s t 19th to 23rd, we organised a Science fair in M L C , together with the Y e a r 8 S c i e n c e Elective Class. T h e fair was held during lunchtimes.

E v e r y o n e w a s kept busy in the days

Community Groups

responsibility. A sense of commitment is instilled and our perspectives of life are broadened simultaneously.

MLC's very own AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL group meets on a regular basis and is currently involved in a "Letterthon" which is being held in conjunction with the 30th anniversary of the founding of

... it could happen to anyone of us, and it makes you more thankful that you are whole and normal.

Amnesty International. Our girls come together to write courteous letters to governments, calling for freedom for those who have been unjustly imprisoned for their beliefs, colour, religion, gender or ethnic origin. This is a means of putting pressure on governments to free prisoners of conscience and to protect human rights. Fancy writing to President Saddam Hussein!

Another venture that many MLC girls are actively involved in is the MULTICULTURAL YOUTH LEARNING EXCHANGE, abbreviated to MYLE. MYLE aims to assist primary school children who are disadvantaged in school due to their cultural and language differences which might pose a problem to their progress. MLC Senior School girls work voluntarily with some of these children in their homes for an hour a week and help them out with their homework

45

and school-related activities. Many students have come back with interesting stories to tell and are gaining an appreciation of other cultures through the friendships they have established.

The CHANGING DIRECTIONS program is one which I'm currently involved in. Once every 3 weeks, we troop down to the Hawthorn Community Education Centre and meet with a group of 6 young adults who have suffered head injuries. Most of their head injuries are acquired ie. they weren't born brain-damaged. Since these people are now socially isolated, this program aims to help them develop their communication skills, to identify their personal goals and interests, and to help develop their selfconfidence.

On my first visit, I really didn't know what to expect. I had visions of solemn, quiet chats with timid and withdrawn people, but lo and behold! Gosh! Man, was I wrong! Right on the first visit, we started filming a video and us MLC girls had to dance around and act in it! The participants were bubbling over with enthusiasm and the ice was broken immediately. One of the guys has such a witty sense of humour that he cracks us up laughing all the time without fail! These folk are a great bunch of fun people to be with; and we certainly love every minute of our time with them. Despite the jovial atmosphere, their stories are quite tragic.

One guy was bitten by a rat who had rabies; another was a victim of drunk driving.

Someone else got hit by a train or tram.

These circumstances make you realise that

Wendy Teoh. Yr 12 N

l e a d i n g u p to it, a n d it w a s a t h o r o u g h l y r e w a r d i n g [and f u n ! ] experience.

F o r those w h o are interested, all m e m b e r s receive a m e m b e r s h i p kit full of " g o o d i e s " such as a p e r s o n a l i s e d n a m e t a g .and m e m b e r s h i p n u m b e r [to w e a r to official functions], stickers, a f r i d g e m a g n e t , etc. Y o u ' l l also receive continual updates on D o u b l e Helix e v e n t s eg. s e s s i o n s at C S I R O ' s n a t i o n a l n e t w o r k of S c i e n c e E d u c a t i o n C e n t r e s , t o u r s of laboratories, project afternoons, star gazing, field trips, national experiments and competitions.

Y o u ' l l h a v e opportunities to m e e t scientists and learn f r o m t h e m as well; i n c l u d i n g C l u b m a g a z i n e s t h r o u g h o u t the year. So, as y o u can see, t h e r e ' s heaps g o i n g on! C ' m o n along! You never know...YOU might b e one of A u s t r a l i a ' s f u t u r e scientists!

it could happen to anyone of us, and makes you more thankful that you are whole and normal.

The INTERAGE LIFE WRITING PROGRAM is all set to take off in Term 3. This program caters for old people who are isolated or housebound. MLC students act as scribes and encourages these elderly folk, because they record the stories and life experiences of these people. Later, those stories are compiled and published in a magazine called "Recollections" so that the richness of these people's lives is accessible to the wider community. A high level of commitment is necessary because these people's lives must be dealt with with a degree of sensitivity.

Last but certainly not least, are the YOORALLA holiday camping programs which many MLC students have been volunteers at. Many others are involved in a myriad of community activities, which range from visiting elderly people's homes, working in childcare centres, kindergartens and Kew Cottages Special School, to becoming involved in tutoring and swimming programs with disabled people. MLC students have also been actively becoming blood donors when the Blood Bank comes around, participating in 40 hour famines and raising money via Social Service for causes such as supporting cancer research, the ORANA project and for homeless children in Australia.

No matter how big or small your contribution is, it counts! So get out there and GET INVOLVED!

Adventurers ADVENTURE

CLUB

The M.L.C. Adventure Club is a newly established organisation within the college, initiated by Mr Ian Macdonald. Its aim is to provide students in M i d d l e and S e n i o r schools with the opportunity to participate in outdoor activities. The types of activities run are; rock c l i m b i n g , b u s h w a l k i n g , sailing, cross-country skiing, gliding and cycling. Being a non-profit organisation, costs (which cover transport, c a m p i n g fees and e q u i p m e n t hire) are k e p t to a minimum in the hope that anyone interested will be able to take part.

Participation is open to anyone in Years 9, 10, 11 and 12 - you simply go on whatever activities you like by c o l l e c t i n g a f o r m f r o m Mr Macdonald in General Science.

Central Australian Tour On Saturday 13 April at 8am we w e r e on o u r c o a c h , t r a v e l l i n g towards Port Augusta, Coober Pedy and the Red Centre.

At lunch the next day we arrived at Alice Springs, and saw the town's Sunday Market. W e checked into our camping ground, the Red Centre Resort and set up tents.

Monday was a sight-seeing day around the Alice.

The Old Telegraph Station and Post Office, the School of the Air and the Royal Flying Doctor Service were some of the sights seen. W e also visited a T-Shirt printing factory where we had T-Shirts printed with our own original design.

The following day we explored the spectacular sights of the Macdonnel Ranges, including Simpsons G a p and Stanley Chasm. Arriving back, w e swam, sunbaked and played tennis. Little did we know the rugged conditions in store for us.

Wilson's Prom Bushwalk

Sailing

During the Queen's Birthday weekend, the first Adventure club activity was run; a bushwalk at W i l s o n ' s Prom. Five adults and seven students went and had a lot of fun. Although it rained non-stop in Melbourne that weekend, it didn't rain once at the Prom during the actual walk. Admittedly, it was very windy and overcast, but this did not effect the enjoyment of the walk.

As it was only three days long, it was relatively easy, though there were a couple of stiff climbs coming out of Refuge Bay and Sealers Cove.

These, however, proved to be a good introduction to walking for some of the first time bush walkers who took part.

T h e second activity run by the M.L.C. Adventure Club was a sail in keel boats, from Royal Melbourne to Sandringham and back, organised

by Mrs Warren, a m e m b e r of the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron.

All met at St Kilda pier on the 16th June, which, fortunately for us, turned out to be a lovely day for sailing. W e divided into groups of two or three and were then allocated to five or six yachts. The yachts, which were owned by m e m b e r s of the Royal M e l b o u r n e Yacht Squadron, were large, with plenty of room to move around on. One was so luxurious that it had two double beds, two toilets and a

hole, we walked back again. That night, dangerous rumours about the mysterious 'Chris and Pete' flew about the camp.

our surprise and delight, Chris and Pete appeared again to help Penny up the climb. The mythical beings were not only equipped with charm, but also an icy-cold water bottle.

That night at Kings Creek was an eventful one, and many (well at least one girl) fell in love with the station hand, John.

The next day we arrived at Ayers Rock to see the sunset. Decked out in our best ensembles of 'bathers and shorts', we took photos of every shade the rock turned in the sun.

Friday was the Big Day. The day to climb the 348 metre high monolith, commonly known as Ayers Rock.

Most reached the top in an hour, but some made it in under 50 minutes.

The rock was an incredible place to be, not only for the spectacular view, but also for the multitude of tourists f r o m all over the world. W e met Americans, Canadians, Germans, Japanese and most importantly (and cutest of all) Norwegians. Much to

shower, as well as a stereo, T. V. and a stove.

The owners of the boats were really friendly and let us participate as much as we wanted in the sailing of the boats. W e were able to help rig the boats, trim the sails as well as being able to steer them. After about an hour and a half of sailing, we reached Sandringham where we stopped to have a barbeque lunch.

After about two hours there, we went back aboard the boats and started to sail home. The day was enjoyable and, if possible, we hope to repeat the activity again in the near future.

Kynwynn Jones

The afternoon was spent walking around the Olgas, an incredible sight, rivalling the rock. W e stayed for the sunset.

W e left the ' g r e a t ' N o r t h e r n Territory the next day, bound for Coober Pedy, an opal mining town w h i c h is a l m o s t c o m p l e t e l y underground to escape the extreme temperature.

We stayed underground at the U m m o n a Opal Mine, but wandered into the Four Star hotel next door, where a good time was had by all.

No one enjoyed Sunday 21 April..

That night was the much loathed and dreaded Bush C a m p where no civilisation was to be seen for miles.

D i n g o e s and e m u s a b o u n d e d ; clearly unwanted visitors.

Safely on the bus the next morning, everyone was looking forward to home. But first, a couple of hours were spent wandering around in Adelaide. W e stayed that night at a little c a m p in H a n d o r f , in the Adelaide Hills.

W h e n we reached the northern suburbs of M e l b o u r n e everyone started jumping around and singing like the possessed.

In a few minutes we were in the good ol' M L C carpark. W e all parted sadly after our experience.

Side effects f r o m the holiday were' red dust explosions when luggage was opened, and girls humming Billy Joel excessively, wearing ' M L C rocks Central Australia' Tshirts.

Thanks to Miss Moss, Mr Cramer, Mrs Gibson, Miss Buckley and of course, Bazza and W e n d y .

S. Stokes

The next morning we were up early, on our way to Kings Canyon, with a stop on the way to ride camels. An interesting but smelly experience!

Arriving at K i n g ' s Creek Station (our camp), we decided to climb the Canyon.

The C a n y o n was beautiful with breathtaking cliffs. The 1 1/2 hour climb was hot, but satisfying and after a swim in the natural water-

When the going gets tough, the tough go to Central Australia !!

Let's Get Physical SWIMMING SPORTS T h e bad times were w h e n we seemed to be the smallest H o u s e in the p l a c e b e c a u s e o u r faithful m e m b e r s had left us f o r their f r i e n d s in the d i v i n g pool, or f o r the hot chips at the canteen.

We kept on cheering t h o u g h , searching f o r that e l u s i v e war-cry that would g i v e us the spark w e n e e d e d to urge o u r s w i m m e r s o n t o greater heights.

T h e 1991 S w i m m i n g Sports w e r e d i f f e r e n t f o r m e than in p r e v i o u s years b e c a u s e this y e a r I was o n e of the people u p in f r o n t leading the house cheering.

T h o u g h t s of w i m p i n g out by writing a letter about m y " d o c t o r ' s a p p o i n t m e n t " soon left m e w h e n I realised that as an involved m e m b e r of Nevile H o u s e I had w h a t you m a y call a duty to attend the sports.

In the past I had a l w a y s gladly g o n e to w a t c h the S w i m m i n g Sports, safe in the k n o w l e d g e that I w o u l d be o n e of t h e c r o w d , u r g i n g o u r s w i m m e r s to victory. T h e captains and other people u p in front had always seemed full of endless cheer, voice and e n t h u s i a s m , e v e n w h e n the h o u s e w a s d o i n g badly. W h e n I used to w a t c h t h e m leading the c r o w d in a war-cry it all s e e m e d so e a s y , a n d m o s t of t h e t i m e I ignorantly believed they were e n j o y i n g it as well.

W h e n it c a m e to m y turn this y e a r I

SCHOOL SWIMMING CONGRATULATIONS! M.L.C won the G.P.S.V.S.A, E.S.A and All Schools Swimming Competitions this year for the first time in years! At the All Schools, M.L.C reached ten out of eleven finals and won seven of these, coming second in the other three relays. We broke some records and dominated the pool. Overall, we won by eighteen points beating Melbourne Girls Grammar School (MGGS) and Toorak College.

There were fifteen girls in the Senior team who all performed well, and divers went well also. Thanks to everyone who supported the swimming team including PE staff and the new coach Mr Cleary. Thanks also to the Prefects who did a fantastic job cheering the swimmers to victory.

Thanks to all the swimmers who have trained hard with the school team and participated in the school activites during term one.

Good luck to the Swim Team in 1992!

Suzie Gowan School Swimming Captain.

DIVING On Saturday

23rd March,

the

Victorian All S c h o o l s D i v i n g C o m p e t i t i o n s were held at the State S w i m m i n g Centre. A p p r o x i m a t e l y twenty divers represented M . L . C in the three age groups.

Everyone c o m p e t e d very well.

T h e s u c c e s s f u l divers were: K a r e n S p e n c e r (3rd - 16 U n d e r ) F i o n a Sutherland (2nd - O p e n ) Sophie Pederson ( 3rd - O p e n )

That was part of our problem. Nevile H o u s e has a repertoire of about f o u r war-cries that w o r k , and f i v e that d o n ' t . O f t e n we had to resort to the a n g u i s h e d cry of " N e v i l e , N e v i l e " f o r want of anything better.

DiiL.ving

realised I had been d e a d wrong.

There is nothing h a r d e r t h a n m a k i n g a group of about 2 0 0 girls stand up, shout out initially u n k n o w n warcries and e n j o y t h e m s e l v e s w h e n the H o u s e itself i s n ' t w i n n i n g .

T h e day w e n t through g o o d patches and bad ones, e a c h to the extreme.

SWIMMING Sixteen Yr 12's arrived at 7pm to see the finals of the All Schools' Swimming Relays.

We arrived, hoping to encourage our swimmers to great heights, and were rewarded.

Squashed into seats between Ivanhoe and St.Kevin's, we watched the first boy's race, admired the bodies and in thefollowing event cheered for MLC - but as we weren't very loud, we moved to the back of the pool, which (by the way) was next to Scotch. We planned which songs we would sing. The gun blasted, and there was no stopping us for the rest of the evening as we roared, "We're the team that's supreme, We're the colours white and green ..." (for you uninformed patriots out there, this is our school sports' song !!)

For 12 races we kept this up, encouraged by MLC's winning streak, and our only failure as a cheer squad was "Hot to go". Nervously, someone explained that it is Scotch's song, and that "they'd kill us" if we sang it; but we were feeling daring.

T h e g o o d t i m e s w e r e w h e n w e were in f r o n t and the constant law that c h e e r i n g m a k e s a d i f f e r e n c e really did seem to apply. At those times I felt o n top of the world, e n t h u s e d with a l o v e of the house I d i d n ' t k n o w I had. T h e girls r e s p o n d e d with smiles, and c h e e r s that threatened to lift the roof.

The

In the e n d I was glad the day w a s over, as m y head, ears and throat w e r e screaming a protest against w h a t I had put t h e m t h r o u g h . I felt no sorrow at the end of m y last S w i m m i n g Sports, o n l y a q u i e t satisfaction at m a k i n g it t h r o u g h a day I had thought w o u l d n e v e r e n d d u r i n g the bad times.

Katie Gore 12E

Nationals

A s the p i c t u r e s q u e b r o w n

smog

really well.

T h e y raced against

settled over the hazy Adelaide sunset

several other s c h o o l ' s First c r e w s ,

w e d r o v e into our n e w h o m e f o r the

and beat quite a f e w of them.

w e e k , the " B e a c h - f r o n t C a r a v a n P a r k " w h i c h , with its scenic v i e w s

T h e Firsts led the final h a l f - w a y

of the b e a c h , toilet blocks, and its

d o w n the two thousand

close p r o x i m i t y to the Australian

course, but were o v e r t a k e n by the

metre

R o w i n g Championships, m a d e ideal

South Australian Institute of Sport

accommodation.

team in the second half of the race.

T h e S A S I crew w e n t on to w i n by

W h e n race d a y s c a m e , there w a s a

t w o lengths. T h e r e w a s a f a i r g a p

general g o o d feeling on the bank f o r

b e t w e e n the M L C c r e w and the

MLC,

third and fourth place getters.

renowned

throughout

Australia as a strong r o w i n g school.

This is o w e d greatly to our c o a c h e s

A c o u p l e of things I m u s t m e n t i o n :

Palf and Susie, w h o , at National

M e l i n d a Mullins, w h o c a m e as an

regattas are stopped every five paces

e m e r g e n c y with Sarah L i v i n g s t o n

by p e o p l e they k n o w .

w h o r o w e d in a S e n i o r B p a i r with a girl w h o was q u a l i f y i n g f o r the

W a l k i n g a r o u n d the course w e saw

Australian team!

such r o w i n g giants as " T h e O a r s o m e

steer with her feet! T h a n k s T o o t s

Foursome"

f o r c o m i n g and for m a k i n g the Firsts

(World

Champion

M e l i n d a h a d to

feel m u c h better a f t e r the final.

We sang it. They killed us, and thereafter cheered loudlyfor MCEGGS, Lauriston, PLC to which we responded by barracking for Ivanhoe, St. Pat's (and any other school in the race.)

rowers) and A d a i r e Ferguson, P a m

By the end of the night we were hoarse, and all the M LC supporters present were ecstatic as the team climbed onto the winning dais at the presentation.Congratulations, swimmers.

You were terrific!

TinaJohnson

M L C ' s S e c o n d C r e w clocked the

science c a m p , chatting, 8 seat, fat,

fastest q u a l i f y i n g time for the semi-

table m a n n e r s , $ 1 0 . 9 5 , the island,

final, while the Firsts

hills, full-on crabs and b y e b y e b y e

W e s t e n d o r f , Peter Antonie and so m a n y others. It w a s excellent to be

N o w , a m e s s a g e to the girls w h o

in the s a m e regattas as them.

w e r e there - Sizzlers, hair pieces, D o n Stras, Verno, lunch, s h o w e r at

cruised

through into the final, but had d o n e

47

b y e bye!!

SPORT

1991 ROWING SEASON This y e a r ' s r o w i n g season b e g a n at

ATHLETICS towards

throughout the season. This regatta

the end of the school y e a r in 1990.

G e e l o n g f o r the first of two regattas

m a r k e d the end of the season f o r the

T w o short t r a i n i n g c a m p s

were

on the B a r w o n River, o n c e again

Y e a r Ten crews and the senior Third

c o m p l e t e d b e f o r e C h r i s t m a s , and

r o w i n g well, with excellent results.

and Fourth crews.

Overall it w a s

an extensive training p r o g r a m was

T h e senior c r e w s also did well, with

discovered

these

carried out b e t w e e n C h r i s t m a s and

all c r e w s m a k i n g the finals, in the

t h r o u g h o u t the season, had 5 9 first

the last w e e k of the holidays.

' f o u r ' and ' e i g h t ' events.

On

Junior crews headed

that

crews,

places, 23 second places, and 3 third

the 21st of J a n u a r y our holidays

places.

F o r the First and S e c o n d

c a m e to an abrupt halt. A f i v e day,

T h e f o l l o w i n g w e e k e n d w a s the first

c r e w s , the r o w i n g season still had

live-in r o w i n g c a m p b e g a n at our

time all the M L C rowers were racing

a n o t h e r t w o w e e k s , as the c r e w s

r o w i n g sheds. F r o m then o n w a r d s

at the s a m e venue. This g a v e the

w e r e to c o m p e t e in the N a t i o n a l

the r o w i n g season w a s officially

girls a c h a n c e to s h o w e a c h other

Rowing

open.

how

Adelaide.

Our program

on

c o n s i s t e d of r o w i n g ,

camp

running,

well

they

were

going.

Championships

in

Previously, because rowing was

e r g o n o m e t e r w o r k and s w i m m i n g .

such a small

This c a m p , although hard at the

a m o n g s t g i r l s ' schools the regattas

there w e r e also a significant n u m b e r

time, e n s u r e d that w e w e r e all fit

could easily be staged at the s a m e

of old M L C girls r o w i n g in the

f o r the s e v e n - w e e k season.

place. H o w e v e r , r o w i n g has g r o w n

Nationals, with L o u i s e F i n d l a y and

sport,

especially

A l o n g with the current M L C rowers,

so m u c h in popularity that there

Rosalind Carter both r o w i n g in the

M L C had a record n u m b e r of girls

n o w has to be t w o v e n u e s f o r the

Victorian Youth Four.

r o w i n g this y e a r and had 10 year

regattas.

and S e c o n d crew, w h o w e r e in the

T e n c r e w s and f o u r c r e w s m a d e up of Y e a r E l e v e n and T w e l v e girls.

T h e First

First c r e w d i v i s i o n , c a m e

tenth

P r e c e d i n g this joint regatta at the

overall, m a k i n g t h e m the s e c o n d

T h e regattas f o r the Y e a r T e n girls

B a r w o n , the first and second c r e w s

fastest S e c o n d crew in the w h o l e

began on the first w e e k e n d of the

had a weekend training

competition. T h e First c r e w w e n t

school year, while the senior girls

staying at T o r q u a y and r o w i n g o n

had their first row in the n e w ' e i g h t ' ,

the B a r w o n .

camp,

into the final u n d e f e a t e d and c a m e s e c o n d to the other u n d e f e a t e d c r e w

d o w n to W e s t g a t e Bridge.

in the competition, thereby m a k i n g T h e final regatta f o r the season w a s

it the second-fastest school girl crew

T h e senior girls had the first t w o

the H e a d of the School Girls' regatta

in Australia. In conclusion, I a m

regattas at the W a t e r Sports Centre

o n the 23rd and 24th of M a r c h o n

sure you will agree with m e that the

at C a r r u m , and p e r f o r m e d very well

the B a r w o n .

the

M L C R o w i n g C l u b has p e r f o r m e d

in both the ' f o u r ' and 'eight' events.

m a j o r i t y of their c r e w s were tipped

e x t r e m e l y well this season. I w o u l d

M L C found

W h i l e the seniors w e r e at C a r r u m ,

as m a i n c o n t e n d e r s f o r a place in the

the j u n i o r s raced o n the Yarra, and

like to give special thanks to all the

finals, held on the S u n d a y .

coaches, especially Susie and D a v i d

began

their

racing

season

The

results w e r e very pleasing, with t w o

exceptionally well.

P a l f r y m a n . Best of luck to all the

y e a r ten c r e w s w i n n i n g their race

girls w h o will row next season.

A s the season progressed, the senior

c r e w s c o m b i n i n g to win the o p e n

crews m o v e d to the Y a r r a and the

' e i g h t ' event, r e m a i n i n g u n d e f e a t e d

and the senior First and S e c o n d

Andrea Trembath, Captain of Boats.

Term 2 saw the start of cross country training for the school squad, made up of a hardworking group of girls who trained on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Running up and down steps, fitness circuits, the dreaded fartleks' (sprint 100m, jog 100m, over and over and over....); nothing was beyond these sportswomen, whose motto was "No pain, no gain"!

The competitve season started with the steepest 3.5 km ever imagined (Lisa Wardell run) and excellent runs by Flora Dickson and Anna Rattray (first in their divisions) helped the team to third place overall. The next outing took the squad out to Brimban Park, where we picked up pennants in all age groups which we entered. This was followed by our most successful meet so far, the ESA cross country, where we waded through mud to emerge victorious over all of the other schools.

At the time of printing, more specialised training was continuing at OLympic Park, and the very busy summer track and field season will include All Schools' Relays, GPSVSA and ESA competitions.

Tina Johnson BIATHALON On Sunday 24th March, the Victorian All Schools Biathalon was held at Caulfield Grammar. The biathalon consisted of a 2km run followed by a 200 metre swim.

M.L.C was represented by 1 junior team and 2 senior teams. One senior team, consisting of FionaSutherland, Alisa Camplin and Clare Gilderdale competed extremely well to win the overall team award. Our other senior team of Naomi McGain, Zoe Spark and Amanda Norton alsodid well, gaining second place.

SPORT

Sailing

was hard to settle down afterwards.

One encouraging parent said that it l o o k e d like w e were h a v i n g a wonderful time.

For those of you w h o have never sailed before, let m e assure you that it is not easy. In fact, it is hard work.

The Victorian Schools' Championships were proof of that.

The championships were held on the weekend of March 16&17, and M L C entered for the first time this year. The team of seven included students from years ten and eleven, organized by Mr D o m i n g (who was also kind enough to allow Kynwynn Jones and myself to sail his boat, which he may have later regretted when he saw what we did to it!).

The team included Katie Holroyd, Nicki Richards, Sarah Phillips, Chelsea Candy, K y n w y n n Jones, and myself.

Thanks to Miss Ewing for all her work, and to Miss Osbourne-Smith for her initial contribution, Miss Sculac for the best costumes in the competition, and the PE staff, who offered advice and encouragement.

T h a n k s also to the parents and friends w h o cheered and supported us on the night. Good luck to next year's team.

The days were sunny and warm but the winds were either dead calm or very rough. The championships consisted of five races; t w o on Saturday, and three on Sunday. All boats survived the w e e k e n d , unscathed, apart from M r D o m i n g ' s vessel which, before the second race on Saturday, had a bent mast and broken centre board, (OOPS!)

The Aerobics Team

Aerobics The M L C aerobics team recently f i n i s h e d f i f t h in a S t a t e - w i d e competition of secondary schools.

Although not gaining a place, it was a good effort, and an exciting night.

A lot of people have asked m e how you actually compete in aerobics.

Some people seem to think that it is judged on the highest star-jumps but this is untrue. You have to do a choreographed dance routine with certain compulsory moves, for example push-ups and high kicks.

There is-a panel to decide the winner, and unfortunately, it w a s n ' t us this time.

Our finest attributes were our cheesy smiles, directed towards the judges, at every stage of our performance.

A n y o n e w h o has d o n e aerobic sessions would know that the usual expression worn is a tired one.

Believe me, it was very difficult to smile during mid push-up!

Training got longer and harder as the event approached, which was necessary to perfect our routine.

After cruising through the semifinals, we bopped away in our stars and stripes to " F o o t l o o s e " , and ended so full of adrenaline that it

Georgie

Term 1 of the school year signified the time for the budding champions of the future to come and lend their talents to the cause of the M.L.C. senior school tennis team.

T h e t e a m this y e a r e n j o y e d a s u c c e s s f u l s e a s o n . O u t of six m a t c h e s w e had only o n e loss against Carey.

It was good to see the school spirit and competitiveness at a high, and the tradition of M.L.C. as a dominant force in school tennis competition maintained.

Let's hope that the ball is kept in M.L.C. 's court in the years to come.

Jenny Wong Yr 12

Yr 11

Jodie Baker. Yr 11

NETBALL

J.S.S. S o f t b a l l TENNIS FLASH!

Coslello

So, you want to find out how J.S.S. Softball went this year? I ' m here to tell you! Both the A and B teams had fantastic seasons. The A team was undefeated and the B team lost only 1 game. Emma Jenkin was afabulous pitcher for the A team and Louise Broadfoot did equally well for the B team. Sarah Charles was the best with the bat, coming up with a hit when we needed one. I would like to thank M r Shipp for being such an excellent coach, and Louise Broadfoot for doing a great j o b as captain of the B team. Fantastic playing by all!

Fiona Curl

The competition w a s tough for the girls w h o w a n t e d to makeone of the t w o seniorteams. Practicematchesagainst Padua College and Genazzano were lost but proved useful experience in the round robin at PLC, where the A team defeated top team Melbourne Girls'. In ESA competition the team played well, recording wins against Ivanhoe and Camberwell, but losing to PLC. The B team had a very good season so far, and were undefeated.

The Middle School A team's reward for an excellent season was winning the

final of the Victorian Schoolgirls' netball, an outstanding achievement.

TinaJohnson

M.L.C Ski Club The school ski club strives to produce a speedy green team to represent M L C at various state a n d national levels.

The support of over 5 0 families has seen a steady stream of girls learning racing techniques and a social element prevails through barbeques, fund raising activites and dry land training.

Jane Kemelfield. 12

Middle School Tennis 1991 was a very successful year.

W e had a team of 12 pairs, and played a range of different schools.

The team members were: Sonia Zorec, Katherine Gove, Kate Simkiss, Rachel Wallace, A n n a Rattray, Narelle Brewer, Sharni Wells, Sarah Kelly, Ju-Li Leong, Sally Hall, Lauren Shelley, Amanda Coster, Claire Pruden, Sara Marriott, Angela Veal, Linda Osborne, Gabby Stone, Alison Moore, T a m m y Welch, Katrina Ferguson, Sarah Davey, Jo Drew, Catrina Hunter,

Nicole Fett, and Candice Albury.

The results were: M.L.C. defeated Strathcona 44-20 M.L.C. defeated Ivanhoe 54-14 M.L.C. lost to P.L.C. 67-91 M.L.C. defeated Carey 65-11 M.L.C. defeated M.G.G.S. 24-20 M.L.C. lost to Camberwell Girls' Grammar 21-26 Thanks to Miss Duff for all her help and encouragement, we had a most enjoyable and successful season.

Rachel Wallace

49

MLC Ski Team

Senior School A Day in the Life of Mrs McKenzie Head of Senior School (Wednesday August 14, 1991)

Introducing ...

Suzanne Collings

END OF 1990 EVENTS

6.15am: Mrs McKenzie staggers

NAME: Suzanne Collings AGE: As old as my tongue but older than my teeth!

EYE COLOUR: Hazel. I am not a rabbit however (see "Watership Down") POSITION AT MLC: Yr 12 Co-ordinstor/ Co-ordinator of A c c o u n t i n g a n d Business Management/ Dogs Body DESCRIBE YOURSELF: Exceptionally beautiful, talented, witty, blind H O B B I E S / I N T E R E S T S : reading, Crossword Puzzles, Answering "Sale of the Century" questions, chasing snails FAVOURITE TV SHOW: "Sale of the Century" (When I gettheanswers right), "Embassy", "GP", "French Fields" FAVOURITE SONG: "Imagine" John Lennon)

out of bed (careful not to trip over the family's new Siberian puppy, Tasha); showers, dresses, has breakfast, takes food out of the freezer for the evening meal, and cuts her lunch.

7.00: Leaves home.

7.30: Arrives at school and heads for Staff Centre where she tries to speak to a few of the 'early bird' teachers.

8.00: Mrs McKenzie's secretary arrives at the office, and Mrs McKenzie gives her all the work that must be dealt with for the day. During this time, Mrs McKenzie also has some student appointments, and it is then that any girls who are going to be absent from school will ring in.

F A V O U R I T E M O V I E : "Picnic at Hanging Rock" (the girls disappeared) FAVOURITE COLOUR: Blue (or green for Krome) WHO DO YOU ADMIRE MOST AND WHY?: Christopher Skase, Alan Bond - They did it their way!

WHAT WOULD YOU TAKE IF YOUR HOUSE WAS BURNING DOWN?: The solutions books!

THE BEST THING ABOUT MLC: Curriculum days without students!

THE WORST THINGS ABOUT MLC: Students,white jumpers, Senior Centre W H A T W A S YOUR FAVOURITE SUBJECT AT SCHOOL?: Modern History, Economics, Geography.

8.30: Deal with any daily problems, concerning families, staff or students.

Sometimes she will have student appointments at this time.

9.00: About 10 minutes talking with her secretary about the business of the day. Today is busy, and there is no room for crises!

9.30: Parent appointments..

10.00: Staff appointment. Between the periods, she tries to see any girls that need to talk to her, about speaking in Assembly, etc.

10.30: Deals with work from her in-tray.

11.00:Recess: Tries to get to Staff Centre to see other teachers, so that she's kept in touch with what's happening throughout the school, or to negotiate meetings etc with staff. It's often difficult for herto go to Staff centre, as she may have to see students during this time.

12.10: Attends Assembly in her regular Head of School role, also goes to Tutor Group, with her form 12M. 12.55:Lunchtime: Meeting with a small group of staff, concerning a particular group of students.

1.50: Regular meeting with a senior member of staff on VCE and planning for the future-

4.00: Meeting with Mrs Fallshaw. From 4 o'clock onwards is usually a quieter time when she can deal with any daily business that hasn't been attended to.

6.00: Mrs McKenzie likes to be in the caronherwayhomeby6.00sothatshe can hear the 6.00 News, and then 'PM' on the ABC. She says she gets most of her information and is kept up-to-date with world affairs, by listening to the radio.

Evening: As soon as she gets home, Mrs McKenzie "rushes in manically", wound up to cook the family's evening meal. She says hello to everybody (her husband and two tertiary-age children, if they're around), and reads the family notes for the day - each member of the family leaves a note on the kitchen table about their plans for the day/night. From the notes she finds out who is in for a meal! Then she changes into more casual clothes; the family sits down to dinner, and they talk during the meal.

Afterdinner: Reads the morning papers because she hasn't had time during the day! Then she goes up to her study, to do still more work!

Jane Libbis 12P

50

After eight years at M.L.C, all the end of year events - Speech Night, Final Assembly and Year 12 "Muckup" day had begun to assure a certai n degree o f , shall we say, predictability. They tended to symbolise not much more than the beginning of the much longed for Summer Holidays. At the end of Year 11, however, that all changed.

As we sat in the Assembly Hall, being entertained by the Year 12 Leavers Concert, we suddenly realised that next year, that would be us op on stage, just about to leave M.L.C. It was actually quite scary, there was a definite sense of dread at the idea of all the hours of study and stress ahead of us in Year 12.

Earlier that day we, the Year 1 l ' s had been subjected to that annual ritual of the Year 12's "running amok" on the last day, affectionately known as "Muck Up Day". I have vivid memories of being bombarded by wild Year 12's. One year my school uniform was covered in

shaving cream, jam, Vegemite and eggs, not to mention the stench resulting from the combinations of G a r l i c W a t e r , Fish Water, A e r o g u a r d and c h e a p p e r f u m e (don't whinge, you should have seen/smelt the Boarders! -Ed) On Speech Night, prizes were awarded to many different students.

Apart from academic achievement, contributions to the college by prefects, athletes, musicians, and editors were recognised.

Formassed singing, DrOtzen wrote " C a t c h the J o y " w h i c h w a s performed publically for the first time, and was very well received.

During the singing of the Year 12's song, "The Way We Were", many tears were shed. Perhaps the most moving moment of the evening however, was the "Leavers Song", w h e n right t h r o u g h o u t D a l l a s Brooks Hall. M.L.C Old Collegians of many generations stood up to join in the singing.

Philippa Sholl. Yr 12.

1990: Many tears were shed & shaving cream sprayed.

Y e a r 12, w h a t a year!

I t ' s definitely an unforgettable mixture of emotions; of laughter and of tears. It's a year where often the sight of the school and the familiar buildings just makes you want to scream, but then the thought of leaving brings tears to your eyes.

It's a year of hopes and dreams.

Hopes forthe future, high Anderson Scores, and tertiary placements.

Dreams of exciting careers and travels to far, exotic places (to practice those languages perfected in the past few years) to see the world as it is, outside MLC. It's a y e a r o f memories. Things that

you used to do fill your mind when you hear a particular song on the radio. a catchcry or p h r a s e . M e m o r i e s of b e i n g the youngest in the school without so many cares and worries.

Everyday you look at your thick textbooks and folders that hold the stock of essential notes that you must learn (or "cram" into your head) before those dreaded 3 weeks in November.

It's the end of an important era in your life, and you d o n ' t know whether to laugh or cry.

Sara Kernick

SENIOR

SCHOOL

Year 11 The Dance of all Dances "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness..." These immortal words of Charles Dickens could be used to describe the Year 11 Dinner Dance. Most had an enjoyable time, although there was the inevitable minority whose night could have been better. The night was certainly exciting, especially when crazed helium balloon poppers ravaged tables for more fuel. The hippest and hottest music followed a three course dinner. Everybody found energy to dance the night away.

The dance had been the subject of most conversations for days, weeks, and months preceding August24th. The Dance Committee organised the event and made sure everybody received their tickets. 'Chaucers' was impressive and crammed full of couples, decked out in formal clothing.

It was great to see MLC staff members enjoying the night along with us, and a special mention must be given to the Parents' Dance Committee.

Melissa Lawton. Yr11 'It was great to see staff members enjoying the night along with us."

AN ESSENTIAL GUIDE FOR FIRST DATERS The dreaded first date, often thought about by many a teenager, looms like a black pit for those yet to endure the experience, take heart, for there is some light at the bottom.

First of all, don't get dressed up.

He wants to go out with you, not your wardrobe. He will be immediately turned off if you look at all like you've put any thought whatsoever into your outfit. Chuck on your old faithful jeans (good with a few holes), the smelly sneakers, and a simple t-shirt. So it doesn't look planned, splash a little coffee down the front, it's good not to look too pristine.

for. Chuck them to your mum and tell her to put them in some water if she gets time.

Always make sure he's got money before you leave, you don't want to have to end up paying, besides, h e ' d be offended if you offered anyway.

On the way to the restaurant, talk non-stop about yourself and how wonderful you are. He does want to know about you and what you like, so tell him.

Don't ask about him or his interests or he'll think you're trying to avoid something about yourself.

"(During the trip, tafl<i about yourself once more, just to refresh his memory."

Skip the make-up all together.

Look like you always do. A poppy seed stuck in the teeth is an old favourite, and having your hair unwashed and drab always goes down well.

When ordering your meal, go for the most expensive. It shows good taste, he'll be impressed with that as well. Scull the champagne, just to show him you're really having a good time.

Don't be ready when he arrives, make sure you're a good fifteen minutes late, eagerness will put him off straight away. Act casual, like it's no big deal. If he gives you flowers, a simple "thanks" is all he'll be looking

It is always important to pick at the food, to show you know a bit about that sort of thing. If he knows you can tell the difference between good and bad food, then things are looking bright.

By this stage, you should have managed to impress him quite a bit, and he'll probably want to have coffee. Refuse. Always remember, eagerness is a bad sign. Tell him you've taken up too much of his time already, and ask to go straight home.

During the trip, talk about yourself once more, just to refresh his memory. Boys are quite forgetful!

On your arrival home, don't let him kiss you goodnight, which incidentaly, he'll probably be trying very hard to do. Play hard to get and you'll go a long way.

Again, a simple "thanks" should suffice for the evening's outing.

You may add "goodnight" if you wish, but use your own discretion. You should be able to tell if it would be appreciated or not. After this, simply walk away. Don't turn around as you might catch him blushing and embarrass him. Go straight inside, so he knows you're responsible and it should round off a lovely evening.

Follow these simple, yet extremely effective guide-lines and I guarantee your "first date" will certainly not be your last!

Emma Christie

YR. 11 DEBATING 1991 W e looked out at the captivated audience consisting of two of the opposition's mums. Yet again we had attracted a record crowd. W e had slaved over this topic for hours and hours leading up to the debate and no w it was time to let our debate rip....

Debating is exciting, nerve racking and a continual challenge. The t w o teams which made up the year eleven debating team were, if we may say so ourselves without being too biased, brilliant. Both teams won four out of five debates, on topics like "That the V.C.E. is more about certificates than education" (It may surprise you that the negative teams won in both cases). One of our favourites was "That the pursuit of wealth is the pursuit of happiness".

A really hard part of debating is that often you have to let your own opinion slide.

The highlight (or some might say the lowlight) of our debating season was the secret topic debate. None of us had experienced this type of debating before, where you receive the topic one hour before the debate.

This topic, "that if executions are to be a l l o w e d they s h o u l d be televised", was one which we were u n a b l e to a r g u e o u t w i t h o u r dedicated coach Mr Bell.

The M L C girls participating in this year's debates were Sarah Hoxley, E m m a Kowal, Melissa Dixon, L e n o r e Ellet, G e o r g i e Costello, Fiona Taylor, Melissa Lawton, Jill Morgan, Kerry Liu and Bronwyn Smith.

Georgie Costello and Melissa Lawton

c

V

AUSTRALIAN The validity

of Australian

has been discussed

more

Studies

as a compulsory

this year than any other

Concerns

have been raised,

all VCE

subjects.

particularly

regarding

subject singular

in

V.C.E. subject.

the workload

of

I find Australian Studies to be the most relevant subject to everyday life.

While it was designed more specifically for students intending to enter the work force on completion of the V.C.E., the content, at M.L.C. at least, is extremely relevant to those intent on continuing their education at tertiary level. Australian Studies provides young adults with an opportunity to learn about parts of society and the work force we might not otherwise know about. The course includes information on issues like taxation (how, why, the pros and cons and implications of avoiding it), the accord. Work Care, basic wages, insurance, your rights as a female employee or a foreign employee and at the same time covers such issues as racism, discrimination and poverty and homelessness.

E STUDIES

Australian Studies makes the students more socially aware of other people and indeed themselves. I see it as a subject that rounds off the education of an individual. It fills the gaps that exist in the very stream-lined courses, especially the sciences, by also addressing some topics more geared to economics, politics or legal studies. By making the students more aware of their rights in the work place, even students with part-time jobs can benefit from it.

Regardless of this, the work load that has been placed on Year 11 this year is great. The greatest ever, or so it seems. In the future it might be recommended that Australian Studies not be compulsory in Year 11. It might be wiser to have a course in Year 10, rather than abolish it. One school in Victoria has already asked V.C. A.B. for their approval to do so and was allowed. Like the accelerated maths course it could be used for the certificate. While you may think that all the knowledge learnt in Australian Studies in Year 10 will have been forgotten by the time the student reaches the workforce, some will remain, even if it is only an understanding of the numerous complexities involved in the workplace and in Australian life.

Ingrid Hopper 11

= % + THE INTERNATIONAL MATHEMATICAL OLYMPIAD

The VCE With the introduction of the new VCE, there were many challenges which had to be faced by both the teachers and the students.

At the start of the year we gathered several comments f r o m Year 11 students on their opinions of the VCE, and how they were coping with it. Throughout terms two and three, we asked these same people for additional c o m m e n t s so that we could see if they had changed their minds.

There were some interesting results and they w e r e n ' t all bad. At the beginning of the year, opinions varied, but they highlighted the challenge the new V C E presented.

As people became more familiar with the VCE, they began to cope with the new assessment procedures. People also noticed that o r g a n i z a t i o n a l skills were essential in order to achieve the highest results.

Jodie and

Melissa

• • • • • • • •

Examples of Yr. 11 Communication Projects.

•Jessica Leong: "Psychedelica", the fashion parade with a vengeance.

What started off as a little tinkering of the brain has turned into a full scale, up and coming fashion parade.

The project was undertaken by five Year 11 students, with the intention of communicating to students that there are other fashion alternatives to the usual jeans and shirt.

The look is psychedelic, and in complete opposition to the jeans and hooded tops we have become used to. In come the catsuits, body suits, and anything wild and outrageous, that only the daring and attention-seeking would wear.

With twelve simply stunning models; four totally hot dancers and fivesuper-organisedorganisers,we couldn't fail to produce the biggest, most informative and entertaining fashion parade of the year.

• Sarah Riley. Erin Phipps and Kirsty McNeil: For our communications project we e n t e r t a i n e d an a u d i e n c e f o r an evening. W e performed two oneact plays and provided refreshments.

In addition to this we asked our audience to fill out an evaluation sheet in response to our evening, the general response was positive.

Everyone performed well, although there were a few minor problems with lines and fake moustaches.

Overall, the evening was a success, and we are glad that it is over!

52

• Louise Wilson: For my Comunication Project, I decided to try something I ' m sure no-one has endeavoured to do before, to busk!

As I approached the Queen Victoria Market, searching for a place to nest, I was apprehensvie of what was going on around me. Before I knew it, I found myself competing with various other buskers, and the bustling of the S u n d a y market, projecting my way through my first song - 'Walking in Sunshine', and soon a small crowd surrounded me.

As the saxaphone, the clarinet and guitar played away, as did I and the a c c o m p a n y i n g singer, a c a m e r a recorded our movements from every angle, operated by Shelly Benson, who organised this project with me.

As the market started to die down at 4pm, so did we, packing up our i n s t r u m e n t s , and g a t h e r i n g the dollars we had received. It was then o n t o an a u d i e n c e r e s p o n s e , interviewing those whohad seen the act.

W h e n preparing the project, my expectations were very different to my actual experience. H o w e v e r it was great fun, and a good laugh, achieving something I'd never done before.

In July '91, six representatives from each of fifty-eight countries gathered together in a boarding-school in Sigruna, Sweden. The Swedish authorities were convinced thatsince we were competing in a mathematics competition, our sole interest must b e mathematics. They organised lectures on "Some Pages in the History of Swedish Mathematics".

W e had other ideas.

The high spirits of the Icelandic team kept us all laughing. These spirits were presented to us as souveniers, enclosed in miniature 50ml bottles.

The Australian a n d Irish teams ran a competition as to who could play the best practical jokes. W e swapped the entire contents of o n e bedroom with t h o s e of a n o t h e r t o s e e p e o p l e ' s reactions when they entered the "wrong" room.

W e climbed up drainpipes to enter open windows hours after curfew. W e swam in the lake w h e n the sun rose at 3 am, and insisted on forcefully "inviting" our team leaders to join us. W e played poker with Icelandic souvenirs. W e invented time travel as the hour of departure approached by changing all the clocks: even the wristwatches of hapless sleeping victims.

I know from past statistics that many of the people I met there will be powerful one day, but it s e e m e d as though I could have been in the company of any group of teenager's. A s one of a mere handful of girls a m o n g over three h u n d r e d boys, t h e r e w e r e definite advantages to my position, but at the end of the Olympiad all I cou Id say to the others w a s "Have a nice life."

JoMasel. Yr12 Bronze Medal Winner 1991

Senior School Creativity At the Cafe Cosmopolitan 1 spent many hours of my childhood sprawled out on the linoleum floor of my mother's cafe; drawing, writing, watching. It was an old-fashioned tearoom with poor lighting and crammed with tables. Nevertheless, it was once very popular, and on Sunday afternoons the room would come alive with the buzz of chatter and hearty laughter.

dignified gentleman who was an expert in many matters of the world. I would listen silently as he commented on the daily newspapers. He was the one to w h o m I would come to with my problems, and I treasured his comforting "Meine Kindeleh" (my little child). I loved him dearly, as did my mother, and he soon became our favourite customer. He was even permitted to call my mother Rose.

My mother was undoubtedly the queen of the cafe. She strolled about, offering praise and criticism where necessary. She was very fussy about the clientele and was often quite rude to customers who didn't pass her secret exam.

For those who were permitted to dine there, it was worth the wait. O u r c h e e s e c a k e was f a m o u s t h r o u g h o u t the state, and had won the Royal M e l b o u r n e S h o w c o m p e t i t i o n s for three years running. Each customer had a favourite dish; from Mrs Fleigenbaum and her Ganzertorte (every week she could criticize every single part of it, and claim she could do better, yet she still returned for more) to M r Parkinson and his Irish coffee, a delicacy that my mother had turned into an art form.

He dined there every day - we became quite used to seeing him. W e knew that only something important would prevent him f r o m making an appearance, such as his daughter's wedding or his car breaking down.

"I had never before seen the house, I could sense his presence in every corner"

From my vantage point, perched on top of some old bunk beds that had somehow ended up in the back room of the cafe, I could observe most of the customers in the smoky room from above, undetected.

Over the years, my mother and I watched him grow older just as he watched us. As m u c h as I grew, he seemed to shrink, and he began to explain his absences with a sweep of his hand and a m u m b l e about his "pains". I was worried, but not overly. My childish mind thought that time would stand still for me.

Then one day; nothing. On the first day, my mother and I were not too concerned, sometimes he simply felt too tired to attend. After a few days however, I began to fret. My mother asked all the regular customers, but noone seemed to k n o w what had happened, or even where he lived.

W e never saw him again.

During the many afternoons that I spent there, I devised games to keep me from boredom. One of my favourites was to evaluate the personality of a particular customer by their appearance, manner and most importantly; what they ordered. Flat white coffee was c o m m o n , Earl grey tea only slightly better, but it took a real connoisseur to spot the delicious blueberry tea or dutch coffee at the bottom of the menu. Similarly, scrambled egg was crass, but poached showed real strength of character.

Somehow, my mother discovered his address and we visited his home.

When we got there, it was just as w e had secretly feared. His daughter, the one who had apparently looked so beautiful in white on her wedding day, was now clothed in black as she answered the door. Suddenly, it felt awkward to explain our distant relationship with her father, though it was enough to grant us a cup of tea in his lounge room. Even though I had never before seen the house, I could sense his presence in every corner. Even though he was no longer there, I could vividly picture him scanning the daily papers in the big brown chair.

The cafe was very much a part of my life, and the regular customers became my honorary aunts and uncles. I knew Mrs Watson always kept Minties in her bag, and if I suffered a little cheek-pinching. I could score a handful or two. Mr Goldman told the funniest jokes, and Mrs Steindl had m a n y strings of fake pearls I could play with for hours on end. My favourite "uncle", however, was Mr Mendelssohn.

A s my mother offered her condolences to his daughter, I examined the room thoroughly, desperately trying to absorb the scene without being affected by it.

Soon, the adults had run out of conversation and it was time to leave. I shed my first and last tears late that night, with his comforting "Meine Kindeleh"

He started dining at the cafe when I was eight, and f r o m the very first moment, my mother and I knew he was exceptional. He was a very tall,

lingering in my ear.

Grandpa

Open Options

I have just received the news.

As I rock back and forth my head pounds and the tears flow as I hear the cliched phrases

(In the style of "So Small" by Ania Walwiczs)

Keep your options open! Options kept open but which option is best so very many options which I should choose careers counsellors what do you want to do anything don't know everything amidst study frantic study thoughts of my future are pushed to the bottom of the homework pile chaotic mind what to do? go to open days all Open Days speak to experts collect information discussions who to see? JAC and SIGI machines analysing human thoughts programmed to think to feel logic too logical for confused minds computer spits out program "economics can be done in arts economics can be done in science" program doesn't know what to do don't want to do economics but how do I know not to do it? doubts uncertainty results from keeping options open you'd make a great doctor I'd come to see you thanks but medicine versus arts/science versus geology music forest science sports doctor who doctor Bee a tree doctor?

I can't see you as oh I can which way round and round back again I can't see myself as oh I can never mind around here we go again wow what a feeling to know I've kept my options open.

I've heard so many time before. " H e ' s had a good innings" "He lived a good life" "At least he was in no pain" Although you are gone I feel you are here I look over and see you sitting quietly on the couch you watch your loved ones cry for you

Emma Kowal. 11G but you do not say a word.

I want you to walk over to m e and tell m e it's not true But you don't. And it is.

And there is nothing I can do.

Grandpa Your silent presence will be missed.

Your gentle nature Your funny hat Your creased tobacco pouch Your wooden pipe Your bony hugs Your lovely beachside house.

You are gone and I must face this and though it will not cease the pain I gain comfort f r o m the thought that all my memories will remain.

Joanna Calwell 12S

Rebecca Miller Year 12

53

SENIOR

RECIPE FOR A HOT Yr.12 FORMAL INGREDIENTS:

SCHOOL

for the 'necessities' that you will encounter during your pre-formal preparations.) *1 'Table'.

Don't go to the Myer Furniture Department, 'Table' is f o r m a l j a r g o n for the motley assortment of individuals whom you will spend the evening with. It is guaranteed to be the cause of an unlimited number of fights in your SeniorCentreroom. Pullyourclaws in and at least attempt to be civil to your 'friends'.

*/

Very expensive

(or very

expensive looking) outfit. Of course there is no law to say that you absolutely must wear a dress, let's face it, if you rock up in your good old tracky dacks and flannel, there is a slight chance that you might feel just a bit out of place.

*1 Spunky Partner - this is a tough one, but I ' m sure you can manage it.

METHOD Now you think y o u ' r e ready to hit the formal? There are still a million and one other things to worry about.

Shoes for instance. M a k e sure you can walk in them!! One individual, who I am sure wishes to remain nameless ( Sara!) was seen at this year'sformalspectacularly tripping in the middle of the dance floor.

Still, at least it provided us with, some entertainment!

Hairstyling, my advice is this; opt for the more conservative look..

Anything too drastic, such as dying your hair fluorescent purple is sure to clash with your vermillion dress and/or the decor of the reception centre.

Now, if you' ve put d o w n the deposit for the hired limo, thrashed out a c u r f e w with y o u r p a r e n t s , and bought five spare pairs of tights in case you get a ladder in one, or two, or three then you might finally be prepared.

Phillips Sholl. Yr 12

12

Ken and Barbie Go To the Dance "It's 5.37 M u m . H e ' s not coming.

I knew this would happen! Typical - he c o u l d ' v e at least rung m e ! " M u m did her best to calm me but, o b v i o u s l y she w a s n ' t very successful. Within the next five minutes I had made my way to the toilet at least three times and checked my make-up at least 15 times.

*/ MLC Yr. 12 Student *1 Very large bank account (To pay

YEAR

I was about to give up my last ray of hope, when m u m burst through the door to my room speaking in some strange language. "Quick Liz h e ' s here. I think he just turned the car off." Suddenly there was a stunned silence.

Mum and I stared at each other with uneasiness when...there was a jolting thunder-like s o u n d at t h e door.

"He's here, h e ' s here" I sang.

I gracefully slipped on my black high heeled shoes ( a s I had previously p r a c t i c e d ) and listened intently to the small talk that my mother and date shared.

I waited and listened for the perfect cue that my mother was supposed to give, when all I heard was "she h a s n ' t stopped looking at herself since the time she got out of the shower this morning". I ' m sure that a part of me died then, as m o t h e r ' s rehearsed cue arrived like a sack of potatoes. Despite this I held my head high, placed one foot forward, and walked out into what was going to be the beginning of the rest of my life - little did my date know that I wanted this night to be the first of a n u m b e r of d a t e s together.

I stepped out into the light and saw him standing there. Both he and mother turned around to acknowledge my arrival. My date stared at me; speechless (I think), and I met his look with a smile and a quick, but polite, "hello". My date and I stood there for quite s o m e t i m e , staring, l o o k i n g f o r

s o m e t h i n g that w e both c o u l d recognize about the other; we were searching for the old jeans, tracksuit pants or cap. Unsuccessful in our search for something familiar, we both turned to mother and said "goodnight".

Walking to the car, my date and 1 said absolutely nothing, until he opened the door for m e , w h e n "thanks" broke the silence. W e were both placed in the car like Ken and Barbie: stiff, speechless, and Barbie's hair was already affected by the breeze outside. My date

We arrived at the formal; the palace of b e a u t y , c o m p e t i t i o n a n d drunkenness. The beauty was in keeping with the surroundings. The competition was running according to schedule; competitors pranced around like the owners of a dog in a show - gripping on to the leash as tight as possible so as to prevent their animals sniffing into the hinds of the enemy.

Dinner was fine I guess, but if I was going to be fussy I w o u l d ' v e much rather stayed home for m u m ' s lamb roast. The dancing was unstoppable, most people danced but some still ate to avoid being seen missing a beat on the dance floor.

The smokers came out f r o m under the tables but dived back in when the principal was seen carrying a pen and order mark book.

The palace of beauty was no more than a room with pink on the floor, walls, ceiling and tables.

The o c c a s i o n a l cigarette butt, bread roll and piece of silverware lay indisgrace on the f 1o o r . T h e competition died out fast, and the new concern of gee-the-guy-nextto-me-looks-good took over.

Time flew and it w a s soon 12.30, and the "after" parties were due to begin. The male population were mostly concerned about the amountof "free grog" there would be.

The Palace of Beauty t u r n e d on t h e h e a t e r as w e b o t h m e l t e d into easiness and comfort. He turned to me and commented on my dress, saying it was "suave". I was quite pleased with the effort he made. N o w it was my turn. W e talked about everything on the planet. W e caught up with the gossip, both of us attempting to outdo the other on style of speech and use of vocabulary. Then, the bell rang and the round was over. It was again up to me to suggest new topics for conversation. I started round two with "your tux looks pretty hot", and then the grin that I have always admired from afar was no more than a foot away f r o m me.

W e both sat there in pride: m e looking "suave" and him looking"hot", we needed no more.

Whatever 99.9% of girls suffered on the morning after, I would say with all honesty that the night was very successful, and I would do it all again.

Liz Moloney

That Great Final Year The Final Year...

Our Very Crucial Education

Winner of the Senior School Silver & Green writting competition.

Term / begins with relative ease Think positive, it'll be a breeze House swimming, 100 metre dash, 10 weeks go by in a flash

H e r e I sit at the c o m p u t e r w h e r e I h a v e b e e n wont to study for - w o w thirteen years! Every y e a r 1 toiled through the average w o r k i n g day, m e r e l y h o p i n g to survive f o r the delights of Speech Night. I attended choir dutifully, not even daring to aspire to be one of " t h o s e people up the back in white j u m p e r s " . Finally, it has h a p p e n e d ! I m a d e it to Y r 12, F o r m 6, H S C , Matriculation; call it what you will, I m a d e it to " T h e Final Y e a r ! " T h e reality of it started to hit m e w h e n I w a l k e d into the library, a f e w w e e k s into term. I started to retreat f r o m a large g r o u p of respectdeserving, not-to-be-disturbed, h a r d - w o r k i n g Yr 12s in their w h i t e j u m p e r s . T h e n I realized they w e r e m y friends!. It takes a while to get used to seeing y o u r o w n year level as top of the school, h o u s e captains, prefects, and all the rest. It w a s e v e n stranger to pick u p m y o w n white j u m p e r and j o i n their ranks.

Slowly, gradually, the implications began to sink in. W e c l a i m e d o u r rightful places in the p a d d e d seats at A s s e m b l y . W e a c q u i r e d o u r prestigious w h i t e - a n d - g r e e n stars, and exercised our right to leave the school g r o u n d s at lunchtime. W e f o u g h t over, m o v e d into, and m a d e our o w n ; the long a d m i r e d h o u s e on the corner, Senior Centre. At first I had a s n e a k i n g suspicion that a " r e a l " Y r 12 w o u l d turn u p and evict us all, our posters and p h o t o s e m b e l l i s h e d the bare walls, with no repercussions (except from Mrs Collings -watch the paint!).

W e settled in, and quickly realized t h a t t h e f i n a l y e a r is n o t all sunglasses and autographs. A f t e r an inglorious careerof accumulating study habits, they are finally b e i n g brought into play. O p t i o n w o r k , a s s i g n m e n t s and C A T s assaulted us f r o m all sides. T e a c h e r s inflicted w o r k l o a d s as n e v e r b e f o r e , and believe it or not- we f o u n d ourselves knocking on the door of Staff Centre, asking for m o r e revision sheets, past e x a m papers, and volunteering o u r spares, even our holidays, f o r extra classes! T h e reality of the final y e a r is c o m i n g d o w n hard, as V C E / H S C takes its toll on our social lives, p h o n e time, and leisure. Still, it is only o n e year and after the f r e n z y of final e x a m s , w e will be liberated!

This is the time for a final c o n c e r t e d effort. I think I'll just play o n e g a m e of Tetris b e f o r e I start on that Issues piece...

Winner: Elizabeth Thomas 12W

NOW IS THE HOUR WHEN....

Unfortunately, you're easily deceived (Blame your sex, for so was Eve) As the work begins to take its toll, Life slips out of your control.

YOU BREAK FREE...

You realize you're in Year 12 You panic and convince yourselves, There is no way You can get through the day, Without suppressing: the urge with no end The inevitable, unavoidable urge to VEND.

No more

Don't get me wrong, its not greed, Come on girls, this is need.

Term 2 And CATS are now taboo, Joan Kirner - we love you.

Options issue Gulf-size stress, Victoria is in a mess South Africa, sanctions, who the hell runs France?

Won't someone teach us how to dance?

*top button to be d o n e up *order m a r k s to collect ^late book, spare book to sign *Star to w e a r *PE, RE, A s s e m b l y to attend * H o u s e practices to take part in • S e n i o r Centre to l o u n g e in *Most-used snack m a c h i n e in M e l b o u r n e to patronise

N o m o r e will old ladies in the street " e x p e c t high standards of b e h a v i o u r of y o u " b e c a u s e " y o u w e a r the C o l l e g e u n i f o r m " .

Assessments, exams - can you cope?

Sam's still In Country, I hope When in doubt, x=5, Accuracy's for what we strive.

Term 3 We're back with energy, Cross Country to Variety, People start to come of age, You lose sleep while the parties rage.

N o m o r e will you envy tertiary students their j e a n s and casual gear.

N o m o r e will you aspire to the drivers licence - y o u ' l l h a v e it!

N o m o r e will you worry o v e r identity cards. "free".

Y o u will be " l e g a l " a n d

A n d what d o e s that m e a n ?

A challenging problem causes hours Of worrying over logs and powers As VTAC, Big Mac, VCAB voice The tertiary web of multiple choice.

Term 4 Yes, what we've been waiting for You all know what's in store.

G r e a t e r control over your o w n life and greater responsibility for it!

N o m o r e teachers to push, b l a m e and e n c o u r a g e you.

N o m o r e parents to push, b l a m e , w o r r y and support you.

Now that November is in sight I trust you all enjoyed the flight To future - who knows what we face?

Extinction as a human race?

N o m o r e "letting you off the h o o k " b e c a u s e you are a school girl. Adult at last.

Summer awaits, so does the car, Dust starts to settle on your star.

Results lie ahead to seal our fate But, admit it girls, Year 12 was great.

Suzanne Field 12

Y o u ' r e a b o u t to launch into the next, exciting stage of y o u r life. W e h o p e M L C ' s p r o v i d e d a good, strong l a u n c h i n g pad f r o m which y o u can rocket into the g l e a m i n g unlimited space of y o u r future.

Goodbye.

Good luck to you.

Mrs

McKenzie

TOP TEN PRODUCTS THAT STAIN YR12 JUMPERS: W h i t e isn't a very sensible colour. It is easily susceptible to staining and still a p p e a r s to be g r u b b y even after thorough w a s h i n g . T h e f o l l o w i n g items h o w e v e r , a p p e a r to be the most e f f e c t i v e -and p e r m a n e n t - m e t h o d s of ruining y o u r Yrl 2 jumper: 1. P h o t o g r a p h y c h e m i c a l s ( w e l c o m e to the Art D e p t # 1 ) 2. Oil paint ( w e l c o m e to the Art D e p a r t m e n t # 2 ) 3. Fabric dye (separate y o u r whites w h e n w a s h i n g ! i 4. Graffitti f r o m public transport (do not lean against trains) 5. Senior C e n t r e c o f f e e / m i l o / t e a fights 6. Ink ( d o n ' t fall asleep with a pen in your h a n d ) 7. T o m a t o sauce (be c a r e f u l in tuck shop) 8. M u d , dirt or grass ( n e v e r sit d o w n ) 9. V e g e m i t e (ever d r o p p e d y o u r toast on the w r o n g side?)

10. G r i m e (it's better if you just don't w e a r it).

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Sitting in the garden: dangerous for white jumpers

THE

LEAVERS

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REVIEW

Victims of Fashion Can you remember when it was cool to...

In Year7: Listen to - Bruce Springsteen, Duran Duran, Wa Wa Nee, Boy George, Cyndi Lauper, A-Ha, Samantha Fox, Wham, Eurythmics, Madonna.

Wear - butterfly clips, croptops, fingerless gloves, leg warmers, shirts hanging out, two pairs of different coloured socks, studded belts, leggings.

Watch - Gilligan's Island, The Brady Bunch, Maxwell Smart, Countdown, the Love Boat Read - Sweet Valley high, Sweet Dreams, TV Week, Judy Blume, Smash hits, Countdown Have - flicked hair cuts with layers, bobs Go- to Luna Park, sleep over parties In Year 8: Listen to- Midnight Oil, Violent Femmes, Mel'n'Kim, Bizarre Love Triangle, Love and Devotion, Boom Boom, Male stripper, The Beatles, Kevin bloody Wilson, Star Trekking, John Farnham, Salt'n'Pepa -Push it Wear - T-bar shoes, stripey socks, converse, lace in your hair, balloon/ three layer skirts, acidwash jeans, patent leather shoes, bras, Cherry Lane tops down to your knees, everything oversized, Lindy Lane striped shorts and tee shirts, Fluoro boardshorts, Dachet jeans, black eyeliner Watch - Young Talent Time, Family Ties, Different Strokes, Brady Bunch, Nightmare on Elm street 2, Perfect Match Read- Dolly, Flowers in the Attic series.

Have- crimped hair, dyed black hair.

G o / o - T h e Phantom Club In Year 9: Listen to - The Beastie Boys, George Michael (Faith), Queen, The Cure, The Smiths, Kylie, Jason Donovan, Madness, Richard Marx, James Reyne, Roy Orbison, Morris Minor and the Majors -Stutter Rap Wear - Ripped jeans, Levis, Succi, denim jackets, floral dresses, Ishka, denim overalls, rolled up jeans, three earrings Watch- Neighbours, A Country Practice, Days of our Lives, Santa Barbara, The Bold and the Beautiful, Hey hey it's Saturday

Cross-Age Tutoring I really don't know why I ever volunteered for the Cross-Age Tutoring program; I mean why would I ever want to waste my time with a bunch of 'immature' Yr 7s (apologies to all Year 7s!). Especially when I could be making so much better use of my time, doing useful things such as sitting in Senior Centre drinking innumerable cups of coffee If it is such a waste of time, why am I enjoying myself so much?!

I soon realised, to my great surprise, that "naive" and "immature" could definitely not be used to describe this particular group of 12 year olds. On the contrary, I found them to be very worldly-wise and mature young women. For example, some of the jokes that went around the classroom ....were, to say the least, unprintable!

As Year 12s, we also realised that one day in the long distant past, we too had been little Year 7s, and it highlighted both our development through our years at M.L.C. and the development of the college. We used to do our homework in "archaic" objects called exercise books, using equally historic instruments known as biros and pencils, but today the young 'upwardlymobile' Year 7 student does most of her work on her portable laptop computer, as M.L.C. moves into the nineties.

For those not familiar with the Cross Age Tutoring Program, it involves several Year 12s being assigned to each Year 7 class, and visiting the class at roll call each morning to mark the roll and to generally talk to the class.

I have learnt a great deal from participating in the program. It has been very worthwhile and enjoyable and I have made many new friends. On asking a few of my Year 7 buddies what they thought of the program, they said "Yeah, well, it was like, really good "

Phillipa Sholl. 12

A friend is...

Escapism...

someone to rely on, when there is no one else in sight, to offer trust and comfort, when no one else might.

An umbrella in the rain, and when that rain turns to hail, that someone by your side, in need without fail.

Friendship is about sharing, a special part of life.

Experiences that are memorable, and refreshing and rife.

They tolerate all the ups and downs, and all the ins and outs, it's a two way sidestreet, with a few roundabouts.

How was your day?'

He asked.

Oh, ever so politely.

Emerald green.

And Croatian blue.'

Me. Smiling slightly.

And red.'

I said.

Oh?' 'I see...yes I do.'

He said.

'I haven't finished.'

My soul laughed And danced inside my head.

Laughter bubbled And overflowed.

Fairy- pink and fiery orange.

S i l v e r - g r e y and mustard yellow.'

Oh' His tone was mellow.

Escapism'. He said.

Ignorant Of a blackness Within his own clouded head.

Danielle Jupp 12X

Maninder Mundae 12D

Sweet Innocence of Life...

Amy, my precious, My little baby girl So sweet all a-wrap In your soft pink blanket Your tiny little hands Curled up in a fist Your toothless baby laugh Fills the room with happiness "Come to Mummy, C o m e " Fingers grip to hair A baby's head rests Upon a shoulder of love.

Louise Cornish 12P

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Read- Dolly/Cleo, Heaven Have - Poomps/quiffs/bubbles (hair pushed forward at front) Go to- Route 66, Def, My House Year 10: Listen to - The Big Chill, Stand by me, Bros, INXS, Hoodoo Gurus, Pet Shop Boys, Sting, Madonna, The Proclaimed, Bon Jovi, Transvision Vamp Wear- Indigo clothes, Docs, Country Road, long sleeved polo tops, hooded windcheaters Watch - Ferris Bueller's day off, Fatal Attraction, Beaches, Countdown Revolution, 21 Jump Street, Werewolf, Neighbours, The Comedy Company Have- Posca's Go to - The Golden Triangle, New Orleans, PA's Year 11: Listen to- U2, Bob Marley, New Kids on the Block, House music, Milli Vanilli, Midnight Oil, Madonna, Kylie, The B52's, Phil Collins, Technotronic, Black Box, Compact discs Wear - hooded tops, Galaxy clothes, black velvet formal dresses, basketball boots, black jeans, green jeans, Oakleys, suede jackets, Levis sheepskin denim jackets Watch - Booker, Pretty Woman, Baywatch, E Street, Home and Away, Rage, Fast Forward Read- Cleo/Cosmo, Looks Go to - the Armadale, The Station, Armadeus, Santa Fe, the Black Match, PA's Have- Fake ID Year 12: Listen to-MMM, Rat Cat, C'n'C Music Factory, The KLF, Madonna, De La Soul, Kylie, The Doors, Billy Joel, Daryl Brathwaite, Lenny Kravitz Wear - tracksuits, horse riding boots, jodpers, leggings, false eyelashes, liquid eyeliner, short black skirts, jackets, bodysuits Watch - Twin Peaks, Flying Doctors, Video Hits, E Street, The Simpsons, Star Search Read- The diary of Laura Palmer, Cleo, cosmopolitan, Elle Have- Hangovers, stress Kristin Wark. 12

Bendahie Bananas

THE

LEAVERS

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REVIEW

The Vending Machine I witness many events,whether I want to or not,in the daily dramas of Senior Centre. I feel it is a duty of mine to inform the world outside M.L.C what the Year Twelves are truthfully like.

Now is the hour when you break free

Year 12 is ...

It was with great trepidation that I approached this year. Would my Year 11 knowledge allow my brain to cope with this overloaded year?

I d i d n ' t t h i n k s o ! I envisaged myself working behind the counter as a 'check-out-chick' for the rest of my life - the t h o u g h t was not encouraging. NO! This year would be d i f f e r e n t - w e l l , it had to be. Year 11 was the year I learnt how to fail tests. Year 12, the final year of thirteen years torturous education would be fun, and so far it has been.

Well, almost!

Year 12 is our year to turn up early to the house swimming and athletics in the city, for breakfast on the Yarra. W e cheer for our house more than ever! H m m . Okay, this is usually the year it all happens, unless t h e r e are b i o l o g y a n d p h y s i c s options due the next day. This year in the athletics, Fitchett triumphed while Cato was disqualified f r o m the three-legged relay. Nevile won the marching, Berry proficiency, and Krome set a record for the Year 12 three-legged-relay, while trying to figure out why no-one had run in the last two races!

Year 12 is the year students learn to live without sleep. Last year I s n i g g e r e d at t h e s u p p o s e d l y disorganised Year 12s who went to bed at 2am every night. This year however, I sympathise: "I went to bed at 3am trying to

finish that *!!*?*! politics essay.""(Groan) I didn't go to bed at all. Have you ever noticed how beautiful the m o o n is at 5 in the morning?"We fall asleep on the way to school. W e fall asleep during first period. W e fall asleep in assembly, and we sleep on the way home. Then we stay awake all night, doing homework for lessons we don't even remember. There is logic somewhere.

"the words on many lips weren't 'Formal' and 'dress', .... but CAT and logarithm."

Year 12 has not only deprived us of our social life (for those who ever had one), but it has also introduced us to the walking nightmares that terrorise all V C E students. Common Assessment Tasks - C.A.T.S for short. During second term, for at least a month before T H E night of the year, the Year 12 Formal, the words on many lips weren't' Formal' and 'dress', as they had been in p r e v i o u s y e a r s , but C A T a n d logarithm.

Year 12 is the year w e have our own pale coloured jumper, supposedly signifying our superiority over the rest of the school who wear green.

Please notice that I have distinguished the actual colour of the jumper. Some unknown force, provided us with a variety of styles and colours to choose from; there was white, winter white and cream-

yellow. But that's not all! They came with white and cream stripes, cream-yellow with white bands in the middle, and another popular variety was white on the front, cream on the b a c k , and winter white sleeves.

By the end of term, however, the colour difference had subsided, and most of us settled for grey!

A main feature of year twelve is our very newly painted house situated in the top corner of the school. The first day of school f o u n d girls arriving as early as 5am, waiting to ' b a g s ' the room their group would occupy for the year in the old two storey house. This is the Year 12 haven during the year, and it is with despair that we often sit outside the building, lost, when it has been closed due to untidiness. During s e c o n d t e r m , we s h a r e d our residence with some friendly rats who would have been well fed from the scraps w e left behind. Our pride and glory though, is the vending m a c h i n e which, during the odd frenzy, is k n o w n to throw out Mars Bars. W e have been told that it is the most profitable vending machine in V i c t o r i a , w h i c h t e l l s y o u s o m e t h i n g about the nutritional value of Year 12 food intake.

With another few months before final exams, and the end of ' T h e Class of ' 9 1 ' , I think I'll be lost without school, even though I am eager to leave. After 13 years of being told what to do, the thought that we will be on our own next year, however exciting, is also a frightening one, and makes me value my school days here at M L C .

Bronwyn Andrew

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Everyday I watch the few in front of me eventually turn into a swarm of hundreds,holding their coins and waiting in line for my service. Here is a typical snippet of conversation displaying the intelligence required to uphold the school's reputation as a 'fine Ladies' college....

"Should I buy a Mars Bar or do you think a Picnic's better?"

"It depends. Do you feel like eating p e a n u t s today b e c a u s e if y o u don't,then get a Mars Bar." Indeed it is a very interesting life I lead,maybe that's how I acquired such sarcasm. Nevertheless ,there are still many other sides to a typical M.L.C year twelve.

1. The Sneak " D o you think the vending machine would know if I tried to pass a two cent coin as a ten cent piece?"

2. The Stupid " N o . " 3. The Hysterical " A a a a a g h . . . m y Picnic bar didn't fall aaaargh.what am I going to eat???

4. The Abusive "I paid ninety cents for that Picnic Bar! #!!*#* vending machine!!!

5. The Violent Kick. Kick. Kick.

Then friends all kick along as well.

6. T h e Passive "That' s not going to do any good."

7. T h e Annoyed "Stop kicking it or else it w o n ' t work at all."

8. T h e T o u g h " W h a t ' s y o u r problem? I'll keep kicking it as much as I like!"

9. The Friend"Here 111 lend you another ninety cents." and finally....

10. The Satisfied. "It tastes so good.."

Have some sympathy for me, I'll have to sit silently amidst it all for many years to come.

THE

Years of Friendships Year 8 friendships W e were Dittlof's Darlings, that was until she left and Mr Calwell replaced her as our 8D form teacher.

O u r c l a s s r o o m was in a p r i m e location in Cato Wing: on the bottom floor. It was opposite the toilets and this was where hordes of us would religiously congregate every afternoon before leaving school.

Looking back, this would have to be the year of supreme vanity as we all had to fix our hair, apply dabs of cover-up on our sprouting pimples, and, we had to apply the thick layers of black eyeliner.

L E A V E R S ....

Days of Our Lives A brief look at the years Year 7. The year of making friends, so they say. The time of exploring, experiencing, finding your way, breaking new ground etc etc. I always found it to be more the year of passing notes in class, plaiting each other's hair at recess, rarely venturing out of the safety of Wood, picking on each other, having roller-skating parties etc etc. Whatever we as individuals found it to be, Year 7 was certainly a year full of fun and excitement.

A

REVIEW

and escape having to carry the bivvy and dig the toilet. Those 10 days seemed like hell while we were away, but the minute we got off the bus, back at Fitzwilliam St, we wanted to head back to the Grampians.

Year 10. By this stage we were all fully capable and relaxed in the role of the Middle School Terrors. Being late to P.E. or falling asleep in R.E., talking right through Assembly, causing havoc on the trams, spending 15 minutes fixing foundation, mascara and lip gloss in the

Year 12. A lot of things changed in Yr 12, especially the attitudes of both teachers and students towards work.

No longer was it teachers vs girls; it became the teacher and his/her students vs the "examiners". Every possible ploy that might come up on the end of year exam was discussed openly, every effort made to ensure the best achievement for us.

The prefects were inducted, and the rest of the year level supported them, sharing in the trials of "morning blitzes",

Friendships were vital, they gave you a sense of belonging. Most of us had a year at the school to establish ourselves, and we now began to break off into secure friendship groups. My classroom "gang" consisted of Sam, Janet, Zoe, Emma, Tamara, Kate and Suzzane.

Our class was a crazy bunch- as are all children in the throes of puberty.

W e were not exactly thrilled when we landed Mr Calwell as tutor and I think the feeling was mutual. He was not really the understanding "kindred spirit" with w h o m a girl could confide all her year 8 thoughts and problems. Rather, he was the red haired, history teacher with an attitude that practically asked the class to make fun of him.

W e all took part in numerous sleepover parties and late night horror videos which were always at Sam or E m m a ' s house.

This was the year of growing up in many respects, first bras were a must; do-up-at-the-front style in size 10AA which you could show off under your PE uniform. The bra shops stocked cool colours such as fluoro yellow and blue, but I got skintoned from Target.

T o end the year our class put on a singing/dancing concert for assembly. Our group put on "Baby makes her Blue Jeans talk", a true 7 0 ' s number complete with flares and all. Philippa, Lyndell and others did "Star T r e k k i n g " , Katie and J a n e ' s group took off "The Goodies". Juz, Ness, Carley and their gang did "Lets Twist again" and Megan and Thembi did a joint Molly Meldrum impersonation. We finished off s w a y i n g in a line, singing " T h a t ' s what friends are f o r " along with the audience. I think that song rather sums up my years at M L C , it will be hard to leave so many friends behind.

Kristen Work

More layered skirts ....fashion

Year 8. The year of the undercut.

For the many daring "heads of J.S.S", this radical move to mow the locks and tresses was something quite unbelievable. Girls would flock to the hairdressers in their dozens to have their beautiful long hair razored up the back, hurrying into Cato Wing the next day to proudly show off their freshly shaved scalps. Don't ask me what started this seemingly mad fad, but then.... those were the crazy young days! This year also marked the beginning of the Socials. We hit it off with a bang at "Casey's", wearing our balloon skirts and setting the way for our further M.L.C. social lives, ie. Year 9 and 10 "Disco Dances" in the Assembly Hall.

Year 9. The friendship groups really began to get sorted out. In Year 7 we sussed out who was around; Year 8 we tested out friendship groups with large lists of "best friends", and in Year 9 the list was finely tuned. Outward Bound was certainly the highlight of this year for most. Many of us will have fond memories of trudging through rain, up mountains, carrying 25kg backpacks, trying desperately to read compasses,

toilets after school, were all regular parts of school. This was a year for making decisions; about subjects, careers, work experience, boyfriends, clothes, etc. It was also the year of "Bilgewater" and "Coonardoo". Finally, we knew the holiday was over and the next year we would be in Year 11.

Senior School meantwork, and for many of us, a complete change in attitude.

Year 11. A definite promotion. We finally had somewhere to go at lunchtime -TheCommon Room. Wewereallowed to carry our bags around from class to class, and we had the formal to look forward to. Along with the privileges, there came also the new responsibilities.

The workload increased dramatically, as did the caffeine level. We were now members of the senior part of a great school with many junior girls to set a good example for. Ofcourse,theformal was the main topic of discussion for the better part of the year. The dresses were the primary concern and then the partners. Year 11 was also a sad year, saying goodbye to the Year 12's, of whom many had been good friends, particularly through house activities such as drama, variety, aths etc.

assembly speeches, and other school activities.

Senior Centre was a fantastic way of, making our final year a closer, more memorable time. The tins of milo came in and went out every day (except for the 2 weeks prior to the formal of course) and the vending machine supplied the girls with chocolate and chips all year.

The few phenomenal occasions when the Mars Bars and Maltesers decided to spurt forth, unprovoked, provided much entertainment (not to mention free food). The formal was a huge success; the dresses were spectacular and the partners weren't bad either nice effort there girls!

The final Ath's day, Swimming Sports, Drama, Music etc bring the tears to the eyes of the enthusiastic house members. As these events get crossed off the list, one by one, the end of the year draws to a close. As I look back over the years, I can't believe so much has happened. I'm sure the memories that we all have, will never be forgotten and we'll be able to look back fondly and remember the great times we had at M.L.C. Beth Fuller 12J.

The Class of'91.

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Missing: Vanita Odhavji Brioni Pickhaver Rebekah Sleeth