The Graduate Union Newsletter — October 2016 —
Welcome to the O ctober 2016 N ewsletter
3 Chairman’s Cocktail Party
32 Discovering Melbourne
Collegiate 4 GU College Table with Ron Wakefield
HeforShe 33 Raising Awareness for Gender Equality
October Luncheon with Kay Dunkley November Luncheon with Ross McMullin
News 36 Member Our reciprocal associations New York City
10 End of Year Function Menus
Whimsy at Columbia University
37 Feedback 12 Feature James Harpur, The Vincent Buckley Poetry Prize Winner 2016. The Mythical Language 38 Graduate House Olympic Games of Poetry 16 Review Arthur Bolkas, Imprisonment - A Professional and Personal Perspective
18 Review Women’s Forum Review. “Too Many People Die Alone”
20 Review Founders and Benefactors Day 24 Review The Transience of Existence, By Julian Burnside AO QC
and Professional 28 Academic Development Meetings Listings for August 2016
30 Puzzles
Vale
Barbara Funder Dear Members, Honorary Life Member Miss Barbara Anne Funder died peacefully in Caulfield Hospital at 5.05am on 6th September, 2016. In her many years of unfailing loyalty and dedicated support to the Graduate Union, Barbara established a special place in the heart and soul of all of us and of the many generations of graduates of universities around the world who came to live at Graduate House. Thank you Barbara. Au revoir but not good bye.
Cover Images: Barbara Funder
THe GraDuaTe uNION OF
THe uNIVersITY OF meLBOurNe INC.
Mr Rhys Watson Chairman of the Council of The Graduate Union invites Members to the
Graduate House 220 Leicester Street, Carlton, VIC, 3053
Friday 2nd December 2016 5.30pm to 7.00pm Dress: After Five
R.S.V.P. Monday 28th November 2016 email: admingh@graduatehouse.com.au or phone (03) 9347 3428
GU Collegiate
We invite you, Members and non-members, to attend coming events.
OCTOBER I TA L I A N C O N V E R S AT I O N D I N N E R
6:00PM
Tu e s d a y 4 t h , 1 8 t h
Come along to dine while learning to speak Italian with an experienced teacher. Members $15, non-members $20. M O N T H LY LU N C H E O N
12:00 midday for 12:30PM
We d n e s d a y 5 t h
Join Kay Dunkley for our October Monthly Luncheon with her topic: “Supporting the health and well-being of health professionals”. Resident Members $10, non-resident Members $30, general public $40, concession $35. BRIDGE NIGHTS
7:20PM for 7.30PM
We d n e s d a y 5 t h , 1 2 t h , 1 9 t h , 2 6 t h
Join a game or learn to play the card game Bridge. Enjoy a shared platter for supper, as well as tea and coffee. Members $2, non-members $5. S P E C I A L M O R N I N G B R E A K FA S T
7:30AM to 8.30AM
Tu e s d a y 1 1 t h
Non-resident Members are welcome to join Resident Members for a hearty breakfast. Free for Resident Members, non-resident Members $15. C O L L E G E TA B L E D I S C U S S I O N Construction
12:00 midday for 12:30PM
Fr i d a y 2 1 s t
Join us for a discussion over lunch, guided by Professor Ron Wakefield, on The Future of the Construction Industry. Members $12, Loyalty Car Holders $15, Non-Resident Members $18. WOMEN’S FORUM
10:00AM for 10:30AM
We d n e s d a y 1 9 t h
The topic for October is “The Significance of the Five Senses”. Join the ladies for the discussion and stay for lunch if desired. Forum is free. Lunch is at Member and non-member Prices.
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NOVEMBER Highlight R E M E M B R A N C E D AY
12:00 midday for 12:30PM
Fr i d a y 1 1 t h
Ross McMullin, an award-winning biographer will talk about his book “Pompey Elliott” Resident Members $10, non-resident Members $30, general public $40, concession $35.
Reminder: The November Luncheon is on a Friday and NOT Wednesday. This is to coincide with Remembrance Day on the 11th November 2016.
Book Now via our website, by phone 03 9347 3428, by email to admingh@graduatehouse.com.au or at the venue, 220 Leicester Street, Carlton.
U A TE H O D U RA
SE
G
Festive Season Products Talented Culinary Team
Strawberry Jam (300ml) $5.50 Apricot Jam (300ml) $5.50
PO
D
Jams Gourmet
Made from fresh and natural ingredients by our very
N
P U back by A LAR DEM
The jars are beautifully decorated and make a perfect end of year or Christmas gift
On sale at Graduate House in November Simply call
No added Preservatives, Gluten and Lactose Free
(03) 9347 3428 or email admingh@graduatehouse.com.au
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The Graduate Union Presents
College Tables
Professor Ron Wakefield will be leading the discussion on
“The Future of the Construction Industry”
Friday 21st October 12 noon for 12:30pm Usual Dining Room Prices Apply College Tables are informal collegiate lunch-time discussions on a ‘Grand Challenge’ issue in a graduate school field
B o o k o n l i n e a t w w w. g r a d u a t e h o u s e . c o m . a u by p h o n e 9 3 4 7 3 4 2 8 , t h ro u g h e m a i l t o a d m i n g h @ g r a d u a t e h o u s e . c o m . a u o r a t t h e ve n u e , 2 2 0 Le i c e s t e r St re e t , C a r l t o n .
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Members’
christmas party
Friday 16th December 2016 6.00PM for 6.30PM with Traditional Carols and a Visit from Santa!
Entrée Prawn, Mango and Avocado Salad (gf ) OR Roasted Duck à l’Orange with Risotto (gf )
Main Course Seasoned Turkey Breast with Cranberry and Chestnut Stuffing served with Gravy (gf ) OR Salmon with Lemon Butter and Caper Sauce served with Saffron and Sage Baked Potato (gf )
Dessert Plum Pudding with Custard and Brandy Sauce (v) OR Pistachio Bavarois (v)
Vegetarian Meal Option Available on Request (gf) Gluten Free
20 Resident Member $ 52.50 non-resident Member $ 62.50 non-member $ 56.50 non-member concession $
.00
(v) Vegetarian
Book by
Friday 9th December Graduate House Website www.graduatehouse.com.au Telephone 03 9347 3428 Email admingh@graduatehouse.com.au
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Monthly Luncheon
October 5th
Kay Dunkley Topic
“Supporting the health and well-being of health professionals”
Kay has a particular interest in the health and well-being of health professionals. This interest has evolved over many years working with health professionals and in particular pharmacists and doctors. After forging a career based in hospital pharmacy, Kay moved on to roles providing services to health professionals. These roles have included working for the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (Victorian Branch), the Victorian Drug Usage Advisory Committee, the Victorian Medicines Advisory Committee and the Victorian Therapeutics Advisory Group. Currently Kay is employed as the Executive Officer of the Pharmacists’ Support Service and the AMA Victoria Doctor Well-Being Coordinator. At AMA Victoria Kay established and now coordinates the Peer Support Service and also the Peer Visitor Program which matches elderly isolated doctors with volunteer visitors who are medical students or doctors. In addition Kay is currently working with a colleague to establish the AMA Victoria Doctor in Training Mentoring Program, linking early career doctors with experienced doctors. Kay continues to work in clinical pharmacy practice and is accredited to perform medication reviews with a particular interest in care of the elderly.
When Wednesday 5th October 12:00 noon for 12.30 pm RSVP by Monday 3rd October Where Graduate House Cost $10 Resident Members $30 non-resident Members $40 general public $35 concession
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Monthly Luncheon
November 11th Remembrance Day
Dr Ross McMullin
Please Note This event is on a Friday instead of the usual Wednesday.
On this Remembrance day, we are organizing a bagpipe musician who will be playing at the front entrance of Graduate House. We will then adjourn to the Phillip Law Member’s Lounge to observe the minute silence at 11.11 AM followed by a sing along at the piano.
When Friday 11th November 12:00 noon for 12.30 pm RSVP by Wednesday 9th November Where Graduate House Cost $10 Resident Members $30 non-resident Members $40 general public $35 concession
Ross is an acclaimed historian, an awardwinning biographer and an entertaining speaker. His anecdotal presentations about the remarkable Pompey Elliott have enthralled hundreds of audiences. Dr McMullin’s main research interests are Australia’s role in World War I and Australian political history. His biography of Pompey Elliott won awards for biography and literature. His biography Will Dyson: Australia’s Radical Genius was commended by the judges of the National Biography Award. He wrote the ALP centenary history The Light on the Hill, together with another political history So Monstrous a
Travesty: Chris Watson and the World’s First National Labour Government. His most recent book, Farewell, Dear People: Biographies of Australia’s Lost Generation, was awarded the Prime
Minister’s Prize for Australian History and the National Cultural Award.
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Have your Christmas Party or Function at Graduate House
End of Year
function menu Christmas Summer BBQ SET MENU FOR LUNCH OR DINNER
53.50 per person (in the Graduate House Courtyard) Traditional Christmas $
Main Course
Porterhouse Steaks (gf ) Vegetarian Burgers (v) Lamb Cutlets (gf ) Grilled BBQ Eggplant (gf ) (v) Gourmet Sausages Onions (gf ) (v) Chicken Marinated in Basil Sauce (gf ) and a selection of Summer Salads (gf) (v) Seafood-Prawn Kebabs and Oysters Natural (gf ) are available for $8.50 extra per person
Dessert
Pavlova, Fruit Salad and Ice-Cream (gf) (v)
Minimum 15 Guests (gf ) Gluten Free (v) Vegetarian
Available from 1st November till 19th December, 2016
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Have your Christmas Party or Function at Graduate House
End of Year
Christmas Summer BBQ
function menu
Traditional Christmas SET MENU FOR LUNCH OR DINNER
Two Courses
52.50 per person
$
Three Courses
62.50 per person
$
(includes canapés on arrival)
FOR EACH COURSE, CHOOSE TWO OPTIONS Table service is 50/50 drop
Entrée
Prawn, Mango and Avocado Salad (gf ) Roasted Duck à l’Orange with Risotto (gf ) Grilled Halloumi, Roasted Pepper and Zucchini Salad (gf ) (v)
Main Course Seasoned Turkey Breast with Cranberry and Chestnut Stuffing served with Gravy (gf ) Salmon with Lemon Butter and Caper Sauce served with Saffron and Sage Baked Potato (gf ) Agnolotti with Roasted Pumpkin (v)
Dessert
Plum Pudding with Custard and Brandy Sauce (v) Pistachio Bavarois (v) Fresh Fruit Salad with Passionfruit Coulis (gf ) (v)
Minimum 15 Guests (gf ) Gluten Free (v) Vegetarian
Available from 1st November till 19th December, 2016
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poet profiles James Harpur, The Vincent Buckley Poetry Prize Winner 2016 The Mythical Language of Poetry
J
ames Harpur was born in Britain, and now
lives in Cork, Ireland. He has won numerous awards such as the 2009 Michael Hartnett Award and the 1995 British National Poetry Prize, and was the most recent recipient of The Vincent Buckley Poetry Prize offered by The University of Melbourne, for his newest book In Loco Parentis. An odyssey through boarding school, the book explores the growth of consciousness in an
adolescent trying to comprehend life within school, psychologically preparing himself for life outside. In fact Harpur’s poetry tends to reference these bigger philosophical and mythical themes as well as observances of the everyday world. His book Angels and Harvesters (2012) sees part one referencing humanity and part two, heightened states of being and mysticism. He believes all poetry has a “direct mythic pressure” like the works of Yeats and Eliot, who he says were both “spiritual and poetic explorers”. Throughout this conversation his phrasings are somewhat poetic, mystic and certainly archetypal – read through and you will come across wonderful articulation. Enjoy. From university and beyond: what was your foray into university like? What did you study, why, and what did you do after? University was a time of exploration and experimenting. I went up to read Classics but soon changed to English Literature. At the time I was becoming interested in the theories and worldview of Carl Jung, so I would drive my tutors mad by writing essays on Jungian interpretations of Gawain and the Green Knight, King Lear, and so on. It was at this time that I got interested in poetry. I wrote a couple of one-act plays, which were put on by my college, but I
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soon realised that playwriting was full of hazards. A bit of lighting breaking down, the sound track missing its cue, or a lead actor going awol, could sabotage a whole production. I wanted a medium which involved just the writer and his or her reader(s). Poetry suited my temperament. My first poem, written at the relatively advanced age of 21, was about St Patrick getting rid of the snakes in Ireland, and it won five pounds in a college competition. With that I bought the Beatles’ song book and The Greeks and the Irrational, which more or less summed up my interests at the time. I left university determined to explore poetry until it gave up on me and went off and lived on the island of Crete for a year. There I taught English, haphazardly, and wrote poems, and that’s how I began my chequered poetic life. What was your time in Crete like? What were your main observations and what did you learn while there – about poetry, about yourself ... Crete was a revelation. In 1980, when I pitched up, it was a relatively under-developed country, with all the pitfalls and charm that entailed. I was teaching in tiny country schools in the south of the island. I would be dropped off by a tractor and at first a swarm of kids with lice-preventative crew-cuts would gather round me as if I were E.T. They were great kids, friendly and enthusiastic, and the conditions were basic but serviceable. Evening lessons stopped at sunset, because some classrooms had no electric lights. Sounds like it had a great influence on you. I think my time on Crete was definitely a turning point. It was then, fresh out of university, that I made a pact with myself to devote myself to the poetic and spiritual life, and that everything else would be subsidiary. Apart from the teaching I had enough spare time to write poems and sharpen my appreciation of the English language. A lot of the time I was speaking a very basic form of English, to pupils or shopkeepers, and I began to thirst for and appreciate complex words, thoughts and sentences. If you want to value your language, go to a place where no one, or only a few, people speak it. You have cited Yeats and Eliot as influencers. Why? What draws you to them, and have they taught you anything about poetry and expression?
Yeats and Eliot were both spiritual and poetic explorers, Yeats in quite whacky ways, Eliot in a more strait-laced fashion. Both were interested in ultimate truth, and I think both were more interested in expressing their findings on the pilgrimage path to the existential grail than writing just for the sake of finding satisfying patterns of words; which is not to say that they did not celebrate everyday life or current world events; but one always gets the sense that both writers were driven by some spiritual itch and the musicality and meaning of words was their way of satisfying it. Ted Hughes is another poet who shares a similar outlook. What they have taught me is not so much expression – though it’s inevitable that a poet absorbs the sound patterns of poetic ancestors – but their imaginative world view, their mythic and spiritual cabinets (Yeats’s Irish folkore, his intuited phases of history in A Vision; Eliot’s interest in the mystics – Julian of Norwich, John of the Cross; Hughes interest in Jung, shamanism, cabbala) – their poems are like tips of icebergs that embody the great mass of western spirituality in all its variety. It’s the same with William Blake. When it comes to your poems, how do you start one? What is your ‘process’ like? How has your ‘process’ say, idea generation to execution, changed from when you got your first book published to your latest? I start a poem by waiting. I think poetry differs from prose in being more reliant on the flash of lightning, or the Muse, as the uncontrollable element of inspiration used to be called. I can’t imagine saying to myself, ‘next Thursday I’m going to get up, walk the dog and then write a new poem’. Poems often come at unexpected times and in unusual ways. Do you have a personal example? Once I was sheltering from the rain in a church in Limerick, and I noticed a slit in the wall, like a medieval letter box. There was a sign beneath it saying ‘The Leper’s Squint’, something I had never heard of before. The explanation said it was basically a hole for lepers to thrust their hands through to receive holy communion – they were considered to be too unclean to enter the church. I instantly imagined a bizarre image of the priest in the church watching these strange, leprous hands suddenly appearing through the wall,
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one by one, and dropping the host into each. It raised in me ideas about ‘purity’ and ‘alienation’ and I knew I would write a poem about it. That’s always been the case with my ‘process’ of writing – waiting and hoping, keeping alert for the moment. It’s also why I can go a long time without writing anything. Your poems reference myth, humanity, religion. Why is this the case? What are your thoughts on these issues that you feel the need to write poetry? I think the language of poetry has always been primarily mythic and archetypal (e.g. Gilgamesh, the Psalms, Homer, Virgil, Dante) – concerned with the great patterns of human existence – our relationship with the cosmos, with God or not-God, with exploring whether there is meaning in life, whether there is an afterlife, or a suprapersonal dimension, and the relationship between inevitable phenomena such as love and death to the human condition. Which is not to say that poetry can’t do other things; but at its fons et origo [source and origin] I believe it has a direct mythic pressure. This is why I tend towards the type of poetry I do (both to read and to write). I do have a line of clergymen in my ancestry, Church of Ireland ministers, and perhaps this has seeped down through the genes! A family interest? My mother was interested in spiritualism, and maybe this has had something to do with it too. But it matters to me what I think about the nature of existence – my view keeps on changing – and I tend to express this through mythic stories or through characters, usually historical ones, that voice my concerns. Can you give an example? I wrote a poem about St Symeon Stylites, who spent thirty years on top of a tall pillar in the middle of the Syrian desert. His aim was to get away from the earth – literally and metaphysically
“I think the language of poetry has always been primarily mythic and archetypal – concerned with the great patterns of human existence –” – to achieve a sort of purity that would take him to the side of God. Paradoxically, his hermitic feat attracted thousands of followers, who would camp out around his pillar, like a sort of Woodstock festival. That’s the sort of character that interests me; someone who was passionate, dedicated, explorative, and possibly misguided; and he may have been a failure in his own terms, although possibly not to the crowds who shouted up prayers for him to relay to God or who asked for his blessing. What would you say are your stylistic hallmarks? This is a tricky one. It’s hard to separate out style from the content. I suppose, superficially, I would stray into the formal spectrum – metre, half-rhymes, etc – but I write a sufficient amount of free verse to even things up. My rule of thumb, which I tell creative writing students, is that the reader has to be convinced that a poem has been written with a great, deliberate guiding intelligence behind it, whether it’s formal or free verse. That’s the only thing that counts: the emotional and imaginative pressure and integrity in a poem. What was your most challenging poem to complete? This is an easy one! It’s the poem that I’m still working on, and which has kept me going for seventeen years. It’s a long meditative fourpart poem inspired by the Book of Kells and it involves my spiritual and aesthetic take on life; and because that keeps changing, the poem keeps getting not finished. Tell me a little about your latest book In Loco Parentis, for which you won the Vincent Buckley Poetry Prize 2016? What was your motivation and intention behind writing these pieces? In Loco Parentis came as a complete surprise. A couple of summers ago I was thinking about my
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time at boarding school, and how intense it was, and what a complete, self-contained world it was, and how the journey from a sheltered, shy 13-year-old to an 18-year-old ready to face the big bad world outside was like a psychological and emotional odyssey. Is there a personal reference there? I remembered a couple of incidents at school and thought it would be satisfying to record them in sonnets. It was like taking the cork out of a champagne bottle that had arrived on the rockiest road in Ireland. Within about three weeks I had sixty sonnets in various stages of readiness. I found myself re-living that period of life with huge intensity and realised that I had never really had a similar experience since. Five years living cheek by jowl with five hundred boys, and trying to find privacy in large dormitories, class rooms, changing rooms, corridors, dining hall ... I remembered small incidents, such as the boy who, at night, flicked lighted matches at a boy sleeping in a dormitory, while everyone watched, horrified but exhilarated. And I remembered the constant pressure of exams – I had to get certain grades to get into university – and how I drove myself to a nervous breakdown. And I remembered the jokes, the camaraderie, the like of which I’ve never experienced since. Eventually I found that the sonnets couldn’t give the depth to the experiences I wanted to capture, so I re-fashioned them into poems of different shapes and sizes. My hope is that they add up to a sequence with an ongoing narrative sustained by self-contained poems. You’re also a mentor. What do you teach your mentees? What pertinent advice do you give to all of them despite their undoubtedly diverse objectives as poets? I don’t really ‘teach’, at all. I listen and try to understand the motivation of each mentee, and what makes his or her world unique to them. That’s the starting point for their poems. A lot of poets sit on a mound of buried personal dramas but get lured away by the sirens of an otherness which might be more exotic, but isn’t their world. That can be the problem with powerful exemplars: if you are bowled over by the poems of Seamus Heaney, say, then you can find yourself writing about childhood memories in a Heaney-esque way, whereas your background,
experience and linguistic flare might be more suited to something more conceptual or philosophical. It’s an easy trap to fall into, and many poets, when starting out, show the influence of a past master. They’re seeking a ‘voice’. The idea of finding your ‘voice’ is commonplace, and I don’t care for the word ‘voice’, and I also think poets can get too hung up about it; I would say it’s the natural emergence of a poetic personality, the confidence that your own unique perspective and world-view has value, even if it doesn’t dazzle like Dante’s or Eliot’s. When the poetic police are checking fingerprints, they want to find yours, not Heaney’s. What advice would you then impart to other writers or poets? My advice to writers would be to identify what you value most in life and match it with your linguistic abilities and not with the type of writing you wish you could write. It may be that A.A. Milne wanted to write like Wordsworth, but in the event he wrote one of the most influential books ever written. The problem most writers have is identifying their strengths and limits and concentrating on those, as well as with what moves them most; sometimes the latter may seem too trivial and so they stray into realms that don’t really touch them. Finish the line: if there wasn’t any poetry… I’d like to adopt a Zen koan approach to this one: ‘If there wasn’t any poetry, there would be no poetry.’
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REVIEWS
The Monthly Luncheon Wednesday 7th September
Arthur Bolkas, Imprisonment - A Professional and Personal Perspective Arthur Bolkas has the dubious distinction of being an ‘ex’. An ex prisoner, an ex drug addict, whatever the case may be, but first and foremost he is a human being. Arthur Bolkas was imprisoned for armed robbery when he was 22 years old at a time in his life where he faced great uncertainty and troubles, situations and circumstances that played with his perception of morality, society and the individual. When he was six years old, his father suffered a serious accident, and he was rendered an invalid pensioner and he never worked again. He became a broken man. A young Arthur called him ‘the invisible man’ because he wasn’t available to him as a young boy growing up. His father, he says, was absent because he was sick. He lived in his own world. “I never got to know my father, and he never got to know me,” he said. “That created issues in my life.” One of the serious issues that I’ve identified that prisoners (male) face is what he calls the ‘missing father syndrome’. This, he explains, is when they’ve grown up without a significant male role model who ideally, should be your father. He should be your hero. He should be the one that shapes you into the man that you become because character is modelled, not innate, he suggests. His mother had a nervous breakdown and tried to kill herself, unknown to Mr Bolkas. He and his mother had a love/hate relationship, and the further it went, he said that it became a hate relationship – Mr Bolkas hating his mother to the point that he recalls consciously wishing that she would get hit by a car and die, “just to get out of my life and leave me alone because she was overbearing and demanding, neurotic and I didn’t like her very much,” he said. “Today thankfully, my mother and I have reconciled and I can honestly say that’s one of the greatest achievements in my life bar none. When I was reconciled to her after many, many
years struggling with issues, I did three and a half years of intensive counselling, years after I got out of prison when my first marriage failed and I started regressing back into drug use and would have probably got back in jail,” he said. But he knew that there was an alternative way. He took hold of that and part of that was intensive counselling. “I think that anyone who has been in prison should receive counselling when they’re released, as well as when they’re in prison,” he said. But that doesn’t generally happen, he suggests. That counsellor was integral in empowering Mr Bolkas to the point where he was then able to confront his estranged mother and discuss painful yet significant issues which led to a “process of healing” between them. “I taught my mother how to say I love you and that is right up there. It’s wonderful,” he says. “And my mum says it to me before sometimes, and when she dies, I won’t have any unfinished business with her, but I’ll have a lot of unfinished business with my father, who unfortunately died three months before I was released from prison.” That left a gaping hole in his life.
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He went off the rails when he started stealing at a very young age which he justified with the fact he came from a poor family. “I had a real hang up about being a kid on charity. Growing up on handme-downs, comparing myself to other kids whose parents had money and could buy the labels,” he said. “And we are very much a culture like that, aren’t we? We’re so materialistic and the value that we place on people is often in terms of what they own, what they possess, where they live, and what car they drive. It’s all so fickle and false and hollow but they’re the values, unfortunately and we breed a generation of kids who even believe that when it comes to education.” Due to his low socio-economic status during his upbringing, Mr Bolkas said that was the reason he started stealing habitually and eventually became a kleptomaniac and an “exceptionally good liar”. “I could look you straight in the eye and lie to you about anything. I felt good about that because I got what I wanted and I got away with it, but it became part of my character,” he said. When he embarked upon an Arts/Law degree (huge mistake he says) he did so for all the wrong reasons, saying that he should have followed his heart and become a sculptor as that was what he enrolled in before knowing his ATAR score. He graduated dux of his class, he was school captain and seemed to link academic achievement with studying law. His rationale? He thought he would never be poor again and also due to his father’s advice to ‘become someone special’ – a lawyer or a doctor. “When I got into law, which is hard to get into, I thought yep, go and do it. Big mistake. The further I went, the more depressed I became,” he said. At the time there weren’t any depression help services, and depression wasn’t openly discussed. With his depression, Arthur found himself self-medicating, eventually becoming addicted to cannabis. Mr Bolkas claims that cannabis is one of the most dangerous drugs on the planet, causing its users to fall victim to the use of other drugs. “That became my meaning and purpose in life,” he said. “I got to the point where I became afraid of reality, and that’s what I define as classic drug addiction…however all drug addiction is between the ears, it’s psychological…the drug is only a symptom of underlying deep-seated social, family problems that are never addressed properly
by the system, unfortunately, and so the cycle just continues.” Mr Bolkas continued to use, but found himself needing to pay for his habits, and turned to crime to obtain money quickly. Getting an idea from a police show, he walked into a TAB on a Saturday afternoon and pulled off a successful armed robbery, using an imitation gun. This pattern continued for three robberies and was caught on the third. Two police walked into the TAB to survey the premises to identify whether Mr Bolkas was the man on their photokit. The manager of the TAB had called the police. Mr Bolkas was under the influence, and when a police officer tapped him on the shoulder, he inevitably panicked. “Thank God I didn’t have a gun in my hand,” he said. “I would have shot him and killed him because in those frenetic couple of seconds I pulled out the imitation gun, knocked him to the floor and aimed it at his face.” He then took a loaded gun and aimed it at the officer’s face, his finger trembling on the trigger. “I could have killed him. I could have left two little girls without a daddy, and a wife without a husband and murder on my conscience for the rest of my life.” “My life would have been finished.” Four months at a drug rehabilitation clinic, trying to work out how a young man with so much potential could end up such a mess, but they couldn’t figure it out. His sentence was eleven years in maximum prison, with an eight-year minimum sentence. In those days with remissions for good behaviour Mr Bolkas managed five years at the age of 22. At such an impressionable age, his psychologist was concerned that spending too long in jail (Pentridge Prison) would lead to his social downfall. “After 4 years in prison, my life was a total mess. I’d gone through the infamous Pentridge Prison which brutalised me – I’m still recovering from that experience. It was an evil horrific place full of violence and I was always scared,” he said. “I was the monster that I was most scared of and I deteriorated over time. It was hard not to. I fell in.” After four years, he was based in a country prison, his mental state collapsed. His drug addiction had grown, and he was even growing marijuana plants
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REVIEWS
The Monthly Luncheon contd.
close to the prison. He says that he was angry, a surging, overpowering and destructive anger. It wasn’t about his situation, nor his prison time, it was about himself. He despised himself and who he had become. He looks at the crowd, silent for a moment. He asked what if he had been released in this state. He thinks he would have been dead if it wasn’t for his transformation. He found God. A lot of people Mr Bolkas says can be cynical, but religion was the key to his rehabilitation and in 1993 he was released from prison. Since then he continues to be involved with the prison system: as a volunteer, as a professional, practitioner, and an academic. In 2000 Mr Bolkas graduated, completing his research thesis on the significance of Christianity in reforming prisoners. He refers to research by Deborah Glass, Deputy Chair of the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which showed that the prison population exploded by 25 percent between 2011 – 2014. “That in itself is an indictment on our whole community. Not just the politicians who represent us. But the government that implemented to ‘protect’ the community did us all a great disservice,” he said believing that the system sets Australia’s policies back 30 years, and aligning it with the system in the United States – which Mr Bolkas believes has failed. “Who’s advising these politicians? Ask any criminologist on the planet Earth and they will tell you this is flawed system and it’s failing us,” he said. For instance, Mr Bolkas says that he is repeatedly asked whether prison rehabilitates offenders. He says that we are taking people whose personal and social circumstances caused them to be imprisoned and placing them within an “anti-social subculture called prison” and expecting that they will be turned into “functional human beings who will survive in the community!” “It is an irrational expectation that you can rehabilitate an offender in a captive environment of institutionalised dependency,” he said. Jesuit Social Services research suggested that 50 percent of Victorian prisoners are derived from six percent of Victorian postcodes. “If we know that little boys are growing up in these postcodes and consequently run the risk of entering the youth justice system and within five years of entering they will be in the adult prison system – if we know that, why don’t we go and salvage their lives, do something to stop this tragic waste of humanity?”
Women’s Forum Review Wednesday, 17th August, 2016 “Too Many People Die Alone”
The following are salient points discussed at this forum. 1 This topic incorporates two significant views. Death and loneliness, the latter very much associated with personality and/or personal circumstances. Lonely seniors are at greater risk of mental and physical decline and die faster than their more social counterparts. 2 Many people want a long life and to die in their sleep or perhaps doing something they love, but this is not always the case. To terminal illness patients, death can be a blessing if the circumstances of life are difficult. Great pain, loss of independence, impaired abilities and a truncated vision of the future. For both the patient and family grieving has probably been a long and drawn out process even before the patient has departed. 3 A life that has been long lived or a life that has been tragically cut short. Joy, memories, I love you, grief, pain, longing for more time, relief that it was finally over and the last goodbye. Life is a gift, never take it for granted and appreciate it every day.
“Life is a lot more fragile than we think. So you should treat others in a way that leaves no regrets. Fairly, and if possible, sincerely.” – Haruki Murakami 4 How do we know how many people die alone? Some people may want to be alone at the end of life - particularly people who have been “alone” for many years. There are Hospice’s programs called “No one dies alone” or NODA. One has to ask the question: Do they die alone by choice or would they prefer their loved ones around? Good questions to ask a patient close to death: What are you thinking about, can I help, do you want to talk about anything, what would a good death be for you? Sometimes these questions are too hard to ask or think about. There are many stories of the loved one stepping out of the room for just a few minutes and the patient has died on their return. This seems to be the case when the patient is the
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parent, maybe this is a protective factor. Other people want just one companion to be with them at their time of death.
“If even dying is to be made a social function, then, grant me the favour of sneaking out on tiptoe without disturbing the party.” – Dag Hammarskjold 5 Sometimes a person may need “permission” to exit life - permission from loved ones. Some people need to know that their loved ones are going to be okay without them. That they can raise the children/ grandchildren or fulfil a shared dream and the patient can go when they are ready.
Death itself is not always the problem. It is rather the complications of exiting life - e.g., the administrative details of modern society. As the old saying goes “There is nothing more certain than death and taxes”. Good news! There is no inheritance or estate taxes in Australia. Once someone has died you will need to notify their family and friends. You need to get a doctor’s certificate that confirms their death (multiple copies of this document can be helpful). You need to determine their wishes in regard to organ donation. Then there is a funeral to arrange, a celebration of life or Wake. The funeral director may collect all the information needed for registering the death and that information will be sent to relevant government offices. Then there is the newspaper or online notices, flowers and any religious requirements. Did the person have a prepaid funeral or insurance policies? These may pay or help pay for the funeral costs. The Executor of the Will then needs to distribute the person’s assets to the people named in the Will. With a Will you get to decide who benefits, however, there have been a lot of heated arguments over Wills. Does the estate home need to be sold? Remove the person’s name from government listings, mailing lists and if necessary social media accounts, cancelling any direct debits/ subscription and services. Pay final bills and guard against financial fraud and exploitation. You possibly need to do a final tax return for the deceased and another one for the trust tax return. Finally, and in no way least, you must somehow cope with your grief.
6 Every man/woman needs to deal with two things alone - your beliefs and your dying. The act of dying is a process you cannot share with others. 7 Some people die “alone” but are not “lonely”. If you have friends and not family around you when you die it is considered, you die alone. You can’t be happy unless you have people around you, just is not true. Being alone is sometimes by choice.
“People think being alone makes you lonely, but I don’t think that’s true. Being surrounded by the wrong people is the loneliest thing in the – Kim Culbertson world.” 8 The end a life should be a celebration of the life. To celebrate the love, achievement, their place in the community, telling their story and uniqueness of that person, rather than totally focusing on their departing.
“One day, you will wake up and there won’t
be any more time to do the things you’ve always wanted.
Do it now.” Paulo Coelho The next forum is on 19th October, with the topic “The significance of the five senses”. The forum is free. Lunch is at Member and non-member prices.
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Founders and Benefactors Day Sunday 21st August The Founders and Benefactors day, celebrated the generosity of Graduate Union Members at a high tea with prominent Australian lawyer, Julian Burnside AO QC.
He said that the Founders and Benefactors Day is an opportunity for us to say thank you to those who have supported Graduate House in so many ways.
The 2016 Annual Appeal focused on generating endowment funds for general purpose, and to support postgraduate research and coursework students.
“The financial support that you give is something that just doesn’t disappear into a black hole,” he said. “It actually goes into a range of bursaries and scholarships.”
The Appeal received a generous response, totalling $27,075.
“What we’re endeavouring to do is to give people opportunities. There would be so many people in this room that have achieved so many things in this life because of the opportunities that somebody or some organisation gave them.”
The day saw many Members and guests who had been invited due to their generosity in supporting this Annual Appeal. “I think this is a fantastic opportunity to say thanks to people, and it’s going to be a really interesting afternoon and a fantastic experience,” said Member Wendy Seng Hpa. “The event is a wonderful annual event now which we all look forward to and it will help make The Graduate Union move forward even more,” said Councillor Kingsley Davis.
It was then time for Dr Loughnan to introduce the speaker for the event, Mr Julian Burnside AO QC, an eminent Australian, commercial law barrister, human rights and refugee advocate, author and supporter of the arts. Please see the pages 24 to 27 for a review of Mr Burnside’s talk.
All guests, were particularly excited to hear Julian Burnside’s talk. “The guest speaker is the main reason that we’re here,” said Ms Seng Hpa. Jo Elvins, who regularly donates, said that she was very much looking forward to Julian Burnside. “I have heard him before and he’s excellent,” she said. “I’m very concerned about the issues and my friend and I are both very concerned about asylum seekers,” she added. Guests made their way to the Stella Langford Wing, where Dr Loughnan gave the commencement speech, while Members sampled the high tea delights which included mini-cupcakes, scones with jam and cream, macarons and savoury finger sandwiches. “What we do at The Graduate Union is so important to so many people’s lives as they move forward,” he said. “There’s nothing better in this life than doing something for other people.”
President Loughnan giving his commencement speech.
Thanks to the generosity of many donors, funds have been allocated to scholarships and bursaries, assisting Residents with their academic and professional pursuits. Two of this year’s winners, announced also just before The Graduate Union Annual General
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Meeting, were Yuliia Velichenko and David Allinson. They were both invited to speak about their pursuits on the day. Yuliia Velichenko was the recipient of the 2016 Graduate House scholarship for her research on novel dual action antihypertensive medicines. She has been a Resident at Graduate House since 2015 and is currently undertaking a Doctor of Philosophy (Organic Chemistry) at The University of Melbourne. Yuliia spoke of her research explaining that hypertension and cardiovascular disease are the leading causes of death worldwide, claiming more lives than any other causes like cancer and car accidents, combined. The research is being undertaken with a global partnership and collaboration to overcome this global issue. “My study seeks to not only promote global care on health but also provides opportunities for sustainable development,” she said. The support that she received from the scholarship facilitated her trip to Japan where she attended a conference to present her work.
David Allinson was the recipient of both the 2015 and 2016 Graduate House Coursework Bursary, as well as of support for his internship in Western Australia. Mr Allinson has been a Resident at Graduate House since 2014, saying that he quickly came to appreciate the unique environment at Graduate House, such as “the dinner table conversations with people from many nations, academic disciplines and professions,” he said. “The diversity here is something I see reflected in my own international upbringing and also in what I value.” In 2015 David gained practical experience in his field of law, by volunteering for the Miriuwung Gajerrong Aboriginal Corporation in Kununurra, WA. “Supported by this funding provided by The Graduate Union, I was able to engage with the corporate realities of the Native Title regime,” he said. “Working for a small Aboriginal organisation was a fantastic experience, I found corporate law to be a wonderful way to apply the theories of law that I find intellectually stimulating while being able to pursue strategically challenging corporate goals,” he said. David currently works for the firm Slater and Gordon, and explained that he had been contributing to a case which was addressing the treatment of asylum seekers in the Manus Island detention centre. Professor Stephen Peterson, who was featured in last month’s Professor Profiles, co-hosted the quiz along with Dr Bennett, our CEO and Head of College.
Yuliia Velichenko.
David Allinson.
“Being a recipient of this scholarship is both a great honour and responsibility. I used this opportunity to present my academic interests at the conference,” she said. “I think it’s very important to have this support in the early career stages for researchers because it gives them more motivation to move further and create new ideas,” she said.
The quiz was a way to address the Sustainable Development Goals and raise awareness about the types of global issues that they represent. In many ways, the quiz was about bringing global issues of poverty, hunger, miscarriages of justice – etc – to the forefront, so that we do start to realise that, as UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon said, “there is no Plan B because we do not have a Planet B.” As Dr Bennett and Professor Peterson read out the questions there was plenty of discussion and murmuring from the crowd. When it came
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to question nine (which region’s daily per capita emissions were at 73kg in 2010 – 4x the world average?) the answer was clear to everyone, one member excitedly banging on the table, fighting for their answer to be heard – Australia.
Cr Watson said this was the vision of Graduate Union founders who imagined a residential college for postgraduates. Graduate House was the first college for postgraduates, built on the international collegium, inspiring resident members and scholars, creating a living environment that is egalitarian and inclusive. When conducting some research, Cr Watson came across an anecdote drawn from The Graduate Union Centenary history. He told the story of many years ago when William E F Berry, then Warden of Graduate House, helped a slightly dishevelled woman who sought refuge at Graduate House from a storm.
Professor Stephen Peterson and Dr Bennett hosting the quiz.
The quiz came to an end, the scores were tallied, and table two was the winner of the Sustainable Development Goals Quiz for 2016. Each person on the table won a Graduate Union brand calico bag and a keep-cup. Member Ewan Colson found the day thoughtprovoking, particularly in regards to the Sustainable Development Goals quiz. Mr Colson said that it didn’t matter if the answers were unknown, rather the exercise brought these problems to the forefront.
As it turns out that woman was Stella Langford. “The Stella Langford wing today – which we are all in – is a reminder of that moment in the history of this college of Graduates,” said Cr Watson. “That is what being part of The Graduate Union and Graduate House family is all about. We are graduates for postgraduates,” he added. “Today is a very important day as we thank our donors and supporters for this college. We have achieved, we are achieving, and will achieve due to the generosity of our Life Members, friends and benefactors.” He thanked everyone for their support and for sharing in the vision to build a postgraduate college and an international collegium through donations.
“It concentrates the mind on the kind of problems there are in the world,” he said. My Colson also donates frequently to The Graduate Union, because he believes in supporting the cross-fertilisation of ideas within an association and college that are comprised of those from many disciplines are a part of. Chair of Council, Mr Rhys Watson, then came to the podium to deliver his address which rested on the legacy and ethos of the Association. “Prepare for the future is what we’re telling people who learn, research, innovate and lead our communities for the benefit of society, a future that will encourage and inspire others to do the same,” he said.
Chair of Council Cr Rhys Watson addressing the crowd.
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“The Graduate House Society is a bequest program that invites you to help build the future of our Association. Bequests can assist our college and its resident scholars in many enduring ways, from improving the buildings, to assisting scholarships,” he said. “A bequest is a gift that can last a long time, an enduring gift. We invite you to consider joining those who have already remembered Graduate House through a bequest.” The event was a success. By the end, the trays once full of scrumptious sweets and sapid savouries had depleted, quiz winners victorious, and the audience satisfied with the philosophical musings of Mr Burnside.
Assoc Prof John Harcourt OAM and Dr Richard Harcourt with Dr Kerry Bennett.
But the day was not over without the surprise singing of Happy Birthday to Members Joan Ansell and Assoc Prof John Harcourt OAM. “Engaging speakers, interesting format and, lovely to hear the graduate students,” said Dr Max Stephens, Senior Research Fellow at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education. Final words from Dr Bennett capped off a wonderful afternoon, and guests were free to mingle as they pleased. Thank you to all of our donors and to everyone who attended. We hope to see you soon!
Joan Ansell.
Some of the delicious food served at the High Tea.
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The Transience of Existence, a Talk By Julian Burnside AO QC
Renowned Australian lawyer, Julian Burnside AO QC, shared his pathway with us at the Founders and Benefactors Day in August. In the late 60s mooting (mock court) was something that “nerds tended to enjoy” so, he said that he gravitated towards it and enjoyed it.
Julian Burnside AO QC speaking at the Founders and Benefactors Day.
“I said that when I arrived here I used to wear my school uniform weekends, I thought I’d escaped that but I should have! I really should have!” joked one of Australia’s most renowned lawyers, Julian Burnside AO QC. His comment was to suggest that he was underdressed, wearing amber trousers, a navy vest with a blue shirt underneath. But he was far from underdressed, rather true to the colourful and creative personality that Mr Burnside is treasured for. “I didn’t know I was going to be a lawyer. I didn’t know I was going to be a barrister. At the end of matriculation, I did quite well and I had no idea what I was going do to. I was accepted into about five different faculties (“because the standards were lower then”) and I didn’t know what to do but my sister had been going out with a guy who had been doing law at Monash. “I thought I’ll do law at Monash and then I will know someone!” That is how Mr Burnside came to be doing law, also picking up an economics degree along the way with the thought that he could perhaps be a management consultant.
In 1970, he was invited to represent Monash in the Australia and New Zealand intra-varsity mooting team that was going to New Zealand. “I hadn’t even been to Tasmania, so the idea of a free trip to New Zealand was incredibly exciting.” Perhaps it was this excitement and enthusiasm that won him the best individual speaker and what caught the attention of the Chief Justice of New Zealand. Mr Burnside recalls the drinks function after the event, a young Julian Burnside found himself talking to the Chief Justice, who had presided over the final moot. The Chief Justice asked him what he was going to do. Become a management consultant is what Mr Burnside responded. The Chief Justice recommended that instead, he goes to the Bar. “That was my career plan! That 10 second conversation was my career plan!” “It only occurred to me a couple of years ago that what he really meant was go and get another glass of wine,” joked Mr Burnside who in 2004 won the Sydney Peace Prize. “I like the idea that my whole career has been based on a misunderstanding.” But it is this ‘misunderstanding’ that has allowed Mr Burnside to act on landmark cases including Rose Porteous (Porteous v. Rinehart), Maritime Union of Australia (Patrick Stevedores v. Maritime Union), Alan Bond, cash-forcomment inquiry, and the Stolen Generation (Trevorrow v. South Australia). But his modesty was persistent, constantly describing his work as “accidental” or “mistaken” such as when he was asked by “accident” to litigate in the controversial Tampa case (Ruddock v. Vadarlis) in 2001. Cast your minds back to 2001 when the Norwegian Cargo ship MV Tampa had rescued 438 people, mostly Afghan asylum seekers who
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were attempting to flee the severe persecution of the Taliban. MV Tampa was refused entry to Australia. Captain of the Tampa Arne Rinnan declared a state of emergency, defying Australia’s orders and proceeded to enter Australia, dropping anchor just off the coast of Christmas Island. Prime Minster at the time, John Howard, ordered SAS troops to board the vessel. The law and politics behind the Tampa became murky, and the result was a civil suit by the Victorian Council for Civil Liberties and Victorian Solicitor Eric Vadarlis who sought a writ of habeus corpus (reporting unlawful detention before the court) for the asylum seekers. Valradis was represented by a number of barristers including Mr Burnside. The verdict on September 11th (handed down at 2.15pm, just 10 hours before the attack on America) by North J held that the refugees were unlawfully detained and should be brought into the migration zone to be dealt with according to the law. But The Commonwealth appealed, arguing that as a Sovereign nation it was an inherent power to be able to determine who enters that nation. The following week the Full Court allowed the appeal, and the refugees and asylum seekers were transferred to Nauru as part of the Pacific Solution. On September 17th a new Border Protection Bill was voted in, overriding previous laws, and ultimately giving the Prime Minister power to turn the Tampa, and other vessels away at their discretion. It was through this case that Mr Burnside’s empathy for the treatment of asylum seekers was realised. “That’s when the whole world seemed to have changed ... I was in shock because I didn’t really know anything about our treatment of refugees, had no reason to investigate it, but doing the Tampa case, I discovered what was going on, and that was very shocking,” said Mr Burnside. Mr Burnside found himself receiving case after case for refugees, all pro bono, and it was depressing he said.
“Every case seemed to throw up facts that were more terrible and so I became actively concerned that the law was so bad, that really what we needed was a change
in the policy, but the Coalition was making enormous electoral advantage out of harsh treatment of refugees.” He came to the view, that if we haven’t yet changed things, the way to do so would be by persuading the public that the policy was wrong. Only then would politicians change their mind and start to do things properly. So he began talking publicly. “Arguably one of the great career blunders of my life,” he said self-effacingly. His work for refugees and asylum seekers since has been tremendous. In 2001 Spare Room, set up by his artist wife Kate Durham, is, as the name suggests, a spare room in their home which is open to refugees who have been recently released from detention. In 2004, he published From Nothing To Zero: Letters From Refugees which presented an anthology of edited extracts from letters written by asylum seekers. He has spoken widely about his deep frustration with the Australian government’s treatment of asylum seekers and refugees. In his speech Australia’s refugee policy: The great lie at the Brisbane Social Forum in May 2004 (then printed in Human Rights Defender, Vol 13 issue 2 2004) he said, “Ninety per cent of the people who have come to Australia in the last ten years asking for help have turned out to be genuine refugees. Yet we lock them up and effectively destroy them. The cruelty seems to be a matter of official government policy.” As he worked on more and more asylum seeker and refugee cases, he engaged more in the public discourse surrounding the contentious issue. It was from here that hate mail made its way to Mr Burnside’s letterbox. Hate mail, he said, comes in two forms: written letters which are addressed to your home or your chambers. Those who write hate mail in pen and paper are a very forgetful lot, he said tongue-in-cheek, ‘forgetting’ to put their name and address on their mail. However, Mr Burnside said that most of the hate mail came via email, meaning that consequently, you can always (in theory) reply. “I decided that since these were people who didn’t agree with me, I should answer my hate mail and try and persuade them one at a time,” he said. “Very naive politically.”
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“People are willing to be unbelievably rude to someone that they’ve never met. The hate mail would be screaming, full of vituperative comments and I’d stay up every night biting my tongue saying dear so and so thank you for your email, I gather you don’t agree with me, but do you realise but here’s one fact, another fact and so on,” he said. Nearly all of them answered, Mr Burnside recalled, and were also polite. But what it suggested was that it wasn’t necessarily about asylum seekers, but rather people perhaps felt that they weren’t engaged with the society in which they lived. By the end of 2006 the hate mail dwindled, policies had been in action for years, and asylum seekers and refugee issues were reported on as heavily by the media. But a few years later Mr Burnside was in Perth doing a case and received some mail, he quoted directly, “Dear F***wit, what makes you think that being a QC means anyone is interested in listening to your opinions, why don’t you f*** off and die?” “It’s kind of hard to answer that,” he joked. He says that the only hate mail he has ever answered, saw him writing back impertinently saying ‘Dear so and so the offer of your sister is interesting, please send photographs.’ “I could imagine his face exploding and his hair falling out,” joked Mr Burnside. That person wrote back, almost immediately, responding that perhaps his initial comments were indeed over the top to which Mr Burnside responded saying that he has received plenty of insults over the years, but wondered why this person had just written to him now considering Mr Burnside has been talking about asylum seekers for quite some time. Did it all get too much, or did he just stumble across it, he asked. As it turned out that person confessed to having had quite the night out. He’d had a fight with another person about refugees and ended up emailing Mr Burnside. “He said that he should’ve just emailed him! I actually think you’re doing quite a good job so please ignore me,” he said. Apart from his legal work, Mr Burnside has been a passionate supporter of the Arts. In 2009 he was made an officer of the Order of Australia for patronage of and fundraising for the arts, service as a human rights advocate, and of course service
to the law. He regularly commissions work, mainly sculptures and music, and has even written a rather successful children’s book that he initially wrote for his daughter. In fact, originally, Mr Burnside’s interest was not in human rights or refugees, rather it was the arts. He was brought up, by his father, on the Rubiyaat of Omar Khayyam a selection of poems by the Persian poet Omar Khayyam that were later translated by Edward FitzGerald. There are two verses from Omar Khayyam that Mr Burnside appreciates, one of which, he sees as a guiding principal:
“Tis all a Chequer-board of nights and days Where Destiny with men for Pieces plays: Hither and thither moves, and mates, and slays, And one by one back in the closet lays.” He feels it’s about the transience of existence. “The transience of our existence is something that is really important to recognise, especially if you’re going to be philanthropic,” he said. “The other one that I like probably isn’t relevant to anything or anyone at the Founders and Benefactors Day, but nevertheless:
“The Worldly Hope men set their Hearts upon Turns Ashes—or it prospers; and anon, Like Snow upon the Desert’s dusty Face Lighting a little Hour or two—is gone.” “Again,” he said, “it’s about the transience of human endeavours and human activities. So you understand, being brought up on these things from an early age I was interested in the arts.” A few years ago he was given a book of short stories, Oxbridge Blues by Frederic Rafael. One story was of a young man who as a teenager, liked writing poetry. After enrolling into university where he chose to study law he met the girl who later becomes his wife. She gently persuaded him to forget about poetry and concentrate on law. He obliges. He becomes a
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successful lawyer, eventually obtaining silk and then being appointed to the Bench. This means that he has to spend a weekend in his chambers going through all of his papers in order to move on.
“He had quite forgotten about his adolescent poetry and was astonished to come across a batch of it at the bottom of a cupboard. He smiled – golly! – at the sight of it and took it out and started to read, for a laugh. He expected clinching evidence of the folly of youthful pretensions. … Instead, the poems passed sentence on his life … He cowered on the floor of the dusty cave and saw that the years of his life had escaped, like Odysseus’s men under the panicky sheep of the blind, deluded Polyphemus. ‘Who are you, who are you?’ he cried. And the voice of the man who had blinded himself replied ‘No-one. No-one.’” “I don’t think that I’ve ever read anything that so beautifully sums up the importance of the arts in our society. And it occurred to me that one of the few things that we can do in our transient existence is do something that will last. Our names don’t last,” Mr Burnside said. “It was really interesting sitting out in the foyer earlier and seeing the plaque to Dr Phillip Law [in the Phillip Law Member’s Lounge]. Of course I’ve heard of Dr Law but I haven’t thought about him for years, and his name will live on beyond my generation, and his name will live on because there’s a plaque there acknowledging the things that he did.”
“The arts in my opinion is one of the most important and enduring activities that the human species have ever come across.” He asks the crowd to consider for a moment, a room full of people, such as the one at this Founders and Benefactors Day. If you give them a list of names from the last half dozen centuries he guarantees you that disproportionately people will recognise the names of writers, poets, painters, sculptors, composers – they will not remember economists, accountants, lawyers – one of two politicians maybe –
but really by-and-large, the arts are what we remember because there’s something deep inside us that recognises that the arts matter. Education is the other thing. “Education is what enables our society to continue, hopefully, in a way that’s better than it has previously been doing,” he says. “Kerry [Dr Bennett] didn’t ask me to say this but I guess those of you who are benefactors of Graduate House you are doing something that will endure, you are doing something that will endure beyond the transience of your mortal existence,” he says with that trademark Burnside perspicacity. “And I don’t know why, maybe it’s because it’s coming to that stage, but I think it’s kind of important to be able to do something that will endure beyond our transient existence.” His final and fitting words: “If you can’t be an artist or a composer, be a benefactor, why not, you’re doing something marvellous for the future.”
“Most people don’t have plaques to them, but most people, if they’re lucky have the capacity to do something or make something that will leave a mark that will benefit the future. The arts an obvious way.” www.graduatehouse.com.au | ABN: 55610 664 963 | Incorporated Association Registration No. A0023234B
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Academic and Professional Development Meetings
The following groups from The University of Melbourne have convened meetings, workshops and seminars at Graduate House in July 2016 Centre for Health Policy 1st, 2nd August 50 Attendees
Department of Finance - Lunch Meeting 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th August 20 attendees
Department of Infrastructure Engineering Staff Meeting and MSE 2025 2nd,16th August 80 attendees
Melbourne School of Engineering MSE 2025 Sustainability Workshop 11th August 30 attendees
NTEU University of Melbourne Branch Blue Stocking Week Lunch 16th August 50 attendees
Office of Research Ethics and Integrity Victorian Ethics Network Seminar 1st August 90 attendees
Research, Innovation and Commercialisation Contracts Team Planning Day, Network of Schools Success Coordinators, Psychosocial Aspects of Palliative Care, Network of Schools 4th, 5th, 18th, 19th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 31st August 434 attendees
UoM Commercial Ltd Graduate Certificate in Clinical Teaching 10th August 24 attendees
The patronage of organisation Members in charitable, not-for-profit, government and professional development sectors is acknowledged, as is that of our many Members who organise functions. Thank you for your patronage. Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER) 22th, 29th August 64 attendees
Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology and Law (ANZAPPL) 2nd August 40 attendees
Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) 4th August 18 attendees
Australian Asian Association (AAA) 8th August 6 attendees
Australian School of Applied Management (ASAM) 5th, 18th, 30th, 31st August 113 attendees
Carlton Connect Initiative Formal Dinner 15th August 15 attendees
Carlton-Parkville Probus Club Inc 9th August 70 attendees
Carlton Rotary Lunch and Heritage Cluster Meeting 2nd, 9th, 10th, 16th, 23rd August 124 attendees
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Academic and Professional Development Meetings DCG Consulting Pty Ltd 9th August 50 Attendees
International Education Association Inc. (ISANA) 12th August 70 attendees
Full Day Function
Jennifer Gorrie 20th August 10 attendees
The John Cain Foundation Lunch 3rd August 34 attendees
Lunch Meeting
Melba Group 26th August 18 attendees
Melbourne Metro Rail Authority Metro Tunnel Parkville Precinct 2nd August 25 attendees
Modern Greek Teachers Association of Victoria (MGTAV) 23rd August 8 attendees
Modern Language Teachers’ Association of Victoria (MLTAV) 16th, 17th August 67 attendees
Order of St. John - Evening Meeting and Order of St. John Knights 1st, 8th August 28 attendees
Organisation Development Australia (ODA) - Ancient Wisdom Modern Conversations 31st August 20 attendees
Parentshop Pty Ltd Tough Conversations 15th August 4 attendees
Peer Support Implementation Workshop 4th August 14 attendees
Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre (PICCC) 22nd August 6 attendees
Professional Historians Association (Vic) 19th, 20th August 202 attendees
Professional Historians Australia 20th August 77 attendees
Slavery Links 2nd August 2 attendees
Social Education Victoria (SEV) 15th 17th August 122 attendees
Supply Chain Logistics Association Australia (SCLAA) 18th August 6 attendees
The Graduate Union Collegiate Events and Governance Meetings 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 16th 17th, 18th, 19th, 21st, 24th, 29th, 30th, 31st, August 523 attendees
Turkish Teachers Association of Victoria 4th, 25th, 30th August 30 attendees
Uniseed Management Pty Ltd Committee Meeting 12th August 10 attendees
WCMICS Victorian Chemotherapy Service Redesign Project “Sustainability” COP 23rd August 40 attendees
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Puzzles
Mind Benders for our Members
Sudoku
Sudoku is an 81 square grid comprising of nine square blocks, each with nine cells. To complete this puzzle, all blank cells must be filled with a number between and including 1 and 9. Each number can only appear once in each nine celled block, row and column.
Last Edition’s Results
Kakuro Use the numbers 1 to 9 to fill the empty cells so that the sum of each horizontal block equals the clue on its left, and the sum of each vertical block equals the clue on top. Each number can only be used once per row/column.
Last Edition’s Results
Please Note that there might be more answer combinations possible. www.graduatehouse.com.au | ABN: 55610 664 963 | Incorporated Association Registration No. A0023234B
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Cryptic Crossword Clues Across 1. Go out with fruit (4) 3. Teacher ordering a cute rod (8) 9. Hairy coat with lines and wrinkles (7) 10. A nobleman’s fists? (5) 11. Becoming confused as one ages (5) 12. A country sounded musical (6) 14. Peers squeal when upset (6) 16. Good girl with time for bird (6) 19. Recent change of heart (6) 21. Vince in the lead? (5) 24. Cast worth changing (5) 25. Wireless pioneer from Minorca (7) 26. Stick with New Testament disciple (8) 27. List held by Uncle Anthony (4)
Clues Down 1. Joy has broken toenail (7) 2. Trunk found in north-west or south- east ( 5) 4. Doctor’s first with old herb the prescribed amount (6) 5. Group showing concern about diamonds (5) 6. Provides accommodation for kids (5,2) 7. Rebel is held by soldiers (4) 8. A little bit of egotism or selfishness (6) 13. Articles about rising in Greek (8) 15. Find a hunter going astray (7) 17. A group of notes, we hear, producing harmony (6) 18. Information about right degree for European (6) 20. Tall building for a carthorse? (5) 22. Liquor is seen cries of disapproval are heard (5) 23. Stake raised in volcano (4)
Brainteaser Riddle
Last Edition’s Answers Cryptic Crossword Across: 1. Reascend 6. Ask 9. Stall 10. Paleale 11. Gliders 12. Fiend 13. Singer 15. Olivia 19. Haste 21. Regular 23. Maestro 24. Agate 25. Ram 26. Nestling Down: 2. Elation 3. Solve 4. Expose 5. Doleful 6. Aware 7. Knead 8. Usages 14. Everton 16. Villain 17. Airmen 18. Grooms 19. Homer 20. Steam 22. Grail
Brainteaser Riddle Answer: After 6 all numbers divisible by 3 can be ordered (because they can all be expressed as a sum of 6’s and 9’s). After 26, all numbers divisible by three when subtracted by 20 can be obtained. After 46, all numbers divisible by three when subtracted by 40 can be obtained. After 46, all numbers fit into one of these 3 categories, so all numbers can be obtained. 43 is the last number that doesn’t fall into one of these categories (44 = 20 + 6 * 4, 45 = 6 * 6 + 9).
You have two coconuts and you want to find out how high they can be dropped from a 100 storey building before they break. But you only have $1.40 and the elevator costs ten cents each time you ride it up (it’s free for rides down). How can you drop the coconuts to guarantee you will find the lowest floor they will break at, while starting and ending at floor 1? Note: They break when dropped from the same height and they don’t weaken from getting dropped. Answer in the next issue. www.graduatehouse.com.au | ABN: 55610 664 963 | Incorporated Association Registration No. A0023234B
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FEATURES
Discovering Melbourne
Australian Education, 27th August ACMI Studio 1 As part of this year’s Writers’ Festival, Victoria University is supporting ‘Australian Education’ a session analysing the future of public education. Will the Gonski model remain? Education experts Sara Glover and Richard Teese discuss where we’re headed.
Mile End Bagels
Mine Escape
Sisters’ Market
14 Johnston St, Fitzroy
Various locations
Brunswick Town Hall, 233 Sydney Road
Ah, bagel and schmear. When united, fewer things create such beautiful music, but a freshly baked bagel with cream cheese thickly spread on top, a layer of lox over it, and sprinkled with dill creates an unmatchable mellifluous symphony. Try Mile End bagels in Fitzroy for your own euphonious experience through food!
For thrill seekers and mind-bending puzzle devotees, you could have finally met your match through Mine Escape. Three willing participants are locked in a room with 70 minutes to solve the designated mystery, ultimately (hopefully!) escaping from the voluntary incarceration. www. escaperoom.com.au/
In over 60 stalls you can peruse locally handmade wares from homegrown designers. Sisters’ Market, by - you guessed it two sisters, is on at Brunswick Town Hall every Saturday, until December.
If you have any recommendations for places or events of interest \for our Members, email publications@graduatehouse.com.au www.graduatehouse.com.au | ABN: 55610 664 963 | Incorporated Association Registration No. A0023234B
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Launch at Graduate House
Raising Awareness for Gender Equality Although it was a cold winter’s morning on Tuesday 23rd July, two male Resident volunteers proudly walked around University Square carrying the HeForShe banner with ‘pursuing gender equality’ printed in oversized pink text, capturing the attention of onlookers. They frequently paused to take a photo. It was the launch of the ‘give a flower, get a smile’ campaign at Graduate House, which supports the UN Women’s HeForShe gender equality campaign launched September 2015. Close behind the banner holders were more people holding carnations, handing them out to any passers by. “Support gender equality?” They would ask, holding out a stem. While some hurriedly walked past, others stopped briefly, and accepted this marker for change, for the pursuit of equality. “They’re beautiful, thank you,” said one passer by. “You’ve just made my day,” said another. President of The Graduate Union, Dr Ken V Loughnan AO and Chairman of Council, Mr Rhys Watson were also in attendance, as were many Residents, Members and staff who had congregated at University Square, just in-front of the Leicester Street terraces.
Dr Loughnan, who is also President Elect of Variety The Children’s Charity, and Chair of the Victoria Police Corporate Advisory Board, addressed the crowd with profound opening remarks. “The HeForShe program is a significant event. We’re actually linked here with the United Nations global program. Everyone of you are part of that,” he said. Dr Loughnan is familiar with gender inequality in the workforce, having worked within a system which once saw full-time public service female employees having to immediately resign if they got married. “There were no ifs, buts or maybes, no exceptions as far as I’m aware, anywhere that is was regulated,” he said. Dr Loughnan said that while in some ways we have come a long way, in many ways we still have not. “The fact that we’re standing here this morning is a clear indication we’ve still got a fair way to go,” he said. “We are not going to actually change everything unless we start to change the psyche. It’s the thought process. It’s the culture where still it very much seems to be a man’s world.” He pointed out the astonishing pay gap between men and women, and the recent statistics that have shown the
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pay gap to be a 14 to 20 percent differential, even in the area of sports where the gaps are even more pronounced. The workforce today is still a battleground for many women who have to deal with less than favorable attitudes. The recent sexist comment by Saatchi & Saatchi global Chairman Kevin Roberts, for instance, received such a backlash, he was then forced to stand-down. Mr Roberts was quoted asserting that the debate on gender equality was “over” in the advertising world, and that it was “way worse” in other sectors such as finance. He also suggested that womens’ ambition “was not a vertical one”. Prior to becoming chairman, Kevin Roberts served as CEO worldwide of Saatchi & Saatchi from 1997 until 2014. “I’m quite sure that the majority of his employees would be horrified. So we do have a long way. Today is about starting to change our attitudes, doing something positive ourselves, and showing we can do something,” said Dr Loughnan. Dr Loughnan then thanked staff, Residents and Dr Bennett, and handed her the first flower of the launch. The crowd came together for a group photo, and then moved on to begin handing out flowers to the general public. Chair of Council Rhys Watson, who showed his support in the lead-up to the campaign by writing a note to Residents and Members, again shared his support for gender equality. “I think it’s very important to raise the awareness within the community for gender equality,” said Cr Watson. “It’s an ongoing issue, not just in Australia but overseas and I think it’s very
The crowd ready to hand out flowers.
important for people to respect each other.” He said that it’s important to be aware of our behaviour and actions and to be respectful to people of all genders, particularly to help and encourage women wherever possible to have equal opportunity and not to face discrimination. “Whatever society they’re living in, whatever culture or background, it’s vital that they have an opportunity to be independent and live a good life,” he added. Most passersby had a healthy attitude towards gender equality and women, striving for gender justice in their everyday lives. Professor Stephen Peterson, who worked for more than 25 years at The Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, spent many years working in developing countries in the field of public finance, where he said that there are “virtually no women”. “I really pushed for women to be involved in the training and I think that had an impact and showed that they could do it and that they were as good if not better. When competence is demonstrated in training, I think that there is no issue.”
Career mentor and strategist, Agnes Banyasz, said that it is also vital for women to show more confidence day to day. “In all my work as a careers consultant I encourage women of all ages to enter any discussion as an equal because it also is up on the women to think that they are equal and don’t go in as second fiddle,” she said. Half an hour into the launch, the flowers were being handed out and accepted at rapid speed, The Royal Women’s Hospital Foundation volunteers also receiving healthy donations in their collection tins, as all the funds raised from the launch went directly to the Foundation. “It’s an absolutely lovely thing to do. It’s so good to see the partnership between the Women’s Foundation and Graduate House coming together,” said Jan Chisholm, CEO of the Women’s Foundation. “What’s also so great about the HeForShe effort is that it’s men and women standing together to address inequalities that are still in place for women around the world,” she added. Candice Jansz, a volunteer from the Women’s Foundation was also in high spirits, happy with the public’s reaction to the launch.
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“I think it’s going really well. It’s so nice to see the smiles on everyone’s faces, everyone seems really happy and I think it’s making people’s day,” she said. Further down University Square, close to Pelham Street, the other participants, including many males, were taking part.
President of The Graduate Union, Dr Ken V Loughnan AO addressing the crowd.
“It’s a pretty good occasion, we haven’t done something like this before in Graduate House, it’s a simple idea and it gets the message out there,” said Avi Gandhi, a Resident Member of Graduate House. They believe that it’s important for males to be involved in such a campaign. “If you have a sister, or a mother, or a grandmother, you should be out here and supporting the cause,” said Thomas Nantz. “I’m here for my sister,” he added.
Dr Loughnan handing Dr Bennett the first flower.
People were very quick to identify as advocates for gender equality. One passerby said that he was definitely an advocate for gender equality. “Where I work one of our core principals is to promote and support gender equality, and I also try to do so in other aspects of my life, my family life and with my friends and the people that I meet,” he said. He said that the campaign was a good way to raise awareness, “it makes you step outside of your own head for a moment. It’s a nice gesture,” he said.
Dr Loughnan and Jan Chisholm, CEO of the Royal Women’s Hospital Foundation.
Su-Yin Lew, a student at The University of Melbourne agrees with the principals of HeForShe. “I think great strides have been made in terms of sexism that’s very overt, but I think in terms of gender roles, in terms of things we need to be doing in terms of benevolent sexism, subjectively may seem fine, but there’s a lot more room for
things to be made, particularly for people our age, particularly for universities, college campuses as well,” she said. “It’s everyone’s problem, and I think that is a very important message that people don’t realise.” It is about realisation. While on the one hand there are many men out there who are aware of the inequalities that exist they fail to step-up and be advocates for change. The UN’s Goodwill ambassador for HeForShe, Emma Watson, at the launch of the HeForShe Impact 10x10x10, asked the question, “young men – have you spoken up in a conversation when a woman was casually degraded or dismissed?”
“Whatever society [women are] living in, whatever culture or background, it’s vital that they have an opportunity to be independent and live a good life.” - Cr Rhys Watson If you think something’s not fair, say something. The focus isn’t on men with the intention to separate, because for too long that’s what is has been about. It’s time to admit wholeheartedly that we are all, indeed equal despite gender, age, ethnicity, background, faith, occupation, and persuasion. Thank you to all of the Resident Members and staff who attended the launch, founders Parisa Shiran, Chanchal Chandramouli and Fatema Samina Yasmin, Dr Ken V Loughnan AO, Cr Rhys Watson and everyone who accepted a flower of equality.
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RESIDENT AND MEMBER NEWS
OUR RECIPROCAL ASSOCIATIONS
New York City Whimsy at Columbia University Words, Ian McCahon, OBGYN, Member Do it! If you plan to be in New York City, remember to get your introductory letter from Melbourne University Graduate Union to the Alumni, Columbia University. Reflect that 82 Nobel Laureates claim Columbia as their alma mater. But be patient dear reader: all will be revealed to you and you will understand why your own report on your visit to Columbia University will be better than mine. As you walk south on the east side of Broadway from Columbia subway, you will pass the Pulitzer Graduate School of Journalism. It is arguable whether the Pulitzer Prize or the Norman Mailer Prize most aptly rewards the pinnacle of journalistic achievement. Did you ever read the prize-winning Frank Sinatra has a cold1 by journalist Gay Talese? Best two minute article you will ever read. Sinatra refused to talk to him, but Talese’s article exemplifies his dictum to
Could this be just as important in the law, architecture, medicine, or business? But if you are determined to visit the Alumni Office, you will find it on W113th Street located proudly in its own building. Sadly I never made it there, as I went into the university bookshop and squandered the time I had set aside before a dinner date with Pauline. If you have half as good a time as I did you will be glad you visited, and grateful to the Melbourne University Graduate Union for giving you an excuse to go there. References 1 www.esquire.com/news-politics/a638/frank-sinatra-has-acold-gay-talese/ 2 Talese, Gay (2006) A Writer's Life
“listen with patience and care, and never interrupt even when people are having great difficulty in explaining themselves, for during such halting and imprecise moments ... people are very revealing ... what they hesitate to talk about can tell much about them. Their pauses, their evasions, their sudden shifts in subject matter are likely indicators of what embarrasses them, or irritates them, or what they regard as too private or imprudent to be disclosed to another person at that particular time2”.
East Broadway at Columbia University. Photo: Ian McCahon
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Feedback
I don’t know how you could improve, but I want to offer up an appreciation of the way you care for us so well. As an occasional soup maker I really enjoy the diversity of soups - and the willingness of Nelson and Basma to reveal the ingredients!! Mac Nicoll, Member Customer service, food and beverages were excellent and also great value for money. Pauline Henthorn, Member Organising a function at Graduate House was easy! Rosie provides outstanding service. She really takes the time to ensure that your event runs well. Rosie goes above and beyond! The function room, food and staff were all very good and I would recommend others to have their event at Graduate House. Anonymous The Graduate House function and space were well set up for what we needed. The food was excellent. Good variety, quality and you are good at catering to special need diets. The staff were excellent. I don’t have any recommendations. I was very impressed by the experience, and definitely hope to keep using this venue in the future. Peggy Kern, Centre for Positive Psychology Everyone who attended was very happy with the function room, decor, hospitality, food and amenity. It was noted that not one plate had food not eaten, which was a sure sign that it was adequate for the occasion. The staff were very helpful as we had changing numbers of attendees and had to cope with three extra as they arrived. Andrew Turner, Retired Vets The process of organising a function at Graduate House was very easy and flexible. The function room and space was fantastic. The food was of high quality, thank you so much. In terms of quantity - well it’s a danger because of weight gain. Plentiful. The staff were amazing - dedicated, professional, courteous - nothing was too much trouble - this could be a laboratory for how to do great customer service - highly professional. I now hesitate to have a seminar or conference elsewhere. The service is highly reliable. Amazing. I will endeavour to promote Graduate House to our students in Infrastructure Engineering. David Wilson, Infrastructure Engineering It was easy to organise my reunion. Everyone I dealt with were courteous and efficient. The food was delivered very quickly and the mains were hot. Well done to the kitchen and the table waiting staff who still found time for a quick chat. The function went without any problem whatsoever. We planned for one hundred cohorts and 97 were booked into the room which made the atmosphere ‘cosy’. I was amazed how well the staff delivered the food without an incident. They breezed in and out of the tables where people were sitting and standing. To my knowledge not a glass was broken. Delicious food and the wine was OK. We were very pleased with the two choices we made from a vast selection. Thanks Rosie for fitting the food within our budget. Everyone was most helpful, particularly Rosie who ensured all went well. Every time I telephone and missed whoever I was seeking, I got a return call shortly afterwards, which helps with planning. I just hope most of us are still around for the 60th reunion which we hope to hold at Graduate House again. Peter Power, MTC 50th Reunion
The lucky feedback-giver for August is Pauline Henthorn who won a bottle of Emeri De Botoli Chardonnay Pinot Noir Your feedback is important Submit a Dining Room Feedback Form to be in the Monthly Draw AND in the running for the Year-End Prize of a $500 Coles Myers Gift Voucher www.graduatehouse.com.au | ABN: 55610 664 963 | Incorporated Association Registration No. A0023234B
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BLOODBATH
Graduate House
WKS THE HA
VORSA
Let the
Games Begin K TEAM
H FRENC TOASIT MAF A
INTRODUCING YOUR TEAMS As the Olympic torch relay made its way through Brazil, to the seaside city of Rio de Janeiro, one might say that it made a slight digression to Carlton, albeit perhaps only in spirit.
Dr Bennett and Diana Bachman were the referees for the games to ensure no one cheated. Those caught offending had to pay the penalty of wearing a hula skirt, and singing baa baa black sheep.
Residents at Graduate House, for the first time, participated in the Graduate House Olympics organised by Accommodation Manager Diana Bachman and Duty Resident Scott Nelson.
“The Residents had an excellent time, and were great competitors,” said Diana.
The call-out was simple: five teams of five residents who were ready to battle it out for the medals of beautiful gold, silver and bronze. By August 17th the teams were ready: The Hawks, Vorsa, K Team, Bloodbath and French Toast Mafia. The crowed roared and applauded each team as they entered the arena. The night’s events to reach victory were ball in the bucket, balloon racing, elephant strikes, order the rings and tissue ping pong.
The teams threw, arranged, jumped, struck and strategised their way to potential victory, but only one team was victorious. The mighty Hawks, no, not Hawthorn, but the Graduate House Hawks proved victorious, humbly accepting the gold medal around their necks. “Next year we hope to see the games return, and perhaps even move them outside, with more teams, more games and more competition!” said Diana.
Well done to everyone, a great game!
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Graduate House
Tissue ping-pong requires participants to strap on a tissue box filled with ping pong balls, and try to get them all out.
Elephant Strike sees participants wearing stocking on their heads, filled with a tennis ball, aiming to knock a bottle over.
FINAL
LEADERBOARD
1 THE HAWKS 2 K TEAM 3 BLOODBATH Balloon racing. Participants hold a balloon between their legs and race to the finish line.