The Scope - The Social Issue

the

scope

The PLC Armidale College Kaleidoscope

the

SOCIAL issue

acknowledgement of country We acknowledge that the land on which this magazine was created is the traditional land of the Anaiwan peoples. We wish to pay respect to th e e l d er s p a s t , p re s e n t a nd emerging.

letter from the editors Welcome to the fifth issue of the Scope; this time brimming with even more creativity than ever. ‘The Social Issue’ has involved a lot of hard-work, creativity and thinking-outside-the-box on all sides, as the contributors had to work through lockdowns, crazy assessment timetables and often a lack of ability to easily collaborate with each other. In spite of all that, this issue manages to bring together some of the best elements of what PLC students have to offer, and does it all with flair.

The theme of ‘social’ is quite unlike any that we’ve had before - and we intended it that way. We hoped with such a broad, diverse and even at times controversial topic many girls would be encouraged to contribute their ideas whether it be about society itself, or their general interests. Everyone involved rose to the challenge. Open this issue and you will be greeted with contributions ranging from eye-opening articles featuring issues such as social stigma and conformity to wondering why anyone would wear ‘meat pants’ as you delve into crazy fashion movements. Be audience to incredible showcases of art and gain exclusive insight into the lives of those seen on everyone’s favourite reality tv show, Farmer Wants a Wife. This issue has it all, and it would not be possible without the dedication and amazing talent put forward by the students. It’s because of them that all this could happen, and because of them it will continue to. We want to thank them, and those involved so much for their endless support and assistance as this issue was created. They truly make all the difference.

‘Social’ came about as we tried to create a theme that anyone could contribute to. ‘Social’ seemed like the perfect idea- we’re all a part of society and almost everyone has something to say about their section of it. Our society makes up such a large part of what we do, think and talk about; it seems almost inevitable that it would become a topic in a space where we specifically invite people to share their ideas and opinions about what they feel and see around them. The contributions did nothing but live up to our expectations, and all gave us great insight into how they view the world. The theme allowed for both amazingly humorous articles, along with the in-depth discussion that brings insight and raises necessary questions for so many.

We want to again use this space to thank those who have been particularly instrumental in assisting us- from our own editors being so willing to giving us a helping hand, to Esther and Pearl who have been amazing student mentors as we’ve gone through this journey. To our year 10 ‘ghost editors’ who were always there to lend a hand - we know The Scope has a bright future in your hands. Finally, Mr Clendinning and Mrs Clynch have been invaluable in their finesse in both editing and writing articles and their guidance in the overall process. These people are what make the Scope possible.

Overall, this has been an incredibly successful issue and we feel so fortunate to have been able to work with every person involved in this process. We can’t wait to see where the Scope goes from here.

Stay cool, Zari and Sarah

contents O6

14

in the school

new

06 the wonderful world of you

12.

08. life of a boarder

13.

09. the PLC family

14.

10. dear past self

16.

17.

26

28

features and human interests

enter

24. riding for the disabled

32.

25. covid’s effect on wildlife

33.

26. introverts vs. extroverts

34.

28. conformity

35.

30. society; stigma and hypocrisy

35.

36.

38.

ws and opinion

18

the arts

christmas beetles

18. a kaleidoscope of poetry

know your news

20. a visual representation of PLC

double-edged sword

21. PLC through the lens

looking inside

22. short story: of fog, fishermen and fallen angels

individuals vs society

36

rtainment

college quizzes

food

40. Quiz: What miraculous ladybug character are you?

‘the PLC lens’; short film challenge funky fashion movements top 5 things to do with a mask Covid then and now farmer wants a wife interview pokemon review

41. Cartoon corner 42. Meet the team 43. Contact us

the wonderful Emma Dauparus Illustrated by Harriet

Social media Social media can be a positive tool! In order make an effort to use social media positively, unfollow people who don't promote positivity and positive body image (this includes people who post photoshopped/extremely posed photos and people who put down others based on appearance). Instead, try to follow people who understand positive body image and promote it properly (this includes people who post realistic photos of themselves and people who promote self-love).

Fitness It’s important to use fitness to work with your body and be proud of it when it performs well. Remember to congratulate your body when it does something impressive - you should be proud of its achievements! Your body does not define you, and it does so much for you, even when it lies on the couch all day, your body keeps you alive and it always wants to treat you well.

Body Neutrality You don't have to always love everything about yourself, some days you may feel different than others, and that’s okay. It can often help to talk to and treat your body as another person, it will help you learn to accept your body (eg. my body is very strong, my body felt a bit tired today so I let it rest). And remember that your body is one of so many things that make up you (and it is usually the least interesting, no matter what it looks like).

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in the school

world of you and Maya Hess Gilpin and Anviti Sinha

Lizzo Melissa Jefferson, known as Lizzo, is

By using her social media platforms,

an American born singer, songwriter,

specifically instagram to speak out

actress, flautist and activist. She

for body positivity, inclusion of race,

became famous in 2016 for her

gender and sexuality it gives her

musical talents and uses her talent

audience a real perspective of her

to explore diversity and self-love

own life. This is very important

through music. She h as faced

because while being a confidence

significant backlash and

icon and all for self-love, she shares

appearance-related hate from the

her experience of the journey of

media due, but regardless, she

body positivity, and often opens up

continues to be herself on social

about her own bad days and blips in

media and promote individuality and

her confidence.

positivity.

the social issue

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a boarder’s life Phoebe Imberger

There has always been this preconception of what an all girl school boarding house is like, and if I’m being honest when I became a boarder at PLC Armidale I thought the exact same thing. I expected that I would have to live in my school uniform, have horrible staff watching over me and have to live in close proximity with girls who had questionable habits. I was seriously mistaken. I have lived with some of these girls for three years now and some of my mos t memorabl e experiences that I can recall happened with those girls or in the walls of the boarding house.

It’s a well known fact that in the 70’s people would have pet rocks that they w o ul d l o v e a n d t a k e wi t h t h e m everywhere. Well, in the boarding house we aren’t allowed any animals larger than a fish so we had to compromise. We were going for a walk around the back of the school when we stumbled across a pumpkin plant with one tiny little baby pumpkin growing on it. We immediately knew that we wanted to raise it as our child and without hesitation named it ‘Bubba Faquim’ (the last name was a combination of all of our last initials). We drew a little face on it, dressed it in cloth and took it everywhere with us. When it came to lights out we made a little schedule to decide whose bed Bubba would sleep in that night, one of the girls in our dorm however, lost the privilege of sleeping with Bubba. She wanted to pierce its ears! What makes this even more psychotic is that since Bubba didn’t 008

have ears she wanted to make some and then pierce them. It was a scary moment for all of Bubba’s parents and despite our very firm ‘no’ at the beginning after about a week we grew bored with caring for a rotting pumpkin and allowed her to give Bubba a makeover. Not long after Bubba was thrown into the bin as it was really stinking the place up, but it was truly a special moment. I have high hopes for these girls to be mothers in the future.

Having lived with the same people for a few years you start to get comfortable around them. However, when I think of getting closer to people I never expected that it would include things like creating a voodoo dreamcatcher out of our own hair and mandarin skins, dragging a table for over 400m down a super steep slope in the pouring down rain to create a den that looks so horrible that we never visit, and eating an entire chocolate mud cake on the floor at 3 oclock in the morning.

These girls have become my family and I know it sounds like the biggest and most overheard cliche but I don’t know who I would be or how I would have turned out if it wasn’t for them. They are my personal hypeup crew when I get a new outfit or am just feeling really horrible about myself, they are my personal bodyguards when a guy does me wrong and with a mixture of tough love and clinginess I have made some of the best and strongest relationships in my life. in the school

the PLC family Hamna Sheeraz One of the best things about PLC Armidale are the friendships that come along with it; not just normal friendships, true friends, like family.

Every moment spent together is special, no regret, full of joyful times and unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime. You always feel comfortable around everyone here.

PLC Armidale is a safe place; with supportive staff, seniors, juniors and the social issue

your friend group who will always be there to support you. Every moment spent here is around the people you love. PLC is one big family, especially the boarders, who live together like sisters. Friendships at PLC Armidale are so precious that lifetime bonds will be made. These relationships are not ordinary and every moment is valuable around special people who will always have your back.

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dear past self…

Makenzie Robertson and Seraphina Katta

Past PLC… PLC is known for its vast and

two sister schools as they still are

adaptive school rules from having to

today.

wear a kilt with brown shoes to now having to wear black shoes (and we

The college has always offered a

think that is a very good decision.) It

wi de ran g e of ex tra c u r r i c ul a r

was founded in 1887 and is now in its

activities and continue to encourage

134th year of educating girls. The

students to have a go at creative

l o c a t i o n of th e P LC A r m i d a l e

arts and sport. As a regional, all-girls

campus has changed several times

school, PLC Armidal e plays an

and in 1960 the starting stages of

important role in the community by

building the current campus was

providing an exclusivel y female

initiated. The school wasn’t always

education system. The school’s

called Presbyterian Ladies College

motto was originally Lux Per Studia,

and it wasn’t until 1941 when the

meaning ‘Enlightenment Through

Co l l e g e wa s o b ta i n e d by th e

Study’ but was later changed to Ad

Presbyterian Church of New South

Astra which means ‘To the Stars’.

Wales that they changed the name.

The school still follows this motto

In 2005, PLC Armidale joined in

and continues to remind girls that

alliancewith PLC Sydney, making the

they should “reach for the stars” and aim to fulfil their dreams.

“You’re going to have so many people in your life and they’re going to come and go.

You have to accept that you’re not going to be friends with them all, but everyone is your friend for a reason and each one is in your life at a specific time for a purpose, don’t push them into a time in your life that they are not meant to be included in.”

“That kid you thought you were in love with when you were twelve… girl, what were you thinking…”

“Don’t chug lukewarm tea” “Don’t reject great opportunities, just say Yes!”

“Don’t be afraid to do things, don’t let the fear of failure or rejection hold you back from giving things a go. Sometimes you’ll only get the opportunity once” 010

in the school

“Don’t be afraid to do things, don’t let the fear of failure or rejection hold you back from giving things a go. Sometimes you’ll only get the opportunity once”

“Even though things got challenging and you started questioning, things turned out all good. Plus; your discovery of bubble tea has been life-changing.”

Past Experiences Past experiences are events that have shaped our life up until now. They can be both positive and negative events.

We can learn a lot when we take the time to reflect on our past selves and experiences. Everyone has memories that they would like to forget because they’re embarrassed by them or know what they did wasn’t the right thing to do. The truth is that when we reflect on these memories we can learn from the mistakes we made and know what to do differently in the future. We can learn life lessons that will help us in the future and what we’re currently doing. We can also use these lessons to talk to other people and teach them what we wish we’d known. If you’ve been in that person’s shoes you may well have

invaluable advice for them. We can look at how our past selves reacted to a situation and figure out the most appropriate way to respond the next time. This is a useful skill to have as when we’re caught off guard we can re f l e c t o n p a s t ex per i e n ce s and navigate the confusion we feel in the moment. It’s also important to reflect on our past selves so that we can accept what has happened in our past and move on, whilst impl ementing the l essons l earned from these pas t experiences. Reflecting on our past selves is a time for self-growth and seeing how knowledge from our past experiences can help us in future situations.

‘Don’t forget to feed the dogs’ “Don’t let school run your life. Work hard for the things you care about, and then don’t let it leak into time that you should be spending with friends. We’re teenagers, and we’ll be in school for a long time, so don’t let it swallow you up.”

Just like PLC, we move on, but we always adapt to changing times. We always reflect on our past, but it is important not to focus on regret but on self-growth and how our pas t experiences may help others overcome the social issue

the struggles they’re facing in a given situation. It’s important to know that reflecting on our past selves can be a time of reflection and learning as they allow us to better ourselves and live better lives in the future.

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christmas beetles

Written and illustrated by Harriet Gilpin

I don’t think Christmas beetles are very popular. In fact, the widespread opinion seems to be that they are a nuisance; and it doesn’t help that beetles aren’t beloved animals in the first place. But the Christmas beetle population is declining rapidly and no-one seems to know, or care much about it.

First of all, are Christmas beetles really bad?

Christmas beetles are considered a pest, because they descend on gum trees in swarms and eat large volumes of leaves. However, they generally prefer to eat older, more mature leaves rather than fresh ones, and if the beetl es are s tripping trees entirely, it means they have nowhere else to feed. The damage Christmas beetles do to the trees in our garden is a product of the damage that has been done to their original habitat.

Why are Christmas beetles disappearing?

Christmas beetles lay their eggs in soil and rotting logs, which then hatch into white larvae called curl grubs.

These grubs eat roots and dead plants, and then turn into adult beetles. However, climate change is disrupting the environment Christmas beetles (and many other animals) need to survive. Australia is getting hotter and drier as time goes on.

Drought and bushfires are becoming more and more common and when t h e g r o u n d i s e x tr e m e l y d r y, Christmas beetle larvae do not come out. Those that do, face a depletion in food sources that can be devastating, as fire spreads quickly through gum forests, burning leaves that these beetles rely on entirely. However,

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climate change isn’t the only thing pushing Christmas beetles out of their homes. Urbanisation eats away at the edges of Australia’s natural forests, and unlike forests damaged by fire, those trees aren’t going to grow back.

Why should you care about them?

The same reason you should care about any other native animal! Beetles may not be as liked as koalas or wombats but they are part of the local fauna nonetheless, Christmas beetles are a type of scarab beetle (the cool ones you see depicted in ancient Egypt) and they come in many different shiny colours, from golden brown to greeny blue, even purple if you travel north enough.

T h i n k of t h e m a s l i tt l e f l y i n g Christmas baubles. If you really don’t like them, that’s okay, but you can still respect them.

What can you do to help?

If you want to do your bit to help the C h r i s t m a s b e et l e s c o m e b a c k , consider planting more gum trees in your garden for the adult beetles to feed on, and native grasses for the grubs. You can also help by visiting and respecting your local national parks or donating to the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife to protect and sustain these areas. If you’re unable to do any of these, simply turning off your lights and pulling down your blinds at night stops them from fl ying into the window at night. Remember that even though it might seem like a small contribution, these little acts can save even a few beetles, and a single fullgrown tree can feed countless!

news and opinion

know your news quiz Maya Hess and Annicha Waters Q1 What was significant in Australia

Q5 How many gold medals did

in 1967?

Australia win in the 2020 Tokyo

A. The 1967 referendum

Paralympics?

B. ACDC rel eased their debut

A. 32

album

B. 27

C. The Scope was born

C. 16

D. The Hula Hoop was invented

D. 21

Q2 What organization is investigating Gladys Berejiklian, the 45th Premier of New South Wales?

A. NSW Ombudsman B. ACIC C. ICAC

Q6 Who was the first Indigenous artist to be awarded Australia’s Archibald Prize?

A. Emily Kame Kngwarreye B. Vincent Namatjira C. Minnie Pwerle D. Ricky Maynard

D. AFP Q7. The Aboriginal culture is Q3 Which city has endured the

believed to be one of, if not the

most number of days in lockdown

oldest culture in the world. How

during the covid-19 pandemic?

many years ago is new evidence

A. Buenos Aires

suggesting the culture began?

B. Melbourne

A. 100 000 years

C. Rome

B. 20 000 years

D. New York City

C. 60 000 years D. 120 000 years

Q4 What is the most purchased album on all time?

A. The White Album - The Beatles B. Thriller- Michael Jackson C. Back in Black- ACDC D. Like a Prayer- Madonna the social issue

1: A 2: C 3:A 4;B 5:B 6:D 7:B 8:A ANSWERS 013

double-ed Lauren illustrated by

Social media has had a profound effect on our society, with forty-five percent of the world’s population using some sort of social network. The industry has exploded as many more people have turned to the platforms for a way to connect with others, to gain information and to express themselves. The term ‘social media’ is widely used; however, it refers to computer-based technology that enables people to share ideas, opinions and information with others through online networks. Most people h ave found th at social media h as positively impacted their wellbeing as it helps them keep connected to others.

Our cultural trends have also been transformed by social media, through sharing thoughts and ideas, as well as creativity. However, no matter how many good things have come out of social media, there is no hiding the fact that it also has a dark side. Like a doubleedged sword, social media has also detrimentally affected the wellbeing of people through the posting of hurtful or inappropriate comments and images.

These platforms also allow users to heavily influence, and even discriminate against other people.

In modern day society, we care about our mental and physical wellbeing, as it allows us to function better and live a happier life. This concept has influenced our lifestyles and how we view ourselves as human beings. Social media platforms enable people to communicate with each other and help achieve a better wellbeing. It has also given people the opportunity to find new networks of people who share similar interests and ambitions. Platforms such as Instagram, Tiktok, Snapchat and Facebook also give people the ability to showcase their creativity and selfexpression, which may help them realise 012 014

their ta l ent and spark further aspirations.

New trends have emerged due to the use of social media, which has overall changed our culture to one that allows for fast communication. The upside of this is that it has enabled people to share important news quickl y to a specific audience, and for international businesses to grow rapidly through marketing. However, the most important thing that has occurred, is that it has allowed and encouraged people to have a voice and speak up for what is right.

‘Dove' is a global and well recognised brand that focuses on personal care, h oweve r, w h a t h a s made the brand so unique is that it has ta ke n s o c i a l m e d i a campaigning by storm.

Dove has built campaigns such as #ShowUs and #RealBeauty around its core values of inclusiveness, natural beauty and positive body image. Its campaigns allow women to comfortably open up about their true beauty and fight against the conventional beauty standards that have harmed generations of women. There is an abundance of campaigns like Dove’s th at cover many different issues in the world today, and these social media campaigns are helping change people’s toxic news and opinion

ged sword

Williams Anviti Sinha

views and opinions, or encouraging people to take action against certain issues such as climate change and discrimination.

Amongst the people watching cute videos of puppies and kittens for hours on end, there are trolls, scammers, and all their nasty companions lurking in the shadows, waiting for their next prey.

Even though many people state that their life has become better and happier with social media, there are many people whose lives have been unfairly ruined or made worse. It has been reported by the Child Mind Institute that people who spend more time on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram are more likely than others to become depressed. This was highlighted in a study which showed that the rate of depression increased from 13% in people who view social media for a normal amount of time, to 66% in people who were on social media much more often. These effects can include feeling inadequate, isolated and lonely, anxious and depressed, or experiencing the fear of missing out, cyberbullying and self-absorption. These aw f ul ex per i e n ce s h ave brutally affected children and teenagers as they depend on the platforms to stay connected, as it has become i n g ra i n e d i n t h e i r n a t u re t o b e dependent on it.

Even though social media has been beneficial towards positively changing our culture, there have been many ins tances where it h as done the opposite. Platforms such as Instagram and Tiktok have created new celebrities the social issue

that have have the power to influence our opinions and lifestyles, by constantly promoting products in their widel y viewed posts. Kris Jenner openly said that her “famous daughters can make up to six figures for each paid Instagram post” with them being able to charge more for items that you eat, drink or put on your skin. The downside of this is that many people, especially people who want to jump on the bandwagon, do not properl y research wh at is being advertised and believe that the product must be good if the celebrity has agreed to promote it. We are being constantly surrounded by endorsements in Instagram posts that have a negative effect on our culture.

Tiktok has come under scrutiny by black Tiktok creators for being racist.

The platform’s algorithm also sparked anger as somehow it had been making posts by black creators nearly invisible to viewers, even though they had been p u b l i s h e d . Ti k to k de n i e d a l l th e accusations of the platform being racist or discriminatory, saying that there must have been something wrong with the algorithm, and in future they would try to be more inclusive.

It is important to recognise the positives and negatives of social media before committing to any platform, as they can impact your lives for the better; or worse. From the research, it is clear that social media has been more beneficial to our lives than we have ever realised and that the risks of a bad experience are less likel y if you are cautious.

Because of this, it is all right to use social media as long as you are aware of th e r i s k s and u s e th e pl a t for m s responsibly.

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looking inside Nevada Guiance Illustrated by Bella Waters

Utilising the Electromagnetic Spectrum

A n oth er i m a g i n g te c h n i q u e for

for Diagnostic Imaging Both X-rays and MRIs utilise the

‘looking inside’ is that of Magnetic

electromagnetic spectrum in a non-

magnetic fields and radio waves.

intrusive way to obtain internal

Radio waves are also part of the

structural information about the body.

electromagnetic spectrum. They are a

The electromagnetic spectrum is a

low frequency, long wavelength type

continuum of energy which travels as

of non-ionising radiation. An MRI

waves of different frequencies.

image depicts tissues and organs

Resonance Imaging (MRI), which uses

rather than bone.

X-rays are powerful enough to eject electrons from their orbits around the

Over time, diagnostic imaging has

nucleus of the atoms in our body

developed greatly - with some other

(meaning they are a form of ionising

e xa m p l e s i n c l u d i n g C o m p u te d

radiation) and when this happens it

Tomography (CT), Positron Emission

can damage our DNA. For this reason,

Tomography (PET) and Ultrasounds.

an X-ray is only used when it is purposes. To put the exposure of

Science in our everyday lives Diagnostic imaging

a medical X-ray into perspective,

techniques help us to

3 8 c h e s t X- ra ys wo ul d b e

‘ l o o k i n s i d e ’ wi t h o u t

necessary for dia gnostic

required in order to receive an

having to perform surgery

amount of radiation close to

to diagnose a medical

that of the normal background

condition. We now have

radiation th at everyone is

the technology of harnessing

exposed to in a year.

' i n v i s i b l e ' e l e c tr o m a g n e t i c

During an X-ray procedure,

radiation, the engineering of the

denser materials, such as our

use of patient-friendly diagnostic

bones, absorb X-rays. This is

instruments and the maths of the

why they show up distinctly on

safe limits of radiation exposure.

a scan, rather than the less-

And as a result, our methods of

dense soft tissue surrounding them.

016

diagnosis are more efficient and treatment more comfortable.

news and opinion

*Please note that this is an opinion piece. The Scope does not have any political officiations

individual vs society- opinion piece Tilly Almond Illustrated by Bella Waters

At this point we are all pretty sick of

moment and not how they could

hearing about COVID, right? Honestly

possibly be hurting others.

I wish I could just ignore it, but it is so important that we don’t, even though

It does, however, raise the question of

we are just coming out of lockdown

cause and consequence, and how far

and vaccines are rolling out.

we are willing to take the law. Despite th ere b e i n g n o m a nd a te for

We must work as a society to follow

vaccinations, I am so thankful that my

the rules which will minimise the

grandparents are vaccinated as they

spread, and simultaneously minimise

were one of my main concerns with

the time spent in lockdown. If we

this virus.

have all worked so well together to

grandparents who are most at risk,

get to this point, we have to question

and are one of the reasons why I

what motivated individuals or groups

follow the rules and hope others will

to work so h ard a gains t the

too.

After all, it is our

progression. For example, during the protests in Sydney and Melbourne

While some of our population have

against lockdown where the police

l e g i t i m a te re a s o n s a g a i n s t

had to arrest hundreds of people, it

v a c c i n a t i o n s , we h a v e t o a s k

was like we were witnessing the

ourselves; what is the consequence of

situation worsening. The y were

this individual versus society conflict?

protesting for freedom, but what was

We have seen the worst of society,

the outcome? These peopl e are

and the best, and perhaps, into the

thinking only for their individual self

future, the ‘individual’ and ‘society’

and how they feel in a particular

can work together to make holistically beneficial changes.

the social issue

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Hyperion Inspired Chiyo Brown

a kaleidosco

illustrated by Ali Kealey In the vast grassland she lay, Far removed from the cold breath of winter Far from the bitter sadness of the night, Laughing as the flowers brushed against her cheeks.

As the grass way back and forth Like the gentle ebbing and flowing of the sea, Butterflies danced among the flowers, Their colourful wings like rich cloths, glowing in the summer warmth.

A stream bubbled nearby, It's happy melody sung by the wind, The water-bugs, the reeds, As it made its way past the grassy meadow.

She had not moved from this meadow for many years, And had often a night sat their, Watching as fireflies, like tiny fragments of stars Gently floated around the reeds in the summer, Their fragile beauty brushing her fingertips Before dying the following morning.

She had often sat there, Whistling to the birds during empty winter nights When the meadow was covered with thick snow, and would watch As they ate small seeds and grains from the fall harvest.

She saw flowers emerge from the ice, Easily reaching for Springs warm hand Only to be burnt off by Winter’s cruel breath.

She had silentl y watched the meadow thousands of years, Laughing and weeping alongside all that lived there.

But for now, it was springtime, And so she would dream, Dream all day without a stir.

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Forever Weary Zoe Martin Before, the sun did not shine.

Death's arm lay heavy over land.

Many men were dragged in by his reel, And dark red stained deep many hands.

But now the wrecks fall away dissolve back into time Young ash trees outward and new sunshine sublime.

Flowing water glistens under shining sun and earth turns its carefree course.

But in the shadowed corner wispy dark spirit lingers and feels no remorse.

Stop! Why must wisps grow?

Stop! Why must death always take?

Why is there always a bit of prophet?

Must man be filled with dark red hate?

Rain clouds cover sun- they want more.

The past has made us dreary!

With the earth to rest or let it dry!

For we are forever weary.

pe of poetry Nothing to Say Alannah Williams

I stop.

I start.

My mouth begins to open, then slams shut.

A whisper growing louder, the one that knows I should speak.

The silence is awkward.

I should speak.

I have nothing to say.

What should I do?

This is a risk...

My mental voice speaks constantly, in a way my other voice doesn’t.

The one that has to speak to other people.

I know that I should speak, and the silence is a presence, so loud, so knowing, and it knows that I won’t break it.

Like smoke or fog, the atmosphere is tangible, like it’s transferred to the realm of the physical, and it’s delicate, a pane of glass, draped with spiderwebs of cracks, and one wrong move will break it.

I have nothing to say.

One day, I will speak my mind, remove the filter from my mouth and just let everything out.

Somewhere safe.

One day, I will speak.

But not today. the social issue

Glory Untainted

Abby Eastment, illustrated by Ali Kealey Beyond the hills of chilling dusk, Crouched in the dark, preparing fields of yield.

Hibernating bulbs of flowers, Poised to unfurl at the break of day.

When the sun rises, and breaks over the hills, Then we shall see the longawaited spring, In its bright and colourful glory, The flowers unfurling in a sunny morning.

Therefore, wait, for the long awaited spring, Or its glory is untainted when it arrived last.

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artistic representation of PLC Illustrated by Hattie Gilpin

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the arts

PLC through the lens Photography by Chloe Clark In our frequently changing world, we tend to forget to stop and appreciate beauty; to ‘stop and smell the roses’ in a sense. This collection of photography is designed to emphasise the beauty that can be found around us if only we care to take the time to look. It serves as a

reminder of how careless and nonchalant our society can be when it come to admiration of all that is beautiful. When viewing this collection titled, ‘stop and smell the roses’, take a moment to stop. Simply stop and allow yourself to see beauty in the world around us.

‘stop and smell the roses’- a collection

the social issue

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of fog, fishermen, short

written and illustrated The bench planks dug into her ribs and bruised her pale skin. If you walked past her you might not notice her thin form on the bench, few people ever did. At some point, she stopped noticing you as well; you in your smart clean coat and polished shoes that clacked against the ground, expensive coffee in one hand and expensive phone in the other. Her hair was damp and dirty, hanging in matted strings around her thin face. She may have been pretty when her cheeks were full and rosy and when her watery eyes weren’t so bloodshot, but the world had a weird way of destroying beautiful things.

th e m o pe n . S u s pi c i ou s s ta i n s covered the stairs and walls, and a sulphurous smell seeped down the stairs. Shaking, she brought out another key. The doorknob was covered in rust, though the lock mechanism inside was still sound.

She paused, listening. The hum of a radio disguised any other sounds that may have been made by the man inside. Steeling her nerves, she twisted the key in the lock and slowly pushed the door open, the hinges silent. The apartment was dark, the only light coming from the glow of the old box tv in the corner.

A radio commentated the baseball game unfolding on the sil ent screen.

***

She closed the door quietly, though she knew he knew she was there. He always knew.

She walked through the park down to Pier 45 silently. The weather warmed by mid-morning, evaporating the fog. She would be gone by then, almost like a ghost, or maybe an angel.

Her feet seemed to know something she didn’t and by late afternoon she was standing in front of a maroon brick building on a quiet street. The salt from the ocean was no longer enough to mask the smell of filth. A warm breeze tossed a plastic bag against the wall and over the gutters but it did nothing to settle the chill she felt under her large jacket.

Her hand was steady even as she extracted a brass key from her pocket and fit it into the rusted gate. The groan from the hinges hardly affected her as she pushed 022

“So you finally came crawling back,” his voice was deep and gravely, an after effect of a lifetime nicotine addiction.

“Yes sir.”

“Humph.”

He was silent for what felt like hours and when her breathing finall y evened out, she made her escape to her small room in the back. The door scraped against the floor as she opened it, the after-effects of the last time it rained when the roof sprung a leak. Her space inside was small and bare. A glass jar on the windowsill contained a dried rose from her last birthday but there was little else. The old wooden floors were poorly fitted and allowed for cold wind to wreak havoc in the winter.

the arts

and falling angels

story

by Bethany Eickhoff

The sheets on her bed were dusty and moth-bitten, it was so long since she’d slept there it hardly mattered. It was only a matter of time before she left again. She only came back to make sure he hadn’t drunk himself to death and never stayed more than a night. Even still, this room felt familiar, maybe the closest thing to a home she had had, though with every visit it was starting to feel more like a prison.

The view out her window wasn’t the best, consisting of grey and red rooftops, but if she stared hard enough, she could imagine the faint blue line of the ocean on the horizon.

She knew she couldn't stay here.

She couldn’t fly with these chains around her ankles. She shuffled quietly to the kitchen, keeping an eye on the back of his head the entire time. Loud snores came from the devil in the chair, settling the storm in her heart. She opened the old fridge as quietly as she could, not wanting to wake the sleeping demon. She quickly scanned the shelves. The milk was out of date and the takeaway in the containers smelled questionable.

She has more luck with the cabinet.

The jar of peanut butter was half full and she found a full pack of stale biscuits that she managed to fit into the large pockets of her jacket.

back, she decided. She stood on the opposite side of the street, taking in the building she had been chained to for so long, the sunset cast a yellow glow down the street, making it seem almost ch arming, the colourful buildings taking on a warm look. But the maroon building remained dark. She wanted so badly to move towards the warmth the light promised but she knew she would never be fully embraced, not any more.

Turning on her heel, she made her way north towards the bridge. The setting sun created inky shadows that may have hid evil things but she couldn’t bring herself to care.

She knew all of them by name. She would be a part of them soon enough.

D u s k a p p ro a c h e d wi t h t h e viciousness of a jealous lover. The shadows clung to the soles of her worn shoes, inviting her to join them. She was an angel falling, and she didn’t know when to stop. *** You missed her shadow on the street corner. You missed the feral grin that spread across her face, the flash of sharp teeth and the glow of her eyes under the street lights, her shadow crowned in horns.

Then she was out the door and down the stairs and onto the street and free. She would never come

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riding for the disabled written and photographed by Abby Eastment

Horse riding has been proven to be therapeutic and has educational and psychological benefits for people of all ages. Interaction with a nd l e a r n i n g t o r i d e h or s e s improves social interaction, focus and coordination. Riding for the D i s a b l e d A u s tra l i a h a s b e e n coordinating programs all over Australia for years to provide people with disabilities a chance to i nteract with the s e b e a u t i ful animals.

W h e n we f i r s t c o n s i d ere d volunteering my horse Grace for Riding for the Disabled Australia, s h e h a d to b e a s s e s s e d f or temperament to ensure she would be safe for riders, and passed with flying colours. From then on, she has walked dutifully onto the float with another horse the first Sunday of every month and carried around riders great and small for hours.

Carmel and Robin, and all the riders that met Grace loved how kind and quiet she is, and how

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beautiful she is as well. Due to her convenient size, her calm temperament and how tolerant she is, Grace became the star of the s h ow. We e v e n re c e i v e d a Christmas hamper from RDA with food for our family, and some older horse food for Grace. She has been brightening the lives of the riders at RDA, and is appreciated by the whole community for not onl y safely carrying riders, but bringing people together through horses.

Grace has made a positive impact on many riders, bringing jo y, stimulation and exercise to their lives.

Hopefully many more people will volunteer suitable horses to some of the many RDA programs around Australia to continue to foster the growing community of riders benefitting from these incredible horses.

features and human interests

covid’s effect on wildlife Huna Moghaddar Illustrated by Bella Waters

When we think of covid, it all seems to be about us. The number of cases, lockdowns, border closures and restrictions. But h ave you ever stopped and wondered - what on earth are animals doing when we are all in lockdown?

There have been studies that have shown some wildlife species that are making the most of the empty streets and quiet cities. For example, wild bees are loving the lowered air pollution, which would usually disrupt their ability to smell flowers from a distance. Other wild animals such as big cats, goats, capybaras and even elephants are starting to venture into cities, surprising the locals.

One big advantage of lockdown is how quiet the oceans are. Less boat traffic is definitely a huge benefit to animals such as dolphins and whales.

These sea mamma ls love to communicate with each other, so it’s much easier to do so over longer distances when it's quiet.

Scientists in Victoria have been using acoustic sound monitoring systems to study some of the sounds that Burrunan dolphins make in the Gippsland lakes and Port Phillip Bay. They are able to track much more noise from the dolphins, hearing lots of bubbles, squeaks, squawks, whistles and grunts.

It turns out that each dolphin also has its own ‘signature whistle’, according to the ABC. One scientist, Dr Robb, tells the ABC that “there might never be another opportunity like this quiet time on the Gippsland Lakes.” the social issue

Quiet cities don’t always turn out to be a good thing. Wild boars are taking over the city streets of Haifa, Israel. They’re snuffling for food and scrambling through parks and roads.

Th e y were k n ow n to m a ke a p p e a ra n c e s eve n b e f o re t h e pandemic, but the locals are worried that even after lockdown, they will want to keep coming back in search of food.

On the other hand, nature parks and reserves around the world have seen their native animals breed peacefully without the bustling tourists around.

In Divjaka National Park, 85 pairs of curly pelicans are nesting, and in Th ailand, a pod of around 30 d u g o n g s were s e e n swi m m i n g around a silent national park. This is great news since dugongs are classified as a vulnerable species that often get caught in fishing nets or suffer from water pollution.

It’s safe to say that we weren’t the only ones affected by this pandemic.

It has shown us what sort of life we live today and how we could make it better to benefit the planet. Hopefully we can make the right choices so that when the pandemic does end, we c a n m a ke s u re t h a t t h e environment is still protected when we merge back into regular life.

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Introverts v Kaitlin Imagine you're at a function. Whatever function you want it to be. There are lots of people there; some of which you k n o w. A f t e r h o u r s o f n o n s t o p socialising and action, how do you feel?

This is a simple test that determines one thing: if you're an introvert or an extrovert. You may already know, but what does it actually mean?

The idea behind this test is where you get your energy from biologically.

Extroverts get their energy from their surroundings, and when there is more going on and more stimulation they are more energised; explaining why they would be ready for the afterparty.

Extroverts can feel pretty sluggish and bored if there’s nothing happening. On the contrary, Introverts gain energy from calmer environments and feel more switched on when there’s less stimulation coming at them. When Introverts are in a full-on situation, their ‘social battery’ can easily drain from everything going on, and need to charge with some down time.

It’s alright if you feel that you like alone time, but you also need people.

A lot of you may be thinking, what about ambiverts? Well, according to the Myer-Briggs website, ‘Ambiverts’ as a separate category in between Introverts and Extroverts do not exist.

Here’s why: everyone is both an introvert and extrovert. Extroversion/ introversion is often compared to being right/left handed. It’s a part of your DNA, but just because you’re dominant with one hand it doesn’t mean your other hand is completely useless. Introversion/extroversion also changes depending on the environment you’re in. You may act more introverted around strangers but be completely extroverted at home or during recess.

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Th ere a re pl e n t y of my th s and misconceptions towards Introversion/ Extroversion. First up is myths about Extroverts:

Extroverts are bad listeners: E x tr o v e r t s t e n d t o i n t e r r u p t a conversation more than Introverts.

However, in order to add in a little extra to the conversation or agree on a point, th e y m u s t b e l i s te n i n g to th e conversation. Extroverts can easil y m a k e a c o n ve r s a t i o n l o n g e r b y paraphrasing and asking open-ended questions, and from this, and sustaining a conversation, Extroverts can create or strengthen bonds with others in the conversations. If Extroverts are bad listeners, they wouldn’t be able to do this.

Extroverts are happier: This myth ties back to an age old question of ‘What makes a person happy?’. Everyone expresses happiness in different ways, and different things make each person happy. Extroverts may just express this happiness more th an Introverts, or make it more obvious. Introverts thrive in l ess buzzing environments, and so they can be as happy as Extroverts; just; nobody is around to witness it.

Extroverts are more social: The basis of this myth is the assumption that Introverts are antisocial, meaning E x trover t s m u s t b e th e o p p o s i te : sociable. As outlined, Introverts and Extroverts can socialise, it's the tolerance level how much socialising they feel co m for ta b l e wi th th a t m a ke s th e difference. Because Extroverts get energy from a buzzing environment; then of course they will appear more social than Introverts in most scenarios.

features and human interests

s. Extroverts Mungall But, let us not forget about our Introverts. What are some common misconceptions about Introverts?

Introverts are shy/quiet: This may appear to be the case, but really, it's not. Introverts can seem quiet at first sight when they’re in a group, but that's because Introverts tend to think before speaking and process things internall y, whereas Extroverts don’t. By thinking first, Introverts take a longer time to speak and that's when they appear quiet, especially around lots of people or new people. If one took the time to get to know an Introvert, they’ll soon discover how much they do speak.

This ‘thinking before speaking’ is also a reason why Introverts appear shy too.

Appearing shy can be seen as not saying much, or not being overl y involved in a conversation. Being shy is a way people avoid social disapproval or humiliation. Introversion is a preference for environments that aren’t overstimulating.

Introverts don’t take risks: What stops you from taking a risk?

This same question needs to be applied to this myth. Taking risks revolves around fears and desires, and doesn’t have anything to do with introversion or extroversion. Plus, the other point to make is the risk itself.

A risk could be mountain climbing, or a risk could be telling someone your honest opinion. For an introvert, telling someone an honest opinion may be super daunting, or it may not be. This myth isn’t accurate in the slightest.

So, as you can see, we tend to jump to conclusions and judge others based on whether they love being the centre of attention or not. However, in reality, much of what we believe has its flaws, and it is important to debunk them in order to gain a more holistic outlook. the social issue

Introverts are more likely to be affected by mental illness: I’m going to say straight out: this is not true at all. This myth is based on the assumption that because someone isn’t talkative and doesn’t gel with a big group that it will influence their mental health negatively. How social you are doesn’t always link into or directly to the likelihood of developing a mental illness. For that, we need to look at biology, childhood trauma, family history and overall character and temperament.

Introverts don’t make good public speakers: There are actually many people who speak well that are Introverts, they prepare and practise well before giving a talk, and draw from their strengths, and being exactly who they are. Even though Extroverts may have the acting side of speaking down more naturally, Introverts can develop this part of speaking. Speaking also requires focus, listening and reflection, which is a part of introversion nature.

Because, introvert or extrovert, while apparently polar in nature are really just two sider of a coin, and to better understand ourselves and society, we need to turn the coin over and give it a polish.

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confo

Makenzie Robertson illustrated by Conformity is the act of people changing their behaviour or beliefs to fit in with a group’s standards, rules, or laws. This change can be caused by real (involving the physical presence of others) or imagined (involving the pressure of social norms/expectations) group pressure. This group pressure may occur in various ways such as bullying, persuasion, teasing, and criticism. A study performed by Herbet Kelman in 1958 concluded th at there are three types of conformity: compliance, identification and internalisation.

Compliance is only temporary and occurs when an individual conforms to the ma jority publicly even if they don’t agree in private. Identification is when an individual conforms to the expectations of a social role, e.g. nurses, police officers.

Internalisation is when a person publicly changes their behaviour to fit in with the group, while also agreeing with them privately and is a permanent change.

In 1955 Deutsch and Gerrad identified two reasons for why peopl e conform: normative co n for m i t y a nd i n for m a t i o n a l conformity. Normative conformity is giving in to group pressure because a person wants to fit in with the g ro u p , w h ere a s i n f or m a t i ve conformity occurs when a person lacks knowledge and looks to the group for guidance or if a person is

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in an uncl ear situation and compares their behaviour to their peers.

Conformity is an important factor in making our society run smoothly as it helps keep people in line and is one of the ma jor reasons humans evolve and progress at such a fast ra te. Fo l l owi n g th e r ul e s and regulations when living within a society allows the group to progress and grow. Conformity is a lso i m p o r ta n t w h e n i t c o m e s t o following the rules as without the rules society would be a haphazard environment where no one would or could benefit. If there were no rules or consequences for breaking the rules then no-one in the group living in h armony or success so it’s important that people conform and abide by the rules. For example, people conform to the road rules nearly every day through things like driving on the left side of the road and following the speed limits.

C o n f o r m i t y re s u l t s i n a f a i r distribution of the workload among a society’s citizens. When everyone does their “fair share”, pays taxes and works towards a common goal it allows society to be successful.

When people abide by the rules, work and pay taxes it makes it possible for “safety nets” to be a thing within a society. Safety nets assist in improving the lives of vulnerable families and individuals.

features and human interests

rmity

and Seraphina Katta Hattie Gilpin C o n for m i t y c a n a l s o h e l p a n individual get rid of their bad habits they’ve formed as they want to fit in with their peers. For example, it has been observed that anti-smoking campaigns have consistently been shown to be effective in reducing smoking prevalence and prompting quitting behaviours. Similarly, it can assist in building good habits as people observe the positive traits in the personalities that surround them. We conform to good habits everyday through things such as complying with school and road rules.

Conformity can be good at times but there are some downsides.

P e o p l e w a n t t o b e l i e ve t h a t societies are built on good morals and the overall good that humanity can achieve but this isn’t always the case. Nazi Germany is a prime example of people conforming to unjust morals and ideas as they took part in the genocide of millions of Jews. Many people in Germany during World War II stated they participated in the Holocaus t because they were following the orders given to them. They followed principles that were unjust because they feared what would happen if they did not listen and conform.

the social issue

Conformity can encourage a lack of diversity and individualism as everyone wants to fit in. People fall into groups th at the y feel comfortable with and these groups then merge with others who have similar like-minded approaches to life. Communities get together into parties that share similar platforms that seek out a specific definition of success suited to them. If everyone were to live within the guidelines and belief systems of their society the world would be a very dull drab environment. This would also mean there wouldn’t be opportunities for change in the future and there would be the chance that society couldn’t move forward as they wish.

When people conform it’s so they can fit in with society and they may not actuall y enjoy how they’ve begun to live their life. The y conform to societal norms, even if it means not being happy with who they are and how they’re living life.

People are willing to sacrifice their individuality if it means they are accepted by their peers. But why is it that we feel obliged to do so?

Perhaps this desire to fit in with e v e r y o n e i s o n e of t h e tr u e motivations that underpins our society. If so, how far are you willing to go to fit in with the crowd?

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society; stigma

Sarah Waters an

Why the Stigma?

You don’t belong to that group, why are you here? Many seem to be capable of recognising that it is s ta te m e n t s l i ke th i s th a t a re preventing forward motions within society towards the ‘utopia’ that we all strive towards. So, if this is the case, why is it so ingrained within us to stereotype others and place them in the large box titled, ‘different’?

Typical of our human nature, the idea of stigmas are so contradictory to our apparent moral compasses.

Unlike other issues that have blown out as a result of our technology boom, stigma has been a f und a m e n ta l a s pe c t of g l o b a l societies, made more acute by travel and encounters with ‘The Other.’

With that, comes the question of why we subject others to hurt, after having been hurt ourselves? It is this that has sparked the whole train of you hurting him who hurt her who hurt them who hurt me and it seems to be a never ending cycle in which no one takes responsibility or attempts to put an end to it all. Well, as summed up by Sandra D Wilson, ‘hurt people hurt people’ and maybe this is able to give us true insight into our human experience and why we are driven to exclude and stigmatise those who fall in the category of ‘not like me’.

Is it possible that the stigmas we project are to hide our insecurities 030

by bringing others down? If this is the case, can we reverse the damage? Or, at the very least, stop the cycle of projecting stigmas?

Perhaps the best way to help slow the spread of stigmas is to become aware of what they are and how they impact others. But not merely aware, but attempting to trul y understand what it would feel like.

This is easy enough to say, but unfortunatel y harder to do. We forget quickly and learn slowly. It’s like having one of our pastoral care *intense* periods where everyone leaves feeling like they are going to miraculously change and refuse to ever do anything wrong again. But that period is short as we realise that the rest of the world hasn’t changed. Saying this isn’t to appear morbid and present humanity in such a way that we feel we can never improve. It is to show the importance of education and create awareness about what it is like.

Perhaps, if we take on the challenge of ‘little and often’ we can start to make a change. Perhaps, if we all take off the rose coloured glasses we can see our world as it is, but more importantly, as it could be. Take today to stop before you stigmatise, to pick up on the inconsistencies in our world and work to act justly and with purpose. If we work together, the ‘different’ can become the ‘wonderful’, and the ‘Other’, become the ‘Us’. features and human interests

and hypocrisy d Azaria Jones

Why the Hypocrisy?

Hypocrisy is a feature of life that we have all been made endlessly aware of. Though it is frustrating to live within these regulations, it is a re g ul a r fa c tor of l i fe th a t circumstances and rules will seem contradictory or even hypocritical in their implementation. Likewise, we often judge celebrities or icons through a similar lens- if they say one thing, why are they acting differently?

Though it often feels like these figures that we look up to or see regularly are more hypocritical than most, it seems that the opposite is true when we apply it to our own reality. As the famous writer, Rafael Sabatini once wrote- “hypocrisy is the very keynote of human nature.”

Though potentially morbid in its implication of a lack of ability to trust our companions and those in authority, it can also be applied to one’s self. When was the last time you found yourself going against your own word? It could have been when you chastised someone for a small lie after lying to someone yourself, when you questioned why someone was judging another unfairly and then judged someone you r s e l f, or eve n w h e n you promised you’d never listen to the most popular boy bands and now you are a solid fan. While for some, this might be hard to recall, for the social issue

most it should be a simple enough task. We all unknowingly go against our own opinions or statements often, and yet we still hate it when others do so. Even our opinions on hypocrites are contradictory. But according to psychologist Robert Kurzbanth, this is normal. In fact he believes it is a part of our very nature as he states, “hypocrisy is the natural state of the human mind”.

So how can we combat this?

Though it may be the ‘human condition’ in a sense, hypocrisy is not necessarily a bad trait that we must change in order to live an ‘honest’ life. Though this may seem strange, it has been proposed that hypocrisy in itself is not always a bad thing. Rather, sometimes it can present as a positive change of heart. But forgiveness and ability to change also plays a great role in the human psyche. Though mistakes and contradictions with oneself may be inevitable, it’s the behaviour leading on from that decision that makes the difference. It’s when we i n tera c t wi th oth er s th a t we understand how our behaviours may be negative or misleading, and it’s through calling each other out on this behaviour that people often re co g n i s e i t . Th i s s te p of communication is essentia lhowever, like everything else, must always be handled with a certain sense of humility.

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food Anviti Sinha There are over 7000 languages in the world, and we all have one language in common: the language of food. As I was thinking about what I wanted to write about for the Social Issue of the Scope Magazine, I couldn’t help thinking about the social aspect of food.

Food for fuel. Food to make us h appy. Food to bring peopl e together. A ma jor aspect of our social interactions as humans is based on food. Food is something that we can rely on. Something that we all care about.

If we look back in time, we have always used food as a chance to socialise with others. Examples of when food brought us together in the past are the large feasts in the Ro m an E m pi re, or th e te a cere m o n i e s i n J a p a n . Th e s e ancient traditions all around the world have carried on all of these years to now. In India, there are specialised dishes that are cooked for specific social events as well.

Why do we like going out for brunch with our friends, or eating birthday cake with our loved ones?

It’s in our history!

There is also such a cultural dimension of food. Each different part of the world has developed different cuisines suited to the specific cultures and traditions.

Food shows the multicultural and multiracial world. There is such diversity of food around the world, which gives us chances to learn 032

about different cultures as well, as we try foods from them, and understand food in social interactions with each other. There have been so many people who have visited specific cultural places in larger cities, such as Little India, or Little China, to understand these cultures and foods.

If you think about it, whenever we meet new people, we always ask them to meet us through a sort of meal. You must have heard the phrases “wanna get some coffee and have a chat?”and “we would love it if you could meet us for d i n n er ” . Th i s i s b e c a u s e we recognise social interactions with sharing food together. Having a good meal with a loved one increases the emotional value of that situation. Having the memory of h aving a good mea l with someone is really just the icing on the cake if the social interaction was positive and meaningful. “How was dinner last night? It was great!

The food was amazing”.

Food is such an important part of our identities. It shows who we are as people, and something quite important about it is that it brings people together. It is actuall y scientifically proven that eating the same food as someone you've just met can help build trust and closeness. So go and cook with your family, and get lunch with your friends. I bet you won’t regret it! entertainment

‘the PLC lens’; short film challenge 1st place: Lovely; a stop motion film, Kaitlin Mungall A beautiful stop motion fi l m c a p t u r i n g t h e emotions within the popular culture song, ‘Lovely’ by Billy Eilish, feat. Khalid.

Highly commended: War Story

Maddy Mitchell, Tilly Almond, Kaitlin Mungal, Bel Freeman

the social issue

Highly commended: Bees Anviti Sinha

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funky fashion movements Binudi Vithana

As a society, we tend to follow general conventions of style and fashion. Normally, out in the street, you would expect to see people wearing fairly normal clothes.

Sandals with Latex Socks Ever worn some nice l ooking sandals? Ever accidentally ruined them with socks because of the fear of cold feet? If so, these latex socks with sandals are just for you! Gucci makes pairs of these socks and sandals to sell, and some celebrities have been known to wear them.

Meat Knee Patches Would you like your pants well done or medium rare? Meat knee patches are basically like having the knee rips in your jeans patched up, not with fabric but with meat! You’ve surely heard of the remedy for black eyes, right? Just place some steak over your eye! Maybe this was used to treat knee grazes…

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Roller Skate Heels (or Wheel Heels) This is the grand design of Saint Laurent. This famous fashion designer created wheel heels. Basically, roller skates, but with heels. Even though they look cool and edgy, and cost over $2000, you will probably have one chance only to use them before breaking your leg!

Cage Trousers Fashion Nova’s “cage trousers” were baffling shoppers worldwide.

Strips of faux leather were sewn together to form two cage-like structures.

These pants are high waisted and cost approximately $70.

Eye Tattoos Eye tattoos change the colour of the eye. These scleral tattoos are incredibly dangerous and must never be tried, even if the application is by professional hand. Dye is injected into the white part of your eye. This is actually illegal.

entertainment

Creativity and Covid Kimberley Blake

“Please wear your mask before…”

One of the most common phrases is 2021, we’ve heard this endlessly.

Wearing masks has become a very recurring ‘trend’ or necessity - it’s almost become strange to be able to see when people smile. Though this common requirement has it’s pros and cons, the easiest method of making the good-out-of-bad is, of course, humour.

Endless videos of people forgetting they aren’t wearing a mask covers our feeds as they wiggl e their tongue about in a strange fashion when choosing wh at brand of chocolate (the ever difficult decisionLindt or Cadbury?) or their unsociable scowls contrasting their now ever-smiling eyes. Furthermore, it has become an utter fashion statement - no longer is it reserved for the extremes of catwalk or surgical ward, ‘ the mask’ is a co m m o n h ou s e h o l d i te m , a s

necessary as your shoes and socks (I pray you all wear socks and shoes together, always). But it is not the most extravagant masks which are the most sought after, no, it is the common blue surgical mask that everyone wishes to acquire. Easy to breathe through, not weird enough to draw attention (for those introverts) and easy to start a conversation about (for those extroverts) the blue masks seem to strike a chord with the common public. Yet still, there are d raw b a c k s . Ac n e , d i f f i c ul t y i n speaking loud enough and - most importantly - the problem of how bad your own breath smells after breathing it in all day. But we are here to solve that problem. The list featured in this article gives several, deeply insightful suggestions on how to c u re you r b ore d o m and dissatisfaction with the common mask by using it in several innovative ways. After all, why stop at one thing, when you can do so much more?

Top 5 things to do with a mask

1.

Wear it as a mask

4.

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2. Wear it as a hat

Cut it up to make another mask

5.

3.

Wear it as a headband

Colour it in

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farmer wan Bella Looking back maybe 5 or so years, if you knew that you would be on Farmer Wants A Wife, what would your reaction be?

Will: 5 years ago I could never have done it. I was so busy and was living a pretty wild life in the outback on cattle stations. I don’t think I would have been completely surprised I did it though. But if you asked me back then I would have declined.

Andrew: No way at all would I have ever thought I would find myself on a reality TV show. I don’t think I had even heard of FWAW. Alex: I would have laughed! It’s not something I had ever planned- it just all fell into place!

Rachael: Never thought I’d do FWAW because I assumed I’d be married with kiddies by now! I was always extroverted, but not as confident nor was I “doing things for me”. I still post things on social media as I alwa ys would, and knock back anything “influencer” selling things, a s I ’ m awa re h ow s tro n g and influential that is and I am not about that. I’m about making people smile and feel valuable and worthy in being completely themselves and I don’t believe th at’s found in a product.

Krissy: Haha 5 years ago I was living in NSW working at a different zoo...my reaction would be definitely not haha!

Coming from a rural school whose students witnessed many of the effects of these natural disasters, were you and your property affected by the drought and bushfires, and to what degree? How did you cope mentally?

Will: These last fires did not get us, so I think I’m really lucky there. And the drought was terrible, but driving through NSW you saw how much worse it was up there so I have nothing to complain about.

Andrew: I’ve seen our property be affected by a coupl e different droughts. Things were pretty bad 036

when I was younger and we went through a long and reall y bad drought. In the more recent one, I definitely felt the effects. I guess you just have to try and stay positive and get through it. There have also been a lot of government initiatives to help farmers through such as transport subsidies and low interest loans which have helped out in the harder times. A lot of people close to me got affected by the recent fires but we were very lucky. One day when we were told that the fire was going to hit us, I remember looking at a map at the local fire shed which showed we were completely surrounded and in the impact zone. The sky was black at midday. But the southern winds that were predicted didn’t happen and so we weren’t hit. Others were not so lucky.

How did you cope knowing that during your journey on Farmer Want A Wife, it would end with you potentially finding love and yet also potentially breaking someone’s heart?

Will: I was excited at the prospect of finding someone, but was very ill prepared for having to let people down. I found that very difficult and it still saddens me.

Andrew: It’s not a great feeling. On one hand you find happinesses on the other you let someone down.

Which didn’t sit well with me. I guess you just had to keep reminding yourself that you just had to be true to yourself, and that unfortunately that was the nature of the show and that the girls understood that going into it.

Coming from an all girls school (we know how girls can sometimes be), was it difficult to have a house full of girls?

Andrew: Hah a not reall y to be honest. There was a producer that lived in the house with us, who’s name was Nic. He was an absolute legend, and the girls and I got on with him really well so I wasn’t completely outnumbered!

photos courtesy

entertainment

ts a wife Waters Alex (Farmer Matt) Farmer Will Krissy- (Farmer Will) Farmer Andrew

Did you face any sort of media critique after becoming known on the show?

Alex: No I was lucky enough not to face any criticism from the media coming off of the show! The only comments I received were about my age and how young I was. It never bothered me because I know I am very mature.

Rachael: Yes I sure did! I have very healthy boundaries and believe TV brought out some emotions in contestants and farmers that I wasn’t going to let slide. A lot of women (heartbreakingly) called me names like a trouble maker, or a viper and sneaky and dramatic... all these horrible names when I NEVER was mean- only standing up for being treated OK. Unfortunately, you get called dramatic as a woman if you stand up for yourself. It’s a way many people have kept women small in history. Women are still fighting for equal rights, and unfortunately it is still a problem. I would get things like “farmers want someone who’s not emotional and gets the work done” which says to young women, stay small and quiet and you’ll get picked... I also got “You wouldn’t get friend zoned all the time if you were more feminine (less ‘jokey’)” x Krissy: I didn't get much negative feedback after the show, but in saying that, I didn't really read anything on socials or comments or anything. I got asked to do a few interviews but they all have to get approved by channel 7 first.

Rachel- (Farmer Andrew)

What was it like changing environments and moving to a farm?

Alex: It was a pretty easy transition for me as I come from a small town in South Australia but the isolation was a bit of a shock. You are s u r ro und e d by s u c h b e a u t i f ul scenery which made it all worth it!

Rachael: I grew up in Mangrove Mountain so it wasn’t a shock at all to me! I did miss my family and friends and the beach. But I think finding your person and a of popsugar community you can help out and be a part of is worth moving for. the social issue

Krissy: I didn't reall y change environments too much as I worked on a farm at the time, the only big change was probably the weather. It was very hot where we were.

Was taking over the family farm always what you wanted, or were there other options you highly considered?

Andrew: I always knew eventually I would end up back at the farm. My parents had a chat to my brother and I before they committed to taking over my grandparents farm, on top of the one they already owned.

They basically asked us if we saw ourselves on the land, because we would be more than likely taking on the debt as well, which was fine with us. I did go to university and did a bachelor of management, and lived and worked in Canberra for a little bit but I never saw myself sitting behind a desk and knew I would always end up back at home.

Do you see the agricultural industry moving towards a place of mutual gender bias?

Andrew: Yeah definitely, and I think it already is going in that direction which is a good thing. Only last week in the shearing shed two of the shed hands were women, and around where I am from that is not an uncommon thing. I think with advancements in technology as well and farm work becoming less labour intensive and easier on the body will continue to encourage women into the industry.

And finally, the most important question, pineapple on pizza? Yes or no?

Andrew: Pineapple belongs on a Hawaiian pizza. And th at is it, because you know what you are getting. Don’t be sneaking pineapple on my supreme pizza for a weird surprise.

Alex: THE BIGGEST YES! How could you not?!

Rachael: The big question!! I eat whatever’s on my plate. I don’t know why but I eat everything except fancy things.. like oysters and those nemo eggs on things.. I have meat lovers or vegetarian (oh the contrast) and neither have pineapple. But if I got ham and pineapple I’d love the pineapple…

Krissy: It's a yes from me!

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pokemon Chiyo

Glaceon Glaceon is a cool gal. She’s the kind of person who seems intimidating from afar, but is very nice once you get to know her.

Looks cute without hair :) 7/10

Jolteon The goodes t bo y out of a ll the e eve e l u t i o n s . H i s fa ce? H i s s m il e?

Everything is perfect. Also looks vaguely like a feral Pikachu, so I’m not sure how I feel about that.

8/10

Vaporeon One of my favourite water types! I love her design and her smile :) The way she sits! So polite! Vaporeon knows how cute she is, and embraces it to the max. There is nothing but goodness in her heart.

11/10

Flareon Flareon looks like somebody used the bucket tool on an eevee and made her red. Very basic, that’s ok! Just not in this case. Reminds me too much of Doritos to like her - You’d probably get cheese scented powder all over you.

5/10 038

entertainment

review Brown

Leafeon Leafeon has a pretty name. As a grass type, she gets a bad rap for being weak against a lot of the common types. I don’t mind though! She looks like a little forest spirit and I love her.

7/10

Espeon One of the prettiest pokemon in the game.

The little ear tufts, the eyes, the Mewtwoish tail, all very pretty. Psychic types have a lot of variation, but Espeon seems right at home next to any of them.

9/10

Umbreon With the name “Moonlight Pokemon”, Umbreon looks and sounds very cool.

Dark-type pokemon often have great designs, and Umbreon is no exception.

7/10

Sylveon Sylveon is the newest eeveelution, and is by far the most popular. Her design is super cute, with pink and blue bows and very kind looking eyes. Who could hate her? Not me.

13/10 the social issue

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what miraculous ladybug character are you?

Bethany Eickhoff and Hattie Gilpin

1. If you could travel to any city in the world, where would you go?

A. London B. Paris C. Armidale (...why?)

D. San Francisco E. Tokyo 2. Pick a colour A. Green 😎 B. Pink :-) C. Black because you have a god complex D. Periwinkle (you’re different) E. Blue :| 3. Is the glass half empty or half full?

A. Nothing is ever really empty because a glass half filled with water is also half filled with air :-D B. Half full :) C. Half Empty :( D. I’ll agree with whatever anyone else says :) E. I don’t care as long as I can make music when I blow on it :D 4. Pick an animal A. A ferret B. A baby sloth C. A predatory whale D. A butterfly E. A squid 5. What kind of music are you into?

A. A lot of rock but anything with a good beat to dance too is also good B. I Won't Hold You Back by Toto… also hard rock C. I’m not really into music :/ D. Anything if the lyrics are good :) especially when it's remixed to sound like there's rain in the background E. Whatever vibes at the time, I don’t really have a specific type but rather many (I have a playlist for everything)

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6. Be honest what did you waste your time on during online school A. Netflix B. Snapchat/Instagram C. Some extensive and pointless project you never finished D. Schoolwork?? ?

E. Music/walking/mindfulness because Mental Health 7. Pick a spice A. Cinamon B. Nutmeg C. Flour D. Ginger E. Turmeric 8. Your friends think they know you, but deep inside, you’re: A. A roleplayer B. Losing it C. Evil D. Obsessed with creating or viewing fanfiction/fanart E. The same person <3 honesty is a virtue 9. It's raining and you see your friend about to walk home. What do you do: A. Give them your umbrella! You don’t want them catching a cold.

B. Offer to share your umbrella while you walk them home.

C. They can perish D. You didn’t bring an umbrella either, guess you’ll both get soaked but at least you can laugh about it later!

E. Give them your raincoat and offer to walk them home.

10. Do you even watch this show?

A. Religiously B. I was forced to watch it by Madame Peters C. No (yes) D. Like years ago??

E. No lol I’m just here for the vibe

answers Photos courtesy of miraculous ladybug wiki

Mostly A’s - Cat Noir You’re suave and easy to get along with, a bit of a flirt but who says that's a bad thing? Under your charming personality you're a lover at heart.

You’re naturally optimistic and that's what people love about you, but please, for the love of croissants, get your eyes checked.

Mostly B’s - Marinette You’re sweet and kind to everyone but people often mistake that for weakness. You're a creative soul and people like your naturally optimistic personality. You’re a great friend and a good listener but it's important that you learn to lean on your friends as well.

Mostly C’s - Hawk Moth Cold and calculated, you are highly cynical about the world around you.

Whether it's a secret butterfly obsession or reclusive tendencies, don’t be afraid to reach out to others to share your interests (you might be surprised!).

Mostly D’s - Nooroo You have loser energy but people like that. Don’t be offended, you’re kinda underrated, keep it going <3 You’re sensitive and empathetic and have a great instinct for people. Trust your gut!

Mostly E’s - Luka You seem to have a sixth sense when it comes to people. However you have the personality of seaweed. You’re multi-talented and no one can put you in a box. People are lucky to have you :)

cartoon corner Hattie Gilpin

the social issue

041

find-a-word

crossword Across 3. According to Myer Briggs, ____ do not actually exist.

6. _____ 'is not necessarily a bad trait that we must change in order to live an ‘honest’ life.’

7. A common misconception about introverts if that they are bad at _____ ______ 10. A key woman in terms of supporting body positivity Down 1. There are three different types of conformity; identification, internalisation and ____ 2. A very colourful species that is going extinct 4. _____ _______ has proven to be a beneficial method of treatment for people of all ages 5. In our fast paced world, we tend to forget to 'stop and smell the ____' 8. Diagnostic imaging techniques have been influential in the medical world, making treatment safer and less _____ for patients 9. This is commonly used to bring groups of people together and can be a way to identify yourself as a part of a cultural group.

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college quizzes

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Azaria Jones Sarah Waters IN THE SCHOOL EDITOR Maya Hess NEWS AND OPINION EDITOR Georgie Swales ARTS EDITOR Bethany Eickhoff FEATURES AND HUMAN INTERESTS EDITOR Emma Thompson ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Heidi Martin

CONTRIBUTORS Abby Eastment Alannah Williams Annicha Waters Anviti Sinha Bel Freeman Binudi Vithana Bella Waters Chiyo Brown Chloe Clark Emma Dauparas Fifi Inberger Hamna Sheeraz Hattie Gilpin Huna Moghaddar Kaitlin Mungall Kimberly Blake Lauren Williams Maddy Mitchell Makenzie Roberston Nevada Guiance Seraphina Katta Tilly Almond Zoe Martin

COLLEGE QUIZZES EDITOR Kate Mabbot CARTOONIST Harriet Gilpin COVER ILLUSTRATOR Bethany Eickhoff ILLUSTRATORS Anviti Sinha Bella Waters Hattie Gilpin PHOTOGRAPHER Chloe Clark Abby Eastment Binudi Vithana ADVISORS Mr Mitchell Clendinning Mrs Kate Clynch

Contact Us For enquiries, comments and questions: thescope@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au

Thank you for reading The Social Issue! @thecollegekaleidoscope