VOICE POSTSCRIPT
Acknowledgment of Country Avondale University acknowledges our Sovereign God as Creator and Provider of all things. We respectfully acknowledge the Awabakal and Darramuragal people as the traditional custodians of the lands on which we live, work, study and worship across our Lake Macquarie and Sydney campuses. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and extend that respect to all First Nations People.
Wellbeing Centre
Avondale University Church
Confidential counselling services for students experiencing
Location: Main foyer of the University Church
academic, mental health, and personal concerns.
Open: Mon-Thurs: 9am-5pm & Fri: 9am-12pm
Phone: 0403 478 994 (SMS preferred)
Pr Norman Hurlow: norman.hurlow@avondale.edu.au
Email: counselling@avondale.edu.au
Phone: (02) 4980 2272
(appointment queries only) LM Campus: The Well-being Centre SYD Campus: The Clinical Education Centre Equity officer: equity@avondale.edu.au
Extension: #272 Email: universitychurch@avondale.edu.au Chaplaincy Services LM Campus: Lower College Hall Phone: +61 2 4980 2148
Volunteer
The student associations always seek volunteers with a 'here to help' attitude. Want to be involved? LM Campus: asapresident@avondale.edu.au SYD Campus: ansapresident@avondale.edu.au
Email: aubree.harrington@avondale.edu.au sean.berkeley@avondale.edu.au SYD Campus: Clinical Education Centre Phone: +61 2 9480 3617 Email: drene.somasundram@avondale.edu.au Academic Support
Security
Academic information:
LM Campus 24/7 phone: (02) 4980 2333 SYD Campus 24/7 phone: (02) 9487 9988 Extension: #333 Email: security@avondale.edu.au Learning Advisors:
Instagram Avondale University: @avondale_uni Avondale Student Life: @avondalestudentlife Avondale University Church: @avondaleunichurch University Student Ministries: @saltavondaleuni
Tech support:
Ella Boyd and Andre Hall: @weareellaandre Watson Hall: @wearewatson Nurses of Avondale: @weareavondalenurses Avondale Sport: @avondalesport Avondale Eagles: @avondaleeagles VOICE. INSTAGRAM
Tech services: servicedesk@avondale.edu.au
Facebook Pages Avondale University Avondale Student Life – ASL The Avondale Roost - Group “DoYouHave” Ella - Group Watson Hall - Group TikTok
TO BE INVOLVED in VOICE Lynnette Lounsbury: lynnette.lounsbury@avondale.edu.au
@avondale_uni @avondalestudentlife
C O N N E C T
These people happened -
We are a platform where students and staff can share their thoughts, ideas, and experiences from their unique Christian perspectives, embracing and celebrating the uniqueness of each journey. It offers a space for the student body to reflect on the dynamic and evolving nature of our shared experiences. The Voice amplifies the diverse voices of students, not the university's official views, fostering an open community where different perspectives are valued and heard.
Endless thanks to the creatives who have fueled our vision and added richness to every part of this project, from the photos and resources to the bold concepts and voices we’ve been able to showcase. Creativity flows through us all, with every unique voice sparking fresh momentum that drives us onward together.
Shout-outs.
We have wholehearted love for Lynnette Lounsbury, sparking joy that is the heartbeat keeping us connected and alive as a community. She is fearless, inspiring, and we are so deeply grateful for all that she pours into each edition.
VOICE wouldn’t be VOICE without yours. CONTRIBUTORS:
brief, beautiful and unforgettable.
EMILY ALLCHURCH DANIEL BARLOW EMILY CHESTER
ROSIE COOKSON COOPER COX
BETHANY CROFT
IZABELLA JOHNSON JOEL KAMARALLI PETER KOOLIK
MICHAELA KOROITAMANA TIA MEDHURST
JACK MOLYNEAUX ISABELLE TOSEN POPPY YATES
PHOTOGRAPHY: PETER KOOLIK ALEX SMEDLEY
AVONDALE MARKETING
FROM THE EDITORS.
SOPHIE SINCLAIR - EDITOR Hi there! Welcome to the fourth edition of VOICE this year! It’s crazy to think I’m halfway through my journey here at Avondale, and even crazier to think how many of the people I have felt made this place what it is are leaving. When given the task of coming up with the theme for this edition, I really loved the idea of endings and beginnings, but also knowing this is not the end. For some, like all you first years, this is your new beginning, after an ending from wherever you came from. And for our graduates, this is your ending, and the start of your new beginning somewhere else. To begin, we must end, and to end, we must continue on and begin again. That idea has expanded and invited an array of pieces from many different perspectives. Some of them look back, some look ahead, and a lot of them sit somewhere in the middle. I think we’re in a strange space at the moment, where we’re not quite done with one chapter but already thinking about the next. Reading these pieces, I’ve realised that’s where most of us are most of the time. This edition is something I am incredibly proud of, and that’s because of the people inside it. Thank you to all the contributors. I’ve very much appreciated putting together this collection of pieces from the most amazing people. Your words, art and ideas gave this edition it’s heart. And I hope you’re as proud of it as I am. The result? Welcome to Postscript. The addition of something after you think you’re finished: the thing you didn’t want to leave unsaid. It’s proof that endings are rarely as final as they look, and there’s always something more to say. Happy reading :) With much love, Soph Oh, and one more thing. Out of many P.S.’s, here’s the first one from me. P.S. To the graduates: thank you for leaving this place better than you found it. And to the first years: you’re already part of the story, so make it yours. And finally, to everyone in between and beyond in either direction (if you happen to find yourself reading this): keep writing, keep creating, and keep showing up. This isn’t goodbye, just the next page.
LYNNETTE LOUNSBURY - STAFF SENIOR EDITOR - LAST EDITION WE MADE A MISTAKE... WE PRINTED A PIECE BY BETHANY CROFT AND ATTRIBUTED IT TO JOEL KAMARALLI. WE ARE SORRY! IT WON’T HAPPEN AGAIN (IT MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN, BUT WILL TRY HARDER) THEY WERE IN FACT TWIN PIECES OF AN EXCELLENT CONVERSATION AND ONE PART WAS LOST IN THE EDIT. WE HAVE REPRINTED THEM THIS EDITION. BETHANY... YOU DESERVE BETTER.
WHATS ON – THE COAST things on this month that are worth procrastinating for
Live Jazz at The Underground: Tuesdays from 8pm (The Grand Hotel, 32 Church St) A small, dim basement place styled on 1920s New York jazz joints. Local and visiting musicians play improvised sets every Tuesday, with a jam night on Thursdays. Get there early for a good seat. Clay and Sip at The Art Department (1/133 King St) A 2.5-hour hand-building pottery class. Bring your own drinks and snacks, and they supply the clay, tools, apron and drinks. Wear old clothes. At $108 a head it’s a treat rather than a cheap night, but it’s great end-of-year night out. Book on ClassBento True Vintage Markets: Sat 7 Nov, morning (Adamstown Uniting Church Hall, 228 Brunker Rd) An indoor market for thrifters, with vintage clothes, vinyl, jewellery and collectables. It runs rain or shine, and there’s a treasure hunt where you can take hidden items home for free.
Rolling Sets: Sat 5 Dec (Foreshore Park, Nobbys) The big one, and the festival’s first year in Newcastle. Ocean Alley, G Flip, Violent Soho and Royel Otis are playing beside the beach. rollingsets.com.au
WHATS ON – THE Sydney Campus Second-Hand Hornsby Market, Sun 8 Nov, 9am–1pm (Coronation St Precinct, Hornsby) A free market full of preloved clothes, books and odd treasures, 150m from Hornsby station. Hornsby Twilight Market, Sat 14 Nov & Sat 12 Dec, 5–9pm (Hornsby Mall) Street food, stalls and a relaxed evening feel. It’s free to wander and a cheap night out with friends. NSW events listing Wahroonga Village Fair, Sun 6 Dec (Railway Ave, Wahroonga) A big local Christmas market with around 140 stalls, live music and food, a short walk from campus. Proceeds go to local charities. Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden (St Ives), any day Free bushwalking tracks and a new boardwalk, if you need some quiet time in nature before exams. Carols @ Asquith Oval, likely Sun 13 Dec Community carols with a BBQ, The 2026 date isn’t confirmed yet.
COMM11100
EMILY ALLCHURCH
When did country suddenly become cool? It is 2026, and everywhere you look, people are
And I have questions.
suddenly
Do they even know who Keith Whitley is?
walking
around
in
western
boots,
oversized
Do they know Ronan Keating wasn't the first person
belt buckles, and cowboy hats like they were born
to sing When You Say Nothing At All?
on a ranch in Tennessee. Everyone knows the
Do they know the women of 90s country who paved
latest country stars; everyone's posting Luke
the way for artists like Lainey Wilson and Ella
Combs, Zach Bryan, and Lainey Wilson's lyrics on
Langley?
Instagram, and somehow, being "country" is now
Because country culture is so much deeper than the
the aesthetic of the year.
trendy version people are selling online right
And honestly? I get it. I really do. The country
now. It's more than the music and the vision we
lifestyle is appealing, the music, the freedom, the community, the fashion, the whole vibe. I cannot even blame people for being drawn to it. But what gets me is this: over 15 years ago, people got laughed at for loving country music. I remember wearing my cowgirl boots and country outfits and being looked at like I had completely lost the plot. The country was not "cool" back then. It
continue to see in the media. It's more than a pair of Wranglers, cowboy boots, and a straw hat. It's history, storytelling, heartbreak songs,
hard
work,
rodeos,
small
towns,
and
generations of artists and people who lived this lifestyle long before it became an internet trend. I just hope all these painted-on cowboys and cowgirls don't water down the culture into nothing more than an aesthetic. Because real country has always
was something people mocked, and even today, the
been more than fashion and the people who truly
real country people who grew up are still mocked.
grew up loving it know the difference, more so the
Now, suddenly, after Beyoncé dropped a country
people who grew up in it can always tell the fake
album and even Snoop Dogg stepped into the
from the real apart, we just have to look at the sole of
country world, it was like the official invitation
their boots to know, I ain't pointing to the dirty
went out to everyone who used to say, "country
boots rather the worn out soles that have seen more
music
then their fair share of hard days.
sucks." Overnight, they were pulling on cowboy boots, yelling "yeehaw," and acting like they'd been raised riding horses their whole life. Yet they were the ones a couple of decades ago yelling at us to turn the country channel off or rolling their eyes when we requested a three-chord-and-the-truth song at an event.
Sophie Sinclair
5 SUBSTACKS THAT ARE WORTH YOUR 5 MINUTES Substack is a platform where writers can express their innermost thoughts, feelings, desires, phylosophies and so much more. Recently, I’ve become obsessed. So here are 5 essays that I think you should read to change your perspective, or maybe articulate the feelings you’ve never been able to put into words.
1. The Art of Observational Intimacy On the quiet language of love, the intimacy of being truly noticed, and the beauty of being understood without having to explain yourself “The deepest form of “I love you” isn’t always spoken. Sometimes it isn’t shown through flowers, handwritten letters, or grand declarations that leave entire restaurants applauding. Sometimes it lives in the quiet ways someone watches you move through the world, paying attention to parts of you that you never thought to explain. I think there is something deeply vulnerable about being observed by someone who loves you. Not because they are looking for your flaws, but because they are learning your language before you even realize you have one.” https://substack.com/@jedspeare
2. everyone is a monster to someone On misunderstanding, villainization, and the freedom that comes from letting go of someone else’s story about you “There is a quiet, heavy moment that happens at the end of a long misunderstanding. It is the moment you realize you have run out of words to defend your own humanity. You have handed over your context, your reasons, your grief, and the softest parts of your history, and none of it mattered. The jury returned a verdict before you even took the stand.”
https://substack.com/@wafiquelywritten
5 SUBSTACKS THAT ARE WORTH YOUR 5 MINUTES
3. you’re stressing out about purpose when all you need is a pack of raspberries On redefining success, finding purpose in the pursuit of joy, and the quiet realisation that a fulfilling life is not measured by what we achieve, but by how deeply we allow ourselves to live it “Growing up, my friends would sometimes talk about purpose. Late at night, when conversations got more vulnerable and confessions became more common, someone would bring up the ever-lasting anxiety they feel due to not having figured out their purpose yet. What is my purpose? What’s the point? What am I meant to be doing?” https://substack.com/@erifili
4. The Erotics of Understanding On intellectual intimacy, the longing to be understood beyond our words, and the rare relief of being known as we truly are rather than as others assume us to be “The philosopher Martin Buber wrote that “all real living is meeting”. What he recognised was that relationships don’t develop just through contact. We pass strangers in supermarkets and share offices with colleagues for years without ever truly meeting them. Buber is talking about how meeting another person requires a moment of genuine encounter, a brief collapse of the distance between one consciousness and another.”
https://substack.com/@wafiquelywritten
5. the hunger to be everything On the exhaustion of endless possibility, the quiet erosion of identity through comparison, and the longing to stop chasing every version of who we could be and finally come home to ourselves “They told us we are lucky, to live in an era of endless doors; of infinite selves waiting to be summoned with a scroll, a post, or a step-by-step transformation. But no one warned us of the disease it carries. Of how too much possibility can fray the edges of a person. Our skin aches for mornings that begin with the light of dawn and not that of a screen. Before our feet touch the earth, our eyes have already wandered into someone else’s world. We didn’t notice when we stopped living and began watching others.” https://substack.com/@odetoapoet
COMM11100
IN PRAISE OF N I C K E L BAC K COOPER COX If YOU are one of those people that think the popular Nickelback songs are overplayed, well then Nickelback is a band that has a mix of post-grunge,
let me throw you some fresh suggestions. Horizon,
hard rock and pop rock music. Nickelback was
Lullaby, This Afternoon and more are all bangers
formed in 1995 and consists of four band members,
that haven’t nearly been played as much. If you
Chad Kroeger (Lead singer), Ryan Peake (Guitar),
want some different music, Nickelback has still got
Mike Kroeger (bass guitarist) and Daniel Adair
some anyone will enjoy. Maybe at first, the memes
(acoustic drum kit). Some notable songs that most
were bad for the reputation of Nickelback.
people will know of Nickelback include How You
During this time of everyone hating on them, it just
Remind Me, Photograph, Rockstar, Savin’ Me and
added more fuel to the fire. But now, these memes
many others.
are just iconic. I genuinely believe that if it wasn’t
Now, why exactly are they so enormously disliked?
for some of these memes, Nickelback wouldn’t
Well, some of the reasons claimed online that is
nearly be as well-known as they are now. The
driving this ridiculously undeserved hatred towards
Photograph meme is one of the most well-known of
this band is that they are overplayed by radio
all time and it made the song become one of the
stations when they were in their prime, which led to
bands most listened songs.
them being a big meme target (most notably the
Nickelback also aren’t afraid to get serious and
Photograph meme). These memes became a big
emotional with the songs they write about. Take
online trend which continuously led to bad
Lullaby for example, the song is about a man who
publicity for the band. Other criticisms that people
loses his wife during childbirth and the struggles of
have made of the band is that they lack originality
having to raise a baby as a single parent. People are
with some of their songs supposedly having similar
quick to forget that these songs show that
tempos and rhythms.
Nickelback have high morals that they push
On top of that, they have just blatantly been classed
through their music. Even if you don’t like the
as a ‘mediocre’ band. Now, if you so wish to
sound, you have to appreciate the fact that they
continue on to the next page, I will go over why all
still have high values and aren’t afraid to voice
these claims and accusations are a bunch of hot
them.
bologne. There is absolutely no need to dive into
Overall, Nickelback is a band that absolutely
more complex and false reasons as to why this is a
anyone can listen to. As per my fantastic and valid
bad band because you will be fully convinced that
opinions, there is little to no reason to dislike this
this is in fact, a rockin’ band and your mind will not
band. The are in general a band that is absolutely
be able to be changed back.
and UNDOUBTEDLY awesome.
WHICH CLASSIC NOVEL SHOULD YOU 100% Read Right Now? If you’re the friend who’s always “just looking at flights”... THE ODYSSEY, Homer It’s the original travel diary (from hell). One man, ten years, a lot of monsters and no internal GPS. Frustrating yes, but also… unputdownable (if you okay with dactylic hexameter). If you’ve ever missed a flight and made it work - this is for you. Also… the film just came out so, pop culture moment. If you treat group assignments like a military campaign.. The Art of War, Sun Tzu You’re the delegator, colour-coded the shared doc and already know which group member is going to ghost. You are going to get a HD anyway. Sun Tzu would be so proud. It’s short, it’s ruthless, and if your fave Disney song is “I’ll make a man out of you”
If you’ve ever said “eat the rich” while watching a French student protest on Tiktok in one hand, and holding an iced latte in the other... The Communist Manifesto, Marx & Engels It’s a pamphlet that changed the world and if you take seriously that whole… “do unto others” commitment, this is a valuable take.
If you’ve decided someone is the worst after a single conversation... Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen Elizabeth Bennet judged a man at a party and kept that energy for about 300 pages. This is the blueprint for every enemies-tolovers story you’ve ever read or watched, and it’s a classic because it’s actually hilarious and captures perfectly what it is like to be embarrassed by your family.
Lynnette Lounsbury (English Lecturer on a mission to make you read again!) Let’s be honest - your “currently reading” shelf has been on page 12 of the same book since O-Week. Except my romantasy girls who are on their fifteenth dragon related book – love you. But seriously – I have English majors who are telling me they haven’t read a book all year, let along the book ON MY CURRICULUM, so I am here to tell you to pick up a classic and do yourself a favour. These are my suggestions based on who you are right now.
If you woke up today and simply could deal with being human... THE METAMORPHOSIS, Franz Kafka Gregor wakes up as a giant bug, and his main worry is that he’s going to be late for work. Honestly? Not all that relatable, but it does explore the stupid way we worry about the wrong things. And it’s a novella… ie. short.
You love drama, all of it, the weirder and messier the better and the dorms are getting a bit too quiet this end of semester… 100 Years of Solitude, Gabriel Garcia Marquez . 100 years of a family’s chaos in a village in Colombia. It is the original magic realism text (the greatest genre) and yes, everyone seems to have the same name, and yes, the laws of time don’t make sense, but also yes – this is incredibly cool and 100 years isn’t even enough. If you’re a 2am ADHD “what if I just made something” person... Frankenstein, Mary Shelley Mary Shelley wrote this as a teenager during a holiday where the men she was travelling with were miserable narcissists and it rained the whole time. It’s a cautionary tale about not thinking it through and then pretending it wasn’t you..
If you’re the main character at every party... The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald Big parties, bigger feelings, and a guy who’s far too invested in a light at the end of a dock. It’s under 200 pages, so you can finish it before your next social event.
If you thought about news shoes and opened your phone to Nike ad... Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell It’s surveillance, propaganda and the realisation that you have zero privacy. It was supposed to be cautionary tale – now its just deja-vu.
BONUS: BECAUSE EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS ONCE. The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupery. A French pilot wrote this in exile after crashing in the desert, and he did his own watercolours. It’s a picture book about how grownups have lost the plot, and children read it as a story about a boy and a rose, while adults close it quietly, a little ashamed, remembering a version of themselves they left somewhere in the sand.
So that’s your homework sorted. You’ll find all of these in the library or free online and its great way to break the doomscrolling thing.
AND FOR SOME GOOD NEWS: STUDENT POWER After weeks of school blockades and marches across France, high school students have pushed the government into action. On 26 October, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s government announced a package worth about €5 billion. It caps high school classes at 28 students, creates 500 new teaching jobs and 500 school psychologist, nurse and social worker roles, and adds 15,000 university places. It also offers €4 billion in loans to fix crumbling schools and promises to replace Parcoursup, the muchhated university admissions system, by 2028. Student leaders say it’s “still crumbs” and plan to keep marching, and there have been thousands of arrests during this quest for educational rights, but it still shows that organised young people can be heard. SOURCE: Deseret News
TIGERS ARE BACK! Here’s a comeback worth cheering. China set up its first five national parks in 2021, covering 230,000 square kilometres of protected land. Five years on, the results are showing up in the wildlife. In the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, wild Siberian tigers have increased from 27 to 72. Amur leopards, among the rarest big cats in the world, have climbed from 42 to 115. Both animals were once close to disappearing from the region. It’s a good reminder that when you give habitat proper protection, nature can recover faster than we expect. SOURCE: China Daily
VACCINE AGAINST MELANOMA IS ON THE WAY Here’s something Aussies have a real stake in, since we have some of the world’s highest skin cancer rates. A personalised mRNA vaccine for melanoma has passed a major trial. Each dose is built from the genetic material of the patient’s own tumour, then given together with an immunotherapy drug. The combination cut the risk of the cancer returning or of death by 42%. After two years, 82% of patients on the vaccine were alive and cancer-free, compared with 70% on standard treatment. It still needs regulatory approval, but it’s a big step. Also, wear your sunscreen. SOURCE: The Guardian
B E V E R AG E S W I T H BA R L OW An in depth analysis on 7@Avondale’s selection of quality beverages
Firstly, I would like to start this by saying that I am by no means a writer. In fact, writing for me much of the time feels like a chore. But there is one thing that heavily outweighs my partial disdain for writing, so much so that writing about it seems like quite an enjoyable pastime. And that thing is DRINKS. I’ve always been someone that has had a mildly concerning obsession with beverages, just ask any of the Caf workers. In fact, you who is reading this may have noticed me walking around with a paper bag stuffed full of the drinks from the Caf. This brings me to a question that many who have seen my drink obsession have asked me. “Daniel, what is your favourite drink?” Well, this is where I answer that question, and on top of that, give a brief analysis on each cabinet drink that I have tasted from the Caf, and where I would place it out of 5 stars. Firstly my favourite drinks are not simply my favourite due to their flavour (which is the most important aspect to me), but also because of the feeling or memory I’m reminded of when I’m drinking it. First up, favourite drink is called Solo, but it is not the solo you’re probably thinking of right now. This Solo is sold only in Norway and is my favourite drink because until I tried this drink, I thought orange flavoured things could only be average or good as opposed to brilliant. The closest thing I could compare it to is if Fanta had freshly squeezed oranges and had some tangelos in it. Not a super fancy drink, but an amazing one still, and a drink that will always remind me of trips with my family. Now, on to the Caf beverages. A quick note on how I’m rating them: flavour is the main thing, but again seeing that it’s my list, it’ll also have my biases. Anyway here’s my Top 7 list ranked from worst to best:
7. Bundaberg Lemon Lime & Bitters
★★★☆☆
Classic, Tangy, Sparkling, Relaxing A great shout for most social occasions, though I don’t often find myself choosing it above any of the other options in my fridge, it never disappoints.
6. Lipton Peach Ice Tea:
★★★☆☆
Smooth, Sweet, Sunny, Honeyed My favourite study drink. It’s not too distracting and it tastes amazing. Also is good for sipping on while watching your favourite show
5. Hillbilly Cider: ½
★★★ ☆
Crisp, Tart, Strong, Sparkling I had never seen these in New Zealand but when I tried them for the first time at Uni I never looked back. This drink has a tangy flavour I didn’t know existed. Very Unique.
B E V E R AG E S W I T H BA R L OW 4.Bundaberg Ginger Beer: ½
★★★ ☆
Classic, Earthy, Sweet, Fiery I mean this is just an absolute staple. If you haven’t had one of these I don’t know what you’ve been doing till now. Ive always loved ginger so this is always a go to at the caf.
3.Blood Orange San Pellegrino::
★★★★☆
Sparkling, Citrus, Slightly Bitter, Deep I have had many of these back home and I was quite pleasantly surprised when I saw them in the cabinet. Definitely my favourite of the San Pellegrino range.
2. Bundaberg Guava: ½
★★★★
Exotic I’m hard pressed to find one that doesn’t fizz over when I open it but definitely deserves a high position for its strong flavour and how unique it tastes. Guavas are typically the first drinks people ask for from my fridge.
1. Bundaberg Peach:
★★★★★
Bubbly, Nostalgic, Relaxing, Fresh This was always treated as a VERY special treat growing up, and I struggle to find a fault in it. A great level of flavour that doesn’t linger too long after drinking, unlike Guava. I find myself more consistently in the mood for this drink above all else.
I hope this little rant provided some guidance or entertainment to your day and if I you see me buying drinks, I’m always happy to have a chat. Thanks for reading and happy drinking, - Daniel
P S I l ov e yo u TIA MEDHURST P S I l ov e yo u s o u n d s l i ke a m ov i e I h av e n ' t s e e n B u t i t l o o k s l i ke t h e t h i n g s t h e s e p e o p l e d o i n b e t w e e n . P S I l ov e yo u m e a n s k n o w i n g t h e y p r e f e r s i l v e r ov e r g o l d P S I l ov e yo u m e a n s k n o w i n g t h a t t h e y u s u a l l y s l e e p b e t te r w h e n i t ' s c o l d P S I l ov e yo u i s l i s te n i n g to t h e s to r i e s yo u k n o w yo u h av e a l r e a d y h e a r d P S I l ov e yo u i s h a n g i n g o n to e a c h a n d e v e r y t i n y l i t t l e wo r d P S I l ov e yo u m e a n s s i t t i n g w i t h t h e m w h i l e t h e y p l ay p i a n o P S I l ov e yo u m e a n s w i t h j u s t o n e l o o k yo u c a n s ay “ I k n o w ” P S I l ov e yo u i s s l e e p i n g o n t h e i r fl o o r w h e n yo u k n o w t h e y a r e s a d P S I l ov e yo u i s a d d i n g t h e 9 t h n o te to a m a j o r t r i a d P S I l ov e yo u m e a n s r u n n i n g e r r a n d s to g e t h e r P S I l ov e yo u m e a n s I ' m w i t h yo u f o r a n y s o r t o f w e a t h e r P S I l ov e yo u i s l o o k i n g l o n g i n g l y a t t h e p o s t c a r d s n e v e r s e n t P S I l ov e yo u i s m e a n i n g w h a t yo u s ay, a n d a l s o s ay i n g w h a t yo u m e a n t P S I l ov e yo u m e a n s m a k i n g t h e i r b e d w h e n t h e y a r e to o b u s y P S I l ov e yo u m e a n s h o l d i n g t h e u m b r e l l a s o t h e i r h a i r d o e s n ' t g o f r i z z y P S I l ov e yo u i s a t te n d i n g e v e n t s yo u d o n ' t c a r e a b o u t P S I l ov e yo u i s c e l e b r a t i n g w h e n t h e i r a b y s m a l g a r d e n g a i n s a s i n g l e s p r o u t P S I l ov e yo u m e a n s k n o w i n g t h e y ta ke t h e i r c o f f e e b l a c k w i t h h o n e y P S I l ov e yo u m e a n s l a u g h i n g a t t h e i r j o ke s e v e n w h e n t h e y a r e n ' t f u n n y P S I l ov e yo u i s m a k i n g a r t i n s p i r e d b y t h e m P S I l ov e yo u i s s ta n d i n g g u a r d w h i l e t h e y u s e t h e a t m P S I l ov e yo u m e a n s t h e y k n o w w h a t yo u m e a n w h e n yo u s ay " a s yo u w i s h " P S I l ov e yo u m e a n s l e a r n i n g h o w to p e r f e c t l y c o o k t h e i r f avo u r i te d i s h P S I l ov e yo u i s t r y i n g e v e n w h e n i t s h a r d P S I l ov e yo u i s j u s t s p e n d i n g t i m e i n t h e y a r d P S I l ov e yo u m e a n s yo u a l w ay s h o l d t h e d o o r P S I l ov e yo u m e a n s yo u h o n e s t l y w a n t t h e m a r o u n d m o r e P S I l ov e yo u i s a s k i n g t h e m a b o u t t h e i r d ay P S I l ov e yo u i s w h e n yo u p a s s t h e m yo u a l w ay s s ay " h e y " P S I l ov e yo u m e a n s d a n c i n g w i t h t h e m w h i l e t h e y c r y B u t w h a t i t r e a l l y t r u l y f u l l y i s , i s j u s t n o t k n o w i n g h o w to s ay g o o d b ye .
So who pays for it? You do, eventually, through the Medicare levy: 2% of your taxable income, worked out when you lodge your
LIFE 101 : MEDICARE
tax return. But if you earned $28,011 or less in 2025–
The health system you’re already paying for
26, you pay none of it, and it’s phased in slowly up to
Your green card is more powerful than you think.
means little or nothing. Another reason to actually
Somewhere in your wallet, wedged behind your swipe
lodge that tax return we talked about last issue.
card and six 7@Avondale loyalty cards, each with one stamp on it, there’s a green-and-gold card. That’s Medicare. Here’s what it actually does, what it doesn’t, and what the difference between Medicare and private health insurance actually is.
$35,013. For most students on casual shifts, that
What’s private health insurance, then? This is because our government doesn’t really like paying for health care and they want you to help. It’s the optional extra you pay a private company for. It comes in two flavours:
What is Medicare?
· Hospital cover lets you be treated as a private
Medicare is Australia’s public health system. It is
patient. You get to choose your doctor, and you skip
sometimes called “socialised medicine”. If you’re an
public waiting lists for non-urgent surgery (think knee
Australian citizen or permanent resident, you’re in. It
reconstructions or wisdom teeth in hospital).
pays some or all of the cost of seeing a GP, getting
· Extras cover pays part of the cost of the things
blood tests and X-rays, and seeing a specialist if a GP
Medicare doesn’t touch: dental, optical, physio and
refers you. It also covers treatment in a public hospital
similar.
as a public patient, which costs you nothing. Some
How much does it cost? As a rough guide, for a single
GPs “bulk bill”, which means Medicare pays the
person under 30, basic hospital cover starts at around
whole fee and you pay $0. Others charge more than
$80–$110 a month. Cheap extras cover starts at about
Medicare pays, and you cover the difference (the
$18–$25 a month. Many funds also give up to 10% off
“gap”). Ask when you book.
hospital cover if you join before you turn 30. Shop
(International students: Medicare isn’t for you. You’re
around on privatehealth.gov.au,
on Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), which is
the government’s comparison site, which won’t try to
a requirement of your visa. Different card, similar
sell you anything. But higher levels with better cover
idea.)
cost a lot – think up to $500-600.
What isn’t covered?
Wait, can I just stay on my parents’ policy?
This is where people get caught out. Medicare
Often, yes. Many funds let you stay on your family’s
generally doesn’t cover dental, glasses or contacts,
policy as a dependant until you’re 25, and some now
physio, or most ambulance trips (being airlifted
go up to 30 or 31. You usually need to be single (not
counts as ambulance). In NSW and most other states,
married or in a de facto relationship), and some funds
an ambulance ride can cost you hundreds of dollars if
also require you to be studying full-time. Every fund
you’re not covered. Remember that next time you
has different rules, so ask your parents to check. It’s
think about doing something dramatic on an e-bike.
often the cheapest health cover you’ll ever have.
Do I actually need it? Not right now, probably. But there are two dates to keep an eye on: · Lifetime Health Cover loading: If you don’t have private hospital cover by 1 July after your 31st birthday, your premium goes up 2% for every year you’re over 30 when you finally join. That extra applies for 10 years. · Medicare Levy Surcharge: If you earn over $101,000 without private hospital cover, you pay an extra 1–1.5% tax. That’s not a student problem yet, but it’s good to know for future you. It can often cost as much as actually getting health cover.
What’s the safety net? It’s a cap on how much a bad year can cost you. Both safety nets reset every 1 January: · Medicare Safety Net: Once your out-of-pocket costs for things like GP and specialist visits and scans add up past a set amount in a calendar year ($2,699.10 in 2026), Medicare pays back more, usually 80% of what you pay from then on. · PBS Safety Net: Prescriptions on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme already cost no more than $25 each. Once you’ve spent $1,748.20 on PBS medicines in a year, they drop to $7.70 each for the rest of the year. Your pharmacist can track it for you, so just ask So: Medicare has your back for the basics, private cover is for the extras, and the safety net is there for when everything goes wrong at once. Find your green card, take a photo of it, and put it back somewhere you’ll actually remember. Future you, sitting in a waiting room, will be grateful. Bulk Billing GPS Near Avondale University Sydney Campus: Listed as bulk billing (Hornsby/Waitara, about 10 minutes away) · Waitara Family Medical Practice: Suite 1, 75–77 Pacific Hwy, Waitara · Edgeworth Medical Centre: 22–28 Edgeworth David Ave, Hornsby · Hornsby Mall Medical Centre: 32 Florence St, Hornsby · Hornsby Central Medical Centre: Westfield Hornsby, Level 3. (Westfield’s site has a listing for this centre marked “Closed”, so check before you go.) · Hornsby Healthway Medical Centre: Shop 131, 121–133 Pacific Hwy, Hornsby · Hope Medical Centre: 8 Station St, Thornleigh And free urgent care: · Top Ryde: Level 1, Top Ryde Shopping Centre. Open 8am–10pm every day. Phone 02 8878 3988. · Chatswood: 270 Victoria Ave. Open seven days with long hours. Phone 02 8666 6849.
P. S . E M I LY C H E S T E R
Pardon, Stranger… Perpend: Seldom Pausing Surely Prevents Significant Perception. Still, Plodding Steadily Prevents Sentimental Paralysis. Should People Stop? Perhaps Stopping Purposefully Supersedes Previous Suggestions? Pausing Sometimes. Pausing Studiously. Pausing Strategically. Pausing Specifically. Pragmatically. So Please Stranger, Pause. Sit. Ponder Swiftly
Passing Seconds. Perhaps Something Profound’ll Surface. Proceed! Stroll Predecurrent Synaptic Pathways. Savour Pleasant Seasons. Playback Sweet Passages. Salute Pain Surmounted. Praise Strength Procured. (Somewhat Precociously) Perceive Silently Past Strides Paced Strenuously. Postulate Sodality Provided Significant Purpose, Shared Procrastination, Silly Paroxysms, Special Peace.
Proclaim Spiritedly Peers, Seminarists, Parents, Scholars… Paradise’s Shepherd Provided, Strengthened. Pause, See? Procured Sagacity! Powerful Stuff… Pardon, Stranger, Please sally! Preclude Stalling… Proceed! Seize Propinquent Sunrises. Proceed! Salutations.
CALLING THINGS P E R F O R M AT I V E I S P E R F O R M AT I V E Matcha. Tote bags. Reading. Feminism. Wired headphones.
Fake.
Performative.
Superficial.
Attention seeking. Why is your first thought, upon seeing someone reading in public, that they are being
If you don’t like to read, if you don’t like matcha, if
performative? This reflects more on you than it does
you don’t like the aesthetic that they are presenting
on them. What do you mean that you’re an adult and
then you are likely not the intended audience, and
you’ve never genuinely read a book by choice? For
that’s okay. But if you are judging their performative
enjoyment,
choices just because they vary from yours, that reflects
education,
entertainment.
Get
over
yourself, not everything is about you.
more on yourself than it does on them.
The social media trend of labelling certain behaviours
If you are going out of your way to hate on those
as “performative” is just a justification for stupidity.
with this certain aesthetic, you should take a moment
If
some
to wonder where this perspective came from. Either
philosophical feminist literature at a café, good for
you genuinely hold this opinion, in which case you are
them. Your perceptions of their motivations are
a biased and judgemental person, or you have simply
totally irrelevant in this situation. Not only is your
adopted an attitude that you have seen online. If that
assumption that others would only read to gain
is the case, the irony is that even the act of copying
attention harmful and anti-intellectual, it is also
that opinion makes you performative. You want to be
totally unfounded, as life is inherently performative
seen as aligning with a certain type of people, you
and so this is not a valid ground for judgement.
want to find ways to express this opinion so that you
Whilst I love the argument that the individual reading
are perceived to be against the group that is being
this feminist literature might genuinely be interested in
hated on. Now you have become the more
its contents, this point is also totally irrelevant,
performative of the two groups, because you are
because you shouldn’t judge someone even if they are
performing your opinions as well as your actions.
only reading for the aesthetic. It genuinely doesn’t
I personally am not the biggest fan of matcha or
matter whether the person intends to read for their
wired earbuds, but I also don’t care in the slightest
own growth or because they want to be seen reading,
whether you are. I do genuinely read philosophical
as everything about the way we function as a society is
feminist literature sometimes and I don’t care whether
performative.
you think I’m being fake and performative while
We each cultivate lifestyles for ourselves that we agree
doing so, because this online trend of labelling certain
with the aesthetics of. We make efforts to be perceived
behaviours as fake and performative is inherently a
in certain ways, and so why are certain efforts
performative mindset.
considered fake and performative and others aren’t?
Anyone who is brave enough to be true to and
When you go for a run, and you post your Strava
represent themselves the way they would like to be
time, you’re making a statement about who you are.
perceived, even in the face of judgement, is worthy of
You’re asking to be perceived in a certain way. Sure,
my respect.
you
see
someone
genuinely
reading
the target audience is different but why should reading not be treated the same with respect to its own aesthetic.
A TAKE BY BETHANY CROFT COMM11100
C a l l i n g t h i n g s p e r fo r m a t i v e i s perfor mative when done p e r f o r m a t i v e l y. But we should reject perfor mativity nonetheless . Matcha,
tote
bags,
reading,
feminism,
wired
headphones. Why has the use of these rather ordinary items become associated with performativity? Better yet, what is performativity and is it so wrong to call someone out for being performative? I argue that
JOEL KAMARALLI
calling out performativity is not a rejection of intellectualism
or
an
attempt
to
diminish
individuality; rather it is the complete opposite, calling out performativity promotes true self-expression while rejecting the inauthentic performance of the self. To be performative, by its very nature, is to put on a performance; to present oneself in a way that is inauthentic, ‘fake’ or insincere in some way. It is not a novel observation to say that social media has created an environment in which normal, boring people can present an idealised version of their lives while concealing the struggles and mundanity of everyday existence. It's also not groundbreaking to say, “this whole social media thing is kinda shit”. We have created a world in which there is a remarkable disconnect between the highly curated version of ourselves we present online and our true selves. We exist in a strange Jekyll and Hyde dynamic of our own creation, with our online persona and true identity being separate and distinct entities. And tragically many of us view our true selves, the ones who sit at home on the weekend and watch hour long video essays, as Mr Hyde; the personality to be repressed and hidden behind our curated online exterior.
How does this at all relate to performativity? Well it kinda does and kinda doesnt if im being honest. When all we see online is thousands of Dr Jekyll’s wearing loafers, high waisted pleated pants and quarterzips while sipping matcha out of seventy dollar, environmentally sustainable flasks, we can begin to believe that this is what it takes to be seen. Because at the end of the day, isn't that what we all want? So you go out and buy the pleated pants and sit outside at a cafe (even though it's really a little too hot to be sat out in the sun) reading a pristine copy of ‘Women & Desire’, not because you really like the pants, or because you find feminist literature particularly interesting but because you hope someone will notice. This, in my mind, is the essence of performativity. Doing something not because it means something to you, but because you think it will mean something to others. The performative male (or female) is someone whose Jekyll has overtaken their Hyde. However, unlike Hyde from the original novel, our Hydes are beautiful, complex people defined by insecurities and strengths that need not be masked by online aesthetic.
So how do we reject performativity? Should we
Last night (at the time of me writing this) I saw an
interrogate everyone we see wearing a Deftones t-shirt
Instagram post from some friends I haven't spoken to
to see if they really like the band? Or ask people
in probably two or three years. It was a dump of 7 or
reading gender studies books to name 10 trans
so pictures and videos on a private account of them
people? Obviously the answer is no unless you don't
living their life, travelling, hiking. There was one
mind being absolutely insufferable. Unfortunately the
picture where they were money spreading Pokémon
answer lies not with others, but with ourselves.
cards. Another, a video of someone passing a
Ironically, even writing this next part feels somewhat
cigarette up to their friend on the roof using one of
pretentious, and dare I say, performative; but the only
those extendable garbage grabber things for old
way to fully combat performativity is for every person
people and I couldn't help but feel truly happy for
to strive towards true self acceptance. The people I
them. Not because they had somehow escaped the
respect most in life are those who acknowledge who
performance of social media, but because they seemed
they are, flaws and all, and simply accept. The rapper
to be using it simply to share their lives rather than
LUCKI uses this idea as the central theme of his
construct one. One of them was wearing high waisted,
album Flawless Like Me, where he refers to himself as
pleated pants to be fair but I genuinely just think he
“flawless” while in the same breath speaking about his
likes them.
struggles and deep seeded insecurities. He views these not as flaws but as a “part of me”. These
Anyone who is brave enough to be true to
imperfections, in his view, are just as much a part of
themselves and represent themselves in an
his identity as his strengths and are not things to be
authentic way, even in the face of judgement, is
ashamed
worthy of my respect.
of
or
hidden
away.
I
believe
that
performativity stems from the very human fear of being
seen
in
whole,
flaws
and
all,
whilst
simultaneously having the desire to be understood and accepted. By choosing to embrace flawlessness we can express ourselves as we are without the need for social validation or the fear of being regarded as ‘less than’. Knowing that everyone is flawed and insecure, it fills you with determination (iykyk).
P.S. Sorry to Bethany Croft for highkey plagiarising the final line of your essay, it’s out of respect tho.
26
COMM11100
It is easy to let doubt take control of our decisions, but because of putting those fears and worries
IZABELLA JOHNSON
aside, I experienced something greater, not only
L E A P O F FA I T H
getting the chance to experience music, but build connections with others, especially those who are going to events that they enjoy alone. And you have
It all started with a simple question, ‘Would you
the power to turn it into a memorable experience
like to come?’ A simple phrase, a small act, and yet
for everyone.
it can mean the world to someone. And that
The second person I met was Lachie, who
question is what led me to meeting 3 unforgettable
performed the introductory act. But the funny thing
people on the 22nd of May this year. On this day, I
about it was, I had already seen him, not only
was studying for upcoming exams and handing in
walking around chatting to people before the
some of the last assessments of this semester. I
concert started, but also on tv when I watched him
looked at my phone as I walked out of the library,
win ‘The Voice’. Before he sang up the front, I saw
and saw that I was receiving a phone call. I picked it
him chatting to every person that he made eye
up and received an offer from a close friend of
contact with. When talking with him, it felt as
mine.
though we had been friends our whole lives. He had
The offer on the table was the following: “There is a
the type of personality that made the anxious calm,
spare ticket to go to a concert, it is in 4 hours. Are
and was genuinely interested in others, not only
you in?” I knew that I had study to do, and the
people who were his fans, but also with everyday
exam dates were coming ever closer, however, this
people who just love music.
was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I had not been
The last person who had an impact on myself was
to a concert before and it was a small artist, so I
the small artist we came to see, Rachael Fahim. She
said yes. A spontaneous decision in the spur of the
impacted me through her music. Every song she
moment. With no plan but only to have fun.
sang, you could tell she put her soul into it, and
We got ready to head out, and on the drive there, I
when finally meeting her and chatting to her the
was questioning… ‘Why am I here? Is this the right
performance felt like a fever dream. It didn’t feel
call? I am prepared for classes, but am I doing the
real. Her songs resonated with me a lot and her
right thing? Should I be studying more?’. We
lyrics were extremely impactful. And I guess what I
arrived early and waited in line to go in. In the line,
want to share here is that when going out of your
there was a person who came to support this small
comfort zone, that is exactly where you can grow, at
artist, and she was alone. She came up to us, and
least, that’s where I did. This experience was not
because I had said yes to attending, I was able to
only rewarding, but also new, which led me to
chat to her, and now we chat every day. We are now
meeting 3 extraordinary people that have impacted
close friends that not only share a love of music but
my life. From this experience I learned the value of
also share a passion for supporting others. What I
music in my life and found
have learned is that when being given an
a new interest…concerts. So, when doubting and
opportunity to go out of your comfort zone, take
thinking ‘Is this the right call?’, take the leap of
that leap of faith.
faith because you don’t know where it can lead you.
JACK MOLYNEAUX
T H E E VO L U T I O N O F S O C I A L M OV E M E N T S Movements are rarely united in totality, they combine
The fall of Robespierre is often used as a measure for
the attitudes and beliefs of the dispossessed,
the end of what was known as the Terror, a period
disfranchised and deprived behind a shared grievance
time when violence and executions was the common
or cause. It is this cause or grievance that gives them
result of going against the Revolution. However even
commonality and purpose and enables them to put
the Directory as much as they wished to distance
aside their differences and present a united front. The
themselves from the Terror continued in this violence
Gauls united against Caesar, the Chinese Warlords
and removing Robespierre did not resolve the deeper
and the Communists and Kuomintang united against
disagreements over sovereignty, equality and political
the invading Japanese imperialists. However, when
legitimacy that the Revolution had unleashed.
this opponent loses the power that made them the oppressor or the original grievance has been righted
Because of the instability of the Directory. Napoleon
the movement must either disperse as the objective is
Bonaparte was able to take advantage and organise a
completed or redefine itself in order to maintain its
coup and in time become Emperor of France
momentum or its own newly acquired power. Its
Napoleon restricted political freedoms, yet his regime
members, once united by common purpose and
also preserved and transformed aspects of the
collective will are allowed to assert their individuality
Revolution,
again in order to redefine the movement in their
reforms. The revolutionary legacy consequently
image. Stalin with the Soviets, Goldwater, Reagan
survived in a form different from that envisioned by
and now Trump with the American Republican Party.
many of its original supporters. Once the old order
This period is the beginning of a struggle over the
was challenged, competing visions of the new order
movement itself and is often the aftermath, the Post-
became the central source of conflict and in time it
Script of both a failed and successful movement.
became the very thing it sought to be rid of, an
including
legal
and
administrative
absolutist monarchy. The French Revolution is a The French Revolution offers a great example of both
great example of the evolution of a movement, one
a field and successful revolution and the fate of
that shaped not only France, but Europe and in time
factionalism and a distinct lack of united purpose.
the world. This process can be understood through
Beginnign in 1789, the revolution combined those that
social movement theory, which examines how
had been wronged by the Ancient Regime or where in
collective action develops, changes and sometimes
any way against it. Constitutional monarchists and
fragments. A movement's unity is partly sustained by
republicans, Jacobins, Girondins and Cordeliers. All
a shared identity. Participants come to see themselves
of whom disagreed on how the country should be run
as part of a collective struggle. Yet this identity can
but agreed it could no longer be the Monarchy if the
conceal disagreements over ideology, strategy and
Bourbons. These groups argued over social policy,
leadership.
political representation and how much the revolution
differences can become more difficult to contain.
should change within France.
Some participants may believe the movement should
When
circumstances
change,
those
enter established institutions to secure practical
This means that movements are not solely defined by
reforms. Others may regard compromise as a betrayal
the founders, As the meaning of their success and
of its founding principles. Still others may conclude
even the purpose for tier formation can be
that the movement has achieved its purpose and that
reinterpreted and changed as generations pass or to
their involvement is no longer necessary. These
meet the needs of a new world. What may be
responses can produce competing organisations,
remembered as a victory over the enemy may now be
political parties or successor movements, each
seen as a mistake or an unfinished job. The
claiming to preserve the original cause.
disappearance of the ‘enemy’ does not create these disagreements, rather it removes the pressure that
Such fragmentation should not automatically be
kept the movement united. Ultimately, the aftermath
interpreted
as
determining
what
failure.
The
survives
difficulty the
lies
in
of a movement is a test of its ability to turn shared
transition.
A
resistance into a lasting vision. Some movements
movement's principles may be adopted by
disintegrate; others become institutions, while their
institutions that abandon its methods, or its language
ideas continue through new organisations and causes.
may be appropriated by groups pursuing different
Their futures depend on how their members negotiate
objectives. Its original participants may disagree over
the tensions between principle and compromise, unity
whether these developments represent progress,
and
compromise or betrayal. The movement's legacy
achievement.
becomes something to contest rather than simply inherit.
diversity,
and
ambition
and
practical
A SIMPLE GUIDE TO LOVE with Rosie Cookson From google documents of men professing their love for me, emailed to me on random Tuesday after I’ve blocked them, to year-long love letter situationship, I like to think I’m beyond qualified on the boy advice front. As a woman, I feel as though I used to put so much energy into simplifying and shrinking myself for men who wouldn’t do the same for me, and this isn’t just about men, this goes both ways. So consider this your simple guide to love.
What is life without love, everything around us is filled with God’s love, love in it’s every form is what makes life worth living.
No feelings are better left unsaid, in my opinion saying it gives you an answer regardless of its outcome, and an answer is always kinder than wondering.
Be mean and keep em keen, don’t be cruel but don’t be so available that you forget that you’re a whole person without them.
Explore more than you know now, if your ‘type’ keeps breaking your heart, it’s not a ‘type’, it’s an active choice and a pattern, so go find something new or someone that surprises you. Personally, from experience, I recommend going international. Love isn’t transactional, love without expecting anything back, love with strings attached will naturally turn into a negotiation, whereas love given freely and as God intended is a gift - whether or not it comes back. Walk them like a dog, a gentle lead, some fresh air and the occasional treat. It's about keeping the pace and the direction yours, because you are allowed to lead your life instead of just trailing behind. I think it's important to remember that we are not fixed things but ongoing projects of our own making, and our task is simply to become who God intends us to be. In the end, perhaps the best advice about love is not about the other person at all, but rather it's to be so unapologetically yourself and to love fully, to root your heart in God, and not people's ability to handle it. When our worth is anchored in something deeper than how others receive us, love stops being a liability and becomes something we can give freely, even if it's not returned.
PA PAIIGGEE FFIISSH H && II
I & H S I F E G I AP
Love and heartbreak. Joy and despair. These feelings and emotions are the core of the human experience. I don’t know about you, but for me certain songs become the soundtrack to these stages of life and love. Because the truth is, music is powerful. I don’t think I am overexaggerating in its profound ability to change your life. It can bring you to terms with a difficult breakup and help you realise that love exists all around you. It is with you when you are happy and feeling on top of the world. Music carries you through every emotion and thought. And furthermore, certain artists become your therapist, with you through the highs and lows. Who was my 'therapist' during my teenage angst, love and heartbreak? A lovely lady called Paige Fish. And as any good therapist will tell you, there are five stages of grief, and as a long-term client of her therapy, I can attest to the impact her music makes. So, if you're currently feeling the breakup, want to process your feelings, or just feel something, give Paige a listen
MUSIC WITH POPPY YATES
PA PA PAIIIIG PA GG GE EE E FFFFIIIISSSSH H H& H && & IIII STAGE ONE: DENIAL All you want is to have them back. '26 and 24', 'Stairway' and 'Earth' will get you in those feels. And if you had to be the one to pull the pin, 'The Bad Guy' and 'Wishful Thinking' will hit you in your chest. It will be okay, but you're allowed to feel these feelings for a while. Give yourself grace.
STAGE TWO: ANGER
'Oliver' and 'Bed Bugs' put a playful spin on those harsh feelings, helping you to feel it but also let it go and progress into stage three.
STAGE THREE: BARGAINING
Now, you might be trying to make sense of it all and regain control, what a crazy stage to be in. 'Skeleton', 'Kill a Memory' and 'Highway Robber' help you come to terms with what has happened and keep going.
STAGE FOUR: DEPRESSION
It sucks, but you're reflecting and want to start to move forward. 'Watering the Weeds' and 'How Little I Need' helps you realise that you shouldn’t settle for any less that what you deserve and actually want. So, stop watering the weeds, you deserve the best flowers in the world!
STAGE FIVE: ACCEPTANCE
Yay! One of my personal favourites (and the only song I know on guitar) 'My Hope Song' helps you realise that the world okay again and you will find love in every form.
STAGE SIX: MOVING ON And finally, for when love renters your life, 'Looking Forward to Looking Back', 'KISSING' and 'Quarter Back' are songs that feel like sunshine, for whatever stage you're in.
I know to some this might sound dramatic, that a musical artist can speak to your very soul and help you work through such big feelings, but I think that is the beauty and power of music. And if you need want a new musician to cry and laugh to? Give Paige Fish a try! But if it's not love at first listen like it was for me, find an artist that makes you feel good about life, even when life doesn’t feel good.
D e a r F i r s t Ye a r M e , You’re standing in the cafeteria, O Week has officially
It’s hard, I know.
started and you realise you know absolutely no one in
To live up to expectations that you have for yourself.
this room besides the small group of girls you
It’s easy, I know.
followed here. Every table is loud, and they look like
To believe the words that you hear about yourself.
they already have their story: their past here and their
There’s a freedom that nobody tells you about, to
present, and soon their future. You’re doing the
simply
maths, the pressures on because who you choose to sit
somewhere in your second year or your third, or
with may determine the entire course of your time
maybe even your fourth if you’re here that long,
here.
you’ll begin to root your worth not in people and
You hesitantly sit down at a table with people you’ve
their words but in you and what you know to be true
seen around, maybe before here or maybe met today
about yourself. You’ll notice you’re in a room with
during your tour. You’re doing the maths, drawing
people who don’t need you to be anything; who don’t
the map of where they’re from and connecting them
have a pre-existing image of you to maintain. You
through calculations in your head (because most
can be unfinished, still learning who you are and who
people in the SDA world are interrelated in some
you are becoming.
regard).
You’ll learn it’s okay for doors to close before you
You’re going to spend a lot of energy on the question
make it to the step, because there’s a very long
of what everyone thinks of you. Whether your laugh
footpath.
is too loud, whether your clothes will say the wrong
Already, I’m a little nostalgic for it. There was a
thing, whether you’re too much or not enough. You’ll
feeling in first year that no one can explain, but
rehearse conversations in the shower and replay them
everyone
at night when it’s a bit too quiet. You’ll regret what
possibility, the tiredness of nights that turned into
you do, but also what you don’t do. I wish I could say
mornings, the satisfaction of a chicken and cheese and
it stops completely, but unfortunately it doesn’t.
frozen coke at 4am that just hit different.
What changes, though, is that you notice it. I’m still
I didn’t know I was in the good part while I was in it.
trying to learn to ask the question: would I be this hard
Try to notice.
on someone else?
So here’s what I’d ask of you, and of everyone
And usually the answer is: no, never.
reading this. Be the person who makes room at the
Uni will have it’s cliques, it’s a given. They form
table. Every stranger you pass is carrying a life as
quickly and look permanent. Some people arrive with
loud and complicated as yours, and most are quietly
their group already built, and it can feel like the doors
hoping someone will wave them over. Choose to love
have closed before you’ve even made it up the front
instead of hate, to be kind instead of clever, to be
steps. But the right people aren’t always in the loudest
curious and patient instead of quick to judge. It costs
circle. Which is something I struggled to understand
you almost nothing and putting effort into someone
when I was you. Mine were in quiet conversations in
can change their entire year as well as yours.
the common room, a drive to maccas after craving a
You’re going to be okay. Better than okay.
fifty cent soft serve, in a person who made me laugh
With love,
like I’d never before.
Me (a little older, a little softer)
be
honest
and
understands.
transparent.
The
feeling
of
Because
endless
Oh, and a little PS. S i t a t t h e t a b l e a n y w a y, a n d i f y o u s e e s o m e o n e s t a n d i n g a l o n e w i t h a t r a y, w a ve t h e m o ve r. Yo u n e ve r k n o w, t h ey m i g h t e n d u p b e i n g y o u r p e r s o n o r e ve n t h e l o ve o f y o u r l i f e - y o u n e ve r r e a l l y k n o w i n t h i s p l a c e : )
T H E OV E R L A N D T R AC K PETER KOOLIK on the ACELAB EXPERIENCE
People say, ‘it’s the journey not the destination’, and to
Aura was a word thrown around a few times on top
that I say, sure. I think when you’re out in the
of the mountains, but I think sublime nature best
Tasmanian
the
summaries the Tasmanian peaks. Sublime nature
destination, so when hiking, it’s really broken up into
refers to an aesthetic and emotional experience of the
three main parts.
natural world that combines immense awe, terror and
1. Walking your hiking pack from one place to
other grand emotions. The highlight of this Tasmania
another, carrying all 14-24kg’s on your back.
trip for me was diffidently all the side trails. These
2. Walking a side trail to summit a mountain or see a
included summitting most the mountains, exploring
lost bit of paradise.
waterfalls and old huts. For each of these side trails,
3. The rest, when you reach your hut and finally stop
we didn’t need to carry our hiking packs, so while we
walking.
were still walking, it felt like a rest. Words cannot
Each day of hiking started and ended with a
describe how epic these mountains were, there was a
morning/evening worship, run by someone in the
sort of freedom while choosing a way to get to the top
group. These worships included some questions,
as well, navigating rocks, cliffs and snow. When at the
prayer, stories and a bit of scripture to link to the day.
peak, it not only feels like the world is engulfing you,
I found these moments to be a highlight of my trip,
but it feels like your free and timeless. At the top, it
because it was one of the only time’s the whole group
was also a moment where we could all connect and
would all be together and we often got to share our
share the accomplishment with each other. This also
experiences from the day. We would do these worships
entailed lots of snowball fights, phone calls home
in a spot where we could look out at some beautiful
(and for some their girlfriends) and many tuff
view, which gave the opportunity to reflex while
photo’s.
looking out at God’s creations. I found this created a
While I thoroughly enjoyed all these aspects of
separation from what we’re used too, with our phone’s
Tasmania, I struggled a lot with hiking from one spot
accessible so easily these days.
to another. The same muddy track with roots, for 5
wilderness
the
whole
hike
is
hours a day. Most the time it wasn’t even walking, it was balancing on a single root, trying not to fall into mud, which while we had waterproof shoes, wasn’t worth risking the chance that they weren’t. While the walking was physically challenging at times, it was mentally where I really struggled. I found myself trying to figure out how much further I had left to walk, but then the distance seemed to get further and further away. Everything seemed so repetitive, the same trees, grass and rocks. It was especially hard because when I looked around at the rest of my group it seemed like no one else was struggling the same way I was. However, I remember one day after we reached the hut, I heard a number of friends say that they also really mentally struggled. Hearing that I wasn’t the only one struggling made me realise that it really is a group challenge and when we all started walking again the next day, it made it a lot more comforting. While the journey was technically my least favourite part, I think it was the part that gave me the most room to grow. But certainly, I am very grateful for this experience and would 100% recommend it to everyone.
ISABELLE TOSEN
I’VE GOT A SONG F O R T H AT
had to wait an extra hour). Thinking I am in fact Free
“I’ve got a song for that” is one of my favourite
Now every time a plane takes off, and then
quotes. Now, I don’t know about you, but like some
contemplating the Over-the-Ocean Call while I’m in
strange disease, every time I hear a song for the first
the air. Getting lost on a random dirt road with Lillee
time, it instantly becomes entangled in the memory of
as The View Between Villages becomes less of a view
where, when or with whom I heard it. In my opinion,
as it fades into the horizon. The Lingering Love I have
this is both a blessing and a curse. If you are even
for all the girls I’ve skipped down College Drive with,
remotely as chronically online as I am, you’ve
completely ignoring the studying part of uni, and just
probably seen the ‘Purple Rain’ TikTok trend, taking
being so cheerful about spending time together. The
Prince’s hit song and relating it to someone you’ve
feeling when I realised I Know the End of the book is
lost.
coming, but I don’t want it to ever end. My childhood
For me, this relation happens with every song. I live
realisation that I’m just like Major Tom, living in a
with severe GAD (generalised anxiety disorder),
strange Space Oddity, still leaves me with a minor
something that takes up a serious portion of my
existential crisis every time I realise there really is
everyday life. The not-so-funny thing is that severe
nothing I can do, and the Great Gig in the Sky, the
GAD, as I have, is linked to memory loss. My brain is
song that Dad and I would blast out of the
always busy; it doesn’t know how to take a ‘chill pill’,
Subwoofers every time I needed a good cry, until my
and because of that, I get so flooded with new
brother would complain it was too loud.
information that I forget older stories.
Music is designed to bring you joy, designed to be
Most of the memories I can still remember today are
something you relate to personally. It’s the artist’s
linked to music. Car trips, dance parties in the lounge
goal, their job, to make music that people see their
room as a kid, and watching movies for the first time.
own stories and experiences in.
Everything is linked to music.
I write my own music to keep my memories alive
The words Don’t You (Forget About Me) blast
longer, so I can remember my own stories. Memories
through the car as Dad drives me through the school
are so precious and something many people take for
gates for the last day of grade 12, closing off 13 years
granted, I used to! But now I’ve realised that, as much
of driving to school every day with him. Feeling like I
as we want them to, memories don’t always last
am, in fact, living a Lush Life, roaring down a street
forever.
in Cambodia at 4 am in a tuk-tuk, as our dodgy
I want to challenge you to start collecting your
Bluetooth speaker fights for its life. Answering the
memories, big or small. Write them down in a
phone with How Do You Do?, right after hearing it
journal, take pictures and make a photo album, take
play as Mum’s ringtone – a habit I still carry today.
a video diary for a week on a cheap
Reminding myself that the end of the ACE Lab hike
Kmart camcorder or even write your own songs.
is Right In Front Of Me as I hike up the final hill and
Hopefully, you will soon be able to say, “I’ve got a
sprint for the train (I missed it by two minutes and
song for that.”
COMM11100
A FA R E W E L L F R O M O U R B E L OV E D S T U D E N T PRESIDENT
Having such supportive people around me, both students and lecturers, has played a huge part in
MICHAELA KOROITAMANA
shaping the person I am today. I'm incredibly grateful for those who have encouraged, challenged and stood beside me along the way.
Avondale has been a the craziest and best time of my life!
I've looked silly about 1,000 times in an attempt to laugh-maxxxxx, but if there's anywhere in the world to
We hear it every so often that Avondale is where you
let your guard down, look silly and have the time of
find your lifelong friends and make some of the best
your life, it's Avondale.
memories. I can confidently say this couldn't be more
If I have any advice for those still writing their
true.
Avondale story, it's this, GET INVOLVED. Take every opportunity you can. Don't be afraid to look silly
Now, as I enter my final couple of weeks at Avondale,
trying something new. Say yes, hang out with people
I've never appreciated my friendships and experiences
you wouldn't normally cross paths with and step
more. I used to count down the years until graduation,
outside your comfort zone. Make the most of the
and now that I'm preparing to close this chapter, I find
people and experiences around you. And somewhere
myself wishing I could do the complete opposite and
in between all the chaos, remember to invest in
slow everything down.
yourself too.
From being a basement babe, to RA'ing the girls in my
Lastly, serving as Student President has genuinely been
nursing class in second year, becoming Head RA, and
one of the greatest privileges of my time at Avondale.
taking on my favourite role of all, Student President of
A massive shoutout to the 2026 ASA Team &
the BEST UNIII everrr!
Kalvin!!! These are some of the most hardworking,
Each chapter has brought something different and
generous and humble people I've had the privilege of
given me memories I'll carry long after I leave.
working alongside. So much happens behind the
When my friends and I reflect on our Avondale
scenes, and the team have consistently given their time
experience, we often find ourselves grateful for the
and energy to make sure students have the best
simplest things. Sitting in each other's rooms and
experience. I couldn't be prouder of what we've
houses almost every day, having friends so close by,
achieved together.
wasting money and fuel on the most random side
If there's one thing Avondale has taught me, it's that
quests, and ticking off the bucket list that most, if not
the people make the place. And while I'm excited for
all, Avondale kids have.
what comes next, a little part of me will always wish I could relive these four years once more.
Throughout the four years Avondale has been my home, I've experienced some of the best moments of
BOOOM LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE!!!!
my life, as well as some of my lowest.
peace and love <3
About your money Jesus is pretty blunt here. Don’t give for clout: “Don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is
The Most Iconic Speech of All Time: Jesus Christ
doing.” So no donation selfies. Then he goes further: “You cannot serve both God and money,” and “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” A practical tip is to scroll through your bank
Picture it. A hillside in Galilee about 2,000 years ago,
statement, because it shows what you actually care
crowded with fishermen, farmers, sick people and
about. Give regularly and quietly, even if it’s only $5
general nobodies. A carpenter from Nazareth sits
a week. Remember what he said about the rich -
down and gives what is basically a manifesto for an
harder to get into heaven than to fit a camel through
upside-down world. It’s in Matthew 5–7, it’s called the
the eye of a needle - he didn’t stutter.
Sermon on the Mount, and it’s quietly the most
Stop spiralling
demanding thing you’ll ever read. Here’s the
Look at the birds and the wildflowers. They aren’t
breakdown.
stressing, and they’re looked after. This isn’t “don’t
The blessed list goes against everything
plan your future”. It’s “don’t let anxiety run your
Jesus opens with the Beatitudes. Blessed are the poor
life”. Get your priorities right first and the rest falls
in spirit, the grieving, the meek, the people hungry for
into place.
justice, the merciful and the peacemakers. Not the
Check yourself
influencers, the CEOs or people who have citizenship.
Before pointing out the speck in someone else’s eye,
He flips the whole status system. He makes it clear
deal with the plank in your own. A good thing to
that God is paying attention to the people the world
remember before you go into the comments.
overlooks - and we should too.
What about voting?
Don’t blend in
Jesus didn’t hand out how-to-vote cards but the
“You are the salt of the earth… the light of the
sermon gives you a lens to look through. Who does
world.” Salt adds flavour and stops things from going
this politician and this policy bless: the poor, the
off. Light is there to be seen. Faith isn’t meant to be a
grieving, the peacemakers? Does it show mercy? Does
private aesthetic. It should show up in how you treat
it treat others the way you’d want to be treated?
people.
That’s the Golden Rule, Matthew 7:12. Vote like the
He raised the bar, a lot
people at the bottom of the hill matter, not just your
Jesus says don’t just avoid murder, don’t even hold
own wallet. Then do the hard part and love the people
contempt. If have an issue with someone, go fix it
who voted differently.
right now. In 2026 terms, make peace before you post.
The mic drop
And let your yes mean yes. No fine print and no “I
Jesus ends with two builders. One builds on sand, the
was joking”.
other on rock. The storm comes, and only the house
Love your enemies (yes, really)
on rock is still standing. His point is that hearing isn’t
Turn the other cheek. Go the extra mile. Pray for
enough. Doing is the foundation.
people who make your life hard. Stand up to those who hurt people. Care for people who scare you. Tell
So the Sermon on the Mount isn’t something to print
your friends when they are being problematic. Hold
on a tote bag. It’s a to-do list. Start small: apologise
them to account. This isn’t about being a doormat.
first, give quietly, and put your phone down to really
It’s about refusing to let hate set the rules of the game.
listen to someone the world ignores.
It’s the hardest bit, and probably the most radical thing he ever said.
THAT IS A WRAP ON VOICE 2026! Writers, artists, editors, graphic designers, poets, politicos, sports writers, spiritual leaders - we want you in 2026. Contact lynnette.lounsbury@avondale.edu.au to get involved.