VOICE Issue four, Nov '22

VOICE

VOL. 4 | NOVEMBER 2022

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE AWABAKAL AND GURINGAI PEOPLES AS THE TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS OF THE COUNTRY ON WHICH WE WORK AND PLAY. WE THANK THEM FOR PROTECTING THIS COASTLINE AND ITS ECOSYSTEMS, AND WE RECOGNISE THEIR CONTINUING CONNECTION TO LAND AND WATERS. WE EXIST ON STOLEN LAND, AND WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SOVEREIGNTY WAS NEVER CEDED. WE PAY OUR RESPECTS TO ELDERS PAST PRESENT AND EMERGING, AND EXTEND THAT RESPECT TO ALL FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE PRESENT TODAY.

ETHICS STATEMENT

OUR AIM IS TO PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS, IDEAS, AND THEIR EXPERIENCES IN THE WORLD THROUGH THEIR OWN CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE; EVERYONE’S CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE IS DIFFERENT, AND WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. VOICE IS AN EXTENSION OF THE MINDS OF THE STUDENT BODY AT PRESENT, NOT THE VIEWS OF THE INSTITUTION.

GET IN CONTACT The Voice Team Bailee Mcleod - s17056539@student.avondale.edu.au Nik Baumanis - s20075121@student.avondale.edu.au Eilish Ryan - Eilish.Ryan@avondale.edu.au

Security Phone: (02) 4980 2333 Extension: #333 Email: security@avondale.edu.au

Avondale University Church Pr Norman Hurlow - Norman.Hurlow@avondale.edu.au Pr Morgan Vincent - Morgan.Vincent@avondale.edu.au Phone: (02) 4980 2272 Extension: #272 Email: collegechurch@avondale.edu.au Located: in the main foyer of University Church Open: Monday - Thursday from 9am - 5pm & Fridays 9am - 12pm

Wellbeing Centre Phone: 0403 478 994 (SMS preferred) Email: counselling@avondale.edu.au (appointment queries only) Located: the counsellor's office is situated in the wellbeing centre

Counsellors Lana Hibbard (Lead Clinical Counsellor) Jonathan Gould Our counsellors offer confidential counselling to students experiencing a range of academic, mental health and personal concerns

FROM THE EDITOR BAILEE MCLEOD

The Jacarandas are blooming and this is our final issue for 2022. As usual, I had no theme set out for our writers sorry, not sorry - because in editing, I found, like always, everything beautifully tied together. Perhaps a theme could be Question…? (hello Taylor Swift reference). As we near the end of year celebrations, graduation, then Christmas and New Years - I swear it was May yesterday - we can be faced with many questions.

As you read this final issue, I hope there are some words of wisdom you can hold onto, and ones to have a good laugh at too. Thank you for reading this year. Thank you for going through the motions with us lol to the forbidden second issue, iykyk. To my team, ilysm. It takes a village to create these publications, and ours was a very small village this year, but none of this would have happened without them.

Questions like what does the next year hold, what am I even doing with my life, do I really have to apply for that job back in hospo - yes because your centrelink runs out so soon -, and was this degree just a waste of time? These are all very valid and relatable questions for the end of year dread.

But it’s also an exciting time as we head out into the unknown.

I hope I have given voice to all your opinions and ramblings, because that is the very essence of this publication. Voice is ours. It’s a publication that has given me and so many of you opportunities to share.

I am so honoured to have edited and contributed to eight issues over the past two years, but I think I will hold this final issue especially close to my heart.

Josie Alibrandi, the protagonist in Melina Marchetta’s novel Looking for Alibrandi said, “I’m beginning to realise that things don't turn out the way you want them to. And sometimes, when they don't, they can turn out just a little better”. This has to be one of the most offensively accurate things I have ever read. So many things throughout my life have not worked out how I dreamed, and despite most being bittersweet, I am still so grateful I didn't get what I wanted.

Go on, have a read of this silly little final issue that I adore so much.

CONTRIBUTORS Bailee McLeod Editor-in-Chief Bailee is an English and Visual Arts Major, who is ‘no, not doing teaching!’(and yes, she’s considered it). If she is not doing yoga or drinking coffee, she will be at the beach with a good book or listening to Sam Fender on her way to the shops.

Nikolai Baumanis Assistant Editor Nikolai (or if you’re unsure of the pronunciation) “Nik” - is an English and Food Technology Major studying Secondary Education. He spends most of his time listening to local Aussie music, daydreaming about ridiculous hypothetical scenarios, and cringing at grammatical errors.

Danae Grolimund Graphic Designer Danae, pronounced ‘duh-nae’, is studying a Bachelor of Arts and Primary Teaching. She spends her spare time hanging out with friends, playing basketball, at the beach tanning (or roasting), and watching satisfying coffee making videos on youtube.

Rachael Thomson Photographer Rachael is completing her fourth and final year at Avondale as a Bachelor of Arts Student. She loves travelling & photography, so any chance for her to do both is a win. She also considers herself a major connoisseur of Chai lattes, unable to resist a smooth, creamy mug.

CONTRIBUTORS guest writers

Emilie Jackson Emilie is a third-year secondary art, English and business teacher. She likes eating blueberries, can be convinced of most conspiracy theories, thinks 45-minute naps are the most effective, tends to avoid butterflies, and if given the choice, would have her life narrated by David Attenborough.

Taylah Jones Taylah is a first year Bachelor of Arts student studying Counselling. She speaks fluent sarcasm, has a knack for burning toast, and is attracted to dance floors, patterned pants, and historical fiction novels..

Margaret Graham Margaret, or Margo, is a final year Primary Education student. She likes spending time going to the beach or climbing mountains. But most of her time is spent eating, sleeping or laughing.

Jenaya Lewis Jenaya is a final year Secondary Education student majoring in English and History. She constantly has a song in her head and can never keep it in. Her current obsessions: Taylor Swift, transparent sticky notes, and making her friends pull over so she can pick pretty yellow flowers on the side of the road.

Editor asks

what's your guilty pleasure?

Nik Car Karaoke. I AM the world’s biggest popstar, and this IS the opening night of my world tour.

Danae Watching ASMR videos….. Sorry not sorry, please no further questions.

Rachael Retail Therapy! Spending money I don’t really have soothes the soul:)

Karla Pickles. Any time. Anywhere. If there is a jar of pickles, I am there.

Holiday Binge Summer break is fast approaching, so we’ve gathered the team and contributors to spill the tea on what they have been loving on streaming platforms so you’ve got something to watch on that late summer arvo.

Comfort show anyone?

Bai

Emilie

Friends. ‘He ate my sandwich!'

Free Solo. Get your heart pumping from the comfort of your couch as you watch the famous climb.

Nik Schitt$ Creek. ‘Ew, Davidd’

Danae Parent trap.

“T-H-E-M, them. Get the picture?”

Rachael Modern Family: “Success is one percent inspiration, 98 percent perspiration, and two per cent attention to detail.”

Jenaya Anne with an E. It is wholesome, and gives curl up in a blanket on a rainy day vibes. LOVE.

Taylor The Crown. Have a sticky beak into the Royal Family and be up on all the goss. It’s a yes from me.

Karla

Margaret

Gilmore Girls.

‘It’s a lifestyle’. ‘It’s a religion’.

The Office. ‘I’m not superstitious, but I am a little stitious’

WO/ What do you think is Elihon’s best feature?

His bald head.

If Elihon had a theme song, what would it be?

Booster Seat - Spacey Jane

eleora tawake

Who is the better cook in the kitchen?

I would like to think it’s an equal tie, but probably Elihon.

What is one item that Elihon can’t live without?

His toothbrush.

If Elihon had a celebrity best friend, who would it be?

Chris Brown What movie could you picture Elihon starring in?

Shrek. He’d voice Donkey.

Which one of you must be / is always right?

Without any doubt, me.

If Elihon had a catch phrase, what would it be?

“Cuz… what the hell” What is an unusual habit/quirk that Elihon does/has?

Brushing his teeth multiple times before going to bed.

What is your favourite thing about Elihon?

There’s a few so here’s a brief list: His humour. His smile. His selfless and caring nature. His passion for people

/MAN What do you think is Eleora's best feature?

Her smile. Every time I see her smile, it reminds me of why I fell for her. She’s just so beautiful.

If Eleora had a theme song, what would it be?

Anything Norah Jones. She’s just indie like that.

(Special mentions include Stuck on you – Lionel Richie or Still the One – Shania Twain)

elihon Taulapapa

Who is the better cook in the kitchen?

Definitely her – she just is better at everything.

What is one item that Elelora can’t live without?

Her speaker, she takes it everywhere. Music is essential in all settings.

If Eleora had a celebrity best friend, who would it be?

Lionel Richie. She would probably sing all his songs with him as well.

What movie could you picture Eleora starring in?

P.s I love you. It’s her favourite movie and tbh I can picture us both living in NYC or something and then travelling to Ireland without the death part of the movie. Or special mention to Gilmore Girls.

Which one of you must be / is always right?

Eleora. I’m always apologising (Eleora please don’t be angry, p.s. I love you teehee).

If Eleora had a catch phrase, what would it be?

“Not Funny” – stern tone and serious facials.

What is an unusual habit/quirk that Eleora does/has?

Walking around barefoot. She’s comfortable having the dogs out all the time but I’m a shoe kind of guy so it’s a bit awkward.

What is your favourite thing about Eleora?

Her laugh – it can be heard internationally. Legit wherever you are in the world, you’ll be able to hear. It sometimes haunts me in my sleep. But I LOVE IT and she makes me so happy.

Existentialism and Vanlife (and should you by a van right now?)

Existential dread/crisis is a term that has increased in today’s popular culture - or maybe I’ve just become more aware of it moving from my teens to twenties. When trying to find a definition, one in particular stuck with me. It explained that an existential crisis occurs when purpose is negatively impacted by contemplation.

I don't know about you but I was of the understanding that contemplation was kind of a good thing. I mean, it stops me from putting a fork in the toaster when trying to get the toast out, but this is saying contemplemation is negative, so I'm a bit confused. Contemplation leads to daydreaming, and how often do you imagine dropping out and travelling the world. Or, my personal favourite, buying a van and hitting the road. Doesn't it sound so appealing to pile everything into a van, and lead an adventurous life on the road? It would also make for a fantastic Instagram feed, so what’s the negatives…

Maybe it’s that sometimes in our crises and search for life's meaning and purpose, we forget to stop and recognise where we have been, and our right now.

We forget gratitude. We become SO focused on where we are going and what’s next, we spiral.

I am of the opinion that this search is not actually a bad thing, and we should certainly not stop dreaming or looking forward to the future, because as the wise philosopher Dolly Parton once said ‘we all need a cup of ambition’. The dreaming is what drives us in our life.

But I am saying, hey, you're here right now and you have purpose in the exciting AND the mundane. Sometimes we have to stop and take a look around, because the ‘right now’ is actually pretty great - is this a Ferris Bueller reference?

Yes, yes it is.

Maybe the little mundane things are actually enough. So, when you water the plants, pay for someone’s coffee or smile at that kid in the shops you're giving life and love and sometimes that's enough. Sometimes the ‘right now’ and little things are enough. Maybe the little things are what lead to the big things, so we should stop worrying if we haven't found meaning and purpose just yet.

They will come our way.

I guess, no, you don't necessarily need a van to find yourself and purpose… but I'll still be looking on facebook marketplace for one.

Emilie Jackson

THX, NO THX We love Avondale, there’s so many good things about this place of Higher Education, but there’s always room for improvement, so we are airing dirty laundry too. It’s giving constructive criticism. Thank us later … or not.

Thx Gymball Lynnette Lounsbury Peter Kilgour Friends made No speed bumps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gluten Steaks New Ella rooms Coffee Warrick Long Lisa Barnes Chewy Basketball - shout out Nadine Speed Friending Richie Morris All the cute bunnies, goats & cows

No Thx ‘Fasian’ at Caf, IYKYK Cooranbong pot holes No more initiation Everyone stealing Ella level four microwave - seriously just stop Bathroom mold WiFi - why are you SO bad!

Pesticides - stop hurting the little bunnies pls Exam week 8am class La Niña

Don't worry Darling: a review Harry Styles, Queen Flo, need we say more?

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Don’t Worry Darling, a psychological thriller directed by Olivia Wilde, follows the story of Alice (Florence Pugh) and Jack Chambers (Harry Styles), a salacious couple, who are residents of the ‘Victory Project’, an experimental 1950’s town housing project. The husbands leave every morning to toil away inside Headquarters, working on the “development of progressive materials”, while their wives enjoy the beauty, luxury, and debauchery of their idealised community.

The film overtly addresses traditional gender roles, particularly within the scope of a white, middle-class domestic lifestyle. There is a strict understanding of these gender roles; the men are the head of the household and the sole provider while the women are expected to manage the home and submit themselves to a life of compliance.

Oh, to be Harry Styles’ domesticated housewife in a seemingly perfect paradise.

From the get-go, I felt confronted by the societal optimism that anchors every interaction in this desert utopia.

The company’s enigmatic founder, Frank (Chris Pine) – equal parts corporate visionary and motivational life coach – meets any need that residents may have. What is asked of them in return? Discretion and their unwavering commitment to the Victory Project."Boys and their toys,” scoffs Bunny (Olivia Wilde), one of the wives, in response to the small earthquakes that frequently interrupt their goings-on.

Their daily lives are riddled with moments of transgression; hence, it is not long before cracks in Alice’s idyllic life begin to appear. As we progress, she experiences flashes of something much more sinister lurking beneath Victory’s attractive façade.

This was when I began to question the general trajectory of the film – up until then, everything had seemed just a bit too clean, a bit too organised, a bit too artificial.

Pugh’s captivating performance of Alice’s descent into madness left me feeling challenged and perplexed. Each scene uncovered a new layer to this mystery – what is really going on behind the scenes, and why? How much is Alice willing to lose to find out?

If there was ever a time that I was grateful to be living my silly little mundane life, it’s now.

In the end, we discover that Victory is essentially controlled by Frank in a world that resembles a simulation. Albeit, many critics may suggest that the film gives too much away while not explaining enough – and I do, too, still have my own grappling questions – but if I could offer my (un)popular opinion, I thoroughly enjoyed ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ and I would recommend its viewing to those of us who share an appreciation for a powerful dystopian drama with strong overarching themes of misogyny, gender roles, and social order.

Margaret Graham

Women's Rights

When will women’s experienced inequality be a problem worthy of change?

Every individual is entitled to human rights.

We are entitled to the right to work, education, freedom of religion, opinion, expression, and to live without experiencing discrimination and inequality. However, worldwide, women are continually confronted with gendered discrimination and must constantly proclaim, justify, and defend their experiences of injustice and inequality.

Women's socially and politically motivated movements in fighting for equal rights and justice are not new. Women's rights movements have surfaced throughout history, with their intentions focused on vocalising the experienced inequality occurring in multiple areas of their lives.

The recent death of Mahsa Amini in Iran sparked the current women's rights movement. This movement highlights the continued and prominent role that the patriarchy plays in the lives of women today.

Mahsa Amini was a 22-year-old woman detained and murdered in police custody for not adhering to Iran's strict religious dress code.

Iranian women's bodily autonomy is governed to serve subjective views, forcing them to wear a hijab when they leave their house, regardless of nationality or religious beliefs. This law is one of many worldwide that illustrates the lack of control and freedom women have and the restrictions they are required to obey.

Women have been told what to wear by society for hundreds of years, been blamed for assaults if they aren't modest enough and yet also victimised should they choose to cover their bodies in alignment with their religious beliefs. Women have had enough of the double standards and want to be able to choose their own clothing without fear of beatings, verbal or sexual assault.

The death of Mahsa Amini has united women in protest. By protesting, women intend to broadcast the need for change to the laws that dictate the rights and freedom of women, as well as the inequality women face broadly. Across the globe, women are cutting their hair in solidarity, a rebellious act uniting women from all walks of life to symbolise their resistance to the mandatory law that dictates overt compliance, restricts the rights and freedom of Iranian women, and led to Mahsa Amini's death.

Mahsa Amini was the first of several deaths, with many women having died whilst protesting for the forbidden rights they are entitled to since Mahsa's death.

Women can see themselves in Mahsa, relating to the oppression she experienced, the concept of living life with intimidation, fear, and the frustration associated with adhering to gendered restrictions. Women have related to the overarching theme of inequality, with Mahsa's death fuelling women to vocalise their shared frustration about their continually experienced oppression.

Society has largely recognised the historical exclusion and discrimination of women, but women's present inequality is often minimised or dismissed.

Minimisation is especially prevalent when the rights women have today are compared to the rights women had in the past.

Whilst we can recognise that society has made progress in addressing women’s inequality, we must concurrently acknowledge that there are still necessary changes that must occur.

Women are not “fortunate to face less discrimination than those before them” when they experience preventable oppression, and their rights are still unequal to men.

The patriarchy is an outdated and unjust system of oppression used to control women under a prejudicial power that has no place in the 21st century. Its expansive and powerful influence on society serves neither women or men in an effective way. Society should no longer dictate women's rights or allow the use of one's position of privilege to discriminate against women.

It is prudent that, as a society and as individuals, we take a stand for women's rights, and in particular women’s physical safety, as this is a right every individual deserves. Women's rights are human rights. The inequality experienced by women in society is a collective issue, not just an issue for women and until women have equal rights and the patriarchal system controlling women has been removed, society will not be equal or free for all.

The need for collective action to generate change and empower women's lives has been established and requires immediate action. The delay of change is a historically repeated action, and women cannot wait until another life has been lost to make their rights and the inequality they face a problem worthy of society's attention, discussion, and restorative action.

Taylah Jones

Great work, kid.

An ode to the graduating class. Well done. You've made it. You’ve done amazing sweetie.

Page to squire to knight Apprentice to journeyman to master Child to adolescent to adult Student to… student to… teacher?

These are all progressions in life and trade.

Throughout history people have had to transition to the new adventures, joys, limits, and responsibilities of their new rank, role, or position. People have grown up in so many different ways.

As my University experience is nearing its close I feel as though I am breaking some mould I have always fit into. From the age of four I have been a student. Preschool to primary to secondary and straight into university, what a bumpy ride the last 17 years have been. Now I am done - although I have gone to school to go to school to go and work in a school! - and i ask where to from here?

The word ‘graduate’ comes from the Mediaeval Latin ‘graduatus’ and has three elements to its meaning. First is graduari "to take a degree," a very literal way of describing what the graduating class of 2022 have worked for. I know there have been many days when there has been so much to do it takes your breath away. I know there have been some grades that have been disappointing and some utterly exhilarating. I know that there have been doubts as to our ability to do this but as we approach that stage to ‘take our degree’ we will know we have earned it.

Second is gradus "a step climbed,” a new mould to fit into, a stage of life surpassed. Just like the knighting of a squire, we are taking the step into the next chapter of our lives and, hopefully, blazing the trail of what we want to be. When I was a kid, my dad would wake us up early to climb Mount Warning in Murwillumbah.

Most of the trail was easy bushwalking and then right at the end there was a steep rock incline where we had to hold onto ropes and chains attached so we could climb to the top. I would hold onto my dad’s hand, and slowly but surely, make my way up there and once we reached the top, a beautiful sunrise would be waiting. A trail is not always easy but the struggle is part of the experience of the climb.

The third part of the meaning of graduate is the Indo-European ghredh which means “to walk, go.” We take our degree, acknowledging the steep climbing we did to get here, and walk into our (hopefully bright) futures.

When someone asks me how I am going and I’m not doing the best, I sometimes reply with “going”. “I’m going.” And that is all we need to do.

There will be times when we walk just to go and others when we go above and beyond, I just hope you all know how far you’ve come and that you have people to hold your hand up to the top.

Good job graduate. We are proud.

Jenaya Lewis

steps The universe is cruel so out of our control because you can’t make someone love you and nothing is ever quite as simple as it seems It’s as if I am always one step closer but they’re starting to fall away and they’re becoming further apart it’s getting harder to jump that far I sometimes fall in between the cracks down into the dark into a room full of mirrors where I wrestle with myself And when my foot finally meets a new step it crumbles under my weight again and yeah, each step feels more right But what if there isn’t a step left for me the next time

Nikolai Baumanis

It's time we deconstruct religion...

It’s called analysing, it's a healthy thing, don't come for me okay?

The world is complicated. I’ve come to learn that things aren’t black and white. But I grew up thinking they were. Thinking that if you didn’t believe in Jesus, you’d burn in hell. If you had sex before marriage, you’d burn in hell. If you had a baby out of wedlock, you’d - you guessed it - burn in hell. And if you even thought of abortion, you’d have the same fate, perhaps even worse.

He showed no judgement. He was radical. He had very little interest in “the rules” and he didn’t care what the church of his day thought of him. He called us to follow him despite being broken, shame filled, and overflowing with questions. He knew that it's not constructive to have people be riddled with shame and doubt.

These ideas weren’t put in my head by my parents, but by the interpretations I made from things I’d been told by religious figures. Yes, I was a child, and like any child, things were blown out of proportion. I soon learnt that you don’t actually burn in hell forever. As I’ve grown, my perspective has changed, but I still see shame encapsulate people when they talk about these very real experiences.

Your religion shouldn’t disadvantage someone who does not believe what you believe. We can have our convictions, stick to them, and influence the world. I've seen what forced religion and doctrine does to a generation. It makes them leave the church, and never return.

Luckily Jesus came to say that all the religious doctrine was just not it. Those who are burnt out on religion, go to him. Jesus came to deconstruct the church. Jesus set the perfect example of what our purpose is.

People are so incredibly complex and so are religious institutions. They are complex because they are run by broken humans, some of whom like to make up their own fundamentals and claim them as biblical doctrine. As humans, we like to deify others and teach their interpretations of the bible instead of teaching what the bible actually says. The focus is so heavily on rules, that we lose sight of what matters.

We’ve been called to love and be light and the salt that brings out the God flavours. Jesus said the greatest of all the commandments was to love our God with everything and love our neighbour. That’s it.

Love and connection go hand in hand and connection is fostered by communication. Sitting with people and hearing their stories is what makes this human experience all the more beautiful. It’s what Jesus did. He sat with us. He sat with sinners, he ate with us, he showed us what we needed to do while we waited for him to return. He was friends with tax collectors and prostitutes.

I now see an empowered generation who have seen what happens when conservatism oversteps. I see them following the word of the Lord, not fundamentals made by people. I see a future where truth is spoken and ‘controversial’ conversations are had with open mindedness.

That’s what I see.

The world is complicated. Life can be painful.

But it really is an exciting time to be alive too.

Bailee McLeod

VOICE