The Voice april 2015

APRIL ISSUE 2015

From the editor The past few days have seen me holed up inside, away from the (almost literal) cyclonic wind and rain rushing the streets.

Editor

The word ‘carnage’ kept playing over in my mind quite dramatically as I surveyed broken trees, crushed cars, and the 8-foot surf that demolished Newcastle Beach. Which, I guess, is pretty dramatic. Although, not surprising so, as I’d already seen the photos of Parry St (right by my house) and the entire Cooks Hill area online- the Telegraph published a slideshow, which I viewed- cozily- in bed.

Graphic Designer

Charlotte O’Neill Blake Parkinson Assistant Editor Lawson Hull Thanks:

As I write this, the power’s down and I’m frustrated. It’s gone, and suddenly- frighteningly badly- I need a cup of tea.

A sort of primal terror grips me- it seems fear and the instinct of survival underpins our relationship with technology. And the epitome of comfort, comfort that is up for grabs at the drop of a telegraph pole. The continual connection allows me to be so utterly disconnected that SMH Instagram updates allow me to view in almost real time events I could literally view in real time if I were to step outside. To me this speaks of a depreciating ability to contend with the real world.

SES reminders not to drive in the flood waters Aussie diggers in 1914-18 Hubble space telescope The storm- or, our second mid semester break No Thanks:

I have confronted myself however by the notion that I would, often, like to learn by trial and error. To have a practical knowledge, not a theoretical, ‘I watched a YouTube tutorial’ knowledge. To step outside into the rain, and push some junk off the street. In essence, the question is whether I want to be- or merely to see. Because if there’s one thing that nature keeps reminding me it’s that our constructions of all sorts can be so temporary.

Flood waters Trees

Charlotte O’Neill The Voice Editor 2015

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contents 2. From the Editor 4. President’s Piece 5. Vox Pop 6. Tara

contributing writers Bianca Costigan Bianka is a new mother for the third time and an empathetic wordsmith.

Kerrilee Miller

8. Ordained

Kerrilee loves olives and wouldn’t actually meet the height requirement to enlist in 1916.

10. Social

Lara Campbell

12. Wo {man}

A born natural at Boulderdash with an extreme detest for toads.

14. Meiko Nagaoka 16. Kerrilee Miller 17. Alexandra Radovan 18. News 19. Reviews

Alexandra Radovan Alex explores the various spiritual worship opportunities at Avondale, and one of the key reasons they work.

Lawson Hull Lawson has a secret talent for blackout resourcefulness, and his biggest regret is not doing nursing at Avondale.

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President’s Piece I have just returned from a wonderful week at Big Camp. Those of you who didn’t attend should be feeling sorry for yourselves – you missed out BIG time! It was a great time to de-stress, while still having plenty of things going on to make sure you didn’t get enough sleep.

Everything was exceptionally run, and commendations to all of you who were involved- I know there were many of you carrying out key roles.

Importantly, I noticed that at the end of the week, feedback forms were handed out so we could share our thoughts on how we thought things ran. The programs were top quality and there probably wasn’t much to improve on – but they wanted to hear our thoughts.

We know that Avondale is a great place and that it doesn’t get much better than here. But even so, we need to take on this attitude of finding how we can improve. The ASA are seeking your thoughts and ideas on all things Avondale – tell us what you want improved, changed, or removed. If we don’t know what YOU want it is hard for us to improve and we can get stuck doing what we’ve always done (or not done).

We know that sometimes there are great thoughts and ideas out there that don’t get the chance to grow because they’re only talked about – or not even talked about. The ASA wants your constructive criticism. We will do our best to see how we can accommodate your ideals for Avondale.

Get on the website and check out the profiles of the various representatives and send them a message or talk to them about what you would like to see changed – we are eager to hear your thoughts.

Dayn McKay Student President 2015

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VOX POp! If you could meet any celebrity/ famous person in the world right now, who would it be?

Jesus. Because I’m a good Christian.

- Felicity Cassie Joel Houston, for being a really inspirational music leader.

- Emily Dorough I’d have to say Kendrick Lamar because he’s changed the face of rap in my opinion.

- Alex Groves Leonardo da Vinci, one of the greatest minds of his time and even ours today; an inventor, artist, writer, philosopher etc.

- Tara McIntosh I’d have to say Lecrae. He’s an inspiration to everyone and I’ve already met him - Janae Cameron Felicity Cassie. Because she makes me amazing burritos.

- Jordan Cassie

Taylor Swift. I think her songs speak to the teenage girl in me.

- Jared Bocala Emma Watson. She’s a women’s activist and she uses her position to benefit the welfare of other people. Plus she’s insanely gorgeous.

- Ryan Smith Hayao Miyazaki. He is the creator and mastermind behind some of my favourite movies (Spirited Away). Any excuse to go back to Japan really… We could even go snowboarding together! We would be the best of mates.

- Amy Carter Sylvester Stallone. I admire his talent and tenacity in everything he does. There’s a depth in everything he presents and produces; something that every common man can aspire to and rally behind.

- Chewy

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Tara Bianka Costigan

Bianka is a new mother for the third time and an empathetic wordsmith.

The woman in this photo is 28 years old. She loves P!nk, dolphins, and the colour blue. She adores her dog Honey, her three cats, and most of all – she absolutely treasures her three children. She works tirelessly in a profession she loves. Like you and I, she has a favourite song, a favourite meal she likes to cook, and a favourite song that she likes to dance to. She is also my cousin, Tara Costigan, and on the 28th of February 2015 she was taken from me.

Tara was (allegedly) murdered by her ex-partner, in her own home, in a horrific case of domestic homicide.

Domestic violence in Australia is a very real issue and has a multitude of faces. Not limited solely to physical violence, it also includes threatening behaviour, sexual, spiritual, emotional and psychological abuse, social abuse and control, and economic or financial abuse. By the 17th of March this year, 22 women had been killed in a domestic homicide since January 1st - that’s two women a week.

Did you know that over one million women (in one particular study) stated they had been abused either physically or sexually by the age of 15? That 37.8% of these women

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interviewed stated that their perpetrators were current partners, whilst 34.4% stated the abuse was at the hand of a family member?

64.1% of these women stated assaults happened in the home. And most alarming – 64% of these women did NOT report the violence to the police.

These numbers should be shocking you to your very core. Take a look around you; essentially one out of those four girls sitting beside you on the next table will be a victim of domestic violence, if she hasn’t already grown up in a violent home. It also means that a percentage of the strapping young men filling Watson’s halls will be perpetrators of this kind of behaviour. Doesn’t that bother you? Doesn’t that (as a Christian) rock you right to the fibres of your being?

Riddle me this – why the heck are we all so excited to save all our pretty pennies and fundraise for mission work overseas when there is a desperate need for outreach right here in our own backyards? Don’t get me wrong – it is important that we care for those less fortunate than us overseas. But when was the last time you saw a poster around college or at your church that advertised a mission project for the local women’s shelter in your community? I can almost bet your answer is never – and I make that assumption based on the fact that I have been knocked back in the past for setting one up because it “wasn’t a nice thing to talk about”. Unfortunately, the reality is this: every second a woman escaping domestic violence, who seeks safety in a refuge, is knocked back due to lack of

resources and support. This fact alone means we HAVE to start making this a mission in our church.

We have to start protecting the innocent children in these situations.

We have to start protecting our women: our sisters, cousins, mothers, nieces and daughters.

We have to start changing the mentality of our generation now – this is not an issue we can afford to wait for someone else to change.

I’m challenging you to join me on the 2nd May at Kellyville SDA Church for a musical evening in honour of Tara. We’ll have the chairman of the Hornsby Kuringgai Women’s Shelter telling us in detail how we can support women and refuges in our communities.

Let’s take a stand against domestic violence in our world – NOW. *Statistics from domesticviolence.com.au Hit up Facebook for more information about Sing for Tara. If you are available your presence will be a great support.

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Ordained Lara Campbell

Lara Campbell reflects on ‘The Call’ to ministry, and women’s ordination.

Adventist membership exceeds 18 million including over 18,000 ordained active ministers (General Conference of the Seventh Day Adventists, 2015) and just one female conference president. In order to be a conference president, one must be ordained and because the General Conference chooses not to condone ordaining a woman, they refuse to recognise the legitimacy of her role in the local church- and congruently create a male monopoly within our general conference. What is going on? The women’s ordination debate is in full swing and it makes me wonder why this was even an issue in the first place.

But it is.

Personally I believe many people are missing the point of the debate. We discuss women’s ordination like we might discuss other aspects of gender equality – the right to fair pay, the right to vote, the right to be free from sexual harassment (and I am all for them!). But, we miss the point when we say anyone is entitled to the ‘right’ of ministry with all it’s titles, accolades, recognition, pay rises and perks.

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Cartoon by Shannon Turner God-anointed ministry is messy, hard, humbling work. Paul talks about the hard yakka of ministry in 1 Corinthians 4:12: “We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us. We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. Yet

we are treated like the world’s garbage, like everybody’s trash—right up to the present moment.” For Paul, there was no accolades, recognition or perks. He ministered because the Holy Spirit compelled him to minister.

Not because he felt entitled to the right of ministry. As one preacher put it, “Ministry is not a right, it is a calling, a nonnegotiable commission to suffer in order to proclaim the good news about Jesus Christ”.

someone’s life is to make a mistake – it is not only detrimental to individuals and the local church but the greatest devaluation is that through refusing to ordain we are refusing to acknowledge the Spirit’s call in someone’s life. A veritable ‘stuff you’ to God’s moving in our lives.

The SDA church sees ordination of someone as “publicly recognizing those whom the Lord has called and equipped for local and global Church ministry” (General Conference of the Seventh Day Adventists, 2014). The Bible is very clear showing that God doesn’t favour one gender over the other either: “In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants—men and women alike” (Joel 2:29).

There are countless women who believe they are ‘called’ by the Holy Spirit to glorify God’s kingdom in a ministerial vocation. They help fill Colleges like this one. And if we ignore that calling, are we not rejecting God’s movement and anointing in our church? For anyone to deny, diminish or devalue the Spirit’s call on

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SOCIAL

#avondalexp SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH US ON INSTAGRAM

WO{MAN} of the month!

Josh Kross introduces two of Avondale’s finest.

Sharna Kosmeier What eye colour on a man is desirable for you?

I guess it depends on the rest of their face.

Blue is nice though.

What is beauty?

Sorry for the cliché but it is definitely on the inside, although it somehow makes the outside more attractive.

Do you reckon Adam and Eve had belly buttons?

Did they have umbilical cords? No.

Define success.

It is more than just getting things. It’s being happy with what you’ve gotten. Who’s actually ‘successful’ if they’re rich and miserable?

Who is the first person you call on a bad day?

My best friend Caitlin, or my mum.

What would be the key physical feature of your ideal squash opponent?

Two left feet. They’d be super unco and I’d have a chance of beating them.

If not… Then Kitty is the opponent I want.

What is your favourite season?

Summer!

What was the last thing you bought that wasn’t food?

Tissues?

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If you were to take someone on a date to the Caf, which time would you choose?

Not that I would consider it a ‘real date’ but if I had to, probably brunch... You can sleep in a bit more and hopefully all the croissants and avocados would impress him.

In Taree, where would you take your future mother in law?

Out of Taree.

Jan Weekes What would be the key physical feature of your ideal squash opponent?

Slow, because with my quick pace I can get around them.

What sets you apart from other high school teachers?

I’m funny, and laugh after everything I say.

That’s what sets me apart.

What is something that no one knows about you?

I haven’t lost all my baby teeth yet. I still have the back ones.

What was the last thing you bought that wasn’t food?

I bought wood glue, so I can fix my coffee table, which is a puzzle box.

What is beauty?

Someone with a beautiful smile, along with a beautiful character, and doesn’t swear.

If you were to take someone on a date to the Caf, which time would you choose?

I would have to say breakfast, because not many people go to breakfast, so it’s less noisy.

I’d probably go outside, where it’s sunny and warm. Yeah- probably around 8:10am.

Do you reckon Adam and Eve had belly buttons?

No. Actually… I have no idea.

What is your favourite season?

Probably winter… because footy is on. I like growing sugar-snap peas, and peas come out during winter. Oh, and I can rug up next to the fireplace… preferably with a special lady.

Do you like a woman to have long or short hair?

Long hair. It looks more womanly, more feminine. Short hair looks less feminine.

Define success.

Being comfortable with yourself.

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Mieko Nagaoka

By Lawson Hull

Japanese woman Mieko Nagaoka has set a world record by swimming 1,500 metres freestyle in an hour and 15 minutes at the age of 100.

Standing alone in her 100 to 104-year-old category, Ms Nagaoka swam the 1,500 metres in a 25-metre pool at the race in Matsuyama, western Japan.

According to the Japan Masters Swimming Association, Ms Nagaoka was the first woman in the world to have successfully swum the distance in the short pool course

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Ms Nagaoka already dominates the world record board for her age group, as awarded by the International Swimming Federation, holding 24 titles over both short and long distances.

Ms Nagaoka has told the media that this swim wouldn’t be her last.“I want to swim until I turn 105 if I can live that long,” she said.

It is expected that Guinness World Records will record her swim.Last year she published a book called I’m 100 years old and the world’s best active swimmer. She took up the sport at the age of 80. Japan has a rapidly rising aging population, with 59,000 centenarians on official records in 2014.

A few weeks ago Japanese woman Misao Okawa- the oldest person in the world- died.

She was 117.

Some days I can barely walk up the 19 stairs to my room in Watson Hall. Some days, I need to pause for a moment en route to the Caf to catch my breath. Some days, people see Harry Deanshaw and I walking to the gym, wondering to themselves, ‘If they go to the gym this regularly, why do they have such poorly formed abs* at pool parties?’ Other days and most days, I like to lie on my bed

and try not to think about the next time I’ll need to exert energy. But today was one of those days I stumbled on a story intended to inspire, and it did for a moment, until I remembered I was in a comfy bed and life wasn’t so hard.

Seriously though.

Mieko Nagaoka is 100 years old. She didn’t get to 90 and say “That’s enough following a black line at the bottom of the pool for me”.

She simply chose her next goal and stuck with it.

What is life without some passion for something?

Maybe you’re the kind of person who loves running up stairs. Maybe you like reading books. Maybe you like picking up heavy things and putting them down again in a crowded gym. If you’re good at something, Just Do It. * Harry and I train for strength, not physique. #hatersgonnahate

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An Adventure to Remember

By Kerrilee Miller

Kerrilee loves olives and wouldn’t actually meet the height requirement to enlist in 1916.

He stands over his bag, various items strewn in, or near, the backpack. He could never decide what was worth taking and leaving.

Clothes, toiletries, writing utensils, photographs of family, and Brydie…

He could finish it later.

late night chaff adventures. If you ask me, the sense of adventure on those (non existent since the new policies… of course…) chaffs is in some ways similar to the fun, the thrill, and the friendship, of the call to the Dardanelles.

With obvious and obliterating differences.

Goodbyes were always the worst, his mother cries and says she’ll see him home for Christmas; his father slaps him on the back with pride welling in his eyes. “What an adventure son”. Brydie smiles, a mask of silent sobs, stepping away and wringing the ring around her finger anxiously. At the train station he looks around him. This is an adventure. The other boys are whistling, some nervously, and his parents grow smaller. He waves.

The ANZAC Day just passed marked the centenary of the Gallipoli landings. What were you doing?

Gallipoli. 1915. Landing on the beaches. April.

ANZAC Day. What do these words mean to you? Is it Mel Gibson, the annoyingly overused idea of ‘mate-ship’ and grainy 1900’s footage? A vague flashback from your high school history class? It’s easy to forget the past- there are so many things demanding our attention in the present.

In 2015 we face an epidemic of wanderlustwhether it be that Europe trip, a MOTO or

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Young men and women, all as young as you or I, joined the armed forces to fight for a cause they thought was worthy. Soldiers, nurses, chaplains, doctors, those that fell between the ages of 18- 45 felt the call of adventure and duty. Fighting for the freedom of Australia, and the world, developing a strong national consciousness.

Over the next 4 years as we pass the centenary of all major dates in the world war, the battles, the casualties and finally the 11th of November 2018; 100 years since the guns of the Western Front fell silent. The media will throw it up in your face, but use the opportunity to think, and reflect, on times past, and actions that affect the future.

Non-compulsory Christianity

By Alexandra Radovan

Alex explores the various spiritual worship opportunities at Avondale, and one of the key reasons they work.

Did you know that Avondale College is one of only two Seventh-day Adventist tertiary institutions in the world that don’t have compulsory chapel services for the student body?

Now let that sink in while you contemplate how many times you or someone you know has complained about being forced into the Christian studies units. At least they get counted towards your degree!

Typically our generation loathes anyone who tells us what to do because they think they know better than us. With knowledge and Scripture in various versions available at the click of a button, and worldwide networks of people you can connect with who believe similarly, it doesn’t make sense to young adults in Australia to be told how to worship and when.

I had the privilege of attending a conference for Adventist college chaplains in San Diego, CA, in February this year with our Avondale chaplain, Dr Wayne French. I was there to present on our vision for The Pulse and give a student’s perspective on why Festival of Faith was always “pumping” despite it being a non-compulsory activity on campus. It is a

natural environment where fun is had, the arts are enjoyed, food is eaten, sport is played, conversations are had, and people smile. It is an hour in our week to simply celebrate life.

To the outsider, The Pulse just proves those “Jesus people” are actually pretty normal!

And FOF, Festival of Faith… most of us attend it at least once during the week, as it provides snacks, and a chance to break away from the study- not to mention enjoying the vibrancy of a creative worship experience and the intellectual challenge.

All credit to Dr Ray Roennfeldt (our college President) who was courageous enough to go against popular opinion and eliminate the “compulsory” from any worship experience on campus. As Christians we have freedom in Christ, and if you look through the Bible not once did Jesus force anyone into anything.

I believe that as an Adventist institution we should pride ourselves on our values and practices being biblically based, not traditionally based. Jesus always opened the invitation, and the student spiritual activities leaders at Avondale College are always opening the invitation to you to meet the Jesus we love and adore and worship… freely.

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NEWS

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has publicly apologised to a waitress after repeatedly pulling her ponytail while visiting the café. The woman stated in a contribution to The Daily website that the pulling began around last year’s election and continued through to last month. “How humiliating would it be to have to stand before the Prime Minister, his wife and security personnel and a handful of customers and say John, Mr Prime Minister, Sir, could you please stop tugging on my hair, I don’t like it, please stop, please…

I felt I shouldn’t HAVE to do that,” she said. Mr Key stated his apology and said “it was never my intention to make her feel uncomfortable”.

Anne of Green Gables fans the world over were devastated to learn of the passing of ‘Gilbert’, Jonathan Crombie. As many young girl’s first love, Gilbert was the star of the movie franchise inspired by the classic ‘Anne’ series by L. M. Montgomery. And with Gilbert, dies chivalry.

An earthquake with magnitude 7.8 occurred in Nepal, claiming over 3000 lives. Most of the damage has been incurred in Kathmandu.

The earthquake also caused an avalanche on Everest leading to deaths and missing persons, many of whom are Australian.

By Charlotte O’Neill

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REVIEWS Big Camp

If you haven’t been to ‘Big Camp’, it’s the place SDA’s go because they weren’t allowed to go to music festivals or campouts with the opposite gender as children. Situated right by Grassy Head at Yarrahapinni (or, near Macksville, for those who haven’t been to camp annually since infancy), ‘Camp’ is an Adventist social convention that is the cover story for our annual Sanitarium stock-up. Big Camp 2015 did not disappoint.

Pros:

Cons:

The beach. Surf, sun, and amateur footy games… what’s not to love?

Gross overuse of the word ‘intense’ as a pun*.

The sun (very little rain unlike most big camps!).

*For those who didn’t get it… intense… in tents. There you go.

The Donuts in 18+ Hangout Café. Actually, everything in the Hangout Café… team, you really rocked it! Live music was top, coffee fantastic… and those chips. Oh, and there were bonfires. It thrills my soul to think of the Leviticus-themed flirtatious conversations possible in such an environment.

Good music. The Central Coast Band I believe was the band of choice in the 18+ tent.

Low expectations- in a good way. Was it just I or was this camp just chill? The amount of girls I saw powdering their noses in the bathrooms for 2+ hours was significantly decreased and everyone just seemed to be having a really great time.

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