Togatus Yearbook 2016

YEARBOOK, 2016 @togatus_

16 | A Bachelor of Arts: a Waste of Time?

20 | Uni Student Hacks 28 | High Functioning Anxiety take this free pulp

Published by the State Council on behalf of the Tasmania University Union Inc. (hf. “the publishers�)

The opinions expressed herein are not those of Togatus

staff or the publishers. The copyright in each piece of work remains with the contributor; however, the publishers

reserve the right to reproduce material on the Togatus website togatus.com.au.

Togatus staff:

Editor-in-chief: Jess Flint

Print Editor: Meghan Scolyer Digital Editor: Nikita Riseley

Assistant Editors: Courtney Gould & Daisy Baker Design: Luke Visentin & Jonty Dalton

Administration Assistant: Mateesha Howard Contributors: Andrew Grey, Angela Koh, April Cuison,

April McLennan, Ellie Snibson, Erin Cooper, John Tanner, Kendall Boyd, Louise Hedger, Maddie Burrows, Marvin Thrailkill, Zoe Cooney

Togatus welcomes all your contributions.

Please email your work or ideas to contact@togatus.com.au

It is understood that any contributions sent to Togatus

may be used for publication in either the magazine or the website, and that the final decision on whether to publish resides with the editors. The editor reserves the right to make changes to submitted material as required.

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Post: PO Box 5055, UTas LPO, Sandy Bay 7005 Email: contact@togatus.com.au

Advertising: advertising@togatus.com.au Togatus is printed by Monotone Art Printers. We support the locals.

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Add to Togatus Togatus simply wouldn’t exist without the additions made by you: our fellow students. Whether it be an issue you care about, a creative piece or anything else you want to put out there, Togatus is the ideal place for your contribution. If you are a writer, artist or photographer (or all three!) we would love to hear from you. Contributing to Togatus is a surefire way to gain valuable experience in the world of communication.

Ask yourself: what addition can you make to Togatus?

Email us: contact@togatus.com.au Phone: 0447 764 821

Listen to TogCast Togatus has gone audio. No longer are you forced to just read our words, now you can hear us say them.

We might not be worth listening to; but we’re certainly not worth missing.

TogCast hits at the big issues. But mostly the small ones.

TogCast is available on Soundcloud, and on the iTunes Store – so go ahead and subscribe.

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You are here

Additorials

Thankyou: The Next Chapter

Dave Quinn – You Rocked Our World

Uni Student Hacks

Gaining the Yoga Balance

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Student Politics: Perpetuating Political Toxicity

eSports: a New Era for Sport at UTas A Bachelor of Arts: a Waste of Time?

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Minimalism: Less is Better

Mental Health: When to Get Help High Functioning Anxiety

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Five Herbal Tea Staples for your Collection

Facing the Unbearable: an Experience of Skin Cancer

An Insider’s Guide to Eating and Drinking in North Hobart

Eat, Pray, Holiday

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Seabirds Take Turn in Welfare Spotlight

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Youth Faction

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The Pop Culture Pet

Ross Village Bakery: a Slice of Fantasy How to… Make a Succulent Terrarium

Be Her Freedom 2016

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Contributors

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Andrew Grey

Angela Koh

April Cuison

April McLennan

Ellie Snibson

Erin Cooper

John Tanner

Kendall Boyd

Louise Hedger

Maddie Burrows

Marvin Thrailkill

Zoe Cooney

Additors

Jess Flint Additor-in-Chief

Meghan Scolyer Print Additor

Nikita Riseley Digital Additor

Mateesha Howard Addministration Assistant

Courtney Gould Assistant Additor

Daisy Baker Assistant Additor

Jonty Dalton Designer

Luke Visentin Designer

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Additorial Meghan Scolyer Print Additor

Welcome to the 2016 yearbook edition of Togatus!

I can’t believe it’s the end of the university year already! I, like most of you, am looking forward to a long hot summer filled with beach trips, barbecues and festivals. But first, we have to get through exams, and as the release of this edition coincides with the exam period, we have dedicated a large portion to lifestyle related articles to help keep you as healthy and stress free as possible. As usual, the rest of the edition is packed with features, reviews and creative pieces for when you need a break from study.

This edition also happens to be my last ever as print editor. As a parting gift, I would like to share a valuable piece of advice given to me by one of my grandmothers (I am lucky enough to still have two, both of whom are two of the strongest, most beautiful women I know). Whenever I am facing a challenging situation she repeats the same piece of wisdom – “trust your brain.”

It may seem simple and obvious, but it’s a brilliant affirmation, and one that I hope will help some of you during the stressful exam period. Whenever self-doubt starts to creep in, say it to yourself, and feel your confidence grow – you’ve learnt all that you need to know, and your brain won’t fail you!

Finally, thanks to all our readers and to all the contributors, editors and designers that I have had the pleasure of working with during my time at Togatus – it truly has been a great ride. Wishing you all a safe and happy summer!

Meghan

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Additorial Nikita Riseley Digital Additor

So… here we are again at the end of yet another busy and exciting year at UTas! For me, this marks the official halfway point in my student career as well as the end of my second term at Togatus.

Want to hear something funny? When I first found out that I received the position of Digital Editor earlier this year; I fled the country! Literally – the announcement came at about a week before I was scheduled to attend summer school in Japan! ;P #CoolStoryBro However upon my return to Australian shores, I made it my ultimate goal to make Tog Online an even more fun and interactive environment for you guys – and while keeping that in mind, we saw some amazing new features introduced, as well as some new faces and fresh content to add to the mix.

One of our biggest achievements this year saw the rise of our new and exciting ‘Togcast’ series and even though we were required to pause our recording schedule due to recent renovations to our office space, I can happily announce that the series will make its long awaited return to your airwaves very soon – so be sure to stay tuned!

To my fellow editorial and administration team - you guys have been my rock this year and in my eyes, nothing ever goes unnoticed so thank you all so much for your advice, support and friendship and of course the same message applies for each and every one of our wonderful contributors – thank you for all of your hard work and commitment throughout the year!

You guys are the glue that holds our publication together and without you, Togatus just would not exist!

As for my plans for 2017 – An Edge Radio debut? Live streaming across Twitch/YouTube? Doing car commercials… in Japan?

Who even knows where the future may take us?

Until next time, XOXO Nikita

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Dave Quinn – You Rocked Our World John Tanner #tribute

“Dave as a person is summarised by those who know him as calm and full of joy.”

A man with salt and pepper hair and hazelnut eyes goes about his morning routine. He scans his reflection carefully in the mirror, noticing the smile lines that have gathered around his eyes, trophies from years spent laughing with friends.

He dons his uniform of choice, a blue flannelette shirt and a grey puffer vest. Bidding goodbye to Charlie his beloved dog, he travels to his job as Student Development Administrator.

He arrives at his office, It’s early.

His first task of the day is to obtain supplies for the morning’s SRC Breakfast.

The SRC won’t be around for hours.

This man is Dave Quinn and he has held the wheels on the wobbly cart that is SRC plans since the incorporation of the Voluntary Student Unionism took effect in the 90’s. It’s a job he does with joy and a seemingly effortless input.

Dave smiles as he hears others enter the office. The beautiful ladies he calls his’ “chooks” and “chikky babes.” Their excited giggles signal the beginning of a busy day.

Outside he hears the familiar commotion of the SRC dragging BBQs, Tom Waits, and Shouting.

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Dave goes to the balcony. Below, he sees the activities officer, bald head and beard with cigarette in hand as he shouts and directs. Dave thinks to himself “it will be ok, if only he could realise that and calm down”.

Dave as a person is summarised by those who know him as calm and full of joy. Indeed, one of his closest work mates, Vicki, affectionately refers to him as her “sweetness and light.” I can think of no better words to describe him. Whether you knew him as the type to dance on tables and air guitar to the smooth tones of a strummed pool cue, or you know him as a cheery face sitting behind a desk, walls adorned with concert posters and Double J filling the room there is no denying that Dave was the embodiment of sweetness and light. In the years spent working within the TUU, Dave was always there to help all who needed it. He was the one you turned to when the printer jammed and he was the one you leaned on when a fire alarm ruined the concert you spent months and thousands of dollars planning. Always smiling and always ready with the solution to make everything okay again, it seemed that anything that could be fixed, could be fixed by Dave.

It seems looking back now that there really was only one problem Dave couldn’t fix, and that was his battle with cancer. Even throughout his long battle with the vicious disease he managed to remain smiling, positive, and constantly fighting.

Talking with one of his close friends Rikki, she says, “People would come in [to see Dave], he would be in a semi-coma and he would say ‘hello sweetheart, can I do anything for you? I have to go to work.’ I just remember being astounded by the humility someone could show when they were in that much pain.”

That really is it. Despite everything that was happening Dave not once wanted to burden anyone with what he felt was his battle.

It was a battle that he hadn’t expected to lose says Kate one of Dave’s close colleagues. Kate tells me that all Dave wanted was normality, that he thought it would be fine, even some of the doctors thought he would beat it.

Vicki, Kate, Ingrid, and Bronwyn, some of the loveliest ladies one could hope to meet and some of Dave’s close work colleagues agreed to an interview. They told me of one special relationship that Dave had with Deb. Deb made up the other half of what was lovingly referred to by Kate as a “dynamic duo,” and throughout Dave’s struggles she stood by his side. From getting his car repaired, to being a shoulder to cry on she did all she could to make his life easier. They had a close working relationship.

They talked about trips away, and supported each other through their struggles. While Deb was unavailable for an interview, the words she wrote in Dave’s memoriam book told me all I needed to know.

Simply: “Someone so special to me will never be forgotten, Deb.” There is no better way that I can think of to explain Dave than that.

Someone so special to me will never be forgotten. It’s so perfect, because it’s true.

There is no one else like Dave.

Dave has left such a large hole in so many lives that will never truly be filled. I know he has left a hole in mine. In the short time I knew Dave, I learnt so much. He was my mentor; he was my friend. I couldn’t have achieved what I did without him, and I thank him for that.

When I entered the TUU as a member of the SRC I was a hot headed chef, when I left I was calm.

I knew how to approach a problem with a smile and that there would be a way to make it all work. I owe that to Dave.

I want to leave you with the answer to a question that I asked Rikki during our interview: Explain Dave in a sentence. “Dave, to me, can’t be explained in a sentence.”

It’s true. Dave can’t be explained in a sentence, or even 100 sentences, because Dave was more than hollow adjectives. Dave was a feeling, Dave was everything you ever needed him to be and more, Dave was sweetness and light.

Photo by Jennifer Hart

Good bye Dave. I’ll never forget you. I will carry you in my heart to guide me forever.

John Tanner

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Student Politics: Perpetuating Political Toxicity Erin Cooper #StuPol

I have loved my first year of uni. I’ve loved the lifestyle, the new friends I’ve made and my classes, but I’ve also discovered an area of university life that I detest.

I absolutely hate student politics.

This is a strange statement, coming from someone like me. I’ve always been very politically engaged, and I was actually sad when I had to go to work instead of watch the budget coverage this year. But in my short time in tertiary education, the world of student politics has puzzled me, frustrated me and astonished me.

I can sort this into two stages of hate.

The first stage made me furious because people think it matters. I watched elections and campaigns unfold, witnessing people copy their federal political idols, fight about things that are totally irrele-

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vant, and elect people for roles with a false prestige that in the general scheme of things, have no importance.

It’s a ridiculous spectacle. It’s like little kids trying so desperately to be grown-ups, squabbling aimlessly over inconsequential things in one big stupid game of pretend. They talk about the ‘big issues’ as though they have the immediate power to change them. While open discourse is always good and people in power should never be underestimated, what effect will the election of a new Young Liberal president really have on economic policy?

But then I reached my second stage of hate. The second stage made me furious because I realised it does matter. It matters because whether I like it or not, the student politicians of today are highly likely to become

the actual politicians of tomorrow.

Tony Abbott, Belinda Neal, Joe Hockey, Malcolm Turnbull, Anthony Albanese, Tony Burke, and Bronwyn Bishop were all neck-deep in student politics during their tertiary studies, and that’s just to name a few. All of the aforementioned names studied at the University of Sydney. Here, they practiced precisely what I have witnessed this year; factionalism, theatrical largescale campaigns and a whole lot of drama and infighting.

Dominic Knight, a current ABC reporter, reflected on his time in student politics at the University of Sydney in an opinion piece in 2015.

He wrote, “The ones who went furthest worked hardest, spending their nights chalking or postering or pho-

tocopying leaflets. They stayed up late making plans and cutting deals, and the ones who were best at it got jobs as staffers before they’d even graduated.”

Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard was characterised by the highest possible levels of internal dysfunction?

Perhaps you haven’t witnessed the world of student politics.”

This is precisely the reason why I’m in self-diagnosed stage two of student politics hate. Instead of trying to change the system, toxic political landscapes are perpetuated into the next generation of party-loyal MP’s. Student politicians could be promoting the sort of politics we complain so frequently about not having - politics centred around cooperation within the party, strong leadership, and visionary social and economic policy - but the current climate is just replicated, over and over again. Journalist Cameron Caccamo makes this clear, commenting,

I should not overgeneralise. Some political movements at university tackle social and political issues in a robust, inspiring and informative way. Bluestocking Week in August is an excellent example of truly moving initiatives that have broad-reaching effects in both the institutions in which we study, and society as a whole. Students organised a series of events to address the treatment of women in higher education, and I learned a lot. Some of those students were also student politicians, proving that they can develop an effective new approach.

“Did you think the leadership of

their start somewhere, and for many aspiring politicians, university is where that happens. But it is the way it’s all conducted that leaves a lot to be desired. All I see is federal politics on a much smaller scale. And that’s not a compliment.

Seeing student politics makes me fear the future of broader Australian politics. While we just mimic the actions of others, the state of politics will never change. I’m sure that deep in the depths of the student political landscape there are some fantastic young people working hard to create real change. I just hope I see them in my next two years at uni.

I know that grassroots politics is hugely important. Everybody gets

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eSports: a New Era for Sport at UTas Nikita Riseley #feature

The University of Tasmania (UTas) eSports society, in conjunction with the UTas Table-top and Technology and Computing societies have big plans to showcase an exciting, new approach to the Tasmanian gaming scene with plans for the first annual Convention of Gaming (COG) set to take place in the coming months.

“The prize money associated with these tournaments and competitions is absolutely massive!”

For those of you who are wondering, eSports stands for ‘electronic sports’ and is a form of professional gaming that is played competitively through the use of computers and video game consoles.

“There’s just been nothing down in Tassie that is specifically game oriented so what we’re trying to achieve here is give everyone in Tassie the chance to be able to have a taste of those big events like PAX and EB Games Expo […] and have it as a big local thing”, said Daniel.

The popularity of the sport itself is currently on the rise within Australia and incorporates a range of games including League of Legends, Call of Duty, Super Smash Bros, Defence of the Ancients (DotA) and more. “eSports is massive at the moment, surprisingly, as most people wouldn’t be aware of some of the tournaments and some of the big competitions and stuff that have come through. Like last year we had League of Legends have their Oceanic Championships at Luna Park [in Melbourne]” said eSports President, Daniel ‘Exarch’ Chisholm.

“The prize money associated with these tournaments and competitions is absolutely massive!” He said.

The society has only been running since the start of this year, and was established because Daniel, as well as eSports Secretary, Mika ‘KingdomRoses’ Seabourne saw a void in video game conventions within Tas-

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mania in comparison to mainland Australia.

The event also plans to pack in some top secret special guests to provide advice to upcoming game streamers and developers.

“My whole dream is to get Felicia Day and Wil Wheaton to our convention as part of Geek and Sundry or to be able to get one of the top tier teams in gaming competitions down,” Mika said.

“At the moment we’re talking about bringing in some gaming streamers to not just talk about what they do but to help people who might be interested in starting up gaming streams themselves,” she said.

“We’ve already got a few names down but we’re not going to drop just yet”, Daniel confirmed.

While plans for the convention were originally set to take place in August this year, the event was unfortu-

nately postponed due to unforeseen circumstances.

However according to the UTas eSports Facebook group, Daniel confirms that “COG is not dead, just postponed. Although delaying the event is not ideal, it does mean that we can make it bigger and better come November.”

The event has since been re-confirmed to take place in the UTas Activity Centre from the new dates of November 25th – 27th.

For more information on the Convention of Gaming (COG) or if you are interested in joining the UTas eSports society, you can visit the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/ events/982245825186540 Or sign up to their Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ UTASESPORTS

Mus Musculus Marvin Thrailkill #creative

The third and final installment of Marvin Thrailkill’s three part short story.

An ice cold beer served in a frosted glass on a hot day when your throat is barking dry. This is the max. Life is good. The mind can wander its course, picking its actors, modifying the script and please do something about that overly theatrical director. Here’s to every small town production that’s been done to death with its two bit actors and their walk on parts. Self proclaimed demigods. Hmmmm, a few more of these would be nice, he thought, as he gulped down the last swallow.

Think there are still three more in the fridge?

Max sat back down in a grey metallic outdoor chair. Resting his feet on the balcony railing and leaning back in a manner that seemed characteristic of an extra in an old cowboy movie. “New in town, stranger?” he said out loud in a drawl he imagined would win appeal in a John Wayne movie. He addressed this to no one in particular. The closest audience would have been the kids playing in the empty lot across the street.

They had been playing a game which resembled a mix of baseball, hockey and soccer. It reminded him

of Calvin Ball where the rules were created as the game progressed or decayed into a free for all. Their attention had waned and was now directed to one of the piles of junk which offered great hide n’ seek cubby holes or obstacles in a game of tag. One of the group was using a stick to point at a dark corner. He prodded into the abyss, creating a flurry of screams, yelps and nervous giggles from his play mates.

Irene sat in the aging lounge chair; her feet tucked up under her in a Yoga like pose. She read a collection of poems by Bukowski, his seedy imagery reflecting a roughness in her spirit which she identified as the catalyst for many of her life choices.

She had always gone for men of a darker spirit, those who did not follow the norm. They were exotic and so much unlike her upbringing, with its classical music and stuffy gatherings where guests gave their opinions on a variety of topics.

he presented his findings. Wrapped around his right hand with the jaws secured in his left was a large snake.

Its skin was a shiny brown with an emerald tint that seemed to change with the creature’s movements.

Irene reached out and touched the sides running her fingers along the body, she felt enticed by its whole aura. She looked into its dark eyes and as the serpent flicked its tongue she reciprocated by flicking hers in a symbiotic like ritual. She knew it would join the household and could only ask, ”What does it eat?

Max replied, “Mice”.

Her reverie was disturbed by Max’s sudden arrival. The front door swung open and banged against the side of a large fish tank, sending its inhabitants into hiding, as he entered the room in a state of heightened excitement. Like a small boy on his first trip to the seashore,

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A Bachelor of Arts: a Waste of Time?

Eleanor Snibson #feature

It was the premise of Girls.

Hannah, an arts graduate who has majored in English, is still unemployed two years after graduating and is being cut off from her parents.

Gabe Bird, a second year UTas student says she chose to study the Bachelor of Arts because she didn’t really think she was good at anything else.

As we all know too well, hundreds of arts graduates like Gabe and Hannah every year end up taking jobs waiting tables or flipping hamburgers at McDonald’s. As pop philosopher Alain de Botton puts it, “a great number end up making coffee while deeply resenting, against the backdrop of frothing milk and roasting beans, how their years studying Foucault or Spinoza seem to have gone absolutely nowhere.”

Many students ask if an arts degree is simply a waste of time.

It’s the question famously asked in Avenue Q: What do you do with a B.A. in English?

What is my life going to be?

Four years of college and plenty of knowledge Have earned me this useless degree Professor Dirk Baltzly, the Head

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of Discipline for Philosophy and Gender Studies, says most of his philosophy students will find employment in the public service.

Many NGOs such as the Red Cross and Human Rights Watch like philosophy graduates. “Consultancy firms will often pick up philosophy graduates because they’re good problem solvers,” he says.

Professor Noel Frankham, the Interim Dean of the Faculty of Arts, says that many Bachelor of Arts graduates will be employed in the service sector. He argues that BA graduates are better equipped than some more specialist degrees because the Bachelor of Arts is the archetypal generalist degree.

“It equips people to think, to learn, to problem solve, to discuss, to communicate,” says Professor Frankham. “It’s a workhorse degree for all of us.”

Gabe Bird, majoring in English and gender studies, loves studying the humanities and social sciences, and plans to become a teacher at the end of her degree.

However, Ms Bird says that she considered not doing the straight BA. “I did get a lot of pressure to do law, because that’s got a better reputation,” she says.

“It equips people to think, to learn, to problem solve, to discuss, to communicate…”

Her mum, also an arts graduate, wanted Gabe to consider doing a law degree.

“She wasn’t forcing me to, but she would’ve probably been prouder of me, I think, if I had changed to law.”

Ms Bird says she chose to major in gender studies because she believes that feminism has always been valuable. “I really think it’s related to every facet of society, and even in teaching I want to be able to incorporate feminist lessons into that,” she says.

Professor Frankham too sees the worth of the gender studies major.

“You’d be hard pressed to go through any newspaper or media outlet… that doesn’t have something on issues relating to gender and sexuality.”

The skills gained in understanding the complexities around the issues of identity, sexuality and gender, “will equip anybody going into the workplace,” he says.

Ms Bird says she, like many in her undergraduate majors, plan

to become teachers. However, research shows that it is difficult for teachers to find employment.

Author and lawyer David Gillespie wrote that in 2014, in New South Wales alone, there were over 30,000 teachers waiting for jobs in government schools. This is a bleak statistic when considering the whole workforce was just 49,000, with only 2,000 jobs created each year. The areas with a notable demand are high school science and maths.

Despite the push for students to study STEM at university, Professor Frankham does not think the Bachelor of Arts has become irrelevant.

Similarly, Professor Baltzly says a recent report predicted that automation is likely to replace about 40 per cent of the jobs currently being done in Australia. He explains that the careers that would be most resistant to automation, “will be the things that involve those soft people skills,” and the skills that arts students procure.

Furthermore, many BA graduates may find it more difficult to secure employment if they do not complete some additional training.

Professor Frankham says that most arts students will find further study necessary, whether it is professional development or additional study.

He thinks that further education will become more typical for arts students, and says that combined degrees with law or business are already popular.

But Professor Frankham is not worried about a lack of jobs for arts graduates. “All of the data about arts graduates is encouraging in terms of people getting jobs,” he says.

If BA graduates are likely to be employed, why is there such a strong perception that those who choose to do arts are wasting their time?

“They mistake the name of a degree for a job description,” says Professor Baltzly. Less than a third of people who undertake law will end up practicing and under half of people who undertake a Bachelor of Engineering will become engineers, he says.

Professor Frankham agrees. He says that many believe that business graduates will go into business when, “in fact, that isn’t always the case.”

“My sense is that the lack of obvious jobs at the end of the process is the issue.”

that the arts community could be, “chronically incompetent at marketing.”

However, he doesn’t think there is stigma surrounding the arts degree.

“I think there is probably an issue with perceptions but none of that is held up in reality,” he says. “Arts graduates do conspicuously well in terms of finding jobs.”

Professor Baltzly mentions that the first female CEO of Hewlett-Packard, Carly Fiorina, did her undergraduate degree in philosophy and mediaeval history. “Why should we think there is any particular connection between your undergraduate major and the career that you eventually have?” he says.

“All kinds of weird people are philosophy graduates.”

Ricky Gervais and Peter Thiel are both philosophy graduates. Lachlan Murdoch did philosophy and classics at Princeton.

“If your dad is a hard-arse bastard like Rupert he’s not going to let you do something that he reckons is wasting your time.”

Professor Frankham says that there may be an entrenched bias towards the Bachelor of Arts, but also admits

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Thankyou: The Next Chapter Daisy Baker #feature

It seems only natural for Thankyou, an Australian social enterprise which invites consumers to play a role in ending global poverty, to use an innovative crowd-funding campaign to fund their expansion.

Earlier this year, Thankyou co-founder Daniel Flynn released a book; Chapter One: you have the power to change stuff. This is his personal account of the Thankyou story so far and an inspirational guide of how readers can turn their ideas into reality. The book was launched in late February, with a twist, of course: The book was sold at a ‘pay what you want price,’ so when customers purchased the book, they were also investing in the future of Thankyou.

In one month the team accrued $1.4 million to fund the launch of a baby care range which will help support infant and maternal health care programs. It will also fund the expansion of the brand to New Zealand early next year, and a third milestone to be announced after the first two have been launched.

Chapter One reached best-seller status (9000 copies) two hours after it was launched. Throughout the month, Thankyou sold 43,640 copies online and in bookstores, with the online sales packed by the Thankyou team and 300 volunteers in an Essendon Fields warehouse.

Daniel said packing the books in the warehouse was his favourite part of the campaign.

“It was just the good old Thankyou

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days, keeping it small and keeping it real. It was my favourite time just connecting with people,” he said.

All the Thankyou product ranges are made ethically and locally, stimulating the local economy and supporting water, hygiene and food aid projects in third world countries.

Thankyou also has no shareholders or investors so they can give 100 per cent of their profits to projects.

Since beginning in 2008, Thankyou has given more than $3.7 million to projects in 17 countries including Cambodia, Zimbabwe and Timor Leste.

Thankyou began selling their first product, ‘concept water’ eight years ago, after Daniel discovered that there were 900 million people in the world without access to safe drinking water and yet Australians were spending $600 million a year on bottled water.

Throughout their five-year start-up, Daniel, his wife Justine and friend Jarryd realised that the projects they were currently funding were only part of the answer to ending global poverty.

“We fund water, food, health and sanitation programs, which is great, but a prerequisite to needing water or food is that you’re alive,” said Daniel.

“Infant and maternal health is a huge focus in the NGO sector and we know it needs more funding so for us it’s about determining a

product range that fits in with that.

Our body care range has been doing exceptionally well, leading the market in many of its lines so baby body care was a really natural progression,” he said.

Daniel said that finding partners to facilitate infant and maternal health programs was the next step. The day after I spoke with Daniel, he and Justine were flying out to Nepal to meet with prospective partner organisation, One Heart. Over the last five years, One Heart has been working in Nepal and surrounding provinces to develop maternal clinics, and have reduced infant deaths to zero.

Daniel said that One Heart’s maternal clinics were an example of their ability to navigate the local taboos surrounding pregnant women visiting hospitals.

“With 99 per cent of infant and maternal deaths occurring in developing countries, we know that one per cent of deaths still exist in developed countries, but it shows that through access to health care and good health practices, developed countries have been able to reduce maternal deaths,” he said.

It is expected that Thankyou’s new range of dermatologically tested baby wipes, nappies, baby lotion, bubble bath and shampoos will be available to consumers in the coming months.

Daniel said that finding suppliers

and developing quality products was another important part of launching a new range. Unlike many other products sold on supermarket shelves which are purely commodities, Thankyou sells a concept and when consumers buy their products they are supporting specific causes.

Therefore the quality of their products needs to be of a consistently high standard.

“The products need to be better than competitors’ and it’s not that we’re really arrogant in the market, but we know that if our product isn’t better [than alternative brands] consumers will buy it once just for the cause and that’s about it. What we really need for this to work is longterm commitment,” Daniel said.

“To get that long-term commitment the product has to stack up, which means the suppliers we work with need to be innovative, cutting-edge and have experience,” he said.

Many of the suppliers that Thankyou works with have extensive experience in their specific industries. The selection of suppliers also

depends on the ethical alignment and whether a product would be economically competitive.

and complex it is and at the same time how change is possible and there is hope.

Daniel said that expanding Thankyou to New Zealand would be a challenging but rewarding experience.

We owe it, not just to ourselves but to the people that this idea could help and change the lives of,” Daniel said.

He said the food range would be different from that sold in Australia as it would be made locally, while the body care range will be essentially the same and will be sourced from Australia.

“The book is titled Chapter One because that’s our belief, this is chapter one, there should be ten, twelve, maybe more chapters. That’s a big call in itself but there’s definitely some big dreams.”

“The truth is we’re not launching an Aussie brand in New Zealand, we’re actually going to start from the ground up, a local team and local product, a model that maybe could one day be replicated in other markets around the world,” Daniel said.

Photo by Wesley Rodricks (Thankyou)

He said the Thankyou journey so far has been driven by a pursuit of making a greater impact.

“The Thankyou journey has given me a whole new perspective on our world, on how deeply messed up

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Uni Student Hacks April McLennan #feature

Moving out of home and beginning university can be an extremely daunting experience. There will be wacky roommates, fast food frenzies and you will become a professional nap taker. Where watching an episode of Game of Thrones was once a reward for study, it has now taken over your life, and Harry Potter is your new best friend.

Then you wake up at 2pm one afternoon, realising you have missed the day’s classes. Your hair looks like Gollum’s from Lord of the Rings because you ran out of shampoo 2 weeks ago and cannot be bothered buying any more. On the bright side your face is glowing with a nice bronzer of Dorito dust. It is time to re-evaluate your student life and get organised!

You need to sort yourself out because you should be your own number one priority. Let’s start with the hair. Raid the pantry and grab some bicarbonate soda and a bottle

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of apple cider vinegar. Wet your hair, gently massaging a tablespoon of bicarbonate soda into your hair then rinse. Rinse your hair again but this time with the apple cider vinegar. This will result in pristine flowing locks that would make even Rapunzel jealous.

You run out of clean undies and find yourself wearing bikini bottoms or speedos as a substitute. Unfortunately you run out of these too and end up in a one piece and you really can’t be bothered putting on your wetsuit tomorrow so it is finally time to do a load of washing. But there is no washing detergent left. And of course because you’re a uni student there is literally no motivation to go to the shop and buy some more. As an alternative in these desperate times, try using one cup of bicarbonate soda as a replacement to detergent. This should do the trick, resulting in a fresh pair of jocks. But if you have no bicarbonate soda

either… maybe try turning them inside out?

Although naps are without a doubt the best thing since sliced bread, it is important not to oversleep as this can cause you to feel lethargic all day. Try going to a bed at the same time each night and set an alarm every morning to ensure that you wake up at the same time. This will help to get your body into a good sleep cycle. And as hard as it may be, try not to use any electronic devices an hour before you go to sleep. Perhaps this can become a designated time to catch up on those chapters you told your lecturer you read last month.

Nutrition is also a key factor in your well being. Try to limit your late night Maccas trips and eat more fruit and vegetables. Cooking several different meals and freezing portions is a great way to get around the hassle of cooking every night and is a good way to save money.

Another handy tip is to ensure that you have eaten before going to the supermarket so that your ravenousness hunger doesn’t compel you to put half the contents of the shop into your trolley.

It is also important to stay hydrated.

Start carrying a water bottle around with you so that you don’t have to buy water. There are water fountains located around the university so that you can refill your bottle. Try mixing it up a little by adding 4 slices of lemon, 4 slices of lime and 8 slices of cucumber to your water. This combination is extremely cleansing for the body and really refreshing.

However it is also okay to treat yourself sometime, and what better way to do this then by making a 30 second self saucing chocolate pudding. So grab a mug and add 1 tablespoon of self-raising flour, 1 tablespoon of cocoa, 1 tablespoon of sugar and 1 ½ tablespoon of milk.

Mix. Now sprinkle on top 1 table-

spoon of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of hot water and ½ a tablespoon of cocoa. Then zap it in the microwave for 30 seconds. Pour it into a bowl with a scoop of ice cream or to save washing up eat it straight from the mug!

Now that you have yourself in order it is time to focus on your academic endeavours. These aren’t going as well as you planned at the beginning of the semester due to a lack in motivation. To get back on track begin by grabbing a calendar and writing out all the due dates for your assignments to ensure that you don’t miss the deadlines. Next write out a set of educational goalscrossing these off once you have achieved them will prove to be a great confidence boost.

Use your favourite lollies as a reward for studying. Do this by having a trail of lollies (preferably not sticky ones) on and in your book. Channel your inner Hansel and Gretel and

follow the trail of lollies by reading each chapter or memorising each page until you reach the end of the trail, which means that it is time for a study break. Go for a walk outside and get some fresh air.

However, the most important advice I can give you is to ask for help. If you don’t understand something in a lecture, stay back and ask for further clarification. No doubt the lecturer will be glad you made the effort to ask. If you are feeling overwhelmed by your messy house, don’t be afraid to ring your mum and ask for help. She will most likely be glad to see you. If you aren’t coping mentally with the pressures of trying to balance study, work, and what’s left of your social life, please ask for help. Whether it is a family member, a friend, a counsellor or even your pet goldfish. Talking things over can help you to see things clearer and realise that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Don’t give up and keep smiling!

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THE LIFESTYLE ADDITION, 2016 @togatus_ Gaining the Yoga Balance | 25 Five Herbal Tea Staples for your Collection | 32 An Insider’s Guide to Eating and Drinking in North Hobart | 33 this pulp is free

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Minimalism: Less is Better Angela Koh #lifestyle

Minimalism is a lifestyle tool that encourages us to remove unnecessary distractions in our lives by curating our belongings so that we are only surrounded with items we like and actually use.

Practicing minimalism affords us greater focus by giving us the physical and mental space necessary for processing our days and making more meaningful decisions.

Now that we have established that minimalism is good for you, let’s fast-forward to see how it’s faring on social media platform, YouTube.

A quick search on ‘minimalism’ returns numerous videos on ‘capsule wardrobes’, ‘minimalist room tours’ and ‘the KonMari method of decluttering’, a masterpiece by famous Japanese organising consultant, Marie Kondo.

It has since gained a loyal following of individuals whose swear tactic is to take steps to simplifying their lives.

The KonMari method consists of gathering everything one owns, one category at a time, and choosing to keep only things that “spark joy”.

This may seem like common sense when one first reads about it but the KonMari method is rather different to the typical way of decluttering.

Instead of clearing out a specific area like a bookshelf, the KonMari method suggests that one gathers a category of items, such as books, before starting to declutter.

The KonMari method also encourages one to take the drastic step of choosing items to keep, rather than deciding what to toss.

Derived from Kondo’s name, the KonMari method of tidying is considered to have taken the world by storm in recent years.

This often results in one being rid of a much larger pile of stuff than if one were to employ a more conventional method of decluttering.

Boasting sales of over 5 million copies worldwide, Kondo’s 2011 book, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, promises to improve our lives in many aspects.

Overall, the KonMari is an effective method in quickly minimising one’s possessions.

It may initially seem redundant to those who think tidiness is a matter of choice, rather than a learnable skill.

However, the KonMari method appears to be working its magic in homes globally.

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What better way to jump on the minimalist bandwagon than to live

by Dieter Ram’s principle, “Less is better”?

Gaining the Yoga Balance Kendall Boyd #lifestyle

Yoga is not just about exercise or breathing techniques - it is also about encouraging and achieving a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

Yoga helps people to relieve stress by learning to unclutter one’s mind, thereby allowing individuals to become more focused. Yoga’s deep breathing and meditation also helps individuals achieve peace and tranquillity in a world that is consumed by stress and chaos.

In today’s world everybody faces many types of stress, including the daily environmental stress that impacts our minds and bodies.

Environmental stress is the stresses in our daily lives, such as stress at home and work: about meeting targets, stress from management or other colleagues or stress from being unemployed. It is also university with its assignment deadlines, maintaining all of your reading and the stress that occurs should you fall behind due to a range of other stressful factors in your life.

Environmental stress also includes the standards you set for yourself based on the factors that surround you such as fashion, weight management, material products and attending events or outings just because you feel you have to.

Eventually the world will catch up and everyone will realise that this constant level of stress is not good for anybody. Until then, yoga is a great practice to integrate into ones daily life as a way of refocusing and

managing the stresses of daily life.

In dealing with life’s stresses yoga has many proven benefits, with studies showing that people who regularly practice yoga gain improvements in reaction time and coordination, as well as memory, which has led to achieving higher results in tests.

In the fitness and health world instant gratification and lasting transformations are extremely important and yoga provides both in bounds. Yoga can help change both your mind and body with regular practice.

Yoga focuses on strengthening your muscles whilst maintaining and extending your flexibility. The postures and movements that you practice in yoga strengthen your body from the inside out so that you just don’t look good but you feel it too.

door policy, so don’t be afraid of the niche groups that tend to accompany other sports: yoga is open to everyone.

One of the great things about yoga is that there are many ways to practice it and you can tailor it to your lifestyle. Some variations include power yoga, relaxation yoga and hot yoga. You can practice at home by yourself, with a DVD or at set classes. There is a huge variety of ways to practice depending on what you wish to gain from it.

If you are just after a way to relax or to take your fitness to the next level, yoga’s beneficial effects on your body cannot be denied, so why not give it a try.

Some may say that yoga is not for everyone – you have to be fit, or a girl, or flexible - but yoga is for anyone. A large majority of leading yoga experts are men, with celebrities and elite sportsmen and women publically announcing their dedication to yoga. It is even being used by the military to help relieve post-traumatic stress.

If you are wanting to give it a try or looking for a new place to practice, many yoga studios, local gyms and park fitness groups have classes that are open to everyone no matter age, gender or fitness level. Yoga classes and those that practice it generally tend to have an open

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Mental Health: When to Get Help Mateesha Howard #lifestyle

So Semester 1 is over and exam results have been released. You had a few weeks break and suddenly you’re back at university, tackling Semester 2! Now exams are approaching again, but you’re having trouble getting out of bed in the morning to attend that 9AM lecture, or you find yourself tossing and turning until the early hours of the morning, unable to fall asleep.

Perhaps you’re eating more than usual, or perhaps it’s the opposite and you find yourself eating little at all.

It’s normal to find ourselves in a bit of a ‘slump’ every now and then - life can be demanding, especially when you’re studying. Mental health is important for maintaining that GPA, when living away from home for the first time, and in general. But it can be hard to differentiate symptoms of a mental illness from just a bad day. Below is a short and incomplete list of potential warning signs of three major mental illnesses that can affect young adults, as well as some guidance and advice on what to do if you find yourself experiencing any of these symptoms.

Warning Signs for Depression + Inability to concentrate (on lectures, tutorials, conversations with friends, etc.) + Not getting things done at work/ uni + Procrastinating assignments or handing in late assignments + Problems sleeping + Loss or change of appetite + Negative thoughts you can’t seem to shake + Feelings of guilt, irritability, sadness, indecisiveness, etc.

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Warning Signs for Anxiety + Heart palpitations + Feelings of losing control + Trembling or shaking + Excessive fear or worry + Obsessive thinking + Avoidance of situations that make you feel anxious Warning Signs for Eating Disorders + Preoccupation with weight, food, calories + Lethargy and low energy + Distorted body image + Dieting behaviour + Compulsive or excessive exercising + Changes in food preferences or refusal to eat certain foods First Steps Sometimes feelings of depression are caused by poor health in general. This can creep up on you during times of stress, like Week 10 of semester when all your major assignments are due, or during SWOTVAC when you’re more preoccupied with cramming for that exam than cooking an actual meal.

Here’s some tips, or ‘natural antidepressants’ that can help boost your mood: + Turn on the lights! In Tasmania, our supply of natural sunlight is diminished,even more so during the winter months. Flicking on the lights in your room may boost your mood. + Increase your intake of foods rich in Vitamin C, such as oranges, red capsicums, broccoli, tomatoes, and dark leafy greens (like spinach,

silver beet, or kale). Vitamin C works with dopamine enzymes in the brain to regulate mood. + Stay hydrated! Sometimes symptoms of dehydration cross over with those of low mood, so stay on top of it by carrying a drink bottle with you to classes. + Limit processed foods that contain overly refined ingredients (white bread, pasta, anything from McDonald’s) and instead reach for whole wheat foods like rice, porridge, popcorn, or wholemeal bread. + Chat to someone you trust about how you are feeling.

Sometimes these measures alone can ease you out of the funk you’ve found yourself in. If you’ve found yourself trying these out but still can’t seem to shake those negative thoughts and feelings, perhaps it’s time to see a GP. What to expect at your GP appointment: Commonly, a visit to a GP is the first step in seeking professional help for mental health problems. This seems like a daunting and scary task, but it is crucial in assessing your mental health and determining which treatment options may work for you.

Book an appointment at a GP clinic, either in person or via phone. If you hold a Medicare card, you may be eligible for bulk-billing at your appointment, meaning no out-ofpocket expense. For international students, the UniDoctors are available at the Sandy Bay campus and are free of charge for current students. For those not living in Hobart, your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) should cover the costs of a GP visit.

Here’s some tips on navigating your first appointment: + Your GP will assess your mental health, usually by asking you questions about how you have been feeling over the last few weeks. + Emotions can run high when first seeking help, and it’s totally okay to burst into tears in front of the doctor or struggle to explain what you are feeling. + If you are diagnosed with a mental illness, your doctor may refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist who specialises in a particular illness (e.g. depression, anxiety, eating disorders, etc.)

If you are referred to a psychologist or psychiatrist, it is your responsibility to book an appointment for yourself. You can ask your GP, or the clinic receptionist, about booking an appointment if you’re unsure.

What to expect at your first psychologist/psychiatrist appointment The first session of psychotherapy is all about ensuring you feel comfortable and safe. A psychologist/ psychiatrist may start the session by: + Introducing themselves + Explaining what they do/specialise in + Explaining how long each session will last + Assuring you that anything you say to them is strictly confidential.

They may ask you questions about yourself, such as what you are studying, your age, if you live at home, etc. and what you are hoping to gain from your sessions. It is important to be honest with your psychologist/ psychiatrist, they are there to help you. The first few sessions are mostly about getting to know one another.

In order to facilitate your recovery, you need to connect with your psychologist/psychiatrist. If you are uncomfortable talking to your psychologist/psychiatrist, it is totally okay to ask to see someone else.

Psychotherapy can be an expensive treatment option, particularly for university students already dealing with rental payments and sometimes living away from home. If you are a Medicare card holder, you are entitled to six rebated psychotherapy sessions if you’ve been referred by a GP. A rebate means that Medicare pays for approximately 75% of the bill and you pay the difference.

“So, you need antidepressants”.

Sometimes, in recovery from a mental illness, psychotherapy just isn’t enough and you need antidepressants to assist in your recovery.

These can be prescribed by a psychiatrist, or by a GP in consultation with a psychologist.

Antidepressants can take up to two weeks to take effect, and like all medical drugs, can come with a list of side effects. Your psychiatrist or GP will explain it all to you, and can answer any questions you may have.

Some people may only take antidepressants for a few short weeks, some may need a longer treatment course. It is important to note that, regardless of how long you take them, being prescribed antidepressants does not mean you are weak, or broken.

Mental illness may be invisible, but it is the same as any other physical ailment. You take Panadol for a headache, you get a cast for a broken leg, and sometimes you take antidepressants for depression or anxiety. The important thing to note is that you don’t have to suffer alone or silently. There are people and organisations that can and will help you.

UTAS Support: UTAS offers counselling services to students at the Hobart, Launceston, Cradle Coast and Sydney campuses. Appointments can be made online at https://careerhub.utas. edu.au/students/login or in person.

Hobart: Level 1, Student Centre Phone: (03) 6226 2697 Launceston: Ground Floor, Kerslake Student Centre Phone: (03) 6324 3787 Cradle Coast: Mooreville Road, Burnie Phone: (03) 6430 4949 Sydney: Darlinghurst Campus, Education Centre, 1 Leichhardt Street (Mondays only) Rozelle Campus, Building 103, Room 6, Corner of Glover Street and Church Street (Tuesday-Friday) Phone: (02) 8572 7953 Other Support: Headspace (eheadspace.org. au) offers online and telephone services to anyone seeking help, going through a tough time, or who just needs someone to talk to.

Phone: 1800 650 890 * Headspace offices are also located in Hobart, Launceston and Devonport.

The Butterfly Foundation (thebutterflyfoundation.org.au) offers web-counselling, telephone and email support to those experiencing eating disorders.

Phone: 1800 ED HOPE (33 4673) Lifeline (lifeline.org.au) offers web-counselling and telephone support.

Phone: 13 11 14 beyondblue (https://www.beyondblue.org.au) offers telephone and web-counselling support.

Phone: 1300 22 4636

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The Power of Disguised Mental Illness: High Functioning Anxiety Maddie Burrows #lifestyle

Think of the most busy, perfectionistic, high achieving person you know. They are always focused on something, a project, an activity, an obsession - maybe it’s all of those things at once. They probably won dux of the school in every subject, all the teachers love them and they always have a million things to do each day. They probably have many obsessions; exercise, studying, practicing, being popular. Somehow they have enough energy to do all of those things and still be happy, have relationships, and achieve the best results.

But beneath the surface, things may not be so rosy. In many cases (I can’t say all because there are those rare wiz kids who do it all), these traits are actually signs of a well disguised mental illness. You see it every day; people who are seemingly perfect on the outside, but if you know them well enough you’ll see the glimmer of panic in their eyes every time something goes minutely wrong.

This article is about a particular type of anxiety called High Functioning Anxiety, which I have personally been suffering from since I was a teenager. I didn’t realise this until I was diagnosed just two years ago.

As an attempt to end the taboo that surrounds mental health illnesses, I am going to tell my story and explain what it feels like.

Feeling stressed is a common and normal response to being under pressure. In a healthy person, stress usually passes once the stressful situation is over, or the ‘stressor’

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is removed. ‘Anxiety’ is when the stressful feelings don’t subside, and continue to exist for no comprehensible reason. Normal stresses become increasingly overwhelming, and abnormal stresses shadow the mind in a constant attempt to take over.

We often stereotype depression and anxiety disorders with the same image; a person crying in a corner, pulling their hair out, or locking themselves in a dark room to escape the outside world. We categorize these illnesses in a way that is obvious, by recognising the physical symptoms, and associating these with anxiety and depression. But ‘high functioning anxiety’ is different. By its very nature, ‘high functioning’ can be described as ‘working normally’ or ‘working well’.

This creates the misconception that a person with high functioning anxiety is less mentally ill, or has an easier life than someone with another type of anxiety disorder, which entirely is untrue.

The condition is invisible from the outside, until it consumes a person entirely. When it sneaks out, it converts into nervous habits: nail biting, fidgeting, sweating, and hair pulling.

Later you might see it in their Facebook messages, or hear it in their nervous laughter. This is when it’s getting so bad, the power that enables them to hide their disorder is weakening. This is potentially the biggest fear of a person suffering from high functioning anxiety;

becoming known, and essentially un-functioning.

In my case, anxiety became too severe to handle this year with the stress of too many commitments, university study and exams. I struggled with the exact same thing in both year 11 and 12. For some reason I thought being at University would be better, but I was wrong.

At first things were fine, I was participating in several extracurricular activities, catching up with friends, and was reasonably happy - but that didn’t last long. Assignments started pouring in, everything became overwhelming and I felt more isolated than ever.

During first semester, I started each day with a plan, a series of lists, and unachievable goals to complete.

People didn’t understand how I could be so busy, and why I couldn’t rearrange my schedule. Little did they know that stopping my plan for just half an hour to do something caused me to feel indescribably awful and physically sick. Study, high marks and being perfect were all that mattered.

Anxiety often causes a person to feel out of control, especially in high functioning anxiety. You’ll see a glimmer of panic in their eyes when a plan changes, when anything changes. It may be just one scenario that pushes them over the edge. For example, when my anxiety is bad, the fear of losing control becomes gradually worse and I become very easily stressed when little things

change. If you know me, you’re probably thinking ‘but Maddie is such a naturally well-organized and extremely studious person?’, which is true. Even before I struggled with my mental health I was a child who enjoyed a good to-do list. Embarrassingly, even my imaginary games were planned and I would get very upset if anyone tried to change them. Of course these weren’t necessarily bad traits. But when anxiety took over, the pressure I put on myself became too heavy for me to handle.

A day without a plan was enough to make me crumble. Free time, and empty spaces suffocated me, because I couldn’t bare to be alone with my own thoughts. I would even plan my weekends; wake up, exercise, study, eat snack, text boyfriend, spend time with pets, make smoothie, exercise again, study until bed, sleep at 1am then wake up at 5.30 to repeat. So I removed everything I could from my life that would distract me. I saw my friends less, saw my boyfriend less, and locked myself away to study all day, every day. The pain I felt when I failed to do these things involved

physically shaking, crying, and hyperventilating, as well as emotional feelings of intense grief and frustration. When my anxiety is bad, this pain follows me around wherever I go, and there’s no easy way to stop it.

Anxiety is also frustratingly impossible for me to switch off. When I’ve been obviously struggling with anxiety, many friends have said to me, “try taking a break once in awhile”, which sounds easy enough right? Yes I could take a break, spend a day at home, reading a nice book, having a bubble bath

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or a rejuvenating nap. These are all relaxation activities, which seem like the obvious solution for someone in stress. But for those activities to cause a feeling of peace, the people must be able to calm themselves.

Otherwise you’re just sitting there as stressed as you were before, but this time you’re holding a book, in the bath or lying restless in bed.

It’s the same feeling, now with an added prop which frustratingly won’t make you better like everyone says it should.

High functioning anxiety is about feeling an overwhelming amount of energy and stress, so much that you force yourself to find ways to channel it. When my anxiety is bad, I am always looking for the next outlet, something to focus my never-ending energy on; making schedules, making lists, exercising, writing, studying and whatever else it might take to drain the penetrating thoughts in my head. I often find myself in a crying mess at night, because the worst-case scenario just went through my head at high speed and felt so real I can’t breathe. I won’t reply to my friend’s text messages because I’m not mentally ready, and I know if I open up my essay long message I will freak them out and they’ll think I’m crazy or I’ll scare them away.

Anxiety is a thief. It robs you of any peace you may have received from particular activities, and everything becomes a challenge, and you don’t even know why. All of a sudden, the lecture theater, the toilets, or in my case the silent study area of the library is a terrifying place. You hold back tears as you near it, in the hope no one will see the condition you try so hard to conceal. Things you love,

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become your worst fear, and things that make you feel better make you want to be sick.

However, this doesn’t mean anxiety is not treatable. Mental health illnesses never truly leave us, but they can be managed. For the past three years I have tried every treatment you can think of and I’ve discovered things that work for me.

The first step to finding these things is accepting that you have a mental illness. It’s not just normal stress, and it won’t go away. Like feeling happy or sad, anxiety can happen just as easily, and at times more easily. Acceptance is the first step to self management of this kind of disorder. Begin by calling it by its name; Anxiety. For me, I found learning the science of the disorder very helpful too. It enabled me to understand what’s actually happening in my brain, and realise I wasn’t going completely crazy.

Learning to say ‘I need help’ is the next crucial step. Realise that you deserve help, and although you may not have it really bad, know it’s ok to seek treatment. I remember feeling very guilty when I first made a philologist appointment. I thought ‘why am I doing this, surely I don’t need it?’ Learning to confide in a trustworthy friend is just as important as a professional in my opinion, especially because my anxiety makes me very dependent upon others.

Because I was so trapped in my mind, I couldn’t see how bad I was.

With the help of my close friends and boyfriend, I was able to take the step to getting help. I now see a psychologist regularly, I confide in my close friends and left those who didn’t support me. I’m not going to lie and say getting help was easy,

but for me personally I wouldn’t be the same person without it.

Anxiety changes you. It can make you depressed, physically sick and an awful person to be around. I learnt that just because I was ‘functioning’, it didn’t mean that I was happy, or that I shouldn’t have slowed down and taken a deep breathe to realise the state I was in. Right now in my life I’m still struggling with my anxiety, but I’m a million times better than I was earlier this year, all because I knew what to do. Don’t let ignorance stop you. Learn how to get better by following those steps; acceptance, seeking help, and confiding in those close to you. Finally, never let high functioning anxiety fool you that you’re fine… or let someone make fun of your obsessive list making.

They have their own troubles, and at least you can smile knowing they’re nowhere near as organized as you.

Photos by Maddie Burrows

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Five Herbal Tea Staples for your Collection Daisy Baker #lifestyle

I am a self-confessed tea enthusiast with an overwhelming stash of tea.

I’m a sucker for pretty labels and buzzwords like “organic”, “harmonious” and “revitalising”, and consequently I’ve purchased a number of blends that are not so enjoyable. So here’s a list of five essential herbal teas for your collection and their health benefits – all the hard work has been done for you, you simply have to enjoy them.

Chamomile and Vanilla by Higher Living If you are going to have one herbal tea in your cupboard it should be this chamomile tea. A cup of chamomile tea has wonderful calming properties, second only to one of your mum’s warm hugs. It is also a winner when it comes to aiding digestion problems. Cold chamomile tea bags can also be used to help puffy eyes, cuts and wounds, and even sunburn. Plus, it just tastes so good.

Revive Me by English Tea Shop I really love this herbal tea because it’s light and refreshing. It is a blend of organic white tea, moringa, rosehip, cinnamon, lemongrass, spearmint, nettles and ginseng.

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White tea comes from Camellia sinensis, the same plant that produces black and green tea, but it is made from the new unopened buds, and is less processed giving it its lighter colour. Moringa is rich in antioxidants and vitamins, while rosehip contains high levels of vitamin C. The cinnamon can help lower your blood sugar level and gives the tea a slightly spicy flavour. Nettles are good for detoxing, while ginseng is believed to improve concentration and memory.

Lemon Zinger by Celestial Seasonings This is my go to tea when I’m bogged down with assignments and need a bit of a pick me up. As the name suggests, it really gets you buzzing. It contains lemon, hibiscus, orange peel, chicory and lemongrass. The intense bright red colour of this tea is perhaps the element that first drew me in. But then after tasting it I was truly hooked on the satisfying tangy citrus flavour.

Pure Skin by Pure Tea This is an Australian owned tea made from organic peppermint, spearmint, calendula, burdock and nettle. I find the flavour of this tea a

bit too sharp, however a little honey takes the edge off and its taste is outweighed by its health benefits.

The peppermint and spearmint will do wonders for your energy levels and digestion, and the echinacea is great for your immune system and your skin. Burdock is believed to help skin conditions such as psoriasis, too.

Three Ginger by Pukka Tea This tea warms you from the inside.

Ginger is great for so many things including boosting your immune function and energy levels, as well as helping with digestion and circulation. It is also great for soothing your gut when you have a hangover. This can also be made into a really nice iced tea by brewing as per usual and adding some lemon and honey and letting it cool before drinking.

An Insider’s Guide to Eating and Drinking in North Hobart Louise Hedger #lifestyle

We all know Hobart is a great food and tipple experience, but Salamanca often gets all the cred. As a true blue North Hobart local, I thought I’d do a little list of the seriously yummy places that are around my side of town. This list is not all inclusive of the places on offer, but some good picks of the bunch.

The Fluke and Bruce is an old favourite of mine. They specialise in good times. If you’re into big tasty burgers or outrageously delicious bean burritos with a fun and cosy vibe on the side, then this is your joint. It’s opposite the old Mercury building in the city and has a pool table and dart board. Most importantly, it has lots of Tassie beers on tap and super friendly staff who will let you try them before you commit!

12 - late. Mon - Sat. $$* A 6 minute walk from here is the Quartermaster Arms, on Elizabeth Street. This place is rolling in atmosphere. The guy who owns it, Stu, is as charismatic as they come and knows everything about wine and beer, spirits and food. He is a walking food and wine dictionary and will make you feel right at home. The candlelit tall bar or the hipster seats out the front are built for Instragramming your night away.

The food varies as it specialises in ‘locivore’, but the quality is consistently excellent. Try the wallaby with organic spuds and a glass of pinot on the side (before a boogie upstairs).

12 - late. Open most days. $ - $$$ If you wander further up the strip towards North Hobart - or NoHo as it has somehow been named - you will find a melting pot of delicious-

ness. On the right is Sons of Baja, who have finally nailed Mexican in Hobart. The flavours of the food are genuinely sensational and the cocktails are dangerously moreish.

This place is perfect for a warm day - the windows open all the way up to watch the world go by. Super friendly service and great for a big group of people, but get there early as it gets packed, for good reasons!

12 - late $ - $$$ A little hop across the road and you’ll land inside Room for a Pony.

Just so good. You can trust the food to be very tasty, the same goes for the chai tea and coffee. Friendly service and they allow dogs! Of an evening the bar is a great catch up spot whether you want to sit outside and watch the world go by, or pop inside ‘n’ keep cosy. Pretty fun Sunday session.

Early - late. 7 days. $$ - $$$ Go to Berta. It does the best breakfast. Ever. The Mexican beans are wildly good, as is the coffee to accompany it. Cosy café inside, but here’s a little secret, head right down the back and you will find a little courtyard with lots of plants and comfy chairs. Great for a recovery session or old-fashioned catch up. Service can be a bit slow, and they absolutely do not split bills.

This hiccup is made up for by the food that will leave you wanting to come back time and time again. Get in early because this place is always busy, for good reason.

8 - late arvo. 7 days. $$ - $$$

goodies to tempt your tastebuds.

Do as the Italians do and sit out the front and watch the world go by.

Glass of vino or espresso essential.

Bit on the costly side, but hey, if you want a taste of Italy then this is your place. Just bellissimo.

11:30 - late. $$$ Pancho Villa has also nailed Mexican. The interior is lavish. And I mean, lavish. This spot would be absolutely perfect for a first date.

The food is delicious (try the tacos), however serving sizes aren’t huge and it’s a bit on the exxy side for us students. Great for a special occasion, graduation dinner, anyone?

5:30 - 10:30. $$$ For those who love their wine, go to Willing Bros. Extensive wine list and a menu that’s always changing.

Perfect pre dinner spot.

Tues - Sun. 3 - late. $$$ For those who love their beer, go to the Winston. So many beers on tap it’s not funny. Last time I had the watermelon lager?! A solid local and good big crew hangout. There is a pool table and occasional live music, they do great American grub.

4 - late. $$ *$ = $5 - $20, $$ = $20 - 35, $$$ = $35 - beyond!

Nip across the road to Capital. These guys just know how to run a restaurant. Service is impeccable, as is the wine list. Big selection of Italian

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Eat, Pray, Holiday Erin Cooper #travel

Why a good old-fashioned getaway can be the best thing for the body and mind.

We are all told what to eat and what not to eat, the best ways to lose weight and how much exercise we should be doing, but amidst the chaos that is student life, a lot of that just doesn’t happen. Instead, we eat what is quickest to prepare, sleep as little as we need to maintain basic human function, and become slaves to caffeine.

Enter a tropical holiday.

I know not everyone can afford to sun themselves for two weeks in the semester break, but the benefits far outweigh the costs.

Besides, you don’t have to spend

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a fortune to unwind. Here are five benefits of escaping, just for a little while.

1. Sun The Tasmanian Public Health Department estimates one third of all Tasmanians are vitamin D deficient due to our lack of exposure to the sun during the colder months. There’s not much we can really do about that, apart from taking horse capsule-sized vitamin D supplements.

But given the choice between forcing some capsules down my throat or going on a holiday, I know what I’d choose.

2. Food I’m writing this from Bali, and the food here is absolutely phenomenal. Truly fantastic. It’s cheap, it’s fresh, it’s healthy, and I don’t have to cook it myself. I do love cooking, but when you’re neck- deep in fiveweek old readings, cooking seems like an inefficient use of my time.

You can also up your fruit intake, as tropical fruit is literally 1000000 times better than most fruit we can access in Tassie.

3. Relaxation Perhaps obvious, but when was the last time you can say you were truly relaxed? Sure, you may have bingewatched Orange Is The New Black, but I’m willing to bet you were pro-

Togatus suggestion: Top 3 affordable destinations

Southeast Asia: This beautiful region is loved by shoestring travellers the world over. Budget airlines offer good sale fares, five star accommodation is an affordable reality and food and attractions are generally inexpensive. Classic destinations include Bali and Thailand, but also consider Malaysia’s beautiful island of Langkawi for an untouched and breathtaking tropical experience.

Photo by Erin Cooper

crastinating something. That hangs over your head a bit. There’s something very freeing about leaving the country, or even the state. Those responsibilities are quite literally out of sight, out of mind. That’s inherently good for anyone’s mental state.

4. New People When you’re at home, you become comfortable, and things can become same-y. You might have the best group of friends ever, but until you leave them for a bit, you’re unlikely to meet anyone new. Travelling is a great way of meeting new people, hearing new stories and learning more about the world. Sometimes, you might even make lifelong friends, and no one would want to miss out on that chance.

North Queensland, Australia: Don’t discount a location close to home there is a reason Australia is loved by travellers around the world. Destinations in tropical North Queensland can be expensive, but the cost of domestic airfares are often much

lower than international flights. Sale fares are generally affordable if you avoid peak travel times, including school holidays. Look at sites like Scoopon for deals on accommodation and attractions.

New Zealand: A tropical holiday rife with mosquitoes and sunburn is not everyone’s idea of a good time. If think you would prefer sipping wine in the vineyards to island hopping and would rather gorge yourself on cheese and icecream than sip mimosa’s by the pool, keep an eye out for a sale fares to our stunning sister nation, New Zealand.

5. Life Experience There’s an entire planet out there.

There are myriads of things to see, do, experience, try, think and feel.

You don’t have to be away long, or even go very far, to gain new perspectives and new ways of thinking.

Life experiences shape who you are and what you want to achieve, so why not travel?

I’m not trying to convince you that if you take some time out overseas in your semester break that you’ll ‘find yourself’, but you will certainly learn a lot, whether that’s about yourself or not. So pack your bags and get planning because it’s good for you health. That’s my excuse.

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The Coffee I Can’t Afford Andrew Grey #creative

I don’t remember when I looked into his eyes the first time. I remember another time, when we sat at a bar with my friends and he looked at me, and I felt it, his eyes on me, and I looked over. I looked into those beautiful blue eyes and wondered what he saw. I knew that I felt something and that I couldn’t quite put it into words.

I’ve looked into his eyes since then, and yet I still don’t know what he sees. I am a mess, unkempt hair, clothes that never seem to make it into the wardrobe, and I eat the worst food you could possibly imagine. Yet there we are, cuddled up on my couch watching the movie I’ve seen 12 times since January.

Part of me didn’t want to let go; there was something about that moment, where the world slipped away and the sound of The End wrapped around us. I felt something that I couldn’t quite put into words, and I still can’t. All I know is that the world just slipped away.

Maybe I should try to find the words; I could always find a way to write them down. Apparently I have a way with words, yet I find it hard to write about anything that doesn’t involve death. I can imagine writing a love story where the lovers are on crack and everything exists within their delusions, and they die at the end, together, happy.

So, in this moment, where the rain falls like bullets and I’m just walking down the street listening to Ultra-

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violence while drinking the coffee I can’t afford, I’m going to think of the words that I want to say to you but get trapped within my overthinking, and then I’m going to write them down.

I want to walk down the street and hold your hand. I want to kiss you in front of a water fountain. Don’t ask me why, I just do. I want to kiss you in a bookshop between the crime fiction and biographies; I want to walk down the street with you, looking all hipster eating frozen yoghurt.

I want lie in bed with you, while it rains and thunder crashes as a record plays and we just listen, cuddling. Occasionally I will turn the record over, change it, but the records would be there next to us. Okay, so this is more about the image. The curtains would be open and the rain would hit the glass. We would be there, in almost perfect silence.

We could lie under the stars with a bottle of wine (just for me), laughing. Our hands would be between us, gently touching. I would look at you, you would look at me, and maybe we would kiss, or maybe, because I’m a tad drunk, I will start laughing. It will be the latter, I laugh when I’m drunk. And also fall over, but that’s a different story.

The point I’m trying to make is that I love you. I loved you when we were on the rock looking out to the water.

I wanted that moment to remain

constant, the sun to never set and for us to never leave, to just stay on that rock, with the world passing us by.

Of course these are things I will never be able to say out loud, and as the rain pours and the thunder hits, I will think these words. And when I finally see you, I will think them, try to say them, and maybe part of them will find a way out, but the truth is they won’t.

And I still don’t remember the first time I looked into his eyes. Maybe I will never remember, which is a shame. Maybe it was when we saw The Danish Girl. It doesn’t matter.

Damn it, the coffee’s all gone. I could really use another cup.

The Pop Culture Pet Jess Flint #feature

Pugs are everywhere. They’re on our clothes, mugs, magnets, bags, wallets; they’re all over instagram and youtube. Yet local breeder, Bev Benbow, says that pugs have always been popular pets, even before the pop culture hype.

Celebrity pug, “Doug the Pug,” has his own social media presence. With almost 5 million Facebook followers, it is safe to say that Doug is one popular little pug; his owner has made a career out of being his full time manager. Bev says the reason that pugs are so popular is their personalities.

“People say they’re so ugly they’re cute, but I think it’s their personalities really. Once you’ve met one I don’t think you can go back to a different dog,” she said.

Bev attributes their expressive faces to their almost people-like features, and says it’s one of the reasons people identify with pugs so easily.

Breeding pugs for 9 years, Bev has had an overwhelming demand for puppies right from the start. She currently has four waiting lists, one each for boy and girl puppies for both the black and fawn varieties.

“Once you’ve met one I don’t think you can go back to a different dog…” that people who have done their research know to expect to pay upwards of $2,000 for a pug puppy, however some people do drop out of the waiting lists because their situations change.

Bev’s kennel, Ellengon Pugs, now has eleven pugs in total, and is licensed to own eighteen. She says it’s important for breeders to have proper licenses, so that buyers know they are not buying from a puppy farm.

Reputable breeders have to follow rules such as not mating the dogs before they are one, and not allowing the dogs to have more than two litters in an eighteen-month period.

Bev uses a combination of natural mating and artificial insemination to meet demand as efficiently as possible.

Bev clearly doesn’t believe that pugs will fall out of fashion any time soon.

“People are prepared to wait.

“The fawns are more popular, but blacks are a close second because they’re rarer; people love them because they’re rare,” she said.

An eight week old puppy from Bev’s kennel will cost $2,300. Bev says

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Seabirds Take Turn in Welfare Spotlight Meghan Scolyer #feature

Puppies and kittens often adorn the campaign images of animal welfare groups, leaving our avian friends in the dark.

throughout her research includes golf tees, cigarette lighters, children’s toys, dishwashing gloves, pens and medical waste.

Bonorong Head Keeper Jason Graham said the facility has been extremely successful over its fouryear operation.

But recently, seabirds have been thrust into the spotlight with concerns increasing over the devastating impact of ingested plastics.

Plastic ingestion in seabirds is also the subject of research currently being conducted by University of Tasmania PhD candidate Lauren Roman.

“It’s been fantastic - it’s amazing when sea animals come in barely able to move and a few weeks later they are flying off again,” he said.

According to an Environment and Communications References Committee senate report, the threat of marine plastic ingestion is increasing, with 95 per cent of seabirds expected to be affected by 2050.

The report also uncovers research into the density of marine plastic pollution, estimating that up to 12.7 million metric tonnes of plastic entered the oceanic environment in 2010, and will remain for decades.

Research Biologist at UTas Dr Heidi J Auman, says marine plastic debris poses an increasing threat to seabirds.

“Plastic debris is likely to cause physiological stress as a result of satiation and mechanical blockages,” she said.

“It is also likely to cause toxicological stress due to transfer of contaminants.”

Dr Auman has worked as a seabird biologist for 25 years, specialising in human impact including the effects of ingested marine plastic debris on albatrosses and shearwaters.

Some of the debris she has found

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Ms Roman said that while it is too early to determine results at a population level, she has found that plastic ingestion is very widespread.

“The Short-tailed Shearwaters that live and breed here in Tasmania, the vast majority, 90 per cent plus of those, have marine debris ingestion,” she said.

“That in itself is quite shocking.”

Ms Roman said she hopes her research will determine the extent of the threat, and encourage funding allocation to reverse declines in seabird populations. “(Petrel) seabirds are the world’s most threatened group of birds,” she said.

“More than half of the world’s species are declining and about a third of them are threatened with extinction.”

Injured seabirds can be taken to Bonorong wildlife sanctuary, where a specialised rescue facility has been built to rehabilitate seabirds before releasing them back into their natural habitat.

But Mr Graham also said most injuries treated at Bonorong are caused by humans, with discarded fishing equipment posing the greatest threat.

“Approximately one million seabirds a year are dying because of plastic ingestion, long line trawlers and local fishing impacts,” he said.

“A lot of these species are endangered as well – and if you take one piece of the puzzle out of the ecosystem, the whole thing can collapse.”

“We can’t just sit back and say ‘they’ll be right’” Mr Graham also said that although seabirds are not as cute and cuddly as some marsupials, humans have an obligation to reduce their impact.

“A cormorant is definitely not as cute as a baby wombat, but that’s not their fault.”

“They’re not as charismatic, but they still have just as much right to live and be safe from human impacts as any other animal.”

Dr Auman says Tasmanians can reduce their impact by practicing

more mindful consumer habits, including reducing, reusing and recycling plastics.

“As scientists, we are trying to understand and report this tragedy,” she said.

“We don’t have the power to solve it alone, but as a worldwide, and Tasmanian community, each of us can make a difference with every choice that we make.”

Dr Auman has also written a children’s book inspired by her research. The book is entitled ‘Garbage Guts and aims to educate children about the impacts of discarded rubbish on seabirds. To purchase, visit garbageguts.net.

If you wish to purchase a signed copy with a personalised message, please contact Heidi.Auman@utas. edu.au.

Some of the items found in the stomach of a Laysan albatross chick. Photo by Dr Heidi J Auman.

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Ross Village Bakery: a Slice of Fantasy April Cuison #feature

Since its conception Studio Ghibli has been known for their beautiful animated films driven by incredibly gripping storylines. With diverse casts, from large fluffy rabbits to a fat radish spirit, Studio Ghibli’s whimsy and creativity is an inspiration to everyone across the globe. Kiki’s Delivery Service is one of Studio Ghibli’s many masterpieces, and to think that a key location in the film found its long lost twin in the middle of Tasmania is quite surprising.

Kiki’s Delivery Service is a tale about a young witch who has moved from the urban life to a small port town.

An elderly lady who owns a bakery offers her a home, and in exchange, Kiki uses witchcraft to deliver goods across the town. Whilst the actual name of the bakery is Japanese wordplay, it has been christened by fans as ‘Kiki’s Bakery.’ The bakery is small and quaint, and despite the animators using Sweden as their inspiration for this film, fans choose to flock to Tasmania instead.

regular customer, Ross Bakery is known for its heavenly vanilla slice and delicious custard pie. But to those who are familiar with a young witch and her pet cat who delivers goods around a small town, the experience becomes nothing short of magical.

The tourists who visit the bakery to see its resemblance to Kiki’s Bakery are always a pleasure, according to Ross Bakery co-owner Carl Crosby.

“They get so animated when they enter the bakery.”

The hustle and bustle surrounds us as we chat. The smell of pastry wafts across the room, as the bell jingled every once in awhile. “Each day we get Kiki fans stopping by, most are very happy and excited to be here and try a scallop pie and vanilla slice.”

Ross Village Bakery has been around for about 150 years. An hour and a half drive north from Hobart, Ross is a town that breathes history.

Convict hands moulded the houses that border its streets, as well as its landmark bridge. Ross Bakery is just one of the many sandstone buildings in Church Street. Its exterior does little to reveal what’s inside: a small, quaint bakery with a sprinkle of fantasy.

While some visitors simply wish to immerse themselves in the bakery’s atmosphere, there are some who take it to the next level. “One that stands out to me is a small child dressed as Kiki. She was adorable and had photos taken holding the peel in the oven,” Carl reminisces on one of the many memorable moments within the bakery.

“Another is a young man who stayed in the backpacker room. He came down from breakfast dressed as Kiki.” The visitor was kind enough to leave his Kiki attire at the bakery, and Carl shows photos of him donning the outfit.

As I open the door, the bell rings to herald the arrival of another customer. I am immediately greeted with welcome signs written by Japanese visitors. “Welcome to Kiki’s Bakery!” one sign reads. To the

The uncanny resemblance was established by the fans. “We have been working at the Ross Village Bakery for 8 years. We were not working here when this connection was first discovered. Many Japa-

Photos by April Cuison

nese would come into the bakery and wanted to see the oven and a room that we use for accommodation,” Carl said. Since then, they have openly welcomed this connection.

The walls are adorned with Kiki memorabilia and photos of visitors themselves. Above the ice cream freezer in the corner is one of their many guestbooks, where customers are free to put their thoughts on paper. Doodles of Kiki and her cat, Jiji, are scattered throughout, alongside sweet messages. “It’s been my dream to visit Ross Bakery,” one message writes. “I will return!”

Carl leads me outside and to the back, an ornate key in hand.

Nestled at the very back of the bakery is Kiki’s room. An incredibly small attic, it can accommodate up to three people. At the very back of the room is a Kiki figurine, and another guestbook. Once again, it is filled with many messages detailing their experiences, some written in English, some written in Japanese.

During the night, guests can look up at the night sky, and close their eyes before the stars.

However, Ross Bakery should not only be known as ‘the place that looks like Kiki’s Bakery.’ “The Ross Village Bakery is one of a few original Wood-Fired Bakeries left in Australia,” Carl says. Indeed, Ross is listed as a cultural heritage site in the Register of the National Estate (which has been replaced by the Australian National Heritage List).

“I think in spite of the perceived anime connection, tourists will still come and visit Ross.”

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Dulce et Decorum est April Cuison #creative

It is an oddly warm November day.

Not a single white patch can be seen in the vast dome of blue. Not even a single puff of black smoke from the chimneys can be seen.

The regular hustle and bustle of city life remains. Dealers lurk in the shadows, while the rest go on with their daily, mundane lives. The streets are crowded with young children as they colour the city with their imagination. Lush meadows and sunny fields juxtapose quite well against dirty brick and steel. It is a shame that such creativity will need to be wiped out later. It is a world where order and creativity cannot exist in harmony.

Estelle leans on the balcony fence and turns her gaze to the children below, as they draw on the concrete with colourful chalk. There is something in them that always brings a smile to her face, something that elates her spirits. The feeling is replaced with jealousy. These children are free to think, free to dream. They envisage worlds with no boundaries, realms that will be slowly torn away by reality as time passes. For in this day and age, freedom is nothing but a luxury for those who can afford it.

The sound of the gong heralds the beginning of another work day, snapping Estelle to her senses.

The children begin to scrub their works of art, stored in their young minds until they are free to draw again. She makes her way from the balcony to the ground floor. The district hall’s foyer is slowly being

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flooded by people. Four officials stand in one side of the room, each with a folder of today’s schedule. In less than three minutes, Estelle and thirty-nine other teenagers stand in a single file in front of the officials.

Such an inflexible lifestyle bores Estelle. Her schedule does not invite much variety. Fourteen was the age when one is required to join the labour force, or rather, it is when they begin to use them for physical labour. Success and attention to detail is paramount, for anything less attracts punishment.

Estelle looks at her schedule with despair. With a sigh she leaves the foyer and walks out into the sunlight, letting the warm rays immerse her before being imprisoned in a world of books.

She feels an elbow nudge her. Her gaze meets with Marina’s; a close friend of hers. The expression on her face makes Estelle ask the obligatory, ‘is something wrong?’

Her eye catches a folded piece of paper in Marina’s hands. Gesturing towards it, she asks, ‘what is that?’

Marina ignores her. ‘You know your way underground, don’t you?’

Estelle regards her for a moment, constantly eyeing the piece of paper in her friend’s hand. ‘I usually take the Lowtown route if it’s raining.

I don’t think I need to take that route today though. The weather is so nice.’ After a small pause, she descends down the stairs.

A giggle escapes Marina’s lips as she follows her friend. ‘Sure. A walk is always nice before work.’

After a few minutes of trying to get as far from the district hall as possible, they reach Lowtown.. Marina holds up a sign that she’s been holding the entire time. The small poster is literally in front of Estelle’s eyes. She stares at it for a moment in an attempt to comprehend it. A familiar face catches her attention.

‘Guevara?’ she asks with the raise of an eyebrow.

‘Thank you, Captain Obvious,’ Marina rolls her eyes. ‘Do you know who he is?’

Estelle shrugs. ‘I may know a thing or two.’ A thing or two is an understatement. She has read about him many times when she is surrounded by pages upon pages of her world’s history. It is a surprise that they didn’t remove his name from history. They are fond of history revisionism, after all.

Lowtown is notorious for being a hub of criminal activity. Many rumours circulate about the things that happen here. Some say that crime lords reside here. Some rumours even go as far as factories of various drugs can be found in here. It’s not ‘out-of-place’ for talks about a revolution to occur here.

‘Think about what would happen if we join this,’ Marina says, her voice full of joy. She might as well be singing.

‘I know, we’ll die, right?’ Estelle asks with a chuckle. The only response she received was a pout. ‘What?

Is there a reason why I should join this… revolution?’ her voice shows a hint of doubt..

lot. I only saw the poster in the alleyway and I thought “Hey, why not?” and came here.’ She purses her lips together as a gesture to Marina, silently begging for her not to blow the cover.

Before her friend could speak, the sound of sirens flooded the area. One by one police cars start to gather in front of Lowtown’s entrance. The black-clad police swarm the entrance, only to find two teenagers in the middle of their path. The red-haired girl with braids holding a sign catches their attention.

Estelle’s composure is shattered by a ringing sound. It’s only happening to one ear, the same side where her cheek is throbbing in pain. Her neck has also been strained. Her face turns a full ninety degrees, her widened eyes meeting the officer’s smug ones. Alongside her pain, she can feel Marina’s fear and concern from a few feet away.

Without a second thought, Estelle grabs the poster from Marina and says in a stern tone, ‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have shown you this at all. I can’t force you to change your mind.’ And with that, the entire focus of the police turns to her instead.

Estelle’s eyes drift to a rather baffled Marina. A small smile escapes her lips.

‘You are under arrest,’ the officer says as he cuffs her hands behind her back.

One of the officers walks over to her, eyeing the crumpled piece of paper on her hand. The poster’s distinctive colours and the familiar icon alarm the officer. He walks towards her, his height adding to his intimidating stature. ‘What do you know about this?’ he asks, nodding towards the poster. His voice is so low and menacing, Estelle is tempted to just cower and cry.

She breathes in, trying to muster up the courage to reply without making herself look like a fool. After a few moments, she replies with, ‘Not a

because an officer expressed his dislike for a piece of paper. From this day forward, she will forever be haunted by a criminal record due to something so trivial.

Marina’s voice echoed in her mind.

‘Think about what would happen if we join this.’

Estelle tries to struggle only to achieve bruised wrists ‘What did I do? I didn’t even do anything!’ her voice was full of desperation. Tears begin to stream down her face.

Even she doesn’t know why she’s crying. Pain? Embarrassment? Fear?

‘You’re not where you should be.

And you expressed interest in breaking the law. Isn’t that reason enough’ the official says with a grunt. Officers step to the sides as he makes his way to the police car, his left hand tightly wound around her arm. Estelle feels every eye look at her with contempt and disgust.

Estelle’s chest feels heavy, wondering how her family will take on the news. From this day forward she is now known as a criminal, a threat to them and society as a whole simply

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How to… Make a Succulent Terrarium Daisy Baker #howtoadult

Making a terrarium is the perfect project for the time-poor gardeners and serial plant killers among us.

After the initial time spent making it, there is little maintenance required.

What I love about terrariums is that you can recreate natural landscapes on a miniature scale, which are beautiful additions to living spaces.

I chose to make a terrarium with succulents and cacti, recreating a desert landscape. For this project I used an open container, which would also be suitable for carnivorous plants or air plants. Tropical plants, on the other hand, are best suited to closed terrariums. You can use this as a guide, maintaining the structure of the layers but choosing your own plants and decorations.

What you’ll need + A glass container of your choice + Five succulents or cacti of your choice (take note of their size and that of your container, making sure you don’t over crowd your plants) + 4 cups cacti and succulent mix or potting mix + ½ cup horticultural charcoal + 3 cups small black pebbles + Large rocks, river pebbles or figurines (optional) Directions 1. Wash your selected container inside and out, drying it completely before you begin making your terrarium. Fishbowls make great containers, as do jars. Keep in mind that

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the narrower the opening, the more challenging it will be to assemble.

2. Layer the base of your container with black pebbles, gently shaking the container to even them out.

Sprinkle charcoal over the pebbles.

The pebbles create an aeration and drainage layer, while the charcoal keeps your terrarium fresh and odour-free.

3. Add three cups of the potting mix. At this stage you can create the terrain, depending on your landscape you may choose to make it higher at the back or at one side.

4. Wearing gloves, remove the plants from their containers and place them carefully into your terrarium. As you do this, brush off the excess soil, planting only the root balls.

5. Arrange your plants as you desire, placing your tallest plants at the centre or the back. Cover the roots with the remaining succulent mix, pressing down gently around each plant.

6. Add in large rocks or figurines between the plants as you like. You can get creative here, adding in animal figurines and hiding them amongst your plants. When looking for figurines, those made of hard plastics or glass are best.

7. Scatter the river pebbles, making the final layer. If re-creating a garden scene, pebbles can be arranged effectively to resemble a path.

There are lots of different coloured pebbles and glass rocks available at gardening stores. Use a dry paintbrush to gently brush off any excess dirt from your plants.

8. Give your terrarium a good drink of water, using a spray bottle. Water again when the soils is dry to touch.

Depending on the weather you may need to water weekly or monthly.

Most terrariums can be kept indoors in a partially sunlit spot.

There are heaps of great books around on terrariums and lots of inspiration on Instagram and Pinterest. I hope you have as much fun making your terrarium as I did!

Photo by Daisy Baker

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Facing the Unbearable: an Experience of Skin Cancer April McLennan #feature

Thirteen years old, covered in dirt and a total tomboy. But I was still daddy’s little girl.

I remember following him around everywhere like a lost sheep. I would ‘help’ him on the farm - to be honest this involved sitting on the scorching hot tray of the ute in the blazing summer sun watching him fix a fence or herd the cows.

Then at night I would follow him to his basketball training and watch him practise. Sometimes the men would even let me join in, allowing me to score goals easily so I would be under the impression that I could keep up. It was a simpler life.

I had followed him to a basketball game one night, as I was his biggest fan. He got hit pretty hard but he got back up. He was okay.

When we got home that night he mentioned to mum that he was a bit sore underneath his arm. Nothing to worry about.

In the following days dad went to the skin specialist for a regular check up. Upon inspection, the specialist discovered a little lump the size of a pea underneath his arm.

“…imagine finding yourself in a situation where you are left begging a doctor for time. Time that they may not be able to grant you.” there at the clinic with dad when the specialist first spotted it. She cut it out just to be safe. I even helped her hold the little jar she placed it in.

Nothing to worry about. It was tiny.

That was until it was a golf ball. A pea to a golf ball over night, that’s how quickly it grew. And it grew and spread throughout his lymph gland (under his arm). And then dad was gone.

Did you know that Australia almost has the highest rate of skin cancer diagnosis in the world? According to the Cancer Council, “more than 2,200 Australians died from this almost entirely preventable disease in 2013”.

The key word here is preventable.

So don’t be an idiot. Put on a hat, chuck on some sunnies, stay out of the sun and of course slip, slop, slap.

Dad wasn’t so sure. He called up the skin specialist and booked another appointment. She confirmed his fear. Cancer.

It is also important that you check your moles regularly. Be on the lookout for any moles that change size, colour or shape. Getting a mole buddy can be a great way to check out those hard to reach spots such as your back and scalp. If you notice any changes, get to your nearest skin specialist as soon as possible. It is better to be over cautious.

It started as a tiny little mole. I was

Luckily for me, dad came back. He

By the next morning the pea had grown into a golf ball. But I’m sure it’s okay.

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had been undergoing surgery in Sydney to remove all the cancer from his body. It could have been a lot worse but he caught it in its early stages. He was alive.

He confessed to me on his birthday this year what he had told the doctors while he was undergoing surgery. “Ten more years. That’s all I want. Ten more years to watch my daughters grow up”.

It’s been six years. I hope he has more than four years left. But imagine finding yourself in a situation where you are left begging a doctor for time. Time that they may not be able to grant you. Five more years. Seven months. Two weeks.

Please, I just want one more day…

It doesn’t matter what age you are. Melanoma kills all. Young and old. It doesn’t discriminate. So this summer why not rock the pale, moon tan look or even whip out a bottle of fake tan and go full orange.

It’s better than being dead.

A Letter to Shirley Maddy Hodgman #tribute

Bric-a-brac knick-knacks rest on glass table tops Letters crafted in cursive Upon walls paintings and pictures fine An Iris in bloom, a woman buried beneath woollens undying faith in Christ divine A message written across my heart A love forever guiding A hand held within mine In years past The flower of your memory wilted myself, a presence in the vast expanses of your mind A memory forever residing with me For love never fails or dies I will see you again in time

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Youth Faction Zoe Cooney #music

If you are looking for a new Tassie act to head bang to on a Friday night then look no further than Hobart’s upcoming three-piece, Youth Faction.

Forming in early 2016, Zac Cashion (vocals and guitar), Matt Paynter (bass) and Lockie James (drums), bring a young, vibrant and energetic talent to the Hobart punk scene.

Taking inspiration from all of your favourite punk rock bands such as Blink -182, Green Day, Sum 41, AntiFlag, Rancid and The Living End, the band describe their sound as a mix of hard-hitting, old-school punk rock that features catchy choruses.

In true punk style, Youth Faction’s lyrics do not hold back. All in their early twenties, they name “relationships, anger, sadness, good times, mates, alcohol (for some), MILFS and energy drinks” as just some of the things that inspire them.

Whether they be about eyeing off a hot girl from across the room, being young and dumb, not being able to explain emotions or drinking too much Red Bull, all their songs tell a story, making their music very relatable to their audience.

“Punk music is extremely expressive. It can portray anger, sadness or happiness. Writing punk music is an avenue that allows us to express these emotions.”

“With punk, there are really no boundaries or limitations to the

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Photos by Silent Hymn Photography

song writing and this is extremely refreshing,” they said.

A string of live shows in Hobart pubs such as the Grand Poobah and the Brisbane Hotel has helped the three create a fun, dynamic and tight-knit live set. Their performances showcase a diverse range of originals, as well as a handful of covers of their favourite artists, to which they have given their own punk rock twist.

A positive response both online and from the crowd at gigs has led to Youth Faction taking up opportunities left, right and centre, with offers to play in the state’s north, as well as interstate in Victoria and New South Wales. One of the band’s first releases, Inside My Head, has also been heard on Triple J. “The local scene has provided us with a good framework to build the live set we will be taking to the mainland,” they said.

The trio describe the experience of performing to an active and loud audience as “killer” and enjoy building relationships with the bands they share the stage with.

“Our favourite thing about the local scene is meeting people in different bands. We have made some great friends from the bands we have played with so far,” they said.

As a result of their hard work, determination and overarching passion for sharing the music they love, plans to release an album are now in the works.

“Our plan is to have the writing complete by the end of the year so we can start recording it; to be released at the end of this year or the start of 2017.”

Go and show the local scene some love and get along to some shows. Local gigs are lined with talented musicians who are banding together to keep live and original music thriving in Hobart.

You can follow Youth Faction on Facebook for their latest updates: https://www.facebook.com/youthfaction You can also find their latest releases on Bandcamp: https://youthfaction.bandcamp. com/releases

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Be Her Freedom 2016: Changing the Lives of Modern Day Slaves, One Girl at a Time Maddie Burrows #feature

“The majority of Western society is oblivious to the outrageous statistics surrounding this issue, and Be Hers aims to provide the honest truth.”

Sex slavery. It’s something we don’t talk about. Slavery is a topic usually only spoken of in historical terms, and evaded in everyday conversation. However, according to the Be Her Freedom (Be Hers) organisation, “there are more slaves in the world today than at any other point in human history, with an estimated 27 million in bondage across the globe.”

Men and women are being exploited for manual and sexual labour against their will, and the average age of a trafficked victim is just twelve. According to Be Hers, a person is forced into this kind of modern day slavery every thirty seconds. Regrettably, because slavery is most common in third world countries and remote villages, it seems incomprehensible to us in Western society.

This is why organisations such as Be Hers are so vitally important in changing the human trafficking epidemic. The organisation was founded by a group of young women, who were horrified upon hearing the size and scope of modern day slavery, and felt compelled to take action. Be Hers was created to inform and encourage people to fight against the injustices

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of human trafficking. The majority of Western society is oblivious to the outrageous statistics surrounding this issue, and Be Hers aims to provide the honest truth.

was very humbling seeing so many Hobart women in one location not just supporting a great cause, but also supporting each other and creating a space of openness.”

The Be Hers organisation has a strong partnership with The A21 Campaign, which work on the front lines of human trafficking. Melody Towns, founder of Be Hers states that “with only 1-2 per cent of victims rescued and only 1 in 100, 000 traffickers convicted, The A21 Campaign stands to abolish this injustice through prevention, protection, prosecution and strategic partnerships across the globe.” Be Hers provides funding to directly help The A21 Campaign rescue and rehabilitate those enslaved around the world.

Ladies dressed in white, beige, and pastels graced the MAC 2 venue on Hobart’s waterfront. The ball included speeches and stories from members of the Be Hers organisation, live music, dance pieces, and a dance party with a DJ to finish the evening. Guests indulged themselves in delicious canapés and tapas style dishes, champagne, and decadent treats from large buffet tables. There was also a silent auction and merchandise stalls, with all profits going directly to The A21 Campaign to see freedom brought to thousands.

The Be Hers organisation hosts a spectacular ball around Australia each year to raise awareness on the issue of modern day slavery, and funds for The A21 Campaign so they can save as many lives as possible from human trafficking. The women only event empowers the everyday woman to use her hand to make a difference for others. Be Her Freedom events run in multiple locations across Australia, uniting large numbers of women of all ages.

Although this sounds like a wonderful party, the Be Hers organisation showed guests the hard truth of human trafficking throughout the evening. Short videos were shown to guests, revealing what it’s like to try and escape human traffickers, and how dreadful the living conditions are for these slaves. Ball guest and University of Tasmania student Ella Carrington said, “It was heartbreaking to see, but I understand now why Be Hers is so passionate about sharing the truth. It’s horrible to think so many of us are oblivious to what’s going on in our world, when children as young as eight years old are being forced into sexual slavery.

I had never experienced so many women in one place in a moment of such intense emotion and disbelief.”

On September 10th this year, over 900 women attended the Be Her Freedom ball in Hobart, making the event one of the largest galas ever held in our city. University of Tasmania student Abbey Studley was one of these women and said, “It

Towards the end of the evening, guests at the Hobart Be Her Freedom ball were brought to tears when a parade of refugees took to the stage in their cultural dress, to tell why they have found sanctuary in Hobart. A young Ethiopian girl was brave enough to say that she was a victim of sexual slavery, and was rescued and rehabilitated in Hobart with the help of The A21 Campaign.

Applause filled the venue as guests participated in a ten-minute standing ovation.

Today, Be Hers is honoured to have a movement of thousands of passionate everyday women determined to raise funds and awareness for the freedom of men, women, and children trapped in sex slavery across the globe. Hobart Ball guest, Jacinda Dales said, “It’s inspiring to see Be Hers making such positive moves which unite and empower the local community in the fight against human trafficking and to raise awareness on this topic.”

Through partnerships, collaborations, donations and events, Be Hers stands to fight for freedom, and return value and dignity to enslaved women and children around the world.

For more information visit: https://www.behers.org.au/ http://www.a21.org/

Photos by Jacinda Dales

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Broken Record Andrew Grey #creative

I couldn’t remember how many pills I’d swallowed, only that it was enough to be classed suicidal by my mother, who forced that view onto the psychiatrist I was forced to see. I tried to explain that I wasn’t that suicidal, just the normal amount where, in situations I didn’t want to be in I’d wish I were dead. The pills were an entirely different matter, more of a way to lighten the low I was in as an attempt to stop me, to put it bluntly, slitting my wrists. I didn’t want to do it so I used pills. It was much better, the high lasted longer and there wasn’t the little voice in the back of my head telling me to cut down, not across.

walk down by the Charles, light rain, a little fog, the lamps hazy, music playing through my headphones. I was happy, I was taking drugs – in my case I ‘accidently’ overdosed on oxycoffin – and there was no need to self-harm. I heard the music dim, looked down, and saw that my boyfriend was back in town and wanted to see me. Smiling, I replied that I could see him in an hour at Theodora. Walking down the cobblestone path, I internally exploded with excitement. It had been a few months since we had been in the same state. So, trotting along the riverbank I made my way to my favourite bookshop.

Now there I was, stuck under the watchful eye of my mother who searches my room whenever I leave the house and wants me to undergo drug tests, of which I refuse. Leaving the house is actually difficult, and what I don’t understand is how she is always home. I mean, seriously, she has a job that I know she goes to, yet when I go to get a cup of coffee and write in my favourite bookshop, she asks where I’m going. I’m not allowed to leave at night, she drives me to work, seriously. Seriously. I just want to regain my autonomy. So, being white, firstworld, and privileged, I moved out.

That’s the thing about being the child of divorce, when one parent is being annoying, go to the other parent, who is, in my case neglectful, and manipulate them into giving you what you want.

Walking through the door, I entered to one of the most beautiful sights that could have ever been seen.

Theodora was once a townhouse that had been bought by my best friend’s grandfather in the 1930’s after the original owner went bankrupt. After buying the adjacent townhouse a few years later, Lord Barnabas Bunton turned the townhouse into a multi storey bookshop, named after Lord Barnabas’ late wife, as you should expect, Lady Theodora Bunton. Despite adding a café in the early 2000’s, the rest of the house is virtually unchanged, even the shelving is, for the most part, original. I have bought all of my books here, Gray’s Anatomy, every single Agatha Christie, to Fifty Shades of Grey. Walking through the front door, I can see Lukas Bunton smiling at me, holding a first edition copy of The Price of Salt. I run over and leap on the desk, carefully grab-

A week after I had moved out I took a

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bing the book from his hands.

“For me?” I said, like a love receiving a gift.

“Of course, for my one true love,” Lukas replied.

“I could just kiss you,” I said as I leaned in, my lips ready. Lukas leaned in, and I kissed him gently on the forehead.

“Please don’t use it to snort cocaine, it cost me a pretty penny,” “Of course not, that’s what the Bible is for,” I said with a smile as Lukas laughed. “Anyway, has Trevelyan arrived yet?”

“At the door,” I kissed Lukas’s cheek as he served a customer, who was buying a copy of Twilight (of which I am allergic). I wrapped my arms around Trevelyan’s wonderfully solid body and lent in for a kiss, blocking the entrance as the clouds... well okay, they didn’t break and sunlight didn’t stream upon us like we were some golden couple. In fact, there was a sense of coldness in his touch. I ran my fingers through his black hair.

“Oh my god, look at my new book!”

I said as I thrust The Price of Salt into his hands.

“Another copy? Don’t you have two already?”

“Yes, but this is, like, a first edition.

It is to be looked at, read once, and then looked at for the rest of its life,

then buried with me,” We walked to the café and sat in my usual spot (I had sent Lukas a text to let him know I was coming), I had a cappuccino delivered as soon as I sat down, and Trevelyan ordered a guillermo. “That’s fancy,” I said, but he just grunted and continued to type on his phone. I looked over to see Lukas making faces at me, to which I laughed, and that got Trevelyan’s attention.

“Lukas making faces?” he asked, not looking up.

“Yeah, like always,” “Some things guess,”

never

change, I

“Yeah. Anyway, how has New York been? Enjoying Juilliard?” I asked, cupping my cappuccino.

“It’s good. Remember how I was telling you about Sam, the second year I met on my first day?” I nodded as he talked. “We just found a place in Manhattan. It’s not the best, think Rachel and Kurt’s place in Glee. So yeah,” “That’s cool,”

“Well, yes. But we have been together for two months. I haven’t told him about you,” I scratched the scabs on my left arm, they tingled with a long to open, to bleed.

when he turned to me. “I loved you, you know. I really did,” He left.

“I thought I should break up in person, given your suicidal behaviour,”

The rest of the day was really a blur.

I don’t know how I got to the top of my apartment block, all I know is that as I lean closer to the edge, my blood running down my left arm like a waterfall, I hear her calling. I look down, see her. I feel Lukas wrap his arms around me, I run my fingers through his beautiful blonde hair.

“Oh, that’s thoughtful Trevelyan.

Did you think you would need to be placed on suicide watch?”

“We should do it,” Lukas said, swaying our bodies side to side.

“Fuck it all, let’s just jump,”

I sipped my cappuccino.

With The Price of Salt pressed firmly against my heart, I looked Lukas and smiled.

“I see,” I replied, looking at the people walking past.

“I just didn’t want you to have another breakdown and attempt to kill yourself again,”

“Okay,”

“Like you would care. You didn’t visit once. I mean, I thought you were just busy finding yourself in New York, well I guess you were, only you found yourself with a dick in your ass,” Our eyes locked in that moment. “I also don’t know how often I need to say this, but I’m not suicidal, I’m just gloriously self-destructive. It’s how I got in MIT,”

“It’s great.” There was a pause as his coffee arrived. Lukas had stopped making faces, he looked a little worried, as if he could sense the impending doom. “I have something to tell you. We-”

“Sure. I just wanted to make sure you didn’t do anything,”

“You fucked him, didn’t you?” I asked.

“Okay. Well, I have a train to catch, so I’m going to go,” Trevelyan said.

He got up and began to walk away

“It’s fine, I’ll chill with Lukas. At least he likes Marilyn Manson and Schedule II controlled substance abuse,”

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