This edition of The Aviso features the stunning artwork and poetry of some MGC alumnae and current students, as well as an artwork submission from The Mac.Robertson High School. We are very pleased by the submissions we receive, and if you would like be featured in The Aviso, please email theaviso@mgc.vic.edu.au

In this issue, we highlight various pressing issues in today's political and social climate. The ongoing tensions in Nigeria is discussed in our Spotlight piece written by Rania Widjanarko. We also discuss the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict and the controversial abortion bill issued in Poland in our Current Affairs section written by Hannah Benhassine.

We would also like to acknowledge the assistance that Carolina Trujillo has given us over the past year, with reviewing submissions and supervising the publication process. In addition, we are delighted to welcome Shaunagh O’Connell aboard, who will be assisting with The Aviso in a supervisory role from now onwards.

Hannah Benhassine, Cadet

Xara Hudson, Humanities Captain

Guest Contributions

Bingsu - Danielle Phan, The MacRobertson Girls’ High School

Alumnae

Kate- Adele Bauer, MGC Class of 2018

Adele Bauer graduated from MGC in 2018, and is now undertaking a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Monash University. She enjoys painting, making paper prints and drawing, and is also a model signed to Duval Agency.

Untitled - Isadora Lauritz, MGC Class of 2016

Isadora Lauritz graduated from MGC in 2016 after spending many years studying performing arts subjects at the school, and being cast in a variety of lead roles in school productions. She recently graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Music, and has performed at a range of venues in Melbourne. In addition, Isadora has appeared as a session vocalist in professionally released music and is a lifelong student of dance and theatre.

Current Affairs

Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict - Hannah Benhassine, Year 10

The fight between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh has intensified over the past few weeks. The land between the two nations is predominantly inhabited by Armenians yet Azerbaijan claims the land as theirs. The two countries have been fighting over the land for decades, particularly in the 1980s when the people of the region voted to become a part of Armenia. A peace treaty is yet to be formed as negotiations throughout the years have been made by international bodies. Recent conflicts that erupted on 27th of September have resulted in the heavy use of artillery, leaving civilian property destroyed, and many civilian casualties. A ceasefire has been declared in a joint statement released by Armenia, Azerbaijan and the U.S following two previous ceasefires being broken. However, Azerbaijan has now accused Armenia of violating the agreement after an attack in the region.

Poland’s Abortion Bill - Hannah Benhassine, Year 10

Trigger Warning: Rape

Protests have been ignited across Poland following a court ruling banning all abortions aside from extreme exceptions such as when the mother’s health is at risk or when the pregnancy is a result of a criminal act (i.e. incest or rape). The top court of Poland has particularly highlighted that abortion carried out as a result of foetal defects are unconstitutional. The struggle for women to receive abortions in Poland is not exclusive to 2020. Prior to the ruling, 98% of legal abortions last year were due to foetal defects. In fact, according to the BBC, less than 2,000 legal terminations occur each year only in instances in which the foetus has a defect. As a result, over 200,000 women are forced to head abroad. In major cities such as Warsaw, people have taken to the streets for consecutive days to argue what many see as a step backwards in the fight for women’s rights.

Spotlight

#EndSARS - Rania Widjanarko, Year 11

What is SARS?

SARS (Special Anti Robbery Squad) is a Nigerian Police unit formed to protect the Nigerian public from armed robbery and violent crime. Ironically, the name itself has become synonymous with police brutality in the country. SARS officers carry guns, but do not wear regular Nigerian police uniforms or badges. Officers are accused of corruption, rape, torture, murder, and are notorious for unfairly profiling and targeting innocent youth.

What happened?

Nigerian people have taken to the streets to call for an end to this epidemic of police brutality, as well as to demand justice for victims. The protests, helmed by the youth of Nigeria, were triggered by a video posted in early October of a man being shot by SARS officers. However, these initially peaceful demonstrations have quickly turned violent after being disrupted by police, with people killed in the process. Celebrities such as Beyonce and Nicki Minaj have taken to social media to voice their support for the movement.

What’s going on now?

The protests have placed enormous pressure on the Nigerian Government, leading to President Muhammadu Buhari announcing the dissolution of the SARS unit. Later on, authorities ordered all personnel to report to the police headquarters for a debriefing along with a psychological and medical examination. However, there has still been no talk of compensation or justice for the victims of police brutality and their families, leaving protestors unsatisfied. The forming of a new Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team was also announced to replace SARS, angering protestors who saw this as just another "renaming exercise" in which the name of the unit would change, but the behaviour of the officers would not. They felt that this was another avenue for the police to terrorise civilians, and that it serves no real purpose.

For more information, click here to access a carrd on the issue, and here to be taken to a list of links where you can donate to help protestors. Click here to be taken to a website where people share their experience with SARS officers.

Student Voice

The End of Lockdown - Harriet Turner-Browne, Year 8

Quarantine has not been an easy time for most of us. And although it’s not over yet, remote learning (which was a big part of it) is coming to a close for all MGC students now. However, it did have some positives that are worth remembering! Here is a list of things I will miss and things I am happy about with school going back!   

What I Miss:

Making my lunch at home:  I can’t say that a sandwich is as delicious as the freshly fried tofu I’ve been making for lunch lately! 
Wearing whatever I want:  I am definitely guilty of wearing pyjamas to class… 
Seeing my cat : I feel very lucky to have had my kitten on my lap while I worked. 
Sleeping in : I don’t think I’m the only one who misses getting hours of extra sleep in the mornings! 
The breaks:  I have to admit playing Among Us for an hour in bed for lunch was very enjoyable.

What I’m Happy About :

Seeing friends : It was so good to meet friends that I haven’t seen for months. 
Seeing classmates: faces for more than two seconds  It can be awkward to show your face on teams, so I’m glad we’re seeing each other in real life now without the option to mute and block camera! 
Getting away from family : Mum, if you’re reading this, I love you, but we all need some space! 
Doing class in school:  I’m sure the people around me are relieved they don’t hear me doing music class at home anymore. 
(Hopefully) getting to finally finish that trivia game with 8E!  If you know, you know.

All in all, remote learning was a period I don’t think we will forget anytime soon. It was full of its pros and cons but I for one am very glad to be back at school!

Recommendations

Film: Before Sunrise (1995) - Rania Widjanarko, Year 11

Vienna, Austria, 1995. Two strangers meet on a train travelling through Europe. Jesse, an American man, impulsively decides to spend his final day in Europe with Celine, a French woman he met on the train. As the pair roam the streets of Vienna, their attraction grows, and with that attraction comes a subtle, tender interrogation of love. The undeniable chemistry between the two protagonists coupled with the stunning cinematography make this film captivating. A simple and poignant film that pays homage to the ephemerality of love, while brilliantly capturing the thrill and intoxication of young love.

Music: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998) - Anika Walia, Year 10

This album is a declaration of independence. It is a break-up letter to the routines in which you damage yourself and a love letter to the liberated self. The album incorporates different genres; hip-hop, Motown-era soul and reggae. Ms. Hill’s background stemmed from hip-hop and the 'miseducation' within. She wanted to put the entire genre on ‘blast’. It was she that desired to settle the score and ‘un-educate’ people on the incidental violence associated with such genres.

Dromana - 35mm Film - Elsa Symons, Year 11

Untitled - Suzanne Tetaz, Year 11

Untitled - Jenni Cannell & Jess Edbrooke, Year 9

A clear glass door.

A white, flowy curtain.

Small wet steps.

A damp, uneven, neat patio.

An old, empty, lonely outside table.

Beautiful, peaceful plants with water droplets falling off.

A tall, strong, wise tree.

Some Jasmine clinging onto the fence.

It is damp and lonely, the sun does not shine on the old, empty, lonely outside table.

It looks sad and droopy.

Sometimes when I sit outside, I don’t even feel the cold,

I am just stuck in the peacefulness of the birds chipping and the fresh air.

There is always a lonely table in the garden, it is old and lonely, nobody sits on it.

The early morning is the most peaceful time of the day for the garden,

the sun is rising and as it does it shine its light onto the patio.

I feel free, peaceful, quiet and most of all relaxed.

I feel like I am the lonely table, like there’s nothing going on in the world, it’s just me and my thoughts.

Look close at the wet, uneven, neat patio, you will find that it’s not that neat at all!!

There are weeds growing out of all the cracks in between the tiles.

Look into the distance, behind the trees is the cloudy sky.

No sun, just plain white sky.

I can’t see the neighbour’s house behind our backyard fence, although I know they’re there.

Untitled - Alina Ivanova, Year 9

Quote of the Watch

‘Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine. Meanwhile the world goes on.’ - Mary Oliver (Wild Geese)

The Philosopher’s Cabin

Philosophy Joke - Unknown Author

Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are on a camping trip. In the middle of the night, Holmes nudges Watson

awake, and says, "Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see."

"I see millions of stars, my dear Holmes."

"And what do you infer from these stars?"

"Well, a number of things," he says, lighting his pipe:

“Astronomically, I observe that there are millions of galaxies and billions of stars and planets. Astrologically,

I observe that Saturn is in Leo. Horologically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter

past three. Meteorologically, I expect that the weather will be fine and clear. Theologically, I see that God is

all-powerful, and man, his creation, small and insignificant. What about you, Holmes?"

"Watson, you fool. Someone has stolen our tent!

Submitted by Alex McCurry, Year 8

From The Mess Deck

Healthier Hotcakes - Leanne Leong, Year 8

Ingredients

Pancakes:

50g self-raising flour, 50g wholemeal/wholegrain flour

2 small eggs (separated), 150mL skimmed milk

Toppings:

Berries and low-fat yoghurt, or fromage frais to serve

Recipe

Sift the flours into a bowl or wide jug and tip any bits in the sieve back into the bowl. Add the egg yolks, a splash of milk then stir to a thick paste. (Add the remaining milk a little at a time to avoid lumps!)
Whisk the egg whites until they stand up in stiff peaks, then fold them carefully into the batter – try not to squash out all the air.
Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat and pour in the batter.
Cook for just under a minute until bubbles begin to pop on the surface and the edges look a little dry.
Carefully turn the pancake over. If it is a bit wet on top, it may squirt out a little batter as you do so. In that case, leave it on the other side a little longer.
Keep warm while you make the remaining pancakes.
Serve with your favourite healthy toppings!

Humanities News

MGC will be participating in the Rotary Model UN Zoom Assembly, which will be held on December 5-6, 2020. Seven teams of two people have been registered to participate.
The last Humanities Club meeting of 2020 took place on Thursday, October 29, in which the Club reflected upon the various events which have taken place this year. Plans for 2021 were also announced, along with the incumbent Humanities Captain and Vice-Captain.
The Philosophy Club met in person on Wednesday, October 28, and is currently in search of a Senior School student to help lead the Club in 2021. If you are interested in doing so, please email Xara Hudson at hud0006@mgc.vic.edu.au

Crew

Beth Barrass, Publication

Shaunagh O’Connell, Review of Submissions & General Assistance

Rania Widjanarko, Cadet

Hannah Benhassine, Cadet

Harriet Turner-Browne, Cadet

Xara Hudson, Editor

Acknowledgements

Dean Allan, Promotion at The Mac.Robertson Girls’ High School

Terry Donnelly, Editorial Advice

Anthony Keen, IT Support

Performing Arts News

WE’RE BACK!!