The Aviso

Thank you to all of the contributors to this edition of The Aviso. A new section has been introduced: Quote of the Watch, which you will find at the bottom of this page. It has been created to showcase quotes that catalyse discussion, inspire, move and intrigue. If you would like to submit a quote or any other work to the next edition of The Aviso, please send submissions to theaviso@mgc.vic.edu.au.

Xara Hudson

Humanities Captain

Photographs by Dorace Cheung, 8C

Homesick – Harriet Turner-Brown, Year 8 

I’m sitting on the plain seat on the train to Flinders. After I tune out the humdrum of the announcement, there is no noise except the incessant groaning of the train. There is nothing and no one to brighten my mood or distract me from the harsh silence of the carriage. I only have my mind, so I will try to work. It helps a bit, but my eyes keep lifting from the screen and are stained with dullness. There are only a few people on the carriage. I usually enjoy the space and peace and quiet, but today it just seems oppressive.  As the sun sets, the sky turns a gloomy blue shade as Melbourne skies do, and it’s exactly how I feel inside. I look out the window and see tall, soulless structures. There is so much evidence of people yet so few of them around that it’s almost like a ghost town. I try to remember if I have ever felt more alone than I feel right now. I don’t know. And why would I? I am so far from a familiar face, sound, taste, or anything nice… 

I change at Flinders, and as I look at the screen, a man stares at me. Is he confused? Embarrassed? Pitying me? I am totally unable to read him. I will never know why this happened, or who this man was. The next train travels underground and there is even less light. All these people are dressed in plain, dark work clothes, many with headphones on to forget they are here. Escaping their mediocre jobs to go to home to their mediocre lives and do it all over again the next day for the rest of their lives. I don’t normally think so cynically. But there is something about this train on this day that makes me forget about puppies, and cartwheels, and all the good things in the world and all that’s left in my brain is how temporary life is. This doesn’t feel like the Melbourne I know, full of food and art and multiculturalism. It feels blue, cold and lifeless. It’s like I am seeing my city for the first time, and not in a good way. I miss seeing the children play in the playground behind ACMI. I miss smelling the pizza in flinders lane. I miss watching a movie in Carlton and spending hours in Readings after. I miss hearing the Chinese guy play his instrument outside the NGV, no matter how bad it is. I miss Melbourne. I miss my home!  

Performance Videos by Beth Pert, Year 10

Humanities News

• We look forward to relaunching the Humanities Club and the Philosophy Club at school, and seeing all of you in person. The next Humanities Club meeting will be held on June 4 at lunchtime, after the return to school. The next Philosophy Club meeting will be held this Friday online at lunchtime, after which all further meetings will be conducted in person. 
• The Humanities team were to attend the annual Legacy ANZAC Commemoration Day for Students, in which we would have presented a wreath at the Shrine of Remembrance with a delegation of students. Sadly, this event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but we were there in spirit and hope that the school will join the commemoration next year. 
• Thank you to everyone who submitted writing, art and photography to The Aviso during the last month. A notably large number of submissions were received, and though not all of them could be published today, we look forward to publishing them in the upcoming Newsletters. If you would like your writing, art, photography and videography published in the next edition of The Aviso, please send submissions to theaviso@mgc.vic.edu.au . 

Quote of the Watch

“Every day won’t be a good day, but there will be some good in every day.” - Alice Morse Earle 

"Life is tough, but guess what, YOU ARE TOUGHER.” - Lily Bartram 

Thank you to Lily Bartram of Year 7 for submitting the above quotes.