Melbourne Girls' College

The Aviso

 

The last few weeks at MGC, amidst a second city-wide lockdown, have seen a bevy of changes. Students in years 7-10 have returned to remote learning, while VCE students have returned to a very different school. Physical distancing regulations, sanitation measures and the use of digital technologies have become omnipresent. This week, VCE students returned to an indefinite spell of remote learning. 

This edition of The Aviso introduces the Alumnae section, which showcases the work of former MGC students. I look forward to expanding and continuing the Alumnae section over this year. If you or someone you know is a former student of the school and would like to contribute, I would greatly appreciate any submissions. Recently, I distributed a school-wide email message seeking a student to take on the role of a cadet: to assist with development of The Aviso, and then take over management of it after I graduate from MGC at the end of the year. Several expressions of interest have been received – and if you are interested in this role, please email me before August 1. Please send your applications for this role, or any creative submissions, to theaviso@mgc.vic.edu.au

Xara Hudson

Humanities Captain

Untitled – Priska Eunike, Year 10

 

 

Our Impact – Sascha Moulden, 8B

Here is a documentary all about coastal seas, and our impact on the delicate ecosystems that are found there.

Climate change. Plastic pollution. Deforestation. Coral bleaching. 

These are all big scary concepts you may have heard of. Many don’t know much about these issues, and that is a big problem. A huge percentage of the global population are oblivious to their direct impact on the planet and the consequences of their actions. It is super important to educate yourself and make an effort to make your lifestyle more sustainable, to be aware of how your choices affect the world around you. 

Some people don’t believe these issues are even real. Some are people are unsure and believe that they have no reason to worry. The government will take care of it, they think. But they aren’t. The government are in a state of denial, and would rather spend their time reducing taxes than making an effort to save our home. Others believe these issues don’t affect us. They are so very wrong. 

Humans are, to date, the most intelligent life form in the universe. We have the most power, we are the most deadly predator. But despite that, we are very dependent. Did you know that 74% of our food comes from just 16 animals and 13 plants. If just one of those recourses was to disappear, we would be in trouble. 

Not only for our food do we depend on nature and the world around us. We need the phytoplankton in the ocean, who not only provide food for most of the ocean ecosystems and produce half of our oxygen. We depend on the polar ice caps to deflect heat from the sun and regulate the earth’s temperature. We depend on bees to pollinate the plants that provide our food. So you see, by destroying these things, we are also destroying ourselves. 

We are the most powerful creatures in the universe. We have so much valuable knowledge at our fingertips. We have taken advantage of so many recourses that other creatures have overlooked and used them to make a world for ourselves. 

But if we are not careful, those recourses will run dry. The oceans will be empty but for plastic. The weather will become unpredictable and dangerous, with wind, rain, fire and storms ripping at the land until our once beautiful home becomes a raw, broken place. 

But we can stop that future from becoming a reality. We can make changes in our daily lives that have a huge impact. Raise awareness. Educate yourselves. Make small changes with big impacts. 

The future is in your hands. Our future, the future of all life on earth. You have the power. Now, what are you going to do with it? 

 

 

Emo Trump – Sam David, Year 10 

Alumni

Untitled – Jessie Radda, MGC Class of 2019

Jessie Radda graduated from MGC in 2019, in which she won 1st Place in the Graphic Novel category of the MGC Writing Competition. She is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Engineering at Monash University. 

 

Being – Olivia Ingle, MGC Class of 2015

I find it so strange, being so restricted, but my time so free

more freedom than we allow ourselves ever to have 

we can’t do very much yet we find we can do anything 

no obligations, no pressure

except to stay home and keep to ourselves 

in this time of quiet and stillness

time feels more and more like an illusion

a means in which to put pressure on ourselves and each other 

to do the best, to have the best, to be the best

and yet sometimes, all we can do is just

be 

and maybe for now that’s enough

 

Olivia Ingle graduated from MGC in 2015, and she is now a qualified gymnastics coach. Olivia, like Jessie, is also a former place winner in the MGC Writing Competition. She enjoys writing in her spare time, along with all things creative. 

Quote of the Watch

“In order to write about life first you must live it.”– Ernest Hemingway

“An unexamined life is not worth living” – Socrates

"I would like to be remembered as someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the very best of her ability." – Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Humanities News

  • Two meetings have been held to commence work on MGC’s entry to the ANZAC Day Schools’ Awards. The entry will take the form of an anthological booklet, with submissions covering a wide range of areas encompassed by the Second World War and its impact upon Australia. 
  • A video interview with MGC Alumna, current law student and paralegal Betul Tumenci, took place on Monday, July 13 and is currently being edited. The interview focused on her experiences in university, in the legal field and in gaining employment, as well as her experience of holding a leadership position in year 12. The video can be viewed by students and staff at https://bit.ly/3hNVIYG
  • Due to the return to remote learning, the Humanities Club will be suspending regular meetings and will instead be communicating through written posts on the Club’s Microsoft Teams page. The Philosophy Club’s next meeting will not be held this Friday, but will instead be held on Wednesday, August 5 at lunchtime. 
  • The Humanities Club can be joined at: https://bit.ly/2VUDmx5
  • The Philosophy Club can be joined at: https://bit.ly/3d74PBL
  • The ANZAC Day Schools’ Awards project team can be joined at: https://bit.ly/2U8MFZj

 Acknowledgements

I am most grateful to the staff who have assisted in the publication of The Aviso.

Beth Barrass: Publication

Carolina Trujillo: Review of Submissions, General Assistance

Terry Donnelly: Editorial Advice

Anthony Keen: IT Support