Alumnae

(like a) Less Dense Brick - Pia Lauritz, MGC Class of 2014

Best film, Multiplié Dance Film Festival, Norway (2019)

Piaera Lauritz graduated from MGC in 2014, having performed in the VCE Top Class in Dance and Drama during her final year. Since completing a Bachelor in Fine Arts in Dance from the Victorian College of the Arts, she has since worked as a professional dancer, choreographer and award-winning filmmaker. Pia’s website can be found at http://piaeralauritz.com

Spotlight: Good News!

Pitbull Finds New Home - Rania Widjanarko, Year 11

Lola was only a year old when her and her 6 puppies landed in the Humane Society of Wickenburg in a small town of Arizona last autumn. All her puppies were adopted soon after, but Lola was constantly overlooked by potential adopters and was ultimately left behind. After 400 days, the centre transferred her to an adoption centre in Phoenix, where she was adopted the very next day. Now Lola lives with the Perrys, a loving family, and her forever home.

Swedish food brand ‘Felix’ opens a ‘Climate Store - Hannah Benhassine, Year 11

The Swedish brand Felix is revolutionising the world of sustainable grocery shopping. Approximately a quarter of worldwide carbon emissions is due to food production. At The Climate Store customers pay for products using ‘carbon dioxide equivalents’ so that items are priced according to their climate impact, allowing for the growth of customer awareness on the environmental impacts of food.’

Discovery of Great Gliders - Harriet Turner-Browne, Year 11

There has been some exciting news in the conservation community this week- two species of gliders have been discovered!   These adorable animals are around the size of a ringtail possum and are capable of gliding over 100m! They are located in the forests of East-Coast Australia- from near Cairns all the way to Victoria.  Since the deadly bushfires earlier this year, there has been increased research on the genetic diversity of the critters living in our forests, and these creatures were discovered when scientists tested tissue from gliders in Queensland forests.

The Philosopher’s Cabin

How Philosophy Changes Your Life - Brooklin Bouphasavanh, Year 7

Philosophy isn’t just countless arguments, or whoever’s scientifically right or wrong. Instead, it’s about life. Without philosophy the world around us would be tedious. With individuals collaborating together, aspects of curiosity and certain ideas can push ourselves to think outside of the box. It changes our lives significantly- from problem-solving, to communication and simple interaction with the people around you. Without it, equality and basic human rights wouldn’t exist. It would just be a world of people, with no voice or ambition, living the same schedule until the day they die. We may not think this on the daily, but Philosophy has shaped the way we all live, and plays a huge part of the world and human race.

New Zealand Bumblebees and Clouds, Tombow and Acrylic - Elsa Symonds, Year 11

Persephone (I) - Dione Toukalas, Year 11

Lessons from Open Window - Alysa Broszczyk, Year 8

As though in a picture, the petals seem multi-coloured,

painted wet on wet.

The depth of the pinks soaks the warmth from above,

Looking as round as woven fairy floss.

Delicate and sweet,

And open to the bees.

While the leaves dance carelessly in circling wind,

The roots remain unorganized, tangled within the ground,

Scrawny and few.

Appearing weakened and broke,

Yet push the plant when the rain pulls down.

Subtle like slow, emerging shade

Still purposeful, mirroring the brave oak that breathes.

A world of a garden,

Seeks beauty just to be.

A refuge to armies,

Not pursuing battle,

A place to feed,

Without a trip, without hassle

To nurse one’s sister,

Although honoring the mother,

To take with need,

And give instinctively

Where a hunt, a wait,

Mean to share, to celebrate,

With elegance comes regretful temptation,

To break unwritten law,

For we come, we stay,

Eyes remain closed,

Refusing to read the notes of the song,

For progress takes no protest, no bullying, nor plea,

Only to notice, and open the unlocked door,

Which is the land all are grown from,

To charge oneself with sphere of sun,

Open ear to instead, adjust the sound,

Of the beckoning thoughts and hidden appraisals,

Desire to be,

cancel the conjugated verb,

The answers of all birth, with grace can come forth.

Watercolour Koi - Anonymous, Year 7

Surrounded - Ada Breach, Year 7

It was all too much, the soldiers surrounding our house, the bombs going off in the distance and the fighting at our front door. I’d heard rumors that there was a war, but never imagined it would get this close. Amina began to cry, and I rushed inside. “It’s going to be okay, we’re going to be okay” I stroked her hair, and pulled her in tight, as if I was shielding her from the world. We went into the bedroom and began to pack up our things. My hands shook, and I knew this was not going to be easy, but I had to do what was right for her, and there was no way that we could stay in Somalia.

As a child, my mother looked after me, and my father worked in gardens and surrounding villages, trying to make a living for us. I was 12 years old when my mother became pregnant with my younger sister, and soon grew ill. She gave birth to a tiny, frail baby named Amina, but this took the last of her strength, and she died when I was 13. After that, my father started going further and further away for work, until he stopped coming back. We hoped that someday he would return, but deep down, I knew he wouldn’t. Amina and I figured out ways to get by, and she soon grew into a strong, healthy girl. I was 16 when they came, and everything changed.

When the war reached us, it had been going on for almost 2 years, and soldiers quickly surrounded our house. I don’t think they considered there might’ve been people inside, but by the time we were ready to leave, there was no way out. Even one step outside and we were in danger of being caught in the crossfire, injured, or worse. I ran from window to window, trying to figure out whether we would be able to leave. With each step my heart rate grew quicker, my face hotter and I felt more and more like I was going to faint. I caught a glimpse of Amina in the corner and I remembered that this was all for her. I steadied, walked over to the window once more, and had a sudden realisation.

In between the sound of gunshots, bombs and yelling I heard my mother’s voice inside my mind, her logic always overpowering emotion in tough situations. I am reminded of the time in the garden, where she made sure that I would always put logic and common sense before feelings, and that I would always do the best for not just myself, but the people around me. An idea dawned on me… the garden! Years ago, before Amina was born, my mother dug a trench through it to plant trees, but never did… It must still be there, I thought. The only thing left was to wait for the soldiers to get distracted, and then slip past.

Amina and I crept outside, and as soon as the door closed behind us, I grabbed her hand and ran. We had just reached the gate when I heard a deafening ‘BOOM!’ and felt myself being pushed forwards. My hand slipped away from Amina’s and I opened my mouth to yell out, but it was too late, and my face smashed into the ground.

I glanced up and looked around. My ears rang, and I couldn’t hear a thing. It felt as if the world was standing still. I thought everything had stopped, and I began to pick myself up, preparing to sprint another 20 metres to the edge of the fighting. I had just started running when I remembered Amina and felt as though I had been punched in the guts. My knees buckled, and I quickly glanced around. I spotted her about 15 metres back, breathing, but unconscious. I didn’t know what to do, but my instincts took over and I ran to her, scooping her into my arms and, once again, running like I’d never run before.

When I set Amina down, I knew she was okay, but something inside me changed and everything hit me. The reality of the situation, how dangerous this was going to be, how dangerous it had already been. Amina glanced up at me, smiling, the only good thing in a world full of bad. I didn’t know where we were going, or how we would get there, but Amina gave me the courage to stand up and begin to walk. I was aware of what we were doing, and that there was only a tiny chance that this would work. But regardless, I put one foot in front of the other, held her hand tightly, and walked on.

Untitled - Imogen Leigh, Year 11

Untitled - Jenni Cannell & Jess Edbrooke, Year 9

I am drowning, in an empty sea

I am flying, in a heavy sky

I am yelling, in a soundless room

I am crying, but my eyes are dry

I am drifting, in a heavenly ocean

I am happy, with wings to fly

I am lonely, in a crowded room

Untitled - Alina Ivanova, Year 9

Quote of the Watch

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.”

Laurence Binyon, For the Fallen

From The Mess Deck

Kirby Inspired Cupcakes - Naoko Ogawa Javes, Year 8

Ingredients

Cupcakes:

200g unsalted butter (softened), 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 cup caster sugar,

3 eggs, 2½ cups self raising flour (sifted), ½ cup milk

Icing:

1½ cups icing sugar mixture (sifted), 25g butter (softened),

1 tablespoon milk or water, few drops of food colouring

Recipe

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C (160 degrees C if it’s a fan forced oven)
Line muffin or mini-muffin pans with paper cases.
Using an electric mixed, beat the utter, vanilla and sugar in a small bowl until light and fluffy.
Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition (mixture will separate at this stage).
Transfer mixture to a large bowl. Stir in half the flour then half the milk. Repeat with the remaining flour and milk until combined.
For ⅓ cup-capacity muffin pans, use 1 tablespoon mixture. Bake for 10-12 minutes.
Stand cakes in pans for 2 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
For icing: Using a wooden spoon, combine icing sugar, butter and milk in a medium bowl until smooth. Add a touch of extra milk or water to get a glossier consistency.

Humanities News

No more regular Humanities Club meetings will be held in 2020. In recognition of NAIDOC (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee) Week, the Humanities Team has created a book, movie and TV recommendations booklet which has been emailed to all students. The booklet features a variety of works by Indigenous Australian creators. A movie screening will also be held in recognition of NAIDOC Week, details of which will be distributed soon.
In 2021, Luisa David and Monique Selcuk will be leading the Humanities Club, as Captain and Vice-Captain respectively. In addition, new Middle School Humanities Captain and Vice Captain positions have been created. Applications for these positions will open along with all other Middle School Executive positions.

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

Terry Donnelly, Editorial Advice

Anthony Keen, IT Support

The Melbourne Girls’ College community is mourning the loss of Athenie Kalos, of Year 12, who passed away on November 1st. Athenie enriched all of our lives: we remember her for her vivacity, joie de vivre, and her many talents and contributions, including in music and rowing. As a tribute to Athenie, the link to her composition, “Wondergarden”, uploaded by her to SoundCloud, can be found below. She will be greatly missed.

Xara Hudson

Humanities Captain

Honouring Athenie

Wondergarden - the late Athenie Kalos, Year 12

Philanthropy Club - Share the Dignity