The Aviso

In the final issue of the Aviso for the term, we bring you your fortnightly dose of both cute dog photos and good news to wrap up this term nicely. Aside from that, we also have a piece that delves into the recent Women’s March 4 Justice that happened in the Treasury Gardens. As this is a highly pertinent issue, and one that hits close to home for many, we have decided to talk about it in the hopes of offering what is perhaps a more personal point of view and to celebrate the strength and solidarity of women making history in the face of adversity. 

We would like to thank everyone that has submitted their art or contributed to The Aviso in one way or another. We hope you enjoy this issue of the Aviso, and we hope everyone has a good holiday!

Rania Widjanarko

Editor 

Submissions

Dudley! - Anonymous, Year 12

    Quote of the Watch

“The flower bloomed and faded. The sun rose and sank. The lover loved and went.

And what the poets said in rhyme, the young translated into practice.”

- Virginia Woolf, Orlando

Good News!

Truffles the Cat! - Harriet Turner-Browne, Year 9

A cat is making headlines simply by wearing glasses- and making kids feel less alone. Truffles is an old cat from Pennsylvania rescued 5 years ago by optician Danielle Crull. The idea was born when Crull was thinking of ways to help the many kids who are self-conscious when trying on glasses at her work. Since then, Truffles has been a great help for these kids: they are said to feel much better after seeing Truffles in glasses like theirs. It’s enjoyable for Truffles too- he is said to even sleep with glasses on! Truffles has amassed over twelve thousand followers on Instagram, where Crull educates and gives support to children and families with vision disorders. One young fan even wrote a song called “Truffles is The Best.” Sometimes she sends “encouragement packages” from the kitty with gifts to kids who are having a tough time, such as a girl whose glasses were insulted by a stranger. Crull hopes people will be inspired to adopt animals after seeing what good they can do.

Spotlight: Women’s March 4 Justice

Hannah Benhassine, Year 11 and Rania Widjanarko, Year 12

Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault 

What’s going on?

On Monday, March 15th, thousands of women streamed into Melbourne’s Treasury Gardens in what was an overwhelming show of solidarity with the many victims of sexual assault. The fury and determination that permeated the air was a product of the decades long struggle against sexual assault. The aim of the protest was to shed light on the issues of victim-blaming and rape culture and to demand a radical change in the way sexual assault and rape is handled in our society.

What sparked these protests? 

These protests were sparked by recent allegations of workplace abuse, specifically by Brittany Higgins, who alleged that she was sexually assaulted by a male colleague in Parliament House. Higgins’ story has triggered a string of similar stories from women of all ages, bringing to light how the issue of sexual assault and rape is still a very prevalent one in our current society. 

Why does this matter? 

Put simply, women are tired. We are tired of being in a perpetual state of fear – fear that arises out of the disgusting and inappropriate actions of men that are all too often ignored by the institutions that are at the core of our society. For far too long our voices have been silenced and dismissed. What lays deep within Australia, is a system that reinforces the notion that “boys will be boys”. A system that places the blame on the victim, perpetuating the belief that “she asked for it”. A system that only recognises the issue of sexual assault when it is their daughter or mother, rather than understanding that all women, regardless of who they are, deserve to feel safe and respected. In Australia, according to the ‘Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 1 in 6 women have experienced at least one sexual assault since the age of 15. Further, 42% of people according to the ‘National Community Attitudes towards Violence against Women Survey’ agreed that ‘it was common for sexual assault accusations to be used as a way of getting back at men’. Women deserve to feel safe. We deserve to voice our trauma without fear of ostracism or fear of being told that our experiences are invalid or untrue. The conversation has been sparked and the conversation must continue until we see action. Until we feel a true sense of safety and empowerment.

Humanities News

• The Humanities Team has successfully carried out all their plans for the term, and would like to thank you all for participating in the many activities planned!
• Term 2 is going to be equally exciting, so keep an eye out for announcements about joining the humanities team and the activities we're preparing for law week!

Crew 

Shaunagh O’Connell, Review of Submissions & General Assistance

Rania Widjanarko, Editor & Designer

Hannah Benhassine, Junior Editor

Harriet Turner-Browne, Junior Editor

Beth Barrass, Publication