INSIDE: MAKES A RE-ENTRY Paddy Kilmurray plops his couch on the beach to take a look at Newcastle’s iconic surf festival. THE GIRL IN THE BAND MC Blue from the Potbelleez talks to Katie Burgess about their upcoming gig at Bar on the Hill. UoN GUIDE TO CLUBBING There’s more to uni than just study. Discover some of the amazing clubs and societies UoN has.

ISSUE 6 / MARCH 2012 BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE U CONTENTS 08 10 13 SURFEST THE UON LUNCH FOR MAKES A GUIDE TO LESS THAN A RE-ENTRY CLUBBING TENNER

Cover design by Jessica Rykers 16 18 20 EDITORIAL WOULDN’T IT 15000 KMS WHERE ARE Matt Hatton - Managing Editor BE NICE AWAY AND THEY NOW? Rowena Grant - Managing Editor BACK AGAIN Nick Turner - Deputy Managing Editor Claire Young - Deputy Editor Esther Savage - Deputy Editor Jessica McAneney - Deputy Editor Lachlan Stevens - Deputy Editor Angela Geddes - Lead Graphic Designer Jessica Rykers - Junior Graphic Designer Jock Spence - Promotions Officer 21 22 25 CONTRIBUTORS IT ISN’T EASY THE GIRL IN ENTERTAINMENT Ben Pickles - Graphic Design Emily Wood - Contributing Writer BEING RED THE BAND REVIEWS Gemma Roulstone - Graphic Design Jane Hume - Graphic Design Kate Lamont - Graphic Design Katie Burgess - Contributing Writer Lauren Johns - Graphic Design Paddy Kilmurray - Contributing Writer Yasmin McCall - Graphic Design 04 Stalkerspace 06 Careers SUBMISSIONS THE 04 Yak or Yuk 07 The Awkward The Yak editorial team is always on the look 04 Green U Moment When... out for passionate student writers and graphic designers to contribute to the magazine. If you USUAL 05 Dear Bernie 07 How to: would like to take the opportunity to get your Survive University 05 Watt Space work published, please send a sample of your 14 What’s On writing to [email protected]. STUFF 06 Support U: 27 Vox Pops Student Hubs ADVERTISING For advertising opportunities, contact Nick at [email protected]

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Yak magazine is a free publication Get your free copy from press-points of UoN Services Ltd © 2012. around campus on Monday, April 02. www.uonservices.org.au • WE CATCH UP WITH FREESTYLE FOOTBALLER CHRIS BEAVON. Printed by PrintCentre on Callaghan Campus. • THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN THE HUNTER VALLEY. • A PROFILE OF THE 2012 MS BALL. THIS MONTHS BITING QUESTION: LETTER FROM “If you could form a club or society of your own, what would it be?”

THE EDITORS MANAGING EDITOR ROWENA GRANT Club/Society: I would definitely be the president of the MEET OUR MANAGING EDITORS, ‘Grammar Club’. The members would be skilled in the art of grammar and violence, culling those who don’t know ROWIE & MATT which “your” to use. Our new editorial team are now settled into the MANAGING EDITOR Yak nest and are producing content that our MATT HATTON shaggy overlord has deemed worthy. We think Club/Society: The ‘Make Matt Rich Foundation’. This philanthropic society serves the goal of making Matt it’s pretty damn good as well. Hopefully you’re rather rich - possibly a goal more noble than that of Mr settling into university life as comfortably as Gates or that hodge-podge group the United Nations. we all feel in our Yak nest. But what have you noticed around campus? For the newbies: is it DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR what you thought it would be? Have you found NICK TURNER that everyone is helpful and nice? Club/Society: The ‘Third Person Society’. Nick Turner would like to form a club or society that talks only in the Being nice is something that should come third person. Nick thinks this will be a huge success. naturally. Human beings weren’t designed to live alone, and human interaction is sometimes the only thing that can keep us sane. DEPUTY EDITOR - ENTERTAINMENT & TECHNOLOGY Considering this, you would think that people LACHLAN STEVENS would jump at the chance to chat to, help, nod Club/Society: The only logical answer to this question is to, or even look at the different people around for me to form the ‘Add @lachlanstevens on Twitter Club’. them. But is this really the case? The Yak team puts the theory to the test and wanders around on campus to gauge our humanity. You can read all about it in Wouldn’t it be Nice? DEPUTY EDITOR - REGULAR CONTENT JESSICA MCANENEY Other than an intriguing look into humanity Club/Society: I would form the ‘Money Should Grow on on campus, we’ve got a profile on a familiar Trees Society’, where our aim is to discuss how one can face around Callaghan, Danny Craft, a guide sort their budgeting lives out, whilst spending money on activities including beverages, food and shopping. to some clubs and societies that exist at the university, and an awesome interview with The Potbelleez matriarch. DEPUTY EDITOR - REGULAR CONTENT ESTHER SAVAGE Happy Yakking! Club/Society: The ‘Ewok Appreciation Club’. We all know that the rebels wouldn’t have defeated the empire without our furry little friends. Mountaineering Club

DEPUTY EDITOR - FEATURES & PROFILES CLAIRE YOUNG Club/Society: The ‘Lovers of Awful Reality TV Shows Society’. I know I’m not the only one who gets emotional over a good episode of Wife Swap, Toddlers in Tiaras and The Biggest Loser.

JUNIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER The Potbelleez JESSICA RYKERS Club/Society: Claire, I’d have to say I’d be signing up to your club, get me to ‘The Bachelor’ :-)

PROMOTIONS OFFICER JOCK SPENCE Club/Society: I’m with Claire. Lame TV is the bomb! I’ll be Vice President.

Yak Magazine -March 2012 03 NEWCASTLE Tutorial Registration: The only time when not UNI STALKER- even hipsters can maintain their cool. SPACE

287 people like this NUSEC President and UoN Services Sustainability intern, Emily Wood, introduces the Tom Farrell Institute for the Environment. ALEX Keeping your cool is pretty 2011, man. It’s all frustratedcore and panicpunk now. The future is a curious thing. We can never know for 4 people like this certain what it will look like; our capricious expectations are often fringed with a mixture of hope (for a better JAKUS To the two girls Sunbaking in Civic park over future) and fears (of one worse). What we do know for the road from the CHIC ... there is nothing certain is that it is our decisions and actions today healthy about a tan ... or the thoughts you are that will ultimately shape our future as individuals, making me have. as communities, as nations and as a planet. It is 11 people like this especially important that we consider the impact of our current activities on the future when it comes to the environment. TROY They should just have every class open at the same time. Battle royale style. There are many local, national and global groups,

5 people like this organisations and individuals currently dedicating a lot of time and effort to the development of solutions for a sustainable future. The Tom Farrell Institute for TROY ... Style. the Environment at the University of Newcastle is 0 people like this one such organisation. The Tom Farrell Institute was established in 2006 and is the gateway to environmental research and teaching at the University of Newcastle. LUKAS I thought they used to? Their vision is to help develop regional solutions for a 1 people like this sustainable future. Tom Farrell, the Institute’s namesake, was an incredible TROY No, like, an actual battle royale, Put forms up Novocastrian. Farrell worked at the Newcastle in the Great Hall and have everyone fight it out. Clearly, if you die during this assault, you were Abattoir for nearly 50 years, during which time he was never cut out for uni anyways. instrumental in the establishment of the University of 17 people like this Newcastle, as well as playing a fundamental role in the foundation of major parks and reserves at Blackbutt, Mount Sugarloaf, Barrington Tops and Myall Lakes. Tom See more @ Newcastle University Stalkerspace Facebook page. Farrell had a passion for the environment and certainly played a huge part in shaping the Newcastle that we know and love today. The Tom Farrell Institute for the Environment aims to continue his legacy, focusing on ecosystems and sustainable regions research, as well as developing knowledge and skills for a sustainable future. The institute aims to develop partnerships with and build Aeroguard 89% 11% support from governments and community groups as Public Urination well as business and industry. (Doing it, not 45% watching it) 55% The Tom Farrell Institute for the Environment is now located in the new IDC building on Callaghan campus. Timetabling 28% 72% To find out how you can get involved with the Tom Farrell Institute, including volunteering opportunities and Bar on the Hill 95% Refurb 5% supporting local projects and events you can find the Tom Farrell Institute on Facebook or by searching for O-Week 78% them on the University of Newcastle’s website. 22%  www.newcastle.edu.au Tute Rego 46% 54%

04 Yak Magazine -March 2012 Dear Bernie, What can I do about my cheese addiction? I cannot stop eating cheese. I’ve even started injecting it. Help! Firstly, and immediately, stop injecting cheese. By injecting cheese you’re missing out on all that amazing cheesy flavour and cheese without flavour is just a pile of suspect-looking yellow mush. Dear Bernie, Secondly, unless you typed this out one-handed, you are Chicken or Beef? actually capable of stopping yourself from eating cheese. So don’t lie to me. Ahh, a question that can leave you paralysed in fear and confusion at that most inopportune time of just before you’re Thirdly, out of all the substances on this planet one can about to cook a meal to satisfy your hunger cravings. become addicted to, cheese is probably one of the least There is really no correct answer to this question. The fairest harmful. Embrace your addiction. Start a cheese blog. way, if you were genuinely stuck, would be to toss a coin Travel the world in search of delicious cheeses (and, perhaps, and let the fates (along with gravity, inertia and centripetal some lovely vino to accompany it). force [yes, that’s right, science people?]) solve this quandary Cheese is organic, so I can’t imagine there would be any harm for you. in just existing solely off it. I mean, it can’t be worse than that I do have another idea though, and this should appeal to the girl in the news recently who lived off nothing but chicken Island of Doctor Moreau fans in the audience; start working nuggets for 15-odd years. on a way to breed chickens and cows together. Note: Don’t let Dear Bernie guide your dietary choices. He is Surely, if someone were to find him or herself so turn between not that kind (or any kind, really) of doctor. two delicious meats, the only practical solution is to combine them into one amazing and most delicious Chickow (You owe me a royalty if you use that name).

Do you have a question that you Simply drop an email to [email protected] with “Dear Bernie” in would like our resident guru Bernie the subject line and, if your problem is so great that Bernie decides to deliver unto to help you find the answer to? you a pearl of wisdom, Yak will deliver unto you $10 of Umoney that you can spend around campus…probably to buy a drink or two to help dull the pain.

FEB 22 - FEB 11 MAR 14 - APR 1

Turning Circle Oceans of Chaos Connections Fauna in Print

Little deaths little releases - Shan Turner-Carroll Monozygotic - Anna and Sarah Morewood Matter and Void - Lyndon Savio | Shadows and Fractures - Emilie Caillot Augment - Curated by Amy Hill | 3,200 - Casuarina Bird Turning Circle - Jane Farrah | Oceans of Chaos - Zyana Walker Connections - Christine Jaggers | Fauna in Print - Douglas Webb

Thursday, Mar 15, 6.30pm Exhibition proposals for Semester 2 due Friday 20 April

Email: [email protected] Website: www.newcastle.edu.au/group/watt-space Facebook: Search: Watt Space Student Gallery of the University of Newcastle. Watt Space Gallery, University House, Auckland St Newcastle. Open 12 noon -6 pm, Wed - Sun. Ph: 4921 8733

Yak Magazine -March 2012 05 SUPPORT U By Jessica McAneney

At the very least, there will be one time during your • Printers, photocopiers and scanners university tenure when you just don’t know who to turn to. • Program advice and information It’s at this point that you will recall this article, and make • Referral to Careers Service, Counselling Service, your way to one of the Student Hubs. Located on both Dean of Students, Disability Support Services, the Shortland and Hunter sides of Callaghan campus, Graduate Studies, and Loans and Welfare Ourimbah, City campus and Port Macquarie, the Hubs are • Scholarships advice there to help you with a variety of problems that you may • Travel Concession face during your time at the University of Newcastle.

It is here that you can seek advice on policy, enrollment, Locations: admissions and credit information. You will definitely have Shortland Hub Shortland Building to visit your nearest Hub to have a mug shot of yourself Mon - Fri: 8.30am - 6pm taken and placed on your student ID card. And let’s not City Hub (CHIC) University House forget the rush hour leading up to 5pm when there is an Mon - Thurs: 9am - 6pm, Fri 9am - 5pm assignment to submit! Hunter Hub Student Services Centre You can also visit your nearest Hub for assistance in the Mon - Fri: 8.30am - 6pm following areas: Student Hub - Ourimbah Mon - Fri: 8.30am - 6pm • Computer access and wireless enabled areas Student Hub - Port Macquarie • Fees advice and information Mon - Fri: 8:30am - 4:30pm • Information about applying for special circumstances • Information about cross-institutional study All Enquiries 9am to 5pm • Official transcripts Callaghan - 02 4921 5000 Ourimbah - 02 4348 4030 • Parking Permits Enquire Online: Ask UoN

Do you know what’s out there At this expo you can obtain information on: • Nursing and Allied Health Careers once you finish your degree? Our • The type of graduates organisations Expo - Date TBA Graduate Programs offer a wide employ; • Vacation and Volunteer Expo - range of employment information • The structure of each organisation’s Monday 6 August 2012 and opportunities. The majority graduate program; and of Graduate Programs close their • When and how organisations For more information, look up ‘Events’ applications in March and April, so recruit graduates – it’s the perfect on CareerHub. opportunity to ask questions about it’s time to find out! Don’t forget to visit the Careers Service their recruitment process! and collect the latest copy of the Graduate he 2012 Graduate Careers Expo Date: Tuesday 20th March, 2012 Opportunities book which is filled with is an event used by employers T Venue: The Great Hall, Callaghan graduate programs for all disciplines. to promote their organisations, Time: • 10.30am – 1.00pm: Business, employment opportunities and 2013 Remember it’s never too early to start Humanities, IT and Law graduate programs. They’ll also help by planning your career! • 2.00pm – 4.30pm: Design, Engineering providing you with information on the and Science labour market, potential employers and Careers Service professional association contacts. Check The Careers Service is also holding the out the fantastic Degrees to Careers > Callaghan – SC2.12 Student Services following expos throughout the year: web pages (www.newcastle.edu.au/ Building • Education Careers Expo - Friday 30 students/degrees-to-careers/) for up- > Ourimbah – Student Support Unit March 2012 to-date information. • Accounting, Economics and Finance www.careerhub.newcastle.edu.au Careers Expo - Date TBA

06 Yak Magazine -March 2012 Moving out can be hard and finding a somewhere to live can be the hardest part of the journey. By Rowena Grant The Student Housing Assessment Scheme (SHAS) – ave you ever lived your life in someone else’s shadow? lead by their intrepid coordinator Christine Cuthbert HA sibling’s shadow? A classmate’s? Even a friend’s? – can help you answer all the questions you may have Living in someone else’s shadow can be hard, especially if if you decide that you want to, or if circumstances they are doing what you would like to in the future. mean that you have to, live out of home. What if you were living in the shadow of somebody you had “The problem is,” she says, “most students don’t never met and they had no idea of the psychological impact* know what we offer or how to access our services. they were making on you? Welcome to my life. “It can all be accessed at home from the website, Hi. My name is Rowena Grant. And I want to be a writer, but the secret is to come in and see us.” preferably in the style of frankie. However, I have a problem. There is already a Rowena Grant. Who writes. For frankie. SHAS helps students find quality, off-campus Although we do have slight differences in our names – she’s a accommodation and can help out international little chillier than I am, with the additional hyphenated ‘Frost’ – students by actually taking them out to inspect opening one of the magazines you hope to write for in the future properties to rent. (or even in the present) and finding they already have a Rowena Christine also stressed the importance of students Grant to write for them is dismaying. taking the time to read the fine print on leases before Why on earth would they want to replace this proven Rowena signing anything and handing over money for a bond. Grant for another younger and less experienced prototype? “It doesn’t happen often, but there are some sharks Grant-Frost is a good writer. Some (including me) would also call out there and occasionally a landlord will try to take her great. She has a unique point of view and a way of writing an advantage of a student,” she warns. article and telling a story that keeps people interested. Her quirky Another bonus about going through SHAS is that humour and the way she shares details about her own life are the university staff go out and inspect a number of appealing and you just can’t help but like her. properties before listing them on their database to So how am I to separate myself from her? Do I need to separate ensure they meet standards set by the university. myself from her? Shouldn’t those of us with unique names like Once you have got that sorted, you need to consider ‘Rowena Grant’ (well... apparently not so unique) stick together things like groceries. and help each other out? Am I even really in her shadow? The Newcastle University Students Association offers Perhaps, rather than focussing on how successful Grant-Frost fruit and vege boxes, which are available each week has been, I should focus more on myself. Concentrating on for the mere sum of $15. You can order your box from someone else’s achievements is going to get me nowhere. All it’s NUSA by 4pm on a Wednesday and they’re available going to do is drag me away from developing my own writing skill and to pick up by 11am the next day. Talk about service! push me towards bitterness. And that just gives me a headache. Each NUSA fruit and vege box can feed a household However I would still like to write for frankie, so I’m working on of four for a week and is a great way to ensure you usurping her. Anyone with creative ideas on usurping, please can eat healthy for a low cost. post them on the Yak Facebook page. They will be considered. Keeping costs under control is a crucial part of living

out of home. *It’s not so much as a psychological impact Write yourself a budget, monitor your bank account rather than more of an and make sure, at the very least, you only spend annoyance at the fact that as much money as you’re making. Everyone is I finally found someone different, but some general awareness goes a long with a similar name to way to keeping things on track. me and they seem to be Of course sometimes things go wrong. When that succeeding at my chosen happens, the university offers students advice career... Bitch. and assistance when things don’t turn out the way you expect. You can find details athttp://www. newcastle.edu.au/service/loans-and-welfare/ Hopefully with these few tips, you’ll be able to better enjoy your new, independent life.

Yak Magazine -March 2012 07 Paddy Kilmurray takes a look at the resurgence of Surfest, and discovers it’s not just waves and babes.

or Novocastrians, Surfest is an institution - a summer Contest director Warren Smith has been involved since the Ftradition which has forged its way deep into the sporting competition began in 1985, and says it’s not only a cultural community like the colours red and blue. experience but a lifestyle one too.

And, like our football and soccer teams, Surfest has been “Being there and watching an international sporting event incorporated in Newcastle’s sporting revolution, with its future at a beautiful beach like Merewether provides the perfect now resting comfortably under the financially secure blanket backdrop for everyone to enjoy the contest. that Nathan Tinkler and the Hunter Sports Group provide. “It’s not just the and competition, but everything else However, Surfest offers something different to the rough and that comes with it, the people and the lifestyle that this event tumble that we’re used to seeing at promotes is what makes it so unique,” said Smith. Turton Road. It’s individual, cultural, When Surfest began in 1985, it was the It’s individual, cultural, expressive richest event of its kind, and although and so unique it’s only available once expressive and so unique it’s it’s stood on shaky ground at times, a year. it now has its feet firmly cemented for only available once a year. years to come. You won’t see breathless red-faced fans waving flags and chanting “Newcastle, Newcastle”, Mr Smith was there in the competition’s first year, a year that although the surroundings are equally rousing. saw Tom Curren and Shaun Thomson battle it out in front of 30,000 spectators at Newcastle beach. It’s not played in front of a packed stadium, but the atmosphere is equally inspiring. This memory is firmly etched in his mind, along with many others.

The competitors aren’t built like brick shithouses, but display In the 27 years it’s been running, Smith has managed to bring the same amount of courage and skill as our footballers. Mark Richards and the 10 world champions together, he’s seen Mark Occhilupo come back from adversity to win in ‘98, For the past 27 years Surfest has been showcasing our city and witnessed the greatest competition surfer of all time, Kelly to the surfing world, in a way no other local sporting team or Slater, in his prime. event has been able to do. But something that he prides the competition on most of all is the international contingent, and what they bring to the event.

08 Yak Magazine -March 2012 Before Nathan Tinkler and the Hunter female champion , and The staunch reputation the competition Sports Group brought LA Galaxy to world number two . built began to fade, crowds dropped, town, Surfest was the only international surfers went elsewhere and the sporting event in the Hunter. Former professional and pro junior women’s event was teetering on the winner Travis Lynch, is yet to confirm if brink of extinction. Competitors come from all over the he’ll make a cameo appearance, but globe, putting Newcastle on the world admits Surfest is a massive experience Since the prize money has gone up so surfing stage for all to see. for the young locals looking to make too has the event rating, and the calibre their way in the tough world of of surfers are beginning to follow. Smith says the foreign contingent provide professional surfing. the ideal opportunity for international Now is the time for Surfest to make its students to meet and support their “They spend the year travelling the journey back up the ladder as one of the fellow countrymen and women. world exchanging stories of their home- top rated competitions in the world. towns,” said Lynch. “We’ve always had a host of international The city is doing its part, providing free students come down and support their “Having Surfest in Newcastle gives buses all around Newcastle for the final favourite surfer, whether they’re from the locals an opportunity to showcase weekend of the event. , Spain, America, England or Newcastle to their peers, while having ,” said Smith. an extra edge in competition with Smith says the event is a friendly home ground advantage,” he added. environment, and spectators planning “They bring their stools and couches, on making an appearance can expect a put them in the sand and cheer and Lynch knows all too well how cut-throat large welcoming crowd. support their heroes.” the world of professional surfing can be. “Depending on names and surf conditions, “The commentators have always made After being one of Rip Curl’s most organisers are expecting anything up to a point of getting around to these people photographed surfers back in 2010, the eight thousand spectators for the final and interviewing them, often sending well rigours of travel got to the Merewether day of the event,” said Smith. wishes in their native language, it makes local who now enjoys a pressure free both the surfers and their supporters lifestyle since leaving the tour. “If the surf is wild and dangerous we feel welcome. generally get a lot of people coming to Although it may all seem like beer and have a look at that,” he added. “We love to experience their culture as skittles, the world of professional surfing much as they love ours,” he added. is a lot less glamorous than it appears, Surfest may have become just a blip on and Lynch knows how important this any Novocastrian’s sporting calendar, The competition has regularly featured the competition is to the locals. huddled in amongst the plethora of worlds best, and this year is no different. Knights and Jets games. “Getting the chance to compete at this World number two Joel Parkinson and level on your home break is amazing. However, all that’s changed, it’s surging number four have both confirmed back to the heights of its inception, a they will be a part of the 2012 edition. “There is nothing better than getting time when Mark Richards dominated the a pat on the back and a good luck world of surfing. They’ll go up against one of the strongest from your best friend or Mum and Dad fields assembled, which includes a strong before a big heat,” said Lynch. Although times have changed - location group of local surfers looking to make a too - Surfest is no longer just a blip on mark in front of their hometown crowd. “The tour is generally a lonely place, the sporting calendar, it’s riding the so to be home with some support is an wave of success into what will hopefully Ryan Callinan, Jake Sylvester and Jesse awesome experience and something be a long and successful future. Adam are just a few of the local names that should be cherished,” he added. who’ll be looking to upset the likes of Fanning and Burrow in the men’s draw. After spending some time in the doldrums, Nathan Tinkler’s injection of On the women’s side, local natural footer funds has been the catalyst for change. Phillipa Anderson will go up against

Yak Magazine -March 2012 09 bbiinngg ttoo CClluubb GGuuiiddee rr UUooNN YYoouu (…and no, we’re not talking about Fannys)

Cost: $10 per semester. Each session is $4 for members, $6 for non-members and your first session is always free. Website: http://www.uonbc.com/ Facebook: Newcastle University Badminton Club For some people, making friends at University is no easy feat. Getting into the routine of going straight from your car to your lectures and tutes, before jumping back in your car again and going home is effortless. Sometimes it might seem like the only human interaction you have on campus is telling the guy BREAATHHE is a Rural Health Club that aims to promote at Subway that you’ll have BBQ sauce on your footlong sub. rural and remote practice to its members through information If this is sounding like you then you might want to think about exchange, placement opportunities and support. joining a club. Members of the club run a number of different activities, which provide fun and educational experiences for students. Activities include their annual skills night, trips to rural and remote areas, BBQs, cultural awareness training, indigenous Did you know that the world record for the fastest badminton health nights, inter-professional development speaker nights smash is 332km/h, which is 81km faster than the record serve in and subsidised first aid training. tennis? President of the Badminton Club, Chaston Wu, admits They also have that most people at Uni aren’t very familiar with the sport. themed networking “Yes, it’s the sport with the mini tennis racquets and the feather nights including ball things,” he jokes. the upcoming ‘Old Texas Ranch Party’ The great thing is that anyone can join this club regardless this month on the of whether you’re a serious competitive player or someone 9th of March. who has never touched a racquet before. Members of the Badminton Club get together and play every weekend in The club is aimed at students within the Faculty of Health so The Forum. by joining you’ll get to know a little bit more about other health professions. Liaison Officer Simone Young points out that a If you’re interested in joining but haven’t played before, the club great benefit of the club is making new friends who will be will be conducting great contacts for you at the end of your studies. some beginner’s training sessions this “It’s a great way to meet heaps of people in and out of your month where they’ll course and to meet students in older and younger years,” teach you the basic she says. skills of badminton to get you started. Cost: $2 for the life of your degree. Website: https://breaathhe.nrhsn.org.au Facebook: BREAATHHE - University of Newcastle Rural Health Club

10 Yak Magazine -March 2012

The Newcastle Christian Students This club is a one-stop shop for anyone who (NCS) club exists to help people get loves the snow, would like to get into snow to know Jesus better. President Sam sports or for anyone who just loves to party Broadfoot emphasises that NCS is down and make new friends. President Joel open to anyone and everyone. Pilgrim says that anyone can join the club regardless of their skill level. “We have public meetings, small If you’re inexperienced with the great groups, camps and days away which outdoors don’t worry, Bek says “There are rail jams and competitions for are open to people even if they didn’t that there are many members in the the more go get ‘em snow lovers, great want to commit to joining,” he says. club who are experienced and love social ski trips for the not-so-competitive passing on their knowledge to anyone and parties for… well everyone,” Joel says. “The great thing about NCS is that enthusiastic enough to learn. we’re all uni students who are keen “Last year a stack of people who had never to understand what God says to us seen snow before came to New Zealand Cost: annual membership is $40. Trips through the Bible. So it doesn’t and they all had a blast,” he says. will cost extra. matter where you’re at in life, if you Website: http://numc.nusa.org.au/ want to know God then you’re in Facebook: Newcastle University good company.” Mountaineering Club The NCS have free meetings every week where you can simply be a face in the crowd or even catch up one on one. Sam suggests that if you’d like to The Atheist Society is a social club as learn more about this club, you should well as a special interest group. On one drop into one of their meetings at side they’re a club that gets together the Life Sciences Theatre at noon on for movie nights with free pizza, Tuesdays and Thursdays. snacks, BBQs and trivia nights. On the According to Joel, the only negative of the other side they’re a society for those club is that the snow is so far away, but that Cost: Free who like to get down to some serious doesn’t seem to stop them. Website: www.newcastlechristianstu- intellectual discussions on a range of “We have several rail jams a year where dents.org atheism and religion-related topics. we get ice from local suppliers and have a Facebook: Newcastle Christian President Tim Chaston stresses that makeshift snow run with jumps and rails. Students anyone can join the club, surprisingly After a slide on the hill you can jump in the even those who aren’t atheist. surf which is great – and something you can’t do at the snow!” “We count among our members a chaplain from the University’s chaplaincy service and members from the christian Cost: membership is $20 (Please note: this This is a club for students who love societies on campus,” Tim says. cost does not include trips to NZ… if only) Website: http://nu-ss.com/ nothing more than getting outdoors. “Everyone’s welcome so long as they’re The Mountaineering Club run trips up for free and open discussion.” Facebook: Newcastle Nu-ss that range from bushwalking to rock climbing, white water kayaking to cross Cost: $2 and according to Tim they’ll country skiing and all things throw in a blasphemous sticker for free. in between. Facebook: University of Newcastle Atheist Society President Bek Lewis thinks that the best part about the club is getting to meet so many like-minded people.

Yak Magazine -March 2012 11 FASTER NETWORK NETWORK FASTER UplOAd phOTOS, dOWNlOAd lEcTURE NOTES ANd UpdATE yOUR FAcEbOOK STATUS mORE qUicKly ON ’S FASTEST mObilE NETWORK.

STOcKlANd jESmONd bl UE

ShOppiNg cENTRE mA i We’re Closer than you think g N U Rd m R Telstra Store Jesmond TElSTRA STORE jESmONd d Stockland Jesmond Shopping Centre NEWcASTlE Rd Located next to Strandbags Call 4951 1199

™ and ® are trade marks and registered trade marks of Telstra Corporation Limited, ABN 33 051 775 556. TELIN1478 Staying over on the Shortland side of campus, make a visit to the sandwich artists at Subway to take advantage of their

summertime deal. They are currently offering two six-inch subs of your choice along with two 390ml bottles of Coke or Mount Franklin Water for just $9.95. This is too good an offer

to share, so skip breakfast and fill yourself up at lunch. Koboh at BotH When the Yak team discussed the idea of an article about When I was first informed about Koboh, a fusion of Korean cheap food on campus, all fingers pointed directly at me. and Mexican cuisine that is now available at the revamped Naturally, I thought that this was because they acknowledged Bar on The Hill, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Was I going my love for all things food, but it turned out they consider me to be seeing barbecued guacamole, Asian inspired burritos to be rather ‘careful’ with my finances. or kimchi quesadillas? Well, rather pleasantly I got none of Thanks, guys! those. Instead it was soft and delicious barbecued meats But my tightness aside, I absolutely love eating and we are lashed with a flavoursome sauce and other goodies. Throw in blessed here on the Callaghan campus to have good food an ice cold beer and you’ll still get change from $10. at reasonable prices. So read on to find out where to go and what to buy. And best of all, it will cost you less than a For the vegetarians out there at UoN, hop into the Huxley $10 note. It’s almost cheaper than bringing your own! Library’s Bytes Cafe to pick up a glass noodle and vegetable salad. Full of crunchy vegetables, soft noodles and accompanied with a delicious dressing, this one was a hit This place is hands down, the cheapest place for lunch on with my good self. At just $5.50 you’ll have enough change campus. Situated next to STA Travel at the bottom of the leftover to buy yourself a coffee to wash it down with. Shortland Building, the Uni Bakehouse provides baked goods that will keep your wallet fat. We here at Yak can’t Now, these are just a few of the options available for a cheap go past their deal of a pie or sausage roll, a Coke and a eat on campus. So don’t stress if you forget your lunch and sweet treat for only $7. Bargain! all you have in your pocket is $10. There’s just about something for everyone.

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“There’s enough decision-making done on our behalf; younger citizens need their own voice heard and not have others speak for them.” James, 16-24, Wallsend, Newcastle Voice member An Evening with John WEEK 2 Cleese 13 TUESDAY 8pm - Civic Theatre Surfest 05 MONDAY Merewether Beach Wii Wars THURSDAY Common Lunch Hour BBQ 3pm - GT Bar 08 Surfest 12pm - 1pm Poker Merewether Beach Bar on the Hill & 6.30pm - Bar on the Hill Auchmuty Courtyard U Member Happy Hour An Evening with John Cleese 4pm - 6pm - GT Bar Trivia 8pm - Civic Theatre 1pm - Bar on the Hill Bar on the Hill Gig Sparkadia Bar Bingo 4pm - GT Bar Doors open 7.30pm 06 TUESDAY Bar on the Hill Tix: U Members: $20 Common Lunch Hour BBQ Students: $22.50 12pm - 1pm WEDNESDAY Guests: $27.50 14 Bar on the Hill & Surfest Auchmuty Courtyard Merewether Beach Trivia 09 FRIDAY Trivia 1pm - Bar on the Hill Surfest 1pm - GT Bar Merewether Beach Bar Bingo Pool Comp 4pm - GT Bar U Member Happy Hour 3pm - GT Bar 4pm - 6pm - Bar on the Hill An Evening with John Cleese Wind-Up Wednesday 8pm - Civic Theatre Soccer: Newcastle Jets vs 3pm - 7pm - Bar on the Hill Gold Coast United 4pm - Ausgrid Stadium 2012 Alumni Lecture 5.45pm - Newcastle City Hall 07WEDNESDAY Surfest SAT/SUN Merewether Beach 10/11 THURSDAY Surfest 15 Surfest Sat/Sun - Merewether Beach Campus Markets Merewether Beach 11am - 2.30pm Auchmuty Courtyard U Member Happy Hour 4pm - 6pm - GT Bar Trivia WEEK 3 1pm - GT Bar MONDAY Pool Comp 12 FRIDAY 3pm - GT Bar Surfest 16 Merewether Beach Surfest Wind-Up Wednesday Merewether Beach 3pm - 7pm - Bar on the Hill Wii Wars 3pm - GT Bar U Member Happy Hour Glenn Murcutt 4pm - 6pm - Bar on the Hill 5pm - The University Gallery Poker 6.30pm - Bar on the Hill

Bar on the Hill Gig Bar on the Hill Gig 8 Sparkadia 28 Ball Park Music MARCH MARCH Doors open 7.30pm Doors open 7.30pm Bar on the Hill Bar on the Hill MARCH

Soccer: Newcastle Jets vs Trivia U Member Happy Hour Bar on the Hill Gig Brisbane Roar 1pm - Bar on the Hill 4pm - 6pm - Bar on the Hill Ball Park Music 4pm - Ausgrid Stadium Doors open 7.30pm Bar Bingo Cerebral Palsy Fundraiser Bar on the Hill Newcastle Show 4pm - GT Bar 3pm - 8pm - Bar on the Hill Newcastle Regional Tix: U Members: $17 Showground Interfaith Devotional & Students: $19.50 Discussion Services Guests: $22 4.30pm - 5.30pm - Chaplaincy 24/25SAT/SUN HA152A, Hunter Building THURSDAY SAT/SUN Newcastle Jockey Club Races 29 17/18 Sat - Broadmeadow Racecourse U Member Happy Hour Surfest 4pm - 6pm - GT Bar Sat/Sun - Merewether Beach 21WEDNESDAY St Patrick’s Day A Taste of Harmony WEEK 5 FRIDAY Newcastle Show 12pm - 2pm - Bar on the Hill 30 Sat/Sun - Newcastle Regional U Member Happy Hour Showground Trivia MONDAY 4pm - 6pm - Bar on the Hill 1pm - GT Bar 26 Wii Wars Bar on the Hill Gig Pool Comp 3pm - GT Bar The Potbelleez WEEK 4 3pm - GT Bar Doors open 7.30pm Poker Bar on the Hill Wind-Up Wednesday 6.30pm - Bar on the Hill 3pm - 7pm - Bar on the Hill Tix: U Members: $20 19MONDAY Students: $22.50 Interfaith Devotional & Guests: $27.50 Harmony Week Launch TUESDAY 12pm - 1.30pm - AIC Discussion Services 27 4.30pm - 5.30pm - Chaplaincy Common Lunch Hour BBQ HA152A, Hunter Building Wii Wars 12pm - 1pm SAT/SUN 3pm - GT Bar 31/01 2012 Alumni Lecture Bar on the Hill & Auchmuty Courtyard Interfaith Devotional & 5.45pm - Newcastle City Hall Discussion Services Trivia 4.30pm - 5.30pm - Chaplaincy 1pm - Bar on the Hill HA152A, Hunter Building THURSDAY Bar Bingo Poker 22 4pm - GT Bar 6.30pm - Bar on the Hill Harmony Sports & Games 12pm - 2pm - Auchmuty Courtyard WEDNESDAY 20TUESDAY U Member Happy Hour 28 4pm - 6pm - GT Bar Graduate Careers Expo Trivia 10.30am - 1pm - Business, 1pm - GT Bar Humanities, Law and IT Pool Comp 2pm - 4.30pm - Design, 3pm - GT Bar Engineering and Science FRIDAY The Great Hall 23 Wind-Up Wednesday Easy! Drop us an email to International Cultural 3pm - 7pm - Bar on the Hill [email protected] Common Lunch Hour BBQ Dance Off with your event name, date, times 12pm - 1pm 1pm - 3pm - Bar on the Hill 2012 Alumni Lecture and other details. Bar on the Hill & 5.45pm - Newcastle City Hall Auchmuty Courtyard

Bar on the Hill Gig Pre-sale tix available 30 The Potbelleez on campus at: MARCH Doors open 7.30pm Bar on the Hill U Contact Bar on the Hill Is chivalry dead? Are random acts of kindness a thing of the past? Do we tell people if their dress is tucked into their undies? Claire Young and the Yak Team find out…

By Claire Young & the Yak team. Designed by Jane Hume

Fashionable – …well mostly. Unlike some American colleges you won’t see a pair of pyjama pants on this campus. Overall we dress to a fairly high standard (excluding the odd pair of jeggings here and there.) Intelligent – our University consistently ranks in Students and staff at the University of Newcastle are: the top 10 universities for research in areas like Tough – between swatting mosquitoes, fighting to health and medicine, science and engineering, and the death over precious parking spots and climbing energy and the environment. the hill to the Great Hall, studying here is no easy It’s safe to say that people on our campus have got task. it all going on… but are we nice to one another? Multicultural – currently more than 7,800 international In order to find out our Yak Team was put to the students from 80 countries are enrolled in our test… Well, actually, we put YOU to the test, and programs in Australia, outside Australia and online. the results are in.

JESS the Hunter Building is a labyrinth of stranger would interact with me, offer Deputy Editor (General Content) winding hallways, hidden classrooms some assistance and hopefully help and constant misleading turns. me look for the keys. The Challenge – Look utterly lost and hope that somebody would be kind I thought my attempt to find HC19 Round one - AIC. I approached a girl enough to offer me directions. would be susceptible to those in her mid 20s hanging in the centre passing by. How wrong I was. of the room. Round one - At the start of this challenge, my dreams of chivalry, What I didn’t realise is that she had charity and finding a good samaritan her headphones in and it’s safe to say were still alive, and with an A4 print I scared the hell out of her. out of the Callaghan campus map Despite her initial terror, she was and a look of disorientation on my extremely helpful and looked face I wandered around outside the around and under the desk before Shortland Hub. suggesting going to the IT Rover 10 minutes later I was still wandering to see if they’d been handed in. around and hoping for a stranger to SUCCESS take pity on a lost student. Round two took place in the AIC I thought I should persist further and Courtyard by a bench. Almost getting lost in a literal sense, began walking awfully close to the very The guy I approached was happy as opposed to my pretense of being few people nearby, to no avail. minding his own business when I lost as apart of the challenge, I gave No directions and no Good Samaritan went up to him. up within 20 minutes- FAIL make for a very ‘lost’ student - FAIL Me: You haven’t seen my keys lying CLAIRE around by any chance, have you? Round two - hoping that Hunter Deputy Editor (Features) side would hold more promise, off I Guy: Nope, when do you think you wandered to the Hunter Building. The Challenge - Walk up to a left them here? stranger and ask if they’d seen my Me: (not prepared for question) … It is a well-known fact to the car keys lying around. Ideally the About twenty minutes ago. experienced college campaigner that

16 Yak Magazine -March 2012 Guy: I’ve been sitting here for half thinking that the challenge was a Round three - I thought my third an hour. disaster, before finally being given a occasion would be a success. hand in picking the remainder up by Me: Oh that’s right… I was sitting I could feel it in my waters. a second year psychology student. at that bench… over there… (walks Success at last! I knew someone was bound to take away) FAIL pity on a poor blonde like me who So if you’re reading this Matthew, Round three left me wanting to try needed some help in the common thank you for not only restoring my something different. sense department. faith in humanity, but for also not I went upstairs at the Auchmuty judging me too much for carrying Once again, nothing. Zilch, zip, nada. Library and within a few minutes I round a stack of Cosmopolitan Am I to take it as a compliment that had a kind stranger help me look for magazines. SUCCESS you like to see my bum? my keys around the computer desk. Screw you, Callaghan campus. FAIL After a minute I reached into my handbag and “found” them.

He cracked a joke and said “No Hopefully by reading this, we’ll worries, I was looking for my sunnies all learn a thing or two from the this morning and found them on my results of this challenge. head ten minutes later”. SUCCESS It’s simple stuff.

NICK • If someone looks lost, help them Deputy Managing Editor out with directions. The Challenge – Drop a stack of • If someone’s in an awkward books in the AIC Courtyard, hoping situation and needs a helping that a kind stranger would assist me hand, give them one (unless in picking them up. it means physically pulling someone’s dress out of their Round one - I walked straight past a undies… don’t do that!) group of students eating their lunch, coming to grief only a few feet away • If the person sitting next to you ROWENA from where they were sitting. has toilet paper on their foot, Managing Editor a pen stain on their cheek or Obviously their ham and cheese spinach in their teeth, take the sandwiches were far more important The Challenge – Walk around with time to politely let them know – than my misfortune, as I wasn’t even my skirt tucked into my undies and maybe even crack a joke over given a second glance. FAIL see if anyone has the heart to let me know. it, it will make the whole Round two - My second attempt saw situation more comfortable. me drop my big stack of books as I Round one - My first outfit was a • Smile at the person serving you was about to make my way up the lovely blue dress, a favourite of mine. at Pinkies and make steps to the library. Still, nothing. FAIL Already short, it was extremely conversation with the people obvious that this beautiful attire was Round three - I was halfway through who work in the Hubs on campus. picking up my dropped goods, tucked into my alluring Batman undies underneath. We’ll be spending a lot of time on campus in 2012 so we might as After visiting Bar on the Hill, Student well enjoy it and help each other Services near Hunter, and walking out as much as we can. around to where my car was parked, the only reaction I got was the wind plucking my skirt out of my undies. What a great guy. As for the humans on campus? Zilch. FAIL Round two - My second outfit was a little longer than the first, and even more obvious to any onlookers. Leaving the toilets in the AIC, I walked through the room to the furthest computer. Really, people? Zip. FAIL

Yak Magazine -March 2012 17 Looking at his shorts, pluggers and one of the famous With a bit of chuckle, Danny tells how “there used to be a photography club UoN caps, you wouldn’t believe Danny Craft was not an on campus about 10-15 years ago, but somebody took off with the money, so Aussie local. Although considering his experiences in that kind of put a halt to it I guess”. Australia so far, you could say he’s become one. Forgetting the unfortunate ending to the last photography club, Danny took initiative in founding the International Flying over from the state of Indiana, “Guilford, where I live in Indiana, is a Photography Society of University of USA in early 2010, Danny had no idea quiet town with a completely different Newcastle (IPSUN). what to expect from his international atmosphere to Newcastle, so it was a adventure to study IT at the University big change for me to come to a place With a thriving 60 members, the club of Newcastle. where more is happening and so many has been meeting once a month and more people are around.” is helping students express their Coming from a managerial position in passions for their hobby or career. a retail convenience store in the USA, For any international student it’s a tad Danny tells of his desires to get out scary coming to an unfamiliar place After a full year studying IT, Danny and get a career. where you don’t know anyone, have realised like many others before him no idea what the culture will be like, or that his degree was not where he He wanted to go somewhere to escape sometimes can’t speak the language. wanted to be, and so he changed to the ‘intensities’ of scanning Twinkies a Bachelor of Communication for his and Lays chips for customers in his However Danny found no problem second year in Australia. quiet home town. becoming a social butterfly within months. Continuing on his exciting path to While most Novocastrians walk new places, people and positions, casually past Newcastle’s finest “When I came over, I got involved Danny’s popularity, especially monuments, like the Brewery’s … giant with NUSA in the international amongst NUSA and international and erect piece of architecture, Danny student department. I helped out students escalated quickly. recalls his personal amazement as he with a lot of stuff on campus for got lost in a lively and exciting city so Ramadan and the Islam society. I “I got elected to become the president different from his home. also helped out with a lot of clubs, for all of NSW international societies and events on campus.” students, which means I “Coming from the States to here, there had to look out for the aren’t too many differences in culture, Soon enough Danny, the new kid welfare of international but I’ll admit the drinking culture is a on the Newcastle block, had been students attending little bit stronger,” Danny jokes. appointed Activities Officer on high schools, campus, the Senior Coordinator Also contributing to our ‘Aussie pride’, for Barahineban College and Danny notes how good looking Aussie had even started up his own girls are – one point to Australia. photography club.

18 Yak Magazine -March 2012 By Rachel Otto Designed by Ben Pickles

private colleges, TAFEs, and “Over the past two years of my time in helped people and made a lot of Universities” he says. Australia, I have experienced more than friends along the way. I’ve learnt more just the fun of being overseas. I have felt about myself here than I ever knew “I handled issues for international the disadvantage of it too,” he says. when I was back home.” students concerning accommodation, transport, mental health and physical Within the first year of living in Danny notes that studying abroad wellbeing, and especially helped if they Newcastle, Danny found a huge is not only a chance to expand your had any problems in their uni life.” obstacle in not only international horizons and your experiences, it’s study, but in life, with the loss of his about opening yourself up to other Unfortunately, what Danny had not mother taking him back to Indiana to cultures and appreciating people’s foreseen were problems in his own say goodbye. differences in order to learn from life at university leading to his those around you. abrupt departure. Only months after, another huge blow came about with the sad loss of his “While I don’t want to sound cliché “In order to study over here, my study grandmother in May. when I say you become worldly, you had been funded by a private loan do. International study opens you up company, much similar to a HECS Danny admits how hard it has been to opportunities to find out about many debt, but this company for some for him to cope with these sad family cultures. I learnt about Australian, reason had not renewed my annual tragedies from so far away, especially South American, Malaysian, Chinese loan,” he says. when the bereavement had not and Asian cultures, much more than I stopped. Sadly, only weeks ago, Not only were Danny’s plans to finish would have in USA,” he says. Danny’s aunt also passed away. his degree in Australia at a standstill, “My advice to any student considering his desire to explore more of Australia Three close family members lost, overseas exchange would be: don’t had also been put on hold. and 15,000 kilometres away, Danny be scared. Get involved. Mingle with confesses he’s faced hardships he “I always thought I’d have more time, people and learn their culture. Do not be didn’t anticipate in his time overseas. and while I will have to figure out my afraid to ask for help. Go to NUSA, go loan when I go back home, there is “It’s been a rollercoaster two years to the international student department. always a big chance I won’t get to here, but I think that the good in my You learn and see so much more with come back here straight away. journey has definitely made up for the an open and eager mind.” bad. I have experienced so much, met “It was hard, and frustrating trying to Danny’s experience in Australia has a lot of different and exciting people figure out what was going to happen not been one to be forgotten, but and have had such an incredible time when the loan company wouldn’t give one to be admired. While most of us here in Australia. It will be good to go me a straight answer.” settle for ‘Ps get degrees’, Danny home to my Dad and be with my family explored much more in the potential While the sudden change in Danny’s again,” he says. of university and made a difference plans was seen to be an unfortunate “I’ve been salsa dancing, I’ve met the to himself and everyone who met him one, there is a silver lining to his return Governor of Tasmania, formed clubs, while he was here. to the USA.

Yak Magazine -March 2012 19 Jessica McAneney discovers why straying off the beaten path can be a good thing, as she interviews Lakshmi Nayana Vootakuru from the University of Newcastle’s Alumni community.

T Is NOT EVERYDAY that her to gain different perspectives on interests, and not be solely focused you meet someone who will various policies. on their medical careers. encourage a prospective doctor to postpone both their study and “When you are off the beaten track, “It was an entirely different Icareer to pursue other interests. so to speak, you are forced to experience to clinical medicine, and break the patterns that develop in some of the most salient years of my Lakshmi Nayana Vootakuru is not medicine,” Nayana explains. life,” she explains. your everyday person. “There are no x-rays, no access to “I learnt more about humanitarianism, With an approach to Medicine that various pieces of equipment. It is Australia’s unique place in the displays wisdom beyond her years, completely different, as they (the world and the context of Australia Nayana is a young woman looking to patients) do not come to a clinic; amongst its neighbours in Asia and change the world and is well on her we (the medical team) drive and visit the Pacific. It was instrumental in way to achieving her goals. them for vaccinations.” expanding my experience.”

Graduating with a Bachelor of In 2008 Nayana worked as a policy Working for the Department of Medicine from the University of and diplomatic officer for the Foreign Affairs and Trade in no way Newcastle in 2006, Nayana moved Department of Foreign Affairs detracted from Nayana’s medical to to complete her internship and Trade. career, as her love for policy and and residency training. humanitarianism fueled her passion for the work. Currently studying to be an “When you are off the beaten anesthetic register, Nayana is moved track, so to speak, you are In the future she aspires to work in every few months for her training, health policy, refugee and migrant the nature of which will provide her forced to break the patterns issues and contribute to the greater with a breadth of experience in her that develop in medicine,” discussion that is Australia’s role, medical career. and what it should be in relation to these various issues that are at the Such a breadth of experience is In an environment where most forefront of the world stage. something that Nayana has always people come from a business, focused on, having worked in remote economic or political background, More recently, Nayana has returned and indigenous communities in Nayana brought an entirely new from a year of studying her Masters different capacities. perspective with her medical in Medicine at the Harvard School of science background. Public Health in Boston, USA. She has spent time in northern This unique opportunity came about Western Australia with the Royal Flying Nayana credits this time working for after she was awarded the 2010 Doctor Service and in the Northern the Department of Foreign Affairs Menzies Scholarship. Territory with the Aborigine medical and Trade as life changing, and uses services. The time spent in these it as an example as to why medical Nayana is very humble when remote parts of Australia has allowed students should chase their other discussing this outstanding

>> Article continues on pg 20.

20 Yak Magazine -March 2012 accomplishment, crediting the “Don’t be afraid to stray off the Nayana recalls her time at the University of Newcastle as she beaten path. Embrace those parts University of Newcastle fondly, was one of three chosen from the of the puzzle that you are interested finding the interconnectedness and University of Newcastle to receive in, as interconnecting these with ability to reconnect with the UoN this scholarship. medicine will give you a more network refreshing and comforting. innovative and creative approach. “It is an honour that UoN as a smaller Avoid the tunnel vision, you are Nayana is a doctor whose approach university produces quality students never just a doctor.” to modern medicine is refreshing who receive such recognition. and innovative.

Nayana comments that her “It is an honour that UoN as a Her drive to contribute to the issues experience in Boston was both smaller university produces on the world stage is inspirational, eye opening and rewarding, and in her case, absolutely considering how medicine in the quality students who receive achievable. USA is approached with a sense of such recognition.” possibility where one has access There is no doubt that she is not just a doctor, she is a young woman to people with experience, stories Nayana’s respect for the field of ready to change the world. and opportunities to broaden their medicine is inspirational, as she approach to medicine. acknowledges that it is not a career, but a lifestyle choice that requires Do you know anyone who has Nayana’s advice for medical students incredible stamina with the hours, graduated from UoN and has had isn’t the most expected, as she training, and approach one must remarkable experiences? Let us know encourages students to prolong their take to succeed. at [email protected] or on studies and pursue their interests. our facebook page.

am not one to complain about my appearance. I was born Minister, I am not a fan of her hairstyle and she is hardly a I with red hair, and for most of my life I have embraced it. natural redhead. Sorry Jules. I have had friends nickname me Red, hairdressers gush over how lucky I am to have this amazing natural hair colour, As a child of the 90s I loved that I had ‘shotgun rights’ on and Chris Lilley tell me that I deserve endless taunting and Ginger Spice and I Love Lucy reruns are reassuring that I teasing as I resemble, to an extent, an orangutan (minus the am not the only clumsy, rather gullible redhead out there. bare butt and tear-jerking ad on television). Cleopatra, Thomas Jefferson, Vincent Van Gogh, Queen Elizabeth I and Mark Twain are some historical ‘ranga’ I am not going to pretend that I love it. I avoid certain colours in counterparts, whilst today we have the stunning Christina my wardrobe as I look washed out, or like Christmas has come Hendricks, Nicole Kidman, Prince Harry, Florence Welch and early. People ask the question, blonde or brunette? Never red. Lily Cole, to name a few.

One would even argue that being Why, J.K. Rowling dedicated a whole called a range of terms (I am not family to our ‘dying hair colour’, so going to go into details, but Ranga, surely we’re not that bad?! Carrot Top and Safety Match are a few) based on your hair colour, I am luckier than some of my is as awful and offensive as being counterparts, not having ‘other’ red called something based on the hair. I even have freakily brown colour of you skin. eyebrows. Go figure. But I embrace my ‘redness’ so to speak, and slip slop slap against the rays But I, like those around me, acknowledge that we are slowly that taunt and dote with sun-kisses the lily-white complexion dying out, being a recessive gene and all, and hold my auburn that walks hand-in-hand with red hair. head high knowing that I am unique on the inside and the outside. I don’t have those dumb blonde jokes following me So to those who taunt, tease and laugh at the few who around, although some of my friends might argue that I should. remain: ease up! Remember, it isn’t easy being red, but boy do we embrace it, temper, passion, sunburn and all! • Consider those successful who have red hair. Now while the most obvious would be our current (at time of writing) Prime

Yak Magazine -March 2012 21 Katie Burgess chats with MC Blue about gigs, life spent in transit and what’s next for The Potbelleez.

By Katie Burgess - Designed by Kate Lamont

nyone who is familiar with The Potbelleez’s indefatigable, “I actually fronted The Potbelleez by myself for the first three pulsating club beats and hooks devised to be hollered years,” Blue says. “Throughout that time, Ilan (Kidron) was also across the dance-floor can only imagine the people in the studio with them [in Australia] working on tunes and stuff who create this kind of music must be crazily vivacious and but he was fronting another band at the time so that’s where energetic all of the time. But when we caught up with The his commitment was, so initially the four of us were working Potbelleez’s very own MC Blue, the lovely lady sounded together but in separate capacities – they were working with anything but lively. Napping through our first attempt to Ilan in Australia and working with me in the UK and when we interview her, we managed to get lucky the second time around. were touring – then gradually it all kind of came together. “I sound so much more in the world now,” she laughs “After a couple of years working with them, we released forgivingly, but sleepily. Junkyard, [so] that was the point at which I moved back from She has good reason to be exhausted too. The Potbelleez, the UK, committed fully to The Potbelleez as a project and at based these days in Sydney, played corporate shows in the end of that year ‘Don’t Hold Back’ came out and it’s all Caloundra and Brisbane on Friday and Saturday nights before history from there.” hopping over to the other side of the country to play at a beach party in Perth on Sunday. Are you with me? Bringing together this insane bevy of individual talents was no “You never quite know how the weekend is going to turn out, menial task however. you know,” she yawns. “It’s always a process, you know,” she says of trying to make The band seems to spend as much time in airports these The Potbelleez work in those early years. “It was incredibly days as they did in clubs when they first started out and this hard to get balance right when we first started working weekend in transit is no isolated anomaly for these guys. Since together and still is. That’s what makes the dynamic.” MC Blue met The Potbelleez in 2004 – at this stage the electric DJ duo of Irish ex-pats Dave Goode and Jonny Sonic – it has When writing, the group tends to focus on their own particular been non-stop. Introduced through their agent, Miles Cooper, parts before bringing all of the elements together as a group, the trio played a gig at Moulin Rouge in Kings Cross together, which Blue says forces the band to draw deep from their pool and while Blue was living in London, the boys called and asked of respective individual talents and makes them strong and her to tour with them during the Australian summer. complementary as a collective.

22 Yak Magazine -March 2012 “Ilan has a great talent for writing hook-lines with the intention The band shared their supporting act role for the first few [of them] being sung back to him and fair dues to the guy shows with US rapper Trey Songz, and Blue raves about the for nailing it. [Dave and Jonny] aren’t from the same musical level of support they received from the crew and from their background that Ilan and I are from; they’re from the DJ world fellow performers while on tour. which is a whole other animal in itself…Me and Ilan just sing “ is just the loveliest man,” she says most affectionately. with the guitar and figure shit out. I’m the girl in the band [and] “I couldn’t speak highly enough of him on a personal level. as a rapper I am quite feminine in my energy. I bring femininity His whole energy is just smooth and relaxed and genuine and and feminine sexuality in an open way to each performance.” that filters through to his whole entire crew and everyone that Trouble Trouble for The Potbelleez? works for him.” Touring incessantly has taken its toll on the members of the She says that the crew were genuinely amazed at the reaction group however, with talk of solo projects plaguing the group. the band got from the crowd. To these rumours, she responds frankly. “We only had like a 20-minute set, but we had the whole “To be totally honest with you, it’s always been my goal as an stadium singing along to every one of those five or six songs artist [to go solo],” she says. “I ultimately do want to do solo and the crew couldn’t believe it. The dude in [Usher’s] band projects and I’ve been making some music with a good friend said to us, ‘We’ve been all around the world and no first of mine recently, but until this point I’ve actually been solely opening act has ever done that before’.” dedicated to The Potbelleez as an outlet for my work. I don’t want to split myself up, but you know as time goes on, it’s Never gonna get too far away like ‘Okay, well, we’ve already achieved so much now, we’ve Despite their indescribable love for what they do, their come such a long way in such a short amount of time and constant touring schedule wreaks havoc on their personal lives. it’s so much pressure’. I think all of us at this point are feeling “I’ve learnt in this job that there’s no point in even really trying that we want to express ourselves as individuals outside The to think too strongly about anything more than two weeks Potbelleez and all of us are doing so.” ahead because everything just changes all the time,” Blue Don’t Hold Back laments. “You think you know where you’re gonna be or should be, but it really takes until the day before to know that it’s Don’t expect The Potbelleez to split any time soon though as actually gonna happen.” the group are moving onto bigger and better things. “Gigs are our bread and butter… [but] for The Potbelleez, there’s no more Not that she’s complaining too much though. that we can do in Australia, there’s not really much further that “It’s harder for the boys who have families at home [than for we can go. We’ll go overseas and see who else wants a piece. me] but essentially, you don’t even try to plan your own life. It’s a real make-or-break point for us depending on where we choose to go with the third album,” Blue says. “The bottom line is, you can’t plan anything for yourself because your job is your life and it is first priority of everything Their third album is currently in the demo phase, but Blue says that affects you and that’s a huge challenge that I think not it’s still early stages yet. many people and fans out there would realise. Then again it’s “We haven’t really had a lot of time [due to touring] but Jonny like, how much do we really need to plan for ourselves when has made a bunch of demos and they’ve been writing some this job takes us everywhere that we could possible imagine or stuff already. We’re going to take some time off in April, May want to go to be doing exactly what we love. We do need a few and June from performing and pretty much from each other, more breaks though,” she concedes. so we’re just working as much as we can before then so that we “Gigs are our bread and butter… [but] for The Potbelleez, can still pay ourselves our wages there’s no more that we can do in Australia, there’s while we’re away and just get into some different stuff.” not really much further that we can go. It’s a real This break from each other make-or-break point for us depending on where we appears to be long overdue. The choose to go with the third album.” band has been on the road since October 2010 and even supported Usher in his OMG tour in March and April of last year, which Blue Although sounding thoroughly exhausted, Blue promises that says was an interesting experience considering the band are their upcoming show at Bar on the Hill will be “high-energy”. accustomed to being the headlining act. “If anyone’s seen us before, you can expect more of the same, “It was like headlining anyway to us”, she states bluntly. “We and if you haven’t seen us, it’s just a whole lotta energy. Get can be very humble when we choose to be, I’m sure we can ready to put your hands in the air and scream at the top of all be very egocentric when we choose as well, but to us, that your lungs!” Usher tour was such a great opportunity and we’re so grateful The Potbelleez will be playing at Bar on the Hill on Friday, for it and our attitude towards the whole thing was humble and 30 March. was like ‘We are just here to support and do whatever it is that you guys want’.”

Yak Magazine -March 2012 23 GET SPONSORED TO STUDY AND GAIN A REWARDING CAREER

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Lana Del Rey – Born to Die Leonard Cohen – Old Ideas Triple J’s Hottest 100 Volume 19 Out Now Out Now Out Now

When American singer Lana Del Rey 44 years on from his first album, and The Hottest 100 isn’t just a countdown – it’s released the single “Video Games” in mid- Cohen’s still got it. But don’t let the title an Australian institution. With 42 tracks 2011, the internet lit up with discussion of fool you: while it might be the same Leonard spread across 2 discs, you’re certainly her talent, and prophesising of her possible Cohen we know and love, there’s nothing getting bang for your buck with this one. future popularity. Describing her lower old about the tracks on this CD. Despite his Featuring big winner Gotye along with voice as something she did to “help stand age, it might even be the best of his career. The Black Keys, Skrillex, Ball Park Music, out”, her style could be described as a There’s plenty of character to speak of in Jebediah and 360 among many others, bit of pop-soul. With the release of Born the record, from the gentle self-ribbing of there’s a bit in it for everyone with this year’s to Die at the beginning of February, many “Going Home” to the lament of a broken Hottest 100 CD. have been left disappointed. The overly relationship in “Different Sides”. It might be processed nature of the album makes it a Cohen’s first album in eight years, but he’s smooth listen, but when stretched across a lost nothing that made him an all-time great. length of 12 tracks, the whole things seems a little bit long and drawn out. DVD

Game of Thrones S1 Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Real Steel March 7 March 15 March 28

HBO produces another winner. Along the Included to satisfy the “twi-hards” amongst It seems like an age ago that trailers for same lines as earlier hit Rome, Game of us, we here at Yak aren’t on Team Jacob Real Steel first began to appear in cinemas. Thrones adapts fantasy author George R.R. or Team Edward; We’re on Team Decent Finally, Hugh Jackman’s newest film is Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series for Acting, and this movie certainly does not coming to DVD and Bluray. For a movie with the small screen. Sean Bean, Lena Headey sway us to its side in this regard. As usual such a huge lead up, it was a disappointing and Peter Dinklage, winner of an Emmy and there are several versions of the film coming one. With a story more predictable than the Golden Globe for his performance, combine to DVD, with a raft of different features and average episode of Neighbours, don’t expect with brilliant costuming and cinematography numbers of disks. Perhaps they could have any surprises from it, but if equal parts to produce one of the best series of 2011. remastered Kristen Stewart’s face to be Rocky and Transformers seems like a thrilling Look out for season 2, set to air mid this year. something else other than a pout. Copious combination to you, consider Real Steel. immature sex scenes might keep the simplest of us entertained, but the rest will surely see through this one. Imagine the possibilities

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UON_0008 YAK Mag A4.indd 1 20/02/12 1:19 PM This month, we asked the kids on campus “Where do you keep your tomato sauce?” With Nick Turner

JUSTIN BEC Degree: 3rd year Medicine Degree: 3rd year Medicine

Where do you keep your tomato Where do you keep your tomato sauce, do you keep it in the fridge sauce, do you keep it in the fridge or cupboard? or cupboard? In the cupboard. Although, I don’t I’m a fridge kind of gal. There’s really believe in tomato sauce. something about the feel of cold sauce on a hot meal that I just like. Fess up, what did you have for dinner last night? Fess up, what did you have for Steak. Just steak. dinner last night? Chicken and vegetable stir-fry. Sticking to my roots.

GABI MILKO Degree: 3rd year Medicine Degree: Masters of Human Resource Management Where do you keep your tomato sauce, do you keep it in the fridge Where do you keep your tomato or cupboard? sauce, do you keep it in the fridge Cupboard, without a doubt. or cupboard? Even in the Philippines we keep it in Fess up, what did you have for the cupboard! dinner last night? I was lucky enough to go out for Fess up, what did you have for dinner last night. I had the chicken dinner last night? salad from 3 Monkeys on Darby I’ve only been here for three days Street. Yum! and I’m still settling in. I had a fry-up though, pork and prawns.

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