Deai^ ppBaldric's cure refuses to forget, ask thc Long As^KWatureMe studeW'at i^jw ^[s headache, Tan vets if they still see _ _ reading, llv^falj tovalu e people they killed twenty only glancfe>at youR^aga-^i ^% in^alljs formsVrom years ago. Their answerwill zineovercolfeein Ihe/iejfec. dbh cept ioh to grave then we sober you. "Like he is However,-as a cprrtmltted - -cease to be tr(iiy human. standing thereas real as you" Calholid/I'musl.take issue'/ Certainly someispectes of said a sergeant I know well. with tlie.article;'by T.H.; animal destrpy'their young Abortion is killing a human McPhersdivaboultherecerit" when Ihey arc ill or \vhen being just as surely as an march to decriminalise food is exceptionally scarce, SLR round killed Vielcong, abortion. Haying damned but only humans do It for and, your conscience will myself already by my ad the sake,of continuing a remember that even though mission of Christlati belief, comfortable lifestyle. the abortionists chant with I'll go airtheway andtell Women who give in to the megaphones "1 2 3 4 we you that, Yes I am white,' : arguments of "pro-choice'' don't want your fascist law" male, straight and (shock (murderers) are being ripped and "Women's right to horror) a soldier. Tliis isgiven off twfce, once when.they choose" in your ear. merely so that when the are told to sk^ip around as Dear Editors, h 0 rdes of "prorchoice" peo: much as possible and that You printed McPherson's pie wish to hang. i]t>e they . no one man can satisfy all emotive and unsupported will at least be able to njake ihcir needs, and twice when, claims, please also print charges of bias stick.'. Ihey ^are, helped;to kill,an m ine, or is freedom to dissent Anyway, while fespecting'; innocent bystander who from leftist humanist femi McPherson's rigHt to aiiyv mustbe the ulllnfiale caseof opinion they like> twish to - nism not permitted in a de Clfi the wr6rgsplace%;the mocracy. point out a rather gla'rim wrbr^ time, the womb; • ?:)i Meehan. en-or in Ihe logic usedfto ^J^ls has^bepbme lengthy,, support the argurfient. ^and I craye'the i^ulgencef:: McPherson says "y^'Kuman . W the rwder for ()|fva fewi^ being has the righf\toiM5e •^frfereJ]nesi;fif|itf-|3ers^^ their mind to controltlieirJ; ^ thats%)stics prove that mwl bodies in whatever way they) ' abusgd/childxCT'are jjn;-' choose... Provided theydd!,y wat^reci ajjcf^planried not interfere with another Rregnanci&Tl say wh'al sta- human being's right to^tlie^ tisUCs, from-;>where>'who bear Eds, same freedoms lo control" ;compil^^them? Dbnftdare"- v.ln i^epiyto Mr Meehan's theirbodies and the heavens tb: suppott/fTiurder^A^th an , 'letter. Vj themselves are the limit." 'Vtifouiidjed load of crap llkej' > Mr^teehan, I notice you do Pro-choice (read anti-fetus) that,
StntpgrS. >^ YOUNG LIBERALS CONFERENCE OR UQ ^^ ELECTION COUNTING? ^-, Visitors to the Counting Room forthe 1991 elections could be ^^?^ ^. JorgWBD for thinking that they had somehow stumbled into y^\, •f* *7" "o meeting ofthe Queensland Young Liberals. Pictured here ^ • ^ jjin the counting room getting paid are Christina Blackwell (Acting President of UQ Liberal Club), Electoral Officer Brad Woods (President Griffith University Liberol Club) and Marc 7^M Dale (President QUT Uberal Club). --^=^ ^ «* ?»-^ ^
L Uruth - the Final Arbiter There is so much to be said about this Tribunal is imperative to the achievement of some sort year's Student Union elections. of democracy here on campus. Here's why — I guess the first and most obvious thing is that TRI The method of appointment for the Electoral Officer won. If the Electoral Officer's reporl is accepted by inevitably leads to abiased, and unobjective non-Union Union Council this monlh, TRI will control (he Union member fillingth e post, This year, for ex ample, saw the Executive, and Council throughout next year. B MT (Lib-Nat) -dom inated Council select Brad Woods, The second (hing is that the Referendum was passed President of the Liberal Club at Griffith University, as on both questions. The most significant consequence of Electoral Officer. this outcome will no doubt be the eventual erosion of Mr Woods filled all the constitutional criteria to student services, due to lack of funds. become EG. — he has not been a member of the UQ But there is more to these two outcomes than meets Union in the past five years, he was not a candidate, or the eye. The misconduct, and misuse of power that witness for a candidate, etc, etc. On paper, Mr Woods prevailed throughout campaigning, voting week, and was, in fact, an objective Electoral Officer. counting lime of the elections is something which musl Mr Woods was also a close per-'onal friend of several be addressed by the cunrent Union, and by the sUident TRI candidates, campaigners, and high-profile body at large. supporters. But the Constitution fully enabled his Anyone who ran in the elections or assisted with selection as Electoral Officer. campaigning will tell of unconstitutional and downright His assistants included people associated with the illegal actions taken by some candidates and supporters, Litjeral Club on campus, and the infamous Victoria which continued throughout the entire eleclion Brazil union of a few years ago. campaign, and counting. The Electoral Officer should be impartial, and just as The person responsible for slopping this type of imporUintly, be seen to be aloof from (he c andidates and behaviour is the Electoral Officer (E.O.). The job of the learns. No Electoral Officer with the same political E.O. is, as outlined in the Constitution, to ensure the links as one of the teams mnning in the election can be proper conduct of the elections, to confiscate seen as impartial.. unauthorised material, to generally supervise electoral Brad Woods is no exception. The fact Ihat someone conduct. Basically, the Electoral Officer's job is to with such strong political connections was chosen makes watch over, and regulate, the annual elections. (he appointment look suspect. And if there is any As a result, the competence of this year's Electoral shadow of doubt surrounding Ihe appointment of thc Officer must be questioned. Electoral Officer, that doubt must also carryover lo any But by whom? eleclion result. Everyone is in agreement that underhanded incidents That is why the existence, and use, of tlic Electoral occurred throughout (he entire election. Thc particular Tribunal is necessary - to ensure that Mr Woods, or any activities themselves do not need to be discussed here other Electoral Officer, is unable to show favouriiism to — the point at hand is ( to be cliched) — Who is a particular election team. watching the watcher? The other need is to call for a Constitutional According to the Constitution, a body called the amendment, to allow for (heposition of Elcc(oral Officer Electoral Tribunal has been esUiblished to supcrv isc the (0 be appointed by an objective body, perhaps the actions of the Electoral Officer. This Tribunal has (he Electoral Tribunal. power to override the decisions ofthe E.O., and to rule With dirty tricks and smear campaigns, and a po litical ly on disputes arising from thc conduct of elections and/or appointed Electoral Officer, Ihc 1991 UQUnion Election referenda. looked like Ihe sort of election one would expect only The Electoral Tribunal has never been used before. It in places like Pakistan or EI Salvador. was established in 1990 by the Refonn council led by As far as democracy, and 'fairness' go, the elections '^^ Jane Lye, and as yet, has never been called on lo fulfil were an absolute sham. Manipulators from behind the (0 its role as election watchdog. scenes must not be allowed (o control teams, and The Tribunal is made up of three members, election results, as they do on Ihis campus. representing three different areas of thc campus The first step towards achieving this is lo have an ? community. One member must come from the effective, pennancnt body to watch the Electoral Officer, Chaplaincy Centre, one from(nominate d by) the Alumni who in tum is watching the election conduct. Such an Association, and one nominated by thc Union's arrangment is the only way to achieve acceptable behaviour from appointed officials, candidates and PresDni your sludenl card at solicitors. As the Tribunal has never been convened St Lucia GoH Links, cnr Carawa before, reccntcalls to the two current Tribunal members, campaigners Ihrougbout an election campaign. Street and Indooroopilly Road. and the Union solicitors were met wilh questions, and This is not an unrealistic aim. We all know, or have St Lucia, phone 870 3938 Of confusion. Everyone, it seems, is unsure exactly what heard, that politics is a dirty business. And it is. But the Victoria Park GoK Course. behaviour at eleclion time on this campus has gone Herslon Road. Herston, phono the Electoral Tribunal has jurisdiction to do (ahhough „.. _— 85212?i forlhisspucialoder. as mentioned before, the Constitution states it quite beyond dirty. It's putrid. UnSOane Cny HHQ clubs and bugoy (or $6. The whole system of Union Elections and referenda clearly). Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays). One thing that is certain is that the existence of the on this campus must be reviewed, reformed and cleaned "''• Susan Forde ^ >»»**»*» '>t.' Most students are confident of leaving University and getting the job of their dreams, however often the reality is quite different as many graduates, even from the supposedly "professional" courses are finding that they aren't wanted in a contracting job market. Semper contributor Brett Ki&skopf takes a look at why the Newstart programme is outraging critics and representatives of under privileged groups and how some day it could affect you. For many people Newstart means nothing yourself; you may be forced to admit to propaganda of Australian media interests more than the government propaganda having involvement in other activities, e.g. and the Federal government economic campaign showing people climbing lad having to care for an adult or child during fundamentalists we find a very different ders, falling into nets and giving each other working hours. This justifies punishment picture indeed - those responsible for our a helping hand. The reality for those who deemed appropriate by the CES and DSS downfall were hailed as our economic sa have been laid off, have graduated, be staff. The interviewing CES officer at their vours i.e. Bond, Skase... come ill or otherwise found themselves on discretion, can then include as part of the We are then left with the question of who the unemployment pile is far different. CES component of the Activity Agreement: could have allowed such economic irre Unemployment benefits were replaced on * any forced medical treatment sponsibility to take place, surely the Aus July 1 this year with the Jobsearch Allow including weight loss and tralian government having been elected ance for those who have been without pyschological treatment. by Australians would act in the best inter work for less than 12 months, after which * any forced rehabilitation ests of the Australian people? The point is the person is placed on the Newstart pro that a Liberal government in the 80's could * forced satisfactory participation in gram. Once placed on the Newstart pro never have introduced such economically labour market programmes gram the "client" is asked to sign an destructive policies; with corresponding "agreement". Unemployed people are * forced voluntary work for whoever social, environmental, cultural and politi given two chances to sign this agreement CES decides cal implications. The ALP's bureaucratic and failure on the second is considered to * any forced vocational training trade union leadership was the only viable be a failure of the work activity test. courses option for the likes of the Business Council * whatever forced intensive of Australia to carry out the interests of big What Newstart brings into the lives of business. The recent capitulation of the those without work is statutory provisions Jobsearch CES decides ACTU Congress to ALP policy shows the for Commonwealth Employment Service * whatever forced paid work experi reality of this. Furthermore the 1991 Fed (CES) and Department of Sodal Security ence CES decides (this has been eral budget released by Keating/Kerin is (DSS) staff to enforce compliance and ad used to undermine wage conditions actually based on unemployment rising minister specified penalties for non-com for people working beside full and next year by 90,000 people. This is an pliance. The current and potential abuses part-time employees of a particular economic obscenity because if those peo < -Ait ; of this "agreement" between the CES/DSS company) ple were to actually find jobs the Federal officer and the jobless are the antithesis of *(**? economic policy would be destroyed as United Nations resolutions guaranteeing * It may force recipients to scab for a demand and imports would rise. the rights of all individuals toa basic stand legal strike (from an ALP initiaUvel) ard of living, and more specifically articles The extent of power given to CES staff to The implications for students are imm ense, "There's nothing lo 23 and 25 which refer to the right of carry out the 'agreements' is even a con there are fewer and fewer vacancies requir protection and security in the event of stop workers paying cern to the Public Sector Union. ing higher education qualifications. With unemployment. An analysis of the Australian economy dur Industry restructuring and the introduc their employer tnoney, Thesefundamental demands resulted from ing the 1980's provides a basis for the tion of more productive technology we an annua! deposit to the suffering and poverty e;
SmPatSm Comment: Diiitistry AND Tastefulljn Assom© Of you nnay well know. 1992shall herald a nevi^ero in entry requirements totbe Bachelor of Dental Science degree. No longersholl on artificially elevated TE score gained from a Private School with less than scrupulous morals regarding cheating guarantee arrogant upper middle Yours Class children a place in the Dental Faculty. Probably forfinancial rotherthan egalitarian reqspns, the Faculty has finally abolished first year Delicatessen and Cateping Service Dentistry, and entry into the course w/ll nowbe based upon the resultsobtalried afterthe first year 239 Hawken Drive, SfLucio of a Bachelor of Science degree. Dentistry Is now available as o career 0pitlbh to a substantially greater cross-section of Australians than It has been in|he,:p65t.Md^^^^^ faculty has Fine foods prepared fresh daily inadvertently made some progress towards ensuring thot'pBiiiSElh^flfeof hlgH^r education are within the reach of those f^om disadvantaged groupsfJotKe'dGmmuh^ include people from soclo-economicallY disadvantaged bdckgrbtjhdisiMijn'Is^W^ from non-English speaking backgrounds; people With dijbbilitiespdr1d![>e6p|;f^^ and isolated areas. . ;,: ,.„ V-^;^;^':-;;1-^^^'-:V,?V'-''H^ ••• Though some of these groups have already con^^ some Way to being fairly represented wrthin the Dental Faculty, their percentage df thfe gfaduqtlrig-students Terriairts pitifully low, The changes In ©ntry requlrernents Will hopefully seethe Onlverslty'of Queensland educating more people Whb really want to be dentists and use theirskills to b^neftt^jtie comrriunity qt large, and reduce the propprtion of arrogant; self-serving, weatttiy parasltes^lhat It hcB beerivomiting out Inthe pdst.:,The contribution of such people to either Dentistry as a profession, or to society is minlrnal. It Is an Unfprtunat^fdctthatsome of today's Deritfetsdnd dental students would be far moresultedtoq degree in bommeree and ecbnotttlcsand an ensuing career inthe banking C&B-.. Poilrm. Cfispy Roiio. Hot ;ooa. Copp;c:r:o, industry %Qn^^bf troined^ds,suppos.edly ethical professional health providers. fviiik^ihakfci. C old Drinks, Sandv/icn-?:, Ccntir^ento: Don't get rhe wrong, this FaG,Olty doesqphtaln many Conscientious people who do deserve the educationthey arereceivIngiaridWhbm I Irnqgineshall go onto use their eclucation responsibly. Sandwiches and Cheese Platters prepared Thatl$wiih6ufqueistlon.lt'stheprlvllege^lirtleleecheswhopresentlylnfestthecoursewhodon't desen^e the service they dret:gngratefully taking advantage of. Birthday Cakes. IMornlng and Afternoon Teas. The changes that have occuired In this faculty will not have a major impact on the type of people graduating from this degree for some time. Nor can they hope to counter the growing Picnic Hampers, Gift Baskets. Imbalances that exist in the provision of education to young Australians today. Nevertheless, they are a substantial improvement in determining who truly deserves to be admitted into a Please phone us for your orders ; restricted entry course such as Dentistry, it remoinsto beseen whetherweshali see suchchanges Free Delivery Service Introduced Irrto other proJ'esskjha! courses, in particularly the even more restricted-entry MBBS degree? We shall see.;. 870 0258 Gary Verdict, Deritdl Shident
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DO EVERY TUESDAY NITE!! JUGS OF BEER • NITE CLUB OPEN TILL LATE!! WDMU3 short stories The Semper Short Story Competition has been run, won and layed out flat. The next 15 pages are crawling with the httle things
and the winner is (turn page now). N-5
The Power
Karl walked inlo the bar, immediately he felt as If someone Karl spoke first, "Three "You acted so differently was watching him. He looked around for any sign of Dragon Cockta ils for us. Make to normal last night Karl. surveillance, saw none, ihen shook hishead over hissuddcn mine a double." We are trying lo believe that it is only some sort paranoid turn of thoughts. He put his feeling down to a hard Leisha and Crag both stared day al the fish markets. For Karl was a fisherman, and times of fairy tale curse laid on at Karl. Crag was the first to you, but we can't help had been tough for him lately because of a war that was speak, "What isgoingon Karl? Ihreatcnlng to break. He sal ala free table, and his thoughts ihinking ihat you might That is the first time that I be hiding something, turned back lo Ihe night's activities. He ordered a drink, and have ever seen you order any wailed for his friends. and with this war com drinks, much less go for any ing up .,," Today was his birthday, how old he was, he did nol know. thing alcoholic!" Kari listened to this with This broughl a faint puzzlement to his thoughts, Karl was Karl gave them a slupid look, growing astonishment, certain Ihat he had known his age before entering the bar. and said, "I feel like someone his vague feelings of No mailer, he thought wilh a grin, I just have lo ask Ihe is watching me, perhaps they unrest had shown them pec^le watching me. No doubl they will have a file wilh are controlling my actions as selves to his friends to everything aboul me on it, they should know my birth dale. well?" As he lifted his cup in a silenl toast to (he idea Ihat anyone an extent that they would would want lo watch him, a iowly fisherman, one of his By their looks Karl could see even consider him ca friends arrived. that the other two did nol see pable of treachery. He the humour in his words, and had nothing to say, he Il was Leisha. She was dressed, as always, in work clothes said, "Hey, it was a joke. To could not explain some which were slill quile grubby. She worked in the dragon day's my thirtieth birthday, 1 vague feeling maybe it farm stables, and usually bought a few extremely crude, but thought! mighUry something was as they said, some very funny jokes with her when she visited lown. Settling different for the occasion." one had cursed him. down across from Karl, she said, "Happy birthday Karl. You From that point the night proceeded, with all three of them Slowly he began closing the door in a wordless daze. hear aboul why the lunatic crossed the road?" celebratinga bit too much. When the barclosed they all left, Crag looked up at him, accusation in his eyes, "Speak lo us Karl looked al her with the puzzled, "I don'l know" look. managing to stagger off in the correct directions for their Karl, give us something to work on. All during lasl night you homes. Karl gave the occasional drunken yell for his myste Leisha tlien said, with a laugh, "Cause he thoughl he was mentioned some 'watchers'. Leisha and I were a little drunk, rious watchers to come forth. a chicken!" I admit thai, but not enough lo imagine all this. Something Karl's head ached, his stomach did a few gymnastic is going on! Come on Karl, you usually lell us everything." After a coupleof half hearted laughs Karl said "Sick, utterly routines as he sal up. He started to dreamily prepare for sick, allhough thai must be the first clean joke that I have The door shut Ihem out wilh a quiel click. Karl heard Crag work. Hallway through pulting his second boot on his jaw ever heard you lell." shout, "This is your last chance Karl, I don't want lo have to dropped, he looked furtively around, suddenly very scared. do anything to hurt you!" Leisha looked al him as if Karl were suddenly a different Not only was it a holiday, but he had never been drunk in person. all his life. Last night was the first time, and the more he Karl turned away from the door ihinking, I really need lo thought about it, Ihe more it seemed as though someone was pull myself out of this. Maybe 1 am sick? She asked, "^Vhat makes you say that? I have never lold a there forcing drinks intohim. Besides that, the vague feeling crude joke in my life." Oulside, Leisha turned away crying. Crag tried lo comfort of being watched had matured into an unknown panicky her, by placing a hand on her shoulder. She looked at him For a second Karl puzzled over her comment, but then feeling. The type of feeling that one usually experiences as though he was death, shrugged off his hand and ran into noticed Crag as he made his way towards the table. Crag when walking in tlie dark after hearing a particularly grue the street. Before going too far, she turned, and accused completed the trio. They had grown up together, and now, some horror story. Crag, "Well go on, reporl your old friend lo ihe aulhorities. although they all led completely different lives, slill met The chiming ofhisdoorbell brought him out of his stunned And find yourself some new friends while you are at it!" regularly. Crag was the luckiest of them in the job he found, reverie. On answering the door, his friends, Leisha and Crag, and his position in society. Craggestured incomprehension, Ihen walked off in thought. were wailing wilh concerned faces. Leisha glanced at Crag, His chosen path would take him to Ihe Tower of Law. He arrived with a grin, and a slap on the shoulder, as he who had bowed his head, she said hesitantly, "We think that said, "Happy birthday. You're old enough lo join Ihe you should see a " Karl rode the levitator to the Mage's office. At least this distinguished, 'Thirty Club', huh?" person is showing some sort of magic ability, Karl thought, Al that she stopped, lowering an embarrassed, suspicious considering the levitator. Coming here was his only choice. Leisha laughed at ihem and said, "Il's a shame lo see Ihe pair of eyes out of sight. To see a Mage was a ridiculous He had spent the morning trying to free his mind of its worn out husks of two old men. It sort of makes me wonder proposition. Karl had no reason to see one, and to his strangeness. He had examined it by himself, he had been to what you might have been able to do when you were knowledge they were all frauds. They dealt in ancient doctors, he had even tried seeing a magical scientist. It had younger, say middle aged?" magical formulas, Ihings of legends. Nothing even remotely been to no avail, his paranoid feelings deepened, he had to related lo the respectable magical scienlisls of current days, Bolh men laughed at her dig at (hem. A waiter visited Iheir act on his change, or his friends would o somelhing that none of them would like. He allowed himself a littlegrin, he table and said, "Would you like to order drinks?" Suddenly Leisha looked up, pain in her eyes as she blurted,
Semper ffi. of Words
would never consider coming to a Mageas norma I, Karl was she said, "there's no name for your problem, and it's nol Despite, or maybe because of, her age, Wynerva seemed not even sure he believed in what they practised, he was been seen in this world for at least a thousand years. Never to know what she was doing. Karl sat in the middle of a only justifying his friend's fears by coming here. has been a cure. Back when this was more common, the pentagon looking around the lady's curious workroom. Il Mages were called all sorts of things, witches, wizards, was full of dolls. There were large and small dolls, boy and On entrance lo the office, he saw an empty silting room, a conjurers, and quite a few other names. These people were girl dolls, dolls oi all types were everywhere. bored secretary and a door apparently madeofsol id oak. As a fair bit more powerful than we are today." She paused, he approached the reception desk, the lady behind it lost her "What I am trying to get lo is, there was no cure, so Ihere, Karl asked suspiciously, "What do the dol Is have to do with bored look, looking both younger and healthier with the this? I really cannot see what purpose Ihey could serve." sure asdragons lay eggs, will be no cure. Too scarce a curse, transition. and not enough talent to deal with it." Wynerva gave him a big grin, il made her look really ugly, She said, "Can I be of any assistance sir?" and said, "Jusl like you said, thoy can't, and don'l serve any Karl expressed his defeat, with a visible sagging of his purpose. Ever since I was a little girl I've collected Ihem, Karl glances uncharaclertstically around the room then features. He had become somethingdifferenllo his previous They have all ended up in this rom. DoiVi use il much you spoke, "Yes, I would, ahh, well, could 1, see the, umm. self, his friends probably had the guard searching for him as see. Noone these days has much need for serious spoils, so Mage." a spy, and there did not seem to be a way out. He looked Ihis room doesn't get used much. More of a place for storage His eyes came to rest on the receptionist's name badge stupidly at the Mage's desk, its only adornment was a small now." Glancing al Karl during her preparations, and talk, after their journey around the room. Il read, 'Carol'. plaque saying, Wynerva Bale. The lady behind the name she saw his horrified expression. "Now don't get me wrong plate was reading Ihrough an old book, Wynerva looked at Kari, it'sstill effective. Jus! because there are a few dolls lying Carol said with a little grin, "Let me just check her Karl, sighed, then spoke again, "There's been some success around doesn't upset what we're going to do." appointment book, please sir." with a risky procedure," Karl did nol know whether he should be relieved, or if he Being biased male, Karl's head jerked up when Carol Karl looked up, a spark of hope fading as he saw the should walk oul. He had no time to decide as a crystal ball identified the Mage as female. Oh well, he thought, I am doubtful expression on Wynerva's face, "the lore surround swooped down on him and hovered in fronlof his forehead. seeing a Mage, how much worse can it make things if she is ing your problem is confusing, like I said, it's extremely old. Il seemed to contain a crystal ball, which seemed lo contain female. Bul what 1 can make of il is this, there have been some others, anolher and so on forever. Soon he was lost looking al ihe in a similar sort of state, who have tracked down the endless train of crystal balls. He did nol notice as the room Carol said, "the Mage is free at the moment, you can go righl in." controller of their actions and dealt with them." began lo blur into somelhing completely dift'crcnt. Or from Wynerva's point of view, Ihat he seemed lo fade away into Karl gave her an anguished look and said, "Bull wouldn't Karl turned, walked lo ihe door, opened il and stepped nothing. inside. even know where to start looking. I had barbarian warrior ancestors who must have done this sorl of stuff all the time, She shrugged her shoulders and said, "Oh well, who The Mage was nol particularly attractive or young. Her but nol me, no way! I am a fisherman, not an adventurer." knows what happens nexl?" image was not helped by the fact ihal she was clipping her Wynerva said, "Cheer up sonny. There are other ways, than toenails as Karl entered. actually going lo look for someone, Ihat you can find them." Kari came to an empty crystal ball. Il did not contain anything, however it seemed as though there were colours Without glancing at him, or ceasing her manicure she said, Karl was desperate, he did not understand what Wynerva coalescing around him. Gradually, a blurry image of "Sowhal'llilbe?" was hinting at, but he could not continue the way he was. 'something' solidified around him. The image began to focus into a room. After a minute, the room was no longer Karl stood, door handle in hand, dumbfounded. He said, "Could you please do it" blurry. Karl shook his head and looked around, he saw a She continued, "Hurry up sonny, I ain't got all year, you Wynerva muttered, "A complex translocation?" Then she young man sitting at a desk. The man seemed to be writing know." said louder, "The whole pivot of this little caper is the furiously on one of many sheets of paper strewn across his chance that I can find the link between you and your table. Maybe this was him, maybe this was Karl's controller. Karl felt like a fool, he started to lurn saying, "Sorry, this is controller, and then trace it back to wherever they might be. Karl crept closer. a mistake, wrong building, street, town, something." Hmm, we'll see. However, there is one thing, of utmost When he was as close as he could go, without disturbing On completing his lurn he was frozen by a sharp com importance, that must be done before we can proceed." the man, he looked at oneof thepiecosol paper. It had, 'THE manding, "Stop!" Karl asked, "Whal?" POWER OF WORDS' written across the top of it. Who Karl tumed back to face Ihe Mage. She was now looking, knows whal that is supposed to mean, thoughl Karl, he "You have to pay me is what. Nothing is done free around with interest, at him. She was twirling her manicure instru began reading. It described his recent life, starting in ihe bar here, and seeing how you may never come back, I want to ment absently around her little finger by ils little cord. where he had first felt the strange feeling! This must be his be paid now. One thousand gold pieces should cover my controller, Karl thought, his power must stem from whal he "Sit down young man. I can see some powerful, unnatural expenses reasonably," Wynerva said seriously. writes. Karl looked al the sheet that the man was writing on. thing in your aura, tt seems you've a problem," she said this Kari laughed, a half broken laugh, and said, "Not a chance, He read the most recently written words, and recognised his with a nod, "a true problem." I am a fisherman remember. Fifty silver pieces is all I have. last thought. With a great deal of frustration, spiced wilh a Karl did as she wanted, he had nowhere else to go, and You can take Ihat, or I can leave, Please help me, you are my small amount ofsurprise and wonder, he yelled, "Could you something seemed to make him stay. Maybe, he hoped, only chance." please stop that!" things were not as much of a hoax as they seemed. "Well," Wynerva considered his offer, it was more than she Warren Mayocchi After relating his life over the past twelve hours to the Mage usually made in a year, "alright!"
SmpHflTm
thing much, much worse? I tried not to think about it. In the room bristling with No Talking signs, one physical damage done to Brian or Susie, or any mental Friday the 13th had seemed too insulting a clich6, voice is sufficient to fracture tranquillity. Like the injury added to that already effected by excessive besides: there wasn't another Black Friday for months. ancient water torture, each syllable beats on the ear's cannabis intake. She was simply to remind them that So instead I'd noted the next full moon, and then naked wall, and pumices the soul with its blatant others valued silence, and perhaps add a littie touch started to make my Intentions known - in the daytime, transgression of the laws of Silence. I should have of menace if they mistook her for just some kind of at first. I took my books there and read aloud: "Death been a monk, in some window-1 it hal I where Iips were hallucination. Hopefuily,she'dscarethemrightaway, be not proud", "because I could not stop for death", set as stone, sternly but lovingly compelled into one and then take up permanent residence in the empty "thegrave's a fine and private place"; things like that. unbroken line. But then my breasts, and not my all- flat - it was really only fit for dead people anyway. I Sometimes I just walked around thinking, concentrat too-perfect hearing, would have betrayed me. could imagine living quite happily with a studious, if somewhat ghastly, neighbour. At leastwe appeared to ing on the issues, trying to make my mind as open and I never study in the library now; I work at home. And have similar taste in literature. After all, I reasoned, probeable as possible. I was that desperate. I read the if Brian and Susie indulge in their daily, almost all- toying with cold silver, why should I be the one who names on the tombstones, and tried to fathom what daily fix of bombs and screams, I go steadily, silently has to move again? sort of personality had mouldered into the soil or mad. At least I did, until I found who I was looking for. seeped Into the roots of trees and weeds around me. Still, something nagged at me not the fact that I was You see, I was looking for a certain kind of ex-person; She must have been watching me for hours, maybe not just anyone would do. weeks. She knew my name, although I 'd never uttered disturbing the dead - she'd said she was bored - nor it in that place. She came in from the road through the what the church might have to say: I hadn't been to To apply, they would have to have been studious, twisted bars, and at first I thought she was a visitor, church in years. I couldn't think what it might be. like me. They must have hated loud or sudden noise, here on a prank or to meet some boy - not that I would In two weeks, Brian and Susie had packed up and and have needed perfea quiet to concentrate on their have ever chosen such an unlucky place and time! gone. I never found out what Amanda did to them. It studies. They must have had the experience of t^ing She had on a floral print dress, and stockings, she had was enough for me that I could once again study; tocomprehendadtffi cult article, orperfectanimportant plaited hair, and a shadowed face. When she came t and assiRnmentswerepili^^ the end-of- essay, inalibrary full of whispers, thecracklingof lolly to me, and I saw that faceBfflWiBIBaBllflfSH^ bf wrappers, farts and giggles. At the very least, they from it like rotten straw, i st^ffllfflHSfflREndl would have to have sympathised with the kind of in the pocket of my jeaj person that, unfortunately for my inner Wa, and brought, just in case. She' naturally philanthropic nature, I happen to be. I had a job for them. "You're a breather, eh." You see, after twelve suicidal months in a tiny flat "What?" where from the other side ofone flimsy wall came the "You breathe." screams of two very young, fledgling manic- depressives; from the other, the sound of their loving I couldn't say, just then. reached forthe keyhole. Sometimes tiny spiders, and father at stool or hawking up last night's phlegm, I "You like Jane Austen?" Ig ||gU^gRQS9gn-om the hole. If could stomach it no longer, and moved. For two lu^^g^Q^Qj^da's face at the glorious weeks, the next apartment, even smaller, Oh, shit, I thought, but I m.swered bravely: "\ ly |*JDiymj{i|U£||j|ii|£]t the place was incredibly filthy, but beautifully quiet, was as close to the Brontes." heaven as I will probably ever approach. Then the "Actually, I already km •w", said the girl, ai next-door neighbours moved in. frozen, grey face gleamed ike a candle from M, landlord came Tussaud's. 'n every second I do not blame them. I do not. Everyone should be s crew-cut and She had been blind, and able to enjoy their own life-style, however oming. He had uncommendable, without censure. But in this city, ofthoseanglersfromthesgnimimnvaEIlBaainiis , "sistent spider - where the greed of some has made viaims of those of bear the scars of sighted ancestors. The jaw was non-venomous, Amanda assured me-just fascinated us too poor to pick and choose, we found ourselves narrow, too, like a fish, Withdjsi^ai^j^^jgM jof lligliijiiimi^lg^Qlpt was when the squeezed under one roof almost as intimately as a the nasal cavity, those fri^^WHffiSJMJfer family. When they smoked, I coughed. When friends by wax, were slightly lumi^^fflMHfflHS- visited, I was an unseen guest. When they cooked, my you could tell that they sJ^^BJMBBHiw. louse was shut, stomach rumbled, and I knew if their gas was on too 'ere no sounds, When she spoke, I coi^^W^BBM^i in high, or If it was pepper or mixed herbs in the beef hear the crows which slurred her tongu^^^^^^QQ)y stew. And when they bought a television and a video [the top of the shiny lips together - her t^^QSQ^RRffiS^it. machine, I knew my Infant peace was in its untimely [er, possums on decline. "This place is very quie ^^^^^^^^Jarted singing a and the wind rattled on n heuuffiSuuliSipSIue window, and Brian and Susie like to smoke grass. That's fine by corrugated fence. there were gobs of blood in my lungs but my body me; the herb is absolutely silent, and sweeter on the wouldn't move it was shut and the windows were nose than tobacco fumes. They also like movies with "But I'm bored. You know, I've read each tombstone bulging, warping, bending in under the weight of all lots of gunshots, police-sirens, screams, death-rattles here - no, you guess how many times." the earth and dry crumbling earth and I wanted to and explosions. The strange thing was; as the dope- "Two hundred?" I croaked. scream but my mouth my mouth MY MOUTH fumes wafting in through my study window became stronger, the sirens and explosions became louder - "Three thousand," There was nothing I could say. I was stopped with clay - almost as if by increasing the volume passers-by tried to imagine how long she'd been here. Sometimes I'll be writing an assignment or reading wouldn't be ableto hearthetell-talesmell. Or perhaps "I'll haunt these people for you, but in return, you and a book will detach itself from a .shelf, open, and the weed impairs hearing, along with perception and supply me with books, and lecture notes, and a place float through the room and out the louvres. The only reflexive action. Certainly their short-term memories to read, a quiet place." thing I 'I I see of Amanda are her long, amber finger and were affected; no matter how many times I begged thumbnails,someof which are six or seven centimetres and cajoled, once I smelt the sweetish smoke I knew "That's fine", I replied. "But you must understand; I long. Once I felt the bile come to my throat when 1 need perfect peace. You must do it quietly -otherwise that my study time was measurable by minutes. Up opened a book and found a thick, curved rind like a the deal's not on." would creep the volume, mercilessly, unbearably, hideous book-mark lying there, I choked back my until I was ready to remind them with a large, well- "That's how I feel too", she answered, and smiled, nausea - Amanda doesn't like loud sounds. aimed brick. and I wished she hadn't. Of course, it's a mutually beneficial agreement, but "No", I promised myself, smashing my fist into a As I scuffled home, I fidgeted the little symbol in my sometimes I feel like going to the library now, just so wall; "No violence. You will have to hit upon some pocket, and wondered about what I'd done. The girl I can heara human voice, or even just the sound ofthe other way." wasn'twithme,butl couldfeel her following me, and librarian's pen clicking as she patrols the room. Even Now please, you must not imagine that I'm some sort at the same time I knew she was already In my room, opening and closing the door disturbs Amanda, so I try ofcrank. I love music-many kinds of music-and any greedily fingering my books; and, as well, standing not to go outside. I never sing, of course - there's no melodious sound. I even sing -1 find It a very mind- dimly at the gravestone which read: one to hear me but her, and she always hears. Simon upllftlng exercise. It is only particular noises - steady doesn't visit me any more; I don't phone him either, unmodulated dronIng;the beat of heavy metal orearly HERE LIES since Amanda complained that she could hear our morning traffic-which distress me. Worst ofall, is the voices vibrating through the wires, and that I laughed Incessant static of canned laughter, ersatz music, the AMANDA BROOKES too loudly. Once I got angry, but that night the dreams 24-hour-a-day afflialon of our modern society known were worse, and when I finally clawed my way back astelevision.Theonlyother noise which can compete MAY SHE REST IN PEACE through the clay into my shuddering body there was in grating all the cartilage from my spinal column Is her luminous, molten-candle face, and the yellow nails biting into my throat, and she was hissing; one which violates my only Sacred Site - the Library. One thing we'd agreed on was that there'd be no "Anne, Anne ... You're breathing too loud."
SemParf 9.
"There are fairies at the bottom of our garden," Jessica says. nil look down from tJie Idtchan coun-1 a 17-year-old high school girl, Bany is trees and don't use them for anything?: don't want Jessie and I to wind up like • ter, where I am chopping potatoes.} Jessica's father, after all, and I guess I Like they do in - in Brazil?" She stum-; that. I go back to the washing, trying to I Jessicaisstand[ingnexttome,abit; love him. I guess. bles over Ae unfamiliar word. I'd taught distract myself. of mud smeared across her - to my it to her after this afternoon's map read- If it wasn't for Jessie, I probably would Socks. Washcloth. Blouse. I mind, at least - cherubic face. ing. have gone on to study business at univer •fitting the knife down, I crouch so I can Ill "nr~ii sity. Maybe I'd be an accountant by now Bany seems to be getting annoyed. "I. look in the eye. "Really, darling?" I ask. - or a shop assistant. Who knows. Any don't know," he growls. "They're grown "What are they like?" way, being a good wife and mother to my ups, they must have a good reason. Now She vmnkles her nose in concentration. family is the most important job in the eat your tea." Jess says no more on the "They talk funny," she says. She looks at worid. subject. We eat diimerin a more subdued ::ii:!U i^ atmosphere. me. "Were there fairies in your garden So I keep telling myself. iNLJM-4JJl when you were a girl, Mummy?" still feel bad about snapping at As I tuck her into bed, Jessie asks me T^=k Jessie, even though it was two Actually, I never sawfairies when I was "Mummy, doyou know why the big peo I days ago. She's out in the back a girl. Maybe it was just my way of ple knock trees down?" garden, playing with her fairies. thinking, but fairies were just sort of-1 I -I I .f 71 I think for a second. "It's so that people She's been very cool to me since my don't know, silly. I did have my talking can use the land where the trees were to outburst, and it worries me. I think I'm teddy bear, Mr Woodle, who used to go farm cows on." I don't mention that the overcompensating - She's been outside exploring all the time. Because I'd heard — essica comes ovetJ=Ur to me as- I read a C0W3 get used to make hamburgers - I'd for hours, but I haven't tailed her in or it on the radio once, Mr Woodle also had magazine. rather not expose her to thoughts on check on her. We've got to work this out. the voice of Gough Whitlam. However, "Mummy", she says, "where's —" mortality just yet. no fairies. I don't want to tell Jessica As I started doing the dishes, Barry and she proceeds to rattle off a that, though - who wants to disappoint walks into the kitchen to get a beer. series of chirps, rattles and sighs. I She seems mollified by my answer. As their first and only child? she falls asleep, she mumbles Tiather "What's the matter with Jess?" he asks in stare at her in amazement. Where did have trees than stupid old cows." I smile. a preoccupied voice. that come from? "Why, yes, Jessie," I say, improvising As Heave her room, a thought crosses my quickly. "They wore little red hats and "I beg your pardon?" Rather stuffy, I mind. "What do you mean?" trousers, and they li vedinside big mush know, but I'm tryingto teach Jessie man What did she mean by "big people? "She's been acting weird for a while, rooms. Oh, and they ate nectar and drank ners. Grace. Yesterday she gave me some very dew, and flew on wings like butterflies." funny looks. I almost whacked her 'cos of She repeats the strange noises - at There - they sound like good fairies. it, but thought I'd check with you first." least, I think she does. I'm lost after half He opens hisbeer, anddrainshalf of itin Jessica's face falls. She gives me a look a second. of- contempt? Couldn't be. "Grownn-ups a few seconds. are so silly" she sniffs, and stalks off to "Where did you leam to say that?" I look away fi-om him. "I, ah, think it's her room with all the ofTended dignity a "That's how the fairies talk," she says. just a phase she's going through." That four-year-old can muster. unday. Jessica is outplaying in the "It's what they call the place they come sounds like a good, parent-type speech. back yard. Barry is out with his from." Lord knows my father pulled it out often I stare afler her, bemused. What did I frien(k. I finish washing clothes S enough when I was young. say? What did I do? I shrug. Well, there's Fairies? Oh, yes. Jessica came to me and walk out to the clothesline out no understanding children, I guess. I go about a fortnight ago, saying we had theback. As Heave the house, Jessie There seem to be a few cats and dogs in back to the potatoes. fairies in the back yard. Now that I think ooks up - she is at the other end ofthe the back yard, I wonder if Jessie-but no, Barry comes home at about six in the about it, the chirps sound very much like yard. She makes small 'shoo'-ing mo don't think about what she's doing. Ill evening, as usual, giving me a preoccu bird noises. Clever Jessie, maldngupher tions to something I can't see. I remem only get curious. own language! ber her fairies. Well, if she doesn't want pied kiss as he comes into the kitchen for Teah, well I don't like it." Barry flatly a drink. "Hi, Grace," he says, pulling a me to see them, I suppose I can humour "I don't know, dear," I say gently. "I her. She comes over to me as I commence states. beer firom the fridge. "Where's Jess?" don't speak fairy-talk". hanging up clothes. I hear the catflap in the back door swing "In her room," I reply. "Asleep, most She frowns. "Do we have a really big open and shut. We don't have a cat - the likely." "Mummy?" map?" flap came with the house. One of the "Yes dear?" Socks. T-shirt. Apron. neighbours' catsmusthave come in. Barry "Ill go in and bring her out for dinner." As it happens, there is a World Map I hears it too. "Bloody cats! Ill throw the He drains his beer in a few seconds and got from the Women's Weeklyafewyears "Why is the ocean so dirty?" damn thing out!" dumps it unceremoniously in the bin on ago. Jessie andlfinditinaboxunder the his way out. "What do you mean?" Underpants. stairs, next to a box of cricket gear, cov Trousers. Dress. As he puts his beer down, the cat walks He returns a few minutes later with ered in dust. After I clean it, Jess spreads through the doorway ofthe laundry into "The fairies said that when they came Jessica, who goes to the table and scram it out and pores over it. Suddenly, she the kitchen. It's Bruce, the Manx belong here on the big boats, the ocean was all bles into her chair. Barry seats himself stabsherfinger downin one spot."There!" ing to the Hollandal es next door. Strapped dirty and oily." She kicks at a small clod as I bring over dinner - beef stew writh she exclaims in triumph. to it's head are primitive reins, and on its of dirt. "Why is the water dirty?" vegetables, with ice-cream for Jessie's back- I look to where her finger points, some dessert. After about twenty minutes of More environmental questions? It seems where in South America. Brazil. Brazill Oh it's a naked man about 6 inches tall. occasional, stilted "How was your day?" that Jessie's taking a real interest in the He has a bow that looks like it's made conversation, dinner ends. As Jessica world lately. Notbadfor a four-year-old. "That's where the fairies come from?" I from grass and twigs, and as I gape at helps me clear away the dishes, Barry ask. stretches and says "Jess tell s me we have "That would be an oilslick, Jess. That's him, he draws a tiny arrow from a quiver "Yes." Jessica says. "They used to fivei n fairies in the bottom ofthe garden!" when a, um, bigboat has an accident and at his side and shoots Barry in the back of the trees there, but bad people came and spills things." Bra. Shirt. Jessie's swim the hand. "Yes," Jess pipes. "But real ones, not knocked all the trees dovm, so they had ming costume. like Mummy's make-believe ones." to come here." I can't believe this is happening. This is "Why don't they clean it up then?" a dream. RainforestlogginginBrazil.Ithadbeen I flush slightly. I guess Jessica is better This can't be real. at seeing through me than 1 thought. on the news a few timeslately, so I guess "It's too hard to do that. Now you'd Jess must have seen or heard about it on better go inside before you get burnt." Barry gives an incoherent bellow, grabs Later, when Jessica is asleep, Barry TVandfitteditintohergame. Ifeel pride Towel. Hat. T-shirt. the beer bottle off the table and throws it and I watch TV. As The Flying Doctors' well inside me for my little girls' imagi at the cat. It dodges, the - thing - on it's ends, he asks me "Is this fairy thing - "Why?" A slightly whining tone creeps nation - and alittie puzzlement, as well. into her voice. back staying on. The bottle shatters, well, normal for girl's Jessie's age?" spillingFostersacrossthefloorinafoamy "How did you know what -" I almost say Something small and petty deep within puddle. The tiny man fires another ar "I suppose so. Boys as well. Didn't you Brazil, but decide to play along with the have any imaginary friends when you me lashes out. "Just do as you're told and row, and hits Barry on the shoulder. game."-what the Fairies home looks like?" go inside! And stop asking stupid ques were four? Someone starts screaming. I realize that "They drew a picture of it in the dirt for tions!" As soon as I say the wor(k I regret it's me. "No," he replies, and goes into the me." them, but ifs far too late to take them kitchen for a beer. It doesn't really sur back. Barry joins in, almost, roaring as he prise me - my husband has very little Of course, what else. She probably saw runs across and kicks the cat in the ribs. imagination, which is probably why he a picture on TV or in the paper. It hardly I expect tears. Instead, Jessica scowls, It flies backward and slams into the hot- doesn't get bored at his job, lifting and matters. and then burst out "The fairies are right" water heater, the creature on its back You big people are all rotten!" She turns packing over at the docks. That night, at dinner, Jessica turns to being crushed between the two. I sink to and runs into the house. Barry and asks "Daddy, why do people my knees. 1 still can't believe I'm making Barry returns and sits next to me. I have to knock down trees?" I feel dirty, totally ashamed of myself. all this noise. Ifeel sodistantfroni what's glance at him for a few seconds. Stubble, What kind of mother am lif my daughter happening. Then Barry grabs my arm slight baldness, muscle that is starting Barry's brow furrows. "Well, because they need wood to build things, and to hates me? I almost go after her - but and pulls me into the living room. tobluT slightly into fataround the edges. deci de to 1 et her cool do wn first. I r es ol ve I think -as I've been doing more and make paper, I suppose. That sort ofthing, " In the movies, women usually have to be Barry isn't what you'd call a conserva not to tell Barry - he'd probably smack more often lately - that maybe I could her, and alienate her even further. slapped across the face to stop hysterics. have done better. tionist. He's not anti-green - just apa I never liked those kind of movies. I come Sure. Maybe Prince Charming was out thetic. I shiver. I haven't spoken to my mother back to my senses pretty quickly - al therefiveyears ago, just waiti ngto marry "But what about when the knock down since I married Barry four years ago -1 though Barry looks very shaken. "What the hell was that?" he mutters. I fall, shrieking, into the abyss of inadness. cause her fairies are pygmies - pygmy Fear and loathing play across his face. pygmies! -from the Amazon. Very sim ple. I feel sorry for him. He has so little imagination, he can't seem to deal with Who knows why they shrank to such a something out ofthe ordinary. Whereas tiny size? Interbreeding for centuries in I- a dense part ofthe forest? Evolutionary pressure to stay small and use less re I'm standing on a cliff-edge. Right now, sources? Who knows. I'm safe. But I sense that I could go here's a cricket bat smeared with totally mad in the blink of an eye. blood and fur in front ofme. Maybe there's just more magic in the world than people realize. "Isn't real, isn't real, isn't real ..."Barry T Regaining consciousness isn't is sayingto himself. I want to believe him anything like waking up from They must have left the Amazon basin - but I can justsee the edge ofthe puddle sleep. For me, it's like swimming-mov when the logging destroyed their home. of beer in the kitchen. If this was a ing through the water, then making my They would have stowed away on some dream, the bottle wouldn't have broken way upwards and breaking through the of the ships leaving the area. They're like that. That's not how dreams work. surface. probably scattered across the world by now. "It is real, so stop that!" I want to slap Hook around, moving my head in small, his face so badly. jerky movements like a lizard. I find They must have so much hate for hu myself huddled in the comer of my bed mans. Not only did we destroy their I'm teetering over the precipice. room - vnth this cricket bat in front of forest, but we're ruining tho rest ofthe planet as well. Oil slicks, air pollution, "Grace, what was that thing?" He looks me. There's also a kitchen knife, and it's ozone destruction ... No wonder they at me, desperation in his eyes. His hand bloody too. hate us - we're killing the world. is bleeding slightly from the tiny arrow I don't remember anything that hap lodged in it. There's greenish muck pened after - I guess this is where the world strikes smeared on the needle-sized dart. Poi back. Fairies - Mother Nature's aveng son" Right, now I can't deal with the After I saw Jessica murder Bany. ing angels. concept. This time I don't go mad. Instead, I feel "Grace?" Barry's breathing is getting nothing. No emotion about my deadhus- heavy. A little ragged. band or my killer daughter and her fair ies. Nothing. I start to say something -1 don't know what - but my thoughts are drowned out Maybe lack of emotions is madness it by a torrent of bird-like noises opening self. up. They aren't loud, but they confuse From the look ofthe bat and knife, my t's been hours since this started. I me. They sound familiar. They - body must have been killingfairies while think it's been hours -1 don't have my brain didits own thing. I look over the a watch and the clock stopped when They sound like the noise Jessica said they cut the power. her fairies make. bed and see a few fairies - all dead, crushed or cut in half. Dear God. No police or ambulances have come There's a dresser up against the door. I here. No neighbours have come to see Jessica. guessImusthaveputitthere when Iran what's going on. If Dennis Hollandale I flail my arms, tottering on the edge of away. Looks like Fm stuck in here for a hasfairy friends, then I think I'velost my insanity. while. neighbours. Well - no great loss, I never liked them much. "Jess," I breathe. I think I'm coping quite well with the destruction of my life and family. Fd say scenes like this have happened "What? She's out there?" I turn on the radio next to the bed. all across Australia-probably the entire Barry scrambl es to his feet, runs through Nothing. It looks hke the little bastards world, if it's going to make ariy differ the kitchen to the laundry - almost cut the power off. Probably the phones ence. slipping in the split beer- and slams the too. Damn. I wonder how the fairies convince chil back door open. dren to kill their parents. Probably by I edge over to the window -1 don't feel telling the truth - that adults are bleed "Hang on Jessie, Daddy's coming!" I like walking upright just yet, thank you. ing the world dry, that we're evil and hear him yell. I stumble over to the • Looking out the window, I can see mean. Young kids are impressionable - kitchen window andlook out. Jessie must especially when they can see the damage be trapped out there, maybe killed - straight into the back yard. I can see. Jessica. [ all around them. _ don't think that don't think that don't My lungs hurt. Must be the poison on think that!- Jess is still naked, but her bow's on the ground beside her. It looks like she's the fairy - pygmy - arrows. - by these little beings who sound like using a knife to carve more arrows. Be When I think about the children, I can Jessie's fairies. side her is little Dennis Hollandale, the see abit ofthe future-the nextfewdays, neighbours four-year-old son. He's also anyway. I see a guerilla force that no These things are Jessie's fairies. undressed and covered in paint, and is army would fight-because the children • helping Jess make arrows. His stomach Out the window I can see Barry. Around ofthe soldiers are members of it. A force hangs down in a pot-belly. I warned his him are several dogs and cats, each with that the public will protect from harm - mother about givinghim too much choco a-fairy-on theirbacks. More fairies are until it is toolate. If worst comes to worst late. You getfat fi-om too much chocolate, running about, bows in hand. At this and the children die - well, what do the Toomuch chocolate. Too much chocolate. distance, I can justsee the multitude of fairies care? Young or not, they're all the Too- arrows protruding from Barry's legs, hated "big people'. arms, body, head. He screams as a dart Maybe I'm not coping as well as I Civilization will die. To be honest, I penetrates he eye, blood trickling down thought. his face. He flails blindly about him, really don't care. Maybe we don't deserve staggeringunderthepoinsettia tree next I slowly shift my vision towards the to be the dominant race any more. Let to the fence. A fairy drops from a branch fence. From here, I can't quite see Barry the fairies have a go. Maybe they can fix onto his shoulder, brandishing a tiny -just his leg. Andthe dog gnawing on it. things before the world dies. spear. Barry yells, reaches up and grabs My mind sinks back into blessed ob I just don't care. it, and dashes its brains out against the livion. tree. He picks up a stick and lays about It's dark. I don't know how long I've I've been coming in and out of fugue himself vrith it. To me, he seems an been here. states a number of times now. This time, elemental force, unaffected by these evil Fm so hungry. I come to with a fairy clutched in my little creatures and their poisons. hand. I hear a scream off in the distance. I Then an arrow a foot and a half long I look at him. He's not the traditional ignore it. slams into his throat. Blood geysers from fairy with gossamer wings. Rather, he's Hungry. the wound, coating his T-shirt and shorts a perfectly proportional human being. I grope around me. My hand closes upon in steamingred. He falls in a heap to the No clothing, some body paint, somewhat a dead fairy. ground, unmoving save for the crimson coppery skin. He looks like the jungle river gushing from his neck. tribesmenyouseein documentariesabout I even eat the bones. the Amazon forests. Panic-stricken, my vision darts to the Jessi ca's been a very naughty girl. Very, other end of the garden. There, trium The answer comes upon me without any very naughty. phantly naked, coated in ochre and pai nt, sense ofrevelation-just understanding. When she comes home, I'm going to give stands Jessie. This is why Jessica became interested her such a smack. Withawoodandstringbowinherhands. about logging in the rain forests. Be Patrick CDufly. lmPn24.
Cement Box Diary
NEW SERVICE to QLD UNI STAFF St STUDENTS The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui. Free info on what's playing in St Peter's Senior Thsatre Sludents,10/11/12 Oct (Matinees & Evenings) Brisbane. Freebies. Cheepies. What the critics say. What the Industry The Lesson and The Bold Prima Donna grapevine says. 16 Oct - 26 Oct, An lonesco Season, U.O.S. Theatre Sports Finals 27 Oct for the "Cement dump". Photography students on stage from the Old College of Art. Wed 30 Oct
Duyjciry GALLERY Fresh food made on the spot Open 11 am - 5pm Mon-Fri. Every Welcome. IMixed Media fit Photocopy Collage. Blen Thompson -challenging and "slightly offensive" 6 Oct -18 Oct. "Photocopies of the Grotesque".
Times Are Tough All Over When the Cement Box began its drive for sponsorship to improve Ihings at the 196 seat live theatre under the Schonell Cinema we started by trying to get a radto. Our old one is a clock-radio bought at a pawn broker for $2.50. Stations all over town knocked us back. 8105 sent scratch-its in an attempt to help. But 4KQ kept our begging letter for 4 months and we are now possessed of a clear, toud radio ... araWited to 4KQ. The Cement Box Foyer Cafe is the coolest place to eat... literally... as we are underground and 10 degrees cooler (or hotter in winter) than outside. Open 11 -5 Monday to Friday with a different art exhibition every 3 weeks. Come down and try us for lunch.
Safety and Security Womens' Rights Report Welcome back everyone! The academicyear is proving how committed we are to YOUR STUDENTS and S60 for NON STUDENTS presented by the Office of Equal Opportunity, nearly over and exam lime well within sight SAFETY! Unfortunately NON U OF Q STU (there is a CONCESSION rate of $ 10 for those with co-operation from the Queensland Uni again. There w ill be plenty of non-study related DENTS will have to pay $25 and OTHERS S50 who are UNEMPLOYED and carry some form versity Women's Association and our office. activities and issue confrontation as thc sun sets (although if you are UNEMPLOYED a DO of proof). Meaghan is a freelance writer and academic on this final semester of the year. NATION will suffice). We will be asking for admission will be FREE and ALL are wel 'HER-ETICAL' (our annual publication) is donations towards thc cost of the refreshments come., SELF DEFENCE WORKSHOPS .Penny out soon - WE NEED YOUR CONTRIBU Gulliver will be here on THURSDAY 10 and provided, (so bring some coinage with you as TIONS NOW! Our DEADLINE is the END ACCESS AND EQUITY DAY wiU be held FRIDAY 11 OCTOBER in the AXON ROOM buttons, bottle tops and the like simply won't OF OCTOBER but ifyou would also like to see from 930 a.m. until 1 p.n]. on Sunday 29 (situated upstairs in the catering section ofthe do!).ThcscworkshopsareforWOMENONLY! your work published in the Youth Affairs Net September in Mayne HaU. Thc focus this Union Complex). Classes will commence at 10 Penny conducts completely different courses work of Queensland magazine 'Transitions', year is on postgraduate studies and information a.m. on the THURSDAY and 9 a.m. on the for men, including gays, because each sex then I recommend earlier inputs. The aim of about possible degrees, entry requirements, FRIDAY, ranning through until 5 p.m. and 4 require separate methods of instruction. Re 'Transitions' is to share research material of scholarships and special snident support will p.m. respectively. They will be run so that you member, as a WOMAN on this campus (or relevance to youth affairs in Queensland in a be available. Queensland University is com will be able to attend Ictures and retum to the anywhere for that matter) your PERSONAL formal yet accessible way, which can also be mitted to ensuring that the benefits of higher woricshop (although this will not gain you fuul SAFETY is MOST AT RISK and by ignoring used as part of lobbying strategies to obtain education are within reachof those fromdisad value of the experience). Penny is the Chief these workshops you are literally ignoring your government funding for young women's vantaged groups within the community includ Instructor andFounderof the Australian Wom need forprolection. We are doing our level best housing, crisis centres, etc. The Network is ing women, Aboriginal and Tonrcs Strait Is en's Self Defence Academy. She holds the to protect you by oiTering special services like looking for punchy articles or comments which landers, people from non-English speaking equivalent of aSecond Dan Black Belt in Kung Penny's workshops FREE of charge but es address the problems young women students backgrounds, the socio-economically disad Fu and the Australian Women's Kickboxing sentially YOUR SAFETY IS ALSO YOUR encounter particularly on campus. Your 'Her vantaged, the disabled and people fromrura l or Champion title. If you walch Channel Ten's RESPONSIBILITY - PLEASE HELP US TO etical' contributions may come in any shape or isolated areas. Refreshments will be available 'Til Ten' jjrogramme on Thursdays you will HELP YOU BY ATTENDING THESE form and are assured of inclusion. INCLUDE throughout the day and child care can be ar see her in action. Penny has also appeared on WORKSHOPS (there is no need to register just YOUR NAME AND ACONTACT NUMBER ranged if required Patricia MacGroarty from Sixty Minutes, The Midday Show, The Today tum up on the day). with each piece submitted, as writers permis Courses and Careers is the person to talk to for Show.GoodMoming Australiaandinanumber sion must be obtained for any work (or part further information about ihis event and she of high profile women's magazines (e.g. Cos Also on WEDNESDAY 23 andTHURSDAY thereof) used in 'Transitions'. All contributions can be contacted on (07) 365 1736. • mopolitan, Cleo, Women's Day). Aside from 24 OCTOBER we have organised for another should be handed to me personally, or placed the countless ntunljers of female television series of SELF DEFENCE WORKSHOPS to under the door of my office. viewers, more than one thousand women leam The following has been organised for our take place between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the self defence from Penny and her instructors Lunchtime Seminar Series in the Women's AXON ROOM but this time the instructor vrill Semper will be running their sex and drugs annually. Penny expltuiu becoming involved Room: be SUE CHAPMAN. Sue has had ten (10) survey results in their last edition and have in the field thus - "I furst started teaching years experience in martial arts and works to plenty of photo-copies available if you would 9th October 1 - 2 p.m. 'PMS - dealing with it defence in 1976 after my woric as a rape coun dismantle the common myths which inhibit a like to participate in it beforehand. I urge EVE effectively* by a speaker from the Women's sellor gave me the urgent need to help the woman's ability to fightback (e.g. 'women are RYONE (both female and male) to make the Health Centre. women I was counselling. I have been develop helpless victims', 'women are weak', 'fighting effort, as statistics gleaned from this exercise ing these skills ever since". back will provoke an attacker'). Unfortunately are vitally importantto research work, publicity, 16thOctober 1 -2p.m. 'The Myth of Rape' by etc. sunrounding these issues. a speaker from Women's House. Penny's workshops represent a substantial Sue limits her workshop numbers to TEN (10) personal safety campaign coup as they are PEOPLE, treating the exercise as AN IN Please don't forget to set aside TUESDAY 22 23id October 1 - 2 p.m. 'Contraception' by a being offered to ALL University of Queens STRUCTION GROUP OF ONE (1) for both OCTOBER for the seminar by MEAGHAN speaker from the Women's Health Centre and land women (students and staff alike) FREE days. PHONE us (3711611 ask for Ext 228 or MORRIS enUtled 'THE DILEMMA OF possibly (yet to be confirmed) a speaker from OFCHARGE! Yes, amazing isn't it, butplease 235) to REGISTER your-names. These ses PROFESSIONALISM, FEMINISM AND QUIVAA. don'l think Penny's services were offered to sions arc restricted lo WOMEN ONLY for the THE ARTS IN THE 1980's. It wiU com 30th October 1 - 2 p.m. 'the Su^wrt of Rape US at no cost - this exercise was designated a same reasons mentioned above and they will mence at 8 p.m. in the MAYNE HALL Survivors' by a speaker from Women'sHouse. 'special project' allowing us to channel every cost $30 for UNI OF QUEENSLAND STU FOYER and marks the fourth in the 1991 last cent fromou r annual budget allocation into DENTS AND STAFF. $40 for NON U O Q Seminar Series For And About Women, proudly Fleur Yuile, W.E.O. Oi^aniser
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to make of them as they came booming in on their motor cycles. But the bikers had an organizer 'Evan' when pronounced room which was all hard light called Nora who was sharp enough to cut through it for them, explaining that they'd only be through a mouth full of blood and rightangles . I thought the keeping an eye out for Irouble. reporting back to the police if they found any. was helped back to the police surroundings might be freak van at Taylor Square. Sean - ing him a bit. There were half a dozen or so women, in two groups carrying walkie-talkies, who moved up and whom you could not describe "Do I have to write this?" he down Oxford Street and into the back alleys for the next four hours. They met a lot of people who as a genius - came walking by asked with a strange look. knew them, or who'd seen the posters, or who just wanted to say how groovey the whole thing was. the Square shortly afterwards But they didn't see any poofter bashers. and when a couple of consta He had written his name and I talked wilh a small, friendly girl called Angic as we walked. She didn'l delve into the bles put the arm on him he address on the paper. I an motivations of the attackers, she said, she wasjust watching over thc street. We drew one or two protested ... "It wasn't me swered yes, and he asked me looks from someyobbosdoingtheir blokc thing and 1 conUoUed the urge to do my blokc thing back honest I didn't do nothin' il again, a couple of times, did at them. We woke up one guy who'd overdone the fizzy sherbets and taken a nap in the gutter, and was the bloke I was with!" he have to write it, becoming more agitated each time. I fig we kept an eye on three young boys who tried to get into a lesbian night club. They all had that It took a while to get the story leering, staggering look that young boys get after twenty-three beers. But when one of them held ured maybe he wanted to print straight. Evan was in shock it because his writing w as bad, up his cigarette and watched the glowing tip wilh egg eyes for a minute or two before saying, and seemed to prefer sitting so I said he could print it He "Maybe I should light this thing up", we figured they'd just gol inlo some of the acid that was quietly inside the darkened looked like he might cry and I floating around and Ihe greatest danger they posed was to ihem selves. They'd probably go lie down bus. staring off down Oxford realised he couldn't write in an intersection later and watch the traffic lights change colour. Street. That was okay. When English. It was a quiet start for a project which a lot of gay people hope will make their neiglibourhood violence comes foryou it does safe again. The gay community is vety close. As the number of murders began lo increase, as more fuck you up, somelimes even Sean returned, was so shit men and women were coming home with black eyes and broken noses and taunts of 'faggot' and kills you. Il's not surprising faced he couldn't even sit on 'dyke' in their ears the community began to discuss the attacks. In pubs and coffee shops people you might want to sit some the floor. They cuffed him to a talked increasingly of them. Feelings of persecution turned as they will to resentment, then to anger where afterwards and have a metal bar which seemed pur and finally outrage before breaking out in a series of rallies to 'take back thc night'. People began quiet breakdown. pose built but he rolled around and twisted his arm. He was to organise and respond. The Whistle Project endeavoured to disUibutc ihousands of whistles that Sean on the olher hand was people could blow when aUacked. Safe place stickers appeared on venues where people could run crying and moaning and full of piss and bad manners. pleading lo be let go. He vom for help, the Street Patrol looked lo extend the coverage afrcady given by increased numbers of He sat on thc steps of the van police patrols. ited on himself and rolled in in his flowery shirt and MC the mess without seeming to All of which operate al street level, or will if they come off. Some argue the police are the enemy Hammer dance pants, abus care. His face was greasy and and you can never deal with them wilhout being fucked over. An extreme minority position, bul ing everyone, crying, shout white under the fluros, and argued with some vehemence and from a firm historical basis. Within the street patrol push there ing and throwing his ID at our puffy wilh crying so much. He was disagreement about taking to the streets immediately, or going inlo training for six months, feet. He seemed to think he'd coughed and two long strands Dykes on Bikes are adamant that the sooner they get onto the streets, the quicker they have an been anested for underage of snot shot up out of his nose effect. Others feel that untrained patrollers are worse than nothing and will encourage an ah^eady drinking. In theend he jumped which fell back in his face hostile and biased media to portray them as vigilantes. at a couple of coppers and again. "P-1-e-a-s-el-e-t-m-eg- chest butted them while oo-o". "So you're Such tactical problems are only to be expected as competing saeeching. "You wanna hit "We know interests and views try to carve oul the new ground, but even if all not looking at me go on hit me". I would that maybe Evan made a short statement, ofthe projects go ahead successfully the core problem will remain. have, but the sound his body which somebody wrote for some bullshit More police, community patrolling, safe places and whistles may made when thrown into the one in ten him. As he was leaving I |ohn Wayne well make the inner city a no go area for the bashers. But they won't paddy wagon like a big sack people are pointed to the mess lying on battle of men address the mentality behind llie attacks. The bashers may stay al of shit was satisfying enough. the floor of ihe interrogation home, but they'11 still be ihinking it's okay to kick someone's brains exclusively room. I said, "You'll be home now. You out as long as you call them a faggol. Meanwhile Evan had been in your bed soon, and he'll know, able to tell his sideof thestory, homosexual still be here", but it wasn't Bmce Grant from the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby agreed. but he was slill kind of shaky much better than telling him slugging it "Changing cultural attitudes is a long term and profound challenge. and another and off the air. I fell in beside to have a hot bath and a nice out one on When people say *I hate poofters and I'm going to kill them', him as we walked back to the 25% in cup of tea. He didii't look for one. You're rational debate won't get you anywhere. They're motivated by the lock-up. He was a foot shorter too long and I doubt it an hale. They feel like they achieve something in bashing or killing a addition to looking at than me, wearing dress shorts swered his question, He was gay person. A little reward for doing a good thing". gangs of and a white shirt with blood that have had a sad I think. A man who had cowards "What's clear is that attacks on gays and lesbians are hate related, spattered all over it. He had a same sex learned that v iolence is lonely. attacking not just part of the general wave of street violence", explains Grant. distracted, deeply worried air He walked down the well lit and couldn't stop asking, relationship of corridor and into the night. people who "A lot of thc attackers lell their victims they're going to bash them because they are gay. About 80 percent involve some sort of insult "Why they do it tome?" at least three can't defend like 'fucking dyke' or 'fucking faggot'. Only a small number of "I always remind people of themselves." cases were motivated by robbery". I didn't know. I could have years duration." the scientific research", said said 'becauseyou're a fag and Sue Thompson. "We know These figuresr e inforced feelings which many gay people already held, "It's just hate". Grant said. that's what hap^ns', but I that maybe one in ten people "Some people hate so much they'll go out and murder. They think they have the right to bash and didn't know that andhe didn't are exclusively homosexual kill other humans. They think they're some sort of moral ambassadors". look like he needed it so I and another 25% in addition lo that have had a same sex This theme of violence cloaked as morality runs deeply through gay history. What did come as shrugged and told him to have relationship of at least three a suiprise though was the nature of the assailants. Mostly they were young, sometimes as young a hot bath and a cup of tea and when got home. That didn't years duration. as thirteen, from affluent backgrounds, and running in packs up to fifteen strong. answer his question of course As the Gay and Lesbian of "One gang out of Double Bay used baseball bats", said Grant "the survivors tend to be coming and he asked me again, "Why ficer within the NSW police oul of a club or a pub. a bit pissed, not at their best. So you're not looking at some bullshit John they do it?", adding that he deparlmentThompsonhasthe Wayne battle of men now. You know, slugging it out one on one. You're looking at gangs of had justbeen going home from job of building co-operation cowards attacking people who can't defend themselves. a show at the Albuiy. That between the gays and the po seemed to make it worse for Thc age of the attackers, their economic profile, the mindlcssncss of the assaults suggests the lice and breaking down the him, that he was going home bashers themselves had some problems. Sue Thompson, the Police Service's liaison officer for the suspicion and fear which rather than on his way ouL gay community believes many are driven by fears of their own sexual ambiguity. "You can characterised thatrelationship understandaltacks motivated l^ poverty. By the need to steal to survive", she said, "But when rich "I feel embarrassed", he said for decades. North Shore kids borrow the Volvo to drive over lo Darlinghurst for a little faggot hunting you quietly as we pushed our way really have to question their motivation. I think for some young men bashing a poofter exorcises "We've used the gay press to through the Oxford Street fears they may have about their own sexuality. Kicking someone half to death is a good way of gel over the message that the crowd. distancing yourself from them". police are serious about the attacks", she said. "A lot of "Have a bath when you get While quite a few bashers do come out of the closet it's not surprising there is resistance in the coverage with senior police home", I said again. "Have a gay community to this idea. As academic Gary Wotherspoon pul it, "I think you have to look saying it's not acceptable, re beyond individuals, examine the system that produces them, that won't allow people to come to nice cup of tea. You'll feel better". port it, we will prosecute them terms with their sexuality in a mature, compassionate way". and so on. That's never hap I met my first basher and my first victim walking around Oxford Street with a couple of Surry "I feel dirty". pened before. You've never had police saying it wilt be Hills cops. The first night out with them was as quiet as the night with the Dykes. We wandered "Don't worry about it". up and down the main strip, got scoped out by everyone, and checked out the back alleys where cracked down on. We've tried anybody caught doing a little viU ainy would try to wander away as nonchalantly as possible before "Why they do it to me?" lo raise people's expectations we reached them. The trick is to wait for a few seconds before sliding into your get away routine. and get them thinking about We got to thc station before I doing something to help out". That's veiy cool. Shrieking and trying to leg it away at a mile a minute is not Which is how Sean could inflict any more support the dninken king-hil artist blew it the following evening. on him. The cops went down There have been changes for He was wandering past St Vincent's with a mate when they drew level with a Vietnamese man stairs to pick up their prisoner the better both in upper levels and decided to waste him. They landed one good punch and he went down in a screaming heap, and I was Icfr with Evan while of thc Police Service and but before they could start in with the Darlinghurst Up dance a taxi stopped and the passenger he wrote out a statement We wilhin the govemment. The jumped out to help. The attackers took off separately while their vicUm, whose name sounded like were in some kind of duty conservative Minister forPo-
i*mP»,32m lice, Ted ftckcring, has given the campaign strong backing of people like Fred Nile lo bring back the iron m aiden and public and according to Clover castration it is not surprising that a lot of people start behaving Moore, the Oxford Street ar- like good Genmans when it comes lo the 'gay problem'. ,ea's Independent member of Parliament, he is genuinely But when rich "There is a very large hidden gay population", said Thompson. concemed that the weight of "And that's one of the main problems. Homosexuality never the law will come down on the gets talked about in the home or the school so these kids end up bashers. believing Ihe myths that are so far fromth e truth it's frightening. North Shore Icids You know, that old gay men molestchil±en, they're not natural, Inconsistencies emerge at the they should be made to wear signs, there should be laws against streel level however. For in them, they should be quarantined, all the poofters with AIDS stance while Surry Hills po should be hot... this is the sort ol thing kids tell me when I visit lice station has an excellent borrow the schools". record of dealing with the gay It's not surprising then that thc education system comes in for community. Kings Cross a a hammering. Thompson saw schools as the place where the short distance away does not. generational change in attitudes must begin. With the media A gay demonstration against Volvo to drive actively supporting the myths of homosexuality, wilh families Fred Nile's 'Cleansing March' reinforcing that at home, and with loopy Christians adding a through tlte Cross late last year tarnished legitimacy to the sentiments behind gay bashing, led to violent arrests and nu schools remain thc only place where the truth can be told. merous charges of police over to Unfortunately very few of them are rashing to teach their prejudice and bmtality. The students that gay s and Icsbi ans have the same human rights as thc disaster will cost the govern rcstof society and that just because you don't like somebody you ment a million dollars to in don't have a licence to kill them. vestigate and nearly killed off Darlinghurst for the co-operation which peo Bruce Grant was less tactful. "Thc education system is funda ple like Thompson and senior mentally at fault. They have blood on their hands. When you officers have tried lo foster. have so many k.ds who think it's okay to bash poofters there is a little faggot something wrong. One school had three separate murdas before On the other hand a recent the administration reacted. After the second it was the lalk of the incident involving two patrol playground, bul the school refused lo do anything. So of course men from Suny Hills demon all these kids ran around thinking il was cool to bash poofters, no strated their appreciation of hunting ypu problem you know. And when the police finally acted and made the local communities feel some arrests the Vsd.s were outraged. They couldn't see why ings. They intervened at the anyone should go to jai! for killing a fag". Oxford Hotel where a drunken yahoo had cleared a circle on It was this arrogance that led to some ofthe arrests. The kids the footpath by yelling at the really have to involved saw nothing wrong with what Ihey had done and patrons inside to 'Come out boasted about the aime to friends. One boy, part of a group and suck my flicking cock you which attacked a Thai man with a hammer and threw him over queers". The cops walked up a cliff told a girl at his school "I think I killed a fag lasl night", and tapped him on the shoul question their as though reporting a game of football. der. He spun around, but de flated when he saw the uni- Under pressure from both the gay community and some poli forms, explaining himself ticians Ihe Education Department has introduced a syllabus on meekly, "Well eveiyone's got motivation. personal development. However the syllabus itself is only an their opinions". He got option within which there is another option on sexuality. Of the thumped in the chest and told, forty-eight schools surveyed by the Gay and Lesbian Rights "Well we're not interested in Lobby only four said they'd use the syllabus and none of them yours", and was then pushed were sure whether they'd cover the sexuality option, "So the inside and forced to apologise Education Department says 'we're doing somelhing about it' to the drinkers. but when you look closely they're doing nothing", said Grant.
Sue Thompson hopes that When I grew up I was taught that bullies were cowards. My dad sort of response will eventu told me that, and I learned it in the playground too. You didn't ally become the norm. "I think mess with bullies when they fronted you in the playground. You in the past a lot of people fought Ihem. You didn'l take any shit or let them push you Ihought they could bash a fag around. You swung on them before they had a chance lo frighten and thc police would do noth you. You hit them below the belt You fought dirty. You gouged ing", she said. "We're trying and bit and kicked and threw dirt in their eyes and you didn't stop lo show that those days are until they were crying and begging and saying please let me go. gone". Then you sprat in their faces and walked away. It never failed.
But leaving ihose days be But of course life isn'l the playground of childhood, h's sad hind will require a lot more that some people never realise that, cowards and bullies fore than good intentions. What most amongst tliem. They don' t gro w up. Their sand pits just get must change is not just police bigger. I couldn't tell Evan why a couple of bullies pickedon him culture, a beast wilh far more as he walked home. There probably wasn't that much to lell resilience than the old com anyway. He was alone and frighlened. They oumumbered him. munist parties of Eastern Eu What did he expect? rope, but the culture of a whole society whichattacks anything I felt sorry for him bul I was kind of angry loo. Not jusl with the guys that did it. they were pathetic losers, but with Evan himself. it thinks of as different or .^^ threatening. The media for Iknowilwasn'thisfauhlhathcdidn'tmca-sureuptocodcofthe example, when not actively playground. He was weak, he cried and didn't fighlbac k but ihey putting the boot into homo had taken him by surprise and scared thc shit out of him. I sexuals, can generally be suppose beneath it all I figured that he was gay, and maybe that found looking on with ap made the difference. Idon't like to thinkof myself as prejudiced. proval when somebody else 1 think it's fucked that gangs of upper class zeros with no dicks is. Theyjust can't help them and shil for brains think they got the right to take thc lives of selves. Journalists have people they don't even know, for reasons that aren't worlh enough trouble behaving like pissing on. I think they should be educated oul of their smpidiiy. "V.V And 1 think thc quickest way to educate them is wiih a baseball grown ups with stories that (**' bave a 'normal' sexual ele tM bat in a dark alley when Ihey're alone and frightened and a long ment to them. If Ihey get just a iv' way from home. whiff of weirdness or i^-1^.:^-' •y But who's going to educate me. I'm not bigoted. I was brought 'deviancy', their eyes roll '••r-i n .-V K up right. Once when I was a kid I used the word 'nigger' and go! back, they foam at the mouth a smack in the head and a ten minute lecUire from my piirems and throw themselves onto the aboul being a fool. So why the germ of contempt for Evan who nearest word processor, fran deserved nothing more ihan sympathy and support? Did he tically rubbing their groins i^'- insult my understanding of what it is to be a man? Because he with the keyboard and howl V- .1^ didn't fighl back or because he cried. Or because in spite of my ing at the fluorescent light fit- ^•<., jj plalinides and good intentions I still thought of him as a gay man, lings. Given this, andthe work ^^./jf I and therefore something less than a real man. I guess so. ~
S«m|9Qr33a The
Higher Education Contribution Scheme C'SlW.h ltllHKltl(.L'J 1989 wilh the promise by our most tmstwi would not be raised above the Consumer obvious Bob Hawke is reluctant to cany out 0 prorni^L'v Ik' has made in the past - rcmemberthe famous Live inPoveny in 1990? Thistinve students, K'.uKtiiirJcneiUsitlillK problem of surviving financially during ' umvorMU (.(HirsL-. ;iio being made to suffer because of that 'recesi •Mwx'juM h;n.llttliaVL'". In the last August Budget 1991 the HECS fi vu'ror.ihccltroniSlStKi lo $2200 per annum. SI 40 on lop of the CPl On Ihe 28lh August 1991 close lo a hui about the unjustified raise of the HECS f< Court. ATlcr a short fomm it was dei ilu;illy aocitlL'tl itial ;iii occupation ofthe Administration building 'iikl Iv Ihe best nicthml of presenting student's concerns to the Vice arriving al J.D, Storey we were faced withal J kdui. Wiihpcrsisk'iict; and a few sUuggles wilh security guards (a 4 itU|i supiMsL'!.) Ill jirdletl students, nd keep them oul of Univeisity j>iiri_L:>.j uc 'wrc iijiinvcil inlo the building. The Vice-Chancellor was i.iliniuinipus. soalislol' demands were prcsenledtoihe RegistrarDouiC I'l'Mer. TIK'<>O iiKludoil: that the Univcisily of (Queensland and thc 'uv-ChaiKvllDr iKljvoly oppose Ihe HECS fees and at the same lime (>|'iirl a uinipait:!) t'tir lYt'L' cdacalion; and that in accordance wilh the ^AC kiijnv.uui the Univer- sity release an official statement in oppositiiliiloliliCS . This occupation was held several weeks •andthere has slill kvii no response to student demands. One fealure of this rally which had Icrable sii;iuiic;uiio lor Sludenls is Ihal not a single member ofthe Sn llcntUiiionl-Aoculivela body also supposed lo represent and proli •
So Vou GoNNft Be / WeL^ ENOUGH foR^ EKAMS NEKT WEEKT/ r
$am|ltr35. "The Crucible". RQTC, Suncorp Theatre Mine weren't the only moist eyes leaving the Suncorp Theatre after 'The Cnicible". "Thc Crucible" is an abswbing portrayal of the dark side of human nature and of society. Written as a reflection on ^Q anti-communist paranoia of the 50s, "The Crucible" is set in a small town of 19lh Century American, obsessed with hunting down 'witches'. In the spirit of "Catch-22", those accused of being witches could lessen iheir 'earthly punishment' by naming others they had seen "in the devil's company". "The Crucible" depicts a community tearing itself apart, with a commanding performance from Nicholas Eadie, who plays a victim, not only of ihe persecuting community, but of his own pride. RTQC have a powerful success in "The Crucible", wilh names like Jennifer Flowers and Roger Hodgman. The spartan, but versatile set leaves the focus on some inspiration performances. RfBSes.QAG The real shock comes when you realise these situations have actually occurred in THEATRE our own society's history, and are occurring now in some developing nations. -OCT 20, DIaro per Una Vita Darren Jorgensen 10 OcT-Nov. On the Whipping Nuova. Del Favero. QAG side. RQTC. Suncorp theatre TIU. OCT 27. Helen Lillecrap- OCT 20. Myth and Magic. Qld Fuller.A visual Diary. QAG. ' Symphon/ Orchestro. TILL OCT 20.3 Cycles from the Auditorium, QPAC collection, Nicholas TILL OCT 12, Steel Magnolias. Nedelkopoulos, Ron McBurnie, Arts Theatre. Petrie Terrace. UdoSellach. QAG nu OCT 12. The Real inspector Decorated Clay, QAG Hound. QUT Cannpus Club. Nov 1. Film, The Dreomtime Gardens Point. $7/ $5 Today 12,30pm. QAG OCT 15-20. Rough For Theatre Nov -17. Silk Sky Alono Leong. 2 and Ohio Impromptu. Samuel The Basement Cafe, Metro arts Beckett .s absurdist Building, Edv^/ard St masterpieces. La Boite. Hale St, OCT 19-?. Interiority 221. Sylvia Miiton. Oct 15-17,6pm;0ct 18, Aguirre. Michael Schlitz. Glam 10pm, Oct 20,8.30pm. Palace, 46 Merivale St, South OCT 11. Messiah by Handel. Brisbane. Mayne Hall, UQ, 7,30pm. OCT. Second Language. Greek/ Oct 19. The Four Seasons by Australian art. institute of Modem Vivaidi. QPO, Concert Hall, Art, 4th Floor, 106 Edv»/ard St. QPAC. OCT 8, Screenspace. Computer OCT 12. Mozart piano works. art. 7pnn. IMA Kathr/n Selby and QPO, OCT 25. The Exploding Ptastic Concert Hall, QPAC. Inevitable. A homage to Andy DEC 12. The Wizard of Oz. Lyric Warhol. Light, sound and Theatre, QPAC. performance, Smellies Building, TILL OCT 19. After dinner. TN. Edward St, Near gardens. Princess Theatre, Annerley Rd, Woolloongabba. WORKSHOPS TILL OCT 20. Road, La Boite, Hale St, Milton. OCT 8-29, Advanced black and Nov 19-23. Dance 91. QUT white photography. Activities Dance students. Princess - OCT 7. Advanced Macintosh Theatre. Graphics and Layout. Activities and Semper ART KRONOS QUARTET COMPETITIONS Concert Hall TIU OCT 6. Queensland Art September 18 Gallery. Toulouse Lautrec: Prints CLOSES DEC 1. Young Writer Kronos Quartet are like nothing else in the world. With ihcir elaborate lighting and posters from the Awards. The Independant design, colourful costumes, and commitment to playing contemporary music, they Biblioteque Nationale. Monthly, 4th floor. 64 Kippax St. are worlds away from ihe usual image of staid string quartets in tails and formal wear -Nov 24. Kunst Jaru Mob.Jon Surry Hills, 2010, NSW. playing Mozart and Beethoven. They opened the concert wilh works by two African composers. The pieces were rhythmic, and drew heavily on ancient African musical traditions. Next on the program was a piece by avant garde New York composer John Zom, To round otT;i succe^sfu! season ofone act productions, ilio University Dr.una .Society presents two early plays tVoni the French absurdist Euszcne lonesco - Tlw lUiU Prima Donna who plays saxophcme and produces records for hard core band Napahn Dealh when atid The Lessen. he is not composing. ionesci). UIK) went on lo lirmly establish hiniself as a niajor talent with works such as One of the most spectactular pieces was Canadian composer John Oswald's Spectre, liliinineriis and The Killer, wrote The Bald Prinui Donna in lyM) and suhiiiled il "an anti- which combmed Kronos' live perfonnance with multiple overdubs of recording of play" liaving deliberately avoided as many conventions o|' die theaire as he could - iiichidins thc quartet, and ultimately sounded like (and as loud as) a 747 taking off. the regular use of a narrative structure. Actually, the pkiy has no descernable plot, bul was Steve Reich's Different Trains took up the second half of the program. The piece is writien to hecarried aloij': liy (ho words spoken by ihe cast and the iiicreasiitiily biz/fare based on his childhood train journeys across the United States during World War 11. situations.. He reflected thai, as a Jew, had he been in Europe at the time, he would have been Described by soiiK as'^Llhurlxnl salire'\ or"taking Ihe piss out ofihe pms".7V(t'/?<^//! hciivj luiored In ;,ii „|d professor u\ liis house. Ail Kronos are probably the only string quartet in the world to encore with a tremendous nice enough, but as the SUHA unfolds, iho lone darkens as an increasinsily sinister niotavation version of Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix. The Hendrix cover illusmites what Kronos emerges. arc trying to do - to make contemporary music fresh and relevent. TheLesyii is a pl.iy of sometimes disturbing: intcnsiiy, mixiwz the drama wnh dashes of I can't remember the last time going to the Concert Hall was so exciting. Kronos ahsurdisi humour ami social alle.i^ory. manage to bridge thc gap between "classical" and popular music. The IWO plays open in ihe Cejneni Box Jbcnrc (under the Selio/ie)!)on Ociolvr 16lli ;itid Next Ume they're here, they deserve to pack out Boondall with screaming rock n roll runs Wednesday to .Saturday al Spm until the 2(ith. Tickets are SS/S6 concession. For kids. They really do. liookingN, phone t!;e llieaire on .^71 iMi}. Tony Horner iii»
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A.i.fr.ii.n w . o „Wi>'?s*^0Ps »or women with Penny Gulliver, tounder of the 1 ifh nL u ^®" ^ Self-Defence Academy. Workshops are on Thursday 1 oth and Friday 1 tn uctober in the Axon Room, upstairs in the Catering Section of the Union Complex ^ amng at 9am, just (um up. no need to register. For more informatfon see Fluer Yuile" MMMMMM WEO oiganiser. Phone 371 1611. '
St dr^nL r ^^^'f'" !!' «'^"-'*"°«'" documentary study that explores the ontf .^HIT ^^ ""^ ^^^ '^'"^ "^'^ ^' '' ^^^^" ^"^' ^'" show you the man. In one n. hi! ^^P^?^ ""^ *'^"*^°'^^ ^ ""^^ '" *he twilight of his sanity. Semper has 10 an«nH?d tel^l ^^'T!'us wha t gende'^l ^'''r are ' th^'"'"^e hip^s o^'''^'n the firs^'''t pageP^°P's« o ^f °Semper ^°"ie •'. " °n Thursday 10?h Oct
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JANE'S ADDICTION SPRING LIVID Festival Hall September 20 st Pauls Tavern SeptemberlS G.W. McLennan, Suzie Higgie & PatHayes, Allanah Russack & Simon Holmes, Calf, The Genes Jello Biafra's syrupy voice slithered univited into my mind: Once again the Livid team of Natalie and Peter brought us that little slice of magic thatis theLivid Fal-assed bouncers kick the shit I Outta kids who try lo dance Festival (or rather its little cousin Spring Livid). This time it was stage-divers feeling the wrath of the fat-arses at Festival Hall. While the actual Livid Festival is still to come (supposedly headlining with UK band The To abacking soundtrackof Jane's Addiction,every dread-lock in Brisbane seemed tobe Wonderstuff) we made the most ofthc next best thing. The best way lo end an afternoon at anodier Brisbane institution the Spring Hill Fair. flying into the crowd. The band was ahnost identical. First up was local band The Genes of whom big things arc supposed to be expected in thc very near The fust support act. Pearls and Swine were a charicature thrash band: fast bass, faster future. They played a very mellow set of acousdcally based originals which seemed to get the guilar and gravelly vocals. crowd in the mood for what was a very relaxed aftemoon. The lead singer spent a good deal of lime on the floor attempting to molest the female Next was one half of the superb band COW (Country Or Western) in which old hands David members of the sparse audience. {Custard &. Who's Gerald) and Robert pit their own particular Hank Williams style stamp on Allanah from the Hummingbirds shows Brisbane how to There was plenty of flying hair, hunch-backed playing stances and lyrics about panel- several countiy classics as well some not so countiy classics (AC DC's Jailbreak?). have some fun at the Spring Livid^ vans all making for good fun. While die Falling Joys are a favourite independent act, Ihe combination of Suzie Higgie and Pat Hayes seemed to be lacking in Uieir acoustic seL It had all of the trademark tunes and S uzie *s wistful MORRISEY Next up were Melbourne's KUling Time, minus a lead guitarists who was "slUl on the ; vocals were still beautiful but they seemed lo be missing the intensity or energy which is there when plane between here and Melbourne." j the whole band plays. Festival Hall September 11 The four members who made it to the gig managed lo soldier on widiout their compadre ^ The next set was totally devoid of any Hummingbirds songs, as Allanah explained diat they were And now for the shortest Austialian lour on record... who managed lo show up for the last song. > coming up soon and for now theyjust wanted to have fun. Which diey dien proceeded to do playing a range of covers that proceeded to get the lethargic (you would be too after an aftemoon of beer The news that the people of Brisbane were the only ones in Australia lo see Morrisey on After turning up the other guilar and lowering die bass, (but not too much,) the sel and good music) crowd moving. his latest tour was a rare tum around as usually we miss out on international acts on certainly got the ever-growing crowd dancing. Finally was someone who has once again become a frequent visitor to Brisbane, G.W. McLennan. limited lours. Apparently he caughi a flu when here which totally disrupted his Tlie main acl sent the crowd into an instant frenzy! Playing a set of songs including numbers from his solo album which sound much better live and intemational lour plans. Perhaps il was the same flu travelling around UQ, afterall the a few old Go-Between numbers he left behind much of his customary reserve and actually appealed winner of JJJ's "Meet Morrisey" competition came from here?? Singer Perry Fairell looked like a chemotherapy patient; pale, skeletal and shaven- to enjoy himself. headed. He wore the tightest pair of vinyl pants I've ever seen and batUed to keep them Well what can you say, he was here and he was great! Bringing togedier die best of Australia's independent acts was a great idea when it first happened up all through the set. Il would appear that half of the crowd were there to see a band that no longer exists. If on a certain football oval in St Lucia and Spring Livid shows that h still is. "Do you feel as good as I do?" he asked the hall. "Ifyou don't, I bet you wish you did." Robert Heather Ihe concert proves anything il was that Morrisey is great on his own.Tlie combination of him and his talented band of Rockabillies managed loput on a concert of epic proportions That was the only time he directly addressed the crowd during the perfonnance.He and I never managed catch sight of his tongue which I'm sure was firmly planted in his seemed content to let the music do its own magic. cheek. Armed with an incredible stage presence and his incomparable voice he delivered song He didn'l play "Pregnant for the Last Time" though. Robert Heather afler song lo the hungry crowd. CONCERTS Guitarist Dave Navarro gave the exuberant bouncers a hand kicking stage divers off thc stage bul the rest of the band seemed not to notice them. Mtertheshow.Imademyway out Ihrough theexhaustedcrowdnursmgablac^^^^^ CUSTARD a sore neck-the spoils of an exce-fucking-llent night, Chri.^se Roddn aa RIVIEWS Custard \s the Brisbane band that's going places - a video soon to be on Rage, a song on the Youngblood 3 compilation - so what's next? Matthew and David dropped into Semper recently to en lighten us. !rvi j^ Semper: First, the question on everyone's lips - where did you come up with thc name? David: Well, we were going to be called Custard Gun because it sounded really...rude. We had our song "Psycliobilly" which we gave to Triple Zed, and we were ready to go, but then Triple Zed refused to play us because of our name whicii they said was a phallic symbol, so we changed our name lo Custard. Semper: You've already released "Rockfish Anna", arc you planning on releasing any new singles in thc near future? David: No, we can't really afford to release anything much on single at the moment. We Buij.5ell' Exchange- Your Recoi'dsjap(^XD.s,\Jideo put out "Rockfish Anna" a year ago, bul it's so expensive putting a record out, and they don't sell very well because it's all C.D.'sand Tapes now. We could put oul a tape but Ihey don't look as good. Matthew: We do have a song on Youngblood 3, which has just been released. Unfortu nately we had to do Rockfish Anna even though we wanted to do one of our new songs. We went to Sydney for the recording of it, and seeing as tbey wanted us to do RockHsh we sped it up a bit and added some extra parts to make it more interesting. Semper: How do you find die audiences when you go down south? David: Well we haven't really organized it properly anytime that we've gone down. We've been downfourlimesandeachtimeit'sfucked up. Jt'smadeworsebythefact that we're not really known down there so a lot of the people sort of have the "Who are you guys?" attitude. Matthew: In general the crowds respond well. We always seem to get applause after each song. We've never really played to a big crowd down there except when we played with UndergroundLovers. One time we played at a full-on thrash place, but we stil] got a good response. It's a good experience and we'll be going down again. Semper: Have you got any plans for the future? David: Yeah, we want to buy a van. No seriously, we have a fiveyea r plan. Okay we don't but it sounded good. We'd like to get a recordingdcal by the end of the year. We've learnt our lesson by putting out our own record. You can't distribute it you can't make money off it and no one gets to hear it I suppose it's a good introduction, I mean it lead us lo the offer forthe Young Bkrad album and it did gel us known in Brisbane, but we'd really like a recording deal. Oh and our video clip is going to be released on Rage soon. Il's "C is ror Cookie". Custard will be playing at Uni on Wednesday October 9 at lunchtime, suppordng Died Pretty atStPaul'son the llth and playing at Ihc Reality at Woolloongabbaon die 19th. If you haven't seen them yet don't waste any more time, get a faceful of Custard. ^Mi^QQBQQggOppI Rebecca Moore Univevsi+y of QueensW, 5+, Lucia. Ph. 811 03%
Sr>i!iPai4'f. Tall Poppys Too I Annie Lennox Summer of Night Susan Mitchell i LucyOBrlen n Simmons Having been informed by a reliable TallPoppysToo is die folfowup book tola//fop/jy*. UK A compelling and source (sf writer Greg Bear) Uiat Dan stories of Australian women who have achieved success. fascinating biography onniP IPrmOY Simmons was an auUior wiUi a bright about one of die most <**""^ ICIIIIUA TatlPoppies Too talks about 8 famous Australian women, future in science fiction with bis popular and enigmatic From politicians to writers and journalists, to actors and Hyperion series, diis book was one business women. female performers in W which I grabbed. This is however one Carmel Niland was responsible for die first equal contemporary pop. of his horror stories and doesn't really Annie Lennox, one half opportunity legislation, and the Anti-discrimination Act offer much diat is new. of Uiat famous British for die NSW govemment. Robyn Archer is a world The story of a group of small kids Uiat duo Eurydimics, comes famous singer, actor, composer and director, and also a Al face an ancienlevil in Uieir schoolduiing under the scrutiny of lesbian. Fabian DatUier steered her clothing company Uieir Summer holidays owes a lot to Uie joumalistLucyO'Brien, ^' m ^ duough success and failure, and started a program to influence of horror master Steven who has also written a employ people with criminal reccords. Anne Summers King's book //. The story keeps up a biography of female ediusd and wrote for political newspapers and magazines frighleningpace and manages to keep die reader involved entertainer Dusty in bodi Ausffalia and America, mostnotablyM^magazine. all the way through alUiough the ending is a bit pat for my Maggie Beer started a Springfield. XHlX.lW/'i-'i^^'-'^*'-^ W.''-i*MIt ;;:^g Uiinking. The book is a cut above the ordinary run of prizewinning restaurant The book traces her early life of Aberdeen, pathetic splatter novels Uiat coma and go under the vague and farm shop on her Tail Poppies Too' definilion horror. Robert Hcathef property in the Barossa m Scotland, her ill-fated Valley. Sallyanne Atkinson period at die Royal Academy of Music, her meeting was, of course, our Lord widi Dave Stewart and their troubled early days of the The Commitments Mayor. Colleen Tourists to their international success as Eurythmics. Roddy Doyle McCollough wrote best There is also her marriage lo Krishna devotee Radha selling novels Tim and The 0 Raman, and later, a happier union widi Israeli fdm- Thornbirds, and lives on maker Uri Fruchlman. The book that the fihnwa s an island. Eve Fesl is the Noljust a run-of-the-mill biography ,0' Brien analyses based upon lacks die visual Director of Koori studies at Annie Lennox dirough her words, people from her and musical aspects which Monash University, and past, her beliefs and her music. She successfully strips made the film so once trained for thc SUSAN MITCHELL away Annie Lennox's veneer of pop icon to reveal a memorable as it consists Olympics. dedicated and determined perfoimer behind Uiose big ahnost entirely of dialogue. Reading diis book is an inspiration. The women openly blonde wigs and mannish suits. It also looks at Annie However the book does discuss dieir successes and failures, with no vanity or Lennox's "gender-bending" aoss-dressing and her manage to round out the shame; il is very objective. This book sees through die desire to control the pop myUi/image she has carefiiUy characters and their mydi of "winners" and "losers", and presents real people cultivated since die start of Eurythmics. O'Brien is motivations. in real situations, with energy, courage, creativity, intrigued by the ease Lennox can don and discard This book has been around personas from innocent purity in "There Must Be An a lot longer Uian the film determination and ideology. Maodi CuTtiCS Angel", Uiemasculinebusinessman in "SweetDreams" and auUior Roddy Doyle to the woman impersonaUng a man in drag in "1 Need has managed to bring Uie A Man" videos. Her desire to shock, manipulate pop residents of Uie depressed The Incredible imagery and break gender barriers in a male dominated Dublin suburb of industry has influenced other performers like Sinead Barrytown to life despite Exploding Man O'Connor and Michelle Shocked. ith soul, , v-i die restrictions which he .lohn .liszsiens This book is a definite read for Eurythmic fans (and J has placed upon himself. Uiosc studying media subjects about popular myth and ^^,,..^,^ Robert Heather Tim Anderson was arrested, charged and subsequendy culture). Il does not glorij^hcr success norcheapen her convicted of first degree murder in 1990 for his alleged losses. What we are given is an honest character smdy role in planning die Hilton Hotel bombing. "The Inaedible of a unique and stubbornly dedicated performer, s inger Exploding Man" is a timely and detailed account of his trial. In this work, John Jiggens has subjected thc Crown and song-writer. Glenda Lowe case and the testimony of Crown witnesses to close and critical This is an undisUnguished effort, wriuen in a readable scrutiny. Aldiough it may seem a "I'd go with the and workmanlike fashion. It revolves around Uie idea of convoluted conspiracy iheory to 'Lucid Dreaming', a term coined by pop psychologists a those uninitiated in the helmet Ray" few years ago to describe Uie phenomenon of exercisi ng machinations of bodi the legal conscious control over one's dreams. Some rare and police systems, John A Doonesbury Book m individuals are in fact supposed to be quite good at Uiis, substantiates his allegations with G.B. Trudeau : and apparenUy almost anyone canexperience some degree court transcripts and police of lucid dreaming wiUi a litde Uaining and concenUadon Doonesbury is one of die essendal political and social recordsof interview. His presence \S -andprobably die most interesting section of Dreamside cartoons of our time. Following Uie adventures of in court during the trial also is the one in which die cenfral characters learn die skills Zonk, Doonesbury and friends as diey cope with easy enables die inclusion of strong of lucid dreaming from an eccentric professor of listening radio, the S&L crisis, and Uie Gulf War. In one personal rcacdons to the people psychology. I JOHN JIGGENS sequence which apparendy won Trudeau a nominadon involved and to the evidence From Uiat point, though, it's a fairly ordinary tale. The T^S for a 1990 Pulitzer Prize onecharacter, Andy Lippincott prescnted.Givcnrccenteventsindielong-running Hilton characters slowly learn to come togeUier and interact in dies from AIDS. bombing saga, it is important diat what could only be the 'dreamtime', (a sortof psychically shared delusional termed die 'mis-trial' of Tim Anderson be brought to While there have been many other Doonesbury world) and after a bit of wish-fulfilment m ucking around, public attention. compilaUons over Uie years there is much to be said for Uiey have some experiences which convince Uicm that die convenience of a book which overcomes many of Uie Dreamdme is a scary kind of place, so Uicy stop Aldiough die book carefully documents events and Uie continuity problems that result from uy ing to follow playing with it. inconsistencies in prosecuUon evidence in an interesting Uie strip in The Aus&alian every day. his wit has appeal The story itself is aboul die cenfral character's efforts to manner, several sections strike a radier discordant note. It for everyone whether overcome the Horror- now largely an independent entity is perhaps naive of John to expect an altruistic search for J'DGO they be yuppie or -which they Uiemselves created in the 'Dreamdme' with trudi and justice from Tcdcschi, the public prosecutor. WITH THE alternative as he his their misguided mucking Ultimately, die nameof the game has always been 'winning HEIMET, RAY familiar characters GRAHAM JOYCE about Again, Uicre arc one the case'. The book would also have benefited from a reflect aspects of or two nice ideas, but Joyce ughter conclusion. Aldiough it is widiin die realmso f universal problems. simply docsn't wield enough possibility diat Evan Pederick (chief Crown witness) DREAMSIDE it Some ofthe topics may ti^Hi#H4l)«l»*uia|'' I AH WA1CUN talent to make it a genuinely suffers from a Paranoid Personality Disorder, to reach be obscure to Aus&alian creepy book. Thc talc winds such a conclusion is pure speculation. Accurate diagnosis readers as they are upbeing simply readable; not would require a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation. concemed wiUi purely good, not bad, not Science In the absence oT this, such a diagnosis is only one of a American concerns FicUon, not Horror, and not range of causal possibilities to explain Pederick's 1^r^ such as Dan Quayle's particularly memorable. In confession and subsequent collusion wilh the police. ^ die words of anodier reviewer Despite diese shortcomings, die book is extremely Ti^.T.t ITlWk V'M r If (portrayedbyafeaUier) 7ltvl|''yiiT^.'^.'* preoccupation with die (aldiough on a raUicr different informaUve for any person interested in die vagaries of •> •Vi-.\;';>..""•.°^; anatomically correct the Special Branch and diedangers inherent in die judicial gag doll Pedro, or the census of the homeless. topic): Mosdy Harmless. system. Anne Berguier Robert Heather Launz Burch
^. ^'i^ All of the books on this page are available through The University bookshop TllLL^lVHltfin' BOOKSHOP Gridlock Blossom ^^M Usher ,, Ben Elton An drew Vachss «S^«S Matthew Condon RecenUy a sfrange thing happened on our television. The Andrew Vachss is considered to be one of the premier usual dross of a certain dreary latcnight programme was Matthew Condon, former UQ student, has drawn upon his crime writers in die US A. He works widi abused ch ildren tnterupted by a week of Wdng humour, cutting sarcasm, own experiences as a journalist in Brisbane and the Gold in New York as a lawyer and lives a life which reads as and inspired interviews. Coast, to paint a picture of the effects of the Fitzgerald if it has come sfraight out of one of his own novels. Once again Ben Elton had invaded our airwaves and it Inquiry on Queensland life. In Uiis story he once again Samuel Downs, die cenfral character of the novel, is was good. It was probably an inspired markedng move brings us Burke, die hardened also as it exposed a wide audience (whose previous idea ANDREW VACHSSf searchingforhisfaUier,TNelsonDowns,ainateurmagician, private eye who works die > BURKE (SOES WEST! L of humour had in fact been that aforementioned botanist, and owner-usher of die Universe-Cinc-by-the- sfreets of New York doing the Sea. programme) to a whole new horizon where humour had jobs that thepolice can't touch. relevance to life and didn't necessarily have rely on tired Throughhisplantrentalbusincss,TNclson became involved More often than not this sexist anecdotes about blondes. wiUi die government, and Samuel's search for his faUicr involves children who have While better known for becomes intertwined wiUi die story of UieFitzgeraldlnquiiy. become die victims of todays his television work (The Nelson's links wiUi a certain political party enable him to society, die abused and the YoungOnes, Black Adder get confracts in the Parliamentary Annexe (the tall ugly one used. This time however a plea etc), Ben Elton is also a near QUT). from his past results in him vrtitcr wiUi aproblem, Uiat Readers who have grown up in Brisbane will probably moving to Indiana to clear a problem is the recognise familiar landmarks, such as the Cloudland friend's nephew of a charge of environment and ballroom (soon to be redeveloped into townhouses). The murder. humaniUes naive belief book conveys Uic disgust of people whose parents met at The plot brings us into close that they can continue Uie ballroom - a building Uiat was such a vital part of this contact with the scum that raping the world with gay ci ty was bulldozed because some govemment crony wanted collect at the bottom of abandon without a, die landrezoned. This isUie Queensland Uiat the book rails America's society, agroupfor backlash. against. Us/wr portiays Uie nostalgia for a quieter unspoilt which Vachss has little if any sympathy. Mainly His previous novel. Stark, was about an attempt by Uie Queensland, before Uie property developers moved into memorable for a heroine who doesn't bonk wilhout a worid's fat cats lo escape Uie global catastrophe Uiey Brisbane and the Gold Coast. condom showing Uiat safe sex has finally arrived in have created by building a base on Uie moon. But (/j/icrneverbecomesa"political" novel. The slory of fiction, Uiis book doesn't add much to die genre of crime His play Gasping is about a group of advertising Queensland politics is always subordinate to Uic personal fiction except to make sure that it is firmly enfrenched in executives whose air purifier comers Uie world maket in story of Uie son's search for the present. clean air after Uiey set fire to die worid's forests. .Ti ':. .• •'. his father. The concern in Uiis novel is Uie ahnost slavish devotion Robert Heather ;'^ ' - This is Uie only problem 1 to die private automobile which Western civilizjition have with the book. Usiier follows. Gridlock is die uldmate frafficja m one in which never set out to analyse the Uiere is no hope of escape and it would a^Kar dial Ship of Fools complexities of humanity is approaching a situation of global gridlock. contemporary Queensland Patrick Cook If that would appear to be a depressing topic for a novel - '' ' political life, but I found Uian you have reckoned wiUiout the skill of Elton for Hey, what can I say? It's Patrick Cook. It's his tenUi ; )\ . :•;-.; myself wishing for a book casting his barbs to wild effect in what is an hilarious collection of cartoons, It's good. If I said odierwise i';->;\ .."- s \ . , • '1^^* would confront the novel, filled wiUi an unldcely cast of of hcros, victims and people would call names and Uirow stones at me in the CV \ ' < issues raised by Ihe villains. When a young inventor with ccrebal palsy sfreeL" You know Ihat fool you see walldng around the •Ji- • I;: for a fictional treafrncnt of target of a range of villains who have a vested interest in Going Utfough Uiis book is like a dirty habit. Now and < % v ^; ; contemporary Queensland Uie status quo. again I need a rest. But I always pick it up again. It gets : politics, but Ihe novel Uiat As usual Elton doesn 'tprovide any answers but isscaUiing me sexually going, and not tonight, please. I have a •-:• ^ - " ;|^ really grapples with the in his assesmcnt of die way we treat women, paraplegics, headache at die same time. Which is probably a good '^ ;" issues ofpoli deal corruption spastics and every oUier issue you would care to nairie in Way to describe Australia as I know it. in Queensland is yet lo be a way Uiat confronts you but still alows you to laugh. He Some of his stuff could be construed as toilet humour written. Tony Homer definitely has a message for us all, I just wonder how if Uiey weren't so earnest Everyone in Uiem seems to be trying so hard to have a good time. many people wdl listen? RobcrtHcather Curs and frumpy koalas will never seem die same. ^^m Freud .and; the: Nazis ? If he couldn't draw, you could imagine Cook enjoying May Week was in June his own company at die comer of a party, beckoning you Unreliable Memoirs III over widi his finger, whispering in your ear, just to see you blush because The title is a bit misleading, actually - made me think I Clive James you laughed when was going lo tackle an interestingly deranged piece of Like him or loaUie him, Clive James is here to stay. It is you know you psychotic cross-fertilisation, whereas what I got was unusual for an Ausfralian to m ake it successfuUy overseas shouldn't have. (*^t actually a terribly earnest piece of frials-of-adolescence before making an impression here but Uiat would appear '•^ You'll slip away, fiction. Bit of a letdown really. to be what Chve has done and done well. smp knowing better now, In England the fat one himself is considered to be and morally Nonetheless, Freud etc. is a reasonably good book in its own right. Far from suffering die usual afflictions of Australia's biggest export apart from Kylie herself. Over superior and he'll teenage angst book-heroes, the central character is a here however he kept a low profile until Uie release of his get you again, surprisinglylevcl-hcaded and healUiy young chap, whose series of Unreliable Memoirs.in the early Eighties. The sneaking up while m^ fit vt^d--: behaviour remains quite reasonable throughout the tale. firstof Uiesc saw adepiction of achddhood in die Sydney you're chatting up a Which is good: 1 for one have grown tired of twisicd and of the 40's and 50's Uiat stood out as an unashamed good sort in the embarrassing tales of adolescence which end in a rush of blending of nostalgia and recollection which charmed kitchen. maturity and a goodbye lo all Uie childish stuff. In Ihis many a reader. The racist jokes /rr.. novel, Jim Travcn starts out clear-headed and Following the frialsan d tribulations ofthe young James ^•"Sirj-t boUicr mc though, inexperienced, and ends by being slightly more boy as he Weaves his pretentious way from newspaper to ^'^ / (A^.^ especially since experienced and a little confused. newspaper.university lo university, andcountty to country ''^' / most of ihcm are Thc book tackles die traditional themes of trials-of- may not be to everyone's taste. However Clives writing against our own. adolcsccnce fiction wiUirefreshing frankness, and diercby style combines a self depreciating humour wilh a good As per usual. succeeds in making the whole thing digestible rather than eye for details ofthe era he is writing about. Cook's wit is cock-sure clever, irreverent, and stomach-tuming, which mosl ofthe genre tends to be, It You wouldn't necessarily have liked Uie younger James introspective in die way only a meat cleaver would deals well with adolescent sexuality, touches on someof wiUi his affectations for poeUy, drama and general art approach it. Uic ideas of feminism and the roles of women, explores wankiness, but can stUl appreciate or as a sludcnt relate Yet in Cook's world a Lcunig character's spirit would violence, masculinity and thc male sense of identity in to die frials he went Uirough as a student newspaper not only drop, but be drop-kicked. Cook's creations have some detail. Joyce even manages lo wrap up die whole lot editor, non-studierand general exfracuriculum wizard at no time for such bleeding hearts except maybe to drink in a fairly good storyline, welded togeUier by good Cambridge. from them. characterisation, good strong imagery, and some decently This offering is far better Uian his fiction which never Yep, no depressing greys or moping blacks here. This subtle symbolism and semiotics. rises above Uie mcdioCTC, or his television arid travel book is largesomc, white, and creamy. It's not as It remains a book which doesn't go a long way past Uie writings which can be brdliant (note not his fravel unwholesome as it first appears, frusl me. Senior English level. It's good, but not brilliant. And nol programmes which often amount to litUe more Uian a self Get an older friend to buy it for you. Take it home. crazy enough forme,eiUicr: I'mstill terribly disappointed congratulatory public masturbation). Enjoy the pikkies. But don't let your moUicr catch you. by thc fact ihat Freud and thc Nazis didn'l actually do any Robert Heather Greg Boylan surfing anywhere in the book. Tann? BviTCh
^:2k All of the books on this page are available through The University Bookshop is\l\i:iMT V BOOICSHOP Why is it that you can be a successful business woman, wife, mother, Intelligent, creative and caring, yet still feel bad about yourself for not being beautiful? It Is the 'beauty myth', the belief that to be a complete woman, you must conform to the beauty industry's strict Ideal. After all they have the most to galn-the $33 Semper writers Mandi Curties and Corina MacKay speak to billion-a-year diet Industry, the $20 billion cos WJ'^', ^ %mPw44m He fiW^ PBMiOCEO HIS BEST BEft'JTlFUl. PASSADONNA V,'o(V^ UK£M HEW/» DEPRESSED. BEAUTIFUL COFFEE LOUNG / When the Semper editors approached me to write a restaurant reveiw on the PASSADONNA COFFEE LOUNGE I was quite agog and a little taken aback, not being one of Incredible llterarry talents (though I dare say 1 have whipped up the odd essay on occassion), let alone being able to spell, and It (the criteek)notbelngoneofthemostcommonoccurances for a conceptual ornithologist such as myself. Though of a provoking ardour I was convinced by friends and associates to 'have a go' so to speak, and, well, by golly, I put my hand to It.The whole thing reminds me ofan experiance I had myself when I was a good 'ole Delma Mater at the University at which the readers of this credulous journal themselves partake In the feast of knowledge. mmvms 0 As I remember I was at the PASSADONNA COFFEE Hiclasteofmcxico ^ LOUNGE situated near the corner of Lambert and LICENSED MEXICAN RESTAURANT Clarence roads in Indooroopily vvith my friend and where locals meel lo eat associate Jamie Doctor and David Attenboughrer (the famous Biologist if my memory serves me BEST VALUE MEXICAN well.Hasnt been the same since that nasty Incident with the gaffer tape) and the story goes something like IN BRISBANE this... Open 7 Days a Week Me: Ho ho ho.That was a funny story jamle.Do you For Lunch and Dinner have any amusing anecdotes Attenboughrer ya old fulha (guffar guffar) as we await the GOOD FOOD TAKE AWAYS AVAILABLE UNTIL 6.30P.M. AND IT DOESNT COST A LOT. BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL • CREDIT CARDS NOT ACCEPTED David:Well, once In England we were producing a 165 Moglll Rd, TARINGA* Ph. 870 3S00 film depictingthedinosaurTerryldactil, an enormous In the Taringa Circle ~ Secured Undercover Parking for 180 cars flying reptile as you know, and how It would have flown on it's great outstretched wings... Jamie:Well it certainly isn't loud now. Me: No ,so unlike these BEAUTIFULY LOUD 70'S CURTAINSandFRlENDLYSERVlCE.PIeaseDavId,do continue. DavidiThis place does seem to be FINE FOR A LATE NIGHT FEEDING BINGE>3E>A NICER ALTERNATIVE « 1 TO HUNGRY JACKS. Me:Rather. Hi! I'm Lyn Howard from Jamie: What?. FOOD ROMANY CAFE. Congratulations on your Graduation! It was great to see EXPLORATION SCIENCE so many of you celebrating and ADVENTURE having a good time at In Decombof 1991 Tha Exploring Socioly will mount a major ox- ROMANY'S. podilbn into tha rainforost of lar North Ouoensland to colloci valuable sciantilic dala (or National and Slate institutions. And the good times continue As Ihar9 has bson limited scientific oxptoralion of the Mount Fin- every Sunday, Monday and nigan area, you will bo covering now ground while gathering impor tant material lor CSIRO, Queensland Museum, Queensland Tuesday night with a University and olhois. complimentary glass of wine with Tha going will bo lough, presenting challenge and adventure. Tho your dinner. dilllcult tropical conditions will reward you wilh incredible boauly and understanding o( this (ragilo environment. Travel into ROMANY CAFE soon II adventure and sdenco appeal and you are inlorostod in being and enjoy a delicious dinner an expoditioner, or you fool you have Ihe necessary qualllications to without spending a lot of money. ba a Science Group Loader, till out tho coupon and send it lo; We'd love to see you. ANZSES Tho Explodng Socioly^ PC Box 174 ^ Albert Paik, 3206 _^ - ^ _^ Patron inCtvel HRft Ttia Prmoa ol Wjlos Phone: (03) 529 3783 BMP Fax; (03) 521 1-147 Name Address , Post Code Licensed Restaurant 41 Sherwood Road, Toowoitg. Tel. (07) 870 4933 SemJVsr^Sa ¥ ¥ ¥ TWIN CINEMAS ^ ^ ^ ^ FILMS Ss U.Q. UNION &CLUB\ ITS HJdf PUCE EVERY SESSION WHEN YOU JOIN THE OCTOBER ^fEVKRY CINEMfl £75 ADULT DAYS $7CONCES5tON scHonaL >^ FILM CIXJB IfjS OTHERS THU-WED 10-W OCT I SESSIONS ^P WORKING ADULTS COFFEE LOUNGE THIN ONirStSAND $10 TO UJOIN nAJtlf (EX. SUN i MON) 7PM MR PHNSON A STARTLING HONEST LOOKATTHeSEXESIl 6 T^xcin "IWin Peaks' 7.15 TEXASVIILE This long awaited sequel lo THE LAST PICTURE SHOW bosed on ihc ncwol by Piililzor Prize winner Larry McMurtie PPM HAVANA has lumed oul lo be a funny film, with sharpness and style. It }EFF BRIDGES 9.30 GUIIW BY SUSPICION ^ Is difficult to rcsisl ils charms. Bridges hos matured and the ^r women arc oil livclv and believable. The lirsl film was about SAT-SUN MAVNEES (eonagers growing info adults, ond had a wonderfully '-.^ij^-' compelling olmosphore, the sequel has harsh colours and mKASVUM 2 15 MR PHNSON sunbaked plains. A richly layered comedy. (AMERICAN a mm by ^^ 3.15 TEXASVILIE |^-S*^.^^.^ FILM). TO PETER BOGD^NOVKH ^ 4.15 HAVANA ONE WEEK ONLY 10-16 SEPT. 5.30 GUILTY BY SUSPICION THE AROMA OF TRAUMA! ^^ ,. . THU-SAT 17-19 OCT Lt. Frank Dreben - Police Squad! - smells a ral and tinds 7PM MR PHNSON somelhing bad right under his nose in this sensitive 7.30 SWITCH porfrayal of a man tormented by his search for true love HKHRREDGUN PPM SWITCH his own identity, and a reaspnabiypriced 9.30 NAKED GUN 2 1/2 qraphite-iniecfion tennis racket. From Ihe broker ot the Sirector of GHOST comes THE NAKED GUN 2 1/2. THE SMEIL OF FEAf?, storrinq Leslie Nielsen (of IHE SAT-SUN MATINEES NAKED GUN fame) and Priscilla Presley (of Elvis 3PM MRPHNSON Presley s wife fame) ONE WEEK ONLY 17-23 OCT 3.44 ISUNONIY) NAKED GUN j SPM QUEEN Of HEARTS 5.30 SWITCH A FAST PACED SCREWBAU COMEDY INEWSDAY) ELLErS BARKIN in Creator oTthe Pink Panther films, B^^^KE EDWAI3DS, TVE-WED 22-23 OCT fios created one of the funniest films to come along in BLAKE EDWARDS' 7PM QUEEN OF HEARTS a iotig time (USA TODAY). ELLEN BARKIN has the 7.30 SWITCH time ol ber life, playing a Man who used to have a 9.00 SWITCH greference for blondes, then v^as murdered and came 9.30 NAKED GUN 2 1/2 ack as one! Will being a woman make him a better man? The film is a wizordly deliqht and full of borad THU-SAT 24-26 OCT minded fun (LOS ANGELES TIMK). 7PM CO. OP STRANGERS OPENS THU 17 OCT. switch 7.} 5 SWITCH 9PM LIPE STINKS BEST FILM: VANCOUVER/TORONTO FESTIVALSl I3[-ST ITLMS 01" Tl il". VliAK" mtiom 9.30 SWITCH This first feature is a unique film whose charm and STA* SAT-Si/N MATINEES *—.* completely naturaUst style is a refresfiing antidote to IITV 3 PM MRpHNSON big budget, oyerbiown films. A tale or a group of 3 30 CO. OF STRANGERS elclerly women who get to know each other belter when their bus is stranded in the country. Has all the 5PM CO, OF STRANGERS appeal that mode DRIVING MISS DAISY so popular 5.30 LIFE STINKS (TORONTO SUN) Refreshing, delightful and funny (Daily TELEGRAPH). STMSHS TUE-WED 29-30 OCT J EXTENDED SEASON: 12-30 SEPT. ^__^__ 7PM MR. PHNSON A CYHTHfA SCOTT FILM 7 30 SWITCH AN INSPIRING FILM OF POWERFULmPlKffY 9.15 LIFE STINKS Bruce BeresTorcTs new film won Maynard tzioshi best PIERCE BROSNAN 9.30 SWITCH Actor at the prestigious Berlin Film Festival. Joyce Cory's moving novel is the story of a young mission school-educated African with on admiration of all things English who is caught in the crossfire of colonial prejudice and bureaucracy in I V20s Nigerio. It is stunningly photographed on location in Invites you to Nigeria with EdwarcTWoodward as co-star. J OHMS ON EXTENDED SEASON 3-23 OCTOBER t WIN A PASS BEST FILM - SYDNEY FILM FESTfVAL to FROM THE DIRECTOR OF 'THf SINGING DETEaiVE" comes a modern classic, one of the most rrioving and magical films ever mode SUN TELEGRAPH). It is the ANY MOVIE funny tender moving story lold Irom Ihe perspective ot the youngest son of an immigrant Italian family in The First 20 Readers to Britain. It'is funny, tender and has a bouyont humour and delicate irony: Warmly recommended 10 calHnto Semper and tell (AUSTRALIAN) *-*S.B.S. (IN ENGLISH) us which movie Ellen ONE WEEK ONLY 17-23 OO A fILlVl BY jOrvJ AMiEL BarkJn co-starred with Jud\ Davis. Hugh Grant ^f . C O l>A I N G MR. & ML^. BRIDGE Alexei Sayle, Grace l/i-C Jones and Jodie Foster [IMPROMPTU ^<^ J Richard ^r 1117 (among olhers) will win Harris 1 Mr.. a free movie pass to use pRbOF GUILDENSTERN^ at the Schonell ^r?^fjr/i FIELD flPlpMnGaiyOlonM • • * * • • • •. • • A SWATVAC STUDY BREAK DOIGL.AS Q. HLNTER PRE.SF.NT.S Schonell Cinema 2 UQU DA'A-S TJnursdaySlst October activities to Wednesday Present November 6 their first Sessions ^••'-Z^C^Ul^CU' WzV-OP. 7P.M. & 8.15 (except Mon) Sfcrrlng Ihe DOUG ANTHONY AU STARS wffA^fipRnimft/DREAD ZEPPLIN, BOB DOWHE, CHRIS LYNAM, Sat-Sun ever film M FRIGIDAlRtS onil the REDUCED SHAKESPEARE COMPANY g.30 & 5.30 Sen)iPti46» Jungle fever After Dark, My Sweet ^ii The Commitments Sometimes when you aresnowed under with much ofthe After Daric, My Sweet is a deliberatly enigmatic film Alan Parker is God crap that is churned out by Hollywood these days it is with a pervasive sexual presence. The man who has made films such as Midnight Express, easy to forget that there is such a thing as an indepentfcnt Jason Patric comes across like a mix of Mickey Rourke Birdy,TheWall,Angelhearl,andMissisipiBuming has film industry in thc USA. and Christopher Lambert. now brought us another great film. While hard issues are drowned in the soft focus of Those who have read Jim TTiompson's crime novels Dublin is acityreputcdlohave up to 1200 bands covering nostal^a or disappear in a blaze of high technology agree thai is a perfect rendering of his highly subjective S every aspect of music from folk to punk. An unlikely action sequences we are left oblivious to what is really style into fihn. ^Pl place lo find a band playing the songs of black musicians happening in the a socie^ that is in an advanced state of Itdoesn'tquite ^P suchasWilsonPickett,OtisReddingandArethaFranklin. decay. Occasionally a film comes along that serves to grab until the I^i However this is the arena in which Jimmy Rabbilte confront its audience with rcah'ty instead of fantasy tlu's end where it (Robert Arkins)pu£s together *Vhc worids hardest working is one of them. has a hook that band" Thc Com mitmenls, which he bills as "the saviours As a filmaker Spike Lee is no stranger to controversy, nor makes the of Soul". As a band they have a lot of work to do before to making fdms with a message. With Lee there is one aloofness of they can reach thc status of being professional but as one particular wheelbarrow to push and that is the jxoblems ^ the rest of the member says "Its better being an unemployed musician of ratx relations. His earlier film Do The Right Thing film strike Ihan an unemployed pipefitter". looked at the origins of inner city racial violence. hard. Based upon the novel by Roddy Doyle the film mixes humour and great performances from the previously In this film he confronts us with the problems of inter W Patric is a bit racial sexual relationships. However Lee does not fall too pretty for unknown cast who are armed with strong accents; a into the trap of making a boring meaningful film that the role of the glossary of terms such as bollix, gobshite, shite, and yo laboriously makes its point. Instead he makes films ex-boxer yo knickers; as well as lashings of talent. which are witty, funny, poignant, and seductive. tumed looney This is one of those films that reaches just the righl Jungle Fever was apparently inspired by the death of a^^Pl M
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S«nPer50. what is the lifestyle of a high' flying manic breakfast radio > announcer and dag /^ guru such as H Maynard F# A- f Crabbes like? ^
This is what Triple J's Isometimes silly, sometimes provocative breakfast man has to endure to give his listeners that upper in the "It's early morning that sees them through the pretty downer of consciousness, Maynard is one of those few individuals who seems to be fucked I able to act Uke a container of nitro glycerine on a stove at a time when the only desire of most is to pull a pillow over their head and think of blissful darkness. reckon. Maynard is not one of those high-energ}' o\'erpowering sort of people during his civilian life though - he's a Social life, sex relaxed, friendly guy in a loud shirt with a casual style and wit. rm V^' The manic personality listeners have to put up with in the mornings is something that Maynard believes "tends to go wth the territorj'". it all goes put the \ "Its a prettj' crazN' sort of thing to get up at 4.30am and talk to people around Australia and play loud music and window,"said M^ynard^ stuff so you tend to get that wav because of the territor)' you are working in. I think if 1 came on in the morning and was really quiet and reserved and did a Qive Robinson that everybody would sleep in and if people want that there are plenty of stations such as ABCFN^ or "I wanted to be a writer when I was really young, and I thats pretty unusual for a start and 1 can't see why you -. they can listen to a puppet," said Maynard. did work experience with a radio station. I did that, and can't like dance mu.sic and metal together - the only .i; my Dad said "that's no career, son", and he turned out to One of Maynard's trademarks is his championing of all a^ason 1 don't play metal at breakfast is because she'd be ~ be right, I ended up working at the railways as a station a tough one to wake up to there-its more sort of up music 3 things dag. Apart from his rave's on Triple ] and radio assistant, and I wore a hat almost e\'er\'day and collected spots like T>ag For A Day" he's hosted \ideo music you want to play, more up pop than metal because like it ;^ tickets, and 1 was really big on gi%ing the wrong change. gives you a headache." shows on the subject, wears Hawaian shirts and baggy I ne\'er balanced my drawer once in the 18 months I was shorts, runs a dag nightclub, has done a CD and is even working and then of course I had done photography at "1 think politics is best served jiLst after 9 o'clock because | now writing a book called "Maynard's Guide to Dag." school. I became an industrial photographer v.ith BHP - in the morning people don't necessarily w-ant to hear it, c Ma)Tiard has probably made a lot of money out of being took photographs of steam, and small rocks. Ver>' or they haven't got the time if they dobecause the/ve got |^ loud and overtly daggy. It's hard to tell where the di\ide colourful they were because most of the rocks to do with to get into the shower or something, so the>' get just half " BHP are coal, so lots of black rocks. It was great, steam between Ma>Tiard the person and Maynard the King of the issue or something like that. So making short political J; and black rocks. After a couple of years! got sick of that comments, and sure 1 do that I think, still there isn't time . • dag is. and I joined theCastanetBand and a punk surf band,and to go into the issues in depth," said Maynard. J "I always been a dag, always been like a bit of a loser in 1 got involved Hith that and 1 mov£?d from photography Politics will never be what MasTiand is remembered for. | life, but you sort of magnify' it a bit more for the radio - to the Castanet Qub, and found my way into radio He tours the countrv' being dagg)- and does it well. Ke ^;- 1 just yell a bil more on the radio than 1 would at home through that, like I said. I did all the publicity stuff for the has ob\iouslv thought out what dag means but even z thats all," said May-nard, Castanet Club and occasionally I still get thc camera out. Anvonc'vvants polaroids taken, just gi\'e me a ring. W'hen aftergiNingitarespectaMcstructureofmoaningtomove *" MajTiard's reply to those f>eople who don't like the 1 go on holidays 1 take photographs of where I am within he stili is careful abouf being trapped by people's iJ combination of loudness and silliness that he projects staging. Orcasionally, you know, if the kettle is boiling I superficial image of him. n over the morning airwaves is that in essence Maynard just cannot resist taking photographs of that. It takes me "The definition of dag is to be happily unfashionable ••'. the person is not so different from Maynard the radio back to the old days of the smelly old BHP Fiant in and thats how I am bul 1 have this other side where I like - • personality. Newcastle," to pick up on the latest dance stuff and if there's a new 'Z. band worth getting into 1 push them. I'm more rounded ;^ "I am a major dickhead and if they don't like me on the Growing up in Newcastle is something MavTiard is than just the dag stuff," 5 radio they probably wouldn't like me in real Hfe either - thankful for. so they can't come to my party." At the club we get a lot of people who do nol fitin , and "Really it is pretty' good because it does'nt mean 1 come they come along and meet other people who don't fitin , | A Maynard party would probably be a very fine time. from Sydney, doesn't mean 1 come from any of the major and then ever>'one fitsin . That is the whole thing to be ^ Dag, his name and his nightclub ail started as jokes and places, \^^len you talk to Brisbane people, and 1 haven't unfashionable together - happily unfashionable § are still going. Every Monday night people like to "goof figured this out, and you say "where are you from?" they together." off' to the really bad music Maynard enjoys playing. His say, "ah, Brisbane, unfortunately", and I think that is taste in music tends towards Cabaret st)'le stuff, tribute bocauscthe)' think that anybody from a place bigger than The persona of thc Guru of Dag is something Maward o bands with a sense of humour to them and unusual cover that is going to bag 'em, so they get in first and say, will probably always rely on for his prosperity but when versions of popular songs such as Madonna pop done as o "Brisbane, unfortunately". I can't see why, 1 mean I have the novelty wears of and people look for something else polkas. •n been here for just a little while - sure it's a bit dull, but 1 will they b>'pass the whole dag business and send can't see why that is a problem. 1 mean, Sydney is a bit a. Maynard F# Crabbes started his broadcasting career in Maynard to obsauity - Maynard believes he should be •v public radio with 2NUR, the University station at weird sometimes, it's a rat race." able to ride it out. o Newcastle and then worked wth Castanet Qub for a Maynard hopes JJ] will not be so Sydney based as well in "Dag will probably pass on to something else 1 think. 3 couple of j-ears. He then went to Sydney with the Castanet the future. -i Qub worked at 2SER, an educational version of ZZZ There's always an tmfashionable side though. In years to M come the 70's might stop being unfashionable and it will (-• where he did a show called Radio Stupid on Satuixlay "We want to get some semblance of a network going Ol be the early 80's. Like I said, I've got a couple of Duran mornings and eventually got a gig doing midnight to we're iK)t just trying tobe a Sydney j*ation broadcasting dawn for 18 months on Triple Jbefore mo ving to weekend to the rest of Australia," he said. Duran records ready to go, and I've got a couple of Hazy '~' breakfast and from thereto weekday breakfast. That was Fantazie 12 inchs hiding out the back. We shouldn't o his radio career path anj^way, the path of Hfe wasn't so Though most of what Ma)Tiard does is spontaneous he forget the Culture Club album tracks. 1 think ^ straight and narrow. MajTiard learnt the trombonein the does have an agenda as far as his radio program goes. contemporary music has its unfashionable side too, like 3 Newcastle Police And Citizens Boys Club Band simply that "I'm too Sexy" by Right Said Fred. 1 think that's a -"^ "I'm trying to wake peopleup and make a bit of noise and because he was tall and tall boys got trombones - this dassic dagg>- song, and that was orily i I'm trying to get peopl e to widen their taste and not be too musical skill was to be an important facet of his later life made a few months ago, so there's always! narrow minded about stuff. Idon'tseewhyyoucan'llike -leading to bigger and bt?tter things. an unfashionable side to things." b)f the Smiths and ABBA -1 said the two in the same breath Craig McOifsker The
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