APRIL
2021
THE GRADUATE UNION NEWSLETTER
WHAT’S ON
ITALIAN CONVERSATION DINNER Tuesday, 6th, 20th April 6:00pm – 8:30pm Dine while learning to speak Italian with an experienced teacher. Members $17, non-members $25.
MONTHLY LUNCHEON Wednesday, 7th April 12:00pm for 12:30pm start with Jill Walsh. Dine in: Members $35, non-members $40. Virtual attendance: Members $10, non-members $15.
BRIDGE NIGHT Wednesday, 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th April 7:30pm – 9:30pm Do you enjoy a sociable game of duplicate bridge? Register at reception. All levels of bridge players welcome. Player fees: Members $2, non-members $5. Food and beverages at bar prices.
SPECIAL MORNING BREAKFAST Tuesday, 13th April 7:30am to 8:30am Non-resident Members are welcome to join Resident Members for a hearty breakfast at Graduate House. Free for Resident Members, Non-resident Members $20.
COLLEGE TABLE Friday, 16th April 12:00pm for 12:30pm start with Lyn Yeowart. Dine in: Members $12, Non-members $20, Loyalty Card Holders $15. Virtual attendance: Members $10, non-members $15.
WOMEN’S FORUM Wednesday, 21st April 10:00am for 10:30am start with the topic ‘Our relationship with the first nations’ The Forum is free. All are welcome. Lunch is at Member and non-member prices.
BOOK NOW: www.graduatehouse.com.au I (03) 9347 3428 I admingh@graduatehouse.com.au
CONTENTS INTERNATIONAL DAYS 4 April FEATURES 14 Bias Hidden in Plain Sight by Bron Williams 18 Ailsa Wild: Circus Runaway to Writer 22 Lisa Hasker: A Good Sport Story REVIEW 26 March Monthly Luncheon – Victor Perton 28 Special Event – Deborah Burnett MEMBERS’ CONTRIBUTION 34 Mac’s Musings on Neighbours by Life Member, Mac Nicoll 37 Life by Life Member, Louis A Coutts GRADUATE HOUSE NEWS 37 Outdoor Dining at Graduate House 38 Per Capita – New Home for John Cain Foundation 39 John Cain Foundation Luncheon 40 Seen at Graduate House 40 Welcome Back Ladies! 41 Feedback COLLEGIATE 42 April Monthly Luncheon – Jill Walsh 43 April College Table – Lyn Yeowart PROMOTIONS 44 Graduate House ‘medi-stay’ 46 Graduate House is Open and Safe — Meet Face-to-Face! 47 Graduate House Dine-in and Takeaway 48 Office Rentals 49 Room Types, Prices and Features EXTRACURRICULAR 50 The Internet: History, online population and the rise of social media 3
INTERNATIONAL DAYS APRIL IN TERNATI O NAL DAYS
1st April – April Fool’s Day Celebrated for centuries by different cultures, the origin of April Fool’s Day is unknown though it is speculated to date back to 1582 when France changed from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. In the Julian calendar, as in the Hindu calendar, the new year begins with the spring equinox around 1st April. Those who continued to celebrate the ‘new year’ during the last week of March through 1st April are said to have become the butt of jokes and hoaxes and were called April fools. These days, April Fool’s Day involves playing hoaxes or practical jokes on others. Some hoaxes have reached global acclaim, including the BBC’s 1957 Swiss Spaghetti Harvest, Dick Smith’s 1978 Sydney Iceberg and the 1987 Thatcher-Gorbachev Romance.
a not-for-profit organisation that promotes international understanding through children’s books, gives children everywhere the opportunity to have access to books with high literary and artistic standards, encourages the publication and distribution of quality children’s books, especially in developing countries, provides support and training for those involved with children and children’s literature, stimulates research and scholarly works in the field of children’s literature and protects and upholds the Rights of the Child according to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
2nd April – World Autism Awareness Day 2nd April – International Children’s Book Day International Children’s Book Day (ICBD) marks the birthday of Hans Christian Andersen and has been celebrated annually since 1967 to inspire a love of reading and to call attention to children’s books. The Day is organised by The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), 4
As explained by the World Health Organization, autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects one in 160 children. It refers to a range of conditions that manifest as challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviours, speech and nonverbal communication. ASDs begin in childhood and tend to persist into adolescence and adulthood, and while some can live independently, others with ASD have severe disabilities and require life-long care and support. Evidence-based
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psychosocial interventions can reduce difficulties in communication and social behaviour, but broader actions for making physical, social and attitudinal environments more accessible, inclusive and supportive are needed. Worldwide, people with ASD are often subject to stigma, discrimination and human rights violations; and access to services and support for people with ASD is inadequate. World Autism Awareness Day began in 2008 and is observed on the second day of April each year.
Awareness Day is towards the establishment and development of national mine-action capacities in countries where mines and explosive remnants of war constitute a serious threat to the safety, health and lives of the civilian population, or an impediment to social and economic development at national and local levels.
5th April – Conscience 4th April – International Awareness Day
Mine
Landmines are called the perfect soldiers because they can lie hidden for years after a conflict until triggered by a victim to explode. Laid in strategic areas by parties at war to protect military position and important infrastructure, or to deny access to enemy forces, they are also used to terrorise civilian populations. Innocent civilians and regular vehicles, such as cars and trucks, can indiscriminately become victims of these explosive weapons. In addition to landmines, explosive remnants of war (ERW) are also left behind after a conflict. These include bombs, rockets, grenades, mortars and other types of explosive weapons which have failed to explode when fired or on impact, or that have been left behind. Landmines and ERWs have an impact on people’s lives and limbs; and the fear of their presence prevents use of productive agricultural land, the rebuilding of important infrastructure and blocks access to vital resources and economic markets. 164 countries have ratified or acceded to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of AntiPersonnel Mines and on Their Destruction, commonly known as the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention opened for signature in 1997. Established in 2005, International Mine
International
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The preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of humankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people. The International Day of Conscience is aimed towards conditions of stability, well-being, peaceful and friendly relations based on respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations conduct activities related to the culture of peace and nonviolence in the areas of youth, education, media and migration, in collaboration with governments, international organisations, foundations and civil society groups, as well as the media and the private sector.
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6th April – International Day of Sport Reflection on the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda marks the beginning of the genocide perpetrated for Development and Peace by the Hutu extremist-led government. The World Health Organization recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week, or a combination of both. In addition to health benefits, sport is a fundamental right, and a powerful tool to strengthen social ties and to promote sustainable development, peace, solidarity and respect. International Day of Sport for Development and Peace is to position and th exploit the vast reach, popularity and foundation 7 April – World Health Day of positive values of sport to contribute towards Since 1950, World Health Day has been celebrated the United Nations’ objectives for development annually to create awareness of a specific health and peace. priority area of global concern for the World Health Organization, such as mental health, maternal and child care and climate change. The aims and priorities of this Day are to:
• improve understanding of universal health coverage and the importance of primary health care as its foundation; • spur action from individuals, policy-makers and health-care workers to make universal health care 7th April – International Day of a reality for everyone; Reflection on the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda • ensure that everyone has the information and The Rwandan genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda was over three months in 1994 during the Rwandan Civil War and resulted in 500,000 to 600,000 Tutsi deaths. Genocidal killings began the day after the assassination of President Juvénal Habyarimana with organised soldiers, police and militia executing key Tutsi and moderate Hutu military and political leaders. Notwithstanding the worldwide shock at the scale and brutality of the massacre, no country intervened to stop the killings. Most victims were killed in their villages or towns, many by neighbours and fellow villagers using machetes and rifles. An estimated 250,000 to 500,000 women were raped during the genocide. The effects of this genocide on Rwanda and on neighbouring countries have been profound and long lasting. Today, Rwanda has two public holidays to mourn the genocide, and genocide ideology and divisionism are criminal offences. Established in 2003, the International Day of 6
services they need to take care of their own health and the health of their families; and
• have skilled health workers providing quality, people-centred care, and policy-makers committed to investing in primary health care.
12th April – International Day of Human Space Flight On 12th April 1961, Soviet citizen Yuri Gagarin, carried out the first human space flight, an historic
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event paving the way for much subsequent space exploration. Established in 2011 to mark the 50th anniversary of this spaceflight, the International Day of Human Space Flight is to celebrate the beginning of the space era for mankind, reaffirming the important contribution of space science and technology in achieving sustainable development goals and increasing the well-being of States and peoples, as well as ensuring the realisation of their aspiration to maintain outer space for peaceful purposes.
that are required to protect and conserve it, to draw attention to the vulnerability of these places, and to celebrate the work of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). The Day involves a range of activities, conferences and visits to heritage sites and monuments. The World Heritage List includes over 1,100 sites globally.
20th April – Chinese Language Day
12th April to 12th May – Ramadan Celebrated by Muslims and a time of spiritual reflection, self-improvement, devotion and worship, Ramadan 2021 in Australia begins in the evening of 12th April and ends in the evening of 12th May.
18th April – International Day for Monuments and Sites (World Heritage Day) A heritage site is a place of cultural significance. It preserves the legacy of intangible attributes and physical artifacts of a society or group that is inherited from previous generations. The International Day on Monuments and Sites, also known as World Heritage Day and endorsed by UNESCO in 1983, is to raise awareness of the diversity of the world’s heritage and the efforts
An official language of the United Nations since 1946, the Chinese language was used more commonly in the work of the United Nations after restoration of the lawful rights of the People’s Republic of China in the United Nations in 1971. Chinese Language Day is also Guyu day to pay tribute to Cangjie, an ancient Chinese historian of the Yellow Emperor who was said to have had four eyes and four pupils, and to have caused deities and ghosts to cry and rain millet from the skies with his invention of Chinese characters.
21st April – World Creativity and Innovation Day The Creative Economy Report Widening local development pathways, co-published by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP), through the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), notes creativity and innovation as the reflection of the true wealth of nations in the 21st century. World Creativity and Innovation Day 7
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(#WCID) is to embrace innovation, creativity and mass entrepreneurship in providing new momentum for economic growth and job creation, expanding opportunities for everyone, including women and youth, and giving solutions to pressing global issues, such as poverty and hunger elimination.
planet and over 75,000 partner organisations have joined to build the world’s largest environmental movement to drive transformative change for people and this globe. The following gives some practical things to do on Earth Day (and all other days): 1. Join a local park, river or beach clean-up. 2. Use environmentally-friendly, non-toxic cleaning products. 3. Replace inefficient incandescent light bulbs with efficient Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) or Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) to reduce your carbon footprint by >200 kilograms a year.
4. Carpool, ride your bike, use public transport or drive an electric or hybrid car, reducing your 22nd April – International Girls in ICT carbon footprint by 0.3 kilograms per kilometre. Day International Girls in ICT Day is to promote 5. Keep tyres properly inflated for better fuel mileage. technology career opportunities for girls and women in the information, communications and technology (ICT) sectors and for governments, the private sector and civil society to establish systems that will equip girls and young women with the skills needed to become ICT professionals. The United Nations International Telecommunication Union (ITU) estimates a skills shortfall of over two million jobs in these sectors within (at least) the next five years. Girls and young women who learn coding, apps development and computer science are thus well-placed for a successful career in the ICT sector and to help to improve the lives of people everywhere through improved health care, environmental management, communications and educational systems.
6. Change your car’s air filter regularly. 7. Teleconference instead of travelling.
8. Stop using disposable plastics, especially singleuse plastics like bottles, bags and straws. 9. Recycle paper, plastic and glass. 10. Donate old clothes and home goods instead of throwing them out; and buy used items. 11. Use cloth instead of paper towels. 12. Change paper bills to online billing. 13. Read documents online instead of in-print form. 14. Use 100% post-consumer recycled paper. 15. Set your office printer to print two-sided. 16. Collect used printer, fax and copier cartridges to recycle. 17. Choose eating venues that have reusable utensils, trays and dishes.
22nd April – Earth Day
18. Use reusable bottles for water, and reusable cups/ mugs for tea and coffee. 19. Bring reusable bags for shopping.
Since the World’s first Earth Day in 1970, over a 20. Pack your lunch in a reusable bag. billion people have contributed to the future of the 8
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21. Organise for healthy, locally-sourced food to be 39. Lower the temperature on your water heater. served at school and community events. 40. Contact your utility company and find out about 22. Buy local food to reduce the distance from farm renewable energy options. to fork. Buy straight from the farm, frequent 41. Use energy-efficient appliances and electronics. your local farmers’ market, or join a local food 42. Recycle batteries from small appliances and your co-op. electronics. Use rechargeable batteries instead! 23. Buy organic food to keep your body and the environment free of toxic pesticides. Support farmers and companies who use organic ingredients. 24. Grow your own organic garden, or join a farmshare group. 25. Compost kitchen scraps for use in your garden — turning waste into fertilizer. 26. Take a shorter shower and use a water-saving shower head. 27. Fix leaky faucets and shower-heads.
22nd April – International Mother Earth Day
28. Run your dishwasher only when it’s full to save Human, animal and environmental health are water and energy. intertwined. Climate change, man-made changes 29. Conserve water outdoors by only watering your to nature, disruptions to biodiversity through lawn in the early morning or late at night. Use deforestation, land-use change, intensified drought-resistant plants in dry areas. agriculture, livestock production and illegal 30. Wash your clothes only when necessary, use cold wildlife trade are increasing the incidence of water and line dry. zoonotic diseases, and contributing to such major disasters as the Australian bush fires 31. Form a “green team” at your office to find costand the Kenyan locust invasion. Established in effective ways to conserve resources and promote 2009 by the United Nations General Assembly, sustainability. International Mother Earth Day is to recognise 32. Volunteer for a local environmental group and/ Earth and its ecosystems as our HOME and to or make a donation. promote harmony with nature and this entity that sustains all living things found in nature. 33. Pull out invasive plants in your yard or garden and replace them with native flora. 23rd April – Spanish Language Day 34. Turn off and unplug electronics that are not Spanish Language Day (#SpanishLanguageDay) being used, including your computer. celebrates the second most spoken language in the 35. Turn off lights when you leave a room. 36. Install solar panels. 37. Take the stairs instead of the elevator to save energy (and get exercise!). 38. Move your heater thermostat down two degrees in winter and up two degrees in the summer to reduce your carbon footprint by >907 kilograms. 9
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world and honours writer Miguel De Cervantes Saavedra who is best known for his two-part novel Don Quixote published in 1605 and 1615. Originating in Spain, the Spanish language has more than 450 million native Spanish speakers in the world (surpassed only by Chinese as the most spoken language) and is the third most studied language behind English and French. It is the official language for Argentina, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba and, of course, Spain. To observe this day, try reading Don Quixote or another novel by Miguel De Cervantes, such as The Dialogue of the Dogs or The Little Gypsy Girl; and explore other Spanish authors such as Julia Alvarez, Carlos Fuentes and Rosa Montero. You could also commit to learning the language or visiting Spanish-speaking countries, and of course, sing and dance to the beautiful Spanish music.
world: books as vectors of values and knowledge, depositories of the intangible heritage, windows onto diversity, tools for dialogue, sources of material wealth and copyright-protected works of creative artists. Each year a city is chosen to maintain the impetus of the Day’s celebrations until the 23rd of April of the following year. The World Book Capital for 2021 is Tbilisi in Georgia.
23rd April – English Language Day English Language Day is celebrated on the birthday (in 1564) and death day (in 1616) of William Shakespeare, and on Saint George’s Day, the National Day of England. Helbling Readers Blog gives some great activity ideas for this day, as well as such great examples from English literature as:
All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie 23 April – World Book and Copyright dust. — J. M. Barrie, Peter Pan. Day I loved her against reason, against promise, against 23rd April is the date in 1616 that Cervantes, peace, against hope, against happiness, against all Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all died, as well as the date of birth or death of discouragement that could be. — Charles Dickens, other prominent authors (e.g., Maurice Druon, Great Expectations. rd
Haldor K. Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla and Manuel Mejía Vallejo). World Book and Copyright Day is to pay a world-wide tribute to books and authors, to encourage discovery of the pleasure of reading and to renew respect for authors and publishers in furthering the social and cultural progress of humanity. Observed by millions of people in over 100 countries, in hundreds of voluntary organisations, schools, public bodies, professional groups and private businesses, the Day has enabled also a greater shared understanding of the publishing 10
And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer. — F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby. If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger. — Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights.
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She felt… how life, from being made up of little separate incidents which one lived one by one, became curled and whole like a wave which bore one up with it and threw one down with it, there, with a dash on the beach. — Virginia Woolf, To the Lighthouse.
creatures, particularly through climate change affecting the distances of their migration to find food. Alarmingly, of 17 penguin species, 11 are classified as endangered or vulnerable, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Adelie penguins are native to Antarctica and individually migrate north to have better access to food during the winter months and then south in summer, to build their nests along the Antarctica coastlines. Penguin species lay up to two eggs per mating season with the Emperor and King penguins laying only one egg.
24th April – International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace The United Nations began in 1945, following the Second World War (WWII) with the central mission to maintain international peace and security. First observed in 2019, International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace is to reaffirm the three pillars of the United Nations – peace and security, development, and human rights. This Day is also to rise to the challenges of protectionism and isolationism by resolving disputes through peaceful means. Climate change, geopolitical tensions, humanitarian and migratory crises and significant technology and communication advances necessitate collective attention and action. This Day acknowledges the use of multilateral decision-making and diplomacy in achieving peaceful resolutions to conflicts among nations.
25th April – International Delegate’s Day
On 25th April 1945, delegates from 50 countries came together for the first time in San Francisco after the devastation of the Second World War to establish an organisation that would restore world peace and impose rules on the post-war world order. International Delegate’s Day marks the anniversary of the first day of a two-month conference with 850 delegates from every world religion and continent towards establishing the United Nations (on 26th June 1945). This Day is to raise awareness of the role of the representatives and delegates of the Member States to the United Nations in representing their countries/regions, negotiating agreements and coordinating with their home countries to form alliances and compromises. Unless a politician of higher rank is present, the delegates speak and vote on behalf of their country at the UN General Assembly, and other fora, such as the UN Security Council. The delegates are appointed by their countries and thus follow the interests of the government 25th April – World Penguin Day they serve while maintaining international Coinciding with the annual northern migration peace, encouraging respect for human rights and of Adelie penguins, World Penguin Day is to raise fundamental freedoms and promoting effective awareness for the endangerment of these ice-born multilateralism. 11
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25th April – World Malaria Day World Malaria Day is to highlight the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment for malaria prevention and control. Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease caused by a parasite that commonly infects a certain type of mosquito which feeds on humans. Symptoms include high fevers, shaking chills and a flu-like illness. Although malaria can be a deadly disease, illness and death from malaria can usually be prevented. In 2018, the World Health Organization estimated 228 million clinical cases of malaria and 405,000 deaths, mostly of children in Africa. Countries with malaria are among the poorer nations, the disease thus contributing to a cycle of disease and poverty. The RBM (Roll Back Malaria) Partnership to end malaria acts to keep malaria high on the political and development agenda, to promote and support regional approaches to fight malaria and to promote and advocate for sustainable financing at global and national levels.
26th April – World Intellectual Property Day World Intellectual Property Day is to learn about the role that intellectual property rights play in encouraging innovation and creativity. Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations such as inventions, literary and artistic works, designs and symbols, and names and images used in commerce. IP is protected in law by such instruments as patents, copyright and trademarks, so that the creators can earn recognition or financial benefit. The global IP system fosters innovation and the development and diffusion of technologies, the optimal use of resources and the emergence and growth of businesses. Take a look at the latest World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) annual report to gain an in-depth analysis of registration and renewals statistics from national 12
and regional IP offices and WIPO on patents, utility models, trademarks, industrial designs, microorganisms, plant variety protection and geographical indications. The report also draws on survey data and industry sources to give a picture of activity in the publishing industry.
26th April – International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day The 1986 accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine (then part of the former Soviet Union) was attributed to severe design flaws in the Soviet-era reactor and human error. Thirty-one people died within a few weeks from the steam explosion, exposure to radiation and thermal burns, and one due to cardiac arrest and there remain long-term and ongoing ill-health effects. In 2018, the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) reported that the accident was also responsible for nearly 20,000 documented cases of thyroid cancer among individuals who were under 18 years of age at the time of the accident in the three affected countries (Belarus, Ukraine, Russian Federation) due to the high levels of radioactive iodine released from the Chernobyl reactor in the early days after the accident. Radioactive iodine was deposited in pastures eaten by cows who then concentrated it in their milk which was subsequently ingested by children. There was also “some evidence of a detectable increase” in leukemia and cataract risk among workers who received higher radiation doses when engaged in recovery at the site. Long-term health monitoring of these workers is ongoing. International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day is thus to recognise that three decades after the disaster there remains persistent serious long-term consequences and that the affected communities and territories are experiencing continuing related needs.
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29th April – International Dance Day
28th April – World Day for Safety and Health at Work In 2003, the International Labour Organization (ILO), began to observe the World Day for Safety and Health at Work to stress the prevention of accidents and diseases at work and as an integral part of the ILO’s Global Strategy on Occupational Safety and Health. 28th April is also the International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers organised worldwide by the trade union movement since 1996. Responsibility for stopping deaths and injuries on the job lies at many levels. Governments are responsible for providing the laws, policies, services and compliance/monitoring systems to ensure that workers remain employable and that enterprises flourish. Employers are responsible for ensuring that the working environment is safe and healthy. Workers are responsible for working safely, for protecting themselves, for not endangering others, for knowing their rights and for participating in the implementation of preventive measures. As identified by the United Nations, new and emerging occupational risks may be caused by technical innovation or by social or organisational change, such as: • new technologies and production processes (e.g., nanotechnology, biotechnology); • new working conditions (e.g., higher workloads, work intensification from downsizing, poor conditions associated with migration for work, jobs in the informal economy); and • emerging forms of employment (e.g., selfemployment, outsourcing, temporary contracts).
Founded in 1982 by the International Theatre Institute (ITI) World Organization for the Performing Arts, International Dance Day marks the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre (17271810) who is acknowledged as the creator of modern ballet. In 1760, Noverre published a famous treatise entitled Les Lettres sur la Danse et sur les Ballets (Letters on Dance and Ballet) in which was outlined his preferred aesthetic and method for teaching dance. This methodology has been translated into many different languages and is referred to by dance teachers worldwide. The Day is to celebrate dance, to acknowledge the universality of this art form in crossing all political, cultural and ethnic barriers, and to bring people together with this common ‘language’.
30th April – International Jazz Day In 2011, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated 30th April as International Jazz Day to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role in uniting people worldwide. The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz is the lead not-for-profit organisation charged with planning, promoting and producing this annual celebration. The Day brings together communities, schools, artists, historians, academics, and jazz enthusiasts to celebrate and learn about jazz and its roots, future and impact. This international art form is recognised for promoting peace, dialogue among cultures, diversity and respect for human rights and human dignity.
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Bias Hidden in Plain Sight
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by Bron Williams The heat was palpable, reflecting off the tarmac, bringing with it the pungent smells of jet fuel mixed with the soft overtones of sea air. After a midnight flight from Brisbane, Australia and bumping down into the Solomon Islands to refuel, I was walking out into my first day of four weeks on Nauru, a tiny tropical island in the Pacific, 35 km south of the equator. I joined the current group of Salvation Army workers and volunteers who were providing welfare services to asylum seekers in the newly reopened offshore processing centre run by the Australian federal government. After hours of orientation, our last appointment on that first day was to go down into the camp and see where we would be working for the next 28 days. Our group was ushered through the chain link gate by a security officer and we followed our leader across the white gravel that sharply reflected the tropical sun, and then down between the rows of green army tents. Dark-skinned men sat on stretcher beds and plastic chairs looking at us blankly as we passed. My stomach started to churn. I felt uncomfortable, afraid even. It took me a few days to figure out why I felt afraid. It wasn’t because these men might hurt me – they
were asylum seekers in trauma. No, it was purely because they were different to me – different skin colour, faith, language, race and culture. A little more reflection brought me to the conclusion that the woman who said she didn’t have a racist bone in her body actually had a latent racism born out of growing up in a white mono-cultural Bible Belt area of Sydney. Unconsciously, I saw difference as a threat. Some months later, after returning to Nauru in the full-time role of religious liaison officer, I learnt something else about myself. I couldn’t help but observe that the white expats had a real sense of superiority towards the Nauruan staff on the various teams in the processing Centre, including The Salvation Army team. I sat down with Fatima, the leader of The Salvation Army Nauruan team and spoke frankly about what I was observing in the expats, myself included. Her response hit me like a body blow – “We know that about you guys, we just accept it.” I realised that my assumption that I knew best because I came from a developed country and was university-educated was a clear indicator of my white privilege. I had to change how I viewed things. 15
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As I owned my racism and white privilege, I was able to appreciate the many languages that floated around me in the office – Arabic, Persian, Nauruan, Urdu, Pashto, Vietnamese and Tamil. I learnt from the people of different cultures on The Salvation Army team – Nauruan, Pakistani, Afghani, Hazara, Iranian, Ghanaian, Ugandan and Sri Lankan. I could now give my very best because I valued difference as an asset rather than a threat. This experience was the start of a radical shift in my work, life and focus. Once I understood that unconscious attitudes lay behind much of my outlook and decisionmaking, I started researching unconscious bias. I came across an old Chinese proverb that says, “A fish is the last one to know what water is.” A fish swims in water, lives in water and breathes in water. Water is part of a fish’s life and being. But fish don’t recognise the water for what it is, or for the huge part it plays in their lives. Why? Because water is such a normal part of their lives. They were hatched into water. They will die in water. In a similar manner, biases are part of the fabric of who we are as human beings. And, like the fish which does not recognise the water it’s swimming in, we find it difficult to recognise our unconscious biases because they are such a deeply ingrained part of who we are. Like water to the fish, bias is hidden in plain sight. Bias underpins the structures and cultures we live and work in. Our biases have been part of how we see the world for such a long time – from the early days of childhood – that they are an unquestioned component of our outlook, relationships and how we make decisions. And because bias is mostly unconscious, people find it difficult to recognise. Most people don’t like to think of themselves as being biased, and they certainly don’t like it if someone accuses them of bias. And being on the receiving end of other people’s biased attitudes, comments and actions – around our weight, skin colour, race, language, faith, accent, ability – doesn’t negate the probability of our also being biased in some way.
is bias a deeply ingrained part of who we are, it is deeply embedded in the systems and policies that govern every aspect of our lives. Bias is seen in the pathways for promotion that favour men over women, and white people over people of colour. Bias is found in the disproportionate incarceration of Indigenous people and the different attitudes police have to whites and non-whites. Bias plays itself out in the reduced ability of people over 50 to find suitable employment because they are deemed too old and their wealth of experience is devalued. Bias is a part of the human condition. It impacts everyone on the planet. There is a sense in which bias is almost part of humanity’s psychological DNA. But bias is not innate. It is learnt, but rarely intentionally taught. Few parents set out to raise biased children. But the messages we receive in our childhood and youth from our parents, our teachers, the media, the sports club we belong to, the culture we were raised in, all contribute to biased outlooks that shape the way we interact with the world. Bias shapes who we instinctively trust and who we unconsciously avoid. Bias informs the people we choose to mix with and the groups we denigrate. Bias shapes the paths we take in life and the people we build intimate relationships with. When we recognise that we have biases and then identify what they are, learning to work with them is an ongoing exercise. Even when we’ve decided not to allow a particular bias to influence our thinking, there is always a tendency to revert to type, to fall back into our default ways of thinking. And particularly in a time of crisis, as we all experienced in 2020, people more readily operate instinctually out of their biases, often acting in ways that they would not under normal circumstances. It is in crisis that our biases are made known.
Bias can be innocuous – what football team do you support? Do you like tea or coffee? What’s your favourite colour? And bias can be deadly, as seen in the incidents that led to and fanned the Even more difficult is being able to see bias in Black Lives Matter movement in the USA and the systems and structures that order business, around the world in 2020. Bias is an issue for politics and most aspects of everyday life. Not only all people, regardless of where you were born or 16
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where you live and work. And while bias operates unconsciously, it can be brought to the light. We can build awareness of our own bias and, having done that, choose what to do with that knowledge. Now, as I work with leadership teams in corporate and government arenas, and the not-for-profit space, I expand on the water theme, likening bias to an iceberg. Above the surface are the traits we see and experience – gender disparity, ageism, racism, ability discrimination and abuse. In response to these obvious features, we set gender quotas in the hope of gaining parity, run bullying and harassment training to address workplace abuse, and we appoint diversity and inclusion champions to encourage inclusion of diverse peoples both in the workplace and at management level. All of these programs are needed because the obvious inequities and injustices must be addressed – and must be seen to be so. However, just as with an iceberg, under the surface of the racism, discrimination and abuse that we see and experience lies the hulking hidden mass of bias. We all know about icebergs, how it’s only a very small proportion of the ice mass that’s visible. And because of this, ships which can see only the 10% of the iceberg above the water line can easily be wrecked because they underestimated the size of the threat in the water – a threat that extends far beyond the perimeter of the visible iceberg. And it is this unseen, unidentified, and unaddressed
bias that threatens to shipwreck businesses, sporting clubs, educational institutions, cultures and societies. We must look beneath the surface of the water and confront what is lying hidden there, just waiting to shipwreck us. My work with bias is not only the result of that life-changing experience working on Nauru, but it also grows out of my long-held desire to address inequity and injustice in the world. It springs from my conviction that treating people fairly does not necessarily mean treating everyone equally. I am convinced that as we make bias conscious, we are building a fairer and more equitable world. *** Addressing her own unconscious bias, Bron Williams fuses insights from working with asylum seekers on Nauru with her diverse career to build an innate capacity to see beneath the surface of the behaviours we see every day. Bron works with executive teams to make bias conscious in corporate environments, equipping boards and leadership to identify the right questions to ask to address bias, build trust and increase profitability. For more information see: https://bronwilliams.com www.linkedin.com/in/ bronwilliamsthebiasspecialist 17
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Ailsa Wild Ailsa Wild was a professional acrobat and whip-cracker who ran away from the circus to become a writer. She is now an author, performer and community artist with a history of deep collaboration. Ailsa’s most recent book, The Care Factor: a story of nursing and connection in the time of social distancing (Hardie Grant Books, 2021), is a snapshot biography of her dear friend Simone Sheridan, who worked as a nurse during the 2020 coronavirus waves in Melbourne. We spoke to Ailsa recently via an email interview. 18
Ailsa Wild Circus Runaway to Writer
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Vital Stats: Publications
Qualifications/Accreditations/ I enrolled at Melbourne University in a course called Creative Arts. The fabulous thing about Ailsa has a Master of Creative Media (creative that course was that students weren’t allowed to writing) from RMIT and a Bachelor of Arts do more than 50% of subjects in a single medium majoring in history and creative writing from – they were in fact required to work across at least three mediums. In a way we were expected The University of Melbourne. to become generalists. I chose the course for the She has written two junior fiction series: Squishy creative writing and theatre elements, but there Taylor and The Naughtiest Pixie (Hardie Grant were times I felt like a joyful kinder kid in the Egmont). She is the lead writer of Small Friends ceramics studio, fumbling and experimenting Books (CSIRO Publishing and Scale Free with skills I’d never tried before. It was glorious. Network), where she works with microbiologists, virologists and other scientists to translate I remember the day I realised I needed to change complex science into compelling illustrated courses. I’d been writing historical fiction pieces, narrative picture-books. Of these, Zobi and the and my lecturer said, ‘if you’re going to write this Zoox: a story of coral bleaching, was the first kind of thing you absolutely must study history.’ ever children’s book to win the Royal Zoological So, I transferred across to a BA at Melbourne Society of NSW Whitley Medal. Ailsa’s books Uni where I studied Indigenous and colonial have been published in Australia, Spain, Brazil, histories, with the occasional jaunts into studying pirates and Arthurian legend. US, UK, Egypt, Korea, Israel and China. Ailsa’s work has also appeared in Meanjin, The During those years I fell into a job as a circus Monthly, ABC online and #METOO: stories from coach which came out of my hobby and when I graduated, my circus work became my career the Australian movement. focus. I worked hard to develop several physical What was your educational background? What theatre productions with independent companies did you study at university and why did you and youth circuses. For 10 years, I devised, choose this course? 19
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directed, performed in and toured shows. At the same time, I always knew that I wanted to be a writer, but never felt I could focus on it, with the constant pressure of show deadlines.
human vulnerabilities and foibles. Building relationships with other artists and writers gave me the feeling that I might be able to achieve in the ways that they had achieved. I continued to In 2010 I quit the circus to do a Master of Creative work in those roles for years after graduating, Media (creative writing) at RMIT – to give my while I was working towards publication. I still writing brain the time and room it needed, and have a close connection with those organisations. because I knew I would find a community of What were some of your major milestones? writers there to work alongside. In 2012 I won a place in the Queensland Writers
What is your earliest memory of having an Centre/Hachette manuscript development interest in your field? program – based on 50 pages of my master’s novel I remember reading The Lion, the Witch and the manuscript. This was a week-long writers’ boot Wardrobe to myself when I was around eight camp, learning all kinds of insider information years old. My parents had already read it to me about the industry, and also receiving feedback over weeks of bedtimes but this time I held it in on my manuscript. Though I wasn’t offered a my own hands. I finished the story and, craving contract for publication of my novel at that more, I opened the dedication at the front. Here time, being in the program gave me credibility C.S. Lewis writes to his goddaughter Lucy, who and confidence. Just being offered an exclusive is the namesake of my favourite character in the place there based on my work, and the detailed, book. I remember a thrilling, destabilising sense respectful feedback I was given by the publishers that the story was crossing over into reality, was fabulous. realising that there was a real-life writer of this book and a real-life girl it was written for. I wanted to be the fictional Lucy and the real Lucy and the person writing the story about Lucy all at once. I think that’s the moment I realised that people could be writers and imagined myself as one.
My next major milestone was in 2015 when I signed my first contract with a publisher for Squishy Taylor and the Bonus Sisters. This is a junior fiction mystery adventure series for 6- to 10-year-olds. Signing that contract took me from feeling at best like an apprentice (or at worst a dilettante impostor) to having it confirmed that What has been your pathway since graduating? I was a professional writer. In a way it gave me What was your first job after graduation and permission to take my work seriously. how did that job prepare you for your later This month I’m publishing The Care Factor, my positions? Any lessons learnt? first non-fiction book for an adult readership. It’s When I graduated from my master’s, I already had exciting because it’s a story about an incredible two casual jobs as a community arts facilitator human being and I’m feeling grateful that I was with City of Melbourne’s ArtPlay and Kids’ able to tell it. I’m really interested to see what Own Publishing. My roles included running readers think about it and also to get a sense of workshops in creative writing, narrative, theatre- how things operate in the grown-up corner of making and supporting hundreds of artists in the publishing industry. other mediums to do the same. I loved this work and those organisations were excellent places to meet future colleagues and for getting me into writers’ festivals and events. I met mentors, collaborators and role models while at work, giving me a broad sense of the arts community and making me realise that individuals I really looked up to were people with all the regular 20
What have you been most proud of in your career?
I’m proud of every book I’ve published and every award I’ve won. It’s hard to choose a ‘most’. One moment of pride for me was when Zobi and the Zoox: a story of coral bleaching won the 2019 Royal Zoological Society of NSW Whitley Medal for outstanding publications that profile
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the unique wildlife of the Australasian region. The incredible thing about this for me is that until 2019 no children’s book and no fiction book had ever won the award. Zobi and the Zoox is both. What is the most important thing that can make you successful at your job? There are a lot of things that help make me successful – being self-disciplined and persistent are both important. Letting myself off the hook can help sometimes too! But a key thing for me is that I’m a collaborator. This means I’m skilled at working closely with others. I’m good at giving and receiving feedback and knowing when to take the time to work alone. It means many of my projects genuinely have more than one mind on the job, which can make each book a better version of itself. Collaboration can be time-consuming and sometimes emotionally challenging but it’s also a rich process where I’m constantly learning. As a writer, being a collaborator gives me a huge number of options for subject matter, because I can work with experts to tell what they know, rather than writing only what I know, or what I can teach Ailsa Wild’s latest book is The Care Factor: a myself. Collaborating on The Care Factor with story of nursing and connection in the time of Simone was an absolute joy to me. social distancing, described by The Australian as “this urgent, intense narrative… vivid and What are you working on for the future? disturbing, though ultimately life affirming”. At the moment my time is all about promoting The Care Factor. I have several radio interviews To read more about Ailsa, The Care Factor and about the book coming up, as well as a few for her other books, see www.ailsawild.com and to print. In terms of what next, I’m collaborating purchase one of her excellent publications, see with microbiologists on a graphic novel about https://bit.ly/38x0Azz. the development of the human microbiome which is utterly fascinating. My text is with the illustrator at the moment so I’m really looking forward to when those drafts arrive! What advice would you give graduates? Jump into your communities, find strength in your relationships, and remember your own value but also: be generous. If you’re graduating university, that makes you privileged. Figure out ways to listen to the voices of those less privileged than you. What are you going to do about it? *** 21
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Lisa Hasker Lisa Hasker is the Chief Executive Officer of Vicsport. She is the daughter of Life Member, Mr John Hasker AM. We spoke to her recently via an email interview. 22
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Lisa Hasker A Good Sport Story
Vital Stats: Qualifications/Accreditations • • • •
What is your earliest memory of having an Bachelor of Education – Physical Education interest in your field? and Science (UniSA) I have always loved sport. My parents always Graduate Diploma of Sports Science (Deakin encouraged us to be active and play sport. When I was at school, I had great role models as PE University) teachers and so that was what I wanted to do … Graduate Diploma of Sports Management later I moved into other sport administration (Deakin University) roles, but when I was at school there were not many options for full-time sport careers. Master of Marketing (Monash University)
What was your educational background? What What has been your pathway since graduating? did you study at university and why did you What was your first job after graduation and how did that job prepare you for your later choose this course? positions? Any lessons learnt? I selected sport and physical education (PE) as I love sport and wanted to start my career as a PE I started my career as a PE and Science teacher at teacher. There were not many other sport-related Wesley College. It was a great role and the hard work and long hours prepared me for my future university courses offered in 1986. roles in sport. After my teaching role I moved What did you learn during your tertiary into event management and then roles at Golf education – not just academically, but what Victoria (Marketing Manager), Little Athletics ideas did you form and what perceptions? Did Victoria (CEO), the Victorian Institute of Sport any of your views change significantly when (Marketing Manager), La Trobe University you went to university? (Sport Manager), Basketball Australia (GM I moved to SA for my undergraduate education. Community and Stakeholder Relations) and So it was a time of making new friends, learning now Vicsport (CEO). a new city and throwing myself fully into PE and Did you have any residencies, internships or Science studies. My postgraduate studies were anything else that ultimately led you to where completed to enhance my skills in the workplace. you are today? 23
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I did my work experience in year 10 at a school being part of the PE department – it was great fun and I enjoyed working with the students, so that cemented my first career choice. What are the goals of your company/organisation and what are you ultimately trying to achieve? Vicsport is the peak body for sport and active recreation in Victoria. Vicsport works with its members (State sporting organisations, councils, sport-related businesses and individual members) to provide an environment where as many people as possible can enjoy the benefits of sport and recreation. Vicsport’s four strategic priorities are: 1. Participation • Increasing opportunities for physical activity, participation and membership for all Victorians; and • Promoting innovative, flexible program design and delivery. 2. Industry • Industry prosperity and workforce development (paid and volunteer); • Supporting the workforce to deliver sport and in me. I was also supported by my hurdles coach, adapt to new delivery models; Stewart Embling and my PE teacher at school, • Building member capacity; and Helen Drummond, plus many great role models in • Improving governance and commercial my working life. capability, member capacity and networking What were some of your major milestones? (governance, participation, membership and I think completing postgraduate study and winning commercial models). CEO roles were major milestones. 3. Safe, Fair and Inclusive What have you been most proud of in your • Promoting safe, fair and inclusive sporting career? environments at all levels. The thing I am most proud of is mentoring young 4. Advocacy professionals in sport and being friends with many • Demonstrating and advocating the health, of my colleagues from previous roles. cultural, social, economic and mental wellbeing What are some of the greatest challenges in your benefits of sport to the whole-of-government line of work and how did you overcome them? and relevant agencies. The greatest challenge working in sport is trying to Who has been the biggest influence on your life achieve goals with very limited resources. and what lessons did that person teach you? What did you develop during this time – My parents are a big influence. They have supported professionally and personally – in terms of your my career choices and instilled a strong work ethic ideas, and did they change? 24
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I think the ideas I developed are that you cannot do everything and you cannot be everything to everybody. You need to plan and pick projects and stick to what is possible in order to achieve goals.
back to normal and encourage more people to once again enjoy the physical and mental benefits of sport – which COVID showed is vital for a happy community.
What is the most important thing that can make What advice would you give graduates? you successful at your job? Work hard in your first role and try to work out The most important thing is maintaining what direction in your career you would like to relationships and building trust with stakeholders. take. Volunteer as part of your life to contribute to things you love to do, or passion projects. What are you working on for the future? At the moment – in a work sense – the focus is getting sport up and running after COVID. Personally – it is making time for activities away from work.
What do you like doing when you are not working? I like to watch and attend sport. I like to spend some spare time coaching athletics, specifically hurdles.
What is your next goal? Do you have an ultimate * * * goal that you are working towards? Learn more about Vicsport at: https://www. My major goal at the moment is COVID recovery vicsport.com.au/. for sport. COVID created a situation where sport was completely closed down across the board for the first time in history. It will take a while to get 25
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March Monthly Luncheon Victor Perton
Attendees at the March Monthly Luncheon, from left: Cr Molina Asthana, Honorary Associate Professor Renate Howe, former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, Professor Brian Howe AO and Cr Keith Ryall.
The March Monthly Luncheon, held on Wednesday, 3rd March, saw the return of Victor Perton who had presented at a Special Online Only Event last October: Optimism – your super power – the why and the how. It was wonderful, this time around in 2021, to have many real live three-dimensional people in the combined Taylor and Hewlett Rooms of the Stella Langford Wing at Graduate House, as well as those who joined us online via Zoom. Among our many distinguished guests and attendees were the former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, Professor Brian Howe AO, his wife, Honorary Associate Professor Renate Howe, former President of The Graduate Union, Dr Ken V Loughnan AO, the former Chairperson of Council, Mr Neil Taylor; and members of our Association’s Council: Cr Molina Asthana, Cr Martin Comte and Cr Keith Ryall. Victor Perton is Chief Optimism Officer at the Melbourne-based Centre for Optimism and presented on the topic: The Heart of Optimism: What makes you Optimistic for 2021 and Beyond?
of things… but it’s [optimism] the underpinning of resilience and persistence and tenacity”. Upon leaving politics and government after serving 18 years as a Victorian Member of Parliament until 2006, Mr Perton returned to the law before being appointed by then Victorian Premier John Brumby as the Victorian Government Commissioner to the Americas, based in San Francisco. In his dealings with hundreds of senior executives and board members across the United States he noted their consistent view of Australians as reliable, trustworthy and positive with a ‘can-do’, ‘nothing is impossible’ attitude. However, when Victor returned to Australia, he noticed the country had changed. Specifically, it appeared to show more negativity. So, “rather than complain about the complainers, we set up the Australian Leadership Project,” he said, which interviewed 2,500 people on the quality of Australian leadership with the essential question: “What are the unique qualities of Australian leadership?” The results:
Victor defined optimism as “a belief that good things will happen, and that things will work out in the 1. egalitarianism; end… it acknowledges that bad things happen to 2. self-effacing humour; and good people, it acknowledges that you will suffer grief and bankruptcy, business hardship, and all sorts 3. “no-bulls***” plain speaking. 26
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In the workplace, ‘infectiously optimistic’ leaders are key to unlocking optimism in their team members and developing strategy that will lead to success and growth. Victor pointed, for example, to Bob Iger, Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, who views optimism as a core principle of good leadership. A March 2020 survey entitled Strategy and Optimism: Through the Pandemic and on to a Brighter Future of 440 professionals saw 90 per cent answering ‘Yes’ to the question “Do you believe that the purpose and objectives of strategy should be optimistic in nature?”
compared to the 1970s when it was more evenly balanced). Victor concluded with a question and answer session, including asking the audience what made them optimistic. Responses included the following: • “events that I want to see and be around for”, e.g., Man landing on Mars; • the belief that “things will somehow work out in the end even if they aren’t pretty in between” and “if it hasn’t worked, keep going, it’s not the end”;
• in Indian culture, the acceptance of the fact that “whatever is meant to be is meant to be” and that Victor explained that studies had shown that “whatever happens, it happens for the best”; optimism is the key trait to longevity, not geography or wealth or other traits. Other studies also showed • the adages that “laughter is the best medicine” that optimism is the key trait for the prevention of and “have the attitude that the glass is half full, heart disease and for recovery in the event of heart not half empty”; disease; that optimists sleep better; and that having an • the quality of many postgraduate students (some optimistic partner will improve your own optimism whom reside at Graduate House) gives us great (“Those of you who are single, I suggest you add this hope for the future; and to your questions for your first date: what makes you • four things about living – “if you’ve got your optimistic?” Victor quipped!) health, sufficient money, live in the present, look The habits of optimism: to the future”. • Smiling. Thank you to Victor Perton for his presentation and highly infectious optimism, and we are positive that • Changing your greeting from ‘How are you?’ everyone who attended left feeling more optimistic to ‘What’s the best thing that’s happening to about the future. * * * you?’, ‘What’s been the best thing in your day?’ See www.centreforoptimism.com for more details or variations of these. This helps to change the about the Centre for Optimism, founded in 2019 and conversation into a more active, engaging and now with over 5,000 members from 62 countries. positive interaction. See www.victorperton.com/aussie-leadership.html • Meditating – scientists recommend the “my best for more information on the Australian Leadership self” imagining exercise by spending 10 minutes Project with over 1,400 global leader members. to imagine, assuming everything has gone well, what you will look like, feel like, be like, in one, five and 10 years’ time, and then to meditate on it. • Laughter.
• The “three blessings” – at the end each day, write down the three best things of your day in a journal, e.g., “had a great glass of wine”, “someone greeted me at a café”, “met an old friend”. At the start of the next day, the first thing you should do is to re-read it, to reinforce three positive messages and get your day off to a positive start rather than waking up to the generally bad news on the radio (Victor noted that the news in the media in Australia these days was about 95% bad,
From left: Cr Ryall, Cr Asthana and Mr Victor Perton.
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Special Event — Deborah Burnett Speaking Up! The ‘what, why and how’ of empowered voice
Deborah Burnett is a holistic voice practitioner and the founder of Live Life Out Loud. She is also a singer, holistic voice practitioner, coach, facilitator and teacher whose sole focus is on empowering women to give voice to self, in every part of their lives to enable women to thrive, at home, at work and in the community. She has a Bachelor Degree in Social Work from UNSW, a Professional Diploma in Group Voice Therapy (with Distinction) from the British Academy of Sound Therapy, training in Kodaly philosophy and teaching in early childhood music and Professional Practice (group and individual) in therapeutic sound and voice techniques. She is a Board Member of the International Therapeutic Sound Association and a member of the International Institute of Complementary Therapists, and the Australian Voice Association.
long and continuing relationship with the land and honoured the powerful oral traditions of shared voice expressed in stories and song that speak to the wisdom and enduring culture of Australia’s first peoples. Also acknowledged were the women on whose shoulders we stand – our mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers and the many women we have never met but who have made it possible for us to be here today, with the many freedoms we enjoy. Their work, love, courage, determination, shared values and voices have made this possible. In particular, Deb wanted to acknowledge the important role of women who have helped to build The Graduate Union and the women who continue their legacy, including the CEO/Head of College, Dr Kerry Bennett.
And finally, Deb acknowledged the many women who have spoken up, who have advocated for Introduction / acknowledgements change and continue to do so, who have held Deb started her presentation by acknowledging out a welcoming and helping hand for those less the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation – the able to do so on their own, not least of which, the traditional owners of the lands on which the 2021 Australians of the Year: Special Event was held. She acknowledged their 28
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• Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann AM; • Grace Tame; • Isobel Marshall; and • Rosemary Kariuki. Deb said this was clearly a long list of acknowledgements but worthy of reflecting upon as we gathered to explore empowered voice - what it is, why it matters and how embrace it may be embraced. Deb’s story
Deb knows that she is not alone. In her experience, most people have barriers to using their voice. She knows first-hand the power of voice to release these blocks, so that we can free our voices and by extension, ourselves. This is the lens through which she wanted to explore and share her insights about empowered voice – what it takes to speak up, what stops us and what to do about it. Holistic voice
As a holistic voice practitioner, Deb focuses on Deb is a child of professional opera singers. Voice voice as a pathway to creating whole-of-person was the currency in her family. It was performance- wellbeing – from the inside out. Voice is both the based, where her parents could shine for those means and the outcome. brief moments in the public gaze of admiration. Using voice and sound in a holistic way can Voice was also the main source of identity and success, both amplified by the extent to which the voice was recognised and acclaimed by others, or not. The sense of self was externalised, its power given to others. Being seen and heard was loaded with many expectations, desires and disappointments.
help us expand our energy, strengthen our boundaries, sense of self and create wellness of all levels of being, through using simple vocal and reflective techniques.
She learned these lessons of voice very early and very well. The right voice was rewarded. The wrong voice dismissed. It had to be beautiful, melodic, well-placed, classical in style and for public consumption.
What is empowered voice?
Deb founded Live Life Out Loud as a result of her own journey towards embracing an empowered voice and a growing frustration with seeing But in private and behind closed doors, there was accomplished, smart and amazing women who much silence and little spoken truth. There was nonetheless still struggle with speaking up about the palpable disappointment of singing careers what matters to them. cut short or not fully realised, the pain of this This plays out in all sorts of ways – all of which loss permeating much of her childhood and impact our health, our relationships, our adolescence. wellbeing, sense of self and personal freedom. Using your voice, speaking up is often very difficult, no matter who you are and is something Deb imagines that each of us has experienced at some point in our lives.
These two voices – public or private, strong or silent, powerful or impotent, superficial or Voice is essential to each of us to have our needs authentic – came to dominate her life for many met, express our emotions, give voice to our values and the things that matter to us. years. However, despite her fears of ‘being and sounding Voice is also vital in enabling us to challenge wrong’, she began challenging the lessons of the injustice and inequity and in this, we all have a past, and deciding that she wanted something role to play, regardless of gender, ethnicity, status different and better. Deb started changing these or belief system. internal scripts and began to give her inner voice Deb focuses on women’s voices in the work she and self a voice. does, recognising the particular barriers that This has been liberating and is a continuing women face in being seen and heard. process.
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And we’ve certainly seen much evidence of that While we use our voice to speak and to communicate in recent weeks. our needs and wants, the idea of ‘voice’ goes much Deb said that the events that have made the news deeper. Having a voice gives an individual agency are not news for most of the people at this event. and power, and is a way to express our beliefs She doubts there was anyone present who has and deepest truths. not at some time struggled to be heard or felt Literally and metaphorically, the voice is often the impacts of others who wanted her silence or associated with empowerment. When someone attempted to diminish her words. is described as not having a voice, this is As the March4Justice rallies held around synonymous with not having a say, or not having Australia and attracting thousands of women the ability to influence, educate, or contribute to and men show, it was profoundly clear that a conversation. There is a strong link therefore between speaking and power. women do not need to find their voices.
They already have them! However, it’s important When we feel powerful, it is easier for us to use to acknowledge the environment in which our voices in assertive, peaceful and authentic ways. It is easier to ask for what we need, be clear ‘speaking up’ or ‘raising your voice’ occurs. about what we do not like, tell our stories, and be There are many cultural, societal and structural open about our feelings. It is easier to be honest. impediments that are resistant to women’s voices. Deb imagines we’ve all encountered explicit or When we do not feel powerful, we may be too implicit messages like ‘nice girls don’t raise their afraid, frustrated, or disillusioned to use our voices’, ‘you mustn’t be strident’, ‘you’re too loud’, voices authentically. It is harder to be honest. This effectively shuts us down. etc., or some version of these. As we know only too well, when we challenge There is great inequity in voices that are valued societal norms, we meet resistance and a whole raft and heard – many are marginalised – women, of responses designed to silence us, make us pliable older women, Aboriginal women, women of colour, women with disability, culturally and and compliant again. linguistically diverse (CALD) and LGBTQI So, it’s impossible to talk about empowered voice women. without putting this in context. Empowered voice is both the process and the Empowered voice outcome. For Deb, an empowered voice also The voice is a creator of realities – it impacts how we means having the ability to harness the innate feel, how others feel, and how we see ourselves and qualities and vibrations of our own voice to the world. Each voice is unique and is an integral strengthen, energise and heal ourselves. part of our identity. It is imbued with all that we Whether through vocalising and vocal practices, are, all we have experienced and is in fact our vocal singing, everyday interactions and conversations, fingerprint. singing, storytelling or poetry, our voices allow
Voice is also a tool for learning and teaching, us to realise our power and tear down obstacles building up and tearing down, reaching out and that stand in the way of our own understandings of ourselves as capable, valuable individuals. cutting off. It is vital to creating health and wellbeing in ourselves and in our communities, and should be acknowledged as such. What we vocalise and how we do this is of utmost importance – the choices we make can either diminish or support, weaken or strengthen, disempower or empower ourselves and others. 30
What stops us using our voice? Barriers to using our voice: Personal • beliefs (often based on others’ opinions, beliefs, comments); • our scripts and negative self-talk (based on our beliefs);
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• previous experiences that effectively shut us What does it take to speak up? down and shut us up; It is important to acknowledge that speaking up is • our perceptions about what we sound like; not necessarily easy, particularly speaking truth to • fears – of being wrong, not being approved power, yet it is nonetheless something that we can of, being humiliated, being punished in some all do. As Grace Tame expressed so beautifully at the March4Justice event in Tasmania, “Fearlessness way; and is not an absence of fear, but a refusal to allow it from • less commonly, physical impediment. stopping us moving forward.” So, what does it take? Setting/situation • courage; Our ability to use our voice can often depend upon • a strong sense of self; the situation / setting where we may find: • clear boundaries; • it easy to speak up at home but not at work (or • knowing and valuing ourselves enough to share vice versa); what’s most important to us; • it difficult to speak up in groups but not one• being grounded and clear about our values, and on-one; being committed to living and speaking out of • it challenging to speak to someone in authority these, no matter what; or power; • alignment of our physical voice with our inner • speaking in front of an audience very easy but self – the quiet space within each of us, that not singing; is our inner deep listening, that represents our deepest truths, intuitive knowing and • that we can speak up for others but not wisdom; ourselves; and
• focussing on the message or our mission or getting so caught up in the passion of what Societal we’re trying to communicate that we forget Societal and cultural norms also impact our ability to be afraid; to use our voice, creating filters through which we • practicing giving voice to self regularly in all judge others and ourselves. There are gendered sorts of big and small situations; norms around the ‘appropriate’ masculine and feminine roles and behaviours including using • getting really bl***y angry; voice, that contribute to our ability to speak up (or • recognising the tipping point, when enough not). is enough, we ‘are not going to take it any more’ • any number of permutations.
and it feels worse to stay silent than to take the Deb imagines that many women here will have risk of speaking up; had the experience of getting talked over or saying something they think is valuable, only to have it • advocating for others – a person we love/care ignored and then having that same idea expressed for deeply; by a man minutes later and have this applauded as • being inspired by others and their example; brilliant. When women do speak up (as we have seen time • having positive and powerful role models; and and again) and challenge societal norms, we meet • not doing it alone – someone, a community or tribe to support us. with considerable resistance that is designed to reestablish the status quo. All of these are grounded in ENERGY – our own This helps no-one. Speaking up and speaking out internal freedom and sense of personal power/ is everyone’s job. It is NOT a women’s issue, it is a agency. human issue. We are all part of the solution. 31
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What does it take to be heard? Why it matters.
employment, with women making up more than two-thirds of the world’s 796 million illiterate people, according to the United Nations;
Giving voice is one-half of the story. Having our voice heard is the other, and essential part of the equation – a reciprocal process that builds • health outcomes – family planning, mental relationship, connection and community. health, preventable disease; It’s unfair and unhelpful to place the onus totally
on women to be more confident, speak up – • critical issues are diminished as ‘women’s issues’ in the same way that work that is less when there are many barriers that prevent us valued is classed as ‘women’s work’; and from doing this. The point is that we do speak up. The question is • whole communities of women – First Nations, CALD, refugees, women with disability, “but are we heard?” LGBTQI women – being particularly Being heard disadvantaged. The experience of being heard confers value and What can we do about it? worth: It all starts with us as individuals. Taking • that you are acknowledged; responsibility for using our voices in ways that • that what you say matters, is important; are aligned with our values and support our individual and collective wellbeing. • that who you are is of value; Our voices serve as connectors between our inner and outer selves, between each other and • as we know too well, is often a reflection of between our pasts and our futures. status and influence. The human voice is not only a brilliant instrument What happens when our voices are silenced, for self-expression and creativity, it is also a ignored or dismissed? It can feed into the construct perfect medium to release blockages that can that we are less-than in some way and recently, has ultimately free us from our internal cages. added fuel to the fire in many women’s bellies. We can use the vibrations of the voice to literally Impacts of not giving voice/being heard shake up and release stuck energy with simple When we are not heard, we may experience: yet powerful vocal and reflective practices. • feelings of impotence and frustration; These blockages/internal cages can manifest as: • that you are worth listening to; and
• a sense of unworthiness;
• old patterns of thinking that can often feel like being on a perpetual hamster wheel;
• humiliation;
• vocal roundabouts (not permitting ourselves to speak fully);
• poor confidence; • dis-ease;
• life-limiting beliefs;
• depression; and
• negative self-talk;
• powerlessness.
• life-limiting behaviours; Collective impacts of women not giving voice/ • physical restrictions (breath, low energy); being heard and • women’s views / ideas are either ignored or • emotional issues. diminished in public debates; • workplaces, including the public sector, miss The beauty is that your voice is freely available 24/7 out on diverse skills, knowledge and expertise; and is a brilliant carrier for release. • lack 32
of
opportunity
–
education
and
R EVI EW
Even when we don’t use words, we communicate so much about ourselves through our tone, volume, pitch. When we’re tired, our voice will reflect this. When we’re angry, happy, sad, etc, our voice will clearly express this.
• greater self-confidence;
Think for a moment about how you vocalise, every day. Laughing out loud when you find something funny; shouting when you are angry; yelling out when you stub your toe; crying when you are sad. If you couldn’t release these emotions and give voice to your experience, you would likely feel very frustrated and impotent.
• greater ability to act.
• more self-belief; • greater ability to speak our truth; • no need to argue or cajole; and What we say, just is. This is really powerful. This doesn’t mean that we are hurtful, blaming or necessarily strident.
It does mean though that who we are is what we say, and vice versa. It is from this place that we can live The central piece is to create internal freedom. This our lives out loud, as individuals and as a community. is the place from which all else arises, regardless of Three key elements external circumstances. Speaking truth to ourselves • I am – connecting with self (WE ARE); in the first place, having a strong sense of who we are, and of being in the driver’s seat of your own life • I can – liberating from the barriers (WE CAN); and is critical to empowered voice. Voice can enable each one of us to step into our • I act – the outward expression (voice and action) (WE ACT). personal power, and be more of who we are in every aspect of our lives. What is the ONE thing that you can use your voice And importantly, joining our voices with others for today? around a common purpose, whatever it is, provides Taking action is key. reciprocal support and amplifies the message even *** more. How does this feel?
We thank Deb for her inspiring and uplifting You know when you are using your empowered presentation and hope that everyone who attended, voice because there is an ease, strength and the and those reading this review, can strengthen and certainty of knowing that what you are giving voice empower their own voices. to is your truth. For more information about Deb and Live Life Out And we also recognise empowered voice when Loud see: https://www.livelifeoutloud.com.au/. we hear it in others. It resonates with us at the deepest level and we hear beyond the words that are being said, to the other person’s truths also. It can profoundly move us, give us goosebumps, bring us to tears and inspire us. When we use our empowered voice: • there is no feeling of holding in or contorting what we say to fit in with others; • we don’t second guess ourselves; • we trust ourselves; • we don’t keep quiet to keep the peace; • we have less negative self-talk; 33
MEM BE RS’ CO NTRI BUT I ON
Mac’s Musings on Neighbours by Life Member, Mac Nicoll We have encountered a lot of neighbours since course)… a talk about keeping llamas alive and we came to Princes Hill in January, 1966, just well at a country property… the thoughtful offer two weeks after our wedding. of buying some hardware to save me the trip to Bunnings… dropping off the mail I’ve collected In our current residence, with a front door on for that couple a few doors down… a freshly M_____* Street, we also have a rear lane entrance baked cake for us when Marg had just returned from K_____* Lane, which is no ordinary lane. from hospital. It has ample room for two cars to pass, it has several front doors opening on to the Lane and What mysteries to be solved! Who painted our is therefore a source of many greetings and back gate, removing the graffiti and leaving us conversations. with a shiny entrance from the lane? Is he the same person who painted part of a neighbour’s I would often come inside, having been at the garage facade? Where have all those deserted local shop, and told Marg that I was late because rubbish bins disappeared to? I had been chatting in the lane. What a stack of engaging conversations! What a delight to yarn And then there are the shopkeepers, just around with those who share this area with me. the corner. What a pleasure to be waved to as you pass the hairdresser, what learning about What a range of occupations… antiques dealer, neighbourhood activities at the newsagent, architect, retired paediatric surgeon, professional such a wise caring widow who carried so much photographer, AFL footballer, retired nurse, helpful local knowledge and who really cared for accountant, Supreme Court judge, former her neighbourhood. And what a warm greeting estate agent, primary school art teacher with awaits always at the milk bar from where I often two beautiful, sensitive whippets, the owners of return with a smile after an engaging chat with the old fish and chip shop, now a photography the owners who are never too busy to exchange workshop and home to Mum, Dad and three family stories or mathematical questions about lovely children whom they accompany down the the giving of change. lane to school… and more. So, is my neighbourhood simply on the periphery What an age range… from a one-year-old of my life, simply the inevitable small talk and child of proud parents to a 99-year-old greatsmall occasions of little significance? grandmother, living independently and keeping abreast of world affairs. Perhaps, I have been musing lately, these random meetings, these occasional chats are significant What a variety of connections… an occasional moments which I ought to welcome, value and wave as we pass in the street… a brief exchange reflect upon as being at the very heart of my life. of comments about the weather… a serious inquiry about our welfare… a doorstep call with Try thinking about your neighbours this week… a pile of fruit or eggs… a stirring question about and ponder. the success of my football team (the Blues, of *Real names removed 34
M E M B E R S’ CO N T RIBUT IO N
35
MEM BE RS’ CO NTRI BUT I ON
Some of the buildings in K_____* Lane, painted by Marg Nicoll.
36
LIFE
M E M B E R S’ CO N T RIBUT IO N
Two legs to walk upon the ground
One mind for the senses to perfume
Two ears to hear the lovely sound
One heart to flare like a solar plume
Of waterfalls upon the rocks.
One voice with which to sweetly sing
Two nostrils to smell the raindrops.
a song upon which two ears ring.
Two eyes to see the beauty of the world
One simple solitary accident of birth
as night from the mountain is unfurled.
for us to live upon this lovely earth.
Two arms to raise in ecstasy at nature’s simple majesty.
Outdoor Dining!
— Life Member, Louis A Coutts
G R A D UAT E H O USE NEWS
Graduate House has now extended our dining services outdoors to the footpath along Leicester Street, so join us for some fresh air and fresh food!
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G RAD UATE HO USE N EWS
Per Capita – New Home for John Cain Foundation The Honourable John Cain (1931-2019) was the 14th President of The Graduate Union from 2005 to 2011. He was the 41st Premier of Victoria (19821990), Professorial Associate in The University of Melbourne’s Department of Political Science and Centre for Public Policy, Director of the MCG Trust and a member of the Patrons Council of the Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria, among his many achievements.
In-depth research on the state of vocational education and training in all states was also presented in a series of seminars and papers under the policy banner VET in Crisis. New policy ground was canvassed in research by urban policy and transport economics experts on the likely impact of autonomous vehicles in Australia.
These and many other issues were presented to audiences at monthly lunches, always held Below is an announcement about the merger of at Graduate House. Late afternoon seminars at The John Cain Foundation with Per Capita. Graduate House were also popular. The association of the John Cain Foundation with The University of *** Melbourne and, in particular, Graduate House was The John Cain Foundation commenced operations very important throughout the five-year period of as a progressive policy think tank in 2014. During operational activity. the next five years The Foundation commissioned research and policy, published papers and several In 2019 the Board of the John Cain Foundation books, and convened lectures, seminars and a considered options for further growth. A decision popular series of monthly lunches, always held at was made to merge with one of several close partners, Per Capita. The former Premier, John Cain, was Graduate House. supportive of the change prior to his untimely death. The annual John Cain Lecture was a forum for nationally regarded experts to present ideas on The merger was completed in 2020 and although the theme of social democracy, a core value of the COVID prevented resumption of live activities until Foundation. The Evan Walker Conversation, where recently, the merger is already proving effective in the theme is Current Developments in Sustainable providing additional resources for expansion of Cities and Urban Design, is always hosted by the important policy and research work of both the Faculty of Architecture, The University of organisations. Melbourne. A new Centre, the John Cain Centre for Social The Foundation focused on advocacy for change, Democracy, has been established within Per Capita. including direct representation to governments (state The Centre will continue the partnership with and national) and widespread communication of Graduate House. Monthly lunches recommenced the need for reform. Publications include Under the in March 2021 when Executive Director Emma Pump, compiled by youth policy experts describing Dawson presented a thoughtful analysis of the the difficulties faced by many young Australians strategic priorities for Australia in the next decade.
in the 21st century, and Come Clean, a long essay As in the past, members of The Graduate Union advocating reform of political donations, which was are invited to participate in the activities of the John presented at seminars in Sydney and Melbourne. Cain Centre for Social Democracy. 38
G R A D UAT E H O USE NEWS
Luncheon with guest speaker
Andrew Giles MP Building Up and Moving Out: the government’s role in the development of cities Andrew Giles is an Australian politician. He has been a Labor member of the Australian House of Representatives since September 2013, representing the Division of Scullin, Victoria. Giles joined the ALP when he was 18, and prior to his election to Parliament, worked as a principal lawyer at Slater and Gordon in Melbourne, practising in employment law. Giles currently serves as a member of the Labor Shadow Ministry as the Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Shadow Minister for Cities and Urban Infrastructure. He previously served as Shadow Assistant Minister for Schools between 2016–2019. Giles also previously served as one of the two federal parliamentary convenors of the Labor Left faction.
WHEN: 12:30pm, Wednesday, 21st April 2021 WHERE: Graduate House, 220 Leicester Street, Carlton COST: $40; concession $30 BOOK HERE: https://percapita.org.au/events/ 39
G RAD UATE HO USE N EWS
Seen at Graduate House
Life Member, Philip Norman (centre) with new Members, Ian Pollock (left) and Hayden Meney, came in for lunch in the dining room on 1st March 2021.
Welcome Back Ladies! We are so pleased to welcome back the Women’s Forum group who convened on 17th March in the Anderson Library. Along with the other GU Collegiate events that were cancelled in 2020, the Women’s Forum did not take place throughout much of the pandemic year. The Women’s Forum was the brainchild of Life Members, Patricia Boaden and her friend, Shirley Horne (both now deceased), who in 1995 saw the need to provide a structured environment in which women could express their views on mutually predetermined topics without fear of being interrupted or judged. The Forum is free and open to all women, so please feel free to contact us if you would like to attend and join in a lively and robust discussion, often continued with conversation over lunch in the bistro for those who are able to stay. 40
From left: Elizabeth Carvosso (seated), Wazila Khan, Rosie Maddick, Margaret Mayers, Jo Elvins and Elizabeth Sevior (seated).
Feedback
G R A D UAT E H O USE NEWS
Accommodation Feedback: I have had a wonderful stay at Graduate House these past two years, and I am extremely grateful to all the staff members for making the place like a second home for me. It has been a boon to be a part of the college and be involved in the Graduate House community. I came to appreciate this even more after the lockdown and the resulting isolation.
I cherish the memories of my time here: playing table tennis, having insightful conversations over meals and partaking in the revelry during festivals like Christmas in July and Iftar have been extremely special!
I am grateful to have found a community and a sense of belonging at Graduate House. For It has been a blessing to have meals taken care of; someone who has been living far away from home, and I commend the effort with which the chefs these have been invaluable in making Melbourne a prepared dishes. My favourites are Basma’s palak home away from home! paneer, Nelson’s vege stir-fry noodles and Keith’s Regards, congee! Radhika Agarwal (Resident Member) Meeting services feedback: Organising our function at Graduate House was completely stress free. We experienced an exceptionally warm welcome, everything we needed was provided at exactly the right time and we will certainly be back! Many of those attending mentioned that it was the first time they had been to Graduate House and that they were impressed with the whole experience.
The function rooms are perfect for a wide range of events and meetings. The food was delicious. Staff were all extremely helpful! — Karen Block, Centre for Health Equity
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G U COL L EGI ATE
Monthly Luncheon W E DN E SDAY, 7 T H A PR I L J I L L WA L SH
Jill Walsh’s background is in manufacturing. Jill was a partner in an engineering company for nearly two decades, which supplied components to all major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the rail industry. She is an active mentor to women across various industries, including both established leaders and those on the road to success. In 2018, Jill was awarded the inaugural Woman Manufacturer of the Year award which recognises the contribution of women to manufacturing in Victoria. Jill was a member of the Premier’s Jobs and Investment Panel from 2015-2019.
12:00NOON arrival for 12:30pm start (Online: 1:15pm Please logon 1:10pm) Graduate House 220 Leicester Street, Carlton, VIC, 3053 Online Booking: https://www.graduatehouse.com.au/coming-events/monthly-luncheon-2021-apr/ Phone: (03) 9347 3428 Email: admingh@graduatehouse.com.au Dine in Pricing: Members $35, non-members $40 Virtual Attendance Pricing: Members $10, non-members $15
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G U COLLEGIAT E
College Table F R I DAY, 1 6 T H A PR I L 2 0 2 1 LYN YEOWART W R I T I NG — HOW TO G ET P U B L I SH E D I N J U ST 6 2 Y E A R S
Lyn Yeowart is a professional writer and editor with more than 25 years of experience in writing and editing everything from captions for artwork to government reports, and speeches for executives. She also formats and edits academic theses; helps writers develop and polish their work; and works with visual and performing artists who need words to promote themselves and their work.
enjoys not only solving cryptic crosswords, but also compiling them. Lyn Yeowart’s debut novel, The Silent Listener, is loosely based on events from her childhood growing up on a farm in a particularly wet part of rural Victoria. She is now happily ensconced in Melbourne, where there is a vibrant writing community, but very little mud.
When she’s not reading and writing for work, she’s Find out more at www.lynyeowart.com and reading and writing for pleasure… or talking with www.lynxwriting.com. friends about reading and writing. See Lyn’s story in the January/February 2021 issue Lyn also feeds her fascination and love of science, of the The Graduate Union Newsletter: https://bit. mathematics, philosophy, music, art, and theatre, and ly/39nDTyh.
12:00NOON arrival for 12:30pm start (Online: 1:00pm Please logon 12:55pm) Graduate House 220 Leicester Street, Carlton, VIC, 3053 Online Booking: https://www.graduatehouse.com.au/coming-events/lyn-yeowart/ Phone: (03) 9347 3428 Email: admingh@graduatehouse.com.au Dine in Pricing: Members $12, non-members $20, loyalty card holders $15 Virtual Attendance Pricing: Members $10, non-members $15
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PROMOTI O NS
Graduate House ‘medi-stay’ Affordable, safe and trusted accommodation Need a place to stay while having, or recuperating from, specialist medical or surgical treatment? Visiting a loved one in hospital? Consider Graduate House. Graduate House:
Patients
•
offers accommodation for patients, families, friends and carers;
Graduate House is suitable for: •
the period before full-stay admission;
•
is affordable, safe and trusted with friendly, welcoming and genuinely caring professional staff;
•
after discharge to recuperate and while arranging for transport home; and
•
•
is suitable for those from regional Victoria, outer metropolitan Melbourne and interstate;
out-patient consultations and treatments (cancer therapy; day surgery; dialysis, dental, mental health, etc.).
•
has variable stay durations, from one to a few nights or weeks;
Schemes that subsidise patient accommodation: •
Victoria: Ph: 1300 737 073 https://bit.ly/3cgdEKp
•
is clean, with quiet rooms, and comfortable communal areas;
•
•
has breakfast and weekday dinners included, and delicious, healthy food;
Tasmania: Ph: (03) 6222 8225 www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/hospital/ptas
•
•
has car parking – secure and cheap with online booking/payment and contactless automatic car plate recognition; is within walking distance of the Royal Melbourne Hospital, the Royal Children’s Hospital, the Royal Women’s Hospital, the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and St. Vincent’s Hospital; and
NSW: Ph: 1800 478 227 www.health.nsw.gov.au/transport
•
South Australia: Ph: 1300 341 684 https://bit.ly/3l65NTZ
•
Western Australia: http://bit.ly/3rJYeVq
•
Northern Territory: http://bit.ly/3eDuUfo
•
ACT: https://bit.ly/3etUzr5
•
•
is a tram ride to the Epworth and Alfred Hospitals Alison and Richard Harcourt sent thanks to Graduate House for the hospitality they received during a ‘respite’ stay. “We appreciate the courteous and helpful approach shown by all members of the staff. All the comfortable and well-equipped apartments that we occupied faced on to University Square. “Thank you, Graduate House.”
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Visitors and Hospital Staff Graduate House is suitable for: •
parents with children in hospital;
•
families and friends supporting loved ones in hospital; and
•
carers, allied health, medical and NDIS support staff.
To make a booking or for any enquiries, please go to: www.graduatehouse.com.au/medistays/ or contact us on +61 3 9347 3428 or admingh@graduatehouse.com.au.
PR O M OT IO NS
Royal Children’s Hospital Royal Women’s Hospital
Royal Melbourne Hospital
The University of Melbourne
Comprehensive Cancer Centre Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Epworth Hospital
Alfred Hospital
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PROMOTI O NS
G R AD UATE HOU S E IS OPEN AND SAFE – MEET FACE-TO-FACE! Need a break from online video meetings? (Yes, it’s exhausting!) Craving real live person face-toface 3D interactions? Have your meeting or function face-to-face and safely at Graduate House; or book a table in our dining room and court yard for an informal meal and get together. We are COVIDSafe and adhere strictly to, and have experience with, capacity limits, physical distancing, hygiene, cleanliness.
Graduate House has: • meeting and function services – flexible and tailored room configurations for 2 to >100 people; • ‘hybrid’ meeting capability – good audio, video, technical support for in-person and/or online (Zoom, Teams, Webex, etc.) meetings; • excellent catering and service – delicious and healthy food*, friendly, welcoming and professional staff; • membership options for greater affordability – a ‘Ritz’ experience but at a charity price; • car parking – secure and cheap with online booking/payment and contactless automatic car plate recognition; • accommodation – interstate and regional delegates can book to stay for a few nights in a clean, safe, quiet college room, with breakfast and weekday dinners included; and • offices to rent temporarily – to enable onsite event/function preparation. These singleperson well-ventilated spaces are clean, quiet and convenient.
To make a booking or for any enquiries, please contact our Hospitality Manager, Rosie Ellul on +61 3 9347 3428 or rosie. ellul@graduatehouse.com.au.
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* Catering for events not held at Graduate House but within this education precinct may also be provided (subject to sufficient notice) – morning and afternoon teas, working lunches and grazing platters.
PR O M OT IO NS
Graduate House
Dining Room is now open for breakfast, lunch and dinner
GRADUATE HOUSE IS NOW AVAILABLE ON
DOORDASH, DELIVEROO, MENULOG AND UBER EATS DOORDASH: HTTP://BIT.LY/2NMWQZV DELIVEROO: MENULOG: UBER EATS:
HTTP://BIT.LY/3P8NK0N HTTPS://BIT.LY/3O01Z6W HTTPS://BIT.LY/397C9JI
47
PROMOTI O NS
Office Rentals Book a day, a week, a month – the hours you need! Offices are in the iconic Gladstone terraces on University Square. Close to public transport stops (trams, buses), and with on-site secure bike and car parking, they are a short walk away from Melbourne’s CBD, The University of Melbourne and RMIT. Separate single user offices are available. Each has a desk, a lamp, shelving and a cupboard. The majority also have a basin. This means no open plan spaces, no lifts and low numbers sharing washrooms and staff facilities – thus COVIDSafe! Booking your Office Space at Graduate House To ask about renting offices at Graduate House – a one-off booking or something more regular (e.g., two days a week) or longer term – please telephone or email. We have humans at the end of the phone (03 9347 3428) from Monday to Friday between 8:00AM to 6:00PM who will check availability on the spot and talk you through the options. If you call after hours, leave a message with your phone number and we will return your call on the next workday. We have a similar turnaround for emails to admingh@graduatehouse.com.au.
Offices are available between 8:00am and 6:00pm Monday to Friday. Minimum booking of one day. Subject to requirements, offices may be available at other times. Services included in the rental fee, and options that can be added: • reception services, including contact tracing records (included)
Indicative office rental fees:
• post/package receipt and inform services (included)
• 1 to 5 days = $85 per day
• Internet Wi-Fi^ (included, and with upgrade options)
• 6 days up to 3 months (90 days) = $70 per day
• casual meeting and breakout spaces (included subject to capacity limits and availability)
• 3 to 6 months (91-180 days) = $60 per day
• office services (e.g., printing, meeting scheduling, website) (option) • event/function areas and management (option) • breakfast, lunch, dinner and other catering (option) • café bar and BBQ facilities (option) • vending machine • regular cleaning and sanitising (included) • shower facilities (option) • secure bicycle shelter (included) * Car Parking fees apply (and are not included in the rent). ^ Standard Wi-Fi (suitable for web browsing and emails) is provided for free. Packages are available for the connection of additional devices and for higher speeds – contact us by phone (+61 3 9347 3428) or email (admingh@graduatehouse.com.au), or visit us at reception to ask about the costs for different plans.
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• car parking (option)*
Get in touch! Phone: +61 3 9347 3428 Email: admingh@graduatehouse.com.au
PR O M OT IO NS
Room Types, Prices and Features The safest place to stay in Melbourne
• Single room private bathrooms
• Bed linen
• Double room private bathrooms
• Weekly housekeeping
• Stella Langford large/medium apartments
• Wi-Fi
• Double rooms with separate lounge and private bathrooms • Barkly Place and Barry Street apartments
• Utilities (electricity, gas, water) included in rent • Short term accommodation – one night, a few weeks • Long term accommodation – months, semesters, years
Barkly Place and Barry Street
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EXTRACUR R I CUL AR
EXTRACURRICULAR The Internet: History, online population and the rise of social media
by Max Roser, Hannah Ritchie and were offline in 2000. At the time of the Dot-comcrash, less than 7% of the world was online. Esteban Ortiz-Ospina History The Internet’s history goes back many decades. Email has been around since the 1960s, file sharing since at least the 1970s, and TCP/IP was standardised in 1982. But it was the creation of the World Wide Web (WWW) in 1989 that revolutionised our history of communication. The inventor of the WWW was English scientist Tim Berners-Lee who created a system to share information through a network of computers. At the time he was working for the European physics laboratory CERN in the Swiss Alps. We trace an overview of the global expansion of the Internet since then. In 1990, it was suggested that only 0.5% of the world’s population was online. This began to change in the 1990s, and by 2000 almost half of the population in the US were accessing information through the Internet. But across most of the world the Internet had not yet had much influence – 93% in the East Asia and Pacific region and 99% in South Asia and in Sub-Saharan Africa 50
Fifteen years later, in 2016, three-quarters (76%) of people in the US were online and countries from many parts of the world had caught up: in Malaysia 79% used the Internet; in Spain and Singapore 81%; in France 86%; in South Korea and Japan 93%; in Denmark and Norway 97%; and Iceland topped the ranking with 98% of the population online. At the other end of the spectrum, there were countries where almost nothing had changed since 1990. In the very poorest countries such as Eritrea, Somalia, Guinea-Bissau, the Central African Republic, Niger, and Madagascar, fewer than 5% were online. And at the very bottom was North Korea, where the country’s oppressive regime restricts access to the world. But the overarching trend globally in all world regions is clear – more and more people are online every year. The speed with which the world is changing is incredibly fast. On any day in the last five years, there were, on average, 640,000 people online for the first time. This amounted to 27,000 every hour.
EXTR ACU RRICU L AR
INTERNET USERS 2020
Total: 4.57 billion
The online population The map above shows the share of the population that is accessing the Internet for all countries of the world. The Internet can be used via a computer, mobile phone, personal digital assistant, games machine, digital TV, etc. In richer countries more than two thirds of the population are typically online. And although usage rates are much lower in the developing world, they are increasing.
Most of the social media platforms that have survived the last decade have shifted significantly in what they offer users. Twitter, for example, didn’t allow users to upload videos or images in the beginning. Since 2011, this has been permitted and today more than 50% of the content viewed on Twitter includes images and videos. With 2.3 billion users, Facebook is the most popular social media platform today. YouTube, Instagram and WeChat follow, with more than a billion users. Tumblr and TikTok come next, with over half a billion users.
The rise of social media
The Internet has already changed the world, but The first social media site to reach a million monthly the big changes that the Internet will bring still lie active users was MySpace, a milestone achieved ahead and its history has only just begun. around 2004. This is arguably the beginning of * * * social media. There are now a number of large This is an edited version of an article, Internet, that social media sites that have been around for ten or originally appeared online in Our World in Data more years, such as Facebook, YouTube and Reddit; in 2015. See the full article: https://ourworldindata. and other large entrants. TikTok, for example, was org/internet. launched in September 2016 and by mid-2018 had reached half a billion users. To put this in perspective, TikTok gained, on average, about 20 million new users per month over this period. 51
THE GRADUATE UNION of The University of Melbourne Inc.
220 Leicester Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia Telephone: +61 (0)3 9347 3428 Australian Business Number: 55 610 664 963 Incorporated Association Registration Number: A0023234B
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