MARCH
2021
THE GRADUATE UNION NEWSLETTER
WHAT’S ON
ITALIAN CONVERSATION DINNER Tuesday, 2nd, 16th March 6:00pm – 8:30pm Dine while learning to speak Italian with an experienced teacher. Members $17, non-members $25.
MONTHLY LUNCHEON Wednesday, 3rd March 12:00pm for 12:30pm start With Victor Perton. Dine in: Members $35, non-members $40. Virtual attendance: Members $10, non-members $15.
BRIDGE NIGHT Wednesday, 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st March 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, 9th March 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.
WOMEN’S FORUM Wednesday, 17th March 10:00am for 10:30am start The Forum is free. All are welcome. Lunch is at Member and non-member prices.
COLLEGE TABLE Friday, 19th March 12:00pm for 12:30pm start With Dr Emma Nyhan. Dine in: Members $12, Non-members $20, Loyalty Card Holders $15. Virtual attendance: Members $10, non-members $15.
WELCOME BBQ Friday, 26th March 6:00pm Graduate House, courtyard area Resident Members free, Non-resident Members $22, Guests/non-members $32. BOOK NOW: www.graduatehouse.com.au I (03) 9347 3428 I admingh@graduatehouse.com.au
CONTENTS INTERNATIONAL DAYS 4 March FEATURES 10 Australia’s COVID-19 quarantining — an abrogation of federal responsibilities! There is no national plan. by Rhonda Boyle 16 Daisy Feller — Unexpected Deviations 18 Teame Ersie and His Contorted Graduate Pathway REVIEW 22 February Monthly Luncheon by The Hon Diana Bryant AO QC MEMBERS’ CONTRIBUTION 30 Beauty by Life Member, Louis A Coutts 32 A Word of Appreciation by Life Member, Mac Nicoll GRADUATE HOUSE NEWS 33 Open, Close, now Open 33 Feedback 34 Cancellation of Chinese New Year Luncheon 35 Welcome BBQ 35 Play For Purpose COLLEGIATE 36 March Monthly Luncheon 37 March College Table PROMOTIONS 38 Graduate House is Open and Safe — Meet Face-to-Face! 39 Graduate House Dine-in and Takeaway 40 Office Rentals 41 Room Types, Prices and Features EXTRACURRICULAR 42 Some positive habits to consider keeping after lockdown
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INTERNATIONAL DAYS MARCH IN TERNATI O NAL DAYS
1st March – Zero Discrimination Day Zero Discrimination Day is to promote equality before the law and in practice. First celebrated in 2014, the ask is to speak up and prevent discrimination from standing in the way of achieving ambitions, goals and dreams. Though a focus for this Day continues towards countering discrimination of those with HIV/AIDS and the LGBTQI community, this Day also symbolises the need to fight against any form of discrimination. In Australia, the Australian Human Rights Commission has statutory responsibilities under the Age Discrimination Act 2004, Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986, Disability Discrimination Act 1992, Racial Discrimination Act 1975 and the Sex Discrimination Act 1984. With Members across the world, and graduate students and academics residing here at Graduate House, we give best endeavour against any form of ‘ism.
3rd March – World Wildlife Day World Wildlife Day is to support animals and plants and to raise awareness of our globe’s diversity of wildlife and marine life. With 4
increasing numbers of endangered and extinct species, we must act to conserve our planet. The 2021 theme is Forests and livelihoods: sustaining people and planet. Jackson Wild, The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are organising an international film showcase of our planet’s valuable forests, their extensive ecosystems services, and the livelihoods that the forests help to sustain. The winners and final round films from this international competition, will be shown throughout 2021. As noted by Lisa Samford, Executive Director of Jackson Wild: “Covering over a third of the Earth’s surface, forests are a home to 80% of all terrestrial animals, plants and insects and sustain the livelihoods of millions of people, providing ecosystems services and resources that are essential to the global economy. Rich biodiversity is essential to the health of our planet. With the impact of climate change escalating every day as growing numbers of species edge toward extinction we must act quickly and decisively for our own survival.”
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and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks. It is widely celebrated across the world, especially International Women’s Day is a global day amongst the Irish diaspora. celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Significant activity is witnessed worldwide as groups come together to celebrate women’s achievements or rally for women’s equality.
8th March – International Women’s Day
Marked annually on 8th March, International Women’s Day (IWD) is one of the most important days of the year to celebrate women’s achievements, 20th March – French Language Day raise awareness about women’s equality, lobby for accelerated gender parity and fundraise for French Language Day explores the influences of French, a language that developed from Latin female-focused charities. between the 5th and 8th centuries and that is now spoken in over 25 countries. A primary romance language with many dialects, French, with English, is spoken on all five continents by around 275 million speakers. French is one of the six official languages of the United Nations. Established in 2010, the Day marks the 40th anniversary of the International Organization of La Francophonie. 15th to 21st March – Harmony Week Harmony is a noun for agreement in such domains as feeling, sound, look, feel or smell. Synonyms include accord, concord, cooperation, like-mindedness and unanimity. Harmony Week celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity, inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. 20th March – World Frog Day
17th March – St Patrick’s Day A cultural and religious celebration of the Irish, Saint Patrick’s Day marks the traditional death date of Saint Patrick (c.385 – c.461), a patron saint of Ireland; and commemorates the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. Celebrations include public parades and festivals, social visits (céilís)
World Frog Day is an annual observance of the tailless amphibian. Created in 2009, the intent is to stem the extinction of many threatened species of frogs. In the past decade, approximately 170 species of frogs have vanished due to human activity and fungal infections. As frogs are particularly sensitive to their surroundings, the presence of frogs in an ecosystem is an indicator of a healthy, biodiverse ecosystem and environment. If their habitat were to become degraded or polluted, they are among the first to feel the impact. In Australia alone, there are an estimated 230 species of frogs, with at least 37 species listed as critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable on the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation list. Activities to assist 5
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our croakers include conservation, habitat creation by the United Nations since 2012 and provides and reintroduction programmes. an annual opportunity for the global Down syndrome community to connect, share ideas, experiences and knowledge, empower each other to advocate for equal rights for people with Down syndrome, and reach out to key stakeholders to bring about positive change. 21st March – International Day of 20th March – International Day of Happiness All 193 United Nations member states have agreed for happiness to be given greater priority. In 2011, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution which recognised happiness as a “fundamental human goal” and called for “a more Nowruz inclusive, equitable and balanced approach to There are many different ways to spell and economic growth that promotes the happiness pronounce the word that means ‘new day’: Nowruz, and well-being of all peoples”. Novruz, Navruz, Nooruz, Nevruz and Nauryz. In 2012 the first ever UN conference on Happiness Celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal took place and the UN General Assembly adopted equinox and the first day of spring in the northern a resolution which decreed that the International hemisphere, International Day of Nowruz is also Day of Happiness would be observed every year seen as the beginning of the new year by more than on 20th March. It was celebrated for the first time 300 million people globally. It has been celebrated for over 3,000 years in the Balkans, the Black Sea in 2013. Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East and other regions, and was inscribed in 2009 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Nowruz is to promote peace and solidarity between generations and within families, as well as reconciliation and neighbourliness, thus contributing to cultural diversity and friendship among peoples and different communities. Celebrating Nowruz means the affirmation of life in harmony with 21st March – World Down Syndrome Day nature, awareness of the inseparable link between Down syndrome (trisomy 21) is a genetic constructive labour and natural cycles of renewal condition that occurs at conception. While most and a solicitous and respectful attitude towards people have 23 pairs of chromosomes in each of natural sources of life. their cells (46 in total), those with Down syndrome have an extra chromosome 21. Like every other human being, people with Down syndrome differ from individual to individual, and have areas of strength and areas where they need more support. World Down Syndrome Day has been observed 6
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water is under extreme threat from growing populations, increasing agricultural and industry Poetry, is defined as a literary work in which the demands, and climate change. On this Day, we expression of feelings and ideas is given intensity acknowledge how to value water properly and to by the use of distinctive style and rhythm, as poems safeguard it effectively for everyone. collectively or as a genre of literature. It is also used to describe a quality or experience reflecting the beauty, intensity of emotions and harmony regarded as characteristic of poems. Established in 1999, World Poetry Day is to support linguistic diversity through poetic expression and to increase the opportunity for endangered languages to be heard. It is an occasion to honour poets, revive oral traditions of poetry recitals, promote the nd reading, writing and teaching of poetry, foster 22 March – World Meteorological Day the convergence between poetry and other arts World Meteorological Day marks the establishment such as theatre, dance, music and painting, and in 1950 of the Convention establishing the World raise the visibility of poetry in the media. As Meteorological Organization (WMO) (though it poetry continues to bring people together across had been around since 1873). The 2021 theme is The continents, all are invited to join in. Practised Ocean, our climate and weather. The Ocean covers in every culture and on every continent, poetry 70% of the Earth’s surface, provides vital resources, is speaks to our common humanity and our shared the major driver of the world’s weather and climate values, transforming the simplest of poems into a and stores more than 90% of excess heat generated by powerful catalyst for dialogue and peace. human activities. 21st March – World Poetry Day
22nd March – World Water Day The hashtag #water2me reflects conversations about what water means to people around the world. Water is undoubtedly central and important to us all, however it means different things to different people. On World Water Day, question how water is important in your home and family life, and for your livelihood, cultural practices, wellbeing and local environment. In households, schools and workplaces, water means health, hygiene, dignity and productivity. In cultural, religious and spiritual places, water has a connection with creation, community and oneself. In natural spaces, water brings life, peace, harmony and preservation. Stating the obvious,
24th March – International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims The International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims pays tribute to the memory of Monsignor Óscar Arnulfo Romero who was murdered in 1980. It is to acknowledge also the right to the truth in the context of gross violations of human rights and grave breaches of humanitarian law. The purpose of the Day is to: • honour the memory of victims of gross and systematic human rights violations; 7
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• promote the importance of the right to truth and justice for the relatives of victims of summary executions, enforced disappearance, missing persons, abducted children and torture;
25th March – International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
First observed in 2008, International Day of • pay tribute to those who have devoted their Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the lives to, and lost their lives in, the struggle to Transatlantic Slave Trade remembers those who promote and protect human rights for all; and suffered and died through the transatlantic slave • recognise Archbishop Óscar Arnulfo Romero trade, the worst violation of human rights in of El Salvador who was assassinated on 24th history. For over 400 years, more than 15 million March 1980, after denouncing violations African men, women and children in the 16th to of the human rights of the most vulnerable 19th centuries were the victims of enslavement and populations and defending the principles of transportation across the Atlantic Ocean to the protecting lives, promoting human dignity Americas. The Day also serves to raise awareness on the dangers of unfettered racism and prejudice, and opposition to all forms of violence. and of systems that support discrimination, inequality and supremacism.
24th March – World Tuberculosis Day World Tuberculosis Day marks the day in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch announced his discovery of the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB) and thus opened the way towards diagnosing and curing this disease. The Day is to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of tuberculosis, and to end the global tuberculosis epidemic. Tuberculosis mainly affects the lungs. The bacteria that cause tuberculosis are spread from one person to another through tiny droplets released into the air via coughs and sneezes. Many strains of tuberculosis resist the drugs most used to treat the disease. People with active tuberculosis must take several types of medications for many months to eradicate the infection and prevent development of antibiotic resistance.
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25th March – International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members Since the founding of the United Nations (UN) in 1945, hundreds have lost their lives in its service. With an increasing scale and number of UN peacekeeping missions, more lives were lost during the 1990s than in the previous four decades combined. Recognising the increased likelihood of further UN-service related deaths, the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 9th December 1994. The International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members marks the abduction in 1985 of Alec Collett, a former journalist who was working for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). His body was found 24 years later in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley in 2009. This Day is to mobilise action, demand justice and strengthen
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the resolve to protect UN staff and peacekeepers, 12. learning more about the how-to of as well as colleagues in the non-governmental sustainability; community and the press. 13. creating a mini-golf course using household objects; 14. creating your own Rube Goldberg machine; 15. painting by candlelight; 16. writing a letter to your future eco-warrior self; 17. hosting an eco-friendly fashion show; 27th March, 2021 at 8:30pm to 9:30pm 18. dancing silently; 19. jamming with acoustic instruments; – Earth Hour Started by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and partners as a symbolic lights-out event in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour is now one of the world’s largest grassroots movements for the environment. Held every year on the last Saturday of March, Earth Hour engages millions of people in more than 180 countries and territories, switching off their lights to show support for our planet. Beyond this symbolic action of switching off, Earth Hour has become a catalyst for positive environmental impact, driving major legislative changes by harnessing the power of the people and collective action. During Earth Hour try: 1. switching off your lights at 8:30PM for one hour; 2. dining-in-the-dark; 3. tuning in to live Earth Hour streams; 4. board gaming or book reading by candlelight; 5. watching movies with an Earth Hour theme; 6. signing the Voice for the Planet petition; 7. camping in your backyard or living room; 8. tweeting your winning poster @ OneMinuteBriefs and @earthhour with hashtag #EarthHour!;
20. trying Yoga; 21. shadow puppeteering; and/or 22. indoor scavenger hunting.
28th to 29th March – Holika Dahan and Holi For many traditions in Hinduism, Holi is a celebration of the killing of Holika to save Prahlada, a devotee of God Vishnu. In the days leading up to the festival, bonfires are prepared with an effigy of Holika, who tricked Prahlada into the fire, placed on the top of the pyre. Coloured pigments, food, drinks and festive seasonal foods such as gujiya, mathri, malpuas and other regional delicacies are also prepared. On the eve of Holi, typically at or after sunset, the pyre is lit, signifying Holika Dahan. The ritual symbolises the victory of good over evil. Holi — also known as the festival of spring, the festival of colours or the festival of love — is celebrated the next day to mark the arrival of spring, the end of winter and the blossoming of love.
9. hearing from Sir David Attenborough and Greta Thunberg; 10. playing the Heads up! card game; 11. taking night photographs or “light-painting”; 9
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Rhonda Boyle 10
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Australia’s COVID-19 quarantining – an abrogation of federal responsibilities! There is no national plan. by Rhonda Boyle Perhaps the most contentious issue of our COVID year is who is in charge of quarantining? With continuing outbreaks of COVID-19 linked to incoming travellers, Australians have reacted with astonishment that quarantining issues were not foreseen and planned for years ago. How did we end up where we are and what should be done about it? *** It seems the handballing of quarantine to the states and territories by the federal government has some legitimacy about it. On that, we note that the eight jurisdictions agreed, with little complaint and with no legal challenge.
The meaning of quarantine for Australia in the COVID age Let’s define quarantine as a state, period, or place of isolation in which people, animals or plants are placed due to concerns about exposure to transmittable diseases or invasive pests. With COVID-19 we do not need to deal with animals or plants. However, that hardly helps simplify the discussion of the quarantine of humans in Australia. John Hewson in the Sydney Morning Herald (14th January 2021) wrote: “Quarantine is a clear national responsibility explicitly designated as such by S51 of the Constitution.”
Peter Van Onselen in The Australian (25th July At the federal level, there has been no coordination 2020) wrote: “Simply put, the Australian Border of a national approach and there is no sign of Force is in charge of incoming arrivals, with the long-term planning. commonwealth given constitutionally articulated Overriding everything, however, is that the responsibility for quarantining. The Constitution, federal government is responsible for quarantine in section 51 (IX), lays out in black and white that under the Constitution and while it may have the commonwealth, not the states, has oversight effectively delegated those responsibilities to the for quarantine. It is the basis for the Quarantine states and territories, it should be held to account Act, which has not been legally challenged since for all outcomes, including the costs of continuing 1908, including during the 1919 pandemic. We also now have the Biosecurity Act (2015), which lockdowns. provides extremely broad powers, and it mandates 11
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that commonwealth powers supersede those of the centres, such as Melbourne’s Fairfield Infectious states.” Diseases Hospital, were closed or roles redefined. In the 1980s, the federal responsibilities for animal Historical perspective on quarantine and plant quarantine were removed from the Useful and extensive historical summaries are health department to the department responsible available from the ABS Year Book archives and for agriculture and primary industry. from the Victorian Parliament. Both examine In the 20th century, after the Spanish flu, the major quarantining in Australia from the arrival of the worldwide epidemics affecting Australia included First Fleet in Sydney. polio, Asian flu and HIV/Aids. Settlers, convicts and soldiers were carriers of In the early 21st century – that is, the past 20 years infectious diseases common at the time, including – the threats of SARS-CoV-1, MERS, Ebola, Zika smallpox, cholera and typhoid. It is estimated that and Swine flu (H1N1) were negligible or contained smallpox wiped out about 50% of the indigenous within Australia. With Swine flu, which did reach population. our shores, it seems nationwide cooperation for Over time, the various colonies would handle containing outbreaks worked effectively. quarantine independently. Quarantine centres Despite unclear government responsibilities, such as at North Head and Point Nepean were Australia has a history of dealing with epidemics established. By the time of Federation in 1901 it was and pandemics with general success. well accepted that quarantine should be a federal responsibility. Thus, the Australian Constitution However, the loose arrangements between the lists quarantine in the commonwealth’s legislative commonwealth and state governments over powers. Quarantine powers were conferred from quarantine in regard to health would be sorely the states to the commonwealth through the tested with COVID-19 when the country would Quarantine Act (1908) and establishment of the require mass quarantine for the first time since the Spanish flu. Federal Quarantine Service in 1909. However, conflicts between the commonwealth How prepared were we for another health crisis? and the states about responsibilities for quarantine The Victorian Parliament document says: and health soon developed. “History also reminds us that pandemic Australia’s control of the Spanish flu epidemic outbreaks are often forgotten, despite the (1918-19) involved a form of mass quarantining, impacts they inflict on societies.” with large numbers of returning troops being sent into isolation. Arrangements broke down, We have been warned by experts that with each state following its own course of action, pandemics will increase in frequency and resulting in inconsistent policies on border severity due to the growing global population closures. Spanish flu ultimately infected about and international travel, incursion of human 40% of the population, killed about 15,000 and settlements into wildlife habitat, live animal trade and modern livestock management possibly 50% of some Indigenous communities. practices. At the end of the crisis, the commonwealth established a new department of health that was A 2004 CSIRO report writes: intended to be the focal point for pandemics and “Infectious diseases previously unknown in quarantine measures. However, over the next humans have been increasing steadily over the 100 years complacency led to lack of national last three decades. More than 70 per cent of planning. these emerging diseases are zoonotic in nature Quarantine stations around the country were – passing from animals to people, for example gradually decommissioned, and some specialty influenzas from poultry or pigs…” 12
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A 2004 report by the Chief Medical Officer as a pandemic. … many of the orders require also notes the potential for exotic viruses to very close cooperation between the Chief Medical spread around the world: Officer of the commonwealth and medical officers in the states … it’s very much a cooperative set “SARS reminds us that new diseases will continue of circumstances. And the states have their own to arise as infectious agents mutate and adapt to variations of these laws.” exploit new ecological opportunities. We cannot assume, as was widely trumpeted in the 1960s Further, despite this powerful legislation, a and 1970s, that we have conquered communicable major flaw seems to be that none of the existing diseases. No-one can predict the next emergency, commonwealth or state pandemic plans dealt although we can all be wise after the event.” with mandatory, mass quarantine. Since 2000, the world’s population has grown from 6.1 billion to 7.8 billion. Between 2000 and 2018 the number of international travellers per year doubled, while for the Asia-Pacific region it tripled. The number of international visitors to Australia was 4.9 million in 2000, reaching 8.6 million in 2019; the number of visitors from China went from 120,000 to more than 1.3 million.
The Coate Inquiry again: “… it would be unfair to judge Victoria’s lack of planning for a mandatory quarantining program given the commonwealth, itself, had neither recommended nor developed such a plan.” A Federal Government with no national quarantine plan
By mid-March 2020, international arrival Despite all these pointers to the likelihood of numbers were slowing down, but still more new pandemics and their potentially devastating than 25,000 a day. By late-March, Australia was consequences, Australia would be poorly prepared approaching 4,000 infections, overwhelmingly for COVID-19. overseas acquired or sourced, with typically two The Coate Inquiry noted that recommendations to four new infections arriving each plane load. from a review after the H1N1 pandemic in It became an increasing problem that some 2009 to clarify the roles and responsibilities of returned travellers who had tested positive were all governments for the management of people not self-isolating as directed. Something needed in quarantine, both at home and in other to be done to stem the growth of community accommodation, during a pandemic was not transmission. undertaken. The National Cabinet met on 27th March 2020. Important legislation, though, was passed in 2015 when the commonwealth Biosecurity Act The Prime Minister arrived with full control 2015 replaced the Quarantine Act of 1908. This of international arrivals and federal detention summary in Wikipedia explains how it is jointly centres, his own extensive experience in border governed and administered by two federal control and biosecurity legislation with extremely departments, the Department of Health and broad commonwealth powers that superseded the Department of Agriculture, Water and the those of the states. Environment. The powers are explained in this However, as reported by Paul Bongiorno, the article in The Conversation. Prior to 2015 many states were shocked when the national leader of those powers weren’t available. arrived at the meeting with no quarantine plan. rd The Attorney General on 3 March 2020 stated It seems the state and territory leaders had no that “the biosecurity laws allow the government choice but to devise their own plans. The meeting to do a range of things based on the best medical would result in two major decisions, apparently advice from the Chief Medical Officer … there resulting from a proposal by the premiers of are a range of powers that are available that were NSW and Victoria, the two most populous and designed specifically to handle something as serious vulnerable states: 13
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• As of 28th March 2020 all incoming travellers wear the odium for mistakes made”. would be required to undertake a 14-day What needs to be done in the short and long supervised hotel quarantine period. term • The eight states and territories were required Can our ‘cobbled-together’ system of hotel to run the hotel quarantine system. quarantine prevent a serious third wave The system was to be operational in 36 hours. somewhere in Australia during 2021? Can Australia survive another pandemic without a At the time of the meeting there were about national coordinated plan? 7,000 arrivals per day, though trending downwards. It is estimated that the number in We should not assume vaccines are the total quarantine after the first 14 days would peak solution. There are too many unanswered at about 20,000. questions about the current COVID-19 vaccines: How effective, and how long for, can the vaccinated The Coate Inquiry noted that lack of planning still become infectious and spread the virus? and such short notice was a most unsatisfactory Will an annual shot be required? Will vaccinated situation from which to develop such a complex travellers still have to quarantine? and high-risk program. We have seen that the science, and the virus itself, All (or most) arriving passengers have is constantly evolving and we cannot assume been quarantined since that time. From Australia will be able to ‘go back to normal’ the National Review of Hotel Quarantine it by mid-2021. While new highly transmissible seems that by 28th August 2020, some 130,000 variants of the virus are appearing, will more people had undertaken hotel quarantine alarming variants appear? with approximately 96,000 international cases and 34,000 (or 26%) domestic cases. Those Health Department boss and former federal numbers would be much larger by now. Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy predicts Australia will spend most of this year with overseas The Commonwealth would control the border restrictions still in place despite a vaccine number of arrivals but would not, it seems, rollout, and that even if a lot of the population offer access to or establish remote centres for is vaccinated, it is not known whether that will quarantining. prevent transmission of the virus. He expects Hewson wrote: “A clear acceptance of its quarantine will continue for some time. responsibility would have seen the Morrison Quarantine sites should be remote from government establish quarantine centres around population centres Australia for all incoming arrivals.” Despite using Christmas Island early in the pandemic, The CBD-based system has proven to leak no similar federal offer seems to have been unpredictably, with immense consequences, and made. Except for Howard Springs in the NT, should be phased out. the states and territories have been stuck with The risks of hotel quarantining outbreaks might be CBD-based systems that they might have to independent of city size, but the cost of lockdowns operate for some years to come. and contact tracing is greatly accentuated in In relation to securing our borders and Melbourne and Sydney due to their bigger areas quarantine, Onselen wrote in July that and populations and higher densities, with greater these “are the responsibilities of the national flow-on costs to their economies and the entire government, not the states”, that failure occurred country. Sydney has been accepting about 50% of “… once power was abdicated to them”, that the all arrivals which magnifies risk even more. “fingerprints of failure by the commonwealth are The many options include upgrading federal nowhere to be seen, leaving state governments to detention centres, mining camps and tourist 14
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resorts. These quarantine centres would employ well-paid FIFO/DIDO staff on site. Outside pandemics, these specialised facilities can be used for other purposes. The costs of setting up remote centres need to be balanced against the extraordinary ongoing disruption and impacts caused by local lockdowns and border closures, including the costs of testing tens of thousands each time there is an outbreak and having to extend support such as JobSeeker. After 100 years we need a national quarantine plan The warnings are that there will be more frequent and possibly more dangerous pandemics. We need to overhaul federal and state planning and coordination for pandemics, in particular mass quarantining. Had proper planning been in place some years ago we would have experienced a much more cost-effective, humane and cohesive approach. Given the warning of future diseases and the rapidity with which the world is changing due to human activity, we need to act as if another pandemic is just around the corner. We should begin this process and start to implement it even as we continue to manage and mop up from the current pandemic and begin a vaccination program. This is a task for the commonwealth and will place us in a far better position next time. We need to learn from our mistakes, anticipate the worst, and work together as a nation. *** This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared in Pearls and Irritations. See the full article: https://bit.ly/2MGqpF8. Rhonda Boyle has a background in science, urban planning, environment policy and climate change, and worked for the Victorian Government in a variety of roles. She now coordinates a global movement known as PASK (Pianists for Alternatively Sized Keyboards) to increase the availability of piano keyboards with narrower keys given the conventional keyboard is too large for the majority of pianists. 15
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Daisy Feller Ms Daisy Feller is a former Resident Member who currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. She was the recipient of a Graduate House Bursary to support coursework studies, presented at the Annual General Meeting in 2018. We caught up with Daisy recently via an email interview. 16
Daisy Feller Unexpected Deviations
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Vital Stats: Qualifications/Accreditations
This really struck me at the time, and has become MA Creative Writing, Publishing and Editing from fundamental to my ideology. Talent is no match for the University of Melbourne, BA Russian Language hard work and perseverance. and Literature from Portland State University. What are some of the greatest challenges in your What has been your pathway since graduating? line of work and how did you overcome them? What was your first job after graduation and how The greatest challenge I’ve faced so far is not did that job prepare you for your later positions? knowing where I fit in and what I wanted to Any lessons learnt? do. Luckily, this challenge revealed itself as an My first job was as an editor, which is the field opportunity to explore, which led me to where I in which I did my masters. I learned quickly am now. that editing wasn’t right for me, and shifted roles to become an analyst. This taught me the very important lesson that it’s easy to change your career path and continue exploring even after you’ve completed your education. This exploration led me to my current job as a writer at Microsoft.
What is the most important thing that can make you successful at your job?
the course of my career. Getting to know students outside of the arts in sectors like business, IT and engineering allowed me to explore these fields, eventually leading me to working in both business and tech. Even more importantly, I made lifelong friends.
Don’t limit yourself by thinking your career trajectory has to be a straight line. Sometimes the unexpected deviations from the plan lead to the best places. And stay hydrated.
Do something you care about. It’s hard to do your best at something that isn’t meaningful to you. What are you working on for the future?
Did you have any residencies, internships or For the immediate future I’m working on getting anything else that ultimately led you to where settled in my new home in Atlanta, Georgia. As for the long term future, I’d like it to be a surprise. you are today? Living at Graduate House completely changed What advice would you give graduates?
What do you like doing when you are not working?
Who has been the biggest influence on your life I play the mandolin. I’m hoping to also get back on and what lessons did that person teach you? the trapeze and aerial silks once it’s safe to go to the When I was younger I used to really enjoy reading gym. manga (comics or graphic novels originating from Anything else you would like to add? Japan). I remember this character from the ninja manga Naruto – and its main character, Rock Lee I got a piece of advice once – “don’t mess with dream – he had no natural talent, but he became one of killers” – and I think that’s important to pass on. the best ninja by working harder than anyone else. 17
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Teame Ersie Teame Ersie is an Ethiopian Australian, who recently became a Member of The Graduate Union. Teame specialises in the performing and creative arts, beginning his extraordinary contortion and acrobatic arts journey when he was a young boy. He has toured as a solo and ensemble performer across China, Europe, Russia, Australia, New Zealand and the US. We welcome Teame to The Graduate Union and spoke with him recently via an email interview. 18
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Teame Ersie and His Contorted Graduate Pathway Vital Stats: Qualifications/Accreditations
theoretical and practical – along with health and • Certificate Program – Chura Abugida Fine Art safety in performance, training space and other related courses. Association, Mekelle, Ethiopia, 2006 • Certificate III General Education for Adults – The main reason for choosing this course is because RMIT University, Melbourne, 2011 from an early age, I was already good with circus • Bachelor of Circus Arts – National Institute of skills, and it was important to advance and be Circus Arts, Swinburne University, Melbourne qualified. During my professional and employment 2015 experience, I learned how managing the arts and • Certificate of Academic Integrity Awareness – artists are important. I was motivated by a good arts manager and noted the challenges faced by the arts RMIT University, Melbourne, 2020 • Master of Arts (Arts Management) – RMIT or by artists, which led me to study a Master of Arts (Arts Management) at RMIT University. University, Melbourne 2020.
What did you learn during your tertiary education – not just academically, but what ideas did you • Business Achievement Award – Afar Regional form and what perceptions? Did any of your views Government, Ethiopia, 2009 change significantly when you went to university? • Student Achievement Award – Swinburne Education has helped me to understand the University, 2012 connections between the arts, people and its core • Master of Arts (Arts Management) – recipient of the Dean’s Award for Excellence, RMIT values towards a diverse community and the world. For instance, I learned how the arts can benefit University, 2020. societies beyond entertainment; mainly in health What was your educational background? What and well-being. My perspective has changed, not did you study at university and why did you choose only looking at the arts as an entertainment or this course? business resource, but to think deeply about my I completed high school in Ethiopia and became role as an artist and arts manager to contribute to specialised in ground-based physical circus skills, political, economic and social environments. I have including contortion and human pyramids. In 2009 come especially to understand the arts as being one I started touring internationally. From 2012 to 2015, of the most powerful tools of social change, such as I undertook a Bachelor of Circus Arts degree at the promoting equality and inclusivity. National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA), Swinburne What was your earliest memory and interest of University. During my three years there, I studied becoming an artist? a contemporary-based physical and performance disciplines including Circus Arts, History, Anatomy I started my circus career when I was about 10 and Physiology, advanced circus specialties and years old, in the city of Mekelle, Tigray region of performance projects, physical movements – both Ethiopia. I started watching videos of acrobats, and Awards and Recognition
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I was impressed with how human beings could do such extraordinary physical performances. I started asking people who were skilled in acrobatics, and was introduced to some amateur artists. I then learnt very basic skills before joining the local community circus. I was very keen to join, and since that day, I have continued to push my artistic boundaries, both educationally and in physical performance.
and contribute the best artistic experience for artists and the arts community which benefits the health and well-being of society.
olds to be delivered by St Martins.
Furthermore, I always felt proud knowing that the arts can communicate with all people, and can narrow the differences between people of different cultures and who do not speak the same language. As an artist connecting with new people and sharing emotions has been a privilege and I am proud that I have been through such a journey.
Who has been the biggest influence on your life and what lessons did that person teach you?
Both challenges and successes have been my biggest influence. It has let me see and understand the world in different ways, including learning never to give What has been your pathway since graduating? up, knowing I can succeed, despite all the challenges. What was your first job after graduation and how The people I meet, both in and out of my arts world, did that job prepare you for your later positions? have always influenced me in many ways. Any lessons learnt? What were some of your major milestones? I completed my Master’s Degree in Arts Management in December 2020. I am currently working in a Settling and living in Australia, graduating from part-time position until June 2021 as a Business Swinburne University and now graduating with a Support Officer at the Footscray Community Arts Master of Arts (Arts Management) from RMIT. I Centre and am looking forward to other potential believe having both degrees will enable me to explore my love of the arts, make me a more desirable opportunities. candidate, and have an opportunity of leaving a Did you have any residencies, internships or better footprint in the arts world. anything else that ultimately led you to where you What have you been most proud of in your career? are today? Most of my artistic life I spent performing. Since I My stage performances have enabled me to work arrived in Australia, I was a member of the Catapult and communicate with diverse artists from different Program at St Martins Youth Arts Centre during backgrounds. Arts is a universal language; the 2011. Throughout the year, as part of the program, emotional response and respect from the audience – I created, developed and performed my own short no matter what languages they speak, what religion theatrical piece for the St Martins ‘Hatched’ Festival, they believe in, how old they are, what their gender a Youth Art Summit which included researching and preferences are, what continents they are from or designing a program of activities for 18- to 30-year- their cultural background – has been a pleasure. I also worked with Multicultural Arts Victoria as a freelance artist while studying at NICA. After graduating, I was selected and secured a contract to work with Franco Dragone Entertainment’s The Dai Show in China for three and half years. I believe everyone I have connected with during my professional experiences has contributed to me What are some of the greatest challenges in your becoming who I am today. line of work and how did you overcome them?
What were your goals and what are you ultimately Some of the most difficult situations are when you trying to achieve? feel excluded because of a lack of cultural and political The first thing is to make connections with others knowledge. Furthermore, without the requisite to help me find work. Based on my qualifications language skills, there were times when I wasn’t able in the performing arts and arts management, and to communicate the way I wanted to, which lowers the years of experience I have in theatre and circus your confidence. However, the arts have helped me performance, my goal is to create a large-scale arts to communicate with a diverse range of colleagues institution/organisation, and play my part to provide at work, school, with audiences and offstage. Even 20
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though I had many other personal challenges, I always manage to see the big picture – the beauty of learning new cultures and the future I hope to have. Because of that, these challenges don’t threaten me permanently and right now I don’t see any of that as a significant issue.
What advice would you give graduates?
In general, I have developed creativity, confidence and research skills. Furthermore, I am able to work on projects independently or with minimal support. I have developed good habits of learning and critical thinking. In addition, I have developed the skills of researching, creating and developing company business plans, arts proposals and projects.
If you are an artist, every human needs art for various reasons; to learn new arts, to heal/recover/find relief (especially during this COVID-19 period). Advance your skills for professional development. Find your target community and help in whatever you are good at while continuing to learn: every moment can be an opportunity to learn new things, no matter who you meet or at what level.
Improve your opportunities by building networks both locally and internationally. Seek opportunities, apply for awards, residencies, do whatever you are good at and advance your work in a way that makes you unique/essential and raise your profile to the What did you develop during this time – highest level. professionally and personally – in terms of your It is important to stay connected and continue to ideas, and did they change? adapt with researching, reading and writing.
What are you working on for the future? I am looking to advance my professional career development both with individuals and organisations, and work on some interesting and large arts projects. I would like to build my knowledge in any way I can within the arts field, given that the arts industry outlook is still promising despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
The world needs a healthy environment, equality, democratic leadership and inclusiveness. As a graduate, be a role model and play your part for the world. Graduates can greatly contribute to the world to become a better place than it is today. What do you like doing when you are not working?
When I am not working, I like to try new things, What is your next goal? Do you have an ultimate such as visiting historical places, hiking, attending goal that you are working towards? live performance (theatre, circus, concerts), My goal for 2021 is to find a sustainable job, connect exhibitions or galleries, festivals, editing videos, with individuals and industries, and collaborate swimming, travel, and other things not related to the on some arts projects. I would like to build an arts arts (I believe it enhances the ability of creativity and industry business platform and help to connect imagination). artists, arts, industries and audience. I would like to publish some articles in the arts field and improve my academic level by doing a PhD. 21
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February Monthly Luncheon by The Hon Diana Bryant AO QC
The Seventh Special Commission in 2017, held in the annex to the Peace Palace in The Hague.
The Hague Child Abduction Convention turns 40 Success or failure? On 25th October 2020, the 40th anniversary of the Abduction Convention – the full name of which is The Hague Convention on Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction – came and went. Many international events were planned, but due to the pandemic, in the end there was simply a onehour webinar introduced by the Secretary-General of the Hague Conference on Private International Law. It warranted more.
countries by the Family Court, and forget that this instrument, as its name indicates, is an international forum convention; that is where should a case be heard when there is an international dispute between parties in different countries – and particularly when one party has removed a child to another country without the consent of the other parent. Probably the most high-profile case in Australia was what the press called the ‘Italian children’s case’. It There is no doubt the Abduction Convention is was unfortunately mischaracterised by the press as important, but many people don’t know how it a custody case, and support from the media for the mother undoubtedly led to a poor outcome for her. operates and why it was necessary. The media for a start generally fail to understand The aim of the Convention is to prevent a parent from what the Convention does. We tend to see and hear taking a child to another jurisdiction, one where the stories about children being forced to return to other parent may have a connection, without the consent
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of the other parent who has ‘rights of custody’, and then persuading the court in that country to keep the child there and litigate the case in those courts (if at all).
Authorities in each country who would, upon receiving an application from a Central Authority in another country, locate the child and taking parent, serve them with documents and arrange for Prior to the Abduction Convention, there were the matter to come before a court with jurisdiction. many difficulties for a ‘left-behind parent’ including: This obviously made it much easier for the leftbehind parent, and as time passed, created a cohort • locating the child; of Central Authorities with considerable experience and expertise and with links with other Central • being able to enter the other country; Authorities. • having the resources to litigate; and There were to be only a limited number of exceptions • overcoming jurisdictional bias. to return: Although private international law principles • where the proceedings were commenced more supported cases being heard in the country of than a year after the wrongful removal, and it domicile or habitual residence, the ‘best interests’ is demonstrated that the child is settled in their principle applicable to custody cases overrode those new environment; principles. Many will remember the Jacqueline Gillespie case involving the Malaysian Prince • where the child objects to being returned (to the country, not the parent) and is of an age to whom she had been married. The case was and maturity where it is appropriate to take into notorious for the Prince successfully abducting the account the child’s views; and children from Australia to Malaysia. What is not so well known is the litigation which preceded his • where there is a grave risk that his or her actions when the mother removed the children return would expose the child to physical or from Malaysia without consent. The Abduction psychological harm or otherwise place the child Convention had not yet been ratified by Australia in an intolerable situation. and the trial judge did not order the return of the Treaties and Conventions are always the result children to Malaysia. of compromises and perhaps not unsurprisingly, During the 1970s, States Parties, through the Hague when the First Commission of the XIV Session of Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) the Hague Conference on Private International Law an organisation established in the late 19th century, met on 6th October 1980, then, as now, attention based in the Hague, worked to try to remedy this centered on the exceptions to automatic return. situation. They set about drafting a convention that Following some days of lobbying and debate, the would allow for children who had been wrongfully Convention in its current form was adopted on 25th removed (in breach of rights of custody of the other October 1980 and immediately signed by four States parent) to be returned to their country of habitual (Canada, France, Greece and Switzerland). residence for the custody case to be heard in that place. It was envisaged that if the taking parent had Whilst there is no need for judicial involvement if a strong case to be allowed to re-locate to another a party agrees to return to the country of habitual country then the Court of the country of habitual residence once they are served with an application residence would consider that as part of the custody under the Convention, any dispute about the application of the Convention or reliance on one proceedings – and did in many cases. or more of the exceptions, must be adjudicated by The idea was an automatic and speedy return a court. No international adjudicative body was if wrongful removal was established if the child established or empowered to regulate the case law, was habitually resident in the country of origin. and thus, guaranteeing a uniform interpretation Importantly, to overcome the logistical problems across all states becomes problematic. Furthermore, facing left-behind parents, a novel arrangement was states with a civil law tradition, do not place as much proposed. This was the establishment of Central store on decisions from other jurisdictions which 23
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in countries with a common law tradition might be regarded as helpful precedents. However, this has led to the establishment of other drivers of the application of the Convention, some of them very novel indeed. They include, Special Commissions, Judicial Networking and Direct Judicial Communications, INCADAT (a record of all determined cases), INCASTAT (statistical analysis of return orders), Guides to Good Practice, The Judges’ Newsletter on International Child Protection, Cross-Border Mediation and the Malta Process. Early difficulties with implementation were dealt with by the Hague Conference convening Special Commissions at regular intervals to review the operation of the Convention. This had the advantage of bringing together initially members of the different Central Authorities, later enlarged to include judges. The first Special Commission took place from 23rd-26th October 1989. Several questions as to the operation of the Convention were addressed. It was noted that ‘rights of custody’ in the Convention were not “necessarily coterminous with rights referred to as ‘custody rights’ created by the law of any particular country or jurisdiction thereof ”. It was noted that “the award of what is called ‘custody’ to only one parent under domestic law, does not necessarily mean that all ‘rights of custody’ within the intent of the Hague Convention have been granted to that parent”. For example, a parent who had the right to give or refuse consent to removal was considered to have ‘rights of custody’. This was finally made clear in the United States in 2010 when the Supreme Court held (Abbott v Abbott NO 08-645 (2010)) that ‘ne exeat’ rights alone (that is, the prohibition on a parent from removing a child from a country) constituted ‘rights of custody’ within the intent of the Convention.
the operation of the Convention ensured their continuation, and the Seventh Meeting of the Special Commission on the Practical Operation of the Hague Child Abduction Convention and the 1990 Hague Child Protection Convention held in October 2017, included 292 participants, representing 62 Member States and one REIO, six non-Member Contracting States, four invited non-Member non-Contracting States and observers from 14 IGO/NGOs. After several years, and with the increasing number of States ratifying and adopting the Convention, it started to become apparent that the successful operation of the Convention depended not only on the expertise and commitment of the Central Authorities, but also on an experienced and committed judiciary. Post-mortems on failed applications often showed that there had been a judge who was not sufficiently familiar with the aims of the Convention and the need to avoid a full welfare investigation, or, in some cases, parochialism, often due to an unfamiliarity and uncertainty about the judicial process and the judges in the jurisdiction to which the child would be returned. Identifying this, Professor William Duncan, then a member of the staff of the Permanent Bureau, convened a conference in the Netherlands, known as the De Ruwenberg Conference from 22nd-25th June 1998, attended by judges from about half the jurisdictions then operating the Convention. Its impact cannot be understated. The notion that judges from different jurisdictions and legal traditions could meet informally to discuss issues and initiatives arising from the need to interpret a common Convention, and particularly one which was concerned with the lives of children, was novel. It proved to be revelatory. From it came the International Hague Network of Judges (IHNJ), regular Anglophone/Francophone and Anglophone/Germanophone conferences, the rise and importance of international family law conferences, the preparation and publication of a Judges’ Newsletter for International Child Protection, and INCADAT.
As will become apparent, there are other factors that have led to ‘rights of custody’ attaching to a very wide group, perhaps much wider than the drafters originally envisaged, and has dimmed to a considerable degree, the illumination of what is a ‘right of custody’ and what is a ‘right of access’. These days most parents would be regarded as having Perhaps most importantly, William Duncan ‘rights of custody”. encouraged States Parties to include judges in their The usefulness of Special Commissions as a means delegations to Special Commissions. This enabled of addressing problems and issues regarding an input from those who were making decisions 24
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about Convention law and practice. It also enabled me, as one of the designated International Network of Hague Judges for Australia, to attend three Special Commissions and later to chair a Working Group.
adopt common practices, to the extent permissible in that jurisdiction, without offending national laws or judicial processes by trying to impose strict rules which likely would not find universal endorsement.
The IHNJ however proved to be one of the most important initiatives of the Permanent Bureau. States Parties are invited to nominate one or two judges with responsibility for acting as a liaison point for inquiries from Network judges in other jurisdictions, and as a conduit to the judges within the jurisdiction. Global and regional meetings of the IHNJ have been a regular feature of the calendar of the Permanent Bureau and its development will be further discussed.
For the Special Commission of September/ October 2001, Philippe Lortie, First Secretary, reported on practical mechanisms for facilitating direct international judicial communications in the context of the Convention. The report arose from recommendations from the Fourth Special Commission that “Contracting States are encouraged to consider identifying a judge or judges or other persons or authorities able to facilitate at the international level communications between judges At the Third Special Commission held in March or between a judge and another authority”. 1997, the question was raised about the possibility Accepted safeguards were identified: of specially designated courts to hear Convention • communications to be limited to logistical issues cases to ensure that judges involved had sufficient and the exchange of information; knowledge of the Convention’s provisions and to enable expedition of proceedings. This did not • parties to be notified in advance of the nature of proposed communication; eventuate but by the Seventh Special Commission courts were being positively encouraged to • records to be kept of any agreement reached in “concentrate” jurisdiction in specialist Hague judges. writing; and Many jurisdictions have done so. • parties or their representatives to be present in The Special Commission of September/October certain cases, for example via conference call 2002 had a particular focus including: facilities. • to consider and approve a Guide to Good Practice The drawing up of Principles began following in relation to the operation and application of the Fifth meeting of the Special Commission in the Convention; and October/November 2006 with a group of experts • to consider a report on direct international drawn primarily from the judiciary to develop a judicial communications in the context of the preliminary draft. Following further consultations, and the endorsement of the Special Commission Convention. held in June 2011, the Emerging Guidance and The Guide to Good Practice was to be “a practical General Principles for Judicial Communications ‘how to’ guide to help implement the Convention, was published. concentrating on operational issues and targeting particularly new contracting States”. The effectiveness The concept of direct judicial communications, a of this Guide led to the preparation of a number of relatively novel one given especially the different States and systems of law encompassed, has gained Guides to Good Practice in various areas. currency and added to the efficacy of the Convention. The latest Guide is a Guide to Good Practice on Article 13(1)(b) – the ‘grave risk of harm’ exception. Its success is best summed up by Sir Mathew Thorpe, formerly Head of International Justice for This has proved to be an interesting, and once England and Wales, writing in the Judges’ Newsletter again novel way of dealing with cross-cultural/ with a special focus on the 20th anniversary of the jurisdictional issues affecting the application and International Hague Network of Judges. implementation of the Convention. It was developed as a means of enabling different jurisdictions to “Let me step back from any further consideration of the detail and simply observe that over the last two 25
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decades there has been a movement of forces all in the its work on a more general feasibility study on same general direction. cross-border mediation. This ultimately led to the “…This is a history of harmony since, apart from the development of a Guide to Good Practice on Cross earliest days, there has been no real dissent and there Border Mediation. The Guide addresses the fact that is not a single case in which miscarriage of justice conflict dynamics are particularly pronounced in has resulted from an abuse of the general principles cross-border and access disputes. An added aspect of mediation in applications under the Convention governing direct judicial communication. is the fact that although an outcome that will provide “So, we have seen the specialist family judges of the a lasting solution is the holy grail, even in those cases world united in their more or less passionate support where mediation does not lead to a final resolution, for direct judicial collaboration. This support is there are advantages in the parties taking a greater expressed not only by the trial judges, but also by the account of the interests of their children, and most influential courts, such as the Court of Justice of potentially making the outcome of the proceedings, the European Union and the Supreme Court of the whatever they are, better for the children. United Kingdom. We should also note the flexibility of the tool. Although originally and principally for Experience has demonstrated that because of use in child abduction cases it has in this jurisdiction the nature of the Convention proceedings, it is been used in cases involving inter country adoption, important that mediators have special training in maintenance, simultaneous care proceedings in two particular to understand both the substantive and jurisdictions, the validity of marriage and a divorce the procedural levels of the mediation process. The forum dispute. There would be no sense or logic in special challenges in cross-border disputes have led to the development of bi-national co-mediation and restricting its use. It is a tool of general utility.” there is a continuing need for a joint concept for the The Judges’ Newsletter, a biannual publication, was further training of mediators and for setting up an first published in the spring of 1999 in order to international family mediator’s network. Mediation ensure circulation of information relating to judicial has now become an important feature in many co-operation in the field of international protection Convention proceedings. of children. It covers all the Children’s Conventions and reports on the numerous initiatives taken Relationship of the Convention with other throughout the world in the framework of the International Instruments Conventions. An examination of the contents of the Whilst the Convention specifies that it will have recent publications will indicate the extent to which priority in matters within its scope, at the same this Newsletter informs Network judges about time, Article 34 also states that the Convention shall cases, developments, research and meetings and not otherwise restrict the application of another conferences. applicable international instrument in force between The last two were editions with a special focus: the relevant States for the purposes of obtaining a ‘The Child’s Voice – 15 years later’, and ‘The 20th return or of organising access rights. Thus, there Anniversary of the International Network of Judges’. must be compatibility of the Convention with other instruments, but priority must be given to those This has proved to be an informative and inclusive provisions (in the Convention) that bring about a project, indicative of the value placed by the speedy, and to some extent, temporary solution. But Permanent Bureau on fostering and nurturing the other instruments can be used if they achieve this IHNJ as an important part of the continuing efficacy goal. of the Convention. Since 1980, a number of such instruments have The Fifth Special Commission meeting noted that come into existence. They include the Council of effort was put into securing voluntary solutions Europe Convention, the Hague Convention of through a variety of methods, including mediation, 19th October 1996 on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, and welcomed mediation initiatives and projects. Recognition, Enforcement and Co-operation in It noted the Permanent Bureau was continuing Respect of Parental responsibility and Measures 26
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for the Protection of Children, and the ‘Brussels II’ sole or primary carer models to shared parental Convention on Jurisdiction in Matrimonial Matters. responsibility models. Now, often both parents Most relevantly, the instrument that has influenced will have restrictions on their ability to move freely the Convention and its interpretation is The United across international borders with their children, Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child giving them both ‘rights of custody’. 1989. Despite being rarely mentioned in the early jurisprudence, UNCRC is now mentioned relatively frequently. In the main, two Articles intersect regularly with the Convention. Article 3 of UNCRC has given rise to some controversial jurisprudence from the European Court of Human Rights which arises from the requirement in Article 3 that the best interests of children should be a primary consideration in all decisions concerning them, and the summary mandatory return mechanism of the Convention. The latter eschews an in-depth ‘best interests’ hearing, which the Convention premises on being best carried out in the country of habitual residence. Consistency with UNCRC has been explained by noting that the ‘best interests’ of children who fit within the Convention, is generally to be returned to the country of habitual residence for the full custody hearing to take place. This can be described as a general ‘best interests’ test, which gives way to the best interests of the particular child when one of the exceptions under Article 13 comes into play. Current Challenges for the Convention Article 13 (1)(b) ‘grave risk of harm’ exception By 1997, and the Third Special Commission, the change in the profile of the thought-to-be abductor was changing. Contrary to what was believed to be the profile of the abducting parent when the Convention was drafted (namely a father removing a child to another jurisdiction and from the primary carer), for many years the statistics have shown that international parental child abduction cases involving a sole or joint primary carer as the taking parent are the most prevalent. In practical terms this means that many taking parents are mothers who may be returning to their country of origin, often citing flight from family violence by the other parent as the reason for leaving the country of habitual residence with the child.
To ensure the safety of the child on return the Central Authorities had a role to play, and there was scope for judicial cooperation including the “putting into place of protective measures” upon return to the country of habitual residence. Concerns about differences of approach in different jurisdictions in the implementation and application of the ‘grave risk of harm’ exception, particularly where there were allegations of domestic violence, was gaining some traction. This resulted in a recommendation by the Sixth Special Commission to establish a Working Group comprised of judges, Central Authorities and crossdisciplinary experts to develop a Guide to Good Practice on the interpretation and application of Article 13(1)(b) with a component to provide guidance specifically directed to judicial authorities. The Working Group was established in 2013 and its work was completed in late 2019. I was asked by the then Secretary-General to chair the Working Group and fortunately the then Attorney-General agreed. We had a group of about 25 representatives of Central authorities, Judges and Social Science Experts. Getting agreement on all parts of the Guide was not easy and took considerable time but the Group was very cohesive and committed. It included well respected judges from around the world and included Lady Hale who was the President of the Supreme Court of the UK.
The Article 13(1)(b) exception is often cited as being one of the most difficult issues faced in the application of the Convention. It involves the challenge for courts in protecting children from harm without violating the integrity of the Convention. It is to be hoped that the Guide to Good Practice will provide some consistency and maintain the integrity of the Convention whilst also ensuring that the protection of children remains equally important. This is probably the greatest test of the integrity of the In addition to the change in profile of the taking Convention in coming years. parent, there have been significant evolutions Other ‘soft-law tools’ to ensure the continued efficacy in the domestic law of many jurisdictions from of the Convention include agreement to develop a 27
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new binding instrument to facilitate recognition of for the International Hague Network of Judges and family agreements in Contracting States. support with regular meetings, seminars, conferences A further initiative of the Permanent Bureau is the and training, have enabled the Convention to holding of now five Malta Conferences on Cross- remain relevant and efficacious; as has the support Frontier Family Law Issues which is a dialogue provided to member states by the establishment of between Contracting States to the 1980 Convention two regional offices, the Latin American Regional and/or 1996 Protection Convention and non- office and the Asia Pacific Regional Office in Hong Contracting States whose legal systems are based on Kong. In addition, the databases of INCADAT and or influenced by Islamic law. The first took place in INCASTAT and a good website provide data to aid March 2004 and discussion has focused on how best both judicial and administrative decisions. This all to secure continuing contact between children and gives confidence for the ongoing relevance of the parents who live in different countries, as well as the Convention, notwithstanding its challenges. problems posed by parental abductions between the countries concerned. The issues that the conferences explored included the development of closer cooperation and networking among judiciaries both regionally and globally, cross-border mediation in family law matters and exchange of information concerning the laws and practices of the different legal systems. The Convention’s Successes The Permanent Bureau should be congratulated for the innovative functions it developed to support the efficacy of the Convention, but also to give it continuing relevance, 40 years after its inception. Crucial to this have been the Special Commissions which have monitored the application of the Convention and taken steps to deal with emerging problems and trends. New soft law tools such as Guides to Good Practice, recognition of the necessity
The future
No doubt with the passage of time other issues will emerge, but from the perspective of the 40th anniversary of the Convention, in the immediate future we can expect to see greater emphasis on children’s participation, the expanding use of the 1996 Convention as more countries become signatories, the growing importance of the Malta Conferences, greater clarity around enforcement and recognition of agreements and of course, importantly, the effect that the Guide to Good Practice will have on the judicial decisions concerning the ‘grave risk of harm’ exception. Whilst there have been huge social changes since 1980, it is my view that the Convention has proved to be of continuing relevance and importance and will do so into the future.
Above: The Working Group at the Convention. Right: The Peace Palace in The Hague.
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29
Beauty MEM BE RS’ CO NTRI BUT I ON
by Life Member, Louis A Coutts It was a spur of the moment decision. After months of living a solitary life and anchored each day in my apartment, I had this feeling that I was suffocating in this city environment. For a while I thought that it was my body aching for something different and to a certain extent that was true. But later, I was to discover that it was my heart more than my body which was aching for nourishment. Anyway, in a serendipitous moment I metaphorically stuck a pin in the map and came up with a place called “Dinner Plain” which seemed to be high up in the Victorian Alps. I had never heard of the place, but it just looked right for me. Within the hour I was in the car and five hours later, the last part of which was a tortuous winding mountain road that finally took me to sixteen hundred meters above sea level, I was high in the Alps. The sunset scenery was so enticing that I was reminded of the Greek mythological story of the Sirens who lured sailors to their death by their exquisite singing. So, I reluctantly resisted the temptation of the primeval scenery but could not ignore the trellises of denuded snow gums that lined the road.
I can’t even attempt to describe the seemingly endless stretch of virginal, steep dark valleys and ascending mountain walls, decorated with carpets of thinly veiled snow gums. Caught by the setting sun and unknown to human habitation, I felt as though I was drowning in a sea of silent tranquility and drenched with an overpowering shower of intoxicating beauty. I had forgotten how important beauty is to my life and more importantly, how the beauty of undisturbed nature nourishes my soul. My heart started to beat in unison with this symphony of silent nature and I ached for the sun not to set. But as the sun released its lengthening shadows across the high country, another symphony began to play. It was the silence of the profound darkness and I allowed it to seduce me. And then the dark heavens gradually revealed the eternity in which we live as trillions of stars in the Milky Way decorated the sky with a magical celestial necklace.
I realised that in the dark months that had captured us in a terrifying drama, I had forgotten how I had denied my heart the nourishment of beauty and that for my body to function my In the morning I sat and watched the sun caress heart must be at peace with nature. this eternal stretch of silent and uninhabited majesty and it was then that I realised how my Anyway, that is how the high country affected heart had been so deprived these last lonely me, but it is not until the snow comes that it months. All that time in the prison of the city will have more spectators. I wonder if it will talk my heart was aching without me knowing and to them as it did to me in those serendipitous now, sitting alone as the sole spectator of nature’s moments. silent but profound splendour, my heart realised how beauty had been missing from my life. 30
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A Word of Appreciation
From left to right: John Price, Becky Nicoll, Mac Nicoll, Marg Nicoll and Judy Price. This photo was taken in August 2017 in the dining room of Graduate House.
by Life Member, Mac Nicoll Without knowing much about The Graduate Union, I became a life member in 1958 and for the next 57 years received plenty of correspondence without taking much interest.
was in the gentle palliative care of the Melbourne City Mission, and still living at home. We had come to feel very much part of the Graduate House dining room where the staff kept in touch with Marg’s progress.
However, sometime about 2015, my wife Margaret suggested we might try out the lunch room at One day, just a month or so before Marg’s death, Graduate House, having been there just once in all Kerry asked me on the phone if she might visit Marg the years of our married life. with some of her colleagues. We agreed and within an hour or so I opened the door of our Princes Hill We went… and we were so impressed that it set a cottage to Shirley, Basma, Marwa and Kerry. pattern for the five years that followed. We were attracted not only by the high quality of the food I brought them into the living room where Marg but also by the warmth and care shown to us from was comfortable in her armchair and the others sat all the staff, led by Dr Kerry Bennett, who were around her in a semi-circle and told her how they unfailingly welcoming and supportive. appreciated and loved her as they had got to know her at the Graduate House dining room. They then We began to invite friends to join us, usually came forward, one by one, with a warm hug. Many beginning at our home so that we could use The tears flowed on that memorable day. Graduate Union car park and our friends were similarly impressed. Soon we were calling it, with I write this piece today as a formal way of expressing good reason, “our home away from home”. our gratitude to all the staff of The Graduate Union who have made the dining room there such a Margaret had been living with ovarian cancer since memorable, special place for our family. 2001 and by 2019, after a courageous journey she 32
G R A D UAT E H O USE NEWS
Open, Close, now Open When it was announced at midday on Friday, 12th February, that Victoria was going into a snap fiveday circuit breaker lockdown from 11:59PM that night until 11:59PM, Wednesday 17th February, staff at Graduate House took immediate steps to prepare for the welfare of our current Resident Members for the five days ahead. The lockdown meant that the dining room would need to be closed and that meals would need to be delivered to their rooms. During the snap lockdown, Graduate House also had to close once again its doors to all Collegiate Events and Meeting services. We are very pleased to inform all, that following the announcement by the Victorian government on Wednesday, 17th February, that restrictions have been lifted and Graduate House is once again open to our Members and friends. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to Graduate House!
Feedback Thanks for a great day. The food was amazing. On a good note we hold a few of these [events] a year so you have left us with a great impression. — Karen Stephenson, Early Childhood Education and Care, The University of Melbourne Organising our event at Graduate House was easy. The team were very helpful and accommodating and it was very clear they cared about the success of our event. The function room suited our needs. The Graduate House team really helped to make the best of the situation during our Zoom event. The food was great – in terms of quality and quantity. The staff were very helpful in the lead up and during the event. — Sarah Fortuna, The University of Melbourne 33
G RAD UATE HO USE N EWS
Cancellation of Chinese New Year Luncheon Following the Victorian government’s announcement of a five-day circuit breaker lockdown on Friday, 12th February, we regret that we had to cancel the Chinese New Year Luncheon on Tuesday, 16th February. However the Metal Ox has arrived and is here to stay until the end of the 2021 Lunar Calendar year. We wish everyone a very happy and safe Chinese New Year! May this new year be filled with good luck, good health, happiness, prosperity, and precious moments with your loved ones.
About the Ox 12th February 2021 of the Gregorian calendar marks the start of the Lunar New Year and the animal of the Chinese Zodiac that presides over 2021 is the Metal Ox. Unlike Western astrology, each sign of the Chinese zodiac ‘rules’ over an entire year, bringing with it particular energy to everything that occurs over the next twelve months. The Ox is the second of all zodiac animals. According to one myth, the Jade Emperor said the order would be decided by the order in which they arrived to his party. The Ox was about to be the first to arrive, but Rat tricked Ox into giving him a ride. Then, just as they arrived, Rat jumped down and landed ahead of Ox. Thus, Ox became the second animal. “The Ox, in Chinese culture, is a hardworking zodiac sign, it usually signifies movement so, hopefully, the world will be less static than last year and get moving again in the second half of the year. Because Oxes are hardworking, there’s hope that 2021 will be a year of forward movement.” — Hong Kong-based Feng Shui master, Thierry Cho. 34
Welcome BBQ is back!
G R A D UAT E H O USE NEWS
Been in Melbourne but haven’t met other students yet? Come along and bring your friends to our Welcome BBQ! Hosted annually at Graduate House, the Welcome BBQ aims to informally gather different groups of visitors and students in our community and celebrate their arrival for the academic year. This year, Graduate House’s Welcome BBQ will be held on Friday, 26th March. The BBQ will have a varied menu, offering a range of vegetarian and meat options. BBQs are a great Australian tradition, and are an iconic way of bringing people together. Today, Graduate House’s Welcome BBQs have diversified, being multicultural and inclusive spaces, welcoming everyone from all walks of life. So join us and enjoy the delicious food and hopefully, good weather! Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we have capacity limits, so please book early to avoid missing out!
When: Friday, 26th March, from 6:00PM Where: Graduate House, courtyard area Cost: Resident Members free, Non-resident members $22, Guests and non-members $32 RSVP: phone (03) 9347 3428 or email at admingh@graduatehouse.com.au
Play For Purpose Play For Purpose is Australia's 100% not-for-profit community raffle. They partner with hundreds of ACNC registered charities and grassroots sporting clubs to help them fundraise. This year, Play For Purpose has partnered with Graduate House! Raffle tickets are just $10, with a guaranteed minimum of $5 directly supporting Graduate House. The rest helps fund prizes and the running of the raffle.
Buy raffle tickets to be in the running to win a prize It's the ultimate WIN-WIN raffle with every ticket and support Graduate House! Tickets are limited and also giving you the chance to win a first prize valued sales close on 11th March. To purchase tickets, go to https://playforpurpose.com.au/graduate-house. at $250,000 and other amazing prizes! 35
G U COL L EGI ATE
Monthly Luncheon W E DN E SDAY, 3 R D M A R C H 2 0 2 1
VICTOR PERTON
Victor Perton asks people what makes them Victor’s life experience includes stints as optimistic. Commissioner to the Americas, 18 years as a parliamentarian, practice as a barrister, mediator, Victor is Chief Optimism Officer at the arbitrator, businessman and board service. He was Melbourne-based Centre for Optimism. Formed a Senior Engagement Adviser to the Australian one year ago as the offspring of The Australian G20 presidency focused on the G20 Finance Leadership Project, the Centre’s members are Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meetings, drawn from 56 countries. and the Brisbane G20 Leaders Summit described Victor’s underpinning beliefs are “The leader by the Prime Minister as “the most important looks like the person in your mirror” and “All good gathering Australia has ever hosted”. leadership is infectiously optimistic”. The evidence for the health impact of optimism He is the author of Optimism: The How and is now so strong, Professor Laura Kubzansky, Why and The Case for Optimism: The Optimist’s Harvard’s’ Lee Kum Kee Professor of Social and Voices; and editor and founder of The Australian Behavioral Sciences, said in September “Optimism Leadership Project. is a health asset and a potential target for public health interventions.” 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-MAR/ PHONE: (03) 9347 3428 EMAIL : ADMINGH@GRADUATEHOUSE .COM. AU DINE IN PRICING: MEMBERS $35, NON-MEMBERS $ 40 VIRTUAL AT TENDANCE PRICING: MEMBERS $10, NON-MEMBERS $15
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G U COLLEGIAT E
College Table F R I DAY, 1 9 T H M A R C H 2 0 2 1
DR EMMA NYHAN S O C IOL O G I ST OF L AW A N D H UM A N R IG H T S E X PE RT TA L K I NG ON AU ST R A L IA A S A G O OD I N T E R NAT IONA L C I T I Z E N AT T H E WOR L D C OU RT.
Emma Nyhan is a research fellow on the ARC-funded project ‘The Potential and Limits of International Adjudication: The International Court of Justice and Australia’ led by Professor Hilary Charlesworth and Professor Margaret Young at Melbourne Law School. Emma conducts research on legal issues in topic areas such as the role of international adjudication, the background to Australian litigation before the ICJ, and the impact of the cases in which Australia has been involved. Emma received a PhD from the European University Institute, Italy in 2018. Her doctoral dissertation, Indigeneity, Law and Terrain: The Bedouin Citizens of Israel, explored the ways in which the international concept of Indigenous Peoples came to be applied to the Bedouin in Israel. Her research pursues a socio-legal agenda and employs legal, historical and anthropological methodologies. Her doctoral
studies were supported by awards from the SocioLegal Studies Association and the Council for British Research in the Levant. Emma qualified as a barrister at the Honorable Society of King’s Inns, Ireland. She holds a Master of Laws in comparative, European and international laws from the European University Institute, Italy, and a Master of Laws in pension law from the Universität Konstanz, Germany. Emma received a Bachelor of Laws and German from University College Cork, Ireland. She has been a visiting scholar at New York University, USA, The College of Management Academic Studies, Israel and Oñati International Institute for the Sociology of Law, Spain. Emma spent a number of years engaged in law centres in Europe, the Middle East and North America.
12:00NOON A RR IVAL FOR 12:30PM START (ONLINE: 1.15PM PLEASE LOGON 1.10PM) GRADUATE HOU SE 220 LEICESTER STREET, CARLTON, VIC, 3053 ONLINE BOOKING: HTTPS//WWW.GRADUATEHOUSE.COM.AU/COMING-EVENTS/COLLEGE-TABLE-1-2021-2/ P HONE : (03) 9347 3428 EMAI L: ADMINGH@GRADUATEHOUSE.COM.AU DINE IN PRICING: MEMBERS $12, NON-MEMBERS $20, LOYALTY CARD HOLDERS $15 VIRT UAL ATTENDANCE PRICING: MEMBERS $10, NON-MEMBERS $15
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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 (masked) 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; 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
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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 onsite 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 while in Melbourne over the summer break
• 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 Some positive habits to consider keeping after lockdown As we emerge from a year of social distancing and lockdown rules, our lifestyle and behaviour may have changed. If you have developed productive and healthy habits during lockdown, you might not be ready to go back to exactly how things were before. Perhaps lockdown gave you the perfect excuse to do something you had previously been putting off. Below are some habits you may want to keep. Maintaining a slower lifestyle Learning to slow down and looking after your well-being may be the first positive habit you should keep. Whether it is online yoga lessons, going to bed early and switching off your phone completely or making time for yourself, good practices should be continued when COVID-19 is no longer a restriction. It can also help you maintain a peace of mind and remain calm while readjusting to your old-but-new lifestyle. Personal development
Making time to enjoy the outdoor parks and family time Did you find Saturday games night enjoyable during lockdown? When was the last time you played a board game of Scrabble? Or took a walk around the neighbourhood? Spending quality time with your nearest and dearest where possible is a great way to feel positive and build stronger relationships. Decluttering and keep only what you need Spring cleaning has perhaps been on your to-do list for a long time. Organising your belongings, cleaning out shelves and having a clutter-free home and mind can feel so good. Remembering too, that less is more. Don’t let all your decluttering hard work during lockdown go to waste by reaccumulating items you will rarely use once life returns to normal. Learning to say “no”
With restrictions easing and invitations flowing in, be more selective about which ones to accept. Fear of missing out (FOMO) was once a genuine phenomenon. When lockdown started, everyone was missing out on something they used to do or someone they used to see. Panic ensued, and then If you have never had to do it before, you may adaptation occurred and the best was made out of find that even planning your monthly grocery a bad situation. It is now the opposite, and the fear shopping properly is a new skill you have mastered of going out is more real than ever. Post-lockdown, well. continue saying no to the people, places and plans Lockdown may have unknowingly created personal development opportunities for us in many aspects of our life. It could be DIY repair work at home, writing, singing, gardening, sewing, cooking, computer skills or even dying your hair.
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EXTR ACU RRICU L AR
that you don’t actually want to make. It was easier connecting with friends over the internet is at an during lockdown because everything was a “no”. all-time high. It sets new groundwork for what constitutes friendship. You might live around the Continue to support local business corner from one another but you can’t meet up in Supporting local businesses and your local person, so the internet becomes your main form economy is just as important whether it’s a of communicating with a friend. Reaching out to global pandemic or not. Feeding back into your that old acquaintance 2,000 miles away now seems community by buying locally-sourced goods is more normal because you are sharing the same always a great way to live sustainably and help experience, so the world somehow seems smaller. your home thrive. Businesses do not stop needing Post-lockdown, keep thinking further afield with your patronage to survive and it is also a great way your friendships. to feel more connected with your neighbourhood Lastly, make lockdown the best thing that has when you get to know the local staff. happened to you. Keep good habits going and Developing friendships don’t let the lure of normality send you backwards. The growth in Facebook Messenger activity More positive habits can be found here: http://bit. and the rise in the use of Zoom suggests that ly/2Mwf5vA. 43
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
WWW.GRADUATEHOUSE.COM.AU