Switch ISSUE 5_10 (PDF - 1.6 MB)

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ISSUE #5
WRITTEN BY YOUNG PEOPLE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Content
Team
2................................................................Contents/team
3...........................................................................Editorial
4..........................................................................VCE Rant
5.....................................................................Get to Know
6/7...........................................................Murdena Rising
8..................................................................Olympic Spirit
9.............................................................Ballers ride bikes
10/11..........................................................One to Follow
12/13..............................................The American Dream
14/15.................................................................To be Fair
16..........................................................A Cautionary Tale
17...................................................................... Joey Knox
18/19...............................Creative Section – Izzy’s Story
20/21.......................................................... Mother’s Day
22/23..................................................Armageddon Cake
24/25...................................................The Pickers Union
26/27...............................................Lunar Concept Store
28...........................Quick & Easy Vegetarian Enchiladas
29....................................................................................IT
30/31/32/33..............................................Drawn to Life
34/35/36/37..............................................Daniel Longo
38/39 ..............................................................CD Review
40/41..........................................................Game Review
42/43...........................................................Book Review
Editor
Amanda Sherring
Deputy Editor
Jessica Dickers
Sub-Editor
Alastair McGibbon & Linn Ahlvik
Designer
Julian Grant
Photographer
Natalie Evans
Foreign Correspondent
Sophia Skinbjerg-Eyles
Editorial Committee
Adrian Aloi, Alastair McGibbon, Amanda
Sherring,
Cassie Santoro, Gabe Rule, Jessica Dickers,
Julian Grant, Linn Ahlvik, Natalie Evans, Tex Miller, Sophia Skinbjerg-Eyles, Zakary Testa
Production Services
Adcell Media
Thanks
Cr Jan Farrell, Mardi Janetzki, the Youth Development
Team & Adcell Media.
2 \ Switch Magazine \ ConWtent and Team
Editorial
Here at Switch we are continuously surprised at the talented and passionate individuals that live in Geelong.
In this issue we want you to be just as impressed, so we’re sharing a few incredible people achieving amazing
things in their area. Flick to page 10 and let Hannah Teesdale inspire you to action, admire the raw beauty that
Daniel Longo captures, be inspired to travel to America with Chad Suhan and listen to the strength and courage
that blank encompasses. Hopefully this issue inspires you to take some leaps of your own, and embrace the
things you love.
The Switch Team
Contribute
SWITCH is a Geelong Youth Magazine that provides a creative outlet for young people as well as all the information you guys want to know. The mag is entirely written by young people (12- 25 years old) for young people and
contains interviews, fiction, reviews, poetry and heaps more.
Switch magazine is managed by a dedicated editorial team. They’re in charge of the content, layout, editing process and occasionally even writing stories. Each issue is over 30 pages of matte full colour, which gets distributed to local schools, libraries, cafes and youth venues around the region. The best part is that it’s free!
If you want to see your work published in Switch, it’s super easy to get involved.
You can submit articles and interviews as well as reviews of books, movies, and albums. Your articles will be
read by the Switch team and possibly published in the next issue. We are always on the lookout for amazing
photos or illustrations as well, who knows, your picture may even be chosen for the cover!
Send your submissions to [email protected].
Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/switchmagazinegeelong
Editorial and Contribute / Switch Magazine / 3
VCE Rant
Tahlia Sinclair
I With thousands of students heading into VCE this
year, many are looking ahead to the all-important
ATAR score they wish to receive at the end of their
studies. The calculators are out and everyone’s
finding out what study scores are needed in order to
get their desired ATAR. Trying to figure out a desired
score is hard enough, however what about the subjects that get scaled up or scaled down?
Not many people know how the system works which
leaves many VCE students worrying about their
subjects, especially those who had had other factors
in their life that affects their score. Students studying
languages, advanced mathematics, sciences and
classical studies are all candidates for the exciting
and highly beneficial up scaling which is when study
scores are increased from their original score based
on the subject. However, many students also face the
plight of down scaling as portfolio subjects, music
subjects, VET and health based subjects all face the
penalty of having their hard earned marks being
4 \ Switch Magazine \ VCE Rant
scaled down.
The students who undertake subjects that get scaled
down work just as hard the subjects that are scaled
up or that stay the same. Portfolio subjects including
studio arts, media and visual communication design
are some of the most time consuming subjects available to those students who do them. School assessed
tasks (SATs) are the major assessed task in portfolio
subjects and they consist of a lengthy years work to
submit one final project. Most of the SATs and a lot of
the portfolio work is done by these students outside
of class time and school hours as weekends and after
school are often the only time they can work on their
pieces, especially those wishing to record podcasts,
radio segments and film videos.
It seems as though the hard work and effort these
students are putting in is being completely disregarded and ignored. I believe we should let these students
keep the scores that they rightfully earned. Sure, we
can continue to upscale some subjects but we need
to abolish the unfair and unwanted down scaling system. Personally, if I earned a score of thirty in media
studies, I would want to keep it, not be marked down,
it isn’t fair. Regardless of the subjects undertaken,
students should keep the score they rightfully earned
because it’s unfair to scale down any VCE subjects.
Get to Know
Tex Miller
Jessica Shepherd Photography
What he does
Blues musician and music writer
Website: facebook.com/texmillermusic
I was actually trying to think this morning of what first
turned me onto guitar, and I think that was when I first
started listening to John Mayer.
Guitar of choice
I’ve got to say my mum’s nylon stringed Maton guitar
from the ‘60s. It’s got the sweetest tone and is just a
dream to play.
First gig/festival you went to?
It was probably Queenscliff Music Festival in about
2003, the year that everyone discovered Cat Empire,
John Butler Trio and Xavier Rudd and they were all
there.
What do you wish you had invented?
To be Jann Wenner and have invented Rolling Stones
magazine.
Favourite Movie?
Almost Famous or The Blues Brothers
What’s your ultimate festival lineup?
Coldplay, Radiohead, The Lumineers, Ben
Howard, John Mayer, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
and Gary Clark Jr.
What kind of style music do you play?
A cross between John Mayer folk pop and blues rock.
What made you want to get into music?
My parents were very musical; there were always Joni
Mitchell and James Taylor records around the house.
What’s something people wouldn’t know about you?
If I added an A and an N to my name, my initials would
spell out batman.
What’s the best thing about being a musician?
Being able to get up on stage and play your music to
the crowd.
Top 3 albums of all time?
‘What’s the Story Morning Glory’ by Oasis, ‘Parachutes’ by Coldplay and ‘A Guide to Love, Loss and
Desperation’ by The Wombats.
What’s the best gig you’ve played?
I had the opportunity to open for Diesel at the Barwon
Heads Hotel when I was 17-years-old - that was a
pretty big thing.
Get to Know / Switch Magazine / 5
Murdena Rising
Tex Miller
Murdena have been a band on the rise for quite a
while now, ever since their humble beginnings. Since
their first trip up to the Tamworth Country Music
Festival, Annie Rose Maloney knew that the band
was destined for big things. In that year, Murdena
were lucky enough to take out the Battle of the Bands
at that year’s festival and since then have gained a
reputation at the infamous festival. Starting out as
an acoustic duo with just Annie and Hugh Maloney,
Murdena have since become one of the biggest rock/
alternate country bands in the local Geelong scene.
With a self-titled EP around the traps at the moment
and a follow up due in the next few months, I recently
got the opportunity to sit down with Annie to have a
chat about the band.
From acoustic duo to full five-piece band, the evolution
of the local country band’s music has been a natural
progression.
6 \ Switch Magazine \ Murdena Rising
“I started to play a lot of country music and we began
to get a whole heap of corporate gigs and wedding
slots through family friends,” Annie said.
“I began writing some songs and took them to Hugh
to get him to put his spin on things — and that’s how
our early songs began. Hugh started to sing and we
began to take things a lot more seriously than we had
been previously. Our confidence really grew with the
addition of bass and drums to the outfit.”
Since the release of their self-titled EP, Murdena have
gained a strong live following, and their alternate
country sound can be heard most prominently in the
songs ‘Burn Of Gin’, ‘Sheena’ and ‘Headed North’.
The band’s most recent local gig was at the Ocean
Grove Festivus in early April, which Annie described as
a turning point for the band. “It was really nice to play
locally and it was a great setup for a festival. There
were a few people that came to just see us, which I
found pretty funny,” she said.
“It’s quite humbling, really, because this time a year
ago nobody knew who we were and to have people
coming to a festival and paying money to see you play
is really nice.”
Self-managed and booking shows all around the
country — and at the moment, looking at tours in
Sydney and Adelaide — the success that has
followed Murdena in the past twenty-four months has
been quite awe-inspiring. Now, Annie says, the band is
just considering their next move.
“We’ve been together as a band for about a year and
a half, and now we need to get onto another platform
to build our profile again. Whether that’s doing some
tours like we are, as well as doing interviews, there is
always something on the go and another level to push
our name out there to,” she said.
“We are also constantly writing new stuff so that we
people that love our music don’t get sick of us too
quickly.”
The new EP — which is due to be released in the next
couple of months — is made up of songs that the band
has been playing live for quite some time. This time
around, Annie feels that the EP is a lot more
thought-out and intense than their first release.
“If anything, this release shows how much the band
has grown and I think you can hear that in the different sound of the songs. With new band members you
get new influences, and I think I’m writing a lot less
folk stuff than I was in the beginning,” she said.
Although Annie is quickly gaining a reputation as a
country musician, the first album that she bought with
her own money — one of her first musical memories
— is completely different to what she is playing in
Murdena today.
“I remember I was really into cassette tapes and
collecting them, and I think one of the first ones I ever
had was B*Witched; (my collection) had Backstreet
Boys and all of that other stuff. I guess it’s a little bit of
guilty pleasure,” she said.
“I remember hearing Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Dancing
in the Dark’ and buying it on tape in Thailand when I
was about six years old, thinking it was the best thing
ever. I don’t know what attracted me to that song and
to this day I still don’t know. It’s got all the elements
of a great song, and Bruce Springsteen is just one of
my biggest influences; his song writing is superb and
onstage he’s unreal.”
With a sold out EP launch at Cherry Bar for their first
release, Murdena are planning on reaching the same
heights this time around. It might be a while off, but
it will definitely be worth the wait. Keep your eyes and
ears open for the new EP — which should be out soon
—and head along to a Murdena gig to see what all the
fuss is about!
Switch Magazine / 7
Olympic Spirit
Zakary Testa
In February this year, the world’s greatest winter
Olympic athletes competed in front of millions of spectators all around the world. It was hosted by the city of
Sochi in Russia, and in the months prior to the event,
Russian President Vladimir Putin enacted tough and
drastic anti-gay laws that essentially paralyzed and
ostracized the Russian LGBT community.
That begs the question – did Russia deserve to host
the Winter Olympics? Does Putin deserve to hold a position of power when he holds views that are 50 years
out of date? Should the world stand idly by while gay
Russians are forced to conceal who they are in order
to survive in a world of discrimination and degradation? The short answer to all of those questions is a
comprehensive no.
12 months ago Switch published my piece on gay marriage, and the reception I received was fantastic. But
realistically, how far have we really come in the last 12
months? Unfortunately, we haven’t come very far at
all. There are still hateful protests and misguided fury,
senseless beatings and aimless hatred.
Being a straight man, I can only imagine what it’s like
to be a gay person in the terrifying world we live in. We
live in a country led by a man who is too afraid to confront the problem that thousands of people are facing
every day, a problem that is growing by the day.
Sometimes I wonder what it’s like to be Tony Abbott. It
must be bizarre to wake up in the morning, put on your
manly suit and tie and you go about your day, offending sections of society without even realizing — just by
opening your mouth. Some of these comments — that
sound like they should be coming from an uneducated
man 50 years ago — are now being uttered by the
most powerful man in Australia – the Prime Minister.
Abbott and Putin aren’t all that different; both lead a
backwards nation that refuses
to accept LGBT people — a group in society that
is not going away any time soon.
Realistically, they’re not harming anyone, and if their
8\ Switch Magazine \ Olympic Spirit
existence offends your traditionalist beliefs I suggest
some face time with a mirror and some contemplation.
Don’t get me wrong – I’m not saying you have to be
a gay rights supporter and attend rallies. I wouldn’t
be much better than Putin and Abbott if I forced an
idea upon you and told you to “just deal with it”. I’m
just saying you have to be human — treat your fellow
human beings with the respect every person deserves.
You won’t like every person you meet; that’s a given.
I’ve met plenty of people that I don’t necessarily like
or want to associate with. That’s fine; that’s human
nature, you can’t like everyone. But you can respect
people and you can give people a chance.
I’m not sure about others but I find it extremely frightening to live in a world where these anti-gay beliefs are
still able to be aired in a public forum – particularly in
a country that has played host to the Winter Olympics.
I feel for the LGBT community – having your place in
society constantly under scrutiny would be maddening. Why is it that a decision made by a government
can have such a detrimental impact on an entire
community? Why does so much rest upon the view of
one homophobic man?
So when you go about your daily routine today, do
me a favour and change one little thing: be more
open-minded to things that may seem unnatural to
you. Open your eyes and your heart to things you
would’ve neglected in the past. The time for change
is now; not tomorrow, not next week. Now. You control
what you do and how you think; no one else can control how you treat people.
Challenge the views of the ignorant and forge your
own belief system. That is how we can move forward
together.
I got a new whip. Nope not a car as I only just got my
learners (which means I can do lifts to parties if my
Mum is also attending).
don’t really understand, considering it’s quite hard to
look arty, well read and cool whilst walking your fixie
up a hill. And second, I only drink dairy equivalents.
I bought a bike.
This isn’t the kind of bike people who wear shoes from
the chemist would ride. Little known fact however,
you can actually own a fixie without drinking soy lattes
(Note: that just because you drank milk once and farted does not qualify lactose intolerance), and without
thinking kale chips are an appropriate party snack. I
can barely tell the difference between Moccona and
macchiato, and my favourite party accessory is a
Cheezel on each finger.
Actually, my parents bought me a bike, and before you
allow your eyebrows to reach judging heights, it was
my birthday. I know a bike seems like a very grade two
present, which is probably true, but grade two birthday
parties are tops; less vomit, lolly bags. Also despite the
fact that old people think that every 17-year-old comes
with an IT degree, I didn’t ask for an electronic gift.
Previous birthday presents include: in 2012, a trampoline, for a 16-year-old? Yes champ. Mum realised
her son had spent his childhood without a trampoline
and decided 16 would be a good age for it. And 2002,
a spy kit, which made me feel very Spy Kids for about
four minutes, until I realised that Carla Gugino and
Antonio Banderas were not a real life couple.
I was actually also gifted a mountain bike for my grade
two birthday, which I cut sick on and landed a total
custom job by covering it with stickers and tazos from
my K-Zone magazines (because, didn’t have a lot on at
age eight). Get a pen MTV- pimp my mountain bike.
Fast-forward five years, the same bike landed me in
hospital with a broken arm at age 13. I was trying to
impress some ‘doodz’, and thought the way to do this
was to blow their minds with some sick tricks. As you
may have already guessed, I ended up in the gutter.
Hospital was nothing like Grey’s Anatomy. I was disappointed. But I’m determined not to add bikes to the list
of ‘Things I’m Not Good At’, which includes Jenga and
Glad Wrap. I’m going to be good at bikes.
It’s a fixie bike, which means that it has two speeds.
First being, I’m better than you. Which I
So, perhaps I don’t qualify for this kind of bike. Regardless, I now have one – so strap in all those who
like to pretend that they’ve read Clockwork Orange,
think they discovered Lorde and don’t own TV’s unless
it’s been hollowed out and converted into a flower bed,
I’ve joined your bike crew.
When you tell people you’re the owner of a bike and
they realise you’re not the mountain bike kind that
dress as if you could go for a bush walk at a minutes
notice, they automatically decide you’re a member of
the Lycra club. And despite the fact that I love clubs
and haven’t been a part of one since u/12s footy,
which I did for the free pizza at the end, I once tried
Lycra, which apparently “Looks gross and disgusting
Gabe”. Cross that one out. I do understand why people
have more beef that a Double Quarter Pounder (zing!)
with Lycra cyclists, I mean these people overtake me
in the bicycle lane, and yes I understand I may look
like an ad for the biggest loser whilst attempting to
cycle up that hill, but when a streak of Lycra with a
local fish and chip shops logo overtakes me, it really
kills the fitness movie montage in my head.
I don’t think I’m going to be able to use cycling as a
claim to cool then. I’m just going to have to stick with
‘Kevin Rudd follows me on twitter.’
Ballers Ride Bikes / Switch Magazine / 9
One to Follow
Amanda Sherring
n 2011 and 2012, Hannah participated in the Barwon-South West Region Model United Nations Conference, was one of 80 students in the Victorian Schools
State Constitutional
10 \ Switch Magazine \ One to Follow
Convention and was amongst 120 students
Australia-wide selected to attend the 2013 National
Schools Constitutional Convention in Canberra.
There are certain people who possess insight and
wisdom beyond their years. People who can inspire a
whole community with just being who they are, and
Hannah Teesdale is one such person.
Though Hannah is no Dalai Lama, she is actively
achieving great things in her community and across
Australia, and all at 17-years-old.
She’s met former Governor General Quentin Bryce
three times, and discussed varying issues affecting
Australians, but primarily inequality.
Hannah doesn’t let any opportunity pass her by and
her resume is a clear indication of that.
“It seemed like a long shot because I didn’t think I’d
fit any of the criteria, but being a young person they
wanted to have me on there as well,” she said.
Everything Hannah has done so far has been contributed to her passion — to achieve equality for all, but
particularly for women.
Her hope is to one day achieve equality, but for now,
she wants women to take on public service roles, and
in doing so, empower women to achieve equality and
lead change in their area.
“I think just to start, we should have more
women in politics or leadership roles that
people can recognise and aspire to,” she said.
“I’m just trying to take on every opportunity that
I can find,” she said.
“Even just recognising women from the
grassroots level, and those that are making a difference in the community. “
But it’s not just wisdom that the pint-sized teen
possesses; she’s also incredibly modest. So modest,
in fact, that when she is praised, she simply shrugs it
off — she believes that what she does isn’t anything
out of the ordinary.
With such a passion for politics and equality it’s
surprising that Hannah’s career choices don’t reflect
her interests.
On top of all of that, Hannah is in year 12
studying VCE, works part time and is a constant role
model to younger students as a school leader at Lara
Secondary College.
With so many commitments, it’s a wonder she can
keep everything under control.
“I just make sure I prioritise everything,” she said.
“School obviously comes first, but it’s just
balancing it all I guess.”
Being a perfectionist, Hannah only wants to be a part
of something if she can give it her best, and if she
can’t achieve that goal, she realises it may be time to
let it go.
“If I’m not doing one thing perfectly or the best that I
can, I’m not giving it 100%, and not that I’d let it go,
but I’d want to take some time out,” Hannah says.
There seems to be no limit for what Hannah can
achieve and be involved in. She has recently been
accepted into a new Geelong
committee – the Women in Community life Advisory
Committee.
Even with her experiences, Hannah was doubtful of
gaining a position on the Committee.
“I’d rather do something else, but stay involved in
(politics) somehow,” she said.
“I’m passionate about kids, so maybe primary teaching. But there are a lot of different things I want to do
so I’ll just see where it takes me.”
Though politics or equality may not be influencing her
career choice, she will still be actively involved in both.
“I’m passionate about equality and that’s
something I want to do my whole life. It’s not something I ever want to stop,” she said.
Hannah recently won the Leadership Award at the
Geelong Impetus Youth Awards. While she’s grateful
for the award, she always had the
intention of continuing her fight for equality regardless of whether she’d won the award — there was no
slowing down.
“It’s my passion, award or no award. I will keep doing
what I’m doing and live a life promoting equality and
human rights,” she said.
With the help of the Women in Community Life Advisory Committee, Hannah is doing just that.
“There’s still a far way to go. I’m just hoping that I’m
helping in some small way.”
Switch Magazine / 11
The American Dream
Chad Suhan
Travelling through the United States had always been
a dream of mine.
Ever since watching Disneyland commercials on my
old VHS tapes when I was child I had been hooked at
the idea of actually experiencing it in person.
As I grew older my fascination also grew, I had fast
become interested in a lot more than fluffy Disneyland
characters! I wanted to see the bright lights of Times
Square, overlook the impressive Grand Canyon and at
least touch the water of Niagara Falls.
In my last year of high school I heard about an opportunity that would change my life and leave me with the
most amazing experiences and memories ever.
I attended an information session for a company
called CCUSA (Camp Counsellors USA) in late 2011
and was told about how amazing working at camp
in America was. I sat there listening to the colourful,
eccentric speakers, but also felt as if I was being fed
all this wonderful information that may be twisted and
altered. There is a catch with everything right?
After a couple of months of deciding what I was going
to do on my gap year, I signed up to CCUSA. Before I
knew it I was flying to the USA in early June.
I had been placed at a camp in Malibu, California,
which works with children aged 4-18 who are blind or
visually impaired.
Camp Bloomfield contacted me asking if I would like to
work for them in May 2012. I was hesitant at the start,
I had no previous experience working with children
who were blind or visually impaired and thought that
it may be all too overwhelming for me. However, after
speaking with the camp director and hearing his
stories, I was sold!
In the next 3 months I would form friendships like
never before. The 40 staff members that worked at
camp were one big family, everybody arrived in the
same situation, nobody knew anybody…we ate every
meal together, slept in the same rooms together,
worked together and enjoyed each moment together,
these people were not my friends, they were my family.
The children were unbelievable! I had been trained
before camp commenced on how to work with the
blind and visually impaired community. Nothing
could have prepared me for exactly how capable and
independent this community of amazing people is. I
watched children shoot bulls eyes in archery off the
sound of a simple beeper in the centre of the target.
Most kids climbed the rock wall faster than I could,
and I have 20/20 vision!
My eyes really had been opened. Never would I have
thought that the colourful, eccentric speakers I had
met the year before would be correct in everything
they were saying. The camp really does change your
life.
The staff group consisted of people from all walks of
life, from different countries around the world and with
different opinions on things, but we all molded
together to create a unique, second to none
-experience for the children.
After camp I began to travel the USA and experience
all the things I had imagined! I flew across the country
on a red eye flight to New York the day after camp
finished and met up with a good friend of mine and
several friends from camp.
New York was everything I had imagined and more! It
was dense, tall, crazy, and yet so amazing!
My travels took me to Canada where I was lucky
enough to explore the Georgian Bay Grotto and cliff
dived into the clearest glistening water I have ever
seen!
Travelling is something I recommend to everybody,
not only have I gained so much confidence but my
eyes have been opened to the big world out there.
You can check out Chad’s travel experiences
and more on his YouTube channel youtube.com/
chadsuhan or follow his antics on https://www.
facebook.com/chadsuhanfilms.
The American Dream / Switch Magazine / 13
To Be Fair
Brigitte McGivern
The inner most beliefs and values of a human being
are not something that usually comes into play when
going on a shopping spree. But in an era where
businesses strive to spend a little to create a lot, the
dignity, and even lives of real people are being put in
danger. The disastrous collapse of the illegally built
sweatshop and factory complex Rana Plaza in Bangladesh last year highlighted the horrific conditions of
sweatshops. Ultimately events like the Rana Plaza collapse are caused by the Western World’s indifference
and our bargain hunting ways. But now is the time to
choose morals over dollars and stop buying clothing
produced in sweat shops.
When clothing is produced in a more ethical environment, it creates a sense of safety and wellbeing
for workers. In every job people should be entitled
to feel happy and safe in their environment and
the conditions of work in sweat shops are in direct
violation to this. The national manager of Ethical
Clothing Australia (or ECA) Simon McRae said, in
regard to sweat shop workers; “They get exploited,
they work ridiculous hours, there is no oversight of it
and the audits that are done aren’t worth the paper
they’re written on.” As well as promoting the benefits
of choosing ethically produced clothing in Australia,
ECA aims to help sweatshop workers in places such
as Bangladesh, India and Thailand. But in order to put
an end to sweatshops it is first necessary to create
more sustainable, ethical labels. Simply boycotting
sweatshop manufactured clothing can hurt the workers even more as they will lose their jobs. Many poor
families rely on this income to stay above the poverty
line. Creating happier, healthier working environments
is one of the first steps that must be taken in order to
14 \ Switch Magazine \ To Be Fair
rid the world of sweatshops.
By choosing to buy ethically produced clothing we are
also choosing to support the development of better
social infrastructure in developing nations which will
aid in the fight against poverty. Workers who work
for Fairtrade registered businesses receive what the
Fairwear Foundation calls “a living wage.” A living
wage is defined as a wage that meets the basic needs
of a worker, and is often double or triple times what a
sweatshop worker would earn. The theory is, that anyone who works a normal working week should be able
to live comfortably. A charity that promotes the ethical
production of clothing and works to create a better
social infrastructure is the University of Birmingham’s
charity, LUCIA (standing for Lives Uplifted by Change
In Africa). LUCIA operates from Sheno in Ethiopia
and helps women and children to generate their own
incomes and it has recently built a library for the Saria
School in the township of Sheno. The benefits LUCIA
has brought to the community of Sheno encourage
the development of the town and creates jobs in the
clothing industry for talented sewers, weavers or cotton farmers. By improving the infrastructure of towns
in developing nations, charities like LUCIA reduced
the need for garments to be manufactured in sweat
shops.
The decision to buy ethically produced clothing however, is ultimately ours, the consumers. It is in every
human being’s sense of compassion and morality to
reach out and stop injustice yet we still let our actions
be ruled by our wallet rather than our conscience.
The website ethicalconsumer.org classifies the way all
consumers shop into two categories; positive buying
(favouring ethically manufactured goods) or negative buying (boycotting our morals). Now that the
consequences of supporting businesses that use
sweatshops are publicly known, why do we as consumers still continue to buy these cheap garments
made by a young, underpaid worker in Bangladesh,
or China, or India, or Thailand? Ethically produced
food is something that has kicked off in Australia,
whereas Fairtrade or ethically made clothing has
nowhere near the same popularity. Chairwoman of
the Australian Fashion Council Karen Webster said in
regard to ethically produced goods; “Food seems to be
10 years ahead of where the fashion industry is.” That
is caused by consumers’ tendencies to fork out for
more gourmet or organic products, yet it is these same
consumers who support brands such as Target, Big
W, Kmart and Cotton On. Yes, Australia may be slightly
suffering from a financial crisis but the earnings of an
average Australian would allow them to ditch the $5
made in China hoodie in favour of a long-lasting, ethically produced jacket. The inner turmoil over whether
to choose with our morals or our wallet is one that
faces many Australians today yet it is crucial we keep
in mind supporting businesses that use sweatshops
will only lead to more tragedies like that of the Rana
Plaza.
However, aside from all the benefits that Fair trade
brings to underpaid workers, there are still those who
are against this amazing concept. Ethically produced
clothing is often more expensive than your typical
department store jeans and t-shirt. Journalist Julie
Clawson from Relevant Magazine says that we as
consumers “are accustomed to buying really cheap
clothing from the typical big-box store.” While ease of
access and cheap prices are something that attracts
many buyers, this is something we should be wary
of. Another excuse people use to not buy ethically
produced clothing is that it is stereotypically seen as
being for hippies or tree huggers. While the range of
Fairtrade produced clothing is nowhere near as vast
as what is in many shops today, it will only expand if
more consumers show interest and support ethical
labels. There is little substance behind these excuses
as to why people avoid buying Fairtrade clothing, it is
only with the choices that we, the shoppers make that
ethically produced clothing will become more prominent in society and will create jobs, and better lives for
people across the world.
Ethically produced clothing creates a sense of safety
and happiness for workers. It promotes infrastructure
in developing nations and it makes us as consumers
feel good about ourselves and our decisions. Sweatshops are illegal and were created in order to save
money, ignoring the plight of people’s lives and dignity.
The country or area someone is born into should not
limit their choices and opportunities in the future. We
are the free and rich people of this world. It is our duty
to be a voice for the voiceless and stand up against
the injustice that is the manufacturing of clothing in
sweatshops.
Switch Magazine / 15
A Cautionary Tale
Adrian Aloi
I should warn you, this story is not for the faint of
heart. It is, in fact, a warning to be nice, unless you
want to end up like poor young Pinocchio.
Once upon of time, there lived a young boy by the
name of Pinocchio. Unlike other kids his age he was
not nice and gentle, in fact, he was a little bit of a twit.
Pinocchio never liked to tell the truth. Actually, he
had rarely told the truth in his life. You see, Pinocchio
thought it was always better to lie so that he could
always get his way.
One day however, Pinocchio lied to the wrong person.
He was on his way home from school when he came
across an old lady. The old lady had fallen over on the
side of the road. You see, she had just spent the whole
day at the market shopping and had bought way too
much.
She saw Pinocchio coming and hailed him over, “Hello” she said to Pinocchio, “I was wondering if you could
help me, it seems at the market today I just bought too
much and I cannot carry it all! Would you be a darling
and help me carry it home young boy?”
Pinocchio looked at all the shopping the old lady
had to carry and thought to himself, I really can’t be
stuffed.
“No” he said to the old lady. “No I’m sorry I can’t, you
see I have a sore back and am unable to lift.”
The old lady turned and smiled.
She replied, “Oh Pinocchio, how you lie so much! It is
very unbecoming you know!”
hands, Pinocchio felt hot and dizzy for a fraction of a
second, and then he was fine.
The godmother smiled and remarked, “Now everyone
will know when you are lying or telling the truth” and
with that she was gone.
Pinocchio rushed home and burst through the front
door of his house. His father looked over to see him
and asked, “My dear boy, what is wrong?”
Pinocchio turned and said, “Father I was cursed by an
old lady!” At this his nose started to grow. His father
shouted out in alarm, “Son what has happened!”
Pinocchio thought long and hard, “She cursed me! She
said everyone will be able to know when I lie or tell the
truth.” Again as he said this his nose grew, “It seems
whenever I tell the truth my nose grows.” And this too
made his nose grow.
“So if you just lie it won’t happen?” his father asked.
Pinocchio gave this some thought then said, “Father I
love your hair that way.”
At this his nose did not grow. So it was true, as long as
he lied he would be fine.
His father, though worried knew not what to do, so he
waited a day then a week then a month, but there was
no change. Pinocchio could not tell the truth.
However, Pinocchio loved his curse. He never liked
telling the truth and now he never had to, but one day
as Pinocchio’s father was lying him down to bed he
turned and said, “Oh Pinocchio, my boy, even though
you cannot tell the truth I love you so much.”
Pinocchio was stunned, how did this old bag know
his name? Again the old lady smiled as if reading his
mind.
Pinocchio gave much thought to his answer. “Father
I love you too, more than words can say” and with
this sheer truth Pinocchio’s nose grew so long that it
knocked over a candle on a nearby table.
“I am no old bag young boy, I am a fairy godmother
and for lying to me you must be punished.”
Their house, being made of straw, took only seconds
to set alight with Pinocchio and his father still inside.
Pinocchio now smiled to himself, he thought, what
can this old lady do to me? The fairy then turned and
spoke, “If you like lying so much, fine.” She waved her
And that is the story of what happened to Pinocchio
and his father, and why it’s not good idea to lie.
16 \ Switch Magazine \ A Cautionary Tale
Joey Knox
Jessica Dickers
18-year-old budding filmmaker Joey Knox has already
made an impact on the Geelong arts scene since
winning audience favourite at the Odyssey film festival
and having his film ‘Downhill’ chosen for Top Screen.
‘Downhill’ is about mountain biking, which has always
been a passion for Joey and when the opportunity to
combine this with his love of filmmaking, he didn’t
hesitate to take up the challenge.
“I checked the mail and there was a letter saying that I
got in and it was like a dream come true,”
“Then I went to the opening night which was really
good, I met all the other people whose films are in
there and everyone else was great and really friendly,”
he said.
“It’s still a really big passion, I’ve always made bike
films and I wanted to make something that‘s kind of
like my ultimate kind of film,” he said.
Joey has done a lot of bike videos in the past, covering
mountain biking competitions and races, as well as a
skating video for a clothing brand.
He just loves the creative side to films and that it can
be so hands on.
“[I wanted] something to present to all my bike riding
friends that shows what the whole sport is all about
and what everyone loves about it and I wanted to
reflect that passion and make something that means
a lot to me.”
“The thing I love most is probably the creative aspect.
It’s rewarding how you can spend the day filming and
you can get this little video with a cool song to it and
it’s a nice feeling getting it done and then people can
view your work,”
Downhill was made last year when Joey was in year 12
at Lara Secondary College after a teacher suggested
he enter the Odyssey film festival, which showcases
films from year 11 and 12 media studies students. He
then spent every weekend for two months out on the
tracks filming as much as he could and from there, his
film was voted the audience favourite. This came as a
welcome surprise to Joey.
“Also being outside with the camera filming and experimenting with new ideas and everything else about it I
find interesting.”
“It’s massive, I really didn’t think I’d have a chance as
everyone else’s film was really good so it was really an
honour to be out there and get such an achievement,”
he said.
Now, Joey’s film is represented at Top Screen, a
season of VCE Excellence, which screens the top VCE
films at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in
Federation Square. To have his film seen by so many
people has been an exciting ride for Joey and a hint at
things to come.
Currently studying a screen and media course at RMIT
in Melbourne, Joey is keen to pursue his passion for
film and is enjoying learning about the industry.
“At the moment in uni we’re learning the industry way
to go about doing interviews. We’re about to do a film
shoot with an interview subject of our choice and I’m
doing director Tony Rogers, so I start shooting that in
a few weeks.”
“[In the future] I would love to work in the film industry,
I’m not sure, either directing or cinematography, one
of those two would be pretty awesome and I also want
to do a bit of travelling,” he said.
Joey Knox / Switch Magazine / 17
Izzy’s Tale
Isabella
As I stand on stage next to my band, I feel tears rush
down my face. As I look around, I realise this was
our life now; we were famous and one of the biggest
bands of the year, but all I felt was fear.
I start playing and my fingers shake, this isn’t the band
I wanted. Our band was once playing in my backyard
and now we’re on a giant stage with millions of fans
grabbing at us.
follow, leaving my fans in a disappointed rage. A fire is
burning up in my body and I see the only option that
will satisfy the fire... death.
I tried to steer my mind back to safety but it was all too
much. I picked up the ALFA combat pistol and raised
it to my head, tears filling my eyes. I let out a scream.
The tears drop to the ground as the gunshot echoes
throughout the room.
I keep playing and the crowd go wild. This one is our
best song and my greatest achievement but I can’t
help but feel the terror inside taking over. Fame might
seem perfect but I just wanted to get away and go
back to the shadows of my normal life.
My band members rush in and see me, they try to
recover my body but it’s too late, my soul was gone.
My band members couldn’t believe it; they couldn’t
understand what had happened. As they looked at my
body, then around at each other, they knew what they
had to do. They had to resurrect me.
Thousands of fans are staring at us and singing
along, but none of it helps. I close my eyes to try and
overcome this feeling that is rushing through my body,
but it’s just unbearable. I let out a scream but this only
makes the crowd go wild, they start cheering, like it’s
part of the performance. I just have to leave this hell
that my life has turned into so I run off the stage as
energy pumps through my body.
I slowly open my eyes, it took incredible force to open
them and it felt like they had been sewn together. As I
took in my surroundings I saw a small figure standing
in front of me with a slim body, dark hair and hazel
eyes. The figure muttered something and walked away
only to return with someone else, a tall man with
sandy blonde hair and deep blue eyes. The two men
let out a bellow of excitement and embraced each
other.
It was time. Time to put myself to rest. The rest of the
band sees me run off and end the show abruptly to
18 \ Switch Magazine \ Izzy’s Tale
A light flickered on and it took some time for my eyes
to adjust, but as I did I could see the two people more
clearly. These two men had some familiarity about
them, but I couldn’t remember how I knew them. I
closed my eyes and tilted my head up to the ceiling,
trying to remember things from the past but it was like
my memory had been erased. Only small flashbacks
remained but I couldn’t fit the pieces together.
One of the men touched my shoulder and it sent a
shock through my body, I knew who he was. A tear slid
out of the corner of his eye and a large grin spread
upon his face.
“We did it!” he yelled as he walked away.
Now I was confused, where was I and why did I feel so
different? The shorter man strode towards me and as
I gazed at him confused he said, “Why did you do that
to yourself?”
The man spoke again, this time expecting an answer,
“Do you remember anything? Do you remember your
past? Your story?”
I thought for a second then whispered, “ I remember
you”. He looked at me in amazement and his eyes
slowly widened.
“What else do you remember?” he said in an uncertain tone.
Words rushed through my mind, random words that
didn’t seem to make sense but when I said them out
loud the man’s eyes lit up.
“Endless nameless, in bloom, about a girl, heartshaped box” I said.
I don’t know what it meant but felt like I had to say it.
“You remember our songs!’ he said.
Songs? What songs? Then it all came back to me;
being on stage, the massive crowd, the fear, the
emotions pumping through my veins, the pistol in my
hand, the trigger.
“How am I here?” I say as my band mate’s eyes start
to water.
“We bought you back but you’re not the same anymore” he said. As I looked down at my body I knew he
was right.
This wasn’t me.
Switch Magazine / 19
Mother’s Day
Sanchari Milner
Parents are awesome. From the moment we are born
they feed us, change our nappies, hug and hold us
when we’re sad. They wipe your tears amd they kiss
your boo-boos. Parents help with homework and give
advice — even if you don’t want to hear it! They cook
your dinner and clean up after you. Your parents will
always be there for you. So what happens if the roles
are reversed? What happens when you have to play
the parent?
When my Mum got cancer, it was one of the most challenging years of my life. Being 14 years old, I didn’t
expect to have responsibilities, but as the eldest of
four girls I quickly found myself becoming a substitute
mum. In no time I was wiping tears, kissing boo-boos,
giving advice, making bottles and changing nappies.
I even cooked meals, did washing and housework. It
really made me appreciate everything my mum had
done for all of us before she got sick.
A year ago, when my mother was pregnant with my
little sister, she discovered a lump on the right side of
her neck below her ear. At first she thought it was a
swollen gland, and ignored it. It started to get bigger,
and she started getting worried. She went to the
20 \ Switch Magazine \ Mothers day
doctors to see if they could figure out what it was. She
had a biopsy, and the results showed that she had
Burkett’s Lymphoma, an aggressive form of cancer.
She decided that she would try to go the natural way,
instead of chemotherapy. She had all these healthy
products delivered, and started a strict diet. For a
while it seemed like the tumour was going down,
but after a while it just kept growing. My mum still
wouldn’t give up; she tried everything she could get
her hands on. Meanwhile, she gave birth to my youngest sister, Krishungi. We all adored her and for a while
there it seemed like cancer was a non-existent word in
our family.
Mum’s energy levels started to drop dramatically;
she found pretty much everything really strenuous
and started sleeping a lot. The tumour was putting
up a good fight. My little sister was growing up before
our eyes, and was starting to crawl. Mum had to take
double-doses of her medicine because Krishungi was
taking all her energy through breastfeeding.
The tumour kept on growing at a steady pace, and
was so enormous that it was starting to break the
skin. It was horrid to look at. It had paralysed half of
Mum’s face, and she couldn’t shut her right eye or
open her mouth properly. I felt helpless; Mum was
almost ready to die.
My sister Tara and I were doing all we could to help by
doing the house-hold chores, taking care of the baby
and our 5 year old sister. We are normally homeschooled, but our education had to be put on hold as
we were just so busy doing
Mum was nearing her limits. She wanted to get rid
of the tumour without having to poison her body
with chemotherapy, but unfortunately it just wasn’t
working. Towards the end of the year, we received
a phone call from a doctor who told us that if Mum
didn’t come into hospital immediately, she wouldn’t
live to Christmas.
We were all scared by this phone call. Mum told us
that she would not give up, but she decided to go into
hospital for chemotherapy. I was relieved; she really
needed help.
My siblings and I worked hard at home: taking care of
our sisters, cooking and packing lunches for Manika,
changing the babies’ nappies (ew!) and somehow
managing to keep the house clean. The baby started
to see me as Mum — crying for me to pick her up and
not letting anyone else hold her or put her to bed. I
had to deal with the temper tantrums of a 5 year old.
Was I emotionally equipped to deal with all of this?
Not really. But I soon learned how to deal with it and
learned what it’s like to be a Mum — and I tell you,
it’s a hard job! I soldiered on every day hoping that
my Mum would get better soon. She had to — I didn’t
know if I could do this without her.
We missed doing our schoolwork and missed seeing
our friends. We missed just being kids.
We had some incredible support from our friends like
our art teacher, Robert Drummond, and from our Nan
and Pop who live in Colac. But no one could really
replace our Mum.
My step-father was working hard too. It was hard
taking care of four kids and driving back and forth
from the hospital, bringing Mum some of her natural
medicines and fresh food, going shopping and having
to support us all by being the strong one of the family.
In hospital, Mum was still doing chemotherapy. Her
hair was starting to fall out, but she was doing amaz-
ingly well and the tumour was shrinking rapidly. Within
weeks the tumour was almost completely gone. The
nerves in her face were still paralysed, but she was
getting better. She still couldn’t eat properly because
of the nerve paralysis, so they fed her through a tube.
She decided to send Tara and me to Brisbane to stay
with our father for a holiday for three weeks.
Tara and I were excited by the prospect of a holiday,
and had a great time. Unfortunately, while we were
gone, Mum developed a staph infection and a lung
infection and was put in Intensive Care for three days.
We were all very worried, but thankfully she started
to recover. Seeing Mum so sick made me even more
determined to do everything I could to help out.
Mum started getting better and coming home a lot
more often. A while later, she went back into hospital
until the chemotherapy course was finished. The doctors then sent her home finally and we were told she
was cancer free! Mu finally came home, but she was
so weak. It was not long before she got sick again —
this time with vomiting and dizziness. She underwent
some tests, and we found out that the cancer had
grown into her brain.
Just when we thought the cancer saga was over, we
had to do it all again.
Mum went back to hospital, where she underwent
even more chemotherapy, and the tiny bit of hair that
was starting to grow back fell out again. She was very
unhappy, and wanted to get out of the hospital and
just be with us. We missed her.
After two more months of chemotherapy, the doctors
decided to do another PET scan. Thankfully, this time
she was well and truly cancer free. We were all so happy! She was discharged from hospital a week later.
Now Mum is back, things are different. Tara and I
started our home schooling again, and we are making
great progress on the grades we missed. Krishungi no
longer thinks I’m her Mum and has starting walking
around, and Manika has settled down and doesn’t
throw as many tantrums. My step dad is no longer
constantly stressed and we all feel so much happier
eating Mum’s cooking.
Mum is still recovering, but now spends her days
gardening, cooking, taking care of us and making us
happy just by being there.
These days, I’m a lot more appreciative of what my
Mum does. It’s a huge relief that she is still around —
not just because I love her, but because without her I
wouldn’t be who I am today.
Switch Magazine / 21
Writer Jessica Dickers Images Natalie Evans
LOCATION: 7 McLarty Place, Geelong
OPENING HOURS: Wed - Sat 7pm - 11pm
If you’re over spending your Saturday nights drinking
in a gross and sweaty club, Switch has discovered
a cosy alternative in the form of Armageddon Cake
dessert bar.
Some people think that dessert is the best part of a
meal, and the folks at Armageddon Cakes agree; they
have decided that you don’t have to wait until the end
of your meal to indulge. Instead of waiting, they invite
you to eat yourself into a cake-induced food coma as
you try out their delicious range of sweets.
Tucked away down McLarty Place (opposite the
Eureka Hotel and just down the lane from Beav’s Bar),
Armageddon’s little nook offers a warm and intimate
atmosphere where the sweet smell of gooey baked
goods greets you on arrival.
The menu — which changes weekly — is written on a
large blackboard near the entrance. Cakes are $13
each, with your choice of sauces, and the portions are
quite generous.
22 \ Switch Magazine \ Armageddon Cake
Our tip is to go for the combination taster plate: three
half slices of your choice of cakes, as well as whipped
cream, ice cream, raspberry sauce, caramel sauce
and chocolate ganache — all for $20. This is a great
option for first-timers or if you want to try out a few
different flavours.
Our favourite was the chocolate brownie; a soft, rich
slice that is deliciously paired with the sweet raspberry
sauce. The New York-style strawberry cheesecake
was a close second with its light spongy texture, fresh
strawberry flavour and crumbly biscuit base that will
melt in your mouth.
While the chocolate and salted caramel mousse
cakWe was a bit sweet for our liking (we weren’t able
to finish it during our visit!) there were heaps of other
cakes available, including
avocado and lime tarts, chocolate and peanut butter
cakes as well as a Crème Brûlée.
Armageddon’s tea proved to be a perfect palate
cleanser after one too many bites, and came served
in cute floral teacups. Alternatively, you can sip on a
coffee or sample chai that is brewed right there in the
store.
Armageddon is only a small venue, but it has been
filled with miss-matched furniture, random knickknacks and lots of lamps and fairy lights to get that extra-cosy vibe — think a funky thrift shop combined with
stuff found in the back of your Nana’s cupboards. The
walls are adorned with paintings and graffiti artwork
and there are rows of vinyl record sleeves hung up. We
even spotted a Xanadu cover in there!
An eatery that specialises in cake is a pretty niche
concept, but it’s one that is proving to be very popular.
It gets busy quickly, especially since it’s only open a
few hours a night — from Wednesday to Saturday — so
it’s best to ring up and book a spot beforehand. That
way you can score the comfy green couches or the
adorable little hidden corner seats up the back.
So the next time your sweet tooth is calling late at
night, grab a group of mates and treat
Writer Amanda Sherring Images Natalie Evans
LOCATION: 3 Mackey St Geelong
OPENING HOURS: Mon - Fri 8am - 3.30pm Sat-Sun 8.30am - 3.30pm
Bordering a carpark in a somewhat abandoned part of
Geelong is one of the finest, and most original cafes,
the town has to offer.
Sit down at any of the industrial wood tables and you’ll
be greeted by a friendly staff member, tantalizing
menu and a cute little dinosaur that accompany each
table.
The Pickers Union features the perfect blend of industrial, kitsch and rustic, which isn’t
surprising considering the café is attached to the
Geelong Vintage Market.
Old doors are hung in unusual places, planter pots
hang from the ceiling as does a ladder with each an
addition to the eclectic vibe of the venue.
But the aesthetics aren’t the only things to marvel at
in this café because the menu is just as delicious.
With corn fritters, generous breakfasts and specialty
24 \ Switch Magazine \ Picker Union
salads just a few of the
mouth-watering items on their menu there’s bound to
be something you’ll wish you could have every day at
home.
The menu replicates the uniqueness of the café and
the staff, with the amazing peanut butter hot chocolate a standout beverage.
Beanhunter were so pleased with our little Geelong
café that they were voted as one of the best cafes in
Victoria last year.
After you’ve sifted through the one-off goods in the
vintage market, The Pickers Union serves as the
perfect location to take a break from your treasure
hunting.
Though the café is small in size it more than compensates in experience and will have you coming back for
more regardless of how remote it is.
Writer Jessica Dickers Images Natalie Evans
LOCATION: 114 Pakington St, Geelong West
OPENING HOURS: Mon - Thur 10am - 5pm Fri 10am - 5.30pm Sat 10am - 5pm
Lunar Concept Store and Gallery is visually
stunning. Everything is coloured with watery blues,
soft greens and earthy tones.
Rows of crystals, amethysts and gemstones are lined
up on the tables or dangle as pendants on the end
of necklaces, while dream catchers and long flowy
material hang from the ceiling. It’s all very bohemian
and very cool.
Opening Lunar had always been a dream for owners
Jordie and Ann-Maree Luke, and two years since it’s
conception they’re enjoying its success.
The store sells everything from jewellery,
candles and bags to random bits and bobs such as
26 \ Switch Magazine \ Lunar Concept store
pheasant tails, sea urchins and cups of shells – with
everything having a mystical, natural and calming vibe.
As well as owning the store, this
mother-daughter duo are creatives themselves.
Ann-Maree is a talented local artist whose work is
available in store, and Jordie designs some of the
items that you can purchase and carefully selects the
rest of the stock.
Some products are sourced locally, while others are
designed here and made overseas.
Jordie and Ann-Maree also go on buying trips to other
countries to source one off products, so everything you
see in store is personalised and not mass marketed.
The clothes available have a Coachella festival feeling
to them, with crochet tops, ankle length skirts all in
natural light colours. The jewellery is very new age with
crystals, gems, crosses, moons and hoops – basically,
imagine the style of a free spirited wanderer or the
‘90s boho trend.
However, it hasn’t been all smooth sailing for Lunar as
last June a fire ripped through the store and destroyed
everything. Jordie describes the loss as devastating
and heartbreaking as they had to start again from
scratch, and as the items are quite exclusive, it meant
a lot of hard work.
Nevertheless, Jordie and Ann-Maree were
overwhelmed with the response from the
community, as everyone was very supportive. People
even went so far as leaving handmade cards and
cupcakes for them.
This is all in the past now, with no trace of the fire and
business back to normal. Lunar
continues to grow and be recognised in the community
as the little shop on Pako where you can find something a bit different for your home, some awesome
natural jewellery or even a
pressie for that unconventional friend. We’d visit just
to browse through all the distinctive items, as there
aren’t many places around where you can find a cow
skull with engraved moons or a cup of seashells for
$5.
Switch Magazine / 27
Switch Recipe
Vegetarian Enchiladas
While we may have an unhealthy love for Mexican food, vegetarian dishes are a little harder to become attached
to. That’s where this recipe will hopefully change your mind!
INGREDIENTS
Packet of enchilada wraps (mini burrito wraps will do)
1 can red kidney beans
1 green capsicum
1 can of corn kernels
1 ½ cups of grated cheese
1 can of enchilada sauce (regular salsa will do)
Avocado
Sprinkle of pepper
METHOD
1. Preheat oven to 180C. Grease an oven tray or baking dish. Cut capsicum into small cubes.
2. Combine capsicum, corn, beans, 1 cup of cheese and 1 cup of salsa and mix thoroughly.
3. Spoon mixture in a line on a enchilada wrap. Roll up and place folded side down onto the
baking tray. Repeat until mixture or wraps run out.
4. With remaining salsa smear a line down the top of each enchilada. Sprinkle with cheese and
cook for 15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and golden brown.
5. Cut up the avocado and sprinkle with black pepper. Serve with the enchilada and enjoy!
26 \ Switch Magazine \ Recipe
IT
Contributor
It’s a startling sight when you walk into a library and
everybody is using a computer. When the shelves are
lined with books on every topic imaginable, why do
people choose technology? It seems like the simple,
fast and direct solution as you can get answers within
seconds instead of pouring over books for hours on
end. But is this a good thing?
The 2012 Programme for International Student
Assessment found that that Australian rankings in literacy are dropping worldwide. This troubling fact is by
compounded by the idea that instant access to social
media is more addictive than cigarettes or alcohol
(University of Chicago). It was found that mobile users
couldn’t even leave their phones alone for an average
of 6 minutes!
With constant tweets and blaring updates, it’s nearly
impossible for students to immerse themselves in
study, what with the annoying pings from Facebook
inboxes to distract us. I’ve tried to do it myself, to sit at
a desk and delve into the extremely interesting world
of quadratic trinomials uninterrupted. But with my
iPhone lurking nearby, it’s very hard. I have even used
my phone as a way of “taking a break”, but self-discipline and teenagers don’t exactly go hand in hand.
In a world where the humble book is arguably becoming a dinosaur, and technology is everything, what
are we to do? We can’t just accept this self-contained
isolate way of life where we are liking each other’s
posts but living a lonely and sedentary life. What is
needed is balance.
I believe that both the young and older generations
take education, the outside world and each other for
granted. We need to put away the IPhone, IPod, Tablet
and whatever other devices that suck us into another
dimension and we need to pick up books, magazines
and things that can teach us the value of time, knowledge and cost. Instead of immediately picking up the
answers on Wikipedia, try to invest some time to find
a book and leaf through its pages- as who knows, you
might learn something completely new.
IT / Switch Magazine / 29
ARTIST
Emma Armstrong
30 \ Switch Magazine
Words: Amanda Sherring
Images: Emma Armstrong
Finding something you enjoy doing is a rarity and earning money from it is almost unheard of, but for local
artist Emma Armstrong both are a reality.
perfect.”
But there’s nothing wrong with Emma’s artwork being
perfect. So perfect they look like a mirror image of the
original, minus a few of Emma’s stylistic additions.
“I’m living the dream,” she adds with a laugh.
“Even though I know how things are supposed to look
it’s good to have that reference,” Emma says.
“It’s better to try it because you never know what’s going to happen. It’s good to make money of something
that’s actually enjoyable.”
For someone who has such a keen eye for detail she
has a rather interesting inspiration: paintings by Frida
Kahlo.
For Emma, making money is just an added bonus of
doing what she loves: drawing people.
“They haven’t been painted with the intention of being
perfect,” she says.
Since she was a little kid she’s doodled away while
watching her favourite TV shows and members of her
family.
“They were painted because that’s how she felt and
she wanted to get it down on canvas.”
“I’ve always been able to draw since I was little, and if
you look back at my sketchbook it’s filled with people,”
she says.
“I guess I’m just interested in people and their stories.”
As with many talented artists Emma is appreciative
of every art form. When she isn’t madly drawing, she
works as a graphic designer or listens to Pearl Jam.
Aside from Frida Kahlo, Emma also seeks inspiration
from Audrey Kawasaki and Jeremy Hush.
When it came to finally selling her paintings, after
months of reassurance from family and friends, the
decision came naturally.
“People have always said: ‘You should sell that, you
should sell that’, but that put too much pressure on
me and I just wanted to do it for fun,” Emma says.
“To be honest, my number one love is music, art
comes second. I have no interest in being a musician
though, I’m just a spectator,” Emma says.
While she might not have talent as a musician, Emma
has clearly proven her talent as an artist and maintained her modesty in the process.
“I don’t really want to conquer the world or anything
like that, I’m happy just making a bit of pocket money,” Emma says.
“Once it becomes too much like work I’m not going to
want to do it anymore.”
For now, Emma is happy taking her time with each
painting and waiting until each one is perfect.
“If you ask people in my family, I have paintings going
for a year. I’ll let it sit there for a few months and then
I’ll go back and do it again,” she says.
“But I need to let go of that. I recently got a sketchbook so I can learn to sketch things that aren’t
Switch Magazine / 31
“And I’m still doing that, I’m just not pushing it into
anything.”
After 18 months of figuring out the best way to sell her
artwork Emma chose the most natural decision—always keeping the buyers in mind.
“I really draw them with someone’s home in mind. I
just think, ‘What would I want on the wall in my living
room?’” she says.
Her decision proved to be the right one when, on taking her pieces into Ballyhoo Art, she sold one almost
instantly.
32 \ Switch Magazine
“I took my art into her and I pretty much sold one
before I even walked out the door,” she says.
While selling a piece is a vindicating feeling, Emma
gets her joy from stepping back and appreciating what
she has created.
“It’s just rewarding seeing the end project and being
able to say, ‘I drew that’,” she says.
Emma’s work can be purchased from Ballyhoo Art
on Ryrie St, via her website (emscorner.net.au) or
Facebook.
Switch Magazine / 33
PHOTOGRAPHER
Daniel Longo
34 \ Switch Magazine \
Words: Jessica Dickers
Images: Daniel Longo
Daniel Longo doesn’t seem to shy away from anything.
If you look through his past series of photos, the thing
that stands out are the real faces staring back at you
and the genuineness of the human experience that
comes through each shot.
Daniel is a local photographer and graphic designer
whose talent is evident through his short body of work.
Currently finishing his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree
(Photography) at RMIT, Daniel has already had his
work shown in exhibitions around Geelong, has
travelled overseas to take pictures and had his work
published in two books.
Taking photos has been a part of his life since childhood.
“I’ve been taking photos since I picked up old disposable cameras when I was a kid–but started getting
more serious about it when I realised the power of
photography.”
Another major series that has had the most impact on
Daniel’s work is his series titled Lost, Face where he
travelled to Thailand and took photos of the communities and people over there. To date, these pictures are
perhaps the most stunning and authentic of his work
and Daniel explained how being there changed his
perspective of things.
“Thailand, made me realise how lucky I am, and
then at the same time, how less fortunate I am. This
realisation came about when I recognised, we possess
‘more things’ than them, and we still want ‘more
things’”.
The ideas and inspiration behind his photos aren’t
always linear as he says: ‘concepts and ideas literally
can come from anything and anywhere.’
“But [the ideas] always link back to personal experience. I feel as though I still haven’t even begun to
photograph the way I want, this is still to come.”
Daniel’s photos are mostly shot in black and white and
its effect is powerful; the contrast seems to uncover
meanings behind things and show normal situations
from a different perspective. Daniel’s explanation is
simple, he says: “I cannot tell my story through colour.”
While his past work has included landscapes and abstract concepts, the pictures that stand out the most
are the ones with people as the focal point. When
asked what he likes photographing the most, Daniel’s
first instinct is to say people.
“Mainly because they are the only ‘subjects’ that can
respond back to me, which is kind of frightening as
well. [They’re] the only thing I am scared to photograph, yet the most rewarding.”
This is evident with the series of photos that Daniel
says he’s most proud of—a series where he photographed a transgender woman who was a Malaysian
escort working in Melbourne.
“It was by far the most surreal experience listening
to her talk about her way of life, what she has gone
through and how she’s ended up in that life,” he said.
“It was very confronting, but this was the biggest turn
in my photographic career for sure. I now want to keep
on searching for these stories, or I may as well give
up.”
Switch Magazine / 35
38 \ Switch Magazine
Game Review
Scribblenauts Unmasked
Alastair McGibbon
I’m relatively late to the Nintendo DS party. Shocking,
I know, but bear with me! I purchased my 3DSXL a few
weeks ago, and now that I’m relatively accustomed
to the ins and outs of a current-gen Nintendo console
(my last handheld was a Gameboy Advance) I’ve been
getting stuck in to some seriously cool games.
It’s no secret that I’m a massive comic book fan, so
Scribblenauts Unmasked immediately appealed to me.
It’s essentially a basic Scribblenauts game, with all
the added fun that a comic book universe can bring!
The Scribblenauts series follows the adventures of
Maxwell, a young boy with a magic notebook.
Whatever Maxwell writes in his notebook comes into
the world – whether it’s a hamburger, a pirate or a
giant squid. In Unmasked, Maxwell and his sister Lily
are transported into the universe of DC Comics, and
have to team up with heroes like Batman, Superman
and the Flash to foil the plans of the world’s villains.
While the game does have an overarching story,
Unmasked is more of a series of micro-puzzles, joined
together by a basic narrative. In order to fix Lily’s
magic globe and return them home, Maxwell must recover lost Starites, which are given to the player each
time they defeat the evil Doppelganger and whatever
villain he has temporarily teamed up with. In between
story missions, the player must complete puzzles to
earn reputation points to unlock new locations and
costumes for Maxwell to wear. The puzzles can be as
simple as feeding a hungry orphan, or could involve
a bit of running around and delivering donuts… in
Atlantis!
What really impressed me was the scope of Maxwell’s
40 \ Switch Magazine \ Game Review
abilities. The Scribblenauts series is known for its
huge list of objects and words, and Unmasked takes
it a step further. In addition to the huge list of regular
things you can create to solve the puzzles, the clever
clogs at developer 5th Cell have added a huge list of
DC-related heroes, villains and items. They’ve been
incredibly thorough, too – not only can you create
multiple versions of Batman, you can also call upon
characters from all across DC’s catalogue – even
characters from their adult-oriented Vertigo imprint. In
addition to this massive range of characters, you can
also add adjectives to customize them! I mean, who
doesn’t want to see a giant, robotic Aquaman fighting
Cthulu? You can apply these adjectives to Maxwell,
too; in order to complete some arcade-game theme
puzzles, the player needs to shrink Maxwell (by adding
the adjective ‘tiny’) and help him navigate a basic
maze.
Scribblenauts Unmasked has really impressed me.
Adapting a comic book universe into a really engaging
game can be really, really difficult; the only true
success in the last few years has been the Batman:
Arkham series – and even then it’s faltered here and
there (I’m looking at you, Arkham Origins!). My point
is, while Scribblenauts Unmasked isn’t the most
complicated of games, it’s still damn good fun! If
you’re a fan of the DC universe, this is definitely worth
checking out.
8.5/10
Switch Magazine / 41
Book Review
The Ocean at the End of the
Lane: Niel Gaiman
Alastair McGibbon
I think it’s safe to say that Neil Gaiman is probably my
favourite author. He has written some awesome comic
books, and his novels are the stuff of legends — literally, in the case of American Gods. As a result of my
love for Gaiman’s work, I initially found it hard to look
at The Ocean at the End of the Lane from an unbiased
viewpoint, but being the consummate professional
that I am, I did my best to avoid fanboying. That said,
I’m not the only one that’s appreciative of his work;
Gaiman has won multiple Eisner Awards, as well as
multiple Nebula Awards and Hugo Awards – all in
distinguished categories. Mr. Gaiman is most definitely
good at what he does.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane is a bit hard to describe. It has fantasy elements, but it’s not a full-blown
swords-and-sorcery epic. It has biographical elements,
but it’s by no means an account of Gaiman’s life. The
protagonist (who is never named) returns to his hometown for a funeral, many years after moving away.
While there, he revisits the home he and his sister
grew up in and remembers a girl called Lettie Hempstock, who claimed that the pond behind her house
was an ocean. He encounters a member of her family,
and begins to recall adventures from his childhood,
and his struggles against creatures from another
realm.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane has a bit of a slow
42 \ Switch Magazine \ Book Review
start; even as a fan of Gaiman’s previous work, I found
it a little hard to get past the initial set-up stage. Once
Lettie is introduced, however, things really start to
kick off, and get rather weird. Gaiman has never shied
away from the weird side of fantasy — The Sandman
Chronicles, which I reviewed last issue, is a prime
example — and despite the fact that the guts of the
story is about an inter-dimensional monster, Gaiman
weaves the bizarre elements into the child-driven
fantasy with ease. Despite being written from a
child’s perspective, this is certainly not a child’s book
— there’s a suicide fairly early on, and a sex scene
towards the end of the book.
Despite having rather dark undertones, The Ocean
at the End of the Lane is beautifully written. Gaiman
perfectly frames the story with the narrator’s storytelling as a child – scenes are described with that
attention to detail and odd perspective that kids seem
to be masters of. One of the things I appreciated most
about the book is its length – we’re not talking about a
multi-book epic a la Game of Thrones here; The Ocean
at the End of the Lane is a single, succinct story that
encompasses just under 200 pages.
If you like your books magical, beautifully descriptive
and a little bit scary, The Ocean at the End of the Lane
is calling your name.
8.5/10
Switch Magazine / 43