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Issue No.1

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From the Editor

Welcome to the very first issue of Flunk Magazine. Our goal is to produce a high-quality magazine featuring work by students at Southern Cross University. We are passionate about creating something with longevity that can be carried on by future students once the current team moves on. All artwork for this issue was created by Matt Weismantel. We are proud of this collection and the amazing Southern Cross University students who submitted their work. We hope you will continue to do so. We plan to release two online issues this year, and are working on a printed version for the start of next year.

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SHORT STORIES & POETRY

Short Stories

By Andreas Bass

"Nothing is more rock n’ roll than death, skulls, and magic, and nothing more painful than the loss of culture."

Reclamation

By Samantha Cambray

"There’s a shadowing as I step out of the car and approach Granny’s house." 

By Jordan Rochfort

"I've always considered myself a clean man." 

By Anne Andrew

"Who really knew the truth about lasagne, that it is like sex, or so they told me?

By Jo-Ann Kelly

"Glamour is currency in Portsea."

By Bubaloo Fahy

" 'We are about to enter the portal,’ announced David, our consummate sailor and whale-whispering legend."

Dreamscape

By Snowy Frankland

"I’ve been using Dreamscape V 2.01 
for about six months now."

Impermanence

By Manna Hart

As they have for millions of years,

these trees tower. 

Tears for all of this that so soon dies.

Softly they are dressed

in damp velvet mosses, liverworts, 

festooned with stag-horn epiphytes,

studded with orange slivers of fungi. 

Drunken fragrances commingle, 

damp earth, leaf litter,

fallen fruit fermenting.

Between tall trunks, vines

interweave a steel-rope lace. 

Between dark leaves 

glint fragile lines of webs. 

Tiny spiders like fire opals hang suspended, 

wrap their insect prey in shrouds, 

or suck their ichor.

Wompoo gargles his notes in courting,

while Bronze-Wing coos a piping drone. 

Woop, woop, woop, woo-ooeeyup, wheeyip!

says the Whip Bird as his wings flap.

Trees open into colonnades

on either side of water running over rounded rocks. 

Branches arch into vaults. 

From above the canopy of back-lit lime leaves,

the sun’s rays lance the air at forty-five degrees,

land on fern, crimson anemone fungus, 

and lapis-lazuli dragonflies 

mating in aerial ballet.

Tears fill my eyes,

tears for beauty, 

for millions of years of evolution in demise,

for carbon dioxide, methane, 

and nitrous oxide skies,

for the Celsius degrees as they rise,

tears for all of this that so soon dies.

Impermanence

VISUAL ART

GNIBI ELDERS PRINCIPLES

By Sheldon 'SJ' Harrington

Gnibi Elders Principles

Breakdown of the Artwork

 

 

The entirety of this artwork is a visual translation showcasing how the Gnibi Elders Priciples are integral to the development of humane and compassionate education at Gnibi, establishing relationships that are beneficial to everyone without disregarding others and their knowledge. 

 

Blue Background

This is the rich pool of knowledge (handprints, dots, circles) that has grown and maintained through millennia and handed down by our ancestors. The knowledge is represented by the water as it is key to the survival of our culture, and not confined to certain shapes or constructs, it is fluid as it moves and moulds to its surrounding but is still connected.

 

Binggins (Turtles)

These Binggins hold a dual purpose in this artwork, firstly being that they signify all the Elders past and present as it shows they have grown, lived, and moved through different parts of the rich pool of knowledge. The shells show the protection of all the knowledge. Secondly, the direct correlation to the Gnibi Elders Priciples in the static form; nine Binggings to the nine priciples.

 

Relationships (Outer Sections)

These outer sections are symbolic to the different relatonships that Gnibi has established over its lifetime, but are still informed by the same “connective tissue” of the Gnibi Elders Principles.

 

The two distinct set of lines on the outer edges show the strong protective foundations these relationships have formed. The elders are represented and embedded within these sections, as the protectors and knowledge holders.

By Sheldon ‘SJ’ Harrington - SJH Kreations

Commissioned by Gnibi, 2019

THE GNIBI ELDERS PRINCIPLES

1 Indigenous Knowledge is relevant, ethical, intelligent, effective and a useful way of knowing.

2 Indigenous peoples are active, able and worthy peoples. 

The truth about our histories and value of Indigenous ways are determined by us, we carry this knowledge.

Elders hold our Aboriginal spirituality and our culture close. We choose what is open and shared and what will be closed. Aboriginal spirituality is the basis for life, Indigenous education and cultural competency, it infuses everything.

Our knowledge is relational. Our principles are the basis for Southern Cross University to establish and sustain an active, informed and respectful relationship with Indigenous Elders who will give considered collective input. The continuance of this relationship through the Elders group is essential.

Culture is sacred to us. We are and own this living culture. We do not need a ‘book’. We share with you so that you can learn how to listen and hear what we say.

7 Identity is based upon things [inside] beneath the surface. Empowered, individual, affirmed identity is the basis of positive, productive, healthy and non-destructive lives – opportunities to engage and build knowledge builds strong mob through [inside] learning.*

Learning everyday with each other has to be informed and sustained by a politic of open, positive and ethical interactions.

We as Elders have presented these things all our lives without being heard – we are often listened to but our message is not heard nor heeded. We take this opportunity to speak in the understanding that you will listen in the right way, hear us and learn.

* [...] denotes culturally significant understandings in English words.

THE BUNDJALUNG ELDERS WHO ADVISE GNIBI COLLEGE AT SOUTHERN CROSS UNIVERSITY SHARED THIS LIST OF GUIDING PRINCIPLES IN 2014.

PORTRAIT SERIES

By Matt Weismantel

Portrait Series
Portrait 6
Portrait 5
Portrait 3
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DIGITAL MEDIA

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Lismore From Above

By Elijah Joel

Lismore From Above

REGIONAL ARTIST PROFILE SERIES

By Eden Crawford

Artists Profile Series

Regional Artists Profile Trailer
Regional Artists Profile Trailer

Regional Artists Profile Trailer

01:41
Play Video
Maxine Nimmo Artist Profile

Maxine Nimmo Artist Profile

08:02
Play Video
Holly Ahern Artist Profile

Holly Ahern Artist Profile

07:08
Play Video

Calls for Issue No. 2

Image by Kai Pilger

photography

& Multimedia

Image by Kai Pilger

Short stories
& poetry

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Visual art

& designs

Meet The Team

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Editor | Snowy Frankland

Snowy is a third year student studying a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Creative Writing

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Art Director | Matt Weismantel

Matt is a third year student studying a Bachelor or Arts majoring in Creative Writing and Art & Design

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Designer | Libby Lawler

Libby is an alumni student, graduating with a Bachelor of Digital Media and Communications.

Meet The Team
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