Curious Minds Avila Anthology 2019

The moon landing. Dr. Christopher Barnard was completely
aware of the many risks, yet saw that if all
Recently, we celebrated the 50th anniversary went to plan, the final result was worth it.
of humans stepping foot on the moon - an Being able to complete heart transplants
outstanding feat. was worth the risk.

Such an important part in history - it has Not only did he change people’s lives,
changed the past and it will continue to but he brought science into a new era of
change the future. medical research.

Obviously, this would have been a challenge, The first flight completed by the Wright
which is a massive understatement. The Brothers. What if humans had accepted
moon landing so easily could have been that we can’t fly? What if we never
unsuccessful. Countless things could have challenged the idea or created a theory?
gone wrong, and July 20, 1969 could have
been a very different day. One which did Now, there are 5,000 airlines and 102,465
not include people celebrating all over the flights a day. The Wright Brothers have
world, watching a great accomplishment of changed the world. And there are so many
humankind. more times that humankind has proven
that the challenge of doing something
The challenge, for all the many people without knowing the final result, is one
involved in the Apollo 11 mission was to take worth accomplishing.
the risk of putting people on the moon.
The list continues but here is where I will
To delve into the unknown. stop. Because while these success stories
are inspirational and simply amazing, we
People have been to the moon a few times will not forget that things may not always
after that successful mission, each their own turn out as planned.
challenge, each one filled with uncertainty
of the final result, which have all turned out That’s what makes doing something
successfully. different, something never done before, so
difficult.
Louis Washkansky, a 53-year-old with a
heart condition was the recipient of the first Because we are aware that things can go
human heart transplant. wrong. There is always a risk. And maybe
we dislike the uncertainty of the situation,
It was completed by Dr. Christopher or think the risk is not worth taking.
Barnard, on December 3, 1967.
Or maybe we convince ourselves that
This triumphant action has resulted in many things will turn out really wrong. But there
lives saved, many lives changed for the is a chance that they can go right.
better - all because of a daring act.
Just like the moon landing, and the first
A challenge, no doubt. heart transplant and the first flight.

And it doesn’t have to be on such a large
scale. It can be something so small and
seemingly unimportant.

And the challenge is to take the risk, and
believe that the best will occur, and even if
it doesn’t, to never give up hope.

THE CURIOUS MINDS PROJECT | AVILA ANTHOLOGY 2019 51

From the Trees to the Stars

Creative Response to Italo Calvino’s Baron in the Trees

Words Lily Maul | Year 12 Art Emily O'Hara | Year 8

Indeed, while Voltaire and intellectuals of the He had first noticed its position between Ursula Major
age admired my brother’s philosophy, he was and Cassiopeia, and the next dusk recognised its
endeavouring further into natural science. blue hue and other unique characteristics between
Aquarius and Pieces. It motion was far too quick and
During his time healing in the nut tree, Cosimo’s love had a confounding retrograde orbit and mapping this
for reading, particularly of astronomical almanacs, star onto his Copernican models and outlines of the
blossomed and he was found most nights in the tree solar system quickly became his obsession.
staring at the stars.

Convalescent, immobilised in the nut tree, Cosimo My brother was brilliant in the field of astronomy,
pruned himself a peeping hole in the thick leaves of but it became apparent more exact tools were needed
the top branches. This gap was invisible to the human to discover the truth of this star, and so Cosimo’s
eye, but not to the birds. Many species made homes in obsession became the town’s.
Cosimo’s nest, and by the time he was well enough to
clamber up and down the tree, his furs were covered He had begun with any manner of binoculars,
in white and he stank. It was perhaps not surprising telescopes, lenses, mirrors and tubular devices to
that he lost interest in stargazing from the nut tree. observe this star, but all failed to provide him clarity.
And he flung himself, body and soul into designing an
Something else far more curious than a constellation aerial telescope around the sequoia. He enlisted the
or two had piqued my brother’s interest and he help of a select few men and swore them to secrecy
began travelling the mountainsides of the valley though naturally the whole town conferred on the
for an adequate tree to see the true nature of the purpose of the telescope.
phenomenon he was chasing.
Cosimo seemed to truly enjoy flitting to and fro,
The tree must be colossal, straight, with sparse hopping from blacksmith to ocularist and consulting
foliage, and no risk of fires close by. He settled on with many experts to the North, perhaps to seek
a sequoia, in a landowner’s garden, amount his affirmation from those more experienced than
vineyards and pine forest. It stood taller than all himself. He received invaluable aid in the practical
of the trees in the forest and he was free to fiercely mathematics of constructing a telescope from the
observe his star. Dutch brothers, the Huygens themselves.

52 THE CURIOUS MINDS PROJECT | AVILA ANTHOLOGY 2019

Cosimo’s prototype was completed just as the sage in A week later, it was sent back to my mother’s address
the undergrowth bloomed. It was spectacular to see, with a brief note explaining that not a week earlier,
and many of those tasked with the lenses and pipes William Herschel had published his own independent
stumbled around the forest, cooing with excitement work on the planet.
when they came upon the structure.
At any rate he reacted tempestuously to the news
The nature of the sequoia, essentially one ancient and penned a diatribe to the Unione Astrofili Italiani,
trunk without many branches allowed for the perfect criticising their selective publishing of Imperialist
spiral shape of the telescopic pipes. Against the tree, astronomers. This embroiled him in a petty feud with
it almost appeared as another length of bark, reaching Herschel for a time. This as any recent discovery does,
up to the top of the foliage. It wound through the inspired many others to take credit for observing the
leaves and bark, almost touching the clouds with its planet themselves, in addition to naming the planet.
final mechanism.
This was the point of contention for my brother
The initial objective lens through which the star’s Cosimo rejecting Herschel’s own suggestion of
light would fall was beautiful in its ability to swivel, Georgium Sidus as an eternal stain on the ideal
rotate and detach on its own axis. Following the principles of the pursuit of knowledge. He put further
piping down the trunk, the interior mirrors bounced his own suggestion of “Uranus” after the Greek god,
the light downwards. but never saw his contribution bear fruit in his time.

The design was so careful in its ratios and angles, At this point, Cosimo was involved in another feud,
on could have almost slid down it as though it were this time with the landowner (he sends his family
a marble banister, if they were as light as a bird. A in England barrels of wine frequently, and was
precarious green branch toward the bottom of the nationalistic). The landowner subsequently dedicated
trunk served as a platform for the eyepiece. This too much of his time to chasing Cosimo out of his garden
was ingeniously designed, with a lever able to adjust with sticks.
the focal length and distance between mirrors to dilate
and refract the final images. Cosimo was far too quick for the landowner, but not
for his lawyer, who forewent reading the limitations
The landowner was severely opposed to any fires of the feudal rights of a Baron and instead set the
or pollution in his orchards whatsoever, out of landowner’s pet mountain cat on him. The thing was
concern for his vintage and this thus resulted very well trained, and was tasked with blocking the
in extraordinarily clear skies. Looking through single arboreal exit out of the orchards.
Cosimo’s aerial telescope, his star could be seen, very
occasionally, between the Alessia de Andromeda The Baron was forced to brave the spindly pines on
or Cassiopeia, and consequently Cosimo once more the outer edge of the forest, and hid in the scents of
disappeared from public life. his furs day and night to throw off the prowling cat.

The star, elusive in the sky as it was, my brother One sunset, just as the cat was hunting defenceless
succeeded in capturing again with the full scope of his squirrels, near the escape, Cosimo crept to the very tip
machine’s ability. He tracked its retrograde motion of the sparse pine nut foliage. He caught the glowing
and intriguing details to his Kepler models of orbit, amber eyes of the mountain cat, suddenly directly
and knowing the implication of these findings, dared below him. They stayed silent and unmoving for a
to use the full strength of this telescope to focus on the time, until Cosimo sprinted out of the tree and landed
image of his elusive star. on the olive outside the cat’s territory.

It was not a star at all, but a planet! The cat had leapt up in the same second and Cosimo
ended up back in the nut tree, treating his wound.
To me, its only truly distinct feature was the
extraordinary aquamarine colour. To my brother This time he composed his treatise “Project for the
however, it meant a lot more. Constitution” of an Ideal State in the Trees, in which
he described the imaginary Republic of Arborea,
Of course, the design of Cosimo's telescope was utterly where the values of liberty, justice and equality
unique, but it was not the only one of its species reigned.
and he was not the only pair of eyes observing our
universe. He prepared a treatise, as was the custom
for discoveries, and delivered it himself to the Unione
Astrofili Italiani, promptly disappearing, once again,
into the forest.

THE CURIOUS MINDS PROJECT | AVILA ANTHOLOGY 2019 53

The Tragedy of the Night

A Creative Response to Hitchcock's Rear Window

Words Elise Cramer | Year 12 Art Liana Barbis | Year 10

Avinyl record spins slowly as the rich baritone It mirrors the tainted morals of those who step across
of Bing Crosby reverberates off the four lonely the darkness as they continue with their dreary lives,
walls of the songwriter’s apartment. However, in their hunger for the misfortune and sorrow of
he often entertains two mute companions; a glass of others.
brandy and a burning cigarette.
Down below, shimmering glass crystals beam under
His careless grasp on the empty snifter only proves the uncertain moonlight. A woman stands amongst
that he has consumed enough of the honey-toned the fragments, rendered frozen by some unknown
liquid for one night. It fills his need of human force, and the musician discerns a stark horror in the
connection completely, and so he reaches once more woman’s expression.
for the last drop of brandy.
The woman pulls herself out of her trance, glancing
As his calloused fingertips skim the reflective surface around at the watchful neighbours who appear
of the bottle, a crash ricochets from outside, jolting his strangely mesmerised by the terrible realisation of
body awake and in a befuddled state, the songwriter what has occurred.
stumbles towards the window, clutching the balcony
rail for support. “You don’t know the meaning of the word neighbour!”
She cries out, arms flailing in despair as her
There is a grimness within him that desires the anguished eyes search for a shred of humanity within
worst, craving the ugliest of crimes to occur, just so each resident.
that he might be a witness. And as he rests against
the ledge, the musician finds he is not alone in this “Neighbours like each other, speak to each other, care
twisted desire: he is just one amongst a congregation about each other!” She continues, her voice echoing
of voyeurs. around the silent courtyard. The woman hastily
escapes the scene, sobbing and quickly shutting the
Separated by barriers — both physical and emotional blinds.
— like birds, they peer out from their personal cages,
curious, intrusive, desperate, but unable to escape Each occupant remains by their window for another
their own reality. minute, not because they are deeply ashamed or
deplored, but rather just to make sure that the
Obsessed with the terrible scene beyond their window spectacle is well and truly over.
frame, they rarely think to look back inside, to
scrutinise their own flaws. Instead, a constant judging Once the drama subsides, each neighbour returns
and violation of privacy occurs as boredom outweighs to their respective homes, seemingly sated by the
consideration and rumour and gossip replace agonising thrill of the moment now passed.
conversation and common pleasantries.
The songwriter dejectedly returns to the safety of his
In this apartment complex, nothing is ever as it own peace. A drumming sensation fills, or perhaps
initially appears to be. Whether gawking through empties, his body.
binoculars from across the courtyard or making small
talk at the stairwell, you will only ever see and know He slowly hits the rigid arm of the record player,
what wants to be seen and known. silencing the velvet crooner, drawing the curtains,
and shuffling across to the piano where he takes a
The blanket of evening sky smothers the apartments seat. His practiced fingers fall gently over the keys as
in a ghoulish fog, casting an eerie shadow across the an unknown, pensive melody emerges, the plaintive
cracked pavements. chords recalling the tragedy of the night, of neglect.

54 THE CURIOUS MINDS PROJECT | AVILA ANTHOLOGY 2019

THE CURIOUS MINDS PROJECT | AVILA ANTHOLOGY 2019 55

Starry Night

Words Beatrice van Rest | Year 11
Art Natalie Jones | Year 11

The lanterns
traced the journeys
of a thousand lives.

Dancing on the tongue of the night
Jewels against the endless
Darkness,
Stillness.
A moonless night.

Climbing on the wind
They resemble stars in motion
Van Gogh’s sunflowers dispersed,
Glowing strokes against the ocean.

They whisper for the moments
Of serendipitous delight
Nighttime kites
Lingering lights
Inspiring the broken.

Surrounded by lanterns
I cling to the breeze
Having finally found
My Starry Night.

56 THE CURIOUS MINDS PROJECT | AVILA ANTHOLOGY 2019

THE CURIOUS MINDS PROJECT | AVILA ANTHOLOGY 2019 57

Listen

Inspired by the poetry of Michael Leunig

Words Eve Feeney | Year 7
Art Christine Rigopoulos | Year 11

When the lights fade and the sun goes down
Everyone goes to bed in this town.
But I’ve heard of towns that don’t listen to nature
At first people respected that kind of culture
But it all went downhill very fast.
And three years ago, their town ended, at last.
So listen to nature, listen to its class
Night or day, Summer or Fall.

Life

Inspired by the poetry of Michael Leunig

Words Ellie Kaoulla | Year 7

Life is full of waves of tears,
But when you see the light
it's a help to your fears.
Sometimes you feel trapped
in your own beehive.
But there always is a way.

58 THE CURIOUS MINDS PROJECT | AVILA ANTHOLOGY 2019

THE CURIOUS MINDS PROJECT | AVILA ANTHOLOGY 2019 59

60 THE CURIOUS MINDS PROJECT | AVILA ANTHOLOGY 2019

A Place

Words Scarlett Searle | Year 8
Art Gabriella Stokie | Year 7

I like to think, This place would have pinkish – whitish
but thinking for me is difficult clouds with a peach sky.
until I find the right place.
The ground would be full of green grass
So, there is a place, and have daisies
I would like to go to. and roses.

It’s a place where no one OH! And SUNFLOWERS! (Yes!)
will judge me for who I am.
It would be full of everything
Where I can be someone that I love
who sings beautifully, and having the perfect spots to
but dances weirdly photograph.
and who doesn’t like English
but loves writing. This world would be something special.

A place where I can be me I would be able to think about it
- the usual one and not the and share it with anyone.
‘try to fit in’ one.
A safe place where all things are peaceful
This place would have the people that I (EVEN with some fights,
love, friends, family.… and pets of course, for not all worlds are fully at peace)
who would forget about the animals? and a safe place for the heart to grow.

THE CURIOUS MINDS PROJECT | AVILA ANTHOLOGY 2019 61

Humans

Words Monique Adolphe | Year 7
Art Sonia Calabro | Year 8

Bang, crash, crack! “Guys… I think that we are surrounded!” Jade said.

The mighty security door was pulled out of the hinge “That means that we are trapped in here!”
and thrown across the yard! The white wooden door Leader Bob replied.
was now getting brutally pounded on. On the other
side of the room, opposite the white door, Jade was “I’ll go out and distract them!” Sara declared.
pushing a rustic blue drawer towards the door.
Everyone tried to convince her to not go but she
“Move out of the way!” Jade yelled, refused to listen.
“ Drawer coming through!”.
“If you go, I’ll go!” Sam yelled.
Tiffany and Mia ducked out of the way as the drawer
crashed into the door. They peered out the large They slowly opened the side door, then they quickly
window and watched the humans give up and leave. dashed out, attracting the humans’ attention. The
humans chased after them, heading over to the big
“Sometimes I wonder how did we get into this mess?” lake. Everyone else headed back to their cabins, with
Mia asked. a sad look on their faces. Jade, Mia and Tiffany sat on
their couch and watched some random baking show on
Humans were only quite recently made. They appeared Flixnet.
one day when someone was hit by a large truck but
they didn’t die. Instead, they told everyone that trucks “Come on! Everyone knows that cakes need flour!”
were evil and that you are only smart if you wear Jade yelled angrily at the T.V.
underpants on your head. At first, no one believed him
but then he bit someone, infecting them with a disease Jade was annoyed at how the contestants were so
which caused them to be extremely dumb as well. Soon dumb, missing key steps and ingredients. Then
it quickly spread throughout Australia until it reached suddenly, there was a loud desperate pounding on
a small community of people who were taking refuge the poor white wooden door. Jade, Tiffany and Mia
from the fires. The humans took over half the camp and exchanged scared looks, none of them knew what to
the remaining survivors hid in fear only leaving their do. Then Jade gave them a glance and she told them
house for the food in the hall. to hide. The pounding only grew louder and more
desperate… Jade carefully peered out of the window,
“It feels like only yesterday that happened…” poking her head past the black blinds to get a look
Tiffany said. at the suspicious person desperately knocking on the
poor damaged door. It looked like Sara, she looked
“That’s because it was yesterday!” Jade shouted. distressed and in disarray, with torn clothes, wet and
damp.
“What should we do now?” Mia asked.
“Well, are you gonna open it or not?” Mia complained.
“Mountain biking!” Jade suggested Maybe the fact that she was in a squishy spot
contributed to her attitude.
They looked out the window checking for humans,
then they snuck outside. They quickly ran to the bike Jade nodded nervously. She slowly twisted the
shed to grab some mountain bikes. Then a loud bell doorknob. She was quivering. What if Sara was a
chimed and that meant dinner was ready! So, they human, what if it was a trap? But the moment the
dashed for the dining hall. They looked around and doorknob started to turn Sara pushed on the door and
they saw herds of humans running towards them. collapsed into the living room, panting and holding
They sat at one of the large rustic wooden tables her chest.
covered with enormous plates of delicious food. It was
baked potatoes with a slice of delicate white bread “Help… I need your help!” Sara cried, still panting.
on the side. The sound of pounding echoed through
the hall as the humans tried to break in. Mia peered “What happened? Did the humans get you?” Jade
out the small window and saw that the humans were asked she sounded worried but also panicked, could
surrounding the dining hall. she trust Sara?

62 THE CURIOUS MINDS PROJECT | AVILA ANTHOLOGY 2019

“No, I hid in the lake, but… they got Sam and they Tiffany opened the packet of lolly snakes and she
have kidnapped Rosanna so I need your help, all of threw a handful at the humans. The lolly snakes
you!” Sara said, looking at the cupboard Mia was turned into real snakes and they bit the humans
hiding in. Mia and Tiffany groaned as they lumbered which made them faint and turn back to normal.
out of their perfect hiding spots.
They climbed through an open window and onto the
“Can’t use those anymore…” shed’s roof. They were surrounded, outnumbered and
Tiffany whispered to Mia. out planned.

Sara explained that she barely escaped the humans “Uh… what do we do? Jade, do have a plan?” Mia
but they got Sam, they kidnapped Rosanna and they asked, looking around.
are now holding her in the bike shed.
Jade shook her head but Tiffany nodded her head
“We need to go save her, she’s our best friend!” happily. Tiffany threw handfuls of gummy snakes at
Jade exclaimed. the humans. They showered down like confetti before
they bit the humans and saved them. But there were
“No, it’s suicide, we’ll get captured!” Tiffany argued. still some humans left so they went back to their
cabin to grab more. Emma, Mia and Tiffany grabbed
“We can pretend that I’m a human and I’m bringing as many packets of lolly snakes as they possibly could
you all in then you grab Rosanna and we run for it!” and then they tore them all open and a sea of rainbow
Sara explained. snakes gushed out of their cabin like a mini tsunami
wave, curing every single human in sight.
They all agreed, some reluctantly but before they
left, Tiffany grabbed a packet of lolly snakes as they Soon, the powerful wave of snakes reached every
were the only way to defeat the humans. They headed human on Earth and one by one they were cured and
over to the bike shed. They were careful not to make turned back to normal. Tiffany, Emma and Mia were
any noise. Sara knocked on the bike shed door and taken to a ceremony directly after to get congratulated
it slowly opened. They saw Rosanna tied up against on their efforts. At the end of the day, Emma, Mia and
a bike rack pole. Then Sara grabbed Jade, another Tiffany flopped onto their beds and sighed.
human grabbed Tiffany and Mia.
“Wow, that was… crazy to say the least!” Emma
“What are you doing, we need to save Rosanna!” exclaimed.
Jade yelled, trying to escape.
“Let’s never do that again!” Mia declared, sounding
“You see… I lied to you, have fun being humans!” absolutely exhausted.
Sara said.
“Agreed!” The three girls chimed.
Jade kicked Sara in the shins and she pushed her
into the hard shed wall. Then she pulled Tiffany away And just like that, all the evil humans in the world
from the other human and grabbed a metal bike pump were gone.
and hit another human on the head with it. Then Jade
glanced at Mia. She saw her grabbed by a human. Emma, Mia and Tiffany vowed to always stock up on
Jade whacked the human with the bike pump while gummy snakes for camp.
Tiffany forced the human away from Mia.

THE CURIOUS MINDS PROJECT | AVILA ANTHOLOGY 2019 63

New Media

Words Hannah White | Year 11

with assistance from Hannah Lawrence | Year 11

Year 11 students Beatrice van Rest What I learnt during the internship was that in order
and Mieke de Vries were selected to to be a success, the headlines of online publications
participate in the Australian Catholics need to really stand out, because they tend to be the
Magazine media internship program. key thing that attracts readers to the articles.
I took the opportunity to ask them
about their experience at the magazine. In other words, they need to use clickbait. They
can also target younger audiences by covering or
Hannah W: Digital media is evidently becoming addressing contemporary issues in an accessible
the predominant source of information in today’s manner, such as through the use of catchy text and
society, especially for younger Australians. From your vivid visuals.
experience at Australian Catholics Magazine, what do
publications need to do in order to adapt to this shift Adapting to this shift may also require the use of
from traditional, printed media? social media to advertise material, as another means
of diffusing content.
Beatrice: As most of us know, the digital age is
causing an inevitable shift from physical media to Mieke: Magazines like the Australian Catholics
online media. There are many good things about this, have had to transition into mixed media. Their
for instance it means there is a lesser dependence separate online publication Eureka Street is just one
on trees for paper, and we have access to so much of the ways they are adapting to suit the changing
information without leaving home. journalistic landscape.

Journalism is becoming much more fluid and dynamic
which has allowed us to explore mediums including
podcasting and photography as avenues to convey a
story.

64 THE CURIOUS MINDS PROJECT | AVILA ANTHOLOGY 2019

Hannah W: Whilst selecting particular topics to write As a team, we always discussed our ideas with the
on, did you have to take into account a particular group and our mentors. However, we were largely
audience? If so, which aspect and how? given the freedom to write about what interested us.
Whilst you do have to write in accordance with the
Mieke: When we were choosing topics to address the ethos of the magazine, there is journalistic freedom to
theme of ‘Family’ we had to consider the range of ages a certain degree.
within the audience, as our language choices and the
way an article is structured contributes to the clarity Hannah W: From working at the magazine, what
of the piece, which is always essential. role does imagery play in media and how is it used to
further a writer’s piece?
The possible reception of our article also had to be
considered as inflammatory comments can cloud your Beatrice: Imagery plays a massive role in the media.
message so we needed to place ourselves in the minds If you think about it, the internet and social media is
of our audience whilst writing. all about images, and they function to attract our eyes
to the material they're associated with. Images elicit
Beatrice: We were writing for a Catholic magazine instant responses from viewers; particularly on the
that is distributed predominantly at high schools, news, visuals of suffering can provoke the viewer to
primary schools and parishes, so of course we had feel empathy and compassion.
to take into account the type of readers we may
have. For example, just as it wouldn't be appropriate Additionally, imagery within a writer's piece can
to write about American politics for a Natural be used in a similar fashion, to create pictures in
Geographic, it wouldn't be appropriate to write about the reader's mind that then bring about emotional
celebrity gossip in this one. Hence, we had to keep in responses to the writing. It can thus make the writing
mind that whilst there may be some forward-thinking more thought provoking.
young people reading our work, there may also be
more conservative individuals, and also younger Mieke: Yes, imagery is about allowing your audience
children who choose to do the same. to step inside the story and really feel the message you
are expressing. This is crucial in eliciting an emotional
The hard part is thinking of a topic that might appeal response from the reader and encouraging thought
to as many people in this group as possible. To do which is one of the main purposes of storytelling.
this, I tried to put myself in their shoes, asking myself
whether I would be compelled to read the article. Hannah W: There have been a number of strong
female journalists move through the industry within
Hannah W: How much freedom is given to writers in the last couple of years. Do you think this will have
relation to the material they can cover? Do journalist’s any impact on the way stories are told?
ideas generally need to align with those of the
publisher? Beatrice: An interesting question. Generally, I think
the more that women have the chance to tell stories
Beatrice: During the internship I learnt that at the better, because it cuts across the patriarchal
times, there can be some constraints around the narrative that has always dominated the western
material, but sometimes I think that journalists need world. It opens up opportunities for things to be seen
these because it can push you to think outside of the in different lights and for new ideas to circulate the
box. When there's too much freedom there's nothing media. I think it's great that there are more women
to latch onto, but honestly, there's so much happening in the industry because it recognises a shift in
in the world that there must always be something Australia's culture that we should continue to move
interesting to write about. It must be remembered towards.
that a magazine has an overall purpose and audience,
and it's the publisher's responsibility to ensure that it Mieke: Yes I believe that the unique perspective
is being fulfilled. So yes, I would say that a writer has females can offer brings another dimension to
to align his or her views with the publisher to some journalism. As a reader, the content we receive is
extent. often largely determined by the author so it's really
empowering to see more women writing and sharing
Mieke: It is true that although writers are generally their stories.
able to write about whatever they choose, in the
end the articles really have to suit the theme of the Hannah: Thanks so much for enlightening us and
publication. really showing us the progressive nature of the
industry.

THE CURIOUS MINDS PROJECT | AVILA ANTHOLOGY 2019 65

66 THE CURIOUS MINDS PROJECT | AVILA ANTHOLOGY 2019

The Lone Isle

Words Jolene Cheah | Year 7
Art Widanalage Thiyara Fonseka | Year 8

In an ocean of endless azure, I am an island.
The clear water laps at the sand, pulling fragments away.

Once many islands lined the horizon with colours.
Then...
A storm.
A fire.
A flood.
The collection of islands were no more.

There I stood, a lone isle.
Drowning in silence.
I am waiting…
For the inevitable.
For the flood
to wash me away piece by piece.

And I wonder...
Who has already disappeared beneath
The false peace of the waves.
Of soundlessness and quietude.

And I dream...
That one day, an island may rise
from below the waters of solitude.
To save me
from the
Cold
Brutal
Waves
Of Loneliness.
Is there anyone like me?
Anyone who feels like me?
Anyone who pities me?

THE CURIOUS MINDS PROJECT | AVILA ANTHOLOGY 2019 67

Zine
Queens

Words Olivia Di Petta | Year 12
Art Natasha Forster | Year 7
Art Anna Zhang | Year 12

This year, the Zine craze has hit Avila! The lunchtime buzz and excitement has
resulted in Quill and Ink making a number of creative, colourful Zines. Offering
another medium, these wonderful creations capture ideas in an accessible way.
Catch the craze - as Avila is better together!

68 THE CURIOUS MINDS PROJECT | AVILA ANTHOLOGY 2019

THE CURIOUS MINDS PROJECT | AVILA ANTHOLOGY 2019 69

CuTHE rious Minds Contributors
PROJECT

Thank you to the following Avila College students created together in 2019.

Christie Panagiotakopoulos Chiara Cappiello Caitlin Beyrooti
Martha Sarumpaet Cynthia Castaneda Moreno Mia Franzoni
Emma White Jessica Poldrugovac Lily Maul
Shannagh Leydon Lily Bunning Emily O'Hara
Harriet Ransom Lucy Pearson Elise Cramer
Kinuli Ranaweera Siena Grace Di Fede Liana Barbis
EleanorMcCann Hannah Lila Chang Beatrice van Rest
Martino Ella Collins Natalie Jones
Martina Go Akashana Jayanthan Eve Feeney
Isabella Tighello Ivrea Hodgson Christine Rigopoulos
Charlotte Boylan Katie Wyllie Ellie Kaoulla
Angelique Dayandas Faith Chung Scarlett Searle
Emma White Julia Grubnic Gabriella Stokie
Anthea Sinnappu Meg Davey Monique Adolphe
Himansa De Silva Grace Munro Sonia Calabro
Charlotte Kuek Maja Kosavic Hannah White
Amy Dickson Ella Thompson-Smith Hannah Lawrence
Faith Chung Sadie Wykes Mieke de Vries
Valerie Sova Alissa Ann Li Jolene Cheah
Alexia Rubino Emily Basadur Widanalage Thiyara Fonseka
Gianna Skafidas Renee Antony Olivia Di Petta
Krystal Molaeb Widanalage Vidara Fonseka Natasha Forster
Lana Holmfield Natalie Khoo Anna Zhang
Oviya Ponkathirvarathan

70 THE CURIOUS MINDS PROJECT | AVILA ANTHOLOGY 2019