The Piercing Truth issue #1

Autumn ‘08

Written by young people for young people.

Welcome to the first ever edition of the Piercing Truth

Have you ever been pre-judged, excluded or ragged upon, just because you’re different, or young? Well, we have, that’s why we have gotten together to make this magazine. The Piercing Truth expresses individual opinions on a range of topics and ideas. The Piercing Truth aims to be informative, interesting, funny and serious and to represent as many different views as possible. We understand that all young people are different- we also understand that we all have an opinion about what’s going on around us, problem is that there aren’t really many places to express it.

We want you to become part of the magazine too. ANYONE who is a ‘youth’ – aged 12-24, can add their 2 cents worth- as long as it is not racist or homophobic or sexist or discriminatory. The Piercing Truth will use pictures, cartoons, writing and a whole heap of other things that you can squeeze into a magazine to show that we don’t all get up to mischief, and that one person’s mischief is another person’s fun.

Would you like to get involved in the Piercing Truth? You can be part of the editorial team, contribute an article, a picture or photo or just a one line thought. You might just want to tell us what you think about the magazine.

You can email us:

We hope you like reading it, and at least find a few things that you like. Let us know what you think. We want this magazine to be something for all the youth of Geelong.

Editorial Team: Georgia Zwilling, Ash Andrews, Lisa Gray, Van Nguyen, Kim Sinnott, Susanne Prosser and many more.

Text: Georigia Zwilling, Ash Andrews, Lisa Gray, Van Nguyen Kim Sinnott, Talissa Kelly, Shannon Secombe, and Headspace’s (Barwon) Youth Future Crew.

Photography: Justin Hoedly, Van Nguyen, Eric Pizzani, Tim Carroll, Susanne Prosser, Monica Butler, Mardi Janetzki and many more.

Design/Art: Adcell Media and Shannon Seacombe for Depression / Random Thoughts articles.

Production Services: Adcell Media.

Thank you to all those who contributed, designed, supported and read the first issue of Piercing Truth, we apologise we could not mention everyone by name, but our heart felt thanks are yours!

The Editorial Team would particularly like to thank the City of Greater Geelong Youth Development Unit and Councilor Jan Farrell, BATforce, Headspace and in particular a special big thank you to Susanne Prosser who supported the vision and assisted us all along, thank you.

Anyone else we forgot, we humbly apologise.

Privacy Notice: If you choose to enter or partake in any competitions, surveys, or offers in this featured issue of Piercing Truth then you are required to provide some personal details about yourself to us. In the case you do, they will not be used or given to third parties, unless contacting you in regards to said promotions.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the young people writing the articles and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the City of Greater Geelong.

Happy reading, The Piercing Truth editorial team.

Contents

Welcome to the first ever edition of the Piercing Truth 1

Contents 3

Self Confidence 4

A day in the life of my cookie! 4

Random thoughts 4

Newsletter 4

Going to Doctors 4

Discrimination toward Local Street Kids 5

Vietnam with the Family… 6

Modern music, move over! 7

Star Signs 7

Pressure On Sex! 8

Depression 9

What is with Youtube? 10

A dream 10

Finding It Hard To Be Yourself? 11

Being judged... 11

Local Stuff... 12

CAFÉ REVIEW 13

Band review: 13

Elevator Gags 14

Phone numbers you might need 14

Self Confidence

Written by Lisa Gray

It is plain to see that the sky is blue and the grass is green.

But we can never predict what will happen tomorrow and before you know it, it’s already been.

Life is not worth regretting.

They encourage us not to gamble but life itself is a game of betting.

We wish for harmony and peace and last of all relief.

But first of all we need within ourselves courage and belief.

Look not at the outside of a book. For you may not find the thing you want and overlook.

Together we are one, together we are strong.

Why can’t everyone realize, why is it so wrong.

A day in the life of my cookie!

Written by Ash Andrews

This cookie was made with the tender loving care of the baker, which was me.

I crafted it with love and sometimes I thought I heard it speak and say I love you. Awwwwww how sweet.

Then I put my cookie dough in the oven and I ignored the screams of how hot it was in there. ‘Better you than me’, I thought.

Time was up and my cookie was soft and hot. I let it cool down to a nice degree and as I picked it up to marvel in my expertise, my stomach grumbled.

This reminded me of why I cooked the cookie dough in the first place.

Seems my cookie heard my stomach as well as it looked at me with pleading ‘chocolate chip’ looking eyes. I took one look at my cookie then shoved it in my mouth. I don’t do guilt!

Random thoughts

Written by Shannon Secombe

“Would you be happier living a lie and have everyone love you for that, or would you be happier being true to yourself and having your true friends love you regardless?”

Newsletter

We are the Youth Future Crew and we meet fortnightly to discuss health issues for young people in our region. We really wanted a way to get the message out to all the young crew around Geelong and here it is!

Each issue we will give you youth health updates and more!

This newsletter is written by us for you guys so if you have any ideas or suggestions on health please email them through to:

Or you can add us on myspace at www.myspace.com/youthfuturecrew

Going to Doctors

Seeing A Doctor

Most doctors are very busy so you most likely need to make an appointment. When you see the doctor the visit will likely run between 10-15 minutes. If you require a longer visit or have lots of problems ask for a longer appointment when you book in. Be sure to call and cancel if you cant make your appointment.

Confidentiality

Your information is safe with your doctor and protected by privacy laws. The doctor will discuss with you anytime they feel they need to pass on information to another person or they may need to act in cases where they think you are in danger. Eg. Subjected to child abuse.

How do Doctors Help?

Doctors help with all types of problems including if you need help or advice about; feeling down or upset, drugs and alcohol, not sleeping well, relationships, S.T.I.s (sexually transmitted infections), contraception, other sexual health issues, or if you are being hurt or sexually assaulted. Doctor may refer you to another health worker or youth/social worker but only with your consent.

Medicare

Where the doctor bulk bills, instead of having to pay just show your Medicare card and no payment is needed. If you don’t have a Medicare card ask the receptionist to ring the Provider Hotline for your Medicare number. If you do pay, keep the receipt and go to a Medicare office and get some re-fund. You can get your own Medicare card as soon as you turn 15.

Choose a Doctor Who

Supports your healthcare decisions and doesn’t pressure you. Seeks your permission before examining you or asking personal questions. Is kind, understanding and reassuring. Will be non judgmental and treat you with respect.

Where can you find a Doctor?

To find a doctor in Geelong look under ‘Medical Practitioners’ in the yellow pages Or for youth specific doctors ring Clockwork Young People’s Health Service on 52226690 or Jigsaw Young Persons Health Service on 52792754 and make an appointment or just drop in!

Discrimination toward Local Street Kids

Written By Georgia Zwilling

The environment of Geelong’s youth is particularly stereotypical and over-all hypocritical. The adolescent community has been separated by generalised groups or cliques based around clothing and individual interests.

A particular group which can be bought to attention is that of the ‘goths’ or ‘town rats’ of Geelong. This group is primarily found loitering around Little Malop Street with the ‘intention to offend’. This group have received cruel insults that have ranged from ‘goth pigs’ to ‘reckless hoons’.

In this situation the actions and behaviour of very few individuals wearing the colour black has singed the reputations of others. Understandably, in all groups or cliques there are either one or numerous people who will not conform. In relation to this, mistreatment and judgemental allegations should not be used simply against one group in the Geelong’s area. In many cases the term ‘kids will be kids’ should appropriately be used.

The brutal accusations which are frequently made by victimising individuals in society has created a deceptive classification of this group and its members. This has not only affected the people but has increased the discriminative treatment they receive from both the community and the authorities.

The ‘reasons’ or ‘motives’ for this group, or any group for that matter, to be meeting and simply socialising in a public place should not be questioned or immediately criticized.

Particularly, intolerable disrespect has been shown by the local areas shopping centre’s security guards. On one instance the group were informed that they are “banned from the public area and if not removed, the police will be called.” Accusations against their individual characters were made as well as threats relating to “further action”.

Why do these adolescents deserve to be continually persecuted? More importantly, what makes them a greater target than other groups who ‘hang’ in the same area? They have the same rights as any other individual in Geelong’s region. Regardless of this, there are numerous people who prefer to judge and undermine rather than accept and tolerate. Misinterpretations of their intention to gather in this particular area should be over-looked before making a pre-judgement or discriminative threat.

All individuals in this group are unique and should be treated like any other person, in spite of what clothing they choose to wear. The colour of clothing that a person wears should not justify an individual’s personality or alter their rights when compared to others.

Vietnam with the Family…

some things to remember

Written by Van Nguyen

A family vacation overseas (or in this case Vietnam) is a time for siblings to unleash their inner brats and parental guidance to take a new extreme. But by the end of the holiday we all would have learnt some good lessons to remember for future life travels, such as...

·  Always read the fine print and laws on the conditions on traveling overseas. This means check that your passport expires 6 weeks AFTER your visa expires. Not 2 weeks after, but 6. Not following airport rules just makes parents frustrated and a whole lot of wasted time talking to airport managers instead of doing some duty-free shopping and drinking coffee.

·  When planning to travel on Vietnam Airline or any airline for that mattertry to get tickets that locates you next to people you know. Or else you might be seated between some men who are too fond of VB and an annoying young couple with a baby for eight extremely long hours…

·  Before you hit the packed markets learn the currency. Which in Vietnam is the “dong” and for 12,000 dong you have 1 Australian dollar. The retail industry can most definitely be described as competitive so be prepared to bargain in markets or have service with you in shopping malls every minute you spend there.

·  Tourists in any foreign country should watch out for personal belongings. When on a motorbike or scooter (a common form of transport in Vietnam for being economically friendly and not space-consuming) travel with expensive jewelry, such as necklaces hidden from view, bags, cameras etc. Plus you don’t want to go dropping such items on the over-crowded and bustling streets.

·  South Vietnam is where Ho Chi Minh, the most populated city in Vietnam, is located. This part of Vietnam has two distinct seasons: May-October features rain however still includes warm and oppressive atmosphere and November to April is the dry season meaning no chances of it raining cats and dogs. Yet no trip to a tropical Asian country can be complete without lazing around by the poolside or fun at the beach. Just remember to slip slop slap and watch out for those darn jellyfish!

·  A country rich in culture there are numerous ancient myths and legends such as queen fairies being married to dragon kings and wise turtles giving out magical war-winning swords. The Dom San is Vietnam’s version of Geelong’s Fairy Park only with Vietnamese fairy tales, a look into one of Vietnam’s major religions Buddhism and anyone for um, crocodile fishing? And additional information when entering any Buddhism temple - take off your shoes.

·  Vietnam is home to a wide range of foreign wildlife. As much fun it is to see elephants, small lizard on walls and feeding monkeys bits of fruit remember, just because they don’t speak English or human for that matter doesn’t make them inadequate of knowing when they are being teased. Monkeys are highly intelligent animals and this lady in the picture would have learnt her lesson after being bitten by the monkey she was feeding.

·  A fishing village on the coastal shore, farming regions that took you 14 hours by train from Saigon to get there or even Saigon itself- no matter where you go mosquitoes will be there. They suck so much blood from you that it would be more convenient to make a huge blood donation to their whole species. So to enjoy your holiday take tons of anti-bite mosquito cream or vegemite (which is rumored to be great to stop itching).