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 raggedupon, 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 arange of topics and ideas. The Piercing Truth aims to be informative, interesting, funny and serious and to representas many different views as possible. We understand that all youngpeople are different- we also understand that weall 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 centsworth- as long as it is not racist orhomophobic or sexist or discriminatory. The Piercing Truth will use pictures, cartoons, writing and a wholeheap of other things that you can squeeze into a magazine to show that we don’t all getup 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, apicture 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 thismagazine 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, andHeadspace’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 forDepression / 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 apologisewe 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 CouncilorJan Farrell, BATforce, Headspace and inparticular 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 ofPiercing Truth then you are required to provide some personal details about yourself to us. In the case you do, theywill 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 necessarilyrepresent the views and opinions of theCity of Greater Geelong.
Happy reading, The Piercing Truth editorial team.
Contents
Welcome to the first ever edition of the Piercing Truth
Contents
Self Confidence
A day in the life of my cookie!
Random thoughts
Newsletter
Going to Doctors
Discrimination toward Local Street Kids
Vietnam with the Family…
Modern music, move over!
Star Signs
Pressure On Sex!
Depression
What is with Youtube?
A dream
Finding It Hard To Be Yourself?
Being judged...
Local Stuff...
CAFÉ REVIEW
Band review:
Elevator Gags
Phone numbers you might need
Self Confidence
Written by Lisa Gray
It is plain to see that the sky is blue and the grass isgreen.
But we can never predict what will happentomorrow 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 thebaker, which was me.
I crafted it with love and sometimes I thought I heard itspeak and say I love you. Awwwwww how sweet.
Then I put my cookie dough in the ovenand 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 itcool down to a nice degree and as I picked it up tomarvel in my expertise, my stomach grumbled.
This reminded me of why I cooked the cookie dough inthe first place.
Seems my cookie heard mystomach as well as it lookedat me withpleading ‘chocolatechip’ looking eyes.I took one look at mycookie then shoved itin my mouth.I don’t do guilt!
Random thoughts
Written by Shannon Secombe
“Would you be happier living a lieand 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 youngpeople in our region. We really wanted a way to get the message out to all the young crewaround 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 healthplease email them through to:
Or you can add us on myspace at
Going to Doctors
Seeing A Doctor
Most doctors are very busy soyou most likely need to make an appointment. When you seethe doctor the visit will likely run between 10-15 minutes.If you require a longer visit orhave 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 protectedby privacy laws. The doctorwill discuss with you anytime they feel they need to pass on information to another person or they may need to act incases where they think youare in danger. Eg. Subjected tochild abuse.
How do Doctors Help?
Doctors help with all typesof problems including if youneed help or advice about;feeling down or upset, drugsand alcohol, not sleeping well,relationships, S.T.I.s (sexually transmitted infections), contraception, other sexual health issues, or if you are being hurt or sexuallyassaulted. Doctor may refer you to another health workeror youth/social worker but onlywith your consent.
Medicare
Where the doctor bulk bills, instead of having to pay just show your Medicare card andno payment is needed. If youdon’t have a Medicare cardask the receptionist to ringthe Provider Hotline for yourMedicare number. If you dopay, keep the receipt and go toa Medicare office and get somere-fund. You can get your ownMedicare card as soon as youturn 15.
Choose a Doctor Who
Supports your healthcare decisions and doesn’t pressure you. Seeks your permission before examining you or asking personal questions. Iskind, understanding and reassuring. Will be non judgmental and treat you with respect.
Where can you find a Doctor?
To find a doctor in Geelong lookunder ‘Medical Practitioners’in the yellow pages Or foryouth specific doctors ringClockwork Young People’sHealth Service on 52226690 orJigsaw Young Persons HealthService on 52792754 and makean appointment or just drop in!
Discrimination toward Local Street Kids
Written By Georgia Zwilling
The environment of Geelong’s youth is particularlystereotypical and over-all hypocritical. The adolescent community has been separated by generalised groups orcliques based around clothing and individual interests.
A particular group which can be bought to attention isthat of the ‘goths’ or ‘town rats’ of Geelong. This group isprimarily found loitering around Little Malop Street withthe ‘intention to offend’. This group have received cruelinsults that have ranged from ‘goth pigs’ to ‘recklesshoons’.
In this situation the actions and behaviour of very fewindividuals wearing the colour black has singed the reputations of others. Understandably, in all groups or cliques there are either one or numerous people whowill not conform. In relation to this, mistreatment andjudgemental allegations should not be used simplyagainst one group in the Geelong’s area. In many casesthe term ‘kids will be kids’ should appropriately be used.
The brutal accusations which are frequently made byvictimising individuals in society has created a deceptive classification of this group and its members. This hasnot only affected the people but has increased thediscriminative treatment they receive from both thecommunity and the authorities.
The ‘reasons’ or ‘motives’ for this group, or any groupfor that matter, to be meeting and simply socialising in a public place should not be questioned or immediatelycriticized.
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 agreater target than other groups who ‘hang’ in the samearea? They have the same rights as any other individualin Geelong’s region. Regardless of this, there arenumerous people who prefer to judge and underminerather than accept and tolerate. Misinterpretations oftheir intention to gather in this particular area shouldbe over-looked before making a pre-judgement ordiscriminative threat.
All individuals in this group are unique and should betreated like any other person, in spite of what clothingthey choose to wear. The colour of clothing that a personwears should not justify an individual’s personality oralter 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 siblingsto unleash their inner brats and parental guidance to take a newextreme. But by the end of the holiday we all would have learnt somegood 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 airportmanagers instead of doing some duty-free shopping and drinking coffee.
- When planning to travel on Vietnam Airline or any airline for that mattertryto get tickets that locates you next to people you know. Or else youmight be seated between some men who are too fond of VB and anannoying young couple with a baby for eight extremely long hours…
- Before you hit the packed markets learn the currency. Which in Vietnamis the “dong” and for 12,000 dong you have 1 Australian dollar. The retailindustry can most definitely be described as competitive so be preparedto bargain in markets or have service with you in shopping malls everyminute 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 Vietnamfor being economically friendly and not space-consuming) travel withexpensive jewelry, such as necklaces hidden from view, bags, camerasetc. Plus you don’t want to go dropping such items on the over-crowdedand 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-Octoberfeatures rain however still includes warm and oppressive atmosphere and November to April is the dry season meaning no chances of it raining catsand dogs. Yet no trip to a tropical Asian country can be complete withoutlazing around by the poolside or fun at the beach. Just remember to slipslop slap and watch out for those darn jellyfish!
- A country rich in culture there are numerous ancient myths and legendssuch as queen fairies being married to dragon kings and wise turtlesgiving out magical war-winning swords. The Dom San is Vietnam’sversion of Geelong’s Fairy Park only with Vietnamese fairy tales, alook into one of Vietnam’s major religions Buddhism and anyone for um, crocodile fishing? And additional information when entering anyBuddhism temple - take off your shoes.
- Vietnam is home to a wide range of foreign wildlife. As much fun it is tosee elephants, small lizard on walls and feeding monkeys bits of fruitremember, just because they don’t speak English or human for thatmatter doesn’t make them inadequate of knowing when they are beingteased. Monkeys are highly intelligent animals and this lady in the picturewould 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 14hours by train from Saigon to get there or even Saigon itself- no matterwhere you go mosquitoes will be there. They suck so much blood fromyou that it would be more convenient to make a huge blood donationto their whole species. So to enjoy your holiday take tons of anti-bitemosquito cream or vegemite (which is rumored to be great to stop itching).
- Foods to avoid when in Asian countries: raw meats, rawfish and already cut up fruit at the markets, obviouslyavoid anything that looks unhygienic and drink bottled water. In Vietnam the medical aid phone number is 115while police is 113. The best thing (in my opinion) to tryin Vietnam is sugar cane juice and pig out on the exoticfruits such as lychee because they are cheap as…wellcheaper than chips.
- Enjoy your time, have fun, remember what you see,andtake photos of the funny/weird/unique experiences,because once you get back everyone will be questioningyou about your holiday. A weird story might just be the factyou saw a man put a nail into his throat and lifted up 2steal balls from it. Whatever you do enjoy being away fromwork or school because in the end family vacations don’tlast forever.
Modern music, move over!
Written by Ash Andrews
Blue Oyster Cult, Def Leppard, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Styx,Bad Company, Cheap Trick and Quiet Riot. What have all thesenames got in common? I bet if you asked your parents they couldtell you exactly what these names mean. Yes, what these names have in common are the fact that they are bands from the 60s, 70sand 80s. I tried to name the less obvious ones. The ones that youdon’t really see commonly like AC DC and Led Zeppelin. But theseare a few of the bands I listen to on a regular basis because to me,they sound so much better than what is being played on radio today.
I say, modern music move over and let the classic stars rule thestage once more. But not only are the classic rock legends showingtalent, they also never needed technology to make themselvessound better then what they are. This is the other reason why I lovethem so. They are pure and talented and I’m on a mission to let theyouth remember the once talented stars that should never havebeen forgotten!
Star Signs
from the not so in touch with the stars Astrological Ash
Aries March 21 - April 19
Aries, you rams need to be careful. The farmer hasdecided you are dinner!
Taurus April 20 - May 20
Taurus, shopping has started to become muchharder for you in the up coming months, people are realizing you are a bull and are now enforcing no animals in the store policy.
Gemini May 21 - June 20
Gemini, your twin is really annoyed at how you are treating them. Watch them; they are planning to sell you on eBay.
Cancer June 21 - July 22
Cancer, not only are you a crab you can’t even walkstraight. Because of this, everyone thinks your drunk and we all know what cops think of that.You’re going to be riding in the back of the cop car ifyou even think about leaving your house.
Leo July 23 - August 22
Leo, homework is going to be a hassle since youkeep eating everyone who tries to help you!
Virgo August 23 - September 22
Virgo, the sign of the virgin. Who are you trying tokid, you aren’t as innocent as you make everyonethink. So beware, because everyone really doessuspect you.
Libra September 23 - October 22
Libra, your conscious wants you to weigh up thegood and the bad aspects of a decision or thought. Guess what…. That’s not what its full intention is.
Scorpio October 23 - November 21
Scorpio, Jupiter is entering too close into yourworld. Its only plan is to squish you so you betterstart finding a good hiding spot now!