Lot's Wife Edition 1 2022

Edition 1

Lot’s Wife • Edition One
New Beginnings
Lot’s Wife.
Lot’s Wife acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land, the people of the
Kulin Nations. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
Sovereignty has never been ceded.
As we reach the beginning of the new university year, with new students,
returning students and students yet to have set foot on campus, students are understandably
excited to start a new. “New Beginnings” is the theme that is found throughout
the Lot’s Wife Magazine this edition. The idea of New Beginnings can bring on an
onslaught of different emotions such as feelings of hope, fear,
excitement and uncertainty.
With a new team of writers, designers, and editors we welcome you all to the first edition
of Lot’s Wife 2022. Filled with poems, short stories, political essays, information about
clubs and societies, and cultural & contemporary reviews this edition is sure to insight,
validate and question those feelings that come with new beginnings.
Here at Lot’s Wife, we want to mirror all of the voices that make up our diverse Monash
student community and to project them into the world beyond, no matter where you are
and no matter what barriers may be preventing you from being on-campus or in-person.
We value your voice and believe it should be heard. Lot’s Wife is intended to be a
publication that intermingles unique perspectives and allows different bubbles to
interact, discuss and debate in a safe and inclusive environment, so we would love to
hear from you to ensure that your voice is included as well.
Overall, we hope you enjoy reading Edition 1, 2022 as much as we enjoyed editing,
designing, and compiling the amazing work from our contributors. Thank you to all who
made it possible, and we look forward to sharing more of our students’ skills and talents
in the near future.
-Lot’s Wife Team 2022
Co-Managing Editors
EDITORIAL TEAM
Content Editors
Olivia Tait, Dimitri Tsivelekis, Kathy Lee, Ben Chaney, Sohani Goonetillake, Desna Ramjee
Visiual Editors
EMAIL WEBSITE INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK TWITTER LINKEDIN
msa-lotswife@monash.edu lotswife.com.au @lotswifemag @MSA.LotsWife @LotsWifeMag Lot’s Wife
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Lot’s Wife • Edition One
New Beginnings
Contents.
Creative
Analysis
4 Too Soft to Hear
6 The Risk of Flight
8 we are okay
10 David, Son of Jesse
12 The Eternal Museum
14 The Light in the end
16 Gecko on the Wall
18 Too Many to Count: How I would
improve the SDG’s
Culture
20 Shoujo & Sakura: Youth is Beautiful,
Youth is Blue
Clubs & Societies
24 Clubs and Societies
Introduction
Lot’s Wife is the student magazine of the Monash Student Association (MSA). The views expressed herein are not necessarily the views of the MSA, the
printers or the editors. All writing and artwork remains the property of the creators. This collection is © Lot’s Wife and Lot’s Wife reserves the right to
republish material in any format.
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Too soft to Hear
Words by Harrison Wilson
Art by @0ojin_
Only now looking back, with the
benefit of a little perspective and a small
amount of maturity do I remember the trips
to the river with fondness and tenderness.
For much of the time between then and now
it has either been painted in broad brushes
or cherry picked. Specific incidents, “when
he fell in the river”, “the hat trick on boxing
day of 2007” “sunburns of biblical severity”,
were spoken about in great detail but the
broad strokes of our experience were left to
each on their own to grapple with in private
reflections.
It wasn’t a tradition. Tradition implies
regularity, and while certain trips could be
anticipated, Christmas, some birthdays, an
unexpectedly warm day in the term three
holidays, most times, however, Mum would
simply call the Hendersons.
“Wanna take the kids to the river?”
Mum would put down the phone.
“Kids pack your swimmers and if you
don’t put sunscreen on I swear to God.”
Dad would always silently pack the
car.
We’d drive down the dirt track from our
house to where the buffer of farms between
us and town offered expansive paddocks
of hay bales. They seemed to go on forever,
sometimes I would imagine what it would
be like if they did, daydreaming about what
it would be like if we drove on in perpetuity
surrounded by unfolding hills of hay bales
with no chance of anything changing.
It took us roughly three chapters of an
audio book, two if we had to change the CD,
to get there. We would pull up, always before
the Hendersons, and get the cricket set, the
bag with all our swimmers and towels and
the green shopping bag with the necessary
ingredients for the obligatory barbeque and
set up.

The river came down from the
mountain, snaked out of the bush, through
paddocks and all the way through to town.
It was quite a thing to have a house near the
river, with a little gravel driveway coming
down from the main road. But this section
of the property market back home has now
almost been taken up by retirees making a
sweet living of negative gearing. The place
we always went to had a large picnic area, a
playground, a big toilet block and was one of
those places that everyone thinks is their little
secret despite everyone knowing about it.
The Hendersons would always arrive
later than we did. They’d come, adults would
greet adults and then kids would greet kids
after encouragement by the adults. There
were two of each on both sides, my sister and
I and the two Henderson boys and parents.
The father was the lawyer of the town and the
mother was one of those people who seemed
to make “keeping up appearances” occupy
forty hours a week.
I always felt a subtle sense of pressure
around them, a feeling that I had something
to prove, like if we didn’t get along it would
somehow reflect poorly on our parent’s
independent friendship. Sometimes we’d go
down to the river, try and set up dams in the
shallows or adventure as far up into the bush
as we dared. The Hendersons had a pool their
parents had put in when they moved to our
town and so all decisions regarding water
based activities tended to be ceded to them.
When we played cricket, dad was always
brought down the little hill to the flat part of
the picnic area from where the adults were
busy cooking up the barbeque, consoling my
sister who never liked cricket and gossiping.
Both my father and I were competitive in a
manner that would slip into poorly concealed
anxiety. With him you had to dig around to
deduce new information, a cryptic clue, an
incidental hint such as a new opinion about
a previously settled matter. He would calmly
bowl to whoever had picked the number
he was thinking of until they got out or he
decided it was someone else’s turn.
Cricket or river based activities would
continue until the barbeque would be ready
for everyone to come eat what was always
a late lunch, “Go help your mother with the
food I’ll pack up”. We’d sit down at the table
all around, I’d always try to sit next to the
Mums while the Dads discussed football,
their respective employment and other things
where there was no chance of inflection.
Both men would make their points and listen
politely while the other either agreed and
elaborated or disagreed with conscious
politeness.
Sometimes, if it was very hot and only after
the kids had reapplied sunscreen, we’d go
down to the river to eat. Dad liked to roll up
his shorts so they looked humorously like
Speedos and wander into the middle of the
river and eat his sausage in bread while we
sat on the bank.
Leaving was always an extended ordeal.
“Ok fifteen more minutes” would become
twenty minutes until all us kids got back
to the barbeque after putting the final
touches on the dam so that it was sure to
not let anything out. We’d pack up the picnic
table and each of the kids would be given
something to carry back to the car. Dad
always took a big armful of things and said
he was going to go organize the boot of the
car.
As we drove off in the early evenings, my
sister and I would normally fall asleep in the
backseat. The sporadic conversation we’d
hear from the front was rarely intelligible to
a semi-conscious child. Once I fell asleep
until a big truck passed us, probably filled
with sheep that had no idea where they were
going. I looked up from my half-laying, halfsitting
position and saw my Mother’s hand on
Dad’s leg, the bumpy dirt road would further
obscure my sleepy eye’s ability to see.
As we arrived home, tangled in the backseat,
sand from the river on our legs and on the
ground, our parents would calmly carry us
inside, place us in our beds without getting
changed or brushing our teeth.

Words by Erin Schubert
The Risk of Flight

Lately, finding my voice seems like the only thing that matters.
I fantasise about how it might feel to fan this flicker of something,
The thing that burns at the back of my throat.
It throbs at the tip of my tongue, too.
I taste it in my mouth. The bittersweetness of it. The salty seduction of it.
The thrill of it aches in me and I crave to meet her, become her -
The woman who speaks her mind.
I’m not even certain of what she has to say. I only know she has to say it.
I exist in the space between stagnation and growth.
Enthralled by the possibility of a bigger me,
Tethered still to the promise of old safety.
I’ve been balanced on this precipice for the longest time,
Willing myself to lean into the risk.
I’m so afraid to fall,
Because who do I become if I do?
What if I fly, though?
What if I fly?
Isn’t she me, and I, her?
She’s the woman I become, if I fly.
Art by @0ojin_

we are
okay
Words by Bella
Art by Kathy Lee

in another universe we are okay
and we don’t hurt like this
maybe that universe is one of our possible
futures
or maybe we missed that exit a long time ago
whatever happens to us now
i know that we are okay
maybe not in this universe
maybe not as the ‘us’ we are now
but someday
somewhere
i promise we are okay
one day
we are running through fields of long grass
and sunflowers
barefoot,
wind in our hair
sun on our backs
we are baking bread and sipping tea that has
been brewed for just the right amount of time
we sit in a cottage
made of hardwood and grit
and it feels like home
like our souls were made for this place
we have animals and humans that love us
we bake bread and cakes and soups
from the things we planted and grew
with our own bare hands
to read
and there is no pain in coming back to reality
when the final page is turned
we live near a river
where we swim and wash our clothes
and where the animals drink their fill
we are content
we laugh and we cry and we truly, deeply,
wholly live
and we are okay
i promise
with all the blood in my heart and air in my
lungs,
every inch of my body knows that
someday,
somewhere,
we are okay
----
with a conviction i never knew i had
i told them
we are okay
hoping with everything i am
that i am right
we are nourished
we run hot baths and our only worries
are what jams we shall make the next day
our couches and beds are covered in hand
knitted blankets
and we warm ourselves by the fire and with
hot chocolates when it is cold
we dive into all the books we have ever wanted

David, Son of Jesse
Words by Joshua Strauss
Content warning: body image issues
I have learnt to love the vessel
gifted for my occupation,
and the soft bars of chocolate-like soap
I use to nourish it.
This body sustains me with unbelievable power
transporting nutrients and compounds and
minerals and pure life like a steam-train
that has laid its tracks
through my arteries and veins, nerves and organs
unstoppable, fuelled by its burning passion
to render me alive.
I have learnt to love the way it moves
in the sunlight that graces our patio
with a maternal touch and
in the soft darkness as I sneak
from my bed to the bathroom mirror.
Its ripples and curves and stretches:
there is no shame in how it has
protected me, shaped me, housed me;
there is no shame. Breakage of its shell
may yield barossa tears, fore
swathes of collagen bandages heal me.
I promise I did not mean to hurt it:
my ornaments apologies for inadvertent betrayal.
Decorations, titanium bars and fluorescent dyes
and my favourite shirt, my Canaanite heritage
David’s brow blown over chest, goliath in size.
Unblemished but no gentile
my body cut like his is not
but we are both beautiful
for I have learnt to love my body.

Art by James Spencer

The Eternal
Museum
Words by Oliver Cocks
Content warning: themes of absence
Midnight in the Eternal Museum, and Harry is rubbing his eyes. It was a big night the night
before, and he’s needed to gulp down several cups of coffee. At least they were cheap.
He’s sitting in the Aquatic Exhibit. Spectral fish swim through the air, and the rumble of
waves thunders in the background. The walls are hung with fish trophies and paintings of
the ocean. Harry yawns, glances around, blinks.
He’s been working here four years and still only knows a fraction of the Exhibits and Galleries.
His favourites to visit are the Gallery of Infernos and the Subterranean Exhibit. The
former features ghostly simulations of all depictions of Hell in human cultures, and the
latter large photos of everything beneath the Earth’s surface. However, there are several
others he enjoys seeing.
Harry yawns again.
His thoughts return to Saria. She sits in the garden, reading, then turns to him and smiles.
He would give anything to see that smile again, to look out upon that sun-lathered garden
once more. As it is, it’s been five years and he’s moved to a new house. New life.
Another memory: a beach in summer, salt breeze, turquoise waves, radiant sun. Saria
clasped his hand. They’d only recently met. Nearby, the splash and whoops of others at
the beach.
“Having a good day?” she said.
“You bet.”
They returned to gazing at the ocean. Waves rumbled, and children screeched and tumbled
as their families looked on. Finally, Theodora said, still gazing into the ocean: “Did
you ever come much to the beach as a child?”
“No, hardly ever, to be honest. We lived in the City of Murmurs during the Diamond Wars,
and only the Chosen could leave the City walls until I was an adult.”

“I see.” She turned to face him.
Harry smiled, drew closer. Her fingers felt warm against his own. “So I’m even luckier to be
here with you.”
When he comes to a young woman, red-haired, is standing over him. He starts, and she
backs away.
“So sorry!” she says. “But I’m afraid I’ve become lost.”
“You scared me,” Harry says, then gets to his feet. “Lost, are you?”
“That’s right. I was just in the Gallery of Mythologies, and I wanted to get to the Room of
Sighs but seem to have found myself here.”
“I see. So you want to go to the Room of Sighs? You’ll need to turn down the hallway over
there to the right and take the nearest left into the Gallery of Labyrinths, which is itself
a labyrinth, so once you’ve figured out how to escape you’ll need to continue straight
through the Hall of Fornication and then turn left through the Mountainous Exhibit and
then continue straight to the nearest door on your right, and you’re there.”
“Ah… I see,” she says. “Could you possibly write it down for me?”
“No worries,” Harry says, then pauses. In strictest confidence, the Museum staff have
been informed that the Voiceless Enemy have their sights set on a robbery of the Museum.
Even if the Museum is open at all hours and days, it’s suspicious that someone would be
visiting so late. But he reasons he shouldn’t ask too many questions, so he rips a scrap of
paper from a notebook he has with him and writes down the instructions.
“Having a good night?”
“Yes, very much, thanks,” she smiles back.
“Great, great. Well, here you go,” he says, handing her the paper. “Good luck making it
out of the Gallery of Labyrinths.”
“Thanks,” she says, still smiling. Harry gazes at her more intently. He hadn’t noticed before,
but she is certainly pretty, pretty in a way that reminds him of Saria.
“Have a good night,” he says.
“You too.” And with that, she’s gone.
Art by James Spencer

The Light In
The End
Words by Tehseen Huq
Content warning: anxiety
The best things in life appear when you
least expect it, when you think that the
world turned its back on you and that ray of
hope has diminished in the haze of all your
misfortunes. Imagine it’s a dark and stormy
day. The rain pours down relentlessly, turning
the street into a dismal watercolour painting
of an artist with clumsy brushstrokes. You’re
on a train observing two water droplets on
the windowpane cascading down like rivulets,
you wonder which water droplet will dissolve
first. With a jolt, you ponder over something.
Is God like this? A silent observer waiting to
see who will fall first and surrender to the
interminable black hole of misery. You shake
your head to eliminate that analogy. No,
you think. God is kind. Right? At least that’s
what your mother taught you. Your mother.
You don’t want to hear her voice laced with
disappointment and condescension. You
love her, of course you do. But sometimes
it hurts, how she dismisses your pain and
trivializes your trauma. You think maybe it’s
because you haven’t been open with her. You
contemplate on how much her approbation
means to you. But your vexation increases
as you heedlessly hurl yourself towards the
depths of oblivion and her familiar voice in
your subconscious mind screams at you to
stop. Stop being so weak. Stop crying. Stop
making yourself suffer in the hands of your
own mind. What do you do when your mind is
your worst enemy?
Sometimes, it feels like you’re walking down
a dark hallway which leads nowhere. Just
making your way through the perilous depths
and swirls of darkness. You think you see
shadows in the underbelly of the darkness.
Gray shapes materializing and indolently
disintegrating in your surroundings. The
darkness rearranges itself and forms the
shape of a malevolent face with a virulent
gaze. The gaze is directed at you with a
sneer. You hear echoes from all around you.
Disembodied voices whispering mantras to
incite your self-loathing tendencies. “You’re
not good enough”, “you’re detested”, “you’re
an inconsequential speck of dust with
nothing to contribute”, “you’re repulsive and
unworthy, inside and out”. You kneel and
cover your ears. You question your sanity.
You feel like the darkness is sentient. It will
envelop you in its claws and eviscerate
you until you’re hollow. You can’t endure
this anymore. Your fight or flight instincts
kick in. The voices are getting closer and
louder. Slowly approaching you like a lion
approaches its prey just before devouring
them. The shadows are merely an inch apart

from your body now. You feel a war raging
inside you. You feel their icy breaths on your
warm skin. You’re sobbing involuntarily. Just
before their hands grab your neck, you wake
up gasping for air.
The train is still moving at a snail’s pace,
slowly jerking from side to side. It was just
a nightmare, you console yourself. The rain
still drums along the windows, the rainwater
creating rippling effects on the glass. You
feel exhausted. Your emotional resilience
slips away to make room for a dull ache of
loneliness. No one can ever comprehend the
violent battles you fight with yourself. Your
mind is just an empty vessel. Suddenly, you
realise the train has lurched to a stop. You
step out onto the platform.
The station is crowded. People are running
towards their destinations, coats flapping,
arms wiggling to make way. It’s all a blur of
black, white and brown. You’re a tiny dot of
humanity amidst the cacophony of faceless
voices. Then you see her. Raven black hair
dancing to the wind’s rhythm, the belt of her
white trench coat flapping alongside her
body after it came undone. You haven’t seen
her face yet. But in your eyes, she’s encircled
in a halo. A golden light surrounds her striking
figure, distinguishing her from the crowd. Her
posture exudes confidence and her glorious
aura beckons you to step into her space.
Your mind is filled with visions of colours
and sunrises. You don’t know who she is, you
haven’t even seen her face yet. But you know,
oh you just know that she’ll paint your world
in a burst of colours and leave an indelible
mark on your soul. You can almost hear a
kind voice in your mind. “You matter, you
have stardust swimming in your veins. A part
of the infinite universe is contained within
you, you deserve to take space in this world”.
Sunlight streams in through the windows
of the station, the rain let up. You let the
sunshine kiss your skin and close your eyes.
After a blissful sigh, you run towards her.
Art by Olivia Tait
Art by Kathy Lee

Art by Mon

Gecko on the Wall
Words by Wayne Foo
“Mummy loves you [Heart]”
I stood there dumbfounded, transfixed, stationary amidst a transient population of
students rushing to their classes.
The word feels familiar and foreign.
Are we going to become one of those families that use it casually on a day-to-day basis
without careful deliberation? Do I have to say it now every time I leave the house? Are we
abandoning our subtle, indirect, traditional way of expressing affection?
Mum was only leaving the city for a few days. Probably the first time since I entered
adolescence, but still. I wondered for a split second whether this is a culmination of some
sort, or if this is even opportune. I’ve always thought it would be a bigger occasion. But to
be fair, it’s not like I’ve been able to picture it. Whatever I picture is never weighty enough.
Rather than an elephant in the room, it’s more like a gecko on a wall in my Southeast
Asian home. You know it’s there somewhere, but you might only be able to see it for a
second if you’re lucky. You’re not scared of it per se, but you might flinch if it appears too
close. It’s a little icky, I guess.
I looked up and stared blankly at the ebbing tide of students, leaving me to drift further
into the tricky waters of modern Chinese filial piety.
Obviously, I love my mum. But we keep these feelings to ourselves, like a little treasure
box. Ironically, we don’t always hold the key to it. Sometimes we do. Other times, we’re
not even sure who holds it. In this sense, our deep feelings of affection are explosive,
volatile, and stormy. A little like the stochastic movements of a gecko.
I know the correct response. The letters connect themselves like one of many sequins to
a dress, the needle traversing in and out in a consistent rhythm. My grandma cuts the
remaining thread. A gecko appears in the corner of my vision. I snap my head towards it,
catching it for a second, and it dashes off. I feel warm and fuzzy.
“Love you too, mum”

Too many to
count: How
I would improve
the
SDG’s
Words by
Isabelle Zhu-Maguire
I
have been working for the
United Nations Sustainable
Development Solutions Network
(SDSN) for 6 months. SDSN is the
UN organisation that is in charge
of sharing, localising and acting
upon the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) around the
world. Even before I worked with
SDSN, I was using the SDGs all
the time to shape my understanding
of sustainability. I use these
goals so much because they are
fantastic. They are an amazing
tool with groundbreaking ambition,
clarity, comparability, and
accessibility.
However, they are not without critique.
Through my experience using
these goals, I have compiled
three ways that I would improve
the next lot of global goals as it
becomes clear that we will not
be achieving these SDGs by their
due date.
Suggestion 1: Merge the goals
to make them make sense.
I have recently been working on
a research project on how the
Lot’s Wife • Edition One
New Beginnings
Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) can be used to assess
the damage caused by the Taliban’s
2021 takeover of Afghanistan.
The structure of this paper
follows three of the SDGs that
have been identified as the most
affected by the invasion. My section
is focused on SDG 3, Good
Health and Wellbeing. I have
found that the health of Afghans
has been devastated by this crisis
with the main cause of death
and illness being food insecurity.
Writing this section, it dawned
on me that food insecurity, whilst
devastating to health and wellbeing,
is more accurately encapsulated
by SDG 2, Zero Hunger.
I acknowledge that these goals
are purposefully interlinking as
all sustainable development issues
are connected. However, in
a report where I was using a goal
to define a problem, I had an extremely
difficult time separating
the two in my writing.
I think this is where my first issue
lies - the proliferation of goals
makes using them more difficult.
I propose that the goals themselves
should be overarching with
the specific targets (of which
there are already over 160) specifying
certain aspects. For example,
“Good Health” should be
the global goal. This would then
include all facets of health such
as zero hunger. Another example
is that “Reduced Inequalities”’
should remain the goal with gender
equality being a clear target
of that goal.
Minimising the number of goals
will not only make them easier
to remember but will make them
more accessible. Fewer goals
mean fewer people being overwhelmed
and feeling overcommitted.
Suggestion 2: 17 is a bad
number
Not only is 17 too many goals,
but ‘17’ is a bad number. The Millenium
Development Goals that
came before were 8. A simple,
even number that carries a lot of
auspicious value. But 17 has none
of that.
Firstly, 17 is an awkward number.
It is a reasonably large odd,
prime number that for many
people is difficult to remember.
Prime numbers are often hard
for people to picture and many
people find odd numbers less appealing.
I for one have been using
the goals almost daily for 3
years and still do not have them
memorised.
Furthermore, 7 is not a great number.
Western folklore is riddled
with things that can give you ‘7
years of bad luck’. 7 can also be
considered an unlucky number
since July, the 7th month, is seen
as a “ghost month” to many.
Furthermore, 7 sounds like “to
deceive” ( 欺 , pinyin: qī) in Mandarin.
Therefore, future sets of goals
should prioritise a number that
is more appealing and easier to
remember to ensure maximum
engagement.
Suggestion 3: One colour for
each goal
There are 4 red goals, 4 blue
goals, 3 green goals and 4 vaguely
yellow goals. Except for a gloriously
pink goal and an orange
one, all of the SDGs share a colour
with at least 2 others. Whilst
this seems like a trivial complaint,
having goals that look so similar
18

can be problematic when trying
to communicate them.
Colours are one of the first things
you learn when you are learning
a new language. They are something
that can easily help guide
you through a spoken language.
Pointing to something and then
describing its colour is extremely
helpful. For example, I am learning
Italian but I have no idea how
to say the phrase “Good health
and well-being” in that language.
However, I could tell someone
that I am referring to the “verde”
(green in Italian) goal. However, in
the SDGs, there are three “verde”
goals! This becomes more problematic
when you consider that
one of the aims of these goals
is to make global issues easier
to communicate across cultures
and languages, Therefore, ease
of communication is a key reason
the colours of these goals need
to be separated.
Furthermore, the colours do not
link the goals together. For example,
the yellow goals are ‘zero
hunger’, ‘affordable and clean
energy’ and ‘responsible consumption
and production’. Even
though they share a colour, they
don’t share the same core goal.
This could give people who are
learning the goals for the first
time a false impression that only
the yellow goals are linked with
other yellow goals. This might
confine people’s thinking and the
way that they innovate around
the goals.
Lot’s Wife • Edition One
New Beginnings
are running the “slightly darker,
less orange-red” campaign is
a waste of your time when you
are campaigning for something
so important. Like how pink is
associated with breast cancer
foundations, colours should be
able to unite campaigns that are
working towards the same goals
but should also distinguish the
campaigns that are different.
Conclusion
The SDGs are a fantastic tool
which help the global community
enormously. I recently ran a
breakout room where I discussed
human rights issues with people
who work with SDSN from Syria,
South Africa, the USA, India and
Malaysia. We found common
ground by being able to refer
to human rights encapsulated
by the SDGs which aided our
cross-culture communication immensely.
However, the SDGs still
seem overwhelming to many people
who are not already working
in the sustainable development
space. More clarity is required if
we are to connect the world by
common goals to advance sustainable
development.
Lastly, from a visual perspective,
it is difficult to separate these
goals. If you are doing a campaign
on SDG 1, No Poverty, you
can use that hue of red to show
what you are campaigning for.
But then if someone else is running
a seperate SDG 5, gender
equality campaign using another
red, you might find people will get
confused. Telling people that you
Art by Olivia Tait
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Shoujo & Sakura: Youth is
Beautiful, Youth is Blue
Words by Xenia Sanut
Those who watch Japanese animated films or
TV or read Japanese comics, especially those
set at school or with a touch of slice-of-life,
know that the sight of sakura trees in bloom
is richly symbolic. It symbolises not only a
time for new beginnings since the trees bloom
during the spring-time, but also the fleeing
nature of life since they only bloom for two
weeks. Hence why sakura is the perfect
metaphor for adolescence and growing up
in many shoujo manga. Shoujo manga are
Japanese comics mainly targeted towards
young women but which contain lessons that
everyone can appreciate, regardless of age,
gender or sexuality.
Emerging in Japan during the 1960s, shoujo
manga typically explores feminine dreams
and fantasies, often romantic in nature. Think
of them being like popular young-adult (YA)
romance novels and movies which can range
from being dark and brooding, like Twilight
and After, to will-they-won’t-they comedies
in a similar vein to To All the Boys I’ve Loved
Before and 10 Things I Hate About You. The
plot and setting can reach the magical, the
historical, and the fantastical. But, of course,
one of the things that shoujo manga has
in its pocket is its illustrations which tend
to be like an early Taylor Swift song: soft,
sparkling, and subtly conveying feelings that
characters are desperate to hide in fear of
how others would react, as shown through
the example below. But overall, these are
feelings that we all resonate with, regardless
of whether high school life is now behind us.
Some Shoujo manga, like YA romance, can
have problematic messaging imbued in their
stories with the main culprit being that you
can change an aloof love interest with a bad
attitude into a committed partner (Wolf Girl
& Black Prince, Blue Spring Ride). But just as
there are thousands of YA romance stories,
there are thousands of shoujo manga so it’s
hard to generalise and say that if you’ve
read one, you’ve read them all. While many
of them, even the healthier stories, tend to
be idealistic and dramatic, a theme that
lies at the heart of every shoujo manga is
connection, not just romantic connection
but every connection imaginable. How do
young people try to become closer to their
friends, their family and to their current and
future self? How do they form meaningful
relationships and strive to maintain them?
So, like with anything we read, watch, and
consume, take shoujo with a grain of salt,
but as you scour through the range of
different stories, take it as an opportunity
to learn from the characters’ struggles
without having to experience their pain and
heartbreak yourself. Understand the many
forms a relationship can take, how healthy
relationships can be built, and how unhealthy
ones can manifest.
Many shoujo manga heroines are also often
portrayed as innocent and naïve, attributes
which are celebrated within the story not
because the heroines are considered more
desirable for demonstrating these qualities,
but because adolescence is a time where
none of us really know anything and these
heroines embrace that and use it as an
opportunity to learn. Sure, we might look at
the heroines’ journeys and think we know a
bit more in our 20s than we did in our teens,
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but it’s still exciting to watch
someone make that journey
to discovery and perhaps
we’ll discover something
new about ourselves along
the way. Additionally, being
innocent or naïve does not
make these heroines weak or
helpless, instead it highlights
how traditionally feminine
ideals of love, compassion, and
vulnerability can be a strength.
It can empower these heroines
to help a friend, embrace who
they are, openly share their
feelings to the people they
love and guide themselves and
those they care about through
all the problems that we think
are so small in hindsight, but
which eventually coalesce to
make the story of our lives.
In Japanese, the word for
youth, 青 春 , or seishun, is
made up of the characters
for ‘blue’ and ‘spring’ which
is the perfect analogy for
what youth is and how shoujo
depicts it. Like a sakura tree
in bloom, life, love, happiness,
and heartbreak when we’re
young is wonderful because it
cannot last forever. We should
learn from it, embrace it, and
appreciate it, even when life
feels beautiful, even when life
feels blue. Let’s cherish this
new year, this new beginning
with all its transience and
effervescence and discover
a world like we are wearing
shoujo-coloured glasses: one
side pink, the other side blue.
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MSA Clubs & Societies:
The Key to Student Life
Clubs and Societies are truly the lifeblood
of the student experience, and this
is certainly the case at Monash Clayton.
Run by MSA Clubs and Societies (C&S),
the diversity of activities and services
that our clubs offer will certainly make
your time at Monash the best it can be!
With a growing list of over 100 clubs and
societies at the Clayton Campus, there
is definitely one (or more!) for you. If you
wish to join one of the many academic
clubs, which represent every faculty, then
you will find yourself a support network of
peers who aim to provide both great events
and tailored support services to improve
your educational experience. Or perhaps
you’re looking for a community of students
who share a common background
and experience with you and join one of
the diverse cultural or spiritual clubs. Or
maybe you want a space to share and enjoy
a particular interest alongside others
with our incredible special interest clubs.
The C&S calendar is jam packed with a
whole assortment of events and offerings,
from academic based events, that
help you grasp concepts to ace that test
or broaden your current knowledge of the
world, or social events - from camps to
competitions, or balls to beach days, the
list is endless!. Make sure to follow your
favourite clubs’ social media platforms to
keep up to date with everything going on.
Becoming a member and attending events
is just the tip of the clubs’ iceberg. As all of
our clubs are student run, the opportunity
to join club committees and become an office
bearer is certainly an incredible step.
The benefits gained from being a part of
these organisations are multifaceted and
not limited to management skills, public
speaking, event planning, leadership, governance,
financial management, and most
importantly joining an incredible team of
like-minded, passionate student leaders.
All of our clubs at Monash Clayton are affiliated
with the MSA Clubs and Societies Division,
an autonomous section of the Monash
Student Association, that is headed by a
9-student C&S Executive. Elected by our
Club Presidents, the C&S Executive is assisted
by staff consisting of a Coordinator,
Support Officer, Administration Officer, and
Finance Officer, who all have the aims of:
- Developing and creating a growing
community of student leaders in which
cross-collaboration and knowledge sharing
can flourish,
- Support clubs in providing and improving
incredible activities and services through
extensive and relevant resources, advice
and connections,
- Provide administrative and financial assistance
to allow clubs to achieve previous
unattainable goals and successes,
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- Establish new initiatives and training that
allows clubs to effectively evaluated and
adapt their actions in an ever changing
world,
- Advocate and represent clubs on both the
MSA and the highest levels of the University
allowing for the fostering of new collaborations.
Just like a club, the C&S Executive has a
calendar of events throughout the year to
both support and celebrate the incredible
work our club leaders achieve. From the
Clubs Awards Night and Club Officer Bearer
Appreciation events, to individual training
sessions and the Student Leaders Retreat,
C&S is truly non-stop all year round.
Personally, joining the C&S community has
completely changed my University experience
to be the most rewarding it could be,
more than I could have ever hoped for. With
C&S aiming to make sure that this year be
the most incredible year for clubs, now is the
best time to sign up to a club and change
your time at university for the better. Make
sure to rock up to O-Week or check out the
MSA Clubs website to sign up to any of our
amazing clubs and don’t be afraid to send
us through any questions you may have.
Love,
Matthew Chipman
C&S President
23
Art by Kathy Lee
Artwork Artwork by Kathy by Kathy Lee Lee

Lot’s Wife • Edition One
New Beginnings
Clubs & Societies
ACES
The Association of Civil Engineering
Students (ACES) is the academic club for
Monash University Civil Engineering students
on the Clayton campus. The club’s
primary focus is to connect students to
the Civil Engineering industry via a variety
of different events and initiatives. ACES
annually hosts events such as careers
fairs, industry-focused professional development
sessions, various information
evenings and social events; in addition to
providing useful information and resources
to our members. In this way, ACES aims to
inform students about the Civil Engineering
profession and potential opportunities for
vacation and graduate work. Our flagship
event is our Industry Night, where representatives
from a broad range of companies
visit the campus and present what their
company has to offer. The night begins
with presentations and is followed by a
networking session, which allows students
to gain insight into career pathways and
connect to potential future employers. We
post frequent updates to our social media
regarding employment opportunities as
well as information about our events, and
faculty-lead programs. Follow our Facebook
and LinkedIn pages and become a
member to receive the ACES Civil Banter
newsletter. Visit https://www.acesmonash.
com/ to view our past events, learn more
about the club, and sign up for membership!
ACYA
ACYA represents the aspiration to build
a stronger bond between Australia and
China. We provide a platform for Monash
students to learn more about Australian
and Chinese culture through educational,
social and careers related activities.
Our education pillar aims to combat bias
and misinterpretation through language
lessons, conversation sessions and cultural
workshops. Our careers pillar aims to build
professional skills through CV workshops,
networking nights and presentations about
work opportunities in the Australia-China
space. Our social pillar aims to create
lasting bilateral friendships through games
and trivia nights, balls and cultural festivals.
Testimony from the President, Susie
Lei: “As someone who has been a part of
the ACYA family for three years now, I’ve
not only found a group of people who I
can identify with, but I’ve also become
more deeply connected with my Chinese
background. I encourage anyone who is
interested in Australian or Chinese culture
to take the leap and come chat with us at
O-Week and at our future events!”
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ALP
The Monash Labor Club is a club that is founded
on progressive politics. We engage in activism on
social issues including climate change, asylum
seekers and youth employment, among other
issues that impact students and the broader community.
Throughout the year, we host a variety of
events - such as social events, campaigns, and
educational forums, which provide our members
with the opportunity to meet like-minded students,
as well as other members of our movement. If
you’re interested in the Australian Labor Party,
progressive politics, or are keen to know more,
then join the Monash ALP Club!
AMICI
Whether you are a passionate about Italian
culture, want to find out more about Italy, or just
want to meet amazing people whilst making unforgettable
memories – the Monash Italian club
is the place for you! We host a range of events
encompassing free food & drinks, soccer, outdoor
cinema, cooking classes, and more. Most of all,
you will not want to miss our Sem 1 Bar Night
and Sem 2 Ball which guarantees to be one of
the cheapest, most worthwhile and least overrated
events in the Monash clubs calendar. All are
welcome to enjoy the fun and we cannot wait for
you to come say ciao!
AIESEC
Hello everyone! AIESEC is a global not-for-profit
organisation created in 1948, focusing on creating
better leaders for tomorrow through developing
young people’s leadership potential and
providing a supportive environment to challenge
each other and grow. Our programs are run by
youths for youths, and we are present in over 14
universities across Australia and more than 100
countries worldwide. We believe that leadership
is the fundamental solution in creating a better
future and we strive to achieve peace and fulfilment
of humankind’s potential. How do we do
this? We create upskilling events and workshops
that centre around pressing global problems and
innovative solutions, common struggles of youths,
and cross-cultural understanding. Our committee
members are also around to guide participants,
therefore leading to wholesome friendships and a
close-knit community, which is one of the most rewarding
experiences to have in AIESEC. By pushing
one another to step out of our comfort zones
and developing self and global awareness in the
process, we, as youths, can create a long-lasting,
positive impact on our lives, our communities and
the world at large.
BCSS
Calling all Lot’s Wife Readers! The Monash
Business and Commerce Student Society (BCSS)
is a premier student-run society committed to
assisting members in their transition to University
through providing both social and professional
development opportunities. We run a plethora
of diverse social events, from our popular Orientation
Camp to the highly anticipated annual
Commerce Ball. On top of this, our career
advancement opportunities span from Corporate
Cocktail events to our annually published
careers guide. Look out for our popular event
‘The Art of Networking’, one of the best opportunities
out there to connect with industry leaders.
At BCSS we believe that all students should feel
comfortable in making the transition to life after
high school and we are here to be that stepping-stone
to help pave the way. Look us up on
all your favourite socials, keep in the loop, and
become a BCSS member today!
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Clubs & Societies
BiolSoc
At the Biological Society, we run a variety
of events and activities that fit broadly into
two categories: environmental biology and
human biology. For those majoring in Biology,
we incorporate as many areas as we
can into our academic events by connecting
you with real people who have made
biology their career. We also run social
and conservation events that any lover of
organisms can enjoy, no matter their biology
background! This year, we plan to run
study sessions and networking events as
well as environmental volunteering camps,
games nights, competitions, and hikes.
You can read all about it in our fortnightly
newsletter, and maybe even become a contributor!
This club is propelled by what our
members want and we are always eager
for your input.
CU
CCA
The Computing and Commerce Association
(CCA) is the only joint IT and Commerce
Association in Victoria, helping to unite
business and technology students since
its founding in 2000. Despite the turbulent
COVID-19 era, CCA continues to grow each
year, offering more events and opportunities
for its members. It is through this that
we strive to achieve our aim: ‘to foster a link
between the professionals of today and the
professionals of tomorrow’. By creating opportunities
for students to connect with industry
representatives and equipping students
with knowledge about latest trends,
CCA is able to create a well-connected
community of like-minded individuals with
essential skills or experiences that are
highly regarded. The following core values
reflect our vision and goals: Community,
Career Development, and Awareness. We
provide many resources for students such
as events, articles, newsletters and our all
new Careers 101 podcast series! Feel free to
check out our socials to keep updated on
CCA: Instagram - @ccamonash, and our
Facebook page - https://www.facebook.
com/ccamonash. Keep an eye out for
our O-Week stall for free goodies and the
chance to sign up to CCA!
“Jesus.” It’s something to yell in an argument or say when you find out your assignment’s
due tomorrow and you haven’t started. If you’ve ever done anything more than used Jesus’
name to curse, it was probably to say he was a moral teacher or never existed. Or that he’s
outdated and irrelevant. Did we mention bigot? Monash Clayton Christian Union (CU) exists
because we want you to take a fresh look at Jesus. There’s plenty of views about Jesus
and what he did. But we believe what the Bible says about who Jesus is. We believe Jesus
is God’s Son. And we believe Jesus changes everything. We run small groups that explore
how Jesus lived and what he said; hold weekly bible talks, studies and prayer groups; and
organise camps and social events. Visit our social media pages to learn more.
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DISNEY
Second Star to the right and straight onto Disney
Society! We are a small but mighty special interest
club here to help you hakuna matata away
your days. Hundreds of members join us every
year for fun ‘Mickey Mouse Clubhouse’ like activities,
making us one of the largest non-academic
clubs on campus. With frequent movie nights on
campus and in cinemas we are always bringing
you the latest and greatest from Disney itself. We
also ‘Break Free’ and dabble in a lot of Disney
related trivia and karaoke (You should hear our
committee belt out high school musical!). Not only
that but every year we bring the magic of Disney
to our award-winning ball with themes to absolutely
knock your socks off! If you are looking for
loving, inclusive, like-minded people than Disney
Society is the club for you. Don’t stay ‘Frozen’
out in the scary tundra of Arendelle, come join us
at our events this year! We can’t wait to see you
there ! Much Love, Disney Committee
EMBRACE
‘Empower others through education and inspire
yourself through making a difference’ Every student
deserves an opportunity to access quality
education. We are a community of uni students
aiming to inspire and empower disadvantaged
high school students to realise their potential.
Our volunteers provide high school students
with free tutoring in three programs: Homework
Clubs, In-School Support and Individual Tutoring.
We also run ‘Hands on Health’ seminars, other
social events and workshops. Especially if you’re
in first year, this is a great opportunity for you
to contribute to the community and feel good by
helping others. As a volunteer tutor, you’ll learn
valuable life skills (including communication and
cross-cultural understanding), all while empowering
your students. You’ll also join a community of
like-minded individuals and expand your social
network. No tutoring experience or superb grades
are required, just a passion for learning and
helping others. To learn more about Embrace,
check out our website www.embrace-education.
org or email us with any questions you may have
embrace@monashclubs.org
ESSA
The Economics Students’ Society of Australia (ESSA) was founded at Monash in 2013. It is now the largest
economics society of its kind in Australia, spanning across Melbourne, Monash, and La Trobe universities.
We constantly strive to push the boundaries on what a student society can achieve – to engage with members,
to give them a voice, and to connect students, professionals, and academics. ESSA strives to be the
point of difference in your university experience. We innovatively connect likeminded students to ignite a
passionate economics community that is more informed, engaged and aware of the breadth of opportunities
and unique multidisciplinary relevance of economics. We run a range of social and professional events
throughout the year. We are passionate about economics, and we look forward to sharing that passion with
you!
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Clubs & Societies
FEM
This year marks 10 years of Female Engineers
at Monash (FEM) inspiring and
supporting women-identifying engineering
students! In honour of our 10 year
anniversary, FEM is undergoing a major
rebrand, but whilst our club name, logo
and aesthetic will change, our mission will
remain the same! At FEM, we work hard to
deliver industry & networking, academic
and social events that are meaningful to
the minority we represent. Our International
Women’s Day celebrations, Women &
Diversity in Engineering Panels, Industry
Guide Launch and Engineering Workshops
were among our most popular 2021 events.
Not to mention that FEM was awarded
Most Outstanding New Event (High Tea Networking)
and Most Popular Club Event for
Category C (Cocktail Night) by Monash
Clubs & Societies last year! We look forward
to bringing back some old favourites
as well as some exciting new events in
2022! FEM is just such a wonderful support
network for women-identifying individuals
who may feel daunted by the prospect
of being a minority in engineering - if you
have any questions or concerns, feel free
to reach out to us anytime. Keep an eye
out for information about O-week with FEM
- we can’t wait to meet all our FEMbers in
person!
FMAA
The Financial Management Association of
Australia is one of the most dynamic and
well-supported student bodies on campus
which exhibits a strong reputation for professionalism
and connectivity between students.
Our mission is to connect students
and graduates within finance and business-related
areas. Furthermore, we aim to
foster professionalism among our members
and facilitate the interaction between our
members and firm employers by organising
networking events, case competitions,
professional skill development workshops
and other firm-tailored events. Our events
aim to give a competitive edge to our members
seeking work in the finance field, further
enhancing their career awareness and
extending their professional development.
Currently, we have over 40 firm sponsors
with over 5500 student members spread
across 6 of the top 8 Australian universities.
If you want insight into business and
finance as a career and become equipped
with skills necessary for your professional
development, becoming a member with us
is a must! Follow our Facebook or Instagram
page to stay up to date with us & find
sign-up links to our member-only events.
GLEAM
GLEAM aims to provide queer+ students at Monash with professional and industry connections
to further their academic career as well as regular social events
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GERMAN
Willkommen zum Monash German Club! The
Monash German Club celebrates German culture
and people. As a club we aim to spread knowledge
and appreciation for the language and to
embrace German traditions. We hold many small
and larger events throughout the year. Our academic
events include regular German talk classes
and educational based workshops focusing on interesting
areas of German culture and history. We
also host social events regularly with Würste und
Biere days to Fußball tournaments. Perhaps our
biggest event of the year is of course Oktoberfest,
which is a must for everyone. There is no need to
be German or speak German to be a part of the
club, so we encourage anyone to come along
and sign up! By becoming a member you will get
access to our regular newsletter and discounted
membership to all club events. Don’t forget to
follow us on Facebook and on Instagram to keep
up with all our updates. Auf Wiedersehen!
KASA
Are you interested in Korean culture? Then the
Korean Appreciation Student Association is for
you! The Korean Appreciation Student Association
(KASA) is a club for students to learn and
share their love for Korean culture, whether that
is traditional or popular Korean culture (music,
dance, dramas, food and more). Any student
can come and join KASA, regardless of whether
you are Korean, speak Korean or just want to
participate in an event that interests you. KASA’s
K-ommunity is a safe space to meet friends with
common interests to experience social, cultural
and competition events. Now more than ever, we
are providing more ways to appreciate Korean
culture together! Some examples of events that
KASA has had include Kbbq Night, RunningMan
and Kpop Dance classes. This year’s planned
events include Korean Fried Chicken Night,
Ice-skating Night and our much anticipated 2022
KASA Camp. If anything we mentioned interests
you, make sure to follow our social media to
learn more and keep up with all our events and
updates!
LingSoc
Hi! We’re LingSoc, the Monash Linguistics Society - a small academic and special interest club offering a
variety of academic and social events throughout each semester. Our club is for anyone with an interest in
language and how language works, though you don’t have to speak lots of languages or even study linguistics
at Monash to get involved (although those are also great reasons to join). We run events ranging from
academic talks and discussion groups, to more relaxed social events like language themed movie nights
and games nights. You can stay updated on club goings-on by joining our Facebook group, or by joining
our Discord server (accessible through our Facebook), which often has lively discussions about linguistics
and is a great place to chat with other students about any linguistics units you’re studying!
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Clubs
New
&
Beginnings
Societies
LSS
As one of the oldest and largest societies
at Monash, Monash Law Students’ Society
(LSS) are committed to making law school
more accessible, interesting and fun! The
LSS has five portfolios, each of which offer
members wonderful opportunities and
support. • Our Activities Portfolio arranges
events (such as our famous Law Ball)
and provides informal opportunities to
meet new people – plus, LSS members get
discounts on ticketed events! • The Competitions
team provides opportunities to test
out your ‘lawyering’ skills in a number of
mock competitions – including mooting,
negotiations, client interview and witness
examination • Through our Education portfolio,
students are provided with a range of
invaluable academic support. LSS members
can access weekly tutorials run by
previous HD students - the perfect way to
consolidate knowledge from class and ace
your exams! • If you’re interested in Social
Justice issues, you are able to get involved
through the various seminars, programs
and panel events run by the Social Justice
and Equity team, including our esteemed
Just Leadership Program. • Last but not
least, our Careers portfolio offers extensive
insight into commercial and non-commercial
career paths, as well as putting on
mentoring and networking events. We look
forward to seeing you around!
MAC
We are Monash Association of Coding (we
call ourselves “MAC” for short), and we aim
to impart valuable technical skills to students
and to bridge the gap between the
classroom and industry. We want to make
coding a fun experience for all—regardless
of area of study, year level, or experience—
through providing collaborative learning
opportunities for our members. Our events
run throughout the semester and are all
about giving you newfound knowledge
that you can’t just Google, and something
tangible that you can take home and add
to your portfolio (could be a new website or
prototype!). On our social media, you will
find how-tos, resources, exclusive opportunities
from our industry sponsors, and fun
stuff to help break the tediousness of study.
Our lovely Discord community often has
games nights, tech-related chats, career
advice, and other wonderful conversations.
MAFS
Monash African Society (MAFS) aims to fortify and expand on the current African community
in Monash University while celebrating African heritage. Our primary objective is to
provide a platform for students to learn about African heritage, share their knowledge and
celebrate our culture.
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MAD
The Monash Association of Debaters (MAD)
provides students with an opportunity to debate
philosophical, ethical, and current affair topics
with likeminded students. Trainings on Tuesday
and Thursday evenings at 5:00pm are a great
place to practice the public speaking and critical
thinking skills that are fundamental in debating,
but also in your career. They are tailored to first
year students and require absolutely no experience
or knowledge in debating. If you find you
enjoy debating in this relaxed and social environment,
MAD also provides you with the opportunity
to take you talent further and compete in the Australian
National Championships, the Australasian
Championships, the Australasian Women and
Gender Minority Championships and the World
Championships against universities from around
the globe such as Oxford, Harvard and Stanford,
as well as other inter-university tournaments specifically
catered to first years. MAD is also a great
place to make friends and build social networks
that are integral to getting through university.
MAD attracts students from a wide range of different
faculties, so it provides a unique opportunity
to make friends with people from other faculties.
Every training session is accompanied by free
pizza and an opportunity to socialise with your
fellow students. Thus, MAD tries to create a fun,
social and inclusive atmosphere for all first years
to come and make friends, while practicing skills
which are integral to their academic and professional
success!
MASA
The Monash Accounting Students’ Association
(MASA) is Monash’s premier Business and Commerce
Students’ association, which aims to
foster a high level of professional development
and employability amongst its members. MASA
is tailored to all Business and Commerce students,
providing students with opportunities and
resources to help bridge the gap between the
academic and professional world. Throughout
the year, MASA runs both professional and social
events, which offers members the opportunity
to gain insights into the professional landscape,
learn more about specific career opportunities,
and to connect with industry representatives
and students alike. This year, MASA has an array
of exciting events planned, such as our annual
Corporate Cocktails, as well as new events, including
an early Professional Services night and
CA ANZ’s Accounting/Finance Case Study. From
the team at MASA, we hope to see you in-person
at our events throughout the year, and we hope
your 2022 is off to a great start!
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New
&
Beginnings
Societies
MASS
Monash Actuarial Students Society (MASS)
welcomes all members of the Monash
community. The majority of our members
major in Actuarial Science but you will also
find that many study a double degree.
With such a diverse cohort, MASS offers a
range of social and personal networking
opportunities for all members. MASS acts
as a facilitator for both peer support and
professional networking for each of our
members. We provide our members with
a valued source of information regarding
academic guidance, accreditation, the
actuarial profession and career opportunities.
Additionally, we strive to build a
cohesive membership community around
our social and corporate events. Our three
main goals are: - Connect our members
with professional actuaries - Enhance our
members’ employment skillset - Providing
a peer support network for our members
These goals are achieved through the
variety of professionally run networking
events aimed at increasing our members’
exposure to the industry and providing
opportunities for members to enhance their
“soft skills”. Furthermore, we provide our
members with the latest job and internship
openings directly from our sponsor firms
and deliver opportunities to showcase their
skills through case competitions and mock
interviews.
MATES
The Materials Engineering society (MATES)
is a group run by and for materials engineering
students of Monash University. We
are a community of like-minded students
to meet and grow with. MATES provides
plenty of social and industry-based events
curated to give you a leg-up on your career
and uni life. We’ve held site tours, vacation
work and final year project talks helpful for
networking, as well as ice-cream, bowling,
trivia night, and barbecue events for fun
and socialising! MATES is about bringing
materials engineers together for a brighter
future. Our common room is located on 18
Alliance Lane of the Monash Clayton campus
and we’ll also be at orientation week,
so be sure to say hi to your MATES!
MCJAF
The Monash Club of Juggling and Firetwirling (MCJAF) is a friendly group of circus-folk
who meet every week to share skills. If you have an interest in juggling, poi, staff spinning,
unicycling, or any other circus art, we are the club for you! MCJAF is a great place to meet
new people and learn new skills, and beginners are always welcome. We also offer opportunities
for members to be involved in volunteer and paid performances. Other events we
hold include camps, MCJAF Olympics and various skill workshops! We meet every Monday
at 5pm on the Lemon Scented Lawns, Clayton campus. See you there!
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New Beginnings
MDS
Monash Dance Society (MDS) is a student-run
dance club based at Monash University Clayton
Campus offering online and or on-campus professional
dance classes for both partner styles and
solo styles. Some of our more popular styles include
Salsa, Street Choreography, and Jazz. MDS
also hosts a variety of social events from Intervarsity,
Street-Latin Workshops to Get Bodied which
encourages members to express themselves whilst
engaging with others through shared passions
for dance. Keep an eye out on our socials and
connected communities webpage for more details
on our upcoming events. Our aim is to encourage
and promote our ethos for diversity and multiculturalism
across Monash University’s dance scene.
This association also provides a supportive, friendly,
and welcoming community for its members. Additionally
we emphasise the value of collaboration
and cooperation, and we work alongside other
associations to expand the foundations of expression
through art and movement in our combined
events. So join the groove-ment today and meet
your fellow dance mates!
MESS
MECC
Mechatronics is a relatively new area of engineering,
uniquely combining areas of Mechanical,
Electrical, Computer Systems and Control
Systems Engineering. Mechatronics engineers
have a broader knowledge of each of these
disciplines and an understanding of how they
can relate to each other. This allows for more
viable, reliable, economic and versatile solutions
to fairly complex problems. Robotic solutions
tend to be multifunctional, and we are seeing
more and more of these systems integrated into
industry now than we did previously. Mechatronics
Engineering Clayton Club (MECC) was
formed to popularise and promote awareness of
Mechatronics Engineering among students and
companies. MECC assists students to develop
and apply traditional classroom theory in practical
fields. This is achieved through providing
support for their projects and organising competitions,
which encourage the Mechatronics way
of thinking. We also promote opportunities for
students to undertake industry experience and
which strengthens the bond between university
students and industry. We endeavour to act as a
platform for Mechatronics students and students
of other engineering disciplines to share their
ideas. To help Australia become a forerunner in
the field of Mechatronics we invite companies to
actively take part in our programs and support
us through sponsorship, ideas, infrastructure,
etc. To know more about mechatronics and
MECC contact us via email at mechatronics@
monashclubs.org or visit our website http://meccmonash.weebly.com/
and follow us on Facebook
(Mechatronics Engineering Clayton Club)
and instagram (mecc_monash). Don’t forget to
drop by and see us at O-Week at LTB Lawn
The Monash Engineering Students’ Society, better known as ‘MESS’, is a student run, not-for-profit organisation
that seeks to enrich the educational experience of students at Monash University through providing a
variety of social, industry and academic events and opportunities. While we focus our energy on Engineering,
we aim to serve the best interests of all students, the University and the wider community.
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Lot’s Wife • Edition One
Clubs
New
&
Beginnings
Societies
META
The Monash Education & Teachers’ Association
(META) is the peak representative body
for all students in the Faculty of Education
at Monash. META is run by current students
with the goal of developing Monash Education
students professionally, personally
and socially, and helping students achieve
their aspirations on their professional and
personal paths. We host a wide range of
social and professional events, including
course advice, LANTITE advice, professional
development, trivia and pizza nights, bar
nights, and of course our annual Education
Ball! META is only $5 to join for MSA members
and $10 without, so if you are interested
in joining a group of like-minded individuals
at all points in their path to teaching,
and want to get the most out of university
life, then please check out our socials and
upcoming events. Learn more and join at
www.metamonash.com/
MICS
MFS
The Monash French Society (MFS) is the
home of all things French at Monash! Composed
of French speakers, those learning/
studying French and lovers of French
culture, all students are welcome to join
and get involved in whatever events interest
them most. As part of our aim to bring
French culture to Monash students we offer
a wide variety of opportunities and events
which allow our members to sample French
culture. We first offer a solid French educational
element, represented by our weekly
conversation classes to build on and challenge
your French skills with like minded
students. Of course, another intrinsic
part of French life is a love of good food.
We offer regular events and occasions to
indulge in French cuisine, including a wine
and cheese night, cooking classes and
fortnightly crepe days (who doesn’t love a
Nutella crepe!). At the heart of our club are
our wonderful members, many who have
attended a number of events organised by
our club over the years. An MFS membership
will entitle you to priority access to
all our events, conversation classes, and
even club discounts (including discounts to
other French organisations around Melbourne)!
So if you love French language,
culture, and food, this is the club for you!
The Monash Indian Cultural Society (MICS) is one of our university’s esteemed clubs born
out of our extensive Indian community. We are rapidly expanding and run many successful
and popular events throughout the year. We aim to promote cultural, social, educational
interaction and understanding among students of the Indian diaspora. Through cultural,
social and charity events, MICS provides students from various cultural backgrounds and
universities the opportunities to come together and meet in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.
Movie nights, formal galas, cultural festivals and more social events are a few of
the experiences that MICS offers its members. We look forward to seeing you at our events!
Keep an eye on our socials for regular updates!
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New Beginnings
MIAS
The Monash International Affairs Society (MIAS)
aims to ‘Inspire Future Leaders’ through our three
core pillars of Academics, Socials, and Model United
Nations (MUN). We also run an online student
publication and a podcast. Our aim is to provide
you with unique opportunities to engage with
international affairs. We host panels and roundtables
with Ambassadors, High Commissioners and
leaders in the international affairs space, allowing
you to learn about global issues, foreign policy
and the future of our international order from
those in the field. Our social events are designed
for you to meet like-minded people. We provide
opportunities to mingle with diplomats and leaders
in the field alongside meeting young professionals
who have just begun their international
relations career. Our MUN programs facilitate the
development of negotiation and public speaking
skills whilst delving into topical international
issues. We train and send delegations to compete
in interstate and overseas conferences alongside
hosting our annual 2 day MUNash conference on
the Clayton campus. Ultimately, we aim to be a
welcoming club that can enhance your university
experience through providing a space where you
can make genuine friendships, explore your interest
in international affairs and gain some valuable
experiences along the way.
MJC
The Monash Japanese Club (MJC) welcomes all
Monash students regardless of whether or not
they are studying Japanese, as well as to all
Japanese exchange students wishing to engage
in some cultural exchange. MJC is the perfect
opportunity to meet others who share a common
interest in Japanese culture, history, politics,
society, or language. MJC aims to advance the
education of students about all things Japanese
through an interesting and less demanding medium,
while providing students with the opportunity
to socialise and meet other peers who also
have a common interest in Japan. MJC also acts
as a tool for students to look into career opportunities
with the Japanese language, as well as
connect them to cultural activities happening
around Melbourne. MJC has become the centre
for local students to connect with Japanese
exchange students who study abroad at Monash,
giving students the opportunity to foster international
relationships and make real connections to
Japan.
The Monash Marketing Students’ Society (MMSS) is a student-led club that exists to provide the Monash
community with an enhanced university experience. Since 1971, the MMSS has provided a diverse range of
students with many exciting social and professional opportunities. If you’re looking to attend rewarding,
fun, and engaging events, then the MMSS is the club for you! This year you can look forward to and be a
part of our White Night, Corporate Connections, and the annual Marketing Ball, among many more spectacular
initiatives. We provide our members with a way to access valuable resources, enriching events, and
many networking possibilities. Here at the MMSS we support you in your journey, and deliver you the best
opportunities for an incredible career in marketing. Come along to make life-long friendships, new memories,
and gain insight into the marketing world! If you’re interested in a future in marketing, want to learn
something new, or just want to have some fun then check us out on social media and at our website https://
www.themmss.com.au/ We hope to make this year a memorable one with you. See you around!
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MMSS

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New Beginnings
Clubs & Societies
Monash Biomed
Society
The Monash Biomed Society aims to enhance
the university experience of Biomedical
Science students through facilitating
lifelong friendships and providing industry
networking opportunities. By providing
valuable experiences and resources for students,
we make the transition into university
life as smooth and effortless as possible.
Providing students with opportunities and
insight through information seminars and
networking events with industry professionals,
Monash Biomed Society aims to deliver
all you need to know about the Biomedical
Science course and potential post-graduate
opportunities. Additionally, we foster
social interactions by providing an array
of accessible and inclusive social events.
The variety of social events include trivia
nights, Biomed cAMP and the award-winning
Biomed Ball, with a range of both
in-person and online events on offer.
Monash MSS
Hey guys, this is Hannah writing to you as
the secretary of the Monash Music Students’
Society! As you might guess, we’re a
society catered to the music and performing
arts students, music lovers, theatre lovers,
and performing artists of the Monash
community! Each semester we host educational
events for current performing arts
students, performance opportunities and
showcases, and fun events for the whole
community. Previously, we’ve hosted events
like murder mysteries, trivia nights, games
nights, musical bingo, music theory help
sessions, motivational Q&A nights with
guest speakers, live performance showcases,
BBQs, and digital music premieres of
new works by Monash students. We’re a
very open community and welcome everyone
inside and outside of the performing
arts to come check us out at O-week – we’ll
have a stall set up with more info on our
upcoming events, and on Friday the 25th
of February we’ll be getting together for
a society meet-and-greet, so if you’re new
to the university (or the community!) we’d
love to see you there! We hope to see you
all soon!
MonJSS
As part of the Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS), MonJSS is represented by our
four pillars: Activism, Judaism, Pluralism and Zionism. By facilitating an inclusive and fun
space, we hope to develop and strengthen Jewish identity and understanding on campus.
We run events ranging between social, political and educational; including our infamous
‘Beers and Bagels’, Falafel lunches and guest speaker seminars - not to be outshone by our
inaugural cocktail evening in semester break! We offer a number of perks and discounts
to various Kosher restaurants, as well as provide Kosher lunches with Chabad on Campus
each week, or at our delicious events! You’d hate to miss it!!
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New Beginnings
MPS
The Monash Philosophy Society (MPS) provides
an open and welcoming space for like-minded students
from all walks of life to come together and
explore the questions that matter most to them.
We invite our members to learn and engage with
philosophy on their own terms, through our many:
- Discussions on a wide range of philosophical
topics and texts - Seminars with guest speakers
from Monash University and beyond - Philosophically
themed social events - Personal development
initiatives founded on philosophy. No background
in philosophy? No problem! We welcome all levels
of experience, and you might be surprised by just
how many of our members have never enrolled
in a philosophy unit! We could tell you more, but
we really hope you will want to come and see
for yourself. We Kant wait to meet you! (Bonus
brownie points if you see what we did there )
MRSS
Monash Radiation Students’ Society (MRSS) aims
to create an inclusive environment for students
studying Radiation courses. Despite being a relatively
new club, significant development has happened
in the last few years. MRSS was previously
targeted towards Radiography students but we
are now actively encouraging Radiation Science
students to get involved. As new beginnings
pose new challenges, we help ease new students
into university life. With a number of academic
events, we aspire to advance our members’ education
with a particular emphasis on professional
development and employability in the workforce.
MRSS provides a safe haven to ask informal questions
alongside exclusive access to alumni and
tutors adept in the clinical environment, an experience
exclusive to MRSS members. Complemented
by our social event calendar, we encourage
interaction across year levels and courses and
give our members an opportunity to network and
foster meaningful relationships. We strive to assist
our members in achieving a balance between
social and academic life. Become a part of MRSS
for an enhanced university experience.
MonSEC
Ever wondered how hackers break into... anything? At MonSec, we teach practical cyber security skills, so
you know how all things tech work and how to better defend yourself online. Our meetings run weekly at
6PM on Mondays during semester. For more information and to join, head to our website at https://monsec.
io/join/
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Lot’s Wife • Edition One
Clubs
New
&
Beginnings
Societies
MSS
Monash Science Society (MSS) is a student-run
club, focused on bringing both
science and non-science students many
magical memories and helpful course
advice. Here at MSS, we do our best to give
you a University experience like you see in
all the movies. We throw the best parties
on and off campus that you’ll reminisce on
for years. Join us at our O-Week party to
get a taste of University life and make new
friends before the semester starts or come
along to our future events to give yourself
a break from studying. Not only do we
provide the best social experience, but we
are dedicated to making sure that at the
end of it all, you have an improved chance
at getting a dream start to your career by
hosting academic events to give advice as
well as chances to network with members
of industry. We are committed to providing
students with a smooth University experience
and to ensure that they make the
most out of it.
Muggles
Monash Science Society (MSS) is a student-run
club, focused on bringing both
science and non-science students many
magical memories and helpful course
advice. Here at MSS, we do our best to give
you a University experience like you see in
all the movies. We throw the best parties
on and off campus that you’ll reminisce on
for years. Join us at our O-Week party to
get a taste of University life and make new
friends before the semester starts or come
along to our future events to give yourself
a break from studying. Not only do we
provide the best social experience, but we
are dedicated to making sure that at the
end of it all, you have an improved chance
at getting a dream start to your career by
hosting academic events to give advice as
well as chances to network with members
of industry. We are committed to providing
students with a smooth University experience
and to ensure that they make the
most out of it.
MUGS
With the federal election fast-approaching there is no better time to get involved with the
Monash Uni Greens Society (MUGS). We are a community of like-minded students who are
passionate about social and environmental justice and greens politics. We will be holding
a range of great events in 2022, such as our collaborative meet-your-candidate pub nights,
panel events and food & games nights. We work with all the big names in the Greens who
love to see young people getting involved and are keen to connect. Our committee are
a welcoming and passionate bunch, keen to hold fun, uplifting and engaging events to
bring students together. If you’d like to get involved with MUGS please shoot us an email at
greens@monashclubs.org, visit our Instagram and Facebook pages, and keep an eye our
for openings on our committee! There is no better way to to get involved in uni life, meet
other passionate students and fight for our future than with MUGS. We are excited to see
you in 2022!
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New Beginnings
MUMSU
Established in 1972, Monash University Malaysian
Students’ Union (MUMSU) has grown to become
one of Monash University’s (Clayton campus) biggest
non-faculty organisations. Here at MUMSU,
we seek to not only represent all Malaysian students
within the Clayton campus but also to share
our rich Malaysian culture and traditions with the
community around us. As a non-profit students’
union run by students, our events cater to our fellow
Malaysians and other international students
as well! We hope to be a part of your journey here
in Monash, creating priceless experiences and
timeless memories together as you embark into
a fresh beginning in 2022! Interested? Go ahead
and hit us up on Facebook & Instagram or check
out our website for more info! We look forward to
seeing you in our events! Cheers!
MUNZA
Kia ora! We are the Monash University New Zealand
Students’ Association (MUNZSA), a student
club at Monash Clayton dedicated to everything
New Zealand. This is a club for New Zealanders
on campus to meet and get to know each other
and to support New Zealanders who have moved
here to study with settling in at uni. Some successful
events have been our NZ Trivia Night and
Rugby Game Viewing sessions. Follow our page
for updates regarding events throughout the
year.
OCF
MVS
Monash Vegan Society (MVS) strives to promote a
plant-based lifestyle to students and staff through
education, community and, importantly, the sharing
of food. We provide a supportive community
for everyone (vegan or otherwise) to explore a
plant-based lifestyle on campus, providing information/events
throughout semester.
Overseas Christian Fellowship (OCF) is a community
that gathers to worship Jesus Christ,
learn from the Bible, pray and fellowship with
one another. We meet regularly on Friday evenings
for worship and Bible studies from 7-10pm
(though we often stay longer for supper xD), as
well as Tuesday evenings for prayer meetings
from 6-7pm. We also hold exciting events such as
sports days, outings and camps where everyone
can make new friends, eat good food and have
lots of fun. And beyond our official events, we
meet throughout the week to spend time together,
eat more food and do life with each other. Despite
placing a focus on international students,
we welcome everyone! International or domestic,
Christian or not, we have a place for you. In our
Discovery Group, we provide a safe space for
those who are looking to find out more about
the Christian faith. Our Chinese Group is also
available for our Chinese-speaking friends. OCF
is not just a club but our home away from home
and we invite you to join our family today!
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Lot’s Wife • Edition One
Clubs
New
&
Beginnings
Societies
PLN
The Progressive Law Network (PLN) is a
network of people passionate about social
and environmental justice within the law.
We encourage university students and professionals
to engage with legal challenges
to bring about positive change in the law
and political systems. We run seminars and
workshops to bring awareness to important
issues in public interest law, encourage
intelligent and informed legal advocacy,
and strive to connect students with volunteer
and career opportunities. Recognising
that many students don’t fit the traditional
commercial law stereotype of law school,
the PLN provides a community for those
interested in non-commercial, public interest
law pathways. Some of our areas of
focus include environmental law, refugee
law, family law, disability rights, LGBTQIA+
rights and gender equality. PLN have some
exciting plans for this year including: -
Social events and networking opportunities
- Our annual mentoring program - Parliamentary
submissions projects - Legal skills
workshops - Seminars and panel events
- Book club Club memberships are on sale
now from the C&S website and can be purchased
for $10 (without MSA+) or $5 (with
MSA+). We’d love to see you get involved
with the club and look forward to seeing
you at some of our events and meetups
over the year!
SAS
Welcome to the Society of Arts Students
(SAS)! We are a welcoming, exuberant
and supportive student society at Monash
Clayton, ready to bring you a range of
unforgettable social events and handy academic
support in 2022. We are well-known
for our fun-loving social events - such as
our O’Ch3lla party - a great way to get
involved and meet other students! Our
workshops and career events also provide
great networking and skill-building opportunities
to bolster that Arts Degree. We
love fresh faces and welcome all with open
arms! We’d love for you to get involved!
If you’d like to know more, check out our
website, Facebook or Instagram or pages
to stay up to date and learn more about
our committee, initiatives, and upcoming
events. Also check out our fun annual publication,
the Simian, and our chockablock
Careers Guide. If you’re interested in getting
involved, become a member and keep
an eye out our First Year Representative
and Sub-Committee applications. If you’re
not convinced already, let me tell you that
there’s no better way to get involved in uni
life and meet cool, like-minded people than
with SAS. We can’t wait for you to join us
for an unforgettable 2022!
SNAPS
The Students Neuroscience and Psychology Society (SNAPS) is a student-run society
dedicated to supporting Psychology and Neuroscience students at Monash University. We
aim to help both the social and academic parts of your university life - from educational or
career based seminar to creating exciting social events just for you!
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New Beginnings
SCA
Monash Medieval is a special interest club focusing
on medieval reenactment, which includes
everything from medieval-style fighting to activities
such as sewing, embroidery, calligraphy
and leatherworking. The club is affiliated with a
worldwide medieval reenactment group known as
the Society for Creative Anachronism. We have
events, including overnight camping events, where
we dress up in medieval clothing, eat medieval
food and watch or participate in tournaments, including
archery. If you are at all interested in medieval
times, fighting in armour, sewing or other
medieval skills, this is the club for you! Check out
our website https://stmonica.lochac.sca.org/ and
our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/
groups/246223282137955/ for more information,
including meeting times and event details!
SLAC
¡Hola! Everyone, the team at Spanish and Latin
American Club (SLAC) is so excited for 2022
and have a lot of awesome events planned to
get everyone together again and experience
Latin culture. This year we plan to host a diverse
range of events including showcasing Latin food,
bar nights, trivia nights to test your knowledge,
conversational sessions for both beginners and
advanced to practice their Spanish and even
meetings with ambassadors. SLAC prides itself
on being open and welcoming to all and seeks
to promote cultural diversity and awareness at
Monash, to build an environment where students,
regardless of their background, can share, and
have a good time while enjoying everything the
region has to offer. The club main areas of focus
are: 1. Academic – Giving assistance to students
undertaking units or degrees in Spanish. 2. Cultural
– Hosting events to showcase food, dance,
music, and literature of the region. 3. Social -
Providing a safe space for students to develop
friendships and interact with one another. We
love making friends and seeing new faces, so
Hasta Luego! And we hope to see you soon.
SoCS
Every good relationship needs some chemistry. So if you’re looking for your next club to join, then look no
further than SoCS, because we’ve got plenty of chemistry ;) SoCS, the Society of Chemistry Students, is
a friendly community of budding chemists who gather at social, academic, and industry-based events.
Previous events have included exciting Trivia and valuable networking opportunities such as ChemLunch
and Industry Nights, in order to promote an appreciation for the world of chemistry around us. At SoCS, we
represent undergraduate chemistry students, but encourage anyone who is passionate about science to
join us; whether you’re interested in crazy chemicals, funky formulations, explosive experiments or just good
old bunsen burners, SoCS is the place for you! If we have tickled your inner mad scientist, check out our
socials and send us a cheeky DM/email.
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Lot’s Wife • Edition One
New Beginnings
O-CH3LLA
FESTIVAL
SAS x MESS x MSS
Beginning university can be incredibly daunting,
however there’s no better way to start
than with a fun night out and making a few
new friends to end your summer holidays!
If you’re keen on student clubs, socialising and
endless exciting events, come along to one
of the first events of the year - O’ch3lla (23rd
of February at the Royal Melbourne Hotel)!
This SAS (Arts), MESS (Engineering) and MSS (Science)
collab event is your perfect opportunity to
mingle, dance and down a few drinks at 2021’s
‘Most Popular Club Event’! The event is sure to sell
out quick so stay tuned on either three of the club
facebooks for ticket release information soon!
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Lot’s Wife • Edition One
New Beginnings
43
Art by @0ojin_

Lot’s Wife • Edition Three
44

Lot’s Wife • Edition Three
45

Lot’s Wife • Edition One
New Beginnings
Art by
Morgana Damian
46

Lot’s Wife • Edition One
New Beginnings
Special thanks to all
our contributors!
Writers
Bella
Harrison Wilson
Erin Schubert
Isabelle Zhu-Maguire
Joshua Strauss
Oliver Cooks
Tehseen Huq
Wayne Foo
Xenia Sanut
Artists
Ruby Comte
Morgana Damian
@0ojin_
James Spencer
Kathy Lee
Olivia Tait
Mon
Sub Editors
Zoë Bartholomeusz
To contribute to Edition Two, submit your work to
the relevant Google Form.
Visit linktr.ee/lotswife for links!
@lotswifemag
@lotswife
www.lotswife.com.au
Lot’s Wife
@LotsWifeMag
47

Front Cover Art by Ruby Comte
Back Cover Art by Kathy Lee
...until next time
Lot’s Wife.
2022
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