Are our roads getting worse? Yes, yes they are.
I was, in fact, working on a real story, but potholes got in the way. It's a common enough story. Currently, living in more remote or lower economic areas in Australia means potholes are almost a design choice for Australian roads. I admit that issues like COVID-19...
One company controls most of the Wollongong music scene. Artists say that’s a problem
The Wollongong music scene doesn't seem to slow down. Dedicated punters pack out homely dive bar La La La’s most nights of the week, and if Rad was still around, they'd be there, too. University students scout local talent at Open Mic Nights every Tuesday, and young...
Every round is Magic Round: shorter format a game-changer for small bush footy towns
Buried in the depths of the vast chasm of content on social media is a humble line in the bio of a regional sporting minnow. ‘Smallest town in the state with a rugby league team!’ This claim belongs to the Rankins Springs Dragons, a club from a dusty little town,...
The anti-Zionist moment: reflecting on the year of revelation
October 15, 2023: hundreds mass together in Hyde Park. Police patrols roam the walkways in duos, looking for any sign of dissent or violence. Black, white, and grey checkered scarves cloak the necks of many in the crowd. People gather, despite vague threats from...
UOW’s surfing innovators
Sunlight beats down upon the waves, palm trees rustle in the light offshore breeze, and a hut on the beach pleads for you to come in and crack open a Bintang. The water here feels hotter than you want it to be; you feel like you’re sweating. The University of...
HSV, what do you think you know about it?
Herpes has become like a word you learn, and then suddenly hear everywhere. First I hear a podcast describe the of dilemma of a 19-year-old girl — my age — who was diagnosed with genital herpes, and she was really struggling. Then, a few days later, a Tiktok appeared...
“Sephora kids” and the role of social media in shaping children’s skincare routines
At the beginning of this year, I went for my yearly trip to replenish my makeup collection. It was just after my house had been flooded, and I had lost a good chunk of my makeup and skincare collection in the brunt of it. The beginning of 2024 was rough - with the...
Female coaches inspiring a new generation in high performance environments
At the Paris Olympics, 55 per cent of the National team were female athletes and Australia’s first 12 medals were won by women - a record-breaking achievement that was widely celebrated. So why is it that according to the Australian Institute of Sport, female coaches...
Hospitality abuse: that’s just business
Working in hospitality is common amongst university students: cleaning dishes, working behind a bar, waiting tables, it's almost a rite of passage, a way of earning some cash and developing independence and a work ethic. But hospitality can also be toxic. Studies show...
V8 roar to silent purr – why is Jaguar going electric?
There’s a sudden silence that falls as the doors close, the endless noise of the world sealed outside as light drifts in through tinted windows. Chilled leather seats groan and shudder. Keys jingle and shake in anticipation; the first turn breathes life into the car...
National Flyball Championship helps dogs keep fit
Teams from all over Australia met up at the Hawkesbury Showground for the ultimate Flyball showdown over the October long weekend. The National Flyball Championship was hosted by Norwest Flyball Club and saw over 200 dogs and their runners, from 48 teams. Norwest...
Movember is a time to think about men’s mental health issues
Discussions around men's mental health is on the table again, with the annual Movember event a chance to open deeper conversations about wellbeing. Movember is a reminder for men to connect, signaling support for each other with a manly ‘stache'. More than 45 per cent...