One of those voices in New South Wales, Australia is Reverse Garbage, Australia’s largest creative reuse centre. A non-for-profit organisation built on the vision of a handful of teachers looking to break through the industrial discards and encourage a greener way of operation.

The Marrickville treasure trove of assorted goods spans over a site that diverts around 40,000 cubic metres of resources otherwise doomed for landfill. A major addition to the community, Reverse Garbage has become a favourite resource among artists, designers, educators, students, builders and companies looking for more sustainable options.
Mark Bond, involved in Reverse Garbage explains why it’s important to opt for reuse over contributing to waste.

“First and foremost, reuse is prolonging the life of an item or object and preventing it from going to waste in our landfills and polluting the environment,”

“Reuse maximises the utility of items … making a significant difference as it does not require new resources to make a new version of a product.”

The reuse of objects also has its benefits for your wallet as Mark agrees is also a ‘cost effective’ way to give items a ‘new purpose’.

“A school teacher recently remarked … Reverse Garbage is the best place if you have no budget.”

Reverse Garbage and places of the like are not only ways to save but hold an incredible array of quirky objects. Mark tells of the colourful pieces to grace the warehouse such as elegant dresses made from curtains and recycle bags, a giant Styrofoam Tyrannosaurus Rex and King Kong, a coffin (we can only hope not previously used), original Florence Broadhurst Wallpaper and various props from films such as Wolverine and The Great Gatsby.

The sustainable thinking of Reverse Garbage has also developed a creative department within their organisation that offers consultancy and design services to business and organisations for the utilisation of reuse materials for corporate and community events, fit outs and furnishings.

Creative departments within places such as Reverse Garbage have inspired charismatic and story-telling pieces to be used not just within interior design but raw building materials. Australia has seen an influx of reuse and recycled décor within both commercial and private interior design.

Pioneers of the future

Australian interior and event styling student Anthea Joy is among the generation of designers with an environmental conscience.  ‘Mustard Tree Designs’ is Anthea’s business and is a reflection of the current trends within Australia.

From the humble beginnings of sustainable design, Mustard Tree Designs is an example of how thought has evolved and is now reaching the generations. Anthea explains how she incorporates sustainability within her design palette.

“The sad thing is that so much of what is thrown away can be reused… I choose to rework objects as much as possible in my design in an effort to inspire others to do the same”

“There is something incredibly rewarding about taking a discarded object and making it something that can be cherished again.”

Anthea’s styling also reflects beyond an objects original use as she explains inspiration and her practise.

“I can find objects anywhere, op shops, garage sales, things left on the side of the street… I reuse a lot of bottles and jars… something as simple as repainting a corona bottle can create a whimsical little vase for freshly cut flowers”

“My biggest sources of inspiration are the internet and design magazines… I always deconstruct what someone else has done and reshape it to suit the context of my project… I’m like a plastic surgeon for furniture and décor!”

Mustard Tree Designs business ethics also reflect sustainability in the finer details. Anthea chose to go with a company that used recycled paper for her business cards to reduce the effects of deforestation.

“I might not get to see the forest I helped to plant in my lifetime but my children’s children will.”

The innovative thought that has come from sustainability’s vault reflects a society that is becoming accountable for not merely living but giving back. Years ago, ‘going green’ was an excuse for people to take fewer showers and grow out their hair. Which is a perfectly acceptable way of life in the scheme of things, but modern day sustainability and its students mean business and are challenging society to think outside the box.

To keep up to date with more on sustainability be sure to follow Reverse Garbage on Facebook and send your likes to Mustard Tree Designs!

- Emily Cassar -

My mother always had a saying when I was little, ‘Beauty is pain’, which never made sense to me when I was a child so I have no idea why it does now.

I will struggle into that dress that stopped fitting me a year ago, wear sky-high heels which leave me wobbling home at the end of the night and load my bag with ‘everything I need’, wondering all the while why my shoulder and back hurt at the end of the day.

I read an article in The Australian the other week, which showed that chiropractors deal with 2160 fashion related afflictions a year. Which made me ask why are we willing to sacrifice our health for fashion?

Thousands of women a day in our country stubble to work in heels, with bags full of who-knows-what. Lately I’ve even noticed those at uni rocking heels for a lecture. What’s with that ladies?

Of course, this make me feel a little better as it proves that I’m not the only one putting pain before comfort in the name of fashion. But you and me both know it shouldn’t be like that. So to those girls stumbling into uni on heels I ask you why?  What do you get out of it at the end of the day besides sore feet?

But I’m not here to judge. Ill still strap on a pair of gorgeous heels anyday, however I’ve now acknowledged that I have to factor in how much work (and sitting) I will be doing that day.

Just so I don’t feel so bad though let me know yourself, how much pain will you endure for fashion?

- Coralee Kelly -

I’m quite sure this applies to all of us as uni students: losing motivation.

I sometimes find myself bored and just lacking focus when it comes to uni work. What to do, what to do?

Say, procrastination is at the top of the list when one finds no fun or push to complete uni work.

Here’s the list of things I do in the time between losing motivation and finding the need to get some uni work done:

• Eye on social media: I literally just sit there scrolling through Facebook and Twitter in the hope of finding something interesting, even course-related perhaps to read and reflect on.

• Google: Googling anything remotely related to your studies is a good start. I mean, you are doing some uni work. Who knows what you’ll find.

• Want to work your brain, but not academically?

• Do puzzles. I find myself doing the puzzles from the back of the newspaper just to pass time. It’s also a great way to work the brain, then I realise I should be really doing some research or readings.

• Get creative: as I write this as a matter of fact, I’m pushing back the moment that I will actually get to my unit readings. So while you’re lacking a push, start drawing, writing, playing music, do whatever it is you do!  J

Please comment below on some tips you may have to get back into university work.

- Tina Huynh -

Music has to be the only thing that keeps me going when driving. And I’m sure that everyone can relate. It wakes you up in the morning, and keeps you alert throughout the day. Of course those three coffees, two energy drinks and the bunch of sugar you shoved down your throat today probably also helped. But does it affect the way you drive?

Driving home from uni last week, I noticed that hearing my favourite song on the radio produced a strange affect on me. This included: distracted with the radio controls, my foot ever so slightly pushing on the accelerator and my steering wheel becoming in sync with my wicked dance moves.

I’ve heard other stories as well, of friends getting speeding fines and blaming the loud dance music they were blasting. Or worse, having to explain to the parents about the ding in the car caused by absolutely having to turn the music up, or change the station depending on their preferences.

But is this avoidable for those our age? I would argue not. Well not in our generation anyway. We are basically saturated with music, and while we are stuck in that tin can all day it is our life! How can we possibly resist the chance to hear our favourite song one more time, change the cds to that amazing album you just bought (or downloaded) or change the station because they are playing that song again?

Perhaps some remedies to this problem would be having your favourite cd on, or more modernly putting your iPod onto your favourite playlist. This may help to resist the urge to change the station. Or else making the other people in the car your stereo bitches. I would use this with caution though; in my experience this has led to yelling and angry gestures.

It’s probably more accurate to say there is no fixing this problem, and just dealing with the accidents and tickets that happen along the way.

- Coralee Kelly

How to get one’s foot in the door? This metaphorical door would be the industry that you would work in upon completing university.

As I start my third and final year of study, I can’t help but ponder on the daunting process of finding paid work.

I do acknowledge that I am no career adviser, however, reflecting on the process that I have undertaken in the past few months seems like a good start. I would like to share my experiences and hopefully assist you in the process of searching for work experience, internships, jobs and other opportunities.

There are many platforms that are a great start. Countless students are unaware of the work of the UWS Careers and Cooperative Education office. Enrolled students have the chance to make an account on CareerHub, which allows you to search and apply for job opportunities, as well as information about your particular industry, tips on improving your resume, discussion forums and appointment spaces to see a careers adviser. CareerHub is a good starting point as it is something that only UWS students can access.

Being a student, experience is hard to come by, so the usual choice is to do unpaid work to gain some. SEEK has recently launched SEEK Volunteer. For those who want some experience, SEEK Volunteer is for you. You will find organisations that may need your skills and knowledge. There’s the opportunity to work in areas such as aged care, counselling, education and training, IT and web development, marketing, media and communications just to name a few. SEEK Volunteer also enables you to search for long or short term projects, as well as when to undertake them, like during the day, night or weekends.

Social media sites are another method of searching for opportunities. Facebook and Twitter sites of organisations that interest you may post up opportunities when they arise. So don’t forget to ‘Like’ and follow. Pedestrian.TV, a website on all things pop culture, has a fantastic jobs section. While it caters mostly to the creative industries, a casual browse won’t hurt. You may just find an enjoyable stint for the weekend or during the uni break.

Another thing I would like to bring up is subscription. It’s vital to subscribe to job sites like SEEK, CareerOne and Pedestrian.TV Jobs amongst other sites. Your subscription gives you access to new jobs once they arise, so they come to you instead of you finding them.

It’s essential to show potential employers the work that you have done. No matter what degree you are completing or the type of work you have done, it makes it easier for your potential employer to view your work.

Having worked with a marketing and communications manager for some work experience, the discussion of job seeking came up. I recall that the manager said it was important to show that you are passionate and show initiative, which sets you apart. Being a journalism student myself, the manager said it was great to see that I have established my own blog and really shown that I do want to become a writer. She said there have been cases where individuals say they want to do something or be someone, but there is a lack of evidence in their desire to.

Quite simply, it takes a lot to find that perfect job, or the opportunity to get some experience or do an internship. However, persistence is key, I’m sure you’ve heard that before. Perhaps my tips will help or perhaps they won’t, but it’s a start.

- Tina Huynh

Have I missed out on some key points? Maybe you’ve got a method for finding opportunities. Please comment below.

It’s that time of year folks. Whether you are excited or nervous about going to uni, allow writer Coralee Kelly to appease your concerns with her very own take on all things important to persevere at UWS.

Just like last year I’m back again to help you get through your first few weeks of uni. You could just be starting your uni experience and want to know what to expect and how on earth you are going to get through it or maybe your break was too long and you’ve just forgotten how to uni. It doesn’t matter, whenever you have a brain meltdown and forget how to study, live and play just turn to this guide and it will show you how to do things the right way, mostly.

How to drive
Those other drivers on the road are stupid, it’s not you trust me. Just speed so that you make that class, orange means go faster and those police cars will meet you at the uni. When parking don’t be polite, you saw that parking spot first. Don’t even worry about putting your hand-break on; something will catch your car, probably that lake at the bottom of the hill.

How to catch transport
Run for that train, pushing everyone out of the way while doing so. There will not be another one and you will be stranded so you better hurry up. When on the train find the seats with the most space and take up the whole space, especially if its peak hour. When at the stop before yours get ready to get off. Stand at the doors for the next five minutes and move awkwardly between them, you never know which is going to open and you need to be prepared!

How to use the library
Make sure you have as much fun as you can, making sure to make lots of noise in order to disrupt everyone around you. Don’t worry about bringing your own laptop; just take up all of the space on the few computers available. Also make sure you print out everything, trust me it’s necessary, and all those other people around you don’t need to use the printer.

How to study
Facebook is a necessity, you need to check it at least every 10 minutes so that you don’t go suicidal, it doesn’t matter if nobody has updated.Don’t worry about looking for books in your library, everything you need is on the Internet, in fact just do a quick Google search, it’ll tell you all you need to know on Wikipedia.

How to be a team player
Team meetings are optional; don’t even bother making friends with those in your team. In fact if you can be as unreliable as possible they’ll get the work done eventually. That one controlling member, who plans it all out and nothing is ever good enough for, will just end up doing it all themselves anyway. Going out and drinking with friends is waymore important.

Disclaimer: Don’t take anything I have said into consideration, in fact do the opposite and you will find life much easier. Except drinking with friends, that is always important.

- Coralee Kelly

Positive affirmations are positive phrases that you repeat to yourself each day which describe want to be or achieve.  It is releasing that little voice inside you that encourages you to achieve your best.

These affirmations are one of the most powerful life strategies to use when gaining motivation to complete study, and are a great tool to use each day.

Eventually, they sink into your subconscious and become reality as you believe your inner self.  These powerful thoughts overwrite any negative beliefs - they become a self fulfilling prophecy and actually become true, instilling ambition, confidence, and a drive for change.  They can not only be used for university, but for other life goals too, as it is the basis of developing a positive mindset.

Try writing your own positive affirmations.  The trick is to imagine your goal and what you want to become and visualise that you are already there.

Some examples are:

• “I am smart.”
• “I am doing it!”
• “I have progressed.”
• “I love myself.”
• “I choose happiness and freedom and allow wonderful things to flow into my life.”

The following are examples of Positive Affirmation rom website BrainMass that will help you study:

• “I find studying enjoyable and rewarding.”
• “I am a successful student.”
• “I have the power to learn and understand ANYTHING.”
• “My academic efforts are opening doors for me.”
• “Everything I encounter is a lesson and teaches me something.”
• “I believe in, have trust in and have confidence in myself.”
• “I never ever give up.”
• “My skills and knowledge make me a great student.”
• “I am committed to expanding my mind and reaching for the top.”
• “My studies and efforts are making me a better person.”

Positive affirmations are best used when first waking up in the morning, so you wake excited, and ready to take on a new day.  Try to display them wherever you are able to see it as a constant reminder such as in your car, on your mirror, or on your diary.

To finish, keep a ‘Gratitude Journal’ and write down five things you are grateful for in the day.  This will help remind you and instil self-love and appreciation.

Through positive thought, you can achieve whatever you want!  Start controlling your mind today and knock over those assignments!

A number of these positive affirmations can be found at: http://brainmass.com/blog/study-skills/10-affirmations-study/

Image via femaleentrepreneurassociation.com

Readings, assignments, exams, classes, work – it can all become overwhelming.  Most of us forget the important things, such as healthy eating and exercise – that not only make you look good physically – but also help your mind concentrate so you feel more refreshed and ready to take on each day!

So how do you eat clean, train mean, party hard AND conquer uni?  The key – ORGANISATION.

Follow these simple steps to managing it all:
1. USE A DIARY.

Have a diary and write down a food and exercise plan each day.  Food is fuel of the body that helps keep us going.  Fill your belly with nutrients and it will reward you.  Steer away from any processed foods and stick to loads of fruits and vegetables.

2. DRINK WATER.

Drink at least 2 litres a day- however, aim for 3 litres!  There are so many benefits with water consumption.  A simple Google search will list them all.

3. EAT BANANAS.

Bananas are a great source of energy.  Have a banana while you are doing an assignment – great for a boost.

4. CONSUME IRON AND PROTEIN.

Iron and protein are a huge fuel of energy.  A deficiency in these can leave you tired and fatigued.  THINK GREEN!  Vegetables such as spinach, broccoli and also seeds, herbs, beans and meats, such as breast chicken or lean beef.

5. PRIORITISE your work.

In your diary, write down a plan of what is the most important assignments to do and conquer them first.

6. SEE FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

Don’t forget, you can become so buried in your books you may also forget your family and friends.  Your social life is also extremely important.

7. BE ACTIVE.

Exercise for at least 30 minutes a day.  You don’t have to go to a gym!  Each morning you should get up and walk for 45 minutes before you begin your day (it will be hard at first but after a couple of times, your body will become used to it and crave it! I don’t even need an alarm).  If walking is not your thing, try something else!  Swimming, boxing, bike riding -  any exercise is good, just be active!  Working out is best done in the morning –  it will revitalize your mind and body and leave you fresh to take on the day.

HOT TIP: Get a buddy!  Studies show if you go through this journey with a friend, it will help you stay on track and are more likely to succeed.

Live well, and get the most out of each and every day.

Image via greatist.com

I will soon no longer be between the awkward age of eighteen to twenty, where still met with slight leniency for having my Learner’s licence.  I now fear the few raised eyebrows I receive in discussions will instead be snickers or questioning into why I am still only able to drive whilst supervised.  This, of course, is provided I still have my licence, with it set to expire in January; the licence with an incorrect address, the one that puzzles security guards after such a dramatic hairstyle change from my sixteen-year-old self.

CityRail has acted as my main mode of transportation, and I very much know the frustrations of track work, delayed trains, and when the conductor exclaims ‘the 6:48 train to Museum has been cancelled this morning… I repeat, passengers on Platform 1, the 6:48 train to Museum is cancelled’.  As if, just in case, we didn’t hear the first time.  I know the frustration of having to rely on others, the awkward exchange when they don’t accept my slight monetary offerings, thanking them for the use of their petrol and time.

I often imagine what it would be like to drive, with the music that I like, to distant destinations, or to have my job prospects not limited to those on the train lines.  Sure, at times I haven’t minded not having a car, with none of the financial burden or maintenance costs and limiting my environmental impact – but taxi fares add up, and when coming home late from work sometimes, this becomes an only option.

I hope by my twenty first birthday I’ll be gifted with a Provisional Licence, and the independence that comes with it.

“They were just throwing them out, so rather than doing that I’d take it home and recycle it [the bike]. I’d build another bike from a number of bikes.”

After the official launch of the Bicycle Recycle Program in 2008, Mr Lewis has developed the program along with the help of Blacktown City Council and Housing NSW’s Eco Wise Community Grants Program. The overwhelming support from the community has seen over 400 bikes contributed to the cause and over 300 bikes given away to children within the Blacktown Local Government Area.

As well as general donations to the community, the bicycles can be specifically customized to suit the new owner.

“We make the bike up to suit the person,” says Mr Lewis.

Three bikes have been specifically tailored for disabled residents, and one case last year saw Nick Carter, a young man unable to ride a conventional bike due to a severe disability, receiving a bicycle customized with training wheels to aid him.

Various organizations have also becomes involved with the Bicycle Recycle Program, including the Parklea Correction Centre which allows those who have made mistakes to participate in the community and “right their wrongs.” Other partners include the Salvation Army Job Link Program and Mount Druitt Probabtion and Parole.

The award-winning scheme is an environmentally friendly initiative to encourage waste reduction and prevent illegal dumping. The Bicycle Recycle Program also aims to promote a practical way to reduce the community’s impact on the environment through the re-use and recycling of objects within homes.

For more information on Blacktown City Council’s Bicycle Recycle Program visit http://www.blacktown.nsw.gov.au/news-and-events/news-releases/blacktown-citys-bicycle-recycle-program.cfm or phone 9839 6000 during office hours.

Story by Hayley Shute, Gayna Sullivan, Nicholas Yule, Lauren Wallace and Jack Bartlett