YSA Newsletter – Autumn 2009 - The Young Scientists of Australia

CONTENTS
2. From the Editor
13. NatCamp 2009
3. From the President
14. Socials Reports
4. 2009 Committee Profiles
19. Upcoming Socials
9. Handover Weekend
10. Sci-Liaison: Volunteer!
From the Editor
Okay, so I may have given you all the
impression that you’d be rid of me by
now... But I just can’t keep away from
YSA!
I’m back for another year of science-y
goodness, with Emily taking over the
reigns of communications mistress.
But what are you waiting for? It’s been
months since the last issue- get to it!
Victor
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From the President
Also in this issue, you can read all about
the frivolity of the PVD and Presidents
dinner, to the intellectual challenges of the
Trivia night, to the physical challenges of
the annual YSA amazing race.
Finally, keep your eyes peeled for the new
generation of quick and easy YSA fortnightly socials to start very soon! These 12 hr weekend socials will encompass what
YSA does best, both science and socialising, all in a convenient form for those who
work weekends, those who have to travel
long distances and those that can’t afford
to be devoting a half a day or more to a regular social. Great for uni or HSC students
flooded with assignments or exams.
So read on and find out about all the great
things YSA has been up to and all the great
things coming up that you could be a part
of!
Until next time, Kara
For those of you who don’t know me, my
name is Kara and I’ll be your president for
the 2009-2010 period. Following the departure of former presidents Pat and Dunstan, I know I have huge shoes to fill, but I
will endeavour to fill them as best I can.
The year has started off with a bang: a new
committee, a stack of great socials, and
soon to come are a great range of science
activities so that those of you who feel the
need to can increase your SCARS!
In this issue of the star studded YSA newsletter, you can read about the life and times
of the new committee. There are a stack of
new faces on the committee this year, all
with a stack of new ideas on how to make
the YSA you know and love even better.
3
The
2009
Committee
Profiles
Name: Kara Gunter
AKA: Madame President
Position: President
YSA email: president@sydney.ysa.org.au
Studying/Occupation: PhD Biological Science at the University of Newcastle
Favourite YSA memory: Evacuating E7B at Mac Uni during the TSSE Science Show
Goal for YSA 2009: To increase active membership, YSA’s
image and make YSA even more of a smashing good time!
If you had a secret drawer, what would you hide in it? Chocolate, Coke, Coffee and a bottle of vintage dodgy juice!
(What else is a PhD student suppose to live off?!)
Name: Stephanie Momsen
AKA: Sneffy, “The Smiter”, Ziggy
Position: Vice-President
YSA email: vice-president@sydney.ysa.org.au
Studying/Occupation: Bachelor of Science (advanced), 2nd
Year, gonna do physics
Favourite YSA memory: ISS’05. Pat asked me, “What do
you think of when I say crusty, but moist?” That’s when I
knew I had to join YSA.
Goal for YSA 2009: Have the right number of fingers in the
right number of pies
If you had a secret drawer, what would you hide in it? An
endless supply of kangaroo thesis steak. So good. And possibly Victor.
Name: Matthew Heskett
AKA: Vlad
Position: Treasurer
YSA email: treasurer@sydney.ysa.org.au
Studying/Occupation: Paint Chemist at Wattyl Paints
Favourite YSA memory: Bonfire at YSA Brisbane Camp,
many years ago!
Goal for YSA 2009: Keep YSA Sydney afloat!
If you had a secret drawer, what would you hide in it? A pen
- everyone always seems to steal mine when I need them!
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Name: Lisa Kim
AKA: Some of my friends call me “Full Moon” because
my face is so round...
Position: Secretary
YSA email: secretary@sydney.ysa.org.au
Studying/Occupation: Studying Bachelor of Psychology at The University of Sydney
Favourite YSA memory: Whilst playing The Analyst at
YSA Handover weekend this year, describing our treasurer (Matthew Heskett) as a tromobone... BUT HE REALLY DOES LOOK LIKE A TROMBONIST!!!
Goal for YSA 2009: To make YSA members happy people with colourful and cuddly Carebears! I should go
and buy some!
If you had a secret drawer, what would you hide in it?
Blocks of chocolate, which I binge on when I’m stressed.
But it’s not so necessary to have a ‘secret drawer’ for it.
I already have a drawer with all my sweets! Go high on
sugar when you’re studying! Yay! :)
Name: Bernadette Phu
AKA: Bernie
Position: Science Liaison Officer
YSA email: b.phu@ysa.org.au or sci-liaison@sydney.
ysa.org.au
Studying/Occupation: Combined degrees in Science
and Commerce at UNSW.
Favourite YSA memory: Macquarie TSSE 2009 - Sushi (Jo) was playing Honey I Love You and despite her
charms a brave Year 9 student managed to keep his face
completely straight... Until she pulled out an imaginary
rose, sniffed it with gusto, then placed it firmly between
her teeth before flinging herself onto one knee with arms
wide. At which point, everyone in the circle laughed.
Goal for YSA 2009: To spread the magic of YSA far
and wide until no one can hide from it’s glory, nor wants
to!
If you had a secret drawer, what would you hide in it?
That’s for me to know and you to find out!
5
I can be afraid of something I
don’t believe in, my mind’s
flexible like that.
- Steph
Name: Emily Sandrussi
AKA: Em, Ems, Ember, Sandy, Sally, The Druce,
Bizarro Emily, Emeneh
Position: Communications Director... apparently.
YSA email: communications@sydney.ysa.org.au
Studying/Occupation: Bachelor of Visual Arts, major photomedia, second year.
Favourite YSA memory: The moment I realised I
had finally found a group of people who are just as
crazy as me.
Goal for YSA 2009: Survive?
If you had a secret drawer, what would you hide in
it? Yay! Finally somewhere to hide the bodies!
Name: Jennifer Morse
AKA: Jen
Position: Socials Coordinator
YSA email: j.morse@ysa.org.au or
socials@sydney.ysa.org.au
Studying/Occupation: Student at St Vincent’s College
Favourite YSA memory: Setting the alarm off at
TSSE by burning slime then returning to playing
around with liquid nitrogen :)
Goal for YSA 2009: To encourage more younger
people to join YSA
If you had a secret drawer, what would you hide in
it? Nutella :P mmm
Name: Eliot Redelman
AKA: jElly // PI // (Hey who are you?)
Position: Socials Coordinator
YSA
email:
e.redelman@ysa.org.au
or
socials@sydney.ysa.org.au
Studying/Occupation: Year 12 HSC (DEATH)
Favourite YSA memory: Amazing Race
Goal for YSA 2009: SCARS all the way - jump a
few levels
If you had a secret drawer, what would you hide in
it? A box of secret stuff - mostly linked to nostalgic
memories... maybe some rocks. I have a box with
some cows teeth on my desk... maybe some seashells. Or if you wanna go with - the power of 1000
smiles to be released at my own will... but I don’t
need a box for that. :)
6
Name: Mitchell Murphy
AKA: Murph/ Murphalicious/ Norway
Position: Socials MWOP
YSA email: m.murphy@ysa.org.au or mwop@sydney.
ysa.org.au
Studying/Occupation: Environmental Science at
UOW
Favourite YSA memory: Listening to Pat wanting to
visit Norway...
Goal for YSA 2009: To be a part of something monumental that will ensure YSA success and numbers for
many years to come.
If you had a secret drawer, what would you hide in it?
My innocence, that way none can take it from me =]
Name: Kelsey Palghat
AKA: You know, “That American Girl”!
Position: Executive MWOP
YSA email: k.palghat@ysa.org.au or mwop@sydney.
ysa.org.au
Studying/Occupation: HSC year, EEK! KincoppalRose Bay.
Favourite YSA memory: The fire alarms going off in
the Great Disasters lecture at USYD TSSE, just after
the lecturer said, “I hope this doesn’t set off the fire
alarms!”. We all watched hesitantly as the smoke from
the exploding gunpowder wafted across the ceiling. I
SWEAR it was in slow motion! OH! Or the time I was
asked what my UAI was at my first TSSE at age 14... I
looked at my shoes and ran away swiftly. NOT an approach I would recommend. I would have to say those
two are a tie for the first one to jump into my head!
Goal for YSA 2009: To spread the YSA world domination...
If you had a secret drawer, what would you hide in it?
A magical world... or did I just steal that from Narnia?
Hmmm, my head tends to plagiarise.
Name:Jacqui Loprete
AKA: Jack, Loprete, Hey you!
Position: Sci Liasion MWOP
YSA email: j.loprete@ysa.org.au or mwop@sydney.
ysa.org.au
Studying/Occupation: M.B.,B.S. at UWS
Favourite YSA memory: TSSE exchange to Melbourne
7
Goal for YSA 2009: To spread our name and works
out as far wide as we can, and for this year’s committee to be known as the party committee!
If you had a secret drawer, what would you hide in it?
Well, I’d probably put my-wait... you can’t fool me
that easily!
Name: Lilian Phillips-Kirkwood
AKA: Lil
Position: Science Liason MWOP
YSA email: l.p-k@ysa.org.au or mwop@sydney.ysa.
org.au
Studying/Occupation: High School (Yr 10)
Favourite YSA memory: TSSE
Goal for YSA 2009: Have a better social life, play
with chemicals and laugh at jokes only nerds get!
If you had a secret drawer, what would you hide in it?
My chocolate stash
Name: Sylvia Chin
AKA: Shiny
Position: Science Liason MWOP
YSA email: s.chin@ysa.org.au or mwop@sydney.
ysa.org.au
Studying/Occupation: Yr 10 Student
Favourite YSA memory: TSSE and YSA in a day
Goal for YSA 2009: To immerse myself in this niche
of nice craziness
If you had a secret drawer, what would you hide in it?
My manga, animes and cosplay costumes.
Name: Matthew Dunn
AKA: Victor
Position: Editor
YSA email: editor@sydney.ysa.org.au
Studying/Occupation: Science and Arts at ANU
Favourite YSA memory: Does Michie’s gravitational
pull at the formal dinner for ISS’05 count?
Goal for YSA 2009: Two eliiminate typoes inn teh
newslettre.
If you had a secret drawer, what would you hide in it?
Letters from my host family, YSA paraphernalia and
my map to pirate gold.
8
Handover weekend
As my bus wound its
way over the treacherous mountains, I couldn’t
help but wonder what this
year’s handover weekend would be like. There
would be old faces and
new, delicious food and
hours of productive planning, to be sure. What I
didn’t count on was murder.
On the Saturday night,
after a day of portfolio
planning and a general
exchange of information,
dates and goals, we were
all ready for a nice relaxing dinner. Unfortunately our enjoyment of Michie’s brilliant cooking was marred by terrible news: the president’s son had been assassinated.
Reader: Hold up a sec, I didn’t know Kara had a son...
Author: Quiet you! It was one of Dunstan’s famous murder mysteries!
Thrown into a deceptive world of politics, money and bodyguards, we all tried to piece
together the mystery (and avoid becoming the next victim). However, in this task, the vast
majority of us failed, and in the end, nuclear war was only narrowly averted by the actions of
a plucky young aide *cough* Jun *cough*.
Thankfully ghosts can enjoy chocolate mousse cake. Pat, you’re officially a skills set.
- Checks
Matthew ‘Victor’ Dunn
9
Sci-Liaison: Volunteer!
National Science Week
National Science Week is coming up! Yes, once again, it’s that exciting time of year when you
can literally smell science in the air (if you have very good nostrils), and there are plenty of
opportunities for you to get involved and spread the joy and wonder that is science!
This year National Science Week runs from 15 – 23 August 2009. All the old and familiar
events will be happening like Science in the City at the Australian Museum and the Ultimo
Science Festival, plus lots of new events!
Check out http://www.scienceweek.gov.au/Pages/index.aspx regularly for updates
about events that are happening near you! Stay tuned for more info
about opportunities to volunteer during National Science Week
as part of YSA! And remember, every one (1) day of
participation counts as a Level 1 SCARS
Activity!
Please RSVP to Ber
nie at sci-liaison@sydney.ysa.
org.au by the appropriate closing date, with
your name, contact details and available
times.
Yet another Science and Engineering Chal- Those who would like to volunteer at any of
lenge (SEC) is coming up soon! If you missed the SEC events in rural NSW, please email
out on your chance to be at the Sydney Uni Bernie to submit your interest and/or request
SEC, then make sure you put these dates into more info!
your diary!
Science
and Engineering
Challenge
•26–27 May @ ACT (RSVP by 22 May)
•10–11 June @ Wollongong (RSVP by 8
June)
•29 June @ University of Western Sydney,
Kingswood (RSVP by 26 June)
•1 – 3 July @ Macquare University (RSVP by
29 June)
•7 July @ University of NSW (RSVP by 3
July)
•17 July ISS Challenge @ Sydney University
(RSVP by 13 July)
•30 – 31 July Sydney/ACT Super Challenge
@ Macquarie University (RSVP by 27 July)
International
Science School
The Professor Harry Messel International Science School (ISS) for 2009 is running from
12 – 25 July This year’s theme is Genes to
Galaxies, and as usual, it will be a splendiferous event with workshops, activities, lectures
and socials packed into 2 weeks which will be
spent around the beautiful campus of Sydney
University.
YSA has the unique opportunity every year to
Itwith
works
well with
bbq
be MK:
involved
thereally
ISS, which
sees participants from all over
the world travel to Austrachicken...
numberAnd
of famous
Note: A short briefing session usually runs a lia, and has aAnne:
cats. speakers like
few days before each SEC (dates and times the Honourable Justice Robert French and Dr.
Karl Kruszelnicki.
TBA).
10
If you would like to participate, please
email Bernie at sci-liaison@sydney.
ysa.org.au by 1 July. And stay tuned
for more details!
Psst, have you
counted your
SCARS
recently?
Forgotten what SCARS stands for?
Never really understood it in the first
place?
SCARS is the acronym for the Science Communcation Accreditation and Recognition Scheme
of YSA Sydney Inc. This is YSA’s very own extra-special and super-awesome way to reward
you for all the hard work you put in!
What makes it so unique is that it allows you to chart your development as a science communicator to the youth of Australia. We all know that YSA gives you a huge amount of skills,
knowledge and experience, so SCARS is a way of recording everything you do and helping
you to achieve more!
Based on the number and type of contribution you put into YSA, we rate your level of science
communication on a scale of 1-5 different Levels or Grades – this means you can show off
your talents in your résumé or CV, your senior leadership qualifications, your extracurricular
activities portfolio, your Duke of Edinburgh, your work experience folder, and anything else
it might be useful for! Every single activity you participate in which benefits YSA, actually
benefits you because it goes straight into your SCARS record!
This year is turning out to be a particularly busy year in both the Australian scientific world
and the YSA calendar, so now is the best chance for you to get involved and start collecting
more SCARS!
For more info about this system and how you
can fast-track your way to the next Level,
check the YSA forums on the YSA website!
You can also email the Science Liaison Team
at sci-liaison@sydney.ysa.org.au
11
That’s the thing with YSA, we’re good
with props.
- Victor
ery article you write for the newsletter or YSA
website is recorded into your SCARS histoYSA is kick-starting a new regular event ry and will count towards your total SCARS
called the YSA Science Meet-Ups!
grading.
YSA Science Meet-Ups
The plan is very simple: every fortnight, we’ll
hold a short 1 hour meet-up, where we run an
activity or a discussion. Every fortnight, the
topic will be different! There’s only one rule:
it must be about science!
The article can be about anything related to
science. E.g.
•
an interesting scientific principle you
learnt in school
•
a recent current affair or piece of science-related news
•
fun trivia facts about a particular topic
or famous person
•
a new discovery in science
•
invention of new technology
•
issues in climate change and environmental science
•
etc.
You don’t have to come to every meet-up, but
you’re encouraged to attend as many as you
can. It’s a fun and informal chance to catch
up with your friends, meet some new people,
and most importantly, talk about science with
other enthusiastic young people! And best of
all, it happens every fortnight, no matter what!
The time and day will change each fortnight,
but it will always be held during the day on a It only needs to be 1⁄2 - 1 page long, and
Saturday or Sunday.
there’s no limit to how many articles you submit. Writing articles for YSA publication is
You don’t have to RSVP to every meet-up, but completely voluntary.
you will be required to notify the Organiser If you want to see your name in the Winter
when you arrive and leave, just so we can keep 2009 newsletter, send your article to Matthew
a track of how many people have attended. Dunn at editor@sydney.ysa.org.au by 10th
Suggestions for discussion topics and activi- July 2009 in .doc format, or in the body of the
ties are welcome from everyone, and should email.
be posted on the relative thread in the YSA
forums! Stay tuned for details about the next
meet-up! Check the forums and your email inbox regularly!
YSA is performing science shows at high
schools all around Sydney!
For more info, visit the YSA forums or email If you would like to see YSA give a fun and
sci-liaison@sydney.ysa.org.au
interactive science show at your school with
all the exciting, funny and familiar demos
you’ve come to love, email Bernie at sciliaison@sydney.ysa.org.au with your name,
Did you know that you can publish your own school, school phone number, and the name
articles in our quarterly YSA newsletter? It of your science teacher.
can even contribute to your SCARS Level.
School Visits
Newsletter Articles
Writing is a form of communication, isn’t it?
And SCARS is a measure of the experience
you have as a science communicator! So ev12
Well, I am a fairy-godmother-ninja...
- Bernie
NatCamp 2009
“So be it!” the soothsayer said.
Spitting like venom from a cobra.
He swung around and sat on his
haunches and whispered, “The rumours are true for once... there is a
place where all the dreams of unity
and cohabitation amongst chapters
is reached. Where much fun is had
and surprisingly little sugar is supplied...”
He trailed off, looking into the distance as the two fearsome warriors
stood stern and brave in his presence. The soothsayer had previously
led them astray with much trickery,
and yet had never spoken falsely.
This had to end well, as much was at stake.
They were representing the realm of Sydney
at the fabled land of Natcamp. Much would be
learnt, traded and experienced to further the
cause of YSA.
camp and all of them had much to share. To
put down in words the wonder and stories of
Natcamp seems easy but is difficult to explain. The event is all about the people and
their common interest in promoting science
to the youth of Australia. The people themNatcamp ’09 is an event held every year for selves are wonderful people and all well
YSA members across the country. This year worth knowing.
saw it in a remote location a few hours north
of Brisbane. Lisa Kim and myself attended it, The most important thing is that although
and it was one of the best YSA experiences Natcamp ’09 was incredible, it is Sydney’s
possible. The days consisted of many hours of turn next year, and it will be up to us to ofincredibly fun activities such as charades, re- fer something just as amazing. Brisbane has
verse charades, raft building, a ropes course, set the bar very high, so for those wanting
campfires, an incredibly frustrating activity to know more, ask Lisa or myself. We had a
run by YSA Sydney, Brisbane itself and scav- great time and would love an opportunity to
enger hunts. It was a jam-packed YSA roller share it with others.
coaster that really can not be described unless
Mitchell Murphy
experienced. The atmosphere is one of wholehearted warmness and people of extraordinary
character and quirky attributes. The whole experience was run from start to finish this year
by members of the YSA Brisbane Executive I’m game, just get me some bunny ears
and because of them 50+ young people had
-Steph
a tremendous three days. There were people
from every chapter of YSA present at Nat13
Pre-
Socials Reports
Valentine’s Day Dinner
Valentine’s Day can be a dreary affair. I mean We basked in each other’s company for some
sure the cute name calling is nice and who
time in the midst of some very fine food and
doesn’t like roses and chocolate?
even got given roses by the lovely Sushi.
Sadly, we had to leave but our night wasn’t
But it’s just not the same when you’re alone. over, we still needed some ice cream.
So, packing away the romantic candles for
another year, I headed to Town Hall for YSA
Sydney’s PVD – a long lasting tradition. It
was a rain soaked evening and we took ownership of what little cover the top of Town
Hall’s steps offered – huddled together, our
spirits were as bright as ever on that grey
evening.
Walking, no, battling rather, though the vicious rain (come on, hum ‘Eye of the Tiger’
with me) we finally reached Wagamama.
Exhausted, soaked and slightly mad with
hunger, I fell in love at first sight. Maybe it
was the succulent flesh, or the sensations that
followed on my tongue...Yes, the joy of a
well cooked Barramundi on a bed of rice is
indescribable.
Go on, it’s okay. Shed a tear for love.
Now, hold on to your Kleenexes (don’t
worry, it all ends well), and be ready to gasp
shockingly with me – the ice cream bar was
closed! Closed! Like the door of a cruel
lover.
Just as I began to rock back and forth –
“Wanna share a chocolate cake?”
A rhetorical question if ever I heard one.
Also needless to say, the Barramundi was in
the back of my mind before I knew it.
Finally, with the rain stopped but its smell
still in the air, Pat and Jo began a slow tango. I looked at my watch, and counted the
seconds before it ticked over to the 14th of
February.
Jun Tong
14
President’s Banquet
On the 20th of March, some hungry but well
dressed YSA members and friends turned
up at Ya Habibi in King St, Newton. For the
next few hours they stuffed themselves full of
good and plentiful Lebanese food. There was
no shortage of talk and laughter, despite the
unusual seating arrangements. We had found
ourselves in the ‘cushion room’, a small,
warm, private room in which we sat on— you
guessed it— cushions around little tables.
This proved an issue for some of our longerlegged members, but it was soon forgotten in
the spirit of the occasion. After finishing most
of our food we watched and participated in a
performance by a very skilled belly-dancer,
whose talent of shimmying while balancing
sharp swords on various parts of her body was
bewildering. The President’s Banquet was an
excellent and delicious way to welcome in the
new committee.
Lilian Phillips-Kirkwood
15
This is how people get on the hedge.
-Dunstan
YSA in a Day
In February YSA held the inaugural ‘YSA in a
Day’ to welcome new recruits from the TSSE
season. Its purpose was to replace the “posttsse social” held in previous years, and in my
opinion, greatly exceeded its purpose. There
were so many awesome things that day that it
has all turned into a blur. I will do my best to
recap the highlights of each.
We started with a mini amazing race, starting in Hyde Park and ending in The Domain.
There was the impossibly difficult card house
to build on the art museum steps and a slight
breeze that day... we ended up folding the
Scott’s cards.... sorry! Shiny was on my team,
and her logic skills were all that got us through
the logic puzzle about various YSA members
and the movie they had recently watched. The
code on the tubes was also very difficult.... but
in the end, all the teams completed it. It was a
great taste of the larger amazing race that was
to come in April!
The engineering challenge was so much fun!
I always love things that mix my passions for
art and science together in some sort of logical creative mash. The ‘Staffy Voiceovers Of
DOOM!’ (aka. SVOD, my team) won the challenge to make a minipult (like a catapult, but
mini, who would’ve guessed!) which could
launch a golf ball into a hoop some distance
away. It’s always great to see all the different ideas and designs in this kind of challenge.
We young scientists are very innovative.
We were also taken on a very informative tour
of the herbarium. I think I speak for all of us
when I say that I was amazed at the age of
some of the plant samples that dated back to
the voyage of Captain Cook! We were shown
how to send in our own samples to be classified too.
There was a ‘meet the Senior YSAers’ session
also, where the mingling continued. We broke
into groups and used a prop to display a scientific effect. The older members shared their
wisdom with us young folk, some of them
have gotten pretty crusty!
Overall, it was a wonderful day, with many
memorable events. A great new addition to the
YSA traditions. *giggles ‘cause that rhymed*
16
Kelsey Palghat
read the map – a major LOL on our part. For
my first amazing race; I would suggest the
amazing race to anyone who doesn’t mind
walking around for a day.
It was heaps of fun. Starting at about 9:30am
Eliot Redelman
and taking for the final teams about 5 hours
including a delicious lunch break in there.
First stop was find a street not on a map. A
reference to the ice-cream social on King St.
Then a race to the bone identification chal- Late one evening in North Strathfield, several
lenge. I still think that thing could have been young scientists decided to test their strength
a dog bone. Engineering challenge in the in a game we like to call bowling. Simple
park – build boats. Our team didn’t go so well rules with a simple goal which actually isn’t
– but that’s okay we were pardoned on time too easy to reach as some found out. Although
limits. Then a game of I-spy. Find a loaf of some of us fell flat on our faces, it was a great
bread. There was a group who bought the loaf opportunity to catch up with old friends, make
in order to show evidence of that, although it some new ones and to sing and dance along
wasn’t necessary. A game of charades and a to great crappy songs such as ‘Bob the buildsudoku later. We headed to the Powerhouse er’ and ‘Wannabe’ by the Spice Girls – Sushi
Museum. A scavenger game to find the an- amazingly knew all the words.
swers and we were off to lunch. Ten minutes Once we had all become friends, we had to
and a few more to do the crossword and we save each other’s lives in the terrifying laser
were off to find some shops, all the way navi- skirmish. YSA against a couple of groups of
gating through the streets safely and accord- randoms. Obviously, as YSA is home to some
very smart and strategic soldiers, we won with
ing to the road rules.
The final challenge was to find the clue in a blazing colours. Another war won – science
can of spaghetti. Overall it was a load of fun. once again has saved the day!
Jennifer Morse
Lots of running. A couple of times we mis-
The
Amazing
Race
(also know as the ‘epic’ amazing race)
Bowling and Laser
Skirmish
17
Trivia
What do you get when you mix a view of the
city skyline and intriguing facts with a dire
need for science show equipment? That’s
right, the YSA Sydney Trivia Fundraiser!
Big thanks must go to Michelle Kopac and
her helpers for organising the event. Without their weeks of planning, hours of effort
and trays of delicious brownies, the event
wouldn’t have been the wonder that it was.
Hosted by the always-amusing Dunstan, and
accommodated in the classy Australian Museum, the affair couldn’t have been anything
but a success. (Also, I was on Pat’s table, and
that always helps if you’re looking for success in trivia.)
Matthew ‘ Victor’ Dunn
Mich: Darjeeling is the Rolls Royce
of tea. Irish breakfast is the
potato of tea.
It was one of the best trivia ‘afternoons’ I’ve
ever been to, and trust me, I’ve been to a few.
In no other have I seen such a dazzling array
of puzzles, sound clips and games. Nor have
I ever seen a tower-building contest turn into
(rather modern) art. But YSA is always full
of surprises.
Steph: If that’s the same analogy, are
you trying to eat the Rolls Royce or
drive the potato?
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Upcoming Socials
Regressive dinner
Save the date !
Murder mystery 2009
Ancient Greece !
We understand that sometimes dinThis year’s Murder Mystery takes us
ners can be boring, the same boring old
back to Ancient Greece, and specifically Mount Olympus, where Zeus and structure. So we’ve decided to spice up
your life with a regressive dinner. For
the other Gods are trying to solve a
those who don’t know what this is, we
dark mystery that has seen one of the
will travel to three different locations
three Fates killed. Mortals and Gods
will have to work together to figure out and firstly have dessert, then main and
finally entrées. This social will be held
who is behind this sinister event, but
beware: things are not as they seem... on Saturday 27th of June, with the locations TBA. Hit the YSA forums closer
to the date for finalised details.
Participants in the Murder Mystery will
be given a description of their character prior to the event, once they RSVP,
which will include costume suggestions. Included in the cost of the night
is a fabulous three-course dinner courtesy of none other than the magnificent
Michelle Dodd, and lots of fun and
mayhem!
Date: 30th May 2009
Time: 6pm-10.30pm
Where: 2 York St Beecroft
Cost: $20 per person
RSVP: 27th May 2009 to
socials@sydney.ysa.org.au
Checks: She is overcome with grief...
Bernie: And cheese.
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Copyright YSA Sydney 2009