Chess as a hobby or an obsession? || Photo by GR Stocks on Unsplash “So… what’s your chess.com rating?” The single statement that follows pretentious silence on the giant chess board of our South Parramatta campus. But what is the sudden obsession with chess, and why...
Culture Vulture
There’s something about the Matildas: how the Tillies have made Aussie fans feel mighty and seen.
Credit: Jason Charters | Unsplash The 2023 Women’s World Cup has highlighted how the Matildas have the midas touch for bringing Aussies together and making them feel mighty and seen - and it’s not only girls and women’s soccer that have come out on top. Coach Tony...
Rising from the underground: unleashing the sound of The Red
The Red: Left to right – Nick, Finn, Hallelujah and Corey || Photos by Julia Bell Australian bands have always had their place in rock. From the likes of INXS and ACDC to newer indie bands such as Lime Cordiale and Spacey Jane, Australia has provided fertile soil for...
Barbie Film Review: Notes from Barbie on the ageing girlhood and the dread of being.
With the release of Greta Gerwig’s most anticipated film of 2023, the world dreams sweet in cowboy hats and pink nostalgia as Barbie navigates the haunt of an imperfect girlhood. A running theme across Greta’s filmography and her own characters in films such as...
Chained to the rhythm
For many of us, platforms like iTunes and Spotify can be our solace. Whether it be plugging in your headphones or air pods for some tunes while studying, heading to class, or riding the shuttle home. Why is that? And what is up with our obsession with music? Well, put...
How TikTok works and why you should use it
By Joshua Thomas TikTok accelerates businesses discovering musicians, the music industry creating genuine fans. Driving music discovery there are many features such as filtering views, make another cover from another song, create duet videos, control privacy and...
Artist Shan Primrose on ‘Dog’s Breakfast’ and people leaving ciggies and condoms as offerings at her exhibition
Burmese-Australian visual artist from Melbourne, Shan Primrose decided it was time in late November 2021 to honour her dual identity through art when her solo exhibition, Dogs breakfast came to life. The 26-year-old artist’s craftwork exhibits influences of Australian...
Cinephile recommends 10 foreign flicks you need to watch at least once in your lifetime
Amongst the ever-evolving chaotic world that we now live in, the undying industry of cinema remains true to its art which is why it is a treasure I always hold on to as it allows me to explore the oh so interesting lives of others vicariously through the screens....
The blossoms are back for the 2022 Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival
The Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival (シドニー桜祭り) has finally begun! From Saturday, August 20th to Sunday, August 28th, visit Auburn Botanic Gardens for Western Sydney’s very own slice of Japan. Cumberland City Council welcomes everyone to witness the spectacular display...
Parramatta’s set to join the Monopoly Family
Playing board games with family and friends is an age-old past time. And while some games leave you laughing and happy, some just induce rage or has everyone’s competitive side emerge. One such game is Monopoly. Monopoly allows you to either live out your wealthy...
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Surviving the Chaos of Being a Student
University isn’t just filled with lectures and attending classes. It’s packed with lessons no one prepares you for. It’s a new beginning, whether you’re coming straight from high school or pivoting onto a different path, your journey will have ups and downs. The good...
The AI Reckoning: A Crossroads for Humanity | Opinion Piece
The Soundtrack to Modern Life: A Dangerous Complacency A subtle hum of artificial intelligence has become the soundtrack to modern life, so pervasive that we sometimes overlook it. Everything from setting alarms to selecting what show to watch uses AI powered...
Is TikTok the Future of Journalism?
(Hamish Macdonald and Rully Kurniawan speaking during event. Photo credit: Garish (Luci) Kugathasan, 2025) Early in 2025, acclaimed journalists Hamish Macdonald and Rully Kurniawan attended Western’s Parramatta South campus for a journalism masterclass. They discussed...
Jacinda Ardern: A Different Kind of Powerful Woman
(Front cover of ‘A Different Kind of Power’ by Jacinda Ardern. Photo credit: Natasa Aster-Stater, 2025) Reading this memoir made it clear that Jacinda Ardern has been one of the people that she is trying to serve. She isn’t from a dynasty like the Kennedys or the...
How to stay kind to yourself in a world of plastic?
Are you doing/did you do Plastic Free July? Plastic Free July (PFJ) is exactly what it sounds like – a whole month without single-use plastic. There are often two reactions to this. The first is: “that’s impossible”. The second is: “well, a month isn’t going to make a...