Sydney Life

It is common, when listening to talk back radio or reading opinion articles in the newspaper, to hear about how bad young people are today. We are often criticised for being overstimulated, underdressed and ruled by a doctrine of individualism. Figures like Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton are taken to be representations of us all and therefore the positive things we have and can achieve are overlooked.

This is why it was refreshing to hear Tim Costello, CEO of World Vision Australia, and Anne Robinson, Chair of World Vision Australia, speak on campus last week about the potential they see in our generation. Under the leadership of our generation society will not (as they say) go to hell in a hand basket, but will have its best chance yet of fighting the crippling effects of powerlessness and poverty.

I’m sitting at my computer on one of the beautiful mornings of stuvac, building up the courage to start studying for my impending exams. Meanwhile, outside my little bubble, a revolution is taking place.

The clues are everywhere – Al Gore’s ‘An Inconvenient Truth’, the green reusable shopping bag frenzy and John Howard’s recent proposal to build a $400 million solar plant that can deliver 154 megawatts of power.

For those of you who are regular readers, you might remember a blog entitled 'Am I an idiot?’ I now have a definitive answer: YES!!!

Last Friday morning I was amongst 1784 people who undertook the challenge of walking 100km for charity. Sadly, 20% of them did not complete the challenge for various reasons. It was without a doubt the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. It is so difficult to describe the physical and mental pain that I was experiencing. Give me 6 exams in 5 days any time!!

I am someone who likes a challenge. There was that cute Melbourne guy in 2003, a half marathon in 2004, triathlon in 2005. Now there’s the 100km Oxfam trail walker in 2006!!