How did I live without music? There were distractions and I kept busy exploring my sexuality and eventually coming out as bisexual. I changed my appearance to pass for male because some older white chick in my dorm told me I never could. Genderqueerness--or what I now think of as disguising femininity to be gender “neutral”--was replacing the masculine names lesbians used to describe themselves. “Butch” an “baby butch” were going out of style. Everyone knew that if you wanted to be a visibly queer woman 24/7 (read: get laid more often and way faster), short hair and smaller boobs were the way to go. (It worked.)

While I try to remind myself that such a versatile hobby doesn’t belong to a certain demographic as the earth turns up the pressure cooker, I look to my dad who is turning over the earth with our rusty shovel and I realise I should probably give him a hand before this interview turns into a lecture.

Lockdown for Some: double standards and abuse of police powers in Western Sydney

Anie Kandya makes the case for fewer cops and more community in The Area

Laura talks through 5 books that changed her perspective on life and the human experience.

Western’s mike gives us a breakdown on how to create your own D.I.Y studio!

They say 30s is your prime, I kind of get this now, as if I feel like I know who I am as a person and know what you need (not want). Life at 30 should be no different than any other year except there are more lessons and life experience that you could imagine.

The long and arduous journey to Varuna the Writers’ House was not easy. I endured the challenge of walking through a twenty-minute labyrinth of inclines and turns, all while carrying three loads of luggage and listening to the blinding chirps of cicadas - it was worth it.

How do you feel when people ask you about your future? Does it make your palms sweat and your heart race? In a world where our future holds even more uncertainty, how do you cope with the pressure?

Are you guilty of trying out one of these new hobbies in isolation? What have you been getting up to in this extra time?

Nicole takes a deep dive into the Asian-Australian diaspora, pulling from her own experience as a Filipino daughter in the Western suburbs.

Michael talks about his grandparents, the uncertainty that comes with medical pandemics, and the importance of keeping in touch.

Tabitha talks about her young brother, Jay, the importance of family, and the miracle of life.

These last few weeks have been intense, to say the least. With news breaking of a confirmed COVID-19 case in Plumpton, and with pockets of cases here and there, we knew it was time for us to step up and do our best to inform our readers and greater Western Sydney about this medical pandemic.

It’s important to be as empowered as possible with information, particularly in a news and media cycle that is constantly changing. Feel free to take the below with a grain of salt, and we hope, if anything, that our readers become more aware moving forward.

The Australian Bushfires have left the whole nation in shock, and as many still rage on, we must continue to give our support in whatever way we can. Comedian Celeste Barber, alongside many others, have paved the way by raising an incredible amount for the Trustee for NSW Rural Fire Service & Brigades Donations Fund. Thousands of Australian wildlife and communities have been deeply affected, and sadly, a few lives have been lost.

As a media hub, we have the responsibility to relay as much awareness as possible. To show our support, many Western Sydney collectives are hosting a couple of fundraisers.

The Western’s Nathan pecks on some of the greatest chicken dishes on offer in Sydney. Who takes the winning plate?

The Western’s Nicole talks about being a proud Filipina woman!

A cold Saturday night in low light, meeting new people with a sausage sizzle in one hand and a drink in the other - this was the perfect setting for the FEELZ Mental Health Night to take place.

Mark came to a startling realisation when he visited his family’s hometown in the Philippines in 2017 for the first time - he was not Filipino.