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This is an online portfolio that displays my written work on topics of interest as a journalism student. This collection reflects my developing practice as a storyteller focusing on human connection, personal creative works and pieces that explore culture, history, media and more. My creativity is seen through both my personal projects and my journalism.…
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By Isabel Chalmers At first glance, the koala’s dozing in their gum trees at Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park seem untouched by the pressures facing their species in the wild. Amongst the eucalyptus leaves and sleepy faces, you’ll find dedicated koala carers and volunteers making Moonlit Sanctuary’s Koala Corridor Project into a call for action. Designed to…
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By Isabel Chalmers Melbourne’s galleries, food scenes, laneways and varied entertainment helped crown it the world’s best city for 2026 – but for locals, the reality is more layered. Steam curls around the red lanterns that sway gently, in sync with the people filtering through Chinatown. The clinking of dishes tangles with an array of…
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By Isabel Chalmers Residents across suburban Victoria are noticing fewer bugs in their backyards, raising concerns about the use of pesticides and insecticides and their long-term effects on Victoria’s insect populations. Where are the worms once dried out on the pavement on a summer’s day, and the snails that followed a rainfall? Pesticide Action Australia…
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By Isabel Chalmers How do identity and connection go hand in hand? Identity connects people to places and history, providing a foundation for how they live their lives. In Australia, it is seen every day through customs, traditions and contested stories. Jeanine Leane’s 2023 poem ‘Tracks Wind Back’ explores the relationship between Australia and Australianness…
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A closer look at the recent USDA decision to revoke the “Roadless Rules” act and how it diverts attention away from the larger policies in place that affect the economic stability of the United States. By Isabel Chalmers On June 23, 2025, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L Rollins stated that “Donald Trump is removing absurd…
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By Isabel Chalmers The bus engine strains in the heat, pleading with Charlie to stop driving. He doesn’t. The gravel under the tires crackles, tiny explosions of stone and old stories being agitated, bringing life back to the road. A cloud of red forms as the bus goes, as if the water-starved earth is breathing…
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By Isabel Chalmers I had done this before; we had done it for years. It wasn’t unfamiliar and I was well aware of the risks. Still, this wasn’t how the trip was supposed to be, and for some reason, I thought it would help. I was torn between two minds, but going alone at that…
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Glints of viridian scales dance in front of my eyes, stealing my attention from my homework that sits in front of me. The twenty-litre tank sits on the left-hand side of my desk, the water filter bubbling away, low and even, conversing with the fish about my procrastination. With sparks of vermillion, the small school…
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Isabel's Online Journal 