December 25, 2010


day twelve.

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I like the symbolism of the compass.


Some internal instrument for guiding you, throughout different journeys, across various terrains, towards your personal or spiritual north.


Nina, I have no idea when I told you this or how you remembered, but the compass you gave me sits in my bookshelf, in a little pile of significant things that remind me of home and the special people there - that remind me of where I have come from and where I am heading. Since knowing you, you have altered and become part of my internal compass - you have influenced where my north lies, the reasons for this, and the ways I know and use to move towards it.

(Tori)


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December 21, 2010


day eleven.

Nina pretty ballerina.  

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Kind hearted, loving, giving, Compassionate, engaging, passionate in her beliefs. Loyal friend. Funny. Very funny sense of humour. Oh yes and when with Adam - they are very silly and crazy at times. Nina has the most beautiful blue eyes and smile and personality!  Should eat meat when I cook for her though!  

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Happy Birthday Nina. Love you xo

(Wendy)

(aka Mother of Rhi and Adam)


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December 19, 2010


day ten.

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(Gin)


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day nine.

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(NB: I am not really talking about soccer, but when you google SmashFace, these are the funniest photos that come up)

Smash Face: the beginnings

There’s a lot of memories of Nina that I could share, but I would like to shed some light on Nina’s (aka SFJ) more aggressive side. 

I first met Nina, as most Oaktree people do, over the phone in preparation for OGC2007.  She seemed really softly-spoken, quiet, thoughtful and as though she genuinely cared for the welfare of others, their safety and their health.

Our friendship blossomed over in Africa where we hung out together (as you do).  This was quite possibly because we were the only two who experienced life within the same stratosphere and didn’t strain our necks by having to look up when talking to each other.  Nina was witty, hilarious, short and appreciated the frustration of having to carry around the tripod everywhere I went. We quickly became firm friends.

I continued to be fooled by Nina’s sensitivity…until one breakfast date a few months later.

As I innocently ate my fruit salad, pondering life’s big questions, Nina interrupted my thoughts with this, clearly important, hypothetical question:

“What would you do, if I just grabbed your head and smashed it into the table?”

This was my introduction into Nina’s more violent side.

Since then, Nina has then asked me further “questions” about or alluded to; smashing my face, breaking my nose, giving me a black eye, giving me a limp etc. I’m beginning to think she just doesn’t like me.

As a result of all of this, Nina has developed the nickname SFJ: Smash Face Junior.  In this carefully researched article, I would like to point out the Smash Face indicates her aggressiveness, and is in no way related to the definitions provided here: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=smash%20face.

SFJ – Happy 22nd Birthday!!! I hope this message has given you some laughs thinking about the trusty tripod and breakfast(s) in Carlton; but I also hope it has served as a public service announcement to your friends to remain a safe distance away from you when eating breakfast. xx

(Prashanti)


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December 17, 2010


day eight.

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I first met Nina almost three years ago on the 12th of January 2008. I was a chirpy 20 years of age; I had met a total 6 751 people in that time and Nina was the 6 752nd. The moment was a memorable one:


‘Oh gawd… here’s 6 752.’ I thought to myself.


“Hi, I’m Will." 

"I’m Nina.”


Shortly after this short exchange of vocabulary, I learned Nina was a vego and liked to wear fisherman’s pants.


'Oh gawd… I can still see the bark on her shirt from hugging trees’.


The tone of my internal monologue could not have been a more inaccurate reflection on the person behind the number 6 752. If I knew Nina better the 'Oh gawds’ would definitely have been dismissed.


I’ll briefly tell you why:


I think you can tell how much you like someone by how many 'i-guess-you-had-to-be-there’ moments you have with them compared to the total number of moments you have had with them. One day, I was in Adelaide, hanging with Nina. We were exploring flavours of bubble tea and found a tibetan chant group in a park chanting a chant (as any good tibetan chant group should). We drank bubble tea and tried to learn the lyrics in tibetan. Later we drove around listening to Snoop Dogg (you know that song with the clicking?) really loudly with seats reclined. This is a horrible story, and probably one you’re not laughing at, or even the least bit impressed by, but I guess you had to be there.


Happy birthday Nina, you little weirdo.

(Will)


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Day Seven. 

(The above video isn’t really related to my story in the slightest but it’s hilarious and I know Nina’s a fan).

Nina had just gotten back from East Timor. We were having a coffee and she was showing me the pictures and videos she’d taken. One that stands out is a walk she would take from her campsite along a small river, surrounded by beautiful wildlife, across a bridge that didn’t look too sturdy and finishing up with a climb up a hill.

Everything looks amazing at the start of the video as Nina walks along with the group. She passes over the bridge safely and starts climbing the hill. A few seconds in it becomes difficult to hear the sound of gently running water over Nina’s heavy breathing. The camera work isn’t as smooth as it was thirty seconds ago. Then, almost at the top and on flat ground, she trips over. It was the perfect progression from the start of the video to the end.

It was funny. I know that trip was an amazing experience and Nina was sharing that with me, but we had a laugh about it as well. And that’s what I like about being friends with Nina. We can share important things with each other or talk about something serious but I guess like that video we just end up laughing about something afterwards.

(Ben)


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December 15, 2010


day six.

It’s all about cars with Nina.


1. The day we almost died:


Nina is driving a packed car on Hoddle St on a dark and gloomy night.  I mention that she’ll need to get in the right lane eventually.  Without warning, Nina veers sharply and crosses 5 lanes in 5 nano seconds.  Head check? Unlikely.  Seat belt?  Thank god.  


Key learning: Nina is an ‘instinctive’ driver.  Treat with caution.


2. The day we had nothing better to do:


We’re at Blueprint Music Festival and someone suggests that we should try and fit as many people the car as possible.  Chaos ensues.  15 people tightly cramped in uncomfortable places.  Several key relationships forged and destroyed.  

Nina’s profile picture for months.


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3. The dog day:


It’s December '09 and we’re sitting on one of those dreamy Adelaide hills, drinking beer, eating fish and chips and watching the sun set.  Just as it’s getting dark, it starts to rain.  Instead of packing up, Nina turns up the music so that it’s blaring from her car speakers. Forget about the car battery.  About 20 of us dance soaking wet in the rain.  Dog Days Are Over.


4. The day Nina drives across three states:


This September, Adam and Nina head from Adelaide to Melbourne for Peter’s 21st.  Via NSW. Go figure.


Nina has the steely resilience of a truck driver.  Without some serious drugs to keep her going, Nina relies on a steady output of sweet indie tunes that are the envy of everyone’s iPod playlist.


5. Red Light game


This involves entertaining your guests by requiring them to jump out of the car and swap seats (and driver) before the light goes green.


Guests shriek politely.  


Among the casualties so far: one phone, the O'Connor name etc. etc.


In conclusion, car travel features highly in my associations with Nina.


I have a profound and deep respect for her manual car driving skills.  


But most of all, I love the way she speeds/ zooms/ crashes/ parks/ double-parks /indicates/ fuels my life with her energy and compassion.


You’re a beautiful friend x


(Shev)

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December 14, 2010


day five.

The O’Connor Clan

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Favourite family moment:

On the SA Zeroseven roadtrip with Nina, and pulling into a little servo in the middle of nowhere only to see Tom there and rejoicing in a family hug!

BEST. SIBLINGS. EVER.

Nina contributes many things to our little trio. It’s hard to imagine that such a young, messy girl of 22 can be such a fantastic leader full of inspiration and love.

When I see you in action Nins I am so proud of what you have become, and how passionate you are about everything (which comes in handy for you when a sisterly fight breaks out!!). 

Happy Birthday betch.

Love the original Crater Face 


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December 13, 2010


day four.

Nina is…

Hillside picnics, ginger beer, paint flaking off a ceiling

world’s best poached eggs

cuddles, communal Dutch ovens, random lists, inspiring lists, heartfelt postcards

blue eyes

navy cardigans, navy dresses, anything navy

handkerchiefs instead of tissues

pretending to fall asleep at the wheel

strawberry picking in summer, wine tasting

fake glasses that don’t fit, Sumo buns, lavender

heeeeeeeymmmmgirlsobeeeeeoooootiful, making-romantic-moments-awkward-with-exploding-coke-cans

always there

and a reminder to

Stop

Breathe

Look at the sky

Lie on the floor

Get angry when something is shit

Hug your mum

Sleep in

Smile

So much of the reason why I’m still going.

My soul sister.

This eternal moment on the hill..image..

Xo Kiddo

(Cat)


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December 12, 2010


day three.

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Once upon a time there lived a fair maiden by the name of Nina O'Connor. She stunned her subjects with her witty jokes, truths and half-truths. Her eyes were capable of piercing even the steeliest of resolves in the exploration for meaning and meaningful living.

(In other news) On a starry night in the city of Sydney she met a man named David. He was young and innocent and had never been exposed to the potential and horrors of plastic surgery. This photograph, one of the first ever taken, shows what happens when two friends decide to get botox and collagen injections. Believe it or not, they are actually smiling. This was no trick, though there was much trickery involved in the promised eternal youth from the ‘doctors’ (read: JD and Turk).

What started as a journey towards physical perfection led these friends towards a great friendship that included many more jokes, learning and fun. Nina shared her passion, knowledge and insights into life with David and he was always grateful…for the songs, the news articles and the interviews (you know what is meant by this Nina).

They (hopefully) lived out their long lives and enjoyed each others company for many a year to come.

Happy 22nd Birthday dear friend.

David xx


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