Prosh (University of Western Australia)

Annual Prosh Procession through the heart of the city.

The annual tradition is the collaboration of a team of voluntary students who write, design and edit a spoof newspaper designed to poke fun at current events and political agendas. Content varies, but often contains elements of potty humour, black humour and social and political commentary. The paper has the slogan "Never Apologise, Never Explain!".[1] Every April the paper is distributed to the public of Perth's metropolitan area by students dressed in costume in exchange for a donation, often a "gold coin" donation. However, most collectors are willing to accept any sort of small change or cash donation. The day is also marked by a procession through the streets of Perth. The event now involves many carefully designed floats, practical jokes and stunts which are played on the public by participating students. These activities have led to clashes with the Perth City Council.[2]

In 1931, a small group of students compiled a small, satirical newspaper called the "SRUSS SRUSS Times" as part of graduation celebrations. Later in that week, the Perth newspaper The Sunday Times berated the creators of this newspaper, calling it trash and filth, and the creators were subsequently penalised, in the form of a fine payable to the local children's charity.[3][4] Over the decades of the prosh procession through the city of Perth, various floats and vehicles of dubious form and function passed through the centre of the city prior to the Hay street and Murray Street malls existence. The procession is frequently bombarded with flour and eggs.

Currently, PROSH (which is now one of the oldest UWA traditions) is kept alive by volunteers writing, editing and distributing the newspaper annually in April. Each year a new group of charities are chosen as the beneficiaries of all money raised by Prosh. In recent years, over 115,000 papers are sold on the day, with proceeds often breaking the $100,000 barrier.[5] In 2010, all 130,000 papers had been distributed to students by 7:00am.

Students selling Prosh

In 2001, Prosh fundraising broke records to that year[6]

In 2007, Prosh took place on 4 April and made $109,000 was raised for charities.

In 2008, Prosh took place on 9 April and made roughly $125,000 for charity.

In 2009, Prosh took place on 1 April and made roughly $147,000 for charity.

In 2011, Prosh took place on 13 April and made $153,000 for charity, breaking all previous records.[7]

In 2013, the satirical newspaper published a 'dreamtime horoscope' that mocked Indigenous Australians with reference to excessive drinking and disproportional financial support from the government. The incident received national media attention and an apology was issued by the UWA student guild who committed to change policies and guidelines for Prosh publications.[8]

• The new Prosh homepage
• The UWA Student Guild homepage
• The official 2000 Prosh homepage
• The official 2001 Prosh homepage
• The official 2002 Prosh homepage
• The official 2003 Prosh homepage
• The official 2004 Prosh homepage
• The official 2005 Prosh homepage
• The official 2006 Prosh homepage
• The official 2007 Prosh homepage
• The official 2008 Prosh homepage
• The official 2009 Prosh homepage
• The official 2010 Prosh homepage
• The official 2011 Prosh homepage
• The official 2012 Prosh homepage

• Prosh (University of Adelaide)
• Melbourne University Prosh Week
• Rag (student society)