Love him... but not his stuff
http://www.wellingtontimes.com.au/story/1678993/love-him-but-not-his-stuff/?cs=24
You've joined your lives, and your belongings, under one
roof but what happens if you don't have as much in common with his possessions
as you have with him?
Despite wanting to relegate his beloved stuff to Vinnes,
there are ways for different interior styles to marry.
My partner, Gregory McBean, and myself, each work from
separate offices in our Sydney
home.
I write about interiors plus health and wellness, Gregory is
a photographer and one-on-one meditation teacher.
Being visual people, it's important that our spaces are
aesthetically pleasing. My style is boho, nana-chic; Gregory's is pure boys'
zone.
Fortunately, as we both love pre-loved vintage we have a
meeting point. And that meeting point is smack-bang in the middle of our semi's
narrow hallway!
The front section is filled with my market and op-shop finds
including a pile of pre-loved chenille bedspreads and crochet rugs. The archway
marks the transition where framed 1950s motor sport posters, toy trucks and an
old child's scooter take over.
My office is all girly pretty: pastel green walls decorated
with groupings of quirky treasures.
In contrast, Gregory's colourful office is filled with model
cars and all manner of idiosyncratic ephemera.
Somehow, everything joyfully co-exists although he can't
quite get his head around my crochet bunting.
Similarly, designer Carolyn Cavanough of Desire Beauty and
her husband, financial market specialist, Scott, have navigated her penchant
for contemporary New York
loft style – "matte textures, minimalism, layered tonal greys, the
excitement of the future" – with his love of mid-century style with its
polished stainless steel and "comfort of the past".
In their new Lindfield cottage they've reached a happy
compromise.
"As Scott spends much time in the garden, we agreed
that he could design the exterior areas including the outdoor kitchen. It is fitted with traditional cooking
appliances; a teppanyaki plate is a concession to me!" Carolyn laughs
adding that inside she has been left to her own devices.
"The interiors have a distinct New York sensibility with concrete kitchen
benchtops and oversize sliding doors. However, as a concession to Scott, I have
incorporated some subtle details including lights by iconic mid-century designers
such as Verner Panton and Louis Poulson plus a Barcelona chair and sofa.
"The Barcelona
is a classic made popular in the 1930's that's perfect for a contemporary home.
It has the enduring detail that Scott appreciates" she says.
The bedroom melds his and her styles: a delicate chandelier
sparkles with Swarovski pink and blue crystals lending a 1950s ambience and the
floor is whitewashed giving a more gentle feel than the downstairs matt grey
flooring. The bedding is in tonal greys, a palette that is continued in the
ensuite.
Another stylistically yin and yang duo are Gold Coast couple
Terrie and Malcolm Jones.
As L'Oreal Luxury QLD sales manager, Terrie favours
contemporary French Provincial décor while deputy school principal Malcolm
loves a Balinese look.
Arriving at a similar compromise to the Cavanoughs, the
Jones' have decked out the outdoor areas in his favoured style with the
interiors in her style.
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"We've attached a thatched roof hut to the back of the house
and it suits the sub- tropical climate well. While there are several Buddha
statues in the garden the plantings are a combination of palms for Malcolm and
pine trees and hedging for me," Terrie says.
The interiors, in contrast, feature walls softly washed in
whites and muted greys with chairs slip-covered in linen and artworks featuring
French scenes.
In the kitchen there's a fun nod to their two different
décor personalities: the white grooved cabinetry has drawers fitted with
Balinese style handles while cupboard handles are French Provincial.
"Often one partner in the couple takes over but it's
nice to be able to keep the harmony even if your taste is polar opposite to
that of the other."
Dancers take the lead in big step forward
http://www.wellingtontimes.com.au/story/1678669/dancers-take-the-lead-in-big-step-forward/?cs=24
While most of the state's HSC students are studying for
their final written exams in October, a small number are preparing to tackle
their first test next week.
The dance performance examination is the first HSC exam off
the rank and 10 students from Oatley Senior Campus are among the state's 921
dancers who will be put to the test. The examinations will be held over the
next two weeks. They will be followed by the drama and music performances in
the weeks after.
The students are the first of more than 75,000 HSC students
who will attempt exams this year.
The dancers at Oatley Senior Campus have spent the past year
training four or five times a week for a performance that sees them ''escape
the struggles of the human rat race'' through dance.
''It's taken so long - we've been rehearsing since the end
of year 11,'' 17-year-old Monika Bujcevski said. ''I love everything about
dance. It's how I express my emotions. When I feel down, it always makes me
feel better.''
President of the Board of Studies NSW Tom Alegounarias said
the HSC dance course includes far more than just the performance component.
''Students completing the course will have accumulated an in-depth knowledge of
the composition of dance and an appreciation for the variety of dance styles and
expressions around the world,'' he said.
Graduates 'unprepared' for realities of teaching: Pyne
http://www.wellingtontimes.com.au/story/1678991/graduates-unprepared-for-realities-of-teaching-pyne/?cs=25
Some university teaching graduates are unable to teach
children to read once they enter the classroom, Opposition education spokesman
Christopher Pyne says.
In a speech on Thursday Mr Pyne said school principals kept
telling him they believed graduates were unprepared to cope with the
"practical realities of teaching" in the classroom.
"I have now been told on many occasions of instances
where students are graduating from teacher training courses in primary
education without being able to teach children to read," he said.
"Sound too ridiculous to be true? Think again, because it's real."
Mr Pyne called for higher admission standards for teaching
courses at universities.
But he said setting ATAR cut-off ranks for education courses
would achieve little in the long-term. His comments come amid a recent push for
higher ATAR ranks to gain entry into teaching courses.
"Teaching scores are low in some universities because
demand for the course is low - many young people don't see either the pay or
the working conditions as attractive in comparison with other
professions."
Mr Pyne reiterated his belief in a phonics-centered approach
to teach children to read. Phonics relies on sounding out words to learn to
read.
"I would never advocate that simply one approach to
teaching will meet the needs of all students. But we must as a matter of
urgency examine how student teachers are being taught in pre-service education
to teach children to read," he said.
"Given some states are reporting an oversupply of
primary school teachers, now is the perfect time for universities to raise the
bar even higher and stop graduating student teachers who do not meet the
standards to which they should aspire."
A Coalition government would set up a ministerial advisory
group to provide advice on improving teacher training courses. Mr Pyne said the
group would be asked to examine the teaching of languages.
Victorian Principals Association president Gabrielle Leigh
said she shared concerns about primary school teaching graduates. "We're
worried that people are not fully trained to teach the core subjects," she
said.
Ms Leigh said universities should conduct interviews to
ensure candidates were suited to teaching before they began their courses.
Meanwhile, the Victorian and federal governments are yet to
strike an agreement on school funding reform.
On Thursday Mr Pyne would not reveal whether a Coalition
government would complete the deal with Victoria.
He said the Coalition would announce a plan to "end the uncertainty on
school funding" before the election.
b.preiss@theage.com.au