Regional Extra 240424

Interior design celebrating the senses

By CHLOE JAENICKE

SIBLING Architecture has been nominated for multiple awards for their designs on the new Wangaratta District Specialist School junior school building.

Lauren Crockett and Amelia Borg were the leading architects on the project and received nominations for the Dulux Colour Awards and the 2024 Australian Interior Design Awards.

Ms Borg said it was exciting for Sibling Architecture and the school to be recognised as they have been working on the building since 2020.

“We started working on the projects in the depths of lockdown, so a lot of the earlier team meetings were over Zoom,” she said.

“The design idea of the project is to celebrate difference through responding to the students diverse needs.”

Sibling Architecture worked in close collaboration with Wangaratta District Specialist School to ensure the designs suited the needs of all the students, as the school has students with both physical and intellectual disabilities.

“There was a whole team of people who were involved, it wasn’t just the principal who was crucial to the project but also a lot of teachers and the school council,” she said.

“We also met a lot with the other health professionals who work within the school including occupational therapists and physiotherapists who gave us insight into the needs of the students.”

■ Continued page 6

◆ CELEBRATING DIFFERENCE: Sibling Architecture designed the building for students like Evie Carman and Jack Beardow to enjoy at Wangaratta District Specialist School. PHOTO: Derek Swalwell

VET

CORNER What to expect when your dog is expecting

PREPARING for your dog’s impending puppies can be an exciting time.

It is helpful to be aware of potential problems and what to expect at each stage.

When breeding your dog, take note of the breeding date so that you know when she is likely to whelp (give birth).

The gestation (pregnancy) period of dogs is on average 63 days (nine weeks), but can range from 58 to 68 days.

After 35 days of pregnancy the mother’s energy requirements will start to increase.

The best diet for her is puppy food.

This is already balanced and doesn’t require any supplementation.

In the final week of pregnancy your dog can be examined by a vet and x-rays taken to determine roughly how many puppies to expect.

Ultrasound can confirm pregnancy earlier than this but it is usually impossible to count puppies this way.

During the first stage of labour, uterine contractions begin and your dog will appear restless and may pace, dig, tremble or pant.

This lasts six to 12 hours and ends when the cervix has fully dilated.

During the second and third stages of labour the puppies are born.

Each puppy is born covered in a membrane which the mother will generally bite or lick away.

If she doesn’t do this quickly, you will need to intervene so that the puppy doesn’t suffocate.

Use a clean towel to rub away the membranes, especially from the puppy’s nose and mouth.

with Tim Craig - Warby Street Veterinary Hospital

If the umbilical cord is still attached to the placenta it may be cut with clean scissors and tied in a knot about 2cm from the pup.

There is usually one pup born around every 45 to 60 minutes, after 10-30 minutes of hard straining.

Sometimes there may be a break of up to two hours between puppies.

Seek veterinary attention if the mother is straining for over an hour without producing a pup, or takes a break for longer than two hours and you know there are more pups inside, or is in severe pain, or gestation goes for longer than 70 days.

This Day in History, 1907

DREDGING in the Ovens River, welcomed initially as providing employment, proved to be a polluter par-excellence.

Rich river flats were chewed over by a whole fleet of mechanical monsters to recover fine particles of gold.

Top soil and clay went downstream, to affect water users and landholders as far away as Yarrawonga.

To combat the dredges, anti-dredge organisations were formed.

One founded under the auspices of the Myrtleford Progress Association had its first meeting on this day in 1907.

At the time, it was estimated that two acres of rich river flats were being consumed by the dredges everyday

◆

Trout

‘hit and miss’, but carp are biting well

I WENT trout fishing late last week in tributaries of both the Kiewa and Ovens rivers.

For the day I fished a total of five different spots, in four different streams and for my efforts I was rewarded with just one rainbow trout.

This is not unusual for this time of the year - in fact it is quite common.

In recent weeks I have been writing of the amazing trout fishing, and how this is a great time of the year to catch trout in the streams.

That is now changing.

The trout fishing will still be very good over the next few weeks, but just like the cod fishing it will become a bit more “hit and miss”.

with Rob Alexander WANGARATTA

Brown trout usually start to head upstream and pair up now, in preparation for their annual spawning run.

During this time the fishing can be red hot, or very slow as I experienced last Friday. There is still seven weeks of the Victorian trout season left, so there are still plenty of opportunities to catch a trout, but as the weather cools the

fishing may become a bit more temperamental.

The region’s carp are biting very well though, as is often the case in mid to late autumn.

I find at this time of the year that sunrise is the best time of the day to catch carp, with sunset being the second best.

During the brightest time of the day it can be a game of patience in between bites.

I fished Lake Moodemere one evening last week and caught five carp. From 2pm to 4pm I didn’t get a single bite. he following two hours from 4pm to 6pm is when I caught all five of my carp, which were all caught on worms.

CATCHING CARP: Although undesirable by most anglers, carp are an amazing, hard fighting fish. They’re fun to catch and you are doing the environment as favour each time you remove one from the water. Now is a great time of the year to catch them.

A sip of suspense with Amanda Hampson

EDGARS Books & News in conjunction with the Wangaratta Library are looking forward to welcoming Australian author Amanda Hampson to afternoon tea and an author talk at the library on Wednesday, May 8 at 2.30pm.

Amanda will discuss her new book

“The Cryptic Clue” which is a sequel to the well-received The Tea Ladies.

The series has been described as a wickedly witty cosy crime novel set in Sydney in the swinging sixties and ideal for fans of Richard Osman and Bonnie Garmus.

In the bustling heart of Sydney’s ZigZag Lane, where the clinking of teacups mingles with the hum of the rag-trade district, the indomitable tea ladies – Hazel, Betty, and Irene – find themselves plunged once again into a whirlpool of intrigue in Amanda Hampson’s latest instalment.

Following the resounding success of their previous exploits, the trio returns to tackle a new challenge that threatens not only their beloved tea-serving routines but also the security of their community.

Having already proven their mettle by cracking cases ranging from murder to arson, the tea ladies are called upon by a local police officer to unravel a sinister plot lurking in the shadows of their familiar streets.

But the stakes skyrocket when Irene, the tea ladies’ resident code-breaker, stumbles upon a cryptic message leading to the spoils of a daring bank robbery.

Thus begins a gripping treasure hunt that takes unexpected twists and turns, testing the bonds of friendship and resilience that bind the trio together.

However, the intrigue isn’t confined to the murky alleys outside.

Within the walls of Empire Fashion-

with EDGARS Books & News

wear, a new threat emerges, casting a shadow over not just Hazel’s job but the very essence of their quaint teatime rituals.

As tensions simmer and loyalties are tested, Hazel must rally her companions to stand against the encroaching darkness and safeguard their way of life.

Hampson masterfully weaves together a tapestry of suspense, humour, and heart, drawing readers into the vibrant world of ZigZag Lane with her evocative prose and endearing characters.

So pour yourself a cup of tea, settle into your favourite armchair, and prepare to be whisked away on an unforgettable adventure with Hazel, Betty, and Irene –the tea ladies who prove that courage and friendship can triumph over even the most cryptic of clues.

This is a free event but bookings are essential for catering purposes – call the Wangaratta Library on 5721 2366 or visit https://events.humanitix.com/meet-theauthor-amanda-hampson to book online.

“The Tea Ladies” and “The Cryptic Clue” are both available in store now so get your copy at Edgars Books & News, 55 Murphy Street or by phoning 5721 3758.

Copies will also be available at the event for purchase.

Mention this article or bring a copy in when you place your order and you’ll receive 20 per cent off “The Tea Ladies” and/or “The Cryptic Clue”.

◆ WICKEDLY WITTY NOVELS: Edgars Books & News and the Wangaratta Library will be hosting Australian author Amanda Hampson for an author talk.

■ From page 1

FEATURE STORY Interior design nominations celebrating the senses

The school’s principal, Alysha Jackson, said the new building was stage two of their masterplan and that teachers and students love the new building.

Ms Jackson said the school needed the new building because they were running out of classrooms for the junior cohort.

“Our juniors were spread across different areas of the school and not together,” she said.

“This space provides six classrooms where the kids can all be in the same area, and they can go visit their friends just across the corridor.”

One of the design elements that Ms Borg was most proud of was the sensory areas.

“We’ve got a whole range of different spaces which cater to the diverse sensory needs of

the students,” she said.

The new kitchen is one of the additions that celebrate this theme.

Ms Jackson said that the school was in desperate need of a new kitchen for their junior school as originally, they only had one that had to be shared by the entire school.

“Before, they were limited to timetabling the other kitchen that we have at the school and the juniors probably missed out,” she said.

“Now they’ve got a really strong cooking program for the juniors with a full kitchen.”

Each classroom also has courtyards with sensory gardens that not only celebrate the sense of smell, but also encourage learning outside.

Sibling Architects also added a range of sensory nooks, including

a large sensory room which Ms Jackson said has been popular with students.

“It’s quite big, you can have a whole classroom in there at once, we’ve only ever had a really small sensory room in our existing school,” she said.

The sensory nooks, with custom light fittings scattered throughout the building have also been useful for students who need to escape the classroom, according to Ms Jackson.

“They’re little spaces where the students can work one-onone with the teachers or have some time for quiet reading, or watch their iPads or re-regulating,” she said.

“They go to those safe places and then they’re not trying to move away from the actual classroom as much.”

Ms Borg said many of the sur-

faces throughout the building are made with different materials to create diverse tactile experiences for students with sensory issues.

“There are all these different materials used both internally and externally like soft carpets and soft rubbers as well as different tactile surfaces,” she said.

Accommodations have also been made for students with physical disabilities including hoisting facilities to the toilets in every classroom, which Ms Jackson said has made everything easier and safer for teachers helping students with those facilities.

“We’ve had hoists in our toilets before but the fact that they can come right out into the classroom area is something that we haven’t had before,” she said.

◆ SENSORY NOOKS: Jhye Bennett and Lucy Sinclair have enjoyed the new sensory nooks designed by Sibling Design.

Ms Jackson said she is extremely grateful to the team at Sibling Architects as they worked hard to meet all the schools’ requests, right down to dulling down the bright colours to suit students sensory needs.

deliberate decisions around colour choice,” she said.

“I think the architects really dedicated a lot of time to making

“It’s actually made the building flow a lot easier and there are different colours for different classrooms.”

Custard apple and pear crumble

THIS recipe, which serves six to eight people, makes for a warming dessert as the colder days draw in.

The recipe was contributed by Custard Apples Australia and more information is available at www.custardapple.com.au.

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE FILLING

2 medium custard apples

4 ripe pears, peeled, cored & thinly sliced (800 g)

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/4 tsp sea salt

1 tbsp rapadura or coconut sugar (15 g)

2 tsp lemon juice

FOR THE CRUMBLE TOPPING

1 1/2 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup wholemeal, spelt, or gluten free flour (70 g)

1/4 cup slivered almonds (35 g)

1/4 cup maple syrup (60 ml)

1/4 cup olive oil (60 ml), plus extra for baking dish

Pinch sea salt

METHOD:

Preheat oven to 180°C. Lightly brush a standard (22 cm) pie dish with a bit of olive oil.

Scoop custard apple from the skin and remove seeds. Discard seeds and skin.

Combine custard apple flesh and sliced pears in a large bowl.

Sprinkle fruit with the ginger, salt, sugar and lemon juice, and toss gently to combine.

Tip into the prepared pie plate.

In a medium bowl, combine all crumble topping ingredients and stir until oats are evenly coated. Sprinkle crumble over fruit.

Place the baking dish on a tray to catch any drips and bake crumble for 30 minutes, until fruit is bubbling and topping is golden.

Serve warm or at room temperature with a scoop of yoghurt or ice cream.

◆ STAYING HEALTHY: Booking in your annual influenza vaccine can help you fight the flu.

While most cases resolve without complications, vulnerable populations, including the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, face a higher risk of severe illness and complications.

Thankfully, vaccination

Vaccination prompts the immune system to produce antibodies, fortifying the body’s defences against the virus and reducing the severity of illness if infection occurs.

Vaccination against influenza is recommended for all people aged six months and over.

However, despite the proven effectiveness of influenza vaccines, global vaccination rates vary, influenced by factors such as accessibility, public awareness, and misconceptions regarding vac-

cine safety and efficacy.

Encouraging widespread vaccination against influenza is paramount, not only for individual protection but also for the collective well-being of communities.

By reducing the spread of the virus, vaccinations contribute to herd immunity, shielding those who are unable to receive the vaccine due to medical reasons or age.

If you have not yet booked your annual influenza vaccine or you would like more information, your GP clinic would be more than happy to help.

with TERESA MCMAHON SOUTH WANGARATTA MEDICAL CENTRE