Senior School
Textile Major Works
This year was our first year of students to undertake studies in Textile and Design for their HSC. As part of the course students are required to submit a major textile project (MTP). The MTP is worth 50% of their HSC exam mark. There are two parts to a MTP. The first is the product the students make and the second part is the documentation that supports the manufacturing processes undertaken to make their project.
‘All my eggs in one basket’ is a textile arts project by Gemma Taylor. The basket was made out of red hot poker leaves and stems from willow trees and it contained eight balls. Each ball was symbolic to her past and present accomplishments and current events in her life. The balls represent rhythmic gymnastics, highland dancing, friendship, math, music, textiles, Japan and death.
Brooke Kliendienst made a toy llama using merino and alpaca wool fibre, yarn and fabric. The llama has a hand felted and embroidered blanket and dreadlocks made from hand spun alpaca wool.
Sarah Jackson made a patchwork quilt for her nephew who was born in April. The feet on the quilt were created from copies of his footprints. The names on the border are the child’s birthdate, grandparents, aunt, uncles and parents names. The frill was designed so that the quilt will be able to be tucked in around the mattress. There is a ‘pocket’ on the underside of the quilt where a cot size doona can be placed for those cold winter months and removed for summer.
Stephanie Acton used two different types of fabrics to create the queen size quilt cover and pillows. The marbled effect fabric resulted from the use of dyeing fabric with shaving cream. Other design features include beading and hand embroidery using silver metallic thread.
Zak Walker made an A line toddlers dress from 100% cotton fabric that has been hand dyed using scrunch and tie dying methods. Embellishments include five handmade flowers from ribbon and beads and a dragonfly.
Careers in Baking
In Week 6, Uralla Central School students, Hayley Minett and Abbie Bourke attended the Careers in Baking day at Moxons Bakery. Students from as far as Gunnedah attended this amazing day in industry.
During the day the students covered:
- how to judge a meat pie for competitions
- how to plait bread dough
- how to ice cupcakes and decorate them
- spraying meringues
The girls had a terrific day which resulted in Hayley having a week of work experience with the bakers at Moxons.
Nundle Woollen Mill Excursion
In Week 6 our senior Agriculture and Textile students travelled to Nundle to see Australia’s only working woollen mill in action.
The owner of the mill was able to give students an insight as to why the Australian Textile Manufacturing Industry was in decline and how he was implementing marketing strategies to grow his business despite industry trends.
Many of the mills machines were over 100 years old but are still in excellent working order. We were able to see the washed wool entering the carding machine and eventually end-up as 8 ply 50g balls of purple wool at the other end of the mill.
It was an insightful excursion and we would recommend the mill for anyone wanting to have a ‘day trip’ in the New England.
White Card Course
On Friday 7 September, 12 students took the opportunity to complete their White Card Course with Paul Byrne.
A White Card is evidence that you have completed a General Construction Induction course/White Card course. This course is mandatory for anyone who works, or wants to work, in the construction industry. The White Card course is nationally recognised. A number of the participants will now be able to complete their work experience on building sites as a result of this course.
Careers Talk - Senior Constable David Munsie
Senior Constable David Munsie spoke to our students on Monday 10 September. He discussed aspects of the police force that interest students and answered all of those awkward questions people are often too shy to ask. The Senior Constable did not have a traditional entry into the police force, the breakdown of which is important for our students (particularly Years 9/10) to understand.
Focus, motivation and persistence is key to succeeding both in school and in the workplace, this was the message put forward to our students.
Uralla Central School thanks you whole heartedly for your time and your services to the district Senior Constable Munsie.