Silver Ferns shooter Angela Mitchell (left) with Emma Silva.Photo supplied.Learning the finer points of shooting from former Silver Ferns shooter Angela Mitchell (left) on Sunday, was Emma Silva.

Mitchell was one of the guests at a session aimed at upskilling coaches, organised by Mid Canterbury Netball’s new coach developer Claire Tappin.

Sunday’s sessions at the EA Networks Centre included a planning session, a shooting session with Mitchell, and question time with current Canterbury Tactix player Kate Lloyd.

Tappin is now planning a December workshop for coaches which would include a session with former Mid Canterbury coach Andrea Cousins, who was now a premier grade coach in Christchurch and the assistant coach of the Mainland Beko Netball League side.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 14 November 2018

Mikayla Begg. Photo supplied.Former Ashburton College student Mikayla Begg is among Bachelor of Design students at Ara putting the finishing touches on their third and final year projects.

The final year students are showing off their work to potential employers at a RIPE exhibition that will run at Ara’s Christchurch campus until November 22.

Begg is studying applied visual art and her work for the exhibition is titled Collections from my World 2018.

Having studied drawing, printmaking, woodcut, ceramics and screen printing over her first two years at Ara, she settled on screen printing and textiles for her final year work.

From a packed visual diary of ideas and research, inspired by the natural world, she has turned flowers, natural dyes and rust into whimsical textile-based, multimedia works for RIPE.

“In the third year we are more independent and find something that we are really interested in to develop from.

“We all bounce ideas off each other and the tutors help us to fine-tune them.”

The RIPE exhibition is the culmination of a year’s worth of work by all the students involved, resulting in drawing, prints, sculptures, posters, publications, films and animations representing the visual communication, photography, applied visual art and motion design specialisations.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 14 November 2018

The AshColl Dancers performing the Charleston with the Garden City Big Band. Photo suppied.World War One songs supported a generation throughout some of its darkest days.

Those songs were heard again at the Ashburton Trust Event Centre at the weekend, as the Ashburton MSA Men’s Choir staged For the Fallen to commemorate Armistice Day.

Musical director Angie Creswell said the concert was an opportunity to celebrate the freedom that was so fiercely fought for, and so bravely won 100 years ago.

“These songs speak of loss and longing, of a determination to keep going and to be strong in the face of insurmountable odds,” she said.

For the Fallen was well-received by an almost full house on Saturday night.

A second concert on Sunday saw about two thirds of seats occupied.

The choir was accompanied for some items by Phoenix Rising, and others featured including the Garden City Big Band, accompanist Olivia Pike, soloist Ocean Waitokia, and the Ashburton College dancers.

“I think it exceeded expectations. It made for a very moving and respectful tribute to Armistice Day,” said MSA choir member Rodger Letham.

Letham said if a profit was returned there would be a contribution made to the Red Cross, as without this organisation many World War One veterans would never have returned home.

By Susan Sandys © The Ashburton Guardian - 12 November 2018