Southern View: July 31, 2018

6 Tuesday July 31 2018
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
SOUTHERN VIEW
News
St Martins student’s academic success
SAVANAH STEWART never
expected much of herself.
But now, she is an inspiring
example of how study can
change your life.
Despite leaving school with
just NCEA level 2, the 29-yearold
Māori student from St
Martins is now on the cusp
of achieving a degree in an
academically demanding subject.
Not only will Miss Stewart
soon graduate from Ara Institute
of Canterbury with a Bachelor of
Medical Imaging, she’s received
a number of academic awards
during her studies and won six
scholarships this year alone,
including a Pegasus Health
scholarship for Māori.
She never expected much of
herself.
“When I was at school, noone
ever told me about the true
extent of my options, or how
important study was,” she said.
“University was never discussed
as an option for me, and I
certainly never saw myself doing
a degree.”
Miss Stewart said she didn’t
study for exams at high school
and “didn’t really care if I passed
or not.”
Five years ago, while living in
ACADEMIC: Savanah Stewart is about to graduate from Ara with
a Bachelor of Medical Imaging.
Australia and working in hospitality,
Miss Stewart stumbled
across what would become her
new career.
“I was looking on Seek [website]
and saw all these well-paid
jobs for sonographers and
radiographers. I didn’t know
what they were so I checked
them out on Google. I thought
they sounded cool; practical,
academic - a good mixture of
things,” she said.
Excited by the idea of a whole
new career path, Miss Stewart
returned to New Zealand to do
a six-month pre-health course at
Ara to gain the academic skills
she needed to apply for the Bachelor
of Medical Imaging.
“That was a really good
course,” she said. “It set me up
really well.”
Despite the stiff competition
for places on the degree, Miss
Stewart’s determination and
preparation impressed the selectors
at Ara and her application
was accepted.
She’s repaid their belief in her
by working hard and excelling
in her studies, winning awards
for clinical practice, professional
practice and top academic
results.
Miss Stewart hopes her experience
might encourage others to
consider tertiary education.
She’s recently been working on
her Te Reo skills and is becoming
more involved in her marae
at Rāpaki.
Her goal is use her growing
tribal connections to encourage
young Māori to think about their
career opportunities more ambitiously
than she did as a teenager.
At Ara, Savanah has found the
best training available.
Ara’s Medical Imaging
programme was the first in the
world to use virtual reality training
developed in Christchurch.
In addition, the programme
recently relocated to the brand
new Manawa health research
and education facility in the
Te papa Hauora/Christchurch
Health Precinct where students
will train alongside health professionals
and researchers.
In Brief
YOUTH GRANTS
The Halswell-Hornby-
Riccarton Community Board
granted $2500 from its youth
development fund to several
groups last week. A $500
grant was given to St Thomas
of Canterbury College for
two students travelling to
Japan as part of an under-15
rugby tour. The board also
granted $500 each to three
athletes who are travelling
to the under-23 and junior
rowing championships in the
Czech Republic and Poland
respectively. Another grant
of $500 was allocated to a
Templeton teen who will
travel to Malaysia for the
under-20 Mixed Touch World
Cup.
BURST WATER MAIN
A burst water main at the
Awatea and Springs Rd
intersections in Hornby
caused traffic delays last week.
The pipe burst on Wednesday
afternoon, restricting traffic to
one lane on Awatea Rd due to
flooding and repairs. The pipe
was repaired on Thursday
afternoon.
10k for Camp Twitch
KIND DONATION: Blackwells City Mazda dealer principal Seth
Ovens with Robyn and Analise Twemlow. ​
CHRISTCHURCH mum
Robyn Twemlow is out to make
a difference in the lives of
those diagnosed with Tourette
Syndrome - and last week
received $10,000 from the Mazda
Foundation to aid her cause.
Tourette’s is a condition characterised
by tics, repetitive and
involuntary movements.
Five years ago, Ms Twemlow’s
then-nine-year-old daughter
Analise was diagnosed with the
syndrome.
But the pair found there was
little support for them in the
community.
Ms Twemlow founded the
Tourette’s Association of New
Zealand as a way for her family
to connect with other affected
Kiwis.
As well as running a support
system for families and an information
hub for those who have
been recently diagnosed, the
Tourette’s Association also began
running a yearly camp called
Camp Twitch.
It brings together young people
with Tourette’s and their families
for a weekend of fun where their
tics are welcomed.
At Blackwells City Mazda
last week Ms Twemlow was
presented with $10,000 from the
Mazda Foundation to help run
Camp Twitch, enabling more
than 50 young people and their
families to attend the camp.
Ms Twemlow said the funding
would reduce the financial stress
of families living with Tourette’s
and allows young people from
any financial background to attend
the camp.
She said Camp Twitch is an
environment where children can
“tic loud and proud.”
“It’s amazing to see them build
their self-esteem and take ownership
over their disorder. It also
provides opportunity for parents
to share their experiences of
raising a child with Tourette
Syndrome – so it’s an empowering
experience for all involved.”
FREE digital media course, with NCEA built in
For those looking for a role that combines
artistic and digital talents, then this outstanding,
FREE, entry level course has just been announced
by local Training Provider Trainme, for those
wishing to pursue animation, graphic design,
photography or digital media as a career.
The course covers introduction to multi-media
techniques such as video production, drawing,
animation and photography. Students will create
their own design concepts and collaborate with
other students on creative projects.
This course is FREE to students aged 16 to 19
and they only have to have NCEA 1 to join.
Students without NCEA 1 can be admitted, if they
show artistic or digital aptitude.
“Many feel that school is not working for them
or they left without qualifications,” says Gary
Taylor, Campus Manager with tertiary educator
Trainme. “While not necessarily academically
minded, they do have artistic talents and are very
much into digital technology.”
“This FREE six-month Trainme course, combines
these in a very hands-on, practical way, giving
them an intro into various digital media. This way,
they can decide which direction to pursue as their
career focus.”
“As an NZQA approved programme, NCEA
credits are built in, so if they apply themselves, they
can graduate with a New Zealand Certificate in Arts
and Design Level 2, as well as gaining credits
towards NCEA level 1 or 2.” Says Taylor.
“NCEA results will depend on how many credit
they bring to the course to start with, but as it’s a fun
subject, it won’t feel like school at all.”
Successful Graduates from this programme could
pathway into higher study in media arts, which could
include graphic design, video production,
photography or one of the many emerging digitalbased
careers. Places are limited, so students are
encouraged to apply as soon as they can.
Enrol Now to start 20th August. Contact Trainme
at their Addington campus for more information on
0800 872 466, or txt ‘digi’ to 027 557 8839 or visit
the website www.trainme.co.nz to enrol online.
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