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Actress Angela Bassett has won two acting Golden Globes – one was a supporting actress gong for her performance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – for her role as

Naracoorte set to enjoy world class entertainment for Fringe

The Naracoorte Fringe is returning this year, so make sure you keep Saturday, February 25, free. Bamboozled Productions will deliver the ‘wow factor’ to Naracoorte this year with an entertainment extravaganza featuring a four-hour program of seven world-class acts.

Family friendly, free and super fun, the event will be held in the Town Squares at noon to 4pm, complete with food trucks, market stalls and buskers.

Haloumi salad

250g pkt pearl couscous 2 x 250g pkts haloumi sliced 1 tbsp Moroccan spice mix 2 zucchini, sliced 250g cherry tomato medley, halved 1/2 cup fresh continental parsley leaves 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, torn 1 tbsp tahini 2 tbsp Greek yoghurt 1 small garlic clove, crushed 1 lemon, rind finely grated Juice of 1 lemon 2 tbsp pomegranate arils or 1 pomegranate, arils removed 2 wholemeal pita breads, toasted, torn

Method

Cook couscous in a saucepan of boiling water following packet directions. Drain. Meanwhile, pat haloumi dry with paper towel. Sprinkle with spice mix. Spray a non-stick frying pan with oil. Heat pan over medium heat. Cook haloumi 1-2 minutes each side or until golden. Set aside. Spray pan with oil again. Cook zucchini 1-2 minutes until just coloured. Combine couscous, zucchini, tomatoes, parsley and mint in a large bowl. Season well. Combine tahini, yoghurt, garlic and lemon rind in a small bowl. Season. Add lemon juice to taste. Divide salad among serving bowls or arrange on a platter. Top with haloumi and pomegranate. Drizzle with dressing. Serve with pita.

Top Limestone Coast student now focussed on future

Gemma Ralph has a clear vision for her future and part of that is challenging herself which is why her gap year is all about stepping out of her comfort zone.

Gemma was the top ranked Limestone Coast student when it came to 2022 Year 12 results, posting an impressive ATAR of 99.05 and for 2023 is working at Gildera Forestry Services – she is on the fire crew until April.

“I knew that I wanted to do something completely different and out of my comfort zone during my gap year,” Gemma said. “The outdoor job also really appealed to me after spending all year sitting inside at my desk studying. We also live in the pines and I go walking and riding my horses through the tracks every day, so it’s an environment that I love.”

And everything she is doing as part of her gap year job is a world away from last year when sitting and studying at every opportunity.

“During moderate weather we do maintenance jobs such as pruning the trees and stocking counts and on days with higher forecasts, I am currently manning one of the fire towers, which involves hourly weather reports and calling in any smoke which I spot,” Gemma said.

CFS training so she is qualified to be on a truck and fight plantation fires has also been part of Gemma’s new look 2023.

“I have loved the experience so far and have been blessed with an amazing boss and colleagues who I get along with very well,” she said.

Of course hard work is in her DNA – it is how she ended up with an ATAR that opened up a world of possibilities for her future.

She applied to the University of South Australia (Adelaide campus) to study a Bachelor of Business (Economics, Finance, and Trade) with a Master in Finance (Financial Planning) but now the ball is in her court given her impressive results.

“I had a slight panic after receiving my ATAR as I suddenly realised that I am eligible for every course and didn’t know how I would possibly choose,” Gemma said.

“Ultimately though, business is the course which excites me the most and which I know will be sustainable in the long term.

“I am someone who can get bored quite easily if I am not trying new things, and I hope that business is varied enough for me to have many different opportunities rather than being in a confined field.

“I am also considering studying a Diploma in Languages (French) alongside my degree, for no particular reason, other than that I think it will be enjoyable and further diversify my career and life opportunities.”

Gemma also knows she will need to do more than sit in a lecture theatre with plans already afoot for internships, work experience and she has also flagged some time studying overseas. She also anticipates study will always be a part of her life.

“I have a feeling that I will go to university more than once in my

“...at the beginning of Year 12, I told myself that my one goal was to finish the year with no regrets...”

lifetime,” she said.

“I love studying and learning, and as I said, can get bored easily without doing something new.

“I can definitely see myself earning a degree in midwifery or law at some point down the track.”

And who would bet against her given she has established a great work ethic and study habits as well as a positive attitude with her final year of high school cementing what works best for her.

“At the beginning of Year 12, I told myself that my one goal was to finish the year with no regrets,” Gemma said.

“I was scared that I might get to the end and wish I had studied more or worked harder, and this really motivated me to keep going during the year when my motivation sometimes wore off.

“Although I felt a moderate level of stress all year, I did my very best to stay on top of assignments and methodically move through my studies to avoid any additional stress from leaving things until the last minute.

“I always handed assignments in before their due dates and began studying for tests weeks in advance. I also ensured that I utilised the school holidays to get on top of assignments or work on understanding difficult content.

“It was very helpful that my friends were doing similar subjects to me, so we could all help each other and keep each other accountable. “

Of course behind every successful student is also at least one quality teacher and Gemma certainly had her share or inspiring and supportive educators.

“I had a few great teachers, namely Miss Lush and Miss Redman, who really helped me during Year 12,” Gemma said. “These teachers both had a really good understanding of the subjects they taught, and therefore could explain it to me in ways I would understand.

“I was someone who would be emailing my teachers constantly to ask questions and clarify even the smallest pieces of content, and these teachers always replied promptly within and out of school hours.

“I especially appreciate Miss Lush. She was always up for a chat, whether it was related to school or not, and it was nice knowing I had someone at school who could relate to what I was going through and have a bit of a laugh.”

There is also no doubt that Gemma’s well constructed plan to spread her Year 12 study load over two years also contributed to her academic success.

In Year 11, in 2021, she studied Year 12 general mathematics, English literary studies, and research project B, while in 2022 she studied chemistry, biology and psychology.

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