Stateline Tasmania

03/10/2008

Education Reform

There's growing unrest over the State Government's plan to shake up post grade ten education. The reforms will spell an end to the college and Tafe systems and replace them with so called polytechnics and academies. The Premier, David Bartlett hopes the new structure will lift lagging retention rates and the qualification levels of school leavers. But there are several significant hurdles that still need to be passed before the changes can begin next year - not least of which is legislation to enable the reforms. Parents and teachers are worried the hasty implementation could backfire, as Simon Cullen reports.

Rae Wreck

You'd think once you reached the age of 83 it would be too late for the past to come back to haunt you. So its no wonder St Helens resident Rob Rae got a huge shock last year when divers found the wreck of the ship he was on when it was sunk during World War Two. Not only was it a mystery solved but it gave him the opportunity to meet some of the remaining survivors at a ceremony above its sea grave off I ndonesia. Mr Rae almost didn't go but on his return he told Angela Ross the experience had given him a new lease of life.

Haddon Profile

Large sheets of aluminium sprayed with high gloss paint similar to car bodyworks aren't what you'd normally associate with fine art. But it's that kind of hardware Tasmanian artist Neil Haddon embraces. It's the powertool and house paint sections of the local hardware shop that are his haunts rather than the fine art storw as Airlie Ward reports.