He is Executive Chef at the exclusive ‘At.mosphere’ restaurant in Dubai, the highest restaurant in the world, 422 metres above the earth on the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa – the tallest building in the world.

Now preparing food for the rich and famous, including royalty, Dwayne started his career in a fish and chip shop in Waitarere Beach, south of Foxton. He was born in Upper Hutt and grew up on a farm in Dannevirke before moving to Waitarere Beach and attending Horowhenua College.He was trained at UCOL, graduating in 1998 with a Certificate in Catering. His advice to today’s UCOL students looking for stellar careers as chefs: “Believe in yourself and work harder than the guy or girl next to you. Don’t move around too quickly because real knowledge is gained through time and hard work.”

At At.mosphere, Dwayne’s responsibilities include creating menus and leading a team of 24 chefs. Menus change four times a year and are likely to include Wagyu beef, grain fed New Zealand beef, New Zealand lamb chops (cooked with Moroccan spices), foie gras and caviar, Maine lobster, New Zealand saffron, and hokey pokey ice cream. Dwayne specialises in modern eclectic cuisine with flavours of the Riviera.

At.mosphere covers an area of 1,030 square metres and offers two dining options; lounge and grill. It can host more than 210 guests and includes private dining rooms and display cooking stations.

Dwayne says running a restaurant at the top of the world’s highest building brings its challenges. “Logistics are tough and we need to be very organised. I avoid too many trips in the elevator, a 57-second ride up 442 metres. One day I came up five times after which you feel a bit dizzy. You only want to come up twice.”

Dwayne actively works to promote New Zealand food in Dubai. Last Sunday (29 January) he cooked a barbeque and talked about New Zealand products at a function to help raise the profile of the New Zealand Consulate in Dubai.

Following his own advice to students, Dwayne worked hard to achieve his current status as a chef in Dubai. After graduating from UCOL, he headed to Wellington, becoming Commis Chef at Kimble Bents restaurant, and Sous Chef at Brasserie Café Menton and then at Te Papa’s ICON restaurant, working with Adam Newell and Peter Thornley. Moving to Sydney in 2000, he spent two years at Mediterranean and Italian influenced Orso Bayside Restaurant.

Arriving in London in 2002, he was offered a position at 192 Restaurant in Notting Hill (British and French cuisine), cooking for the likes of U2’s Bono and The Spice Girls, before being invited to join Michelin starred The Greenhouse restaurant, awarded best British restaurant in 2004 by the Square Meal magazine. Dwayne worked at The Greenhouse for two years, becoming Executive Sous Chef in his first year. He also spent time in St Tropez as a private chef.

In 2006, he started a “whirlwind five years”, accepting a position in Dubai, at the five star One and Only Royal Mirage Hotel, as Chef de Cuisine. He then opened the Flagship Hotel of ‘The Address’ Hotels and Resorts, and became Executive Chef at the five star The Address Dubai Mall Hotel before tackling the new At.mosphere restaurant in 2011, and becoming its Executive Chef.

He will compete in the senior men’s Gi under 110kg open class at the championships, to be held at the end of this month.

Vaughan lectures in the certificate of Exercise and Sport Performance at UCOL and has 10 students in the Martial Arts Club who help keep him fit.  “Always training and being a coach as well, I’ve got guys I’m training that are always pushing me to beat me,” he told the Manawatu Standard.Antonio won four gold medals at a grappling tournament in Palmerston North in November but says he still has to be on his toes at training with his students. “They’re always trying to make it to the next level as well,” he said. “When it comes to when we’re sparring on the mat, they’re always trying to get the coach.”

Before he heads to Sydney, he said he had a lot of work to do training on the mat. “I’ll step up, definitely have to step it up.”

Antonio, a former Freyberg senior rugby player, is the only Manawatu representative in the team. The rest are from clubs in Wellington, Mt Maunganui, Tauranga, Napier and Hamilton.

Even though he’s only 37, he is a relative newcomer to the sport, only starting four years ago after a friend introduced him to it for rugby training. He will end up facing much more experienced fighters while he is there.

The Oceania tournament doubles as a qualification for the world championships in Russia. Vaughan said it would be a dream to get that far, but is focusing on the Sydney tournament first.

Taken at the Gisborne Judo Club Competition July 2011

Secondary students now have a great opportunity to earn a trades or technology qualification while they are still at school – at no cost.

UCOL is heading one of the Government’s new trade’s academies – called U-Skills Central School Academy. In a partnership with Awatapu College, places are available to Manawatu students in years 12-13 who are studying for NCEA level 2 and also want to gain a tertiary pre trade qualification.

Trades academies allow students to be enrolled at both their secondary school and a tertiary training provider. As an academy Hub school, Awatapu College in Palmerston North is hosting the U-Skills Small Motors programme. U-Skills are also offering a Fashion and Beauty programme, Electrotechnology (Electrical and Electronics) and Joinery at the Palmerston North UCOL campus. These programmes are available to students from any school in the region. U-Skills training will be provided one day a week at UCOL or in blocks across the week at the Hub school. The other days are spent at school studying towards NCEA. The study is free and transport is funded.

Awatapu has already filled its quota of U-Skills students but there are still vacancies for students who want to study at the UCOL campus.

The Manager of U-Skills Jacqui Phillips says it’s a brilliant new initiative that brings gains for the Manawatu region. “It’s an opportunity for young people to get tertiary level training that will start them on their chosen career path. U-Skills students will also have contact with local employers, as well as careers and personal development support.

“It’s a great way to encourage young people into trades where there are skill shortages in many areas – with more shortages predicted in the future.”

Jacqui says studying under U-Skills offers the best of both worlds to students taking part. “They can continue to enjoy the support of their school environment and keep their friends, cultural and sporting activities, while experiencing study at a tertiary level and starting to build a career. They can look forward to excellent, sustainable pay rates in trades’ areas.”

Jacqui says students have great options at the end of their U-Skills study year: “We will assist students to plan their future pathways. This may include staying at school, going onto further tertiary study, moving into employment or an apprenticeship. These are excellent ways forward for young people and also bring gains for employers and the local economy.”

For an enrolment pack or more information phone 0800 46 8265.

Next week the actors will perform The Seagull under the creative directorship of UCOL Performing Arts tutor Jaime Dorner.

Jaime is renowned for challenging his students with contemporary and physically demanding theatre.

“The students have responded well to the tragic nature of The Seagull, portraying characters who aspire to be what they will never become,” says Jaime.

Previously taught as a six month Certificate programme, this is the inaugural class of the year-long Diploma in Performing Arts. Jaime says the extended term allows the students to gain a deeper understanding of the art and the industry.

Also a first for the Diploma programme is the opportunity to perform at the Globe Theatre in Palmerston North.

The offsite venue has meant the ensemble has limited rehearsal time on the Globe Theatre stage but they also have the advantage of a more flexible theatre space.

Not only does the troupe have to contend with the challenges of performing in a full size auditorium, they have created the overall design, set, costuming, music and publicity material.

UCOL singing and voice tutor Suzy Hawes says the music the students composed as part of their assessment has been integrated into the play.

“Many of the characters are played by two students. They swap roles during the interval, one acting while the other becomes the musician,” she says.

When: 8.00pm. Wednesday 30 November to Saturday 3 December.

Where: The Globe Theatre, Main Street, Palmerston North.

Tickets: Adults $15, Students $10 Door sales. Bookings: s.hawes@ucol.ac.nz

Photo 1: Kristin Russell (Arkadina) and Jacob Dale (Konstantin) from a scene in The Seagull.

Photo 2: Catriona Tipene (Nina) and Diesel McGrath (Medvedenko), seated are Adam Brown (Konstantin) and Rhema Sutherland (Masha).

The Palmerston North scholarships range in value from $500 to $1000. A total prize pool of $6,750 was available to reward students’ efforts and attracted a high standard of applications.

Bachelor of Fine Arts student Sarah Williams and Diploma in Veterinary Nursing student Lisa Preston are joint winners of the UCOL Scholarship for Effort and Achievement.

Helen Potaka (Bachelor of Applied Visual Imaging) and Majella Metuamate (Diploma in Applied Massage Therapies) will share the honour of being this year’s Ralph Flavell Memorial Scholarship recipients.

The Soroptimist Scholarship was awarded to Certificate in Exercise and Sport Performance student, Rochelle Peita.

Certificate in Science and Health student Melanie Collins received the Colleen McPherson Scholarship to support her present studies and future goal to qualify with a Bachelor in Midwifery degree.

Three students were awarded High Achievers Awards: Rebecca Smith (Certificate in Beauty Services), Darren Beasley (Diploma in Furniture Design and Making) and Natasha Pitkethley (Bachelor of Medical Imaging Technology).

Deputy Chief Executive Academic, Bonnie Dewart, who presented the UCOL awards, said UCOL is committed to the success of its students. “We put a great deal of time and effort into finding further ways to help our students meet their study goals. It is wonderful to be able to acknowledge hard work and achievement that includes funds to support students’ continued development. ”
Photo: From front left: Melanie Collins, Helen Potaka, Rochelle Peita, Natasha Pitkethley. At back: Majella Metuamate, Lisa Preston, Darren Beasley. Absent: Sarah Williams and Rebecca Smith.

They say they’re making the move to give themselves a head start on training for a well-paid job.

Both are students at Awatapu College – one of several ‘hub’ schools who will offer training onsite during 2012, in the U-Skills academy’s first year. Academy students from other schools in Palmerston North will study at UCOL where a new trades facility is being built.

Awatapu already has its own ‘trades academy’ but Trades Coordinator Bernie Dowrick says the U-Skills model creates a better pathway into tertiary study. He says it is an excellent opportunity for students to get a feel for training at a tertiary level, at no extra cost. “They can leave school with both NCEA Level 2 and a tertiary qualification. Even if they decide not to pursue a career in the trade they study, the experience will leave them in a much better position to make the right decisions about their futures.” 

Both Georgia and Toby will continue to study for their NCEA at Awatapu while taking on Level 2 tertiary study in Automotive engineering with other U-Skills students at Awatapu.

Bernie says there’s been strong interest in the Small Engines programme and Awatapu is creating a new workshop with new equipment, with support from the U-Skills academy, to meet the demand.

Georgia decided on her study path because she wanted to do “a boy thing” and because she knows it will lead to a good job: “everyone needs someone to fix their car”. Toby favours becoming a diesel mechanic “because there are fantastic opportunities out there, in New Zealand and overseas.”

Both plan to go on to study Level 3 at the U-Skills academy at UCOL when they have finished Level 2.

Awatapu has easily filled the academy places allotted to the school. Further places are available to hub schools in Whanganui, Masterton and Horowhenua and the U-Skills academy has a ‘pool’ of places to be allocated to students from other schools in its region who will study at UCOL.

Study with U-Skills, including transport, is free to all students. Career study options are: Fashion and Beauty, Small Engines, Electronics Technology, Joinery, Mechanical Engineering.

The Manager of U-Skills Central School Academy, Jacqui Phillips, says places are in demand. “It’s a great opportunity to encourage young people into trades so they can take advantage of expected skill shortages and the job and career opportunities that are opening up nationally and internationally.

“U-Skills offer the best of both worlds to participating students. They can continue to enjoy the familiarity and support of their school environment, with their friends and cultural and sporting activities, while also experiencing study at a tertiary level that will help them build a career.”

However she says students will have to be ready to work hard. “In general they will study mostly during school hours but there may be some activities outside those hours – sometimes finishing at 5pm, as they would in the work force.

“But it’s worth it. They have great options at the end of the year: Stay at school or go on to further study at UCOL, or go straight into employment or an apprenticeship.”

New manager for U-Skills

Jacqui Phillips, the new manager of the UCOL-led U-Skills Central School Academy, was able to hit the ground running in her new role.

Jacqui took up the position of manager during October, in time to take part in the naming of the new academy. She says the title reflects the importance of partnerships with schools in the success of the academy.

It is part of Jacqui’s job to foster the partnerships with hub providers and develop new ones with other schools. “We already have Awatapu College in Palmerston North, Makoura College in Masterton, Horowhenua College, City College and Intranz in Whanganui as hub providers, providing training for students on site.

“We are now talking to other secondary schools about identifying students for the places available to study at UCOL.”

Jacqui’s background is a good fit with the manager’s role. She has been Office Manager for Vision Manawatu and was previously Trades Mentor in the Tools for Schools (now Trade Connections) initiative, aimed at addressing skill shortages and increasing awareness of available training and employment. She has also been Registrar of Electors for Rangitikei and Whanganui and worked for two years with Income Support.

With her husband, she is a partner in a maintenance and diagnostics engineering company in Palmerston North. She has been working for UCOL on contract since April this year, liaising with schools on the concept of a trades academy.

The title reflects the range of music genres and disciplines the graduating class has studied during the year, including Rock, Reggae, Blues, Pop, and Urban.

The 35 students taking part will perform their own original music, including lyrics, as well as some covers.  Programme Leader Kane Parsons says, “After a year of putting students in many different combos for different genres, they’ve progressed to producing high quality original songs and arrangements.”

The students have recorded and produced a CD of their original sounds for sale on concert night.

There’ll also be a DVD for sale, thanks to the Music students’ collaboration with students on UCOL’s Bachelor of Applied Visual Imaging programme (BAVI).  BAVI students studying film have created music videos of the Music students’ songs, while BAVI illustration students created a dynamic poster to promote the concert. Clips from the DVD will be posted on UCOL’s Facebook page and on YouTube.

Kane hopes to see Palmerston North taking a real pride in the achievements of the Contemporary Music students: “It’s been a very fruitful year, watching talent develop and begin to find their own feet. This concert will leave the public amazed at the musical prowess on offer in this city.”

Tickets for the show cost $5 for students and $10 + booking fee for the general public, available at TicketDirect at The Regent on Broadway.  CD’s and DVD’s are $10 on the night.

When: Doors open 7.30pm for 8pm show, Saturday 19th November.

Where: The Regent on Broadway.

Photo: Sam Nelson performs at last year’s Instant Brew concert.

UCOL 11: Fine Furniture and Applied Visual Imaging is a combined exhibition at Te Manawa showcasing the talents of students of the Diploma in Furniture Design and Making, the Bachelor of Applied Imaging (BAVI) and the Diploma in Photographic Imaging programmes.

It is the second time the creative programmes have shared exhibition space. BAVI Lecturer and show organiser Anna Kernohan says the graduate exhibition gives the students a chance to display their work in a realistic gallery environment, “with all the preparations and pressures that go with it.”

The exhibition will open with an invitation only event at the MacDiarmid Gallery at Te Manawa on Friday 18 November. It is open to the public on Saturday 19 November and will feature artist talks from 2.00pm.

Amy McPhie is one of 31 BAVI students taking part in the exhibition. During her final year, Amy has undertaken a complete re-branding exercise for a local hairdressing salon. Business cards, packaging and even the interior design of the premises have had the Amy touch. She has designed ten elements for her clients. “I wanted to reinforce a single, smooth theme that was consistent throughout the business,” she says.

Diploma in Photographic Imaging graduate Iain Scott will share his discoveries in the area of corporate photography. In an interactive flash presentation, Iain explores a new and contemporary slant on creating images for business by taking a photojournalistic approach.

Seven Diploma in Furniture Design and Making students have been selected to show off their diverse range of wood-crafted pieces, ranging from cabinets and chairs, to a foosball table.

Contact: Anna Kernohan, 06 9527001 extn 70280.

Photo: One of the 64 images that makes up Iain Scott’s body of photojournalistic work called Collegiate. Pictured is LJ You from UCOL’s Diploma in Furniture Design and Making programme.

Fleur, a second year student on UCOL’s Bachelor of Applied Visual Imaging programme, receives a prize pack unlike any other. The combination of cash, Canon products and a full day on location with each of the three EYEcon mentors – Chris Sisarich, Hannah Johnston and Johannes van Kan – makes it the most substantial prize for a competition at this level.

Second place was awarded to Bianca Mar’e-Fletcher, also a second year Photography student at UCOL. Fellow UCOL student Tony Kim received a special mention.

Leading New Zealand photographers Sisarich, Johnston and van Kan judged the submissions of work in a lengthy and detailed judging process. Fleur’s four submitted images were praised by the judging panel as having a perfect balance of photographic technique and compelling story telling. “Fleur’s work is thought provoking,” stated one judge’s comment. “The control and composition shows impeccable skill and the underlying message in the series is extremely compelling.”

The judges said Bianca’s submission was a “beautiful series that leads the viewer to want to learn more about the subject’s story.”

Fleur says that the Canon EYEcon competition helped her to believe in herself as a photographer, “First off I would like to thank Canon for giving me this incredible opportunity. Winning this year’s competition is one of the most amazing experiences and I cannot wait to find out what’s next.”

The 2011 EYEcon photographic competition attracted entries from tertiary photographic students and apprentice photographers across the country.

The judges said this year’s competition saw strong contention for a place and gave a special mention to student Tony Kim, from UCOL who submitted unique, creative depictions of life in the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquakes.

As winner Fleur receives $4,000 to spend on Canon products, a $1599 printer, a further $1000 cash and mentoring from the judges. UCOL also receives $2,000 worth of Canon products. Bianca receives $2,000 worth of canon products and a printer.

The Head of UCOL’s School of Photography, Art and Design Rachel Hoskin says the Canon EYECON results are outstanding and she and the school’s academic staff congratulate the successful students. This year’s successes for UCOL follow last year’s first placing in the Canon EYECON for third year BAVI student, now graduate, Kevin Bone.

UCOL students also won a record 52 awards at this year’s Epson/New Zealand Institute of Professional Photographers Iris Professional Photography Awards, including the award for top student.

Photographs Below: First Place: Fleur Verhoeven, Second Place: Bianca Mar’e-Fletcher

 

Jacob Dale was presented with an Outstanding Single Achievement in the Arts award and the Artist of the Year award for his memorable performances on stage and active involvement in the Palmerston North theatre community.

As a Performing Arts student he has played roles in several Diploma programme’s productions including Antigone, Blood Wedding and Cabaret.

He performed in Manawatu Festival of New Arts, was outstanding in the White Coat Ensemble’s production of Madame De Sade and took a lead role in the 2011 Summer Shakespeare production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.  He is currently working on The River – a play by Angie Farrow.  In addition to performing, Jacob has directed a couple of plays for children.

UCOL Voice and Singing Tutor Suzy Hawes says, “Jacob is an amazing student and actor. His answer is always ‘yes’, and he never gives less than everything he’s got and all he is, as a student and as an actor.

“When he is not the ‘star’ he still gives a production or an assignment his best for the sake of the experience as well as for the ensemble and the production itself. His energy is so positive and courageous.”

UCOL Performing Arts student Adam Brown also received an Outstanding Achievement Award for his performance as Lysander in Summer Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream.

The judges said, “Adam delivered an outstanding and memorable performance in this central role in this year’s Summer Shakespeare production.  He rose effectively to the challenge of performing in an outdoor environment and was a major part in ensuring the outstanding success of this year’s production.”

In its sixth year, the Student City Arts and Cultural Awards were originally driven by the Massey University Arts Committee and Vision Manawatu to celebrate the artistic achievements of students in all four of Palmerston North’s tertiary institutions and to reward the effort, skill and inspiration that goes into making creative works. 

Photo: Adam Brown (left) and Jacob Dale.