Fourth award in a row

By Tania Martin
TWO hills designers have the Midas touch after bringing home gold medals at the 2008 Victorian Furnishing Industry Training Awards last week.
Pauline Anderson of Menzies Creek and Andrew Cox of Upwey were both shocked and thrilled by the awards.
Ms Anderson, 40, took home the award for regional development in leadlighting for her piece which features a traditional stained glass heraldic crest.
“I used symbols and imagery relating to my family,” she said.
For Ms Anderson leadlighting was once a hobby but now it’s a new career path.
She first became interested in the art after seeing her father working with leadlight.
A six-week hobby course in leadlighting soon turned into a passion for Ms Anderson when she was urged to take it further.
It was then that the possibility of turning her hobby into a career became a reality.
Ms Anderson said the gold medal topped off three great years.
It is her fourth award in three years after coming runner-up for top of her class in her first year of TAFE, which was followed by awards for top student and overall student in 2006 and 2007.
“This (gold medal) is the icing on the cake for me,” she said.
Ms Anderson finished her course in April this year and is now concentrating on setting up a studio.
Meanwhile, Andrew Cox, 21, took out the gong for the Furnishing Technology Award with his Corona chair.
The chair is made up of a series of ellipses, which are suspended by a polished steel frame that can pivot at the base.
Mr Cox said he took the original idea of the Corona chair which was designed by Denmark’s Poul Volther and re-engineered it.
“I borrowed the shape and style but redesigned the idea,” he said.
“I love the shape and characteristic of the chair.”
Mr Cox said winning the gong was an honour, one that he hopes will help launch his budding furniture- design business.
“It was a big enough shock just being nominated but winning the award was fantastic,” he said.
Furnishing Industry Association general manager John Osmelak, said the awards were held each year to promote the industry as a creative and exciting career.
The pair was presented their awards last on 21 July at a gala dinner at the Victorian Art Centre in Melbourne.