has been awarded the Ian Shirley Award for outstanding academic achievement in social policy A young Veronika Klingler alongside her grandparents and great-aunt Veronika’s path to social work was shaped by a lifetime of values she moved to Aotearoa New Zealand nearly 16 years ago after meeting her New Zealand partner while snowboarding in her homeland they travelled the world before settling in Aotearoa While you’ll frequently find her spending time with her family travelling and learning about different cultures you will also find Veronika hunting down a good cuppa before mahi My love language is cooking and I’m a very dedicated coffee snob I surround myself with authentic and uplifting relationships Spending time in Papatūānuku appreciating all her beauty whilst listening to the sound of Tangaroa provides me with strength after a difficult day at work.” Her family history is steeped in the value of service—the roots of Veronika’s passion for social justice “My grandfather lived and embraced it until his passing at the age of 102 as an active member of his church community while my mother was a passionate geriatric nurse until her retirement Two of my late grandaunts were nuns working in hospitals and one of my late granduncles was a priest “My grandfather lived through two world wars He often cried when reflecting on this past including losing three siblings because they spoke up against injustices during WWII These experiences have shaped me and given me a strong sense of justice and standing up for what I believe is right.” Veronika with her family enjoying the beach It was a deeply personal experience that led her to pursue social work When her daughter was born with a heart condition and required a transplant at a very young age “This was a pivotal experience for my family that impacted how I see the world The awhi we received and the challenges getting our daughter the care she needed I realised my calling - going into social work as a change agent and walking alongside whānau towards achieving more equitable wellbeing outcomes.” Veronika worked in Early Childhood Education where she followed the RIE Pikler approach: promoting respectful relationship-based care that fosters self-determination in pēpi “These tangata whaiora have taught me so much They helped me reflect on the privileges I have been entrusted with and showed me that authentic respectful connections are powerful drivers for change.” a humbling recognition of her hard work and of the importance of social policy in practice “I was always interested in social policy and worked hard to get my head around the parliamentary system of Aotearoa our family gathered nightly around the television for the news and issues of justice were regularly debated over dinner Citizenship rights come with responsibilities speaking up against injustice and human rights breaches.” Now working for Te Whatu Ora in the Specialist Maternal Mental Health Service “Te Whatu Ora is a colossal and complex organisation Social policy education provided me with the tools to critically evaluate legislation identify gaps and advocate for systems change to support culturally safe equitable and effective Te Tiriti honouring healthcare “There is no such thing as a hard to engage whānau—only hard to engage services.” the most rewarding part of her journey has been the connections gently and purposefully walking alongside them at their most challenging and vulnerable times and instilling hope for a flourishing future Those shared learning experiences are powerful and deeply humbling.” “I will raise awareness about the wellbeing inequities experienced by perimenopausal women Veronika Klingler celebrates winning Ian Shirley Award The School of Social Work recently celebrated its top students at the 2024 Social Work Awards commending their exceptional dedication and performance in their studies pursuing a Master of Applied Social Work was more than just a return to academia It was a transformative journey that deepened her commitment to helping others and grew her passion for mental health advocacy Email: contact@massey.ac.nzPhone (NZ): 0800 627739Phone (International): +64 6 350 5701Text: 5222 Social media More ways to get in touch Download the Massey Uni app Donate the local music scene has had a rotten year I’ve been around a bit; I’ve studied history’s great philosophers I learned about survival of the fittest from Charles Darwin and the circle of life from Elton John But it’s still jarring to lead with the death of a local musician for the third time in five weeks interviewer and more has finally lost her battle with the cancer she’d been evading for years sometimes seemingly with only the sheer strength of her creativity just before news of Marianne Faithfull’s passing reached our shores; I don’t know how she kept going so long I wasn’t kidding about holding off death with creative willpower from Whakamarama’s Soundtree Productions She’d be given a couple of months to live then embark on a new project and just keep going I’ve written about Shirley countless times Check the SunLive website at: www.sunlive.co.nz and search her name local singer-songwriter Shirley Ryder briefly moved to Cyprus before emigrating to New Zealand at the age of 9...” Here’s another: “In a courageous battle against the odds a resilient female musician and author is confronting a formidable adversary...” There are also several album reviews – Shirley was ridiculously prolific – going back to two CDs she made with band The Shirleybyrds And here’s a story from early last year: “Shirley Ryder has released a new song for late local legend Graeme Hardaker (of The Shirleybyrds) who passed away in December...” Those albums were made with Tim Julian at Welcome Bay’s Colourfield Studio; more recently she’s been working with Shane You can find them on YouTube and the Soundtree Facebook page That’s also where you can find Shane’s new album not-dissimilar to his previous band Electric Universe early Deep Purple maybe but with more epic production and more melodic songs with big banks of guitars and backing vocals and atmospheric reverb I always forget what a good electric guitarist he is and he also supplies bass and the drum programming Assistance comes from Kokomo’s Nigel Masters on keyboards daughter of well-known bass player Pat; she plays with him in the Sweet Leaf duo The final player is Wellington’s Susan Colien Reid a classically trained violinist known for her unique Celtic blues improvised violin style which weaves through several songs and provides extra colour ‘Silence’ is not a regular rock album violin and backing vocals create a rich complex sound that is uniquely Shane’s How do you feel about Tauranga’s rapid population growth Back to top but if you're in Christchurch this weekend you may stumble across these rare creatures flocking together as part of their annual migration A group of women named Shirley are meeting to celebrate the 25 birthday of the Shirley Club See terms of use for easy access to all your favourite programmes there are no recent results for popular videos Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Shirley lived in Newton Falls for most of her life graduating from Newton Falls High School in 1960 1976; they enjoyed the past 48 years of marriage together Shirley worked in the customer service department for Big Wheel (Pamida) in Newton Falls for 25 years Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter Wendy Petrilla of Ravenna and Chrissy McCutcheon of Florida; one son Darrin (Tracy) Hurst of Newton Falls; one sister Sherry Mason of Newton Falls; 12 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren The family will receive friends noon to 1:30 p.m followed by a celebration of life service at 1:30 p.m. A luncheon will follow in the church fellowship hall She will be laid to rest at a later date in Newton Falls Cemetery The family requested all donations be made in her memory to First Church of God Arrangements have been entrusted to the James Funeral Home Family and friends may view her obituary online or send condolences at www.jamesfuneralhomeinc.com | https://www.tribtoday.com | 240 Franklin Street SE Pukekohe-based trainer Greg Shirley was thrilled with the way his four-year-old mare Words took out Tuesday's Night Of Champions Tickets On Sale Now Mobile Pace at Cambridge Raceway Shirley has long been involved in the racing industry but now is fully immersed in harness racing where alongside training his horses he works maintaining the Pukekohe tracks and on the crash crew at Alexandra Park Words is just his second winner since he first took out his trainers’ licence in 2021 “She’s doing some nice things on the race track which has actually come as a bit of a surprise as I wasn’t sure she had quite this much ability,” said Shirley “But to go as well as she has in her first few starts and to run the time she did she’s definitely showing she’s got some ability.” Words was confidently driven in the night’s junior drivers race by Emily Johnson who elected to drive the mare positively off the gate from her wide barrier draw and take the lead as they entered the back straight on the first occasion Words travelled comfortably in front and when entering the home straight she maintained an easy lead to win by 1.5 lengths in a time of 2:39.9 for the 2200 metre trip “Emily came in and said she went great but she’s still so green she was looking around out in front a bit but Emily did a great job handling her,” said Shirley “She has actually been a bit of a handful along the way which is why she didn’t race until she was four and had several trials before racing but between Andre Poutama and Emily driving her race day she’s getting a good education in learning how to be a racehorse.” The Downbytheseaside mare is owned by former trainer Eddie Clarke and his partner Maria Lang and she’s made an excellent start to racing having had just three starts to date for two wins at Cambridge and a second placing at Alexandra Park behind the well performed Ultimate Racy Girl “Eddie was wanting to step back a bit from training so between us we just potter away with one or two at a time and see if they are any good,” said Shirley “He bought Words a few years ago as a weanling from Woodlands Stud and we are all really enjoying the ride she’s taking us on at the moment.” “It’s a pretty big thing for guys like us to have a horse that’s nice enough to head to Alexandra Park with and be competitive against some of the big stables.” The next assignment for Words will likely be at Cambridge next week on Flying Mile Night in the Graduation Pace Derek Balle scored a winning training double with Boss Jo finally clearing maiden ranks after 34 starts and Sunset Strip winning later in the night for driver Zachary Butcher with a tough win after sitting parked in running A new 2YO pacing Colts and Geldings race has been added to Addington's meeting on Friday The National Racing Bureau now has its own dedicated email and phone accounts © 2025 Harness Racing New Zealand  |  Privacy Policy I first met Sheila Shirley when we moved to Washington state 20 years ago The city’s Public Works department is inviting public input on a new site plan Jury service is the most likely role residents will have in our justice system Kadish Morris selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter “America has been the only place where some text in my work was censored,” says Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley A video game that the 29-year-old British artist had made about walking home alone at night had been on view in the US Accompanying wall text featured the phrase “your state has failed you” But the gallery “said that using the word ‘state’ was too political” The gallery also restricted children from accessing the piece parents had to opt in to allow the kids to see my work,” she says It wasn’t about trans-ness as a whole — that wasn’t the main focus But America was the only place where kids weren’t allowed in.” a community of developers who create low-res horror games Her games may be visual labyrinths full of eerily striking visual references in which the player is first questioned about their identity — whether they are “Black and trans” “trans” or “cis” — determining their path through the virtual space Still from ‘Pirating Blackness’ (2021) by Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley © Courtesy the artist; exh BerlinI want to activate people’s brains and allow them to have conversations with people that they don’t like The work will be on view at Frieze New York in a solo booth presented by London’s Public Gallery “We’re showing BlackTransSea (2021),” says Brathwaite-Shirley “You go on the journey of your ancestors — whether they were taken across the ocean or they travel to take other people across the ocean If your ancestors are people that carry people across the ocean that ship can never make it to its destination Then there’s the most intense game the artist has ever made — No space for redemption (2024) “It’s also about people online who cause trauma to other people and use that trauma as content for themselves.” Each section is inspired by conversations dreams and experiences Brathwaite-Shirley has had “This particular piece is very diaristic.” The artist will not be travelling to the US where President Trump’s executive orders have targeted trans people’s rights “I’m sad I’m not going,” Brathwaite-Shirley says Still from ‘No Space for Redemption’ (2024) by Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley © Courtesy the artist; exh BerlinThe idea behind each artwork typically begins with a conversation “My job is to just listen and collect snippets of what they’re saying Images that are important to them or are of them we use those images to craft the foundation of the environment,” says Brathwaite-Shirley “We” is a group of Black trans coders and developers they can create anything from a figure to a landscape to an object within 15 minutes I wanted the work to be an archive,” the artist explains “I would start by taking photos of Black trans people and putting them in the game [But] I found that when I would make something and delete it I felt like I was also curating what I thought was appropriate to archive about the person I was almost doing some of the similar erasure that I think archives do Brathwaite-Shirley was born in 1995 and raised in Streatham so we’d go to a Seventh-Day Adventist church ‘I’m possessed on the weekend’ church,” the artist laughs Brathwaite-Shirley became increasingly fascinated with video games but imagine my family in there.” A timid and artsy child Brathwaite-Shirley was “a big nerd at heart” In Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley’s Berlin studio © Portrait by Anna Tiessen for the FTBrathwaite-Shirley’s video game ‘Black Trans Archive’ (2020) asks players how they identify before the game starts © Portrait by Anna Tiessen for the FTAfter studying at the Slade School of Fine Art in London “I think the pace of life in London is really fast I live by a lake very far out of the city and it lets me just spend all this time thinking.” Her early works were long animations with complex storylines It was about an AI that comes back to Earth after a long time away and decides to make an atmosphere that is only breathable for Black trans people “I want to activate people’s brains and allow them to have conversations with people that they don’t like With people that they think they have nothing in common with.” ‘We are here because of those that are not’ (2020) by Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley © Courtesy the artistBrathwaite-Shirley doesn’t expect the audience to arrive with fully formed ideas but rather to be open to new thoughts It feels very difficult to go to a physical space where you can muddle through a topic you don’t fully understand It feels like you must be an expert in order to talk about the topic A participatory performance at Tate Modern last year “ended up as this [big] conversation that wouldn’t stop People just talked and talked and talked and talked.” It was proof For an exhibition at the Serpentine in the autumn the artist is creating a work in which the only function is to encourage participants to talk to each other “The game controls all the lights in space It controls the environment as well as conversation topics It’s a game that is not just purely linked to playing [but] gets you to look away from the screen and into someone’s eyes.”  The heart of Brathwaite-Shirley’s art lies in what happens to the player — especially once the game ends rather than what you’re seeing,” the artist says “I wouldn’t want someone to leave saying that the artwork is beautiful I would much rather them say ‘I felt’ or ‘I didn’t like’ or ‘I have to think about X’.” Brathwaite-Shirley in her Berlin studio © Portrait by Anna Tiessen for the FTMay 7-11 Find out about our latest stories first — follow FT Weekend on Instagram and X, and sign up to receive the FT Weekend newsletter every Saturday morning Comments have not been enabled for this article. Get a renovation loan up to $70K and bring your vision to life we can approve your home improvement loan quickly and get your renovation started Golden Graduate: Shirley Horrocks talks to Janet McAllister about a life spent capturing lives on film A scary moment for prolific documentary-maker Shirley Horrocks ONZM: sitting beside Allen Curnow at the 2001 premiere of her film about the influential poet “I looked at him partway through and he had tears ‘I don’t know if he’s crying because it’s so bad or whether it’s reaching him!’ I hadn’t shown it to him before the first screening Allen turned out to be happy enough to repeatedly attend Early Days Yet It includes beautiful visual interpretations of his poems: as he reads we see swimmers (aka “free-standing engines”) and the “spinifex’s incontinent seed vessels bowling downwind” Shirley says she felt cheeky attempting these poem videos But “a lot of people were a little bit scared of his poetry Enabling the nation’s creative people to be more widely known or more deeply understood is a key motivation for Shirley Her subjects include many University of Auckland staff and graduates: Merimeri Penfold (mostly in te reo Māori her own stepson graphic novelist Dylan Horrocks – the list goes on Shirley thinks well-known talents deserve more thoughtful attention; she’s currently filming musician Don McGlashan She doesn’t want to make a “hagiography” – a biography that idealises its subject – she says Her stand-out moments: following photographer Marti Friedlander around London’s East End where Marti insisted her orphanage childhood was lucky “he was trying to get everything done before he passed away … he said he wasn’t ready to die.” Shirley has also made documentaries about disabled people even staying at the Deaf community’s Gallaudet University in Washington D.C “you walk into the cafeteria for breakfast as somebody with completely no language The only child of a Dominion Road pharmacist Yet her success stands out: she has shown more films in the New Zealand International Film Festival than any other local filmmaker She wouldn’t have believed that possible when she first studied at the University of Auckland as a young mum with two children (unusual in the early 1970s) thanks to three fellow students – nuns – who would kindly save her a seat when she was late Shirley majored in Italian – a beloved grandfather had enjoyed singing Italian opera – and continued into postgraduate study she successfully lobbied the University Senate to allow students to complete masters degrees part time This flexibility was a feminist win: useful for people who were employed or looking after children (or both) for which she made a documentary about the former Theatre Corporate “I just really wanted to tell a wider story she was divorced and had met academic Roger Horrocks (the University’s media and screen pioneer) They spent 1980 in New York where Shirley helped ambulance-chasing news camera teams because I think this way’s been much more rewarding.” The news room’s loss; documentary’s remarkable gain This article first appeared in the Spring 2024 issue of Ingenio magazine about why she can't keep trying for a relationship with Amber A 36-year-old Spreydon man has been arrested after allegedly discharging a shotgun in the Christchurch suburb of Shirley this afternoon Police were called to an address in Emmett St about 4.40pm after reports a man had discharged a shotgun and fled the scene in a car A pursuit was abandoned due to the concerning manner of driving,” a police spokesperson said “Police tracked the man to a Sumner St property in Spreydon where cordons were put in place as a precaution After being challenged by police at the address “This was fast-moving and we are thankful that no members of the public were harmed.” Police said they would carry out scene examinations at the Emmett St and Sumner St properties Sign up to The Daily H a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday A quad bike crash in rural South Canterbury has left one person dead She started two tours – and had to abandon them The singer talks about 30 years of heaven and hell who – although she has lived mainly in the US for almost 30 years – is incredibly Scottish about flattery “I think possibly you just relate deeply to the lyrics of Chinese Fire Horse,” she says wryly That track is about life chewing you up and spitting you out because you are too old Let All That We Imagine has its roots in 2016 when Manson fell off stage on the first day of the tour for Strange Little Birds “I’m not blaming myself for my physical exuberance,” she says but it took five years for it to disintegrate.” Duke Erikson and Steve Marker – sending her musical ideas My band are not communicative at the best of times The only thing I would get would be these instrumentals with some zany titles.” it worked: they had an album to tour by last year and were about to play their biggest UK gig in 15 years when Manson’s other hip “collapsed the day before” and she had to have that one replaced too particularly as I’m at this late stage in my career I’ve got to be honest with you – dark and depressing and soul-crushing “That’s such a Shirley Manson thing to say,” I say Manson onstage with Garbage last year in Wolverhampton Photograph: Katja Ogrin/RedfernsOnly Happy When It Rains wasn’t technically the breakthrough Garbage single – that was Stupid Girl – but both were released in 1995 and became the soundtrack to the year: caustic on the dole in Scotland and trying to get paid to make music and I got a phone call out of the blue: do you want to come and work with one of America’s most favoured sons was famous as the producer of Nirvana’s Nevermind and was an all-purpose big beast of alternative rock a credited producer on Sonic Youth and Smashing Pumpkins albums That eponymous debut album could do no wrong – it sold 4m copies worldwide and went double-platinum in the US Manson says now that: “Butch in particular was credited with all our work he went out of his way to explain that the band worked as a band.” Truthfully Manson had such panache that a whole bunch of us (by “us” I mean listeners to 90s indie rock) didn’t even notice the guys and thought this was a Scottish band and couldn’t figure out why they weren’t in the UK more often “It’s funny you should say that,” she says but Scotland has not really seen us as a Scottish band and England obviously hasn’t seen us as a UK band and they think we’re some kind of transatlantic supergroup Manson with her bandmates Photograph: Joseph CulticeThe 90s were also brutal to women in the music industry “I was so young and I was hungry and distracted I didn’t notice a lot of the micro-misogyny and the micro-sexism at first,” Manson says and I was reading these horrible descriptions of me although primarily the 90s music journalists were male Critique was often lascivious and slavering, but any amount of objectification was supposedly fine because it was always ironic, and that, in itself, was bullshit. But it morphed into a kind of bitterness and resentment, which I never understood. People would tear into Manson – and everyone: Kenickie, Sleeper, even Salad – and I never really got where the anger came from “I think it goes back to the 90s offering a different kind of woman I think they thought it was a marvellous distraction they” – I’m going out on a limb to say “they” are the patriarchy – “were like: ‘Wait a minute these women are getting a lot of attention and taking up a lot of column space and we’re going to crush it.’ Subconsciously But there was a sense of: ‘You can go back to the hole that you crawled out of important statements and important sounds coming from the men.’” It was a lot – endless horrible personal remarks from one direction and relentless “The problem with a lot of success is it comes with a lot of visual accompaniment Your self is reflected back at you on every magazine Some versions are gorgeous and fantastical and you look nothing like yourself – maybe there’s a small semblance of you in the eyes And then there are incredibly unflattering ones … I wasn’t the right personality to deal with that I didn’t get an iota of pleasure out of it so they have to augment it with lights and makeup and hair and stylists and nail manicurists It really did a number on my self-esteem.” Manson was open about her struggles with depression and body dysmorphic disorder but that openness was distorted in the media as fragility I have definitely suffered from bouts of depression I see that as a healthy part of existing in the world I think all this nonsense about us permanently having to feel ecstatic is silly.” On tour with the band in 1998 Photograph: Gie Knaeps/Getty ImagesShe moved to the US in 1996 “Perhaps some other bands might have done well living in different continents,” she says “but I don’t think it was on the cards for us.” By 2001 they were still flying high – Version 2.0 in 1998 had sold well Beautiful Garbage did fine – but “we have to touch on the devastation wreaked by September 11 in the States,” she says and one could argue it’s never really fully recovered since Programming became really conservative: radio would only really play a certain sound – a very reassuring fun vibe – and these very fierce women from the 90s just disappeared That was when we started to see the rise of real mega-capitalist pop We’ve been inundated with those sounds now for 20-odd years.” She loves Taylor Swift: “People make fun of her lyrics because they talk about an experience that they’re uninterested in Taylor Swift is a genius.” She loves Chappell Roan: “There’s nothing better than singing along to Pink Pony Club when you’ve just come off reading the news that mainstream music has been homogenised But only later – it’s hard to feel sad while you are talking to Manson cutting short the tour for their fourth album Watching my mother die was the worst thing I’ve ever seen in my life I had to make a choice to pull myself out and up I just started saying to myself: ‘You are an artist So let’s just go and start writing music and being musical filling it with love and interest and passion and having an idea of where it’s going.’ I never believed I was an artist until my mother died Read moreShe describes a pre-gig ritual Garbage have had since they reformed “We started doing it at the beginning of each show It’s a piss-take of what all these other bands do We look as though we’re about to high-five each other I have a tiny pinch of: ‘Are we being the very thing we’re taking the piss out of Or am I wanting some real connection here?’” “I don’t know if I’ve got the moral courage there was a lot of to and fro before the interview about whether Manson would turn on her camera for our video call and I let it drop because the aforementioned savage 90s media was bound to make a person wary and I really don’t think you would appreciate that.” I didn’t really need to know what she looked like – I just wanted to see her expressions But you can pretty much always hear that she is smiling Let All That We Imagine Be the Light is out on 30 May (BMG) Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey is the 7th Secretary-General of the Commonwealth and the first woman from Africa to hold this office Secretary-General on X   Secretary-General on Facebook   Speeches and statements she served as Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration from January 2017 to January 2024 and was a member of Ghana’s National Security Council Her tenure was marked by significant reforms in foreign policy delivery which strengthened Ghana’s diplomatic footprint and introduced transformative improvements in consular services through digitisation and innovation she chaired the Council of Ministers of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) from 2020 to 2022 leading strategic responses to security crises democratic transitions and regional institutional reform She played a key role in the passage of landmark UN Security Council Resolution 2667 in 2022 enabling the financing of African Union-led peace operations — a historic achievement during Ghana’s tenure as a non-permanent member of the Council She also helped secure UN Resolution 2634 addressing piracy and maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea and was instrumental in shaping Ghana’s high-profile “Year of Return” and “Beyond the Return” initiatives strengthening cultural and economic ties with the global African diaspora she served as Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs during President John Agyekum Kufuor’s administration (2001–2009) she was a Member of Parliament for the Weija and later Anyaa-Sowutuom constituencies representing the largest population base in Ghana’s legislature across four consecutive terms Shirley Botchwey led a successful marketing and communications firm and served as a consultant in the tourism sector Secretary-General Botchwey is a qualified Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Ghana and holds extensive academic and professional credentials She has also undertaken leadership training at Harvard University’s Kennedy School and the Institute of Paralegal Training and Leadership Studies She is a Fellow of the African Leadership Initiative and the Aspen Global Leadership Network and a member of the Ghana National Association of Alternative Dispute Resolution Practitioners The Commonwealth Secretary-General is responsible for: The Secretary-General is nominated by Commonwealth leaders and can serve a maximum of two terms of four years each Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Duncan with Fr Memorials may be directed to Duncan Community Hall or the Garner-Hayfield-Ventura High School Vocal Music Department More Weather Details Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Amber Portwood’s daughter is finally reaching out to her — but it’s likely not the message Portwood was hoping to receive Leah Shirley said 'recent online activities' made her put up a boundary between her and her mother “This isn’t meant to hurt you,” Shirley texts her mother in an upcoming episode of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter “but I want to let you know that all these years it’s been my decision to not have a relationship with you and nobody has influenced my decision.” Shirley notes “recent online activities” have put her in a place where she need to “communicate this” in order to put a boundary up between her and Portwood The text message comes on the heels of Shirley opening up about her relationship with her estranged mother to Catelynn Lowell and Maci Bookout on the May 1 episode of the show Leah Shirley recently claimed her mother hadn't seen her in nine months Shirley told Lowell and Bookout she was “done” with wanting a relationship with Portwood due to her being an inconsistent presence in her life and for how she’s blamed her dad, Gary Shirley She also shared she hadn’t seen Amber in nine months and aside from when Amber reached out after Leah was diagnosed with asthma Amber hadn’t attempted to contact her whatsoever “Me and Maci have told her if she wanted to ever have a relationship with you that she needed to start showing consistency,” Catelynn told Leah they’re aware of her issues in terms of being a parent Leah noted it’s “too much” to have Amber come in and out of her life and Leah Shirley insisted Gary Shirley is not to blame for her estranged relationship with Amber Portwood “She tells me that she loves me and hugs me and stuff and I can’t do that,” Leah elaborated and then when you do see me – for purposes of there being a camera in your face – you try to act like you’re the best mom ever.” She said Gary has consistently pushed for Leah to have a relationship with Amber even pressing Leah to invite her to her birthday party — but Amber didn't end up coming Leah Shirley has been vocal about wanting Gary Shirley's wife Catelynn told Leah it was “huge” to see her “setting boundaries” to “protect” her own “mental health and peace” at such a young age Aside from claiming on a TikTok Live she had been pushed out of Leah’s life, Amber went so far as to accuse Gary of sexual assault on the platform in December 2024. “You’re a rapist,” she shared at the time on a TikTok Live. “You’re lucky that you have our daughter. And if you want to come at me for this, because I’ve never told anybody. Not once. I’ve never told anybody…You guys, I’ve kept my mouth shut for 17 years. I went through everything that I went through everything that I could to keep this at bay. Even though other people knew about this, okay?” Teen Mom: The Next Chapter is currently airing on MTV on Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET. Link to XLink to InstagramOpt-out of personalized ads A DIVISION OF MYSTIFY ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK INC Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service People may receive compensation for some links to products and services Offers may be subject to change without notice As a new compilation with unheard material is released we assess the Cardiff legend’s diamonds and deep cuts Moonraker (End Title) (1979)Shirley Bassey apparently hated this Bond theme protesting that the lyrics were nonsensical It’s certainly not up to previous standards but the disco version that accompanies the film’s end credits is worth hearing – better than her attempt to rejig This Is My Life for the 70s dancefloor Classic early Shirley in that it’s both sexy and powerful a combination that the writer Bob Stanley once brilliantly suggested evoked “the hardest girl in the school taking a shine to you and repeatedly slamming you against her locker door” Another should-have-been-a-hit culled from Bassey’s stock of latterday covers: Slave to the Rhythm’s commanding tone suits her voice perfectly its production far less indebted to Trevor Horn’s original its breakbeat pilfered from Primal Scream’s Loaded Bassey with (from left) Danny Williams Photograph: PAAnyone who felt Bassey was underserved working with British bandleaders and orchestras had their prayers answered by her sixth album recorded with New Jersey arranger Nelson Riddle and his orchestra while they were touring the UK but this is the killer cut: luscious and pillow-soft It was bested in the UK singles chart by Andy Williams’ original soundtrack recording but Bassey’s take on the theme from the film Love Story may be the definitive version She is certainly more intense in her approach to the song than Williams was cutting against the super-slick easy listening arrangement It was inevitable that the 90s easy listening revival would burnish Bassey’s career: it resulted in her biggest hit single in decades a collaboration with big beat duo Propellerheads Big beat wasn’t a subgenre noted for subtlety but History Repeating is impressively respectful in its updating of Bassey’s sound It’s a strong song that fits her perfectly Bassey just before her 19th birthday Photograph: Evening Standard/Getty ImagesBassey’s debut single was a succès de scandale Its hymning of “straight and simple sex” was remarkably frank for the mid-50s and amplified by the 19-year-old singer’s innocent delivery that she simply hadn’t understood the lyrics Of all Bassey’s recent(ish) attempts to tap into modern pop culture, her 2009 album The Performance is the best. Written by James Dean Bradfield and Nicky Wire of Manic Street Preachers The Girl from Tiger Bay is a particularly majestic song worth it just to hear her confidently essay a lyric about situationism as if that were the most normal thing in the world Photograph: ITV/Rex FeaturesThe album Something was a concerted effort to make Bassey more contemporary Rediscovered during the 90s easy listening revival her version of Blood Sweat and Tears’ 1969 hit is great: funky and commanding enough to make you wish she’d tried this approach more often One of Bassey’s weirder hits: a version of the Carpenters’ song clearly influenced by the string-bedecked reggae singles that populated the British charts in the early 70s Whether Shirl was a quiet admirer of the skinheads’ soundtrack of choice remains unknown Performing for the BBC Photograph: David Redfern/RedfernsBassey apparently wasn’t keen on Nobody Does It Like Me a kind of MOR/soft soul crossover that sets her voice against Motown stalwart James Jamerson’s incredible bass playing and a sumptuous arrangement by Barry White collaborator Gene Page A collaboration with Swiss electronic duo Yello co-written by the Associates’ Billy MacKenzie The Rhythm Divine appeared at a commercial low point in Bassey’s recording career It’s a wonderful song that sets her voice amid moody electronics to glamorous effect – a reminder of what she could do Her cover of the George Harrison-penned Something was a hit but the best example of Bassey tackling contemporary rock was her CinemaScope rendition of the Doors’ breakthrough single drenched in strings that aid her transformation of the song from slow burn into high drama On stage in 1975 Photograph: United Archives/Getty ImagesBassey had a line in repurposing Italian-language ballads for an anglophone audience You can see why it pricked her interest: the melody is beautiful Goodness knows how she came across Jezahel – it was a single by an Italian prog band called Delirium – but her version is incredible her voice soaring over a subtly funky backing It was sampled on Public Enemy’s Harder Than You Think Restrained isn’t the first adjective that springs to mind when considering Bassey’s voice – one critic approvingly compared her to a flamethrower – but her version of Till a ballad originally recorded by Percy Faith There’s an affecting tenderness to her delivery This Is My Life is the archetypical Bassey belter: lavishly orchestrated musical melodrama with a lyric so filled with defiance – “and I don’t give a damn for lost emotions!” – it requires a voice that communicates believable passion without slipping into histrionics It’s hard to imagine anyone singing it better making its come-ons more straightforward and forthright There’s ice in her voice – this is still a transactional proposition – but when she offers you a “good time” Co-lyricist Anthony Newley was supposed to sing Goldfinger whose performance was so full-throttle she was forced to remove her bra midway through the recording session conviction and a faint but detectable sense of camp: no wonder it became her signature song the shine was starting to tarnish on the Bond franchise and employing Bassey for the theme song was a deliberate attempt to hark back to its heyday – but Diamonds Are Forever caught John Barry and Don Black at the peak of their powers with an arrangement that is atmospheric to the point of being almost eerie and Black’s lyrics are a fabulously cynical melding of eroticism and materialism Always good with songs that suggested wealth had more value than love Bassey was the perfect fit: she sounds utterly authoritative as if bitter experience has led her to mean every word Dame Shirley Bassey: The Singer (Classic and Undiscovered Gems from the EMI/UA Years 1962-79) Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 A.M at Mohr & Becker-Hunt Funeral Home in South Sioux City Visitation with the family will be one hour prior at the funeral home A private family graveside will follow the service Shirley was the daughter of Oscar and Ruby (Jones) Beargeon she took great pride in helping care for her younger brothers and sisters She graduated from Waterbury High School in 1954 and went on to work as a telephone operator in Sioux City for several years Shirley had a deep love for music and dancing and could often be found enjoying evenings at the Tamba in downtown Sioux City and together they built a life on their farm near Hubbard where they worked the land and raised their three children Shirley often reminisced about driving tractors and the stock truck hauling grain to the elevator in town and raising animals—memories that brought her great joy Shirley had a gift for cooking and baking which she shared with everyone she prided herself on making and sharing her delicious baked goods to the county fair where her award winning pies were highly sought after by many Her home was always filled with the warm aroma of fresh cinnamon rolls and bars—ready for any visitor who happened to stop by It was not unusual to hear polka music playing as she danced through her home a reflection of her lifelong passion for music She loved to play the piano and was always eager to waltz Shirley spent many years volunteering at breakfasts She cherished time spent with family and friends and had a knack for making everyone feel welcome with her kind smile and soul-filling laughter No-one left her home without a treat in hand Shirley was preceded in death by her parents Oscar and Ruby Beargeon; her brother Russell Beargeon; her husband She is survived by her children and grandchildren: Ron (Jeanne) Davis of Jackson and their family: Jerod (Jennifer) Davis and Tyler (Kate) Davis; Kathy (Randy) Jessen of Hubbard and their family: Nicholas (Dan) Jessen Isaac Jessen; and Sandy (Larry) Blair of Homer and their daughters: Rachel Blair and Hannah Blair; nine great grandchildren; her siblings: Phyllis (Jim) Cleveland of Jackson NE; Beverly (Gary) Maxfield of Sergeant Bluff NV; sister-in-law: Nancy Beargeon and many beloved extended family members Memorial donations may be given to Trinity Lutheran Church in Hubbard Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors This month Shirley Robertson previews the 37th America's Cup, as the city of Barcelona readies for what promises to be one of the most exciting editions of the famous trophy. ‘The functional chic of Shirley Hughes’s mums makes me feel seen’ Behold! The mum in Dogger, in her natty little bandana, cropped cords and sandals But there is something about the functional chic of a Shirley Hughes mother that makes me feel seen. Hers are mums that look like the mums I knew then, with the spirit of the mums I know now. Behold! Dogger’s mum in her natty little bandana, cropped cords and sandals. Alfie’s mum in stonewashed jeans and pixie boots. Angel Mae’s heavily pregnant mum in her pink dungarees. Bernard’s long-suffering mum in top-to-toe butter yellow. Mums with chaotic hair and rumpled shirts, who retain an air of youth and a sense of personal style Hughes herself was a lover of bold colours and sharp accessories, particularly hats. “The trick to wearing a hat is to wear it a lot,” she once told Jane Garvey in a Radio 4 interview. “And don’t walk around as though you’re balancing something on your head – forget you’re wearing it.” It’s good advice, especially for those in the throes of a postnatal style crisis. Wear something that makes your soul sing, then try to forget all about it. Never in her books are the clothes mentioned or made a focus – like the messy houses and the big feelings and the diverse neighbourhoods, they are simply allowed to be. Life as it is. Mums as they are, evolving alongside their children. Families in flux, held still for a moment on the page. Nobody did, obviously – husbands are as they are – and besides, it was too late. The moment was gone, and so was my daughter, just a streak of snot in red dungarees on the horizon. I thanked the woman over my shoulder as I broke into a run, waving a tissue. But I like to think Shirley would have done me justice. The Observer New Review: The Observer Food Monthly: Policies resilient person who enjoyed being with family above all else She was the longest living member of Center Emmanuel United Methodist Church She was active in helping to organize and participate in church socials She graduated from Outagamie Teacher’s College in Kaukauna Shirley remained a teacher years after she left the school house and looking out at the wildlife that visited their backyard were avid sports fans and watched as many Milwaukee Bucks Harold (Vera) Peters and Gene (Barbara) Peters She was preceded in death by one brother Donald (Doris) but her memory will live on in the hearts of those whose lives she touched at Center Emmanuel United Methodist Church Closed casket visitation will start at 11:00 a.m Interment will be in Ellington Union Cemetery memorials are appreciated to Center Emmanuel United Methodist Church The family extends its deep thanks to the Hortonville first responders and Police Department Carrie Chapman and the Heart and vascular Institute of Wisconsin The father of two tells PEOPLE about navigating a difficult coparenting situation with TV cameras rolling Shirley Joyce Adams (nee Begg) passed away peacefully on April 30th She worked many years for Lord Selkirk School Division and later became a cleaning contractor First playing with the Mapleton Expo-ettes and then with the Hoot’s Hustlers She was the second baseman and could hit a mean line drive down third she moved to Ontario to be with her son and his family After a few years she moved back to “Gods Country” Pine Falls she moved back to Selkirk to spend her final years Rick Peters (Shirley); sixteen grandchildren and thirty two great-grandchildren She was predeceased by her husband C.P (Hoot) Adams A private family service will be held at a later date but I will see you again and you will rejoice and no one will take away your joy - John 16:22  In a preview from Thursday’s episode of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter Leah Shirley– daughter of Amber Portwood and ex Gary Shirley– opens up to Catelynn Lowell about her complicated relationship with Amber revealing that she’s “done” with Amber’s lack of consistency and Amber’s habit of blaming Gary for their estrangement.  Leah confirms to Cate and Maci Bookout that she hasn’t seen Amber in about nine months and that aside from reaching out once after finding out that Leah had been diagnosed with asthma Amber hasn’t attempted to make contact with the 16-year-old While Cate tells Leah that she and Maci are friends with Amber she also acknowledges Amber’s shortcomings as a parent.  “Me and Maci have told her if she wanted to ever have a relationship with you that she needed to start showing consistency,” Cate says Leah goes on to explain that it’s “too much” on her to have Amber coming into her life sporadically only to act like “everything’s perfect.”  “She tells me that she loves me and hugs me and stuff and I can’t do that,” Leah explains and then when you do see me– for purposes of there being a camera in your face– you try to act like you’re the best mom ever.”  while she doesn’t “hate” Amber and understands that she “has her own issues,” she “just can’t handle it myself.” Leah also clarifies that while Amber may claim that Gary is to blame for the status of their relationship “ … I think that she thinks it’s my dad’s fault so I kind of want to clear that up because it’s not fair for her to blame my dad for something that I want,” Leah says Leah notes that her dad has always pushed for her to have a relationship with Amber even encouraging her to invite her mom to celebrate her birthday a few years back When asked if Amber being a no-show to her party hurt her feelings as she’s used to this sort of behavior from Amber.  While discussing the topic of complicated mother-daughter relationships Cate tells Leah that it took her well into adulthood to get to a place where she finally enforced boundaries with her mom and she commends Leah for being able to do that with Amber at such a young age.  making those boundaries to protect your own mental health and your peace As Cate continues discussing her situation with April she confesses to Leah that she doesn’t think the relationship between her and April will “ever be normal.” too,” Leah says of her relationship with Amber.  Cate goes on to point out that Leah is “doing hard work”– even if she doesn’t realize it– and tells the teen she’s proud of her.  A post shared by Destiny (@teenmomshaderoom__) “Woahhh lol 😂 well I guess she’s gonna be big mad when she sees what me and Maci said to Leah later this season,” Cate commented “Truth will always be truth and facts are facts!”  In the comment section of the post to the ‘Teen Mom’ Instagram account several of Amber’s co-stars had something to say about what they just watched “So proud of Leah & thank the Lord she has Gary and Kristina,” wrote Jade Cline (who has been outspoken in her criticism of Amber in the past.) ” They are always there for her and I just love seeing the support they give to her.” “Leahhhh❤️❤️❤️❤️,” wrote Briana DeJesus. New episodes of ‘Teen Mom: The Next Chapter’ air Thursdays on MTV.  Watch Leah and Cate’s full conversation below.  A post shared by Teen Mom (@teenmom) RELATED STORY: Gary Shirley Suggests That Tyler Baltierra & Catelynn Lowell Frequently Talking About Bio Daughter Carly’s Parents May Be the Reason the ‘Teen Mom’ Stars Were Cut Off From Carly  I wonder if Cate and Ty can see that they are doing exactly what Amber is doing They are bad mouthing Carly’s parents every chance they get until they hear if it is Carley’s decision to not see them Gary has taken a hit to protect his daughter Brandon and Teresa are probably doing the same thing I think everyone can agree that the parents have their faults some obviously more than others but we do need to stop pretending other parents don’t as well for me it’s the disgusting comments being made body shaming and picking apart their appearances I can’t get over how UGLY & huge Cate has become She just looks like a fat slob who has no motivation to do anything in life Tyler has just turned into some creep who is in everyone’s business & always has to take over the conversation like bro shut up let someone else talk we don’t want to hear you complain about Carly’s parents over & over It’s funny the shows producer didn’t acknowledge Amber instead she said Gary & Leah for the photo shoot Guess what Amber manifesting & crystal rocks don’t actually work so your going to have to peel yourself off that couch you love so much if you actually want a functioning relationship with your daughter she is better than having to talk about her life with Catelyn I hope Gary gives the cash from this episode directly to Leah to make up for having to sit down and have that conversation They just want to get airtime and publicity and will use any means necessary to get it When Bentley and Leah are forced to be at the center of this bs Chelsea/Cole and Brandon/Theresa were smart to try to distance their kids from this clown show as much as possible The push to have Aubree’s personal life be at the center was why Chelsea left Gary and Kristina need to get off of this show for Leah’s sake That would be the smart thing for Gary to do but Gary doesn’t have any work ethic or skills to support his family I wouldn’t be surprised if it takes the entire houses paychecks for MTV in order for him to stay in that house I believe it was 8 when Amber was with Matt Honestly Leah is more mature than I was in my 20’s Gary is a good dad and we all know who the problem is When everyone else’s story is so boring this season that they need to exploit Leah by having her talk to all of the adults about Amber……it’s truly time to cancel the show It’s sad to see the awkwardness is making her talk to Catelynn Cheyenne ( in another episode) about Amber It’s hard enough at her age to express yourself to family and even friends let alone people you see every once in awhile with cameras in your face this is exactly why i’m ok if we don’t see the shirley family on the show anymore leah’s still in high school yet she has to continuously talk about her strained relationship with her immature mom and that’s the only thing we know about her Is anyone else grossed out by these adults having overline conversations on camera with these children but at the end of the day they are still children I don’t get why production is pushing the other cast members to ask lead questions push conversations that probably shouldn’t be happening on camera or should at least have their parent involved in Because this a job they get paid handsomely for this is the money that pays for these kids schooling dont get it twisted these kids have had lives they would never have had only for MTV! It’s not their fault that their parents were deadbeat teenage parents Money doesn’t make it any less gross It’s incredibly shallow to think kids should have to endure being exploited because in return they will get paid handsomely I didn’t know being financially compensated excuses poor behavior that It is acceptable to do unhealthy things as along as the money is good The kids and parents would still get paid without these stories lines Instead of these awkward scenes just have the parents talk about issues without the kids being the ones to ask The kids also; can’t have semi-normal lives can’t go anywhere without being recognized have to watch everything they do and say anywhere and everywhere they go get treated completely differently than most of their peers…..and let’s not forget the most IMPORTANT part can’t legally consent to any of this but have it foisted upon them by others with no way to opt out How about you don’t get it twisted and realize this sort of limelight lifestyle is far more damaging than it will ever be beneficial and there are literally studies to prove it Laws have been put in place (sadly not everywhere) to protect children who appear on tv BECAUSE of all the issues they face (and not just from a financial point of view) The benefits nearly never outweigh the negatives Often times kids who grow up in the limelight end up being not so well adjusted adults lacking a whole lot of life experience and with social awareness skills being nearly non-existent but then thy get thrown into the deep end of life without so much as water wings I am willing to bet at least some of these kids but kids who have been on tv-or in the limelight at all- regularly in general would much rather be able to go to school events parties in general and have a more normal-ish (subjective Even kids who are easily locally recognized struggle with these issues This reminded me of CA house hunting scenes of Farrah and Sophia ala Farrah throws a book at Sophia tells her to read it after she fired the on set teacher and Sophia says There is no point of the teacher.” The irony was not lost that 9 year old Sophia was still barely able to speak a sentence in her weird baby voice Sophia had to have an “on set teacher” because she was on film and CA law requires 3 hours/day of schooling I can understand why that might upset Farrah because the tutor really wasn’t doing anything with Sophia because Sophia was in school at the time and it was just more a compliance issue/CYA CA has really strict laws about what kids can and can’t do But TN where Maci lives has no laws about children and film industry MI (C&T) has limited laws like you have to fill out a form which is why we are seeing the kids more now and in a lot of these state 16 is somehow at 16 they throw out child labor laws for the entertainment industry it’s like an 18 year old dating a 40 year old Financially benefiting doesn’t absolve all the negatives of it It makes sense states like CA have labor laws for kids That goes back to some kid actors in the 1930s where the parents took all the money the kids made I thought it makes sense that TN would not have such laws but then there is Nashville which is a big entertainment hub We’re finally to the point that the “babies” can tell us how they feel about their parents I’m proud of Leah for being such a mature and well-spoken young lady Gary and Kristina have done a fantastic job raising her The big difference is Leah is being authentic about her feelings what right does she have to do that when we all see Cate all over the place giving nasty interviews about Carly’s parents and trying to say how she and her idiot husband were practically “tricked” by adults to give up Carly Cate exploits anyone and everyone to get her “story” told which is pretty much the same thing that Amber does It’s almost funny Catelynn can talk with Leah about establishing boundaries with her mom but yet can’t understand Carly’s parents putting boundaries in place with her and Tyler… The time has come for Teen Mom: Last Chapter If you want it to end why do you even watch it.If you stop watching it will frizzle out and will be dropped The cow & the drunk want to try and put their bullshit on Leah I love the way you refer to Cate and Maci!!! Anytime I’ve ever called either of them names and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Amber Portwood was NOT happy when her TikTok Live was taken over by comments from fans claiming she had “abandoned” her daughter Leah The ‘Teen Mom’ star lashed out at her TikTok Live partner for bringing up the topic of her not living with her kids Amber Portwood and Gary Shirley’s daughter Leah has been a fixture on MTV since birth and while she didn’t initially have a say in appearing on TV the 16-year-old says the experience has “been a blessing.”  News and snark about your favorite guilty pleasure reality TV shows Buy the Ashley’s Book: Inside AGT Buy The Ashley’s Teen Mom Secrets & Scandals Book Privacy Policy  Get your reality TV news and gossip sent right to your email inbox! Manukau CityAsking Price $660,000215110m²BRICK & TILE BEAUTY IN HANDY PAPATOETOE LOCATIONTucked away in a highly sought-after location 3/144 Shirley Road offers a beautiful blend of space This vacant and recently tidied-up two-bedroom one-bathroom brick and tile unit is the perfect find for first-home buyers low-maintenance property in the heart of Old Papatoetoe Step inside and be welcomed by a generous 110sqm floor area offering well-proportioned living spaces that provide both comfort and functionality The open-plan living and dining area enjoys plenty of natural light while the kitchen is neatly presented and practical boasting a spacious backyard complete with a decking area perfect for entertaining there are two sheds-one for storage and another potentially usable as a self-contained cabin providing an excellent option for a boarder with a covered carport plus ample space for multiple vehicles making it ideal for families or those with extra cars This home is situated in a super-convenient location the vendor is ready to move on as retirement approaches whether you're looking to move in and enjoy or rent it out for a great investment return this home offers a fantastic opportunity in a location that's hard to beat Properties like this don't stay on the market for long Get in touch with Tasreet today to arrange a viewing based on a borrower’s individual credit assessment.Canstar's Most Awarded Personal LoanGet a renovation loan up to $70K and bring your vision to life WAXED: GET YOUR MUSIC PRESSED ON VINYL FOR FREE View this post on Instagram A post shared by Monster Children (@monsterchildren) Wild at the best of times but especially when you’re cramming a week’s worth of activities into 72 hours And who better to do it all with than the lovely Surely Shirley Kicking off with a party at The Flower Shop Surely Shirley then debuted for their first international show at the Monster Children SXSW Showcase at Mohawk the next night Many thanks are in order for all those who managed the entire week on about five hours of sleep, particularly the bands that were a part of the showcase who made us look much more sophisticated than we really are. Most importantly a big thanks to the fruitful orange cards of UP that were admittedly used one too many times to purchase mezcal shots that added to the special kind of hangover that comes from far Watch our best of montage reel above and here’s a selection of photos by the master Dougal Gorman capturing the trip that was Travel Diaries was presented in partnership with friends at UP. Up makes overseas travel easy—no fees on international purchases means more money for the good stuff. Life’s better on The Upside. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Monster Children (@monsterchildren) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Monster Children (@monsterchildren) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Monster Children (@monsterchildren) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Monster Children (@monsterchildren) Photos by Dougal Gorman. What are some of your music influences and inspirations?  I think they were the core foundation for us growing up A: Our love of harmonies definitely stems from them as well and our yearning for layers in every song J: The Mamas & the Papas are another one We like childlike jingles and nostalgic music A: Big time.The 70s Laurel Canyon era is definitely a core point of inspiration for a lot of the stuff we love But we don't shy away from all different decades We’ve picked elements from all sorts.  We are constantly inspired by our surroundings and the movies we watch A: Yeah the color of the 80’s is very reflective of us our great grandmother was alive until about two years ago We love the very old school way of executing things which is why we like to make our own props Was it a conscious decision to dress in a certain style as performers?  J: I think it was almost just a happy medium of both of our worlds We sort of always dressed the same kind of way but with Surely Shirley it was more of an enhanced version Now it has become our everyday style but I think when we started it was elevated with accessories.  it’s the embodiment of art as well but pretty close to how we usually dressed anyway.  it’s one of the first things I noticed.  we’ve been doing it since we were eight.  A: We’ve been very held and supported.  I feel like we sort of entered the thick of it there was so much happening in the Wollongong area but Kiama has had so many names too.  I think when we started there were a few bands rocketing into starting international shows which was so inspiring and helped us a lot Our first kind of moment we had with Triple J before we even took the dive to do our own stuff was singing the backup vocals for Pacific Avenue on their Like A Version which was so nice.  J: There's just been such a menu of absolute talent to be honest.  A: It's been beautiful but it's nice to still be able to be close to the chaos of it but still in our own little bubble.  How has the response been to your debut EP ‘Sailors and Clowns’ We were just saying again how it just feels so curated The people who are appreciating it are exactly what we could ever ask for And not just for the sound but also the visual aspect we really wanted to create a whole world thing All of the different elements of our creativity just fuse together from creating a visual experience that is reflective of us to the fashion We wanted to show all of the creative elements we love to be able to be little branches for people to connect with.  you’ve done an incredible job of curating lots of little parts I really love that about bands when they think of the synonymity of their sound with their visuals It’s lovely to see that with Surely Shirley although my sister and I aren’t identical - I have to ask did you always want to sing together?  J: We have done everything together forever Although we never really spoke about having a project together I remember I wrote something and I just didn’t know what to do with it it was one of the first songs I made actually and it just felt so wrong We never formally spoke about working together A: We grew up putting on shows in the lounge room together That’s just been us since forever so it just made sense.  they sort of run with it and then the other helps finish it but it changes.   our minds sit in such a similar plane that occasionally we’ll have an idea that we both want to stew on We just go into separate rooms and come up with a verse each come together and honestly the songs you hear are literally line for line from each thing we wrote.  A: Yeah I don't really know how to explain it.  J: I can’t wait to show her the food over there.  you get on a bus and they show you haunted sites I honestly couldn’t think of anything worse I can’t watch scary movies for the life of me Hopefully there are some good vintage stores in Texas I mean America has amazing vintage in general right.  And what else is on for the rest of the year Are we expecting some touring around Australia Once we get back from Texas we really just want to get all the recording done for our next EP We've got all the songs finalised but just need to record We just recorded the music video for our next single which is hopefully on the way to being out in the world soon The last EP was very much Jenaya’s essence.  also understand that as a twin (laughs).  but yeah just writing and releasing and seeing what comes of that We’re still very much in the place where we want to keep building our world and seeing what happens.  Financial analyst Shirley Dy left the lucrative world of banking and finance she formed her own design company dubbed as Destonos you will see how this sculptor and designer created what she calls “mementos of the natural world,” and cemented her image as the country’s pioneer in Mount Pinatubo volcanic ash sculpture Shirley Dy did not know what to do with the excessively abundant volcanic material that inundated her hometown Concepcion This problem soon turned into an opportunity when she established Destonos transform sketches into tactile masterpieces that bring natural elements into a home this collection of functional furniture made from Mount Pinatubo volcanic ash has become her signature that’s firmly imprinted on the local arts and interior design scene “Once it’s [functional furniture piece is made of] Pinatubo volcanic ash But before her career in arts and furniture design started to boom Her career’s turning point happened in the late ’80s when even without a Fine Arts degree or a solid portfolio and armed only with guts and an instinct for good design left behind a stable and financially rewarding job at Equitable Bank and applied as a fashion designer in a fashion specialty store as she was able to build a thriving career in fashion design from scratch and earned the respect of her peers who were Fine Arts graduates she found herself taking another leap — this time Dy gets design inspirations everywhere for her sculptures — from nature to everyday objects The exacting and meticulous attention to detail — a skill she honed in her previous career in banking — proved to be useful in her new artistic endeavor as each piece undergoes a rigorous assembly line of graphic designers and sculptors until it reaches her hands that give the product its final touch is the most difficult and critical as she does not follow existing patterns I’m not so much with the trend because any design you do has a life of its own (Each piece has its own story.) Ang hirap sa all-organic shape ‘ah ito bilugin ko.’” (not as simple as making it This respect for the integrity and intrinsic characteristics of her chosen material makes her body of work stand out from a sea of functional sculptures and furniture pieces it’s not enough to be the first — one has to be unique And Shirley Dy stays relevant — and the best perhaps — in her industry due to the sheer simplicity of her designs minimalism is a powerful statement that gives her volcanic ash pieces maximal impact “I always make sure to impress you in eight seconds from the time the buyer walks to your booth A work of art doesn’t have to have too much details (People tend to overlook your work when it has too many details) You can’t have too many good elements in one thing — the mind cannot process that Keep your work of art simple and it will speak for itself.” commercial viability is as important as art and ergonomics when designing and creating volcanic ash furniture She creates sculptures that are not just works of art More than paying homage to Filipino artisanship Destonos is where her interests in finance while a designer never expresses her thoughts but what is commercially applicable for good sales I’m also a financial analyst,” Dy concludes She is the first African woman – the second African overall – to lead the association of 56 countries which make up a third of the world’s population and more than a quarter of the United Nations membership Speaking at the Commonwealth Secretariat’s headquarters in London on 1 April 2025 the Secretary-General acknowledged the scale of the challenges confronting the world “The world we woke up to today is unlike any we have seen in our lifetimes and a frayed multilateralism will affect our pockets directly reduce social protection and weaken our resilience to shocks “The value of our Commonwealth stands in bold relief the Commonwealth has been a unique and powerful force for good Now we must seize the moment to realise the transformation our societies seek.” The Secretary-General highlighted the power of Commonwealth unity in uncertain times “The challenges we face are real and serious,” she said “Sustained by the values that bind us - democracy and equal opportunity - we will build a future in which dignity The Secretary-General outlined three strategic priorities for her leadership calling them the foundation for a “Commonwealth built on all talents” she pledged to equip women and young people with the skills tools and opportunities they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world the Secretary-General vowed to revitalise trade investment and connectivity across the Commonwealth describing it as a pathway to industrial development calling climate change “the greatest challenge of our time,” she pledged to mobilise stronger action and advocate for reforms of the international financial system to help small and other vulnerable Commonwealth states access the support they need The Secretary-General also committed to accelerating the Commonwealth’s modernisation by delivering faster and smarter partnerships to meet the needs of all its people “It is a great honour to be the first African woman to serve as Secretary-General No matter where in the Commonwealth you come from The Secretary-General concluded her address with a message of shared resolve and with an unshakable commitment to a Commonwealth that truly thrives together.” Shirley Botchwey was appointed by leaders at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa on 25 October 2024.  Follow updates from Secretary-General Hon Shirley Botchwey on X and Facebook Read Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey’s profile Secretary-General on X   Secretary-General on Facebook   Secretary-General photos Snober Abbasi, Senior Communications Officer, Communications Division