Latest news with #Besser
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- General
- Sydney Morning Herald
The photo album that saved a family-built home from demolition
With a stream running through its undercroft, mould living its best life, and its verandahs barely hanging on, a mid-century modern home on a steep and difficult block overlooking Balmoral Beach was destined for demolition. But the Mosman home now known as Cloaked House was more than its walls and beams. It was, to paraphrase the poet Ralph Waldo Emerson, a home built with love, dreams and sweat, by Leonard Early Crawford and his family, including teenage son John, in 1964. That became clear when John came knocking on the door to show the new owners a family album of the Crawford family building it 60 years ago. It shows John and his late mum Dorothy helping his dad, an engineer who built the house from inexpensive Besser blocks left over from a hospital. That visit saved the home. Architect Jennifer McMaster, a founder of TRIAS, said it had seemed beyond saving but seeing the Crawfords' photos made them change their minds. 'It showed us the love and care and dignity of this old building,' she said. That prompted a 'radical renovation' by TRIAS that won Houses magazine's award for residential alterations and additions for a home bigger than 200 square metres earlier this month, and two awards in this year's NSW Institute of Architects Awards, including for alterations and additions. It is shortlisted for the Australian Institute of Architects national awards. TRIAS deserved quiet applause for its subtle yet profound act of retention, said the AIA jury. 'Rather than erasing the past, the design embraces it, retaining the original structure and cloaking it in a new skin that whispers of modernity while treading lightly on the earth.' The jury for the Houses award said the home may read like a new build, but the valuable structural layers beneath were existing. Cutting into the existing floor plate had created a new internal courtyard that improved access to light, air and aspect. The home also won a NSW Architecture award for sustainability. McMaster and the owners, name withheld, decided to keep the original Besser block walls but cover them with a more sustainable and waterproof cloak of timber.
The Age
2 days ago
- General
- The Age
The photo album that saved a family-built home from demolition
With a stream running through its undercroft, mould living its best life, and its verandahs barely hanging on, a mid-century modern home on a steep and difficult block overlooking Balmoral Beach was destined for demolition. But the Mosman home now known as Cloaked House was more than its walls and beams. It was, to paraphrase the poet Ralph Waldo Emerson, a home built with love, dreams and sweat, by Leonard Early Crawford and his family, including teenage son John, in 1964. That became clear when John came knocking on the door to show the new owners a family album of the Crawford family building it 60 years ago. It shows John and his late mum Dorothy helping his dad, an engineer who built the house from inexpensive Besser blocks left over from a hospital. That visit saved the home. Architect Jennifer McMaster, a founder of TRIAS, said it had seemed beyond saving but seeing the Crawfords' photos made them change their minds. 'It showed us the love and care and dignity of this old building,' she said. That prompted a 'radical renovation' by TRIAS that won Houses magazine's award for residential alterations and additions for a home bigger than 200 square metres earlier this month, and two awards in this year's NSW Institute of Architects Awards, including for alterations and additions. It is shortlisted for the Australian Institute of Architects national awards. TRIAS deserved quiet applause for its subtle yet profound act of retention, said the AIA jury. 'Rather than erasing the past, the design embraces it, retaining the original structure and cloaking it in a new skin that whispers of modernity while treading lightly on the earth.' The jury for the Houses award said the home may read like a new build, but the valuable structural layers beneath were existing. Cutting into the existing floor plate had created a new internal courtyard that improved access to light, air and aspect. The home also won a NSW Architecture award for sustainability. McMaster and the owners, name withheld, decided to keep the original Besser block walls but cover them with a more sustainable and waterproof cloak of timber.
Sky News AU
16-06-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
ABC rushes to delete story after Defence Correspondent Andrew Greene received $16,000 by weapons company for travel costs
The ABC has rushed to delete a story by senior defence correspondent Andrew Greene after it was revealed he received $16,000 in secret travel costs from a weapons company he plugged in the news report. Greene is formally under investigation by ABC management after Media Watch's Linton Besser exposed the veteran journalist for taking financial benefit from German weapons company TKMS (ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems) in the form of business class flights. The journalist did not tell his bosses about the arrangement and the segment went to air promoting the weapons manufacturer and publicising quotes from TKMS CEO Oliver Burkhard, which were included in the Media Watch segment. "We know what we're doing," Mr Burkhard told the ABC journalist. "I know our competitors, they never have been exported in the past." Besser was scathing of Greene, suggesting he had become 'undone by weakness before temptation' and said the scandal would undermine trust in journalistic institutions. The Media Watch host said Australian journalists who were "forever blocked by a Defence bureaucracy addicted to secrecy" had to "cozy up" to military contractors for basic information. Besser listed journalists from The Australian, the Seven Network and The Sydney Morning Herald whose travel expenses were paid for by defence companies to travel to Spain, Germany and Japan to cover emergent military stories. Besser said the news ecosystem revolved around "generous hospitality" which posed a problem for the ABC which had strict rules for journalists. "The veteran reporter had travelled from Sydney to Dubai to Germany and back again on a business class ticket that we estimate was worth about $16,000 and staying in hotels in Hamburg and Kiel all of it paid for by none other than the German weapons company TKMS," Besser said. Besser added that Greene could not disclose the trip to his ABC audience because he had not done so to his bosses at the ABC. The Media Watch host said after questions were sent to ABC, his colleague's World Today story was "quickly scrubbed" from the national broadcaster's website. ABC spokesperson Sally Jackson put out a statement on Monday addressing the "serious allegations". "These are serious allegations and the ABC is investigating them," she wrote. "The ABC has rigorous editorial policies and any such behaviour, if proven, would be unacceptable and could constitute misconduct. For reasons of due process and confidentiality we won't comment further while the investigation is underway."
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Former CDC director warns of measles risk as vaccine rates drop
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show the measles outbreak has surpassed 1,000 cases nationwide, with the majority, 700, in Texas. 'This is a disease that was considered eliminated from the United States,' said former acting CDC director Dr. Rich Besser. 'The only reason that we're seeing this pop up in the way that we are is because vaccine rates have declined.' The CDC found that 96% of the 1,001 confirmed cases were people who are unvaccinated against measles or whose vaccination status is unknown. Falling vaccine rates could mean millions of measles cases: Study 'Measles is probably one of the most contagious viruses that we know. And so you have to have vaccine coverage rates of above 95% in the community for it not to spread,' explained Dr. Besser. 'When it drops below that, it starts to find people who aren't vaccinated and it starts to spread. And unfortunately, we've seen people lose their lives from that, and I think we're going to see more.' Data from the outbreak shows that three people have died from measles this year. Dr. Besser's warning comes as local health leaders acknowledge federal spending cuts are making it harder to prepare or address infectious disease spread. With federal cuts, Austin could be 'underprepared' for significant measles outbreak 'The Federal Government has pulled back hundreds of millions of dollars from Texas alone. The health departments have had to let some staff go because of those cuts and cuts to the federal Centers for Disease Control. That all plays a role.' Before Dr. Besser became the president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a health organization advocating for health equity, he was the acting director of the CDC during the initial response to the H1N1 influenza pandemic. He argues vaccination rates would be higher if there were an 'unequivocal messaging from the Secretary and others in government,' saying, 'not only is it the best way to protect your child, but every parent should make sure that their child is fully vaccinated.' Health officials say a 2nd measles case has been reported in Travis County As Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has urged parents to do their own research on vaccines, Dr. Besser is asking parents to talk to their doctor. 'While it's a personal decision to vaccinate your child, it's one that affects the other people in your family, your neighbors, those in your community,' Besser said. 'So talk to your doctor, get your questions answered so you can do the right thing in terms of protecting your children.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
City of Bloomington helps residents remove lead paint from their homes
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — According to the CDC, homes built before 1978 could have lead paint in them. Lead paint can pose a myriad of health risks, including damage to the brain, kidneys, nerves, and blood. According to the CDC, Children under 6 years old and pregnant people are most at risk for lead exposure. Exposure can lead to both physical symptoms and developmental delays. To combat this health risk, the City of Bloomington is implementing its Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Program. To participate in the program, residents must live in the 61701 zip code and have children under 6 years old living in the home. Eligible properties must also be built before 1978. Income eligibility is based on household size, which must fall at 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) per the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The program will prioritize children with high lead blood levels and pregnant women. William Besser, the grants manager for the City of Bloomington, explained the program. 'We will have an assessment completed to identify the lead-based paint hazards and then the lead-based paint is either removed or there's some kind of interim control use to eliminate it from becoming a health hazard,' Besser said. He said the city is taking this health concern seriously. 'Lead-based paint is a real health hazard and the city is diligently using our community development programs for housing rehabilitation to help remove those hazards,' Besser said. 'We are protecting kids and making sure that they have a healthy environment to grow up and learn.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
