Latest news with #Carrara
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Brutal honesty sends 46-year Aus family home viral
An Aussie homeowner's jawdropping confession about his beloved family house sent property hunters into a frenzy, with it becoming the most viewed home in Australia in a single week. The three bedroom house, which has been the older homeowner's pride and joy for a staggering 46 years, skyrocketed to internet fame becoming the most viewed property home on nationally. MORE: Cash-strap student turns $40k to 38 homes Govt pays $3.3m for unliveable derelict house The shock confession was that the homeowner has been fighting a secret battle against termites and priced the home accordingly, drawing bargain hunters from across the country keen to pounce on the large block with redevelopment potential 'priced to sell'. Gold Coast house flippers have been cashing in big time since the pandemic, upgrading older homes for resale, with one savvy investor walking away with a 57 per cent jump in resale price off a three-month renovation turnaround on a termite-damaged two-bedroom Helensvale duplex. RE/MAX Regency Gold Coast agents Greg Parker and Yuka Kanno listed 16 Minugh Court, Carrara, with all the details for sale via private treaty, and incredibly still secured a deal the homeowner was happy with in 10 days. It is currently 'pending contract'. Their listing said 'my vendor lovingly developed this 3 bed (4th bed opportunity), 2 living area and 2 bath property over some 46 years as a secure, solid brick and tile home with splendid mature gardens and outdoor living. It has served its purpose well, and now it's time to give this home to a visionary who is prepared to develop it to its true potential.' 'True, the ravages of time include some termite damage,' the listing said, 'but this might well be remedied in a makeover and my vendor has priced this property to sell'. The median price of three bedroom homes in Carrara has surged from $532,000 in early 2020 to $980,000 now – an 84 per cent jump, according to PropTrack data, with this year so far seeing numbers up 3.6 per cent. Culture Kings founders' bold $30m push South East Queensland pest specialists Conquer Termites Pest Management have warning homeowners for years about a dangerous misconception that brick homes are safe from termite invasion. 'At Conquer Termites, we've inspected and treated many brick homes with active termite infestations. The problem isn't the bricks themselves — it's the false sense of security they create.' 'Bricks may look solid and protective, but most homes in our region are brick veneer constructions. That means the bricks form an outer shell, while the internal structure – the framework, skirting boards, door frames, and roof timbers — is all timber. That's what termites are after.' They revealed SEQ was one of Australia's highest-risk termite zones. 'Termites are silent destroyers, often causing thousands of dollars in damage before they're even noticed,' the experts warned. 'That's why prevention is the best termite protection you can have.' One nightmare case at Capalaba in Brisbane saw a homeowner repeatedly spray a garage collecting 'hundreds of dead termites' only to discover when Conquer Termites turned up that it was just the tip of the iceberg, with a thriving colony nearby that had been entering the brick home via a hidden slab edge. Older houses ready for redevelopment or renovated have been a highlight for buyers this week, making up the top three most viewed properties on The second most popular property was 43 Felix Crescent, Ringwood North in Victoria – a five bed, three bath house on a large 936sq m block with a price guide of $1.2m. That home is set to go to auction on Saturday June 21 at 11am. The third most viewed home was at 6 Carter Court, Frankston, Victoria, which is also a three bedroom brick house with two bathrooms like the Carrara property – though on a smaller 560sq m block. The home has a price guide of $595,000 to $650,000 and is for sale via private treaty.
Boston Globe
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
‘Systemic failure': At the State House, Muslims tell stories of Islamophobia, advocate for permanent civil rights commission
Sumaira Afzal, a Muslim advisor at Simmons University, said she supports the bill because of the instances of discrimination she's heard about in the city and state. There was no question, she said, as to whether those instances had gone up after the Advertisement 'It's important for me to talk to my representatives and convey our concerns so we can make this state and community a safe space for everybody,' she said. Advertisement Attendees also lobbied for the State Senator Jamie Eldridge and state Representative Vanna Howard, both Democrats, are the lead sponsors of the so-called Muslim Commission Bill. Eldridge said he introduced the bill because there is no commission to support Muslim civil rights, as there are for other minorities, including the 'The truth is, Massachusetts has long benefited from the strength and contribution of its Muslim residents, but that hasn't been matched by recognition in our state government,' Eldridge said. The senator, who represents the Middlesex and Worcester district, said he's heard 'very challenging, very heartbreaking' stories about harassment faced by Muslim constituents. 'And we know that Islamophobia has only increased in the past few months, few years,' he said. Attendees broke out into groups to lobby dozens of representatives throughout the day. One group was comprised of about 30 sixth, seventh, and eighth graders at Alhuda Academy in Worcester. At the Massachusetts State House, the Council on American-Islamic Relations - MA hosted a legislative briefing on Muslim lobby day to advocate for several bills protecting Muslims in Massachusetts. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff Accompanied by four teachers, they filed into the office of Sen. Robyn Kennedy, a Democrat from Worcester, and detailed some of the challenges they faced, including bullying and harassment in their own neighborhoods. Another group of three met with Democratic Rep. Rob Consalvo's legislative aid Emily Carrara. Kynza Khimani, who graduated Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in 2024, told Carrara that many community members at the university experienced harassment for wearing hijabs, and she once came across people in Harvard Square yelling that 'Islam is for terrorists.' Advertisement 'The [commission] would establish a permanent body to study and respond to the issues facing Muslim communities in Massachusetts, like civil rights, education, and public safety, which is now, more than ever, really necessary for our communities,' Khimani told Carrara. Legislators and their aides largely indicated support for the bill, lobbyists said. Toward the end of the day, multiple advocates read out victim impact statements from people represented in court by CAIR-MA. Others shared their own stories of harassment, including Aimen Tahir, a recent high school graduate. Tahir said she was once 'chased down the hall' in her freshman year of high school because someone wanted to 'comment' on her hijab. 'Every year, I feel the heat of everyone's faces upon me during the moment of silence for 9/11, as if I'm the perpetrator of criminal when I wasn't even born at the time,' she said. Fatuma Mohamed, the director of youth advocacy for CAIR-MA, said the increase in harassment is a 'systemic failure' and 'growing crisis.' 'Muslim students across Massachusetts are being harassed, silenced, and left behind, without the structures in place to protect or support them,' she said. Mohamed said the commission wouldn't 'fix everything overnight' but could be a tool to build systemic change. 'It will signal to Muslim students that their state sees them, values them, and is committed to protecting them,' she said. Advertisement Emily Spatz can be reached at
ABC News
31-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
AFL Round 12 live blog: Gold Coast vs Fremantle, GWS vs Richmond, Sydney vs Adelaide
The Dockers travel to the Gold Coast looking to break into the top eight with a win over the high-flying Suns to kick off Saturday's AFL football. The visitors welcome back former skipper Nat Fyfe after a long absence as they take on a Gold Coast line-up that can go second — at least temporarily — if they get the points at Carrara. Later this afternoon, GWS hosts Richmond at Sydney Showground before the struggling Swans have a must-win game against the Crows tonight at the SCG. Follow all the action in our live blog below, keep up to date with all the latest stats in our ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.
CNA
30-05-2025
- General
- CNA
Musetti plays game of contrasts at French Open
PARIS : Lorenzo Musetti has always been a player of contrasts — a mercurial talent whose beautiful, fluid game can light up a court one moment and unravel the next. Now, the Italian craftsman, seeded eighth at the French Open, concedes those contradictions are not just on the surface, but deeply rooted in his personality. After a tough outing at Roland Garros, the 23-year-old spoke openly about the internal battle that shapes both his tennis and his identity, describing himself as a man caught between instinct and discipline, sensitivity and grit. "I'm a very, very sensitive guy, and I get carried away by my emotions," Musetti told reporters. "Sometimes that instinct makes me do things on court I later hate watching back. But other times, that same instinct is what brings out the beauty in my game — the talent people talk about." The Italian's Tuscan hometown of Carrara, known for its marble quarries and for being one of the few places where the sea meets the Alps, mirrors this duality. "In Carrara, we say we're as tough as marble. Today didn't go the way I hoped, but I'm learning, and I'm trying to be both things — to weather storms like the sea, and to be as hard as marble when I need to be," he said after fighting from a set down to reach the fourth round. Musetti said that for much of his career, he's been accused of lacking the fight to match his flair — a perception he doesn't entirely deny. "People said I gave up too easily, that I didn't get my hands dirty. And for a while, that was partly true. But anyone who's followed me since I was a junior knows I've always had the will to suffer and fight, even if I complained too much along the way," he said. Now, as he matures on and off the court, the soon-to-be father of two acknowledges that learning to reconcile these two sides — the instinctive artist and the hardened competitor — is the key to his future success. "That double personality is part of who I am. The challenge is knowing when to listen to each side," he explained.
Epoch Times
25-05-2025
- General
- Epoch Times
Church of St. Charles Borromeo: Antwerp's Treasure
This Belgian church was called the 'Eighth Wonder of the World' at the time of its construction. Saint Charles Borromeo church is among the most magnificent churches of the early Baroque era, and among the first built in that style in northwestern Europe. It cost so much that the builders, the Jesuits of Antwerp, were reduced to austerity measures. Begun in 1615, the church was inspired by the Jesuits' headquarters in Rome. The Church of the Gesu is considered the first Baroque church and was completed just 30 years earlier. Baroque painting and sculpture, as well as architecture, used the Renaissance's technical advances to depict religious scenes in a realistic way. Church buildings in the Baroque style were meant to give a glimpse of heaven on earth, and to express God's greatness and love. The classical tradition provided a foundation. This is seen in a building's symmetry and proportions which include fluted columns and domes. Baroque architecture introduced fluidity, exemplified by the style's frequent use of curved rather than straight lines. This gave early- to high-Baroque architecture a more ornate appearance while avoiding severity and coldness. Architects Pieter Huyssens and François d'Aguilon handled the engineering aspects and many of the church's aesthetic features. Broadly guiding them and fine-tuning important details was one of the greatest artists of the Baroque era—Peter Paul Rubens. While he didn't not work extensively in architecture, Rubens studied it, designed his own home in Antwerp, and contributed his expertise, as well as numerous paintings, to this church in his home city. Related Stories 1/7/2025 11/2/2024 The elaborately decorated black and gold sanctuary contrasts with the relative simplicity of the white trimmed with gold arches and columns along the nave, which dominates the nave and strengthens the visual emphasis on the former. While Baroque churches were designed to direct attention forward toward the altar, the effect is heightened by the destruction of Rubens's original elaborate ceilings in a lightning storm. KerrysWorld/Shutterstock Hans van Mildert carved the high altar from a design by Peter Paul Rubens, who also created the painting of the Virgin Mary and infant Jesus above it. On the left are Carrara marble sculptures of Saint Ignatius Loyola (in the bottom niche) and Saint Francis Borgia above. lindasky76/Shutterstock The large main dome was designed in collaboration with Rubens. The oculus is set against a white background, surrounded by golden decorative features including sculpted angels. Light from the oculus is reflected by the surrounding ceiling; it illuminates and draws attention to the sanctuary directly underneath. Julija Ogrodowski/Shutterstock Above the altar of the Lady Chapel is a copy of a Rubens 'Assumption,' which was originally set amid marble and gilded stucco decorations. The original is now in Vienna's Museum of Fine Arts. Erik AJV/Shutterstock On either side of the nave are confessionals by sculptors Jan Pieter van Baurscheit and Michiel van der Voort the Elder. Placed in front of the carved woodwork along the wall are sculptures of angels; in the center of each section are scenes from the lives of Saint Ignatius and Saint Francis Xavier. lindasky76/Shutterstock Galleries above the northern and southern sides of the nave (central aisle) have their own simpler side chapels. This chapel has an altar and wooden altar rail reminiscent of Gothic churches. The painting above the altar depicts the conversion of Saint Hubert. KerrysWorld/Shutterstock What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to
