Lithuanians in the News
24th September, 2006
Kristina and Ben Shaw - Young Achievers
The Governor of NSW Marie Bashir presents Kristina
with her Churchill Fellowship Certificate, when she was
selected for the Fellowship
Brother and sister Ben and Kristina Shaw are Lithuanian heritage young achievers, who in their different areas demonstrate creative flair and talent.
The Medal awarded to Kristina
on completion of her studies
Kristina Shaw is a talented fashion designer, who received the Winston Churchill Fellowship to study in 2005 the Master in Fashion and Accessories Design at the Fashion and Design Lab in Florence, Italy. There she studied 2-D and 3-D computer graphics applied to the fashion industry. Having completed her studies, Kristina recently received the Churchill Fellowship Medallion on September 8, 2006, at a gala Medallion Dinner organised by the Churchill Fellows Association of NSW.
The Churchill Fellowship is a very prestigious travel fellowship, awarded every year to only about a hundred people Australia wide. This is not the first time that Kristina has studied in Florence. In 1995 she studied at the prestigious Polimoda Institute in Florence, continuing her studies the following year at Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.
Ben with his award winning bike "The Judge" and his
prizes (in front), at the MCX Show 2006 at Homebush Bay
Ben Shaw custom builds individualised bikes for motor bike enthusiasts. His latest creation "The Judge" is receiving world wide recognition. It has appeared on the cover of leading motor bike magazines. Just recently it was featured on the front cover of the inaugural issue (July/August 2006) of the French bike magazine "Extrême Machines" and not so long ago was featured in the British bike magazine "Streetfighters" July 06, as well as the Australian magazine "Rapid Bikes" Dec/Jan 06.
Ben’s bike "The Judge" on the cover
of the inaugural issue of the French
bike magazine "Extrême Machines"
At the MCX Show 2006 at Homebush Bay in Sydney in March 06, Ben’s bike "The Judge" swept all the prizes. He received awards for the Best Japanese Air Brushing, Best Jap Frame & Chassis’, Best Jap Streetfighter, Rapid Magazine Editors Choice, and King of MCX.
Ben’s skill as a pattern maker is also apparent in the film industry. Those who had seen the recent movie "Superman Returns" will have seen the interior of the airplane, which features prominently in the movie. The moulds for this interior were made by Ben’s company Extreme Creations.
Kristina’s and Ben’s grandfather was the noted Australian Lithuanian graphic artist, the late Vaclovas Ratas. Maybe Kristina and Ben have inherited some of his artistic talent.

Further information: www.churchilltrust.com.au      www.extremecreations.com.au