Mentoring at RMIT, Peter Maddison

Mentoring at RMIT, Peter Maddison | RMIT University
(Transcript with notations)

VISUAL: Peter Maddison. Before he became host of Grand Designs Australia and established Maddison Architects, Peter was a student at RMIT University. RMIT University logo.

VISUAL: He had a number of mentors along the way. RMIT University logo.

VISUAL: Text at the centre of the screen reads: What sparked your interest in architecture? Background image is a photograph of a long internal wall decorated with chevron patterns in timber panels on black/white pin striping, probably in RMIT’s The Design Hub building. The camera is placed at the end of the wall close to it and looking back along the length of wall.

VISUAL: Peter Maddison speaking to the camera.

Peter Maddison: When I actually got in to do Architecture I could not believe how lucky I was and I never thought I'd have the skill to be an architect; I always thought that it was a rarefied atmosphere for people that were way more intelligent than I thought I was and so it was an incredible ...

VISUAL: Photograph of a walkway within the steel façade of RMIT’s Design Hub. On the left of the screen/walkway are the circular frames for the discs which cover the outside of The Hub building. The right of the screen/walkway are steel poles in front of an internal wall painted black.

Peter Maddison: ... revelation, really, that maybe I could, actually ...

VISUAL: Peter Maddison speaking to the camera and smiling at the end as he chuckles.

Peter Maddison: ... be this thing called an architect and maybe it was meant to be, you know? Maybe that it's not a dream and I should wake up and (chuckling) have a go at it.

VISUAL: Text at the centre of the screen reads: Have you had a mentor at any stage in your career? Background image is the same photograph as seen earlier in the video of a long internal wall decorated with chevron patterns in timber panels on black/white pin striping, probably in RMIT’s The Design Hub building. The camera is placed at the end of the wall close to it and looking back along the length of wall.

VISUAL: Peter Maddison speaking side on to the camera.

Peter Maddison: So the first job I got was with an architect called Peter Crone ...

VISUAL: Video as the camera is inside a corridor in The Hub looking outside through part of the discs of its façade. A blurred image is in the background of a person and a tram moving past but behind the disc windows.

Peter Maddison: ... and he was a wonderful, giving ...

VISUAL: Video close up of the discs of The Hub façade. A tram moves past in the background beyond the discs.

Peter Maddison: ... person, a very great architect but ...

VISUAL: Peter Maddison speaking side on to the camera.

Peter Maddison: ... treated me as a person with my own insecurities, foibles, acknowledged what I was strong at and what I was weak at and encouraged me to work with my strengths. And he was very giving, more than just ... I was more than just an employee, I guess. And it’s that taking an interest in someone that's ... in them as a person, not just what they produce, I think is a very important part of being a mentor.

VISUAL: Text at the centre of the screen reads: What does being a mentor mean to you? Background image is the same photograph as seen earlier in the video of a long internal wall decorated with chevron patterns in timber panels on black/white pin striping, probably in RMIT’s The Design Hub building. The camera is placed at the end of the wall close to it and looking back along the length of wall.

VISUAL: Peter Maddison speaking to the camera.

Peter Maddison: Mentoring is more than just a person of leadership and power who gives you a little bit of time.

VISUAL: Photograph of an internal staircase in The Design Hub as the camera is positioned at the base of the stairs looking up at the three flights of stairs that don’t change direction. The staircase which is about 1.5 metre’s wide is flanked on both sides with an internal wall and a stair railing and lights at foot level are installed on the wall to the right of the stairs. Lights are in the ceiling above the stairwell at the top of the screen.

VISUAL: Photograph of the ceiling and top half of a window inside RMIT. The discs on the façade of The Hub building can be seen beyond the window.

Peter Maddison: It does define a ...

VISUAL: Peter Maddison speaking to the camera, camera is close up on his face.

Peter Maddison: ... relationship you have with another person that's more than just learning; I think that a good mentor actually understands the person's ... each other's personalities and their strengths and weaknesses and doesn't prey on that but is able to develop and move around your strengths and weaknesses to get the best out of each other.

VISUAL: Sign up to be an Alumni Mentor today.

VISUAL: RMIT University Logo and website www.alumni.rmit.edu.au. Music: ‘Red Sky’ by Dan Phillipson, used under license.

End of video

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