Have you seen Lara on The Block?

Friday, May 4, 2012

In 2011 it was Polly and Waz that took The Block by storm and now in 2012 another member of the NSW Swifts family, former shooter Lara Welham and her partner Brad are revelling in the renovations, building and decorating.

This year’s challenge: restore a South Melbourne terrace that was built in the late 1800s during the goldrush.

“When The Block was on last year we were doing renovations ourselves. At the end of the season we saw the option to apply so we did,” Welham said.

“We handed in our application and video on the final day and we never really thought that we’d get a call back, but two weeks later we did.

“It was a really quick process. We got down to the last 34 and then within two weeks we were on The Block. It was good because you didn’t have time to think about it or get nervous.”

 Watching herself on TV each night has been a surreal experience for the Hunter-based school teacher and her students.

“The kids were really excited, but the teachers couldn’t believe that we’d put ourselves through so much stress,” Welham said laughing.

“Since The Block has been on TV the kids have been going crazy; they’re constantly asking questions, but it’s great.”

Speaking with nswswifts.com.au after the airing of the first Scotty’s Workshop and in the midst of completing their first room, Welham commented on how much they had learnt from the show’s host.

“We had a bit of an idea about what to expect in Scotty’s Workshop after watching it last year; they’re really hard, but you do come out with more knowledge,” she said.

“Scotty is there to push you but he’s also there to help by giving you ideas and better ways to do things that you can then put into your own renovations.”

The Block isn’t Lara and Brad’s first attempt at renovating a property; they have renovated one of their previous properties as well as Brad’s parent’s home. Having watched previous series of The Block though, Lara admitted that it was everything they thought it would be and one thousand times harder.

Lara says that life is still pretty normal for the couple, for now, with fans across the country tuning into The Block to watch them transform their terrace in time for auction day.

“I did get stopped in my local shopping centre the other day and was asked if I was Lara from The Block. That was the first person that had asked me which was pretty cool.”

Tell me more about Brad and Lara from The Block