Casey Cardinia Kids Autumn 2020

AUTUMN 2020

A new chapter for

Jimmy Giggle Crash mum's

story of survival How to find

your village Big bucket list of

outdoor activities www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

AUTUMN 2020 1

About Us

A beautiful but busy time of year HELLO everyone, Welcome to the autumn edition of Casey Cardinia Kids.

Can you believe it's autumn already?

I can't (although I can't believe it's actually 2020 either).

Autumn is such a beautiful but busy time of year. We have well and truly fallen back into the routine of daycare, kinder and school, and those stunning golden leaves will soon start falling from the trees.

For me, things have been busier than usual. I've just returned from a second round of maternity leave and it's been a crazy time juggling work with two little kids!

To be honest, I'm pretty bleary-eyed.

Howe Ho weve verr, I'm I m enjoying enj njoy oyin ing g th the e sn snug uggl gles and However, snuggles

all those milestones with our baby boy as he is definitely our last. While it was an easy decision for my husband and I to stop at two children (we both only wanted two max!), for others it isn't as simple. In fact, it can be agonising and a major source of conflict. So how do you know if you're done having kids?

We explore this very topic with a renowned marriage and family therapist on page 47.

There's plenty more insightful articles in this edition. If you're a busy mum or dad (that's pretty much all of us!) you may find our story on creating a better work/life balance useful. Now, with most of us leading busy lives it can be hard to make adult friends. However, as parents it's so important to have our t own village - the people who make up

the fabric of our lives. So how do you find your village? Check out page 10 for some great tips.

If it's inspiration you're after, look no further than the story on Maryknoll mum Rebecca Bishop. Rebecca survived a horror crash while she was pregnant 10 years ago and is now using her traumatic story to inspire others.

There's so much to love about this edition and we hope you enjoy reading it. Our team certainly enjoyed putting it together!

Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram. See you there!

Casey Cardinia Kids magazine is a Star News Group publication.

Casey Cardinia Kids will be published quarterly prior to each of the school holidays.

Casey Cardinia Kids Cnr Princes Hwy and Army Road, Pakenham, 3810 PO Box 9, Pakenham, Victoria 3810 Phone: 5945 0666 Fax: 5945 0777 Editorial Melissa Grant melissa.grant@starnewsgroup.com.au Phone: 5945 0666

CONTENTS

Photography

IT'S YOUR LIFE Mum's incredible survival story PAGE 3 Our favourite baby names PAGE 4 A family full of good stories PAGE 5 A new chapter for Jimmy Rees PAGE 6 Dads invent life saving device PAGE 7 Make your own clothes PAGE 8 How to find your village PAGE 10 Peanut allergy vaccine PAGE 10 Steve Biddulph on raising kind boys PAGE 12 How horses can heal troubled kids PAGE 12 Dad's passion for drawing comes to life PAGE 13 Tips for better work/life balance PAGE 14 Quality air purifiers PAGE 15 Free car seat safety checks PAGE 15 Choosing the right manchester PAGE 16 Comfy lounges to fit the whole family PAGE 16 Easter is coming to Caribbean PAGE 18 Teachers save student's life PAGE 19 A safe home is a better home PAGE 19 A night to say thanks to the CFA PAGE 20

ACTIVE KIDS Outdoor bucket list for preschoolers PAGE 21 A leading provider of small soccer PAGE 21 Easter surprises at Puffing Billy PAGE 22 Small sided football

caseycardiniakids.com.au 2 A AUTUMN UTU U TU UMN MN 202 2 2020 02 020

PAGE 23 The benefits of camping PAGE 23 A ninja style playground PAGE 24 Fun on the high seas PAGE 24

HEALTH Susie Burrell on healthy eating PAGE 25 Peanut allergy jab PAGE 25 Busting pelvic floor myths PAGE 26 The joy of private maternity care PAGE 26 Good vision for life PAGE 27 Breastfeeding and BMI PAGE 28 Osteopathy and chronic pain PAGE 28 Gut health and anxiety in kids PAGE 28

DENTAL Wearing a custom fitted mouthguard PAGE 29 An enthusiastic dental team PAGE 29 Good smiles can boost self-esteem PAGE 30 Affordable dental care PAGE 31 ADA push for dental funds PAGE 31

PARTY TIME Born to party PAGE 32 Birthday trend gets a high five PAGE 32

EDUCATION Augmented reality at Berwick Lodge PAGE 33 Training transforming lives PAGE 33 The freedom to excel PAGE 34

Students safe and respected at St Pauls PAGE 35 Respect a key school value PAGE 36 New Rivercrest head PAGE 36 Milestone celebration PAGE 37 A caring learning campus PAGE 37 Celebrating 50 years at Maranatha PAGE 38 A passion for early learning PAGE 39 Beautiful new centre opens PAGE 40 Splash into safety PAGE 41 A STEM Education Week PAGE 41 Getting the kids to school on time PAGE 42

Rob Carew Stewart Chambers Advertising advertising@starnewsgroup.com.au Phone: 5945 0666 Advertising Manager Mandy Clark Published by Star News Group Pty Ltd ACN 005 848 108.

Publisher/Managing Director, Paul Thomas.

All material is copyright to Star News Group Pty Ltd. All significant errors will be corrected as soon as possible.

Cover Emmy amongst the flowers at Wilson Botanic Park, Berwick.

Picture: Belinda Denney Photography

AUTUMN 2020

ENTERTAINMENT Skate into Bunjil Place PAGE 43 Fresh produce direct PAGE 43

A new chapter for

Jimmy Giggle Crash mum's

story of survival

PHILLIP ISLAND

How to find

your village

Circuit offers non-stop fun PAGE 44 Easter fun for the whole family PAGE 45

Big bucket list of

outdoor activities www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

AUTUMN 2020 1

BORN TO PERFORM PAGE 46

REALITY BITES The terror of travelling with kids PAGE 46 How to know you're done having kids PAGE 47 Tips for having kids at a wedding PAGE 48 Mum's incredible triplet delivery PAGE 49 Learning to walk at seven PAGE 50 The impact of family violence PAGE 51

facebook.com/caseycardiniakids

FASHION Trendy autumn fashion at Billy Lidz PAGES 52-54

GAMES AND GADGETS Family fun the non-digital way PAGE 55

KIDS CALENDAR What's on this autumn PAGE 58

instagram.com/caseycardiniakids www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

It’s Your Life

Mum’s incredible survival story

By Mitchell Clarke MARYKNOLL mum Rebecca Bishop was extremely lucky to survive a horror smash in Berwick which left her trapped under a semi-trailer for over three hours.

A tough decade later, she's is vowing to use her traumatic story to inspire others.

In February 2010, the Princes Freeway was closed for seven hours as emergency services worked to free Rebecca from her mangled wreck of a car. She was pregnant, but had no idea at the time.

Following the "long and intricate" rescue, Rebecca was airlifted to The Alfred hospital with a host of injuries too many to name, including bleeding on the brain, facial abrasions and a broken clavicle.

She remained in hospital for a week and spent a month in rehab. It was three weeks before she could walk without a frame, wash herself or eat by herself.

At the time, emergency services said this was the “biggest rescue” they had completed in 30 years.

"It was the worst thing I've ever been through," she explained.

A few months after returning home, Rebecca felt she looked a "bit fat". It turned out she was nearly four months pregnant with her second child and had completely missed the first trimester.

"I was recommended to terminate due to the birth defects at risk of the medication and surgeries," she said.

But she kept her baby and despite worrying about losing him throughout the entire pregnancy, her "perfect" son Harrison was born on 15 November that year.

Rebecca Bishop reflects on her 10-year anniversary of her horrific crash.

"Nothing was really easy, the whole pregnancy was really difficult but when I had him it was the best feeling in the world," she said.

melt down and flipping out."

With the personal demons still lurking, Rebecca is in the process of making 2020 her year.

"The labour was difficult but I'd do it 100 times over.

"He was a precious gift I was given and I just think it's extraordinary that he's here. It's a miracle."

"I have lived an existence for a decade - I have merely existed and I have not really been living," she explained.

But the road to recovery has been anything but easy.

"I have struggled significantly since the accident and tend to focus on the positives however we can't bypass the difficulties," she explained.

"I knew that in order to get well I had to push through the discomfort and experience the fear and difficulty to gain the benefit, but I've never been prepared to do it.

"There are days when I'm really good and every engine is firing and then there are days when I'm in so much pain that I can barely bear it and I cry myself to sleep or I take a sleeping tablet and knock myself out so I can start afresh tomorrow."

"I am scared of everything. Every noise I hear makes me jump - sometimes even makes me cry - but I am slowly chipping away at it in my own time and I know that I am destined to do something truly great.

She believes the one thing which saw her through her darkest days is the gift of motherhood.

"Being a mother is the only thing that has got me through it all. I wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for that," she said.

"All mothers have their self-doubt but then when you add in disability and anxiety, you just think you're the worst in the world but you just have to try and do your best."

James and Harrison, now 22 and nine respectively, continue to share an unbreakable bond with their mother.

"I had some really dark days at that time and I knew I had to survive

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Despite her struggles, Rebecca Bishop is continuing to smile.

because I knew Harrison needed me. He was reliant on me," she explained.

"I wouldn't have gotten to where I am today without my children by my side.

There has been a very strong connection between us all and I'm very lucky to share such a great relationship with both my kids."

Rebecca is yet to drive since the accident, which has robbed her of independence, but she admits getting behind the wheel isn't something she plans on doing.

"The thought of it petrifies me," she said.

"Don't get me wrong - I wish I could, my kids wish I could, my husband

Pictures: Stewart Chambers

wishes I could - but I see the risk as being too high and just can't bring myself to do it."

"I am here to help people. I am living proof that you can overcome your mental health issues."

Before the accident, she drove frequently.

While she's never spoken of her struggles publicly, she wants all mothers to know it is OK to reach out for support.

"I took my son to karate and swimming and basketball and went out with friends and had the independence to do what I wanted when I wanted and take my son out into the city on the train and just have carefree fun," she said.

"I've not driven in 10 years and only caught public transport into the city this last school holidays to take Harrison out for the day for the first time in 10 years and the first time in his life - without having an obvious panic attack or a

"I felt ashamed to pick up the phone and call for help and I think it's really important that mother's and women don't feel ashamed," she said.

"Everyone's story is different and the reaction to trauma is different for everyone.

"I am here to tell people who are struggling that I understand and that your story is not written in stone. It is not permanent and it can change. I am changing mine right now."

AUTUMN 2020 3

It’s Your Life

Our favourite baby names revealed

By Danielle Galvin Top 1.

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THE most popular Victorian baby boys and girls names have been revealed with Oliver and Olivia once again topping the list.

According to the Births, Deaths and Marriages Register, there were 419 Olivias born in 2019 and 537 Olivers born.

Both choices have been high on the list for the past decade.

Charlotte, Mia and Amelia continue to be popular girls' names for the ninth consecutive year in a row, while Jack, William and Noah have continued to place in the top five baby names for boys since 2014.

Acting Attorney-General Ben Carroll

Our favourite baby names have changed little over the past decade.

says choosing a name can be tricky.

"The birth of a baby is a wonderful and special time for parents - but settling on what little bub will be named is not always an easy decision." he said.

boys names for 2019 Oliver Jack Noah William Thomas Leo Lucas Charlie Henry Ethan

"It's always fascinating to learn why parents have chosen a particular name for their child, whether it is because they simply like the name, or because it has cultural or significant family ties."

Top 1.

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girls names for 2019 Olivia Mia Charlotte Amelia Isla Ava Chloe Zoe Ruby Harper

All births in Victoria must be registered with Births, Deaths and Marriages, which can now be done online at www.bdm.vic.gov.au.

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It’s Your Life

A family full of good stories

By Melissa Grant YOU could say storytelling runs in the family for children's author Clair Hume.

As the daughter of popular author and illustrator Alison Lester, Clair was constantly listening to stories and telling her own from a young age.

However, her path to published author was a bit of a long and windy one.

Clair has just released her first children's picture book, The Bad Bassinis, and jokes that she feels somewhat embarrassed about following in her mother's footsteps.

"I guess she leaves quite massive shoes to fill, so the bar feels unattainably high!" she says.

"But at the same time, my brothers and I grew up around stories - telling them, listening to them and giving mum feedback on them as soon as we could talk - so maybe a natural direction was always going to be in storytelling and writing and shaping stories."

Clair says it's only through her job as a book editor that she has come to truly appreciate the work of her mother, who

has authored more than 25 children's books including The Quicksand Pony, Magic Beach and Noni the Pony.

"I was reading her books to my daughter a few years ago and had to call her to say, 'Wow, these stories are really good, mum!' because I'd always just taken them for granted I guess."

Clair Hume, the daughter of Alison Lester, has just released her first children's picture book.

Characters, Tina and Sid Bassini, were inspired by Clair's fondness of people who like to dance to the beat of their own drum. Subconsciously, however, the mother of two believes she was inspired by the transformative nature of becoming a parent.

Clair's younger brother Lachie has written and illustrated two picture books and older brother Will is also a writer.

Clair and her brothers grew up in Nar Nar Goon where they filled their days mucking around outside with a multitude of family pets. A lot of weekends were spent playing netball and football, and going to pony club.

They attended Nar Nar Goon Kindergarten, the old Pakenham Consolidated School and Beaconhills before being shipped off to boarding college for the last two years of high school.

After school, Clair worked on a vineyard in Pakenham Upper and did some apple picking during the uni holidays. She even worked as a Santa's elf during her Christmas break.

She completed a visual arts degree

Clair's debut picture book.

before moving to North Queensland where she learned dive photography and did filming for a while.

It was only when she returned to Melbourne and did a professional writing and editing degree at RMIT that she started to write more.

"Having some tools and understanding of the process was like a missing piece of the puzzle for me," Clair explains.

"Picture books look deceptively easy, but they are quite the opposite."

While Clair has dabbled in drawing, she collaborated with illustrator Tom Jellett when penning The Bad Bassinis.

Before having kids, Clair and partner Troy got a dog called Dave. The red heeler and Pomeranian cross inspired Clair's first book, non-fiction title Do You Love Dogs.

The couple and their children (and Dave) last year relocated to Brisbane where Clair commissions the kids book list at the University of Queensland Press.

However, she loves returning to where her own story started.

"I'm lucky mum and dad still live in the house we grew up in. It's such a lovely gift to have your childhood home to return to," she said.

Calling all Casey Critters!

Join in our new series of weekly Critters Mornings!

Bring a book, take a book, borrow a book, read a book

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Get active with the team from the YMCA!

Critters Big & Small For parents and carers of our Casey Critters, enjoy a free coffee and meet other Critter families.

We’ll bring great guest speakers and info sessions to help wrangle your critters!

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AUTUMN 2020 5

It’s Your Life

A new chapter for Jimmy Rees

By Danielle Galvin

"It's fun for him, he gets the royal treatment and gets to go backstage."

JIMMY Rees is a household name these days.

Making the decision to wrap up after 10 years was a difficult one.

He's more than just every preschooler's favourite as Jimmy Giggle on Giggle and Hoot, the ABC's longrunning show.

After the last show, Jimmy admits the 'waterworks started' when he thanked the crew behind the camera, and all of the memories of the past decade came flooding back.

Last year he competed on Dancing with the Stars, and he's got something of a social media following thanks to his hilarious tidbits sharing the chaos of his everyday life with three kids.

This year marks a new chapter for Jimmy, touring around with Giggle and Hoot after wrapping up production of the show last year after 10 years on the air.

He's working on some new projects as well as spending more of his days running after the three boys, Lenny, and twins Mack and Vinny.

In late March he'll start touring and he can't wait.

"It's always been such fun getting out and meeting people," he said.

"It's going to be great to pull on the costume and get out to the east coast, Adelaide and regional Australia."

This year he's thinking of taking eldest son Lenny, 4, on the road.

"When I travel up north I think I will take him with me, he knows what to do and there's plenty of crew to help look after him," he said.

As for having a well-known, recognisable dad, Lenny's aware his dad is pretty special.

"I think over the years he has gotten more used to it or understood other people watch the show," he said.

"He started asking questions about a year ago - like 'how do you know that person?' and I say 'well I don't, they know me!'"

Lenny loves watching dad on stage.

These days, his life is chaotic and full of adventure and fun, although he could never have imagined how incredible his life would be and that his job title would be "children's entertainer".

Pictured with his children Lenny, Mack and Vinny and wife Tori.

"It was such an amazing show," he said.

Picture: Jimmy Rees, Facebook

He's back on the road and Jimmy's excited to pull on the costume.

Jimmy and his wife Tori opened up about the fact they had difficulty conceiving in between having Lenny and the twins.

Tori suffered miscarriages and eventually after two years of trying they tried IVF. Asked about any advice for anyone having twins, he laughs and says "oh my goodness!' before quickly adding it's Tori who runs the show and has some incredible organisational skills.

"For people having twins - it's like having 10 jobs at once!

"I would just say do what you can, try not to get fomo because they do take over your life.

"Try get them in a routine, you benefit from it and so do they.

"My wife's Instagram has some great tips and tricks!"

On his Facebook page, Jimmy often posts about his children - the hard times and the hilarious everyday moments.

One video recently showed all three boys of a morning, Lenny dancing on the TV unit and his baby brothers following suit.

"It may as well be real - it's all chaos at our joint!"

The tour won't be the last you'll see of Jimmy. He has some exciting projects in the wings, and he's always keen to reprise the much loved role of Jimmy Giggle.

For complete tour and ticket information, visit: livenation.com.au Giggle & Hoot - Live in Concert is coming to Bunjil Place. For details, visit page 43.

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"He loves the stage and the theatre of it all," Jimmy said.

Growing up, Jimmy recalls being inspired by the likes of TV host Rove McManus, and an eagerness to get in front of the camera.

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It’s Your Life

Melbourne dads create life saving device

From left, Alex Vashchenko, Andrew Orkin and Sluv Yerusalimsky.

It's almost like a voice inside your head to check the back seat"

By Danielle Galvin A group of Melbourne dads have joined forces to create a device they hope will save the lives of Australian children.

Father-of-two Andrew Orkin is one of the brains behind the Clever Elly device, a dual USB charger that plugs in to your car and reminds you each time you turn your car off to check the back seat.

It's hoped the Clever Elly will prevent parents from accidentally leaving their child in a car, which can have fatal consequences.

There are 10 different verbal reminders on rotation.

The concept is simple, but Mr Orkin said it's all about building a "life-saving habit".

"It's almost like a voice inside your head to check the back seat," Mr Orkin said.

"It's become a simple, inexpensive device."

Picture: Rob Carew

still strapped in their car seat.

He said for some parents, it's hard to come to terms with the fact that none of us are immune to these sorts of memory lapses.

The device in place inside a car.

"I only realised by accident, my son made a sound in the back.

"It was a series of unfortunate and unlikely circumstances that can happen."

Mr Orkin and two of his friends from high-school developed the device and believe every car should be fitted with the technology to remind parents and grandparents alike.

It was an experience of his own that spurred him on to develop the Clever Elly.

He said the long term goal is to make it standard in the automotive industry to have some sort of reminder to parents

"It's a good habit, it's a habit everyone needs to have," he said.

The technology is there, but he said there has to be a market for it.

"The same way we put on a seatbelt, we should have this," he said.

"What happened to me was I had a phone call from work and I was driving to my kid to daycare. I took a phone call and it was intense and during the call, I realised I had started driving to work.

"We don't want to make money off it, we just want to change the industry I guess," he said.

During their research, the Melbourne dads discovered how easy it is for parents on auto-pilot to suffer from a memory lapse, and forget their child is

Wed 1 April

"The same way seatbelts took decades to introduce, this is a worthy device."

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AUTUMN 2020 7

It’s Your Life

Make your own kids clothes

By Eliza Henry-Jones WITH an estimated 501 million kilograms of discarded clothing going to landfill in Australia each year, it's no wonder that the idea of slow fashion is gaining traction.

From wardrobes full of secondhand clothing, mended outfits and items made ethically and sustainably, the slow fashion movement comes in many forms.

One of the most enticing ways to engage in the slow fashion movement?

Making gorgeous, ethical clothing for your children.

Lisa began offering mending and sewing services when her son, Perry, was younger. Now that Perry's six, Lisa is about to expand her business and launch into bespoke formal and bridal wear.

Lisa reflects on her time teaching fashion and clothes making.

"People are scared of the sewing machine. They're scared of sewing their fingers - of making mistakes. They get so anxious that they're going to hurt themselves that they find it hard to sew."

EQUIPMENT ■ Pins

Lisa Locke is a seamstress and knows all about fashion and clothes making.

■ Scissors

She was taught by her mother who at 86 - is still an avid sewer.

■ Measuring tape

"She loves taking things home and fixing them," Lisa says.

WHERE TO START

■ Sewing machine

A fashion and theatre graduate, Lisa has worked for places like Collette Dinnigan, theatre companies, The Australian Ballet and has taught at a fashion school in Sydney.

Lisa has sewn for as long as she can remember. "My mum was always sewing and she always had magazines in the house that she'd be copying dresses from. There was always a sewing machine in my house. I made my first dress at eight years old!"

Lisa and her son Perry.

■ Cotton

Lisa recommends starting with something like a cushion cover for your child's bedroom.

"With a cushion cover, you can involve the kids in choosing the fabric.

"It's easier to make girls clothes. Skirts or dresses are both rectangles. You just sew down the sides, fold down the top and thread elastic," Lisa explains.

Lisa recommends starting with denser fabrics.

"Linen is really good to sew with and wears well," Lisa suggests. "Spotlight has good prices and nice linen. Stick to cotton and linen and other natural fibres. Things that are polyester and viscose will slide and be harder to sew."

Once people are confident with basic patterns, Lisa suggests trying things like pyjama pants and adding frills and zips.

Lisa loves making clothes for the children of her friends and family.

"They know it's been made for them and it's not from a shop. It lasts for about three or four years, you just make elastic bigger as they get bigger!"

Lisa has more words of wisdom for

parents keen to get into sewing.

"Use pins!" Lisa advises. "It's so easy to rush into it. Set aside time and make it relaxing. Cut the fabric, pin it together and have a few hours set aside. I've had lots of bad experiences when I've rushed things and haven't pinned them. Try to see it as a hobby, something to enjoy.

You'll make mistakes and get frustrated - relax into it. Premise it as something like taking care of yourself, something relaxing. A hobby."

Lisa is passionate about encourage people to buy secondhand. "Find your own style and don't follow fast fashion!"

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It’s Your Life

How to find your own village

By Eliza Henry-Jones ISOLATION and loneliness are increasing problems for people in Australia, with one in four of us feeling lonely.

In fact, young, single parents are particularly at risk of social isolation, with 38 per cent of men and 18 per cent of women impacted.

Isolation and loneliness sometimes overlap but are separate issues.

Loneliness is a more subjective and personal experience, while isolation is more quantifiable - linking to how many people you interact with. For instance, you can be isolated by not lonely, or lonely but not isolated.

As parents - and people in our own right - it's vital for us to find our village, the people who make up the fabric of our lives. Finding a village for ourselves and our children can be exhausting, difficult work.

One thing to keep in mind is that people don't need to be in your life for hours every week to be important parts of your life. Think of the people in you and your children's lives as a tapestry even if people write a letter every few months, call once a fortnight or take your children out for a day in the school holidays, it all counts. It all adds up into something beautiful and vital.

Where have your friends come from?

Take a look at your friends - your village. Where did you make those friends? Perhaps you met them at school or grew up together because your parents were friends. Perhaps you met them at a book club or a car club or while playing sports. Perhaps you met them through mutual friends or perhaps you ran into each other at the doctor's office and started chatting. Chances are, you've made friends before and you can definitely do it again.

Where do we learn how to make friends?

You've learnt a lot about making and maintaining friendships from your family. Are there similarities between how your parents conduct their social lives and how you conduct yours? Or do you seem to make friends in a way very distinct from your parents? It's useful to reflect on where your approach to friendship comes from. Making friends

10 AUTUMN 2020

and creating a village for yourself and your children is not only a wonderful thing to do short-term, it also shows children how to foster and maintain healthy friendships as they move into adulthood.

book club. Want to learn to sew? Go to a local community house. Have a child who loves swimming? Take them to the pool. Engage with your passions and your community.

How can we make a village for our children and ourselves?

Be open. Notice the people around you and the ones that you interact with. Put down your phone/laptop/tablet and engage with the people around you. If people reach out to you, recognise it and (if you can) reciprocate. Go and have that cup of coffee; take your child for that play date at the park.

Be vulnerable. This doesn't mean spilling all of your darkest secrets the moment you meet someone but it does mean putting yourself out there. Strike up conversations with people - they might be someone working at your local cafe, another parent at the school gate, someone who works with you. Ask them to grab a coffee with you.

Get out there. Love reading? Join a

Cyber-friends. Social media has been linked to our increasing sense of loneliness, but it can also help us to connect. Join Facebook groups, particularly local ones, and do a call-out for people who might like to catch up. Find other people who share your values or interests.

Don't take things personally. If you're feeling lonely or isolated, it's easy to believe that people don't want to spend time with you. If a parent at the school gate says they don't have time to talk that day, remind yourself that it's very unlikely to be about you. Everyone has a lot of things going on in their lives.

Reconnect. While there can be reasons we lose touch with people, sometimes it's worth reconnecting. Reflect on the people you've been close to over the past few years and consider

reconnecting with those who you'd like to see more of. This might be school friends, family or old neighbours.

Recognise. We're all unique people. We might want friends who message us every day, or see us weekly, while other people might find that this is far too intense. People may not be able to support you or see you as often as you'd like, recognise that everyone has their own stories and lives and that, chances are, they're doing the best they can.

Ask questions. Get to know people.

Time is so precious, it's a wonderful thing to spend your time actively listening to someone and asking about their lives.

Small things. Friendships need to be maintained. Send messages, write letters and make phone calls. Offer to pick up someone's groceries if they're sick, send a card on their birthday. Let people know you're thinking of them however makes sense to you, even if you don't have time for frequent catch-ups.

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It’s vital for parents to find their village, the people who make up the fabric of their lives.

When you purchase a Q & A SmileSolar watch, a portion of the proceeds is dontated to TABLE FOR TWO to deliver school meals to children in Africa and Asia

RESEARCHERS at the University of South Australia are working to develop a vaccine to cure potentially lifethreatening allergies to peanuts.

The vaccine would help reprogram the body's natural response to peanut allergens.

Severe allergic reactions can include impaired breathing, swelling in the throat, a sudden drop in blood pressure, dizziness, and even death.

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In Australia, there is particularly high prevalence of peanut allergies with one

in 200 adults, and almost three in every 100 children affected.

Dr Preethi Eldi, who is leading the project, says it has great potential to change lives.

"If we can deliver an effective peanut allergy vaccine, we'll remove this stress, concern, and constant monitoring, freeing the child and their family from the constraints and dangers of peanut allergy."

Professor John Hayball is also working on the vaccine and explained it would trick the immune system into seeing peanut allergens in a new light, so that the body responds normally. www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

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www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

AUTUMN 2020 11

It’s Your Life

Raising boys with backbone and heartÂ

By Steve Biddulph I'M sitting in a room with 200 mothers of boys. It's an all day workshop and we have enough time to really dig deep into what makes some boys turn out well, and some to go off the rails.

I start off in an unusual way - I ask the women a question: What would be their idea of a perfect man? Now, in a room full of young mothers - in fact, any women really - this is a question that leads to some ribald humour. But then we get serious, and I write on a huge whiteboard what they call out.

Soon we have a list of about 40 qualities. They range from kind, gentle, loving, thoughtful, through to trustworthy, honest, loyal, calm under pressure, and many more.There is something very poignant and moving about some of these answers. I'm aware that some of these women are describing things that their present or former partners may not have been.

Many women have had painful and hurtful experiences of the men in their lives, though plenty, of course, have positive and good partners (perhaps just needing a few tweaks!)

The reason I do this exercise is that for parents of sons, it's very important to know where you are going long-term with raising them to be good men.

The qualities we see in good men are there for one reason alone - somebody raised them to be that way. In fact,

there are really just two main qualities boys and men need to have: Backbone and heart.

Heart is what we most often think of first with goodness - being kind-hearted, caring, patient, helpful, warm, affectionate. And also open-hearted able to talk about sorrow, fears, hurts and concerns, in an open way.

For most of the 20th century, men weren't able to do this and so were often a kind of walking time bomb, either frustrating to be around, or dangerous, since you felt their moods but couldn't talk about or work through them.The second quality that we want to and can instil in our sons (and equally our daughters of course) is backbone.

Once in a school I saw a small boy stand up for his friend against some huge bullies. He was not strong or tough, but he knew that bullying was wrong, and it lent him courage.

And in fact the bullies backed away, something about that small boy's moral courage got through to them.

That is my idea of backbone. Doing what is right. It also includes being trustworthy - keeping one's word, showing up, being reliable. Not quitting when things get difficult. We can actively talk about these things and teach our sons how to do them.

In the recent running scandals about private school boys' behaviour and attitudes towards women and girls on public transport, it seems to me that these kids had not been given these

As parents, we all have different ideas for what it takes to raise kind boys.

messages at home, at least not enough to stand up or stand apart from the mob behaviour.

To turn out well, our boys need to be given enough love and care to be empathetic themselves.

To be taught by fathers and mothers to treat others with respect, and see their dads doing that - being warm-hearted, being self-sacrificing, being strong and reliable. Having the conversations right from little boys (or girls) about what a

good human being actually looks like, and behaves like. So one day their partners will smile and say 'I married a good man'. And thank their parents for raising them that way.

Steve Biddulph is the author of Raising Boys, and The New Manhood.

He is visiting Melbourne just a few times this year, so be sure to catch one of his life-changing evenings for dads and mums. www.stevebiddulph.com

How horses can help heal troubled children

By Eliza Henry-Jones

way that is non-confronting. Horses encourage children to reflect honestly on their behaviour and thoughts and to develop skills they may otherwise be resistant to developing.

THERE'S something pretty wonderful about spending time with horses.

Spend time with any horse person and you're sure to hear all sorts of things - the way a horse smells, the softness of their eyes and the sight of them coming across the paddock to greet their humans. But there's science behind the fuzzy-feelings. Being around horses can help us to heal.

What happens in a session?

What is Equine assisted therapy?

Equine assisted therapy involves utilising horses in therapy sessions through activities such as leading, obstacle course building, brushing and riding, as well as working with and observing loose horses. Some equine assisted therapy also involves riding horses.

Equine assisted therapy has been used to treat issues such as eating disorders, anxiety, PTSD and depression.

Why does it work for troubled kids?

Children who have been brought up in 12 AUTUMN 2020

Being around horses can help children to heal.

challenging situations often struggle to regulate their emotions - an issue that can be carried well into adulthood and have big consequences. Equine assisted therapy allows children to connect with these emotions, to become aware of them and then work to regulate them.

Children may also find it hard to

concentrate on tasks, relate to their peers and communicate. Horses are the perfect partners for this sort of learning because they are herd animals and respond to emotional cues. Children may also project their stories onto the horses, which allows them to explore challenging situations and issues in a

What happens in a session will vary depending on who's running it and what their preferred therapeutic model is. Some activities might include a general check-in to see how kids are feeling (this might be done with feeling cards or feeling toys) and then time spent with the horses, both individually and in a group. Some clinicians may encourage children to practice mindfulness or be around the horses without using their hands or with a blindfold on. Activities with horses can be tailored to the areas the individual needs to work on.

Horses surprise us. They will patiently listen while a child whispers secrets into their ears. Horses prone to wild misbehaviour will become docile with a child who really needs them. There's something so special about horses. www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

It’s Your Life

Dad’s passion for drawing comes to life

By Rachel Hickingbotham

juggling the time I could spend drawing with work and a family, but the end results are so rewarding, and I have a sense of pride seeing my work in print form. I gifted both my son and daughter copies of the book and wrote a little message inside the cover to them. They are proud of me too," said Guy.

"DRAWING has always been my passion," declares Guy Price, a heating and air-conditioning technician from Garfield.

"I work full-time doing maintenance and repairs. Nothing creative in the slightest."

Guy's two children, 8-year-old Ethan and 5-year-old Peyton inspire him to not give up on what he loves.

But despite not been able to quit his day job just yet, Guy has managed to stay true to his love of drawing and has illustrated his first two children's books.

Peyton in particular, shares Guy's talent for drawing.

Guy working on a mural.

"It was something I had always wanted to do," says Guy. Guy created the covers and internal illustrations for both books in the The Extraordinary Gum Tree Series, written

by Gippsland author Karen Casey.

The two children's books are titled 'The Extraordinary, Unordinary Gum Tree' and 'The Extraordinary Tom Fink'.

The series contributes $1 from every book to Aussie Helpers, a charity supporting farmers facing hardship.

"It was always the long-term plan to release a series of books that would raise money on a long-term basis," author Karen said.

"The crisis for farmers is ongoing and, living in Gippsland, it's something I see and hear about in my own neighbourhood. The book series allows me to make some sort ongoing contribution that I couldn't otherwise make. The stories are farm-based and have Australian nature themes, so they're good fit for this cause."

Guy has completed murals and illustrations for many local businesses and bands, and is building his folio of work in preparation for his first solo exhibition in May this year.

"It has been very challenging

"Ever since she could pick up a pen, you could see she had talent. She is very delicate and very planned with her process", explained Guy. "I've never been sure of the direction to take my work as a career and I dabble in all different mediums and processes. But as long as I'm creating, I am happy."

More than 400 copies of the books have been sold to date, providing over $400 for Aussie Helpers. Karen hopes to create a third book to complete the series and continue support for farmers.

The books can be bought in various independent bookshops and online at Booktopia and other online bookstores.

Guy Price's illustrated books, written by Karen Casey.

DISCOVER THE EXTRAORDINARY GUM TREE CREATORS Guy Price's first solo exhibition will be held from May 28 - June 24 at the Red Tree Gallery in Jindivik.

Karen Casey is a former journalist who worked for newspapers and lifestyle magazines around Australia and overseas. Her first unpublished manuscript was long-listed for the Australian Vogel Literary Award.

She has since released three books, the two in the children's book series and a humorous travel memoir, 'The Misadventures of the Travelling Quirkus'. You can hear Karen speak at the Emerald Library on July 1 at 6.30pm. This is a free event but bookings are essential.

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AUTUMN 2020 13

It’s Your Life

Seven tips for better work-life balance

By Rachel Hickingbotham

time each morning to enjoy some ritual grounding activities always equals a more productive, effective day and more connected to how you show up as a parent. Make it a habit each morning to transfer tasks from your to-do list into the block of time they are best tackled in. If you have a partner you are sharing the load with, try and schedule in a planning chat at least once a week so your social, home and kids' schedules are sorted out for the week.

WHEN you are a parent trying to work and keep everyone happy, the juggle struggle is real. While searching for solutions for a better life, I discovered that "balance isn't something you find, it's something you create, by crafting your life with purpose". These words from life coaches, Kate and Debra from Flourishing Mothers inspired me to design my own happier and more balanced life.

6. Get focused

1. Decide what 'balance' means to you The first step is to get clear on what you need and want in your life. This is where your values come in and consideration of where you are at in your life right now. Flourishing Mothers suggest that we "make sure we're giving our energies to the things that are most important to us. Because, when we live our lives in balance with what's most important, our life makes sense to us, feels 'right'. We feel satisfied, energised and motivated. And when we don't, we feel sluggish, irritable or unhappy," says Kate and Debra.

2. Write your Essentials, Important & Dream Lists ■ What are the essential, nonnegotiable tasks in your life? These could be the things that you do for your children that you cannot share and the work hours you have committed to and cannot change.

■ What are the next most important tasks or events in your week? You might include exercise, housework, meal- logistics, connecting with others and self-care.

■ Lastly, write down everything else you would like to add to your life but is not essential. This is your 'dream list'.

3. Introducing 'Block Scheduling' for your weekdays Block scheduling or 'time-blocking' is a game changer for working parents. Put simply, it is a way that you decide

14 AUTUMN 2020

An example of a Block Schedule.

when you wear your 'parent-hat' and when you wear your 'working-hat' each day.The beauty of this daily plan is that it ensures you get your tasks ticked off each day but allows you to roll with the punches of parenting as well. It will take some time to get used to and become disciplined to stop what you are doing and move from block to block, but it is worth persisting with.

Tips for creating your own Block Schedule: ■ Grab a piece of paper and divide up each weekday into blocks. It is best that all blocks are 2-3 hours long.• Label the blocks whatever you like, but keep them simple such as: Morning, First Work, Lunch, Second Work, Afternoon, Dinner & Bedtime and Evening Block.

■ Take your Essentials, Important and Dream Lists and start slotting them into your Block Schedule. Start with your essential commitments, then

your important tasks and then see what time you have left over.

4. Divide and conquer If you have a partner or someone you can share the load with, now is the time to get them involved. Set up some time to talk. "Communicate your needs with your partner and work out how you can divide essential tasks, suggests psychologist and busy mum of two, Brigid Foster. Divide up the kidtransporting and meal-logistics with your partner. "Organise pickup and drop-off of kids and share childcare with your partner and friends. Utilise your supports and help them out in return," says Brigid.

"You're not doing anyone any favours by trying to do it all at once. Pick one thing at a time to focus on. There will be time for the other things later," says Claire. The key to making this system work is to focus on what 'block' you are in and sticking to your task list. Set a timer for when your planned block is ending and focus until your timer goes off. Stop what you are doing and move onto the next block. What you don't get done, you can move into your next work block. When the timer goes off, you won't always slide from one task to another seamlessly, but you will get better over time.

7. Be kind to yourself

5. Make planning a priority

Make self-care a daily consideration.

"Pay attention to self-care - you can't pour from an empty cup," says psychologist, Brigid Foster. "Practice mindfulness and be present in your downtime." It is also important that you know your limits. Not everyone goes at the same pace. If you are awake in the night with a baby or have an illness, then factor in the time you need to rest and don't expect to tick off as many items on your to-do list. "Be honest with yourself about what you can achieve," says Brigid. This is when delegation and outsourcing can help.

Add 'planning time' to your essential tasks list. Business & Marketing Coach, Claire Riley suggests that you gift yourself time & space to focus and 'set up' every day. Taking some dedicated

Following these tips will not result in a perfectly balanced life, but have a go at blocking your time and sharing the load. You may soon see that over time, a more balanced life is simpler after all.

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

It’s Your Life

Air purifiers trap and remove allergens from the air in your home.

Quality air purifiers IF you're after an air purifier, visit Harvey Norman Fountain Gate.

The leading retailer has a wide variety of the best air purifiers on the market.

Air purifiers are growing in popularity in Australia.

They trap and remove allergens from the air in your home. Air is drawn through the unit and passed through a filter that captures dust, bacteria, mites and more.

However, some work better than others - so how do you know which one to buy?

Some air purifier products on the market tend to lack the fine purification systems to properly purify air.

If you purchase an air purifier from Harvey Norman you can be sure that it will be effective.

■ Check the CADR: A purifier's clean air delivery rate (CADR) indicates how quickly the purifier can clear the air of smoke, pollen and dust. A rating above 300 indicates a high performing model.

■ Consider adjustable speed: For greater control over the air quality in your home, look for an air purifier with adjustable speed settings.

■ Consider filters: Most air purifiers are fitted with a replaceable HEPA filter.

Models with a filter indicator will let you know when this filter needs to be cleaned or replaced.

■ Consider size: Always choose a product that matches the size of the room where you want to use it in. A larger room, for example, will require a model with larger capacity and more power.

Free car seat safety checks VICTORIAN parents can now access free car seat fittings and safety checks.Professional fitters are inspecting child car seats to make sure they're installed and being used correctly.

greater if a child is seated in a poorly installed restraint.

The free car seat fittings and safety checks will take place across council areas at numerous locations including neighbourhood houses and community centres.

"The data tells us that kids are far more likely to be injured if they're in a poorly-installed restraint. That's why it's crucial they are in seats that are checked by the experts," Health MInister Jenny Mikakos said.

Parents and carers are also provided with information on how to check whether their precious cargo is travelling safely.

The initiative comes after worrying data revealed around 70 per cent of child car restraints are not fitted or used correctly - making injury up to seven times more likely.

Kidsafe Victoria data revealed the risk of life-threatening injuries in a car accident can be four to six times

On average, six children under the age of 13 are killed and around 160 are seriously injured in vehicles on Victorian roads each year.

"I urge all parents and carers to take advantage of this landmark program - it will help keep kids safe and give them the important peace of mind that their children are properly secured."

Parents and carers can register their interest to attend a child car seat safety check session at kidsafevic. com.au/road-safety/free-child-carrestraint-checking-program/

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Harvey Norman Fountain Gate Electrical stocks (trusted?) leading air purifier brands including Breville,

Dyson, Phillips and Beurer.The retailer offers the following tips before you head in store to select an air purifier:

Anecdotal evidence suggests two thirds of car seats are incorrectly fitted.

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

AUTUMN 2020 15

It’s Your Life

Playful ... a fun quilt cover.

Stylish manchester can really lift a kids room.

Choosing the right manchester When it comes to bedroom styling and manchester, Avelyn Miranda is an expert.

As proprietor of Harvey Norman Bedding and Manchester at Fountain Gate, Avelyn enjoys helping parents choose items for their child's room.

WITH AVELYN MIRANDA

YOU'VE chosen a bed for your child's room, so now it's time to purchase some manchester.

So what exactly do you need?

This includes sheets, quilts and soft furnishings such as cushions.

"We have a huge range of manchester for children's bedrooms, with everything from playful quilt covers to mattress protectors."

Here, Avelyn shares exactly what manchester you should invest in.

Comfy, stylish lounges to fit the whole family

DECORATIVE CUSHIONS Novelty children's cushions that create a sense of playfulness and whimsy to help develop their imaginative play by day whilst offering comfort at night.

option as it helps keep the body cooler in summer and warmer in winter. Don't forget to accessorise with a blanket or throw that if chosen precisely will add style and light to any room of the house.

SHEETS

MATTRESS PROTECTORS

Indulge in natural cotton rich fabrics like our 300 thread count sheet sets that have great breathability, are hypoallergenic and wick moisture away from the body, offering a soothing night's sleep.

With so many to choose from the optimum mattress protector for your child's mattress is a Protect-A-Bed Supreme Tencel Jacquard. It not only offers a Miracle Layer that is breathable, silent and waterproof, but also has an allergen, dust mite, spill and stain barrier that can also be tumble dried and comes with a 10-year replacement warranty.

QUILTS We offer an abundance of quilts to choose from with cotton and wool fill constantly being the most popular

cushions and an ottoman, providing premium comfort while adding a touch of style to your home.

The suite is upholstered in beautiful fabric and features comfy foam cushioning that allows you to kick back and get the most out of your sofa. It can be set-up as a four seater with ottoman or as a corner suite.

BRING all the family together on a new comfy and spacious lounge.

THORNDON

Harvey Norman has a stunning range of lounges roomy enough to fit the whole family.

And with luxurious fabrics and quality foam cushioning, you’ll really look forward to kicking back and relaxing in style.

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Here’s some of the spacious family lounges you will find in store:

Talk about stylish comfort! This sofa comes with eight matching scatter

16 AUTUMN 2020

thanks to the corner design and large ottoman. Dacron and foam cushioning offer luxurious comfort, while the dark grey fabric allows for versatile decor options.

NALA 4 MODULAR With plush cushioning, spacious design and contemporary style, the Nala 5-Piece Fabric Modular Sofa creates an inviting social space.

There’s plenty of room to stretch out

The Thorndon Fabric Powered Home Theatre Sofa is perfect for movie nights and lazy afternoons. It offers ultimate relaxation with four comfortable seats upholstered in velvety buck suede, easy electric reclining mechanisms and headrests. There’s also the added convenience of two USB ports and LED lights, while spring supports and supple foam cushion fills provide both comfort and support.

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

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www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

AUTUMN 2020 17

It’s Your Life

Easter is coming to Caribbean CARIBBEAN Gardens is the place to be this Easter with lots of fun activities planned for kids of all ages.

Bring your family from 9am on Easter Sunday and book in for one of the planned Easter Egg hunts available for three different age groups.

Other activities include face painting, wooden Easter egg decorating as a well as a visit from the Easter Bunny.

With rides such as the jungle safari, chairlift and train ride open (weather permitting) as well mini-golf and playgrounds, why not come early and make a fun family day of it.

When you get hungry you can head to the Street Food area, the cafe or use the barbecues in the picnic area.

Caribbean Gardens are always expanding and adding more family fun activities to their menu.

This month they are trialing a 'Pop Up Beach Bar' on the banks of their gorgeous lake complete with truckloads of sand for an authentic beach oasis vibe.

Enjoy the fully licensed Cocktail Bar, delicious food options as well as live music and DJ's.

it's gone. Reservations are essential.

The Beach Bar will be set up right through March and possibly into April, so get down there to check it out before

Caribbean Market and Gardens are open on Wednesday from 8.30am to 3pm and Sunday from 8.30am to

The picturesque lake at Caribbean Gardens.

4.30pm including the school holidays.

For more school holiday fun, don't forget Caribbean Rollerama is just next door.

For details on upcoming activities

check the website www. caribbeangardens.com.au or the Caribbean Gardens and Market Facebook page.

ENJOY YOUR DAY AT CARIBBEAN MARKET

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FUN EASTER SUNDAY AND SCHOOL HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES SEE WEBSITE OR FACEBOOK FOR MORE INFORMATION

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

It’s Your Life

Deakin at his Grade 6 graduation with his parents and the teachers who saved his life.

Deakin recovering from his snake bite.

Deakin was bitten twice on his leg.

Teachers save Deakin´s life

By Rachel Hickingbotham LAST year, Tenneille and Lee Hawke came very close to losing their 12-year old son Deakin.

Deakin and his school mates from Drouin Primary School were on their Grade 6 school camp in Canberra last October, when he was bitten twice on the leg by an eastern brown snake, the second most venomous snake in the world.

Deakin says he didn't see the snake before or after it bit him and that "it felt like a prickle bush".

Fortunately, some other boys saw the snake and ran to tell their Principal, Brad Wheller.

Mr Wheller quickly found the snake and took a photo to confirm it.

Within 10 minutes of being bitten, Deakin had collapsed, stopped breathing, had no pulse and had gone into suspected cardiac arrest.

Thankfully, while waiting for the ambulance to arrive, a group of well-trained teachers from his school

jumped into emergency mode applying pressure with immobilisation bandages to his leg, while starting CPR. The bandaging slowed the venom from spreading while they worked hard to revive him.

Principal Wheller travelled to Canberra Hospital with Deakin and stayed with him in the Emergency Department and for several hours in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) before heading back to camp.

One of Deakin's teachers Candie Ellis-Williams told a TV reporter "I went into autopilot because I'd had prior training. I just took Deakin, sat him down and went through the steps that I needed to take."

His parents arrived from Drouin shortly after 3am. Deakin spent two days in ICU followed by two days in the Paediatric High Care Ward.

Candie and fellow teacher, Dave Janssen, performed CPR on Deakin - a skill that all Victorian teachers are expected to be trained in.

Deakin took a full month off school to recover. Tenneille reported that eight days after the bite her son had developed multiple symptoms of 'Serum Sickness', a reaction from the antivenom he was given to counteract the snake's poison.

Deakin was put in an ambulance and rushed to hospital where he miraculously made a full recovery, something Natalie Sindrey from St John Ambulance said would not have happened if it wasn't for the medical treatment from his teachers.

"Straight after the bite they did an amazing job at doing the resuscitation (CPR), which is what they needed to do to keep him alive," Ms Sindrey told reporters.

"He was hooked up to monitors with cannulas in each arm", Tenneille.

His symptoms included severe full body rashes, facial swelling and joint stiffness just to name a few. With all his discomfort along with x-rays, ultrasounds and blood tests, Tenneille said "it was not all smooth sailing, but he took it all in his stride and handled it like a true legend". After his month of recovery, Deakin was able to return to

school, finish Grade 6 and graduate from primary school. He is now settled into Year 7 at his new high school.

MP for Narracan, Gary John Blackwood commended the teaching staff of Drouin Primary School at Victoria's State Parliament for their quick-thinking and the outstanding first aid skills that saved the student's life.

Deakin's parents share details of their son's traumatic near-death experience as a way of bringing awareness about the severity of a snake bite and the importance of proper first aid training.

The family have acknowledged the amazing staff at Drouin Primary School.

Paramedics said: "If it had not been for the quick-thinking and outstanding first aid skills of the teaching staff, Deakin would not be alive today".

Most of all, Deakin's parents are proud of their son.

"Lee and I couldn't be prouder of Deakin. What he has been through is seriously any parent's worst nightmare!

Deakin has been the bravest and most courageous 12-year-old we know".

A safer home is a better home RESEARCH commissioned by IKEA revealed one in four Australians do not have safety top of mind when it comes to making decisions about their home.

However, almost half of Aussies (48.8%) admit they would like to be educated on the dangers and risks around the home.

In 2018, IKEA launched an app called 'Safer Home'. The app, which is available from the app store, helps consumers learn about key development milestones based on their child's age so that parents are aware of hazards and can make adjustments around the home accordingly.

When it comes to safety testing, no product is exempt. www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

When IKEA develops products for children, the first step is to see things the way children do.

Their world revolves around play and movement, and bumps and bruises along the way are a normal part of growing up - but serious injuries are unacceptable.

Through the IKEA product testing phase, the intended and unintended uses of products by children are carefully considered, to identify and minimise potential safety risks.

Each product goes through a long process of testing and will not be launched unless it meets the highest safety standards.

Five quick safety tips ■ 1. Are all bookcases, wardrobes, chest of drawers and other storage furniture secured to the wall?

This is extremely important, even if you think your furniture won't tip. Be sure to secure it to the wall.

■ 2. Lock it up!

To make sure little curious hands don't get hold of anything dangerous, use child safety locks on kitchen doors and drawers and child safety window locks to prevent falls.

■ 3. Is there a first aid kit in the home and does everyone know where it is?

Also check to make sure you have functioning fire extinguishers and a fire blanket.

Safety should be top of mind in your home.

■ 4. Is your home fitted with smoke alarms? If yes, are the batteries charged?

■ 5. For baby safety, check to make sure your baby cot and baby highchairs are safe and functioning properly.

Check baby toys for possible choking hazards, especially the eyes on soft toys. And for baby care, be sure to use a safe baby bath and changing table.

AUTUMN 2020 19

It’s Your Life

CFA members will be thanked at a special event hosted by the Pakenham Racing Club in April.

A family fun night to say thanks IT has been a challenging start to the year for many families affected by the devastating bush fires.

'Thank Your Emergency Services Race Night' sponsored by Parklea at Pakenham races.

Thank-you to all the local CFA members who assisted their fellow firefighters during this time, not just in Victoria but also heading interstate to help our neighbours.

This is a special event to thank our emergency services workers who constantly go out of their way to protect us, especially during last year's Bunyip Fire and the more recent 19/20 bush fires.

On Thursday 2 April, in conjunction with Brad Battin MP, the Pakenham Racing Club invite you to attend the

It will be a night of celebration and thanks with kids' entertainment, rides,

jumping castles, live music, a BBQ and a night of great racing.

The event is free for all first responders, their families and all kids under 18.

Tickets for the General Public are only $15 per person, with all proceeds going back to the event to ensure our emergency workers have a great night.

This will be a perfect evening for

families during the school holidays with lots of entertainment. We are proud to host this night as a way of saying thank-you to all those in our community who spend their summers away from their families, protecting our community.

For tickets and more information, please head to www.pakenhamracing. com.au. We hope you can join us for this great night of family fun while celebrating our first responders.

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Active Kids

Fifty things to do outdoors with your kids AN independent school for g girls irls ir ls iin n th the e UK has come up with a bucket list of fun and outdoor activities for children to tick off before they turn 5.

Burgess Hill Girls in West Sussex developed a list of 50 things for girls to do to get them outside, build their curiosity and love of nature, and get them away from their screens.

It follows research showing that many preschoolers are spending less and less time in nature.

Some of the things to do include hunt for worms or fly a kite.

The school, for girls aged 2.5 to 18, has made headlines around the world with the novel idea.

Headteacher Liz Laybourn told Danielle Galvin they know young children love to play on their parent's phones, iPads and tablets, and have even mastered the "swipe" action early on.

"In the same vein, playing and exploring seems to be a thing of the past and children are not developing some of the most important life skills resilience, ability to failure, taking risks, adaptability, being comfortable in the environment and trying things that they have never been encouraged to do," she explained.

"It was relatively easy to think of the 50 things, as many we had ourselves done as young children, and then we thought about the types of activities we now encourage our nursery pupils to do.

"Our focus as a school is on outdoor learning and allowing the pupils to try real live things.

"Education is best when it is alive."

Ms Laybourn explained while they weren't necessarily witnessing young children being addicted to screens, it's an ongoing issue for both parents and educators.

"Not necessarily screen addiction but a definite lack of dexterity in their motor skills due to being used to swiping screens rather than using keyboard skills," she said.

"Phones and tablets are an easy option to keep children active when out for dinner or when parents are busy.

"Once they get a taste of it they just want more and more.

"It can be a real challenge for parents."

The school posted the challenge with a graphic on their website in January, encouraging parents to take part and share their successes.

"We have created this list to

The list created by the school.

encourage girls to be bold and curious from a young age and challenge themselves to try new activities."

"It is specifically targeted at girls of pre-school age to help them learn essential skills before they start their first year of school."

The list encourages girls to mix potions, make slime and mud pies, and gaze up at the stars.

Although there's one activity Ms Laybourn had to explain - egg rolling.

"Egg rolling is when the children paint hard boiled eggs - make them truly pretty and individual and then find a really steep hill to roll them down," she said.

"A tradition in some areas of the country but great fun!"

A leading provider of small soccer WELCOME to the world's best small sided football centre. Soccer5s, based in Dandenong South, is Australia's premier provider of small soccer with it state of the art synthetic pitches, modern cafe-bar, and first class player experience for all ages and abilities both male and female.

Offering 5v5 and 7v7 social competitions all year round for friends,

families and work mates you can kick those fitness goals rain, hail or shine.

Looking for a pitch hire? You can do that here too with your friends or with your local sports club.

Having a party? Football themed for a young soccer fan or even host your special occasion such as 21st, 40ths and engagement in our stunning Brindley St Bar with private functions available.

Soccer5s is the go to destination if your child is a new or experienced player in soccer as we host a range of soccer clinics weekly plus tournaments and competitions.

Soccer5s offers football for all, all day and everyday. Call us now to kick off your football journey.

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AUTUMN 2020 21

Active Kids

Easter surprises at Puffing Billy THERE will be Easter surprises aplenty at Puffing Billy Railway, starting with free child admission for every adult ticket or family fare travelling to Menzies Creek Station, Lakeside Station or Gembrook Station between 28 March and 13 April.

For every family fare or adult ticket heading to Lakeside, be sure to take advantage of the new Tearoom menu serving freshly made meals with your 'Buy One Adult Meal Deal, Get One

Child Meal Deal Free' voucher.

Collect your interactive Puffing Billy Passport for the little ones to fill out during the journey, and if that wasn't enough, all passengers get free access to the newly opened Menzies Creek Museum and Little Toot Cafe, where they can discover over 52 rare, historic steam locomotives and railway-related artefacts.

Taking 30 minutes each way, the

Belgrave to Menzies Creek journey is perfect for families with young children who wish to take a shorter trip while still experiencing the timeless world of steam trains in the stunning Dandenong Ranges.

With a 45 minute stopover at Menzies Creek Museum, visitors can enjoy the coffee and cake specials at the Little Toot Cafe while learning more about railway relics from a time gone by.

Upon returning to Belgrave, those who complete the Puffing Billy Passport will receive chocolate eggs to take home and devour!

Adding to the festive fun, the Easter Bunny will be visiting Belgrave and Lakeside Station between Easter Friday 10 April and Sunday 12 April to take photos with all passengers and give away a few more chocolate eggs along the way!

VISIT PUFFING BILLY THESE EASTER SCHOOL HOLIDAYS KIDS TRAVEL FREE* Hop on over to Puffing Billy Railway these school holidays and kick off the Easter fun with a handful of sweet treats and activities the whole family can enjoy.

SATURDAY 28TH MARCH – MONDAY 13TH APRIL 2020 *Terms & Conditions: Kids travel free with family fares of 2 adults and up to 4 children, and “Buy 1, Get 1 free” offer. Not valid in conjunction with any other offer.

PRE-BOOK ONLINE

PUFFINGBILLY.COM.AU P: 03 9757 0700 E: info@pbr.org.au 12443757-JW13-20

22 AUTUMN 2020

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Active Kids

Small sided football SSFA exists to develop and run structured SSF programs and competitions and to promote and develop participation in the small sided formats of football.

excellence through small sided football.

SSFA's vision is to provide a pathway for players from grassroots to excellence through small sided football.

The format for games promote 4-a-side, 5-a-side, 6-a-side, 7-a-side and 9-a-side.

Its aim is to create pathways for players to join local community teams in the outdoor game once they're confident to play.

Inclusion, equity, competition, health and wellbeing are the cornerstones of the SSFA programs.

In 2018, Small Sided FA launched in Greater Dandenong and successfully launched four community clubs for 120 players.

A key focus is on offering a community club feel to the teams under SSFA, with a vision to provide a pathway for players from grassroots to

SSFA is an entry level grassroots community competition, which is great for beginners but also experienced juniors.

Up to six clubs will be looking to add around 28-30 players per team in the following age groups: U6 / U8 / U10 / U12 These teams will play intercompetition weekly and train just like any normal community club but with

paid, qualified coaches.

WHY HAS IT BEEN CREATED? ■ The association is that unlike other associations, and will be based at one facility local to the residential area - therefore no necessity to travel to away games for parents ■ Low cost and includes kits!

■ Accept all levels of ability both boys and girls

The benefits of taking the family camping TAKING a camping trip not only gets the kids outdoors - it also brings the family closer together.

Research has found that going on a family camping trip brings a raft of positive benefits.

■ 97 per cent of campers believes it allows children to learn about the environment

■ 85 per cent of campers felt close to their spouse compared to 65 per cent of non-campers

■ 94 per cent agreed that camping trips enable children to engage socially

■ 93 per cent of campers believe it brings families closer together and 92 per cent of campers believe it is fun for the whole family

■ 69 per cent of non-campers believing camping teaches children important life skills

Not only does camping benefit families. Taking a camping trip to a region can be an amazing way for your family to have a fun holiday while also supporting these small towns and regions who are doing it tough in the aftermath of devastating bushfires.

So why not consider a camping trip for your next family vacation?

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According to the Caravan Industry Association of Australia's Real Richness report:

■ 75 per cent of campers feel close to their children compared to 63 per cent of non-campers

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AUTUMN 2020 23

Active Kids

The playground is partially shaded.

The playground in Berwick Springs provides a lot of fun for young kids.

Obstacles ... there are plenty of ropes to climb.

Ninja style play in Berwick GOT a little thrill seeker? They will love the ninja style playground in the Berwick Springs estate.

Located on The Esplanade, this playspace boasts plenty of obstacle equipment, including wooden balancing beams, monkey bars and net tunnels.

The obstacle course is a fun addition to the recently upgraded playground, which has retained its original play structures.

BBQs and picnic tables have also been added to the playground, which is partially shaded.

Best of all, the play area is completely fenced with a child-proof gate, so you don't have to worry about your little runner escaping.

Little kids will also enjoy exploring the park's slides, swings and bridges.

Behind the playground you'll find some great entertainment for older kids and adults. There are basketball and tennis courts, plus a fitness station complete with ropes and adult monkey bars.

Boats

by Polyglot Theatre Cranbourne Gardens Boats by Polyglot Theatre to delight children at Cranbourne Gardens these school holidays

Fun on the high seas Ahoy there! Land ho!

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria's Cranbourne Gardens welcomes children of all ages and families to join in the fun these school holidays for Boats

by Polyglot Theatre.

FREE School Holidays

Wed 1 Apr – Sat 4 Apr Ian Potter Lakeside Precinct, Australian Garden See times at rbg.vic.gov.au/schoolholidays

Get ready for an adventure on the imaginary high seas!

24 AUTUMN 2020

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In an age of mobile phones, screens and iPads, children can so easily lose imagination and connection to nature.

These school holidays, Cranbourne Gardens and Polyglot Theatre encourage children to get outdoors, play with other children, and experience the wonders of childhood.

Families are welcome to join in too!

Set on a grassy patch within Cranbourne Gardens, Boats sets the scene for an adventure on imaginary high seas. There will be 25 small colourful cotton-covered foam boats and three large boats that can hold 10 people at a time. They work in a similar way to pantomime horses, where children can move about and sway back and forth.

Polyglot artists will pretend to be castaways or mysterious elements of the ocean while encouraging interaction and movement. Under this guidance,

children will be encouraged to use their imagination and navigate their own path.

■ Dates: Wednesday 1 April - Saturday 4 April ■ Times: 10am - 12pm & 1.30pm 3.30pm, drop in anytime ■ Price: Free ■ Age range: 3 - 12 years and their families ■ Location: Ian Potter Lakeside Precinct, Cranbourne Gardens. Enter via corner Ballarto Road and Botanic Drive, Cranbourne Polyglot Theatre is Australia's leading creator of interactive and participatory theatre for children and families. It is assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body, the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria and the City of Melbourne.

Cranbourne Gardens is one of Victoria's most precious areas of remnant native bushland and offers visitors the chance to explore heathlands, wetlands and woodlands on a 363-hectare site. www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Health

Tips on healthy eating from Susie Burrell

By Eliza Henry-Jones

Banana Nut Bites PREPARING healthy food for your children - whether they're just starting solids or jetting into the teenaged years - can be difficult.

Recipe by Susie Burrell

Susie Burrell, one of Australia's most well-known dieticians, knows all the tricks in the book for getting kids to engage with healthy eating habits.

• 1 cup oats shredded coconut

Turns out, we need to start by focusing on what we're eating, particularly when we're around our children.

"The most powerful thing parents can do is model healthy eating behaviours themselves," Susie says.

"Next, only keep the healthy foods at home that you want your kids to eat and enjoy family meals together as often as possible."

Anyone who spends time with toddlers will probably know one (or 50!) who just love white food - rice, bread and pasta.

Susie, an ambassador for healthy spread brand Mayver's, notes that these sorts of foods are very easy to overeat and don't have much nutritional value.

So what foods are important for fussy toddlers?

Susie recommends a focus on nutrient rich lean proteins such as oily fish like salmon, which is very important for omega 3 fats, lean red meat for iron and then at least two serves of brightly coloured vegetables such as peas, spinach, carrots, sweet potato or beans every day.

• 2 mashed bananas • 1 cup Mayver's Peanut Butter

METHOD: 1. Blitz bananas, peanut butter and oats together in food processor 2. Roll into balls then roll in coconut to cover 3. Put in fridge for two hours to set Notes: For a chocolatey twist, add some cacao powder or substitute regular peanut butter for Mayver's Organic Peanut & Cacao Spread.

are no allergy concerns in the family."

It can sometimes take 7-10 introductions of a new food before a child will accept it.

Parents can help though.

"Make the foods taste and look appealing," Susie says. "Let the kids see you eating new foods and as long as kids eat a few different vegetables and types of fruit, it doesn't matter if they don't eat everything you offer.

It's important to let children make a mess with their food, particularly when they're very young and experimenting with new tastes and textures.

Leading dietician Susie Burrell at home.

sandwich-sushi

"Offer these foods at 1-2 meals each day to ensure optimal nutrient intake," Susie advises.

Susie also recommends setting firm boundaries around food. One mistake Susie notices parents making is encouraging fussy eating.

Eat the sorts of healthy, nutrient rich foods you'd love your kids to eat, sit down together for meals and enjoy the family time.

"And then add some dairy, wholegrain carbs such as wholemeal bread and good fats like avocado and 100% Mayver's nut spreads, where there

"Giving kids too much choice and letting kids snack too much so they refuse to eat their main, nutrient rich meals," Susie points out.

Some easy, healthy recipes that parents can make with their toddlers

■ http://www.shapeme.com.au/blog/ balanced-breakfast/

■ https://www.lifestylefood.com.au/ recipes/24450/susie-burrells-

■ https://www.girl.com.au/banananut-bites.htm

BABIES born via caesarean are no more likely to develop allergies than babies born vaginally, a study by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) shows.

The research found only a small link between caesarean delivery and asthma.

Professor Melissa Wake, who lead the study with Dr Rachel Peters, said previous data from the 1990s suggesting a link between caesarean delivery and childhood allergic diseases such as eczema, asthma and poor lung function had warranted further examination.

“One possibility is caesarean delivery, because rates of allergy and caesarean have rocketed up together since the 1990s.

"It’s plausible, because a healthy start www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

to a good immune system includes a baby’s exposure to the mother’s microbiome – bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses that live on and inside the body – during a normal delivery.”

Dr Peters explained both caesareans and childhood allergies have increased significantly.

“The global caesarean rate is higher than 20 per cent, and North America, East Asia and the Pacific regions, including Australia, all now have caesarean rates around 30 per cent. At the same time, rates of asthma and eczema in children aged 6–7 years globally are 12 per cent and 8 per cent respectively, with higher prevalence reported in Australia (20 per cent and 17 per cent).”

Casey Osteopathic Health Services Servicing The Beaconsfield Community for over 19 years.

Members of the Australian Osteopathic Association For more information & professional friendly service, please contact: Casey Osteopathic Health Services

SATURDAY & EVENING APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE 2 STELLA ST, BEACONSFIELD

OPEN 6 DAYS

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C-sections and allergies

■ https://mouthsofmums.com.au/ recipe/banana-ghosts/

PH: 9769 9881 AUTUMN 2020 25

Health

Busting pelvic floor myths

By Eliza Henry-Jones

that my body would spring back within a matter of weeks after birth.

WHEN I am eight months pregnant, I can still simultaneously manage to sneeze and not pee. This, in late pregnancy, is regarded as a sort of miracle.

"Enjoy those muscles while you've got them!" a family friend advises me.

Other friends tell me that I'll definitely wet myself the first time I ride my horse after having a baby. I am, quite rightly, terrified.

Pelvic weakness is too often normalised following pregnancy and birth - particularly traumatic, vaginal births. But we have much more control over our recoveries than we think.

I spoke to Jen Varner, a mother of four and physiotherapist with a keen interest in women's health, about the misconceptions surrounding pelvic floor health and what we can do to keep ourselves strong.

The first thing we talk about is time.

Our bodies take a while to heal. Often, our bodies can still be healing up to two years after giving birth. This shocks me. I had, like so many other mums, assumed

"Education is a big part of an appointment," Jen tells me. "We screen for any issues that may be there and that screening includes comprehensive birth history, prior obstetric history and also encompasses fluid and dietary intake that can influence bowels - touching on lots of sticky subjects!" Jen laughs.

One myth that Jen encounters regularly is that there is no point visiting a physiotherapist before the typical six-week postpartum check-up.

While it's unlikely that a physiotherapist will do an internal examination earlier than six weeks due to the risk of infection, it is an opportunity for concerns to be addressed, an initial program planned out and mums getting information on pelvic floor health and perhaps beginning some gentle exercises.

"During the six week post-natal check, with either your GP or your obstetrician, the focus is widespread baby, feeding, PND risk and mental health screening, scar or stitches.

"It usually does not include a check of

Muscle strength is one of the important things that needs to be checked when assessing the pelvic floor.

your pelvic floor. I think that's why it's important that we start to normalise a pelvic floor check for all women post-natally."

Examinations with a physiotherapist after the six-week mark can generally be either internal or external.

"There is an option to assess pelvic floor using a real-time ultrasound but that doesn't convey information about muscle tone and strength. We can see if someone is activating or not, but can't assess the strength of the muscles," Jen explains.

"Another thing you miss is if there has been any tissue stretch or potential for prolapse. But the ultrasound is an avenue if someone doesn't feel comfortable having an internal. " Jen tells me about recent research that found between 60% and 70% of

women will incorrectly activate their pelvic floor when given written instructions on how to do it.

Another misconception that Jen frequently encounters is the idea that muscles will just improve on their own.

Jen finds the work she does incredibly rewarding.

"I love working with pre-natal women, to maintain fitness, to deal with issues like pelvic girdle pain and lower back pain that may occur during pregnancy and that also gives me the opportunity to plant to seed to strengthen pelvic floor before baby arrives," Jen says.

"What the body's going through is such a massive thing and we're so lucky to be able to go through this journey and while it can put our body under pressure, it's an amazing thing."

The joy of having private maternity care ST John of God Berwick Hospital is proud to introduce their new bundle of Joy - a new lower cost private maternity model.

Joy offers privately insured patients a more affordable way to use their cover and access a high end private hospital experience by reducing out of pocket costs. In fact, patients will only be $990 out of pocket*! Joy, oh, joy!

Joy is a new option for maternity care at St John of God Berwick Hospital, a hospital which now has two maternity models for patients to choose from. In addition to the Joy package, patients can still choose their own obstetrician with the traditional maternity care package.

one on one lactation advice are just some of the ways new parents are supported.

Joy Obstetricians:

No matter which package patients choose, they will receive the same exceptional care once they are admitted to hospital, including a single room with bedding for their partner.

Joy enables patients to save money by providing a collaborative model of care, where patients will be seen by a whole team of specialist obstetricians and midwives, rather than just one doctor. Joy patients will be cared for and monitored by the rostered obstetrician at each of their appointments and at the birth of their baby. Each of these obstetricians is a joy- compassionate, highly trained and experienced.

Delivering a baby at St John of God Berwick Hospital comes with all the

■ Dr Mei Cheah ■ Dr Jacques Lam ■ Dr Peter Yong ■ Dr Jodi Keane ■ Dr Jorg Kemper ■ Dr Mark Tarrant ■ Dr Poonam Arora Baby joy ... St John of God Berwick Hospital now has two maternity models for patients to choose from.

education parents need as they embark on their new family life. Paediatric first aid, sleep and settling workshops and

■ Dr Dinesh Epitawela To access Joy, patients should ask their GP for a referral to the clinic. To learn more about Joy, including the *terms and conditions: www.sjog.org. ay/berwickjoy or call 8784 5800

Jump for joy!

A private maternity experience for only $990* To book a tour visit www.sjog.org.au/berwickjoy or call 8784 5800

@stjohnofgodberwickhospital 26 AUTUMN 2020

*Visit sjog.org.au/berwickjoy for T&Cs

12439590-JW13-20

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Health

Good vision for life DID you know that approximately one in five kids has an undetected vision problem that could affect their performance in the classroom?

That's why parents are being urged to book an eye test at the beginning of the school year.

Here, optometrist Gemma Cowan answers common questions about children's eyesight.

What are the common vision problems in children?

The three most common problems are myopia (shortsighted), hyperopia (longsighted) and astigmatism (uneven curvature of the cornea). Unless you test their eyes, quite often these issues will go undetected. It's not unusual for kids to assume they way they see is normal, they simply may not be aware that they could have the potential to see better! So often they don't tell their parents if they are having difficulties.

How could vision problems affect my child's learning?

It may be something as simple as not being able to see the board clearly in

the classroom. But often the problems present in a more subtle manner. There may be issues with your child's focusing system, which could affect their ability to read or concentrate in class. This could happen any time from Prep onwards, but may impact kids in the higher secondary levels as the study demand increases.

What symptoms should parents be looking for?

Sometimes there simply aren't any symptoms, but it helps to look for things like complaints of headaches or sore eyes, squinting, frequent blinking or rubbing of the eyes, red or watery eyes, or closing one eye to read. You should also consider an eye test if your child has difficulty concentrating, tires easily, has shown a delayed progress in reading ability, skips lines or omits words while reading.

exercises depending on the underlying issue. As with many problems, the earlier it is detected, often the easier it is to treat.

Is there a treatment for vision problems?

What age should I consider an eye test for my child?

years old. If there is something like amblyopia (lazy eye) present, the treatment is more effective if it is detected early. And as there are no symptoms, an eye test is the only way to detect it.

Yes, there are a range of options for many vision problems. It could be glasses or contact lenses, or I might recommend focussing or eye muscle

You can have a test at any age from six months and up really, especially if there is a turned eye. I recommend a full eye test from approximately three and half

For more information visit Gemma at Beaconsfield Eyecare 45 Wallace Street Beaconsfield. Phone 8726 9977 or visit www.beaconsfieldeyecare.com.au

Optometrist Gemma Cowan and a patient at Beaconsfield Eyecare.

2020 Good Vision for Life

Meet our team Gemma Cowan Huw Smallbone and Karen Moore

Address:45 Wallace St, Beaconsfield VIC 3807 Phone: (03) 8726 9977 www.https://www.beaconsfieldeyecare.com.au/ www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

12442755-NG13-20

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AUTUMN 2020 27

Health

The study uncovered a possible link between breastfeeding babies and solids, and BMI.

Possible breastfeeding and BMI link A NEW study by Deakin University researchers has identified a fascinating link between babies who are breastfed beyond six months and body mass index (BMI) in the first five years of life.

Lead author Dr 'Jazzmin' Miaobing Zheng, a research fellow in Deakin's Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), said her study was the first to examine the relative impact of how long a baby is breastfed for and the introduction of solids on children's growth patterns over time.

The study was published in the Obesity Journal.

"We found children who were breastfed for more than six months had a healthier body weight from ages three months to five years, compared to those breastfed for less than six months," she said.

"That includes any breastfeeding, even if occasional or supplemented with formula.

"The beneficial effects of longer breastfeeding duration also remained evident after accounting for a child's

birth weight, maternal factors like education level and pre-pregnancy body weight status."

Dr Zheng said the study's findings identified a possible avenue to address Australia's unprecedented levels of childhood overweight and obesity.

"Right now, one in five Australian kids under five are above a healthy weight, and these children have a higher likelihood of overweight and obesity later in life," she said.

Data for the Deakin study was collected from 542 children.

Dr Zheng said it was important to consider the potential barriers to breastfeeding past six months, including a mother's earlier return to work, cultural expectations and practices, and community support.

"It's also important to acknowledge that for some women breastfeeding or prolonged breastfeeding may not be possible," she said.

"But overall our findings strongly endorse current policies, public health campaigns, and interventions that seek to promote and support breastfeeding."

Osteopathy helping those in chronic pain PAIN is a subjective experience that no two people experience in the same way.

In 2018, 3.24 million Australians were living with chronic pain.

For most living with chronic pain, their pain restricts what activities they can undertake. Best practice does not support long-term use of medication for chronic pain management, therefore it is essential to seek a more natural alternative.

Osteopathy is a drug-free, noninvasive manual therapy that aims to improve health across all body systems by manipulating and strengthening the musculoskeletal framework.

An osteopath will focus on the joints,

muscles, ligaments and connective tissues. Treatment aims to positively affect the body's nervous, circulatory, and lymphatic systems. The body is treated as a whole, focussing on the cause of the problem, not just the symptoms.

work with children of all ages.

Osteopathy uses a wide range of techniques to treat musculoskeletal problems such as back and neck pain, headaches, joint pain, sports injuries, RSI and sciatica, as well as tension caused by stress.

The Osteopaths at Casey Osteopathic Health Services have all completed a five year double degree and are members of Osteopathy Australia. Their diverse range of skills and specialities enable them to provide patients with the best treatments possible. They are available six days a week, with afterhours appointments also available.

Osteopaths see a wide range of people, including pregnant women, babies and children, the elderly and elite athletes, and everyone in between.

Osteopathic treatment of babies, toddlers and older children forms part of

Your first appointment will involve taking a thorough medical history, a mobility check and treatment. Advice regarding future prevention also forms part of the treatment.

Casey Osteopathic Health Services.

standard osteopathic training and is very gentle.

Osteopaths recognise the particular stresses on the body people experience as they grow from babies to teenagers, and have developed an approach to

The clinic is located at 2 Stella Street, Beaconsfield and an appointment can be arranged by 9769 9881.

Gut bacteria linked to anxiety in kids GUT bacteria might predict a child's risk of future anxiety, according to a new study.

Researchers believe children with a lower amount of Prevotella when they are one-year-old are more likely to have anxiety-like behaviours, including shyness, when they turn two.

More than 200 children took part in the Barwon Infant Study that tested their poo samples at one-month, six and 12 months of age as well as their behaviours at two years.

28 AUTUMN 2020

They found those with lower instances of the bacteria at 12 months of age were more likely to be shy, sad and showed indications they may be a higher risk of going on to develop childhood anxiety.

Study leader Professor Peter Vuillermin, from Deakin, Barwon Health and MCRI, said the study found less Prevotella in children who had recently taken antibiotics.

"Growing evidence supports the idea that antibiotics, poor diet and other factors in the modern world are leading

to the loss of our traditional gut bacteria, and in turn, health problems," he said.

"There is intense interest in the relationship between gut bacteria and brain development, but most of the evidence has come from experiments in mice. This is one of the first human studies to compare the composition of baby's gut bacteria to subsequent behavioural outcomes."

In previous cross-sectional studies Prevotella abundance has been associated with both autism and Parkinson's disease.

The research team now hope to build further evidence to consider Prevotella as a gut bacteria key to both identifying health risk, and potentially, as an intervention to improve health outcomes.

"One day we could get to the point where we can look at a child's poo at 12 months, and if they are showing levels of bacteria that put them into a high-risk category for anxiety we can offer an early intervention," Dr Amy Loughman said. www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

DENTAL

Wearing a custom fitted mouthguard AT Beaconsfield Dental, the focus is on prevention.

One area the team is passionate about is preventing a mouth injury by educating everyone to wear a mouthguard for contact sports.

If you play a contact sport, and a lot of Aussies do, you risk injuring your teeth.

Many sports involve contact and therefore serious dental injury. These sorts of injuries are often difficult to treat and involve a lifetime of expense.

The Australian Dental Association recommends wearing a custom fitted mouthguard, which can be made at Beaconsfield Dental.

Mouthguards can protect you from some serious sporting injuries, such as broken jaws, fractured, cracked or knocked-out teeth, cut lips and bitten tongues.

You don't just have to be playing obvious contact sports like rugby union,

rugby league, AFL, hockey and boxing to sustain those kinds of injuries. Even non-contact sports like cricket, basketball, netball, touch football, skateboarding and soccer, carry a real risk of accidental collision resulting in dental trauma.

HOW A MOUTH-GUARD WORKS A custom-fitted mouthguard works by absorbing and spreading the impact of the damaging blow. It is fabricated based on an impression of your teeth taken by your dentist. A mouthguard that is custom-fitted by your dentist is far superior to an over-the-counter mouthguard because it's specially designed to fit the exact contours of your mouth, is resilient, balances your bite and allows speech and normal breathing. If properly used, stored, and checked by your dentist every year, a custom-fitted mouthguard should last several seasons. In contrast, self-fitted, over-the-counter mouth-guards, which include what are commonly known as

The Beaconsfield Dental team is passionate about preventing mouth injury.

boil-and-bite mouth-guards, should not be used. They do not protect the teeth, are loosely fitted, impede breathing and speaking, and can even wedge in the back of the throat at impact which could be life threatening.

WEARING A CUSTOM-FITTED MOUTHGUARD Custom-fitted mouth-guards, by virtue of their exact fit, let you talk normally, don't restrict your breathing and stay firmly in place, allowing you to concentrate on playing sport.

You should consider it a mandatory part of your sporting equipment, no matter your age or experience. To keep your mouthguard in tip-top working order, you'll need to keep it out of the sun, wash it in cold water after use and get your dentist to make sure it's still OK when you go in for your regular

check-ups. Only dental professionals can design and manufacture a custom fitted mouthguard that provides adequate protection.

The receptionists at Beaconsfield Dental can answer any questions you may have prior to booking an appointment. Phone 9707 3508 or book online at beaconsfielddental.com.au

An enthusiastic dental team GOING to the dentist can be a source of anxiety for many - but Emerald Dental Care strives to create a gentle, stress free environment that is sure to leave their clients with a smile.

Open since January 2019, Emerald Dental Care aims to educate their clients and help them see oral health as a lifestyle choice rather than a chore.

And that, in turn, reduces emergencies, pain, unnecessary stress and costs.

Owners Hailey Chew and Eric Yeung strongly believe looking after your teeth is just as important as maintaining your body and healthy lifestyle.

"It doesn't include fad diets or one-off attempts," Ms Chew said.

"Oral health is the same and that's why we encourage six monthly checkups and not seeing a dentist only when you need to."

Now is the perfect time to visit the friendly caring team at Emerald Dental Care. It's a brand new clinic with the latest technology and enthusiastic dentists and they offer payment plans too.

Specialising in a wide variety of dentistry, Emerald Dental Care provides services for children, orthodontics (braces and clear aligners), general dentistry (hygiene and root canal treatment), cosmetic dentistry (fillings, veneers, crowns and whitening), as well as extractions, managing gum disease, dentures, implants and sleep apnoea.

Emerald Dental Care Shop 1, 41-43 Kirkwood Crescent, Hampton Park info@emeralddental.com.au (03) 8768 8466 Monday - Wednesday 9am - 6pm Thursday & Friday 10am - 7pm Saturday 9am - 5pm

FREE KIDS DENTAL*

Sharayu, Melissa, Georgia and Eric at Emerald Dental Care.

SPECIALIST ORTHODONTIC CLINIC Dr Andy Ong BDSc (Hons) Melb, DCD Melb, M Orth RCS (Edin)

~ FREE BULK-BILL dental treatment for eligible children between ages 2-17 under the Medicare Child Dental BeneďŹ t Schedule* ~ NO DEPOSIT AND NO INTEREST Payment Plans available* ~ $97 or NO GAP for check-up and clean

Terms and conditions apply.

Shop 1, 41 - 43 Kirkwood Cres Hampton Park (opposite ALDI) www.EmeraldDental.com.au | (03) 8768 8466 www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

12443163-SG13-20

s !USTRALIAN /RTHODONTIC "OARD #ERTIlED s )NVISALIGN ÂŽ s &AMILY $ISCOUNTS !VAILABLE s NO REFERRAL NEEDED

s â&#x20AC;&#x153;INVISIBLEâ&#x20AC;? ,INGUAL #LEAR -ETAL BRACES s NO FUSS, FLEXIBLE PAYMENT PLANS s "EFORE !FTER SCHOOL APPOINTMENTS

For appointments: CALL 8790 6288 or email reception@eliteorthodontics.com.au www.eliteorthodontics.com.au /RMOND 2OAD .ARRE 7ARREN 3TH /PP !MBERLY 0ARK 3HOPPING #ENTRE -ELWAY 2EF ! ,"

AUTUMN 2020 29

DENTAL

The friendly team at Straight Smiles.

Smile with great confidence THE team at Straight Smiles Orthodontics are thrilled to see their teen clients go from being shy and too nervous to be smiling and grinning from ear to ear as they walk out of their orthodontic clinic.

Parents also agree that they notice an improvement in their child's selfesteem and quality of life after treatment at Straight Smiles Orthodontics.

Many teens are hesitant about going through orthodontic treatment to straighten their teeth. They are usually worried about the stigma of 'metalmouth', however today there are other options when it comes to having orthodontic treatment.

Straight Smiles offers orthodontic treatment including the traditional metal braces as well as clear aligners treatment. This treatment is a series of aligners that are worn on the teeth 22 hours a day and are changed usually on a fortnightly basis at home.

Every time a new aligner is worn the shape of the aligner has changed which means the teeth are moving towards that straighter result. Appointments are generally every 8-10 weeks to the clinic.

Straight Smiles have noticed that patients going through clear aligners are much happier patients with this discreet way of straightening their teeth.

During the treatment, their teen patients

can still smile confidently while taking their group photos and selfies and no one would even notice that they are in the process of having orthodontic treatment.

Clear aligner patients also get to enjoy the foods they have always eaten and are able to keep their teeth a lot cleaner. The number of appointments throughout the treatment are much less than traditional treatment, which can mean less time out of school for kids and less time off work for parents and adult patients.

It is never too late for orthodontic treatment, but adolescence is the optimal time to address problems as

teens haven't finished growing and they get to enjoy their straighter teeth for longer.

Dealing with any teeth misalignment issues early on may simplify and fast track treatment time. Straight Smiles see children at any age and can monitor their growth free of charge for these assessment appointments up until they are ready to start treatment.

Orthodontics isn't just about straightening teeth but also helping adolescents gain confidence as they grow into adulthood. A good smile can do wonders for self-esteem.

Creating beautiful smiles for all ages Free Consultations No Referral needed Flexible Payment Plan Options Number one Invisalign provider of Gippsland Consulting patients of all ages

SPECIALIST ORTHODONTIC CARE

1/63 Main Street, Pakenham 369 Police Road, Mulgrave Ph: 1300 We Smile info@straightsmiles.com.au 12443711-JW13-20

30 AUTUMN 2020

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

DENTAL

ADA push for dental funds

Affordable dental care COST can be a major deterrent from visiting the dentist.

$5700, with weekly plans for $59 and family discounts available.

But at Casey Dental Group, orthodontic treatments have never been more affordable.The friendly clinic offers bulk billing, weekly payment plans, family discounts and free check-ups for insurance patients.

It also bulk bills for the Medicare $1000 Child Dental Benefits Scheme.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Being the largest and longest established practice in southeast Melbourne, we can pass our operating savings onto our patients, while maintaining the highest standard of dental care,â&#x20AC;? Dr Jayson McNaughton explains.

Casey Dental Group is the preferred provider for major health funds.

For insurance patients, there is no out of pocket charge for a check-up, clean or x-rays. And if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have insurance, check-ups and consultations are free.

In addition, Casey Dental Group offers up to 24 months interest free payment plans on all services, including specialised treatments like implants, Invisalign and half price deals on crowns and cosmetic dentistry.

The practice has a special focus on orthodontics for both children and adults, and Invisalign which is

The friendly team aims to provide the best ongoing dental care with services including digital X-rays, laser whitening, implants, ceramic crowns/ veneers and all other aspects of dentistry.

The practice has extended its opening hours to include evening sessions that run until 9pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings.

Casey Dental Group is located at 236 Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road, Narre Warren South.

For bookings or more information, phone 9705 1755 or visit www. caseydentalgroup.com.au

12444187-SG13-20

The clinic offers orthodontics for only

available for teens.

AUSTRALIA'S peak dental body is calling on the federal government to work with the states to provide more Medicare-funded dental care for all children, pensioners and welfare recipients.

The Australian Dental Association (ADA) has backed Senator Stirling Griff's motion, tabled in parliament, that seeks to increase publicly-funded dental care and improve 'shocking rates' of preventable oral health disease and hospital admissions.

The motion adds to the growing chorus of voices urging Canberra to do more to ensure a higher number of Australians have access to dental services.

"Senator Griff has rightly identified that many Australians are desperate for dental care and are unable to access care even if they're eligible for public dental services," said Dr Carmelo Bonanno, ADA President.

"It's time that all levels of government and the dental profession work together on more sustainable funding models. Currently states are unsure whether there will be even Commonwealth funding for public dental waiting lists past June 2020.

WE MAKE CASEY CARDINIA SMILE Ask about Invisalign and lingual braces.

Orthodontics and Invisalign from $59 per week.

Implants from $39 per week s 7E "5,+ "),, FOR THE -EDICARE #HILD $ENTAL "ENElTS 3CHEME

s (!,& 02)#% #2/7.3 !.$ 0/2#%,!). 6%.%%23

AFTER lRST FULL PRICED CROWN VENEER PREPARED AT THE SAME VISIT

s ).352!.#% 0!4)%.43 7E $O .OT #HARGE THE 'AP ON 9OUR (EALTH )NSURANCE #LAIM FOR #HECK 5PS #LEANS 8 2AYS AND 3EALANTS

s MONTHS INTEREST FREE ON ALL TREATMENT SERVICES s ./. ).352!.#% 0!4)%.43 &2%% #HECK 5PS s 'OVERNMENT %MERGENCY 'ENERAL $ENTAL 6OUCHERS ACCEPTED s 7HITENING TAKE HOME KIT ONLY Participating Providers and Jayson McNaughton Alina Bratu Harjot Gill Robert Otken

Dr Dr Dr Dr

Sam Navidi Guy Turton Sepand Navidi Shannon Gune

Dr Ragy Labib Mr Joseph Hanna Dr Deon Nguyen Dr David Abdel-Malek Dr Rachel Fong

Po

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Phone: 9705 1755

Narre W arren Cra n b o u r n e Rd d dR

236 Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road, Narre Warren South

Mon and Fri 8am to 6pm, Sat 8amâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;1pm, Tues, Wed & Thurs 8am to 9pm Bookings can now be made online through our website: www.caseydentalgroup.com.au

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Correctly aligned teeth can decrease health issues that can be caused by an improper bite, speech or chewing difďŹ culties, jaw problems and increased wear on the tooth enamel.

Casey Dental Group is Here!

Greaves R

d

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 8.30 am to 5.30 pm 2/31 Clyde Road Berwick 3806 9796 2794 | info@seortho.com.au | www.seortho.com.au

12442040-JW13-20

Dr Dr Dr Dr

Orthodontic Treatment for children and adults utilising the latest technologies including SureSmile, Invisalign, lingual and clear appliances.

AUTUMN 2020 31

Party Time

Born to Party!

PAINT A POT ART STUDIO PAINT a Pot Art Studio is a place bringing people together for the shared purpose of being creative.

With a great soft play area and hundreds of shapes to choose from, Paint a Pot has the piece of pottery to make your child's next birthday a memorable one!

Paint a Pot caters to kids of all ages - big and small, young and old - with a wide selection of pottery options. The on-site cafe allows the grown-ups and spectators to relax, and enjoy a coffee while the kids are in their creative element!

And after they have explored their creativity, they can run off the last of their energy in the soft play area.

the keepsake casting of hands, feet and even little paws!

At the end of the party, guests can choose to take their piece home straight away, or leave it overnight to be fired, for collection the next day. There are ready to paint ceramics for all ages from pots, plates, bowls and mugs to animal figurines.

My Puzzle House is a play centre with a difference. It's a place where kids of all abilities have something to play with.

The centre is designed with inclusion in mind, with things like a quiet sensory room with bubble tube, foam pit, lots of swings, a pretend play area ... and much, much more.

MY PUZZLE HOUSE

The studio can be hired for adult art social events.

Teachers conduct a range of classes such as resin art, resin jewellery, acrylic pouring and chalk masterpieces.

Also on offer are kid's art classes and

The on-site cafe overlooks the play centre, and staff are always there to play with your kids and give parents the chance to sit down and have a cuppa.

The music and movement classes

have been a real hit with children who sometimes find it difficult to be included in mainstream classes.

Therapists are welcome to run there sessions in the open play zone for no extra cost. Many families have been impressed with how their children react to therapies in this fun and inclusive environment.

This family business is owned by mother and daughter duo, Robyn and Mandi. Mandi's son is autistic, which is where the inspiration for this play centre came from. Mandi says her son Rayne finally has a place where he can be included, and parents are understanding with no judgements.

Birthday trend gets high five

By Melissa Grant ARE you planning your child’s birthday party but dreading that you’ll end up with a pile of unappreciated toys.

You might want to consider throwing a ‘fiver party’.

What is a fiver party? Well, it’s a pretty brilliant party concept that’s growing in popularity.

Basically, each guest inserts a $5 note in a card for the birthday boy/girl.

It’s brilliant because it cuts down the number of unwanted toys and takes the

But asking for money can be awkward, you say? Well yes, but it’s only $5 and you can ask for it nicely on the invite. You just need to write something like “Mia is celebrating her 10th birthday with a fiver party. Mia has her heart set on (insert expensive toy here) so instead of buying her a gift

Obviously a fiver party probably isn’t the greatest idea for a 4-year-old.

However, a 10-year-old saving for that special something is likely to give you a high five!

Why fit in... when you were BORN

O child friendly venue offers Our a range of activities for kids: - a large range of CERAMICS animals/characters to cater for all children to paint as they wish!

- a SOFT PLAY area for kids of all ages - a full CAFE with lots of variety for kids and adults to get through a busy art filled day!

- art classes for kids from ages 5-12.

- choose from one of our amazing PARTY PACKAGES and let us do all the work so you and your guests can enjoy yourselves!

4/1 Vesper Drive, Narre Warren Ph: 8794 9997 | www.paintapot.com.au Follow us on @paint.a.pot and Paint a Pot Narre Warren 32 AUTUMN 2020

However, before deciding to host a fiver party, you need to consider whether your child will appreciate the concept. How old are they? Are they used to opening up a huge pile of gifts on their birthday? Do they have an understanding of money?

to STAND OUT ?

12442547-JW13-20

Paint a Pot KIDS

please put a $5 note in a birthday card.

Thank-you.”

pressure off parents when it comes to buying gifts. Mums and dads don’t need to spend a small fortune or struggle to come up with a gift idea, while the birthday child gets to put some money towards something they really want.

OPEN 7 DAYS 5 EMBREY COURT PAKENHAM 03 5611 0404 www.mypuzzlehouse.com.au

All ABILITIES Play Centre s Sensory Rooms s Swings s Arts and Crafts s Flying Fox s Foam Pit s Jumping Pillows And much, much more...

12444479-SN13-20

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Education

A new reality CAPTIVATING students attention and interest is a central challenge for all teachers wishing to make a real difference.

Berwick Lodge Primary School students with copies of the augmented reality illustrated story book.

"But, paradoxically, they have also brought frustrating distractions."

few years ago, offers new and exciting pathways to engagement."

The Victorian Department of Education and Training has banned student use of mobile phones during school hours with limited exceptions.So how can schools capture the potential of digital technologies to best engage students in their learning?

"That was then, many years ago, and it remains so now," he said.

"There is certainly no shortage of software available that teachers can access with this intent," Mr Grossek said.

Several years ago, Berwick Lodge Primary School embarked on a journey focused on better engaging kindergarten children in their learning as they transitioned to primary school.

This culminated in the publication of an Augmented Reality (AR) illustrated story book, titled, The Adventures of Harry the Helmeted Honeyeater & Hettie the Forest Keeper late last year.

"Technological advances have delivered wonderful opportunities to enhance student engagement.

"That is only the beginning Immersive Experience STEM Education (IXSTEM) which was non-existent just a

"Building on the success of this initiative, this year we have introduced learning units on creating AR characters

Berwick Lodge Primary School Principal Henry Grossek says this challenge was put to him and his colleagues as they trained to become teachers.

Training changes lives ACCREDITED training provider, bestchance Training, is transforming the lives of Cardinia residents by equipping them for the workforce.

Since opening its doors in Pakenham in 2018, the non-profit organisation has trained 114 students in Early Childhood Education and Care, and Education Support.

Accredited training leads to higher employment rates, economic growth, and social participation.

"One of the things that makes

bestchance Training different is that we work collaboratively with employers to better prepare our students for the workforce," said David Greenwood, General Manager of bestchance Training.

"Our students complete their study with the knowledge, skills and confidence to achieve success and gain employment."

Because of bestchance's strong focus on making their students 'workforce ready', the organisation has a significant record of successful employment outcomes.

Transforming lives ... some of the recent bestchance Training graduates.

According to the organisation's 2018 Annual Report, 78 per cent of surveyed graduates found employment in the Early Years industry - a rate 9 per cent higher than the Victorian average.

"I'm so glad I chose to study with bestchance Training. My trainer was

for our students," Mr Grossek explained.

"Simultaneously we have partnered with Deakin University in a research project on the potential of AR to enhance student engagement in their learning.

"As educators we owe our children our best efforts to provide them with the richest of learning opportunities and having them loving to learn is the bedrock. Why not check us out?"

Berwick Lodge Primary School is located at 145 Mansfield Street, Berwick.

Phone 97071766 or visit www. berwicklodgeps.vic.edu.au

excellent and I even got offered a job after my first placement," said Anuradha Kodithuwakku, a bestchance Training Diploma student.

With further growth predicted in the industries of Early Childhood Education and Care, Education Support and Disability services, undertaking an accredited qualification is a great way to unlock opportunities for a meaningful career. bestchance Training (training organisation identification number 3695), is anAustralian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) registered training organisation.

For more information, visit https:// www.bestchance.org.au/bestchancetraining/

Unlock your inner superhero Study early childhood, disability or education support and make a difference in the lives of children.

Visit bestchance.org.au or call us on 1300 224 644

CHC50113 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care : :јѕііј :ljɨɽȈˎƺƃɽlj Ȉȶ KƃɨȢʰ :ȃȈȢǁȃɁɁǁ KǁʍƺƃɽȈɁȶ ƃȶǁ :ƃɨlj : :јѕїіј :ljɨɽȈˎƺƃɽlj Ȉȶ KǁʍƺƃɽȈɁȶ ČʍɥɥɁɨɽ : :љјііњ :ljɨɽȈˎƺƃɽlj ř Ȉȶ AȈɰƃƹȈȢȈɽʰ

Visit bestchance.org.au TOID 3695 Call 1300 224 644 find out more!

bestchance Training TOID 3695. This training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government Funding. Eligibility criteria applies

12433310-SN13-20

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

AUTUMN 2020 33

Education

The freedom to excel ELISSA Abou Eissa fled war torn Syria with her family. In a remarkable story of perseverance and hard work, Elissa tells of her journey to the top of the VCE rankings with the help and support of the St Francis Xavier community.

I was born and raised in Damascus, Syria. After the war started in my country in 2011, my family decided to move to Australia for safety and a better future. We arrived in Australia in March 2017 after leaving all our loved ones behind.

Moving to Australia without knowing how to speak English was very hard for me, especially that I came at the start of VCE which is a challenge to Australian students themselves.

My first day at St Francis Xavier College was in July 2017. At that time I only knew how to say 'Hi' and 'How are you?' in English and I still remember how stressful it was to understand and speak Australian English and get adapted to the new environment and make new friends. The college community helped me to stay optimistic towards the future despite the early

challenges I was faced with and gave me a sense of belonging the moment I walked into student services on my first day of school.

I used to always get very high grades and was the dux of my school for every year of my schooling in Syria, and that is what put pressure on me as I wanted to keep that up and wanted to do well at school to make myself, my parents and my school proud.

Alongside my determination and willingness to do well and the long hours I spent studying, learning and practicing, my family and my incredible teachers at St Francis Xavier College encouraged me to always do my best and gave me the opportunity to show my strengths.

During my time at St Francis Xavier College, I got multiple awards including an Academic Endeavour Award from school and the Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars Program for high achieving students from the University of Melbourne only two months after I started school at St Francis Xavier College. This allowed me to get to know

Elissa Abou Eissa is congratulated on her academic achievements by St Francis Xavier principal Vincent Feeney.

the university and proved that all of my hard work was starting to pay off. This encouraged me to never give up and to work even harder in order to overcome the different obstacles .

In 2018, I got an Academic Excellence Award for achieving the highest grade in English, mathematical methods and biology. I was also awarded the Premier's VCE award for achieving one of top scores in the state, a score of 47 raw, in VCE Arabic in 2018.

After around one year of arriving to Australia, I wanted to give back to the Australian community that has given me a lot, so I became a volunteer at Monash Health. Being a part of the Monash community gave me the opportunity to interact with patients and help them which I love doing.

The most challenging, yet rewarding, stage of my schooling journey which required a lot of hard work and dedication was completing year 12. I studied very hard throughout the year and scored very high in my year 12 subjects which were English, mathematical methods, specialist mathematics, chemistry and physics.

This allowed me to achieve an ATAR of 97.25 and get into the Bachelor of Biomedicine at the university of my dreams, The University of Melbourne, with a flagship scholarship.

I have come pretty far and I owe it all to the people who never left my side, who believed in me and supported me through it all - my family, my friends and my amazing teachers at St Francis Xavier College.

St Francis Xavier College %HUZLFN 2IILFHU DQG %HDFRQVILHOG

SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE â&#x20AC;˘ Australian FLL Robotics Champions 2013 and Victorian FLL Robotics Champions 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ Radio program and ďŹ lm making â&#x20AC;˘ Student coaching program in wellbeing â&#x20AC;˘ Whole school robotics program â&#x20AC;˘ Whole school LOTE Mandarin program

Kevin Heinze Best School Garden Award 2018 P: 9707 1766 F: 9796 2198

At St Francis Xavier College (Years 7 to 12), we focus on Rá&#x201A;&#x2021;HULQJ D GLá&#x201A;&#x2021;HUHQWLDWHG OHDUQLQJ SURJUDP WR HQDEOH JURZWK IRU DOO VWXGHQWV DV D SDUW RI RXU &DWKROLF LGHQWLW\

E: berwick.lodge.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au www.berwicklodgeps.vic.edu.au 12442732-LB13-20

34 AUTUMN 2020

12441419-NG13-20

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Education

Students safe, happy and respected at St Paul’s LOCATED in Warragul, St Paul's Anglican Grammar School is a place where students are safe, happy and respected.

The pastoral care of students is a focus of each school day.

Understanding the 'whole' child creates greater bonds between staff and students, and St Paul's students are known for their generosity of spirit and show each other the utmost respect and courtesy.

An online survey mapping tool that identifies students who are not feeling connected called 'Trust Mapping' is used in Years 3-9 as a proactive approach in regard to social and emotional issues that typically arise in adolescence and identifies where appropriate support may be required.

The St Paul's Warragul Junior School runs one of the leading primary school STEM programs in the region, having been a finalist for the Best STEM Program in the 2019 Australian Education Awards. In 2019 the school was also on the international stage with two teams

winning their divisions at the Tournament of Minds (TOM) International Finals. In fact St Paul's is the first Victorian school ever to win two primary school divisions at the TOM finals and the first Victorian school since 1994 to win the primary Language Literature division.

At St Paul's a well-rounded education is the key to each student's success. The Junior School has comprehensive art, performing arts, sport and co-curricular programs. There is the Year 2 Strings program, Year 5 Brass and Woodwind program, annual Performing Arts Concert and an annual Musical that includes every Junior School student.

The art program focuses on a specific piece of artwork each term to develop each students' skills and artistic flair providing students with more time to work meticulously on their 'masterpiece'.

The sport and co-curricular programs have an extensive variety of activities for students to participate in from writing to dance, from ski camp to equestrian, there is something for everyone to try.

There is an extensive range of activities for students to participate in.

Currently over 45 students travel to St Paul's from Cardinia Shire on two St Paul's buses that includes a supportive 'buddy' program for the first weeks of a student's travel.

St Paul's invites you to discover why they are recognised as one of Australia's leading regional schools at their Open Day at 150 Bowen Street Warragul on Saturday 9 May between 10am and 2pm.

Why St Paul’s?

OPEN DAY

One of the leading primary school STEM Programs in Gippsland Junior School international champions – 2019 Tournament of Minds International Finals (two categories) Year 2 Strings Program Year 5 Brass and Woodwind Program Extensive Year 5 Program – preparing early for secondary school Comprehensive Year 7 Transition Program Electives from Year 7 New Year 7 Coding Program Elite Sports Performers Program St Paul’s Academy of Music Trust Mapping utilised to ensure every child is safe, happy and respected ATAR over 80: 48% Class of 2019; 44% Class of 2018; 46% Class of 2017 Currently over 45 students travel to St Paul’s from Cardinia Shire on two St Paul’s buses

SATURDAY 9 MAY 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

150 BOWEN STREET, WARRAGUL

|

03 5623 5833

stpaulsags.vic.edu.au 12443483-LB13-20

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

AUTUMN 2020 35

Education

New Rivercrest head

Respect a key school value RESPECT is identified as one of the attitudes promoted as part of the Primary Years Program in the Early Learning Centre at St Margaret's School.

It is also an important school value within the ELC. Defined as a 'due regard for the feelings, wishes or rights of others,' it is essential to support young children to learn and understand what respect looks like.

Initially young children are egocentric, only able to perceive their own needs.

As they begin their ELC journey, they become increasingly able to learn about the rights and feelings of others.

Respect then becomes a way of treating or thinking about ourselves, something, or someone else.

St Margaret's ELC educators support the children to learn about respect as it builds trust, safety and a sense of wellbeing for all.

They closely listen to a child with interest and respond to their questions, comments and stories, they model respect and alert the children to how important it is to take turns to talk and

Students of the Early Learning Centre at St Margaret’s School.

listen to one another.

The reflective and restorative practices at the ELC assists the children to live and play respectfully with one another. Rather than always resolving situations for the children, they are empowered to develop their own techniques and strategies for managing conflict in a respectful manner.

Encouraging the children to assert themselves in a fair and courteous manner enhances their self-respect as they realise that they are capable and competent members of the ELC.

RIVERCREST Christian College welcomes its new Head of College, Ms Christine Lucas.

Christine and her family recently moved from the Australian Capital Territory to Berwick and are loving their new community.

Christine has extensive experience as an educational leader, working in public schools, in both Commonwealth and Territory education departments specialising in teacher quality and school improvement and leadership.

Christine is also has an experience as a school principal in the independent sector.

It’s Christine’s passion for creating evidence based and future focused learning environments that led her to the leadership role at Rivercrest Christian College. She sees Rivercrest as uniquely and specifically designed for preparing young people for a dynamic future, where curriculum is grounded in 21st century thinking, and encompasses a strong Christian worldview through its Christian staff.

Rivercrest students are encouraged to recognise the contribution and responsibility they have locally and beyond to engender greater harmony among the people of the world; to be respectful, compassionate, creative and critical thinkers, who, although prepared to challenge prevailing ideas, are also sensitive and reflective; to communicate effectively and work collaboratively with others.

New Head of College, Ms Christine Lucas.

The Primary Campus caters for students from 3 years-of-age (in the Early Learning Centre) to Year 5. The Middle Years Campus currently caters for students in Years 6 and 7, and additional year levels will open every year, catering eventually for students in Year 6-10. The Senior Years will incorporate Years 11 and 12.

All families are invited to the upcoming Rivercrest Christian College Open School morning on Tuesday 25 February. Take the opportunity to see the college and to explore a school that will serve the needs of your children, both now and for the future.

School

in Action

Tuesday 5 May Thursday 7 May

Berwick Campus - Senior Girls and coeducational ELC to Year 6.

Officer Campus - Senior Boys

12437061-JW13-20

Bookings essential at www.stmargarets.vic.edu.au

12442863-LB13-20

We welcome you to visit and discover the extraordinary opportunities on offer from ELC to Year 12.

Rivercrest

Middle Years Information Night Wednesday, 6 May from 6:45pm Learn about the Rivercrest new Middle Years (Years 6-10) and hear about our plans for the Diploma Programme (Years 11 & 12), scheduled for 2024 with Ms Christine Lucas, Head of College and Mr Brendan Kelly, Crest Executive Principal.

Rivercrest is an International Baccalaureate College - we are currently a candidat school for the Middle Years Programme and will soon commence candidacy for the Diploma Programme.

rivercrest.vic.edu.au 36 AUTUMN 2020

GATE 6, FERDINAND DRIVE CLYDE NORTH www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Education

The Chairo Christian School campus located between Pakenham and Nar Nar Goon.

Maria and Janette with some of their young charges at Kool Kidz Narre Warren.

Milestone celebration KOOL Kidz Childcare Centre in Narre Warren is celebrating its first birthday after a hectic year which has seen the centre grow and expand as more and more families discover the care and passion of mother and daughter owners, Janette Karavatis and Maria Dimoulas.

Both women love children and realised a long held dream when the doors of Kool Kidz Narre Warren opened in February 2019.

Maria has a degree in early childhood education and a post graduate qualification in teaching children with special needs.

receive," Janette said.

Janette has also worked in childcare for more than a decade.

"We are a family run business, looking after your family," said Janette, who encourages parents to pop in for a tour of the centre.

Kool Kidz Narre Warren has capacity for 130 children.

Janette and Maria looked at various childcare models before settling on Kool Kidz.

"The standards are so high in terms of the curriculum and the support we

Proudly celebrating our First Birthday.

"Maria and I both love children and, as we have a passion for this area, we want to give our best to the community."

A caring learning campus STUDENTS at Chairo Christian School love being part of a caring kinder to Year 12 school community on a beautiful campus with excellent facilities located between Pakenham and Nar Nar Goon.

Having commenced in 1998 with just 19 students in one class of Prep to Year 4 students, students are now able to start as kinder kids and remain on the same campus for their entire schooling journey, potentially all the way to Year 12.

Families are invited to visit us on

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We would like to thank our community for their support.

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Enrol now for 2020

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CARING & FAMILY FRIENDLY

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Phone 9705 1532 to speak with Janette or Maria to ENROL NOW 17 Cranbourne Road, Narre Warren www.koolkidznarrewarren.com.au www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

12443107-DL13-20

Kool Kidz Narre Warren is a purpose-built Early Learning, Childcare and Kindergarten facility that provides a safe, fun and exciting environment to explore, learn and grow in for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years.

Learning That Lasts a Lifetime YYY EJCKTQ XKE GFW CW 12442386-RC13-20

AUTUMN 2020 37

Education

Celebrating 50 years in education at Maranatha MARANATHA Christian School has been helping students discover and develop their God-given gifts, abilities and character for 50 years.

seen our ELC achieve the highest rating possible and we couldn't be more delighted."

Maranatha also has exceptional sporting and performing arts facilities.

Their current curriculum caters for Early Learning Centre (ELC) to Year 6, but that is set to expand over the coming years.

The main oval is comparable to the size of the MCG and the school boasts a number of other playing fields.

Maranatha Christian School was originally founded in Doveton. They then expanded to Endeavour Hills and in 2006 they opened in Officer.

Their performing arts centre was built to include great acoustics, which lends itself to a professional theatre experience.

Jenny Rus, Head of Site and Deputy Principal said the entire school was looking forward to ongoing celebrations throughout the year.

"We are committed to continuous improvement which enables our students to flourish academically," Ms Rus said.

"From an academic perspective, we are extremely proud that our DUX received a 99.85 ATAR which is a significant achievement, with 80% of students placed in the top half of the state," Ms Rus said.

The student leadership team at Officer's Maranatha Christian School.

"Preparing students for this kind of success starts at ELC and primary school

As part of this planned expansion, Jenny Rus, has transitioned from Maranatha's Doveton Site, where she was the Head of Site for four years.

and at their best," she said.

Exceeding National Quality Standards.

"We invest in our teachers and their personal development as we believe that learning is a lifelong skill."

"This rating is a wonderful reflection of the high quality learning programs at Maranatha." She said.

Jenny is an exceptional leader whose gifts were recently recognised, being selected as a finalist in the National Excellence in Teaching Awards.

Maranatha Early Learning Centre recently underwent a detailed National Quality Assessment and Rating visit by the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) and once again received a rating of

"It is fantastic to receive this recognition and a privilege to be part of a professional team with high expectations and standards. Our early learning programs and exceptional emphasis to early year's education has

"We have a strong focus on teacher training so they can be well equipped

Li

ttle

All in all, Maranatha Christian School is passionate about helping your child excel in all areas of their life, from ELC to Year 12.

Maranatha Christian School is located on Rix Road, Officer.

For enrolment enquiries please call: Janet De Jong 9709 7217 Marantha.vic. edu.au

F i s h T ales

Tuesdays from 9.15 - 10.15 am

Saturday 21 March 10am-2pm Friday 1 May 10am-12pm Friday 31 July 10am-12pm Friday 9 October 10am-12pm

Songs Stories

Rhymes

12442542-DL13-20

2020 Open Days

Come and join the fun in the library during school term.

Free community program open to all families with children from 0-5 years old.s old

Craft

Passionate about student wellbeing and academic growth ELC â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Year 12

Doveton Endeavour Hills Officer Book a tour online maranatha.vic.edu.au 38 AUTUMN 2020

Officer 62 Rix Road Officer 9709 7310

Doveton 146 Kidds Road Doveton 9709 7350

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Education

EARLY DEVELOPMENT is fundamental to the GROWTH of your child

A passion for early learning

CANBERRA AVENUE CHILD CARE AND KINDER

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Briony Batchelor is a prep teacher at Beaconsfield Primary School.

creativity, collaboration and connectedness.

As a prep team member at Beaconsfield, Briony exudes the optimism and joy that abounds when children are engaged with their learning. This self-motivated team of teachers is grateful for the opportunity to work with you and your child and their collective efforts have created a lovely learning community where preps are cared for, valued and loved.

Every child deserves a teacher who is passionate about learning and at Beaconsfield they are proud of every teacher!

12444002-SN13-20

WITH 17 years' experience as a prep teacher at Beaconsfield and as a former kindergarten teacher herself, Briony Batchelor from Beaconsfield has a complete understanding of pre-school to prep transition.

Briony is a passionate early years champion whose friendships and close links to local early years educators ensures that your child develops the same sense of connection to Beaconsfield Primary that they enjoyed with their kinder.

Beacy Prep teachers will work with you to support your child develop a sense of belonging in their prep group; a step fundamental to their welfare.

Briony champions early years learning, working with the team to develop the learning and potential of each child.

Early years literacy and numeracy are important; but social and emotional learning and development is vital too.

The most important learning that occurs in prep however is the communication and language skills developed in the prep year as these underpin and support all elements of childhood development and support

Age 0-5 Years Funded Kindergarten Programs Before and After School Care

CONTACT US NOW Phone: 03 9791 2272 E-mail: admin@canberraavenue.com.au www.canberraavenue.com.au Opening hours: Monday to Friday 6.30am to 6pm

- GƌĞĂƚ ƌĞůĂƟŽŶƐŚŝƉƐ ǁŝƚŚ ŽƵƌ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ĂŶĚ ĨĂŵŝůŝĞƐ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ĞĂĐLJ ǁĂLJ͘ - ǀĞƌLJ ĐŚŝůĚ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ďĞ ůŽǀĞĚ ĂŶĚ ĂĐĐĞƉƚĞĚ ĨŽƌ ǁŚŽ ƚŚĞLJ ĂƌĞ͕ ǁĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƚĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚŚĞŵ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĚŝǀĞƌƐĞ ŶĞĞĚƐ ĂŶĚ ĂďŝůŝƟĞƐ͘

Igniting the mind & spirit...

Ͳ ǀĞƌLJ ĐŚŝůĚ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ďĞ ƚĂƵŐŚƚ ďLJ ƚĞĂĐŚĞƌƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƉĂƐƐŝŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŵŵŝƚŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞĚ ƚŽ ƌĞĂĐŚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƉŽƚĞŶƟĂů͘

Preparing students for a bright future

DĞĞƚ ƵƐ Ăƚ KƉĞŶ ĂLJ DĂLJ ϵƚŚ ϭϬ͗ϬϬĂŵ Ͳ ϭϮ͗ϬϬĂŵ ŶƌŽůŵĞŶƚƐ ŽƉĞŶ ŝŶ dĞƌŵ Ϯ WŚŽŶĞ ϵϳϬϳ ϭϱϭϬ ƚŽ Ŭ Ă ƚŽƵƌ͊ Ŷƌ͘ >LJůĞ ǀĞ Θ WƌŝŶĐĞƐ ,ǁLJ͕ ĞĂĐŽŶƐĮĞůĚ͘ tĞďƐŝƚĞ͗ ǁǁǁ͘ďĞĂĐŽŶƐĮĞůĚ͘ǀŝĐ͘ĞĚƵ͘ĂƵ

Call to book a tour

9700 6068 www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

12442745-DL13-20

Enrol now for 2021-2022

12442729-JW13-20

AUTUMN 2020 39

Education

Beautiful new centre just opened IT is not just the children who have permanent smiles on their faces at Story House Early Learning in Noble Park, but it is also the team of educators The brand new, purpose built childcare service opened last month on 17 February and educators, families and children have already formed bonds and a sense of belonging.

Chauntelle Keane, manager of the brand new childcare service says that she loves the support and the sense of connectedness at Story House.

"The company promotes being connected with each other. We really work together and focus on what is best for the children and the families."Story House in Noble Park prides itself on its natural environment with soft tones and lots of natural light. It has five spacious rooms for children aged 6 week old babies right up to the kinder group for children getting ready for school.

The children can enjoy many engaging activities throughout the day.

Apart from outside play, they also enjoy wind down time with Yoga and meditation which helps them support their needs for rest and relaxation. The outside play area provides fun opportunities for exploring and has plenty of shade. The children are loving the outside yard.

"They love the sense of freedom to

run around and play," says Chauntelle.

"Children play together in a multiaged learning opportunities with staff in outdoor spaces. They learn and grow and understand patience, empathy and sympathy."

The room doors are open to the outside most of the time allowing an 'indoor-outdoor flow'. The children also enjoy the sandpit and watering the veggie gardens. The onsite cook prepares fresh meals daily.

"We have children with religious beliefs, dietary and medical needs which we happily integrate in the menu."

The services educators are culturally diverse and speak multiple languages.

Currently, educators are able to communicate in French, Punjabi, Malaysian as well as AusLan. As the service grows, more educators from diverse backgrounds will be employed and languages will be taught along as part of learning framework.

Educators encourage outdoor time with the children.

"We really support mothers who are still breastfeeding, so they can use this space," says Chauntelle.

"Within our service, we offer an extensive orientation process.

"Two bachelor qualified educators provide access to kinder programs for children, to support their school readiness," says Chauntelle.

Working mothers can come to the service in their breaks, feed their babies and put the them to bed, allowing the feelings of connection to be maintained.

The room is also a place to relax or make a call before pick-up.

"Normally families are only allowed to have one or two sessions to settle their child in (at other services), whereas we have an unlimited amount. Families need it as well, because if a family is still feeling anxious, then that will rub off and transfer onto the child," explains Chauntelle.

A unique feature of this new childcare service is the Parent's Room allowing mothers to breastfeed their babies not only before drop off but also during the day.

"Families often use this as a place to chill and wait and see that their children are settled," says Chauntelle who explains that there is no pressure on settling in to the centre.

"We are here to support and guide each family individually and this starts right from the very beginning during the orientation and familiarisation process."

/($51,1* :+,/( 0$.,1* 0(025,(6 Â&#x2021; 1XWULWLRXV meals Â&#x2021; ,QGLYLGXDOLVHG OHDUQLQJ SURJUDPV Â&#x2021; 4XDOLĂ&#x20AC; HG DQG H[SHULHQFHG HGXFDWRUV Â&#x2021; 7DLORUHG OHDUQLQJ DQG FXUULFXOXP IRU HDFK DJH Â&#x2021; 6DIH H[FLWLQJ DQG IXQ OHDUQLQJ HQYLURQPHQWV Â&#x2021; ,QGRRU DQG RXWGRRU SOD\ EDVHG H[SHULHQFHV

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61-63 Chandler Rd Noble Park VIC 3174 Phone 1300 786 794 noblepark@shel.edu.au

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40 AUTUMN 2020

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Education

A STEM Education

Week VICTORIA'S 76th annual Education Week will celebrate STEM.

Splash into safety

All government schools are encouraged to join Education Week celebrations, opening their doors to showcase how they are using STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) to help students thrive and gain critical skills for the future.

Not-for-profit groups have also been invited to apply for grants to host science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) themed activities throughout the week, which runs from Sunday 17 to Saturday 23 May.

Every child has the right to be safe in the water.

SPLASH'S Learn to Swim believes that every child deserves the right to be safe and skilled in the water.

Offering swim programs for infants (beginning from three months), toddlers, children and adults, Splash's focuses on developing swimming techniques and teaching swim survival skills.

Program Leaders Laura Sim and Morgan Delaney have a combined 25 years of experience in swim education.

"Our pool is a 'state of the art' purposebuilt facility, featuring ultraviolet filtration and is specifically designed to suit children's individual learning needs," Laura said.

for yourself. Book a free trial class," Morgan said.

"Swim classes are conducted in "crystal clear, 32.5 degrees, highly sanitised" water that has no 'chlorine smell' and is gentle on skin."

"Our parents and babies program will significantly improve babies aquatic skills and survival potential whilst providing a fun and warm environment for them to learn in."

Staff are highly trained, caring and all swim teachers instruct in the same manner.

"Our staff have a passion for swim education - helping children improve their swimming and survival skills while engaging with the children ... come see

Splash's Learn to swim have a skill-intensive holiday program available these school holidays for only $60. For more information, contact the centre.

Splash's Berwick is located at 60 Kangan Drive Berwick. For more information, phone 9707 5922 or find them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/ splashslearntoswimberwick/ or at www.splashs.com.au

Activities may include interactive workshops, exhibitions, competitions, tours, open days, online or digital STEM programs, presentations and outreach programs.

"This year's Education Week celebrates the role of the school and the community in inspiring Victorian students from Prep to Year 12 to engage with STEM and be learners for life," Minister for Education James Merlino said.

For more information and to learn more about Education Week visit www.education.vic.gov.au/ educationweek

Together, we can achieve your child’s goals.

FOR YOUR FREE INTRODUCTORY LESSON

NEW Scope centres are in Pakenham, Narre Warren and Lyndhurst

Splash’s Features s %XPERIENCED #ARING 4EACHERS s METRE (EATED )NDOOR 0OOL s 3MALL #LASS 3IZES s !IR #ONDITIONED 6IEWING !REA s #AFE 0LAYGROUND 60 Kangan Drive, Berwick, Vic 3806 Ph:

9707 5922

Splash’s Features s )NFANT 0ROGRAM s 0RE 3CHOOL 0ROGRAM s 3CHOOL !GE 0ROGRAM s 3QUAD s )NTENSIVE (OLIDAY 0ROGRAM 137 Stud Road, Dandenong North Ph: 9792

5461

www.splashs.com.au

3'

We provide lessons in a supportive learning environment with the focus on promoting water safety and developing excellent stroke technique.

Scope’s new purpose built therapy centres provide a dedicated space that is safe, family friendly and conveniently located in your community. Our team of experienced therapists are there to work with you to support your child’s development and achieve their goals.

Services provided: • Speech Therapy • Occupational Therapy • Physiotherapy • Psychology Get in touch 1300 472 673

• School Holiday group therapy programmes • Parent Education Sessions

scopeaust.org.au/therapy-centres

12426325-LN38-19

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

AUTUMN 2020 41

Education

Ten steps to get the kids to school on time

By Julie Cliff IF you have school age kids you will have no doubt spent hours in the mornings yelling "hurry up, where are your shoes, clean your teeth faster, turn off the telly, hurry up (again)" and racing out to the car and swearing at the traffic.

But it doesn't have to be like this.

Follow these 10 steps to get to school on time with less stress and less shouting!

Research 1. Know how long it takes everyone to get ready: Even if the kids have been at school for years, do a dry-run on the weekend, and time each stage shower, dressing, breakfast, pack bag.

Also time how long it takes you to drive to school, park the car and walk to the classroom. Once you know this information you can plot out your morning. The most important times being the time your alarm goes off and

the time you walk out the door. Stick to these times and you will rarely be late again!

After School 2. Unpack school bags: Each afternoon the kids need to unpack their bags as soon as they walk in the door. Put lunchbox on sink to be washed out (or straight into the dishwasher, or better still, get them to wipe it out and put it away for the next day). School work, diary and take home books put in a dedicated spot.

Before bed 3. Kids to shower: Save arguments over wasted water, knotted hair and shampoo in the eyes by getting the kids to have their shower in the evening.

4. Prepare clothes: Get all school clothes out and lay on bed. Ensure shoes are under the bed (there are few things worse than looking for shoes as you are trying to get out the door in the

Getting the kids to school on time is no easy task!

morning). Add underwear, socks and hair accessories.

(breakfast, get dressed, pack bag, etc) before they are allowed free-time.

5. Pack lunches (or at least non perishable): Add as much to the lunch as you can the night before. In theory, you certainly can pack the whole lunch including sandwiches and put them in the fridge overnight. At least spend some time on the weekend cutting up fruit - this will keep for at least three days, longer for some fruit.

9. Time to go: Know the time you need to head out the door to the car and set an alarm in your phone with a five minute warning.

6. Set the table for breakfast: Decide what's for breakfast the night before and get out plates, bowls, spoons etc along with cereal or bread.

7. Set an alarm: Parents have great success giving ownership to the kids here. Give them an alarm clock, let them figure out how to set the alarm and leave them to get up when it goes off in the morning.

In the morning 8. Checklist: Create a checklist and ensure kids tick off all their 'jobs'

10. Parents/caregivers: Follow all of the above for yourself so that you aren't the one holding things up in the morning!

Next steps?

Following at least a few of these 10 steps will drastically change how your school mornings run.

Julie Cliff is a Professional Organiser at Space and Time which helps busy working mothers live easier, far less stressful lives through simple, easy to implement organising systems to clear the clutter - both mentally and physically. Sound familiar? Julie would love to hear from you via info@ spaceandtime.com.au

Clyde North Opening April All new enrolments receive 4 weeks free care*

Book a tour now geniusELC.org 1300 955 540 Level 1/800 Berwick-Cranbourne Rd Clyde North *This offer is for a limited time, pro-rated on permanent days booked, minimum of two full time days, cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer and will be applied once a month of fully paid care has been completed. This offer cannot be redeemed for cash or vouchers. Offer for new customers only.

12444193-LB13-20

42 AUTUMN 2020

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Entertainment

Skate into Bunjil BUNJIL Place is the place to be for fun over the autumn months.There's Rollerama plus a number of fun, family shows that are sure to keep mum, dad, the kids and even the grandparents happy.

Delicious meals available at the cafe.

Fresh produce at the farm

ROLLERAMA Get your skates on! This school holidays the 80s are returning to the Bunjil Place Plaza and we are hosting a totally tubular rollerskating rink!

Friday 27 March until Sunday 5 April 2020. See website for full session times.

THE GRUFFALO'S CHILD See this classic children's tale come to life on stage in a magical performance.

If the kids loved The Gruffalo, then they'll be equally excited about the next instalment.

Join the Gruffalo's Child on her adventurous mission in this musical adaption of the much-loved picture book

by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler.

■ Thursday 19 March & Friday 20 March ■ Thursday: 6.30pm ■ Friday: 10.30am (relaxed performance, 55 minutes) ■ All Tickets $16

GIGGLE & HOOT - LIVE IN CONCERT

Get your skates on at Bunjil Place this autumn.

state of the art tech, the production not only defies the laws of physics, but blurs the boundaries of various artistic genres, to deliver a unique and astounding experience.

■ Theatre Performance: 6.30pm Tuesday 7 & 11am Wednesday 8 April ■ Tuesday 7 April 2020: 1pm - Juggling Workshop, 2.30pm - Trampoline Masterclass ■ Wednesday 8 April: 1.30pm - DJ Masterclass, 1.30pm - Hand Balancing Workshop Circuit Theatre performance ■ All tickets $16 ■ Masterclasses $18 each ■ Workshops $5 each

SPLASH TEST DUMMIES

Brace yourselves Owl Pals... Giggle and Hoot are coming to our place.

Rub-a- dub-dub, The Dummies are back with some splish-splashing circus set to drown you in tears of laughter.

Sing, stomp and roar to all your favourite songs, from The Gigglemobile to Go Giggleosaurus and many more. Hoot hoot!

From the makers of hit show Trash Test Dummies comes a new production of oceanic proportions!

■ Thursday 2 April, 10am (60 minutes)

Splash Test Dummies are coming to Bunjil Place and they're ready to roll out their beach towels and spring into a brand new hour of circus-filled hilarity for the whole family. Friday 3 & Saturday 4 April, 2pm (Fri) and 11am (Sat). Show runs for 60 minutes

■ All tickets $35.50

■ All tickets $16

■ Live Nation is proud to donate $1 from every ticket sold to a Bushfire Relief Charity.

■ Recommended for families with children aged 5-12 years.

Jimmy Giggle (played by Jimmy Rees) and his Owl Pals Hoot and Hootabelle are thrilled to be able to taking their smash hit show around the country.

CIRCUIT Circuit is a heart-stopping, jaw-dropping, mind-blowing, awe-inspiring performance that will draw you in and take you on the ultimate journey exploring circus and circuitry.

Showcasing incredible feats, fused with

■ Children under the age of 2 years do not require a ticket if seated on the lap of their carer.

■ Prams are not permitted in the Theatre.

■ Please note: Service fees may apply to tickets sent via email ($1.95) and mail ($4).

A True

“Paddock to Plate” Experience

'Pick-Your-Own' Strawberry field. Kids will love picking strawberries from the 1km of waist-high picking rows that provide easy picking for young and old.

They will also love the ambience of the working farm and see the free-range chickens and pigs.

Before you head home, take a break at the cafe where everything on the menu is hand made on the premises, including cakes, breads, condiments and sauces as well as the Angus Beef and smoked meat products. You will find delicious farm style breakfast choices, platters and other homemade treats.

The Produce Store is located at 2185 Dalyston-Glen Forbes Rd, Glen Forbes.

It's open from 9am- 5pm, the cafe from 9am-3pm on Wednesday to Sunday.

Fresh & Fruity Family Fun This Autumn /0%. %6%29$!9 !- 0-

7E HAVE 5 0ICK &RUIT !,, 9EAR s FRUIT TASTING ADVENTURE TOURS

Ride around the farm behind the tractor a covered trailer - discover a new fruit, sample tasty fruit in season, Pick your own fruit straight from the tree. Suitable for ALL ages, eat as much as you like taste at least 8 fruit varieties.

Tour duration - 1 hour.

No bookings required s */). 53 !4 0%!#( #!&% &/2 ,5.#( Visit our farm cafe and check out our latest range of Jams, chutneys, preserved fruit & fruit leathers.

We take pride in being able to grow & «À Û `iÊ ÕÀÊ Ü Ê Þ`À « VÊÛi}iÌ>L iÃÊEÊ herbs, raise and look after our free-range pigs EÊLiivÊV>ÌÌ i]Ê> `ÊÃ ÕÀViÊ> Ê Ì iÀÊ }Ài` i ÌÃÊvÀ Ê µÕ> ÌÞÊ V> Êv>À iÀÃt

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Visit our fruit plant nursery located on the farm stocking 100’s of fruiting plants, specialising in dwarf varieties.

The Produce Store and Pick your own Strawberries are open Wednesday – Sunday 9 am to 5 pm The Café is open Wednesday – Sunday 9 am to 3 pm

AT the end of a long, picturesque driveway on Macca's Farm, nestled next to the strawberry fields, you will find The Produce Store, overflowing with an abundance of farm fresh goodness.

Here you can find locally sourced Gippsland cheeses, jams, honey, potatoes, fruit, garlic and farm fresh hydroponic vegetables. The farm is home to grass-fed, free-range WessexSaddleback pigs and Angus Beef cattle, all raised without hormones and antibiotics. Macca's Farm employs its own full-time butcher and make their own range of smoked products. These delicacies can be enjoyed at the farm's paddock to plate cafe and are on sale at The Produce Store.

While you are stocking up your larder, make sure you pick yourself a bounty of fresh strawberries at the

2185 Dalyston-Glen on-Glen Forbes Rd, Grantville (Just 10 minutes from Phillip Island) ph 0437 367 622ÊUÊ ÌÌ«Ã\ÉÉ >VV>Ãv>À °V °>Õ

5964 7654 60 Schoolhouse Rd, Woori Yallock 3139

12435819-FA13-20

Thirty minute sessions includes skate hire: $7 per person, $25 for groups of four.

www.raynersorchard.com.au

1244439-JW12-20

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

AUTUMN 2020 43

Phillip Island

Circuit offers non-stop fun PHILLIP Island Grand Prix Circuit is the destination for the whole family, with many hours of entertainment and enjoyment on offer.

Go Karts and Tandems Strap yourself into the state-of-the-art Sodi Go Karts for an exhilarating session on the 750m replica of the circuit. Push out a series of hot laps and try to set the fastest time.

The Slot Cars offer great fun for all ages.

S

EPELE FRAM

For the little ones,Tandem Karts equipped with dual controls enable a full interactive karting experience.

MotoGP Motorcycle Collection The circuit has a superb private collection of 25 grand prix winning motorcycles from the famous Italian marques, Aprilia and Cagiva, with the two-wheel treasures permanently installed as the star exhibit in the History of Motorsport Display.

Slot Cars Race your family or your mates and experience the fun on Australia's largest four-lane GP Slot Car Track an exact replica of the circuit.

Simulator Race Centre

Café • Retail • Tours Open 7 days a week

Guided Circuit Tours Follow in the footsteps of racing superstars on a daily guided circuit tour featuring a MotoGP sound simulation and access to exclusive and restricted areas such as the control tower, media centre, pit roof, and that 'hero' photo opportunity on the winner's podium.

Champions' Bar and Licenced Cafe After all the excitement, Champion's Bar & Cafe delivers with its fresh menu.

Fantastic coffee and delicious scones, cakes, slices, muffins, pastries, sausage rolls and pies hit the spot.The gift shop at the Visitor Centre has a wide selection of stylish apparel, merchandise and souvenirs to choose from so you can take a memento home.

For more information, phone 59 529 400 or visit: www.phillipislandcircuit. com.au

1215241-KK6-16

Test your skills or challenge your mates

to a simulated race on the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. Go flat out down Gardner Straight, through ultra-fast Doohan Corner, slide through Stoner, thread your way through Siberia and slip stream up the back straight. Watch out for the hairpin at the bottom of Lukey heights. Who will get the bragging rights?

www.pannys.com.au

Line up for some fun at the Phillip Island GP circuit.

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44 AUTUMN 2020

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Phillip Island

Easter fun for the whole family PHILLIP Island is only an hour down the road, so why not pop the kids in the car these school holidays and check out everything the island has to offer?

There's so much to do, you might want to stay for more than just a day.

Now into its eleventh year, the ever-popular Easter Fun Festival promises two fun-filled days of family favourite activities, demonstrations, and entertainment at Churchill Island on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 April.

See the much-loved working horses at the farm, courtesy of the Victorian Heritage Draught Horse Club, perhaps make your own toy with the Wonthaggi Woodcrafters, or step into yesteryear with a wonderful display of vintage cars and caravans.

Kids will have plenty to keep them busy with lawn and garden games, Jenga, noughts and crosses, table tennis, and some old time games as well.

Nature Parks Rangers will also have plenty of fun art and craft activities on offer. And there's a bunch of traditional hands-on farming activities and demonstrations including scheduled tractor rides, cow milking, sheep shearing, working dogs and whip cracking.

Of course, no Easter Festival would be complete without an Easter Egg Hunt on

Easter fun ... the event includes an egg hunt.

Sunday morning, so bring the kids to join in the age-grouped hunting sessions which take place every 10 minutes between 10am and 1pm.

Come along and spend the weekend having some good old-fashioned family fun, bring a picnic or sample some fare from the many food stalls providing a variety of culinary options.

Festival entry is included with a Churchill Island ticket, or 4 Parks Pass which includes entry to the Penguin Parade, Antarctic Journey at the Nobbies, Koala Conservation Reserve, and Churchill Island.

Meet the much-loved working horses at the farm.

CHURCHILL ISLAND

EASTER FUN FESTIVAL

FESTIVAL ENTRY included with Churchill Island ticket or a 4 Parks Pass*

E g g r h e unt! t s a E y a d Sumn- 1pm

10a

12437147-JW13-20

11 & 12 APRIL 10am to 4pm

• Wonthaggi Woodcrafters

• Vintage cars & caravans

• Heritage draught horses

• Food stalls

• Wagon rides

• Live music

• Lawn games

• And much more…

*A Nature Parks 4 Parks Pass includes entry to the Penguin Parade, Antarctic Journey, Koala Conservation Reserve, and Churchill Island

www.penguins.org.au/events www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

AUTUMN 2020 45

Reality Bites

Travelling with kids

By Eliza Henry-Jones IF you're a frequent traveller, chances are you've spent a leg of a plane journey listening to the screaming of a young child.

The one thing worse? Being the parent trying to keep them happy and calm.

Three months out from my first long-haul flight with my not-quite-two year old, I'm feeling pretty terrified. I turned to other parents to get the scoop on what I have in store for me.

"It's a special kind of hell," one of my best friends tells me. "But you get through it. Sort of."

Feeling less than heartened, I turned to Twitter for advice.

People were generous with their

suggestions. Advice included breaking biscuits up into teenie, tiny pieces to keep little fingers occupied. New books and toys. More nappies and milk than you'll think you need. Changes of clothes for the small one and yourself.

Crayons and paper. Lots of snacks. And did I mention snacks?

Medication was a bit more contentious. While some people had had positive experiences slipping their distressed child a small amount of prescribed medication such as Benadryl to keep them calm, other people were not comfortable using medication. Some people talked about the medication having the opposite effect than intended. Horrifyingly, these meds may, in fact, hype children up.

"If you decide to get meds, try them at home before the flight," another friend

BORN

TO PERFORM

Travelling with kids can be a challenge.

recommends to me, very darkly, after seeing my Twitter thread. "That was the worst 10 hours of my life."

I hear stories about vomiting, exploding nappies, jetlag, sore eardrums and parents being in excruciating pain after contorting strangely in order to keep their baby comfortable.

Another person said that the best thing anyone can do on a long haul flight is to make sure that their baby is cute.

I don't feel prepared. But I'm learning pretty quickly that that's motherhood and that the only thing you can really do is to take things as they come.

O'GRADY DRAMA

CATHY-LEA MUSIC DRAMA WORKS

O'Grady Drama do not just teach drama, they teach life. Through the skills learnt in their acting classes, children are given the tools to help them navigate life both now and into the future.

These life skills are woven through their drama curriculum as they learn techniques that over time, ensuring that students have a strong platform to negotiate any type of presentation or performance.

Classes focus on voice and movement. Each lesson is carefully planned and includes components such as speech practice, verbal dynamics, creative movement and mimes to music. Children also learn dramatic and role playing, improvising, interpreting scripts and more advanced 'tricks of the trade' as they progress.

O'Grady Drama classes help build children's confidence, communication skills and emotional health. Children are encouraged to find their own identity in a non-competitive environment where they feel safe and supported. Classes are all about inclusion and energy - there is no right or wrong.

You can be confident that O'Grady Drama know their craft. For over 40 years, O'Grady Drama have been teaching children, running in 40 countries. They provide the world's foremost developmental drama program for children aged between 5-18 (and onwards). Classes are held in Pakenham, Berwick, Endeavour Hills and Rowville. For more information, visit www. ogradydrama.com.au.

Cathy-Lea has been teaching children performing art skill since 1991. Class choices include Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary Dance, Hip Hop, Drama, Singing, Musical Theatre and Instrumental Music. Over the past 30 years, thousands of Cathy-Lea students have gained confidence, co-ordination, fitness and friendships and scores of graduates have moved into performing arts careers, with many now performing professionally in Australia and overseas.

The school is renowned for its high standards, disciplined classes, and an extensive performing arts curriculum. Children can join fun recreational dance classes that are perfect for building confidence, fun and fitness. They can also choose to extend themselves in The Elite Training Program, available for motivated and talented students.

Each year, over a hundred young students engage in this program, where they experience the highest standards of performance training from professional performing artists, master teachers and coaches.

For pre-schoolers, Cathy-Lea is excited to announce, "Ready Set Ballet". This will complement the existing "Ready Set Dance" program which teaches children confidence, co-ordination and creativity and is featured on the TV channel on Nick Jnr. Cathy-Lea has close to 150 classes per week on offer in Dance, Music and Drama. For more information, visit www.cathy-lea.com.

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we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just teach drama, we teach life

46 AUTUMN 2020

0407 710 335 ogradydrama.com.au 12444093-JW13-20

melbourneoutersoutheast@ogradydrama.com.au

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Reality Bites

Why I’ll only have two children

By Melissa Meehan I always wanted to be a mum.

For me it was something I felt I was born to do.

I've been blessed with two beautiful girls and it's everything I ever wanted.

But how do you know when you're done having kids?

For me. The decision was easy.

Before I met my husband I always wanted three. He wanted one.

So we agreed on two, and I always thought I'd be able to twist his arm for a third.

But after giving birth to my second daughter in August - I know for sure that I'm done.

Full house ... how do you know when you've finished adding to your family?

How to know you’re ’done’ having children

By Danielle Galvin FOR some parents, the decision on how many children to have is an agonising one, very often a source of great conflict.

When one parent wants just one more, and the other is adamant to be ’done’ having children.

Perhaps the discussion has changed over the years, and one party is left frustrated, scared, resentful.

For others, the decision appears easy.

Career progression, financial burdens and many other factors come into play, and both parents are on the same page.

But what about when the decision doesn’t seem so black and white?

Regardless, it’s an intensely personal one to make.

Ann Davidman is a renowned marriage and family therapist based in Oaklands, California who helps couples and mums decide if they want children in the first place.

She describes herself as a Motherhood Clarity Mentor and says regardless of whether the woman is a mother already or not, deciding to have another child, involves the same process.

Her advice is for women to start by setting aside what she calls the “external factors” clouding your judgement - whether that’s age, finances or even concerns about the

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

world you’re bringing your child into.

“If you’re focussed on those factors, there’s no way to figure out what you want,” she said.

“That’s part of the process, identifying all those externals that pull at your psyche and put them aside.

“Figure out what’s in your heart, what you really want for you.”

She hastens to add that someone may want three children, but decide to have one or two because of certain conditions in their lives.

But it’s important to recognise that desire in a tangible way.

“When a couple already has a child and they are trying to figure out have a second, I don’t think you can have a conversation around what are the pros and cons, and how this will impact the child we already have,” she said.

“That is an important conversation but the timing of that conversation needs to come after both of those people have gone to their own corners, and looked inside and (thought about) really what do I want just for me?

“When they each have that clarity, they need to share that with each other, not convince each other of how they each feel, but so each person can hold and honour what the other person feels and what they want.

“When both people feel like the other person really gets where they are at, then you can talk about what are the

conditions or what would have to happen so we both are happy.”

Ms Davidman says the process doesn’t need to drag out, even though for many couples the battle is ongoing.

“There are people who are one of three siblings, so in their mind they should have three children, so that’s more about a projection,” she said.

Her advice is to know why you have made the decision - to stop having kids, or to try for another.

“I have a strong opinion, that if people know why they are making a decision, whatever that decision is, they will be much happier down the road,” she said.

When either parent remarks that they are “so done” it can mean different things for different people.

“The subtext of ‘I’m done’ can be either I’m done, I can’t take it anymore, I’m so exhausted, it can be reactive,” she explained.

“But it can also be a from a place of clarity, as much as I wanted another, I am done procreating, I am happy with the one or two children I have I want to give them everything I have, I don’t want to raise another child.”

To find out more, visit https://www. motherhoodisitforme.com/.

Ms Davidman has also released a book with Denise L. Carlini, called Motherhood - Is It For Me? Your Step-byStep Guide to Clarity.

I always marvelled at the female body. How a woman could be growing a baby while still living her normal life, beaming with that pregnancy glow.

I never experienced that glow the closest I got to it was working up a sweat while heaving into the nearest toilet bowl.

And let me tell you. I vomited a lot - right through both pregnancies. The second was way worse than the first (despite ALL of the medication).

Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) is a severe type of morning sickness that causes constant vomiting, nausea and dehydration.

This meant I vomited numerous times every day that I was pregnant.

It was bad with my first but my OB (helpfully after I was already pregnant with number two!) told me it gets worse with every pregnancy.

This time around I was prescribed a pharmacy (that's the collective noun for numerous tablets, right?) of drugs - some given to cancer patients to help them cope with the effects of chemo therapy.

And I was still sick more than five times a day.

I was working two days a week in the city and doing two days a week at home and looking after a very active toddler too.

It was exhausting.

I was lucky that my boss saw I was struggling and allowed me to work from home when I needed.

And then I went into preterm labour at 32 weeks.

They were able to hold her off but I was hospitalised on strict bed rest until she arrived five weeks later.

By then I was taking 20 tablets a day to minimise the vomiting, dull the nausea and keep the baby healthy and inside for as long as possible.

The emotional and physical roll that pregnancy took on me was intense, and while I love my girls more than anything in the world I couldn't go through it again.

It not only puts the baby's health at risk, but mine too. And for me to be the best mum I can be, I need to be able to run on all cylinders.

AUTUMN 2020 47

Reality Bites

Tips for having kids at a wedding

By Danielle Galvin

affordable, asking a teenaged relative is another idea.

I'D always loved the idea of having children at my wedding.

At our wedding, we hired a local nanny who had great reviews, and she was beautiful with my two children, and my 10-month-old nephew.

In primary school, I was a flower girl at my cousin's wedding and it was one of the most vivid, favourite memories I have of my childhood.

I remember dancing the night away with my extended family, and how excited I was to have my hair up in a bun, ringed with flowers.

I wore a dress made by my late aunty.

When I got married in December last year, both my children, aged 9 months and 4 at the time, were there.

Earlier in the year my daughter was a flower girl at my best friend's wedding, and she was one of about 10 children who attended.

Gone are the days when kids aren't welcome at weddings.

At ours, there were numerous babies and a few toddlers too.

During the planning process, we thought long and hard about how to make it as easy as possible.

The priority was making sure they were well looked after, happy, comfortable and that we could also enjoy the day (it was 12 years in the making!)

With this in mind, below are some tips if you're planning on having children attend your wedding, in the bridal party or if your kids are coming along to an upcoming wedding:

It was the best money we spent, especially because my four-year-old wasn't 100 per cent on the day and found it all a bit overwhelming.

2. Have a designated play area If you search social media you'll see photos of teepees set up with toys, activities and small tables for kids to play at after the ceremony and leading into the reception. It's a great idea, especially if there are going to be lots of kids from toddler age up.

3. Buy activity packs One thing we learned from a recent wedding is that children don't care about speeches, as lovely as they are.

The reception for them can often be the most tiring, boring part.

That's why it's great to engage them and cater to them as much as possible.

Activity packs with colouring in books, stickers and more is a good way to keep them busy, even if only for an hour or so.

4. Be conscious of nap times.

Weddings can be a long day for everyone involved.

Having kids at a wedding doesn't have to be stressful.

1. Hire a nanny or pay a relative or someone you trust to babysit

If kids are in the bridal party and need their hair done or might be required for photos, it's always good to try and plan out the day and try to factor in a nap or at least some rest time for any children attending, before the reception.

Having someone dedicated to the children all day is important, particularly during the afternoon when people are getting ready and into the evening as they get tired.

It can be an overwhelming day for them and a nap may help put them in a good mood, whether that's in a car ride on the way there or a quiet spot at the house where you're getting ready.

Hiring someone local who comes highly recommended is a great option, or if you're looking for something more

5. Stay somewhere close by.

Most asked a relative to stay as well on site so they could be with the children until the end of the reception.

We weren't to know at the time, but booking a venue with accommodation

Another idea is staying somewhere close by, as opposed to trying to drive

48 AUTUMN 2020

on site was a lifesaver for our children. It meant they were all in bed by 8pm, asleep and content.

It also meant that for our guests who had children in attendance, they also put their children to bed so they could enjoy the night.

Most had a relative stay too, to tend to the children.

home late at night.

6. Know when to call it quits.

As parents, most of us are in tune with our children when we can see they are over-tired, cranky and a meltdown is imminent.

If possible, if you have a young child in a wedding party who is also invited to the reception, get someone to pick them up early in the night.

By 8pm most preschoolers would be getting tired and ready for some down time.

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Reality Bites

Mumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s incredible triplet delivery

By Melissa Grant WHEN Bianca Aiono Robertson discovered she was expecting triplets, she hoped to birth them naturally.

That was despite feeling somewhat terrified at the prospect of having three babies and coming off a marathon 43-hour labour with her first.

Having undergone fertility treatment to have a second child with her husband Peter, a multiple birth was always a possibility.

However, Bianca had only really entertained the idea of twins, so was a bit taken aback when she learned triplets were on the way.w "(I felt) a mixture of amazement, and terror - it was surreal," she said.

Scans confirmed there were three babies, however an early pregnancy test strongly indicated Bianca would be having more than one.

"When I did the pregnancy test it should have shown up one to two weeks pregnant because it was a day before my period was due," she explained.

"It came up two to three weeks almost immediately, instead of the usual three minute wait - the hormone levels were so high. Also my progesterone had been around 30-40 at that time precisely - and this time it was 106!

"And - I was so sick - within a few weeks of falling pregnant."

With experience in delivering triplets, doctors were on board with Bianca's plan to deliver her babies naturally.

And as a wellness coach and former athlete, Bianca was familiar with pushing her body to its limits and the power of keeping a positive mindset.

However, doctors warned Bianca she wouldn't be able to carry her toddler Maverick around. They also told her she would be housebound and need a full-time carer.

"None of those things happened," she said.

"In some respects it was easier than the first time round because my body went from athlete to pregnant versus mother of one to mother of four - that was an easier transition."

Bianca says her experience as an athlete and wellness coach helped her throughout the pregnancy - to an extent.

"I have a very high pain threshold and am resilient to the point of being stubborn and a little unrealistic," she said.

"It helped me in that respect, but also it still meant my expectations were a little high.

"For instance, I still thought I looked like I was pregnant with one even though others thought I was huge! I was able to tolerate it until I found out how heavy I really was carrying and then that blew my mind.

"Mindset plays a huge part in staying positive, and navigating through all the obstacles - so that helped a lot."

Bianca at her maternity shoot.

Indiana came head first, Dakota was breech and Hendrix was footling extraction.

Bianca said the labour - which lasted nine hours - was actually easier than she had anticipated.

"I got an epidural right from the time they broke my waters so that they could manually turn the babies if needed," Bianca explained.

"The hardest part was being induced with a balloon catheter - I had to be on the gas for that.

"I actually expected it to be much harder but the babies were smaller, it was my second time around, I had an epidural early this time."

Bianca said it was a whirlwind experience.

"I guess I was also in work mode so I didn't relax and enjoy the moment too much. I only had literally seconds with the babies for the first 24 hours then I was able to cuddle them the next day," she said.

"It was a total spin out holding two girls at once, talking to my son, and then realising just because I had been doing skin to skin with these babies - I still had another one to look after who hadn't had his mummy yet - that was full on!"

Pictures: Melissa Jean Photography

It was two-and-a-half weeks before the triplets went home with Bianca, Peter and older brother Maverick.

With four kids under four, settling into a routine proved somewhat difficult.

"It just has to be flexible and instinctive," Bianca said.

"It's hard because it's very rare to have a rest - it's like they're on a string and one will wake up as soon as another one goes to sleep - and that happens the entire day."

Bianca gave birth to her three babies - all vaginally as planned - on August 21 last year at 34 weeks.

Bianca said the relentlessness and exhaustion of caring for three little babies (and a toddler), and being logistically unable to breastfeed them all like she did the first time round has been tough.

Indiana Leilani, Dakota Mereana and Hendrix Sione were born within the space of 25 minutes, weighing 2.19kg, 2.95kg and 2.2kg.

However she is loving all the cuddles, kisses and smiles her three babies bring and says the best bit is knowing how much more joy there is to come.

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Bianca cuddles her triplets not long after their birth.

Bianca and the triplets with husband Peter and son Maverick.

AUTUMN 2020 49

Reality Bites

Learning to walk at seven

By Rachel Hickingbotham SEVEN-year-old Chien is a boy who never learnt to walk.

Born in a remote Vietnamese village with a common birth defect called club feet, he was not able to walk like children his own age.

Had he been born in Australia, his condition would have been corrected soon after birth with simple non-surgical procedures.

However, without medical treatment available in his village and his birth family unable to care for him, this was not possible for Chien. With his condition left unchecked, the deformity took hold, resulting in his right foot becoming completely inverted.

Chien did not let his disability stop him being mobile and became skilled at using his arms to lift and manoeuvre his body around. At school his friends carried him about on their backs, an easy task due to his light 12kg frame.

In November last year, Chien's life changed forever thanks to Mr Ton Tran, an orthopaedic surgeon at Berwick's St John of God Hospital.

Chien hanging out with his mates at home in Vietnam.

Picture: Supplied

Chien home in Vietnam.

Chien being carried by his school friend in his remote Vietnamese village.

Picture: Supplied

Chien's carer Vy and her 14-year-old son Duc

Picture: Supplied

Mr Tran regularly visits his own home country of Vietnam to perform surgery on children in need. At his clinic in Vietnam, he treats many disadvantaged children and often sees children suffering from a variety of illnesses, genetic disorders and disabilities.

"It's very sad because many of them suffer from genetic disorders which cannot be cured or fixed," Mr Tran explained. "Meeting Chien was different. I knew I could fix his problem with just one operation".

When Mr Tran returned to Australia, he met with St John of God's CEO Lisa Norman. Once Ms Norman heard Chien's story and saw the photo of him being piggy-backed around by his friends, she immediately agreed to facilitate Chien's surgery and began the complex process of bringing Chien out to Australia. With the help of The Children First Foundation, Chien arrived in Melbourne with his carer Vy and her 14-year-old son Duc, also wheelchair bound with cerebral palsy.

On 30 November, Chien underwent lengthy eight-hour surgery to correct both his feet and hip dysplasia. He then went on to blitz his rehabilitation at St John of God which included exercises and learning to walk.

"His stay was wonderful! He was a delight and was well and truly spoilt by the hospital team and by Mr Tran and his family. Chien enjoyed zooming around the hospital corridors in his wheelchair and spent Christmas with Mr Tran and his family. He was also able to do some sightseeing at Phillip Island and meet some Australian animals," Ms Norman said.

Chien was the perfect patient and took his first steps during his rehab sessions.

"He surprised everyone by weight bearing on his legs and taking steps far

50 AUTUMN 2020

quicker than expected. It is a testament to Chien's determination and to Mr Tran's incredible work. We sent him home with an appropriately sized walking frame to assist in his recovery", Ms Norman said.

Chien stayed in Australia for just under and month and Mr Tran now stays in regular contact with Vy. His latest update was excellent news.

"He has graduated from his frame and is on crutches now and is walking quite well independently," Mr Tran said.

"Chien will be followed up over the next few years to ensure that his growth continues to be appropriate, especially with his hip."

Chien is fitting in well with Vy's family and is receiving an education with her boys. Mr Tran will be re-united with his determined little patient in April and will be able to see first-hand Chien growing stronger as he finally begins to walk tall with his peers.

St John of God CEO Lisa Norman and Mr Ton Tran by Chien's bedside last year.

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Reality Bites

The impact of family violence on kids

Family Life's Tom Mulvaney is helping drive key change in family violence intervention and support services.

WHEN family violence specialists begin working with a domestic abuser, they are not just working to correct the years of dangerous, learnt behaviour exhibited by the individual - but that normalised in the many generations before them.

Importantly, violence intervention workers trace back to the person perpetrator or victim's - experience from the moment they were conceived to the early years of their life when trying to identify the pattern of abuse which has sadly ticked over into their life.

Tom Mulvaney, provisional clinical psychologist and Family Life General Manager Impact and Strategy, is working to drive down the rate of domestic abuse experienced by victims, mainly women and children, in Cardinia Shire's biggest offensive against the scourge.

Family Life was the a lead agency developing comprehensive responses to support abuse victims and perpetrators in the community when the Together We Can campaign began.

Mr Mulvaney could not stress enough the lifelong impact violence can have on a person when exposed directly or indirectly in-utero through to the first three years of their lives.

The impact, or 'rupture', experienced by violence or unreliable role models in a child's early years exacerbate in lots of different ways - but if 'unrepaired', could go on to dangerously frame the course of their lives and likely influence generations to come.

Chemical reactions to stress caused by the threat of violence toward a pregnant woman dangerously impact the health of her unborn child.

Worryingly, police statistics show women who are pregnant or have recently given birth are at higher risk of abuse than those without a child.

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Mr Mulvaney said stress, or emotional rupture, could cause changes in neural pathways including dopamine channels, impacting various parts of the body including heart rate and unhealthy coping behaviours including substance dependence or poor eating patterns known to biologically impact the health of a baby.

It goes without saying that physical violence can cause direct physical trauma to the fetus.

Violence suffered by pregnant victims spurs a host of dangerous flow on effects - some directly impacting the mother's bond with the child once it is born serving to frame his or her perceptions on relationships, Mr Mulvaney said.

"Attachment between mother and child starts in-utero. If a mother is in a state of mind where she can't nurture that bond, attachment is disadvantaged from birth. That's one emotional disadvantage that can come from an abuse relationship," he said.

"And that can occur over generations. If that becomes a person's expectation of relationships, it makes sense those expectations on what's considered normal in a relationship is carried forward to the next generation.

"When we look at changing an individual, we are trying to change 100 years of (learnt behaviours). If a perpetrator is 26 years of age, we aren't looking at 26 years of life and offending ... we are looking at years and generations of entrenched learnt behaviour."

A child who misbehaves in class could easily be dismissed as exhibiting normal 'boundary pushing' behaviours tried on by kids in their early years - but they can also indicate something much deeper.

Mr Mulvaney said children directly

or indirectly abused within the home could exhibit behavioural or concentration problems that if not 'repaired', go on to feed into symptomatic responses in youth through exposure to the juvenile justice system, or worse in adulthood.

In more than 40 per cent of violent abuse experienced in domestic settings in the municipality, children are exposed.

"Disorganised" attachment issues between child and their caregiver do more than harm the child's understanding of normal relationships, tells Mr Mulvaney.

"It also impact behaviour regulation which is very important in the first three years of life. When a child is distressed, the caregiver soothes them. The child's body then learns to respond to being soothed and overtime, they can self-regulate that response," he said.

The most important intervention to improve a child's outlook and approach toward their lives is providing predictable and stable caregivers.

Mr Mulvaney said at the first instance, that would involve repairing the child's relationship with their main caregiver, but if that was unachievable, it would mean creating positive attachments with other adult role models including extended family members or teachers.

The Together We Can campaign to harness victims with the information, support and strength needed to leave a violent relationship as well as bolster prevention, early intervention and reformation services for perpetrators.

Many organisations including Family Life and community leaders are working together to roll-out communitydriven initiatives.

"When the caregiver is a perpetrator of violence or is affected themselves, they are less able or available to teach kids to self-regulate. Children then learn unhealthy ways to self-regulate."

Mr Mulvaney said Family Life would work to advocate for additional support services to be introduced into the Cardinia Shire community for victims and perpetrators to seek help.

Such reactions could be prolonged states of alertness or flatness experienced by the child.

It will build on services already available by organisations such as WAYSS, Windermere and Connections.

Mr Mulvaney said this was particularly damaging.

"We need lots of opinions about this to come up with the solution. I am yet to see one single way. It's a complex problem, so it needs complex solutions, and needs to be driven by the community itself," Mr Mulvaney said.

The longer a child finds themselves in either state, the easier it is triggered when experiencing non-threatening, normal situations.

"Over time, despite experiencing less (dangerous) stimuli, they will still have that acute response to stress," he said.

"We often see this in children. It plays out in their behaviour in conduct disorders where they can't handle the stimuli. They'll scream, not focus or withdraw completely from the classroom, impacting their access to education."

Mr Mulvaney is reading for his Master of Psychology (Clinical) at Australian Catholic University (ACU) in Melbourne.

Anyone who is experiencing family violence can phone the safe steps 24/7 Family Violence Response Centre on 1800 015 188. The Men's Referral Service Victoria can be reached on 1300 766 491.

AUTUMN 2020 51

Fashion

Trendy autumn fashion WITH the cooler weather upon us, it's a great time to restock your children's wardrobe with the trendiest fashion from leading boutique Billy Lidz.

The fashion outlet stocks leading Australian designer children's and baby clothing brands and overseas favourites.

A host of gorgeous new threads have arrived in store.

There are new arrivals from Munster, Missie Munster, Rylee and Cru, Susukoshi, Two Darlings, Wilson and Frenchy, plus lots more.

The boutique also sells children's shoes, toys and accessories.

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AUTUMN SEASON IN STORE NOW PLUS GREAT GIFT IDEAS OPEN Mon - Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-3pm Shop 6, Blackburne Square, Berwick Phone: 9707 5593 52 AUTUMN 2020

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AUTUMN 2020 53

54 AUTUMN 2020

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Games And Gadgets

Family game time with Lisa, Tony and three of their boys Jake, Josh and Jack.

Family fun, the non-digital way

By Rachel Hickingbotham

Top 5 entry level board games for families

IN a world where the idea of playing games immediately conjures up images of tablets, phones and gaming devices, it is encouraging to hear that there are still families who play board games together.

Labyrinth In this fun maze game you move pieces of the board to trap other players and be the first to the treasure. Age 7+

Lisa Bowen-Salce has five children ranging in ages from 9 up to 36, all of who play board, card and dice games together.

Qwirkle

"It's not like the Monopoly, Battleship and Scrabble of old," explained Lisa.

"Games have evolved so much now days."

Qwirkle is a colour and shape matching game, perfect to teach younger children patterns, but entertaining for any age. Ages 6+

Lisa's eldest son Jake is an expert when it comes to games that suit different ages.

Catan Settlers of Catan is a great entry level strategy game for all ages and one of the world's most popular board games. Ages 10+

He recommends starting out with a dice-based game such as the game called 'Bang!', a fun Wild West inspired game with goodies (sheriffs) vs baddies (outlaws).

Dixit This fun storytelling card game is perfect for children and teens to unleash their creativity. Age 8+

"Even though it involves shooting, it's all a bit of fun," said Jake.

Another family favourite is called 'King of Tokyo', a game where you play monsters, robots and aliens, all of whom are destroying Tokyo and whacking each other in order to become 'The King of Tokyo'.

Enchanted Forrest Evan, Lisa and Tony playing ''King of Tokyo''

Players hunt for treasure hidden beneath trees in the forest, best for younger kids, Age 4+

Once you start looking for new games to test out at home, it seems you can uncover a whole new world of family fun that will have you putting your Monopoly and Game of Life away for a while.

"There are many more games to try.

When you go to specialty game stores you will find so many to choose from," says Jake. "There are heaps out there once you start looking."

Jake also suggests card games in addition to board games. "One of our favourites is 'Sushi Go!', where you have to 'eat' the most sushi, getting bonus points if you get the wasabi!"

A board game that is well-loved in Lisa's house is what she calls the 'car racing game'. Jake explains it in more detail, calling it 'Formula D', a game

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Dad Tony with family favourite King of Tokyo.

Josh and Jack playing King of Tokyo.

where you are Formula One drivers and have to decide how you navigate the racetrack course on the board, making choices at each dice roll while trying to avoid collisions with other drivers and blowing up your engine.

top gaming clubs' otherwise known as Role Playing Games (RPG)", said Jake.

Board games are more popular than you would think.

"A lot of high schools now have 'table

And it is not just kids and teens enjoying non-digital games, there are adult groups that meet up for games nights all around Melbourne. Jake says that specialty game shops such as Gas Games in Pakenham have facilities for games nights and often have events

Games list is courtesy of Domique Gohr, Vice-President of RPG (Region of Pakenham Gamers). RPG is the organising committee of PAKEX, Cardinia Shire's first board game and 'geek lifestyle expo' held on March 14. If you missed this year's event, visit www.pakex.com.au or find them on Facebook @pakenhamexpo for future events. listed on their Facebook page.

It is inspiring to think that there are device-free games available right under our noses. Not only can we get our kids off screens, we can get our family together around the table like we did in the good old days. And you know what they say- 'families that play together stay together'.

AUTUMN 2020 55

Books

Teaching children about sounds

By Danielle Galvin AUSTRALIAN author, Barbara Murray, is a passionate authority in teaching phonics to children, and believes it's critical in helping build a foundation for successful reading, writing and spelling.

Ms Murray, a former primary school teacher and well-known author of the literacy program, Sound Waves, has recently released a beautifully illustrated boxed set of books aimed at children in the first year of primary school.

The set, called Sound Stories, is an introduction to help children develop an awareness of the 43 sounds, or phonemes, that make up Australian spoken English.

The Australian National Curriculum recommends that all Australian primary schools include phonemic awareness and synthetic phonics in their literacy program.

Ms Murray explained that phonemic awareness is initially innate.

"It comes naturally to children. They start with sounds when they are babies," she explained.

"As they get to talk, they forget the individual sounds.

"All you are doing is refreshing their memory of the sounds they picked up originally.

"You don't have to teach kids to talk,

The boxed set is available through Barbara's website.

" I loved developing a curiosity about language in my students."

Author Barbara Murray is a passionate about teaching phonics to children.

you do have to teach them to write."

Sound Stories provides a story for every sound of Australian spoken English in the one set of books, with illustrations from Sarah Hardy.

Sound Waves is a resource used in classrooms all over Australia and in countries overseas.

Ms Murray had been teaching the phonemic approach in her classroom for 30 years, before coming up with the idea for Sound Waves.

"Teaching was my passion and a phonemic approach featured daily in all my classes across the whole primary school.

Ms Murray believes developing an understanding of phonemes doesn't have to be daunting.

In fact it's quite simple.

As an example, the "eer" sound is featured in a story called Tameer Nearly Disappears and follows the baby reindeer Tameer who disappears into icy water, only to be rescued by her fierce and fearless reindeer father.

Words in the story and illustrations that promote the "eer" sound include Tameer, reindeer, nearly, disappears, fearless, fierce, tearful, clear and cheer.

"I designed each 'Sound Story' so that delightful, engaging illustrations will entice children to observe, imagine, predict, draw conclusions and create a possible storyline as part of an open discussion with others present, before the story is read to them," Ms Murray said.

"Discussion about the words that name and describe items and actions in the illustrations and the common sound heard in these words, follows."

The four books in the set are: ■ Book 1: An Introduction to Consonant Sounds, Part 1. The Bolton Boys' Balloon Adventure and other stories ■ Book 2: An Introduction to Consonant Sounds, Part 2. Robbie Robot to the Rescue and other stories ■ Book 3: An Introduction to Vowel Sounds, Part 1. Anna Ant's Antics and other stories ■ Book 4: An Introduction to Vowel Sounds, Part 2. Bertie Bird and the Earthworm and other stories The books have an RRP of $24.99 and can be purchased from bookstores. The faster and cheaper way is through http://www.barbaramurray-author. com.au/

Children’s books...

Say Cheese!

Frances Watts, Illustrated by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall A trio of meerkats taking selfies is pretty darn cute to say the least. It's the kind of cover that will make you want to take a book off the shelf! Sure enough, the meerkats aren't the only cute animals in Say Cheese!

The bright and colourful children's book features a host of wild animals who attend South Furriest Public School.

There's plenty of fun to be had on school photo day - there are students who are too hard to fit in the frame and spots and stripes that don't go together.

You get the picture!

Scholastic, RRP $24.99

Daring Delly Country vs City

Ella at Eden: New Girl

Fire Watcher Phoenix

Laura Sieveking

Kelly Gardiner

Matthew Dellavedova

The story will enthral ballers aged 7+ with plenty of court action. Dellavedova (or Delly as he's widely known) draws on his own childhood experiences of playing basketball to deliver a fun read. The story centres on Delly, a determined boy who is excited to play for his local team but is thrown a curveball when a storm damages their home court. How is the team going to train for their next game in the city? Can they win?

The hugely popular book character among young girls, Ella, returns in a new format.

Ella is off to high school in this title aimed at tween readers who are well versed with the Ella Diaries. New Girl - the latest offering in the Ella and Olivia series - is a great read for young girls, particularly those who may be curious about boarding school. There are lots of twists and turns as Ella goes from enjoying her new school to dealing with some unexpected dramas including insulting the school diva and tracking down a mysterious thief.

The second book in the compulsive fantasy trilogy by award-winning author Kelly Gardiner. The historical timeslip fantasy takes readers from 1941 to 1666 as Christopher Larkham tries to go back in time to find his new friends and discover more about the power of his phoenix ring. However, not all goes to plan and he finds himself in a smaller, older river port town where a Viking invasion leads to one helluva fire. How did the ring get Christopher here and how can he get back to his own time? A thrilling read for kids aged 8+.

Scholastic, RRP $14.99

Scholastic, RRP $15.99

This latest offering from Aussie NBA champ Matthew Dellavedova is a slam dunk!

Scholastic, RRP $14.99

How to Make Banana Muffins Stella Hong A personalised book that's sure to want to get your child into the kitchen and cooking some delicious banana muffins. This book is one of two new offerings from Story Antics, a unique personalised children's book offering.

In this colourful and engaging book, you can insert yourself and your child into the story.

Basically your child becomes the chef! The picture instructions are easy for toddlers and preschoolers to follow. You'll be inhaling those muffins in no time!

Story Antics, RRP $19.99

We've teamed up with Story Antics to give away vouchers for 20 readers to purchase their very own copy of How to Make Banana Muffins, a personalised recipe story book for kids. For your chance to win, visit www.caseycardiniakids.com.au/competitions 56 AUTUMN 2020

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27 MARCH - 5 APRIL

2 APRIL

4 APRIL

ROLLERAMA

GIGGLE & HOOT - LIVE IN CONCERT

TEDDY BEARS PICNIC

Get your skates on! This school holidays the 80s are returning to the Bunjil Place Plaza and we are hosting a totally tubular rollerskating rink!

See Bunjil's website for full session times.

Thirty minute sessions includes skate hire: $7 per person, $25 for groups of four.

19-20 MARCH THE GRUFFALO'S CHILD The classic children's tale comes to life on stage in a magical performance.

The Gruffalo's Child brings together physical theatre, music and puppetry to deliver songs, laughs and scary fun for children aged 3 and up.

Thursday 19 March: 6.30pm Friday 20 March: 10.30am (relaxed performance, 55 minutes) All Tickets $16

28 MARCH - 14 APRIL EASTER INFLATABLE FUN PARK Soccer5's Sports Complex 29 Brindley St, Dandenong South

Giggle and Hoot are coming to Bunjil Place Sing, stomp and roar to all your favourite songs, from The Gigglemobile to Go Giggleosaurus and many more.

Hoot hoot!

Jimmy Giggle (played by Jimmy Rees) and his Owl Pals Hoot and Hootabelle are thrilled to be able to taking their smash hit show around the country.

Thursday 2 April, 10am (60 minutes) All tickets $35.50 Live Nation is proud to donate $1 from every ticket sold to a Bushfire Relief Charity.

12pm - 4pm daily

Marriott Waters Thompsons Rd & Marriott Boulevard, Lynbrook 11am - 2pm

Akoonah Park, 2 Cardinia Street, Berwick 11am - 4pm One of the City of Casey's most celebrated events with a free day of activities and performances. The carnival is aimed at children aged 0-12 and their families 58 AUTUMN 2020

EASTER BONNET PARADE & EASTER EGG HUNT Pioneer Park, Berwick 11am - 2pm Kids Under 12 are welcome to participate in the parade Tickets $5 per entrant, adults are free

Now into its eleventh year, the everpopular Easter Fun Festival on Churchill Island promises two fun-filled days of family favourite activities, demonstrations, and entertainment.

EASTER EGG HUNT

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4 APRIL

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Bring along your favourite teddy and join the Old Cheese Factory on an adventure at our Teddy Bears' Picnic.

For kids aged 2-10 ($2 per child)

11-12 APRIL

Inflatable fun park full of action-packed sports inflatables including the biggest set of soccer inflatables in the world.

Also a giant inflatable pool with water slides and obstacle courses

Search for 15 hidden eggs inside participating shops. $2 per child

Old Cheese Factory, 34 Homestead Road, Berwick

2 APRIL THANK YOU EMERGENCY SERVICES FAMILY NIGHT Pakenham Racing Club 420 Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road,Tynong The event is free for all first responders, their families and all kids under 18.

Gates open at 5pm A night of celebration and thanks with kids' entertainment, rides, jumping castles, live music, a BBQ and a night of great racing

See the much-loved working horses at the farm, courtesy of the Victorian Heritage Draught Horse Club, perhaps make your own toy with the Wonthaggi Woodcrafters, or step into yesteryear with a wonderful display of vintage cars and caravans.

10am-4pm. Festival entry is included with a Churchill Island ticket, or 4 Parks Pass

3 MAY PUFFING BILLY RUNNING FESTIVAL New running event with Puffing Billy four new and exciting races to enjoy, including two courses designed for parents and their little ones!

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^ƚ ůĂƌĞ͛Ɛ ĂƚŚŽůŝĐ WƌŝŵĂƌLJ ^ĐŚŽŽů͕ KĸĐĞƌ

Ɛ Ă ƌĞůĂƟǀĞůLJ LJŽƵŶŐ ƐĐŚŽŽů͕ ^ƚ ůĂƌĞ͛Ɛ ŚĂƐ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉĞĚ ĂŶ ŽƵƚƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ ƌĞƉƵƚĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ ĨŽƌ ƉƌŽǀŝĚŝŶŐ Ă ƋƵĂůŝƚLJ ƐĐŚŽŽůŝŶŐ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ͕ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ǁŚŽůĞ ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚ͕ ďĂƐĞĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ůŝǀŝŶŐ ŵŽƩŽ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ^ĐŚŽŽů͗

KƵƌ ĨĂŝƚŚ ůĞĂĚƐ ƚŽ ǁŝƐĚŽŵ ĂŶĚ ĐŽƵƌĂŐĞ͘ dŚŝƐ ŵŽƩŽ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĞƌŐŝƐŝŶŐ ƐŽƵƌĐĞ ŽĨ Ăůů ƚŚĂƚ ŚĂƉƉĞŶƐ Ăƚ ^ƚ ůĂƌĞ͛s ĂŶĚ ŝƐ ĞŵďĞĚĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĞƚŚŽƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐĐŚŽŽů͕ ƚŚĞ ĐƵƌƌŝĐƵůƵŵ ǁĞ ŽīĞƌ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƌĞůĂƟŽŶƐŚŝƉƐ ǁĞ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ŽƵƌ ƐĐŚŽŽů ĂŶĚ ǁŝĚĞƌ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƟĞƐ͘ /Ĩ LJŽƵ ĂƌĞ ƌĞĂĚŝŶŐ ƚŚŝƐ ĂƐ Ă ƉƌŽƐƉĞĐƟǀĞ ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚ͕ ƉĂƌĞŶƚ͕ ŐƵĂƌĚŝĂŶ Žƌ ĨĂŵŝůLJ͕ / ŝŶǀŝƚĞ LJŽƵ ƚŽ ǀŝƐŝƚ ƵƐ Ăƚ ^ƚ ůĂƌĞ͛s ĂŶĚ ĚŝƐĐŽǀĞƌ ƚŚŝƐ ĚLJŶĂŵŝĐ ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ƐƚĂƌƚ ƚŚĞ ďĞŐŝŶŶŝŶŐ ŽĨ͕ ǁŚĂƚ / ŚŽƉĞ ǁŝůů ďĞ͕ Ă ůŝĨĞ-ůŽŶŐ ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ ƉĂƌƚŶĞƌƐŚŝƉ͘

^ĐŚŽŽů dŽƵƌƐ Ͳ ǀĞƌLJ DŽŶĚĂLJ Ăƚ ϵ͘ϭϱĂŵ

,ĞůĞŶ ^ƚĂŝŶĚů ^ĐŚŽŽů WƌŝŶĐŝƉĂů

ŶƌŽůŵĞŶƚƐ ŶŽǁ ŽƉĞŶ ĨŽƌ ϮϬϮϭ͊

^ƚ ůĂƌĞ͛Ɛ WƌŝŵĂƌLJ ^ĐŚŽŽů KĸĐĞƌ ϵϱ DĂũĞƐƟĐ ƌŝǀĞ ;WK Ždž ϯϲϮͿ KĸĐĞƌ ϯϴϬϵ WŚŽŶĞ Ϭϯ ϱϵϰϬ ϲϳϳϳ ŵĂŝů ĞŶƌŽůŵĞŶƚƐΛƐƚĐůĂƌĞƐŽĸĐĞƌ͘ĐĂƚŚŽůŝĐ͘ĞĚƵ͘ĂƵ

12442035-JW13-20

60 AUTUMN 2020

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