Style magazine Toowoomba - November 2022

Our miracle babies: NICU Awareness Month Plan the ultimate Christmas party

The kids edition

SANKEY FRASER | Your One Stop Shop for the last 100 Years

Ruthven Street, Toowoomba | www.sankeyfraser.com.au

CornuFé and Albertine Range Cookers. The first step into the world of La Cornue. Available now from Harvey Norman, Toowoomba.

www.lacornue.com.au

Cook up a gourmet storm

Bring your culinary dreams to life with the help of the stunning and stylish La Cornue CornuFé 110 and Albertine 90 gourmet stoves, available now at Harvey Norman Toowoomba

Enter the wonderful world of cuisine with the CornuFé 110 and Albertine 90. La Cornue’s newest gourmet stoves are the babies of the esteemed La Cornue and will be the pride and pleasure of your kitchen and palate.

Toowoomba’s Harvey Norman Electrical is the only showroom in Queensland to showcase this incredible brand – cementing Harvey Norman’s place as the leader in innovation and technology with all the latest kitchen and cooking products under the one roof.

Harvey Norman Toowoomba is delighted to offer the prestigious French brand La Cornue, which delivers the ultimate artisanal stove for uncompromised culinary performance. Its newest addition, the CornuFé Albertine, is named in tribute to the founder of La Cornue, Albert Dupuy, and his wife Alexandrine. Dupuy established La Cornue in 1908, developing and launching the world’s first convection oven.

More than a century later, La Cornue continues to celebrate its French culinary history and to bring the art de vivre to gourmets and gastronomes around the world. Its impressive state-of-the-art, bespoke stoves are the cherished masterpiece of the kitchen, and where home chefs have mastered their cooking techniques.

At 90cm wide, CornuFé Albertine 90 combines the classic elegance, signature design and excellent cooking performance of the classic CornuFé 110 in a smaller, more affordable model. It features one large multi-function convection oven; seven unique cooking modes; five powerful brass gas burners; and one large storage drawer.

The 110-litre-capacity electric oven of the CornuFé Albertine 90 is large

enough to roast very large dishes or to cook multiple dishes at once for sharing and entertaining. A unique energy-saving feature of the CornuFé Albertine 90 for smaller dishes or everyday cooking is the removable oven divider. Placed vertically in the centre of the oven, it allows one half of the oven to be heated, saving energy.

The Albertine’s bigger brother, the CornuFé 110, features two independent 73-litre electric ovens, the left-hand oven being multifunction, while the right-hand is fanforced.

Both models feature exceptionally powerful and adaptable five-burner gas cooktops; one large central burner, one simmer burner and three standard burners.

These are highly adaptable cookers

suitable for any type of cuisine, from high energy wok cooking through to low temperature, gentle slow cooking, all of which the staff at Harvey Norman Toowoomba are delighted to run through with you.

Franchisee Cara Sherman said the team was delighted to have La Cornue in store.

“We are honoured to have this prestigious brand in our showroom, and all the staff are excited to show our customers what the stoves can do,” she said.

The artisanal nature of La Cornue is expressed in the beauty and craftsmanship of every detail of the design. As the majestic centrepiece of the kitchen, the CornuFé Albertine 90 exhibits timeless style, and the colour and accent trim can be customised to

complement kitchen design and personal state.

Both models are available in seven standard, classic colours – brushed stainless steel, dark navy blue, matt black, paris blue, pure white, shiny black and antique white (by special order) – and three trim accent choices of polished brass, satin chrome or polished chrome. Bespoke cookers are also available by special order, which the team at Harvey Norman Toowoomba will be glad to assist you with.

La Cornue is the epitome of gourmet luxury. From the CornuFé 110 and CornuFé Albertine 90 through to the grand Château Supreme, La Cornue’s stoves are the prized showpiece of kitchens around the world, bringing culinary dreams to life. The team at Harvey Norman Electrical is excited to share the craftsmanship of these ovens with you in person.

But La Cornue isn’t even the best part of the shopping experience at the Toowoomba store: it’s the fantastic staff, who are genuinely friendly, helpful, and make you feel right at home in the store, assisting you in finding the perfect product no matter how much you are planning to spend, that takes Harvey Norman Electrical to new heights.

Comeintothestoretodayat 910-932RuthvenSt,orcalltomake anappointmenton(07)46367349.

Welcome to the November edition of Style magazine!

We’ve got a special kids edition for you this month, from recipes perfect to get in the kitchen with your littles (p36) to toy storage tips (p39) and more.

There’s also a very exciting wedding on page 12 – some of you may recognise Clare Beeston nee Standfast from her days with Style magazine!

She and Jeremy tied the knot at Yandina Station in a gorgeous ceremony this September.

On a more sombre note, November is NICU Awareness Month, so Style’s Megan Masters sat down with a local mum of premature twins to chat about the journey and challenges of having your babies in neonatal care.

Little Josiah had stopped growing as expected at 20 weeks, and when he was born alongside twin Joel at just under 34 weeks, he weighed a tiny under 1kg. Read more on page 8.

Finally, we’ve also put together a guide for planning the ultimate Christmas party on page 10 – so get stuck in and enjoy some festive celebrations!

‘Til next month, The Style team xx

JOURNALISTS Jessica Kramer, Megan Masters, Alexandra Feiam, Alyssa Welke SUB EDITOR Alyssa Welke DESIGN Justine Costello, Jeff Brown GENERAL MANAGER Erika Brayshaw

Photography by Tambo Teddies

NICU Awareness Month is highlighting miracle babies and the importance of neonatal intensive care this November

Our miracle babies

NICU Awareness Month is here, raising awareness and funds for premmie babies, writes Megan Masters

Achol Agoot felt equal parts excitement and apprehension when she was told her pregnancy was not one baby, but two. That excitement soon turned to terror when she was told one of the twins had stopped growing as expected at a 20-week prenatal care

appointment.

In that heart-stopping moment, she discovered that one twin was less than half the size of the other and not growing as well as hoped.

She was given additional pre-natal care appointments to monitor the twins’ growth in the hopes they would make it to their expected due date without intervention.

After suffering two miscarriages, her greatest fear was that her baby would not survive, but with the help of the talented staff of both the Mater Hospital and Toowoomba Hospital neonatal intensive care units, she is now proud mum to twins Joel and Josiah.

This month is NICU Awareness Month and Miss Agoot said there was little she could say but a heartfelt thank you for their amazing

work.

While little Joel was 2kg when born and able to come home after a short stay in the NICU at Mater, Josiah was not so lucky.

The tiny baby was born at just under 1kg after an emergency caesarean section on September 9.

Miss Agoot said after news that Josiah was suffering intra-uterine growth restriction

(IUGR), she was expecting a slightly early delivery, but at 33 weeks and 5 days she was told there was no time to waste, and Josiah had to come out or risk the worst.

IUGR is a condition where a baby is not growing at the expected rate in utero due to complications with the baby, the mother, the placenta or genetics.

When it comes to gestation, every week counts, and babies born at that gestational age now have a 99 per cent chance of survival thanks to steady developments in the world of neonatal intensive care units.

That knowledge is small comfort, however, when you are told your baby has serious health issues and needs to be born immediately.

“Because in between having my two older girls and the twins I had two miscarriages, when I found out I thought, ‘oh my God is the same thing going to happen?’,” Miss Agoot said.

“Whenever I went to see my doctor, I was scared because they had to tell me there was a chance he wouldn’t survive.

“They now tell me there is nothing to worry about anymore so that is a big relief.”

Adding to her relief is being able to come home with Joel and be with her two older children, Apajok, 14, and Yar, 6.

It was only through the support of family members, hospital staff and being provided with accommodation near the hospital that Miss Agoot was able to manage spending nearly five weeks in Brisbane visiting Josiah daily for feeds and cuddles.

He has since moved to the NICU at Toowoomba Hospital, meaning Miss Agoot can now be at home with her other three children in Glenvale and still visit each day.

Life is still very busy caring for one newborn and two older children, in addition to expressing milk each day for little Josiah and juggling visits to the hospital, but Miss Agoot said the relief she felt, along with the family support, made the stress more manageable.

Little Josiah reached 1600g this week and is on track to go home in a few weeks when he reaches 2kg.

“I’m so appreciative that they took care of my babies,” she said.

“They are amazing.”

To find out more about NICU Awareness month, leave messages of thanks and support for NICU units, sign up for fundraising activities or participate in surveys, visit miraclebabies.org.au.

You can also support the Mater Little Miracles program, which raises crucial funds to provide care to some 2000 seriously ill and premature babies from across Queensland and northern New South Wales each year.

Visitwww.materlittlemiracles.org.au

NICUAwareness

NICU Awareness Month is all about putting the spotlight on Australia’s incredible neonatal intensive care units and the amazing staff who care for these vulnerable babies.

On average, 132 babies are born each day premature or ill and require specialised care to survive and thrive.

Whether it is specialised care to help a premature baby achieve a safe weight, or around the clock critical care for extremely premature babies born before 28 weeks of gestation and requiring countless interventions and surgeries, neonatal intensive care units are there to help young families through some of the most stressful times in their lives.

This month you can show your support in a range of ways. World Prematurity Day is on November 17 and the Miracle Babies Foundation is set to launch a comprehensive, evidence-based online resource for families of premature or sick babies.

You can register to raise funds for Miracle Babies Foundation with a special event, and the website includes a range of ideas including “Plate for a Prem”, “Run, Walk or Ride for Miracles” and “In Loving Memory.”

Families who have experienced having a child that required hospitalisation after birth can also take part in vital research about Paid Parental Leave and the financial impact of having a baby that requires a NICU visit after being born. There is also another study calling for input from these families being undertaken on pain relief strategies for babies.

You can also leave a message of support for staff in honour of Thank U NICU Day on November 27.

Visitmiraclebabies.org.autofindoutmoreabout anyoftheseeventsorsignuptoraisefunds

Whenever I went to see my doctor, I was scared because they had to tell me there was a chance he wouldn’t survive

Plan the ultimate festive party

The weather is warming up and the holiday season is almost upon us. Christmas – and all the end-of-year unforgettable parties – has snuck up on us again, meaning we now have a pretty tight turnaround to organise the traditional festive function, be it for friends, family, or work, writes Jessica Kramer

In the career sector, a Christmas party is an opportunity for employers to show their appreciation to their staff for a year of hard work. For employees, it’s an opportunity to overindulge, mingle with staff outside of their direct team and celebrate their work achievements.

For friends and family, it’s a chance to show your appreciation for the relationships that got you through the year and just have some fun or relaxation.

To get your successful end-of-year bash together smoothly and in good time, follow these simple steps to planning an unforgettable party.

Styleortheme

The number of guests and the budget will usually determine the style of your event. Cocktail parties, lunches and dinners are popular options, but have you considered doing something different this year?

Like a cheese and wine pairing night, a Christmas high tea party, a whole porchetta banquet or a casual barbecue?

Make sure the style suits your guests and their preferences to ensure they have a good time; after all, it is an event for everyone to

enjoy.

Adding a theme to your Christmas party based on a colour or fancy dress idea is a great idea to get your guests in the spirit of Christmas.

Start with the table decor and lighting and if your budget permits, create an Instagramworthy photo backdrop that will beg your guests to stop and snap a pic!

Venue

The next item you want to cross off your list is where to host your event, and what guest capacity the venue has – both normally and on the occasion that Covid restrictions unexpectedly come into effect.

For convenience, it’s a good idea to select a venue that is close to your office or home, especially if you’re self-catering.

Private venues will ensure the best possible Christmas party experience, where

the attention of service will be solely on your guests. This lets you and your guests let your hair down and really enjoy yourselves.

Alternatively, there are many parks in Toowoomba which are perfect for a party.

You can be casual with a picnicstyle event or ramp it up by taking pop-up gazebos and tables.

Then, of course, there is always your own backyard.

Regardless of whether you have an undercover seating area or just a grassed yard, hosting parties at home are easier since you can just bring food from kitchen to outside. No lugging eskies required.

Seating

This goes hand-in-hand with the venue.

If you are hosting your event at a park, keep in mind what seating is already available, and if it caters for social distancing.

Make sure you consider other options in case all the seats are already taken by the time you arrive to set up. Asking guests to bring their own camp chairs is always a good option for park-based parties and even ones in your own home.

Food

Delicious food and drink is the key ingredient to any Christmas party!

Whether you’re planning a cocktail party with canapes, a long lunch, decadent dinner or sharing style menu, selecting a venue that is renowned for their food offerings will reflect well on your brand and ensure your

guests are well fed and watered.

If you’re self-catering at home or out-andabout, plan your menu early and make as much in advance as you can to avoid stress on the day.

This is particularly important if you are hosting a larger event or have more than a handful of guests.

If having your event away from home, keep in mind options for keeping food cool or hot as required.

There are many cookbooks available with ideas on picnic-suitable food that is more fancy than watermelon and cheerios.

Don’t forget to cater for any allergies or food intolerances when planning your menu.

Entertainment

Depending on how big and/or formal your party is will dictate what entertainment you

provide.

If it’s a casual family get-together, bring along a bluetooth speaker and curate the ultimate playlist or maybe bring out some favourite board games.

If you’ve been entrusted with planning the office Christmas party and the budget allows, think a live musician or DJ.

Whatever you decide, adding an element of fun to your end-of-year Christmas party will ensure your guests let their hair down and stick around to the end.

Clothing

Last, but certainly not least, is what you wear on the day. Planning your outfit in advance is a great idea so you can focus on last-minute preparations on the day.

Finally, relax and enjoy your time with guests.

The wedding was ... a representation of where we come from, where we are now and where we plan to be

Clare & Jeremy

Country heritage at forefront of wedding celebration

wedding

Whatwasthedateofyourwedding andwhydidyouchoosethatspace?

We were married on September 2, 2022. We both absolutely love the Sunshine Coast, and Yandina Station is a beautiful representation of our country roots, being a working cattle station, with the stunning backdrop of the Sunshine Coast hinterland. We loved it!

Wherewastheceremonyand reception?

Both at Yandina Station!

Howmanyguestsdidyouhave? We had 97 people in total.

Howdidyoumeetyourhusband? I met my husband, Jeremy at a polocrosse carnival in Goondiwindi in 2019 through my twin brother, Jack. He is a cotton farmer just outside of Goondiwindi, and my brother is a contract farmer in the same region, and are close friends (my brother was one of Jeremy’s groomsmen). The rest is history!

Howdidhepropose?Wherewasthe proposal?

Oh my gosh – the most casual proposal! We had just had a nice dinner on the Macintyre River with family, and were driving to a

friend’s house for a few drinks. He’d just picked up the ring that day (and was a bit nervous), so he asked me to pull over on the side of the road and popped the question there and then!

Whenorganisingyourwedding,what weresomeofthemostpersonaland importantaspectstogetrightonthe day?

Great question! The theme of the day was a big, fun, lively country wedding – a representation of our social personalities and the places we come from. We showcased that through plenty of dancing, the most divine food and free-flowing drinks all night long. For each other, we really wanted our vows to be the centrepiece of our ceremony.

Alongside this, our celebrant Adam included my Dad in such a thoughtful way by allowing him to announce us as husband and wife – to his surprise! We also included little sentiments to our loved ones who have passed on throughout the ceremony and reception.

Whatweresomeofyourfavourite partsoftheday?

Definitely being able to acknowledge all of our guests who came from all over Australia to be with us on our special day to celebrate.

Thedetails

Venue: Yandina Station, Sunshine Coast

Dress: Le Belle by Hera Couture

Hair: Jacinta Lennox

Make-up: The Soul Spa

Flowers: The Rustic Flower Co

Entertainment: GM Event Group

Photographer: The Beloved Co

Videographer: The Beloved Co

Celebrant: Adam Johnson – Marry Me

Adam

Caterer: Yandina Station

Cake: Cocoa Spice Cakery

Our wedding was a bit of a three-day party, which was perfect for us!

Wheredidyougetyourdressfrom? Andyourbridesmaiddresses? My dress was a Hera Couture design purchased from White Lily Couture, Brisbane. It was simply the most beautiful, classic and comfortable design – I had so many comments on the night! My

bridesmaids all wore different dresses all in shades of champagne – they were from Acler, Bec + Bridge, and Leave Her Wilder.

Whosuppliedyourflowers,table settingsetc?

We had our bouquets and boutonnieres put together by the wonderful Rustic Flower Co in Yandina, who were incredible. My motherin-law, Robyn, put together all of our fresh table flowers and settings sourced from a local flower farm!

Didyouhaveadistinctwedding theme?Howdoesthisrelatetoboth ofyourpersonalitiesandfamily history?

As I mentioned earlier, the wedding was a big, fun, lively country wedding – a representation of where we come from, where we are now and where we plan to be.

Jeremy and I live on a huge cotton property, just outside of Goondiwindi, which he manages. He was born and raised in this region, and my family are originally from St. George, in south-west Queensland. All of our guests absolutely fitted into the theme that simply emanated ‘life of the party’ – all of our guests partied on for about three days at the Sunshine Coast! It was truly an incredibly special day.

Ohbaby!

Modern ways to style your bump

your pregnancy.

Taking cues from celebrities is a great way to inspire your own style, and being pregnant doesn’t have to change this.

“Women are embracing their bumps and all the stimulating style that comes with that,” she says.

Welcoming a bub into your life is beyond exciting, but your life will face endless changes along the way. One of the first transformations you’ll see is your figure, which influences your clothing choices. Do I have to buy a whole new wardrobe? Should I hide the bump or show it off?

“Being pregnant does not need to mean buying a whole new wardrobe,” says Danielle Johansen, personal stylist and founder of Threadicated. Instead, focus on a few key garments, such as maternity dresses, which you can wear throughout the duration of

The ‘90s was the first time that celebrities openly embraced their curves during pregnancy, with Elle Macpherson and Victoria Beckham redefining the meaning of maternity style. But it’s only recently that fashion brands have caught up.

“Maternity fashion has evolved significantly over the years, for so long, maternity clothes were designed to conceal a pregnancy,” Danielle explains.

Today, stars like Blake Lively and Meghan Markle are the trailblazers in maternity style. However, Rihanna is arguably one of the most influential, thanks to her eye-catching and unapologetic clothing choices.

“With her more-is-more approach, she was telling the world ‘Yes, I am going to be a mum, but I am still me’ – I think that is such a

powerful message,” says Danielle. Of course, you don’t have to show off your bump as Rihanna did to feel confident and sexy, as Danielle explains.

“She has really shown mums-to-be that you don’t have to change who you are to be a mum; Rihanna didn’t get less sexy in her style; she just got more pregnant.”

Before you run out and replicate every outfit worn by a star, experiment a little and determine what works best for your shape.

“With the miracle of life comes a changing body; a lot of women use this opportunity to experiment with their style,” Danielle shares. “Each woman’s body is different, and it’s important to look at your body and see what you’d like to embrace with your maternity style.”

Don’t be afraid to try something new, she says. “Pre-pregnancy, you may have been heavier in the bottom half than the top, and now this has shifted. So, where you may have avoided bright colours or prints from the waist down to avoid drawing attention to the area, now you can embrace that trend with your maternity style.”

The same applies to your new-found curves. If you have gone from an A cup to a D cup, Danielle suggests that you embrace your changing figure. “You could opt for an open neckline to display your bust and elongate your silhouette,” she says.

“More than anything, fashion is about having fun, and feeling confident with what you wear, try a few styles, and see what works for you.”

Welcoming a bub into your life is beyond exciting, but your life will face endless changes along the way, writes Alexandra Feiam

Rihanna didn’t get less sexy in her style; she just got more pregnant

Eyes are 10 times more sensitive to UV light than skin – and it’s kids who are most at risk, because younger eyes have larger pupils and clearer lenses, allowing up to 70 per cent more UV light to reach the retinas than an adult’s eyes.

Here’s what you need to know about choosing sunglasses for your kids.

Sundamagetoeyes

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), children’s eyes are more sensitive to UV absorption and up to 80 per cent of a person’s lifetime exposure to UV will occur before the age of 18.

Sun damage to the eye is linked to serious problems such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the industrial world, as well as cataracts (cloudiness of the lens) and pterygia (benign growths on the white of the eye, which can end up blocking vision).

Research has also found that spending five or more hours outside every day in the summer during your teens and early adult years could increase the risk of developing AMD by up to 50 per cent.

Apparently those with light-coloured eyes are particularly at risk because the less pigment in the iris means more sensitivity to UV.

Whichsunglassesarebest?

Cancer Council Australia recommends sunglasses that:

● are close-fitting, ● wrap around and cover as much of the eye area as possible, ● meet Australian Standard AS 1067:2003 for sunglasses.

Ideally, any sunglasses for kids should bear an EPF (eye protection factor) of 10, which means they exceed the requirements of the Australian standard and may provide even greater protection. Sunglasses also have a numerical category from one to four – with four being the best. Good quality sunglasses provide the eyes with substantial protection against the sun. The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) recommends buying sunglasses that protect against ultraviolet radiation (UVR); sunglasses rated two to four provide good UV protection.

It is the UVR-absorbing properties of the lenses that provides the protection and not the colour of the lenses – so dark sunglasses are not necessarily more effective at protecting the eyes from UVR than lightly tinted sunglasses.

It is recommended that sunglasses are worn most days when outdoors, even when it’s cloudy, because water, sand, the snow and even the footpath reflect UV rays, increasing the amount reaching your eyes and skin.

FROCK AND AWE

The Australian Fashion Council’s new trademark pushes local fashion to the for, writes Mahalia Chang

Just like our French, Italian, American and Scandinavian counterparts, there are characteristics of Australian fashion that are uniquely ours. Whether our commitment to the constantly spinning wheels of innovation, our embrace of locally sourced and made fabrics, or even our rich colour palettes, inspired by our island country.

But the Australian Fashion Council is not only seeking to ensure that those qualities remain signature to our fashion landscape, but that they also help to promote it and define it abroad with the Australian Fashion Trademark.

First unveiled during fashion week in May, the Australian Fashion Trademark will now officially come into use, with 32 labels awarded the certification.

Among the brands which can use and distribute under the trademark are Aussie heavyweights, including bassike, Aje, Ngali, Matteau, Alix Higgins, Bondi Born, Commas, Jordan Gogos, Maara Collective, and Romance Was Born.

The news was released in October to align with the AFC’s first campaign, titled ‘Down

Under in Front’. Shot by Charlie Dennington and styled by Bridie Gilbert, the campaign features emerging talents Angelina Kendall, Finn Vojlay and Tatyana Perry.

However, the trademark is about more than just promoting great Australian fashion designers, but celebrating their contributions to the fashion industry, both economically and socially. As announced by AFC CEO Leila Naja Hibri during the launch event in Melbourne, brands will be able to apply for the trademark, pending their compliance with two out of four criteria. The criteria includes being Australian-owned; Australian-made; being Australian tax domiciled; or having 75% of employees in Australia.

On top of the eligibility criteria, Naja Hibri noted that brands must also pass some “subjective criterion”, which includes having authentic and original design; aligning with Australian fashion characteristics; and having a commitment to environmental and socially responsible practice.

“If you want to call yourself part of this pack,” says Naja Hibri of the rules, “these are the things that need to be applied.”

Joining the trademark is, as Naja Hibri

notes, a “brand positioning exercise” for the country’s national style identity.

“People love Australian fashion, but people couldn’t pinpoint exactly what that meant, what that looks like,” she said. “We needed to create a campaign to capture that essence, to look at the question: what does it mean to be an Australian fashion brand?

“Why do people love our brands so much? We knew that we had a great reputation for sustainability, for environmental and social responsible practice — some of it deserved, some of it not so. There’s also something about our creativity, and our beautiful approach to design.”

What happened then, after the Australian Government granted the AFC a grant to create the trademark, was the distilling that DNA down to four hallmarks: effortless style, raw nature, boundless optimism and fearless innovation. These are some of the characteristics labels must align to, to be awarded the trademark.

Mary Lou Ryan and Deborah Sams, the creatives behind the now-certified bassike, say the trademark is a step forward in establishing Australia on an international scale.

“Consumers around the world are seeking more of our key values in the brands they choose to wear — integrity, sustainability and responsible business. This trademark and campaign puts us front and centre, with authentic design and progressive values that prioritise people and planet together with prosperity.”

Similarly, Ngali founder Denni Francisco hopes the trademark can shine a light on Australian fashion around the world, particularly First Nations design, which continues to shine abroad. Following Ngali’s appearance during Milan Fashion Week, Francisco noted this could be another way Australians enter into the overseas conversation.

“There is interest in Australian fashion, more light being shone on First Nations fashion,” said Francisco, “When we showed in Milan, it opened the conversation, (people were saying) ‘Tell me more about Australian fashion’.”

“I was imagining, ‘What would it be like if we had (the trademark) while we were in Milan?’”

Labels are now able to apply for the trademark at australianfashion.org.

It’s only natural

Making more responsible fashion choices starts with knowing your fabrics. TV presenter and fashion associate Kylie Gillies shares her love for natural and timeless linen

Now more than ever, I find myself becoming more conscious of what my clothes are made from. I want pieces that look good and feel good but I’m also much more invested in them being kind to the planet, too.

Unlike my shameful fast fashion former years — something I know many of us are guilty of — I now do my very best to shop for au

naturel pieces that I will keep for years. Top of my list is the timeless classic linen.

Natural and durable fibre derived from the flax plant, it’s been around for centuries and lends itself to flattering silhouettes and designs that don’t date.

From Audrey Hepburn’s starched linen ankle skimming skirts of the 50s, to Beyonce’s tie-front linen shirt holiday looks to die for — linen has always been sartorial shorthand for

cool, collected and stylish. I’ve got a few linen pieces that have been in my wardrobe for more than ten years — which makes them by nature, very sustainable, but they have never once been out of style.

Knowing how to choose quality linen pieces, and taking care of them, is like taking out insurance for effortless style. You can throw on some separates, mix them and match them, to get dressed for the day without having to think

too much. It’s a really hardworking fabric that transcends seasons, climates and dress codes.

Today, linen collections build on the classic block-colour looks, think Marge Sherwood in The Talented Mr Ripley, with bold patterns and prints. The print is a fun touch, and I can always layer in more colours with accessories. It even works with a linen shirt over the top when the weather cools.

In my day-to-day, I’ll wear a black linen shirt

with jeans or culottes, and then when I go on holiday, I’ll throw that same shirt over a pair of swimmers. In the depths of winter this year, when my Instagram feed was filled with photos of friends holidaying in the Greek Islands, it made me want to reach for linen even more. It’s a fabric that just feels like a holiday.

As the weather has started to finally warm up, I’ve been pairing my old favourites with some more breathable linen pieces to keep me cool and I have a few essential pieces that are always in high rotation. This summer my navy polka dot blouse with some white linen pants is lining up as my top season look.

For a brunch or day out, I’m in love with chic linen shorts with a boyfriend style shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and maybe a little top underneath, and a pair of Roman sandals; super comfortable, but super stylish as well. I even fit my husband, Tony, and my sons out in linen. They wear it on holidays or on the weekend, especially in summer. I honestly think there is nothing sexier than a man in a loose fit linen shirt with the sleeves rolled and three top buttons popped.

The other thing I love about linen is that it’s low maintenance and easy to care for. I’ll throw my pieces in the washing machine on a gentle cycle, then put them on a hanger and air dry them, or hang them outside on the clothesline. I’d never put linen in the clothes dryer –although I admit that that’s been hard given recent weather events. But I love the quality that comes from air drying linen; that soft and slightly crushed look.

To keep the colour of your linen as fresh as the day you bought it, wash in lukewarm or cold water; and use a mild soap or gentle detergent. Linen is highly absorbent, so it’s always best to wash separately from other fabrics.

It’s interesting that younger generations are rejecting throwaway fashion and taking sustainable style so seriously – they learned that lesson far earlier than my cohort.

It helps that today you can find clothes that combine earth-friendly, natural fabrics with great designs, cuts and colours, and when you buy pieces that you love, you’re more likely to hold onto them for longer so it’s a win-win situation.

Knowing how to choose quality linen pieces, and taking care of them, is like taking out insurance for effortless style

The A-Z of baby skincare

Dr Lexi Frydenberg is a General Pediatrician and educator who is passionate about children’s health, development and wellbeing. She has been working in pediatrics for 20+ years both in private and public practice — and even she admits it’s not always obvious what has irritated your bub and why.

When a new baby arrives it brings with it endless amounts of love, joy… and questions. From “why won’t they sleep?” to “why won’t they stop crying?”, those first few months are a total whirlwind of wonder and confusion. But between the musings about sleep and settling and generally trying to keep them alive, there’s another question that inevitably stumps new parents everywhere: “What is that weird rash on their head?”

Yes, it’s true: babies and small children always seem to be breaking out in strange rashes, ones that appear completely out of nowhere and can be utterly perplexing to adults. But while rashes and skin breakouts are common in kids - and usually harmless - it’s not always easy to know when to worry and when to just let it be.

“The simple answer is no, it is not always easy to tell the difference between rashes,” she says. “Even for experts, it can be hard to tell rashes apart, whether it’s a rash due to a viral infection or measles or medication.”

Dr Frydenberg says it’s not the rash doctors usually worry about, but “the company it keeps,” adding that doctors look at the overall wellbeing of a child when diagnosing whether the rash, or skin condition, is of concern. “If you’re concerned, it is worth getting your child (and their rash) checked by a GP as they’ll take a history and examine your child and give you the most likely cause.”

Eczema

Mum-of-two Zoe Marshall has plenty of first-hand experience dealing with newborn skin.

“Ever is really dry,” says Zoe of her one-

year-old daughter. “My husband Benji suffered with eczema as a baby and she is much the same, so what we bathe her in is incredibly important.”

The DermaVeen Baby Calmexa range is a favourite in the Marshall household, with products specifically formulated for dry, sensitive and eczema-prone baby skin.

“They’re so sensitive in those early days,” Zoe says. “You want to make sure you’re using really safe products, something that won’t strip and dry out the skin. We moisturise top-to-toe after her bath,” says Zoe, “making sure to give those dry spots a bit of extra love.”

Zoe says the other big lesson she learnt with Ever was making sure to properly dry her daughter off after every wash.

“She has a lot more little cracks and skin creases than her brother so it was super important to learn how to dry her thoroughly in between her little skin folds.” Zoe says.

Ever suffered in the early days from skin sores as a result of her eczema.

“Eczema is very common,” says Dr Lexi Frydenberg. “The skin is dry, red and itchy and sometimes these areas can become cracked, weepy and then scab over.”

In babies, it’s often found on their scalp, body, arms and legs or behind their ears. While it’s not contagious, it’s often triggered by things like overheating, soaps or chemicals or allergies, so it’s usually easy enough to manage if you know what is triggering it.

“Scratching can be the most irritating symptom of eczema, but can make the eczema worse,” says Dr

Frydenberg.

Tipstomanagebreakouts

Other than eczema, there are plenty of other common causes for your child’s skin breaking out in redness or irritation.

“Some of the more common rashes we see in infants and young children include things like heat rash, hives, cradle cap, molluscum, and nappy rash,” says Dr Frydenberg.

While most rashes and skin conditions don’t require treatment, some severe cases of things like eczema and cradle cap can be managed with a topical steroid cream.

Zoe Marshall certainly remembers struggling with nappy rash in those early days of parenting.

“Trying to manage it was tricky,” she says. “I thought the bath would bring relief, but I learnt that it can really sting, even in water.”

She also revealed her biggest tip when it comes to treating the pain and the irritation.

“I was just putting on a thin layer of nappy cream and I learnt that it actually wasn’t enough. We shouldn’t be doing just a thin layer - it should be a super thick layer so that no water can penetrate it. It needs to literally be a barrier, so you need a huge amount of cream.”

Dr Frydenberg concurs when it comes to using a barrier cream to keep the area clean and irritation-free. But she also recommends “leaving your baby without a nappy for short periods, changing any wet or dirty nappy promptly and making sure to dry your baby thoroughly after every bath.”

If you are finding yourself exhausted managing your kids and their various skin conditions, just know that you’re not alone and these things usually do get better as they grow up.

“It’s one thing after another with kids,” says Zoe Marshall. “My son Fox was quite an allergenic baby and would get rashes from trying new foods… he would flare up with strawberries or tomatoes and the rash would start angry and sore and hot and then when it would fade it would get really itchy. You don’t want to avoid food and you have to keep repeating it but that often exacerbates the problem.”

At the end of the day, Zoe believes the most important thing when it comes to your kids and their skin is to trust your instincts. “You never really know what is going on half the time. Sometimes you just have to trust your gut.”

Everything you need to know about those random skin breakouts that pop up on your bub – and how to manage them

Why beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all

Perfecting your skincare regime can feel overwhelming. We ask an expert what products every woman should have in their bathroom cabinet, writes Jenna Martin

Confession: I’m in my late 30s and until recently, I didn’t really have a skincare regime. I admit I’d coasted for years on having “pretty good skin” … it wasn’t glowy and gorgeous, but my complexion was mostly even, not easily irritated and apart from the odd pimple and a few blackheads, I never really suffered from breakouts.

I’m not sure if I was lucky or just naive, but I thought my minimal routine of washing my face at night and slapping on a bit of moisturiser under my makeup by day was enough and for a while, it was.

Then in June of last year the Sydney lockdown happened. It came at the end of a particularly stressful few weeks at work, and the anxiety and exhaustion simply tipped me over the edge. I feel like I quite literally went to bed with decent skin and woke up with someone else’s face. I had pustular acne running down one cheek and a bright red rash down the other. My complexion was dull, tired and irritated. It was like my skin had finally had enough of all the attention I wasn’t paying to it — not properly cleansing and moisturising, eating the wrong food

because I was too busy to cook properly, and probably drinking too much wine at night.

I was mortified and set about trying to fix the situation, but having never concocted a proper skincare routine, I didn’t quite know where to start. Over months of trial and error (and some professional help) here’s what I learnt: skincare is absolutely not a one-sizefits-all situation, but there are some essentials that everyone should be using every day, regardless of their skin issue or skin type.

Figuringoutyourskintype

“I think most people have a broad understanding of skin types but they try to generalise or just default to ‘combination skin’,” says cosmetic physician Dr Jane Shanahan.

In actuality, it can really help to hone in on exactly what kind of skin you have, as targeted cleansers, serums and moisturisers can make a real difference. If you have sensitive skin, you want to look for products that won’t irritate it further and are fragrance free. On the other hand, if your skin is prone to breakouts or congestion, you want to look

at products that will reduce inflammation.

Dr Cara McDonald, a dermatologist at Complete Skin Specialists says often people are unintentionally using the wrong product for their skin. “A common misconception is that those with oily or acne prone skin do not need to moisturise and can use harsh products, but in fact these tend to worsen the skin problems,” she explains.

My own skincare “journey” over the last 12 months left me realising I need a few products on call at different times. I have several cleansers on standby - an everyday one, another for when my skin is more blemish-prone, and a cleansing balm that is purely for taking make-up off.

While a cleanser, moisturiser and SPF are three non-negotiables, Dr Shanahan believes there are a few other key ingredients which will definitely help you notice a difference in your complexion.

“We want to help prevent environmental damage to our skin, and vitamin C serum acts as a great antioxidant to combat UV damage, as well as improving the brightness of our skin,” she says. “Maintaining the epithelial barrier ensures good hydration so my go-to

hands down is anything containing niacinamide.”

If you haven’t yet heard of niacinamide, it’s a pretty big deal. A form of Vitamin B3, it has a huge number of benefits. Niacinamide can help treat skin conditions including acne and eczema, can help build keratin, retain moisture and can reduce redness and inflammation. It was definitely part of my skin rejuvenation, and recently I’ve also added vitamin C, finding that the natural brightening it creates has helped enormously with darkened skin, pigmentation and scarring. A chemical exfoliant has also become key to keeping my breakouts at bay.

Changingskinovertime

The truth is that everyone’s skin is different, and skin changes significantly as we age. Dr Shanahan says that her patients arrive in her office for a wide variety of reasons, and every skin concern comes with its own challenges. “Managing teens with breakouts is the most challenging, as they forget how important the skin layers are in immunity, nutrient absorption and protection, and are too busy harshly scrubbing away to remove blemishes or checking out the TikTok hacks for ‘improving their skin’,” she says. Teens may be mostly concerned with breakouts and blemishes, but for adults, the key concern is combating the visible signs of ageing.

“The two most common skin complaints that people seek treatment for are sagging skin and lacklustre/uneven skin tone,” she says. Dr Cara McDonald suggests that if you’re feeling overwhelmed when it comes to skincare and wondering how to take care of it, the Going Beyond Beauty website is a great start.

“Going Beyond Beauty provides up-todate information on skincare, wellness and beauty provided by experts in their field,” she says. “It’s an educational site that we can trust to provide useful information and expert opinion.”

And often, that expert opinion is what will really make the difference. Dr Shanahan agrees that there’s no point in struggling needlessly with your skin.

“Just like in all areas of medicine, we should be focusing on preventative medicine when it comes to our skin, including checking for skin cancer” she says, “so at least an annual visit to your skin specialist is imperative.”

Theperfectrecipe

One of the big mysteries for me as I’ve tried to perfect my skincare routine over the years is decoding exactly the right order to apply products. While experts may differ when it comes to their favourite products or treatments, there isn’t anyone who doesn’t recommend a 50+ SPF every day, rain, hail or shine.

The bottom line is that when it comes to your skin, you are the one who knows it best. No routine is perfect — it’s about what is perfect for you. Most important is that you pay attention to your skin as it changes and evolves, and give it the love and care it it deserves.

BasedonDrCaraMcDonald&DrJane Shanahan’sprofessionalexperience

A busy mum’s guide to everyday makeup

Between grabbing lunches for the kids, getting them dressed for school, feeding the pets and getting out the door before 8.30am, it’s understandable that there is barely any time left to get yourself ready.

If you have only five minutes to get ready in the morning, these simple steps will have you looking refreshed in no time. Sometimes the smallest moves, such as applying concealer and mascara, are all you need to look refreshed. Do what works best for you. You don’t need to use a lot of makeup to look

incredible every day.

For those who are time-poor but want to achieve a healthy glow every day, Nicole Body from Ivadore suggests using their face tanner in the evening, a treatment moisturiser and tanner in one made from natural ingredients.

“It fills out your natural colour making your complexion look more radiant and healthy,” she explains.

Begin by mixing tanner with your moisturiser. Using your hands, apply the products all over your face twice a week. Make sure you blend it into your hairline and

down your neck to achieve an even appearance.

For a more contoured effect, add a small amount of tanner to a flat top brush and blend it in the places you would usually apply your makeup.

“For a softer colour and maintenance, mix 50:50 with your moisturiser or a face oil, depending on your skin colour and your preference,” says Nicole.

“There’s no need to moisturise after application, and our best advice is to apply at night after cleansing, so you wake up with super soft, nourished skin.”

Five-minute makeuptips

1. Begin with primer and sunscreen. These are essential for setting your makeup in place and preventing skin damage and premature ageing.

2. If you wish to wear foundation, opt for a BB cream or mineral foundation, which offers enough coverage to even out your complexion but doesn’t look too cakey. Use a large brush for a flawless application, or use a wet sponge for a more natural finish.

2

. Apply two small amounts of concealer underneath your eyes and in any areas with discolouration. Blend using a wet sponge or your fingers for a more natural finish.

3. Brush through your eyebrows using a spooly, and fill in sparse areas with a pencil. Lock them in place with a clear gel for stay all day.

4. Using your fingers, apply a small amount of cream blush on the highest point of your cheeks. This will add instant life and dimension to your face. You can use the same colour for your lips as well.

5. Swipe a few layers of mascara to brighten your eyes.

Looking great while on the go can be a challenge, and often mums will find themselves in too much of a rush to get glam before they leave the house. But it doesn’t have to be this way, writes Alexandra Feiam

Helena’s all for happy feet

Helena Dunbar is passionate about footcare. And the fully qualifed nail technician urges seniors in particular to make sure their feet get a little TLC.

Helena welcomes clients to her home, ofering personalised, oneonone pedicures and manicures. She also ofers a mobile service for clients with mobility issues.

“I really want people to start looking afer their feet, because they get you from A to B in life,” she said. “When you get older it can be a little hard to maintain your nails and feet.

“I’m able to ofer a clean , cut and fle service,” she said, adding that many of her senior clients take advantage of at home services.

Basic to deluxe services are on ofer for both men and women using quality products.

“A basic pedicure includes a soak and pedi-paddle for heels to smooth skin as well as a trim, fle and message with a polish, if you wish, at the end.

“My deluxe pedicure includes a pedi paddle to heels and dry areas, a cut and fle of toenails, then exfoliation to the lower legs and feet, followed by a massage and a soak in parrafn wax to hydrate feet. If skin is in poor condition extra attention is made with sofening creams prior to wax soak for a wonderful fnish. A back massage is included in the chair for an added beneft in the at-home deluxe service.”

Parrifn is great for arthritis in the feet and is amazing for hydrating your skin. And the great thing is a deluxe is only needed once a month. Check out the Facebook Page for details.

Helena provides pedicure services from home or straight to your door ( will incur extra charge for pedicure)

Running for a good cause

Throughout the month of October, our St Andrew’s team put on their running shoes and pounded the pavement in support of a good cause. Across the hospital, staff came together to support the Royal Flying Doctor Service’s month-long ‘Oceans to Outback’ fundraising campaign, completing between 80 to 140 kilometres each on foot and raising vital dollars to help keep the flying doctor flying.

With many of our patients at St Andrew’s travelling large distances to access medical services, we know how important the RFDS is for helping many complete that journey.

Every year, the RFDS reach more than 330,000 Australians with 24-hour emergency retrieval and primary healthcare services. That’s one person every two minutes!

Theatre registered nurse Josh Hawkins,

led the team’s fundraising efforts, raising more than $1800 for his 140-kilometre journey, while Acting Director of Nursing Ashleigh Shannon led lunchtime walks for staff, helping to promote mental and physical

health and fitness during the workday, while also raising more than $300 for the cause. The team of 14 smashed their original goal of raising $3000, setting a new target of over $6000 12 days into the challenge.

The RFDS challenge is one of many important causes we have supported this year at St Andrew’s, and we greatly appreciate the community’s support we have received along the way.

St Andrew’s Toowoomba Hospital is an award-winning modern facility which has a respectful, united learning environment with a focus on patient care.

Ifyouorsomeoneyouknowisinterestedin joiningourteam,visitsath.org.au/aboutus/careers/toseeourlatestjob opportunities.

St Andrew’s staff raise vital funds for Royal Flying Doctor Service

omen will continue to receive expanded healthcare services for urinary tract infections (UTI) following the Queensland Government’s decision to permanently extend a successful pilot program.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Yvette D’Ath announced in July that Queensland Health would embed the Urinary Tract Infection Pharmacy Pilot (UTIPP-Q) into business-as-usual care for Queenslanders.

Minister D’Ath said the decision ensured women aged between 18 and 65 could continue to receive immediate advice and treatment for uncomplicated UTIs through their local participating pharmacy.

“UTIPP-Q was introduced in June 2020 to improve and support the health of Queensland women and has been incredibly successful since its commencement,” she said.

“Queensland Health engaged with local pharmacies, representative bodies and the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) to significantly enhance women’s access to early, convenient and effective treatment for

uncomplicated UTIs.

“Participating pharmacists were empowered to provide advice, and where appropriate, medication ensuring women could seek treatment quickly and locally given the more than 800 pharmacies that took part.

“More than 6700 women accessed this service, which reported overall positive consumer satisfaction due to availability of immediate advice, treatment and, if required, onward referral to a doctor.”

Minister D’Ath said consultation would now occur with key healthcare stakeholders representing pharmacists, doctors, health consumers and nurses on how best to implement the program on an ongoing basis.

“Queensland Health worked incredibly closely with stakeholders to ensure the pilot delivered positive results for women who took part, and I am confident that work will continue,” she said.

“It demonstrates what can be achieved when we work together in the interests of improving healthcare for Queenslanders.”

QUT led the pilot on behalf of Queensland Health and recently

conducted an evaluation report that found pharmacists and consumers were generally pleased and supportive of the scheme.

“In most cases, women taking part presented for a single episode of care with symptoms consistent with an uncomplicated UTI and received immediate treatment or advice, in line with the pilot’s aims,” Minister D’Ath said.

“It is important Queensland Health continues to evolve to provide effective healthcare services to the community, and engaging with local pharmacies is critical to achieving this.

“We know from international experience on how effective this can be, particularly in the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand where community pharmacists provide a wide range of patient care activities including prescribing.”

SouthtownPharmacyat148a SouthSt,CentenaryHeights,isa participatingpharmacyandishereto fulfilyourneeds.

Visittheteamfrom8.30amto 5.30pmweekdaysand8.30amto 1pmonSaturdays,orcallon4635 7766

St Vincent’s Private Hospital

Toowoomba is proud to offer a dedicated Paediatric Ward which provides high quality care and support to children and their families.

St Gabriel’s Paediatric Ward is run by an experienced and dedicated team of nursing staff, offering one-on-one direct care with Paediatric consultants. The Paediatric and Maternity wards, and Special Care Nursery offer holistic and streamlined care for newborns up to the age of seventeen years.

The Paediatric Ward provides care for medical and surgical patients with an array of conditions. Our team of Paediatricians, nurses and allied health staff work together to provide the best possible care for your child. Paediatric procedures and services available at St Vincent’s Private Hospital Toowoomba include:

● Orthopaedics (bones, joints and soft tissue)

● Ear nose and throat surgery

● Respiratory and medical conditions

● General surgical

● Day infusions

● Sleep studies

● Neonatal care in our Level 4 Special Care Nursery

Additionally, the Paediatric Ward offers a baby and parenting in-patient support service that provides welcomed support through infancy. Whether it is your first or fourth child, we are here to help.

There are fantastic Paediatricians who work with St Gabriel’s Ward, and have consult rooms at our hospital.

● Dr Leanne Browning at Centapaeds

● Dr Manjula Athukoralange Don at Centapaeds

● Dr Shailja Singh at Sonder Paediatrics

FormoreinformationaboutPaediatric servicesatStVincent’sToowoomba,and contactdetailsforourPaediatricians,visit ourwebsitewww.svpht.org.au

How many times have we heard the saying that to raise a child takes a village? Most new parents –especially first time parents –often underestimate what that village may need to look like and how many villagers will need to be in place!

Child raising encompasses may complex emotions. The decisions you may sweat over are things you would barely have even considered before you have a baby in your arms. Fortunately in Toowoomba we are lucky to have a range of options to gather

information, to meet people and develop relationships. It’s great to start to develop ideas around who you can ask for support and how that might look before your baby is born and to re-evaluate during the various stages from baby, to toddler, to preschool, school and beyond.

Thefirstweeksandmonths

The first weeks are all about sleeping, feeding and recovery time. Its critical that both parents, where possible, are around as much of the time to tag team. Family, including all

levels of extended family can also be extra nurturers for mum.

The important thing is to focus on what mum needs, not baby. Leave baby for mum to care for and do her jobs – cleaning, cooking, shopping unless specifically asked to take baby so she can sleep. From about 6-8 weeks supporting the new parents into routines or rhythms that support their family’s needs is useful and things like offering to clean the house, do loads of washing but again taking a baby for a walk while mum rests can be invaluable.

Babydays

The changes in the village as baby grows will be obvious and will depend on who in the family is working outside the home and what that looks like.

It is really important that mum has time to herself regardless of her level of work in and out of the home. This can be facilitated by partners, grandparents and even paid childcare or creches. Some mums prefer to stay with baby, but it is still critical that she gets time for simple pleasures, having a bath, reading, exercise if she wants that, or outings. Each family needs to work out their own comfort levels.

Toddlers

Toddlers are curious creatures and the village at this point needs to include activities out of the home and with other toddlers in a safe environment.

Mothers groups, play groups and any range of activities can assist. Depending on both parents and out of home work, these activities should be a joy rather than a chore.

Preschoolandbeyond

Once children get toward preschool and school there is often another child who has entered the village and the whole process has started again. Having time at preschool and beyond helps with socialisation and also for the care providing parent to have time with a lower level of responsibility.

InToowoomba

My Midwives provides antenatal classes and newborn care classes to maximise ideas about how to develop the village. Mothers groups – both paid and unpaid – are an option to meet other new mothers.

It is a great time to consider interests – you may be interested in music, swimming, gym groups or simple things like the Australian Breastfeeding Association. Starting with your pregnancy care provider is a great option as they may be able to direct you to a group that meets your needs.

LizWilkesisManagingDirectorofMy Midwivesandifyouhaveanyquestions aboutpregnancycare,classesorour mothersgroupspleasecontacttheclinic onadmin@mymidwives.com.auorphone 1300982951.

So, you’ve just gone through teething (or you’re about to) and now your baby has a brand-new tooth that needs to be looked after. You may think that your baby is too young for any sort of dental care routine but that couldn’t be further from the truth!

From the moment that first, shiny tooth pops its head out into the open, dental health becomes important.

Until their adult teeth come through, your child will need to rely on their milk teeth, so it is very important that you begin to care for

them as early as possible, beginning with a trip to the dentist.

Brushingyourchild’steeth

The best way to look after your baby’s teeth is to get into the habit of brushing them, even if there is only one! Use a soft toothbrush with water to begin with.

Then at the age of 18 months choose a lowfluoride toothpaste suitable for use in children. It’s also important to begin flossing right from the start!

Before their teeth arrive, get into good

habits by wiping their gums with a soft cloth twice a day. Don’t be too concerned if you can’t brush their teeth much at first. The most important thing is to get into the habit of brushing, so your baby knows that it’s a part of their daily routine.

As your child gets older, it may be tempting to let them brush their own teeth unassisted. Though it is important to teach your child to brush independently, it is a good idea to continue helping them brush their teeth until they’re around seven or eight-years-old and can do it well enough on their own.

Cutdownonsugar

Sugar is a source of food for the bacteria that live in our mouth. The bacteria produce acid, which can damage the outer surface of the tooth (called the enamel). While saliva in our mouth helps to repair this damage, if there is more damage than repair a hole in the tooth (known as a cavity) can develop.

Babies who are settled to sleep with a bottle of milk (or other sweet drinks) can be especially at risk, since the liquid can pool in their mouths and feed the bacteria that cause tooth decay while they sleep. It is best to limit sweets as much as possible and establish good healthy eating habits early.

Consider the following tips to reduce the amount of time your child’s teeth are in contact with sugar:

● Don’t put your baby to bed with a bottle

● Never put sweet drinks in a baby’s bottle

● Teach your child to drink from a cup from around six months of age

● From 12 months, only water or plain full-fat milk should be their main drink choices

● Fruit juice is not necessary or recommended for children due to its high sugar content and acidity

Sugar can be tricky to identify in different foods since they go by many different names. Some common names for sugar on ingredient lists include fructose, sucrose, dextrose and glucose. Avoiding foods with added sugars is one of the most important things you can do to keep your teeth healthy.

WhenshouldItakemybabyto seeadentist?

The Australian Dental Association advises that the earlier parents begin taking their baby to the dentist, the better.

As a good rule of thumb, you should start considering a dentist visit for your little one as soon as their teeth start to come out.

Your dentist will be able to make sure that your baby’s teeth are all coming out as expected and give you valuable advice on how to keep your baby’s teeth healthy and strong.

Thisarticleisforgeneralinformationonlyand notintendedasasubstituteformedicaladvice. Allinformationpresentedonthesewebpagesis notmeanttodiagnoseorprescribe.Inallhealthrelatedmatters,alwaysconsultyourhealthcare professional

Home away from home

The refurbishment of the relative’s accommodation at Toowoomba Hospital has been the Darling Downs Order of Saint John’s project for the past 12 months.

The Order is an international, ecumenical, Christian group of men and women. It dates back to the Knights Hospitaller of the 16th century who, during and since the Crusades, have served the sick and the poor.

The Darling Downs group (called a Priory) has 71 members who over the past 10 years have raised and then donated $1 million to such endeavours.

The six rooms of the relative’s accommodation at Toowoomba Hospital were originally constructed in 1999 for the Red Cross after a successful fundraising project chaired by John Dornbusch. The unit was named the Clive Berghofer Toowoomba Hospital Accommodation in recognition of the major donor, Clive Berghofer AM. Now run by the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation, it was their wish to refurbish the rooms.

A Priory Fundraising Committee was established in 2022, chaired by Lt Col Julian Turner. The other members were Sue Fox, Amanda Boyce and Pat Gillespie, Wayne Anderson, Bill Barrett, Peter Brodie, Noel Cass, Ross Douglas, Mark Osborne, and Jeff Prebble.

The committee considered charitable options and decided to work with the Hospital Foundation on what was called “The Hospitaller’s Home Away from Home Project’’. The cost of refurbishing each room was assessed at $55,000, so this was an ambitious undertaking.

Work commenced on renovating all six units in August 2021 and is now almost complete.

Thanks to the efforts of Joe Wagner, 20 companies provided in-kind donations. The major contributor was Hutchinson Builders, who undertook the construction work for all six rooms as a donation. This has been generously supported by subcontractors including Weston Kitchens & Bathrooms, Livewired Electrical, and Demco Constructions.

Cash donations and sponsorship from many others including Clive Berghofer Group, pbAgrifood, Wagners and Heritage Bank raised $47,500 and all of the printing was donated by Mark Osborne from Greenridge Press.

The culmination of the project was a blacktie dinner at the Empire Theatre on Saturday, October 8.

Attended by 250 guests, the black-tie dinner included pre dinner drinks and canapes served on the lawn before guests moved inside to be seated on the stage of the theatre for dinner.

The guest speaker was Dr. Reginald

Humayun

In 2007, he was kidnapped by the Taliban, sentenced to death, but miraculously was released after 25 days. He came to Australia for protection in 2009 and works with Jobfit Health Group in occupational medicine.

He still continues activity in Pakistan to set free Christian bonded labourers and is helping to build a school, a vocational training centre, a health centre and homes for the homeless.

At the function 2840 raffle tickets (raising $6140) were sold to generous guests by an efficient team led by Pat Gillespie, while $7600 was raised from an auction. The final result was a total of $396,430 in-kind and cash donations.

ABOVE:OrderofStJohnblack-tiedinner onthestageatEmpireTheatre,October

Zahiruddin. Aged 69 years, this general surgeon was born in Pakistan and worked in government hospitals and Christian Mission Hospitals. He established the social welfare organisation, Mercy Home and a Christian Health Centre in Pakistan.

Group raises $396k for hospital accomodation

And the winners are ...

The Toowoomba Chamber through its CBD Revitalisation Advisory Committee (CBD-RAC) is delighted to announce the winners of the ‘Carnival in the CBD’, following a successful response and some outstanding entries.

CBD tenants and landlords were encouraged to get into the spirit of Carnival, by dressing their shopfronts in a way that celebrate this great Toowoomba tradition and bring back some of the atmosphere that has been absent from the CBD in recent years.

Toowoomba Chamber executive officer Lucas Wegener said, “this year we had a total of 39 businesses enter with amazing displays from chalk flowers, paintings, big bunches of flowers, bikes, a nod to Queen Elizabeth II and even interactive displays, which made the task of choosing the winner a difficult one.

“We would like to thank all participating businesses and thank you for contributing to Carnival in the CBD.

“In the end, the judges had a very difficult decision, but after much consideration, it was determined that, Quest Toowoomba was the 2022 winner, with their wonderful tribute to the Carnival of Flowers.

“A runner up prize when to the outstanding display House Estate Agents.

“The judges want to provide a special mention to fantastic displays by Ray White Commercial, Joels Salon de Men, Good Start Learning Centre and ADRA Op Shop.

“The People’s Choice Award as voted by the public was taken out by Uva Wine Bar.

“The Toowoomba Chamber would like to thank all the business that entered and did their part to bring some atmosphere to the CBD and to the event sponsors, The Chronicle, Style Magazine, Triple M Radio, Little Pig Consulting, and Copper Bench,” said Lucas.

The Toowoomba Chamber’s Carnival in the CBD

The Kids’ Edition

If your kids erupt into Oscar-worthy dramatics the minute you try to add a new vegetable onto their dinner plate, take heart. Even top chefs still struggle as parents to get their kids to eat something different.

Michelin star chef, restaurateur, author and media personality, Curtis Stone is one of the best in the world, yet even he has to be strategic when it comes to vegetables.

But his secret weapon that he has used since his children Hudson (10) and Emerson (8), were toddlers isn’t in the kitchen. It’s in his backyard.

“I’ve had veggie gardens from when they were young and I’d take them out and let them know where their food comes from,” Curtis said.

“If they’re helping in the garden, then they have ownership over their food in some ways. I’ve found that once they’re involved in the growing process, and then also in the cooking process, they’re more willing to eat what’s on their plate as it’s already familiar.”

Thinkbeyondtheflavour

If you have ever had a child reject a slice of cucumber or a piece of pumpkin as soon as it touches their mouth, you’ll know how food feels is important.

foods, toddlers eat purees and then you slowly bring them into the world of different colours and textures.”

Another tip, said Curtis, is to mix vegetables with foods they already know and like, such as pasta.

“Introducing something new with something familiar is a good plan,” he

vegetable should be crunchy and nutritious, so don’t puree it.”

If your kids have a favourite meal that might not be particularly nutrient rich (chicken nuggets anyone?), then rethink how you could recreate a similar taste or texture –but make it healthy.

first by choosing a dish to try, and then helping with the simple things, like chopping or, if they’re old enough, even frying (supervised of course).

“If you get kids involved in the cooking process, they’re proud and happy with what they make,” Curtis said. “As a parent, it’s hard because you’re busy and you put time into cooking something and it’s frustrating if kids don’t want it. Involving kids takes the pressure away, and there’s learning there.

“And, if you’re unsuccessful one night, say ‘Next time, let’s try something slightly different’.”

While he’s a world-renowned chef, Curtis still uses tricks he learnt from his mum when it comes to trying new things at dinner time.

“I’ve heard my mum say that hunger is the best source,” he said with a laugh. “And if you’re constantly giving kids options, like, ‘If you don’t like that, I’ll cook this …’ Don’t give your kids options. Just say, “This is what we’re having for dinner’.”

So, what is the best way for parents to start their own kitchen garden?

“The ultimate thing is a herb garden. It takes up hardly any space, children can grow and water them and realise that we eat plants!

“Parents will say, ‘My kids don’t eat herbs’,

Experiences for everyone at Dance Central

No matter the genre you’re interested in, Dance Central has a class for you offering classical ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, and hip hop as well as musical theatre, acro, Ready Set Dance, preschool ballet, Silver Swans ballet, and drama.

Caroline Vandersee became principal this year, taking the reins from Alison Vallette who had invited Caroline to teach when the studio opened in 2002.

“Dance Central first opened to provide a much-needed performing arts education to the youth of Toowoomba,” Caroline says. “There was a need to provide a holistic, inclusive education to students of all abilities.

“We believe that students thrive being in a class similar to that of their peers. That being said, safety is a priority so a less experienced student may need to start in a slightly lower level to strengthen and build technique. Class numbers vary depending on the age level and experience of the students.”

The students perform at Dance Central’s annual junior and senior productions at the

Empire Theatre, as well as having the opportunity to perform at eisteddfods.

The studio prides itself on being familyfriendly, with teachers who put the needs of the students first and provide quality dance education. The 16 staff are made up of a passionate group.

“The respect we have for both teachers and students alike creates open communication and a caring environment,” Caroline says. “Dance Central has provided a safe and nurturing environment for many years.

“I have seen this as a teacher/employee, as a mother of a student who has progressed from a toddler to a young adult, and now as the principal.”

Dance Central provides an opportunity for all students to develop a love of dance and the performing arts which gives them life skills and friendships.

Formoreinformation,visit dancecentral.net.auorcallthestudioon 46130415.

Roll up for loads of fun

Whether it’s school holidays, the weekend, or time to blow off some steam after school, bowling is something everyone can enjoy, whether you’re five years old or 50.

Tenpin bowling at Sunset Superbowl is where ‘the fun never sets’.

Sunset offers great discounts for worldwide League Bowlers and customers with disabilities as well as school, vacation care and OSHC outings.

Shoe hire is free, with games starting from $11.50 for children aged 15 and under.

Sunset also includes an arcade with games for everyone and is introducing new attractions all the time.

The arcade is fitted out with the intercard system, which means no more rustling around your pockets for loose change as you can preload the arcade game card.

Any tickets won on games will go straight onto this card as well, which can be redeemed later from the massive range of top-quality prizes.

Food at Sunset Superbowl is also worth the visit, with the cafe/bistro offering a laid-back social atmosphere while catering to most tastes.

So, if you’re looking for some fun for the

family, friends or even work colleagues this summer, Sunset Superbowl is the place to find it.

Discoverwhere‘thefunneversets’for yourselfat527SouthSt,Glenvale,orcall formoreinformationon46340233.

Throwabirthdayparty forthefamilypooch Head to a pet cafe and spoil the most important member of the family with a very special day.

thefloatiesand headtoanationalpark If you need a better reason than natural beauty and good company, what about the fact Australia’s swimming holes make killer Insta posts?

to throw, smash, bash and break whatever you want. • Kate’s Place, Middle Ridge Thank you for supporting our small local family business • Our qualified and dedicated Educators are passionate in ensuring every child is happy, safe, learning and succeeding • Stimulating natural environments where we focus on joy in learning • All inclusive Fee includes meals, nappies, formulas etc MIDDLE RIDGE  4636 1554  www.katesplace.com.au

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Childhood friends for life

Tambo Teddies are the special cuddly partners that Aussie kids cherish for life. Each bear is handmade with love by a member of the small team, making the teddies are individual as their makers.

“Each Tambo Teddy is individually handcrafted and has a unique number which is located on a woven tag sewn into their leg,” part-owner Alison Shaw says.

Made from the softest Australian and New Zealand sheepskins that the owners can find, the bear patterns are drawn up and cut out by hand, and then sewn on a machine called a cup seam overlocker.

Each sewer sews the complete bear, turns them out and stuffs them and then sews the neck up by hand. No two bears are ever the same, and there have been more than 66,000 made during the business’s lifeline.

“The bears are given a name which consists of a Tambo property alliterated with a Christian name,” Alison says.

“The bears’ numbers and names are all recorded plus who they go to live with, the

Tambo Teddies began back in 1992, with the first bears sold at a Charleville market in February 1993.

The birth year of Tambo Teddies was in the midst of a crippling drought and stockpile of wool, which drove the price of wool and sheep down to virtually nothing.

leading to dying towns and lack of work.

“The government came through the west holding seminars to identify new economic development opportunities,” Alison says.

“Three ladies in Tambo came up with the idea of creating sheepskin teddy bears to help the farmers, the wool industry and

scale operation, the processes were manual and slow, and the pair had to find ways to increase production and encourage staff to stick around in a small town.

In 2019, they turned to Toowoomba, a bigger town and major migrant resettlement community 800 kilometres down the road, where they set up a regional sewing hub employing Syrian refugees.

“It’s been a lovely win-win story, actually,” Alison says.

“Teddies started during a time of adversity, and these guys have been displaced, but they’ve got the skills we need.”

Scaling up a cottage industry without losing its essence has been a challenge. However, to this day, each bear is still made by one person from start to finish and no two look exactly the same. Every Tambo Teddy is special, they all have their own personality, are soft, cuddly, and totally unique.

Next year, Tambo Teddies will be celebrating 30 years of creating teddy bear friends for both the young and the young at

Cookingwithkids

Mexican taco pizza

Taco meets pizza in this quick and easy vegetarian dinner idea

Serves 4 Prep time 5 mins Cooking times 15 minutes

Chinese pork sliders

Entertain with ease with these flavoursome Chinese pork sliders.

Makes20 Preptime15mins

Ingredients

● 2 tbsp rice vinegar

● 2 tbsp caster sugar

● 1 carrot, cut into matchsticks

● 2 Lebanese cucumbers, seeds removed, cut into matchsticks

● ¼ cup (60ml) sriracha (see notes)

● ¼ cup (75g) mayonnaise

● 20 small (7cm) burger buns, split

● 300g good-quality chicken liver pâté

● 600g Chinese roast pork belly (see notes), sliced

● 1 cup coriander leaves

● 1 cup micro cress (see notes)

Method

Step1

Combine vinegar, sugar and one teaspoon salt in a bowl. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Add the carrot and cucumber, then stand for at least 10 minutes to pickle. Drain well and set aside.

Step2

Combine sriracha and mayonnaise in a bowl and set aside.

Step3

Lightly toast the buns, then spread the base of each with a generous amount of pâté. Fill the buns with slices of pork belly and top with coriander, micro cress and a little pickled carrot and cucumber. Drizzle with the chilli mayonnaise and finish each slider with a bun top.

Recipenotes

Sriracha is a Thai chilli sauce from Asian food shops. Chinese roast pork is from Chinese takeaway shops. Micro cress is from selected greengrocers.

Ingredients

● 2(450gpkt)pizzabases

● 300gmediumchunkysalsa

● 425gcanmexebeans, rinsed,drained

● 20g(1½cups)grated mozzarellaorpizzacheese

● 200gcherrytomatoes, halved

● 1smallredonion,sliced

● 1avocado,sliced

● Freshcoriandersprigs,to serve

● Sourcream,toserve

● Hotsauce,toserve

● Slicedfreshchilli,toserve

● Limewedges,toserve

Method

Step1

Preheattheovento220C/200Cfanforced.Placethepizza basesontwobakingtrays.Spreadthreetofourtablespoons salsaovereachpizzabase.Placethebeansinabowland lightlymash.Dividemashedbeansbetweenthepizzabases.

Step2 Sprinkleaquarterofthecheeseoverthepizzas.Topwith tomatoandslicedonion.Sprinklewiththeremainingcheese. Bakethepizzasfor10-15minutesoruntilthecheeseismelted andgolden.

Step3 Servethepizzastoppedwithavocado,coriander,sourcream, hotsauceandslicedchilli,andwithlimewedgesalongside.

Recipenotes

Youcanuseothercannedbeans,suchascannellini,kidney orborlottibeans,insteadofthemexebeans.

Peanut butter rice bubble slice

Makes 30 Prep time 4h 20m Cooking time 5 mins

Ingredients

● 400g pitted dates, finely chopped

● 260g (1 cup) smooth natural peanut butter

● 2 tbsp malted milk powder

● 2 tbsp maple syrup

● 2 tsp vanilla extract

● 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted

● 55g (1 ½ cups) rice bubbles cereal

● 200g dark chocolate, chopped

Method

Step1

Grease a 20 x 30cm slice pan. Line the base and two long sides with baking paper, allowing the paper to overhang the long sides.

Step2

Place the dates, peanut butter, milk powder, maple syrup, vanilla and one-and-a-half tablespoons coconut oil in a food processor. Process until a coarse paste forms. Transfer to a large bowl. Add rice bubbles. Use clean hands to gently combine. Spoon the rice bubble mixture into the prepared pan. Press down firmly to smooth the surface.

Step3

Place the chocolate and remaining coconut oil in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (make sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water). Cook, stirring until melted and smooth. Pour the chocolate mixture over the biscuit layer. Smooth the surface. Cover and place in the fridge for four hours or overnight until set. Cut into squares to serve.

Sushi rice salad

Keep rice handy in the kitchen for casual entertaining ideas, like this salmon sushi salad.

Serves4Preptime30mins

Cooking time20mins

Ingredients

● 1 ½ cups (330g) sushi rice

● ¼ cup (60ml) seasoned rice vinegar

● 1 tsp caster sugar

● 2 tsp nigella seeds (see note)

● 200g frozen podded edamame, blanched, drained, refreshed (see note)

● 4 radishes, trimmed, thinly sliced

● 1 avocado, chopped

● 300g sashimi-grade centre-cut salmon, thinly sliced (see note)

● Coriander leaves, to serve

● Pickled ginger, to serve

Dressing

● 1 tbsp light soy sauce

● 1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce

● 2 tbsp rice vinegar

● 2 tsp wasabi paste

● ¼ cup (60ml) olive oil

Method

Step1

Rinse rice under cold water to remove the starch. Drain, then place in a pan with two cups (500ml) water and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stand, without removing the lid, for 10 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and rice is cooked.

Step2 Meanwhile, combine vinegar, sugar, nigella seeds and one teaspoon salt. Stir through the rice, then spread out on a tray to cool.

Step3

For the dressing, combine soy, sweet chilli sauce, vinegar, wasabi and oil. Toss with edamame, radish and avocado. Divide rice among bowls and top with edamame mixture and slices of salmon. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with pickled ginger.

Recipenotes

Nigella seeds and edamame are from Asian food shops. Sashimi-grade salmon is from fishmongers.

Rice is widely used, like basmati for Indian dishes, jasmine for rich Thai curries or arborio for creamy risottos and rice puddings. Even if you buy sushi ready made, sushi rice is great to have on hand to add substance to salads.

Combining peanut butter and rice bubbles, this crispy slice is an easy and quick way to impress the kids, and we can guarantee that you’ll love it too!

food

Edible slime

Great for kids, this monster, mermaid, gummy bear and unicorn slime is made from marshmallow, coconut oil and cornflour so it’s safe for kids to put in their mouths.

Makes4.Preptime30mins

Ingredients

● 800g white marshmallows

Monsterslime

● 2 tbsp solid coconut oil

● 70g (½ cup) cornflour, plus extra, to dust

● 4-6 drops good-quality electric green gel or paste food colouring

● Icing eyes and moustaches

Mermaidslime

● 2 tbsp solid coconut oil

● 70g (½ cup) cornflour, plus extra, to dust

● 4-6 drops good-quality blue gel or paste food colouring

● Sprinkles

Gummybearslime

● 2 tbsp solid coconut oil

● 70g (½ cup) cornflour, plus extra, to dust

● 4-6 drops good-quality yellow gel or paste food colouring

● Mini gummy bears, to decorate

Unicornslime

● 2 tbsp solid coconut oil

● 70g (½ cup) cornflour, plus extra, to dust

● 4-6 drops good-quality pink gel or paste food colouring

● Sprinkles and icing unicorns

Monsterslimemethod

Step1

Place 200g marshmallows and coconut oil in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 20 seconds. Stir then microwave again, in 10-second bursts and stirring after each burst, until marshmallows have just melted (be careful not to overheat).

Step2

Add the cornflour and mix until well combined. Stir in the food colouring until well combined (the mixture will be very warm).

Step3

Dust a non-stick silicone baking mat or plastic chopping board with extra cornflour. Transfer mixture to mat and cover with an upside-down bowl. Set aside for 20 minutes to cool (the mixture will firm up as it cools).

Step4

Sprinkle the mixture with extra cornflour and knead gently, using more cornflour to prevent the mixture sticking (pulling and rolling helps it

Thermomix playdough

Making these shiny balls of fun is child’s play in the Thermomix.

Makes3balls Preptime 5minsCookingtime5mins

Ingredients

●

to combine and become more elastic). Add icing eyes and knead lightly to combine. Have fun and roll into balls and decorate with icing moustaches and more icing eyes.

Mermaidslimemethod

Step1

Divide 200g marshmallows and coconut oil evenly between two microwave-safe bowls.

Step2

Microwave each bowl on high for 20 seconds. Stir then microwave again, in 10-second bursts and stirring after each burst, until marshmallows have just melted (be careful not to overheat).

Step3

Divide cornflour between bowls. Mix well until combined. Add food colouring to one bowl and mix well (the mixture will be very warm).

Step4

Dust a non-stick silicone baking mat or plastic chopping board with extra

cornflour. Transfer the mixtures to prepared mat and cover each with an upside-down bowl. Set aside for 20 minutes to cool (the mixtures will firm up as they cool).

Step5

Sprinkle the mixtures with extra cornflour. Gradually add sprinkles to the blue mixture and knead gently, using more cornflour to prevent mixture sticking (pulling and rolling helps it to combine and become more elastic). Roll into a ball. Roll white mixture into a ball then roll the 2 balls together to create a marbled effect. Stretch and roll into a log. Have fun and shape into coils, if you like, and decorate with more sprinkles.

Gummybearslimemethod

Step1

Place 200g marshmallows and coconut oil in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 20 seconds. Stir then microwave again, in 10-second bursts and stirring after

seconds/speed 10.

each burst, until marshmallows have just melted (be careful not to overheat).

Step2

Add the cornflour and mix well until combined. Stir in the food colouring until well combined (the mixture will be very warm).

Step3

Dust a non-stick silicone baking mat or plastic chopping board with extra cornflour. Transfer mixture to mat and cover with an upside-down bowl. Set aside for 20 minutes to cool (the mixture will firm up as it cools).

Step4

Sprinkle the mixture with extra cornflour and knead gently, using more cornflour to prevent the mixture sticking (pulling and rolling helps it to combine and become more elastic). Add gummy bears and knead lightly to combine. Have fun and roll into balls and decorate with more gummy bears, if you like.

Unicornslimemethod

Step1

Divide 200g marshmallows and coconut oil evenly between two microwave-safe bowls. Microwave each bowl on high for 20 seconds. Stir then microwave again, in 10-second bursts and stirring after each burst, until marshmallows have just melted (be careful not to overheat).

Step2 Divide cornflour between bowls. Mix well until combined. Add food colouring to one bowl and mix well (the mixture will be very warm).

Step3

Dust a non-stick silicone baking mat or plastic chopping board with extra cornflour. Transfer each mixture to mat and cover each with an upside-down bowl. Set aside for 20 minutes to cool (the mixtures will firm up as they cool).

Step4

Sprinkle the mixtures with extra cornflour. Gradually add sprinkles to the white mixture and knead gently, using more cornflour to prevent mixture sticking (pulling and rolling helps it to combine and become more elastic). Roll into a long log. Roll pink mixture into a long log then roll the 2 logs together to create a marbled effect. Have fun and shape into coils, if you like, and decorate with sprinkles and icing unicorns.

Recipenotes

Wrap slime in plastic wrap when not in use. You will need to keep dusting hands lightly with cornflour while working with slime to prevent sticking. Rubbing fingers with coconut oil also prevents sticking.

Slime is best made on the day. However, it can be warmed slightly again in the microwave to soften.

Too much cornflour will make the slime less stretchy.

●

●

●

●

●

Method

Step

Place

Step4

Remove the dough from the mixing bowl. Return one-third of the dough along with one teaspoon of oil and a few drops of food colouring to reach the desired colour. Knead for one minute or until food colouring is dispersed. Transfer to a work surface and knead until the dough is an even colour. Rinse the mixing bowl and repeat with the remaining dough, oil and colouring.

Step5 Transfer the playdough to sealable plastic bags or airtight containers and store in the fridge.

Sorting through the chaos

interest in them. The solution to this was dividing the toys into two or three groups and leaving only one group out to be played with.

Growing up in a family of nine, feeling like the house was more toy store than sanctuary was a common experience. As the eldest – and with a 10- to 17-year gap between myself and the other children – I was privy to a lot of the organisational conversations the adults of the household had and consequently picked up several tips. Most of the kids are now all grown up, but lucky for us these strategies have stuck and now we can use them in our own households. Here are just a couple we’ve found handy over the years:

Makingtoysseasonal

Whether you’ve got one child or seven, toys accumulate almost as quickly as the kids lose

The other one or two groups of toys would be stored away, out of sight, until the kids got bored with their current group – or the seasons changed, whichever was sooner – and then, voila! new toys.

This strategy is particularly good while children are young enough to have limited memory past a few months, as then the toy swap becomes almost as exciting as Christmas.

Intuitivesorting

Ah, Lego – the delight of children, the bane for parents. Keeping track of all those little pieces that are essential to build the finished set is almost as painful as stepping on a Lego in the middle of the night … but not quite.

When it comes to storing Lego, building blocks, marbles, and other toys that include myriad pieces or you just have a large collection, trust your gut. Observe your child playing with the items and how they

organise themselves – do they look for a piece based on colour, or shape, or another factor? Understanding how your kid’s brain works in this way will inform how you store them.

For example, you might store your Lego based on colour for your first child and then when their sibling grows up and starts playing with it you might switch to storing by finished set.

Sacrificeaestheticwhere needed

No, that row of clear storage boxes doesn’t match with the carefully curated lounge room, but it does mean little Timmy can see the toys he’s searching for without opening and tipping out every box and basket (though, let’s be honest, he may very well do that anyway).

When you go shopping for extra storage solutions, also keep in mind that they’ll need to be easy to open for little hands, and sturdy enough to stand some sitting, standing or stamping on without collapsing (or able to be fixed to a wall to avoid falling over when it’s inevitably climbed up).

You may also like to consider clear containers or ones with open tops so the children can see what’s in them at a glance.

No-stress nursery guide

Alice Williams writes a definitive list of the when and what of nursery preparation

When you’re pregnant for the first time you learn a lot of new information, real fast. Examples; the “Snotsucker” is an actual product that you are going to definitely need, CoComelon is about to replace every playlist you’ve ever loved, and you and your co-parent are about to have 10,000 decisions to make when it comes to getting your nursery, and life, ready for your baby. “I just wish someone would tell me exactly what to do, and when” will almost certainly come out of your mouth, so here’s a first parent guide to setting up your nursery to help you save precious brain space.

18-20weeks

Chooseatheme,makealistandset yourbudget

Have you decided to find out the gender of

your baby and will this affect your theme? Or do you plan to keep it gender neutral? Will the nursery look and feel flow on from the rest of your home, or stand out as a special place?

Make sure you choose your theme by the time you’re 20 weeks and let people know –we know it might feel presumptuous but people love having a brief when choosing gifts.

This is also the time to make the “everything we will need list” – keep reading for that.

21-23weeks

Orderyourfurnitureandstartgetting theimportantstuff

Some of your furniture can take weeks to arrive – especially at the moment with stock issues and strain on delivery services. Think

about how far along you are going to be when things get to you, and what help you’ll have when it comes to assembling and moving furniture.

Whattobuynow:

● Crib mattress and cot fitted sheets

● Bassinet (though these are only safe until three months)

● Several thin muslin / cotton receiving blankets and swaddles

● Two or three waterproof mattress protectors

● A baby monitor

● Changing table

● Rocking chair or glider

● Dresser/chest of drawers

● A clothes hamper

● A fully sealed nappy bin

23-25weeks

Paint,wallpaperandbabycare

If you’re decorating and have decided on a paint colour or wallpaper, now is the time to get it done so it has plenty of time to air out before you, baby and baby’s stuff spends too much time in there. If you have your crib mattress by this time it’s also good to remove it from packaging and air it out as well.

You can now also start picking up the baby care basics – these are things that you don’t even know how much you need until you don’t have them. Just a heads up: your bathroom will never be the same again, sorry.

Whattobuynow:

● Several dummies (different brands to see which one your baby likes best)

● Thermometer. Buy two, trust us

● Petroleum jelly / vaseline

● Paracetamol drops

● Nasal aspirator (the aforementioned Snotsucker!)

● Electrolyte drink, such as Pedialyte, to treat dehydration

● Teething ointment or other teething remedy

● Saline nose drops

● A few hooded towels and washcloths

● Infant tub (for after the umbilical cord falls off)

● Bath seat or inflatable tub-within-a-tub (for use after 6 months)

● Baby bath wash and shampoo

● Baby soft brush set

● Nail scissors/nail clippers/nail file set

● Cotton swabs and balls

● Bath toys and a mesh bag to hold bath toys

● Bath thermometer

● Faucet guard

25-27weeks

Storageandsafety

It is no secret babies attract a lot of stuff. Once bub arrives you’ll want everything you need to access quickly at arm’s length. Take a good look at the closet in your nursery as well as the furniture you have ordered to determine what storage baskets, additional shelving or closet solutions you may need.

Now is also a great time to get the baby proofing done – even though it won’t really be an issue til bub is around four months old and more mobile.

Whattobuynow:

● Gates at the top and bottom of all stairs

● Cabinet latches

● Drawer latches

● Outlet covers

● Furniture anchors

● Toilet lock

● Corner guards for low tables

27-30weeks

Finally,thefunstuff!

While you are still comfortable getting around, now is a good time to hang pictures, put up lighting, stock that little bookcase and put away all the gifts from your baby shower. Your furniture should have arrived and you’ll have already figured out how to make the most of the space. Make sure you have also included a space for you in the design that includes a comfortable seat and something to set a drink on.

Whattobuynow:

Seven or more snapcrotch bodysuits/onesies –obviously you can’t go past Bonds

● Four or five side-snap shirts

● Two wearable sleep sacks to use instead of a blanket

A teeny tiny sun hat (awwww!)

Cold-weather hat

Cardigans

● Booties and/or socks

● A special outfit for bringing your baby home

● Baby hangers for the closet

By36weeks

Youwanttobegoodtogo

Just in case the baby decides to arrive a little early and before you get too spherical to move around much, you want to try to have the nursery fully ready to go by the time you are 36 weeks pregnant.

Now is the time to wash all the clothes and crib bedding, stock the changing table with supplies and get your monitor installed and working.

Then, you’re finished – time to prop your bump up on a banana pillow and watch The Letdown on iView with a tub of Ben & Jerrys.

New land tax plan torpedoed

data” required to implement the policy. Thank goodness.

is thankful a government idea did not come to pass

Queensland – we’ve dodged a bullet. Vigilant investors will be aware the state government had been entertaining thoughts of bringing in a new land tax that would have had a crippling effect on the rental market.

Needless to say, property analysts (and housing bodies across the state) have been very vocal about what a bad idea this was.

But, amazingly, it was the reluctance of other state governments to come to the party that finally forced them to scrap the plan last month, with NSW reportedly refusing to share “crucial

The initiative would have seen the state create a new tax law that allowed the Queensland government to use the total value of the investor’s land holdings, including those interstate, in calculating land tax.

It would have had investors dumping properties by the truckload. Something we don’t want as a community.

We’re already enduring the tightest vacancy rates ever seen, so the last thing we need is the government undermining

Looking after your investment shouldn’t be ‘set and forget’.

What is important to you is important to us, so call us today and see how easy it is to make the change.

investor confidence and forcing more landlords to place their properties on the market. When we talk about ‘property investors’, there’s a misguided perception that every landlord sits aboard their yacht eating caviar and drinking Dom Perignon. Not so. Often, it’s the ‘Mum and Dad’ investors who have taken the leap and sunk their life savings into a second property in the hope that it will create an income stream for them. Hopefully creating a nest egg for retirement and leaving an asset that can be passed on to

But, every interest rate rise and

new government tax directly impacts their ability to pay the extra mortgage and if it gets too hard, they’ll walk away in droves.

As more homes and units disappear from the rental pool, it becomes even harder for individuals and families to find accommodation.

That’s why the government’s change of heart is so welcome.

I know people who look on property investing as being “too complicated” because there’s so much they need to be across.

As an investor myself, I know all you need is a good team behind you (with the expert knowledge to help you through the buying process and then oversee your property’s management).

That’s what we do all day, every day at The Real Estate People, so if you ever want to discuss your situation and hear the many, many positives of becoming a landlord then please give us a call.

12 Daniells Close Middle Ridge

- Welcome home to your very own resort, right here in one of the most desired streets in Toowoomba, Daniells

Imagine

having your very own piece of paradise right here in

Today we focus on the astounding kitchen experience. You’ll instantly fall in love with the large uninterrupted 3m Caesarstone workspace ready for you to host your very own dinner parties once you make this resort your home. The kitchen is equipped with Miele, NEFF & Bosh appliances including integrated dishwasher, 900mm induction cooktop, pyrolytic steam-assist oven and warming drawer. You then slide back the foor-to-ceiling custom timber cavity door which opens to an expansive Butler’s pantry - fully equipped with a 2nd Miele dishwasher, large black sink, freezer space, bar area and a multitude of shelving and bench space.

You then move out from one kitchen to another situated in the outdoor living space. This 2nd kitchen is equipped with sink, bar fridge, full stainless-steel Beefeater BBQ, rangehood, 23Mj gas burner & wood-fred pizza oven. Just imagine yourself cooking in this amazing space while enjoying the laugher &

After your wood-fred pizza lunch, you & your guests make your way out to the concrete heated pool equipped with a ‘Fastlane’ swim system as used by the Australian Institute of Sport, which can be used for exercise or fun by turning the pool into a whirlpool for the kids. After swimming you make your way to the custom wooden daybed modeled off that of the JW Marriott on the Gold Coast, to laze around & enjoy the lush tropical landscaping. This is a true Entertainer’s house having easily catered for more than 50 people at once. Now is the time to make this tropical paradise at 12 Daniells Close your new home. It will be one of the best decisions you ever make. Call for your Inspection today!

What’s this hot market done to the value of your property?

How to get out of the house with a newborn

If the idea of going out with your baby makes you anxious, you’re not alone. With this handy guide and our tried-andtested advice, it’ll be less stress and more fun

When you’re a new parent, it can be tempting to just hunker down and stay home with your baby. Things like ducking out for a quick coffee now involve hours of preparation and the precise timing of feeds, naps and playtime, just so you can savour two minutes of peace to sit down and drink a latte. It can all feel Just. Too. Hard.

But trust us: it doesn’t have to be that way. Getting out of the house is truly one of the best things you can do for your health and for your sanity.

Fresh air, exercise and human interaction can shake up the day, shift your mood and give you a sense of accomplishment. The key is setting yourself up for success with the right kit so you can grab and go, knowing whatever happens on your outing, you’re prepared.

We’ve gathered together 15 things that make getting out the door a whole lot easier. Best of all, they fit into a handy nappy bag.

Theessentials

If you’re leaving the house with a newborn, you’re going to need to be carrying it, driving it or pushing it, which means you need a great stroller or baby carrier and – for when walking isn’t an option – a safe and secure car seat. When it comes to car seats, children up to six-months-old must be secured in a rearfacing seat or capsule. After that, you’re legally allowed to turn them forward, but many experts recommend keeping them rear-facing until around two years of age.

Because car seats can be expensive, it definitely helps to get one which is convertible (ie, starts off rear-facing and can be switched forward when the time comes) and does the job from birth to at least four years.

A good stroller is crucial. As with car seats, there are some designed to be used from birth and others for when bub is sitting up on their own at around six months old. Take it from me: for a newborn stroller, don’t skimp on features. This is going to be the place your child sleeps, the place you put your baby so

your arms get a break, the thing that carts all your groceries back from the shops… it’s going to be your best friend. Whether you decide to go for a traditional pram or a jogger or something in between, make sure it’s lightweight but sturdy, steers easily and is simple to put up and collapse. (Because when you have a screaming child desperate for a nap, there’s nothing worse than a stroller that won’t clip together!)

You might also want something simple for short trips to the shops or walks in the park with the dog. A baby carrier is handy, practical and portable and definitely makes life easier. You don’t even have to be leaving the house – I used to strap my son into mine and do the dishes! They can be used from newborn right up to preschool and they come in a range of different fabrics and materials.

Finally, the big non-negotiable is a nappy bag. Because, as this list proves, babies come with a lot of stuff. While a regular old handbag will definitely work, it’s a good idea to get yourself a designated baby bag that is just for outings with your bub: one with plenty of space, storage compartments and added extras like built-in wet bags and drink bottle holders. If yours doesn’t have a built-in wetbag, definitely consider picking one up, because there’s nothing worse than soiled clothes leaking through all your clean, dry belongings. We’d recommend a backpack over a handbag, simply to keep your hands free.

Thebabysettlers

When you’re out of the house, you don’t have your regular creature comforts, which is why it’s great to stash a bunch of stuff in your nappy bag to keep your bub busy, calm and cared for while you’re on the go.

Baby food pouches are an absolute lifesaver. They’re nutritious, filling, don’t take up much space and best of all, don’t need to be refrigerated (until opened). They also come in a huge range of flavours to suit fussy tastebuds. Stash a couple in your bag whenever you’re heading out for the day and you’ll never face a hangry meltdown again.

Other than food, it’s a good idea to bring some familiar sensory elements with you

when you leave home. My son would not sleep unless he had some sort of noise or music playing, so a portable sound spa was a must-have. It clipped onto the car seat or the pram and was an instant trigger for him that it was now time to nap.

A muslin wrap (or two) will never go astray because they have so many uses. They can be a quick changing pad if there’s an unexpected blowout, a breastfeeding cover if you need privacy, or a blanket to keep bub warm and cosy.

Finally, we recommend something stimulating. A toy that clips onto the pram or the car seat is perfect, that way it can’t get lost, but might provide a bit of distraction.

Thechangetimechampions

Unfortunately, until they’re toilet trained you have to pack everything you need to keep your baby clean on the go. That means nappies, wipes, bibs and a change of clothes. Pro tip: always pack more than one spare because the day you decide you won’t need it will be the day your baby has a massive nappy blowout.

There are plenty of wipes on the market. Some are flushable, some are scented, some have soothing oils in them and some are

simply made from water. You can never have too many and they are one of the true essentials.

The same goes for nappies. A good rule of thumb is to always have three spares when you leave the house. I guarantee there will be times you’ll be glad you brought an extra. When it comes to the best brands or cloth vs disposable, it comes down to what you like best. Expect to trial a few before you find your favourite.

As with spare nappies, you’re going to need some spare clothes and bibs on hand if you’re planning to get through the day. It’s not just nappy blowouts – it’s spilt milk or food or upchucks, especially if you have a baby with reflux.

You can’t go wrong with Bonds Wondersuits – they’re easy to get in and out of, perfect for summer or winter and take up minimal space in a bag. Always keep two or three spare when you head out.

Thesanitysavers

You’ve packed everything for bub, but what about you? Here are some tips to make your own life easier when you’re out and about.

Make your stroller into a perfect hub for business or pleasure with stroller accessories. We’d recommend a drink and phone holder to keep that essential coffee upright and within easy reach, and keep your phone close for calls or for controlling that perfect pavement-pounding playlist.

The other thing that comes in super handy is a set of stroller clips and hooks. Stroller clips will keep a muslin wrap secure when your bub needs some privacy and stroller hooks will keep belongings safely attached.

Finally, we always recommend packing a change of clothes for mum. We’re not talking about a full outfit, perhaps just some clean leggings and T-shirt. Because while priority is always getting your bub fresh and clean after an accident, there’s no reason you need to smell like vomit all afternoon!

This might feel like a big list, but trust us: once you’ve got it all together, it’ll be second nature to just grab and go before you head out the door and outings will truly become less of a stress and more of an adventure as you and your bub set off to explore the world.

Perfectrainydayactivity

Make your own seed bombs

Seed bombs are the perfect environmentally friendly rainy day activity

Using seed bombs is a ‘set and forget’ seed planting method that has been around for centuries. It combines paper, soil, seeds and water.

Here we show you how News Corp’s own Melissa Gaggiano made her own seed bombs at home with the kids. Melissa used marigold seeds, but you can use any wildflower assortment that you would like for your garden.

Let’s get started!

Whatyouneed

● Paperscraps(theequivalentofsixA4 sheets)

● 3cupswater

● 20x20cmcheesecloth

● Soil

● Seeds

● Cup

● Elasticband

● Foodblender(Note:Adultsupervisionis

recommendedwhenusingtheblender.)

● 2measuringcups

● Largespoon

Activity

Rip up two cups worth of paper scraps (the equivalent of six A4 paper sheets). Add three cups of water to the paper and let it sit for 30 minutes to soak. Remove one cup of water from soaked paper scraps. Pulp the paper using a food blender.

Drape a small piece of cheesecloth over a cup. Secure the cheesecloth to the sides of the cup with an elastic band.

With a large spoon, scoop a glob of pulped paper onto the cheesecloth, pushing the cheesecloth inward like a bowl. Add a pinch of soil. Add a pinch of seeds. Add another glob of pulped paper.

Remove the elastic band. Bundle the cheesecloth and squeeze the wet seed bomb, reducing excess water. Remove the cheesecloth. Put the wet seed bomb aside in a warm, dry place. Let it dry out for a few days. Make multiple seed bombs with the remaining materials.

Once the seed bombs are dry, fling them anywhere in the garden. Over the next few months, nature will take care of the rest.

Make a de-light-ful glowin-the-dark pasta firefly

Whetherit’sarainyday projectorasideactivityfor Saturdaybarbecuenight, glow-in-the-darkpasta fireflieswillgodownatreat withthekids.

Whatyouneed

● Pasta–bowtie,orecchietteand alargeshell

● Acrylicpaint–whiteandtwo colours

● Glow-in-the-darkpaint

● Googleyeyes

● Straw

● Hotgluegun(seenote)

● Paintbrush

Note: Parental supervision is recommended when using the hot glue gun. As an alternative to a straw, you can use a wood dowel, chopstick or wood skewer.

Activity

Paint a piece of orecchiette pasta with acrylic paint – this piece will be the firefly’s head. Paint a piece of bow tie pasta in another acrylic colour – this will be the wings.

Paint a piece of large shell pasta will white paint – this will be the abdomen.

Once the white paint is dry, paint the shell with glow-in-thedark paint. Add a few extra coats to create stronger phosphorescence.

Glue two googley eyes to the head. Glue the head, wings and abdomen to the end of a straw.

Hold the firefly near a strong light source for a minute or so to activate the phosphorescence. Turn out the lights and run around with your firefly.

Is taking parental leave career suicide?

Many employees hesitate to take the parental leave they need because they’re worried it will hurt their career, that they’ll lose their position or get demoted, and that they’ll be passed over for raises and promotions.

Women have experienced this, but with the push for parental leave equity, men are also realising it’s not an easy ask to take leave and maintain a career.

In fact, Australian men only take 0.5% of

Parental Leave Pay. That means women are taking 99.5% of paid parental leave in Australia. That’s an astonishing number. But why? Why are so many women leaving work to take care of their newborns, while their partners continue to work?

And perhaps more importantly, why are so many women not returning?

The answer is complicated … some factors are physical, some cultural, some economic.

Of course, we women are physically bound to our babies. Giving birth is hard. Hard on our bodies, hard on our minds, and it takes

time to recover – both physically and mentally. Baby fog is real!

And for those who are able and choose to breastfeed, that’s also a consideration. Finding time and a comfortable place to express at work is a job in itself.

Plus, there are the ingrained cultural stories that tell us women should be at home taking care of their babies and performing domestic duties.

Not to mention the fact that women are both more likely to work in part time or casual roles before falling pregnant and are

more likely to work in roles where they’re paid less – like nursing or childcare.

“In 2021, 39.4% of employed women in New South Wales were working part-time compared to 18.2% of men.”

And, on average, women in Australia earn $263.90 less per week than men – that’s $12,667 less per year.

Another major barrier is the high cost of childcare. The childcare subsidy helps, but for a lot of women – especially those who earn less than their partners – many feel it’s not worth losing valuable time with their babies just to have the majority of their wages going to pay for childcare.

Australia has the fourth most expensive out-of-pocket fees for early childhood

education and care in the world – resulting in many women not returning to the workforce, sacrificing their career and financial security in the process and, consequently, a lack of female representation in senior leadership roles.

Bottom line is that the cost of childcare is prohibitive to women returning to work but when they do, childcare needs to be seen as a family cost, not a woman’s cost.

Taking a break to care for children can mean falling behind – getting passed up for promotions and wage increases, and losing valuable contributions to superannuation –and when returning after a long gap, being seen as having lost skills and focus.

Balancing work with the responsibilities of

caring for a new baby or taking time off to care for a sick child often falls on the mother, because women typically earn less or their careers become second in importance to their partners. Historically, we have seen women’s careers falling off a cliff when they do take this chunk of time out of the workforce.

Often, when couples have the conversation about who will take what parental leave the woman ends up taking the majority of leave. And if she does return to work, it’s often part time.

Many companies still only offer ‘secondary carer’ leave of 2 weeks at minimum wage. When women are labelled as the “primary carer,” by default their career is demoted. They continue in the main caregiver role and many come to the conclusion that it’s not financially worth going back to work.

Even when fathers do have access to generous parental leave, they often don’t take it, because leave pay is too low, and they’re worried taking time off will damage their careers.

Eighty-five per cent of men surveyed in a 2021 report by Dove Men+Care and Promundo said they would “do anything to be involved in the first months of their child’s life”. But only half took the maximum leave they were allowed. Top reasons for this included “social norms, financial pressures and lack of managerial support”.

Research conducted by Impact Economics and Policy found the top reasons for the workplace participation gap between men and women include:

● Inadequate paid parental leave

● Low wages in female dominated industries

● High childcare costs

● Tax policies that lock women into unpaid caring roles

At this year’s Jobs And Skills SummitJob Summit, SafetyCulture CEO Luke Anear rightly said, “no woman in Australia should be unable to work due to caring for children”.

And Equality Rights Alliance’s Helen Dalley-Fisher said, “we can’t keep asking women to babysit the economy. We can take steps to improve women’s workforce participation rates, but most women are working full time already. We’re just not being paid for it”.

So, what’s the solution?

Ittakesavillage

It does take a village to raise a child. And I’m not just talking about family.

Child development outcomes improve when dads are actively involved in caregiving, and, “we know that mums do better in terms of their mental health, but also in terms of economic security when dads are empowered to share the care … And we know that dads themselves have improved mental health when they are supported to stay home with their children”. according to The Parenthood’s Georgie Dent.

Dads being more involved doesn’t just benefit their families – it benefits the economy. The Grattan Institute proposed a change to parental leave that would include six weeks of “use it or lose it” provisions for each parent, and 12 weeks for them to use as they see fit.

According to Wood and Emslie, the new

scheme would cost an extra $600 million a year, but increase GDP by $900 million a year due to increased workforce participation by mothers.

And a report commissioned by The Parenthood estimated that lifting women’s participation in the workforce to be equal to men’s would “increase GDP by 8.7 per cent or $353 billion by 2050.”

Organisations can step up to help new parents – both men and women – firstly by removing primary and secondary carer labels, and secondly by creating a culture of care, connection and compassion that destigmatises parenting at work.

Employers can also help by staying in touch with parents on leave. Status quo has been that when parents go on leave they have little to no contact with their teams, so they often return from leave and find they weren’t kept informed of changes within the workplace.

Stay in touch platforms like triiyo can help employers and parents on leave proactively plan for what will happen before, during and after parental leave – with a news board, community chats, and even a buddy system –

maintain business continuity.

Opening up lines of communication and being very clear that pregnancy and parental leave are not just normal but should be celebrated and encouraged can completely change when and how that first conversation happens.

Encourage your employees to speak with everyone involved – their colleagues, their partner, and their family – to build a clear road map for how they want to be supported and communicated with in those early days. And help them build a clear plan for their career when they return to work.

Things may not go to plan (I mean, they probably won’t), but having clear expectations, an understanding of what they want, and open lines of communication will enable you to pivot as they adjust to life with their new baby.

A good plan might look like:

● Communicateearlyandoften: Talk to your employees about how they’re feeling, how much contact they want to have on leave, and what their return to work might look like.

● Encouragethemtotalktotheirpartner andfamily: Knowing how much leave they’re planning on taking and what they see as their ideal career path going forward will help you keep them engaged and on track when they choose to return to work.

● Stayintouch: Using a communication platform like triiyo can be game changing –with resources, reminders and a community area, you can share important information with your employees on parental leave. And they’ll have the option to communicate with their team as much or as little as they wish.

so parents on leave know what’s happening at work and what to expect when they return.

Paidparentalleaveischanging

From March next year, the Federal Government is increasing parental leave from 18 weeks to 20 weeks … and they’re giving parents the flexibility to decide how they’ll split up the 20 weeks. And the income test will change to be a combined household income threshold of $350,000 per year.

This may end up meaning that the mum will take all of the leave herself, because dads are no longer incentivised by the “use it or lose it” provision.

But I’m hopeful that this new flexibility will enable more dads and non-birth parents to split the time more equally, so dads can get involved earlier and for a longer period of time to have a chance to really bond with their babies … and give mums a chance to rest and recharge.

HowcanIsupportmyemployees?

As a manager, it’s critical to have honest conversations with your employees early on.

Because of the historical stigma surrounding pregnancy and caring for a newborn, many women are hesitant to announce their pregnancy early for fear of losing their career momentum or being discriminated against. Consequently, this isn’t helpful for organisations or people leaders who manage teams and want to

● Scaleupatyouremployee’space: Consider job share agreements, flexible work arrangements, and part time if they’re looking to adapt their hours on their return. Ask what support they need, and be flexible as they settle into their new role as a working parent.

Leadfromthefront

As a leader, you can also change the conversation by leading from the front. Normalise taking paid parental leave by encouraging all parents to benefit from your current policies. The sooner there is greater uptake, the sooner parenting is destigmatised.

Don’t talk about parents as primary and secondary carers. They may take on different roles over the course of the child’s life, but both parents are equally important to their child. Framing the conversation about primary vs. secondary caring minimises the contributions of one parent and makes them less likely to take an equal amount of time off.

Share the joys of those early days, encourage your team members to share photos and announce the birth of their child to their team and, if they are keen and it’s safe to do so, set up office visits so they can bring their new baby into the office or meet over video chat.

If you’re a manager looking for tips on how to develop or improve your parental leave program, you can download this Best Practice Guide for free from the triiyo website: https://triiyo.com/downloadparental-leave-best-practice-guide

Most women are working full time already. We’re just not being paid for it

48 hours in Brisbane

If it’s been a while between visits, those venturing north may be surprised to find a different Brisbane than they’ve known, writes Bree Caggiati

For most out of towners, it’s been a while between visits. So those venturing to the city may be surprised to find a different Brisbane than they’ve previously known. With new precincts firmly staking claim to our riverside and the bustling inner-city suburbs evolving and growing, Brisbane isn’t just a sleepy stopover or one-afternoon wonder anymore.

Streets

James Street is probably our most popular stretch for both tourists and locals, with good reason. The precinct is a hub for contemporary Australian fashion storefronts, with Dion Lee, St Agni, Aje, Lee Mathews and more. But if you’d rather peruse trinkets and tchotchkes than skirts and shoes there’s also Dinosaur Designs and Museum of Small Things.

Along with shopping, the street is home to some of our best restaurants, bakeries and bars, a cinema and the stunning Calile Hotel.

If you’re staying in Southbank or the surrounding area, you’ll want to head straight to Fish Lane. While best known for its culinary offering with the likes of Southside, Maeve and Gauge, it’s also home to a budding art precinct. Situated within walking distance from heavy hitters Queensland Art Gallery and GOMA (always worth a visit), Fish Lane

has taken a more community-focused approach, with public art installations, events and workshops.

It’s hard to believe The Howard Smith Wharves precinct has only been part of the cityscape since late 2018, that’s how much it’s built itself into the fabric of the Brisbane scene. While technically not a street, this vibrant 1.3km stretch is kitted out with enough options to keep you going over a full weekend. There’s the sprawling Felon’s brewery, perfect for a daytime bev or two, Greca serving modern Greek fare, and upbeat bars like Mr Percival’s or the rooftop Fiume. Once you’re bursting at the seams you can always walk it off on the waterfront boardwalk. Or take the lift up to the top of the cliffs, where it’s just a short walk to the Valley’s bar scene.

Eats

If you’re close to the CBD, speciality coffee from Coffee Anthology is the go-to, but there are equally good options from John Mills

Himself and Edward Specialty Coffee. If a quick takeaway is more your scene Richochet is your

Brisbane’s cafe scene is flourishing and every local will have their favourite, so you can’t really go wrong. Try gluten-free doughnuts and upscale brunch at Nodo, yummy comfort food with a push towards local ingredients at Alphabet Cafe and stunning light-filled interiors at Industry Beans.

It’s also not uncommon to travel out to the burbs for a bite, particularly as some

of our best offerings are hidden among residential streets. Try The Tiller, a tiny gem slinging flat whites out of a shipping container, Bear Boy for Instagram worthy decor and dishes, or Florence for wholesome food made with local ingredients.

Dinner options are just as abundant. If you’re staying on James Street, try Bianca for Italian on the fancy side, sAme sAme for upscale Thai or Hellenika for poolside Greek. Elsewhere Agnes serves an assortment of contemporary dishes cooked solely using woodfires and Joy is a tiny 10-seater providing guests with an intimate and unforgettable dining experience that you’ll need to book in advance.

For late-night nibbles, there’s nowhere better than Snackman. Part of the Votan Brothers cluster of offerings under the fairy lights on East Street, alongside the equally impressive Happy Boy and Kid Curry.

Beats

After two years of restrictions, lockdowns and general crowd avoidance, it’s high time to make live music a part of our weekend plans again. And while it may be a little while before we’re back to a full roster of international acts, Brisbane has some great venues to catch local bands.

There’s the Heritage-listed Princess Theatre, somewhat of a little sister venue to our beloved Tivoli, which reopened late last year after a full refurb. Then there are smaller spots like The Triffid, housed in an old WWII hanger and Black Bear Lodge up the stairs off the Valley’s Brunswick mall.

Sleeps

Brisbane’s hotel scene has had a total revamp in the last five years, with newcomers like W Brisbane (our first 5star hotel opening in 20 years) and The Westin joining its ranks soon after. There’s also the relaunched Emporium Hotel in Southbank with floor to ceiling

views of the city skyline and the Crystakbrook Vincent, located right in the heart of the Howard Smith Wharves precinct.

But arguably our best offering in the boutique hotel scene is The Calile. The urban resort offers contemporary designed rooms with coloured marble, organic shapes and breezeblock-lined hallways. It sits in the heart of James Street, making it the perfect launch pad.

If AirBnB’s are more your scene, the city has some good ones. Try this characterfilled loft, with stunning arched windows, exposed brick and an abundance of natural light.

Or for something smaller, this apartment shares all the design features of a boutique hotel with the added ease of kitchen facilities.

Photos:Tourism&EventsQueensland

explore

Conquering the Cape

Travelling to Cape York was the first big destination of our trip. Our friends Jake and Hannah packed up their Cruiser ute and drove nearly 2000km in two days to join us for a couple of weeks.

They arrived to the Archer River Roadhouse where we had been camping by the river for a few days and got ready to take on the famous Old Telegraph Track the next morning.

If you haven’t heard of the Old Telegraph Track before (I hadn’t until we started planning our trip) it’s a four-wheel drivers dream.

Originally the track was created to build and then maintain the telephone line connecting the top of Australia to the rest of the country.

It’s filled with corrugation, massive washouts from each wet season, beautiful creeks you can lay in once you’ve successfully driven your car across and lots of mud to get your car bogged in. We spent three days driving along the track.

Day 1 was pretty smooth sailing, day 2 we crossed some insanely picturesque creeks and went down some scary tracks, and just when I thought the day was nearly over and we were nearing on arriving at the beautiful Twin Falls and Elliot Falls, Glen was feeling overly confident and instead of taking the chicken track around a big washout filled with water, he decided to drive straight through. We unfortunately got bogged and water started flowing into my side of the car.

You can imagine the panic when Glen told me to jump out of the window and grab the strap to be pulled out.

Thankfully there was no damaged, just very wet carpet and an unhappy Emily.

Day 3 was by far the hardest, however we made

it through all challenges with no damage to the vehicles. We were all a bit pleased to see the end of the track and to be back on the main road to keep making our way north to the tip.

While we were up north we went on a day tour to Thursday, Horn and Roko Islands. The Torres Strait Islands are so nice, and the water looks very inviting – sadly there are many crocodiles that inhabit the area.

It was finally time to make our way to the very tip of Australia and get a photo with the sign that marks the most northern point of the main land. On our way we took a shortcut on a 4WD track. We had just spent days on a very difficult 4WD track so taking this route sounded pretty easy. Well, we drove the car into another deep hole full of water and this time water came in from all sides. The carpets got another wash!

We were very happy to make it to the tip and we posed for our photo. Now it was time to make our way south to Weipa.

We spent our time in Weipa, fishing, swimming

in freshwater, playing games on the beach and enjoying the sunsets over the ocean. Sadly the trip was coming to an end for Jake and Hannah so we started heading south again stopping in at Pormpuraaw and Coen.

We said our goodbyes in Atherton and headed west to Outback Queensland.

Destinations

● Old Telegraph Track

● Bamaga

● ‘The Tip’

● Thursday Island

● Horn Island

● Roko Island

● Weipa

● Mapoon

● Pormpuraaw

● Coen

Following on from her travel diary featured in the August and October editions of Style magazine, Toowoomba’s own Emily Bosman continues her adventures with partner Glen Twidale

toowoomba

CALLINGALLTOOWOOMBA REGIONARTISTS

Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery is calling for submissions for an end-of-year group exhibition celebrating the diverse artists in our region.

Each artist can submit up to three artworks which will be considered for selection.

The curated exhibition will be on display from Saturday, December 10, 2022 until Sunday, January 22, 2023.

Visit www.tr.qld.gov.au/trag for more information or to apply.

Entries close 5pm, Sunday, 20 November, 2022.

ILOVEGOOMBUNGEE…

Wednesday,October19toSaturday, November13,2022

WHERE: Rosalie Gallery, Goombungee WHAT: There is so much to love about Goombungee.

Rosalie Gallery is proud to showcase the talents of its local community in I Love Goombungee.

From photography to abstract painting, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

This exhibition supports Goombungee’s annual Jacaranda Day celebrations on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

Rosalie Gallery at 89 Mocatta Street, Goombungee is open from 10.30am to 3.30pm Wednesday to Sunday.

REWILDINGBYSAMANTHA NOLAN

Wednesday,October19toSaturday, November13,2022

WHERE: Crows Nest Gallery, Crows Nest WHAT: Rewilding represents a longing for reconnection with nature and desire to be lost or immersed in something other than the contemporary built or digital environment.

The paintings depict detailed, realistic figures hiding and exploring expressive, gestural, and at times, semi-abstract, natural landscapes.

Crows Nest Gallery, at the corner of the New England Highway and William Street is open from 10.30am to 3.30pm Wednesday to Sunday.

It is closed on Monday, Tuesday and public holidays.

Entry is free at the three galleries.

SamanthaNOLAN/Intheguavagrove2022/oilandacryliconcanvas/60x50cm/©SamanthaNolan

Scorpio

Oct23–Nov21

What can you say Scorpio. It has been a hell of a year on some fronts but like a true Scorpion the people who have wronged you will need to watch out for your deadly sting. There is plenty happening on the home front, lots of renovations perhaps an extension for your growing family. Once you have signed all the contracts you can relax a little and top the month off with a glass or two of bubbly.

Sagittarius

Nov22–Dec21

It is almost time for Saggitarius to get out those Christmas decorations and begin the countdown. Dusting off baubles and trinkets is one of your favourite tasks in the lead up to the festive season. You have plenty to celebrate this year which could bring a reconciliation with family members who have been in the wrong in regards to how little they know about the real you. Up singing carols, baking Chrissy treats sprinkling all that fairy dust around they don’t call you girl with the glam for nothing.

Capricorn

Dec22–Jan20

When it comes to turning over a new leaf there is no-one more suited than a Capricorn, the grass always looks greener in the other paddock but alas there are still those pesky prickles to contend with. Makeover your home, get out and rid your garden of bugs and pests. It is amazing how one good makeover will make everything seem brighter. If gardening isn’t for you then get out there with the big chemicals and blast those pests to oblivion. What a good stress release for you.

Aquarius

Jan21–Feb18th

Does the idea of a holiday away beckon? Perhaps a cruise to a tropical paradise or cosmopolitan city where you can spend time wandering the streets, eating the local delicacies and conversing with the locals. There is a gorgeous man coming into your life as a result of your recent new look so always look your best whether you are lazing around the house or dining out he will sweep you off your feet. Ah Love is wonderful.

Pisces

SCORPIO Taurus

Apr19–May20

Feb19–Mar19

The trouble with being so proficient at your job is that people will expect you to be able to cope with any emergency. There is a time to say NO! it could be simply that you feel the need to take a break, learn to meditate or regain some focus. If you keep swimming in the same direction it is no wonder you are feeling dizzy. Try to take it easy, learn to go with the flow and not so many huge waves will make their way into your circle.

Aries

Mar20–Apr18

You can expect to have the time of your life in November especially if a new partner is on the scene. I see romantic dinners for two, long walks in the park and perhaps a hint of that beautiful sea breeze you love so much. Oh that new car you have been dreaming about is closer than you think to starting an investment account. The money will soon add up that a convertible with your scarf blowing in the breeze is just within your grasp. Just make sure you grab it with both hands and hang on tight

November is a month for bulls to fall in love once again. They are never shy from declaring their love; it may take a little nudge from the right partner to ensure they get the message. Though bulls can be stubborn the way to their heart is through good food and fine wine. Seek out a great restaurant and indulge yourself but remember not to dine alone, sharing a dessert is so much fun when there are two of you.

Gemini

May21–Jun20

Remember to take small things for granted this month. While you should be letting off steam once again you will bite your tongue keeping it bottled up inside. If you have a good friend to vent to that is ideal. You need to separate home and work if possible, maybe try some karate so that you are ready for anything or perhaps take flight. Skydiving is so much fun and a great way to let off some steam.

Cancer

Jun21–Jul21

Look out November here comes a battleready star sign, no matter where they wander Cancerians will always land shell side up. Having the ability to be able to dodge and

weave is a gift so it may look as though Cancerians day dream through life they do have a plan. Taking time to sort out your career juggling too many options will leave you turning in circles making progression slow. Remember the slow crab will be taken quickly so hop to it.

Leo

Jul22–Aug22

It is getting very close to where you need to make decisions not the blue wire/red wire decisions but a decision that will further your career goals. Leo loves to be loved and why shouldn’t they? Hard work has never frightened a lion before so why should it now. Think big cat out on the savannah in the sun surrounded by people who love them. It makes for a perfect photo. Be warned just like the humble pussy cat at home they can turn into a fun adventurous creature climbing curtains and generally doing what cats do best.

Virgo

Aug23–Sep23

Virgo you need to chill out. I know that there is a lot of pressure on you to be the perfect everything but that will come with learning to live within your skin, some changes made now will benefit you in the long run. Time is flying by so fast it may be making you dizzy but never fear your feet are grounded helping you weather anything that is thrown your way. Perhaps take up a hobby like pottery where you can physically connect with Mother Earth. You may have that long held Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore experience.

Libra

Sep23–Oct22

Ahh Libra, another birthday over. Did you have fun dancing to a different tune?

Birthdays are worn as a badge of honour that you made it through another year unscathed. Now the real fun begins as you finish cleaning the streamers and balloons out of the pool taking down the decorations that have managed to end up on the ceiling. Only Librans know what happens at a birthday party you don’t talk about. It is a little like a fight club mixed with Saturday Night Fever, lots of bad dancing but no regrets.

Lunar

NOVEMBER

GOOMBUNGEEJACARANDA DAYFESTIVAL

Saturday,November5,from8amto 2pm

WHERE: Mocatta St, Goombungee

WHAT: A celebration of the historic town of Goombungee and its main street of magnificent blooming jacaranda trees. The event will feature a historic vehicle parade and the Highfields Brass Band; an outdoor public chalk art participatory exhibition; free performances focusing on the centenary of the Queensland CWA and the 125 year history of the Pioneer Arms Hotel; a Rob Prentice exhibition – A Moment in Time; a community artist exhibition – I Love Goombungee at the Rosalie Gallery and a Skirting of the Trees

community installation ranging the entire main street of Goombungee. There is also a presentation of award winners from the Gomoren and Doctor’s Creek Focus on Farms Photographic competition, face-painting, market, food stalls and much more, COST: Free

AMOMENTINTIMEEXHIBITION

Saturday, November 5, to Sunday, November 6, from 9am to 3pm

WHERE: Rosalie Historical Museum, Mocatto St, Goombungee

WHAT: Rob Prentice’s new exhibition – A Moment in Time, sits well in its new exhibition space at Rosalie Historical Society and Museum in Goombungee. Set among

See what’s happening in and around the Garden City this month

complete as fast you can within a three-hour time limit. Prizes will be given for first, second and third place and you will take home the completed puzzle. The puzzles for both the doubles and single competition are different designs and therefore you are able to compete in both events – however please note there are less spots available for the pairs competition. There will also be grazing boxes available for purchase on the day. Tickets are limited so get in quick.

COST: $30 for single ticket; $50 for doubles tickets

CROWSNESTCOMMUNITY KOALAAWARENESSAND ACTIONDAY

Saturday,November12,from 12.30pmto4.30pm

WHERE: Crows Nest RSL and Community Hall, William St, Crows Nest

regarded as one of the world’s greatest ever female swimmers, winning seven World Championships titles, nine Olympic medals, 10 Commonwealth Games gold medals, 14 individual world records and 23 National titles. But if you think these are the most interesting things about her, think again... Leisel Jones will spend the afternoon with our guests detailing the incredible opportunities and challenges that came her way as the youngest member of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Swimming Team.

COST: $160 per person or $1500 per table

CHRISTMASTWILIGHTMARKETS

Friday,November25,from5pmto 9pm

WHERE: Greenmount Memorial Hall, 11 Ramsay St, Greenmount

historical pieces from the district, his 1/12th scale models and dioramas give a real insight into Australian rural transport and history – a fascinating moment in time.

COST: Free

LEADLIGHTINGWORKSHOP

Saturday,November5,toSunday, November6,from9amto4pm

WHERE: Cobb+Co Museum, 27 Lindsay St, Toowoomba

WHAT: Design, cut and construct a stunning stained glass framed panel using leadlight construction techniques under the expert instruction of glass artist Michele Hollister. All works will be cement sealed, lead blackened and polished. The cost includes tuition,

materials and meals, and bookings are essential. Participants must be aged 16 years or older and wear long sleeves, long pants and closed in shoes.

COST: $400

MAKE-A-WISHFUNDRAISER: JIGSAWPUZZLECOMPETITION

Saturday,November12,from9amto 5pm

WHERE: RMEA Building, 190 Hume St, Toowoomba

WHAT: Raising funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, this unique and fun event will kick off with doubles at 9.30am, and singles commencing at 1.30pm. The goal is simple –you will be given a 500 piece puzzle to

WHAT: Come along to this free event for the whole family and learn how you can help your local Crows Nest koalas! Dr Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots Program in partnership with local environmental groups invite you to participate in this informative event, featuring Roots & Shoots Environmental Scientist Mr Daniel Reid, talking about the endangered koala, their threats and opportunities to get involved with Land for Wildlife; Kiara, an experienced wildlife carer who will explain how to recognise a sick or injured koala and who to contact; President of Queensland Koala Crusaders Linda Barnes, providing information about recording koala sightings and actions you can take to help keep our koala populations safe; in addition to awesome displays, activities for the kids and a raffle with prizes to be won. COST: Free

LONGLUNCHWITHLEISEL JONES

Friday,November18,from1pmto 3pm

WHERE: The Oaks Toowoomba, 25 Annand Street, Toowoomba WHAT: Australian icon Leisel Jones OAM is

WHAT: Come and join in the country fun at Greenmount Markets where you can find all sorts of goodies from arts and crafts, bric a brac, food and coffee vans, music and much more. All money raised from these markets goes towards the Greenmount Memorial Hall

COST: Gold coin donation

CAMPCOOBY ADVENTUREDAY

Saturday,November26,9.30am to3.30pm

WHERE: Camp Cooby, 239 Loveday Rd, Geham

WHAT: Camp Cooby Adventure Days are about trying something new, spending quality time with your friends and family, meeting different people, getting outdoors, and having fun. All activities are suited to beginners, so bring the whole family along. This month’s activities will be Archery for Session 1 (9.30am to 12pm) and High Ropes for Session 2 (1pm to 3.30pm), with the Bunya View Picnic Area open for a BYO picnic lunch from 12pm to 1.30pm on the day. Make sure to pack a hat, water bottle, sunscreen, closed in shoes, and a picnic lunch. Minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied at all times by a participating adult

COST: $45 per adult, per activity; $35 per child (6-12yrs), per activity

events event

Neill Wagner and Francesca La Spina.

Celebrity chef Alastair McLeod and country artist Luke Geiger entertained glamous crowds at the It’s a Bloke Thing event at Wellcamp Airport on Friday, September 9, 2022.

it’s a bloke thing

Pictures:KevinFarmer

Volunteers helping with the Weekend Warrior car raffle are (from left) Liam Hopkins, Sarah Todd, Christina Callaghan (Wippells), Nicole McEwan, Gillian Ross of Colliers International.

Michelle Nickelson, Dee Somlyay and Anita Vecchio.

Paula McGuire and Shane McGuire.

Giordann Hall (left) and Emma Rackley

EVENT

NRG SERVICES WESTERN Clydesdales Golf Day

On Friday, October 7, 36 teams competed in the inaugural NRG Services/Western Clydesdales Golf Day at the Toowoomba Golf Club.

The event saw 144 players compete for the title of being the first ever winner of this annual 18-hole golf competition.

As one of the Club’s major partners, NRG Services hosted the event and with the support of many local sponsors, managed to raise more than $40,000 for the Western Clydesdales. The golf day was proudly sponsored by many local Toowoomba businesses such as Haymans Electrical, FKG Group, Weston Building Group, Novus Precast Solutions, Toowoomba Automotive, The Chronicle, and Salt Studios.

Thanks to a terrific effort from the wider Toowoomba business community, the recent NRG Clydesdales Golf Day raised $40,000 for the Western Clydesdales Rugby League Club.

Thanks to our major sponsors:

• Winning Prize Sponsor: Novus Precast Solutions

• Platinum sponsor: Haymans Electrical

• Gold sponsor: FKG Group

• Silver sponsor: Weston Building Group

• Putting Competition sponsor: Toowoomba Automotive

• Media Partner: The Chronicle

• Event Photographer: Salt Studios

NRG Managing Director Dan Briskey and team.

114 players across 36 teams competed in the Golf Day.

Trademutt team ready for a good day of driving.

NRG Operations Manager Tim O’Neill and team. The winner is announced after the event.

event

pink high tea

Ladies dressed to the nines for the Freedom Lifestyle and Fitness Pink High Tea on Saturday, October 8, at Gip’s Restaurant. Raising funds for BreastScreen Toowoomba, the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation event included a morning and an afternoon session, with Lynette Bryant speaking on her journey with breast cancer.