Mawson Lakes Living issue 57 Feb 2012

Buttercup Bread $2 every day

Service

Friendly staff who always go the extra mile.

Local

Located in the right position to offer a true convenience shop.

WHEN

7.30am to 8.30pm every day (weekends and holidays)

• Friendly, family-owned supermarket

• Large range with a focus on local products

• Fresh fruit and vegetables

• Organic meat and gluten-free products

• Lotto, postage stamps, newspapers, bus tickets

• Plenty of parking

• Weekly Specials

Shop2/2 Montague Rd, Montague Farm (just across the road from Mawson Lakes) ph 8359 4799

Ad by Lynette Eggins Design

Think globally. Live locally

When I was holidaying in the Riverlands last month I looked up the population of the towns through which we passed to compare their size with Mawson Lakes. For example, Barmera on Lake Bonney has a population of approx 2,000. By comparison, Mawson Lakes has a population of 12,000. That makes us much larger than most SA towns.

Added to our growing population is an expanding university campus, a sophisticated technology park, a planetarium, a golf course, a library, two schools, four preschools, four banks, eight real estate agents and a commercial centre. This all adds up to a lot of activity and a diverse range of people and talent.

There’s a lot to love about our garden suburb, famous for its beauty and resort lifestyle. See what people like about ML on page 24.

You’ll enjoy the ML lifestyle so much more if you integrate into the community and get to know other people who live, work and study here.

Mawson Lakes Living is an independently owned community magazine and website for people who live, work, study and play in Mawson Lakes. Advertising is open to any organisation with products, services or events relevant to the people of Mawson Lakes.

Published by Lenross Pty Ltd.

ABN 55 067 901 508 43 Parkview Drive, Mawson Lakes 5095

Owner/Editor: Linda Vining

Ph/Fax 08 8260 7077

office@mawsonlakesliving.info

Design by: Lynette Eggins Design 0438 893 390

lynette@mawsonlakesliving.info

Website Manager: Elizabeth Christie 08 8121 7744 elizabeth@mawsonlakesliving.info

Cover photo by Tait Schmaal - Adrian Ferraretto and Richard Inwood from Tindo Solar (see story page 7)

The best way to do this is to get involved - attend community events, go to networking functions, be a volunteer, shop locally, use local services, and go outdoors to enjoy the walkways and waterways where you’ll meet new people.

Think globally. Live locally.

Mawson Lakes Living can help you do all this by telling you about local services, shops, facilities and upcoming activities. And it will update you about the changes happening around us.

For example, Tindo Solar, Australia’s only manufacturer of solar panels has just established a plant in Technology Park (cover photo), Defence Housing SA now occupies the former Delfin offices, and Queen Phoenix Asian grocery store has just opened. Try their delicious Vietnamese takeaways. Some businesses have changed names such as ABC Learning Centres; now called Goodstart Early Learning. Annie Payne has resigned as the community coordinator so there will be changes at The Mawson Centre.

If you have something to announce or promote, be sure to let me know so Mawson Lakes Living can help you spread the word.

Happy Valentine’s Day on 14 February.

Linda Vining , Editor

Photo by Janet Coelho

Linda and Nigella

Mawson Lakes selected for new solar panel plant

Australia’s only solar cell manufacturing plant has started production at Mawson Lakes with an $8 million investment.

Tindo Solar will produce more than 300,000 solar panels a year at full capacity, equal to about 70 megawatts. This is equivalent to a small coal fired power station with a saving of 600,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year.

Manager of People and Business, Richard Inwood, said the company searched far and wide for a location that could offer a technologically advanced facility for their highly automated process. “We found the right building with clean rooms, climate control and an electrostatic floor in Technology Park.”

The main competitor is China but Richard is sure that a safe, superior product will appeal to the Australian market. “At capacity production we can supply 25% of Australia’s solar panel needs,” he said.

Competitive advantages include greater automation and improved efficiency with just eight employees for each shift. Key selling points are the panel’s safety features and design – the panels generate regular 240 volt AC power which provides greater output compared to the traditional DC voltage panels and each panel can be monitored via a phone app or the internet from anywhere in the world.

“Mawson Lakes has many benefits that appealed to us. It’s an attractive area with a ready workforce nearby, the proximity of a university and other innovative high- tech industries for business synergy plus the convenience of a town centre.”

Tindo is an aboriginal word from the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains (including Mawson Lakes) meaning sun. Tindo Solar is harnessing its energy to produce high performance, high quality solar panels that will last a lifetime.

Panels come with a 25 year warranty and the inverter has a 20 year warranty. In the rare event of a warranty issue, Tindo Solar is close at hand.

From this month Tindo will sell its panels Australia-wide through selected retailers. See adverts opposite for SA distributors.

A tour of the module plant is available for community and school groups and other interested people.

Contact Richard Inwood on 0428 606 420 Ed.

Tindo Solar located in Second Street, Technology Park.

(Left to Right) Richard Inwood, Adrian Ferraretto & Ben Kerry from Tindo Solar.

Photo by Tait Schmaal

Underpasses to link villages of Mawson Lakes

Mawson Lakes consists of five interconnected villages – The Bridges, The Cascades, The Sanctuary, Shoalhaven, and Central. All are connected by road, but until now, not connected by walkways. This is about to change as the City of Salisbury constructs two underpasses that will provide access between the villages for pedestrians, cyclists and walkers.

The Railway Underpass will link Central with Shoalhaven. The tunnel under Salisbury Highway will link Shoalhaven with The Sanctuary.

Manager of Design Services at Salisbury Council, Dameon Roy, said wet weather has hampered progress. “There are some challenges to overcome because the tunnels are associated with the channel of Dry Creek, but Council has the funding to do the

work, and with the assistance of a structural engineer, we are giving priority to this project.”

“Council is committed to making Mawson Lakes a fully walkable, connected community,” said Dameon.

The underpasses are part of the City of Salisbury City Trails which will see 37km of walking track connect Dry Creek, Little Para River and the Wetlands. Ed.

Proposed underpass beneath Salisbury Highway will link Shoalhaven with The Sanctuary.

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“I was amazed at the miracle Glynn performed on my tiles at the salon! I will happily recommend him to all my clients.”

Samatha Schroader, Manager Mawson Lakes GA U CI CARE / HAIR / BEAUTY

Junk floating in space

Early this year, space experts from around the world gathered at ML for five weeks to attend the Southern Hemisphere Summer Space Program hosted by the University of South Australia Mawson Lakes Campus in conjunction with the International Space University.

Delegates talked about space physical science, space systems engineering and technology, space life sciences, space and society, space business and management and space legal and regulatory issues. One speaker was Dr Alice Gorman from Adelaide who studies space archaeology and ‘space junk’. She says that among the hundreds of satellites orbiting earth there are many pieces of junk such as spent rocket stages, defunct satellites, bolts, spanners, or components from colliding objects, and they are rapidly increasing in number. Latest figures show that there are about 25,000 pieces larger than 15cm in orbit.

She says that the world needs to take more notice of what is happening outside the earth’s atmosphere because as more satellites are launched the potential for collision is increasing. This is serious in a world that is dependent on satellite services for things such as communication, scientific work and military observations.

“We could get to the point where the amount of debris in space poses a risk to future missions,” she said. Ed.

Cleaning Services

fortnightly or monthly from $60.

We pride ourselves on building relationships where integrity comes first. While our business continues grows, we promise to maintain our small business touch.

A representation of space junk orbiting around Earth.

Photo: NASA

What TREE is that?

If you are looking for trees that are well suited to Mawson Lakes keep watching these pages for a description of a different tree each month. Locations where you can see the trees are advised so you can have a look and see if you like it.

The medium-sized tree Crepe Myrtle provides masses of summer colour from pale pink to dark lavender.

The trees are perfect for a small garden because they are compact and delicate and do not overshadow other plants.

Margaret Taylor (pictured) loves them so much that she has 13 in her garden at 13 The Walk. She says the bark is soft so the plants are easy to prune into bushes or trees. “I prune in August and the trees are at their peak in the summer months when we like to entertain outside.”

In autumn the foliage turns orange-red. As the tree matures, the beige smooth outer bark peels off to reveal a cinnamon coloured underbark. They like full sun and a welldrained soil with mulch in summer.

Suitable for small gardens and containers, the tree grows to a height of about 6 metres and 5 metres wide and produces multiple stems. Mature trees are drought resistant and mostly disease and insect free.

Other Crepe Myrtles can be seen in the Peninsular Park where there are 8 white trees in flower this month.

Source: Gardens of Mawson Lakes by Linda Vining. Book is available from Mawson Lakes Living for $20.

City of Salisbury 2012 Calendar

There’s so much happening in the City of Salisbury (Mawson Lakes local government area) over the coming year that and you really need a calendar to keep track of events.

Salisbury Council has designed a handsome calendar that highlights events for 2012. In addition, it gives information on fitness loops in Salisbury, dog parks, recreation centres, youth enterprise, historical walks, festivals, awards and local libraries.

You can pick up a free copy at The Mawson Centre in Main Street.

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Oasis Body & Beauty

Nail & Beauty Spa

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Helping the birds and the bees in an edible garden

All kinds of vegetables, fruits and herbs grow in the edible garden cultivated by Shirley and Peter Fowell in their tiny backyard in Elder Circuit. Beans, lettuce, corn, masses of tomatoes, pumpkin, potatoes, beetroot, broccoli, peaches, limes and strawberries keep the retired couple in fresh food all year round.

“There’s nothing like picking your own fruit and vegetables and enjoying that perfectly ripe flavour,” said Shirley who knows every single plant in her 40 square metre garden and can tell you every pending harvest.

It’s no wonder she understands her garden so well. She often has to help nature do its work when the birds and the bees are missing. With her zucchini she takes a little paintbrush and collects pollen from the male plant, then

the zucchinis are prolific producers growing vegetables up to one kilogram in size.

“We are retired so our finances are limited and this is a great way to save money and provide a healthy diet. When our grandchildren come to visit there’s always plenty to offer. I give them little tomatoes as treats.”

Raised wooden garden beds reduce bending down and assist drainage. A compost bin in a back corner provides all the nutrient for fertile soil, and at the same time, the compost throws up many new seedlings.

“It’s such a pleasure to sit down for breakfast and look out on the garden. Every day brings something new,” said Peter. Ed.

Shirley Fowell cross-pollinating her zucchinis with a paintbrush.

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Anthony Young phone

Mawson Lakes Photographic Exhibition

Theinaugural Mawson Lakes Photographic Exhibition will be held on 20, 21, 22 July in The Denison Centre.

A weekend exhibition, a photographic competition and a gala cocktail party to announce the winners will be features of the event.

Get your camera out and start preparing your entries for the following categories focusing on Mawson Lakes:

Action, Architecture, Animals, History, Sustainability, Technology, and Portrait. There is also a category for Travel.

Photographs, apart from “History” must be recent and taken in the 12 months prior to the competition.

1. Journal

2. Menagerie

3. World’s longest river

4. Secret or hidden

5. Bustling

6. Abated

9. Placed a bet

11. Thinner

12. Consumed

14. Proficient

1. Twelve

8. Gape

13. Notion

16. Large spider

To register your interest and receive more information email:

office@mawsonlakesliving.info Sponsorship opportunities are available.

Quick Crossword

Planning group for the Mawson Lakes Photographic Exhibition (clockwise) Mike Flynn, Barry Silkstone, Belinda Robertson, Janet Coelho and Linda Vining

Robyn Myers Pet-A-Coat Grooming

“I

During the holidays we cleaned out the garage and saw lots of redback spiders. They like dry places around buildings, under outdoor furniture, behind machinery and around stacked material.

Redbacks are not aggressive but they will bite if disturbed so be careful when moving things in the garden or doing a cleanup. Wear sturdy shoes and gloves. A redback bite is very poisonous and potentially fatal for children, pets and the elderly. If bitten get medical help as quickly as you can as an effective antivenene is available. Ed.

Mawson Lakes E-Watch

Residents of Mawson Lakes can register for a new service called E-Watch offered by SA Police.

E-Watch provides monthly reports on crime in Mawson Lakes, as well as tips on crime prevention and information on topical issues.

Manager of the Crime Prevention Section of SAPOL, Christine Bettess, says that property is regularly stolen from unattended vehicles in Mawson Lakes. She advises residents to remove all valuables from vehicles, even when unattended for a short period of time.

To register for E-Watch contact christine. bettess@police.sa.gov.au

To request police assistance ring 131 444.

In an emergency ring 000

What I love about Mawson Lakes

The loyal core of locals who use the library, mixed with a diverse range of people from overseas and interstate. I like ML so much I travel 90 minutes to get to work.

A great place to raise kids. It’s a safe suburb in a friendly community and everything is close by. We always have a house full of nice kids.

Living next to an excellent airfield. I can show friends and family the view of Mawson Lakes from the air.

The central location for business - good visibility and the convenience of the shops and services, plus the proximity of other businesses. Business is very good for us here.

The dog park where everyone gets on really well – handlers and their dogs. It’s a friendly little community all in itself.

The bicycle ways. I’ve just bought a new bike so I can ride with my sons to school.

Anthony Ellul

Mike Holtby Pilot

Angela Reimann Librarian

Ralph Eitel Budget Consultant, My Budget

Peter Hanlon & Brutus

Karen Banks

What I love about Mawson Lakes

Cassie Voigt and Charli Water everywhere. It creates a calming and relaxing atmosphere.

Thomas Wilson 14 Riding my BMX bike along the back trails with my friends.

Steve Charles Businessman Community support for local business.

Dad Callum with Paige and Hamish Rabbit. All the animals here including ducks in the ponds, birds, dogs, cats and rabbits.

Peter Stapleton Environmental concern seen in solar panels on houses, recycled water and hybrid cars.

Brian Farmer visiting from New Zealand

The people.are neat. There’s a friendly village atmosphere.

Cut & Blowdry from $39 Hair extensions $5 per strand (Remy hair)

Half head of foils $59.00

The little street down the back

One little corner of Mawson Lakes that is completely out of character with the rest is Dan Street, not far from the turn off to Montague Road. Here you will find a line of light industry ranging from refrigerated transport systems to local car repairs.

The street has been a political football for more than a decade and consequently has the appearance of the street that Mawson Lakes forgot. Neglect can be seen in the muddy ditches along the road, no footpaths, no curbing, barbed wire fencing, dusty yards with vehicles, machinery and prefabricated offices and warehouses.

Mary Zanoli from Rapid Refrigerator Transport says her company sends chilled food all over the state from the Mawson Lakes depot.“Rapid Transport has been here for 6 years and the central location suits the company perfectly. Staff find it very convenient to have shops

that Mawson Lakes forgot

nearby and plenty of parking and it’s not far for most of us to travel to work.”

Other businesses in the 200m long street include Break Away Concrete Cutting, TRAMS sheetmetal installations and a storage depot.

Steve from Steve Tehan’s Auto Repairs started his business in 1986 and remembers when the area was sheep paddocks and the peppercorn trees, that now form a glorious residential avenue at The Peppercorns, were planted to break the wind and stop the dust swirling around.

He is not happy with the condition of the street and says that landowners have been battling council and the land developers for years to get the street upgraded, but to no avail. “They tried to

hide us by planting trees to separate Dan Street from Mawson Lakes Boulevard. It worked; nobody knows we are here.”

“We would like to occupy a tidy street in keeping with the rest of ML,” he said. Ed.

Type

Jeff Witt, yard supervisor at Rapid Transport located in Dan Street

Ah, the fascination of a dirty old lamp post. There is just so much information around the base. Unfortunately, our owners have a temptation to pull us away from these delectable stopping points.

Alexander Horowitz, author of “Inside A Dog”, says that dogs smell different layers. He likens it to a human who enjoys a painting across a room but as he gets closer he appreciates the art in different ways as he sees the brush strokes and the textures.

This explains why a dog will sniff the air. It is truly reading the wind, then, as it gets closer to the source of the smell, it can determine so much more – who has come by, how long ago, was it male or female, what have they eaten lately.

There really is no way for a human to experience the joy of the nose in the same way a dog does. That’s because humans don’t have our sense of smell which is a thousand times more sensitive. Humans miss a lot of information because their nasal capacity is very limited compared to our nasal system which is far more complex.

A study of the fluid dynamics of the dog’s sniff shows that dogs inhale air from two distinct regions, allowing the dog to decipher the direction of a scent. The sniff also funnels stale air out through the side of the nostrils, an action that pulls new air into the nose. Once inside the nose, the air swirls around 300 million olfactory receptors. Compare this to your owner’s measly 6 million. Even if humans could gather this information, their brains would have trouble processing it. You see, the dog’s olfactory cortex that processes scent information takes up 12 per cent of the dog’s total brain mass, whereas, the human brain accounts for less than one per cent.

That’s why a stop at a lamp post is a intellectual treat for a dog. Please don’t pull us away too soon before we read the whole story.

Photo by Janet Coelho

Dog-friendly holidays

by Nigella

Took a short break during the holidays with my neighbours Jim and Julie Cunningham and their dog Muffin (pictured) to the Barossa Valley while my owners were away. We stayed at a divine place called Barossa Views Bed and Breakfast. The pretty garden was fenced so we felt safe. Jim fired up the BBQ for fresh eggs and bacon from the farm. Best of all we were allowed indoors - very comfy. Would you believe there was even a little packet of treats for Muffin and me left by the owner. We went on beautiful walks including a walk to the grower’s market on Saturday morning.

It’s not easy to find dog-friendly accommodation so this place is a treasure.

Protein, zinc, copper, omega-6 and omega-3 are essential to build healthyskin and coat, the visible sign of a healthy nutritious diet.

Ad by Lynette Eggins Design

Pet care with Dr Brendan

Dr Bendan Maguire, the vet at Mawson Lakes, is a regular contributor on pet health and care. His advice this month is about raising well-behaved dogs and where to get help if you need it.

Polite Pets

Next month (March) marks the first ever Polite Pets Month. This is an initiative from the Australian Veterinary Association to raise awareness about the importance of dog training, puppy socialization and dog bite prevention.

Starting socialisation early (within the limits of a safe vaccination program) is vitally important in the development of a normal, calm attitude to the complexities of a pet’s life. Puppy preschool is a good way to introduce young pups to their peers in a safe, non-threatening environment and teaching them that dogs (and humans) come in all shapes, sizes, colours and attitudes! Ongoing training through dog school will reinforce these early learned lessons, and help a dog bond with their owner through training and mutual fun.

Keeping your dog exercised (both mentally and physically) reduces the chance of boredom when left alone, and, of course, a well-socialised dog can enjoy the company of friends all the better at the local dog park. Sometimes, however, things can go wrong,

Dogs of Mawson Lakes

in spite of an owner’s best intentions.

Understanding the difference between a “problem behaviour” (normal behaviour abnormally expressed, for example, excessive barking) and a “behaviour problem” (for example self trauma or other behaviour not normally seen) will help decide what route to take. Seeking veterinary advice will help eliminate any possible underlying medical issue, and will help you select the best next step to get a delinquent pet back on the rails.

Go to www.ava.com.au/polite-pets-month to find out more.

Check out www.gooddogSA.com for some great information.

See you next month!

Maddison the Fox Terrier dives into Dry Creek for a swim at every chance.

Poppy the Pug is a socialite who loves to play and talk.

Marshall the handsome boxer with white sox.

A new roundabout at the intersection of Mawson Lakes Boulevard and Parkway will aid the flow of traffic near Technology Park and the entrance to the University.

During busy times in the mornings and afternoons this intersection is a danger spot as cars try to dash out of side streets and cross several lanes of traffic to enter the main flow. Poor visibility due to tall bushes and trees in the centre section of the road adds to the hazard, while traffic build-up creates pressure on drivers to make the dash. The roundabout should be finished in April. Ed.

Are

Ad by Lynette Eggins Design

Puzzles to make you smarter

KENKEN® is a new mind game invented by a Japanese man Tetsuya Miyamoto. In Japanese “Ken” means wisdom, so “KENKEN” is wisdom squared. For more info goto www.kenken.com

The rules are simple:

 For a 3x3 puzzle, each row and each column must have the numbers 1-3.

 For a 4x4 puzzle, each row and each column must have the numbers 1-4.

 Do not repeat a number in any row or column.

 The numbers in each heavily outlined set of squares, called cages, must combine (in any order) to produce the target number in the top corner of the cage using the mathematical operation indicated.

 Cages with just one box should be filled in with the target number in the top corner.

Puzzles will get harder as the months go by. Solution on page 42.

YO UTH

This month Living welcomes Aimée Thomson as our Youth Writer. Aimée is a Year 12 student at Endeavour College. In her first article she looks at Valentine’s Day and it’s meaning for young people.

Teenagers talk about Valentine’s Day

In a world where everything is go, go, go, it’s nice to just stop and appreciate what we have and the people close to us. But is this the case for the youth of today?

Valentine’s Day is a time when couples come together to express their love for one another and show their appreciation. However, many believe that the event has become commercialised and the true meaning no longer shines through.

“We are planning to organise something small again this year,” they said.

When questioned on what Valentine’s Day means for teenagers, Nicole said she believes that Valentine’s Day has become more of a competition of gifts, rather than just doing something nice for your partner. “It’s losing its meaning for youth; couples should treat each other in a special way every day,” she said.

So it seems the relevance of Valentine’s Day is not so strong with the younger population. Nicole and Orkun both agree that they did not know how Valentine’s Day started, or when it started.

Endeavour College

students Nicole Miller and Orkun Atakan (pictured) shared their opinion on what Valentine’s Day means to them as teenagers.

They fear that Valentine’s Day has become a materialistic day and a ploy for people to spend money. However, they said that they have celebrated it previously with small gifts and dinner.

Which poses the question: Is Valentine’s Day still relevant to today’s society, or is it just an excuse to buy your partner a gift and treat them extra nicely? And what about all of the people not in a relationship? Are they left to feel alone and unloved?

Whatever your opinion, be sure to do just one thing. Treat every day as though it is

Photo by Mike Flynn

Our Environment

Mulching the Railway Wetlands

Mounds of mulch along the railway wetlands, gardening gloves, spades and shovels awaited the arrival of sixty five students from Endeavour College who spent a morning in the outdoors working on a community project at the Railway Wetlands.

As part of their service program, Endeavour College is teaming with Mawson Lakes Environment Watch (MLEW).

Supervising teacher Greg Fowler said the school is seeking more ways to be involved in the community. “We want to teach students to be good corporate citizens and show them practical ways to contribute to the community.”

Before spreading the mulch the students had classroom lessons on the natural environment of ML and sustainability. “It is important that students understand what they are doing and why they are doing it,” said Greg.

Daniel Miller (13) from The Peppercorns said he is learning why we need to reduce carbon emission and what will happen if we do not care for our environment.

Lucinda Peach (13) from The Peninsula said her environmental consciousness so far could be seen in recycling. She uses the recycling bins at school and her family recycles all their waste. “I really like what we are doing here today,” she said.

Coordinator of Mawson Lakes Environment Watch, Colin Taylor, said resident volunteers had planted about three thousand trees and shrubs along the slopes between the houses and the railway fence over the past 4 years and the mulch was an important addition to the topsoil to retain moisture over the summer months. “We are very pleased to

have students working with us and to see that they are learning lessons on the importance of caring for our environment.”

Thank you to the following MLEW volunteers who assisted students with spreading the mulch: Rob Jackson, Tony Price, Chris Stanton and Margaret Taylor. Ed.

To join in the work of Mawson Lakes Environment Watch, to report any environmental issues needing attention or to make further enquiries contact: Colin on 8359 4880 or colmar@nuskope.com.au

Students and teachers from Endeavour College working on environmental projects with Mawson Lakes Environment Watch.

Pink sticks mark the spot

As you walk along Dry Creek between Parkway and The Boulevard you may have noticed a battalion of bright pink sticks.

These sticks mark the spot where more than 150 small groundcovers have been planted by the City of Salisbury.

Mawson Lakes Environment

Watch weeded the garden beds and Council planted Convolvulus Cneorum, known as Silverbush, which are hardy bushes with silvery leaves and bright white flowers in the spring.

Brian Pledger, Environmental Management Officer at the City of Salisbury, said the sticks mark the spot for the water truck.

“We are trialling another plant called Scaevola Albida or Pale Fanflower. Many varieties of Scaevola are available and we have a few of them such as Mauve Clusters in landscapes at Mawson Lakes. I am keen to see how the local natural variety performs in Dry Creek Reserve,” said Brian.

Keep your distance

Spotted in a ML carpark, this cute cartoon refers to a serious driving practice.

Here’s a simple test called the 3 Second Rule

To calculate a three second gap, pick a fixed object (eg power pole) located on the side of the road. As the rear of the vehicle in front passes the object, start to count ‘one thousand and one, one thousand and two’. The front of your vehicle should not reach the fixed object until after you have finished counting. If it does, slow down and allow more room between the vehicles.

Even at a conservative 60kms/h it takes 45 metres to stop. At 100km/hr it takes 55 metres. Ed.

Tailgating, or following too close to the vehicle in front, is a sign of a poor driving habit. It is also illegal.

In the very best driving conditions you should leave a 3 second gap. In bad weather and for night driving allow 9 seconds.

How can you tell if you are leaving a safe distance between you and the car in front?

Amethyst February

The gemstone Amethyst is the Birthstone for February. It is also the Zodiac stone for the constellation of Pisces. Amethyst is associated with spirituality, wisdom, sobriety, and security.

Amethyst is the purple variety of the mineral quartz and is a popular gemstone. Although it must always be purple to be amethyst, it can and does have a wide range of purple shades. Its colour is unparalleled, and even other, more expensive purple gemstones are often compared to its colour and beauty. If it were not for its widespread availability, amethyst would be very expensive.

Amethyst can occur as long prismatic crystals that have a six sided pyramid at either end or can form as druzes that are crystalline crusts that only show the pointed terminations. As a mineral specimen, amethyst is popular for its colour and nice crystal shapes that produce a handsome, purple, sparkling cluster.

Info from: http://www.galleries.com/February_Birthstone

Champion swimmer seeks community support

Emily Hill from Mawson Lakes is South Australia’s top Under 11 swimming champion. This was demonstrated last month when she won 7 gold medals and 2 silver in the South Australian Swimming Championships (pictured).

Emily’s mother, Jenni, said her daughter has always been a water baby and showed talent for competitive swimming about the age of 7.

“We do everything we can to support her by taking her to training and going to competitions all over Australia but we find that competitive swimming is a big expense for the family.”

In addition to coaching and entry fees there are many hidden costs. Emily’s bathers alone cost $259.

In August, Emily will represent SA in the National Swimming Championships in Sydney.

If you would like to sponsor her or make a financial contribution to the Emily Hill Fund, the family would be most grateful for assistance from the community.

Living is proud to sponsor Emily Hill Contact

Jenni Hill on 0403 777 936

jennitony@bigpond.com

WHEEL of WORDS

How many words can you make from these letters? Words must contain 4 or more letters. There is one nine-letter word. Each letter may be used once only. No plurals. Each word must contain the centre letter.

Solution page 42.

WIN!

Write

To enter send your caption, your name phone and postal address to:

Caption Contest

Mawson Lakes Living 43 Parkview Drive, Mawson Lakes 5095 or office@mawsonlakesliving.info

Closing date for entries is 10 February 2012.

Photo by Ben Vereb

The cost of going to school

Aschildren return to school, parents need to factor into their budget the hidden costs of school education.

A survey by the Australian Scholarship Group reports that the cost of educating a child from Reception to Year 12 can be as high as $250,000 at a private school. Those who attend Catholic schools could cost their parents on average $150,000 by the end of Year 12, while those attending government schools could total $49,000.

Deanne Sloan from Mawson Lakes who has two school-aged-children, said that the real cost of educating her children came as a surprise when she added up all the expenses. “Parents tend to focus on school fees and overlook the extra charges that weigh down the budget,” she said.

Extra costs may include clothing, canteen, stationery, books, travel fares, sporting and musical equipment, computer charges and internet access. Then there are costs associated

with extra curricula activities such as excursions, incursions, good causes, and other school functions that can be be a drain on the purse.

At the beginning of each year it’s a good idea to make a list of additional costs that might be incurred throughout the year in order to gauge the real cost of sending a child to school.

“In my family I work to pay the education bills,” said Deanne. “We consider that education is a good investment in our children’s future but it is one of the biggest items in our budget.”

Dr Linda Vining is a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators.

Community Groups in Mawson Lakes

Football Club Players, sponsors & volunteer support required and welcome. Training Tues & Thurs 6:15pm Mawson Lakes Hotel Oval. Geoff - 0410 412 281 www.mawsonlakesfc.com.au

Muslim Ladies Morning

Join us for hadith readings and stories, Phone or SMS Nadiya on 0416 759 984

Community Church Sundays 10:00am Endeavour College, 85 Mawson Lakes Boulevard. Contact Stephen - 0403 007 156 or 8162 5108 or www.mlcc.org.au

Significance Church Sundays 10:00am The Theatre, GP Building UniSA off Mawson Lakes Boulevard Pastors Wayne & Virginia Harrison 0412 802 865 www.significancechurch.com.au

Mawson Lakes Hotel Social Club Meet new friends, regular social functions, discounts, weekly members draw & meat raffles $20 annual fee.

Enq Amanda 0430 196 637

Cricket Club Four one-day senior turf teams, senior players wanted. Training every Weds 4:30pm. Contact Anton - 0412 394 592

Quilting Friends Meet alternate Mondays 6pm-9pm & 2nd Sat each month 10am-5pm - The Mawson Centre BYO quilting/patchwork project. Enq Clare - 8367 6918 or rosecm@tpg.com.au

Life Church 5:00pm every 2nd & 4th Sunday of the month. The Denison Centre, Mawson Lakes School. Contact Nick - 8284 3861 or www.lifechurchsa.org.au

Crossroads Community Church Sundays

10:30am The Denison Centre, Mawson Lakes School, Garden Terrace, Mawson Lakes. Anthony - 8258 3179 or 0425 874 240 www.wesleyancrossroads.org

Mawson Lakes Girl Guides contact Girl Guides SA on 8418 0900 or email kerry.henderson@internode.on.net

New Parent Group meets every 2nd Monday in the Mawson Lakes Children’s Library from 10am during school terms. For information phone Bec Feltus 0422 425 967

“I must have taken a wrong turn off Metro Parade!” - Brett Gray wins a give voucher.

Runner-up: “Watch out Tony Abbott; I’m coming for you!”

Wye Herbert

Caption Winner (Jan) Wheel

alula, aunt, aunty, aura, aural, aurally, lunar, natural, null, runt, trull, truly, tuna, turn, ulna, ulnar, ultra, unlay, yuan, yurt, NATURALLY

Community groups that operate in Mawson Lakes are listed here free of charge. If you run a community group and would like to list your contact details send an email to office@mawsonlakesliving.info (180 characters- including spaces) KENKEN®

Thyme

herb

Garden Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Garden thyme is a low-growing perennial around 40cm tall. It has tiny aromatic leaves on erect stems with small lilac flowers in summer.

Thyme is a favourite culinary herb. It imparts excellent flavour to all kinds of red meat dishes, soups, sauces and vegetable dishes and is a favourite ingredient in stuffings for poultry.

Thyme is highly attractive to bees and, planted near the vegie garden, can help promote pollination. The bushes may also help to mask the smell of vegetables and reduce some insect attack.

Quick & easy summer food CARROT & THYME BAKE

Here’s a simple, low-fat recipe to turn the humble carrot into a spectacular accompaniment that can be eaten hot or cold.

Ingredients:

8 carrots peeled and thinly sliced

1 red onion sliced into short strips

Fresh thyme leaves

1/2 cup white wine or chicken stock

100g feta, crumbled (use low fat)

2 eggs, lightly beaten

To make:

1 Grease a dish and line with baking paper to cover base and extend up the sides.

2 In a saucepan or the microwave cook carrots and onions in wine until soft.

3 Drain carrot mix and save liquid.

4 Mix liquid, eggs and feta, add herbs and seasoning. Whisk to combine.

5 Place vegetables in baking dish and pour over egg mix.

6 Cook uncovered in moderate oven (180 degrees) for 30 minutes or until egg mixture is set.

7 Stand for 5mins then serve with extra feta and thyme or parsley sprinkled on top.

Using Maths and English, Kumon gives children:

* A strong academic foundation

* Good concentration ability

* Confidence

* The ability to self-learn advanced topics

KUMON MAWSON LAKES EDUCATION CENTRE

Supervisor: Rovi Ravida

tel: 0433 409 089

email: rsravida@bigpond.com

Office 2, 2 Fisher Place, Mawson Lakes

Visit http://au.kumonglobal.com

Competition ki d s

Win this book. Entering is easy - all you need to do is find 7 pictures of Koala Lou hidden on the pages of the magazine. Write the page numbers, together with your name, age address & telephone number and send your entry to:

Kid’s Competition, Mawson Lakes Living, 43 Parkview Drive, Mawson Lakes 5095

Closing dates for entries is 10 February 2012

Congratulations

The prize for this month’s competition is a copy of

by Mem Fox

illustrated by Pamela Lofts

t o Damon Spratt, winner of the January 2012 Kids Competition. Damon received a copy of ‘The Three Kangaroos Gruff’.

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that information in this publication is accurate, Mawson Lakes Living cannot be held responsible for any ad content, including errors or omissions. It does not endorse companies, products or services that appear in the magazine. We endeavour to ensure that all local information given in this magazine is accurate but cannot guarantee. All artwork is accepted on the condition that permission has been given for use in the publication. All ads are accepted on the understanding that the description of goods and services are fair and accurate. Mawson Lakes Living is a totally independent business and is not associated with any other local publication or association. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form - electronic, mechanical, photocopy or otherwise without prior permission of the publisher.

‘Koala Lou’

LADYBUGS

The scientific name for the seven-spotted ladybug is Coccinella septempunctata.

As ladybugs age, the color of their spots fades.

A ladybug in flight beats its wings up to 85 times per second.

Ladybugs breathe through openings on the sides of their bodies.

In 1999, NASA sent ladybugs and aphids up in the space shuttle to test their movements in zero gravity.

Though most ladybugs eat insects, a few species eat plants and are considered pests.

In its lifetime, a female ladybug will lay as many as 2,000 eggs. There are more than 1,000 ladybug species.

A ladybug can retract its head into its body.

i nfo from: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com

Puzzle answers

2. Clouds, 3. True

1. temperature,

RIDDLE me this

I have 2 arms, but fingers none. I have 2 feet, but cannot run. I carry well, but I have found I carry best with my feet off the ground.

What am I?

Do you know the WEATHER?

1. A thermometer is used to measure what?

2. Stratus, cirrus, cumulus and nimbus are types of what?

3. True or false? A rainbow is a spectrum of light that appears when the Sun shines onto water droplets in the air.

FOOD word search

Can you find these food words in the maze above?

apple bacon

banana bread

candy carrot cheese corn

fruit

hamburger

lettuce orange

pie pizza potato soup

Do you know about the WEATHER?

strawberry tomato

A Wheelbarrow

RIDDLE me this

Looking after baby’s teeth

When Mawson Lakes dentist, Dr Cathy Wiering, had her first baby recently her attention naturally turned to caring for first teeth.

Babies are born with a set of 20 teeth buried under the gums and the first teeth appear anywhere from 4 to 9 months.

“Tooth care should begin even before the first teeth appear,” said Cathy.

She suggests cleaning baby’s gums and tongue using water and a washcloth or an extra soft brush after feeds, particularly in the mornings and evenings. As teeth appear, let your baby chew on rattles, rusks and cool things and use teething gel if necessary. Toothpaste should not be used with babies under 18 months of age.

Cathy advises that if you put your baby to bed with a bottle, put water in the bottle, not milk or juice, as this sits in the mouth and is not good for teeth.

The best way to clean baby’s teeth is to place your baby in a position where you can see baby’s mouth, and baby feels secure. Cup your baby’s chin in your hands, with its head resting against your body. Clean teeth using soft, circular motions. Lift lips to brush the front and back of the teeth and the gum line.

Babies might not like having their teeth cleaned, so if your baby isn’t cooperative, try singing at teeth-cleaning time. For example, ‘This is the way we brush our teeth, brush our teeth, brush our teeth …’

This might distract your child long enough for you to get the job done.

You can start teaching children to brush their own teeth when they are around two years of age. Children will need your help and supervision until they are about eight and can control a toothbrush.

Cathy says that developing good dental habits is one of the best things a parent can do for their child. “As a dentist it is so much easier to work with children who are used to having their teeth and mouth touched and who have a dental routine at home.”

Some preschools provide a free dental checkup so make enquiries when you enrol. Ed.

Cathy Wiering and Riley

Ad by Lynette Eggins Design