March 2020
2
CONTENTS
Welcome month, ladies. As we continue to fly through 2020 (I swear, I’ll blink and it’ll be Christmas next week) we enter the third month of the year, March. And although we have a long weekend and a fun day of festivities in the form of St Patrick’s Day to look forward to, there’s also another day that may not get the recognition it should. Well by some at least. March 8 is International Women’s Day and we (and bella+beau) couldn’t rejoice more; I mean that is why we started Bella in the first place, isn’t it? To celebrate the amazing things women in our community and society do. There are women who go out and conquer the world one step at a time. Women doing extraordinary things such as fighting fires and taking on their opposition in parliament.
tHis is ouR
But it’s not just the ladies with big titles and their names plastered all over the internet and in the news. We need to celebrate the women who get out of bed in the morning with screaming kids in each arm. Or the women who are rebuilding themselves now they’ve left a toxic situation. Although they aren’t a spectacular feat to some people, to others these can be some of the hardest tasks they take on. And every one deserves celebrating in one way or another. This month we bring you stories of strong women from our area who are doing their part, big or small. Our cover girl is Carolyn Lewis whose daughter Kaitlyn has epilepsy. Carolyn takes us through a day in her life as a mum and how things have changed for her since the birth of her daughter. Her aim is to raise awareness and educate people on epilepsy — and it dovetails in perfectly with epilepsy awareness month. We also caught up with Hannah Mahler of the Cohuna Women’s Circle. She has made it her mission to create a safe space for women to come, catch up and be together in an environment in which they
feel comfortable. Every week, the group come together to meditate, discuss their lives and how they’re going before enjoying nibbles as a group. There is also a leading lady we want to introduce you to, thanks to the Echuca Moama Theatre company. Suzanne Spencer has most recently taken to the stage as part of the theatre company’s one-act plays including Last Tango in Little Grimley and Last Panto in Little Grimley. She shone on stage in the best way she knows how with immaculate costumes and an amazing voice. As we do every month, we have mouthwatering recipes to cap off a warm summer. So let’s all come together and celebrate the achievements of women, whether they’re big or small. We’re definitely something to celebrate, so let’s do it.
Alex Gretgrix Editor
CONTENTS Epilepsy awareness is the answer, so ask the questions .........4 Go purple for epilepsy awareness ......................................................6 It’s the gym you won’t want to leave ..............................................7 Suddenly awesome................................10
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Take time to find your circle of life ...................................................12 Miracles really do happen — and here’s the proof ........................14 Lady Suzanne is one of a kind...16 Recipes .............................................................18
COVER Kaitlyn Lewis and her mother Carolyn Lewis. Photo: Cath Grey.
16 CONTACT US Editor: Alex Gretgrix alex.gretgrix@riverineherald.com.au 5482 1111 Advertising: Kerry Vevers kerry.vevers@riverineherald.com.au 5482 1111
MARCH 2020
18 WANT MORE BELLA? /bellamagazineechuca
@bellamagazineechuca riverineherald.com.au/@bella
Photography: Cath Grey, Coles magazine, taste.com.au, Tamara Cadd, Cassandra Power Design: Bella Considine Words: Sophie Baldwin, Ivy Jensen, Alex Gretgrix, Anna McGuinness, Cassandra Power
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PROFILE
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EPILEPSY AWARENESS IS THE ANSWER,
so ask the questions
Raising children is stressful at the best of times, add to that a diagnosis at eight weeks old and it raises more questions than anyone can answer at that point in time. ANNA MCGUINNESS spoke to one mother whose search for answers and support led her to become an epilepsy advocate at HeR woRst, Lockington teenager Kaitlyn Lewis was suffering through 120 seizures a day, with no reprieve. Not even her parents could tell when one stopped and the next one began. Kaitlyn was born with a rare brain condition — agenesis of the corpus callosum — meaning the nerves that connect the two sides of the brain never formed, leaving her non-verbal and unable to walk. Her mother Carolyn knew something wasn’t right before the doctors delivered the diagnosis at eight weeks old, she was having trouble feeding and Kaitlyn wasn’t putting on weight. Carolyn’s first reaction was shock. What was this condition, and what did it mean for the rest of Kaitlyn’s life? Now 16, Kaitlyn is epileptic — one of many affects of the agenesis. She suffers through seizures triggered by
MARCH 2020
anything from tiredness to feeling unwell. “Her first seizure was when she was 12 months old, by the time she was three she was having 120 a day, we lived with it all that time,” Carolyn said. Kaitlyn has intractable epilepsy which means the seizures cannot be controlled by medicine, however a particularly bad run led to doctors finding a way to make them less frequent. “In 2009 we got a new neurologist after she’d been airlifted to hospital in Melbourne, she spent a week having seizures and they couldn’t stop them,” Carolyn said. “The neurologist put her in an induced coma for three days to stop them and came up with a cocktail of epilepsy medications. “Since then we’ll usually get three seizures a week, apart from the odd day where she might have a lot.” Kaitlyn experiences generalised tonic-clonic
seizures which don’t last long but can be continuous, the risk is she vomits when she comes out of a seizure, which can put fluid on her lungs and becomes life-threatening. The condition has had a profound impact not only on Kaitlyn but also her family, including her five older brothers, something Carolyn is very aware of. “My kids have missed out on so much, with school there’s been times when I haven’t been able to buy their school books for them because Kaitlyn’s been so unwell and we’ve had to go to hospital,” she said. “They’ve been kept in at school because their readers haven’t been done or they didn’t have books, and even mentally, Kaitlyn was in ICU when my son had his VCE exams. “My husband had to take time off work to look after the kids and sometimes we’d be in Melbourne for a month at a time.”
PROFILE
There were times when it would all be too much. “The disability is not what causes us the most stress, it’s the red tape and the paperwork, that’s very hard when you’re juggling everything,” Carolyn said. But one of the hardest things is finding support in extended family and friends. “People are scared of caring for Kaitlyn, even family members, so you’ve got no back up that you usually would have, such as asking somebody to mind the kids so I could duck to the shop,” she said. Carolyn believes this fear of minding Kaitlyn comes from a lack of understanding on what to do if she had a seizure, and with more than 250,000 Australians currently living with epilepsy she said people need to be more aware and understanding. Some relief came from finding other families dealing with a similar situation. “There’s a support group that run a conference every two years, there’s a lot more people out there than you realise,” Carolyn said. “Because an MRI is the only way to detect it, some people are initially misdiagnosed with cerebral palsy.” The condition affects people in different ways and each person has varied abilities. Kaitlyn’s condition is one of the most severe, something Carolyn believes could have been helped through early intervention, but living regionally meant access to resources was limited. “We struggled to get a physio and occupational therapist for years and years.
In Melbourne they can access it weekly, out here we get once a term and we’ve had that disadvantage all along,” Carolyn said. “We heard along the way that we ‘fell through the cracks’, when she was diagnosed. The hospital should have organised a physio and all that straight away, but we never received anything. “We needed a speech pathologist and a physio but they kept sending us a psychologist.” Thanks to her medications Kaitlyn can go to school at Echuca Specialist School every day, which she loves. “All the kids at school are so good with her, the main word she can say is ‘hello’, she’s very social and well liked at school,” Carolyn said. However, Carolyn finds Kaitlyn is sometimes excluded from excursions because of the risk of her having a seizure. “I hope me raising awareness is going to make people more understanding, and we can give these kids a better life because they deserve inclusion like everyone else,” Carolyn said. “People think the discrimination has stopped but it hasn’t, we still need to keep fighting because it’s still out there, these barriers stopping them, they should be able to participate like everybody else.” Echuca Specialist School principal Paul Marshall said Kaitlyn attends outings however extended trips to Bendigo, Shepparton and Melbourne become tricky — and have the potential to be life-threatening for Kaitlyn. “She needs to be fairly close to a hospital at all times due to the severity of her condition
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and while we would love for her to come on all our outings it’s not always possible due to those complications,” Mr Marshall said. He said Kaitlyn helps at the Twin Rivers School café where she takes orders and delivers coffees. “We do our very best to provide support for Kaitlyn to be included in activities wherever it’s possible,” he said. A year ago, Carolyn began working for herself as a support worker, putting what she had learnt from caring for Kaitlyn into practice. “I did it because I knew how people were missing out, not just on having a support worker, it’s missing out on having someone else caring,” Carolyn said. “I treat my people how I want my daughter to be treated, I get people ringing all the time and I just can’t say no.” Carolyn said due to a lack of funding through National Disability Services, the family is eligible for but hasn’t received funding for the fittings required to have a support worker in their home, leaving the job to Carolyn. For parents of children experiencing a similar diagnosis, she believes surrounding yourself with people who understand and care is vital. “It’s getting support, trying to talk to other families in the same situation because it’s very hard to find support and that’s what they’re lacking,” Carolyn said. Carolyn is the guest speaker at the Purple Day event in Echuca on March 26, a day dedicated to raising awareness around epilepsy.
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HEALTH
6
Go purple for
EPILEPSY AWARENESS For the past seven years, the twin towns have been spreading the word about epilepsy, a disease that touches many. IVY JENSEN sat down with Shirley O’Bree, a woman who has survived and wants to help so many more who have a story to tell.
Shirley O’Bree
ecHuca’s sHiRleY o’BRee
is a survivor. The Cunningham Downs resident endured regular epileptic seizures for 54 years before undergoing brain surgery in 2012. Which changed her life. She went from taking seven to as many as 20 tablets a day to two and has only had one seizure since a small piece of her brain was removed. “I’ve been seizure free for seven years,” she said. The 75-year-old is one of an estimated 2.9 million people in Australia aged over 65 with epilepsy — a demographic group with the highest proportions of people with epilepsy. And since her life-changing surgery, she has been raising money for the Epilepsy Foundation as her way of saying thank you. Over the past seven years of holding Purple Day in Echuca-Moama, she has raised more than $23,000. And despite her fair share of setbacks, the epilepsy survivor continues to raise money for the charity close to her heart.
MARCH 2020
Shirley will hold a Purple Day morning tea at Cunningham Downs community hall on March 26 and is hoping for another big crowd. "It’s really grown over the years," she said. "I started off with just a small morning tea and now we get about 100 people to the morning tea and they come from all over — Kyabram, Rochester, Seymour and Bendigo. "Apart from the Biggest Morning Teas for cancer, mine is one of the biggest morning teas in Echuca.” While this is her main fundraiser, Shirley has also got Echuca-Moama and Rochester schools and businesses on board. And while raising money for the Epilepsy Foundation is crucial, raising awareness about the condition is just as important. As such, Shirley always organises a guest to speak at the morning teas. This year, Carolyn Lewis will discuss her teenage daughter’s battle with the neurological condition. The Lockington mother is also hoping to
reduce the stigma of epilepsy, which she says is one of the things that causes her daughter Kaitlyn the most discrimination. Read Kaitlyn Lewis’ story on pages 4 and 5. Shirley said guest speakers such as Carolyn were great at helping people better understand the condition. "A lot of people are asking questions at our morning teas and so many people are writing on the feedback forms about how much they didn’t know about epilepsy and how much they had learnt from coming along," she said. "I’m so glad to hear people speak openly about it." As well as asking people to wear a touch of purple on March 26, Shirley has placed donation tins and merchandise at various food outlets, pharmacies, Echuca Workers and Services Club and Echuca-Moama Family Medical Practice. If you are interested in attending the morning tea, which will run from 10 am, and will include food, drinks, entertainment and prizes, contact Shirley on 5480 6824 or 0418 505 243.
FITNESS
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IT’S THE GYM YOU WON’T
want to leave
We could throw around the term ‘home away from home’ but that may not do the place justice. Anytime Fitness Echuca is more of a family — and they want to welcome you in tHeRe aRe some who aren’t too keen on the gym scene. They don’t believe it’s the right fit or believe they won’t feel comfortable in the setting. But the team at Anytime Fitness Echuca are there to get you through and by the end you’ll be banging down their doors to get in and sweat it out. Since 2015 Chris and Kara built their business and in December 2017 opened Anytime Fitness here in Echuca. Already a part of the Anytime Fitness franchise, along with their passion for health and fitness, in 2016 they saw an opportunity in the market for a new 24-hour gym that catered to the needs of the community. After finding a suitable location in Anstruther St and with careful planning, 12 months later the amazing space that is now home to Anytime Fitness Echuca was created.
A lot of thought went into designing an environment that was light, bright and spacious. And don’t assume the duo are just some corporates who don’t know a thing about the twin towns. Kara made her first trip to Echuca when she was just six weeks old and, years later, she met Chris who would inevitably become a huge part of her life and of course career. The couple fell in love with not only each other, but the twin towns themselves. So much so, the two tied the knot at Perricoota Station in 2018. Since their opening, Anytime Fitness Echuca has brought together a team of highly skilled workers who make it their mission to get everyone motivated to be the healthiest version of themselves. The team was lucky enough to welcome Matt Noy, a personal trainer who brings with him a
wealth of experience, which can be tailored to an individual’s needs. After spending 13 years in training, he has a long list of qualifications including a Certificate III and IV in Fitness, Kinetic Link Training — level one in functional strength, punch level one in boxing, advanced nutrition level one and first aid. This self-coached star also has a whole list of personal achievements, but most notably being awarded second place at the 2019 ICN Worlds in the body building category. He also came third in the classic physique category of the same event and overall champion for men’s body building at the Australasian Natural Bodybuilding Association, just to name a few. But don’t let his achievements and body building past intimidate you all the way out of the gym, he’s here to help. >>
MARCH 2020
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FITNESS
UNSURE WHAT TO EAT WHEN WORKING OUT? Here are some top tips from an Accredited Sports Dietitian: 1. E AT BEFORE YOU EXERCISE
>> Matt specialises in all aspects of building a healthy body including fat loss, muscle/ strength gain and conditioning. He also offers online coaching and macro coaching for those who want to transform their body while enjoying life without restrictions. We can’t forget about their female trainer, Tara from By Tara PT. Tara became a part of the Anytime Fitness Echuca family late last year. Tara specialises in pre and post natal training as well as semi-private training. Tara’s main focus is based on a holistic approach and ensuring her clients are supported by herself and like-minded people achieving similar goals. She is also passionate about educating mums on key points to monitor during the pre and post natal period. Along with human trainers in the largerthan-life facility, Anytime Fitness Echuca staff also have a little trick up their sleeve in the form of Wexer virtual training. Wexer allows people who may not be able to make it to classes running throughout the week to take up a class in their own time. With a wide variety of classes to choose from, you can take a class on your own or bring together your mates for a group session. And if that’s not scintillating enough, how about this? Anytime Fitness Echuca is one of only three gyms in Echuca that is open 24/7 with plenty of floorspace and a swag of state-of-the-art equipment. You can take part in any of the many classes on offer from Mums and Bubs to circuit-based training, there’s something for everyone. And with classes starting in the early morning, you’ll have access to their full bathroom facilities so you can get ready for your working day without even leaving the gym. It’s also so easy to stay on track and strive towards your goals with over 1100 workouts available with their member exclusive mobile app. But if you can’t stay with the Echuca team, or you’re looking to stay active on your next holiday, you’re able to access over 500 Anytime Fitness clubs nationally and over 4000 clubs globally. This makes Anytime Fitness the largest fitness community in Australia. The team at Anytime Fitness Echuca continues to strive to improve their facility and provide the most inclusive environment. Anytime Fitness Echuca continues to grow thanks to their loyal and loving members. Without them it wouldn’t be the club it is today.
MARCH 2020
It’s important to get your nutrition right before a workout or training session to ensure you optimise your potential during exercise. Most people generally tolerate a main meal 2–4 hours before exercise without any unwanted stomach upset. However, if this doesn’t suit you, a small snack 1–2 hours before exercise can help to top up your energy stores. If you’re trying to lose weight, eating a small snack prior to exercise is still beneficial as it can prevent you from becoming so hungry that the exercise session becomes uncomfortable, tiring or drives you to overeat following your session. Decisions about eating before you exercise should be included as a part of your nutrition goals and weight loss plan.
2. W HAT SHOULD I EAT BEFORE EXERCISE? There is no one ‘best; pre-exercise meal or snack and it will depend on your goals and preferences but try to include foods that are rich in carbohydrates and lower in fibre (to avoid any stomach issues) as well as low in fat so that the food is easy to digest. Here are a few ideas to get you started: • Raisin toast with jam • Crumpet with sliced banana and/or honey • Banana or handful of berries • Yopro yoghurt with muesli and berries • Porridge topped with berries • Toast with Vegemite • Boiled egg and multigrain toast
3. D O YOU NEED TO EAT DURING EXERCISE? Eating during exercise usually depends on the intensity and duration of the session. If you’re exercising for less than 60mins, and up to 90mins if the intensity is low, you won’t need to refuel additional carbohydrates. If your workout is longer than 60–90 minutes, topping up with extra carbohydrates can help to get the most out of your training session and continue to fuel your muscles (and brain) during your workout. Don’t forget to stay hydrated and sip on fluid throughout your exercise.
Here are a few ideas if you’re planning on exercising longer than 60–90 minutes: • Sports drinks (great option as they contain carbohydrates and fluid so they will provide you with more energy and hydration at the same time!) • Banana • Muesli bar • Carbohydrate gel • 1 small handful jelly beans
4. EAT AFTER YOU EXERCISE Refuelling after exercise, especially after an intense cardio or lifting session, is essential for refuelling and rehydrating the body. Ever woken up the day after a hard workout feeling like you can’t move? Making sure you’re consuming the right foods post workout will help you recover faster and get you ready to smash your next workout! What should I eat after exercise? Similar to eating before exercise, there is no one ‘best’ meal or snack post exercise. The food you choose will differ to others based on your food preferences and appetite levels after you exercise. It’s okay not to feel hungry post workout, and it’s okay to have a snack straight after followed by a main meal later on. It really depends on your goals and what sits comfortably in your stomach. Most importantly, be sure to include the following in your next snack or main meal to maximise your recovery. • Good quality carbohydrate (refuel your muscles) • Lean protein (repair your muscles) • Fluid (rehydrate) Here are some great options which include all of the above! • Flavoured milk e.g Up and Go (if you’re in a rush to get work or on the road, this can be a really convenient option) • Lean chicken salad roll • Greek yoghurt topped with fruit and/or muesli (e.g 1 small tub of Chobani plain yoghurt or Yopro with banana and strawberries • Protein smoothie (1 scoop protein powder, handful spinach, ½ banana, 1 teaspoon peanut butter and 1 cup low fat milk) • Tuna and crackers • Egg omelette with avocado on wholemeal toast • Grilled steak with vegetables • Spaghetti with lean bolognaise sauce
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MUMS AND BUBS CLASSES
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• Separate group fitness and functional training room • Air conditioned 24/7 year round • Full bathroom/showering facilities
FREE GROUP FITNESS CLASSES for members with personal trainer and award winning body builder Matt Noy. One on one training sessions also available.
• All Anytime Fitness members receive worldwide access – great for those who travel or work away
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SUDDENLY AWESOME
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I HAVEN’T GOT THE RUNS BUT THAT’S
what it feels like
Suddenly our Ms Suddenly Awesome has been beset by a suddenly bad knee. Talk about bad timing. Because she had suddenly been offered a work trip to the EU and UK and was planning on competing in a 50 km run. Read on the dreaded word injury has finally caught me. After flogging myself for more than four years, my left knee has finally said, ‘ah, I don’t think so’ and has decided to lock up on me for no particular reason. I can’t run and I can’t ride — all I can do is swim long distances in the pool and lift heavy weights at the gym. Now I know it is not the end of the world by any means. It is not life threatening; and it is just a knee injury; but for many years exercise has been my mental saviour — and it is taking me a little to adjust. My poor little doggo Barney-George looks at me every morning, his hopeful little eyes and a wag in his tail, only to be crushed when he
it looks like
realises no running again today. I have taken to trying to sneak out of bed but every morning he stands in the doorway, staring into my soul hoping for a run, and it’s killing me. And my mental health. Lucky I left angry Sophie behind when I ran the Melbourne half marathon in 2018, because she certainly wouldn’t be coping today. I think I am going to have to admit defeat and head to the doctors, my usual procedure of ignoring the pain isn’t working this time and it certainly doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon. I was hoping to do a half ironman in Shepparton in April but that is looking more and more unlikely as time goes on. Lucky for me I have something else to focus on — my first big overseas holiday coming up. Well it’s like 99 per cent confirmed, and aside from a global pandemic shutting down the world with the coronavirus I will be heading to Europe in June. I have been given an opportunity to travel to the Netherlands and UK through work, so I have decided to add a bit of extra time and include Scotland and Germany as well. I think I have commandeered my brother and his wife
Damian DRUM MP FEDERAL MEMBER FOR NICHOLLS
to come with me because that sounds way too scary to do on my own — coming from someone who gets lost in the toilets in a shopping centre. Let’s just say my sense of direction is not great and I have been lost in a shopping centre more times than I would like to admit, so God knows where I could end up in a whole new country — I am a strong and independent woman capable of many things, I just don’t think solo travel is one of them. But what a great opportunity, I mean seriously how often does something like this come up in your lifetime? I have already been googling places to go and things to see, and of course that did include a bit of a look at possible runs, where I happened to come across a 50 km trail run in Northumberland — from one castle to another (how very English). I mean that race has my name all over it and if my knee does decide to come the party, I think this will well and truly be on the agenda as it has always been a dream of mine to run overseas. I had a feeling 2020 was going to be a good one — I just wish my knee felt the same.
International Women’s Day Sunday March 8
Contact my office for assistance with any Federal Government issues. 426 Wyndham Street Shepparton VIC 3630 damian.drum.mp@aph.gov.au damiandrum.com.au DamianDrumMP (03) 5821 5371
This year’s theme is #EachForEqual International Women’s Day is an important opportunity for us all to celebrate women's achievements and to calling for greater equality. Authorised by Damian Drum MP, National Party of Australia, Shepparton.
MARCH 2020
Saturday 21 March 2020 This Girl Can is about offering activities and sports that are designed to encourage women to be active. This is a great opportunity for local organisations and clubs to come along and promote their activities and services, recruit new members, promote upcoming activities, "come and try" days, as well as talk to women and find out how they can make changes to support women becoming more active.
Register at www.thisgirlcan.com.au Interested in becoming a stall holder? Contact: E: s.briscoe@campaspeaquatics.com.au T: 03 5481 2200
PROFILE
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TAKE TIME TO FIND YOUR
circle of life
One country girl who has come home to escape the grind of the city has brought with her a 21st interpretation of a women’s tradition that has transcended cultures for millennia but still has a place in the digital era. CASSANDRA POWER reports on Gunbower’s women’s circle up on a farm in Gunbower, she remembers sitting by willow trees for hours, fascinated by the dragon flies buzzing around her, and was curiously interested in the water rats of the wetlands. When she moved to Melbourne after high school to study biochemistry, she was struck by the loss of connection to the environment and her source of peace and went in search of a new connection in her new concrete jungle. She found it at an inner-city house in Clifton Hill in 1999, when she attended her first women’s circle. Women’s circles are a practice older than time, prominent across many ancient cultures and traditionally linked to the lunar cycle. Women who were shunned and isolated by their communities during menstruation would gather in circles to provide each other comfort, support and camaraderie. The ritual has continued to evolve throughout the ages and exists in many forms today. Although steeped in tradition, Hannah’s
HannaH maHleR GRew
MARCH 2020
Melbourne version was a little more modern and she made the circles a major part of her life throughout her time in Melbourne. On one occasion she even found herself at a gathering of more than 150 women. Hannah said these large circles were deeply rooted in pagan mythology and the women who took part expressed themselves largely through dancing. “It was slightly overwhelming, the women were running around, dancing and experiencing visibly intense emotional releases,” she said. “But I still felt a connection to them and was supported by them as I worked through some bad experiences in my life.” The 19 year-old had walked into a weird feminist world — and had found her home. In the 20 years since Hannah found her first women’s circle, they have grown in popularity across the world and can now be found in mainstream society. The trend coincides with the ever-increasing demands of work and family on individuals in
our fast-moving world. A 2018 survey from women’s health not for profit organisation Jean Hailes, found almost half of Australia’s women had been diagnosed with depression or anxiety and around a third of women reported not getting enough time to themselves on a weekly basis. In a post #METOO society women are increasingly voicing their dissatisfaction with their role in society. And the emergence of a booming self-care industry is an indication those women are looking for new and alternative ways to care for themselves and make changes in their lifestyles. Having felt the pull of home, Hannah and her two boys have been back in Gunbower for six years now and like many adults who return to their hometown after a significant period of time away, she is struggling with the social isolation that can come with country life. “I have no interest in a drinking culture so I didn’t know what to do or how to make friends,” she said.
PROFILE
IT’S A STRESSFUL TIME, WE NEED TO STOP THINKING ‘I NEED TO DO THIS OR I SHOULD DO THAT’. WE NEED TO GET OFF OUR PHONES, WALK AWAY FROM SOCIAL MEDIA AND COME AS YOU ARE. IT’S TWO HOURS TO FORGET ABOUT THE WORLD, BE PRESENT AND
just be you
“I thought, what do women here do and how can I get involved?” In an effort to ‘think globally and act locally’ Hannah launched a circle in Cohuna last month. “I just thought about the problems in our world today; domestic violence, economic hardship, how the price of water is making everyone’s life really tough. “I thought about the effect of those things on our mental health and I thought maybe there was a place for it.” But Hannah’s intense Melbourne experiences are a thing of the past. She has changed and so too have women’s circles. She is not looking to replicate her city circles in the country, rather opting for a more downto-earth approach — far removed from the historic rituals. “I don’t miss the spiritual side at all but I miss the connection,” she said. Hannah has taken on the role of the leader of her circle — it’s a new role for her and one she finds challenging. Traditionally the entire group takes ownership of the circle; but given the new environment and the lack of experience in the group, Hannah has stepped up. “I had to overcome the imposter syndrome and learn to be vulnerable around others,” she said. At the session Hannah takes time to welcome people, she opens up the space and allows people to get comfortable, then guides the group through around 20 minutes of
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meditation — which utilises objects and cards of affirmation and aspiration. “For newcomers 20 minutes is a long time to meditate, so the objects help beginners to focus,” she said. When the meditation is over, the group reflects on any thoughts or feelings they experienced, they chat to each other about it and set an intention for the next week. “It might be; I want to be a better mother or I want to do more exercise. It can be anything really as long as it means something to you.” As deeply personal as this sounds, the women end things lightly, they share a platter of food and drink something non-alcoholic. Hannah said women should come along, just to take a moment for themselves and free themselves from their roles as mums or wives or workers — or all of the above. “It’s a stressful time, we need to stop thinking ‘I need to do this or I should do that’. “We need to get off our phones, walk away from social media and come as you are. “It’s two hours to forget about the world, be present and just be you.” Hannah said she was ‘really heartened’ with the last month’s circle and plans to continue holding the meetings once a month. She hopes more people will join her and experience what this circle is like. “It went pretty well, I definitely didn’t think it was a huge mistake, everyone was really positive and happy to be there.” The next session will be on March 10 at Cohuna Co from 7 pm – 9 pm.
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MARCH 2020
PROFILE
14
Miracles really do happen — AND HERE’S THE PROOF
It’s double the trouble when they get to the terrible twos. But for Sally and Andrew Knight, their story is at a whole other level. ALEX GRETGRIX heard from the couple who welcomed their bundles of joy into the world far earlier than expected be considered one of the strongest creatures on earth, but a mother can bring a whole other level of strength. Even during a textbook pregnancy, birth and the first few years of their child’s life, there are always challenges a mother and family must overcome. But none more so than Sally Knight and her family. Sally and her husband Andrew always dreamt of having a family. After years of trying they were blessed with a gorgeous healthy little boy Hudson. Wishing to give their son a little brother or sister, two years later they were shocked to say the least to fall pregnant with twins. “After the struggles we went through to become pregnant, the pregnancy was very straightforward. I loved being pregnant”, she said. “I went to my 28-week scan and everything was fine.” But on October 2, 2017 at 29 weeks pregnant, things changed rapidly. “I woke up at around 5 am, I had been tossing and turning all night,” Sally said. “I didn’t think anything of it, having given birth before it didn’t feel like labour, to me it was as if the twins had just changed positions”. But when she got up, she noticed a small
a woman could
MARCH 2020
amount of blood. “Having never had any ‘spotting’ before I woke up my husband and he insisted we go to hospital to make sure everything was okay,” she said. “I did say I’d drive myself to save waking Hudson, thankfully Andrew said otherwise”. Sally was taken to Echuca Regional Health (ERH) where she thought she’d be put on bed rest worst case scenario. Relieved to see Dr Peter Nesbitt on duty she was checked to see what was happening. The next words are still very clear in Sally’s mind ‘you are fulling dilated; they are about to come out’. “I just couldn’t believe it. I think Dr Nesbitt and I both went white.” At the time, ERH didn’t have the facilities nor the resources to deliver premature babies. “Thankfully, Dr Nesbitt, Dr Claire Goodman and the ERH team whom I have so much gratitude for, quickly took action.” “It was too late to think about any pain relief and I was asked to try and resist the urge to push until the Melbourne Paediatric Infant Perinatal Emergency Retrieval (PIPER) team arrived but unfortunately Teddy was born half an hour before they arrived at 8.30 am”. Dr Goodman kept him breathing until the
PIPER team arrived, within three hours of being phoned and then taking control. “It’s amazing, I’m so grateful”, Sally said. In all the madness, Sally was constantly asking if Hudson was okay. He was being cared for by a volunteer outside the door. “With babies born so prematurely it’s unusual for them to be born crying but both twins were so I felt some sort of relief,” she said. Her second baby, Ayla, was born an hour and a half after her brother. “Ayla should have been born via caesarean as I wasn’t contracting but again there wasn’t time to go through that process and there were greater risks involved”. “Without any pain relief, it was quite traumatic. “Three different doctors attempted to get her out, grabbing her arms and legs without any luck”. “With thanks to Dr Goodman she was eventually born breech”. Teddy weighed a mere 1.21 kg (2.66 pounds) and Ayla weighed 1.14 kg (2.51 pounds) which is fairly big even for a singleton at 29 weeks. “Another blessing on our side”, Sally said. Both babies were intubated and as soon as they were stable enough were air lifted to the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH). “I had a shower, left the hospital and went
PROFILE home to pack a bag and head to RCH. Thankfully we didn’t know what we were about to face”. People often ask Sally if she went into shock. “I probably did but I didn’t have time to think about it,” she said Sally, Andrew and little Hudson spent two long heart wrenching months in Melbourne, living out of a motel room. They never left RCH trying to be in three places at once. “The guilt I felt longing to be with all three of my kids was debilitating, I was afraid to leave the twins side and I knew Hudson needed his mummy too,” she said. “They were so fragile, fighting for their lives. “I blamed myself for the position the twins were in, my body had failed, I failed as a woman, as a mum. “I thought about all the what ifs, what if I had done this and what if I had done that different”. The couple didn’t allow any friends or family to see the twins until we arrived home because she didn’t want them to see what she had done. Sally said she still smiled ‘that smile’ that only a neonatal parent knows for fear she may never smile again. “It is so unnatural having others care for your babies.” It was a number of days before Sally was even able to hold her babies and even when she did she spent the whole time too scared to move for fear she’d knock their tubes compromising their breathing. “You were constantly watching the monitor and listening to that horrible beeping noise, which I hope to never hear again”, Sally said. All the while, Sally was a slave to the clock expressing milk every few hours as she felt that was one thing she could give to her babies. “Thankfully, that was one thing my body didn’t let me down on, I think I could have supplied all of Melbourne.” Ayla was to be extubated on day five and the doctors suggested it was a good idea to not be present for the event. So they decided to do a quick trip into the city for some new shoes having worn them out with all the walking. That’s when things went horribly wrong. Ayla’s breathing was declining, and she needed to be reintubated. “I got a phone call explaining that the specialist team were having difficulties reintubating her as her throat had closed over, they couldn’t explain why, other than possible swelling.” “I got to Ayla’s room to see ten or so people standing over my baby, that’s when the severity of the twins’ fragility became a harsh reality.” “I had the consultant tell me they were unsure what the outcome would be”. “I was no longer able to be strong for my family, I broke,” Sally said. Eventually, the RCH team were able to get a specialist from another hospital who managed to reintubate Ayla but not without a number of complications. “It was misplaced so her left lung collapsed and the medication that was required to fix her lung caused her kidney to fail,” Sally explained. Due to Ayla’s breathing and heart rate being compromised for such a long period of time it placed huge question marks on what Ayla’s overall outcome would be. “After what happened with Ayla, everyone was hesitant to take Teddy off the breathing machine,” she said. Despite being in a big hospital like RCH, the couple were left with a harrowing decision. The hospital had a limited number of low airflow dials that the twins both required.
“We had to decide which of our babies needed it most knowing the damaging effects of prolonged oxygen use,” she said. “When you look back on it now, it doesn’t seem like a big thing, but in the moment, it was horrific having to choose one child over the other.” But it wasn’t only the emotional burden that was taking its toll on the couple and their 2-year-old. There were also so many other stresses going on in the background for the family. The financial burden of living out of a motel room with a toddler for two months, they were in the middle of building their home, the pressure of Andrew not working. After numerous ‘one step forwards, ten steps backwards’, the family were transferred to Saint John of God Bendigo late November. All the twins monitoring was removed which created immense anxiety for Sally. “I was constantly terrified, I got to the point I was literally unable to read, I was having trouble swallowing food, I was so stressed,” she said. The twins were trying to establish feeding and have their nasal gastric tubes removed so the family could finally go home to Echuca, but this didn’t bring any relief for the family. “While Ayla was progressing, Teddy was really struggling. He ended up having a tongue tie which created another debacle between specialists with differing opinions,” Sally said. Teddy’s feeding slowly improved, and the family returned home for the first time in over two months. “Whilst being home was great, things started to go backwards. Both twins started resisting feeds,” she said. “I had such a raw fear that my babies were not okay, constantly checking they were breathing. I couldn’t bare for them to be out of my sight but on the other hand I was terrified to be alone with them in case something happened to them. “My anxiety and stress levels were overwhelming.” The twins were under the care of the local paediatrician who continually believed they had a dairy intolerance. “In the end I tried every milk known to man, every bottle on the market, nothing was helping, they hated being fed,” she said. “Teddy then started vomiting the little amount
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he would drink.” There were numerous trips to emergency departments only for the family to be sent home with no one really understanding what was going on. The twins ended up being dream fed (fed asleep) just to get enough to remain hydrated. “You can imagine what it was like trying to get two babies asleep to feed numerous times a day with a two-year-old only to wake up and start again, mother guilt at its finest,” Sally said. She didn’t leave the house for months feeding the twins around the clock. With no support from their local paediatrician and having tried every other known option the decision was made to return to RCH. Teddy was readmitted verging on dehydration. “Thankfully I trusted my instincts despite being told numerous times he was ok,” Sally said. The twins were both diagnosed with a severe oral aversion which is very common with premature babies. The trauma and stress Sally had been through was now showing its mark physically. “I had lost a lot of my hair and had lumps down the back of my neck,” she said. When the twins were four months old there was yet another suffering for the family. Sally had a sudden onset of extreme agony as she can only describe as a ‘constant contraction with no relenting in between’. “I would give birth 20 times without pain relief before going through that pain again,” she said. It wasn’t long before she was taken in the ambulance to ERH, again hearing the dreaded beeping of hospital monitors. “I kept asking for the doctors to put me to sleep because they couldn’t get the pain under control,” she said. “After what seemed like an eternity the team found I had a twisted bowel and I was straight in for emergency surgery.” Sally required a bowel resection, losing 50 cm of the organ. You can guess what Sally asked as soon as she came out of anaesthetic, ‘are my kids ok?’. Being desperate to be with her children Sally went home with 13 staples four days later, only to move into their new home the following week. In their new home, things started to improve. Ever since Teddy’s initial readmission to RCH the twins have been under the care of Dr Julian Kelly whom the family cannot speak more highly of. Having no family locally Sally is extremely grateful to her second mother Jody Newlyn. “She was always there for us”. The twins are now two years old and you would never know they have had such a rough start to life. “They’re perfectly healthy now,” Sally said with a smile. “It’s just so validating hearing Teddy has surpassed all his milestones and Ayla is right on track. “Teddy is full of mischief and loves to stir everyone. Ayla is more gentle until one of her brothers takes her toy. They have a very strong bond and hate seeing each other upset and they both idolise their big brother Huddy.” But despite everything the family have been through, love was what got them through it. “All three of the kids have taught me what it means to be strong, to feel love in its purest form and mostly to never give up on hope,” she said. “I would tell all mums out there to always trust your instincts, you are your child’s advocate and to hug your kids a little tighter every day because you don’t know what’s around the corner”.
MARCH 2020
LADY SUZANNE
is one of a kind
You may have never met a lady in person before, but if you saw the Echuca Moama Theatre Company’s ‘one-act play’ productions, you would have seen one live on stage. IVY JENSEN sat down with Lady Suzanne to find out how she made it to the stage. not be royalty, but she’s a Lady nonetheless. And the 48-year-old Kyabram woman always loves introducing herself as ‘Lady Suzanne Talbot-Sullivan’. “I got a lot of raised eyebrows when I used to introduce myself in this way, it was always tongue in cheek, and some people never quite got the humour,” she laughed. Suzanne’s sister bought her the title as a “cool Christmas present” one year. “I am the proud owner of a plot of land on an estate in Scotland,” she said. “I can proudly stand on this plot and wave to my neighbours. Actually I could probably hold hands with them, it is that small. “Landowners in Scotland are either called Laird or Lady. Needless to say, I relished any opportunity to proclaim myself a Lady.” It’s this dramatic side of her personality that comes out to play occasionally, much to the delight of audiences. But what many people don’t know about the Echuca Moama Theatre Company (EMTC) member is that she prefers not to be in the spotlight. “I am actually quite shy and like to stay in the background more often as I become wiser in years,” she said. “However, every now and then I get this urge to get my creative on.” When she was a child, someone asked Suzanne why she liked the theatre. “I remember thinking about it and telling them, ‘the smell’,” she said. “Now I don’t mean the smell mid-show or midcostume change when there may be a healthy
suZanne sPenceR maY
MARCH 2020
amount of perspiration, I mean the smell of the makeup in the green room, the dusty smell of the empty theatre waiting in anticipation for the audience to appear, of walking through wardrobe as the aroma of the costumes hits you. “To me all these smells are part of a wonderful process that prepares you for the magical ‘what if?’ and ‘what story is going to be told tonight?’.” Born in Mt Tom Price, Western Australia, Suzanne grew up surrounded by theatrical people, her parents involved in local theatres, on stage and backstage. “My earliest memories involved this glorious room which seemed to be full of an endless supply of dressing up clothes,” she said. “There was always music, singing, dancing and drama. “My parents were subjected to many an hour of serious dramatical productions.” Suzanne studied drama, dancing and singing and remembers “every single night at one point being out at some lesson practising, learning and making lifelong friends”. After high school, Suzanne decided to travel, not returning home to live until more than 20 years later. In that time away, among many other adventures, she studied at the London Centre for Theatre Studies and played various roles such as Kitty Verdun in Charlie’s Aunt; Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible; Dee in I am Yours; and Teresa in The Memory of Water. It was there while studying a Shakespearean master class she met her first husband, John. Suzanne was Maria and he was Sir Andrew Agucheek in Twelfth Night. “At one point, Maria was expected to grab Sir
Andrew in a manner that greatly embarrassed me,” Suzanne said. “Even though I was quite reticent to follow the director’s directions, it did break the ice between us, so to speak. “We eventually married and spent our time together in various theatrical pursuits.” One of these was a group called Lights, Disability Action. Its various productions included cabarets in and around Dublin, ad shows and documentaries about disability and the arts John was one of the performers and writers. “This is where I started to get more involved backstage, including stage managing and choreographing,” she said. Through this group, Suzanne was involved in theatre workshops in Maine and the US and performed in the NTWH Alumni Gala Performance. “I was privileged to be involved in a production at the Tribeca Theatre Festival in New York,” she said. Tragically, John died from cancer in 2004, and Suzanne’s life took a different direction. Needing to keep her mind and soul occupied during her grief, Suzanne took on a four-year honours degree. “It was after a chemistry exam in year one that I sat down and said, ‘I need to include something creative’,” she said. So, she joined the Cork Institute of Technology Drama Society, became the chairperson and put on a semi-professional production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest which she produced and played the role of Nurse Ratchet. “Our society won an award for this production
PROFILE
and I won the special achievement award for my efforts,” she said. Suzanne eventually came home to Australia in 2012 and settled in Victoria. While adjusting to life back in Oz, Suzanne met a “talk dark and handsome gentleman” called Dan Spencer, whom she later married. “I became involved with the Hamilton Dramus Society and auditioned for the role of Ruth in Calendar Girls,” she said. “What an experience that was. On top of this stage production, we produced the calendar to further raise money for the local hospital cancer ward. “Dan was the photographer for the project and I assisted by preparing each scene and ensuring all props were placed in the correct position.” The couple moved to Rochester in 2013, when Suzanne became involved in EMTC by auditioning for the role of Mrs Galahad in its Spamalot production. “She was a character that was fun to play and every now and then she made an appearance regaling anyone who will listen to her plight of a lost son, stolen by that singing and dancing king,” she said. While her claims her dancing days may be over and her singing “is not my strongest point”, the disability direct support professional still loves getting up on stage and telling a story. Recently moving to Kyabram with Dan and their three hairy children, Suzanne auditioned
for a role in EMTC’s two one-act plays. As luck would have it, she scored the role of tone-deaf and ditzy Joyce in Last Tango in Little Grimley and Last Panto in Little Grimley, performed at The Foundry Arts Space recently. “These plays have been so much fun getting my teeth into,” she said. “I have not laughed so hard during rehearsals, ever. “There is so much talent in our community
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and it really is an honour to be able to get up on a stage and work alongside people who are so gifted.” While she is not exactly sure what her next (theatrical) step is, she does have a bit of an idea that is starting to bud within her. “In the meantime, I am enjoying the process of settling down into a community stretching out my arms to encompass all it provides,” she said.
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Gathering of friends and food Lunch 12pm – 3pm Dinner 6pm – Late Takeaway Coffee available 12 pm – 9 pm 505–507 High St, Echuca (03) 5480 1900 www.sunago.com.au MARCH 2020
RECIPES
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Super green salad
WITH AVOCADO, APPLE AND GOAT’S CHEESE INGREDIENTS • 2 baby cos lettuces, quartered lengthways • 2 avocados, cut into wedges • 2 Granny Smith apples, very thinly sliced into rounds • 75 g goat’s cheese, crumbled • ¼ cup pine nuts, toasted, roughly chopped • ¼ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
APPLE CIDER AND MUSTARD DRESSING • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil • 1 ½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar • 2 teaspoons honey • 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
METHOD 1. Make Apple cider and mustard dressing: Place all ingredients in a small bowl. Season. Whisk until well combined. 2. Arrange lettuce, avocado and apple on a serving platter. Sprinkle with cheese, nuts and parsley. Drizzle with dressing. Serve. Recipe from Super food ideas
Shredded
CHICKEN SALAD INGREDIENTS • 500 ml (2 cups) Massel Chicken style Liquid Stock • 1 stem lemongrass, pale section only, bruised • 3 cm-piece ginger, peeled, sliced • 1 star anise • 400 g chicken breast fillets • 125 g rice vermicelli noodles • 2 carrots, peeled, cut into noodles using a spiraliser • 1 Lebanese cucumber, halved lengthways, seeds removed, thinly sliced • 200 g red cabbage, finely shredded • 3 green shallots, thinly sliced • 1 bunch fresh coriander, leaves picked • ½ bunch fresh mint, leaves picked • 2 tablespoons fried shallots
DRESSING •2 •2 •2 •2
tablespoons sweet chilli sauce tablespoons fresh lime juice teaspoons fish sauce teaspoons peanut oil
METHOD 1. Combine the stock, lemongrass, ginger and star anise in a slow cooker. Add the chicken. Cover and cook on High, turning chicken halfway, for 2 hours. 2. Transfer the chicken to a plate to cool. Add noodles to the slow cooker. Use tongs or a fork to turn the noodles a couple of times in the stock to soften them slightly and loosen until they’re mostly submerged. Cover and cook on Low for 5 minutes. Use tongs to transfer noodles to a colander to drain. Set aside to cool. 3. Meanwhile, for the dressing, use a whisk to combine the sweet chilli sauce, lime juice, fish sauce and peanut oil in a small bowl. 4. Use 2 forks to shred the chicken. Use kitchen scissors to cut the noodles into shorter lengths. Combine the chicken, noodles, carrot, cucumber, cabbage, shallot, coriander and mint in a large bowl. Drizzle with dressing. Toss to combine. Sprinkle with fried shallots. Recipe from Taste magazine
MARCH 2020
RECIPES
THAI BEEF INGREDIENTS
salad
• 600 g beef rump strips • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil • 1 teaspoon minced garlic • 1 tablespoons lemongrass paste • Juice of 2 limes • 100 ml sweet chilli sauce • 60 ml (¼ cup) fish sauce • 2 tsp caster sugar • 150 g mixed leaf salad • 1 carrot, peeled, grated • Coriander sprigs, to serve
METHOD 1. Season beef with salt and pepper. Bring half the oil to high heat in a wok, adding half the garlic and lemongrass, then half the beef and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes or until browned and tender. Set aside on a plate. Repeat process with remaining oil, garlic, lemongrass, and beef. 2. To make dressing, whisk lime juice, sweet chilli sauce, fish sauce and sugar in a bowl. 3. In another large bowl toss mixed lettuce, carrot and coriander. Mix half of the dressing with the beef in the wok and drizzle the remaining dressing over the salad, tossing to coat. 4. To serve, divide the salad between plates and top with beef. Recipe from Australian Beef
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ROSEMARY LAMB CHOPS
with rocket salad
INGREDIENTS
• ⅓ cup sea salt flakes • 2 tablespoons honey • 8 rosemary sprigs (about 10 cm each), divided • 4 garlic cloves, smashed • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns • 4 lamb forequarter chops (about 200 g each) • 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided • 1 bunch asparagus, woody stalks trimmed • 60 g rocket leaves • 2 radishes, thinly sliced • 1 lemon, zest finely grated, juiced
METHOD 1. In a medium saucepan, combine salt, honey, 7 rosemary sprigs, garlic, peppercorns and 3 cups water. Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat, whisking to dissolve salt. Pour mixture into a tall container and add 2 cups ice cubes, stirring to melt ice. When brine is cool, add lamb. Refrigerate lamb in brine for at least 1 hour and up to 2 hours. 2. Prepare a barbecue for medium-high heat. 3. Remove lamb from brine and pat dry. Coat lamb with 2 teaspoons oil and barbecue, turning once, for about 3 mins per side, or until lamb is brown on both sides and cooked to medium doneness (an instant-read thermometer inserted into centre of lamb should register 60°C.) Set lamb aside to rest. 4. Tear leaves from remaining rosemary sprig and toss with asparagus and 2 teaspoon oil. Barbecue asparagus, turning as needed, for about 4 mins, or until crisp-tender and charred. Transfer to carving board and cut in thirds crossways. In a small bowl, whisk remaining 3 tablespoons oil, lemon zest and juice and season with salt and pepper. In a large bowl, toss asparagus, rocket, radishes and 2 tablespoons dressing. 5. Place a lamb chop on each of 4 dinner plates. Mound salad over chops and spoon remaining dressing over salad. Recipe from Coles magazine
MARCH 2020
They’re back!
