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APRIL/MAY 2015
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Modern Mums
Motherhood Working & Relationships
10 Quick life hacks for busy mums!
Developing Sleep
Associations
School Anxiety
Mumpreneurs Share Their Secrets!
contents APRIL / MAY ISSUE 2015
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Lifestyle
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F amily Fun
Food Home Design + Organise
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Craft Travel Lov2shop Family Favourites Play
20 GIVEAWAYS
14 WHATS ON GU IDE 25 FAMILY CONTACTS The Team Team...
EDITOR/PUBLISHER: Cortnei Laird publisher@nrfamily.com ABN:24 741 924 946
EDITORIAL CONTENT: Cortnei Laird Sean Tonnet Rachael Kane Peace Decle Olivia Westworth Kristy McGeechan
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BeYOUtiful
Wellness
Health & Fitness
PHOTOGRAPHER: Donatella Parisini:
PROOF READER: Emily Handley
ADMIN: Grace Battese
ART DIRECTOR: Cortnei Laird design@nrfamily.com
ADVERTISING: Cortnei Laird Grace Battese Lauren McKenzie sales@nrfamily.com
ALL ENQUIRIES TO: (02) 6622 3260 enquiries @nrfamily.com P O Box 5344, East Lismore NSW 2480
Beauty
NEXT ISSUE DEADLINE: 4th May 2015
www.nrfamily.com
No part of this magazine may be reproduced or copied in any form without the written consent of the publisher. Content in Northern Rivers Family Magazine is for general information only and is not intended to be a substitue for professional advice. The views expressed in Northern Rivers Family Magazine are not nesseccarily the views of the publisher. The publisher believes all information to be true and correct at the time of printing. Whilst every care has been taken in the preparation of Northern Rivers Family Magazine, no liability can be accepted for errors or omissions. Please check information directly with advertisers or venues listed before making arrangements. The Advertsiers accept all responsibilty for the consent of their advertisements and agree to indemnify the publisher against claims or proceedings arising from breech of relevant laws and regulations. Provision of material for publication constitutes acceptance by the advertiser of this condition.
Locally owned & operated in the Northern Rivers Region
Contributors
Peace Decle FAMILY LAWYER
LLB(Hons)/BSc, GDLP Peace Decle has been a lawyer for 14 years and but has been working solely as a family lawyer for 9 years. Peace specialises in complex children's matters but also has a strong interest in formalising effective property settlements for clients. Peace has a proven track record in using non-court based dispute resolution methods to resolve legal problems. Peace regularly appears for children, parents and extended family members in the Children's Court in children's care and protection proceedings and in the Local Court, Federal Circuit Court and Family Court in family law proceedings. Peace is currently completing a Masters in Applied Law (Family Law) to consolidate and extend her experience in this field. Peace has two sons (aged 10 and 6) and with her family has been living and working in the Northern Rivers for 10 years.
Sean Tonnet PSYCHOTHERAPIST
Based in the northern rivers, Sean Tonnet is a psychotherapist, supervisor and group facilitator specialising in couples and family relationships. He is a husband and father of two and his work with families has been recognised nationally through radio and television.
INBOX
Currumbin sanctuary is a great treat too! This is our daughter and her nanny and poppy on her 2nd birthday at Currumbin, sooo much to see and do and they often have price reduced tickets online so that it's affordable for families. You can also take your lunch/snacks so it's cheaper again. -Brooke Smith
Thanks to Chloe for this lovely picture of her mother. HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!
My beautiful little family! -Julia Hansen
This had the NR Family office in stitches, thanks Kim Davies I love taking my family to Salt at Kingscliff and riding our bikes along the bike track then stopping in at Saltbar for lunch and the kids can have a play in the kids play zone. -Sherene Campbell
Fun ideas for the home, I love doing this with the grandchildren. My kids are both in their 30’s. I keep an eye open at the op shops and markets for games that my children played when they were children. Original fuzzy felt, magic robot, board games etc. The grandchildren absolutely love playing them and get a real hoot listening to stories of when I played the same games with their parents. The children often want to challenge their parents to a game and it is wonderful to listen to the lovely memories these games bring back!
- Jeanette Sinni
I couldn't be more blessed by a crazier bunch! -Tarsha Hogan
��
WELCOME T O THE WORLD�
Olivia Westworth PRINCIPAL THERAPIST
Olivia Westworth is the owner and principal therapist at Northern Rivers Kids Counselling + partner of the Keep IT Real! Program- Life Skills & Communication Training for Kids 7-13 yrs old. Olivia has over 12 years of specialist experience working with children, teens and families throughout Australia, America, Canada and Europe.
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Born on the 8th March 2015 Weighing 3.4kg
Wide eyed little bundle of joy!
Charlotte Joy Wells
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L
NEWS
VA N FESTI A M O L TO W THE GIR UGE SUCCESS! –AH
it be family, friends, or work colleagues. That is one of the many reasons we are taking part in this fundraising activity.
David Brown, Lachlan Smith, Michael & Dominic Magner are delighted to announce their participation in the 2015 Shitbox Rally, Cancer Council’s biggest independently run fundraiser having over the last 5 years raised in excess of $4.4 million for cancer research. The 2015 event will see us, along with 400 other participants from across Australia, embark on a unique adventure along some of Australia’s most remote and arduous roads to raise much-needed funds for critical cancer prevention and research. It is the trip of a lifetime as we travel over 3,600kms in cars worth less than $1,000 from Canberra to Townsville via the Birdsville Track and Simpson Desert, for seven days starting on Saturday 9th May 2015. David Brown and Lachlan Smith are in Team Missan for the Shitbox Rally. We are both from Casino and went to Saint Mary’s Catholic School Casino David is a mechanic at Lanson Trading Casino and also a member of the Casino East Rural Fire Service, Lachlan is a tractor operator for S & G ag Greenridge. Michael & Dominic Magner who have been on the last two rallies and are participating as a mechanical support crew for 2015, to help everyone get through to the end. Michael is a mechanic and now works on his family’s farm with his brother Dominic. We aim to raise a minimum of $4000, but intend to exceed that as it is going towards a great cause. We all have been touched by cancer in some way whether
Shitbox Rally is not a race but rather a challenge to achieve the unthinkable: to drive cars worth $1000 or less across Australia via some of its most arduous roads - all to raise money for cancer research. Shitbox Rally was founded in 2009 by James Freeman after both of his parents died from cancer within 12 months of each other as a way of raising money and awareness in the fight against cancer – a disease that now affects so many people. The rally is a reward for all the fundraising the dedicated participants do to help find a cure for cancer and it’s a chance to meet like-minded people and see our vast and beautiful country in a totally unique way. 2015 marks the sixth Shitbox Rally. Previous rally routes include 2014 Perth to Darwin via the Gibbs River Road, 2013 Adelaide to Fremantle via Uluru, 2012 Melbourne to Cairns via Innamincka, 2011 Brisbane to Darwin via the Savannah Way, and 2010 Sydney to Alice Springs via the Oodnadatta Track. We will also be running two major fundraising events one on Sat 14th March at the Greenridge hall it is an indoor bowls activity afternoon starting at 3pm, and Sat 11th April at the McKee’s hill hall we will be holding a Trivia night and BBQ starting 5pm, also running a raffle drawn 1st May, $5 per ticket, Prizes, 1st 60ltr Esky & Two Burner Stove donated by Casino Outdoor, 2nd Shihl BG56 Blower donated by Ongmac Trading 3rd Load of Firewood.
T
he first ever Girl to Woman Festival touched the hearts of the community of the Northern Rivers and beyond, as people came together to honour and celebrate the preciousness of girls and young women and to understand the pressures and challenges girls face in the world today. Discussion groups came alive as girls and their families opened up about how they were feeling about many issues that are a reality for girls everyday, such as images in the media, social media, body image, cyber bullying, relationships and much more. From the True Beauty Tent to a workshop on making your own perfume, on every level the festival reflected to girls that they are deeply precious and deserve to be celebrated, respected and cherished for who they are. Due to the unanimous support of the festival from the community we are pleased to announce that Girl to Women Festival will now be an annual event. For more info visit www.girltowoman.com.au.
To purchase raffle tickets or make a donation you can place in tins located at Lanson Trading, Pete’s Plants, Casino Outdoor & Disposal, North Coast Firearms, find Team Missan on Facebook and follow links to our Everyday hero page, or search on www.shitboxrally.com.au.
NORTHERN RIVERS FAMILY magazine
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GIVEAWAYS WIN one of 4 x
Family Admission Passes to INFINITY Attraction valued at $72.90 each INFINITY is a mind-blowing 40 minute journey into 20 trippy, futuristic, maze-like ‘worlds of wonder’ filled with special effects and illusions that go all the way to infinity!
WIN one of
2 x Jurassic Joe's 'New Released' CD's called
DINOSAUR IN THE HOUSE Valued at $15 Each.
This dreamlike funhouse is fun for all ages and nationalities. It’s a hilarious, interactive experience that’s good family entertainment and a great group or team building activity. THE FUN NEVER ENDS.
You can’t describe it – You have to experience it! Take the Trip
WIN a 'Sensational Spa Day'
Treat yourself to something special at Amber Day Spa in Angels Beach.
WIN $100 Worth of Books for your Library!
With the Sensational Spa Day Voucher they get a choice of treatments eg. Your 40min treatment can include*Massage-Remedial, Deep Tissue, Relaxation, Aromatherapy *Myopractic- advanced Bowen *Rejuvenating Facial *Ion foot detox & foot massage *Chakra balance *Pedicure, manicure *Sea salt exfoliation & wrap. PLUS a sauna, spa, swim & morning or afternoon tea Available at Angels Beach, Bookings - 0412296358
To be in the draw to WIN one of our giveaways just email us a contribution - either a photo, letter, drawing, recipe, favourite hot spot, your tips and tricks on kid rearing or fun ideas for the home. We want to hear from you! Email enquiries@nrfamily.com. Prizes drawn on May 10th 2015.
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Baby Sleep Tips on Developing Sleep Associations
E
veryone who has had the experience of being a parent knows all too well the difficulties of getting your baby to sleep soundly throughout the night. The dark circles around the eyes of new parents are usually familiar to all those that have been around them. In terms of baby sleep tips, one of the most important things you must try and establish as a parent is getting your baby to learn to fall asleep on his own. The process by which your child begins to fall asleep on his own is one that involves a natural transition from falling asleep with the mother to falling asleep in an independent fashion. One of the best ways in which you can speed up this transition is to encourage your child to develop sleep associations that he or she can recreate independently. Naturally, everyone – and babies in particular – will develop sleep associations. These are the things that you associate with bedtime, and allow you to create an environment in which it is easy to fall asleep. When your baby is at an extremely young age, he will naturally develop sleep associations involving the mother, as he will often fall asleep in her arms. As you attempt to get your baby to
sleep in his own, however, it is crucial that you work to change these associations. If you always put your child to sleep by holding him, or allowing him to use a pacifier, you create a sleep association with these things. Then, when your child
wakes up in the middle of the night, he can’t go back to sleep on his own because he is unable to recreate his sleeping environment without you: he needs you to feed him or rock him in order to sleep. As you begin to try and get your child to sleep on his own, you should introduce items into his sleeping routine that
he can sleep with, such as a particular blanket or a stuffed animal. What this will do is create associations for your child with these items for sleep. Then, when he awakes in the middle of the night, he will be able to recreate a sleeping environment without your assistance by grabbing his stuffed animal, etc. It can also be beneficial to introduce “transitional items” into your baby’s bedtime routine: Allow him to have his stuffed animal or blanket with him during a final feeding and beforebedtime activities, and allow him to take these things with him to bed. No matter what you do, your child is going to be creating his or her own sleep associations. Your job is to try and create associations with items that are under his or her control. By giving your child as much control over his sleeping environment as possible, you allow him to begin to achieve sleep independently. The most difficult transition in early parenting is the one towards independent sleep for your child, and if you introduce new items into your child’s sleeping place, you will hasten this transition, which will soon allow both you and your child to get a good night’s rest.
Leading Specialist in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery Fertility & Reproductive Specialist Laparoscopic Surgery Gynaecology Obstetrics
Dr Gary Swift
www.drgaryswift.com.au
MBBS (QLD) FRANZCOG, MReprodMed (UNSW)
Suite 4, Level 1 Pindara Place
Leading Specialist in Reproductive
13 Carrara Street, Benowa, 4217
Medicine and Surgery
Ph: (07) 5564 6017 Fax: (07) 5564 7940
NORTHERN RIVERS FAMILY magazine
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M
umprenuers are on the rise and changing the way women work today. The term "mumpreneur" was added to the Collins English Dictionary in 2011, and means a woman who begins her own business while raising children. We talk to some local entrepreneurial women who are doing just that and find the answers on how they took the plunge into the business world while enjoying the flexibility to combine work and motherhood on their own terms.
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY DONATELLA PARISINI
mumpreneur
MAKE UP BY JESSICA BRIGGS
Balance for the Modern
BuBBA DuDGe SARAH DUDGEON
MUMPRENEUR Owner of Bubba Dudge, she lives with Husband Todd, Thomas, three and a half & Evelyn, ten Months near Goonellabah.
What was the inspiration behind your business? The name is a play on my surname which is Dudgeon and Bubba Dudge is actually what we called my son when he was in my belly. My inspiration was my son at the time, after my son was born I couldn’t find bibs or any other items particularly for boys in really nice fabrics. They were all kind of a bit boring so I made a pattern one day and made a couple of bibs and kind of went from there. I have been adding items every now and then and it has grown from there. Tell us a little about the products? I make unique and kind of funky items for babies, bibs, burp cloths, wooden teethers which is one of my favourites, stuffed toys just little bits and pieces for babies and toddlers. What did you do before you had kids? I have my law degree. I worked full time before and after I had the kids, I still work part time. Even at the moment I work permanent/part time 3 days a week as a paralegal. What was the deciding factor in becoming a Mumpreneur? I just wanted to give something like that a go. It was out of my comfort zone to try and get it out there a bit more. I love making things for other people, I was giving them away for gifts and I thought why not just give it a go and started up a Facebook page with the help of one of my friends. What type of childcare do you use, if any?
My kids go to day-care 2 days a week at a local day-care and one day a week their grandparents have them, so they have a bit of everything. What does your morning routine look like? It’s pretty hectic, my husband does night work so he gets home at 7 am. Pretty much as soon as he walks in the door we are doing breakfast and packing day care bags, having showers, getting dressed and we are out the door so it’s pretty crazy. What’s your ‘go-to’ mummy meal, when time is not on your side? If it’s just for my son he loves egg and soldiers. Eggs or omelettes, all those things are so quick, add a couple of veggies, some toast and it’s all good. Let’s talk about self-doubt, time management and guilt plus any tips on how you manage them:Time management is a really hard one especially when you’re working. I find it hard working 3 days a week then coming home and pretty much I don’t even touch my sewing until maybe 8:30pm at night till the kids have gone to bed, I have showered, dinner everything is done and you do a bit of a tidy up. So I probably don’t spend as much time on it as I would like to. But then the guilt comes in when you have actually got spare time and you try and do a bit of work and you think you should be doing something with the kids even though they are doing something with their dad. You do feel guilty and a little bit selfish at times but in the end I’m hoping I can show them that you can do whatever you want to do and if you make it happen - it will happen. It’s the joy, I get photos from customers showing me their beautiful babies with their beautiful bibs on or their teethers or their taggie blankets and I love to know what I have done somebody else is happy with. Because I do have that self-doubt that somebody doesn’t like what I have done or if I have done something wrong. You just often think is it a waste of time or should I keep going with it because it’s not just you that you have to think about it’s your whole little family. Do you get ‘me’ time?
Not a lot, I always say to myself alright I’m going to take some time and just recently it was my birthday and I took some time where my husband drew me a bath and I just had a bath but still that was only for about 10 or 15 minutes then your like "right I gotta get out I got things to do". But I probably don’t take as much mummy time as I should. It’s only been recently that I have gone from casual work to permanent/ part time so now that I have got those days I can work myself out a bit of a better routine so hopefully I will have a bit of mummy time and I try and catch up with girlfriends every now and then for coffee and things like that. My husband is fantastic, I mean today he has taken the kids to swimming lessons so that I could come here. What has been your high point in your business? Oh well probably this, this is pretty high, its pretty exciting to think my little hobby is turning into a bit of a business and its being recognised. It’s not just something I do at home of a night time. I have recently got a lot more likers on Facebook and that’s kind of my only outlet, so to have that interest and I have quite a few orders on the go at the moment. That’s probably the busiest I have been with it. Oh and when I had me teethers in your magazine on the love2shop page that was pretty cool. I told everyone about it. What has been the most challenging thing about running your own business? Book keeping is a bit of a pain, trying to keep that all under control and it's actually just trying to find the time to get some stock made up. I do a lot of custom orders because I don’t have that time to build up my stock unless I have a big market coming up so yeah that's probably one of the main things, the book keeping and getting the stock made up. What advice should every Mumpreneur should know before starting a business? I would say just give it a go, just try and believe in yourself and take on board if someone gives you a compliment. Just do what you love. If you love what you’re doing it’s not really a chore, it’s not really work. What’s the dream, where would you like it to be in five years? I want a website at least, possibly a store. I’m really not sure honestly I haven’t thought that far ahead yet.
Find out more about Bubba Dudge at bubbadudge@hotmail.com or www.bubbadudge.com NORTHERN RIVERS FAMILY magazine
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BeeTLe BOTTOMs
What was the inspiration behind your business? Fiona: When my children were babies, I called them beetle Bottoms. Sarah: When I was pregnant with my daughter Briar, we were talking about how we couldn’t find a good baby book anywhere and mum started doing these really cute little pictures of people in the garden, living in the flowers and things like that and it kinda just grew from there. Fiona: The characters actually started out as being my children and the first book is really based around my sons and daughters, then we brought in more and now there are 8 characters. Madison: yeah, we decided we needed different races. Fiona: cause we have a very multicultural family and it was not representing us. Tell us a little about the products? Sarah: So we started with a range of 8 wall decals, they are our removable stickers you can put on walls. They are all original artworks so they are all really unique and different to other decals that are created from a computer. Maddison: And then came the books. The first one was ‘Sticky Situation’ and it’s an adventure book about Pip getting stuck in a worm hole and everyone has to save her. Sarah: And then there’s our lift a flap book called “Where is Pip”. Pip is missing and her big sister is looking for her. So you get to meet all the characters along the way and then on each page is a clue about what Pip’s doing. So there is a few different levels for kids to be engaging. Maddison: It’s kinda like Blue’s clues, where you develop problem solving skills. Sarah: At that same time we brought out our story telling game, so that’s a card game with a picture on one side and a beginning of a story on the other side and the idea is that kids can create their own stories with it. Maddison: it’s meant to cover different levels
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of development, like the parent could start telling the stories when they’re real young and later they could write stories themselves if they want. Fiona: So it’s developing your imagination and ability to create your own world. Sarah: and makes bed time much more interactive. Fiona: and the parents can be more creative as well, so there’s more engagement. Where did the inspiration for the dolls come from? Fiona: For me I think it just brings the whole character to life. To me, you can play and interact with them. Sarah: And we wanted to show natural, real children because I remember I was going to buy my daughter a ‘My Little Pony’ and they were all sassy, sexy looking and I didn’t buy one for her because I didn’t want to buy her this little sexy, thing with lots of makeup. That is a big part of the design process was trying to create really natural, real looking where they are healthy looking and strong. Maddison: We wanted to make sure we made the dolls correctly, if we were going to make them. We wanted to make sure that they represented what we want. Fiona: If you put a whole group of children here they will just play with each other. Even if they don’t speak the same language they will still play because they just want to engage on some emotional level and have fun with each other. They don’t care if you’re black or white or you can’t speak the language or even if you’re a bit funny looking really? We want them natural and to have fun, play in the mud, get dirty, laugh with
Be a little bit forceful and ask the right questions. each other and stop being so worried about their appearance. Maddison: It’s also kind of ridiculous about what you're shown normal and it’s not normal. Like Barbie Dolls and stuff, we wanted to make sure we didn’t make unrealistic body shapes.
When did you launch your business? Sarah: On my daughters first birthday so it was October 2012. What did you do before you had kids? Sarah: I studied psychology and I worked with autistic children and their families doing home based behavioural therapy. Also training teacher’s aides and people at their school to work with them, so that everyone was looking after them the same way so that they were getting consistency across everything. I then worked at the university for a while looking after teacher training programs then I got a job at a place called Parents Inc. They are all about enabling parents to be good parents and give them the skills and the support and stuff that they need to be a good parent. I ended up working on their seminars team and we did seminars and fathers breakfast and stuff all around New Zealand. And then moved here and did Yoga teacher training and I taught pre-natal yoga for quite a while and then started Beetle Bottoms after we had Briar. Fiona: I have been a full time artist all the time, I paint and sculpt. And I did teacher training where I taught in schools and I did lots of free programs in schools where I ran art sessions. So I’ve been doing that for years with all the children. Maddison: I didn’t do very much as I’m only 21. I’ve done a bachelor of film production for about 3 years and pretty much have never really had to work yet, so I’ve just kinda been doing this and I don’t know if I would like to work for someone else now. What type of childcare do you use, if any? Sarah: She goes to Family Day Care 2 days a week and she has just started at Steiner Preschool for 2 days. So it was 2 days last year and this year it’s 4 days which is amazing to get stuff done. Before that she used to go to mums house for 2 mornings and then 2 days. What does your morning routine look like? Sarah: I’m good at waking up really late and so is Briar. So when we wake up I make her a smoothie cause she has a smoothie every morning and then she’ll normally do some drawing or watch some tv or something and I just keep feeding her the smoothie. I have a shower then I make her lunch and go and we’re all living together right now so everyone’s around. It’s not hectic. Fiona: Yes, it’s very relaxed. Sarah: And I don’t mind if she gets to school 10 minutes late because I’m not on that tight deadline of a real school yet so we are normally there within 10 minutes of 9am.
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MUMPRENEUR TEAM
FIONA WHYTE
Co-Founder of Beetle Bottoms, mother of Sarah, 30, Harry, 26, Maddison, 21 & Tane, 14.
I’m not very good (laugh), Briar will normally wake up and come in and cuddle me because I like to sleep in. Fiona: I think we have a nice morning because we are self-employed. But then, we work all night. That’s the trouble when you’re self-employed and working from home cause there’s no closing the door. We could be up till 3 in the morning drawing. What’s your ‘go-to’ mummy meal, when time is not on your side? Fiona: Homemade spaghetti. Sarah: Mines like a 'makeup dinner' with nuts and vegies. Fiona: Yes I used to do that for them too, when they were little we call it the 'makeup meal' with nuts and apricots and carrot sticks. Little bits of everything. Let’s talk about self-doubt, time management & guilt plus any tips on how you manage them:Fiona: I never felt it because I was always there. Sarah: I did! I felt really torn about sending her to day care and she was 3 when she started day care. So I kept her at home or with mum that whole time but I did feel really torn, I felt really guilty about it and also Briar was really good and then not good for about a week. I was so devastated thinking I had done the wrong thing. I have good support with mum and everyone saying you know, “You’re a really good mum” and, “You’re being silly”. Yeah so there was the guilt and then transitioning her to this new school again, I sat and watched her and she was very timid and not really what I know her to be at home and now she’s completely fine cause she’s settled and stuff. I have also started when picking her up from school I will try to get a coffee together or do something little before we go home. Do you get a lot of ‘Me’ time? Sarah: No, not really, I give Briar a bath and Chris normally puts her to bed and I normally sit in the bath for a little bit after she goes out. Fiona: Yeah our life is a little out of balance, we have really been working non-stop and our social life has kinda gone out the door. Sarah: Oh yeah I’ve booked into a 6 week class, so I’m doing that once a week. What has been your high point in your business? Sarah: We are a self-published book so it’s an
SARAH HILL
Co-founder of Beetle Bottoms, mother of Briar, three & a half. Daughter of Fiona & sister to Maddison.
extra challenge getting into places and we have just got into Whitcoulls which is a really big book chain in New Zealand and we are going to be in there in April. Also every time we get an email from a parent saying that their children have been out in the garden looking at Beetle Bottoms and how much fun they had, we get them a lot. Or bumping into a mum and they rave about how amazing it
is and how much they love it, those bits are the best bits. All: yeah What has been the most challenging thing about running your own business? Sarah: Being impatient with it not growing as fast as we’d like I think, cause we have put everything into it and that’s why we are all living together because we have pulled all our resources together so that we can keep this going. Maddison: I guess at my age it’s a bit different because a lot of time is going into it and I feel responsible that we’ve got this thing going and we want to help change the world. So now I kinda feel a bit more responsible to just do it. I guess I feel like there’s a lot of pressure at my age. I’ve set myself up for a big task (laugh). Fiona: You’ve put everything into it, you put your whole life into this thing and you think, “Oh goodness I just hope that it is blossoming” and our life is out of balance, completely out of balance. Basically it’s work, work, work but we need to do more in the recreation side. What keeps you going and motivates you when things go wrong? Sarah: The good thing about having 3 of us is that there is always one of us that stays motivated. Fiona: I also think it’s keeping the belief in what we do, I really do believe in what we do. We have started on a journey and it really does represent our life, it represents what we do believe.
MADDISON HOLROYD Co-founder of Beetle Bottoms, daughter of Fiona & sister to Sarah.
Maddison: Also just remembering what it was like being a child, and you do realize that it is actually really good and even though we have had our hard times it’s actually really good to do this. What advice should every Mumpreneur should know before starting a business? Sarah: If you’ve got a set amount of money that you’re going to invest, I would say find someone that has done it before and just get some really good advice. We had money we invested and wasted so much of it doing things we thought would be good business but probably if we had found a mentor they could have guided us a bit more. But we’ve learnt it now, we tried to do too much ourselves. Also get references from lots of people. Fiona: Take yourself more seriously I think! That’s probably the big thing, you know you just think you’re a mum and you’re not really a business women and you couldn’t take yourself seriously but do it! Be a little bit more forceful and ask the right questions. Start small and be local first. Maddison: I would make sure you have focus, real structure and a plan. Plan it before you put any money in it. And I think you need a story, it’s important. You need to believe in yourself. Also focus on who your market is, know their needs or you have to make a need sometimes and fulfil it. What’s the dream, where would you like it to be in five years? Sarah: Everywhere! Fiona: The dream is… world domination! Sarah: We want to have kids programs, a kids clothing line, TV show. Maddison: Maybe a theme park! (laugh) Sarah: We’re going for Peppa Pig and Bigger. How can we find out more about your business? Sarah: On our website, we have Facebook. There are a quite a few local shops that are selling products as well. Oh and YouTube as well, we have a YouTube channel.
Find out more about Beetle Bottoms at www.beetlebottoms.com
NORTHERN RIVERS FAMILY magazine
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TerrY BusHeLLs HAIr sALOn BROOKE SMITH
MUMPRENEUR Owner of Terry Bushells Hair Salon. She lives with hubby Brent, daughter Harper, two and a half & is six months pregnant - It's a Boy!
What is the name of your business and Inspiration? Terry bushels hair salon in the Summerland arcade in Lismore, Woodlark Street at the end of the arcade closest to browns creek carpark. I’ve worked there for 13 years and owned it for 9 years. Part of the furniture now, I did my apprenticeship there and the boss was selling. I didn’t want to find a new job so I said I’ll buy it. I was scared of all the clients going "hey where do we go?" I was like I can’t send them elsewhere so I jumped in when I was 18 and went "yeah let’s do it". It was pretty scary, at the end of each year I’m like yes we did another year! What do you like about hairdressing? Colours defiantly doing colours, I love doing colouring. I could colour all day. What did you do before you had kids? I have been hairdressing since I was 13. I was cutting barbies hair cutting cousins hair stashing the hair away so no one knew but yeah I was always doing the mannequins head in up styles. What type of childcare do you use, if any? Harper goes to day care 2 days a week and then 2 half days a week she is with my mum. So we have a really good support system. What does your morning routine look like? Umm crazy, it’s not fun, we are up early, 7am packing Harpers lunch and packing my husband’s lunch. I try and get myself organised and ready. Deal with harpers 4 different breakfasts she wants to have and not eat any, and then the fight of finding what to wear, "I don’t want to wear that mum". Finally getting out the door and in the car by 8:15am is the goal. If we can do that we are doing good. What’s your ‘go-to’ mummy meal, when time is not on your side? Spag bol, yep spag bol for sure really quick. Let’s talk about self-doubt, time management & guilt plus any tips on how you manage them:Oh that’s hard, yeah I do feel guilt. Especially when I have to take her to day care and she’s there 2 days and then she’s with mum, I’m
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alright when she’s with mum but I just feel bad like I’m always working and not having time with her, because she often says “mum I stay home with you today” but that’s usually on day care days because she’s a bit funny. But I’m working to give you all the good things, like you want to have nice outfits or you want to go to the beach for holidays. Yeah I have to work so she can have the nice upbringing. Because I got the best upbringing with what we wanted. We weren’t spoilt but mum and dad always worked so I’m like well I’m the same, I’m a worker and it’s what you gotta do. What has been your high point in your business? I would actually have to say as of last week getting voted in the top 5 of Northern Rivers Most Popular Hair Salons. That was like totally oh my god I can’t believe that happened to us, out of all the northern rivers we were in the top 5. I couldn’t believe it! What has been the most challenging thing about running your own business and what have you done to overcome that challenge? The biggest challenge would have to be the financial side of everything like thinking how you’re going to pay the bills at home and how you’re going to make all the shop bills paid and just panicking every month about how to get all that done. While trying to keep a balance between home and work. Yeah that’s the main challenge defiantly. Do you get much ‘me’ time? No, I have no me time and the me time I get like if I want to go shopping I have to take harper with me, my me time is once I drop her to day care and I drive to work, that 3 minutes in the car and then its bang we are on again. Me time is bed time too once she’s in bed I can lay down and relax What keeps you going and motivates you when things go wrong? My motivation is that I have staff to pay and I have to keep going for her because she’s got bills and she’s got a life. I can’t give up because then she’s got nothing. And I want to keep going because I want harper to have the nice things I want her to be proud that mum works you know. Also that I have stuck it out this long I don’t want to give up now. You have to keep going and going even if it does get tough, you know that there will be a tough week but you know that you will see the end. There have been many tough weeks, many tough months and you come out the other side and say "ah I got through it, I don’t know how but I did it".
So yeah really just to know that you can get to the other side, it will get better. What advice should every Mumpreneur should know before starting a business and your top tip on being a successful boss? I have one staff member and she’s awesome, it’s hard because everyone says that you can’t be a boss and a friend but I am. We get along like a house on fire and there is no way I could have anyone else there cause our conversations, oh my god no one else would want to hear them, no one else could join in. That’s what I say to her all the time, how could anyone else fit in her and she’s like they cant. I couldn’t have done it without her, like I wouldn’t have been able to have kids without her because she runs the shop for me so yeah its hard like you know, just be fun and listen to them and yeah don’t do the whole bossy thing, I’m not a good boss. I can’t do the whole "You do this, you do that and do as your told". I can’t do that. Make sure you have support defiantly, make sure you have someone that can help with the kids. Make sure you have support from everyone else and make sure you have a supportive partner or supportive grandparents. Anything like that, because you can’t work and have the kids constantly cause you just loose it, you have to have support around you. Cause I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the support of my parents and my husband that’s for sure. What’s the dream, where would you like it to be in five years? Just to still be open, to still be pumping out the clients. Our clientele it huge but we can still build, I’m not saying no to any new clients. To still be enjoying it and for me to still be able to go to work and do my work but be able to go and to things at school and day care, whatever I can do like that. Just to still have a job and to still have the doors open would be enough for me (laugh) How can we find out more about your business? We are on Facebook and down at the salon, come and see us. Book in ASAP.
Give Brooke and Erin a call on (02)66214750 or find us on Facebook
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W
Transitioning Your Child into Childcare
e ask Sarah Ruttley from First Steps Early Learning Education Centre, Lismore to share her top tips on how to transition your child into child care. What would be your first priority when transitioning a child into child care? We at First Steps Early Learning Centre believe it is very important to make the transition from home to care as seamless and stress free as possible for both children and their families. We encourage lots of visits prior to starting care and offer an excellent orientation program for families who are new to the child care environment. What questions should a parent ask when considering a child care provider? The first questions all parents should ask is, ‘Who is looking after my baby and what are their qualifications and experience?’ Our qualified and professional Educators, many of them Mums and Grandmothers, will evoke confidence when leaving your child due to their warm nature, extensive knowledge and many years of experience. Another important question is asking, ‘Are there regular Educators on regular shifts?’ Many of the Educators have dedicated themselves to the children at First Steps for
five years or more. Shifts are structured to ensure familiarity between children and Educators because we feel that once a child forms a bond with an Educator, this should be honoured. It is comforting to families for a child to be given into the care of the same familiar face each day. Top tips to ensure the transition into day care is a smooth one for your child? TIP #1 VISIT PRIOR TO STARTING. We believe that spending time in our nursery is hugely beneficial for parents and should be made a priority before beginning care. In this way, relationships form between children, Educators and families; the daily routine can be witnessed, and there is lots of time for questions, giving great comfort to parents and children. Child care can be such a daunting thought but once the bonds are made and a relationship is formed between Educators and families, it can be a lovely experience. We offer families a very warm welcome and encourage as many visits as needed prior to commencement. TIP #2 Provide the Educators with lots of information about your child and their
routines. We are very interested in knowing the best ways to connect with your child: their favourite activities; their likes and dislikes; and who they have formed special relationships with. Pictures are a great way to help carers connect with your baby. At First Steps, we provide educational experiences in the nursery that are based on the cues of children, optimising their learning whilst having the flexibility to follow their home routine. TIP #3 Bring along a beloved toy or object. This can help children feel secure and the environment feel more familiar. TIP #4 Create a good morning routine. Routine provides security for children and will make the transition easier. TIP #5 Always say goodbye. Don't be tempted to leave without saying goodbye. TIP #6 Be patient. Accept that the transition to child care may take some time and is dependent on age, how many days a week children attend, and the events prior to arrival at child care.
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WHAT' S
April & May 2015
ON
GUIDE
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Your complete reference guide to everything that's happening in and around the Northern Rivers area over the next two months. If you have an event to feature on our What's On Guide, please email the details to enquiries@nrfamily.com.
April Bluesfest 2015 The legendary music festival is coming around again for 2015 with a glittering line-up of artists including Lenny Kravitz, The Black Keys and The Gipsy Kings. Now in its 26th year the Bluesfest seems to leap from strength to strength. Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, Byron Bay Thursday April 2, Friday April 3, Saturday April 4, Sunday April 5, and Monday April 6. Prices vary, see bookings section for details. http://tinyurl.com/ltombho http://www.bluesfest.com.au/
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS START
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Starlight Wellbeing Expo
Friday, 3rd April 2015. All day Station Street, Bangalow, NSW Starlight Wellbeing Expo is one of the most established health and well being expos around. Join in each morning for crystal singing bowl music, with Chicchan followed by talks, workshops, and informal cafe chats with presenters. In this friendly, safe and nurturing space you can unwind, enjoy yourself, and make some new friends. Call: 02 6684 3467. Email: rosie@starlightfestival.com.au.
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Pacific Coast Christian School, Tweed Heads South
Annual Family Fun Day Sausage sizzle, rides, entertainment, face painting, coloured hair, basketball competition, pick-abox, cakes, ice cream and fairy floss. Saturday, 4 April 2015, Acacia Street, Tweed Heads 2485
Crankfest
Crankfest, the region's largest celebration of youth arts and culture. Come celebrate 10 years of Crankfest by checking out headliner Gabriel and Cecilia as well as new activities including regional art exhibit, music industry panel and the brand new "Solid Mob" stage. Don't miss the favourites such as the surf comp, skate comp and huge variety of live young music talent. Saturday 18th April 2015 All day, Main Beach Area Evans Head NSW http://www.crankfestxtreme.com.au or Call: 02 6682 4334. Email: wade.mckinnon@mrnc.com.au.
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Mothers Day Classic, www.mothersdayclassic.com.au Sunday 10 May 2015, Missingham Park - Kingsford Smith Drive, Ballina. Distances; 4.5K Run or Walk. Online entries close 11.59pm Wednesday 6 May 2015 (EST) Corporate team entries paying in bulk Payment must be finalised by Wednesday 8 April 2015. On the day entries available on Sunday 10 May 2015 (event day) at Missingham Park from 8:00am. 2015 Lismore Gemfest
9am – 5pm, Sat 16 May 2015, & 9am – 3pm, Sun 17 May Lismore Showgrounds, Alexandra Pde, North Lismore 2480
Casino Beef Week
Saturday 23rd May 2015, all day, Casino NSW Visit: http://www.casinobeefweek.com.au Call: 02 6662 8181. Email: info@casinobeefweek.com.au. The Casino Beef Week Festival is an energetic and vibrant show of united community. The festival runs for 10 days and has approximately 60 events.
Casino Autumn Orchid Show
Thursday, 28th May 2015 All day, Barker Street Casino, NSW. Come along and view the magnificent array of orchids on display from the passionate growers within the Richmond Valley at the annual Autumn Orchid Show. Enjoy guessing competitions, refreshments, competition orchids, pot plants and other items for sale over the three days.
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Stars of Lismore – Dance for Cancer.
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Byron Bay to Ballina Charity Walk.
Carnevale Italiano
A day celebrating all things Italian at New Italy. Immerse yourself in our Italian heritage, food, music and wine. Entertainment by Tony Pantano and Fortunato Isgro and the Spaghetti Circus. New Italy, Woodburn, Sunday April 12 from 10am to 4pm, $7 entry for adults/free for children 14 and under. Bookings Tickets at the door. Aliison Kelly: 0428 216 079
MAY
Saturday, 30th May 2015, All day, 231 Keen Street Lismore, Visit: www.lismoreworkers.com.au Call: 02 6621 7401. Email: info@lismoreworkers.com.au. Cancer Council NSW will host the first Stars of Lismore Dance For Cancer event. The event will feature twelve well known community members - the 'stars', each paired with local dance instructors who will each learn a dance routine in a variety of styles and perform at a gala night. Join a night of fun, dancing, food and entertainment.
31st May, All day 02 6627 4444 or Email events@helirescue.com.au. The Byron Bay to Ballina Charity Walk - a fundraising event for the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter starts at Denning Park in Byron Bay, loops around Cape Byron Lighthouse, and follows the coastline through to Ballina. Participants can choose to finish at Broken Head (12 kilometres), Lennox Head (24 kilometres) or Ballina (35 kilometres). Participants can enter individually or in teams of four to 20 people. Minimum age is 12 years old (accompanied by a paying adult).
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MARKET GUIDE Northern Rivers Markets Weekend of the Month
Location
1st Saturday
Brunswick Heads Riverside Market Memorial Park, Fawcett Street, 7.30am – 2pm
1st Sunday
Byron Bay Community Markets Butler Street Reserve, 8am – 2pm
1st & 3rd Sundays Lismore Cr Boot Market Lismore Shopping Square, 8am – 2pm 1st & 3rd Sundays Ballina Market, Canal Road, 7am – 1pm 2nd Sunday
Alstonville Community Market Alstonville Showground, 8am – 12.30pm
2nd & 5th Sunday Lennox Lakeside Market Lake Ainsworth 8am – 2pm
Weekly Farmers Markets Every Tuesday
Rainbow Region Organic Market Lismore Showground 7am – 11am
Every Thursday
Byron Bay Farmers Market Butler Street Reserve 7am – 11am
Every Saturday
Bangalow Farmers Market Bangalow Pub Car Park 7am – 11am
Weekend of the Month
Location
2nd Sunday
The Channon Craft Market Coronation Park 9am – 3pm
3rd Saturday
Mullumbimby Market Stuart Street 7.30am – 2pm
3rd & 5th Sunday Nimbin Market Community Centre 8am – 2pm Last Saturday
Woodenbong Yowie Country Market Woodenbong Public Hall 8am – 3pm
4th Sunday
Bangalow Village Market Bangalow Showground 7.30am – 2pm
4th Sunday
Evans Head Market Park Street Reserve 7.30am – 2pm
Every Saturday
Lismore Farmers Market Lismore Showground 8am – 12pm
Every Saturday
Kyogle Craft & Farmers Market Kyogle Memorial Hall, Cnr Summerland Way & Stratheden Street, 8am -12noon
Every Sunday
Ballina Missingham Farmers Market Kingsord Smith Drive 6am – 12noon
NORTHERN RIVERS FAMILY magazine
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y t e i x n A School By Olivia Westworth
D
reading the beginning of school is a very normal reaction for many kids. However for those who suffer with school anxiety, the lead up to school or even just the mere thought of going to school, can produce very uncomfortable and often uncontrollable symptoms for your child. If your child refuses to go to school, you might feel that school mornings are a ‘battle of wills’. Your child might: scream/ yell (e.g. “You don’t understand!” “I hate you!”); throw tantrums; cry; hide; refuse to move; have panic attacks; beg or plead not to go; complain of aches, pains or illnesses (e.g. stomach aches, headaches or nausea); be defiant, inflexible and even make threats to self-harm. It can be very stressful for all involved and extremely challenging for parents to cope with. However, you are not alone. Research estimates that between approximately two and nine per cent of children and adolescents in Australia have anxiety disorders (Kids Matter, 2015). Children develop school anxiety for a variety of different reasons including: separation anxiety, depression, a phobia, learning difficulties, social problems or bullying. If your child is anxious about school, refusing to go eases their anxiety for a little while because they avoid facing the situation that makes them uncomfortable or that they are afraid of.
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However, avoidance strengthens anxiety. So if your child keeps avoiding school, it is likely to make their anxiety about school worse. Plus, they are likely to fall behind with schoolwork and feel socially isolated making it even more difficult for your child to return to school. Here are some tips you can try at home to encourage your child to go to school: • Talk with your child and the school about what needs to happen to help your child attend, and feel safe and comfortable at school. • Plan for a calm start to the day. This might help your child feel more positive about going to school. You can do this by organising uniforms, lunches and school bags the night before and getting your child to have a shower in the evening. • Let your child know that you understand it’s hard for them to go to school when they feel anxious e.g. “I can see you’re worried about going to school. I know it isn’t easy, but you need to go. Your teacher and I will help you.” • Say positive and encouraging things to assist in building your child’s selfconfidence and showing that you believe they can go to school e.g. “You’re showing how brave you are by going to school”. • Say ‘when’ rather than ‘if’ and use clear, calm statements to let your child
know that you expect them to go to school e.g. “When you’re at school tomorrow ...”instead of “If you make it to school tomorrow ...” If your child is experiencing school anxiety, it can be hard on you and the whole family. Remember to look after yourself in the process and seek professional support to share the load, learn more about managing school refusal and to resolve the problems behind it.
Helpful Books • The School Wobblies by C. Weaver (1994). Sydney: Shrink Rap Press. • Helping Your Anxious Child: A Step by Step Guide for Parents (2nd Edition) R. Rapee, A. Wignall, S. Spence, V. Cobham, & H. Lyneham (2008). Oakland, California: New Harbinger. • Getting Your Child to Say Yes to School by C. Kearney (2007). New York: Oxford University Press. • Living with It Book Series (books on anxiety & panic attacks) by Bev Aisbett. Helpful Websites: Youth Beyond Blue www.youthbeyondblue. com Reach Out www.reachout.com.au Headspace www.headspace.org.au Parent Line 13 22 89 Lifeline 131114 Kids Help Line 1800 551 800
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Ho us ek ee pi ng ? Cooking?
school pickups?
To Nanny or not to Nanny? H
iring a nanny is one of the best solutions. Though people may consider daycare instead. So which choice is better than another? Why would you choose to hire a nanny instead of daycare? In some parents’ eyes, daycares are less favorable than a nanny. Some parents feel the personal attention a nanny can give to their children is a valuable service many daycares are not capable of providing due to the number of children in their care. Another reason that families choose nannies is for the convenience of having the childcare available outside of standard daycare operating hours. A nanny will become an integral part of the family so choosing wisely is an important step to selecting the best nanny for your children. Here are some questions you should ask yourself as well as what you should look for when choosing a nanny for your children. Write down the aspects you believe you and your family need and what you expect from a nanny.
1. What duties will the nanny be
required to do? Housework; General cleaning to do with the children (cleaning up/washing up of the kitchen), cleaning up toys, craft mess, sweeping floors, keeping their toilets/ bathroom clean. Do you maybe require a nanny to help with more housekeeping? Making beds, sweeping/vacuuming/mopping floors, meal preps, cleaning toilets & bathrooms, doing some washing, hanging it out, bringing it in, maybe some ironing? Will they need to drop your children at school and pick them up? Are there after school activities they need to get your children to and from? Ie. Sport, swimming lessons, music lessons, birthday parties etc and will the
nanny need to use her car or will you supply one?
2.
What are you seeking in a Nanny? Make a list: • What type of personality are you looking for? Bubbly, friendly, creative, professional, experienced, someone that has a certain qualification (studying education of some degree or someone with a full degree). • Someone who can cook/ prepare meals, is it just for the children or do you require dinner meals for the whole family? • Are school pickups required? Do they need to take the children to extracurricular activities? (Sports/music) • Housekeeping duties- make a list of what is required.
3.
Where do I look for a Nanny? • An agency- an agency will run all background checks, check blue cards are valid, and they will go through your list of wants in a nanny and source the right person for your family. They agency will interview the prospected nannies first before sending through a resume for you to review. This is one of the most popular and effective ways to find your nanny, especially if you are a busy family, very particular about what you are looking for in a nanny and seek a professional opinion. • Newspaper- you can always pop an advertisement in your local paper advertising what you are requiring in a nanny. • Internet- Gumtree is a way of advertising and is free. • Word of Mouth is also a great way of sourcing a nanny, you may get talking to someone who knows someone experienced looking for a job and they might just be the perfect candidate for your family. • Pin an advertisement up at your local
By Kristy McGeechan Director FaB Nannies
school, preschool or daycare. 4. What requirements should a Nanny have? • Impeccable references (minimum 2) • Blue Card/Working with Children Check • Full first Aid including CPR (if your children suffer from allergies or illnesses you may seek someone with anaphylactic training, asthma training) • Clean drivers licence (especially if they are driving your precious children around) • Experience- minimum 2 years full time practical experience. Child care experience is great, but sole care of children is even better (personal preference). Here are a few extra tips to consider when searching for a Nanny. • Be organised, write a list of all your requirements, know what you are looking for in a nanny for your family • Be 100% honest and up front when interviewing • Be open minded as much as you can • Interview a minimum of 2 Nannies • Ask lots of questions, have your child/ ren there so that you can see how the nanny reacts with your children • Don’t be afraid to negotiate. FaB Nannies provide an extremely professional, reliable and affordable babysitting service to all areas of the Gold Coast right down the Tweed Coast to Kingscliff and we pride ourselves with our experienced staff and the quality of care that they will bring to families. It is upmost important that the children’s experience with our carers is fun & exciting with safety being a major key and most importantly if the children have fun we will have repeat business and the company name will be shared amongst family & friends. FaB Nannies offers a diverse range of services whether you want to go out for dinner or a show to catering for weddings & parties to kids clubs/corporate events, just click on the link to view our list of available options. FaB Nannies is contactable via phone, email or Facebook
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Motherhood, Working and Relationships I
t's common that in our modern lives and economic climate that families are often relying on both parents working. Regrettably, the social condition still exists in our culture that sees the primary responsibility for family care most often falling to women, and such responsibility affects the working lives of them more than it affects the working lives of men. In addition, mothers wanting to return to work, are faced with a lack of employment policies to accommodate them. Forcing them to choose between job security and parenting, or a job that isn't in line with their career goals or education. Despite these complex hurdles, working woman often do an extra ordinary job in balancing their lives to reflect their roles as mothers, professionals, partners and members of the community. Comparatively, working woman are still more likely to work more hours of paid and unpaid work than their working partners. They will be doing more housework and child care than men, are more likely to take a day of work if a child is sick, and more frequently will give up personal aspirations to spend time with family. That's significant, because working woman are also more likely to initiate separation and divorce. For working women, resentment that can build from their spouses not helping out enough in domestic and child care duties can spill out in anger, conflict and disconnection. Sadly, this relationship dynamic has the adverse effect of creating more family distress too, and about 60% of working woman report taking out their stress on children negatively. Things can spiral out of hand quickly and issues are heightened if there were underlying relationship problems prior to her returning to work.
When viewed through this relationship lens, it seems obvious, that working mothers - first and foremost - receive the increased support of their partners with domestic and child rearing tasks around home. Although a great starting place, it's also obvious that this is sometimes too simple. Relationship dynamics can be far more complex. Couples can get stuck in a groove around perceived roles and responsibilities that's generational and unconscious. It's important then to create a space for discussion, reflection and change and I've listed 4 ideas below that may help..
1. Communicate your needs: first and foremost, have a genuine, connectfull conversation about yours and his perceived ideas around work, responsibilities, roles, child care and the like. This is a very important conversation to help shift values and stuck themes within the family. Those stuck places are often well past there used by dates in a modern Australia. Avoid blame and criticism. If the relationship distress is too high and it's impossible to hold a space for this discussion without conflict, I would highly recommend seeking couples counselling or some relationship support. 2. From this: Build a solid weekly routine across both parents calendars and children's schedules: essential for time management and Job delegation. Some families can get very detailed to include who's turn to cook, clothes washing, etc. At home, we use a whiteboard so the kids can get involved and everyone has access to the daily tasks/activities. It also allows for flexibility and changes to be made easily. 3. Prioritise time as a couple:
Couples where both parents work often
By Sean Tonnet
report an increased level of emotional disconnection through lack of quality time. And we know that, families hinge on the couplehood. So quality, caring time together is essential. In my therapy practice, regardless of the issues, couples always do better when they can provide this opportunity for each other. And it can be as easy as 30 minutes one night a week. Of course, prioritise time as a family too. Make sure some time during the week is set aside for the family to be together as a family.
4. Honour you core feminine energy: recognise that the work place is often - regrettably - structured around core male/patriarchal structures (ie competitive, task and outcome focused, solution oriented, etc). So, when you can, spend time honouring your core female spirit and pamper, dance, create, cry, laugh, love and luxuriate wildly Woman are often well networked with others and excellent communicators and in my experience many working mothers are skilfully resourced in dealing with enormous demands. However I would reiterate a holistic approach (relational, physical, intellectual, emotional, social) to self and relationship care. Most recently, I have been reminded of this as my wife has just returned to full-time work and although it has raised new challenges for her and the whole family, it has also been a chance to embrace change, growth and something new. Resources: Working Mothers: How Much Working, How Much Mothers, And Where Is The Womanhood? Medknow Publications 2009 Working Mothers - Common Issues www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au NORTHERN RIVERS FAMILY magazine
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FAMILY FUN CRAFT, TRAVEL, PLAY + FAVOURITES
YOU WILL NEED scissors glue Egg carton Yellow paint and black marker Yellow and orange card stock TO MAKE EACH CHICK 1. Cut two egg carton cups. Glue a 1/2ʺ x 1-3/4ʺ piece of paper to each half, acting as a hinge. 2. Paint throughout. 3. Take small pieces of card stock, two yellow and two orange, each measuring approximately 1ʺ x 1/2ʺ. Fold a 1/4ʺ flap from the edge. From the fold, cut into triangles. 4. Affix one yellow triangle on each side of the inner bottom egg carton cup. Affix one orange triangle on the front of the inner top and another on the inner bottom egg carton cup. 5. Cut orange card stock into feet and adhere to the bottom cup. Take a black marker and draw small eyes. Fill with candy treats, give away, and watch your loved ones chirp with delight
For Mothers Day make her an
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FAMILY FAVOUR ITES Wanted! Ralfy Rabbit, Book Burglar By Emily Mackenzie RRP - $15.99 Paperback
Penguin in love By Salina Yoon RRP - $12.99 Board Book When a penguin finds a lost mitten on the ice one day, he wonders who if belongs to – after all every mitten has a mate!
Some rabbits dream about lettuces and carrots, others dream of flowering meadows and juicy dandelions, but Ralfy dreams only of books. In fact, he doesn't just dream about them, he wants to read them ALL THE TIME. Soon his obsession sends him spiralling into a life of crime! The awesome book of awesomeness By Adam Frost Illustrated by – Ban Bramall RRP - $14.99 paperback
Never tickle a tiger By Pamela Butchart Illustrated by Marc Boutavant RRP - $14.99 paperback Izzy is forever shuffling and juggling, squirming and twitching. Wriggling and Fiddling. She just can’t help it! So when Izzy’s school goes on a trip to the zoo, her teacher warns her that she must never wriggle, she must never fidget and she must certainly NEVER TICKLE A TIGER! But does Izzy listen? She does NOT – and what happens next throws the zoo into complete chaos.
If one vampire bit one person and they turned into a vampire, how long would it take before the whole world filled up with vampires? What’s the weirdest things floating in space? How big is the largest hairball ever swallowed?
Sunita’s Baby Sister By Nicola Call and Sally Featherstone RRP - $12.99 Hardback Sunita’s baby sister stays at home when Sunita goes to play group. The baby is noisy when Sunita has to be quiet. The baby stays up late when Sunita has to go to bed. Sometimes Sunita doesn’t like having a baby sister – but when the baby smiley, Sunita loves her sister very much.
The Beastly Pirates By John Kelly RRP - $14.99 Paperback They’re called the beastly pirates and this fearsome ugly bunch scour the seas for other pirates they can gobble up for lunch. Beware the beastly pirates the scariest sailors on the seven seas. They’re cutlass-toting, pirate-eating bunch of renegades and the list of their dastardly deeds is endless.
LOCAL STORY
Get to know Jurassic Joe!
F
or those unfamiliar with the Mesozoic phenomenon, Jurassic Joe is a singing, dancing paleontologist with a collection of songs extolling the exciting world of ancient reptiles. Jurassic Joe came from trying to keep up with his son's intricate knowledge of dinosaurs, a self-education through music. The songs grew and grew, developing into a whole CD of songs. Releasing the CD required a CD launch which went so well that he had to do more by popular demand. The show schedule got busier and busier, from shows at the local music shop and library, to eventually shows at international schools and venues around the world. The kids loved the CD and were happy to play it over and over and over, not so for parents. They wanted more variety so on came album 2 and now album 3. After a successful World Tour last year with 27 shows through UK, Europe and Asia, Jurassic Joe is eager to be returning to local shows and reconnecting with the local dinosaur enthusiasts, celebrating the release of his new CD, ‘Dinosaur In The House’ where a song from the album won the 2014 Dolphin Award for Best Music for Children. The ongoing motivation is to get kids actively involved in music and performance through the shows with a focus on high quality children's entertainment. The CD is available from Lismore's Music Bizarre or online at jurassicjoe.com.au. Great News, Northern Rivers Family Magazine has teamed up with Jurassic Joe to giveaway 2 'Dinosaur in the House' CD's. See page 6 for details. NORTHERN RIVERS FAMILY magazine
21
L IFESTYLE
FOOD, HOME & ORGANISE
COMMON MISTAKES 10 Quick life hacks when reporting your income for busy mums!
1 If you’re afraid of your children falling out of bed, put a pool noodle on the outside of the bed under the fitted sheet. 2 To keep bath toys from floating away, place a washing basket in the bath tub and place child and toys inside. The holes in the basket allows the water to come into the basket. 3 Prevent your children from leaving their cups all over the house, glue 2 magnets on the outside of the cup then they will stick to the fridge when not being used. 4 WD-40 is the best crayon remover, spray on a small amount then wipe clean. 5 Keep the hair on the dolls soft by using fabric softener and water. 6 Cut a wedge into pool noodles so that you can insert it into your door frame. This saves your children getting their fingers caught in the door 7 Instead if ice, freeze Grapes to chill wine without watering it down. 8 Put a stocking over the end of the vacuum cleaner to find little things such as earrings 9 A frozen saturated sponge in a zip lock bag makes a great icepack that won’t drip all over you when it melts. 10 Don’t burn yourself with those hard to reach candles, light a stick of spaghetti and use that to light the wick. 22
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T
here are a range of legal issues which can arise for working mothers. An area that is not well understood and commonly causes real angst and difficulties is social security. Many parents who work, particularly part-time, will also be eligible for income support payments such as Parenting Payment and Newstart. Obligations are placed on persons receiving these payments to regularly report their wages from work, self-employment and other sources of income. Failure to accurately report income can result in two potentially very serious consequences – an overpayment from Centrelink and/or criminal charges of social security fraud. Common mistakes resulting in overpayment include reporting net income (post tax) instead of gross income (pre tax) and not correctly matching wages with the Centrelink reporting period. Casual, part-time and shift workers are (often) particularly susceptible to errors in reporting due to fluctuating hours and different payment rates. An overpayment is initially always dealt with administratively by Centrelink. Unless the error resulting in overpayment was made by Centrelink, the debt will almost always have to be repaid in full. If the debt is disputed, there are processes for review of Centrelink decisions both internally in Centrelink but also by appeal to Commonwealth Tribunals and the Courts. What is commonly not understood is that, even where a party arranges with Centrelink to repay a debt, prosecution for social security fraud can still be pursued by the Commonwealth Department of Public Prosecutions. Research conducted in 2011 into social security fraud prosecutions in the Wollongong NSW area found that women who receive Parenting Payment and have income reporting obligations were particularly vulnerable to prosecution. Furthermore, prosecution
By Peace Decle can and is pursued in relation to overpayments of relatively small amounts (including less than $5,000), and even where the overpayment is as a result of error. To demonstrate fraud it is sufficient if a person has accepted a benefit either knowing or believing that they were not entitled to it. While only a relatively low percentage of cases will receive a custodial sentence, and most convictions result in a Fine, Community Service Order or Good Behaviour Bond, the vast majority of prosecutions result in a criminal conviction which can have wide and long term consequences for future employment, the offence being an offence of dishonesty. Working mothers need to be aware that it often takes a number of years before Centrelink become fully cognisant that there has been an overpayment. Over a period of years, a relatively small fortnightly overpayment amount can accumulate into a substantial debt. Where the debt is substantial and a criminal prosecution results from the overpayment, the outcome can often be a custodial penalty. It is essential that working parents fully understand their legal obligations to avoid potentially serious consequences, and if necessary take early action to remedy any errors that have arisen. The Department of Human Services website has information regarding responsibilities in relation to reporting of information about income and changes to circumstances. If you are concerned about a debt or social security fraud or are asked to attend a prosecution interview by Centrelink you should get advice from a solicitor. Legal Aid NSW provides free initial legal advice about social security matters (02 6621 2082). The information in article is offered for general information purposes and is not intended to be legal advice or the giving of a legal opinion. If you want to understand how these issues affect you and your family, you should consult a family law solicitor. A list of solicitors who practice in family law in your area can be found on ‘Finding a Solicitor’ on www.lawsociety.nsw.gov.au.
Please mention NORTHERN RIVERS FAMILY magazine when responding to adverts
Mini Burgers INGREDIENTS 250g beef mince 50g Parmesan cheese, grated 30g fresh breadcrumbs
1 tbsp olive oil 1 garlic clove, finely chopped 1 egg 1 tsp dried oregano 12 mini bread rolls
METHOD 1. Prepare a baking sheet with a piece of greaseproof paper. Get the kids to use their hands to mix all the ingredients for the burgers together. 2. Form the mixture into balls about the size of walnuts and flatten them. Chill the meatballs in the fridge for 10 mins. Make sure your children wash their hands. 3. Put the oil into a frying pan and bring to a medium heat. Fry the burgers and turn over after 5 mins. When the juices run clear, they're done. 4. Carefully cut the rolls in half. Fill each roll with a cooked burger. Serve with cheese slices, bacon, tomatoes, cucumber (optional)
Spagetti bolognese INGREDIENTS Serves: 4 2 tbsp olive oil 500g lean minced beef 1 large onion, finely chopped 1 carrot, peeled and finely chopped 2 celery sticks, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, crushed 400g can chopped tomatoes 450g jar or carton tomato passata good pinch of dried oregano, or to taste 400g spaghetti grated Parmesan cheese, to serve
METHOD 1. Heat a wok or large, deep frying pan with the olive oil. Crumble the beef into the pan and stir-fry over a high heat for 2 minutes to break up the meat and brown it. 2. Add the onion, carrot, celery and garlic. Stir over a medium heat for 1 minute, then add the chopped tomatoes and the passata. Stir well, then add the oregano and seasoning. Cook over a medium heat so that the sauce boils gently, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes or until thick. 3. While the sauce is cooking, cook the spaghetti in a pan of salted boiling water for 10 minutes, or according to the pack instructions, until tender with a bite at the centre. Drain and turn into a warmed serving bowl. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning, then pour over the hot pasta. Toss gently and serve immediately with grated Parmesan cheese.
Tacos
INGREDIENTS 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 medium brown onion, finely chopped 2 teaspoons ground cumin 2 teaspoons ground coriander 1 teaspoon paprika 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
500g beef mince 400g can crushed tomatoes 10 jumbo taco shells 4 large iceberg lettuce leaves, shredded 2 medium tomatoes, chopped 1 1/2 cups grated tasty cheese
METHOD 1. Preheat oven to 180째C/160째C fan-forced. 2. Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add onion. Cook, stirring, for 3 minutes or until softened. Add cumin, coriander, paprika and cayenne pepper. Cook, stirring, for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Add mince. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon to break up mince, for 8 minutes or until browned. Add crushed tomato. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until sauce has thickened. 3. Meanwhile, heat taco shells following packet directions. Divide beef mixture and salad tacos evenly between taco shells. Top with lettuce, chopped tomato and cheese. Serve.
NORTHERN RIVERS FAMILY magazine
23
BEYOUT IFUL
WELLNESS, HEALTH & FITNESS + BEAUTY
Easy Fitness for Time Crunched Mums
M
ums have a tough time. They are the cook, the maid, the taxi driver, the teacher, the referee, and the list could go on. Mum’s know how to get everything done for everyone else, but by doing this they often don’t take care of themselves. There is no question that it is hard; children keep parents on the go, it is difficult to do the things you’d like to do. They can squeeze in a last minute dentist appointment for little Teddy and show up without a moment to spare for a class play that little Tommy forgot to mention. Super mum can always find time to do whatever needs to be done to run a happy home for all of the occupants. School schedules, car pools and after school activities combined with household chores and a full-time job doesn’t allow for much time to exercise.
That is no longer good enough, time to realise it is only an excuse.
you have to pick up your daughter from school at 3:00, but your son gets out at 2:30, make proper use of your time and throw your Nike shoes in a gym bag and walk while you wait.
Taking care of yourself with plenty of rest and exercise should just be one of those little things that you mark on the calendar and do. In fact, do it now. Mark in your day planner or on the dry-erase board your “me-time.” Then, dust off that tennis racket and head on out for the courts with one of your girlfriends, or join a Fitness Centre, or take up walking for overall health and fitness. Procrastination is a word that has no meaning for mums wanting to do something nice for their children, the same should apply for what you want or need to do.
The important thing for you to remember is that because you are a mum, you may have to jump in and take advantage of a thirty-minute window just to exercise. Be ready for these chances and learn to expect the unexpected and take care to use the time wisely. If the birthday party you son is at ends up being late, take the chance to walk once or twice around the block. When you get back you’ll have helped out your heart and your son will be ready to go.
Diversify your fitness schedule to include solo walks, tennis matches with girlfriends, and horseback riding with your husband. Be creative in planning your week ahead. If you know that on Monday
It doesn’t take much except seizing the opportunities to exercise when they present themselves.
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266 MOLESWORTH ST. LISMORE (Next to RTA)
Please mention NORTHERN RIVERS FAMILY magazine when responding to adverts
ABORIGINAL MATERNAL & INFANT HEALTH Ballina Community Health Centre
Tel: 6686 8977
BUILDING BETTER DADS
Free 3 week course for expectant fathers Men & Family Centre, Lismore Phone: 6622 6116
HOME BIRTH GROUP
Alternate Mondays Cook Pioneer Hall Gordon St, Mullumbimby (Behind the Civic Centre) 10:30-12:30 am
CASINO
Community Health Centre, Canterbury & North Sts Call for appointment 6662 4444
CORAKI
Community Health Centre, Surrey St Four days per month Call for appointment
Tel: Taneal 6688 2331
NIMBIN BIRTH & BEYOND Tel: Kirrah 0429 308851
NORTHERN RIVERS CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION St Vincent’s Hospital, Lismore Mon 6.30-9pm six week course
Tel: 6627 9600
NURTURE BIRTH & BEYOND
Tues 9.30-11.30 Lismore Pregnancy yoga & birth prep Tel: Kirrah 0429 308851
BIRTH AND PARENTING CLASSES
Wednesday evenings for 7weeks costing $60 Ballina Community Health Tel: 6686 8977 Byron Community Health Tel: 6685 6254 Mullumbimby Community Health Tel: 6684 1677 PRENATAL YOGA Mondays 10.30am-1130am 3 Bentinck st Ballina $10 Tel: Sarah 0423 748 651
GIRL GUIDES/SCOUTS GIRL GUIDES
Community Health Centre, Old School Site, Woodburn St Every Fri Call for appointment 6682 4899
KINGSCLIFF
Community Health Centre, Turnock St Call for appointment 6674 9500
KYOGLE
Community Health Centre, Summerland Way (nr hosp.) Call for appointment 6632 1522
LENNOX HEAD
Community Centre, Mackneys Lane Wed 9.30-2.30 appointments only Tel: 6686 8977 Lismore Community Health Level 1, 29 Molesworth Street Mon-Fri 8.30-5
MURWILLUMBAH
Community Health Centre, cnr Wollumbin & Nullum Sts Call for appointment
WOODBURN
ALSTONVILLE
Community Health Centre, Main Street Tues–Thurs 8.30 - 5 Tel: 6628 3901
BALLINA
Community Health Centre, cnr. Fox & Cherry Sts Open clinics Mon 9.30-12 & Fri 9-12 Appointments Mon 2-4, Wed & Thurs 9-12 & 2-4, Fri 2-4 Tel: 6686 8977
Tel: 6620 7687
Community Health Centre, Azalea St Friday 9.30 – 3pm Call for appointment Tel: 6684 1677
SCOUTS
CHILD & FAMILY HEALTH CLINICS
Tel: 6625 0111
6670 9400
LENNOX HEAD
Community Centre, Mackneys Lane 3rd Wed of month 10-11 Tel: 6686 8977
CWA rooms Alt. Fri afternoons Call for appointment
Tel:6682 4899
IMMUNISATION CLINICS 3rd Tues of month 1.30-4
Tel: 6628 3901
BALLINA
Community Health Centre, cnr Fox & Cherry Sts 2nd and 4th Tues every month 10-11 For appointment Tel: 6686 8977
BRUNSWICK HEADS
Community Centre 4th Thurs every month
BANGALOW
BYRON
Community Health Centre, Granuaille Road Thursday 1 - 3pm Cal for an appointment Tel:66870000
Community Hospital 2nd Thurs every month Tel: 6685 6254 for appointment
Byron Community Health Centre, Shirley St Monday 9 – 3pm Call for an appointment Tel: 668856254
CORAKI
Tel: 6685 6254
Community Health Centre, Surrey St 3rd Tues every month Tel: 6683 2019
GOONELLABAH
Child & Family Health Centre
Tel: 6672 3324
JARJUM PLAYGROUP
PARENTS'GROUPS/PLAYGROUPS BALLINA COMMUNITY HEALTH
JELLYBEANS
Solarium, Ballina Community Hospital Thurs 10-12 Tel: Anne/Angela 6686 8977
Senior Citizen’s Venue, Lismore Fri 10-12
JUMPING JOEYS’ PLAYGROUP
Playgroup House, Regatta Ave Tues, Wed & Fri 9.30-11.30
McCarthy Hall, St Joseph’s School, Alstonville Tues 9.20- 11 More info: sjpalst@lism.catholic.edu.au
BANGALOW
KIDS CLUB
BALLINA LITTLE PELICANS
Anglican Hall, Ashton Road Tues 10-12 (term time only) $3 per session
Presbyterian Church, Ballina Wed 3.15-4.30 Tel: Sue 6687 8664
BEANIES GOORIE
For Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander families YWCA, 101a Rous Rd, Goonellabah Thurs 11- 1 (term time only) Tel: Zoe 6625 5809
BENTLEY PLAY GROUP 10am - 12noon
Tel: Belinda Smith 6663 5204
Buddha Bar at the Piggery Wed 10-12.30 Tel: Suzanne 0402 590725
CABARITA BEACH PLAYGROUP
Pippies Early Childhood Centre Wed 9.30-11.30 Tel: Jacqui 6676 2694 CASINO Pratt Street (next to Scout Hall) Tues & Fri 10-12 Tel: Kate 6662 2113
DADS AND KIDS PLAYGROUP
Tel: 6686 2083
KYOGLE PRESCHOOL PLAYGROUP
62 Fawcett St, Kyogle Thurs 9.30–11.30 (term time only) Tel: 6632 1338
LENNOX HEAD PLAYGROUP
Lennox Head Community Centre Tues 10-12 Wed 9.30-11.30 Tel: Debbie 6687 5360 MANY VOICES For culturally and linguistically diverse families YWCA, 101a Rous Rd, Goonellabah Mon 10- 12 (term time only) Tel: Zoe 6625 5809
MOPS Alstonville
(Mothers of Pre-schoolers) Alstonville Baptist Fellowship 2nd Fri (school term only) 9.15-11.30
Tel: 6628 5387
MT WARNING COMMUNITY PRE-SCHOOL PLAYGROUP 120 Glenock Rd, Uki Tues 9.30–11.30 $5 – incl. morning tea
Cudgen Primary School Tues at 9
Tel: 6679 5313
Scout Hall, Wilson St, South Lismore Mon 10-12.30 Gold coin donation Tel: Glenn 6622 6116
MUM & ME TIME Presbyterian Church, Park Ave, E. Lismore Tues 10-12 Tel: 6621 3655
DADS AND KIDS PLAYGROUP
MUMMULGUM PLAYGROUP Mummulgum Public School Tues 9.30-11.30
Baptist Church, Raja Road, Ocean Shores Mon 10-12
EAST LISMORE PLAYGROUP
ALSTONVILLE
HONEYBEES PLAYGROUP
Bunjum Aboriginal Co-Op, 44 Tamar Street, Ballina Tues 10-12.30 Tel: Isobel 6686 5644
CUDGEN KIDS PLAYGROUP
Parent Resource Centre, Rajah Road Tues (Appointments 9am-3pm) Call for appointment Tel:6684 1677
Tel: 6624 1422 Murwillumbah Tues 9.30-11.30
BYRON MUMS AND BUBS
MULLUMBIMBY
OCEAN SHORES
There are local groups at Alstonville, Ballina, Bangalow, Brunswick Heads, Cape Byron (Rovers), Casino, Chinderah, Goonellabah, Kyogle, Lennox Head, Lismore, Mullumbimby and Murwillumbah Tel: Scouts Australia 1800 726887
2nd and 4th Wed of month
LISMORE
There are local groups at Alstonville, Bonalbo, Brunswick Heads, Ballina, Clunes, Kyogle, Lismore & Tweed Heads Tel: Jacki 0427 728269
GOONELLABAH
6683 2019
EVANS HEAD
HYPNOBIRTHING AUSTRALIA CLASSES. Lismore, Ballina, Evans Head & surrounding areas. Tel: Sarah 0423 748 651 Fri 11-12.30
Community Health Centre, Oliver Ave Mon-Fri 8.30-5 Tel: 6625 0111
Baptist Chruch, Rotary Dr. Tues 10-12
Tel: Lisa 6629 0215
Scout Hall, Cherry St, Evans Head Fri 10-11.30 Tel: Tricia 6682 4334
MUMS’ SUPPORT GROUP
Eureka School Wed 9.30-11.30
Baptist Church Hall, Ocean Shores Thurs 10-12
FAMILY CENTRE PLAYGROUPS
Banora Point - Mon & Thurs 9.30-11.30 Cabarita - Tues 9.30-11.30 Murwillumbah - Wed 9.30-11.30 Tel: 07 5524 8711
FAMILY SUPPORT NETWORK PLAYGROUPS
NIMBIN FAMILY CENTRE
81 Cullen St. Tues 10-12 (under 2s only) & Fri 10-12 (ages 2-5 only) Tel: Sarah 6621 2489
OCEAN SHORES PLAYGROUP
Baptist Church Hall, Rajah Road Wed 10-12 (term-time only) Tel: Johanna 0423 202623
PLAYPLACE ALSTONVILLE Tel: 6621 2489
GOONELLABAH COMMUNITY PRE-SCHOOL PLAYGROUP 20 Spring Ave Fri 10-12
Tel: 6664 7205
MUMS & BUBS
EUREKA
41 Wilson St, South Lismore Wed 10-12 (term time only) Fri 10-12 (term time only) Nimbin Family Centre Tues 10.30-12.30 new babies Fri 10.30-12.30 toddlers
Family Contacts
ANTENATAL CLASSES
St Bart’s Church Hall Ages 0-5 Music, craft, games Thurs 9.30-11.30 $3/family Tel: Barb 6628 3089
NORTHERN RIVERS FAMILY magazine
25
Family Contacts
PLAYGROUP NSW
Tel: 1800 171 882
PLAYTIME
Presbyterian Church, Ballina Thurs 10-11.30 (term-time only)
Tel: 6686 2083
PLAYTIME
Tumbletown, Everleigh St, Murwillumbah Wed 9-12 Tel: Gwen 6672 7273
PLAYTIME
Pottsville Beach Neighbourhood Centre Mon & Thurs 9.30-11.30 Tel: 6676 4555
Ballina Tues & Fri 11 Brunswick Heads Mon 10.30 Byron Bay Wed 10.30 Goonellabah Fri 10 & 11 (baby bounce), Tues 10.30 Kingscliff Wed 10.30 Lennox Head Thurs 10.30 Lismore Mon 10 & 11 (baby bounce), Wed & Thurs 10.30 Murwillumbah Wed 11 Fri 11 (baby bounce) Tweed Heads Tues 11 (baby bounce) Wed & Thurs 11
SPORT/ FITNESS BALLINA JUNIOR CRICKET
Tel: David 0428 864 189
POLKADOTS
YWCA, 101a Rous Rd, Goonellabah Tues 10-12pm (term time only) Tel: Zoe 6625 5809
BALLINA LITTLE ATHLETICS Quays Drive, Ballina Sat8.30-11
Scout Hall, Cherry Street Evans Head Tues 9.30-12.30 Tel: Tricia Cook 6682 4334
BALLINA TOUCH FOOTBALL ASSOC. Saunders Oval Wed and Fri evenings 4pm onwards
SOUTH LISMORE FAMILY CENTRE
41 Wilson St Wed 10-12 & Fri 10-12 (under 2s only) Tel: Sarah 6621 2489
EVANS HEAD DISTRICT JUNIOR CRICKET CLUB
Tel: Jenny 6682 4216
EVANS HEAD RUGBY
Tel: Gary Roberts 0418 467053
SUNRISE BEACH SUPPORTED PLAYGROUP
Jacaranda Park, Jacaranda Drive, Byron Bay Thurs 10-12 (during school term) Tel: 6680 4919 CLC Roxy, 5 Geneva St. Kyogle Tues 9.30–11 (term time only)
TODDLER TIME GROUP Lismore Anglican Parish Hall Mon. 9.30 - 11.30 Tel: Trisha 0433952360 TINTENBAR PLAYGROUP
Tintenbar Hall, Cnr. of George & Tintenbar Rd Wed 9.30-11.30 (term time only) $3 Tel: Sara 6687 8363
MULLUMBIMBY LITTLE ATHLETICS Mullum High School oval Fri 4.30pm
RICHMOND VALLEY SWIMMING CLUB Evans Head Aquatic Centre Mon-Fri squad training Club night Fri
Tel: Melissa 0400 285525
Tel: 6682 5885
Buddy up with another Mum & get a surf in Every Tues at Evans head surf club & every Fri at the Pass, Byron Bay 9.30-12 Tel: Roxy 0448 649959
TULLERA/MODANVILLE
Tullera Hall, Dunoon Road Fri 9.30-11.30
STROLLER GROUPS
TWEED VALLEY ADVENTIST COLLEGE
Primary Campus, Hall Dr., Murwillumbah Mon 9-11.30 (term time only) Tel: 6672 2922 or 0417 604454
KINGSCLIFF
Next to the Cudgen (Kingscliff) Surf Club Mon 9
MURWILLUMBAH
WARDELL SUGARBABES
Community Centre, 9 Sinclair Street Mon 10-12 Tel: 6683 4185
Hundred Hills Estate Park, Cnr Old Lismore Rd & Riveroak Dr. Wed 8-9 Tel: Shanelle 0419 488150
WOODBURN PUBLIC SCHOOL PLAYGROUP
POTTSVILLE
School hall Tues 9.30-11.30
WYRALLAH CREATIVE KIDS
Wyrallah Public School (off Tregeagle Rd) Wed 9-11.30 Tel: Jenny 0407 281282
YOUNG MUMS GROUP
41 Wilson Street, South Lismore Thurs 10-12
PRE-SCHOOL ACTIVIES STORYTIME AT THE LIBRARY Alstonville Tues 11
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nrfamily.com
Ambrose Brown Park (nr roundabout with Coronation Ave) Thurs 9
SUPPORT GROUPS ASD PARENTS SUPPORT GROUP
Tel: 6622 3143
Rainbow Children’s Centre, East Ballina Tel: 6686 6889
BALLINA/BYRON FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICE Home visits, advice, advocacy Mon–Thurs & alternate Fri 62 Tamar Street
Tel: 6686 4109
BDCSA
Youth Drop In Centre
Tel: 1300 872281
Support for children aged 0-12 with additional needs Tel: 6685 3023
CASINO FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICE
Parenting support, home visits & counselling 149 Canterbury Street Tel: 6662 6792
FAMILY SUPPORT NETWORK
Home visits, support groups, playgroups Tel: 6621 2489
FAR NORTH COAST CENTRE FOR AUTISM Early intervention programs and resource centre for families of children with ASD
Tel: 6628 3660
FINANCIAL COUNSELLING
SURFING MUMS
TREGEAGLE PLAYGROUP Tregeagle Hall Thurs 10-12 $4/session
EVANS HEAD LITTLE ATHLETICS Evans River School Oval Wed 4.30-6.30 laansw.com.au ehlac@y7mail.com
SUPERMUMS
BALLINA EARLY INTERVENTION
BYRONSHIRE EARLY INTERVENTION Tel:0402 300490
SNAPPERS PLAYGROUP
CWA rooms Mullumbimby - 1st & 3rd Wed of the month 9.30am, Mullumbimby Neighbourhood Centre, 55 Dalley St. Mullumbimby. Tel: 1800 6862686
Support group for Autism or Aspergers Wed 9.45-12 Tel: Mullumbimby Community Health on 6684 1677
AUSTRALIAN BREASTFEEDING ASSOC. Lismore - 2nd Fri of month 10am Lismore Library (downstairs) Ballina - 4th Tues of the month 1pm
Free and confidential advice Ballina Care Centre, Tamar Street 3rd Mon of each month Tel: 6622 2171
INTERRELATE/FAMILY RELATIONSHIP CENTRE
Mullumbimby Neighbourhood Centre Tel: 6684 1286
PASS
Parents of Autism Spectrum Support Tel: Susan 6622 6651
P5 PARENTING PROGRAMME
Promoting pleasurable parenting 6-7 week course Child & Family Health Centre, Goonellabah Tel: 6625 0111 Or Ballina/Byron Family Centre Tel: 6686 4109
SIDE BY SIDE
Support group for Aspergers children and young people 1st and 3rd Sat of month Pottsville Beach Neighbourhood Centre Tel: Debbie 6676 0483
SUMMERLAND EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAMME
Family focused service for children with delayed development/disabilities Birth to school age Rifle Range Rd, East Lismore Tel: 6621 6421
THE FAMILY CENTRE
South Tweed Heads Parenting support and personal development courses W: thefamilycentre.org.au Tel: 07 5524 8711
THE UNCLE PROJECT
Adult male mentors for boys aged 7-14 Byron Bay Tel: 6680 8582
WOMEN’S RESOURCE CENTRE
Counselling, advice, advocacy and support for women in the Byron Shire Tel: 6684 4299
Lismore (and outreach at Ballina) Counselling, advice, courses, training Tel: 6622 7003
LEGAL AID OUTREACH SERVICE
Court House, Ballina 2nd & 4th Wed every month 9-12 Tel: 6621 2082
MEN & FAMILY CENTRE
Monthly fathers support group meeting 1st Wed. of month 6.15-9pm 17e Keen Street, Lismore Cost $5 (includes dinner) Tel: 6622 6116
NILS
Byron Community No Interest Loans Scheme W: byroncentre.com.au or Tel: 6685 6807
NORTHERN RIVERS COMMUNITY LEGAL CENTRE
Free legal advice, info & referrals 16 Carrington Street, Lismore Tel: 6621 1000
TOY LIBRARIES BALLINA
Regatta Avenue Tues & Wed 11-1, Sat 10-1 Or by arrangement Tel: 6686 0275 or 0411 719074
BYRON BAY
The Cabin, Cnr Jonson & Kingsley Sts Tel: 0424 729942 or 6685 6717 (Denise)
KYOGLE
St James Anglican Church Hall, Campbell Rd Tel: 6632 1057
LISMORE
Ground floor, city library Tues and Sat 9.30-11.30 term time only POTTSVILLE BEACH Pottsville Beach Neighbourhood Centre Mon-Fri 9.30-12.30
YOUTH ACTIVITIES
NORTHERN RIVERS FAMILY CARE CENTRE
Day stay help with feeding, unsettled behaviour and sleep issues Tel: 6622 8705
NORTHERN RIVERS WOMEN’S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT ADVOCACY SERVICE
Tel: 6621 1044 or 1300 720 606
OCEAN SHORES PARENT RESOURCE CENTRE
Rajah Rd Mon-Thurs 10-4 Information, referrals, parent support & programmes Tel: 6680 4919
PARENTEAM
Support for families with children aged 0-12 years
BAT BUS TRANSPORT SERVICE
For 12-25-year-olds living in Byron Shire Tel: 6685 8771
TUMBLETOWN YOUTH GROUP Murwillumbah Baptist Church Alt. Fridays 7.30-9.30
YAXI YOUTH TRANSPORT
For 12-25-year-olds living in Ballina Shire Tel: 6628 7400
Much of the information in this section has been gleaned from public websites and notice boards. No responsibility is taken by Family Magazine for the accuracy of information herein.
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Northern Rivers Family Magazine is the largest Parenting/Lifestyle Magazine in the Northern Rivers region. Established since 2006. NR Family targets families with children aged 0-12 years. We have a readership of 28,400. We distribute 10,000 copies Bimonthly to schools, daycares,doctors, pharmacies, libraries, community centres throughout Tweed heads, Byron Bay, Ballina, Lennox Heads, Lismore, Casino, Kyogle and Evans heads, just to name a few. We only have a selected amount of ad spaces available to maintain the high quality of content. We are available to view online and in print. Subscribe to We provide FREE advert design if needed.
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