PakMag Cairns - March 2022 Issue 177

Parents and Kids Magazine

GREEN 15 CAREERS of the Best

Raising Big Personalities What’s the Solution to Plastic Pollution?

ISSUE: Mar 2022

100

+

Family-Friendly

EVENTS How to Keep Your Teen from Vaping

Teach Your Children to be Mindful Consumers Supporting Adolescents in the New Age of Anxiety

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CAIRNS

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The Thing Is Check it Out We are the Solution to Plastic Pollution Upcycling Projects Looking for Another Way? How to Teach Your Children to be Mildful Consumers and Become one Yourself The Time is Now! 20 Cool Maths Facts There Has Never Been a Better Time to Teach Raising Big Personalities How to Be an Ecofriendly Parent Bump, Bub and Beyond Parent’s Puzzle Mini Mag Adult Colouring Prep for Success at St Therese’s 15 Green Careers of The Future Supporting Adolescents in the New Age of Anxiety All Things Health What Parents of Teens Need to Know About Vaping All Things Tweens & Teens Community Noticeboard Daddy Diary What’s On

PakMag Founder and Editor-in-Chief Bree James Creative Team Leader, Graphic Designer and Editor Clare Winter Marketing and Events Coordinator Alyssa Marino

Hello and welcome to the March edition of Pakmag, loaded with lots of inspirational ideas about how you and your family can be more eco aware.

This is our planet and it’s so important to remember that every little action can make a difference. In our house, we have some family “planet principles”, one of our principles is if you are out and about and you walk past rubbish - even if you didn’t drop it, you pick it up. We all live here, so it’s everyone’s responsibility to keep the world clean. We try to buy second hand or invest in good quality items that will last longer. We avoid plastic toys and items where possible, and we are trying to be very conscious about what we use and consume. We ask ‘is this a want or a need?’ before we make a purchase. We certainly have a long way to go, but every small choice makes a big difference over time. We hope this edition inspires your family to create some of your own “planet principles” - you can find some great ones on page 8. We’d love you to share yours with us too by using #pakmagshare or email them in.

It finally feels like the year has started now that routines are back to the ‘new normal’ and our kids are back at school. Before we know it, it will be Easter and they will be on holiday again!

As usual, the team and I hope you love this edition and that you get lots out of it. If you are wanting to share your voice, we are looking for more community contributors - you can find out more at www.pakmag.com.au/communitycontributor Until next time, happy parenting, and don’t forget to tell everyone, you read it in PakMag.

Bree Contact Us: p 4053 3331 e admin@m2f.com.au a PO Box 7433 Cairns Qld 4870 www.pakcairns.com.au • www.pakmag.com.au • www.m2f.com.au

Videographer, Graphic Designer and Podcast Producer Monique Saggers Content Coordinator Sasha Rozhkova Accounts and IT Support Trent Stievano

Sales and Business Development Tracy Couper

Graphic Designer Sara Williams

Our North Queensland Channels PakMag Cairns Parents of North Queensland pakmag_nq Parents and Kids of North Queensland Our Global Parenting Channels PakMag Online pakmag_national PakMag The Give It A Go Group For Parents The PakMag Parents Podcast PakMag TV

PakMag would like to acknowledge the First Nations people of the Yirrganydji, Djabugay, Buluwai, Yidinji, Gunggandji, Muluridji, Kuku Yalanji, Jirrbal, Wanyurr Majay, Ngadjon-ji (Choorechillum), Mamu, Djiru and Gulngay clans of Far North Queensland; the first storytellers and Traditional Custodians of all the lands on which we work, live and enjoy. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.

Disclaimer: No part of this magazine, including the advertisements within it may be reproduced, in part or in whole without the expressed permission of the editor. Whilst the greatest of care is taken to ensure that the information in the magazine is correct at the time of going to press, readers are advised to check details before visiting. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors, inaccuracies or omissions.

The ideas expressed within PakMag are not necessarily the views of the publishers, but those of individual writers.

We have done our best to ensure all events and information was correct at the time of going to print. Please check with individual businesses and authorities during these uncertain times.

Net Distribution Per Issue 10,000.

We encourage recycling. Please keep this issue for future reference, pass onto your friends and family, use for craft projects or place into the recycling bin.

families www.pakmag.com.au | March 2022 3

The Thing Is

The Thing Is with Bree James I remember when my first baby was born, as blurry as my memory is now, it still doesn’t feel like that long ago that I was beginning my journey as a parent.

Everyone always told me how fast they grow up, and that once they hit high school it goes even faster.

I now have a teenager and can confirm - it’s very true!

My beautiful little baby has now hit teenagehood and I can feel and see the energy and relationship shift happening right before my eyes.

The Thing Is… There are so many milestones in parenting and you never know when one of them will end. Like the last time you breastfeed, the last nappy change, the last spoon feed or the octopus climb into your bed in the middle of the night or early morning just for a cuddle. These moments don’t last forever, even though sometimes they feel like they will.

Raising children through the different ages and stages is a challenge, but letting go is just as hard. You go into parenting thinking that 18 - 20 years sounds like a very long time. Life is just so busy that we rarely even stop to think what the end of those days look like. We’ve learned how to parent a child who needs us to care for and protect them, but working out this “letting go” part - that’s a different story.

I’ve done the sums and if my eldest leaves home at the end of year 12, I literally have less than 260 weekends left with him. That is, if he even wants to hang out with us over the next few years! We will be competing with his social life, and before we know it, a part time job.

so that I don’t feel the hit so hard when they do “fly the nest”.

The chaos, laughter and complete madness I encounter on a daily basis will one day be filled with silence and solitude. Part of that excites me, but part of it motivates me to ensure we have the best 260 weekends we can, while we can.

Parenting is by far the most amazing experience of my life that at times leaves me pulling my hair out, worrying myself sick, rolling my eyes, scrunching or blocking my nose, or laughing my heart out. But one thing is certain - it’s never enough time. There are so many things that fill our lives and distract us from what really matters.

I am determined to cull as many of these as possible, so that we can make the final 260 weekends as memorable as possible.

So whatever stage you are at in your parenting or grandparenting journey - Soak it all in!

Because one day all of the crazy days filled with drop offs, sports, discos, movie nights, snuggles, sleepovers, meal times and the joys of Christmas and Easter mornings will be a memory. Your day to day parenting will come to an end.

Happy 13th birthday to my big boy Jordan, you are so loved and growing into such a kind and caring young man. We are so proud of you!

If anyone has any tips on raising teenagers, I am all ears - please email them in.

It’s so tempting to want to bonsai them and keep them small forever, but we are raising adults. There is so much to do emotionally, physically, socially, spiritually and mentally to prepare them for leaving the nest that we can sometimes forget to do the same for ourselves.

Bree

The time is now for me to ensure that I have enough in my life to keep me occupied when they do leave home,

www.breejames.com www.myvisionbook.com.au

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2022 5

Entertainment

Check it Out Cairns Fringe Artists Convergence When: Saturday 26 March / 5.00pm - 11.30pm / $20.00 Where: Elixir Music Bar More info: Elixir Music Bar

"The Only Mule in the Village" - Greg Dwyer

Hosted by Elixir Music Bar and PolyMantra, The Cairns Fringe Artist Convergence will feature avant garde, surrealist and Dadaist musicians, painters, poets, photographers, film makers, and other creatives from Cairns and surrounding regions. In its first year, the event is bound to be a creative exploration of what FNQ has to offer.

Bjorn Again – Mamma Mia! We Are Back Again When: Saturday 19 March / 7.30pm - 10.00pm / $59.00 - $69.00 / PG Where: Cairns Performing Arts Centre More info: www.cairns.qld.gov.au/cpac Retro is back, so get ready to don your fav pair of flares and platforms, and get ready to sing, dance, and have the time of your life at Bjorn Again’s Mamma Mia! Bjorn Again will be performing all of ABBA’s biggest hits in an action-packed, high energy concert that is set to be ABBA-SOLUTE fun for the whole family. Bjorn Again is said to be the most successful tribute show of all time, having performed over 7000 concerts globally, not to mention they’re endorsed by the members of ABBA.

Ocean Film Festival World Tour 2022 When: Friday 18 March / 7.00pm - 10.00pm / $25.00 - $35.00 / G Where: Cairns Performing Arts Centre More info: www.cairns.qld.gov.au/cpac / www.oceanfilmfestival.com.au Designed to mesmerise and enthral the viewer, the Ocean Film Festival World Tour showcases our oceans with 3 hours worth of breathtaking and otherworldly footage taken above and below the water’s surface. The collection of short films from around the world document the beauty and power of the ocean, and celebrates the divers, surfers, swimmers, and oceanographers who give their all to be immersed in the depths of our waters. The films are set to highlight the awe-inspiring nature and strength with skilled cinematography and fast-paced wave sequences. Said to be uniquely Inspiring and thought-provoking, the films aim to convey a deep respect and appreciation for the world’s oceans and the creatures that call them home.

6 March 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au

Giselle When: Wednesday 9 March / 7.00pm / $45.00 - $59.00 / PG Where: Cairns Performing Arts Centre More info: www.cairns.qld.gov.au/cpac A supernatural tale of passion, vengeance and the power of love, the ballet showcase of Giselle is not to be missed. Derived in the late 19th and early 20th century from the original production by Jean Corelli and Jules Perrot by the world renowned Marius Petipa for the Imperial Ballet in St Petersburg, Giselle has captivated audiences since its Parisian beginnings more than 150 years ago. The performance will be staged by Ai Gul Gaisina and supported by stunning costumes, an enchanting score, and devine choreography, don’t miss your chance to see it!

Dead Puppet Society - The Wider Earth When: Saturday 5 March / 2.00pm and 7.00pm / $23.00 - $44.00 / 12 + Where: Cairns Performing Arts Centre More info: www.cairns.qld.gov.au/cpac The Wider Earth is an extraordinary, award-winning drama about the theory that changed everything. It tells the story of a young Charles Darwin and his daring voyage to the far side of the world. On his journey he begins to develop ideas about the world around him that will challenge everything he thought he knew. Brought to life by a cast of seven, remarkable puppetry, an original cinematic score and dazzling animations.

Say I Do In Tropical North Queensland Wedding Expo When: Sunday 13 March / 10.00am - 3.00pm / FREE - $100.00 / PG Where: Shangri-La Hotel, The Marina More info: www.sayidointnq.com.au A month on from Valentine’s day, it’s time for more romance and some wedding planning - the North Queensland Wedding Expo is here. Meet, discuss, and plan your big day with some of the best wedding vendors in the region. There will also be bridal bags for the first 250 brides / couples to enter the expo.

NQ Chamber Orchestra - Cords of Time When: Sunday 20 March / 3.00pm - 3.00pm / $24.00 - $29.00 / G Where: Cairns Performing Arts Centre More info: www.cairns.qld.gov.au/cpac The NQ Chamber Orchestra presents Cords of Time - a program of music that spans the history of classical music from ancient times to the present day. Our journey will take us from the ancient Jewish melody used by Bruch in his "Kol Nidrei" to music by the contemporary Australian composer, Elena Kats-Chernin.

Enjoy the show and travel across time with works written by a diverse range of composers including Vivaldi, Bréval, Saint-Saëns and Sibelius.

Morning Melodies - Mambo Italiano When: Monday 28 March / 11.00am - 12.30pm / $20.00 / PG Where: Cairns Performing Arts Centre More info: www.cairns.qld.gov.au/cpac Mambo Italiano celebrates the influence of Italian American musicians on the golden age of 1950’s jazz and swing.

In an energetic, romantic, and passionate concert, awardwinning cabaret artist Nadia Sunde, together with an all-star band, takes you on a journey into the music of Louis Prima, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, Sophia Loren, Bobby Darin, Perry Como...and many other favourites!

Feature

We are the Solution to Plastic Pollution STORY Take 3 If you take a look around, you will notice you’re surrounded by plastic products. Most of which will contribute to the ever growing global plastic pollution problem.

Plastic pollution is the accumulation of litter, plastic objects and particles in the Earth’s environment.

Over 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic have been made since mass production began in the 1950’s. Sadly, at least 8 million tonnes of plastic end up in our oceans every year. For our marine life, ingesting plastics can be fatal, causing internal blockages, starvation, injury and bleeding. It can be equally as catastrophic for other animals, including us, as plastic particles contaminate our food, water and even the air we breathe.

Only 9 percent of this plastic has been recycled, the other 91 percent sits in landfill, floats in our oceans or is combusted, further releasing unhealthy chemicals into the atmosphere. But plastic doesn’t break down.

8 March 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au

Instead, it breaks up into smaller and smaller pieces, eventually creating microplastics and nanoplastics.

Reducing the use of plastic is imperative. Plastic production requires an enormous amount of energy and resources with significant carbon emissions and subsequent climate change. Recycling plastic is not efficient and it’s not created with the environment or our future in mind.

So how can we help limit our use of plastic?

Well let's start with the facts and try to implement some alternatives to plastic.

Plastic Bottles The Problem: Over 1 million plastic bottles are purchased every minute around the world.

The Solution: Refuse plastic bottles and seek reusable alternatives. Don’t drink bottled water. Every single-use bottle you refuse is a positive move for the planet.

Feature

Plastic Bags The Problem: An estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are used annually worldwide. That’s nearly two million plastic bags every minute and most are only used for a few minutes.

The Solution: Reusable shopping bags are readily available and can be used hundreds of times.

Refuse plastic bags and recycle your soft plastics through a program like the REDcycle program www.redcycle.net.au

Plastic Straws The Problem: Each day, more than 10 million plastic straws are used and discarded in Australia alone.

How can your family help improve the health of our oceans?

• If you see rubbish - pick it up • Use reusable drinking bottles • Avoid takeaway coffee cups • Say no to plastic straws • Carry reusable bags • Avoid fruit and vegetables wrapped in plastic • Have plastic free lunch boxes • Use reef safe sunscreen. Many sunscreens use chemicals that are toxic for our reefs. For more information head to www.savethereef.org

The Solution: If you need to use a straw, purchase a reusable one and always ask for ‘no straw please’ unless they are eco friendly.

For more tips on how we can eliminate singleuse plastics and live more sustainably, head to www.take3.org

Coffee Cups

If you would like a great book and some resources to help you navigate this topic with your children, check out Little Pago created by illustrator and storyteller Lauren Briggs. The book focuses on a vulnerable baby sea turtle named Little Pago, who embarks on an adventurous journey in search of food in an ocean of plastic. The site also provides more tips on how we can eliminate single-use plastics and live more sustainably. www.littlepago.com

The Problem: Around 500 billion disposable coffee cups are produced each year. Paper and cardboard coffee cups have a thin plastic lining to prevent liquids leaking, making them difficult to recycle.

The Solution: If you are having your drink ‘to go’ use a reusable cup, or otherwise, slow down and have your drink in-house using a ceramic cup.

Win a Copy of the Little Pago Children’s Book $19.99 - www.boolarongpress.com.au Against a magical background of coral flowers and seaweed gardens, Little Pago and his friends set out on an adventurous journey in search of food. However, not everything floating in the ocean is safe for a baby turtle to eat. This children’s fiction picture book, with an environmental and sustainable focus is written and illustrated for 2-5 year olds. Little Pago is an imaginative, compelling and inspiring story about friendship, perseverance and the important role each of us can play in keeping one of our oceans most ancient and endangered sea creatures safe for future generations. The internal pages of this book are printed on FSC certified 100 percent recycled paper. Become an advocate for change and join The Little Pago Family www.littlepago.com A donation will be made to Take 3 for the Sea on the sale of each book www.take3.org Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win!

Take 3 supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and advocates for a circular economy future. Our ‘throw away’ society fuelled by overproduction, overconsumption, single-use materials and poor waste management is damaging our planet irreparably. The current system is not sustainable. Take three pieces of rubbish with you when you leave the beach, waterway or anywhere and you have made a difference.

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2022 9

Craft

blog.manomano.co.uk

Tasty Tins Many of us recycle our tins without much thought, but have you ever considered upcycling? Upcycling your tins is the perfect way to create a beautiful herb garden that can bring life to your kitchen, patio, or window sill. Not only do they look great, they take up minimal space, and smell amazing! Best of all, the tins can be moved around to suit the weather.

What You Need • • • • •

Tin cans (from soup, tomatoes, baked beans etc.)

Sandpaper Spray paint Twine Clear exterior varnish (weather-resistant)

Method Begin by preparing your tins, sanding back any sharp edges, removing labels and glue.

www.dailydoseofsparkle.com

Upcycling Projects

Crafty Cork Trivet If you’re after a corker of a craft activity for the little ones, and you happen to love a vino, this may be the craft for you. Being a cork collector certainly has some upsides, and it’s not just about freeing those corks from their bottles. It’s time to make a ‘Trivet’ - a great asset for any table top that loves to hold tasty hot food without leaving a mark. This trivet has been done using a chevron (zig-zag) pattern, but you can create any pattern you wish.

What You Need • A selection of corks, the same size and shape • An old sheet or baking paper to protect your table • Wood / craft glue

Pick your shades to suit your vibe, spray paint the tins and leave to dry. You can spice them up by using or even creating your own stencils.

Method

Once the tins are dry, decorate anyway you choose, we wrapped and glued twine on the bottom for an elegant rustic finish.

Lay out your protective baking paper, then using single types of corks, lay them out in your pattern of choice to the size you find most suitable. Once the design is all set, begin glueing the corks into place, and let dry.

Tip: You can create your very own labels with little pegs and attach these to each tin so you remember which herb is what. You can also screw the tin to a shelf if you plan on putting them outside to stop them from falling over. To avoid rust, use removable plant pots inside the tins.

Collect all your corks, categorise them into shapes and sizes and ensure they’re all dry and clean.

Repeat this process until all your corks are used up, making the trivets as large, small, and distinguished as you like.

Tip: If you’re after more corks, ask around at your local bars, and remind your friends to save their corks for you.

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2022 11

Advertorial

Looking for Another Way? Your Child’s Education is a Crucial Start to Life Steiner education, founded on more than 100 years of evidence-based research, supports a gradual start to academic learning with formal learning beginning in Class 1, while oral literacy and numeracy are fundamental to the kindergarten curriculum.

Shelley Pollard, Early Childhood Coordinator at Cairns Hinterland Steiner School explains “Childhood is precious. Allowing children to live in childhood for as long as possible gives them time to lay solid, stable foundations for their future. The emphasis in Steiner Education is not on acceleration, nor success or failure, but on the breadth and depth of a child’s learning; we give students time to learn and grow – mentally, physically, socially and emotionally – allowing the potential within each child to unfold.”

Rhythms and routines are a fundamental practice in the Steiner Early Childhood classroom. There are strong daily, weekly and yearly rhythms guided by the seasons and the local environment. Each day is structured in the same way. As the day progresses a kind of ‘breathing’ takes place. The times of the in-breath are times for quiet attention to what is happening, a time of contraction, while the out-breath is a time for expansion. Rhythm is health-giving to children and helps them to anticipate what is coming

next, making them feel safe and secure in their day.

Rhythm also helps to direct and strengthen their will.

The rhythm of their days are guided by song and action.

When the appropriate song is sung for that time of the day, the children will know that it is time to wash hands, or paint, or tidy up.

Another point of difference of Steiner education is that it is an artistic education with creativity at its very heart; not just as an extra-curricular activity but embedded strongly in the core of the teaching and learning. “Across all lessons teachers present and students learn through painting and drawing, sculpture, story, music, literature, drama and movement.”

“By nurturing each child’s imagination, we develop their emotional intelligence and their creative and critical thinking abilities which are required not only to succeed in the workforce, but also to resolve critical issues facing the world today.” illuminates Shelley Pollard.

Cairns Hinterland Steiner School’s Open Day is on Saturday 14 May. Come and experience our school, our classrooms, our student's work and understand from the teachers how the national curriculum is delivered using the Steiner approach. All are welcome, contact the school for more information admin@chss.qld.edu.au or 4093 8809.

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2022 13

Education

How to Teach Your Children to be Mindful Consumers and Become one Yourself STORY Nicole Gilliver, Co-Founder of Ewe Care The notion that consumption should be mindful sounds quite logical, right? It seems strange to me that in this day and age with all the road bumps and minefields of parenting that somehow, we also need to be teaching our small humans mindfulness when it comes to tempering their desires. But we live in a time of abundance, and when faced with abundance as all you’ve known, it is easy to take for granted things that either shouldn’t be abundant or wouldn’t under different circumstances. This is how I take my lead in teaching my small humans mindful consumption.

weave them into conversation and actions as a natural and normal part of ‘how I roll’. But children are a whole different ball game!

I perhaps have it a little easier than some - I live on a farm where feast and famine or abundance and scarcity is easily demonstrated and has a very real impact on how we live. This tangible example is my best tool in my parenting toolbox for demonstrating wants and needs.

At our farm, if water doesn’t fall from the sky, then we don’t have water. Examples such as these are very easy to come by on a farm entirely reliant on tank water, but under no circumstances does it curb their interests in all the things that attract their little eyes!

Perhaps the answer here is to get on the front foot.

Load up that tool belt with an arsenal of highly functional written, learned and behaviourally ingrained examples and actions to deliver to our small people.

Leave them with no doubt as to how to prioritise needs over wants and consume in good conscience.

Some of these - actually, most of these - are fun and really help teach new skills if you choose to partake.

Other examples do require more explanation but have the added benefit of strengthening your relationship with your child.

We still need to shop and it’s here where I really need to dig deep into the dark depths of my parenting toolbox to work with my children in reminding them that consumption has a real impact. Intellectually this is a conversation had daily with myself (and others) as part and parcel of running a business founded on the values of sustainability. It has been a major part of my adult learning to consider these things daily, and I intrinsically

The last thing we want to do to our children in trying to teach them important values and life skills is to bore them. Sadly, in the overwhelm of the constant questions of “Mum, can I have this?”, we simply and understandably retort with a simple “No!”. I get it, it’s tiresome to delve into explanations, and let’s face it, how much energy do we really have against the relentless requests for ‘stuff’?

Spend time enjoying outdoor activities like camping or fishing. Both activities featured heavily in my upbringing and taught me so many things about food, how to source it and prepare it and, most of all, the effort required to do so. Camping taught me to appreciate the roof I have over my head and the creature comforts of home.

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Education

Spend time creating with arts and crafts. These kinds of tasks are an opportunity to engage in conversation with your children about the effort required to produce things and discuss how things might be made now as opposed to decades prior.

Cook with them. Food preparation is a massive part of how we spend our time and how we develop respect for produce. The more skills our children have in the kitchen the less likely they are to depend on heavily packaged low-nutrient food as a source of sustenance. They are also less likely to be wasteful.

Create a plan for ‘use it or lose it’. Sounds harsh, and trust me, sometimes it is! But seriously, how many stuffed toys do kids really need? We are doing them no favours by housing ever increasing volumes of toys.

It’s not always easy or pleasant, but it’s important to highlight this as a wants vs needs exercise and to give them a true understanding of what they have as opposed to what they need.

Walk the walk and talk the talk. Show, don’t tell. Living on a farm that not only farms animals but is also the

primary place of manufacture, we often take family walks to either round up sheep or survey what’s going on with seasonal changes or environmental impacts.

This gives us the perfect opportunity to demonstrate how our choices can impact our surroundings. The other benefit of ‘walking the paddocks’ is the conversations around observations of what’s growing or not and why that might be.

Empower them to know they can make a difference.

As adults I know how overwhelming it can be to fall into the trap of believing our actions are merely the actions of one individual. But I strongly believe that if we empower our children with the confidence and knowledge that they can make a difference, that’s a huge step in the right direction towards mindful consumption.

Don’t forget that the issues we face currently are relatively new, and this generation has a far greater awareness and understanding than we ever did at their age. I believe the more we practice mindful consumption as parents, the more likely we are to create mindful children who understand how to balance their needs and wants.

WIN Ewe Care Day and Night Luxury Sheep Milk Skin Creams with Raku Ceramic Vessels worth $345.00 Housed in refillable and handcrafted ceramic vessels, the morning and evening skincare creams contain locally harvested Awassi sheep milk, an untapped beauty ingredient traditionally reserved for cheesemaking. Naturally rich in vitamins A, B, C, D and E, including a host of native Tasmanian botanicals, the nourishing formulas restore moisture, improve collagen production, reduce redness, fight acne-causing bacteria and combat damaging environmental aggressors, such as UVinduced free radicals. www.ewecare.com.au The prize includes Day Cream and Raku Day Ceramic, as well as Night Cream and Raku Night Ceramic. Refills are available for your vessels for only $65.00 for the Day Cream and $80.00 for the Night Cream.

Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win!

Nicole is Co-Founder of Ewe Care and Executive Director at Ewenique Enterprises PTY LTD – a company that prides itself for the last 20 years on challenging commonly held beliefs around the manufacture and packaging of familiar products by pushing the boundaries of sustainability. Ewenique Enterprises, and Ewe Care by extension, seeks to engage consumers in alternate conversation around the beliefs of what constitutes sustainability and the next direction of its boundaries. Nicole currently oversees Ewe Care as it launches into the beauty space as Australia’s first luxury sheep milk skin care packaged in 100 percent compostable packaging. Ewe Care exists to create conversation and challenge consumers to undertake a sustainable and deliberately slow approach to skin care.

Head to www.pakmag.com.au to listen to Nicole joining Bree to discuss Mindful Consumption and pioneering sustainable skincare products and packaging.

16 March 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au

Advertorial

The Time is Now! It’s time to consider just what you want out of the school you choose for your child’s education in 2023.

Every school is unique and has different offerings for your family, so it’s important to think about your child’s needs and talents when selecting their school.

When parents are asked what they would like a school to provide for their child, they often have a list of requirements. They want the pastoral care and support from a school which treats their child with empathy, yet functions within firm and sensible boundaries. Parents look for dedicated staff who respond to children’s academic, emotional and social needs.

Facilities are important, and need to be modern, well-maintained and appropriate for the students.

Students who have diverse learning needs must also be accommodated to ensure they are given every opportunity to access the curriculum. Academic and extracurricular extension for very capable students is also vital to keep these children engaged and achieving to their highest potential.

Sporting programs and academies need to cater for students who wish to pursue interests in a range of different sports. Participation in Performing Arts activities creates well-rounded, confident students, who are capable of expressing themselves and have an appreciation for culture. MacKillop Catholic College at Mount Peter offers all of these qualities and more.

Here at MacKillop, our aim is to prepare students for the world of work or further education by helping them develop 21st century skills like creativity, critical thinking and collaboration. We offer a safe, nurturing environment in which we follow the MacKillop Way of ‘Respect, Engagement and Personal Best’.

Does this sound like the place for your child?

MacKillop offers tours for interested families to see, feel and learn about the College. We are accepting applications now for Prep and Year 7 for 2023.

Enrolment interviews will commence soon – the time is now to submit your child’s application and secure their place at MacKillop. www.mackillopcatholiccollege.qld.edu.au

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2022 19

STEAM

20 Cool Maths Facts March 14 is the International Day of Mathematics! To celebrate, we’ve compiled a list of super interesting facts that show us maths is everywhere and that we all use it every day.

1. A year isn’t exactly 365 days -

7. The most common favourite number

it’s 365.2564 days! That’s why we have a leap year every four years.

is 7.

2. The spiral shapes of sunflowers, snails and shells follow the Fibonacci sequence, where the two previous numbers are added together to get the next (1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34…).

8. What comes after a million, billion and trillion? A quadrillion, quintillion, sextillion, septillion, octillion, nonillion, decillion and undecillion.

9. An icosahedron is a polyhedron with 20 faces.

3. 70 percent of the earth’s surface is covered in water. However, only 3 percent of the earth’s water is freshwater and two-thirds of freshwater is frozen in ice sheets and glaciers.

The other third is found in lakes, rivers and underground.

10. ‘Four’ is the only number in the English language that is spelt with the same number of letters as the number itself.

11. An Abacus is considered the origin of 4. People tend to have about 100,000 hairs on their head, and you can lose around 50 to 100 hairs every day.

5. Baking is mathematical - to make the perfect sugar cookie, follow a simple ratio of 3:2:1, or 3 parts flour to 2 parts butter to 1 part sugar.

the calculator.

12. If you multiply 111,111,111 × 111,111,111 you get 12,345,678,987,654,321 a palindrome number that reads the same forwards or backwards.

13. Zero is the only number that can’t be represented in roman numerals.

6. If you fold a piece of paper 45 times, it will reach the moon!

This is known as exponential growth, which means that the rate of growth is proportional to its size.

So, the thickness of the piece of paper will increase exponentially with each fold.

20 March 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au

14. A ‘jiffy’ is an actual unit of time. The unit differs depending on the field of study.

For physicists, a jiffy is how long light takes to travel a distance of one femtometre, which is a millionth of a millionth of a millimetre. That means that there are about three hundred thousand billion billion jiffys in a second!

15. Adding up the numbers 1 - 100 consecutively (1+2+3+4+5...) gives you 5050.

16. One way to remember the value of Pi (3.1415926…) is to count the letters in each word of the question: “May I have a large container of coffee?”

17. In 1900, all the world's mathematical knowledge could be written in 80 books; today it would fill more than 100,000 books.

18. 12 + 3 - 4 + 5 + 67 + 8 + 9 = 100

19. The word ‘geometry’ comes from the Greek words ‘geo’, meaning earth, and ‘metria’, meaning measure.

20. A square is a polygon with 4 sides of equal length and 4 right angled (90°) corners.

If you’ve got a little math wiz on your hands, or a young one that needs a little extra help, check out these websites to spur them on and get them loving maths! www.idm314.org www.twinkl.com.au www.3plearning.com

WIN a GoCube Edge Smart Rubik's Cube Worth $129.00 GoCube is a smart app-enabled Rubik’s cube that connects to your phone/tablet and tracks your moves in real-time.

Learn how to solve it in a fun and interactive way, play games, and battle online with other cubers around the world. GoCube is the perfect STEM toy, it is educational and fun and adds tons of value to screen time! - www.jbhifi.com.au Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win!

Advertorial

There Has Never Been a Better Time to Teach

Teachers at St Augustine’s School, Mossman (Top to bottom: Carmel Shearer, Renna Sayed and Jo Brooks) all made the move to teaching after working in other industries.

Are you looking for a stable and rewarding career here in Far North Queensland? It’s time to “take the plunge” and become a teacher.

That’s the message from a group of passionate teachers at St Augustine’s School in Mossman who made the move after years working in other industries, including hospitality, fitness and even breakfast radio.

Carmel Shearer studied media at university and worked as a radio host before she went traveling and decided to try something new.

“We went over to South America,” she said. “Children there really wanted an education, they valued it so much, yet they didn’t have access to it. And that really got me thinking, wow, that’s what I want to do.”

Carmel said: “The best thing about being a teacher is helping to shape children, being a role model for children, and a safe space.”

Renna Sayed decided to study teaching because it offered her more stability.

“Before I became a teacher, I was in the hospitality, travel, and fitness industries, so I’ve always had two jobs,” she said.

“I started having a family and I realised that having really early shifts and late nights was difficult.”

“It’s also a great reward seeing students grow and reach their potential and goals.”

Jo Brooks was the director of a daycare centre before she made the move, and she hasn’t looked back.

“Teaching as a second career, or even a third career, is definitely something you should do. So, if you are thinking about it, do it, take the plunge, you will find it really rewarding,” she said.

“The students, the laughs, the giggles, the jokes that you get to be a part of, and the connections that you make with your students and their families is definitely something I would highly recommend.

“We get to share the love and the joy of the milestones with the students.”

Teachers who are employed by Cairns Catholic Education enjoy many benefits, including competitive salaries and salary packaging, ongoing professional development opportunities, remote area incentives, and flexible work arrangements.

A stable, flexible, feel-good career is just around the corner. Make a change today.

Find out more about the perks of being a teacher here: www.cns.catholic.edu.au/employment/why-teach

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2022 23

Parenting

Raising Big Personalities STORY Stephanie Meekings, Digital Media Officer, Cairns Catholic Education If you have more than one child, you may have realised that even if they have the same parents, share the same home and have the same upbringing, your children may be nothing alike. In fact, they could be polar opposites, which can make parenting these unique individuals all the more challenging.

Identifying Your Child’s Personality Type

When I had my son, I noticed early on that he was a quieter, calmer soul who was sometimes shy in new environments. This calmer, more reserved nature was often labeled as being a “good” baby and as he grew older, a “well behaved” child. And in retrospect he may have lulled me into a false sense of security when it came to parenting.

She describes rooster children as loud, feisty and full of energy. They are the ‘spirited’ ones. The ones that ruffle your feathers and want to rule the roost. These are the young kids who are bouncing off the walls, they let their emotions be known to all and are often quite stubborn.

As they grow up, these are the kids who yearn for independence, want to be the life of the party and can be quite argumentative. Maggie says they can make you feel like the worst parent ever!

My second child is still a baby, but already I can see she has her own little sense of self, often waving and blowing kisses at strangers, trying to leap across counters at the shops to hug an unsuspecting salesperson and squawking enthusiastically at other babies and animals alike. It’s too early to say for sure, but I suspect that despite her small size, she may have a “bigger” personality than her big brother.

So how do we know what type of child we have and how best to tailor our parenting to their needs?

Well-known and much-loved author, educator and parenting specialist Maggie Dent believes there are two types of temperaments in children: the rooster and the lamb.

Conversely, she believes that lamb children are quieter, more empathetic and compassionate little beings.

They are the little ones who prefer routines and structure. They like to know what to expect. As they grow up, they are the kids who may take longer to warm up in social situations and can lack assertiveness.

Maggie believes these two temperaments are a continuum, and as our children grow older, we can

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2022 25

Parenting

encourage them to exist somewhere in the middle of the continuum. So our roosters can become more empathetic, and our lambs can gain more confidence and assertiveness.

This is of course, just one way to identify our children’s personality traits. Other options include exploring introverted personality types versus extraverted personality types, or born leaders versus followers.

Other characteristics we can look for include emotional intensity, activity level, frustration tolerance, reactions to new people and reactions to change. Exploring these areas can give us greater insights into our child’s behaviour.

Parenting Personalities You may have identified your outgoing offspring as having a ‘big personality’ or being a ‘rooster’. They may have strong emotional intensity, high activity needs and a low frustration tolerance, but how do you tailor your parenting to accommodate this passionate persona?

Each child is unique, so it’s worthwhile making a note of parenting styles that trigger or exacerbate behaviours, and conversely, techniques that can create calm or reign in an emotional child.

You may find if you raise your voice, they raise theirs to match you, which can escalate the moment. Or maybe if you spend too much time at home without enough stimulation, they act out in response. Their behaviour is a way of communicating, so it pays to listen to what they are trying to say to you. Perhaps you notice that when your child is tired they are much more emotional and you feel as though you are walking on eggshells around them. Take note and tailor your parenting to bring out the best in them.

When raising a rooster, Maggie advises holding firm boundaries while avoiding shouting, shaming or criticising. You may feel like you are always telling them no or that they are often in trouble, so she advises you to reassure them often that they are still loved.

Older roosters may benefit from team sports where they can exert some of that energy and build healthy

levels of competitiveness. They may also benefit from more calming practices such as yoga and meditation.

You may also like to give your rooster safe levels of independence to spread their wings, while younger kids could be given special jobs to do around the house.

Take note, if you are raising kids with different personality types, be aware of each child’s needs and cater to them. Your bigger personality child may really benefit from taking on extra-curricular activities, while your more reserved child may desperately need to spend more solo time at home.

Teaching Kids About Their Personality Types Being self-aware can allow for self-acceptance and growth. It’s worthwhile having a constructive conversation with older kids about their personality traits, their strengths and even their weaknesses. This conversation can allow them to understand themselves better and find their own balanced place on that continuum.

How Schools Can Assist Teachers love to know more about their students, and how parents and teachers can work in partnership for student success. Your child’s teacher may have asked for information about your child at the start of the school year, but if they haven’t you can always volunteer this information and strategies you’ve found that work well for your child and their personality.

If at any time you feel like you need more support for your child, contact your child’s teacher or arrange a time to meet with them if possible. Your child’s teacher is only a phone call, email or in-app message away!

Where to Go for Further Support If you’re really struggling with your child’s behaviour and need further support, book an appointment with your child’s GP or speak to your child’s school about what in-school support options are available.

With the right tools and support in place, you can raise a spirited child... without them breaking yours!

Stephanie Meekings is a mother, a writer and a Digital Media Officer at Cairns Catholic Education. With a Bachelor of Arts: Communications and a background in journalism, she combines her passion for positive parenting with her experience in communications.

In her role with Cairns Catholic Education she provides practical resources, information from experts and support to families in the Cairns Diocese as they aim to ‘raise the child, change the world’. www.raisethechild.com.au

26 March 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au

Bump, Bub and Beyond

How to Be an Eco-friendly Parent STORY Ann Granger, Founder Little Aussie Monster Becoming eco-friendly in parenting can seem like extra work, but there’s no need to take an all-or-nothing approach, simple swaps here and there will help you move in the right direction. Here’s a few tips to get the ball rolling, so you can take it at your own pace.

Switch to Cloth Nappies Nappies are one of the biggest waste items for families, with each baby needing over 5800 nappy changes in 2 years. Switch to cloth nappies and you can save tonnes of household waste, and your bin won’t stink like poop.

Using cloth nappies doesn’t have to be an all or nothing option, but the more you use the bigger the savings, environmentally and financially. If you only switch out 4 nappy changes per day to cloth, over 2 years you’ll save 2920 nappies from landfill. Washing cloth nappies is also very easy, current washing machines and detergents will do the bulk of the work, they also don’t need soaking.

Use Wet Bags Instead of Plastic Bags Wet bags are perfect for baby’s dirty clothes, wet swimmers, toilet training, travelling and so much more. These are light weight bags with a PUL lining to keep the wetness in. They are small enough to fit into your handbag or nappy bag so you’re ready for any unexpected messes.

Invest in Cloth Sanitary Pads Cloth Sanitary pads for periods and bladder leaks will not only reduce your household waste, but they are also more comfortable. Available in a wide range of pretty patterns to match almost any mood, the pads are also quiet and discreet, not to mention simple to wash.

Recycle Your Baby Food Pouches Making your own baby food and storing it in reusable containers and pouches will be the best option to reduce waste. But for those times you use the food pouches, take them into your nearest supermarket with a REDcycle bin.

Just be sure to rinse and dry them first. These pouches along with other soft plastics can be recycled and made into outdoor furniture, signage and more.

Donate This includes clothes, toys, and any furniture that your family has outgrown. There are plenty of options for donating and passing on items that are still in good condition. You can drop them off at your local charity shop or toy library or reach out to new parents that may need a helping hand. You can also buy secondhand yourself too!

There’s a range of small changes you can make to become a more eco-friendly parent. Although daunting at first, every little bit counts, and we are after all, securing our children’s future.

WIN A Cloth Nappy Starter Set from Aussie Little Monster Worth $139.99 Start your journey to becoming an eco-friendly parent with help from Little Aussie Monster and a Cloth Nappy Starter Set. This set includes 10 x Modern Cloth Nappies, 10 x Microfiber Inserts, 1 x Wet Bag, 1 x Swim Nappy, 1 x Roll of liners. Little Aussie Monster is an award winning Australian owned and family run business based in Cairns QLD. They offer reusable cloth nappies that are eco-conscious, affordable and easy to use. Established in 2013, with a wealth of knowledge on all things cloth, they are your local cloth nappy specialists. Making eco-parenting easier, check out more of what they’ve got to offer online. www.littleaussiemonster.com.au Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win!

Ann is a mum of two and the founder of Little Aussie Monster, an e-commerce store established in 2013. Little Aussie Monster has one of the largest selections of modern cloth nappies in Australia, with over 200 different colours and prints available. They offer cloth nappies to suit from newborn to adult, and everything in between. Ann loves to help more families fall in love with reusable cloth nappies and sanitary pads, and share just how easy and fun they really are.

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2022 29

Bump, Bub and Beyond

Bump, Bub and Beyond Featured products, reviews and prizes. Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win!

Munch Eco Parenting Prize Pack $74.00 - www.munchcupboard.com Munch eco essentials are pure and simple in design and function, eco-friendly and plastic free, with nearly all the products being reusable, organic and biodegradable.

Designed for everyday use, the Munch range lets you make a difference in the world. The kids and parents prize pack includes a silicone training cup, organic beeswax wrap, silicone and wood cutlery set, silicone butterfly teething toy and pack of four reusable food pouches.

LeapFrog Interactive Wooden Animal Puzzle

RosehipPLUS Skincare Pack

$29.95 - www.target.com.au

The RosehipPLUS® range is a complete Certified Organic skincare regime that helps to support healthy, radiant, beautiful skin. RosehipPLUS® Rosehip Oil contains naturally occurring bioflavonoids and essential fatty acids.

Bioflavonoids act as potent antioxidants, helping to reduce free radical damage in the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The essential fatty acids (Omega 3,6 and 9) in the oil help to keep the skin hydrated, moisturised and younger looking.

With four interactive play modes, this puzzle is full of delightful surprises. Match animal puzzle pieces by shape and colour. Animal names and sounds, colours and fun facts are featured in Animals mode and in Numbers mode, count the objects hidden under the animals. Questions about animals, colours and numbers help reinforce the learning. Add musical notes and animal sounds to background beats in Music mode. Hear an animal symphony when you take out all the pieces at once.

This product is made with 100 percent FSC-Certified wood and the plastic in this product is 90 percent reclaimed.

30 March 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au

$69.85 - www.rosehipplus.com.au

The RosehipPLUS® Skincare pack includes: RosehipPLUS Certified Organic Rosehip Oil - 30ml, RosehipPLUS Hydrating Day Cream 75mland RosehipPLUS Nourishing Night Cream - 50ml.

Bump, Bub and Beyond

Why Teaching Your Children About the Environment and Sustainability is Important Teaching children about the environment and sustainability may seem like a new thing, but all that time we spent outdoors as children climbing trees, exploring rock pools and chasing butterflies is exactly that. By immersing ourselves in nature and play, we learnt respect for creatures that could sting us, waves that could hurt and many other skills required to keep us safe from just some of what life throws at us.

children that the world isn’t finite, food security isn’t a guarantee and we all have a role to play in securing a future for everyone.

Learning about the environment will not only help keep your children healthy and safe, it’ll also allow them to take accountability and recognise their impact, and you never know - they may just find their passion in nature.

The Top Five Eco Swaps for Your Laundry WITH Laundry Expert Nicole Gibson

1. Soaking: Swap your regular laundry buckets to a water saving multitasking soaking system. The Soka Tub will save water, detergent, space, time, money and sanity!

2. Pegs: Swap plastic pegs for metal pegs that will last forever.

3. Laundry detergent: Swap regular detergent for one that is biodegradable, has no artificial fragrances, fillers or harsh chemicals.

Children of all ages learn from their surroundings and this includes their natural environment. With many of us tucked comfortably inside in air conditioned rooms and on devices, it’s no wonder that children these days feel less connected to nature, lack awareness of where food comes from and are more vulnerable to anxiety and depression.

Teaching your children and getting them out in nature has been shown to promote physical and mental wellbeing, nature connectedness, respect for wildlife, curiosity and creativity, and also helps develop a more sustainable relationship with the environment. It may seem an unnecessary thing to do, but by instilling a healthy respect for our planet, we are teaching

4. Fabric softener: Avoid fabric softener or replace it with ¼ - ½ cup white vinegar.

5. Dryer: Save drying time by using dryer balls or a dry towel when using the dryer.

Follow @sokaaustralia for more eco-friendly laundry and stain removal tips. www.sokaaustralia.com.au

Did You Know?

A staggering 3.75 million disposable nappies are used in Australia and New Zealand every day! It takes approximately one cup of crude oil to make each individual nappy, and once in landfill, they can take up to 150 years to break down. Knowing this - reusable cloth nappies have never sounded so appealing.

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2022 31

Parent's Puzzles Sudoku - Each of the nine blocks must contain all the numbers 1-9 within its squares.

Each number can only appear once in a row, column or box.

WIN a Pilot Pen BEGREEN Pencil Case Valued at $53.19 www.pilotpen.com.au/begreen If you want to help reduce plastic waste and make a positive contribution to the environment, then Pilot’s BegreeN range is a great choice. The perfect staple for home, school and work, BegreeN features ballpoints, gel pens, whiteboard markers, mechanical pencils, correction tape and refills – all made from 70 - 99.7 percent recycled materials, in plasticfree packaging made from recyclable cards. It even includes a pen – called B2P (“Bottle to Pen”), made from recycled plastic bottles.

Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win! Competition closes 31/03/2022. No need to submit answers to enter.

Match the “negatives” to the ‘positives”

32 March 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au

Sudoku answers can be found at www.pakmag.com.au/answers

Pull-out kids activity mag!

For your chance to WIN a family pass to The Bad Guys, enter at www.pakmag.com.au/win.

Competition closes 31/03/2022.

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE IN CINEMAS MARCH 31

THERE ARE 10 DIFFERENCES IN THE PICTURES OF THE BAD GUYS BELOW. CAN YOU SPOT THEM ALL?

ANSWERS

For your chance to WIN a family pass to The Bad Guys, enter at www.pakmag.com.au/win.

Competition closes 31/03/2022. No need to submit activity to enter.

Where’s Tails?

Help Sonic speed his way through the maze and find his sidekick Tails before Dr. Robotnik gets to him first! Draw a line representing the route Sonic should run from the start to the exit of the maze.

Don’t run into any dead ends or cross any solid lines.

EXIT

START

© 2022 PAR. PICS. & SEGA

For your chance to WIN a family pass to Sonic The Hedgehog 2, enter at www.pakmag.com.au/win.

Competition closes 31/03/2022. No need to submit activity to enter.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Do the math then use the answers to colour in the turtle

Use the grids to copy the pictures, then colour both in

WIN a Copy of Lonely Planet Kids - The Plastic Problem $19.99 - shop.lonelyplanet.com With The Plastic Problem from Lonely Planet Kids, you’ll discover loads of brilliant and easy ways to cut plastic out of your life! By becoming a ‘plastic patroller’ instead of a plastic polluter, your actions will help protect our world, and inspire friends and family to do the same. Today is the perfect time for a change. As a future guardian of the planet, you can say no to plastic. Your actions, however small, can make a big difference every day, and with each change you’ll help our oceans become a little cleaner, and our planet a little healthier.

Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win! Competition closes 31/03/2022.

No need to submit answers to enter.

Adult Colouring

WIN a Mini Wattle Flower Press Valued at $45.00 www.sownsow.com.au Eternalise the beauty of your flowers and foliage with this beautifully designed mini flower press featuring a gorgeous illustration of Australian native Golden Wattle.

You can use these pressed flora pieces to adorn gift cards, create art pieces, picture frames, gift tags – the only limit is your imagination. Each press is hand crafted in Australia out of hard-wearing materials to ensure stable pressure and long-lasting use.

Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win!

Competition closes 31/03/2022.

No need to submit colouring to enter.

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2022 37

Advertorial

Prep for Success at St Therese’s Sending your child to school for the first time can be a daunting experience – new faces, new surroundings and new experiences can be overwhelming for children, and challenging for parents too.

At St Therese’s School, Bentley Park, a ‘Prep Transition Program’ helps prep students to become familiar with the school, their teacher and the routine, before the school year even starts. The aim of the program is to give students their best chance of a successful, not stressful, transition from kindy to school.

Research has shown that these sorts of programmes can make a big difference.

• Up to 60 percent improvement in social, emotional, and cognitive development • Better language development • Higher levels of confidence in classroom settings “The aim of our Prep Transition Program is to make the transition from kindergarten to school, a really great experience for your child,” says school principal David Adams-Jones. “We want your child happy and excited about starting their first day and we know how much this program helps.”

“Our Prep Transition Program aims to help children feel comfortable from the very first day of Prep and to foster self-confidence, emotional resilience, and a sense of belonging. This is all linked to the Reggio Emilia principles that form the foundations of our approach.”

Children taking part in the Prep Transition Program will have the opportunity to meet their teachers and other members of their class, get to know their classroom and where to put their bag and other school surroundings like the play area and outdoor learning environment, as well as introducing them to school processes. The transition program is offered to all children who are enrolled at the school in the upcoming school year.

“Research tells us that children have significantly greater success at school when there is a good relationship between home and school. For the family at St Therese’s want to give your child the best start possible and hit the ground running when it comes to their first day at school,” continues David. “School is a lot less scary when kids know who their classmates are and who their teacher is. By providing a nurturing, loving environment before we’ve even begun their journey through school, we make it much more likely that they will enjoy their time here, make great friends and thrive academically.”

St Therese’s School’s Prep Transition Program takes place between August and November – but to be eligible students need to be enrolled prior. To see if St Therese’s is the right school for your child, you can book a personal tour with principal David AdamsJones. If you have a child ready to start prep in 2023 you should confirm enrollment before May. Personal tours can be booked at www.stthereses.qld.edu.au

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2022 39

Education

15 Green Careers of The Future STORY Mary Bolling, Journalist and Communications Advisor at CQUniversity Check out these sustainable jobs to future-proof your career, and life on earth.

The history of humanity is a story of adaptation, resilience and resolution. As we face the climate crisis, tackling and reversing climate change is imperative for protecting our planet from biodiversity extinction, food insecurity, and increasing heat-related illness and disease.

The climate challenge also creates demand for a huge array of solution-oriented careers, across science, technology, development, health care and humanities.

Leaders from across CQUniversity’s future-focused courses have compiled this list of 15 jobs which play important roles in the new green economy. The passionate people who do them will be vital for humanity’s survival.

1. Bush Regeneration Specialist Bush regeneration, also known as natural area restoration, means replanting and maintaining native ecosystems that have been devastated by invasive plants and animals, or by human development.

You’ll be in demand as primary producers work to improve their properties’ climate resilience and diversity, and in urban areas where governments and communities seek to preserve native flora and fauna around infrastructure projects.

Dr Bhattarai leads numerous carbon science research projects across Australia, and says there’s huge demand for technical experts across the carbon economy.

3. Sustainable Entrepreneur Climate change is a global issue, but innovative solutions can often be local and create profit for good in your community. One business-driven initiative to grow sustainability is Townsville-based QPlas, a company transforming agricultural waste from plastics and timber into construction products.

Founder Sandra Richards developed the idea from her experience as a sheep, cattle and timber producer, and says a local solution to waste is vital to protect the Great Barrier Reef.

Sandra is growing QPlas into a social enterprise, or impact-led business, through hyperflexible iActivate, CQUniversity’s online social enterprise course.

4. Laboratory Technician The pandemic has made pathology laboratories some of the busiest workplaces around – but climate impacts are putting big demands on all scientific laboratories.

Marine conservation, soil improvement, sustainable waste management, animal health, ecological research and so many other green initiatives all rely on dedicated laboratory teams.

To dig straight in, start with a Certificate III in Conservation and Land Management, or get the skills to lead regeneration projects with a Bachelor of Environmental Science.

Completing a Certificate IV in Laboratory Techniques requires just 18 months full time study and prepares graduates for a range of monitoring and instrument operation roles.

2. Carbon Accountant / Carbon Scientist

5. Agri-Tech Innovator

Capturing and storing carbon can mitigate global warming. Developing a ‘carbon economy’ to increase and reward offsets requires specialised carbon accounting.

Sustainable futures require secure food production, and technological innovation can help increase nutritious food production in a resource-scarce world.

CQU adjunct lecturer and researcher Dr Thakur Bhattarai works with climate innovator CarbonLink to sequester carbon on grazing properties, achieving emission reduction while improving productivity and sustainability of the land.

Agri-tech focuses on tech solutions – from farm to table – that optimise crop yields sustainably. At CQUniversity, passion for agri-tech is driving successful trials of the world’s first mango auto-harvester, using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) measurement to assess eating quality and predict ideal harvest time.

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2022 41

Education

6. Solar Electrician About one in four Australian homes have rooftop solar panels, and Australia leads the world in the uptake of solar energy - now the cheapest power source on offer.

Countless businesses, including CQUniversity, are also increasing reliance on solar to power operations so there’s much more work ahead.

Solar electricians are the backbone of the industry, and installers are in hot demand. The career can start with an electrical apprenticeship, as a trade assistant with an installer, or pre-apprenticeship training for high school students.

7. Sustainability Consultant Big industry and business want to minimise their environmental impact. Sustainability consultants work with organisations to implement more environmentallysound processes and products.

Studying a Bachelor of Environmental Science can help build a career driving green change across a whole range of sectors, including construction, government and corporate.

8. Mechanical Engineer / Electrical Engineer Engineers have been vital to traditional power generation, and their skills are vital for renewable energy creation too. Diverse opportunities include wind farm design, solar and geothermal project development, and many emerging clean energy technologies.

studying Emergency and Disaster Management or Tactical Medicine.

11. Green Tech Developer The future is digital, so design green solutions that are too!

Technology smarts will be vital for tackling environmental issues, including the huge amount of waste and pollution generated by tech and online industries.

The Green Software Foundation, for instance, promotes sustainability at the core of tech development, while nanotechnology in engine designs is cutting fuel consumption and lowering carbon emissions.

12. Environmental Lawyer A career in environmental law will tackle broad issues for ensuring our planet’s survival – and lawyers who can advise on green standards and sustainability issues are in demand.

A Bachelor of Laws is the first step to representing green causes in court, for a career that could shape environmental regulation and legislation, and protect Earth’s most valuable assets.

13. Sustainable Building Designer As natural resources become increasingly scarce, new building design needs to adapt. Green design choices can reduce waste, as well as the amount of energy required to run.

CQUniversity is a research partner for Central Queensland’s burgeoning hydrogen industry, set to create 11,000 green jobs by 2032 - including numerous engineering roles.

Sustainability architects, designers and engineers consider a huge range of technologies to reduce a building’s carbon footprint. While some requirements are legally mandated, green building designers have plenty of room to innovate new ways to minimise environmental impact, on new builds and retrofits.

9. Marine Researcher

14. Ecotourism Operator

Ocean ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to climate change, and researchers are working hard to combat rising temperatures, acidification and deoxygenation, increased storm intensity and rising sea levels.

As the tourism sector emerges from the pandemic, travellers are putting more thought than ever into their impact when they travel. Ecotourism is booming, and designing environmentally-friendly experiences lets people connect with nature, while also protecting it.

The work of organisations like CQU’s Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC) creates solutions for sustainable management, conservation and restoration. Whether that’s reforestation of seagrass meadows, capturing plastic waste in waterways to understand and prevent upstream creation or creating seaweed biofilters, research projects to protect the Great Barrier Reef are vital.

10. Emergency Responder Extreme weather events are increasingly common as the Earth’s climate changes, and more frequent natural disasters require more frontline emergency responders.

Numerous health care qualifications can help prepare future frontline workers, or get leadership skills by

Pre-pandemic, ecotourism in Australia employed more than 14,000 people and generated $1.6 billion a year.

A Diploma of Travel and Tourism Management is a good start to understanding the industry’s opportunities.

15. Teacher Securing our planet’s future will ultimately fall to the current generation of children. So help teach them to make it better!

The United Nations has highlighted education as the key priority for addressing climate change – passionate educators who support young people to take action and get creative about designing solutions, will make a huge difference for them, and for generations to come.

Mary Bolling is an experienced journalist and a communications adviser at CQUniversity.

Her storytelling focuses on social impact, sustainability and community development through education. CQUniversity is Australia’s only Changemaker Campus, accredited by global social innovation network Ashoka U, and a leader in inclusive, empowering and life-changing education and training.

42 March 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au

All Things Tweens and Teens

Supporting Adolescents in the New Age of Anxiety STORY Erica Komisar As an author, psychoanalyst and parenting expert, I decided to write my new book, Chicken Little the Sky Isn’t Falling: Raising Resilient Adolescents in the New Age of Anxiety as a guide for parents because we are in the midst of an adolescent mental health crisis.

Even before our lives were turned upside down from the pandemic and related public health measures, adolescents were struggling with record levels of anxiety and depression. Under healthy circumstances, puberty, identity and finding a place in our everchanging world can be traumatic. But in today’s tumultuous times, anxiety for adolescents has become more intense than ever.

Our world is changing rapidly, and the media bombards us daily with reminders of political, economic and environmental crises and turmoil. Hate crimes and violence are at an all-time high, feeling unsafe and uncertain is the new reality. Additionally, drugs and alcohol, video games, social media and other forms of technology combined with academic stress and high expectations create a complicated melting pot. Like a pressure cooker, there is always a danger that things could explode.

Parenting an adolescent can be confusing. Luckily, there are ways that parents can help their adolescents navigate this age of anxiety. As parents, it is important to be aware that you are your child’s first line of defense against mental health and behavioral issues.

Something to remember is that adolescents do not need parents to be their friends. Though parents who try to be friends with their children may have good intentions, the job of a parent is to provide clear boundaries and clear expectations. Adolescents need a parent who is a reliable, emotionally safe harbor, who will help them navigate acceptable and unacceptable behaviours.

Healthy limits and boundaries are important, and being able to say no to our children allows for honest and emotionally healthy relationships.

It is also important that parents exhibit high selfesteem and model positive self-worth. Parents who are perfectionists or harshly critical of themselves pass these self-hating behaviours down to their children.

By loving ourselves and acknowledging our strengths and weaknesses as well as our limits and capabilities, we model positive self-esteem.

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All Things Tweens and Teens

Furthermore, parents need to exhibit emotional stability and emotional regulation for their adolescents. If you respond to frustration with impatience and intolerance, your children will too. Parents who emotionally regulate are able to keep feelings and reactions from becoming overly intense or harmful to others. By remaining calm and thoughtful even in situations that frighten, anger, or frustrate us, we teach our children to respond to situations similarly. When parents experience anxiety, depression, or have unresolved conflicts and emotional volatility, the burden is on them to seek help so that adolescents are not continuously exposed to such negative behaviours.

Part of being an empathic parent is listening to our children and paying attention to signs of emotional distress. There are many potential signs that your adolescent may be struggling with a mental health disorder, just some of which include changes in their behavior such as sleeping too much or too little, eating more or less than usual, fatigue, hyperactive energy or more aggressive behavior. Other signs may include being socially isolated or struggling, or dramatic changes in school performance. In addition, look for panic attacks (bouts of sweating, racing heart or feelings of tightness in the chest), and prolonged feelings of intense sadness, despair, or hopelessness.

Finally, parents who are resilient to stress have a greater chance of passing that quality down to their children. Parents are resilient to stress when they feel emotionally secure and have the inner resources to soothe themselves in times of adversity and distress.

Resilient adults are in turn able to raise resilient children by being sensitive and empathetic, able to identify, reflect on, and soothe feelings of distress. In contrast, adolescents with parents who dismiss or ignore their feelings of distress are less likely to grow up to be resilient adults. Neuroscience research is clear in that sensitivity and empathy are key to raising emotionally healthy human beings. If we struggle with empathy toward our children, how can we expect them to feel for those closest to them in the future, or to address a world full of problems?

As parents, it is your responsibility to ensure that your adolescent receives help if they are struggling. As soon as your adolescent is exhibiting these signs, find them a psychotherapist who specialises in their age group.

Parents can also help struggling adolescents by being as present emotionally and physically as possible so they are available whenever their adolescent feels ready to talk, connect and share their experiences.

While the journey of raising an adolescent is not always an easy one, being able to watch your adolescent grow up, celebrate victories and face disappointments without feeling overwhelmed or crushed by them is among the most satisfying and rewarding experiences as a parent.

Erica Komisar, LCSW is a psychoanalyst, parent guidance expert and author of Being There: Why Prioritizing Motherhood in the First Three Years Matters and Chicken Little the Sky Isn’t Falling: Raising Resilient Adolescents in the New Age of Anxiety. www.ericakomisar.com

Win a Copy of Chicken Little the Sky Isn’t Falling: Raising Resilient Adolescents in the New Age of Anxiety Chicken Little the Sky Isn’t Falling offers parents the tools they need to navigate this tumultuous time of change and create a continuous deep connection with their child.

With the sage tools in this book, parents will learn how to prevent or recognise the early stages of mental health disorders such as depression, ADHD, behavioural issues and addiction. Parents will also glean compassionate and practical advice on how to address these issues should they occur. www.ericakomisar.com Head to www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to WIN!

Listen to Episode 128 of the PakMag Parents Podcast with Erica joining Bree to discuss this topic in greater detail. www.pakmag.com.au

46 March 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au

Health

All Things Health Dr Bobby Griffin

Dr Liz Jackson Birds of Paradise

Sunbird Orthodontics Dear Dr Bobby, What are the differences between traditional and ceramic braces?

Conventional braces remain the most common method of orthodontic treatment. Brackets are glued to your teeth, and they hold flexible wires in place. In turn these wires exert pressure on your teeth, gently moving them into the correct position over the course of your treatment.

Ceramic braces are the same shape as metal braces except that they are tooth-coloured and blend in with the teeth. Because ceramic is harder than enamel, teeth that bite or rub against brackets can easily wear down the opposing teeth. Therefore ceramic braces are rarely placed on lower teeth.

If you or your child would like to know more about braces options, come in and see us at Sunbird Orthodontics.

4038 1036

Dear Dr Liz, When is period pain not normal?

An easy way to figure out if your pain is normal is based on what you need to do to treat it. Discomfort with a period should usually respond to a hot water bottle, exercise, rest or simple medications from a chemist.

When should I see a doctor about my period pain?

If your pain is not able to be controlled with simple medications, if you miss days off work or school, if the pain is associated with a change in your bowel or bladder, or if you also experience painful ovulation or daily pains.

4041 5081 www.birdsofparadise.clinic

www.sunbirdorthodontics.com.au

National Doctors Day, 30th March Symbolised by a red carnation, this day is to celebrate and recognise the contributions of doctors in our lives. It is a reminder of just how much we all rely on our healthcare industry, particularly at such a poignant time in the world. With many of us reaching out for both mental and physical medical support throughout the pandemic, it is great to acknowledge the sacrifices that many in healthcare are currently making to keep our communities healthy and resilient.

Consult your local health practitioner, doctor or pharmacist for advice on these topics first to ensure the best health outcomes.

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2022 49

Health

All Things Health Jana Gorski

Healthy Benefits of Natural Cleaning Products

Naturopath - Calanna Whole Health Pharmacy

Going green to keep the house clean has many benefits – for you, your family, your pets and the environment.

Here’s some of the reasons to ditch the chemicals and make the switch to eco-friendly cleaning products today.

The Safety of Your Children and Pets: If the chemicals aren’t in your cleaning cupboard – you won’t have to have nightmares about your little ones getting into them.

The Gentler Natural Ingredients are Safer for You to Use: Chemical cleaners often require personal protective equipment to defend skin, eyes and lungs from harm.

Natural cleaning products are generally much safer.

Be mindful that although natural, many natural cleaning products can still cause irritation.

Better Air Quality: The fumes and vapours from chemical products can contaminate the air in your home exposing your family to these substances (which can be toxic).

This can increase the risk of developing respiratory conditions such as asthma, and is known to impact concentration.

They are Better for the Environment: The harsh chemicals in general cleaning products can often contribute to air pollution, contaminate drinking water and can also be toxic to plants and animals. When they go down our drains, they end up in our waterways, contaminating the ecosystem and negatively impacting plant and animal life.

Dear Jana, What’s the difference between Keto and Low Carb?

Strictly speaking, a Ketogenic Diet is higher in fat and lower in carbs than a Low Carb Diet and has been studied extensively for its benefit in a variety of conditions such as Epilepsy, Parkinson’s and Diabetes.

However, both are most often used for weight loss as they can trigger a state of ketosis – a process where the body burns its own fat stores for fuel. For this reason, “keto” is often used to describe either diet and can therefore be confusing when browsing for recipes and products. Talk to one of the Calanna Naturopaths about which diet may be best for you and if you qualify for a private health rebate to achieve your goals.

Calanna Whole Health Pharmacy www.calannapharmacy.com.au

It’s Less Expensive: Products in your pantry like vinegar, olive oil, bi-carb soda, lemon juice and essential oils (the list goes on) can do the cleaning trick for so much less than store-bought items and you know exactly what’s in them.

Mario’s Range Essential Oils Sourced from the purest ingredients, Mario’s Range Essential Oils are a great addition to your wellbeing routine. The range offers over 30 high quality essential oils to help you manage and combat a variety of ailments.

From battling the seasonal flu, to promoting a state of calm, there’s a natural aid in the range for you. Plus, with Mario’s Range, seeking a natural solution to your health won’t cost you the earth. Suitable for the whole family. Be mindful if you have pets as some essential oils can be toxic for our furry friends, check in at your local Calanna Pharmacy to ensure safety. Shop in store at your local Calanna Pharmacy and check out Mario’s Range today.

50 March 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au

Consult your local health practitioner, doctor or pharmacist for advice on these topics first to ensure the best health outcomes.

All Things Tweens and Teens

What Parents of Teens Need to Know About Vaping STORY Dr Latisha Petterson, Cairns Doctors Vaping, sometimes known as ‘Juuling’, has grown in popularity with teens in recent times. And as we all know, teens like to be popular, so it’s worth knowing about this trend even if it isn’t directly affecting you or your family right now.

So what is ‘vaping or Juuling’? Simply put, it’s using electronic cigarettes (e-cigs, ENDS, ANDS, personal vaporisers, e-hookahs, mods and vape pens are just some of the other names they go by) to inhale a vapour. Many people use vaping as an alternative or transgression tool to quit smoking regular cigarettes believing that it is less harmful.

E-cigs have cartridges filled with a liquid that contains nicotine, flavourings and other chemicals. As e-cigs are not approved by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration, many liquids are purchased online meaning they can be made anywhere, by anyone and contain anything.

While many vapes claim they are nicotine free, most of the vaping liquids contain some nicotine with some e-liquid pods having as much nicotine as a packet of cigarettes. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance so you don’t have to vape every day to become addicted.

Vaping hasn’t been around long enough to know the long term effects, however health experts are reporting serious lung damage and lung irritation.

The effects of nicotine on kids and teens include impacting brain development, affecting their memory, concentration, learning, self-control, attention and mood. It also increases their risk of developing other types of addictions like regular cigarettes and marijuana.

How you help your teen overcome this addiction will vary with the individual but we recommend starting with educating them on the dangers of vaping and risk of developing addictions. To do this effectively, you’ll need to know your stuff so do your research.

Talk to them openly and honestly about your concerns, share articles such as this one and the numerous ones online with them to reinforce your concerns. The earlier and the more frequent the topic is addressed, the more likely they are to listen.

The greatest suggestion is to lead by example. If you are a smoker, it’s time to kick the habit or at the very least, smoke or vape discreetly.

Dr Latisha has extensive experience in Indigenous Primary Health Care and is passionate about Indigenous Health. Her other interests are Mental Health and Well-being, Sexual Health, Women’s Health and Well-being, Child and Adolescent Health, the Management of Chronic Disease and Preventative Health. She practises in a holistic framework when caring for patients which embraces their psychological, emotional, spiritual and physical well-being.

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All Things Tweens and Teens

All Things Tweens & Teens What is Eco Anxiety?

Tips to Help Your Teen Go Green

There’s a new kind of stress rearing its ugly head amongst our tweens and teens, and that’s Eco Anxiety.

Known as a chronic fear of environmental doom, it’s becoming commonplace for our young adults to worry about the future of the planet, and this can have devastating effects on their mental health and our society.

If you want to help your teen become more sustainable and conscious - Check out these three easy tips and point your teen in the right direction. With these simple changes, they’ll develop lifelong habits and skills.

Worrying about the future may be normal, but chronic stress about their opportunities and access to education, food, housing and job security as a result of the climate crisis is having detrimental effects. This worry is also becoming prevalent in older generations too, with many millennials choosing to not have kids due to the instability, unpredictability and unaccountability that plagues the climate crisis.

But what can we do about it? Model eco-friendly and sustainable behaviour, talk about it openly and acknowledge their feelings. Get involved and show how you are doing your part, vote for the right people, participate in community efforts and seek professional advice.

Reusables: There’s a tonne of options for your teen to make their mealtimes clean and green, such as reusable straws, utensils, bottles and lunch boxes. It’s become the norm to carry your own reusables, so invest in metal or wooden cutlery and straws.

Sanitary Products: Sanitary products have come a long way in the last few years. With so many options available, it’s worth figuring out what suits your teen best. Comfort is key after all. There are now menstrual cups and period panties, that do take some getting used to, but in the long run reduce sanitary waste. Plus there are plenty of organic options when it comes to more traditional products like pads and tampons.

Secondhand Shopping: Opshopping is all the rage, and with good reason. Not only does it reduce waste it also encourages creativity and individuality. There are various platforms now such as Depop that allow people to shop secondhand and sell their own creations.

It also instills a healthy mindset of giving back.

WIN The Unsolved Case Files Harmony Ashcroft Game - Ages 14+ $39.99 - www.unsolvedcasefiles.com On May 8th, 1998, the small Indiana town of Riverdale was shocked by the brutal murder of one of its most beloved citizens on the night before her wedding. The victim, Harmony Ashcroft, was murdered in the parking lot behind a restaurant during her own wedding rehearsal dinner. Bones McBride, a local vagrant, was framed for the murder and has spent over 2 decades behind bars despite being 100 percent innocent! Your job is to prove his innocence and convict the real killer. But who was it? Suitable for 2 - 8 players, ages 14+ Head to www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to WIN!

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2022 55

Community Noticeb o ard

World’s Greatest Shave When: 16 - 20 March

Volunteer At YAPS At the Young Animal Protection Society, there’s always a need for permanent volunteers and animal lovers. YAPS focuses on caring for and rehoming animals that haven’t had the best start to life. Keeping the refuge running smoothly and looking good is imperative to helping all those fluffy friends find a new home and get some tlc. A few hours here and there can make a world of difference. To find out more and volunteer, check out www.yaps.org.au

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When: Thursda y 17 Marc Saint Pa h trick’s D ay mark death o s the f Saint P atrick, th foremo e st patro n saint So don’t of Irelan forget y d. our som green a ething nd Irish coffee o n the 17 th.

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In 2022, the Leukaemia Foun­da­tion will cel­e­brate 24 years of World’s Greatest Shave,mak­ing it one of Australia’s longestrun­ning and most loved fundrais­ing events. Peo­ple of all ages chan­nel their inner hero and shave, cut, or colour their hair -sup­port­ed all the way by proud fam­i­ly, friends, col­leagues, and classmates. More than 2 mil­lion Aussies have tak­en part over the past two decades, with an estimated 37,500 kilo­s of hair removed! Sign up now and get involved! www.worldsgreatestshave.com

Cairns University Experience When: Thursday 17 March / 9.00am 2.00pm / FREE Where: CQUniversity Cairns, Level 3 An on-campus event for Year 12 students to explore higher education degree and TAFE course options. www.cqu.edu.au/events

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Nonna Leottas House - Cairns’s Newest and Most Loved Italian Restaurant We are about family and good food, locally crafted from our family to yours.

Jasmine and myself have both grown up from families who came together around food and I guess you can say this is where our love for food and family began. With baby number 7 on the way we know how hard it is to enjoy a night out. That’s where our dream began, a restaurant you can go into with all the kids, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and enjoy a relaxing night out where the menu has something for everyone. www.nonnaleottashouse.com.au Your family is our family, Shane

International Women’s Day When: 8 March This year the theme for IWD is #BreakTheBias. Focused on amplifying the voices of women, ridding the world of inequalities within our society, and forging a world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. This day is all about promoting a world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive, where difference is valued and celebrated.

Whether deliberate or subconscious, bias plays a significant role in the way girls and women are treated, and makes it difficult for women to not just move ahead, but also keep up. Acknowledgment of bias isn’t enough, action is needed to level the playing field and call it out.

Get Involved!

We’d love to hear from you! Head to www.paktownsville.com.au/community to submit community news or a notice, and also view the full community noticeboard online.

Are you in? Will you actively call out gender bias, discrimination and stereotyping each time you see it?

Will you help break the bias?

Collectively we can all #BreakTheBias www.internationalwomensday.com

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2022 57

Daddy Diary

Daddy Diary Grab a bowl of cold spaghetti and get ready to mash your bananas because The Wiggles are turning 30!

Three incredible decades of Australia’s official favorite band (sorry Crowded House but the skivvies have you beat there). And what a wiggle-tastic time it’s been.

I’m one of the lucky ones who remember the OG Wiggles. Part of me still sings `Wake up Geoff’ instead of ‘Lachy’. But I’ve also had the incredible pleasure of seeing my own children grow up with the newer incarnations of the group. One thing that hasn’t changed is the smiles on little faces. The Wiggles are pure joy and it really is a wonderful thing to witness.

My little boy Charlie turns three next month, so we are neck deep in Wiggles love at my place right now.

Our TV regurgitates more Wiggley content than pretty much anything else. But recently the group’s music stepped out of the TV and into real life after a visit to Wiggle World. That’s at Dream World on the Gold Coast for those keen beans wanting to visit. What a day it was.

I honestly don’t think our mini Anthony (Charlie’s fav Wiggle and the one he dressed up as) has had a better time in his life.

This year also marked another milestone for The Wiggles with the supergroup taking out the Hottest 100 on a radio station I refuse to name because it’s not my one. The group’s cover of Tame Impala’s 2012 hit “Elephant” has been so popular Anthony and Simon recently revealed to me and my radio show co-host Gabi, the group is releasing a full covers album (including a Wiggley take on an AC/DC classic). I don’t think any of us saw that coming.

It’s hard not to feel happy for The Wiggles and the amazing amount of success they’ve experienced for the last 30 years. Growing up with them myself, watching my now seven year old daughter fall in love with Emma (best of luck Em), then her passing the baton onto my guitar loving little boy. The Wiggles have brought so much happiness to so many families for such a long time. For that this father says a BIG thanks.

Now I’m off to tidy up my rose bush. I’m pretty sure Dorothy the Dinosaur made a lite snack out of it after the concert.

Cliffo Hit 103.5

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2022 59

What’s On TUESDAY 1 MARCH Rediscovering Buk Ti. Chinese Settlers in the Lower Herbert District Runs until 30 March Cairns Museum 10.00am - 4.00pm CADCAI Join the line-up for Local & Vocal Applications close 4 March The Tanks Entrants must be aged 12 - 25 www.cairns.qld.gov.au Covid-19 Vaccination Clinic This clinic is child friendly for 5 – 11 years, including face painting and icy poles!

The Pier Shopping Centre 10.00am - 6.00pm / FREE / Ages 5 + www.vaccinebookings.health. qld.gov.au FLAME 2022 - International Women’s Day Exhibition FLAME is the exhibition outcome of a mentorship program to give young women experience in the professional arts industry.

Runs until 20 March Tanks Arts Centre 9.00am - 4.30pm weekdays, 10.00am - 2.00pm weekends / FREE / G www.tanksartscentre.com

With HIT 103.5’s Cliffo & Gabi

Vicki Soar Female Expowerment Exhibition Launch Runs until 20 March Tanks Arts Centre 6.00pm / FREE / G www.tanksartscentre.com Peter Thompson – Ceramics and the Source of Self Exhibition Runs until 6 March Cairns Art Gallery 9.00am - 5.00pm / FREE / G www.cairnsartgallery.com.au Amanda Emmett New Works Runs until 13 March Cairns Art Gallery 9.00am - 5.00pm / FREE / G www.cairnsartgallery.com.au FNQ Contemporaries 2022 Runs until 6 March Cairns Art Gallery 9.00am - 5.00pm / FREE / G www.cairnsartgallery.com.au Amanda Mcgahan Pooch and Hooch Artist Exhibition Runs until 28 March Crystalbrook Bailey Lobby 8.00am - 5.00pm / FREE / G www.crystalbrookcollection.com Safa Takla. Endangered to Extinct Runs until 20 March Tanks Art Centre 9.00am - 4.30pm / FREE / G www.tanksartscentre.com

Please check with individual businesses before visiting during these uncertain times.

Power Pilates Runs weekly excluding public holidays Vasey Esplanade 9.00am / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program

Hip Hop Afro Dance Runs weekly excluding public holidays Harald Falge Park 2.30pm - 3.30pm / FREE / G www.cairnssaferstreets.com.au

Qigong for Body, Mind & Spirit Runs weekly excluding public holidays Zhangiang Friendship Garden 4.30pm / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program

Morning Storytime Runs weekly excluding public holidays Stratford Library 10.00am - 10.30am / FREE / Ages 3 - 5 www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library

Beach Volleyball Runs weekly excluding public holidays Esplanade Volleyball Courts 5.30pm / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Zumba Runs weekly excluding public holidays Fogarty Park 5.30pm / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Vicki Soar Residency Female Empowerment Runs until 6 March Tanks Art Centre www.tanksartscentre.com Afternoon Storytime Runs weekly excluding public holidays Stratford Library 4.00pm - 4.30pm / FREE / Ages 3-5 www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library

Baby Rhyme Time Runs weekly excluding public holidays Earlville Library 10.00am - 10.30am / FREE / Ages 0 - 2 www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library AFL Cairns Juniors Sign Up Open www.aflcairns.com.au WEDNESDAY 2 MARCH Aqua Zumba Runs weekly excluding public holidays Esplanade Lagoon 5.30pm / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Bouldering Runs weekly excluding public holidays Esplanade Bouldering Park 5.00pm / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program

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What’s On WEDNESDAY 2 MARCH Resistance Training Runs weekly excluding public holidays Harald Falge Park 7.30am / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Vera Flow Runs weekly excluding public holidays Ravizza Park 5.00pm / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Fitness For All Runs weekly excluding public holidays Harald Falge Park 5.00pm / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Morning Storytime Runs weekly excluding public holidays City Library 10.00am - 10.30am / FREE / Ages 3 - 5 www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library Baby Rhyme Time Runs weekly excluding public holidays Manunda Library 10.00am - 10.30am / FREE / Ages 0 - 2 www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library Family History Workshop Runs weekly excluding public holidays Smithfield Library 9.30am - 12.00pm / FREE / G www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library

Skate Session Runs weekly excluding public holidays Todd Park/Edmonton Skate Park 4.00pm - 5.00pm / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Multi Sports @ Manoora Runs weekly excluding public holidays 118 Murray St, Manoora 3.30pm - 4.30pm / FREE / G www.cairnssaferstreets.com.au Karate Kids @ Cairns West Runs weekly excluding public holidays Cairns West State School 2.45pm - 3.45pm / FREE / G www.cairnssaferstreets.com.au Hockey Fun Zone @ Balaclava Runs weekly excluding public holidays Balaclava State School 2.45pm - 3.45pm / FREE / G www.cairnssaferstreets.com.au

Classroom Management Masterclass Rydges Esplanade Resort 8.30am - 3.00pm / FREE www.qed.qld.gov.au THURSDAY 3 MARCH Zumba Runs weekly excluding public holidays Coastwatcher Park 5.30pm / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Pilates Runs weekly excluding public holidays Fogarty Park 6.30am / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Jack Botts Slow Mornings’ Australian Tour 2022 The Jack Hotel & Backpackers 7.00pm / $34.70 / 18 + www.thejack.com.au

Skateboarding @ Shang Park Runs weekly excluding public holidays Shang Park 5.00pm - 6.00pm / FREE / G www.cairnssaferstreets.com.au

Yum Cha Emporium Miss Chief Bar & Eatery 7.00pm - 9.00pm / $55.00 www.misschief.bar/events

Thy Art Is Murder Edge Hill Tavern 8.00pm / $45.00 / 18 + www.edgehilltavern.com.au

Dance Studio Runs weekly excluding public holidays Vasey Esplanade 9.00am / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program

Night Walk in Cairns Botanic Gardens Runs weekly Cairns Botanic Gardens 7.00pm - 9.00pm / From $48.00 /G www.aussiemacrophotos.com

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FRIDAY 4 MARCH

Zumba Runs weekly excluding public holidays Ravizza Park

5.30pm / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Taggin’ in the Park Runs weekly excluding public holidays Shang Park 5.00pm - 6.00pm / FREE / G www.cairnssaferstreets.com.au Boxing Fitness @ Manoora Runs weekly excluding public holidays Murray St Park 4.00pm - 5.00pm / FREE / G www.cairnssaferstreets.com.au 4 In A Groove Brothers Leagues Club Cairns 8.30pm - 11.00pm / FREE / G www.brotherscairns.com.au SATURDAY 5 MARCH Military Tropik Fitness Runs weekly excluding public holidays Harald Falge Park 6.30am / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Sahaja Meditation Runs weekly excluding public holidays Western Events Lawn, Esplanade 7.30am / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Aqua Aerobics Runs weekly excluding public holidays Esplanade Lagoon 9.00am / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program

Please check with individual businesses before visiting during these uncertain times.

Dead Puppet Society The Wider Earth CPAC 2.00pm and 7.00pm / $23.00 - $44.00 / 12 + www.cairns.qld.gov.au/CPAC Edor @ Shang Park Runs weekly excluding public holidays Shang Park 5.00pm - 6.00pm / FREE / G www.cairnssaferstreets.com.au Lil J’s Vintage Markets Elixir Music Bar 10.00am - 3.00pm / G www.liljsvintage.com SUNDAY 6 MARCH Talk Read Play and Sing Runs weekly excluding public holidays City Library 9.30am - 11.30am / FREE / Ages 0 - 5 www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library MONDAY 7 MARCH Laughing Heart Stand Up Comedy Runs weekly Paramour Cabaret Theatre 7.00pm - 9.00pm / $10.00 / MA 15 + Laughing Heart Comedy Yoga with Smile Yoga Runs weekly Stan Moses Hall 5.30pm - 6.30pm / $15.00 / G www.smileyoga.com.au Seniors Fitness Runs weekly excluding

public holidays Fogarty Park 9.30am / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Zumba Runs weekly excluding public holidays Loridan Drive Park 5.00pm / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Power Pilates Runs weekly excluding public holidays Norman Park, Gordonvale 5.30pm / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Bouldering Runs weekly excluding public holidays Boulder Park, Esplanade 5.00pm / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Games in the Park Runs weekly excluding public holidays Murray St Park 4.00pm / FREE / G Cairns Active Living Program Afternoon Storytime Runs weekly excluding public holidays Manunda Library 4.00pm - 4.30pm / FREE / Ages 3 - 5 www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library Street Soccer Runs weekly excluding public holidays Harald Falge Park Check online for times /

FREE / G www.cairnssaferstreets.com.au Basketball Runs weekly excluding public holidays Shang Park Check online for times / FREE / G www.cairnssaferstreets.com.au Morning Storytime Runs weekly excluding public holidays Manunda Library 10.00am - 10.30am / FREE / Ages 3 - 5 www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library Baby Rhyme Time Runs weekly excluding public holidays Earlville Library 10.00am - 10.30am / FREE / Ages 0 - 2 www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library TUESDAY 8 MARCH International Women’s Day #BreakTheBias www.internationalwomens day.com Cairns Council International Women’s Day Save The Date Check online for details www.cairns.qld.gov.au Responsible Management of Licensed Venues Course Cairns RSL 8.30am - 6.00pm / $375.00 its.qld.edu.au

Cairns Carer Support Group Runs monthly every second Tuesday Coast Roast Cairns Central 1.30pm - 3.30pm / FREE E carersupport@arafmi-portal. bearded.site WEDNESDAY 9 MARCH Giselle CPAC 7.00pm / $45.00 - $59.00 / PG www.cairns.qld.gov.au/CPAC FRIDAY 11 MARCH The Celebration Of Swing CPAC 7.30pm / $55.00 - $85.00 / PG www.cairns.qld.gov.au/CPAC CBWC International Women’s Day Luncheon With Guest Speaker Jess Hill Hilton Cairns 11.00am - 2.00pm / $79.00 www.cbwc.org.au Adam Eckersley and Brooke McClymont Edge Hill Tavern 8.00pm / $40.00 / R 18 www.edgehilltavern.com.au Caravãna Sun 7.30pm / $20.00 - $30.00 / 18 + www.tanksartscentre.com SATURDAY 12 MARCH MONO. A Three-Person OneMan Show CPAC 2.00pm and 8.00pm / $59.00 $69.00 / PG www.cairns.qld.gov.au/CPAC

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What’s On The Best of The Bee Gees with Colin ‘Smiley’ Petersen CPAC 7.30pm / Under 17 FREE, $69.00 - $79.00 / PG www.cairns.qld.gov.au/CPAC Bunnings Sausage Sizzle for Adopt Me Kittens Bunnings Portsmith Sign up to volunteer online. www.volunteeringqld.org.au SUNDAY 13 MARCH Wedding Expo Shangri-La Hotel 10.00am - 3.00pm / FREE $100.00 / PG www.sayidointnq.com.au MONDAY 14 MARCH Deaf Seniors Interpreting Workshop Deaf Services, Pease St 10.30am - 3.30pm / FREE E workshops@ auslanconnections.com.au WEDNESDAY 16 MARCH World’s Greatest Shave Take part and raise money for World’s Greatest Shave, a charity event for the Leukaemia Foun­da­tion. Runs until 20 March www.worldsgreatestshave.com

With Triple M’s Elliott

THURSDAY 17 MARCH

SUNDAY 20 MARCH

St Patrick’s Day

The Pier Markets Every third Sunday of the month.

The Pier 9.00am - 2.00pm / FREE / G www.thepiercairns.com.au

Cairns University Experience Campus event for Year 12 students to explore higher education degrees and TAFE courses.

CQUniversity Cairns, Level 3 9.00am - 2.00pm / FREE www.cqu.edu.au/events FRIDAY 18 MARCH Ocean Film Festival World Tour 2022 CPAC 7.00pm - 10.00pm / $25.00 $35.00 / G www.cairns.qld.gov.au/cpac SATURDAY 19 MARCH Bjorn Again – Mamma Mia! We Are Back Again CPAC 7.30pm - 10.00pm / $59.00 $69.00 / PG www.cairns.qld.gov.au/cpac Emo Night The Jack Hotel & Backpackers 8.00 pm / $20.00 - $40.00 / R 18 www.thejack.com.au

Please check with individual businesses before visiting during these uncertain times.

Register online www.fcc.qld.edu.au/open-days Year 7 Information Evening Peace Lutheran College 5.30pm / Register online www.plc.qld.edu.au FRIDAY 25 MARCH

FNQ Brew Club An opportunity for beginners and like minded all grain and extract home brewers to get together, kettle a brew, learn and discuss brulosophy whilst enjoying a beer with the head brewer from Coral Sea. Every third Sunday of the month.

Coral Sea Brewing Co Tap Room 1.00pm - 4.00pm / M www.thecraftybrewer.com.au NQ Chamber Orchestra Cords of Time CPAC 3.00pm - 3.00pm / $24.00 $29.00 / G www.cairns.qld.gov.au/cpac TUESDAY 22 MARCH Prep Open Day Freshwater Christian College

Daniel Champagne Edge Hill Tavern 8.00pm / $35.00 / R 18 www.edgehilltavern.com.au SATURDAY 26 MARCH Cairns Fringe Artists Convergence A convergence of the avant garde, surrealist, and Dadaist artists from Cairns and regions.

Elixir Music Bar 5.00pm - 11.30pm / $20.00 Elixir Music Bar MONDAY 28 MARCH Morning Melodies Mambo Italiano CPAC 11.00am - 12.30pm / $20.00 / PG www.cairns.qld.gov.au/cpac

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What’s On FRIDAY 1 APRIL Sexual Assault Awareness Month www.nsvrc.org/saam SUNDAY 3 APRIL Youth Week Concert Celebrate Youth Week 2022

with gigs, food vans, multicultural dance workshops, a chill-out zone under the fig trees, games, giveaways, and more.

The Tanks 2.00pm / FREE / G www.cairns.qld.gov.au

MONDAY 11 APRIL

THURSDAY 21 APRIL

Easter Fun Runs until 14 April

St Andrews Discovery Afternoon

Mt Sheridan Plaza

St Andrews Catholic College

FREE / G, Check online for more

4.00pm - 7.00pm /

details

Register online

www.mtsheridanplaza.com.au

www.standrewscc.qld.edu.au

Kuranda Original Rainforest Markets

Time: 4.30pm - 10.30pm Location: 71 - 75 The Esplanade

Date: Open every day excluding Tuesday and Wednesday Time: 9.30am - 3.00pm Location: 7/13 Therwine St

Port Douglas Markets

Regular Markets Rusty's Markets

Holloways Beach Markets

Date: Every Friday and Saturday Time: 5.00am - 6.00pm Date: Every Sunday Time: 5.00am - 3.00pm Location: 57 - 89 Grafton St, City

Date: 2nd Sunday of the month Time: 8.00am - 1.00pm Location: Holloways Beachfront

The Pier Market

Date: 2nd Sunday of the month Time: 9.00am - 3.00pm Location: Mount Sheridan Plaza

Date: 3rd Sunday of the month Time: 9.00am - 2.00pm Location: The Pier Cairns

Mount Sheridan Plaza Markets

Gordonvale Cottage Markets

The Ravenshoe Lions Archer Creek Markets

Date: 1st Saturday of the month February to December Time: 7.00am - 12 noon Location: Norman Park, Gordonvale

Date: 2nd Sunday of the month Time: 7.00am - 12 noon Location: Archers Creek Rest Area, Kennedy Highway

Malanda Markets

Atherton Lions Club Indoor Markets

Date: 3rd Saturday of the month Time: 7.00am - 12.30pm Location: Malanda Showgrounds

Mossman Community Markets Date: Every Saturday Time: 7.00am - 1.00pm Location: 3 - 5 Foxton Ave, Mossman

Date: 2nd Sunday of the Month Time: 7.00am - 12 noon Location: Merriland Hall (Robert St)

Yungaburra Markets Date: 4th Saturday of the month Time: 7.30am - 12.30pm Location: Bruce Jones Market Grounds

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Kuranda Heritage Markets Date: Open Thursday to Sunday Time: 10.00am - 3.00pm Location: 2 Rob Veivers Dr

Koah Monthly Markets Date: 1st Saturday of the Month Time: 8.00am – 12 noon Location: Koah Hall, Koah Road

Tolga Markets Date: 1st Sunday of the month Time: 7.30am - 12 noon Location: Morrow Park Racecourse

Herberton Markets Date: 3rd Sunday of the month Time: 7.00am - 12 noon Location: Wondecla Showgrounds

Night Markets

Date: Every Sunday Time: 7.30am - 1.30pm Location: Market Park

Woree Markets Date: 3rd Sunday of every month Time: 8.00am – 1.00pm Location: Cannon Park Racecourse Car Park

Mareeba Markets Date: Every 2nd and 5th Saturday of the month Time: 7.30am – 12.30pm Location: Mareeba Centenary Park, Byrnes St

Tumoulin Country Markets Date: 4th Sunday of the month Time: 8.00am – 12.00pm Location: Tumoulin Railway Station, Tumoulin Rd

Date: Open every day

Please check with individual businesses before visiting during these uncertain times.