Parents and Kids Magazine
GREEN 15 CAREERS of the Best
Get Creating with Easter Crafts What’s the Solution to Plastic Pollution?
ISSUE: Mar & Apr 2022
MACKAY & WHITSUNDAYS
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Family-Friendly
EVENTS Local School Holiday Activities
Teach Your Children to be Mindful Consumers Supporting Adolescents in the New Age of Anxiety
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FREE
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The Thing Is
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Deeply Connecting
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, and prepare for Easter!
with Your Family 9
Reflection is Key to Moving Forward
10
Where Focus Goes Energy Flows
12
How to Teach Your Children to be Mildful Consumers and Become one Yourself
14
Meet Three Inspiring Local Women in Science
16
We are the Solution to Plastic Pollution
18
20 Cool Maths Facts
20 Easter Craft 21
Green Goodness Recipes
22 Bump, Bub and Beyond 24 Parent’s Puzzle 25 Mini Mag 29 Adult Colouring 31
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! Don’t worry, we have you and your family covered with our School Holiday Guide. 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
The PakMag Experts
Bree
33 15 Green Careers of The Future 37 The PakMag Experts 39 All Things Health 41
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 rubbisheven if you didn’t drop it, pick it up. We all live here and 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 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 6. We’d love you to share yours with us too by using #pakmagshare or email them in.
Bree James PakMag Founder and Editor-in-Chief Contact Us: p 4053 3331 e admin@m2f.com.au a PO Box 7433 Cairns Qld 4870 www.pakmackay.com.au • www.pakmag.com.au • www.m2f.com.au
School Holiday Guide
45 Daddy Diary 47 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
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 Mackay 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 within the Mackay, Whitsunday and Issac Region. The first storytellers of country in which we work, live, and enjoy. PakMag would like to pay our respects to 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. 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 / April 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
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Parenting
Deeply Connecting with Your Family STORY Dr Justin Coulson, Parenting Expert and founder of Happy Families Take a moment to reflect on a recent positive experience you have had with one of your children; one where you felt truly connected. Perhaps it was an instant of joy as they made a new discovery. Maybe it was a flash of laughter as their joke landed perfectly on your funny bone. Or it could have been a tearful or heartfelt embrace, a moment of deep reflection, or a twinkling of peace as you simply sat together and felt… safe. Brené Brown says connection is “the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard and valued.” It feels good to belong. To know that you matter. To feel worthy. But connection is an impermanent state. That beautiful energy between you and your child ebbs and flows. You’ll note that I described an “instant”, a “flash”, a “moment”, and a “twinkling” to describe how true connection occurs. That’s because connection requires intention. Each interaction requires us to re-connect with our children and partners to maintain the experience of being connected. And this explains why parenting – and relationships generally – can be so hard. The obstacles to maintaining connection are endless, but the effort and attention you give in order to maintain and nurture that connection pays huge dividends for your relationships.
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Connection is Not a Luxury Item – We Need It! Whether labelled as relatedness, responsiveness, warmth, or nurture - research evidence points to the connection between parent and child as a necessity for our children. It’s not a luxury item. It’s a must-have. Researchers have found children are more curious, more competent, more resourceful, and more likely to initiate behaviour (rather than waiting to be told) when parents are responsive and empathic. Kids are better at regulating emotions, solving problems, and are more resilient when parents are connected with them. And they act out less. The old-school parenting trope that when our children are behaving in a challenging way, “they’re just doing it for attention” is comprehensively rejected by today’s best science. We now know that children are seeking attention because they need it to be healthy and happy. In fact, it may be less about “attention” and more about “connection”. If your child is seeking attention, give it to them! Seriously. The research shows it matters more than we can possibly know. It’s less that you’re dealing with a challenging child, and more that you’re helping your child deal with a challenge. This re-frame is important. Dr John Gottman calls our children’s choice to reach out to us a “bid for connection”. When we respond to those bids with warmth, acceptance, and engagement, we build life into our relationship with our child.
Parenting
Key Elements for True Connection If connection is so important, but also so transient, how can we create and maintain connections? Intention – On a typical morning, in any typical home, the juggle is real. Our parenting responsibilities compete with our personal to-do list, we search for our child’s missing sports uniform or library book, we check our social media feeds and news headlines, all while the clock is ticking in the background, counting down to that moment we scream, “we’re late… hurry up and get in the car!” We operate on auto-parent. If LOVE is spelled T-I-M-E, what does HURRY UP spell? And are we thinking about this as we interact with our kids? Our reactions are, at best, a response to unexpected and unforeseen difficulties and at worst, the equivalent of an emotional bomb blast because we aren’t intentional and mindful of what needs to happen to make the morning function well. Mindfulness, according to Ellen Langer, a Harvard psychologist and researcher, is an active state of mind, characterised by being: • in the present, rather than 20 minutes in the future • sensitive to context and perspective, rather than screaming that “I don’t care what your sister said to you! You should know better!” • rule and routine guided, rather than governed by how it “ought to be” • engaged in the moment-to-moment interactions of the family Unless we are intentionally and mindfully watching for them – we will miss those instances, flashes, moments, and twinklings of connection. Involvement - When I’m researching for an article or typing out a book chapter, my attention is on my laptop, my books, and my thoughts. My seven-year-old’s best efforts to connect are ineffective when I fail to be involved in her bids for connection. Connection doesn’t exist – until I turn away from what I’m focused on and involve myself in her conversation, her play, her world. Autonomy Support - Studies show that for us to help children live life fully, we must allow them to make choices. Some of the best connection occurs when we give up our desire for control of our children. For them to make those choices in healthy, safe, wise ways - they need our connection, but not our control. In fact, control may be a reliable disruptor of relationships. Relinquishing control in a connected way means we: • consider our child’s perspective (which usually requires connecting through curiosity and questions) • provide meaningful and helpful choices (where they are not developmentally capable of developing solutions on their own)
• encouraging and supporting our child’s initiative and voice • minimising our controlling language • offering meaningful reasons for our behavioural requests.
Ideas for Connection To build stronger connections, consider these ideas:
1. Do what’s important but unspectacular over and over again. We often get caught up in planning the perfect party, the heavenly holiday, or the exciting event so we can all connect and make memories. This can be a useful strategy, but a focus on consistent small episodes of responsiveness and connection will do more for happiness, wellbeing, and growth.
2. Review the way you use your time and set time aside for connection. The time that people with lousy relationships spend on Netflix, social media, excessive work, or with other distracted pursuits, people with extraordinary relationships leverage into opportunities to be present, mindful, and connected. Build your catalogue of connection experiences, not your catalogue of movies to watch on your streaming service. Set aside time to spend together, and consider the quality of the activities and interaction during this time. Also consider establishing positive routines and rituals in your home like family dinners gathered around the table, with an opportunity to discuss each other’s days, or family game nights to increase the opportunities to reconnect daily.
3. Allow your worlds to cross-over. Our children are desperate to enter our world and connect with us. Even more, they crave the opportunity to bring us into their world and share their experience of life with us. Let your children know that you are interested in what they’re interested in, and pay attention to their lives. Seek ways to communicate; learning their communication style, trying to speak their ‘language’ or at least understanding it and listening will help bridge any gaps.
The True Meaning of Connection Strangely, while we study connection, calling it by so many names, the one thing I’ve not seen it called in science is the one thing we most need to call it: love. It is love – or loving connection – that draws us to others because it is the truest way we can feel seen, heard, and valued. If every interaction comes from a place of love, positive connection will follow.
Dr Justin Coulson is the co-host and parenting expert on Channel 9's "Parental Guidance", the founder of www.happyfamilies.com.au, and one of Australia’s most trusted parenting experts. Dr Coulson has a PhD in Psychology, is a best-selling author of six books and father to six daughters. Justin writes and speaks about parenting and family – because nothing matters more.
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Advertorial
Reflection is Key to Moving Forward STORY Namarca Corowa, Founding Director of Reconcile Life C.S Lewis, the British novelist who wrote Narnia, once said “Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back everything is different”. Everything certainly is different, especially when we compare ourselves to two years ago. Had we known that a pandemic was ahead of us at the beginning of 2020, we may have been a little more prepared. But the reality is that hindsight is always a wonderful thing, but the danger is when we don’t learn from it. Whether that is on a global or national scale, or even locally within our own communities and families learning from our own mistakes and that of others is what has helped many people grow and develop personally and professionally. During these next few months, we observe International Women’s Day on Tuesday 8th March, and April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Days and months like these are a time for us to reflect on the years passed within our society, and to remember that although things have changed, much has remained the same. Two things that remain the same are that the highest rates of people who die through domestic and family
violence are women, and the highest rates of suicide are among men. That is why Reconcile Life is committed to helping and supporting men to come to the best realisation possible for themselves, in relation to both their personal relationships and family wellbeing. We believe in learning from the past, working towards healing for our present and building hope for our future. Safe families are informed families and informed families are resilient families. We also know that our services to men, women, and children can have a profound personal impact of seeing things from a different perspective. Reconcile Life delivers school age Healthy Relationships Sessions at both schools and externally, Communication Workshops, and three-day Healthy Relationships camps and workshops that also coincide with their 12-week Behavioural Change Programs. These are available for schools, sporting clubs and teams, workforce teams and general team building activities. Contact us today and check us out on Facebook, Instagram or Youtube @reconcile_life or go to www.reconcilelife.com.au
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Feature
Where Focus Goes - Energy Flows STORY Bree James Don’t you love that feeling of being in total flow with your life? You feel energised, positive, and calm - totally in love with the life you are living. However, many of us don’t stay in this ‘state of being’ for very long. We each face a lifetime of challenges and transitions, and there is always another problem to be solved, or an issue weighing us down. As the old saying goes; “what you focus on grows”. For instance, if we focus our minds on all of the negative behaviours of our children, that’s what we will see and experience. If we focus on their positive behaviours and praise them, that is what we will nurture and experience - what we focus on grows. Did you know that your brain is conditioned to look for the negative? Have you ever found yourself dwelling on an insult or argument, or fixating on your mistakes or poor judgement? Have you noticed that criticisms often have a greater impact than compliments, and bad news frequently draws more attention than good?
As Humans, We Tend to: • Remember traumatic experiences better than positive ones. • Recall insults better than praise. • React more strongly to negative than positive stimuli. • Think about negative things more frequently than positive ones. • Respond more strongly to negative events than to equally positive ones. The reason for this is that negative events have a greater impact on our brains than positive ones. Psychologists refer to this as “the negative bias”, and it can have a powerful effect on your behaviour, your decisions and even your relationships. We have around 12,000 - 60,000 thoughts every single day. Shockingly, 80 percent of our daily thoughts are negative! That’s a lot of negative thoughts. What’s funny, yet not funny at all, is that 98 percent of the negative thoughts we had yesterday are the same ones we will be thinking about today. Negative thinking will never
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make your life positive, so how do we focus our energy and attention on the things that make our energy and life flow better? First and foremost, we need to get a clear vision of what we really seek in our lives. When we have this vision, it’s much easier to devote your energy, time and focus to achieving it. Sometimes we focus so much on what we don’t want – that it’s what we keep getting served. Our focus acts as both a magnifying glass and a magnet. In other words, whatever we put our attention on, expands in our life. Whatever we talk about, we see more of. Whatever we think about, we experience more of. How does it all work? Our brains are trained to look for what we are thinking about. Have you noticed when you decide to buy a new car, suddenly you see that car everywhere? Our focus acts as reinforcement and our brains are very clever at filtering the information we don’t need and delivering what it’s been asked to focus on. If you want more flow, peace of mind, clarity, and joy in your life, it’s time to have a look at where you focus your mind. • If you want to achieve or do something it starts with a decision and focus (like our goal weight). • If you want to be more, we decide and focus on improving ourselves (like learning to be more positive). • If you want to have more, we decide and focus on making that happen (like wanting to buy our first house).
What You Focus on Grows It takes practice to notice and retrain ourselves to stop our negative self-talk. Being aware of our own tendency towards negativity and consciously elevating happier thoughts is one of the best ways to combat negative thinking. We are the creators of our own life. It is our choice as to what we focus on every day - because where our focus goes, energy flows.
7 Tips To Help You Focus Your Energy 1. Savour positive moments - when you experience one, stop and take a few moments to really feel it. 2. Practice daily gratitude - gratitude turns what we have into ‘enough’. What we appreciate, appreciates. 3. Meditation - meditation allows you to quiet your mind and take control of your thoughts. 4. Journal - journaling reminds us of our goals and learnings in life. 5. My Vision Book - is a system to help you clarify your thoughts, goals, and desires so you can focus on achieving them www.myvisionbook.com.au
6. Sound Therapy - music expands our cognitive range, helps us increase energy and focus and can lead to impressive insights and breakthroughs.
7. Exercise - it’s proven; people have ground-breaking ideas while they’re exercising.
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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
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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.
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.
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STEAM
Meet Three Inspiring Local Women in Science We chatted to four women working in science in North Queensland to find out what drives and inspires them in their research, as well as what it takes to have a career in STEM. So, if you’ve got a young one eager to learn and explore the world we live in, show them that’s possible!
Dr Abbi Scott – Marine Biologist
Rachael Walshe - Human Geographer, PhD Candidate
Harriet Spark Grumpy Turtle Creative
What is your job? I’m a marine biologist working on the Great Barrier Reef, in my role as a researcher at James Cook University, I work on monitoring and research in seagrass meadows and coral reefs. How did you get here? I studied marine biology at university, after this I worked on some citizen science and seagrass monitoring projects in England before deciding to do a PhD researching seagrass ecosystems. Since finishing my PhD I’ve continued researching and working on other seagrass and coral projects with the JCU TropWATER team. What advice do you have for girls wanting to work in science? Find what you are passionate about and go for it! There are so many inspiring women in science who you can follow on social media. Follow scientists in your field of interest, get informed and get as much experience as you can. What inspires you? Having the opportunity to find out more about our marine environment and doing research that can help to protect the environment for future generations. What made you get into science? I’ve always loved the ocean and started scuba diving when I was 14, from that point on I knew I wanted to work to help conserve the marine environment. You can follow Abbi on Instagram @abbi.scott.science and Twitter @abbilscott
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What is your job? My field is human geography, so I explore people in relation to the environment. I research how our society influences our food resilience, education, sense of place, and well-being. I often work with schools, learning about the effects gardens at schools and in communities have on us. How did you get here? I grew up in a super rural town in the middle of nowhere. We had to be self-sufficient -food production is deeply ingrained and a way of life for me. I studied sustainability and agriculture in undergraduate studies and began to focus on the role urban agriculture could play. What advice do you have for girls wanting to work in science? Be bold and ask questions. There’s no way I would be doing what I am if I hadn’t developed the confidence to always take up space and ask a question. What inspires you? The basic need for food for us all to live. No one deserves to be hungry, and I believe everyone should have the skills to own our food production. What made you get into science? It gives me a sense of purpose. I don’t really feel like sitting by and watching the world suffer when there’s something meaningful that I could do ... gardening, thinking, and researching gives me a sense of purpose.
Dr Lizzy Joyce – Evolutionary Plant Biologist
What is your job? I’m a botanist, and love everything to do with plants, but am most interested in plant evolution in northern Australia and Southeast Asia, and taxonomy - the science of discovering and naming new species. I’ve recently moved to Munich, Germany to continue my research at Ludwig Maximillian University. How did you get here? I’m a very curious person and have always loved the natural world and was drawn to botany and zoology so studied a Bachelor of Science at the University of Western Australia. Having a career in research has taken a lot of hard work, resilience, persistence, and collaboration with clever, good people. What advice do you have for girls wanting to work in science? Don’t be intimidated. Absolutely awesome scientists of all genders do incredible work! There are some unique challenges faced by women in science, so do what any good scientist does and educate yourself. Let your curiosity and passion drive you, work with respect, humility and integrity and you can have the most fascinating and fulfilling career, no matter your gender. What inspires you? Every day I’m inspired by the natural world – how can you not be when living in Cairns!? There is always something to be discovered and learned. I am motivated by that desire to understand the world around me and how it came to be the way it is today. What made you get into science? My grandfather, who was a brilliant man and prize-winning carnivorous plant collector, and my mum, a kooky geologist that brought me up with that appreciation and fascination for the natural world. You can follow Lizzy on Twitter @e_m_joyce
For anyone curious and eager to learn more about STEM, check out these great resources! www.scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au www.stemwomen.org.au www.thegist.edu.au
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.
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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 / April 2022 17
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.
18 March / April 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!
www.pakmag.com.au | March / April 2022 19
Craft
Easter Craft
www.diyncrafts.com
www.modernparentsmessykids.com
Fluffy Bunny Wreath This plush Fluffy Bunny Wreath is the perfect addition to your child’s bedroom door in the lead up to Easter. What You Need • • • • •
Thick Cardboard for wreath circle White wool for pom poms (or other colours if you prefer) White craft paper for bunny ears Pink craft paper for inner part of bunny ears Ribbon to hang your wreath
Method Begin by making a cardboard wreath frame using the cardboard. Create a circle with a diameter of about 20cm, and a width of 5cm, then cut out the internal circle so you create your wreath shape. Next, create the cute white pom pom’s. You can do this by wrapping wool around your hands several times, then pulling the wool into a bundle from your hand, and tieing in the middle with another piece of wool. Cut the loops on both sides, fluff it up, and trim any excess if necessary. Make as many as you need to cover the wreath, around 14 should be perfect. Then glue the pom poms onto your wreath, covering all of the cardboard on one side. Make your bunny ears using the white and pink craft paper, then glue them together before attaching them to the back of the wreath. Finally, cut a piece of ribbon, make a loop, and attach to the back of your Fluffy Bunny Wreath for hanging.
20 March / April 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au
Easter Egg Garland Homemade Easter Decorations are a great activity for the whole family to get stuck into. If you love a bit of DIY, chances are you have some old paint sample cards laying around, or you may have some other colourful plastics from ice cream containers, old book covers, and pretty cardboards. If so, it’s time to turn them into an Easter Egg Garland! What You Need • • • • •
Enough cardboard to make at least 20 Eggs (see tip) Pencil Cardboard egg template String Very small hole punch
Method Begin with tracing your egg template on the back of all the items that you plan to use for the garland. Try to collect items that have the same texture and thickness that’s why the paint sample cards are fantastic. Once you have traced your egg shape, it’s time to cut out the Easter eggs. Once you’re done cutting shapes, using the hole punch, create two small holes at the top of each egg. Thread them onto your string, thick cotton string is best to hold them in place, then your garland is ready for display. Tip: You can upcycle cardboard items you already have - like old cereal boxes with nice patterns / pictures from old magazines glued on top, or paint colour samples you may have laying around after your last DIY project.
Food
Green Goodness Recipes
Green Pea Soup Ingredients • • • • • •
1 Tbsp butter 1 Tbsp olive oil 3 cloves garlic 1 leek, sliced 1 large potato 2 cups frozen peas
• • • • •
1.5 L vegetable stock Fresh parsley and basil 1 Tbsp lemon juice Greek yogurt or cream Salt and pepper to taste
Method Start with preparing the vegetables, peel and dice the garlic cloves, and potato. Slice the leek. Next, put oil and butter in a large pot on medium-high heat. Sauté the garlic and leek until translucent, then add the potato and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Stir every now and then. Add the vegetable stock, peas and roughly chopped fresh herbs. Bring ingredients to the boil, then reduce temperature to low, allowing ingredients to simmer for approximately 15 minutes, or until the potato is cooked. Once ready, remove a handful of peas and set aside to garnish your soup with after you blend the mix. Add lemon juice to your soup and transfer the soup mix to a blender. Don’t overpack the blender, you may need to halve the mix and blend twice. To serve, drizzle with Greek yogurt or cream and season with salt and pepper to taste. Decorate with blanched whole peas and fresh herbs, and finally some fresh crispy bread. Tip: if you don’t have a leek, substitute with an onion.
Matcha Smoothie Bowl Makes 2 servings Smoothie Ingredients
Topping Suggestions
• • • • • • • • • •
• • • • • • • • •
1 ½ frozen bananas ½ cup frozen avocado ½ cup frozen cucumber 1 handful spinach ½ cup of almond milk ½ tsp spirulina 1 tsp matcha powder ½ tsp maca powder ½ tsp cinnamon Fresh mint (about 10 leaves)
Sliced kiwifruit Muesli Blueberries Chia seeds Pumpkin seeds Mint Flaxseeds Coconut Lime
Method Prep your frozen ingredients the night before. You will need to cut the cucumber, avocado and banana into blendable cubes. Place all smoothie ingredients into a blender, and combine until smooth. Make sure to not add too much almond milk to keep a thick smoothie consistency, you want to be able to eat it with a spoon, not straw. Split mix into two bowls and top with an assortment of your favourite fruits, seeds, and nuts. We love the freshness of lime and mint with the bowl as well. You can also make tropical smoothie bowls by adding frozen mango to the mix.
www.pakmag.com.au | March / April 2022 21
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.
22 March / April 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 / April 2022 23
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”
24 March / April 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
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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.
Expert Advice
The PakMag Experts Peter Heilbuth
Katrina Peters
Deputy Vice President - VET
Statewide Family Law
If you are considering doing a TAFE course but aren’t sure about the cost, now might be the time. There are many new incentives making TAFE even more affordable so you can pursue your passion and career goals in 2022. Two initiatives that are proving very popular are JobTrainer and TAFE Priority Skills Funding. The COVID-19 pandemic is seeing people reevaluate their lives and careers. JobTrainer, which was established by the Australian Government in partnership with state and territory governments, was launched in response to COVID-19, providing free or low-fee training courses with a maximum cost of only $400. Initially launched for school leavers and job seekers, JobTrainer has been expanded to include any eligible Queenslander, regardless of age or employment status, who wants to undertake training in aged care, disability care, childcare and digital skills. Students are eligible to access training under the JobTrainer Fund regardless of any prior qualifications completed or held. TAFE Priority Skills Fund, established and funded by the Queensland Government, is also of significant benefit to people looking to upskill with a certificate III, IV or diploma-level qualification. The benefits of this program include the wide variety of courses subsidised and the second chance funding. This means that even if you already hold a qualification, you may be eligible to study another course at a significantly reduced cost. Employers also have the option to access the TAFE Priority Skills Fund for eligible staff. These initiatives offer people an entry into TAFE training – a chance to follow their pursuits, acquire valuable skills and change or enhance their careers. So, if you are looking to become a teacher’s aide, a horticulturalist, expand your business skills, or enter the ever in demand health industry, visit www.cqu.edu.au/subsidy or call one of our friendly experts on 13 27 86 to find out more. p 13 27 86 www.cqu.edu.au/tafe
Dear Katrina, What are some possible outcomes of mediation? Separated parents should seek court proceedings as a last resort. In fact, the Family Law Act requires parties to make a genuine effort to resolve their dispute by family dispute resolution before applying to the Court. Parties should make enquiries with a private mediation service such as Relationships Australia or a Family Relationship Centre to start the lengthy intake process as soon as possible. The benefits of attending mediation are that parties are able to retain the decision making between themselves - rather than a Judge of the Court making important decisions about their life. Some possible outcomes of mediation: The other party may not attend - In this case, the family dispute resolution practitioner will issue a certificate. The certificate will state that the requesting party did not attend family dispute resolution and their failure to do so was due to refusal or failure of the other party to participate. All parties attended and made a genuine effort to resolve the issues - The family dispute resolution practitioner will issue a certificate stating that all parties made a genuine effort to resolve the issues - resolved or not. One of the parties did not make a genuine effort to resolve the issues - A certificate will be issued by the family dispute resolution practitioner stating that despite attendance, one or both parties did not make a genuine effort for resolution. The Court may take the kind of certificate into consideration, including determining whether a costs order should be made against the party. With regard to Parenting Plans, Family dispute resolution practitioners are not able to draft or finalise parenting orders. Rather, they can assist parties in entering into a Parenting Plan if they come to an agreement at mediation. These plans are great for parents who remain amicable and communicate effectively. However, a parenting plan is not legally binding, we therefore recommend that a Parenting Plan be converted into a legally binding Parenting Consent Order. a 34 Wood St, Mackay www.swc.net.au
www.pakmag.com.au | March / April 2022 31
Education
32 March / April 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au
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 / April 2022 33
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.
34 March / April 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au
Expert Advice
The PakMag Experts Dr Lutie van den Berg
Jasmine Lowry
Smart Scan
Dear Jasmine, I am concerned about what adult life will be like for my teen who has a disability. What living options are available for adults with disabilities?
CEO, MADEC
Dear Dr Lutie van den Berg, How do I best care for and check my skin? There are some common indicators and irregularities to look out for when performing checks at home to further supplement your regular professional scans. It’s key to take note of any changes in your body, especially in our climate and level of sun exposure. Here are the ABC’s of skin checks: A is for Asymmetry - one half of the spot doesn’t match the other. B is for Border - edges of the spot are irregular, ragged, notched or blurred. C is for Colour - colour is not the same all over and may include other shades. D is for Diameter - larger than 6mm or is growing larger. E is for Evolution or Elevation - changes in shape or size, and a flat spot may become raised within a few weeks. Also be aware of any mole or freckle that changes over a period of months, grows in size, changes shape, becomes mottled in colour or has a persistent itch. When performing checks at home: • Check the skin on your back and the back of your neck. • Don’t forget to check your armpits, inner legs, ears, eyelids, hands, and feet. • Move hair aside and inspect your scalp. Always remember, prevention is key with the 5 s’: Slip on some sun-protective clothing. Slop on SPF 30+ sunscreen. Make sure it is broad spectrum, protects against UVA and UVB rays, and is water resistant. Put it on 20 minutes before you go outdoors and reapply every 2 hours. Slap on a hat that protects your face, head, neck and ears. Seek shade. Slide on some sunglasses. Most importantly, be very suspicious of new “ moles” or “freckles” and have them seen to by a professional with expertise in skin cancer management. If you have any concerns, or you’re due for your regular check up, please contact Smart Scan Clinic. p 4942 9912 www.smartscanlloydsclinic.com.au
Teenagers with a disability, and their families, have much to consider during the transition to adulthood. One of the most important and complex decisions to make is regarding home and living arrangements. To navigate this journey, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) offers Individualised Living Options (ILO) to participants. ILO allows participants to explore and design specific home and living arrangements to suit their specific needs. ILO service providers can also provide assistance to design and fund an ILO. As part of ILO, participants choose where they want to live, who they want to live with, and what support arrangements best suit them. During the ILO planning process, participants will consider what informal support arrangements they would like, and the planning process will focus on strengthening those supports. An ILO may look like: • Host Arrangement - participants live full time with a person or family (host), who is not related to them. The host provides a safe and welcoming home and the help they need. • Housemates / Co-Resident - participants live full time with people who provide care, help and companionship. • Mentors - a small team of paid supports, exclusive to the participant, who spend extended periods of time providing direct and indirect support. Once an ILO has been designed, participants can then have the arrangement funded by the NDIS and begin putting supports in place. If you are a community member who would like to be involved, or are a participant who wants to explore the home and living options available to you, then please reach out to the MADEC team, we would be more than happy to assist you. e madec@madec.org.au www.madec.org.au
www.pakmag.com.au | March / April 2022 37
Health
All Things Health Healthy Benefits of Natural Cleaning Products
Five Ways to Help Stave Off Illness
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.
There’s no guarantee in keeping any illness or infection at bay, but there are key lifestyle factors that contribute to your overall wellbeing and impact your body's risks and responses. Here are five to consider:
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.
1. Nutrition: It comes as no surprise that nutrition
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. 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.
plays a vital role in our health, and this includes our susceptibility and vulnerability to illness and infection. By taking a micronutrient rich wholefoods approach to your diet, you are ensuring your body is fueled adequately and is capable of doing its best to either stave off illness, or at the least, reduce severity.
2. Exercise: It’s no shocker that keeping active and fit promotes healthy immune function. Exercise helps reduce inflammation and stress, while improving circulation and resistance. There’s always a fine balance though, too much will have the opposite effect, so be mindful, balance is key.
3. Restrict Alcohol: Excessive alcohol intake has a bevy of downsides (pun intended), of which some have been shown to reduce immune function and increase susceptibility to infection. It has also been shown that vaccines are less effective in people who regularly consume alcohol in excess.
4. Rest: Stress and fatigue fester inflammation and increase susceptibility to disease. Long term or persistent high stress exposure will have detrimental effects on your immunity, not to mention your mental health.
5. Hygiene: One of the simplest ways to stave off illness and infection is to limit your exposure. This is where good hygiene is key, wash your hands, keep your distance, wear a mask if you’re required to and practice safe food handling.
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.
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School Holiday Guide
School Holiday Guide Mount Pleasant Shopping Centre
Caneland Central
A new and improved shopping experience is coming to Mount Pleasant Shopping Centre. Not only do they have a bevy of shops and food outlets to keep you and the little ones fed and entertained, but they also provide two parents rooms. One is located in the Food Court, how convenient, and the other in the corridor behind Nextra. To keep up to date with their progress and any upcoming events and school holiday activities, check out their Facebook page.
Caneland Central is running a range of FREE school holiday activities from 4 to 14 April, 10.00am - 2.00pm. Week 1 will feature a 5-hole Easter themed putt putt, and Scavenger Hunt Competition. Week 2 will have Easter cookie decorating and crafting running Monday to Wednesday, followed by an Easter egg hunt on Thursday. Bookings are suggested. There will also be special Easter bunny visits on 12 and 14 April, so check online for times. Plus don’t forget, Caneland is the largest shopping centre in Mackay, providing games, music, movies, toys, and food for the whole bunch.
A Mackay Bucasia Rd P 07 4969 2400 Mount Pleasant Centre www.mountpleasantcentre.com.au
Artspace Mackay BMA Kidspace is online and offers a range of ways for kids to enjoy the arts with their program specifically designed for 0 – 5 year olds. Activities including Leaf Rubbing, Leaf Collage, Recycled Drums, and Sing Alongs. And don’t forget about the BMA KidSpace program, with creative activities and live music, it’s on from 10.00am - 2.00pm 22 March and 26 April. A Civic Centre Precinct P 4961 9722 Artspace Mackay www.artspacemackay.com.au
South Leagues Club Mackay Play, eat and enjoy at South Leagues Club. The family can enjoy a delicious meal for dinner or lunch from the affordable, family-friendly restaurant Souths Bistro. You can relax in the gaming room or grab a drink from the sports bar while the kids hang out and play in the kids zone – a room full of games, activities, movies and play equipment. No need for a babysitter at Souths Mackay! A 181 Milton St P 4957 2166 South Leagues Club Mackay www.southsmackay.com.au
A Mangrove Rd, Mackay P 4944 7111 Caneland Central www.canelandcentral.com.au
Sarina Sugar Shed Sarina Sugar Shed offers an award-winning insight into sugar production. From paddock to plate; the tour will teach you and your little ones just what happens when cane is planted, how it’s used, and what it makes. You’ll get the opportunity to observe, touch, feel, and taste the different stages of sugar production, their non-alcoholic ginger beer brewed onsite, the freshly spun fairy floss, and freshly squeezed cane juice. There’s plenty of goodies for the adults to try too. Cost: $13.30 for kids, $26.50 for adults, kids under 5 are free. Bookings essential. A Field of Dreams Parkland, Railway Square P 07 4943 2801 www.sarinasugarshed.com.au
Wake House Wake House Australia is the perfect way to cool off this summer’s break. Providing a safe environment for beginners wanting to learn how to kneeboard or wakeboard. The venue often hosts live music and wakeboarding events which will keep them coming back for more. Check online for more information. P 1300 500 261 Wake House Australia www.wakehouse.com.au
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.
www.pakmag.com.au | March / April 2022 41
School Holiday Guide
Forest Flying - Flying Fox An unforgettable way to immerse yourself in Queensland’s stunning rainforests. The Forest Flying eco-tourism experience is set up to allow you to view the rainforest of Finch Hatton Gorge from a unique angle. Their flying fox is an overhead cable and pulley system up to 25 metres above ground that allows you to travel 340 metres through the rainforest canopy. If you can do an average bush walk, you can do Forest Flying! The weight range to participate is 30 kgs - 120 kgs and the recommended minimum age is 10. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Cost: $90.00. A 18 Olivers Road, Finch Hatton P 07 4958 3359 www.forestflying.com
Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens The Botanic Gardens have self-guided activities on offer that can be printed from home or picked up from the brochure holders at the Community Noticeboard opposite the café. There’s plenty more to do at the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens for kids - check in on their website for updated school holiday content. A 9 Lagoon St, Mackay P 4952 7300 Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens www.mackayregionalbotanicgardens.com.au
Escape Rooms Mackay Enter a themed room and work as a team to solve a series of puzzles, riddles and hints before your 60 minute time limit runs out. Fun for families, friends and groups. Please be advised the rooms are geared more towards mid-teens and adults due to the level of difficulty and themes. Players under the age of 12 need to be accompanied by a paying adult. You are able to bring younger children but be aware there may be scary themes. Some groups of 13 and 14 year olds may find the puzzles a bit too challenging. Cost: From $31.00 per player. A 344 Alfred Street, Mackay P 0484 372 273 www.escaperoomsmackay.com.au
Whitsunday Crocodile Safari Take a trip on the “Wild Side” and see crocodiles in their natural habitat in the Whitsundays. This highly rated day-trip is a safe, all-weather ‘safari style’ excursion, which takes you cruising through a wild crocodile habitat on the Proserpine River, then touring the Goorganga Plains Wetlands on a wagon train to observe native Australian wildlife. Cost: $50.00 for ages 1 - 4, $85.00 for ages 5 - 17, and $140.00 for adults.
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A Cannonvale, Airlie Beach P 07 4948 3310 Whitsunday Crocodile Safari www.crocodilesafari.com.au
Big4 Whitsundays Tropical Eco Resort Break up that school holiday monotony and escape to paradise! Whitsundays Tropical Eco Resort is a family owned and run caravan park in Airlie Beach. Nestled on seven acres of shady, tropical greenery, there’s plenty of family fun to be had - Including a playground, jumping pillow, quad bikes for hire, a pool and a brand-new ninja challenge course. Get in and book fast as many families will be looking for a summer getaway spot! A 2955 Shute Harbour Rd, Flametree P 4946 9388 BIG4 Whitsundays Tropical Eco Resort www.whitsundaystropicalecoresort.com.au
Kidz Life Play Centre It’s slides, tunnels and ball pits galore at Kidz Life Play Centre. With a triple decker play structure, huge double slide, ball pits, a jumping castle and much more, there is plenty of fun to be had. It’s all indoors and air conditioned, so rain, hail or shine it’s always playtime! Cost: From $8.50, children under 1 are FREE. Don’t forget your socks! A 75 Evans Ave, North Mackay P 4953 5575 E admin@kidzlife.com.au www.kidzlife.com.au
Explore Local National Parks We’re privileged to live in such a beautiful part of the country, so why not make the most of it? Mackay and the Whitsundays are surrounded by lush, wild and unique national parks that showcase the diversity of our region. Here’s just a handful to choose from: Cape Hillsborough, Eungella, Cape Palmerston, Conway, and don’t forget about the Whitsunday Islands. So grab the kids, grab the gear, head out and experience our backyard. www.parks.des.qld.gov.au
Whitsunday Segway Tours Jump on and explore the Conway National Park Rainforest or the Airlie Beach Boardwalk with Whitsunday Segway Tours. An alternative way to get around and see the local sites, especially in this heat! Cost: Boardwalk is $110.00, Rainforest is $139.00. Suitable for families with children 12+ years old. A Airlie Beach P 0432 734 929 Whitsunday Segway Tours www.whitsundaysegwaytours.com.au
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. Cliffo Hit 100.3
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Mackay and Whitsundays What’s On TUESDAY 1 MARCH Baby Bounce Runs weekly during school term Cannonvale Library 10.00am - 10.30am / FREE / 0 2 years, Bookings required libraries.whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au Story Time Runs weekly during school term Bowen Library 10.00am - 10.30am / FREE / 3 - 5 years, Bookings required libraries.whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au Story Time Runs weekly during school term Proserpine Library 10.30am - 11.00am / FREE / 3 - 5 years, Bookings required libraries.whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au Story Time Runs weekly during school term Mirani Library 9.30am - 10.00am / FREE / 3 - 5 years, Bookings required www.mackay.qld.gov.au/ libraries Story Time Runs weekly during school term Walkerston Library 9.30am - 10.00am / FREE / 3 - 5 years, Bookings required www.mackay.qld.gov.au/ libraries WEDNESDAY 2 MARCH Hey Warrior Anxiety disorders in children workshop with Karen Young Souths Leagues Club Mackay 9.00am - 4.00pm / $315 / 18+ www.heysigmund.com Little Library Play Runs weekly during school term Proserpine Library 9.30am - 10.00am / FREE / Walking to 3 years, Bookings required libraries.whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au Little Library Play Runs weekly during school term Cannonvale Library 10.00am - 10.30am / FREE /
Walking to 3 years, Bookings required libraries.whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au Baby Bounce Runs weekly during school term Sarina Library 9.30am - 10.00am / FREE / 0 - 2 years, Bookings required www.mackay.qld.gov.au/libraries Story Time Runs weekly during school term Collinsville Library 9.00am - 9.30am / FREE / 3 - 5 years, Bookings required libraries.whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au Story Time Runs weekly during school term Sarina Library 9.30am - 10.00am / FREE / 3 - 5 years, Bookings required www.mackay.qld.gov.au/ libraries Story Time Runs weekly during school term Gordon White Library 9.30am - 10.00am / FREE / 3 - 5 years, Bookings required www.mackay.qld.gov.au/ libraries Drumbeat 2 Day Facilitator Training DRUMBEAT - Discovering Relationships Using Music, Beliefs, Emotions, Attitudes and Thoughts Slade Point State School 8.30am - 4.30pm / $800.00 $1000.00 Holyoake DRUMBEAT Mackay Property Management Excellence PME training Ocean International 9.30am- 12.30pm / $75.00 $150.00 www.realestateexcellence.com. au/trainingevents Baby Bounce Runs weekly during school term Proserpine Library 10.30am - 11.00am / FREE / 0 - 2 years, Bookings required libraries.whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au
Please check with individual businesses before visiting during these uncertain times.
With HIT 100.3’s Cliffo & Gabi
THURSDAY 3 MARCH John Paul Young 50 Years Young - The Anniversary Tour MECC 7.30pm / $36.00 - $73.00 / G www.themecc.com.au/whats_on Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games Runs until 13 March www.paralympic.org/ beijing-2022
7.00pm / $45.00 / 18 + Magnums Hotel Baby Bounce Runs weekly during school term Bowen Library 9.30am - 10.00am / FREE / 0 - 2 years, Bookings required libraries.whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au SATURDAY 5 MARCH
Baby Bounce Runs weekly during school term Gordon White Library 9.30am - 10.00am / FREE / 0 - 2 years, Bookings required www.mackay.qld.gov.au/ libraries Story Time Runs weekly during school term Cannonvale Library 10.00am - 10.30am / FREE / 3 - 5 years, Bookings required libraries.whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au Story Time Runs weekly during school term Dudley Denny City Library 10.30am - 11.00am / FREE / 3 - 5 years, Bookings required www.mackay.qld.gov.au/ libraries Spelling for Life - Mackay Mantra Mackay 8.00am - 3.00pm / Check online for associated costs www.qassp.org.au Move It NQ - Aqua Fitness Runs weekly excluding public holidays Sarina Swim Centre 8.30am - 9.30am / $5.00 / G moveitnq.com.au FRIDAY 4 MARCH Mackay Airport Twilight City Run Bluewater Quay 5.30pm / $10.00 Adults $5.00 Students / G, Bookings required www.mackaymarinarun.com Thy Art Is Murder Magnums Hotel, Airlie Beach
Beginners Printmaking Workshop Runs until 6 March Mackay Town Hall 10.00am - 4.00pm / $200 / G Printbank Mackay Writing for Life - Mackay Mantra Mackay 8.00am - 3.00pm / Check online for associated costs www.qassp.org.au Mother & Son MECC 2.00pm / $22.00 - $42.00 / G www.themecc.com.au Blink 182 & Green Day Experience Airlie Beach Hotel 2.00pm - 5.30pm / FREE www.airliebeachhotel.com.au SUNDAY 6 MARCH MOB Presents The Celebration Of Swing MECC 3.00pm / $55.00 - $85.00 / G www.themecc.com.au Clean Up Australia Day RIverside Drive Mackay 8.45am - 11.00am / FREE / G www.mycommunitydiary.com.au Mackay Sailing Club Come and Try Kinchant Dam Boat Ramp 10.00am - 12.00pm / FREE? / All Ages Jack Botts – Slow Mornings Tour Seabreeze Hotel 6.30pm - 11.00pm / $32.00 / G www.seabreezemackay.com.au
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Mackay and WhitsundaysWhat’s On SUNDAY 6 MARCH ‘Synchronicity’ The Police Experience Airlie Beach Hotel 2.00pm - 5.30pm / FREE www.airliebeachhotel.com.au MONDAY 7 MARCH Baby Bounce Runs weekly during school term Dudley Denny City Library 11.00am - 11.30am / FREE / 0 - 2 years, Bookings required www.mackay.qld.gov.au/ libraries Move It NQ - Aerobics Runs weekly excluding public holidays Railway Square, Sarina 5.30am - 6.30am / $5.00 / G moveitnq.com.au TUESDAY 8 MARCH International Women’s Day #BreakTheBias www.internationalwomens day.com FRIDAY 11 MARCH Mackay University Experience An on-campus event allowing Year 12 students to explore their post-high school options, including both higher education degrees and TAFE courses. CQUniversity Mackay 9.00am - 2.00pm / FREE www.cqu.edu.au E. e.lawn@cqu.edu.au Battle of the Birds Preseason Match Mackay Basketball,
McDonald’s Mackay Basketball Multi-Sports Stadium 6.00pm / $27.00 / G www.firebirds.net.au SATURDAY 12 MARCH MindGym Community Mental Health Workshop The Surf Club Mackay 6.30am - 10.30am / $75.00 $85.00 / 18 + Mindgym Mackay Netball Camp Mackay Netball Association Get in touch and check online for details. qld.netball.com.au Bon Jovi Forever Airlie Beach Hotel 2.00pm - 5.30pm / FREE www.airliebeachhotel.com.au SUNDAY 13 MARCH Adam Eckersley Northern Beaches Bowls Club 8.00pm / $40.00 www.mnbbowls.com.au Lower Body Roll + Release Tranquil Yoga Mackay 9.30am - 11.00am / $27.00 / G www.tranquilyogamackay.com.au The Australian Foreigner Show Airlie Beach Hotel 2.00pm - 5.30pm / FREE www.airliebeachhotel.com.au MONDAY 14 MARCH Pitch Perfect
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Would you like to pitch your idea to investors and industry professionals? Split Spaces 5.30pm - 7.30pm / FREE Split Spaces 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 Deaf Seniors Interpreting Workshop Harrup Park Country Club 10.30am - 3.30pm / FREE E: workshops@ auslanconnections.com.au Mega Book Sale Runs until 18 March Mackay Base Hospital 8.00am - 2.00pm / FREE / G www.mackayhospital foundation.com.au THURSDAY 17 MARCH St Patrick’s Day FRIDAY 18 MARCH The Essence of Leadership Masterclass Clarion Hotel 9.00am - 1.00pm / $140.00 $155.00 events.humanitix.com
Autism Presentation Workshop Also runs 19 March Airlie Beach Hotel 9.00am - 4.00pm / FREE www.airliebeachhotel.com.au Women’s Wellness Retreat Runs until 20 March Shingley Beach Resort Various packages available, check online for details. www.thewellnesspoet.com SATURDAY 19 MARCH Get The Beat Mackay CQ UNI Mackay 8.00am - 9.00pm / $25.00 $60.00 Get the Beat The Beach Boys Experience Airlie Beach Hotel 2.00pm - 5.00pm / FREE www.airliebeachhotel.com.au SUNDAY 20 MARCH Bjorn Again - Mamma Mia! We Are Back Again MECC 7.30pm / $65.00 - $69.00 / G www.themecc.com.au 2022 Variety Jet Trek from Mackay QLD to Port Douglas Qld Mackay Mike Ridings - 2022 Variety Club JetTrek Back To The 80’s Airlie Beach Hotel 2.00pm - 5.00pm / FREE www.airliebeachhotel.com.au
Please check with individual businesses before visiting during these uncertain times.
TUESDAY 22 MARCH BMA Kidspace Artspace Mackay 10.00am - 2.00pm / FREE / 0 - 5 years www.artspacemackay.com.au FRIDAY 25 MARCH
8.00pm / $56.00 www.holyholymusic.com
First Day of School Holidays Runs until 18 April
Morning Melodies Mambo Italiano Proserpine Entertainment Centre 11.00am / $15.00 / G www.themecc.com.au
FRIDAY 8 APRIL
Hypnotise Me! Hilarious hypnotic fun live show Metropolitan Hotel 8.00pm / $34.00 - $75.40 / 18+ www.comedy-hypnotist.com.au
FRIDAY 1 APRIL
SATURDAY 26 MARCH
Last day of Term 1
BMA Kidspace Artspace Mackay 10.00am - 2.00pm / FREE / 0 - 5 years www.artspacemackay.com.au
Morning Melodies Mambo Italiano MECC Plenary Halls 11.00am / $15.00 / G www.themecc.com.au
Miami ’80’s In Paradise Airlie Beach Hotel 2.00pm - 5.00pm / FREE www.airliebeachhotel.com.au
BJJ Escapes 3 day Immersive Jiu Jitsu camp Coral Sea Resort Hotel Various packages available / Register online www.bjjescapes.com.au
SUNDAY 27 MARCH Airlie Beach Wedding Expo Whitsunday Christian College 10.00am - 1.00pm / $5.00 Ideal Bride Nashville’s World On Tour Airlie Beach Hotel 2.00pm - 5.00pm / FREE www.airliebeachhotel.com.au WEDNESDAY 30 MARCH Walk and Talk — Lively Physiotherapy Lively Physiotherapy 9.00am - 10.00am www.livelyphysiotherapy.com.au THURSDAY 31 MARCH Holy Holy - ‘Hello My Beautiful World Tour’ Seabreeze Hotel
April Fools Day Sexual Assault Awareness Month www.nsvrc.org/saam
SATURDAY 2 APRIL Dirty Laundry MECC 7.30pm / $55.00 / G www.themecc.com.au Prince ‘Purple Revolution’ Tribute Airlie Beach Hotel 2.00pm - 5.00pm / FREE www.airliebeachhotel.com.au MONDAY 4 APRIL Easter Fun at Caneland Daily Easter activities. Runs until 14 April Caneland Central 10.00am - 2.00pm / FREE / G www.canelandcentral.com.au
The Ultimate Aussie Dirt Bike Long Weekend Runs until 10 April Gum Valley veterans and natural terrain Motorcycle Club Daily www.motorcyclebeach races.com.au SATURDAY 9 APRIL Ian Moss and Troy CassarDaley ‘Together Alone Tour’ MECC 7.30pm / $75.00 - $130.00 / G www.themecc.com.au The Australian Eagles Show Airlie Beach Hotel 2.00pm - 5.00pm / FREE www.airliebeachhotel.com.au SUNDAY 10 APRIL Travis Collins The Seabreeze Hotel 3.30pm - 6.00pm / $44.00 / 18+ www.traviscollins.com.au ‘Yacht Rock’ Classics From 70’s & 80’s Airlie Beach Hotel 2.00pm - 5.00pm / FREE www.airliebeachhotel.com.au MONDAY 11 APRIL Parentmedic Baby/Child First Aid Infant CPR, Choking, Fevers, Rashes, Allergies & Anaphylaxis, Poisons, Burns, Head Injuries and more! Proserpine Library 9.30am - 11.30am / FREE / Baby friendly www.parentmedicnorthqld.co
THURSDAY 14 APRIL Black Cockatoo MECC 7.30pm / $22.00 - $42.00 / G www.themecc.com.au FRIDAY 15 APRIL Good Friday ‘Geed Up’ For Easter Runs until 17 April Airlie Beach Hotel 2.00pm - 5.00pm / FREE www.airliebeachhotel.com.au SUNDAY 17 APRIL Easter Sunday MONDAY 18 APRIL Easter Monday SATURDAY 23 APRIL Airlie Beach Triathlon 2022 Runs until 24 April Airlie Beach Various times / $10.00 - $209.00 www.mynextchallenge.com.au SUNDAY 24 APRIL The Veronicas ft Hope D, Yorke, Wild Ones MECC 5.00pm / $63.0 - $83.00 / 16 + www.themecc.com.au Lift The Lid Walk for Mental Health Bluewater Quay 9.00am / $30.00 / G www.lifthtelidwalk.com.au MONDAY 25 APRIL ANZAC Day Anzac Day March Coral Esplanade 8.30am / FREE / G www.rslqld.org
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Mackay and Whitsundays What’s On TUESDAY 26 APRIL
SATURDAY 30 APRIL
BMA Kidspace Artspace Mackay 10.00am - 2.00pm / FREE / 0 - 5 years www.artspacemackay.com.au
Rippa Rods Family Fishing Competition Flametree, Airlie Beach Get in touch for details and bookings E: bookings@wter.com.au
FRIDAY 29 APRIL Graeme Connors ‘Back After A Short Break’ MECC 7.30pm / $45.00 - $75.00 / G www.themecc.com.au
SUNDAY 1 MAY Hamilton Island Endurance Series – Hamilton Island Hilly Half Marathon Hamilton Island
With Triple M's Jay and Dave
Get in touch for details and registration E: events@hamiltonisland.com.au THURSDAY 5 MAY Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow MECC 7.30pm / $22.00 - $42.00 / G www.themecc.com.au
SATURDAY 7 MAY 50 Years On Queen Bohemian Rhapsody MECC 7.30pm / $50.00 $80.00 / G www.themecc.com.au
Regular Markets The Greater Whitsunday Farmers’ Markets
Eungella Community Markets
Date: Every Wednesday Time: 6.30am - 10.30am Location: Bluewater Quay, River Street, Mackay City Centre (Best parking - Brisbane Street)
Date: 2nd Sunday of the month Time: 9.00am - 1.00pm Location: Eungella Memorial Hall, North Street
Showground Markets
Seaforth Community Markets
Date: Every Saturday Time: 6.30am - 10.00am Location: Mackay Showgrounds
Date: Every Sunday Time: 8.30am – 11.00am Location: Seaforth Beachfront
50 March / April 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au
Seaforth Mega Market Date: 1st Sunday of every month in place of regular markets Time: 8.30am – 12.00 noon Location: Seaforth Beachfront
Sarina Showground Markets Date: Last Sunday of the month Time: 8.00am - 12.00 noon Location: Sarina Showgrounds
Troppo Treasure Markets Date: 2nd Sunday of the month Time: 7.00am - 11.30am Location: Mount Pleasant Shopping Centre Carpark
Paxtons Night Markets Date: 2nd Friday of every month Time: 5.00pm – 8.00pm Location: 10 River St
Please check with individual businesses before visiting during these uncertain times.