ISSUE: APR 2018
89
TOWNSVILLE
MAKE YOUR MONEY GO FURTHER
SHARE THE DREAM: GC2018 ARE YOU ADDICTED TO TECH?
SCHOOL HOLIDAY GUIDE CREATE AND CELEBRATE!
FREE www.pakmag.com.au | April 2018 1
CONTENTS 6
Entertainment: Check It Out
9
The Thing Is with Bree James
10 Feature: Make Your Money Go Further 13 Share The Dream: GC2018 17
Are You Addicted to Tech?
19 Principal’s Pen 21 Expert Advice 23 Bump, Bub and Beyond: Premature Birth
Happy Easter! Hello and welcome to our Easter edition of PakMag! Firstly, I just want to say a huge thank you to all of you who came to our Easter event at Sk8way. The team and I had a fantastic time, and we hope you all did too! This month, our School Holiday Guide is bigger than ever! Not only are there some amazing school holiday programs going on, the Commonwealth Games and Festival 2018 will see Townsville abuzz with activity for nearly two weeks during the Easter break. Check out the School Holiday Guide on page 37.
37 School Holiday Guide
Technology is something that is close to my heart; I see how the world is changing and how we can embrace the digital advances that will be integral parts of our futures. But I also know that there are some pitfalls to our new reliance on tech, and this month we take a closer look. Our story on page 17 will give you an insight into tech addiction and what you can do about it.
43 Little Snappers Swim School: 10 Steps to a Safer Swimmer
Raising a family can be expensive, so our “Stop Wasting Money” piece on page 10 will give you some tips on areas of life where you can save without feeling like you’re denying yourself.
24 Bump, Bub and Beyond: WIN 27 What’s On Guide 29 Mini Mag
44 Snapped 46 Mater Snapped
I hope you have a great month, and until next time, don’t forget to tell them you read it in PakMag.
49 Health 52 Home with Caro and Kingi: Budget-Friendly and Beautiful: Peg Board 55 Healthy Recipes 56 Celebrate: Create and Celebrate! 58 Daddy Diary
Grand Publishing Founder and Editor-in-Chief Bree James Operations Manager Rose Foster Production Manager Janelle May
Bree James Grand Publishing Founder and Editor-in-Chief Contact Us: p 4053 3331 f 4053 3350 e admin@grandpublishing.com.au a PO Box 7433 Cairns Qld 4870 / Unit 5, 78 Anderson St, Cairns fb facebook.com/pakmagtownsville t #pakmag
Graphic Designers Clare Winter Sara Williams Marketing to Families Experts Lisa Gillman Dan Kendrick Sub-Editor Kate Moloney
Accounts Trent Stievano Supply & Distribution Manager Gleisy Meireles Media Interns Monique Saggers Kalisha Fitsch
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 expressions expressed within PakMag are not necessarily the views of the publishers, but those of individual writers. Net Distribution Per Issue 10,000 CAB Publisher Statement Period ending 30th July 2018
www.pakmag.com.au | April 2018 5
Entertainment
CHECK IT OUT Get Active + Healthy
Opening Ceremony - Festival 2018
When: All Month Where: Townsville More Info: www.townsville.qld.gov.au
When: Wednesday, 4 April, from 5.00pm to 10.00pm Where: Jezzine Barracks More Info: www.gc2018.com
Hop along and try sports and activities. Sign up to clubs and classes. There is an option for everyone and every shape. For more information and calendar of activities, check out the schedule on page 59.
The opening night of this great event, a 12-day celebration, from 4 -15 April. Join the opening of the Commonwealth Games 2018 with a live cross to the official opening ceremony on the Gold Coast. There will be: Athlete appearances, 1RAR performance, Official speeches, Launch of Festival 2018 and more! Check out the full schedule of events at gc2018.com/ festival - make sure you don’t miss it!
GC2018 BASKETBALL - Prelims When: Thursday, 5 to Tuesday, 10 April Where: TECC More Info: www.gc2018.com/tickets Get excited, International Basketball is coming to Townsville! Taking place from 5 to 10 April, there’s plenty of opportunity to catch a game so make sure you book your tickets before they sell out!
North Queensland Toyota Cowboys - Home Games
Riverway Movie Night - Son of Bigfoot
When: Saturday, 14 April, 5.30pm to 8.00pm (Canterbury BullDogs) When: Saturday, 21 April, 7.30pm to 10.00pm (Gold Coast Titans) When: Saturday, 28 April, 7.30pm to 10.00pm (Canberra Raiders) Where: 1300SMILES Stadium More Info: www.cowboys.com.au
When: Friday, 20 April, 6.30pm - 8.30pm Where: Riverway Oval More Info: whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au Bring your blanket along and enjoy the free open-air movie under the stars and raintrees at Riverway! This month’s movie is “Son of Bigfoot”.
Get your tickets now to this great family entertainment in town! Cheer on your North Queensland Toyota Cowboys when they take on the Canterbury BullDogs on Saturday, 14 April, the Gold Coast Titans on Saturday, 21 April and Canberra Raiders on Saturday, 28 April at 1300SMILES Stadium. Tickets are on sale!
Move It Festival When: Sunday, 29 April, 6.00am - 11.00am Where: Riverway Precinct More Info: www.thfoundation.org.au Run, Walk or Roll |1km - 5km - 10km. Register online and join this amazing event, 100% of funds remain local.
6 April 2018 | www.pakmag.com.au
SAVE THE DATE Yo Diddle Diddle When: Friday, 11 May, 12.30pm and 6.30pm Where: Riverway Arts Centre More Info: ticketshop.com.au One cow. One moon. One mission. What if your dream was only one jump away? ‘Exploring the theme of resilience, a heart-warming and highly visual story’. Recommended Ages: 4-8 | Tickets $15
Riverway Movie Night - Captain UnderPants When: Friday, 18 May, 6.30pm - 8.30pm Where: Riverway Oval More Info: whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au Bring your blanket along and enjoy the free open-air movie under the stars and raintrees at Riverway! This month’s movie is “Captain Underpants”
Tasman Turtle’s Picnic Day When: Saturday, 19 May, 11.00am - 4.00pm Where: TYTO Parklands, Ingham More Info: www.tyto.com.au Enjoy a day of adventure and discovery of art, culture, nature and knowledge with Tasman Turtle and his friends at our annual family Picnic Day. The day is filled with activities, workshops, games, food and entertainment for you and your family. BYO picnic or food and beverages available for purchase.
Townsville Grammar School - Open Day When: Thursday, 24 May, 9.00am - 12.00pm Where: Annandale Campus When: Saturday, 2 June, 9.00am - 12.00pm Where: North Shore Campus More Info: www.tgs.qld.edu.au Get along to Townsville Grammar’s Open Day at the Annandale Campus for Pre-Prep - Year 6 or the North Shore Campus Open Day on Saturday, 2 June for Pre-Kindy (3 Yr Olds) - Early Primary.
The Thing Is
The Thing Is... STORY Bree James
At the beginning of the year I made a commitment to myself to slow down just a little. Don’t get me wrong, I love my fast paced life, but I felt like life was going way too fast for me to make time to notice if I was enjoying it or not. Every minute of every day was so busy and full, there was no time to ponder, reflect, or even have a meaningful conversation with anyone but my own internal dialog. Everything was always a rush. As the universe would have it, I had an accident in January resulting in my having to have knee surgery. So, for the past three months, I have had copious amounts of time to do loads of pondering and reflecting, and I certainly have not been able to rush! The thing is we all need to take time to reflect and take things slow sometimes and be more grateful. Hurting my leg has given me a great lesson in being grateful for what I have. These past few weeks I’ve realised I have been focusing on what I don’t have instead of what I do have and it’s a very easy trap for us all to fall in to. Hobbling around, my thoughts can’t stop with “I wish I had two working legs again”, “I wish I could get my own cup of tea”, “I wish I could put my own pants on”, instead of being grateful for having my health, having family and friends who are helping me daily, and having an amazing team who are taking care of the office. Anyway, it got me thinking, why did I always look in the mirror wishing that my leg was skinnier, stronger, more toned, or less hairy? Why wasn’t I satisfied? Why did I wish I had a new one back then? Right now, I’d give
anything to have my old pre-accident leg back, and it goes to show that we often don’t appreciate what we’ve got until it’s gone. Even the simple things in life we take for granted like having two imperfect, old, but functioning legs. Many of us live a very blessed life that we aren’t grateful enough for it. It’s so easy to go to the negative and think that life is hard, life is unfair and life is not where we want it to be when we are ‘wanting’ all the time. Being in hospital, being in pain, being dependent on others, and sitting on my couch has not been good for my mojo. But it was in these moments where I sat, helpless and observed my world, that the reality of how good my life actually is set in. I have a safe place to live, I have family and friends that love me, good health albeit a sore leg, and clean water and food. This is all that really matters, and I am truly grateful for this. Anything above these basic needs really is a bonus, and we need to control our ‘wanting’ for more. Life is a lot happier when we stop the ‘wanting’ cycle, and move to a place of satisfied and grateful. This is a place where we are satisfied and grateful with our home, car, body, lifestyle, work, relationships and ourselves. It’s going to take some time, but this is my aim, to stop the wanting, and be more satisfied and grateful with what I have and not take it for granted. I hope you will join me.
www.pakmag.com.au | April 2018 9
Feature
Make your money go further STORY Bree James
10 April 2018 | www.pakmag.com.au
Feature
I don’t know anyone that doesn’t want more money. Whether it’s to have the ability to buy more things for themselves, for their family or for others, or to grow a business, or even to give away, most of us want to have more money in our pockets. There are only a few ways to get more money; earn it, be given it or win it. For most of us, the likelihood is that you will have resigned yourself to the fact that you are going to have to earn it through working and investing. Some of us may throw a Lotto ticket on every now and then in the hope that we can win it, but you are probably just as likely to win money as you are to be given money, particularly these days with our grandparents spending their retirement funds. Unless of course, one of those emails from overseas, where an unknown billionaire has left us in their will, comes true… Ok, let’s stop dreaming. What about saving it? What if you could save thousands of dollars per year instead of trying to earn more? Isn’t it smarter to make our dollar go further than trying to get more dollars? If you can do both that is even better of course! To give you a hand, here are seven ways to save money or to stop wasting it, if that motivates you more: 1. Have a budget. Most of us shiver at the thought of having the constraints of a budget, but I am sorry to tell you, sister (or brother), that you can’t manage what you can’t measure. The way to reach your goal is to have goals in the first place; so work out what you are earning and spending. There are many apps that can help you with a budget, or why not go one step further and visit Kelly Wealth to get your ‘financial world’ under control with the Myprosperity app? 2. Bank fees. Many of us waste a heap of money on bank fees, such as credit card fees, ATM fees, dishonoured payment fees and loan fees. Check out what you are spending on fees; avoid ATMs, pay off your credit card in full every month (don’t fall into the trap of just paying the minimum amount) and make sure there is always enough cash in your account to pay direct debits. And of course, go and see the bank or your mortgage specialist regarding your loans, you could save thousands by reconsolidating these. 3. Overindulging. This is a big one. One of the biggest holes in people’s wallets is caused by lazy spending; buying coffee or water, buying lunch, eating out, driving unnecessarily and impulse purchases. All these little things add up. If you spend $5.00 on coffee four days a week that is $1,040.00 a year on coffee, add a $15.00 meal three times a week, and that’s another $2,340.00 on top; nearly a family holiday. If you buy your two kids a $2.00 matchbox car each every week, that’s over $200.00
a year which could have been better invested in their bank account. Think of your spending like a leaking tap. It doesn’t seem like much at first, but over a year it can add up to a huge unnecessary expense. So, make your own coffee at home or work, take a water bottle everywhere, take lunch, cook at home more often or have picnics, batch your car trips and watch those sneaky ‘presents’ you gift your kids. 4. Superannuation. If you haven’t sorted your super, talk to someone and get it done. They can easily search and find all your missing accounts and consolidate it, and whilst they are at it, get them to check that it is geared properly and that you aren’t paying for insurances and fees that are unnecessary. 5. Subscriptions and memberships. Do you need pay TV? Do you use that gym membership? Do you actually use that App or software? Do you read that subscription? Have a look at all of these things and do a cull or put some on hold. You may be surprised by some of the ones you have actually forgotten about. 6. Groceries. We waste so much money on food that goes in the bin. Never go food shopping hungry or without a shopping list. Always have a meal plan for the week and buy to that plan. Eat meat-free a couple of times a week; it’s great for your health and it can save you some money too. For example, making your meal meat-free twice a week will save your family approximately $1,500.00 a year (based on meat costing an average of $15.00 per meal). 7. Insurances. Insurances certainly aren’t going down, so, you always need to question your insurer when your premium goes up and shop around and work out ways to save. Maybe you could increase your excess or decrease the insured value (be careful here though, no one wants to be underinsured). It may not seem like a lot, but if you saved $500.00 on each of these seven points, that’s $3,500.00 back in your pocket. Sure, there are plenty of ways to earn some extra dollars, and we encourage you to do that too. But fix the leaks first and then get a good budget in play, because what tends to happen when we earn more money is we spend more money. Our cost of living actually goes up, and we are in fact worse off than before. Good luck, and don’t forget to talk to your kids about saving and why as a family you need to save money and not waste the resources you have invested in… like the milk in their cereal bowls!
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Feature
SHARE THE DREAM: GC2018 STORY Rose Foster The long-awaited Commonwealth Games take place this month and Australia is abuzz with excitement for the 12-day schedule of sporting events and celebration.
Here’s our top tips on how your family can get involved in the Commonwealth Games: Teach them About the Commonwealth.
From the 4th to 15th April, the Gold Coast will play host to athletes from 70 nations competing in 275 events across 18 different sports. Not only that, host cities including Cairns and Townsville will hold some of the qualifying rounds for basketball and an exciting and plentiful program of events for the public too - check out our school holiday guide for more information on the events in your area.
What a great opportunity to sneak in a geography and history lesson with your children. See how many countries they can name that are part of the Commonwealth. There is a total of 53 members of the Commonwealth of Nations and the nations are spread across every continent and ocean and make up to 30 per cent of the world’s population. The Commonwealth is composed of a rich variety of faiths, races, languages, cultures and traditions, from Asia to Africa and beyond.
Not only are the games themselves really exciting but they provide a unique opportunity for families to get involved and embrace GC2018. The Gold Coast has never seen an event of this magnitude, so making sure you make the most of it will ensure that you and your children don’t take it for granted.
During the Commonwealth Games have a fun pop quiz and see how many countries your children can name; see if they can remember how the Commonwealth came to be and if they can remember who got the most medals? There are many more interesting facts about our Commonwealth too; it’s always fun to teach children
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Feature
about the Royal Family and that age-old trivia question, “Who’s Australia’s head of state?” Learn the History of the Games. The Commonwealth Games have been held every four years since 1930, except for in 1942 and 1946 due to World War II. Did you know that this years Games will make Australia the nation that has hosted the most number of Games? It is the 5th Games to be hosted in Australia, with them previously being staged in Sydney (1938), Perth (1962), Brisbane (1982) and Melbourne (2006). Colour the Flag. Another great way to give your children a fun learning experience is to draw the flags from all of the Commonwealth nations. Head to www.pakmag.com.au for a free printable of flag templates for your children to colour in during the games. Not only will it keep them entertained for a few hours, they will also learn a lot whilst doing it. Share the True Meaning Behind the Commonwealth Games. Share with your children that the Games are about more than just competing. Discuss with them that the Games are often referred to as the ‘friendly games’, as they bring together members of the Commonwealth of Nations to compete on a level playing field in a spirit of friendship and fair play. That they aim to unite the Commonwealth family through sport. Get Familiar with Borobi and the Games’ Motto. Every Commonwealth Games has a motto and the 2018 Gold Coast’s Games official motto is ‘Share the Dream’ and the mascot is Borobi. You may already be familiar with the blue koala mascot who has been gracing our screens in various locations around Australia, but why not purchase your own Borobi online so you and your children can have a momento of the Games? Learn a New Sport. There are 18 different sports with 275 events which take place during the Commonwealth Games, and we guarantee that at least one of them will be new to your children. Take the time to watch a new sport together, learn the rules and get to know the athletes. Check out the schedule online, pick a sport together and watch it from start to finish (obviously when you can!). It not only acts as a great educational activity for the whole family but despite which sport you choose, we bet you’ll be screaming at the tv with excitement in no time! Get Outdoors. With all the learning going on in the first few ideas, why not let the new-found knowledge inspire you to get outdoors? Find your local basketball courts, volleyball courts or parklands to try out a sport you’ve learned
14 April 2018 | www.pakmag.com.au
as a family. If your chosen sport is water based, head to your local pool to try diving (where permitted) or race the length of the pool in your own head-to-head swimming race Host a Family Sports Day. Keep the competitive spirit alive with your own family sports day. It’s a great way to have fun as a family, bring out some friendly competitiveness and create long lasting memories (or even a new tradition). Some of the sports in the Commonwealth Games may be difficult to do in your own back yard (and some, like Boxing, may not be advisable amongst family!), so why not make the events fun or silly. Try sack races, egg and spoon races or crazy obstacle courses. Commonwealth Craft. As well as colouring in flags, there are many crafty ideas that your family can do during the Commonwealth Games. Why not make paper medals, create your own Borobi sculpture or make your own gymnastic ribbon to follow along with the rhythmic gymnastics. Get Cooking. Embrace the Commonwealth Nations by cooking a national dish – you could make a rule that every time a country wins a medal, you could cook something from that country. Try a Kenyan stew, Jamaican jerk chicken, haggis from Scotland, poutine from Canada, or a national dish from one of the other 67 countries. Host a Ceremony Party. One of the most enthralling parts of the Games are the opening and closing ceremonies, so why not throw a sports themed party, filled with snacks from around the globe, sporty décor and you could even play Commonwealth bingo. To play, give each family member a normal bingo sheet but instead of numbers, use flags or country names, as the teams come out, mark them off – whoever gets a line first wins the first prize, and whoever gets a full house first, wins the second prize. Take the Family to a Game. Lucky for us, Cairns and Townsville will play host to the preliminary rounds of basketball, so why not catch a game? Head to www.gc2018.com to grab yourself some tickets. Share the Dream. Whatever you and your family get up to this Commonwealth Games, we encourage you to embrace the motto of “Share the Dream” and share your experience with friends, family and with PakMag. We’d love to see what you’re getting up to so use #PakmagRepost on Instagram (if you use Facebook, make sure your post is set to public) so we can share your images and videos on our social channels.
Parenting
Are you addicted to Tech? STORY Bree James In a world where we are more connected than ever, we are also more disconnected than ever. Look around you; there are people with their faces in devices everywhere you go. People are having romantic candlelit dinners, but their phones burn brighter than the candle. Parents are watching their child’s performance through their video screen trying to capture the moment instead of really watching it. Food is going cold whilst we try to get the perfect shot.
Here are nine signs that you have an addiction to your device:
Studies have shown, that spending too much time on technology is not good for your focus or your mental health. Hundreds of clinical studies show that screens increase depression, anxiety and aggression. On the positive, Ford’s 2014 consumer survey reports that 62 per cent of adults felt better about themselves after getting positive reactions to what they shared on social media. But what about when we post something and get no reaction or negative reactions?
6. You get fidgety if you don’t have a device.
The science behind it? Every time someone reacts to something you have done online, or you react positively to something someone else has done online, you get a dopamine hit. Dopamine is an addictive pleasure chemical in our brains that is released from doing things we enjoy; it’s like a hug for the brain. Who doesn’t want more pleasure chemicals and hugs? The negative though is that the opposite also occurs if we don’t get the attention we desire: •• Decreased self-esteem, eating disorders and body dysmorphia. •• Anxiety, depression and depressive symptoms. •• Feeling of a lack of connection. •• Deterioration in concentration and other symptoms of ADHD. What can we do? If you feel any of the above, it’s probably a pretty good indication that you need to take action.
1. It’s the first thing and or last thing you do every day. 2. Your device is never out of reach; you check it for no real reason. 3. You take your phone to the toilet. 4. You use your phone in social settings. 5. If you are bored, you pick up a device. 7. You think you hear your phone even though you haven’t. 8. You look at your phone whilst driving. 9. You look at your device whilst watching a movie. Are you nodding your head? You are not alone, and most of us are unaware that we have a problem. Here are some simple habits to try, to lead by example and reconnect with the world around you: 1. Have designated times that you use social media. 2. Turn notifications off on your emails and apps. 3. Have times when you turn the mobile data on your phone off; so it’s just a phone. 4. Have a ‘no screens’ rule at the dinner table, in bedrooms, and whilst doing family activities. 5. Have a rule that when with company, there are no screens. 6. Have a screen free day each week. 7. Put your phone away when you get home. 8. Do not use tech until you have exercised in the morning; tech is your reward. 9. Limit your use of screen time when your kids are around. Set a good example. In the end, only you can decide if your use of technology is impacting you, your family, and your relationships. Sure, there are a lot of great things about technology, but think about it like chocolate, it’s got its place, but we shouldn’t eat it all day long.
To help you more easily navigate the world of social media and keep your kids safe online, we’ve teamed up with Horizons 21 who are offering Pakmag readers the change to win a Cyber Safety Course. Horizons 21 redefine social media and technology for you and equip you with the basic knowledge to start a meaningful conversation with your kids. For more information about courses visit www.horizons-21.com For your chance to win a Cyber safety course valued at $190.00 visit www.pakmag.com.au
www.pakmag.com.au | April 2018 17
Principal’s Pen
PRINCIPAL’S PEN
Townsville Grammar School
The Cathedral School
Timothy Kelly, Principal
The Cathedral School embraces research and evidence to inform practice. The school has a reputation for leading innovative teaching and learning practices. Through the Walker Learning approach, The Cathedral School places an emphasis upon relationships between teacher, child and family. We value, respect and authentically honour the individual child. Pivotal to learning is the establishment of relationships with a child to be able to personalise their experiences to then set each child up for success. The Cathedral School is committed to strengthening and deepening relationships with children, families and the wider community. Relationships and interactions are the highest priority between educators and children. (Walker, K 2017)
The rain that fell towards the end of February was a long-awaited relief and welcomed by everyone. While many adults would have quite rightly enjoyed the rain immensely, I doubt many would have embraced it as enthusiastically as our Junior School students. At our Annandale campus, I watched a group of Prep students involved in a game of ‘leaf racing’ as the water rushed down the gutter outside their classroom. Their enthusiasm, curiosity, passion and just ‘being in the zone’ was something to behold as they raced the various leaves and sticks they could lay their hands on. Later that same day, when working on the School’s North Shore Campus, the creek behind the school had risen quite sharply. The Year 2 and 3 students were trying to guess what might be swimming in the swirling water. Snakes, crocodiles and fish received a mention with one boy suggesting that there could be a shark circling. I really enjoyed watching how they were freely using their imagination. According to British author, Ken Robinson, imagination is the root of creativity. At our schools, it is essential that students continue to have the opportunity to use their imaginations to develop their creativity, as it is through these processes that new ways of solving problems and innovations can be discovered. At Townsville Grammar School, creativity is fostered and rewarded in our classrooms as students are encouraged to use their imaginations to develop new ideas and ways to solve problems. If you are interested in how we approach this at Townsville Grammar School, please feel free to make contact with the School. e tgs@tgs.qld.edu.au www.townsvillegrammar.com
Luke Baills, Head of Junior School
At our school, teachers understand that the value of positive day-to-day interaction across the whole school cannot be underestimated. Research clearly shows that educational outcomes are strongly linked to relationships. Through implementing the Walker Learning Approach to our teaching, we have introduced Focus Children as an element of our day. Children are timetabled to be the Focus Child. Each child becomes the focus for a whole day once every two weeks minimum with the purpose and priority on relationship building. Focus children play a specific role in assisting the teacher to tune into learning and reflect upon learning. Teachers plan for the focus child before the day begins with absolute intention about their development and learning. We take pride in the connections we intentionally forge in our classrooms and in the many outcomes we can attribute to this focus. e tcs@cathedral.qld.edu.au www.cathedral.qld.edu.au
www.pakmag.com.au | April 2018 19
Expert Advise
THE PAKMAG EXPERTS BLOMBERG DENTAL Dear Blomberg Dental, what can I expect from my child’s first dental visit? The priority for a first dental appointment is to build trust by providing a positive experience. This may involve riding in the chair, practicing ‘opening wide’ and chatting about favourite foods and activities. While we really want to check out your child’s teeth, we won’t do that until the child feels safe. The ideal age for your child’s first visit is around two years of age. At this stage, your dentist will assess oral development, oral hygiene and educate you on how to best care for your child’s precious teeth. Key points for a happy first visit: •• Schedule an appointment for your little one’s happiest part of the day. •• Before the big day, play ‘dentist’ at home and talk about the visit as you would their first day at school. •• Well-meaning encouragement like “Don’t worry, it won’t hurt!” usually has the opposite effect. •• Children that see the dentist regularly generally have fewer problems as adults.
COASTAL KIDS SPEECH PATHOLOGY Dear Melanie, how do I know if my child needs to see a speech therapist? This can be tricky for parents as children can be a little faster in some areas of development and a little slower in others and it’s all still within the general realm of average. My advice would be to look at the other children that your child engages with; the other children at daycare or playgroup or similarly aged kids at the park. Most kids are pretty similar in their development and so you should be able to gauge where your child is developmentally in comparison to their peers. It’s also helpful to talk to other adults involved with your children, such as their childcare educators or your GP. Educating yourself on developmental milestones can help you to know how your child is doing. Speech Pathology Australia has some great information on typical speech development on their website. The general rule of thumb is if you are concerned, get it checked out. Most parents have a good sense of when something isn’t quite right with their kids. There are free services through the Townsville Hospital and Community Health as well as many private clinics throughout Townsville.
RUHL FAMILY LAW CENTRE Dear Ruhl Family Law Centre, is there anything we can do to make our separation easier? Family separations, naturally, can prove an emotionally trying time for all involved. There are some practical things that you can do to ensure that you, your former partner and most importantly, your children, can adjust to the changed arrangements as smoothly as possible. Some things to consider: 1. Get legal advice early from a Family Law Solicitor. This way you will be empowered with knowledge as to what steps to take, and things to avoid. With advice, you will be able to know which method of negotiation is best for your particular circumstances, as there are a number of different options. 2. Do not involve your children in any way. Even if the communication between you and your former partner has broken down considerably, utilise emails or the assistance of professionals to mediate. Avoid referring to your separation or former partner on social media. A useful resource for separated parents to discuss matters affecting their children can be found at www.talkingparents.com 3. At the outset, focus on addressing the imminent issues only, such as payment of upcoming bills and care arrangements for the children for the next few weeks or months. Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to come up with solutions to everything for the future immediately. These things take time.
www.pakmag.com.au | April 2018 21
Bump, Bub and Beyond
What Can be Done about the Increasing Premature Birth Rate? STORY Rose Foster With the number of medical advances in our world, it’s hard to believe that we would ever go backwards in this ever-developing area of medicine. But the steady increase of preterm births in developed countries shows that although we are making waves in curing diseases and developing new medicines, one of life’s most natural processes is becoming more and more complex. But why? Well, there are two main culprits; lifestyle and age. Many women are waiting until later in life to start a family, with the average age of first time mothers now sitting at 30. When compared with the age of first time mothers forty years ago, which was 25, it’s clear to see the difference. With increased age comes increased risk of preterm birth, so it’s easy to understand how the correlation between older mothers and a higher rate of preterm birth are linked. Lifestyle is another huge factor when it comes to premature birth. Rising obesity rates combined with the social aspect of our lives often bringing smoking and drinking into the mix is creating a less favourable environment for our unborn babies than ever before. That said, these aren’t the only two reasons that a baby may be born prematurely, a number of reasons factor into this. However, when we highlight age and lifestyle as the major factors attributing to the increased risk of premature birth, it can help in identifying a solution to the problem. So, what can be done to stop preterm birth? Well, one thing we can’t change is age, and we certainly wouldn’t suggest that considering having a baby earlier than you’re ready as a solution. But we can definitely change our lifestyle, even if it is just when we’re preparing for a baby and during pregnancy.
Here’s some things that you can do to reduce your risk of preterm birth: •• Get prenatal care as soon as you know you’re pregnant. By visiting your GP or chosen obstetrician early, your doctor will be able to advise you about care options available to you, talk to you about any risks you may face and give you a plan for a healthy pregnancy. If you’re planning on getting pregnant, seeing your GP in advance will also help you create a healthy start to your pregnancy when you do conceive. •• Stop smoking. We all know that smoking during pregnancy is bad for your baby, but it’s also important to stop smoking before you get pregnant. •• Start exercising NOW! Just as stopping smoking prior to getting pregnant is important, so too is exercising. Getting yourself to a healthy weight before getting pregnant helps reduce a number of risks and means you can continue exercising and keeping fit throughout your pregnancy. Starting to exercise during pregnancy is not recommended so do it in advance for the best results. •• Get your health in check! If you’ve been battling illnesses like high blood pressure, diabetes, depression or other chronic issues, it is vital that you get these under control before getting pregnant. All in all, the key is to provide the best start for your baby, and that’s what all parents want. There are no sure-fire ways to avoid preterm birth, or any pregnancy related issues for that matter, but by starting off on the right foot and ensuring you have done all you can to reduce risks, you’ll not only have peace of mind, but you’ll also have a higher chance of having a smooth pregnancy and birth.
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Bump, Bub and Beyond
BUMP, BUB AND BEYOND Featured products, reviews and prizes. Visit www.pakmag.com.au for your chance to win!
Olivia Children’s Leather Backpack RRP $149.00, www.cocoroseinteriors.com.au Chic, cute and classy. Our high quality, handmade children’s leather Olivia backpack is a must have for every busy little child. Perfect for all adventures and playdates, each leather backpack has one large pocket to collect the day’s treasures along the way. Also a top handle to hang the leather backpack when the day is done. With adjustable straps and high quality craftsmanship, your child’s leather backpack will ensure all their essentials are there with them for years to come.
Grapple RRP $24.95, www.jellystonedesigns.com.au The perfect solution to keeping toys off the floor and in your little one’s hands where they belong! The Grapple™ suctions to any smooth surface and can be attached to up to three toys, working perfectly on highchairs, prams and tables. The innovative design is safe, easy to use, and easy to clean!
24 April 2018 | www.pakmag.com.au
Bubs & Tots Chilly Towel RRP $40.00, www.chillytowel.com.au Keep your kiddies cool with the Bubs & Tots Chilly Towel Duo Pack. Unique hyperevaporative fibre cools to 30° below average body temperature. Perfect for overheating, sports, outdoors, fevers and hot weather. The Bubs & Tots Chilly Towel is dry to touch and doesnt saturate clothing or bed sheets. It stays chilled for hours, is re-usable, machine washable and is easy to activate. Maintain adult supervision at all times - for 2+ years.
Bump, Bub and Beyond
Top tips for mums from mums
WHY won’t Why WON’T baby BABY feed? FEED?
STORY Kate Moloney
It’s easy to blame yourself if your baby is struggling to feed. But it’s important to note that feeding and swallowing disorders are quite common and definitely not your fault!
It is true that many first-time mums instantly turn to books, websites and advice as their ‘go to’ resource for information. Yet, ask any ‘experienced’ mum, and she will tell you that she’s learnt that it’s important to trust your ‘gut instinct’. BabyLove Nappies recently commissioned a survey of more than 1,000 mothers of children aged from one month to three years asking these mums to think about everything they’d learnt as a parent and to nominate what their top tip for a first-time mum would be. Here are the top 12 tips that these experienced mothers offered up: 1. Listen to your instincts; no one knows your baby as well as you do. 2. Relax, don’t stress the small stuff and go with the flow. 3. Enjoy every moment with your baby because it is over in a flash. 4. Don’t worry about what other people think. 5. Do what is right for you and your family. 6. Everything is going to be okay, hang in there and take it a day at a time. 7. Every child is different; what works for one may not work for another. 8. Ask health experts for advice and consult with other mums; seek and listen to advice. 9. Be patient. 10. Rest when you can; sleep when the baby sleeps. 11. Be kind and gentle to yourself. 12. Ask for help and don’t be afraid to do so.
STORY Kalisha Fitsch
So, what causes feeding and swallowing disorders? There are many possible causes for these issues, including nervous system disorders, stomach problems, autism, sensory issues or having breathing problems such as asthma. Infants who have trouble feeding or swallowing may cry when feeding, refuse to eat or drink, only eat food of certain textures, take a long time to eat or vomit regularly. These issues may cause dehydration, poor nutrition, and food or liquid to go into the airway. What can you do? If your baby is having trouble feeding or swallowing, take them to your GP to discuss your concerns. Consider a speech pathologist who will look at how your child moves their mouth and tongue, how your child behaves during meals and how they eat or pick up items of food. Working together with a specialist, such as an occupational therapist, physical therapist, dietitian, nutritionist or developmental specialist for feeding treatment will greatly benefit your baby. It’s not an uncommon issue. According to the Birth Injury Guide organisation, 25 per cent of babies are affected by some sort of feeding problem, while the percentage is a little higher for infants with a neurodevelopmental disability. For some little ones, refusing to eat certain foods and being picky is a temporary issue and often resolves itself as they grow up, but if you have any concerns don’t hesitate to consult your GP or a specialist.
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WHAT’S ON APR APR TUESDAY 3 APRIL Bubbles the Baby Elephant Show Runs until 7 April Castletown www.castletown.com.au 11.00am & 1.00pm / Free / Family WEDNESDAY 4 APRIL Festival 2018: Opening Ceremony of CG2018 Jezzine Barracks whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 5.00pm / Free / Family Festival 2018 Runs until 15 April Queens Gardens/Strand Park/ Jezzine Barracks www.townsville.qld.gov.au Check Website THURSDAY 5 APRIL GC2018: Basketball - Prelims Runs until 10 April TECC www.gc2018.com/tickets Check Website Festival 2018: Thundamentals Strand Park, North Ward www.gc2018.com 7.00pm / Free / Family Townsville Cinema Group Screening Warrina Cineplex www.cinemagroup.org.au 7.15pm / $13 per screening / Ages 15+ FRIDAY 6 APRIL Move your Feet for a Healthy Heat Stockland, Alfred St whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 10.00am / Free / Youth+ Official Opening of
Queens Gardens Queens Gardens, North Ward whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au Check Website Festival 2018: Watercolour Postcards Runs until 15 April Strand Park, North Ward www.gc2018.com Various Times / Free / Family Festival 2018: Children’s Art Workshops Runs until 15 April Strand Park, North Ward www.gc2018.com 1.00pm / Free / Family Festival 2018: Koffin Rockers Strand Park, North Ward www.gc2018.com 7.00pm / Free / Family Festival 2018: Astronomical Runs until 7 April Jezzine Barracks, North Ward www.gc2018.com 7.00pm / Free / Family Festival 2018: Caiti Baker Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com 7.30pm / Free / Family Festival 2018: The Golden Ball Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com 7.30pm / Free / Family Festival 2018: 1RAR Rock Band Strand Park, North Ward www.gc2018.com 8.30pm / Free / Family Exhibition: ‘Reef to Rainforest’ by Susan Hollamby TYTO Regional Art Gallery www.tyto.com.au Check Website
Aromatouch Runs until 7 April Townsville Yoga Hub Bookings: yogijai30@gmail.com 10:00am / $188 / Youth+ SATURDAY 7 APRIL Festival 2018: Alice in Wonderland Runs until 15 April Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com 10.00am / Free / Family Festival 2018: Bwgcolman Dancers Runs until 15 April Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com Check Website Festival 2018: Kids Disco Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com 4.30pm / Free / Family Festival 2018: Realising the Dream - An NQOMT Cabaret Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com 5.00pm / Free / Family Festival 2018: Keely Johnson Strand Park, North Ward www.gc2018.com 5.00pm / Free / Family Festival 2018: Peter Combe Wash Your Face In Orange Juice Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com 5.30pm / Free / Family Festival 2018: Songs of Love (and Pizza) Runs until 8 April Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com 8.00pm / Free / Family
With 4TO FM’s Minty
Festival 2018: Peter Helliar Big Boy Pants Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com 7.00pm and 8.00pm / $35 / Family Festival 2018: Vaudeville Smash Strand Park, North Ward www.gc2018.com 7.30pm / Free / Family Pokemon Club - April CityLibraries Thuringowa Central whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 10.00am / Free / Ages 8+ Dust n Gold Rodeo Dalrymple Equestrian Centre www.charterstowersrodeo.com $15 Adult / Family SUNDAY 8 APRIL Festival 2018: The Golden Ball Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com 5.30pm / Free / Family Festival 2018: Nomadica Belly Dance Strand Park, North Ward www.gc2018.com 3.00pm / Free / Family Festival 2018: Grigoryan Brothers and Townsville Guitar Orchestra Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com 4.30pm / $35 / Family Festival 2018: Drumbumba Strand Park, North Ward www.gc2018.com 4.30pm / Free / Family
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WHAT’S ON APR APR SUNDAY 8 APRIL Festival 2018: Aborigi-LOL Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com 9.00pm / $35 / Family Festival 2018: Tom Thum and Jamie MacDowell Strand Park, North Ward www.gc2018.com 8.30pm / Free / Family Festival 2018: Ian Moss Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com 7.00pm / $35 / Family April 4X4 Fun Day Millchester Motor Sport Recreation Facility whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au Check Website Festival 2018: Jay Laga’aia Queens Gardens, North Ward whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 6.00pm / Free / Family MONDAY 9 APRIL Festival 2018: Musical Theatre Workshop - Improvised Singing Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com 3.00pm / Free / Ages 12+ Festival 2018: Lissa and Nee Nee’s Jazz Party Runs until 10 April Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com 5.30pm / Free / Family Festival 2018: Paint and Pinot Runs until 12 April Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com 6.00pm / $20 / Youth+ Festival 2018: Diesel
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Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com 7.00pm / $35 / Family Festival 2018: Oh Lady be Good Runs until 10 April Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com 8.00pm / $35 / Family TUESDAY 10 APRIL Circus Inspired Lego Workshops Runs until 14 April Castletown www.castletown.com.au 10.30am / Free / Family Festival 2018: Archie Roach Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com 6.30pm / $35 / Family Festival 2018: Exposing Edith Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com 8.00pm / Free / Family WEDNESDAY 11 APRIL Festival 2018: The Epic Runs until 12 April Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com 3.30pm / Free / Family Orpheus Island April Day Tour SeaLink Ferry Terminal whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 11.00am / $119 / Youth+
Festival 2018: SURGE - Dancenorth Strand Park, North Ward www.gc2018.com 6.30pm and 8.00pm / Free / Family Festival 2018: The Idea of North Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com 7.00pm / $35 / Family Festival 2018: A Prudent Man Runs until 13 April Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com 7.30pm / Free / Family FRIDAY 13 APRIL Festival 2018: Fiction Writing Workshop - Facilitated by Katherine Johnson Runs until 14 April Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com 9.30am / Free / Family Festival 2018: Under 5’s Art Play Strand Park, North Ward www.gc2018.com 10.30am / Free / Family Festival 2018: Monologue Masterclass: A Prudent Performance Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com 2.00pm / Free / Family
THURSDAY 12 APRIL
Festival 2018: Blue Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com 6.30pm / Free / Family
Festival 2018: Happy Feat Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com 6.00pm / Free / Family
Festival 2018: Lior Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com 7.00pm / $35 / Family
With 4TO FM’s Chooky
Festival 2018: Neighbourhood Sessions Runs until 14 April Strand Park, North Ward www.gc2018.com 7.00pm / Free / Family Festival 2018: The Comedy Generation Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com 9.00pm / Free / Family SATURDAY 14 APRIL Festival 2018: Artist Markets Strand Park, North Ward www.gc2018.com 10.00am / Free / Family Festival 2018: Hush Project Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com 5.30pm / Free / Family Festival 2018: Fusion of Arts Queens Gardens, North Ward www.gc2018.com 7.30pm / Free / Family SUNDAY 15 APRIL Festival 2018: Closing Ceremony of Commonwealth Games 2018 Jezzine Barracks whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 4.00pm / Free / Family WEDNESDAY 18 APRIL Morning Melodies: Campfire the Morning Session by James Blundell Burdekin Theatre www.burdekintheatre.com.au 9.00am / $15
A ZOKU COCA-COLA FLOAT & SLUSHIE MAKER!
For your chance to WIN, complete and mail to:
Name
PakMag Colour In April 2018 PO Box 7433, Cairns QLD 4870
Parent/Guardian
Win a Zoku Coca-Cola Float and Slushie Maker! - RRP $44.95 www.zokuaustralia.com.au - Create Coca-ColaÂŽ floats, slushies, milkshakes, or smoothies in as little as 7 minutes with this high-performance, design-driven slushy maker. Try ingredients like blended fruit, homemade juices, chocolate milk, sweetened coffee, soda, soy milk - we could keep going and so could you.
Address
Competition closes 30/04/2018
30 April 2018 | www.pakmag.com.au
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A PAIR OF MOELOCO FLIP FLOPS!
For your chance to WIN, complete and mail to:
Name
PakMag Colour In April 2018 PO Box 7433, Cairns QLD 4870
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Win a pair of Moeloco Flip Flops! - RRP $40.00 www.moeloco.com - Moeloco flip flops spread joy and love wherever they go in the sand. Leave messages of inspiration such as ‘Can Fly’ and ‘Be Happy’. For every pair sold, this ethical brand donates one pair of school shoes to an Indian child living in poverty. How cool is that!
Address
Competition closes 30/04/2018
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Postcode Phone Email www.pakmag.com.au | April 2018 31
A SELECTION OF BOUNCE ENERGY BALLS!
For your chance to WIN, complete and mail to:
Name
PakMag Colour In April 2018 PO Box 7433, Cairns QLD 4870
Parent/Guardian
Win a Selection of Bounce Energy Balls! - RRP $3.29 ea www.au.bouncefoods.com - Bounce Energy Balls are the healthy snack option for the the enthusiast looking for a gluten free boost of energy and protein for optimum nutrition. Each made with a delicious blend of healthy wholefoods.
Address
Competition closes 30/04/2018
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WHAT’S ON THURSDAY 19 APRIL
WEDNESDAY 25 APRIL
Creative Kids Art Classes – Term 2 Runs until 21 June Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts umbrella.org.au 3.30pm / $250 / Ages 5 - 10
Anzac Day Commemorations Townsville City Anzac Park whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 5.20am / Free / Family
FRIDAY 20 APRIL
Anzac Day Commemorations Thuringowa Village Green, Riverway Parklands whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 5.20am / Free / Family
Riverway Movie Night - Son of Bigfoot Riverway Oval whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 6.30pm / Free / Family
Percival Animal Portrait Prize 2018 Runs until 15 July Perc Tucker Regional Gallery 4727 9011 10.00am / Free / Family SUNDAY 29 APRIL Townsville Hospital Foundation Move It Festival Riverway www.thfoundation.org.au 6.00am / $10-40 / Family SAVE THE DATE
FRIDAY 18 MAY Captain Underpants Riverway Oval whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 6.30pm / Free / Family SATURDAY 19 MAY Tasman Turtle’s Picnic Day Tyto Parklands, Ingham www.tyto.com.au 11.00am to 4.00pm / Free / Family
SATURDAY 21 APRIL
FRIDAY 27 APRIL
FRIDAY 11 MAY
Liberty Equality Fraternity Townsville Civic Theatre - C2 www.ticketshop.com.au 2.30pm and 6.30pm / $17 / Family
Townsville MTB Festival Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park www.mtba.asn.au Check Website
Yo Diddle Diddle Riverway Arts Centre whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 12.30pm and 6.30pm / $15 / Family
Deadly Families Fun Day Pioneer Park, Riverway www.savethechildren.org.au 10.00am / Free / Family
REGULAR MARKETS
Seabreeze Markets Date: 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month Time: 8.00am - 1.00pm Location: Bushland Beach Park
Horseshoe Bay Markets Date: Every 2nd and last Sunday of the month Time: 9.00am - 2.00pm Location: Horseshoe Bay Foreshore
Magnetic Island RSL Market Date: Every Friday (Excluding Good Friday) Time: 5.30pm - 8.00pm Location: Magnetic Island RSL
Carlyle Gardens Arts & Crafts Markets Date: 1st Saturday of the month (Mar - Dec) Time: 9.00am Location: Carlyle Gardens Retirement Resot, Beck Drive, Condon
Lucinda Markets Date: 2nd Sunday of the month (May to September) Time: 8.00am – 12.00pm Location: Borello Park
Strand Night Markets Date: 1st Friday of the month (Runs from May to Dec) Time: 5.00pm - 9.30pm Location: Strand Park
Castle Hill PCYC Markets Date: Every Sunday Time: 7.00am to 11.00am Location: Castle Hill PCYC
Willows Rotary Markets Date: Every Sunday Time: 7.30 - 11.30am Location: Willows Shop Centre Carpark
Balgal Beach Markets Date: 1st Saturday of the month Time: 8.00am - 1.00pm Location: Fishermans Landing Balgal Beach Bluewater Twilight Markets Date: 2nd Saturday of the month Time: 4.00pm - 8.00pm Location: Bluewater Community Centre Label Traders Market Date: 3rd Sunday of the month Time: 8.00am - 12.00pm Location: Mundingburra State School
NQ Farmers Market Date: Every Saturday Time: 6.00am - 12.00pm Location: North Shore Town Centre Cotters Markets Date: Every Sunday Time: 8.30am - 1.00pm Location: Flinders St & Townsville Bulletin Square.
Mountainview Plaza Market Date: Every Saturday (Excluding Jan) Time: 8.00am - 2.00pm. Location: Mountainview Plaza Renegade Handmade Market Date: 2nd Sunday of the month Time: 8.00am - 1.00pm Location: Marian School
Upper Ross Community Markets Date: 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month Time: From 3.00pm Location: Apex Park, Riverway Drive, Rasmussen
Email your event or market to admin@grandpublishing.com.au to be included. Spaces are limited.
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Regular Events
REGULAR EVENTS TOWNSVILLE GALLERIES Art-Box - Free Art Activities for Kids Under 5 Days: First and third Tuesdays of the month Time: 10.00am Location: Pinnacles Gallery More Info: 4773 8871 Free Family Fun Day - Art Activities for the Family Days: Third Sunday of the month Time: 10.00am Location: Perc Tucker Regional Gallery More Info: 4727 9011 BELGIAN GARDENS STATE SCHOOL PLAYGROUP Days: Mondays Time: 9.00am - 11.00am Location: Belgian Gardens SS Hall More Info: 4717 1333 or rickandjules4@bigpond.com Cost: $2 per person FIRST FIVE FOREVER Parent Information Sessions Days: First Tuesday of the month Time: 9.30am, Location: City Libraries Aitkenvale More Info: www.townsville.qld.gov.au Cost: Free
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Newborn and Family Drop-In Service Days: Tuesdays (9.00am to 2.00pm), Saturdays (9.00am to 12.00pm) Location: City Libraries Aitkenvale More Info: www.townsville.qld.gov.au Cost: Free Messy Play (Bookings Required) Days: Wednesdays Time: 9.00am & 10.30am Location: City Libraries Aitkenvale RIVERWAY PARKRUN Days: Saturdays Time: From 6.45am Location: Meet at the front of Tony Ireland Stadium on the grassed area near the ticket box. Riverway parkrun is a 5km course along Ross River which you can complete by running or walking (or both) and is for all ages. Children, prams and dogs are all welcome to join in the fun. Please note: Scooters and bikes are not allowed for safety and insurance reasons. This course is wheelchair friendly.
Registration is free and available at www.parkrun.com. au/riverway. MAINLY MUSIC For babies to pre prep aged children. Fun, music, morning tea and free play Days: Thursdays (during school term) Time: From 9.30am Location: St Peter’s Anglican Church, West End Cost: $3 per child More Info: 0414 807 179
Location: Meet at Clubhouse 10 Sturgess St., Hermit Park More info: Sharon - 0412 341 768 TOY LIBRARY TOWNSVILLE (THE TOY SHED) Days: Second Thursday of month (excluding January) Time: 3.30pm - 5.30pm Days: Second Saturday (excluding January) Time: 9.00am – 12.00pm
MOPS - Mothers of PreSchoolers
Location: Fitzroy Street,
For mothers with children 0-6 years. Connect, relax and recharge.
Librarian: 0420 585 069 or
Days: Fridays – fortnightly during School terms Time: 9.30am - 11.30am Location: Mount Louisa House of Praise (425 Bayswater Rd) Cost: $9 per session More Info: 0421 658 535 (Juliana)
Heatley childsplaytownsville@gmail.com Secretary: 0400 815 279 or facebook Toy Library TOWNSVILLE TOY LIBRARY Days: Every Tuesday and Saturday
TOWNSVILLE LIFESTYLE HUB FREE FITNESS SESSIONS
Time: 9.30am - 11.00am
Fit Club Exercise
Railway Estate
Days: Tuesday and Thursday Time: 6.00pm Location: Meet at Clubhouse 10 Sturgess St., Hermit Park
Community Centre
Days: Saturday Time: 8.00am
Location: 23 First Street,
More Info: Check their Facebook page Townsville Toy Library for updates
School Holiday Guide
SCHOOL HOLIDAY GUIDE PAUL SADLER SWIMLAND
FESTIVAL 2018
RIVERSIDE GARDENS
LIVE MUSIC: Thundamentals
4-day intensive swim program
Thursday, 5 April Time: 7.00pm to 8.30pm Location: Strand Park
Tuesday, 3 April to Friday, 6 April Time: 3:30pm to 5:30pm Cost: four days for $60.00
Watercolour Postcard. Paint your own Watercolour Postcard from Festival 2018!
Bookings are essential
Friday, 6 April to Sunday, 15 April Time: Various Location: Strand Park Free Event
SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAM
All new swimmers will receive a complimentary 15 minute assessment. Learner classes from beginners, to experienced and everything in between P 4779 4647 F /PaulSadlerSwimlandRiversideGardens www.paulsadlerswimland.com
Children’s Art Workshops. Join in free art making activities for families. Friday, 6 to Sunday, 15 April Time: 1.00pm to 3.00pm Location: Strand Park Free Event LIVE MUSIC: Koffin Rockers
CASTLETOWN SHOPPINGWORLD Bubbles the Baby Elephant Tuesday, 3 April to Saturday, 7 April 11.00am and 1.00pm Target Forecourt Admission is free. Bookings required. Visit CastleTown Facebook Page for more event details. P 4772 1699 E enquiries@castletown.com.au F Facebook/CastletownTownsville www.castletown.com.au
GC2018 BASKETBALL Get excited these school holidays because Townsville is hosting GC2018 preliminary men’s and women’s basketball games. Taking place from 5 to 10 April, there’s plenty of opportunity to catch a game so make sure you book your tickets before they sell out! www.gc2018.com/tickets
Friday, 6 April Time: 7.00pm to 8.00pm Location: Strand Park Free Event Astronomical. A light hearted educational play featuring characters from the history of astronomy. Friday, 6 and Saturday, 7 April Time: 7.00pm to 8.30pm Location: Jezzine Barracks Free Event The Golden Ball. A fun circus performance with juggling and acrobatics. Friday, 6 April, 7.30pm to 9.00pm Sunday, 8 April, 5.30pm to 7.00pm Location: Queens Gardens Free Event LIVE MUSIC: Caiti Baker Friday, 6 April Time: 7.30pm to 8.30pm Location: Queens Gardens Cost: $35.00 1 RAR Band Friday, 6 April Time: 8:30pm to 9:30pm Location: Strand Park Free Event
Alice in Wonderland. A unique take on a classic by local professional theatre company. Saturday, 7 April 2018 to Sunday, 15 April 2018 Time: 10:00am to 11:30am Location: Queens Gardens Free Event Bwgcolman Dancers. Learn Aboriginal dance at this fun workshop Saturday, 7 to Sunday, 15 April Time: Various Location: Queens Gardens Kids Disco. A disco for primary school children. Saturday, 7 April 4.30pm to 5.30pm Location: Queens Gardens, North Ward Free Event Realising the Dream: An NQOMT Cabaret Saturday, 7 April Time: 5.00pm to 6.00pm Location: Queens Gardens Free Event LIVE MUSIC: Keely Johnson Saturday, 7 April Time: 5:00pm to 6:00pm Location: Strand Park Free Event Peter Combe: Wash Your Face In Orange Juice Australia’s original King of Kids Saturday, 7 April Time: 5.30pm to 6.30pm Location: Queens Gardens Free Event Peter Helliar - Big Boy Pants Time: 7.00pm and 9.00pm Location: Queens Gardens Cost: $35 1RAR Unplugged Saturday, 7 April Time: 7.30pm to 8.30pm Location: Queens Park
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School Holiday Guide
Songs of Love (and Pizza). An original and cheeky cabaret Saturday, 7 and Sunday, 8 April Time: 8.00pm to 9.30pm Location: Queens Gardens Grigoryan Brothers and Townsville Guitar Orchestra Sunday, 8 April Time: 3.00pm to 4.00pm Location: Queens Gardens Free Event Nomadica Belly Dance Sunday, 8 April Time: 3.00pm to 4.00pm Location: Strand Park Free Event Drumbumba. A funky and fun mixture of African rhythm, song and dance Sunday, 8 April Time: 4:30pm to 5:30pm Location: Strand Park Free Event LIVE MUSIC: Tom Thum and Jamie MacDowell Sunday, 8 April Time: 6:30pm to 7:30pm Location: Strand Park Free Event LIVE MUSIC: Ian Moss Sunday, 8 April Time: 7.00pm to 8.00pm Location: Queens Gardens Cost: $35.00 Aborigi-LOL. Comedy with two of Australia’s funniest first-nationers: Dane Simpson and Matt Ford. Sunday, 8 and Monday, 9 April Time: 9.00pm to 10.00pm Location: Queens Gardens Cost: $35.00 Musical Theatre Workshop: Improvised Singing Monday, 9 April Time: 3.00pm to 4.15pm Location: Queens Gardens Free Event Lissa and Nee Nee’s Jazz Party. A fun and interactive show for all the family. Monday, 9 and Tuesday, 10 April Time: 5:30pm to 6:30pm Location: Queens Gardens Free Event
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Paint and Pinot. Join this painting workshop and take home a masterpiece.
The Idea of North. Australia’s premier contemporary a cappella ensemble for many years.
Monday, 9 to Thursday, 12 April Time: 6:00pm to 8:00pm Location: Queens Gardens Free Event
Thursday, 12 April Time: 7.00pm to 8.30pm Location: Queens Gardens Cost: $35.00
LIVE MUSIC: Diesel
A Prudent Man. An award-winning darkly comedic political thriller.
Monday, 9 April Time: 7.00pm to 8.00pm Location: Queens Gardens Cost: $35.00
Thursday, 12 and Friday, 13 April Time: 7.30pm to 8.30pm Location: Queens Gardens Free Event
Oh Lady be Good. Witness acclaimed performer Melissa Western in this sexy cabaret. Monday, 9 April and Tuesday, 10 April Time: 8.00pm to 9.30pm Location: Queens Gardens Free Event LIVE MUSIC: Archie Roach Tuesday, 10 April Time: 6.30pm to 7.30pm Location: Queens Gardens Cost: $35.00 Exposing Edith. A cabaret charting the tragic life of Edith Piaf. Tuesday, 10 and Wednesday, 11 April Time: Various Location: Queens Park Free event The Epic. A performance retelling and unpicking myths, epic texts and amazing stories. Wednesday, 11 and Thursday, 12 April Time: Various Location: Queens Gardens Happy Feat. A dancing event for the whole family. Thursday, 12 April Time: 6:00pm to 7:00pm Location: Queens Gardens Free Event SURGE - Dancenorth (AUS). An athletic and high-powered dance performance. Thursday, 12 April Time: 6:30pm to 7:00pm and 8:00pm to 8:30pm Location: Strand Park Free Event
Under 5’s Art Play Friday, 13 April Time: 10.30am to 11.30am Location: Strand Park Free Event Blue. 40 dancers, four choreographers and many hues of blue – contemporary dance at its best. Friday, 13 April Time: 6.30pm to 7.30pm Location: Queens Gardens Free Event LIVE MUSIC: Lior Friday, 13 April Time: 7.00pm to 8.00pm Location: Queens Gardens Cost: $35.00 Neighbourhood Sessions. Intimate, family-friendly, picnic-style event. Friday, 13 and Saturday, 14 April Time: 7.00pm to 10.00pm Location: Strand Park Free Event The Comedy Generation. See the best comedians Townsville has to offer. Friday, 13 and Saturday, 14 April Time: 9.00pm to 10.00pm Location: Queens Gardens Free Event Artist Markets Saturday, 14 April Time: 10.00am to 2.30pm Location: Strand Park Free Event Hush Project Saturday, 14 April Time: 5.30pm to 7.30pm Location: Queens Gardens Free Event
School Holiday Guide
Le Cabaret Revue. A highly addictive, magical sensory overload of cabaret, burlesque, circus and comedy. Saturday, 14 April Time: 7.30pm to 10.00pm Location: Queens Gardens Free Event
PLACES TO VISIT THIS SCHOOL HOLIDAYS CAIRNS COLONIAL CLUB RESORT
Fusion of Arts. Circus performers, dancers, musicians and artists will share the stage. Saturday, 14 April 7.30pm to 9.30pm Location: Queens Garden Free Event
Cairns Tropical Getaway! From $149 per night Treat the kids to a night at the Cairns Colonial Club Resort! Enjoy 3 lagoon style pools, 11 acres of tropical rainforest and a super spacious, fully air-conditioned studio room with kitchenette. KIDS 12 & UNDER STAY & EAT FOR FREE!
GRILL’D - HEALTHY BURGERS Family Secret Movie Shows Tuesday, 3 to Saturday, 14 April Only Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays From: 6.30pm In the Secret Gardens MENTION PAKMAG TO RECEIVE FREE CHIPS FOR THE FAMILY! F Facebook/GrilldBurgers www.grilld.com.au
Free Holiday Fun - Get crafty these school holidays:
Tuesday, 10 to Friday, 13 April Time: 10.00am to 1.00pm Location: Opposite Kitty’s Nail Salon Free sand art activities with no bookings required.
Book your free trial or enrol today!
INFLATABLE KINGDOM
Entertainment for the kids, arts and crafts activities plus promotions and giveaways.
The perfect venue to have a great time for all ages. Inflatable Kingdom is a high-energy, action-packed environment with inflatables of all shapes and sizes.
TYTO
Please visit Fairfield Central’s Facebook page or website for more information.
Head out to the TYTO Wetlands for some outdoor family fun this school holidays. In this 110 hectare wetland area, you’ll find over 240 species of bird as well as Agile Wallabies. You can make a day or a weekend of it as you experience the walking tracks, bird hides and viewing platforms.
F Facebook/FairfieldCentral www.fairfieldcentral.com.au
P 4776 4792 www.tyto.com.au
PLUS WIN A BIKE AND HELMET PACK VALUED AT $200.00.
Ready Steady Go Kids is Australia’s leading multi- sport program designed by a paediatric physiotherapist and occupational therapist. The program teaches children the fundamentals of ten different sports in a fun, non-competitive, team-based environment: Soccer, Tennis, Hockey, Cricket, Basketball, AFL, Golf, Rugby, T-ball and Athletics. P 1300 766 892 www.readysteadygokids.com.au
F /inflatablekingdomtownsville www.inflatablekingdom.com.au
Sand Art Creations
Call out to all children 1.5 to 6 years old. Make 2018 the year that you join the fun with Ready Steady Go Kids Townsville.
P 4053 8800 E reservations@cairnscolonialclub.com.au www.cairnscolonialclub.com.au
Opening Hours: Monday and Friday - 9.00am to 4.00pm Wednesday - 1.00pm to 4.00pm Saturday - 1.00pm to 5.00pm Sunday - 9.00am to midday
FAIRFIELD CENTRAL
READY STEADY GO KIDS
LEARN NATURALLY
P 4725 7548 E admin@learnnaturally.com.au www.learnnaturally.com.au
PERC TUCKER REGIONAL GALLERY If you are looking for something fun and free to do with the kids during the school holidays your local art gallery is the place to be! See their website for more information. P 4727 9011 www.townsville.qld.gov.au
TOWNSVILLE RSL Dining at Townsville RSL has never been easier. The Cadets Kids Club is open Thursday to Saturday from 5.00pm to 10.00pm for ages 3 to 12 years. P 4759 9500 F Facebook/TownsvilleRSL www.townsvillersl.com.au
REMEMBER TO LET THEM KNOW YOU READ ABOUT IT IN PAKMAG
www.pakmag.com.au | April 2018 43
Advertorial
10 steps to a safer swimmer 1. Start now! We offer free aquatic education courses for newborns. You are never too young or old to start! From infants to adults. Jump in! 2. Choose a great swim school. We offer a progressive program that is age and ability based and most importantly, one with a loving and nurturing philosophy. We have specialist and qualified teachers with a broad knowledge of child development and its application to aquatics, and we ensure there is always an element of safety in our lessons and our programs always incorporate learning to tread water. 3. Patience. Each child learns at a different pace and progresses at varying ages. You can’t rush the learning process, however we ensure that we encourage, support and offer our children the perfect learning platform to thrive.
6. Relax. Relaxed swimmers are great swimmers. Trusting the water is the ultimate goal in our Learn to Swim classes. Breath control, flotation and movement are the base to a relaxed, confident swimmer. 7. Fun. The more fun they have, the better they learn. After all, swimming is fun, and should always be fun. Forming a bond and love of the water is a gift your children will never forget. 8. Communication and explanation. Be sure always to discuss water safety topics when around aquatic environments. Set the ground rules, whether it be at the beach, pool, lake, spa or river. 9. Water familiarisation: Where is deep? Where is safe? Take a quick tour of all new aquatic environments. If your child knows the limits of the pool according to their ability, their confidence increases as does mum and dads.
4. Expectation. Don’t set your expectations too high. The aquatic environment and water, in particular, can be a very scary place for some children. We respect our children and make them feel safe and assure them that we are always there for them.
10. Never be complacent! Supervision is the most important! Never be complacent when supervising children in the pool, no matter how capable they are. Always be within arm’s length. Drowning is silent and can happen within just a five-second lapse in concentration.
5. Repetition. Children are always learning. From splashing in a puddle to filling a cup with water. To be able to fine-tune skills, they must be exposed to this environment consistently.
If you would like to start your child’s aquatic journey or want to find out more about the programs available at either of our Little Snapper Swim Schools, then give us a call or visit our website.
www.pakmag.com.au | April 2018 45
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1. Hayley McKay & Harry Devine 2. Meteria & Puhimanawa Keenan 3. Samantha Stone with baby Violette Couppey 4. Chanelle & Kayana Markowski 5. Lachlan Devine
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Photography thanks to: Maria O‘Brien (Josephine Carter Photography) www.josephinecarterphotography.com
6. Ari Keenan 7. Jordan Nallajar & Jyzarn Robertson 8. Sariah Daniels 9. Mikaela Devine & Chloe McKay 10. Tahlia Penrose & Keeley Connell 11. Nic & Sienna Lawler
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1. Sophie Hampson with baby Evelyn Isobel Maguire 2. Sina & Todd Noble with Baby Isabelle Kate Noble 3. Maggie Emily Coyle 4. Parker Maxwell Widderick 5. John Le Feuvre with baby Harry Graham Le Feuvre and big brother Thomas Le Feuvre 6. Cara Rowles, Benjamin Jones with baby Willow Ava Jones 7. Danae & Jason Fabbro with baby Eli Angello Fabbro 8. Cameron Morandin with baby Emelia Grace Morandin 9. Paul Kiva Stocker with baby Kelsea George Amai Stocker 10. Jackson Peter Carey
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Photography thanks to: Maria O‘Brien (Josephine Carter Photography) www.josephinecarterphotography.com
11. Julie Fitzgerald with baby Layla May Fitzgerald 12. Travis Olivero with Adah Elizabeth & Eli Luke 13. Courtney & Joseph Teitzel with baby Wyatt Arthur Teitzel 14. Jaxton Kaide Taylor Magin 15. Erin Hawkins with baby Lennox Ansen Hawkins 16. Kyle Barry with baby Chase Barry 17. Chris & Amanda Molino with baby Eli Benjamin Molino 18. Matt McClymont with baby Gracie Ella McClymont 19. Liesbet Corselis, Paul Duncanson with baby Meara Eline Duncanson
www.pakmag.com.au | April 2018 49
Health
HEALTH How To Use Mind Hacks To Lose Weight
Classroom bugs, Part 2
STORY Michele Connolly, Author of How to Be Thin in a World of Chocolate: The anti-fad, anti-misery guide to losing weight for life.
In the March edition, we discussed how the classroom is not only a breeding ground for fertile imaginations but also for school bugs. Preventing children from catching infections at school isn’t really possible, but if parents are able to spot symptoms, they may be able to manage the illness and potentially stop them from spreading the bugs further.
I could never do diets. I don’t like salad, and I’m not the kind of person who can eat what someone tells me to when they say I should. But I managed to lose weight in my own special way. Not by following a fad diet but by developing a series of mind tricks like these: Treat your body like an exclusive club. Imagine you’re the bouncer and the people lining up are foods. Healthy foods go right in. But foods high in fat or sugar; only admit the ones you truly love. Before you lift the red velvet rope on your body, ask yourself if this food deserves a place inside? If you can take it or leave it, always leave it. Make this your mantra. As with life, you can’t have everything, but you can have what you want most. Think about which treats you adore and let yourself enjoy them when you really want them. But be honest about treats that are eaten out of habit or simply because they’re there. Remember, there’ll always be another waffle. This is a key mindset shift. If you’ve ordered a dessert that’s not hitting the spot or your fries are soggy, push the plate away. Just because you’ve given in to a craving doesn’t mean you must finish everything. If it’s not great, don’t finish it.
STORY Dr Nicole Higgins
This month we look at number three on our top five list of common classroom bugs: Head lice (aka Nits) Head lice are not dangerous; just annoying. They always seem to get found just as you are about to walk out the door to school. Head lice are tiny parasites that live on the scalp. They lay their eggs (nits) near the base of the hair shaft. Head lice spread quickly at school because kids often work and play closely and share personal items. Head lice don’t fly or jump; they can only crawl from head to head. Some suggestions to reduce the chance of catching head lice include: •• Not sharing hairbrushes, hair ties, hats or any other hair accessories.
How to Be Thin in a World of Chocolate: The anti-fad, anti-misery guide to losing weight for life
•• Keeping long hair tied up. Plaits are the best way to keep hair under control at school.
RRP $19.95 www.micheleconnolly.com
It is a lucky parent that escapes having to deal with head lice. If you do find yourself with a case of the dreaded head lice, pop into your local chemist to get a head lice treatment solution.
For your chance to win a copy of How to Be Thin in a World of Chocolate: The anti-fad, anti-misery guide to losing weight for life, visit www.pakmag.com.au
•• Checking your child’s head regularly for evidence of nits or lice.
Being in a classroom, your child is likely to get sick more often until they build up their immunity. If you are concerned with their health, your family GP is always there to help.
Boost your iron levels An easily digestible, tasty and non-constipating iron supplement for treating iron deficiency for adults. Maltofer Syrup is easy on the stomach and tastebuds and perfect for use during pregnancy. Boost your iron levels without the nasty side effects of other supplements. Available at your local Calanna Whole Health Pharmacy.
www.pakmag.com.au | April 2018 51
Home
BUDGET- FRIENDLY AND BEAUTIFUL: PEG BOARD With the Block’s Caro and Kingi Who doesn’t love peg board? They’re easy to set up, they look amazing and are a beautiful decorative focal point. On top of that, they are incredibly versatile and can be of use in any room of the house. If you’re tired of the mess and unorganised clutter in your home than it’s time to embrace the pegboard! In the Living Room. Display sentimental items and your favourite home decorations in a whole new way with the flexibility of stepped shelves allowing for the display of items of varying sizes. Make your house feel like a home with all your memories beautifully displayed, and when you feel like a change, you can do just that, without damaging the walls.
items all cleverly displayed on a pegboard within easy reach. Add a splash of colour with small potted fresh herbs. In the Study. A pegboard above a desk is great for providing fantastic storage that will leave you with room to move on your desk. Hang up file holders and some baskets to hold the smaller items such as pens, sticky notes and chargers for electronic devices. The beauty is that if your storage needs change, you just change the pegboard to suit. In the Garage.
Make a creative statement and make your cooking easier with useful items, like measuring cups and spoons, seasoning shakers or other regularly used
Whether it’s primarily for practical or decorative purposes, a pegboard will make a world of difference in your home, and you will love the versatility that it offers.
www. inspiredbycharm.com
In the Kitchen.
Industrial strength pegboards can turn a disorganised garage into a haven with simple storage shelves and hooks that will allow you to reclaim the space for the car.
www.annesage.com/blog www. estliving.com
www.vintagerevivals.com
52 April 2018 | www.pakmag.com.au
Instagram: thekmartdiaries
FINISHING TOUCHES 1
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1. Hell Yeah Framed Print - RRP $29.95 - www.ellej.com.au 2. Tee Pee Wooden Shelf in Pink - RRP $15.00 - www.ellej.com.au 3. On My Mind Harmony Earth Blocks, Wooden Story - RRP $39.95 - www.playmackay.com.au 4. Down to the Woods Blackboard Shield Medium - RRP $15.50 - www.korufurnitureandhomewares.com.au 5. Middle of Nowhere Bella Brass Mirror - RRP $395.00 www.korufurnitureandhomewares.com.au 6. Zakkia Holey Vessel Brass - RRP $35.00 - www.korufurnitureandhomewares.com.au 7. Ice Cream Light in White - RRP $10.00 - www.ellej.com.au 8. Ostheimer Elephant Trumpeting Small - RRP $24.99 - www.playmackay.com.au
www.pakmag.com.au | April 2018 53
Recipes
HEALTHY RECIPES
Nourish Bowl Serves 1-2 Recipe by Melissa Wallace @wholesomedaily
Banana Flour Pancakes Recipe by Lilian Dikmans from @liliandikmans Ingredients 1 cup green banana flour ½ cup buckwheat flour 1 tsp gluten free baking powder 4 large eggs 2 x 20ml tbsp rice malt syrup 1 tsp pure vanilla extract ½ cup unsweetened almond milk coconut oil for frying
Ingredients 250g soaked and cooked lentils 1 large purple sweet potato 2 carrots cut into chunks ½ cup cooked red rice 2 spring onion, chopped Beetroot hommus 3 medium beets 1 tsp olive oil ¼ cup tahini ¼ cup fresh lemon juice ½ tsp salt 1 tbs maple syrup
Topping Ideas Berries Natural yoghurt Coconut icecream Cacao nibs Nut butter Tahini caramel sauce (tahini and rice malt syrup) Raw chocolate sauce (coconut oil + cacao powder + rice malt syrup)
Method Preheat oven to 180 degees C Add sweet potatoes, carrot and any other vegetables to taste and roast approx. 40 minutes or until baked and tender. To make the hommus: Peel the beets and cut them into quarters. Toss them with olive oil then wrap them in foil. Place wrapped beets on a baking tray and roast them in the oven for 30-40 minutes, or until they can be easily pierced with a knife. Unwrap the beets and let them cool. Once cooled put them in your food processor or high powered blender. Add tahini, maple syrup, lemon juice and sea salt and process until smooth. To serve put roasted vegetables into a bowl with greens of your choice. Mix through cooked red rice and lentils and serve with beetroot hummus dressing.
Method Mix the banana flour, buckwheat flour and baking powder together in a large bowl. Make a well in the centre and crack in the eggs. Lightly whisk the eggs with a spoon and then add the rice malt syrup and vanilla extract. Beat everything together until well combined and then add the almond milk to thin out the mixture slightly. Heat some coconut oil in a frypan over medium heat. Pour some batter into the pan and fry on both sides until golden. The pancakes should be ready to flip when small bubbles start to appear on the surface of the pancake. Keep them smallish to make them easier to flip. Serve with your desired toppings. Any left over pancakes will keep in the fridge for the next day.
Recipes bought to you by The Source Bulk Foods. You can pick up quality, fresh ingredients for these recipes from The Source Bulk Foods. Check them out on Facebook /TheSourceBulkFoodsNorthWard
www.pakmag.com.au | April 2018 55
Celebrate
CREATE AND CELEBRATE! CELEBRATE What’s better than a party? An ‘Arty Party’, of course! Ignite the creativity within your guests with crafty party games, favours and homemade decorations that will have them a gasp. Break out the glitter and let your creative juices flow. Getting crafty is cheaper, more fun and easier than you’d think! Get egg-cited! Lay out some fake craft eggs and a variety of paints for your party guests and let them design their own creature eggs. For younger kids, stencils may be helpful. Who knows what will hatch? Bird, dinosaur or perhaps a make-believe creature. Let their imagination run wild. Cupcake perfection. Present your budding Picasso party guests with (clean) paint palettes filled with an array of sprinkles and other edible cake decorations and let your artists go
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wild on an iced cupcake! This is very cost-effective and fun, and the kids will love eating their own creation. Just be prepared to clean up the mess! Homemade decorations. You don’t need to be a crafting wizard to make amazing decorations. Break out the watercolour paints and a large sheet of paper and create a poster for the birthday girl or boy, or make bunting out of colourful pompoms and brightly-coloured paper cut into ice cream cone shapes. Voila! Adorable decorations with minimal effort. Plus, chances are, you may already have these items around the house. Getting arty is fun! With colourful decorations and crafty activities, this party will be sure to be one that your little artists will remember plus they’ll love taking home something they made themselves!
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1. www.blog.amyatlas.com 2. www.thehandmadehome.net 3. Custom Birthday Cake. The possibilities are endless with Cakes Annietime - www.cakesannietime.com.au 4. Egg Painting 5. DIY Pom Pom Tassel - www.fun365.orientaltrading.com 6. Wooden Dinosaur Stamp Set by Melissa & Doug - RRP $29.95 - www.playmackay.com. au 7. Wooden Friendship Stamp Set by Melissa & Doug - RRP $ 29.95 - www.playmackay.com.au 8. www.sofestive.com 9. Streamer Pop in Unicorn - RRP $11.95 - www.prettylittlesomething.com.au 10. Rainbow Unicorn - RRP $39.95 - www.gardensparkle.com.au 11. 12 Inch Paper Roll RRP $16.95 - www.playmackay.com.au 12. www.jenloveskev.com
DADDY DIARY Wind back the clock, to the summer of 2008. It’s 9.57am on a Thursday morning, I have one simple mission to complete; all of Dreamworld’s ‘Big 5 Thrill Rides’ before noon. Could I conquer The Giant Drop, Tower of Terror, Wipeout, The Claw and SideWinder in 120 minutes flat? I’m proud to report the answer was a solid, “Yes!” This was me at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast a mere ten years ago. Fast forward a decade and it’s hard to believe how things have changed. You see, recently I had the pleasure of revisiting Dreamworld with my beautiful wife Michelle and our nearly 4-year-old daughter Matilda. And while the experience of attending Dreamworld with them was a dream come true, it was a very different experience to the one I had in my early twenties. It’s clear to me now that there are in reality two Dreamworlds. This visit was unlike that action, adrenaline, thrills and spills one; it was instead filled with 45-minute-long line-ups to ride the Big Red Car Ride through the Wiggle House. Look, I love Australia’s
favourite band of skivvy wearers as much as the next parent, but this long of a wait to see a robotic Dorothy the Dinosaur eating roses on a swing set is not my idea of fun. My 20-year-old self never knew this other Dreamworld existed, where all the kiddie rides including the Play School Ferris wheel, Frog Hopper and Dorothy’s Rosy Tea Cup ride, all had Disneyland like queue lengths. Nor, did I envisage that as a 33-year-old man, I would be riding one of Dorothy’s rosy tea cups all on my own, as only one adult is permitted per tea cup, per ride. What a macho man. During our day, I did, however, manage to sneak off just after the Tiger Island Big Cat Show to have one quick run on the Tower of Terror. It’s still as high up and fast as I remember, plus I squeezed in a ride on the Wipeout on our way out, so I was able to relive that oh-so-familiar feeling of being a human stuck inside of a washing machine one more time. Yep, I have to admit our 2018 family visit to Dreamworld was certainly different to the trip I had back in my early 20s. But you know what? The smile on my daughter’s face in Wiggles World made every single second, in every single queue (and every missed thrill ride), worth it a million times over. Cliffo Hit 103.1 Townsville
58 April 2018 | www.pakmag.com.au