Geelong Coast Kids Spring 2019

SPRING 2019

River’s Gift

KEEPS ON GIVING

How to recognise

ANXIETY IN KIDS Steve Biddulph on

why dads MATTER A Star News Group Publication

Explore

TREASURE ISLAND At Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre

CAPTAIN'S CRAFT

PONDS PIRATES

MON 23 SEP - FRI 04 OCT

MON 23 SEP - FRI 04 OCT

11am to 2pm weekdays near Kmart

11am to 2pm weekdays near Coffee Hit

Stamp your Treasure Map at each activity.

Collect all your stamps and spin the ship wheel for your chance to win a Pirate Prize.

Enter the draw to win 1 of 2 outdoor pirate ship sandpits (valued at $360 each)*

Ask the Run4Geelong team to stamp your Treasure Map. There are stamps and stickers to collect centre wide.

* Terms and conditions apply.

Register for the Run4Geelong event with the Barwon Health Foundation crew.

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MON: Telescopes TUE: Pirate Hats WED: Eye Patches THU: Paper Parrots FRI: Pirate Badges

Place your face in the Pirate Peek-A-Boo Boards while you wait to get your Pirate face on!

WaurnPondsSC

www.waurnpondssc.com.au

Spring

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS At Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre

PIRATE COVE

TREASURE HUNT

MON 23 SEP - FRI 04 OCT

MON 23 SEP - FRI 04 OCT

11am to 2pm weekdays near Target

11am to 2pm weekdays near Goldmark

Stamp your Treasure Map at each activity.

There are stamps and stickers to collect centre wide.

Stamp your Treasure Map at each activity.

There are stamps and stickers to collect centre wide.

Play pirate dress-up and receive a FREE Treasure Island Polaroid Photo

And join in the half minute treasure hunt to collect gold chocolate coins when you donate a gold coin to Kids Appeal Geelong.

Swash-buckle a balloon sword.

Challenge a pirate & walk the plank.

All proceeds go towards Barwon Health Foundation in support of the Kids Appeal Geelong raising funds for the new Kids Rehabilitation Centre.

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Brave the blow-up sea and Go Fish!

About Us

Spring has finally sprung!

HI everyone!

Welcome to the spring edition of Geelong Coast Kids.

I love this time of year - we can finally look forward to warmer, sunnier weather as winter is finally over. I don't know about you, but to me this winter seemed to be particularly long and cold!

Spring is a great time for a refresh - and that's exactly what we've done with the magazine. But while we've made some changes to the look of the publication, it's still packed with great reads!

I caught up with Karl Waddell and Alex Hamilton from River's Gift. For those who haven't heard of River's Gift, it is a charity that Karl and Alex started after losing their firstborn, River, to SIDS eight years ago.

The Geelong couple's story is difficult but important to cover. They've made it their mission to ensure parents are up-to-date with the latest SIDS research and preventative measures in the hope that others can avoid enduring the living hell they faced. Their resilience and dedication is truly inspiring.

This edition also includes a lunch box special. Making school lunches is a task loathed by many parents (me included), but the feature gives simple advice on how to pack a nutritious lunch for the kids. A dietitian provides some great tips as does Geelong's Insta-famous School Lunch Box dad George Georgievski (who has just released an awesome book about making school lunches). Check it out on pages 6 and 7!

Speaking of food, we also caught up with the woman behind 4 Ingredients empire, Kim McCosker. Kim's story is inspiring stuff - she started out selling cookbooks from a pram and is now a global phenomenon!

On a personal note, I'm excited the third series of my show, Destination Happiness, will air this spring. I've been madly juggling parenting and producing the show, which goes to air at 12pm on Saturday 7 September and runs for 13 weeks. Make sure you tune in!

Geelong Coast Kids magazine is a Star News Group publication.

Geelong Coast Kids will be published quarterly prior to each of the school holidays.

Geelong Coast Kids 1st Floor, 78 Moorabool St, Geelong, Vic 3220 Phone: 5249 6700 Fax: 5249 6799 Managing Editor Tony Galpin editorial@geelongcoastkids.com.au Phone: 5249 6700

Also, don't forget to like Geelong Coast Kids on Facebook and Instagram.

Happy reading!

Advertising Melissa Bradshaw melissa.bradshaw@geelongindependent. com.au Phone: 03 5249 6708 Creative Creative Services Manager: Chris Beale Published by Star News Group Pty Ltd ACN 005 848 108. Publisher/Managing Director, Paul Thomas. All material is copyright to Star News Group Pty Ltd. All significant errors will be corrected as soon as possible.

Contents

SPRING 2019

IT'S YOUR LIFE

PREGNANCY + BABY

ENTERTAINMENT

Fertility struggles drive mum's success

The science of 'baby brain'

PAGE 5

PAGE 18

Baby Show Time returns to Waurn Ponds

A new playground for all at Rippleside Park

Baby bundles for first-time parents PAGE 18

Race into cinemas for new Paw Patrol movie

School Lunch Box dad's top tips

Epworth Geelong supporting breastfeeding

PAGE 25

PAGE 6

PAGE 19

Dietitian's simple lunch box advice

Opening up about post natal depression

PAGE 7

PAGE 20

PAGE 5

Steve Biddulph on why dads matter PAGE 8 Why meditation classes are needed in schools

River’s Gift

PAGE 25

KEEPS ON GIVING

Kiri and Lou now airing in Australia PAGE 25 How to recognise

BOOKS

Seeking help during parenting's tough times

ANXIETY IN KIDS Steve Biddulph on

why dads MATTER

A horsey tale for kids

A Star News Group Publication

PAGE 26

PAGE 21 A nine month labour of love

Children's books PAGE 26

PAGE 9

PAGE 21

Angie's catch-up with the family behind River's Gift

EDUCATION

PAGE 10-12

Smart school bags on the way

Cookbook queen's road to success

PAGE 22

PAGE 13

Art classes with heart

Mum's technology solution for families

PAGE 22

PAGE 14

Phone ban to ring in new school year

ACTIVE KIDS

PAGE 23

KIDS CALENDAR

COVER: Alanna Mitchell and Jenna Henry love spring time in Geelong.

Picture: Louisa Jones

What's on this spring PAGE 27

On holidays with the Cats

PARTY TIME

PAGE 16

Games to get the party started

Getting organised for kids sports

PAGE 24

PAGE 16

Party invites fit for royalty

HEALTH

PAGE 24

Turning your child's anxiety into resilience PAGE 17

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It’s Your Life

Bec Connolly has set-up a thriving business from her Newtown home.

Geelong mum Bec Connolly, husband Nato and their boys Ollie and Jack.

Pictures: @shetakesphotos and Splash of Life Photography

We struggled to conceive and I thought we are not leaving him�

Fertility struggles drive success

By Melissa Grant

struggled to conceive and I thought we are not leaving him (Ollie)," Bec said.

WHEN Bec Connolly fell pregnant after four miscarriages and fertility treatment she knew she didn't want to return to full-time work.

"I was determined to stay with the kids at home full-time."

Determined not to have to rely on childcare to make an income, the professional skin therapist decided to establish her own business.

So she set-up a therapy room at the front of her Newtown home in 2015, six months after her first son, Ollie, was born.

This meant she could spend the day at home with Ollie and treat clients at night when her husband, Nato, had returned from work.

"We went through a lot of miscarriages and fertility treatment. We

Fast forward five years and Bec's home salon, Luxe on Chester, is booked out eight weeks in advance.

The mum of two has also launched her own range of professional skin care, Botanicals by Luxe, which she has formulated using her knowledge of cosmetic chemistry and with the help of a cosmetic scientist.

She launched her first product in April last year and was overwhelmed by the response.

"I ordered 100 of them. I said 'mum you will be getting serum for the rest of your life!' But they actually sold out within 12 hours," Bec recalled.

"I used to get five or eight orders a day and I would just put them on top of the pram and take them to the post office. Now I get so many orders a day that Australia Post comes to pick them up."

Bec says looking after her boys Ollie, now 4, and Jack, 2, and the demands of a thriving business is a juggling act but she wouldn't have it any other way.

"You have to juggle packing all of the orders and getting 100 DMs (direct messages) on Instagram when you don't want to be on the phone all day in front of the kids," she said.

"It's hard because I do get messages on the weekend and late at night ... so you are sort of on call of the time.

"But that negative is outweighed by the positives. I can't imagine returning to a normal job."

Bec encourages other mums thinking about starting their own business to give it a go.

"Just take the plunge," she said.

"The small business community is so amazing here in Geelong. Just go for it and do something you're passionate about so it doesn't feel like work."

Bec would also like to see more women - and men - open up about miscarriage.

"I think with miscarriage, a lot of people don't talk about it," she said.

"I try to talk about it as much as I can. We had four miscarriages and one of them was twins.

"We were so grateful to get our little boys finally, and that's what's really inspired and driven me to do what I do and stay with the kids at home."

A new playground for all abilities at Rippleside Park

By Luke Vogt

whole community."

A new Rippleside playground will give Geelong kids of all abilities a chance to play together.

About 1500 ratepayers generously donated money and time towards the existing Rippleside Park that opened in 2001.

Children's charity Variety and Geelong's council have signed a partnership to build the new playground, which will include specialised equipment for children with disabilities.

"We aim to be a city that is inclusive and welcoming of everyone," Geelong Mayor Bruce Harwood said.

"Once finished, it will have a huge positive impact on the lives of Geelong children, families and our www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

"This redevelopment will give us an opportunity to show our sense of community spirit and togetherness once again, and to create something genuinely special," Cr Harwood said.

The organisation has partnered with other local governments to deliver similar playspaces in Bankstown and Taree.

Variety has also recently joined forces with the Touched by Olivia Foundation to work with communities all across Australia to build inclusive playspaces known as 'Variety Livvi's Place'.

"It is a project we have been working to make a reality for some time and I'm excited to see us come up with a playspace that is truly innovative and world class."

It will also support the development of a fundraising initiative for the Rippleside project, working with Geelong businesses and individuals to financially support the inclusive playspace.

Variety has proudly partnered with council to build the new playground.

Council expects to begin work at the site next financial year.

Sarah Kumar and daughter Eva, Jess Wright and son Tom join Mayor Bruce Harwood, Variety's Lisa Whinnen and councillors Peter Murrihy and Anthony Aitken at Rippleside Park.

Picture: Louisa Jones SPRING 2019 5

It’s Your Life

School Lunch Box dad shares his top tips

School Lunch Box dad George Georgievski and his daughters Anela and Kiara.

By Melissa Grant

medium he'd never used before.

SCHOOL Lunch Box dad George Georgievski likes to keep his creations appetising, healthy and simple.

His Instagram page now has over 79,000 followers, while the School Lunch Box Facebook page has a following of more than 40,000.

It's a winning combination that's led the Geelong father to becoming a social media sensation and author.

George took over lunch box duties at home a few years ago after witnessing the morning chaos.

He wanted to make simple and healthy lunches his primary school aged daughters, Anela and Kiara, would actually eat.

"I started looking online for inspiration, however I found it was either too hard or too confusing, so I decided to stop looking and start creating," the civil engineering worker said.

Those creations caught the eye of a teacher, who told George he should document them on Instagram - a

When making his daughters' lunches, George aims to include three vegetables, two fruits and a sandwich or something similar while avoiding sugar and using 'the colours of the rainbow'.

potato cakes all just using protein shakers.

"That went crazy - (people were asking) 'who is this dude who makes donuts out of protein shakers in a minute?'"

George released his first book, Lunchbox Express, on 1 July. It features simple recipes and hacks to help parents put together healthy and fun lunches in five minutes.

His creations have proven a huge hit with time-poor parents who often feel under pressure to create something amazing for their children's lunches.

Lunchbox Express is proving popular - it even entered a second print run before its release date due to an overwhelming number of pre-orders.

George says it's easy for parents to feel overwhelmed.

George has been blown away by his success.

"I looked up a recipe for muffins. It involved nine ingredients, half an hour baking and I thought 'how can I do it in a commercial break while watching MAFS?

When he discovered he had been crowned 'most inspiring lunch creator in the world' by American Express's Departures magazine, he thought somebody was chasing him for a credit card payment.

"So I got out my protein shaker and started developing my own dad style recipes - doughnuts, pikelets, fritters,

Picture: Louisa Jones

"I don't understand it - I'm just a dude from Geelong," he said with a laugh.

George Georgievski's new book, Lunchbox Express.

Here are two of George’s favourite lunch box recipes...

HOT JAM DOUGHNUTS

SPILL-PROOF KEBABS

Makes 4

Makes 6

• 1/2 cup strawberry jam (or any jam you have on hand) • 8 slices of wholemeal bread

• 3 wholemeal pita pockets leftover cooked lamb or chicken (around 90g), sliced

• 2 tablespoons butter

• 4 tomatoes, chopped

• Ground cinnamon, for sprinkling

• 1 cup plain yoghurt

• Caster sugar, for sprinkling (optional if you think the jam is sweet enough)

• Handful of spinach leaves

METHOD: 1. Spoon 1 tablespoon of jam into the centre of four slices of bread.

2. Pop a slice of bread on top of one, then, using an upside-down coffee mug, push down hard until the surrounding part of the bread comes away and the edges are sealed. Carefully remove the bread from the mug and repeat the process to make four doughnuts.

3. Melt the butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Sprinkle

6 SPRING 2019

some cinnamon into the pan, so it caramelises and infuses the butter. Place your doughnuts in the frying pan and, using tongs, move them around the pan to coat them in the butter and cinnamon. Flip them over and let the doughnuts toast a little further. The smell at this stage will be heavenly.

4. Remove the doughnuts from the pan, lightly sprinkle over some more cinnamon and a little caster sugar (if using) and enjoy.

TIP: You can also use a cookie cutter to create fun shapes.

METHOD: 1. Using a knife or a pizza cutter, cut a strip out of the middle of each pita pocket to make two semicircles per pocket.

2. Open up the pita pocket semicircles so they look like little boats.

3. Fill each pita boat with the lamb or chicken, tomato and yoghurt, then top with the spinach.

4. Because the meat is already cold, it's fine to make these the night before, refrigerate and pop them into school lunchboxes in the morning.

TIPS: Be brave and add a few slices of red onion; it works so well in kebabs. Put these on a platter when guests come over and impress your friends. Try using tzatziki instead of plain yoghurt for a garlic hit.

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

It’s Your Life Dietitian s simple

lunch box advice the Dietitians Association of Australia.

Here, she gives simple advice on what food items should be included in school lunch boxes.

THE MAIN ITEM: The 'hero feature' of the lunch box. It can be last night's leftovers, a wrap, salad, sandwiches, sushi, soup or pasta.

Dietitians Association of Australia spokesperson Kate Di Prima.

MAKING school lunchboxes is a task loathed by many parents.

Deciding what food to send a child to school with can also be confusing.

There's so much conflicting advice about nutrition, not to mention school bans on certain foods due to allergies.

But packing a school lunchbox doesn't have to be laborious.

Kate Di Prima is an accredited practising dietitian and spokesperson for

This item should contain the iron-rich protein whether it's meat, legumes or tofu. Examples included tinned tuna, baked beans and chicken. This item sustains the child throughout the day and should be eaten first.

If you are packing a sandwich think about the fillings. Often a sandwich with tomato or tabbouleh comes back uneaten because it's gone soggy.

Put the spread (avocado or butter) on the bread then keep the filling separate so the child can put the sandwich together. For little ones, try drying off the

salad ingredients and put the ham on the bread with the salad in the middle to prevent the bread from going soggy.

heap of sugar such as a homemade blueberry muffin, cereal slice, muesli slice or fruit balls.

ITEM 2: A piece of fresh fruit with edible skin to provide the child with fibre and important vitamins and minerals. It can be chopped up and put back together as a whole piece, or it can be chopped up into bite-sized pieces.

DRINKS: It's important to send your child to school with water.

ITEM 3: This item should be a calcium rich dairy food or equivalent such as milk, biscuits and cheese, yoghurt, custard or a smoothie.

ITEM 4: A vegetable. The last nutrition survey showed an astronomical number of adults who aren't eating vegetables.

Ones that go well in a lunch box include carrots with hummus, green beans or cherry tomatoes.

ITEM 5: Parents should include a fifth lunch box item if their child is doing an after-school activity. It can be something fun and sweet that doesn't include a

EXTRA TIPS STICKER SYSTEM: For younger children use stickers to indicate which lunch box items should be eaten first. Quite often a parent puts a blueberry muffin in and the child will eat that first and it won't sustain them. Put a gold sticker on what should be eaten first, put a red sticker on what should be eaten second, etc.

STORAGE: We've taking ham and chicken sandwiches to school for decades and there have been no major breakouts of gastro. The bacteria build-up isn't much in the first few hours.

If you put the lunch box down the back of the fridge and in the morning put ice in the thermos, the food stays nice and cool until at least the first break.

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SPRING 2019 7

It’s Your Life

What dads do and why it matters so much

We know a lot now about how beneficial dads are for kids.

World renowned author Steve Biddulph.

IN the last few days of my father's life, I stayed in the hospital to be near him and we had many great talks.

One day he told me something that happened when I was only a couple of days old.

He had put me in the pram, and with the aim of giving my mum some time for a nap, taken me down the high street of the small Yorkshire town where we lived.

As he got among the crowds, he noticed people looking at him and frowning. Then some children ran behind him, jeering and calling out.

At this point in telling the story, dad faltered. He was on a lot of morphine, and I wondered if he was falling

asleep. But then I realised he was starting to cry.

I said "what were they calling out?"

And he said, "your dad's your mum".

They were making fun of a man pushing a baby in a pram - in the 1950s that was unknown. He was a shy man, and abandoned his walk and went down a side road for home.

I think, looking back, that he was saying "I tried to be a hands-on dad".

He was proud of my work and books which had encouraged so many dads to play a more active part in their children's lives. His story suddenly brought home to me that many men of earlier generations would have liked to be closer to their children, but it wasn't really seen as a man's role.

We know a lot now about how

oCTOBER

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beneficial dads are for kids. For sons, it seems to give them an idea of what being a good man looks like. Especially from ages 6-14, sons worship their dads and want to be like them, and follow them about, desperate for their approval. It helps if, from birth onward, dad has a caring role, equally able to cuddle, comfort, play and read to them. But it's never too late to start.

Richard Fletcher at Newcastle University has researched rough and tumble play with dads and kids. He is convinced it's part of the way kids learn to be safe and moderate their emotions, learning to be excited but safe at the same time.

Girls often love this kind of play too.

My friend Professor Bruce Robinson, at UWA, believes girls derive a lot of their self esteem from dads, because he is their first opposite sex role model. It's so important that dad conveys she is special and important, interesting and worthwhile. It can be as simple as going to her sports (and being her biggest fan), walking the dog, or sitting with her every night to catch up on the best and worst things that happened in her day.

New studies have found when a new baby arrives, the father's hormones change. They become more placid, less competitive and nicer people! They switch into caring mode, and feel happier being close to their children.

But it takes a bit of practice for mums to share the parenting and accept that dads might do it differently. Dads are likely to be more adventurous, physical and messy, but that's good for kids and helps them be more confident.

royalgeelongshow.org.au 8 SPRING 2019

@RoyalGeelongShow

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Not everyone is lucky enough to have a dad, or have one nearby. But every time I post an article about the good things dads do on my Facebook community pages, hundreds of mothers

tag their husbands. I hope it's to say "this is what you do!"

Steve Biddulph's two books Raising Boys in the 21st Century and Raising Girls in the 21st Century are available in audiobooks for dads who don't read a lot. His final round of talks will be in Melbourne and Sydney between August and October. Visit www. stevebiddulph.com for details.

IF THERE IS NO DAD Mothers raising sons alone need to know one thing - women can raise boys to be fine men, and have done so for thousands of years.

When I talk to mums whose sons are grown and thriving, they often say they made sure he knew some good men, and that they encouraged granddads or uncles, or chose activities where they would have safe, kind men helping them. That matters most in the mid-teen years when boys are deciding what kind of man they want to be.

In my talks, I always tell the guys that if they are planning a trip or experience with their son to invite along his friend who might not have a dad. We guys have to fill the gaps in the fathering net so boys don't fall through just because their father is not around.

Parenthood is a community job, and if we realise boys and girls both need to know friendly, affirming and interested father figures, then we will have less problems when kids grow up.

They will know what a good man looks like, either to be, or to choose as a partner. www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

It’s Your Life Why schools need

meditation classes

By Dr Maxine Thérèse

children are given the opportunity to know themselves in this way, they begin to move through life with ease rather than feel restricted.

I recently returned from a trip to the UK where I was delighted to see how accepted meditation, mindfulness and movement practices are in schools.

A large part of feeling at ease in life is developing acceptance of all of the feelings, thoughts and emotions that arise without judging them as good or bad. When children (and adults) have emotional acceptance and body awareness it brings ease, confidence, spontaneity, pleasure, and celebration into their life.

Based on evidence into the success of meditation and mindfulness in schools, the UK government has invested in a trial which will see students from 370 schools participate in meditation and mindfulness classes alongside classroom sessions with mental health experts.

While this is the first time the government has contributed funds, the UK has been running these types of programs in schools via independent providers for well over 10 years and there are over 5000 trained teachers delivering mindfulness in schools across the country.

While I have been fortunate to work with schools that are embracing the introduction of these practices, we are ready for a meditation, mindfulness and movement program on a national level.

With the steep increase of mental health issues every year in our young people, it is vital that we embrace new thinking and incorporate new methodologies into the school curriculum - as what we are currently doing is not setting our young people up to live life as optimally as they could be.

Why are we not doing the same?

Meditation, mindfulness and movement is so important for our children to connect to themselves on a deeper level, to truly understand their feelings, behaviours and thoughts.

Studies have shown that mediation and mindfulness in schools improves concentration, develops self-regulation and decreases heightened emotions and reactivity in the classroom. These practices reduce stress and anxiety, and teach our little ones to listen to the messages their body is sending them.

These benefits also extend past the classroom. If children are exposed to

"An emotionally aware child truly is, a free child."

Meditation classes should be held in Australian schools.

these practices from a young age, then we are setting them up for an optimal future where they move through life with ease and an understanding of their behaviours.

Our children need to be able to 'feel' all of their feelings; to process experiences in an optimal way that makes sense to them and helps them uncover what they need. When

Dr Maxine Therésè's Pure Wonder program runs each term at Newtown Mind and Body. For more information on the Pure Wonder or the Childosophy Practitioner training programs, please send an email to hello@childosophy. com

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SPRING 2019 9

It’s Your Life

River's Gift

keeps on giving

Karl Waddell and Alex Hamilton with their children Shiloh, 6, and Bodhi, 4.

Pictures: Louisa Jones

By Angie Hilton THIS story is a particularly hard one to cover, but on the flipside it's also an amazing example of resilience.

It's a story of being able to pick yourself up and carry on when dealt the toughest blow imaginable.

Karl Waddell and Alex Hamilton lost their firstborn son, River, to SIDS eight years ago.

Their grief is still close to the surface.

But as a way to carry on, they channeled all their energy into starting River's Gift charity to raise awareness about SIDS and funds for research.

Their mission is to ensure other parents are up-to-date with all the latest SIDS research and preventative measures, in the hope that others can avoid going through the living hell they faced.

I visited their home for our chat and was delighted to find a bright pink front door.

River, the little boy Karl Waddell and Alex Hamilton lost to SIDS eight years ago.

10 SPRING 2019

Picture: Supplied

I knocked and was greeted by two joyful cherubs - daughter Shiloh (aged six) and son Bodhi (four). Shiloh confidently started conversing with me like an adult - full of curiosity. Bodhi won me over with his cheeky grin and two costume changes in the space of 15 minutes.

The house has a lovely welcoming feel with photos of their gorgeous three children lining the walls. Alex makes you feel instantly at home with her caring, sweet nature. Karl jokes that he's not one to sit still for long, so we chat as he goes about business in the kitchen.

How would you describe life in the Hamilton/Waddell household?

Alex: Pretty manic (laughs)! I guess it's the same as most families with two working parents. There's always something going on with school and after hours activities.

Karl: I would say it's structured, which is Alex's specialty. The kids have strict bedtimes and there's no technology for any of us after dinner, which is actually good.

How did you two meet?

Karl: We were working at Drake recruitment together in Melbourne. Alex was out from the UK on a working visa.

A staff member told me there was a cute new English girl and I should check her out, so we went out for a group catch-up after work. I'd like to think I charmed her (laughs). I put on my deeper voice.

Alex: Karl was very confident which was appealing. He's seven years older.

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

Shiloh and Bodhi bring a lot of joy to their parents.

Karl: A funny story I have to share ...

When I first met Alex she was also a professional actress. She was in a play at Chapel off Chapel playing opposite Liam McIntyre (who went on to play Sparticus). The opening scene was Alex sitting on a toilet in a bra and undies ... so I went back and saw it four times (laughs). I was impressed. Ten months later we were engaged, and we married in May 2009.

So things moved quite swiftly! How long after that was River born?

Alex: 2 July, 2011.

How were your births?

Alex: River came at 36.5 weeks. An 18-hour natural labour. He was 7lb 3oz.

Karl: I was so annoying - I'm surprised she didn't slap me at River's birth. I was like a footy coach "come on darling you got this". I think back and realise what a hindrance I was.

Alex: Shiloh was four hours. It was a water birth and she was a big 9lb 10oz.

Bodhi was three hours and also a water birth. He was a whopping 10lb.

So when River was born did everything seem normal?

Alex: Yes, he was very healthy. He was rolling over at eight weeks. By four months he was a big strong boy at 7.5kgs.

Did you know much about SIDS when he was born?

Alex: Interestingly mum had told me that I stopped breathing when I was three months old. I'd been unwell with temperatures. Mum saw me in my cot and I was lethargic and blue. She picked me up and I started breathing again. They took me to hospital and they couldn't find anything wrong.

In our maternal child health class they www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

talked about SIDS so we knew about the safe sleeping procedures. I thought we'd ticked all the boxes - I don't smoke, he's strong, we do tummy time, there's nothing in his cot, he was on his back. I honestly didn't think he was at risk of it happening.

So you followed all the procedures and what unfolded?

Alex: He was in a bassinet in our room and was starting to roll, so we thought we should put him in his cot in his room.

I must admit I was a bit worried about him going out on his own, so we went to a baby expo and I said to the lady, "I'm thinking of moving him into his own room, can you tell me about SIDS, should I be worried about it?"

She said, "Look he's really strong and healthy boy, it doesn't really happen anymore".

At that moment I had an alarm based breathing monitor (that's recommended now) in one hand and a video monitor in the other and I bought the video monitor.

The Waddell/Hamilton family at their Geelong home.

Ten days after that River died at 7.25am on 7 November 2011.

It is beyond heartbreaking to hear this.

No one could even begin to imagine the pain you were in. How do you find the strength to move forward from that moment?

Alex: You think at the time, 'how can I possibly carry on? How can I even think about waking up tomorrow?' You literally have to give yourself permission to live second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour, then day by day.

Karl: You dread looking out the window in the morning and there being light.

Then you want everyone else to know what's just happened. We'd be walking around the river and we'd randomly stop people with babies and tell them what happened. We felt compelled to let people know how lucky they are.

Close bond.. Shiloh and Bodhi.

SPRING 2019 11

The Waddell/Hamilton clan are keeping River's memory alive.

Alex: The pain was beyond comprehension and I really wondered how I could carry on. I knew nothing could ever replace River, but I also knew I needed another baby.

Six weeks after River passed we fell pregnant with Shiloh. Shiloh means 'Gift from God' and she literally saved our lives. When I held her in my arms I just could not stop sobbing.

I look back at that time when Shiloh was a baby and I was so unwell. I was in and out of hospital with debilitating anxiety. Mum, Karl and I all took shifts in watching her 24/7 until she was 16 months. I had such severe PTSD that I couldn't drive with her in case she fell asleep.

You mentioned your mother being with you, was she your rock at the time?

Alex: My mum has been my lifeline.

She was there the morning we lost River, so it was like a double heartache - losing her grandchild and not being able to fix things for her daughter. She has wiped my tears, picked me up off the floor and laughed with me. I will never be able to thank her for all she has sacrificed and wholeheartedly given. She is my best friend and she is more like a second mum to my kids.

Was creating River's Gift a big part of your healing journey?

Karl: Absolutely. It gave us purpose as if we were on a road to somewhere. We wanted answers - not only for ourselves, but also for every other parent. Within the first few months we'd already raised $50,000 to put towards SIDS research at Harvard.

Eight years down the track, we have raised around $1.4 million and have connected with organisations all around the world. I'm constantly amazed at how supportive people are. We really get to see a side of humanity that others may not get to.

Alex: River's Gift also allows us to be a support network for people all around

12 SPRING 2019

the world. I get emails at 2am from parents who have just lost a child and they just need to know how they're going to survive. We get to show them that we've survived and give them hope that there's still so much to live for.

These are the moments you realise why you do what you do.

Karl Waddell and Alex Hamilton are dedicated to raising awareness and funds for SIDS research.

How would you describe the joy your beautiful children bring to you lives?

It's so hard to describe the feeling you get when you have a baby after loss.

Bodhi and Shiloh are our world and they brought hope back into a place that was very dark. As we see them reach milestones, I just feel so privileged to have them. It's all the little things - like when they run into my arms after kinder and school, or when they jump into our bed for morning cuddles. We never take a day for granted.

Shi was so doted on - I breastfed her until she was four. I often wondered how she'd go with another sibling, but she adores Bodhi. They really are best friends.

Do Shiloh and Bodhi speak about River?

Alex: They talk about their brother all the time. We have been really open from the start. If anyone asks them, they say 'mum and dad have three kids - us here, and one in heaven'.

We celebrate his birthday by going out and doing something he'd love to do at that age. On his anniversary we go to the beach in Torquay with my mothers group. We all put flowers in the water as all the children run in and play. It's a beautiful sight.

And your little 'Gift from God' Shiloh has a particularly special gift from God? Alex: Yes, much to our surprise, Shiloh had her IQ tested at five and has an IQ of 147. One-hundred and thirty is 'gifted' and 150 is 'genius'. She's in Grade 2 (could be in Prep) and she's doing Year 8 maths. We don't know where this has come from (laughs).

Alex, what do you admire about Karl?

Alex: We have been married 10 years and eight of those have seen us living with River's loss and bringing our two most precious gifts into the world. Karl has shown an absolute unwavered dedication to growing River's Gift, as he truly cares about other families not going through his pain. I admire his strength and capacity to keep going even when it's one of those dark days.

Watching Karl play with the kids is such a joy. They love reading books with him and singing silly songs.

Karl what do you admire about Alex?

Karl: Alex is the most incredibly devoted, caring, loving and committed mother I've met. The connection she has with them is very unique and special.

They just adore her. She gives them so much time and attention; reading, laughing, joking, telling stories. She's all from the heart, as she is with everyone she meets.

I'll never pretend to understand the connection between mother and baby.

And as much as I feel grief and pain as a father, I think that a mother's organic connection through being pregnant and giving birth is something that I'll never quite comprehend. I admire her resilience to get up and keep going.

She's been knocked to the floor so many times but she just grinds her way through.

What would you like to share with people about getting through life's toughest challenges?

Alex: Whatever we are faced with,

however dark that time might be, just

SAFE SLEEP PRINCIPLES • Always lay your baby on their back, in a cot or bassinet • Don't smoke during pregnancy or allow anyone to smoke around your baby • Sleep your baby on a firm cot mattress • Remove all entrapment possibilities in their cot. Therefore no cot bumpers, hats/bonnets, pillows, soft toys • Don't let your baby get too hot via overheating/overwrapping • Lay your baby with their feet at the foot of her cot • Never sleep on the sofa or in a chair with your baby • Never bed share with your baby - the risk of SIDS is higher if the baby co-shares a bed • Breastfeed your baby for as long as possible If you are a new parent and find this topic confronting, remember the odds of SIDS occurring are slim at around 1 in 2500 babies.

know that there is light again. There will be happiness. You will smile again.

Second by second. Minute by minute.

You feel you have lost 'you'. But I am just discovering me again and it is exciting and makes me know I can face whatever comes my way.

For information on safe sleeping procedures or to donate to River's Gift, head to www.riversgift.com

•••

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

It’s Your Life

Serving busy parents a key ingredient for success

By Melissa Grant

marketing her product.

KIM McCosker's recipe for success began over a decade ago while on maternity leave for her second child.

When a community newspaper in Brisbane's northern suburbs ran a story about the venture, bookshops called wanting to stock the title and sales began to take off.

The busy mum wanted a cookbook to help her get a quick meal on the table at the end of the day, but couldn't find one.

Kim thought it was strange such a cookbook was difficult to find given how many parents had little time for meal preparation, so she decided to create her own collection of recipes using four ingredients.

Back then Kim, whose background was in finance, had no idea she would become a global phenomenon.

Never could she have dreamt that initial 4 Ingredients cookbook would become a best-seller, let alone lead to a career as a celebrity cook with titles published in 12 countries and sales topping 9 million.

In the beginning, Kim was simply thinking about how to repay the money she'd redrawn from the family mortgage to fund the first print run.

Incredibly, the initial 4 Ingredients cookbook has now sold over 3 million copies.

Kim puts much of her success down to the fact that many people like herself don't have time to follow complex, gourmet meals.

"I love watching Masterchef, but the reality is I walk into my kitchen and go 'what can I make with puff pastry, egg, bacon and onion'," she said.

"I've got three beautiful boys (aged 11, 14 and 17) and god forbid they want to play the same sport.

"In most cases, I'm walking in the door at 10 to 6 ... everyone is starving and saying 'what's for dinner?' and I only have time for four ingredients.

"It doesn't matter if you are a stay-athome mum or retiree, the world has never been busier."

After spending more than a year collating recipes, Kim and her then business partner were rejected by potential publishers.

Preparing tasty and inexpensive family meals is the focus throughout Kim's 34 published cookbooks, which include gluten-free, diabetic and allergy titles.

"We failed dismally - we couldn't even get past the gatekeeper, the receptionist," Kim recalled.

The collection also features the children focused titles, Kids 4 Ingredients and Baby Bowl.

"The second option is to self-publish and that's essentially what we did.

Currently, Kim's working on a vegetarian cookbook plus podcast and a pilot for free-to-air TV.

"I had to take $26,000 out of our family's mortgage to self-fund initially.

Motivated to repay the money she had taken from the mortgage, Kim knocked on doors to get sales.

"I packed the pram with cookbooks and off we went!" Kim managed to sell around 500 of the 2000 cookbooks printed.

Realising that wheeling a cookbook loaded pram around local neighbourhoods was a time-poor way to distribute, she began focusing on

Although she's flat out, Kim regularly finds time to cook with her sons in the kitchen of their family home at Caloundra.

She encourages parents to get their kids involved in the household meal preparation.

"We all know that cooking helps develop your child's fine motor skills and it's also an early basis for maths and science," she said.

Kim McCosker and her family.

Sunshine Coast mum Kim McCosker, the woman behind 4 Ingredients.

COOKBOOK GIVEAWAY One lucky Geelong Coast Kids reader will win one copy each of Baby Bowl AND 4 Ingredients Kids.

For your chance to win, visit www.geelongcoastkids.com.au and click on competitions.

4 Ingredients Kids features healthy dinners, lunchbox recipes and a party chapter.

"I love seeing kids in the kitchen."

Tomato Drummies Serves 4 • 1kg chicken drumsticks • 420g can condensed tomato soup • 1 packet (40g) French Onion Soup METHOD: 1. Preheat oven to 180C. 2. Place the chicken legs in a 24cm square ovenproof dish.

3. Stir together the tomato soup, French onion mix, and 1/2 cup of water and pour over the chicken legs.

4. Bake 1 hour or until the chicken is cooked through.

Captain Veggie Smuggler's tip: Serve with mash potatoes or cauliflower and steam beans and zucchini.

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

SPRING 2019 13

It’s Your Life

Kate Curry and her kids.

Picture: Rob Carew

Mum thinks outside the box to create technology solution for families

By Melissa Meehan

road trips as you can just pick up the box with all the tech in it and plug it back in at your destination. Only one power cord is needed!

MANAGING the amount of time your child spends in front of a screen each day is an evolving, growing problem for parents of young children and teenagers.

Kate says it also helps set clear boundaries with tech usage and allows parents to take control of the tech clutter.

The latest guidelines suggest most Australian children spend more than the recommended two hours a day glued to a screen - whether that's television, an iPad, a smart phone or an age-appropriate tablet.

"The larger inchargebox fits remotes, iPhones, anything you can charge with a USB port and it also fits in a school laptop," she said.

Parents have also relayed to Kate that they often hear their child's phone ping late at night, and they'd find them up at 3am responding to a text or scrolling, or on social media.

For the first time, the World Health Organisation has this year put out recommendations for children's screen time, encouraging less than a couple of hours and, ideally, much less.

For many parents, it's a daily battle constantly trying to remove the everpresent screen from their child's grip.

Many kids would happily watch a show or play a game online for hours if you allowed them to.

It's quite possibly the biggest challenge for parents in this day and age. It is well-documented that too much screen time can have negative impacts over an extended period of time, such as sleeping problems, a loss of social skills and physical inactivity.

That's why entrepreneurial mum of two Kate Curry felt compelled to do something about it.

She had witnessed friends with older children grappling with some serious screen addictions.

Kate thought outside the box literally.

"As my kids got older and started using tech, I always tried to make sure all of their devices were in the kitchen

14 SPRING 2019

She said as time goes on, the research is emerging about the highly addictive nature of online games and the apps we all engage in everyday.

The idea for an inchargebox started five years ago and has taken off.

and never in their rooms," she explained.

"But I'd find the tech all over the house, and sometimes in the bedrooms, and I felt like I was starting to lose control of where it all was."

Hiding the gadgets in cupboards didn't work for long and when the kids would be allowed their iPads or tablets back, the batteries would be flat.

Kate was conscious of keeping the gadgets out of her children's bedrooms to better manage what they were doing online.

So she came up with an idea to create a tech lock-up box with a power board inside.

The first prototype was made in Australia. Since then, it has evolved into

today's inchargebox.

There was some important criteria Kate wanted it lockable with a power board to clean up the messy cords she'd grown tired of around the house, and it had to look stylish.

She wanted the box to be something you'd be happy to have on your kitchen bench every day.

The inchargebox is descried as a 'stylish, lockable steel tech charging station' to lock, store and charge up to 10 tech devices once. It comes in Unicorn White, Black Beauty, Valentino Red and Pink Flamingle!

It's designed to be stored on the kitchen bench or office, or anywhere people would like to charge and lock their tech in one convenient location. It is great to take to holiday houses or on

"The recommendation is no more than two hours a day for school-aged children," she said.

"There's a lot of people doing five hours or more - including teenagers.

"Kids are meant to get nine, 10 hours of sleep a night. Lack of sleep has an awful flow on effect ."

The feedback for Kate's entrepreneurial idea has been incredible. She also donates 10 per cent of all box sales to two charities oneinfive.com.au & forgetmenot.org.au.

She's also a finalist in the AusMumpreneur Awards in the Product Innovation category, and has been nominated in the 2020 Telstra Business Women's awards.

As she says, "people are more important than technology".

- with Danielle Galvin

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

12426729-SN37-19

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

SPRING 2019 15

Active Kids

Kids on holidays with the Cats AT first, Bianca Carroll was hesitant to drop her two special-needs sons off at GMHBA Stadium for a KidsCo school holiday program.

She needn’t have worried. Beau, 11, and Zac, 8, couldn’t wait to go back.

The program, which is open to children aged five to 12, is run by qualified teachers and is much more than a day-care centre, Bianca says.

“Our boys both have special needs and the first time I left them I wasn’t sure but they have been fantastic, the boys love it,” she says.

“The bonus for us as parents is the staff are all teachers and the kids are school age.

“It’s not just your painting and drawing, it’s much more than that.”

KidsCo’s Adrian Rockman says the program is fully structured and “action packed and educational”.

“It gets broken down like a school day,” he says.

KidsCo program participants Zac and Beau Carroll with Cats star Gary Rohan.

“We have arts and craft, sport and fitness, dance and drama, science and cooking in a single day.

“There is literally no day that’s the same.”

Adrian says it’s a win-win situation as teachers on school holidays get to earn some extra cash.

The highlight is the Master Chef theme where kids make an apron and hat and decorate it. Then they cooking and make a bento box to take home.

And sometimes Geelong Cats AFL and AFLW players will call in to lend a lend.

Bianca says her family are mad Cats fans and it’s an added bonus KidsCo operates out of GMHBA Stadium.

“Being football fans the kids being able to see the players train out the window is a bonus,” she says.

“The whole thing is so well organised.

“They keep you up to date with emails and booking is very easy.

“There’s a lot of staff and they seem very kid-minded and they also look like they have a lot of fun and join in with the kids.”

Getting organised for kids sports Professional organiser Julie Cliff.

By Julie Cliff WEEKEND or extra curricular sport can be busy, stressful and exhausting.

Get to the game and you've forgotten the mouthguard. Or while preparing to go to the game you realise the uniform is not washed.

Sometimes there are multiple events to go to on the weekend, which can leave you feeling rushed and anxious.

But you can reduce your stress levels by working with the kids to create a number of checklists they can follow.

They may hand write and decorate the list with their favourite characters, or create something on Google Slides or Powerpoint, etc.

HERE ARE A FEW CHECKLISTS TO START WITH: Checklist 1: Things to take in the bag on the day • Water bottle 16 SPRING 2019

Teaching your kids to prepare for their sporting activities is a great goal.

• Spare set of clothes (undies, socks, t-shirt) • Mouthguard (other protective equipment such as shin guards, headgear) • Footy boots (other special footwear) • Towel, plastic bag for dirty boots/ shoes • Blanket for car • Medication (if applicable) • After game snacks.

• If playing in summer, consider packing sunscreen, a hat, extra water, etc Checklist 2: Things to wear on the day • Team jersey • Team shorts/dress • Socks • Undies • Tracksuit • Shoes

• Don't forget to pack your own stuff including coats/jackets, beanies and umbrellas (you can tell I've been to many rugby league games in the Melbourne winter). If your kids are doing summer sport, you may need a hat and sunscreen yourself The night before When our eldest son played rugby league we would often need to be in the car and heading to the event at 7am on a Saturday. For this reason, we prepared for the event as much as we could the night before. We would lay it all out on the kitchen floor with the footy bag so it was ready to pack in the morning.

After the event Get the kids involved to unpack everything as soon as you return from the event (sweaty footy jumpers are not nice to deal with a few days later). It's also a good idea to:

• • • •

Wash the uniform Clean the mouthguard Wash the water bottle.

Repack the bag so it's already to go for next time

Next steps?

Getting the kids involved in this way helps them learn responsibility for their actions. If they forget the mouthguard and can't play, this may remind them to pack it next time.

Planning ahead is a great skill to learn. Get the kids to create the checklists required.

Julie Cliff is a Professional Organiser at Space and Time, which helps busy mums live easier, less stressful lives through simple and easy to implement organising systems. Sound familiar?

Julie would love to hear from you info@spaceandtime.com.au www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

Health

An estimated one in seven children will experience anxiety between the ages of 4 and 17.

Turning anxiety into resilience MORE children than ever before experience anxiety.

HOW HAS CHILDREN'S ANXIETY CHANGED

As a parent, it can be difficult to know whether your child is suffering from anxiety and what you can do to help.

Professor Jean Twenge from San Diego State University is a researcher dedicated to understanding changes in youth mental health over generations.

Professor Twenge and her colleagues crunched the numbers on mental illness data from over 77,000 American college and high school students between 1938 and 2007.

A new book, Anxious Kids, offers a new perspective on children's anxiety.

Bestselling parenting author Michael Grose and wellbeing expert Dr Jodi Richardson explain the anxiety epidemic and offer useful advice to help turn a child's anxiety into resilience.

Between the 1930s and 1940s an average of 50 out of 100 students scored above average on measures of mental disorders. That number has now jumped to 85 out of every 100.

That's a 70 per cent increase in the number of students with symptoms of mental illness.

In this extract, Grose and Richardson explain how children's anxiety has changed and the many different faces of the condition.

JUST HOW COMMON IS ANXIETY? Parents all over the world are dealing with anxious children.

Between the tender age of four and the brink of adulthood at seventeen, on average one in seven kids are diagnosed with a mental illness in Australia.

Of all those kids, half are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. That equates to roughly two kids in every Australian classroom, though some, if separation anxiety is in play, often don't even make it to school. Anxiety disorders are the top disease burden for females aged between five and forty-four.

For boys and young men the top disease burdens are suicide and self-harm.

These boys and young men are integral to the data but their experiences are far from academic.

Most don't understand why they think and feel the way they do and why they're suffering. Many feel broken, and it impacts on the entire family unit.

When Australia conducted the first Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing in 1998, anxiety www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

Anxious Kids by Michael Grose and Dr Jodi Richardson.

disorders weren't included. It wasn't on the radar in the same way major depressive disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were. It's fair to say it's on the radar now.

The second and most recent Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, published in 2015, paints a picture of the state of mental health of Aussie kids. It's no oil painting.

Kids with a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder included those experiencing separation anxiety, social phobia, generalised anxiety disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Anxiety disorders such as specific phobias spiders, for example, or panic disorder or agoraphobia - weren't caught in the research net.

Many anxious kids also go undetected. We think it's reasonable, prudent in fact, to suggest that current statistics underestimate the enormity of the problem.

Similar research looking specifically at anxiety showed that the average American child in the 1980s reported more anxiety than child psychiatric patients in the 1950s. Increases in anxiety across generations have also been identified in China and the UK. Kids are in the thick of an anxiety epidemic, and the role of parents is crucial.

Staggering as the numbers are, the stats don't tell the whole story.

Each and every child enveloped by a statistic is a person - a young person whose life has taken a turn in an unexpected direction.

ANXIETY HAS MANY FACES Kids experience anxiety in different ways. Some anxious kids can appear happy most of the time, but struggle with anxiety that affects only parts of their life, or shows up intermittently.

Others can endure any one or a combination of frightening thoughts, inexplicable fear or dread, unrealistic to catastrophic worries, and physical symptoms varying from tummy aches to dizziness to not being able to get a

full breath, to spotty vision.

In the early days anxiety is easy to overlook, often mistaken for blips in behaviour, attention, confidence, resilience and physical health.

Your little one doesn't want to play at the park with the other kids? He's a little shy. Your primary schooler has a meltdown when you visit the shopping centre? She's just tired and having another tantrum. Fourth grader feeling too sick to go to school? Could be that food intolerance playing up again.

Teenager won't sit still and can't concentrate in class? She's fidgety and disruptive.

There are parents everywhere doing their best to raise their kids and help them navigate their shyness, tantrums and tendency to fidget. Nothing to see here. Just another day in the life of parents.

Then there are the kids who struggle to socialise or spend even a moment in big open spaces with crowds of people, or who become nauseated from worry about separating from their mum or dad. These kids also struggle to concentrate because they're constantly in fight-or-flight mode.

Developmentally appropriate fears, worries and reactions to stress, paired with behaviour, personality, temperament, environment, circumstances and parenting combine in ways that can make it tricky for us as parents to recognise when our kids might in fact be beginning to battle with anxiety and in need of some extra help.

If there's even a fleeting possibility that this is your child, make an appointment with your GP to ask some questions. Some of the common symptoms of anxiety, such as an upset tummy, could indeed be related to a physical cause with a simple explanation.

SPRING 2019 17

Pregnancy + Baby The science of

‘baby brain’

By Danielle Galvin MOST expectant or post-partum mothers can relate to the unusual phenomenon commonly referred to as 'baby brain'.

It involves that feeling of mental fogginess, poor decision making or hilarious missteps on it.

'Baby brain' is often used as a reason for doing something silly during pregnancy, like putting the kettle in the fridge.

Historically, it's been laughed off. But for some women, the mental fog, forgetfulness, difficulty comprehending complex or sometimes quite simple tasks, 'baby brain' is very real.

Science tells us it is.

Deakin University PhD candidate Sasha Davies is the lead author on a report investigating baby brain and how it can be observed and even measured.

She said it's only been in the last 20 or so years where researchers have moved to objectively try and measure baby brain, as a lot of the academic literature over the years debated about whether it was real or not.

"What we mean by the term baby brain, at least in our study, is any cognitive deficiency in terms of attention performance, mental performance, or executive functioning referring to processes like decision making, planning and judgements," she explains.

"There has been a lot of studies on memory, but not a lot on the others.

"We tend to use terms like mental fogginess because it what people understand from their own experiences, it helps them understand what it means.

"Mental fogginess can mean a lot of different things - it can mean anything from reading comprehension, or memory lapses."

Studies in the past have asked pregnant women to undertake memory

Deakin University PhD candidate Sasha Davies has authored a report investigating 'baby brain'.

tasks. But the Deakin team believes it may be beneficial to look at more sensitive approaches to measuring what's called the neural differences occurring in a pregnant woman's brain, to back-up some of those anecdotal behavioural changes.

"We are looking at a really sensitive method of measuring brainwave activity and changes in that," Ms Davies said.

Researchers undertook an analysis of 20 studies that included a total of 709 pregnant and 521 non-pregnant women.

In the report, they conclude; "general cognitive functioning, memory, and executive functioning were significantly poorer in pregnant than in control women, particularly during the third trimester."

They found the changes usually develop in the first trimester.

Ms Davies says it's a fascinating area of study.

"It's a bit silly we haven't thought about it (before)," she said.

"Our body changes, our mood changes, these are all kind of accepted things that change doing pregnancy.

"No one has really looked at the brain and thought well the brain is just

another organ, and it goes through change."

Many of our readers have shared their own experiences with so-called 'baby brain'.

"I washed the dishes then put the dish stick in the freezer. Found it two days later," Darcie wrote.

At least we know have science to back us up.

Free baby bundles for first-time parents FIRST-TIME parents can expect to receive a special package when their little bundle of joy arrives.

The state government has begun distributing free 'baby bundles' that include essentials to help guide mums and dads through the first few months and years of their firstborn's life.

Valued at $150, the bundle comes with a teething ring, nappy bag, safe sleeping bag, a cotton wrap, first aid kit, baby sunhat, toothbrush and a grow suit.

They also include four picture books

by Victorian authors: Baby Days by Nicola Philp, Ten Little Owls by Renee Treml, Puddle Hunters by Kirsty Murray and Karen Blair, and Gumtree Buddies, a soft pram book produced by Tiger Tribe.

18 SPRING 2019

A booklet developed in collaboration with Raising Children Network provides vital information on child health, safety and learning and emergency contacts.

The state government funded bundles are designed to assist first-time parents build safe sleeping practices and support their child's learning and development through regular reading and playtime.

Around 35,000 new parents will receive the bundles each year at all Victorian maternity hospitals.

"Bringing your bundle of joy home for the first time is life changing but we also know it can be challenging. We are making this precious moment that little bit easier and ensuring our youngest Victorians have everything they need to thrive," Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said.

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

Pregnancy + Baby

Epworth supports breastfeeding BREAST milk provides a baby with all the nutrients they need in their first six months of life, but the number of babies exclusively breastfed throughout this time is on the decline.

much conversation out there for women ... there's so much chatter about fed is best, but it's important to support women to make the decision," she said.

Epworth Geelong Nurse Unit Manager Maternity Gabby Ryan says it's important women know that support networks are available to them.

To promote breastfeeding awareness and education across the region, Epworth Geelong recently hosted 'One Big Mother's Group'.

The gathering was a complimentary morning tea for new mums held during World Breastfeeding Week.

"It's really all about promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding into the future, while also supporting women's feeding choices."

Fashion stylist, radio presenter and mum of three, Renee Enright joined more than 50 Geelong mums and their bubs for the event.

Epworth Geelong lactation consultant Donna Christison says women still experience judgement and bias when it comes to feeding choices.

Enright says she wanted to support Epworth Geelong's One Big Mother's Group and share her story about spending a week in hospital after developing mastitis.

"It's about seeing breastfeeding as a social norm in public without women feeling ashamed and empowering women in workplaces and getting that message out there."

"I thought it was important to be here to talk about my experience with mastitis," she said.

World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 - 7 August to protect, promote and support breastfeeding, and improve the health of babies around the world.

"I wasn't aware of how sick you could get, so (I'm) just spreading that message on the need to act on it fast to prevent others from ending up where I ended up," she said.

After finding out she was septic after presenting to ED with mastitis, Enright considered not continuing to breastfeed daughter Luna due to the fear of becoming so unwell again.

Renee Enright with baby Luna and Gabrielle Ryan, Maternity Nurse Unit Manager at Epworth Geelong.

With the support of Epworth Geelong Lactation Consultant Donna Christison, she built up her confidence and is still

breastfeeding Luna, who is five months old.

"I think it's really important to put as

The annual event is a global campaign coordinated by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) that aims to inform, anchor, engage and galvanise action on breastfeeding and related issues. The #WBW2019 theme was 'Empower parents, enable breastfeeding'.

Epworth Geelong Maternity

The perfect place for life’s moments

P PI PI20 PI207 1_GEE_0519 1_GEE _GEE GEE_0519 05 0519

With expert obstetricians and midwives to support you through every phase leading to a beautiful new life.

epworthgeelong.org.au | Maternity services 03 5271 8322 Enter from Pigdons Rd, Waurn Ponds (next to Deakin University) 12418790-SN24-19

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

SPRING 2019 19

Pregnancy + Baby

Josie with husband Hugh and children Leo and Lily.

Picture: Rob Carew

Opening up about IN the weeks after her daughter's birth, mother of two Josephine Smyth started noticing the familiar feelings of anxiety and darkness creep in.

She knew she needed to seek help.

Having experienced post natal depression with her son, Leo, she knew what to look out for and that it was more than just a hormonal shift or transition into life with two young children.

Here, she opens up to Melissa Meehan about her experience with post natal depression and the important work of Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA).

"Lily would have been about four months old, because I had it before I recognised the feelings that I was having and I think what contributed to it this time was that Lily wasn't a good sleeper," Josie explained.

"It was fine for about 12 weeks, but then when you're operating on no sleep and trying to run a household and manage a toddler at the same time, there's no opportunity for rest.

20 SPRING 2019

post natal depression

"It got to a point I was up very hour overnight. I basically became a zombie, and so I started to have feelings, and I already had anxiety, and the anxious symptoms were heightened.

"I started not caring for myself. I had no appetite, I started not showering, I was feeling flat.

"I had inability to laugh at things I used to find funny. I started to get panicky and there was the really low feelings of dreading the day, not having any joy."

It got to a point where Josie couldn't sleep much at all.

That's when the "scary thoughts" crept in.

"That's when I realised it was different to normal feelings, where we are getting into scary territory," she said.

This time around, Josie found herself being more open within her support network about what she was struggling with.

Reflecting on her journey to date, she's saddened by the fact she had no idea what to look out for during her pregnancies.

"I had a lot of family and friends come over and just sit with me, and that was really helpful," she said.

"It was all about the baby and all the fun things, and nothing about the flipside, nothing about the feelings you can experience."

"Having someone there - I could be myself, I didn't have to put on a show.

"Whilst I was experiencing these symptoms I was faking it, and that is so hard. It's really exhausting when you're already exhausted as it is and you have to put on a face.

"It was nice being myself and not being judged."

These days, Josie is comforted by the fact that PND seems to be a topic that's being spoken about more.

Josie sought help from her GP, who knew her history of PND with Leo.

It's talked about more, written and spoken about more in the media, and there's more support than ever.

With Leo, her mum encouraged her to seek help, but this time Josie flagged it as soon as she recognised the same feelings.

"When I started to recover with Leo, I started to be more honest with my friends so I explained that time when I wasn't myself, this was why," she said.

It was recommended Josie be put on medication and continue to see a psychologist as well as a psychiatrist.

Before Josie was first diagnosed after Leo's birth back in 2014, she didn't know much about depression and anxiety.

And while she knew the medication was an important step in her recovery, it was important to ensure it wouldn't impact her breastfeeding journey with Lily.

She was touched by the level of support after her second experience with PND. "The responses I received were so supportive and compassionate," she said.

She hopes by sharing her story, anyone who is struggling may find the courage to speak up, just like she did.

"People need to know that if they are struggling or if the are worried about someone they don't need a diagnosis they can call PANDA's hotline," she said.

"Even if you think you might have symptoms or even if you are struggling a bit, they are a really good listening ear and then they can guide you.

PANDA has trained counsellors who can provide you with support, information and referrals if you are experiencing mental health challenges in pregnancy and new parenthood."

- with Danielle Galvin If you need help, call the PANDA hotline (Mon to Fri, 9am - 7.30pm AEST) on 1300 726 306 or visit www.panda.org.au/ Other contacts: Lifeline 13 11 14 www.lifeline.org.au beyondblue support service line 1300 22 46 36

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

Pregnancy + Baby Seeking help during the

tough times of parenthood

By Danielle Galvin TOO often when new or expectant parents struggle as they begin their parenting journey, any feelings of anxiety, stress, tension or worry are dismissed as the 'baby blues' or put down to sheer exhaustion.

As many as 1 in 5 expecting or new mums will experience perinatal anxiety or depression.

"PANDA's checklists ask questions about changes expecting and new parents have noticed since starting the journey to becoming a parent - in their body and behaviour; in their thoughts and feelings; and in their relationships," Ms Smith said.

But experts say there are warning signs which could suggest a more serious illness, like depression or anxiety, and it's important to seek help.

Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia (PANDA) CEO Terri Smith says as many as 1 in 5 expecting or new mums and 1 in 10 expecting or new dads will experience the illnesses.

"Left untreated, it can have a devastating impact on parents, partners, baby and the rest of the family," she explained.

"In the worst cases, lives can even be put at risk.

"Depression covers lower mood feelings such as having trouble feeling joy in things that would typically light you up, feeling lethargic and withdrawing from friends and family.

PANDA CEO T Terrii Smith.

S ih

"Anxiety is more heightened moods such as panic attacks, a racing heart or worrying thoughts that go round and round in your head, or a sense of anger and frustration."

On the PANDA website is a checklist for anyone concerned about how they or a loved one are feeling.

It gives an indication as to whether what they are experiencing or what they have observed in a loved one could be a reason to seek help.

The organisation operates Australia's only specialist national helpline to support expecting and new mums and dads affected by perinatal mental illness.

PANDA has two websites; panda.org. au site and also a site specifically for expecting and new dads (howisdadgoing.org.au).

"These sites provide a genuine online support option for those struggling with perinatal anxiety and depression and postnatal psychosis, as well as their loved ones and carers - providing accurate and accessible information and resources," she said.

Feeling teary, anxious, irritable and hormonal can be a normal experience for many parents.

But Ms Smith explained that when low moods or feelings continue and stop you from functioning normally for more than two weeks, it could indicate perinatal anxiety or depression.

She said it is critical new parents know that seeking help does not make them a bad parent.

"Everyday PANDA's telephone counsellors hear from callers who tell us they are ashamed of what they're feeling and they're afraid they'll be seen as a bad parent if they admit to struggling," she said.

"They need to know that these thoughts are common and that help is available."

If you need help, call the PANDA hotline (Mon to Fri, 9am - 7.30pm AEST) on 1300 726 306.

A nine month labour of love

By Danielle Kutchel WHEN David and Lauryn Jordan decided they were ready to have a baby, they knew it wouldn't be an easy journey.

Lauryn was born with MayerRokitansky-Kuster-Hauser Syndrome, a condition that meant she was born without a uterus.

There were yet more hurdles though, including individual and group counselling sessions, psychological tests, legal advice and finally a submission to the Patient Review Panel - all part of the surrogacy process.

Undaunted, the couple went through two rounds of IVF that resulted in three viable embryos.

Once they were given the all-clear, the Jordans transferred an embryo to Sarah.

The next step was to find a surrogate, so they joined the Australian Surrogacy Community Facebook group to explore their options.

Unfortunately, it miscarried at 10 weeks; but the next embryo was more successful.

Surrogate Sarah got in touch with them and the trio gradually got to know each other through online messages before finally meeting face to face at the Australian Surrogacy Conference.

"The easiest way to describe it is that it's like dating, getting to know her, her husband and her kids," David said.

"We would go to each other's houses and chat and get to know each other, which was a really valuable and important part of the process.

"You need to lay the foundations and work out each other's values to see if it's going to work."

Legally, David and Lauryn were unable to openly ask Sarah to be their www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

David Jordan, Jane Caro and Lauryn Jordan.

surrogate; they were therefore overjoyed when she made the offer to them one night in Canberra, where she and her family live.

The pregnancy was "uneventful", David said, with everything happening as it should, and the couple made every effort to get to Sarah's appointments interstate.

"She was so respectful of us too and included us in the milestones like the first kick and how she was feeling," David added.

The birth earlier this year was "one of the best experiences of my life", he said.

He and Lauryn were allowed in the room with Sarah and her husband in an experience that he will never forget.

Their daughter was born healthy and given the name Everlie.

David said Sarah, her husband and her children are considered "part of the

David Jordan with daughter Everlie.

family", and they plan to tell Everlie the "absolute truth" about her birth.

"We described it to Sarah's kids as 'Lauryn doesn't have a house in her tummy', so we'll probably go with that," he said.

The Jordans were one of the families recently featured on an ABC TV show titled 'New Dads'.

Pictures: ABC

Hosted by Jane Caro, the show explored the lives of five Australian men navigating their first year as new dads.

David hopes to challenge the misconceptions and taboo around surrogacy.

"It's just our normal; it's how we had to have a baby," he said.

SPRING 2019 21

Education

Smart school bags on the way STUDENTS may soon have absolutely no excuses for forgetting their homework or lunch.

Australian researchers have developed a 'smart schoolbag' capable of alerting students and parents to items that haven't been packed.

The school bag features built-in hardware and software to ensure it's been packed correctly with what a student requires for the day.

The bag can even tell if an item isn't needed and should be left at home, ensuring schoolchildren aren't lugging around unnecessary weight.

The smart school bag uses radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to detect items in the bag and Internet of Things (IOT) technology to check its contents against the daily school plan.

It has the capability to send content alerts by smartphone to students, parents and teachers.

Although the smart school bag sounds incredibly futuristic, it may soon become an item commonly used by Australian students.

The Deakin University engineering team responsible have designed a prototype smart schoolbag that includes the smartphone application which could retail for between $125 and $150, making it an affordable option for many families.

The Smart School Bag app, developed by Deakin School of Engineering researchers.

One of the creators, Dr Hamid Abdi, says the smart school bag will make the often difficult task of packing much easier.

"We think the smart school bag will save a lot of time and stress that occurs when homework, hats or lunches are left home by mistake, especially if that requires parents to quickly race home to collect the missing item," he explained.

"A mobile application developed in this project lets parents see the items in

Rama Azadmanesh and her smart school bag created by Deakin University researchers.

the bag and automatically checks them off against the timetable, identifying what is missing and notifies parents if anything else needs to be packed.

"With a smart school bag, children won't need to leave everything in their bag every day. The system helps them

pack only what is needed that day and not worry about forgetting something the next day."

The engineering team are now at the demonstration stage and looking for commercial partners to take their smart school bag project to the next level.

ART CLASSES The award-winning art'sKool provides art classes for all ages and abilities.

Art classes with heart THE award-winning art'sKool provides art classes with a difference.

and to foster self-esteem and awareness," she explained.

The community focused arts hub runs regular sessions for younger and older children, adults, and those with disabilities and their carers.

"It also cultivates emotional resilience, reduces conflict and distress, and enhances social skills.

Regardless of your age or artistic ability, art'sKool has a program for you.

"When people take the risk of building art with others it builds community which is therapeutic."

Each Sunday, art'sKool runs classes for children and adults of all abilities.

Bookings for all art'sKool classes are now open for Term 4.

Also on Tuesday, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 9.30am-12pm, the school holds sessions for adult beginners and carers of those with disabilities who need a break. This includes teens who care for their parents.

The studio is also taking bookings for its school holiday art program, Holiday Club, which consists of vibrant art workshops designed to inspire the creativity of kids aged 5-14 years.

&OR FURTHER INFORMATION CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE

Disability funding is available for these sessions, which are designed to be therapeutic.

WWW ARTSKOOL COM AU %VERIST 2OAD /CEAN 'ROVE

Artist and art'sKool founder, Kaz McGlynn, says art activities are beneficial for those with disabilities and their carers.

The holiday program runs from 1-3 October, with session times of 9.30am12pm and 12.30pm-3.30pm. You can book as many sessions as you like.

Ph: 0437 582 772 22 SPRING 2019

12424279-CG35-19

Art Classes: Kids 6 - 12yrs Teenagers Year 7 - VCE, Adults s 3CHOOL (OLIDAY 7ORKSHOPS s $ISABILITY 7ELCOME

"Art is fun and it is used to improve cognitive and sensory, motor function,

art'Skool is located at 1/20 Everist Road, Ocean Grove.

For bookings or more information visit www.artskool.com.au or phone 0437 582 772. www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

Education

Phone ban to ring in the new school year

By Melissa Grant VICTORIAN students will soon be banned from using their phones during school hours.

The ban is being introduced to reduce the distraction of mobiles in classrooms, tackle cyber bullying and improve student learning outcomes.

However, the ban isn't receiving a ringing endorsement from some parents.

Parents Victoria doesn't support the phone ban amid concerns around security, enforcement and home-school communication.

There are also concerns some students may be disadvantaged by the policy and that it won't actually do much to reduce cyber bullying.

"This will remove a major distraction from our classrooms, so that teachers can teach, and students can learn in a more focused, positive and supported environment," Mr Merlino said.

"Half of all young people have experienced cyber bullying. By banning mobiles we can stop it at the school gate."

The policy has the backing of renowned psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg.

"All schools have a legal obligation to provide a safe environment in which to learn," he said.

"This significant policy initiative is designed to ensure the well-being of young people while at school, free of distraction and potentially cyber bullying."

From Term 1 next year, students at state primary and high schools across Victoria will be required to switch off their phones and store them securely in lockers from the start of the school day to the final bell.

However, Parents Victoria Executive Officer Gail McHardy says there has been no research presented that suggests the majority of cyber bullying actually occurs during school hours or that it will be reduced by the incoming ban.

When emergencies occur, parents and guardians can reach their child by calling the school.

"The ban may push cyber bullying into another time period, but won't reduce it," she said.

The only exceptions to the ban will be where students use phones to monitor health conditions, or where teachers instruct students to bring their phones for a classroom activity.

"What may reduce it is educating students on appropriate phone use, and respectful behaviours."

Education Minister James Merlino announced the new policy following a successful ban at McKinnon Secondary College.

Teachers at the school have reported that students are more focused during class and communicating more in the school yard. www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

Ms McHardy said Parents Victoria didn't support the blanket ban in its current form.

She said schools, for many years, had encouraged 'Bring Your Own Device' and students who didn't have iPads or laptops used smart phones in the classroom.

"Some families can only afford one device for their child," she explained.

"In the majority of cases, a mobile phone would be the first choice, as it has multiple uses, and offers security to students travelling alone."

Parents are also concerned about how mobile phones will be stored as lockers can be broken into and not all students have one.

The state government has announced $12.4 million to deliver resources for schools to securely store student mobile phones. Schools can apply for funding for secure storage resources, including upgraded lockers, padlocks, storage cupboards and secured boxes for home rooms. Lockable pouches are also being investigated as an storage option.

Ms McHardy also said some students used mobile phone apps for concentration and anxiety management, and had already indicated they would seek exemption from the ban.

Parents have also expressed concerns about not being able to directly contact their children during school hours and are worried about how the policy will be policed.

"It's difficult to be confident this policy can be implemented without incident for student or teacher," Ms McHardy said.

WHAT YOU SAID Sue W: My girls school had a lockdown ... getting a message to tell me they are in lockdown, scared and they loved me meant everything. If anything bad was to ever happen I'd love them to be able to contact me. My girls are in high school.

"Some schools who already have implemented phone ban policy cannot claim 100 per cent compliance by all students.

Louise Q: Of course it is, but good luck with my 17 year old son

"(We) don't want it resulting in school suspensions."

Judy R: Unless it's used for medical reasons yes

The Department of Education and Training has begun working with schools to prepare them for the introduction of the ban.

Carmel H: I think they should be able to have their phones at High School but not in class

Heidi W: Brilliant idea

SPRING 2019 23

Party Time

Games to get the party started Pass the parcel A classic game kids of all ages get excited about. Beforehand, buy a main prize, a few inexpensive toys and a pack of chocolate bars. Using a newspaper, wrap the main prize first.

Then wrap the parcel about a dozen or so times, placing a toy or chocolate bar between each wrapping. To play, the kids sit in a circle and you play some music. When the music stops the child holding the parcel gets to unwrap it and reveal their prize.

Musical chairs Another easy game involving music! Set up chairs in a circle (start with one chair less than the number of kids playing).

When the music stops, the kids scramble for a seat and the child left standing is out. Take another chair away and repeat until there is only one child left standing!

Pin the tail on the donkey Another simple game for children of all ages. You can buy kits for this game, or you can use a poster of an animal, a pack of stickers/tails and a blindfold. To play, each child is blindfolded and spun around before being directed to the donkey (or other animal) with a tail in their hand. The child who sticks the tail closest to the spot where the tail should be wins!

Egg and spoon race This one is pretty self-explanatory - put each child on a starting line with an egg on the spoon. The first to the finish line with the egg still on their spoon wins the race. Make sure you boil your eggs first to avoid messy clean-ups.

Treasure hunt Kids love hunting for treasure! You could buy some inexpensive prizes or confectionary and hide them around your yard. Or you could hide some tokens so that the child who collects the most can exchange them for one main prize.

Simon Says This classic game can be a lot of fun at parties. An adult directs the kids to do what 'Simon Says' (eg Simon says touch your nose). The kids who do the action when Simon didn't say are out. The last child standing wins the game!

Birthday quiz Ask the kids a dozen or so questions about the birthday child (eg. What is their favourite colour? What is their middle name). The child who answers the most questions wins. The only downside is the birthday child can't play!

The chocolate game is a classic.

Poison ball This game is a great one for the outdoors. Line the kids up and throw the 'poison ball' at them. Kids who are hit or go outside the designated area are out.

The last child left wins the game! Just be sure to use a soft ball to avoid injury.

Pinata is fun and delicious party game.

The chocolate game A fun and yummy game you may remember from your own childhood!

You'll need a block of chocolate, some dress-ups, two dice, plate, fork and a butter knife. To play, the kids take turns at roll the dice. When a pair of sixes are rolled, the child puts the dress-up clothes on and then cuts away at the chocolate. The child must cut one square at a time and eat it using the knife and fork. They get to keep eating the chocolate until the next pair of sixes are rolled. Yum!

Pinata For this game, you'll need to buy a pinata from a party shop and fill it with confectionary. On the day, securely hang the pinata so it is around head height. To play, the kids stand a few metres away and take turns to hit the pinata with a wooden stick or bat until it breaks open and the treats fall to the ground! Usually players are blindfolded, however this isn't necessary (pinatas can be tough to break and you don't want the kids to hit anyone).

Party invites fit for royalty

By Melissa Meehan GONE are the days where mum or dad bought a pad of invitations from the supermarket and carefully wrote the details of their child's upcoming birthday party on each one.

Nowadays kids are receiving the kinds of birthday invitations fit for a wedding - glossy and professional.

Many party supply businesses can create custom invites to suit any party theme.

The end results from such businesses are often impressive - you end up with invites you are proud to send out. Not 24 SPRING 2019

only that, the stylish invites can also be a great keepsake for years to come.

Best of all, you don't have to write out the party details on a bunch of invites!

There are also many websites that allow you to copy or purchase a custom made invitation that you can print at home. Or you can take the invites down to your local photo printer and print them.

All you need to do is think about your theme, have a photo of your little one ready (if you want this on the invite) and provide the usual information of who, how, when and where.

The same goes for birth announcements, christenings and any other event you have planned. www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

Entertainment

It’s show time at Waurn Ponds this spring!

BABY Show Time will be back at Waurn Ponds this October with a special spring theme to celebrate.

Families asked to dress their bundles of joy in their best spring racing attire for a ‘fashions on the field’ event for little ones in celebration of the Geelong Cup. “The Waurn Ponds Baby Show is an exciting fixture in the Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre events calendar,” Baby Showtime Director Jayne Wood said.

“The shows are exceptionally well supported by Geelong, Surf Coast and Bellarine locals as well as families from much further afield.

“Families enjoy celebrating their little ones in a fun, friendly and supportive environment and there are loads of trophies, sashes, ribbons and great prizes up for grabs.”

Entry is $11 per child (aged 0-6 years) which includes entry into the King & Queen section.

All novelty sections are an additional $5 per category.

A portion of all funds raised at Baby Show Time are provided to the Kids with Cancer Foundation.

The event is on Tuesday 22 October from 11am outside Target at the Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre.

Families can register online at babyshowtime.com.au/baby-shows/ For more information, visit www.waurnpondssc.com.au www.babyshowtime.com.au

Baby Show Time returns to Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre this spring.

Race into cinemas for new

Paw Patrol action movie GET ready to race to the cinemas for some Paw Patrol action.

The new Paw Patrol Movie, Ready Race Rescue, will hit Aussie cinemas on 3 October.

In the film, the Paw Patrol Pups are ready to be the pit crew for their race hero after building an awesome racetrack.

However, the racer pulls out due to injury and calls on pup Marshall to

race in his place.

“Marshall has the heart of a racer,” the legendary driver says.

Ready Race Rescue follows the hugely successful first Paw Patrol movie, Paw Patrol: Mighty Pups.

The hit cartoon series Paw Patrol, now in its sixth season, follows the fun adventures of 10-year-old Ryder and his six rescue puppies as they save the citizens of Adventure Bay.

Claymation series Kiri and Lou is now showing on ABC Kids.

Kiri and Lou airing in Australia THE critically-acclaimed claymation series, Kiri and Lou, has begun screening on ABC Kids.

Kiri and Lou teaches young children about their emotions, kindness and the true value of friendship.

Kiri is a feisty little dinosaur, while her best friend Lou is a gentle creature with a long trunk.

Voiced by Olivia Tennet (Lord of the Rings) and Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords), the show is set in a forest of cut-out paper with creatures made of clay.

It follows two dinosaurs, Kiri and Lou, in prehistoric New Zealand as they navigate feelings with laughter, song and adventure. With delightful songs and funny characters, the

show is aimed at kids aged 3-7 years.

The old fashioned stop motion animation series is written and directed by Harry Sinclair, who is best known for his role as Isildur in Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

Kiri and Lou is going gangbusters in New Zealand where it’s been described as the best show on TV and as having ‘’the charm of Wallace and Gromit minus all the cheese”.

The series was selected to screen among the world’s best at Annecy International Animation Festival 2019.

Kiri and Lou screens on ABC Kids each day at 5.50pm and is also available to view on the ABC Kids app and iview.

Coming to the big screen... a new Paw Patrol movie.

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

SPRING 2019 25

Books

A horsey tale to inspire kids

By Romy Stephens AN idea for a great story is often drawn from personal experience.

That's exactly the case for Kaylee Ison, whose children's novel, Ashley's Sparrow, stems from her memories growing up in the Yarra Valley.

As a child, Kaylee was a shy girl who often struggled to find confidence in herself. But the one place she felt on top of the world was on the back of her horse.

"I grew up as a horse rider. I loved horses, lived and breathed them," she said.

"I was pretty shy growing up and I had this one pony, he gave me a lot of confidence.

"He taught me to ride when I was little."

Kaylee always knew her story resembled that of many children who struggle to find self-belief, so she decided to write a story about it.

Ashley's Sparrow is about a young girl and a horse that both had tragic pasts so they come together to find healing.

The main character, Bridie, is a fearless cross-country rider before she suffers a tragic accident and refuses to ride again. It's not until she meets a horse called Sparrow - whose trust has been abused by his past rider - that she faces the decision to get back in the saddle and help Sparrow learn to trust again.

Kaylee said her experience growing up with horses and learning so much from them helped inspire the narrative.

"Horses taught me a lot growing up and gave me a lot of confidence," she said.

"They are an amazing creature, they can teach us a lot about ourselves."

The book has been a work in progress for the past five years. It took two years to write and another three to finalise and have published.

After initially struggling to go down the typical route of finding a publisher, Kaylee decided to self-publish. She found an artist who used to live in the Yarra Valley to create the front cover and had former university classmates, family and friends do the proof-reading.

She is now in the process of writing a

Kaylee Ison with her book, Ashley's Sparrow, which stems from her memories growing up as a horse rider.

Picture: ROB CAREW

second book as part of what she anticipates to be an entire series.

healing and finding faith in yourself again after a tragic accident.

Kaylee hopes Ashley's Sparrow can help young children going through tough times.

"I hope it helps readers find hope again and keep going."

"The book itself is about finding

Ashley's Sparrow is available at lulu.com

Children's books...

How (not) to Annoy Dad

Pig the Tourist

Dave Hughes & Holly Ife, illustrated by Heath McKenzie

OUR favourite pug, Pig is back!

This time, the naughty but lovable pup is off on holidays.

Pig, as you could probably guess, is a horrid traveller who you can count on to ruin a vacation - regardless of where it is. Even in places of wild celebration, he somehow creates absolute devastation!

But Pig's horrid holiday behaviour may come back to bite him - hard. A funny rhyming story perfect for reading with kids aged 3+ from the wildly popular Pig series, which has sold more than four million print copies.

AN entertaining children's book from comedian and TV/Radio personality Dave Hughes and wife Holly Ife. The pair have written a funny book about the things that go wrong when dad spends the day with the kids.

Cue a very messy breakfast, playground toilet dramas, embarrassing moments at the library and a lot of questions.

And dad don't even think about looking at your phone while you're on the throne! We wonder if this book is based on real life...

A fun book to read with kids aged 3+ Scholastic, RRP $17.99

Aaron Blabey

Scholastic, RRP $17.99

Puppy Diary: The Great Toy Rescue

Aliens & U.F.O.S

Promise

Jonathan J Moore

Alexandra Alt

Yvette Poshogilan, illustrated by Phil Judd

DO aliens actually exist? It's a question many kids ask themselves - and this book will certainly satisfy their curiosity and, perhaps, add to their belief that they do! Years of research into aliens and UFOs are presented in this paperback including sightings, abductions and evidence of alien visits. If the stories really are true, we can only hope those extraterrestrials come in peace!

SET in Nazi Germany, Promise is a harrowing first love story that chronicles World War II.

AN adorable book, written from the perspective of a Schnoodle puppy called Archie. The pooch shares the essentials, including how he got his name, before embarking on his biggest ever adventure - doggy daycare! It gets off to a good start with the premises smelling like the sweet combination of liver treats and the inside of him mum's slippers. However, the tale takes a terrible turn when Archie realises his favourite toy, Foxy, is gone.

With other pups also missing their toys, it's operation toy rescue!

A 'pawsome' read for kids aged 6+

A great read for teens (particularly the alien obsessed).

New Holland Publishers, RRP $19.99

Teenage lovers Lene and Ludwig both despise the compulsory Hitler Youth, and their anti-war attitude gets them noticed by squad leaders.

When 17-year-old Ludwig is called to the Eastern Front in 1943, the lovers can only promise each other to believe they'll one day be reunited.

However, Ludwig goes missing within weeks and three years pass before Lene returns to Berlin to find out what happened to her first love.

Captivating historical fiction for readers aged 12+ Scholastic, RRP $16.99

Scholastic, RRP $9.99 26 SPRING 2019

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

Kids Calendar

What's on this spring

22 SEPTEMBER

West Town Hall, 153 Pakington Street, Geelong West.

COMMUNITY KIDS CELEBRATION

Tickets available at www.themikmaks. com.au/play-tour/

Hosted by the Salvation Army Geelong, this community event features jumping castles, food and music. 10am-12pm.

The Salvation Army Geelong, 239-241 Malop Street.

23 SEPTEMBER - 4 OCTOBER WAURN PONDS SHOPPING CENTRE - SCHOOL HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES 11am to 2pm weekdays (Monday to Friday only) Stamp your treasure map at each activity - there are stamps and stickers to collect centre wide.

Pirate Cove: Play pirate dress-up and receive a free Treasure Island Polaroid photo, rave the blow-up sea and Go Fish!, swash-buckle a balloon sword or challenge a pirate & walk the plank.

Treasure Hunt: Join in the half minute treasure hunt to collect gold chocolate coins when you donate a gold coin to Kids Appeal Geelong.

Captain's Craft: Collect all your stamps and spin the ship wheel for your chance to win a pirate prize.

Ponds Pirates: Place your face in the Pirate Peek-A-Boo Boards while you wait to get your pirate face on!

1-3 OCTOBER ART'SKOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAM Award-winning art school arts'Kool Holiday Club will be abuzz with fun and exciting art and craft classes designed to inspire kids aged 5-14 years.

There are two session times to choose from: 9.30am-12pm and 12.30pm-3.30pm.

GEELONG CHILDREN'S WEEK LAUNCH Head to the Carousel for the launch of Geelong Children's Week.

OPENING NIGHT - CHRISTMAS IN GEELONG This spectacular show kicks off the Christmas celebrations and light Geelong's spectacular Floating Christmas Tree.

The event culminates in a short fireworks presentation and the lighting of our floating Christmas tree.

Following opening night, the Floating Christmas Tree light show will be staged each night from 8.30pm until midnight.

Welcome to Country and free carousel rides, be entertained with magic tricks performed by councillors and Dazzling Dan.

6 OCTOBER

9am-10am. The Carousel Pavilion, Eastern Beach Road, Geelong

GEELONG BABY AND CHILDREN'S MARKET

Free, but bookings required.

Visit eventbrite.com

Featuring over 50 stalls, this is a great family day out.

22 OCTOBER

Pick up some bargains from stallholders selling clothes, shoes, toys, prams, cots, car seats, highchairs and more.

FESTIVAL OF SPORT GMHBA Stadium will be open to the community as the free Festival of Sport returns to Kardinia Park.

A national SPL skate competition, an all-new kids triathlon and medieval jousting displays are among the 60-plus 'come and try' experiences. Obstacool, Geelong Cats Stadium tours, stand-up paddle boarding and the Mik Maks will also be returning for this year's event.

11am-4pm, Kardinia Park

17-20 OCTOBER

THE MIK MAKS

ROYAL GEELONG SHOW

The Mik Maks Musical Adventures is a new livestage show inspired from the worldwide success of The Mik Maks YouTube channel.

The Royal Geelong Show is the region's largest four day show and offers a great range of agricultural displays and activities for all the family to experience.

Joel, Al and Drums the Panda will be joined on stage by some very special guests. The 50 minute show is great for kids aged 1-8 years.

There are great spectator competitions and displays regularly taking place on the main arena and other locations on the grounds over the course of the weekend.

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

18 OCTOBER

8 NOVEMBER

Book online for a single half day workshop or as many sessions as you like. Sessions book fast, so be quick.

Visit www.artskool.com.au

24 SEPTEMBER

Shows at 10am and 12.30pm. Geelong

The event features blue ribbon competitions, vintage machinery displays, live entertainment, nightly arena entertainment, Harry's Farmyard where the kids can get up close and personal with the animals, thrill seeker rides, showbags and much more.

BABY SHOW TIME Baby Show Time will be back in Waurn Ponds this October.

7pm-9.30pm. Geelong Waterfront.

16 NOVEMBER

There's coffee, a sausage sizzle and jumping castle on site.

Entry $3 for adults, children free

Local families are asked to dress their bundles of joy in their best spring racing attire for a 'fashions on the field' event for little ones in celebration of the Geelong Cup.

9am-1pm at Barwon Valley Activity Centre. 1 Barwon Heads Road

Entry is $11 per child (aged 0-6 years) which includes entry into the King & Queen section.

SANTA'S MAGICAL KINGDOM

All novelty sections are an additional $5 per category.

The event is on from 11am outside Target at the Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre. Families can register online at https://babyshowtime.com.au/ baby-shows/

22 NOVEMBER - 24 DECEMBER

Santa's Magical Kingdom delivers a Christmas wonderland full of activities and rides that will capture the imagination of children and parents everywhere.

Caulfield Racecourse, Station Street, Caulfield Tickets at www.ticketmaster.com.au or via booking office on 1300 307 740.

SPRING 2019 27

book now!

12426165-FA35-19

28 SPRING 2019

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au