Casey Cardinia Kids Winter 2021

WINTER 2021

Expert advice on

SOCIAL MEDIA FOR KIDS Talking about

BIRTH TRAUMA Mums and daughters with

GRETEL KILLEEN

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

WINTER 2021 1

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2 WINTER 2021

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

About Us

Great winter reading HELLO! Welcome to the winter edition of Casey Cardinia Kids Today.

It’s hard to believe we are already halfway through the year, although time certainly does fly when you have kids!

Before having children, were you aware there was a reasonable chance that you’d have a traumatic birth?

I wasn’t and many of my friends weren’t either. Yet, an estimated one in three Australian women describe their birth experience as traumatic. And between 10 and 20 per cent of first-time mums sustain a long-term physical injury from childbirth. But many women suffer in silence. The Australasian Birth Trauma Association is working hard to

change that. We spoke to co-founder Amy Dawes about the prevalence of birth trauma, and why it’s important to talk about it (see page 4).

There are also a couple of people in this issue you may recognise from TV. We caught up with Gretel Killeen (of Big Brother fame), who has published a new book called My Daughter’s Wedding, a hilarious story on how hard and great the relationship between mum and daughter is.

You’ll also probably recognise Samuel Johnson, the Aussie actor who created Love Your Sister, a ‘million strong village’ of Aussies committed to vanquishing cancer.

together 90 well-known Aussies for his latest project, a book called ‘Dear Mum’.

Samuel invited each of the celebs to write a letter to their mums - it’s brilliant and will get you thinking about writing a letter to your own.

There is plenty of good reading in our 10-page education section. There’s a story on the nationwide push for more girls to pursue STEM subjects and careers, an explainer on looming changes to the childcare subsidy and tips to support teens heading into exams. It will be the end of year before we know it!

Take care,

Well, now Samuel has brought

Casey Cardinia Kids magazine is a Star News Group publication.

Casey Cardinia Kids will be published quarterly prior to each of the school holidays.

Casey Cardinia Kids Cnr Princes Hwy and Army Road, Pakenham, 3810 PO Box 9, Pakenham, Victoria 3810 Phone: 5945 0666 Fax: 5945 0777 Editorial Melissa Grant melissa.grant@starnewsgroup.com.au Phone: 5945 0666

CONTENTS IT’S YOUR LIFE Talking about birth trauma PAGE 4 A new place to play

Photography

Affordable care

Mud pies should be on the menu

PAGE 23

PAGE 36

Fun dentist visits

Born to perform

PAGE 23

PAGE 37

PAGE 5

SENIORS

ENTERTAINMENT

Young parents on the right path

Playgroups for all ages

Exploring the universe

PAGE 6

PAGE 24

New youth centre on the way

EDUCATION

PAGE 7

PAGE 8

PAGE 25 Parenting well

Expert advice on social media for kids PAGE 10

Advertising Manager Mandy Clark 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.

PARTY TIME Made with love

Cover

PAGE 38

Lilly is pumped for winter.

Born to party

PAGE 26 Engaging imaginations

Steve Biddulph on daughters and inner signs

Advertising advertising@starnewsgroup.com.au Phone: 5945 0666

PAGE 38

Supporting teens heading into exams

Gretel Killeen’s best is yet to come

Rob Carew Stewart Chambers Gary Sissons

PAGE 39

WINTER 2021

PHILLIP ISLAND

PAGE 27 Connecting across colleges PAGE 27

A thrilling experience for the whole family

Nurturing care for your early learner

PAGE 40

PAGE 13

PAGE 28

Have a whale of a time at Phillip Island

Teaching kids financial literacy

A new identity

PAGE 41

PAGE 16

PAGE 29

New home for toy library

A great place for students to learn

FASHION

PAGE 18

PAGE 29

HEALTH

Inspiring girls to choose STEM

PAGE 12 Samuel Johnson’s collection of mum letters

Winter sniffles start early for families

Family focus at Kool Kidz PAGE 31 A growing school

PAGE 19

PAGE 31

Cooking with Bulk Foods

Healthy development a real focus

PAGE 20

PAGE 32

GRETEL KILLEEN

PAGES 42-44

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Providing a solid foundation for learning

The rise of the e-baby generation

Lighting up for Hannah

PAGE 46

PAGE 50

The battle of becoming a parent

BOOKS

PAGE 47

Born ready to face puberty

From tired dad to prolific author

PAGE 33

Tips to keep you healthy this winter

Childcare fees set for overhaul

PAGE 53

PAGE 48

Children’s books

Making learning lots of fun

PAGE 34

PAGE 53

PAGE 49

DENTAL

ACTIVE KIDS

A team of orthodontic experts

Paint your own pottery

Sweet business success for Pakenham mum

PAGE 22

PAGE 35

PAGE 49

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

WINTER 2021 1

Double the fun for Federal MP PAGE 45

PAGE 20

caseycardiniakids.com.au

BIRTH TRAUMA Mums and daughters with

REALITY BITES

PAGE 30

All your healthy essentials in one place

PAGE 21

Talking about

Cool winter threads

PAGE 19

When to book your child an eye test

Expert advice on

SOCIAL MEDIA FOR KIDS

facebook.com/caseycardiniakids

KIDS CALENDAR What’s on this winter PAGE 55

instagram.com/caseycardiniakids WINTER 2021 3

women who had suffered similar birth-related injuries but were further along in their healing journey.

It’s Your Life

“I got to connect with other women going through the same thing,” Amy said.

“When I got through the initial shock of the diagnosis and worked towards getting mentally better, I wanted to help other women.”

One of the main things the ABTA provides is peer support. There are more than 2500 women in the association’s private support group, where birth trauma stories are shared.

“The group supports women who have had babies weeks ago, months ago, years ago and even decades ago,” Amy explained.

Amy Dawes and first-born Eliya.

In a recent episode of Insight on SBS, a mother of three explained how she had never heard of prolapse until she had one.

“This wasn’t to be expected, I didn’t expect it, I didn’t know about it,” she said.

Pelvic organ prolapse is when one or more of the organs in the pelvis - the uterus, bladder or bowel - slip down from their normal position and bulge into the vagina.

It can be severe but not uncommon - more than half of all women who have given birth experience some level of prolapse, according to the Continence Foundation of Australia.

Yet too many women suffer in silence.

However, the Australasian Birth Trauma Association (ABTA) is working hard to change that.

Amy Dawes and her daughters Eliya and Indi.

Talking about birth trauma

By Melissa Grant WELCOMING a child into the world is meant to be one of life’s most joyous events.

However, for many women and families childbirth is an upsetting experience that leaves lasting physical or mental scars - or both.

In fact, one in three Australian women describe their birth experience as traumatic.

It’s also estimated that between 10 and 20 per cent of first-time mothers sustain a long-term physical injury from childbirth.

It’s not uncommon for women to experience incontinence, constant

Do you have birth trauma?

What links you to birth trauma is that, at some point during the process, you felt severely threatened and unsafe or you felt that your baby was unsafe and you experienced the helplessness and fear that goes along with that.

PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA The shock of what actually happened during birth can impact mental health and result in conditions such as; anxiety, depression, and other disorders. Some people experience severe emotional distress after a traumatic birth even though there was no physical trauma. It is also important to note that trauma can continue long 4 WINTER 2021

lower back pain, sexual dysfunction, pelvic floor injuries and pelvic organ prolapse.

Some suffer from psychological birth trauma, including anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder.

If the prevalence of birth trauma sounds shocking or surprising that’s because it is somewhat of a taboo topic.

There’s a strong narrative that women should be grateful for delivering a healthy baby, which often stops them from sharing their traumatic birth experiences or getting help.

Antenatal classes don’t tend to discuss the possibility of birth trauma most focus on the pregnancy, labour and breastfeeding.

after the birth, with distinct psychological symptoms.

Psychological trauma can present as: ■ Postnatal depression and/or anxiety (PNDA)

The charity is dedicated to supporting women, partners and families after birth-related trauma.

It provides peer-led support for those affected, while raising awareness about the types of trauma and the help available.

The association was co-founded four years ago by Amy Dawes, an Australian mother who suffered a birth injury from the forceps delivery of her first daughter, Eliya.

Amy sustained a third-degree tear but thought things would get better on their own. She had no idea of the extent of the damage until her daughter was 16 months old. Her pelvic floor muscle had been pulled off the bone and she was diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse, a condition she’d never heard of.

“I was a qualified personal trainer and I knew nothing of how crucial the pelvic floor is to how the body should work,” she said.

“When I was diagnosed I hadn’t heard of prolapse.”

There were also indications Amy was suffering from acute stress disorder as a result of her diagnosis. She sought support from a psychiatrist and, crucially, was introduced to other

separate the vaginal opening and the anus. Tears are usually graded by ‘degrees’ and you may hear the terms first, second, third or fourth degree tear.

■ Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) (For example obsessive thoughts that can affect our behaviour such as checking on baby constantly or recurring thoughts that impact your enjoyment of daily life).

Pelvic floor muscle damage: Occurs when the muscles and connective tissue no longer provide the support they once did. Injury to the pelvic floor is very deep and cannot be seen, so is difficult to identify at the time of birth.

It is often much later, when women have bladder or bowel problems, or the vaginal bulge feeling of prolapse, that the injury is recognised.

PHYSICAL TRAUMA Perineal tears: A laceration of the skin, muscles and other soft tissues that

Pelvic organ prolapse: When an organ (or organs) such as the bladder, uterus or bowel loses some of its

■ Post-partum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

“We support women who have had vaginal births, vaginal birth with interventions, emergency C-section, planned C-section, epidural or not... no matter how ‘normal’ it looks from the outside, you can still feel affected by it.

“Incontinence, for example, can impact women regardless of the mode of delivery. Many women think ‘this must be my new normal’ or when they do seek help they are told ‘you’ve just had a baby, what do you expect?’

“Many parents are so busy caring for their kids that they just think they should put up with it or don’t even realise that they can seek support.”

Then there are others, according to Amy, who seek support but have their concerns dismissed.

Amy says while birth-related trauma is often minimised by medical professionals, many women feel like they haven’t been given adequate information to prepare for birth.

The majority of mums who have sought support from the association said their antenatal classes didn’t discuss what happens when birth doesn’t go to plan and possible interventions, such as forceps or cesareans.

“The attitude that we can’t scare women, it’s not working,” Amy said.

“Statistically, one in five Australian women need an emergency cesarean, and one in three require assisted delivery. They are really big stats - we need to be informing women.”

The ATBA runs an annual awareness week dedicated to shining a light on birth-related trauma.

The theme of this year’s awareness week, from July 19-25, is Better Healing.

People are invited to take part in the annual ‘walk n talk’ event to start the conversation and fundraise for the ATBA, which relies solely on the donations of generous supporters.

The social media hashtags are #starttheconversation #saferbirthsbetterhealing #walkntalk.

“There is power in sharing the stories and reducing the stigma,” Amy said.

“The more we raise our voice the harder it is to ignore.”

To donate, or for more information, visit https://www.birthtrauma.org.au/

support and moves downwards through the vagina. symptoms can impact the enjoyment of daily life and adversely impact mental health.

Pelvic fractures: (pubic bone, coccyx, sacrum) Cesarean wounds: Pain from cesarean wounds usually subside by 3-6 months, but for approximately 11 per cent of women, incision wound pain persists for at least 12 months. Women can also experience pain elsewhere such as back pain and chronic pelvic pain; including pain with sexual function and using tampons 12 months after a C-section.

Source: Australasian Birth Trauma Association www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

It’s Your Life

A new place to play THERE’S a new bright and bold playground in Cranbourne South’s Brompton Estate. The Edgar Avenue playground features a rock climbing wall, net swing, small slide and a track where kids can ride their bikes, scooters and skateboards.

There’s also a colourful basketball court and fitness equipment. It’s a great

David enjoys some of the thrills of the new playground on Edgar Avenue, Cranbourne South.

Pictures: Stewart Chambers

park, particularly for older kids.

While the park has seating, there are no toilets or fencing.The park is a short stroll to the Encore Boulevard playground, which was featured in the last edition of Casey Cardinia Kids.

Encore Boulevard Playground has toilets and features a rocket play structure, swings, sandpit and obstacle course.

Charlotte tests out the climbing wall.

Charlotte on the net swing.

A large rock climbing wall is the focal point of the park.

Charlotte chases young Sophie.

Sophie and mum Connie are fans of the new playground.

There is a concrete track that’s perfect for bikes and scooters.

The park features a basketball court.

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

WINTER 2021 5

It’s Your Life

Young parents on the right path

By Melissa Grant MY life is over. I can’t finish school. I’m worried about what everyone will say.

These are just some of the thoughts that can run through the mind of a young person when they discover they are about to become a parent.

Pregnancy can derail a young person’s education, making it difficult to establish a career and secure employment to help provide for their child.

Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be that way.

The Young Parents Education Program (YPEP) is enabling youth aged 13-22, the opportunity to finish Year 12 and establish a career path.

The program already has two centres in the City of Casey, and there are plans for a third and another in the Cardinia Shire.

Young mums and dads undertake a VCAL course, and have access to support and advice from experts about parenting, early childhood development, financial literacy, mental health, legal, housing and more.

The classrooms have cots and baby toys. Students can bring their babies to class, until their babies are 12 months or of walking age, and a parent supporter is there to help with feeding, changing, settling and sleeping.

Teachers help students reconnect with their studies in a flexible way studies can be completed over a few years if need be.

The program also allows participants - some who have found themselves disconnected from their friends - to socialise with others in a similar situation.

Since beginning as a pilot program at Cranbourne five years ago, YPEP has been a huge success.

YPEP Project Leader Mary TresizeBrown says 100 young people have already graduated from the program.

Importantly, all have been assisted with a pathway to a rewarding career.

“Many of them have gone into traineeships and apprenticeships, and some have gone onto tertiary studies such as nursing and psychology,” Ms Tresize-Brown explained.

“Others have gone into administration, the travel industry or early childhood education.

Mary said YPEP is a vital service for the City of Casey and nearby areas given how many young parents there are.

“We know that across the Casey, Cardinia and Dandenong local government areas, the 2016 census data indicated that there were 1110 parents aged between 13 and 20,” Ms Tresize-Brown explained.

YPEP mums Angel, Rozi and Nyaboth with TV host/presenter Jo White (back left) who visited the program last year and shared her own story of becoming a mum at age 17.

Many of them have gone into traineeships and apprenticeships, and some have gone onto tertiary studies such as nursing and psychology”

“So there are a lot of young parents in the area.

“Casey has the highest number and it’s probably the biggest region.”

The YPEP is at Narre Warren’s Foundation Learning Centre and at Hallam Senior College. There are plans for YPEP to be offered at Cranbourne Secondary College, possibly by the end of this year or the start of 2022.

Preliminarily planning is also underway to establish YPEP at Kooweerup.

6 WINTER 2021

Monash University is undertaking an independent evaluation of YPEP, with the results expected to be published next year.

Ms Tresize-Brown says the results will demonstrate the benefits of YPEP, and is hopeful more learning hubs will be set-up across the country.

“Our aim is for YPEP to be replicable and sustainable,” she said.

“The evaluation will demonstrate

what we are doing and the benefits of education for young parents.

“We’re advocating for the Education Department to extend their level of funding to ensure the parenting role can be provided for schools to offer this program.

“It’s not suitable for every school to offer it ... but there are definitely a number of schools that could offer it and manage it very well.”

Young Parents Education Program (YPEP) participants Erika, Nyaboth and Angel.

If you are interested in joining the YPEP or would like more details, please contact Mary on email mtresizebrown@ sellen.org.au or phone 0430 445 187. www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

It’s Your Life

An artist impression of Pakenham’s new youth centre, expected to open in April 2022.

New youth centre on the way PAKENHAM is getting a new youth centre.

The centre is being built on James Street and is expected to open in April 2022.

It will offer programs and services for young people aged 12 to 24, with dedicated training rooms, counselling rooms, a program/group room, a shower and laundry facility, recording booth, computers with internet access

and a roof top recreation space.

There will be services and programs to support young people to build resilience, re-engage in education, training and work opportunities, improve relationships, and will give them the ability to access specialist services in a timely manner.

The new youth centre is being built as the current youth centre, My Place, is close to capacity.

“The move to construct this new, purpose-built youth centre is what our community has been asking for as it will support the future needs of our young people,” Cardinia Mayor Brett Owen said.

Henty Ward Councillor Carol Ryan said the location was ideal for young people as it was close to public transport and local skate parks and shopping areas.

“It’s important we plan for the future and in particular for the future of our young people,” Cr Ryan said.

Cardinia Shire Council has committed $1.5 million to this project.

The state government has pledged $3 million from the Growing Suburbs Fund, while the federal government has put forward $1.5 million as part of the Community Health and Hospitals Program.

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It’s Your Life

Gretel’s best is yet to come LOOKING back at an incredibly diverse career, Gretel Killeen is confident the best is yet to come.

She’s known for her books, her TV career, and for her no nonsense approach and comedic flair.

She truly is in a league of her own.

Here, she answers questions on her new book, My Daughter’s Wedding.

I’ve heard you say you’ve been obsessed with the relationship or the love between mothers and daughters - how intense, complex, fraught it is that’s so true! Particularly around weddings and big events. I also really appreciate a book or a show that’s focussed on the relationship between women. It’s more common these days but the relationship between the significant women in our life can often be the most important. Have you had this idea for a long time?

Yes, for as long as I can remember I’ve been fascinated by the power of women, their intellectual and emotional strength and their extraordinary capacity to love. I’m intrigued by every facet of the mother daughter relationship as these pillars of strength both collide and support. But, please note, this novel is also a comedy.

Tell me about the central characters in the story and how they intersect (without giving too much away, of course!)

My Daughter’s Wedding is about mother-daughter love over three generations, but it’s also about the hilarious, safe and sometimes ridiculous support we receive from our friends, and our connection to our extended family.

The lead characters are the mother (Nora living with mother guilt and anger), her daughters (Hope and Joy,

one has a massive unexplained chip on her shoulder, the other is far too kind) and the grandmother ( Daphne, who’s living with increasing dementia.) The close friends are Soula (an amateur bikini-line waxer) and Thilma (whom they found in a cab in the 1980’s).

I believe you’ve said My Daughter’s Wedding doesn’t draw on your own personal life events particularly, is that right?

My Daughter’s Wedding only draws on my personal life in that I am both a mother and a daughter. I’ve found in writing this novel that the frustrating, beautiful and complicated bond that exists between mothers and daughters seems to be universal, so I added my imagination to the theory and focused on the broader picture.

Are there more stories/novels in the pipeline?

Yes, I’ve written many books in my life.

The novel I’m currently writing is about - well, the meaning of life.

I remember reading My Life is a Toilet when I was young (and loved it) - you really have had an incredibly diverse career. And of course some will know you for your work as an author, your time on Big Brother. Is there anything you’re most proud of, or a piece of work you look back on, as your best?

Thankyou. I’m proud of a great deal of the work I’ve done, but I think my best is yet to come.

For mothers of young girls - what do we have to look forward to? I’m often told the teenage years don’t compare to the toddler years. Which I find interesting!

Ah, you have some very interesting years ahead of you. In my observation ‘the toddler years’ are largely about a little person who is frustrated by their lack of independence, learning to express themselves as they discover

Gretel has a new book out exploring complex relationships between women.

boundaries. The teenage years can be that very same issue- but the teenager now has words, adult energy and power, and that can be mind-blowingly overwhelming. For the benefit of all of us our children need to develop their independence, but the process can be really painful ( especially for the mothers.) ps. Good luck and have faith, all will be fabulous in the end.

TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES comes to Clyde * Play it on SWITCH on the BIG 100” Screen

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By Danielle Galvin

C asey Property Group

E S T A T E A G E N T S Excellence. Trust. Service.

8 WINTER 2021

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

WHAT’S ON AT Museum of the Moon Visit the Bunjil Place Plaza this winter for an up-close encounter of a giant replica of the Earth’s Moon by UK artist Luke Jerram.

Measuring seven metres in diameter, the moon features 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface. At an approximate scale of 1:500,000, each centimetre of the internally lit spherical sculpture represents 5km of the moon’s surface.

Saturday 26 June – Sunday 4 July Open daily 11.00 am – 9.00 pm. Free for all.

Museum of the Moon by Luke Jerram. Lakes Alive, UK, 2016

Plaza

FUN FOR THE YOUNG AND YOUNG AT HEART!

Spike

The Bubble Show with Mini Milkshake

by Little Wing Puppets

by Bubble Laboratory

A baby echidna in search of where he belongs. Enjoy an interactive family experience in the Studio combining shadow puppetry and physical comedy.

Every child goes inside their own BUBBLE! Enjoy a theatre show about bubbles for anyone in the world regardless of what language they speak.

Monday 5 July, 10.30 am & 12.30 pm

Wednesday 7 & Thursday 8 July, 10.30 am (both days)

Tickets All tickets $10.00

Tickets All tickets $16.00

Groups 4+ $9.00 per person Studio

Studio

Pete the Sheep

Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show

by Monkey Baa Theatre Company

by BBCS, Andrew Kay & QPAC

Imaginatively told by four performers playing shearers, dogs and sheep, this hilarious musical comedy explores the challenges and rewards of being an individual whilst being part of the flock! Based on Jackie French and Bruce Whatley’s quirky and classic Australian picture book, Pete the Sheep.

This is Bluey’s Big Play! And it’s really for real life! When Dad feels like a little bit of Sunday arvo time out, Bluey and Bingo have other plans! Join them as they pull out all of the games and ingenuity at their disposal to get Dad off that bean bag.

Tuesday 27 July, 10.00 am & 12.00 pm Tickets All tickets $16.00

Friday 30 July, Saturday 31 July and Sunday 1 August Tickets See website for session times and ticket prices.

Theatre

Theatre

SCAN THE QR CODE TO SEE ALL OUR UPCOMING EVENTS

2 Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren 3805

Service fees may apply to phone and online bookings.

Show dates correct at time of printing.

T: 03 9709 9700

Visit bunjilplace.com.au or call 9709 9700 for tickets or email at bunjilplace@casey.vic.gov.au

bunjilplace.com.au

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www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

WINTER 2021 9

It’s Your Life

Social media junior: Do you run and hide?

By Danielle Galvin

they can get them into Instagram when they are of age,” she said.

THERE were reports earlier in the year that tech giant Facebook was working on an Instagram for kids platform.

But according to Instagram boss Adam Mosseri, children who are under 13 are asking to use Instagram, and perhaps this would be a way to let them use the platform, and have it be a safe space.

It would reportedly allow children under 13 to safely use the platform, with heightened controls.

It certainly raises questions about the dilemma for parents: do you let your child have an introduction and a taste of social media, or ban them from it as long as possible in a bid to keep them safe?

Of course, there’s no right or wrong answer.

Social media expert Meg Coffey has an interesting take on it, and two differing perspectives.

“The cynical way is that they are just trying to get children on board early so

“The other side ... if it’s inevitable that they are going to use it, let’s give them a place that we can control it, where we can control as much of it as can be controlled. “(But) I also keep coming back to, again this is the cynicism, all of these tech guys don’t let their kids anywhere near social media or technology.

“And I go OK so you’re not letting your kids anywhere near it, but now you’re building a platform for kids? It’s an inner turmoil for I think everyone.”

Ms Coffey, who says she is not a

parent but greatly sympathises with the job of raising kids in the digital age, said parents play a role.

Similarly, talk to your younger children about what they know about social media.

Asking kids about who they are following, what are they engaging with, what they’re up to is critical.

Why do they want to be on Instagram or Facebook or YouTube?

She says the social media apps for kids, such as Facebook Messenger Kids, are a positive start.

She wants to believe they put the right boundaries in place so that kids can play and be involved, but they’re not bullet proof.

“It comes back to parents paying attention and having conversations, an open conversation, if something makes you feel uncomfortable come talk to me about it, don’t hide it from me,” she said.

“I think let the kids have access if you are going to be a parent that pays attention.”

What do they know about the platforms and what do they do if they see something strange or scary or that makes them feel icky?

In her view, find an age appropriate way to chat about it, and remember each child will be different in terms of their own maturity and understanding of the digital sphere.

From time to time, most parents will be guilty of handing their child an iPad and letting them scroll or watch whatever they like.

But Ms Coffey said just keep the lines of communication open, constantly talk to them about what they are seeing.

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10 WINTER 2021

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

free

SCHOOL HOLIDAY ENTERTAINMENT

Visit the Craft Cave at Marriott Waters over the school holidays.

Week 1

Winter Wonderland craft theme Monday 28 June to Friday 2 July, 11am – 2pm

A special visit by a

SnoW PRinCess Friday 2 July & Friday 9 July

Week 2

Winter Wonderland craft theme Monday 5 July to Friday 9 July, 11am – 2pm

All kids who attend will receive a showbag with $20+ worth of vouchers to use in our shops Free entertainment. No bookings required. Smocks provided. COVID Safe plan in place.

Cnr Thompsons Rd & Marriott Blvd, Lyndhurst marriottshopping marriottwaters marriottwaterssc.com.au 12494352-SN26-21

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

WINTER 2021 11

It’s Your Life

Daughters, dangers and inner signs Girlhood is wonderful, but we need our ‘weapons’ sharp, writes STEVE BIDDULPH. WHEN we first learn that our baby-to-be is a girl, we have a flood of emotions.

Joyful ones and, also sometimes, anxious ones. Because you can’t help but be aware that the world can be a very bad place for our daughters.

For most of my life as a psychologist, I was campaigning about raising boys.

But in the mid 2000s we began to notice something bad happening with the mental health of girls. Some of it was in the way girls’ lives had changed with social media and the huge emphasis on looks and general pressure to grow up too fast. Those were taking an enormous toll, and it started shockingly young.

But some of it was the old evils of a world that had always misused girls and women. Sexual predation, sexism and violence often terrify the parents of daughters as they move beyond our protective sphere.

In my talks on Raising Girls I tell the story of two girls - Kaycee and Genevieve. Kaycee is only 14 when she attends a party of one of her school friends, which has very poor supervision and lots of alcohol. A 17-year-old boy from her school persuades her to have sex with him in an upstairs bedroom. She then discovers that he has done it for a bet with his friends, and is crushed and

humiliated. She tells no-one for many years.

Genevieve is more fortunate. She meets a boy at 16, and for many months has the beautiful time we all would want for our kids, knowing how special young love can be. But he begins to want to have sex, and she is wildly confused. Luckily she is close to her mum, which Kaycee was not. And so she tells her mum all about it. Her mum listens for a long time as she pours out her feelings. Then she does something rather wise and amazing.

She says “sometimes our body knows what is right for us, even when our brain is mixed up. Our body sends us signals”. Instantly Genevieve can relate to this - “You’re right - I love being with him, but when he comes on too strong, I feel squashed and uncomfortable. I don’t want to rush into having sex”.

When I tell this story to an audience, the women in the room visibly nod their heads. They know what I mean - our bodies do know what is right for us.

Whether that is a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’.

life, and the migraines ended and have never come back. Somewhere inside her ‘knew’.

In a new book I have just finished writing, called Fully Human, I go deeper into this idea, from the latest neuroscience, that we have physical signals - a kind of ‘supersense’ even further down than our emotions, which knows when we are safe or in danger. It is our deepest self, below all the conditioning which girls receive to be polite and agreeable and think of other people’s feelings first. It says ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to everything around us. One friend of mine in her 40s had suffered from a migraine every week since she married, and then one day discovered that her husband had been having an affair all those years. She booted him out of her

Our body knows what is right for us.

We have to change the way boys and men treat girls and women but, in the world as it is now, hearing inner signals is a powerful weapon that you can encourage your daughter to sharpen.

And you can do it at any age.

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Neuroscience shows we all have this ‘intuition’ but mostly don’t listen to it.

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It’s Your Life

Writing some letters to mum HE’S unconventional, disarmingly genuine and charming.

It’s a collection of letters from notable Australians to their mums.

mine, and will never read the letter, it still helps to express it all. I’m immensely touched that many of our readers have given this book to their mums with their own letter inserted. The proverbial bus might hit us tomorrow. I’d rather die knowing my loved ones knew exactly how I felt about them. And letters just mean more. It’s like having a poem or a song written about you.

Samuel Johnson, who created Love Your Sister, a “million strong village” of Australians committed to vanquishing cancer, has brought together 90 celebrities and well-known Australians for ‘Dear Mum’.

He invited them to write a letter to their mums and it’s emotional, funny, brilliant.

Samuel answered some questions with Danielle Galvin at the end of his promotional tour for the book, which raises funds for cancer research.

Firstly congratulations on the new book.

I really love the idea of asking people what they’d tell their mums. Everyone’s relationship with their mums is so unique/complicated isn’t it? Is this a call to action that we all need to go and have a chat to our mums if we still can?

We know that we love people. We throw around “I love you“ without a second thought. But how often do we take the time to really explore why we love someone? Exactly why. Or precisely how? Writing a letter, honestly and from

the heart, inevitably opens a can of worms. You discover feelings you didn’t know you had. Stuff that’s been bottled up for years. You gain appreciation and insight. And the recipient is invariably left richer, and the letter invariably has a great impact. We like to be valued or the right reasons, especially by those closest to us. It’s been a truly cathartic experience for each and every contributor. Even if your mum is lost, like

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Recently you visited the Mornington Peninsula, and I saw a good friend’s mum got a photo with you! I went on to the LYS Facebook page and there were dozens of other people who you happily posed for photos with, and you look genuinely happy to meet people and hear their stories. Has this been a part of the Love Your Sister journey you love?

I’ve visited over 1200 towns during my tenure as Head of Cancer Vanquishment at ’Love Your Sister’ and it’s my face time with other families that fuels my work and provides a sense of belonging that I never felt in showbiz.

People think it must weigh heavy, given the horrific effects of cancer on families,

but sharing our stories is never a tax, always an honour and energises me in ways that are hard to explain.

Is there a story/letter in the book that will particularly surprise/touch readers do you think?

Guy Pearce’s letter to his mum, lost to dementia for 22 years now, is the letter that will never leave me. They all leave their mark, but Guy’s letter is indelibly etched into my soul. That letter isn’t going anywhere.

I’ve heard you describe the book as a wonderful montage for all kinds of mums. Even though we know mums can be flawed, complicated. I thought was so beautifully said. I can imagine collating the book was incredibly difficult at times too - such an emotionally charged topic?

Thankfully, our contributors respected my request for complete honesty, which, delightfully, means this collection of letters is an intricate of real mums, as opposed to some Hallmark tribute to the idea of mums. It’s what I’m most proud of about this book. It’s a true tribute.

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It’s Your Life

Do kids these days have enough skills when it comes to handling money?

Teaching kids financial literacy

By Danielle Galvin IN recent times there have been growing calls to increase financial literacy, and encourage children from a young age to learn about money.

It’s not just about earning pocket money and coins.In a digital world, your child may not have seen you use coins or notes to pay at a cafe.

Peter Foley, owner and financial adviser of Thirdview Financial Planning.

He is a Certified Financial Planner,; with more than 20 years experience, and helped answer some questions about teaching your kids the basics.

Should parents be mindful of what our children pick up from us in terms of personal finance - our spending habits, how we talk about it, how we stress about it?

Absolutely. Our children pick up far more than we realise. I recently rang my wife to find out what date her wages would be deposited into our account because she had recently updated the details. My son overheard and immediately became worried asking if we had run out of money. This turned out to be a good learning opportunity for our son on what wages are, why it’s good to have savings and how to pay off debt effectively (i.e., ensuring your wages are paid straight into your mortgage offset) but it reminded me that our children are always listening and learning from us for better or worse.

In terms of giving practical examples to kids - how can parents make things like superannuation or taxation engaging and/or interesting?

Pocket money is the answer most 16 WINTER 2021

parents come up with here and it is an effective tool for learning the value of money, savings as well as investing when your children are older.

I generally find once your kids are old enough to understand the basic concept of responsibility (i.e. doing chores) then they can learn how pocket money links to that. In other words, if I do work then I get some money and I can spend that on what I’d like.

From that, you can teach your children the value of money and how to use it. Having a piggy bank for that pocket money is the first step but I have found it’s even more effective to have two.

One for savings and one they can spend currently. That lesson is a hard one early on but setting your family rules around when the savings bank can be used is important or you’ll lose engagement. For example, you might say that the savings bank can be used but only when the family goes on holidays. That way your children are still seeing the benefit of that saving and learning that it is worth it. Alternatively, you might say the savings can only be spent once they reach a certain dollar figure and this may encourage a savings habit.

If you couple that with the fact that you as parents have also saved for the holiday it’s a lesson that really sticks because it becomes a case of ‘monkey, see, monkey do’.

In terms of engaging children about super and tax, these concepts obviously become highly technical so stick to high level basics here and find a way to make it engaging. I remember using a cake as a substitute for money with my children.

I took a nice fresh chocolate cake and started slicing it up. Some of it represented tax which went to another person, some was put away for later (that’s your superannuation) and I then ask ‘If we had a bigger cake would it be fair to give that bit more to someone else’?

Depending on the age of your children they’ll understand the idea of fairness and I’ve taught kids as young as Year One who grasped this notion pretty well. This would help explain Australia’s tiered income tax rates.

Engaging kids with any medium will work it doesn’t have to be sweets. So long as it’s something that they’re interested in and is tangible the same lessons apply.

Mind you you’re ultimately teaching them delayed gratification and this is a tough lesson for children but if you persist they eventually understand that it’s worth it. All ages will have a different ability to learn about money so be in the conversation with your kids is the main thing here. My eight and ten-year-old sons are just learning about investing and what a share is. The journey is a fun one and I described owning shares in a toy company or shipping company since that’s two interests they have - toys and ships.

They also loved the idea of voting rights as much as the notion of investing which surprised me so that was a tangent we went off on that I didn’t expect.

When, in your view, should parents start speaking to our children and teaching them about money?

In an increasingly digital world - is it harder for parents to explain that our bank accounts aren’t just a bottomless pit of money?

You can definitely start the basics as early as around 3 years-old. And by basics I mean showing them money and teaching them what each coin or note is. This is about the notion that money actually exists and that different coins or notes hold different values. You can build on this when playing shop games with your child which most kids love to do. Act as the shopper and when ‘paying’ for your items use it to discuss money. You can introduce the idea that you’re paying for weekly groceries from the ‘ groceries budget’ and then buy a treat at the ice cream store which you’ve saved for separately.

You can even use a different purse or wallet to take that money out of.

Eventually your child will ask ‘What’s a budget’? and you’ll be off on another lesson.

Yes, for sure. I’ve heard many parents lament this. I’ve heard many stories of children buying games or movies on Pay TV platforms not even realising they were spending money. Again, this is a good moment to stop and explain money though. If you keep coming back to the concepts that they relate to and bringing it into their world, grasping the nuances of money will be easier. If your family routine is to have an ice block at the shops every Friday use that moment, if you go to the movies every school holidays anchor your money lessons into that. Find that way into their headspace so the money lesson you want to teach is anchored more easily into their every day life and you can make the conversation more tangible even when the money isn’t physical www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

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It’s Your Life

Great service with a smile

New home for toy library

YOU can’t beat Melbourne’s local shopping centres for friendly service, community connections and great produce.

None more so than Cardinia Lakes Shopping Centre, a delightful small centre with a wonderful array of food shops, a Caremore Chemist, delicious takeaway options, the friendliest of beauty salons, a TattsLotto shop, and Techie Choice.

If you need a mini break, the staff at Sugarcoat Nail & Beauty Salon are experts at pampering.

Caremore Pharmacies have a focus on the patient, which ensures they provide the best possible advice on medications so customers can achieve better health.From their delicious salads to their tasty chicken, Uncle Sam’s Charcoal Chicken is a firm favourite in the neighbourhood for a quick and healthy meal.

Cardinia Lakes Fish & Chippery has delicious burgers, along with crispy chips and tasty fish for a favourite takeaway option.

Pizza Fellas has a great range of pizzas and can be ordered online so they are ready for you when you pop in

Cardinia Lakes Shopping Centre.

to pick up your dinner!

Wok to Go rounds out the takeaway options with tasty Asian dishes galore to tempt your tastebuds.

The TattsLotto shop has lots of gift options as well as all the TattsLotto tickets. You’ve got to be in it to win it!

Great breakfast and lunch options are on the menu at Urban Hype Cafe.

Come and meet the friendly staff and grab something for lunch or morning tea. Their coffee is just divine.

Techie Choice has a wide range of covers for every phone style available, as well as the expertise to fix all sorts of breakages.

Stay up to date by following the centre on their Facebook page.

By Melissa Grant

and organising the toys in their new location.

THE Puffing Billy Toy Library has a beautiful new home.

Saturday borrowing sessions resumed in early March, prior to the snap lockdown.

The toy library is now operating out of the Hills Hub in Emerald, having relocated from their temporary home at the St Mark’s Children’s Centre.

The toy library’s Karli Lycett-King says the Hills Hub is the place to be.

“There are toilets, tea and coffee making facilities, a lounge area with children’s toys, and even an art gallery upstairs. Not to mention being next door to Emerald library, a playpark, as well as across the road from some fantastic cafes,” she said.

Joining a toy library has numerous benefits including testing toys before you buy, avoiding clutter, saving money and reducing hard rubbish.

The Puffing Billy Toy Library was closed last year during the pandemic, but moved locations when restrictions eased.

Since then, they’ve been tidying

Karli says the toy library has a Covid safe plan that involves quarantining toys, limiting visitor numbers and additional cleaning and sanitising requirements.

There is a huge range of toys suitable from birth to the teenage years, including blocks, jigsaws, board games, farmyards, outdoor toys, fancy dress costumes, puppets and balance bikes.

There’s different memberships, depending on how many toys you want to borrow and how much time you can volunteer. Prices start from $50 a year. Gift memberships are available.

They also offer party packs for hire that include tables, chairs, plates, cups and large games.

More information: www. puffingbillytoylibrary.com.au

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Health

Winter sniffles start early for families

By Danielle Galvin

usually means by the time your child goes to school they are much less likely to develop infections because they have built up their system.”

AT the beginning of the year, doctors warned they were seeing a nasty resurgence of respiratory illnesses, starting earlier in the season and impacting younger children.

Another common question she fields from parents is about the need to give your child supplements.

“People always ask do their kids need supplements, and really the take is that if your child has a varied and generally good diet they will get all the vitamins and minerals they need,” she explained.

Health professionals were seeing an increasing presence of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) among young children.

Royal Children’s Hospital paediatrician, Dr Lexi Frydenberg, said it was a significant increase.

“At the hospital we have had a 10-20 per cent increase in presentations to emergency compared to winter,” she explained.

“February and March has been worse than most winters.

“There’s been a significant increase in the hospital emergency department and the wards have been incredibly busy, predominantly viruses and common bugs.”

For some children, RSV presents as a mild cold, a runny nose, sore throat, but in others it can cause bronchiolitis.

“We didn’t see it last year which was incredible and we thought maybe we would have a great year ahead.

“What’s happened [is] we have had a late resurgence.”

In 2020, with schools shut down and kids at home for months on end, there wasn’t a notable cold and flu season.

With social distancing, extra hand washing, and all of the Covid-19 precautions, health professionals noticed fewer viruses around.

Dr Frydenberg, who has spoken to parents in an online community called

“Even picky eaters are usually not vitamin deficient.”

Younger children have copped an earlier resurgence of the RSV this year.

Mama You’ve Got This, said she was hearing anecdotally how rough it had been.

“What happens with your immune system, the more you face bugs, the more your immune system is primed; it develops anti bodies so you can fight infection better,” she explained.

“What happened last year, particularly in the younger kids who haven’t faced many bugs before, they are what we call immunologically naive, which means their bodies haven’t had to develop anti bodies and other techniques to fight acquired infection.

“So what’s happening now, their body is getting hit and they are having to work really hard to fight the infection.”

and I think as a society we are much better.

“Previously you would send your child to school with a sniffle give them a Panadol.

“Whereas now we are much more aware and conscious and cautious and school will send them home.”

While some might be getting complacent, Dr Frydenberg said Melburnians had shown how they can step up and wear masks, and other measures.

She hopes parents don’t take their child out of childcare, even if the bugs and constant sickness is hard to manage.

“You need to be exposed to bugs,” she said.

But she said the positive out of the Covid-19 experience is how much more aware parents and children are about spreading bugs and infection control.

“My take on it with childcare in general your child is going to be exposed, the immune system needs to learn to build up.

“The hope and the positive out of this whole Covid-19 nightmare is that all of us know techniques to decrease the prevalence of viruses an viral infections

“Sending them to childcare it can be onerous to parents who are working when it feels like your child is always sick, but it’s not a bad thing and it

“You actually only need a small amount of minerals and vitamins to function well and have good adequate nutrition.”

Dr Frydenberg does recommend getting a blood test and seeing your GP if you are concerned, particularly if your child is showing signs of an iron deficiency.

“If they have just got low iron stores, you might not notice,” she said.

“When they become iron deficient and anaemic, the signs are usually they might become more pale particularly under the eyes, tiredness so they might sleep more, in younger kids they become more irritable and grumpy the behaviour might change.

“I think we probably underestimate what iron is for brain development and behaviour.

“If we have a child who is lethargic, behaviourally difficult, pale or if say they are a really fussy eater ... if you take a dietary history and they don’t have many iron rich foods, but they do have a lot of milk which decreases iron absorption, I will often recommend doing the blood test.”

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family’s favourite goodies and discover new things for everyone to try. Imagine ordering your monthly pantry and household items and having it delivered straight to your door.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for, let them know and they will do their best to get it in stock for your next purchase.

You’ll also find a variety of ecofriendly and non-toxic household cleaning products, personal hygiene, baby care, pet care, shower and bath, dental, beauty, laundry and so much more. All of your healthy essentials in one place.

The number of children with food allergies in Australia is increasing year by year, and although it’s becoming the new norm, HEA understands how difficult it can be shopping for your family, and finding items they all enjoy.

Not to mention food restrictions at schools, childcare centres and kindergartens that makes it tricky when you’re packing your children’s lunch boxes. Peanut butter and other nut based products is a great example of this, and having to find ‘lunchbox safe’ snacks for your kids that don’t have food allergies, especially when they are used to their favourite products at home.

Have you tried VGoods PeaNOT Butter? It’s 100 per cent nut free, yet tastes like the real thing, most kids can’t tell the difference! Find VGoods PeaNOT and HazelNOT butter spreads, at www. heaustralia.com.au Children’s birthday parties can be hard to cater for as well. With a large variety of organic, gluten free, vegan friendly snacks and confectionery, chocolates, cakes and pancakes mixes, biscuits and cookies, chips and

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WINTER 2021 19

Health

Cooking with Bulk Foods CLEANED UP BUBBLE BARS

METHOD

Recipe by Katherine Trapp and Liz Richards from Super Snacks Book

2. In a large bowl, combine the puffed rice, coconut, chia seeds and cacao. Mix together well.

Gluten free and dairy free. Makes 15 squares.

INGREDIENTS • 2 Cups puffed brown rice • 1 Cup organic desiccated coconut • 2 tbs chia seeds • 2 tbs raw cacao powder • ¼ cup coconut oil • ½ cup raw honey

1. Line a medium baking tin with greaseproof paper.

3. Place the coconut oil and honey in a small saucepan and melt together on a low heat.

4. Tip this mixture into the bowl of dry ingredients and stir until everything is well combined.

5. Press the mixture into the lined tray and place in the fridge to set for at least two hours before cutting into bars.

When to book in your child for an eye test ONE question parents commonly ask is “How old should my child be before I get their eyes tested?”

glasses lenses and contact lenses that have become recently available,” Gemma said.

Gemma Cowan, an Optometrist at Beaconsfield Eyecare, advises that the best age depends on the child.

“Many parents with myopia will remember getting stronger glasses almost every year during their childhood/teen years and feeling helpless to stop it.

“We can usually get a comprehensive, reliable test on kids from about 3.5 years of age. So any time from about 3.5 years, but an eye test prior to starting school is ideal.

However, if there are noticeable issues such as a turned eye then I recommend you get a test as soon as possible as early intervention is important.”

see can all affect learning performance in the classroom.

“Your child may have clear vision, but if there is an issue with eye movements it can affect how they track words when reading, resulting in losing their place or skipping words”.

“Well, that is no longer necessarily the case, which surprises many people. I check every child for pre-myopia, and also measure the length of their eyes using a specialised piece of equipment for the best long term outcome.”

Common eye conditions in children include hyperopia (long-sightedness), myopia (short-sightedness) and astigmatism.

Older children already at school who show symptoms of eye strain, trouble concentrating on near work, or who have learning difficulties may also benefit from an eye test.

“There’s lots of research into preventing the progression of child myopia, with the advent of specialty

How a child focusses their eyes, controls their eye movements, and how they process the information they

Kids don’t always complain if they are having vision problems, so signs that parents and teachers can look out for include squinting, getting very close to the reading material, closing one eye, avoiding reading, or difficulty concentrating.

“As a parent of two young kids myself, I take a particular interest in children’s vision. Plus it’s always fun to test kids, they can certainly keep you on your toes!” Gemma said.

You can make an appointment with Gemma at Beaconsfield Eyecare by phoning 8726 9977 or visiting www.beaconsfieldeyecare.com.au.

Beaconsfield Eyecare Optometrist Gemma Cowan says kids don’t always complain if they’re having vision problems.

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Health

Tips to keep you healthy this winter

By Andrew Leslie, pharmacist Blooms The Chemist Casey Central

So, what does this mean for this flu this year and what can we do to avoid it?

THE deadly influenza season was all but eliminated in 2020 and the Covid-19 vaccine rollout is underway. Laboratoryconfirmed influenza infections dropped to just over 20,000 nationwide last year, down from 300,000 in 2019.

Whilst the flu is not considered as fatal as Covid-19, presently (with more data still needed) it is considered more contagious.

Although restrictions Victorians weathered were painful, it certainly put a significant dent in this communicable disease.

Now two Covid vaccines are being rolled out, hopefully paving the way to an ease up on restrictions and the evolution of a new normal. This new normal will have us socialising with our friends and families, going on adventures, attending events and generally interacting with more individuals.

This means if we are moving about in our beautiful community more, the virus has a greater chance to spread. It will make a comeback. Whilst 2021 flu season (April to October) is not expected to be a nasty one, we can take some steps to keep ourselves healthy.

A healthy immune system starts with healthy habits. With winter upon us, ensure you and your family are looking after your heath. Many elements effect our immune system, but the healthy basics will point you down the right path. Make sure you get enough sleep, reduce your stress levels and, if you

The team at Blooms Casey Central.

have fussy eaters, support their diets with a good quality multi-vitamin, or if you have really fussy-eaters consider a meal replacement supplement. Talk to your health professional about whether taking vitamins and minerals such as zinc, vitamin C, echinacea and probiotics in preparation may be appropriate.

Get your family vaccinated. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about whether vaccination is appropriate for you. Timing is also important here, and for some populations the number of vaccinations also changes. Children,

pregnant women and the elderly are most at risk of the flu.

Lastly, influenza and Covid-19 spread in very similar ways, so keep doing what you have been doing. Wear a face-mask when out in public and in crowded places, cough or sneeze into your elbow, social distance and isolate if feeling unwell and keep washing your hands.

If this has evoked any questions, pop into Blooms Casey Central where one of our friendly pharmacists will be more than happy to assist.

It’s time to shine a light on endometriosis IN recent years, endometriosis has been making headlines.

But experts say there’s still a long way to go to getting women diagnosed quicker, and getting the funding, research and attention it deserves as a debilitating condition.

Endometriosis a relatively common disease in which the tissue similar to that of the lining of the womb grows outside it.

While it affects around 11 per cent of Australian women, often starting in the teenage years, there’s still a long way to go to break down the stigma.

The pain, often dismissed as ‘bad period pain’ can be incredibly debilitating for sufferers.

CEO, co-founder and director of Endometriosis Australia, Donna Ciccia, said the organisation was founded in 2013 in the hopes of raising awareness about endometriosis and to normalise the conversation.

“It’s because of ambassadors such as Emma Watson the Yellow Wiggle and Olympian Emily Seebohm and many more, that we have been able to gain attention and increase awareness about endometriosis with patients and the general public,” she said.

“Even though awareness has increased I don’t think the understanding of the gravity of living with endometriosis has reached everyone.”

during your period, pain with bowel movements, pain during or after sex, heavy or irregular bleeding, pain when you urinate and having trouble holding on when your bladder is full.

Ms Ciccia said sometimes women aren’t believed or are dismissed when they seek medical help.

“There are many factors contributing in the delay in diagnosis, normalisation of symptoms by patients just thinking periods are meant to be painful,” Ms Ciccia said.

“Endometriosis is a multifactorial disease and it can affect many areas of your life from basic bodily functions like urination and defecation and intercourse to mental health and wellbeing.

In March, Tasmanian MP Michelle O’Byrne told parliament the normalisation of period pain means women often won’t seek help for 2-3 years.

Endometriosis can be a terribly debilitating disease.

She said a lack of education in GPs could also add on a couple of years to a woman getting diagnosed.

month back in March, buildings around Australia were lit up in yellow as part of an awareness campaign.

“There is now a national action plan which outlines a road map to overcome these diagnostic obstacles.

“If you are one of the one in nine women around Australia impacted, don’t accept living in pain is a normal thing, seek help.

“The annual cost of endometriosis in Australia is $7.4 billion.”

“Endometriosis impacts on every facet of your life and for a very long time.”

As part of Endometriosis Awareness

“And the rest of us must be good allies for those who live with endo.”

Unfortunately there’s still some misunderstandings about endometriosis, particularly for teenagers and younger women getting the help they need.

“It is still common for stigma to be attached to periods and period pain, our latest free webinar on adolescents explains that is not uncommon to have period pain as a teenager but it should ease as you age,” she said.

“It is not common to have severe incapacitating pain and we do know teenagers are not too young to have endometriosis.

“I think the stigma surrounding periods stops many, not only teenagers from seeking help.

Shockingly, there are often long delays in getting diagnosed, sometimes between 7-10 years.

If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms, it’s time to seek help.

According to the organisation, symptoms vary hugely from pelvic pain, fatigue, pain around ovulation or

“If pain or painful periods puts your life on hold please seek help,” Ms Ciccia said.

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

“There is a wonderful new tool on our website by RANZCOG called RATE and this screening tool may help explain to your GP what is happening for you and help plan a treatment plan going forward.”

12470837-SN51-20

By Danielle Galvin

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DENTAL

Oral health lessons for kids ORAL health lessons are being launched in early learning centres and schools as research shows little more than half of Australian adults brush their teeth twice a day.

The Australian Dental Association and SugarByHalf are behind the new suite of lessons that integrate oral health into mainstream learning.

An ADA survey conducted late last year found only 53 per cent of Australian people were brushing their teeth twice a day.

ADA Oral Health promoter Dr Mikaela Chinotti said the research uncovered some concerning trends.

“Worryingly, of those respondents who

only brushed once a day, 12 per cent thought brushing more often wasn’t good for the teeth, while 37 per cent said they didn’t need to,” Dr Chinotti said.

“And 29 per cent of those who didn’t brush twice a day said this was because it caused pain and discomfort - which points to a very real need for these people to see their dentist.

“These results show there’s still some way to go, and education forms a large part of that.”

The suite of lessons use the purposebuilt storybook Guardians of the Gums, which has been produced in collaboration with Cool Australia.

The lessons will be used by teachers

to integrate oral health into everyday maths and science lessons, aiming to help kids make nutritional food and drink choices for early learning through to Year 2.

These lessons allow for oral health to be taught in schools Australia-wide, in alignment with the national curriculum.

Other findings from the 2020 ADA Adult Oral Health Tracker which demonstrate the need for greater education include: ■ Only a quarter of adults floss at least once a day, with 31 per cent reporting to ‘never’ clean between their teeth.

■ Two-thirds of adults aren’t aware that medical conditions such as asthma,

diabetes and heart disease can impact on, or be impacted by, their oral health ■ 13 per cent of parents reported their children drank soft drink daily, while 39 per cent consumed soft drink 2-5 times per week. Just one can of soft drink takes people above the recommended daily sugar intake and can contribute to tooth decay and weight gain ■ 10 per cent of parents report taking their child to the dentist only when they have a problem, and 60 per cent do so every 12-24 months ■ 32 per cent of people aged above 15 have untreated tooth decay

A team of orthodontic experts SOUTH East Orthodontics, which has been servicing and supporting Casey for more than 20 years, is excited to announce it has moved to a new, purpose built practice on Clyde Road.

To ensure the new premises are Covid safe, South East Orthodontics sought the advice of Professor Laurie Walsh from Queensland University and Steven Kent from the Doherty Institute.

South East Orthodontics offers clinical excellence using the latest orthodontic developments and techniques.

Dr Nishan Fernando Dr Nishan Fernando, is from the deep south of New Zealand. He completed a Bachelor of Science in physiology, and Post Graduate Diploma in Science, in pharmacology and toxicology from the University of Otago. His area of research was in hypertension, and he also published a Poisons Information

Monograph for the World Health Organisation.

Nishan later travelled to South East Asia where he completed his Bachelor in Dental Surgery at Hong Kong University. It was during this time his keen interest in orthodontics and facial growth developed.

With his successes in the undergraduate dental program, Nishan was employed in the Department of Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics at Prince Philip Dental Hospital as a House Officer. The position involved treating complex cases and medically compromised children, as well as orthodontic patients under the supervision of his orthodontic professor.

He volunteered his time with a cleft lip and palate team which went to Cambodia. He also volunteered his time to the Warehouse Project, which was set

up to provide a safe and fun environment for young teens to socialise in Hong Kong.

Upon returning to New Zealand, and a few more examinations, he registered with the New Zealand Dental Council and The General Dental Council (UK).

After a few years in private general dental practice in New Zealand, Nishan attended the University of Adelaide to complete his Doctoral in Clinical Dentistry (Orthodontics) in 2005.

His area of research involved the investigation of dental, skeletal and facial complex changes with extraction orthodontic therapy, and assessment of the resultant aesthetic changes of the face . He also underwent further examinations to be a Member of the Royal College of Surgeon. Nishan is also the secretary of the Australasian Begg Society of Orthodontists. This

The expert team at South East Orthodontics.

organisation has the primary function of providing continued education conferences for orthodontists with world class speakers, and is also the primary supporter of the Cleft Lip and Palatal Project in East Timor.

South East Orthodontics is located at Suite 5, Level 1, 18-24 Clyde Road, Berwick. Phone 9330 0702 or visit the website at www.seortho.com.au

WE MAKE CASEY CARDINIA SMILE Orthodontic Treatment for children and adults utilising the latest technologies including SureSmile, Invisalign, lingual and clear appliances.

Dr Kip Homewood and Dr Nishan Fernando make Casey Cardinia Smile

We offer flexible, interest free payment plans to make orthodontics accessible to everyone.

The team at South East Orthodontics who have been proudly supporting and servicing Casey Cardinia for over 20 years

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 8.30 am to 5.30 pm Suite 5, Level 1/18-24 Clyde Rd, Berwick Phone: (03) 9330 0702 | info@seortho.com.au www.seortho.com.au

NEW LOCATION

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22 WINTER 2021

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

DENTAL

Affordable care

ONE of the most common questions dentists and receptionists at Beaconsfield Dental are asked is: “When should I bring my child in for their first dental check up?”

COST can be a major deterrent from visiting the dentist.

But at Casey Dental Group, orthodontic treatments have never been more affordable.

The answer depends on whether your child will want to sit in the chair, possibly on your lap, and have their teeth checked by your dentist but this can vary.

The friendly clinic offers bulk billing, weekly payment plans, family discounts and free check-ups for insurance patients.

“Being the largest and longest established practice in southeast Melbourne, we can pass our operating savings onto our patients, while maintaining the highest standard of dental care,” Dr Jayson McNaughton explains.

Casey Dental Group is the preferred provider for major health funds.

The clinic offers orthodontics for only $5900, with weekly plans for $59 and family discounts available.

It also bulk bills for the Medicare $1000 Child Dental Benefits Scheme.

For insurance patients, there is no out of pocket charge for a check-up, clean or x-rays. And if you don’t have insurance, check-ups and consultations are free.

In addition, Casey Dental Group offers up to 24 months interest free payment plans on all services, including specialised treatments like implants, Invisalign and half price deals on crowns.

The practice has a special focus on

Fun dentist visits

The friendly team at Casey Dental Group.

orthodontics for both children and adults, and Invisalign which is available for teens.

The friendly team aims to provide the best ongoing dental care with services including digital X-rays, laser whitening, implants, ceramic crowns/ veneers and all other aspects of dentistry.

The team includes new dentists Dr Anthony Curtin, Dr Amy Parveen and Dr Nelly Lee. The practice has extended its opening hours to include evening sessions that run until 9pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings.

Casey Dental Group is located at 236 Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road, Narre Warren South.

For bookings or more information, phone 9705 1755 or visit www. caseydentalgroup.com.au

Beaconsfield Dental suggests that when coming in for your regular six monthly check-up that you bring your child and they can watch you having your teeth checked and cleaned by your dentist. If they like, they can have a ride in the chair and the dentist can have a quick look.

Together with your dentist, you can talk about how to look after your children’s teeth and record their details for future visits.

It is all about making it a positive and enjoyable experience to encourage regular visits to prevent problems and recommend correct brushing and flossing techniques as your child grows.

A regular visit can also assist with preventing crowded or crooked teeth.

Building a relationship of trust over the years with someone who cares for your child’s dental health is what the dentists at Beaconsfield Dental aspire to.

It’s important to make visiting the dentist a positive and enjoyable experience for kids.

The clinic can also assist with checking if your child/children are eligible for the $1000 Medicare child dental benefits schedule which covers most dental treatments.

Please phone 9707 3508 to book your appointment or book online at www.beaconsfielddental.com.au Beaconsfield Dental - Caring for the community and the environment.

Multiple Award Winning

Dental Clinic

Orthodontics and Invisalign from $59 per week.

Implants from $39 per week • We BULK BILL for the $1000 Medicare Child Dental Benefits Scheme • HALF PRICE CROWNS* *after first full priced crown.

• INSURANCE PATIENTS: We Do Not Charge the Gap on Your Health Insurance Claim for Check Ups, Cleans, X-Rays and Sealants* • 24 months interest free on all treatment services • NON INSURANCE PATIENTS: FREE Check Ups! • Government Emergency/General Dental Vouchers accepted • Whitening take home kit only $295

Open during the holiday season

Participating Providers

(Except for the Public Holidays)

and Dr Jayson McNaughton

Dr Guy Turton

Dr Alina Bratu

Dr Shannon Gune

Dr Harjot Gill

Mr Joseph Hanna

Dr Robert Otken

Dr Deon Nguyen

Dr David Abdel-Malek Dr Melanie Cole Dr Rachel Fong Dr Quinn Tao Ms Chrysi Kroone Dr Ragy Labib Dr John Tia

Po un

Beaconsfield Dental

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Phone: 9705 1755

Narre W a Cranbo rren urne Rd

236 Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road, Narre Warren South

Maintain your dental health in 2021

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Mon and Fri 8am to 6pm, Sat 8am–1pm, Tues, Wed & Thurs 8am to 9pm Bookings can now be made online through our website: www.caseydentalgroup.com.au

Casey Dental Group is Here!

Greaves Rd 12472308-JW51-20

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

1-3 Cardinia St Berwick 9707 3508 www.beaconsfielddental.com.au 12466269-DL51-20

WINTER 2021 23

“As soon as you see your kid’s face and the older generation look into the camera, you see them want to pinch their (child’s) cheeks virtually.”

SENIORS

The Wilmann family are looking forward to one day meeting the aged care residents in person.

“It will be good to go and see them,” Ryan said.

“I can’t wait to be able to go there and let her (Elizabeth) roam.”

Maureen Hatcher of Playgroup Victoria says the virtual playgroup started after the organisation was contacted by BlueCross Darnlee.

“The aged care facility reached out to us some time ago,” she explained.

“The feedback from staff is that it has been amazing - that’s when you realise that there have been so many changes in the residents.”

Playgroup Victoria believes in the idiom, ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ and that this is captured in settings where multiple generations come together to learn, play, connect and have fun.

Aged care residents at BlueCross Darnlee look forward to the virtual playgroup.

Playgroups for all ages

By Melissa Grant PLAYGROUPS across Victoria are bringing generations together.

Not even Covid can stop the multigenerational fun, with playgroup sessions being held via video over Zoom.

Children and aged care residents play games, sing nursery rhymes and have show and tell time.

Residents often share their art, craft work and personal photos, while the kids love showing off their toys.

parents across Victoria who have signed up their family to an all ages intergenerational playgroup.

The benefits of these playgroups are plain to see. They encourage friendship across the generations, reduce feelings of isolation that often come with ageing, build respect between generations and allow the elderly to share their wisdom with the parents and children involved.

His daughter Elizabeth, aged 14 months, is among the kids whose faces appear in the fortnightly Zoom calls to aged care facility BlueCross Darnlee.

Ryan Wilmann is one of the many

“Elizabeth loves it, not just with the oldies but with the babies that join. She loves seeing other babies on there,” he said.

There are also intergenerational playgroups with a baby focus. While doing some pilot programs, Maureen discovered that aged care residents love seeing babies on computer screens.

Maureen was visiting a facility where an Italian-born resident was quite upset until she came into the room for the baby intergenerational playgroup.

“Her face changed - she started saying bambino, bambino,” Maureen recalled.

“It was so beautiful to see.”

If you are a family or part of an aged care facility keen to start an intergenerational playgroup, contact Maureen on mhatcher@playgroup.org. au

A beautiful lifestyle

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LOCATED right on the Westernport Bay foreshore, Frenchview Lifestyle Village offers beautiful, low maintenance homes in a friendly, like-minded community environment.

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They love pets, so your four legged friends are more than welcome.

Prices in the village start from $109,000 for new one bedroom homes.

There are also new and pre-loved two bedroom options with various layouts available, along with ‘off the plan’ options that allow you to customise your new forever home.

Residents of the established community love Frenchview’s quiet atmosphere and community feel.

Being right on the foreshore, there are plenty of lovely places nearby to relax and enjoy the view with a coffee, take a short walk or enjoy a meal at a local cafe.

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Within close proximity to Phillip Island and the greater Bass Coast and only 25 minutes from Wonthaggi, the village really is the perfect sea-change for those looking to downsize but still remain within 90 minutes of the Melbourne CBD.

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Village residents enjoy a number of excellent facilities, such as the recently renovated saltwater inground pool, BBQ areas, large off-leash dog area, tearoom and plenty of access to the foreshore. The village’s roads and drainage have just been upgraded as part of the village expansion, which will also include the arrival of some lovely

Frenchview Lifestyle Village offers beautiful, low maintenance homes.

new homes and the development of an indoor/outdoor community hub in the near future.

Contact the Village Manager on 03 5678 8232 for more information, or to organise a tour of the lovely village - they can’t wait to show you the Frenchview Lifestyle Village lifestyle! www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Education A healthy mindset is all they need.

Supporting teens heading into exams

By Melissa Meehan AS the end of the year creeps up and Year 12 students begin to prepare for their final exams, many parents worry about how best to support their teenagers.

Australian parenting website Raising Children Network has some simple tips to look after the wellbeing of the whole family in what can often be a stressful period.

concentrate and remember things vital for exams and exam prep. Conversely, poor sleep or not enough sleep affects concentration, memory and behaviour, making it harder for your child to learn.

Encourage a regular bedtime routine in a dark room and electronic devices switched off.

Executive Director of Raising Children Network, Associate Professor Julie Green, says parents of teenagers can support their children through exams by encouraging the following good habits:

Exercise Physical activity has lots of benefits, including assisting with stress and helping sleep patterns in the evening.

Encourage your teenager to keep up with their normal sporting/exercise activities, where possible, during the study and exam period. Even a walk around the block in the fresh air can help.

Sleep Good quality sleep helps your child to

Nutrition One of the most nurturing ways you can

help your teenager through the study and exam period is to provide nutritious meals and healthy snacks during the day. A healthy diet includes lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy, nuts and grains and proteins such as eggs, meat, legumes and fish. Try to avoid processed foods high in fat, sugar and salt.

Bedtime Turn off electronic devices an hour before bedtime. This includes loud music, mobile phones, computer screens and TV. Switching off mobiles can be hard for young people, but late night phone calls and text messages can lead to broken sleep.

Caffeine Ensure your teenager avoids caffeine (found in energy drinks, coffee, tea,

chocolate and cola) in the late afternoon and evening as this can disrupt their sleep cycles, causing insomnia.

Wind-down time Encourage ‘wind-down’ time to provide a relaxing buffer between studying and bedtime. Relaxing activities might include a warm shower, writing in a journal, reading a book or magazine or listening to quiet music.

Support Your teenager still needs a strong relationship with you to feel confident as they meet the challenges of studying and exams. You can build this strong relationship by working on open communication and staying connected.

Ignite the Mind and Spirit

www.spanhills.catholic.edu.au

03 9700 6068 12498806-NG26-21

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

WINTER 2021 25

Education

Choosing a school

Parenting well Parenting is the most challenging and the most beautifully rewarding job in the world.

So, if you experience feelings of inadequacy in your parental role even though you are open to growth, don’t worry. You’re not alone.

“At Harkaway Hills College, partnering with parents to develop their parenting skills is a priority because the outcomes show up in our students’ sense of wholistic wellbeing,” Harkaway Hills College Principal Mary Broadsmith said.

The college invests in parents by providing functions specifically tailored for their development each term.

“Our most recent open invitation event held at Bunjil Place explored how couples can aim for an affectionate parenting style complemented by assertiveness,” Mrs Broadsmith said.

Chris Tanna, Deputy of Redfield College in Sydney and father of six, drew on his experience working with hundreds of couples and thousands of students. His presentation shed light on how affectionate-assertiveness mindsets and techniques can increase parent’s self-awareness and skill development.

“Affectionate parenting is crucial because it provides a solid foundation for assertive parenting,” Mr Tanna said.

“Quality time, physical affection, words of affirmation, acts of service and

By Danielle Galvin There are plenty of things about parenthood that you don’t get instructions for.

One of them is how to best choose a childcare, kindergarten or school for your child.

Parents before you might tell you that “you’ll just know” and “you get a good feeling” when you do a school tour.

Affectionate parenting provides a solid foundation for assertive parenting.

gifts are essential for demonstrating love to our children.”

Five ways to successfully practice affectionate assertiveness: ■ Be confident in your authority and leadership as parents ■ Prioritise showing your children affection that comes directly from you not through the things you buy for them ■ Commit daily to the challenge of setting boundaries for the use of devices ■ Maximise your child’s time out of their comfort zone, coupled with affection ■ Create a clear set of criteria both parents are aware of and support each other when applying it Harkaway Hills College is accepting enrolments for students from Kindergarten to Grade 7 in 2022.

Recently, I’ve toured local primary schools and considered the options for our child, who will be starting Prep in 2022.

It’s obvious that you’d think of things like the proximity of the school to your house or support network, the facilities, the teaching staff and whether your child might have a friend or two attending.

Maybe you relate to the school’s teaching practices or philosophies.

Or maybe you’ve heard good things from within the community, which is a pretty powerful thing when it comes to choosing a school.

I found pretty quickly there were a few great options, which made the decision difficult.

It’s been a while since I’ve stepped foot in a primary school and I have to say - they’ve come a long way in the many years since I attended.

So after some consideration, we made the call and applied to enrol our daughter for Prep in 2022 at a school just out of our zone.

Then I thought I’d check out some of our local high school options - but wasn’t that a big mistake.

If I was overwhelmed at the prospect of picking a primary school: I was 100 per cent unprepared for high school.

From private to local state schools, religious institutions and more there’s apparently thousands of dollars worth of difference.

And I really hadn’t anticipated when you need to start the enrolment process. One high school suggested you’d need to apply by Grade 5.

There were numerous other requirements for religious institutions, none of which we meet the criteria for.

I have friends whose children are babies and on waitlists for private schools they attended.

I have other friends who’ve thought about where their child will be educated, and then worked out where to live/buy a house.

And then there’s the rest of us who will probably leave it too late and then panic when the time comes.

I think for now I’ll file it under “future me’s problem”.

I also wonder if it’s something that you decide as you start to see your child’s interests emerge; maybe they’re sporty or arty, maybe they’re academic.

It gets easier, RIGHT?

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“And through science and environmental education, we strengthen children’s relationship with nature as well as their awareness of sustainable ways of living.”

Education

Amanda adds that socio-emotional competence is promoted by practising empathy and compassion, selfregulation, and naming and recognizing our own and others’ emotions.

Children are divided into rooms by their age: nursery, toddler, pre-kinder and kindergarten. Learning area include linguistic, science and environmental skills, as well as understanding the world. Musical and craft activities, verbal and bodily expression, and exploring and interacting each have an important place in the learning program.

Victorian First Early Education Centre engaged with Royal Flying Doctor Service’s Flight Simulator.

Picture: Supplied

Engaging imaginations RIGHT from its name - pronounced “hay” and Finnish for “Hi” – HEI Schools Dandenong North Early Education Centre sets the scene for a happy, exciting learning journey for up to 72 lucky kids aged 12 weeks to six years (school age).

Just opened in January, the centre is all sparkly new, with large spaces and outdoor areas purpose-designed to engage imagination and facilitate learning.

But it’s the centre’s preschool concept based on the well-recognised Finnish Early Education Model – ranked best in global comparisons - that gives parents

a quite different choice.

Centre director Amanda Patris says the approach and methods are based on the latest research in education, rigorously tested for proven results in preschools across Finland. In fact, the University of Helsinki is a founding partner of HEI Schools.

“We believe in the power of creativity that leads to innovative ways of thinking and doing - raising the children of the 21st century,” says Amanda. “We combine playful curiosity and the freedom to explore, with a deep scientific understanding about how children learn.

“We recently had the Royal Flying Doctor Service visit on a Family Fun Day and children were able to learn about and use the flight simulator. Captain Tom explained the important role the RFDS play in rural communities and children could to put their new-found knowledge into practice using stethoscopes and flight communication headsets.

“HEI Schools promotes children’s capability to observe, analyse, and understand the surrounding world. We support the development of children’s linguistic and mathematical skills through different activities in everyday life.

MEET AMANDA With more than 30 years’ experience in early learning, Amanda is most passionate about empowering children to be actively involved in their learning, and to celebrate and exaggerate the little things in everyday life that children enjoy and learn from.

Each day, Amanda starts with a plan and a goal to make everyday a little bit magical and every opportunity a little bit special.

She loves developing close relationships with families and caregivers so that each child’s uniqueness and interests are a highlight in HEI’s program.

HEI Schools Dandenong North Early Education Centre, 1-3 Mulgoa Avenue, Dandenong. Opens 6.30am-6.30pm Monday-Friday (except public holidays). Enquiries: 7038 0836; email amandap@heischools.com.au; or visit www.heischools.com.au; Facebook@ heischoolsdandenongnorth

Connecting across colleges VCAL students at Hillcrest Christian College have been given opportunities to explore their own interests while working on projects that demonstrate the skills needed to complete the certificate.

They’ve had the opportunity to choose the focus for their final year, opting to either join the environmental class or the media class.

“As a VCAL Literacy teacher, I have had the privilege of facilitating the learning of those in the environmental class, and it has been extremely rewarding to connect our program with initiatives at our 25 acre environmental reserve,” said Polly Penn, Hillcrest VCAL teacher.

The environmental reserve has provided rich fodder for students in their latest VCAL project.

to Australia each year and has chosen the Crest Environmental Reserve for its holiday home.

Since the beginning of the year the class has made regular trips to the reserve, drawing inspiration from the natural environment and its unique features to incorporate into their own original picture books.

Others focused on their own connection to nature and the sense of peace they experience at the reserve.

In creating the books, students have selected an aspect of the reserve to focus on, planning and drafting their narrative, and illustrating and publishing their final product.

Several students were inspired by the migration of the Latham Snipe, an endangered bird that flies from Japan

The project culminated in a visit to the Year 2 classes at Rivercrest Christian College, where the Year 12 students read their picture books and shared some of their experiences from the environmental reserve with the younger students. VCAL students are also redesigning several areas at their environmental reserve, with the intention of making the resource more accessible for the Hillcrest and Rivercrest community.

Students created picture books based on the environmental reserve.

Rivercrest Christian College

• International Baccalaureate World School • Inquiry Learning with a Christian World View • New Middle Years Campus • Year 9 starting 2022 (continuing to Year 12) RIVERCREST CHRISTIAN COLLEGE Ferdinand Drive Clyde North Enter via Gate 6 T: 03 9703 9777 W: rivercrest.vic.edu.au 12479613-SG26-21

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WINTER 2021 27

Education

Mental health help for kids AUSTRALIA’S first mental health literacy and action program is on its way.The program seeks to address the mental health and wellbeing needs of young people at school and is set to be delivered by researchers at Monash University.

The Monash research team involved in the project is seeking expressions of interest from schools across Victoria to take part.

The program was first developed by Professor Joanne Riebschleger in the United States. Now, it has been adapted for Australian schools as a preventative approach to increase knowledge of mental health in the classroom and develop coping mechanisms for students, such as help seeking skills and resilience.

The research team, including Alexandra Marinucci, a PhD candidate who is leading the program evaluation as part of her doctoral dissertation, will

work alongside other provisional psychologists to deliver the program.

During the peak of the Covid pandemic last year, a Headspace report found one in three young people experienced a high level of distress.

This compares with data from before the pandemic that found one in seven young people were affected by a mental illness.

Along with these alarming figures, young people are five times less likely to seek help when distressed.

“Not only are we in a global pandemic, we are in a mental health pandemic. It is critical we shift our focus to preventative approaches to mental health care and support through early intervention and increasing mental health literacy of our population,” Alexandra said.

“We want to introduce a structured program and collaborate with schools to

During the peak of the Covid pandemic, a headspace report found one in three young people experienced a high level of distress.

focus on mental health literacy and action. We want to make this program feasible, relevant and sustainable so it can be implemented widely in the future.”

Stigma or a lack of knowledge are common barriers to young people getting the help they need or helping others.

This program seeks to improve young people’s mental health, coping and resilience through an evidenced-based 10-session prevention program at school.

Research has shown young people prefer to go to informal methods for help, such as family, friends or the internet.

“Sometimes the internet does not provide accurate or age-appropriate

information and so we want to give young people correct and practical information, also strategies to support their mental health that could benefit them now and into the future,” Alexandra said.

“Given the increased levels of distress experienced by young people exacerbated by Covid-19, we are in a critical moment to shift our focus to a preventative approach that directly promotes positive youth mental health.

“Evidence-based school programs surrounding mental health for youth are lacking and this project seeks to change that.”

Schools wishing to take part can contact Alexandra (alexandra. marinucci@monash.edu) or Christine (christine.grove@monash.edu)

Nurturing care for your early learner SELECTING an Early Learning Centre for your child is a choice that can accompany other changes, such as a return to work by the primary caregiver.

Students form friendships that continue from early learning through to primary years and beyond.

Every child builds social connections as they participate in a range of fun and inspiring activities on-campus.

The Heritage College Early Learning Centre team understands that moving into the early years of learning can be filled with lots of questions. Caring, nurturing staff are on hand to provide support and assistance throughout the enrolment process and beyond.

The Early Learning Centre forms part of the larger college community at Heritage College. Positioned conveniently on Centre Road, the Narre Warren South campus provides continuous education from Early Learning to Year 6.

Heritage College early learning students are part of a supportive larger community.

Located on Starling Road, the Officer campus delivers education from Early Learning for three and four-year-olds, as well as Primary and Secondary to Year 12.

Being part of a large college community means your child will enjoy opportunities at a younger age, including science, art, sport and language. During the school term, early learners participate in shared sports and other college events.

With the popular Bush Kinder program and a focus on play-based learning, educators encourage creativity, curiosity and exploration every day.

Throughout the year, children enrolled in the early learning programs develop school readiness skills, learning through a combination of play and structured activities. Introducing small amounts of structured activities throughout the 4-year-old Kinder program provides children with vital skills required for their first year of primary school.

In partnership with primary educators on campus, the Step into Prep program ensures a smooth adjustment from the kinder program into your child’s first year of primary school and beyond.

To find out more, visit heritagecollege.vic.edu.au

Early Learning Centres Enquire now for 3 & 4 Year Old Kinder in 2022

Read more: heritagecollege.vic.edu 28 WINTER 2021

12499286-LB26-21

Starling Road, Officer (Early Learning - Year 12 Campus) Centre Road, Narre Warren South (Early Learning - Year 6 Campus)

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Education

A new identity ST Margaret’s Berwick Grammar has started rolling out its new visual identity.

LAST year, Berwick Lodge Primary School Principal Henry Grossek wrote a piece titled, Challenging times in schools.

Principal, Annette Rome, says this new identity is all about joining the school’s campuses together and honouring its heritage.

In the piece, he reflected on the range of difficult and, at times, traumatic experiences that the pandemic brought to schools.

“Our new contemporary logo is designed so that each part of the school can identify with it, carrying the school forward as one,” she explains.

“It joins our world class teaching campuses ELC, Junior School, Senior Girls and Senior Boys together, while paying homage to the school’s heritage in our 95th year.”

The school has renewed its commitment to its unique diamond education model with co-educational learning in the Junior School and dedicated single gender campuses in the senior years. This allows the school to honour everything known from valid educational research, about providing a great education.

Annette says there is a real focus on delivering a contemporary, valuesdriven, character-based education that engages both the heart and the mind.

“This approach brings together the best elements of our heritage and tradition drawn from nearly 100 years of caring for young people. Moving forward we will focus on the 4 As, which underpin all we do.”

A great place for students to learn

It was a very hard year for all students, parents and staff. He concluded the piece with the following thought: Principal Annette Rome.

Academics - our reason to exist, ensuring every student achieves their academic best.

Artistry: Developing creativity through classroom and co-curricular activities that include performing arts, design, media, art, photography and debating.

Adventure: Opportunities outside the classroom that foster leadership, teamwork, self-reliance, resilience, grit and critical thinking through experiences that challenge the heart and mind.

Athleticism: Creating a healthy body and mind through elite performance and participation, developing teamwork, sportsmanship and drive.

“Moving forward to having all children returning to school full-time, raises other challenges for us all, as it does opportunities.

“Drawing on the strength of connection between and across our whole school community will be the basis of our successes in meeting those challenges.”

Now, with children firmly ensconced back in schools, Berwick Lodge Primary School is a great place for learning because of the strength of connection among the entire school community.

There is no single thing that makes this so.

Berwick Lodge Primary has an incredibly wide range of programs available for students, as all schools should have.

Berwick Lodge Primary School is a great place for learning.

They have a stable staff with a great mix of youth and experience.

The student cohort is highly motivated and parents back the school with their support.

In their 32nd year of operation, Berwick Lodge Primary continues to attract a significant number of students from beyond their neighbourhood boundaries and graduate students, some now in their 40s, are making their mark as community leaders in their own right.

Why not book a visit for a personal tour if you are considering a school for your child for 2022? That way, you’ll see for yourself what this wonderful school community is all about

VISIT OUR VIRTUAL SCHOOL TOUR TODAY Our virtual school tour allows you to experience Berwick Lodge Primary School spaces as though you are physically there.

Using emerging technology, we have mapped spaces across the school to create 3D tours and 360-degree walkthroughs.

Empowering Curious Minds

Immerse yourself in the spaces, move around, explore and look out for LODGIE BEAR along the way.

For more details visit: www.berwicklodgeeps.vic.edu.au

Find out how our world-class International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program and expert ELC andJunior School staff can help your child flourish in their learning through action in our intimate learningspaces and classes.

Kevin Heinze Best School Garden Award 2018

Non-Selective | Non-Denominational Small Classes | Co-Educational ELC and Junior School Dedicated Senior Girls and Boys Schools

P: 9709 6700 F: 9796 2198 E: berwick.lodge.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au Visit our website to check out the virtual tour www.berwicklodgeps.vic.edu.au

StMargarets.vic.edu.au 12495008-DL26-21

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

12479598-SN13-21

WINTER 2021 29

Education

Hallie Owers and Zara Plummer explore the Future You website, which is part of a campaign to smash gender stereotypes around STEM.

Inspiring girls to choose STEM

By Melissa Grant GIRLS are less likely than boys to pursue a career using science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

That’s why a nationwide campaign has been launched to inspire more female students to choose STEM subjects and open their eyes to careers that use these skills.

Even in primary school, girls are less interested in STEM subjects, with gender stereotypes having a major impact.

Studies, for instance, have shown that most children perceive science as a male profession.

When asked to draw a scientist, children draw nearly twice as many male scientists than female ones.

Furthermore, girls are perceived as not naturally suited to STEM subjects boys are seen as better at numeracy, while girls are seen as better at humanities.

It’s concerning given that STEM is a

big part of many new jobs and jobs of the future.

To tackle the issue, the federal government has launched Future You, an initiative that aims to smash gender stereotypes around STEM. Since launching in October, more than 2.3 million young Australians and their parents and carers have explored Future You, an online platform aimed at children aged 8 to 12.

The platform features 12 diverse and relatable characters, including a builder, miner, game designer, farmer, nurse, ecologist and a Moon to Mars Mission Director. It also includes video animations, skill-based games and information about STEM. Children’s perceptions of STEM jobs as being for women, or women and men equally, improved after engaging with the platform.

Before the campaign, only 20 per cent of girls aged 8-12 said they were ‘very interested’ in STEM but after seeing the Future You online platform, that

increased to 68 per cent.

Boys have also benefited, with strong interest in STEM increasing from 43 per cent to 60 per cent after interacting with the career videos, games and quizzes.

The Future You Initiative is led by Australia’s Women in STEM Ambassador, Professor Lisa HarveySmith.

She says the statistics are “extremely encouraging” given that two years ago, 27 per cent of Year 11 and 12 girls considered STEM-related subjects compared to 48 per cent of boys.

“Future You is showing the power of engaging with our younger generation to ensure women study, enter and stay in STEM careers down the track,” she said.

Prof Harvey-Smith said STEM skills would be needed in areas where there would be massive skills shortages, including digital, cyber security, green energy, manufacturing and the space industry.

“When you say STEM, people think of

scientists in a lab coat. But it’s environmental scientists, creating solar power in solar cars, digital skills we need in the internet age. Really, STEM is everywhere in every industry,” she explained.

Prof Harvey-Smith says there is a real need to smash gender stereotypes around STEM. Children as young as six years old, she says, are influenced by gender stereotypes which can impact their interest in STEM. By the age of 10-14 years, the STEM gap between girls and boys widens.

“We know the 8-12 year age group is critical to longer term interest in STEM careers,” Prof Harvey-Smith said.

“The Future You platform was designed to engage these children and excite them with the many career options that require STEM skills and more importantly, to show that these jobs are for everyone.” https://www.womeninstem.org.au/ futureyou/

Catching up on learning after Covid chaos

By Carole Levy MANY parents are worrying about their kids falling behind in their school work because of what may have been missed during Covid’s remote learning period.

A solution that many are turning to is private tutoring, but does the money invested actually help?

The short answer is yes, tutoring can be very effective in remedying learning shortfalls, as well as extending students beyond what they learn in the classroom.

Tutoring can also build confidence, and gives focus to children who may be distracted in a busy classroom situation.

A study conducted by the Education Endowment Foundation found that students who receive one-to-one tutoring 30 WINTER 2021

can make five months’ extra progress over a school year, while one Melbourne tutoring company’s internal research showed that 82 per cent of parents saw their child’s grades improve and 85 per cent noted an increase in confidence.

According to Melbourne’s Cluey Learning, measuring a valuable tutoring experience comes down to more than just exam marks.

Cluey co-founder Michael Allara says that at the end of the day, the learning program is the biggest indicator of tutoring success.

program, revision of the methodology, and whether you can see a shift in your child’s attitude towards learning.

■ Friendly and supportive nature, with an ability to communicate to someone who is struggling

“Quality tutoring requires relevant content developed by experts; it necessitates constant feedback from students, tutors and parents; and it demands tutoring in the context of the child.

■ A broad range of experience dealing with a variety of students/learning challenges

“A tutor should always pursue quality teaching, but they also need to be matched to the needs of your child.

There’s no point in assigning a disciplinarian if your child responds best to a softly-softly approach. Similarly, your playful child might learn best from someone with a more exuberant nature who can turn learning into a game.”

“The mode - online or in-person, private or group sessions - can enhance or detract from that but it doesn’t determine effectiveness,” he says.

QUALITIES TO LOOK FOR IN A TUTOR

“All of the component parts need to be considered, including the tutor, content

■ In-depth understanding of their subject area

■ Offers content that’s relevant and up to date ■ Provides consistent feedback and analysis A tutor’s resources need to be as useful as possible to each student, which means they must be aligned with what a student is actually covering in class.

Group and one-to-one tutoring is available, but busy parents (and children tired after a long day at school) may prefer online tutoring (such as Cluey provides) - with real-time face-toface interaction. www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Education

A growing school

Family focus at Kool Kidz

ST CLARE’S Catholic Primary School has continued to grow this year and now has an enrolment of over 520 students.

One of this year’s major developments is substantial landscape works to incorporate further sport fields and playgrounds. As part of the parish of St Patrick’s in Pakenham, the school is on site with the Early Learning Centre and the Officer campus of St Francis Xavier College. This provides a seamless transition from early childhood to secondary education.

Each learning space has been designed by education awardwinning architects to provide a rich environment conducive to relevant, meaningful learning. The final stage of classrooms was finished in 2020 and current works include a new playground and sports field.

At St Clare’s, numeracy and literacy skills are core elements of education; but so is Religious Education developing empathy, social justice and a strong moral compass.

The school encourages active play

FAMILY comes first at Kool Kidz Childcare.

The centre in Narre Warren is owned by mother and daughter, Janette Karavatis and Maria Dimoulas, who are passionate about looking after families.

Both women love children and realised a long held dream when the doors of Kool Kidz Narre Warren opened in February 2019.

Maria has a degree in early childhood education and a post graduate qualification in teaching children with special needs.

Janette has also worked in childcare for more than a decade.

Janette, Taylor and Maria from Kool Kidz Narre Warren.

Janette and Maria looked at various childcare models before settling on Kool Kidz.

“Maria and I both love children and, as we have a passion for this area, we want to give our best to the community.”

“The standards are so high in terms of the curriculum and the support we receive,” Janette said.

All rooms have access to spacious outdoor areas and there are dedicated sleep areas and a separate kitchen.

Kool Kidz Narre Warren has capacity for 130 children.

The centre caters for children from six weeks to six years.

“We are a family run business, looking after your family,” said Janette, who encourages parents to pop in for a tour of the centre.

Kool Kidz Narre Warren is open weekdays from 6.30am to 6.30pm at 17 Cranbourne Road, Narre Warren. Phone 9705 1532.

and healthy bodies; understanding other cultures through learning languages; and the confidence that comes with developing creativity through the performing and visual arts.

Digital technology is an integral part of the learning experience. St Clare’s emphasises a student’s capacity for safety, courtesy, critical literacy and independent learning online.

Student achievement is measured not only by academic growth but by each child’s emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing.

Being part of a faith-filled community instils our students with a sense of identity, a feeling of belonging and above all, a powerful sense of self-worth.

School tours are available but bookings are required, so contact the school to arrange a suitable time.

To book a tour phone 5940 6777 or email enrolments@stclaresofficer. catholic.edu.au

Active play is encouraged at St Clare’s.

Taking Enrolments for 2021 and 2022

’s has developed providing a quality schooling experience, developing

Our faith leads to wisdom and courage.

CARING & FAMILY FRIENDLY Kool Kidz Narre Warren is a purpose-built Early Learning, Childcare and Kindergarten facility that provides a safe, fun and exciting environment to explore, learn and grow in for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years.

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Helen Staindl School Principal 12472510-CG51-20

Phone 9705 1532 to speak with Janette or Maria to ENROL NOW 17 Cranbourne Road, Narre Warren www.koolkidznarrewarren.com.au

parent, guardian or family, I invite you to visit us at St Clare’s and discover this dynamic learning environment and start the beginning of, what I hope will be, a life-long learning partnership.

12484028-NG13-21

St Clare’s and is embedded in the ethos of the school,

Enrolment Enquiries

email enrolments@stclaresofficer.catholic.edu.au WINTER 2021 31

Education

Willow at Cardinia Lakes ELC.

Healthy development a real focus THE team at Cardinia Lakes ELC have extended their focus on promoting healthy growth and development.

They’ve done this by introducing a new movement program, as they work towards their goals in the Healthy Achievement Program.

The team knows that young children should receive holistic support, from parents and family, educators and caregivers.

The team program for children to be actively engaged with a daily balance of physical activities, sedentary behaviours (such as reading, puzzles, construction, art and craft) and sleep/ rest.

Cardinia Lakes Early Learning Centre

Each day at Cardinia Lakes ELC, children participate in a range of developmentally appropriate, enjoyable and safe play-based and structured physical activities in a variety of environments. Staff facilitate a program that allows children to do this independently, as well as interacting with the teaching team and other children. Children are regularly taken out of the service on excursions to the local parks and quarry. This encourages

Book a tour online today!

Cardinia Lakes Early Learning Centre caters for children 6 weeks of age to school age.

Our Early Learning Centre also has 3 and 4 year old funded kindergarten 5 days a week, 5 hours a day. With access to our child care centre hours before and after our sessions, you can access full days.

community engagement and also allows children to connect more with the local beautiful, natural surroundings.

For the youngest learners, supervised activities include tummy time, reaching and grasping, pushing and pulling, and crawling. Older learners engage in activities that work on their core strength, hand eye coordination, cognition, turn taking, fine and gross muscle movements.

Jace is the Movement Lead at Cardinia Lakes ELC. He works with the classroom leaders and the children, in developing fun activities that extend on their classroom programs. These activities then get implemented across the week, ensuring all children have access to the program’s benefits.

For great movement ideas to do at home with your children, you can follow the Cardinia Lakes ELC Facebook or Instagram pages.

If you would like to book a tour to enrol your child, call on 9066 1144 or book via the Cardinia Lakes ELC website at www.cardinialakeselc.com. au or Facebook page.

Operating 52 weeks of the year, closed public holidays CCS for eligible families. Meals cooked daily by qualified chef Kindergarten programs 9am - 3pm with full day access from 6:30am - 7:00pm in our Early Learning Centre

Cardinia-Lakes-Early-Learning-Centre www.cardinialakeselc.com.au

12498813-JW26-21

3 Atlantic Drive, Pakenham VIC 3810 P: 9066 1144 E: manager@cardinialakeselc.com.au

Every le a is a valu Every rner aer ble learn is as an indiv vaid uaas lued l aan nd as a mein mdievid ua ber l,of o and as ur a c o m mr u membe itry ofnou community

65 King Road, ad, Harkaway Harkaw way ph: 03 9707 1475

e: harkaway.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au harkawayps.vic.edu.au 12485400-AV13-21

32 WINTER 2021

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Education

Consent added to curriculum TEACHING students about consent is now mandatory in Victorian government schools, with the state government making the announcement in April.

The government had already invested $82 million into its Respectful Relationships framework, which is a whole school approach to support schools to ‘embed respect and gender equality’ everywhere in schools: classrooms, the staff room, and in the playground.

All Victorian government schools are now part of the Respectful Relationships initiative.

Acting Premier James Merlino said from Term 2, the teaching of consent will be mandatory in all government schools in an age-appropriate way.

“There are no excuses for any school not rolling out a program like this,” he said.

“It is proven to make a real difference and is a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Family Violence.

“I want to see every single school across the country implement this program. Students have been clear they need a greater focus on the issue of consent and that is exactly what we will deliver.”

Teaching students about consent has been on the agenda this year.

In the same month, the federal government released a new campaign around consent for teens, which was widely panned as “confusing” and bizarre.

More than 350 videos, digital stories, podcasts and other materials are

available free to teachers, students and families through The Good Society website, as part of the Respect Matters program. Mr Merlino criticised the video released to the public from the Commonwealth.

“But one thing’s for sure - that

cringeworthy milkshake video and the other confusing materials produced by the Commonwealth don’t belong in our classrooms.

“They belong in the bin. Our kids deserve better than this rubbish that makes zero sense.”

Providing a solid foundation for learning “CHILDREN learn as they play. More importantly, in play, children learn how to learn” - O. Fred Donaldson

development, and wellbeing.

It can be a big adjustment for a young child to navigate the workings of a classroom for the first time in kindergarten. The pre-kinder program provides children with those opportunities to make the transition in a positive and supportive learning environment.

The Foundation Early Learning Centre program focuses on educational, play-based experiences that support each child’s individual learning needs and interests. Skills developed in early learning allow children to transition more easily through kinder, school and beyond.

Young children learn about the world through play. Playful experiences prepare children for ‘deeper learning’, especially in essential skills like executive functioning. Pre-kinder programs expose children to many different

The Foundation Early Learning Centre program focuses on an educational play based experiences.

types of play that they may not have access to at home. It gives children the opportunity to use their imagination and practise important skills. It also helps their social and emotional

The program at Foundation Early Learning Centre links in with the Early Years Learning Framework which guides the educators to create flexible, stimulating, challenging and inclusive learning experiences. Through regular attendance at Foundation Early Learning Centre, children develop skills of independence, self-confidence,

relationship building and problem solving.

Experienced educators have a wealth of knowledge and have created a nurturing, supportive environment that makes all families and children feel a sense of belonging.

The knowledge families bring to the early learning centre is valued as the information they provide helps to plan and implement learning experiences for the children.

With a bright and welcoming learning space and a large, wellequipped yard, Foundation Early Learning Centre is the best place to give them the best start.

GIVE THEM THE BEST START...

3 & 4 YEAR OLD PRE-KINDER PROGRAM PLACES AVAILABLE! 3 HOUR & 5 HOUR SESSIONS | MONDAY - THURSDAY SHOW THIS ADVERT TO RECEIVE A FREE LEARNING PACK UPON ENROLMENT!

FOUNDATION EARLY LEARNING CENTRE 4 Malcolm Court, Narre Warren | www.foundation.vic.edu.au | 03 9704 7388 12496701-CG26-21

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

WINTER 2021 33

Education

Childcare fees set for overhaul

By Melissa Grant FAMILIES with two or more children in childcare are set to save thousands of dollars in fees each year.

Childcare subsidies for second and subsequent children will be increased to as high as 95 per cent and the subsidy cap removed for high income earners as part of a $1.7m spend on childcare included in the federal budget.

The changes aren’t due to begin until July 2022, however Prime Minister Scott Morrison says they could be implemented earlier “if possible”.

The fee overhaul means families with two children aged five and under in childcare four days a week, for example, would save between $41 and $125 each week.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says the policy is designed to make childcare more affordable and give parents the choice to work extra hours.

Currently, parents are given the same subsidy for their second child, which means the cost of childcare doubles.

Childcare subsidies are also capped at $10,560 per child, with families earning more than $189,390 having to pay full fees once the subsidy runs out.

Under the new subsidy system,

childcare fees would be subsidised between 80 per cent and 95 per cent for second and subsequent children. The subsidy cap would also be scrapped.

For example, a family earning $110,000 a year will have the subsidy for their second child increase from 72 to 95 per cent, and would be $95 per week better off for four days of childcare.

Education Minister Alan Tudge said the measures would further ease the cost of childcare and encourage workforce participation, particularly for larger families.

“These measures will help remove the barriers for parents, particularly mothers, to return to the workforce or to increase their hours, as their family grows,” he said.

Minister for Women Marise Payne said the investment in the Child Care Subsidy would deliver greater choice for Australian women and men as they balance their family and work responsibilities.

“For women in particular, it opens the door for those choosing to work or to work more, which is critical to their own economic security and a prosperous Australian economy,” she said.

“These changes strengthen our economy and at the same time provide greater choice to parents who want to

Childcare will be cheaper for many families from July 2022.

2022

Benefit for families with two children in childcare for four days Family income

Current out of pocket childcare cost per week

Current subsidy

$40,000

$124.80

$80,000

New 2nd child subsidy

Future out of cost pocket childcare per week

Total better off per week

85%

95%

$83.20

$41.60

$149.18

82%

95%

$95.39

$53.79

$110,000

$232.38

72%

95%

$136.99

$95.39

$140,000

$315.58

62%

92%

$190.78

$124.80

$180,000

$416.00

50%

80%

$291.20

$124.80

work an extra day or two a week.”

However, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese says the federal government has “missed an opportunity” to reform childcare and boost women’s workforce participation.

Mr Albanese said “Labor’s cheaper childcare plan” lifts the subsidy and “smooths” the taper rate across the board, regardless of how many children a family has and how old they are.

He also claimed Labor’s childcare plan would assist 1 million families instead of 250,000.

“The many Australian families

struggling under the cost of out of school hours and vacation care will not benefit at all from the Morrison government’s lift in subsidy,” he said .

“Families desperately need immediate relief from soaring childcare costs, yet these changes are not even set to come in for over a year.”

Mr Morrison said the changes required to the current system were quite complex, while giving some hope fee relief could come sooner.

“If it’s possible to do these things earlier then we will certainly look at that,” he told Sunrise.

Website to help find your local school THE government’s Findmyschool website has been updated to provide parents with the latest information to find the school zone they live in.

The website allows families to find their closest, and other nearby, government schools, giving clarity on what their options are.

Schools can be found by typing in a residential address or searching by school name. Findmyschool will show the zone for the current enrolment year and the 2022 enrolment year.

Every child has the right to enrol at their designated neighbourhood government school or, if there is capacity, at another government school of their choice.

updated website includes school zones for the 14 new schools and campuses opening in 2022.

“We will deliver 100 new government schools by 2026 and when a new school opens, the zones around nearby schools have to change to accommodate it,” Mr Merlino said.

“The website takes the guesswork out of identifying their closest government school, giving families the clarity they need when deciding which school to enrol their child in.”

When the site was launched in 2019, it was the first time school zones were easily accessible in one place.

In the past five years, the government has invested more than $9 billion in more than 1600 school upgrades - creating more than 10,000 construction jobs - and is now ahead of schedule on its commitment to open 100 new schools by 2026, with 48 new schools opening between 2019 and 2022.

Acting Premier and Minister for Education James Merlino said the

Families can look up their school zone online at: findmyschool.vic.gov.au

No student currently enrolled in a school will be required to change schools.

34 WINTER 2021

Families can now look up their school zone online.

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Active Kids

A pot full of fairies

Paint your own pottery Pottery workshop, retail and Nancy Cafe

You don’t need to be an artist - all you need to do is pick a pot and get painting!

Getting outside and putting hands in soil is always a joyful experience but not so much during winter.

Here’s one idea that not only will the kids enjoy but it will look great in their bedroom or on the kitchen window ledge.

Anyone can get creative at Robert Gordon.

If you’ve never painted pottery before, you needn’t worry.

FAIRY GARDEN IN A POT 1. Lay down newspaper or tarp to create a potting area.

Friendly staff are on-hand to show you how.

2. Three-quarters fill a wide bowlshaped pot with potting soil

Once fired, you’ll be able to take home a unique piece of pottery that’s microwave, oven and dishwasher safe.

3. Get cuttings of different types of succulents - just snap a piece off an existing plant and it’s ready to just pop into the soil.

All you have to do is: ■ Choose your pot. Mugs, plates, bowls and many other shapes available.

There are even piggy banks!

Getting the succulent collection is part of the project - browse through gardens of family and friends to snaffle different types. Three to four varieties will be plenty for effect.

■ Paint. Glazes, brushes and aprons are all provided.

Robert Gordon is located at 114 Mulcahy Road Pakenham and is open 7 days 9am-5pm. Online bookings for the

MANY kids discovered the fun of growing things during lockdowns, with families kicking off veggie patches or doing fresh plantings to spruce up their yards.

When it’s cold and rainy outside, kids can still get into gardening indoors. It can be simple and rewarding and maintains their connection to growing and nature.

ROBERT Gordon Pottery offers pottery painting workshops for all ages.

■ Finished pieces are ready for collection in 14 days. Postage can be arranged upon request.

By Carole Levy

Kids can get creative at Robert Gordon.

Paint Your Own Pottery and workshops are essential. Phone 03 5941 3302. www.robertgordonaustralia.com

4. Collect pebbles in different sizes and shapes to ‘decorate’ on top of soil. This is another part of the project that will keep the kids engaged.

When it’s cold and rainy outside, kids can still get into gardening indoors.

5. They can also ‘paint’ some pebbles with craft glue, then sprinkle with glitter for a bit of drama.

6. Get some tiny fairy figurines - from $2 shops - and any other ornament the kids like, then arrange the garden.

7. Lightly water - succulents don’t need a lot, and are very hardy so not likely to disappoint by keeling over too soon.

8. Job done! Kids proud. Mum or dad supervises the clean-up - the only downside.

PAINT YOUR OWN POTTERY

12482772-DL13-21

Come and paint a pot at Australia’s favourite pottery.

114 MULCAHY ROAD PAKENHAM VIC 3181 CONTACT 03 5941 3302 ROBERTGORDONAUSTRALIA.COM www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

WINTER 2021 35

Active Kids

Mud pies should be on the menu

By Alana Richards GIVE a child a pile of toys and a pile of mud and it’s not hard to guess which one they’ll go for first. And why not? It’s a kid’s rite of passage to enjoy getting covered in all things messy and fun and winter is the perfect time to let them get their hands dirty.

There’s no better time to get into a muddy mess than winter, so here are some good reasons from Early Childhood Australia to just let them go and worry about the washing later…

Teaches kids to engage with nature Mud provides a wonderful opportunity for children to discover and experiment.

From drawing with it to moulding it into shapes, creative play is endless with all of the different things it can ‘make’.

Supports physical development Manipulating mud helps to develop fine motor skills for little hands, and the ever-popular mud slip and slide move is a great one for developing large motor skills. Imaginative play is inspired by mud inventions and social skills are built as children cooperate and play together.

Builds immunity It’s not new news that research tells us how good it is for a child’s immune

Jack has some muddy fun.

system to play outside and get dirty from a young age. Exposing kids to mud, living creatures and germs as they explore the natural environment around them strengthens the immune system and this can lead to less allergies and a body that can fight off bugs as they grow.

Creates happy smiles The smile on the face of a muddy child speaks for itself, but a study from the University of Bristol found that bacteria

in soil can activate a group of neurons that produce the mood-enhancing chemical serotonin.

So, let them create happy mud

memories, smiling and free playing in their natural environment and tell them about the hidden developmental benefits later.

Mud pies anyone?

Activities Berwick Gymbaroo BERWICK Gymbaroo has been operating at the Masonic Hall (106 High Street) in Berwick for over 25 years and has seen second generation participants come into the centre.

This shows the value of the program as parents who did the program themselves as children are now bringing their children.

After that, there are classes to suit different age groups and stages of development right up to school readiness at 5 years.

There is a full range of gym equipment designed to assist with the physical development of your child. Part of each lesson includes time on the gym equipment under the guidance of the staff. Other parts of the classes focus on brain development through recognition of pictures and words along with activities like singing, dancing and exercises around the weekly theme.

Experienced staff expertly guide children and parents through the Gymbaroo program. Classes run from Tuesday to Friday each week during the school terms and age groups range from 6 weeks up to 5 years.

The program starts with babies as

GymbaROO

young as 6 weeks beginning their Gymbaroo journey, and there is another baby’s class designed for when they start to become mobile.

TM

Berwick

ACADEMIC 0417 547 043

36 WINTER 2021

PHYSICAL berwick@gymbaroo.com.au

EMOTIONAL

SOCIAL

Gymbaroo Berwick

12497980-HC26-21

enrol@gymbaroo.com.au

@gymbaroo

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

PERFORMING ARTS

Born to perform Berwick College Dance Academy THE Berwick College Dance Academy (BCDA) is a full-time academic and dance program which links students’ educational pursuits with their performing arts interests.

These life skills are woven through their drama curriculum as they learn techniques that over time, ensure that students have a strong platform to negotiate any type of presentation or performance.

The program caters for passionate and aspiring artists and is designed to prepare students for VCE Dance, VET Dance and Theatre Studies, as well as the world of professional dance.

Classes focus on voice an movement.

Each lesson is carefully planned and includes components such as speech practice, verbal dynamics, creative movement and mimes to music.

Children also learn dramatic and role playing, improvising, interpreting scripts and more advanced ‘tricks of the trade’ as they progress.

The program caters for many styles of dance including Classical Ballet, Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre and hip-hop as well as options to undertake music and drama.

As well as learning from an industry expert at the College, students will engage in an extensive dance program including professional workshops, excursions and incursions, performances within the College as well as in the local and wider community.

While completing academy classes, students also study a range of core subjects including mathematics, English, humanities, physical education, science and LOTE. Students have been selected to perform in Top Class, and many have gone on to gain placements at full-time dance institutions.

For more information, visit www. berwickcollege.vic.edu.au/danceacademy If you are interested, email Melissa Quenette at melissa.quenette@ education.vic.gov.au or phone 8768 1000.

O’Grady Drama O’Grady Drama do not just teach drama, they teach life. Through the skills learnt in their acting classes, children are given the tools to help them navigate life both now and into the future.

O’Grady Drama classes help build children’s confidence, communication skills and emotional health. Children are encouraged to find their own identity in a non-competitive environment where they feel safe and supported. Classes are all about inclusion and energy - there is no right or wrong.

You can be confident that O’Grady Drama know their craft. For over 40 years, O’Grady Drama have been teaching children, running in 40 countries. They provide the world’s foremost developmental drama program for children aged between 5-18 (and onwards). Classes are held in Pakenham, Berwick, Endeavour Hills and Rowville. For more information, visit www.ogradydrama.com.au Heals & Souls Danceworld Heals & Souls Danceworld is run by Diane Marsh, a passionate performer who has been teaching Ballroom and Latin dancing for 16 years.

Trained through well-qualified coaches from the UK, Diane blitzed her examinations through Dancesport Australia, and now boasts professional qualifications in all styles she teaches New Vogue, Standard Ballroom, and Latin Dancing.

As Diane endures a heartfelt passion for Jazz, she recently decided to combine this genre with Ballroom/Latin Dancing, by creating a new class ‘Dancercise’. This one-hour class needs no partner and involves warm-up exercises, Jazz and Latin moves, and a cool-down consisting of stretching and breathing exercises.

Pre-schoolers (aged 2-5) are offered the highly awarded ‘Ready Set Dance’ and ‘Ready Set Ballet’ programs as featured on television on Nick Jr. The Elite Training Program at CathyLea features tuition by professional performing artists, highly qualified coaches and master teachers from around the world.

For more information, ring or message Diane on 0408343202, or email difen69@bigpond.net.au, for details

Recreational classes are offered in all styles including hip hop, contemporary dance, drama, singing, musical theatre, acrobatics, commercial jazz and Broadway jazz for those seeking confidence, fun and fitness.

Many have gone onto careers on the stage in Australia and abroad.

With a number of medals and trophies under her belt, Diane started teaching Ballroom and Latin in 2005.

Renowned for its high standards, disciplined classes, and friendly expert staff, Cathy-Lea encourages students of all abilities to shine, training through recognised syllabi and affiliated with professional associations including Cecchetti International Ballet, The Australian Teachers of Dancing, AMEB and Trinity Guildhall.

Diane teaches at two venues within the Casey/Cardinia area - the Beaconsfield Neighbourhood Centre and the Foundation Learning Centre, Narre Warren.

Cathy-Lea Since 1991, Cathy-Lea has been training students in performing arts including ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary dance, hip hop, drama, singing, musical theatre and instrumental music.

Diane has danced all her life and is an expert in the genres of Tap, Jazz, Ballroom and Latin.

coordination, fitness, friendships and a love of performing arts from their experience at Cathy-Lea.

Thousands have gained confidence,

Students of all ages and abilities are welcome and special discounted fee packages are available for students taking multiple classes.

Please contact Cathy on cathy-lea@ cathy-lea.com or 9704-7324 or visit www.cathy-lea.com

Berwick College Dance Academy

we don’t just teach drama, we teach life

12498546-AV26-21

The Berwick College Dance Academy (BCDA) is a full-timeacademic and dance program, which will link students’educational pursuits with their performing arts interests.

0407 710 335

For For more information ormation please see the th he Berwick Berwick i College llege ge website:http://www.berwickcollege.vic.edu.au/dance-academy or email Melissa Quenette: Melissa.Quenette@education.vic.gov.au

ogradydrama.com.au melbourneoutersoutheast@ogradydrama.com.au

12444093-JW13-20

Dance Dan Danc ce you yourself fit in 2021!

Thursday Dancercise 11.30 - 12.15 Beginners

Dance Music and Drama classes from 18 months D 12498688-DL26-21

BEACONSFIELD Tuesday 7 - 8pm Beginners

Dream of who your child could become with training from the experts at Cathy-Lea

NARRE WARREN Wednesday 6 - 7pm Beginners- Intermediate Beginner class is then 7pm - 8pm

Developing talent. Creating stars. Since 1991.

HEALS AND SOULS DANCEWORLD Contact: Diane Marsh (D.S.A.) 0408 343 202 C difen69@bigpond.net.au Affordable, Accredited, Approachable

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

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New Vogue, Ballroom & Latin Dancing BOOK YOUR FREE TRIAL CLASS TODAY!

9704-7324 www.cathy-lea.com

WINTER 2021 37

Entertainment

Bunjil fun Monday 5 July Spike by Little Wing Puppets A baby echidna in search of where he belongs. Enjoy an interactive family experience in the Studio combining shadow puppetry and physical comedy.

Time: 10.30am & 12.30pm at the Studio Tickets: All tickets $10, Group of 4+ $9 each Friday 30 July, Saturday 31 July, Sunday 1 August Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show!

Bluey’s Big Play is a brand-new theatrical adaptation of the Emmy award-winning children’s television series, with an original story by Bluey’s creator Joe Brumm, and new music by Brisbane’s Beethoven and Bluey composer, Joff Bush. Held in the Theatre.

Time: See Bunjil’s website for show times

Museum of the Moon by Luke Jerram. Lakes Alive, UK, 2016

Exploring the universe DISCOVER the wonders of space at Bunjil Place this winter.

Get up close to a giant replica of the moon and travel through the universe in an amazing 4K experience as part of a lunar winter at Bunjil Place.

Events at the venue will revolve around an art installation in the Plaza called Museum of the Moon, which runs from 25 June to 4 July. Artist Luke Jerram’s giant replica of the moon has to be seen to be believed - it’s truly breathtaking.

The space programming begins with a launch party featuring space snacks, DJ Lunar and a cosmic trip to the moon.

There’s also a chance to explore a planetarium that offers travel through the universe in an amazing 4K experience.

Here’s what’s happening...

Friday 25 June - Sunday 4 July Museum of the Moon Visit the Bunjil Place Plaza this winter for an up-close encounter of a giant replica

Friday 25 June The Launch Party Board the Bunjil Place rocket ship for an intergalactic trip to the moon! You’re invited to the hottest party this winter - the launch of Luke Jerram’s giant replica of the Moon in the Plaza.

Time: 6.30pm - 8.30pm Tickets: All tickets are $15 and include a drink and space snack on arrival Friday 25 June Museum of the Moon by Luke Jerram. Light Night Leeds, UK, 2017.

Picture: Carl Milner

of the Earth’s Moon by UK artist Luke Jerram.

Measuring seven metres in diameter, the moon features 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface. At an approximate scale of 1:500,000, each centimetre of the internally lit spherical sculpture represents 5km of the moon’s surface.

Starr’s Planetarium Get set to travel beyond the moon and through the universe in an aweinspiring 4K experience in the Bunjil Place Foyer these school holidays.

Plus check out the space themed movies in the Studio as well as an AR constellation interactive on the outdoor screen in the Plaza.

Tickets: Adult $49.90, Child Under 15: $49.90, Family of 4: $45.90 per person Friday 13 August Cosentino: Deception Tour Join Cosentino as he performs death-defying escapes that will thrill your senses, mind-boggling stage illusions and cutting-edge street magic that twists your view of reality.

Time: 7.30pm in the Theatre Tickets: Standard $83.70, Group of 4 $75 per person 7-8 July The Bubble Show The Bubble Show with Mini Milkshake

by Bubble Laboratory. A theatre show about bubbles for anyone in the world regardless of what language they speak.

Time: 10.30 am (both days) at the Studio, Tickets: All tickets $16 27 July

Time: Open Daily 11am - 9pm

Time: Standard sessions every 30 minutes between 10.15am and 4.15pm

Pete The Sheep Pete the Sheep by Monkey Baa Theatre Company is a hilarious musical comedy imaginatively told by four performers playing shearers, dogs and sheep.

Free for all in the Plaza

Tickets: All tickets $4

Times: 10am and 12pm at the Theatre Tickets: All tickets $16

Party Time

Made with love

By Melissa Grant THE birthday cake is a significant part of a child’s birthday celebration.

We recently put out a call to our readers to see what birthday cakes they have been whipping up.

Olivia, from Berwick, loves making birthday cakes for her two boys.

“I’m a very passionate baker; one of my favourite things is baking and creating for my little family,” she said.

Fireman Sam and Blaze and the Monster Machines inspired the cakes she baked for her son Michael’s fourth birthday.

Michael’s Fireman Sam torte was a 38 WINTER 2021

chantilly sponge with a citrus mascarpone cream, while his second cake was chocolate mud with a vanilla creme patissiere filling and Blaze decorations on top.

Olivia, of Berwick, created an impressive croquembouche for her son Daniel’s second birthday.

For her younger son, Daniel, she made an impressive croquembouche - a French creation consisting of choux pastry puffs piled into a cone and bound with threads of caramel.

The cake for his second celebration, was a traditional chocolate mud with a Lindt ganache and farm animal toppers she created.

Jen from Narre Warren South used Pinterest to inspire the Frozen cake she recently created for her daughter’s third birthday.

Jen, of Narre Warren South, made this Frozen Cake for her daughter’s third birthday.

Olivia, of Pakenham, with the Bluey cake made by her mum Nat.

“I followed a recipe to bake it, but the decorating I just made up based on Pinterest inspo,” she said.

Bluey inspired cake for her daughter Olivia.

Nat, of Pakenham, recently baked a

“This cake was nothing fancy, just a fun cake that my daughter loved.” www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Party Time

Born to party

With a great soft play area and hundreds of shapes to choose from, Paint a Pot has the piece of pottery to make your child’s next birthday a memorable one!

Paint a Pot caters to kids of all ages - big and small, young and old - with a wide selection of pottery options. The on-site cafe allows the grown-ups and spectators to relax, and enjoy a coffee while the kids are in their creative element!

And after they have explored their creativity, they can run off the last of their energy in the soft play area.

At the end of the party, guests can choose to take their piece home straight away, or leave it overnight to be fired for collection the next day.

There are ready to paint ceramics for all ages from pots, plates, bowls and mugs to animal figurines.

The studio can be hired for adult art social events.

Teachers conduct a range of classes such as resin art, resin jewellery, acrylic pouring and chalk masterpieces.

XAVIER DIAZ ENTERTAINMENT If you’re after a great kids entertainer who will captivate your guests and leave them in stitches, then look no further than Xavier Diaz.

Customers can ring and place a custom order or choose from a pre-made selection available in store.

Xavier will bring the magic to your child’s party with his hilarious characters, fun songs, captivating stories and games.

Perfect for any occasion, these hampers can even be topped up with a bottle of their favourite drink, or a cuddle soft toy to convey your best wishes.

He’s also a master of balloon animals and making magic that entertains.

With experience from thousands of shows, he knows how to make kids smile, giggle, chuckle and explode in fits of belly laughter.

Those with dietary requirements aren’t left out: organic, lactose free, gluten free, vegan and sugar free options are also on the shelves.

The Chocolate Shop Pakenham is located at 112 Main Street Pakenham and is open 10.30am-5pm and is closed on Sundays. To order a hamper, visit their Facebook page or call 5941 7165.

FOR ALL YOUR PARTY CONFECTIONERY

Best of all, he involves the birthday child in a special way to ensure they feel and know the party is for them.

Professional and dependable, Xavier can provide a current working with children’s check.

For more information, visit http:// xavierdiaz.com.au/kids-parties/For bookings, call 0438 003 885 or email hello@xavierdiaz.com.au

112 Main Street, Street Pakenham Paken | Ph: 5941 7165 www.thechocolateshoppakenham.com.au www.facebook.com/thechocolateshoppakenham Now offering CLICK AND COLLECT

SHOWS INCLUDE

O child friendly venue offers Our a range of activities for kids:

* COMEDY * GAMES * MAGIC * SINGING * DANCING * STORYTELLING * BALLOON * SCULPTING

- a large range of CERAMICS animals/characters to cater for all children to paint as they wish!

- a SOFT PLAY area for kids of all ages - a full CAFE with lots of variety for kids and adults to get through a busy art filled day!

- art classes for kids from ages 5-12.

- choose from one of our amazing PARTY PACKAGES and let us do all the work so you and your guests can enjoy yourselves!

4/1 Vesper Drive, Narre Warren Ph: 8794 9997 | www.paintapot.com.au Follow us on @paint.a.pot and Paint a Pot Narre Warren

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Some of the most popular delivery items are chocolate and lolly hampers, tailor made for the recipient.

Delivery is available locally or surrounding areas, and is free for orders over $25. And, with an ever-changing range, there’s always a reason to visit in-person or browse on Facebook - as if you need an excuse!

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Paint a Pot KIDS

THE CHOCOLATE SHOP PAKENHAM The Chocolate Shop Pakenham, in the heart of Main Street, has been satisfying sweet-toothed locals for more than 17 years.

Also on offer are kid’s art classes and the keepsake casting of hands, feet and even little paws!

12498825-NG26-21

PAINT A POT ART STUDIO PAINT a Pot Art Studio is a place bringing people together for the shared purpose of being creative.

Xavier Diaz Entertainment 0438 003 885 hello@xavierdiaz.com.au xavierdiaz.com.au/kids-parties

12493037-SN25-21

WINTER 2021 39

Phillip Island

Winter island fun Take a stroll at Phillip Island.

EXPLORE the winter wonderland that is Phillip Island.

Watch the sunrise from sandy beaches, see penguins and koalas up close, delight in the taste of locally made wine and produce at one of their many eateries and listen to the roar of an internationally acclaimed motorsport venue.

Endless family fun is ensured when you visit the area with something for everyone.

Walk along the pristine beaches or take the binoculars out for some bird spotting and see if you can cast your eyes on any other curious creatures.

Just 90 minutes from Melbourne, and

a stone throw’s away from the Casey and Cardinia region - it’s the perfect place for a day trip, weekend getaway or a longer stay.

Phillip Island boasts an endless array of things to see and do - whether you are after something quiet or high-energy octane fun.

Take the family for a picnic lunch at a quiet bay beach, check out the spectacular views at The Nobbies or soak up all the action at the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix - this island playground has so much to offer.

With so much to see and do, you’ll realise your first visit to Phillip Island won’t be your last.

A thrilling experience for the whole family Australia’s largest four-lane GP Slot Car Track - an exact replica of the circuit.

PHILLIP Island Grand Prix Circuit is the destination for the whole family with many hours of entertainment on offer this winter.

Racing Simulators Test your skills or challenge your mates to a simulated race on the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.

Go Karts and Tandems Strap yourself into the new Sodi Go Karts for an exhilarating session on the 750m track - a replica of the world-renowned Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.

Champions Cafe The licenced Champions Cafe delivers with its fresh menu. Fantastic coffee and delicious scones, cakes, slices, muffins, pastries, sausage rolls and pies hit the spot.

With 9 horsepower Honda GX 270cc engines and a top speed of 65kmh, the French-made karts provide the ultimate karting sensation and are tested to meet stringent Australian standards.

The 2Drive tandem karts have twin seats. The dual steering allows kids to be involved under the supervision of an adult driver.

Grand Prix Motorcycle Collection at the Circuit The star exhibit in the History of

The Visitor Centre gift shop has a wide selection of stylish apparel, merchandise and souvenirs.

Motorsport Display is the collection of 25 Grand Prix winning motorcycles from the two famous Italian marques, Aprilia and Cagiva, with the two-wheel

treasures permanently installed in the display at the Visitor Centre.

Slot Cars - The Best Fun for all Ages Race your family or your mates on

For further information, including opening hours and operating conditions, visit phillipislandgokarts. com.au or call 03 5952 9400.

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40 WINTER 2021

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Phillip Island

Have a whale of a time on Phillip Island Whales arrive in Phillip Island waters during winter.

WHAT’S so special about being on Phillip Island during winter? Witnessing the arrival of Humpback and Southern Right whales into the coastal waters.

During the festival, choose from various activities and events, including talks, workshops, whale spotting, whale cruises, comedy dinners and more!

Pack up the family and explore the Phillip Island and Bass Coast Whale Discovery Trail, featuring some of the finest vantage points in the region.

Grab some warm clothing and a pair of binoculars, head out to one of the fantastic lookouts and trails from Phillip Island to Inverloch, and marvel at the area’s stunning landscapes along the way.

Those wanting to get closer to the marine giants can join one of the Wildlife Coast Cruises whale and dolphin boat tours that circumnavigate the island in search of whales.

Stay up to date with the latest announcements, including program and booking information at islandwhales.com.au Join one of the Wildlife Coast Cruises whale and dolphin boat tours.

The Cape Woolamai Beach Lookout offers a good vantage point.

Join in the local celebrations of the arrival of these majestic creatures with a range of special events from 11 June and the Island Whale Festival weekend 2-4 July.

Local community and visitors alike

have the opportunity to engage with a range of activities that will not only entertain but also allow you to appreciate the wildlife and natural habitats of Phillip Island and the Bass Coast region.

Follow the action on Facebook and Instagram at @islandwhales.

Book your winter whale escape and explore more things to see and do at visitphillipisland.com.au Remember to look after the coastal environment by watching out for wildlife on the roads and by keeping to the designated tracks.

Explore the WHALE DISCOVERY TRAIL, iconic bays, headlands and beaches as you go in search for whales from spectacular coastal viewing points or join a Winter Whale Cruise.

Discover special events from June 11 and the Island Whale Festival weekend July 2-4.

See islandwhales.com.au

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www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

WINTER 2021 41

Fashion

Cool winter threads

THE coolest winter fashion for kids is at Billy Lidz.

The trendy boutique has welcomed new season winter arrivals from the ever popular Two Darlings and Grown, which are both available in store and online.

The new collection from Children of the Tribe, popular for its Boho style and easy wearing trans-seasonal pieces, has also just arrived.

If you’re heading to a warmer climate during the Melbourne winter, then be sure to check out the latest collections from US labels Quincy Mae and Rylee + Cru. Both brands have hit the shelves in store and can be ordered online.

Billy Lidz sells gorgeous shoes, toys and accessories. They also sell necessary goods and supplies for newborns along with pacifiers, baby nests and rockers. Among the new arrivals are Milk and Cookies by Jewels, a lactation cookie, and an antenatal colostrum collecting kit.

Visit the boutique at Blackburne Square, Berwick, or check out the range in their online store at www. lovemybillylidz.com.au

42 WINTER 2021

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

WINTER SEASON IN STORE NOW PLUS GREAT GIFT IDEAS OPEN Mon - Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-3pm Shop 6, Blackburne Square, Berwick Phone: 9707 5593 12497105-CG26-21

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

WINTER 2021 43

Fashion

44 WINTER 2021

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Reality Bites

Double the fun for Federal MP

By Danielle Galvin WHEN Labor MP Anika Wells spoke out in Federal Parliament to share a message in support of Multiple Birth Awareness Week, she had two special little guests with her.

The Member for Lilley held Ossian and Dashiell, her twin boys, to address the House and raise awareness about testing for zygosity and identical or fraternal multiples.

“I never expected to be standing in front of the House with twins, and that is the experience of many twin parents out there,” she said in March.

“I just ran into a twin mum, coming into this place, who said, ’Is it the case that Centrelink and Medicare still do not consider twins to be a multiple birth?’

“I said: ’Yes, that is the case.’

Centrelink and Medicare do not consider twins to be multiple births as it currently stands.

“She said, ’You get in there and tell that parliament that, when you are giving birth to twins, it definitely feels like two babies are coming out,’ and I promised to do that. So, twin parents: I see you, I hear you, and I’m here for you.”

The twins have an older sister, Celeste, to Ms Wells and her husband Finn.

Ms Wells explained why it’s so important to know about whether twins are identical or not.

“You’d be surprised how many parents out there don’t know for sure and they probably don’t think it matters.

“It’s important for health reasons.

Identical twins are more likely than fraternal twins to get the same illness. If one twin is diagnosed with a particular condition, the other can be checked for early symptoms.

“Identical twins are also always compatible for organ transplantation or bone marrow donation, if they ever need it.

“It’s important too for twins to know their own identity, and for parents to estimate the likelihood of giving birth to further sets of twins - only fraternal twins are an inherited trait.”

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Lilley MP Anika Wells with Oshy and Dash in parliament.

When Ms Wells gave birth to the twins on 20 October last year, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese announced their safe arrival in parliament, noting how special it was that a sitting member of federal parliament had welcomed twins.

She says no two days are the same as a busy MP and mum of three.

“As fellow parents of small children can testify, there is no real “regular day”.

“Same with my work, which is incredibly dynamic and varied.

“The wheels can, and do fall off regularly. The baby might throw up on you as you’re dressed for work and ready to run out the door, you run out of nappies in the middle of the function you’ve brought the twins along to, you get to daycare only to discover you’ve left the twin backpacks at home.

“But we all just get on with it, we have to.

“Having a supportive partner who shares the load makes what I do as a Federal MP possible. Hats off to those parents who do it on their own.”

Many Australians might not know

that some government agencies don’t recognise twins as multiple births.

It’s an issue Ms Wells has been championing.

“When the Australian Multiple Birth Association (AMBA) first lobbied the Federal Government for the Multiple Birth Allowance in the 1990s, they were only able to secure the allowance for triplets or more.

“This still excludes the majority of families with multiples - those with twins.

“Financially it can be a challenge, because unlike with singletons, parents of multiples can’t “stagger” expenses like childcare, education, sports fees. And often the increased costs start during pregnancy, with multiples often leading to higher medical costs, mothers having to finish work earlier etc.

“There’s an AMBA research project underway to quantify these insights.

Once that data’s in hand, lobbying for the review of financial support for families of multiples will begin in earnest.”

In the months since Dash and Oshy were born, it’s been full of unique

challenges, but also unique experiences that only parents of multiple children experience, Ms Wells said.

She described it as a great privilege.

“It’s particularly special to witness their relationship with each other - how they reach out to hold each other’s hand when they are teething.

“Their bond is beautiful to see.”

She hopes she can be a voice for parents of multiples.

“A voice for multiple parents is important because they face some particular difficulties too.

“Because of the increased cost of care, parents of multiples are less likely to participate in the workforce.

“Another key difference is the increased likelihood of higher medical costs, with the health risks of multiples and their mother increasing by tenfold and the risk of post-partum depression is doubled. “That’s why it’s so important we review our childcare system in Australia, which is the most expensive in the OECD, not only for parents of multiples with for all Australian parents who are trying to manage the juggle of work and family.”

WINTER 2021 45

REality bites

Kyle and Casey, pictured with daughter Molly, met via Tinder. Pictures: Rob Carew

The rise of the e-baby generation

By Melissa Meehan IT was once the topic discussed in hushed tones.

But internet dating has become so popular, and successful, that by 2038 more babies will be born to parents who met online than offline.

And while 2038 seems a lifetime away, that’s when a Monash University report finds the so-called ‘e-baby’ generation will be in the majority.

Over the next 10 years they will make up 34 per cent of all newborns.

Using a nationally representative survey of over 2000 Australians and projections from current trends in online dating, the authors of the report pinpoint 2038 as the year when more than half of babies born will be born to online couples.

They are amazing figures, especially given few couples openly admitted they met online in recent years.

Former Mail Newspaper Group editor Casey Neill met her husband Kyle on Tinder back in 2015.

“We both swiped right,” she said.

“Kyle was with some older mates who wanted to know how this online dating stuff worked.

“So with them egging him on and a few drinks under his belt, he got up the courage to send me a message and we set up a date a few days later.”

Online dating was already pretty popular back then, but Tinder didn’t have the daggy and desperate stigma some of the older websites had, she said.

But she still wasn’t keen to let people know how they’d met.

“I’m not sure I ever actually told my parents we’d met online - they might have found out in our wedding vows,” she said.

They moved out together within five months.

46 WINTER 2021

Former Mail Newspaper Group editor Casey Neill with daughter Molly.

Picture: Gary Sissons

“For our first date we went out for dumplings and Kyle reckons that was it - after he saw me scoff noodles and dumplings he was sold,” she said.

face-to-face (1.38 vs 1.35).

“I wouldn’t say I thought I’d found my husband that night, and I definitely didn’t peg him as the father of my future child! I’d had a fair bit of bad luck with dating, so I just took it one day at a time.”

The report then considered current trends, finding that based on the share of births that are e-babies, an estimated 20 per cent of all babies born in this millennium are e-babies. Further, the report reveals that 21 per cent of online couples that had a baby did so within a year of meeting.

He proposed on a holiday to America in September 2017.

They got married in October 2018 and their daughter Molly was born October 2019.

She’s 18 months old now.

It’s quite the love story, and it’s not unusual.

The report also found that couples who met online in more recent years (2014-2020), on average have 2.3 per cent more babies than those who met

Molly is an e-baby - she was born to parents who met online.

Pictures: Rob Carew

This suggests a key group of singles use technology to seek family-inclined commitments.

Aussie couples who meet online most commonly have one child (21 per cent), with over one in eight (13 per cent) welcoming two children. Men are also slightly more likely than women to have children with a partner they met online (38.9 per cent v 35.4 per cent).

VP International at eHarmony, Romain Bertrand said the results of the report were good news.

Molly is an e-baby - she was born to parents who met online.

“In our first ‘Future of Dating’ report with Monash University, we’re delighted to see that online dating has created so many Australian families, and that it will continue to increase this wonderful legacy.” www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Reality Bites

The battle of becoming a parent

By Melissa Meehan

She can’t remember how many eggs she retrieved.

FOR the majority of our formative years, women are told how not to get pregnant.

But each egg required genetic screening, an expensive step that isn’t usually required during the IVF process.

But the reality is, society never tells us how hard getting and staying pregnant can be in the first place.

But they had one egg that was classified as a normal, which they were pretty excited about.

Ally De Iulio is a perfect example of this.

And so they organised the transfer, and it fell on the day of her birthday.

She was 27 when she and her husband Simon decided to try for a family.

“I thought that’s really exciting and they said just come in at the time we told you. We won’t call unless something goes wrong,” she said.

They got pregnant after about three months of trying. Everything was going fine.

Until she miscarried. They tried again. She had another miscarriage.

Then another. Then another.

Doctors didn’t say much at the start, but they did wonder what was happening by her fourth miscarriage.

She tried again, got pregnant but at her first ultrasound at eight weeks they couldn’t find a heartbeat. They waited for her to miscarriage naturally. She didn’t. And at 10 weeks had a D&C. It was then the doctors agreed some testing needed to occur.

They did a full chromosome test, so they could fully analyse Ally and her husband. It took three months to come back.

But it found Ally has reciprocal balanced translocation. In simple terms it’s a chromosome complication.

To go through the emotional rollercoaster of getting pregnant and then losing the baby each time was understandably disheartening for Ally and Simon.

Initially the gynaecologist at Box Hill said that IVF wasn’t an option for the couple.

“So that’s when it really hit me,” she said.

“I thought how many miscarriages I can go through.”

They went and saw a genetic counsellor, who was able to explain that IVF was an option.

“So we went for it”.

IVF JOURNEY BEGINS IT’S an expensive, physically and emotionally gruelling process.

But Simon said he couldn’t watch Ally go through the pain of another natural miscarriage or pregnancy.

The toll on her mental health was too much to bear.

The couple had discussed early in their relationship that if they couldn’t have children that would be okay.

That they would travel and find other things to do.

But once the option was taken away from Ally - it all changed.

The first round of IVF, Ally took time off work and the couple kept it to themselves. www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Wynter, 18 months and Isaac, 4 with mum Ally and dad Simon.

At 7am on her birthday, Ally got a phone call.

The egg didn’t survive.

Still understandably emotional, Ally says she didn’t deal very well with the news and went into hiding for a short while.

A few months later they decided to try again. But the genetic testing found that none of them were normal.

Disheartened, they decided to give it another go.

“I was getting to the point of thinking how many times do we go through this,” she said.

“It was an emotional rollercoaster, not to mention the financial cost.”

But it was third time lucky.

Isaac, now aged 4.

Pictures: Rob Carew

and fall asleep around 7pm.

They had two eggs come back as normal.

They did a pregnancy test and it was positive.

Ally didn’t hold too much hope. But they transferred the egg.

LIVING ON THE EDGE

And she was pregnant in August.

FINALLY SOME GOOD NEWS DESPITE all of her heartbreak in the past, once she was pregnant - Ally felt strangely confident that she wouldn’t miscarry again.

“IT was a really interesting feeling,” she said.

“It was kind of nothing, it wasn’t happy or sad ... just a strange kind of emptiness.

“I thought I know how this ends.”

Simon had the same feeling.

She knew that the eggs had no chromosome issues and was sure that was the reason for her past miscarriages.

They decided to let it play out and were prepared for the worst.

She gave birth to their son Isaac on April 27, 2017.

It was a very different pregnancy compared to that she experience with Isaac.

He’s now four.

It wasn’t an easy birth, but holding him in her arms was what she had longed for so many times.

It was already an emotional time for them, after Simon’s dad had passed away when she was 38 weeks pregnant.

His funeral was on the day she was to be induced.

Not long after Isaac was born, Simon developed a back issue and dealt with the pain for two years and needed surgery.

The pair decided not to use the second embryo until he had surgery and recovered.

But the universe had other plans.

In between Isaac’s arrival and Simon’s surgery, Ally started to feel increasingly tired.

She would come home from work

Wynter and Isaac.

Isaac

There were some complications that ended with Ally haemorrhaging and becoming quite unwell after the birth.

She was so sick she couldn’t even hold Wynter.

After all that, Ally and Simon have one embryo left, and the storage runs out in June next year.

“We have to make a decision, but I don’t know if I could carry another baby. I don’t know if my body could do it,” she said.

“But it’s nice to have the option.”

But Wynter wasn’t going anywhere.

Ally had a lot of anxiety.

Every time she went to the toilet she expected to see blood.

She expected something bad to happen.

“I kind of lived every day on the edge.”

By the time she reached half way, Ally allowed herself to enjoy the pregnancy.

But tragedy struck the family again ...

Just days before she was due to give birth, Simon’s niece Jocelyn passed away.

She was 12.

And while sick with a terminal illness, her death was unexpected.

Ally went into labour three days later.

Wynter, their beautiful daughter, wars born.

What are chromosomal translocations?

Balanced reciprocal translocations are caused by a two-way exchange of genetic material between two chromosomes. As there is no net loss or gain of genetic material this exchange usually has no effect on the phenotype of the carrier.

However, carriers of balanced translocations are at risk of passing on an unbalanced form of the chromosomal rearrangement at conception, resulting in genetic material being lost and/or gained. This can lead to subfertility, recurrent miscarriages, or more rarely the birth of a child with an intellectual disability and congenital malformations.

SOURCE: Victorian Clinical Genetics Services WINTER 2021 47

Reality Bites

Laura and Philip Bunting reading with their three children.

Picture: Bridget Wood

Philip’s debut children’s book, Mopoke, started out as a gift for daughter Florence’s first birthday.

Picture: Bridget Wood

From tired dad to prolific author

By Melissa Grant

jokes this is because he can’t actually draw.

moved to Eumundi on the Sunshine Coast in 2017.

CARING for a sleep-troubled baby put Philip Bunting on the path to becoming one of Australia’s most popular children’s picture book authors.

His first book, Mopoke, actually started out as a self-printed first birthday gift for his daughter, Florence.

Philip says simply being a parent has taught him what works when writing children’s books.

“A couple of people said to me, you should send some copies off to the printers,” he recalled.

“A good book always has to work on two levels. You are writing for the adult and the child at the same time,” he explained.

Philip and wife Laura would read picture book after picture book to their son Leo in a seemingly never-ending battle to get him to nod off.

“I remember thinking ‘oh yeah, I’ll see what happens’.

“When our son Leo was born, he was a terrible sleeper,” the Eumundi dad explained.

“I sent them off to eight publishers. I had eight offers in two weeks - they all wanted it!”

“For the first year and a half of his life he didn’t sleep for more than two consecutive hours.

Mopoke, a cute story about a little owl’s struggle to find peace, was the first of four books Philip had published in 2017.

“But the thing that always got him was reading.

“We read heaps of picture books to Leo when he was little - we were probably reading about 20 a day.”

Philip is now a prolific children’s author, having published 23 picture books in just four years.

He writes and illustrates the books. His illustrations are distinctive, although he

The father-of-three is now averaging seven to eight books a year after becoming a full-time author in mid2019.

Beforehand, the English native was in magazine publishing. He worked for Time Out Magazine in the UK, Dubai and Sydney before moving to Brisbane to be closer to Laura’s family. They

A kid with a big heart

By Alesha Capone WRITING a book at the age of eight is an impressive feat.

Deciding to donate profits from the sales of the book to a good cause is even more remarkable.

But author Tommy Shen says that a simple desire to help other youngsters sparked his generous act.

Tommy said he decided to donate profits from his book to the Lighthouse Foundation, after hearing about its good works from his mother’s friend Beverley.

The charity, which was founded by former Melburnian of the Year Susan Barton, provides housing, care and counselling for young people at risk of homelessness.

48 WINTER 2021

“Beverley, who does a lot of charity work, said that the Lighthouse Foundation looks after young children so I was very happy about this as it is all about kids helping kids,” Tommy said.

“The pandemic has made people lose their jobs and now there are many unfortunate families whom I would like to help.

“I want rich people to help the poor people, so when I grow up I will become an illustrator and earn lots of money to help lots of poor people.”

Tommy’s children’s book, Book About Dragons, has been published by Greenhill Publishers.

It is about 88 types of dragons and the relationships between them all. The book includes English and Mandarin

Good humour is a must, and it’s good to have a simple message although sometimes a book can just be a platform for fun between parent and child, he added.

Philip has co-authored books with his wife Laura, who was a journalist before she became a mum, and has also collaborated with others, including comedian Dave Hughes.

Philip and Laura usually only read their books once to their children Leo, 8, Florence, 6 and Arthur, 3.

“It’s probably because Laura and I have seen the book so many times that we don’t want to read it to the kids,” he said.

It’s an exciting year for Philip. Apart from publishing four books and another three due for release, one of his titles is in the running for a coveted award and another has been read from space.

Not Cute is on the shortlist for the Children’s Book Council of Australia Picture Book, a highly sought after award.

Give Me Some Space! was selected as the book for National Simultaneous Storytime. The book was read by astronaut Shannon Walker from the International Space Station on 19 May. But there’s another book he holds close to his heart.

“The one that means the most to me is Mopoke as it represented the biggest change in my life. As soon as that book was done and signed I knew I wasn’t pursuing the dreams of my 20s any more - I was on a different path.”

You can check out Philip Bunting on Instagram and at philipbunting.com

text and illustrations provided by a Mexican illustrator.

With a Chinese mother and an Indonesian father, Tommy said that he developed a love of dragons from a young age.

“I was born in the Year of the Dragon and I think sometimes that this is why I love dragons so much,” he said.

Helping others is also something which runs in Tommy’s family.

His great-great grandfather founded an orphanage in Hong Kong in the 19th-20th century.

Tommy said his great-great grandfather “was a great teacher and he was really kind”.

“He taught children who didn’t have a home - he was a real good hero,” Tommy said.

Book About Dragons is available at www.lamoneta.org.au, $8.88 for an e-copy and $29.99 for a hardcover copy.

Tommy has written a book about dragons. www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Reality Bites

Grace Nolan discovered a fun way to teach basic maths.

Picture: Stewart Chambers

Making learning lots of fun

By Cam Lucadou-Wells LEARNING can indeed be fun.

The proof lies in Endeavour Hills author Grace Nolan’s debut countingbook series One to Ten And Back Again.

The series of three - Ten Naughty Numbats, Ten Bush Babies and Ten Lively Lorikeets – dresses up “complex” concepts with catchy, humorous rhymes, rhythm and alliteration.

Grace’s love of Nature also shines through.

She features 30 native animals such as numbats, quolls, quokkas, koalas and brolgas, all beautifully illustrated

by Nancy Bevington.

Getting published as a children’s author in Australia is notoriously difficult. Yet Grace’s Australian publisher Big Sky Publishing leapt at her submission.

the Turkish interest.

down the track in their studies.

Grace, an English teacher of 30 years, says she well understands children’s early struggles with maths.

One of Grace’s Year 10 students had writing issues that could be traced back to not knowing the alphabet.

Her books are a “subtle” introduction to counting, addition and subtraction, she says.

“Something as simple as that left him struggling to write clear sentences.

“My reason for doing this is my inspiration. I’ve seen children struggle with very basic numeracy and literacy.

It’s not just fun but a learning aid, Grace said.

Within months, the first book is in its second printing, with overseas interest in a Turkish-translated edition.

“This is a way to have a solid foundation in their understanding of numbers while they want to come back to the books again and again.”

“I want to make learning so much fun – that is what it’s all about.”

“They love the fact the books have native Australian animals,” she said of

Without the basic building blocks, students get into “muddles” even well

“So they have to go all the way back to learning the basic alphabet.

“But if you learn it from the start, children don’t have to be muddled and self-conscious.”

The One to Ten And Back Again series is endorsed by Australian Geographic and published by Big Sky Publishing.

Details: gracenolanauthor.com

Sweet business success for Pakenham mum

By Melissa Grant

At the time, Ashlea was working as a full-time sales executive. But when Covid hit she was made redundant.

BALANCING a small business with motherhood is bringing some pretty sweet rewards for Ashlea Gillard.

Looking back, it was the push Ashlea needed to put more time into her growing business.

The Pakenham mum is the founder of Milkie Co, a growing business for customisable gifts that started out selling cheery custom cookies.

Ashlea has been nominated for the 2021 AusMumpreneur Awards, which celebrate and recognise Australian mums in business achieving outstanding success.

Her path to becoming a successful small business operator started about two years ago when she went looking for some birthday cookies for her partner.

“It was kind of a blessing in disguise,” she said.

“I was at a point where either I do less with Milkie Co or go full-time.

Pakenham mum Ashlea Gillard has been nominated for the 2021 AusMumpreneur Awards.

“I was reluctant to make the jump but I literally had no choice.”

“So I thought I’d give it a go myself. It was really fun ... I just kinda started to make them.”

Ashlea used a big chunk of her savings to upgrade equipment for her business.

Ashlea started selling sugar cookies as a side hustle and before long she started making other customisable gifts.

Recently, she purchased a UV printer to work in conjunction with her laser cutter to customise and personalise her products.

She found a business selling what she wanted, however she didn’t like the price tag.

“While doing the sugar cookies, I started doing keyrings and candles, and little bits and pieces to have a bit of an extra income coming in,” she said.

“I said ‘I’m not paying $45 for six biscuits just to be sent with happy birthday’,” she said.

“A lot of people were buying sugar cookies as a gift but wanted something else to go with the cookies.”

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

at her parents’ house to store her products.

She has also started another venture called Spottie Lottie, which does laser cutting for other businesses with customised products.

Ashlea, who has two sons aged 4 and 6, and a stepson aged 11, is busy but has been able to structure her work days around the kids.

“We’ve got into a bit of a routine now,” she said.

“My youngest goes to kinder three times a week - on those days I get a lot of work done. I try not to work on the days he’s at home. A couple of days a week the boys go to after school care which gives me more time to do things.”

Milkie Co’s range is huge with key rings, car diffusers, candles, lanyards, scrunchies, earrings and more.

Ashlea was stoked and surprised to be nominated not once, but twice, for the AusMumpreneur Awards - she didn’t know the awards existed until she learned of her nominations via email.

Ashlea hasn’t looked back. She’s currently taking about 300 orders each month and has started building a shed

The winners of the 2021 AusMumpreneur Awards will be announced online this October.

WINTER 2021 49

Reality Bites

Lighting up for Hannah Willow, Emma, Hannah and Richard Fennell enjoyed the light show at their Lyndhurst home.

By Melissa Grant EIGHT-YEAR-OLD Hannah Fennell just loves lights.

The Lyndhurst girl adores her sensory room at school and has dreams of attending Vivid Sydney, an iconic festival with immersive light installations.

So when Make-A-Wish Australia brought a little bit of Vivid to Hannah’s front yard on March 12, the young girl’s face instantly lit up.

“Hannah didn’t know what was happening and just to see her face so full of excitement and joy was priceless,” dad Richard said.

Make-A-Wish recipient Hannah Fennell with her dad Richard.

A bright and colourful light display was installed at the house, ready for Hannah to switch-on at the end of a countdown.

Fire optic sticks were placed around the yard for Hannah to weave in and out of. Lights flashed and there were glow sticks everywhere for the very personal Vivid-inspired show.

The event brought so much joy to Hannah, who has already overcome so much in her life.

She was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and has had four open heart surgeries.

“Basically the left side of her heart didn’t form properly, so she spent her first five months in hospital, three open heart surgeries during that time and another one a few years ago,” mum Emma explained.

A little bit of Vivid was brought to the Fennell’s Lyndhurst home.

as audio visual equipment supplier Resolution X to bring a bit of Vivid to Hannah.

Head of Wishes at Make-A-Wish Keira Blake said Hannah enjoyed every second of her light show.

When Andrew Leslie, owner at Blooms The Chemist Casey Central, heard Hannah’s story, he was desperate to support her wish.

“We did a countdown and all the lights came on with the music,” she said.

At age 5, Hannah was diagnosed with the rare Ayme-Gripp syndrome, which means she can’t hear or speak, is vision-impaired and has an intellectual disability.

“We’re already strong advocates and supporters of Make-A-Wish, conducting multiple fundraisers a year, so when we heard about Hannah and her story, we jumped at the opportunity to help make her wish come true,” he said.

“It’s been very full-on. The first couple of years were quite difficult, quite rough.

It’s all settled down a lot and Hannah is doing much better now health-wise,” Emma said.

Blooms The Chemist is a huge supporter of Make-Wish, having raised $1 million for the foundation through community fundraising.

Make-A-Wish had been working hard to grant Hannah’s wish of attending the Vivid Festival.

Unfortunately, that wish was postponed last year as the event was cancelled due to Covid-19.

At the beginning of the year, the future of Vivid 2021 was still uncertain with constant border closures.

So Make-A-Wish joined forces with their partner Blooms the Chemist as well 50 WINTER 2021

Their network of over 100 pharmacies were invited to ‘light-up’ for Hannah in any way they could.

The Casey Central pharmacy sent the Fennells a hamper. Blooms the Chemist also filmed staff wrapped up in fairy lights delivering messages to Hannah, which played on a TV screen during the light show.

Hannah’s sister Willow also played a big role having put together the music playlist for the night.

“It was just magical. It was such a fun party environment and so immersive for Hannah.”

Hannah and her sister also got to play with controls that changed the colour and positions of the lights.

The light show took a while to pull off. It was initially scheduled for February, but had to be postponed due to a mini-lockdown.

However, Keira said the build-up of the wish was a huge part of the fun.

“One of the things about wishes is it’s not just the day of the wish, it’s the anticipation of the wish, the building up of the wish,” she said.

“It’s all the time you are thinking about the wish and distracting yourself from illness or treatment.

“Initially, it couldn’t happen on the day we wanted so we gave her a wish pack - glow sticks, light up toys. The point of it was that she could remember

Hannah (right) with sister Willow.

her wish would happen.”

Keira said Make-A-Wish was still hopeful of getting Hannah to Sydney for the Vivid Festival.

However the threat of border closures and hotel quarantine have made it difficult for the time being.

“We would love to get Hannah to vivid when it’s safe to do so,” Keira said.

Richard and Emma said the light show was a night that Hannah - and the entire family - would never forget.

“We kept it all a surprise from her until the last moment, so she didn’t even know it was going to happen, and she absolutely loved every moment,” Emma said.

“I think it’s also about the time we can spend together as a family doing something that we know she likes, and also her sister will like as well. It’s an opportunity for us as a family to really make the most of the time we have together.”

Make-A-Wish has delivered more than 10,000 unforgettable wishes to children around the country since 1985.

To donate or for more information, visit https://www.makeawish.org.au/ www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Recipes

Cooking, preppy-style

Kids love autonomy in the kitchen.

THERE comes a time when every littlie wants to ‘cook something all by themselves’.

lunch box or as a healthy snack.

It’s almost a rite of passage that parents either welcome as a bonding experience and a chance to teach; or dread, because of the mess, danger or time/effort involved.

Here’s such a beast:

• Desiccated coconut

No-bake cookies

METHOD: 1. Place broken up biscuits in a large sandwich bag and crush fine.

INGREDIENTS: • 12 Marie biscuits • ½ cup muesli • 2 tbsp wheat bran • 1 tsp powdered flax seeds

2. Add muesli, wheat bran, flax seeds, peanut butter and chocolate chips.

Mix well.

12444797-NG13-20

Happy kid, happy parent, happy munching…

Book your routine check now.

Prevention is the key.

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03 9769 8201

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7. Store in an air-tight container

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Information is correct at the time of printing.

For current details please check our website.

Suite 5, Level 1/18-24 Clyde Rd, Berwick

6. Roll the prepared cookies evenly in desiccated coconut

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For bookings and more information, jump onto bunjilplace.com.au or phone 9709 9700

www.seortho.com.au

5. Flatten each ball between your palms to form a thick disc

We treat you, not just your teeth!

Roll down the road to Bunjil Place for the most unreal family entertainment in the south east!

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4. Divide the mixture into 10 equal portions and roll out each into a ball

• 2 tbsps chocolate chips

WHAT’S ON FOR THE FAMILY THIS WINTER

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

3. Knead mixture well into a dough using your hands.

• A few drops of vanilla essence

12498957-NG26-21

So it’s mighty handy to have a recipe at hand that doesn’t need an oven, cooktop or sharp knives, is easily supervised, and is a treat in school

• ½ cup smooth peanut butter

WINTER 2021 51

Games And Gadgets

Holly and Mila in their playroom.

Pictures: Gary Sissons

Sisters loving imaginative play THE Lorenz family love spending time together outdoors and engaging in imaginative play.

Bree and Nick and daughters Holly, 6, and Mila, 2, live on a half-acre property at Cockatoo.

While the girls love exploring the outdoors, they also like playing inside their beautiful playroom that’s filled with h toys that promote imaginative and creative play. Here, the Lorenz family share their favourite games, gadgets and other things: Magnetic tiles: These STEM aligned toys are great for construction and deconstruction! Holly loves to build tall towers and houses for her toys to live in, while Mila is getting really good at building walls and pulling tiles apart.

Holztiger animals: The Lorenz family’s vast collection of Holztiger animals has been collected over the last year or two, and includes about 80 different animals, people and trees. The girls use these for small-world play, but you can also see how many animals you can stack before they fall down.

Grimms LSP Blocks: Bree says the gorgeous set of blocks was one of the family’s first open-ended toy purchases. The blocks are used for all sorts of building projects - Bree and the girls often build all sorts of amazing creations. Mila enjoys stacking the blocks end to end and then knocking them over.

Play kitchen: Both girls love playing with the little kitchen, which is filled with felt and wood food, teacups, pots and utensils.

Holly loves to pretend to make food for people, particularly weird combos that she thinks is hilarious. The girls often play restaurants and serve each other play food and drinks.

52 WINTER 2021

Mila and Holly in front of their play equipment.

Mila and Holly love building towers with their blocks.

Bluey and Frozen: Holly and Mila are big Bluey fans, so Bluey is part of the family’s daily TV time! The girls love to play with their Bluey figures, and Holly absolutely loves Frozen and is often dressed in a beautiful costume or playing with a Frozen toy.

Baking: Bree loves to bake, especially cakes and slices, and Holly always wants to be involved. Holly’s favourite part of cooking is cracking the eggs, and to help with (but really eat) the icing on cakes.

Playground: The Lorenz family has a playground in their backyard, as well as a huge space to play. Nick spends a lot of time outside, so the girls love to join him and to run around, explore the plants and flowers in the yard, play with the dog and pick strawberries that they grow.

Mila and Holly Lorenz with mum Bree. www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Books

Born ready to face puberty

By Melissa Meehan IN an online centric world, our kids are growing up quicker.

They have access to so much information, so much more than generations past.

So talks about the birds and the bees, puberty and other things our parents used to teach us by leaving a book on the end of the bed (and running in the other direction) need to happen earlier.

That’s where Michelle Mitchell comes in.

The author of A Guy’s Guide to Puberty and A girls Guide to Puberty says it’s completely normal to grapple with when those conversations need to happen.

“The good news is that they were born ready,” she said.

“But between the ages of eight and 10 is the perfect time to make a start.

“And they are important conversations to have, because they are being exposed to many things earlier than we were, because they are online.”

Michelle shares that she was recently

giving a talk to a group of 10 year olds, one of whom was contacted by a modelling agency via social media and asked to give them her contact details.

“That kind of thing brings some urgency to those conversations,” she said.

“Because these young kids can be making really critical decisions for themselves.

“It is a much more sexualised world.”

Michelle, a former teacher, has spent the last 20 years working with disengaged young people and speaking at scools about puberty.

And she says it’s increasingly evident that parents are needing to have these conversations with younger kids.

Previously they’d say 12 is a good time to talk about sexuality, but Michelle says between the age of eight and 10 is often the sweet spot.

■ Start gravitating towards same sex friends ■ Curious about gender differences, pregnancy, sex ■ Begin to discuss sexual concept without any degree of accuracy ■ Interested in knowing more about their bodies ■ Ask questions

Each of child has their own special needs which may include trauma, birth order, disabilities, learning challenges or emotional maturity.

■ Look at parent’s bodies differently

Some signs they are ready: ■ Become embarrassed about being naked in front of others

The books, each aimed at either sex, explains how to care for your body, emotions and brain.

Michelle’s books act as a starting point which will open up the conversations at home.

“If we want open hearted conversations with our kids about tough topics we have to be prepared to initiative them in an open-hearted way,” she said.

“I personally think that they should never have to be the one who initiates difficult conversations, so always assume they need you and step into that space. Let’s be prepared to go to them, and in doing so grow with them.”

Her book isn’t a tough read either, it very cleverly includes cartoons that simplify some of the bigger issues and break it down so that younger kids can understand without being overwhelmed.

Children’s books...

Winner Winner Bin Chicken Dinner

Harmony

Kate & Jol Temple, illustrated

by Ronojoy Ghosh Our favourite bin chicken is back!

In this sequel to the popular picture book Bin Chicken, Ibis is looking for dinner but isn’t having much luck until she spies the most wonderful food wonderland of all ... the school playground.

Winner winner! There are a few hiccups along the way, but in the end the Ibis gets the last party pie.

This is yet another hilarious read about the pesky bird that everyone loves to hate!

Perfect for kids aged 3+ Scholastic, RRP $17.99

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

The Exploding Life of Scarlett Fife: Book 1

Kokey Koala and the Bush Olympics

Set in 1914, this young adult novel is a gripping love story that plays out against a backdrop of the First World War. Tom is in the blood-soaked landings of Gallipoli, while Gracie marries another.

Maz Evans, illustrated by Chris Jeavons

Trixie Whitmore

It’s not until American teen Noah joins his mum Deborah, grandfather Will and greatgrandmother Gracie in Australia that the secrets of the past are revealed - secrets that will take them back to the beaches of Gallipoli.

In this laugh out loud tale, Scarlett is in big trouble after her big feelings lead to a hamster getting into the vicar’s trousers at her aunt’s engagement party.

Richard Yaxley

A compelling multigenerational story about connectedness, family and the power of truth.

For readers aged 12+ Scholastic, RRP $18.99

Scarlett Fife has big feelings.

Unfortunately, every time she pushes her feelings down something explodes.

If she loses her temper again she will miss out on her trip to the best theme park on the planet.

This classic children’s adventure book is being republished just in time for the Tokyo Olympics.

Originally launched to coincide with the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Kokey Koala and the Bush Olympics is about a cute koala who participates in a series of Bush Olympics sports with the hope of winning a gold medal.

Kids will love exploring the book’s beautiful hand-painted illustrations that detail Australia’s native fauna and flora.

A fun book for parents and children who have, at one time or another, lost control of their feelings

The ‘find and discover experience’ is complemented by rhyming poems throughout.

Hodder Children’s Books, $14.99

Ocean Reeve Publishing, RRP $24.99 (hard cover) and $19.99 (soft cover)

A fun and educational book.

Bedtime is Boring David Campbell, illustrated by Daron Parton A hilarious sequel to Stupid Carrots, Bedtime is Boring features a funny bunny called Billy who just doesn’t want to go to bed.

He’s had his bunny bath, he’s read his bunny book but (you guessed it) he just doesn’t want to go to bed.

Billy is too busy for bed.

And bedtime is boring! Oh, and he needs to pee. But guess what happens when Billy Bunny finally hits the hay? A relatable story for many families!

For kids aged 3+ Scholastic, RRP $17.99

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Books

Judy Hubbard’s new book is a great read.

A magical guide to storytelling

By Danielle Galvin

never replace pictures, but I think the thing I would like to encourage is to give people the confidence to let the phone go for a bit, just once a week and just use your own brain, and your imagination and your child’s imagination,” Judy said.

AUTHOR, storyteller and grandmother Judy Hubbard is passionate about reviving the ancient art of oral storytelling, and she says it’s a wonderfully easy and relationshipbuilding activity to do with your kids.

“Because it’s that combination that is the magic and that’s when the lights go on and that’s when you see your child problem solving, thinking and being curious and you watch these little lights in their eyes, and you see awe and wonder.

In her new book, The Storyteller’s Kit Box: how to create and tell spellbinding stories to children, she gives the reader helpful tips, tricks, a ‘toolbox’ of ideas to get you started.

She believes storytelling helps develop a child’s imagination, as well as building language and problem solving skills.

“I see awe and wonder when you can surprise a child with a story that you have created, it’s yours.”

Another idea is a storytelling jar, with items inside that can help get a story going.

And quite simply, it’s a lovely, simple thing to do with your child.

“My reason for writing the book, was that something I found easy and instinctive, and I had been doing with my children for years, other people I spoke to just couldn’t understand how you could do it,” she explained.

“You start with a bit of a structure, you involve your child and suddenly you’ll find the story tells itself.

“The response I get it ‘oh I am not creative, I won’t be able to think of something’.

“But I think what people forget, is part of the magic of storytelling, is the relationship building that happens between you and the listener and that’s just as important as the narrative.

“Whether you’re good on pixies and elves or intergalactic spaceships coming into your backyard, it doesn’t matter if the story is not brilliant.

“What really is special as an adult, parent, grandparent or carer is sitting with a child, sometimes on your lap, snuggled up next to you, or lying on a pillow and ready for bed, you have this beautiful, intimate moment when the relationship is about you and you’re in

54 WINTER 2021

It gives the child a starting point by picking out some of the items, and you can ask them questions.

“You need a box of tricks in your head and that will enable you to be a storyteller,” she said.

“Our ancestors told stories years ago and we can all do it.”

The storytelling jar you can use with your kids!

the story together.”

story, because it’s unique.”

Judy wants people to let go of any worries about their own creativity, and not to fret about the plotline or narrative.

She says the more stories you tell, the better your stories become.

“If the child says to you - tomorrow night I’d like a rocket story or a dinosaur story, I hop online and get a few ideas and get a few of the names right, the names of the dinosaurs up my sleeve or some rocket ship parts that I might not normally pull out of my memory and then you enjoy the storytelling more... because you think gosh I have done a bit of homework!

She recommends starting a story by inviting suggestions from your child, so that the story is tailored to their age, stage and interests.

“But you don’t have to. “There isn’t a right or a wrong story, there isn’t a bad

And quite simply, we all have stories to tell.

Another suggestion is adding in some drama or action and atmosphere by using storytelling tricks of the trade like mimicry, voice volume, actions, body language and facial expressions, repetition, rhymes and that old favourite - onomatopoeia.

“Book reading is fabulous you can

There’s even stories she told years ago to her children who still vividly remember them.

It’s something they won’t forget.

During the Covid-19 lockdowns, Judy wrote and published three books, two self-published books, The Storyteller’s Kit Box and I’m busy for toddlers, and My Grandma has pink hair with Five Mile Press.

She would also be delighted to read her books at kindergartens and to talk to young parents about oral storytelling for free.

To arrange for a visit, contact Judy directly at judyhubbardstoryteller@ gmail.com or contact her through her website at www.judyhubbardstoryteller. com.au

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Kids Calendar

What's on this winter

11 JUNE - 11 JULY

30 JUNE - 2 JULY

27 JULY

ALL WINTER

ISLAND WHALE FESTIVAL

TOKYO GAMES AT SHOPPING ON CLYDE

PETE THE SHEEP

PAINT YOUR OWN POTTERY

Pete the Sheep by Monkey Baa Theatre Company is a hilarious musical comedy imaginatively told by four performers playing shearers, dogs and sheep.

Based on Jackie French and Bruce Whatley’s quirky and classic Australian picture book, Pete the Sheep.

Times: 10am and 12pm at the Theatre, Bunjil Place.

Tickets: All tickets $16

Robert Gordon Pottery offers pottery painting workshops for all ages. If you’ve never painted pottery before, you needn’t worry. Friendly staff are on-hand to show you how.

Head to Phillip Island to celebrate the arrival of some very majestic creatures!

There is a range of special events from June 11. There’s also the Island Whale Festival weekend that runs July 2-4.

During the festival, choose from various activities and events, including talks, workshops, whale spotting, whale cruises, comedy dinners and more!

For more information visit islandwhales.com.au You can also follow the action on Facebook and Instagram at @ islandwhales

The Tokyo Summer Olympic Games is coming to Shopping on Clyde. Play it on Nintendo Switch on the 100 inch screen.

There’s the chance to win a Nintendo Switch console package. For kids aged 5-12 years. Daily 30 June, 1 July and 2 July from 11am-2pm.

280 Berwick-Cranbourne Road, Clyde

5 JULY

30 JULY - 1 AUGUST

SPIKE BY LITTLE WING PUPPETS

BLUEY’S BIG PLAY THE STAGE SHOW

A baby echidna in search of where he belongs. Enjoy an interactive family experience in the Studio combining shadow puppetry and physical comedy.

Time: 10.30am & 12.30pm at the Studio, Bunjil Place Tickets: All tickets $10, Group of 4+ $9 each

7-8 JULY 25 JUNE - 4 JULY MUSEUM OF THE MOON Visit the Bunjil Place Plaza this winter for an up-close encounter of a giant replica of the Earth’s Moon by UK artist Luke Jerram.

Time: Open Daily 11am - 9pm Free for all in the Plaza at Bunjil Place

28 JUNE - 9 JULY CRAFT CAVE AT MARRIOTT WATERS Visit the Craft Cave at Marriott Waters over the school holidays. Week 1 and 2 have a winter wonderland theme, with sessions running daily from 11am-2pm from Monday 28 June to Friday 2 July and Monday 5 July to Friday 9 July.

There will also be a visit by a snow princess on Friday 2 July and Friday 9 July.Marriott Waters Shopping Centre, cnr Thompsons Rd and Marriott Blvd, Lyndhurst www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Bluey’s Big Play is a new theatrical adaptation of the Emmy award-winning children’s television series, with an original story by Bluey’s creator Joe Brumm, and new music by Brisbane’s Beethoven and Bluey composer, Joff Bush. Held in the Theatre at Bunjil Place.

See Bunjil’s website for show times Tickets: Adult $49.90, Child Under 15: $49.90, Family of 4: $45.90 per person

THE BUBBLE SHOW

114 Mulcahy Road Pakenham.

Online bookings for the Paint Your Own Pottery and workshops are essential.

Phone 03 5941 3302. www. robertgordonaustralia.com

ALL WINTER GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit is the destination for the whole family with many hours of entertainment on offer this winter.

Experience the thrill of the Go Karts and Tandems, race on the GP Slot Car Track, test your skills on a simulated race or check out the Grand Prix Motorcycle Collection. For further information, including opening hours and operating conditions, visit phillipislandgokarts.com.au or call 03 5952 9400.

The Bubble Show with Mini Milkshake by Bubble Laboratory. A theatre show about bubbles for anyone in the world regardless of what language they speak.

Time: 10.30 am (both days) at the Studio, Bunjil Place.

Tickets: All tickets $16

8 JULY KIDS TAKEOVER LIBRARY

ALL WINTER

The State Library of Victoria will be transformed into an interactive and colourful playground for kids and families.

13 AUGUST

From the forecourt to the Quad, the Library will be bursting with creative activities and mind-expanding experiences for kids and their grown-ups.

Join Cosentino as he performs deathdefying escapes that will thrill your senses, mind-boggling stage illusions and cutting-edge street magic that twists your view of reality.

The Kids’ takeover featured live music performances, a range of craft activities and more.

Bookings required. Event runs 10am-3pm

CONSENTINO: DECEPTION TOUR

Time: 7.30pm in the Theatre, Bunjil Place.

Tickets: Standard $83.70, Group of 4 $75 per person

DISNEY: THE MAGIC OF ANIMATION An exhibition presented by ACMI & the Walt Disney Animation Research library showcasing the creativity and innovation of Disney Animation.

12pm-5pm weekdays and 10am6pm weekends at ACMI, Fed Square. www.acmi.net.au/whats-on/ disneythe-magic-of-animationexhibition/ WINTER 2021 55

Explore the Nature Parks Your visit protects nature for wildlife KOALA CONSERVATION RESERVE

Bushland Escape Walk alongside koalas in their natural habitat.

CHURCHILL ISLAND

NOBBIES OCEAN DISCOVERY

PENGUIN PARADE

Time Unwinds

Antarctic Journey

Little Wonders

Check out our daily farming activities and walks.

Learn stories of conservation, climate and the deep ocean.

Visit the world’s littlest penguins at sunset.

penguins.org.au/buy-tickets #PhillipIslandNP 12499922-CG26-21

56 WINTER 2021

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au