SPRING 2021
with
inspiring single mum The influence of
BIRTH ORDER Corio’s new mega
PLAYGROUND
12496136-JW23-21
2 Spring 2021
www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au
About Us
Spring into self-care WELL hello there! So lovely to connect once again. Hope you’ve been upping your self-care routine as we navigate our way through these changing times. It’s a fantastic time to practice gratitude and look for the best things in our lives. For me, I’m loving my walks around the river with friends. Such a reset for the soul each day. And if you take a look around, we have so much to be grateful for in our local community. One thing I love as a mother is finding free things in the community to entertain the kids. And one little piece of gold is a new nature based playground in Corio at Goldsworthy Reserve, next door to the athletics track. This sub-regional playground features 4700 square metres of play space for families in the northern suburbs to enjoy. Nature-based play is a key component of the facility, with natural elements designed to inspire young children to play and connect with the outdoors. I caught up with an inspiring single mother who is a self-confessed black sheep. In fact she’s so proud to be a black sheep that she has started her own activewear label under the same
name. Sophia Williams has had her fair share of challenges in her life but certainly knows how to keep her chin up and soldier on in the face of adversity. Have you ever considered how your birth order could be affecting the way you live your life? We spoke to leading parenting and education writer Michael Grose about his updated book Why Firstborns Rule the world and Why Laterborns Want To Change It. When Grose wrote the first edition the second child was often the middle child, but now they are often the youngest. He talks about the Prince Harry Effect - Prince Harry is a prime example of a modern birth order position. He’s a second child who is also the youngest at a time when families tend to consist of just two children. In a nutshell the first-born is a rule maker and rule follower with the youngest being rule breakers and change makers. I don’t know about you but I have some crazy dreams and often wonder if they are trying to tell me something. Best-selling author of Dreams, Rose Inserra spoke to us about unlocking the mysteries of your dreams and the messages they hold for adults and children alike. Is it monsters? Flying? Being naked in public? According to
Geelong Coast Kids magazine is a Star News Group publication. Geelong Coast Kids will be published quarterly prior to each of the school holidays. Geelong Coast Kids 1/47 Pakington Street, Geelong West Phone: 5249 6700
Rose, the subconscious mind creates these images to process things such as fear, anxiety or creativity. So if you can, kick your shoes off, get comfy and be inspired by all our that latest edition has to offer. Until next time, stay safe and well.
SPRING 2021
Covid impacting our youth PAGE 15
Report reveals what students are reading with
PAGE 23
inspiring single mum
Why birth order matters
Swimming club is state’s best
PAGE 4
PAGE 16
New mega playground at Corio
ENTERTAINMENT
RECIPES
Political drama series for kids
Kids in the Kitchen
PAGE 24
PAGE 17
Funtastic food to get your party started
Miner mates making videos for kids
HEALTH
PAGE 24
PAGE 6
Children under five at risk eating nuts
REALITY BITES
Helping future generations hear
PAGE 18
Inside Olivia’s House of White
PAGE 7
Parenting when sick
PAGE 25
Angie’s catch-up with extraordinary single mum
PAGE 19
Goodbye is the hardest word
Researchers probe genetic link to SIDS
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PAGE 19
TV spotlight on Auskicker
PAGE 11
EDUCATION
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Lego therapy supporting kids
Long history of learning
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PAGE 20
PAGE 27
Embracing a child’s curls
Teacher communication
She’s not so perfect, but that’s reality
PAGE 13
PAGE 21
PAGE 28-29
New characters join children’s book series
Consent is in the school curriculum PAGE 21
BOOKS
PAGE 13
The ins and outs of childcare
Wild way to read
Kids in the dark on social media
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PAGE 30
PAGE 14
Calculating VCE scores
Children’s books
Nothing is everything in Kidsafe campaign
PAGE 22
PAGE 30
Online safety lessons
PAGE 14
PAGE 22
KIDS CALENDAR
Steve Biddulph on teaching inner peace
The benefits of learning outside
What’s on this spring
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PAGE 23
PAGE 31
PAGE 5 Deciphering children’s dreams PAGE 6
PAGE 8-10 Mum is the boss of bargains
geelongcoastkids.com.au www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au www w .GeelongCoastKids.com com om.au u
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Contents IT’S YOUR LIFE
Editorial Melissa Grant editorial@geelongcoastkids.com.au
The influence of
BIRTH ORDER Corio’s new mega
PLAYGROUND
COVER: Geelong mum Sophia and her sons Coby and Cooper. Sophia’s story is featured on pages 8-10. Picture: Louisa Jones
All the way from Italy - with love
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It’s Your Life
Why birth order matters
By Melissa Grant
just two children.
PARENTS often struggle to work out why their children are completely different.
Grose said the Prince Harry Effect is stronger when both children are the same gender. He described Harry and older brother William as the ‘poster kids’ for the first-born and later-born positions.
They may have one child who is outgoing and playful, and another who is uptight and anxious. This is despite the children belonging to the same gene pool and being raised in the same environment. The reason for these stark differences is birth order, according to leading parenting and education writer Michael Grose. He believes that in this era of small, planned families that birth order is more relevant than ever. To better understand the power of birth order, Grose has written a timely update to his bestselling book titled Why First-borns Rule the World and Laterborns Want to Change it. The size of families has changed since the original book was published in 2003. Twenty years ago, the mean number of children in a family was three. That number is now two. “Nothing has changed about birth order but the context has changed,” Grose explained. “Around 60 per cent of families with kids under 15 are two kid families.” The biggest impact of shrinking families has been the disappearance of the middle child. Traditionally there have been three birth order positions. When Grose wrote the first edition the second child was often the middle child, but now they are often the youngest. “There’s a fair bit of cynicism. However, my point is that birth order is not just a neat set of numbers, it’s more a pattern,” Grose told Kids Today. “Once you start to understand the rules, it starts to make sense in a family.
4 Spring 2021
“William is your typical first-born. First-borns are the family conservatives... they are the rule makers and the rule followers. Prince William is your typical first-born, according to birth order expert Michael Grose.
Prince Harry is a second child who is also the youngest at a time when families tend to consist of just two children.
I like to call it a family constellation.
studies on birth order on a range of families, and each member’s likely personality and disposition.
“It’s often something parents don’t take enough notice of. “It explains why kids often fight, why they compete and why two children with the same parents, same gene pool, two years apart - why they can be chalk and cheese. “It’s about finding their niche.” First-borns tend to be goal-setters, high achievers, perfectionists, responsible, rule keepers, determined, conscientious and detail people. Second and middle children tend to be flexible, diplomatic, peacemakers, free spirits, generous, open-minded, sociable and competitive. Youngest children are often risk takers, persistent, outgoing, charmers, ideas people, creative and challengers of authority. There are variables that can impact birth order position within a family, including age gaps between children, genders and cultural expectations. In some families, children may ‘leapfrog’ an older sibling to climb up the birth order chain. In his book, Grose analyses the latest
The updated edition features new information including the demise of the middle child, the Prince Harry effect and the problem with first-borns. THE DEMISE OF THE MIDDLE CHILD With most families consisting of two children, the amount of middle children has declined. This has impacted the birth order positions. Traditionally there have been three birth order positions - the first-born, middle child and youngest child. The second-born child was often the middle child. However, now the second-born child is often the youngest. Grose writes that later-borns have a tendency to borrow personality traits from the second, middle and youngest positions. THE PRINCE HARRY EFFECT Prince Harry is a prime example of a modern birth order position. He’s a second child who is also the youngest at a time when families tend to consist of
“Then you have the second one. The second kids will be what the first one isn’t. You can’t have two responsible kids in the family, you can’t have two academic stars.” He adds that younger kids don’t follow the rules in the family. “Harry has broken all the rules, gotten married outside the typical family sphere,” he said. THE PROBLEM WITH FIRST BORNS Every family, regardless of size, has a first-born. So given that family sizes are shrinking, there are many more first-borns than middle and youngest children. Grose said this has implications. For example, there are more perfectionist kids in classrooms than ever before. There are also more anxious children as first-borns live with greater anxiety-inducing parental pressure and have a propensity for perfectionism. There are also more only children who, Grose says, tend to have first-born characteristics that are exaggerated because they’ve never been ‘dethroned’ by a younger sibling. Why First-borns Rule the World and Later-borns Want to Change It, Michael Grose, Penguin Life, RRP $34.99
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It’s Your Life
Matilda and Paterson Norman at the new nature-based playground at Goldsworthy Reserve, Corio.
New mega playground at Corio A NEW nature-based playground has opened in Corio – at Goldsworthy Reserve, next door to the athletics track. This sub-regional playground features 4700 square metres of play space for families in the northern suburbs to enjoy. Nature-based play is a key component of the facility, with natural elements designed to inspire young children to play and connect with the outdoors. The natural play elements include gardens, trees, constructed hills, water, a sand pit and tree houses. Councillor Anthony Aitken said this playground is a unique addition to the northern suburbs. Matilda Norman is a huge fan of the new playground.
Th l There are so many areas to explore.
The slide at the new nature-based playground.
The new playground at Goldsworthy Reserve, Corio.
Paterson Norman tries out some of the equipment.
Natural elements including trees, logs, water and rocks, as well as opportunities for climbing and swinging, were among the highest rated features identified by survey responders.
Corporation and community for helping shape the vision of the new playground.
around the space so that visitors can understand these important connections to Wadawurrung land, culture and heritage.
In addition to nature-based play elements, key features of the new playground at Goldsworthy Reserve include a flying fox, You Yangs climbing wall, swings and slides, and a small fenced play space – among other things to play on and discover.
“Traditional Owner Corrina Eccles has had a significant impact on the space, with her concept ideas for an eelcatching tunnel, a walkway that represents the Moorabool River, and a slide that represents the Barwon River. These were all made a reality by the City of Greater Geelong team.
“Having visited the space myself, I can tell you it’s an exciting secret adventure playground that will delight children and their families once they discover it behind the athletics track,” he said. “Council was extremely proud to invest $350,000 in this special play space because it links natural elements with our Traditional Wadawurrung heritage, which is an amazing thing to do.” The playground design, developed in consultation with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, encourages further understanding and storytelling of Wadawurrung Country. The layout and positioning of the natural elements have been designed to reflect the Wadawurrung landscape of mountains, rivers, waters, and a connection of play and movement reflecting eels, birds and animals significant to the area. Community feedback submitted via an online survey in 2019 also helped inform the final design of the playground. www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au
Cr Aitken thanked the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal
“We’re excited to see this facility open for the community and the combined vision come to life,” he said.
“The Council will install story boards
“This fantastic new playground is sure to create a sense of wonder and love for the natural environment for generations to come.” The project was fully funded by the City of Greater Geelong, with the project cost at $350,000. The playground at this site follows on from a $1.3 million upgrade of the athletics track at the reserve. Spring 2021 5
It’s Your Life
Deciphering children’s dreams By Melissa Meehan
No matter the dream, Rose says it’s important to have discussions with your child about what they are dreaming about – so that you can gain an insight into how they are feeling.
THE saying goes, if you have big dreams you will grow into them. But what is a dream without understanding what it is all about?
“We need to say to them, okay, tell me a little bit more about your dream,” she said.
Best-selling author of Dreams, Rose Inserra helps to unlock the mysteries of your dreams and the messages they hold for adults and children alike.
“Tell me what happened. How did you feel about that, and who was in your dream.
The mother and grandmother says for many children nightmares can start from the time they turn three.
“And talk to them, say, how we get this right, let’s change the ending to that dream.”
“Because before three, they can’t really separate themselves from anything, but as they grow up they can, and they understand who they are and they start to have dreams or nightmares,” she said.
Rose says you can use the same trick with nightmares, especially if they are recurring.
“At around seven, the nightmares tend to sort of phase away, they’re not as prevalent as they are.” These bad dreams or nightmares can be triggered by stress of starting a new school, a new place to live, debt, death of a pet or parent, grandparent or even having a new sibling. Monsters are a common theme that young children tend to dream about, according to Rose, who says the subconscious mind creates these images. “For them, it’s anxiety and so
“The next time the kids or any of us go to bed, change the ending,” she said.
Rose Inserra is the author of the recent book Dreams by Rockpool Publishing.
monsters, whatever monster they come up with is their anxiety, or their fear or something,” she said.
Some older kids have dreams of chaos and disorder when there’s instability in their lives.
“So that’s, that’s your first major dream that they have.”
And that’s telling us they need support or grounding, which is why they feel like they’re going to fall into an Alice in Wonderland sort of thing.
Another popular dream is flying. Rose says fantasy dreams are really good for children to experience. It shows that they have a happy and healthy imagination, and that they are able to overcome new experiences.
“So if your child keeps having those dreams, they need you to give them more support and make them feel more comfortable,” she said.
“So you change the ending up, so you know last time the tiger was chasing you, what if the tiger wants to go and have a drink at that light behind you, he wasn’t coming for you. “It makes a difference.” Rose Inserra is the author of the recent book Dreams by Rockpool Publishing. Drawing on her experience as an author and researcher, she has written over 60 children’s books and her books are published and marketed internationally. Rose is a member of the International Association for the Study of Dream.
Miner mates making fun videos for kids By Melissa Grant
drawing board and started to put some more animations in and make it a bit more fun.”
FINDING Australian-made videos for kids on YouTube can be pretty difficult.
The pair initially put Captain Bobbo on YouTube as it was the easiest way for their families to view the videos.
Father-of-two Rob Hobson was growing tired of his son watching clips of one particular American children’s entertainer when he and mate Anthony Carroll started making their own YouTube educational series for kids.
At the time Rob was working away from his kids for extended periods, while Anthony - who spent his childhood in Sassafras, Pakenham, Caulfield and Sandringham - was locked out of Melbourne and unable to visit his niece and nephew.
The series, Captain Bobbo Educational Adventures for Kids, is distinctly Australian with backgrounds of beaches and appearances from native animals.
When the Captain Bobbo videos were made available publicly at the start of this year, parents started sending in videos of their kids requesting challenges.
Rob is Captain Bobbo, a fun-loving captain who goes on educational adventures throughout Bobbo Land (Western Australia) with his pirate friend Captain Crabclaw, played by Anthony. The pair have created entertaining videos covering fire safety, colours, counting, phonetics, excavators and bicycles. Filming is a fun outlet for the pair, who actually work as fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) miners in the Pilbara. They originally created Captain Bobbo as a way to connect FIFO workers to their families during last year’s Covid lockdowns. Rob said it all started when he bought one of Anthony’s video cameras. “He (Anthony) would come to work with these amazing travel videos - they had waterfalls, tropical islands and that sort of stuff,” he said. “I would think his videos are amazing but I could do so much better because my life is way cooler - I go to these 6 Spring 2021
In a little over six months, the pair had clocked up more than 23,000 views on YouTube. Rob Hobson and Anthony Carroll are the brains behind Captain Bobbo, a YouTube series for kids.
awesome places, I go skateboarding, surfboarding. “I was really proud of the videos I was making. I showed Anthony and said ‘look what I’ve done’. At this point, Anthony interjects. “I said ‘they are terrible… wrong camera angle, shaky footage, you’re filming your feet again, the lighting is wrong’. “So I came in and was like, ‘right we can dress these, make them a little better’. And I was thinking maybe I can hijack the videos and we can make them for my niece and nephew as well. “It was roughly around the same
time that lockdown was starting to happen… and then it evolved into putting on funny hats and Rob put on a jacket and we started making characters from it.” However, their videos weren’t exactly an instant hit. Anthony said his nephew and niece, who live near Beaumaris, weren’t huge fans to begin with. “I remember the first time I showed my niece and the first intro of the episode - she started profusely crying and told me to turn it off,” he said. “It was constructive criticism in the form of tears so we went back to the
The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. “So many parents and grandparents have said they don’t have to watch a certain American kids YouTube show!” Rob said. Anthony added: “There is a lack of Australian YouTube videos for kids. Some families say their kids are speaking with an American tone or using Americanised language.” Rob said his sons had been “semiencouraging”, particularly his five-yearold. “He pretends not to enjoy them, but he does ask to watch them! “He thinks it’s normal - he asked me if all dads make videos for their kids!” www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au
It’s Your Life
Sophie and Yasmin King.
Pictures: Ivan Kemp
Helping future generations hear At just one year of age “cheeky” Curlewis bub and peek-a-boo enthusiast Sophie is giving future children born with hearing loss a better chance at speaking. Her mum YASMIN KING speaks to LUKE VOOGT about her diagnosis during Victoria’s second wave of Covid-19 and her participation in new ground-breaking research. YASMIN King had just been through almost 14 hours of labour, while wearing a mask, and another two-anda-half of surgery when her husband discovered something wrong with their newborn daughter’s ear.
blink her left eye, meaning Yasmin has to apply an eye gel a few times a day. Sophie wears a bone-anchored hearing aid, which vibrates sound into her inner ear.
Sophie was born at 10.15pm on 24 August last year after staff put Yasmin into induced labour that morning at 6.30am. Shortly after, Yasmin had to undergo surgery, ending about 1am, to remove half of the placenta, which was stuck, to prevent infection.
“He just said, ‘there’s something wrong with her ear and there’s something wrong with her face’,” the 32-year-old said.
(following the MRI) but we were still in the unknown bubble.”
She remembered being overwhelmed and anxious about her daughter’s condition, as Victoria’s second wave ravaged the world outside of University Hospital Geelong.
A day later, Sophie was diagnosed with a grade 3 microtia, a congenital abnormality in which the external part of an ear is underdeveloped or malformed.
“There were just so many questions and so much uncertainty,” she said.
“She has severe hearing loss in that ear, because it has no canal,” Yasmin said.
The following morning Dahmon went home to look after their son Oliver, while Yasmin stayed at hospital as her daughter underwent a precautionary MRI scan to check for abnormalities.
“When she’s got her hearing aid, she’s got two normal ears,” Yasmin said.
“The main reason I contacted them to take part was that I want to help future parents,” Yasmin said.
“She must wear it every waking hour to give her the best chance to learn to speak.
“We’re just really excited to take part so future families have the best chance of helping their children.
“We’ve learnt how important those early years are.
“It’s a pretty stressful time when you get told that your child can’t hear and you’re dealing with the unknown.
“If she doesn’t have that hearing, then she’s not able to develop speech and language, which is so important.”
When her husband Dahmon held their newborn girl for the first time, he noticed her left ear looked strange. Baby Sophie.
But fine-tuning a hearing aid for a baby is very difficult.
“We’re just using this opportunity to spread awareness of her disability – I had never hear of microtia before her diagnosis.
“She’s not old enough yet to tell us what she can hear and how well she can hear it,” Yasmin explained.
“Now we’ve got this opportunity to help other families and encourage them to participate.”
Last December Yasmin received an email from The Bionics Institute about research and testing for a clinical device called EarGenie.
Yasmin believes Sophie, who is hitting her developmental milestones and playing peek-a-boo every chance she gets, will one day be grateful for her parents signing her up.
The device uses near-infrared light to monitor how a baby’s brain is responding to sounds. Yasmin signed up for the research and has taken Sophie in for testing.
“Her inner ear is fine but she doesn’t have that opening for sound to travel into. The sound can’t pass from the outer and middle ear to her inner ear.
“This research will give us more answers to help her – because we want to give her the best chance at a hearing life,” she said.
“Watching your little newborn baby go into this huge machine is quite scary,” she said.
“We were asking, ‘what do we do about it and what does this mean for her life?’”
“There was a sense of relief that there was nothing wrong with her brain
She also has facial palsy, which causes her to have a droopy lip and not
But just as importantly to Yasmin, the study will help researchers improve the first prototype and test software needed to introduce EarGenie into audiology clinics.
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This will help improve the device to help other infants with hearing loss, or using cochlear implants or hearing aids, in future.
“She’s very content, very happy, cheeky and just really loves to be around her big brother,” she said. “She’s really lucky that she was able to possibly make a difference in how children are diagnosed and perhaps make their life a bit easier. I think she should be really proud.” The Bionics Institute is looking for babies with both normal hearing and hearing loss to trial the new device. Details: bionicsinstitute.org/call-forresearch-participants-for-eargenie Spring 2021 7
It’s Your Life
Sophia and her sons Coby and Cooper, who have kept her feet firmly planted in Geelong.
Pictures: Louisa Jones
Mum’s extraordinary journey By Angie Hilton WITH an enchanting French accent and a thigh slapping laugh that will have you in stitches, Sophia Williams is oblivious to the fact she lights up a room. But underneath la joie de vivre (exuberant enjoyment of life) lies a wisdom, strength, and courage that only comes from living through challenging life experiences. A self confessed gypsy, Sophia was always at her happiest country-hopping around the globe with nothing but a backpack and a whim. Only one thing was able to plant her feet firmly on the ground right here in Geelong - and that was the love of her two beautiful boys. Sophia is a single mother, a business woman and a passionate advocate for social justice and mental health after tragically losing her brother to suicide.
8 Spring 2021
Well Sophia, where do we begin. How did baby Sophia enter the world? In Africa education is priority number one, and if your family is wealthy or have a bright child, they will be sent off to a western country to study with an expectation that they come home to be leaders in Africa.
I was told very little about my mother and knew it was a taboo topic. I know her name and had a photo once which I no longer have. I have no idea if she had siblings or anything. It is sad but I’ve learnt you can’t dwell on the past. One thing my life has taught me is to always keep looking forward.
My mother’s family were wealthy and my father was bright so they were both sent to Paris to study. This is where they met and fell in love.
My father then took me to live in Paris where he met a French lady who became my step mother. They had a son by the name of Mondlane.
My mother fell pregnant to my father which was seen as an embarrassment, so she was sent back home to the Democratic Republic of Congo without my father even knowing she was pregnant.
Is growing up in Paris as romantic as we picture?
Sadly I know very little about my mother other than the fact that she was 17 when she had me and died at 19.
As amazing as it is, it certainly wasn’t the easiest experience. I was an African girl raised in a Western country and I was the only black girl most places I went.
After she passed, somehow my dad was alerted to the fact that he had a two-year-old daughter. He was thrilled and came to Africa to find me and take me back to live with him in Paris.
It certainly is a romantic city. The history, fashion, food, architecture and culture are like nothing we ever experience here.
Luckily I had a strong personality and was always an assertive child. Kids would ask silly things like ‘do you ride
an elephant at home’ and ‘do you have pet monkeys?’ Eventually I became proud of standing out as being different and it became a strength. I didn’t want to be like anyone else. Yes, I am a selfconfessed black sheep. How was family life in Paris? My dad was a highly educated attorney in international law. Interestingly he was meant to go back to Africa after studying but had fallen in love with my step mum. Not going back has serious consequences, and if he ever went back to Africa he could have been jailed. He was passionate about my brother and I being highly educated. So every outing would be a learning experience. For example, regular outings would be museums, theatre or the opera. Simple things like going to the park wouldn’t just be a leisurely stroll, he would use every opportunity to teach us all about the flowers or trees. It all sounds great in theory but he was more of a dictator who needed to control us.
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Cooper.
He had our lives mapped out how he wanted, eg. this year you will study this, that year you will travel here. There was little room for us to be creative and come up with our own purpose in life. I think such high expectations made me want to run away. Hence why I started travelling and didn’t stop. I went from country to country on my own collecting experiences. I loved the freedom. While I found my freedom, sadly for my brother these high expectations were part of the reason he took his life at 18. That is tragic. I’m so sorry to hear that. Yes, sadly I was living in Montreal at the time and he was in Paris. I believe the pressure to be academically brilliant along with the fact that my father and step mother had such a high conflict separation, led to his mental health deterioration. It infuriates me how many couples involve the children in their adult conflicts. Having personally gone through my own separation or family breakdown, I can see how emotions can escalate but children need to be shielded from all of it. Adults need to stay adults and children need to stay children. Otherwise it can have lifelong consequences. My boys’ happiness and mental health is my number one priority and I am fiercely protective of them. Sometimes that can mean stepping into a strength you didn’t realise you had in order to create protective boundaries. It’s easy to see that your boys are your universe. If we go back to the very beginning of their life, how was their entry into the world for you? Well I’m someone who liked to simplify things, so I booked in for elective caesars. Why would you go through pain if you have choice? I just don’t understand the whole concept of horrendously painful births when medical advances have given us choices (laughs). I don’t like needles either so I didn’t want an epidural. Hence, I opted to be put to sleep and when I woke – voila, there was my baby. Too easy (laughs). The recovery was not too bad… I imagine it was way better than the natural birth pain (laughs).
Would you say motherhood came naturally to you? I guess a lot of women may learn from how they were raised. I obviously didn’t have that experience but what I came to understand is the power of our mother instinct. It is just so strong. And if you really stop and listen to that instinct you can’t go wrong. You can read books but no one knows our children more than us. I tune into my boys and decide what is right for them individually. This may not always be right in others’ eyes but as a mother I believe our heart is so connected with the kids that you can’t go wrong. But we always worry about them 24/7.
Sophia Williams.
You separated from your partner when your boys were 6 and 4 and you have been parenting on your own since then with no extended family around you. How do you manage the juggle? I have to wear many different hats. I have to be fun-mum, the disciplinarian and their confidante. And especially as they enter teenage years I have to stay very strong and often set up rules they don’t like. There is no saying “wait until your father gets home”. All I want is for them to grow up to be strong, independent, responsible, happy men with a strong sense of identity. Just good human beings who want to lead by doing good. Also, I guess part of staying strong as a single parent for me is staying in touch with my spirituality. Whether that is walking in nature, listening to music, meditating, praying, or going to church. Having a faith has definitely made me feel like I’m never alone and when things get challenging I hand it over and pray for support. What are you most proud of with your boys? Any particular moments come to mind? They are very resilient as they have been through a lot. They’re very kind, empathetic, compassionate, caring and tolerant. They also both have big personalities and like to test the boundaries… I guess like their mum (laughs), They are very helpful with their chores. I’ve had to be strict with this or I would burn out trying to do everything myself. Every day they make their bed, vacuum and put clothes away. They also check emails every night before bed to update our shared calendar so we don’t miss anything. Continued page 10 Coby, Sophia and Cooper.
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Spring 2021 9
It’s Your Life
Cooper.
Coby, 14, loves playing basketball.
Sophia at a glance… Favourite quote: “I would like to be known as an intelligent woman, a courageous woman, a loving woman and a woman who teaches by being” - Maya Angelou Favourite book: Angela Davis autobiography (women’s rights) Favourite movie: Marvel – Black Panther Favourite music: I love jazz and classical. Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Diana Krall just to name a few.
Sophia with her sons Coby and Cooper, who she describes as resilient.
From page 9
the inspiration for starting Black Sheep?
How have you juggled work and motherhood over the years?
Well, Covid has given us a lot of time to dream and create. I kept brainstorming - how can I combine my skills and passions of design, fitness, humanity, community, mental health and wellbeing? All these thoughts culminated in the idea for Black Sheep (BKSP).
I have been extremely blessed to have had key people in my life that have become family to us. Friends that would go above and beyond to help me when I was at uni and working. They’re the type you can call in the middle of the night and they would drop everything… just as I would for them. They have also helped me with parenting challenges over the years, talking to the boys for me when they were sick of hearing the same voice. I literally couldn’t have raised my kids without my new family. They have been my lifeline. I absolutely live by the adage ‘it takes a village to raise a child’. I count my blessings daily. You’ve recently delivered a new baby into the world in the form of an activewear clothing label. What was
10 Spring 2021
Why the name Black Sheep (BKSP. STORE)? Black Sheep is about embracing your uniqueness and loving it. What makes you stand out? Black sheep aren’t about the external stuff such as the way you look, the colour of skin, your hair, your accent or the clothes that you wear. It’s deeper than that. Black sheep don’t conform, they push the boundaries and live life on their own terms. As you can probably tell, the
business is not actually about clothes, it’s about raising awareness around social justice, mental health and our planet. It’s about caring for and looking after our community, especially the younger ones – our future leaders. The clothes are all ethically made in Melbourne. I am thrilled to be launching my first collection in the coming weeks. What do you see happening in your future? I would love to share my love of travel with my boys. But not just travel for leisure, travel with a purpose such as helping other communities. I want them to experience how others live and get a real appreciation for how lucky we are to live the way we do. Finish this sentence. A good parent is… Present. For more about Sophie and her range check out https://bksp.store/
Most embarrassing moment: I have so many I can’t count. I tend to have no filter so I’m always saying things that get me in trouble. They all come from the right place but sometimes I might be politically incorrect or a little blunt (laughs). Who would you like to invite over for Friday night pizza? Maya Angelou, Nelson Mandela and Snoop Dog. Most annoying habit: Well my boys tell me I repeat things a lot. I am a bit obsessive with things being in the right place which is apparently quite annoying too (laughs). Guilty pleasure: Shopping shopping shopping… mostly online Children: Coby: 14 - Compassionate, kind, funny Cooper: 11 – Sensitive, loving, respectful Mantra: ‘L’habit ne fait pas le moine’. The English equivalent would be, ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’. www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au
It’s Your Life
Amanda’s Instagram page, Bargain Boss, has over 14,000 followers.
Pictures: Stewart Chambers
Levi and Alyssa with their pooch Eva.
Mum is the boss of bargains By Melissa Grant
Amanda would often go into work on a Monday and show off the bargains she had purchased over the weekend.
MOST mums love a bargain.
“They (colleagues) would always be amazed at how far I had gone for a bargain,” the former Consumer Affairs Victoria employee said.
Perhaps none more so than Melbourne mother-of-two Amanda, the creator of popular Instagram page Bargain Boss.
Over the years, Amanda’s friends told her she should share her money saving tips with the world.
The page has amassed more than 14,000 followers in a little over two years.
At the time, she had the idea starting a social media page but didn’t think it would get off the ground.
With money saving tips, side hustle ideas and bargain finds, there is plenty of useful and inspiring information for anyone looking to save some cash.
It was actually a trip to Fountain Gate with her son that prompted Amanda to get cracking on her own page.
Amanda’s love of Disney is peppered through the content, and there are also appearances from her two children Alyssa, 8, and Levi, 5 as well as their dog Eva, and their two recently adopted kittens.
“Krispy Kreme were celebrating National Doughnut Day by giving away free doughnuts… I took a picture of Levi eating his doughnut and I thought this is starting today.”
Bargain hunting has long been a passion for Amanda. Saving money has always been a priority and, at times, a necessity for her family. Amanda and her husband, Steve, bought their first home in their early 20s after scrimping together a deposit, which involved a challenge to spend just $10 on work lunches for the week. Shortly after buying their first home, Steve tore his ACL at soccer and was unable to work.
BARGAIN BOSS TIPS SIDE HUSTLES Amanda says it’s not that hard to bring in a few hundred dollars extra each month from side hustles. “Even something simple like selling your kids’ old clothes can make a lot of money if done correctly,” she said. Amanda has already reached her goal of making $10,000 through side hustles this year. LOYALTY PROGRAMS Amanda says a lot of money can be saved using loyalty programs and is amazed by how many people don’t have a Woolworths Rewards and Flybuys cards. Recently, she cashed in $270 worth of Flybuys points which she used at Kmart to buy items for her kittens. The keys, she said, are to boost all the offers sent to you and not remain loyal to a specific grocery store. “Shop at whoever has the best sales and loyalty offers for that week.” www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au
Amanda with some of her bargain buys.
Amanda said they were unable to access any Centrelink payments. “We needed to come up with ways to save,” she explained. “That’s where my love of bargains kind of kicked in.”
PANTRY CHALLENGE Once every few months, Amanda tries to use everything possible in her pantry and just shop for essentials that week. The money she would usually spend on groceries is put aside. SUPERMARKET MARKDOWNS Amanda says shopping around 6.30pm-7pm at Woolworths and Coles will get you the “best markdowns”. She often buys meat marked down to 50 per cent or less, and puts it in the spare freezer as soon as she gets home. It also pays to know what stores do what markdowns. “I know one store where I can get marked down bread. One store does cheese - that’s where I go if I feel like a cheese platter.” Recently she bought a $35 bunch of flowers marked down to $2.50 and packs of bagels for 10 cents from Coles.
Afterwards, she went to Coles and took photos of their marked down bulk buys products. When she got home, she put Levi down for a nap, made a logo and created an Instagram account. “I shared it on Facebook - some family and friends followed. I hit 100 followers, and I celebrated that milestone with a glass of bubbly. I never thought it would take off the way it has.”
GROCERY GUARANTEES Amanda says Woolworths, Coles and Aldi will refund the purchase price on their own branded items that customers aren’t happy with (the guarantee doesn’t apply to other brands). “Stores ask for the item, or what’s left of it, to be returned or in some cases the packaging will do, for example if it’s been cooked.” She says Woolworths has a Fresh or Free guarantee where they will replace ‘fresh food’ you’re not happy with. SCANNING POLICIES Familiarise yourself with scanning policies at your supermarket and check your receipts. “Basically, if an item scans higher than the advertised or shelf price you can get that item free, but there are some exclusions and terms and conditions,” Amanda said. Scanning policies are for specific supermarkets, not all stores, she added.
The Bargain Boss Instagram account has been going for just over two years. Amanda spends endless hours creating content and responding to comments and messages. “I enjoy chatting to people. When people send me a message I always reply. I’m often up until midnight just making sure I’ve responded. The content takes time as I want it to be perfect.” She has also enjoyed some collaborations with businesses - but has turned some down. “My biggest thing about my page is keeping it as authentic as possible. It takes a lot of work to build a following and trust and it can be taken away very easily.” She said the best thing has been the connections made through her page. “I’ve made some really amazing friendships through it,” she said. She also enjoys hearing about the way her followers have saved money, although some admit to spending on things they shouldn’t have. “It is a bargain page but it’s only a bargain if it’s something you are going to use!” You can follow Amanda on Instagram at @bargain.boss
USE GOOGLE When you are out shopping, grab your phone and Google what you intend to purchase. Many stores are happy to price match. “It’s saved me hundreds of dollars,” Amanda said. PHONE AROUND If you have your eye on a certain item, it pays to phone around places that stock it. Amanda says she will often call electronics stores multiple times to make sure she gets the best price. UTILISE COMMUNITY INITIATIVES Join your neighbourhood page on Facebook and look out for community gardens. Amanda uses the community garden in her estate for herbs. People are often willing to swap items on neighbourhood Facebook pages, she added. Spring 2021 11
It’s Your Life
Lego therapy supporting kids Research has shown that Lego-based therapy can help children develop their skills through play.
A LOVE of Lego and play were great starting points for Lachlan’s achievements since joining the Lego Kids program at Gateways Support Services. Six-year-old Lachlan - who loves playgrounds, bedtime stories, building cubby houses and, of course, playing with Lego - concludes each session feeling accomplished and more confident. Susan registered her son for the program - designed for children who may experience social difficulties and/ or developmental delays - hoping that the small group setting would help encourage his communication while also being part of a fun, social group. “Lachlan has tried one-on-one therapy but isn’t usually keen to talk at all. He has friends at school and speaks with them, so I thought the small group therapy setting where there’s less intensity on just him could be helpful,” says Susan.
According to research conducted in the UK and USA, Lego-based therapy has been shown to help develop and reinforce language, play, and social skills in children with communication and social developmental difficulties. The new group for six to eight-yearolds, designed and delivered by Gateways Therapists, focuses on social thinking and imaginative play and uses Lego to improve children’s turntaking, sharing, listening, joint problem solving, teamwork and communication skills. With the help of the Gateways team, the children agree on a project and are all assigned different roles, including ‘engineer’, ‘builder’ and ‘supplier’. The roles are then rotated through the group during the task. “Lachlan has really enjoyed it. He likes the structure because it’s clear what is expected of each child,” says Susan.
Gateways Occupational Therapist, Emily, says Lego Kids is an evidencebased way of working towards children’s goals that is engaging, play-based and therapeutic. “Children learn best when they are having fun and see value in what they are doing. We structure the activities to allow for growth and the children’s imagination and play to develop,” says Emily. Lego Kids is also a great program for kids to form friendships in a safe and structured environment. “There are opportunities for children to build long-lasting friendships with peers and for families to build relationships and support networks with other parents,” says Emily. Susan says Lachlan is proud of his achievements so far and enjoys playing with Lego with the other kids in the program. “He was so proud to have spoken and contributed during the videoconference session during the
lockdown,” says Susan. She says the therapists at Gateways have been lovely, and she appreciates the progress notes provided within 48 hours of each session. ‘I’m impressed with the clear and detailed progress notes that they send me after every session,” says Susan. Find out more about Lego Kids and our other therapy group programs via the therapy section of the Gateways Support Services website https://bit.ly/ LegoKids2021 Lego Kids aims to promote children’s social interaction and learning, including: ■ Communication skills ■ Joint problem solving ■ Turn-taking ■ Sharing ■ Listening ■ Teamwork
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Lego Kids is an innovative, evidence-based therapy playgroup
designed to use children’s interest in Lego play and their strengths and interests to develop communication and social skills.
12 Spring 2021
www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au
It’s Your Life
Embracing a child’s curls By Melissa Grant CURLY hair on kids is adorable but can be a nightmare to manage. Brushing is generally a no-no and parents need to be mindful of how they use products on their child’s hair. Most importantly though, parents need to “embrace the curls”, according to mum of two and Aussie Curls founder Claire Fermo. Claire straightened her for years before she embraced her curls, a move which ultimately led to her business venture. It was only after becoming a mum that Claire realised her hair was beautiful and she was wasting time straightening it.
Claire Fermo Fermo, creator of Aussie Curls. Curls
“I straightened my hair for 15 years,” Claire said.
because it was too hard. I thought there has to be a way that’s in between.”
Here are Claire’s top tips for managing curls:
“It’s because I listened to what a guy said to me in a bar once - that I would be better looking if I had straight hair!”
Claire had her light-bulb moment and Aussie Curls was born.
■ Don’t brush when dry: If you brush dry hair it causes the curl to lose its memory and it will create more knots. Instead, finger comb the hair when wet. The only brush I use in the shower is called the Denman brush.
Claire’s husband Andy only saw her curls for the first time while on holiday four years into their marriage. They were on a cruise with their son, Phoenix, and Claire couldn’t straighten her hair every day. Andy fell in love with the curls and so did Clare. Afterwards, she decided to learn everything she could about curls. “I found the curly girl method,” she explained. “Then I realised there were some great things I could take from that, but there were too many rules. Some women stopped embracing their curls
Claire is so passionate about her products, which are made from organic and natural Australian ingredients, that her children, Phoenix and Havana use them - even though they don’t have curls. “My husband is Filipino so they’ve got his dead-straight hair, but they still have to use Aussie Curls - it’s the only hair product allowed in the house,” the mum of Indigenous and Moroccan heritage said. Although her kids have straight hair, Claire knows all about the battles parents of curly-haired children face and even does home visits to give advice.
■ Washing: Don’t wash curls every day as it’s good to get natural oil through them. Washing frequency depends on thickness. A lot of kids have fine curls, which are best washed every 3-4 days. My hair is thicker - I wash my hair every 6-7 days and do a refresh between that with a water spray bottle and moisture product. Washing curls
too often can also dry out your child’s scalp. ■ Use a moisturising spray: In between washes, use a moisturising spray. Even just put a bit of conditioner in a spray bottle. Then finger comb the hair. Moisture spray works fine with both thick and thin curls, you just need to adjust the moisture level. It’s not an exact science - just fill with water, put the conditioner in and shake it up. ■ Apply products when wet: Curls love moisture. I apply all my hair products while I’m in the shower. You can find Claire online at https:// www.aussiecurls.com.au/ or follow her on Instagram at aussie_curls
New characters join children’s book series By Carole Levy
The books are launching in September.
DID you know that a Mr Men and Little Miss book still sells every 2.5 seconds worldwide? Now two more books are joining the 90-strong line-up.
IN THE BEGINNING “What does a tickle look like?” asked Adam, the young son of Roger Hargreaves. So Mr Hargreaves drew Adam a picture, creating Mr Tickle, which became the first book published in 1971. It went on to sell a million copies in just three years.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Roger Hargreaves book series, a global public vote to name new members - attracting more than 77,000 entries – has determined that Mr Calm and Little Miss Brave will join the family. Mr Calm has a very peaceful and easy-going outlook on life. He lives in the moment, loves rock climbing, and his relaxed and tolerant perspective means that he is a calming influence and a wise head. Little Miss Brave stands up for what she believes in. She is not afraid to speak out and is fearless when championing things close to her heart, including her friends. Her bravery is an inner strength and confidence which enables her to try new things, challenge expectations, and inspire others to be www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au
Adam is now creative director, following the death of his father.
Mr Calm.
Little Miss Brave.
the best they can be.
“It’s great to see these two new characters join the diverse set of personalities of the Mr Men/Little Miss family – calmness and bravery are two very welcome additions,” he says. “It’s been a fantastic way to celebrate our 50th birthday year.”
Alastair McHarrie, Sanrio licensing director, says that having Mr Calm and Little Miss Brave join the much-loved family of characters reflects the current consumer mood and the world we’re living in.
“Mr Calm was one of my favourites,” he says, “so I’m delighted to be able to share this story. It’s amazing to see people are still connecting to the books after 50 years – and here’s to Mr Calm and Little Miss Brave leading the way in shaping the brand’s personality for the next 50!” The new books will be available on pre-order via the official MrMen.com website, and in all good bookstores from September, 2021. Spring 2021 13
It’s Your Life
Kids in the dark on social media
By Melissa Grant
Reset Australia’s Children’s Data Policy Director Farthing said.
DOES your child know what they’ve signed up for on social media, gaming and messaging services?
Working with YouGov, the data protection lobby group polled 400 teens aged 16 and 17. They found only seven per cent of the teens surveyed were confident they understood the terms and conditions they had accepted, and only four per cent read them all the time.
Chances are they are probably clueless, with a new report finding popular sites like Tik Tok and Snapchat have such confusing terms of use that you need a university degree to understand them. This means the majority of teens don’t know how their data will be collected and stored. The Reset Australia report found the terms and conditions of nine of 10 surveyed apps would take, on average, one hour and 46 minutes to read. That’s despite children as young as 13 being allowed to use them. “Tik Tok’s terms and conditions run the length of two novels, or about six hours of reading at a university level. If all two billion people who use TikTok read the full terms and conditions, it would take 1.24 million years of effort,”
Reasons for not reading the terms and conditions included that they were too long, there were too many documents, they were presented in ways difficult to read and that you’ve got no choice anyway so why bother. “These apps are designed to be easy for young people to use, but when it comes to disclosing how data will be collected and stored, suddenly they become very difficult to understand,” Dr Farthing said. Facebook and Instagram recently moved to restrict advertising targeted at underage users, after Reset Australia revealed underage users were being profiled on age-inappropriate interests
such as smoking and alcohol, and then selling access to the profiles to advertisers for direct, targeted advertising.
(OAIC) said a review of the Privacy Act by the Attorney-General’s Department offered an opportunity to address concerns about children’s personal data.
“We’ll only allow advertisers to target ads to people under 18 (or older in certain countries) based on their age, gender and location. This means that previously available targeting options, like those based on interests or on their activity on other apps and websites, will no longer be available to advertisers. These changes will be global and apply to Instagram, Facebook and Messenger,” a Facebook statement said.
“We believe some high-risk activities should be considered for prohibition, such as profiling, tracking or behaviour monitoring of children, or direct advertising targeted at children,” the spokesperson said.
However, Reset Australia is concerned the social media giant could keep the profiling for its own purposes and says this underscores the need for oversight about how platforms collect and use young people’s data. They want to see a federal regulatory code governing how children and young people’s data is collected and used. A spokesperson from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
The federal government is also drafting legislation to enable the ‘Online Privacy Code’, which will apply to social media and other online platforms. The code is expected to have specific rules to protect the personal information of children and vulnerable groups. The OAIC encourages parents to help educate children about making good decisions online and limiting privacy risks. The commissioner suggests parents talk to their children about their digital footprint, developing good password practices, safe and smart device use, tailoring and regularly review privacy settings and being aware of online advertising.
Nothing is everything in Kidsafe campaign EVERY year there are many stories of serious unintentional childhood injuries and deaths in the news. When we read these, we all hope that it won’t happen to us, to our friends or to our families.
Sadly, Ash and Matt aren’t alone. In 2020, 32 Victorian families lost their little one due to an unintentional injury that’s almost one child every 11 days.
Ash and Matt never thought it would be them. Never thought they would lose their son Hunter just after he reached his 2nd birthday. Never thought they would be picking out an outfit for their little boy to wear, one last time. But it has now been 12 months since Hunter drowned in a dam. Twelve months since the day they had to say goodbye.
In response to the significant increase in injury related deaths, Kidsafe Victoria have launched a new community awareness campaign ‘Nothing is Everything’. The campaign highlights the world which Kidsafe is trying to create – a world where nothing bad happens to kids - by providing a reminder of the little things that we can all do to help reduce the risk of unintentional injuries.
“It’s hard to come to terms that our son Hunter isn’t here with us. My heart breaks more every day waking up without him. It’s hard to even contemplate ever celebrating anything without him,” explained Ash.
As part of the campaign, Kidsafe Victoria have developed an injury prevention kit for parents and carers, providing links to a range of free resources and practical advice. They are encouraging all families to
14 Spring 2021
download and utilise resources such as their home and farm safety checklists, to help ensure that ‘nothing happens’. Because when nothing happens, children aren’t admitted to hospital due to serious injury. When nothing happens, children don’t have to live with the lasting impacts from preventable injuries. When nothing happens, parents don’t have to deal with a lifetime of loss. When it comes to our children, when nothing happens, there’s everything to celebrate. And that’s down to all of us. Together, we can keep kids safe. To find out more about the ‘Nothing is Everything’ campaign or access the campaign resources, please visit www. kidsafevic.com.au/about/nothing-iseverything/
Hunter’s ’ parents Matt and Ash (centre)) with Kidsafe Victoria CEO Melanie Courtney (left) and Kidsafe Victoria president Erica Edmands (right). Ash and Matt were among the 32 Victorian families who lost their little one due to an unintentional injury in 2020. www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au
It’s Your Life
Teaching inner-peace comes naturally THERE is a wild creature in you that knows how to parent, writes STEVE BIDDULPH A MUM is sitting, holding her baby. She is peaceful, and the baby is gazing up at her and making little noises of pleasure. Their eyes are gazing happily at each other. Then the mum frowns. Instantly, the baby’s face crumples and they start to whimper. If mum doesn’t smile again quickly it will turn into full on distressed crying. This could be anywhere in the world, but it’s actually happening in a psychology laboratory and the baby has tiny wires attached to its head don’t worry, they are only sensors taped on, like one of those meditation apps. But what the neuroscientists are noticing from behind their one-way mirrors will knock their socks off, and echo around the world of child development research. What they could see on their computer screens was that the baby’s brain reacted to the mother’s change of expression in a less than a hundredth of a second. It’s as if the two human beings, parent and child, were really one creature, utterly attuned. This is the way that we now understand how the brains of small children are shaped for good mental health - not that mum never frowns, but that by that loving interaction, children getting distressed by the natural events of life many times a day, and mum or dad being close at hand and soothing them. They learn that comfort is possible
and they can ‘down regulate’ their emotions by sharing them.
is what helps children grow their mental health.
Mum is cool with it! It’s also been discovered in the adult world too that post traumatic stress after terrible events is much worse if there is nobody nearby who is caring and understanding. Being able to cry, shudder and shake, and tell our story until our brain knows it is just a story now, something that happened, in the past and not still hanging around. It was terrible, but it is over.
So we have to learn that skill and the way to do it is surprising. We have to tune in to our own body first, before we can tune in to our child. It’s as if we have a wild creature, a panther, a brown bear (or in my case probably a twitchy nervous hamster) down inside our body. If we tune into the sensations down in our body, especially the middle of our torso, literally our gut feelings, we will instantly know if we are calm or in turmoil, and begin automatically to settle down.
Babies and children do not care if they live in a mansion or a tin shed. But they are acutely aware of the emotions of the people around them. And if those are seriously and long-term stressed, then it’s very hard for children to relax, learn and grow. Mum or dad being absolutely present
Then and only then, can we really be with our child fully. Let me just say that again - to be with our children, we first have to be with ourselves. It takes just a few seconds, a couple of breaths, a dropping of the shoulders, and
perhaps some letting go of the headlong rush that our life so easily becomes. And a step into the quiet fountain of sweetness that is the ‘now’. That’s where your child is, waiting for you to show up! Your mind settles, and then it can settle theirs. And this really matters. Long after you are gone, when they are living their lives far in the future, they will think of you and smile. You taught them what peace feels like. Steve Biddulph’s new book is Fully Human – a new way of using your mind, published by Pan Macmillan. www.stevebiddulph.com Steve Biddulph AM Author – 10 Things Girls Need Most, Raising Girls, Raising Boys. Complete Secrets of Happy Children, The New Manhood and Fully Human
Pandemic having huge impact on our youth YOUNG Australians have been more affected by the Covid-19 pandemic than any other age group, early evidence suggests. A new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) found, that compared to older age groups, young people experienced higher rates of psychological distress, job loss, and educational disruption during the pandemic. www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au
The report, Australia’s youth, brings together data about young people (aged 12–24) and their experiences of school and higher education, mental health and wellbeing, employment, living circumstances, and personal relationships. “Adolescence and young adulthood is a critical period in a person’s life. Young people often experience rapid physical, social and emotional changes
in a time where they are transitioning from dependence to independence,” institute spokesperson Sally Mills says. “This is a time when young people are finishing school, pursuing further training and education, entering the workforce, moving out of the family home, and forming relationships.” And while data suggests that some outcomes for young people have
returned to pre-Covid-19 levels, Ms Mills said this is not always the case. “For example, in April 2021 the average level of psychological distress among young people was below what it was in April 2020, but still higher than in February 2017,” she said. “Ongoing monitoring is needed to fully understand the longer term impact of the pandemic.” Spring 2021 15
It’s Your Life
The state’s best swimming club THE Geelong Swimming Club (GSC) has been awarded Swimming Victoria’s Club of the Year for the 2020-2021 season.
sporting club brings to the community,” Mayor Asher said. “The club is very inclusive, giving swimmers of all abilities the opportunity to achieve their sporting goals, while being active and forming long-lasting friendships.”
The prestigious title was awarded to the club at Swimming Victoria’s annual Awards Night in June at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre. For many years the podium has been dominated by metropolitan clubs, but this year saw GSC reign supreme.
Zoom sessions held by former Australian Dolphin and Head Coach Sam Ashby went ahead with athletes five days a week to combat the challenges of the pandemic.
Providing a strong training and team environment for over 135 years, GSC received its award based on strong performance in the pool, good governance, inclusion, membership retention and growth. Throughout Covid, the club offered reduced membership fees to swimmers and managed to increase its membership base by a staggering 78 per cent in the 2020 period. With approximately 250 members and 150 competitive swimmers, this was a great outcome for the club. “We are honoured to have received this award, which recognises the vision and dedication of our amazing committee and coaches, particularly through the challenges of Covid,” says GSC president Glenn Benson. With their home base at the councilrun Kardinia Aquatic Centre, athletes at the club continued to train hard even
This practice resulted in some well-deserved success, with GSC’s 18-member squad the club’s largest ever competing in the 2021 Australian Age and Open Championships on the Gold Coast in April. Two of the club’s athletes won gold medals at the championships, Hayley Mackinder in the 13-years 100 metre breaststroke and Dylan Logan in the Multiclass 17/18-years 100 metre backstroke.
Geelong Swimming Club has been named the state’s best for 2020-21 by Swimming Victoria.
throughout restrictions and the off season.
Centre has been particularly beneficial for our athletes.”
“We’re also very thankful to the council for its ongoing support,” says Mr Benson.
City of Greater Geelong Mayor Stephanie Asher says that the work of GSC coincides with that of the council to promote a healthy Geelong community.
“We’re fortunate to have access to high quality facilities, and the yearround opening of Kardinia Aquatic
“Geelong Swimming Club is a great example of the benefit a community
GSC’s overall success is attributed to a healthy team environment with inclusion, hard work and respect for each other being strong club concepts. “We congratulate Glenn, his committee and all club members on their success, which has brought state-wide recognition to Geelong,” says Mayor Asher.
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www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au
Recipes
Creating a love of cooking By Melissa Grant
snacks for kids, Well Fed Kitchen.
TEACHING your children to cook can serve up many benefits.
In her practice, she gives parents advice on a range of food-related issues, including fussy eating, reflux, constipation, eczema, allergies, and mood and behavioural issues.
It gets them tasting different foods, teaches them how to follow directions and even helps with their maths. Most importantly, it helps set them up for a healthy future and positive life-long relationship with food. That’s why we’re excited to welcome paediatric nutritionist Lucy Stewart as our new expert contributor. Each edition, Lucy’s Kids in the Kitchen column will bring you a simple and nutritious recipe that you can cook in the kitchen with your children. “It will be nourishing for them, they can help make it in the kitchen and we will always try to squeeze in extra veggies where we can,” Lucy said. Lucy lives with her husband Matt and son Otis, 5. She also shares her time with step-daughters Faith, 15, and Daisy, 12.
This edition, Lucy shares a kidfriendly recipe for pumpkin maple bread. We hope you enjoy cooking it!
“It made me realise how critical it was to set up our children for life by eating the right food.
Pumpkin contains vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that help keep the immune system strong, and the eyes, heart and skin healthy. Pumpkin seeds are also a rich source of zinc that’s essential for growth, wound healing, immune function and perception of
taste (low zinc can contribute to fussy eating). It’s an easy recipe to make with the kids - just a bit of whisking, sifting and stirring, pop it in the oven and, in about an hour, you’ll have a house smelling of fragrant spices and a delicious bread to enjoy for afternoon tea. There are options in the recipe to make it gluten and dairy free too, if you wish.
Directions ■ Preheat oven at 165C and line and grease a loaf tin
i th in the kitchen with Lucy Stewart
Makes: 1 loaf Prep time: 15-minutes Cook time: 1 hour Ingredients ■ 1 cup mashed pumpkin ■ 2 free range eggs, at room temperature ■ 1 ¾ cups gluten free or wholemeal flour ■ 1/3 cup pure maple syrup ■ 1/3 cup coconut oil or butter, melted ■ ¼ plant-based mylk or milk of choice ■ 1 tsp ground cinnamon ■ ½ tsp ground ginger ■ ¼ tsp ground nutmeg ■ ¼ tsp ground cloves ■ 1 tsp baking soda ■ 1 tsp pure vanilla extract ■ ½ tsp sea salt
Lucy Stewart and her son Otis cooking the spiced pumpkin and maple bread together. Picture: Studio 74 Photography www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au
She advises parents to get their children involved in cooking family meals by writing shopping lists, going to the supermarket, washing and chopping vegetables and helping in the kitchen.
Lucy currently works as a clinical nutritionist, as a recipe developer and has just launched a range of nourishing
“When I was pregnant with my son I was learning about the importance of the first 1000 days of life.
IF your kids love banana bread, they’ll love this spiced pumpkin and maple bread.
One of the greatest things you can teach your children, Lucy says, is the ability to cook so they don’t rely on convenience and takeaway foods when they are older.
“I knew that was the direction I wanted to take my practice in - babies and kids nutrition.”
“I came from a 15-year career in TV PR (public relations). I’ve always loved food, I’ve always cooked,” she explained.
Spiced pumpkin and maple bread
“It affects our kids’ sleep, their learning and their behaviour, it affects everything,” she said.
“Kids who have invested their time in something are much more likely to try and eat it. It will be messy, yes, but you will be surprised that a child who is happy to chop up the capsicum will eat it at the table. “You also need to set a good example - you can’t expect your child to eat well if you don’t.” Another important thing is to cook easy recipes. “I love cooking really simple food,” she said. “When you have kids, dinner at the end of the day has to be quick, it has to be easy. It has to be really simple, nourishing food that the whole family is going to eat.”
Her career in nutrition began in 2015 when she was pregnant with Otis.
Our new expert contributor Lucy Stewart.
Diet, she says, has a huge impact on our children’s health and wellbeing, both now and in the future.
■ 6 pitted Medjool dates, chopped ■ ¼ cup pumpkin seeds, to decorate
■ In a large bowl, whisk together the coconut oil and pure maple syrup ■ Add the eggs and whisk until combined ■ Add mashed pumpkin, mylk, spices, baking soda, vanilla and salt, and whisk to combine ■ Sift in the flour, and using a wooden spoon, mix until just combined ■ Gently fold in chopped dates ■ Pour the batter into your greased loaf tin and sprinkle pumpkin seeds over the top ■ Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean ■ Allow the bread cool in the loaf tin for 10 minutes, then gently transfer to rack to cool for 20 minutes before slicing ■ Enjoy warm, with butter and a drizzle of honey. Individual slices can be stored in the freezer and reheated in the toaster Lucy Stewart is a mum who is nutritionist specialising in babies and kids health, and a recipe developer. You can find more of her recipes at https://lucystewartnutrition.com Spring 2021 17
Hospital surgeon, Dr James Leung, said young children can inhale nuts, food and other objects into their airway and this can quickly become life threatening.
Health
“A child having a foreign body like a peanut in their airway is a surgical emergency,” Dr Leung said. “Nuts caught in the airway can cause inflammation and are hard to spot on an X-ray. They can lead to other complications including pneumonia or permanent damage to the respiratory tract.” Armstrong Creek mum Rose Kabylakis knows only too well the risks peanuts and tree nuts can pose to young children. Her two-year-old daughter Jordyn reached for some cashew nuts that other family members were eating, at their family home in 2019. Epworth consultant allergist and immunologist Dr John Ainsworth said there has been a spike in peanut and tree nut aspirations since 2015.
Children under five at risk eating nuts A JUMP in the number of young children choking on peanuts or tree nuts has prompted a safety warning for parents from doctors at the Epworth Centre for Paediatric Allergies. Over a 10 year period, this study looked at 200 admissions to the Royal Children’s Hospital where children were diagnosed with foreign body aspiration, which means they had nuts, other food or other objects stuck in their
airways. Of those children, 28 were admitted to intensive care.
there has been a spike in peanut and tree nut aspirations since 2015.
Researchers found almonds, pistachios, walnuts, cashews and peanuts were among the most common nuts involved. Larger pieces within crunchy peanut butter also lodged in some young children’s airways.
Since 2015, parents have been strongly encouraged to safely introduce their children to peanut and other potentially allergenic foods such as egg, dairy and wheat in the first year, to hopefully prevent the development of food allergies.
Epworth consultant allergist and immunologist Dr John Ainsworth said
Researcher and Royal Children’s
“I was making a cup of coffee when I turned and noticed that Jordyn had a mouth full of nuts,” Mrs Kablyakis said. “As I told Jordyn to take some out, she was startled and gasped, inhaling some nuts into her airway instead of swallowing them.” A life-threatening emergency quickly developed with Jordyn unable to breathe properly and becoming unconscious. It was only the work of paramedics called to the scene that kept Jordyn alive until she reached hospital. The toddler was later flown to the Royal Children’s Hospital for treatment where she was put into an induced coma for almost a week. She has since made a full recovery. This research project was jointly funded by the Australian Food Allergy Foundation and Epworth Medical Foundation and is done on collaboration with Royal Children’s Hospital and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.
Epworth Geelong Maternity
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Health
Trying to parent while your sick can be an absolute nightmare.
Tips for parenting when sick By Melissa Grant
Here are Edwina’s top tips to help you survive parenting while sick:
THERE’S nothing fun about being sick. But feeling under the weather when you are a parent is the stuff nightmares are made of, especially if the kids are at home all day.
■ Do Less: Practice the same compassion for yourself as you would for others. There is no shame in slowing down and resting.
All you want to do is crawl back into bed. Meanwhile, all your kids want to do is run around, make a lot of mess and eat snacks.
■ Ask for help: Although it isn’t always possible, asking for help from a loved one or a childminder is a great way to ensure you have enough time to rest.
Sadly you can’t take a sick day (wouldn’t that be amazing). So how are you going to survive until you are feeling better?
■ Self-care: Whether it’s finding time for a bath or getting outside for some Vitamin D, making time for yourself and listening to what your body needs is really important.
There are things you can do to help ease the load even if you can’t get a babysitter, according to midwife and Philips Avent ambassador Edwina Sharrock.
■ Easy meals: Whether it’s ordering groceries to be delivered, getting takeaway or having eggs on toast for dinner, as long as the kids are fed and happy, that’s all that matters.
“Unfortunately, calling in sick isn’t an option when you are a parent,” she said.
■ Cancel plans: From after school swimming lessons to gymnastics, we’re always running around after our kids however prioritising your health is far more important. Cancelling plans every once in a while so that you can properly rest won’t harm your child’s development.
“We often pressure ourselves to constantly be on the go and to be the best version of ourselves for our kids. “But, it’s important to take care of ourselves.”
■ Movie day: Everyone has different rules on screen time, however popping on a movie so you can relax on the couch when you’re sick is nothing to feel guilty about. ■ Telehealth: Getting out of the house to go to the doctor can be tough when you have kids to care for. Fortunately, there is a variety of medical services now easily available online through Telehealth. The last thing you want to do while you are feeling like death warmed up is to pass on your illness to your children or partner. Edwina says the best way to prevent your illness spreading is to practice good hygiene by regularly washing your hands and coughing/sneezing into tissues or on your elbow. It’s also a good idea to educate your kids. “Teaching your children good hygiene practices and explaining why they are important is an essential part of keeping your whole family healthy and well,” Edwina said. “If you are really unwell, quarantine yourself in a separate room of the house
and organise for someone to look after your children.” If you’re breastfeeding, Edwina said it is generally safe to keep doing so when you’re sick. “Your baby won’t catch most common illnesses like colds, flu, stomach bugs, fever and mastitis through breastmilk. In fact, it contains protective antibodies,” she said. However, she said that breastfeeding while sick can be tiring so it is a good idea to get extra help to allow time to rest after feeding. It’s also important to stay hydrated. “Even if you can’t stomach much food, your body will continue to supply milk if you are keeping up your fluids.” Edwina also recommended using a breast pump so you can express in advance and let someone else take the night feeding shift. “Even if you’re really unwell and cannot manage to breastfeed your baby, your body will still be producing milk so breast pumping is a great way to manage your milk supply in the meantime,” she added.
Researchers probe role of genetics in SIDS GENETICS could hold the key to preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Researchers are investigating the role of genetics in the devastating condition, which claims the lives of around 100 babies in Australia each year. A state-of-the-art ‘genetic biobank’ has been developed by researchers at the University of South Australia. The biobank comprises DNA from 25 babies who have died from SIDS in South Australia. SIDS is the sudden, unexpected, and unexplained death of an apparently well baby, despite clinical www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au
investigations, including autopsy. The genetic biobank is the only of its kind in the southern hemisphere and one of only a few that exist in the world. It was supported by funding from River’s Gift, an organisation established by Geelong couple Karl Waddell and Alex Hamilton following the death of their 4-month-old baby, River, to SIDS in 2011. River’s Gift evolved from a pledge to Stamp Out SIDS and ensure that no other parent would endure the pain and suffering of the unexpected and unexplained loss of their child. Molecular biologist and Head of
genetics at the Australian Centre for Precision Health, UniSA’s Professor Leanne Dibbens, says the biobank will provide unprecedented opportunities to examine genetic factors that have contributed to SIDS. “Within Australia and internationally, research into SIDS is not as active as it once was,” Prof Dibbens says. “This is mainly due to successful education campaigns such as ‘safe sleeping’ of infants, which has significantly reduced the incidence of SIDS. Yet, every year in Australia, about 100 babies still die from SIDS and we don’t know why.” Prof Dibbens said the genetic biobank
would allow researchers to analyse DNA from SIDS babies to look for genetic causes of the condition. “By finding these, we will be able to test babies at birth to identify those who are at risk, with these babies being closely monitored in their first year of life,” she explained. The groundbreaking research will also help identify mechanisms involved in causing death from SIDS so that future work can stop SIDS from occurring. “Every baby’s life is precious. This research will help protect all babies and families from suffering the heartache of SIDS,” Prof Dibbens said. Spring 2021 19
Education
The Geelong College Junior School has a strong focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. Picture: Supplied
Long history of learning AS the Geelong College celebrates 160 years, early learning educators and children at the Geelong College have been reflecting on children’s developing understanding of the land on which we play and learn.
This began with a long-term project titled ‘Connection with Country’. In 2017, early learning educators initiated a professional learning project to develop our knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
history and culture in order to share this with the children.
collated and refined to express their big ideas.
The staff and students were privileged to develop a relationship with Corrina Eccles, a Wadawurrung Traditional Owner, who has guided them on their journey. Within its Reggio Emilia-inspired philosophy, children and educators explore big ideas together. When posing the question ‘What is country?’ to the children, it was hoped that highlighting what country is, and how we are connected to it in different ways, may result in the development of an understanding and appreciation for our shared history as people of Australia. One of the major learnings has been about Indigenous people’s connection to the land and the importance of caring for Mother Earth.
“We are on Mother Earth! She is the water and the flowers and the grass the trees are on her too.”
Young children have a natural inquisitiveness about nature, animals and birds which means learning in nature is a key feature of the school’s program. The natural outdoor play spaces in the new Junior School allow for long periods of time outdoors daily. This is complemented by the Bush Connections program, where children spend a day each term in the bush and play only with natural materials. In the bush, the day always begins by acknowledging Country and thanking Mother Earth. Learning Wadawurrung names for birds such as Bunjil (eagle) and Parrwang (magpie) occurs at Bush Connections, and river walks at the Barwon Yaluk (river) with Corrina Eccles are a wonderful opportunity to hear stories about the land and animals, and to learn songs and dances. The children’s Acknowledgement of Country developed out of this project work. Children’s thoughts about Mother Earth and First Peoples were discussed,
“Being on country is going to find treasures. Country is important to Aboriginal people and Aboriginal people are important because they came on this land first.” As well as being embedded into the daily program, the Acknowledgment of Country is now used throughout the Junior School at assemblies and all formal occasions. “We acknowledge the Wadawurrung people as the Traditional Owners of this land. We thank them for taking care of the land and the animals. Together we will care for Mother Earth and all her colours.’” As the new school evolved, there was an opportunity to further foster connection to the land by using local Wadawurrung names for the new Junior School’s learning spaces. The Geelong College thanks both the Traditional Owners and the School leadership for enabling children to have daily reminders of the place on which their new buildings are located, sitting up above the Barwon River. The Junior School looks forward to celebrating these new spaces and honouring the history of the land through literature and art. Children will work with expert local community members to tell the story of this place that will create a lasting memento which can be shared with Campbell House students for years to come. Discover more about the College by visiting www.geelongcollege.vic.edu. au or attending an Open Day on Wednesday 20 October or 17 November.
The
Geelong C o l lege A leading Victorian day and boarding school from Early Learning to VCE. Discover The Geelong College difference at our Open Days on Wednesday 20 October and 17 November. Register or explore more dates or small group tours at www.geelongcollege.vic.edu.au or phone (03) 5226 3156. Be of
COURAGE 160 YEARS STRONG
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■ Can my child participate well in group activities? ■ What can I do to encourage or help my child learn to read? Effective communication with a teacher will reap many benefits.
Education
If you want to discuss a problem or concern, here are some guidelines to get good outcomes: 1. Identify the reason for the conference in initial contact to alleviate any imagined fears on the teacher’s part and so they can have relevant information to hand. 2. Plan: Write down questions, clarify them and prioritise importance. Succinct information will assist the teacher to give clear responses. 3. Always restate your purpose for the conference right at the start – stay on topic. 4. Show a positive attitude. Be aware of tone of voice, facial expressions and body language. 5. Remain open, even if the teacher tells you something negative about your child’s behaviour or attitude. Antagonism can kill a conference stone dead. Effective communication with a teacher will reap many benefits for your child.
Picture: iStock
Teacher communication THE first contact with your child’s teacher can be the most important, according to the Child Development Institute. And during the first week can be the optimum time to build a rapport. In the first week, it’s likely the teacher
knows little about your child and you’re in a position to provide helpful information. Don’t feel you’re intruding or asking for special treatment – you’re just showing a concern your child gets a good education. After six weeks or so, even if you feel
your child is doing well, you might like to set up a conference, which should always be at a time to suit the teacher. Questions can include: ■ Is my child able to get along with others?
6. Be sure discussions are led with the sole aim of increasing your child’s growth. 7. If your child has difficulties, make sure the teacher doesn’t just point out the problem without providing ideas for eliminating or reducing it. 8. Clarify and summarise as you go, so you both know what’s been meant and can agree about any conclusions. 9. Make sure you alert the teacher to any educational jargon you don’t understand and seek clarification. 10. Try to keep the time to 30 minutes or less.
Teaching students about consent has been on the agenda this year.
Consent is in the school curriculum TEACHING students about consent is now mandatory in Victorian government schools. The government has 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 the teaching of consent is 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.” In April, 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. 12495772-JW23-21
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Spring 2021 21
Education
The ins and outs of child care By Melissa Grant
socialise with lots of other kids. If you are after long-day care, or think you may use it, it pays to put your child’s name down on waiting lists to ensure you can get the days you are after, and to apply for the Child Care Subsidy as soon as possible.
MANY Australian families use child care. Child care provides opportunities for children’s development and social engagement, while allowing parents to engage in paid work.
While the number of children in child care dropped last year as Covid hit, attendance rates are pretty much back to normal.
It encourages play, can help children socialise with others their own age, foster independence and ease the transition into full-time school.
In fact, the number of parents using child care services has mostly returned to pre Covid-19 rates despite parents having better access to working from home arrangements, according to a Family Studies (AIFS) report.
Child care options in Australia include centre-based care, home-based care and family day care. In 2017 there were around three in five children aged 0-4 (59 per cent or 925,000 children) attending some form of child care, according to Australia’s Children Report 2020. It was estimated that 72 per cent of kids aged two were in child care.
Child care provides opportunities for children to engage with other children the same age.
Home-based care is when a relative, usually a grandparent, a friend, babysitter or nanny cares for your child at your family home.
care, kindergartens/preschools and occasional care. In Victoria, kindergarten programs are offered at child care centres and standalone kindergarten centres.
Family day care is care provided by an approved carer in their home. Centre-based care includes long day
What type of child care you choose will depend on how many hours of care
you require each week, your family values, the cost and what you want your child to experience. Long day care at child care centres, for example, typically suit parents who work weekdays, want structure and are happy for their child to play and
“Many parents initially withdrew their children from childcare in response to a range of factors, including parental job losses, increased rates of working at home, and financial and health concerns,” lead researcher Dr Jennifer Baxter said. “Parents deciding to return to using formal child care reflects the important role that child care services have in contributing to children’s wellbeing and development and supporting parents’ employment.”
Calculating VCE scores By Melissa Grant LEARNING disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic will be considered when calculating students’ VCE scores this year. The state government has announced it will again use the ‘Consideration of Educational Disadvantage’ (CED) process in light of continued disruptions to schooling throughout the year. Coronavirus restrictions forced Victorian students to remote learning at various times, impacting important school milestones. Education Minister James Merlino said the CED process will ensure every student is fairly assessed. “Victorian students have done an amazing job adapting to another year of disruptions to their learning – and we’re making sure every student is assessed individually and fairly in their final years of school,” he said. “We want to make sure every student knows that no matter how much they’re
impacted by the pandemic, we’re supporting them to succeed in VCE and VCAL.” The CED process will be used to finalise VCE results for each and every student completing one or more VCE or scored VCE VET Unit 3-4 sequence in 2021. Consistent with the approach in 2020, the process considers a range of data alongside exam results to calculate final VCE results. This includes the General Achievement Test (GAT), comparisons of performance across all assessments and schools and other learning data. The process will also include assessments of the individual impact of coronavirus on each student including school closures, direct impacts on students’ health, ongoing issues with remote learning and mental health challenges. All Year 12 VCAL students will also have access to individual consideration – with schools required to apply special consideration for all students who have been subject to significant disruptions.
Young people are dealing with growing and ever-changing risks associated with being online.
Online safety lessons By Melissa Grant STUDENTS will be taught about grooming by sexual predators, sexting and fake news as part of e-Safety lessons. The e-Safety Commissioner has launched national online safety education framework for Australian schools and teachers to help make kids cyber-smart. The framework gives primary and secondary teachers guidance on students’ rights and responsibilities in the digital age, resilience building, current and emerging risks and help-seeking. According to the framework, online safety education should address the range online harms kids may be vulnerable to. This includes exposure to pornography, exposure to inappropriate content such as violence and animal cruelty, receiving or sharing unwanted
contact or content, sexting, contact with strangers, online child sex abuse including grooming by predators, cyberbullying, hate speech, exposure to fake news and political radicalisation. eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said the framework has been designed to guide and assist educators to help young people deal with growing and ever-changing risks associated with being online and lead to meaningful behavioural change. “Now, more than ever, we need to ensure that young Australians are consistently being armed with the resilience and critical reasoning skills they need to discern online fact from fiction, to effectively respond to abuse and unwanted contact and to ultimately, manage online conflict,” she said. For more information, visit https://www.esafety.gov.au/ educators/best-practice-framework
Disruptions to learning caused by Covid-19 will be considered when scores are calculated for VCE students. 22 Spring 2021
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Education
The benefits of learning outside By Melissa Meehan WE all remember heading outside for story time in a blistering hot summer in the halcyon days of yesteryear. But did the teachers back then know taking the classroom outdoors could improve learning, engagement in class and social skills? A study by the University of South Australia found growing evidence that nature based learning may just do that. In a paper published in Environmental Education Research, UniSA PhD candidate Nicole Miller and her colleagues found that taking the classroom outdoors may improve physical activity, learning, mental health and wellbeing, engagement in
class and social skills. They looked at 20 studies of nature across the globe over the past 18 years. “The evidence suggests that taking the classroom outdoors could be a great way to include more incidental physical activities into a child’s day,” Ms Miller says. The link between learning in nature and lower obesity rates is not new, but more significant than ever, given that only 19 per cent of Australian children are meeting the World Health Organization’s recommended levels of 60 minutes of moderate exercise a day. “Globally, the figures are even worse, with a recent study of 12 countries showing that just 4.8 per cent of children aged between 5-19 years are doing moderate to vigorous exercise for an hour each day.”
WHO estimates that at least 340 million children and teenagers are overweight or obese, including 24 per cent of Australian children (ABS statistics), increasing their risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease later in life. Nature-based learning can range from holding normal classes outdoors, to more strenuous activities such as constructing shelters, and group games. Apart from the physical benefits, the evidence suggests that nature-based learning is more enjoyable and handson than in a traditional classroom, so children may be more likely to retain more knowledge and stay focused throughout the lesson. Learning about the environment while in nature is an obvious benefit, but the researchers also referenced studies showing the mental health
benefits in adults who had spent significant time in nature in their childhood. “Previous research has found links that suggest adults with a low exposure to nature in childhood had significantly poorer mental health and a greater risk of psychiatric disorders,” Miller says. A 2017 study of 48 children in Germany found that children’s stress levels significantly improved after nature-based learning in the forest. Also, a 2018 US study reported that learning outcomes improved students’ focus and behaviour. “While the evidence is growing, more research is needed because it is still unclear which elements of nature-based learning, such as type, duration, frequency, and location, provide the most benefits,” Miller says.
Report reveals what students are reading CHILDREN love reading about pugs, wizards and wimpy kids. A new report has revealed the book titles and authors most read by students in Australia and New Zealand. Overall, the most popular books were Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. The ‘What Kids Are Reading Report’ from assessment and practice provider Renaissance Learning also reveals the most popular books for students in different year levels. For boys and girls in Kindergarten to Year 2, Australian author Aaron Blabey’s Pig the Pug was the favourite overall, trumping the previous winner The Very Hungry Caterpillar which dropped down to number five. For boys and girls in Year 3, Anh Do’s WeirdDo 2: Even Weirder! was the most read title, while Roald Dahl classic The Twits was again the most popular book for Year 4 students. Jeff Kinney’s The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series dominated the list for Year 5 students, taking the top 13 spots overall and for boys. www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au
For Year 5 girls, Raina Telgemeier’s Guts, Smile and Sisters were popular, coming in first, second and fourth respectively. It was a similar story for Year 6 students, with Guts also the most popular book for girls and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball most popular with boys.
to Year 12 students across the region. Interestingly, the research showed average book difficulty plateaued in secondary school, with high school students still reading the same difficulty of books as upper primary students. For female students, however, the level of difficulty increased dramatically when they reached Year 10.
For high school students, The Hunger Games dominated the list of most read titles. The title claimed the third position for Year 7 girls, second overall for Year 8 students, first overall and for boys and girls in Year 9, and first overall for Year 10, 11 and 12 students.
Violeta Apostolovski, Oceania Country Manager, Renaissance Learning, said the ‘What Kids Are Reading’ report was a unique snapshot of what children read and how well they read last year.
Wonder by R.J Palacio was the most popular book for Year 7 students and girls, while the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series continued to be popular for boys up until Year 10.
“Given the disruption of the pandemic, it is reassuring that so much reading took place, and especially great to see many local authors appearing alongside many international bestsellers,” she said.
The study included 57,000 students from 365 schools across Australia and New Zealand, including those from primary, secondary, government and non-government schools. Researchers mined data from Accelerated Reader and myON to determine the reading habits and preferences of kindergarten
“It goes without saying that the past year has provided many challenges, and it was amazing to see how students stayed engaged while in lockdown. or remote learning, with over 100 million words read during our open access period.”
A new report has revealed the reading habits of students in kindergarten to Year 12. Spring 2021 23
Entertainment
Political drama series for kids A political comedy-drama for kids is coming to free-to-air TV. Production has begun on The PM’s Daughter, a 10-episode series that will be filmed in Canberra and Sydney and broadcast on ABC ME next year. The series follows young activist Cat Parkes Perez whose relatively ordinary teen life is turned upside down when her mum unexpectedly becomes prime minister. As major disruptions begin to occur at Canberra landmarks – all seemingly designed to directly sabotage the PM Cat and her new friends, Sadie and Ollie, set out to track down and unmask a rogue faction within a youth action group called ACTION UPRISING. The clues will take them across the capital and lead them to investigate even their own schoolmates. Libbie Doherty, Head of ABC Children’s Production said the show has it all. “This series has the lot! Political intrigue, full on teens, great fashion and oh yes, life in ‘The Lodge’ as imagined by a stellar team of Australian creatives,” she said. “We’ve had a lot of fun developing the series and are delighted to be launching the careers of this super cool cast.” The PM’s Daughter boasts an exciting new cast of young talent, including Cassandra Helmot as Cat, Natalie
The cast of The PM’s Daughter: Natalie English (who plays Sadie), Nya Cofie, Cassandra Helmot (Cat), Jaga Yap (Ollie), Amelia James Power (Georgina).
English as Sadie, Jaga Yap (Babyteeth) as Ollie, and Claire Fearon as Prime Minister Isabel Perez. Sally Caplan, Head of Content at Screen Australia said the show was
original and inspiring. “This is an intriguing and thoroughly original concept from creators Tristram Baumber (The Unlisted, Born to Spy) and Matthew Allred, and in the capable
hands of the standout creative team behind the series we expect The PM’s Daughter will engage and inspire children around Australia when it heads to ABC ME.”
Funtastic food to get your party started Ice cream cone cakes THIS is such a fun and exciting treat to make and eat! It’s also a wonderful activity to do with children of all ages, especially when it comes to decorating the ice cream cones at the very end there’s no end to how creative and inventive you can be with decorations. Makes 12 Ingredients ■ 12 pieces of flat bottom ice cream cone shells ■ Sprinkles of choice ■ Chocolates/lollies/fruit for decorations Cake batter: ■ 1½ cup self raising flour ■ 1 cup raw sugar ■ ½ cup olive oil ■ ½ cup melted butter ■ 1 whole egg ■ ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder ■ ¾ cup full cream milk ■ ¾ cup boiling water Cream cheese frosting: ■ ½ cup Bulla thickened cream ■ 225 grams full cream Philadelphia Cream Cheese ■ 2 tablespoons vanilla sugar ■ ¼ teaspoon salt ■ 2 cups powdered sugar Method 1. Set oven to 180C, fan forced. 2. Line a 12 portioned cupcake tin with 24 Spring 2021
WITH OLIVIA C ENEA-BRAIN
cupcake cups and place an ice cream cone in each cupcake cup. They’re now ready to be filled. 3. In a large bowl, place the flour, sugar, cocoa and whisk well to combine. Then add the egg, melted butter, olive oil, milk and mix well with a spatula or wooden spoon, until well combined. Finally gently fold in the boiling water and mix until a velvety and glossy mixture is formed. 4. Using a teaspoon or piping bag, fill each cone to ¾ full of batter. 5. Bake cones standing in the muffin tin, for 20-30 minutes, until a skewer poked in the centre of the cake comes out clean. 6. Remove from the oven and gently place each cone standing, on a drying rack straight away so that the cones don’t moisten in the tin portions. 7. While the cakes cool, the cream cheese frosting can be prepared. 8. In a medium bowl; place cream cheese, salt and vanilla sugar. Using an electric beater, mix the ingredients on medium to high for approximately
Ice cream cone cakes are fun to make with the kids.
2 minutes and add the thickened cream and mix well for another 2 minutes. With the mixer on low, gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing well in-between. Repeat this process until all powdered sugar has been added. This will take about 8-10 minutes.
cream. Decorate as you wish. Pictured is glazed cherries, sprinkles, Cadbury marble chocolate and a strawberry. Enjoy.
9. Prepare a piping bag with an attached tip of your choice, fill the bag with the frosting.
Notes: Experiment with different flavour combinations of cake batter and frosting. Boxed cake mix is also suitable for this; no change in cooking time.
10. Once the ice cream cones are cooled completely, pipe soft serve style swirls on the cake, making it look like ice
Olivia C Enea-Brain is a Melbourne mum of two with a passion for making cooking fun www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au
Reality Bites
Inside Olivia’s House of White Motherhood and lifestyle blogger OLIVIA WHITE is honest, daring and ambitious. She’s experienced and achieved incredible things since starting her popular blog House of White. The Victorian mother-of-two has amassed more than 150,000 followers on Instagram where she shares the raw and sometimes unglamorous realities of parenting. Here, Kids Today editor MELISSA GRANT speaks to the digital creator about birthing, her journey on social media and what she’s learned about motherhood. Olivia White with her daughters Annabelle and Theodora.
First things first, how did House of White start? I started it not long after I had Annabelle. My background was in PR (public relations). I had previously worked for Racing Victoria - I ran their fashion blog for fashions on the field and stuff like that. And I’ve always been a keen photographer. So I sort of decided I would start something while I was on maternity leave, with no real intention of it being anything. It was a blog before it was an Instagram. It naturally progressed and grew from there. You have two beautiful girls, Annabelle (7) and Theodora (5). Tell us about their births. They were two very different birth experiences. Annabelle was an emergency cesarean. I went in to be induced on her due date because I was starting to get what’s called PUPPPS my skin started to get really hot and itchy. I was in the public system - the care that they had at the time was pro-natural birth. I went in on a Friday night to be induced. I had the gel. I started getting contractions but nothing too much. They applied the gel again on Saturday morning. And again on Saturday evening. So the whole time I was labouring. On Sunday morning it still hadn’t really progressed, so they decided to break my waters and put me on the drip. They usually say that when you have the drip it will be a maximum of a few hours. But at 10 o’clock that night I was still on the drip. I had an epidural, thankfully because they were really intense contractions. In the space of about 12 hours of being on the drip, I had only progressed to like 4cm. So then they made the decision to do a cesarean. In the space of about 10 minutes from them casually deciding they were going to do that to actually getting wheeled down there, her heart rate dropped. They didn’t even have time to give me a spinal (block) - they just topped up the epidural. It was all a blur because I had been in labour for three days. It would have been maybe five minutes before midnight that I had her. She was so high and so stuck that I remember the anesthetist coming over the top of me and having to actually push down to get her out. She had already started www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au
screaming before they got her out. After that it was all such a blur … I was so exhausted. They took her to the special care nursery because I couldn’t stay awake. I pretty much lost consciousness. Then the next day I was demanding to leave - I didn’t want to be in a hospital anymore. Overall that experience definitely wasn’t what I expected. I think because they allowed me to go for so long, it was a really long recovery as well which sucked because I felt I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t hold her. I couldn’t have those moments because I was so exhausted emotionally, physically. But then when I had Ted (Theodora), I put my foot down - I wasn’t prepared to go through that again. I elected to have a planned cesarean. I pretty much went in at 8 o’clock and had a baby by 8.15. It was a much better experience, it was much better for my recovery. It was much better for my mental health. After you had Teddy, you posted a picture of your raw c-section scar. Why did you think it was important to post that picture? It was probably about a year later that I posted it. It was a photo I took to send to a girlfriend. Most of my friends don’t have kids and the girlfriend who I sent it to didn’t. I sent it to show her that it (c-section) isn’t the easy way out. Even when it is a planned cesarean you still can’t get up and walk for at least 12 hours or until the next day. You’ve basically had layers and layers of flesh, muscle and organs moved out of the way. I think because I elected to have the caesar that second time, I did cop a bit of judgment. And subsequently having a profile on social media you always get those questions - do you regret not trying to have a vaginal birth? How do you feel that you’ve never birthed a baby properly, was something that was said to me. I was like, well there’s not really a proper way. It was a way to connect with those people who have experienced the same thing. It’s not necessarily easier. You share some incredibly raw moments of your life. How important is it to be honest on Instagram, a medium
Pictures: Sarah Harris Photography
where it’s easy to fake perfection? I definitely think that in the space that I’m in, and obviously having respect for the audience that I have, which is largely women and mums, is that we already have so many pressures that we put on ourselves, that society puts on us, expectations and all that stuff. It is an effort to fake perfection, to act like everything is fine when it’s not. I’ve always shown the raw side of life, even sharing my recent surgery, including the actual procedure. And I wanted to give a real-time experience to my audience, and not just the highlight reel. You have done some pretty cool posts and you’ve had some good partnerships over time. You’ve done posts on Disney, 6ft6 Wine and Woolworths - it must be a lot of fun doing that? I count my blessings everyday that I have been able to turn something that was essentially a hobby and a means to help me with my own mental health into a full-time job that allows me to be at home with my kids, provide income for my family and, on top of that - the cherry on the cake - is that we have these amazing opportunities that are real once in a lifetime sorts of things that a lot of people wouldn’t get the opportunity to do. I grew up with a single mum and even though we didn’t have much money, I never knew or felt like that because we had such a rich life growing up, rich full of experience. We travelled - it wasn’t always international, it could have been just a couple of kilometres down the road, but I feel my mum did whatever she could to create opportunity and experience. And I feel that’s exactly what I’m doing now for my own children. Your husband Jeremy is featured in quite a few of your posts. How did you meet? We’ve been together for 16 years, nearly 17 years now. We actually met when I was underage and had a fake ID, getting into a nightclub at 3 o’clock in the morning on King Street. It’s definitely one to tell the grandkids! I definitely did not tell my mum that for like 10 years! Motherhood is a fun and challenging journey. What have you learned so far? As time goes on, when you are in the thick of it with babies and newborns and
Olivia with her girls Annabelle and Theodora.
all of that haze that comes with it, people say to you ‘enjoy these moments, they go past before you know it in a blink of an eye, don’t wish it away’. I’m like ‘please shut up!’ But now I am that mum. Now Annabelle and Teddy are in school I’m the one telling everyone ‘it goes past so quickly, in the blink of an eye they’re not babies anymore’. The one thing I’ve learnt is that no one knows - nobody has all the answers. You can buy all the books, read all the blogs, and follow all the people on Instagram, but there will never be two alike journeys. So while I think it’s fantastic that more people are becoming more honest and sharing online, and showing the realities of real motherhood, you still have to take everything with a grain of salt and understand that no one else that no one else’s experiences or journeys are going to be collectively the same as yours. You just need to be a lot easier on yourself and have that understanding that what’s happening to you isn’t the same thing that’s happening to someone else, or how you feel or react to something isn’t going to be the same as someone else does. Just as all children are different, we learn differently, grow differently. That’s the understanding that I finally came to one day - the switch kind of flicked for me. Check out Olivia on Instagram @ houseofwhite_ and online at https:// houseofwhite.com.au Spring 2021 25
Reality Bites
Katrina with her kids Eva and Billie.
Picture: Rob Carew
Goodbye is the hardest word By Melissa Meehan NO parent should have to say goodbye to their child. But Katrina Jenkinson has had to say goodbye four times. She’s lucky enough to have two healthy daughters, Ava and Billie.
baby,” Katrina said. “It wasn’t worth living for us if we didn’t have one.” Katrina said she just needed to be pregnant. It was the only thing that helped her survive. She became pregnant 12 weeks later.
But that doesn’t take away the sadness of her losses.
“I think I just existed for nine months - I just sat there and waited, and waited,” she said.
The 35-year-old Melbourne mum her husband, Brad, started trying for a baby as soon as they got married.
“We had genetic testing done, so we knew we were all clear – but it was a long pregnancy.”
They were excited to find out they were expecting their first in 2014.
And so, by miracle, Eva was born on the night before what would have been Hamish’s first birthday.
“The 12 week scan was perfect, but the 20 week scan showed an obstruction in the bowel of the baby,” Katrina told Kids Today. “They did a heap of testing and said he’d be transferred to the Royal Children’s Hospital when he was born and have surgery to remove it and he’d be home with us four weeks later.” Hamish was delivered at 37 weeks. He was transferred straight to hospital as planned when he was six days old, they did his surgery as planned, but after six weeks nothing had changed. “He wasn’t getting any better,” Katrina said. “So they did another surgery to find out what was going on. “But the surgeon came out half way during his operation and said there was absolutely nothing he could do because his obstructions were there again and assumed it was genetic.” Hamish passed away the next day. He was just six weeks old. His death destroyed both Katrina and Brad. Their eldest son had suffered from a really rare genetic condition called TTC7. It causes bowel obstructions. “After we had his funeral, all we could think about was having another 26 Spring 2021
She’s now five years old, healthy and not a carrier of the genetic condition that claimed the life of her brother. That condition is so rare that there are only two other families in Australia with it. Years went by and while so grateful for having Ava in their lives, Katrina and Brad decided to try for their third baby in 2018. They were over the moon to find out they were pregnant with twins. But genetic testing found that one of the twins was found to have the condition. The decision was made to end Sadie’s life at 16 weeks to save the life of their daughter Billie, who is now two. “I’ve always tried to prepare myself and think of ways to get through especially waiting for these results, but at the time when you’re told, you just get destroyed, absolutely distraught and it’s just so hard to get through,” Katrina said. “But at that time I was lucky enough to have one healthy twin to focus on, but there was a big risk of losing her as well so it was a very stressful time and there’s just nothing you can do to get through it really you just have to actually just push on.” Katrina carried Sadie and Billie before giving birth to both of them at 35 weeks.
“I think the processing came later on, which I thought would happen at the time but so much is happening,” Katrina said. “When you deliver a baby and there’s so much excitement, so much joy from yourself and your family. “And I think it came, you know, a few days later. That’s when it really hit me that I lost her because there was so much to do with that, you know, signing paperwork for her and all these things realising you’ve just got the one.” Obviously so grateful to have Billie, Katrina said it was a really hard time. “I cried. I felt so much pain throughout my body all of the times that I received bad news or a loss, it was just really hard to pick myself up out of that dark place,” she said. “But you’ve got this baby that is relying on you. They are the ones to keep you going.” The plan was always to have three living children. So Katrina and Brad tried for another. They became pregnant during the 2020 lockdown but kept the news to themselves. The scans were perfect, so perfect in fact that the head of obstetrics made a special visit to tell Katrina how perfect her baby was looking. “We did the testing, and I think that was probably the rudest shock I’ve ever received in my life and she was actually affected by the gene,” she said. “So, last year in lockdown, you know, all by myself, no partner allowed in the hospital, basically, I had to go and have Stella at 16 weeks.” The pandemic made the situation so much worse. She couldn’t have Brad’s support in hospital and couldn’t even go and have coffee with a friend to debrief afterwards. “That was probably the worst I was last year I think in June, it was the lowest I’ve ever felt,” she said.
“And probably because of the lockdown to I guess it was just a big shock.” Katrina then started to work on herself. She knew she needed to get into a positive mindset if they were to try again. They tried again and she became pregnant in December 2020. And in February this year they got the news that the baby was affected with the condition again. And she had to have Quinn at 16 weeks. “It was still overwhelming, but I think that I had worked on myself so much, I had come a long way because I used to think this was happening for a reason,” she said. “That I had done something wrong, so I was being punished. But now I know that it is not true. And these things just happen. “So I think I was able to handle it a little better.” Katrina and her family remember Hamish, Sadie, Stella and Quinn on a daily basis. “We celebrate their birthdays, especially Hamish, because he was here and he lived and we have all of his stuff still,’ she said. “And we love to take part in Run for the Kids and the Good Friday Appeal. “We love raising money, because we feel something good is coming out of our heartache.” They also have a garden at home that’s dedicated to the children who aren’t here. There’s a plaque with their names and it’s a spot they can go to think about them. “It has been such a rollercoaster, I feel like I have literally cried for six years,” she said. “I’m hoping for some light at the end of this tunnel.” www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au
Reality Bites
TV spotlight on Auskicker By Luke Voogt TEESDALE Auskicker Sienna Campbell dreams of one day playing for her beloved Geelong Cats. “That would be awesome! I’ll have to do lots of practice though,” the sevenyear-old mused. And Sienna has a chance to learn from the best, Cats captain Joel Selwood, after appearing on national television during the MelbourneBrisbane clash in June. She spoke to Channel 7 presenter Hamish McLachlan in a pre-recorded interview – over Zoom due to Covid-19 restrictions – before watching herself on TV at half-time. “It was funny, because I’ve never seen myself on TV,” she said. “I really enjoyed talking to Hamish and I wish it went for longer, as we had so much to talk about.” As a weekly nominee for AFL
Auskicker of the Year, Sienna is set to present a medal to a premiershipwinning player on grand final day. If she wins the competition she will have Selwood, one of her four favourite players, as her personal footy mentor for 2022. “He’s always getting hurt because he plays so good,” she said. She also hopes to meet Tom Hawkins “because he kicks lots of goals”, “uncle Jake’s favourite player” Jeremy Cameron and Irishman Zach Tuohy. “He has the same name as my brother and he’s got a funny accent,” she said. If her passion for Auskick is anything to go by, she might end up streaming down the midfield or kicking goals for Geelong one day. “I like to kick goals, and tackling and running with the ball,” she said. “I get to learn new skills at Auskick and… have fun with my friends.”
Teesdale Auskicker of the Year nominee Sienna Campbell.
Picture: AFL Photos
All the way from Italy - with love By Melissa Meehan A summer fling turned into life and babies on the other side of the globe for Adriana Saraga. Adriana from Andezeno in north west Italy, met her now partner Peter when he visited her small village to attend a friend’s wedding. The groom was Adriana’s cousin. She was one of few people who spoke English, albeit self-taught from watching Disney movies. They fell in love, she moved to Australia and now the Melbourne couple have two young children together. “It was supposed to be a summer adventure kind of thing,” she laughs. “Before we knew we were in a little bit of trouble because we fell in love straight away.” But after a long chat with her mum, Adriana knew it was meant to be. So she made the almost 15,000km journey knowing no one but Peter. In the month before she left, she spent weeks on YouTube to try and learn more about Australia. “It was scary at first, but it’s great,” she said.
Adriana Saraga and Peter O’Brien with children Ava, 2, and Joey, 9 months.
Sadly, due to Covid-19 and border restrictions Adriana hasn’t been able to see her family but keeps in touch regularly.
“He’s an amazing person. It’s been really hard with Covid-19 not seeing my family and he’s been so understanding.”
Adriana, who has recently been granted her permanent visa, says Australia is where she plans to raise the kids.
Her mum was lucky enough to visit and offer support after the birth of their first child, Ava – who is now two.
“For us, we plan to stay here – there are more opportunities for the whole family here,” she said.
But she couldn’t bear to be there for the actual birth.
“As much as I love my family and my country, this is the place for us.”
“She thought she couldn’t handle seeing me in pain, but it was great to have her here,” Adriana said.
There are some very big and some other subtle differences about growing up in Italy compared to Australia.
www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au
For instance, Adriana grew up surrounded by a huge family by Australian standards. She was the eldest of more than 20 cousins, so had a lot of practice babysitting. In her village, made up of only 2000 people, everyone knew each other. Ava and Joey, who is nine-monthsold, will learn to speak Italian too. Adriana already speaks to Ava in Italian when they are alone, but in English when Peter is around because he doesn’t understand Italian. “There are a few words she can swap
Picture: Rob Carew
easily between Italian and English. She knows she needs to speak Italian when on phone with Nonna and when she talks to my brother,” she said. “And the way she says words in Italian - there’s a little bit of an accent, which is the cutest thing.” For now, while the borders are closed, she’ll have to rely on video calls and her small Australian village, made up of friends from her mother’s group, organised by her local council. “They have been fantastic, we still catch up now and it’s been such a great support for me. Some really great girls and friendships.” Spring 2021 27
Reality Bites
‘The not so perfect mum’ Anna with children Rachel, 18 months, Dominic, 5, and Reuben, 3.
Pictures: Rob Carew
She’s not so perfect, but that’s reality By Melissa Meehan
them for them and I said, ‘absolutely I can make them for you’,” she said.
ANNA Du Rieu is not your average influencer.
“And I realised there was a business there - there was nothing similar on the market at that time here or overseas.”
The Melbourne mum of three actually tells it how it is and gives a warts and all view into the world of parenting. “I run a blog, obviously, that is an honest parenting blog, and it shows my everyday life,” she told Kids Today. “It’s none of these organised messfree, clean floors kind of gig, it’s the mayhem of every day, which I think is why I have such a following, because it is so brutally honest.” The self-proclaimed “hot mess” uses her aptly named Instagram page @ thenotsoperfectmum, to share her experiences with her almost 60,000 followers. She’s got followers from all around Australia, but the majority are from Victoria. Anna is a typical modern-age stay at home mum, she works from home and looks after her three kids, Dominic, 5, Reuben, 3, and eight-month-old Rachel. She runs a business creating sensory kits for kids, which she started two years ago after posting some of the activities she was doing with her own kids online. “Everyone used to ask what I was doing, where I saw stuff from, and then a few people were asking me to make 28 Spring 2021
She and her husband Joseph even joked that she might get 10 orders a month and she could just buy a little extra when she made stuff for her own kids. They assumed it would be a hobby. She set up the website and shared the post on her Instagram. “It went nuts, like actually gangbusters from the moment we launched. Within 15 minutes of me launching the post on Instagram I had 17 subscription models already purchased,” she said. “It was hilarious. We couldn’t believe it.” And it hasn’t stopped since. It’s a lot of work, especially juggling three kids. And, thanks to Covid-19 (and Anna’s propensity to be a bit of a control freak) she no longer can rely on staff. On the flip side, Covid-19 resulting in a huge increase in sales. “Every time Australia got locked down, it was just madness. I can’t remember the exact figures, Joseph said it was something like four or five times what I would usually get in a month in
Anna at home in the kitchen with her three kids.
a day,” she said. “People were locked in their houses and needed something to stimulate the kids.” While she worked in real estate before having kids, Anna has no real teaching background but was able to bounce her ideas off her best friend (who is a teacher) as well as pick the brains of family members. “My step mum was a teacher, my mum, my mother-in-law, and my Auntie, are both heavily involved in child education,” she said. “My grandmother and my Nana actually brought in the Montessori School in South Australia. “And the Montessori school logo that’s my brother’s hands.” She plans to go back and do some further study as her passion grows. But it hasn’t been an easy ride.
“I was working until like three or 4am in the morning and then the kids would wake up at six,” she said. “Joseph would ask what time I came to bed and I wouldn’t have.” But she has worked at finding a better balance. “It was really overwhelming but it was also, for me, having been a mum and going from a pretty corporate position where I was organising people’s lives. I was used to always been busy so I kind of missed that, and really stimulated me and I actually found that I became a better mum because I had a distraction from cleaning nappies and doing the dishwasher,” she said. “I had my own thing and I could work from home and it just worked. It’s definitely not for everyone because it’s, it’s a lot like you don’t sleep and your house is always full of stock.” www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au
And that’s all part of her charm. Anna’s followers can resonate with the fact that her house isn’t always clean, that she’s exhausted and trying to balance a billion things - just like most other mums. It’s quite the departure from your more well-known mummy bloggers - and it’s on purpose. “If you’re a first time mum, it’s quite isolating actually seeing all these people like absolutely killing it and having babies and sleep, and all that stuff,” she said. “I actually started my account, because Dominic was the worst sleeper. “He used to not sleep longer than 40 minutes for the first hour. I think it was like 10 months of his life. It was horrible.” She took him to sleep school and found it traumatic. “I read a post by quite a well-known media person who had pretty much said that if you went to sleep school you were a s#!@ mum,” Anna said. “So I commented, I really like following this account but I don’t think its fair to say that someone is a crap mum because they want their kids to sleep - sleep deprivation is actually a form of torture. “I thought I was super chill, very measured - but she and her minions came after me and I thought this isn’t fair.” So Anna started her own Instagram page solely to balance the negative and fake things out there. And that’s where the name @ thenotsoperfect mum came from. She started with a small following, but it soon grew into something much bigger. At the start she shared everything, but as it grew she became more mindful
Parents Anna and Joseph with children Dominic, 5, Rachel, 18 months and Reuben, 3.
of her influence and other people’s headspace. “I try not to let that stuff impact what I’m sharing but say for example, you know, like I’m really careful about not sharing any of the kids in like a private environment so like I would never show them with no clothes on, or if it’s an intimate moment like they’re having a breakdown or something like that,” she said.
“I need to respect my children’s boundaries and their life, and I would hate for them to turn around when they’re 15 and be like, why the hell did you show that.” It also opens her up to others providing commentary on her life. Some accuse her of favouring her youngest, Rachel, although as the boys get older Anna is making a conscious effort not to have the camera constantly
in their faces. “Next year when Dom goes to school, he’ll go off the blog, even more because I need to respect that I don’t want people knowing where he goes to school,” she said. “I try not to let those comments change my content because if what I’m posting isn’t authentic then people pick up on it straight away. “It’s my life and it can be messy.”
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Spring 2021 29
Books
A wild way to read By Melissa Grant IF your child is obsessed with animals, then the new interactive book by Australian zoologist and TV presenter Chris Humfrey is a must-have. Dubbed as Australia’s own Doctor Dolittle, Chris is a leading expert on native creatures big and small. His book, Awesome Australian Animals, offers amazing insights into a number of species through quirky facts (such as koalas poop 200 times a day) and QR codes linking to fun educational videos. Small children will love the wealth of exciting and funny photos, primary school kids can read at their own pace, and older children can dive into deeper levels of intriguing detail. Profiled animals include the koala, lace monitor, giant burrowing cockroach, saltwater crocodile, shingleback and jungle carpet python. Awesome Australian Animals is the latest venture from the lifelong conservationist and animal welfare crusader. Chris has an animal sanctuary, Wild Action Zoo, in the Macedon Ranges, which houses many rare native species including penguins, tiger quolls, snakes and even blue-ringed octopus.
He lives in a house designed for people and animals, which he describes as “unusual”.
blue-tongued lizard to give birth. I watched the whole process, it was awesome!”
“Currently, I have two joey kangaroos sleeping on my couch, two parrots walking over my laptop, 55 critically endangered mountain pygmy possums in my laundry/wine cellar, two black-headed pythons on the lounge room floor, two sheep sitting on the back veranda, two possums in the garage, an Eastern quoll and a koala and an owl in the garage. It’s bedlam!” he said.
Amazingly, Chris still has some animal friends from his childhood, including Freddo the green tree frog which he found sticking to a urinal at a public toilet block.
Chris’s passion for animals big and small stems from his childhood. He grew up in the foothills of Mount Dandenong, with his family’s backyard bordering onto the bush. “I spent most of my youth jumping the backyard fence and exploring and interacting with local wildlife,” he said. “I would spend the day chasing lizards, snakes, and frogs and only came home for dinner. I had hundreds of pets with which I lovingly shared my life. “My mum helped me rescue and rehabilitate possums and injured birds and my dad built me a purpose-built insulated reptile house. “I vividly remember sleeping outside in the reptile shed, waiting for my
Chris is “super pumped” about his new book, which took him almost a year to put together. He had to write the text, film the clips and take the photos.
Chris Humphrey loves all creatures big and small.
Chris believes kids are the key to saving Australia’s precious wildlife and, through his book, aims to empower a young army of animal allies. “We must teach children the importance of protecting all creatures, not just their favourites,” he said. “I hope that my enthusiasm and passion for all things wild is contagious, and rubs off on the reader.” Chris Humfrey’s Awesome Australian Animals, Reed New Holland, an imprint of New Holland Publishers, RRP $19.99, available from all good book retailers or online, www.newhollandpublishers.com
Children’s books...
Chatterpuss
Backyard Birdies
Josh Pyke Illustrated by Daron Parton
Andy Geppert
THIS fun picture book from singer songwriter Josh Pyke is about a cat who just loves to chat. The problem is her friend Glen the Hen just wants some peace and quiet. Chatterpuss’s incessant chatter is a problem in class and during games of hide and seek. One day Glen cracks it - but just as he begins to enjoy some quiet time a bully emerges and he discovers that having a loud friend can be helpful! With rhyming text and colourful illustrations, this book is great for kids aged 3+ Scholastic Australia, RRP $17.99
THIS new title is somewhat of a factual introduction to Australia’s most common backyard birds for kids who are ‘birdie’ obsessed. The book even features the giant inflatable swan commonly found in backyard pools! Also kookaburras don’t actually laugh at everyone’s jokes. And why are common pigeons common? The book was born after the author found himself attaching personalities to each bird he and his young daughter saw in their backyard. An entertaining read full of personality and humour plus a host of bright and bold illustrations.
Meet Ella Spotty Puppy Rebecca McRitchie and Danielle McDonald ELLA from the best-selling Ella and Olivia franchise has her own series! Meet Ella is a series of books based on Ella during her first years at school. The first instalment, Spotty Puppy, is a cute read about six-year-old Ella trying to reunite a lost pup with its owner even though she really wants to keep him. The second instalment, New Teacher, has also been released. With simple vocabulary and a large to read font, the series is perfect for kids aged 5+. Scholastic Australia, RRP $7.99
Skin Deep
Bella the Brave
Hayley Lawrence A compelling novel that follows the journey of a young girl named Scarlett who is badly burnt in an accident, and must come to terms with her new appearance and physical limitations. Scarlett is desperate to escape the modern world for the desolate and isolated Matilda Mountain. However, in the wilderness she ends up finding unexpected friends who challenge her ideas about perfection and her place in the world. This insightful book gently explores relevant themes for tweens and teens including trauma, beauty, self-worth, family and friendship.
Rebel Wilson
For kids aged 11+.
Illustrated by Annabel Tempest Aussie movie star Rebel Wilson is releasing a picture book series to inspire young kids. Bella the Brave stems from Rebel’s journey from shy girl in Sydney’s western suburbs to international movie star. Bella is a girl who has much to say but is too shy. But when Bella’s mum brings her to the local choir it may just be her time to shine. Rebel says the stories in her series are picked from personal experiences where she learned valuable life lessons. Bella the Brave is due for release on October 27. Hachette Australia, RRP $19.99
Scholastic Australia, RRP $15.99 Hachette Australia, RRP $19.99 30 Spring 2021
www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au
Kids Calendar
What's on this spring
More info: http://www. parkinsonswalkgeelong.com.au
entertainment show before the walk around the lake, plus a variety of food vans on site.
10 OCTOBER
If Covid-19 restrictions are enforced, then the walk will become a virtual walk.
BOTANIC GARDENS OPEN DAY
8.30am-1.30pm, Albert Park Lake
The Geelong Botanic Gardens is having an open day! This family-friendly and free event includes a book signing with Sally Leary, the author of Corio Bay Quest - a picture book that celebrates Geelong and features the gardens.
11-26 SEPTEMBER VICTORIA NATURE FESTIVAL The Nature Festival returns for its second year. Featuring more than 80 events and experiences, the festival is full of creative ways to connect with nature. You can get out and explore the wonders of Victoria’s nature or you can connect from your own home with live-streamed events and immersive videos. Go on a bush walk, learn from Traditional Owners about Caring for Country and join exciting panel events. Each event and experience will comply with Covid Safe settings. All events will be hosted on the Victoria Together platform. More info: https://www.together.vic. gov.au/victoria-nature-festival
12 SEPTEMBER
Local historian, author and ex curator of the Geelong Botanic Gardens, Ian Rogers, will also be signing his new book and taking garden tours. The day also includes guided walks, the opportunity to meet Botanic Gardens volunteers, behind scenes tours, book sales and plant sales. Dogs on a lead are welcome.
Titled Spirit of Place, this year’s event will explore the deep connections to nature, history and community – place.
The LSB is a free, unticketed event that runs along Lorne’s foreshore. For more information, visit www.lornesculpture. com and follow LSB on Instagram @ lornesculpture.
DISNEY - THE ART OF ANIMATION Discover the creativity and innovation of almost 100 years of Disney Animation in ACMI’s latest Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition This exhibition contains original sketches and rare artworks from 1928 to the present day. See over 500 artworks from your favourite animations, and step inside a scene from the Disney classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. ACMI, Swanston Street and Flinders Street, Melbourne
www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au
After a three-year hiatus, Lorne is again staging the iconic Lorne Sculpture Biennale (LSB). Under new artistic direction, the new look Biennale remains a free, curated event not to be missed.
UNTIL 17 OCTOBER
Join this 2km walk to raise awareness and funds to support people living with Parkinson’s Disease.
Cost is $20 an adult, $15 Concession, $5 per child, $40 family (2 adults and up to three children), children under 5 are free.
LORNE SCULPTURE BIENNALE
It will feature a range of styles including performance art, soundscapes, interactive and kinetic displays, all with sculpture at its heart.
Tickets $17-$26.
9.30am-12pm, Eastern Park Circuit Geelong
30 OCTOBER - 21 NOVEMBER
Geelong Botanic Gardens, Corner Podbury and Eastern Park Drives, East Geelong
A WALK IN THE PARK GEELONG
The walk acknowledges the 27,000 people in Victoria living with Parkinson’s and raises money to support the work of Parkinson’s Victoria.
For tickets and more info, visit https:// www.walkforprems.org.au/events/5/ walk-together-melbourne-
For more info or tickets, visit https:// www.acmi.net.au/
24 OCTOBER WALK FOR PREMS Enjoy a great family day out at Melbourne’s flagship Walk for Prems event at Albert Park Lake. There will be a free live children’s
26-28 NOVEMBER GEELONG REVIVAL MOTORING FESTIVAL Rev-heads big and small will love this action packed motoring festival, held on Geelong’s picturesque waterfront. Over three days, see the huge motor show, exhibits, entertainment, food trucks, personalities and more. The Geelong waterfront will be covered with over 600 quirky, valuable and fascinating vehicles. Celebrations kick-off with the Friday Night Cruise, featuring over 300 vehicles. There will also be classic boats, vintage trucks and 4WDs displayed at the event. The Geelong Revival Motoring Festival is a free and ticketed event. More info: http://www.geelongrevival. com.au
6 NOVEMBER WHITE NIGHT Geelong will shine bright when White Night returns this year. Colourful projections and installations will bring the city’s streets, laneways and parks to life, and transform the Geelong foreshore.
ALL SPRING SHRINE KIDS
The program will capitalise on what makes Geelong unique and elevate the city’s cultural and gastronomic credentials, as well as its reputation for design and rich music scene.
The Shrine of Remembrance is offering a free self-guided program for families with primary school-aged children. There are four different activity cards that provide a starting point for fresh perspectives of the Shrine. Kids are asked to consider and conjure their creative responses to a range of questions related to different aspects of the Shrine.
Free event at various locations in Central Geelong
Bookings not required. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
More info: http://www.whitenight.com. au
Shrine of Remembrance, Birdwood Ave, Melbourne
There will also be music, performance, art, culinary experiences, and interactive works from local, national, and international artists.
Spring 2021 31
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A beautiful place to call home Welcome to your new home at Armstrong Green by RCA Villages. Spacious and light-filled, our modern, coastalstyle residences offer all the creature comforts, so you can enjoy a stress-free retirement. Designed to flow with the natural surroundings, there are several contemporary residences to choose from. All our beautiful homes feature two bedrooms, a study open plan living and north facing courtyards. How could you not love coming home every day?
Prices valid date. Prices validatatpublication publication date.
WIR
THE BARWON VILLA
Display suite open seven days. 10am–4pm Villa 2, 722–742 Barwon Heads Road, Armstrong Creek 3217 12505618-DL35-21
Freecall: 1800 777 898
armstronggreen.com.au
For more information about our range of retirement communities visit: rcavillages.com.au 32 Spring 2021
www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au