Kids Voice August 2013

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Photography tips - Tragedy highlights water safety - Mums helping mums Kids and technology - Sandboarders damage dunes - Tackling diabetes and obesity

Y O U R F R E E PA R E N T I N G M A G A Z I N E F O R T H E G E E L O N G R E G I O N

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IT’S been great to see so many children involved in sport, from football, to ballet to Spartan Races!

On the flip side, it’s also been great to see so many sporting stars take the time to meet and have their photo taken with their little admirers.

This month we feature a very honest and confronting story written by mum Tracey Paech, whose daughter Ariel sadly drowned in the family bath.

Tracey shares her story to highlight the importance of water safety. I don’t think there will be many

parents left unmoved by this tragic story.

We also feature some photography tips to help you capture your children’s precious moments.

We hope this information will give you some inspiration and ideas on how to snap some colourful and creative pics.

You will have to check out our letters page this month for our very first comic strip! Sam Hines, who is only nine, created the cartoon.

He finds the pastime fun and it lets him be creative.

Good work Sam! Leopold mum, Melissa Wray, shares her story about how her dream of becoming a published author came true.

She says she wrote her book when she could find the time, which was usually late at night when the kids were asleep!

This month I would like to introduce our two poster kiddies, Haydn and Maeleigh.

Haydn, 10, is a Demons Junior Member and got his photo taken with Dees captain, Jack Grimes, after they bet GWS Giants at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

For his birthday in June, Haydn got a birthday card from Jack when he was part of the Guard of Honour for a match and at a recent footy clinic Jack made a point of chatting to Haydn about his birthday and how his footy was going at South Barwon.

Meanwhile, Maeleigh got the chance to meet her idol Paul Chapman. What a lovely photo!

We hope you enjoy this edition, thanks for reading!

Bec Launer EDITOR

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Kids’ Voic e Team Elisha Lindsay Photography

d... l r o w e h to t Welcome

Kids’ Voice is a monthly publication for parents with children of all ages. Each month the magazine will be jam-packed with news, views, reader stories, feature articles, advice columns as well as product, book and website reviews.

There will be something for everyone.

Experts have joined our team and will provide regular columns to ensure you’re in the know about all sorts of issues in the areas of health, education and alternative therapies.

Aylah Victoria McPherson 08/07/13 First child for Tim and Maree

EDITOR

Indiana Rose Walker 21/06/13 Daughter for Jayde and Josh

BUSINESS MANAGER

Rebecca Launer editor@kidsvoice.com.au

Katie Fiorillo Photography

Michele MItten

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Cath Dunning 0448 077 021 cath@kidsvoice.com.au STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Alan Barber GRAPHICS

Elise Blach

PO Box 54, Ocean Grove Victoria, 3226 Phone; 03 5255 3233 Fax: 03 5255 3255 Find us on Facebook facebook.com/Kids Voice Geelong COVER MODEL

Serena Cullum

No part of this magazine, including the advertisements, may be reproduced without permission of the editor.

The opinions expressed within Kids’ Voice magazine are not necessarily the views of the publisher, but those of individual writers.

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C o n t e nts

FEATURES

10 Tips to help capture the perfect pic

SCHOOLS IN FOCUS

11 Buckingham Street Early Learning Centre 12 Ocean Grove Primary School 13 The Geelong College

KIDS’ CORNER

14 Kids and their sports, pets and just being adorable!

LETTERS & ADVICE

15 Have your say and keep up-to-date with parenting news and issues

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10 READER STORIES

7 Why Marinda’s phone can wait 8 Bath tragedy renews awareness 16 James lends a hand to help poor 17 Mum proves dreams can come true 19 Mums helping other mums in need 23 Toggling being a parent and a friend 24 Family unites for Zimbabwe trip

TECHNOLOGY

22 What our own kids can teach us

HOSPITAL

25 The best but hardest job in the world

COOKING CREATIONS 30 Sausage rolls

HEALTH

COASTAL WATCH

BIRTH STORY

WHAT’S ON

18 How to tackle diabetes from 27 Sandboarders are damaging dunes the get go 20 Sarah fulfils dream of babies and career

31 Events happening in the Geelong region

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R e ad e r S t o ry

Why Marinda’s phone can wait MARINDA SMITH is a busy mum to three gorgeous children... under three! She shares a typical chaotic-filled day in her life...

I

HAVE a three-year-old and sevenmonth-old twins.

All are girls and all are big eaters. From the day they learned to eat, none of them have stopped.

Don’t get me wrong - I’m grateful. No one is fussy and we won’t have to worry about eating disorders in our family.

But if they are not fed immediately at the “hmm, I’m starting to get hungry” stage, within seconds they rapidly descend into the “I am ravenous, feed me now or I will scream myself to death” stage.

As any mother will tell you organisation, prioritisation and routine are an essential part of parenting young children.

Here is what happens on an ordinary day when you deviate from that much needed structure by a few teensy minutes.

7.30am: I get up and head for the bathroom. Before rushing off to work daddy tries to help start the day by dressing the twins.

When I return I discover that not only do clothes not match, but they are inside out, back to front and one twin has mittens on her feet.

I spend precious minutes redressing them as they scream at the injustice of being made to disrobe twice before breakfast.

Then I feed them. They will be happy for roughly the next four hours. Today’s plan is to shower, have brekkie, drive into town to buy groceries when the twins wake up from their morning nap and be home to feed everybody by midday.

With satisfied tummies all three youngsters will then descend into a blissful two hour sleep so I can have some mummy time on the computer. But as is often the case with three under three, things don’t go to plan.

8.20am: Feed toddler breakfast and with her safely ensconced in front of kids TV channel and twins kicking on toy mat. Have a quick shower and put washing on.

9am: Put twins down for morning nap. So far so good.

9:30am: I try to dress toddler, who resists with all her might. TV switched off. Amid screams and wrestles, toddler is dressed, hair is brushed and teeth are cleaned. TV back on. I throw nappy bag and shopping bags in the car.

10am: Shovel down some cereal. Right on cue the twins wake up. I throw everyone in the car and head into town for grocery shopping. We are on our way.

Thankfully staff at the local Woollies know me and my brood and are very helpful ie they help me rush.

We finish shopping a whole ten minutes earlier than expected so I decide to take toddler to the park. For. Ten. Minutes. Only.

Forgot that. Ten minutes of playing is inevitably followed by 20 minutes of negotiating the return to car. By the time we make it back to the car, babies are no longer interested in their pram or colourful bouncy toys. They have one thought in their collective minds. HUNGER! I have left it too late and we are not even home yet. I throw pram and blankets into the car, strap small children into seats and put my foot on the accelerator.

But it is already too late. It’s only a 10

minute drive home but it may as well be an hour. As soon as the first twin is out of the car and on the play mat the crying starts.

By the time I return with the second twin, the first twin is bawling. The second twin immediately sympathises with the first twin and joins in screaming at the same pitch.

Toddler sees her sisters’ screams as attention taken from her, so joins the fray by complaining loudly (over the top of the other two) how hungry she is.

There is no time to get groceries out of the car. A frantic round of nappy changing ensues. Food is the order of the day.

Both babies are now in Bumbos (baby seats) with bibs on. Bottles of boiled water and entrees of starvation prevention rusks are provided. Babies are quiet for roughly one minute.

Nowhere near long enough to heat up two minute noodles for toddler, let alone mash different types of fruit for babies.

Three pairs of eyes bore into my back as I fill bowls and find spoons. As soon as noodles are placed in front of toddler, cries ring out - “but I want the princess bowl.” “Too bad it’s Dora or nothing” I yell above the babies’ screams.

I finally sit down with a baby on each side.

Sight of food bowl does nothing to reinforce the message that food is on its way.

In fact the babies get more anxious and start grunting as they jostle to get the first mouthful.

For a few minutes I do nothing but shovel mush into alternate mouths. Noise dies down slightly.

Until I hear the ‘ping’ of a fork hitting the floor. I look up just as toddler screams “the dog Mum, the dog is licking my fork!”

Which indeed he is. I drag myself off my chair with the protests of still-hungry twins ringing in my ears and wash the fork.

Jakara with her younger twin sisters Alira and Yuki. interest. The other twin has done a big poo which has escaped her nappy and is threatening to ooze onto the carpet. The phone rings.

Show me a mum and I’ll show you someone who is great at prioritising.

The dog is shooed out, the pooey baby is changed and the vomity one is in the queue. The phone is ignored.

With new clothes on, the babies are secured in bouncers while I take dirty clothes to the laundry.

For a few minutes I do nothing but shovel mush into alternate mouths. Noise dies down slightly. Until I hear the ‘ping’ of a fork hitting the floor. I look up just as toddler screams “the dog Mum, the dog is licking my fork!

Feeding continues until toddler announces that she needs to go to the toilet.

NOW! After a frantic discussion about why I can’t take her because I can’t leave the babies, she rushes off by herself.

Only to return a minute later with a roll of toilet paper and a request to wipe her bum.

I don’t want it all over the furniture, carpet and everything else she touches so I now HAVE to leave the babies.

I frantically pull twins out of Bumbos and sit them on the floor with toys and rush off to the bathroom with toddler.

While there I hear a cry from the lounge room so I hurriedly ensure that toddler pants are back on and hands are washed then return to discover that one baby has rolled onto her stomach and vomited her lunch onto the floor.

The dog is displaying an unhealthy

I am followed by a toddler stuck on repeat telling me her hands are sticky, her hands are sticky, at increasing volume.

Sticky hands are cleaned. The babies are tired and want to sleep and are crying from the lounge room.

Toddler is now also overtired and in need of a nap and is crying to let me know.

I am almost crying too.

I sit on the couch, strip off my top half, surround myself with pillows and shove a baby’s head on each breast. There is momentary silence.

Until that is broken by my toddler rushing towards me crying “Mum I hurt my arm, I hurt my arm.”

I drag her onto the couch next to me and attempt to hug her over the top of one baby’s head. That baby screams in protest.

The other looks up from feeding and begins to cry in sympathy. Heads are hastily shoved back down and toddler told to

calm down and relax.

Finally the babies finish filling their tummies, are wrapped in blankets and put into beds.

The one who will take a dummy has it firmly in her mouth. Toddler is bouncing off the walls with exhaustion.

I grab her and head to the bedroom. The room is darkened and we lie on her bed reading her favourite story when I hear a cry from the babies’ room.

Loud inward sigh.

The dummy has fallen out. If I leave it cries will only get louder and probably wake sleeping sister, so I put the book down amid eldest daughter’s protests and put the dummy back in.

We finally finish the book and toddler falls into exhausted sleep. One down.

There is still crying from the babies’ room so I pick up the crier and rock her to sleep.

Two down.

I exchange the sleeping baby for her now awoken sister and rock her to sleep as well.

Once all three are in bed I sit at the kitchen table and think about what it might be like to eat lunch.

Exhaustedly I look at the clock and realise I only have about 15 minutes before toddler is due to wake up.

I scoff down a sandwich and with my last remaining energy reserves, I put the washing out.

Walking back inside the house I hear the familiar “Mum, Mum, I woke up” cry.

My much coveted peace is over until bed time.

With ten minutes before the twins are due to wake up I manage to put the dishes in the sink before the afternoon shift begins.

And people wonder why I never answer the phone!

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R e a de r S t o ry

Bath tragedy renews awareness Ariel Gowlett was just one year old when she tragically drowned in the bath at her family home.

Ariel’s mum, TRACEY PAECH, shares her story to highlight the importance of water safety.

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Ariel, 8 months, and Mercedes, 3, in 2006 on the slide.

T the time of writing this article I am approaching what would have been Ariel’s eighth birthday and also the seventh anniversary of her tragic death.

Ariel Gowlett was a local of the Bellarine and the daughter of myself and my husband John, who have now being living in the area for over ten years.

Ariel was our second child, another daughter and little sister to Mercedes, two years her senior.

It was such a relief when she arrived into our family as there was no way I wanted to go through any further pregnancies.

I am an insulin dependant, Type 1 diabetic and found pregnancy challenging to say the least.

I also developed post-traumatic stress after nearly bleeding out at Ariel’s birth, plus the wound from the Caesarean became infected, partially reopening and took months to heal.

I got myself organised with counselling, medication and a district nurse by the time Ariel was six weeks old and was being kind to myself, allowing myself to heal physically and mentally as best as one can with a new baby and a two year old!

Despite the challenges I had an awesome time being Ariel’s mum.

Having been a counsellor by profession I had heard many a regret from mums who could barely recall their children’s earliest years due to post-natal depression or other family stresses so it was imprinted upon me to soak in those early times.

I’m so glad to still be able to revel in memories of her emerging personality and her milestone achievements.

John suffers terribly from that lack of imprinting. He was busy focusing on Mercedes’ routines, while Ariel was mostly breast feeding or sleeping but he thought when she was older, they would have their time.

The day Ariel died was a Wednesday.

Both the girls were dropped at childcare in the morning. I was planning to return to part-time work so wanted to familiarise Ariel to childcare.

Just after 4.45pm I arrived to pick them up. I went to Mercedes’ room first as she always liked to be with me while getting Ariel.

We then got Ariel from her room. She was actually out in the yard sitting by the shed as the outside toys were being packed away.

Karly, her primary carer had a chat with me about Ariel’s movement (or lack thereof) as

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R e ad e r S t o ry she wasn’t on the move in a big way.

She had started ‘bum-shuffling’ at about 11 months otherwise was happy to sit.

I wasn’t concerned about this but said to Karly I would talk to the health nurse about it just to double check any potential problems as Ariel had her 12 month appointment booked in for Friday.

We walked in the door at home at about 5.15pm.

As soon as I walked in the door I put Ariel in her high chair, warmed her tea and started feeding it to her.

Mercedes was just hanging about for a little while happily entertaining herself.

John arrived home from work at about 5.30pm. Ariel could hear John’s keys jiggling in the door and started waving before she could even see him.

She also started doing a clicking sound with her tongue and the roof of her mouth when her Daddy was nearby.

John went up to the bedroom to get changed out of his work clothes and I then got some tea for Mercedes and prepared some soup for John and I to eat.

I then picked Ariel up and took her to the bathroom, set the heat temperature before running the water and undressed her as the water ran.

When the water was at the right temperature I put the plug in and sat her in the shallow water.

We had a hose with a shower head fitted to our bath tap as this helps me rinse the shampoo out of the girls’ hair and so this was laying on the floor of the bath with the water coming from it.

I did a quick mental check that Ariel had a couple of toys and that the water was fine and popped out of the bathroom to get her night nappy and pyjamas ready and put them on the lounge floor in front of the heater.

I had no idea that would be the last time I would see her alive.

It didn’t register in my mind that the tap was still running.

As the water was flowing quietly from the shower hose under the water it wasn’t overtly obvious, (and as I was trying to do a few things at once, in the rush, I failed to double check that the tap was turned off) pyjamas were dumped on the floor, the microwave was dinging away as my soup had heated

and as I was enroute back to the bathroom, John started telling me he wanted to go up to the shed to work on the car.

We were planning to leave for Queensland to celebrate Ariel’s first birthday in eight days time and John had been unwell and was keen to achieve a couple of tasks before we left.

Still recovering from PTS after Ariel’s birth, I was very anxious about him being out of the house when I was trying achieve the whole bathing feeding process with the kids and told him I would prefer him to wait until they had gone to bed in about an hour’s time.

I could hear Ariel singing and playing in the bath while our conversation became a little heated and my anxiety was rising.

I didn’t want to fight so I told him to go up to the bloody shed but that I wasn’t happy about it.

I lost track of time.

Right – now – back to Ariel I thought... hang on it’s all quiet. I couldn’t hear her anymore.

I ran to the bathroom, which is right by the kitchen, my instincts causing dread that I could feel in my lower abdomen and then when I got to the bathroom what I saw was so visually shocking, my baby girl floating on her arched back, her face in a bath full of water surrounded by vomit.

The bath had filled with water.

My body full of adrenalin, I picked her up immediately.

As I held her limp body I felt I split into two people, such was the difficulty of being fully present to the moment.

I bolted to the door and screamed out to John, “Ariel’s drowned, come quick”.

John was there in a flash and we placed Ariel on the playroom floor and John began CPR while I called 000.

This was a very ‘messy’ part of the night where we felt completely helpless despite the fact we’d were both trained in CPR, but we felt like novices.

Ariel was so slippery, her airways were completely water-logged, and as she had just eaten tea was blocked up with peas and carrots too, making it impossible for any air to get in.

The communications officer coached us through and helped to keep us focused on resuscitating Ariel until the paramedics ar-

Tracey’s ‘rainbow baby’ Indigo, 5, with sister Mercedes, 10, earlier this year.

Tracey and Ariel (about a month before she died). rived at our house.

Our three and a half year old daughter, Mercedes, was witnessing this whole incident and was remarkably still and quiet albeit anxious.

I remember wanting to give them all the space they needed so I got out of the office and sat cross-legged in the doorway with Mercedes on my lap.

Mercedes had lots of questions about what the men were doing to Ariel and I was just trying to describe it as we were watching.

Ariel had never been conscious since I found her and I instinctively knew we’d lost her and that all the ‘right’ things were being done just so we could say everything possible had been done.

I was in shock and disbelief and had fleeting thoughts of wanting to kill myself as I was starting to think that I could never survive this.

Ariel was dead, she was gone.

We wrapped her body in a white polar fleece blanket and John and I took her into our bedroom where we sobbed and howled as we hugged her.

The time came to get in the ambulance and ride to the hospital with my dead daughter in my arms.

She had to be taken to the coroner’s office in Melbourne, 90 minutes away, but I could be with her for as long as I needed at the hospital.

I just stared at the floor. I felt overwhelming shame.

At the hospital I curled up with Ariel’s

Ariel remembered.

body on the couch. I kept rearranging the blanket as it was slipping off. Her body was getting colder and I kept trying to wrap her more snugly.

Since Ariel’s death I have directed my love for her into supporting other bereaved parents through my work as a counsellor with Hope Bereavement Care.

I have also provided Ariel’s story to Swim Australia, which they placed on their website (http://www.swimaustralia.org.au/index.php/ swim-safer/true-life-stories.html) and her story was also used at their Sydney conference in 2009.

Olympic Swim Coach, Laurie Lawrence, produced a ‘Living with Water’ DVD in 2009 on water safety for under five-yearolds.

I was filmed telling the story of Ariel’s accidental drowning and this is included in the ‘Real Life Stories’ chapter on the DVD. The DVD is distributed free either at the hospital or by the local Maternal Child and Health Care nurses.

Although I have tried my hardest over the years since Ariel’s death to not get into a cycle of self-blame, inevitably I have struggled with this immensely.

It has maybe been only in the last eight months or so with the help of EMDR Therapy, I’m learning to love me again and not be ultimately defined by this single tragic event in my life.

I braved another pregnancy and 16 months after Ariels death, our third daughter, Indigo was born.

Indigo brings our family renewed joy.

She is our rainbow streaming from the dark stormy clouds.

You never think it will be you or your family.

I had always considered myself a reasonably conscientious person and a good parent but now so aware of my imperfect humanity on a daily basis.

Almost without exception, probably in an effort to comfort me, parents have said to me they leave their young children in the bath to quickly pop out to do stuff and want to assure me that I’m terribly, terribly unlucky rather than negligent.

What I would rather hear now I think is that young children aren’t left unsupervised.

If I hadn’t had left the bathroom I would have seen the bath still filling with water and could have turned it off in time – not rocket science.

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Feature

Tips to help capture the perfect pic The saying goes, ‘Never work with children or animals’ – but as a parent we thrive on capturing every milestone and memorable moment our kids experience. Katie Fiorillo, from Katie Fiorillo Photography, and Elisha Lindsay, from EL Photography, share some ideas on how you can turn your treasured moments into beautiful photos.

Katie’s tips...

1 Try different poses - these include laying down, jumping, running, spinning and climbing.

2

Be bold with colour - wearing bright clothing or accessories can make a dull image really pop!

3 Focus on the eyes - children’s eyes really tell a story and can enhance the natural beauty of the eye shape and colour.

4

Props! Inexpensive props are a great way to add the fun and character to your photos e.g. balloons, bubbles, baskets, blankets and hats.

5 Giving the child something to

6 Capturing tiny details - when pho-

tographing babies, capturing tiny details like hands, feet, fingers and toes are always a great way to look back at how little they were when they were born.

7

Lighting - turn your child toward the light to catch the highlights and sparkle in the eyes.

8

Expressions - try capturing the different expressions e.g. smiling, laughing, funny faces, frowning or yawning.

It makes a great sequence collage!

9

Toys - capturing your child with their favourite toy is always a great shot to treasure especially if you keep the toy as they get older!

giggle at will always give you those fun loving happy snaps - try acting silly 10 HAVE FUN! Taking photos of and saying funny jokes to make them your children playing and having fun is laugh, a good one for babies is PEEK A an amazing way to catch those candid BOO behind your camera. moments!

Elisha’s tips...

This is the triangle rule and posing kids to show physical bond.

Let kids go off and explore and capture their personality and a moment in time.

Dress kids in outfits appropriate for the weather or environment they are in. This is Autumn at the beach. The blue check matches the tones in the sky.

LEFT: Use the T-shirt colour to accentuate eye colour.

RIGHT: Make sure the eyes are the focal point and use a shallow depth of field to soften the rest of the image. Let the eyes be the main focus.

Capturing a moment in time - personality.

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Buckingham Street Early Learning Centre LEARNING at Buckingham Street Early Learning Centre is fun; it’s about smiling faces, positive direction and inquisitive minds.

We provide an environment which is secure, stimulating and we offer a sense of family and belonging.

Our educators understand that children are unique and learn in varying ways.

We have two inviting and intimate learning classrooms of just 15 children.

We are committed in providing a high quality curriculum which is balanced, flexible, spontaneous, and promotes active engagement.

The children are encouraged to share concepts, take risks, explore and experiment.

We believe in providing an environment that promotes a love of learning.

Your child will learn though indoor and outdoor play, based on their interests and ideas; real life experiences, such as cooking, gardening and investigating the world, plus everyday routines and transitions, such as meal times, rest times and group times.

The Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework outlines the following high expectations for every Victorian child: that they have a strong sense of identity, are connected to and contribute to their world, have a strong sense of wellbeing, are confident and involved learners and are effective communicators.

We share the same understanding at Buckingham Street.

We have a variety of learning experiences included in the program and we also have strong connections with the Lara community

and other early childhood professionals.

The children are involved in a sports buzz program on a Tuesday, Dental Education program, emergency services visits, a wild life program, responsible pet program, dog ownership program, Life Education Van, Bakers’ Delight baking experience, Bravehearts program, Narana Creations Aboriginal learning program, multicultural art program, music and movement, science experimenting, Lara library visits, and drama plays.

We also have great partnerships with the local primary schools in the Lara community.

Our Kindergarten program at Buckingham Street caters for children aged 3-6 years however our service provides spaces for children aged six weeks to six years old.

The Kindergarten session runs from 9am – 4:30pm Monday- Friday.

We have very flexible hours and understand the importance of attending a kindergarten program before starting school.

Families are welcome to visit and have a look at Buckingham Street Early Learning Centre and meet our wonderful family.

Our centre director Amanda will give you a tour of our learning environments. She will be very happy to discuss any enquires you may have in regards to the Kindergarten program.

Alternative we will be hosting a Kindergarten information evening on Thursday 29th August at 5.30-6.30pm, you are all more than welcome to attend.

Jessica Hogan Kindergarten Teacher Buckingham Street Early Learning Centre, Lara

If you would like your kinder to appear in our ‘Schools In Focus’ section, send an article and photos to editor@kidsvoice.com.au

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Ocean Grove Primary School AT Ocean Grove Primary School we are committed to excellence and developing students who are confident, collaborative, compassionate, critical thinkers, creative, curious and committed. We call them the Seven Cs. Our school has and continues to develop a strong learning culture that encourages and celebrates student success in many ways such as academic results, choirs, sports teams and the arts.

There is a strong emphasis on the teaching of Literacy and Numeracy at Ocean Grove.

These key elements of learning are well supported through specialised teaching areas in Physical Education, Music, Visual Arts, Indonesian, Reading Recovery and Information Communication Technology.

Why choose Ocean Grove Primary School for your child?

The school has a caring and nurturing atmosphere with a smooth transition program that begins during the Kinder year with a computer buddy program.

We pride ourselves on providing learning experiences that are personalised and individualised.

We have a wonderful team of passionate and professional teachers who are committed to ensuring all children reach and exceed their potential.

Our living vision is: We believe all Ocean Grove Primary School children have the right to a safe, respectful and supportive environment

which promotes and encourages a student voice and love for learning.

Our school promotes the active involvement of parents in many facets of school life, both in and out of the classroom.

We have a state of the art Senior Learning Community facility with a variety of learning spaces (e.g. kid’s kitchen) designed to engage students, promote higher order thinking skills and develop independence and resilience.

OGPS always has lots of things happening.

Some of the experiences our students have or will enjoy this year are: • School camps to Mt Buller, Maldon and Sovereign Hill.

• Education Week with activities such as our open day and parents ‘picnic.

• Excursions such as the ‘Wizard of Oz” and Melbourne, • Lightning premiership with neighbouring schools.

• Our Art project with the National Gallery of Victoria.

• Swimming and surfing programs.

• School Concert at Costa Hall.

• Instrumental music lessons.

• Interschool sports such as soccer, football and netball.

• Our annual Apple Fair on the March long weekend.

If you are in Ocean Grove please come in and have a look at our school and see why we love it.

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Pri m a ry

A group of students from our Flinders House dress up for House Sports at Landy Field.

Maddi learning new skills as part of our swimming program.

Cooper on Grade 4 camp riding at Derby Hill Blue Light Camp, Maldon.

If you would like your primary school to appear in our ‘Schools In Focus’ section, send an article and photos to editor@kidsvoice.com.au

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The Geelong College SPENDING your term break studying could be considered a hardship, but that was not the case for the 18 Year 8 and 9 students and staff who walked to class barefoot every morning and explored the pristine waters of The Great Barrier Reef for homework.

At The Geelong College we place an emphasis on experiential learning, both in the classroom and outside it.

We can’t promise all classes are quite as cool as the annual study tour to Lizard Island - where students and staff, armed with underwater slates and pencils, enter the underwater environment of one of the world’s greatest natural wonders and put theory into practice.

With the guidance of three marine biologists and the use of the Australian Museum Marine Research Station, students became familiar with the reef ’s structure, biodiversity, corals, fish life, reef vulnerabilities and the importance of conservation.

Apart from the formal studies, students

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also gained other skills as they catered for all their own meals and learned to live sustainably, dividing all of their waste into five different categories - a challenge for even the keenest recycler!

“Vibrant learning happens in many different ways, through experiences and practical applications, by listening and when talking,’’ Andrew Barr, Principal of The Geelong College says. ‘‘Sometimes it happens hours or days after the fact, when the penny drops.

Most importantly it happens differently for each individual.

“We understand this is important and create programs, experiences and spaces that encourage students to explore and understand the many different ways to learn and to share.”

You can visit The Geelong College Come at an Open Morning on Wednesday, October 23 (Geelong Cup Day) from 9.30am or book a tour with the registrar at a time that suits your family, phone (03) 5226 3190.

If you would like your secondary school to appear in our ‘Schools In Focus’ section, send an article and photos to editor@kidsvoice.com.au

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Madison Grace,16 months, loves her dancing - Alison Drayton, Lara

Poppy, 6, competed in the Kids Spartan Race earlier this year.

She loved it and was so proud of her medal. She has registered to race again in October.

- Karen Lydom, Grovedale

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Molly, 5, was at an Auskick skills session at the Cats homeground recently. She is in the pink kicking to Joel Selwood and the look of fear on the Cats captain is hilarious!

- Melissa Wray, Leopold

Tadhg and Jett with Tom Hawkins - Chelsea Launer, Highton

My daughter Hannah does ballet through Karen Feldman’s dance studio - Emma Spoor, Geelong

Ruby-Jane, 5, practising her tap dancing ` - Debbie Clark, East Geelong

Tyson Roberts, 5, in his favourite colours!

- Yvonne Roberts, St Albans Park

Ace, 5, with Cale Hooker from the Bombers. Ace loves Cale because he got a signed football from him at the Anzac day match this year.

- Chelsea Kent, Grovedale

My son Hayden with his sporting hero Joel Selwood - Nadia Wearmouth, Clifton Springs

Holly, 3, just loves her new beanie!

- Tabitha McEwen, Indented Head

Georgia, 6, loves her footy team!

- Emma Dear, Ocean Grove

Talita and her BFF Putu - Imelda Stanley, Torquay

Alby on holiday in Bali - Sarah Prendergast, Torquay

Jonah, Lola and Bella Lear at Disneyland - Janina, Newtown

Noah, 3, is such a show pony!

- Joanne Lytas, Lara

Send your photos to editor@kidsvoice.com.au

Page 15

L ET T E R S & NE WS Fuzzy the chicken goes to work I LIKE making cartoons because they are fun and funny and you can be creative.

I got into them after I read ‘Snoopy’ cartoons at school and that’s what got me started. The cartoonist is Charles. M. Schulz.

I want to keep having fun and maybe get in the newspaper!

I go to Ocean Grove Primary School and I’m in grade 3.

- created b y Sam Hin

es, 9

Henderson promises to fight for new school in Bannockburn SARAH Henderson, Liberal candidate for Corangamite, has called on the State Government to progress the development of the Bannockburn K-12 School.

Ms Henderson said she had written to the Victorian Minister for Education urging the State Government to prioritise the school due to the increasing pressure on the existing primary school and the fact that more than 1500 students have to travel away from their Golden Plains homes daily to secondary schools in either Geelong or Ballarat.

“I understand the disappointment of the local community that the K-12 school was not funded in the 2013/14 state budget”, Ms Henderson said.

“As I meet people across region, and out door-knocking, they keep telling me just how important a K-12 school is for Bannockburn and Golden Plains families.”

“The existing Bannockburn Primary School has 539 students and is at capacity. ‘‘It’s at the point where recess and lunch times are staggered to provide students with enough space.”

“I appreciate the level of concern about funding for a new school. That’s why I met with the school principal some months ago and also recently met with the school council.”

“I am very supportive of Bannockburn getting its own high school, which would be a great development for current and future local students.”

“I’m committed to representing the view of Bannockburn and the Golden Plains residents and fighting to improve infrastructure across the region. ‘‘I’ll continue to work closely with the school community on this and other important issues,” Ms Henderson concluded.

MINISTER for Community Services Mary Wooldridge recently announced the appointment of Andrew Jackomos as Victoria’s first Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People.

Ms Wooldridge said this appointment was an historic step and recognised the vulnerabilities and significant over-representation of Aboriginal children and young people in the child protection system, and the Victorian Coalition Government’s commitment to improve outcomes for them.

“Victoria is the only jurisdiction in the country to have a dedicated Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People,” Ms Wooldridge said.

Andrew Jackomos, an Aboriginal man from Victoria, is well respected and has more than 30 years’ experience in Aboriginal affairs policy and public administration.

He is currently Director of the Koori Justice Unit in the Department of Justice, and has a significant record of achievement in areas directly relevant

to the Commission, including housing, justice, and education and training.

Mr Jackomos has been at the forefront of developing and implementing the Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement, including the Koori Court system.

He was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2006 for his outstanding public service involving Indigenous issues in justice, and is a Member of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples.

“As the Protecting Victoria’s Vulnerable Children Inquiry highlighted, Aboriginal children are around 10 times more likely to be the subject of a substantiation of abuse or neglect compared with non-Aboriginal children,” Ms Wooldridge said.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Jeanette Powell welcomed the appointment and said the Victorian Aboriginal Affairs Framework 2013–2018 commits to significantly reducing Aboriginal disadvantage.

Kids’ Voice reserves the right to edit letters at its discretion.

Submit letters to editor@kidsvoice.com.au

Katie Fiorillo Photography

Victoria appoints nation’s first Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People

Page 16

R e a de r S t o ry

James lends a hand to help poor When JAMES HEATH, 14, travelled to Fiji with his family there was no time for a relaxing holiday.

Instead, the Geelong Grammar student helped build a kindergarten. James spent his time painting, helped put roof panels on, hammered nails and mixed cement for the post holes. He shares his story...

I

N the July school holidays I flew with my parents to Fiji to an island called Taveuni, also called the Garden Island, to help build a kindergarten, which is the same as Prep in Australia.

We arrived at the tiny airport and it took almost two hours to travel 30kms on a very bumpy road in a 4 x 4.

We stayed in a lodge at the edge of a village called Vuna, just 15 metres from the sea and for 12 days I took a long, painful trip to the school each day to help with the building.

We worked with the locals and I painted, helped put the roof panels on, hammered nails in and mixed cement for the post holes.

On the construction site in the school was a stray, cute kitten which weighed about half a kilo and was basically just skin

and bone.

I fed it every day and it started to put on weight.

It is a less fortunate school and the children are quite poor, but they lead a very happy lifestyle and laugh and sing a lot and made us feel very welcome with a ceremony at the school to say thank you and a traditional kava ceremony, where I had to drink kava which tastes like muddy water.

The families are very poor. I felt sorry for them and a bit embarrassed about how lucky I am.

I made friends with two boys called Issy and Sam who have five children in their family.

Their parents do not work and I watched them go fishing for hours every day to try to catch something for dinner.

HELPING build the kindergarten was a joint project between the Rotary Club of Geelong Central and Deakin University, through their Global Citizenship Program.

All money was raised in the Geelong region (ever wondered where the money goes when you buy a sausage from a Rotary sausage sizzle?).

The money was sent over through Rotary on Taveuni Island and all building materials were sourced locally in Fiji to assist their economy.

They also employed locals to work on the project to provide jobs and training.

I am not sure what they had for dinner if they didn’t catch any fish.

I taught Issy and Sam and their other friends how to play Aussie Rules football every night and when we left we gave them some t-shirts and footballs and they were very excited.

I gave Issy my 13th Beach rash vest, which I had grown out of and he was so excited he wore it to bed that night and his mum told us she had to stop him wearing it to school the next day.

Their houses are very basic and they do not have electricity but the kids have a lot of things that we don’t have.

They play on the beach every night, they climb coconut trees, they go fishing whenever they want to and run around playing together all the time, so they are all very happy.

The average income on the island is about $FJ1500 (AUD $850) per annum and it costs $FJ150 per year to send a child to school plus books and uniforms, and as most Fijian families have several children this becomes quite onerous and families often have to decide which children to send to school and which children will just have to wait.

There is a sponsorship program being set up and for AUD $250 people can sponsor a child.

For more information contact Christine Heath on 52734 777 or chris@pace.com.au

Page 17

R e ad e r S t o ry

Mum proves dreams can come true Leopold mum Melissa Wray is living proof dreams can come true, even if life gets hectic at times. She shares how she turned her dream of writing a book, into reality.

W

HEN you decide to begin a family there should be a leaflet for future mothers to read.

It would include all the things you need to consider and it must list the job description; multi-tasker, protector, carer, chef, cleaner, nurse, educator, negotiator, volunteer, assistant, judge, confidante, personal shopper, taxi driver and babysitter.

Of course none of this would deter us for a moment.

I never once thought the decision to start a family would change my identity.

But it did. I was now first and foremost a mum. It took a bit of getting used to motherhood.

Previously I had worked for several years as a primary teacher.

Strangely enough I thought that experience might help. But as the days turned to months I soon got into the swing of parenting and all the things it entailed.

My son was six months old when I began a writing course by correspondence.

It was something I had wanted to do for years. I was naïve enough to think I could complete it while the baby slept. Ha! I persisted with it around the 40 minute sleeps taking place three times a day.

I managed to complete the assignments at night and found myself enjoying this new

found creative freedom.

My dream to write a book had always been in the back of my mind but now I was doing something about it.

Over the next five years my son gained a sister and life got busy.

I continued to write when I could find time.

This was mostly late into the night.

There were plenty of times I snuck into bed well past midnight.

Sometimes on weekends hubby took the kids out for a couple of hours while I madly pounded the keyboard in the silent house.

I honestly never believed my dream of a published book would come true.

Writing was a hobby. It was my escape from parental responsibilities.

I didn’t need to think about the shopping list or the washing piling up.

I pushed all thoughts of play dates and sticky floors that need a mop aside. I didn’t have to think about reality because I was writing fiction.

Then in April 2012, something unbelievable happened.

I was offered a publishing contract through Morris Publishing Australia.

My young adult novel, Destiny Road, was going to be published.

I read the email ten times before jumping

Melissa with her children Toby and Molly.

around squealing like a mad woman.

It would seem my identity was to change again.

One day, not long after the published books arrived, my son asked me, ‘Mum, do you know who my favourite author is?’

I rattled off the ones he knew from school and home; Mem Fox, Roald Dahl, Graeme Base, Dr. Seuss.

‘No,’ he said, smiling. ‘You.’ Mahatma Ghandi once said ‘Be the change you want to see in the world.’ I interpret that to mean, lead by example.

So I let my kids inspire me. I can’t tell them they can achieve anything and do anything if they try hard, and then not follow my own advice.

So even though life changes once you become a parent it doesn’t have to mean you lose your identity.

Yes you have to juggle your responsibilities

better but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out.

You can still have interests, goals and dreams.

Destiny Road was a labour of love and written late at night after my two cherubs were sleeping soundly.

I can barely remember life before children and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I do have one more thing to add to that job description though; Author.

To learn more visit www.melissawray. blogspot.com.au or read the first chapter for free at www.morrispublishingaustralia.com/ destiny-road.html

WIN

To win a signed copy of Destiny Road, LIKE our Facebook page facebook. com/KidsVoiceGeelong and send us a message telling us why you’d like to win.

Page 18

Health

How to tackle diabetes from the get go Did you know the events in very early-life - even in the womb - are likely to have some bearing on a person’s risk of developing diabetes and obesity later in life? BUPA’S HEALTH INFORMATION TEAM explains why, and what health habits pregnant women can adopt to give their child the best start in life...

M

ANY of us are aware healthy habits like good nutrition, plenty of sleep and regular exercise are key components to keeping our families’ risk of diabetes and obesity low, right from childhood.

But did you know that the most recent research into the origins of type 2 diabetes and obesity suggests that events in very earlylife – even in the womb – are likely to have some bearing on a person’s risk of developing diabetes and obesity later in life?

In particular, current studies are suggesting that the link between the food and drink consumed in pregnancy and the health and development of our families is even stronger than once thought.

In 1944-1945, a number of families lived through the Dutch Hunger Winter. Children who experienced under-nutrition in the womb during this time suffered higher rates of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease in adult life than those who escaped the effects of the famine.

Research also suggests that the offspring of obese women or women with diabetes may be more susceptible to excessive weight gain and its potential health impacts as well, even in childhood.

This seems to be particularly true if a mother has increasing high blood sugar during her pregnancy.

Such research, combined with a growing understanding of genetics, is leading diabetes

experts around the world to think differently about prevention, highlighting the nutrition and health of mothers and young children as important new focal points.

Health habits during pregnancy are a great starting point. One of the most important things you can do when expecting is to eat a balanced diet – for your health and for your baby’s health, growth and development throughout the life course. And yes, in many cases, this does mean mums-to-be can make a few lifestyle changes.

Here are some tips for expectant mothers, focusing on some of the common nutrients you need...

CARBOHYDRATES: Adequate carbs are essential during pregnancy for daily energy production. Best sources include breads, cereals, rice, potatoes, pasta, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Avoid weight loss diets, particularly low carb diets.

PROTEIN: Ensure adequate protein. As well as being important for your cell growth and development, it is good for placental growth and colostrum production.

Colostrum is the yellowish milk mothers secrete for the first few days after birth. It contains protective antibodies for your newborn baby’s developing immune system.

Protein also seems to be better than many foods to curb appetite for longer.

However, very high protein diets are discouraged, particularly protein sup-

plementation, because it can affect your child’s development. Best sources of protein include lean meats, selected fish, egg whites, beans, and nuts.

HEALTHY FATS: Fats are important for your body’s energy stores and for things like nerve cell development. However, there are different types of fats and some are better for your body than others.

It is important to choose foods higher in healthy fats and low in unhealthy fats. Saturated fats and trans fats should be avoided in favour of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Healthy sources of fat include fish, olive and canola oil, nuts and avocado.

IRON: Try to include iron-rich foods in your diet every day. Your body needs iron for healthy blood – both yours and your growing baby’s. Iron deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency seen in women and not getting enough can lead to anaemia.

Lean red meat is the best source. Other sources include fish, poultry, eggs, legumes, green leafy vegetable and iron-fortified wholegrain breads and cereals. Eating foods rich in vitamin C (e.g. capsicum, tomatoes and citrus fruits) with iron sources can help improve iron absorption.

FOLATE: Your body needs folic acid (also called “folate”) to make new cells. Unborn babies need folic acid so that parts of their nervous system form correctly.

Folate is particularly important during the

first 3 months of pregnancy and ideally a month or so beforehand. Good sources are green leafy vegetables, some fruits (e.g. oranges), and fortified breads and cereals.

Your doctor will recommend that you also take a supplement that has folic acid in it.

CALCIUM: Calcium is another important nutrient. Your growing baby’s calcium demands will be high so it is recommended that you have an adequate intake of calcium to prevent loss of calcium from your bones.

Milk, other dairy products, and fortified soy or rice drinks are good sources of calcium. Other sources include things like sardines, salmon with bones, nuts and spinach.

For more information on what and how much to eat per day during pregnancy, consult your doctor, dietary guidelines and/or a registered dietitian.

There are a range of specific nutrient and food safety requirements in pregnancy, which your doctor or dietitian should discuss with you.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Australian Dietary Guidelines - www.eatforhealth.gov.au Dietitians Association of Australia - www.daa.asn.au The FoodSwitch app - www.bupa.com.au Food Safety Information Council: www.foodsafety.asn.au

Page 19

R e ad e r S t o ry

Mums helping other mums in need Sharing the joy of motherhood is inspiring a new network of local mums who are volunteering their time to ensure Geelong families experiencing hardship have access to essential nursery equipment for their babies and children.

KATE BETTS shares how Geelong Mums is fast becoming a growing success and changing lives...

G

EELONG Mums officially launched on Saturday June 1, 2013 when it held its first of many regular collection events, where fellow mums and families donated pre-loved nursery and baby items to assist local families in need.

Inspired by the wonderful work of Melbourne-based St Kilda Mums, Geelong Mums was founded in April this year by a group of mums who believe no child should go without the basic material needs - like a safe cot to sleep in, a good functional pram and neat clean clothes.

This fast growing network of local mums volunteer their time to collect, sort and safety check donations, which are then distributed to a growing number of local welfare organisations who distribute to families experiencing hardship.

Geelong Mums believes by reusing and recycling much-loved babies’ and children’s gear, they not only share the joy of motherhood with each other, but we save the earth’s precious resources too.

Subject to strict quality and safety checks Geelong Mums accepts cots, prams, bassinettes, car seats, safety gates, porta cots, linen, clothing, nappy bags, baby baths, toys, games, puzzles, books and consumables such as nappies, wipes, formula, bath goods and bottles.

“Due to liability risks, many charities are not allowed to accept cots and prams so Geelong

Mums is providing a service to local welfare agencies that other charities cannot,” Kate Betts from Geelong Mums said.

“We are very strict on our own guidelines.

We not only ensure items meet mandatory safety standards but we only pass on goods that we would put our own children in, or we would give to our best friend “Our volunteers gift bag clothing in beautiful packages so the recipients can have a sense of dignity and respect when they are presented to them. ‘‘We want them to know they are a gift from another mum. Each clothing bag contains around 100 items which is twelve months of

clothing for one child.”

Geelong Mums is fast establishing links with local social service agencies and aims to provide material aid to families quickly and direct to the source.

“Each week we open up our storage to distribute the goods to caseworkers from a range of agencies from around the Geelong region.

They have been overwhelmed by the availability of items and blown away by the quality!”

Kate said.

The growing success of Geelong Mums can be attributed to the model that has been adopted from St Kilda Mums. Geelong Mums has no overheads and utilises an effective

network of mums via a vibrant Facebook page and word of mouth.

Storage space has been donated by a generous local businessman and most tasks can be performed by volunteers. Several baby companies are also on board to supply equipment, parts and repairs as needed.

“We really credit our fast establishment to the inspirational team at St Kilda Mums who have generously shared their policies, procedures, networks and experience with us. Without them we could not have been up and running within one month of our first committee meeting!,” Kate said.

There are many ways for mums to help and the best way is to register online as a volunteer or donor.

Volunteers can work in their own time in their own homes to prepare clothing packs or safety check equipment, or help out at collection days or meet caseworkers to distribute the items.

So far more than 65 volunteers have signed on, and there are more than 1200 likes on the Facebook page.

To donate, volunteer, request support, or find out further information about Geelong Mums visit www.facebook.com/geelongmums or email mums@geelongmums.org.

The organisation’s website www.geelongmums.org will be launched soon.

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Bi rt h S t o ry

Sarah fulfils dream of babies and career

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SARAH HILL had a baby in her teens, one in her 20’s and one in her 30’s, all while working hard to settle into a new country and follow her dream of becoming a nurse. She shares her story...

WAS the middle one of three girls, born and bred in a little town in the North West of England called Leyland, in Lancashire.

I was born at home on the morning of November 5, 1979.

My mum and dad made my childhood a very happy one and seeing constant love and family support in a well balanced home made me feel the person I am today.

My mum and dad’s relationship made me want what they had and so when I met Rik at a friend’s birthday party in September 1997, I knew he was the one!

Having a close family made me want my own children and Rik wanted the same.

I hadn’t quite planned on it happening so soon though.

When I found myself pregnant at 18 years old I have to say it was a daunting prospect.

I had only been with Rik for three months and didn’t feel ready for children even though I knew it was something we both wanted in the future.

I was both worried and anxious as to how life would be, where would we live, what about my plans to travel, etc?

I had finished school and gained 10 good grade GCSE’s, (The UK’s VCE equivalent), and had gone onto college to study for a BTEC National Diploma in Beauty

Therapy.

Towards the end of the two-year course I found out I was pregnant and after taking the combined contraceptive pill for six months, I was a little shocked to say the least.

However, after discussions with Rik we knew we would be ok and that was that!

I finished the course and planned to work after the baby was born.

I had planned on a Reflexology Diploma, which I decided to continue with regardless of the birth of the baby.

I took her with me in the evenings and managed to attain my Diploma in 1999.

My pregnancy went very well, and apart from terrible heartburn, and gaining a ridiculous 25kg, I had a text book pregnancy and enjoyed every minute of it.

After arriving at the hospital already 6cm dilated, I was told my birth plan wouldn’t necessarily be an option.

I had planned a possible epidural to which I was told it was too late. I was upset but being young I agreed to the other option of gas and air.

I had terrible back pain during the labour, as my baby was in a posterior position, but after a five-hour labour and an episiotomy Olivia was born.

This was one day earlier than my due date, and eight days after celebrating our

first anniversary together, on the 21st September 21, 1998. Olivia weighed 8lb 10oz.

We delivered at our local hospital and as a first time young mum I was not sure what to expect.

I had already come to the conclusion I needed my mum there and I remember feeling terribly frightened.

The midwife was an older lady who I remember thinking was very abrupt.

She shouted at me as I had left my notes at home in the rush.

After her birth, Olivia was taken away from me and lots of people rushed in as she wasn’t breathing.

We were told she had passed meconium in utero and she needed some assistance.

Fortunately a few seconds later we heard that sound a mother needs - her cry! She was then put straight to my breast to feed, which was my plan, but I do remember thinking how forcefully she was put on me and I recall having so many mixed feelings and emotions.

We were transferred to a closer hospital that day which was midwifery led but at that time had no delivery suite, and I stayed for three nights.

It was a less busy hospital and the staff were always on hand if I needed it.

I continued to feed her for four months but with no lactation support and not

knowing where to access help I gave up.

After her birth we managed to get a little two bedroom flat which we furnished with the help of our friends and family with secondhand furniture.

We moved into the flat two weeks after Olivia’s arrival.

The first two years were very hard, both financially and emotionally.

Rik had been earning a small wage which just kept our head above water but we never managed to be able to afford any luxuries like going out.

I had got a part-time job working in a pub in the evenings which helped a little.

I found another part-time job working in a post office where I stayed until I decided that I wanted to do my nursing.

I started a pre-registration course in nursing in September 2002, when I was 21. I knew I didn’t want to be another teenage mum statistic and have people say I would never amount to anything, and that drove me to do what I wanted to do.

Both that drive and the support of such a wonderful family saw me graduate in September 2005 as a registered nurse.

By this time we had planned another baby and so by the end of my course I was already three months pregnant with our second child.

It was hard work juggling my daughter,

Page 21

Bi rt h S t o ry

the pregnancy, the study and shift work but Rik was always there no matter what I wanted to do.

We worked and saved hard and managed to buy our second property a month after I qualified.

Rik spent hours demolishing and rebuilding our new home.

My second pregnancy was also without complications, except for heartburn and this time ‘restless legs’.

I was told however, that this was just hormonal and would cease after the birth.

I went into this birth knowing what to expect and I have to say it was another daunting prospect.

Again I experienced a very similar fivehour delivery, with only gas and air for pain relief.

I had another posterior delivery and this time had a second degree tear.

Grace was born eight days late on April 2, 2006, and weighed 7lb 15.5oz.

Again there was meconium at birth, but this time she was delivered onto my chest.

Rik got to cut the cord this time too.

The Midwife was much calmer in her approach and she put me at ease.

Although it was a hard labour I found it more manageable, mostly because of the midwive’s approach towards me.

I wanted to breast feed again and so she was put to the breast at my request.

I found it all a much more relaxing transition and was so much more happy about it all, with no pressure (as I had felt before).

This time there was no room at the hospital I had been transferred to last time, so I found myself staying in a busy hospital where the staff were too busy to help if I needed it and after being told that the ward had been shut down to visitors due to a diarrhoea and vomiting infection I decided to go home.

During the end of my nursing course we decided to come to Australia for a working holiday.

I chose an elective placement and worked at Barwon Health for four weeks.

The work ethic and strong Nursing Unions I found quite appealing and the scenic views of Australia topped it all off.

We all went home feeling like we belonged there so we started to look into emigration.

We visited some emigration fairs and found it was going to take a lot of expense, paperwork and planning which did take a long time.

That and the prospect of leaving our wonderful families was difficult, but we knew it was something we had to do.

We wanted a better life for our family and so we started the process.

In between all of this in 2007, Rik and I got married, which was a very special day.

It took five years to decide, plan and make the move so we sold our home, cars, left our jobs and said goodbye to family and friends and set off on our adventure.

During the move from our home to my parent’s house, before the big move, I found myself unexpectedly pregnant with baby number three.

Sarah with her husband Rik and children Olivia, Grace and Leo

We decided we would still make the move as we had nothing left!

At 29 weeks pregnant, in 2010, we arrived in Australia.

We initially lived in Brookfield near a cousin of Rik’s, but found we wanted to be closer to the beach and after visiting Ocean Grove on our initial trip we decided we had to go back there.

My third pregnancy seemed easier. I had headaches and the dreaded heartburn again, but I seemed to breeze through them.

However, being in a new country and 30 weeks pregnant, I found that my hormones were all over the place.

ery but also excited. I woke at 3am with pains in my legs on my due date and knew what to expect.

I stayed at home and skyped my mum before having a bath and timing the contractions.

This time they were all in my front and felt much more bearable.

I woke my husband at 5.30am and by 6am we were in the hospital.

My waters had already broken in the car and I noticed that they too were meconium stained so when I got in told the midwife.

She didn’t seem too stressed so I settled in and got ready to birth.

I knew I didn’t want to be another teenage mum statistic and have people say I would never amount to anything, and that drove me to do what I wanted to do.

Three weeks after arriving I also got a phone call that my Grandfather had suddenly passed away, which hit me very hard as I couldn’t travel home to be with my family.

I had planned to deliver my baby at Bacchus Marsh Hospital which was the local hospital at the time.

It was a lovely small hospital, which was not at all what I was used to.

I had discussed a birth plan with a midwife, but after the last two deliveries I didn’t really have any expectations or specific wishes. I just knew I wanted a happy, healthy baby at the end of it.

I didn’t have a specific midwife just as I hadn’t before, so knew I may never have met the midwife who would deliver my baby.

I was happy to deliver there, it was a lovely hospital with individual rooms and ensuites, not at all what I had been used to with bays full of other mums and babies, so I was happy about the whole thing.

Again, I was a little anxious at the deliv-

The midwives were very relaxed and I had gas and air when I felt I needed it.

They got aromatherapy oils and massaged my back and rubbed my legs when I told them my legs were hurting.

The whole process was very relaxed and calming and I can’t praise them enough.

I felt wonderful and Leo was born two hours later, at 8am on July 1, 2010.

He weighed 8lb 6oz.

I have to describe my experience as the best labour and delivery possible. There were no monitors, no stress and it was a wonderful birth.

I stayed in hospital for two nights as I wanted some bonding time with Leo. There was no pressure to leave and we were alone in our own room to bond.

I was asked if I wanted to breast feed and left to my own devices.

However, my only criticism is that I was made to feel a little awkward when I asked for some formula.

My baby was not settled at all and on day

one when my milk had not come in I was exhausted and couldn’t settle him.

I didn’t know what else to do and had been feeding him all day. The midwife said to persevere to which I replied I had.

She reluctantly got me some milk.

That was the first and last bottle I had to give him. He settled and I felt happy. I continued to feed him for eight months after that.

I feel that I have a happy healthy family.

Having quite big age differences between the children is wonderful.

Having one in my teens, one in my 20’s and one in my 30’s has made no difference in the pregnancies.

I have found I have had individual time with each of them and continue to do so.

They are all very close and all at very different stages in their childhood.

My eldest and I are very close and we spend evenings together catching up on the day’s events.

She is a great help in the house and is a fantastic babysitter if Rik and I fancy a night out.

My middle child is a very sweet and loving girl who plays well with her brother (well most of the time) and she is also close to her sister.

My boy is a happy, smiley little thing who enjoys boy things such as skateboards, and scooters.

However with two sisters the occasional dressing up and make up sessions are inevitable!

We are still happy we made the move but missing family, which has been an issue since day one.

After finishing a Special Care of the Neonate course at Barwon Health I am now very pleased that I have been given the opportunity to work in Special Care.

I feel anyone, anywhere can achieve their dreams and goals if they desire them enough.

I certainly feel very lucky and privileged to have been able to fulfil mine.

Written By Sarah Hill Questions by Jennifer Carr

Page 22

T e ch n o l ogy

What our own kids can teach us

T

HERE is one difference between my parents and my children when it comes to technology, and that is confidence.

Give a child an iPad and they will quickly swipe their finger across and start searching the apps.

My parents on the other hand, will ask a few questions first before even touching it.

It appears that the iPad almost scares them, and it seems more fragile than when my kids were newborn babies.

Kids are teaching adults about technology – a role reversal of learning.

Adults might be a lot more worldly and have more history behind them, but kids realise the world is at their fingertips.

When I was growing up, we had a book case full of Encyclopaedia Britannica.

I remember my parents stressing the need to not eat food or drink anywhere near the editions in case they spoil.

Little did they realise they were already spoiled by being out of date the minute they were published.

Online, however, Wikipedia is updated by around 1,500 administrators and increases by around three pages per minute to be currently 30.5 million pages of information (and counting).

In some instances, teenagers are taking this a step further and applying their knowledge of social media to make a few dollars.

Because of their daily use of gadgets,

social networks and the Internet, they are able to provide first-hand knowledge about the best way to use technology to market their business.

They are up to date on all the latest advances, and are aware of issues such as online privacy and security.

Teenagers also have the added benefit of knowing what kids want, so are perfect for those businesses that are targeting that age bracket.

Kids look at computers the way baby boomers look at television.

They are not really sure how they work,

but are just grateful to have them.

The same can be said about social media and kids keeping up to date on news and current affairs.

While adults wait to sit down to watch the six o’clock news for their update on what has been happening around the world, teens know about news through Facebook and Twitter a matter of minutes after the event.

Part of the worry for parents is the growth, and that they feel they can’t keep up - If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.

In fact, the number of grandparents

using social media is increasing, and now stands at around 22 per cent.

This includes using Skype to keep in touch with grandkids interstate, as well as having a Facebook account especially for viewing photos.

There are also Facebook pages specifically for the grey nomads, grandparents, retirees and even Octogenarians and beyond.

Kids have infectious enthusiasm about technology and love sharing their knowledge.

When teaching an adult on how to use something such as a computer, they may need to be reminded to slow down on occasion.

Things such as a ‘double click on the mouse’ is knowledge they were almost born with, need to be learned by the older generations.

When we think about the first time we were teaching our kids to ride a bike, we asked them to be brave and have a go.

The same can be said for anyone that is not confident with technology.

While your ego may take a hit, you will at least avoid getting a grazed knee or elbow.

So, go on, have a go. The world is at your fingertips.

- Shelley Gross Director of Wonderful Websites www.wonderfulwebsites.com.au

Page 23

R e ad e r S t o ry

Toggling being a parent and a friend A

Mum KERSTIN LINDROS was cruising through teenagehood. But after regaining a good dose of freedom to tackle some goals, her family’s equilibrium was suddenly disturbed...

T the beginning of the year I thought I had it all.

After years of parenting and working around a husband’s and the children’s needs I had finally regained a good enough dose of freedom to tackle a few more goals I wanted to achieve for myself. We were cruising through teenagehood.

However, after a while, that newly found freedom and peace threatened to slip away.

Our carefully established equilibrium was disturbed by mysterious powers that appear to assume rule over teenagers at approximately age 14.

This time around I wanted to be the responsible parent who does not miss anything.

I wanted to be a better detective than ever before, to see through the thin veil of every single lie and dismantle it before it could achieve its devious goal. Because I was a parent, right? Not a friend.

I was not going to find out years later what had passed me unnoticed, like 15years ago when my eldest daughter was testing me out.

The change snuck in so fast. I knew there would be challenges to negotiate and considered myself prepared, but family life can morph from harmonious into discordant in the flashest of flashes.

How things have changed since my last position as mother of a teenager in

the nineties—now with mobile phones, laptops, Facebook, and Wi-Fi throughout the house.

I know from experience that teenagers know everything, call you pathetic, complain ‘It’s not fair. You have all the power.’

Really? Most of the time it sure doesn’t feel that way.

And once they know what hypocrite means they can use the word correctly, and you can be assured that your influence and decision making power will be diluted.

Damn, we are not perfect, are we?

My then-teenager is now a wife and mother and I could live a relaxed grandmother’s life, but when she was 14 I decided I needed another challenge—more children.

Last year child number two entered the realm of teenagehood, without much drama it seemed, and we took that for granted.

A few months ago we periodically started arguing feistily. Yes, we suddenly bandied around the b word and worse—very scary.

A friend suggested a herbal treatment but I knew this would not do as a cure for our state of affairs. We had to look deeper.

My daughter’s debating prowess is admirable in competition but of little value at home, in fact, I think it is an obstacle in any kind of interpersonal relationship.

Charlie the cat We had to figure out the causes for her sudden urge to assert her power — apart from the well-known problems teenagers grapple with, there could be more — and switched from parent to friend to find out.

It turned out she didn’t want to be treated like a child any more. We had to acknowledge how much she had grown up and how things had changed.

We talked about the responsibility to think before we speak, and agreed to rethink tolerance, understanding and

respect, as in the mutual variety, because none of us is perfect.

But as we opened up to each other, we also identified a couple of non-standard problems, for which we enlisted some professional help. I’m glad we sat down as friends.

Now we are on the way up and we are laughing again.

Like when Dad recently brought home from the shop that gentle shampoo she hadn’t used for three years because her skin sensitivity had subsided but he didn’t know.

Or this morning, when her school tie and kilt felt a little damp and smelled suspiciously like something old Charlie, the cat, may have left behind.

The picture of her, sitting on the floor spraying Febreze to get through the day…

We should thank the cat for a humorous morning of family bonding.

We are back to being parents but are planning to switch to being friends periodically, just to check.

Not only is our daughter maturing, but our relationship is maturing, too. Not every lie is created equal, and reassessing tolerance and respect feels like a good strategy.

Now that we are in the swing of it, I can write about parenting again, and the story has just been approved.

Page 24

R e ad e r A d v en t ure

Family unites for Zimbabwe trip Holding baby crocodiles and snakes, experiencing new foods, long drives and baths in buckets were all part of a three-week holiday for SALLY MARANGE and her eight relatives. She shares her story...

L

AST year, when my son Tyler was four years old and daughter Summer was two, we went on a huge family holiday to Zimbabwe for three weeks.

Also along for the fun were my parents on their first trip to Africa and my husband’s two sisters and one brother - a total of nine people on our big African adventure!

My mother-in-law met us at the Victoria Falls airport (Zimbabwe) to join in our family holiday, arriving with two cars, so we could roadtrip around the country.

We started at Victoria Falls, where we stayed at the amazing Elephant Hills Resort, enjoying sunset cruises, and the beautiful waterfall walking track in the National Park.

A few days later we headed south to my in-laws hometown of Chiredzi.

Here our kids, Tyler and Summer, got to meet the rest of the family and make new friends with the kids, playing soccer, skipping and colouring in.

We also went on some drives through national parks seeing some amazing animals up close and in their real habitat!

Our next roadtrip was to Mutare in the east to visit Tyler and Summer’s Great Grandma’s.

Our final destination was to Harare, the capital city where Summer visited a hair salon and had hair extensions braided in!

I was so proud of the kids giving everything a go, language barrier, new friends, holding baby crocodiles, snakes and chameleons, new food, long drives, no toys and baths in buckets.

It was a great learning experience for them and they keep asking if they can go back next weekend!

Page 25

H o sp i t al

The best but hardest job in the world Pregnancy and childbirth is a time traditionally associated with happiness and celebration. It is also a time of tremendous adjustment for the new parent. Raphael Centre manager, SUZANNE HIGGINS, shares some facts on what to expect after giving birth and some helpful survival skills.

W

E often overlook the enormous challenges associated with becoming a parent and also the reality that for many of us it is the first time we have had major responsibility for a newborn baby.

These challenges manifest in our relationships (family, friends, partner and work), day to day activities and our bodies.

In addition to coping with all this change we also need to develop a whole new range of skills.

Change isn’t necessarily bad, but it can require some time to adjust.

Some people weather these adjustments more easily than others and our personality style may play a part in how our ‘transition to parenthood’ unfolds.

When counselling new parents, I often ask them to reflect on the last time they started a new job which demanded a big increase in knowledge and skill.

I ask them to reflect on how long it took for them to feel really confident and competent in their new role.

Very often the answer is a matter of months or even a year. I then ask them to extend the same courtesy to themselves in their new role as a parent.

Very often new parents have unrealistic expectations of both themselves and their baby.

These expectations are partially due to their lack of exposure to new babies and also their own lack of experience in being responsible 24 hours a day, seven days per week for a little person they don’t really know.

When you add to this the physical aftereffects from birth, sleep disturbance (at best) and sleep deprivation (a reality in the first few weeks) you can appreciate how challenging all of this can be!

Many women also are surprised that while they love their new baby and enjoy caring for it, they miss the social and remunerative aspect of paid work and cabin fever is not an unusual experience, particularly once the father goes

back to work.

Here at the Raphael Centre we believe parenting is one of the most important and challenging things you can do.

It is also one of the most rewarding and fulfilling (as Geelong families reported in recent research carried out by DHS).

However, it is challenging for both partners and requires patience, support and time for everyone to adjust.

In the first few weeks and months babies spend most of their time feeding, sleeping and crying.

Some babies cry more than others and some sleep less than others.

One of the challenges facing new parents is to get to know their own baby and its rhythms and cues and to develop some skills in caring for their little one.

I often talk with new parents about developing some ‘survival skills’ for these first few months.

These skills include sleeping or resting when they can, i.e. during the day, particularly if baby’s body clock isn’t set into a ‘family friendly’ pattern in the first few weeks (and most are not).

This is by far one of the most important survival skills to master in this early period.

In addition to sleeping when babies sleep, I also encourage new parents to allow for appropriate (as opposed to intrusive) support.

When friends and family offer to help, let them, but in a way that doesn’t compromise the time to rest and enjoy the getting acquainted time for you and your baby.

Giving yourself permission to recover from the birth, sit back, and watch nonsense on TV while cuddling your baby and making milk is a great way to spend an afternoon.

Believe it or not, this can be a challenging skill to develop if you are a “go getter” who’s used to accomplishing a lot in a day!

When you feel up to it, try to get a bit of

exercise but at a pace you’re comfortable with.

This will help you reconnect with your body and to build back some stamina.

Feeding, crying and sleeping patterns are always of concern to new parents.

In terms of expectations, it is reasonable to expect a newborn to have at least one unsettled period each day, usually from one feed time to another and one really unsettled day per week.

An infant may cry for up to three hours per day (the range is 1.75 - 3.5 hours) from six weeks of age.

This crying may occur late afternoon and evening between 6-14 weeks but then tends to be more spread out in older babies.

Babies cry as a means of communication, as a response to a need (discomfort, pain, lonely, hungry), as a complicated vocal-motoriccommunicative activity and because of illness or something being wrong.

Research indicates babies who have their crying attended to in early life tend to cry less as they get older i.e. they learn that their needs will be met and the world is a safe place.

Parents should seek assistance if they are concerned about the type and amount of crying, if they feel really distressed and unable to enjoy their infant, if either parent is depressed or overly anxious and definitely if the baby seems unwell or isn’t feeding well.

With sleep there is also a variation of what is considered ‘normal’.

A newborn requires between 16-22 hours of sleep out of every 24 hours (the average appears to be approximately 17 hours).

Active babies seem to need less sleep than placid babies. Babies have a shorter sleep cycle than adults, this means they cycle through the stages and may rouse or wake every 40 minutes or so. If lucky, the baby will resettle with minimal, if any, intervention and may to sleep for 1.5-2 hours at a stretch.

Sleep is a major concern for many new parents and it does engender a great deal of comment, not all of it helpful, from others

Sc hools Saving the orangutan AT Little River Primary School we had Orangutan Day, that is where we all dressed up as an orangutan or came in orange.

It was a gold coin donation and all the money that we raised we are using to adopt an orangutan for the school.

We made cup cakes to sell and sold badges.

The reason we had Orangutan Day was that we had been learning about saving orangutans and about palm oil, and why orangutan are endangered.

One of the saddest fact was Australia annually imports approximately 130,000 tons of palm oil.

ADAM MIZZI Student

who “just want to help” when you are trying to ‘learn the ropes’.

A newborn may need to wake at least two or three times during the night to feed in the early weeks.

As the stomach gets bigger and the baby develops a little more stamina it will often take larger feeds less frequently.

If your baby was very active during pregnancy, at night time when you lay down to sleep don’t be surprised if the biological clock performs the same way after birth i.e. your baby sleeps for longer stretches during the day and seems to want your company at night.

New parents often want to know if what they are feeling is ‘normal’.

Again there is a large range of ‘normal’.

Some parents feel overwhelmed with emotions, most of them positive and may find they are moved to tears more easily.

This is not unusual nor usually a cause for concern.

However, if a new parent is crying many times each day, often for no apparent reason, it may be a cause for concern and support from your local Maternal Child Health Nurse, GP or the Raphael Centre could be helpful.

In addition, the urge to protect your newborn is very strong and important but not being able to sleep because you are checking your baby five times an hour every hour overnight may be a cause for concern.

Most parents start off slowly with building confidence in their new role but having a total lack of confidence three months down the track may be a concern and again, support could be helpful.

The best thing you can do as new parents is to have realistic expectations, give yourself time to work out what parenting style works best for you and your partner and how to ‘read’ your baby’s cues.

Within a short time you will happier parenting your baby and feel much more comfortable as s/he continues to change and grow.

Page 26

S ch o o l s

Matthew Flinders go up, up and away M ATTHEW Flinders Girls Secondary College has a strong tradition of supporting students in all fields of endeavour, and the Performing Arts program is no exception.

In keeping with the whole school curriculum focus on differentiated and applied learning, the 2013 College production will see a team of talented young women performing in Eddie Perfect’s teen-themed play, Up. First performed in 2006 by the Victorian College of the Arts, the play focuses on a myriad of issues that are as relevant to today’s teenagers as they have been in the past.

It explores topics like growing up, fitting in, being different, gender roles and puberty through a performance that skilfully combines multiple story lines and song.

In a College that prides itself on being innovative, supportive and inclusive, the audition process and rehearsals have given students an opportunity to take risks, encourage one another and to showcase their own talents.

Cast member Caitlin Edwards is thrilled to be involved and has loved the chance to “meet new and amazing people who are all so lovely and make it so enjoyable”.

Fellow performer Rachael Aherne, who describes her character as a “boy crazy teenager” decided to get involved in the production because she “loves drama and acting and I wanted to further my experiences”.

She hopes audiences will leave the theatre realising that “teenagers don’t just think about themselves”, a sentiment echoed by Middle Years Captain, Jamica Williams.

She strongly believes the group is “creating something beautiful”.

And whilst Gemma Eastwood initially found “learning the songs and harmonies quite challenging”, she can’t wait for opening night when all the hard work comes together in what should be a dazzling performance.

Tickets are on sale now at GPAC for performances on August 14, 15 and 16.

Adults: $25; Child/Student: $10.

Students learn all about the environment BELLARINE Secondary College recently celebrated Environment Day. Our campus was lucky enough to have some visitors, all very educated in their environmental subjects.

Each class attended different sessions each period, which included topics such as, Plastics in the Waterways, Estuaries where the River Meets the Sea, Wadawurrung and the Environment and environmental postcards.

I personally found great interest in each of these topics, because when it comes to environment, I, as well as many other students I can imagine, know very little about our surroundings.

The volunteers who educated us all today knew what they were talking about, and they shared

with us some amazing facts and stories.

Many students, myself inclusive, never recognised how important the environment was to us all, but thankfully our visitors taught us about the current issues within our environment, and how we can improve them.

I learnt that the Barwon River remained at a consistent water level, because of water barrages place at the estuaries. Brian, also known as “Racehorse Goanna” in his the Wadawurrung language, taught us about the history of the Bellarine Peninsula, as well as informing us about some amazing facts related to life in the Wadawurrung tribe. Apparently, possum skin was used as clothing.

The process of making clothes with possum skin was not a sim-

ple one, which is why items made out of it is now very dear.

A stick known as a “Bundi” was used in wars and hunting.

Females and males each had a different design, with the women’s being a bit more “attractive.”

Every student in my class, 8A, got the opportunity to hold this lethal weapon.

Today was a great success from every perspective. Us students learnt an indescribable amount of information, and are now informed about how crucial the environment is to us, and how we can keep it in a good state.

I’m certain all the teachers also learnt something new, judging by the amount of information these volunteers packed into us!

It seemed like the visitors enjoyed sharing their information

with us, and overall today was enjoyed by everyone who was lucky enough to be involved.

I hope to see this day continue on an annual basis, and any Year

7 students should prepare to have lots of fun when participating in this event next year!

Dale Perkins, 8A

Re ad e r S to ry

If only I was... again I WAS talking with some old work colleagues the other day about our favourite age to be.

One of the older guys said he wishes he was nine again, like his grandson, without a care in the world. We disagreed.

Sure it would be fun to be nine. Your whole world would consist of playing with your friends and getting everything else done for you by your parents.

You are independent enough to get food and drink when you need it, walk to the shop by yourself with your buddies and hang out all day at the skate park or kicking the footy.

You still like kids movies and you might even still believe in the fat bearded man.

You still like your parents and fights with your mates are usually over who is the hottest in the band you love or the best player in your footy team. Life is still pretty simple.

I did agree that being nine was far better than being 15. I don’t know about you but for me being a teenager was just a

rollercoaster of the highest highs and the lowest lows. Your first kiss. Your first concert. Sleepovers at friends houses.

Getting ready for parties. Meeting the boy you liked at the local park. School camps.

But it was also, getting your period.

Wearing bathers in front of the whole school when you felt like you were the only person to have boobs!

That boy you liked kissing your friend.

Your friend lying about it. Your other friend telling you about it. Everyone talking about it.

Coming home from parties, drunk, vomiting, embarrassed and then hungover and having to go to work all Sunday at the icecream shop without spewing on a customer, or yourself.

Pretending to really like smoking cos everyone else did. Getting caught by your parents for sneaking out, having a party or wagging.

Not being allowed to go to your best friend’s sixteen birthday party because

you had to go on a family holiday to Warrnambool.

Yeah, there is nothing about that time that makes me want to go back and repeat it. And I had it pretty easy. I didn’t get picked on at school, and I didn’t do anything about those kids that did. For some people their teenage years were a horrible, cruel experience.

So we agreed on being in our early twenties again. Single, or madly in love.

Travelling to fabulous places with little money and low expectations and loving every minute of every experience that entailed.

Making life long friends at Uni, when your lunch break was spent at the pub and you discovered attributes and talents you never dared to believe you might have.

Dressing up, going out and dancing until you had to take off your shoes. Not being too accountable to anyone. Living out of home.

Pretending to be a grown up and then

going back to your parents for some cash, or home cooked food, or internet access.

Kissing someone you really liked for the first time.

I’m only in my thirties and my life has been rich and full and blessed.

I wonder when my kids are teenagers and I’m on the other side of the teenage experience that I might look back and remember my beautiful baby boys who still needed cuddles and stories and laughed at me in delight, rather than embarrassment. I wonder if then I will wish I was 35 again.

As I sleep in till 9 on a Sunday morning and have to wake my teenage sons up to go somewhere, can pee in private and take them both on an overseas plane trip, to somewhere that doesn’t revolve around playgrounds.

Will I look back fondly on the toddler years? Hmmm, I wonder.

Laura Gordon

Teacher, blogger and mum of two boys.

Visit wildchild.aussieblogs.com.au

Page 27

C o ast a l W a t c h

Sandboarders are damaging dunes Teenagers sandboarding down Ocean Grove Beach’s dunes are not only putting themselves at risk, but its coastal castles as well. Barwon Coast’s MADDIE GLYNN explains why dunes are so important and what you can do to protect them...

I

N a sense our sand dunes are coastal castles that are held together by the vegetation that gives them strength against attack from the energy of the waves and the wind.

Did you know that sand dunes keep our beaches healthy by protecting the beach?

“Our sand dunes are affected by the harsh coastal environment and naturally change over time. But human activities such as sandboarding down the dunes, and humans and dogs running up the dunes or walking in from the back of the dunes, threatens the strength of the dunes leading to erosion,’’ Maddie Glynn from Barwon Coast says.

Without the dunes how would we access the beach, without the dunes what will protect the adjoining towns? ‘‘So what happens when people and dogs enter the sand dunes where the plants and animals live?

Sand is simply loose particles of rock that do not bind together like garden soil.

Therefore once the sand is exposed to the wind, it is either blown into the back of the dunes burying important native plants, or blows out and slips down onto to the beach.

The loss of this vegetation means a loss of homes and food for the many native animals that live here.

When vegetation is lost, sand starts to move, then add the weight of humans and dogs.

It is now a dangerous mix for people who illegally enter the dunes. This loosen exposed sand becomes unstable and leads to slumping.

Slumping is the loose pile of sand that slips down the front of the dune, bringing with it extra sand .

The slumping material is extremely heavy and has the potential to bury someone who may be climbing or sandboarding the exposed area.

The weight of the sand has the potential to bury you alive, incur injuries such as broken bones, and squash all the oxygen out of your lungs.

“Our coastline continues to experience sandboarding activities and people and dogs entering the tops and back of the dunes,’’ Ms Glynn says. ‘‘This illegal activity is causing sand to be removed from the dune system at a faster rate. Coastal dunes should have limited interaction with humans in order for their protection and survival.’’

Over the years Barwon Coast has done and will continue to conduct sand dune rehabilitation works to stop the sand dunes eroding from human impacts.

The partnership program between Barwon Coast and the Department of Environment & Primary Industries Marine & Freshwater Discovery Centre will once again this year create awareness with

school groups taking part in the Coastal Cultural Program.

This program will educate students about the dangers of damaging the dunes and what we can all do to protect them.

But we need you the community to assist too. As land managers we are just one piece in the puzzle of responsible coastal management, and we ask that the community help us to educate others.

For the safety of your children, your pets and others, please ensure access to the beach is by the pathways, and you discourage children running up the dunes and taking part in sandboarding activities.

Let’s keep boarding activities to the water so the dunes can keep providing us with beach access.

Page 28

R e v i e ws M IS T R E SS Ja m es P at t e r s o n and D av i d El l i s - R and om house How well can you ever really know someone? As Ben Casper watches his best friend plummet from her sixth-floor apartment balcony, he realises his life is about to change. Diana had no reason to kill herself, she had to have been pushed. Diana worked for the CIA, so the investigation into her death is kept tightly under wraps. But Ben is a political journalist, and can feel that something isn’t right.

Ben starts investigating for himself and soon discovers Diana was leading a double life he knew nothing about. But when more people involved die in questionable circumstances, it’s clear that someone doesn’t want the truth to be uncovered. And unless Ben drops his investigation, he could be next…

SE C OND H ON EY M O O N Ja me s Pa t t er s on a nd H o w ar d R o ughan - Ra nd om hou s e

T HE T RUT H A B OUT

A newlywed couple steps into the sauna in their deluxe honeymoon suite – and never steps out again. When another couple is killed while boarding their honeymoon flight to Rome, it becomes clear that someone is targeting honeymooners, and it’s anyone’s guess which happy couple is next on the list. FBI Agent John O’Hara is deep into the case, trying to figure out who this deranged killer is. At the same time, Special Agent Sarah Brubaker is hunting another ingenious serial killer, whose victims all have one chilling thing in common. As wedding hysteria rises to a frightening new level, John and Sarah work ever more closely together in a frantic attempt to decipher the logic behind two rampages.

THE C R Y P TIC C A SE B O O K O F CO CO

CARLOM AGNO - T HE L O O M I N G L A M P

LIGHT Ur s u la Du b o s ar s k y - Al l e n and U nw i n

The CrypticCasebook of Coco Carlmagno- The Looming Lamp Light is about a police officer called Coco and a normal Guinea Pig called Alberta. One morning Alberta was about to have a bath when she saw a letter at her door. It was from her cousin Coco. Coco needed Albertas help with a flashing light problem in South America . They need to know who is flashing the light on and off. Is it the annoying Ernesto, the pillow robbers or someone completely different.

The Looming Lamplight is funny at times and I would suggest it for someone who likes mysteries and puzzles. If you have read EJ12 of Famous Five you might be interested in it.

Some of the codes that you need to break may need an adults help. It was short but a really good book. - Lily Jane Rainbow Hallam aged 8.

To win a copy of this book, LIKE our Facebook page facebook.com/ KidsVoiceGeelong and send us a message telling

This beautifully illustrated picture book follows the voyage of Captain Cook and his crew on the HMB Endeavour as they set out from England with royal orders to look for signs of the great southern land, known as Terra Australis.

With its engaging narrative style and whimsical illustrations this book is perfectly suited to early readers and for use in schools. This is the third book in the Meet . . . series: the bestselling picture book collection about the extraordinary men and women who have shaped Australia’s history.

WIN us why you’d like to win.

M E E T CA PT A I N CO O K R ae Mur d i e - R and o m ho use

VERI T Y

S PA RKS S usa n Gr een Wa l ker Books The Truth Abour Verity Sparks is a fantastic mystery story set in London in 1878. It is about a young orphaned girl who is 13and is named, “Verity Sparks” who gets itchy fingers when she knows that something is wrong or when she has lost something and needs to find it. Verity works as an apprentice miliner but after she is “set - Up” and accussed of stealing from Lady Throttle she gets fired and has to walk the streets of London alone. Soon she meets the nicest family ever and they own “The Confidential Inquiry Agency’ and work as detectives. Verity can help them to solve cases and they help Verity to uncover the Truth about her parents, why she was set up and other mysteries. I loved this book and now I am reading the second book called “Verity Sparks - Lost and Found” Luckily mum invited Susan Green to bookgrove and me and 28 other children got to hear all about how she invented Verity. - Erica Crawford , aged 10 years, student and bookseller at bookgrove.

Page 29

R e v i e ws GUNPOINT N o t r at e d - Ind i e G am e

Gunpoint is an Indie game that puts you in control of a freelance spy that is hired by different people to break into buildings and steal data, all trying to be as sneaky as possible. As you start off you only have a pair of bullfrog pants, which let you jump beyond your normal limits. After the second mission you are told to go to the shop and buy a crosslink, a device that will let you rewire light switches to doors and other stuff to help you with getting through electrical doors and you could never complete your missions without them. As you progress you are able to buy new items that provide an extra twist to the game such as the wirejack, which lets you edit other electrical circuits by finding the same coloured switchboard and activating it.

It has a nice story with a lot of twists but it is disappointingly short and I finished it within 4 hours. It would be one of my favourite games if the campaign was longer, but is only $9.99 and that is pretty cheap for a game these days. It was actually made in Game Maker, and this game is a good example of games made in GM. You should definitely buy this game if you like puzzle games with a hint of action. You can contact me at sushiphantom@gmail.com or play with me on Steam at Sushiphantom. Frag out for now! - Callum Bedson

THE TRAS H P A C K - S E W E R DU M P To y Kingdom

The new Trash Pack “Sewer Dump” brings a new meaning to playing with rubbish. With four exclusive, collectable characters affectionately titled ‘trashies’, the Sewer Dump sports a thrilling zip line, flushing toilet and exciting track to flick and dump rubbish with. The Dump comes with liquid ooze to land your trashies in, creating the most disgusting and hilarious effect and impression of a real sewer. Brightly coloured, with easy to use parts, hours of fun are possible with the Sewer Dump which is compatible with Trashies from any of the five series already released. The set can be complemented by other Trash Pack products like the Garbage Truck, Street Sweeper or the Dumpster, showing a whole new side to the life of rubbish. The “gross gang in your garbage” will highlight the fun side of disposing litter properly and keeping the world clean. Tates Toyworld on Shannon Ave, Geelong West and Market Square, stock a huge range of Trash Packs.

MOV I E RE VI E W S Sponsored by

JUNGLE BOOK

Kids, the school holidays may be over (Boo!) but that doesn’t mean you can’t head off to the movies! Convince the oldies to take you to see THE JUNGLE BOOK, the Disney musical classic getting a re-release on the big screen this August thanks to our good mates at VILLAGE CINEMAS. The best part is you won’t even have to extra household chores to convince the folks to take you, because they will want to revisit their own childhood memories and come along too! (Probably should still do the chores kids…)

Embark on a thrilling journey with the boy Mowgli as he makes his way to the Man Village with Bagheera, the wise panther. Along the way he meets jazzy King Louie, the hypnotic snake Kaa and the lovable happy-golucky bear Baloo, who teaches Mowgli “The Bare Necessities” of life and the true meaning of friendship. THE JUNGLE BOOK is a VILLAGE CINEMAS special event, screening every weekend from Saturday 3rd August to Sunday 25th August. All tickets are only $8, so swing into a jungle of fun!

GEELONG

THE WAY, WAY BACK

If you get a good laugh out of quirky comedies such as Little Miss Sunshine or Juno, then this is for you! The Way, Way Back is a poignant coming-of-age tale which sees 14-year-old Duncan head off on a summer vacation with his dysfunctional family. Having a rough time fitting in, the introverted Duncan finds an unexpected friend in the unreserved Owen, manager of the local water park. Taken under the wing by the wise, yet shameless, Owen, Duncan slowly opens up and begins to finally find his place in the world, all during a summer he will never forget. The classic adolescent tale of girls, family holidays and awkward teen moments is always great viewing and The Way, Way Back is eccentric, charming and a clear choice for something heartfelt this month.

Rev ie w s by M a t t L a n ca st e r ( a k a t h e M ovie Guy)

T U O B A S TELL U !

S T N E V E YOUR IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING HAPPENING IN YOUR AREA DROP US A LINE news@kidsvoice.com.au

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Cooking

s l l o r e Sausag

C r ea t i o ns An easy recipe for kids to follow. Depending on age, they may need help with the cooking of the vegies.

Also, make lots of bench space available so you can spread out. You can tweak the ingredients list if you like, and can easily leave out the egg.

Lately I have been halving the below recipe to feed our family of four, but making it all does leave plenty of leftovers for sneaky lunches.

METHOD:

Ingredients:

5 sheets Puff Pastry

(defrosted), 1 kg chic

2 medium carrots, 1

1 egg, 1 teaspoon dr

zucchini

ken mince

ied coriander

Salt and pepper (to

taste)

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C. Cook the vegies (I usually chop them up and microwave them covered with half a cup of water for four mins) and then puree or mash them.

Then mix all of the ingredients (except for the pastry) in a bowl.

Lay the pastry sheets flat and cut each one in half.

Then spoon a line of your filling down the centre of each half sheet.

Roll up and place on a tray lined with baking paper. Pop it in the oven and cook for 25 minutes.

Written by Megan Brooks, a mum of two beautiful kids who runs her business ‘Fudgalicious’ from home.

TOWN & COUNTRY PIZZA & PASTA Now with 7 great locations, Town & Country Pizza and Pasta is providing its delicous, quality pizza and pasta within a close distance to your home! A variety of Traditional and Gourmet Pizzas along with a ‘mix and match’ pasta and sauces menu. If you are planning your next family function or are in need of a nice family outing all of our restaurants are ready and able for takeaway, delivery or dine-in service. Most stores are open for lunch and dinner every day, so if your children have finished a hard day of sport, dance or recreation of some sort bring them in for a holesome, fresh meal and save yourself some energy!

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W h a t ’s Health & fitness EVERY MONDAY: Parent and toddler group fitness, 9-10am, Barwon Heads Community Hall, corner of Hitchcock Avenue and Ozone Street.

EVERY WEDNESDAY: Yoga and dance, 9.30am-10.30am, Barwon Heads Community Hall, corner of Hitchcock Avenue and Ozone Street.

KID’S DANCE CLASSES: Tuesday to Friday evenings, 4/22-26 Essington Street, Grovedale. Phone 0420 998 596.

KOOMBAHLA PARK EQUESTRIAN CENTRE school holiday program, phone 52562742.

GROUP FITNESS LARA: Monday and Wednesday, 9.30am Mums and Bubs/ Kids. Tuesday and Thursday 6pm, circuit.

Sunday 9am, running group. Foot Crt Lara. Phone 0403369917 www.yourmissionpossible.com

Education EVERY MONDAY: Road to Reading,

age-group sessions between 9am-3pm, at Uniting Church, Anderson Street, Torquay.

EVERY TUESDAY: Road to Reading, age-group sessons between 9am-1pm, Western Heights Uniting Church, Douglass Street, Herne Hill.

THE MUSICAL GARDEN: fun, educational music classes for young children in Geelong West. Contact Liz on 0415 977 860 or visit www.themusicalgarden.webs.com

Mums

Youth GIRL CONNECT 3241: Free community art program for women 14 and over.

Programs will run on Wednesday in Winchelsea from February to June.

Phone 5221 6333 or email geelong@ ywca.net

TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS: Freshwater Creek Steiner play groups- toddler’s group and 3-year-old groups- experience baking, singing, storytelling, crafts and free play. Phone 5264 5077 or visit www.fwcss.com.au EVERY WEDNESDAY: Pregnant Young Mum’s Club, Newcomb Community Health Centre, 104-108 Bellarine Highway, Newcomb. Phone 0423 603 633 or 52603333.

The fOrT Drop In youth centre, St Georges Rd, Corio (Old Tourist Information Centre-Stead Park), open Monday, Thursday and Friday, from 4pm, for anyone aged 12 to 25.

FIRST FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH: Greenmums, Moby, Esplanade, Torquay, 10am.

Submit your listings for What’s On at editor@kidsvoice.com.au

MONDAYS: Food for fOrT, 4-6pm.

THURSDAYS: Movie Night, 4-7pm.

MUSIC LESSONS: guitar and drums – bookings 0488 443 778.

EVERY THURSDAY: 4-6pm at StudioMade, A unique opportunity for kids > 8 years, to free fall on art, allowing experimentation and exploration of clay, wood and other organic materials. Visit geelongartstudio.com

Music

EVERY MONDAY: ‘acabellas kid’s’ singing and music group for primary school children, 4.30pm - 5.30pm, Kalkee Hall, 48 Thomson Street Belmont. Phone 0407 804 886 or visit www.acabellas.net.au

I think this picture of my daughter Kate, 2, reflects the joy and happiness of her seeing Harmony and Rhapsody at The Fairies open day on Tuesday, July 9 in Grovedale.

- Sonja Martin, Grovedale

EVERY TUESDAY: ‘acaBellaBubs’ singing and music group for bubs and pre-school children, 9.45am -10.30am, Geelong West Senior Citizens Hall, cnr Autumn and Pakington Streets Geelong West. Phone 0407 804 886 or visit www.acabellas.net.au

T ra de

D i re ct o ry

Business Oportunities

Health

Cleaning

IT support

Health

On

Parties

Toy library List your business in the Kids’ Voice trade directory.

Phone 0448 077 021 or email cath@kidsvoice.com.au

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