Kids' Voice June 2013

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Baby sleep tips - Puppy raising - GSODA Junior Players Students protest against tip - Sexting - Cadets to sail in Belgium Y O U R N E W 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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...to our June edition! Can you believe we are half way through the year already?

I think it’s about time the weeks started to slow down a bit!

A couple of things have been happening here at Kids’ Voice which we would love to share with you.

Firstly, our magazine has been in publication for just over six months now.

I think that’s pretty impressive considering the free publication was started from scratch, and the owner’s had no idea how it would be received throughout the parenting community.

But, Kids’ Voice is proving popular and attracting more and more readers every month, as our contributors and advertisers also increase.

I’m looking forward to seeing how successful the magazine is in another six months.

Secondly, we launched our very own website a couple of weeks ago.

While it’s been great to engage with readers through our Facebook page, which has almost hit 900 likers, people can visit www.kidsvoice.com.au to

view any of our past or present editions.

Here at Kids’ Voice we always welcome your comments, good and bad, as it allows us to give our readers what they want.

We recently received a comment from one reader who wanted us to include more stories focusing on teenage issues – which we are endeavouring to do.

One teenage issue we look at this month is sexting. Our technology writer Shelley Gross looks at the practice, which involves sending sexual messages or images or videos via text message.

We also attend a rehearsal with the GSODA Junior Players and share the story of eight Geelong cadets who will travel to Belgium next month to compete in a sailing championship.

Kids’ Voice aims to cater for parents of children aged between birth to 18 years.

We receive an overwhelming number of contributions from parents of young children, which is great and I hope they continue, but we would also love some parents of older children to share their stories too.

Lastly, I was recently on the lookout for a photo showing the love between a sibling or cousin to accompany my editorial.

I fell in love with this photo of Lucas and Max – it just made me smile!

Their mum Marina Milich, of Geelong West, said the photo of her sons was taken a little while ago but the

bond between the boys continues to grow.

Thank you to everyone who sent in photos and be sure to check out next month’s edition to see them.

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.

EDITOR

Ryder Dallas Smith 23/04/2013

Rebecca Launer editor@kidsvoice.com.au BUSINESS MANAGER

Katie Fiorillo Photography

Michele MItten

Mayah Lee Irvin 24/04/2013

ADVERTISING SALES

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

Robbie Mitten

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 14

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7 FEATURES

LETTERS & ADVICE

BIRTH STORY

8 Settling and sleep tips for babies

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

21 Remembering three little angels

TECHNOLOGY

PET CARE

7 Dixon puts his best paw forward 10 Youth theatre scene alive in Geelong

SCHOOLS IN FOCUS 11 Goodstart Early Learning - Lara 12 Little River Primary School

16 Sexting - it’s illegal but it’s happening

23 Don’t brush off your pet’s bad breath

HEALTH

COOKING CREATIONS

19 Screenings identify kids at risk

26 Have fun making mini pizzas

KIDS’ CORNER

READER STORIES

WHAT’S ON

14 Your candid photos of kids with their pets

17 New mum conquers bub’s first cold

27 Events happening in the Geelong region

13 Grovedale College

20 Geelong cadets set to sail in Belgium

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F e at u re

Dixon puts his best paw forward

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AREE O’Neill admits she will feel like a proud mum if puppy Dixon graduates to become a guide dog.

But the Belmont mum also knows her family will shed a few tears when it’s time for the playful Labrador Retriever to leave after their 12 months together.

“The kids realise he’s not ours and that he has a career to go on to and that we need to help him prepare for his career, but there will be a few tears when he goes,’’ Maree says.

“After his time with us he will do 20 weeks training and then if he passes we get to go to his graduation, which will be very exciting!’’

Maree says her husband Mark and sons Arthur, 13, and James, 10, decided to become puppy raisers because the cause was close to their hearts and they wanted a chance to road-test the breed.

“I have a three-year-old vision impaired granddaughter, Skylah, so we knew one day she might need a guide dog, so thought it would be a great cause,’’ Maree says. ‘’And we didn’t have a pet and we weren’t sure if we wanted to commit ourselves to a forever pet straight away.’’

While Maree says the puppy stage is very intense and involves a lot of hard work, there was nothing negative she could say about the experience to date. ‘’You suddenly have a baby and you have to mould him, but it’s so rewarding and he’s brought so much to us,’’ she says.

“He is so well bred and beautifully natured, and he loves people.

“If we put him out the back he will just sit at the door because he wants to come in and socialise.

Arthur and James with puppy Dixon. ‘’Even if he doesn’t make it as a guide dog I think he’ll make a good companion dog for somebody.’’

Maree says her sons, who feed Dixon under supervision, play with him, monitor his toys and take him out for ‘quick quicks’, have formed a close bond with the puppy.

“I’m always first up with Dixon in the morning because he’s an early riser,’’ she says.

“But if the boys aren’t up by a certain time he will stand at their door and woof for them to come and play.

“He’s very attached to them.’’

Dixon, who will turn five months old this month, recently earned his yellow coat which he must wear when he is out and about in training.

To get the puppy used to different surroundings, Maree started walking Dixon along their street and then will move on to a route which involves more traffic, and then work up to a shopping centre.

Dion and sisters Dara, Dahlia, Dallas and Delta.

The pup gets to see his family, including his mum, during training classes in Melbourne, and Maree says every time Dixon catches up with his siblings it’s a case of ‘roly poly, tumble tumble.’

Maree says advisors also visit her every six weeks to give the family guidance about what Dixon needs to be learning next.

While her family have put the time in to train the puppy, someone else has put in a lot of financial support.

“When he has his coat on and walking, he is fixed on what I am doing and we are constantly teaching him not to look at the bike, or look at the kids,’’ she says.

It costs $30,000 to train a guide dog and Dixon is named after his sponsor, who will also have the chance to attend his graduation ceremony.

“It’s hard because people say he’s so cute and want to pat him, but we have to say to them that they need to ignore him because he’s learning to ignore you.

But for now, the boys are enjoying some fun times with Dixon, which included making an obstacle course for him in their backyard.

“But when he is off his lead he is a normal playful puppy.’’

Dixon is from a litter of six whose names all begin with the letter D, including his brother

“We tried to challenge him by walking him on a slippery surface, so we got out the slip and slide,’’ James says.

- Bec Launer

How to become a puppy raiser...

Guide Dogs Victoria regularly recruits new puppy raisers to care, love and socialise Guide Dog puppies over a period of about 12 months, to provide training assistance in the early stages of a Guide Dog pup’s journey.

The role of a puppy raiser is to ensure the pups are toilet trained, able to walk on a lead and are introduced to the sights, sounds and smells they are likely to encounter as a working Guide Dog. The pups are returned to Guide Dogs Victoria at about 12 months of age where their potential as future Guide Dogs is assessed.

Those who make the grade go on to a further six months of intensive training.

The pups’ food is provided free, along with all veterinary care, and Puppy Raisers are fully supported by supervisors who visit every six weeks.

With minimal government funding, Guide Dogs Victoria relies heavily on the generosity of Victorians to continue to provide services completely free of charge.

To register to become a puppy raiser call (03) 9854 4444 or log on to www.guidedogsvictoria.com.au

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Feature

Settling and sleep tips for babies When their little bundle of joy arrives, parents quickly discover their new role requires considerable flexibility. They will often try many various strategies to help their baby settle and sleep better. HELEN STEVENS shares some gentle techniques.

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NTHROPOLOGISTS call the first three months of a baby’s life “the fourth trimester,” because humans are the most immature babies born of all species, excepting pouch dwellers.

That is what I call a human design fault, the lack of pouch should be compensated by a zip opening on the abdominal wall of every childbearing mother, but I digress.

Why then do we think a baby should sleep, undisturbed for hours?

Well, some do but then that same baby may wake and feed after 1 ½ hours after the previous feed, and may do this several times, then may sleep for five hours, then sleep for one or two hours.

Variations are TOTALLY normal, and parents can be forgiven for mistakenly thinking their baby is capable of long sleeps, and should therefore be able to do this more often.

Some parents just want their baby to have adult sleep patterns, then everybody would be happy... or

would they?

Babies are just not designed to sleep like adults, just as they are not designed to eat like adults. It all happens over time.

Most parents discover this new parenting role requires considerable flexibility. Babies are not naturally rigid in their patterns, so the kindest thing a parent can do is feed their hungry baby, comfort their baby when they are distressed, and allow them to sleep when they are tired.

As simple as it sounds, it is not always that clear. Some babies show tired signs quite clearly as they become restless, pale and just stare unfocussed for long periods.

Parents can see the signs and prepare their baby for sleep BEFORE they become overtired.

Other babies, however, are naturally more squirmy and alert, making it hard to see those fleeting glazed eye moments, and they look like they are full of energy.

The fact many active babies may be over stimulated and not able to calm for sleep. If the latter is the case with your baby, keep an eye on the time, not to be driven by the clock, but as a guide to think about when your baby might be needing sleep.

Babies need to feed for energy, then they use their energy while awake, then they need to sleep to rebuild their energy levels again; that’s why you hear so much about the feed, play, sleep pattern.

So when your baby has been awake and feeding and engaging with you for ABOUT 40 to 60 minutes, they will most likely be running out of energy and needing a sleep soon.

This is often time to look closely for those tired signs and begin preparing for sleep. Overtired babies have much greater difficulty drifting to sleep, so be watchful of the signs your baby is showing you.

Baby sleep doesn’t always come easily and often they need you to help them calm in preparation for sleep.

Handy hint ... there is nothing more beautiful than your baby falling to sleep in your arms, don’t let anyone tell you never to do that.

in a loving cuddle sometimes and other times allow them the opportunity to drift off to sleep in their bassinette/cot.

What you have to be mindful of is babies will learn how to sleep through what they experience, so ideally, allow your baby to fall asleep

If you see they are struggling with sleeping in their cot, offer them a few more opportunities to sleep there, and stay with them to help

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Feature SOME INTERESTING FACTS...

•Parents do not necessarily ‘need advice’ because their baby wakes overnight.

•Not all reports by parents are completely truthful; one third of parents lie about the sleep habits of their babies. In a 10,766 strong parent survey in 2012, parents said their babies and children slept well, even when they didn’t because they thought sleeping babies and children indicated they were good parents.

•A baby who wakes often overnight is not a ‘bad sleeper’, it is perfectly normal; a study of 1.364 families in 2012 found 66 per cent of six month-olds wake overnight AT LEAST once or twice a week and the remaining 34 per cent of six month-olds wake every night, and by the time they are two years old those wakings reduce to one night waking per week on average.

•In the first few months babies can hold the volume of milk in their stomach that is almost equal to the size of their clenched hand, so waking to feed frequently is necessary.

•Babies grow the fastest they ever will in the first years of life.

•Baby sleep is different to adult sleep. Waking to feed or cuddle a baby is expected.

•When crying babies are cuddled, their heart rate and circulating stress hormones decrease. them learn to calm and sleep in their cot. It is a slow gentle process and allows your baby to adjust.

Babies need to have intense emotions buffered by adults, until they gradually learn to manage intense emotions.

Leaving a baby to cry in their cot so ‘they learn to sleep’ makes no sense; all they learn to do is cry and learn that nobody is there for them when they are distressed.

Babies need soothing when distressed but they may respond to different comforting at different times. Some things that are known to be comforting for babies are cuddles, skin contact, rhythmical movements, quiet calm voices, breast feeding, swaddling, humming or just quiet singing.

Give your baby some time to respond to what you are doing, but if it’s not working, just try another one.

Mostly there will be something

that works, but if nothing is working for the moment; don’t give up because cuddling and containing a baby is very important while they are trying to manage overwhelming emotions.

Keep in mind, be kind to yourself, get rest when your baby rests and reach out for help if you need it.

Safe Sleep Space offers phone support 1300 775 337 for a booking, or talk with your nurse, doctor or family to be sure you have enough support.

- Helen Stevens Registered Nurse, Midwife, Maternal and Child Health Nurse, parent and professional educator, author and recognised expert in kind and gently baby and toddler sleep. www.safesleepspace.com.au

WIN

To win a Safe Sleep Space book or DVD, LIKE our Facebook page facebook.com/ KidsVoiceGeelong and send us a message telling us why you’d like to win.

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F e at u re

Youth theatre scene alive in Geelong Rehearsals are in full swing for the GSODA Junior Players’ upcoming production of Once upon a mattress.

KERSTIN LINDROS went behind the scenes to meet the talented group as they prepare for opening night.

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T’S Tuesday night and the hall behind White Eagle House starts to fill with noisy youths who are regulars at this establishment.

Welcome to the rehearsal venue of the Geelong Society of Operatic and Dramatic Arts Junior Players.

Girls and boys keep filing in. They step into more suitable footwear and greet each other with exuberant gestures.

These young people exude individuality although many are wearing the purple tshirt that features a pile of royal mattresses and a pea.

They chatter, hug and frolic. They perform turns and body rolls, while the members of the artistic team gather behind the table to call the throng to order so rehearsal can begin.

Sadat Jon Hussain, a junior player from 1980 to 1987 who returned many times as director or stage manager, is directing the upcoming production of Once upon a mattress.

“It is very much a family show for all ages,” he says.

“While there are some things that are more sorted to the adult humour, there are many facets that are aimed at children.”

Mr Hussain says all members of this artistic team, except the choreographer, are former junior players.

They come with an understanding of the operations and lots of experience in performing.

“However, having non-company members in production roles also brings a wealth of opportunity,” he says.

Debbie Fraser is the artistic adviser of this show and also designed set and costumes.

Ms Fraser joined GSODA in 1967 and continued her involvement to give back to the company and to keep a wonderful tradition alive.

She says GSODA with its 64 performing members is quite unique.

“Being members and being cast from within the company - for that age group 11 to 17 - it is difficult to find,’’ she says. ‘‘They learn stage craft, camaraderie and team work.’’

A door at the back of the rehearsal hall leads into the wardrobe department.

Here, long racks full of colourful costumes fill the large room that smells like an old house full of treasure. A sewing machine buzzes and a few ladies measure up girls and pin hems on dresses.

Mandee Oakes appears with a purple dress over her arm. She is the show’s wardrobe coordinator.

“The wardrobe designer creates the look of the show and I make it happen,” Ms Oakes says.

She spends six hours each week out here and another six at home.

“And this will continue pretty much until we hit theatre,” Ms Oakes says.

“It becomes a way of life after a while.”

Front row: From left - Lucy Colson, 13), Jasmine Dober, 14, Maggie Evans, 11, Grace Tucker, 11, and Cooper Stevens, 12.

Back row: Caitlyn Oakes,12, and Geoffrey Lamb, 14.

She does it to support her two daughters.

Now Caitlyn Oakes is called to wardrobe.

The purple dress on her mother’s arm is hers, and soon she reappears as a courtier.

Material is draped around her to see if it is suitable for her tabard.

Caitlyn, 12, was accepted into the company this year.

She enjoys learning to perform and appreciates gaining social skills and confidence.

“It takes a while to get confident,” she says.

“But after you get to know the people and how they run the company, it gets easier.

“The way they teach you things is in a fun way. Everybody is really friendly.”

Geoffrey Lamb, 14, enjoys his second year with GSODA and plays a knight at the court of King Sextimus.

Like Caitlyn, he loves the theatre experience and the people he works with.

“They give me love, kindness, acceptance and support. It’s like a second family,” he says.

He also understands the commitment.

He says he listens, so he knows what is expected of him, especially towards the end when everyone needs to work as hard as possible.

Mandee and Caitlyn Oakes.

“Without discipline you can’t have a successful show,” he says.

Geoffrey is hoping to study at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in Perth after finishing school.

with amateur theatre. But for now, here at the hall, the full cast is singing An opening for a princess in three part harmony.

Perhaps some of the girls and boys who are here today will become professional actors and performers.

It is not long to go now before the curtain will rise and the Junior Players can showcase their remarkable talent again.

Others may develop a life-long love affair

Chookas, everyone?

Once upon a mattress is at the Playhouse from June 22 to 29.

To buy tickets call GPAC on 5225 1200 or visit www.gpac.org.au

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Goodstart Early Learning - Lara

K i n d er

Hi everyone from our kinder at Goodstart Lara!

I’m four years old and wanted to tell you all about our amazing kinder.

We go to kinder two full days a week in the Wombat group and the Wallaby group go two days as well.

There are lots of things for us to do when we play inside in our Pre-Prep room and outside in our huge yard.

We get to do lots of amazing experiences in our educational program and most importantly we learn and grow through play.

Play is our ‘work’ and it makes sure we are learning, developing, growing and healthy.

Our kindergarten teacher Rachael and our trained educators Millie and Kerry help us to discover new things every day and intentionally provide lots of activities and experiences for us to explore.

My teachers say our learning environment makes sure we are strong and capable little people who are constructors of our own knowledge so what we do is ‘emerging’ from what we know and what we do.

They focus on what we can already do and build on these skills and our learning helping us to become independent little people ready for school next year.

They said everything we do is based on the Early Years Learning Framework but we just know that everything we do is fun, exciting and interesting!

We have lots of people who come to kinder to visit us like pet education, a dentist, some reptiles, a crossing supervisor and ThingleToodle the traffic safety mascot.

The other day we even had eggs and they hatched into baby chickens for us to look after!

There are even lots of times when we get to go out to special places like the Werribee Zoo, the fire station, the library and the police station.

Every month some of the kinder children go to the nursing home to spend time with the residents participating in activities, it’s always lots of fun meeting new people and exploring our local community.

We get to go outside everyday at kinder to explore our big spaces.

There is always lots of work to do looking after our vegetable garden, picking herbs in the herb garden and watering all of the plants.

When we are playing there is a big cubby house to explore, a sandpit to dig in and a bike track to ride fast on.

We are looking after our planet as well!

Every day we put our fruit scraps in the compost bin, we save power for earth hour and use lots of recycled materials.

Next we are going to make a worm farm as well!

From a happy little Pre-Prep!

Early experiences influence life outcomes - a good start lasts a lifetime!

Our Centre is located at 20 Clover Street, Lara and provides care and education for children from six weeks to six years as well as providing before and after school care for the three Lara Primary Schools.

For more information about Goodstart Lara contact us on 0352823645 or email lah@goodstart.org.au

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Pri m a ry

Students protest against rubbish tip GRADE 4/5 students at Little River Primary School have written letters to oppose the proposal of a rubbish mound measuring more than 100 metres tall being allowed in their local area.

The rubbish tip is already 24 metres high and is an eyesore on the grasslands. The students are outraged it will be allowed to get to over 100 metres tall.

Here are a few letters from students which have been sent to local councillors at Wyndham council. Our students look forward to raising awareness for this issue and having their voice heard.

Katie Durst Teacher – Grade 4/5 Little River Primary School

To whom this may concern,

School.I live and I go to Little River Primary Hi, I’m Tallinn. I’m 10 years old dad. I want my ekends I live in Werribee with in Lara with mum and on we ering problem. to help change this absurd litt care toyndam” did they even have any Before they made “mount wh untain is mo s what I hear, definitely not! Thi wards any of the locals? From high? m 150 it asuring 24m can you imagine I’d DISCUSTING! It stinks now me sed ras bar uld look terrible I’d be so em ul Oh the odour there’ll be. It wo utif bea the country! Plus it’s blocking off want to move to a different view of the you yang’s. ady had a on with all this litter. It’s alre It would have so much polluti pacific garbage Have you heard of the great massive effect on the ocean. patch? about littering ironmentalist) came in to talk When Tim Silverwood (an env use more rubI was humiliated! We need to and when he mentioned this are killed each . The amount of animals that bish that won’t harm sea life Hawaii that en Tim showed us beaches in year is an ABSURD amount. Wh are dying. In s shocked. Even land animals were covered in rubbish I wa and DYING! India cows are eating rubbish . It would refund for recycling (like in SA) I would like it if we got a 10c . It would help bin the in h bis ycle and put rub encourage most people to rec bish is better supplies they need. And all rub people get money to buy the wonderful rivers isn’t it? in the bin rather than in our er, because time to read this amazing lett Thank you for giving up your bably feel pro als loc ee you should agr Now y. bus ely rem ext r you w I kno be nice to much pollution and it would they don’t have say, there’s too you don’t And ult. res r rd to hearing you have a 10c refund. I look forwa ? you do m a tower of trash, want our view blocked of fro Yours sincerely Tallinn Andrewartha

To who this may

concern,

I am writing to yo u because I wou ld like you to stop Wyndham in Wer making Mount ribee, hear are so me reasons why ...

I most definitely think it stinks re ally badly, besid shopping places es it makes all th stink that are ne e ar by also the same houses that are goes with the nearby they get re al ly tain filled with ru stinky because th bbish is near all at big mounthose places.

I am so devastat ed about the fact that it is blocking view of the You our beautiful Yangs because th e You Yangs are pr top favourite th obably one of ou ings that you ca r n see in Werribee up to the size of and with it grow 100 meters we w in g ill not be able to se at all. e the You Yangs I think we all know it looks terrible and do you wan represented as a t Werribee to be place that has a massive mountai of rubbish. I do no n filled with a lo t think so. ad So just stop and think about it an d realise the fact terrible and it is that it stinks look blocking our beau s tiful view of the you I am looking You Yangs. Than forward to hear k ing your response .

Kind regards Mia-Angelina

ies I’m just anything about other countr P.S: I know you can’t really do . this country to end up like stating it’s not how we want

My name is Thomas Re ynolds. I am 11 years old and I’m from Little Riv mountain of rubbish in er Primary school. I am Werribee. writing to you today to tell you to get rid of th e Here are some reasons why!

The Werribee tip is so smelly when I went th ere with Dad I was shoc already so high above ked at how smelly it wa the ground and I can’t s. The reason that it’s imagine what someon smelly is because it’s ro e would think when th tten and I can’t believe you coun ey walk past. cillors are thinking of ma king it 120 meters high, You-Yangs and it looks that’s just ridiculous. Yo terrible. u would block everybo dies view of the wond erful I would recommend th at you move that pile of trash! Birds come do madness. How do you wn and eat the trash on think the birds are fee the ground; it kills them ling? so please put a stop to this So please move that pil e of rubbish so you do n’t harm or kill anymor e animals.

From Thomas Reynold s.

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Grovedale College GROVEDALE College is a medium sized secondary school with the resources required to meet a diverse and growing range of individual students.

It is also small enough to achieve the intimacy which allows staff and students to develop positive relationships in a friendly and supportive learning environment.

This creates a sense of belonging and community, which translates into collective pride and high achievement.

The College has spacious and attractive grounds, including leafy courtyards and an excellent AFL oval with light towers.

The site is well serviced by public transport and school charter buses to Geelong, Torquay, Jan Juc, Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Winchelsea and Barwon Heads.

Grovedale College has high expectations of its students. It believes every student can experience success and go on to graduate as a responsible, resilient and resourceful young adult, well prepared to take charge of their future.

Programs at Grovedale are stimulating, rewarding and forward looking.

The focus is on the whole student development by embracing academic progress, the building of character, self-determination, confidence and a sense of self-worth.

Grovedale College understands the importance and value of a carefully planned and administered transition program for its Year 7 students.

Transition begins with a carefully structured program at Years 4, 5 and 6.

Primary students visit the College for cultural, sporting, science and technology experiences prior to commencing their secondary schooling.

A three day Orientation Program takes place in December. These onsite experiences help primary students to quickly form new friendships, broaden their horizons, meet secondary teachers and to build self-confidence ready for their commencement at Grovedale.

On commencement at Grovedale, Year 7 students experience the personal care of a Home Group teacher as their first point of contact and level of support.

Compact home group teaching teams and the support of Year 10 peer leaders enable Middle School students to quickly develop positive relationships with staff and each other.

The College is structured with a middle school for Years 7 to 9 and Senior school for Years 10 to 12 students.

The College has been proactive in developing a range of effective strategies for enhancing teaching and learning in the middle years.

These strategies build on middle schooling approaches being progressively introduced to Years 5 and 6 in our feeder schools.

The College emphasis in Years 7, 8 and 9 is on the fundamental skills of literacy, numeracy and the use of

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learning technologies across all subjects in the curriculum. Good study habits, regular homework and pride in achievement are encouraged, expected, rewarded and celebrated.

In the senior school the emphasis is on academic rigour, initiative and selfdiscipline along with an expectation of excellence.

A highly disciplined and collaborative work ethic among staff, students and their families support each student’s quest for VCE success and successful career pathways. Senior students enjoy and benefit from a young adult learning environment in the Senior School Study Centre.

Senior staff are located in the centre to provide easy access, immediate advice, counselling and support for students. Further support and enhancement is provided by a structured personal development program which includes study skills, time management, exam preparation and tutoring.

A prestigious sports academy program allows Grovedale College students to combine their academic studies with specialised sports training and skills development under the direction of an outstanding team of teachers and coaches.

Students selected for the academy program use school time to further hone their sports and leadership skills under the direction of the college’s director of sport and a specialist team of elite level coaches.

Students invited to join the unique program participate in training, coaching and leadership activities along with high level competition at a local, regional and state level.

The program has been developed in partnership with the Grovedale Sports Club and the peak body of each academy sport. Australian Football League, Cricket Victoria, Netball Victoria and Football Federation Victoria ( Soccer).

Scholarships are available to students who have demonstrated outstanding sporting skills and potential.

Grovedale College celebrates a

dynamic and diverse visual and performing arts program. A strong instrumental music program provides students with the opportunity to learn on both an individual and group basis, and to perform in a range of ensembles.

The College recognises fine arts, visual communication, digital art and multimedia studies as important elements of the creative arts curriculum.

For more info or to organise a tour contact Assistant Principal, Mr Davin Reid, on (03) 5245 4545.

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Finn and his Golden Retriever Snowy.

Sara Bonnici, Geelong West

Imogen with her pet guinea pig Sparkles.

Belinda Blackley, Grovedale

Scarlet and her 12-week-old kitten Amy.

Toppy Taylor, Barwon Heads

Olivia and her puppy Albie.

Katie Fiorillo, Lara Zac and Jessie relax on the couch.

Rebecca Costa, Whittington

Bella and her puppy Rocco.

Kate Duncan, Whittington

Ariarna and Muffin snuggling up!

Chloe Janev, Grovedale

Send your photos to editor@kidsvoice.com.au

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L ET T E R S & NE WS

Support the Special Care Nursery redevelopment THE Geelong Hospital Appeal needs your help to redevelop Barwon Health’s Special Care Nursery.

The nursery has comfortable space for 13 cribs and limited area for storage and equipment.

The Barwon Health and Cotton On Foundations are working together to raise $3.8million to fund the redevelopment.

Many people in the community rely on the nursery and with your support and donations the redevelopment will be started next year.

Get involved – Volunteer on the Geelong Hospital Appeal Queen’s Birthday Giving Weekend, Saturday June 8.

Face of the Geelong Hospital Appeal, baby Archie, with Special Care Nursery nurse Meg.

Another 50 volunteers are needed to join the team of tin shakers on the main roads around Geelong, Leopold and Torquay.

Shifts are about three hours and new volunteers are often surprised about how much fun tin shaking is! Volunteers receive a goodie bag and a certificate.

Otherwise, you can donate to the Geelong Hospital Appeal on the Queen’s Birthday weekend or online at geelonghospitalappeal.org.au Donations can be made at any local Bendigo Bank branch all year round as well.

For more information contact The Barwon Health Foundation at foundation@barwonhealth.org.au or call (03) 42158900.

Thank you!

The Barwon Health Foundation team geelonghospitalappeal.org.au

Kids Helpline launches appeal to meet increasing demand

The charity is aiming to raise in excess of $150,000 by June 30, 2013, to provide more front-line counselling staff, with taxable donations coming from individual giving and corporate donations, and tickets purchases in the current BoysTown Prize Home.

Kids Helpline General Manager, Wendy Protheroe, announced the new appeal, which coincides with the 7th anniversary of Child International Helpline Day, as Kids Helpline data showed more children were looking for advice regarding problems at home.

“We have seen a marked increase in calls regarding family relationship concerns, with the issue ranking as the number one reason why children between the ages of five and 18 contact us,” she said.

“In the past week alone Kids Helpline counsellors have engaged in 238 counselling sessions where the child or young person was seeking help about a family relationship concern.

“We have had contact with children as young as five years of age and almost two in three family relationship concerns are focused on the child or young person seeking help about improving their relationship with one or both parents.

“Concerns discussed can cover a range of topics including a child wanting to strengthen the relationship with their parents, wanting more connection, more time with, acceptance, understanding or affection from parents.”

Ms Protheroe said she wanted to put on more counsellors to deal with the demand as there are calls that go unanswered. This would only be possible if more funds were raised.

International Child Helpline Day was the global occasion for child helplines to call attention to their work in protecting and empowering children and young people.

“Every two minutes we respond to a child or young person in need. Thirtytwo times a day we talk about suicide; 46 contacts each day are about self-injury and each day 80 young people reach out to us because of a serious mental health concern.

“Across the world on May 17 we celebrated the remarkable achievements and dedication of our child helpline members,” she said.

‘‘Last year, our counsellors interacted with 285,000 contacts from children and young people, an increase of 15,000 contacts since 2011, and this year we want to do more.’’

“By listening to children and young people and giving them a voice, we hope to nurture and support a younger

generation who are empowered, resilient and informed about their rights.”

To make a tax deductable donation to the Kids Helpline’s annual appeal go to www.boystown.com.au/donate or phone 1800 552 033.

Kids Helpline is Australia’s only national 24/7 counselling service specifically for children and young people aged 5 to 25 years.

Free call 1800 55 1800 or online at www.kidshelp.com.au

But it is not just the serious issues which children discuss with counsellors.

“At Kids Helpline there is no issue too big or too small that kids can speak with our tertiary trained counsellors about,’’ she said.

“Kids can call us 24 hours a day, seven days a week and discuss anything from what they are doing at school through to body image or problems related to drug or alcohol abuse,.’

Kids Helpline chose International Child Helpline Day, for which this year’s theme is ‘Empowering children and young people’, to launch its appeal because it was important to call attention to the efforts of child helplines around the world.

“Since Child Helpline Day was founded in 2003, child helplines from around the world, including Kids Helpline, have received more than 126 million contacts,” she said.

Nenita La Rose, Executive Director of Child Helpline International said

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

Submit letters to editor@kidsvoice.com.au

Katie Fiorillo Photography

AUSTRALIA’S only national children’s counselling service, Kids Helpline is launching a new fundraising appeal aimed at providing more counsellors, as new data points to a spike of calls regarding family relationship concerns.

Page 16

T e ch no l ogy

Sexting - it’s illegal but it’s happening What is sexting and is it illegal?

Even though you may feel that the photo or video is fun now, this may be something that your own children will be able to watch in the future.

The term sexting is sending sexual messages or images or videos via text message.

If these are of children under the age of 18, this is considered child pornography.

The Internet Watch Foundation in 2012 estimated that almost 90 per cent of selfmade explicit images were stolen.

Should you receive one of these messages and you store it on your phone or forward it to another person you could be charged and serve up to 15 years in prison.

You could also be added to the Sex Offenders Register.

It is a crime if you make, send out or have an ‘offensive’ picture under the age of 18 who is...

- showing their private parts, - posing or acting in a sexual way, - in the presence of someone involved in a sexual activity, or - involved in a sexual activity.

For example, a 16-year-old girl who has taken a video of herself doing a ‘sexy’ dance in her underwear and sends it via text to her boyfriend.

Or, a 17 year old boy who takes a photo of his private parts and sends it to someone else’s mobile phone. So even though the girl is not showing any of her private parts, and the boy has not shown his face they are both committing a crime.

Why are teenager’s sexting?

Teens are claimed to send sext messages because of peer pressure, competition and playing flirtatious games.

It only takes a couple of seconds for a text message to be distributed. So if you send it to only one person, before you have time to eat your lunch, the whole school could have a copy.

The consequences could be bullying, poor self-esteem, eating disorders, selfharm and even cases of suicide.

What should I do if I get a sext?

So we all have to be mindful to not send images or messages, but we also have a responsibility to take action if we receive a sext.

It is often the case that teenagers are not aware of the consequences, and that sexting is in fact against the law.

Risks It is important to remember that once you send a text message, it is now public property.

Even if you are sending the message to one of your closest friends, you need to remember that this message may be found again in the future.

Think before you send, as it could reappear years down the track when you are going for a job interview.

There are some options for teenagers.

The most important thing is to not share that image, message or video with anyone else.

You should then report it to someone with authority. This may be a teacher, parent or police.

By keeping the sext on your phone, you are committing a crime, so these messages should be deleted immediately.

How can I protect my teen from sexting?

There are a few things you can do to protect your child from sexting, which includes

making them aware of the consequences of their actions.

Ensure they understand that when a message is sent, it becomes public property.

Parents need to keep up to date with new technology and make sure they are aware of what their child is using.

Encourage your children to talk about any issues or problems that they may be having.

Some signs to look out for are your child’s reluctance to socialise with friends, or them becoming disinterested in school.

They may also display abnormal behaviour or a sudden change in their moods.

Try to keep communication channels open with them, and if you feel that they have something to say but are apprehensive, suggest another adult that they may wish to confide in.

Relevant Links If your child would like more information on sexting, they can contact Kids’ Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or visit their website at www.kidshelp.com.au or the Youth Hotline on 1800 10 18 10.

If you suspect that your child has been a victim of sexting, contact Parentline on 13 22 89.

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

Page 17

R e ad e r S t o ry

New mum conquers bub’s first cold

I

SAID to my husband over the phone, “It sounds like she’s trying to breathe through a snorkel - I’ll phone Nurse on Call and ring you back”.

home” she said reassuringly. She talked to me about humidifiers and warm showers and suggested tips on helping to clean my baby’s nose. “Can you do that?” I asked rather shocked.

For me being a first time mum is like being appointed as the CEO of a company you’ve heard of but know very little about.

The only way I knew to clean a nose was to blow it and whilst I, like all mums, believe my baby is brilliant, I know that blowing her nose is beyond her skill set.

You are surrounded by colleagues that have a tonne of advice on getting the job done, but for some reason very little seems to be black or white and there’s no right or wrong way of doing things.

“Yes” the nurse laughed and went on to explain about warm salt water solutions, eye droppers and cotton balls.

Even the subject matter experts in your company’s field (the MCH nurses) seem to have varying opinions.

I hung up the phone feeling much better and after a quick nose clean my baby even managed a smile so I knew I was on the right track.

And to top it all off the person, self appointed I might add, who does your performance appraisal is anybody game or foolish enough to open their mouth around you when they think you could be doing a better job.

That being said I thought I was doing a pretty good job as a first time mum to my darling three-month-old.

I mean, apart from some initial feeding problems and that one time I failed to clean in between my baby’s neck rolls (my mother pointed it out to me on one of her visits) I had been feeling reasonably confident.

Until now... my little girl seemed fine otherwise, still taking her bottle, sleeping a little less than usual but she still has no real sleep routine so it was hard to tell.

She was a little grizzly and kept pouting her bottom lip (sad face) but the real cause for

I spent a bit of time beating myself up about taking her to the doctors with me the week before and subjecting her to the flu ridden waiting room.

concern were the sounds she was making.

It was as though she was just chock full of boogers, the gurgling noises were too much to bear.

I checked her temperature for the first time ever, cursing myself for throwing away the packaging to her thermometer when I was setting up the nursery.

“I guess this is right?” I thought to myself popping it in her armpit and google searching ‘normal temperature for a baby’ on my

phone. I then dialled the number for Nurse on Call.

The lovely nurse on the other end of the line went through a heap of questions about my baby’s general health and behaviour, things like, has she been feeding normally? Have her lips turned blue? Has she travelled to the Northern Territory in the last month? Ok, that last one seemed a bit odd but there must be a reason for her asking.

“I think this is something we can manage at

And for not accosting my Dad when he sucked on her dummy ‘to clean it’ before popping it into her mouth after having just revealed he had a slight cough.

Then I reminded myself that when I was pregnant I swore I wouldn’t wrap my child in cotton wool, so these are the consequences.

Really it wasn’t all that bad. If I can handle a sniffly nose I can handle anything right?

Jenny Ellmers

Lara

Page 18

Page 19

Health

Q&A Some people at school are worried because we think our friend has anorexia. Is there anything we can do for her?

It’s a great idea to eat healthy and stay in shape, but when it goes to an unhealthy or extreme level, a person might be developing an eating disorder. Although many people are unhappy with their weight, someone who starts to do things that are emotionally or physically dangerous in order to lose weight may have an eating disorder.

Signs of an eating disorder can include: - compulsive exercising - always going to the bathroom right after eating - drastic weight loss - eating a lot, often uncontrollably - fear of gaining weight - constantly talking about weight and

food - not getting menstrual periods - eating only in private - preoccupation with calorie counting and nutritional information People with eating disorders need help or they can get very sick. Try talking with your friend and expressing your concern. Sometimes this can help — other times, people are in denial or are afraid they’ll be talked in to gaining weight.

Encourage your friend to talk to a parent, counselor, or doctor about getting help.

If your friend doesn’t get help, you may need to talk to your parents, school guidance counselor, or nurse.

www.kidshealth.org

Screenings identify kids at risk

B

•Fitness and flexibility

ELLARINE Community Health’s (BCH) Child Health and Development Team are this year offering free screening assessments for children aged three and four years at their Drysdale Centre.

•Fine motor skills: such as cutting and drawing •Cognition and problem solving •Decreased social engagement and play skills •Inappropriate behaviours of concern

The assessment will allow qualified allied health professionals to screen children for any issues related to their development in the areas of speech and language, movement, coordination, diet, behaviour, concentration, oral health and social skills.

The aim of the program is to be able to identify children early who are at risk or who may require additional support for delays in various areas of development.

Staff will be able to provide reassurance, education and suggestions to parents about their child’s development.

Where an issue is identified, parents will be advised to refer to BCH for a full assessment and possible treatment, referred to another appropriate service or provided with information regarding areas to work on at home.

In previous years, a small number of staff on the team went out to local kindergartens and childcare centres on the Bellarine Peninsula to undertake these screenings during kindergarten session times.

The uptake has been tremendous and well supported by the local teachers and parents and has resulted in improved relationships between services to better support children in need on the Bellarine.

•Dental care and concerns •Diet and nutrition, including food allergies and intolerances and fussy eaters

Ashlyn Ellingsen, Sophie Hart and Ocupational Therapy student Therese Doohan.

•Speech and language: such as comprehending instructions/information, speech sounds, forming sentences and stuttering.

•3.5year old maternal and child health key age and stage check.

This year a new format is being introduced and we are inviting families to come and visit the BCH Child Health and Development team at their Drysdale Centre.

If you have concerns about your child’s development or need advice in any of the above areas, please feel free to come along to our screening days and meet the team.

We are also very excited to have the whole team involved on the day, enabling a wide range of a child’s development to be screened.

Wednesday, July 3: Three year olds, 9am 12pm / Four year olds, 1pm - 4pm.

Our team speech pathologist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, podiatrist, dental therapist, dietitian and maternal and child health nurse will be available to discuss parents concerns and screen children in the areas of: •LEG and foot deformities: such as flat feet and intoeing

Wednesday, July 24: Three year olds, 1pm – 4pm / Four year olds, 9am – 12pm.

Please register your child by calling reception on 5221 2291 or emailing earlyyears@bch.org.au.

We look forward to assisting you in helping your child to achieve a healthy future.

•Footwear •Gross motor difficulties: i.e. jumping, throwing balls, riding a bike •Balance and co-ordination issues

Bellarine Community Health Centre, 21 Palmerston Street, Drysdale

Page 20

R e ad e r S t o ry

Geelong cadets set to sail in Belgium S

AILING, for many is known as a sport, but for us it’s a lifestyle.

ling with the team to Belgium.

Two to four nights a week we, Liam Robinson, 16, Nathan Field, 11, Emily Goodfellow, 15, Emma Kelly, 10, Darcy Baranowski, 16, Dominic Randall, 13, Thomas Alexander, 14, and his sister Sophie, 11, find ourselves down at the Royal Geelong Yacht club training hard in all conditions or battling it out in races with other competitors.

With eight cadets from RGYC forming part of the 16 Cadets that make up the Australian Team, there has never been such a strong representation from Geelong before.

However, we also travel to all corners of the state, country and even the globe doing what we love.

This July, all eight of us and our families will be travelling over to Belgium to compete in the 2013 International Cadet World Championships.

The 10-day event held in the North Sea will be a test of our abilities and everything we have learnt.

This is a massive achievement in which we are all so proud to have the opportunity to represent our country.

Meanwhile, the parents and kids have been raising funds to help support their campaign to Belgium – from chocolate drives to sausage sizzles.

There has also been a lot of support from the Royal Geelong Yacht Club members through a Dingy Race and an upcoming Trivia Night.

The Cadets are coached by local renowned sailor Tony Bull, along with Shane Hughes from Adelaide. Both coaches will be travel-

The Australian team was selected in December at a National Regatta in Hobart.

The whole RGYC community is so proud of the young sailors with many making plans to follow their progress though a team blog that will have photos, updates and races results along with other details about the experience and their thoughts on life and sailing in Belgium.

Along with weekly training sessions, the cadets have also travelled to Hobart in April for a team training weekend.

While they were in Hobart, the cadets were able to work with the actual boats that are being sent to Belgium for the regatta.

H2O Sportz from Melbourne is providing valuable assistance and support in organising the transport, storage and charter of the eight boats (they are all currently in a shipping container on the high seas between Australia and the Belgium!)

During the June long weekend, other members of the Australian Team will be in Geelong for three days for intensive training – their final session together before they arrive in Belgium.

- Emily Goodfellow, 15

Page 21

Bi rt h S t o ry

Remembering three little angels J

While pregnancy can deliver unimaginable happiness to new parents, it can also bring complete devastation for some.

JENNIFER CARR speaks to a Leopold woman who heartbreakingly lost her triplets.

She was devastated. Jacqui’s husband was very supportive. The IVF clinic provided counselling and eventually Jacqui felt ready to give the process another go.

ACQUI lived most her younger years in Sydney, and after travelling the world, ended up living in New Zealand, where she met her husband. Coincidentally Jaqui’s husband worked as an Obstetrician in New Zealand.

The next time the treatment resulted in three eggs that could be used for fertilisation.

Jacqui’s husband already had three children from a previous relationship, and when Jacqui came into their lives they were aged four, six and eight.

Jacqui found being a step-mother a steep learning curve, as she had no children of her own. The children’s mother had left New Zealand, so Jacqui had to look after the children full time as her husband worked long hours.

When Jacqui met her husband he made it clear he did not want any more children and Jacqui accepted happily, as she was busy and content enough.

However, one day Jacqui came home from work and her husband told her (out of the blue) he had reconsidered his decision and he did want to add to the family.

He persisted and she eventually decided she would go ahead with a blood test to determine her hormone levels, with the intention if the levels were low then they would not pursue things any further, as it would have been too late to try anyway.

The test was done and the levels were adequate, and once Jacqui got the results back she felt like she really wanted to have a child of

Normally the doctors don’t implant more than two eggs, but because of Jacqui’s age and the fact not all would probably survive, three eggs were implanted. her own. To add to the conundrum was the fact Jacqui’s husband had already undergone a vasectomy.

Jacqui went to Christchurch and had an appointment with the IVF clinic. The doctor at the clinic was really lovely and explained the chances of conceiving were not the best because of Jacqui’s age (in her early 40’s).

The IVF treatment involved injections to boost hormone levels; blood tests to determine hormone levels, and scans to look at the eggs to decide if they were ready for fertilisation.

The first round of IVF Jacqui endured resulted in hormone levels that were too low, so there was no point in trying to go ahead with any procedure.

The second round resulted in one egg that looked ready for fertilisation. Unfortunately when the egg was harvested Jacqui was told that ‘egg was dead’ and nothing could be done.

A few weeks later it was confirmed by scan that Jacqui was in fact expecting triplets. This news was greeted with huge excitement.

Jacqui’s pregnancy was monitored by regular scans and blood tests. Jacqui saw the three foetuses growing and moving, and the hearts beating.

Jacqui went to a routine appointment at 14 weeks, which involved an ultrasound scan to monitor the foetuses.

When the doctor was scanning, Jacqui saw him glance at the nurse and she knew something was wrong. Jacqui was told there were no heartbeats visible, and the babies had all died.

Jacqui was so distressed that when she tried to stand up her legs gave way, she felt like her heart was breaking.

Jacqui and her husband went home and had a couple of days to try and get their heads around what had happened.

After a few days she returned to the hospital, and labour was induced.

It took about 12 hours for the triplets to deliver. They were tiny. Jacqui and her husband saw the triplets briefly and then they were taken away and cremated. The triplets were named Sophie, Lucy and Martin.

Jacqui’s husband wanted to try IVF again but Jacqui decided against it. She hadn’t enjoyed the process, especially the mood swings from the hormone treatment, and the emotional pain of the treatment not working.

Years later, Jacqui remembers the triplets with great fondness. She imagines what they would have been like; she even has pictures in her mind of what they would have looked like.

Jacqui and her husband talk about them often. She has a memory box with soft toys and dried flowers that were given to them when the triplets died.

Jacqui also has a commemorative plaque in the front garden. The triplets also have a plaque at Fairhall Cemetery in Blenheim, New Zealand.

Jacqui has not missed out on parenting, as she has enjoyed family life with her three stepchildren. Thanks for sharing the story of your loss Jacqui.

Jennifer is the associate nurse unit manager for the Special Care Nursery at Geelong Hospital.

Page 22

Page 23

Pet

C are

Don’t brush off your pet’s bad breath D

cats, and is proved to assist in reducing ongoing tartar build-up.

OG breath is a symptom of disease, it should not be a normal part of owning a dog.

- Use a toothbrush made for pets, or a children’s toothbrush. You can also use plain gauze wrapped around a finger or a fingertip brush.

The smell comes from rotting teeth and infected gums, but the infections caused by dental problems can damage internal organs and shorten your pet’s life.

-Offer teeth-cleaning toys and consider teeth-cleaning food. Some pet-food companies now offer kibble with a mild abrasive texture to help keep teeth clean, or with ingredients that help keep plaque from forming.

Bad teeth can also leave your pet in constant pain. Cats and dogs are good at masking low grade and chronic oral pain, they learn to live with it over the long time period that dental disease develops, so it can be very difficult to detect.

Ask your vet about these to help reduce ongoing tartar buildup for your pet.

Veterinarians now recommend training kittens and puppies to accept having their teeth brushed, a job that requires persistence but is not really that hard to master, even with adult dogs and cats.

-Soft chew toys and a chew rope can help keep teeth clean, too. Avoid chews that are hard or are prone to breaking into sharp pieces. These can break teeth or slice gums.

Approach brushing with a positive attitude, take it slow and easy, and then follow with something the pet likes, eg. a play session or a food treat.

For kittens and puppies, dental care is focussed on training and prevention. Adult pets with dental disease are likely to require veterinary attention before a preventive-care program can help.

As part of our pet’s regular annual examination, your veterinarian should check your pet’s mouth, teeth and gums, and may be able to make recommendations based on what he or she finds there.

Once your pet’s teeth are in good shape, you’ll immediately notice improved breath.

For many pets with significant dental disease, the next step will be a complete dental treatment under general anaesthesia.

The procedure can take 30 minutes to an hour, and involves not only cleaning and polishing the teeth, but also checking for and treating broken or rotting teeth, cavities, abscesses and periodontal disease.

After the problems are treated, at-home care can keep things in good shape.

HERE ARE SOME TIPS: - Offer teeth-cleaning toys and consider teeth-cleaning food.

We sell and recommend Royal Canin Dental food, a larger sized dry kibble that has a mild abrasive texture to help keep teeth clean, and with ingredients that help keep plaque from sticking to teeth.

Royal Canin Prescription Dental food has a “taste guarantee” for fussy dogs and

However, the true benefits of dental care go far beyond a better-smelling mouth, making what may seem to be just an aesthetic issue.

Actually, an important factor in a preventive health care program to enable your pet to live a long and healthy life.

Newtown Veterinary Clinic 121 West Fyans Street, Newtown 03 5221 5333

Page 24

R e v i e ws SE A DOG

By C lair Saxb y - Ra ndo m Ho us e

WIN

Seadog is not a great fan of baths, however he is a lovable, scruffy puppy.

With his boundless energy, zest for life and love of all things salty and smelly, Seadog is an instantly big and lovable character. The beautifully illustrations, by Tom Jellet, suitably accompany the rhythmic way in which the story is written. This is a perfect To win a copy of this book, LIKE our Facebook page facebook.com/ vehicle for reading aloud to youngsters.

KidsVoiceGeelong and send us a “Our dog is not a clean dog, a shiny or message telling us why you’d like a fluffy dog. Our dog is a seadog” to win.

MO VI E R E VI E W S Sponsored b y

F AST AND THE FURIOUS

6

The flick for teenagers this month is undoubtedly Fast and the Furious 6. The sixth installment in the Pedal to the Metal franchise sees stars Vin Diesel, Paul and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson reunite for their most high-stakes adventure yet! With Dom’s (Diesel) elite team still classed as wanted fugitives, CIA’s Hobbs (Johnson), offers them full pardons so they can return home to their families, but with one catch. They must help him take down a criminal mastermind, and the only way to beat him is at street level. With mind-boggling action scenes and high-octane vehicles (there’s even a tank!), Fast 6 is one not to miss! Start your engines!

DESPICABLE ME

2

The kids this month are set for more Minion madness with the release of Despicable Me 2, the sequel to the hit animated adventure of 2010. Super evil villain turned nice guy Gru and 3 adopted daughters Margo, Edith and Agnes are happily living their calm and quiet lives. It’s not long before adventure though, as Gru is recruited by the Anti-Villian league, a society dedicated to fighting crime on a global scale! With Gru’s knowledge on how villains think, they employ him to take down the evil genius Eduardo. Will Gru save the world? (again!) Excellent kid friendly film with lots of laughs… and a chance to see the cute minions get up to trouble again!

R e v i e w s b y Ma t t L a n c a s t e r ( a k a t h e M o v i e G u y )

Page 25

R e v i e ws MARY M c K ILLO P B y S al l y Murphy - Random Hou se

WIN

This is the second book in the Meet series, of which we featured the first book, Meet Ned Kelly, a few editions ago. Mary McKillop is Australia’s first saint and this engaging story To win a copy of this book, LIKE is complemented by gorgeous our Facebook page facebook.com/ KidsVoiceGeelong and send us a illustrations by Sonia Martinez. The message telling us why you’d like book is perfect for early readers. to win.

H AUNTE D HOL L OW MADE B Y 2 K A N D FI R EA XI S 9 + Gam e rev i ew b y C a llum B eds o n ( aka S u s hi phant o m )

Haunted Hollow is a free iPad and iPhone game but is not supported on the iPod. At first look it seems to be a building game like Clash of Clans but when you start playing it, you discover it is actually a board game styled game where you compete with the enemy mansion (which is also haunted) to take over the town. The enemy mansion can be controlled by a computer on single player, a friend sitting next to you with pass and play or with your friends online with Game Center.

The aim of the game is make the other mansion have no houses or monsters left and when you do, you win, and all your monsters dance. There is also a challenge campaign where you are set with a task and only a small amount of scary tokens to complete it. Sadly, there are only 16 challenges. It is only for enjoyment and there is no reward for completing them. You can catch me on steam at Sushiphantom, or send me an email at sushiphantom@gmail.com. Frag out for now!

WIN !

W IN A FA MIL Y PA SS TO WI LD N IGH T S WE RRIBE E ZOO

L i k e ou r F a cebo o k pag e and tell us w hy y o u ’d l i k e to w in this pass!

Each night from Saturday 29 June to Saturday 13 July inclusive, Werribee Open Range Zoo is letting you and your family in for a wild and dark evening of adventure. From 5:30pm, you will be able to enter Werribee Open Range Zoo and venture around our African river Trail, where lions, hunting dogs, hippos and cheetah hide in wait. And remember, children under 16 receive free admission on weekends, Victorian Government school holidays and public holidays.

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

Page 26

Cooking

s a z z i p Mini

C r ea t i o ns These ones are fun for the kids to make and also so easy to do as finger food for parties.

Anything goes, so put whatever you like on your pizzas and have fun with it.

METHOD: Preheat your oven to 180C. Using a round cookie cutter, cut circles out of the pita bread or souvlaki wraps. These are your pizza bases. You can use whatever size round cutter you like, or even use stars or hearts if you feel like it.

Spread tomato sauce all over the bases and then sprinkle a thin layer of cheese onto the base. It helps to stick the toppings to the base. Then sprinkle on your toppings and cover with another thin layer of cheese.

Ingredients:

Pita bread or souvla ki wraps Tomato sauce, Grate d cheese Shredded ham

Then pop your pizzas onto a tray and into the oven for 7 mins. * If you place your pizzas each on top of a hole on a muffin tray, it will slightly curve the base upwards like a bowl, which will help hold the toppings. ** If you don’t feel like going to the shops, you can cut your bases out of regular bread

Page 27

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

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 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

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 groupstoddler’s group and 3-year-old groupsexperience baking, singing, storytelling, crafts and free play. Phone 5264 5077 or visit www.fwcss.com.au

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.

EVERY WEDNESDAY: Pregnant Young Mum’s Club, Newcomb Community Health Centre, 104-108 Bellarine Highway, Newcomb. Phone 0423 603 633 or 52603333.

MONDAYS: Food for fOrT, 4-6pm.

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

THURSDAYS: Movie Night, 4-7pm.

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

Event QUEENSCLIFFE BRICKS, organised

by Queenscliffe Rotary, with displays provided by the Melbourne LEGO User Group. Saturday, June 22, 9.30am – 5pm and Sunday, June 23, 9am – 3pm at Point Lonsdale Primary School Hall, Bowen Road, Point Lonsdale.

Adults: $10 Children 5-14: $6 Kids under 5: Free. Tickets limited – door sales only if slots still available in particular sessions, so online booking strongly recommended. www.trybooking.com/48033

Festival JUNE 7-10: A smorgasboard of Celtic music, dance, song, language, poetry, pipes and drums, Celtic cuisine and all manner of quirky Celtic pursuits will be on the menu in Portarlington. With family friendly entertainment, undercover heated venues with ample seating and expertly-run workshop program for adults and children – there’s something for everyone!

FRIDAY, JUNE 14: Beacon Point Pre www.nationalcelticfestival.com School presents “girls night out”.

Springdale Community Hall, Drysdale at 7.30pm. Entry $5. Lots of market stalls, POSITIVE PARENTING – Teenagers. pampering food and a psychic.

Thursday, June 13, 7.30pm - 8.45pm.

Sip, eat and shop!

Visit www.chrismackey.com.au (free public talks page) for more information.

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.

Fundraiser

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

Free talk

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

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Toy library

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