Kids Voice February 2015

F R E E F EBRUARY 2 01 5

C A M P Q U A LI T Y - CHIN ES E N EW Y EA R - B EN EFIT S O F T R AMPO LI NES P A K O F E S T A - GREA T S C HOOL L U N C H T IPS - W HAT ’S O N YO U R F R E E PARENTING MA GA ZINE FO R THE GEELONG REGION

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WELCO M E

COOL FACTS 4 KIDS 1. A cat has about 20 muscles in each

6. Monkeys can go bald in old age, just

2. Every day is about 55 billionths of a

7. Dragonflies can see in all directions

3. When you see lightning, it is

8. The world’s heaviest onion weighed

4. Horseshoe crabs lived before dinosaurs.

9. Only male toads croak.

5. About 6,000,000 pounds of space

ear.

second longer than the day before it. traveling at about 365 million km/h.

dust settle on earth every year.

KV TEAM

like humans can.

at once.

more that the head of a man.

10. You can tell lions apart by the spots at the base of their whiskers.

BUSINESS MANAGER Michele Mitten

GRAPHICS & LAYOUT ARTIST Elise Blach

EDITORIAL The A Team

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Alan Barber

SALES & MARKETING Carly Boyce

COVER MODEL Peyton Greiner

PO Box 54, Ocean Grove Victoria, 3226 Phone: 03 5255 3233 Fax: 03 5255 3255 FIND US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/Kids Voice Geelong www.kidsvoice.com.au

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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CONTENTS 6

Madii’s Journey: Expecting the unexpected

7

Camp Quality

9

Parks Victoria: Campsites

11

Chinese New Year

12

Pako Festa

13

Carly’s Blog

16

What’s in a lunch?

18

Roarrr-some! Dinosaurs at Waurn Ponds

22 Trampolining: Supatramp

6

12

18

23

24

31

THIS ISSUE’S COVER BOY...

23 Jikishin Ju-Jitsu

NAME, AGE AND YEAR LEVEL/GRADE?

24 Music & Arts

FAVOURITE FOOD?

31

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?

What’s On

...AND MUCH MORE

Peyton Greiner, age 15, in year 10.

My favourite food is mango!

Chilling with friends, playing guitar and playing basketball.

FEBRUARY 2015 - PAGE 5

THE FALL

d around. Oh NO! I was side slipping down the slope as I looke d the safety fence misse Bella was falling down the hill and she just of sight! out is now and went straight down the slope and . I’m here on a My name is Clara Paton and I am at Mt Bulla my sister Millie and fathers and daughters’ trip with my dad Ed, than me), Sara, older also our friends Bella who (is only 2 hours y.

Scott (Bella’s big sister) and their dad hill a little unsteady “AHHHH”, I shouted as I whizzed down the ing in the air. flapp on my skis. “Oh No!” I screamed, my arms not fallen onto had I but fallen had SLAM‼ - it had happened, I too an awful with fence y safet the hit had I , the soft powdery snow I was now and myself thud! “Owwwww!” I yelled. I had really hurt wooden the hit first stuck to the fence! I had lost control and had stuck to were les gogg My post before sliding down onto the wire! the wire too – Oh NO! . Finally dad came.

I waited on the fence for what seemed hours went whooshing and off He tried to help me up but my skis fell and got them for went Jono d name down the hill. Thankfully a man ski back down, to sore and stiff too was I back me. When he came behind him. skis my so I went in between dad’s legs while he held Scotty were already We got to the bottom of the slope; Bella and man from the ski a ew, Andr safe. was there. Thankfully Bella He told me to hop OK. was I if see to me on k chec patrol came to Luckily it wasn’t OK. on my sore leg just to double check if I was broken! PHEW. to celebrate. We We caught the chairlift and did one last run apple pie! We finished the day with a hot chocolate and some cheeky smile he a with and bumped into Andrew the ski patroller ! fence told me that I needed to fix that

by Clara Paton (10 years old)

Kid’s THE MAGIC SKATEBOARD

One day a little boy called Hug o wanted a skateboard. A wizard came to his house and gave him a skateboard. It was not an ordinary skateboar d, it was a magic skateboard.

He could do anything with it.

The wizard said, “Do not show anybody its moves because eve rybody will want one and I can’t give everybody one.” The board was so cool; it could do back flips, kick flips, front flips and turn into a hover board.

When Hugo went to school, he forgot about what the wizard said and he showed all of his friends the cool tricks it could do. While he was sitting in clas s the wizard suddenly appeared. He was very angry with Hugo for showing his friends the board and so he pun ished him by throwing him into Davy Jones’ locker. Hug o was very scared.

To stop Hugo’s friends from wor rying about where Hugo had disappeared, the wizard made a robot model of Hugo to replace him. Hugo’s friends were very clever though and were not fooled. They knew that Hugo was actually a robot and not the real Hugo so they hatched a plan to destroy it.

They spent weeks and hours designing and creating a special remote control. They hid behind a tree waiting in the school playground for robot Hug o to walk past. When Hugo walked by, they pushed the ma gic button on the remote and blew up robot Hugo into a mill ion, trillion pieces! The good thing was that it freed the rea l Hugo from Davy Jone’s lock er too. Everybody celebrated and was so happy.

Seeking revenge, the real Hug o and his friends threw the wizard into jail. Hugo got his ma gic skateboard back once and for all but he never took it to school again! He had had too many adventures.

Hudson Harrison (8 years old

)

CORNER

Welcome to the new Kid’s Corner!

Here we will be showcasing local kid’s creative pieces every edition. So if you know of any child who loves writing, poetry, art, photography, basically anything creative, get them to submit their work to editor@kidsvoice.com.au

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Madii’s

Journey EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED Every time I’m having a ‘bad pregnancy day’ with an aching back, or being ‘I need to take an immediate nap’ tired midafternoon I try to think of the Elephant. That poor mumma endures a two year long pregnancy, so at seven months and not long to go I guess I don’t have it so bad.

Our pregnancy wasn’t planned, but was certainly welcomed. I started showing almost immediately, and had a small bump at ten weeks. In the first couple of weeks I experienced the fairly common nausea and mild vomiting, but nothing that stopped me in my tracks ala Kate Middleton which I felt pretty lucky about. I didn’t start to send my boyfriend out for pickles and mayonnaise in the middle of the night, however with the insane hunger I felt for the first three months it wouldn’t have been unwelcomed! I used to wake up in the middle of the night and be so intensely hungry, I would have to get up and make a piece of toast – and these waves of hunger would roll over during the day so quickly, I soon learnt to carry biscuits with me wherever I went. I guess my body was adapting to having something tiny growing and forming in my stomach and taking any extra nutrients I had.

When I was younger and starting puberty they discovered I had Scheurmann’s Disease, which is a skeletal disorder that made my back have a slight sway in the bottom. You grow out of the

pain, and with myotherapy for my tightness in my neck and shoulders, I could keep the headaches at bay quite easily. Becoming pregnant however put all of that extra stress on my back, and a combination of this and the relaxant hormone you develop when pregnant, I’ve had a lot of trouble.

Some days, I can’t get myself upright from laying down, and every day is some level of pain. If the baby moves into a bad position, I get pain all down the back of one of my legs which means I can’t really walk. My exercise is limited to 20 minutes before I start aching, and doing my kegel muscle exercises has never been so important! They help to try strengthen all of the muscles down there, as well as still doing some light core muscle exercises so that I don’t have to have a belly band (which is probably going to happen in the next 3 months as I get bigger).

Some other delightful things that I‘ve found come with pregnancy is nagging heartburn – but it comes to me in the form of a lump at the base of my throat which I can feel in my top knob of my spine as well, and so for months I didn’t actually know what it was! I haven’t managed to pinpoint anything that really triggers it yet, as it can come on just as I’m walking around or working. It also comes in waves, but I’ve found that Rennies tablets help. Rennies are made out of calcium and magnesium, so are suitable to take when pregnant

as these are elements that are already found in the body and so won’t get into the blood stream and harm the baby. Medications while pregnant can be difficult, as it certainly limits what you can use – even deep heat is out as it contains aspirin.

In saying all of this though, nothing quite beats feeling your baby move around inside you. It’s absolutely something I would never give up, and all of the back ache in the world couldn’t take away the feeling of love and awe – I felt my baby kicking on the 18 week mark, which is fairly early for a first pregnancy but everyone is different. Now that I’m 28 weeks along, the baby is so long (almost 40cm) that when it rolls over my whole stomach morphs which is the most insane thing to watch!

I have my baby shower coming up in six weeks time, and then I’ll have to get serious about buying the big ticket items like a car seat and a pram! It’s pretty confusing with all of the rules and regulations so I have a fair bit of research to go through, but for now something like the Mountain Buggy looks like a winner for the pram, as we like to have something a bit sporty for lots of walking.

For now however, I’ll keep up with my pregnancy massages and try and get through the next few months of expanding in the heat until my baby gets here!

- Madii

CAMP

QUALITY

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living with cancer and their family has equal access to our programs nationwide.

Living with cancer places enormous physical, emotional and financial stress on families.

Our four program streams are for all children 0 to 13 years living with cancer and their families in Australia.

Our programs support specific needs of families and help create optimism and resilience throughout their journey.

Our Family Support Programs provide tailored support to families through their cancer journey. We have a dedicated team who meet families in the early stages of their diagnosis to help them access support as they progress through treatment and return back home. Our holiday respite service gives families some essential de-stress time, away from the intensity of their cancer journey. We also work closely with social workers to support families in extreme financial difficulty.

Our Hospital Program has expanded dramatically over the last year. We now support Play Therapists at four major hospitals nationally, including The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, with further expansion planned.

Play Therapy provides children with coping strategies that help them deal with their illness inside and outside of hospital. The program reduces their distress and helps them overcome fears throughout treatment. We also run regular hospital-based activities: our much-loved puppets make bedside visits that boost the confidence of children living with cancer and give them a large dose of the best medicine: laughter.

Camp Quality’s purpose is to create a better life for every child living with cancer in Australia. The services we provide for children (0-13 years) living with cancer and their families help create a better life by building optimism and resilience throughout each stage of their cancer journey. Right from diagnosis, throughout treatment and in remission or bereavement, our programs support the whole family; at hospital, at home, back at school and in the community.

Camp Quality has been operating since 1983. Our programs create a supportive, resilient and optimistic community for families living with cancer. At Camp Quality fun flows through everything we do, our motto is ‘laughter is the best medicine’.

Camp Quality teams are located in every state and territory across Australia. With the support of 2,500 volunteers, our services reach 1 in 3 children living with cancer in Australia. Our goal is to ensure every child

Meeting families who have gone through a similar thing builds up an invaluable, life-long support network where optimism thrives and normality can be embraced again.

These programs and support services can only be provided with the generous support of the community and groups such as the Geelong Camp Quality Convoy Committee. This group of amazing Geelong locals has come together with the sole purpose of raising much needed funds for Camp Quality, by staging a truck and motor bike convoy.

The inaugural Geelong Camp Quality Convoy will make its way from Avalon Airport (with vehicles leaving between 9.45 and 10.15), past the preferred viewing area at Eastern Park on Ryrie Street to the Geelong Showgrounds. Eastern Park will provide the perfect place for kids (of all ages) to cheer the bikes and trucks on their way. There will be a BBQ and kids’ activities, to keep everyone entertained. The Convoy will culminate with a Family Fun Day from 11.00am – 3.00pm at the Geelong Showgrounds. A free concert featuring the Mik Maks, Imogen Brough, the Dirty Curves and the Glitter Gang will provide the background for a day of fun, rides, food, trucks, bikes and family.

The wonderful Enright family Corey, Renee and the adorable Boh together with Camp Quality’s very cute Mac have come together as ambassadors of the event, you will be able to meet them at both the Fun Day and the Auction Evening.

The privilege of leading the Convoy will be decided at an Auction Evening on Friday the 13th of February.

Our Education Programs have transformed thousands Ritchie Bros Auctioneers – 200 O’Briens Road, Corio of schools by helping children and teachers learn how to are generously hosting the event where many wonderful create a supportive school community for children living items will be available for bidding. Items range from a with cancer and their families. Our touring educational Volkswagon Golf, Port Douglas Holiday, the sale and show using puppets de-bunks myths about cancer (such conveyancing of your home, Kokoda Trek, Blues Train as reassuring kids they can’t catch cancer) and prevents tickets, to Melbourne Racing tickets and many, more. bullying of kids who return to school after treatment Geelong players will be in attendance to sign and looking so different from their classmates. The puppets have a unique way of building trust and engaging children auction their guernseys. Mayor Darryn Lyon will arrive by helicopter to open the auction which will culminate with quickly so they can address the real issues and dispel concerns regarding contact with children who have cancer. bidding for the prestigious position of Lead Truck. We are The honest show, jam-packed with laughter and optimism, thrilled with the interest from local Geelong companies vying to be Lead Truck! It’s not too late to secure a ticket lasts 30-45 minutes and is free of charge to schools (jo.mckeown@campquality.org.au) or to make a bid online Australia-wide. Each year over 200,000 children benefit https://www.rbauction.com/Geelong-Charity-Auction to from seeing the show. ensure that you are part of all the action.

Our Recreation Programs provide children living with To learn more about Camp Quality cancer and their families with an essential break from visit www.campquality.org.au hospital, stress and intensity. They are especially designed Graeme Reid | Volunteer to encourage strength, confidence and independence.

PRESIDENT - GEELONG CONVOY COMMITTEE

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START YOUR ASPEN ADVENTURE TODAY!

Take the plunge and delve into Australia’s hidden ‘gems’. Visit secluded beaches, buzzing towns, majestic rivers, and everything in-between as you explore the vast and varied Australian landscape.

There is no better place to base yourself as you journey around the great southern land than at an Aspen Park & Resort location. With 20 tourist destinations across Australia no matter where your travels may take you Aspen Parks & Resorts will be there to provide you with comfortable, affordable accommodation. Rest assured that whilst staying with Aspen Parks or Resorts you will be taken care of by a professional team of fun, friendly and experienced staff who are there to provide you with the highest level of service. Our staff will assist you with your travel plans, sharing local knowledge that will lead you to unspoilt environments that few have had the pleasure of visiting.

With holiday destinations throughout Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales there are Aspen Parks & Resorts located at many popular tourist destinations across the country.

Discover the history and majestic beauty of the Murray River in Echuca-Moama. Explore the remote North West in Karratha and Port Hedland, and marvel at the mountain ranges and gorges that the area is famed for. Visit the charming towns of Port Augusta and Roxby Downs and become acquainted with the local delicacies that South Australia is renowned for.

Visit Shark Bay World Heritage area, where you can stay at Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort to see the famous dolphins. The world heritage listed Ningaloo Reef Marine Park along Western Australia’s stunning coral coast, is home to Ningaloo Reef Resort one of the best locations in the world to encounter one of the gentle giants of the sea – the whaleshark.

Enjoy coastal life and relax on the pristine beaches of Black Head and Halliday’s Point or explore the Wallis Lake estuary system for a spot of fishing

when visiting Wallamba River Holiday Park or travel a little further north along the coast to BIG4 Harrington Holiday Park where the kids will love the waterpark. If you enjoy the outback, head to Country New South Wales to visit the Taronga Western Plains Zoo and enjoy Aspen’s BIG4 Dubbo Parklands accommodation.

Immerse yourself in the bustling metropolis that is Melbourne, one of the leading event cities in the world. Uncover the history of Woodman Point and Fremantle or relax and enjoy the charm of a beachside holiday at Twofold Bay. Each Aspen Park or Resort has its own unique personality. With so much to see and do in fabulous locations around Australia, holidays have never been so much fun.

Aspen Parks & Resorts offers a range of accommodation choices to suit every traveller, no matter the size of their budget. Choose to stay in one of the many different types of holiday cabins offered at Aspen Parks and rest assured that you will be choosing accommodation that is both affordable and comfortable. Some accommodation types include Deluxe Spa Chalets, Holiday Villas, Park Cabins or Resort Beachview rooms. For the more adventurous caravan or camping traveller we offer a range of spacious powered, ensuite and grassed caravan sites.

Location is everything. All Aspen Parks & Resorts are set in beautiful landscaped grounds with shady trees and a friendly atmosphere. Holidaymakers have full use of facilities – most of which include: resort style swimming pools, TV/Entertainment games room, camp kitchens and barbecue facilities, children’s playground, disabled access, wellmaintained communal facilities and fully equipped laundries, internet kiosks, tourist information and manicured park grounds. To complete your Aspen Adventure ask one of our staff about the wide of range tours that are bookable at each property.

aspenparks.com.au

FEBRUARY 2015 - PAGE 9

FAMILY FRIENDLY in the CAMPSITES South West

There is a wide variety of campsites suited to family camping in the South West of the state, and the next few months are the perfect time to explore some of them.

The Great Otways National Park has many different kinds of campsites, and whilst most of the family friendly ones are found in the west, the Allenvale Mill campsite, near Lorne, is one that offers a bit more of a family camping adventure.

It’s a walk in campsite – about 150 metres – which means no vehicles around the sites and a quiet natural atmosphere. Clever campers bring a trolley to cart their stuff in. There are pit toilets and basic facilities here, and some great walking tracks.

Aire River is another great spot for family camping with safe swimming and good fishing for Mullet and Brim, as well as kayaking and great birdwatching. Older kids will enjoy the walk to the beach where there is good surfing or some good skurfing on the sandunes. The campsite has pit toilets and shared fireplaces, and is now open all year round Lake Elizabeth campground, hidden deep in the Otways near the township of Forrest, is better for older children. Sites are for tents only as there is no direct vehicle access to the campsites. A 15 minute unloading bay is located close by and vehicle parking a short walk away. Pit toilets, shared fireplaces and picnic tables are provided. Dogs are permitted on lead. There is a wonderful walk around the lake which had heaps of birdlife and water critters.

Blanket Bay has sheltered sites in a beautiful setting with a beach where kids can safely swim, snorkel and fish. There are fireplaces, pit toilets and picnic tables. The Great Ocean Walk is nearby for a scenic stroll, as is the Cape Otway Lightstation which is about 4km from the campsite. There is also a rock climbing wall and horse trail riding at nearby Bimbi Park.

This secluded site is naturally very popular and less crowded from February onwards.

Nestled among the sand dunes, Johanna Beach is a good spot for camping from tents to caravans. There are 25 grassy campsites and

toilets, but no fireplaces or picnic tables. Some lovely walking tracks lead through the bush and to the beach which is a renowned surfing spot.

Dogs are permitted on leads in the car-based campground.

Heading inland, Mt Eccles and its volcanic landscapes is a fascinating place to camp.

Features such as huge lava flows, lava caves, scoria cones and crater lakes are to be seen on the lovely walks around the crater lake, and through the park. There are also plenty of curious wallabies and beautiful birdlife around the shady individual campsites that give this place an exotic feel. The recent upgrade of the showers and toilet blocks is also a plus.

Further west along the Glenelg River there are lots of campgrounds where you can launch a canoe or kayak and explore the beauty of this huge river. For small family groups Wild Dog Bend and Battersby’s are ideal, with just a few sites. Both have toilets, fireplaces and picnic tables. For bigger groups Pritchard campground is great for launching water craft of all types, as well as safe fishing and swimming. The Great South West Walk passes close by most of the river campsites and is great for a stroll among the beautiful trees and bush of the riverside.

For something a bit different, The Princess Margaret Rose Cave, north of Nelson, has camping ranging from on-site cabins to unpowered sites. It has good amenities as well as a camp kitchen. A visit to this beautiful cave is a memorable experience for all ages. There is also the lovely Lasletts loop walk down to the Glenelg River and canoes for hire for those wanting to see some magnificent river scenery.

Permits for camping here are available from Princess Margaret Rose Caves Information Centre (08) 8738 4171.

Fees apply for most campsites. Bookings at www.parks.vic.gov.au/stay or on 13 1963.

Tips for Happy and Safe Camping: - Always take a good supply of drinking water - Never leave a campfire unattended - Know what the daily conditions and restrictions are during fire season - Take all your rubbish home with you.

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Chinese New Year Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year and marks the first day of the New Year in the Chinese Calendar. Many Australians celebrate Chinese New Year, with many cities putting on festivals.

These include Chinese New Year markets, street festivals, dancing, music and colourful costumes, along with the dragon and displays of Chinese lanterns and fireworks.

Although Chinese New Year is not a public holiday in Australia, some Chinese businesses close on the day so that they can take part in the festivities.

During the Australia Gold Rush in the 1850’s and 60’s many Chinese people emigrated to Australia and approximately a third of the miners were Chinese; many Chinese Australian families can trace their ancestry back to that time. Bendigo and Ballarat have many monuments and buildings which serve as reminders of the Chinese heritage. Since the advent of multiculturalism as a government policy in the 1970’s, many Chinese from Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan and Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines) have immigrated. After the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, the Australian Prime Minister of the day, Bob Hawke, allowed students from mainland China to settle in Australia permanently. Since then,

immigrants from mainland China and Taiwan have arrived in increasing numbers.

Chinese calligraphy, traditional water paintings and papercut form part of the Chinese art culture, with music and dance comprising the Beijing Opera, Chinese Acrobats, the Dragon Dance and the Lion Dance, together with the use of the erhu, lute (pipa) and flute as musical instruments. Spring rolls, fried rice, fried noodles, dumplings and Beijing roast duck are popular Chinese dishes and well-known drinks comprise of Chinese tea and rice wine.

In Geelong, the Chinese Association of Geelong have been operating for around 10 years and have approximately 150 members. Their objectives are to promote and maintain the Chinese language and culture in the Geelong Community; to give a representation voice on behalf of the Geelong Chinese Community; to provide an infrastructure for Chinese families and individuals and to assist Chinese families and individuals in being integrated into the Australian society On Chinese New Year, within the Chinese Australian community, children are often given red envelopes with money, as red symbolises happiness, good luck, success and good fortune. The families spend their time together

enjoying a celebratory meal and these celebrations can last for a couple of weeks. Each Chinese New Year is linked with an animal for one of the twelve animals in the Chinese Zodiac and this year from Thursday 19 February (Chinese New Year Day) is the Year of the Sheep.

In Melbourne the Chinese New Year Festival features traditional and contemporary Chinese cultural activities along with many food stalls, singing, karaoke, lion dances and dragon parades, to mention a few. The festival will be held over seven days in various venues and is one of Melbourne’s most celebrated festivals. It is a great day out for the whole family.

On Sunday 22 February the Melbourne Parade will be held in China Town (Little Bourke Street) from 10 am to 10pm. During the Dragon’s Awakening Ceremony, the Dragon will parade through the streets of Melbourne starting in Little Bourke Street.

Federation Square will be holding a variety of events from 28 February until 1 March with performances from the Melbourne Chinese Choir and the Chinese Performing Arts Development, along with free Tai Chi and Health Qigong demonstrations and mah-jong lessons.

Thanks to Diversitat for photos and editorial on the Chinese Association of Geelong

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PAKO FESTA! Pako Festa, now in its thirty-third year, is Geelong’s much loved, award-winning, free, annual community arts festival - the biggest of its kind in Australia. Managed

by Diversitat and held on the last weekend of February in Pakington Street, Geelong West, “the multicultural heart of Geelong”, it incorporates an extravagant street parade featuring around ninety floats and hundreds of performers representing forty-five affiliated ethnic communities and around sixty other community groups and organisations. The street is lined with stalls selling traditional foods and arts and crafts, and six separate stages in the precinct offer performances of music and dance as well as interactive workshops and exhibitions.

Pako Festa has become Victoria’s premier multicultural event, attended by well over 100,000 people in each of the last three years and estimated to inject close to $8.5 million dollars into the local economy just over the course of the day itself.

Pako Festa offers a unique opportunity for those 100,000-plus participants to socialise and celebrate in an arena of ethnic diversity and harmony, as well as gaining an appreciation of the great variety of artistic and cultural expression within Geelong’s multicultural community.

The Pako Festa Street Parade starts at 11am, embodies Colour, Culture & Celebration and is one of the most important events at Pako Festa! Encapsulating the very essence of our nation – diversity, dynamism and colourfulness, and above all else cooperation, community inter-connectedness, creativity and the promotion of

our humanity – Pako Festa sends a strong message in these troubled times in which we live: our preparedness to interact with, work with and treat each other with dignity and respect demolishing the walls of division and conflicts; bringing everyone together in a spirit of understanding, acceptance and celebration of life itself.

A very important aspect of Pako Festa lies in its provision for the CALD communities to continue to affirm and honour their contributions to Pako Festa over its 33-year history.

This year’s event Pako Festa will be held on Saturday 28 February 2015, Pakington Street Geelong West offering fantastic entertainment for Kid’s. The Family Entertainment Precinct (inside the West Town hall) kicks off at 12.30 with Mr. Peabody & Sherman Dance Workshop; straight from the DreamWorks movie, join Peabody and Sherman as they take you through an International Dance Workshop from the four corners of the globe. Peabody is not only a world traveller but also a time traveller. As he arrives back in his big red time machine, he shows Sherman some of the many souvenirs he collected along the way. You will learn a little about each country and also participate in many different dance styles like the “Egyptian Walk” from the days of Pharaoh’s, Russian dancing from the Russian Revolution and the Macarena from 1990s.

Check out the program for Dance Workshop and Meet and Greet times.

To add to the excitement meet Dirtgirl who is a gumbootwearing girl who grows awesome tomatoes, tknows cloud names and drives a big orange tractor. This musicentric series explores the natural world and invites the audience to ‘go get grubby’ in the big world outside.

Dirtgirl brings the concept of getting grubby but also the educational factor of growing your own herbs.

Meet and Greet times 1pm,2pm and 3pm and Free Bunnings Seedling Planting Workshop: from 1.30-3.30pm From 10am in Geelong West Park Be challenged by The Geelong Scouting Association’s Trailer and Rope Bridge along with other activities and games and look out for the Scouts float in the Great Pako Festa Parade. The Geelong West Library also offers some free children’s activities from Mask Making to Story Telling with the support of Geelong West Neighbourhood house from 1pm. Come visit the new Pakington Strand Piazza Area for some exciting family friendly activities and a great spot to put your feet up while enjoying entertainment on the BayFM Stage from 1pm.

Finally visit www.pakofesta.com.au to download the event mobile app so you can have at your fingertips, the complete guide to all the events, including the great Pako parade, where to see the Channel 7 stars, your favourite culinary delights in a street lined with food stalls, and much, much more. You can even create your own schedule for the day and you very own Carmen Miranda Selfie, so you don’t miss your favourite musical acts and cultural dance groups!

FEBRUARY 2015 - PAGE 13

How good are holidays! We look forward to them for so long, then BAM! They are history in the blink of an eye!

We were lucky enough to spend a whole week up on the Murray River! For the past few years, our Christmas break has usually involved one day with one side of the family and my partner returning to work while Sophie and I head up to mum and dads for a relaxing few days on the sandbank of the Murray. This holiday season, we finished the year off as a family and also begun 2015 hand in hand! To me, there is nothing more important than spending quality time with your family especially during the holiday season. We spent countless hours paddling in the river, chasing the dog along the sand bank, eating a large number of icy poles and not to mention getting competitive while playing backyard cricket. If anyone can honestly say these things aren’t worth working hard for all year, I would be extremely surprised. I would love to understand the proper reasoning for why holidays only feel like they last for five minutes before it comes to an end and it is back to reality and the day job. This year particularly, I found it hard to come back from paradise and settle back into our normal routine. With my partner (Joey) starting a new job with new hours the same as mine my whole time management routine had to be re thought as we would

now be getting ready for the day at the same time instead of opposites. This has created some need for re-thinking how I would normally work my morning in terms of sharing the bathroom and shower, who’s getting Sophie ready for a big day at day-care, who would be doing the drop off and pick up each day. The whole routine had changed.

Having to re-think everything in our morning and night time routine made me remember back to when I first started to work fulltime, I felt exactly the same way back then, there was so much to do and how I was going to get it all done and to work on time each day. The struggle didn’t hang around long, I quickly realised there was no room for error and that organisation and time management were my new best friend between Monday and Friday.

Many people confront me about working fulltime with a partner also working, how do you get it all done? How do you have time to cook and maintain the house as well?

When do you get time for yourself? These are just a few of the things I have been questioned on. To be honest, I have the times where things fly out the window and the witch rides her broom stick! But as long as I am prepared each night before bed for the new day ahead, it really isn’t too difficult to manage our lifestyle. For most people there comes a period where you just have to hold your head

high and do what needs to be done for your family. Of course I would love to spend more time with my daughter and kick the stress to the curb, but for me and most that is not the reality of the world we live in. I love the challenge of being so busy, enjoying my almost three year old at every opportunity and managing to run the household. A great deal of satisfaction comes with this achievement at the end of each week and especially the end of another year.

One thing that has been on my mind for 2015 is a New Year resolution… I normally am not one to jump at this chance to make a ridiculous statement about something I almost never stick to! But this year I feel it’s a little more appropriate with several changes that have occurred within our family and surroundings making life too short and our circumstances different. It’s a bit delayed but I am still working on some ideas, and instead of selecting one I think I will just make a few points to guide me through this exciting but different New Year ahead. I am a big believer of the saying “when one door closes another one opens…” so I am keeping this in the front of my mind as our lives change this year to keep positivity and excitement within our family and also myself.

Carly

PAGE 14 - FEBRUARY 2015

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Making a Cracking Start at School The first week of the new school year is already upon us.

For the kids going back into Year 1 or above, it is no big deal. After all, they’ve been here before and are now old hands at this education lark. School is where they go to catch up with their friends, play games in the playground and of course, continue their learning in all areas.

But what about the wee small preppies? You know, the ones looking so cute in their oversized uniforms, giant sized backpacks and sunhats that look big enough to cast a shadow over the whole class, never mind themselves.

Well for these little guys (not to mention the nervous parents gathering together for morale building coffees after the initial drop-offs) the start of school can be a pretty daunting experience – a whole new environment, new people in their lives (both kids and teachers) and a complete sense of the unknown.

So how can we make this new chapter in their little lives a less frightening experience? Well one way is to help prepare our kids by making them school ready and by school ready, I don’t just mean ready socially and emotionally for what lies ahead, but to also give them a boost educationally to send them off down their road to learning. We want kids to be biting at the bit to start school. We want them brimming over, full of confidence, knowing within themselves that they will be a success.

A perfect way to do this is to send them off on an exploration into a miniature world of learning in a School Readiness class, specifically designed to give kids the experience of formal learning. Given their young age, to be effective the exploration needs not be longer than an hour each week. Sure, when they’re older they might want to go on longer explorations to the Amazon, but for now the hour is plenty of time for them to exercise their grey matter.

Traditionally it has been believed that children are not ready to formally learn in their pre-school years. Modern research however, has shown that although children’s fine motor skills may lag behind, the brains of the pre-school aged kids are actually wired for learning, including in the areas of literacy and numeracy skills. Even though the kids are good to go on the learning front, they’re not really at the stage of picking up a pen and paper and drafting their future Amazon to-do list.

They are however much more likely to learn with concrete

materials, craft, songs and fun. Parents who provide their children with this opportunity are always surprised to witness their child’s incredible development occurring in front of their eyes and are amazed at what their own kids can actually achieve at such a young age.

Question is, what should a good School Readiness programme entail? Well we know from an early age many children are already aware of the strange new symbols that are in the world around them. They start to notice letters and numbers as they go about their everyday business and will point them out (on letter boxes, on road signs, in cafes and shops) to us, asking questions about what they are and what they mean.

A good School Readiness program will take this natural curiosity and run with it (not too fast mind you as the inquisitive little ones will not be able to keep up). Through craft, song and games a good School Readiness class will give children the opportunity to sample some of the learning that they will experience when they start school a year or so later.

Furthermore, a good School Readiness Program will place priority on developing children’s phonemic awareness for pre-literacy skills. Developing what? Well put simply, children need to be taught how to hear individual sounds in words before they even attempt reading. Phonemic awareness is the best predictor for reading success and any literacy program worth its salt and particularly a good School Readiness program will place great importance on developing these skills. Only then should students be provided with the chance to learn how to match sounds to symbols and be taught how to blend and read simple words (eg. p-i-n). All of this is should be done through the medium of story, song, action, writing and a weekly take home reader to support what is learnt in the classroom.

Additionally, the programme should not only focus on literacy, but will also have a numeracy component. We all know that very young children can learn to count, but often we do not realise that the counting they do has been learned by rote like a song or a nursery rhyme.

Therefore it is important that children are provided with plenty of concrete materials so that they acquire a good understanding of numerical skills. All activities should be designed to support cognitive development; essentially fun + creative activities = confident learners ready to embrace their years at school.

So what else should School Readiness programmes include? Well, they need to be small in size so that the kids are able to get the attention that they need and deserve to be able to develop. Also, they should be

designed to help develop the fine motor skills which are essential for handwriting. The fine motor activities should be designed by occupational therapists and involve the kids being creative and most importantly be fun.

Aside from the foot up a good School Readiness programme can give our kids educationally, it will also help them by giving them the experience of being in a shared learning environment in the year before they go to school.

The kids learn to share, take turns, play appropriately with other kids of their own age and concentrate on individual tasks and activities. OK, so they may still wriggle around in their seats from time to time, but they’re still improving their attention span without even realising that it is happening. The importance of this should not be understated – as fantastic as kinders are for developing a child’s free roaming play, the jump up to primary school where children are expected to sit and listen for much longer periods is fairly significant. A child that can focus for longer from the off will find life easier within the classroom environment.

The early years of learning are when our children’s future attitudes to education will be shaped so it is therefore imperative that they feel successful and confident with what they are learning, and enjoy that learning experience.

One thing we do know is that all kids are different. All kids are going to develop physically, emotionally and socially at different rates. All kids have different ways of learning and will progress at different speeds. But come Term 1/ Day 1, the research shows that kids that are more School Ready undoubtedly have the greater chance for success at school.

From experience, not only do the kids that have been through School Readiness have a smoother transition into the start of their school lives, but the parents of the kids do too. I’ve even known parents that rather than tearfully ordering their Skinny Latte at 9:10pm on Term 1/Day 1 whilst wondering how their precious little angel is getting along have instead been heading to the beach for a quick surf, safe in the knowledge that this education lark is nothing to worry about.

Mindy Hodges is not only an enthusiastic and experienced educator, but she is also the owner of Crackerjack Kids.

Specialising in School Readiness classes, Primary level tuition and Reading Therapy for students with dyslexia and other reading difficulties, she loves seeing the kids in her classes develop & grow with a smile on their dial all the while. For further information about Crackerjack Kids go to www.Crackerjackkids.com.au or facebook.com/ crackerjackkids or contact Mindy on 0400816105.

PAGE 16 - FEBRUARY 2015

What’s in a Lunch?

Priority or Chore?

We’ll soon be back to the daily task of preparing school lunchboxes for our children. According to a 2010 Qualitative Report, prepared for the NSW Department of Health, many parents consider the preparation of lunchboxes a household chore, not a task really valued or enjoyed. How can we change this perception?

A good place to start is the end we have in mind.

What are we trying to achieve when we feed our children? For many, in our busy, modern lifestyles, our goals are short term, addressing our immediate needs as “time-poor” parents, with little thought to longer term outcomes. But if we do stop and think, we realise that we have an amazing part to play in the growth and development of little bodies, realising that every part of those little bodies are being built from the food and drink they consume. If we are building or renovating our homes, we take great care with the raw materials we use. Can we take greater care with the raw materials from which we are building these young bodies? If we start with this goal in mind, the task of preparing a daily lunch meal, to build a healthy little person, can become a challenging priority, rather than a daily chore.

The report highlighted the following points.

“If they don’t like what I put in, they don’t eat it!” – Parent This is an interesting dilemma. It points back to the five years before school starts, which are the most important years for the development of taste preferences and childhood eating behaviours. It is important to realise that taste preferences are learned and that children vary in their readiness to learn new tastes, depending on how “neophobic” (or fearful of new foods) they are. The aim is to ensure children have learned to like the foods that will serve their growing bodies well before they start school. But if this has not yet happened, it is not too late for them to learn. There are some simple strategies to help children learn new tastes, and some of the websites below or your

local children’s dietitian can point you in the right direction.

“She usually gets the same thing – that’s all she wants”- Parent I often hear that “sandwiches are boring” and other similar statements from parents, but a hungry child is never bored by food. It is mostly when we use food for entertainment that boredom enters the conversation. The report found that most children are happy to have a similar lunch every day and that it is parents who think they need to keep finding something new to add to the lunchbox.

“I’d say 70% of sandwiches here are vegemite”Primary Teacher Providing balanced meals for lunch and morning tea is especially important for growing children with small stomachs. The Australian Dietary Guidelines for Children (www.eatforhealth.gov.au) provide a simple daily guide showing which core foods, in what quantity, little bodies require in order to grow well. Most small children will need to have five small meals each day in order to consume all their required nutrients. This means that morning and afternoon tea are equally important meals, the foods consumed at school needing to contribute about a third of their daily requirements.

If we supply “sometimes” foods in the lunch box, these will inevitably take the place of some more important, nutritious foods that your child requires.

A balanced lunch will also satisfy hunger and help with your child’s concentration and performance in the classroom and playground throughout the afternoon. So, aim to provide a range of foods from all five food groups in the lunch box (vegetables, fruit, grain foods – bread, pasta, breakfast cereals, rice, corn, reduced-fat milk, cheese, yoghurt, meat, fish, chicken, eggs and legumes), including a nutritious sandwich filling such as those suggested on the Raising Children Network website: (http://raisingchildren.net. au/articles/healthy_lunch_box_ideas_pip.html/ context/218)

“I don’t ask for treats, Mum just gives me one everyday” – Child According to the report, the reason for putting “treats”, particularly packaged snack foods, in the lunch box is often to appease the parent, not the child. For many reasons, packaged, high fat, high sugar, high salt snack foods, e.g. muesli bars, fruit bars, sweet biscuits and packets of chips, are best kept for parties and special occasions, rather than included everyday in the lunch box. Some of those reasons, in addition to those already discussed, include: dental health, development of taste preferences, development of lifetime habits and expectations, and cost. The report found that many parents believed that healthy foods were more expensive than packaged foods, but this is not the case.

“I don’t know what’s a high or low amount of sugar – I wouldn’t have a clue, so why bother looking” – Parent Many parents are uncertain as to what constitutes healthy snack foods. Always think of whole foods for snacks rather than packaged foods e.g. small sandwich, high fibre cereals, fresh fruit, yoghurt, cheese, fruit bread, rice cakes, pikelets and wholegrain crackers. Or try making your own healthy muffins using vegetables or fruit. Food labelling in Australia is a controversial issue, however there is a way to learn quickly and easily how to read the important elements of food labels. The children’s Dietitian at Bellarine Community Health conducts regular “Kids’ Snacks Supermarket Tours” which allow parents to compare the cost and nutritional content of various packaged foods. Parents always find these tours fascinating and usually find they lead to a significant reduction in their weekly food expenditure.

“They need sugar to get them through the day” – Parent All carbohydrate foods are broken down into sugar, the body’s preferred source of energy, but

FEBRUARY 2015 - PAGE 17

the better and more slowly released sources of this sugar are the less processed plant foods, like grains, vegetables and fruit, and low fat milk products, which have the added benefit of containing vital nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and fibre. Added sugar is never required for healthy bodies.

“I don’t mind treats, as long as they’re still eating good stuff” – Parent Remembering that children learn taste preferences, and that sweet and salty flavours will always compete fiercely with the more neutral flavours of healthier choices. It is a good idea to leave the sweet and salty foods and drinks for parties, thus allowing children to more easily learn to enjoy the healthier choices. Also, remember that those “sometimes” foods compete with the essential foods for space in small stomachs.

“The last thing I want to do after dinner is start making sandwiches!” – Parent This is an understandable response from a tired and time-poor parent at the end of a busy day. But if we reflect again on what we want to achieve in feeding our children, and recognise that building healthy bodies is not only a great responsibility but a great privilege and a wonderful gift to our children – to their future health and habits – we may start to prioritise time to prepare healthy lunches. It does not need to be a difficult or time consuming task. Most children do not need very much at all for morning tea and lunch. To ensure it is fresh and appetising at lunch time, we can start with frozen multigrain bread, use a protein and salad filling, wrap it in greaseproof paper, place it in a lunch box with a piece of fruit and a frozen water bottle and put it in a freezer bag. As the child grows and requires more lunch, add another sandwich.

Here are some ideas for lunchboxes, using all five food groups, and some suggested sandwich fillings, sourced from the Raising Children Network (www.raisingchildren.net.au):

• A sandwich with wholegrain bread and a filling such as salad, cheese, lean meat or falafel •

Different breads for extra interest – rye breads, baguettes, seeded rolls, pita bread pockets, flat bread, foccacia, rice cakes or corn thins or turkish bread

• Dips such as hummus, tzatziki or beetroot, along with pita or crackers and vegetable sticks for dipping • potato salad, chickpea salad, quinoa salad, Greek salad or tabbouleh • leftover pizza or rice and noodle dishes that can be eaten cold • yoghurt and fruit or muesli, kept cool in an insulated lunch box or frozen overnight.

If your child hasn’t yet learned to eat anything but white bread, try a high fibre, low-GI loaf. These are more nutritious than white bread and will stop your child from getting hungry again too soon after lunch.

Tasty sandwich combinations: • cheese and grated carrot • cheese, pineapple (drain and pat dry with kitchen paper) and lettuce • cheese and chutney • cheese and sliced gherkin (pickled cucumber) • cottage cheese or ricotta and chives • cottage cheese or ricotta and dates • curried egg or mashed boiled egg and lettuce • mashed egg and chives, dill or parsley • omelette, tomato and rocket • apple and raisin • chicken (well cooked, fresh and stored with a cool pack in the lunch box), mayo and celery • chicken, pesto and red capsicum • avocado (squeeze on some lemon juice to stop it going brown), tomato (remove seeds to stop

bread going soggy) and coriander • drained canned tuna, stuffed green olives and tomato (remove seeds if desired) • seasoned and baked tofu (available ready made).

A few other tips for lunchboxes as children start school for the first time: • Offer food containers that are easy to open • Choose items that will not result in mess on the child’s clothes or in the lunch box • Be aware of any school rules regarding foods allowed. Children often leave pre school with a very good understanding of what is best to include in the lunch box, and yet often these good practices are lost soon after starting school.

• Some parents try to minimise wrapped foods.

Some schools have “nude food” policies to reduce environmental impact.

Finally, a word on time given to eat lunch. It is very important that schools and preschools allow a good amount of time for children to eat lunch before play. Some children are slower eaters, and time to eat a healthy lunch in a relaxed manner, is essential for all children.

Hilary Hoevenaars Dietitian, Child Health and Development Team Bellarine Community Health For more information, look at these websites: Dietary Guidelines for Children: www.eatforhealth.gov.au

Healthy Kids Association – lunch box builder www.healthy-kids.com.au

Raising Children Network:

www.raisingchildren.net.au/articles/packing_ healthy_lunches.html www.kidspot.com.au/schoolzone/Lunch-boxLunch-box-nutrition-tips+4129+327+article.htm

PAGE 18 - FEBRUARY 2015

ROAARR-SOME!!

Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre recently held a Dinosaur Exhibition during the school holidays. Life sized dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes came alive through realistic animatronic displays and, together with ranger led Dino Ranger tours, both young and old were kept entertained as they explored this prehistoric world. The first week in the activity area saw children engaged in a fossil dig and the second week they decorated their own wooden dinosaur. A baby T-Rex roamed through the centre and there were also photo opportunities available with a life sized dinosaur egg.

FEBRUARY 2015 - PAGE 19

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EARLY

LEARNING TECHNOLOGY For Pre-schoolers

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We all agree that we want the best for our children. Sometimes the best things in life are free, and the most important thing we can give our children is time.

We also love if our children can get the best start in life. Just like a girl guide, preparation is the key. Before your child starts school there are many things you can do to make them prepared. This will not only give them a good head start, it can do great things for their confidence and selfesteem.

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development website has some great information about getting your child school ready. There are a list of things to do in the year before school with a focus on the summer leading into Prep and tips for the first day of school. The main focus of these points is to create conversations about school, and create familiarity about where school is and what it is all about.

It can be difficult if older siblings down play school so encourage brothers and sisters to talk positively about their experience. There is a cute little gift shop in East Geelong that sells personalised books about the first day at school. This is a novel (no pun intended) idea to build the excitement, as it depicts your child as the main character and features the names of their closest friends.

If your child is heading off to kindergarten this year, here are some tips that might help you to prepare them for their schooling future in 2016.

Prepare Early School can be all about routine and structure. So try to mimic this in the home. This means eating lunch at around the same time each day and getting into bed at a reasonable time each night. If your child is still having

a day time sleep, try just encouraging the nap on weekends.

Give Some Independence This includes letting your children learn to dress themselves on their own. School class sizes in Victoria are an average of 22 students per teacher. So your child will not be receiving the individual attention that they may have been spoilt with in their pre-school years.

Look At Their Strengths No two children are alike. If you find that your child loves books for example, think about capturing this enthusiasm by offering something further. Try searching for online books that your child can read along with, such as astorybeforebed.com or storylineonline.net.

If numbers and puzzles are more their thing, try some online educational games. This will help with getting them to recognise numbers and patterns.

Abc.net.au is a great resource with the added bonus of familiar characters from their favourite shows.

Have Fun Sometimes the anxiety comes from within – and it actually might not be the child who is worried about heading off to school, but you! Relax. Even though your baby might be heading off into the big wide world, you will still be their parent and won’t be made redundant for a very long time. So let your kids be kids and whether you like it or not, you are on the rollercoaster so enjoy the ride!

Shelley Gross is the director at Wonderful Websites. They specialise in building ‘wonderful’ websites and updating existing websites.

Wonderful Websites also offer graphic design and online marketing.

0447 353 033 sales@wonderfulwebsites.com.au www.wonderfulwebsites.com.au

PAGE 22 - FEBRUARY 2015

JUMPING FOR JOY and Health

With the rate of childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes increasing throughout Australia, as a result of time poor families looking for quick fix food options and a decrease in physical exercise, it is more important than ever that we find enjoyable ways for our kids to be active.

Supatramp’s Sports Education Manager, Mrs Kate McIntyre, will lead the schools programs offered by the park. Mrs McIntyre has a teaching background coupled with fitness qualifications and is passionate about skills development and building selfesteem in children.

Over the past 2 years indoor activity parks, and more specifically trampoline parks, have exploded in popularity among children and teens in Australia. Over the next 12 months it is estimated the number of parks will grow from roughly 40 to over 100 Australia wide.

“We have one of the most amazing indoor activity centres in the world which I’m so excited to bring schools in to experience the facility. We’re really focused on skills development in children of all ages and have some amazing apparatus that will give children of various abilities, skill sets and the chance to push themselves as little or as far outside of their comfort zone as they’re prepared. Our focus is to deliver a safe, confidence building experience for kids.” Mrs McIntyre said.

We are extremely lucky that one of the largest custom built indoor trampoline, climbing and activity complexes in Australia, will be based right here in Geelong, Supatramp will be opening their doors by the end of February.

The new trend of trampolining offers many experiences, open jump areas where up to 100 trampolines can be interconnected, an area that allows people of all ages to experience the fun and freedom of bounce. The trampolines can be horizontal and inclined allowing you to experience the thrill and freedom to jump, turn, twist and flip in a massive open arena. A great activity for all ages, low impact on joints and muscles. There are plenty of fun, energetic and competitive activities you can do at indoor trampoline centres, here are some suggestions: There are performance trampolines with walls at varying heights offering a very unique opportunity to incorporate wall tricks into your bounce session. Trampoline parks also can have foam pits or airmats, bounce off the trampolines where you can practise your flips and tricks with a soft and safe landing.

Practise your slam dunking: this fun activity gives you plenty of chance to practise and improve your basketball dunk moves.

Dunk like a basketball pro!

Get involved in a team sport: Dodgeball on the trampolines!

Have fun bouncing, dodging and ducking to avoid being hit by your competitors ball!

Fitness classes on trampolines! Research has proven bouncing on a trampoline burns up to 1000 calories an hour! It’s low impact and combines core exercises, cardio, strength, balance, agility and flexibility.

Supatramp has employed Mr Ri-jie Kwok, an Ex Hollywood stunt man as its Safety and Training Manager. Mr Ri-jie Kwok, has worked in the gymnastics and stunt rigging industries for over ten years and will lead training programs at Supatramp.

“I have never seen anything like this before, all under one roof.

We have meticulously sourced the most cutting edge tramp and climbing equipment in the world to ensure we deliver an amazing but safe experience for everyone that walks through our doors.”

With the massive growth in trampoline parks across Australia, it’s not surprising the public spotlight has turned quickly to industry safety.

Supatramp is a founding committee member of the Australia Tramp Park Association (ATPA). The ATPA is an independent body established to set and govern safety standards within the Australian trampoline park industry and to maintain safety standards.

Supatramp General Manager, Tim Davies commented on the need to form the ATPA, “Although there’s been significant growth in the industry over the past two years, the trampoline industry is relatively immature in Australia. There are a lot of parks opening up, so for the sake of the industry there was a need to develop one industry code of practice to ensure individuals parks in Australia which are committed to a consistent, high standard of safety are recognised for their compliance.”

“Creating the ATPA and the resulting code of practice for trampoline parks in Australia was critical for the integrity and sustainability of the industry, and most importantly for safety of the people that visit our parks wherever that may be in Australia.”

The ATPA has set voluntary standard for trampoline parks across Australia. The growing membership base from parks around Australia willing to be tested against and comply to the ATPA code of practice, suggests the ATPA tick of approval on the front door will quickly become a trusted sign to patrons that their local trampoline park will be a safe and fun environment to burn some extra energy, for a long time to come.

What separates Supatramp from all other trampoline venues is its inclusion of 26 state of the art indoor climbing walls, a kids’ jungle themed playground, and a generous sized fully functioning café operated by a fully qualified chef. The facility also has 8 party rooms capable of hosting up to 80 guests for kids or corporate parties and events.

FEBRUARY 2015 - PAGE 23

JIKISHIN JU-JITSU Lachlan Slater - Age 15 - Purple Belt

How long you have been doing this: 18 months Which dojo you attend: Jikishin Ju-Jitsu Australia Ocean Grove, 5 Smithton Grove What do you enjoy most about the sport: The teamwork of being able to help each other out if one of us are struggling; hard work: knowing that you’ve left everything on the mats and are happy with what you just did; achievement: knowing that you put 110% into every session and achieving your next belt.

Have you entered any competitions (where, when, what did you achieve): No but it’s the pleasure of participating. We have seminars that we attend to learn all sorts of different skills from different martial artists.

Have you travelled with the sport: No I haven’t, but I will be going to Vietnam with Shihan in May to train with some students in Ho Chi Minh City.

Do you have a role at the Dojo?

Yes I am the Sempai. In Japan, a sempai is a protégé or junior. The mentor system is found at all levels of education and sporting clubs, business and informal or social organisation. I assist Shihan with warming the junior students up and preparing for class.

Shihan Stephen Cosgrave said “We are really proud with what Lachlan has achieved during his time with us. His confidence has increased and he has grown into a strong, respectful and respected young man.”

Jikishin Ju-Jitsu Australia has recently moved to a permanent location at the Bellarine Martial Art Centre, 5 Smithton Grove, Ocean Grove. The move has generated a fantastic response by students and parents alike and will encourage a club-like atmosphere. Shihan Stephen Cosgrave has been running the school in Australia since 2003 after moving from the United Kingdom, and recently graded Sensei Lyle Marsden to Black Belt enabling him to become an instructor.

Classes are held on Tuesday and Thursday night for Juniors starting at 6 years old from 6.30pm and Seniors from 7.30pm.

For more information about joining Jikishin Ju-Jitsu, please contact Stephen Cosgrave on 0419 338 991 or go to www.jikishinjujitsu.com.au

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M USIC My name is Jamie Cullum and I am a 16 year old photographer, videographer and musician. I was 10 years old when I first laid my hands on a piano, where the natural way I placed my hands made my dad sign me up for piano lessons. I originally began to play not really knowing what I wanted to do, or where it would take me, it was only when I turned 14 and was onto my third piano teacher, did it become evident that I loved music. I have never been very good at music theory, and for many years learned songs by memory and by ear. It was only when I got to Year 10 did my lack of theory start to cripple my ability but with the help of my current piano teacher Kym Dillon I quickly learnt a lot of theory behind Jazz and to also enjoy music a lot more than I had. I have just completed my study in VCE Music Performance which required me to learn not only theory but to also advance my practical side as well. Improvisation and sight reading are the two biggest things that I would like to improve on over the next year.

Coincidentally and rather ironically, my favourite musician at the moment is a British singer also called Jamie Cullum; a jazz pianist and singer similar to me whose music I love and improvisation I enjoy.

There is an amazing music program found at my school, Christian College, where I am able to be a part of a Senior Stage Band and have access to not only amazing teachers but also amazing peers. I was lucky enough to participate in the Royal South Street competitions where for the first

ARTS

time I was entered in a Piano Solo where I placed 2nd.

Thanks to the music faculty I was able to play at Costa Hall, South Street and am looking forward to travelling to Mount Gambia to play in the Generations in Jazz this year.

I would like to thank Kym Dillon and Regina Thomae for their support as I doubt that I would be at the level I am today without them.

As for my other artistic abilities, I have a passion for photography, film and audio. I enjoy taking portraits of people and would love to get into more landscapes as well as long exposure photography. In Year 9 I first found my love for cameras and began to take photos and watched a million YouTube videos to further develop my skills. I guess my love for film and photography and music is ‘in my blood’ as my dad was a cameraman for Channel 7 and Channel 9 as well as a musician. When it comes to filming I would love to get into making short films as well as interesting music videos. I love filming but really want to further develop my skills for both photography and film as they are both unique in their own way; photography is 1 frame and film is 24 frames a second. I feel like it’s very hard to get noticed in careers such as these and the only way to do so it to not be ‘cliche’ and to not fall into the same pit as everybody else and make something truly unique and your own.

The old saying ‘it’s not what you know it’s who you know’ becomes really important when trying to get jobs and even

support from others seeing as Geelong is a big connected community where everybody knows somebody, so word of mouth really helps to put you out there. I also sometimes take photos and send them to the Ocean Grove Voice where they are posted onto the Facebook Page which helps people to see Ocean Grove and promote myself.

The environment at my school is great, as the musical department there is amazing and I have the ability to meet people such as Daniel Zampatti who do professional audio and lighting. I recently shot a music video where Dan lent me microphones, lighting equipment, a mixer and other things to help raise the quality. Knowing people helps me to get involved with what I love and also helps me to learn as fast as I can at school and in a professional environment.

I would really love to pursue all of this as a career and hope to study musical composition and film when I leave Christian College. Music and film are really hard to get into and I hope broadening my knowledge to many categories like film or photography and having skills in many areas like audio production, composition, film making and photography will help me to stand out from the rest. If I was to pick one thing I love the most, it would have to be film and I would love to go to America and be a part of major film productions. I cannot wait to see what the future brings and will continue to pursue film, photography and music.

FEBRUARY 2015 - PAGE 25

MUSIC

AR TS

January saw the annual Blues Boot Camp, presented

by Wayne Jury, being held at the Potato Shed. Now in its 5th year, the camp was held over two days, along with an evening performance, and included workshops where the participants could gain knowledge in both practical and theoretical music skills from a variety of experienced music professionals. These included regulars Wayne Jury, Tim Neal, Sarah Carroll and Chris Wilson together with new tutors Michael Pollitt, David Robertson and Kelly Auty. Blues Boot Camp helps to discover the fun, joy and pleasure that music can bring. It has been argued that the ‘blues form’ is the basis for all for styles of contemporary western music. Whether it is pop, rock, rap, hip-hop, jazz, soul or funk, their roots are traced back to West African Tribal music.

Through the ‘Blues Boot Camp’ participants gained a basic understanding of the mechanics of the blues and gospel forms of music as well as practical ways to apply this knowledge to modern forms of music.

www.bluesbootcamp. waynejury.com.au

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FEBRUARY 2015 - PAGE 27

CRAFTS ICE PAINTING

COOKING WATERMELON ICY POLES

METHOD

1. Blend watermelon in blender until you have 1 cup of liquid.

2. Add 6 cups of lemonade and blend well until mixed through.

3. Poor liquid evenly into cups. (Fill up to however big you want your icy

DIRECTIONS

1. Fill ice tray with water, leaving a little room for the food colouring.

2. Add a few drops of food colouring in each cube. Use any colours

you would like.

3. Mix together with an icy pole stick.

4. Place a stick in each cube and place in freezer until frozen.

5. Once frozen pop cubes out gently and start painting!

WHA T YOU NEED ...

ICE TRAY - WATER

FOOD COLOURING - ICY POLE STICKS - PAPER

poles.)

4. Place an icy pole stick into each cup and cover with cling wrap to hold

stick in place.

5. Secure cling wrap with rubber band and place in freezer.

6. Once frozen set aside for a few minutes (depending how hot it is that day!)

7. Remove cling wrap and rubber band. Gently squeeze sides of cup

until your watermelon icy pole pops out and enjoy! * If you’re not a fan of watermelon try different fruit to get your taste

buds tingling!

ING RED IEN TS. ..

BLENDER - LEMONADE - WATERMELON - DIXIE CUPS/PLASTIC CUPS

- CLING WRAP - RUBBER BANDS - ICY POLE STICKS

*PLEASE BE CAREFUL WHEN USING SHARP OR HOT OBJECTS. ACCORDING TO kidsafevic.com.au “THE HOME IS THE MOST COMMON LOCATION FOR CHILDHOOD INJURY. THEREFORE IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE MAKE OUR HOMES AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.”

PAGE 28 - FEBRUARY 2015

ARKIE’S PILGRIMAGE TO THE NEXT BIG THING Lisa Walker - Randomhouse

Big Things inspire quirky Aussie pilgrimage. A delightfully funny and inspiring novel about a very modern pilgrimage, and one woman’s chance to rediscover what she’s lost. ‘I watch the highway go by and ponder my situation. I am on the run from my husband’s divorce lawyer, my mojo is still missing in action and my demon ex-lover is lurking ...But, all things considered, my pilgrimage is going well...’ Arkie used to be a trendspotter, running a successful business advising companies on ‘the next big thing’. Until she lost her marriage and her mojo along with it. Her eccentric new friend Haruko suggests a pilgrimage in Japan. But funds are tight, so instead Arkie’s going on a very Australian trip, to all the ‘Big Things’. With Haruko as her guide, magic is everywhere. A Buddha appears next to the Big Redback, the Big Macadamia rises from the jungle like a lost temple and inside the Big Shell she can hear a tinkling voice, reminding her of the child she never had. As her improbable adventure unfolds, realisation dawns: could it be that, despite her celebrated foresight, Arkie’s been missing what was right before her eyes?

AVERY Charlotte McConaghy - Randomhouse Avery is a sweeping, romantic fantasy novel about finding the courage to love against all odds. The people of Kaya die in pairs. When one lover dies, the other does too. So it has been for thousands of years – until Ava. For although her bondmate, Avery, has been murdered and Ava’s soul has been torn in two, she is the only one who has ever been strong enough to cling to life. Vowing revenge upon the barbarian queen of Pirenti, Ava’s plan is interrupted when she is captured by the deadly prince of her enemies. Prince Ambrose has been brought up to kill and hate. But when he takes charge of a strangely captivating Kayan prisoner and is forced to survive with her on a dangerous island, he must reconsider all he holds true . . . In a violent country like Pirenti, where emotion is scorned as a weakness, can he find the strength to fight for the person he loves... even when she’s his vengeful enemy?

RAISING COMPETENT TEENAGERS Dr Linda Friedland - Rockpool Publishing

Big Things inspire quirky Aussie pilgrimage. A delightfully funny and inspiring novel about a very modern pilgrimage, and one woman’s chance to rediscover what she’s lost. ‘I watch the highway go by and ponder my situation. I am on the run from my husband’s divorce lawyer, my mojo is still missing in action and my demon ex-lover is lurking ...But, all things considered, my pilgrimage is going well...’ Arkie used to be a trendspotter, running a successful business advising companies on ‘the next big thing’. Until she lost her marriage and her mojo along with it. Her eccentric new friend Haruko suggests a pilgrimage in Japan.

But funds are tight, so instead Arkie’s going on a very Australian trip, to all the ‘Big Things’. With Haruko as her guide, magic is everywhere. A Buddha appears next to the Big Redback, the Big Macadamia rises from the jungle like a lost temple and inside the Big Shell she can hear a tinkling voice, reminding her of the child she never had. As her improbable adventure unfolds, realisation dawns: could it be that, despite her celebrated foresight, Arkie’s been missing what was right before her eyes?

FRIDAY BARNES, UNDER SUSPICION R A Spratt - Randowmhouse

Who knew boarding school could be this perilous! When Friday Barnes cracked the case of Highcrest Academy’s mysterious swamp-yeti, the last thing she expected was to be placed under arrest. Now with the law on her back and Ian Wainscott in her face, Friday is not so sure boarding school was the smartest choice. From a missing or notso-missing calculator to the appearance of strange holes in the school field, she is up to her pork-pie hat in crimes – and she swears not all of them are hers. There’s also new boy Christopher, who has taken quite a shine to Friday, to contend with. Can Friday navigate the dangerous grounds of Highcrest Academy and decipher a decades-old mystery without getting caught in an unexpected love triangle?

FEBRUARY 2015 - PAGE 29

WIN

WWE ELITE COLLECTION JOHN CENA FIGURE

WIN

Mattel (sponsored by Toyworld) Towering over rivals at approximately 12-inches tall, this John Cena figure is made with authentic details and more than 15 points of articulation! Bigger is better with this figure that you can pose in impressive moves to do serious battle damage.

Collect all of the largescale WWE® Superstar figures for big battle action! Ages 6 & Up

PROVIDED BY

GPAC presents a CDP Production

THE 26-STOREY TREEHOUSE

A play by Richard Tulloch adapted from the book by Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton Andy Griffiths’ and Terry Denton’s best-selling book has been adapted for the stage and follows the very successful stage production of The 13-Storey Treehouse. Much loved characters Andy and Terry return, along with their friend Jill and the mysterious Hector Houtkop. And of course, the treehouse has another 13 storeys, and you know what that means…

WEETBIX TRIATHLON ENTRY TICKET

Perfect for children aged 6-12 and their families.

PIXAR Film Festival Rediscover the moments that move you, inspire you, and touch your heart as Disney.Pixar presents its first Pixar Film Festival

N I W

and Village Cinemas Geelong will be taking part in February and March! Some of the finest, funniest and most heartwarming

GEELONG

movies, such as Toy Story, The Incredibles, A Bugs Life, Cars and Up will be screened. All tickets will be $8 each.

We have ten free entries to give away for the Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon, Geelong event. Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon is all about TRYing a healthy, active lifestyle and you have the opportunity to be part of our World Record attempt to be the largest kids’ triathlon series in the world!

For more information about the event go to http://try.weetbix.com.au/my-location/geelong.

To enter this competition, please email comp@kidsvoice.com.au telling us why you should win, before 20 February.

PAGE 30 - FEBRUARY 2015

MOTOR CITY MUSIC FESTIVAL Want a great excuse to stay home over the March Labour Day long weekend? Why not head to the fun-filled Sunday Family Day at the Motor City Music Festival!

With free parking, free carnival rides, free children’s activities and the return of our huge fireworks display, you can bring the whole family. Pack your

picnic basket and deck chairs and relax on the lawns and surrounds of the Showgrounds.

Returning to the Geelong Showgrounds March 6-8th, Sunday’s line-up features Dazzling Dan, Pevan and Sarah and The Funky Mummies. For the young (and young-at-heart!) The Southern Cross stage features The Glitter Gang, Jason Singh, Vika

and Linda Bull and the Eurogliders. A dedicated country music stage will showcase the best country music, including James Blundell, McAlister Kemp, Travis Collins and Amber Lawrence.

What a great excuse to stay home!

For full line-up details and to book, head to www.motorcitymuscfestival.com.au

FUNKY HAIR DAY Be wild and wacky at school this March- Funky Hair day 2015 is back!

Want to do something amazing and fun at schoolall the while helping Australians living with blood cancer?

Join in with Australia’s iconic World Greatest Shave at your school on March 13 by holding a Funky Hair Day! Bring a donation to school and everyone creates funky hair styles just for the day! Make your hair as wild and wacky as you can: scrunchies, colours, spikes, waves, curls, toy animals! If you

can wear it in your hair – it can be part of Funky Hair Day! Sign up as a team captain for Funky Hair Day and we’ll send you a Free Funky Hair Day kit packed with ideas, posters, hair chalks, a cape, hair ties, stickers and a box for collecting donations.

Create a team and invite everyone to join in, put posters up, post invitations on social media and send texts to your friends.

The money raised from this event will support the Leukaemia Foundation’s important work – providing emotional and practical support to families free

T RAD E Health

Parties

of charge, and investing millions of dollars in research to help beat blood cancer. For many living in regional and rural areas this means they must travel quickly to Melbourne for treatment.

This is your chance to get involved and help the 12,000 Australians who will be diagnosed with Leukaemia, Lymphoma or Myeloma this year.

What are you waiting for? Join the 150,000 Australians taking part in this exciting event!

Sign up now at www.worldsgreatestshave.com.au or 1800 500 088.

D I RECTOR Y Parties

Parties

FEBRUARY 2015 - PAGE 31

5 FEBRUARY

16 FEBRUARY

Australian Breastfeeding Association; Western Heights Uniting Church Hall, 2731 Douglass St, Herne Hill. Breastfeeding and your child’s oral health. 10am-12pm.

For more information about meetings, please contact Kate on 0403 232726 or abageelonggroup@gmail.com

Tuning into Kids Parenting Program, Ariston House, 245 Pakington St, Newtown. Tuning into Kids is a six session parenting program to enable parents to help their children learn to understand and regulate their emotions and subsequently become more resilient. It teaches parents awareness and regulation of their own emotions; awareness of their children’s emotions; to use children’s emotional experiences as an opportunity for closeness and teaching; skills in assisting children to verbally label their emotions and to assist children in problem solving to guide children’s behaviour with appropriate limits. Costs

6 FEBRUARY NightJar Geelong, Johnstone Park, Geelong. 4 - 10pm

11 FEBRUARY Australian Breastfeeding Association; 112 McKillop Street, Geelong. Breastfeeding and family foods. 10am-12pm. For more information about meetings, please contact Kate on 0403 232726 or abageelonggroup@gmail.com

13 FEBRUARY NightJar Geelong, Johnstone Park, Geelong. 4 - 10pm

15 FEBRUARY The Great Eastern Beach Paddle, Eastern Beach Reserve, Eastern Beach, Geelong.

Eastern Beach is the jewel of Geelong’s magnificent waterfront. With its popular swimming spots, lush grass and children’s playground it is the perfect location to host the “The Great Eastern Beach Paddle”, the second event in the Reclink Australia National Paddle Series 2015. Corio Bays sheltered water will accommodate participants as they paddle east from Eastern Beach to Limeburners Point turning west toward Cunningham Pier, returning to Limeburners Point before paddling back to Eastern Beach. Course is 6km return. A fun, festive atmosphere will be offered in the Eastern Beach parkland with paddle demonstrations and sponsor giveaways. Costs involved

15 FEBRUARY 2015 Festival of Glass, 40 Collins St, Drysdale. At the heart of the 2015 Festival of Glass is a glass Expo that features stalls from more than 50 local and interstate exhibitors, demonstrations of glass-working techniques and winners of the annual Drysdale Art Glass Awards (including the art of recycled glass). Bid at the silent auction of items hand-made

by Expo exhibitors or experience Glass on Film, short films about glass art, craft and industry. Each hour there will be a chance to win glass collectibles. After the Expo, exhibitors will run workshops where visitors can become glassworkers themselves. Topics include kiln-forming glass, glass flame work, hand-decorating glass and glass beadweaving. Renowned Sydney-based glass artist Mark Eliott will run a one-day class on flame work on 16th of February and a three-day class on glass sculpting on the 17th to 19th February. The Festival of Glass is an initiative of the Drysdale and Clifton Springs Community Association Inc. Unique in Australia, it joins a handful of similar events worldwide. Free 15 FEBRUARY

All Ford Day, Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds. Come down to Deakin University for the largest display of Ford vehicles anywhere in Australia.

The day will include over 1,000 Ford vehicles on display; 30 different car clubs represented; 48 different trophies to be won; V8 Super Car Drivers, celebrity drivers; autograph sessions; auto and trade displays, souvenirs; kids rides, entertainment, live bands; food vans and a charity auction.

Organised by the Kiwanis Club of Geelong, with all proceeds going to community projects and charity. Costs

17 FEBRUARY Bringing Up Great Kids Parenting Programme, Warralily Coast, 5 Coastside Drive, Armstrong Creek. This program enables parents to ‘walk in the child’s shoes’ and provides practical help in understanding children’s emotional development, assists parents to develop attentive communication skills with their children and enjoy parenting as a two-way learning journey. Parents are encouraged to reflect upon and understand the meaning of their children’s behaviour, while gaining insights into the triggers that cause strong emotional responses from parents. The insights gained enable parents to develop the ability to contain these reactions and respond more thoughtfully to children’s behaviour. Costs

18 FEBRUARY For Five. A gala for five year olds with Julia Donaldson, The Wheeler Centre, 153 Pakington St, Geelong West. The Wheeler Centre has invited children’s author and entertainer Julia Donaldson, creator of The Gruffalo, to take young readers on a musical and storytelling adventure - along with her many creations, from Zog to Princess MirrorBelle (the badly behaved reflection of a well-behaved girl). Though best known for her creations on the page, she has a passion for music and drama. Julia has performed street theatre, and written and directed musicals for children.

This is a wonderful opportunity for kids to meet and be entertained by a favourite children’s author, and to see another side of the acclaimed former UK Children’s Laureate. This event is perfect for five year olds, but open to all ages, and suitable for all children who love music, storytelling and the stories of Julia Donaldson. Costs

20 FEBRUARY NightJar Geelong, Johnstone Park, Geelong. 4 - 10pm

21 FEBRUARY 2015 Victorian Junior Water Polo Club Championships, Kardinia Aquatic Centre, 25 Park Crescent, South Geelong.

22 FEBRUARY Wombat’s Wish Family Fun Day, King Lloyd Reserve, Windsor Road, Newtown.

Children are naturally good at dipping in and out of their grief. They can be intensely sad one minute, then suddenly switch to playing happily the next. This is sometimes described as puddle jumping.

Family Fun Day is a time to jump out of the puddle of grief. There will be: Professor Brain, face painting, jumping castle, music, craft activities and more.

Sausage sizzle/BBQ, salads and drinks provided. Free but bookings essential via jill@wombatswish.org.au

23 FEBRUARY Tuning into Kids Parenting Program, Ariston House, 245 Pakington St,

Newtown. Tuning into Kids is a six session parenting program to enable parents to help their children learn to understand and regulate their emotions and subsequently become more resilient. It teaches parents awareness and regulation of their own emotions; awareness of their children’s emotions; to use children’s emotional experiences as an opportunity for closeness and teaching; skills in assisting children to verbally label their emotions and to assist children in problem solving to guide children’s behaviour with appropriate limits. Costs

23 FEBRUARY Australian Breastfeeding Association; 16 Barleycorn Bend, Armstrong Creek.

Chat and play. 10am-12pm. For more information about meetings, please contact Kate on 0403 232726 or abageelonggroup@gmail.com

24 FEBRUARY - 1 MARCH Australian International Airshow, Avalon Airport, 80 Beach Rd, Lara. Mingle in the elaborate trade halls, wander amongst the most exciting crafts in the world, be entranced by the dazzling aerobatic displays or just soak up the atmosphere by the runway. With earplugs at the ready thousands huddle together, and gaze in amazement as pilots take their crafts to the ultimate extreme. The Australian International Airshow 2015 will pay tribute to Anzac and the heroes of military aviation. ‘Heroes of the Sky’ will be the major theme of the event and as such it will be the first significant observance of the Gallipoli campaign in its centenary year. Costs involved

24 FEBRUARY Bringing Up Great Kids Parenting Programme, Warralily Coast, 5 Coastside Drive, Armstrong Creek. This program enables parents to ‘walk in the child’s shoes’ and provides practical help in understanding children’s emotional development, assists parents to develop attentive communication skills with their children and enjoy parenting as a two-way learning journey. Parents are encouraged to reflect upon and understand the meaning of their children’s behaviour, while gaining insights into the triggers that cause strong emotional responses from parents. The insights gained enable parents to develop the ability to contain these reactions and respond more thoughtfully to children’s behaviour. Costs

24 FEBRUARY Parenting Your Teenager, Ariston House, 245 Pakington St, Newtown. This four week program looks at ways to maintain

a positive relationship during the ups and downs of adolescence. Many changes occur at puberty; these can be perplexing for teenagers as well as their parents.

This is a time of developing independence for young adults while slowly and safely releasing parental control. Not an easy task!

25 FEBRUARY Grandparenting 1st Time Around, Maternal & Child Health, 29 Reynolds Road, Highton. Are you about to become or have just become a Grandparent for the first time? Would you like to know what has changed since you were a parent? The Grandparenting for the 1st time program looks at what has changed in caring for infants since your own child was a baby, reminders about safety and explores the role of Grandparenting.

27 FEBRUARY NightJar Geelong, Johnstone Park, Geelong. 4 - 10pm

27 FEBRUARY International Women’s Day Event, Royal Geelong Yacht Club, 25 Eastern Beach Road, Geelong. In 2015 this event will be held on Friday 27 February, before the official International Women’s Day on 8 March. Come and listen to our guest speaker Catherine Deveny, enjoy a complimentary drink and finger food, lolly bar, live music and a silent auction. Funds raised will be donated to ‘on the ground’ women’s programs in Geelong. Tickets are $40. Men and women are encouraged to attend this special event. Costs

28 FEBRUARY Pako Festa, 153 Pakington Street, Geelong West. Pako Festa, now in its thirty-second year, is Geelong’s much loved, award-winning, free annual community cultural festival - the biggest of its kind in Australia.

Managed by Diversitat and held on the last weekend of February in Pakington Street, Geelong West, “the multicultural heart of Geelong”, it incorporates an extravagant street parade featuring around ninety floats and hundreds of performers representing forty-five affiliated ethnic communities and around sixty other community groups and organisations.

The street is lined with stalls selling traditional foods and arts and crafts, and nine separate stages in the precinct offer performances of music and dance as well as interactive workshops and exhibitions.

Pako Festa has become one of Victoria’s premier multicultural event, attended by well over 100,000 people in each of the last three years

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