Geelong Coast Kids - Summer 2022

SUMMER 2022

Music in

memory of Max

with Geelong’s

Lee-Anne Campigli Geelong mum’s

search for balance

It’s Your Life

Kidsafe urges pool checks Kidsafe urges families to check pool barriers and help save a life

KIDSAFE Victoria has joined forces with Olympic champion Matt Welsh to launch its annual ‘Safe Barriers Save Lives’ campaign, calling on home pool and spa owners to ‘help save a life’ by checking their barriers before the warmer months.

The call comes as figures from the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia’s (RLSSA) National Drowning Report show that in 2021/22, 17 Australian toddlers drowned. Swimming pools were the leading location where these incidents occurred, accounting for 35% of all toddler drowning deaths.

As an Olympic swimming champion, Matt Welsh knows the benefits that learning to swim and growing up around water can provide for children.

As a father of six, he also acknowledges the risks that swimming pools and spas can pose if strategies aren’t put in place to help keep children safe.

“With the summer months just around the corner and families spending more time in and around water, it’s important to be prepared. By checking that your pool barriers and

gates are in good working order, you could save a life”, said Mr Welsh.

While toddler drowning rates reduced by 29% compared to 2020/21, Jason Chambers, General Manager of Kidsafe Victoria, said that drowning remained one of the leading causes of accidental death for Australian children under five.

“Toddlers are attracted to water, however they don’t yet understand the dangers that it can pose. Toddlers can drown quickly and silently - a split second is all it takes for them to gain unsupervised access to the water area and find themselves in trouble.”

Josie Costanzo knows just how quickly this can happen - her threeyear-old son Justin drowned in a neighbour’s pool in 2000 after the gate had been propped open with a rock.

“Justin died in under 20 seconds with one mouthful of water, 125ml to be precise, in his lungs. I still had his dinner plate in my hand when I heard a call from my daughter and looked out the window to see him in the pool. That’s how quickly it can happen. I was

numb”, said Ms Costanzo.

While safety barriers can be effective in reducing the risk of drowning incidents, evidence suggests that many drowning deaths involve barriers that are faulty, have not been maintained, or are non-compliant with Australian standards.

Chris Samartzis, CEO of the Master Pool Builders Association of Australia (MPBAA), said barrier checks are an important part of a regular routine for all pool and spa owners.

“Adding a pool or spa to your home provides endless fun and healthy activity for any family. Pool barriers are constantly exposed to the extremes of weather, so it’s important to regularly check for any rust, loose or missing bolts, and general wear and tear.”

In addition to regularly checking and maintaining pool barriers, Mr Chambers highlighted a number of other actions which are vital to help keep children safe in and around water, including: ■ Active adult supervision: having an adult within arm’s reach of toddlers

at all times when in or around water.

■ Water awareness: participating in water awareness and learn to swim classes helps children to become familiar with water, learn about water safety and learn how to swim.

■ CPR/First Aid: Kidsafe encourages all parents and carers to enrol in a CPR/ First Aid course and regularly update their skills. Doing so will equip them with the tools to respond in an emergency.

Top 5 issues with pool and spa barriers ■ Gates or doors that are no longer self-closing ■ Gates or doors that are no longer self-latching ■ Gates that are propped open for convenience – allowing children unsupervised access ■ Gaps, holes or spaces in and under the barrier which a child can get through ■ Climbable objects near the pool barrier e.g. BBQ’s, outdoor furniture, eskies, trees etc.

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About Us

It’s time to get back outdoors!

LIKE so many of you, we sure are excited to leave the wet winter and spring behind for some glorious summer weather.

The sound of cicadas, beautiful sunsets and warm nights make some of the best childhood memories, and like all of you we are looking forward to making them with our families.

The kids are finishing school for the year and we are busy running around in preparation for Christmas Day and the holiday season.

For many, the summer holidays can’t come fast enough.

We have a wonderful edition for you - so many beautiful families have shared their stories with us.

We speak to a mum who struggled to breastfeed, another who runs her own interior design business, and medical professionals about what feels like the endless run of viruses many households are experiencing.

Hilton, world-renowned author Steve Biddulph and Lucy Stewart has yet another yummy recipe for us to try.

The warmer months are here and it’s time to get outside and explore the world around us and there is no better place to be than where you live.

From all of us at Kids Today, have a Merry Christmas and an awesome start to 2023. Happy holidays!

We have our regular special guests as well: Geelong’s very own Angie

EDUCATION

Check pool barriers to save lives

Tips to stop study distractions

PAGE 2

PAGE 16

Raising boys around the world

BOOKS

PAGE 5 New early learning centre PAGE 6

Geelong Coast Kids 1/47 Pakington Street, Geelong West Phone: 5249 6700 Group Advertising Sales Manager Mandy Clark mandy.clark@starnewsgroup.com.au Phone: (03) 5945 0608

Advertising General Sales Inquiries 03 5249 6700 advertising@geelongindependent.com. au

IT’S YOUR LIFE

Making music happen

Geelong Coast Kids will be published quarterly prior to each of the school holidays.

Editorial Melissa Meehan melissa.meehan@starnewsgroup.com.au

Contents

PAGE 4

Geelong Coast Kids magazine is a Star News Group publication.

Discover new children’s books PAGE 21 Nazeem Hussein’s hy-larious hi jinx PAGE 21

Message of love and meditation PAGE 20

Published by Star News Group Pty Ltd ACN 005 848 108. Publisher/Managing Director, Paul Thomas.

All material is copyright to Star News Group Pty Ltd. All significant errors will be corrected as soon as possible.

CALENDAR What’s on this summer

SUMMER 2022

PAGE 22

Books growing a greener future PAGE 20 Music in

Isaiah shares his culture

memory of Max

PAGE 6 Illusive search for balance with Geelong’s

PAGE 7

Lee-Anne Campigli

Motherhood empowering Meaghan Geelong mum’s

PAGE 8

search for balance

Angie’s Catch-Up PAGES 9-11 Gut-loving mango jelly gummies PAGE 12 Finding the right formula COVER: Chester, 2, plays in the sand at Point Addis.

Picture: Louisa Jones

PAGE 17 There’s not one ‘right way’ PAGE 18

HEALTH Preparing your home for baby’s safety PAGE 13 Hope for a virus reprieve PAGE 14 Call for private cover shake-up PAGE 19

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instagram.com/geelongcoastkids SUMMER 2022 3

It’s Your Life

Raising boys around the world Raising boys around the world, writes STEVE BIDDULPH A COUPLE of months ago, I received some amazing news. The sales of my book Raising Boys in its Chinese translation had just passed a million copies in just one year!

This brought my worldwide book total to six million, making me the top selling parenting author - so far - in the 21st Century.

For a shy psychologist living in country Tasmania, this was rather hard to take in.

The last century’s star performer of parenting books was of course Benjamin Spock, who put me well in the shade with 50 million copies of his book Baby and Child Care sold in his lifetime.

Spock is my hero - he was the first writer to really respect parents, telling us that we should trust our own instincts first.

And he went in to bat for a generation reared with his books, by opposing the Vietnam War and the nuclear arms race, arguing that as a paediatrician he had to care for the

4 SUMMER 2022

lives of all children everywhere.

I’m a natural worrier, and so my first worry was whether the ideas in Raising Boys would help in a Chinese setting.

But back at the time of the translation, I had already been talking to many Chinese parents here in Australia who knew the culture back home, and I was much reassured - not only was the message appropriate, but it was very much needed.

What are the key messages of Raising Boys?

Well the first has to be that boys need to be around their dads a lot, to receive affection from them, and really know them in a deep way as they grow up, so they see that men have feelings too, and can be vulnerable and loving.

Single mums can raise boys very well, and they have done for thousands of years, but in my work I talked to thousands of single mums over the years, and found that part of their secret was in making sure their son met good men along the way, to role model what healthy masculinity was like.

It might be a school teacher, grandad, the gay man next door, or a guitar or karate teacher - as long as they were safe good men who a boy could get to know well and imitate and learn from.

Because of their often greater muscle

strength, and the poisonous messages sent by porn culture and the long history of sexism in our world, boys need to see respect shown to women especially their mother by their father.

And as they get a little older, to be explicitly taught never to hurt, exploit or sexually or otherwise misuse girls or women.

The book also broke new ground in sharing research that boys’s brains were slower growing.

So they might not be ready for school at the same age as girls, especially if they were born later in the year.

We began to discover that males in fact are the weaker sex, that their delayed development made them more socially awkward, more prone to separation anxiety, and perhaps because of this, suicide and prison rates were many times higher than for girls.

But this could be prevented affection, not rushing them into school, helping them with reading and talking, and allowing their energy to be expressed in lots of activity rather than calling them naughty for just being physical.

One astonishing much quoted piece of research was the hormonal change at age 4, when their testicles begin to lay down testosterone making “Leydig” cells, and they often become super

active and drive their quiet loving parents quite crazy.

Mums and dads were so relieved that their boys were not naughty, but like having a large dog - you just had to run them around a lot.

The great discovery of this century of course is that no two boys are alike, and they are on a testosterone spectrum, some boofy and a bit slow to learn language, and some sensitive and more gentle, that there a many different ways to be a boy.

Understanding what you have got is your first job - you can read lots of stories and have lots of quiet chats alongside your boofy boy, while helping your quiet boy to know how to stick his chin out and sound loud when necessary, but otherwise know that he is just a much a boy as any other!

The final message which was so taken on around the world was the boys must learn housework - that by age nine they should be making at least one meal a week for the family cleaning their room, helping around the house - brought smiles, and hopefully a generation of far more likeable men in families of the future.

Less men in jail, more men happy in their relationships and in their own skin.

I couldn’t be happier that this might be the case in China as well!

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

It’s Your Life

Making music happen for kids in the West

By Melissa Meehan MUSIC for Max focusses on supporting kids across Melbourne’s West and Geelong to get involved with music, when they would otherwise be missing out – because of social or financial hardship.

It’s essentially a scholarship and grants vehicle to help those less fortunate to pursue their dreams in music, in partnership with Artists for Kids

Culture (AKC), a registered charity which provides monetary grants for children to participate in artistic and cultural activities.

It can help pay for instruments or music lessons for kids who live in the West between Footscray and Geelong.

Max was a musician, playing in numerous bands in high school.

His passion for music extended beyond high school and he was renowned amongst his friends for his eclectic music taste.

He was 25.

Kids can get up to $1500 years.

In February this year, Music for Max held a music event at the Westwood Hotel in Footscray, in honour of their friend, Max Lee-Ack.

“He loved music and grew up in the western suburbs.”

Max died by suicide and this event aims to raise awareness about mental health struggles among young men, while also providing community support and creating positive avenues of expression and creativity for other young people.

Karla Livingstone–Pardy said friends wanted to do something in his memory.

Making playlists and mixtapes for everyone he knew.

“We wanted it to be about him, rather than how he died,” she said.

Search for Artists for Kids Culture to apply.

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SUMMER 2022 5

It’s Your Life

New early learning centre NEW mums and dads will soon have better access to early parenting support in a purpose-built facility.

Construction is now underway for a new multi-million-dollar Early Parenting Centre in Geelong.

Then-Premier Daniel Andrews in August turned the first sod on the new Early Parenting Centre at Barwon Health’s McKellar Centre in North Geelong.

“This new centre will deliver flexible, targeted services to help parents in Geelong and the surrounding areas with sleep and settling issues, supporting hundreds of local families a year,” he said.

Designed to help families with children up to four years of age enhance their relationships and achieve their parenting goals, the new centre will have 10 residential family units, four day-stay places, a kitchen and dining area, playrooms and outdoor play areas.

It will provide parents and carers with the advice and care they need, including support with sleep and settling, feeding, and extra care for babies and toddlers with additional needs.

Sleep and settling is one of the biggest challenges facing new parents, with about one in two Victorian parents who attend early parenting centres

reporting problems with their child’s sleep.

This can lead to postnatal depression, isolation and stress for parents and affect a child’s behavioural, mental and physical development.

The final designs for the multi-milliondollar centre revealed the facility’s exteriors, kitchen and dining area and residential family units, which were carefully considered to create a safe and serene environment where families could feel at home.

The project’s architects, Brand Architects, consulted childcare experts, local community groups and traditional owners as part of the design process to ensure the design reflected the

community it serves.

Natural light, rooms suitable for various family arrangements and a domestic feel were some of the priorities included in the final designs.

The colour palette was developed to mirror the landscape in Geelong and the wider Barwon region, featuring colours inspired by the native flora and environment.

The centre is being delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority (VHBA) in partnership with Barwon Health and the Tweddle Child and Family Health Service, with construction expected to be complete at the end of 2023.

An artist’s preview of the centre.

Isaiah shares his culture

By Casey Neill MUSICIAN Isaiah Firebrace wrote a picture book to teach kids about the longest continuing culture on Earth.

The Yorta Yorta and Gunditjmara man learnt a lot himself while writing Come Together: Things Every Aussie Kid Should Know about the First Peoples.

“I honestly learned so much about my own culture while I was writing this book and that’s the funny thing, because if I learned so much just imagine how much the kids are going to learn about our beautiful culture,” he said.

CARE CHALLENGE ACHIEVEMENT

Isaiah’s petition to the Australian Government calling for Aboriginal history to be taught in every classroom inspired the book.

“Change starts with education,” he said.

Due to the demand and growth in our College community, we have put on extra classes for next year.

“When I was growing up we weren’t taught very much about my beautiful ancient culture or my ancestors.

“I’ve only just started to connect with my heritage.

“The more we can learn about each other’s cultures the more we can understand each other and live together in harmony.’

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From caring for Country and Dreaming stories, to the importance of Elders and the Indigenous origins of AFL, Isaiah connects readers to each

Come Together: Things Every Aussie Kid Should Know about the First Peoples.

topic through his own personal story.

He said the hardest part was choosing what to cover and what to leave out.

“I also had to cut the topics right down as it’s a kid’s book,” he said.

“I would have loved to have talked more about it all, especially things like the Dreamtime and football.”

Isaiah’s life changed completely after winning The X Factor in 2016 on his 17th birthday.

He’s since represented Australia at Eurovision and traveled the country to mentor young people.

“The thought of kids teaching parents and people learning together is what this book is all about,” he said. www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

It’s Your Life

Illusive search for balance GREENHOUSE Interiors founder Julia Green and her team transformed a Geelong heritage warehouse into a concept space that’s entirely shoppable.

potential for trouble.

The Ryrie Street space includes a gallery for events and exhibitions and has drawn shoppers from far and wide since opening its doors late last year.

This inner voice is telling me my time for 80-hour weeks is over. And I am listening. I want to be remembered as an amazing mum before a trail-blazing creative.

Reporter Casey Neill spoke to Julia about building and expanding her design empire alongside husband Adam and sons Max and Jesse.

What age are your sons now?

Max is 19 and Jesse is 13.

Which have you found harder to juggle with work - toddlers or teenagers - and why?

Both were a challenge in their own right!

I think I found the baby stage the hardest, as I am hopeless with no sleep!

But the age-old saying ‘little people, little problems’ holds some truth. Now that they are both teens, with raging hormones, I find my patience and tolerance are constantly tested.

That said, I like the fact that we can all talk it out, whereas with toddlers, those tantrums were something else!

Funny thing is, I wouldn’t change a thing. Each stage was beautiful and hard and rewarding all at once.

How do you manage your passion and love for your business with your passion and love for your family?

My passion for my family is unequivocal, often blinded, biased and unquestioning.

My passion for my business comes in ebbs and flows, and is not the same constant as my love for my family.

Whilst they are both babies, they are very different loves.

Has that become harder or easier over the years?

I think as the business has grown, it’s become so much harder to strike a balance.

Employing more people, with more infrastructure, is really just more

I used to somehow manage the balance well enough, but now I find myself resenting it.

What are some benefits of raising children at the same time as running a business?

Well I am not sure I am the right one to ask, as the right answer is supposed to be that you create balance. But when I had a job working for someone else, despite always going above and beyond, there were finish times. There were sick days. There were annual leave days. There was a genuine balance.

Since I have created GI, I have not struck this balance at all.

My trouble is I see opportunity everywhere, and this is problematic, as I only know one speed and it’s GO. I am trying hard now to learn STOP. I fear it’s too late.

What impact does seeing you running a business have on your boys’ work ethic?

I’d LOVE to say they understand what hard work looks like, but it’s all they have really seen and know me as a mum that ‘does it all’.

I think what they have seen is the REAL behind the scenes, though - a mum that has sacrificed a LOT of her own time to grow this thing.

I think they have seen too many tears. And it’s interesting that one of them said he would never want to run his own business, as he has seen what it takes, and that is not what he would want for himself. I thought this perception was really interesting.

The other one will likely ONLY want to work for himself.

That’s kids for you - they are all different.

I do know they are very proud of me, and I often hear them telling their friends that their mum is famous and has a gazillion Instagram followers. It makes me giggle every time as their version of ‘famous’ is how many followers you have on social media - typical teens!

Are the boys involved in the business at all?

Not really. My youngest occasionally helps with IT help desk issues, for example “Jesse, how the hell do I make a reel and add music?”.

The eldest has dropped product to clients, collected homewares from suppliers and even offered to send out hundreds of linen once, but got the address wrong on each order so we spent four weeks trying to correct his mistakes. Needless to say, we thanked him, and never bothered to enlist his help with packing and sending orders again.

Tell me about creating your showroom - what a huge undertaking! Were there any family discussions during the planning process about how it would impact the household? Or any ideas the boys put forward?

My boys are MOST disinterested in interiors. They do not share a creative bone with their mother in that respect!

So they were not involved in any of those kinds of discussions.

But they did have to learn to cook through the build time, and that was an excellent bi-product, we thought!

The showroom was a huge undertaking: exhausting, financially scary (as we did it though Covid) and I don’t think we ever really weighed up how much it would impact our lives. It’s a whole other ‘THING’ we need to manage on top of what was already an exhausting week. However, it was my husband who drove this initiative (more than me!) as I never really wanted to be tied to a ‘shop/showroom’.

He has excellent attention to detail, a fan eye for style, and really great ideas.

So at least one of my ‘boys’ was helpful!

Greenhouse Interiors founder Julia Green.

But here we are, and the feedback has been amazing. It’s so lovely to see people’s jaws drop and take a good hour to circle the two floors of interior goodness. It’s a mecca like no other in Geelong, or even Australia. Get on in if you haven’t already, locals - we built this for YOU! Do you have anything else in the works for Greenhouse?

Always so much happening. So many ideas.

I am hosting an amazing style trip to Morocco in May next year and can’t wait for that, but nothing else I can share right now.

As we near our first birthday here, we need to take a moment to just breathe and enjoy what we have before taking the next leap.

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SUMMER 2022 7

Motherhood’s empowering Meaghan

It’s Your Life

By Casey Neill FINDING out she was pregnant with son Thomas was “such a happy day” for Meaghan Young.

“I couldn’t believe it. I went for a swim down at Williamstown,” the Footscray West mum said.

“It was September so it wasn’t that warm.

“It was such a momentous day and I just wanted to be in the water.

When her waters broke at 40 weeks plus five days, Meaghan called the hospital and was advised to call back in the morning.

She was grateful to have Pete by her side and support from her church.

“We were really cared for, and it was a good little lesson in saying ‘yes’,” she said.

A history teacher, Meaghan had been working at Victoria’s youth justice centres before going on maternity leave.

“I asked ‘would you consider giving me a window to go home and relax and see if it happens?’.

“I felt really listened to.

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Recovery was “a lot” and breastfeeding was “a little bit of a challenge”.

“The hospital system, I feel so much for them. It was just frantic,” she said.

“I just burst into tears.

“I went home, tired and stressed, and really relaxed for the night.

“So far I’ve been really pleasantly surprised by how much I’m just enjoying this time,” she said.

“I was worried I might find it isolating or boring or just tiring, really laborious.

“But it feels like such a privilege to be able to have this time taking care of him.

“When I think about work, I think initially I imagined I wanted to be back after a year, but now I’m like ‘will I?’.

“It blows my mind a little bit.

“At the moment I’m just really enjoying this.

She got Hungry Jacks, watched trash TV and went on a walk.

“I feel like stepping back from paid work has also given me the chance to think about how I am in different roles.

“We used to do a waddle every night over to the local station,” she said.

“I’m learning more about myself and what things I find energising.

By 10pm her contractions started in earnest, and she laboured in her living room and kitchen.

“I’ve learnt a lot more about myself than I expected.

“I did a lot of walking and groaning,” she said.

“My contractions were really regular but not very strong.”

Pete was calling the hospital for advice as her labour progressed.

“I remember they got quite regular and I thought we should be heading in, and they said to labour at home as long as possible,” she said.

“Within an hour of that I felt like I needed to push.

“They told us to pull over and call an ambulance if we needed to.

For more information or to enrol please contact info@geelongsclts.org.au or visit www.geelongsclts.org.au

“It was a very empowering experience,” she said.

“Having received all that help, it really has inspired me to be that person for other people.”

“That was something that I was really hoping to not have happen,” Meaghan said.

Now operating from two locations; Christian College Highton and Geelong Grammar Handbury Centre for Wellbeing.

She felt amazing support from the women in her life during her early days of motherhood, as well as pregnancy.

She had some mild contractions overnight and went in for a check-up in the morning.

She finally went in for a scan and was told she’d be induced.

Geelong SC Learn to Swim provide students from 5 years of age the opportunity to learn to swim and swim well. We promote water safety, correct stroke implementation and provide pathways into the various aquatic activities within our region, including competitive swimming, surf lifesaving and open water swimming.

“I felt like I could do it.”

“And it was sweet relief and joy,” Meaghan said.

“We ended up being in emergency for eight hours, which was a long time and really stressful.”

Geelong Swimming Club is proud to offer high quality swimming and survival lessons with the region’s finest accredited instructors, many of whom are former competitive swimmers themselves and are passionate about teaching children to swim.

“He was nearly coming the whole time.

“But I don’t think I have always wanted to be a mum.

“It made me think about being kind to others,” she said.

Geelong Swimming Club - Learn to Swim

“I feel like this part went really quickly, but it was probably three hours of pushing.

But it took an episiotomy and vacuum to bring Tom into the world.

Meaghan’s pregnancy was “pretty smooth, aside from a bout of Covid” but made her think about the invisible work going on around her.

Pictures: Joe Mastroianni

“It was a dream I got to labour pretty well at home and then go in and go into birth mode,” she said.

“I’ve always loved families, I’ve always loved being part of a family.

“It’s been such a pleasure to take that chance and be like ‘I think this is an identity that I’d like to have’.”

Meaghan and her son Thomas.

When she arrived she was fully dilated and immediately sent to a birthing suite.

“I was just in the zone.

“Poor Pete, every stop light he was panicking.”

“I’m hoping that when I go back into paid work that I’ll be able to keep some of the learning from this time.”

One of her best pieces of advice for other new mums came from her sister, Jess: “strike while the iron’s asleep”.

When your baby is sleeping, prioritise. It can be tempting to put on the washing but grab that snack.

“You need that snack,” she said.

“We’re so addicted to being productive.

“I’m feeding Tom from my body at the moment, so that takes a lot of work.

“You can feel tired at the end of the day if all you did was feed him and bop him and help him sleep.

“It’s about reframing the to-do list.”

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www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

It’s Your Life

LeeAnn is kept busy with her business and twins Joshua and Evie.

Pictures: Louisa Jones

Challenges a part of life

By Angie Hilton

I started working in hairdressing at 16 while I studied & completed VCE then continued into my apprenticeship before purchasing my own salon a couple of years after I qualified at 23 years old.

37 year old Lee-Anne Campigli is a walking advertisement for her business ‘You’re Gorgeous Hair and Beauty’. A natural stunner, Lee-anne is always impeccably groomed and glowing… oh and on top of that she’s super kind, friendly and smart. Aaargh!! By the way she presents, you would never imagine that behind the scenes she’s juggling being a single mother of 4 year old twins all whilst running a thriving business and recently winning Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the Geelong Business Excellence Awards.

On to your beautiful babies. How did you go carrying twins?

It was a shock initially to be carrying twins after struggling to fall pregnant for a couple of years.

I didn’t enjoy pregnancy a lot as it was very uncomfortable carrying two & trying to work & renovate a new salon in the same time period but it was all worth it.

But for all the glamour and success, Lee-anne is also the first to admit that a person’s façade can mask what’s under the surface. Diagnosed with clinical depression last year, she believes in the importance of being open about mental health conditions in order to encourage others to do the same.

Quick questions...

Name: Lee-Anne Campigli Occupation: Business owner/ hairdresser Children: 4 year old twins.

A movie you love: Erin Brokovich An embarrassing moment: Falling down stairs in public Mantra: I create my own happiness.

■ Evie- Sassy, affectionate, sensitive

A quote you love: Better to have loved & lost than to never have loved at all.

Quirky habit: Very tactile, I love to Pat anything soft like faux fur haha

Life changing moment: Giving birth to my children

Go to karaoke song: Don’t cha Pussycat dolls

3 people you’d like to invite to the salon for bubbles - living or passed?

A book you love: My sisters keeper.

My Nan, the queen & the Dalai Lama

■ Joshua- Cheeky, intelligent, caring

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

Let’s go back to life before children.

Can you give us a snapshot of life before babies? Childhood, school life, work life?

I grew up as the youngest of 3 sisters, my parents owned businesses so I was always driven to be a high achiever & believed in my own abilities to achieve this.

I was a good student & always achieved great results in all my subjects.

I loved dance & performance as a child & have continued with this as a hobby into adulthood.

It’s one thing to carry them and another to give birth to them. How was that experience?

The twins arrived at 33 weeks after going into an early labour at 32 weeks.

I had a caesarean so it was a longer recovery but an amazing one. I made some incredible friends in the nursery where they spent 4 weeks before coming home & continue these friendships today.

What’s the best thing about having twins?

Having a boy & girl I have the best of both worlds & did it all in one go so it’s been great.

They’re so different so it’s been amazing seeing them grow into little people. They have a beautiful connection and immediate best friends & playmates.

Continued page 10 SUMMER 2022 9

It’s Your Life

From page 9 What’s the hardest thing about having twins?

From birth until now it’s all about time management and sharing the love between two. It’s demanding and challenging so neither ever feels left out.

Also trying to be on time anywhere is definitely a struggle!

Now on to your fabulous business…

When did you start your business and was that a big decision?

I purchased my salon You’re Gorgeous Hair & Beauty at 23 after needing a challenge and wanting to push myself to succeed in my own capacity. It was definitely a big decision and a risk but I’ve always believed I had the ability to do well and life. I also think that growing up with quite a severe anxiety disorder, I’ve always tried to channel that energy in a positive way rather than let it define and limit me. It’s really about risk taking and learning along the way even through the ups & downs.

What do you think are the key ingredients to making a successful business?

Having a business plan & goals, a positive mindset, excellent support network & supportive team is vital to achieving success within the business.

How many staff do you have and how do you keep the enthusiastic and happy to come to work?

We currently have 9 of us within the salon after originally starting with 3 including myself.

Creating an environment that’s supportive and positive while offering great opportunities for growth & education is key to keeping a long term happy team.

A lot of my team have had similar challenges as mental health or tricky life experiences, so I really try to create a nurturing environment where we can all be open and care for each other.

Did you have a mentor to guide you through tricky patches?

I have a beautiful manager and staff that always help when times are tough as well as support from our suppliers and business coach seminars that have pushed us through the hardest times of late.

I was actually diagnosed with major depression last year which made it extremely challenging to run a business. I’d be driving into work having panic attacks so I’d often had to pull over and take deep breaths.

10 SUMMER 2022

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

In times like this it really comes down to mindset and who you have around you. I really like to encourage others who are experience those feelings to really use it in a positive light rather than let it overcome you.

How did you feel when you recently won Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the GBEA? It was really an honour to be recognised for this award after recently launching my own brand of hair extensions, Temptress hair extensions.

I love to share my experiences & skill set with my co-workers and to be a mentor to help them achieve success in their lives too. So to be able to share that & be acknowledged for the efforts & hard work over the years is truly humbling.

How do you manage work life and parenting?

As the old saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child so it’s important to have a supportive network around you to be able to juggled the day to day management of work and home life, but I’m lucky I do have great people around me to be able to do this.

Do you have a parenting philosophy?

Create children that have opportunities to be individual and confident in themselves.

To do this I think you need to be a supportive parent of their needs, but also show them the importance of values and boundaries. I think it’s important for them to learn their place in this world with respect to peers & kindness to all things living.

What did you learn from your own parents that you do or don’t want to pass on?

Being supportive of your children and their passions is so important for their growth and confidence, so I do try to give opportunities to them that I didn’t have myself & I’ll continue to do that into the future.

I think it’s really important *especially with twins) to recognise them as individuals with different needs, allowing & supporting those needs to help them grow into confident individuals.

What advice would you have for new parents?

Rest when you need to and make sure to reach out to others around you when times are tough. No parent is perfect and each child is so different, so it’s important to know you are doing a great job and most importantly - be kind to yourself.

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

SUMMER 2022 11

It’s Your Life

Gut-Loving Mango Jelly Gummies Ingredients Picture: Studio 74 Photography

■ 1 cup diced mango ■ 1 cup filtered water ■ 3 Tbsp gelatin powder ■ 1 Tbsp maple syrup or honey *optional, if your mango is tart

in the kitchen

Instructions 1. Combine mango, water and maple syrup in a blender and process in to a puree.

with Lucy Stewart JELLY gummies are a cheap, easy and fun way to include the ancient superfood, gelatin, in our kids diet.

They’re just like jelly lollies but without all the sugar, colours and flavours that you’ll find in the store-bought ones – they’re the kind of lollies you’ll be happy for the kids to eat, by the handful!

Gelatin is derived from collagen found in animal bones, skin and cartilage that’s been dehydrated and ground in to a flavourless powder. It’s nutritionally the same as collagen, just a more refined version of it. Collagen works from head to toe in our bodies to: help repair and restore the lining of the gut, support muscle, hair & nail growth and repair, keep joints flexible and

2. Pour mango puree in to a saucepan and sprinkle over gelatin 1 Tbsp at a time, allowing it to bloom (turn in to a jelly blob) in between. bones strong – everything kids need to support them during their rapid period of growth and development. Gelatin also promotes healthy liver detoxification, nourishes our adrenals, and is a major component of skin, so don’t think these jelly gummies are for the kids alone to enjoy.

Because they’re loaded with protein they also help to balance blood sugars, provide a steady release of energy and keep kids tummies feeling fuller for longer.

Making these jelly gummies is so easy and a fun way to get kids in to the kitchen and involved in the cooking process. We’ve made the most of the in-season mangoes in this recipe, but you could easily replace the mango with berries.

You’ll find gelatin it stocked in most healthfood stores – favour one from pasture-raised Australian or New Zealand cows. Unfortunately, the gelatine at the supermarket doesn’t carry the same health benefits

3. Gently heat the mixture over low and stir until the gelatin has completely dissolved.

4. Pour mixture in to moulds or a baking tray (you can slice in to squares once set), then place in the fridge to set for at least 2-hours.

5. Remove gummies from the moulds and store in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 5-days – if they last that long!

Well Fed Kitchen is a range of healthy snacks for kids that you can make at home.

Created by Nutritionist and mum, Lucy Stewart, they’re made with only real wholefood and plant-based ingredients – no additives, nothing artificial, and without nuts, dairy, soy and wheat.

Well Fed Kitchen provides an easy snack alternative to the sugar-laden, healthy pro- cessed options, guaranteed to fill kids tummies, satisfy their hunger, provide a steady release of energy and some essential growing nutrients too. www.wellfedkitchen.com.au @wellfedkitchen_snacks 12562706-MS36-22

12 SUMMER 2022

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

Health

Preparing your arrival BE ready for baby’s safe arrival at home with these tips from Epworth midwives.

Your baby needs a safe sleep space which should be a flat, firm surface, with their feet at the bottom of the cot or bassinet. Remove all hats, bibs and other loose items from the cot and keep your baby’s face and head uncovered, with the blankets tucked in firmly.

Red Nose Foundation recommends that your baby’s sleep space should be a non-smoking area, in the parent’s room for the first six to 12 months.

Always supervise your baby near any water, as infants can drown in as little as 2 centimetres to 5cm of water.

To avoid burns, bath water should be 37-38 degrees or similar to your body temperature.

Run the bath first with the cold then add hot water and finish by turning off the cold.

It also recommends breastfeeding to reduce the risk of sudden infant death.

Make sure you check the temperature with a thermometer, or your arm, before you put your baby in.

Make sure that any baby equipment meets the Australian standards for safety before you use it and ensure the item hasn’t been recalled.

Before you leave hospital, have a car seat fitted. This should be rear facing, secured correctly with the harness adjusted to fit baby’s body correctly.

Even from birth, babies can move unexpectedly. Never leave your baby unattended on a raised surface like a bed, sofa, chair or change table.

Never leave your baby in the car.

The inside of a car can get hot incredibly quickly.

from light and disturbance also means you can’t easily check on them and it can make the space hot. Babies can quickly overheat and become seriously unwell.

Prams and capsules are not designed as regular sleeping spaces. Covering a pram or capsule to shield your baby

Always supervise pets and children undistracted, no matter how much you trust them.

Keep one hand on your baby, or pick them up if you need to move away.

Scan the QR code to order your free copy of Birth, Bump and Bub from Epworth Maternity

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at Epworth Geelong

Epworth Geelong Call maternity reception on 03 5271 8322 1 Epworth Place, Waurn Ponds (next to Deakin University)

SUMMER 2022 13

It’s Your Life

Hopeful for a virus reprieve EMERGENCY rooms across Australia have been inundated with children struggling to breathe - and it’s not because of COVID-19.

Respiratory viruses, including respiratory syncytial virus and influenza, have been hitting kids more frequently and in patterns not before seen.

According to Perth paediatrician Asha Bowen, Western Australia and the Northern Territory are experiencing a peak in RSV cases - something that would usually happen in June.

But during the pandemic, RSV surprisingly peaked nationally in January and February.

For RSV to climax in September and October, it gives hope that things are moving back to normal and towards the depths of winter - but it’s anyone’s guess if that is actually going to happen, Dr Bowen said.

The days of regular peaks and troughs are gone, with practitioners noticing numerous changes in the way viruses are presenting.

Couple that with limited immunity, thanks to spending months indoors

during the pandemic, and children seem to be getting more of the viruses out there.

“Normally we see RSV and then influenza and then the other spring viruses like rhinovirus, metapneumovirus and others,” Dr Bowen told AAP. “But there has been no sort of usual pattern this year ... they are cropping up whenever now and maybe it is because COVID has left them room.

“We found COVID had its peak nationwide in January and February and then the other viruses came.”

She said the increased number of respiratory illnesses in children meant an increase in hospital presentations and added pressure on the system.

Royal Australasian College of Physicians president and paediatrician Jacqueline Small said it had been a tough winter for all but especially children.

“Now we’ve entered spring, we’re hoping for a reprieve from the volume of viruses circulating in the community,” she said.

“We must remain vigilant and remember we can always do more to protect ourselves and our children, such as keeping up good hygiene and staying home if you’re sick.”

Victoria’s Deputy Chief Health Officer Associate Professor Deborah Friedman said high vaccination numbers helped reduce flu infections in 2022.

She said the flu season was early, short and sharp in Victoria but more cases may emerge later this year when holiday-makers return from overseas.

Influenza peaked in Victoria with about 18,000 cases in May and declined to 350 in August.

It was overtaken by the number of notified cases of RSV in mid-June.

RSV mostly affects younger children, with 42 per cent of cases notified in 2022 aged under three.

The number of people presenting to emergency departments with respiratory illnesses other than COVID-19 and asthma increased over the winter months, with children under five making up an increased proportion.

Medical director of infection prevention and epidemiology at Monash Health, Professor Rhonda Stuart, said everyone was catching up on viruses they didn’t get during the pandemic.

There was hardly any influenza and very few other respiratory viruses in 2020 and 2021.

“It’s not necessarily immunity,” she said.

“These viruses often like to transmit in the winter because we’re all indoors and we don’t physically separate so much, and it’s much easier to transmit during the winter months.

“But as spring comes and the doors open, and we have good ventilation, and people are outdoors, respiratory viruses and COVID won’t transmit nearly as easily.”

The Department of Health and Aged Care said COVID-19 testing likely had an effect on identifying the number of people with respiratory viruses but it was unable to quantify those statistics as the data was de-identified.

- AAP

Swimming lessons save lives In a country surrounded by beaches, it’s important that Aussie kids learn how to swim efficiently.

WITH summer approaching, it is important to give your child the best grounding to be able to enjoy and survive in the water. Children who are happy and confident in the water will be more able to think themselves out of a difficult situation and be in a position to most quickly, safely and enjoyably, learn to swim.

It is concerning to see the drowning statistics released from Life Saving Victoria, highlighting that those most at risk include young children, teenagers and young adults. In particular, those participating in high risk activities or alcohol affected are at a higher risk, as 14 SUMMER 2022

are recently arrived citizens who possibly do not speak or read the English language.

While there has been a decrease in the drowning statistics over the past ten years through education and advertising campaigns, the challenge is to create and maintain a water safety culture in Victoria while increasing participation in aquatic activity.

Children need regular and ongoing lessons until they reach the required skill level. By swimming all year round they retain skills and build techniques easily. Breaks in learning to swim,

Picture: Supplied

mean valuable time is lost and when lessons resume, skills must be revised and often re learnt. Those who do year-round lessons are stronger and better able to resist colds over the winter months.

Geelong Aquatic Centre which has operated for the past 25 years, is a specialist Learn-to-Swim centre which is the ideal venue for infants, children of all ages and adults to learn swimming and survival skills. All levels can be catered for in their two 25m and one recently enlarged learner’s pool, which are all heated and salt chlorinated.

Lessons are taught in a sequentially

developmental program where children are not progressed until each skill is attained to a proficient standard, so that confidence and competence is maintained.

All staff at Geelong Aquatic Centre are well qualified and passionate about teaching those in their charge to become confident and capable in the water.

Enrolments are being taken for term four, which starts on Monday September 26. Phone the centre on (03) 5222 5530 and speak to the friendly reception staff for bookings. www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

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SUMMER 2022 15

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It’s Your Life

Students are distracted by phones, TV, the internet, loud noises and “my bossy mum”.

Stop study distractions MOST students say their parents hinder rather than help during exam study, a survey has revealed.

More than 300 students responded to an online poll from Pilot Pen Australia and HSC Tutor, Clarissa Armani.

asking me how my studying is going” (37.05 per cent) and “playing TV/ music/making noise in the house” (27.27 per cent).

Sixty-two per cent of respondents said their parents hindered them when studying and only 38 per cent said their parents helped.

Students said the best way parents could help was by giving them space (34.78 per cent), buying them the stationery they needed (26.09 per cent) and making them a drink or snack (21.74 per cent).

“We ran this survey to find out more about what students need,” Pilot Pen Australia marketing manager John Johnston said.

When asked what most distracted students from studying, answers ranged from phones and TV to the internet, loud noises and “my bossy mum”.

“We were actually quite surprised to find out that parents aren’t one of the ‘go-to’ tools in the study kit.”

“The results of the survey clearly show that parents need to back off,” Ms Armani said.

Most respondents (56.52 per cent) said the worst thing parents did was “interrupt my studying by coming into my room” followed by “constantly

“It’s important for students, particularly high schoolers and those doing HSC, to learn how to plan and manage their study by themselves.

Educational Kinesiology Can Improve:

16 SUMMER 2022

“There has been a lot of discussion recently about phones in classrooms,” she said.

“The same goes for at home.

“Encourage children to leave their phone outside the room so they can come and get it when they’re done, and also try and minimise noise in the house just to help them concentrate.

2. Feel free to give your child study tips but remember - what worked for you when you studied might not work for your child.

Educational Kinesiologist and Brain Gym Consultant

3. Allow your children to pick their own subjects. They’ll be studying what they’re interested in which will likely lead to higher marks.

• • • •

Spelling Learning Handwriting Confidence And Self-Esteem • Coordination & Mobility

4. Encourage balance and routine.

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10 Greenleaf Dve, Lara • Ph: 5282 5985 Mobile: 0419 569 071 Email: claire@wholebrain.com.au • www.wholebrain.com.au

Ms Armani said it was interesting but not surprising that many respondents found technology distracting.

1. Try not to share and compare your child’s exam results with results from a different school. The test difficulty is often different across schools.

Claire Hocking

Concentration Cognitive Functioning Positive Mental Health Maths Vision Hearing Reading

“Set them up with a good desk or provide quiet time at the kitchen table with good lighting,” she said.

Ms Armani’s advice for parents:

Consultations and Courses available - All Ages NDIS welcome

• • • • • • •

She said one positive way parents could help was to ensure the home environment was conducive to study.

“These days, it’s harder than ever before but your kids will thank you for it later.”

Switch on your brain with Educational Kinesiology / Brain Gym

• Anxiety And Stress • Depression • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder • Anger Management • Coping With Change • Memory

“Hovering around to check they are on task, is distracting and counterproductive.”

5. Having the right environment for study can make a huge difference so children feel comfortable and motivated.

6. Too much parent involvement can be counterproductive. It’s important

for children to learn how to plan and manage their study by themselves.

7. Try not to become angry if your child receives a low mark. Instead, use it as a learning curve to help your child gain insight and motivation to change their study habits and perform better next time.

Ms Armani’s tips for students: 1. Start familiarising yourself with past exam papers early. Even if you have not learned all the content, look through them and attempt to answer the questions. This will help you learn how to apply concepts you have learned to common exam questions and also understand the gaps in your knowledge 2. Create weekly summary notes from each subject.

3. Dedicate a book for writing down any questions you found hard or mistakes you keep making. Write down the solution to the hard questions in this book as well, and revise before exams.

4. Use spare time effectively. Aim to complete three hours of study every day during the holidays to revise notes and complete practice exam questions. Also aim to read ahead the chapters in your school textbook and begin making draft notes for the content you will cover in the following terms at school.

5. Use a diary to schedule and plan for what you will study each day, plus extra-curricular activities and due dates for assessments. Add time limits to each task in your diary to ensure you stay on track.

6. Establish a routine and avoid late nights. Adequate sleep optimises your thinking abilityand concentration for the day ahead. Routine helps to prevent procrastination.

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

It’s Your Life

The right formula

By Casey Neill ALY Backman’s anxiety around breastfeeding started soon after her daughter Daisy was born.

The Lilydale mum’s milk came in on day two and her breasts “just exploded”.

Daisy was struggling to latch and Aly was in pain.

“I was told ‘it will calm down, it will calm down’,” she said.

“It never calmed down.”

She experienced her first blocked duct about a month in, and frequently thereafter.

Daisy just didn’t need all the milk Aly’s body was producing.

“I was so disconnected from Daisy, with the birth trauma and then the breastfeeding trauma on top,” she said.

Aly saw a local lactation consultant, describing the visit as “useless”.

She saw a breastfeeding guru that her GP recommended, and a women’s physio who performed an ultrasound on her breasts.

She tried different latches. She tried feeding more frequently, but Daisy just wasn’t hungry. She tried cabbage leaves, heat packs, ice packs…

“I spent upwards of $1000 on intervention. Nothing worked,” she said.

“I wanted to fix it so badly but nothing ever fixed it.

“It was awful. I really didn’t even want to leave the house.

“I always had a pump with me to try and take off a bit of milk.

“I very rarely had that feeling of deflated boobs. My boobs were always full.

“I slept on my back for nine months because I was terrified to sleep on my side.

“I didn’t wear a bra for nine months, I wore those crop singlets.

“Something that should have been so natural was so s***.”

Nine months in, Aly had blockages in both breasts and decided it had to end.

She sought advice from her maternal and child health nurse.

“She made me feel confident enough to go ‘we have to go cold turkey here’,” she said.

A doctor prescribed medication to help dry up her milk.

Scared of mastitis and suffered three weeks of rock-hard, lumpy breasts, using a manual pump for some relief, plus ice packs and cabbage leaves.

“I didn’t shower for days because I didn’t want them to get warm,” she said.

Daisy was hysterical on day one, and it took all Aly’s strength - and stern words from her partner, Tom - to resist breastfeeding her.

They bought “every single bottle” to find one Daisy would accept formula from, and ended up finally succeeding with a baby drink bottle.

And then it was over.

“I felt the biggest relief and weight taken off my shoulders,” Aly said.

“I wish it had been different, but there was never a solution.”

Aly finally felt like herself again.

“It was a very long time, a really lonely time,” she said.

“Tom found it really hard because I don’t think he knew how to help.

“But he was so supportive the whole way through, and so supportive of the decision to bottle feed Billy.”

Breastfeeding was immediately off the table when she fell pregnant with her son.

“But the further we got along in the pregnancy, the more I started to question my decision and feel really guilty,” she said.

“I thought ‘what if he gets sick and I can’t give him antibodies from breastfeeding?’.”

Midwives could see how traumatised Aly was, and referred her to a clinical midwife consultant in the Perinatal Emotional Health Service.

“I had a couple of appointments and explained everything,” she said.

“She was going to play devil’s advocate, but said ‘after hearing your story, you are 100 per cent making the right decision not to breastfeed’.”

Aly was told she’d receive medication to stop her milk from coming in, but shortly after welcoming Billy she was told her body would actually still produce some milk.

“I had a massive panic attack in the hospital. I freaked out,” she said.

“This was on day two. Day two was where it all happened with Daisy.”

So the consultant advocated for her to stay in hospital another night.

“My milk did come in but it did go away pretty quickly. It wasn’t anywhere near as crazy.

“I just felt guilty, and I still hold onto that guilt, even though I know it was the right decision for our family, and for me - if I had got a blocked duct, I would have lost it.”

Aly found formula feeding overwhelming.

“How many bottles do I need? What formula do I buy? Breastfeeding would be so much simpler,” she said.

“But I found I was way more connected to Billy than I ever was with Daisy.

“He would gaze into my eyes and I would gaze into his.

Aly with Daisy and Billy.

Pictures: Rob Carew

“Even though there was a bottle in his mouth and not a boob, it was beautiful.”

The trauma hasn’t affected the relationship she has with Daisy today.

“But the experience that I had with Billy was just so much nicer and natural - which sounds so stupid because it was formula in a bottle - but it felt like the experience I should have had with Daisy.

“Don’t feel guilty about deciding if it’s best for you to use formula.

“Breast milk is best, but it’s hard work.”

Our Vision: Geelong High School is a positive and creative learning community that embraces its history and prepares students for life.

We are committed to: Developing caring and respectful relationships; Empowering people to realise their potential through effort, responsibility and teamwork; and Building healthy, resilient and productive global citizens.

Our values: RESPECT - Responsibility, Effort, Service, Positivity, Excellence, Creativity, Teamwork.

Lilydale mum Aly Backman. www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

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For a virtual tour of what Geelong High School offers, please visit www.geelonghigh.vic.edu.au

385 Ryrie St, East Geelong VIC 3219 T: 5225 4100 • Email: geelong.hs@education.vic.gov.au SUMMER 2022 17

It’s Your Life

There’s not one ‘right way’

By Casey Neill WHEN Tahlia Azaria’s first son Rafferty was three months old, her husband Joe Toohey returned home from work and asked what she’d done that day.

The Coburg mum regaled him with a tale about spying her neighbour putting something into their bin, and the stare she threw to let her know she’d spotted her devious act.

“Joe said ‘I think you need to go back to work’,” she said.

Tahlia agreed.

“I like to be in control of my life, I’m very goal-oriented,” she said.

“I chose to let go of that control when I went into labour, trusting that my body knew what it needed to do.”

But her difficult labour ended in an emergency caesarean.

“That set us up for our first few weeks together with a background of trauma,” she said.

“The bond didn’t happen immediately.

“It set the scene for me for my first year.”

Rafferty and Spencer.

Tahlia met her mothers’ group when Raffy was about six weeks old.

“You can do anything, whatever gender you are.

“I was having a really difficult time, I wasn’t enjoying it,” she said.

“Gone are the days where it’s not expected that mums would achieve things outside of their families.

“I said ‘who’s looking forward to going back to work? Because I’m really looking forward to going back to work.’.

“I felt like I had three heads.

“That seemed to be perceived as not something that you say.

“No one else could relate.

“It caused me to isolate myself further.

“I had done most of it before Raffy was born and I had two subjects to finish.

“I did them while on maternity leave and it kept me connected to the outside world.

“I had three hours with adults talking about topics I was interested in.

“I was talking to a counsellor at that time, trying to reconcile my identity.

“I was able to do that because I had a supportive partner.”

“You can’t predict one day to the next. That was a big adjustment for me, having gone from being a full-time employee in a profession I really loved and was passionate about and achieving things, to maybe being able to have a shower.”

Tahlia and Joe’s second son, Spencer, was born during Covid times and she got back to work sooner thanks to working from home.

Six months after welcoming Raffy into the world, Tahlia returned to work.

“If I had to be physically with people all day and then come home and be with my kids before they go to bed, I don’t think I’d be able to function as well as I’m able to.

“I sort of found my purpose again, which is not to say I wasn’t fulfilled by my child,” she said.

“Some people are built to be a stay-at-home parent.

“I have so much admiration for that skill set. I don’t have that skill set.

“I don’t have the creativity and the imagination to spend that time with a child and give them the stimulation they need.

“Each experience is different and it’s up to that person or that family to decide what works for them.

“There shouldn’t be one way to do things.”

Tahlia completed her MBA when Raffy was 18 months old.

“I feel like it’s a real example for him,” she said.

18 SUMMER 2022

“The way that I’m wired is I get my energy from being alone,” she said.

“I’m very fortunate to have found an incredibly supportive workplace, and manager in particular, who understands that I have these demands on my life, and that for me to be really effective at my job my work environment needs to be conducive to that.”

Tahlia Azaria with husband Joe Toohey and sons Rafferty and Spencer.

had to know what was happening, and I had to exhaust all options to know why it wasn’t happening.

“I very quickly lost the perspective of ‘if it happens, it happens’.”

She feels fortunate that Spencer was conceived with their first embryo transfer.

Motherhood has helped Tahlia better understand her strengths and skills.

“And it also showed me in real time the value of child care and how valuable it is for different kids,” she said.

“Spencer is an extrovert in a family of introverts.

The age gap between the boys is almost five years, following trouble conceiving.

“He needs to go to child care to be around people all the time so that he’s constantly being entertained.

“I’m really glad that it happened that way. Now we have a 6-year-old who is such a big help,” Tahlia said.

“Raffy, he’s also a bit introverted, he’s really calm, he’s really happy to occupy himself.

“We started on that journey going ‘we’re really happy with one child, if it happens, it happens’.

“It helped him find his confidence and learn social skills.

“It got so far down the line that I just

Pictures: Rob Carew

“It’s for education as much as it is for child minding.”

Tahlia Azaria had a difficult start to motherhood. www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

Health

Melbourne mother Bridget Crowe decided to give birth in the public hospital system.

Picture: AAP

Private cover shake-up call as parents go public WHEN it came time for Bridget Crowe to have her babies, she was among an increasing number of Australian parents turning to the public hospital system.

The Melbourne mother-of-three couldn’t justify the high out-of-pocket hospital fees - and specialists say she’s not alone in shunning the private system due to cost.

National Association of Specialist Obstetricians and Gynaecologists president Gino Pecoraro told AAP the nation was “witnessing the virtual collapse of private obstetrics”.

Part of the problem was that Australia’s birth rate had fallen to a record low, while the majority of women giving birth elected to use the public system because of the cost of private health cover, the Brisbane-based specialist said.

“People who are having babies are all being forced to go to the public sector, which was never designed or intended to do all of the work,” he said. “(Public hospitals) are really struggling, but it’s a symptom of the disease that there hasn’t been enough resourcing or planning to run obstetric services.”

In 2016/17, 23.7 per cent of childbirth procedures carried out in hospitals took place in private facilities but the share has steadily fallen to 21.8 per cent in 2020/21.

Dr Pecoraro said a reboot of the entire sector was needed, with a particular www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

focus on Medicare and private health insurance.

midwives, it is now under severe strain and under-resourced,” she said.

we decided to go with the public system.”

“The federal government hasn’t had the courage or the conviction to stand up to the private health insurers and make sure that they cover pregnancy in all the policies,” he said.

“That strain has been caused by more people being unable to afford private care even though many of them would like to.”

Rachel David, the CEO of private health insurance industry body Private Health Care Australia, conceded out-of-pocket costs often turned people off private maternity care but added the system was difficult to navigate due to the Medicare Benefits Scheme.

Dr Pecoraro said it was “cruelty and sexism” for women to face significantly higher private health insurance costs in order to be covered for pregnancy and birth.

“And Medicare isn’t blameless in that either - we’ve had a Medicare rebate freeze for specialists for six years,” he said.

Melbourne obstetrician Bronwyn Hamilton agrees.

She said the Medicare rebate barely touched the surface of running a private clinic.

“Unfortunately, if out-of-pocket costs didn’t exist we would actually lose money for each patient we took on for their pregnancy and birth,” Dr Hamilton said.

The Medicare rebate of $329.70 towards charges for the ‘planning and management’ of a pregnancy does not cover her costs, such as staffing, insurance and rent.

Dr Hamilton said many of her inner-city private colleagues were struggling for business due to the push towards the public system.

“Although we have a world-class public system with highly qualified

In 2019/20, 69 per cent of private patients with insurance who gave birth vaginally without complications did not face any out-of-pocket doctors’ costs, according to the federal government’s Medical Costs Finder.

The remaining 31 per cent typically paid $350 in out-of-pocket fees, while 57 per cent of patients whose babies were delivered by Caesarean section faced out-of-pocket doctors’ costs typically worth $420.

However the figures don’t include hospital charges such as accommodation or theatre costs, which usually reached into the thousands of dollars and might not be fully covered by insurers.

Ms Crowe and husband Matty initially planned to go private but changed their minds because of the out-of-pocket costs.

“We originally increased my private (insurance) coverage to include pregnancy when we were thinking of trying for our first (child),” she said.

“Then I was told the out-of-pocket cost for the majority of doctors in my area started around $5000.

“This cost alongside the increase in our premium was significant for us. So

Private health insurers were often not allowed to co-fund outpatient care if a Medicare benefit was payable, she said, adding that the system as a whole was “too rigid”.

“What we don’t want to happen is for private obstetrics to disappear, the workforce to disappear and then have a very big load on the public hospital system and create some bottlenecks which actually impact patient care,” she said.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said cover for pregnancy and birth was mandatory in top-tier health insurance plans, however it was a commercial decision for insurers if they included similar cover in cheaper policies.

“The benefits paid for pregnancy and birth are generally of a significant amount, which require higher levels of premiums to cover,” she said, adding that these benefits reflected fees charged by doctors and hospitals over which the government had no authority.

AAP SUMMER 2022 19

Books

Message of love and medidation MELBOURNE-based psychologist Liv Downing drew on her personal experience with burnout to release children’s book You are Loved.

“I know the full effects of burnout and its relationship to anxiety, and in my work as a psychologist, I’ve seen the increased levels of anxiety amongst men and women of all ages,” she said.

“The rates of poor childhood mental health in Australia is alarming, with one in 14 children aged between 4 to 17 years diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.

“If parents can learn to be more present and attuned, children’s nervous systems will wire more effectively and as a result it is likely rates of clinical anxiety will reduce.

“It is not our fault as parents that we are busy and stressed, the pace of the modern world is out of control, but it absolutely is our responsibility to choose another way.”

As a mother of two boys, Liv has experienced first-hand the benefits of mindfulness and meditation in parenting.

“Research tells us we do best when we feel connected, and I wanted to create a book that would help children learn how to access that sense of connection for themselves.”

Through her work, she was involved in developing the Beyond Blue mindfulness-based parenting program, Mind the Bump, and Smiling Mind, Australia’s leading mindfulness app.

Liv wanted to share the tool that has provided so much support to her during challenging times in her life.

This involved working directly with children and educators in schools.

“Meditation has many proven benefits and should be part of everyone’s daily routine, like showering and brushing our teeth,” she said.

“Through meditation, we build our skills of mindfulness, which means we can learn to manage our busy and distractible minds more effectively.

Seven years ago, Liv experienced the grief of losing her mother, the stress of looking after her unwell father, and the overwhelm of starting a new business – all while parenting her two boys.

Melbourne-based psychologist Liv Downing.

as a graduate psychologist.

She found herself in bed, completely exhausted, and feeling disconnected, lonely and unworthy.

When it happened for the second time, the key difference was that she had built a strong mindfulness meditation practice into her daily life.

This combination of factors led to complete burnout.

Rather than feeling disconnected or unworthy, she felt a deep sense of unconditional love carrying her through the physical exhaustion.

Burnout had also gripped her 15 years earlier, when starting her career

“Meditation helped me to fully accept myself, no matter what was going on in

my life,” she said.

“I wanted to share this discovery.

“My vision is that kids know, and parents show, that love does not need to be earned and that we are all worthy of love and belonging, no matter what.

“Decades of research tells us that it is the quality of our relationships and how we are loved that has the biggest impact on our mental health.

“For me, mindfulness meditation was the pathway to accessing that unconditional love.”

Books growing a greener future AWARD-WINNING children’s books are fostering a generation more connected to the natural world.

The Wilderness Society’s Environment Award for Children’s Literature has been held annually since 1994, and the Karajia Award for Children’s Literature was introduced this year.

This year’s fiction award went to Bailey Finch Takes a Stand by Ingrid Laguna, a moving story about love and loss, caring for the environment and standing up to make change happen.

“I hope [kids] are reminded that they do have agency,” Ingrid said.

“They can make a real and immediate difference to their own precious natural environments, just like Bailey did with the creek and bushland at the end of her street.”

Judge Nat Amoore said the book had “beautifully crafted characters with an environmental message that resonates long after you wipe away the tears”.

“A brilliant example of weaving caring for our environment into a story about caring for each other.”

The non-fiction award went to the Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature by Sami Bayly.

It features “beautiful, detailed images of animals and insects supported by amazing, sometimes very funny stories of the interconnectedness of nature,” 20 SUMMER 2022

according to judge Paul McDermott.

Sami wanted to truly inform kids of the incredible stories and roles in nature.

“I dream of creating a society that appreciates all parts of the environment, regardless of whether the subject is about a blood-sucking parasite or a sweet-smelling flower,” she said.

Two books shared the picture fiction title.

Sharing by Aunty Fay Muir and Sue Lawson featurse a gentle reminder of all the ways sharing makes us stronger.

Judge Bunna Lawrie said Sharing had great artwork.

“The book warms my heart and my

soul,” she said.

Ms Lawson said: “Sharing is an important book that introduces children to the concept of sharing not only with people, but with nature.

“I love the First Nation’s creed of ‘take only what you need’.

“If only our society could embrace that, our environment would be much better off.

“It’s vital that we help young people connect with nature, whether it’s their back yard, local park or the bush.

“All nature, from the tiniest butterfly to the plant growing in a crack in the pavement, helps young people recognise and see beauty in the world.

“Connecting with nature builds awe and wonder and empathy.

“Simply, connecting with nature makes us better people and more likely to do all we can to protect our natural world.”

The River by Sally Morgan shared the award.

Judge Megan Daley said it featured “lyrical prose which is age appropriate and encourages young readers of all ages to use their senses to explore the natural world.”

Two winners also shared the Karajia Award - Sharing, and Somebody’s Land: Welcome to Our Country by Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing. www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

Books

Hy-larious hi jinx

By Melissa Meehan COMEDIAN Nazeem Hussain has written a childrens book and takes no responsibility for your children’s behaviour after you read it.

The Melbourne-based comedian has just released his first book Hy-larious Hyena, and is still pinching himself to have the opportunity to do so.

“It about a very cheeky hyena who is a bit naughty and likes to prank his friends and family, but doesn’t really know the responsible boundaries of joke telling and pranks,” Hussain told Kids Today.

“In a way its semiautobiographical… he comes from a pretty large family. He lives with his cousin (who is his best friend) and his mum and aunties. “ Harry’s family is not well off, and struggle to make ends meet – but they do, and have a good time doing so.

Hussain says the story is based on lots of experiences he had growing up.

“We lived in a family where we didn’t really have everything but we had a lot

of fun and we always made awkward situations funny. Because we all had a good sense of humour,” he said.

The father of two said he had an idea of writing a childrens book with characters he had played out with his son.

He was approached by Scholastic Publishing but was too busy.

And then the Covod-19 lockdown happened and he had time to write.

So Harry, his family and nemesis Larry came to life.

“One of the themes is that the grass is always greener and we see that with Harry and also his, his nemesis, Larry, the lion,” Hussain explains.

“Harry wants to live like lions like Larry, the lion comes from an affluent neighbourhood. They’ve got everything made for that, like it’s all they live in the light.

“But we find that maybe Larry thinks the same way about Harry you know, he’s cool. And so really, it’s important to like hear stories that better reflect on things and, you know, growing up.”

Since becoming a dad, Hussain says

he’s taken a different approach to life.

“When you’re when your dad get to know the highs and the lows and the nuances of your child’s personality,” he says.

“Your worldview sort of broadens, so I feel so having thinking about my time before being a parent, you feel like you know it all. And I feel like I’ve just learned so much more about myself but also about the world and how they view the world and all that sort of thing.”

Hussain says his words would mean nothing without the amazing illusrations by Heath McKenzie.

“In my view, he’s the best illustrator in the country,” he said.

Hussain is already working on his second book.

Hy-larious Hyena is available from 1st October 2022.

Comedian Nazeem Hussain is excited to release his first children’s book.

Children’s books...

GRACE NOTES Karen Comer A debut YA verse novel about what happens when the paths of a young busking violinist and an aspiring street artist collide during a pandemic.

Set in one of the most locked-down cities in the world – Melbourne, 2020.

Grace Dalfinch is a talented violinist who longs to play contemporary music in bars, but her mum forbids her.

James Crux is an aspiring street artist who promised his dad he wouldn’t paint in public until he’s finished school.

When Crux witnesses Grace’s impromptu performance on a deserted tram, he’s inspired to paint her and her violin; and when Grace stumbles across her portrait in a Melbourne alley by an anonymous street artist, she sets out to find its creator.

Lothian Children’s Books $19.99

THE GREAT AUSSIE EASTER EGG-AND-SPOON RACE Sophie Sayle & Daron Parton A heartwarming Easter picture book featuring Australian bush baby animals, which will appeal to fans of Little Bilby’s Aussie Easter Egg Hunt.

Slow, sleepy Echidna is always trailing behind the other bush babies.

And now it’s time for their great Easter egg-and-spoon race.

Can Echidna keep up with her friends and enjoy all the fun on this special day?

Lothian Children’s Books $19.99

MY FEELINGS BINGO

BUSY BETTY

Emily Midouhas & Bee Grandinetti Help children understand and express their emotions while playing a game!

A fun and engaging way for kids and adults to talk about their emotions.

The gameboard features 48 emotions, ranging from happiness and sadness to anger, apathy and anxiety, as characters illustrated by Bee Grandinetti whose warm and sensitive illustrations have been featured by Headspace and Airbnb. Each player gets a card with sixteen emotions – be the first to get all sixteen emotions on your card to win BINGO! The accompanying booklet by developmental psychologist Dr Emily Midouhas explains each emotion in child-friendly language and gives tips on learning to express emotions and allow them to be felt in healthy ways.

Dr Emily Midouhas, a developmental psychologist and associate professor at UCL, specialises in the effects of social and built environment on the emotional and behavioural problems of children and the mental health of children with special educational needs, particularly children with ADHD and autism.

From Academy Award–winning actress, founder, and bestselling author, Reese Witherspoon, comes Busy Betty, a story about a creative, curious, and exuberant young girl who has big plans and an even bigger heart. Busy Betty has always been busy . . . even when she was just a baby!

When Betty gives Frank a big hug, she realizes he needs a bath, PRONTO! Her best friend, Mae, is coming over, and Betty can’t have the smelliest dog in the whole world! But giving Frank a bath is harder than she thought and just when everything seems impossible, with Mae’s help, Betty learns she can accomplish anything with perseverance, teamwork, and one great idea.

From Reese Witherspoon comes a smart and larger-than-life character who encourages young readers to celebrate what makes them unique and realize that anything is possible!

Puffin $19.99

Laurence King Publishing $45 www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

SUMMER 2022 21

Kids Calendar

What's on this Summer UNTIL FRIDAY 6 JANUARY

SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER

SATURDAY 24 DECEMBER

TUESDAY 10-FRIDAY 13 JANUARY

MYER CHRISTMAS WINDOWS

MONTROSE COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS CAROLS

FAMILY CHRISTMAS EVENING ON SOUTH WHARF

THE THREE LITTLE PIGS

Enjoy a relaxed carols event presented

by Montrose Church of Christ, from 5.30pm to 8pm at Montrose Community Centre.

Head riverside to South Wharf for a very Christmas afternoon and evening for the whole family - and it’s all free, 5pm to 8pm.

Bring your picnic gear and enjoy a free sausage sizzle, performances by local schools, a visit from Santa, and gifts for all the children.

Enjoy a 60-minute outdoor carol concert by the Australian Girls Choir on the Dukes Walk stage, then make your way to the Common Lawn on the riverfront to watch a family Christmas movie on the big screen.

The Walt Disney Company’s renowned classics have been brought to life in the 67th year of Myer’s iconic Christmas Windows.

Windows include Mary Poppins, Bert and the Banks children; Mickey and Minnie soaking up the sun, sea and sand on their Hawaiian Holiday; the coronation of Elsa from Disney’s Frozen; Peter Pan taking Wendy and her brothers on a magical flight across the London night sky; the Lion King’s Simba, Nala, Timon, Pumba, Zazu and Rafiki on Pride Rock; and the famous Disney Studios’ opening sequence featuring Tinker Bell.

Visit Bourke Street 7.30am to midnigh

UNTIL MONDAY 10 APRIL JULIAN OPIE: STUDIO FOR KIDS This interactive exhibition for children and families was developed with Julian Opie, one of Britain’s leading contemporary artists.

Visitors are invited to create portraits in an inspiring studio setting featuring displays of the artist’s artworks.

MELBOURNE CHRISTMAS TREASURE HUNTS From 9.30am to 3pm, follow the clues to discover hidden places and iconic landmarks around the city, with the chance to win prizes.

Dress in your best Christmas themed get-up for bonus fun. Plus, every child gets a prize.

The event kicks off at 3pm, with the concert starting at 8pm.

MONDAY 12-FRIDAY 16 DECEMBER

CHRISTMAS EVE CIRCUS SPECTACULAR

SANTA’S LAB Visit Santa’s Lab for all kinds of science fun these holidays, 3pm to 4pm at Library at The Dock, 107 Victoria Habour Promenade, Docklands.

SATURDAY 10 DECEMBER

Curious kids will love learning through Christmas-themed experiments in these free workshops run by STEM Sisters.

This free event celebrates the spirit of Christmas, 4pm to 10pm at Wally Tew Reserve, 6 Lyndale Court, Ferntree Gully.

Visitors are invited to create portraits in an inspiring studio setting featuring displays of the artist’s artworks.

Sessions run 10am to 5pm at National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne.

22 SUMMER 2022

This free evening for the whole family will include a traditional carols program with some of Geelong’s best artists and choirs, plus a concert band, and Christmas market stalls.

Visit the Royal Society of Melbourne to pick up your treasure map. Locations are accessible by walking, cycling or public transport within the free tram zone.

Sessions run 10am to 5pm at National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne.

KNOX CAROLS

BY CANDLELIGHT

CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT GEELONG

SUNDAY 18 DECEMBER FAMILY CHRISTMAS EVENING ON SOUTH WHARF Head riverside to South Wharf for a very Christmas afternoon and evening for the whole family - and it’s all free, 5pm to 8pm.

Enjoy a 60-minute outdoor carol concert by the Australian Girls Choir on the Dukes Walk stage, then make your way to the Common Lawn on the riverfront to watch a family Christmas movie on the big screen.

Grab a picnic rug, food and hamper, friends and family and head to Johnstone Park.

The circus comes to town in this special Christmas Eve matinee performance at Melbourne Town Hall, at 11am.

Children and families will delight in this hilarious circus comedy adventure. Plus everyone goes home with a treat.

The performances will be highly interactive. A quiet room and family room will be available. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

All proceeds from ticket sales go to Make Room, a project assisting people out of homelessness. Tickets are $5.

Watch the story of the three little pigs, with catchy tunes, colourful costumes and audience participation, at 10.30am and 1.30pm at the Potato Shed, Drysdale. Tickets are $10.50, or $35 for a family of four.

THURSDAY 26-SUNDAY 29 JANUARY FESTIVAL OF SAILS The Festival of Sails combines history with tradition, heritage with technology, tactics with teamwork and is a free event to view.

First held in 1844, Festival of Sails is held at the Royal Geelong Yacht Club (RGYC) and along Geelong’s waterfront.

Festival of Sails is particularly famous for its Melbourne to Geelong Passage Race – the oldest sporting event in the Southern Hemisphere – which will be celebrating its 180th birthday in 2023.

SATURDAY 11 FEBRUARY GEELONG BABY AND CHILDREN’S MARKET More than 70 stalls of new and preloved baby and children’s clothing, toys and accessories will be available from 9am to 1pm at Barwon Valley Activity Centre, Belmont.

Kids enter free. Entry for adults is $3.

SATURDAY 25 FEBRUARY PAKO FESTA RETURNS Victoria’s largest free celebration of cultural diversity returns home to Pakington Street for the 41st edition of City of Greater Geelong’s biggest outdoor street party.

The theme will be ‘Sharing and Connecting Cultures: The Reunion’ and is about human reconnection.

SUNDAY 4 MARCH KNOX FESTIVAL This free community event will run 10am to 10pm at Wally Tew Reserve, 6 Lyndale Court, Ferntree Gully. www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

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