PAKMAG - August 2009

Issue 26 August 2009

Festival guide inside!

Family Guide to Festival Cairns Get your kids on the silver screen

grandparents: the important role they play What’s on in August

what’s stacked in pak this month!

Parents 2

What’s New

4

Sea FM’s Doting Dads

6-8

Television

10-11 Someone to look up to

editor’s note

13

Hello and welcome to the 26th edition of PakMag, our Festival Cairns special.

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What a month is all I can say.

Our Teddy Bears picnic was awesome to say the least. We had an astounding 412 teddy bears entered and hundreds of people turn up for the day. Thank you so much to everyone who did stalls, volunteered, donated fantastic prizes and to all the families who attended. Thanks to you we raised nearly $4000 for the Cairns Base Hospitals Children’s Ward. We also got to meet lots of you at our stall at the Cairns show, thanks to everyone who filled in testimonials, we will pop them on our NEW website soon. Yes, we are doing some big things online and would love any suggestions you may have for our site. What do you wish you could find on our website? Email them though to us and we’ll reward any that we haven’t thought of already.

Baring that in mind, PakMag now has a Facebook and Twitter profile so become a fan online, we have also loaded lots of photos on there for your viewing pleasure.

Parenthood is proving to be more challenging the older Jordan gets.

This month he has gotten so mobile with his “Drag and Roll” I am extremely worried that when he does manage to crawl I am going to lose him for sure. The biggest lesson I have learnt this month is, paper is not a toy... Saliva and paper make Mouth Mache, oops.

Enjoy this edition of PakMag, have fun at all of the events that are on and don’t forget to tell everyone, you read it in PakMag. Bree

www.pakmag.com.au

Kids Money

15-16 Pak Health - PMS Active Kids - Fitness for Teens

19 Kids in the Kitchen - Fruit Pavlovas 19 Parents in the Pantry - Tahini Balls 20,33 Out & About Photos 25-28 What’s On August 35 Pak Babies - Potty talk 36 Pak Babies - Liquid gold 36 Pak Babies - Baby yoga 37 Pak Parent - Twice as nice 38 A Trip to...Second Beach

50 Calling budding stars 52

Time for a Break

Kids 21

Kids Mini-Mag

22

Colour it in & Win

23-29 Pak Activities 30

Bopstars Bulletin

32

Pak Animal Facts

Baby & Toddler 35

Potty talk

36

Liquid gold

36

Baby yoga

37

Pak Parent - Twice as nice

Things to Win 19

Win a Double Movie Pass

40-42 Springtime Events Guide

31 Win a Race to Witch Mountain DVD

43

31

Battle of the Brains

44 Prize Winners/Favourite Pet Shots

37

Win a Mystery Prize

45

Get sorted

44 Favourite Pet Shot Competition

46

Business Directory

52

Pak Vouchers

Win a Family Bowling Pass

47 Home activities - Juggling balls 48 Kids activities - Fantastic gymnastics

The PaK Mag crew:

Editor: Bree James Sub Editor: Elaine Seager Website, What’s On & MiniMag Manager: Trent Stievano Graphic Design & Layout: Trina Jensen from Intrinsic Creative Articles: E laine Seager, Amanda Mathiot, Barbara Randle and submitted writers.

Contact Us:

Phone: 4031 9915 Fax: 4031 9916 Email: info@pakmag.com.au Postal: PO Box 7433, Cairns QLD 4870 Level 2, 68 Abbott Street, Virginia House, Cairns Q 4870

Enquiries:

Sales & Advertising enquiries: sales@pakmag.com.au Stories, events, distribution, subscriptions to: info@pakmag.com.au Accounts to: accounts@pakmag.com.au Photos to: photos@pakmag.com.au

Disclaimer: No part of this magazine, including the advertisements within it may br reproduced, in part or in whole without the expressed permission of the editor. Whilst the greatest of care is taken to ensure that the information in the magazine is correct at the time of going to press, readers are advsied to check details before visiting. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors, inaccuracies or omissions.

The expressions expressed within PaK Magazine are not neccessarily the views of the publishers, but those of individual writers.

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what’s new!

Aug 2009

Little Miracles Fun Run

Check out the inaugural Mater Little Miracles 5kms Fun Run/Walk at St. Andrew’s Catholic College in Redlynch on 9 August from 9am.

Lots of family fun whilst raising money for the Mater Hospitals in Brisbane where our local children are transferred for specialised and intensive care. Call 1800 440 155 for more information.

Custom Cards

Want to create your own cards or invites but lacking in creative inspiration? Check out www.mangiicreations.com.au and get a local Mum to do it all for you.

Fast & Furious M Action starring Vin Diesel & Paul Walker In store 26 August

Double the Fun

The FNQ Multiple Birth Association is a non profit group that offers support functions and coffee mornings for local multiple birth families.

They are holding a family day at Lake Placid on Sunday 16th August (2-5pm). Call 0439 797221 or email fnqmba@yahoo.com.au for more information.

The International MA15+ Action starring Clive Owen & Naomi Watts In store 19 August

Help for single parents

Aspire Cairns is a new association which has been formed to support local single parents and they are currently looking for help in terms of funding and sponsorship. If you would like to volunteer or if you know how they can find some affordable premises to operate from, please call Vicki Porter 0400 717 732 or email her on vicki.aspirecairns@ bigpond.com.au.

Paul Blart: Mall PG Comedy starring Kevin James In store 5 August

Cheer for a cure

Cheerleading is all about spirit, so here’s your chance to show us what you’ve got. AUS Cheer and Awesome Cheerleading is proud to present Cheer for a Cure on 23rd August. Local schools, Awesome Cheerleading and 3 clubs from Townsville will compete and a percentage of all entry fees will be donated to a the Starlight Foundation. Tickets are available at the door ($10 adult, $5 student/ pensioners). To enter your school or club please download forms from http://www.auscheer.org.au. Dance schools welcome.

what’s new in entertainment!

Festival Cairns

The Festival will be in full swing from 21st August and the first big family event will be the Pacific Toyota Grand Parade & Fireworks on 22 August. Check out all the details of all the family friendly events on pages 40-41. If you become an e-subscriber you could be in with a chance of winning a double pass worth more than $700 to all of the Festival’s top ticketed events. Go to www.festivalcairns.com.au to sign up.

Baby Welcoming Ceremony

The Council will be welcoming all the local babies born in 2008 & 2009 with a ceremony and lots of family entertainment on the afternoon of 23rd August. See page 5 for more information.

Get Fit for Free

The Esplanade have kicked off their winter Fitness Program every day except Sunday. Classes include boxing, walking & general exercises. Friday mornings at 10.30am there is a new Mum and Bub class, bring a towel, drink, your bub and meet at the Lagoon Café. For info about classes go to www.cairnsesplanade.com.au or call 4044 3715 or you can go to our what’s on guide regular events for a full schedule.

DVD RELEASES

thanks to Civic Video

Watchmen MA15+ Sci-Fi starring Billy Crudup & Patrick Wilson In store 30 July Confessions of a Shopaholic PG Comedy starring Isla Fisher & Hugh Darcy In store 5 August Race to Witch Mountain PG Family starring The Rock & Carla Gugino In store 26 August The Boat that Rocked M Comedy starring Phillip Hoffman & Nick Frost In store 12 August New in Town PG Drama starring Renee Zellweger & Harry Connick Jr In store 12 August InkHeart PG Family starring Brendan Fraser & Helen Mirren In store 6 August 12 Rounds M Action starring John Cena & Ashley Scott In store 12 August

Have you got something new that Cairns families should know about?

2 Email us at: info@pakmag.com.au or go to our website www.pakmag.com.au and add in your event

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daddy diary #4 Hello out there in PakMag-land. My name is Potts, one half of the SEAFM Morning Crew and for those who don’t know me, I’m an FTFE (First Time Father Expecting).

Not long to go now - we’re at the 38 week stage so our little bundle will be kicking air rather then mum’s ribs sooner rather then later. It won’t be a minute too soon either as the wife is well and truly over carrying around the equivalent of a couple of bags of potatoes. At least with potatoes you can turn them into chips pretty easily.

Poor old Kylie can no longer recognise her feet. It’s as if they were replaced with Roseanne Barr’s feet or she’s been kicking the footy around without any shoes on.

They’d probably be alright if she rested a bit more but apparently the floor has to be mopped and vacuumed at least 3 times a day.

The bags are packed ready to take to the hospital. The baby has got a heap of clothes, nappies and wipes plus a couple of teddies thrown in while the wife’s bag looks like she’s going up to Port Douglas for 7 nights. Kylie is one very prepared person. She has clothes in rotation and a list ready for me to pack in case the arrival comes quicker then a Monday morning. There’s nothing

in my bag as I’ve already told the wife all I need is a pair of footy shorts and a t-shirt. There’s been a suggestion to take a jumper due to the air conditioning but I’ve told her I’m tuff and I don’t need one. I can always snuggle up in the bed right????

We’ve finally bought everything we need for the baby and are now officially broke. The kid will be working in the salt mines from a very early age to pay everything off.

Lucky for the baby bonus hey? The last thing we bought was the baby capsule but we can’t get it installed

by St John’s Ambulance until one week after the due date. Hopefully it’s a lot easier to install then the car seat covers which should only take 30 minutes but took me a couple of hours.

The next time you read this column I will have moved on from a First Time Father Expecting to First Time Father. I’m looking forward to the challenge of raising a child and always being there for them, even if I’m only wearing a pair of footy shorts.

Registration Form A new initiative of the Cairns Regional Council to celebrate births in our region

Register your baby now: Families who have welcomed a baby during 2008 and 2009 are invited to take part in this special ceremony. ¾ Free Family Entertainment ¾ Free Children’s Activities ¾ Certificate and Tree Presentation ¾ Stalls & Refreshments Venue: Cairns Regional Council building, 119-145 Spence St, Cairns Date: Sunday 30 August 2009 Time: 1.30 – 4.00pm To register your baby, please apply online at www.cairns.qld.gov.au or return this form.

Registrations are due by Wednesday 19 August 2009 Post to: Welcoming Babies Ceremony, Cairns Regional Council, PO Box 359, CAIRNS 4870 REGISTER EARLY AS NUMBERS ARE LIMITED FOR THIS EVENT

Baby’s Surname: Baby’s First Names:

Potts & Pacey

Parents/Guardians: Address:

t he SeaF M Morn i ng C r e w

Telephone: How many other children under 5yrs do you have?:

weekday MorningS FroM 5.30aM

(This form is used to produce a commemorative certificate for your baby, so please correctly print your information.)

Enquiries: P 4044 3019 F 4044 3953 E g.mcauliffe@cairns.qld.gov.au

on the loCal you know,

www.cairns.qld.gov.au

99.5 SeaFM CairnS. 4

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Television: We love it but is it really any good for us? Sue Dillicar looks at ways in which families can benefit by turning it off.

Did you know that someone once worked out that the average person spends about 15 years of their life watching TV? And yet, we all complain of having not enough time!

Whilst it’s true that watching TV is an enjoyable past-time, like any other activity, it shouldn’t be allowed to dominate your life. This is especially true when raising families. The time parents have to spend with their children, and impart everything they know, is limited as it is. Where once families spent part of every day together - at the dinner table, playing games in the backyard, in the living room listening to the radio, watching TV (together) or talking - today families are more likely to be scattered over the house doing individual activities.

Here are 10 ways in which turning off the TV more often will benefit your family.

[1] Rediscover the art of conversation Our children today aren’t getting enough practice in the art of conversation and it is an art. The ability to listen to what others have to say, respond appropriately and expressing yourself articulately, doesn’t come easily to most people. The best way to give our children these skills is to give them the opportunity to practise. Ask them hypothetical questions like ‘what would you do if you had a million dollars?’ or ‘what rules will you make when you are a mum?’ (my kids love that one!). A person who is a good conversationalist has a skill which will be of great benefit to them throughout their life.

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[2] Encourage balance It allows you and your children time to develop other interests. TV is fun but it is as addictive as chocolate. If you don’t limit yourself to a set amount, you could easily find you have spent all evening - or even all day - in front of it. I know that on our family ‘lazy days’, when I let the kids do whatever they want, they will happily spend all day in front of the TV. This is valuable time they could be discovering what talents or interests they have, reading books, playing with friends or going outside to enjoy outdoor activities.

That won’t happen as long as the hypnotic presence of TV is before them.

[3] Give your children an opportunity to develop a love of reading This is such a great habit for children to develop but many don’t ever get that opportunity because it is so much easier to sit in front of the TV and be passively entertained. Yet reading allows the brain to develop, it fills in the gaps in one’s education (and there are many gaps today!), it stimulates the imagination, and increases vocabulary and understanding of grammar. Indeed, research even suggests it prevents dementia.

[4] Become more interesting to talk to Too much TV means that one’s ability

to converse on varied and interesting subjects is pretty limited. Not everyone will be interested in what happened on the Simpsons last night or the latest gossip on Brangelina! Switching off the TV forces your child to do something else, whether it is reading, calling someone, discovering news items on the net, homework or working on a hobby. In the process, your child learns things that make him more interesting to talk to.

[5] Laugh and have fun Whatever happened to games?! Kids still love to play board games with their parents, wrestle on the carpet, have tickle fests, play horsy or have Wii game challenges. Parents have a chance to get back in touch with their inner child and remind their kids that they are more than disciplinarians. Here is a chance to show kids that you love being with them!

[6] Set up a healthy routine that children will follow People are creatures of habit. Set up a child to get used to only watching TV at set times and the chances are good that he will continue that habit in adulthood. For instance, as a child, I was not allowed to watch TV until 5pm on weekends; instead, we went out swimming or picnicking or for a walk. To this day, I get restless if we are still home at 10am on a Saturday and I can not bear to watch TV before 5pm.

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Television - continued...

[7] Get fit!

Switching off the TV after school and until a set time on weekends allows children to get outside and play sports, swim or play with the neighbourhood kids. Even Wii Fit is a hell of a workout (yes, it means switching the TV on again but at least it is not passive entertainment). As long as the TV is on, the children will sit in front of it, so it is up to the parents to set limits on their watching time. For example, I allow my children 1 hour of TV after school every day (once they have done their homework). On weekends, the TV has to go off at 9am and doesn’t come on again until late afternoon. I also find that my children are more likely to seek me out to join in a game when the TV is off, so I have no excuses not to get fit either!

[8] Teach values & beliefs Children will absorb these things from TV shows if you aren’t equally vocal about your beliefs. And let’s face it, the kind

of values TV espouses are not always the kind we want our children to follow!

So, find opportunities to discuss what values are important to your family and why. Set up a Code of Conduct for your family in a prominent place. Have weekly challenges to see who can demonstrate a specific value. When you are watching TV shows together, look for opportunities to challenge the values presented.

[9] Teach manners and social skills Manners are important social skills that give a child confidence as they will always know how to behave in social situations, no matter where they are or who they are talking to. This is a great advantage in our competitive modern world. A good place to start teaching manners and courtesy is at dinner. Try to sit at the table for dinner several times a week. Parents need to be observing their children’s manners at all times which is difficult to do in front of the TV. Eating at the dinner table also allows

parents to teach children about showing consideration for other people, the art of conversation and etiquette.

[10] Build strong bonds with your family Modern lifestyles mean you can spend the whole day without having any significant exchange with your children.

TV, computers, mobiles, and games like Xbox promote a lifestyle of individual entertainment. Nowadays, a lot of kids have TVs in their rooms which further erode family interactions. Even when families come together to watch TV, its hypnotic quality means no real interactions between family members.

Switching off the TV - and preferably all electronic gadgets at the same time means rediscovering each other again.

Building and maintaining family bonds are fundamental to a happy family, and this is one easy way to do so. Take the time to love and laugh, and your family will reap the benefits for a lifetime.

“Urgh, tax time already? And I promised myself I would be more organised this year.”

Sound familiar?

If you’re like most people, the thought of preparing your tax return is stressful.

One of the best ways to make your taxes far less “taxing” is to get organised.

Unfortunately, it may be too late for some of us this year and we will inevitably be scrambling about the house trying to find those receipts in the bottom of our handbags, bottom drawers, or even worse, the ones we put “in a safe place”.

However, we can start being organised for next year; let’s call it a “Mid-year Resolution”.

A little organisation goes a long way, and the benefits are threefold;

the other “Expenses”. Even if the only organisation you do throughout the year is to immediately put your receipts, bank statements, group certificate etc into these folders, you will be amazed at how much simpler tax time will be; and your accountant will be impressed as well.

• You won’t waste time searching hither and yon at the eleventh hour next July for lost paperwork; • It will help maximise your deductions as it will reduce the chances of misplacing receipts for deductible expenses; and • It will save you money at your accountant or tax preparer, as they usually charge by the hour.

If you are having trouble finding the time to organise your tax papers, it may assist to hire a virtual assistant.

Your filing system for tax related matters doesn’t have to be complicated, in fact the simpler the better as you will be more likely to put things away as you go.

At the very minimum you should have two folders, one labelled “Income” and

A VA can help give you those vital hours to sort through your paperwork by taking your phone calls, making phone calls, setting up a spreadsheet of your finances, or simply advising you on easy ways to get organised.

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Someone to look up to: The role of grandparents, whether near or far, is greatly underestimated, writes Shannon du Plessis.

I know some of you reading this will be nodding your head in agreement – and you are the lucky ones. But for others, that extra family support is many miles away and this can make us feel extremely isolated. Weekly phone calls and emails from family and friends can offer support and guidance, but not the same kind of support that hands-on help can provide. Even when children reach school age, there are a lot of grandparents picking children up to take them to soccer practise or ballet classes, when mum and dad have to work. I am a firm believer in accepting help when it’s offered, and it’s true that people who offer help genuinely want to be involved in the child’s life, whether it’s your best friend, sister or grandparents.

at one house and the afternoon at the other with two rounds of presents to open. Once we were older, my grandparents also would take care of us during school holidays to give Mum and Dad a break and this was great fun as we were always spoilt!

For grandparents who miss out on the milestones and birthdays or weekly gettogethers, it can be very disappointing.

They most likely wish they also were living closer to their children and grandchildren. Grandparents love their new role because they have done the hard yards bringing up their own children and now they can share special, quality time with their grandchildren, yet are able to give them back to mum or dad when there is a dirty nappy or if baby is crying. Grandparents also have the advantage of experience and wisdom, which they have acquired over many years of parenting. The seemingly major problems faced by new parents may just require a simple solution to a grandparent who has “been there, done that”. Being able to turn to your parents for help when faced with problems is extremely helpful and comforting. But for some, there is a thin line between being helpful and interfering in a child’s upbringing. New parents should heed some advice and not be completely closed to their suggestions – after all, they did bring you into the world.

• Phone regularly and get your children to talk to their grandparents, even if they can’t say words yet – a baby’s babble is just as pleasing to hear as “hello grandma”.

I have always been envious of parents who have their own parents living nearby. When a new baby arrives, or a toddler gets ill, or you just need some timeout with your partner, calling the grandparents to babysit has to be one of life’s greatest luxuries.

The bond between grandparents and grandchildren is different to that between a parent and a child. When I was growing up it was always very exciting to visit both sets of grandparents who fortunately lived in the same town. Every Christmas we would spend the morning

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I loved going to bingo with Grandma, feeding the chooks with Grandad, playing Payday with Nanna and riding Pop’s tractor. Those are memories I will always cherish and I hope my daughter grows up with wonderful memories of happy times with her grandparents too.

So if you are like me without family close by here are a few ways to bridge that distance that have proved beneficial for my family:

• Even better is to start using Skype so that they can see and interact with each other.

• Send emails, or even postal mail with pictures or drawings done by your child.

• Start up your own website for your children. There are quite a few free sites where you can easily create your own personalised and secure website for your children adding photos, videos, journal entries, growth charts, and so on. My personal favourite is www.babysites.com, but you could also try www.totsites.com, www.babyjellybeans.com, www.myevent.com or www.ourbabyhomepage.com This idea is especially useful for families living abroad.

• Visit your parents as often as you can or allow them to visit you – perhaps take turns with your parents to share the cost of travel throughout the year.

• Make a point to be with them and get them involved in special events such as birthdays or Christmas.

Grandparents who care for children Grandparents often find themselves in the parenting role for their grandchildren. If you are a grandparent or carer who has taken on responsibility of caring for children and are unsure of what you may be entitled to, the Family Assistance Office can assist you. As part of its 2004 election policy, the Australian Government announced greater assistance for grandparents who have the primary responsibility for raising and caring for their grandchildren. To help grandparents in this important caring role, the Australian Government introduced Grandparent Child Care Benefit (GCCB) which became available from January 3, 2005 and covers the full cost of child care fees charged for each child in approved care for up to 50 hours a week.

To be eligible for GCCB, a grandparent carer must be receiving an income support payment from Centrelink or the Department of Veteran’s Affairs and be the sole or major provider of the ongoing daily care for the child.

In these cases, the grandparent would have responsibility for making the day-to-day decisions about the grandchild’s care, welfare and development.

Information supplied by the Family Assistance Office, phone 136 150 or visit www.family assist.gov.au

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Kids money: Kids money expert Leanda Kayess explains how to teach your kids about saving

Saving money is one of the most important financial skills we can learn but unfortunately parents very often don’t set a good example for their children. opportunity for you to explain why saving is important. Frame it in tangible terms that they can understand ie. saving more money will get them an mp3 player instead of new shoes!

For Juniors (7-11) Teenagers (12-16) and Adults (17+)

The best way to introduce the concept of saving with your children is to work with a defined goal. Suppose they come to you asking for a new pair of football boots. Rather than just saying no, explain to them that you have a budget and that certain priorities come first e.g. feeding the family! Then offer them a proposal – if they are willing to save some of their pocket money towards paying for the boots, you will match every dollar they save. If they are older, you can suggest that you will match them 50% - for every two dollars they save, you will give them a dollar.

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This will give them an incentive to save some of their weekly allowance, while at the same time showing that you are keen to help them get things that they want. Although you have said “no” to the initial request, it is not a closed, definitive “no”. It is an offer to work with them to reach a goal. This will give them an incentive to save money and to practice good financial habits. The more they save, the more you will help, so it is in their interest to take a responsible attitude, and they will respond to this as a challenge – and there’s nothing that kids love more than a fun challenge with great rewards! It is beneficial to both of you, because they will have your help to get the thing they want, and you will be able to impart a lesson to them.

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Yes, when we know a bonus or tax return is coming our way, we inevitably think about holidays, new cars or buying a whole new wardrobe, but if you’ve got massive credit card debt, you should be paying that off first. It may be boring but unless you get your priorities right you won’t be able to fully enjoy indulging yourself in a beach holiday anyway.

Of course, kids may not be very happy with the idea initially that you are not going to just go out and buy them the boots, but they will learn an important lesson about responsibility. To make sure that they don’t feel that they’re losing out by having to save so much of their allowance you can reward them with a treat. Take them on a trip that they didn’t expect to reward them for being financially sensible so that they don’t feel like they are missing out for the sake of learning a lesson. This will also minimise the chances of them raiding their savings in a rebellious spending spree.

Children think in exactly the same way when they are given a ‘bonus’ but they don’t have your responsibilities so they won’t understand why saving is necessary. Since the most frequent word out of most kids’ mouths is “why?” this is an ideal

The Kids Money FNQ website – www.fnq.kidsmoney.com.au has some great resources to help with teaching your kids about money, including a series of books – Money Makes the World Go Around, written by Kids Money Founder Greg Smith.

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pak health

Premenstrual Syndrome PMS is often trivialised and joked about but for many women it has a very real impact on their lives, writes Naturopath Vanessa Wannenburg

Every woman is different when it comes to the experiences associated with PMS. It is often a very stressful and frustrating time, which can lead to angry outbursts and reduced tolerance to her daily circumstances. Sometimes the pain experienced can be quite debilitating, which may cause other emotional upsets such as depression, tearfulness and insomnia.

There are many theories as to why PMS occurs but no definitive answers. PMS is thought to be caused by: • Hormonal imbalances (excessive oestrogen & inadequate progesterone)

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• Hypothyroidism (low thyroid function) • Nutritional deficiencies • Poor dietary and lifestyle practices

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Common Symptoms associated with PMS Physical

Emotional & Mental

- Abdominal distension

- Premenstrual acne

- Nervous tension

- Confusion

- Sore breasts

- Joint and back pain

- Mood swings

- Aggression

- Headaches

- Pelvic discomfort/pain

- Irritability

- Poor concentration

- Sugar cravings

- Change in bowel habit

- Anxiety

- Forgetfulness

- Fatigue & weakness

- Palpitations

- Depression

- Insomnia

- Cyclic weight gain

- Dizziness or fainting

- Tearfulness

- Excess sleepiness

- Fluid retention

- Angry outbursts Table taken from Trickey, R. (2003)

So, if PMS is affecting your life and those around you, what can you do about it?

Start by keeping a diary of your symptoms for about 3 months. Tracking your symptoms can help to work out if symptoms really are PMS related or caused by something else. It also helps to identify if certain factors make them better or worse (e.g. diet and stress levels). Make a note of all your physical symptoms including appetite changes, headaches, constipation/ diarrhoea, sleeps disturbances as

well as emotional symptoms such as tearfulness and mood swings.

Low thyroid function seems to have a connection with multiple PMS symptoms. Using a basal temperature test can help to detect if your thyroid gland is under active. This is done using a thermometer and a recording chart.

For additional information see a qualified natural practitioner.

Diet Insufficient oestrogen metabolism is strongly associated with PMS symptoms. Eating foods that are high in fibre such as fruits, vegetables,

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Pak Health - continued... grains and legumes can help to lower circulating oestrogen levels and aid excretion from the body. Low saturated fat diets are also important to help remove excess oestrogen. If you crave chocolate before menstruation, it may be due to a magnesium deficiency. It is a good idea to regularly have your blood glucose levels checked if there is a history of diabetes or hypoglycemia in the family.

It’s also a good idea to avoid stimulants like caffeine (tea, coffee, chocolate, energy drinks) and alcohol as these can make some symptoms worse whilst reducing your salt intake helps minimise water retention and bloating.

Exercise Several studies have shown that women who exercise regularly do not suffer from PMS as often as sedentary women do.

Regular exercise has a positive effect on mood, decreases fatigue and improves sleep. Aerobic exercise such as running or walking is most beneficial as it releases endorphins.

Nutritional & Herbal Supplements There are several supplements that have been found to be beneficial for women suffering PMS symptoms so consult a naturopath to create a personalised treatment plan. These supplements include: [1] Vitamin B6 - a useful micronutrient especially if anxiety and depression is present. It also helps to alleviate breast pain and fluid retention.

[2] Magnesium - necessary in muscle relaxation and thought to help with uterine cramping. Low levels of magnesium have also been shown to be more prevalent in women with menstrual headaches and migraines.

[3] Calcium - helps alleviate fluid retention, mood swings, food cravings and pain.

[4] Gamma linolenic acid (GLA) - found in Evening Primrose Oil, this important fatty acid is useful in relieving PMS by regulating adequate prostaglandin production (modulate

inflammation) and aiding proper glandular functions.

[5] Vitamin E - several studies have shown vitamin E improves breast tenderness, nervous tension, headache, fatigue, depression and insomnia.

[6] Vitex agnus castus - found to be highly effective for some PMS symptoms such as irritability, anger, headaches, acne and breast tenderness.

There are many ways that PMS symptoms can be reduced and for every woman it is a personal and individual process. Personalised treatment plans can be implemented to provide total holistic care and help to detect the underlying cause of this problem. The evaluation process conducted by a practitioner can range from hormonal support to help regulate oestrogen and progesterone imbalance, liver clearance and detoxification as well as promoting mental clarity and emotional well-being.

Vanessa Wannenburg is a Naturopath at Calanna Pharmacy.

Fusion Recipe Salmon Fish Cakes You just can’t make enough of these to keep the family happy they’re so yummy. You can also downsize them to bite size and serve them at parties with a variety of dipping sauces.

For fussy little eaters this is an ideal way of disguising fish and making it fun.

2 x cans of Salmon (mackerel may be substituted)

Place all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix together like a hamburger mix.

1 small red capsicum, finely diced

Allow to sit in the fridge for 10 mins to firm.

2 shallots, finely diced 1 zucchini, grated 1 carrots, grated 2 cloves of garlic, finely diced 1 tablespoon of ginger juice 1 stalk lemongrass or tspn lemon rind 1 cup of cornflour 1 cup of buckwheat flour 1 yam or potato, cooked & mashed

Form into patties approximately 7 centimetres across and 1 centimetre thick.

Pour 2 cups of oil into an electric frying pan and heat on medium high.

Fry in oil until golden, turn over and fry on other side before draining on ample absorbent paper.

Best served with rice and sweet chilli sauce.

Fusion Allergy Free Cafe Gluten free, dairy free, sugar free, yeast free, chemical & preservative free Corner Grafton & Aplin Streets, Cairns 16

PHONE: 4051 1388

EMAIL: rpspbb@bigpond.com www.pakmag.com.au

active kids

Teen health & fitness

One of the smartest moves that teenagers can make is to practice good health habits since the habits that they establish now will affect the quality of their life for years to come.

The key elements of a healthy lifestyle for teens are:

[4] Abstain From Harmful Substances

[1] Get Plenty of Sleep

Saying ‘no to drugs’ including tobacco, alcohol and caffeine is essential to an healthy life.

Most teens require between 8-10 hours of sleep per night to look and feel their best.

[2] Eat Nutritious Foods Research shows that the typical teenager’s diet is less than ideal. Many love junk food, hate vegetables, skip meals, starve themselves to lose weight (dangerous for growing bodies) and they binge on sweets and fats. A good healthy diet should include a hearty breakfast, 2-3 regular meals a day, plenty of wholegrain, fruits and veges and minimal sugar, salt, caffeine, alcohol and junk foods.

[3] Drink Adequate Water The human body needs plenty of water to function well. Teens should aim to drink at least 6-8 glasses of water a day (more if they are larger or more active than average).

[5] Keep Fit It’s recommended that teens get at least 1 hour of physical activity on most, preferably all, days of the week.

Yet physical activity tends to decline during the teen years as they drop out of organised sports and participation in daily physical education classes.

Exercise is particularly important for teens since it helps them deal with stress and it impacts on their self-image. As parents we can’t tell teens what to do but we can help support them to build exercise in to their daily schedule and be a good role model. The important thing is to help them find ways to exercise that are fun. For fitness activities you can enjoy together, try roller skating, bike rides, hitting a tennis ball around, going to a local swimming pool, passing a footy in the backyard. Not only are you

Teen Fitness

working together to reach your fitness goals, it’s a great opportunity to stay connected with your teen. Hopefully, once they’ve experienced the benefits of regular exercise for themselves, they will make the decision to gravitate towards exercise without parental nudging.

If you’re concerned about your teen’s fitness, speak with your doctor. Teens that are overweight or very sedentary may need to start slowly and the doctor may be able to recommend programs or help you devise a fitness plan.

Cairns Recreation Centre is the largest Personal Training Centre in Cairns.

We are passionate about providing a health & fitness service for toddlers, kids and young adults. Our highly qualified personal trainers can devise a program to suit individual needs and motivate you to achieve your goals.

For information on our programs please contact us on 4053 5353 to speak with one of our professional trainers.

“Teens who enjoy sport and exercise tend to stay active throughout their lives & enjoy better health”

Sessions incorporate strength & conditioning, circuits, intervals, free weights, boxercise, game form exercises, endurance training, weight reduction & heaps of fun.

$7

PER VISIT

Session Times: Mon, Tue, Thu & Fri > 4pm to 5pm 44 Behan St, Manunda

www.pakmag.com.au

Phone: 4053 5353

info@cairnsrecreationcentre.com.au

www.cairnsrecreationcentre.com.au

17

kids in the kitchen

parents in the pantry

Fruit Pavs

Tahini balls healthy nutritious snack

with Teah

Ingredients 4 Small Pavlova cases 1/2 Banana 1 Kiwi Fruit 2 Strawberries Handful of grapes 1/2 small Paw Paw 4 Cherries

BOOK NOW FOR CHRISTMAS!

1 Passionfruit Small tub of thickened cream

Method [1] Dice all the fruit except the cherries and passionfruit.

[2] Scoop the middle of the pavlova cases out and put aside for later.

Adults and Kids Entertainment

Band Duo Karaoke DJ

[3] Mix 3/4 of the cream in with the diced fruit mix and spoon into the pavlova cases.

Castle Face Painters Activity Staff

[4] Put on a blob of cream and a cherry on top [5] Place the remainder of the pavlova on the side and cover with passionfruit.

Note: You can grate dark chocolate over the top of everything if you want to make it extra special.

with Diana Pettersen

1/2 cup chopped brazil nuts 1/2 cup chopped almonds 1/4 cup LSA (linseed, sunflower seeds, almond) 6 chopped dried apricots 6 chopped dates hand full of raisins 1/4 cup desiccated coconut 2 tbs honey (try for raw and unheated as it will contain higher trace minerals or malases) 1/4 cup tahini (unhulled darker has higher calcium content)

Win a double Movie Pass Send in your reader recipe for the chance to win a double pass to the movies.

Email your recipe to: competitions@pakmag.com.au

Entries close: 21/08/09

hand full of chopped pepitas Mix all ingredients together. Roll into small balls then cover with coconut. If ingredients are too dry, then add a little more honey until balls hold their shape. Pop into fridge or eat straight away.

Ingredients can be modified to suite taste. For a chocolate twist, throw in some coco nibs (uncooked coco has higher antioxidants) and goji Berry’s.

These are an awesome energy boost and are fantastic after a gym work out or a run. They are also great as an afternoon snack when the blood sugar is a little low and the body is craving a quick fix. Much better for the body than a chocolate bar as its packed full of vitamins, minerals and good fats...basically everything good for the body.

Ask for a free quote today!

18

www.bopstars.com 4031 9915 or 0422 154 742 www.pakmag.com.au

www.pakmag.com.au

19

! t NLYou S Ome KID

ll u P

out & about

Cheerleading wo

rkshop at Cairns

g at Cairns Libraries

Ella & Finn puppet makin

Libraries

Scrapbooking wo

rkshop at Cairns

Debbie from 2XS Dance

Libraries

& Jessica

September School Holidays

Scott Lawerence

20

winner of Jungle

Book Colour Comp

with Rebecca Sh

aw

Rhihanon & Caitlin in a comedy theatre workshop

www.pakmag.com.au

• Did you know? • Loads of Comps • Heaps of Prizes • PAK review

To enter this fantastic competition just colour-it-in and mail to: PAKMAG, Colour-it-in August, PO Box 7433 Cairns Q 4870 and you go into the draw to WIN a Prize! Closing Date: 21st August 2009

dot to dot Feel like playing a new instrument? Maybe this one!

Carl doesn’t like Kevin.

Only At The Movies September School Holidays Name:_________________________________________________________________Age:________________________________________ Parent/Guardian:____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone:_________________________________________________________________Email:_______________________________________ Post entry form to PAKMAG, Colour-it-in August, PO Box 7433 Cairns Q 4870 or you can drop it off at reception - Level 2, 68 Abbott Street.

22

www.pakmag.com.au

MAZE

For more copies of the colour-it-in and win download from our website

www.pakmag.com.au

23

JOKES

sudoku

(Q) Why did the orange stop rolling

down the hill?

4

6

(Q) What type of fish performs

surgical operations?

(Q) Have you heard about the magic

tractor?

(A) It turned into a field.

3

2 1

did you know?

• Coca-Cola was originally green.

Submitted by : Bushman Bob (Q) What did they award the man that

invented the door knocker?

(A) The No-bell Prize.

word scramble

Sun 2nd

Mon 3rd Tue 4th Wed 5th

Thu 6th

Fri 7th

Sat 8th

FURNITURE

• The most common name in the world is Mohammed.

(1) hriac (2) olugne

______

• The strongest muscle in the body is the tongue.

(3) cleinrer

________

• TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard .

24

DATE

Sat 1st

(A) A sturgeon.

3 6 5 2 3

RED = FAMILY

(A) It ran out of juice.

6

5

pak’s what’s on guide august

_____

(4) ookbhlfes

_________

(5) btlae

_____

(6) ebd

___

• Women blink nearly twice as much as men!!

(7) eksd

____

(8) unbkedb

_______

• It is impossible to lick your elbow .

• What do bullet proof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers and laser printers all have in common ?

Answer = All invented by women.

(9) olstec

______

(10) bneitac

_______

WIN A PERSONALISED ICE CREAM CAKE THANKS TO COLD ROCK ON APLIN STREET Simply un-scramble the words and send the answers + your name & contact info to email competitions@pakmag.com.au or post to PO BOX 7433 Cairns Entries close: 21st August 2009

www.pakmag.com.au

Sun 9th

Mon 10th Tue 11th

Wed 12th

VENUE

Green = kids

blue = adults

ENTERTAINMENT/EVENT NAME

Edmonton Fuller Sports Club Cairns Esplanade Cairns Esplanade Brothers Leagues Club Mareeba Drive In Reef Hotel Casino - Vertigo Bar Freshwater State School Sugarworld Gardens Cairns Esplanade Brothers Leagues Club Tanks Art Centre Brothers Leagues Club Reef Hotel Casino - Sports Bar Brothers Leagues Club Birch Carroll & Coyle Cinemas Manunda Library Reef Hotel Casino - Vertigo Bar Brothers Leagues Club Edmonton Library Cairns City Place Reef Hotel Casino - Vertigo Bar Brothers Leagues Club Cairns City Place Edmonton Fuller Sports Club Mareeba Drive In Esplanade Lagoon Reef Hotel Casino - Vertigo Bar Tanks Art Centre Cairns Esplanade Cairns Esplanade Ocha-Cha in Palm Court Brothers Leagues Club Edmonton Fuller Sports Club Mareeba Drive In Reef Hotel Casino - Vertigo Bar Brothers Leagues Club Cairns Esplanade Brothers Leagues Club Cairns Recreational Centre Reef Hotel Casino - Sports Bar Stratford Library Brothers Leagues Club Hambleton House

Kaz & Gaz Karaoke Claire & De Loons - Live Music Snake Gully - Live Music Rhythm & Groove - Live Music 2 Movies: Ice Age 3 & Night at the Museum 2 Swingin Alley Catz - Live Music Freshwater State School FETE Australian Breastfeeding Association FNQ Singer Songwriter Showcase - Local Artists Carrizma - Live Music Arts & Culture ArtEscape Workshops Out of the Blue - Live Music Movie: Sleuth (M) Carrizma - Live Music BABIES IN ARMS: Ice Age 3 Storytimes Drifting Spirits - Live Music Barbary Coasters - Live Music Storytimes Positive Ageing Fair - Seniors Week Absolute Latino - Live Music Kim Mullins Band - Live Music Danny Ross - Live Music Almost Brothers - Live Music 2 Movies: Hannah Montana & The Proposal Foreshire Entertainment - DRUM UP BIG Hip 2 Soul - Live Music The Basics - Live Music Juicy Fruits - Live Music Polymantra - Live Music Flavours of Japan 4 in a Groove - Live Music Kaz & Gaz Karaoke 2 Movies: Hannah Montana & The Proposal Swingin Alley Catz - Live Music 4 in a Groove - Live Music Jaia Rain - Live Music Live in the Auditorium - Birds of Tokyo Teen & Kid Fitness Session Movie: Baby Mama (PG) Storytimes Maurice Hardy - Live Music Youth Arts & Skills Development

START TIME

6:00 PM 11:00 AM 3:00 PM 7:00 PM 6:30 PM 10:00 PM 3:00 PM 10:00 AM 3:00 PM 7:00 PM 9:00 AM 7:00 PM 10:30 AM 7:00 PM 10:00 AM 10:30 AM 9:30 PM 7:00 PM 10:30 AM 10:00 AM 9:30 PM 7:00 PM 12:00 PM 6:00 PM 6:30 PM 7:00 PM 10:00 PM 6:30 PM 11:00 AM 3:00 PM 12:00 PM 7:00 PM 6:00 PM 6:30 PM 10:00 PM 7:00 PM 3:00 PM 7:00 PM 4:00 PM 10:30 AM 10:30 AM 7:00 PM 3:30 PM

FOR MORE INFO:

COST

www.brotherscairns.com.au

www.brotherscairns.com.au

FREE FREE FREE FREE $5/$10 FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE

(07) 4055 2544

$500-$600

www.brotherscairns.com.au

www.brotherscairns.com.au

FREE FREE FREE Cost FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE

www.mareebadrivein.com

$5/$10

www.cairnsesplanade.com.au

FREE FREE

www.cairnsesplanade.com.au www.cairnsesplanade.com.au www.brotherscairns.com.au www.mareebadrivein.com

www.reefcasino.com.au (07) 4058 9222 0448 121 905 www.cairnsesplanade.com.au

www.reefcasino.com.au www.brotherscairns.com.au

www.birch.com.au www.cairnslibrary.com.au

www.reefcasino.com.au www.brotherscairns.com.au www.cairnslibrary.com.au www.cairnsesplanade.com.au

www.reefcasino.com.au www.brotherscairns.com.au www.cairnsesplanade.com.au

www.reefcasino.com.au Ticketlink

$20/$25

www.cairnsesplanade.com.au

FREE FREE

www.ajsfnq.org.au

$10/$20

www.brotherscairns.com.au www.brotherscairns.com.au

FREE FREE

www.mareebadrivein.com

$5/$10

www.reefcasino.com.au

FREE FREE FREE FREE $7 FREE FREE FREE FREE

www.cairnsesplanade.com.au

www.brotherscairns.com.au www.cairnsesplanade.com.au www.brotherscairns.com.au

(07) 4053 5353 www.reefcasino.com.au www.cairnslibrary.com.au www.brotherscairns.com.au

(07) 4032 6604

Mix it up with us!

1. Choose your ice cream flavour 2. Choose your Mix Ins 3. Watch it being smashed Shop 7, Trilogy Towers Aplin Street, Cairns between the Towers and Aplin St P: (07) 4041 0611 www.coldrock.com.au

A

CORAL SE

MANA VILLA RO NT RESTAURA

pak’s what’s on guide august RED = FAMILY DATE

Thu 13th

Fri 14th

Sat 15th

Sun 16th

Mon 17th Tue 18th

Wed 19th

Thu 20th

VENUE

Green = kids

blue = adults

ENTERTAINMENT/EVENT NAME

Birch Carroll & Coyle Cinemas City Library Brothers Leagues Club Reef Hotel Casino - Vertigo Bar Smithfield Library Cairns City Place Brothers Leagues Club Reef Hotel Casino - Vertigo Bar Tanks Art Centre - Tank 5 Fred Moule Pavilion Cairns City Place Cairns City Place Esplanade Lagoon Brothers Leagues Club Edmonton Fuller Sports Club Mareeba Drive In Reef Hotel Casino - Vertigo Bar Cairns Regional Gallery Cairns Esplanade Cairns Esplanade Fred Moule Pavilion Brothers Leagues Club Edmonton Fuller Sports Club Mareeba Drive In Reef Hotel Casino - Vertigo Bar Cairns Regional Gallery Fred Moule Pavilion Cairns Esplanade Brothers Leagues Club Cairns Recreational Centre Reef Hotel Casino - Sports Bar Smithfield Library Brothers Leagues Club Hambleton House Birch Carroll & Coyle Cinemas Babinda Library Tjapukai Theatre Brothers Leagues Club Reef Hotel Casino - Vertigo Bar Cairns City Place Brothers Leagues Club Brothers Leagues Club Reef Hotel Casino - Vertigo Bar

pak’s what’s on guide august

BABIES IN ARMS: My Sisters Keeper Storytimes Carrizma - Live Music Drifting Spirits - Live Music Baby Rhyme Time Mark Lane - Live Music Shari - Live Music Absolute Latino - Live Music Jazz Up North Event - Live Music Library Book Sale Vikarious - Live Music Relay Rockers - Rock 'n' Roll Dance Group Foreshire Entertainment - Marks Aussie Animal Show Usual Suspects - Live Music Maurice Hardy - Live Music 2 Movies: Harry Potter (NEW) & Inkheart Hip 2 Soul - Live Music The Littoral Zone - Two Days of Evironmental Art - BOOK Hill Billygoats - Live Music Sorry Miss Jane - Live Music Library Book Sale Muthafunk - Live Music Kaz & Gaz Karaoke 2 Movies: Harry Potter (NEW) & Inkheart Swingin Alley Catz - Live Music The Littoral Zone - Two Days of Evironmental Art - BOOK Library Book Sale Racontuers - Live Music Carrizma - Live Music Teen & Kid Fitness Session Movie: Make it Happen (M) Storytimes Maurice Hardy - Live Music Youth Arts & Skills Development BABIES IN ARMS: Coraline Storytimes Japanese Film Night Carrizma - Live Music Drifting Spirits - Live Music Shells - Live Music Big Noise - Live Music Live in the Auditorium - "Time Warp" Rocky Horror tribute Absolute Latino - Live Music

START TIME

10:00 AM 10:30 AM 7:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:30 AM 12:00 PM 7:00 PM 9:30 PM 6:30 PM 9:00 AM 12:00 PM 7:30 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 6:00 PM 6:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM 3:00 PM 9:00 AM 7:00 PM 6:00 PM 6:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:00 AM 9:00 AM 3:00 PM 7:00 PM 4:00 PM 10:30 AM 10:30 AM 7:00 PM 3:30 PM 10:00 AM 10:30 AM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 9:30 PM 12:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 9:30 PM

RED = FAMILY FOR MORE INFO:

www.birch.com.au www.cairnslibrary.com.au www.brotherscairns.com.au

www.reefcasino.com.au www.cairnslibrary.com.au www.cairnsesplanade.com.au www.brotherscairns.com.au

www.reefcasino.com.au Ticketlink

COST

Cost FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE

www.brotherscairns.com.au www.mareebadrivein.com

$5/$10

www.cairnsesplanade.com.au www.cairnsesplanade.com.au www.cairnsesplanade.com.au www.brotherscairns.com.au

www.reefcasino.com.au

FREE www.cairnsregionalgallery.com.au $70 www.cairnsesplanade.com.au FREE www.cairnsesplanade.com.au FREE www.cairnslibrary.com.au FREE www.brotherscairns.com.au FREE www.brotherscairns.com.au FREE www.mareebadrivein.com $5/$10 www.reefcasino.com.au FREE www.cairnsregionalgallery.com.au $70 www.cairnslibrary.com.au FREE www.cairnsesplanade.com.au FREE www.brotherscairns.com.au FREE (07) 4053 5353 $7 www.reefcasino.com.au FREE www.cairnslibrary.com.au FREE www.brotherscairns.com.au FREE (07) 4032 6604 FREE www.birch.com.au Cost www.cairnslibrary.com.au FREE $2/$10 www.ajsfnq.org.au www.brotherscairns.com.au FREE www.reefcasino.com.au FREE www.cairnsesplanade.com.au FREE www.brotherscairns.com.au FREE www.brotherscairns.com.au FREE www.reefcasino.com.au FREE

Cairns Esplanade Markets by thE lagoon

Pottery, Handcrafted Wall Hangings, Jewellery, Candles, Soap, Artworks, Children’s Clothing, Dresses, Shoes, Airbrush Hats, Aboriginal Art, Glassworks, Cards, Tea, Mango Products, Woodwork, Leadlight, Wild Nature Skin Care, Opals, Bone Carvings, Frog on a Log, Landscape and Underwater Photography, Gemstones, Dog Collars, Ceramics, Craftwork, Cairns on CD, Hair Braiding and Tarot... and much more...

every saturday 8am - 5pm by the lagoon

www.cairnsesplanade.com.au

Sat 22nd

$20/$25

FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE

www.cairnslibrary.com.au

DATE

Fri 21st

Sun 23rd

Mon 24th

Tue 25th

Wed 26th

Thu 27th

VENUE

Tanks Art Centre - Tanks 3, 4 & 5 Cairns City Place Brothers Leagues Club Esplanade Lagoon Edmonton Fuller Sports Club Mareeba Drive In Reef Hotel Casino - Vertigo Bar Cairns Esplanade Cairns Regional Gallery Tanks Art Centre - Tanks 3, 4 & 5 Cairns Esplanade Cairns Esplanade Brothers Leagues Club Edmonton Fuller Sports Club Mareeba Drive In Reef Hotel Casino - Vertigo Bar Cairns Esplanade PCYC Tanks Art Centre - Tanks 3, 4 & 5 Cairns City Place Market Square (Shields Street HUB) Market Square (Shields Street HUB) Brothers Leagues Club Esplanade Lagoon Market Square (Shields Street HUB) Cairns City Place Cairns Esplanade Reef Hotel Casino - Sports Bar Manunda Library Cairns City Place Market Square (Shields Street HUB) Brothers Leagues Club Cairns Esplanade Birch Carroll & Coyle Cinemas Cairns City Place Hambleton House Cairns Esplanade Market Square (Shields Street HUB) Brothers Leagues Club Reef Hotel Casino - Vertigo Bar Brothers Leagues Club Cairns City Place Market Square (Shields Street HUB)

Green = kids

blue = adults

ENTERTAINMENT/EVENT NAME

Cairns Indigenous Arts Fair feat. Christine Anu Shari Williams - Live Music Swingin Alley Catz - Live Music Foreshire Entertainment - Foreshore Fireshow Shari - Live Music 2 Movies: Observe and Report & The Hangover

Hip 2 Soul - Live Music Tropic Wave Market Day Collected Callage Collective - BOOKING ESSENTIAL Cairns Indigenous Arts Fair feat. Christine Anu Pacific Toyota Parade Spectacular and Fireworks Saltwater Band Concert Prodigal Sista - Live Music Kaz & Gaz Karaoke 2 Movies: Observe and Report & The Hangover Swingin Alley Catz - Live Music Bunnings Kids and Family Workshops - HEAPS OF FUN! Cheer for a Cure Cairns Indigenous Arts Fair feat. Christine Anu Stomp The Nard Opening of Market Square - Family Fun Day Live Music All Day - Tijuana Cartel & Kamerunga Carrizma - Live Music BAYJAH - Local Indigenous Band - Live Music Chillin in the Square - Live Music Lunchtime Entertainment - Live Music Barefoot in the Park - Drum & Dance Workshops Movie: Over Her Dead Body (PG) Baby Rhyme Time Lunchtime Entertainment - Live Music Chillin in the Square - Live Music Big Jim - Live Music Bunnings Kids and Family Workshops - HEAPS OF FUN! BABIES IN ARMS: GI Joe Lunchtime Entertainment - Live Music Youth Arts & Skills Development

Kids Corner - The LaGoons - Kids Activities Chillin in the Square - Live Music Carrizma - Live Music Drifting Spirits - Live Music Muthafunk - Live Music Lunchtime Entertainment - Live Music Chillin in the Square - Live Music

START TIME

11:00 AM 12:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 6:00 PM 6:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:00 AM 1:30 PM 11:00 AM 6:00 PM 8:00 PM 7:00 PM 6:00 PM 6:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:00 AM All Day 11:00 AM 6:00 PM 12:00 PM 12:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 6:00 PM 12:00 PM 5:30:00 PM 10:30 AM 10:30 AM 12:00 PM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 4:00 PM 10:00 AM 12:00 PM 3:30 PM 5:00 PM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 9:30 PM 7:00 PM 12:00 PM 6:00 PM

FOR MORE INFO: www.ciaf.com.au www.cairnsesplanade.com.au www.brotherscairns.com.au www.cairnsesplanade.com.au www.brotherscairns.com.au www.mareebadrivein.com

www.reefcasino.com.au www.festivalcairns.com.au www.cairnsregionalgallery.com.au

www.ciaf.com.au www.festivalcairns.com.au www.festivalcairns.com.au www.brotherscairns.com.au www.brotherscairns.com.au www.mareebadrivein.com www.reefcasino.com.au www.festivalcairns.com.au www.awesomecheerleading.com.au

www.ciaf.com.au www.festivalcairns.com.au www.festivalcairns.com.au www.festivalcairns.com.au www.brotherscairns.com.au www.cairnsesplanade.com.au www.festivalcairns.com.au www.festivalcairns.com.au www.festivalcairns.com.au

www.reefcasino.com.au www.cairnslibrary.com.au www.festivalcairns.com.au www.festivalcairns.com.au www.brotherscairns.com.au www.festivalcairns.com.au

www.birch.com.au www.festivalcairns.com.au

(07) 4032 6604 www.festivalcairns.com.au www.festivalcairns.com.au www.brotherscairns.com.au

www.reefcasino.com.au www.brotherscairns.com.au www.festivalcairns.com.au www.festivalcairns.com.au

Time to relax?

$1 day Tuesday EdgE Hill SmitHfiEld WEStCOURt BRiNSmEAd

Cnr Woodward & Pease Streets Ph 4053 2317 Cnr Faculty Close & McGregor Road Ph 4057 8755 Showground Centre, 171 Mulgrave Road Ph 4051 8379 Shop 4, 101 Brinsmead Road Ph 4034 2024

COST

FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE $5/$10 FREE FREE $20 FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE $5/$10 FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE Cost FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE

$2 games ThuRsday

OPEN 9am-10pm Sun-Thurs, 9am-12midnight Fri-Sat OPEN 9am-Midnight 7 days OPEN 9am-Midnight 7 days OPEN 9am-Midnight 7 days

pak’s what’s on guide august RED = FAMILY DATE

Fri 28th

Sat 29th

Sun 30th

Mon 31st

VENUE

blue = adults

ENTERTAINMENT/EVENT NAME

Reef Hotel Casino - Vertigo Bar Tanks Art Centre - Tanks 5 Cairns City Place Brothers Leagues Club Brothers Leagues Club Market Square (Shields Street HUB) Edmonton Fuller Sports Club Mareeba Drive In Reef Hotel Casino - Vertigo Bar Fogarty Park Cairns Esplanade Cairns Esplanade Market Square (Shields Street HUB) Brothers Leagues Club Edmonton Fuller Sports Club Mareeba Drive In Reef Hotel Casino - Vertigo Bar Cairns Regional Council Building Tanks Art Centre - Tank 5 Cairns Esplanade Cairns Esplanade Brothers Leagues Club Esplanade Lagoon Cairns City Place Cairns City Place

Velvet Underground

Green = kids

Australian Bee Gees Show - Stayin Alive Tex Perkins - Live Music Lunchtime Entertainment - Live Music 4 in a Groove - Live Music Live in the Auditorium - Eskimo Joe Funky Fashion Friday - Fashion Show and Live Music Barbary Coasters - Live Music 2 Movies: The Fast and the Furious 4 & Bruno Australian Bee Gees Show - Stayin Alive TIMEOUT Concert We Built This City Bunnings Kids and Family Workshops - HEAPS OF FUN! Finale Day of Market Square - Entertainment, Food, Fun! Rhythm & Groove - Live Music Kaz & Gaz Karaoke 2 Movies: The Fast and the Furious 4 & Bruno Australian Bee Gees Show - Stayin Alive Welcoming Babies Ceremony Tropical Pride Festival We Built This City BUNNINGS KIDS BIG DAY OUT Carrizma - Live Music Madelines Couch - Live Music Cooked In Cairns - Showcasing Local Talent Nightime Entertainment - Live Music

START TIME

9:30 PM 6:30 PM 12:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 6:00 PM 6:30 PM 9:30 PM 4:00 PM 9:30 AM 10:00 AM 12:00 PM 7:00 PM 6:00 PM 6:30 PM 9:30 PM 1:30 PM 11:00 AM 9:30 AM 10:00 AM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 12:00 PM 6:00 PM

FOR MORE INFO:

COST

www.reefcasino.com.au

FREE

(07) 4032 6604

$35/$40

FREE FREE www.brotherscairns.com.au FREE www.festivalcairns.com.au FREE www.brotherscairns.com.au FREE www.mareebadrivein.com $5/$10 www.reefcasino.com.au FREE www.festivalcairns.com.au Cost www.festivalcairns.com.au FREE www.festivalcairns.com.au FREE www.festivalcairns.com.au FREE www.brotherscairns.com.au FREE www.brotherscairns.com.au FREE www.mareebadrivein.com $5/$10 www.reefcasino.com.au FREE (07) 4044 3019 FREE (07) 4032 6604 FREE www.festivalcairns.com.au FREE www.festivalcairns.com.au FREE www.brotherscairns.com.au FREE www.festivalcairns.com.au FREE www.festivalcairns.com.au FREE www.festivalcairns.com.au FREE www.festivalcairns.com.au

www.brotherscairns.com.au

regular weekly events Cairns Recreation Centre

SAM POWERS EXTREME ILLUSIONS Every Monday through to Saturday @ 7.30pm

GO Bowling

Specials on all month for adults, kids, birthdays and groups!

Super Special Sunday Sessions - 3pm until late ($13.95 per person for 3 games)

Tanks Arts Centre Kids Workshops

FRI - Circus Skills workshops @ 3.30pm (9 week = $90) SAT - Circus Skills Workshops @ 9am & 10.30am ($135 per term) PHONE: (07) 4032 6604

Tanks Arts Centre Adult Workshops MON & TUE - TV Acting Classes @ 4.15pm (POA) SUN - Laughing YOGA @ 9.15am ($5 per person) MON - Hatha YOGA @ 6pm ($15 per person) PHONE: (07) 4032 6604

- the first Saturday of each month from 7am at Platypus Park, Herberton Rd

Babinda Markets

- the first Saturday of each month, except January, from 8am, Munro Street

Rusty's Markets

- All day Friday, until 2pm Saturday and Sunday, Grafton Street, Cairns

Cooktown Markets

Nov at Marcs Park

Gordonvale Cottage Markets

- every Saturday from 7am - noon under the raintrees in Mossman

Mix one and one half cups of cornflour with one cup of water in a bowl. Slowly dip your finger into the gooey mixture; then try slapping it hard with your hand or a heavy spoon. What happens?

each other, and this stops them splattering. In this way the mixture behaves more like a solid.

If you move them slowly, or let them flow, they can run past each other, and so the starch behaves like a liquid.

Why? The molecules in the starch are very large compared with molecules of water or other ordinary molecules. When you slap the surface quickly, the molecules get tangled in

Then try letting some of the goo flow across a piece of rubber sheet cut from a rubber glove.

Stretch the rubber slowly, then stretch it fast, and notice what happens each time.

- every Saturday from 8am - noon at Lions Park - on the first Saturday of each month from 8am - noon at Norman Park

Innisfail Red Cross Markets

- held the 3rd Sunday of each month at Anzac Memorial Park

Mossman Markets

Port Douglas Markets

- every Sunday from 8.30am - 2pm at Anzac Park

SPeewah Markets

Mt Sheridan Markets

Malanda Markets

- the first Sunday of each month at Morrow Park Race Course

Mareeba Markets

- every 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month at the Tully Showgrounds.

Northern Beaches Markets

- the 3rd Sunday of each month from 9am - 3pm, Smithfield Shopping Centre

Tanks Art Centre Markets

- the last Sunday of each month from 9am-1pm, Cairns

(Photos become property of Awesome Cheerleading & may appear on website or other print material).

Strange matter

- every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday at 9am - 3pm in Therwine St

- Everyday from 4.30pm-11pm, Entry from Espanade or Abbott Street, Cairns

See if you can spot the 5 differences.

Don’t stop until you find them all!

So how do I spot and what does it look like? When you see a ballerina spinning across the floor elegantly you will see her head whipping around faster than her body….this is spotting. The main element is looking at a particular point and NEVER taking your eyes off that as your body turns around. A simple way to start out without confusing your feet is to sit on a chair that spins around, a bar stool or office chair are great. Sit up tall and look at a picture or something at eye height, slowly use your feet to spin the chair around without taking your eyes of your picture. At a certain point (about halfway) you will not be able to go any further, at this point keep your feet still and whip your head around to the other side to refocus on the picture then keep your body travelling to catch up. Then repeat this process. When you have gotten faster and faster at this you will be able to spin without your feet on the floor. When you have this skill mastered try it standing up.

Tues - Seniors Morning “Club Gold” @ 9.30 Every Sun - Kids Disco 3.30pm-6pm (ages 3-12yrs)

Cazalys Wed throught to Sat - Live Music @ 7pm Brothers Leagues Club

- Every Saturday from 8am - 4am at Fogerty Park, Cairns

Night Markets

Spotting is the key to NOT getting dizzy when spinning around and around. Both dancers and cheerleaders know that without this key skill they will fall down or make a mistake during their routine.

Esplande Lagoon Fun FREE Fitness

- Every Sunday 8am-2pm Carpark of the Speewah Tavern, Speewah Road. 6ks past Kuranda

- 2nd Saturday of every month

BY: Tamara Cameron www.awesomecheerleading.com

MON - Aqua Aerobics @ 6.30am & Walk / Run Circuit @ 5.15pm TUE - YOGA @ 6.30am WED - Sarge’s Army Boot Camp @ 5.30pm WED - Beach Volleyball Clinic @ 5.30pm THU - Pilates @ 7am & Petanque @ 10am THU - Aqua Aerobics Class @ 6.15pm THU - Esplanade Running Club @ 5.30pm FRI - Aqua Aerobics @ 6.30am FRI - Mums & Bubs @ 10.30am SAT - Sahaja YOGA @ 7.30am, Aqua Aerobics @ 8.30am & Boxercise @ 8am

Kuranda Markets

Esplanade Markets

How to spot during a turn

MON - Public Skate - bookings essential (6 or more people) MON - Indoor Sports TUE - Fund Raiser Session @ 6.30pm (coa) TUE - Indoor Sports WED - General Skate @ 10am & 1pm THU - General Skate @ 10am & 1pm FRI - General Skate @ 10am SAT - Beginners Skate Session @ 10am-12pm ($7 entry $2 skate hire) SAT - General Skate @ 1pm-3.30pm ($8 entry $1 skate hire) SAT - Retro Skate @ 7pm SUN - Learn to Skate Sessions @ 10am-12pm ($7 entry $2 skate hire) SUN - General Skate Session @ 1pm-3.30pm ($8 entry $3 skate hire)

regular markets Atherton Markets

spot

- the 3rd Saturday of each month from 6am - noon at Jack May Park - the 2nd Saturday of each month at Centenary Park, Byrnes Street

Mission Beach Markets

- 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month from 6.30am - noon, Opposite Hideaway

Monster Markets

- the last Sunday of each month from 8am - 2pm, April til

Tolga Markets Tully Markets

Yungaburra Markets

- Held the 4th Saturday of each month from 7.30am - 12.30pm in the Main Street

Swap Meet @ Rodeo Drive-in Mareeba

- open every Sunday from april til september, Highway 3 (Near Bremerton Airport)

PaK

www.pakmag.com.au

science

29

pak review Race to Witch Mountain

Bulletin #21 The totally amazing, incredible, fantastic adventures of Bopstar, Bree and the Boppers!

Bulletin: Part XX1

goons began to tie up the hands, arms and legs of the Bopstars. Bree began to ask, “Who ar…”. “Quiet! No speaking!” quickly interrupted the large man leading the evil troop. He continued, “Follow me!” and began to lead all three Boppers down towards the galley.

Stair after stair, Bree, Trent and Eleese staggered deeper and deeper into the hull of the ship.

What seemed like an endless journey eventually ended as they finally reached the bottom ship. It was very hot and smelly on this level of the ship and the Boppers could assume that they were in the engine room. The room was very smoky and several muffled voices could be heard in the distance discussing something very serious.

Last Edition: The Boppers approached the anchor rope, quietly climbed out of their sub and slowly up the chain. Slowly… quietly… creepily… all three Boppers ventured up the swaying anchor rope to reach the deck and scope out the onboard status.

Finally, Bree and Eleese reached the main deck and silently boarded the Coconut Cruiser. Following close behind, Trent jumped aboard and huddled with the girls to devise a plan to regain control of the ship from the mad man. All of a sudden, a large flash light shone on all three Boppers. “Don’t move!” said the figure, carrying the flashlight. With no escape option, the Bopstars were trapped. What were they going to do?

Was it over before they had even begun?

“Don’t even think about moving!” demanded the shadowy figure, “…and make sure to tie them up, make sure it’s tight and we will take them down below.” As the three Boppers stood still, the four big

Race to Witch Mountain tells the story of two alien visitors whose search for their spacecraft gets them caught up in an adventure with a cab driver and a UFO specialist. As the group races toward the mysterious mountain in Nevada desert that has mystified scientists and paranormal researchers for years, the government, gangsters, and an extraterrestrial bounty hunter attempt to prevent them from reaching their intended destination. Should the two planetary travellers fail in recovering their ship, an alien invasion will be launched against the entire planet.

For your chance to win a civic prize pack, simply tell us in 30 words or less, “If you had a spaceship, what would you call it and why?”

Civic & PakMag Competition Send your answer to: Civic Comp, PO Box 7433, Cairns, Qld 4870 or email us at: competitions@pakmag.com.au. Don’t forget to add your details (Name, Age, Email, Address and Phone Number). Entries close 21st August 2009.

“I’ve been expecting you.” bellowed a voice from behind the large furnace. “Who was that? Where are you? mummy…” quivered Trent, hiding behind both girls. The voice continued, “I am the evil, most villainous, most cunning and diabolical being that has ever lived! Mwahahahaha.” chuckled the ruthless villain. “But why are you here in Far North Queensland and trying to take over this cruise ship?” asked Eleese.

“That, my dear, is the most ingenious, clever and inspiration part of my plan!” explained the evil character. “You and your little friends are extremely lucky to have not one, but two World Heritage areas, the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest, within metres of each other and I have the power to hold them ransom.” clarified the excited villain. Bree couldn’t believe what she was hearing. How was it possible to hold such a large area to ransom? What was his plan? Bree had to find out what his diabolical plan was and quickly. To Be Continued…

Where there’s a SHOW that needs a GLOW, a SMARTY that needs a PARTY, Bree and the boppers are ready to entertain the people of Cairns! But when Trouble arises and there’s no one else to call, The Bopstars use their Super Special Powers and embark on Exciting Expeditions to protect and preserve.

FOREVER! TOGETHER! BOPSTARS! 30

> Rating: PG > Category: Family > Released on DVD: 26/8/09

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Question 1: What are the two world heritage areas talked about in the Bopstars Bulletin #21?

Question 2: What is the rest of the name for the newest Harry Potter Movie?

Question 3:

Answer all the questions and you could win a fantastic prize pak!!!

How many sides are there on a hexagon?

Question 4: Which radio station recently celebrated their 10th Birthday at Fogarty Park?

Question 5: What is the theme of Festival of Cairns 2009?

Entries close: 21st August 2009 Email your answers to: competitions@pakmag.com.au Or post your answers to: Battle of the Brains, PAK MAG, PO Box 7433 Cairns Qld 4870

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31

out & about

Sugar Glider Facts Proudly brought to you by

Japanese folk tal

e & origami group

Puppet making group

at Cairns Libraries

PAK Facts Did you know?

Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps) This cute little Glider is rarely seen and is quite shy and secretive within the forest. They are found in a wide range of habitats including rainforest, wet eucalypt forests, woodlands and even suburban back yards.

Active mainly at night, Sugar Gliders go out after dark looking for their favourite foods like flowers, blossoms, pollen, insects, fruit and berries. During the day they sleep in a hole in a tree protected from potential predators such as kookaburras, goannas dogs, cats, foxes and snakes.

Sugar Gliders have an amazing ability to leap from tree to tree while spreading their arms and legs out, using their extra skin or membrane to glide through the air sometimes up to 50 metres. This membrane in found on either side of the body and joins the fifth finger of their front arm to their first toe of their back leg.

Living in social groups Sugar Gliders communicate through scent and vocalisation. Males have a scent gland on their head which they use to mark their territory communicating with other Gliders of a different family group. A “yip” “yip” sound is also used by both sexes when threatened or disturbed communicating with their families that danger could be approaching.

Sugar Gliders are Nocturnal During the day they sleep huddled up in a leafy nest in a hollow or a hole in a tree. They prefer a warm, dark, dry place to sleep, snuggling up with other Sugar Gliders and their babies.

Sugar Gliders are a Marsupial Marsupials give birth to tiny undeveloped young the size of a jelly bean. These tiny, blind babies climb into mum’s pouch where it grows and develops until 70 days old. The baby will then stay safe in the hollow of the tree until it is around 4 months of age and is big enough to go foraging for food with its mum.

Leah at Kindy Da

nce

PakMag’s 2nd Birthday

- Teddy Bear’s Picnic

Sugar Gliders only live for up to 4 to 5 years in the wild.

Sugar Gliders can have twins After being pregnant for only 16 days females can give birth to one or two tiny babies who then feed on milk found within their mums pouch. Once 7 to 10 months old they are ready to leave their families and start their own.

PakMag’s 2nd Bir

thday - Teddy Be

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www.pakmag.com.au

www.pakmag.com.au

ar’s Picnic

PakMag’s 2nd Birthday - Teddy Bear’s Picnic

33

pak babies

Potty talk: Toilet training toddlers does not have to be a battle One of the biggest challenges faced by parents of toddlers is toilet training.

intelligent designs for your baby's bum

By Shannon du Plessis www.bumgenius.com.au

One of the biggest challenges faced by parents of toddlers is toilet training.

pop in..& indulge in a practical + whimsical collection of organic products designed to leave only the gentlest touch upon our children + our earth.

It is widely debated whether early toilet training is better for the child, but it makes sense that the earlier they have been introduced to the toilet or potty in a positive way, the less likely the child will become afraid to use it.

tribe hosts regular nappy classes workshops + unique baby shower parties + has an entertaining area for kids tribe is the hq for nurture nappies + bumgenius in australia

Signs that your child is ready for toilet training include: being able to walk and sit for short periods of time, becoming more independent, being interested in watching others go to the toilet, dry nappies for extended periods of time, telling you when they have done a poo or wee in their nappy, disliking wearing a nappy, having regular bowel movements, being able to pull their pants up and down and being able to follow simple instructions.

If you think you’re toddler might be ready to start toilet-training, here are some tips that will help: • Introduce the potty into your daily routine by regularly taking them to the potty or toilet at appropriate times (ie. first thing in the morning, after a meal, before bedtime).

• Avoid pressuring them as this may hinder their learning.

• Be aware that any stress within the family or major changes (such as moving house) could also set your potty training back.

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• Give praise for small steps as your child learns and offer rewards such as a sticker. Go at your child’s pace and don’t expect too much.

• Never punish them for mistakes or accidents. There will be good days and bad days.

• Dress them in something easy to get on and off and give them lots of ‘nappy-free time’.

• Watch out for signs of wanting to use the toilet (eg. facial expressions) and guide them to the potty. Eventually they will understand and get there themselves.

• Toddlers find it hard to “hold on” for more than a few seconds, so if they tell you before they do a wee or poo, thank them and take them to the potty straight away. If they don’t make it in time, still offer praise for learning a new skill.

• Don’t make a child sit on a potty for a long period of time as it will feel like punishment.

• Teach proper hygiene when using the toilet, including washing hands afterwards.

• Some children start hiding in strange places when doing a poo while they are being toilet trained. There is no clear reason why they do this, but parents shouldn’t punish them, just make sure they have easy access to the potty.

• Give your child plenty of water and fibre in their diet so they don’t become constipated.

• It is very normal for toddlers to be fascinated by their own poo and many will put it on their hands and spread it around like playdough. While this is unpleasant to deal with, your child is not trying to upset you so don’t punish them.

• Make it clear to your child that you will help them in the middle of the night if they wake up needing to use the potty.

It’s a big ask for a toddler to learn to control their bowels and bladder and consequently children become toilet trained at various ages. Some are ready at 18 months, some take a lot longer.

Even if your child uses the toilet or potty during the day, it’s likely that you’ll be still using nappies at night until as late as 6 years.

Toilet training is a big deal for a child so if you celebrate it the transition will be much easier for both of you.

Useful toilet training tools: [1] Pottytraining.com.au [2] Playgro’s Going Potty set

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pak babies

pak parent

Should we be thinking about banking our baby’s cord blood?

Raynarna Richey, mum to twins Max & Liliana, writes about the joys of parenting multiples

‘Liquid gold’ Twice as nice Cord blood, the blood that nourishes a baby during pregnancy, is rich in stem cells and is now used by doctors to treat about 70 diseases, mostly anaemias or cancers of the blood. Whilst cord blood from the umbilical cord is normally discarded after birth, parents now have a choice about whether or not they would like to have it collected and stored.

There are basically two options: (1) donating the cord blood to a public bank for use by anybody which is free (but only available in Brisbane for Queenslanders) or (2) paying to have it stored in a private bank for your child’s

own use should they have one of these diseases later in life. Private blood collection is more widely available but will cost you at least $3000.

Of course, there is comfort in knowing you have access to cord blood which is perfectly matched to your child should they ever need it, but is it really worth the cost? During the last 20 years over 8000 children and adults around the world have had cord blood transplants.

Whilst it used to be used as a last resort when a suitable bone marrow donor wasn’t available, it is now very often the preferred option because it doesn’t need

such rigorous matching so the chances of finding a match are much greater.

However, the likelihood of your child needing a cord blood transplant is quite low and, according to research, the least successful form of transplant is from the patient’s own cord blood or bone marrow. It is much more likely that they can be treated with a siblings cord blood. Childhood leukaemia is now also very treatable with chemotherapy. So, the question of whether or not it is worth privately storing cord blood is still highly debated.

Baby yoga: relieving typical baby problems with yoga poses

By Dagmar Hirsch Yoga is immensely beneficial to new mums and there are even a few poses that can help your baby too. Here’s are some suggestions to help with two very common problems experienced with young babies:

1. Upset Stomach/Colic A baby’s tiny digestive system is a fragile thing, and it’s no wonder they often experience painful problems. When your baby’s tummy is upset, try putting him into this yoga position that will help eliminate gas. To start, gently draw your baby’s knees to its chest so that any

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2. Long Bouts of Crying

this simple technique that not only calms baby down, but also promotes bonding with your child. It is called Ujjayi breathing. Hold your baby close your chest and start deep breathing by audibly inhaling and exhaling through your nose with your mouth closed. The deep, rhythmic sound of your breath could very well soothe your baby. And if she continues to cry, it’s still worth doing because it will help Mum stay calm and centered—even while holding a fussy and crying baby!

Everyone knows that babies cry for a variety of reasons. But if you’ve tried everything and you crave silence, try

Dagmar is a midwife and yoga teacher.

She teaches Mummy & Me yoga classes at Cairns Yoga Academy.

bubbles release. Then place baby on his back and slowly move his knees up into his belly. Hold for a few seconds, then release the pressure, and stroke baby’s legs to help him relax. Repeat several times. Next, bring baby’s knees back to his belly and circle his thighs in a clockwise direction a number of times.

You can also try bicycling baby’s legs, alternating bringing one knee in to his belly while lengthening the opposite leg.

On a practical level I managed to find ways to handle the double-bathing, double-changing, double-playing, doublecuddling, and even double-carrying. Only on a few occasions have I had them both cry at the same time; it’s amazing but right from the very beginning they seemed to understand that one had to wait for the other to stop before they started to cry!

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In our first year together we have lived with Chris’ rotational roster in and out of Cairns and I have gone back to work two days a week and enrolled in university one and half days a week. Like all super-Mums I rely on outside support. My children are enrolled in Daycare, Bumblebees in Freshwater, who now look after five sets of multiples. They go above and beyond to help me keep my sanity!

When I first found out I was pregnant with twins, I was shocked.

Then shock turned to worrying about whether I could be a good mother to two babies. I wondered how on earth I would cope with two babies at once; would one baby be easy-going and the other trying or would both be trying? There were lots of similar questions to worry about but when Max and Liliana were eventually born the worry gave way to feeling …terrified! My hands shook and I couldn’t focus. Yet through it all I knew I was lucky; I had two healthy beautiful babies.

Lucky for me those babies also had a wonderful father who stepped up to the challenge and for the first weeks of their lives was a great Daddy. We’ve been a team ever since. I was really nervous but Chris really helped because he was so calm. Then I began to worry about how I was going to cope on my own when Chris wasn’t around. How would I bath them or change them and what would I do if they both cried at the same time?

Once we were home, life quickly settled in to a daily routine. It was pretty hectic so we were soon racing along. When I look back over the past 14 months I thank goodness that I am a multiple mum; I love it. I love watching them play together, learn together and fight with each other and I also love knowing they each have a buddy every step of the way. It has been the most fantastic experience.

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We also have a wonderful babysitter Verity Hoyle who looks after them when I need to study, attend a meeting or any other of the million and one things that mums do. I have also found attending ‘Multiple Birth’ coffee mornings really vital for engaging with other multiple birth Mums. I can go there and know my situation is understood, where the advice is appropriate to our circumstances and where just doing what you’ve got to do to be a Mum to multiples is the rule not the exception.

When people ask me if I want to have more children I always say I’m not sure. Not because of “double trouble” or being overwhelmed but because I believe twins are “twice as nice” and I want that experience again. You might be surprised to hear this but another set of twins would be perfect. I honestly believe all babies should come in twos and all families should be as lucky as mine to have a multiple moment.

The Far North QLD Multiple Birth Association is hosting a Family Fun Day at Lake Placid on Sunday 16 August 2009 from 2 – 5pm. Please come along and join us, just remember you will be seeing double or even triple!

WIN a mystery Prize!!!

Send in your experiences of parenthood and you could win a prize to the value of $30. Email your story to: competitions@pakmag.com.au. Entries close: 21 August 2009.

37

a trip to...

McDonalds SeaFM

PARTY Second Beach

Remote and off the beaten track but still within sight of Cairns

By Elaine Seager I have to admit that when it was first suggested we go to Second Beach to review a beach house for the weekend, I had no idea where Second Beach was.

In fact, neither did most of my maps but luckily Google Maps was on the case.

Second Beach is nestled in to a tiny little bend on Pine Creek Road on the way to Yarrabah. It is remote, beautiful, untouched (so far!) quiet and extremely devoid of tourists. Apart from a handful of houses there’s nothing there except trees, hills, rocks and a beach so it feels totally remote and is the perfect getaway if you’re in need of some rejuvenating peace and quiet.

We stayed at a beach house which is owned and run as a holiday let by local Mum Annette Axford. It is fully selfcontained with two bedrooms (double

38

and two singles) with an additional two double sofa beds in the living room so it’s possible to sleep up to 8 people/ kids if you’re taking the brood with you.

The house is nice and comfortable but the biggest feature is the views. The first thing you notice when you enter is the wide open vista all the way down a private lawn to the beach. The only thing getting in the way of uninterrupted views of the ocean are two coconut palms. In real estate speak this is ‘prime absolute beachfront’.

After settling in we decided to drive further along the road to Yarrabah since I’d heard about it being a beautiful drive. It lived up to its reputation and whatever you hear about Yarrabah, it is truly located in paradise. The rest of the afternoon was spent building sand castles, beach combing and lounging around not doing very much really. Life is

hard in Second Beach! Given that there aren’t any shops nearby (the nearest are 15-20 minutes away in Edmonton) we took our own food and drink supplies.

The alternative is to eat fresh oysters off the rocks (a local Aboriginal lady had already beaten us to the big juicy ones but we were happy with the leftovers!) or throw out some crab pots and eat mud crabs. You could also take fishing rods and try your luck at catching dinner. It seems as though the mud crabs are in plentiful supply and we managed to catch a nice big male one.

Delicious! A few words of warning for the adventurous - just watch out for crocs and sinking mud!

Dive in to the biggest Beach Party in Cairns!

SaT 5TH SePTeMBer 2PM-10PM aT The lagoon • 2pm > Activities start • 3pm > The Big Tube Race • 4pm > Ronald McDonald’s Magic Show • 5pm > Sand Castle Building Comp • 6pm > Dive in Movies start-watch from the beach or in the lagoon • Prizes for Best Beach Wear • Sea FM Broadcasting • Heaps of prizes • The Waves Performing with all your favourite beach music

For more info go to www.festivalcairns.com.au Proudly brought to you by

Prices start at $150 per night with a minimum two night stay. All you need to bring is your food, linen and sense of adventure. For more info contact Annette and Michael Axford on 0430 274 411.

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39

festival guide

Springtime events guide It’s almost time for the regions biggest festival again with Festival Cairns due to kick off on 21st August so here’s our rundown of all the best family oriented events to look out for.

Festival Cairns 21 August - 6 September Festival Cairns 2009 is especially about families enjoying time together. Carnival on Collins and the Grand Parade are long-time favourites, plus there are plenty of new activities to try including the Bunnings Kids Big Day Out and the McDonald’s Sea FM Beach Party and Dive-In Movie, all sure to be big hits.

Bird Tour Walks 21 August - 6 September Birding Cairns will conduct more than 25 guided walks and events to spread knowledge of birds and their survival needs. Some of the walks are especially geared for children and they are being held throughout the city including the Esplanade, Centenary Lakes, Edmonton and Yorkeys Knob.

Pacific Toyota Grand Parade & Fireworks 22 August from sunset The Grand Parade is one of Festival Cairns’ most highly anticipated free, family-fun events. This year, the popular event has been repositioned in the program to open the Festival with a bang. Get down there early to secure your position on the Esplanade to watch the procession of spectacular floats pass by.

Tropical Wave Festival 22 August 10.30am-6pm Geoffery Gurrumul Yunipingu and the Saltwater Band will headline the Tropical Wave Festival at the Esplanade Hub. This will be the group’s first Queensland

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performance after a successful European tour. The free event showcases the multicultural diversity of the region through a lifestyle market featuring delicious food stalls, performances and cultural wares.

Ergon Energy Buskers Festival 22 August - 4 September Entry is free to the Far North Queensland’s biggest street performance festival, with performances being held at the Esplanade, City Place and Market Square Hubs. There will be a Street Star Buskers Competition with the Grand Final being held on Friday 4 September, so all you talented people of all ages should enter. Plus Professional International Touring Artists with careers in stage, screen, music, circus and comedy will be performing between 28 – 30 August between 3pm -10pm. With all of the buskers enjoying the direct contact and spontaneous audience participation that can only be experienced during a live street performance. The one thing they all have in common is that they choose to work in street theatre and they rely on your contributions to keep coming back. For more information go to www. cairnsstreetbuskersfestival.com.au

Kids Corner 26 August & 2 September 5pm-8pm A free event at the Esplanade Hub featuring loads of entertainment and Bunnings Kid’s workshops. This one is especially for the kids with entertainment from Bopstars and the La’Goons which are guaranteed to have all the kids up

and dancing. There will also be face painting, Bunnings demonstrations and giveaways for the kids.

We Built this City 29 & 30 August, 9am-11.30am & 12.30pm-3pm Free at the Eastern Events Lawn and presented by Kewarra Beach Resort & local city builders. We Built This City is a public construction extravaganza, using nothing but thousands of cardboard boxes and the energy and ingenuity of kids and families. Guided by performers in the role of construction workers to facilitate free play, the children build an entire city in two days, before the whole thing is crushed by the participants into a recyclable heap of cardboard rubble.

Live music underscores the action, while challenges and outcomes are set along the way by, with and for the children. We Built This City is not a play… it is play!

Bunnings Kids Big Day Out Sunday 30 August, 10am-2pm Come down to the Esplanade Hub for a family day full of fun. There will be Kids entertainment and activities including Bunnings Kids Workshops, Bree and the Bopstars, interactive Chalk Art, face painting, balloon sculpting and Bunnings demonstrations. There will be a big sausage sizzle and special kids performances from the Ergon Energy Buskers Festival buskers.

Schools Cultural Festival Thursday 3 & Friday 4 September Located at the Esplanade Hub Stage, enjoy a showcase of diverse talents from this region’s young people through

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pak vouchers

Springtime events guide - continued... the Schools Cultural Festival. Choral performances will be held on Thursday between 10am – 3pm, Big Band and Concert Band performances will be held on Thursday between 6pm and 9pm and on Friday night between 6pm and 9pm you will be able to enjoy Rock Bands, solos, dance and visual art performances.

McDonald’s Sea FM Beach Party 5 September, 2pm-6pm Free event at the Esplanade Hub and Lagoon. Dive in to the biggest beach party in Cairns and drag out your best Hawaiian shirt, bikinis, boardies or floaties for the occasion. There will be a host of activities including kids games, lagoon tube races, sandcastle building competition and sack races. “The Waves” will be performing your favourite tunes from the “Beach Boys” plus Sea FM will be broadcasting live from the lagoon stage from 3pm - 6pm. Ronald McDonald the Chief Happiness Officer for Mcdonald’s will be making a special appearance and performing one of his famous magical shows at the lagoon stage at 4pm. He will need assistance, so kids be prepared to get involved. The Ronald McDonald House Charity Gold Coin Donation BBQ will be held from 4pm - 6pm lagoon side and Beach Ball giveaways plus many prizes to be won!

Dive-In Movie 5 September, 6pm-10pm Sit back and relax with a night of movies on the giant inflatable movie screen.

Float around in the Lagoon or watch from the beach. There will be one for the kids and then an old classic. What a great way to finish off the McDonalds Sea FM Beach Party in Cairns.

Cairns Regional Gallery Family Day

Carnival on Collins 6 September, 9am-3pm The Father’s Day favourite, Carnival on Collins celebrates 20 years with something for everyone in the grand finale for Festival Cairns 2009. There will be stalls galore along Collins Avenue and around the Cairns Botanic Gardens. The Tanks Bung Wall will be dedicated to multicultural food, music, national dress and dance, there will be an acoustic stage, rides for the kids and much more.

Check out www.festivalcairns.comau for information on all of the events scheduled at this year’s Festival Cairns.

And, here’s a quick review of all the other events around the region coming your way over the next couple of months.

COOKTOWN ART FESTIVAL 14-16 August Held at various venues around Cooktown, this annual festival showcases the work of local artists, musicians and poets.

A celebration of life and art in the tropics and after it’s successful inaugural event last year it will be back for more. Go to www.go-troppo-arts-festival.com for more information.

www.bopstars.com 4031 9915 or 0422 154 742

This annual event rotates around Australia’s major cities and this year is being held at Cazaly’s in Cairns. There will be more than 36 teams from all the states around the country in various age categories.

COME AND TRY ANY CLASS FOR FREE

OPERA IN THE OUTBACK 9-10 October One of FNQ’s most unique cultural events and in to it’s 9th year. Go to www. undara.com.au for more information if you fancy a bit of culture!

YUNGABURRA FOLK FESTIVAL 22-25 October A popular family friendly event for those who enjoy their live music in beautiful surroundings. Go to www. yungaburrafolkfestival.org for more information.

Call Tamara on 0402 225 630

free Garlic Bread with any main meal FREE Come & Try Game*

This entitles you and a friend to attend a FREE COME & TRY session of Tenpin Bowling at selected COME & TRY days. Please phone the centre for details. This session includes one FREE game with coaching tips and pointers.

Watch athletes endure the race up Walsh’s Pyramid and then check out the Country Fair in Gordonvale.

Complimentary welcome coffee or soft drink

WARBIRDS AIRSHOW 23 August, 11am-3pm

*Must present voucher to redeem offer

For aviation lovers, the gates open for this annual event from 9am, ticket prices are $20 for adults and $5 for children.

Held at Mareeba Airport. Go to www. warbirdadventures.com.au for more information.

GOLDEN GUMBOOT FESTIVAL 5 September

A free day of art and entertainment for the whole family. Visitors can view exhibitions, enjoy hands-on activities, listen to informative talks and watch a special film screening.

This unique festival celebrates all that is wet in Australia’s wettest town in Tully.

Features the ‘Gumboot Games’, street parade, market stalls and more.

Receive a FRee bonus GiFt with eveRy paRty bookinG!

AFL MASTERS NATIONAL CARNIVAL 2-8 October

GREAT PYRAMID RACE 15 August

(5 September, 10am-5pm)

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GO TROPPO ARTS FESTIVAL 2-11 October

PRESENT THIS VOUCHER & YOUR

KIDS EAT FREE ANY TIME

Conditions: 1 adult meal over $12 = 1 Free Kids Meal. Not available with any other promotional offers. Valid until 31/08/09.

BUT ANY ICE CREAM BUT ANY ICE CREAM BUT ANY ICE CREAM BUT ANY ICE CREAM GET A FREE MIX IN GET A FREE MIX IN GET A FREE MIX IN GET A FREE MIX IN

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Valid Aplin St Cold Rock, Shop 7 Trilogy Tower until August 31.

Valid Aplin St Cold Rock, Shop 7 Trilogy Tower until August 31.

Valid Aplin St Cold Rock, Shop 7 Trilogy Tower until August 31.

Valid Aplin St Cold Rock, Shop 7 Trilogy Tower until August 31.

Only one voucher per person per day

Only one voucher per person per day

Only one voucher per person per day

Only one voucher per person per day

fav pet shots

Photo of the month wins a mystery prize to the value of $30!

This month’s entries:

JULY WINNER!

Kaspar loved by Caitlin

Chika Dee, Dotty, Tallow & Tinka

Get sorted!

Leonie Holland, a Professional Organiser & Mum of 3 Boys, tells us how she went from household chaos to super-organised completely overwhelmed. I dreaded guests ‘dropping in’ and the moment I walked in the front door I felt tense because of the clutter and mess I was faced with. I also felt guilty, because it was my choice to be a full time mum and housewife and yet I didn’t seem to be doing a very good job. How hard could it be, I thought to myself? But, as many of you know, running a home with children in it IS hard work. It takes planning, routines, time management and much, much more. I had gotten to the point where I just didn’t know where to start.

Tia Maria loved by Ca

rla & Glenn Pierce lly

Tiny loved by Jason

Ruby loved by Mo

Email your photo, name/s and address to: photos@pakmag.com.au Deadline for photos is 21st August for our September edition.

prize winners

With some research, patience, perseverance and support I was able to gain control of our home and life again. Whilst it takes on-going discipline, the rewards are endless. I now feel in control. I’m saving money. Cleaning and tidying is much quicker because the hard work has already been done. Bills are paid on time, and the list goes on and on. Everything has its place and that is the key feature of being organised.

Congratulations to our July prize winners!!!

Another important aspect of being organised is to remember that it’s a constant journey which evolves over time. There will be days and weeks when you make a lot of progress, then there will be days and weeks when you don’t. Children get sick, mums get sick and life gets busy in general. That’s when the perseverance and patience comes into play.

Colour in to win:

Reader Recipe:

Battle of the Brains:

Winners of a family pass to the

• Diane Petterson

• Jeremy Herwig, Mt Sheridan

Civic Prize Paks:

Go Bowling Trivia:

• Laura Burns, Edmonton

• Finn Churchward, Cairns

• Fiona Kimber, Edge Hill

• Lance Rookwood, Bentley Park

• Manik Kumaranayake, Nth Cairns

• Jenny Dunlea, Edge Hill

• Zoe Potter, Edge Hill

Word Scramble:

• Brodie Smith, Bentley Park

• Alannah Giuffrida, Tully

show with a showbag voucher • Ella Churchward, North Cairns

To claim your prize drop into our office on Level 2, 68 Abbott Street between 9-5pm Monday to Friday to collect your prize from reception.

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Some people seem to be born organisers, and some people need to be taught. I have always thought of myself as somewhat organised until 3 years ago when things got out of control. I had lots of mess and clutter. In fact my home had become overrun with paperwork, toys, shoes, odd socks, enormous amounts of washing and ironing and endless amounts of other bits and pieces. Not to mention the late fees I was paying for overdue library returns, lost library books, overdue DVD returns and unpaid bills. Our home had become chaotic. I had 3 active boys and was struggling to cope. Our routines weren’t working; in fact our routines barely existed.

My home was depressing and I was depressed. How could this ‘somewhat organised’ and house proud person have gotten to this point? Sitting in my home surrounded by mess, I was

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Getting your home and life organised IS very achievable but where do you start? The first thing to do is de-clutter because there’s no point organising your home if it hasn’t had a good purge first. Get rid of: 1) anything you don’t need, want, use or love, 2) anything that is broken or damaged and no longer able to be fixed and functional and 3) anything that is unfinished like crafty projects or restorations. You will be amazed at how much lighter you feel just by having a big clear out because clutter has a big impact on us emotionally.

Some of us can de-clutter successfully on our own but if you feel overwhelmed and have no idea where to start a Professional Organiser can be very useful. Organisers can help you to make decisions on what you want and need to keep, as opposed to what is not used or needed any longer.

Getting organised is achievable, and will enhance your life in many ways. Start today on your journey to organisation!

For more information go to www.clearandsort.com

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BUSINESS DIRECTORY For Sale

entertainment

FOR SALE

entertainment

Nikki the Clown • Face Painting • Puppets • Balloons • Games • Music • Other costumes available

Lot 30 Hoolahan Drive, Mareeba Situated on 5040m2 block only 5 min from town.

The house consists of 3 large bedrooms, 1 media room, 1 lounge/entertainment room, kitchen and dining room, 1 bathroom with separate toilet, ensuite and large walk in robe in main bedroom, split system aircons, huge outdoor patio/entertainment area. Price: $519,000 neg Private sale contact Sam on 0427 089 514 during business hours or 4092 4281 after hours

&4057 8019 or 0408 183 302 www.nikkitheclown.com

Rachel

home activities

Make your own home made juggling balls

Bradley

The Singing Face Painter Available for themed childrens’ & adult parties

For bookings cAll 0428 600 213

SERVICES

Painting, high pressure water cleaning plus all general maintenance services

Kids Moves • Birthday parties • One on one sessions to help with progression of gross motor skills • Special functions anywhere you need children to be entertained • Mobile services available

Call Lee on 0427 849 775 or 4053 6837

Flip Ripley Magic shows • Characters • Clowning Comedy workshops • Juggling Unicycles • Comic telegrams 4039 0622 or 0410 510 095 flip2@westnet.com.au www.flipripley.com

restaurants

What you need: Balloons Plastic bottles (old soft drink bottles) Scissors Funnel

[6] Decorating your juggling balls: this is up to your imagination and amount of balloons you have.

What you do:

Ideas to decorate:

[1] Pour about half a cup of rice into one of the drink bottles using the funnel.

If you don’t have a funnel you can make one by cutting the top off the spare drink bottle. The size of your juggling balls depends on the amount of rice you use.

• Cut off the neck and a strip off a third contrasting colour balloon. Stretch it over your ball to have a single strip of colour.

Rice

[2] Blow up a balloon to the size of a grapefruit. Twist the neck and stretch it over the neck of the bottle.

[3] Turn the bottle upside down and let all the rice fall into the balloon.

Then remove the bottle and deflate the balloon.

[4] Cut the neck off the balloon. The rice will stay in the bottom of the balloon.

DIRECTORY LISTINGS FROM $50/month 46

PHONE 4031 9915 www.pakmag.com.au

[5] Cut the neck off a second balloon and use the bottom. Stretch it over the ball with rice in it, to seal it so the rice doesn’t fall out.

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• With your thumb and forefinger pinch a balloon. Carefully cut off the tip of the balloon that you’re pinching and you will end up with a balloon with all little holes in it. Cut off the neck and stretch over the ball and you will end up with a spotty juggling ball.

Now you have your fantastic juggling balls, you need to learn how to juggle.

How to juggle: [1] Pick balls. Use the balls that we just made. Balls need to not bounce and

have a nice weight about them.

[2] Toss one ball for a while to get the feel of juggling. Start passing one ball from one hand to the other. Also practice self’s (throws you catch with the throwing hand). The ball should come to eye-height or higher.

Your hands should not move very much, is a good thing to keep your elbows at your hips [3] Practice scooping. This is a technique to make juggling smooth: Scoop, or dip your hand, before tossing the ball. Dip your hand only shallowly. Practice scooping and tossing from one hand to another so that the arc does not rise above eye level.

[4] Take one ball in each hand. Toss ball A, and when it reaches the top of its arc, toss ball B. Keep practising!

If you get really good you can try juggling 3 balls. This website has great instructions: www.funnyjuggler.com/ juggling/index.html

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kids activities

Looking for a UNIQUE PERSONALISED Gift for a special child?

Fantastic gymnastics

www.unique4kidz.com.au Music, Books, Poems, Posters, Toys, Back to school supplies and much more....

As a mother to two energetic young boys, I believe it is very important for my children to engage in activities that are going to foster healthy social, cognitive and physical development.

info@unique4kidz.com.au

Not only that, it’s heaps of fun too!

There are many different types of gymnastics, each one differing in technique as well as the types of apparatus used. Artistic gymnastics involves short routines on different apparatus and has become quite the spectator sport. It typically involves the women’s events of uneven parallel bars, balance beam, floor exercise, and vault.

Men’s events include floor exercise, pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars, and high bar. Rhythmic gymnastics also involves performing routines, but with a much greater emphasis on the aesthetic rather than the acrobatic. This type of gymnastics consists of five separate routines with the use of five apparatus—ball, ribbon, hoop, clubs, rope—on a floor area.

By Bridey Zell One fun way to achieve this is through gymnastics so I began taking my kids to Kindergym classes and have seen some real benefits through their involvement in this sport even though they are both quite young.

Gymnastics involves exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, balance and grace, such as running, jumping and wrestling. The Ancient Greeks believed that physical fitness was paramount, and they sure liked to show off their abilities, exercising and competing in the NUDE. Gymnastics became the platform for the biggest sporting competition the world has ever seen, the Olympic Games.

There are major benefits of beginning this sport at an early age.

According to Gymnastics Australia, gymnastics: • Builds strength and prepares the body for challenges in life • Enhances co-ordination and agility, allowing the body to ‘move like lightning’ • Develops posture and confident body movement • Challenges the mind and body to reach new goals • Develops healthy minds and bodies for now and later life

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To You Available for parties, school visits and events Phone: 0415 696 439 Website: http://www.zootoyou.com.au Covering the Greater Cairns area

Acrobatic gymnastics is a group gymnastics discipline performed by both men and women, and involves performances of circus type routines. And, of course, there’s trampolining which is also a popular form of gymnastics so there’s something for everyone.

Since there are so many technical moves in gymnastics, there is obviously a risk of injury so it’s important that children are trained properly. Focus and discipline are required to ensure that each movement or technique is performed perfectly.

A proper gymnastics club provides a safe environment to practice all those risky routines with appropriate supervision and teaching.

The best way to get involved in gymnastics is to contact your local gymnastics club. There are two clubs in Cairns that specialise mainly in artistic gymnastics, but offer additional classes as well, for boys and girls of all ages as well as toddlers and adults. Wear comfortable, light clothing, be prepared to work up a good sweat and have heaps of fun getting to know your body.

Barron Valley Gymnastics Club is offering a free trial lesson to readers of PakMag. Mention this article and you can attend one of the many classes offered at this spacious club. For more information about class times call them on 4055 1711.

www.pakmag.com.au

Party Plan 1 Entry, Skate Hire, Invitations Chips & Lollies on table Birthday Song, Tea & Coffee for Mum & Dad

Party Plan 2 Entry, Skate Hire, Invitations Chips & Lollies, Hot Dogs, Hot Chips, Bottomless Drink, Slushy, Birthday Song, Tea & Coffee for Mum & Dad

$16/person $1 extra during night sessions

$13/person $1 extra during night sessions

Party Plan 3

Looking for a UNIQUE PERSONALISED Gift for a special child?

Entry, Skate Hire, Invitations Chips & Lollies, Mini Meat Pies Chicken Nuggets, Bottomless Drink, Slushy, Birthday Song, Party Bag, Tea & Coffee for Mum & Dad

www.unique4kidz.com.au

• All parties must be booked in $19/person and numbers confirmed 24 hours $1 extra during night sessions prior to your event.

• A non-refundable deposit of $50 must Music, Books, Poems, Posters, Toys, Back to be paid on booking.

• Minimum number of party guests is 10. school supplies and much more....

• Parents or siblings of party guests wishing to skate must pay session prices. info@unique4kidz.com.au

• Party Room on request *

* Subject to availability

44 Behan Street, Manunda PHONE 4053 5353 www.pakmag.com.au

49

Calling budding stars of the silver screen:

Elaine Seager finds out more about the ‘Little Legends’ drama course being launched by the FNQ Academy of Television.

In the glamorous world of film and television productions, Far North Queensland is fast becoming an international favourite as a location for shoots. We have been transformed on screen in to the Caribbean, Pacific Islands and numerous other parts of the world and, every time Hollywood decides to base itself here for a few weeks they usually want local actors of all ages to be involved. For anyone with a dream of being an actor on the silver screen this is a great opportunity to gain invaluable experience and the FNQ Academy of Television exists to help budding actors make the most of this opportunity with a variety of film and television workshops.

The Academy of Television has been in operation for 22 years in Melbourne but opened it’s branch in FNQ in 2004 to cater to the demand for trained local talent. Until now they have only been offering teenager and adult programs but they are about to launch a brand new series of workshops specifically designed for 7-11 year olds.

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“Little Legends” is a junior drama course with a difference. Working with scripts from well known children’s television programs and commercials, the focus is on role playing techniques, team work participation and confidence development with each unique workshop allowing for students to develop performance technique for the camera.

These workshops are perfect for children who love acting and are interested in auditioning for roles on TV and in commercials. However, they are not exclusively tailored to budding stars since there are many other children who also benefit from developing their reading, expression and communication skills. This course is open to anyone who is interested in building self confidence and learning how to connect with others and work in a team.

The Academy of Television, operates in association with Studio Australia Management, North Queensland’s only professional actor’s agency. Former

and current students have been lucky enough to enter the spotlight with numerous appearances in television shows, films and commercials including Neighbours, Home and Away, Sea Patrol, Fools Gold, Nim’s Island, Steven Spielberg’s “The Pacific” set to premier in 2010, Totally Wild, Getaway and The Matrix. One former student was Mezina Godicki who went on to perform the lead role in the Disney Channel hit TV show ‘Ocean Girl’. The Academy of Television has become a bustling training institute for actors and upcoming artists with a significant reputation in the industry.

So, if your little ones have dreams of becoming an actor this is a great place to start honing their skills.

The Little Legends drama course starts on 10 August and will run for 5 weeks on Monday afternoons (4.15pm-5.30pm) at the Tanks Arts Centre.

For more information on this course or any of the Academy’s other programs please call 4059 1141.

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JOKES

Time for a break Ticket please Three engineers and three accountants are traveling by train to a conference. At the station, the three accountants each buy tickets and watch as the three engineers buy only a single ticket.

“How are three people going to travel on only one ticket?” asks an accountant.

“Watch and you’ll see,” answers an engineer.

They all board the train. The accountants take their respective seats but all Three engineers cram into a restroom and close the door behind them. Shortly after the train has departed, the conductor comes around collecting tickets.

He knocks on the restroom door and says, “Ticket, please.”

The door opens just a crack and a single arm emerges with

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When they get to the station, they buy a single ticket for the return trip. To their astonishment, the engineers buy no tickets at all. “How are you going to travel without a ticket?” says one perplexed accountant.

“Watch and you’ll see,” answers an engineer.

When they board the train the three accountants cram into a restroom and the three engineers cram into another one nearby. The train departs. Shortly afterward, one of the engineers leaves his restroom and walks over to the restroom where the accountants are hiding. He knocks on the door and says, “ticket please.”

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Down 1. Short sleep 2. Mineral 3. Golf pin 4. Ahead of time 5. Particle 6. Extinct bird 7. Overt 13. Evade 14. Passport endorsement 15. Symbol 16. Semiaquatic salamander 19. Deity 20. Tree trunk segment 21. Anger

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a ticket in hand. The conductor takes it and moves on. The accountants saw this and agreed it was quite a clever idea.

So after the conference, the accountants decide to copy the engineers on the return trip and save some money.

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WIN A FAMILY BOWLING PASS (8 FREE GAMES) VALUE $80.00

Southern Cross Ten Cairns is happy to announce the launch of Australia’s first ever 24hr a day free to air dedicated sports channel...

Across 1. Music symbol 5. Fuss 8. Geographical region 9. Summit 10. Look searchingly 11. Poem 12. Citrus fruit 14. Flexible plastic 17. Frozen water 18. Tangelo 22. Female hog 23. Entrance 24. Insect 25. Boundary

Who sings this song?

1. Buses & Trains 2. Blue Bayou 3. American Pie

4. Your Song 5. Steal My Kisses 6. Listen to Your Heart

Email or post your answers to us: competitions@pakmag,com.au or PO BOX 7433 Cairns 4870. Don't forget to include details. Entries close: 21 August 2009.

AFL Netball Cricket Moto GP NASCAR Golf Australian Rally Championship National Football League (NFL) Major League Baseball (MLB) National Basketball Association (NBA) And much more including other unique programs tune to Channel 50 FOR ADVERTISIN G EN QUIRIES PLE ASE CALL KAR E N GOODWIN AT T H E C AIRN S ME D I A C E NT RE O N 4050 0800

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101 Spence Street, Cairns