PakMag Townsville - March 2020 Issue 112

ISSUE: MAR 2020

112

TOWNSVILLE

FREE

Fertility to First Years Guide • Benefits of Family Meal Time Huge Prizes • STEM: Robotics • You Can't Pour From an Empty Cup

Welcome Hello and welcome to the March edition of PakMag.

6 Entertainment

12 Craft Projects for Kids

Sadly the year on a global, national and local scale hasn’t really turned out the way many of us had hoped. Now more than ever, we need to be making more conscious decisions with our time, health, mind, money and connections.

15 Gender Stereotyping

• We all have the same 24 hours a day as Oprah, use them wisely.

19 Confident Learners

• Without our health, everything else suffers, look after it like your life depends on it (because it does).

9

The Thing Is

10 Food for Thought

20 The Roaring World

• Be careful what you fill your mind with, and look for ways to grow.

of Robotics

25 All Things Tweens & Teens

• Be mindful with your money, ensure you spend it locally as much as you can. PakMag is a great resource that connects families with local businesses, so while reading this edition, keep an eye out for local businesses that could help you and your family.

27 What’s On March

• Make time to connect with ourselves and those we love.

29 MiniMag

And of course, focus on the positive as much as you can. Because what we focus on, grows.

23 Transitioning to High School

36 Modern Boho Home

Enjoy this edition of PakMag, it’s filled with lots of positive information to help you connect with your community and family.

38 1300Smiles Snapped 41 Local Produce Recipes

Until next time, happy parenting, and don’t forget to tell everyone, you read it in PakMag.

43 The PakMag Experts 45 All Things Health 47 Smile, You’re Pregnant!

48 Bump, Bub and Beyond 51 Stress, Fertility and

the Foetus

53 Fertility to First Years Guide 56 Daddy Diary

PakMag Founder and Editor-in-Chief Bree James

Bree Bree James PakMag Founder and Editor-in-Chief Contact Us: p 4053 3331 e admin@m2f.com.au a PO Box 7433 Cairns Qld 4870 www.pakmag.com.au www.marketingtofamilies.com.au

Creative Team Leader Clare Winter Graphic Designer Sara Williams

Digital Team Leader Lawrence Fox Content & Marketing Team Leader Bec Dent Marketing and Events Coordinator Alyssa Marino

Videographer & Podcast Producer Monique Saggers

Client Support Blair King

Content Creators Kalisha Fitsch Jenna Galley

Marketing Assistant Emily Bremner

Accounts Trent Stievano

Our North Queensland Channels PakMag Townsville Parents of North Queensland pakmag_nq Parents and Kids of

North Queensland Our Global Parenting Channels PakMag Online pakmag_online PakMag The Give It A Go Group

For Parents The PakMag Parents Podcast PakMag TV

Disclaimer: No part of this magazine, including the advertisements within it may be 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 advised to check details before visiting. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors, inaccuracies or omissions.

The ideas expressed within PakMag are not necessarily the views of the publishers, but those of individual writers.

Net Distribution Per Issue 10,000. Most recent CAB Publisher Statement Conducted September 2019.

We encourage recycling. Please keep this issue for future reference, pass onto your friends and family, use for craft projects or place into the recycling bin.

families www.pakmag.com.au | March 2020 5

Entertainment

Check it Out The 91-Storey Treehouse When: Thursday 12th March at 6.30pm, Friday 13th March at 10.30am and 12.30pm Where: Townsville Civic Theatre, 41 Boundary St, South Townsville More info: www.whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au Andy and Terry’s Treehouse has reached an amazing 91 stories!

It now has a deserted desert island, whirlpool and a giant spider. However, Mr Big Nose has sent his grandchildren to the treehouse, and they don’t want to play quietly. Can Andy, Terry and Jill master this babysitting challenge, and what does the mysterious Madam Know-It-All really want? Will the Big Red Button really destroy the world?

Find out on the 12th and 13th March. Children aged six to 12 and their adults alike will love this wild, weird and wonderful play.

Townsville Grammar Junior School Open Day When: Saturday 14th March, 9.00am Where: Townsville Grammar School, Annandale & North Shore Campuses More info: www.tgs.qld.edu.au Since its establishment 130 years ago in 1888, Townsville Grammar School has grown significantly in the community, delivering an exceptional education to young people of Townsville in a nurturing environment. Come and experience what life at Townsville Grammar is all about at the Junior School Open Day.

St Margaret Mary’s College Open Day When: Friday 20th March, 3.30pm Where: St Margaret Mary’s College More info: www.smmc.catholic.edu.au St Margaret Mary’s College has educated thousands of young girls over the past 50 years, assisting them in becoming women of confidence and compassion. The college is holding an Open Day this March to showcase what is on offer for prospective students to explore the facilities, subjects and opportunities. Head on over and see what being a Maggies Girl is all about.

Spotty Bear’s Rainbow Show When: Monday 23rd March, 11.15am - 12.00pm Where: CityLibraries Thuringowa Central, 86 Thuringowa Dr More info: www.whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au Spotty Bear has a brand new magical, musical mystery to solve. Can you help him?

With songs, stories and silliness, Spotty explores themes of community, colours and our changing moods - with plenty of audience involvement.

Recommended for ages 3-5.

2020 Mackay Festival of Arts When: 17th - 26th July Where: Mackay More info: www.themecc.com.au/mackayfestivals Over the past three decades, the Mackay Festival of Arts has evolved into one of the largest regional arts festivals in Queensland. There is a food and wine day, extensive Fringe Events Program, exciting shows, acts and dining experiences.

To win tickets to one of the many events, see the QR code on p.14 to enter.

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NQ Football of Excellence Where: Greenwood Park, Thuringowa Drive More info: www.nqfootballofexcellence.com Increase your child’s confidence & love of the beautiful game. NQ Football of Excellence provides a complete football training program focusing on mental, technical & social development. NQ Football of Excellence offers Mini Cubs (under 5) FREE 30 minutes sessions on alternating Friday’s at 3.45pm.

In each session they aim to inspire, educate & challenge children in a positive environment.

PakMag Easter Eggstravaganza When: Sunday 5th April, 11.00am - 12.30pm Where: Stockland Townsville More info: www.pakmag.com.au Hop along to Stockland Townsville and celebrate Easter with PakMag on Sunday 5th April from 10.00am – 11.00am. There will be an Easter bonnet parade, Mega Easter egg hunt, a visit from the Easter bunny, prizes for the best dressed and much more.

This is a FREE event and there are thousands of Easter eggs to go around, so make sure you don’t miss it!

FREE EVENT!

Bump & Baby High Tea by The Ville When: Sunday 19th April, 11:45am-2:00pm Where: The Ville More Info: www.the-ville.com.au Celebrate your new bub with this special High Tea event!

Treat yourself to a gorgeous day out to celebrate your new bub! Babyology’s luxurious high tea event in The Pavilion offers a unique afternoon out with your friends and family with the perfect way to celebrate your new baby or impending arrival. All tickets include a beautiful and delicious high tea, glass of sparkling wine or juice on arrival, a gorgeous gift bag worth over $150, onstage presentations and advice from Mothercraft nurse Chris Minoque and plenty of prizes to be won on the day.

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2020 7

The Thing Is

The Thing Is with Bree James Quitting, it’s something we have been told since we were little, to avoid at all costs. That it’s for losers, that we should never give up, that we should give things our absolute all before we even consider quitting.

The thing is, despite popular opinion, quitting is also for winners.

I am someone that rarely gives up and it’s a great quality of mine that has paid off countless times.

However, many times not quitting has also been to my detriment (like my toasted sandwich and Milo addiction in high school which saw me put on 10 kilos).

Knowing when to remove yourself from toxic people and situations, giving up on things that aren’t working, and being ok with giving up is, in fact, bold and brave.

Many of us tolerate so much bad behaviour from others.

Deep down we know we shouldn’t, but we see it as a sign of strength to put up with and rise above their ways and try to lead by example.

I’ve been like this for decades, but I know that you are only as good as the people you have supporting you in your life. So, last year I quit trying to appease everyone and it was one of the best things I have ever quit in my life. My mantra was “you get what you tolerate”. As a patient person who always tries to see the best and bring out the best in others, I made so many excuses for people that I shouldn’t have. So, I quit that too.

“You get what you tolerate” made me speak up when I’d usually just try and see a positive. Instead I’d call them out on their behaviour and stand up for myself. It wasn’t easy and sure, many people didn’t like my new boundaries and have left my life, but how you treat yourself is how others will treat you.

I will always try and see the best and try to bring out the best in others, but I also realise that I need to see people as who they are, not who I believe they could be (for me as a prolific improver I find this very hard).

So, I also quit looking through rose coloured glasses and took more notice of peoples’ actions, not just their words. For instance, people who say they love my kids but don’t make an effort to spend time with them (more on that another time).

Some people don’t want to grow. Some people are happy being unhappy. And some people are judgmental, unkind, or neurotic and no matter how much you try and kill them with kindness, you can’t put flowers in an A-hole and call it a vase.

Sure, there is good in everyone, but sometimes no matter how good a person you are to some people, they will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons. Read that again.

So, my wonderful readers, if this has resonated with you, I encourage you to try the “you get what you tolerate” mantra, and be proud of yourself for quitting habits, people, and things that really don’t serve you.

I truly hope during this process that people step up, not step off for you (unless you’re happy with that of course!).

Bree www.breejames.com www.myvisionbook.com.au

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2020 9

Parenting

Food for Thought: Benefits of Family Meal Time STORY Bree James It’s a dilemma many parents are facing. We hop into bed exhausted and feeling like we didn’t truly connect with our family that day. Why? Well, it’s probably because from the moment our eyes opened that day it’s been a never-ending mission of to do lists, organising schedules, planning meals, coordinating activities and ensuring your home doesn’t look like it’s been ransacked by wild monkeys.

In a world that is always “on”, it’s becoming more and more challenging to find quality time to connect in a meaningful way with our family.

If you are nodding your head like a bobble head in agreeance, then keep reading, we’ve got some advice for you.

It’s actually quite simple. Make a commitment to sit at the meal table with your family five times a week.

No screens, no distractions, just you, your dinner and everyone fully present.

You may choose to do dinner five nights per week and Friday and Saturdays can be TV dinners. Or, maybe your partner does shift work so it’s only a few nights you can manage to dine together, and other days you do breakfast and a lunch. In reality, do what works for your family. Even if you can only manage to get everyone in the same room once a week, it’s something.

So, what’s the benefit?

Well, besides having an opportunity to be together with no distractions, there are a lot of benefits.

Many studies have been done all over the world identifying the importance of family meal time.

Here are six of our favourites.

1. Improved Academics Children who ate with their family less than three times a week were twice as likely reported to receive C’s or worse in school. Children who ate with their family five to seven times per week did much better, achieving mostly A’s and B’s. Maybe spaghetti bolognaise is actually brain food!

Additionally, meal time discussions can reveal whether or not they’ve done their homework, problems with friends or teachers, etc.

2. Improved Mental Health Children who regularly enjoyed family meals were less likely to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety. It was also shown that they would have a lower chance of engaging in high risk behaviours such as substance use, violence, and were identified as having fewer psychological problems.

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3. Lowered Teen Substance Abuse Family dinners were strongly linked to minimising the risk for teen substance use. Surveys consistently found a relationship between children having frequent dinners with their parents decreased the risk of smoking, drinking or using other drugs during their teen years.

They found that healthy open parental engagement fostered over the dinner table is one of the most important tools to help parents raise children who felt they could question, discuss, put forward ideas and talk about feelings and aspirations.

4. Deeper Relationships Children who participated in frequent family dinners were one and a half times more likely to have said they had an excellent relationship with their parents. Regular inclusive meal times provide more opportunities for meaningful discussion.

5. Healthier Lifestyle The studies found that families who ate together were twice as likely to eat their five servings of fruits and vegetables as families who didn’t eat together. Children who eat family meals tend to eat a wider variety of foods and become less picky eaters, and eat less during family meals because they eat slower and talk more.

This in turn, is linked to preventing obesity.

6. Better Table Manners During family meal times, parents can be role models and set an example of healthy eating and polite table manners. This helps children develop social skills that include manners and taking turns. Sure, it’s constant nagging to get them to sit still, use their cutlery, and make good food choices, which means adults need to be setting a good example.

At times, eating with your children can feel chaotic and not very beneficial. But family meals provide an opportunity for family members to come together, strengthen ties and build better relationships. Family meal times build a sense of belonging which leads to better self-esteem (even if they ruin yours by not liking the meals you cook).

In the end, it’s more important you are together connecting as a family rather than making an elaborate meal. We hope this has inspired your family to make family meals a priority in your household, without the TV and devices so that you can truly connect for that thirtyminute meal time. This commitment to family meals will benefit your whole family, and you’ll reap the rewards for generations to come.

Children who regularly enjoyed family meals were less likely to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety.

It was also shown that they would have a lower chance of engaging in high risk behaviours such as substance use, violence, and were identified as having fewer psychological problems.

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Advertiser Feature

Craft Projects the Kids will Love

Upcycled City

Paper Butterfly

What You Need

What You Need

Empty, clean containers (milk bottles, juice cartons, shampoo bottles, etc) Bottle caps (4 per car) Stanley knife Craft glue Markers

1 empty toilet paper roll Three different coloured paper sheets Pencil Glue Scissors Black marker

Method

Method

To create the cars, place your bottle on its side and draw on some windows. Get creative and draw in other elements like head lights, windscreen wipers and even eyes.

Decide what colour the body of your paper butterfly is going to be (we used green). Cut a piece of paper that fits around the roll, then glue it around.

You can leave the windows as is, or get an adult to carefully cut out the windows using a knife.

Using craft glue, attach the bottle caps to your car to create wheels.

Let the glue dry properly before playing with your cool upcycled cars.

To make a skyscraper, draw doors, windows and whatever you like onto your carton using a marker.

Tip: You can also use an old cardboard box to create a garage for your upcycled cars, or even a doll house with an empty toilet roll for a chimney.

You can make little houses from juice poppers and rubbish bins from toothpaste lids... let your imagination run wild!

12 March 2020 | www.pakmag.com.au

Decide what colour the wings will be (we used pink).

Fold the coloured paper in half and using a pencil, draw the outline of one wing. To make this easier, draw a big letter B, with the flat side of it being on the fold.

Cut around the pencil outline, and unfold to create a beautiful pair of wings. Using the last coloured paper sheet (we used blue), cut out four circles (or whatever shapes you'd like) and glue them to the wings. Glue the wings to the butterfly’s body.

Lastly, using the same colour as the dots on the wings, cut out two antennae and glue them to the top of the butterfly’s head, inside the toilet paper roll. Using a marker, draw on a smiling face, and you’re done.

Tip: You can decorate your butterfly’s wings with buttons and glitter.

Mary MacKillop Childcare NQ The Story so Far Childcare across the Diocese of Townsville, which covers 434,000sqkm and stretches from Halifax in the North to Proserpine in the South, Mount Isa in the West and Palm Island to the East has taken a huge leap in 2020.

All early learning centres, formally St Mary MacKillop Early Learning Centres, Catholic Kindergartens and Outside School Hours Care centres which are based within many Catholic Schools are now managed by a new Catholic agency called Mary MacKillop Childcare North Queensland (MMCNQ).

The Catholic Church has had a long history with childcare.

Schools have been operating Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) since the 1990s. In 2004 some parishes began offering early learning centres which became St Mary MacKillop Early Learning Centres.

In 2010, the first of a series of on-school-site Kindergartens commenced delivering early childhood education.

All of these services were managed by Townsville Catholic Education at the request of Bishop Michael Putney.

Catholic childcare has now grown to become a substantial, though dispersed, diocesan work with six early learning centres, nine kindergartens and 14 OSHCs. MMCNQ now joins other vital ministries of the Diocese including Catholic Education, Centacare, Saints Catholic College and Parishes.

Interim Executive Director Ms Alana Crouch said she was excited by the opportunity to be involved and continue the outstanding delivery of care to the families across the Diocese of Townsville. “MMCNQ will be focused solely on the high-quality provision of childcare services to families all under the one agency banner.�

For more information email childcare@mmcnq.catholic.org.au

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2020 13

Parenting

Watch Your Words: Gender Stereotyping STORY Kalisha Fitsch Boys will be boys and girls will be girls, right?

Gender stereotypes, or gender roles, have been present in our society since the dawn of civilisation.

Slowly but surely, the world is becoming more aware of them, whether it’s in terms of tradition, social media or society. But what are they, and is it really such a bad thing?

We’ve come a long way as a society in terms of breaking these barriers down, although there is still room for more improvement. We are seeing more and more roles and careers become socially acceptable for men and women to do. We have more stay at home dads, more male nurses and the number of women in construction and STEM-related jobs are also steadily rising.

What is Gender Stereotyping?

It is pretty widely accepted nowadays that girls can be firefighters and boys can work in childcare, however, gender stereotyping is still very much present although we may not always be aware of it. A lot of it traces all the way back to childhood, including the things we were told and even the toys we were allowed to play with.

Stereotypes are defined as a widely held image or oversimplified idea of a particular type of thing or person (for instance, tall people must be good at basketball or thin people probably don’t eat enough).

Gender stereotyping refers to the differences between males and females, and how society has given them meaning and value.

These roles are often subconsciously pushed onto us (you’re a girl so you must care about your appearance, or you’re a boy so you must be strong).

Stereotypes reinforce a difference between boys and girls instead of viewing them as individuals, and this is what can cause problems.

How it Presents in our Society One of the most common types of gender stereotyping are the ‘roles’ of mum and dad in a family setting. For instance, mum may stay home to do the housework and look after the children while dad is the breadwinner.

While this idea on its own isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it plants a seed early in life of how women and men should be.

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Parenting

Apart from this, gender roles early in life can be sneaky.

For instance, construction toys are often marketed to boys, while dolls are often marketed to girls.

This has become more common, especially in the last 50 years. While all humans have a mixture of masculine and feminine qualities, this marketing suggests at an early age that some toys are “for boys” while others are “for girls”.

on gender is often harmless, this can put them in a box. Avoid phrases such as “Boys don’t cry,” “You can’t cut your hair short because you’re a girl,” or “Boys are better at maths.”

Be a gender role-model. If possible, show mum and dad in a variety of roles that are typically of the opposite gender – for instance, dad can do the laundry and mum can fix the tap. This shows kids that there are no such thing as strictly ‘male’ or ‘female’ roles when it comes to running a household.

Let toys be toys. If your little boy wants a baby doll and a pram for their birthday, that’s awesome. If your little girl wants a set of toy cars and a garage for Christmas, that’s great. The toys children play with have an impact not only on how they see themselves, but also how their brains develop. In fact, this may even foster interests and passions that your little one will follow up later in life.

By the time kids are well into primary school, these roles become more apparent. Girls are often depicted as the caring gender, while boys are expected to be tough.

Consequently, assertive girls are often told they are bossy, while boys who show emotion are told they are weak and need to harden up.

This then carries on into high school, where girls tend to be bullied if they don’t dress a certain way or do their makeup, or boys get picked on for taking a home economics class or not having an interest in footy.

Ultimately, this makes them feel inclined to “fit in” rather than be themselves and follow their own interests and passions.

Gender stereotypes in childhood grow into adult attitudes.

How to Break the Stereotype Parents can encourage their children to think outside the box and focus on them as individuals. Here are a few things to focus on: Watch your words. Keep a closer eye on what you say around your children. While making assumptions based

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Support their interests. Letting children play with the toys they are interested in can help them get involved in a related activity. Discuss these interests with them and remind them that it’s not wrong for them to embrace what they enjoy. If your girl has an interest in robots, she might love to be part of a robotics club.

If your boy enjoys dancing, dance classes may be just what he wants.

Storytime. Provide and read books together that showcase men and women, boys and girls in a variety of roles. For instance, stories about women who are superheroes or men looking after children.

The Bottom Line Categorisation is an essential element of the human world, but it is when these categories are assigned rigid stereotypes, beliefs and attitudes, that they become problematic. Eliminating these gender stereotypes is not about making our society gender neutral, but just taking care not to enforce gender roles onto children without realising it.

Watching your words, being a great role model and encouraging your children to follow their interests are all components that will help them grow up to their full potential, regardless of their gender.

Advertorial

Confident Learners Building confident young learners requires a combination of passionate teaching, inspiring learning spaces and strong and supportive relationships, according to Prep Teachers Kim Wilson and Kate Ward.

“We know that children learn best when they feel comfortable and happy,” said Kate. “We work to create a full experience of creative learning, supported by the development of genuine relationships with our parents and families.”

A step inside the Prep classrooms at Townsville Grammar School’s North Shore Campus will reveal a colourful and dynamic environment. “A well-arranged and ordered environment influences how children feel and behave,” said Kate. “It also encourages them to develop organisational skills and to consider others.

We focus on calm and tidiness - which is often a challenge, believe me,” laughs Kate.

Kim says the physical environment of the Prep precinct is one in which the children confidently navigate.

“We work to continuously improve our teaching and play spaces to keep the children curious and inspired,” said Kim. “We maximise their learning experience inside the classroom through the use of colour and texture and the creation of themed spaces. Our outdoor area includes a veggie patch, sunflower garden, great play

equipment and loads of green space for the children to run around and explore.

“These spaces are the foundation for learning, where children develop confidence and want to be involved in the learning experience.”

As a teaching team, Kim and Kate believe the learning environment must be supported by a culture of genuine care. “Connection with students is paramount to ensuring a safe and happy environment,” said Kate.

“A very important factor in this is parent involvement.

Our parents are encouraged to be involved in the life of our school community, and this makes a difference to the child’s learning experience. We understand that parents cannot always attend events or be involved in the classroom, so we talk with each family about how we can all engage in a way that suits.”

Townsville Grammar School’s education program begins with Pre-Prep, delivered in the Early Education Centres located at each Junior School Campus.

Principal of Townsville Grammar School, Mr Timothy Kelly, said the design of the Pre-Prep and Prep precincts at the Junior Schools was purposeful. “Our learning spaces inspire imagination, creativity, investigation, and ultimately, a love of learning,” said Mr Kelly.

“This is where the learning journey begins, and it is vital that we capture students’ imagination and instil a sense of wonder for learning as early as possible.”

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2020 19

STEM

The Roaring World of Robotics We’ve all caught ourselves wondering what the world would look like with more robots. Little machines that can cook for us, clean for us and make us smile?

It’s something often depicted in science fiction stories, showing a society many years in the future – or is it?

Lastly, it’s fun. Many children enjoy the process of building and programming robots, and there are also several competitions for a range of age groups. Robotics poses a challenge for children with an inquisitive and exciting approach.

As a society, we’ve made massive advancements in the world of STEM in recent years, including that of robotics. From toy puppies that can bark to drones that can deliver pizzas – robots are very prevalent in today’s society, both for entertainment value and to improve our quality of life. The future is now, and they play an important role in our everyday lives.

Fostering a Love for Robotics at Home

The world of robotics is continuously expanding, which is why it’s a very beneficial field for children to explore.

The Benefits of Learning About Robotics Since it is a new frontier that is still being explored, learning robotics skills is an exciting life-long investment. Learning robotics ties in with learning about science and maths, therefore allowing your child to develop a genuine interest in the world and how it works. It can also fuel a new passion of creating and building robots, something which can lead to improved grades as well as an exciting career.

Many robotic education programs in schools require a bit of teamwork to complete projects, which will teach your child how to work as part of a team to solve problems and be persistent in order to achieve the desired outcome. Communication and social skills get a generous boost.

So, we can all agree that robots are pretty cool, right?

Chances are, your child’s school probably has an exciting STEM program or club that incorporates robotics, but how can you explore this exciting subject at home?

Robotics kits – Perhaps one of the best ways to get into robotics at home is through a kit. These allow your child to build and code their own robot from scratch.

The Robobloq Q-Dino Robot Kit and STEM Robotics Erp Mini by Engino are great places to start; and they double up as a fun toy when assembled (and the best way to learn is through play, after all). PakMag readers get 10% off storewide at www.engino.com.au (use code PakMag10) where you'll find a range of STEM models your kids will love.

DIY projects – If you take a quick look online, you’ll find many craft projects to build your own robots from household items such as batteries, toothbrushes, bottle caps and more. Many of these robots can move around or draw patterns.

Books – Reading kid-friendly books about coding and robots (or both) opens up many doors to the exciting world of STEM, and where robotics can take your child.

Coding is another big part of the robotics world. It’s the language of computers and the foundation of robotics, and you need to be good at coding in order to get the robot to do what you want. Skills in coding will give your child a huge advantage in any computer-driven career they may choose to pursue in the future.

Programming robots also encourages children to think creatively. Instead of playing with robots, they’ll be making them; and in that field, the possibilities are truly endless!

1

2

Get 10% OFF! Use code: PakMag10

1. Robobloq Q-Dino Robot Kit - $247.05 - Offering drag-and-drop coding and including multiple, easy-to-assemble parts, the Robobloq Robot Kit is a great platform for teaching children how to build robots, set-up electronic systems, and program various sensors and motors - www.harveynorman.com.au 2. STEM Robotics Erp Mini (Incl. Sofware For Private Use - Manuals 2 Motors 2 Ir Sensors) | By Engino - $299.95 (Get 10% off this price using code: PAKMAG10) - Engino® Robotics Platform (ERP) is specially designed for younger students and takes into account the most modern pedagogical principles of ICT and STEM learning. With the ERP, intellectual development is approached as an upward expanding spiral in which students must constantly reconstruct the ideas formed at earlier levels with new, higher order concepts acquired at the next level - www.engino.com.au

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Books to Inspire Kids to Explore the World of Robotics Robotics Activity Book : Robots and the Programming That Makes Them Go!

by Jenny Jacoby and Vicky Barker This colourful robot-filled activity book makes learning about STEM fun and exciting.

Your child will be immersed in the world of STEM through activities such as mazes, spot the difference, drawing, puzzles, pattern identifying, quizzes and more. They’ll be learning about a wide range of topics such as computers, coding, artificial intelligence to name a few, all while completing fun activities.

Doll-E 1.0

by Shanda McCloskey Charlotte has a knack for everything technologyrelated; she is always tinkering, coding, clicking and downloading. When she receives a doll, she’s not too sure what to do with it at first… until she discovers the doll’s hidden battery pack. With determination and her faithful dog at her side, Charlotte’s entrepreneurial spirit drives her to build the new and improved Doll-E 1.0.

Robotics – Discover the Science and Technology of the Future

by Kathy Ceceri Once, robots were only found in science fiction.

Today, they are everywhere.

They assemble cars, vacuum our houses, explore the depths of the oceans and outer space and listen to our commands.

This book shows children how robotics affects both the present and the future, plus 20 exciting hands-on projects to make learning both fun and lasting.

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2020 21

Advertorial

Transitioning Your Tween to High School

Starting high school is a huge, exciting, yet sometimes scary milestone. The jump from being a senior in primary school to a Year 7 student at high school can be a daunting prospect for both boys and their parents.

Ignatius Park College has created a transition program to cater specifically for the needs of boys. Year 6 students who are enrolled at the College for the following year are invited to join the Phoenix Flyers a program named after the College’s symbolic icon of the Phoenix. The boys participate in a wide range of activities throughout the year to get to know their potential classmates for the following year, helping to ease them into the transition from primary school to high school.

As the only all-boys school in Townsville, the College is uniquely placed to support boys as they develop into young men. Upon arriving at the College, boys become part of the Iggy Brotherhood – a strong connection shared by all Iggy men – whether a current or past student, that will carry them through the rest of their lives.

The exceptional Pastoral system provides a strong foundation for both boys and their families. Building group identity and positive identification within the group is a central focus of Pastoral care at Ignatius Park College, and the team strives to ensure the students in their care feel a sense of belonging and respect within the College community.

Students are placed in one of seven Pastoral Houses with a Pastoral Leader whose role, assisted by Homeroom Teachers, is to provide support to the students and families in their care. Younger students are also guided by the older students, to show them the ‘Iggy way’ and help navigate the transition to high school.

Ignatius Park College understands that boys need structure and guidance in order to thrive in their transition to high school. Principal, Mr Shaun Clarke, explains, “Iggy is proudly dedicated to boys. Our routines and curriculum are carefully structured to allow maximum personal growth within an environment tailored specifically to cater for boys’ spiritual, academic, physical and emotional development.”

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2020 23

All Things Tweens and Teens

All Things Tweens & Teens Skipping Class

Top Causes of Stress in Teens

Skipping class can present itself in multiple different ways. It might look like your child is going to school, leaving and coming home at the usual time, but miss certain classes or even the whole day.

Skipping school can happen for a number of different reasons, and doesn't always mean that your teen is trying to rebel against you. Many teens avoid attending school due to bullying, problems with friends, peer pressure or worries about schoolwork.

It’s very common for young people to feel stressed out, and while stress is a normal part of life, at one point it can start to affect their everyday lives. In 2015, a Mission Australia study found that almost 40 per cent of 15 to 19-year-old Australians are very concerned about their ability to cope with stress.

You can work this out by talking to your teen about what’s bothering them and the importance of attending school, and working together to address the problem. You can also speak with the school, in particular year coordinators and guidance counsellors.

Common things that stress teens out include homework, exams, pressure to do well academically, friendships, relationships and life challenges, such as getting accepted into a university or finding employment. Traumatic events, family problems and worrying about the future can also be big stressors.

Help your teen cope by reminding them they’re not alone, to get plenty of sleep and take care of their body by exercising and eating healthy. Encourage them to reach out to yourself, a teacher or trusted friend if they’re feeling stressed.

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But with D.A.L., a feature unique to Sharp scientific calculators, symbols and numbers can be keyed in as written.

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www.pakmag.com.au | March 2020 25

What's On • March SUNDAY 1 MARCH Bedside Manners Pimlico State High Performing Arts Centre Townsville Little Theatre Check website / Check website / Check website Wanderlust - The Touring Exhibition Of The 2018 Queensland Regional Art Awards Runs until 8 March TYTO Regional Art Gallery TYTO Check website / Free / Family MONDAY 2 MARCH 10cc Live in Concert Townsville Civic Theatre www.whatson.townsville. qld.gov.au 8.00pm / $69.90-99.90 / Family Open Day Ignatius Park College www.ipc.qld.edu.au 3.15pm / Free / Family TUESDAY 3 MARCH Parent Information Session: Solids & QAS CityLibraries Aitkenvale www.whatson.townsvill.qld. gov.au 9.30am / Free / Family WEDNESDAY 4 MARCH Buddy the Concert Townsville Civic Theatre www.whatson.townsville. qld.gov.au 11.00am / $12.50-13.50 / Family

Pre-Prep Program Wednesdays during school terms Willows Warriors Room, A Pod, The Willows State School 4799 1333 9.00am or 12.30pm / Free / Children and Parents THURSDAY 5 MARCH International Women's Day Breakfast Ignatius Park College www.trybooking.com 6.00am / $50 / Women FRIDAY 6 MARCH The Smith Street Band Dalrymple Hotel www.smithstreetband.oztix. com.au 8.00pm / $50 / 18+ Yrs Ocean Film Festival World Tour Townsville Civic Theatre www.whatson.townsville.qld. gov.au 7.00pm / $24-34 / Family SATURDAY 7 MARCH A Salute to Roy Orbison Townsville Civic Theatre www.whatson.townsville.qld. gov.au 8.00pm / $49.90-59.90 / Adults Polo Party Cowboys Leagues Club cowboysleagues.com.au 1.00pm / Check Website / Family Cruise Night Soiree Quayside Terminal www.townsville-port.com.au 4.00pm / free / family The Sapphires World Theatre Charters Towers www.charterstowers.qld.gov.au 7.30pm / $20-39 / Family

With Triple M’s Pricey

The Ville Wedding Expo The Ville Resort Casino The Ville Wedding Expo 5.00pm / Free / Family SUNDAY 8 MARCH Renegade Handmade Market Marian School Renegade Handmade 8.00am / Free / Family 33 1/3 Celtic Band Carlton Theatre www.whatson.townsville. qld.gov.au 2.00pm / $15-25 / Family MONDAY 9 MARCH The Sapphires Townsville Civic Theatre www.whatson.townsville. qld.gov.au 7.30pm / $28-40 / Family TUESDAY 10 MARCH International Women's Day Luncheon 2020 The Ville Resort Casino tbwc.com.au 12.00pm / $125 / Adults WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH Cruise Ship Amsterdam Welcome Markets Quayside Terminal www.townsville-port.com.au 8.00am / Free / Family THURSDAY 12 MARCH The 91-Storey Treehouse Runs until 13 March Townsville Civic Theatre www.whatson.townsville. qld.gov.au 6.30pm / $15-18 / Family

FRIDAY 13 MARCH NQ Cowboys v Brisbane Broncos North Queensland Stadium www.northqueenslandstadium. com.au 7.00pm / Check Website / Family Fifth Hinchinbrook Birdlife Art Awards Runs until 19 April TYTO Regional Art Gallery hinchinbrook.qld.gov.au Check Website / Free / Family SATURDAY 14 MARCH 2020 Sign On Day Runs until 15 March Townsville Sports Reserve www.townsvillenorthstar.org.au 10.00am / Free / Family Junior School Open Day Townsville Grammar School Annandale & North Shore www.tgs.qld.edu.au 9.00am / Free / Family SUNDAY 15 MARCH Black Dog Ride Riverway Car Park www.blackdogride.org.au 7.00am / $15-$30 / Adults St Patrick's Festival A Touch of Salt www.townsvilletickets.com.au 12.00pm / Check Website / Family THURSDAY 19 MARCH Sleeping Beauty Townsville Civic Theatre www.whatson.townsville. qld.gov.au 7.30pm / $55-85 / Family

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2020 27

What's On • March FRIDAY 20 MARCH Open Day St Margaret Mary's College www.smmc.catholic.edu.au 3.30pm / Free / Family Health and Wellbeing Seminar Strand Fitness CBD www.strandfitness.com.au 7.00pm / Check Website / Adults Cheese & Winer Masterclass www.eventbrite.com.au The Ville Resort Casino 5.30pm / $120 / Adults Toy Story 4 - Riverway Riverway Oval whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 6.30pm / Free / Family SATURDAY 21 MARCH The Black Sorrows Dalrymple Hotel www.liveatyourlocal. oztix.com.au 8.00pm / $34.70 / 18+ Yrs Aitkenvale Uniting Church Market Day Aitkenvale Uniting Church Carpark aitkenvale.unitingchurch.org.au 7.00am / Free / Family Grand Opening St Paul's Lutheran Early Learning Centre www.stpaulstownsville.com.au 9.00am / Free / Family Rosé Palooza The Commonwealth Hotel www.townsvillescoop.com.au 12.00pm / $20 / Adults

Babywearing Education Session Kangatraining Townsville Babywearing Education Session 3.00pm / $20 / Adults MONDAY 23RD MARCH Spotty Bear's Rainbow Show CityLibraries Thuringowa Central www.whatson.townsville. qld.gov.au 11.15am / Check website / Family WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH Kinky Boots Runs until 4 April Townsville Civic Theatre www.whatson.townsville. qld.gov.au 8.00pm / $35-50 / Family THURSDAY 26 MARCH Cruise Ship Wiking orion Welcome Markets Quayside Terminal www.townsville-port.com.au 8.00am / Free / Family FRIDAY 27 MARCH Townsville Battle of the Brains Brothers Leagues Club Townsville www.thepyjamafoundation.com 6.00pm / $20 / Adults Tosco Office National Tosco Non for Profit Open Day www.tosco.com.au 9.00am / Free / Adults Prep Experience Day Townsville Grammar School Annandale & North Shore www.tgs.qld.edu.au 9.00am / Free / Family

28 March 2020 | www.pakmag.com.au

With Triple M’s Minty

SATURDAY 28 MARCH

SUNDAY 19 APRIL

NQ Cowboys v Parramatta Eels Queensland Country Bank Stadium www.queenslandcountry bankstadium.com.au 6.35pm / Check Website / Family

Bump & Baby High Tea by The Ville The Ville Resort www.the-ville.com.au 11.45am / $55 / Mothers

Cruise Ship Seabourn Encore Welcome Markets Quayside Terminal www.townsville-port.com.au 8.00am / Free / Family SUNDAY 29 MARCH Cars For Hope Cruise for Carri 2020 Check website for location www.theorangeeffect.com.au 4.00pm / Family Neighbour Day Various locations www.whatson.townsville. qld.gov.au 9.00am / Free / Family

MONDAY 27 APRIL Auswide Bank Regional Dinner Series Brothers Leagues Club www.trybooking.com 6.30pm / Check Website / Adults FRIDAY 22 MAY Kim Churchill Neighbourhood sessions www.eventbrite.com.au 6.00pm / $32.74 / All ages SATURDAY 23 MAY Tasman Turtle's Picnic Day TYTO Parklands Ingham whatson.hinchinbrookway.com.au 11.00am / Free / Family

Small Stage Youth Open Mic Night That Place on Sturt www.eventbrite.com.au 6.00pm / $5 / Family SAVE THE DATES: SUNDAY 5TH APRIL PakMag Easter Eggstravaganza Stockland Townsville www.pakmag.com.au 11.00 / Free / Family FRIDAY 10 APRIL 2020 North Queensland Games Various locations www.nqsports.com.au Check Website / Family

Regular Markets on P. 33 Regular Events on P. 34

Pull-out kids activity mag!

PETER RABBIT and all associated characters PETER characters ™ & © Fr Frederick ederick W Warne arne & Co Limited. PETER PETER RABBIT™ 2, the Movie ©2020 Co Columbia lumbia Pic P Pictures ictu turres Industries, Industries, Inc. All Rights Reserv Rese Reserved. rved ed..

ONLY IN CINEMAS PETER RABBIT and all associated characters ™ & © Frederick Warne & Co Limited. PETER RABBIT™ 2, the Movie ©2020 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

For your chance to WIN a family pass to Peter Rabbit™ 2 tell us, who is voice cast as Peter Rabbit?

In cinemas March 19. Enter at www.pakmag.com.au/win - Competition closes 31/03/2020

ONLY IN CINEMAS

Which path leads Poppy to Barb?

A UNIVERSAL PICTURE © 2019 DREAMWORKS ANIMATION LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

For your chance to WIN a family pass to Trolls World Tour tell us, which path leads Poppy to Barb?

In cinemas March 26. Enter at www.pakmag.com.au/win - Competition closes 31/03/2020

Regular Markets Castle Hill PCYC Markets Date: Every Sunday Time: 7.00am - 11.00am Location: Castle Hill PCYC

Bluewater Twilight Markets Date: 2nd Saturday of the month Time: 4.00pm - 8.00pm Location: Bluewater Community Centre

Mundingburra Markets Date: 3rd Sunday of the month Time: 7.30am - 12.00pm Location: Mundingburra State School

Riverway Moonlight Markets Date: 3rd Friday of the month Time: 5.00pm - 9.00pm Location: Riverway

Bushland Beach Markets Date: 1st and 3rd Sunday

of the month Time: 9.00am - 1.00pm Location: Bushland Beach Park

Cotters Markets

Strand Night Markets

Date: Every Sunday Time: 8.30am - 1.00pm Location: Flinders St & Townsville Bulletin Square

Date: 1st Friday of the month (runs from Feb to Dec) Time: 5.00pm - 9.00pm Location: Strand Park

Date: 1st Saturday of the month (Mar - Dec) Time: 9.00am - 12.00pm Location: Carlyle Gardens Retirement Village, 60 Beck Drive, Condon

Horseshoe Bay Markets

Willows Rotary Markets

Date: Every 2nd and last Sunday of the month Time: 9.00am - 2.00pm Location: Horseshoe Bay Foreshore

Date: Every Sunday Time: 7.30 - 11.30am Location: Willows Shopping Centre Car Park

North Shore Night Markets

Mount View Plaza Markets

Date: 2nd Friday of the month Time: 5.00pm - 9.00pm Location: North Shore Display Village

Date: Every Saturday (excluding Jan) Time: 8.00am - 2.00pm.

Location: Mount View Market Place

Date: 1st Saturday of the month Time: 8.00am - 1.00pm Location: Fisherman’s Landing Balgal Beach

Magnetic Island RSL Markets

Aitkenvale Uniting Church Markets

Date: Every Friday (excluding Good Friday) Time: 5.30pm - 8.00pm Location: Magnetic Island RSL

Date: 3rd Saturday of the month Time: 8.00am - 12.00 noon Location: Cnr Anne St and Ross River Rd

Carlyle Gardens Arts & Crafts Markets

Renegade Handmade Markets Date: 2nd Sunday of the month Time: 8.00am - 1.00pm Location: Marian School

Balgal Beach Markets

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2020 33

Regular Events Townsville Galleries Free Family Fun Day - Art Activities for the Family Days: Third Sunday of the month Time: 10.00am - 12.00pm Location: Perc Tucker Regional Gallery More Info: 4727 9011 Cost: Free

Townsville City Council Townsville Eats Days: Last Friday of the month Time: 5.00pm - 10.00pm Location: 334 Flinders St More Info: www.townsville.qld.gov.au Cost: Free entry

Belgian Gardens State School Playgroup Days: Mondays Time: 9.00am - 11.00am Location: Belgian Gardens SS Hall More Info: 4717 1333 or rickandjules4@bigpond.com Cost: Gold coin donation

First Five Forever Parent Information Sessions Days: Second Friday of the month Time: 9.30am Location: City Libraries Aitkenvale More Info: www.townsville.qld.gov.au Cost: Free

Newborn and Family Drop-In Service Days: Tuesdays (9.00am 2.00pm), Saturdays (9.00am - 12.00pm) Location: City Libraries Aitkenvale More Info: www.townsville.qld.gov.au Cost: Free Messy Play (bookings required) Days: Wednesdays Time: 9.15am & 10.30am Location: City Libraries Aitkenvale Cost: Free

Riverway Parkrun Days: Saturdays Time: From 7.00am Location: Meet at the front of Tony Ireland Stadium on the grassed area near the ticket box.

Cost: Free

Mainly Music For babies to pre prep aged children. Fun, music, morning tea and free play.

Days: Thursdays (during school term) Time: 9.30am - 11.00am Location: St Peter’s Anglican Church, West End More Info: 0414 807 179 Cost: $3 per child MOPS - Mothers of PreSchoolers For mothers with children 0-6 years. Connect, relax and recharge.

Days: Fridays – fortnightly during chool terms Time: 9.30am - 11.30am Location: Northreach Baptist Church, Kirwan More Info: 0428 926 442 mops@northreach.org.au Cost: $8 per session

Riverway parkrun is a 5km course along Ross River that you can complete by running or walking (or both) and is for all ages. Children, prams and dogs are all welcome to join in the fun. Please note: Scooters and bikes are not allowed for safety and insurance reasons.

Get Active + Healthy Townsville

This course is wheelchair friendly.

Toy Library Townsville (The Toy Shed)

Registration is free and available at www.parkrun.com.au/riverway

Days: 2nd Saturday of every month (excluding January) Time: 9.00am - 12.00pm

34 March 2020 | www.pakmag.com.au

Free Fitness + Activities Days: Every day Location: Various Locations More Info: www.townsville.qld.gov.au Cost: Free

Location: Fitzroy St, Heatley Cost: $80 / year membership.

Hire upto 10 toys per month.

More info: 0420 585 069 Or 0400 815 279 Townsville Toy Shed

Townsville Toy Library Days: Every Tuesday and Saturday Time: 9.30am - 11.00am Location: Townsville Grammar School (Brazier Dr, Annandale) More Info: Townsville Toy Library Cost: $100 / year membership.

Giggle N Grow Playgroup Come along for arts, craft, sensory play, a healthy morning tea, connect with other families and more. Children 0 - 5 years.

Cost: Free Days: Every Wednesday Time: 9.00am – 11.00am Location: Aitkenvale State School More Info: 3333 8720 Days: Every Thursday Time: 9.00am – 11.00am Location: Garbutt State School More Info: 3333 8720 Days: Every Friday Time: 9.00am – 11.00am Location: Heatley State School More Info: 3333 8720

Home

Modern Boho Home The light-hearted and fun boho style originates from Eastern European Bohemia. It is unique, creative, imaginative, contemporary and in recent years, on-trend. It experienced a massive resurgence in the 60s and 70s, but has made quite a comeback with a modern twist. It’s a style with a summer feel that is easy to incorporate into the home in a variety of ways, so let’s go over a few.

More is More When it comes to boho style, more is more. Collect everything you’d like to decorate the home with and throw it together, making a few edits and picking a few statement pieces to make it all look effortless and stylish. Boho is all about putting those sentimental trinkets on display without over-cluttering the home, whether it be shells you found on the beach, your favourite scented candle or a collection of colourful crystals. A rocking chair or hanging chair makes for a fantastic statement piece.

Natural Elements Incorporating natural elements into your home will help bring the vision to life.

Light-coloured wooden furniture and macramé are signature components of the bohemian style. Adding a light set of white curtains will let the light in and create that bright, cosy atmosphere.

Next time you’re at the beach, keep your eyes open for driftwood. When cleaned up, it makes a beautiful addition to the home and another creative way to display your trinkets.

Delightful Décor The boho style is all about finding a balance between natural colours (such as white, green and brown) and bright colours (such as red, purple and blue). Add a touch of colour to the home by laying down a colourful rug and cushions with bright covers.

Patterns are a big part of the style, so don’t be afraid to incorporate items with wildly colourful designs.

Throw blankets, pillows and curtains with tassels look fantastic too, as do colourful lanterns and plush materials. Placing a few wicker baskets around the place not only fit in perfectly with the décor, it also gives you a place to store toys, books and other such things.

You can add a touch of originality by adding a patterned homemade quilt to the lounging space, or you can make your own macramé wall hangings.

Plant Some Greenery Bring some of the outdoors into the home through some greenery. Any type of plant will do the trick, but hanging plants in wicker baskets really give that boho-feel. Succulents make great centre pieces on corner and coffee tables and are easy to maintain. If you’re one of those people who really struggles to look after plants, fake plants are your friend. Nowadays, many of them look very real, just minus the maintenance and care needed.

Wanderlust To really bring the look together, you’ll want to hang some pictures on the wall. You can never go wrong with photographs or paintings of nature, such as beaches, forests, animals or mountains; or you can go searching for a more abstract piece of artwork that fits in well with the rest of your home. The bohemian style can be an adventurous one, so why not include some décor from your travels or paintings of faraway places you’d like to visit? A little bit of wanderlust is never a bad idea. Add some love to the room by hanging up pictures of your family or drawings from your children, and you have a wonderful living space.

36 March 2020 | www.pakmag.com.au

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1. Pom Pom Wall Hanging Rose - $39.00 - www.freedom.com.au 2. Middle of Nowhere Moroccan Arch Framed Print 850 x 1140mm $395.00 - www.korufurnitureandhomewares.com.au 3. Rogue Barker Artificial Fern - $69.00 - www.freedom.com.au 4. Larache Decorative Gold Object - $49.00 - www.freedom.com.au 5. Evie Fabric Rocking Chair - $699.00 - www.freedom.com.au 6. Salamander Tables Coffee Table $299.00 / Side Table $129.00 - www.freedom.com.au

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2020 37

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1. Abbey Simmons Little - Strand Rockpool 2. Klay Stevenson - Strand Waterpark 3. Leo Crooks - The Strand 4. Seth McCrae - Strand Waterpark 5. Rhiley Cavil - Strand Waterpark 6. Rubi Crooks - The Strand

38 March 2020 | www.pakmag.com.au

Snapped

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Photography thanks to: Josephine Carter Photography p 0455 295 416 e josiarnold87@gmail.com Josephine Carter Photography www.josephinecarterphotography.com

7. Hunter Cavill - Strand Waterpark 8. Finn Stevenson - Strand Waterpark 9. Hazel Skye Crooks - The Strand 10. Elijah O ' Sullivan - Strand Waterpark 11. Mila Collins - The Strand 12. Alexis Liddy - Strand Waterpark

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2020 39

Advertiser Feature

Local Produce Recipes

Lamb Burger with Pickled Cucumber and Mint and Garlic Yoghurt

Red Lentil Indian Dahl Ingredients

To serve

RECIPE Cassandra Chiesa, Helping Hands Hand, Wrist and Arm Clinic

1 onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced 400g tinned diced tomatoes 1 can lentils ¾ tsp turmeric ¾ tsp ground cumin ½ ground ginger 1 cup basmati rice 5 cherry tomatoes, chopped 1 tbsp vegetable oil

1 lime, sliced 4 tbsp Greek yoghurt ¼ sliced onion Chopped red chili Fresh coriander

Ingredients 500g minced lamb 4 burger buns 1 tsp dried oregano 2 tbsp chopped mint 2 tsp minced garlic ½ cup plain yoghurt ½ tbsp lemon juice

1 Lebanese cucumber, sliced lengthways 1 tbsp white wine vinegar 1 tsp sugar 1 baby cos lettuce 1 tsp oil Salt and pepper, to taste

Method Place the sliced cucumber in a bowl with the vinegar and sugar. Season with salt and pepper, combine and set aside.

Season the lamb mince with the dried oregano, and salt and pepper, then shape into four patties. Cover them and let them chill in the fridge for 15 minutes to firm up.

Heat the oil in a large pan over high heat and cook the burgers for four to five minutes on each side or until cooked through.

In a small bowl, combine the plain yoghurt, minced garlic, mint and lemon juice to create your sauce.

Spread a dollop of garlic yoghurt on the bottom burger bun, place a lamb patty on top, followed by the lettuce leaves and pickled cucumbers, then the top bun. Enjoy!

4755 2337 www.helpinghandsclinic.com.au

RECIPE Matthew Calanna

Method Heat the vegetable oil in a medium-sized pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, half the minced garlic and sauté until golden brown and fragrant.

Add the chopped tomatoes, drained lentils and remaining minced garlic. Add the turmeric, cumin and ginger and bring to the boil. Reduce heat and cover, simmering until the lentils are tender.

Cook the basmati rice according to package instructions.

Transfer half of the lentil mixture to a food processor and process until pureed. Return the puree to the saucepan and simmer for five minutes.

Divide rice between bowls and spoon the dahl over. Top with the onion, coriander, lime, yoghurt and chili.

Matthew's Tip: Delicious served with naan bread.

Calanna Whole Health Pharmacy www.calannapharmacy.com.au

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2020 41

Expert Advice

The PakMag Experts Juliet Russo

Dr Adele Heyer

Helping Hands - Hand, Wrist & Arm Clinic

Townsville Paediatrics Dear Dr Adele,

Dear Juliet, Should I be concerned about my child’s handwriting?

Handwriting remains an important lifelong skill even in this technological world, and it develops in early childhood. If concerns arise at home or school, early intervention is the best solution. Poor handwriting legibility, fatiguing quickly or not keeping up with the class can indicate a problem.

My child has eczema. What are the treatment options?

Eczema is a common skin condition and can be very disabling for some children. The skin is intensely itchy, dry and inflamed, especially during a flare. Frequently applied moisturisers are the mainstay in eczema management.

If your child consistently demonstrates any of the above problems, they may benefit from handwriting remediation.

Flares should be recognised and treated early and are treated with steroid creams or antibiotics if infection is present. In some children an allergic trigger can be identified and avoided, but this is not always possible.

Fortunately, eczema can improve with age in most children.

A consistent and diligent daily skin routine will improve the skin’s integrity and reduce severity of symptoms.

4755 2337 www.helpinghandsclinic.com.au

4427 5817 www.townsvillepaediatrics.com.au

Common problems identified are poor pencil grasp, inconsistent letter formation, sizing, letter reversals, mixed capital/lower case, too light or heavy pencil pressure, not writing in a straight line or hand pain during or after writing.

Matthew Calanna

Dr Moataz Shafik

Calanna Whole Health Pharmacy

1300 Smiles Dentists Dear Dr Shafik,

Dear Matthew,

Is it true that pregnancy increases your risk of dental problems?

Why is it so important to choose one pharmacy?

By choosing one pharmacy, your family is in safer hands.

Why? All of your medication data will be in one place, avoiding the risk of conflicting medications that could make you sicker.

We are able to learn about your medical history and make recommendations on the type of medicine you’re taking, as well as dosage amounts. It helps us to better liaise with your GP and we can provide advice in emergency situations, such as losing an important script or what to do if you have missed a dose. Just like you’d choose one doctor, we’d love you to choose Calanna as your number one pharmacy, so our family can get to know yours.

Calanna Whole Health Pharmacy www.calannapharmacy.com.au

Yes, it certainly is true.

During pregnancy, your increased hormones can affect your body’s response to plaque, which can lead to oral health issues such as gum disease and an increased risk of tooth decay. Morning sickness and eating sugary foods due to cravings can also contribute to these issues.

However, being pregnant doesn’t automatically damage your teeth.

If you are pregnant, be sure to continue the regular check-ups with your dentist, and be sure to let your dentist know that you’re pregnant.

1300 764 537 www.1300smiles.com.au

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2020 43

Health

All Things Health Inspire Better Health Northern Exercise Therapies Osteo & Rehab – or NExT Osteo & Rehab – is an allied health clinic located in Kirwan. Offering a holistic approach to health, the dedicated team work together to inspire people to better health through osteopathy, exercise physiology and remedial massage. Not only can they help you improve acute injuries, they can also help manage chronic health conditions in an affordable way.

Happiness and Your Health Immune system – happiness can boost your immune system. Studies have shown that people who have more positive emotions are less likely to catch a cold.

NExT Osteo & Rehab offers a variety of services to help you get back on track and live life to the fullest. Osteopathy is a physical therapy that focuses on managing acute and chronic musculoskeletal injuries while looking at the body as one holistic unit and exercise physiology is a type of therapy focused on utilising exercise to help improve the health of the overall mind and body. Remedial massage uses soft tissue massage and other techniques to improve pain, muscle tension and stress, which can be coupled with dry needling to maximise the benefit.

NExT Osteo & Rehab is for everyone. Whether you are visiting to resolve an injury or to achieve better overall health, the team works together to ensure the best outcome for you.

A 129 Thuringowa Dr, Kirwan P 4422 0065 www.nextosteorehab.com.au

Nature’s Own Odourless Fish Oil Fish oil contains a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which is a healthy fat that our body does not naturally produce. Consuming fish oil has a range of benefits which include supporting brain, heart and cardiovascular health, reducing mild arthritis and joint inflammation and maintaining healthy blood fats and eye function. Whilst pregnant, omega-3 fatty acids are important for the development of the baby’s eyesight, nervous system and brain.

You can get your intake of omega-3 by eating fish two or three times a week, but a fish oil supplement is much more convenient and also a cheaper alternative.

Nature’s Own Odourless Fish Oil is available at a Calanna Wholehealth Pharmacy near you.

Doing good deeds – turns out one of the fastest ways to make ourselves happy is by making others happy, so go ahead and pay that coffee forward.

Bright colours – a study found a link between bright colours and happiness. Happier people favour yellow, while grey was closely associated with anxiety and depression.

The 20th of March is World Happiness Day. What’s something that makes you happy? Be sure to do a lot of it on the day and spread the word, because happiness is contagious.

Consult your local health practitioner, doctor or pharmacist for advice on these topics first to ensure the best health outcomes.

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2020 45

Advertorial

Smile, You’re Pregnant!

With so much happening to your body during pregnancy and all the extra visits to the doctor (and the bathroom), it’s easy to forget about your oral health. Some people may even question if there is any link between a mother’s oral health and her unborn baby, but research has found a link between gum disease, premature birth and low birth weight.

Here are a few of our tips to keep you and your baby healthy during pregnancy.

Make Seeing Your Dentist a Priority Just like all those other check-ups, it is important you see your dentist while you are pregnant. Your dental health has a big impact on your overall health which influences the health of your baby.

Hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy can exacerbate problems with your teeth and gums, and so you should maintain regular dental checkups and cleans. Your dentist is well-versed in which medications you can safely take while pregnant, and which procedures can be safely done at different stages of pregnancy. It is important you and your partner’s dental health is optimal to reduce passing decay causing bacteria onto your baby.

Teeth and Gum Sensitivity Tell your dentist about any gum problems that you might have. Switch to a softer toothbrush and brush your teeth twice every day. Use toothpaste that contains fluoride (if you're not already doing so) to help strengthen your teeth against decay. If you have gum problems during pregnancy, it is important to get your gums checked by a dentist regularly. While most types of gum problems caused by pregnancy hormones resolve after birth, a small number of women may have developed a deeper level of gum disease that will need treatment to resolve.

Dealing with Morning Sickness Vomit is highly acidic and may cause irreversible damage to your teeth. Tempting as it is to brush your teeth straight after a bout of morning sickness, it's best to wait an hour or so as brushing too soon can strip away the enamel, which is the protective coating of your teeth, leaving them more vulnerable to decay and sensitivity. While you're waiting, try rinsing your mouth with water to remove the acids, or chew sugar-free gum.

You should make regular visits to your dentist in the lead-up to, during and after your pregnancy to avoid any hormonal changes influencing your oral health.

Simply call 1300SMILES Dentists on 1300 764 537 or visit our website to make an appointment.

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Bump, Bub and Beyond

Bump, Bub and Beyond Featured products, reviews and prizes. Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win!

FIT FAB MUM - Lifetime Access Membership Postnatal Program Bundle $299.00 - www.fitfabmum.com.au FIT FAB MUM is an online holistic program that supports women as they enter motherhood.

The postnatal program includes safe, effective exercises (including a diastasis rectii series), nourishing nutritionist created recipes, meditation and mindfulness activities, ongoing education and a sense of community.

Created by mums, for mums, FIT FAB MUM will have you feeling strong, empowered and supported.

Pan Macmillan Book Pack $59.98 - www.panmacmillan.com.au Why won't my baby sleep?

Kim Tucci knows how to baby-wrangle better than most. With eight children, including quintuplets, Kim’s tried and tested techniques and advice will help save you precious time and money (not to mention sanity)!

Weaning: Annabel Karmel has worked with a leading children's dietitian to make sure all information is completely up to date and reliable, covering everything from supplements and allergies to catering for vegetarian or vegan diets.

48 March 2020 | www.pakmag.com.au

Little Munchkins Toddler SUPER DRINK Natural Chocolate Morning Drink 420g $49.95 www.natureshappiness.com.au Start your toddler’s day with a healthy nutritious drink that contains easily digestible protein and wholesome nutrition.

Created to provide nutrition to those with allergies and intolerances and suitable for children aged 12 months and up. Little Munchkins is vegan friendly and organic.

The range also comes in a sleepy time formulation to help support sleep.

Bump, Bub and Beyond

Cradle Cap

STORY Mary MacKillop Childcare

Have you ever noticed a thick, waxy yellow crust on your baby’s scalp, or other parts of the body?

This is likely cradle cap, a very common skin conditions affecting young babies. While it looks uncomfortable, it’s harmless and doesn’t usually itch or cause discomfort, so your little one is likely not bothered by it at all.

Cradle cap occurs if your baby’s skin produces too much oil (sebum), interfering with the natural shedding of the skin and creating a build-up of dead skin, likely because mum’s hormones are still circulating through their body.

It most commonly occurs on the scalp, but can also occur on the eyebrows, behind the ears or even on the torso or in skin folds. The condition can cause hair to become matted, but won’t cause hair loss.

Cradle cap doesn’t need to be treated, and usually clears up on its own. You can help it clear up by regularly massaging baby oil into the crusts before bathing your baby and using mild baby shampoo to wash it out. Don’t forcibly peel them off, as this may make the skin bleed. Sometimes, cradle cap can get infected; signs of this include the skin feeling warm and the rash draining fluid.

Helpful Tip Bathing your newborn can be a bit scary. They’re so tiny and delicate, and what if something hurts them? Firstly, you only need to bathe them a few times a week – any more could dry out their skin.

Before bath time begins, gather everything you need and put it within arms’ reach so you don’t step away from your baby while they’re in the bath.

Luke-warm (not hot) water works fine, with a little gentle tear-free soap. A wet, soapy baby can be slippery, so a bath pad or towel can add a bit of stability and comfort for both you and them.

Take your baby to see the doctor if they seem irritated, the rash is spreading or you’re in doubt that it is cradle cap. It may be infected or may be infantile eczema, both of which require different treatment.

Did You Know?

A one-month-old embryo is already 10,000 times bigger than the egg was when it was fertilised, and has already developed three primary brain parts and a tiny heartbeat. Wow! That being said, the embryo doesn’t take the shape of a tiny baby until two months.

By the time she is born, a newborn baby girl will have over a million eggs within her. However, only 300,000 of them will still be there by adolescence, and by the time she is 30, that number decreases to 30,000.

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2020 49

Bump, Bub and Beyond

Stress, Fertility and the Foetus STORY Rebecca Galton Do you know what sets us humans apart from other animals? We have the ability not just to stress about things, but to stress about the stress itself. Lucky us.

And there are two major life events where this is less than helpful... when you're trying to conceive and when you're pregnant.

These are both understandably stressful times in any person's life and the idea that anxiety can have a negative effect on your fertility and your foetus only adds to this stress. That's why it's important to look after yourself, learn to identify when you're feeling overwhelmed and make sure you're not stressing about your stress!

Stress and Fertility Stress can interfere with proper hormone function and ovulation. When you're stressed, your body releases cortisol. It's the hormone needed for the fight or flight response and it plays an important role in keeping us safe.

It's normal to feel anxious when you're trying to conceive, but our bodies are clever and if we're constantly in a state of stress they recognise that perhaps this isn't an ideal time to fall pregnant.

But the thing is, this isn't an absolute. There's no set level of stress that will impact your fertility; there are no definites. Everyone is different and everyone reacts differently. If stress meant that women couldn't conceive, there'd be no babies born in war-torn countries.

The best thing to do is be kind to yourself. Find ways to lower your anxiety, but also give yourself permission to worry occasionally, because it's absolutely normal.

There's no point stressing about your stress.

Stress and the Foetus If you've been lucky enough to fall pregnant and the stress of trying to conceive is behind you, you most likely have a whole new set of worries. High up on the list is probably 'is my anxiety harming my baby?'.

While there's evidence linking prolonged periods of stress to premature birth, low-birth weight babies and behavioural issues, you shouldn't be concerned about the normal anxieties of pregnancy. Falling pregnant is a major life upheaval and feeling stressed is a natural reaction.

However, if your anxiety is unrelenting, disproportionate to the situation or affecting your daily life and function, you should talk to your health care provider. Antenatal anxiety and depression affect one in five expecting mothers and one in 20 expecting fathers, so it's important to know the signs and get help early.

How to Reduce your Stress Sometimes, stressful situations are beyond your control, such as a death in the family or a loss of employment.

It's important to manage what you can control. Here are some ways to reduce stress: Talk to your partner, friends or family members.

Enlist their help when you're feeling overwhelmed and accept offers of support.

Stay healthy. Exercise regularly, even if it's just going for a walk in the park or along the beach. Eat a wide variety of healthy, nutritious food, and make sure you get enough sleep.

Find a relaxation technique that works for you, such as yoga, journal writing, mindfulness or meditation.

If none of this seems to help, speak to your GP or see a counsellor.

www.pakmag.com.au | March 2020 51

Fertility to First Years

Fertility to First Years Guide Everyone’s journey to parenthood is different.

For some it’s easy, for others it’s difficult; for some it’s exciting, and for others it’s overwhelming (or a bit of both). Conception, pregnancy, labour and postnatal care can be difficult to navigate, so we’ve put together a guide to help you with everything from Fertility to the First Years.

Congratulations, you’re pregnant! One of the first things to consider is your healthcare and birthing options, and whether you’d like to take the public or private route.

If you go via the public system, your first step is to visit your GP, who will guide you through your pregnancy, including referring you for scans and tests. The private system will allow you to choose your own obstetrician who will look after you throughout your pregnancy and during your labour.

Your body will go through a lot of changes over the next nine months, and you’ll need to adjust your lifestyle to accommodate and support your growing little one. It’s highly recommended you look into taking up a form of pregnancy-safe exercise, eat a healthy diet and get any health problems checked out.

1300Smiles Just like the rest of your body, your mouth will undergo changes throughout pregnancy. These can include bleeding gums, damage to the enamel of your teeth, a dry mouth or sugar cravings which can contribute to tooth decay. Research has also shown that active gum disease before or during pregnancy may lead to premature or underweight births. A visit to your local 1300Smiles before, during and after pregnancy will help protect your teeth, gums and overall oral health.

A Thuringowa Village Shopping Centre, 320 Thuringowa Drive, Kirwan A 50 North Shore Boulevard, Burdell A 361 Flinders Street, Townsville City P 1300 764 537 www.1300smiles.com.au

Townsville Paediatrics

Additionally, you’ll want to ensure that the home is baby ready. Preparing the nursery and buying all the necessary supplies to take care of your baby are all part of your to-do list.

Townsville Paediatrics is a medical practice providing specialist care to newborns, infants, children and adolescents. Dr Siva, Dr Wamola and Dr Heyer have global experience working as paediatricians and they are committed to providing holistic care to patients and families in Townsville and surrounds. If your GP would like you to see a paediatrician, ask them to refer to you Townsville Paediatrics where you’ll be in good hands.

Lastly, don’t get too overwhelmed – it’s all very exciting, and you’ll get there. Here are some local businesses that can help you along your pregnancy journey.

A 4/18 Oxford Street, Hyde Park, 4812 P 4427 5817 www.townsvillepaediatrics.com.au

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Fertility to First Years

Calanna Wholehealth Pharmacy Staff at Calanna Wholehealth Pharmacy are more than happy to help you stay healthy and happy during your pregnancy. They can provide recommendations for vitamins, pain relief, how to improve your fertility and more. Once your baby has arrived, they can also provide help on breastfeeding, baby products and supplies for common illnesses mum or bub may encounter.

A Aikenvale, Currajong, Kirwan and Deeragun www.calannapharmacy.com.au

Nurture Family Health Centre Nurture Family Health Centre offers a range of unique services to provide you and your child with support before, during and after your pregnancy. The areas they can assist in are fertility, physiotherapy, chiropractic, midwifery, lactation care, occupational therapy, dietetics, speech pathology, psychology and Pilates.

You can view their website for a detailed list of their services.

A 107 Charters Towers Road, Hyde Park, 4812 P 4772 2555 www.nurturehealthcentre.com

Helping Hands – Hand, Wrist and Arm Clinic New mothers are susceptible to a painful hand condition called De Quervain’s Tendonopathy due to the hand and wrist postures used to pick up and nurse their new baby. This condition causes the thumb to move sideways away from the palm and can result in sharp wrist pain on the thumb side, which may radiate up or down. Helping Hands are able to customise a washable

orthosis to ensure a correct fit and provide the most practical solution, with instant pain relief.

A 38 Fulham Road, Pimlico, 4812 P 4755 2337 www.helpinghandsclinic.com.au

Coastal Kids Speech Pathology Coastal Kids Speech Pathology supports children from birth to 18 years and their families to maximise their communication skills. Coastal Kids tailors each speech therapy session to the individual needs of the child.

They aid with language delay, speech delay, stuttering, phonological awareness and literacy and Autism.

Coastal Kids Speech Pathology is also an approved provider with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and have multiple rebates available for those eligible.

A Suite 1 / 5-7 Matinez Avenue West End P 0427 922 378 www.coastalkidsspeech.com.au

Hypnosis and Emotional Freedom Centre Hypnosis and Emotional Freedom Centre work with women who have had delivery trauma (which can really make the prospect of having another baby quite terrifying). Other areas where their services have helped mothers are the trauma of the loss of a child in utero or still born. They also work with children that may be having problems such as a fear of the dark.

Ultimately, they specialise in releasing trauma easily.

A 4/56 Charles St, Aitkenvale QLD 4814 P 4725 3080 www.hefc.com.au

Top Things to do in the First Years CityLibraries Baby Rhyme Time stimulates your little one’s brain development, speech and senses with nursery rhymes and fingerplays. Sessions are scheduled weekly during term time at Thuringowa Central and Aitkenvale branches. Perfect for children up to two years of age.

A Aitkenvale, Flinders Street, Thuringowa Central and Mobile Library Services www.townsville.qld.gov.au

Bub & Baby High Tea by The Ville Babyology’s luxurious high tea event, Sunday 19 April, in The Pavilion, offers a unique afternoon out with your friends and family the perfect way to celebrate your new baby or impending arrival.

A The Ville P +61 747 222 333 www.the-ville.com.au

54 March 2020 | www.pakmag.com.au

Townsville City Council Welcoming Babies Ceremony Celebrate the birth of your child at the annual Welcoming Babies Ceremony - a special event for our city’s youngest residents and their families. Participating families will receive a welcoming certificate on the day, a gift bag and will be photographed alongside the Mayor of Townsville.

Families will be sent a complimentary photo to mark the occasion in the weeks following the event.

Check the Townsville City Council website for more information.

A 103 Walker Street, Townsville 4810 P 13 48 10 www.townsville.qld.gov.au

Daddy Diary

Daddy Diary When PakMag approached me to pen this column some five and a half years ago, the brief was simple.

"Just write about having kids". Easy right?

It's been simple enough to keep me in the gig for over half a decade, but today I'm afraid that all changes.

Today I go directly against that brief and write about the exact opposite. Today I write about not having kids (or any more kids, at least), because that's the future my wife and I face 48 hours after I did it. I got the snip.

Right now, a packet of frozen peas is my best friend in the world. Sure, there's a box of Panadol and some prescription pain killers strong enough to sedate an elephant on my bedside table, but I'm finding the most effective pain relief is a $1.70 pack of Woolies snap frozen peas. Let's just say they won't end up on the

Head to Parents and Kids of North Queensland YouTube Channel to see Bree’s up close interview with Cliffo.

dinner plate by the time I'm done with them. You see, my vasectomy was anything but routine. And, at the risk of putting blokes all over Townsville off the procedure, I am going to write about it. You've been warned.

The snip can be a pretty minor procedure these days.

Many blokes even get it done in the chair. I was told very early on by my GP that that wasn't going to be me.

The good doctor informed my wife and I that about 1 in 100 dudes have a vas deferens (the tube they cut) that is hard to separate. I was that 1 in 100, and turns out the GP was correct. I was in theatre for 2 hours while the surgeon patiently worked away at the separation.

Old mate earned his pay that day.

Unfortunately, the extended search time also resulted in a much bigger incision wound. What is usually two key sized holes became a whopping 5cm gash. Hence my appreciation for the cold bag of peas right now.

But despite all this, I have no regrets. None at all. I have my beautiful wife, two amazing kids and a pound cat named Taco. That's family enough for me.

The tap is officially off, and despite the "anything but standard" snip I endured, I'm still 100 per cent aware it comes nowhere near what so many women go through every day in our city while actually giving birth. You guys are the real heroes.

Well, you guys and packets of frozen peas. Not all heroes wear capes.

Cliffo Hit 103.1 Townsville

56 March 2020 | www.pakmag.com.au