PakMag Townsville - May 2022 Issue 138

Parents and Kids Magazine

ISSUE: MAY 2022

138

TOWNSVILLE

Find Out What’s On in the Community Learn the Power of Contentment WIN this

MOTHER’S DAY WITH

Our Mega Giveaway

STEAM in the Kitchen and Garden

100

Family-Friendly

EVENTS

FREE

12 SOFT

SKILLS

Every Child Should Learn

The Good, the Bad and the Truth About Becoming a Mum

+

Confident and Creative Problem Solving Skills Dive Deep and Build Better Connections

5

The Thing Is

6

The Power of Contentment

8

STEAM Fun in the Kitchen and Garden

11

12 Soft Skills to Teach

15

Leading the Way in

Your Child Indigenous Education 17

Teaching Your Child to Become a Confident and Creative Problem Solver

21

Educator Excellence On Show

23 All Things Health 24 Parent’s Puzzle 25 Mini Mag 28 Mother’s Day Giveaway 29 Mother’s Day Recipes 30 Bump, Bub and Beyond 32 The Good, the Bad and the Truth About Becoming a Mum 35 Public Speaking

Becoming a mum has been one of the most rewarding and challenging roles of my life. Having little mini versions of yourself that openly share with you how awesome you are, and sometimes the things they don’t like about you, is always a treat. Often the traits they have that we struggle with are traits we also have, which is always fun to navigate… especially when we give them feedback about a certain habit or trait and they say “but you do that”. Ouch. My favourite is when they ask if there is a baby in your tummy because it’s poking out, or awkward questions about the birds and the bees in front of people. There’s plenty to go into the speech list for their 21st and get them back one day, trust me. Mothers can be patient like that.

Speaking of patience, this edition we share about getting your family scuba certified - if you are planning on holidaying at home this year, add this activity to your list. It was such an incredible experience, you can read more about it on page 37.

The team and I hope you love this edition and that you get lots out of it.

If you are wanting to share your voice - you can find out more at www.pakmag.com.au/communitycontributor To all the mothers, grandmothers, stepmothers, aunts and influential women in our children’s world - happy Mother’s Day! Raising children to be the best humans they can be is an honour, gift and huge responsibility - thanks for doing such an amazing job raising the next generation.

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

Bree

37 Diving to Build a Deeper Connection 41

Hello and welcome to our May Mother’s Day edition, celebrating all the wonderful mothers in our world.

Daddy Diary

42 Community Noticeboard 45 Cairns Ecofiesta Returns 46 What’s On

PakMag Founder and Editor-in-Chief Bree James Creative Team Leader, Graphic Designer and Editor Clare Winter Marketing and Events Coordinator Alyssa Marino

Contact Us: p 4053 3331 e admin@m2f.com.au a PO Box 7433 Cairns Qld 4870 www.paktownsville.com.au • www.pakmag.com.au • www.m2f.com.au

Videographer, Graphic Designer and Podcast Producer Monique Saggers Content Coordinator Sasha Rozhkova Accounts and IT Support Trent Stievano

Sales and Business Development Tracy Couper

Enquiries admin@pakmag.com.au

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PakMag would like to acknowledge the First Nations people of North Queensland; the first storytellers and Traditional Custodians of all the lands on which we work, live and enjoy. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.

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.

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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 | May 2022 3

The Thing Is

The Thing Is with Bree James I’ve reached the stage in my parenting journey where I apparently don’t know very much, however my children know everything. 90 percent of parenting at this point in time is them whining about why they “have to do everything?”, while you are in fact the one doing everything. Out of all of my body parts I feel that my eyes are in the best shape as they do hundreds of eyerolls every single day.

The thing is, motherhood may be the scariest hood you will ever have to walk through.

For starters, it is filled with deadly Lego that could attack you at any moment. Deals are being done at every opportunity for nearly every interaction, and if you have food on your plate that you are enjoying, they will take it if they want it. Nothing is safe, and even in your own home you can wake to them looking at you an inch away - heavy breathing, likely with some sort of germ they want to infect you with. If it’s not germs, it’s projectile excretions, mess that they make or the never ending loudness that makes your ears ring. Worse still is when there is silence… What the heck are they up to? No good is usually the case, as they say “silence is golden” unless you have a child.

The first rule of parenting is that rules are made to be broken, as are your favourite teacups, glasses, necklaces, plants, phones, iPads and anything else they get their hands on.

Often people say “Your kids have so much energy, where do they get it from?” Mothers know - they suck it from our soul. Pre-children many of us felt like we had an abundance of energy, however now, no matter how much rest we get, that relentless parenting brain is always thinking of the million tasks we need to manage on a daily basis. The most energy we ever have is when

we hear a yell, scream or cry and we jump into Mumma bear action like a ninja with boundless energy.

I question my parenting a lot, but I think we should also be questioning our children’s childing. How can putting a pair of shoes on before you leave home turn into such a drama that sees you telling the kids to put on their shoes, driving the 15 minutes to school, line up in stop, drop and go (wait, wait and get irate zone) and then as they go to hop out of the car, said shoes are still at home and you need to make a decision as to whether you send them shoeless or drive home to get them. How can these little humans suck so much time from not doing simple tasks is probably one of the most infuriating parts of parenting. Bedtime is another example. Why do children have a burst of energy that’s just stored for bedtime where they turn into dehydrated philosophers who finally want to spend time with you?

Like I said, motherhood is by far the most challenging hood you will ever walk through. If parenthood came with a GPS it would constantly be “recalculating” or suffering from a flat battery. Luckily many of us have some incredible people in our lives that hold our hands and hearts when we are scared or worried.

They show us love and compassion and help us through the tough times, and they are the light in the darkness when we need it, making walking through the hood, the best neighbourhood you have ever been a part of.

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

www.pakmag.com.au | May 2022 5

Feature

The Power of Contentment STORY Bree James When you ask someone, “What do you want from life?”, many times they will answer with “I just want to be happy”. But as the old adage goes, happiness is fleeting. Happiness, like any other emotion, is finite and not sustainable. Contentment however, is a state of satisfaction that transcends the allure of basic needs and desires.

To dive deeper on this topic, we invited Daniel Cordaro onto the PakMag Parents Podcast. He is the founder and CEO of the Contentment Foundation, a nonprofit organisation that supports the mental well-being of schools around the world.

What is contentment and how does it differ from happiness?

Happiness is great, it’s a mascot for all positive emotions.

If you’re feeling elated or proud, you’ll likely say that you’re happy. Happiness is used to describe a feeling

6 May 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au

of good mood and often it’s something we want or desire. However there is another side to wellbeing, it is directed inward, and has nothing to do with what’s going on outside. It permanently resides within us - it’s total acceptance cultivated within, and that is contentment.

Feature

Do you think we have been conditioned to believe we need more, despite already having so much?

I read this statistic from the Red Cross that states “If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep… then you are richer than 75 percent of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace… then you are among the top 8 percent of the world’s wealthy!” It puts things into perspective, doesn’t it?

We're all searching for more meaning, but in reality we sometimes need less to feel better. Sometimes, taking a moment and getting rid of all the complexities of accumulation puts us in the moment, and that’s the greatest gift that you can give to yourself.

‘The More Strategy’ and ‘The Enough Strategy’ were identified by your research team at Yale – can you explain them and their significance when it comes to our wellbeing?

At the end of the day you have these two categories of practices, the more approach, and the enough approach. If you have a nice balance between them, people generally feel really good in their lives and overall feel like they’ve found the wellness that they've been looking for.

I know people who seem to get the rough end of the stick and would question why they should be content - what advice do you have for people who are experiencing hardship and repeated trials?

And how can this mindset help them?

There can often be confusion when people hear the word contentment and it can be misconstrued as complacency - but contentment is anything but. It's actually one of the most challenging states to cultivate. When we're in a true state of contentment, we recognise all of our emotions. In many ways contentment is a highly active state where we're constantly assessing how we're feeling and being honest and vulnerable.

That is how contentment can really add value to people's lives, it's a great tool for navigating the world around us.

What tips do you have for cultivating contentment?

You're just awesome the way that you are. When you start to direct your attention inward, you're going to see how rich you are, how your mind works, how helpful your emotions are and how big your heart is. Allow all of these states to come through and make good decisions about what you're doing in your life.

Daniel Cordaro, Ph.D. is the founder and CEO of the Contentment Foundation, a nonprofit organisation that supports the mental wellbeing of schools around the world. The Contentment Foundation offers child and adult wellbeing courses to schools internationally. He previously worked at the Universal Expression Project at UC Berkeley and led a global team that decoded the human language of emotional expressions across over a dozen cultures.

For more on this topic with Daniel, tune into Episode 123 of the PakMag Parents Podcast at www.pakmag.com.au/podcast

Resources and Tips for Finding Contentment • Read The Happiness Trap by Dr Russ Harris

• Share what you are grateful for every night at dinner

• Write in a gratitude journal.

The Five Minute Journal by Intelligent Change is a great one.

• Enjoy the simple things in life • Live in the moment

www.pakmag.com.au | May 2022 7

STEAM

STEAM Fun in the Kitchen and the Garden The kitchen and garden are perfect places to learn as you create. Whether it’s getting crafty making leaf mandalas, measuring ingredients for a favourite recipe or analysing your soil for optimum garden growth, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and maths) is all around us.

We asked the team at the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation for some of their favourite hands-on activities that make learning fun and incorporate STEAM.

Who’s in Your Garden?

pH Soil Testing

We share our outside spaces with many other creatures.

Some bugs are highly beneficial and worth exploring.

For a gentle insect hunt, create a square from four sticks in your garden, tie them with string and place them on the ground. Watch carefully and make observations of what moves through your ‘window’. This is also a great mindfulness exercise.

A pH reading is an important first step in understanding your garden’s soil. Using a soil pH test kit, gather several samples from different parts of your garden (or neighbourhood), put them in different marked jars, make sure to use clean tools and wear gloves. Record the findings in a garden journal, along with date and weather conditions. Make further observations about any nutrient deficiencies, soil colour and whether plants are thriving or stunted.

Twist a rubber band around the ends.

Newspaper Planting Pots Newspaper pots are an inexpensive and sustainable way to nurture seedlings.

Just shape newspaper around a jar or tin, and tape or tie together. Plant the seeds or seedlings, pack together in a warm spot to grow, and when they are big enough to withstand the outside elements, plant directly into the garden. Growth and decomposition in one!

Leaf Rubbing Making decorative leaf images on calico is a lovely observational and arty activity, especially on a rainy day. Choose leaves with great ridges and vein markings, and using either a clipboard, old garden table or smooth piece of ground, place the leaf under a piece of calico and gently hammer it with a mallet, so the leaf releases its moisture and colours onto the fabric. Then mount onto cards or picture frames.

8 May 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au

Make a Mini-Greenhouse Plants aren’t always strong enough to be sown directly into the garden. Create a mini-greenhouse from old berry or tomato punnets by using a pin to make holes in the bottom of the containers, filling three-quarters with seed raising mix, sowing the seeds, covering with soil and spraying lightly with water. Place your mini-greenhouse in a warm sunny position and spray regularly. Children can measure and chart the growth of their seedling week-by-week, until they are ready to be transplanted.

Herb Posies Beautiful and practical, herb posies are great in your kitchen or as a gift. Gather together a range of herbs and edible flowers, lay them out on your table and strip away the leaves from the bottom of the stems. Group them by type, consider the structure they will bring to your posey: rosemary, lemongrass or fennel might provide height in the middle, sunflowers, calendula or borage flowers will add splashes of colour, while softer herbs like sage, mint, lemon balm, thyme, lavender and dill may better suit the outer rings. You can also research the traditional meanings of herbs and create symbolic messages.

Pizza Portrait Can you make a pizza that looks like your face using veggies? While making the pizza dough, talk about the purpose of all of the ingredients, especially how yeast works to make dough rise and why it needs to be kept warm.

Extend that same scientific questioning to kombucha and other fermented foods like kimchi.

Veggie Weigh-in Next time you’ve a bumper crop of zucchini or whatever else is growing heartily in the garden, turn it into a game of ‘guess how much’. Veggies come in all shapes and sizes, so predict which is the heaviest and ask why. Lift one and measure its weight, then lift the whole harvest - predict how much the total zucchini harvest will weigh based on the feel, compared to the weight of just one.

Find out more about the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program at www.kitchengardenfoundation.org.au

Parenting

12 Soft Skills to Teach Your Child STORY Bree James In a world where technology takes a lot of our focus, many parents are concerned about their child’s development when it comes to learning real life skills.

Technology has brought a lot of good into our world, but some of the negative effects include a need for instant gratification, loss of patience, less attention and a lack of deep connection with ourselves and others.

There is concern that our young people will be graduating from school with excellent scores but not knowing the first thing about coping with reality.

What if they can't communicate effectively, or handle money issues and are always in debt? What if they can’t find a love interest because they don’t have the confidence or social skills to talk to someone?

Anticipated as one of the jobs of the future is a Digital Rehabilitation Counsellor - tasked with helping people recover from their digital overconsumption and regain their life. People are realising how addictive and destructive social media and other online channels can be; with some predicting it will be a major driver of mental health costs by 2030, if it isn’t already.

As parents, we have so much we need to teach our children, and soft skills should be top of our list.

There are many soft skills we need to be teaching our children, here are 12 to get you started:

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Parenting

1. Manners - Please, thankyou, putting others first,

9. Time management - Efficient use of time allows us

hygiene habits, behaviour, table etiquette, apologising, being on time, respect for other people's belongings, appropriate dress, personal grooming, consent, inclusion, good posture, telephone and technology etiquette, body language, and personal awareness are all great manners for us all to learn. A great book to read is 365 Manners Kids Should Know by Sheryl Eberly.

to reduce stress and tick off items from our to-do list.

People who are good with managing their time utilise their time effectively, making more time for things they enjoy.

10. Organisation - Problems with organisation can take

transmission, understanding and interpretation of knowledge and ideas. Confidence to speak with eye contact, listening to learn - not to respond and being fully present when communicating with someone.

important time away from our day, hinder performance and lead to high levels of personal conflict with ourselves and others. Organisation helps us keep track of our belongings and is an important component of problem-solving and goal setting. Organisational skills support productivity, improve time management and enhance the successful completion of goals.

3. Empathy - Children learn empathy through observing

11. Adaptability - Expands your ability to handle any

2. Communication - Includes effective expression,

and experiencing empathy from others. When we empathise with our children they develop trusting, secure attachments with us and this enables them to adopt our values and model our behaviour, and therefore learn to build empathy for others.

4. Problem solving - Is a vital skill for our professional and personal life. This encompasses a range of other competencies such as logic, creativity, resilience, imagination, lateral thinking and determination.

5. Self discipline - From choosing to eat something healthy, to turning off the video game to work on homework; self-discipline is the key to becoming a responsible human.

6. Self care - Learning to listen to your body and prioritising your health is a must. Being aware of what you allow into your body not only physically, but emotionally, energetically and mentally is paramount for our wellbeing. Learning how to care for yourself and making it a priority is essential.

Your self care routine could include the simple joy of a weekly bath, meditation, learning how to cook a wonderful meal, or healing yourself naturally.

7. Leadership, teamwork and collaboration - Strong soft skills ensure a productive, collaborative and healthy work environment. Skills such as presenting ideas and communicating with team members are all highly valued in the modern workplace.

8. Commitment - Hard work and perseverance are valuable skills that build commitment and work ethic.

It’s easy to quit, many learn that if they complain long enough, hard work and perseverance are not necessary.

Most things we achieve in life come from our commitment.

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sort of change whether positive or negative. Instead of throwing away energy trying to change a circumstance, adaptability ensures we thrive in whatever situation we find ourselves in.

12. Receiving criticism and feedback - Being able to accept criticism shows maturity and prevents problems with people in authority. If we can control ourselves and listen to what others have to say about how we can improve, we will have fewer problems, and hopefully learn and evolve.

Soft skills set us apart from others. Hard skills can be learnt, but attitude and character are developed over time, and take a conscious effort and commitment.

In most jobs, technical skills alone are not enough to be truly effective.

The future of work in a post-pandemic world is forcing organisations to think beyond productivity and transactional work, which is quickly becoming automated through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data. The business of tomorrow will rely on workers with soft skills that are impossible to automate. Skills such as empathy, understanding the subtleties of human interaction and the ability to detect patterns, opportunities and connect ideas are highly important.

Automation and artificial intelligence is constantly evolving and tasks that require hard skills are continuing to decline, making soft skills key differentiators in the workplace. It is predicted that two-thirds of all jobs in Australia will rely on soft skills by 2030, so never fear if your child isn’t as academically minded, focus on building their soft skills and they will be successful in whatever they focus their attention on.

Advertorial

Leading the Way in Indigenous Education When it comes to Indigenous Education, Townsville Catholic schools strive to deliver an engaging education experience, through opportunity, strategic support and celebration of culture.

Students are at the centre of all that we do, whether that is supporting our students’ educational goals, providing opportunities for leadership development, or promoting positive post-school pathways.

At Townsville Catholic Education, we value Indigenous education and hold high expectations for our students.

We encourage improvement, self-reflection and goal-setting across the classroom. For our Indigenous students, we offer additional support through a range of initiatives, including the Emerging Leaders program and our Pedagogy of Difference insights.

Indigenous Education Our Indigenous Education Services team recognises and supports the diverse cultural needs of our First Nations students and families to ensure that equal access to quality education is available and that outcomes are enriching to all students.

Our Indigenous Education Services team collaborates with our leaders and teachers to ensure the curriculum affirms that First Nations cultural diversity is embedded in our schools. Our staff complete regular professional development to build cultural capacity and competency, with sessions covering topics like culturally responsive pedagogies, Indigenous spiritualities, Indigenous STEM perspective and much more.

Emerging Leaders Program The First Peoples Emerging Leaders Incentive Scheme, referred to as Emerging Leaders Program, is available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students within Townsville Catholic Education secondary schools.

This program supports students to set and achieve goals for school attendance, academic improvement and engagement. It also offers an incentive, selected by students, to add an extra motivation when working towards goals.

We work closely with our individual schools to deliver this program. For some schools this has meant establishing a mentor program, for others it has involved implementing Indigenous Homerooms and Indigenous Study Club. More than 1500 students have transitioned successfully through the program.

Pedagogy of Difference We believe the best way to understand how we can refine our Indigenous education offering is by asking current students and parents what works and what doesn’t. Our Pedagogy of Difference research, resources and frameworks give our staff specific insight into high-impact teaching strategies, with feedback from local Indigenous students and parents.

We use this information to shape how we deliver Indigenous Education, to stimulate conversation on this topic and promote self-reflective practices for all educators. This is part of the Catholic school difference.

Experience Catholic schools for yourself. Enrolments for 2023 are open. To find a Catholic school near you, visit www.experiencecatholicschools.com.au

www.pakmag.com.au | May 2022 15

Education

Teaching Your Child to Become a Confident and Creative Problem Solver STORY Dr. Rosemarie Truglio, Senior Vice President of Curriculum and Content at Sesame Workshop Positive problem solving is an essential factor for building resilience in young children. Engaging in creative problem solving driven by wonder, critical thinking skills, and the perseverance to keep trying when faced with challenges and mistakes builds confidence and self-esteem as a learner, problem solver and decision maker.

However, young children often lack curiosity, creativity and perseverance in the face of challenges - an issue that impacts their ability to navigate obstacles at school and in life.

At Sesame Workshop, through our conversations with educators, we learned that children quickly grow frustrated when their initial solution to a problem fails, rather than embracing the process of trial and error as they think of creative solutions for solving problems.

They often turn to the adults to fix or solve their

problems instead of being autonomous and confident that they can figure it out on their own.

To address this educational need, we decided to model positive approaches to learning through playful problem-solving stories on Sesame Street. Through engaging and child relevant stories, our characters model for children how to reshape their thinking around the challenges they experience by: • Trying out different solutions • Reflecting on what is learned with each failed attempt • Understanding that mistakes are okay and it’s how we learn • Encouraging one another not to give up • Taking deep calming belly breaths when experiencing frustration of failed attempts

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Education

The friends inspire creativity in coming up with new ideas and implementing them with a more resilient growth mindset - “I can’t do something yet, but with practice and time, I can!”.

So, when faced with a problem the characters chant: When there’s a problem, what do we say: “I Wonder…?

What if…? Let’s Try!” along with corresponding gestures of pointer finger to temple, chin, and in the air, respectively, to aid comprehension of these important thinking processes as they engage in creative playful problem-solving.

For example, in one episode, Elmo and Rosita want to race their ping pong balls down a ramp, but the only ramp on Sesame Street is already being used.

When presented with this problem, they wonder if they can make another ramp, and ask what if they use cardboard? As their play evolves and the balls travel at different speeds, they experiment with different slopes and materials that affect the speed of the balls. With encouragement and suggestions from their friend Julia, the two friends never give up and keep trying. Together they build two long ramps so they can keep racing - and invite Julia to join and be a ramp racer too!

Just like our Sesame Street muppets, parents and caregivers (the greatest role models for children) can also effectively model positive behaviours when it comes to problem solving.

Here are some ideas for modelling effective creative problem-solving skills:

Making Mistakes Children are often afraid to take safe risks, and we a s parents need to embrace our own mistakes.

We’re passing onto our children that mistakes are bad, which leads them to refrain from trying to reduce the worry about making a mistake. We need to flip the script on our mistakes and say: “It’s okay to make mistakes (oops) and it’s what we learn from the mistakes (A-ha!). That is most important. There is so much to learn from making mistakes!”. Parents need to respond positively to mistakes that they and their children make. So, next time you make a mistake say “Oops, I made a mistake, but that’s all right”. “I’ll try this now and see if that will work better”.

Telling children that it’s okay to make mistakes and to express their emotions can help them learn to keep trying in the face of challenges.

Allow Children to Come Up with Their Own Solutions If, as a parent, you always swoop in and solve the problem, your child’s natural, innate ability to wonder and be curious and develop those important critical thinking skills, and thinking outside of the box will be thwarted.

Remember: Your role is not to give the answers or be a dispenser of facts, which can stifle learning. Instead, empower your child to be an independent thinker and learner, and come up with their own solutions.

Build a Child’s Autonomy It's so important for children to build what we call resiliency skills. And part of resiliency is to have them cope with disappointment and frustration.

It's okay to say, "I just can't be with you right now, and I trust you to figure this out."

Let kids have the space to be creative problem solvers, because when you remove yourself and have them be much more self-sufficient, they’re developing those critical thinking skills, and again, you’re empowering them to be problem solvers.

Practice Persistence Encourage your child to never give up and to retry different things until they come up with the answer or solution. This flexible approach sparks a child’s imagination, creativity and resilience, and ultimately makes them an effective problem solver.

Four Steps to Simple Problem Solving An effective approach the next time your child has a problem is to: • Ask them about the problem • Help them calm down if they get frustrated by taking deep breaths • Brainstorm solutions and try them out • Let them know you’re still there if they need more help

Dr Rosemarie Truglio Ph.D. has been a vital presence at Sesame Workshop for more than two decades. She is the Senior Vice President of Curriculum and Content at Sesame Workshop, overseeing content development across media platforms and product distribution and is an authority on child development. Dr Truglio is the author of Ready for School! A Parent’s Guide to Playful Learning for Children Ages 2 to 5

Sesame Workshop, the non-profit educational organisation behind Sesame Street, has further information on positive problem solving at www.sesamestreetincommunities.org/activities/positive-problem-solving

For more on this topic with Rosemarie, tune into Episode 115 of the PakMag Parents Podcast at www.pakmag.com.au/podcast

18 May 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au

Advertorial

Educator Excellence On Show With eight of our current educators recently nominated by the community as a worthy recipient of the Best Childcare Worker title, MMCNQ would like to congratulate every nominee for their contribution to the early childhood industry. Collectively the nominees have over 51 years’ experience in the industry and 16.5 years with MMCNQ. Each of the nominees were asked to share what was a highlight of their career, and it is evident that the passion and commitment is why these deserving educators were nominated by their community.

“The children make it worth it. Their smiles and hugs each afternoon make my day 100 times better. I love developing a fun relationship with the children and I love pushing them to their very best.”

“Making lifetime friendships with colleagues and families. I enjoy watching children play as it gives them a sense of who they are and builds on their friendships as well as develops important life skills.”

“The privilege of working with some incredible children and their families, some of whom have become lifelong friends.”

“My father is a school teacher and watching him work, gaining satisfaction and witnessing his passion for his job made me want to work in the education sector.’’

The winner of the best childcare worker award, Jessica Hammond, began her career at St Mary MacKillop Early Learning Centre nine years ago where she still enjoys working with children and families.

“I am passionate about my job. A lot of people may think an Educator’s role is just babysitting! Our job isn't just playing with children all day, it's so much more than that. Educators play a major role in the children's early learning years.

The children make the day special with all sorts of questions and reactions like "Miss Jess why do you have lipstick on today?" and "I love your pretty nails".

It's amazing how much they notice, and are not afraid to ask questions.”

The team at MMCNQ are committed to developing trusting and respectful relationships between educators and children, and providing an environment where interactions with each child are warm and responsive and build trust.

With a number of positions currently available for educators, Kindergarten Teachers, and OSHC Coordinators throughout the Townsville Diocese, we invite applicants to join our team. For more information on how you can join MMCNQ please visit our careers section at www.mmcnq.catholic.edu.au/careers

www.pakmag.com.au | May 2022 21

Health

All Things Health Stay Sun Safe During Winter

Jana Gorski

Sun safety is paramount year round, especially in our sunny state. Even in the cooler months, a lack of sun protection can still have detrimental effects on your health. Here are five reasons why you need to stay sun smart no matter the weather.

Naturopath - Calanna Whole Health Pharmacy

1. Our UV levels are high all year round. UV is measured with a UV index and that ranges from 1 - 15, with 3 or more considered harmful. Which is almost everyday in QLD.

2. Around 2 in 3 Australians will be diagnosed with a type of skin cancer by the age of 70, of which 80 percent are a direct result of sun exposure.

3. Vitamin D is not an excuse to slack off on sun safety.

Unless otherwise stated by a medical professional, you are likely getting plenty from your everyday activities.

4. You can’t tell when the damage has begun. And don’t think a tan gives you a “healthy glow” - it’s a symptom of DNA damage.

Dear Jana, my partner and I have been trying for a baby for 10 months, and I’m starting to think it might be a problem for us. What can I do?

It can take up to 12 months for a healthy couple to conceive, but you may be able to optimise your chances with some well-timed attempts at conception and some lifestyle changes. Smoking, alcohol, inactivity, high fat diets and obesity can all impair fertility in both males and females so make those changes a priority.

Sometimes nutritional deficiencies and hormonal imbalances play a part that a health professional can identify and correct with herbs or nutrients.

Given the 24 hour window for conception, timing is important. Most Apps inaccurately predict ovulation so consult with a trained professional to learn how to identify it correctly.

Calanna Whole Health Pharmacy www.calannapharmacy.com.au

5. Clouds don’t block all radiation, so sunscreen is still a must.

An overcast day outside can still cause damage, if not a full blown burn. So remember to slip, slop, slap, seek and slide.

Nutra Organics Collagen Beauty Has your skin lost that plump smooth texture it once had? Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body but declines as we age. Collagen supplementation has been shown to reduce the appearance of fine lines, promote skin elasticity, and support healthy hair and nails.

Nutra Organics Collagen Beauty provides a broad range of amino acids, as well as Vitamin C and Zinc to increase your body’s natural antioxidant potential. It is suitable for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Try Nutra Organics Collagen Beauty from your Calanna Pharmacy today.

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

www.pakmag.com.au | May 2022 23

Parent's Puzzles Sudoku - Each of the nine blocks must contain all the numbers 1-9 within its squares.

Each number can only appear once in a row, column or box.

WIN a Cloudberries Hybrids Puzzle $24.99 - www.cloudberries.co.uk Teleport to dreamland with an ecofriendly jigsaw puzzle for adults that’s all about fun and top-notch quality!

Cloudberries Hybrids puzzle is a stunning mirage of mythical animals and gentle pastel colours, making it perfect not just for unwinding but as a house decoration too! With every fitting piece comes a satisfying click that’s sure to get you excited as you look for ways to finish the whole thing. What’s more is that Cloudberries plants a tree for every puzzle sold - a real bonus for all sustainability advocates out there!

Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win! Competition closes 31/05/2022. No need to submit answers to enter.

Sudoku answers can be found at www.pakmag.com.au/answers

Match the objects to the shadows

24 May 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au

Pu kids ll-out acti mag vity !

Colour me in!

Find the 8 hidden objects in the picture

WIN a Harper Forever Doll! $169.95 - www.foreverdolls.com.au We all know that one person who is super happy all the time, that’s Harper! She’s a lively bubble of joy and happiness. Harper has light blue eyes and striking white hair with rainbow highlights. She comes wearing a tulle printed skirt, white tee and denim jacket with glitter rainbow sneakers. Harper comes in a cloth carry case designed to keep her safe. She also comes with a special hair care kit to keep her hair looking amazing.

Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win! Competition closes 31/05/2022.

No need to submit activities to enter.

Find the objects in the picture and in the word search then colour it in!

Use the code above to colour in each section, and reveal the hidden image!

WIN a GoCube Edge Smart Rubik's Cube! $129.00 - www.jbhifi.com.au GoCube is a smart app-enabled Rubik’s cube that connects to your phone/tablet and tracks your moves in real-time. Finally, everyone can do the cube! Learn together how to solve it in a fun and interactive way, play games and battle online with other cubers around the world. GoCube is the perfect STEM toy - it is educational and fun and adds tons of value to screen time! GoCube is the perfect gift and an amazing brain-teaser gadget for all ages and capabilities.

Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win! Competition closes 31/05/2022.

No need to submit activities to enter.

3

GI

2

V

EA

WAY

1

4

6

5

Head to www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to WIN!

1. Star with Dedicated Stars - $206.00 - www.dedicatedstars.com - Dedicated Stars offers you the opportunity to name a star after someone special. It’s the perfect gift for all occasions including Mother’s Day. When you name a star, you select the date of registration and can write a personal message to appear on the certificate. The certificate is sent to your email within minutes. In addition, you can send a high-quality printed version of it with the option to have it framed. Each package comes with an official star registration ID, coordinates and access to the Planetarium Platform to help you find it in the sky. 2. Mini Flower Press ‘Posy’ - $45.00 - www.sownsow.com.au - Eternalise the beauty of your flowers and foliage with a traditional Mini Flower Press from Sow ‘n Sow. Featuring a beautiful botanical illustration by Melbourne artist Daniella Germain on the front, each press is hand crafted in Australia out of hard-wearing materials to ensure stable pressure and long-lasting use. 3. Cryo Wand - $99.00 - www.orendabeauty.com.au - Naturally improve your skin with cold cryo facials in the comfort of your home! An Australian first, Cryo Wands are stainless steel with an anti-freeze liquid inside, allowing them to reach extremely cold temperatures. They can be stored in the freezer to get icy cold and are unbreakable! Cryo Wands promote cell rejuvenation, activate collagen production, tighten and firm the skin, soothe puffiness and calm inflamed skin. 4. My Life Capsule - 10 Year Subscription - $749.90 - www.mylifecapsule.com - My Life Capsule helps families organise, protect and share their most important information in an environment protected by world-leading digital privacy and security. Adult and Junior vaults provide a digital storage system for precious documents, birth and marriage certificates, insurances, medical records, passwords, budgets, photos, reports, awards and so much more. Designed around life's big moments, checklists such as starting a new school, moving home, or having a baby help prepare families for expected and unexpected events. Unlike other apps, file storage and social media platforms, My Life Capsule provides a completely private and safe digital environment for family connection. 5. Self Amour Rose Quartz Eye Mask - $139.00 - www.selfamour.com - The Rose Quartz Eye Mask is an ideal add-on to your at-home facial and daily skincare ritual.

This crystal eye mask can be used before and after applying serum or night cream, during meditation or used in spa therapies (on top of the facial sheet or jelly mask) for extra relaxation.

It is also great to use after a skin needling treatment due to the cooling and soothing effect of the natural stone. The best part is that it is easy to clean and reuse. 6. Globber ONE NL 205 Adult Scooter - $335.00 - www.globber.com.au - Scoot along with them on your very own Globber ONE NL 205 adult scooter. This stylish scooter has a super wide deck making it a comfortable ride. Big wheels make for a smooth scoot and the height is adjustable to three levels, so you’ll be able to get the fit right for you. This scooter also has a quick folding device so if you want to put it in the boot of your car or store it under a bed, it’s really easy to fold and unfold. Available from www.globber.com.au and local bike and sports stores.

Recipes

Mother’s Day Recipes RECIPES Lisa Holman

Peanut Butter and Jelly French Toast Ingredients • 2 large eggs • 75ml milk • 1 tbsp ground cinnamon • 1 tbsp butter • 8 slices of brioche • 4 tbsp peanut butter • 4 tbsp Bonne Maman Raspberry Spread Intense • 2 bananas, sliced • 1 punnet of raspberries • Icing sugar to dust • Maple syrup to serve

Apricot Chicken Traybake Glaze Ingredients • ½ cup Bonne Maman Apricot Spread Intense • 2 tbsp honey • 2 tbsp soy sauce • 2 tbsp ginger, grated • 4 cloves garlic, minced • Pinch cayenne pepper • Salt and pepper to taste Tray Ingredients • 8 chicken drumsticks, free range • 500g tin of apricot halves in juice • 1 red onion, cut into wedges • Savoury thyme to garnish

Method

Method

Place the eggs, milk and cinnamon in a large shallow bowl and whisk until well combined.

Preheat oven to 180°C fan forced.

Dip each side of the brioche into the egg mixture.

Heat the butter over low heat in a large frying pan and fry each side of the brioche for 1 - 2 minutes until golden brown. Repeat until all slices of brioche are cooked.

Spread a layer of peanut butter and Bonne Maman Raspberry Spread on each slice and top with banana.

Stack the slices to serve, top with fresh raspberries and dust with icing sugar or drizzle with maple syrup to serve.

Combine all the apricot glaze ingredients in a small saucepan. Cook on low heat and whisk until well combined. Season with salt and pepper and adjust to taste. Allow to cool slightly.

Arrange the chicken drumsticks in one layer in a large lined baking tray and brush generously with the apricot glaze. Add the apricot halves and red onion in the gaps and garnish with savoury thyme.

Bake the chicken for 45 - 60 minutes until chicken is cooked through and beautifully golden. Baste the chicken with the glaze every 15 minutes while the chicken is baking. Serve with rice.

www.pakmag.com.au | May 2022 29

Bump, Bub and Beyond

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

Bed Mates Waterproof Bedwetting Mat $53.95 - www.themidnightgang.com Bed Mates are plastic-free waterproof sheet protectors. They go on top of fitted sheets and you can simply whip them off and the sheets stay perfectly dry allowing everyone to get back to sleep with minimal disruption. Bed Mates are also non-toxic and free from any nasties.

Bed Mates come in colourful prints acting as beautiful bed linen.

2-in-1 Push and Discover Turtle

High Chair Food Catcher and Silicone Feeding Set

$39.95- www.bigw.com.au

$95.95 - www.mummaslittlehelpers.com.au

This adorable little turtle and butterfly has an easy-to-grab handle - perfect for little hands and easily detaches for two ways of play. The light up number button, music button and turtle and butterfly button introduce the turtle and butterfly, counting, sounds, melodies and phrases.

Little explorers can push the turtle to activate the motion sensor and hear playful sounds and short phrases.

Includes two sing-along songs and ten melodies.

This set of essential silicone feeding products and High Chair Food Catcher makes mealtime more fun and less messy for you and your bub. The Food Catcher is the splat mat redefined, keeping all the mess contained, off the floor and completely untouchable by bub. Its clever and versatile design means that it attaches to most 4-legged chairs as well as select 2-legged high chairs.

Cleaning is a breeze, simply scoop out the mess and wipe down the waterproof catcher or machine washable for deeper clean.

30 May 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au

Bump, Bub and Beyond

Pantry Flip! For a Clear and Calm Pregnancy STORY Nikki Warren, Naturopath and Medical Herbalist, NaturoBest Pregnancy is one of the most important times in life to look at your typical diet and make some healthy changes.

Things to Remove and Swap Out • Plastics - plastics have been shown to disrupt hormones, are neurotoxic, and disrupt the good bacteria in our gut. Use beeswax wraps instead of cling wrap, jars and glass containers instead of plastic.

• Packaged foods and food labelled with numbers if it’s in a packet it usually has other non-foods things in it used for preservatives and flavour enhancers.

• Need vs want - if you haven’t used something within the last 4 weeks - get rid of it, you probably won’t use it in the next 4 weeks. Donate surplus items to charity or a friend in need. Minimising clutter will help to create a calm mind and make room for new baby friendly products when the time comes!

Things to Do • Keep your pantry stocked with healthy snacks for nibbling in between meals - try nuts, seeds, bliss balls and even homemade popcorn.

• Buy in bulk where practical and include lots of herbs and spices (such as turmeric, fresh basil, garlic, cumin etc) for natural flavour alternatives to premade sauces and rubs.

Fun Fact Although we commonly refer to a head as a noggin, the term originates from the Noggin protein that acts as a signalling molecule and keeps the skull of a baby from fusing. The noggin protein is a part of the development of various tissues, including nerves, bones and muscles.

• Fill your fridge and pantry with fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds and fermented foods.

Cut things up like carrot and celery sticks, pineapple, strawberries, melons etc for quick access.

• Store your fruits and vegetables correctly to ensure they last. Beeswax wrap to cover open avocados and lemons, and wrap cauliflower and broccoli with a damp cloth to store for longer.

• Buy seasonal fruits and vegetables when possible.

www.pakmag.com.au | May 2022 31

Bump, Bub and Beyond

The Good, the Bad and the Truth About Becoming a Mum STORY Stephanie Thompson, Author, Advocate and Change-Maker

The Good Picture this: you plan, visualise, read, rehearse and even learn to meditate - all to birth this little person growing inside. Everything you do throughout your entire pregnancy is focused around meeting your baby.

This is certainly how I spent 2015. It took five years to get here, so I did everything in my power to ensure this baby was going to make it, safe and sound. When I discovered that my private healthcare did not cover childbirth, I turned to my neighbour who had recently become a mumma, to ask what was the ‘best’ care in the public system.

I was introduced to the local Midwifery Group Practice (MGP). They offer a team of two midwives to care for you throughout the pregnancy, “normal” labour, early discharge from hospital, and 2 weeks of at home support, post birth.

To me this sounded like a no-brainer, as I’d had a negative history with hospitals when undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. I was frustrated with having to retell my story to every new doctor that came through. I also liked the idea of not being in a hospital any longer than I had to.

I mean, who wouldn’t want a team to care for you, and have 9 months to build trust? I also knew these women had to be very experienced and knowledgeable to be part of such a specialist team. This was reassuring to this nervous nelly mumma.

32 May 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au

From the beginning it was made very clear that being part of the MGP program was a privilege. I was one of the lucky women who had access to this level of care and support. At the time I was perplexed as to why we all couldn’t have this access. If it was the “gold standard of care”, then why can’t all women access it?

So, I always had it in the back of my mind to be a good patient and to not lose my place in the program. I thought being a good patient meant arriving early to appointments, listening intently and doing everything they say. I enrolled in the private birthing classes they suggested, I packed my hospital bag with everything they said, and even put into practice “If you think you’re in labour - bake a cake”.

On Monday 19th October I phoned my husband to say I was baking a cake. It took him a few moments to realise what this really meant. He came home straight away.

Things moved slowly, so I did everything I’d learned.

Kept active on the yoga ball, breathed and meditated my way through the “surges”. Oh yes, they were not allowed to be called contractions - they were “surges”.

Being first time parents, we were so excited to be meeting our baby. We went into the hospital later that afternoon thinking this was IT. Being told I was only 1 cm dilated and sent home was disappointing. I wanted to stay in the birthing suite where I was surrounded by my team and felt safe. Going home left me wondering if I knew what the heck I was doing. I thought my cake baking and yoga bouncing meant my baby was coming.

Learning I wasn’t even close made me think I had no clue what I was doing.

Bump, Bub and Beyond

The fear of the unknown bubbled to the surface.

All the while I’m thinking I need to be a good patient.

There were times in the antenatal care I would ask about a caesarean birth or pain medication, but I was dismissed and shut down. These actual words were told to me; “if you trust your body, your vagina will open like a lotus flower and the baby will be breathed down”.

There’s also a range of risk factors that contribute to prolapse. For me it was the use of forceps to get my baby out. After 29 hours it was sold to me like the ONLY option - that there was no choice. There was never a thought about what could happen to me, nor were there any conversations about a caesarean and any complications were dismissed.

Sounded easy. So, I did exactly that. We made a playlist, packed snacks, purchased our favourite scented oils I was going to breathe this baby down.

I was made to feel that I failed “natural” childbirth.

Like I didn’t visualise or meditate enough, or follow the birth plan enough. It’s time for this to change.

The Bad

How We Can Make it Better for Mummas

If my vagina had opened like a lotus flower, I wouldn’t be here sharing our journey.

I will never pretend to have all the answers to this complex and unfortunately political event. When it comes to birthing, I feel we are not focusing on the people that need us most - a healthy baby, AND a healthy mumma.

The decision to talk about my birth is not an easy one.

It’s a complex situation, I don't want to scare women, but I wish I had been more informed. It would’ve likely dampened my fear throughout the 29-hour ordeal and helped me make decisions more suitable for my baby and I. It was only afterwards that I learned much of my experience, trauma and damage could have been avoided. I left the hospital the next day with a destroyed birthing plan and a destroyed pelvic floor.

Nowhere in my birthing plan did it mention a stuck posterior baby, three layers of stitches front to back, or an inability to sit for weeks. Nowhere did it mention that I am okay with amputating my levator ani muscles off the pelvic bone, or losing my ability to walk or stand for longer than 10 minutes.

The Truth I was shocked to learn that what happened is common.

What we went through in that delivery room happens on a daily basis - but no one talks about it. It’s like half the text book on birthing is missing. My midwife told me my birth was normal. She had believed that me being wheeled out in a wheelchair was normal.

Going home the next day with faecal incontinence was normal. Being left with significant pelvic organ prolapse was normal.

Many fail to understand that there’s a difference between what’s common and what’s normal.

What happened to my body isn’t normal, but it is common. Up to one in two women will experience pelvic organ prolapse within their lifetime. With different grades and types of prolapse, and a range of symptoms and side effects.

Here is what I wish I had known and explored leading up to my common experience, and the ideal process that I wish everyone had access to. Currently, there are no publicly available, fully comprehensive programs that take you through the 9 months of pregnancy and beyond. Antenatal classes are generally held in the third trimester and are typically only a few hours.

• Antenatal classes commence from the time you find out you’re pregnant.

• Explore unbiased information about all types of antenatal care to find what’s best for you.

• Meet the different professionals who could be involved - obstetricians, midwives, doulas etc.

• Understand the different places to birth; free-birth, home-birth, birthing centre, public or private hospital.

• Be aware of birthing methods - free, water, vaginal unassisted and unmedicated, vaginal assisted, caesarean, vaginal birth after a caesarean (VBAC) and gentle caesarean.

• Explore opportunities to work through any fears with professional counselling.

• See a women's health pelvic floor physiotherapist prior to and following birth.

• Identify if you need additional support post birth at a mums and bubs unit.

Let’s stop treating women like they are not able to cope with all the aspects of pregnancy and childbirth. It’s not protection, it only makes things worse and takes respect and choice out of the experience. When you’re at your most vulnerable, it’s better to be fully informed and scared, than scared and unaware.

Stephanie Thompson is the author of The Day My Vagina Broke and chief Bravemumma.

In 2015, Stephanie suffered a traumatic childbirth injury that changed her body and life forever. Stephanie is now on a mission to share her story and start conversations about how we view childbirth. She wants to do everything that she can to stop anything like this from happening to her daughter, Elsie. You can find her on Instagram and Facebook at Bravemumma.

www.pakmag.com.au | May 2022 33

All Things Tweens and Teens

Public Speaking – You Can Do It STORY Mario Calanna Public speaking gives you the opportunity to have your voice heard, share your opinion and ideas, and even positively influence the lives of others. Public speaking is also the most common fear, so you’re not alone if the thought of standing up in front of a crowd scares you.

There will be times when you will need to speak in front of a crowd though, and even though it may not be easy for you, you can master your fear and the microphone, and maybe even discover you love it. So here is some advice to help you or someone in your life overcome their fear of public speaking.

Firstly, it’s important to put public speaking in context - we all speak in public to dozens of people every day.

A short “Hello”, a quick acknowledgement, a discussion around a table about a project, and sharing dinner with a group of friends. All these interactions prove that you can do it - you just have to overcome that voice in your head that says you can’t.

Sure, it is not the same as formal public speaking with an audience, a microphone, perhaps a podium and all focus is on YOU. This is where the pressure is – and also when the adrenaline and dopamine hits.

It is the essence of self-confidence to deliver a speech, a presentation or proposal well.

I suggest that if you are an active participant - you are prepared, know your subject, have a formed clear opinion and are able to put forward arguments to uphold your point of view.

You see, the art of public speaking is really about these points. This art is acquired over time - by reading a Treasurer’s report, by reading the minutes of the last meeting, by chairing a meeting, by saying “Yes” to a challenge you are uncomfortable with, by being involved or joining a Rostrum or Toastmasters Club.

There will be times in your life when you are asked or required to read at a funeral or a wedding. Most of these opportunities are afforded to you because of your closeness to that person. You will regret it if you pass simply because your fear got in the way.

To help you master the art, here are The Five P's of Speech Presentation: • Planning • Preparation • Presence • Practice

And how do you deliver it well?

• Performance - This is the reason you do it – so it all hinges on the other 4 P’s.

How well do you perform in discussions around a table, debating issues and problems about a project, mixing with friends and others at events, do you contribute, engage or remain silent?

Another P is ‘possibility’ – public speaking is a powerful tool that can help open the doors to many opportunities. I hope these tips help you find your public speaking potential.

Mario Calanna is an author, speaker and health authority. He is a well-known and respected pharmacist and owner of the Calanna Whole Health Pharmacy chain. He is also one of the people behind the Junior Speaking Contest which has run since 1978. Find out more about Mario Calanna and the Junior Speaking Contest at www.mariocalanna.com.au

www.pakmag.com.au | May 2022 35

Adventure

Diving to Build a Deeper Connection STORY Bree James

As a parent, there comes a time where no matter what you suggest as an activity to your children, it’s met with a “Nah”. It’s a frustrating and worrying period where you realise they’d prefer to connect with technology or their friends rather than with you. So, I decided it was time to find a new family passion that gets us out on adventures, meeting people and learning about our environment. It was time to leave the land and explore a new world in the ocean with scuba diving.

Learning to scuba dive is a skill for life, it can take you and your family all around Australia, and if you wish, abroad. The PADI Open Water Diver Course is open to everyone over the age of 10 that meets health and fitness requirements. If you have a pre-existing medical condition like asthma or diabetes, you will need medical clearance from your GP or to complete a dive medical with a Dive Doctor. You also need to be able to tread water for 10 minutes and swim 200 metres without stopping.

We teamed up with PADI and Pro Dive Cairns to learn everything we need to know and get certified as a family. PADI is the world’s leading scuba diver training organisation with over 6,600 dive centres and resorts across the globe. Impressively, they have certified over 28 million divers.

The course takes four days and includes an e-learning component that you do in advance. The e-learning course includes five online learning modules to learn which teach you all of the fundamental theory and dangers of diving. Then there is an exam to get you all prepped.

Day One Our first day of learning to dive was at the Pro Dive Cairns pool where we learnt how to use the scuba equipment, what to do in an emergency, different underwater signals and so much more. It was a full day of learning and being fitted with our equipment.

Most things are provided for on the trip, so it’s important to pack light for the floating hotel on the ocean. Some sea sickness medication, sunscreen, chewing gum and your favourite non-refrigerated snacks are a good idea.

Day Two Kicking off at 6.00am, we headed to our home away from home for the next two nights. The Pro Dive Cairns boat has twin rooms that are perfect for solo, duo and family travellers. There’s a maximum of 32 passengers and 6 crew members, so it’s a nice intimate setting of people ranging from beginner to advanced. Some were completing courses and others were there to simply dive and enjoy. All meals are provided and the cook onboard can cater for gluten, dairy, and nut free as well as vegans if requested in advance. Served buffet style, you’ll never go hungry - the food was amazing!

www.pakmag.com.au | May 2022 37

Adventure

We arrived at the reef ready for our first dive at 11.00am.

Our patient Dive Instructor Lucy dove straight into our lessons. We enjoyed two incredible dives that day where we saw some amazing marine life including clown fish, hammerhead sharks, giant trevally, bumphead parrot fish, clams, stingrays, trigger fish, puffer fish, maori wrasse and lots more. Those that were certified were also able to do a night dive and saw lots of action in the water.

Bedtime came around before we knew it and our air conditioned private rooms were a perfect retreat to rest.

Day Three The day started with an incredible sunrise and our first dive of the day at 7.30am. We saw some more incredible marine life and then headed back to the boat to be greeted with bacon and eggs. We then had plenty of time to relax, catch some rays, play some games and read up on the marine life around us. We completed our fourth dive and passed with flying colours, which means we are now fully certified open water divers!

Once we were certified we got another two dives, one of which was a night dive with torches. It was such an amazing and thrilling experience where many hunting fish like trevally come right up to you. Many marine animals that you don’t see by day are seen at night like huge coral crabs, crayfish, and luminous plankton that light up the ocean.

Learning to scuba dive is one the best experiences you will ever experience. Once certified you can dive anywhere in the world - think of the memories you will make.

The PADI Dive certification has been an incredible learning experience. It’s the first time I’ve seen my children so engaged and excited to learn something new. Best of all, it’s something we have learned together as a family and that is priceless in itself. We are all still talking about the trip, researching new diving spots and creating a bucket list of dives that we’d like to do. Both children want to get further certifications as they get older and I can see them enjoying diving well after moving out of home.

It’s indescribable how special this underwater world is and the only way you will find out what I’m talking about is if you take the plunge and get certified too.

Talk to your nearest PADI Dive Centre or Resort to find out more or visit www.padi.com to locate one near you.

If you live in FNQ chat to the team at Pro Dive Cairns to find out more www.prodivecairns.com.au

Day Four We woke to another beautiful sunrise and the boat then took us to another location for our first dive at 6.30am.

We dove through caves and had a blast exploring the ocean. We then headed back for another hot breakfast, fresh fruit salad and some free time. Our final dive of the trip was at 11.00am, followed by lunch as we headed back to the mainland, arriving back at Cairns in the afternoon.

WATCH THE EXPERIENCE IN OUR ONLINE MAG

The four day course is $1085 per person and includes e-learning, one day of equipment and safety training, three days and two nights on the reef which includes meals, equipment hire and nine dives.

Vessel Amenities • Free WiFi

• Dive log book • 2 Passport photos

• Air-conditioned cabins and saloon

Food and Drinks (Liveaboard)

• 14 twin bunk bed cabins and 2 double bed cabins (enquire on booking)

• Fully catered, buffet style, freshly prepared meals

• All bedding supplied • Freshly prepared meals • Hot freshwater showers

• Unlimited tea, coffee and Milo • A limited range of different dietary requirements can be catered for; please enquire with their reservations team for specifics before your trip

Inclusions

• They recommend gluten intolerant or vegan guests bring snacks that don’t require refrigeration

• 9 Dives (4 training dives and 5 pleasure dives including one night dive)

• No bottled water is kept on board; personal drink bottles and filtered chilled water is available

• PADI Gold Open Water Certification

• Soft drinks, fruit juice and chocolate bars are available at additional cost

• PADI Open Water manual

38 May 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au

Daddy Diary

Daddy Diary Life after the age of 30 should come with a handbook.

It’s bizarre that it doesn’t. Even the $14.00 rice cooker we bought at K-Mart came with a ‘how to’ guide.

So how is it that in the decade that sees the biggest upheaval in most of our lives, we are left to navigate it alone? Life after 30 can be a challenge at times.

I myself am turning 38 this year and as I head into my (nearly) late 30’s I decided to start a list of all the stuff that hit me like a tonne of bricks after hitting the big three-zero. So here we go, in no particular order: In your thirties you start taking grocery catalogues very seriously. Junk mail used to be exactly that - junk.

However, in your thirties the chance to grab a punnet of strawberries for under two bucks is an opportunity that cannot be ignored.

• The taking of antacids like Mylanta or Rennies becomes a normal part of life. Particularly after drinking too much or eating too much (bread I’m looking at you).

• You discover really good TV on the SBS and ABC apps.

You also love that unlike Netflix, Stan, etc, they are completely free.

• You start to scoff at events that have a start time of 7.00pm or later. Don’t these people know we have jobs? Talk about burning the candle at both ends.

• You sometimes get a sudden burst of satisfaction that all those superannuation accounts you had from different jobs in your teens and 20’s are now amalgamated into one. You’re practically The Barefoot Investor.

• You refuse to believe there are fully grown adults born after the year 2000. How could they be adults now but were only born the year the world discovered Nikki Webster?

• You get excited about Flybuys points.

• Sleeping through the night becomes an achievement.

On the off chance you manage to pull a sleep all nighter, you are completely jet lagged for the next 48 hours.

• You randomly wake up stiff and sore. It can be any part of the body and for absolutely no reason at all.

Apologies now to the twenty-somethings who have randomly picked this up in a doctor’s surgery or similar and had no idea these random transformations are about to occur. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Big love!

Cliffo Hit 103.1

www.pakmag.com.au | May 2022 41

Community Noticeb o ard

Townsville & District Beekeepers Open Day When: 21 May Where: Michael Hooper Park

LEGO/Cosplay Fun Day

LEGO/Cosplay Fun Day is a locally organised and operated, family friendly pop culture event celebrating all things LEGO, Cosplay and all things fun!

The Townsville & District Beekeepers Association is hosting an Open Day, following World Bee Day the day prior. To follow on from their celebration of bees, and to mark 200 years of the introduction of the European Honey Bee to Australia, there will be market stalls, honey and native bee demos, kids activities, face painting, food and plenty of opportunity for family fun.

Kicks off at 10.00am.

Email cosplaytownsville@gmail.com to register.

www.beesnorth.com.au

When: 29 May / 9.00am - 2.00pm / $10.00 Where: Emmanus Hall, Ryan Catholic College More info: LEGO/Cosplay Fun Day

Au s t r a

lian Ita

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Mother’s Day Fundraising Events

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SGN Mother’s Day Fun Friday Fundraiser for Cancer / 6 May / Riverside Gardens Community Centre / 7.00pm - 9.30pm / $55.00 / www.sensationalgirlsnetwork.com.au Mother’s Day Fun Run for Safe Nights Townsville / 8 May / Rossiter Park / 7.00am - 10.00am / $5.00 - $10.00 / G / www.townsvilleroadrunners.com.au

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42 May 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au Please confirm the above details are correct before visiting during these uncertain times.We have done our best to ensure all details are correct at time of print.

The Cathedral School Open Day 2022 When: 21 May 9.00am – 12.00pm Experience a behind the scenes tour hosted by current Cathedral School students. Not only will you be guided around the serene campus, but you’ll hear stories about their very own student experiences along the way. Don’t miss participating in a classroom workshop and take some time to relax under the towering 160-year-old raintrees while enjoying some special performances.

The Cathedral School Boarding Experience When: 21 - 22 May The Boarding Experience provides a great insight into boarding life and a chance to meet their wonderful staff and friendly boarders. The Boarding Experience 2022 offers students the option to stay overnight. www.cathedral.qld.edu.au

Sweet Days, Hot Nights Festival When: 26 - 27 May Where: Home Hill Showgrounds More info: www.sweetdayshotnights.com.au $125.00 / G Sweet Days, Hot Nights Festival is all about showcasing and celebrating what is great about our rich agricultural region and the enviable lifestyle that comes with it.

From fresh produce and culinary delights, through to adventure and sports tourism experiences, country hospitality, great music and family friendly entertainment will all be on show. The event is scheduled to incorporate the First Fire of the crushing season, to further share one of the main contributors to the region’s primary industries. It is also home to the Burdekin Cultural Fair and the Australian Hand Cane Cutting Championships.

Get Involved!

We’d love to hear from you! Head to www.paktownsville.com.au/community to submit community news or a notice, and also view the full community noticeboard online.

www.pakmag.com.au | May 2022 43

Advertorial

Cairns Ecofiesta Returns Cairns Regional Council’s Ecofiesta returns to Munro Martin Parklands on Sunday 29 May with a jam-packed program of music, entertainment, education, inspiration and eco-activities.

Well worth the drive and a visit to the Far North!

Ecofiesta is a unique chance to connect with the organisations and individuals working to protect our iconic natural environment, all while enjoying live music, catching up with friends, and eating delicious festival food. A free all-ages event, Ecofiesta showcases the region’s green edge and celebrates our World Heritage reef and rainforest.

This signature annual event kicks off at 10am and features more than 10 acts over two stages, sustainability focused market stalls and community groups and exhibitors. There will also be a host of children’s activities, workshops, and live performances throughout the day, with free rides, games, quests and a sustainability sideshow.

The program includes live music from Tullara, Cinnamon Sun and Zennith, as well as roving performances from the Dream Big Circus and Bugzy Bumblebee.

The workshop program features celebrity gardener, Yvonne Cunningham, sharing her expertise on vegetable gardening in the tropics, OzHarvest on reducing

household food waste, and the much-loved favourite, ‘Keeping Chickens’.

As part of Cairns Regional Council’s commitment to delivering a sustainable event, the Sun Stage will be powered by 100% renewable energy; food vendors will be serving customers on reusable plates; water cafes will be supplying free water, and food waste will be collected and turned into compost.

Through Ecofiesta, the Council is able to test, refine and share sustainable event delivery practices with other event organisers, moving us closer to a greener future.

The power of Ecofiesta is that it connects thousands of locals and visitors with environmental groups, reef and rainforest authorities, and smart green businesses.

Sustainability is made simple and everyday actions to protect our planet become the new normal.

So, make a trip of it, and make the most of what our region has to offer. Take the opportunity to learn how we can all do better, be greener, and make a difference.

Ecofiesta is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.

The event is hosted by Council, sponsored by CleanCo and Linked, and supported by Wet Tropics Management Authority, Reef Guardian and CAFNEC.

www.pakmag.com.au | May 2022 45

What’s On SUNDAY 1 MAY Josh Solomon Cup 2022 Townsville Skateboarding Championships Runs until 7 May Northshore Skatepark www.australianskate boarding.com Burdekin Auto Festival A three day event with up to 200 classic cars, hot rods and motorcycles on display.

Runs until 1 May Ayr Showgrounds Burdekin Cruisers Car Club Inc 2022 Townsville North Queensland Games Runs until 2 May Townsville 8.00am - 8.00pm / G www.nqgames.com.au Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow Townsville Civic Theatre 7.30pm - 9.45pm / $30.00 $35.00 / M www.comedyfestival.com.au Mothers Day Workshop Earrings and Flower Bouquet A mother and daughter’s combined flower bouquet and earring workshop.

Otto’s Market Precinct

46 May 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au

10.00am - 11.30am / $80.00 / G The Bloom Room Townsville The Percivals 2022 Runs until 3 July Perc Tucker Regional Gallery 10.00am - 5.00pm / FREE / G whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au MONDAY 2 MAY Labour Day Public Holiday WEDNESDAY 4 MAY Celtic Illusion Reimagined!

Townsville Civic Theatre 7.30pm - 10.00pm / $79.90 $89.90 / G www.celticillusion.com THURSDAY 5 MAY Tropic Tales Sharing the House People from all walks of life telling their stories. Storytellers will receive free professional training.

TBC, Townsville 6.30pm - 8.30pm / FREE / 16 + E livestoryevents@iinet.net.au Open Day - North Ward Campus (Years 7-12) Townsville Grammar School 3.30pm - 6.00pm / FREE, Register online www.tgs.qld.edu.au

With HIT 103.1’s Cliffo & Gabi

FRIDAY 6 MAY SGN Mother’s Day Fun Friday Fundraiser for Cancer Riverside Gardens Community Centre 7.00pm - 9.30pm / $55.00 www.sensationalgirlsnetwork. com.au Comedy Night at Molly’s with Al Del Bene Molly Malones 7.00pm - 8.30pm / FREE / 18+ whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au SATURDAY 7 MAY Pioneer Weekend Country & Folk Music Festival.

Runs until 8 May Historic Village Herberton 9.00am - 5.00pm / Stay tuned for programs and ticket costs / G www.historicvillageherberton. com.au Scottie’s South Townsville Run! Fifth Avenue Boat Ramp 6.30am - 8.30am / $6.00, FREE for members / PG www.townsvilleroadrunners. com.au The Oasis Craft Market The Oasis Townsville 8.00am - 1.00pm / FREE / G whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au Giru State School Fete Live entertainment by Jeremy

Romeo, Kids rides, Market Stalls, Giruvian challenge, Food trucks, Bar, FREE camping.

Giru State School 4.00pm / $2.00 / G Giru State School Cowboys versus Newcastle Knights Queensland Country Bank Stadium 6.30pm / FREE - $25.00 / G www.cowboys.com.au Learn How to Install an Irrigation System Carville Villas 1.00pm - 4.00pm / $85.00 / PG www.globalgardener.org SGN Mother’s Day Mini High Tea Connection Railway Estate Community Centre 2.00pm - 4.00pm / $45.00 www.sensationalgirlsnetwork. com.au Comedy Night at Peppers with Al Del Bene Peppers Blue on Blue Resort 7.00pm - 9.00pm / $25.00 / 18 + whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au SUNDAY 8 MAY Mother’s Day Mother’s Day Fun Run Rossiter Park, Aitkenvale 7.00am - 10.00am / $5.00 -

$10.00 / G www.townsvilleroad runners.com.au Make-A-Wish Mother’s Day Brunch Rydges Southbank Townsville 9.00am - 12.00pm / $15.00 $45.00 / G Make A Wish Australia Townsville Branch TUESDAY 10 MAY TheatreiNQ’s The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui by Bertolt Brecht Runs until 21 May The ClubHouse - TheatreiNQ 7.00pm - 10.00pm / $30.00 $40.00 / M www.theatreinq.com WEDNESDAY 11 MAY Free Microchipping Day Animal Care and Adoption Centre 9.00am - 2.00pm / FREE / G, Bookings required P 13 48 10 Guy Sebastian’s T.R.U.T.H. Tour Townsville Entertainment Centre 7.00pm / $82.00 - $93.00 / G www.guysebastian.com FRIDAY 13 MAY Townsville Expo Runs until 15 May Reid Park Complex 8.30am - 4.00pm / Under 16 FREE, $10.00 / G www.townsvilleexpo.com.au Buddhist Weekend of Teachings Runs until 15 May

Carville Seniors Hall Various sessions / FREE Tharlam Ling Buddhist Centre Townsville

1.00pm and 7.00pm / $20.00 $35.00 / M E ticketshop@townsville.qld. gov.au

Pimlico Presents Showcase of the very best of Pimlico State High School’s extensive performing arts program.

Townsville Civic Theatre 7.30pm - 10.15pm / $25.00 $30.00 / G www.pimlicoshs.eq.edu.au

THURSDAY 19 MAY

SATURDAY 14 MAY Running in the Shadows: The Australian Fleetwood Mac Show Townsville Entertainment Centre 8.00pm - 11.00pm / $49.00 / PG www.tecc.net.au SUNDAY 15 MAY Burdekin Sugar Rush Plantation Park, Ayr Various sessions times and costs www.burdekinroadrunners. com.au TUESDAY 17 MAY

Regional Disabiltiy Expo Townsville Stadium 9.00am - 4.00pm / FREE www.disabilityexposc.com.au Banff Mountain Film Festival 2022 Townsville Civic Theatre 7.00pm - 10.00pm / $25.00 $32.00 / G www.banffaustralia.com.au FRIDAY 20 MAY Kasey Chambers & Busby Marou: Behind the Barricades Townsville Entertainment Centre 7.30pm - 11.30pm / $79.00 / G www.tecc.net.au Bjorn Again - Mamma Mia! We Are Back Again Tour 2022 Townsville Civic Theatre 8.00pm - 10.00pm / $69.00 / PG www.bjornagain.com.au SATURDAY 21 MAY

WEDNESDAY 18 MAY

The Cathedral School Open Day Take a guided tour or just follow the Open Day Trail.

The Cathedral School of St Anne & St James 9.00am - 12.00pm / Register online www.cathedral.qld.edu.au/ open-day

Jekyll & Hyde Townsville Civic Theatre

Aged Care Expo Townsville Stadium

Don Juan Townsville Civic Theatre 7.00pm - 8.00pm / $20.00 $35.00 / M E ticketshop@townsville.qld. gov.au

Please check with individual businesses before visiting during these uncertain times.

9.00am - 3.00pm / FREE / G www.cictownsville.com.au Burdekin Growers Race Day Burdekin Race Club www.burdekinraceclub.com.au Cowboys versus Melbourne Storm Queensland Country Bank Stadium 6.30pm / FREE - $25.00 / G www.cowboys.com.au The Two Bays Trail Run Magnetic Island Various session times / $15.00 www.outerlimitsadventure .com.au MM The FOTT Variety Concert Townsville Civic Theatre 11.00am - 12.30pm / $17.50 / G whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au Sounds of Rock Townsville Turf Club 1.00pm - 9.00pm / $100.00 $114.00 / 18 + whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au Peter Williams Medium Live Townsville Civic Theatre 7.00pm - 9.20pm / $54.00 / M www.peterwilliamsinnapowa. com SUNDAY 22 MAY Learn How to Design an Urban Garden Carville Villas 1.00pm - 5.00pm / $125.00 / PG www.globalgardener.org

www.pakmag.com.au | May 2022 47

What’s On THURSDAY 26 MAY Sweet Days, Hot Nights Festival Incorporates the First Fire of the crushing season, Burdekin Cultural Fair and the Australian Hand Cane Cutting Championships.

Runs until 27 May Home Hill Showgrounds $125.00 / G www.sweetdayshotnights.com.au Greg Sullivan & Friends Australian stand up comedian, supported by some local talent, brings the laughter to NQ in this brief tour.

Molly Malone’s Irish Pub 6.30pm - 9.00pm / $28.00 / 18 + Indy C Comedy The Wedding Singer Presented by Kirwan State High School. Runs until 29 May Townsville Civic Theatre

Various sessions / $30.00 $40.00 / G whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au Year 7 Parent Information Night Townsville Grammar School, North Ward Campus 6.00pm - 7.30pm / FREE, Register online www.tgs.qld.edu.au Year 10 Parent Information Night Townsville Grammar School, North Ward Campus 6.00pm - 7.30pm / FREE, Register online www.tgs.qld.edu.au

With Triple M’s Pricey

SATURDAY 28 MAY Controlling Pest & Disease in your Garden Carville Villas 9.00am - 12.00pm / $70.00 / PG www.globalgardener.org Adventurethon Townsville Runs until 29 May Ross Dam Stay tuned online for more details www.adventurethon.com.au

Register online www.tgs.qld.edu.au SUNDAY 29 MAY LEGO/Cosplay Fun Day Emmanus Hall, Ryan Catholic College 9.00am - 2.00pm / $10.00, Registration via email / PG E cosplaytownsville@gmail.com SATURDAY 4 JUNE

FRIDAY 27 MAY

Grape Vs. Grain Five course degustation menu, paired with craft beer and selected wines.

The Townsville Brewery 5.30pm / $130.00 / 18 + www.townsvillebrewery.com

Australian Italian Festival Runs until 5 June TYTO Parklands 10.00am / $9.00 - $26.00 / G www.australianitalianfestival. com.au

80s Twilight Fun Run Queensland Country Bank Stadium 6.00pm - 9.00pm / $15.00 / PG www.brighterlives.org.au

Prep Fair & Family Open Morning Townsville Grammar School, Annandale & North Shore Campuses 9.00am - 11.00am / FREE,

Eco Fiesta Runs until 5 June Anderson Gardens FREE / G whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au

Please check with individual businesses before visiting during these uncertain times.

www.pakmag.com.au | May 2022 49

Regular Events MONDAYS Qi Gong Runs sporadically until 19 December Inner Light Meditation Centre 5.30pm - 6.30pm / $15.00 / G www.innerlightmeditation centre.com TUESDAYS Toddler Time During school term.

Townsville Stadium 9.00am / FREE (bookings required) / for carers and toddlers aged 24 + months www.townsville.qld.gov.au Baby Rhyme Time During school term.

Townsville Stadium 10.30am / FREE (bookings required) / for parents and babies 0 to 24 months www.townsville.qld.gov.au North Queensland Camera Group First Tuesday of each month QCWA – Magnetic Garbutt First meet FREE / G www.nqcg.org.au

Landcare Site Day - Castle Hill Community revegetation effort.

Runs until 28 June Castle Hill Landcare Site Goats Track 8.00am - 10.00am / FREE www.cdtli.org.au

Flashback Dance BYO Baby Class Runs weekly Railway Estate Community Centre 12.30pm / $12.00 / G E flashbackdancetownsville@ outlook.com

WEDNESDAYS

THURSDAYS

Baby Rhyme Time During school term.

CityLibraries Thuringowa Central 9.30am / FREE (bookings required) / for parents and babies 0 to 24 months www.townsville.qld.gov.au

Yoga for Happiness 5 week programs, run weekly until 15 December Townsville South State School 6.30pm - 8.00pm / $100.00 / M www.employsure.com.au/ seminars

Toddler Time During school term.

CityLibraries Thuringowa Central 10.30am / FREE (bookings required) / for carers and toddlers aged 24 + months www.townsville.qld.gov.au

Playtime at the Library with First 5 Forever Runs weekly Hinchinbrook Shire Library 10.30am / FREE / Ages 0 - 5 www.library.hinchinbrook.qld. gov.au

Zumba with Merryl Runs weekly until 22 June, except public / school holidays Heatley Community Centre 6.00pm / $10.00 per session / G - All ages whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au

Regular Markets

Baby Rhyme Time During school term.

CityLibraries Thuringowa Central 10.30am / FREE (bookings required) / for parents and babies 0 to 24 months www.townsville.qld.gov.au Storytime During school term.

CityLibraries Thuringowa Central

9.30am / FREE (bookings required) / for carers and children aged 3 years + www.townsville.qld.gov.au FRIDAYS Riverway Movie Screening Runs every third Fri until 17 June Riverway Oval 6.30pm - 8.30pm / FREE / G whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au Moulin Rogue Runs until 17 December Stage Door Theatre Restaurant, Magnetic Island 5.00pm - 9.00pm / $95.00 / PG www.stagedoortheatre.com.au Breathwork Sessions Runs weekly until 24 June Inner Light Meditation Centre 7.00pm - 8.00pm / FREE / G www.innerlightmeditation centre.com SATURDAYS Establishing the Basics - Yoga 5 week yoga programs, Runs until 17 December Townsville South State School 8.00am - 9.15am / $100 per course / M www.yogaaspirations.com.au/

Many markets are subject to weather conditions and community guidelines, so please check with market organisers and relevant communities before visiting during these uncertain times.

Bluewater Twilight Markets February - December Second Saturday of the month 4.00pm - 8.00pm Bluewater Community Centre Bushland Beach Markets March - December First and third Sunday of the month 8.00am – 12.00pm On the foreshore, End of Mount Low Parkway Renegade Handmade Markets Second Sunday of the month 8.00am – 12.00pm Marian School Hall

50 May 2022 | www.pakmag.com.au

Balgal Beach Markets First Saturday of the month 8.00am - 1.00pm The Esplanade, Balgal Beach

Cotters Markets Every Sunday 8.30am - 1.00pm Flinders St

Strand Night Markets March - December First Friday of the month 5.00pm - 9.30pm Strand Park, North Ward

Magnetic Island Markets April - January Every Sunday 9.00am – 2.00pm Foreshore in Horseshoe Bay

Mundingburra Markets Third Sunday of the month 7.30am - 12.00pm Mundingburra State School Willows Rotary Markets Every Sunday 7.30am - 11.30am Willows Shopping Centre Car Park

Mercer Lane Markets April - December First Saturday of the month From 8.30am – 12.00pm Lannercost St, Ingham New Look Conroy Markets March - December Second Saturday of the month

8.00am – 12.00pm Conroy Hall, Ingham Wulguru Markets Every Sunday 7.00am – 12.00pm Wulguru Soccer Grounds 14 Edison Street, Wulguru, Ingham Raintree Community Markets First and Third Sunday of the month from 7.00am - 12.00pm Rotary Park, Ingham Forrest Beach Markets May - October Fourth Sunday of every month 8.00am – 12.00pm 9 - 11 Palm St, Forrest Beach

Please check with individual businesses before visiting during these uncertain times.