PakMag Townsville - September 2021 Issue 130

Parents and Kids Magazine

Issue: Sep 2021

130

TOWNSVILLE

100 LOCAL

+

FREE

EVENTS to Check Out

Turn “I Can’t” into “I Can” with Jack Canfield

Make a Difference

by Asking R U OK? Pleasurable Food Education with the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program Your Ultimate School Holiday Guide

LOVE 17 THE PLANET Ways to Help

Helping your Child Become a Math Wizard Protecting our Children’s Mental Health

Welcome 5

The Thing Is

6

Earth Matters

8

Becoming a Math Wizard

11

Turning Can’t into Can

15 Successful Transitions

with MMCNQ

17 Protecting our Children’s

23 Does My Child Have a Learning Disorder?

24 Parent’s Puzzle 25 Mini Mag 29 Adult Colouring Page 30 Bump, Bub and Beyond 33 Pleasurable Food

Education: Stephanie

Alexander Kitchen

Garden Program

We know that can be hard at times, particularly in the global climate and all that we have been through and continue to navigate. We just wanted to remind you, you aren’t alone - we are all in this together and we’ve got this! We also hope you received the warm virtual hug we’ve included in the magazine – that’s FREE too.

We’ve tried to pack as much positivity and love into these pages to give you a little pick me up and reminder that YOU are awesome – for no other reason than YOU are YOU.

Mental Health

21 All Things Health

Hello and thank you for picking up PakMag, we hope it helps your family connect, learn and grow – that’s why we do, what we do. We care about you, our community and want everyone to live their ‘best lives.’

In this edition, the ultimate motivator - Jack Canfield - joins us to help us turn ‘I Can’t’ into ‘I Can,’ and we share helpful advice on protecting your child’s mental health. We have also saved you some time and found all the fun stuff to get up to during the School Holidays and throughout the month to make some great memories together. Speaking of important dates – don’t forget to shower Dad in love this Father’s Day! On behalf of the team – we hope you have a great day Dads.

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

Bree and Bec

37 100 Days of Prep 39 School Holiday Guide 46 What’s On

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

PakMag Founder and Editor-in-Chief Bree James

Sales and Business Development Tracy Couper

45 Daddy Diary

Graphic Designer Sara Williams

Content & Marketing Team Leader Bec Dent

Videographer & Podcast Producer Monique Saggers

Creative Team Leader & Graphic Designer Clare Winter

Content Creators Annamarie Booysen Sasha Rozhkova

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families www.pakmag.com.au | September 2021 3

The Thing Is

The Thing Is with Bree James As Ray Romano from Everybody Loves Raymond would say “having children is like living in a frat house - nobody sleeps, everything’s broken, and there’s lots of throwing up”.

The thing is, I thought that once the newborn and toddler stage finished, and our children grew, that parenting would ‘get easier’. To all the mothers before me that said this - you lied! Sure, you don’t get woken during the night as often (unless they are sick or sleepwalkers), but holy dooly, it’s certainly not easier.

And the amount of broken stuff? I don’t know if it’s because my kids have inherited my clumsy nature, or whether they are in fact small superhero’s that are stronger than they realise. They pull out kitchen draws and cupboards with such force that eventually part of the draw ends up in their hand. Using similar force, the toilet paper holder constantly hangs wonkily from the wall, and their towel rack has been re-screwed to the wall I don’t know how many times. Their scooters and bikes look like they’ve been ridden to the tip of Australia.

And don’t get me started on their clothes - ripped, stained, and stretched, from doing who knows what.

The tween and baby years do have some similarities though - that I was not prepared for.

Like the washing. When they’re babies, you have some understanding that they’ll get dirty; dragging themselves like baby seals, or learning to crawl, and eat, and even poop. Then they enter the tween years, and “POW!” – it’s like the washing multiplies. With uniforms for school, jobs and sports teams, as well as the need to change their outfit if they get even a single mark on it… enter the endless outfit changes and washing, not to mention the cheeky habit of cleaning their room by dumping everything, clean and dirty, right back into the washing basket.

Then there’s all the food, the hunger is real! When they’re babies, you’re like a mixologist, blending it all for them to demolish or deny. Nothing’s changed. And don’t forget

about the poop. When your baby poops, it’s something you lovingly deal with. When they’re older with diarrhea, it’s not so cute.

They (and you) also still cry - A LOT. If you think a two-year-old’s tantrum is bad, wait till you see a tween tanty. And although the tears still worry you, thankfully they still want the cuddles to make it all better.

The older my children get, the more demanding they are becoming. Instead of just listening to what I say and doing as mummy says, they have an opinion, and feedback, and oh so many questions. The questions used to be so simple, now they’re getting deeper and more thoughtful. But nonetheless, I’m still on constant repeat, turns out they can ignore me just the same.

They challenge you on just about everything too.

They’re very happy to tell me about my parenting style and share ways I can improve. It’s truly awesome to have this person share with you how to drive even though they’ve never driven a car before.

My teen parenting years are just beginning, and like every stage of parenting, it doesn’t get easier- it’s just different. We shouldn’t ask for things to be easier, we just need to be better. Better equipped and patient to deal with the challenges of raising this generation of children; it has so much more complexity than we ever experienced. We need to give them grace for that.

I know I’ll blink and just like the baby stage, my time of having my kids in my everyday world will be over, and they’ll fly the nest to live their life. So, as much as it’s a challenge, I wouldn’t have it any other way - I love seeing them grow, and helping me to grow as a parent.

After all, life is a learning journey for us all.

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

www.pakmag.com.au | September 2021 5

Feature

Earth Matters – Ways to Help Love the Planet WITH Carole Wilkinson Carole Wilkinson is an award-winning, Australian Children’s Book Author and is passionate about our planet. As an active member of a climate action group, she was motivated to write her new book Earth Matters: Loving Our Planet because she believes caring for our environment and our atmosphere is extremely important.

Carole says ‘we can’t shield children from knowledge of climate change. They will hear about it at school, they might see it mentioned on television and see upsetting images of sick or injured animals. They will experience the effects of climate change as they live through heatwaves and bushfires (experiencing bushfire smoke even if they live hundreds of kilometres away).

It’s understandable that parents and teachers want to protect children from distress - but avoiding speaking about climate change could also lead to anxiety and fear as children struggle to understand the fragments of information they pick up. I felt that I had to write this book to help educators and parents explain climate change to children.’

6 September 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

What Does a Healthy Planet Mean to You? “Clean air, both in the atmosphere where it affects our climate (as well as down here on the surface of the Earth where we live) where pollution from industry and transport can affect our health. A healthy planet also needs clean waterways and oceans, free of rubbish, especially plastic waste. The United Nations estimates that, by weight, there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans by 2050 if we don’t change our behaviour.”

How Important is it for Kids to Learn About Our Planet?

“It is extremely important. I believe that we should give children clear information about climate change that they can understand, then give them the tools to do something about it! Empowerment through knowledge and actions enabling children to reduce the effects of climate change is what this book is advocating. It is a way of turning children’s concern about climate change into positive activities that can lead to hope.

Feature

“Every person, young or old, has the potential to change their behaviour and live more sustainably. We can all learn how to consume less, make compost and think carefully about the things you buy and request for gifts.

It’s our children’s and grandchildren’s future that is at stake. We need to do whatever we can to ensure that they, and future generations, can live a healthy life on a safe planet.”

Simple Things Your Household Can Do to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

• Use rechargeable batteries • Use a refillable water bottle • Don’t accept disposable plastic cutlery with your meals. BYO reusable set you can wash later • Take your own bags when shopping • Donate your old clothes, toys and games to a charity shop and while you’re there check out the clothes there to buy - they aren’t old – they’re vintage!

• Learn about what can be recycled in your local area.

• Create a compost for your food scraps

• Use the sun and wind to dry your clothes

• Consider having some meat-free days in your house

• Turn off your lights when they aren’t needed

• Try growing your own fruit and vegetables

• Put on a jumper, before you put on a heater

• Plant trees

• Create a car pool for school or weekend sports

• Write to politicians – let them know you want them to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

• Walk or ride, when you can and it is safe to save trips in the car and improve your own health • Turn off your electrical appliances at the wall when you are not using them (TV’s, computers, toasters, kettles etc.)

To find out how we can reduce our carbon footprint and save the Earth, purchase Earth Matters: Loving Our Planet from your favourite bookseller in person or online at www.wdog.com.au

Carole Wilkinson is an acclaimed author of over 30 books, including the best-selling, award-winning Dragonkeeper series. She is also passionate about caring for our environment, leading to the creation of her latest book Earth Matters: Loving out Planet.

Find out more about Carole and her books by heading to www.carolewilkinson.com.au

WIN an Copy of Earth Matters: Loving Our Planet Valued at $24.95 Earth does so much for us. Let’s understand what we need to do to love planet earth. Earth Matters.

Award-winning author and long-time climate activist Carole Wilkinson has written Earth Matters: Loving our Planet, a book that helps teach children about climate change, giving them clear information that they can understand and the tools to do something about it. With both issues and solutions perfectly outlined in this book, supported with beautiful illustrations by Hilary Cresp, Earth Matters: Loving Out Planet explains the science of climate change in a child-friendly way. www.wdog.com.au Head to www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win a copy!

www.pakmag.com.au | September 2021 7

STEAM

Becoming a Math Wizard You hear a lot of people say – ‘don’t worry if you really don’t understand that – you won’t use it after school’ – referring to things like Pythagoras’ theorem, Algebraic Equations and other hard-to-grasp math concepts.

But just because some things are harder to understand in Mathematics, doesn’t mean you can’t learn them or need them in life.

play experience praised by parents and teachers alike.

With two brand new additions to their Math Wizard game series, Osmo supports the topics children learn in the classroom, encouraging them to apply things like algebra and multiplication in a fun and relaxed setting.

Often when things don’t come naturally and students disengage with the subject, they decide they are no good at it and, to avoid feelings of failure, they stop trying. We want to help you find ways to help your children try, fall in love with maths and become Math Wizards.

From preparing that next report or project at work to simply shopping for groceries, maths is an essential skill that can be applied to every aspect of our lives, so it’s important that we all know the basics. Maths can also open a whole lot of career doors as well – from accountancy and IT, to architecture, environmental science and engineering. Enjoying and excelling at the problem solving, numbers and logic behind maths can take you so many places – even to space! As the ‘M’ in STEAM, maths is versatile and helps provide the skills for innovation, growth and creativity.

But in school, maths isn’t always so easy and fun.

From the classroom to the home, it is crucial to introduce educational tools and activities that engage and stimulate children. Understanding the subjects can even lead kids to enjoy learning!

For a well-rounded tool that encourages independent learning, look no further than Osmo – www.playosmo.com – an award-winning hands-on

Creating positive learning experiences is key to building resilience in children so they have the confidence to seek help when they need it. Introducing basic maths like counting and looking for patterns and shapes from a young age allows children to apply mathematical principles to everyday life. To make things even easier, Osmo’s Math Wizard boosts confidence and decreases math anxiety often felt by kids by getting them to use creativity and imagination as they learn. The self-paced games let children experience maths through narrative and adventure, offering hints for struggling learners to help nudge them along to the correct answer.

There will always be children that struggle more than others to concentrate and keep engaged when learning.

But, when learning is fun, it won’t feel like learning at all!

WIN an Osmo Math Wizard Game Prize Pack Valued at $168.00!

Osmo has launched two brand-new games in their Math Wizard series and they are here to boost your multiplication and mathematical thinking skills! Smash your times tables goals with Math Wizard and the Enchanted World Games or learn about algebra with Math Wizard and the Amazing Airships. www.jbhifi.com.au Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win! Competition closes 30/10/2021.

8 September 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

Great Resources and Tools for Learning Math Osmo - Maths can be stressful enough as it is, especially in the foundational years of a child’s schooling.

Osmo’s new Math Wizard games aim to quell the anxiety around maths to prevent delayed learning and understanding of the subject, by allowing kids aged 6-8 to learn at their own pace and experience maths through fun, hands-on, narrative-driven games.

These new games allow kids to experiment and actually understand how maths is used in everyday life. It builds confidence and understanding in their maths learning, a confidence that they can take to the classroom and beyond. The Math Wizard games act as your kids’ personal maths tutor, but affordable and available any time! www.jbhifi.com.au

www.learningplace.eq.edu.au - Is a great STEM Hub on the Education Queensland website providing great resources to support learning at home.

www.stempunks.com.au – Run a variety of online STEM and Design Thinking Programs, developed and delivered by qualified teachers to inspire students to learn in a fun and interactive environment.

Curriculum Connections STEM YouTube Channel - is a playlist of videos curated to match Science, Technologies, Engineering and Mathematics in the Australian Curriculum from foundation to Year 10.

www.learn4good.com - offers free fun and interactive mathematics games and quizzes of various difficulties.

The Math Dude – tries to decode the mystery and fear behind all aspects of mathematics with his free podcast.

To help your child get excited about Maths tune into Episode 46 of the PakMag Parents Podcast with Karen McDaid from Cluey Learning. Head to www.pakmag.com.au

Parenting

Helping the Young People in Your Life Turn Can’t into Can WITH Jack Canfield Jack Canfield is a best-selling author, award-winning speaker and an international expert on self-esteem, goal setting, success and life improvement. As the co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, he’s taught millions of individuals his formulas for success and has just released ‘I CAN Believe in Myself’ - a children’s book helping children harness the power of ‘I Can’. We were lucky enough to catch up with Jack to find out how we can empower the young people in our lives with this message.

What Were the Motivators Behind Writing ‘I CAN Believe in Myself’?

Firstly, I wanted to reach kids because I always say if it's done on time - it's called ‘education’, if it's done late - it’s called ‘therapy’. We want to teach our kids high self-esteem, we want to teach them to believe in themselves and to go for their dreams. Too often we don't see that happening in the schools, so, it's really up to us as parents and grandparents to do that with our kids.

Secondly, Miriam Laundry - the co-author of the book, wanted to teach her three kids something she had learned in a workshop I ran, based on the exercise called ‘Can’t, Won’t’. In ‘Can’t, Won’t’ you start a series of sentences and statements with “I can’t” that are true for you, for example; “I can’t find time to answer all my emails”, “I can't lose that last 5 kilos, I can't stop smoking, I can’t keep my room clean, etc.” Then you go back and say the same things and start the statements with “I won’t” – “I won’t stop smoking, I won’t keep my room clean, I won’t answer all of my emails”. During the exercise people begin to see – ‘WOW, it’s not that I can’t; I'm choosing not to’.

She realised a lecture wasn't going to get the message across to her kids, so the idea was born to create a children’s book that conveys the same message that ‘can’t is going to stop you – and that there really is no such thing’. You CAN.

How Can We Help Our Kids Turn “I Can’t” into “I Can”?

Establish what’s true. There are ‘I Cant’s’ that you're telling yourself that aren't really true, and there are

other things you really can’t do – because they are beyond your control - like not being able to go and see your family and friends during the COVID 19 lockdown.

And then ask – ‘Well, what can I do?’ Too often when we're focusing on the thing we can't do, we aren’t able to see all the options of what we can do.

A friend of mine lost all of his fingers in a motorcycle accident. He said, “I realized I can't eat with chopsticks, I can't play chopsticks on the piano, there's a lot of things I can't do… but there's 10,000 things I still can do. I can talk, I can read, I can sing, I can write poetry” – and he's now a motivational speaker. We need to help children to shift their focus and attention to what they can do.

There is that old saying – ‘What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?’ How much does fear of failure hold us back?

I think fear of failure holds us back a lot, and I think the reason is - most people don't really understand fear.

Fear is imagining the negative outcome you don't want to have happen.

For example, if there was a snake coming at you - right now, in the present moment - you're fine. You'd have to imagine the snake biting you, which would happen in the future (it hasn't happened yet), in order to be afraid of the snake.

So, what we need for kids to focus on is ‘What would you like to have happen?’ They may respond with ‘I'd like the kids to tell me I'm a good athlete, I'd like to do a cartwheel, or I'd like to get an A on my spelling test’ for example. I would then ask them to close their eyes and imagine getting that result - the teachers patting you on the back, the other kids telling you ‘great job’, you're seeing the ball go through the hoop in basketball or the goal in soccer. In doing that, we use that same function of visualization to imagine what we want instead of what we don't want.

One of the great truths of life - is that your body cannot tell the difference between a real event or a vividly imagined event. So, the way to handle fear is to imagine the outcome you want, as opposed to the

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Parenting

outcome you don't want, and then imagine yourself getting it. If you can teach kids to do that and do it yourself as well, you’ll find it’s much easier to take action, and the fear won't stop you anymore.

When we go into classrooms to read the book and talk to them about overcoming their ‘I can'ts’we use the example of one of Miriam’s kids who wanted to learn to do a cartwheel. She tried it about five times, fell over and said “I can't. I can't do a cartwheel,” and she just walked away.

and nobody is there standing over them, making them feel like they failed. They’re also getting little rewards along the way – winning stars, and points, and coins the whole thing is gamified to keep them addicted to it.

I think we can learn from that.

Miriam then asked her; “Do you really want to do a cart wheel?” She said she did. So, we shared with her the three steps to making it happen; Number one - you have to choose to believe you can learn to do it, because if someone else can do it you can do it.

Number two - you have to find someone who knows how to do it and ask them to teach you what they know.

Number three - you have to practice.

And that's true with anything you want to do. It’s an easy three step process – 1, 2, 3 – you can do anything.

What can parents do to help increase their child’s belief in themselves and self-esteem?

Break down what you are asking into chunks.

Make it easy, break it down into little steps, set positive expectation (in regards to outcomes), and then celebrate and reward all those steps along the way.

Help them experience success one step at a time.

Be Patient. Too often, parents get frustrated and impatient; “Come on you're not trying,” “You're not concentrating,” “Let's go! Focus!” And the kids start feeling like they're failing, instead of experiencing the process of learning feeling fun. Have you noticed how kids will spend hours learning to play a video game?

Why? Because it's something they really want to do,

Believe in the process and your child. When teaching your child to walk. You don’t tell your child “You’ve got 1000 tries, and after that, forget it - I'm not going to work with you anymore.’’ They fall down a lot, they get up, and they fall down, and they just keep doing it - and we keep supporting them until they get it.

Adopt the same approach with whatever your child is learning.

Model positive behaviours and attitudes. It’s important to be the kind of human you want them to be and to show them, by example -how. When we model admitting our own mistakes – it helps children realise mistakes are normal and part of the process.

When we model sharing our authentic, true feelings - children learn that their feelings are okay.

Acknowledging them demonstrates that you, too, are constantly growing and learning. Your children will see you reading, turning off the tv sometimes, challenging yourself, learning new skills. I learned how to juggle when my boys were young, and the balls went everywhere when I dropped them, and they were able to realise that ‘Dad learns new things too, and he doesn't start out perfectly and so it gives us permission not to do that as well’.

Head to www.pakmag.com.au to tune into our very special 100th episode of the PakMag Parents Podcast with more from Jack Canfield on how to help your young people turn ‘I can’t’ into ‘I can’. For more inspiration from Jack head to www.jackcanfield.com

WIN a Copy of I CAN Believe in Myself Valued at $25.15 I CAN Believe in Myself encourages children to turn their negative thoughts into positive ones, weaving themes of compassion, confidence, and self-esteem into a relatable story about a young girl’s struggle to move beyond her comfort zone and turn the word can’t into can!

I CAN Believe in Myself is available to purchase from www.amazon.com.au For your chance to win a copy of I CAN Believe in Myself, head to www.pakmag.com.au/win and enter our competition.

12 September 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

Advertorial

Successful Transitions with MMCNQ A key process for Mary MacKillop Childcare North Queensland Teachers and Educators is to ensure continuity of care and learning for our children as they transition through our Early Learning Centres and Kindergartens and on to Prep.

MMCNQ Operations Manager Tanya Amos highlighted that according to the Early Years Learning Framework “transitions happen when children leave their parent to be with another person, move between places or change from one activity to another. Different places and spaces have their own purposes, expectations and ways of doing things.”

“There is no question about the importance of a successful transition to school for children” Tanya said.

The significance of this is emphasised in research around the world and it is generally regarded that a successful transition to school results in children having a positive approach in school. A report produced by Charles Sturt University identified a sense of belonging and engagement is linked to later positive educational and social outcomes.

A key question is whether the process of transition is made easier or hindered by the Frameworks and

Curriculums involved; The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia and The Australian Curriculum: Foundation to Year 12.

Tanya said “Educators working within our services value having discussions with parents about their child’s progress and the steps in place to prepare the child for the next phase of their learning.”

“These discussions will have focused on a wide range of topics and shared activities which can occur in order for the children to become familiar with the new environment. Some will also be having discussions about the specific transition requirements for some children with very unique learning needs.

This will ensure all children are provided with an opportunity to experience a successful transition to school” she said.

At MMCNQ each child is supported with their transition, recognising parents, educators, services and schools all play a vital role in supporting children to experience positive outcomes.

Enrolments for Kindergarten in 2022 are now open.

For more information contact enrolment@mmcnq. catholic.edu.au or call 4726 3299.

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Parenting

Protecting our Children’s Mental Health STORY Claire Orange Tucked away in my treasure trove of mothering memories, I can still see the moment like it was yesterday. My first little one, rocking cute dungarees and welly-boots. Crouched over, with his podgy hands tucked between thighs and tummy, completely captivated and mesmerised by a bee dancing on a dandelion.

With a milk-stuffed baby tucked under one arm and a nappy bag in the other, I was barrelling through my ‘must-do’s’ between feeds – in a world of ‘hurry-up, it’s time to go!’ Yet, in that moment, watching the notto-be-hurried discovery and quiet wonderment of my child, I had a beautiful reminder to honour my child’s mental health and wellbeing non-negotiables.

The Childhood Mental Health Non-Negotiables As parents, we’re inundated with education about our child’s diet, sleep, and movement-related physical health needs. We’re schooled in looking for, celebrating, or being concerned about, the achievement of developmental milestones. Yet, in all of that education, how much do we know about the developing mental health of our children; the risk factors and protective factors, the non-negotiables and warning signs?

Being that a firm foundation of mental health in childhood is the most powerful predictor of life success and happiness, leaving it to chance discoveries and realisations is simply not good enough.

Regardless of age, stage or gender, there are fundamentals that every child needs as a firm foundation of mental health and wellbeing. Now that’s not to say that mental illness means that these factors were necessarily missing in childhood, rather, we know that really focusing on these fundamentals is a great mental springboard to start every child with.

These are the Non-Negotiables from Which Great Things Grow • From day one and onwards, eye contact with our babies stimulates something called ‘serve and return’ in their brains. In those moments of face-to-face

connection, something truly beautiful happens.

We turn on love, trust and connection-seeking, and we strengthen attachment and activate empathy.

• Responding to our children’s big and little hurts and frustrations by being calm ourselves and helping our child to become progressively more efficient and independent in finding their own calm, lays the foundation of resilience and coping.

• Like with dandelion gazing, childhood’s slow-ticking clock has its own beat, with so much ‘less’ needed within the ‘more’. Honouring the need for more time to explore, understand, trust and engage, with less hurry-hurry, and less scheduled activities.

• Looking for and celebrating our child’s strengths activates their sense of self-identity, self-worth and self-esteem. It means remembering that their childhood is not ours to fill with our own wishes and preparations for a budding coder, athlete, musician or dancer, but to accept and amplify their gifts, talents and interests.

Those are the childhood mental health non-negotiables, yet, when we set them against the reality of 21st Century family and school life, it’s not hard to see where things might start to go off track. There’s the pull of that shiny little screen gobbling up our attention and interrupting vital serve and return interactions during feeding, play and family time.

Busyness is worn like a crown. “Super-women” are idolised on socials, looking like they’ve got it all effortlessly together, mixing work and regular exercise with raising perfect-looking children, those always with a merit certificate or trophy in hand. The glorification of ‘busy’ has meant a trade-off against honouring the slow-ticking clock of childhood. Too much, too soon and too often.

We Must Get Serious About Protection It should alarm every Australian parent that suicide is the leading cause of death in our young people.

Yes, really. Nationally, we’re experiencing rising levels of childhood anxiety and depression, with the average age

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Parenting

of presentation getting increasingly younger.

One in three girls and one in five boys experience anxiety, and one in seven children have a mental disorder.

Of course, while suicide sits right at the top of the pile of harms that happen, there are others.

Abuse, exploitation, exclusion and over-exposure join the critical drivers of mental ill-health and understanding the pressures of 21st Century life for our young people equips us all to have better protective conversations and actions.

Talking to Children About Suicide With national mental health campaigns destigmatising mental illness and help seeking, it comes hand-in-hand with a higher awareness of suicide which can open the door to some sticky conversations with our young people. It’s a conversation that shoulder partners the sex conversation for many parents in terms of uuughh-factor.

As a parent you might worry that talking about suicide might somehow open your child’s thinking to the possibility. But by taking a positive and proactive approach to talking about mental health being just like dental health – regular check-ups with a bit of work from time-to-time - it becomes less focused on the act of suicide and more focused on the preventative actions.

R U OK? Day is every family’s opportunity to start, and continue, the conversation about mental health. Part of equipping our children for life is normalising that hard stuff happens – to everyone.

That no one gets a leave pass from life’s lemons.

By taking a positive approach to this conversation, we can teach our children to know the signs of feeling overwhelmed and emotionally under-resourced, reassure them that everyone needs help, and that asking for help is strong and courageous. Address the question of, “What is suicide?” if it comes up directly, however, the much more powerful conversation is about the warning signs and ways to find help.

It’s On Us As a therapist I have seen what the very worst moments in a parent’s life look like when it all goes wrong. Borne witness to grief that hurts to be in the presence of. Held space for stories so sad that every cell resonates with pain. The mental health of our children is paramount, it’s vulnerable and it needs our urgent and collective attention.

Protection of our children’s mental health is on us.

It starts in the choices we make in our homes that honour the non-negotiables of a mentally healthy childhood. Managing our own and our child’s device use and digital exposure. Not being a slave to too much, too soon and too busy. Teaching our children to look after their mental health by knowing their own emotional warning signs – and those of others – and to ask for help courageously. We also need to look after our own mental health so that it lights the path to our precious children doing the same. It’s OK not to be OK and to ask for help early, often and effectively – parenting is tough, and life is bumpy. Remember to fit your own oxygen mask first.

To find out more about RU OK? Day and starting the conversation head to www.ruok.org.au

Claire is the mum of four boys, a therapist, an author, media spokesperson, speaker and a passionate advocate for better outcomes for children everywhere. From writing social and emotional wellbeing resources for children, their families, schools and therapists through to speaking nationally and internationally on children’s social and emotional well-being, Claire is dedicated to raising the bar in children’s preventative mental health. Claire is the co-Director of BEST Programs 4 Kids with Helen Davidson and the Director of DiGii Social.

Find out more at www.claireorange.com.au

Podcast: For more on R U OK? Day, and having these tough discussions with your child, tune into Episode 111 of the PakMag Parents Podcast with Claire Orange joining Bree. www.pakmag.com.au

Need Help or Support?

• MensLine Australia - 1300 789 978

• If your life is in danger CALL 000

• QLife (anonymous and free LGBTI peer support and referral)- 1800 184 527 - www.qlife.org.au

If you or someone you care for is in need of immediate assistance you can contact the below National 24/7 Crisis Counselling Services: • Lifeline - 13 11 14 - 24/7 - www.lifeline.org.au

Need More Information / Resources?

• R U OK? - www.ruok.org.au • Mental Health Australia - www.mhaustralia.org

• Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636 -www.beyondblue.org.au

• Head to Health - www.headtohealth.gov.au

• Butterfly Foundation National Helpline (for people affected by eating disorders and negative body image issues) - 1800 334 673 www.butterfly.org.au

• Headspace - www.headspace.org.au

• Kids Helpline - 1800 55 1800- www.kidshelpline.com.au

18 September 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

• Black Dog - www.blackdoginstitute.org.au • ReachOut - www.au.reachout.com • World Mental Health Day - www.1010.org.au

Health

All Things Health Jana Gorski

Postnatal Depletion – What is It and Could I Have It?

Naturopath - Calanna Whole Health Pharmacy

STORY Emma Jensen, Integrative Pharmacist, Australian Nutrition Centre The physical act of growing a baby inside our bodies requires a huge amount of nutrients.

Postnatal Depletion is a term that is associated with many minerals, vitamins and nutrient insufficiencies. This means we are at great risk if we are unnecessarily depleted and our cells and organs aren’t running properly due to the suboptimal levels of nutrients.

Whilst every birth is different, there are five key points every mother should be aware:

1. Boost key nutrients – Magnesium, Zinc, B vitamins and Iron (if you are low) are critical.

2. Remember to eat nutrient dense food like fruit, vegetables and meat.

3. Reduce stress and watch out for adrenal fatigue.

4. Repair the body - Collagen, bone broths and reduce inflammation by avoiding processed foods.

5. Listen to your body – we tend to develop a ‘mother’s intuition’ but we need to use it on ourselves.

Your physical and mental wellbeing is much more important to your kids than the folded washing.

Dear Jana, When it comes to a quality Essential Oil – what am I looking for?

The purity of an essential oil is undeniably important and can be defined as being 100 percent composed of the plant source or plant species that is printed in Latin on the label of the bottle. In other words, the essential oil has not been adulterated or contaminated by potentially toxic or synthetic substances. If the label lists other oils or ‘fragrances’, you haven’t got a pure essential oil. Two batches of the same essential oil can be 100% pure yet still vary in quality; this is because there are many factors that can give rise to natural variations in the composition of the essential oil and its components. This includes the climate, geography, harvest methods, distilling methods followed by the producer, and the time spent under storage conditions. Many Aromatherapists would say that the best oil for you is the one that provides a therapeutic effect.

Calanna Whole Health Pharmacy www.calannapharmacy.com.au

For more advice on treating postnatal depletion, talk to your health practitioner or book a consultation at www.australiannutritioncentre.com.au

Natural Support to Encourage Sleep Sleep is your body’s natural way of healing, repairing and fighting off infections, so it’s important to ensure you receive good quality sleep. Mario’s Range Herbal Sleep Tonic is a blend of Valerian, Passion Flower, Zizyphus, California Poppy and Lavender - specially formulated for those who are suffering from sleepless nights.

This herbal blend encourages the natural production of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is produced by the brain when winding down, relaxing the mind and body which may help you get to sleep, stay asleep and wake fully refreshed. For optimal results, it is recommended that the product is taken twice daily with water or juice.

Find out more about Mario’s Range at www.calannapharmacy.com.au or drop by a 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 | September 2021 21

Advertorial

Does My Child Have a Learning Disorder?

STORY Yolanda van der Kruk - Registered Psychologist, Neurodevelopmental consultant Many children can experience challenges with reading, writing, or performing other learning-related tasks at some point, without it being a learning disorder.

A child with a learning disorder often has a number of related challenges that tend to not go away or get better over time, even when overall intelligence or motivation is not affected. Given that the brain of a child is developing at a fast rate, creating a crucial and opportune time for learning, early identification and intervention are vital. It’s important to note that the signs of learning disabilities vary from child to child and they may not experience all signs.

Common Learning Disabilities and Their Signs Dyslexia Children with dyslexia usually have trouble making the connection between letters and sounds, and with spelling and word recognition. Other signs are having a hard time understanding what others are saying, difficulty organizing written and spoken language, difficulty expressing thoughts or feelings, difficulty understanding questions and following directions, trouble telling left from right.

Dysgraphia A child who has trouble writing or has very poor handwriting and does not outgrow it may have dysgraphia. This disorder may cause a child to be tense

and twist awkwardly when holding a pen or pencil.

Other signs may include a strong dislike of writing and/ or drawing, problems with grammar, and trouble writing down ideas in a logical sequence.

Dyscalculia Signs of Dyscalculia include problems understanding basic arithmetic concepts, such as fractions, number lines, and positive and negative numbers. Other challenges may include difficulty with math-related word problems, trouble making change in cash transactions, messiness in putting math problems on paper.

What You Can Do For Your Child 1. Have regular conversations with your child’s teacher, as they monitor your child’s learning.

2. Keep an eye out for the above signs, and speak to your GP about these signs, to explore the need for a referral for further screening / assessment.

3. Don’t take the “wait and see” approach: there is no time to wait when there are concerns about a child’s learning and development, and there is no harm in screening. Early identification leads to early intervention, key in preventing further challenges during those crucial years of your child’s brain development.

Connect with us at Townsville Paediatrics if you have any concerns about your child’s development.

www.pakmag.com.au | September 2021 23

Puzzle

Parent's Puzzle: Criss-Cross Fill in the blanks with the words. To help you get started, two letters are already in place.

4 Letter Words

7 Letter Words

CAVE DEAL

ALERT BLEND DREAM EVENT FLEET MAPLE PLANS QUILT SCRUB SEWED STAFF STAMP TABLE TASTE TEETH TITLE TOWER TROUT TRUTH URBAN

ADVANCE ALRIGHT ANCIENT APPROVE BARRIER BLANKET CONNECT DECIMAL DELIVER DOLPHIN EVIDENT GESTURE HEALTHY MAXIMUM OUTDOOR PLANTED REFEREE SCARLET SILENCE STRIPED STUDENT TADPOLE TOTALLY UNCOVER

6 Letter Words

12 Letter Words

ADJUST DIPPED GREECE THEORY

AGRICULTURAL MANUFACTURER MATHEMATICAL SATISFACTION

5 Letter Words

Win a Copy of Exit Through The Gift Shop by Maryam Master Anahita Rosalind Ghorban-Galaszczuk (yes, that really is her name but you can call her Ana) is discovering that life is absurd. As if dying of cancer at the age of 12.5 isn't bad enough, she still has to endure daily insults from her nemesis, Alyssa (Queen Mean) Anderson. Ana's on a wild roller-coaster of life and death, kindness and cruelty, ordinary and extraordinary. And she's got a few things to do before she exits . . . $16.99 - www.panmacmillan.com.au Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win!

Competition closes 30/10/2021. No need to submit ativities in to enter.

24 September 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

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

Pull-out kids activity mag!

Exclusive to cinemas from SEPTEMBER 16

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For your chance to WIN a family pass to PAW PATROL: THE MOVIE enter at www.pakmag.com.au/win.

Competition closes 17/09/2021. No need to submit activity to enter.

Connect the dots then colour in!

Lead the bird to the flowers then colour the maze in!

Win a Burping Bobby Game Worth $39.99!

Bobby loves stinky food! Feed him, but watch out – you never know when he’s going to BUUUURRRRP! Real lights and steam will burst from his mouth when he burps! The player with the most points after Bobby burps wins. Now available at all leading retailers. www.crownandandrews.com Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win!

Competition closes 30/10/2021. No need to submit ativities to enter.

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Win a Pop The Pig Game Worth $39.99!

Who’s going to Pop The Pig? Roll the die to see which coloured hamburger to select, choose a burger and turn it over to reveal the number. Then, put the burger into Pig’s mouth and pump Pig’s head the number of times as shown on the burger. The more you pump, the more his belly grows until . . . POP! Pop the Pig provides hours of fun and is completely kid powered (no batteries needed). Now available at all retailers. www.crownandandrews.com Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win!

Competition closes 30/10/2021. No need to submit ativities to enter.

Adult Colouring

Win an Evidence Skincare (ESK) Essentials Kit Worth $189.00!

The perfect introduction into the world of cosmeceuticals, the Essentials Kit by Australia's leading skincare brand, Evidence Skincare (ESK), contains the exfoliating Hydroxy Cleanser, niacinamide-based B Calm emulsion, and the brand's cult favourite, Ultimate A, an evening night cream containing the superior form of vitamin A, retinal. Founded by Australian GP and TV personality, Dr. Ginni Mansberg, the kit actively smooths skin, strengthens skin barrier function and rebuilds collagen on a cellular level. Ideal for beginners, the Essentials Kit is a powerful anti-ageing and anti-acne system for adults of all ages. www.eskcare.com Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win!

Competition closes 30/10/2021. No need to submit ativity to enter.

www.pakmag.com.au | September 2021 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!

Peace Fabric Wall Decal from Growing Kind $64.95 www.growingkind.com.au Remove and reuse this inspirational “Peace” poster decal over and over! It’s easy to use – simply peel and stick. No framing, no hanging and no holes in the wall that need patching if you change your mind.It’s eco-friendly and non-toxic – free from harmful phthalates, has a beautiful fabric finish and is Australian made.

Size: 50 x 70cm

VTech Tummy Time Discovery Pillow $39.95 - www.target.com.au The soft Tummy Time Discovery Pillow features a friendly giraffe and provides comfortable support for your baby with three ways to play. The crescent-shaped pillow provides support during tummy time play as your child begins strengthening their neck muscles and supports them while they’re learning to sit on their own. The pillow has multiple textures, patterns and colours for visual and tactile stimulation. Light-up piano keys on the removable piano introduce numbers, colours, shapes and animals, and play sing-along nursery rhymes, music and short tunes. The removable baby-safe mirror and rattle are perfect for on the go play.

Enbacci Complete Body Firming Lotion Pioneering the use of stem cell technology in Australia, luxury skincare brand, Enbacci, unveils the science behind their revolutionary Complete Body Firming Lotion, crediting the stem cells of a 11,700 year old plant, the Saponaria Pumila, for its firming and toning abilities. As the first allover body treatment in Australia to contain Saponaria Pumila stem cells, the Complete Body Firming Lotion by Enbacci combines a host of natural ingredients, such as Sunflower Seed Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Macadamia Oil, Shea Butter and Lecithin, to energise dermal skin cell activity, improve moisture retention and re-densify sagging, tired and postpregnancy skin. $80.00 - www.enbacci.com

30 September 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

Bump, Bub and Beyond

Helpful Tips for a Great Start to Fatherhood STORY Sara Williams After nine months of organising the house, scrolling through baby names and feeling the kicks in your partners belly, the big day you’ve been waiting for has finally arrived. You are now a father! No matter how much research you’ve done, nothing can prepare you for being a dad quite like your first newborn.

Looking After Yourself and Your Partner Once upon a time it was just the two of you and now your adorable bundle has brought unconditional love, laughter, tears, and sleepless nights. Check in to see how each other is going and do things together that you used to. Keep the communication open as you find your way through new changes such as parenting, housework and finances. Spending time alone, with friends and meeting other parents are all important factors that contribute to overall happier mental wellbeing. It can put you at ease to share challenges, advice and funny stories with someone who understands how equally difficult and incredible this time of your life is.

Drop it like a Tot!

How Can I Connect with My Newborn?

Studies have shown that babies are born with a keen sense of rhythm. Even though they can’t ‘boogie’ from birth, their beat perception is there and they can respond to the rhythm and tempo of music. According to the research, they find music more engaging than speech! So, turn on the tunes for those ‘tiny dancers.’

Your baby may not be able to walk, talk and play yet but there are many ways you can connect with your baby. Spending quality time with your little one early will strengthen your bond from the get go.

Talking, reading and singing songs to your baby enables them to become familiar with your voice and learn early stages of language development.

Soothing bub through burping, cuddling and gently rocking will build their trust. You can also connect by pulling silly faces and tickling toes while changing nappies and bathing.

www.pakmag.com.au | September 2021 31

Education

Pleasurable Food Education: Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program STORY Josephene Duffy, Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation CEO Learning through hands-on activity is a sure-fire way of engaging children and young people, and is one of the winning attributes of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program.

Positive Food Habits for Life Primary and secondary schools, as well as early childhood services across the country are using the Foundation’s Pleasurable Food Education model to teach children and young people how to grow, harvest, prepare and share fresh, seasonal, delicious food.

From sowing seeds in the garden and harvesting the produce, to cooking and sharing food together children and young people learn valuable practical skills and positive food habits, as well as important life skills such as cooperation, sharing, critical thinking and leadership.

It’s also a beautiful way of building school pride and community, with many kitchen gardens becoming a hub for the broader community.

Learning Through Action The benefits of a kitchen garden program are enormous, with countless opportunities to reinforce literacy, numeracy, and all areas of the curriculum, including cross-curriculum priorities.

A kitchen garden program can facilitate learning and development approaches such as STEM, wellbeing programs and project-based learning.

The program opens up learning, offering alternate ways of engaging that have been proven to motivate disengaged learners, as well as work pathways.

“Each week after kitchen and garden classes, students undertake literacy and numeracy follow-up activities, such as writing procedural texts, writing narratives based in the kitchen or garden, identifying origins of food from around the world and drawing maps of the garden.” – Louisa Carey, Program Coordinator, Hallam Primary School, Victoria

Start Small and Grow Starting a kitchen garden program does not require costly infrastructure. The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation provides a program framework that is affordable, self-paced, easily accessible, and adaptable to any school environment, using the resources at hand. The Foundation team works with teachers and educators to provide support and guidance throughout their entire journey.

Visit www.kitchengardenfoundation.org.au or contact the team on support@kitchengardenfoundation.org.au or 13000 SAKGF (1300 072 543) to learn more.

www.pakmag.com.au | September 2021 33

Education

What’s growing in the garden at Mt Molloy State School?

Growing, harvesting, preparing and sharing is at the heart of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program, and students at Mt Molloy State School shared with us what they have been enjoying in their kitchen garden sessions this term.

classroom follow ups are abundant, with students from Prep to Year 3 transferring their experiences into English classes, creating wonderfully descriptive texts on pasta.

Pumpkins have also been in abundance in the garden at Mt Molloy and these are one of the easiest-growing veggies around. The pumpkin vines do need a bit of space to ramble, but if you plant them near the edge,

Late autumn and winter in northern Queensland is the perfect time for greens, and students have been harvesting winged beans, mustard greens, Ceylonese spinach and other various tropical spinaches, as well as beautiful aromatic parsley, basil and chives, to create mouth-watering stir fries.

Easy to grow and chock full of nutrients like vitamins A and C, potassium and folate, leafy greens can be used in so many ways: as an accompaniment to meat and other vegetables, in spanakopita (spinach and feta pie), or in soups and salads. To try them in a stir-fry see the Kitchen Garden Foundation’s Chinese Greens Stir-Fried with Soy Sauce and Ginger recipe at www.pakmag.com.au Pasta is another year-round favourite, with the smallest of children able to mix, knead, roll and shape. Mt Molloy State School reports that much fun is had in the kitchen on pasta-making days, and that

you can train the vines and allow space for other veggies, such as beans and spinach which they grow well with. They are a satisfying crop and at Mt Molloy, the students have used their harvest to perfect the school’s signature Roasted Pumpkin and Fetta Pizza with fresh rosemary, in preparation for the opening of the students’ own Pumpin’ Pizzas Restaurant.

Josephene Duffy is the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation’s CEO. Josephene has been with the Foundation since 2008, across roles in communications, partnerships, knowledge brokering and government relations, providing her with indepth experience of the Foundation and its community. The Foundation’s vision is to see children form positive food habits for life. We support schools and early learning centres to deliver pleasurable food education through a kitchen garden program. The program is integrated with the curriculum and changes food behaviour and culture. A response to the childhood obesity crisis, it can also address education, sustainability, social cohesion and community wellbeing challenges.

Podcast: To find out more about The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation and how to engage young people in growing and cooking with fresh vegetables, tune into episode 112 of the PakMag Parents Podcast with the Foundation’s CEO Josephine Duffy joining Bree.

34 September 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

Advertorial

100 Days of Prep With great anticipation and excitement, children at Townsville Grammar School’s two Junior School Campuses marked a significant milestone on Wednesday, 28 July – 100 days of Prep.

To celebrate, children from the North Shore Campus travelled to the Annandale Campus for a combined ‘100’ themed party. The children and their teachers came to school dressed as 100-year-olds and enjoyed 100-themed food, games and activities.

Principal of Townsville Grammar School said the 100 days of Prep milestone is always a great day in the Junior School calendar. “It is very important to celebrate this significant day with our youngest Grammarians,” said Mr Kelly. “It is such a fantastic way to build excitement about learning, and the children have gained a real sense of achievement. We look forward to their next 100 days!”

The Townsville Grammar School Prep Program offers:

• Full-time Teacher Aides in each Prep classroom • Specialist Teachers for Music, Library, Performing Arts, Sport and Languages

Learning • Foundation for the Grammar approach to learning • Optimised class sizes • Dedicated Prep precincts • Music Program • Sports and Swimming Program

Pastoral Care • ‘Positive Education’ pastoral care program • Transition to Year 1 Program (Semester 2 focused) • Upper School Buddy Program

Convenience for Families

Teaching Teams

• Two Campus locations - Annandale and North Shore

• Early childhood trained Teachers

• TGS Bus service linking the three Campuses

www.pakmag.com.au | September 2021 37

School Holiday Guide

School Holiday Guide Queensland Ballet - Elite Training Series The Elite Training Series is a unique opportunity for advanced students to work with Queensland Ballet Academy’s world-class faculty. Participants from 9 years of age will enjoy professional training in ballet, pointe work and male technique*, contemporary dance and repertoire, as well as a Q & A / Information forum to find out more about Queensland Ballet Academy and working towards a career in the industry. *Pointe work will only be included in the older group and male technique will be scheduled subject to male participant numbers.

8.00am - 5.30pm, Tuesday, 28 September | Suitable for dancers 9 - 17 years Cost: $75.00 - Participants 9 - 10 years, $130.00 Participants 11 years + A Townsville Academy of Performing Arts, 14 Black Hawk Blvd, Thuringowa Central Queensland Ballet www.queenslandballet.com.au/events

Ninja Parc Ninja Parc taps into the very essence of childhood: play and adventure. Kids can channel their inner Ninja Warrior and put themselves to the test. With a focus on making fitness fun and accessible for all ages and abilities, Ninja Parc has it all: a general indoor obstacle course, fitness classes for adults and kids, birthday parties, school holiday programs for kids aged 6 - 14, parkour classes, and an on-site café! The courses also change up every three months to ensure there is variety and new obstacles to attack. They cater to all ages, offering Mini Ninja classes for ages 3 - 6, Little Ninja classes for ages 7 - 12, and a free one week trial for teens and adults. Costs start from $19.95 for a one hour Casual Play Pass.

A 18 Black Hawk Boulevard, Thuringowa Central P 0427 139 762 E townsville@ninjaparc.com.au Ninja Parc Townsville www.ninjaparc.com.au

Wildcatz Indoor Sports Wildcatz Indoor Sports offer a fun and social way to exercise, get fit and have fun. There’s plenty of fun for adults too - from social teams through to competitive

levels. Nominate a team with your friends, or let the staff find a suitable team for you. Rain or shine, it’s always time for a game at Wildcatz Indoor Sports.

A 18 Black Hawk Boulevard, Thuringowa Central P 4723 1414 E info@wildcatzindoorsports.com.au Wildcatz Indoor Sports (Official) www.wildcatzindoorsports.com.au

King Reef Resort If you’re looking to revitalise in paradise, gather the family and head to the gorgeous King Reef Resort at Kurrimine Beach. Explore all day, swim in the tranquil ocean or pool, build sandcastles on the beach and return to relax with a gorgeous sunset view from your beachfront shack. You can also hire a family pedal bike, go fishing, and more – the possibilities are endless. And don’t forget, the 18 - 19 September will be the last time this year that the tides are low enough for you to walk out to the reef!

A 75 Jacobs Rd, Kurrimine Beach P 4065 6144 E info@kingreef.com.au King Reef Resort www.kingreef.com.au

The CaPTA Group Holidaying in Cairns? The CaPTA Group Annual Pass allows you to have 12 months unlimited admission to the beautiful Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome, Rainforestation Nature Park and Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas.

Cost: $260.00 for a family, $104.00 for an Adult, $52.00 for a child. Visit the website for terms and conditions. Covid-19 restrictions apply. www.capta.com.au

Outer Limits Adventure Junior Camp Day Program The day programs are for 10 -14 year olds who would like to spend a fun day out, challenging themselves and making new friends and memories. Activities include high ropes and archery tag games.

Cost: $75.00 per person, per day and includes morning, tea, lunch, and transport to and from Paluma.

Pick up and drop off from Woolcock St. When: The camp is held on two days, 20 and 21 September and runs from 8.00am to 4.30pm. www.outerlimitsadventure.com.au

We have done our best to ensure all events and information was correct at the time of going to print.

Please check with individual businesses and authorities during these uncertain times.

www.pakmag.com.au | September 2021 39

School Holiday Guide

Kumon Maths and English

Little Lifesavers School Holiday Program

Kumon’s Maths and English programs build students’ abilities step-by-step, at the students’ own pace.

Students who missed essential concepts in class can go back and catch-up, and if your child needs a bit of extra help after-school, or if they need a challenge, then Kumon is here to help. The flexibility of Kumon’s learning options and being a home based programme means Kumon will suit any family’s schedule. There is an initial enrolment fee of $100.00, and a monthly fee of $140.00 per student, per subject.

Surf Life Saving Queensland have the school holidays covered! Their Little Lifesavers program, supported

by Kumon, is a fun way for kids to learn about water safety, all while keeping them entertained these school holidays. Children will have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of water activities, beach games and rescue techniques in flat water, giving them the confidence to take their skills to the beach. The program is designed to be fun and engaging and help increase your child’s skills and confidence in the water!

For children 5 to 11 years old.

P 0424 155 171 Pimlico Kumon Townsville - Pimlico Education Centre P 0417 070 826 Kirwan Kumon Townsville - Kirwan Education Centre www.kumoneducation.com.au

Cost: $150.00 When: 30 September to 1 October A 80 The Strand, North Ward, Queensland, 4810 P +61 07 3846 8000 lifesaving.com.au/courses-and-programs

Mary MacKillop Childcare NQ Make this school holiday season less stressful by booking your child into part time or full time vacation care at one of the 14 Mary MacKillop Childcare NQ Outside School Hours Care centres. Vacation Care services are located at many Catholic Schools across the Diocese in Mount Isa, Charters Towers, Ingham, Proserpine, Bowen and Townsville.

As part of the vacation care program, children aged 5 - 11 years will engage in fun activities and excursions that are supervised by caring, qualified staff, all in a safe and nurturing environment that encourages free learning. Care hours vary - visit their website to find a Vacation Care program near you.

P 1300 KINDERGARTEN E childcare@mmcnq.catholic.edu.au Townsville Catholic Education www.mmcnq.catholic.edu.au

Kurrimine Beach Walk To The Reef Kurrimine Beach is one of the closest beaches to the Great Barrier Reef, a handful of times each year the tide is low enough to walk out and explore King Reef.

The 18 - 19 September will be the last time this year that the tides are low enough, so don’t miss your chance!

Be prepared to get a little wet as the water will still be thigh high, and the 800m trek tends to take 30 to 45 minutes. And if you’re staying nearby, check in at your accommodation for some local advice on where to start from and the best time to leave. There are often groups heading out.

A Kurrimine Beach

TYTO - The Hinchinbrook Way

Fairfield Central Fairfield Central also has over 40 specialty stores, cafés and restaurants to enjoy. Fairfield eats is open seven days a week until late. Kids will love to play in the indoor space Fairfield Play, located in front of Coles.

It has a unique wooden, Australiana themed play space, equipped with puzzle walls that will help keep your little ones entertained while you take a break and relax.

There is also a Fairfield Dog Park so bring your furry friend along.

During the school holidays, there will also be a range of activities to help keep the kids occupied, happening outside Coles. Bookings are not required, but there are limited numbers per workshop.

TYTO is open 365 days a year and is the perfect place for a family day trip of relaxation and education. There is a Regional Art Gallery, a mini military museum, parklands and wetlands, a library and more. From TYTO you can explore Hinchinbrook, a place of beauty surrounded by attractions, including Wallaman Falls – the largest single drop waterfall in the Southern Hemisphere!

A 73/75 Mcilwraith St, Ingham P 4776 4792 Visit TYTO www.tyto.com.au

Pandanus Park Golf Centre

Garden Craft Activities Monday, 27 September to Wednesday, 29 September / 10.00am - 1.00pm / FREE

Get the kids off the iPad and outside for some fun! Kids of all ages can come and try golf at Pandanus Park Golf Centre’s undercover driving range, where they can learn and practice how to hold a golf club, practice their handeye coordination, and see how far they can hit the ball.

The golf centre is open seven days a week, bookings not required. Kids aged 14 and under can play from $10.00 each with the ‘Have-A-Go Pack’, which includes a small bucket of 45 balls and Kids Club hire. Adults from $12.00 each. Visit the website for more information.

A Cnr Waterfront Parade and Lakeside Dr P 4778 4249 E fairfieldCManagement@lancinigroup.com.au Fairfield Central fairfieldcentral.com.au

A 2 Tompkins Road, Shaw P 4774 6532 E hello@pandanusparkgolfcentre.com.au Pandanus Park www.pandanusparkgolfcentre.com.au

Rock Painting Workshops Thursday, 23 September to Saturday, 25 September / 10.00am - 1.00pm / FREE

40 September 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

We have done our best to ensure all events and information was correct at the time of going to print.

Please check with individual businesses and authorities during these uncertain times.

School Holiday Guide

Warrina Ice Skating

Cost: $30.00 for the full three days

Escape the heat and have a cool time these summer holidays with family and friends at Townsville’s very own ice skating rink. Test your abilities or simply have a fun time sliding and gliding around on any day of the week. All sessions are 90 minutes long, from 9.00am to 4.00pm. Don’t want to skate? Tobogganing is only $5.00 for six whole slides! Visit the website below for more information. Cost includes skate hire and starts from $10.00 for children aged 5 and under, $16.00 for 6 - 14 year olds, $18.00 for 15 and older, and $65.00 for a family pass.

When: 9.00am - 4.00pm, 20 September to 22 September.

There are limited spots so remember to register.

You can also get groovy at Disco Night, on every Friday and Saturday 7.00pm - 9.00pm.

A 3/5 Illuka St, Currajong P 0407 988 628 Warrina Ice Skating Rink www.warrinaiceskating.com.au

Billabong Sanctuary Get up close and personal with a huge variety of native Australian animals at the Billabong Sanctuary.

Hand feed kangaroos, hold a koala, watch the amazing crocodile feeding shows and more. Learn about Pythons at the Reptile Show or check out the bird flight shows.

The Vacation Care Program also provides an outdoor classroom where children can engage in adventures that teach and inspire them to respect and look after nature. They can spend the day interacting with the friendly animals in a safe environment and have a tonne of fun while building confidence. The program costs $15.00 per child and $25.00 for adults.

A 17km South of Townsville on the Bruce Highway P 4778 8344 E admin@billabongsanctuary.com.au Billabong Sanctuary www.billabongsanctuary.com.au

Create Camp NQ Start the school holidays at Create Camp for three days of games, art, craft, STEM, music, and drama activities.

Perfect for keeping the young ones in grades 3 - 6 entertained.

A Willows Presbyterian Church, Kirwan sucamps.org.au

PCYC Townsville The Police-Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) is a provider of youth and community programs, facilities and more.

They provide a large number of children with Outside School Hours Care which includes quality leisure-based experiences focusing on the emotional, social and physical development of young people. There are also a variety of fun programs and activities for all ages and levels, including gymnastics, gym and fitness, plus other community activities. This includes KinderGym, recreational gymnastics, gym sports, competitive gymnastics programs and more! Visit the website to find your nearest PCYC branch and for more information.

A French St, Pimlico P 4781 9100 E townsville@pcyc.org.au PCYC Townsville www.pcyc.org.au

Join the Giant Water Hunt Discover the Giant Water Hunt in Anderson Gardens!

This immersive hunt uses augmented reality (AR) to bring artwork to life through your smartphone.

Find each artwork and collect all the Water Smart Coins to become a Water Saving Detective! whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au

Perc Tucker Gallery Check out what there is to do these school holidays through Perc Tucker Regional Gallery with FREE online Art Workshops and Resources. Don’t forget to pop in and view some of the amazing exhibitions on display too!

A Cnr Denham and Flinders Streets P 13 48 10 www.townsville.qld.gov.au

We have done our best to ensure all events and information was correct at the time of going to print.

Please check with individual businesses and authorities during these uncertain times.

www.pakmag.com.au | September 2021 43

Daddy Diary

Daddy Diary Being a parent is a little like the 1993 Bill Murray comedy ‘Groundhog Day’. If you haven’t seen the film; it’s about a weatherman named Phil who wakes up and relives the same exact day over and over again. From memory, his day repeats a few hundred times. And this my friends takes me back to my original statement.

Parenting life is like Groundhog Day. So, in an effort to get this of my chest, (a problem shared - is a problem halved), I proudly present the parental list of things that happen to me (and most parents) – day, after day, after day, after day, after day, after day – you get the point.

• Play ‘20 Questions’ on random topics. Today’s topic was: ‘why aren’t dogs blue?’

• Fill water bottles, and put them back in the fridge.

Elephants can drink up to 100 litres of water a day. I reckon my family could give them a run for their money.

• Pack, and unpack the dishwasher.

• Hear the statement “I’m hungry”.

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

• Vacuum. Thank the lord for the cordless Dyson.

• Referee arguments. Leaving the hospital with a second-born should come with a complimentary whistle.

• Hear the statement “I’m hungry”.

• Change the TV channel to ‘22’ - even if I’m watching it first.

• Straighten up the stools under the kitchen bench.

This is probably just a Cliffo thing.

• Hear the statement “I’m hungry”.

• Shout “get that out of your mouth!”

• Pick up toys that mysteriously make their way into the living room. It’s like ‘Toy Story’ at our place.

• Have our two-year-old son Charlie yell “swing” at me.

It’s his not-so-subtle hint that it’s time for me to drop what I’m doing – immediately - to push him on the swing. This is one on the list I actually like.

• Hear the statement “I’m hungry”. Noticing a theme yet?

It’s quite the list really. And it certainly is not exclusive to me and my better half. Being a parent to kidletts is a repetitive merry-go-round. But it’s also the best ride of your life. Who else would you do it all for, other than you kids, every single day? Probably no one. Anyway, for now - I better run. I want to cut out the above list and keep it in a safe place for when my kids have kids of their own. Payback sucks.

Cliffo Hit 103.1

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What’s On WEDNESDAY 1 SEPTEMBER Understory Film Festival Entries Open Entries close 7 October filmfreeway.com Aspiring, emerging and professional filmmakers from Townsville to Cairns, across Cape York, the Gulf of Carpentaria region and the Torres Strait Islands are all invited to submit films. FREE to enter Kidzfit at Genesis Health + Fitness Runs every Wednesday Genesis Health & Fitness Thuringowa Genesis Health and Fitness Thuringowa P 4723 1490 3.45pm / $3.00 per child, $25.00 for a 10-class pass / 5 - 10 years (fully-supervised) City Libraries Baby Rhyme Time Runs every Wednesday (School terms only) CityLibraries Thuringowa Central whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 9.00am / FREE - Bookings required / 0 - 5 years City Libraries Toddler Time Runs every (School terms only) CityLibraries Thuringowa Central

With HIT 103.1’s Cliffo & Gabi

whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 10.30am / FREE - Bookings required / 0 - 5 years

available. Please Note: Townsville Residents are half price of general admission / G

First 5 Forever Storytime Runs every week Home Hill Branch Library www.burdekin.qld.gov.au 10.30am - 11.30am / FREE / For children aged 0 - 5 years old

THURSDAY 2 SEPTEMBER

Zumba with Merryl Runs Wednesdays except public school holidays Heatley Community Centre

Monthly Comedy Open Mic at Molly’s Molly Malone’s Irish Pub whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 7.00pm / $10.00 / 15 years +

6.00pm / $10.00 per session / G - All ages Exhibition: Ancient Rome: The Empire that Shaped the World Runs until 9 November Museum of Tropical Queensland mtq.qm.qld.gov.au 9.30am - 4.00pm daily / FREE (Under 3) - $15.00 (Adult), Annual and Family Passes also available. Please Note: Townsville Residents are half price of general admission / G Exhibition: Antiquities Revealed (showcasing objects from ancient Greek, Roman and Egyptian civilisations) Runs until 31 October Museum of Tropical Queensland mtq.qm.qld.gov.au 9.30am - 4.00pm daily / FREE (Under 3) - $15.00 (Adult), Annual and Family Passes also

46 September 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

Sealink Magnetic Island Race Week Runs until 9 September www.magneticislandraceweek. com.au

City Libraries Baby Rhyme Time Runs every Thursday (School terms only) CityLibraries Thuringowa Central whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 11.00am / FREE - Bookings required / 0 - 5 years First 5 Forever Storytime Runs every Thursday (School terms only) CityLibraries Thuringowa Central www.townsville.qld.gov.au 9.00am - 10.30am / FREE / G (0 - 5 years) First 5 Forever Storytime Runs every Thursday Hinchinbrook Shire Library www.hinchinbrookway.com.au 10.30am - 11.00am / FREE / G (0 - 5 years)

Pickleball Townsville Social Play Runs weekly on Thursday Tennis Townsville, Burke Street Pickleball Townsville 5.00pm - 7.00pm / First time is FREE, $7.00 for returning players / G Pete the Sheep Townsville Civic Theatre whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 6.00pm / $15.00 - $20.00 / G East Ayr State School presents Shrek the Musical Jr. Burdekin Theatre www.burdekintheatre.com.au 6.30pm - 7.30pm / $13.00 $30.00 / G Qld Collective for Inclusive Education Peer Support Family coffee morning for connection with others interested in pursuing an inclusive education Fish Inn at Rockpool www.qcie.org 10.00 am - 12.00 pm / G Community Fair Runs until 3 September Townsville Christian College www.tsvcc.qld.edu.au 6.00 pm / $30.00 - 1 child, $50.00 - 2 children, $70.00 3 children / G

FRIDAY 3 SEPTEMBER A Journey Through Images: 40 Years of Perc Tucker Regional Gallery Runs until 28 November Perc Tucker Regional Gallery www.townsville.qld.gov.au/ptrg 10.00am - 5.00pm (Tuesday Friday) and 10.00am - 1.00pm (Saturday - Sunday) / FREE Admission / G Northreach Playgroup Also on 17th September Northreach Baptist Church Northreach Playgroup 9.15 am - 11.15 am / $5.00 per session or $20.00 per term Disco Night Ice Skating Runs every Friday and Saturday night Warrina Ice Skating warrinaiceskating.com.au 7.00pm - 9.00pm / $10.00 $22.00 / G Haunted Charters Towers Ghost Tour Runs every Friday and Saturday night Charters Towers charterstowersghosttours.com.au 7.30pm - 9.00pm / $15.00 $65.00 / 10 years + Celebrating Science: Trivia After Dark Museum of Tropical Queensland mtq.qtix.com.au 6.30pm - 8.30pm / $10.00 / 15 + Lunch for Liptember Raising awareness for Women’s Mental Health Peppers Blue on Blue www.magneticislandraceweek. com.au 12.00pm - 3.00pm / $90.00 $100.00 / 15 + Townsville Grammar School Fathers’ Day Long Lunch Picnic Bay Surf Life Saving Club www.tgs.qld.edu.au 12.00 pm - 5.00pm / $75.00 / G

Paul Ettore Tabone Sings Golden Days Also runs on 5 September Ingham Picture Theatre www.paultabone.com 7.00pm and 3.00pm / $20.00 $30.00 / G SATURDAY 4 SEPTEMBER North Queensland Toyota Cowboys V Manly Sea Eagles Queensland Country Bank Stadium queenslandcountrybankstadium. com.au 5.30pm / Tickets from $21.36 / G Chalk About Mental Health The Oasis Townsville www.theoasistownsville.org.au 9.00am - 1.00pm / FREE / G Father’s Day Memorial A special memorial to remember those close to us who we have lost Belgian Gardens Cemetery whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 9.00am - 10.00am / FREE / G The Untimate ABBA Show presented by Stage Door Enterprises Pty Ltd. Runs every Saturday until 22 Jan 2022 and every second Friday until 21 January 2022 Stage Door Theatre Restaurant www.stagedoortheatre.com.au 5.00pm / Tickets from $79.00 / PG Bowen Parkrun Runs weekly on Saturdays The Pocket, Bowen www.parkrun.com.au 7.00am / FREE - please register before you first come along / 4 years +, although prams are also welcome.

Man With A Pram - Annual Father’s Day Fundraiser Kissing Point Fortification www.manwithapram.com

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

9.30am - 11.00am / FREE / Registration required DiaBuddies Day - children and young adults raising awareness of Type 1 diabetes Billabong Sanctuary diabetesqld.org.au 10.00am - 2.00pm / $15.00 / G Baby Bunny Paint and Sip Tipsy Doodle at Fur-Mum’s www.tipsydoodle.com.au 6.30pm - 9.30pm / $48.56 / Kids are welcome, aged 8 + Block Printing on Fabric Locale Coworking at Jungle Club Erin Ricardo Art 10.00am - 1.00pm / $55.00 / 16 + SUNDAY 5 SEPTEMBER

CityLibraries Baby Rhyme Time Runs every Tuesday (School terms only) Townsville Stadium whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 10:30am / FREE - Bookings required / 0 - 5 years PlayConnect Playgroup QLD Runs every week on Tuesday during school terms until 14 September Currajong OSHC Centre www.playgroupqld.com.au 9.30am - 11.30am / FREE / families and carers of children 0 - 6 with Autism Spectrum Disorder or developmental delays Family Fun Day Garbutt Community Centre www.townsvillefamilylife.com 10.00am - 12.00pm / FREE / G

Father’s Day Happy Father’s Day Dads!

Woofstock Townsville - A Festival For Dogs Townsville Showground Woofstock Townsville, woofstock.com.au 8.30 am - 3.00pm / $5.00 for adults / G, Dog Friendly Pickleball Townsville - Sunday Runs weekly on Sunday Tennis Townsville, Burke Street Pickleball Townsville 3.00pm - 6.00pm / First time is FREE, $7.00 for returning players / G Child Protection Week Runs until Saturday 11 September Find events near you on their website childprotectionweek.org.au TUESDAY 7 SEPTEMBER CityLibraries Toddler Time Runs every Tuesday (School terms only) Townsville Stadium whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 9.00am / FREE - Bookings required / 0 - 5 years

Townsville Eisteddfod Runs until 25 September Townsville Civic Theatre townsvilleeisteddfod.org $2.00 - $11.00, Season passes also available / G Introducing Solids CityLibraries Aitkenvale www.townsville.qld.gov.au 9.30am - 10.30am / FREE / 18 + THURSDAY 9 SEPTEMBER R U OK? Day Nationwide www.ruok.org.au Family Fun Day Upper Ross Community Centre www.townsvillefamilylife.com 9.30am - 11.30pm / FREE / G FRIDAY 10 SEPTEMBER GaLS Regatta Runs until 12 September Townsville Yacht Club townsvilleyachtclub.com.au Various races and session / $140.00 registration cost

www.pakmag.com.au | September 2021 47

What’s On FRIDAY 10 SEPTEMBER

SUNDAY 12 SEPTEMBER

Foots Hill Blues & Roots Festival Runs until 12 September Foot Hills Station www.townsvillescoop.com.au 10.00am / $60.00 Day passes, $110.00 Ticket and one-night Camping, $200.00 full weekend and camping passes

Renegade Handmade Market Marian School Hall Renegade Handmade Market 8.00am - 1.00pm / FREE / G

KLP Charity Golf Day Rowes Bay Golf Club townsvilletickets.com.au 7.30am - 12.00pm / $80.00 $100.00 / 15 + Ayr State High School presents Rock of Ages 101 Runs until 11 September Burdekin Theatre www.burdekintheatre.com.au 8.00 pm / $28.00 - $38.00 / G Bravehearts White Balloon Day Wear white and raise funds for child protection whiteballoonday.com.au SATURDAY 11 SEPTEMBER Townsville Relay For Life St Joseph’s Catholic School, Mundingburra secure.fundraising.cancer.org.au 1.00pm - 10.00pm / G Paul Ettore Tabone Sings Golden Days Townsville Choral Society www.paultabone.com 3.00pm / $20.00 - $30.00 / G Ingham Sugar City Rodeo Jubilee Year Ingham Showgrounds Ingham Sugar City Rodeo 9.00am / $10.00 - $25.00 / G Stable on the Strand -Celebrating 20 Years Virtual Event Set up or join a party, they’ll provide online challenges, entertainment, auctions, games, fun and fundraising activities. www.stableonthestrand.com.au FREE - $20.00 / G Home Hill Harvest Festival 2021 Launch Canefields Ephemera, runs until 8 November Lloyd Mann Gardens hhharvestfestival.com.au

4X4 Fun Day Millchester Motor Sport Recreation Facility, Charters Towers CT 4x4 Club Inc Welcoming Babies Special Edition Three sessions to welcome the city’s youngest residents Rainforest Lawn, Palmetum Gardens, Annandale whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 10.30am, 12.00pm, 1.30pm / FREE Bookings essential / G TUESDAY 14 SEPTEMBER JCU Virtual Open Day www.jcu.edu.au 4.00pm - 7.00pm / FREE Registration required Townsville Design Thinking Mastery for Teachers All-inclusive professional development on Design Thinking for Queensland School Secondary Teachers Townsville Manufacturing Hub www.eventbrite.com.au 8.30am - 4.30pm / $40.00 WEDNESDAY 15 SEPTEMBER

Oktoberfest at The Taphouse The Taphouse Townsville E info@thetaphouse.com.au 11.00am / FREE Entry / 18 +

10.00am - 12.00pm / $6.00 / 11 and under

MONDAY 20 SEPTEMBER

Neck Of The Woods Music Festival (New date) Anderson Park Botanical Gardens www.eventbrite.com.au 1.00pm - 10.30pm / $59.11 - $90.76, Kids under 12 FREE (must be accompanied by a responsible adult)/ G

JCU STAR: School Tuition and Revision Workshops - Maths Methods Course runs until 22 September James Cook University future.jcu.edu.au 8.30am - 12.30pm / $325.00 / Year 12 students Townsville Spring School Holiday Cartooning Workshops Runs until 24 September Various locations whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au Various times / $35.00 - $55.00 /G Townsville Golf Club School Holiday Program Runs until 22 September Townsville Golf Club whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au, townsvillegolfclub.com.au 3.00pm - 6.00pm / $39.00 / Ages 5 - 12 years Create Camp NQ Runs until 22 September Willows Presbyterian Church sucamps.org.au 9.00am - 4.00pm / $30.00 / Grades 3 - 6

Migi Yarn Women’s Circle Runs every 3rd Wednesday of the month until 20 October CityLibraries Aitkenvale www.townsville.qld.gov.au 12.30pm / FREE - Bookings required / G

Outer Limits Adventure Junior Camp Day Program Also rus 21 September Paluma www.outerlimits adventure.com.au 8.00am - 4.30pm / $75.00 / 10 14 year olds

SATURDAY 18 SEPTEMBER

FRIDAY 24 SEPTEMBER

Sounds of Rock Music Festival Townsville Turf Club Sounds Of Rock Townsville 1.00pm - 9.00pm / $103.80 $114.00 / 18 +

Hotel California: The Eagles Experience World Theatre Charters Towers www.worldtheatre.com.au 8.00pm / $42.00 - $76.00 / G

Kurrimine Beach Low Tide Walk To The Reef Runs until 19 September Kurrimine Beach www.kurrimine.com.au

Reading for Life with Lyn Stone High impact literacy teaching in reading.

Mercure Townsville Reading for Life - Townsville 8.00am - 3.00pm

Townsville Book Fair Runs until 19 September Emmaus Hall, Kirwan www.townsvillefamilylife.com 8.00am - 3.00pm / FREE / G

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

Geckos School holiday Chipmunks Chipmunks Townsville www.trybooking.com/events/

SATURDAY 25 SEPTEMBER

Ballet Lovers Season - Spartacus Runs until 26 September Warrina Cineplex whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au, www.warrinacineplex.com.au Seating at 12.40pm, Show 1.00pm 3.30pm / $15.00 / G Rockwheelers Westies MTB Downhill Race Castle Hill ‘Westies’ Downhill Track whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 12.00pm - 2.00pm / FREE / G Growing Summer Vegetables Workshop Carville Villas whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 9.00am - 12.00pm / $75.00 / Parental Guidance recommended for under 15 years MONDAY 27 SEPTEMBER Townsville Golf Club School Holiday Program Runs until 29 September Townsville Golf Club whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au, townsvillegolfclub.com.au 3.00pm - 6.00pm / $39.00 / Ages 5 - 12 years TUESDAY 28 SEPTEMBER Queensland Ballet Elite Training Series Student Workshop with Queensland Ballet Academy’s Faculty Townsville Academy of Performing Arts www.queensland ballet.com.au/events 8.00am - 5.30pm / $50.00 $130.00 / Ages 9 - 17 years CORES Suicide Prevention Training The Oasis Townsville Suicide prevention trainingThe Oasis Townsville 8.30am - 3.30pm / FREE

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What’s On WEDNESDAY 29 SEPTEMBER Coral Reefs: Past, Present and Future Public Forum Symposium runs until 30 September James Cook University www.eventbrite.com.au/e/ coral-reefs 8.30am - 5.00pm / FREE, Registration required THURSDAY 30 SEPTEMBER First 5 Forever - Messy Play Runs every last Thursday of the month until Thursday 30 December Burdekin Library www.burdekin.qld.gov.au 10.30am / FREE / G (Children) Little Lifesavers School Holiday Program Runs until 1 October

With Triple M’s Pricey

Picnic Bay SLSC The Strand lifesaving.com.au/courses-andprograms 8.00am / $175.00 / Children 5 - 11 years FRIDAY 1 OCTOBER Be Kind to Animals Week Runs until 7 October Nationwide bekindtoanimalsweek.org.au , www.edgarsmission.org.au Pride Month Starts Runs until 31 October Nationwide Savannah in the Round Country Music and Camping Festival Runs until 3 October Mareeba, Cairns Hinterland www.savannahintheround.com.au

Day passes and camping passes available $30.00 $268.00 / G Menopause the Musical Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre tecc.net.au 2.00pm and 7.30pm / $69.90 / 15 years + WEDNESDAY 6 OCTOBER Delta Goodrem Also runs 7 October Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre tecc.net.au 8.00pm / From $102.05 / G WEDNESDAY 6 OCTOBER

Townsville Civic Theatre www.nqomt.com.au $45.00 - $50.00, Group packages available / M 15 + SUNDAY 10 OCTOBER World Mental Health Day Worldwide www.lookafteryourmental healthaustralia.org.au Towers Rush Charters Towers Show Grounds towersrush.com.au 8.30am - 1.00pm / $40.00 / G SUNDAY 17 OCTOBER

Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical Runs until 16 October

Great Aussie Pooch Party The Strand allevents.in/townsville/greataussie

Cotters Markets

Wulguru Markets

Date: Every Sunday Time: 8.30am - 1.00pm Location: Flinders St

Date: Every Sunday Time: 7.00am – 12.00 noon Location: Wulguru Soccer Grounds 14 Edison Street, Wulguru

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

Bushland Beach Markets Date: 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month, March to December Time: 8.00am – 12.00pm Location: On the foreshore, end of Mount Low Parkway

Renegade Handmade Markets Date: 2nd Sunday of the month Time: 8.00am - 12 noon Location: Marian School Hall

Balgal Beach Markets Date: 1st Saturday of the month

Time: 8.00am - 1.00pm Location: The Esplanade, Balgal Beach.

Strand Night Markets Date: 1st Friday of the month (runs from Feb to Dec) Time: 5.00pm - 9.30pm Location: Strand Park, North Ward

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

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

50 September 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

Magnetic Island Markets (Horseshoe Bay) Date: Every week on Sunday Time: 9.00am – 2.00pm Location: Foreshore in Horseshoe Bay

Mercer Lane Markets Date: 1st Saturday of the month Time: From 8.30am – 12.00pm Location: Lannercost St, Ingham

New Look Conroy Markets Date: 2nd Saturday of the month Time: From 8.00am – 12.00 noon Location: Conroy Hall, Ingham

Ingham Raintree Community Markets Date: 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month Time: from 7.00am - 12.00 noon Location: Rotary Park, Ingham

Forrest Beach Markets Date: 4th Sunday of every Month Time: 8.00am – 12.00 noon Location: 9 - 11 Palm St, Forrest Beach

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