PakMag Townsville - December 2020 Issue 121

ISSUE: DEC 2020

121

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The Season of Togetherness • Christmas Activities • Huge Prizes School Holiday Guide • Boredom Busters • Bullying or Bad Behaviour?

Welcome Hello and welcome to the final edition of PakMag for 2020!

5

The Thing Is with Bree James

6

The Season of Togetherness

9

Christmas Recipes

I want to start by saying sorry I have been missing in action most of the year.

11

School Holiday Boredom Busters

For 13 years I have been front and centre doing events, being online, and doing everything I can to connect with you all. This year I just haven’t been able to due to covid, my lack of time and, sorry to say - depleted energy.

14 STEAM Christmas Activities 17 Bullying or Bad Behaviour?

21 Talking About Body Modifications 22 All Things Tweens and Teens 25 Getting ‘Appy’ to Keep

Parents ‘in the Know’ 27 Christmas Cracker Jokes 28 Bump, Bub and Beyond 30 Parent’s Puzzle: Sudoku 31 Mini Mag 33 Locals Helping Locals 38 Christmas Giveaway

Wowzsers. What a year it’s been.

This year has really taken it out of me, and what energy I’ve had left, I’ve dedicated to myself and my family. It’s been very hard work trying to stabilise our business, and help countless businesses we support. And the battle isn’t over yet for many of us. I am incredibly sad we haven’t been able to do any events for you this year - being with you all, seeing your smiling faces, and knowing we have your support gives me energy. We have lots of wonderful plans for 2021 and I truly hope we can make them all happen this time!

I am looking forward to Christmas this year so much - so I can have a really big rest. Everyone I speak to is feeling the same!

I wish you and yours an amazing love and connected-filled festive season, and don’t forget to tell everyone, you read it in PakMag (it helps us more than you’ll ever know!)

Bree

41 DIY Christmas Crafts 47 How to Have a Sumo

Sized Christmas 49 All Things Health

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

53 The PakMag Experts 55 School Holiday Guide 61 Daddy Diary 63 Get Out and About

PakMag Founder and Editor-in-Chief Bree James

Creative Team Leader Clare Winter Graphic Designer

Digital Team Leader Lawrence Fox

Sara Williams

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

Videographer & Podcast Producer Monique Saggers Content Creators Annamarie Booysen

Design & Client Support Blair King

Jenna Galley Accounts

Marketing Assistant Emily Bremner

Trent Stievano

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

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

For Parents The PakMag Parents Podcast PakMag TV

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

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.

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

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

families www.pakmag.com.au | December 2020 3

The Thing Is

The Thing Is with Bree James Twenty, Twenty. I was so pumped for this fresh year.

This time, 12 months ago - I had big plans. I wanted to spend more time with my family, do more things I love with the people I love and focus more on my health.

• I’ve finally gotten to lots of medical appointments that I’d put off.

Well, thank you, global pandemic - you made these plans come true. I wonder if it wasn’t for you, would I have been able to make it happen? It feels like we’ve lost so much this year, and it’s so easy to fall into only thinking about the negatives that have happened this year - because there has been A LOT.

• I’ve had time to hide away and focus on myself.

The thing is, even though it’s been one of the roughest years emotionally, spiritually and financially, it’s given us some profound gifts. I am certain if you look for those gifts, you will find them too. I am sure I am not the only one that wanted the same three goals and kinda got them, but in a different way than expected.

Homeschooling was one of them, that’s not the quality time I was thinking!

It has been a bat-crap-crazy year. There have been many moments of anxiety, fear, confusion, overwhelming exhaustion and lots of moments of taking a good hard look at ourselves and our life, realizing we have some changes to make.

There’s also been lots of wins; • My house has never been so organised.

• The broken bits in my house are nearly all fixed.

• I realised the weaknesses in my children’s education.

• I’ve connected more online with family.

• I’ve maintained a strict eating and exercise regime all year as I’ve had no travel.

• And I have realised that the smallest things; an act of kindness, a meal shared with loved ones, the support of friends, and the gratitude for life – can become our greatest blessings.

As each year wraps up, I ask myself three questions: • What did I do great this year?

• What do I want more of next year?

• What do I want less of next year?

I recommend you ask these questions of yourself, and of your family, and pop them in a book to review the same time next year. It’s so cute to see what your kids say.

So, thank you 2020, you gave many of us what we have been hoping for - but just in a very different way than we expected.

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

www.pakmag.com.au | December 2020 5

Feature

The Season of Togetherness STORY Bec Dent We can all acknowledge that it’s been ‘a year’ whatever adjective you choose to describe it… I’ll leave it to your discretion, but I am sure there’d be plenty of colourful replies.

With everything the world has collectively been through, we’ve been faced with enormous challenges to overcome, and we’ve done it together. As difficult as this year has been, there has also been enormous opportunity for the best of humanity to rise. And we have; as neighbourhoods, communities, towns, cities and nations. We have concentrated on what really matters and focussed our attention on being there for each other and getting through these trying times together.

This spirit of togetherness is the same spirit we aim to achieve during the Christmas Season. As we’ve been practicing it all year long, we should be in fine form this festive season - the season of inclusivity, togetherness and love.

Regardless of your personal beliefs, the Christmas Season has always been a reminder to draw closer, spend time with your loved ones and be kinder to neighbours and strangers. It has also been a reminder to support the vulnerable within the community who may be isolated, ill or without those connections that are so important to a person’s wellbeing.

According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, humans need the following:

6 December 2020 | www.pakmag.com.au

SelfSelf-fulfillment actualisation: needs Achieving one's full potential, including creative activities Esteem needs: Prestige and feeling of accomplishment Belongingness and love needs: Intimate relationships, friends

Psychological needs

Safety needs: Security, safety Physiological needs: Food, water, warmth, rest Like a pyramid, every human needs a solid foundation, which are the basics of human survival - your physiological and safety needs. Every single person needs to feel secure, loved, have a sense of belonging and the basics covered; food, water, shelter, etc.

When you think about it - most of us already have so much. But there are people within our communities who don’t have these needs met.

Basic needs

Feature

According to the Red Cross, “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 eight per cent of the world’s wealthy.”

financially difficult time for my parents, provided a laundry basket full of the essentials for Christmas dinner, including a turkey. They also bought gifts for

Wow, what humbling statistics.

This year, there is more need and therefore a greater need for us to reach out to those who are having trouble accessing the basics to give whatever we can to make a difference. This could be in the form of money, food or time. There are amazing organisations in our community who provide wonderful services to those in need, including The Salvation Army and UnitingCare. If you need their help this year, please reach out. Everyone experiences hardship, and our opportunity as fellow-humans is to support those who need it during those times. We can share the burden in order to lessen the burden – aka practicing humanity.

As a child, my family was on the receiving end of an act of kindness by my mother’s boss, who, during a

Some Great Ways to Give The Mayor’s Christmas Appeal The gift of giving is priceless and your donation makes a difference. By donating to a local community organisation through the Mayor’s Christmas Appeal, you are helping people at risk, those subject to abuse and neglect, homelessness, illness and social isolation, those that are vulnerable, disability affected and those who don’t have anyone to lean on.

Your donation can help put food on a table for a struggling family, make Christmas a little bit brighter for a child who is alone, or provide basic necessities for vulnerable men, women and youth.

Take a look at the list of participating community organisations and how you can help today at: www.townsville.qld.gov.au/mca

Donate to The Salvation Army Christmas Appeal www.salvationarmy.org.au Your donation means they can offer shelter to people with nowhere to sleep, gifts for kids who would otherwise

each of us kids, so we had a gift to open on Christmas Morning. I never knew about their generosity until I was an adult. But these two beautiful humans blessed us with the magic of Christmas that day and ensured my struggling parents were able to give ‘Christmas’ to us.

What a powerful and beautiful gift, one I am so grateful for. Similarly, every person has so much power to bless other’s lives. You never know the difference your act of kindness will make to someone this year.

May you have a truly beautiful ‘Season of Togetherness’, full of hope, love and humanity.

get none, hampers for people struggling to afford basic meals, and support for those struck by disaster.

Purchase a gift for the Kmart Wishing Tree www.kmart.com.au/kmartwishingtree

You could also support any of the wonderful local not-for-profit organisations and charities who make a difference in your community like Mission Australia, The Smith Family, Share The Dignity, the RSPCA or other local shelters/groups.

Volunteer At a local shelter, aged-care facility or community organisation. Spending time with those who feel isolated and providing muchneeded human connection is so powerful. Everyone deserves to feel loved and remembered during the festive season.

www.pakmag.com.au | December 2020 7

Food

Christmas Recipes

Beef Wellington

Festive Roast Chicken

Ingredients

Ingredients

2 tbsp oil 2 egg yolks 75g butter Flour 1kg Beef Fillet

600g puff pastry 400g mushrooms 150g sliced prosciutto 1 ½ garlic cloves, chopped 1 tbsp thyme

Method Heat oil in a pan on medium heat. Cook beef for 5 – 10 minutes. Chop mushrooms in a food processor, almost to a paste. Melt butter in the same pan, cook mushrooms until brown, then add garlic and thyme.

Cook for another 2 minutes.

1 ½ cups frozen cranberries (thawed) ¼ cup brown sugar 1 kg chicken pieces (bone in/skin on) 6 garlic cloves minced Salt and Pepper 1 ½ tbsp rosemary

1 ½ tsp paprika Olive oil 1 Lemon 2 tbsp white wine vinegar 1 onion cut into wedges 2 celery stalks chopped ½ cup chicken stock Rosemary (fresh) to garnish

Method Combine cranberries and brown sugar in a bowl. Set aside.

Place cling wrap on a flat surface and lay all prosciutto down, overlapping, in a double row. Spread the mushroom mix evenly on top.

Using a paper towel, pat dry the chicken pieces. Mix the garlic, rosemary and paprika together, then rub mixture all over the chicken including under the skin. Season with salt and pepper.

Place the beef in the centre and use the cling wrap to tightly wrap the prosciutto over the meat, forming a sausage roll shape. Cool in the fridge for 25 minutes.

Remove beef from cling wrap.

Mix together olive oil, white wine vinegar and the juice of one lemon (don’t throw away the squeezed halves) in a large bowl. Add the chicken, celery, onions and used lemon halves, combine and set aside to marinate for 15 minutes.

Sprinkle flour and lay puff pastry down. Place beef in the centre, brushing surrounding pastry with beaten egg yolks. Fold the pastry over the beef, completely wrapping it. Cool for an hour.

Heat oven to 200°C and cook for 20–30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 220 degrees. Heat oil in a pan and brown chicken skin on a medium to high heat for approximately five minutes each side. Place chicken, the chicken mix, cranberries and chicken stock in a greased baking pan. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes.

www.pakmag.com.au | December 2020 9

Boredom Busters

School Holiday Boredom Busters You’d be hard-pressed to find a child that doesn’t LOVE the school holidays, especially the extended holidays around Christmas time. As much as kids love all the time they have off school, there are days when filling that time or coming up with ideas to fill that time gets hard. This can often leave kids feeling bored and puts pressure on parents to find things for their children to do, which, let’s be honest – can be difficult if you decide to not hand over the devices for a few hours! We know how hard it can be at PakMag, some of us being parents ourselves and all of us having been kids at one point! To help bust that boredom these school holidays, we’ve created a special list of activities to keep the kids entertained, having fun and learning - most of which are simple yet engaging.

Remember to check out our school holiday guide in this edition for a huge additional list of awesome things to do and places to go over these summer holidays.

Check out www.pakmag.com.au to learn more about these activities. Head to the 'Blogs' section of our website

Interview a Family Member

Learn Old School Games

Get to know your family members as they share intriguing stories, general advice and information on your family history. Not to mention the infinite wisdom that many Grandparents can offer! Find a list of sample questions in our blog "Family History - It's So Much More Than a Family Tree" at www.pakmag.com.au

Remember the games you used to play as a kid? Why not pass the fun onto your children by teaching them old school games like hopscotch, handball, elastics etc.

We’ve put together a blog at www.pakmag.com.au with easy instructions so you can refresh your memory and your kids can learn how to play them for themselves.

Make Slime

Cook up a Storm

Slime can be very amusing for kids to play with.

It’s a squishy, gooey mess that you can use your hands to pull apart… what’s not to love?! Follow our blog "Easy Homemade Slime" at www.pakmag.com.au to make homemade slime and help your child stay entertained for hours.

Cooking is an excellent way to have fun, practice creativity and be rewarded with your own tasty creations at the end. It also teaches lifelong and beneficial skills to your children. Let them pick one of our delicious online recipes and work together to make it, bonding and learning together.

www.pakmag.com.au | December 2020 11

Boredom Busters

Go Camping

One Word - LEGO®

Camping is the ultimate activity for family bonding, connecting to nature and exploring the great outdoors.

There are a huge variety of beautiful places to camp in North Queensland; you can find the ultimate camping checklist and a list of fun games to play with the kids when relaxing at your camp site at www.pakmag.com.au

If your child likes building, playing and creating, then LEGO is the way to go. Why not participate in one of the many 30-day challenges you can find online? These challenges assign a new building task every day, testing your child’s mind while helping them have endless indoor fun.

Get Crafty

Read a Good Book

We have heaps of craft activities online for kids that are entertaining and provide them with their very own unique creations at the end. Help the little artist or designer in your house get an early start in developing their passion, all while having plenty of fun.

Books will forever remain a great way to pass time on a quiet day and dive into fantasy. Not only are they entertaining, they are also educational and spark creativity in children. Luckily there are plenty of amazing books out there to read, so children will never run out!

100 Boredom Busters Free Downloadable Your kids will never run out things to do with our Boredom Busters free downloadable. Answer the “I’m bored!” statement by providing them with 100 different activities that are all doable at home. You could even put them into a hat individually and let your kids pick an activity out at random for an extra surprise.

There is also a range of other free handy resources on the PakMag website including a printable kitchen conversion chart, a lunchbox planner and more!

Get them at www.pakmag.com.au/downloadables

12 December 2020 | www.pakmag.com.au

100 BUSTERS

BOREDOM 1.

2.

3.

Play “Freeze” Blow bubbles/ create your own bubble wands Create a pass-the-parcel with silly ‘dares’ and actions to do in between each layer

4. Colour-in 5. Try kids-yoga (available online) 6. Camp indoors or make a fort/ cubby 7. Read a book 8. Act out a book 9. Play ‘Keep the Balloon up’ 10. Make a sock puppet 11. Bake something 12. Learn to sew/ knit or try making your own jewellery 13. Play a board game 14. Watch a favourite movie/ cartoon on mute and make up the dialogue 15. Have a Tea Party 16. Write a poem 17. Make animal masks 18. Do a puzzle 19. Write to your grandparents 20. Have a photo shoot 21. Make a handmade gift to give someone 22. Make play dough sculptures 23. Play I Spy 24. Play dress ups 25. Learn a new board game 26. Play handball 27. Make paper airplanes and create a target to hang from a doorway to fly the plane through 28. Go hiking/jogging 29. Make stamps out of potatoes 30. Create a treasure hunt complete with treasure map 31. Have a water gun fight 32. Climb trees 33. Wash cars 34. Learn/ play card games 35. Create a house of cards 36. Photo challenge/ scavenger hunt (ideas available online) 37. Play in the dirt 38. Have a mini Olympics

71. Create a dream catcher 39. Camp outdoors 72. Have a costume party with 40. Play Lego, google ‘30-Day your family Lego Challenge’ for ideas 73. Go on an alphabet scavenger 41. Create your own song hunt in your house finding 42. Learn dance moves from a items in order starting with YouTube tutorial the letter ‘A’ 43. Make your own salt dough 74. Start a journal (play-doh) and create animals/ 75. ‘Interview’ a family member your own sculptures and find out all about them 44. Paint rocks (Mum/ Dad/ Grandparent 45. Have a relay race etc) 46. Plan and cook dinner for the 76. Play ‘Charades’ family (with some help from 77. Create an obstacle course an adult) One word – ‘Karaoke’ 78.

47. Build a bird feeder 79. Put on your PJ’s, make 48. Create your own comic book popcorn and watch a movie 49. Use sidewalk chalk to draw/ 80. Create a puppet theatre out play hopscotch etc of an old box 50. Play Hide and Seek 81. Make puppets to put on a 51. Try to find objects in clouds puppet show (weeding/ Garden the in 52. Get 82. Learn some magic tricks planting) 83. Make some Origami animals 53. Go bird watching 84. Make slime 54. Take on a Puzzle or Wordfind 85. Get Crafty 55. Build a backyard shelter/cubby 86. Draw a self-portrait 56. Write and illustrate a story 87. Have a sack race or three57. Create a frisbee golf course in legged race with your family the backyard members 58. Make/ Fly a kite 88. Create your own Domino masterpiece to knockdown 59. Make a stop motion video 89. Make a friendship bracelet to 60. Write down 5 things you are give to a friend grateful for 90. Make up a superhero and 61. Build a mini volcano create your own costume 62. Teach your dog new tricks Have a pillow fight 91.

63. Try copying a famous artwork 92. Make your own gift cards 64. Call/ video chat a friend/ and wrapping paper relative 93. Pick up fallen leaves from 65. Build a rubber band helicopter your backyard and draw 66. Listen to Music faces on them to create ‘leaf 67. Learn the lyrics of a song/ characters’ put on a performance for the 94. Make a paper mâché family sculpture or your own piñata 68. Learn how to make traditional 95. Make your own juggling balls lemonade and learn to juggle 69. Draw your dream house 96. Learn old school games like positive pictures/write 70. Draw elastics and marbles notes to drop in letterboxes 97. Try learning a new language 98. Wash the dog 99. Put on a fashion parade 100. Create a time-capsule and bury it in your garden

STEAM

STEAM Christmas Activities

www.littlebinsforlittlehands.com

www.littlebinsforlittlehands.com

Crystal Candy Canes

Melting Christmas Trees

What You Need

What You Need

String Tablespoon, measuring cup and pot (to boil water) Borax 8 cups water

2 large glass Jars 2 popsicle sticks 4 pipe cleaners (white, red, or green)

Water Flat tray Vinegar Baking soda (at least 500g) Green food colouring Glitter, sequins and insert or baking sprinkles (keep in mind- this isn’t for eating) Small party hats (or cardboard or paper plates to create cones) Method Mix baking soda, glitter and sprinkles in a bowl.

Slowly add green food colouring and water until mixture is mouldable but not runny.

Pack the mixture tightly into each party hat or DIY cone, until the cones are full. DIY cones can be made out of thick paper or paper plates – visit our blog at www.pakmag.com.au for instructions.

Method Twist two pipe cleaners together to make each candy cane. Tie pieces of string to two popsicle sticks and create a loop from the string that the candy canes can hang from.

Make a solution of the borax by boiling 8 cups of water then turning off the heat. Add in 24 tablespoons of the borax and stir well (it won’t completely dissolve).

Pour into the two glass jars.

Place the popsicle stick over the opening of the jar so that the candy cane hangs submerged in the solution.

Adjust the string length if needed.

Leave the jars untouched somewhere safe for 24 hours.

Once you pull the candy cane out it will be covered in crystals! You can permanently tie string or ribbon to the candy cane to make it into a Christmas ornament.

Tip: You can replace the popsicle stick with anything similar, it will work the same!

14 December 2020 | www.pakmag.com.au

Place cones upwards on the tray and put it in the freezer, letting them sit overnight or for at least 16 hours.

Very gently cut the cone away from the mixture (or peel it away if you taped together your own cone).

The mixtures should retain their own cone shape.

Drip vinegar onto the top of the trees and watch them melt away!

Tip: Sugar pearls used for baking make great little fake ornaments for your melting tree.

www.littlebinsforlittlehands.com

www.littlebinsforlittlehands.com

www.littlebinsforlittlehands.com

Grinch Slime What You Need ½ tsp baking soda ¾ cup warm water Green food colouring ¾ cup Clear glue – Elmers glue or Monte Marte Glue gel 1-2 Ttbsp saline solution (can be bought at any chemist).

Glitter and sequins - can be any colour you want.

Method Mix the glue and water together in a bowl.

Add food colouring in a couple of drops at a time as to make sure the slime doesn’t get too dark. If the slime is too dark green then you will not be able to see your glitter and sequins. For more of a ‘lime’ colour, you can add in a couple of drops of yellow food colouring.

www.littlebinsforlittlehands.com

Next, add in your sequins and glitter. Stir in the baking soda.

Squirt the saline solution onto your hands to start kneading the slime to improve its consistency. The slime should be forming and ‘pulling away’ from the sides of the bowl.

Voila! Now, your Grinch slime is ready to play with!

Tip: Add a few more drops of saline solution if your slime feels too sticky.

Education

Bullying or Bad Behaviour?

STORY Andrew Oberthur The term bullying is an emotive term often used to describe negative interactions between two children or two adolescents (and sometimes adults). Let me say at the outset that true bullying can have untold harmful effects on the ‘victim’, and should not be tolerated under any circumstances.

If educators and parents have a common understanding of the definition of bullying, then it can be addressed promptly and decisively, to keep the ‘victim’ safe and to educate the ‘perpetrator’ about appropriate behaviours.

What is the Difference?

The term bullying is often used to describe negative interactions between two people. However, sometimes negative behaviour is NOT bullying. To that end, it is important to understand the difference between bullying behaviour and bad behaviour as they are not the same thing. The term bullying can often misrepresent behaviours and relationships between children and adolescents.

So, let's explore the difference between the term bullying and the term bad behaviour with particular reference to the behaviour of primary school aged children.

Bad behaviour may be an example of a child being naughty, disruptive or disobedient. There is possibly a breakdown in a relationship between two children or possibly a child and a teacher. The behaviour could simply be disobedience; it could be distracting a class or poor behaviour. When we are talking about bad behaviour between peers, examples could be: exclusion, teasing or fighting. These behaviours are not necessarily bullying.

Bullying however, is repeated, targeted behaviour with a power differential between two people or a group of people and an individual. The power differential could mean a child is bigger than a peer; it could mean they are more intellectual or brighter than another child and use that intellect to bully the other child; or it could

www.pakmag.com.au | December 2020 17

Education

be that a group of children are targeting an individual and as such are bigger in number. Common forms of bullying might include repeated teasing, repetitive exclusion, name calling or physical aggression.

or counsellor. We need to monitor a child's behaviour and ensure they are safe, happy and healthy. The school should also address the perpetrator to counsel them through how to behave appropriately.

It is preferable that any bullying issues at school be resolved by school staff and parents should refrain from engaging with other parents. As tempting as it is for parents to contact the parents of the other child involved, it is preferable that the school manage the bullying behaviours at school. Similarly, if children engage in bullying behaviours outside of school, then their caring adults should manage the behaviours.

People often use the term bullying for the first negative interaction between two children - that is not bullying. People looking after children who display such behaviours must ask themselves, and possibly ask the child, where they learnt such behaviours. It is not uncommon for children with older siblings to learn behaviours which are inappropriate in a social context.

It is less common for the eldest child of a family to display such behaviours because they may not have had exposure to such behaviours in a social setting.

Responding to Behaviours So how do we respond if children complain or express their concern to their parents or to their teachers that they are being bullied? First, we MUST listen to children and reassure them that parents and teachers want them to be safe. We must listen and believe the children cautiously.

When I say listen cautiously, I mean with our own filters. We need to find evidence as to whether or not their stories are true. Parents can ask staff for their observations about the child's behaviour and about the interactions with particular peers.

Parents should ask the teacher what has happened at school, the school’s policies and protocols in regards to dealing with inappropriate behaviours and how they can support their child’s learning.

If the school stories indicate that bullying is going on, then the school needs to take responsibility for managing the behaviours and interactions at school.

If the child needs more support than their school or parents can provide, then parents are encouraged to take their child to see a behaviour expert, psychologist

Occasionally, parents ask the school to intervene.

Parents may choose to do this for a couple of reasons. They either don’t feel skilled enough to manage the process, or the issue has overlapped into the school domain (e.g. cyberbullying).

Does Technology Have an Impact?

In today's modern world, technology does play a part in bullying as well as bad behaviour in upper primary school settings, but more commonly in high school. In primary school, it’s best if children don’t have access to social networking sites – however, some do.

Children sometimes make comments that are derogatory, harmful and hurtful and if this is repeated and targeted, then this is certainly a form of bullying for our children. It's much easier to say things online than face to face. Excluding peers from group chats may even be considered a form of bullying if it does meet the criteria.

The Bottom Line Just to restate the difference between bullying and bad behaviours; bullying is targeted behaviours that are repeated. There is a power differential between an individual and a peer or an individual and a group of children. Bad behaviour is a breakdown of relationships between two children or between a child and a teacher that may be a one-off, or repeated behaviours with different people.

We must understand that conflict is a part of human life and how we manage our conflict is an important life lesson. We need to upskill our children to manage their behaviours and to deal with negative behaviours that they may come across in their life. This will build resilience in our children and give them good relational skills as they grow into adolescents and young adults.

Andrew Oberthur has been teaching for over 30 years including the last 18 as principal across two schools in SEQ. Andrew is the author of the book “Are You Ready for Primary School This Year?” a book about building a culture of trust, collaboration and enquiry between parents and teachers. Andrew has been a regular on ABC radio Brisbane, written blogs for a variety of forums, been a podcast guest for PakMag and can be seen on ParentTV.

Learn more with Andrew Oberthur, who joins Bree on Episode 41 of the PakMag Parents Podcast. Tune In today at www.pakmag.com.au

18 December 2020 | www.pakmag.com.au

All Things Tweens and Teens

Talking About Body Modifications STORY Row Murray Teenagers love to express themselves through fashion, music, and how they look. A recent clinical report on tattooing, piercing and scarification in teens and young adults showed that high ear piercings are common, along with nose and other piercings.

This, along with modifications such as Botox and lip fillers, have become very appealing to teenagers.

So as parents, where do you draw the line?

Illegality – the Hard Line Tattoos, scarification and branding are illegal in Australia for teens under the age of 16. They’re legal with specific and clear parental approval between the ages of 16 - 18, and legal above the age of 18.

It’s illegal in most states in Australia to get a genital or nipple piercing under the age of 18, but most other piercings are allowed.

If a fake ID is used, then the studio and professional will most likely be fined if the parents decide to take action after it’s been done.

Injectables and Surgery There isn’t a law prohibiting the cosmetic use of Botox and other injectables in under-18’s, however many doctors refuse to do it. There are also mandatory cooling-off periods for many surgical procedures for under 18’s.

Non-Permanent Enjoyment and Self-Expression Temporary changes and easily removeable piercings are an area where teens can safely express themselves and have fun with how they look. Some piercings however (including most facial piercings) do leave small

permanent scars, and anything that required gauge jewellery will need to be surgically repaired.

Aside from this, schools and workplaces often have regulations in place which should be heeded too.

Teen Decisions Shouldn’t be Permanent Tattoos, branding and scarification are both permanent and painful. People change their styles and taste, and tattoo removal is both more painful and vastly more expensive than having the tattoo put on in the first place.

The Joys of Aftercare Body piercings can take much longer to heal than many people realize, and tattoos need to be carefully cared for when they’re both new and older, or else you risk substantial damage to the ink and/or risk colour fade. Infections are always a risk, so that needs to be factored in.

Getting the Right Advice My advice is always to speak to the experts. If you have concerns about your teenager wanting an industrial piercing, then get on the phone or visit a local, reputable outlet and talk through it. Professionals will always want a positive outcome and share sensible advice.

One great online piercing source is www.thepiercingurge.com.au Often, teenagers don’t realise how fabulous they look, or how lovely they are. It’s a very personal decision to have modifications done, but there is a clear line between fun, non-permanent and legal looks, versus something that breaks the law and will leave them with a lifelong reminder.

Row Murray is a sex educator and author of the teen book, For Foxes' Sake. For Foxes’ Sake provides practical advice and guidance on topics as diverse as consent, body confidence and sexuality for secondary school-aged girls. Row understands what girls of today are facing and aims to arm them with self-confidence, digital smarts and self-respect.

For Foxes’ Sake is available at www.forfoxessake.com.au, Amazon and Booktopia.

www.pakmag.com.au | December 2020 21

All Things Tweens and Teens

All Things Tweens & Teens Battling Acne

Teenage Anger

Acne is a very normal part of adolescence that nearly all teens experience. It can appear as whiteheads, blackheads, papules and cysts. While it can be unsightly or frustrating, acne isn’t a serious health risk, but has the potential to damage self-esteem.

Adolescence can stir up a whirlwind of emotions – including anger. When your teenager is angry and screaming at you, you may feel tempted to scream louder in order to “win” the argument so you don’t let your child “walk all over you” – but this can escalate the argument. Your teen’s brain is still developing, and they are probably feeling just as distressed as you.

The exact cause of acne is unknown, but the swirling tornado of hormones teens experience during puberty can play a role.

They can get worse through picking or squeezing the blemishes, harsh scrubbing, changing hormone levels and stress.

While pimples go away on their own, a few home remedies might help them clear up such as apple cider vinegar, spot treatments with tea tree oil or witch hazel. Please remember what works for some may not work for others.

When your teen is angry, try not to threaten them with consequences (“if you don’t stop, I’m taking your phone away”), don’t try to control them and don’t curse or call them names.

Instead, pick your battles and consider walking away, challenge your child’s thinking carefully (“I know you want to go out with your friends, but if you talk to me like that, you’re not going to get what you want”) and use a calm and neutral tone.

WIN a vivo Y20s smartphone The all new vivo Y20s smartphone is the perfect phone to start with, it has everything you need plus more! The AI triple camera means you’ll be able to capture every moment with friends and family in perfect clarity. Download and stream thousands of songs, videos or photos with 128GB of space to play with. Equipped with a massive battery and FlashCharge - you’ll have power all day and night! So, scroll, download, stream, create, capture with the vivo Y20s smartphone, the world is your oyster.

For more details check out www.vivo.com/au WIN a vivo Y20s smartphone worth $299.00! Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win!

22 December 2020 | www.pakmag.com.au

Advertorial

Getting ‘Appy’ to Keep Parents ‘in the Know’ At Mary MacKillop Childcare North Queensland, parent engagement is vital to providing high quality education and care to families. For many years, the Early Learning Centres and Kindergartens have been using Facebook to share information on the wonderful activities being run in the centres.

MMCNQ Executive Director Carolyn Cousins said, “We wanted to be able to communicate to our families in a more effective and collaborative way.

The Playground app offers a way for our services to provide a two-way communication portal for our families.”

Each day there are many events and activities that happen within a service. Playground will provide families with regular communication of these activities and health and well-being checks directly to their phones.

“To ensure a smooth and trouble-free roll out of this to all our services, we are trialling it with a select group of ELC’s, Kindergartens and OSHC services over the next few months. We hope to implement this across MMCNQ in 2021,” Carolyn said.

Ingham Early Learning Service Director, Sarah Floyd, says this new communication tool will be wonderful for families of MMCNQ services. “Parents can see regular posts of learning activities the children are participating

in as well as updates on how their child is going throughout the day.”

The educators within services use an iPad to record nappy changes, sleep times and other health and wellbeing events that happen throughout the day”.

Previously the educator recorded these observations in many different places. Now they are all in one place which saves time for our educators and allows them more quality time with the children we are caring for,” Sarah said.

“So far our parents have responded really positively to the trial. They are loving that they can see observations, learning stories and what their child has been doing as well as being able to respond and ask questions through the app to the educators. This creates a positive parent engagement tool for families.”

Parents have access to Playground via an app on their phone or other digital device. They can also log into the web portal and have access to the same information.

“In coming weeks, we will be adding additional information for families that will allow them to see upcoming programming in the centre. This will be another wonderful feature for families.”

For more information and enrolment enquiries please email childcare@mmcnq.catholic.org.au

www.pakmag.com.au | December 2020 25

Christmas Cheer

Christmas Crack-Up Cracker Jokes!

How much did Santa pay for his sleigh?

HO

HO

HO

Nothing. It was on the house!

HO

A rebel without a Claus

HO What do you call an elf wearing ear muffs?

What’s every parent’s favourite Christmas Carol?

HO

What do you call a kid who doesn’t believe in Santa?

Anything you want.

He can’t hear you!

Silent Night

HO

HO

HO

What do you call Santa when he takes a break?

HO

HO HO

Santa Pause

HO HO

HO What's Santa's favorite track and field event?

North Polevaulting!

www.pakmag.com.au | December 2020 27

Bump, Bub and Beyond

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

Deluxe Breastfeeding Tea Box $48.00 - www.breastfeedingteaco.com Designed by a herbalist, The Breastfeeding Tea Co. offers teas for mums experiencing breastfeeding challenges or exhaustion. The three teas include their Colic Tea which is beneficial to the digestive system for both mother and baby, their Lactation Tea which helps support lactation and milk supply and their Mama Tea which can be used for recovery and relaxation post-partum.

LeapFrog Purrfect Counting Handbag

Mumma's Little Helpers High Chair Food Catcher and Hood

$34.95 - www.bigw.com.au

$90.00 - www.mummaslittlehelpers.com.au

This soft, multi-textured, fabric Purrfect Counting Handbag comes with loads of personality, accessories, and learning content.

The Learn, Pretend and Music modes add playful variety to learning.

Fine motor skills get a workout as little fingers pick up and grasp the five accessories: pretend smartphone, ID tag with kid-safe mirror, key set, comb, and non-removable circle coins in a coin purse.

The High Chair Food Catcher attaches with hook and loop strips to any four legged high chair. It hangs out the sides and out the front so the food doesn’t drop and SPLAT onto the floor. Additionally, it catches all food that is dropped into the lap and left to be discovered later (think squished banana). The Hood protects your Little One's head from the accidental or intentional bang on the back of the chair which can be very painful for them and for parents to watch.

28 December 2020 | www.pakmag.com.au

Bump, Bub and Beyond

Exercising During Pregnancy STORY Alyza Brown, Physiotherapist Regular physical activity during pregnancy has many health benefits, but it’s important to be sensible with your exercise program and the level of exercise that you do. Consulting a doctor, physiotherapist or healthcare professional will make sure the exercise routine isn’t harmful to you or your baby. Remember that exercise can be beneficial without being strenuous; walking, swimming, light resistance training, low-impact aerobics and cycling on a stationary bike are all good choices.

Exercise also helps prepare your body for childbirth. And anything you can do to help with that… you’ll do, right?

Exercise Tips for When You’re Pregnant: Always warm up and cool down.

Try to exercise in the cooler parts of the day, especially in the summer!

Sick Child Tip

Try to keep active every day. 30 minutes of walking can be enough.

Stay hydrated and avoid strenuous exercise in hot or humid weather.

Aim for a light to moderate program. Don’t exhaust yourself. General rule: you should still be able to hold a conversation at this level of exercise. If you are breathless, you’ve pushed yourself too far. As the pregnancy progresses, you may need to slow down.

Listen to the advice of your health team, and above all, listen to your body.

If you weren’t active before you got pregnant, that does not mean that you cannot have an active pregnancy.

Start with low intensity exercise such as walking for 10-15 minutes per day (as long as you have been cleared), and speak to a health professional about how you can ensure that your body is as equipped for child birth as it can be!

Exercises / Activities to Avoid During Pregnancy :

As their immunity is developing, your child is guaranteed to experience sickness. Knowing what to do, and when you should call the Doctor or even Triple Zero can be difficult. So, when do you need to be worried?

Contact sports, horse riding, gymnastics, cycling, scuba-diving, exercise at altitudes over 2,500m above sea level. Don’t do repetitive high impact exercise or exercise where you get too hot. Don’t lie flat on your back for extended periods of time.

www.heathdirect.gov.au advises you seek medical advice immediately if your child has a fever and one or more of the following:

Childhood Ailments

Seems very sick, problems breathing, a stiff neck, light hurts their eyes, a bulging fontanelle (soft spot on a baby's head), you can't wake them or they're unusually sleepy or they've had a fit or convulsion for the first time, or one lasting more than 5 minutes

Did you know it is normal for a preschool aged child to have six or more colds per year? Young children are in the process of building their immunity and at that age, with hundreds of different cold viruses, until they’ve had them - they have no immunity to them. As they build up their immunity, gradually, they will get fewer colds.

In a medical emergency, dial Triple Zero (000).

www.pakmag.com.au | December 2020 29

Parent's Puzzle: 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 Neat Feat Naturals Prize Pack worth $130.00 Get your feet into their best condition ever with the new Neat Feat Natural range. Based on herbal medicine and aromatherapy, these fabulous products are suitable for both big feet and little feet, and cover a range of foot issues from relieving foot pain from plantar fasciitis, treating fungal conditions like athletes foot, to eliminating foot odour (no more smelly feet or shoes for your this Summer, thank you very much). Best of all you know that what you are putting on your skin is natural, and even better the products really do work. www.neatfeat.com Visit www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win! Competition closes 31/12/2020 Sudoku answers can be found on the contents page.

30 December 2020 | www.pakmag.com.au

Pull-out kids activity mag!

ALL IN A DAY’S SURVIVAL IN CINEMAS THESE SUMMER HOLIDAYS

IN CINEMAS THESE SUMMER HOLIDAYS

For your chance to WIN a family pass to The Croods: A New Age tell us, who directed The Croods: A New Age? Enter at www.pakmag.com.au/win - Competition closes 14/12/2020

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

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1. Wahu Pool Toys Prize Pack - $132.99 in total - www.wahu.com.au - For endless hours of outdoor play and hilarity, look no further than Wahu's amazing range!

Their backyard games and toys enhance safe, imaginative, and active play. Prize pack includes Pool Bopper (6+, $39), Beach Footy & Soccer (6+, $24.99) and Hot Rocker (6+, $69.00). 2. InChargeBox - $199.00 - www.inchargebox.com.au - Get 10% OFF storewide and free shipping Australia-wide using the code "pakmag" - InChargeBox is the world’s first stylish lockable tech charging station that can charge up to 12 devices at once. Perfect addition to any family home! Perfect for iPads, iPhones, gaming remotes. Lock away the tech and enjoy all the screen-free things in life this Summer and beyond. InChargeBox is available in a variety of fabulous colours and classic white.

3. Cricut Joy - $349.00 - www.harveynorman.com.au - Cricut Joy™ makes it more convenient than ever to personalise your life. This compact smart cutting and writing machine creates customised labels, vinyl decals, iron-on transfers, birthday banners, and more. Cricut Joy makes it possible to make something unique for you – or anyone – at a moment’s notice. 4. vivo Y70 smartphone - $449.00 - www.vivo.com/au - The all new ultra thin vivo Y70 smartphone is the perfect holiday gift this season. Equipped with all the bells and whistles, the 48MP AI rear camera with Super Night Mode ensures you can capture photography night or day. Game your heart away with an immersive AMOLED cinematic screen display packed with intelligent memory and 128GB’s of massive storage. The Ultra-Fast FlashCharge ensures your battery life will last without worry! So, game, create, capture or stream - the vivo Y70 smartphone is the perfect holiday gift! 5. Alcatel TKEE Mini Tablet - $200.00 - www.bigw.com.au - The Alcatel TKEE Mini Tablet provides connectivity, peace of mind, safety and independence in mind for children and parents alike. The 7-inch Android TKEE Mini Tablet offers a unique kid-friendly design, built to be durable with an easy-to-use interface, along with parental controls and site filtering.

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6. Secret Safe Treasure Chest and Myla's Sparkling Friends - $79.90 (total) - www.bigw.com.au - Playtime is magical with Myla’s Sparkling Friends Mia the Unicorn, Ava the Fox, and Penny the Peacock! These beautiful creative toys talk, sing, and light up with a kaleidoscope of colours as you touch their eyes, head, wings or tail. Keep your valuables safe with the Secret Safe Treasure Chest, great for protecting your most precious stash with your very own 4-digit password. Also includes an alarm clock and built-in speaker. 7. GreenPan Craft Collection Frypan 20cm & 24cm - $259.90 - www.myer.com.au - Healthy cooking starts with GreenPan. The GreenPan healthy ceramic non-stick coating is made from a sand derivative that does not require the use of toxic chemicals such as PFOA,PFAS. Better for you, your loved ones and our planet. Craft collection uses heavy gauge materials allow for intensive daily use, while beautiful detailing provides an elegant finish.

The Thermolon™ Infinity Professional ceramic non-stick coating is enhanced with diamonds and guarantees quick and even heating on all hobs, including induction. 8. Squeakee - $100.00 www.moosetoys.com/au - Squeakee brings the beloved balloon dog to life. Inflated with personality, he’ll WOW you as he comes to life just like a real pup. Squeakee is so interactive and loves to play with you! With over 60 functions, he responds to your voice, is full of sound and movement and looks just like a real Balloon Dog! Watch him sit and stand as you pet his head or tickle his tummy to make him happy! Squeakee comes with a range of fun accessories for you to interact and play with. 9. Self-Care Gift Box - www.thewholesomegiftbox.com.au - $100.00 Shout your loved one, or yourself, some self-care with this lovely package. This lovely gift box includes gorgeous affirmation cards, delectable chocolates, a wellness soak, a gorgeous clay face mask and some beautiful wildflower seeds. Perfect for some self-care. 10. Logitech K600 TV Keyboard - $119.95 - www.logitech.com/en-au - Everything you need to navigate your Smart TV or PC connected to the TV. Search, select, and control your content with the familiar typing experience, fluid gestures of the touchpad, or the point-by-point precision of the D-Pad.

Craft

www.darkroomanddearly.com

www.happygoluckyblog.com

DIY Christmas Gifts

DIY Polaroid Coasters

Reindeer Gift Bags

What You Need

What You Need

10x10cm ceramic tiles or smaller Printed photos (smaller than tile) Modge Podge Sponge brush Clear Spray paint (acrylic) 4 small adhesive felt circles per coaster

Brown shopping/gift bags with handles Red and white candy canes (wrapped) Medium – large googly eyes Large red pom poms Hot glue gun and glue stick (or glue dots) Sticky tape

Method

Method

Trim your photos down to fit on the tile - 5mm of space between the sides and top of the photo and tile. Trim to leave 1 – 2cm of space between the bottom of the photo and the tile.

Use the sticky tape to stick a candy cane on the left and right side of the inside of the bag. They should face sideways and outwards, on a slight angle, approximately 2 – 4 cm from the edge of the bag. Use the photo above for reference – these are the antlers.

Coat the back of the photo with modge podge, using a sponge brush.

Lightly coat the tile and photo with an even layer of modge podge (it dries clear). Leave to dry for at least two hours.

Spray with acrylic spray. Once dry, stick an adhesive felt circle to each corner on the back of the coaster.

Glue the googly eyes to the outside of the bag, almost centre but slightly more towards the top of the bag.

Then stick a pom pom between and below the eyes – this is the reindeer’s nose.

Now you have a gift bag that’s perfect for Christmas!

www.darkroomanddearly.com

Tip: Edit your photos with filters before printing to appear more antiqued - like a Polaroid.

www.happygoluckyblog.com

www.pakmag.com.au | December 2020 41

Craft

www.funlearningforkids.com

DIY Christmas Fun

www.fun365.orientaltrading.com

Poke-a-Tree Christmas Game

Gingerbread Man Activity

What You Need

What You Need

Thin red and green paper (tissue paper, wrapping paper, origami paper or crepe paper) Rubber Bands Large canvas or sheet of cardboard Sheet of brown paper Paper cups – red and green (or you can use / paint white ones) Mini-presents / prizes Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Assortment of craft accessories, such as buttons, pipe cleaners, gems, stickers, rhinestones, ribbon etc.

Brown craft or construction paper Small – medium googly eyes Craft glue and small paint brush Scissors Pencil

Method Cut out circles of paper that are large enough to fold over and around the cup opening (see image below).

Put a mini present or two inside each cup. Fold the paper over the opening, gluing it down to the sides of the cup or using a rubber band to hold it in place.

Glue the bottom of each cup to the canvas or cardboard, creating the shape of a tree.

Cut out the tree stump from brown paper and glue it below the tree. You can use it as a fun advent calendar, a reward incentive or at a Christmas Party as prizes for winning a game.

www.fun365.orientaltrading.com

42 December 2020 | www.pakmag.com.au

Method Draw the outline of a gingerbread man onto the paper with a pencil (adult help may be needed). Cut it out with scissors.

Use the paint brush to place a small amount of glue on the back of two googly eyes. Stick them onto the face of the gingerbread man.

You can either draw on a mouth for your gingerbread man or use your craft accessories to create one.

Now you can get creative and start designing!

Use the same paint brush to glue down any of the craft accessories however you want. www.funlearningforkids.com

Advertorial

How to Have a Sumo Sized Christmas!

STORY James Mousa, Life Sumo When it comes to Christmas, you can be caught in two minds when it comes to finance. On one hand, there is the guilt that comes with spending big and the idea that it should be the thought that counts. On the other hand, given just how difficult the year has been you could be forgiven for wanting to splash out a bit and spoil the special people in your life.

3. The government has created economic stimulus

So here are five hints that will make this Christmas a little easier:

4. Avoid Zip Pay and Afterpay. Please. These seem like

1. Christmas is about sharing your love with those closest to you and to those less fortunate. Instead of doing a Secret Santa in your workplace and wasting $20 each on a gag, why not get together with your work mates and pitch in to buy something for those less fortunate? You will all feel great for doing it and that little amount of money will mean more to others than it will to you.

2. Kids love unwrapping stuff… so box up experiences.

Spending your money with local businesses on memories you can make with your children is an awesome way to get the best of both worlds. We live in a part of the world that tourists pay huge dollars to come and see and it is right here in our backyard… often with discounts for locals. Get out there and explore. Spending the time with your family is priceless and to those tour operators it will make a world of difference.

packages (Job Keeper, Job Seeker, reduced tax rates etc) so we get out into our communities and spend the extra money. Do it. Do not send those dollars to overseas corporations online, instead find the amazing local retailers who have some brilliant and quirky gifts for young and old! Find local. Buy local! a great idea because they appear to lower the burden on your hip pocket by breaking your purchase up into smaller payments but they are relying on you overextending yourself and not being able to pay and when you can’t, they are ready to pounce. It is expensive and simply using After Pay and Zip pay will flag on your credit report and will show up when you go for a loan.

It will count against you in a big way. Please avoid these.

If you cannot pay for it… do not buy it.

5. Encourage your little ones to go through their toys prior to Christmas and find the ones that they do not play with that are still in good condition.

Donating these will make a huge difference for some kids who are not so fortunate, and it will help teach your little ones about the importance of caring for others in our community.

So, there you have it – 5 Sumo-sized tips to make your Christmas a ho ho-whole lot healthier on the hip-pocket and help fill your family’s hearts!

Life Sumo has one fundamental belief - people would make better decisions with better education. It is our privilege to make that education free and accessible to all. It's what we do and we're really good at it. Book your free life finance education sessions at www.lifesumo.com.au

www.pakmag.com.au | December 2020 47

Health

All Things Health Staying Healthy During the Silly Season

Interesting Facts about Blood Cells

Ahh, Christmas. It’s all about giving, family time and delicious food.

It’s tempting to let your hair down over the holidays and treat yourself (and you should), but it’s important to stay healthy so it doesn’t turn into a frenzy of poor health choices.

Your blood is made up of different types of cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to your tissue, white blood cells fight infection, platelets control bleeding

Stay hydrated – In between glasses of wine, remember to stay hydrated – especially on those hot days. The last thing you need in between family fun is an episode of heat exhaustion.

Keep moving – While you should definitely take some much-deserved time to relax and watch your favourite Christmas movies, it’s just as fun to take a bike ride with your family, play a game of backyard cricket or play some games in the pool.

Keep colds at bay – Exercise the usual. Wash your hands often, sneeze into your elbow and avoid going out when you’re sick. Up your immunity by having more foods rich in Vitamin C. Think before you eat – Chocolates, mince pies and pavlova… there are so many sweet treats to go around. However, before indulging, take a moment to think about whether you really want this or if you’re just eating it because it’s there.

and plasma is pale-yellow liquid that holds your blood cells. Every drop of blood contains roughly 200300 million red blood cells.

There are currently 30 recognised blood types, such as O, A, B and AB. 1 in 10 Australian blood donors have O negative blood type, which is considered the ‘universal’ blood type as it can be given to anyone.

There’s gold in your blood. Human blood contains metals such as iron, zinc, chromium, lead, copper and gold, in very small amounts.

Lively Living Aroma-Mod The Lively Living Aroma-Mod is compact enough to be used in your car, office or home, but large enough to provide aromatherapy benefits to a large room for up to four hours - all you need is access to a USB port!

If you’re wanting to improve the air quality around you, this Aroma-Mod provides an instant solution of purifying, cleansing and refreshing the atmosphere. It’s sleek and minimalist design makes this Aroma-Mod perfect for anywhere from home or on the go, and switches itself off once run out so there’s no danger of leaving it unattended. Get yours at Calanna Pharmacy today.

TIP: Use your favourite Mario’s Oils Blends to customise the scent to your liking.

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

www.pakmag.com.au | December 2020 49

Health

All Things Health Top 5 Self-Care Tips for Working Parents During the Holiday Period

Natural Remedies for Oily Skin

STORY Dr Rosina McAlpine – Parenting Expert www.winwinparenting.com

Oily skin happens due to the overproduction of sebum from the skin’s sebaceous glands. In turn, this can lead to clogged pores and acne. Oily skin can be challenging to manage, but there are some natural remedies that may help.

Parents often feel guilty when it comes to self-care. Taking time out can just seem "selfish" when there is so much to do!

Everything else - the children, partners, friends, family and work tends to take priority. However, we all know that can only work in the short-term. We will eventually burn out and not be able to support our family or our workplace.

So, this holiday period, here are our top 5 tips for working parents to ensure long-term mental and physical wellbeing: 1. Remember - YOU are a role-model for your children. If you want your children to take care of themselves be the example!

2. Everyone needs downtime - if you don't fill up your "cup" with rest, good nutrition, hydration and exercise it will have a negative impact on your physical and mental wellbeing.

3. No time? Self-care doesn't have to take long. Stop and take a few long, slow, deep breaths; stretch for 5 minutes; take a short walk outside; make a nourishing meal; go to bed a little earlier... all of these short activities will add up over time and help you to keep your energy up!

4. Stay positive - watch a funny movie and make time to have fun with the kids.

5. No alone time? Practice self-care activities with the kids. It will be good for you and the kids - Win Win!

Wash your face – this one is pretty obvious, but if you have oily skin, make sure you wash it twice per day with a gentle soap.

Honey – honey has antibacterial and antiseptic abilities and is a natural humectant, so it may benefit oily skin.

Spread a thin layer of it onto your face, let it dry for about ten minutes and wash off with warm water.

Almonds – Ground up almonds can work as a natural exfoliant and remove excess oils. First, finely grind up a few almonds, add two tablespoons of honey and apply to your face gently in circular motions before rinsing off with warm water.

50 December 2020 | www.pakmag.com.au

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

Expert Advice

The PakMag Experts Dr Rosina McAlpine Dear Dr Rosina, Christmas is feeling more stressful financially and emotionally this year due to COVID, what can I do to reduce those feelings for myself and my family?

Here are a few things to help brighten the holiday period: Appreciate: list all the things you’re grateful for – family, friends, home, food, belongings and blue skies – share them together regularly.

Support: giving is a wonderful way to bring positivity to your family and to families who need help.

Hope: make time to share dreams, wishes and hopes for the future – they cost nothing but bring immense joy!

Wishing you a safe and joyfilled holiday period. www.winwinparenting.com

Yolanda Van Der Kruk Psychologist, Townsville Paediatrics Dear Yolanda, My child is struggling in class.

How can I help?

When children struggle in school, it can cause self-doubt and sometimes frustrations for parents.

However, parents can equip themselves with tools to support their struggling child. Firstly, be consistent and set aside daily, whole-family ‘homework’ time. Work together with their teacher or a hire a tutor, and make sure you’re setting boundaries when it comes to television and devices.

It’s also important to teach your child study skills, such as using a daily planner or binder system. Lastly, always make sure you reward your child’s efforts – no matter how small, and focus on the positive.

4427 5817 www.townsvillepaediatrics.com.au

Matthew Calanna

Jana Gorski

Calanna Whole Health Pharmacy

Naturopath - Calanna Whole Health Pharmacy

Dear Matthew,

Dear Jana,

How can I make health and fitness a priority in 2021?

I don’t know which multivitamin is right for me. How do I find out?

Here at Calanna, we understand there isn’t a “one size fits all” approach to health and fitness - different bodies will react differently to foods and exercises. The MyDNA Health and Wellbeing test will tell you the foods and exercises best fit to your body type based off your genetic make. A quick, painless cheek swab will bear answers that are valid for life. You will get access to a results portal, which include customised meal plans and exercise regimes, to help you work towards different goals, from weight loss to endurance, strength, conditioning and more.

Our MyDNA Comprehensive Wellness report gives us some great information about any increased requirement for nutrients that people might need. It can help you find a vitamin with the right doses for optimal health.

Some vitamins are also more indicated at certain ages or stages of life, and some medications can indicate an increased requirement for certain supplements. There is value in consulting with someone who can ask you the right questions and has knowledge of products to get you exactly what you need.

Calanna Whole Health Pharmacy www.calannapharmacy.com.au

Calanna Whole Health Pharmacy www.calannapharmacy.com.au

www.pakmag.com.au | December 2020 53

School Holiday Guide

School Holiday Guide 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 your child 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.

Suitable for children aged 5 - 11 years old.

Visit their website to find a Vacation Care program near you.

P 4726 3299 E childcare@mmcnq.catholic.edu.au www.mmcnq.catholic.edu.au

Stable on the Strand presents Stable on the Streets Stable on the Streets, a drive-by experience, will be five nights of fabulous Christmas fun from Friday 18 December – Tuesday 22 December, 6.00pm – 9.00pm.

Create a display in your own space to become part of the city-wide celebration of Christmas. Receive your free pair of Christmas glasses and join in on other kids’ Christmas activities. Register online.

A Townsville P 0411 756 273 E admin@stableonthestrand.com.au www.stableonthestrand.com.au

Christmas in Townsville Skype with Santa – Visit Cotter’s Markets between 9.00am – 12.00pm on the 6 or 13 of December to have your family photo taken virtually with Santa - for FREE! Northern Lights Trail – Over a period of five weeks (until 3 January 2021) you can experience Townsville’s very own Northern Lights in the city. The trail of lights will begin in Flinders Street and takes you through a walking tour of the CBD, showcasing different light displays and with fun experiences along the journey. This is a FREE experience that the whole family will enjoy – day or night!

Carols At Home - Join host Steve ‘Pricey’ Price as he takes a trip down memory lane and hosts performances from ‘Carols by Candlelight’ from the last five years all reeled into one show! The broadcast can be enjoyed from your smart TV or device and starts at 6.30pm, Sunday 6 December.

What’s On Townsville whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au

School Holiday Program - Ninja Parc Ninja Parc is designed to get kids moving and learning new skills through an indoor obstacle course. It’s extremely fun and your child can improve their agility through the various rope climbs, bouldering challenges and much more. The school holiday program is fully supervised and available from 2.00pm – 5.00pm weekdays for kids aged 6 – 14 years old. Or join them for a single session at any time.

Cost: From $19.95. (Food, drink, lolly bag and free Ninja Parc water bottle provided for the fully supervised school holiday sessions for $50.00) A 18 Black Hawk Boulevard, Thuringowa Central P 0427 139 762 E townsville@ninjaparc.com.au Ninja Parc Townsville www.ninjaparc.com.au

Online Resources from CityLibraries Take advantage of all the online resources to beat the boredom these holidays. Once you have a CityLibraries membership, both parents and children will love the collections of audiobooks, movies, ebooks, elearning and magazines available to use, all without needing to leave the house.

Kids can also enjoy the Summer Reading Club and Kid’s History Hunt with Townsville’s local museums. Visit the libraries for extra games, puzzles, and toys. Find more information on their website. 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 | December 2020 55

School Holiday Guide

Inflatable Kingdom Inflatable Kingdom is every kid’s dream – a giant inflatable playground where kids are free to slide, climb and jump on 10 jumping castles in fully air conditioned comfort. Just be prepared to be met with “Just one more slide!” when it’s time to go. Sessions last a massive 2.5 hours. It’s a great way to let your kids enjoy themselves while getting out of the house and exercising.

Cost: Prices start from $10.00. Book online to save 10% off entry price. And don’t forget your socks!

P 4755 4422 A 72-88 Hervey Range Rd, Condon Inflatable Kingdom Townsville www.inflatablekingdom.com.au

A Unit 3/72-88 Hervey Range Rd P 4755 4422 E info@sk8way.com.au Sk8way Townsville www.sk8way.com.au

Christmas at Stockland Kick off and celebrate your Christmas with a bang at Stockland, with a variety of upcoming activities and workshops. You can also shop for all of your Christmas needs - now made even easier with same-day online delivery.

Santa Photography - Capture the magic of the season with Santa, available from 21 November. Bookings essential.

Fairfield Central Pop over to Fairfield Central for all your shopping needs and great bargains, with 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 new indoor space Fairfield Play while you take a break and relax.

You can also have your family photo taken with Santa, because he’ll be hanging out at the centre from December 10 – 24! Visit the website to book and for the full price list.

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

Santa’s Workshop - Keep the kids entertained while you shop with fun, Christmas-themed arts and crafts activities.

Letters to Santa - There’ll be a letterbox conveniently located in the center so anyone can send a special letter to Santa this Christmas. He will even reply with a personalised note just for you!

A 310 – 330 Ross River Rd, Aitkenvale P 4779 6033 Stockland (Townsville) www.stockland.com.au

Kumon Maths and English

Pitstop Karting Experience ‘The Ultimate Adrenaline Rush’ these school holidays at Townsville’s only go karting hire facility.

Pitstop Karting is a purpose-built outdoor kart track that offers the ultimate fun and thrill in a Junior, Senior or Dual Kart, so anyone can challenge themselves, their friends and their family. It will be a holiday event that you’ll want to come back to!

Cost: From $30.00. Pitstop License (required): $5.00 for 12 months. Open hours vary, please visit the website.

A 1-7 Cardwell St, Garbutt P 4401 5045 E contact@pitstopkarting.com.au Pitstop Karting www.pitstopkarting.com.au

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. Whether you’re staying at home during the Christmas break or going on holiday, the flexibility of Kumon’s learning options will suit any family’s schedule.

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

Christmas at DFO Cairns

Sk8way There’s nothing more fun than speeding round a track with an awesome pair of skates on – whether you’re racing your friends or simply having a good time.

Sk8way provides all Townsville locals with the facilities to do so and offers plenty of school holiday sessions for your kids to let that energy out, exercise and develop their skating skills. They also have ‘learn to skate’ lessons starting from just $10.00.

Cost: From $10.00 - $18.00. Skate hire is available for just

56 December 2020 | www.pakmag.com.au

$4.00 per person – or purchase your own pair from the Skate Shop.

Heading North this Christmas? Throughout the month of December the centre is offering Christmas Gingerbread Decorating Workshops, Selfies with Santa, Charity Gift Wrapping (requires gold coin donation), Christmas Carols and the Scan Santa to Win competition.

Christmas Ice Skating and Tobogganing will also be available at the Frozen Wonderland rink within the centre, helping the whole family take a break from the heat and have a cool time. Visit their website or Facebook page for more information.

A DFO, 274 Mulgrave Rd, Westcourt P 4051 7444 DFO Cairns www.dfocairns.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

Wildcatz Indoor Sports

Pandanus Park Golf Centre

Wildcatz Indoor Sports offer a fun and social way to exercise, get fit and have fun. There are a variety of junior sports such as cricket, netball and soccer, as well as 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.

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. They’re open 7 days, bookings not required.

A 18 Black Hawk Boulevard, Thuringowa Central P 4723 1414 Wildcatz Indoor Sports (Official) www.wildcatz.spawtz.com

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

Reef HQ Experience the Great Barrier Reef without getting wet at the world’s largest living coral reef aquarium. As the Australian Government’s National Education Centre for the Great Barrier Reef, Reef HQ Aquarium will introduce you to an amazing and magical underwater world, featuring hundreds of charismatic marine creatures.

Cost: While COVID-19 safety measures are taken by the aquarium all general admission tickets will receive a 25% discount. Sessions will need to be booked in advanced, find more information and ticket prices online.

A 2/68 Flinders St, Townsville City P 4750 0800 Reef HQ Great Barrier Reef Aquarium www.reefhq.com.au

Warrina Ice Skating Have a cool time this summer 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. Don’t want to skate? Tobogganing is only $5.00 for six whole slides. Visit the website below for more information.

Cost: From $10.00 (five years and under) - $65.00 (Family Pass, 2A + 2C). Skate Hire included in entry cost.

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

2020 WNBL Season If you’ve got a child that loves basketball - then get ready for the WNBL season, which will hold several games at Townsville Stadium throughout December.

Teams you can watch play against each other include UC Capitals, Adelaide, Townsville, Perth, Sydney Uni, Melbourne, Southside and Bendigo. The current dates for games in Townsville are 1, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 13 December 2020.

Cost: Varies depending on seating, with most game tickets starting at $15.00 for juniors. Make sure to get your tickets quickly by visiting the WNBL website!

A Townsville Stadium, Murray Lyons Cres, Annandale P 1300 878 001 www.wnbl.basketball whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au

Cost: Free entry. 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.

Billabong Sanctuary Get up close and personal with a huge variety of native Australian animals at the sanctuary. Hand feed kangaroos, hold a koala, watch the amazing crocodile feeding shows and more. You can learn about Pythons at the Reptile Show or check out the bird flight shows.

Keep an eye out for the Ranging Rovers as they walk around with various animals (including dingoes on a leash!), stopping to meet family groups.

Cost: From $26.00 (children) - $115.00 (Family, 2A + 2C).

Open from 9.00am – 2.00pm daily excluding Christmas day.

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

Kurrimine Beach Holiday Park The award-winning Kurrimine Beach Holiday Park is all about families. There are a number of accommodation options available if you’re after a little getaway – it's a lovely family bonding and relaxing escape that’s only a short road trip away. If you’re hungry, have a bite to eat at the delicious licensed on-site café. All of this is only a short walk from the beautiful beach. Phone the park or visit the website to check availability and book.

A 9 Coyle St, Kurrimine Beach P 4065 6166 E info@kurrimine.com.au Kurrimine Beach Holiday Park www.kurrimine.com.au

Paul Sadler Swimland The holiday intensive program runs at the same time each day with the same teacher (for all five days). Your child will receive swimming instruction and practice that will accelerate the development of their swimming skills – all while they have fun in the water! Classes are open to both current and non-current customers.

Visit the website for more information.

A 20 – 22 Freshwater Dr, Riverside Gardens P 4779 4647 E townsville@paulsadleyswimland.com Paul Sadler Swimland Riverside Gardens www.paulsadlerswimland.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 | December 2020 59

Daddy Diary

Daddy Diary Christmas. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. A time to eat, drink and play just a little harder than the previous 11 months. It's also the time of year that the McCallister family goes on their annual holiday, leaving Kevin behind. They'll never learn.

But seriously, how great is a Queensland Christmas?

Mangos, Mud crabs and Malt (or beer but it didn't start with an "M"). My end of year heaven.

I must say when it comes to Christmas food - Santa can keep the puddings and pies in his sack this year. I'm just not interested. All that cinnamon-laden Christmas fare was never cooked up for us Queenslanders anyway. It's all thick, rich and clearly supposed to be eaten warm.

It's food for people who are freezing. Snow-Christmas people. Not us. And don't even get me started on

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

Christmas cake. The best thing you can do with a grape is squash it into wine. Drying it up and putting it in a rock-hard cake that never goes out of date is not my idea of a sweet treat. Give the Christmas cake to Rudolph. He'll eat it.

If you ask me, we've actually got it better up here.

The food we devour from December till late January (or whenever the new year fitness regime kicks in) is the best on the planet. Enter exhibit A. The Bowen Mango. Name anything better than a chilly Bowen direct from the fridge on a hot summer’s day? I'll wait...

The taste and feeling of that sweet mango nectar dripping down your chin is the stuff dreams are made of. And this fruit of the gods is just the start of the season. Bring on Christmas lunch I say.

Prawns, ham off the bone, prawns, pork crackling, prawns and roasted golden potatoes... oh, and did I mention the prawns? The only thing better than Christmas lunch itself, is the post-lunch nana nap I always manage to squeeze in. Wake up from that, crack another beer and then it's nearly time to hit the leftovers for dinner.

In all honesty there are so many wonderful aspects to a Queensland Christmas. The food is just one small part of it. But it's a part I love, because it brings what is actually the best thing about Christmas together… family. To my beautiful wife Michelle and amazing kids Matilda and Charlie, you three are my world. Merry Christmas. And Merry Christmas Townsville - you beautiful city. How great is a Queensland Christmas!

Cliffo Hit 103.1

www.pakmag.com.au | December 2020 61

Get Out and About TUESDAY 1 DECEMBER MAKE: An Exhibition of TAFE QLD Visual Arts Students Runs every day until 12 December Pinnacles Gallery www.townsville.qld.gov.au 10.00am / FREE / Family Exhibition: Gerald Soworka Drawn to Presuure Runs every day until 16 December Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts www.umbrella.org.au 9.00am / FREE / Family Exhibition: Umbrella Member's Exhibition and Bambord Medical Art Prize Runs every day until 16 December Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts www.umbrella.org.au 9.00am / FREE / Family

Christmas Art Workshops Runs until 12 December Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts Various / Various / Adults

WNBL Season - Double Header Townsville v Perth Townsville Stadium www.wnbl.basketball 7.00pm / Visit Website / Family

Drum Dance with the Masters Drumming and dance workshops Runs until 4 December Online www.africandrumingtownsville.com 7.40pm / FREE / Family

You Can't Stop the Beat Mini Show (Reflexions Dance Studio) Townsville Civic Theatre ticketshop@townsville.qld.gov.au 6.00pm / $32.00 / Family

Mater Baby Products Black Sale Online 25% off all products Runs until 4 December www.materbabyproducts.com.au All Day / Parents

SATURDAY 5 DECEMBER

WEDNESDAY 2 DECEMBER Veteran's Tennis Club Tennis Townsville Vic Bayer Centre www.tennistownsville.org 6.30pm / $11.00 - $12.00 / 35 +

Exhibition: Young Indigenous Printmakers

THURSDAY 3 DECEMBER

Runs every day until 21 December

Pechakucha Night Townsville The Heritage Exchange www.pechakucha.com 6.30PM / $5.00 / 15 +

Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts www.umbrella.org.au 9.00am / FREE / Family WNBL Season - Double Header UC Capitals v Melbourne Perth Townsville Stadium www.wnbl.basketball 5.00pm / Visit Website / Family WNBL Season - Double Header Perth v Bendigo Townsville Stadium www.wnbl.basketball 7.00pm / Visit Website / Family Northern Lights Trail Runs until 3 January 2021 Townsville CBD www.whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au All day / FREE / Family

With HIT 103.1’s Cliffo & Gabi

Networking 101 Co Habitat Townsville www.whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 9.00am / $79.00 / 18 + FRIDAY 4 DECEMBER The Ultimate ABBA Show Runs every Friday and Saturday until January Townsville Stage Door Theatre Restuarant www.stagedoortheatre.com.au 5.45pm / $79.00 - $89.00 / PG WNBL Season - Double Header UC Capitals v Adelaid Townsville Stadium www.wnbl.basketball 5.00pm / Visit Website / Family

You Can't Stop the Beat Main Show (Reflexions Dance Studio) Townsville Civic Theatre ticketshop@townsville.qld.gov.au 6.00pm / $32.00 / Family All In For Aiden Burdekin Racecourse Burdekin Race Club www.burdekintheatre.com.au 4.00pm / $35.00 / 18 + SUNDAY 6 DECEMBER WNBL Season - Double Header Townsville v UC Capitals Townsville Stadium www.wnbl.basketball 5.00pm / Visit Website / Family WNBL Season - Double Header Adelaide v Perth Townsville Stadium www.wnbl.basketball 7.00pm / Visit Website / Family Townsville Jazz Club Christmas Party Fish Inn www.jazztownsville.com 5.00pm / $15.00 non-members / Family TUESDAY 8 DECEMBER WNBL Season - Perth v Sydney Uni Townsville Stadium www.wnbl.basketball 7.30pm / Visit Website / Family

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

www.pakmag.com.au | December 2020 63

Get Out and About

With Triple M’s Pricey

TUESDAY 8 DECEMBER

SUNDAY 13 DECEMBER

FRIDAY 18 DECEMBER

Speculative Fiction Writers Group CityLibraries Aitkenvale whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 7.00pm / FREE / Family

Skype with Santa Cotter's Markets whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 9.00am / FREE / Family

WEDNESDAY 9 DECEMBER

WNBL Season - Triple Header Adelaide v Sydney Uni Townsville Stadium www.wnbl.basketball 12.00pm / Visit Website / Family

Stable On The Streets Runs until 22 December Townsville www.stableonthestrand.com.au 6.00pm / FREE / Family

Photographic Meeting Night End of year celebration North QLD Camera Group QCWA/CWA Building www.nqcg.org.au 6.50pm / FREE / PG

WNBL Season - Triple Header Sydney Uni v Southside Townsville Stadium www.wnbl.basketball 2.00pm / Visit Website / Family

THURSDAY 10 DECEMBER WNBL Season - Double Header Perth v UC Capitals Townsville Stadium www.wnbl.basketball 6.00pm / Visit Website / Family

WNBL Season - Triple Header Townsville v Melbourne Townsville Stadium www.wnbl.basketball 4.00pm / Visit Website / Family

WNBL Season - Double Header Sydney Uni v Southside Townsville Stadium www.wnbl.basketball 8.00pm / Visit Website / Family

MONDAY 14 DECEMBER Christmas Take Home Messy Play Pack citylibraries Townsville Aitkenvale Park www.townsville.gld.gov.au/libraries 8.30am / FREE / Famly (children)

Get a photo with Santa Runs until 24 December Fairfield Central - Book online www.fairfieldcentral.com.au

NAIDOC Christmas Party The Ville whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au 6.30pm / $40.00 / 15 + THURSDAY 31 DECEMBER New Year's Eve at Stage Door Stage Door Theatre Restuarant www.stagedoortheatre.com.au 12.00am / $160.00 / PG SATURDAY 2 JANUARY The Ultimate ABBA Show Runs every Saturday until 16 January Townsville Stage Door Theatre Restuarant www.stagedoortheatre.com.au 5.45pm / $79.00 - $89.00 / PG SATURDAY 23 JANUARY Creedence - The John Fogerty Show Dalrymple Hotel www.dalrymplehotel.com.au 8.00pm / $29.60 / 18 +

Regular Markets Bluewater Twilight Markets Date: 2nd Saturday of the month Time: 2.00pm - 6.00pm Location: Bluewater Community Centre

Bushland Beach Markets Date: 1st & 3rd Sunday of the month 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 - 1.00pm Location: Marian School Hall

Horseshoe Bay Markets Date: Every 2nd and last Sunday of the month

Time: 9.00am - 2.00pm Location: Horseshoe Bay Foreshore

Willows Rotary Markets

Wulguru Markets

Date: Every Sunday

Date: Every Sunday

Balgal Beach Markets

Time: 7.30am - 11.30am

Time: 7.00am – 12.00pm

Location: Willows Shopping

Location: Wulguru Soccer

Centre Car Park

Grounds, 14 Edison Street,

Cotters Markets

Wulguru

Date: Every Sunday

Mercer Lane Markets

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

Strand Night Markets

Time: 8.00am - 1.00pm

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

Location: Flinders St

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

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

64 December 2020 | www.pakmag.com.au

Magnetic Island RSL Markets Date: Every week on Sunday until 20 December Time: 9.00am – 2.00pm Location: Foreshore in Horseshoe Bay

Date: 1st Saturday of the month Time: From 8.30am – 12.30pm Location: Mercer Lane

Conroy Hall Markets Date: 2nd Saturday of the month Time: From 7.30am – 9.30am Location: Conroy Hall