PakMag Townsville - December 2021 Issue 133

Parents and Kids Magazine

ISSUE: Dec 2021

133

TOWNSVILLE

Why the Best Gift is a

PRESENT PARENT

FREE

17 Ideas for “Sneaky” Holiday Learning Fun How to Turn Parenting Lemons into Lemonade

WIN

WITH THE

Check Out our HUGE School Holiday Guide

PakMag Mega

XMAS GIVEAWAY 3 Fun Things to Create with Paper Mâché

THIS 6CHRISTMAS Activities to Bring You Closer

Don’t Sweat the Crumbs in the Icing Summer Reading the Kids will LOVE

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LOCAL EVENTS to Check Out

Welcome 5 6 9

12 15

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21 23 24

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28 30 31 33

38 40 43 46 48 53 59 61

The Thing Is Check It Out The Best Christmas Gift is a Present Parent Fun with Paper Mâché Don’t Sweat the Crumbs in the Icing How to Turn Parenting Lemons into Lemonade Jaundice in Newborns All Things Health Three Ways Kumon has Supported Local Families Supporting Children Experiencing BIG Emotions Six Activities to Bring You Closer This Christmas Bump, Bub and Beyond Parent’s Puzzle Mini Mag Christmas Together City of Townsville Pull Out Guide Christmas Giveaway DIY Christmas Gifts Holiday Learning All Things Tweens and Teens Summer Reading School Holiday Guide Daddy Diary What’s On

PakMag Founder and Editor-in-Chief Bree James

Hi again, you magnificent creature… here we are at the end of a looong year and as we countdown to a new year, we want to take this opportunity to thank you for being part of our PakMag community and send your family our best wishes for a happy and safe holiday season filled with love and laughter.

It’s always a hectic month for families, so we want to remind you to be gentle on yourself and that it’s not what’s under the tree that matters…

“The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.” – Burton Hills We hope you share many beautiful moments together and make lasting memories. We’ve packed this edition with loads of ideas and expert advice to help you make the most of this time together.

Take care of yourself and each other. We’ll see you just around the corner in 2022, in the meantime happy reading and don’t forget to tell everyone, you read it in PakMag.

Bree and Bec 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

Sales and Business Development Tracy Couper 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

Marketing and Events Coordinator Alyssa Marino

Accounts Trent Stievano

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

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

For Parents The PakMag Parents Podcast PakMag TV

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

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

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

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 2021 3

The Thing Is

The Thing Is with Bree James This time of year brings up a lot of feelings for many of us.

Feelings of connection, and feelings of disconnection.

Feelings of possibility, and feelings of impossibility.

Feelings of abundance, and feelings of lacking.

Feelings of happiness, and feelings of sadness, and so many other emotions that swing both ends of the spectrum.

The thing is, we need to have both sides. Everything in the universe has an opposite. Could you know happiness without sadness? Is there love without pain?

Dark, without light? Polarity allows us to experience both sides of life, which enables us to truly appreciate when things are going well for us. Newton’s Third Law of Motion explains the law of polarity perfectly “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.”

We are living in a very polarising time, where opposing thoughts and feelings are being brought to our attention stronger than ever before. It’s very challenging for many of us seeing people we love going in the opposite way to where we think they should. A sign that you are polarised around an issue is when it triggers an emotional response where you feel compelled to argue one side or the other. Being aware of this can really help you stay more neutral and see both sides for what they are. The world would be a much more peaceful place if we embraced the fact that there has to be two opposing views, and that both are ok.

It astounds me that I have two children with the same gene pool and household, but they can be totally opposite to each other. The organised versus disorganised, the clean versus the untidy, the calm versus the crazy, and that goes for their parents too!

It’s enough to drive you mad when someone has an opposite way of “being” in your life. I am an early riser who likes to get stuff done, my husband is a night owl that loves to chill out. Sure, having things in common helps make relationships work, but what makes a relationship passionate - is the differences and embracing them. Just like the two sides of a magnet; if the two energies that are the same try to merge, they repel, when the opposite energies try to merge - they attract to each other. As they say- opposites attract, so it’s interesting that we fall into the trap of wanting people to think, feel, and be the same as us.

So, as much as the people in your world may have opposing views, beliefs, standards and personalities to you, these people are important to have in our life.

They are the spice to an otherwise vanilla life.

We can’t have a positive without a negative, and as much as many of us want to avoid pain, fear, and sadness - we need these times so we can experience pleasure, hope and joy. Without rain nothing grows.

The life of this world is nothing but the harmony of opposites, and as much as it drives me nuts sometimes, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

As we close off this year, it’s normal to feel excited and hesitant for 2022. I am feeling both optimistic and pessimistic, and that is a good thing, I hope you feel that way too.

Parenting certainly brings us many polarising moments.

From absolute joy and laughter, to despair and tears; parenting is filled with opposites that keep us on our toes. Like the “I hate you mum” moments… there is nothing quite as hurtful, yet hilarious, when your child throws this one at you. It’s kind of like you’ve graduated as a parent, but you can’t help having a moment where you feel like you may be failing at this whole parenting gig when these words slip out of your child’s mouth.

Bree

Then there’s the opposite ways we parent to our partner, and the opposite ways our children behave.

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

www.pakmag.com.au | December 2021 5

Entertainment

Check it Out Christmas In The City When: Saturday 4 December, 5.30pm - 9.00pm Where: Flinders Street, Victoria Bridge, and Hanran Park More info: www.townsville.qld.gov.au/christmastogether Townsville will light up for the festive season officially turning on the lights at Christmas in the City. Join in the fun with live entertainment, roving entertainers, Santa photos, pop up outdoor cinema and Santa’s workshops providing free arts and craft activities. Christmas in the City will run in conjunction with Townsville Eats featuring a range of food trucks to bring the community together and celebrate all things Christmas. And to sweeten the deal, there will be free two hour parking in the CBD all month long!

You can also help make someone else’s Christmas merry and bright by donating to the Mayor’s Christmas Appeal. Support locals less fortunate in the community by donating at www.townsville.qld.gov.au/mca/home

ROCKARIA The ELO Experience

Riverway Movie Screening

When: 17 December, 8.00pm 10.20pm / $63.00 - $69.00 / PG Where: Townsville Civic Theatre More info: whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au A tribute concert not to be missed - The ELO Experience delivers a captivating live concert recreating the unforgettable sound of Jeff Lynne’s The Electric Light Orchestra. Performing all the classic hits, your favourite tune is sure to make an appearance.

When: 17 December, 7.00pm - 8.30pm / FREE / G Where: Riverway Oval More info: whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au Riverway Movies is back! Pack a blanket and head down to Riverway with the kids for a movie night under the stars at the open-air cinema. This month's movie will be Wonder Park - a family friendly animated film showing how great our imagination can be. Next up will be Missing Link on 21 January. Movies are showing monthly through to June so make sure to check online to see what’s showing next.

Townsville NAIDOC Dinner 2021 When: 4 December, 7.00pm - 11.00pm / $75.00 / G Where: The Ville Resort-Casino More info: Townsville NAIDOC Dinner The end of year NAIDOC Dinner is sure to be a hit. Put on your dancing shoes and join a fun and culture filled night with food, performances, and entertainment. You’ll be spoilt for choice with an all you can eat buffet with four mains, four sides, and three desserts, plus tea and coffee.

The night will be emceed by Sean Choolburra with a special guest, cultural performances by Wulgurukaba Walkabout Dancers and Sambo Productions, entertainment by Brothas Entertainment, and a live band.

Carols By Candlelight When: 12 December, 5.00pm - 8.30pm / FREE / G Where: Riverway Oval More info: www.townsville.qld.gov.au/christmastogether Come on down for a family fun night and celebrate Christmas at Carols by Candlelight!

The evening will include local performers, singers and dancers, food stalls, arts and craft workshops, amusement rides, headline performer Trent Bell and a special visit from Santa. The event will support the Mayor's Christmas Appeal from the purchase of flame safe candles. Sing along, enjoy the festivities, and celebrate Christmas under the stars.

6 December 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

Entertainment

Photos With Santa When: Runs until 24 December Where: Townsville Shopping Centres More info: Check shopping centre websites Santa will be making an appearance throughout December at many Townsville Shopping Centres, so grab your bunch and get a few snaps in. This year you can find Santa at Castletown Shopping Centre, Willows Shopping Centre, and at Fairfield Shopping Centre.

Check online for more info and session times at all locations. Bookings will be required.

Stable On The Strand at Riverway When: 18 - 22 December Where: Riverway, Townsville More info: www.stableonthestrand.com.au Experience the wonder of a Townsville Christmas this December. Stable on the Strand has been an annual Townsville event for 20 years and this year it’s going to be better than ever. All the fun, the wonder and the joy of Christmas will be in a new location at Riverway! Stable at Riverway brings loads of free live entertainment, activities for kids of all ages, and all the sights and sounds of the recreation of the Christmas story for five nights in December.

Join the Summer Reading Club The Summer Reading Club is a fun, free program delivered annually by the State Library of Queensland online and in public libraries and Indigenous Knowledge Centres across Queensland to encourage children to keep reading through the summer! The school holidays are great, but all the free time kids experience can result in a loss of learning gained during the school year, which is often referred to as the ‘Summer Slide.’ The Summer Reading Club inspires opportunities to keep your kids engaged all summer long by reading, playing, exploring and discovering which is what the research has identified as the antidote to this phenomenon.Join the Club and join the challenge - participate in 40 challenges, share book reviews, artwork and comment on other club member posts.

Running throughout December and January at www.summerreadingclub.slq.qld.gov.au

Triple M’s Great Northern Lights Triple M’s Christmas Lights Tour has been a much-loved Townsville tradition for more than 30 years.

Pricey has hosted this wonderful event for as long as he’s been doing breakfast radio in our great city! And the tradition continues in 2021. Download the map and soak in Triple M’s Great Northern Lights! The map will be available for download from 1 December at www.triplem.com.au

Pricey's Christmas Food Appeal, for Food Relief NQ Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. A time for family and friends to gather, celebrate and create memories. Some families are less fortunate, and need a helping hand. In 2021, you can help spread some Christmas cheer with Pricey's Christmas Food Appeal.

You can find the donation bin locations at www.triplem.com.au Food Relief accepts non-perishable food items, as well as various hygiene products to redistribute to the North Queensland community. Food items that are nonsaleable, include slightly damaged, out of spec, close to use by date and incorrectly labelled food items.

www.pakmag.com.au | December 2021 7

Parenting

The Best Christmas Gift is a Present Parent STORY Dr Vanessa Lapointe The holiday season can be one of long to-do lists and jam-packed calendars. During the holiday season, I often receive messages from parents sharing their feelings of overwhelm about commitments that they have taken on in December. Not surprisingly, our children feel these pressures as well. And when there is a tantrum at the Christmas parade, or an unexpected reaction to a gift or a special outing, parents may not understand why their child just isn’t happy. After all, isn’t the holiday season and all its trimmings designed to make children HAPPY?!?

The truth is that in our busy, chaotic world, kids are starved for our presence. This feeling is amplified during the holiday season. Our children and their sensitive nervous systems become highly stimulated by the crowds, bright lights, tables full of rich food, and chatter from family and friends. Top these off with late nights and high expectations, and our children are often

teetering on the edge of Meltdown City. But how do we bring them back down from this unsettled place? How can we get grounded during the holiday hubbub?

1. Sloooooooooooow it Down Christmastime can feel like a race. I don’t know how it is where you live, but in the suburbs of Vancouver, holiday events and light shows can book up very quickly. In a society with constant FOMO (fear of missing out), this can result in a family being booked up for nearly every holiday weekend. In an attempt to give our child the ‘Best Holiday Ever’, we can end up creating a perfect storm of too-much-of-everything. Our children need an opportunity to feel grounded in order to rest. Ensuring that you have evenings of togetherness with low-stakes activities, such as board games, cookie decorating, movie watching, etc, can help to take off that pressure while fostering connection at the same time.

www.pakmag.com.au | December 2021 9

Parenting

4. Consider Editing What’s Under the Tree

2. Prioritise Being in the Present Our children are all too aware of when our attention is divided. When we stop mid-conversation when our phone beeps or because we “just have to take care of this work thing”, it not only interrupts the moment, but it also interrupts the relationship. Set aside time every evening to be with your child without the distractions of electronics or your to-do list. Listen to your child’s stories, ask open-ended questions, and let those notifications go. Make it a habit to check in with your child and have them know that you are 100 percent focused on them. The world will not end if that text or email is answered 15 minutes later. I promise.

3. Create a Countdown / Advent of Togetherness A fun family tradition can be an advent calendar, and one way to foster relationships over the holidays is by creating an ‘advent calendar of togetherness’. You can get your child involved in the planning, and activities do not have to be big, expensive productions. Plan for an evening walk, cookie baking, having hot chocolate, or driving around to see Christmas lights.

These simple, but meaningful activities allow the family to enjoy one another without the stress of being “on” for others.

The packages under the tree can also be a source of pressure and big expectations. I have heard so many stories of parents feeling as though their child is ungrateful or rude on Christmas morning. One mother described to me that her child seemingly became “numb” after opening six or seven gifts on Christmas morning. She explained that her daughter was almost unable to process what she was opening after the first few presents. I’ve recently heard of the 5 Gift Rule, where parents buy their children something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read, and then something do to.

By setting some guidelines to work within, you and your child can set some reasonable expectations (and avoid accidentally going overboard on the Christmas spending), to ensure that gifts are both meaningful and not too over-the-top.

5. Read the Room You are the expert on your child, and you will be able to tell when things are becoming too much. If your child isn’t excited about going out, has weary eyes, or is emotionally overflowing – don’t be afraid to say no. Cut the evening short, cancel the light tour, switch it up, order in pizza and watch a movie under a blanket fort. Take it down a notch and let your child exhale. It is very easy to be swept up into the magic of Christmas, but when it starts to become more of an obligation or a source of upset, it’s time for you to step in and make choices that serve you and your family first.

I love Christmas and all the joy it brings – especially the opportunities for quality time with the family. I also know all too well how challenging it can be to set limits in a time of more, more, more. Once you become more conscious of your time and spending, the easier these edits will be. Let your child be your guide and follow their lead. Slow it down. Focus on less production, and more connection, and your holiday season can be full of both merriment and calm - the best of both worlds.

Dr. Vanessa Lapointe is a mum, registered psychologist, parenting educator, bestselling author, international speaker, and a regularly invited media guest. Founder and director of The Wishing Star Lapointe Developmental Clinic, she has been supporting families and children for almost 20 years, and has previous experience in community mental health and the school system. Dr. Vanessa is known for bringing a sense of nurturing, understanding, and humanity to all of her work. Her passion is in walking alongside parents, teachers, care providers, and other big people to really see the world through the child’s eyes. She believes that if we can do this, we are beautifully positioned to grow our children in the best possible way. www.drvanessalapointe.com

10 December 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

STEAM

Fun with Paper Mâché

colouring, this is our acidic mixture. Using a funnel, pour the acidic mixture into the volcano crater. When you’re ready for the show, quickly add the baking soda mix and WATCH OUT! Tip: Place your volcano on a tray big enough to catch the spill from the eruption. It’ll help with clean up.

www.handmadecharlotte.com

www.supersimple.com

Paper mâché is the ultimate medium for kids to learn, craft, and create. Over the holidays and festive season, we’ve picked a few of our favourites to celebrate the season and entertain the kids for hours! They’ll love making a volcano then watching it erupt, or creating personalised Christmas decorations and finger puppets. Once you’ve got the basics down, use them to create your own designs and let your imagination run wild - the paper mâché possibilities are endless! You can find more paper mâché ideas at www.pakmag.com.au. If you’d like share your creations or your own idea, please tag pakmag_nq on Instagram, or PakMag Townsville on Facebook. Have fun and happy holidays!

Erupting Volcano What You Need • • • • • • • •

2L plastic soft drink bottle Cardboard 4 bottle lids Scissors Craft glue and glue gun Aluminium foil 4 paper towel roll tubes Masking tape

• • • • • • • •

Paint and brushes Newspaper Paper mâché paste 10ml Dish soap Water 400ml white vinegar ½ Cup baking soda Red food colouring

Method Using a dinner plate as your guide, trace a round shape on your cardboard. This will be the base of your volcano.

Cut it out, then wrap the bottom side of your base with Aluminium Foil and tape down with masking tape. Using your glue gun, gluing the bottle lids onto the foil side (like table legs). This will help keep your cardboard dry, when your volcano erupts so you can use it over and over again!

Glue your plastic bottle to the middle of your cardboard base using your glue gun. After cutting your paper towel tubes in half, tape them to the base and bottle, creating a volcano shape. It’s time to paper mâché this shape – leaving the opening of the soft drink bottle uncovered, this is the volcano crater.

Using a brush, cover the entire structure in paste one final time, then let dry. Once ready, you can finally get painting – and decorating. You can add rocks, grass, even fake trees or small dinosaurs to set the scene.

To make your volcano erupt we’re going to initiate a classic neutralisation reaction. Combine half a cup of water with baking soda to create a slurry, this is our alkali / base. In a different container, combine the vinegar, 400ml of water, dish soap, and some food

12 December 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

Finger Puppets What You Need • Twisting balloons (the kind you make balloon animals out of) • Balloon pump • Felt • Newspaper • Scissors

• • • • •

Craft glue Paint and brushes Toothpicks Paper mâché paste Pipe cleaners

Method Begin with deciding what animal you’d like to create, use your imagination. Blow up the balloon until its width is a little bigger than two of your fingers, and its length is slightly more than your finger length. You can use a toilet paper roll if you can’t get your hands on any balloons. Now grab your newspaper and paste, and get mâchéing. Make sure to develop the body with multiple layers of paper mâché.

Once your creature is fully dry, gently deflate the balloon, and let the painting begin! Be as creative and otherworldly as you like. We like to use a toothpick to dip in some black paint for painting the finer details like faces. A pipe cleaner makes a great tail, and felt makes for great ears. Simply cut to the size and length you want and glue on with your craft glue. Once dry - it’s time to put on a puppet show!

www.mollymoocrafts.com

Santa Christmas Decoration What You Need • Plastic egg or water balloons (and balloon pump) • Vaseline • Newspaper

• • • •

Craft glue Masking tape Paint and Brushes Paper maché paste

Method Blow up your water balloon with your balloon pump or if you’re using a plastic Easter egg, cover the surface in Vaseline first – to make removing the dried paper mâché easier.

With your paste and newspaper strips – start paper mâchéing around the top half of your egg or balloon. After a few layers, let it dry then gently deflate and remove the balloon (or egg) while retaining the shape.

Trim of the excess paper at the bottom, so it’s a clean semi spherical shape. You can now draw and paint yourself a little Santa. If you’d like to add legs, super glue some decorative rope with beads into the inside of the shell. You can also add string through the top and hang it from your tree.

Using the same method, try making other Christmassy characters to decorate your tree with.

Paper Mâché Recipe What You Need • • • •

1 Cup Flour 1 Cup Water Bowl Whisk / spoon

Method Create the paste using a 1:1 water to flour ratio. Whisk the mixture in a bowl until gluggy, then mâché away.

The paste will last refrigerated for up to a week, but it’s best used within 2-3 days. Tip: stir in a few tablespoons of salt to the combined mixture to help prevent mold.

How to Paper Mâché? Simply cut newspaper into strips and then place a strip in your paste. Lift up and use two fingers to squeeze off the excess paste before use. It’s that simple.

Parenting

Don’t Sweat the Crumbs in the Icing STORY Lou Duggan aka Baker Girl Lou If you’re looking for a perfect example of the terror that is parenting, look no further than a homemade birthday cake.

It encapsulates all our biggest parenting fears in one.

After all, a cake fail means letting down your child, looking silly in front of your friends and providing further proof that you’re just not cut out for this parenting gig, right?

While most parents dream of making homemade cakes for their kids, they just aren’t willing to risk it. I launched DIY cake kit company Cake 2 The Rescue ten years ago, because I wanted to make it easy for busy parents to make homemade cakes for their kids.

50,000 cake kit sales later and, in honesty, what I really do is help parents overcome their fear of not being enough. Not enough for their kids, their friends, social media trolls and most of all, themselves.

When my kids were little, I used to worry about not being good enough all the time. Fast forward 15 years and the pressure to be perfect seems to have increased ten-fold.

Instagram is flooded with profiles of model mums, the ones who only seem to buy outfits and homewares in brown, orange, blush, and ivory. They post photos of amazing parties that cost more than my first car and of course, there’s always a jaw-dropping birthday cake.

When I opened our cake kit support group on Facebook, the plan was to provide tips and tricks for decorating your cake. But it quickly became obvious that what parents really needed was a safe space where they could take a risk and bake the cake. We began fostering

a community where parents raise each other up and throw perfection out of the window. We call it “the kindest place on Facebook” and it’s full of families living out their dream of making homemade birthday cakes for their kids.

Having spent seven years running our beautiful group, I’ve seen first-hand the power of embracing imperfection and championing others. I’ve learned that so many of us are our own worst critics, and that trying to meet some impossible standard is holding us back from realising that we are enough and always were.

So, I’d like to offer you this…

What I know for sure (thanks Oprah!) is that kids only need two things: your love, and your time.

Kids don’t see crumbs in the icing. They couldn’t care less whether their cake is a three-tiered masterpiece and their party Insta-worthy. All they truly see is you pouring your love into a homemade cake just for them.

I can’t tell you how many of my customers share cake posts that start with “it’s not perfect but…” and always end with “my kids thought it was the best cake ever!”

So please just take the plunge and make the cake because here’s the truth bomb. It’s not really about the cake itself at all. It’s about the way you feel about yourself when you’re making the cake. It’s about making memories with your kids that last a lifetime. It’s about learning to see yourself through your child’s eyes and in turn showing your kids that they don’t have to be perfect either. That’s where the magic truly lies.

Happy Baking!

Ju

de

Kalm

an

Lou Duggan is the founder of Cake 2 The Rescue, an award-winning DIY cake kit company which has helped more than 40,000 Australian families pour their love into a homemade cake. With a background in engineering and design, Lou has spent the last ten years building Cake 2 The Rescue into a thriving ecommerce business, with more than 250 cake kit designs, and a loyal online audience of 60,000+ cake fans. As a talented creative entrepreneur, Lou is a big believer in the power of vulnerability in business, and loves empowering other women to ditch perfectionism and embrace entrepreneurship. www.louduggan.com.au c re Image

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www.pakmag.com.au | December 2021 15

Parenting

How to Turn Parenting Lemons into Lemonade STORY Hannah Davison, author and co-founder of My Big Moments

What Does it Mean to Turn Parenting Lemons into Lemonade?

afraid of being rejected, or losing your love and approval just because they’ve made a mistake.

Turning parenting lemons into lemonade is all about taking accountability for the times you blow your cover as a parent. Those times you lose your temper, react without thinking, say something you later regret, let them down, or, generally make a mistake. The lemon is the rupture you create in your relationship that requires you to make a repair. The beauty of making a repair is that you turn that parenting ‘lemon’ into ‘lemonade’.

When there are ruptures in our relationships, there can easily be repairs, and moving on doesn’t need to be a big deal. When kids don’t feel safe to make mistakes, they’ll cease trying, because to try and fail, could mean to feel rejected and abandoned in your love — to feel shamed, insecure, and inferior to the standards they think you expect. Mistakes become too risky. To cease trying means they’ll survive, but not thrive.

The thing is, ruptures are okay, so long as there is a repair. That can actually factor towards greater resilience in your kids, not take away from it. It’s very easy for us, as parents or caregivers, to feel guilty, and beat ourselves up about making mistakes in our relationships with our kids. We need to flip this mindset.

We can show our kids that it’s normal to make mistakes.

Mistakes aren’t failures, they’re opportunities to make different choices. As fallible humans, we all need permission to make mistakes.

We are all going to make mistakes, and that’s okay, we are only human. It’s unreasonable to expect otherwise from ourselves or from our kids. Probably, all of us have a pretty harsh self-critic in our heads, and that was instilled in childhood. Just imagine how freeing it would be for our kids, if they can go through their lives without being held back by that?

Making a mistake is simply that – a mis-take – an indication we need to make a course correction.

Seeing mistakes as failures can grind us to a halt, but seeing them as course corrections keeps us looking and moving forward. Having the ability to apply a growth mindset to mistakes, and continue to see a way forward is an important trait of resilience. That’s a trait we want to pass down to our kids.

What Happens in Our Relationships with Our Kids if We Don't Repair the Ruptures?

Sometimes, the fear as a parent can be, that if our kids see us making mistakes, they’ll lose respect for our authority, there’ll be full-on mutiny, and the whole system will descend into chaos. In fact, the opposite is true. If we’re not being authentic, kids pick it from a mile off. You can’t cover for making mistakes and pretend it hasn’t happened – they can smell it. It happens, and it’s more than fine, it can be a good thing.

Mucking up gives us an opportunity to teach our kids that we are always redeemable. They don’t have to be

There’s a great quote from Steve Biddulph that I love, "Our kids make mistakes, and they know they make mistakes. If we're not making them as well, in a very explicit way, they will have a deep sense of inferiority – that there's something wrong with them."

On a Practical Level, What Does it Sound Like for Parents to Repair their Ruptures?

Here’s a recent example from my house; one afternoon my son said, “Mum, I don’t think you got enough sleep last night. You need an early night.” That was a gentle way of saying, ‘you’re being too grumpy and horrible today.’ He was right. I was glad he pulled me up on it. It gave me a chance to take a pull on the reins and regroup. It wasn’t fair for the kids to bear the brunt of my irritable mood, and I really was being unreasonable.

Getting that gentle ‘performance review’ gave me the opportunity to say, “I’m sorry, I’m being too grumpy, aren’t I? I’m just not feeling that great today. It’s not your fault and I shouldn’t make you feel like it is. You’re not doing anything wrong. I think I might have a bath and get an early night. That will help me feel better and do better tomorrow. I’m really sorry, mate.”

www.pakmag.com.au | December 2021 17

Education

• Picnic Party – Plan a picnic together, write a list of things you’ll need, prepare and pack for the picnic and scout for a location.

• Go Old-School - Get some chalk and mark out a hopscotch game on the driveway. Elastics and jump rope are some other easy ways to be active and to learn skills such as counting and rhyming, and social skills such as taking turns and cheering on others.

• Fairy Garden – Fairy gardens are tiny gardens built of tiny plants and accessories designed to attract fairies. Build you own fairy garden and keep watch for evidence of fairies visiting.

• Scavenger Hunt – Think of a theme for a scavenger hunt in the garden or the local park. Create a list of items to search for in a certain time.

The Great Indoors • Games Cupboard - Board games and card games can while away the hours with a lot of fun and learning involved.

• Craft Corner - Set up a table or an area with colouring in books or downloadable patterns, posters, arts and craft activities. A google search will reveal many excellent craft ideas for making decorations for the season.

physically. Local Museums may also offer holiday activities, and are simply great places to visit.

Every-Day Activities Everyday activities such as grocery shopping can also be full of opportunities for young children to learn numeracy skills. Counting items, adding up prices and comparing price differences are all fantastic ways of turning shopping into a subtle learning opportunity.

Mindfulness

• Cubby House – Construct a secret haven out of sheets, pillows, cushions and other household items.

Whilst being active is very important, it is also beneficial to find ways to entertain children that help them to develop a sense of calm and mindfulness. Below is a list of games and activities that can help children develop their sense of awareness of the world around them.

• Reading Nook – Create a reading nook with cushions and throws, stacks of books, lights and other creative tweaks to appeal to young readers.

• Cloud-watching – Lie on your back on the lawn and watch the clouds drift into different shapes – can you see a horse, an angel, a person?

Local Services

• Little Surprises – Look out the window as you are driving in the car and spot the little surprises – the small things that you’ve never noticed before – it might be a colourful flower that’s appeared on a footpath. The more you look, the more you see!

• Library Activities - Visit the local library and discover the many resources and activities available, other than borrowing books - which is always a very excellent idea!

• Toy Library – Just like a normal library, but with Toys instead of books! You can check out a variety of toys for the kids to enjoy for a reasonable membership fee. The Cairns Toy Library is located at 208 Pease St, Manoora.

• School Holiday Guides - Check out PakMag’s extensive School Holiday Guide and the local Council’s holiday activities on offer, many of which are free of charge. These are fantastic ways of entertaining and developing learning across a range of areas – academically, emotionally, socially and

18 December 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

• Rainbow Walk – Go for a walk along the street or in the park and spot one thing that matches each colour of the rainbow - ROYGBIV. Every family is busy and school holiday entertainment is naturally dependent on a range of variables such as transport, accessibility, affordability and the availability of time. The above ideas are great conversation-starters with your children to plan some quality time together having fun, with a sneaky side of learning. Creativity, imagination, a sense of adventure and patience required!

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Jaundice in Newborns STORY Dr Betty Wamola, Townsville Paediatrics Jaundice in newborns occurs when there’s an overload of bilirubin in a baby’s blood. This can make the baby’s skin and eye whites go yellow.

Bilirubin is a waste product that’s produced when old red blood cells break down. Usually, the liver processes bilirubin and mixes it into bile. Bile then goes from the liver to the digestive tract and finally comes out of the body in poo. In newborns, several things can stop this occurring, leading to bilirubin accumulating.

Types of Jaundice in Newborns Physiological Jaundice In physiological jaundice, babies’ livers aren’t yet developed enough to get rid of bilirubin. This type of jaundice is very common in newborns. It usually gets better when your baby’s liver is mature enough to process bilirubin.

Jaundice from Delayed Cord Clamping Delayed clamping can cause an accumulation of red blood cells, too much for the liver to process, and results in bilirubin build up.

Jaundice from Delivery Interventions at Birth Jaundice can also happen because of interventions during delivery that cause bleeding and bruising – for example, a forceps birth. The red blood cells from this break down and bilirubin builds up.

Blood Type Incompatibility Jaundice One rare type of jaundice happens when the mother’s and the baby’s blood groups are incompatible.

Babies with this kind of jaundice need treatment.

Biliary Atresia

This is when a chemical in the mother’s breastmilk interferes with the baby’s ability to get rid of bilirubin.

This type of jaundice often happens a few days after birth. Breastmilk jaundice isn’t harmful and usually sorts itself out after several weeks.

Biliary atresia is a rare cause of jaundice in babies. It happens when the tubes that carry bile from the liver to the intestines don’t function. Babies with this condition develop normally and look well at first, but get very ill with serious liver disease if left undiagnosed. Babies with this kind of jaundice start showing symptoms 2 - 8 weeks of age, and require surgical treatment. Babies with biliary atresia also have pale-looking poo and darker urine.

Breastfeeding Jaundice

Symptoms of Jaundice in Newborns

Breastfeeding jaundice occurs when babies get dehydrated because of problems with breastfeeding. They need fluids to reduce bilirubin levels. Breastfeeding jaundice often resolves when babies get more fluids.

You should see a GP if your baby:

Breastmilk Jaundice

• is unwell, feeding poorly and not gaining enough weight • has pale poo or dark wee • looks jaundiced; yellowing of the skin and the whites of their eyes

www.pakmag.com.au | December 2021 21

Health

All Things Health Jana Gorski Naturopath - Calanna Whole Health Pharmacy Dear Jana, What are the benefits / uses of Essential Oils?

Essential oils contain a variety of compounds with a variety of actions on multiple systems. Some essential oils can be applied to the skin to improve joint pain and mobility (such as ginger oil) while others might have a soothing or antimicrobial effect. Some oils assist with opening the airways (such as eucalyptus) and yet others are best used in a diffuser and inhaled for their soothing effect on our nervous system via the limbic system in the brain. Some oils in controlled doses can be ingested for a variety of conditions but it’s best to get advice on this from a health professional as essential oils can be toxic when taken in this way.

Calanna Whole Health Pharmacy www.calannapharmacy.com.au

Eczema and Dermatitis: Causes and Reducing the Symptoms STORY Emma Jensen, Pharmacist, Australian Nutrition Centre When it comes to eczema and dermatitis, it’s important to remember that it’s usually something internally causing the inflammation. So, what’s going on here? Firstly, we focus on the gut. There’s often an overgrowth of a bacteria called Staph Aureus in the gut, which not so surprisingly is also found on the skin.

Our immune system responds by trying to attack the overgrowth. Wherever it sees it, it tries to attack it.

So, when our immune system is busy attacking the skin, that’s when we see the lesions on the skin.

When the integrity of the skin becomes compromised, the immune system flares up even more and it’s game on. So, we can see how the itch-scratch-itch cycle makes dermatitis hard to get on top of.

So, what can we do to help? We start with trying to get the gut healed, and calm the immune system down via the gut. We then aim to restore pH to the skin with basics like olive oil. Steroid creams address the immune system dysregulation of the skin, not the body, which is why the lesions likely come back as soon as you stop the creams.

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

Can You Smell Christmas?

Looking to spread the Christmas spirit? Create a warm and welcoming environment at your home this festive season with Mario’s Range Christmas blend. This beautiful festive blend will help create a jolly and joyful scent. The Christmas blend is made up of 100 percent essential oils including cinnamon, frankincense and sweet orange. For optimal results, simply add two to four drops to your diffuser. Find out more about Mario’s Range at www.calannapharmacy.com.au or drop by a Calanna Pharmacy today.

Tip – Use this blend to create a spray to use on your Christmas tree and wreaths to create a magical Christmas experience.

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 2021 23

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Three Ways that Kumon has Supported Townsville Families for More than 20 Years For more than 20 years, Kumon Mathematics and English has helped the children of Townsville to excel in the classroom and beyond. Instructor Peta Bird leads one of two Kumon centres in Townsville.

She explains that Kumon Mathematics and English has many benefits for students and families.

1. Kumon Mathematics and English Aims for Students to Study Ahead Yes, this means we can help your child to catch-up at school. But the possibilities don’t stop there.

One of the aims of Kumon is for students to comfortably study mathematics and English material at a level that is five years or more ahead of their current school grade. There are many benefits of advanced study for kids, including building persistence and the motivation to achieve. Peta herself has nurtured many advanced Kumon students who have gone on to have bright futures.

“Many of my students develop valuable skills through their study of Kumon Mathematics and English”, Peta says. “They create strong personal study habits, organisational skills, perseverance, and true grit. For example, we often see our young four and five-year-old students quickly become well organised, focused, and determined to produce their best work”.

2. Kumon Students are Confident in the Classroom Kumon students come to see challenges, mistakes and the need to exert effort as opportunities. They are not afraid to have a go. And, as Peta says, Kumon students are confident because they are ahead of their class.

“I find that parents of Kumon students often comment on their child’s independence and improved confidence, not to mention improved grades”, Peta says.

3. Kumon is Flexible and Can be Tailored for Each Family’s Needs Kumon Mathematics and English are individualised programmes, meaning students learn at a level defined by their ability not age. Kumon students learn at their own pace and Instructors, including Peta, regularly consult with parents about their children’s progress, and adapt when necessary.

“During these challenging times Kumon Kirwan has adapted to meet our families’ needs”, Peta explains.

“We provide flexibility for families on changing rosters at their work and can support students near and far with Zoom classes and video calls”.

Kumon Mathematics and English is available in Kirwan and Pimlico. To enrol or to learn more please contact: Kumon Kirwan – Instructor Peta Bird, 0417 070 826, instructor@kumonkirwan.com Kumon Pimlico – Instructor Ashley Chown, 0424 155 171, instructor@kumonpimlico.com

24 December 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

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Supporting Children Experiencing BIG Emotions With a new year comes change and new possibilities.

It could mean a new start at ‘Big School’ or the first year in Kindergarten. These big changes can also bring on big emotions for children, and for families.

It’s important to recognise, acknowledge and reflect upon these emotions.

We seem to say “you’re okay” a lot when a child starts to cry or shows a heightened emotional reaction.

As an adult in the same situation, it may not be such a big deal... but to that young child who quite possibly is experiencing something for the first time or something they aren't completely sure about yet, then no, they're not okay. To them, in their own personal situation they are not okay, and being told they shouldn't feel the way they do is conflicting and unsupportive.

When we teach children about resilience it’s important to first understand what resilience means. Resilience is being able to recognise and acknowledge how you are feeling and then knowing how to calm down, or be more relaxed when confronted with that experience or trigger

of that feeling again. It is more than not reacting or not showing emotion, these are both natural responses.

If your child is feeling anxious, nervous, scared or any other heightened emotion, first consider recognising the emotion together, acknowledging that they feel this way, then reflecting and guiding them to find strategies that help them feel calm and more at ease with their feelings.

Some Alternatives to “You’re Okay” Could Be: • “It will be okay” • “This will pass” • “It won't always feel this way” • “I'm here to help if you need me” • “I understand” Let's not devalue our children's life experiences or teach them that their feelings are unwarranted. Instead let's support and guide them through their feelings in a way that will allow them to learn healthier strategies so they know how to manage big emotions on their own.

www.pakmag.com.au | December 2021 25

Six Activities to Bring You Closer This Christmas STORY Bec Dent Christmas provides an opportunity for families to reset and focus on what they treasure most – each other. To help fill your homes with that special magic that comes with the season, aka the Spirit of Christmas, we have six great activities you can participate in as a family to increase connection, love and laughter.

Personalised Cards Ask everyone to make their own personalised cards for every member of the family, writing a heartfelt message inside about why you love them and are grateful for them. Once finished, hide all the cards in the branches of the tree, to be found, opened and bring in tons of love on Christmas Day.

Start the Tradition of ChristmasThemed Game Night The internet is full of fun Christmasthemed game ideas to build a fun family night around including; Christmas Would You Rather, Christmas Song Pictionary or Charades, Minute to Win It Christmas Games, Celebrity Heads – Christmas Edition, Pin the Heart on The Grinch, Build A Snowman Race (making a human snowman from toilet paper and other props), and you could even make a Christmas Piñata.

Check Out Your Local Christmas Lights

Christmas Cooking and Crafting!

Spending time together baking or creating makes great memories and tasty treats! There’s so many great ideas and recipes to try, but here’s a few of our faves: • Try making a gingerbread house, either from scratch or a kit. You can do it all together, or make a fun competition out of it.

• Make your own Christmas tree ornaments and Christmas wreath.

• DIY snow globes with mason jars.

• Bake Christmas cookies. You could even bake them for neighbours and friends and do a surprise drop off at their door, bringing some extra Christmas cheer into their lives.

Taking a drive to look at the Christmas Lights is a magical experience for the whole family. It’s also nice to bring treats with you to share with the families who put lots of effort into their displays. You may even want to vote as a family for your favourite display and go back to their house with a fun trophy you’ve made, for example, “The Smith Family’s Annual Best Christmas Light Display Award 2021’. You could also have a box of chocolates to give them. I guarantee it will make their day.

Hold a Christmas Movie Marathon Night We all know how much kids love to stay up late… why not host a family slumber party in the lounge room, bringing out the mattresses, the popcorn and the Christmas movies for a fun night in?

There are so many great movies to choose from, but my favourites for the family include: Elf, The Grinch, Home Alone, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, and The Muppet Christmas Carol.

Do Something Charitable This gives your family an opportunity to make someone else’s Christmas special.

We all know it’s better to give than receive, and making charitable acts part of your Christmas experience will only increase the joy in your lives and homes.

You could pick out a gift for an annual Toy Drive such as the Salvation Army or Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal, donate to a charity (for humans or animals) or even volunteer. It’s an opportunity to teach your children about charity and service and bring the spirit of Christmas into your lives and the lives of others.

www.pakmag.com.au | December 2021 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!

VTech Learn & Grow Farm

Bobux Party Bear Shoe

$59.95 - www.kmart.com.au

$45.00 - www.bobux.com.au

Rise and shine for playtime with the Learn & Grow Farm.

Set up your farm with a barn, fences, tractor, animals and more. Be the farmer, drive the tractor and cart to pick up hay and wood, then drop them into the silo.

Encourage imaginative play with an interactive farm.

Place the animals on two talking points to hear playful responses and fun facts. Three light-up learning buttons introduce daily routines and time of day as they encourage nurture and care.

Bobux is celebrating 30 wonderful years with a dedicated birthday edit which features seasonal favourites made with luxurious leathers, unique textures, and metallic colourways. At the head of the collection is the Party Bear shoe featuring the beloved Bobux Bear (perfect for 2 years and under) which is yours to win!

Zipboom Pack $129.00 - www.zipboom.com.au Zipboom was created out of a passion for teaching and the need to engage and immerse children in activities that are non-tech based, educational and fun. Early Childhood teacher and mother of two Melissa, established the business based on her love of family and travel. Find her educational games, journal (with optional subscriptions) and a nifty travel tote / table rest on the website. What a fabulous way to keep your child entertained and engaged on your next trip in the car, coffee shop, aeroplane or while camping.

28 December 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

30 years since the adventure began, the brand has developed and grown – just like the little feet it supports. From industry-leading inventions including custom-created children’s shoe lasts, and waterproof SplashTex® technology, it’s no wonder Bobux is a podiatrist favourite.

Bump, Bub and Beyond

Screen-Free Travelling Fun for Kids STORY Melissa MacDonald, Early Childhood Teacher and Creator of Zipboom Many of us have spent countless hours in the car with our children travelling from A to B. This time together is invaluable for rich discussions and learning with your family. Sometimes, coming up with ideas to fill the time can be hard, so I’d love to share some simple games and ideas with you to engage, laugh and create memories with your loved ones the next time you are all in the car.

Here are some of my fail proof ideas:

1. Music and Songs - Music really does calm the savage beast.

It is a great tool to use to learn language and develop brain stimulation. Rhyme and repetition are a fantastic way to help young minds develop listening, speaking and early reading skills.

2. Play Games - I Spy and Memory are great for young children. Use this opportunity to incorporate initial sounds, colours and shapes.

3. Categories - a great game to help develop early language and turn taking skills. Each person picks a category and the players must name as many things as they can in that category.

Then the next person gets a turn to pick the category and you continue on until all players have had a turn.

4. Alphabet - Starting with the letter A each player must say something they see that starts with that letter and then move onto to B and name something, then C and so on.

5. Going on a Picnic - A great game to help develop memory recognition. The first player begins by saying “I’m going on a picnic and I’m going to bring…” you must list all the things the player before you said, and add your own, and continue adding one item at a time. The list continues to grow. If you forget any items, you are out and the next person must recall the items until all players are out.

6. Pens and Paper - are a great way to encourage imagination and creativity. It can be used to play games such as tic tac toe and hangman or simply just to draw what they see out of the window.

With these games under you belt, your next car trip will hopefully be filled with screeches of laughter and memories to last a lifetime.

Help Your Child Put Their Best Foot Forward with Bobux Beloved children’s footwear brand Bobux turned 30 this year and is celebrating by putting its party shoes on – and your little one’s can join in the ‘fun, feet-festivities’ with a special collection of shoes released for the occasion.

If you haven’t heard of Bobux, it’s a pretty big deal in the world of children’s footwear.

It’s co-founder Chris Bennett was looking for shoes for their baby daughter Chloe, but nothing on the market would do. So, he took some leather, suede and a couple of rubber bands into his garage and came out with the world’s first pair of Soft Soled shoes - giving his daughter’s little feet the chance to move naturally. After taking the local markets by storm, it took off across the world including right here in Australia.

Kids need shoes that can keep up and grow up with them… that’s why Bobux expanded their products beyond soft soles to accommodate children’s unique footwear needs from birth though to 7 - 8 years.

Podiatrist’s love the award-winning Bobux brand. “Bobux creates well-fitted shoes suitable for each stage of development, allowing children to explore their environment and develop their walking skills” - podiatrist Antoni Caserta.

Going back to where it all started, the hero of the new collection is the Bobux bear, who’s gorgeous face adorned the very first pair of shoes they created all those years ago. Find out more about Bobux and the perfect pair of shoes for your child today at www.bobux.com.au Head to www.pakmag.com.au/win for your chance to win a pair of Bubux Party Bear Shoes!

www.pakmag.com.au | December 2021 29

Parent's Puzzles Sudoku - Each of the nine blocks must contain all the numbers 1-9 within its squares. Each number can only appear once in a row, column or box.

WIN a Chromatic Puzzle by Cloudberries $24.99 - www.cloudberries.co.uk Get lost in a frenzy of colors by diving deep into this 1000-piece puzzle called CHROMATIC! Made in Europe by the jigsaw puzzle company Cloudberries, this design is both the perfect aesthetic addition to your collectibles and is a great bonding activity for friends and family. For every purchase of one of their high-quality puzzles, a tree is planted, so both you and the planet win with each purchase. There is no doubt that you should check this out and see for yourself just how much fun you can have!

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

Competition closes 31/12/2021.

No need to submit answers to enter.

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

Find the mirrored copy for every picture below

30 December 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

Pull-out kids activity mag!

WHERE WILL YOUR DREAMS TAKE YOU?

ONLY IN CINEMAS BOXING DAY

BUSTER MOON’S WORD SEARCH Help Buster Moon find all 15 hidden words by searching forwards, backwards, up, down, and diagonally!

IS IN CINEMAS BOXING DAY

C P MM E E N A M S O Z E U B G R Q P NMB A I O I E N D U DAR I USCT S ACL AQS L BCA I ZRAS SHU L T T Y L L A T S Y R C Y MM I J E L Y Z C A S HUR LME KRR Y U N P S F HMA G X V U NM Q E N OO S H YWL UO S A O DGJ ROX V S LGFRAYO I P S S F B K F Y U C O NMN WJOHNNYA F NHKNTO CRYA I NHYE THAE SN Y I F CAA ECCE PRD JO BG I NNASHSROS I TA C L A Y C A L L OWA Y C S A WORDS TO FIND BUSTER MOON ASH JOHNNY MISS CRAWLY GUNTER ROSITA MEENA PORSHA

For your chance to WIN a family pass to Sing 2 enter at www.pakmag.com.au/win.

Competition closes 15/12/2021. No need to submit activity to enter.

CLAY CALLOWAY NOOSHY JIMMY CRYSTAL DARIUS SUKI LANE NANA ALFONSO

BU AS JO M G RO M PO CL NO JI DA SU NA AL

ONLY IN CINEMAS DEC 2

For your chance to WIN a family pass to Disney’s ‘Encanto’ enter at www.pakmag.com.au/win.

Competition closes 09/12/2021. No need to submit activity to enter.

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1. Windy Knickers Game - $25.00 - www.goliathgames.com - Don’t let Granny get her knickers in a twist! Can you help Granny put out her washing? Roll the dice... if it’s a sunny day, hang your washing on the line. Roll a cloud and you must miss a go. Roll a rain cloud and you have to take your washing in. Roll a storm and the washing line spins in the tornado and granny loses her clothes! Can you be the first to hang out all of your washing to win? 2. Lük Beautifood - Luxe Lip Trio Kissmas Set - $59.90 - www.lukbeautifood.com - Consciously curated, the Luxe Lip Trio by natural cosmetics house, Lük Beautifood, contains two of the brand’s award-winning Lip Nourish lipsticks, a nourishing food-grade formula with moisturising ingredients and vibrant pigment pay-off, and their newest release, a demi-matte Lipstick Crayon, designed to line lips and provide a convenient, full-coverage creamy look. Made in Australia, Lük Beautifood is 100% natural, cruelty-free and eco-friendly. 3. Chilly Towel Family Pack - $165.00 - www.chillytowel.com.au Made from a unique hyper-evaporative fibre, the Chilly Towel is Australia’s leading cooling solution! Ideal for hot flushes, sport stress, overheating, headaches and travel, the innovative material cools to 30° below average body temperature and stays chilled for hours. Reusable and dry to the touch, the pack contains 3 adult sized towels, and 1 smaller towel for bubs and children. 4. Marble Rush Launch Pad - $49.95 - www.vtech.com.au - This exciting colour-coded playset features all the pieces you need to create a space-themed Marble Rush voyage full of jumps, stunts and even an electronic spaceship. The electronic spaceship module triggers a cool light show and sound effects when marbles run through it, enhancing your outer space-themed adventure. With 10 marbles included and 79 building pieces to assemble, there is plenty of fun to be had. Includes easy to follow assembly instructions and is compatible with other VTech Marble Rush items. Marble Rush Launch Pad is suitable for children from 4 years, and available from Kmart, Big W, Myer, Target, good toy stores and online retailers. 5. Mindful Me Hinkler Book Prize Pack - $250 - www.hinkler.com.au - Whether it’s a virtual hug, writing in a gratitude journal, sending positive vibes, or just saying ‘hello I’m happy’, these super colourful Mindful Me activity packs from Hinkler are the perfect way for kids to have fun and be in a mindful moment. Each kit comes with positive affirmations and loads of activities to keep young minds busy and mindful. 6. LeapFrog’s Musical Rainbow Tea Party Deluxe - $59.99 - www.leapfrog.com.au - This 25-piece set includes everything needed for a tea party for four including a teapot, teacups, forks, plates, cake and cupcakes. Choose a tea flavour and pretend to pour while the teapot magically empties. Press the heart button to 38 | www.pakmag.com.au brew December a new pot of2021 tea and explore colours, counting and sharing. Introduces manners and sharing with friends, plus a range of learning activities featuring colours, counting and fruit.

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

WIN!

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For Infants/Toddlers from 12 months, the Musical Rainbow Tea Party Deluxe is available now from Target, good toy stores and online retailers. 7. Nextbase 322GW Dash Cam $279.00 - Available at Repco and JB HiFi - The Nextbase 322GW is from the world’s first range of dash cams that provide Emergency SOS. This revolutionary new feature will alert emergency services to your location in the event of an accident, providing additional safety for you and your family. A 2.5” HD IPS touch screen provides easy menu selection and playback. Bluetooth 4.2 and Quick Link Wi-Fi will automatically sync crash footage to your Bluetooth enabled phone. This allows for a quicker connection, so you can easily share footage using the MyNextbase Connect app (Android 5+ & IoS 12.1 or above). 8. VTech Play & Go Puppy Salon - $49.95 - www.vtech.com.au - Open up the pet carrier to groom your pup with the built-in salon. Lights and sound effects enrich playtime as you pretend to wash, comb, dry and clip this soft pup. Learn about colours and puppy grooming as you play. The pet salon features three styling stations. Place the puppy in the swivel seat or use the shampoo, hair dryer and shower to activate songs, lights and phrases. It’s puppy pampering time! All play pieces store inside the carrier. Play & Go Puppy Salon is suitable for pre-schoolers from 2 to 5 years, and available from Kmart, good toy stores and online retailers. 9. LeapFrog’s Count-Along Basket & Scanner - $59.95 - www.leapfrog.com.au - Let’s shop with the Count-Along Basket & Scanner featuring play food, shopping lists, and an interactive scanner that recognises each food piece. Carry the shopping basket or expand it into a rolling shopping trolley. Shop the rainbow with eight play foods in a variety of food groups, colours, shapes and numbers. The fish, carrots, strawberries, cake, bread, cheese, broccoli and grapes show off their silly personalities with music and unique phrases when scanned. Scan foods on the shopping lists to play activities like Food Group Feast and Shapes of the Day to hear encouraging phrases and songs. Three interactive play modes reinforce learning. For Pre-Schoolers from 2 to 5 years, the Count-Along Basket & Scanner is available from Big W, Target, good toy stores and online retailers. 10. PAW Patrol: The Movie™ Ultimate City Tower™ - $249.99 - Available all major retailers - Introducing the all-new PAW Patrol: The Movie™ Ultimate City Tower™. This 90cm-tall playset brings the pups’ Adventure City headquarters from the big screen to life. Jam-packed with amazing features including a transforming light-up rescue ramp, command centre, vehicle lift, www.pakmag.com.au | December 2021 39 and pup elevator! With Chase’s cruiser, a clip-on backpack, and all six PAW Patrol figures included, the fun starts right out of the box.

Craft

DIY Christmas Gifts

Candycane Sled Gift Boxes What You Need • • • • • •

Small cardboard / jewellery box Candy canes Christmas lollies for filling Double-sided tape Glue gun and glue sticks Wrapping paper / Christmas ribbon

Method Find a small box (about 8 – 10 cm long) to act as your body of the sled / treat holder. The length will be determined by the size of your candy cane and the hook on top. See the images for how you want the box to be positioned on your candy canes to give you an idea for the size you will need. You may want to measure this length with a ruler first to find a box that fits perfectly.

Then, completely cover your box in wrapping paper or ribbon (or both) using double-sided tape.

Now using your glue gun (with a parent’s help), attach your candy canes under the two longest sides of your box, with the hooks facing up. Remember to keep your candy canes wrapped in their plastic. You can add some ‘handles’ to the back of the sled, by cutting the stem of a candy cane into two parts and then gluing to the box (as pictured). This step is optional.

Now fill with candy and other goodies you’d like to gift. There you have it – a simple DIY Christmas gift for everyone in the family.

40 December 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

organizeyourstuffnow.com

www.countryliving.com

If you’re after a few ways to keep the kids entertained this festive season, check out our crafty ideas for DIY Christmas Gifts – a functional and fun way to bring some cheer this year!

Reindeer Chocolate Jars What You Need • Glass jars • Maltesers / other chocolate coated lollies • Jaffas

• • • •

Googly eyes Medium red pom poms Gold pipe cleaners Glue gun and glue sticks

Method Fill your jars with the Maltesers and other chocolate coated lollies – don’t forget to mix in a few Jaffas to add a pop of colour. Seal the jar with the lid.

The next step is making your reindeer’s face. Using your hot glue (this step requires parental supervision or help for younger crafters), glue your googly eyes onto the jar about a third of the way down from the top. Then, glue your reindeer’s nose on - we’ve chosen red pom poms to make ‘Rudolph’. Glue on the googly eyes, and the red pom pom as Rudolph’s nose.

To make the antlers, grab two pipe cleaners and cut them in half. Now lie one piece over the other, in the shape of a cross. You will then twist the horizontal pipe cleaner around the vertical one a few times to secure it, before bending the ends up to look like antlers. Repeat this till you’ve got two antlers for each jar.

To secure your antlers to the jar; grab another pipe cleaner – wrap it around the top of your jar and add an extra 3cms before cutting the pipe cleaner to size.

Now, add your antlers – by wrapping the bottom of the stem around the ends of the new pipe cleaner (leaving about 2cm from each end). Finally, wrap the pipe cleaner with the antlers attached around the rim of your choccyfilled jar, overlapping the two ends at the back. Twist these ends together to secure it in place. Then simply fold the ends back, so you have no bits poking out.

Craft

www.lauraradniecki.com

Pom Pom Cactus onelittleproject.com

Pinecone Bird Feeders What You Need • • • • •

Large open pinecones Twine Peanut butter and butter knife Birdseed Bowl

Method This is a nice gift for local wildlife.

Next time you head up to the Tablelands, have a scout around for some pinecones, they make perfect little feeders for our tropical birdlife. Start with tying some twine around the top of the pinecone, ensuring you’ve got plenty to spare when it comes to hanging it up.

You want to do this step first, or your hands will get super sticky after coating your birdfeeder in peanut butter and birdseed.

Now’s the messy part, grab your peanut butter and start spreading it onto the top of the pinecone’s scales. Do this until you have peanut butter on every open scale.

Fill a bowl large enough to fit the pinecone in comfortably with birdseed. Dip the pinecone into the birdseed, making sure all the peanut butter gets covered and there’s plenty of treats for the birds.

Find a good spot to hang it; it can be on the deck or in a tree, but make sure it’s out of the reach of any pets.

Then enjoy watching as it attracts the local flocks.

What You Need • Wool in various colours (depending on what colour you want your cactus to be) • Scissors • Mini terracotta pots • Glue gun and glue sticks Method Let’s make pom poms! Start by making the larger pom poms for the main body of the cactus. Pick a colour and start wrapping the yarn around four of your fingers 200 times.

Now, with some assistance, remove the wool from your fingers and using a piece of wool (in the same colour) tie it off in the middle. Make sure it’s super tight and secure. You can now cut the two looped ends in the middle, which will make the yarn spring into a pom pom.

Repeat and make smaller pom poms to use as flowers or branches on larger cacti. You’ll only need two fingers to make the smaller ones, wrapping the wool around your fingers 50 times.

Once you’ve got the pom poms at the ready, do a dry run and trial how you’d like to arrange them, and how they best fit in the pot. Once you’ve decided on your design, grab the glue gun and add glue to the inside rim of your pot. Add your ‘cactus’ pom poms.

Now you can add the pom pom ‘flowers’, but be careful to not use too much glue. To tidy them up a bit, trim around the scraggly bits of wool, you can add more shape to the cacti like this also.

And there you have it, a cute little pom pom cactus to gift to your family and friends.

www.pakmag.com.au | December 2021 41

Education

Holiday Learning: Creativity, Imagination and a Sense of Adventure Required STORY Townsville Grammar School School is finished, bags have been discarded and uniforms thrown in the back of the cupboard ready for their reluctant retrieval in January.

creating “sneaky” learning experiences through fun activities, as well as in everyday tasks - all it takes is some imagination.

The end of year holidays is a stretch of time that presents an ongoing juggle for most families.

The delight at having a break from uniforms, lunch boxes and homework is replaced with the question of how to occupy and entertain children throughout these weeks of summer days.

The Great Outdoors

The concept of play-based learning may be familiar, particularly to parents of pre-school aged children.

This concept focuses on how children learn through being actively engaged in activities that require imagination, creativity, social skills and language.

The world of play sets a foundation for developing curious learners and creative thinkers. This same concept applies when it comes to entertaining children during school holiday breaks. There are many ways of

Fresh air and sunshine... finding ways to entertain children outside in the garden, at the park or at the beach is fantastic for wellbeing and physical activity, in a sun-safe manner.

• Sand Castles – Take a range of plastic containers of different shapes and sizes to the beach and build crazy sand castles.

• Herbalicious - Plant herbs, in pots or in a garden bed, and discover the different varieties and how they are used, particularly in cooking. Make creative labels for each herb pot.

www.pakmag.com.au | December 2021 43

Education

• Picnic Party – Plan a picnic together, write a list of things you’ll need, prepare and pack for the picnic and scout for a location.

• Go Old-School - Get some chalk and mark out a hopscotch game on the driveway. Elastics and jump rope are some other easy ways to be active and to learn skills such as counting and rhyming, and social skills such as taking turns and cheering on others.

• Fairy Garden – Fairy gardens are tiny gardens built of tiny plants and accessories designed to attract fairies. Build you own fairy garden and keep watch for evidence of fairies visiting.

• Scavenger Hunt – Think of a theme for a scavenger hunt in the garden or the local park. Create a list of items to search for in a certain time.

The Great Indoors • Games Cupboard - Board games and card games can while away the hours with a lot of fun and learning involved.

• Craft Corner - Set up a table or an area with colouring in books or downloadable patterns, posters, arts and craft activities. A google search will reveal many excellent craft ideas for making decorations for the season.

• Cubby House – Construct a secret haven out of sheets, pillows, cushions and other household items.

• Reading Nook – Create a reading nook with cushions and throws, stacks of books, lights and other creative tweaks to appeal to young readers.

Local Services • Library Activities - Visit the local library and discover the many resources and activities available, other than borrowing books - which is always a very excellent idea!

• Toy Library – In Townsville, we have the Toy Library, a wonderful community service that offers socialisation, as well as the chance to borrow from an impressive range of toys and games. Currently the Townsville Toy Library is located at Townsville Grammar School’s Annandale Campus on Brazier Drive.

• School Holiday Guides - Check out PakMag’s extensive School Holiday Guide and the local Council’s holiday activities on offer, many of which are free of charge. These are fantastic ways of entertaining and developing learning across a range

44 December 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

of areas – academically, emotionally, socially and physically. Local Museums may also offer holiday activities, and are simply great places to visit.

Every-Day Activities Everyday activities such as grocery shopping can also be full of opportunities for young children to learn numeracy skills. Counting items, adding up prices and comparing price differences are all fantastic ways of turning shopping into a subtle learning opportunity.

Mindfulness Whilst being active is very important, it is also beneficial to find ways to entertain children that help them to develop a sense of calm and mindfulness. Below is a list of games and activities that can help children develop their sense of awareness of the world around them.

• Cloud-watching – Lie on your back on the lawn and watch the clouds drift into different shapes – can you see a horse, an angel, a person?

• Little Surprises – Look out the window as you are driving in the car and spot the little surprises – the small things that you’ve never noticed before – it might be a colourful flower that’s appeared on a footpath. The more you look, the more you see!

• Rainbow Walk – Go for a walk along the street or in the park and spot one thing that matches each colour of the rainbow - ROYGBIV. Every family is busy and school holiday entertainment is naturally dependent on a range of variables such as transport, accessibility, affordability and the availability of time. The above ideas are great conversation-starters with your children to plan some quality time together having fun, with a sneaky side of learning. Creativity, imagination, a sense of adventure and patience required!

All Things Tweens and Teens

All Things Tweens & Teens Inspiration Corner

WIN a Rubik’s Puzzle Pack

STORY Bec Dent I know it can be hard to see how amazing you are, when you are told you aren’t. I know how easy it can be for your sparkle to be dulled, by someone who can’t handle how brightly you shine. I know you can be told a million times how much you are loved, how talented you are and how many amazing qualities you have, but your self-confidence can be shattered by one person, who barely knows you.

I know… because I have been there. And I can tell you from experience, I wish I listened to the voices of those that knew me best, that saw my worth, over the one person who didn’t.

But most importantly, I wish I saw my own value, so their opinion didn’t matter in the first place.

But I have since learned, and you can too.

Paraphrasing Anaïs Nin, “people see the world, not as it is, but as they are”. It doesn’t make what they say okay, you don’t deserve the negativity directed at you at all, but it definitely says more about how they feel about themselves, than how they feel about you. It also helps you to remember not to buy into or believe what they are saying.

But most importantly I want you to remember: you don’t need anyone’s approval to be happy or worthy.

You just need to give yourself approval. It’s your opinion of yourself that matters. That’s your self-esteem. How do you see yourself? How do you feel about yourself? The most important relationship you will have in life - is with yourself. You truly need to understand your own value and unconditional lovability. That’s right… UNCONDITIONAL – you don’t need to ‘do’ or ‘be’ anything to be worthy of love and to feel valuable that is every human’s right. You are loveable and worthy, just as you are.

46 December 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

$44.98 For kids who love a tactile and mental challenge, the Rubik’s Race Metallic Edition and the Rubik’s Perplexus are ideal. The Rubik’s Perplexus unites two mindchallenging puzzles in one, and helps build problem-solving skills through challenging and engaging gameplay. The perfect size for onthe-go fun, both are available at all major retailers nationally.

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

Holiday Fun

Summer Reading the Kids Will Love The extended school holidays over the summer provide loads of time for activities, but as we all know, living in the tropics can also mean some time indoors with wet season affecting outdoor plans. There’s never a reason to be bored with these amazing books to keep kids entertained and their brains stimulated.

Beach Buddies: A Colouring Book by Kangaroo Beach - RRP $5.99 A 64-page colouringin book featuring your favourite characters, with scenes and adventures from Kangaroo Beach.

Providing hours of colouring fun for fans of the show, and everyone who loves the beach and the sea.

For the Younger Children Check out the Kangaroo Beach Series The animated preschool, action-comedy TV show you can watch on ABC Kids and ABC iview - has an incredible series of books that explores the familiar world of water play - on the beach, in the sea, in swimming pools, rivers, and rock pools - with an essential message about water safety in every story.

Wannabe-hero joey Pounce, creative koala Frizzy, sports-phobic wombat Neville, and mini-marine biologist platypus Gemma are never far from fun or danger. But under the guidance of grown-up lifeguards Bondi, Sandy and Big Trev, the cadets are on their way to becoming pint-sized heroes of sun, sea and sand.

Kangaroo Beach: Brave in the Waves - RRP $14.99 - Bondi is teaching the cadets how to dive under big waves. Everyone is nervous, especially Pounce. So he pretends he knows exactly what to do already.

Kangaroo Beach: Frizzy's Treasure Hunt RRP $ 14.99 - Frizzy and the other cadets are learning how to be diving buddies. But Frizzy is also looking for King Neptune's Trident. Is it buried in the sand? Or maybe it's under the sea?

48 December 2021 | www.pakmag.com.au

Fun in the Sun: A sticker activity book by Kangaroo Beach - RRP $5.99 - A 16page sticker activity book with fun and games from Kangaroo Beach. There are stickers to stick, objects to rescue, recipes, and so much more. Hours of fun for fans of the show, and everyone who loves fun in the sun.

Head to www.pakmag.com.au/WIN to enter for your chance to WIN a Kangaroo Beach Prize Pack from Pan Macmillan featuring all four books listed – valued at $41.96

For Children Starting to Read Independently (And Adults Because These Books are so Fun!) The 143-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton - The 143-Storey Treehouse is the 11th book in the number one bestselling Treehouse series. It is

teacher, librarian, parent and kid-approved. These books are imagination and reading confidence-builders with guaranteed laughs. If they don’t love reading now, they will after giving these nuggets of literary gold a whirl!

What’s the latest book about? Andy and Terry's treehouse now has 13 new storeys, including a word-o-matic (it knows every word in the whole world!); a recycling depot; a wrecking ball; a complaining room; a spooky graveyard (where it's always midnight, even in the middle of the day); a toffee apple orchard guarded by a kind scarecrow; and a camping ground where you can have a nice, relaxing camping holiday-unless you get caught by hobyahs, put in a bag and poked with a stick, that is... Well, what are you waiting for? Come on up!

Visit www.pakmag.com.au/WIN to enter for your chance to WIN a Copy of The 143Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton RRP $14.99

All-Ages Guinness World Records 2022 - Since 1955, every child (and adult) has enjoyed picking up a copy of Guinness World Records and marvelling at the incredible feats therein.

Global pandemics and lockdowns haven't stopped record breakers from achieving spectacular things over the last year: in fact, they have even given many the chance to focus on their ambitions and attain goals beyond their expectations! The kids will be trying to break some records before you know it. That’s one way to keep them busy these school holidays.

Visit www.pakmag.com.au/WIN to enter for your chance to WIN a Copy of Guinness World Records 2022 - RRP $44.99

School Holiday Guide

School Holiday Guide Mary MacKillop Childcare NQ

Genesis Kidzfit

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.

If you need another reason to join Genesis gym, here it is! Their program Kidzfit, specifically for members’ children will let you get your work out in, as well as theirs. Tailored for children aged 5 - 10, this class aims to motivate movement, fitness, and confidence. It’s the perfect break for you, and the perfect distraction for them.

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

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

Ninja Parc

A 72-88 Hervey Range Rd P 07 4723 1490 Genesis Health and Fitness Thuringowa www.genesisfitness.com.au/gym/qld/thuringowa

Sealink Ferry To Magnetic Island Make the most of our location and visit Magnetic Island, getting there couldn’t be easier with Sealink. Take the whole family for a day trip and explore the national parks, trails, and beaches - you won’t be disappointed!

Tickets are available at the terminal or on-board, so there is no need to pre-book, though if you prefer to, you can book online.

Inspired by Ninja Warrior, Ninja Parc is great for your little one to get that big energy out. 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. Not only is it fun, it’s also accessible for all ages and skill levels, and will help with agility, strength, and coordination. Although suitable for all ages, there are programs specifically for Mini Ninjas (3 – 6 years) and Little Ninjas (7 – 12 years). There are also casual and membership options available on their website, along with school holiday programs.

A Breakwater Terminal on Sir Leslie Thiess Drive P 1300 624 443 www.sealinkqld.com.au

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

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

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 2021 53

School Holiday Guide

Fairfield Central

Warrina Ice Skating

It’s that time of year again, snaps with Santa! Santa arrives at Fairfield 9 December and runs through to Christmas Eve. Check online or in-store for photo package options, costs, and session times.

Escape the heat and humidity and have a cool time these summer holidays with family and friends at Townsville’s very own ice skating rink. All sessions are 90 minutes long, from 9.00am to 4.00pm. Don’t want to skate? Tobogganing is only $5.00 for six 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. You can also get groovy at Disco Night, on every Friday and Saturday 7.00pm - 9.00pm.

A Cnr Waterfront Parade and Lakeside Dr P 4778 4249 Fairfield Central www.fairfieldcentral.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.

Billabong Sanctuary

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

TYTO - The Hinchinbrook Way 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

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 hand-eye 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.

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Get a dose of native Aussie wildlife at Billabong Sanctuary these school holidays. Get up close and personal with our most cuddliest of creatures, then watch our giant crocs feast. Once it’s time for a little relaxation, grab a picnic spot and let the kids loose at the swimming pool Cost: $27.00 children 4 - 16 years, $40.00 adults, $120.00 for a family (2A + 3C). Open daily 9.00am – 4.00pm. Closed 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

PCYC Townsville

Pandanus Park Golf Centre

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

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

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 130 Wellington St, Aitkenvale P 4781 9100 E townsville@pcyc.org.au PCYC Townsville www.pcyc.org.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

The Choi Kwang Do Master Academy

Where: Alma Bay

At this academy, full-time professional instructors help kids from 3 years old to learn martial arts, discipline, self control, and goal setting. Helping grow confidence and technique, it is much more than just punching and kicking. There are a variety of classes and programs suitable for both children and adults, and there’s even the option to learn virtually.

Cost: $150.00 - $175.00

A CKD Building 741 Riverway Drive, Thuringowa Central P 4773 9794 or 0481 749 607 E info@ckdmac.com.au Choi Kwang Do Master Academy www.choikwang-do.com.au

Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts Creative Kids Creative Kids is Umbrella’s digital art program for kids aged 3 to 11 years. They can follow instructions through the workshops and let their imagination run wild as they use a variety of techniques and materials to create art.

They also offer Creative Youth programs, kits, and workshops so stay up to date on their site.

A 408 Flinders Street P 4772 7109 Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts www.umbrella.org.au

Perc Tucker Gallery - School Holiday Resources and Fun 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! Crafty Kids - A series of art workshops for families and kids of all ages is a great way to get their creativity flowing. Check out their online workshops, Playful Paper Clay Pots, Imagine Animal Portraits, Modern Masks, and so much more. For the older bunch, there’s Creative Crowd - Designed for teenagers, exploring art techniques and technology. View the videos online to see what you can create and stay tuned for upcoming workshops.

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

Little Lifesavers School Holiday Program 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 caters for children 5 to 11 years.

When: Thursday 16 - Friday 17 December, 8.00am - 12.00pm

www.lifesaving.com.au

Kumon Maths and English 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.

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

The CaPTA Group 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: $325.00 for a family, $130.00 for an Adult, $65.00 for a child. Visit the website for terms and conditions.

P 4035 3555 E res@capta.com.au www.capta.com.au

Kalynda Chase Tennis Blast Love tennis? Kalynda Chase Tennis are running ‘Kids Stay Active Holiday Clinics’ over this coming school holidays. With half and full day options from 8.00am to 5.00pm, they’ll have something for everybody to enjoy.

Week 1: 13 - 17 December Week 2: 3 - 7 January Week 3: 10 - 14 January A 58 Kalynda Parade Bohle Plains P 0457 041 074 E kalyndachasetennis@outlook.com Kalynda Chase Regional Tennis

Adelmo Park - Horse and Farm Retreat Adelmo Park offers great Horse and Farm School Holiday Retreats, where children can learn to ride and participate in fun activities including horse relays and feeding the farm animals. All ages are welcome.

Bookings are essential.

A 118 Williams Road Alligator Creek P 0473 498 970 E adelmoparkequestrian@gmail.com Adelmo Park Equestrian www.adelmopark.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 2021 57

Daddy Diary

Daddy Diary My favourite doctor once wrote a line I adore, and apologies to our family GP, but no Dr Ben, it wasn’t you. The doc I refer to is the good Dr Seuss. The line is as follows: ‘The more that you read, the more things you will know.

The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.’ And whilst I have absolutely no idea if it is true or not, it is a beautiful sentiment. It’s also a nice way to highlight a passion I have recently rediscovered - reading.

When I was a kid, I read all the time. Welsh author Roald Dahl was my absolute favourite. Reading his tales of cheeky children outwitting foolish adults always felt like a wicked pastime. His stories always seemed a bit naughty and felt like something I wasn’t actually supposed to be reading. Both mine and my wife’s love for his books are why our two kids are named Matilda

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

and Charlie (two of his more likable characters). When I was a kid, I could read his books well into the night.

But then I got older… and I stopped.

Really cracking into my career in my 20s then having kids in my 30s was my focus. It just seemed like I didn’t have time. A little platform called Facebook also happened to be invented during this time, and stuff like that just seemed to fill the gap that books one did. But all that online rubbish is just like junk food; it gives you a quick hit of what you think you need at the time, but 30 minutes later you feel like crap. Books don’t do that.

Books are like vegetables. They are less sexy in the moment but they really are better for you in the long run.

Last Christmas I picked up a Jane Harper Novel called “The Dry”. I didn’t put it down. Talk about a page turner.

I loved it so much I immediately read her other three published novels. And I haven’t stopped. This year amazing authors like Dan Brown, Thomas Harris, James Patterson and Liane Moriarty have filled the hole Mark Zuckerberg once did. I have actually gone as far as deleting the Facebook app off my phone. And I have never felt better. Cheers to books for doing that. You have done wonders for my mental health.

And remember, in the words of the good Dr Seuss; “You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child”. Just another thing you can’t do with Facebook.

Cliffo Hit 103.1

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What’s On WEDNESDAY 1 DECEMBER World AIDS Day www.worldaidsday.org.au Decembeard / Decembhair Bowel Cancer Australia’s hairraising fundraiser encouraging you to get hairy while raising awareness and funds to help beat bowel cancer.

Runs until 31 December www.bowelcanceraustralia.org/ decembhair Daunting Hauntings Theatre Production Runs until 4 December PIMPAC Various show times / $10.00 - $25.00 / G www.townsvillelittletheatre. org.au Arryn Snowball: Slack Water Exhibition Runs until 22 January Pinnacles Gallery 10.00am - 5.00pm / FREE / G Townsville City Galleries Photo’s With Santa Runs until 24 December Castletown Shopping Centre www.castletown.com.au Santa Arrives at Willows Shopping Centre Runs until 24 December Willows Shopping Centre www.willowsshoppingcentre. com.au Free 2 Hour Parking in the CBD Runs until 31 December Townsville CBD From 1 December 2021, Council will be offering free parking in all 2P car spaces as part of their Christmas activities. Time restrictions still apply.

Baby Rhyme Time Runs weekly until 8 December CityLibraries Thuringowa Central 9.00am - 9.50am / FREE, Bookings required / G whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au

With HIT 103.1’s Cliffo & Gabi

Toddler Time Runs weekly until 8 December CityLibraries Thuringowa Central 10.30am - 11.20am / FREE, Bookings required / G whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au Rise Of Our Port City Runs until 10 December Maritime Museum of Townsville 9.00am - 2.00pm / $5.00 $10.00 / G - All ages www.tmml.org.au Song Circles Social Singing for Mums Runs weekly until 10 December Riverside Gardens Community Centre 9.30am - 11.00am / $15.00 / G Song Circles Tasty Time Join Vivienne Salu Dietitian for a free cooking session, learning, creating and tasting. Runs weekly until 9 December The Women’s Centre Townsville 10.00am - 11.30am / FREE Active Nutrition Vivienne Salu Dietitian Zumba with Merryl Runs Wednesdays except public / school holidays Heatley Community Centre 6.00pm / $10.00 per session / G - All ages whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au Veteran’s Tennis Runs weekly until 20 December Tennis Townsville 6.30pm - 9.30pm / $12.00 / 35 years + whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au Variety Activate Inclusion Sports Day The program delivers free multi-school COVID Safe sports days to children with disabilities with specialised sports coaches and adaptive equipment.

Townsville Stadium 10.40am - 1.45pm / FREE / G kidssupport@varietyqld.org.au P 07 3907 9300 www.variety.org.au

School Savvy NQ Initiative Every weekday until 21 January, (excluding public holidays) Centacare NQ and local St Vincent de Paul Donate pre-loved and new uniforms and school supplies that are in good condition. www.centacarenq.org.au/ schoolsavvy/ Support the Mayor’s Christmas Appeal Your donation will be used to purchase Christmas vouchers for Townsville families and individuals in need. www.townsville.qld.gov.au/ mca/home Kidzfit at Genesis Health + Fitness Runs every Wednesday Genesis Health & Fitness Thuringowa 3.45pm / $5.00 per child, $45.00 for a 10-class pass / 5 - 10 years (fully-supervised) Genesis Health and Fitness Thuringowa P 4723 1490

Pickleball Townsville Runs weekly until 23 December Tennis Townsville 5.00pm - 7.00pm / FREE for first timers, $7.00 for returning players / G Pickleball Townsville Storytime Runs weekly until 9 December CityLibraries Thuringowa Central 9.00am - 10.00am / FREE, Bookings required / G whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au Baby Rhyme Time Runs weekly until 9 December CityLibraries Thuringowa Central 10.30am - 11.20am / FREE, Bookings required / G whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au The Nutcracker - Presented

by The Ann Roberts School of Dance Runs until 4 December Townsville Civic Theatre 6.30pm - 9.30pm / $27.00 $45.00 / G whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au

TCLC Christmas Stall Items are from 50c to $5.00 Townsville Community Learning Centre 8.30am / FREE / G Townsville Community Learning Centre

Tropic Tales: Cyclone Althea 50 years with Kate Osborne CityLibraries Aitkenvale 6.30pm - 9.30pm / FREE / 18 + whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au

Flick The Switch On Christmas!

Reid Court, Kirwan 7.00pm / FREE / G Reid Court Christmas House

The Wolfe Brothers Startin’ Something National Tour 2021 Plus Special Guest Josh Setterfield Dalrymple Hotel 8.00pm - 11.00pm / $34.00 / 18 + Dalrymple Hotel

FRIDAY 3 DECEMBER

THURSDAY 2 DECEMBER Career Chats Five 30 minute sessions, runs every fortnight until 16 December CityLibraries Thuringowa Central 9.30am - 12.00pm / FREE / G Bookings essential whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au First 5 Forever Runs weekly Hinchinbrook Shire Library 10.30am / FREE, Bookings requried / 0 - 5 years www.hinchinbrookway.com.au

Dancenorth Australia celebrates the International Day of People with Disability 2021 Dancenorth 4.00pm - 5.00pm / FREE / G Dancenorth Little Learners Runs weekly during school term Museum Of Tropical Queensland 9.45am - 10.45am / FREE with admission / 3 - 6 years mtq.qm.qld.gov.au

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What’s On FRIDAY 3 DECEMBER Postcards from Paradise The Townsville Watercolour Group are presenting a selection of postcard sized original paintings. Runs until 30 January Perc Tucker Regional Gallery 10.00am - 5.00pm (Monday Friday) / FREE / G Townsville City Galleries The Ultimate ABBA Show Runs every Friday and Saturday until 18 December, shows resume Saturdays in January (8, 15 and 22) Stage Door Theatre Restaurant 5.00pm - 9.45pm / $79.00 $89.00 / PG www.stagedoortheatre.com.au The 43rd Hinchinbrook Art Awards 2021 Runs until 30 January Hinchinbrook Shire Library 6.00pm / FREE / G www.hinchinbrookway.com.au Simply Dance Presents 20 Years Of Dance Burdekin Theatre 7.30pm / $30.00 - $44.00 / G www.burdekintheatre.com.au SATURDAY 4 DECEMBER Christmas in the City Live and roaming entertainment, Santa photos, outdoor cinema, art and craft workshops, Townsville Eats.

Flinders Square, Townsville City 5.30pm - 9.00pm / FREE / G www.townsville.qld.gov.au/ christmastogether

Townsville NAIDOC Dinner 2021 The Ville 7.00pm - 11.00pm / $75.00 / G Townsville_NAIDOC

Avenues Shopping Centre 9.00am - 3.00pm / G Townsville Northern Suburbs Lions Club

Simply Dance Presents 20 Years Of Dance Burdekin Theatre 2.00pm / $30.00 - $44.00 / G www.burdekintheatre.com.au

Christmas Critters Workshop with Karen Williams Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts 10.00am - 11.00am / $55.00 $75.00 / G www.umbrella.org.au

Seniors Twilight Christmas Markets All monies raised in support of Townsville Dementia Support Group Inc. Oak Tree Retirement Village Riverway 4.00pm - 7.00pm / FREE / G Oak Tree Retirement Village Townsville Plant and Christmas Food Gift Sale Tribe Cafe 7.00am - 12.00pm / G The Feel Good Foodie Food Truck Paddle On A Dragon Boat Runs weekly until 18 December Blaze Dragons Dragon Boat Club 8.30am - 9.30am / FREE / G All ages Blaze Dragons - Dragon Boat Club - Townsville Christmas at Andy’s Roadhouse Annual fundraiser Andy’s Roadhouse, Ingham 6.00pm / $5.00 / M www.hinchinbrookway.com.au Lions Christmas Cakes and Puddings With raffle tickets, and prizes.

Runs until 5 December

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I Make My Own School Lunches Cooking Classes for Children, runs every Saturday, during the school term.

Contact organiser for more details and to book.

10.00am - 2.00pm / $70.00 per child (includes all ingredients and returning home with a week’s worth of school lunches) /G Choices North Queensland Djembe Saturdays Classes run every Saturday 22 Ingham Road 3.00pm / $10.00 / G www.drumbumba.com SUNDAY 5 DECEMBER

2022 Year of the Water Tiger Join acclaimed Feng Shui Maser Jan Leese – The Qi Consultant – for a fun, informative, threehour workshop to hear what 2022, the Year of the Water Tiger, has in store for you.

Townsville Entertainment Centre 2.00pm - 5.00pm / $88.00 / M 15 + The Qi Consultant Carols Concert and Sausage Sizzle World Theatre Charters Towers 5.00pm / FREE / G World Theatre Charters Towers Pickleball Townsville Runs weekly until 19 December Tennis Townsville 3.00pm - 6.00pm / FREE for first timers, $7.00 for returning players / G Pickleball Townsville Christmas Wreath Workshop With the Bloom Room Townsville Otto’s Market Precinct 1.00pm - 3.00pm / $105.53 $158.28 / G The Bloom Room Townsville

Bushland Beach Christmas Market Beach end of Mount Low Parkway 8.00am - 12.00pm / FREE Entry /G Bushland Beach Markets

MONDAY 6 DECEMBER

Carols By Candlelight at Life Church Life Church Townsville 6.00pm - 7.30pm / FREE / G www.lifechurchtsv.org.au

TUESDAY 7 DECEMBER

QiGong with JJ Runs weekly until 20 December House 197/203 Flinders St 5.30pm - 6.30pm / $15.00 www.trybooking.com

Doing Business with Council Townsville businesses are invited to meet with our

procurement professionals to better understand how they can do business with Council. Runs Weekly until 16 December Townsville City Council 2.00pm - 4.00pm, 30 minute sessions / FREE / G whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au Toddler Time - Tuesday Townsville Stadium 9.00am - 9.50am / FREE, Bookings required / Children 2 3 years and their carers whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au Baby Rhyme Time Townsville Stadium 10.30am - 11.20am / FREE, Booking required / Children 0 2 years and their carers whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au Introducing Solids Learn key points to starting solids and how to know when your baby is ready.

CityLibraries Aitkenvale 9.30am - 10.30am / FREE, Booking required / 18 + Recommended for all families whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au North Queensland Camera Group Photography Club meeting monthly on the first Tuesday of the Month.

QWCA, Denham St, Townsville 7.00pm - 9.00pm / first meeting FREE / G www.nqcg.org.au WEDNESDAY 8 DECEMBER Morning Melodies - A West End Christmas Burdekin Theatre

11.00am / FREE / G www.burdekintheatre.com.au THURSDAY 9 DECEMBER Career Chats CityLibraries Aitkenvale 9.30am - 12.00pm / FREE / G Bookings essential whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au Santa at Fairfield Runs until 24 December Fairfield Shopping Centre Check online for session times, costs, and to make a booking. www.fairfieldcentral.com.au Mel Buttle & Friends Molly Malone’s Irish Pub 7.00pm - 9.00pm / $30.00 $35.00 / M www.goodchatcomedy.com Aussie Icons Join the TAPA Students as they celebrate Australia through Music, Memories and Iconic Artists. Runs until 11 December Townsville Civic Theatre 6.30pm - 9.40pm daily, also 12.00pm on Saturday / $25.00 $39.00 / G ticketshop.townsville.qld.gov.au FRIDAY 10 DECEMBER Last day of term 4 International Human Rights Day A day to celebrate the basic rights of all humans, and to remember that many people still have to fight for their human rights. www.un.org/en/observances/ human-rights-day

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

Cooee-Cooee Colleen’s Collected Stories - Book Launch Hinchinbrook Shire Library 10.30am / FREE / G www.hinchinbrookway.com.au Breathwork Sessions Inner Light Meditation Centre 7.00pm - 8.00pm / FREE, Register online www.trybooking.com Christmas ExtrABBAganza Herbert Hotel 6.30pm / Check online for ticket release date allevents.in/townsville Christmas Carol Night Alice River Community Association 6.00pm - 8.30pm / FREE entry / G Alice River Community Association Chamber’s Christmas on the Hill Castle Hill’s Open Air Event Space 6.00pm - 8.30pm / $53.90 / M www.townsvillechamber.com.au SATURDAY 11 DECEMBER West Side Story Themed End of Year Dance Party Heatley Community Centre Townsville 6.30pm / $20.00 / G www.swingdancingtownsville.com Last Aid by Palliative Care Queensland This course is for all members of the community. You need no training or experience in the space.

Thuringowa Library 9.00am - 1.00pm / FREE / M

www.eventbrite.com.au Lions Christmas Cakes and Puddings With raffle tickets, and prizes.

Runs until 12 December Bunnings Fairfield 9.00am - 3.00pm / G Townsville Northern Suburbs Lions Club SUNDAY 12 DECEMBER Carols by Candlelight Riverway Oval 5.00pm - 8.30pm / FREE / G www.townsville.qld.gov.au/ christmastogether MONDAY 13 DECEMBER Stay and Play in the Park Collect your take home messy play pack and borrow a mystery bag of books, before staying and playing in the park.

Wadda Mooli Park 8.30am - 11.00am / FREE / G www.townsville.qld.gov.au/ libraries WEDNESDAY 15 DECEMBER Free Microchipping Day Animal Care and Adoption Centre 9.00am - 2.00pm / FREE / Bookings essential whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au Morning Melodies - A Tropical Christmas With Attori Townsville Civic Theatre 11.00am - 12.30am / $10.00 $15.00 / G - All ages whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au

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What’s On THURSDAY 16 DECEMBER Little Lifesavers: Alma Bay 2 Day Program Runs until 17 December Alma Bay, Magnetic Island 8.00am - 12.00pm / $150.00 $175.00 / 5 - 11 years E littlelifesavers@lifesaving.com. au, www.lifesaving.com.au Parentmedic Baby + Child First Aid Fairfield Central 9.30am - 11.30am / FREE, Register online Parentmedic North Queensland FRIDAY 17 DECEMBER Riverway Movie Screening Wonder Park Riverway Oval 7.00pm - 8.30pm / FREE / G whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au

With Triple M’s Pricey

A Salute To Roy Orbison Townsville Civic Theatre 7.30pm - 9.30pm / $59.90 $69.90 / G whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au

SUNDAY 26 DECEMBER

Lions Christmas Cakes and Puddings With raffle tickets, and prizes.

Runs until 19 December Bunnings Fairfield 9.00am - 3.00pm / G Townsville Northern Suburbs Lions Club

Additional public holiday for Xmas Day

WEDNESDAY 22 DECEMBER

New Years Eve

Summer Solstice

New Year’s Eve Celebrations Head down and enjoy a movie on the big screen, food trucks and family friendly fireworks Riverway Stadium, Thuringowa Central 8.00pm / FREE /G whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au

FRIDAY 24 DECEMBER Christmas Eve SATURDAY 25 DECEMBER Christmas Day

ROCKARIA The ELO Experience Townsville Civic Theatre 8.00pm - 10.20pm / $63.00 $69.00 / PG whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au

Christmas Lunch Buffet Tom’s Tavern 11.00am - 2.00pm / FREE for under 5, $25.00 - $110.00 / G Tom’s Tavern

SATURDAY 18 DECEMBER

Christmas Day Lunch Kirwan Tavern 11.30am / $59.00 - $135.00, FREE for under 2’s / G Kirwan Tavern

Stable On The Strand at Riverway Runs until 22 December Riverway 6.00pm - 9.30pm / FREE / G All ages www.stableonthestrand.com.au International Migrants Day www.un.org/en/observances/ migrants-day

Christmas Day Lunch at the Daly Dalrymple Hotel 11.30am / $59.00 - $135.00, FREE for under 2’s / G Dalrymple Hotel

Come and Try Geocaching Sheriff Park 10.00am - 11.00am / FREE / G whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au, Geocaching Townsville

Christmas Day Lunch Vale Hotel, Aitkenvale 11.30am / $59.00 - $135.00, FREE for under 2’s / G The Vale Hotel

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

2021 NYE Masquerade Ball at the Banquet Centre The Brewery 7.00pm - 2.00am / $145.00 / 18 + www.townsvillebrewery.com

Boxing Day MONDAY 27 DECEMBER

TUESDAY 28 DECEMBER Additional public holiday for Boxing Day FRIDAY 31 DECEMBER

New Year’s Eve Fireworks Strand Park, The Strand 8.00pm and 12.00am / FREE / G whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au New Year’s Eve Fireworks Look back towards Townsville City and take in the displays at 8.00pm and Midnight.

Nelly Bay, Magnetic Island 8.00pm and 12.00am / FREE / G whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au New Year’s Eve at Stage Door Stage Door Theatre Restaurant 6.00pm / $165.00 / PG www.stagedoortheatre.com.au New Years Eve - Feed Me Before The Party Shorehouse 5.00pm- 7.00pm / $65.00 / M www.shorehousetownsville. com.au

New Years Eve Havana Nights The Pavilion 7.00pm - 12.00am / $190.00 / 18 + www.the-ville.com.au New Years Eve 2022 Picnic Bay Hotel – Esplanade, Magnetic Island 7.30pm / FREE entry / 18 + genexislivemusic.com.au SATURDAY 1 JANUARY Happy New Year!

MONDAY 3 JANUARY Additional public holiday for New Year’s Day MONDAY 10 JANUARY School Savvy NQ Pop-Up Shop Runs until 21 January Centacare NQ 10.00am - 2.00pm / FREE entry /G School Savvy NQ SUNDAY 16 JANUARY Get Active Expo Townsville Studio 10.00am - 2.00pm / FREE entry /G whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au THURSDAY 20 JANUARY The Little Mermaid Runs until 30 January Townsville Civic Centre Various times / $40.00 $50.00 / G Townsville Choral Society

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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

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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

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

Elliot Springs Market Date: 2nd Saturday of the month Time: 8.00am - 12.00pm Location: Elliot Springs Blvd, Julago

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