Casey Cardinia Kids Spring 2015

THINGS TO DO & PLACES TO GO FOR FAMILIES

The smashing trend for first birthdays Toddlers the old issues are the new normal, too

Free SPRING 2015

A Star News Group Publication

Reality Bites: Living with triplets, dealing with psychosis and serving as A surrogate

contents

4 -6

8-10 12-20 22-24 Partytime

It’s Your Life

Reality Bites

Emma gets a Wiggle on | Page 4

Smashing trend for first birthday milestones | Page 8

Toddlers - the old issues are the new normal, too | Page 12

Love, laughs and triple the joy Page 22

Plan to make the party pop | Page 10

Nurturing as nature intended | Page 15

Bec gets through the challenges of birth Page 24

Entertainment Full steam ahead for train adventures Page 6

Know what your kids are up to online?

Page 16

Family makes miracle happen|Page 26

Culture of care for mother and babe Page 18 Exercise: essential for the brain Page 19 Play it safe around the pool | Page 20

28

30-33 34-38 Education

Games and Gadgets

What you’ve been up to in Casey and Cardinia | Page 28

Site opens new class of savings Page 30

These are a few of our favourite things Page 34

Eager for the challenge ahead Page 31

Loaning millions - and all for free Page 36

Helping them step up to secondary schooling | Page 32

Libraries filled with ideas to inspire Page 38

Around Town

School’s spectacular is music to their ears | Page 33

39 Calendar

What’s on in spring | Page 39

Ashlee and baby cousin Annabelle love getting outside to enjoy the Spring fresh air. Check out pages 28 and 29 to see what other kids are doing in and around Casey and Cardinia to take advantage of the warm weather.

Picture: Stewart Chambers

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about us . . .

Casey Cardinia Kids magazine is a Star News Group publication.

Casey Cardinia Kids will be published quarterly prior to each of the school holidays.

HAVE no fear, it’s finally here! We hope you are just as excited as we are about our very first Casey Cardinia Kids magazine.

This spectacular Star News Group publication is brought to you by a team of enthusiastic journalists, passionate advertising representatives and creative geniuses, who co-incidentally also have their own offspring and know first-hand the ‘ins’ and ‘outs’ of parenting.

We know what is important to local families and that is why we have sought help from experts in a range of fields to deliver you important professional advice, health and safety tips, educational facts and entertainment news.

This issue is 40 pages full to the brim of all of the above.

Turn to pages 4 and 5 to see how Emma feels about joining The Wiggles. Tempt your tastebuds by reading about the latest trend in first birthday bashes on pages 8 and 9.

Learn tips for dealing with fussy eaters, tantrums galore or sleepless toddlers on pages 13 to 15, or find out how to get a discount on an esteemed education on pages 30 and 31.

You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll smile when reading emotional real-life pregnancy and birth stories on pages 22 to 27.

You’ll want to get outside when you see all the fun things local kids have been up to on pages 28 and 29. Alternatively, you may want to bury your head in a book when you see the most popular books available at your local libraries on page 38.

We are so proud of our new product, but your opinion matters most. We want to know what you think of our magazine and welcome all feedback.

If you want to have a great idea explored, have an interesting story to tell or simply want to get your mug in the next edition, make sure to email lia@caseycardiniakids.com.au with your information or photos.

We hope you enjoy Casey Cardinia Kids magazine and don’t forget to check out our new website caseycardiniakids.com.au which offers an abundance of entertainment and educational information, keeps you up-to-date with great events in and around Casey and Cardinia and lists a whole heap of local services and things to do for families.

It’s the go-to destination for activity in the south-east of Melbourne.

Also like our Facebook page, facebook.com/ CaseyCardiniaKids, which has over 7000 followers and gives daily and weekly updates so you know what’s happening in your area.

Have a great spring, and happy reading!

Casey Cardinia Kids Cnr Princes Hwy and Army Road, Pakenham, 3810 PO Box 9, Pakenham, Victoria 3810 Phone: 5945 0666 Fax: 5945 0777 Editorial Lia Spencer lia@caseycardiniakids.com.au Phone: 5945 0666 Photography Stewart Chambers Rob Carew Advertising Andy Jukes andy.jukes@starnewsgroup.com.au Phone: 5945 0666 Creative Creative Services Manager: Chris Beale Design Mark Dinnie Virginia Hester Published by Star News Group Pty Ltd ACN 005 848 108.

Publisher/Managing Director, Paul Thomas.

All material is copyright to Star News Group Pty Ltd. All significant errors will be corrected as soon as possible.

Cover Ashlee enjoying the fresh Spring air at Myuna Farm.

Picture: Stewart Chambers

THINGS TO DO & PLACES TO GO FOR FAMILIES

The smashing trend for first birthdays Toddlers the old issues are the new normal, too

Free SPRING 2015

Reality Bites: Living with triplets, dealing with psychosis and serving as surrogate

A Star News Group Publication

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

SPRING 2015 3

Entertainment

EMMA Watkins represents “the new generation of Wiggles”.

By BEN CAMERON WHILE she came from a background in dance, and began ballet lessons at just four, the 25-year-old says it’s been a case of her wiggly past eventually catching up with her.

“The Wiggles have been around 24 years,” she says.

“I remember going to see the Wiggles all through my childhood.

“I must have been about seven, they filmed a concert at the Seymour Centre in Sydney and on the VHS, because it’s that old, and they cut back to the audience and you can see my sister and I dancing in matching dresses.

“I didn’t have any idea I’d be dancing with the Wiggles this far later.

Emma Watkins has gone from Wiggles fan, to one of the band.

“I had envisioned joining a dance company overseas.

“I still remember some of the lyrics from when I was about five.”

When it came to inheriting the skivvy, Emma found herself in the right place at the right time.

She began performing with the Wiggles in 2010, playing a variety of different characters, before she was offered Greg’s job in May of 2012.

4 SPRING 2015

It’s definitely the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to me, to meet children all around the world…

“It was great timing because I was already teaching different styles from three up to the age of 16,” she says.

“Unlike any other job, particularly in the entertainment industry, it’s a bit of everything,

“Not that I’ve got any early childhood development training or education like the original Wiggles, but I was definitely teaching children before the audition came up.

“We are so busy, we don’t really have time to do anything else (laughs). It’s not nine to five, it’s all the time.

“We were asked if we’d like to be the new Wiggles, there was no audition process.

“It was truly about the family that was around at the time. I feel so fortunate I was there at that moment, when the originals wanted to pass on the legend of the wiggly era to us.”

“It’s getting to the point where we’re being recognised when we go shopping. If somebody recognises me at the shops it’s probably more exciting for me than it is for the child.

“It’s a dream come true.”

She says becoming a Wiggle has changed her life, where she tours the world up to nine months each year. The Wiggles’ most recent tour included a trip to Pakenham in April, where they played several sold out shows.

“It’s definitely the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to me, to meet children all around the world,” she says. www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Little Harper was starstruck.

Kai and Elijah, who have a rare genetic condition, were thrilled when they got to meet The Wiggles. Pictured are Bobbi O’Riley, Kai Farano, Charlotte Farano and Elijah Farano with The Wiggles.

A fan took this photo of The Wiggles in concert.

Rylee loved the concert.

Luke with his Wags on at the concert.

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SPRING 2015 5

Entertainment

IT’S a world-famous steam train and it’s in our own backyards. The Puffing Billy Railway, one of the finest preserved steam railways in the world, operates every day except Christmas Day and is delivering a track-load of family fun this spring including first-class dining experiences and a day out with Thomas the Tank Engine.

It was originally built at the turn of the century to transport goods and passengers throughout the district, but now operates as a tourist service – providing an enjoyable journey to people of all ages.

The line was opened by the Victorian Railways in 1900 between Upper Ferntree Gully and Gembrook, but financial struggles, and a landslide in 1953, led to the decision to close the line in 1954.

A series of farewell trips in 1955 led to the establishment of the Puffing Billy Preservation Society in an effort to keep the train running.

Tourist services resumed between Belgrave and Menzies Creek in 1962, and were extended to Emerald in 1965, Lakeside in 1975 and Gembrook in 1998. It has since been a roaring success, with more than 10 million passengers taking a trip on the iconic train since the re-opening.

The railway departs from Belgrave and travels 25kms through the forests 6 SPRING 2015

and fern gullies of the magnificent Dandenong Ranges to Emerald Lake Park and Gembrook.

Together with the traditional train journey, Puffing Billy also offers a range of unique First Class travel and dining experiences in up to four luxurious, fully enclosed carriages, each seating up to 20 passengers. Guests can choose from lunch which is available all week, or dinner on selected Friday or Saturday evenings. Other evenings are available for groups of 60 to 80 passengers.

Group bookings on all scheduled trains may be made and special charter trains for groups of up to 250 are available.

Other unique events include the Murder Mystery Trains, Jazz Trains and Drive an Engine experiences. One of the most popular events is the Day out with Thomas event which will occurring in the next two months.

Thomas the Tank Engine will be steaming into Emerald Town Station alongside Puffing Billy throughout October and November and tickets are on sale for passengers big and small wanting to climb on the carriages pulled by Thomas and his best mate Diesel. It will be full steam ahead back at Emerald Town Station with a pantomime show featuring Thomas and the Fat Controller among the family fun on offer as well as face painting,

jumping castles, an animal nursery and Bulgy Bus rides.

Puffing Billy chief executive officer John Robinson said Thomas and his friends had been regular visitors to Puffing Billy during autumn and spring for over 15 years, and the team of volunteers were looking forward to welcoming the trains back this year.

“Puffing Billy is excitedly awaiting the arrival of his good friends Thomas, Diesel and the Fat Controller and would love for all their other friends to come out and say hello, too,” he said.

“Having the world’s most famous steam engine visit Australia’s most famous steam train is a truly magical event and we invite Thomas lovers, young and old, to join us at Puffing Billy’s Emerald Town Station to enjoy the show. This family friendly event will impress the most dedicated Thomas fans, with a ride on the Thomas hauled steam train being the highlight of the day. So book early and make your way to Emerald in October or November for a train adventure like no other,” he said.

Tickets are $27 for adults and children (4 years and over) and $15 for toddlers (1-3 years). Shows will take place on 17, 18, 24 and 25 October and 7, 8, 14 and 15 November 2015.

Bookings are essential and must be made online at www.puffingbilly.com.au www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

SPRING 2015 7

party time

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party time

By LIA SPENCER GONE are the Polaroids our parents used to take of us, perched in a highchair with a single cupcake on the tray and a messy face in all our glory.

Now there’s a new must-have picture in town.

The ’cake smash’ phenomenon is the latest trend sweeping the nation – where, for the sake of a cute picture, a professional photographer gets paid to brave the tears and tantrums to get a great shot of your bubba digging into their sweet treat to mark that first birthday.

Last year, the mothers group I am part of decided to take up the challenge. Since there are two sets of twins, there were six of us adults and eight, almost-one year-olds.

Most who have never had cake in their short, 12 months of life.

Lucky for me, one of the mums volunteered to bake my cake, as there were only three cupcake shaped cake pans available for our group to use.

We spent several weeks organising co-ordinating beaded necklaces for the girls, bow ties for the boys, birthday hats and bloomers. We then matched our icing colour to their accessories.

One of the brave mummas offered to use her living room as the backdrop.

She prepared a bath for the kids after the messy event, and we all had cloths and wipes ready to go to wash down the walls and hardwood floors once the photo was over.

Our photographer, Jessica Paige, was a professional snapper and had done many cake smash pictures before, so she was better prepared than us for the colourful cyclone of meltdowns we were about to encounter.

First, getting all the babies together, wide awake and willing to co-operate was pretty much impossible. Some of the babies were tired, some were hungry, and some were noticeably concerned about why all the others were crying.

We placed the cupcakes in order, and at the count of three, sat our children behind them. Cue the storm.

Most babies burst into tears, some dug into another baby’s cakes, one baby rubbed the icing all over his eye, and my little girl tried to run away.

There were eight babies wailing and moving in all directions, icing spread across the floor and six mums trying to

Millie Kelly gets ready to dig in. www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Photographer Jessica of Jessica Paige Photography was calm and collected while capturing the chaotic – but special – moment in the young lives of William Carson, Olivia Dudi, Stephen Cuckson, Ella Ryan, Mairead Cuckson, Oliver Carson, Isla Spencer and Levi Dalton.

Picture: Contributed

EASY PEASEY! JUST LIKE THAT! co-ordinate an orchestra – singing nursery rhymes and doing silly hand actions, snapping their fingers and waving their hands in a desperate attempt to keep their attention.

Meanwhile, Jessica – cool, calm and collected – snapped away. Within a few minutes, she stood up, smiled and said: “Okay, we’re done”.

EASY PEASEY! JUST LIKE THAT! Luckily my husband had turned up to help, so he wrapped Isla in a towel and walked her home (which was just around the corner) to bathe her and put her to bed (despite the copius amount of sugar she just consumed).

A few of the others did the same, and a couple rinsed their kids in the bath at brave mum’s house. It took us only about five minutes to wipe off the walls (which luckily didn’t stain), throw the demolished cakes in the

bin, and wipe down the floor.

It seemed like a lot of preparation and effort for five frantic minutes – but soon after, when we received the photos, we realised it was well worth the time and money to get such priceless photos!

They will forever tell a story of a time we, as mums, were daring and patient and our children were naive and cried from cake. They will be pictures brought out at 21st, engagements and weddings. They will be pictures our children will show their children, and their grandchildren.

They will forever tell a story of a simpler time in life.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I highly recommend taking on the challenge – as the pictures at the end of the day are the icing on the cake.

Alice Wack celebrated her first birthday with a sweet treat. Picture: Contributed

Picture: Eye Spy Photography SPRING 2015 9

party time

PLAN TO MAKE

THE PARTY

By LIA SPENCER

guests to dress up, to match the theme.

Pick your food, drinks and venue

PLANNING a party doesn’t have to be stressful.

There are so many things that could be done without forking out the cash and spending copious amounts of time on preparation.

Here are some helpful hints to make the day special and go off without a hitch.

Deciding on a theme

A pirate-themed party.

This can be as easy as you want it to be – from a simple colour pink for girls, blue for boys, yellow for either, or a little more complex featuring favourite characters like Winnie the Pooh, Disney princesses, or Ninja Turtles.

Go wild with animals, impress with a circus theme or have a blast turning a famous event into a kids-friendly affair - think Kim Kardashian’s daughter North’s birthday, ‘Kidchella’ – a childversion of the popular American music festival Coachella (however, you may have to forgo the ferris wheel and celebrity guests).

Make your theme come to life with colourful streamers, balloons, homemade pom-poms and lanterns, or posters.

Top it off by dressing up, and asking

10 SPRING 2015

Making an invite list doesn’t have to be difficult. The best way to be cash savvy is to make the list small and intimate - inviting only close family members or close friends.

If you want to invite more than close family and friends, make sure you know when to stop.

If your child is infant or toddler age – keep the guest list low to not overwhelm them. Invite the people they know and see regularly so they aren’t scared with many new faces.

If they are older, invite only close friends who they regularly associate with and their parents. Make sure to only invite as many people that you can cater for.

Pick a venue which is big enough to host everyone - preferably your own house so you don’t have to transfer food, drinks, and presents around.

If you plan a park - make sure it has a gazebo area or have a back-up plan.

If you hire a venue, try to hire one which provides toys for children so you don’t have to lug many around, and a kitchen area to do food preparation and cleaning.

Think fairy bread, mini-pizzas, sausage rolls, meat pies, and nutritious options like fruit, vegie trays and juice boxes.

Make the cake on your own – matching your theme. Or if you have spare change, hire someone to do it for you. There are several cake makers who specialise in kids’ birthday cakes and can make anything and everything, in an array of different and delicious flavours. Cupcakes, cake pops and cookies are also perfect options instead of a cake. Just don’t forget the candles!

Plan some activities Kids don’t need a lot of planned activities to keep them entertained.

They have great imaginations and can come up with games with limited props.

However, having a few activities keeps things organised. Try a pinata (just make sure it’s supervised so kids don’t get hurt). Pin the tail on the donkey (or similar), a treasure hunt around a closed in yard or pass the parcel (try to let everyone get a small prize so no tears are shed).

If you have the cash to splash hiring a face painter, balloonist, magician, clown or character artist adds a little bit of excitement to any party.

Pick simple foods, preferably nut-free to avoid any run-ins with allergies. www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

party time

Pack the Party Favors There is a wide range of options if you plan to hand guests party favours. You can fill gift bags with with sweet goodies such as lollies and chocolate (but again, keep in mind any food allergies). If your party guests are mainly babies and toddlers, you may want to avoid handing out any food. Instead, buy inexpensive mini-books, party poppers, bubbles or puzzles.

Enjoy!

Don’t forget to get in on the action. You have worked hard to plan a great event, you deserve to have a little fun too. Dress up, eat, drink, have a turn on the pinata.

Then after you clean up and say goodbye, put your feet up and relax – you deserve it.

A pink-themed sweets table.

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ivercrest Christian College (near Berwick) has recently been authorised, by the International Baccalaureate, as an official World School offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP).

Rivercrest, offers classes from the 3 year old through to Year 2, with additional classes being added each year. Being an International Baccalaureate (IB) School, Rivercrest’s philosophy is aligned with the IB’s Mission, which is to develop students who are inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

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SPRING 2015 11

your life It’s

toddlers... the old issues are the new normal, too.

They aren’t going to

starve themselves...

IT’S a classic scenario: You are in the middle of your grocery shopping, when all of a sudden the child who was clinging to your leg two seconds ago is now screaming and crying on the floor.

You are exhausted because you were up three times with your toddler overnight and then lost a trying battle at breakfast because they didn’t want to eat.

Do not pull your hair out in frustration. This is completely normal toddler behaviour and it should pass.

Lia Spencer sat down with Cathie Arndt, co-ordinator of Maternal and Child Health at the City of Casey to discuss what is and is not normal toddler behaviour, and how to seek help for ongoing problems.

The problem: They aren’t counting sheep.

SHOULD toddlers be sleeping all night?

Not necessarily. Just like adults’ sleep patterns can differ from evening to evening, so do children. Some adults are heavily sleepers, some wake at a drop of the hat. Same with children.

Ms Arndt said parents should be careful not to compare their children to other children.

“Sleep varies from child to child, and it is important that you consider what is normal for your child, so you can then work out when something is different and why,” Ms Arndt said.

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

“It can depend a lot on activity levels, changes in environment or whether they have been thrown out of their normal routine. Sometimes sleep can be disrupted if the child has gone somewhere new that day, seen something new, didn’t have their morning sleep or are getting teeth.

There is no easy answer.“

The solution: IT IS important to get your child in a sleeping routine from birth, Ms Arndt said. But if the sleeping problem begins, or persists as they get older, try to pin-point what may have caused it.

“If you can figure out what has changed in their life, you can usually give it a few days and things will settle.

If it persists, then you can seek assistance, because if you get exhausted and are not sleeping, it usually throws the whole house into disarray. It’s sometimes easy to sit down with someone else and work things out.“ Ms Arndt said there were a number of free child and maternal health programs to assist with sleeping issues.

Check with your local council or speak to our maternal and child health nurse.

The problem: They hate eating anything green, or orange, or anything that tastes remotely healthy.

HOW do they know that broccoli is good for you and why do they refuse to eat it?

Ms Arndt says food is needed to pack on weight and height up until 12 months old, after that, their growth slows and they aren’t as hungry. The fussy-eating stage usually comes when children are aged 18 months to about two years.

The solution: “I HEARD a quote that says, ‘It’s a parent’s role to decide what food to offer children, when to offer it and where to offer it. It’s a child’s role to decide whether they will eat it and how much they will eat’,” Ms Arndt said. “You can’t force-feed your kids.”

Ms Arndt says parents should tell their children when playtime is and when meal time is, and let them be involved by setting the table or getting certain items from the fridge to give to you.

If they aren’t eating at meal-time, Ms Arndt suggests saving night-time meals for lunch the next day, and giving them something light to eat instead. She also said grating vegies and hiding them in meals was a great way to ensure they are getting nutrients.

“Toddlers realise that they can make decisions about their own lives, so they often decide that they aren’t going to eat a particular thing. If they don’t want to eat something, they often get a reaction from their parents and they continue to build on that. It’s normal and healthy behaviour and shows that they have independence,” Ms Arndt said.

Ms Arndt says it’s important to give your toddler healthy snacks throughout the day such as making chips out of vegies “zucchini chips, pumpkin chips, sweet potato chips, eggplant chips or carrot chips,” she said. “Use a bit of cooking spray and cook them in the oven so they aren’t deep fried.”

“Many parents worry that their children will suffer nutritionally, but they generally won’t. They aren’t going to starve themselves. They are busy or pre-occupied and just don’t want to eat.”

Sugary snacks are also okay to be used in moderation.

She also suggested using yogurt or cheese as a dip for fruit or vegies.

“The less sugary snacks kids are exposed to, the better – but they can be a sometimes food,” she said. “To develop a good healthy attitude to food is to know when you can eat something most of the time, and something else sometimes.”

SPRING 2015 13

I’m two The problem: The solution: The solution: AWARENESS, distraction and decisionHAVE a good connection with your You can’t go and I’m making are all key points in helping child and communicate with them. you conquer the tantrums. Ms Arndt . anywhere without ..

“Your child needs to learn to be terrible said if your toddler was hungry or tired, without you. So when you need to leave they might be more susceptible to your toddler to work, or go somewhere, explain to tantrums. She also suggested that if you them why you are leaving, that you know what things will set your toddler clinging to you are leaving them with someone who into a tailspin, to distract them before loves or cares for them, and that you they get to that point. Making them or bursting into will be back,” Ms Arndt said. “Some The problem: feel a sense of empowerment may people think toddlers are too young to also help. understand, but they understand a lot tears.

A good old case “Tantrums are also about being more than we give them credit for.”

SEPARATION anxiety is very common. in control, so let them make decisions of the terrible Ms Arndt said it was important for Ms Arndt says that based on research, throughout the day. If you are giving parents to occasionally have that most children do not realise they are them food, give them a choice between separation from their child, despite twos. a separate identity from their mother two different things – let them be part AH, YES ... screaming, crying, throwing, biting and all the rest of the fun that comes with toddler tantrums. It can be embarrassing, tiring and frustrating – but you can breathe a little sigh of relief too, this behaviour is completely normal.

“It’s a toddler’s way of communicating,” Ms Arndt said.

“Rather than using words they don’t know, if they don’t like something they will throw it, or if you tell them no and they aren’t happy, they will throw themselves on the floor. They want attention from you. Same with biting and hair pulling – it’s a way of trying to get what they want or getting a reaction.”

of the decision to make them feel a bit more in control.”

It is also important to reinforce that biting and hair-pulling is wrong and not allowed.

Ms Arndt says if the tantrums are consistent or affect the ability to enjoy their life, then you should speak to a health nurse about those concerns.

She also suggested reading material on raisingchildrennetwork.com.au, but avoid taking advice from bloggers without qualifications.

for a long time, and when they begin to realise, they go through anxiety.

However, some children are clingier than others.

“There are some children who are more confident and will adapt quicker, and others are very clingy and find it harder to adapt to you being away,” she said. “It’s just their personality – the way they are made up.”

their anxiety.

“It’s beneficial to both a child and parent to have that separation. Parents go from being fairly independent people who look after only themselves 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to looking after someone else. For your own health and well-being, you need that time away.

“I also think it gives you more appreciation of your child when you have that time away and they get back to them. It also prepares your child for things like kinder or school. They learn to adapt to other people’s expectations and to be comfortable in different situations. It’s a skill they will take with them from childhood to adulthood.” *Speak to your local maternal and child health nurse to discuss any concerns you have with your toddler’s behaviour.*

Tantrums are also about being in control...

14 SPRING 2015

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your life It’s

Candice with her date-stamped pouches of breast milk.

Picture: KIMBERLEY CARTMELL

NURTURING AS

NATURE INTENDED

By ANEEKA SIMONIS

if there is a family that can use it,” she said.

BREASTFEEDING isn’t something that comes naturally to all women.

A Greenvale mother, who lives more than an hour from Pakenham, made the long drive to pick up Candice’s breast milk over the weekend.

Pakenham mum and maternal child health nurse Candice Purvis would know, after struggling for weeks to feed her newborn girl Sophie last year.

But the 30-year-old mum, who has since mastered the art of feeding, is sharing her milk with other women who haven’t been as lucky.

Candice recently donated a litre of her own frozen breast milk through Human Milk 4 Human Babies (HM4HB) which connects families in need with women who have milk to spare.

She said breast milk was a precious resource and she couldn’t bear to waste hers knowing the problems faced by many women who struggle to feed.

“This is my first time donating breast milk.

“I just don’t want it to go to waste

HM4HB is globally recognised and has branches in communities all over the world which assists parent-to-parent sharing.

Unlike hospital milk banks, which screen milk donors for infectious diseases or factors that may implicate the safety of breast milk, such as medication, drugs or alcohol, HM4HB relies on a system of trust between mums.

“There is no screening but you can give them a copy of your antenatal blood results if they want. That shows you don’t have any infectious diseases,” Candice said.

were set on feeding naturally.

“I believe formula has its place, but for those wanting to exclusively breastfeed milk, donation is a great opportunity,” Candice said.

Nutritional changes in breast milk mean ideal donations come from a mother whose baby is around the same age as the donor’s baby.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for babies up until six months of age for optimal health outcomes.

In 2010, 96 per cent of babies in Australia were breastfed from birth.

Only 39 per cent were exclusively breastfed to four months of age, tapering off to 15 per cent when they reached six months of age, according to Australia’s Health 2012 report.

Though milk formula is an option, the nurse of nine years said the donation service suited parents who

Pop in before you pop out Weekly maternity tours and monthly information sessions for pre-pregnancy and pregnant families. Pop by and check us out.

2015 Monthly Pregnancy Sessions, 2pm: Sunday 6 September, Sunday 4 October, Sunday 1 November, Sunday 6 December.

Please call 9709 1400 to book. Tours: Tuesdays 8pm and Sundays 1.30pm. Bookings not required

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Ph: 9709 1400 1196012-KK35-15

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SPRING 2015 15

your life It’s

Know what your kids @re up to online?

By LIA SPENCER ALMOST everywhere you look, there are children playing on their parents’ mobiles or watching a YouTube video on the family iPad. It’s an easy option to keep the kids quiet and entertained when you are at the grocery store, on a road trip or on a long-haul flight.

But just because the parents are nearby, doesn’t mean the children are supervised. Australia’s leading Cyber Safety expert Susan McLean has issued a dire warning about the dangers of children and technology and the importance of monitoring internet use.

“I start to educate from Grade 2 onwards. It’s never too early. The minute kids are using technology, parents need to be educated, aware and empowered,” she said.

“Most parents give the children access to technology. Four-year-olds are using their parents’ iPads. There are many parents who want their kids to have the latest gadgets, but they don’t understand the risks involved.

They blindly trust the children without realising the dangers.”

Ms McLean said adults should know how to work parental controls and put limits on their children’s screen time.

“Children shouldn’t have unlimited screen time – for one it’s a health issue.

Parents must also know how the device they are giving the children works.

They need to know how to turn on parental controls,” she said.

Supervising children’s internet time is vital. Ms McLean said primary-aged children were not cognitively developed enough to understand the risks of the internet, so its use should be tightly supervised until the children reach high school age. However, parents should continue to monitor even their teenager’s internet use.

16 SPRING 2015

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,,

You have to educate yourself and be willing to parent in the digital space. Parenting in cyber space is parenting in the 21st century – it’s non-negotiable...

The risks of unsupervised screen time are alarming – with Ms McLean aware of children as young as eight and nine sharing naked photos online. She said there were 11 and 12-year-olds signing up to restricted age accounts such as Facebook and Instagram with kids being at risk of being groomed by predators. Ms McLean says rules that apply with social behaviour should also apply when it comes to internet use.

“I see about 85 percent of Grade 5 and 6 aged students having accounts on restricted aged sites. So 85 per cent of 10, 11 and 12 year olds are on sites they are not legally allowed to be on.

There are children as young as seven on Instagram,” she said.

“It’s easy to do, it’s easy for them to lie and get an account – but that doesn’t make it right. It’s not an excuse.

Parents don’t allow their children to lie anywhere else in life, so why will they let them lie on the internet?”

“Be aware of what your children are doing and be involved. Keep the lines of communication open and know the sites they are on. Make sure they don’t engage with people you don’t know.

Make sure they do not have accounts on age restricted sites and make sure they don’t have any internet activities in the bedroom (or in unsupervised areas),” she said.

“Don’t put your head in the sand and think it won’t happen to your child.

Even the best kids are at risk. You have to educate yourself and be willing to parent in the digital space.

Parenting in cyber space is parenting in the 21st century – it’s non-negotiable.”

To find out more about Susan McLean, visit her website www.cybersafetysolutions.com.au Her book ‘Sexts, Texts and Selfies’, published by Penguin, is available on her website or in all good bookstores.

So how do you keep a watchful eye on your children’s internet use and ensure their cyber safety?

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SPRING 2015 17

your life It’s

Culture of care for mother

and babe...

HAVING a baby is one of the most life-changing experiences that can happen to a person. It can be exciting, scary and overwhelming all at once.

Giving birth is the just start of a lifetime of providing care, safety and nurturing to your child. As new parents there is so much to learn about the best ways to provide this care to your family.

St John of God Berwick recognises that post-delivery support is essential to any family embarking on their new life together and offers a number of services to help.

St John of God unit manager Joyce Coyle said that parents leaving the hospital with their new baby could rest assured that as a patient of St John of God they were well supported with many avenues for post-delivery care.

consultant who can assist with any issues, difficulties or tips during what can be a challenging time.

Physiotherapy post-natal group classes and one-on-one appointments are available for new mothers who p need some extra attention post-birth al and pelvic floor with abdominal exercises and recovery. New babies are d back for post-discharge also welcomed alth alt lth h checks. c checks ch weight and health The special care nursery provides are for babies who may very special care n hospital h spital once ho on nc ce need a longer stay in rge g d. d. Additional Add ddit dit itio tio onal nal support na supp su up pp por ort ort mum is discharged. rent re ntss iss a priority priior orit ity it y during d ri du r ng g for the new parents this time.

St John of God Raphael Services offer mental health care to families from conception until the child is four years of age. The friendly team of psychologists and psychiatrists are available to assist families who are experiencing anxiety, depression and other emotional difficulties. The team can help identify mental health issues, providing support strategies and table treatment en options for fo clientss suitable d their th i families. f ili and

Ms Coyle said St John of God Berwick Hospital was proud to offer such exceptional care to local families.

To experience it for yourself, tours run each Sunday at 1.30pm and Tuesday evenings at 8pm.

For further information on St John pital s Maternity of God Berwick Hospital’s e please call alll 9709 97 9 709 70 9 1400.

1 14 1400 40 400 00 0 St St John John J n Care, of God Raphael Services can be c contacted on 9707 3988.

“It’s what sets us apart. Our research has told us that this is what new mums are looking for – care and support once they get home,” she said.

“Our team is highly trained and available for new families throughout pregnancy, during their time in the maternity unit and then once they arrive back into their daily home life.

It’s a complete model of care.

St John of God Berwick Hospital offers settling and feeding support through a caring and experienced team of Lactation Consultants. New parents are welcome to return to the hospital for fo or on onee on eon-o -o one e ttime im me wi with th h a llactation acta ac ta ati tion on o n one-on-one

St John of God Maternity Unit Manager Joyce Coyle and mi midw m midwife idw dwif i e Shas ife Sh Shashi has a hi h R Rajamoney. ajjam aj amon am mon oney ey. e y.

18 SPRING 2015

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

your life It’s

n i a r b e h t r o f d o o f l a i t Essen

THERE is a shocking truth about Australian children that is unexpected for such a sport crazy country: our children are some of the least active in the world: 84% of school aged children fail to get one hour of physical activity a day; 75% of children aged two to four spend more than one hour in front of a television or computer daily and about 15 per cent have a screen in their bedroom.

As well as being essential to physical and emotional health, exercise has a significant role to play in the healthy development of your child’s brain and this affects your child’s ability to learn.

How well the brain develops is very dependent on the kinds of experiences and opportunities a child has from the moment they are born. While good nutrition and nurturing relationships are essential, movement also plays an important role. Dr Daniel Wolpert, a neuroscientist and engineer who studies how the brain controls the body, argues that the brain’s most important job is learn, refine and control movement, because everything we do is movement-based, even thinking.

When movement opportunities are reduced, the brain’s opportunity to learn and function to its potential capacity is considerably hampered.

HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO “GET ACTIVE”?

CHILDREN look to adults for guidance on many areas of life – including exercise. Research has shown that parents who make exercise a regular part of your day are more likely to have young children who are also physically active. The trick is to make exercise fun and make it look like you are having fun as well! The sooner you start, the better!

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

BABIES

BABIES need to move, because even early exploratory movements soon after birth affects how the brain wires itself.

■ Keep babies unwrapped and out of restrictive containers (like the car seat, pram, bouncer, etc.) for as much time as possible.

■ Keep hands and feet uncovered as much as possible to encourage movement.

■ Tummy time when awake is very important. Tummy time enables those inbuilt, initial exploratory movement patterns to help the baby feel their body moving against the surface of the mat or your own body.

This is the first step towards early independent movement.

■ Avoid any screen time at all. Babies and children less than two years of age learn far more from moving and interacting with the world around them.

TODDLERS AND PRE-SCHOOLERS ■ Toddlers need lots of opportunities to gain good balance so that later motor skills have a solid foundation on which to function. It’s hard to hop or skip or even sit still in a chair if your balance is poor!

■ Go for walks, encourage your toddler to balance along edges, planks, stepping stones and the like, and to run up and down grassy slopes.

Good balance is essential for automatic control of the body.

■ Put away that computer device and turn off the TV! Avoid screen time as much as possible. Limit it to a maximum of one hour a day. No time at all is better, but challenging to implement! If you do allow your toddler to watch a screen, choose an interactive show, such as Playschool – so children get up and dance and sing along.

PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN ACTIVE, healthy kids Australia report that only 19% of Australians aged 5-17 years and 15% of Australians aged 12-17 years, meet the recommended activity guidelines of accumulating at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. So how to encourage your primary schoolers to get active?

■ As for younger age groups, active parents encourage active children, so look for an activity you are happy to do with your children – start with a simple game of catch, or cricket in the back yard. Once you all feel more confident head out for a picnic to a local park with scooters or bicycles. Picnic near the playground equipment so children can still see you and you them while they play.

■ This age group will spend hours in a swimming pool playing. Make sure your children are swim safe – so lessons are essential first and they need to be supervised.

■ Monitor screen time. Restrict TV to the few favourite shows each day. Turn the TV off once they are finished.

Try to avoid having the TV on all the time.

TEENAGERS THE most active teenagers are those who grow up playing a sport and continue to do so during their teenage years. If your child is a reluctant exerciser and needs to be “dragged kicking and screaming” from a screen it’s definitely a challenge to get them active! Here are a few suggestions: ■ Start slowly. If you have a dog, make it the responsibility of the teenager in the house to walk the dog daily.

Even if they just amble along for 10 minutes, it’s exercise they would not have otherwise had! Gradually encourage a longer walk.

■ If watching TV try to build in some exercise when the commercials are on… make a game of it … who can do the most leg lifts in a row? How many push-ups can you do in the ad break?

■ Boys love to have muscles.

Encourage weight training – start with just their own body as the weight – push-ups, the plank, crunches etc. all build muscle bulk.

Dr Jane Williams (PhD) is the Director of Research and Education for GymbaROO and KindyROO.

SPRING 2015 19

your life It’s

Kara, Amaya, Tiahli and Gehan Dedigama enjoy a dip in the pool.

Play it safe around the pool Summer is just around the corner, but it’s never too early to get in the pool!

Swimming lessons are available at pools all year round, for people of all ages, and Paul Sadler, founder of Paul Sadler Swimland (PSS) encourages parents to start their kids young.

who participate in swimming lessons were likely to achieve more physical, cognitive and language milestones earlier than non-swimmers under the age of five.

“A child’s development during infancy is crucial for parents and teachers as it’s the time for setting foundations. At Swimland, we support this by teaching children swim survival skills which also reflect the areas of hand-eye co-ordination, colour recognition, letters, shape recognition, and language skills.”

Swimland’s new program is based on similar sentiment.

Mr Sadler said Swimland’s program called ’The Journey’ re-inforced the swim school’s approach to early childhood swimming.

1195733-KK35-15

Mr Sadler, an industry leader in swim survival education, said he was not surprised that a Griffith University Early Childhood Swimming Research Report found that infants from four months old

The report also stated that accidental drowning was the leading cause of death for children under five, and it provided an important insight for the Australian swim industry – in particular when setting skill standards for young age groups.

20 SPRING 2015

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Tips from Kidssafe Victoria on preventing drownings: Supervise â– Never take your eyes off children around water. â– Active supervision involves parents and carers keeping an eye on children at all times.

Do not expect older children to look after their younger siblings. Children have short attention spans and can be easily distracted. ■Remain within arm’s reach.

This will ensure that you can get to the child in time if something does go wrong. â– Take children with you if you leave the water area.

Reduce the hazard ■Restrict children’s access to water through safety barriers such as pool fencing.

The Swordy Tot program at Paul Sadler Swimland introduces little ones to the water in a fun and educational way.

â– Do not prop any doors or gates open that allow children access to a body of water.

By encouraging parents to actively celebrate their child’s achievements in the pool, the program highlights where recognition for hard work and motivation is due.

Water safety www.kidsafevic.com.au

Children begin their journey in the Swordy Tot program which introduces the little ones, aged four months to three years, to all the exciting adventures they can experience in the water.

â– Create a safe play area to separate your child from bodies of water such as swimming pools and dams.

This is especially important on farms and larger properties.

The classes are full of fun activities that focus on water awareness, mobility, safety and survival. The children have so much fun, they won’t even notice that they are tackling new and challenging things every lesson.

Knowledge â– Water familiarisation lessons can assist in teaching children to swim while also helping them understand water safety.

Parents or carers get to be in the water with their little one enjoying the bonding experience together and sharing some special one-on-one time.

It’s never too early to start swimming lessons.

Parents get to take home some tips on things they can do at home to help their child’s development and how to extend their learning from land into water through the use of colours, shapes, sounds and touch.

All swimmers in the Swordy Tot program take home an interactive

â– Enrol in a resuscitation course and update skills annually so you are able to respond in case of an emergency. â– Resuscitation posters are a good reminder to keep around pools and spas.

development chart to celebrate small successes with stickers as they gain new skills along the way.

Paul Sadler Swimland is having a free swimming lesson day on 1 October and would love for parents to come along and experience the

LIVE SCHOOL HOLIDAY SHOWS

fun and learning first hand. To book, please call (03) 8790 5540.

For more information on the programs please visit www. paulsadlerswimland.com or find them on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ swimlandaus

■Regular inspection and maintenance of your pool fence, including the gate, is essential to ensure that it is in proper working order. You can download Royal Life Saving’s Home Pool Safety Checklist at www.kidsafevic.com.au

O & LS IR G OYYYSSS G &BBBO LS& IRLS GIR

1195942-HM37-15

“Research shows that children who participate in water activities from a very young age benefit in many ways, and we like to think we are helping to make our swimmers smarter and more confident in all aspects of their lives,� Mr Sadler said.

â– Remove hazards such as pot plants and chairs well away from pool fences to avoid children climbing on to them and over the fence.

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reality bites

e l p tri the joy

Love, laughs and

They say three's a crowd, but for Rebecca Leeuw and her husband Jarrod three's the perfect company.

By LIA SPENCER WHEN the couple was told four years ago they would be having triplets, their initial reaction was to laugh.

Ms Leeuw got pregnant through IVF conception, with two embryos implanted, so she knew she had a high chance of having fraternal twins – but one of the eggs split meaning the couple would have a combination of fraternal and identical triplets.

“We found out at our six-week scan,” Ms Leeuw said. “Before we went through with the IVF I had a feeling we would end up with triplets, so when they said that was what we were having, we just laughed. What else can you do?”

Ms Leeuw’s pregnancy was relatively easy. She had no morning sickness but suffered from cholestasis and preeclampsia in the later stages, causing her to be itchy and swollen. She was wearing maternity clothes by 12 weeks, and looked full-term by 20 weeks.

At 31 weeks, she decided to go to the hospital on bed rest after suffering from a minor mishap with her couch.

“I got stuck in the couch!” she said.

“We had a modular couch and when one part moved out, my backside fell between the two parts of the couch and I couldn’t pull myself out!”

A large contingency of family, friends and even strangers helped the couple prepare for the triplets before their arrival.

Three’s company for siblings Talwin, Abigail and Temperence.

22 SPRING 2015

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reality bites

Life is crazy, busy, hectic,

and loud... but very rewarding...

“We are very lucky and got a lot of help from people preparing for the triplets’ arrival. Family purchased cots, clothes, nappies, a change table, and other things. I also had quite a large baby shower, so you can only imagine the amount of things we received.

We were incredibly overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity,” Ms Leeuw said.

“We also received donations of clothing from people we didn’t even know. People would hear about us having triplets and pass things along to us. We ended up with too many clothes, so have passed a lot of things on to other people over time.”

The Australian Multiple Birth Association (AMBA) also have agreements with a few companies to provide donations to all HOM (Higher Order Multiple – triplets, quads, quins) families. We were very fortunate and received donations from Huggies, Johnson&Johnson and Heinz. We also had support from Pfizer.”

At 33 weeks, Ms Leeuw had a caesarean and finally got to meet her babies, a beautiful baby boy Talwin Bastian, and identical girls Abigail Sage and Temperence Rose.

Jarrod and Rebecca with their triplets Talwin, Temperence and Abigail.

Multiples have a high risk of spending time in neo-natal intensive care (NICU) and special care nurseries, but luckily, the triplets only had to spend one week at Monash Hospital in NICU, before spending a couple more weeks at Dandeong Special Care.

housework. They also found great support from the Casey and District Multiple Birth Association.

“The nurses and doctors in NICU and SCN are incredible people and we can’t thank them enough for their help with our babies,” Ms Leeuw said.

“It’s wonderful being around people who understand what it is like to have multiples. They have an incredible playgroup that caters for families with multiples and I have made some fantastic friends there,” she said.

“We all enjoy a night out kid-free from time to time!”

Once at home, family and friends offered babysitting services, helped cook meals and helped out with

Ms Leeuw said the biggest obstacles when arriving back home was getting out of the house, navigating the large

pram through shops and dealing with curious people who were keen to take photos. But the benefits far outweighed the challenges.

“I get so much love from my kids.

I get lots and lots of cuddles and kisses.

I get to watch them interact and learn from an early age to share and care for someone else,” she said.

“Life is crazy, busy, hectic, and loud – but very rewarding. They are gorgeous kids who look out for each other. They love company, and they have fantastic little personalities.”

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SPRING 2015 23

reality bites

Rebecca Possamai, 34, suffered through morning sickness, was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and gave birth to her first born Kiara prematurely at 33 weeks. All were quite common problems associated with pregnancy and childbirth, but she never expected to be faced with the next challenge thrown at her and her husband Phil.

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24 SPRING 2015

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reality bites

By LIA SPENCER AFTER a week of having to be apart from Kiara, who was in special care, and feeling pressured to express enough milk to feed her new baby, a sleepdeprived Bec said her mind “went crazy”.

“I was sitting, holding my baby, and thought the nurses and I were kangaroos and I had to put Kiara in my pouch,” Bec said.

Phil tried to take Kiara when he saw Bec trying to put her into her pants, but when Bec refused, the nurses stepped in.

“The nurses had to force her off of me,” Bec said.

“They knew something was wrong with me and took me to emergency at Monash Hospital. When this happened, I thought back to when I was in a car accident and thought the same thing was happening again – but that my baby had died in it.”

After being admitted to the hospital, Bec was certain she was on the television series All Saints.

Bec’s husband was petrified watching his wife fall into an unfamiliar downward spiral.

Because she was unco-operative with medical staff, Bec was held down and sedated and spent four weeks in a psych ward where she was medicated and confused.

“I could only see my daughter for half an hour a day with supervision from a psych nurse. It made me feel like a monster. I never had thoughts of harming her, but I understand why I wasn’t allowed to see her,” Bec said.

“Phil would go to the special care nursery and feed her, then come back and spend time with me.”

After four weeks in the psych ward, Bec and Kiara spent three weeks in a Mother-Baby unit at Monash Hospital, where they had 24-hour care. After the psychotic feelings left, Bec battled depression.

Bec had a lot of visitors while in hospital but said most people did not realise or understand the depth of her condition.

“A lot of them don’t see psychosis as a chronic illness. People who were close to me thought it was depression.

It’s hard for people to understand because many people who suffer from it are silent about it,” she said.

“Some people think it stems from drug-use or a history of mental illness, but I never had any of that.”

Bec continued to see a psychologist and psychiatrist, but after six months, she went back into the mother-baby unit with depression.

A second bout of psychosis came in 2012, after Bec had a miscarriage.

“I started thinking Satan was going to get me and I was yelling and swearing at him to leave,” she said.

“My neighbours heard me screaming and called the police, but Phil told them he thought I had psychosis again.”

The paramedics took Bec to Casey Hospital, where she spent another three weeks. After she was discharged, she was supported by the Raphael Centre in Berwick, where she had psychology sessions.

Professionals from the Raphael Centre monitored Bec when she fell pregnant

The hope was that the electric currents through my brain would give it a ‘restart’ and get me out of the psychotic patterns…

a third time, and though the pregnancy went well, she again had psychosis five weeks after giving birth to her son Jett.

“It was a sudden onset. I became really scared of black things – I thought they were evil spirits,” she said.

Phil called the ambulance and took care of the children while Bec spent two more weeks in the psych ward. She refused to drink, eat or sleep and had to endure four rounds of electric conductive therapy, also known as shock treatment.

“The hope was that the electric currents through my brain would give it a ‘restart’ and get me out of the psychotic patterns.”

Bec then spent another four weeks in the Mother-Baby unit at Monash Hospital.

After being released she had to take

anti-depressants, mood stabilisers and an anti-psychotic. Bec and Phil have decided not to try for any more children after doctors warned she could suffer psychosis again and may never come out of it.

Bec has now stopped taking medication and said she feels great.

Besides spending time with her living family, Bec works as a doula to give support to pregnant women.

“Considering what I have been though, I can relate to different people’s circumstances,” she said.

“I think anyone who has had a baby knows how strong a woman is. I am so proud of women – they are so strong and amazing. I think every woman is a warrior.”

For more information on Bec’s doula services visit: www. byyoursidedoulaservices.com.au

Phil and Bec with the kids Jett and Kiara.

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

SPRING 2015 25

reality bites

Family MAKES

miracle

happen Renee and Shannon have a special bond with Charlotte.

By LIA SPENCER FIVE years ago, 23-year-old Jessica Truong was 27-weeks pregnant when she suffered a traumatic loss that ultimately changed the rest of her life. But thanks to her cousin Renee Carter, Jessica has been able to find happiness after devastation.

“Jessica’s baby girl Cara was born sleeping and Jessica had a partial hysterectomy. She almost lost her life,” Renee said.

“She awoke from surgery to a sleeping baby and the news that she could not carry another baby.

Jessica’s ovaries were saved. The surgeon mentioned to Jessica she may still have a family if they found a surrogate.”

To help a family become a family is amazing...

26 SPRING 2015

Almost three months after the devastating news, Renee and her husband Shannon, who together had two children Mikayla and Olivia, decided they wanted to help.

“After a lot of talking, Shannon and I offered to help Jessica and Hung start their family by carrying their baby. Shannon and I wanted to be completely committed before offering so we spoke a lot with our kids and our families,” Renee said.

“I had no apprehensions in helping them. Shannon was as excited as I to start the journey and was very supportive. All our family was so proud of what we were doing and Jessica’s family were incredibly thankful.”

Shannon and Renee had to attend counselling, psychology and legal appointments for 12 months before going through IVF. “The surrogacy involved Jessica’s eggs and Hung’s sperm so the baby is 100 per cent their DNA,” Renee said.

“The implant took place on 26 November, 2011.”

Fortunately, Renee fell pregnant straight away and Jessica’s dream of having a baby was becoming a reality.

“We were so excited and grateful that we were successful on the first embryo transfer and that all of the work that all of us had done to get there had finally paid off,” Jessica said.

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

reality bites

Renee and Jessica with Charlotte, shortly after she was born.

A family with a special bond. Shannon, Renee, Jessica and Hung with Mikayla, Olivia and Charlotte.

Olivia holding Gwendoline, Charlotte and Mikayla holding Lia.

“I remember telling them with tears in my eyes that it was happening. It was the final leg of the journey.”

“It wasn’t hard for me to leave the hospital without a baby in my arms because I knew what I had done to help my cousin and her husband start their family,” Renee said.

Though Jessica was unable to carry her baby, she was very much involved.

“Jessica was amazing. She ran the pregnancy.

Any appointments I needed to be at, Jessica would organise and tell me to be there. She was always checking on me to see how I was and to let her know if I needed anything. I wanted this to be Jessica’s pregnancy. I was the incubator – that’s all,” Renee said.

“She felt the baby kick the first time at the doctors, it was awesome. I would also send videos of my belly moving to her.”

The baby was due on 20 August, but the doctors decided the safest option was for Renee to deliver the baby by an elective caesarean on 9 August.

Dr Davis Simon delivered a beautiful and healthy 6 pound 13 ounce baby girl, Charlotte Thao Truong – the first baby born by surrogate at the Warragul Hospital.

Charlotte and Gwendoline.

Shannon handed her to Jessica, and Renee met Charlotte a few hours later. Renee was given tablets to stop her milk from coming in and Jessica was given medication to help produce milk, allowing her to breastfeed her own daughter.

“Jessica and I have become very close after this journey, and though there is no maternal connection, Charlotte and I have our own special bond.”

While Renee and Shannon thought they were done having children, they got a big surprise a couple years later.

“My husband and I thought that we were finished having children, but last year around August we started talking about having another baby. Then in September, I was pregnant with our own third baby.

We had only begun talking about having another baby, but nature made the decision for us.”

Gwendoline Ruby Carter was born on 30 June, weighing 10 pound 11 ounces.

Jessica and Hung also had another daughter, Lia, in December 2014, born to another surrogate. Renee said she did not plan to have any more children of her own, but would not rule out being a surrogate again.

“To help a family become a family is amazing,” she said. “Jessica and Hung are on amazing couple and Shannon and I were so glad to be able to do what we did for them.”

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NORTH CASEY For a full description of school holiday classes, venues, after school classes, birthday parties and to register online, please visit our website at www.bricks4kidzaustralia.com.au/NC

1195014-KK35-15

1196274-37-15

Contact Belinda Cammell on 0400 125 714 or bcammell@bricks4kidz.com

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

SPRING 2015 27

around town

On a clear day you can ...

play forever!

Children across Cardinia Shire and the City of Casey sprang into action when the rain cleared up and the sun came out. We asked you to send us pictures of your kids or grandhcildren enjoying the warm weather throughout the region. If you have pictures you want to share for our next edition, send us an inbox message on our Casey Cardinia Kids Facebook page!

nry Road

Deacon and Macoy enjoying the mini train ride by Lysterfield Lake with their mum.

for a swing near He Sienna and Jaden go ir dad. in Pakenham with the

Noah feeds a deer at Myuna Farm.

at Nineteen-month-old Mikayla th.

Sou ren War re Nar in k a par

28 SPRING 2015

Olivia, Tyler and Eden at Myuna Farm.

A young five-month-old Chloe has her first swing.

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Jack takes a time ou t from playing at The Old Cheese Fa ctory in Berwick to smile for the came ra.

ing joyed the face paint Corey and Jessy en t. rke Ma ’ ers rm Fa at the Casey-Berwick

Four-year-old Lily enjoys tree

climbing at Emerald Lake Park

.

at the Ariana shows off her pretty face ity mun Com a Ball a market at the Ball tre.

Cen

Liam has a play at The Old Cheese Factory in Be rwick.

Scarlett Rose celebrat es her second birthday at a park in Lynbrook.

rald Lake Park.

Jaxon takes a time out at Eme

ren Emily and Max Jessica and her child ly.

Bil g ffin Pu have fun on www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Olivia is all smiles at Gate Park.

Fountain

SPRING, 2015 29

Education

Site opens new

class of savings

By LIA SPENCER AN EDUCATION is priceless. But if you can get it at a discounted price, it’s a bargain.

And everyone loves a bargain.

People wait for hours in line to get their hands on a great Boxing Day sale. They get into bidding wars for a second-hand item on eBay or pinch their pennies by being buyer savvy at thrift shops.

But now parents wanting a great education for their children – without paying an arm and a leg – can get that, too, thanks to a new website launched last year.

Similar to the Wotif website, where last-minute hotel rooms can be purchased at a reduced rate, School Places is a two-sided, online marketplace that matches a school’s last-minute, unexpected vacancies with parents looking for an enrolment at a non-government school.

The website has gained national attention, attracting more than 30 schools in Victoria, and over 90 schools nation-wide. To date, it has delivered over $21 million in potential enrolment revenues.

School Places CEO Natalie Mactier said the website had been extremely popular as it provided benefits to both the parents and the school.

“By offering a short-term discount on the tuition fee, the parent is incentivised to fill the spot quickly and the school is able to maximise revenue by filling a seat within a classroom that would otherwise be vacant,” she said.

“Schools benefit because the additional revenue is invested back into

the school community and can go towards additional resources and helping to moderate school fees in the future. It’s great for the entire school community.”

The website was the brainchild of Jeremy Wein, whose family have been involved in independent education for years. His father was on the board of a Jewish school in Melbourne and his mother was a teacher. Two years ago, a conversation between Mr Wein and his parents sparked the idea for the School Places website.

“His parents were speaking about their family and friends struggling to cope with rising school fees. (Jeremy) was thinking if a school’s seat goes empty, the school loses revenue for that vacancy. On the flip side, parent struggle to keep up with education fees,” Ms Mactier said.

“He put two and two together and came up with a way schools can offer short-term financial incentives to fill a seat and to optimise revenue.”

Mr Wein and his father pitched the idea to Paul Bassat of Square Peg, who also co-founded Seek.com. He loved the idea and approached Ms Mactier, who used to work for Seek.com. She came on board as CEO shortly after, and the website was launched in April last year.

“I wasn’t at all surprised by how popular the website was. I expected it to go well because it is a really unique idea,” she said.

“It’s not just about last minute discounts, it’s also about providing parents with a level of transparency that doesn’t normally exist. If you are looking for schools for your child, there’s not really a service to see what school

has a vacancy. It’s very time consuming to call every school. Then you have to apply for schools and wait.

It’s very old fashioned. On School Places, parents can register their details and receive automated information (about vacancies and discounts). There are currently about 6000 parents on our database.”

While the benefits are two-fold, there are also a few drawbacks.

“It really is for last minute vacancies.

If parents have multiple children, not all of them may get a spot at the school.

It’s also more catered to parents who are willing to move their children to the school last minute,” she said.

“What we are finding is this website is perfect for parents who have a child in a public school, who have planned or intended to move them to a private school, but haven’t registered them early enough.”

The discounts range from 10 per cent to 50 per cent, and the discount duration ranges from one year to six years.

Ms Mactier said School Places was set to attract even more parents and schools in the future.

“We are constantly meeting with schools every week. We have a lot of schools in the pipeline, many who are just trying to work out what vacancies they have,” she said.

“I would suggest interested parents register their details on our website as soon as possible, and we can feed the vacancies to them as they become open.”

For more information visit:www. schoolplaces.com.au

Sending your child to a private school just got easier.

School Places is the only way to find & claim a discounted place at one of Australia’s leading private schools.

Already enroled? Find out how School Places can benefit you.

30 SPRING 2015

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Education

Eager for the challenge ahead MORE than 100 Year 9 students from local schools will get a taste of university life during a two-month program organised by the City of Casey and Monash University Berwick campus.

The 2015 Monash University Casey Challenge, which kicked off on 11 August, will allow students to experience university life by spending time on campus, meeting some of the faculty representatives, attending lectures and completing an assignment in teams on the theme of ’what makes a great city’.

Speaking at the program launch, City of Casey mayor Mick Morland said it was wonderful to see so many eager faces ready to tackle the challenge ahead.

“For many of you university might seem like the distant future, for others, university might not be a path that interests you. However once you have completed this program, you will have a greater understanding of the

opportunities accessible through further education,” he said.

“You will attend lectures and tutorials, be required and supported by your teachers to conduct independent research for your assignment and will be responsible for your own time management. This program is designed to challenge your way of thinking and will encourage you to extend your capabilities.

“You are the future of our city, and it is important that you have every opportunity to develop yourselves as individuals.”

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The program will culminate in the students presenting their assignments

before a panel of judges, with the winning team to be awarded the Monash University Casey Challenge Cup.

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

SPRING 2015 31

Education

ONE of Australia’s highest profile psychologists advised parents on how they can help their children transition from primary to secondary school at a special forum in July.

By LIA SPENCER

MORE than 100 people attended the City of Casey’s free parenting forum with key-note speaker Dr Michael Carr-Gregg. A renowned child and adolescent psychologist who is passionate about adolescent mental health, technology and education, Dr Carr-Gregg is an author of eight books, many specialising in the area of parenting adolescents and adolescent mental health.

City of Casey mayor Mick Morland said the forum was invaluable for parents or carers of young people aged between nine and 15 years old, providing them with the opportunity to gain relevant information about what changes young people faced during adolescence, the transition from primary school to high school and strategies to best support this time.

Parents who were unable to attend the forum can find several resources online. Betterhealth.com.au has outlined 10 tips for parents to help their child prepare for high school.

They are to be positive and enthusiastic. “Your child is more likely to look forward to starting high school if you’re positive about it,“ it states.

The second is to attend orientation events. “Most high schools offer an open day in the second semester where Grade 6 students and their parents can attend, meet teachers and tour the facilities.”

The third is to find a school buddy for your child. “This may be a neighbour’s child or an older playmate. Some high schools have their own ‘buddy system’, where older children at the school look out for new students.”

32 SPRING 2015

Fourth is to understand the school routine. “Being familiar with timetables, scheduled breaks and start or finish times can help your child to know what to expect from their school day.”

Fifth is to be prepared ahead of time.

“Involve your child in getting their books, uniform and travel pass organised well in advance of their start date, so they feel reassured and don’t have to worry.”

Sixth is to visit the school over the Christmas holidays, if possible. “Stroll around the grounds to familiarise your child with the location of the toilets, office, lockers and sports facilities.”

Seventh is to figure out the travel route. “Talk with your child about how they will get to and from school, and explore the route with them a few times before they start.”

Eighth is to practise travelling to and from school. “If they’re walking or catching public transport, go with your child or arrange someone else to accompany them until they are confident travelling on their own.”

Ninth is to have an emergency safety plan. “Be clear about who your child should contact and what you expect them to do in an emergency. Be calm and matter-of-fact about issues such as crossing major roads on their own or catching public transport if you are unable to arrange a lift for them.“ Tenth is to encourage your child to talk about their feelings. “They may be anxious about making the transition to high school or they may experience difficulties settling in once they start.

Reassure them that it’s normal to have mixed feelings about starting a new school.”

City of Casey community services director Greg Wood, City of Casey mayor Mick Morland, Casey Youth Action Committee member Sarah Dunstan, Dr Michael Carr-Gregg and City of Casey youth and family services manager Colette McMahon.

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

’ S L O O H C S

Education

RS A E R I E H T IS MUSIC TO STUDENTS across the City of Casey have been busy preparing for a musical spectacular like no other to be held this month (September).

showcases the artistic talents of Casey’s young people, encourages them to take part in extra-curricular activities and helps strengthen their connection to the school community, make new friends and develop important skills like team work.“

Well-known entertainer Tim Campbell will host 2015 Schools on Stage on Thursday 10 September, presented by the City of Casey, and performed by students from seven local schools.

Entertainer Tim Campbell, who will host the event for the fifth year, is an all-round entertainer best known for his roles in Home and Away and House Husbands, but has also graced the stage in many musical theatre shows including Rent, Shout! and Wicked.

The students will take to the stage to perform two songs from their musical production, battling it out in the hopes of being crowned the 2015 Schools on Stage champions.

As an added bonus this year, Tim will be opening the show singing live to Footloose with students from Gleneagles Secondary College dancing in the background.

City of Casey mayor Mick Morland said this was an event not to be missed.

“This event will take you on a musical rollercoaster ride with much-loved songs from the likes of The Lion King to Les Miserables. Tap your feet and groove along in your seat to the high energy songs from Hairspray and meet The Cat in the Hat during the rendition of Seussical,“ Cr Morland said.

Schools on Stage will be held on Thursday 10 September at 7.30 pm at Hillcrest Theatre, 500 Soldiers Road, Clyde North.

To purchase tickets visit www. trybooking.com/hvup, or for more information visit www.casey.vic.gov. au/youth.

“The council is proud to host this event each year which celebrates and

The Seussical the Musical main cast from Hillcrest Christian College in costume and character.

Picture: Contributed

Australia’s Favourite Steam Train DAY OUT WITH

FAMILY

THOMAS

FUN

Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends visit Puffing Billy’s Emerald Town Station in Autumn and Spring.

Tickets are now on sale for the Spring season!

Book online now!

Puffing Billy travels through the Dandenong Ranges from Belgrave every day except Christmas Day. Step back in time with family and friends and have a great day out! Dangle your legs over the side of the open-sided carriages and take that magical photo as the train crosses the historic Trestle Bridge.

Discounted family fares are available from $104 (valid for up to two adults and up to four children).

SANTA CLAUS is coming to…

PUFFING BILLY! Santa returns in November and December for the popular Santa Specials. Every child receives a gift from Santa!

Seats are selling fast so book now.

Telephone 9757 0700 www.puffingbilly.com.au/cckids 1195774-LB35-15

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

SPRING 2015 33

Games and gadgets

These

are a few of our

favourite things

By LIA SPENCER

It’s hard to narrow down mine and Isla’s favourite things, but I selected a few of the items that are high on the list.

They are either a playtime staple, a sentimental treasure, special gifts or a parenting saviour.

❮

My husband and I bought Isla this teepee for her first birthday. I loved the girly fabric and huge cushions.

Isla spends a lot of her play time hanging out in the teepee with her stuffed toys and tea sets, and it’s almost become a favourite with her cousins and friends.

❮

The rocking horse, from Kmart, is a fun toy which matches her teepee and gets just as much use.

34 SPRING 2015

www.caseycardiniak www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

❮

❮

I absolutely love this camera. It was recommended to me by my sister-inlaw who is an amazing photographer.

I bought it right before Isla was born and have taken a bazillion photos with it since.

Love You Forever,

by Robert Munsch is my ALL TIME favourite childhood book. When I was pregnant with Isla I received two copies, which is perfect because I am sure we will read it so much we will need a back-up with all the wear and tear!

❮

The pendant was given to me by my dad as a Christmas gift. He got a footprint from my daughter and sent it to the jewellery maker. I put it on a leather Pandora bracelet, which I wear with me everywhere.

❮

❮

The iPad. I am not against having a tiny bit of screen time when necessary But to be honest, filled with Peppa Pig programs, puzzles or games, the iPad is a lifesaver when on road trips or planes! (Just make sure to have a good iPad cover, as my screen is looking a little worse for wear).

This temperature gauge is a lifesaver. It’s better than the ones you put in the mouth or under the arm of the baby. It’s quick, simple and accurate and a lifesaver when your little one is feeling sick.

The Maraca was a gift to Isla from her Auntie, who visited Mexico on a holiday. Isla is too young to appreciate the cultural aspect of the gift, but does love giving it a workout during Taylor Swift’s Shake it Off.

❮

❮ ❮ The hand was given to me by Isla on my first Mother’s Day. She made it with the help of the amazing staff at her creche. I had made a similar one for my mum when I was 5-years-old, and she still has it hanging on her wall. www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Isla can’t go to sleep without her beloved Ellie the elephant.

She received it on her baptism day, and hasn’t left its side since (except for the sneaky washes we give it, and the one time we got into a panic when we left it at creche overnight).

SPRING 2015 35

Games and gadgets

Coco, from Berwick, shows off a snowman she made at A Winters Tale reading event.

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

A WHOPPING 300 people are joining the libraries in Casey and Cardinia every week to get their hands on their favourite book, take part in an exciting program or enjoy an exciting event.

There were 2.8 million book loans, 1.8 million visits and over 95,000 information inquires to the CaseyCardinian Library Corporation during the 2013/14 year. There are currently an impressive 113,117 members of the Casey-Cardinia Library Corporation, with 16,468 of them joining in the last 12 months – averaging about 316 new members every week.

Pru Menzies, customer services manager of the Casey-Cardinia Library Corporation, said the growing population was taking advantage of borrowing for free.

Other popular programs and events held at the local libraries include Story Time, introduction to meditation, library adventures club, Library Explorers and Adventures clubs, teen book group, school holiday programs and the newly introduced Tinies Time and Babytime.

“Traditionally most public libraries have provided storytimes for preschoolers, as they are always popular.

Last year we had 13,284 children and their parent or carers. But in recent years we’ve expanded to provide Tinies Times – a rhyme and booksharing session for toddlers, with 17,744 attending last year with their parent or carers,” Ms Menzies said.

“This year at some of our libraries we introduced Babytime sessions for babies aged 0-12 months and their parents to

attend a series of six-weekly early literacy courses; this is because reading to children is so important, even just 10 minutes a day will help children become a good reader.”

There are several libraries to choose from in both Casey and Cardinia, with ones located at Cranbourne, Doveton, Emerald, Endeavour Hills, Hampton Park, Narre Warren and Pakenham and a Cardinia Mobile Library providing weekly service to Bunyip, Cockatoo, Garfield, Gembrook, Kooweerup, Lang Lang, Maryknoll, Tynong and Upper Beaconsfield.

“Libraries are open and welcoming to all – they are safe and one of the only community spaces that are for all ages to enjoy,“ Ms Menzies said. “We say from cradle to grave.“

“Lots of new residents are moving into our region, but also because library membership and borrowing is free,” she said.

“There’s not much else you can get for free these days – so why not join your public library.”

Ms Menzies said memberships also allowed people to download reading material.

“We think some people have embraced the new technologies and pay to download their e-books, but why would you pay for them when libraries provide them and you can download free e-books, e-audiobooks, e-magazines, music etc, using your library card.“ Some of the most popular genres include ’chick lit’ for women and manga and graphic novels for teenagers.

“Chick lit has been popular with women readers for several years, but more recently Australian rural romances have taken off; we call this genre ’Chook Lit’,“ Ms Menzies said.

By LIA SPENCER

36 SPRING 2015

“Many teenagers are devouring Manga and graphic novels – we have a popular Manga club for teen fans of Manga and Anime one Friday a month at our Endeavour Hills Library.“

Wendy from the Cranbourne Library reads to the children. www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

s id K ia in d r a C y e s a C

Pop in before you pop out

Lollipops Playland and Café

Open everyday 9.30am - 6.00pm Friday 9.30am - 8.00pm LIKE US ON

!

Website: www.fountaingate.lollipopsplayland.com.au W

Australia’s favourite kids indoor play centre Serving Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Kids Party Specialists Fundraising Events VIP unlimited entry Private Hire

Pop by and check us out.

Visit www.sjog.org.au/berwick for weekly maternity tour and monthly info session dates

Present this voucher for Buy 1 get 1 FREE

Gibb St, Berwick 3806 www.sjog.org.au/berwick Ph: 9709 1400

www.cclc.vic.gov.au

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family fun

The BEST GIFT you can give your child is a FREE Library Card!

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Brechin Drive Narre Warren P: 9705 9655

y pla

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, co m Come for a party

ra e fo

Fountain Gate

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connects families living d n a y e s a C f o y it C e in th the Cardinia Shire with people, businesses and organisations related to raising children.

Call 1300 946 337

(valid for up to two adults and up to four children).

Providing family day care for over 10 years.

www.puffingbilly.com.au/cckids

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Family day care in Casey and Cardinia

Discounted family fares are available from $104

Family FUN @ Casey pools &DOO 12: WR ÛQG RXW PRUH

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

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SPRING 2015 37

Games and gadgets

Libraries filled with ideas to inspire...

Popular books to read to young children: ■ Spot series by Eric Hill ■ Possum Magic by Mem Fox ■ Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy by Lynley Dodd ■ Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French ■ Where is the Green Sheep by Mem Fox ■ The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle ■ The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson ■ The Wrong Book by Nick Bland

Popular junior fiction: ■ Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney ■ 13-Storey, 26-Storey, 39-Storey and 65-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton ■ Dork Diaries series by Rachel Renee Russell ■ Geronimo and Thea Stilton series by Elisabetta Dami ■ The Australian Girl series by various authors

WHY not head to your local library and bury your head in one of these popular books this spring?

■ Rainbow Magic series by Daisy Meadows

Popular young adult fiction: ■ Paper Towns by John Green ■ Divergent series by Veronica Roth ■ The Fault in our Stars by John Green ■ Looking for Alaska by John Green ■ The Maze Runner by James Dashner ■ Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella ■ Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins *List compiled by Casey-Cardinia Library Corporation*

Kids have a LOT to love at the Library!

From Songs, Rhymes and Storytimes for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers, to Explorers’ and Adventurers’ Book Clubs, Lego Club, Playstation and X-box games and holiday activities for school kids ...

To ... Books, magazines, CDs, DVDs, WiFi, Touch Screen games and puzzles, homework help, study resources, online resources to read, stream or download 24/7... and a whole lot more!

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Psst ... Mums and Dads love it too because it’s all FREE with a library card. Join NOW!

38 SPRING 2015

Casey-Cardinia Libraries: Cranbourne - 5990 0100 Doveton - 9792 9497 Emerald 5949 4600 Endeavour Hills - 8782 3400 Hampton Park - 8788 8500 Narre Warren - 8782 3300 Pakenham and Cardinia Mobile - 5940 6200 www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

September Mini Maestros, 7, 14 and 21 September, 9.30am10.10am, Lynbrook Community Centre, Corner of Lynbrook Boulevard and Harris Street, Lynbrook.

Cost $7, lynbrookcc@casey.vic.gov.au, 9792 7370.

Playdaze Playgroup event, 9 September, 10am-noon, Arthur Wren Hall, 16-20 Stuart Avenue, Hampton Park, free, 9705 5200.

Bollywood dancing for kids, 10 and 17 September, 5pm-6.30 pm, Lynbrook Community Centre, corner of Lynbrook Boulevard and Harris Street, Lynbrook, www.casey.vic.gov.au/lynbrookcc, 9792 7370 Schools on Stage, 10 September, 7.30pm-10pm, 500 Soldiers Road, Clyde North, cost $8, www.casey. vic.gov.au/lynbrookcc, 9792 7370.

Lakeside College presents Ratbags, 11 September 7pm, 12 September 2pm, Cardinia Cultural Centre, Lakeside Boulevard, tickets CCC website.

OzChild Information Night For Prospective Carers, 15 September, 6.30pm-8pm Balla Balla Community Centre, 65 BerwickCranbourne Road, Cranbourne East, free, fostercarerecruitment@ozchild.org.au, www.ozchild. org.au/, 9212 3900.

Lakeside College Prep open morning: Tuesday 15 September, 9am-10am, Lakeside College, 2 Portobello Road, Pakenham, www.lakeside.vic.edu.au Doveton Show, 20 September, 10am-4pm, Myuna Farm, 182 Kidds Road, Doveton, gold coin donation, Doveton Show Committee, info@dovetonshow.org.au

Green Events: Worm Farming For Kids, 24 September, 10am-12.30pm, Wilson Botanic Park, 668 Princes Highway, Berwick, $35 bookings essential - must be made by Thursday 17 September, City of Casey, 9705 5200.

Day out with Thomas – Puffing Billy, 17, 18, 24 and 25 October. Session times: 9.30am,10.45am, 12.15pm,1.45pm, costs and ticket information www.puffingbilly.com.au

Bollywood dancing for kids, Thursday 24 September, 10am-noon, Lynbrook Community Centre, Corner of Lynbrook Boulevard and Harris Street, Lynbrook, cost $10, www.casey.vic.gov.au/lynbrookcc, 9792 7370.

November

Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne: Junior ranger, 25 September, 10am-11am, corner of Ballarto Road and Botanic Drive, Cranbourne, suitable for kids aged 6-12, cost $7.40, Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne 5990 2200.

Morehu Multicultural Day, 26 September, 9am-4pm, Akoonah Park Reserve.

Cardinia Street, Berwick, a free multicultural event.

Green Events: Vegetable Growing For Kids Workshop, 30 September, 10am-12.30pm Myuna Farm, 182 Kidds Road, Doveton, cost $25, bookings essential, call customer service, 9705 5200.

Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne: Wildflower fairy and elf day, 30 September, 10am-2pm, Corner of Ballarto Road and Botanic Drive, Cranbourne, cost $10.60, Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, 5990 2200.

October

Green events: Crochet for Kids, 21 September-28 September, 10am, Wilson Botanic Park, 668 Princes Highway, Berwick. There is a cost. Call customer service 9705 5200.

Bollywood dancing for kids, 1 October 10am-noon and 15 October, 5pm-6.30pm, Lynbrook Community Centre, corner of Lynbrook Boulevard and Harris Street, Lynbrook, cost $10, www.casey.vic.gov.au/ lynbrookcc, 9792 7370.

Kids cooking, 21 and 28 September, 10am-11am, Lynbrook Community Centre, corner of Lynbrook Boulevard and Harris Street, Lynbrook 3975, cost $10, www.casey.vic.gov.au/lynbrookcc, 9792 7370.

Arts and crafts for kids, 7-28 October, 10am-10.45 am, Lynbrook Community Centre, corner of Lynbrook Boulevard and Harris Street, Lynbrook, cost $10, www.casey.vic.gov.au/lynbrookcc, 9792 7370.

Origami for kids, 21 and 28 September, 1pm-3pm, Lynbrook Community Centre, corner of Lynbrook Boulevard and Harris Street, Lynbrook, cost $10, lynbrookcc@casey.vic.gov.au, www.casey.vic.gov. au/lynbrookcc, 9792 7370.

Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne: Elves and fairies in bloom, 22 September, 10am-11am, and 24 September, 7pm-9pm, corner of Ballarto Road and Botanic Drive, Cranbourne, cost $7.40 per child, Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne 5990 2200.

Arts and crafts for kids, 23 and 30 September, 10am-10.45am, Lynbrook Community Centre, corner of Lynbrook Boulevard and Harris Street, Lynbrook, cost $10, lynbrookcc@casey.vic.gov.au, www.casey. vic.gov.au/lynbrookcc, 9792 7370.

Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne: Night Prowl, 23 September, 7pm-9pm, corner of Ballarto Road and Botanic Drive, Cranbourne, cost $17 adult, $12.80 child/concession, Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, 5990 2200.

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Emerald Community House Playgroup, every Thursday in October, 9.30am-11.30am, Child Care Centre, Emerald Community House, 356-58 BelgraveGembrook Road, Emerald, www. emeraldcommunityhouse.org.au Diwali celebration, 10 October, 6pm-7pm, Lynbrook Community Centre Corner of Lynbrook Boulevard and Harris Street, Lynbrook, www.casey.vic.gov.au/lynbrookcc, 9792 7370.

Total Fitness Day, 11 October, 10am-2pm, Oakgrove Community Centre 89-101 Oakgrove Drive, Narre Warren South, gold coin, nik_kyriacou85@outlook. com, 0413 162 619.

Pakenham Blue Light Disco, 16 October, 6.30pm-9pm, cost $5, www.bluelight.org.au 2015 Cranbourne GP Run, 17 October, 8.15am-11am, Corner High and Sladen streets, Cranbourne.

Emerald Community House Playgroup, every Thursday in November, 9.30am-11.30am, Child Care Centre, Emerald Community House, 356-58 BelgraveGembrook Road, Emerald, www. emeraldcommunityhouse.org.au Bunyip Flower Show, 7 November, 9.30am-3pm, cost $5, children free, Bunyip Hall, Main Street, Bunyip.

Kids cooking, 9 November, 4.30pm-6pm, Lynbrook Community Centre, corner of Lynbrook Boulevard and Harris Street, Lynbrook, cost $10, www.casey.vic.gov. au/lynbrookcc, 9792 7370.

Music on the Grass, 15 November, noon-4.30pm Kooweerup Community Garden, Kooweerup Regional Health Service, 215-35 Rossiter Road, Kooweerup, www.kooweeruphospital.net.au Narre Warren North Primary School Car Show, 21 November, 8am-2pm, Akoonah Park Centre, 2 Cardinia Street, Berwick, gold coin, aksharon72@ gmail.com, 9796 9967.

Day out with Thomas - Puffing Billy, 7, 8, 14, 15 November, session times 9.30am, 10.45am, 12.15pm, 1.45pm, costs and ticket information www. puffingbilly.com.au

Markets Akoonah Park Market – every Sunday, 8am-1.30pm, Akoonah Park, Berwick.

Bunyip Community Market and Car Boot Sale, 27 September, 25 October, 29 November, 9am-2pm, Bunyip Recreation Reserve, corner Nar Nar Goon Road, Bunyip.

Casey Berwick Farmers’ Market, 26 September, 8am-12.30pm, The Old Cheese Factory, 34 Homestead Road, Berwick.

Cockatoo Country Market, 3 October, 7 November, 9am-2pm, Alma Treloar Reserve, Pakenham Road, Cockatoo.

Emerald Market, 20 September, 18 October, 15 November, 9am-3pm, Kilvington Drive, Emerald.

Farmers’ Market@The Old Cheese Factory, 12 September, 8am-12.30 pm, The Old Cheese Factory, 34 Homestead Road, Berwick.

Gembrook Market, 27 September, 9am-2pm, 22 November, Gembrook Station, 60 Main Street, Gembrook.

Kooweerup Market, 6 September, 4 October, 1 November, 8am-1.30pm, Kooweerup Community Centre, Cochrane Park, Rossiter Road, Kooweerup.

Pakenham Community Market, 20 September, 18 October, 15 November, 9am-3pm, Pakenham Football Club, Toomuc Reserve, Princes Highway, Pakenham.

SPRING 2015 39

FREE ANIMAL ADVENTURES Week One TUESDAY 22nd SEPTEMBER FREE PONY RIDES 11am – 2pm WEDNESDAY 23rd SEPTEMBER FREE PONY RIDES 11am – 2pm THURSDAY 24th SEPTEMBER WILDLIFE ADVENTURES 11am – 2pm FRIDAY 25th SEPTEMBER WILDLIFE ADVENTURE 11am – 2pm

Week Two TUESDAY 29th SEPTEMBER MINI-FARM 11am – 2pm WEDNESDAY 30th SEPTEMBER MILKING DEMONSTRATION 11am – 2pm

OLIDAYS

HOOL H C S E S E H T N U F E FURRY

FRE

THURSDAY 1st OCTOBER FREE CAMEL RIDES 11am – 3pm FRIDAY 2nd OCTOBER FREE CAMEL RIDES 11am – 3pm

1195299-LN36-15

40 SPRING 2015

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au