Yarra Ranges Kids Winter 2017

THINGS TO DO & PLACES TO GO FOR FAMILIES

bri ngi ng up

great ki ds

The

babes Project: your pregnancy lifeline

snow DAYS

WINTER 2017

A Mail News Group Publication

about us . . .

A warm

winter welcome HELLO! I am so excited to be part of the Yarra Ranges Kids team bringing you this edition.

You may be familiar with the wise words of Lia Spencer, who has overseen the magazine from its first issue.

Congratulations are in order as Lia welcomed her beautiful baby boy, Louis, in May. No doubt Lia will have lots to share come spring about her experiences as a newly-minted mum-of two.

I’ve got a toddler and a baby myself, so I am deep in the early parenting trenches of nappies, toilet training, food-throwing, spoon-feeding, tantrums and disrupted sleep. It has been a pleasure to take a brief break from it all and come in to work!

This edition is packed with great advice and some amazing real-life stories.

We bust the Federal Budget on page 4, breaking down all the boring filler and bringing you exactly what you need to know about changes to child care, the Family Tax Benefit and medical expenses.

If you want help to become a better parent - for free - head to page 8 to learn more about the Bringing up Great Kids program. Learn more about the amazing work of local crisis pregnancy support centre, The Babes Project, on page 12, and if you are preparing to send a child to Secondary College, check out the tips to help you make a great start on page 19.

Yarra Ranges Kids magazine is a Mail News Group publication.

Yarra Ranges Kids will be published quarterly prior to each of the school holidays.

Yarra Ranges Kids 244 Maroondah Highway, Healesville, Vic 3777 Phone: 5957 3700 Fax: 5957 3777

or bub snug all night on pages 20-21.

We have the inspiring story of little Aria on page 20, and the story of a local blended family of 12 children (and no dishwasher) on page 24.

If you have ever given birth or know someone that has, you need to read Shauna’s story on page 27 - an important story about postnatal health, its long-term implications and the devastating effects of mesh implants.

We’ve also got a huge range of winter events on the Calendar - page 31. Don’t forget to keep in touch with us on Facebook - we’ve always got exciting giveaways, local news and the latest family friendly events to help you keep the winter blues at bay. Enjoy!

Editorial Jade Glen jade@yarrarangeskids.com.au Phone: 5945 0666 Advertising Tracey Aitken tracey.aitken@mailnewsgroup.com.au Phone: 5957 3700 / 0458 288 291 Creative Creative Services Manager: Chris Beale Design Mark Dinnie Virginia Hester Published by Mail News Group Pty Ltd ACN 99 006 310 498. Publisher/Managing Director, Paul Thomas. All material is copyright to Mail News Group Pty Ltd. All significant errors will be corrected as soon as possible.

We have a peek at the brand new ErgoLayers range to keep your toddler Cover

Our young model shows off in some of this season’s winter wear.

For more see pages 20-21.

contents Get back to nature on Phillip Island Page 15

Twelve times the love Page 24

Map Pages 16-17

One’s late, other early and quick Pages 25-26

Education

No end to kids’ pain Page 27

Cracking the digital code Page 18

Games and Gadgets

Tips to make a great school start Page 19

Girls and boys come out to play Page 28

Specialist care at Noah’s Ark Page 11

Fashion

LEGO lays good foundation Page 29

Your lifeline during pregnancy Page 12

All weather sleepwear Pages 20-21

Book’s look at modern family life Page 30

Entertainment

Reality Bites

Books and stories for all ages Page 30

Keep cars in top condition for road trips Page 13

Amazing little Aria Page 22

No barriers to join circus Page 14

Online tabs to track kids Page 23

It’s Your Life More cash for childcare Page 4 Trip to the snow Pages 6-7 Positive parenting made easy Page 8 Detecting kids’ hearing issues Page 10

www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

Calendar

THINGS TO DO & PLACES TO GO FOR FAMILIES

bringi ng up

great kids

The

babes Project: your pregnancy lifeline

snow DAYS

WINTER 2017

A Mail News Group Publication

Winter activities Page 31

WINTER 2017 3

It’s

your life

What they said: “This delivers for our kids and grandkids, whether it’s on budget balance or on infrastructure, on assuring them of fair, needs-based school funding, guaranteeing Medicare, guaranteeing the NDIS. This is a fair budget.”

More

ca$h

By Jade Glen THE mere mention of the Federal Budget may be enough to make your eyes glaze over, but it’s worth a closer look if you have young kids, changes to child care funding and the Family Tax Benefit could impact your hip pocket.

If you have kids in childcare, you will probably be better off. If your kids are in school, you might be worse off, thanks to changes to the Family Tax Benefit.

Major reforms to childcare funding will see one single means-tested subsidy replace the current Child Care Benefit (CCB) and Child Care Rebate (CCR) from 1 July next year.

Families earning less than $185,710 will no longer face an annual cap on childcare subsidies (previously set at $7500). Families earning more than $185,710 will have their subsidies capped at $10,000. Families that earn more than $350,000 combined will no longer be eligible for government subsidies.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on ABC Radio National, 10 May 2017

for childcare

Low-income families with both parents in full-time employment could have up to 85 per cent of their childcare fees subsidised by the government.

To fund the childcare reforms, the Federal Government will be squeezing the Family Tax Benefit scheme. Rates will be frozen for two years, instead of rising with inflation, and there will be no increases to Family Tax Benefit-A (FTB-A) as promised in previous budgets.

From 1 July 2018, families that earn $94,316 to $125,000 will see a reduction in their FTB-A payment.

Families that refuse to vaccinate their children without a medical exemption will lose $28 a fortnight, per child, from their Part A benefits, in addition to losing the annual end-of-year supplement.

Households earning over $80,000 will no longer receive the FTB-A supplement, which is currently worth up to $726.35 per child.

Health wise, the Medicare levy will rise by 0.5 per cent from July 2019,

costing you extra at tax time. The price of some medicines, including EpiPen, is expected to fall, and families eligible for the Child Dental Scheme will get an extra $300 to spend at the dentist every two years, bringing the cap back up to $1000 after last year’s cuts. The government will also be encouraging more doctors to offer Bulk Billing to patients.

“They are a big-taxing, bigspending government. Debts got bigger. And in the meantime, there was nothing in that budget of any consequence for middleclass and working-class families, except a hike in their Medicare levy.”

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten on ABC’s 7.30, 11 May 2017

The rise in the Medicare levy will fund the National Disability Insurance Scheme, which is good news for parents of disabled children.

There will be more Commonwealth funding per student for most schools, in a move to standardise school funding.

If you are a university student the budget brought bad news, with a 7.5 per cent increase in tuition fees, and the repayment of student loans to start once you earn $42,000, instead of $56,000.

The Commonwealth has also announced a crackdown on welfare recipients, including a stronger verification process for single parents.

Paradise Open every day 6:30am - 6pm

Beechworth Bakery Healesville 316 Maroondah Hwy 4 WINTER 2017

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www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

It’s

your life

T ri p to the

snow

By Jade Glen THIS winter, tear the kids away from yet another repeat viewing of Frozen and get them out among the real stuff.

Building a snowman, throwing a snowball at a sibling and sliding down a hill in a toboggan are all experiences you can be sure your kids will remember forever.

But for families that aren’t regular snow bunnies, the thought of a family trip to the snow - the cost, the need to drive for hours, the need to hire snow chains and buy special clothing - can be enough to make them want to stay at home.

Lake Mountain Alpine Resort’s Meghan Hill said that getting up the mountain was easier than you might think.

“Lake Mountain Alpine Resort is the perfect place to introduce young families to the snow, it is a safe environment - we have ski patrollers on duty throughout the season keeping you safe! We are an easy distance from Melbourne, and from Marysville - a beautiful place to stay with the kids.

“All of the toboggan slopes are suitable for children, the Village Toboggan Run is a good one to start on as it is a little gentler, Koala Creek and Leadbeaters Toboggan Run are a little steeper, so something to work up to! The cross-country ski trails are also suitable for children learning to cross-county ski, the trails range from beginner to advanced.”

The resort is about 20 kilometres outside of Marysville, and snow chains are only required for 2WD vehicles on declared snow chain days, which are declared on a day-to-day basis and updated on the Lake Mountain resort website. Snow chains are not required for 4WD vehicles at any time.

6 WINTER 2017

www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

“Lake Mountain Alpine Resort’s Burton Riglet Park is back again this year bigger than ever! With one-on-one tutoring from our experienced snowsports instructors, these mini shredders will find success in no time,” Ms Hill said.

Lake Mountain Alpine Resort is th e perfect place to introduce young fami lies to the snow...

The Fischer Nordic Fun Park is designed for kids aged four to 12 years old, and offers beginners ski lessons for kids. Half-hour introductory ski lessons are $25 including the hire of boots and skis.

Your biggest expense will most likely be your entry at the gate, which is paid at the base of Lake Mountain. Gate entry is $56 per car, which is classified as vehicles with 10 seats or less. Bus entry is $18 per person.

Once you are on the mountain, you can hire a toboggan for the entire day for $13.50.

Wet weather over clothing can be hired on the mountain as well, and the kids’ sizes start right down at 0. There is no need to book in advance. You can hire snow pants, a jacket, snow boots and a toboggan for $45.

When you are ready for a break from tobogganing, Lake Mountain Alpine Resort has a Cafe and Bistro where hot meals can be purchased as well as hot drinks and alcoholic beverages. Meals average around $15.

But if you aren’t looking to get your kids lessons in snowboarding and skiing, there is still plenty for families to do on the mountain.

“The Snowman’s Village provides the perfect spot to make a snowman and throw some snowballs. It is set above the top of the Village Toboggan Run and is in the snow making area,” Ms Hill said.

“Another great place is to explore the walking trails either to Leadbeaters Toboggan Run, or up towards the summit, these areas rely on natural snow, but are beautiful and often quieter.”

Another exciting family friendly feature is the Burton Riglet Park, which provides kids aged three to six years the opportunity to try their hand at snowboarding. Half-hour snowboarding lessons are $25, including the hire of boots, snowboard and helmet.

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www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

WINTER 2017 7

It’s

your life

Positive parenting made easy

By Jade Glen UNFORTUNATELY kids don’t come with a manual - but the Bringing up Great Kids program may just be the next best thing.

The Bringing up Great Kids (BUGK) program is a six-week positive parenting program that equips parents and carers with the tools to promote a respectful, caring and nurturing relationship with their children.

BUGK is an evidence-based program developed by the Australian Childhood Foundation - and best of all, Yarra Ranges parents can access it completely free of charge.

Local service provider CIRE facilitated the program in Yarra Junction earlier this year, in partnership with EACH. Another course will begin in Healesville this August.

This program is tailored for parents of children aged under six years old, and free childcare is provided while parents participate in each session.

CIRE manager Family and Children’s Services Alison Forbes said the program promoted positive and respectful relationships.

“This is achieved by addressing the significance and importance of strong family relationships and the impact that this has on children’s lives and development.

“Respect is a key step in building strong family relationships, when it is absent or lacking, conflict or relationship breakdown often occurs.

Absence or lack of respect can lead to problems at an individual, family and/ or community level.”

One of the program facilitators Eliza 8 WINTER 2017

Lee, CIRE Early Childhood educator, said the program encouraged parents and carers to consider the messages they sent and received.

“It’s all about messages. It looks at the messages that we received when we were brought up; it looks at brain development and how we give and receive messages, at non-verbal messages like body language.

“We talk about mindfulness; one of the activities is sop pause play. You stop what you are doing, you ground your feet, take four deep breaths, press play and then respond to the children.”

Early Childhood Intervention Services Key Worker at EACH, Bronwyn Forster, said the program was open to all parents.

“Parents are provided a parenting journal to use, and they can reflect on what they learnt in that session. Each session is a chapter of their parenting story.”

Graduates of the BUGK program said it had made a positive impact on their parenting.

Learning about messages

past and present.

The Bringing Up Great Kids Program in action.

“I think every parent should attend this program,” reflected one student.

“It makes me feel very normal as a parent. Things that I thought I was doing as a parent, I have found that other parents are doing this too. I have found the course is fun, eye-opening and a safe group environment, mixed groups of ladies with different backgrounds.”

The next Bringing Up Great Kids six-week parenting program will be held at Wurun Child and Family Place, Healesville, Monday 7 August to 11 September, 2017. Call Cire on 1300 935 235 for booking that is essential. www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

It’s

your life

' Detecting kids issues

hearing FIVE-YEAR-OLD Elyse is just like any other pre-schooler.

Yet mum Kylie, a part-time primary school teacher, said Elyse’s bubbly nature and loud persona almost meant that her hearing loss went undetected.

It wasn’t until they discovered Sound Scouts, the new game app to detect hearing problems in children, that they were able to help Elyse fulfil her potential and overcome her difficulties, just in time for starting school.

Kylie noticed that Elyse was mispronouncing words, especially those starting with an ’h’ sound, (which is a low sound for the human ear to detect), and she wasn’t developing as her older sister Abbey had done previously.

Sure enough, Elyse was shown to have hearing issues following the completion of the Sound Scouts game.

Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) If you would like more informaƟon, contact your local Australian Hearing centre: Australian Hearing Lilydale (03) 9738 8400 www.hearing.com.au/lilydale

Australian Hearing Knox (03) 9837 8100 www.hearing.com.au/knox

Australian Hearing Croydon (03) 9237 4100 www.hearing.com.au/croydon

Sound Scouts can help identify any issues.

Kylie said that it was at this point that guilt set in for her as a parent.

As a result, one of the biggest problems experienced by individuals with CAPD is difficulty listening in background noise.

“I felt so guilty that I hadn’t picked up on her having hearing issues sooner.

We just thought she had a loud personality, we didn’t realise she couldn’t hear properly,” she said.

“If I hadn’t given Sound Scouts a try, I still may not have gone down this path and would have just considered her a late developer or just defiant in nature.

I shudder to think how much she would have missed out on at school, both socially and academically if I hadn’t downloaded the app.“ Sound Scouts can also be used to pick up Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD), an umbrella term for a variety of disorders that result in a breakdown in the hearing process.

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10 WINTER 2017

Elyse was referred to Australian Hearing, who confirmed that she had a mild conductive hearing loss, which is caused by a blockage or damage in the outer and/or middle ear.

In short, our brain cannot make sense

of what our ears hear because the auditory signal is distorted in some way.

A number of central auditory processing tests can be used to assess CAPD. Australian Hearing focuses on identifying auditory deficits that are likely to lead to listening difficulties and poorer performance in the classroom.

This includes how well children hear background noise.

If a child is assessed as having a deficit that is causing listening difficulty, your clinician will discuss the most appropriate option with you based on your child’s test results.

If you would like more information or advice, contact your local Australian Hearing centre. www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

It’s

your life

SPECIALIST

CARE AT

' noah s

ark

By Jade Glen

currently working with more than 100 families.

LOCAL families of children with disabilities and additional needs will have better access to a range of support services thanks to Noah’s Ark new Chirnside Park branch.

“At Noah’s Ark we believe in the Key Worker model of service. Unlike the traditional approach of 1:1 therapy provided in a clinical setting, one staff member becomes your family’s Key Worker,” Ms Brennan said.

Noah’s Ark has been supporting families for more than 45 years, and expanded to Chirnside Park’s Kimberly Place in February.

A team of seven, including speech therapists, occupational therapists and a specialist teacher use Kimberly Place as a base while seeing families in the Yarra Ranges and outer eastern suburbs.

“We met with the mother of the child and the educators in the kinder room to talk about all of the activities and transitions that happen throughout the kinder session, and what the child’s strengths and interests were,” Ms Brennan said.

“From this, the Key Worker was able to get a really clear picture of what was happening and talk through some strategies that might help the child to participate in story time.

“The Key Worker, educator and mother came up with some easy sensory activities by modifying tasks that are already being done by the child such as pushing all of the chairs in

“Our Key Workers are specialists in either speech pathology, occupational therapy, education, physiotherapy, psychology or social work. They promote Everyday Learning and Therapy in your child’s natural environment and within their daily activities by identifying your family’s needs, priorities and goals. We implement strategies built around your child’s daily routines and we coach and support parents and educators through this.”

“These activities, which are all part of Everyday Learning and Therapy, helped the child get some much needed physical input in before having to sit down and listen to a story. The Key Worker and educator have both seen great improvements in other parts of the child’s kinder day by modifying everyday tasks and activities so that they are turned into therapy.”

Families and their Key Worker write their goals in their Family Service and Support Plan, which is reviewed every six months to document the child’s progress.

Parents can self-refer to Noah’s Ark if they think their child could benefit from assistance.

for children with disabilities

Do you want to talk to a professional about your child’s development or behaviour?

Noah’s Ark offers the following services for children with a disability or additional needs: ✓ Getting ready for Child Care, Preschool or School ✓ Supporting Inclusion

✓ Parent Connection and Support ✓ Parent Education ✓ Speaking and Listening

www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

at the tables, pushing the trolley with lunch boxes on it, and packing up the playdough by pushing it down in to the container really hard.

Building better futures

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Occupational Therapist and Team Leader at Noah’s Ark Chirnside Park, Cait Brennan, said the team was

One such child that benefitted from Everyday Learning and Therapy had difficulties with sensory processing and sitting down in a group to listen to a story.

✓ Playing Together

✓ Supporting Positive Behaviour

✓ Coordination of Supports

We’re here to help Call 1800 819 140 www.noahsarkinc.org.au

WINTER 2017 11

It’s

your life

Your

lifeline during

pregnancy One of the mums-to-be currently supported by The Babes Project.

Image from photoshoot in February, 2017.

By Jade Glen WOMEN facing an unplanned pregnancy or experiencing crisis during pregnancy have a lifeline, thanks to The Babes Project.

Founded in 2009 by managing director Helen Parker, The Babes Project has grown by leaps and bounds, launching its Pregnancy Support Centre in Croydon in 2012 and opening its second centre in Frankston last year.

“I was a university student when I discovered I was pregnant. Initially alone and scared, I decided to continue with my pregnancy, but quickly realised how little support was available for women facing a crisis or unplanned pregnancy,” Ms Parker said.

“I cannot believe that with all our modern advancements in healthcare we overlook a crucial part, to ensure women are supported enough to know how to access healthcare services.”

Any pregnant woman who wants extra support can access The Babes Project. Women are supported across the entire prenatal period from conception to one year post-birth.

“Women facing crisis pregnancy often experience an overwhelming sense of loneliness, isolation and fear,” Ms Parker said.

“The Babes Project is passionate about responding to this by creating a society in which all women are empowered and supported in their pregnancy and as they prepare for parenting.

“It’s not OK that women feel as if they cannot provide for their family, or are facing giving birth alone because they have no supportive relationships. The Babes Project fills these gaps to enable women as they prepare for birth and motherhood. We encourage the importance of engaging with other agencies and health care services so that support is holistic and women are equipped to make great decisions about their parenting.”

Women are referred to The Babes Project through community agencies and health care services, including hospitals, housing agencies and 12 WINTER 2017

Some of the beautiful mamas and mums-to-be currently supported by The Babes Project. Image from photoshoot in February, 2017.

Maternal and Child Health services.

Women can also contact the support centres themselves to seek support.

aims to remove the glossy veneer and expose the realities of motherhood, in all its glory.

prepared for parenting and welcomed their babies in to the world,” Ms Parker said.

The Babes Project then assists the women with antenatal and postnatal education, labour and birth education, life skills and social support, material aid, referral to external organisations and support as women engage with other agencies to address challenges with housing, drug and alcohol support and other circumstances.

“When women are facing a crisis pregnancy, it is important they are able to see diverse stories of others whose experience of motherhood may be similar to their own. Often in the media we see glossy images of perfect motherhood and when circumstances look different to this, it can leave women feeling as though they can’t be a good mum.”

Rewriting Motherhood is available to purchase from www.thebabesproject. com.au/shop.

All women receive a Nappy Bag packed with items for hospital and a ‘New Mum’s Basket’ with some essentials for the first few weeks with a newborn baby.

Another project of The Babes Project is Rewriting Motherhood, a book that

Each purchase covers two books one for you, and one that will be gifted to a woman facing crisis pregnancy who requests support from The Babes Project.

The book is a moving collection of 10 women’s stories through crisis pregnancy and toward parenthood.

Ms Parker said The Babes Project was working towards ensuring every woman in Australia had access to support during the perinatal period.

“Each of them faced challenging circumstances yet have beautiful stories to tell of strength and resilience as they

“We have many dreams and plans about how this will look, but who knows what the future holds.” www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

Entertainment

Keep cars in top

condition for road trips IF the wintry weather has left you feeling house-bound, there’s no better time to pack your bags - and your kids - into the car and head off on a winter road trip.

Here’s Michael’s top tips before you hit the road:

Drive up to Lake Mountain Alpine Resort to play in the snow, or head to Phillip Island and explore the nature parks or walk along the beaches without the summer crowds.

■ Check wiper blades - must clean properly.

Whichever direction you are heading, it pays to check your car is ready for the trip.

Michael Wilcox, Service Manager at Lilydale’s Heritage Holden, said winter maintenance was a must.

■ Check tyre condition and pressures - refer to owner’s manual for correct specs.

■ Coolant must be at manufacturer’s specifications or a trip to the snow could end in tears.

■ Battery check is a must - winter is often an issue for batteries.

■ Check all lights are working.

■ A poorly tuned engine can reduce fuel efficiency - get a check regularly to keep your vehicle running in optimum condition.

Promotion commences 1/1/17 Bookings Essential

www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

9736 4000 Cnr York & Swansea Roads Mt Evelyn

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WINTER 2017 13

Entertainment

N o ba r r ie r s to

s u c r i c join

By Jade Glen MOST people have dreamt of running away and joining the circus at one stage or another - and at Ruccis, you can do just that.

Ruccis offers a range of classes in different circus disciplines, with students ranging from three years old to 60 years old and beyond.

Ruccis coach Emily Huybers said classes included circus mix - covering manipulation (juggling and hula hoops), tumbling, aerial (trapeze and aerial skills) and equilibrium (tightrope), as well as specialty classes and some casual clubs in juggling, unicycle and stilt walking.

“In a typical circus mix class, we would run a big group warm up with a fun game to get the students not only warmed up physically but also socially,” Emily said.

“This gives students a chance to jump on in or stay back and watch while they ease themselves into the class.

Then we have a group stretch to ensure our bodies are ready for the skills covered.

“In a typical kids class, we then cycle through the four main disciplines.

Throughout the class the students get to focus on fine motor and gross motor skills, they learn teamwork and to physically challenge themselves in a non-competitive and safe environment.”

Aerial is just one of the circus pursuits on offer at Ruccis.

Emily said a lot of parents chose circus for their children because it was a place where kids could be themselves.

“Being unique is celebrated. The learning pace is not set by a specific set of boxes to be ticked so kids aren’t expected to compete or conform.

Success is found in many different ways in a circus environment, so it suits all body types and dispositions.

“My favourite thing about Ruccis is that students can look around and see people of all ages trying, struggling, trying again, learning and striving to reach their goals. Not often enough do kids get to see adults being a student and trying things that may make them look a bit silly at first. We create an environment where it’s OK to be a beginner and different types of strength are celebrated, so it takes the pressure off and creates a better learning environment for young and old.”

Ruccis regularly attends school fetes, charity fund-raisers and community events throughout the year, including Knox Fest, the Belgrave Lantern Parade, Upwey Billy Carts and most notably, the Burrinja Circus Festival.

The fourth annual Burrinja Circus Festival will run from 1-9 July at Burrinja Cultural Centre. Featuring professional circus shows, student performances and classes for everyone, it will be a one stop family-fun shop for all things circus.

Mastering the art of juggling.

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14 WINTER 2017

www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

PHILLIP ISLAND FEATURE

Entertainment

Get back to LOCATED only 90 minutes from Melbourne, Phillip Island offers an abundance of Australian wildlife, spectacular coastal scenery, and exciting new experiences.

Witness the natural spectacle of the world’s smallest penguins arriving home at sunset each evening at the worldfamous penguin parade. Experience the nightly parade from the beachfront viewing stands as the penguins emerge from the waves and waddle across the sand.

Be sure to spend some time on the boardwalks and watch the penguins up close as they make their way along their penguin pathways to their burrows.

Choose from a great range of ticket options including the general viewing

nature on Phillip Island

from the beachfront stands and boardwalks, or the premium Penguins Plus or Underground Viewing experiences.

Accredited rangers also conduct small group guided tours each evening to further enhance your viewing experience.

Station and Sound Lab; or check out the sustainable menu in the virtual cafe.

The state of the art multimedia experience puts you right in the heart of the action, surrounded by creatures of the deep like whales, sharks and more.

Download the free Penguin Parade app, available in English, Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, German and Spanish, which includes a live penguin camera and free images to share.

Thanks to cutting edge ‘augmented reality’ technology, the interactive wildlife experience is bound to be a highlight of any visit, as you see yourself on a huge screen, standing on an ice floe, patting a penguin or stroking a seal.

Immerse yourself in the ‘hands-on’ family fun and interactive experiences in the new Antarctic Journey, opened in conjunction with WWF Australia.

Come ‘face-to-face’ with wild koalas in their natural habitat from the treetop boardwalks at the Koala Conservation Centre.

‘Feel the freeze’ in the Antarctic Chill Zone; compare your thermal image to an Emperor penguin; visit the Research

Learn about these amazing animals and the role the centre has played in protecting Phillip Island’s koalas and

their habitat.

Stroll along the woodland walking trails and you may come across some of the many visiting native animals including wallabies, echidna, and over 35 different species of birds.

Journey back in time and explore the heritage and tranquil scenery at Churchill Island Heritage Farm, an historic working farm with Clydesdale horses, Highland cattle and an animal nursery.

Hands on farming activities run daily, including sheep shearing, cow milking, whip cracking and working dog demonstrations.

The farm also features a restored homestead, historic cottages and delightful heritage gardens and orchards.

Your wildlife playground ©h heckepics pics / PINP pic P

Experience Phillip Island’s unique attractions

PENGUIN PARADE Am A maz azin in ing ng ne new w viiew win ng opti tion o s now on no ow avai avvai a laabl be

Wild Oceanss

ECOBOAT OA AT TOUR

FOR BOOKINGS & INFORMATION

Call 03 5951 2800 or visit penguins.org.au 12322526-KC50-16

www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

WINTER 2017 15

Education - pri mary

Cracking the EDUCATION MATTERS with Robert Kelly

digital code

AT THE start of 2017, the Victorian Government launched a new Digital Technologies curriculum. At its heart, computational thinking is the focus of the new curriculum. As students start to develop problem solving skills while becoming digital citizens, the curriculum recognises that significant emphasis on digital coding is a necessity. Combined with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), digital coding is set to revolutionise the classroom and take 21st century learning to a whole new level.

While the teaching of literacy and numeracy has dominated the priority of our national and international education systems for years (think Naplan) the future of our education state relies heavily on our ability to prepare our kids for the future. As digital technology becomes increasingly prevalent in our lives, it is wrong to assume that literacy and numeracy skills will be all it takes to be considered ‘literate’ in the 2020s.

One Victorian school that has long been at the forefront of Digital

Technology is Berwick Lodge Primary School. With the help of some very enthusiast staff members, principal Henry Grossek formed a whole school robotics and coding program several years ago.

The program was ground-breaking at the primary school level, and ensured students across the school learnt how to read and write code via a robotics program.

Teaming up with Glendal Primary School ultimately led to students from both schools representing Australia at national and international robotics competitions – and subsequently coming home from Spain with the world number one First Lego League competition trophy. No mean feat considering the children were competing against secondary school students, too.

So, why has it taken this long for digital coding to appear in the curriculum?

In a recent report from Australia’s Digital Pulse, research shows that ’the number of Information and Communications Technology workers

increased to 600,000 in 2014, and now more than half (52 per cent) are in industries outside ICT itself, including professional services, public administration and financial services’.

These statistics demonstrate a trend that is unlikely to decrease, but rather increase exponentially.

Jobs of the future will rely heavily on ICT skills, and the ability to understand programming languages to solve digital problems will be a must.

Of course, there are millions of codes and ways to write it. It ranges from basic to complex, but all coding language promotes logical thinking, creativity and problem solving. That’s why significant emphasis has been placed on digital coding in the new Victorian Curriculum.

Like being able to read, write and do maths, digital coding promotes essential attributes that will help children develop their leaning across the curriculum and throughout their lives in the 21st century.

the little things ...like caring teachers who know when a child needs a little extra attention and welcoming staff who are happy to help when a parent has their hands full of bags, toddlers and towels.

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18 WINTER 2017

www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

Education - secondary

tips

to m a k e

t a e r g a

l o o h sc s ta rt

STARTING secondary school is a major milestone for a child - and their family.

Partnerships and involvement

For students, transitioning from being among the oldest cohort at a familiar primary school to one of the youngest students at a larger, unfamiliar secondary college can be both an exciting and daunting prospect.

■ Does the school have active partnerships with other organisations within your community?

Choosing a school that is right for your child is an important step in your child’s journey in to secondary education, and requires consideration well in advance of enrolment deadlines.

The Victorian Department of Education has the following tips to help parents select the right school for their child.

Your child’s interests and needs ■ Will the school cater for your child’s interests and all aspects of their development, including social, emotional, physical and cognitive needs?

■ Does the school have active parent clubs, working groups or fund-raising activities?

For students, transitioning from being among the oldest cohort at a familiar primary school to one of the youngest students at a larger, unfamiliar secondary college can be both an exciting and daunting prospect...

■ How far do you want your child to travel each day?

■ How does the school support children with additional needs?

■ Are any schools that are close to home and/or your work suitable for your child?

■ How important is it to you that your child knows other children at the school?

■ What extra curricular activities does the school offer?

Your family circumstances ■ Does your family have a connection to a particular school?

■ Do you have older children already attending a secondary school? If so, will your child benefit from going to the same school as their brother or sister? www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

■ Does the school offer scholarships?

School philosophy and organisation ■ Is the school welcoming? You’ll know this as soon as you walk in the door.

■ Does the school have both primary and secondary students (is it a P-12 school)?

■ How many campuses does the school have? Do students move between campuses?

Finding out about prospective schools Finding out about a school will give you a better understanding of how comfortable your child might be there.

You can start by visiting a school’s website or attending a parent information session or open day.

Principals or other school staff can also provide tours, classroom visits and information about their school. Most schools welcome inquiries and will organise a time for you and your child to visit.

■ Do you agree with, or at least like, the way the school approaches teaching?

Consider asking these questions:

■ Does the school’s policy on homework and discipline reflect your own values and expectations?

■ Are there places available?

■ How does the school deal with bullying?

Specialisation

■ What are the fees? Are there any other costs I’ll be asked to pay over and above the fees?

■ What educational programs are offered?

■ What educational programs does the school offer?

■ What are the teacher’s/school’s values and philosophies around educating students?

■ Does the school specialise in any particular area?

■ How does the school support children with special needs?

WINTER 2017 19

All - weather

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wear ERGOPOUCH is taking the guess work out of dressing babies and toddlers for bed with the launch of its new ergoLayers sleep wear.

Unlike some other pyjamas and onesies, which are often made from synthetic fabrics that can make babies and toddlers sweat through the night, the ergoLayers range is created using beautifully breathable, natural fibres which keep baby’s temperature consistent.

AUSTRALIA

In ergoLayers sleep wear, baby will stay cool on warm nights and perfectly snuggly when the temperature drops.

The result is a better night’s sleep for both parents and bub no matter what the weather.

The ergoLayers range comes in two Tog (warmth) ratings - 0.2 Tog for warmer nights and 1.0 Tog, perfect for cooler weather.

The ergoLayers sleep wear features two way zippers for hassle-free nappy

20 WINTER 2017

changing, fold over feet cuffs and mittens on smaller sizes adding extra warmth for newborn babies.

The new ergoLayers sleep wear forms part of the innovative ergoPouch Sleep Layering ergoEco-System and can be mixed and matched underneath the award winning range of ergoCocoons, Sleep Bags and Sleep Suit Bags for year-round comfort.

As with all ergoPouch products, the ergoLayers sleep wear is uniquely made with a luxuriously soft bamboo and organic cotton fabric in a range of stylish prints including Honeydew Dot (mint), Rosewater Dandelion (pink) and Moonbeam Drop (grey).

Available in sizes 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-12 months, size 1 and size 2, the ergoLayers sleep wear retails for a recommended $34.95 for 0.2 Tog and $39.95 for 1.0 Tog. For further information including stockists or to purchase the ergoLayers sleep wear visit www.ergopouch.com.au. www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

5 5

www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

WINTER 2017 21

reality bites

amazing L IT T L E

Little Aria in traction after her hip surgery.

By Jade Glen KILSYTH’S Aria Harris is a fighter.

Born with a rare condition known as Pierre Robin Sequence (PRS), baby Aria has already endured multiple surgeries, with more planned for the future.

Despite her condition, and her long stint at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Aria’s mum Alisha Harris describes her daughter as ‘one amazing girl.’

“Throughout all of this she smiles, laughs and sings every day. She has an infectious personality and everyone who meets her loves her,” Alisha said.

Aria is a ‘rainbow baby,’ born after Alisha and her husband, Leigh, suffered a late-term miscarriage of their first child, a boy they named Cooper.

“Leigh and I were married November 2015 and found out we were pregnant at the start of December. We were over the moon.

“We had suffered a miscarriage with our first child in August 2014 at 22 weeks, so when we found out we were pregnant (again) we were thrilled.”

Alisha’s pregnancy was considered high risk, due to her previous miscarriage of Cooper.

“I suffered severe pre-eclampsia with Cooper’s pregnancy. This team had me on asprin and calcium tablets to thin my blood to ensure no blood clots during pregnancy. I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes and had to inject 14 units of insulin morning and night as my body struggled to break down sugar,” she said.

By the end of the first trimester, Alisha and Leigh had their first sign of a complication. It was during the routine

12-week scan that specialists informed the couple that their baby had some measurements that were outside the normal range.

I was told after Aria was safe and in the nursery that pre-eclampsia had hit me hard, which was scary, but the nurses and doctors were great.”

“I was told that Aria’s jaw looked very small for her size but they were not 100 per cent,” Alisha said.

Just two months later the family was heading back to the operating theatre, this time for surgery on Aria’s jaw.

“By the 20-week scan, they had confirmed that yes she had a small jaw, Talipes (otherwise known as club foot), and a cleft pallet. Even though we were advised of all these issues, they did not put a name to what she had until she was born, and diagnosed her with PRS - Pierre Robin Sequence.

“Aria’s first surgery was in September 2016 when she had a jaw distraction (also known as Mandibular Distraction) to bring her jaw forward. Aria was two months old.

During this surgery, they found that she had a hole in her heart and this contributed to her having a stroke in theatre,” Alisha said.

“We were very concerned when we were told that she had these issues and we had followed every step we were told ... we could not figure out how this happened.

Aria has had another two surgeries so far, and is currently wearing a plaster cast (known as a hip spica) after an operation on a dislocated hip.

“Doctors were fantastic and genetic doctors were able to sit with us and help ease our minds by explaining issues in detail and how they can be treated.

We had to have an amniocentesis to determine if there were any other issues such as Down Syndrome.”

“They did a lot of genetic testing to see if PRS was caused by family genetic issues, but after all of the testing we found that it was not genetic and the PRS was due to my gestational diabetes, which always stumps the doctors.”

The amniocentesis did not identify any new concerns.

However, Alisha’s pregnancy faced new complications. Her amniotic fluid was decreasing, and by 35 weeks had all disappeared. The decision was made to deliver Aria by emergency caesarean.

“The caesarean went well but I got pre-eclampsia in theatre and they did not tell me due to losing Cooper from this ...

“During the first 13 weeks of her life I stayed at the Ronald McDonald house so I could stay close to her morning and night and Leigh would come and stay with us on weekends,” Alisha said.

“I drive back and forth weekly to the Royal Children’s as she has at least two appointments per week. They are so good at ensuring she is well looked after.”

Aria will have further appointments in the future, with surgery to correct her cleft pallet on the horizon and possibly open heart surgery if the hole in her heart does not correct itself by the time she is a toddler.

Luckily doctors do not think Aria will suffer any long term effects from her stroke.

In between caring for Aria and regular visits to Royal Children’s Hospital, Alisha has been busy raising money for the Royal Children’s and raising awareness about PRS.

Pierre Robin Sequence (pronounced Pee-air Row-barn Sequence) Pierre Robin Sequence (PRS) is a condition where babies are born with a small lower jaw and a cleft palate (an opening in the roof of the mouth). For some babies, this can affect their breathing either from birth or shortly after birth. Most babies also have feeding difficulties and problems gaining weight.

In Victoria, an average of 10 babies per year are diagnosed with PRS, or one in 5000 live births (Victorian Perinatal Data Collection Unit).

• Information from The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne.

Leigh, Alisha and Aria with her step-siblings Joel, Charlotte and Madison.

22 WINTER 2017

www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

reality bites

online tabs track to

kids

By Peter Douglas

she make the most of it!

WHAT does it take for a parent to pay greater attention to their child’s online activities?

When we flicked through transaction history, it started with around $20, then $30 and $40 … and so on and then some more!

The answer is – in my case – when it hurts the ol’ hip pocket.

Only recently, my wife and I discovered our nine-year-old daughter had unintentionally spent $400 in what can only be described as an online shopping mega-spree.

Now, this wasn’t like a bitcoin thing – or the gold coins you see in Mario Brothers or Sonic the Hedgehog – this was cold hard cash, as evidence in the transaction history of our debit card.

The culprit was an over-zealous child and the game Roblox, which - at least from the view of an ’80s child - is like playing Lego in the digital realm.

My little angel - bless her - had somehow discovered that by tapping in her iPod password, she could make in-game purchases, which – and I’m far from an expert – included things like items for her avatar (online character), or other gear and items.

The problem for us is that our debit card had been linked to an Apple iTunes account and her personal iPod account.

But it was clear that, at the time, she truly didn’t understand what she was doing.

It may’ve been a case that she knew it was wrong, but couldn’t put into context the gravity of her actions.

She was remorseful, though, eventually offering up the contents of her piggy bank to make amends for her error (terribly cute, I know).

I’m the first to admit I should’ve paid greater attention to what had been going on.

But I had only just figured out what Minecraft was all about.

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Then, there is their FaceTime and Instagram habits!

It can be rather daunting.

The moral of this story, though, is that it ‘pays’ to pay attention.

Eventually, we did get in contact with Apple and we were able to receive a full refund.

Though, they were clear it was a once-off and we wouldn’t be so lucky next time.

12351992-HM25-17

A mistake on our behalf … but didn’t

Eventually, we spoke to her about the purchases.

www.yarravalleymidwives.com.au 0410 692 929 - 0448 866 655 www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

WINTER 2017 23

reality bites

TWELVE

times

love the

I can say this - there is nowhere in this world that you will feel m ore loved than in our family...

By Jade Glen IT WOULD be an understatement to say Laura Edmond is a busy mum.

Together with partner Dale, Laura is raising twelve children; her seven, from her first marriage, his four, from his previous relationship, and their youngest child together, baby Ruby.

The family live in the Yarra Ranges in a home with one bathroom and no dishwasher - but Laura says that what they lack in space, they make up for in love.

“I can say this - there is nowhere in this world that you will feel more loved than in our family. We all live in a tiny house and everyone has their main group of kids they play with but there is never a lonely moment,” she said.

“On birthdays you can be sure you’ll wake up to a house full of balloons and presents and handmade cards and a slideshow of photos and memories made up by daughter Laine for you on her iPad. “Baby Ruby often wakes up with 11 kids looming over her screaming good morning and her smile could not get any bigger.”

who he was and if I wanted to talk - he was there for me. I clicked on his profile and had a look, in the old photos I noticed a familiar face - the girl he was with in these old photos was my now ex-husband’s new girlfriend,” she said.

The man, Dale, asked Laura if she wanted to catch up before she left for Victoria, but Laura declined.

“Two days later I left for Victoria ... we moved in with mum and dad until I got on my feet. I kept talking to the guy, he was hilarious, had a sweet, caring nature and as much as I tried I couldn’t push him out of my thoughts.

We talked every day,” she said.

Two weeks later, Laura discovered a problem with her car - it was still stranded in the transport depot in Queensland, and wasn’t going to be shipped to Victoria.

“I was distraught; I needed that car to get my kids around. I called this man I’d been talking to and cried, I didn’t know what to do. The next day he collected my car and drove 3500 kilometres on his own to deliver that car to me. The first time I laid eyes on him was a few days later when he pulled my car into my parents’ driveway and got out,” she said.

Like a love story straight from a movie, Dale never left.

“He got a job, we brought a house, we had a daughter of our own and just recently we got his four daughters living with us full time too, making 12 kids in our tiny happy home. Twenty months ago we were both living very different lives - but here we are.”

Below: Laura and Dale with their tribe: Amity 13, Laine 13, Kobi 11, Joss 10, Chelsea 9, Isabella 7, Ronan 6, Erica 6, Parker 5, Kenzi 4, Lulu 2, and baby Ruby.

Laura’s life has changed dramatically in a few short years.

In 2014, when 36-weeks-pregnant with her seventh child, she and her then-husband sold their home and belongings and drove to start a new life on an island in far north Queensland.

Just under a year later she discovered her husband was having an affair.

“I was floored, my whole world as I knew it was shaken,” Laura said.

Having decided to move back to Victoria to her support system, Laura packed up her belongings and bought plane tickets for herself and her kids.

“In my final days on the island I received a message on Facebook from a man I didn’t know. I opened it and he told me to check out his profile to see 24 WINTER 2017

www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

reality bites

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WINTER 2017 25

reality bites

No two births are the same, as Croydon North’s Erica Webb discovered when she gave birth to her second baby boy, Fraser George. Here Erica shares the story of Fraser’s quick delivery.

MY BABIES were born two years and two days apart. That wasn’t exactly how I thought it would pan out. For a start, my first-born arrived 11 days past his due date, so I errantly assumed my second would be late too.

I can’t do this! I can’t do this!

[I cry]. But I know I can. Really, what choIce do I have?

But he came before his due date and surprised us all. Going into labour much earlier than I expected was just the beginning of what would become ‘the labour and birth comparison game’ that I subsequently played.

With my first son, I was in active labour for 12 hours, with nearly two hours of that being pushing, and that was as bad as it sounds.

With my second, I estimated that I’d be in labour for six to eight hours.

It paid to be prepared and think ahead, right? Well, little did I know that from my first contraction about 3.15am, baby was only three hours away.

Let me back up a little though, shall I? It’s 3.15am. At first, I’m not sure what’s woken me; then I feel the burning, deep sensation of a contraction.

It’s a familiar feeling that brings back the memory of my labour and birth with Lincoln just two years and two days ago.

It all comes flooding back, and with clenched teeth I prepare myself for what I think lies ahead.

The contractions start as they mean to continue - hard and fast. Still, it was the same with my first labour, so I assume we have hours to go yet.

Nevertheless, I call my parents to come by and watch my two year old - the last thing I want is a panic when it’s really time to leave.

My mum sounds remarkably chipper for 4am. But she’s been waiting for this call and her duties will involve looking after her beloved grandson and then coming in to visit the new baby.

She has every right to be chipper.

I am not so chipper.

By 4.30am I’m sitting at the kitchen table with my parents - them with tea and coffee, me continuing to grit my teeth and scream inside my head, wondering how on earth I was going to get through such pain.

My dad thought it was a good time to make small talk and jokes. My sense of humour was missing in action.

My contractions are getting more and more intense - closer together and lasting for what seems like an age.

Mum suggests it might be time to call the midwife, but I’m reluctant. It’s only 4.45am - surely calling anyone before 5am is inhumane.

Besides, I’m certain I still have hours to go. But within a few minutes I decide I need to call.

26 WINTER 2017

Things are ramping up and our midwife tells us to head in whenever we’re ready. I’m still convinced I have hours ahead of me, but by 5.30am I realise we have to go.

I struggle to the car, stopping on my short journey to get through a contraction. My husband calls our midwife again and just like that, we’re on our way.

I’m in so much pain, but I tell myself I’ve done this before, I can do it again.

Our car trip is punctuated by my cries of: “I can do this” and “his will pass” on repeat.

One hand on the dash, the other gripping the overhead/window ‘handle’, I grip and talk my way through the contractions, taking a chance in the very short breaks between contractions to calculate how long we have left on our journey.

I start to get the vaguest of urges to push in the car, but ignore it.

Finally, we arrive at the hospital.

We have a bit of a walk (not much on a regular day, but a marathon when in labour).

As we enter Emergency a triage nurse offers me a wheelchair.

I abruptly decline - there’s no way I can sit down now.

We head upstairs and, always the pro, our midwife promptly arrives behind us and we make our way to my birth suite.

My midwife wants me on the bed to have a feel of my belly and a listen to the baby.

I can’t lay down and stay still. I kneel instead, my hands gripping the raised head of the bed.

“I can’t do this! I can’t do this!” I cry.

But I know I can. Really, what choice do I have?

I start to feel like I’m losing control, but I hold on or at least I think I do.

I can do this.

“Can I have the gas?” I plead. This is what I did last time, so I’m going through the motions, still crazily believing that ‘last time’ is a good yard stick.

I suck on the mouthpiece and feel reassured by the fuzziness the gas delivers. The pain is still as real as ever though.

My midwife is saying crazy things, like “can you get your pants off?”

“What? Already?” I’m looking at the clock and the clock tells me I have hours to go.

My midwife laughs at me as I throw her a pleading look and say “it’s too soon!” when she tells me to go ahead and go with my urge to push.

I feel like I’m not with ‘it’ at all - so focused on the time and my idea of how things might go, that I’m somehow detached from what’s really happening.

Moments later my water breaks.

It’s 6.15am. Pushing starts in earnest, but I’m still not convinced a baby is on the way.

I’m wrong. It’s 6.30am and I’m holding a baby in my arms. It’s a boy.

He is beautiful. I’m shocked though. It’s only 6.30am. I went into labour at 3.15am. What just happened? Our little boy snuggles into my chest. He is amazing. We made this? Absolute perfection.

Erica and Fraser.

A little while later, our boy is weighed and measured: 3.6kg/7pd 15oz, 53cm long.

We decide to call him Fraser George.

It suits him. We’ll soon come to realise that his birth was a sign of things to come.

This boy will not be walking in his brother’s footsteps, thank you very much. He has his own path to follow.

Note taken, my boy. Note taken. www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

reality bites

No end to GRAVELY ill mother-of-two Shauna Cahill is in a race against the clock to raise awareness about the deadly surgery that has left her in debilitating pain.

After the birth of her children, Shauna experienced what one in three women will - bladder incontinence - and, like most sufferers, she remained silent out of embarrassment.

kids’ pain

Officer mother-of-two Shauna Cahill and her children Mak and Suni are living a nightmare after a routine POP surgery left Shauna in debilitating pain.

Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

But sick of peeing each time she laughed, Shauna finally sought medical advice in 2015 - almost 10 years after giving birth - and was diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse (POP).

What happened next was supposed to be a simple surgery, which included a hysterectomy, bowel and bladder prolapse repair and sling insertion.

But little did Shauna know, the mesh inserted to treat the prolapse was slowly eroding away her organs and could cost her life.

Despite being banned in Scotland for its side effects and being the subject of a number of class action lawsuits, transvaginal mesh implants are still commonly used in Australia, the United States and the rest of the United Kingdom.

Shauna said the mesh was recommended by doctors, and she took the advice without a second thought.

However, she immediately regretted it.

“I knew late that same day, when I was still in hospital, that something wasn’t right,” Shauna said.

Since the surgery, she has been left in constant excruciating groin, vaginal and pelvic pain, which she describes as seven to eight out of 10 on a good day.

She also still suffers from incontinence.

Shauna has not been the same since and neither have her children.

Gone are the days of going for a run, playing with her children or vacuuming her house. Shauna, 35, is now confined to a wheelchair.

Her 10-year-old son Mak now takes his mum to the toilet, while daughter Suni, 8, bears the pain of watching her mum suffer.

Watching their mum go through surgery after surgery in an attempt to remove the entire mesh implant with no success, the children feel beyond helpless as their mum fades away before their eyes.

“It’s sad, I hate it, it sucks. I want her to get better, it’s not fair,” Mak said through tears.

Shauna said it breaks her heart to see her children quietly on the couch, all too aware of their mum’s condition.

“I feel bad, like I’m robbing their childhood,” she said.

It’s for that reason that Shauna and her children are speaking out.

Too exhausted to fight the legal system, Shauna is using what little strength she has to better inform women of POP, mesh implants and the associated risks.

“It’s shit right now but everything happens for a reason,” Shauna said, “I don’t want it to happen to someone else.”

Shauna had relatively easy births www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

with both Mak and Suni, with no tearing or stitches. Both her children were relatively small - 6lb 10oz and 7lb 1oz.

“With Mak I went to in labour naturally and everything was textbook, pretty much exactly how they tell you it is going to be. I went off to hospital and had a six-hour labour, no drugs, a waterbirth with no tearing, no stitches, everything was fantastic,” Shauna said.

“Looking back now, I had symptoms of prolapse but thought I’ve had a baby, that’s just how it is.”

Doctors dismissed her concerns, telling her that the Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) she experienced during pregnancy had ‘rolled over’ to the postnatal period.

“They just said rest and you will get better,” she said.

During her pregnancy with Sumi, she could barely walk after her first trimester, which was again attributed to SPD. Sumi’s birth took less than four hours, and she was also delivered in water with no complications.

“Everything was good - but then it was the same thing again, this heavy pain, and I just thought it was normal.

I put up with it and then late in 2015 I had recurrent UTI’s and went to the doctor, and he said to me I think it could be a prolapse.”

Shauna was then referred to a specialist who recommended the sling insertion.

“I went along thinking doctors know best, and you go with what they say.

I really encourage women to look in to things (before consenting).

“I’m just a normal mum who had average births, nothing out of the ordinary.

performed in Australia and the specialist overseeing the surgery has performed it on only 20 other women.

“I just think how many others are out there who have these symptoms and think it’s normal. You don’t get any warning about it, there’s nothing in the pack they give you after birth. You don’t have to suffer, there is help out there.

You can get physio if it is caught early on - surgery is not the only option.”

Despite having Private Health Insurance it is another large expense for the family, with out-of-pocket costs estimated to be at least $15,000.

Shauna is raising awareness of POP and mesh implants by sharing her journey on her Facebook page, Shauna’s Best Chance, with the help of her friends Amanda and Catherine.

Mak has also created a moving video of the impact the mesh implant has had on the family.

Already, in just a few weeks, the family’s willingness to speak out has prevented a number of women from undergoing the procedure.

Shauna describes the mesh implant as similar to a piece of shadecloth laid in a backyard.

“It’s kind of like a shade cloth, if you put it on the ground all sorts of weeds and plants are going to grow through it.

“My nerves and tissues are those weeds and plants growing through the cloth.”

Because of the incredibly complex nature of the mesh removal, Shauna is at risk of permanent nerve damage.

However, that is a risk that Shauna has to take for herself, for other women, for her children.

A segment on Channel 10’s The Project in May saw the mesh Facebook page inundated with requests.

“This has happened to me, but it does not need to happen to anyone else,” Shauna said.

“And a few women have told me they’ve decided against the surgery,“ Shauna said.

“There are other options, please look into it further.”

While sparing others from the risk of a similar fate, in July Shauna will undergo her fifth operation in a bid to remove the remaining material.

The surgery, which is estimated to take 3-4 hours, will require the expertise of a plastic surgeon. It is rarely

For more information on POP and the mesh surgery, visit the Shauna’s Best Chance Facebook page.

Shauna’s friends have so far raised more than $8000 for her upcoming surgery but hope to reach their goal of $15,000. To donate, visit www. gofundme.com/shaunas-best-chance WINTER 2017 27

Games and gadgets

' When s the right time to leave them IT TURNS out the Wet Bandits were not the only ones on the wrong side of the law in the Home Alone series - if the McCallisters had lived in Queensland, Kevin’s parents might have joined the would-be burglars in jail.

In the lead up to the school holidays, many working parents will be scrambling to piece together two weeks of appropriate supervision for their school-aged children.

It must be sweet relief for parents when their children finally reach an age when they can be trusted to safely entertain and feed themselves at home for a day - no more juggling annual leave and calling in favours from other parents, family and friends to supervise.

Exactly when that age is, though, is open for debate.

Slater and Gordon criminal lawyer Emma Aldersea said parents did have legal obligations when it came to child supervision.

“As the school holidays approach, many parents find themselves asking the same question: are my children old enough to stay at home alone?”

Ms Aldersea said.

“Queensland is the only state that explicitly states ‘children under the age of 12 cannot be left alone for an ‘unreasonable’ amount of time without making reasonable provision for the supervision and care of the child’, with

a maximum penalty of three years in jail.

for five minutes to three days,” Ms Aldersea said.

“The law is less clear about specific age limits in the other states and territories, but that doesn’t mean there is no legal obligation on parents to ensure their children are properly looked after.

“When deciding whether the time left alone was unreasonable, the courts will consider things like the age and capacity of the child, the length of time the child is left unattended, the presence or absence of shelter, food and water, and the reason the child was left unattended.

“Inadequate child supervision offences exist in Victoria ... and could apply to children of up to 16 or 18 years of age (depending on the state) in certain circumstances.”

The Victorian Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 states that “A person who has the control or charge of a child must not leave the child without making reasonable provision for the child’s supervision and care for a time which is unreasonable having regard to all the circumstances of the case.”

Penalties could be a $3886 fine, six months imprisonment, or both.

“There’s also the Commonwealth Family Law Act, which makes it pretty clear that parents and guardians have an obligation to provide children with accommodation, food, clothing and other ‘necessities of life’,” Ms Aldersea said.

Ms Aldersea said what constitutes an ‘unreasonable’ amount of time and ‘reasonable supervision and care’ would depend on the circumstances.

alone?

Ms Aldersea said parents should use their own judgment when deciding whether or not their child is ready to look after themself.

“What may seem like a safe situation for one child might not be for another, so parents need to consider the maturity of their child as well as the environment they are being left in before leaving them at home.”

“Cases that have been before the court vary from leaving a child alone

alie Local Government Minister Nat e hav ld shou e Hutchins said everyon park the in play to nity the opportu ce is and play spaces.

LILLYDALE Lake’s new Playspa is, now open for playtime.

“It doesn’t matter what your age with ,” d park gne the desi at The space has been everyone loves to play to the goal of encouraging children she said. also not only enjoy outdoor play, but “Growing communities deserve to engage with their parents and assistance to improve parks, grandparents. centres, playgrounds and community r the with g doin are Yarra Ranges Council manage we which is what yn d.”

Fun of built and active spaces, Rob urbs Sub g win Gro Mansfield, said the space was Features of the new play space . ities abil and s age accessible for all include large and small climbing nest, “Connecting with nature is structures resembling a bird’s l and with dpit important for children’s physica san a g, swin ket bas t a gian also mental development, and it’s es, a platypus ston ping step bug e ston said. good for adults,” Ms Mansfield seat rocker, music bells, timber is re natu that s “Research show climbing posts, water play ark positive for health in terms of mushrooms and glow-in-the-d ng recovering from stress, improvi s. path walking , and concentration and productivity Accessible elements of the play e. stat tal improving our men x with space include a double flying-fo nt ies bilit “We know that nature is importa all-a an an accessible seat, people and to people, and the numbers of water play area with water jets are on eati swing. seeking nature-based recr a wheelchair accessible liberty increasing.”

By Jade Glen

28 WINTER 2017

www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

Games and gadgets

LEGO lays good

LEGO/DUPLO Loves mums mostly because well it is mums but will thoroughly enjoy building castles, houses, robots, animals, fire stations.

foundation

a few These arevourite of our Fa gs Thin

Tegan Hutchinson is mum to Marshall, 3, and Charlotte, 5 months. Here, the Croydon mum-of-two shares some of her favourite things.

Spare bed Currently five-month-old shares their room with the spare bed that we are so reluctant to part with. Whether it’s a preschooler who demands to sleep across one’s pillow or an unsettled babe, parents tag team who hides out here, so we can combat sleep deprivation as a team. We are holding on to this one as long as possible!

Goggles Getting a three-year-old’s hair washed is a nightmare at the moment!!! With goggles we can just get through the ordeal regularly. No more need to be said.

Bucket of water We just love pouring water into buckets and getting wet. Cups, buckets, and things we find in the garden. Messy play that is easy to clean.

Ponyo and Kiki’s delivery service DVDs Three-year-old is alternating between these for a long time. Beautiful fantasy worlds, strong child and female characters.

Giant glad bags Let’s face it the original packaging is never a long-term storage solution. I have a pack of extra large zip bags for activities with lots of pieces.

Ergo baby carrier

Dippy soldiers One of mum’s favourite dishes and fast becoming three-year-old’s fav too. www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

Safeway collectable discs Usually I loathe all these gimmicks from the supermarket, but we got suckered into this one.

We received a hand me down baby Bjorn with our first. Used it for a couple of weeks and it was clear that the weight was pulling at my shoulders and in turn my back. I was then gifted one of these beauties and my whole perspective on carriers changed.

I have a petite build and carried a 90th percentile baby past his first birthday. COMFORTABLY. Now with a running preschooler, park visits are so much easier than with a pram.

WINTER 2017 29

Games and gadgets

Books and stories

Jessica Skogstad, author of Enid and her Two Mums.

Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI

for all ages THE Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) has announced the Short List for the 2017 CBCA Book of the Year Awards.

The CBCA Awards are the longestrunning book awards in Australia.

From the small list of books entered in 1946, entries have now grown to well over 400, underscoring the strength and richness of Australian publishing for children, and the talent of those who create the books.

Book' s look at

modern family life

By Jade Glen JESSICA Skogstad’s children’s book, Enid and her Two Mums, celebrates families that are not always recognised in traditional children’s literature.

She was inspired to write the book after searching for a gift for her niece, Quorra.

“I ordered one of those ‘build your own story’ books with a personalised name in it for my niece, who has two mums. When the book arrived it was all about Quorra and her dad! That was a huge influence that pushed me to write it,” she said.

“On top of this I signed my son Clark and my niece Quorra up for the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge last year and read over 70 books to them for it. This has heavily influenced my son’s love for reading and I think it would be awesome for him to see my books in bookshops as he gets older.

“I also grew up in the ’90s with divorced parents, so I know what it feels like to think that your family is a little bit different.”

The book was well received by Quorra and her mums, Sarah and Katy.

“Quorra absolutely loves it and points to Enid and tells me that it is her. I read it to Quorra and her mums to see what they thought. They all loved it!”

Jessica, an English teacher, wrote the book while on maternity leave.

She found illustrator Tara Reynolds online while searching for the ‘perfect’ illustrator to collaborate with.

“As soon as I saw her water colour 30 WINTER 2017

“Many of the books selected this year will move readers with a wonderful mix of stories that are sad, honest, informative and funny,“ CBCA National Chair, Professor Margot Hillel OAM, said.

“Humour is used to deal with themes ranging from friendship and grief, to bullying and love. Interestingly, several titles feature the weather, and across all categories, animals remain a popular theme.

“Characters are both gutsy and relatable, although not always likeable.

“We are delighted to see a number of debut authors in our Short List, including four in the Older Readers category,“ Ms Hillel said. “Australian contemporary children’s literature is thriving.“ The CBCA supports Australian authors and illustrators of books for young readers. These esteemed awards are extremely influential in children’s publishing and bookselling, providing information about quality children’s books for schools, libraries and the community at large.

The categories judged are: ■ CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers ■ CBCA Book of the Year: Younger Readers ■ CBCA Book of the Year: Early Childhood ■ CBCA Picture Book of the Year ■ The Eve Pownall Award for Information Books The CBCA Book of the Year Awards will be announced and presented in Hobart on Friday 18 August, 2017.

For the full list of the CBCA 2017 Book of the Year Short List please visit www.cbca.org.au

My goal for this book is to be successful enough for me to write another, and for that to be successful enough for me to write another, and so on… paintings, I knew she had to illustrate my book.

“I used a local publisher, Aly’s Books. The publisher was recommended through a friend.

All of my promotions are done online, mostly through social media. I have also reached out to several bookshops and have it stocked in quite a few.

“My goal for this book is to be successful enough for me to write another, and for that to be successful enough for me to write another, and so on. This is my hobby, and I really love having my book out there. It is so rewarding hearing about families enjoying it during their reading time,” she said.

Jessica is already thinking about the next story, which will also be about Enid.

“All books will be part of Enid’s world, so the same characters will pop up in each one.”

Enid’s school friends include children from single-parent families and families with two dads, so Jessica should have plenty of material for the future.

See www.enidandher2mums.com for more details. www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

winter activiti es June

3

All month: Stay and Play at Burrinja - Skin Side Out,

by Renate Crow. Burrinja Cultural Centre, 351 Glenfern Road, Upwey. You are invited to look at some shapes we make with our bodies. Where does that bit go in between when we connect with someone, when we thumb wrestle or high five? That bit in between, see inside this hidden place imprinted on silicone pieces, look closely at the textures.

Women’s self-defence, 1.30pm to 3.30pm, Kimberly Place, 32 Kimberly Drive, Chirnside Park. Two-hour self-defence class for young women aged 12+. Cost $10, book through Yarra Ranges Youth 1300 368 333.

4

CPR for young people, 10am-2pm, Healesville Living and Learning Centre, 1 Badger Creek Road, Healesville. Accredited CPR course for young people to learn life-saving techniques great addition to your resume. Cost $15, book through Yarra Ranges Youth 1300 368 333.

18

22

Yarra Valley Regional Food Group Farmers’ Market, Yering Station, 38 Melba Highway, Yarra Glen.

Paediatric First Aid and CPR, 10am to 12.30pm, Selby Community House 1, Selby.

For new parents or those wanting to be updated on the latest first aid techniques, this information session will cover baby and child CPR, asthma, anaphylaxis, choking, drowning, bites and stings. Cost $65, call Selby Community House 97542039 to book.

24

Lake Mountain Sprint-X kicks off the crosscountry skiing race calendar for the 2017 season. Lake Mountain Alpine Resort, Lake Mountain Road, Marysville

24

Belgrave Lantern Parade 2017, Belgrave Main Street, Burwood Highway, Belgrave.

Celebrating winter solstice and new beginnings.

25

Gembrook Community Market, Gembrook Community Centre, 4 Gembrook Road, Gembrook

26-27 We’re Going on a Bear Hunt - musical adventure live on stage. Monday 4.30pm, Tuesday 1.30pm, Karralyka Centre, Mines Road, Ringwood East. Tickets from $18.50

July 1

Open Day Jack Hort Memorial Community Pool, 9am to 2pm, Jack Hort Memorial Pool, Healesville. Come and see for yourself all the wonderful things the Jack Hort Memorial Community Pool has to offer. Gold coin donation.

2

Rotary Club of Lilydale Craft and Produce Market, Bellbird Park, Lillydale Lake, Akarana Road, Lilydale.

2

Warby Artisans and Produce Market, Upper Yarra Arts Centre, 3409 Warburton Highway, Warburton.

3

Camp Misfit Junior, 10am to 4pm, Millgrove Outdoor Education Camp 140 Dee Road, Millgrove. Open to 8-12 years Camp MISFIT Junior is all about exploring your creativity, your passions, your identity and having a lot of fun. Cost $150, call 0400 889 316 to book.

www.yarrarangeskids.com.au

5-8

6

7

Camp Misfit Junior, 6pm to 10am, Millgrove Outdoor Education Camp 140 Dee Road, Millgrove. Open to 12-18 years Camp MISFIT is all about exploring your creativity, your passions and your identity. Cost $150, call 040 088 9316 to book.

Art class, noon to 3pm, 62 Monbulk Road, Belgrave. An art class to develop your skills with a paintbrush. We’re exploring mental health as a theme to bring your reflections and experiences onto canvas. Ages 12+.

Cost $10, book through Yarra Ranges Youth 1300 368 333.

Sri Lankan cooking class, 10am to 1pm, Selby Community House, Selby. Learn to cook Sri Lankan style! Cooking class for beginners at Selby Community House. Cost $10, book through Yarra Ranges Youth 1300 368 333.

7

The Hills Art Market, HIlls Art Market, Memorial Avenue, Emerald

7

Diary of a Wombat - A Monkey Baa Theatre Company Production. Based on the book by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley. Karralyka Centre, Mines Road, Ringwood East. Tickets from $18.50

13

Fire House Tour, noon- 1.30pm, Lilydale CFA, 18-22 Lakeview Drive, Lilydale. See behind the scenes of our local CFA, get inside a BRT, learn about being a fire firefighter and compete in fire-hose rolling competition. Ages 12 + Cost $5, book through Yarra Ranges Youth 1300 368 333.

16

Emerald Market, Emerald Township, Kilvington Drive, Emerald

16

Yarra Valley Regional Food Group Farmers’ Market, Yering Station, 38 Melba Highway, Yarra Glen

21-22 Sleeping Star Productions: Alice in Wonderland Jr, Sleeping Star Productions proudly presents Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr - our 16th annual production. Sleeping Star Productions is a community drama group for children aged 7-14 years. Karralyka Centre, Mines Road, Ringwood East. Tickets from $20.

23

Gembrook Community Market, Gembrook Community Centre, 4 Gembrook Road, Gembrook

August 6

Rotary Club of Lilydale Craft and Produce Market, Bellbird Park, Lillydale Lake, Akarana Road, Lilydale.

6

Warby Artisans and Produce Market, Upper Yarra Arts Centre, 3409 Warburton Highway, Warburton

11-13 Victorian State Ballet presents Cinderella.

Karralyka Centre, Mines Road, Ringwood East.

Tickets from $30.

12

The Hills Art Market, HIlls Art Market, Memorial Avenue, Emerald.

9

Bollygum Community Market, Bollygum Community Park, 40 Whittlesea-Kinglake Road, Kinglake.

13

Bollygum Community Market, Bollygum Community Park, 40 Whittlesea-Kinglake Road, Kinglake.

9

Belgrave Big Dreams Market, St Thomas More Primary School, Reynolds Lane, Belgrave.

13

Belgrave Big Dreams Market, St Thomas More Primary School, Reynolds Lane, Belgrave.

10

Dance X - 360 film workshop, noon to 3pm, Lilydale Regional Museum, Lilydale. Learn about 360 filming technology, using mobile devices and cameras to create immersive visual experiences. Cost $5, book through Yarra Ranges Youth 1300 368 333.

20

Emerald Market, Emerald Township, Kilvington Drive, Emerald.

20

Yarra Valley Regional Food Group Farmers Market, Yering Station, 38 Melba Highway, Yarra Glen.

27

Gembrook Community Market, Gembrook Community Centre, 4 Gembrook Road, Gembrook.

12

Creative writing workshop, noon-3pm, CIRE youth space, 9-41 Little Yarra Road, Yarra Junction. World building, character development and creative writing skills! Three hour workshop with the team from CreativeWrite-It at the CIRE youth space in Yarra Junction. Ages 12+ $10, book through Yarra Ranges Youth 1300 368 333.

WINTER 2017 31