Geelong Coast Kids Spring 2018

SARAH GRACE'S BABY NEWS

Em

Rusciano AND THE MOTHERLOAD

Getting to know

Jimmy Giggle SPRING 2018

A Star N News Group Publication bl

Proudly supported by

Kat

Stewart’s MAGICAL NEW ROLE

a p u S SPRING FUN

contents 13

8-9

4-5

Roar into Waurn Ponds these school holidays Page 25 Sunbear Children's Festival returns Page 25

Teaching your teen how to drive

26

Page 13 The dangers of handbags Page 13 The benefits of pregnancy massages Page 14 A new, free meningococcal vaccine Page 14 Why new mums should keep movin' Page 16 Angie's catch-up with Sarah Grace Pages 8-9

16

10-11

Active kids Supa fun for the whole family Page 26 Geelong's scooter specialists Page 27 Breastfeeding week at the Epworth

Parties

Page 17

Gender reveals a hot trend

Education

Page 28

Homework a real chore for our kids

Books

Page 20

It's Your Life

Clann - a flexible career in childcare

Em Rusciano and the motherload

Page 21

Pages 4-5

Entertainment

A top guide on navigating adolescence Page 29 Book reviews with The Book Bird's Sue Lawson Page 29

Dr Maxine Therese explores little white lies

Kat Stewart's magical new role

Getting to know Jimmy Giggle

Page 6

Pages 10-11

Page 23

What's on

Juggling small business and small kids

Our favourite names revealed

Central Geelong school holiday fun

Kids Kalendar

Page 7

Page 12

Page 24

Pages 30-31

MUM WINS

AWESOME

cubby!

CONGRATULATIONS to Chantal Brennan who won our caravan cubby giveaway.

Playgrounds Geelong - Just Awesome teamed up with Geelong Coast Kids to give away the Classic Australian Caravan Cubby valued at approximately $2500.

The retro inspired cubby - which Chantal won in June - is already proving a super addition to the 2 SPRING 2018

Brennans backyard.

"The kids just love it ... and the nieces and nephews also! We still can't believe we won it!"

We are glad your kids and their cousins are loving their hip new cubby Chantal!

For your chance to win something awesome, be sure to like the Geelong Kids Facebook Page so you can keep abreast of all our competitions.

Chantal and her kids are loving their awesome new cubby. www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

about us . . .

spring

Geelong Coast Kids magazine is a Star News Group publication.

Geelong Coast Kids will be published quarterly prior to each of the school holidays.

is finally here HELLO everyone!

Welcome to the spring edition of Geelong Coast Kids.

Can you believe it's actually spring?

Winter is finally behind us and we can look forward to sunnier weather.

As the weather warms up, it's time to shake off those winter blues and get active.

Finding time to exercise when you are a mum isn't easy, but it's important.

If you are wondering how to get moving, be sure to read our tips from Geelong fitness guru Annelise Worn on page 16.

There is so much good reading in this edition.

I caught up with Sarah Grace, who plays Bridget on Winners and Losers and is a regular voice on BayFM. Sarah has been doing Geelong proud for years but her star is shining brightly right now.

She has just relaunched her acting school and is expecting a baby!!! Check out the story on pages 8-9.

Also In this issue, Kat Stewart speaks to us about her ambassador role with the Magical Getaway Foundation (a

charity that provides holidays to vulnerable kids), her childhood and, of course, Offspring on pages 10-11.

You'll laugh and smile when reading our chat with singer, performer and radio host Em Rusciano. Em shares how she tackles being a parent with a full plate and a daughter in VCE on pages 4 and 5.

We were also lucky enough to catch-up with Jimmy Giggle ahead of Giggle and Hoot's Hootastic Concert tour.

Jimmy talks about how he got the gig on Giggle and Hoot, his ambitions as a kid and the upcoming tour on page 23.

Geelong Coast Kids 1st Floor, 78 Moorabool St, Geelong, Vic 3220 Phone: 5249 6700 Fax: 5249 6799 Managing Editor Tony Galpin editorial@geelongcoastkids.com.au Phone: 5249 6700 Advertising Tim Debenham advertising@geelongcoastkids.com.au Phone: 5249 6712 / 0407 843 112 Creative Creative Services Manager: Chris Beale 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.

SARAH GRACE'S BABY NEWS

Don't forget to check out our website at geelongcoastkids.com.au and remember to follow us on Facebook.

Em

Rusciano AND THE MOTHERLOAD

Getting to know

Kat

Jimmy

Stewart’s

Giggle

Angie Hilton SPRING 2018

A Star N News Group G P Publication bl

Proudly supported by

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Em Rusciano AND THE MOTHERLOAD

KNOWN best for her honest, warts and all outlook on life, Em Rusciano is a woman who wears many hats and being a mother is one of them. She's recently announced she's pregnant with her third child and spoke to Melissa Meehan about her daughter Marchella who is doing her VCE. Em Rusciano, you have many feathers to your cap - mum, wife, interstate radio host, singer, entertainer, comedian, to name a few. How do you do it?

I don't! I'm sorry if I've ever given the impression to any human that I 'do it', that I balance my life; because let me tell you, I don't. As I speak to you right now, I'm wearing my pyjama pants even though it's only 1pm, and I'm banging a hook into a wall with a rolling pin because I couldn't locate the hammer. We've just moved house and instead of unpacking the food and utensils and boring useful things, I'm hanging pictures and arranging flowers.

Em Rusciano says she doesn't have it together, but she's okay with that.

Picture: Kristoffer Paulsen

I think the way to feel less overwhelmed with 'life balance' is to focus on the task that you're doing, without feeling guilty about the things that you're not. So if you are with your kids, forget all the other crap you should be doing, and focus on that. There is no imaginary evil overlord judging you if the washing has to go through for a third time because it went mouldy. No one cares. Do you?

You could be described as one of the original mummy bloggers. Your honest and open posts really seem to resonate with your fans then and now. With all the 'perfect' mums out there do you think people craved something real?

And why did you choose to be that person?

I never considered myself a mummy blogger - the fact that I'm a mother is the least interesting thing about myself. I'm a writer who happens to have spawned. I feel like I'm selling myself short by saying 'mummy blogger' - not

that there's anything wrong with that term, but it just doesn't cover everything I'm about. I feel like I didn't consciously choose to be the real, unedited, honest person online - I just am that person.

People will gravitate towards what speaks to them, and I guess my way speaks to some people.

You have two daughters. Can you tell us about them? Any tips on raising strong, fearless and independent women?

We have a 'no d***head' policy in our house! No selfish behaviour, no deliberately hurtful behaviour, and one in, all in. My girls also have a lot of privilege, which I make sure they aware of so they are conscious and kind towards those less privileged in our community. We have an open door policy that no one is judged - my girls would never look at anyone of a different race, religion, sexuality, and feel that they are any different. Most importantly, we teach our girls to trust their gut, their first voice, because that's the best thing for a strong woman.

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Your daughter Marchella is currently doing her VCE. How is that going?

Marchella is a straight-A student. We are very lucky that she is extremely academically driven. It's a relief, because I stopped being able to help her with maths in year 8. She's very well organised (which she definitely didn't get from me). I think she's doing well also because as long as she loves learning and doesn't feel the pressure of an ATAR score, then she'll do her best, which so far is working.

You've described her as having a brilliant mind, artistic flair and sporting prowess in the past. But is it still important not to put too much pressure on her and ensure that she also enjoys her final years as a high school student?

Exactly. She's also about to be the lead in her school musical, so you can imagine how beside myself I am. I've learned all her lines, just in case she should need an understudy on the night.

How do you find a balance between pushing them to be their best and not pushing too hard?

A: We encourage our girls to go after what they love, and everything else takes care of itself. The traditional subjects are of less importance to us. I mean, I'm still yet to use Pythagoras's Theorem at all in life. So as long as they are happy with what they are studying, and they learning how to take charge of their own education, we are happy.

Do you have any tips for helping VCE students manage their time, energy and stress? What about tips for parents with children working through their VCE? Chella has a schedule that helps her keep track of when things are due and where she needs to be - a whiteboard on the back of her door, showing progress and deadlines. She's so organised. We always try to encourage the girls to work steadily, but not beat themselves up with stress when things aren't going to plan. Occasionally we step in when Chella feels like she's taken on too much, and see if she might need to drop anything co-curricular, but we always just want to make her feel supported with her own decisions. She's got high expectations of herself, so that helps us. She wants herself to succeed as much as we want her to - so I guess that's half the job done for us!

The school formal is an important part of Year 11. With your flair for sequins and feathers - were you able to enjoy the preparations with Marchella?

Chella is very different to me, she's actually not one for sequins. I enjoyed helping her (passionately and desperately!) but I have to always respect that her taste is different to mine, and that she doesn't want to turn up looking like a drag queen. She has great taste of her own, she looked amazing ... and I had to remind myself to stay calm.

awake at 2am, feeling completely isolated, and stumbling across various online communities of women desperately searching for answers, so I wanted to talk openly about my experience so other women would feel less alone than I did. My Evil Queen show earlier this year

was an incredible experience for me, feeling the support and energy of the women in the room who had been through the same thing. One in four pregnancies end in miscarriage, yet it's not talked about nearly enough.

What are some other highlights that you've been able to share with her during the VCE? Getting cast in the lead of the school musical, getting selected into the Monash Scholars' program, being named as media leader, watching her film at the Eltham short film festival, watching her take ownership and responsibility over her own education.

She's an impressive kid!

It would be remiss of me not to mention your exciting news. You are pregnant, and will welcome a son to the world later this year. Congratulations. Has the pregnancy been different this time around?

Thank you! Yes, it's been hell. My body is angry with me for impregnating it at such an old age. I'm officially classified as a 'geriatric pregnancy'. I don't know if it's what has made the difference or not, but it's a boy and my morning sickness has been much worse!

On your radio show, you mentioned how in awe you are of women who have been through multiple miscarriages or failed IVF attempts and still continue to try for a baby. You have openly discussed your own miscarriage.

Do you think it was important to talk about it, given it's often something not spoken about publicly?

Of course. The women who have gone back several times are incredible, and they deserved to be told that. I felt really alone when I went through my miscarriage. I remember lying

Photo: Kristoffer Paulsen

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your life It’s

Is there any harm IN A LITTLE

WHITE LIE? Children can repress or deny emotions such as guilt and shame when they know they have lied and not spoken their truth.

By Dr Maxine Therese AT some point on your parenting journey you might have to face the unnerving reality that your child has lied about something or has lied to someone.

When a child lies, it is a moral dilemma for many parents. They are perplexed trying to understand why their child would lie, and reconsidering how they might raise children to tell the truth when they are not around or do not have any control over the child's expression.

Most children stretch the truth at times. Some children lie to get a register of how a parent will react when they find out. For some children, lying may get them noticed and gain attention.

Some children tell lies to make things sound more exciting than they are, embellishing the stories about their experiences to fit in.

Society however seems to be more focused on children fitting in, than it does about developing what is best for them according to them.

Adults who insist a child be polite at the detriment of how they feel, means we are training children to apologise when they don't mean it. In effect we are teaching them to lie about their feelings because we expect them to be dutiful. If we sanction some lies as harmless or call them little white lies in order to maintain social harmony and not to upset others, we are in fact encouraging lying.

Even little white lies create potential imbalances in children that impact on their vital need to speak truthfully.

Children can repress or deny emotions such as guilt and shame when they know they have lied and not spoken their truth.

Telling the truth is largely shunned

when we say "don't ask that lady why she has no hair. It's rude!" when a child naturally expresses curiosity about a person (they see) without hair, for example.

Adults often persuade children to behave, or coerce them to keep quiet over speaking what is true for them.

The ability for a child to express themselves often depends on how well the child perceives their expression will be received. How much will what I say even matter? There are many reasons adults may deflect or close down to hearing what a child expresses.

Children who are free to express their truth and honesty at an early age are more likely to continue to express what is going on for them later in life. In fact, when a child feels that they can express what they are feeling and that it will be acknowledged, they are able to speak up about injustices. Sometimes we are too busy, or feel we have too much going on in our own lives, to offer the space for the child to honestly express themselves and we often miss vital communications.

If your child has lied, they are proclaiming 'hear me'.

Here are some important points to remember: ■ Helping children to value expressing their true feelings requires we express what we mean and do not tell untruths to them about how we feel.

■ The more consistent parents are with speaking their truth, and being honest in the kindest way, the more children feel they can do the same.

■ It is difficult to hold the space and hear your child express their feelings if you feel obligated to make sure they are compliant and only say those things other people approve of, or will accept.

The Need to Speak is one of the seven foundational needs in the Foundational Needs Model of Dr Maxine Thârèse.

For more discussion on this topic, check out her book The Push for a Child Philosophy; What Children Really Need You to Know.

12397767-SN36-18

Research states that "telling white lies is a common social phenomenon that helps us to fit in with our peers".

Lying, it is said, appears to be the way a child learns to fit in and how they discover what happens when they are untruthful.

6 SPRING 2018

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

your life Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Juggling a

small business and kids

Celeste Robertson says it's ok to drop the ball sometimes and have a coffee and a debrief.

By Melissa Grant MANAGING a small business and small children is often rewarding but involves a lot of hard work.

It's a juggling act Geelong mum Celeste Robertson knows too well.

Celeste has a two year-old son and is the founder of natural beauty, skincare and lifestyle product retailer Natural Supply Co, which stocks over 80 brands and ships orders all over the world.

She built her beauty and lifestyle empire from the ground up, and this year was a champion of the Small Business Festival which brought more than 50 events to the Geelong region in August.

Celeste, who has a long career in the beauty industry, founded Natural Supply Co with her best friend Catherine in 2014.

She said the business idea came about after Catherine, who has MS, was researching natural products.

"She was looking up toxic-free nail polishes. She said 'would you start up a business with me selling toxic free nail polishes online?'

"I said 'it's too niche. What if we just do a website selling natural products in general?'"

Natural Supply Co ships 'natural and luxurious' products across Australia and abroad including the US, New Zealand

HERE are Celeste's tips for parents with young kids who have a small business: BE ORGANISED Lists, lists and more lists! I write daily to-do lists, and get great satisfaction ticking items off as I complete them. I also keep a pen and paper beside the bed so I can jot down any thoughts that pop into my head as I am about to go to sleep as I seem to have great ideas and remember things I meant to do when I'm trying to switch off.

ACCEPT HELP

It's impossible to do it all. So Charlie is in daycare a few days a week, and I am very lucky to have my mum and in-laws both available and willing to help out a day a week. I meal plan for the week ahead, so I don't have to think about what to make for dinner each day, and my husband often does the big weekly shop over the weekend.

BE PRESENT It's so easy to be scrolling social media 24/7 when it's a big part of your job. I make sure that when I am with

Charlie, I stay off my phone as much as possible. I don't want him to feel like he isn't worthy of my full attention, so I try and stick to replying to emails, posting on social media and checking orders when he is in bed or playing with his dad!

IT'S OK TO DROP THE BALL SOMETIMES There are times when things happen and you just can't get everything done. Charlie might be sick and unable to go to daycare, work might be super busy and I can't get

Geelong mum Celeste Rob ertson built her beauty and lifestyle empire from the ground up. She was als o a champion of this year's Small Busine ss Festival.

and Asia, and has a strong online presence, including more than Instagram 20,000 followers.

Catherine has left the business, which Celeste now runs out of her Highton home with the help of Sarah Scott, wife of Geelong Cats coach Chris.

Celeste said while she loved the flexibility of working from home, running a small business as a mum of a young child was no walk in the park.

When her son Charlie was born, she got no maternity leave and went into labour before she could have her planned week of watching Netflix.

"I had not one day of sitting on couch," she said.

"I was doing social media as soon as I got home from hospital. Within a couple of weeks I was back (at work). You get some flexibility but it's not an easy thing to do."

the washing done or dinner cooked.

Or I might just have a day where I can't focus and need to have coffee and a debrief with a friend or some quiet time reading and thinking. And I've had to learn that it's totally ok dinner can be eggs on toast or takeaway, Charlie can be picked up a bit late from daycare and customers can be emailed with an apology if there is a delay in responding to emails. We are all human and as long as we are genuine, authentic and honest, everything will work out ok.

12398143-DJ36-18

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

SPRING 2018 7

your life Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Sarah Grace with acting students Jarrah Mayfield, Rylee Lodge, Anela Georgievski, and Maddie Smith.

e c a r G h a Sar ! y b a ab

By Angie Hilton SARAH Grace has been doing Geelong proud for years. You probably know her best of all as Bridget from Winners and Losers or as a regular voice on BayFM. But Sarah's star seems to be shining brighter than ever right now.

She has just rebranded and relaunched her acting school under the name of Grace Acting Studios. She recently won the Geelong Business Excellence Awards title for best customer service (no mean feat with a clientele of 425 students per week). She is madly in love with partner Adamo Di Biase. And best of all, we get to break the news that they're having a baby!

8 SPRING 2018

What strikes me most about Sarah, the more I get to know her, is that there is so much more to her than meets the eye.

If you were to typecast her, with the face of a doll, she would be the sweet, innocent girl next door - but her real life character is far from it. Sarah is a savvy businesswoman, intelligent, knows her mind and quietly goes about blazing a trail.

Sarah, what is going on? You seem to be on fire right now!

34 has been an amazing year for me.

Maybe it's my lucky number. I don't know really, I feel more empowered than ever before. Like I'm becoming more comfortable in my own skin. It's nice!

First things first... how amazing that you are having a baby and it just happens to be with one of my best buddies Adamo Di Biase. What was your initial reaction when you found out you were pregnant?

Well, we were on holiday in Byron Bay and, as you do when you're away, we had been indulging in a lot of soft cheese, cured meats, oysters, champagne, basically all of the pregnancy no-nos. So my initial reaction went something along the lines of 'Ahhh!

I've poisoned our baby!' Adamo was so level headed and assured crazy me that that was definitely not the case. Once I calmed down I was absolutely thrilled.

It is the best news ever!

Tell me about the love of your life? I certainly know how special he is, but tell everyone out there.

I just love being around him. He has such a fantastic outlook on life. He's got the biggest heart. He's fun, intelligent, creative but there's something really grounded about him that I love too. I think ultimately, you know you are with the right person when you feel like you are able to be the best version of yourself when you're with them and that's how I feel with Adamo.

How do you imagine yourself and Adamo as parents?

I think we'll make a good team. He's good at early mornings - I am not. He cooks really well, I'm the cleaner. I think we both have really similar ideas of

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your life It’s

doesn't frighten me. Every student that d w teach is so unique and brilliant in we t their own way, so I guess it makes me e even more excited to meet our little guy o girl and see what special spark they or b bring to the world! I must say, I am d definitely in awe of our parents at the s studio and all of the running around t they do with kids activities and just g general family stuff. They are i incredible.

But I'm hoping you develop t those super human parent powers over t time ... right?

I know it can't have been easy to m make the transition from Mooregrace A Acting Studio that you had with e ex-husband Paul Moore. How did you g through such a hard time and what get m motivated you to continue with the b business?

Sarah Grace and Adamo Di Biase are expecting their first child.

Pictures: Louisa Jones

what's important to us when raising kids; we share similar values. There is a lot of singing and dancing that goes on in our house so hopefully our little one is into that ... otherwise we might be embarrassing parents! Ha! What did your parents teach you that you'd love to pass on?

Oh wow. So many things. I think if I can be half as good at parenting as they are I will be doing well. I loved the sense of routine we had as little kids.

Every night we would always have dinner, a bath, play a game, read a story and go to bed. It sounds so simple but there is such a sense of love and safety in that and I have so many fond memories of that time. They taught me that I could achieve anything I set my mind too. I definitely want our little one to feel that. They taught me boundaries.

I remember as a teenager wanting to go to a party and mum not letting me go. I was so furious and quite horrible to her. Looking back I think there is no way I would let my year nine daughter go to that party. I have a lot of respect for mum for sticking to her guns with things like that. I think that's good parenting.

How important is family to you?

It is so important. It always has been, but I think it really hit home when my Hoppy (my mum's father) passed away a couple of years ago. Hoppy had three daughters and 10 grandchildren and we are all very close. He passed away very suddenly and on the day he died within an hour we were all up at Nanna's house, together. The cousins now call ourselves 'Hops Army'. We are

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all so different, but we would all do anything for each other and I know that I am so incredibly blessed to have that in my life. This amazing bond that we share all began with my Nanna and Hoppy. I'm so grateful to them and want my children and grandchildren to experience that same sense of unconditional love and belonging that I have with my family.

You recently won the Geelong Business Excellence Awards title of best customer service. What do you think it was that made you stand out above the rest?

Looking back, it was definitely a t tricky time. But when life throws you a c curve ball I think it always makes you s stronger and there is often a silver l lining.

Over that time I got more into y yoga and meditation and I journaled a l too. It gave me the opportunity to lot r reconnect with myself and what I really w want to stand for. I think the silver lining f me too was that I ended up falling in for l love with the business all over again, p probably more so than I had before.

W When you are faced with the possibly of l losing something it makes you realise w what it means to you. For me, this p period gave me real clarity that this is e exactly where I am supposed to be and

Ha! I don't know if anything really prepares you does it? But it definitely

What about your own acting career?

Does that take a backseat for a while?

I love acting, I always have and always will, so I have this sense of calm about it at the moment. It is always a part of my life and I know I feel more myself when I am doing it. But the capacity in which I do it doesn't really matter. I still get that same sense of fulfilment, whether it's in a class I'm taking, a play I'm working on with friends or on national television. It doesn't really matter to me. I feel like I'm in a different season at the moment, but I intend to keep acting until I'm grey and old so I have no doubt there will be more wonderful roles out there for me to play in the future.

Any dream roles you'd love to play one day?

Oh yeah, for sure! I love the idea of playing an actual person. I have always wanted to tell the story of a strong, empowered Australian woman.

There are so many untold stories in this country that I think should be celebrated and brought to light. Being part of that excites me. I'm not sure who that woman is yet, but that's a dream of mine. I'd also like to do a period piece or perhaps play someone royal. I think that would be so much fun.

Sarah

. . . t o h s snap ■ Age Age: ge: 34 ge

■ P Perfume: f A Armanii - A Aqua di Gi Gioia i ■ Favourite book: Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks

To win the customer service award was so incredibly exciting for the studio.

This year, as a team, the staff have been really honing in on how we can deliver the most exceptional student/ parent experience possible at the studio.

From the moment they first contact us, to their first class, right through to when they have been coming to us for years and are keen to take the leap into the film and TV industry. It has been the focus of our training sessions. There has been a lot of brainstorming and creating going on around this, and it's something that we are really passionate and excited about. So to win this award, I guess, was a nice affirmation that our hard work is paying off and that the judges were able to see our commitment to that.

Now, you've had a lot of experience with children of all ages through your acting school - does that prepare you or frighten you a little?

this is the work that I am supposed to be doing. You just feel it. My passion for the studio ultimately gave me a sense of purpose and joy that got me through those tough days.

■ Quirky habit: I love to play disco music in the shower ■ Something strange: I like thick Vegemite ■ Favourite quote: I don't know if I have one! But my favourite poem is 'She' by Danielle Bennett. Look it up, it's absolute magic! I have it stickytaped to the outside of my shower screen because I like to read it every day.

■ Hardest life lesson: There are some things you can't control. Sometimes you have just got to surrender and trust that it will all work out the way it is supposed to (an often so much better than you could have ever imagined).

Sarah Grace's star seems to be shining brighter than ever.

■ Mantra: I pick a different one each year, usually relating to what my intention is for the business, but it always spills over into all areas of life.

2018's is 'Bring Joy'.

SPRING 2018 9

your life Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Actor Kat Stewart has recently become an ambassador for The Magical Getaway Foundation, a charity that enables vulnerable children to go on their first holiday.

KAT STEWART'S

magical NEW ROLE

KAT Stewart has become an Australian household name for her acclaimed performances in Underbelly and Offspring.

However, few people know the Logie-winning actor and mother-of-two recently landed a leading role alongside a truly magical cast.

Kat is an ambassador for The Magical Getaway Foundation, a unique Australian charity that's bringing a lot of joy to vulnerable children and their families.

Melissa Grant speaks to Kat about that special role, motherhood, her own childhood and her career.

How are you enjoying your ambassador role with The Magical Getaway Foundation, a charity which enables vulnerable and disadvantaged kids to

10 SPRING 2018

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

You just get up and have to do what you have to do with a kid, and with a little baby it's just one foot in front of the other"

go on their first holiday?

I'm so pleased to be involved and I love the people - every contact I've had with the team has just been so inspiring.

It's early days, but I'm really excited about it. The good work the Magical Getaway Foundation is doing and is capable of doing in the future - it's really exciting.

How did your involvement with the foundation come about?

Teague Rook is a board member and he's someone I've known for many years. We've done theatre together and he is also a teacher. He just spoke to me about it and about five minutes in I

heard his passion. He's someone with great integrity who I really respect and admire as an actor, as a person and as a teacher. I just thought the idea of getting families who are under extreme pressure and stress, who have never had the opportunity to just be a family and not be in hospital wards, or not be in a refuge and not deal with really tough things, to be given an opportunity to have all the practical stuff taken care of - the medical support, the groceries, whatever they need - and just be together somewhere else. The holiday memories I have as a kid are really formative and they just made a really big difference to me as a mum and as a person. I just think it's such a wonderful opportunity to give to little kids and parents under extreme stress.

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

When you were a child you regularly holidayed with your cousins at a house on Phillip Island. You must have some great memories.

I do. We had great times. I think it was a little fibro place and it was jam-packed with about 20 of us in three bedrooms. There were lots of bodies on the floor, lots of sunscreen, black and white TV, endless days at the beach. It probably wasn't quite like that, but that's my memories as a little kid. Great times.

You spent your early childhood in Bairnsdale, a small country town in East Gippsland. Your parents packed up the family and travelled around Europe for 12 months when you were eight. That must have been an amazing experience.

That was a game-changer for us as a family. I'm very close to my father, but growing up he was a workaholic.

Mum was the stay-at-home parent who we spent lots of time with and my memories of dad only start that year.

That was because we were travelling together and we were doing correspondence - he taught me my times tables, he taught me how to catch a netball, all that stuff. And that set us up for life - I've had an incredibly close relationship with him ever since.

During that trip you attended school in London and I understand you would come home and imitate your classmates' accents. Was this when your interest in acting began?

I did. I got lonely. I went to school for a few months in England - that might be where some of the early signs were.

I was so fascinated because the area we were in had a real cross-section of accents from quite posh to quite knockabout, and I loved all that. I was fascinated by that, so I'd come home and try out all the different accents in front of my family.

You initially didn't consider acting a viable career and studied marketing at university before working in publicity. When did you realise you could make a career out of acting?

It just wasn't something that was really on my radar. It wasn't that I sort of dismissed it - it just wasn't what people did. I didn't know anyone who was in that world. I studied marketing and arts first and while I was there I got involved in the theatre society at Monash (University) and completely fell in love with it. I had done school plays here and there, and it was something that I loved but I never thought of it as a career. I knew enough to know it wasn't a very secure profession, so I did hope that it was a phase that I'd fall out of. But I thought I'd never know unless I actually take it through to the end, so I enrolled in a three-year night-time course hoping that I could hedge my bets and keep working during the day. But ultimately I had to make a choice. It was in the second year of my course that I was working in publishing as a publicist and I couldn't be in two places at once.

I had to be at the Adelaide Writers' Festival or I had to be on stage doing an amazing play called Angels in America, which is still one of the greatest scripts I've ever worked on, and I had to decide. That was a real moment of reckoning and I have no regrets.

Your breakout role was in Underbelly, however most people would know you as Billie Proudman from Offspring. I understand it was actually one of Billie's storylines that got you really thinking about motherhood.

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your life Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Social tourism is something that's been going on in Europe for decades. It's not really been done in Australia so it's a really great thing"

I just put it (motherhood) at the back of my mind really because I was so busy. I was enjoying being busy because my 20s were quite quiet in some ways career-wise, so things were just starting to get interesting in my 30s for work and I didn't really want to break the rhythm. It was one of those things - I was so busy that I was like 'we'll think about it next year, we'll think about it next year'. Then my character Billie was doing IVF in series two and as part of that storyline I was doing some research on IVF and statistics and I thought 'oh, hang on, oh hang on this includes me here - I'm in this age bracket. I better not take it for granted that we can do it whenever we want to'. So it forced us to think of it as something we should address and by the end of the series I was pregnant very happily with Archie.

Filming days can be quite long. How do you juggle the demands of being on set with motherhood?

I had a lot of help and a lot of support. I had Archie on set when he was five weeks and I had Gigi (Georgia) on set when she was three weeks. When I think about it now the mind boggles. But you just get up and have to do what you have to do with a kid, and with a little baby it's just one foot in front of the other and I was so supported. I worked until right to the end of the pregnancy with Archie and I knew I had the producers' support and the casting crew's support and they made it as achievable as possible to have the babies and work. I had (husband) David with me with Archie, and when I had Gigi I had a family friend to help when I was on set. I don't know - it's a bit of a blur to be honest. I was very lucky to do what I love and have my babies with me. Not many jobs afford you that.

Would you like to see Offspring return for another season?

I love doing it and I don't think realistically it's something I could ever say no to because I loved it so much and we are just a family because we spent so much time together. But who knows? Honestly, I think we had a really good run. I think seven seasons is very rare and we were very lucky. So whatever happens I think we have done very well.

You've just returned to Melbourne after a family holiday. How was that?

It was fantastic. We went to Japan which is pretty amazing. There were 14 of us. It was wild. It was my husband, two kids and my brother and his family - he's got four kids - and my dad and some family friends. It was the trip of a lifetime really, it was great. My dad had a huge health scare last year and I lost my mum two years ago. After that we all got together and said 'let's make something happen, let's do something really great'.

You just don't know in life. Dad's actually fighting fit now, but it just gave us that push to make it happen and I'm so glad we did - it was just fantastic. We've made a lot of great memories.

Where are some of the other places you've been on holiday together?

We've been to Phillip Island a lot, so that's still a big touchstone for us and the family and my brothers and their families. That's the main thing we do we go there for Easter and Christmas and if we can get long weekends that's where we go. My dad's got a place there. We went to Port Douglas when they (my children) were really little.

But with little kids travelling is no small thing, so it's nice to have a place within a couple of hours of Melbourne that they know and that's familiar and that's fun, so that's where we go really.

Where's your next adventure?

We've had a pretty good run - I don't think we will be planning anything for a while now! But we will be getting away as often as we can to Phillip Island. We are lucky we can spend time with Dad there. And getting back to the Magical Getaway Foundation - that (holidays) is just not something a lot of people can do, but certainly people who are benefiting from the foundation can access (them). It's really moving, the families that The Magical Getaway Foundation has been helping. And what really affected me about the families is they are so proactive, so productive and so honest and candid. The only condition of their involvement is that they tell their stories and I think it's so incredibly powerful and a great reminder that holidays are lovely, whatever form they take. But it's really about the memories that you make as a family unit that's the important thing. It's not where you go but it's that you get the time together.

My holiday sounds fancy but that's not the point. The point is that it's time with the family and that's what got me really excited about this foundation.

What's the best way somebody can help the foundation?

Anyone with a connection to somebody or a business that could help with a holiday - that would be amazing. If someone is from a place that runs apartments, a supermarket, or a business that could help or theme parks, whatever it is - we really rely on that sort of contribution and they're always acknowledged appropriately and gratefully. They don't have to be expensive holidays. It's an opportunity to get away and have some fun and have some experiences, so any kind of contribution could be more valuable than anyone realises. I also think just listening to the testimonials from the families - it can be just one decision from someone saying 'hey I think you need a hand, I'm going to do something for you' that can change the course of somebody's life. So it's no small thing. Any kind of contribution makes a difference. The Magical Getaway Foundation is quite a new foundation, but it's the only foundation of its kind. Social tourism is something that's been going on in Europe for decades. It's not really been done in Australia so it's a really great thing.

FOUNDATION

the only of its kind THE Magical Getaway Foundation is the only Australian charity dedicated to social tourism, which means providing access to breaks away from home for people who would otherwise be excluded.

Kat Stewart and Steven Bradbury OAM are ambassadors of the foundation that aims to provide hope and lifetime changes for families through a first ever holiday.

Statistics show that one in three Australian children have never been on a holiday.

The Magical Getaway Foundation gifts fully-funded first ever holidays to eligible children and their families. In return, the recipients share their story with the foundation.

It's not about the holiday - it's what the holiday brings.

Research indicates that holidays benefit individuals and society because they improve well-being and reduce stress, increase self-esteem and confidence, strengthen family communication and bonding, provide new skills, widen perspectives and enhance employability. Going on holiday also gives long-lasting, treasured memories and results in happier, stronger families and decreases social isolation.

The Tumbas family is among those who have benefited from the Magical Getaway Foundation.

Annalise Tumbas said their holiday provided wonderful memories and experiences.

"This has also helped with our healing as I believe that with each great memory puts a brick in the wall that helps build a wall away from the trauma these boys have experienced and this in particular has given many different experiences, knowledge and memories that I by myself would never have been able to give them," she said.

SPRING 2018 11

your life Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

OUR

favourite baby names

By Melissa Grant GO to any childcare centre, playgroup or kindergarten and you are likely to see an Oliver or Charlotte running around.

However, you may be hard-pressed to find any kids called Christopher, Amy and Jessica - all names that were extremely popular not so long ago.

Australia's top baby names for 2017 have been revealed, with Oliver and Charlotte still reigning supreme.

Oliver has been our favourite boy's name since 2013 and was used 2063 times last year.

There were 1687 girls named Charlotte, which was the top baby girl name in Australia for the third year running.

TOP 20 BABY GIRL NAMES

Olivia, Ava, Amelia, Mia, Isla, Grace, Ella, Chloe and Harper were also among the top 10 baby names for girls last year, according to the annual McCrindle Baby Names Report.

â&#x2013; Charlotte â&#x2013; Olivia â&#x2013; Ava â&#x2013; Amelia â&#x2013; Mia â&#x2013; Isla

For boys, William, Jack, Noah, Thomas, James, Lucas, Henry, Ethan and Mason rounded out the top 10.

Around one in 10 of the 300,000 babies born in Australia were last year given one of the top 10 baby names.

â&#x2013; Grace â&#x2013; Ella â&#x2013; Chloe

A ROYAL INFLUENCE

â&#x2013; Harper

The report also revealed the royal family seems to be having a significant influence on our choice of baby names.

George climbed from 71st in 2012 (the year before Prince George's birth) to 35th last year.

Charlotte overtook Olivia as the most popular baby girl name in 2015 (the same year the princess was born).

Louis was the 73rd most popular boys name last year but is expected to rocket up the charts following the arrival of William and Kate's third child.

NEW NAMES

For girls, the new entries were: Freya (66th), Luna (83rd), Harlow (85th), Elena (94th) and Millie (96th). These names replace Paige, Alyssa, Hayley, Thea, Molly, Eve, Aisha, Alexandra, Brooklyn and Sadie, which were last year in the top 100.

the mid 1990s about one in every 30 girls born was named Jessica. It's an amazing statistic given Charlotte, the current top choice, accounts for one in every 87 girls' names. However, by 2013 Jessica dropped to 29th on the name chart and since then has plummeted to 99th.

Amy was also a top 10 girls' name for much of the 1980s and 1990s, however is now well outside the top 100.

NOT SO POPULAR ANYMORE

For boys, Joshua was the most popular name in Australia from the mid 1990s until 2003, but has fallen to 32nd place.

Remember how many Jessicas there were when you were in school? Jessica was Australia's most popular girls' name for 16 out of 18 years between 1984 and 2001. The name was so popular that by

Christopher was also in the top 10 boys names in the 1970s and 1980s, peaking at number one in 1985 and 1986. However it was last in the Top 100 in 2012 when it was at 93rd place.

â&#x2013; Isabella â&#x2013; Ruby â&#x2013; Emily â&#x2013; Ivy â&#x2013; Lily â&#x2013; Willow

TOP 20 BABY BOY NAMES â&#x2013; Oliver â&#x2013; William â&#x2013; Jack â&#x2013; Noah â&#x2013; Thomas â&#x2013; James â&#x2013; Lucas â&#x2013; Henry â&#x2013; Ethan â&#x2013; Mason

â&#x2013; Charlie â&#x2013; Leo â&#x2013; Harrison â&#x2013; Liam â&#x2013; Alexander â&#x2013; Hunter â&#x2013; Lachlan â&#x2013; Samuel â&#x2013; Hudson â&#x2013; Levi

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For boys, the new entries were in the top 100 most popular names were: Arthur (83rd), Bodhi (93rd), Jude (94th), Asher (97th), Aaron (98th) and Leon (100th).

These names entered the list at the expense of Chase, Nathan, Christian, John, Lewis, Maxwell, Marcus and Hayden.

â&#x2013; Zoe â&#x2013; Sophie â&#x2013; Evie â&#x2013; Evelyn

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Teaching your teen how to be a safe driver

By Melissa Grant

a safe driver starts long before they jump in the driver's seat.

Getting a learner permit is a huge milestone in a teenager's life.

"For role modelling, it starts quite young," she said.

While it's an exciting occasion for a them, it can be a scary time for their parents.

"Before they go out and get their Ls and start practicing, it's important to be modelling safe driving behaviour, minimising distractions and driving to speed limits."

It's understandable that mums and dads may be somewhat nervous about jumping in the passenger seat with their son or daughter behind the wheel.

But the importance of helping an L-Plater clock up 120 hours practice in all kinds of conditions cannot be underestimated.

Statistics show road crashes continue to be a leading cause of death for people aged between 18 and 25 years.

Last year, 24 per cent of drivers who lost their lives were in this age group, despite making up only 10 per cent of licence holders.

So how do you help your child become a safe driver and not a road statistic?

Transport Accident Commission (TAC) Road Safety Project Manager Tahlee Norton says teaching a child how to be

When a teenager gets their learner's permit, it's often a good idea to book in some professional driving lessons.

Parents can also sit in on a formal driving lesson if they aren't confident in their own abilities to instruct.

"It can help with parents being able to find the right language to use. It can also help to refine the skills and give a better idea of approaches you can take," Mrs Norton explained.

"But it's not a mandatory requirement."

It's important the 120 hours' practice is done in a variety of environments.

This includes highways, country roads and inner-city roads. It also includes night driving and practice in wet and windy conditions.

your life Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Alife Clark has starting clocking up his 120 hours practice after getting his learner permit in June.

Picture: Stewart Chambers

That means only allowing your child to drive to school at the same time, on the same route every weekday isn't going to cut it.

night driving, mobile phone use, drink or drug affected driving, risky driving such as speeding, and driving older and less safe cars.

Learner drivers can also access online resources to support them. The TAC's Drive Smart program, for example, is an online training program that simulates different road environments.

Mrs Norton said there was a lot of evidence which showed getting the 120 hours practice reduced the risk of crashing.

The TAC also runs a Road Smart program, in conjunction with VicRoads, that's available to public and private schools across the state.

Improving students' understanding of road trauma and equipping them with knowledge to make good decisions on the road is among the key aims of the program.

Some of the behaviours that increase a young driver's risk of crashing include driving with peer aged passengers,

The 120 hours must be recorded in a learner log book and include at least 20 hours of night-time driving.

The person supervising must be seated beside the learner at all times and hold a full and current licence.

Also don't forget to properly display the L Plates in the car.

Happy (and safe) driving!

For more information, visit: www.vicroads.vic.gov.au www.drivesmart.vic.gov.au

The problem with handbags

By Melissa Grant When it comes to child-proofing the home, the main places parents and carers check are the kitchen, laundry, shed, garage and bathroom.

Securing furniture and televisions is also a priority when m making ak kin ing th tthe h house a safer place for small children. ll ch hi However, there Ho H ow re e iss another a other household hous uss item parents and carers are are ar a nd c ers need to t be b mindful of of. f

Handbags contain various items, many of which can be harmful to young children.

Handbags commonly around the dba bags gs c gs o monl left a ro ro home have been major eh a av n llisted isted as a m is potential babies p po ote tent n l danger for b abi ab bie and toddlers.

"Handbags in many cases are similar

to a medicine cabinet as they can contain a range of products including pain killers, contraceptive pills, prescription medicine and hand sanitisers," Kidsafe Victoria general manager Jason Chambers said.

Other items commonly found in handbags which can pose a risk to children include nail scissors, nail files and cosmetics. Handbags also often contain small objects such as coins and mints that can pose a choking hazard.

Children are naturally curious and love to put things in their mouths, so it's imperative to keep handbags (which often are left open or are easy to unzip) away from them.

Mr Chambers said placing handbags

up high out of reach of little hands was the best way to reduce the risk of children accessing potentially harmful products.

"It is important that all handbags are placed up high out of the sight and reach of children - this includes visitors' handbags too," he said.

Kidsafe recommends storing all poisonous products out of sight and out of reach of children in a lockable cupboard that's at least 1.5 metres from the ground.

Last year, the Victorian Poisons Information Centre received 15,719 calls - about 43 a day - regarding a child under the age of five being exposed to a poisonous substance.

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www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

SPRING 2018 13

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14 SPRING 2018

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

your life Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Feel

radiant during pregnancy with massage EVERY mum-to-be knows that pregnancy can be a little painful and stressful at times.

Changes in your body and lifestyle can be uncomfortable in more ways than one.

The good news is that massage is the perfect way to pause and acknowledge the physical, emotional and mental changes that occur during pregnancy.

Not every pregnancy is the same, so a pregnancy massage treatment is tailored to suit the needs of mum-to-be.

Specialised massage techniques are used to treat and manage the common musculoskeletal issues that are unique to pregnancy, while also promoting relaxation and enhancing the motherbaby connection.

Here, experienced perinatal and remedial massage therapist Laura Calderone explains the four ways massage can help you feel radiant

during your pregnancy.

Manage physical changes Massage is safe and effective in managing physical changes of pregnancy, such as the increased lumbar lordosis that causes discomfort in the lower back and pelvis.

During pregnancy, a woman's centre of gravity shifts forward as their baby develops and their belly gets bigger and their posture changes.

In some cases, women enter pregnancy with postural complaints and these issues become exacerbated during pregnancy. Massage can help to correct the postural imbalances caused by the physical changes of pregnancy by alleviating tension in the back, hips, neck and shoulders.

Deeper sleep During pregnancy, sleep patterns change. In the first trimester, there is often a need for increased sleep, while

the second and third trimesters can cause sleep disruptions due to muscle aches, stress, anxiety and foetal movement. Pregnancy massage can help the mother sleep more easily and deeply due to the soothing and relaxing effect on the nervous system.

Reduced stress and depression Massage during pregnancy has been shown to increase dopamine and serotonin (the happy, feel-good chemicals) and decrease levels of cortisol and norepinephrine (stress hormones). This is because massage negates the impact of stress by triggering the parasympathetic nervous system. As a result, blood pressure and heart rates are stabilised, immune system functioning is improved and women experience a reduction in stress, anxiety and depression.

Manage labour pains Research shows that having your

New meningococcal

By Melissa Grant A new meningococcal vaccination which covers four strains of the deadly disease is now available on the National Immunisation Program.

The vaccination, Nimenrix, is free for children aged 12 months and covers the A, C, W and Y strains (MenACWY) of meningococcal.

The vaccine became available on the NIP on July 1 after its listing was recommended by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee earlier in the year.

Previously the only free meningococcal vaccine has been for meningococcal C, which was recommended for all children at 12 months of age. Protection against strain B and combined vaccines against the ACWY strains have been available at a cost.

The upgrade to the free new quadstrain vaccine comes following a spike of invasive meningococcal cases.

Last year there were 382 meningococcal cases in Australia, compared to 252 cases in 2016 and 182 cases in 2015.

Meningococcal-related deaths also increased to 28 last year. There were 11 deaths in 2016 and 12 deaths in 2015.

Those lucky enough to survive can suffer devastating long-term effects, including loss of arms and legs, deformed arms and legs, scars, deafness, blurred vision, learning difficulties and headaches. www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

Meningococcal Australia's Eliza Ault-Connell said it was fantastic the new quad-strain vaccine was being added to the immunisation program, although it did not provide full protection.

"While this is incredible news, it's still incredibly important parents remain vigilant," she said.

"Even though they will have access to the new vaccine, they will not be protected against meningococcal B." Ms Ault-Connell said there would be a continued push to have strain B vaccines, currently between $120 and $155 per dose, made available for free.

She knows too well about the devastating impacts of meningococcal B - she had both legs amputated below the knee and lost her fingers after contracting the disease when she was 16.

partner or other support person with you in the delivery room can relieve anxiety as well as decreasing pain levels during labour.

Massage during labour blocks the pain impulses from reaching the brain and releases endorphins - the body's natural pain-killer.

Massage performed by the birth partner during labour ensures that they know exactly what to do when contractions start, making massage comforting rather than intrusive and the birthing woman will experience less intense pain, increased relaxation and decreased feelings of anxiety during labour.

For more information on how massage can help you feel radiant and energised during your pregnancy, call Laura Calderone- Perinatal & Remedial Massage Therapist on 0407 512 009 or visit lauracladeronemassage.com

vaccine added to NIP

Symptoms appear suddenly and death can occur within hours. Urgent medical treatment should be sought if a there is a rash of red/purple pin prick spots or larger bruise-like areas, neck stiffness, discomfort when looking at bright light, fever, headache, nausea/ vomiting, diarrhoea. Young children can also experience extreme tiredness or floppiness, and fits or twitching.

The Nimenrix vaccine is now being given to all children due for their 12 month vaccinations. Kids who already had their meningococcal C vaccine at 12 months of age aren't eligible to receive the ACWY vaccine under the National Immunisation Program, but parents can still purchase it privately.

For more information, visit www. health.gov.au/immunisation

"I think parents who haven't been touched by the disease, or people in general, understand how quickly the disease takes hold," she said.

"You may not feel well during the day and go to sleep and not wake up."

Anyone can get meningococcal, although certain groups of people are at higher risk of contracting it. Those at a higher risk include children under the age of 5, young people aged between 15 and 24, and people with weakened immune systems due to chronic disease and some medications.

The infection that occurs when meningococcal bacteria from the throat or nose, which up to 20 per cent of people have, invades the body.

SPRING 2018 15

WHY MUMS SHOULD KEEP

movin'

EXERCISING in the chaos of motherhood may seem difficult.

Regular exercise also helps our quality of sleep.

plenty of ways to incorporate movement at home.

But it's important to regularly engage in physical activity given the huge benefits exercise has on both physical and mental health.

Which when you're getting four hours total of broken sleep night, is a real selling point. For the sake of the whole household, those four hours need to be quality. Exercise also energises you during the day. Although it seems counter-intuitive - expending energy moving your bod actually boosts your overall energy levels.

Adequate movement in your day can be as little as 3 x 10 minute blocks broken throughout the day. This might look like dancing with bub to your favourite song on repeat, push ups and abs exercises on the mat next to bubba, and lunging down the hallway when settling them. Getting outside for even a short, slow walk can also do wonders for both you and bub.

Annelise Worn is passionate about getting mums moving - she runs mums and littlies fitness classes in Torquay.

Here, Annelise explains the benefits of exercise for new mums.

Incorporating movement into your day doesn't have to mean taking an hour out to go to a pilates class (though if you can get some 'me time', please do). There are lots of exercises classes that accommodate children along the Geelong Coast, but there are also

For most of us, our perception of motherhood had to be readjusted after having our babes.

This readjustment can be tough if you go from being a productive go-getter to barely managing to feed yourself and make your bed in the morning. Add to that limited sleep and a mounting to-do list, and mental health becomes a very real issue.

It's also really easy to fall into the trap of not eating, or eating on the run and grabbing carb heavy food lacking in nutrients.

You wouldn't put the wrong fuel in your car and expect it to run well, and our bodies are the same. Food is both fuel and medicine.

Putting the right fuel in can change the game entirely. If you can clear a few hours once or twice a week to cook up a storm, batching can really help to take the pressure off. Roast a chicken and a heap of root veggies, make a soup, cook up a whole heap of leafy greens, make some quinoa and bake some savoury veggie filled muffins.

With all this in the fridge/freezer, meals can be just mix and match, heat and go.

Regular exercise and adequate nutrition can do truly wondrous things for your body and mind, but they don't help bubba sleep more, make a dent in laundry mountain or decrease the to-do list.

Most of us know some of the incredible benefits exercise has on our physical health. It strengthens bones, builds muscle tone, assists with weight loss, decreases risk of chronic disease, delays the appearance of skin ageing (sign me up!). But it also does amazing things to our brain. Not only does the increased oxygen flow help our brain function, but exercise also increases our brain sensitivity to the hormones that relieve depression, and makes us produce the 'feel good' hormones, endorphins.

Food and movement can go a long way to supporting a positive frame of mind to deal with this, but the thing that's going to make the biggest difference is adjusting your expectations and calming self-criticism. It's okay to want a lot from yourself, but be aware of burn out and be kind to yourself. The days are long, but the years are short.

Enjoy your little ones, and try to be okay with the fact that sometimes all you can do is throw out the to-do list entirely and live in the moment.

18

SPRING 20

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Epworth Geelong event gives new mums valuable advice GETTING support and advice is important when you're a new mum.

This includes help with breastfeeding, bottle feeding, settling your newborn, nutrition, managing going back to work and self-care.

These topics were explored as Epworth Geelong hosted a mother's group morning tea focusing on World Breastfeeding Week.

Some 50 mothers gathered for the event, held in August, which featured guest speakers who offered plenty of valuable advice. Many of the mums had recently given birth at the Epworth.

"It was pretty exciting to see the mums and babies come back in," Associate Director of Clinical Services at Epworth Geelong Lisa Garner said.

"There were so many prams in the room - it was great."

The speakers included Johanna Clark, an experienced naturopath and nutritionist who spoke about how mums could best look after themselves in those first few challenging weeks of a baby's life.

Gillian Thornton from the Australian Breastfeeding Association offered advice on breastfeeding, including how to get support. A lactation consultant and a maternal child health nurse from the City of Greater Geelong were also on hand for advice.

Mrs Garner said the Epworth was looking to make the mum's morning tea a regular event.

"The women, as they were leaving, said how valuable it was and how great it was to gather with women in the same situation," she said.

About 50 mums gathered for the morning tea event.

Experienced naturopath and nutritionist Johanna Clark speaks at the Epworth's mum's group event.

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www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

SPRING 2018 17

JURASSIC

JOURNEY HUNT! MON 24 SEP â&#x20AC;&#x201C; FRI 5 OCT 11am to 2pm daily (excludes weekends)

Journey through the Jurassic World at Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre for your chance to win 1 of 10 Dinosaur Prize Packs valued at over $100 each* 1. Collect your dinosaur hunt sheet from the Jurassic World Activity Centre near Target 2. Journey through Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre to ďŹ nd the Jurassic displays and complete the quiz as you go 3. Return your dinosaur hunt sheet to the Jurassic World Activity Centre and enter the draw to Win! *Competition terms and conditions apply. See www.waurnpondssc.com.au for details

WaurnPondsSC

Jurassic World is a trademark and copyright of Universal Studios and Amblin Entertainment, Inc. Licensed by Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

www.waurnpondssc.com.au

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18 SPRING 2018

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

Get ready for two weeks of

MEGA SCHOOL HOLIDAY FUN At Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre

DINOSAUR CRAFT

WIN 1 OF 10 $50

MON 24 SEP – FRI 28 SEP

MON 24 SEP – FRI 5 OCT*

11am to 2pm daily outside Target

Caption the dinosaur photos and videos on the WaurnPondsSC Facebook page and go into the draw to win!

There will be a new photo or video each weekday so you can enter every day for more chances to win.

OVER TWO MONSTROUS WEEKS

Dinosaur Plaster Painting Paint your own dinosaur plaster shape to take home.

Meet moving and roving dinosaurs daily.

READING CINEMAS GIFT CARDS

*Weekdays only. Competition terms and conditions apply. See www.waurnpondssc.com.au for details

MON 1 OCT – FRI 5 OCT 11am to 2pm daily outside Target

3D Jigsaw Puzzle Construct a dinosaur skeleton out of puzzle pieces to take home.

Meet moving and roving dinosaurs daily.

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www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

SPRING 2018 19

Education

Kids prefer cleaning than homework

By Melissa Grant

teachers set homework, which includes revising material for tests and projects.

KIDS would rather get a job, clean their room or stay at school longer than do their homework.

"Not all parents have the time or the capacity to assist with homework," she said.

And around one in three children don't complete their assignments because they're distracted by social media or television.

She said Parents Victoria often heard of circumstances where the volume and difficulty of homework appeared to be burdensome.

These are among the key findings of a national survey, which shows nearly one in two parents are struggling to get their kids to complete any homework.

"The amount of homework should never be so much that it prevents students from getting sufficient sleep, playing sport, learning a musical instrument or spending quality family time."

Busy schedules and kids' preference to do other things are making it extremely difficult for mums and dads to enforce homework.

More than 1000 parents and 500 students aged 11-16 took part in the survey, commissioned by educational company Firefly Learning.

Alarmingly, the survey found one in three parents were unable to help with homework because they didn't understand what was required.

Kids' disdain for homework was apparent in the survey with 34 per cent stating they would prefer to clean their room than do homework. A further 26 per cent said they would rather get a job and 19 per cent said they would prefer to stay at school an hour longer.

Ms McHardy said it wasn't surprising some kids would rather clean their room than hit the books.

EXCUSES KIDS GIVE WHEN THEY DON'T DO THEIR HOMEWORK

When they fail to hand in their assignments, children usually tell their teachers "I forgot" or "I had too much homework and couldn't do it all".

However, she said there were certainly some homework tasks that were beneficial to students, particularly reading take home books.

The survey findings are hardly surprising to Parents Victoria executive officer Gail McHardy, who says the volume and difficulty of homework given is a hot topic.

Parents Victoria encourages mums and dads to raise any homework concerns with their child's teacher.

I forgot to do my homework 31.8%

"Communication is key, so schools need to be clear with their homework policy and instructions that go with the work sent home," Ms McHardy said.

I was too busy 16.2%

Ms McHardy believes the impact on families should be considered when

I had too much homework and couldn't do it all 23.0% I had computer problems 17.8% Other (includes 1.4% dog at my homework) 11.2%

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Education

Run your own flexible childcare business

with Clann ARE you combining casual or part-time work with being a stay-at-home mum?

Are you looking for an additional household income?

Clann provides a clear avenue to a career in Early Childhood Education and Care, providing the opportunity to work the hours that work for you.

Clann provides a dedicated pathway for carers and educators - from the initial Certificate I right through to Certificate III. Clann is a fully accredited provider program and has a complete set of

educational resources.

You could be running your own childcare business with Clann in as little as four to six weeks!

And for families, Clann is sometimes referred to as the 'AirBnB of childcare'.

Clann offers the most flexible, complete and inclusive childcare program on the market, with safe, compliant and responsible options for families.

To find out more, visit Clann.com.au or call 1800 425 266.

Amanda McFadden, pictured with daughter Alice, launched Clann with her husband Liam last year.

Breakfast Clubs IMPROVE STUDENT LEARNING FIVE million free breakfasts.

That's how many have been consumed by students across Victoria since 2016, thanks the state government funded Breakfast Clubs program.

Last year alone, 569,000 kilograms of food was distributed, with an average 33 students attending a breakfast club in every school, every day of operation. This includes 11,834 kilograms of instant oats, 128,840

apples, and 230,719 litres of milk.

Research has shown that since the program started, nine out of 10 teachers have seen improved student concentration in the classroom. Seven out of 10 teachers have noted improved attendance, and more than eight out of 10 said they now had better relationships with their students.

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Some 500 of the state's most disadvantaged schools serve up the free and healthy breakfasts, ensuring

students are ready to start their day on a full stomach, ready to learn.There are some 50,000 free meals provided each week.

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

SPRING 2018 21

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22 SPRING 2018

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

Entertainment

Jimmy Giggle with his friends Hootabelle and Hoot.

GETTING TO KNOW Jimmy

By Melissa Grant IF you have kids, you probably know Jimmy Giggle.

But you may not know that he wanted to be a stuntman when he was a kid, or that he didn't specifically audition for Giggle and Hoot.

Jimmy Rees - or Jimmy Giggle as he is widely known - has been entertaining children for the past nine years as the star of Giggle and Hoot, the popular ABC Kids program.

Jimmy, Hootabelle and their friends are also about to take the television show to the stage for the first time in two years.

The gig is such a hoot that sometimes it's hard for Jimmy to believe he gets paid to do it.

young age, although initially he wanted to work dangerously behind the scenes.

"I went through this phase where I wanted to be a stuntman, like drive a stunt motorbike," he said.

"It was just an idea and I thought that I could do that but I'm not a risk taker. It was bizarre."

Jimmy watched a lot of comedy television as a young child and his father, an Englishman with real 'British humour', loved Monty Python and was always joking around and playing the guitar.

Jimmy, who grew up in Victoria, became interested in theatre during high school after watching his brother on stage.

He studied media arts at university but never finished the course.

"The television show is too much fun really - you really have to pinch yourself that it's actually a job," he said.

When ABC3 was being launched in 2009, Jimmy did an open audition for the channel.

"And it's great to get out and do the live shows and meet the people who are watching."

He didn't quite make it through, but the casting director handed his footage to the team starting up Giggle and Hoot.

Jimmy had an interest in entertainment and television from a www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

The rest, of course, is history.

Jimmy Giggle is now a household

Giggle

name and has a huge following of mums, which came as a bit of a surprise particularly when the children's entertainer stumbled across a Facebook page called 'I could teach Jimmy Giggle a thing or two'.

"It's all just tongue in cheek," he said with a laugh.

"I don't know, I thought sideburns went out in the 1970s!"

Jimmy's son Lenny, 3, is also a fan of the show and often asks Jimmy Giggle for things if dad says no.

Given the program's popularity, tickets to the live shows are expected to sell out fast.

The Hootastic Live Concert features the gang's popular songs including The Gigglemobile, Go Giggleosaurus, Birdbath Boogie, The Giggle Galaxy and Hoot's Lullaby.

"The show is high energy and they are really fun," Jimmy Giggle said.

"There is a lot of audience interaction and we encourage kids to get up and scream and shout."

Jimmy Giggle, Hootabelle and their friends will perform their Hootastic Concert at the GPAC Playhouse on

QUICK Q&A WITH JIMMY GIGGLE Favourite food? Burger with the lot, beetroot and pineapple included!

Favourite TV show? I do love Games of Thrones.

Favourite music? Rock music.

Foo Fighters are my favourite band.

Favourite book? I'm not much of a reader, but as a kid I was obsessed with Possum Magic.

Your favourite place to holiday?

Beach holiday.

Top five dinner party guests (dead or alive)? Jim Carey, Dave Grohl, Muhammad Ali, Kevin Sheedy and Hootabelle

Friday 5 October.There will be two shows â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one at 10am and the other at 12pm.

For tickets, visit livenation.com.au SPRING 2018 23

Spring

into

Central Geelong for school holiday fun SPRING has sprung and it's time to shake off winter and get the kids moving.

Central Geelong's 'Let's Move' themed Spring Kids Fun Guide features more than 90 exciting activities to keep the kids busy.

Activities include drumming, juggling and hooping sessions, mummy and me fitness sessions, recycled and sustainable crafts, ride-on dinosaurs, storytelling and exhibitions. There are also special offers, competitions and much more.

Highlights of the program include: FOOTY FUN & GIANT GAMES Just in time for the AFL grand final, bring your footy and have a kick on Steampacket Gardens, get your face

painted in your favourite team's colours and enjoy some giveaways and prizes.

Plus there'll be giant games including twister, frisbee target, snakes and ladders, pickup sticks, croquet, Jenga, and more. For all ages.

pantomime - Aladdin. Hear the traditional Aladdin tale, colour your very own poster and learn some cool dance moves. For kids aged 10 years and under.

■ Where: Steampacket Gardens, Eastern Beach Rd, Waterfront Geelong

■ Session 1: 10am

■ When: Wednesday 3 October ■ Session 2: 11am ■ Where: GPAC Foyer, 50 Lt Malop St, Geelong

■ When: Wednesday 26 September, 11am-2pm. Face Painting: 11am1pm

■ Booking: centralgeelong.com.au/ events/aladdin

■ Bookings: Not required

■ Cost: Gold coin donation to Geelong Hospital

■ More information: centralgeelong. com.au/events/113449

BOAT MAKING & SAILING

ALADDIN STORY TIME AND ACTIVITIES A fun and friendly session with the Empress, Genie and cast of Medimime's

Ahoy there me hearty's, mateys, scallywags, seadogs, and landlubbers!

Come and build yer boat and sail it on

the high seas (Customs Park fountain).

Bring yer gumboots, yer gunner get wet!!

ARRRR! While stock lasts. For kids aged 3-10 years.

■ Where: Customs Park Lawn, Eastern Beach Rd (next to Sailors Rest), Waterfront Geelong ■ When: Thursday 27 September, 11am-1pm ■ Bookings: Not required You'll find these activities and so much more listed in the spring Central Geelong Kids Fun Guide, an initiative of Central Geelong Marketing. Download your copy on Saturday 1 September from www.centralgeelong.com.au/ school-holiday. Bookings for the above activities open at 12pm on Wednesday 6 September.

HOUSE OF FUN MASSIVE INDOOR PLAYROOM

12 noon - 8.30pm

Special Kids Meals Mon, Tues & Wed Dinner only y

Breakfast

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Entertainment

Roar INTO Waurn Ponds

Sun BFeESaTIVrAL

CHILDREN'S

RETURNS

THESE HOLIDAYS

DON'T miss a wildlife festival that will have the whole family jumping for joy.

JOURNEY into Jurassic World - Fallen Kingdom these school holidays at Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre.

Dinosaur Plaster Painting

Come and see the greatest creatures to ever walk the earth in a thrilling and interactive Jurassic World experience.

11am until 2pm daily, near Target

A range of fun and free Jurassic inspired activities begin at the shopping centre on Monday 24 September.

The biggest display will roar to life near Target. Upon entering the iconic Jurassic Park gates, visitors will be greeted by attendants who will invite them to participate in the Jurassic Journey through Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre.

Kids will collect a Dinosaur Hunt sheet and answer questions from the dinosaur displays around the shopping centre. After completing their questionnaire, kids will go into the draw to win 1 of 10 Dinosaur Prize Packs valued at over $100 each.

More fun free dinosaur activities include:

Monday 24 September - Friday 28 September 3D Dinosaur Jigsaw Puzzle Monday 1 October - Friday 5 October 11am until 2pm daily, near Target There will also be loads of photo opportunities for those who dare to get up close to the prehistoric creatures, including a live action raptor who will be appearing near Target every weekday during the holidays from 11am until 2pm.

Kids can also get crafty and decorate their own pencil case - thanks to Spendless Shoes - on Wednesday 26, Thursday 27 and Friday 28 September between 10am and 1pm.

Jurassic World at Waurn Ponds Shopping will become extinct on Friday 5 October. Don't miss it!

Keep up to date with what's happening at Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre on Facebook at WaurnPondsSC.

The Sun Bear Children's Festival will be held at Anglesea Shark Park on October 14.

The festival offers the perfect weekend getaway for the whole family, with a host of nature-inspired activities in a beautiful setting. Jump in a sack and enter the 'Jump for Joy' race or sew a joey pouch to help an orphaned animal.

Plant your own native tree, clean-up the Anglesea River, learn about waste management and earn 'eco-coins'. Get involved in the Koala Spoon Contest, Hooded Plover Egg Run and Sustainability Game.

Build a solar-powered boat, learn about the Orange-bellied Parrot, Rufous Bristlebird and wildlife rescue.

There's also the opportunity to

Darci and Claudia make some paper mache for orange-bellied parrots in preparation for the festival. explore the beach, dunes and bush critters alongside some experts.

A special Indigenous Twilight Ceremony will take place on the eve of the festival (13 October) to celebrate the festival's fifth anniversary and to foster a deeper spiritual connection to Mother Earth and all the elements.

This will be followed by spotlighting and stargazing.

To book tickets, visit www.sunbearfestival.com, or visit www.eventbrite.com.au and search Sun Bear Children's Festival.

FRI 5 OCT

GPAC PLAYHOUSE 5225 1200 or GPAC.ORG.AU

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SPRING 2018 25

Active Kids

Full-on fun FOR THE

WHOLE FAMILY IF you're looking for an insanely fun day out with the kids, look no further than Geelong's largest indoor entertainment centre, Supatramp.

With a range of challenging wall climbing activities, dodgeball courts, slam dunking arenas, more than 70 connected trampolines and a cushy air mat for all the coolest flips and tricks Supatramp is totally jam-packed with exciting activities for the best day out.

If you're visiting with a younger child, Supatramp's five-storey jungle themed toddler playground is sure to entertain for hours. It boasts soft play areas and mini trampolines, plus it's a fully enclosed section of the park so parents can kick back with a coffee and enjoy the free Wi-Fi while the kids run wild.

But if you're up for a little adventure yourself, Supatramp also caters to the young at heart. Adults can join the jumping and climbing fun, but don't forget to check out the Olympic trampoline area and practice some wall-running.

For the ultimate thrill seeker, Supatramp's seven-metre vertical drop slide is sure to get the adrenaline pumping - although be warned, the freefall certainly isn't for the fainthearted!

When you're not tackling the climbing walls or practicing your next trick, cool down and fuel up at the Supa Fresh Cafè, which has everything from sweet treats, hot food and fresh wraps to icy-cold slushies, milkshakes and delicious coffee.

It seriously is full-on fun from start to finish at Supatramp.

But it's not just fun and games for visitors wanting a day of adventure.

Since opening in 2015 Supatramp has: ■ Established an accredited after-school gymnastics program ■ Held one of the highest safety records internationally ■ Set-up a "quiet hour" program to accommodate visitors with sensory processing disorders

Sumpatramp is packed with super exciting activities for kids. Picture: Louisa Jones ■ Donated more than $15,000 worth of vouchers and prizes to local fundraisers and causes

recently walked away with 2018 Business of the Year at the Geelong Business Excellence Awards.

■ Rebated over $18,000 back to local schools and sporting clubs in the last 12 months alone via their 'FUNdraising' program

So what are you waiting for? Jump in and visit Supatramp.

■ Opened a second corporate store in Wodonga, with a third set to open in Hobart later this year and has commenced Franchising the business It's easy to see how Supatramp

If you are feeling ready to tackle the seven-metre drop slide ride, then jump in soon. The centre is also offering a free vertical drop slide ride with any general admission purchase until Friday 30 November, 2018. For terms and conditions, contact Supertramp,

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Active Kids

Geelong's

ONE-STOP SHOP FOR

scooters THE expert team at Numfish are Geelong's scooter specialists, with the knowledge and experience to get your kid happily scooting in no time.

"We're the only scooter specialists in Victoria outside of Melbourne," says the store's owner Aaron Hunter.

"We've got access to every scooter brand under the sun."

"It's actually pretty cheap compared to a lot of other sports."

The amount of comradery at skate parks around Geelong still impresses Aaron, even after several years in the business.

"The older kids teach the little ones it's amazing to see."

Aaron got into the scooter business in 2012 just after his son bought his first scooter, to make sure local kids had the best quality products and service.

Located in Moolap, Numfish is the one-shop stop for parents looking scooters, scooter parts or mechanical repairs.

"There is generally not a problem we can't solve," Aaron says.

Come and meet the team featuring professional scooter riders, some of who have tens of thousands of kids across the world following them on social media.

The experienced team at Numfish can recommend the perfect scooter based on age, size, skill level and range of other factors.

Scooters are a fun way to get kids active, outside and away from the TV, Aaron says.

Parents can save money, and tears and grief for their kids, that can result from buying a bad-quality scooter or the wrong parts online, or misassembly, Aaron says.

And good-quality scooters are very durable, making the sport great value for money, he adds.

"Everything that leaves our shop is assembled, perfectly-tuned and ready to go."

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SPRING 2018 27

party time

Gender reveal parties A GROWING TREND

By Melissa Grant DISCOVERING whether your baby is a boy or girl is a momentous occasion.

Some parents-to-be find out during a scan or through a blood test, while others leave it a surprise until the birth.

However, an increasing number of couples are finding out their child's sex by holding a gender reveal announcement or celebration with family and friends.

Gender reveal events often involve the expectant parents popping balloons filled with pink or blue confetti, opening a box to release blue or pink balloons or cutting into a cake to reveal pink or blue sponge.

Some couples use smoke bombs or hand out scratch and see cards to share bub's gender.

Others go to extreme lengths to reveal whether they're having a boy or a girl. Some put on a fireworks display, hire fancy cars to do coloured smoke burnouts or jump out of planes with coloured parachutes.

Some gender reveal parties are a bit bizarre. An American dad, for instance, used a live alligator to bite into a melon that was blue on the inside.

Regardless of the method of celebration, it's clear gender reveals have become popular in the last decade.

Their increase in popularity has been linked to the rise of social media and data from Google Trends show the events weren't really searched online until around 2010.

Today, typing 'gender reveal' into YouTube yields more than 800,000 results.

Carnie Considine believes her son Beau, 8, decided he wanted the family to hold a gender reveal after watching one on YouTube.

Carnie's fourth child is due on September 18 and Beau, who already has two younger sisters, didn't want to 28 SPRING 2018

wait until dad Glenn returned from the birth to discover his sibling's gender.

"I think he saw it on YouTube. He must have come across one of the videos," she said.

"He said 'oh mum can we do one of those balloons and find out what we are having?' I never felt it was my thing."

Carnie, who grew up in Geelong and now lives in Melbourne, did the gender reveal while the family was holidaying in Byron with five other families.

She phoned a local company to pre-pay for a gender reveal balloon.

Her mum then phoned the obstetrician to find out bub's gender before calling the company to advise whether the confetti should be pink or blue.

Carnie said Beau and her daughters, Summer, 5, and Poppy 3, were hoping for blue confetti when the black balloon was popped.

"We had streamers, we did the countdown. I popped it and a big gust of wind came and blew the confetti everywhere."

The confetti was blue!

"It was amazing. It was so emotional," Carnie said.

"It was seriously the best thing we've ever done. People are still talking about it."

Mother-of-two Jade McKellar said she Googled 'gender reveals gone wrong' before she and husband Sam held their own celebration.

The Warrandyte couple were always going to find out the sex of their third child, due in November, instead of waiting until the birth like they did with their daughter Eliza, 4, and son Archie, 2.

"Getting rid of my pile of pink or pile of blue clothes that was the main reason," Jade said.

"And we also thought it was important for the kids to bond with the baby."

Eliza McKellar discovers the gender of her unborn siblin g with coloured confe tti.

However, the McKellars only decided to do a gender reveal when they were about to get the results from blood tests taken at 10 weeks into the pregnancy.

Sam didn't want Jade to find out the gender before him, so they organised to have the sex written on an envelope.

They thought it would be nice to open the envelope in front of their families, but Sam's parents were holidaying and wouldn't be back for 10 days.

"Those 10 days the envelope was sitting on my car seat next to me and I was like 'don't open it, don't open it," Jade said.

When the 10 days were up, the letter was taken to Lombards which sells gender reveal balloons. The McKellars got a big black balloon covered with question marks and filled with coloured foil confetti.

The couple bought some champagne and invited the whole family around for the big reveal.

family The Considine west ne r ei th er discov boy. a be member will

When they popped the balloon, confetti went high into the air and revealed they are having a girl.

"It was really for the kids, but once we did it that was really fun," Jade said.

"We popped the balloon and the confetti came out - it went so high it went on the roof.

"The balloon was definitely spectacular compared to the cake cuttings I've seen - it was a really big pop and you realise it's all over you and you have to look down (to discover the gender)."

Jade highly recommends a gender reveal announcement for anyone who wants to discover their baby's gender before the birth. " If someone is dead set on finding out - it is a really fun way to do it.

"It was a really great surprise to have at the same time as all your family." www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

books

A TOP GUIDE ON

navigating adolescence

By Melissa Grant

"Often kids start puberty when they are still in primary school," she said.

YOU would be hard-pressed to find a parent who is looking forward to their child's teenage years.

Adolescence is a risky and vulnerable time that can prove stressful and challenging for mums and dads.

There's bound to be conflict around technology and social media use, study (or lack of it) and risky behaviours such as binge drinking. Bullying and mental health issues may also arise.

These thorny topics are among those covered in Surviving Adolescents 2.0 by bestselling authors Michael Carr-Gregg and Elly Robinson.

The pair has fully revised and updated their original guide to learning how to survive - and thrive - with adolescents.

Much has changed since the leading child and adolescent specialists first wrote the guide just over a decade ago.

Apart from the obvious rise of technology and social media, the period of adolescence has become longer.

Ms Robinson said many children were now beginning puberty much earlier than a few decades ago.

"Menarche for girls used to be 16.

Now it's 13.

Books..

"And top end of adolescence, young people are living at home longer."

Ms Robinson said it was important for parents to set boundaries and not give their children too much freedom too soon.

"You're trying to find that middle ground between not treating them as a child, but they are not yet adults," she said.

"You hear a lot of parents letting go a bit too soon - not setting boundaries when they get to 15 or 16 and just giving them free rein and there are consequences for that."

Surviving Adolescents 2.0 covers how to navigate a teenager's use of tablets and phones, including social media.

Ms Robinson said technology, while not all bad, was a very powerful tool.

She said young people often turned to platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat to try and research whether they were "normal".

As these platforms didn't relay reality, it was important to hold off on giving teens the green light to use them until they had

the skills to do so in a positive way.

"If you think they are not socially mature enough, or don't have the skills to navigate online, hold off for a little while," Ms Robinson advised.

"For the first few months monitor what they are doing, have their passwords. It's about being safe."

Ms Robinson said a lot had changed in relation to knowledge about mental health in the past decade and the updated book provided parents with some clear and concise information in this area.

There's also a chapter about risky behaviours and what to do if your child comes home drunk. There's another chapter about how to deal with a family breakdown while raising teenagers.

Effectively communicating with your teen - which Ms Robinson describes as "absolutely crucial" - is another key topic covered in the book.

"The best place to get a teenager

If All the World Were - Joseph Coelho and Allision Colpoys

Duck!

- Meg McKinlay and Nathaniel Eckstrom

The Storm Keeper's Island - Catherine Doyle

Love was Hiding - Jennifer Loakes and Jess Racklyeft

Don't be put off by the title, this isn't a book about farts - it's a book about art and creativity. Written and illustrated by Geelong visual arts teacher, Dale Baker, this fabulous book has been shortlisted for the children's choice Yabba Book Awards 2018.

Oh my! If All the World Were should come with a warning, or at the very least a pack of tissues. This book is simply superb and yes, there will be tears.

This book was a huge hit at story-time with both little and big book birds. Written by the hugely talented and versatile Meg McKinlay and illustrated by Nathanial Eckstrom, Duck is a riot. When Duck spies something falling from the sky, he tries to warn the other farm creatures - but no one will listen to what he is saying.

"It's very hard to believe in magic until it grips you by the shoulders and shakes you awake."

This is the most gorgeous book about the ordinary places love can be found.

From tied shoelaces to a favourite book, Rabbit discovers it's the little things that show how much we're loved. While Love Was Hiding is not just a book about a mother's love, but also the love of family and friends. The illustrations are fresh and bright and the starry endpapers just superb. This is a perfect gift for preschoolers in your life.

They will love it, and you will love reading it to them.

You and your early school age children will love Arty, Farty Marty!

Elly Robinson. talking is in the car because they can't escape and you don't have to make eye contact," she said.

"Some tips we give parents are be clear about what you want to say, make it short, and fundamentally the best advice is choose your battles.

"Nobody has died from a messy bedroom."

Penguin Life, RRP $22.99

By The Book Birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sue Lawson

Arty Farty Marty - The Paint Smashin' Kraken - Dale Baker

Arty Farty Marty, a kraken who loves to surf and paint, particularly likes to add his own twist to the style of the world's greatest artists, including da Vinci, Van Gogh, Dali and Monet. Filled with vibrant and joyous illustrations, this rhyming book is a perfect to read aloud while also being a great introduction to fine artists for youngsters. It even features facts about the featured artists.

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg.

Written by award winning poet, Joseph Coelho, this gentle and beautiful book celebrates a grandparent's love and explores how a child can heal after a grandparent's death.

Heartbreaking yet uplifting, this picture book is perfect for introducing the concept of death to your child. It's also a brilliant book for sparking conversations about death. But most of all it's a delightful read.

Allison Colpoy's illustrations are bright and vibrant, adding a sense of hope and joy to the book.

This ultimately joyous and life affirming book is a must for every home library.

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

Duck! is so much fun to read aloud. The language sparkles and the bright illustrations build perfectly to the chaotic conclusion. A fabulous book for pre-schoolers and early school aged children.

Perhaps read this one first at bedtime, as it's bound to have your audience giggling.

Set on Arranmore Island, off the Ireland coast, The Storm Keeper's Island is a magical, funny, heartbreaking and heartwarming book.

Arranmore is an island of secrets, magic and power, but to Fionn Boyle, it's just the place where his father died.

Fionn's return to the Arranmore to stay with his secretive grandfather sparks a series of mystical events and forces the boy, who believes he is a coward, to find his courage.

Fionn is a wonderful character. I loved his dry humour, his sensitivity and his connection with his grandfather. And his relationship with his self-obsessed sister, Tara, is wonderfully drawn.

This is the perfect book for primary school aged lovers of magical stories.

A great read.

A truly is a beautiful book.

Missing - Sue Whiting What do you hope for when there is no hope?

Every now and again, a book grabs hold and won't let you go. Sue Whiting's junior fiction novel Missing is one of those.

Set in Sydney and the Panama jungles, this beautifully written story is a nail biter which keeps you guessing - and hoping. It's over 100 days since Mackenzie's mum disappeared and her dad decides it's time the two of them searched for Mackenzie's mum where she was last seen - Panama.

Mackenzie is a fantastic, feisty and courageous character.

Your heart breaks for her as she struggles with the new environment and challenges. Perfect for bookworms aged 10 years and older.

Changing Gear - Scot Gardner The latest Scot Gardner young adult novel, Changing Gears, has arrived at The Book Bird, and it's every bit as good as we'd hoped perhaps even a teeny bit better. Changing Gears is Gardner at his best dealing with emotional topics with a light hand.

Merrick Hilton's folks think he's studying for VCE exams, but Merrick has hit the road on his trusty postie bike. He's desperate for time and space to heal and sort out what he wants from life. When the chain on his bike breaks, Merrick meets modern day swaggie, Victor, who not only helps with his bike, but with Merrick's broken heart.

Merrick is a fabulous character - courageous, yet so vulnerable, and his friendship with Victor though at times prickly, is heartwarming. This is a story about grief, broken hearts and the power of friendship and is a brilliant read for your teenager - in fact, you need to read it too.

Highly recommended.

SPRING 2018 29

What ' s on this

Spring EVERY THURSDAY Little Lobbers Tiny Tennis Playland Dedicated to bringing out the best in kids aged 2-6 years. Promotes co-ordination skills, agility and balance, faster reaction time, stronger immune system, improved behaviour and concentration, self confidence, good sportsmanship. Plus a variety of other activities, including Yoga for Kids.

Every Thursday at Playful Pandas

22 SEPTEMBER - 7 OCTOBER School Holiday Fun in Central Geelong More than 90 exciting activities including come and try parkour, drumming, juggling and hooping sessions, mummy and me fitness sessions, recycled and sustainable crafts, ride on dinosaurs, storytelling, exhibitions, special offers, competitions and much more.

Download your copy of the Fun Guide at centralgeelong.com.au/schoolholiday

24 - 28 SEPTEMBER Dinosaur Plaster Painting 11am until 2pm daily, near Target Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre waurnpondssc.com.au

24 SEPTEMBER - 5 OCTOBER Jurassic World - Fallen Kingdom

Playful Pandas (previously known as All 4 Kids)

A free thrilling and interactive experience! Collect a dinosaur hunt sheet and answer questions from the dinosaur displays around the shopping centre.

Level 1, 57 Church St Geelong West Visit: www.playfulpandas.com.au

Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre outside Target waurnpondssc.com.au

Visit www.littlelobbers.com.au or phone 0410 169 153

30 SPRING 2018

3 OCTOBER Aladdin Story Time and Activities 10am & 11am GPAC Foyer 50 Lt Malop St, Geelong centralgeelong.com.au/school-holiday

25 SEPTEMBER Footy Fun & Giant Games Steampacket Gardens 11am - 2pm Eastern Beach Rd, Waterfront Geelong centralgeelong.com.au/school-holiday

27 SEPTEMBER Boat Making and Sailing 11am - 1pm Customs Park Lawn, Eastern Beach Rd (next to Sailors Rest) Waterfront Geelong centralgeelong.com.au/school-holiday

1 - 5 OCTOBER

3 D Dinosaur Jigsaw

7 OCTOBER Piccadilly Market

Puzzle

Artisans Market

11am until 2pm daily, near Target Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre waurnpondssc.com.au

Mt Duneed Estate 11am - 4pm piccadillymarket.com.au

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

Sun Bear Children ' s Festival Have fun playing the 'Jump for Joy' game, learn about wildlife rescue, go on guided nature explorations to discover the critters that live along the coast, engage in animal poetry and other exciting and creative wildlife & nature-focussed games & activities.

On Saturday 13 October enjoy the community picnic, Indigenous Twilight Ceremony as well as spotlighting and stargazing. On Sunday 14 October enjoy wildlife and nature-focused games, activities, talks and walks, young musicians and animal poetry

on stage, kangaroo-whistle fitting, a river clean-up and endangered wildlife parade.

Drivers Cab to blow his whistle, play on the jumping castle, get lost in the children's maze and more.

Visit www.sunbearfestival.com

Visit bellarinerailway.com.au or phone 5258 2069

27 OCTOBER The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show A timeless classic for all generations.

Perfect for ages 3+ and their families.

13 - 14 OCTOBER 21 OCTOBER

Day Out With Thomas

Tickets $22 (Group 4+ $20) 12pm and 2.30pm GPAC 50 Lt Malop St, Geelong www.gpac.org.au / 52251200

Potato Shed ' s Free Family Fun Day

Jump on-board for a 45-minute return train ride at various departure times.

Indoor and outdoor activities, live music featuring The Mik Maks, a pantomime, storytelling, face painting, a skate park, jumping castles and a variety of workshops. Bring a picnic basket or purchase food on the day.

Thomas will be at Queenscliff Station all day for unlimited rides in those troublesome trucks!

11am - 3pm, Free 41 Peninsula Drive, Drysdale geelongaustralia.com.au/potatoshed

Meet Sir Topham Hatt and his Station Master, visit Henry and climb up to his

Arty Parties & Art Classes

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CHECK OUT OUR NEW STUDIO! 12320697-LB35-16

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13 - 14 OCTOBER

1/20 Everist Rd, OCEAN GROVE Í&#x2013;Í&#x2014;Í&#x153; Â&#x192;Â?Â&#x2039;Â?Â&#x2030;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2018;Â? Â&#x2013; Â&#x2021;Â&#x2021;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2018;Â?Â&#x2030; Â&#x2021;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2013; Í&#x2014;Í&#x2013;Í&#x2022;Í&#x153; Í&#x2122;Í&#x2013;Í&#x2013;Í&#x2013; Í&#x2DC;Í&#x2DC;Í&#x153;Í&#x2DC;

Ph 0437 582 772 www.artskool.com.au

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www.geelongcoastkids.com.au

SPRING 2018 31

12388145-RC24-18

32 SPRING 2018

www.geelongcoastkids.com.au