Casey Cardinia Kids Winter 2019

FREE WINTER 2019

Councillor dad's delivery room rush

Basketball session with pro trainer from the USA Zoos Victoria annual family pass + more

Footy, fatherhood with Tom Hawkins A Star N News Group Publication bl

2 WINTER 2019

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about us . . .

A warm winter

HELLO everyone!

Welcome to the winter edition of Casey Cardinia Kids.

Can you believe we are halfway through the year already? It's crazy how quickly this year is passing by - it will be summer again before we know it (well at least that's what I'm telling myself on those dreary winter days!)

There's plenty of great winter reading in this issue, so pour a hot coffee or tea and find somewhere warm to put your feet up.

Throughout the chilly months, many Melburnians live for the AFL - and in this edition we feature Geelong star Tom Hawkins, plus a local mum and bub who are part of the Tigers Cheer Squad.

We also caught up with Cardinia

welcome

Shire Councillor Brett Owen and his family - which has just expanded! Brett and wife Jackie welcomed their third child, Maggie Adelaide, in March. Little Maggie's arrival was a speedy one Brett almost missed it! You can read about his rush to the delivery room on page 4.

If you have a daughter, be sure to read the piece written by world renowned author Steve Biddulph. The psychologist has some fantastic advice on raising girls.

Our Q&A with eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant is a must read for all parents. She has some great advice to help keep children safe online, including what filters to use and what to do if you discover your child is a victim of cyber bullying.

Everyone loves a good giveaway and there are plenty in this edition. You can win a basketball session for your child with a pro trainer from the USA (details page 21), a Zoos Victoria annual family pass (page 13), a copy of Pinky McKay's book and her famous Boobie Bikkies (page 13) and a copy of the Midwife Mumma's pregnancy guide (page 10).

For more competitions and parenting news, follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Also be sure to check out our new-look website at www. caseycardiniakids.com.au Happy reading!

Casey Cardinia Kids magazine is a Star News Group publication.

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

Casey Cardinia Kids Cnr Princes Hwy and Army Road, Pakenham, 3810 PO Box 9, Pakenham, Victoria 3810 Phone: 5945 0666 Fax: 5945 0777 Editorial Melissa Grant melissa.grant@starnewsgroup.com.au Phone: 5945 0666 Photography Stewart Chambers Rob Carew Advertising advertising@starnewsgroup.com.au

contents

Phone: 5945 0666

Published by Star News Group Pty Ltd

A picturesque day out on Puffing Billy PAGE 37

IT'S YOUR LIFE

DENTAL

Owen family besotted with new addition PAGE 4

Teeth whitening and teens PAGE 25

Tom Hawkins on fatherhood, footy PAGE 5

New specialist at South East Orthodonticss PAGE 25

Have a whale of a time on Phillip Island PAGE 38

Steve Biddulph on raising girls PAGE 6

Affordable orthodontics PAGE 26

Marine fun at RSL PAGE 38

Upgrade for MyPlace youth facility PAGE 7

Time for a mouthguard check PAGE 27

Explore Antarctica on Phillip Island PAGE 39

Keeping our kids safe online PAGES 8-9

Advice on dental products and care PAGE 27

All tracks lead to world famous circuit PAGE 40

Midwife Mumma on being honest PAGE 10

Holiday fun at the dentist PAGE 28

REALITY BITES

New family hub for Doveton PAGE 12

EDUCATION

The birth plan that didn't go to plan PAGE 41

Pinky McKay on supporting breastfeeding PAGE 13

Homework - do we need it?

PAGE 29

Twins make five generations of females PAGE 41

Hillcrest gets arty PAGE 29

Hazel arrives in time for dad's cricket finals PAGE 42

Basketball session with pro trainer from the USA Zoos Victoria annual family pass + more

Soft toy obsession leads to dad's first book PAGE 42

Footy, fatherhood with Tom Hawkins

Refresher classes for grandparents PAGE 15 The benefits of playgroups PAGES 17-18

RECIPES Simple recipes for healthy kids PAGE 20

ACTIVE KIDS Creating pathways to international basketball success PAGE 21

Kids ready for the future PAGE 30 Centre run on love for Kool Kidz PAGE 30 Selecting the right school PAGE 32 Harkaway kids on world map PAGE 32

FASHION

Challenge develops good digital citizenss PAGE 33

Adorable winter fashion PAGE 44-46

Three-year-old kinder funding in budgett PAGE 34

GAMES AND GADGETS

Help finding your school zone PAGE 34

HEALTH

Students' full potential realised PAGE 35

Virtual reality and sick kids PAGE 22

Warning on exam stress PAGE 35

Warning needed on serious virus PAGE 22

ENTERTAINMENT

Winter illnesses and when to seek help PAGE 23

The cost of kids parties PAGE 36

Sleeping environments for babies PAGE 24

Experts in entertainment education PAGE 36

Dear Google, am I a bad mum?

PAGE 24

Bluey fetches a second season PAGE 37

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Publisher/Managing Director, Paul Thomas.

All material is copyright to Star News Group

PHILLIP ISLAND

Baby Ryan part of the Tigers Cheer Squad PAGE 43

Why fidgeting is good for kids PAGE 21

ACN 005 848 108.

Pty Ltd. All significant errors will be corrected as soon as possible.

Cover Harvey and Sophie all rugged up for winter.

Picture: Stewart Chambers

FREE WINTER 2019

Councillor dad's delivery room rush

A Star N News Group Publication bl

Taking time out together PAGE 47

BOOKS The changing face of Australian families PAGE 48 Children's books PAGE 48

KIDS CALENDAR What's on this winter PAGE 50

WINTER 2019 3

your life It’s

Owen family besotted with new addition

The Owen family: Jackie, Max, Brett, Will and little Maggie.

Pictures: Stewart Chambers

By Melissa Grant LITTLE Maggie Adelaide Owen burst into the world so quickly that father Brett nearly missed her birth.

In fact, the Cardinia Shire Ranges Ward Councillor only got to the the delivery room moments before Maggie was born.

"Brett made it with about 10 minutes to spare," wife Jackie recalled.

"I had sent him home because they started monitoring me. I was being induced and thought it would be a while before anything happened."

But things progressed quickly even though Jackie's waters were yet to be broken.

"I said 'you better call my husband'. It was 4am in the morning," she said.

Brett was at home in Beaconsfield, only a short drive from St John of God Hospital where his wife was well into labour.

Cardinia Shire Councillor Brett Owen almost missed the birth of his daughter Maggie.

Max loves his sport.

"I only got to the hospital at 4.31am and that was downstairs," Brett recalled.

"Lucky it was at that time in the morning. If I had to battle school traffic I would have never made it."

Jackie agreed the timing of the drive was fortunate.

"I wasn't holding on any longer!" she said.

Maggie was born at 4.44am on 21 March 2019, weighing 3.8kg.

She is the first daughter for Brett and Jackie, who are already parents to Max, 7, and Will, 6.

The Owens knew during the pregnancy that they were expecting a girl and decided to announce the exciting news via a Facebook video.

They bought a gender reveal balloon and practiced what they would say when the camera started rolling.

But when the balloon popped, Will strayed from the script by shouting "It's a boy ... oh it's a girl" as pink confetti went everywhere.

Maggie shares the same first name as her maternal grandmother. Her middle name Adelaide begins with the same letter as her brothers' middle names (Ainslie and Alexander).

Will is the performer of the family.

‘‘ Brett made it with about 10 minutes to spare Will also sings his own version of Rock-a-bye Baby to his little sister, changing the last line to "brother will catch you, cradle and all".

Having the time to go on a 6.5km walk is actually a bit of a luxury for Brett, who typically works very long hours.

Jackie says Will is definitely the performer of the family, while Max is the quiet achiever.

Jackie estimates her husband spends about 40 hours a week on council duties, which is on top of his work as a full-time police officer.

She predicts Maggie will be "the boss" or "the diva".

The boys adore their little sister, particularly Will.

So far, Maggie is pretty content - she sleeps well at night and loves being wheeled around the neighbourhood.

"Will is very besotted. He's always loved babies. He gives her a lot of kisses," Jackie said.

"Maggie loves the pram. I did a 6.5km walk around Beaconsfield the other day," Brett said.

4 WINTER 2019

Will adores his little sister Maggie.

The Owens are a pretty busy family - Jackie is doing her Masters in Forensic Behavioural Science, Will is rehearsing for his first play and Max plays football and basketball.

Maggie, like her brothers, will also be a regular fixture at events

across the municipality.

Brett often takes his kids along to the family friendly events he attends as a councillor.

He is well known throughout the shire - he's been on council since 2005 and has had two stints as mayor.

But he says being a father has given him an entirely different perspective on council services.

"Playgrounds - I look at them differently now. I even look at public toilets differently!" www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

your life It’s

Tom Hawkins

on fatherhood, footy

IT'S shaping up as a big year for Geelong star Tom Hawkins. The power forward kicked the 500th goal of his career in round one - the same week he welcomed his second child. Here, he tells Kids reporter Melissa Grant about being a parent of two little girls, his wife's tough pregnancy and getting kids involved in footy.

Congratulations on the recent arrival of your second daughter, Primrose Grace.

How is your new addition going?

Thank-you! It's a significantly busier household. Emma and I very much enjoying being parents of two beautiful little girls.

Primrose arrived just before the first game of the season - that must have been a crazy time. Would you have missed the match to be at the birth?

It was a crazy few months.

Unfortunately Emma had a really tough pregnancy. I certainly think completing a pre-season would have been easier than carrying a baby. If Emma went into labour on game day I would definitely have missed and been at the birth. However our obstetrician was a Geelong supporter and didn't want me

to miss a game so he induced Emma.

Emma and yourself have been pretty open about parenthood on social media. To share or not to share is a question many parents grapple with.

Has it been a positive experience for you so far?

So far it has been positive. Being parents has been the best thing we've done, however it is bloody hard work at times. Social media gives you a platform to create conversations about different parenting techniques if you do choose.

Your father, uncles and grandfather all played for the Geelong Football Club.

Footy is obviously in the blood. Has your two-year-old daughter Arabella shown any interest in footy yet?

I'm happy to say Belle (Arabella) and Mimi (Primrose) are Geelong supporters.

We've made an effort not to push football, however Belle is showing a keen interest. She's just starting to understand that dad plays for the Cats.

She gets a little crazy. It's giving our families a lot of joy to watch!

What's the best way children can get involved in the game at grassroots level and why is it important for kids to be involved in grassroots sports at such a young age?

Post match... Tom Hawkins with wife Emma and daughter Arabella.

Picture: AFL Media/Michael Willson

I certainly think completing ‘‘ a pre-season would have been easier than carrying a baby I played Auskick. And I still believe it's the best place to start. Kids get so much out of learning and playing our great game. It's good for their health, social skills, discipline and above all it's fun.

What are the benefits of the Auskick program?

That Auskick is an affordable and available program for kids who are starting out their footy journey. And with the revolutionised Auskick program, it takes a modern approach to coaching and ensures kids experience

fun, active play that just happens to be footy.

What do you love most about Auskick?

I just loved playing with my friends.

And I loved the challenge of trying to be the best at kicking, handballing, bouncing and marking. I was (and still am) very competitive.

What would be your advice to a child who has their heart set on playing AFL or AFLW? Enjoy it. And if you have your heart set on playing like I did, work hard to be the best player you can be.

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WINTER 2019 5

your life It’s

Raising a daughter makes you want to change the world

World renowned author Steve Biddulph.

IT'S an interesting time to be a parent.

We are learning that every boy and girl is on a gender continuum, and it's important to let them be just who they are, and never put kids into boxes.

At the same time there are differences, for most kids most of the time. The average girl develops far quicker than the average boy, even in the womb, and there are parts of their brains that are 20 months ahead by age five. They take to school much better, they start puberty a couple of years sooner, and are more likely to go to university.

But its far from being a girls' world.

Part of the problem is that girls have greater awareness of other people, their feelings and responses. You'd think that was a plus, but in the craziness of the modern world, that can take its toll.

Girls are twice as likely as boys to get anxious or depressed. One girl in five will be on stress medication during her teens. As many as one in three have self-harmed, and suicide is going up.

We have a mental health crisis in girlhood.

almost every media blasts them with pressure to look good, be seductive, be tame (though it's framed as wildness), drink this, eat this, wear this. Advertisers know that if they can make a girl anxious, they can sell her anything.

Picture: Rob Carew

with your hands, don't take school marks too seriously, but take learning very seriously. If your family really has bad signs of stress (and the kids are usually the first to show this), consider having a year off and drive round the country as a family. The modern human world is crazy and we ought only to dip into it sparingly.

What helps? It's all in the way of life we create for our children (and the same goes for boys too). Lots of nature plenty of peace, a rhythm to our lives that has big spaces doing nothing.

Having plenty of plants, animals and open space. Few screens, the least possible TV, loads of books, stories, and being physical and free.

TEN THINGS GIRLS NEED MOST

Parents who have plenty of time to just chat. A dad who clearly lets her know she is more special to him than life itself, who talks to her about everything, asks her opinion, has fun and spends time.

1. A secure and loving start (parents who take time and are safe and peaceful for her).

2. Time to be a child - being messy, wild, and in nature a lot. And not rushed to grow up too soon.

3. Friendship skills - learning by discussion with you how to navigate their tricky social world 4. The respect and love of a dad (or substitute dad figure) who lets her know she is special

Stay away from shopping malls, diets, talk of weight or looks, clothes beyond what keeps you colourful and warm and yourself. Op shops are good for this. Be outdoors, make and do things

Steve Biddulph wrote Raising Girls in 2012 and Ten Things Girls Need Most in 2017, He will be speaking on Raising Girls across Melbourne this winter. www.stevebiddulph.com talk to other than mum, who shows a different way to be female

(from Steve's book of the same name!)

She needs role models of different kinds, so that from toddlerhood she can admire and emulate that gutsy auntie, that oh-so-unconventional family friend.

So when a boy in the playground runs over and bellows "you're fat" she can rise to her full height, tilt her head, and reply "I love my body. Race you to the fence", because she's heard an adult say that, and liked the feeling.

Making strong women is fun, and slow, and joyous, and it will make you want to change your life too.

5. Spark - an interest, hobby or activity that captures her spirit and engages her in the larger world 6. Aunties - yes, someone you can

7. A happy sexuality - knowing she owns her body and what happens to it, and that its a joyful thing.

8. Backbone - being able to endure, persist, hold to her principles, and sees you doing that too.

9. Feminism - knowing that the problems of her and her friends are part of a big picture of women fighting for respect and equality.

She's not alone.

10. Spirit - feeling connected to the universe, to nature, and to life, part of something larger that carries her through life.

Steve Biddulph AM, Author - 10 Things Girls Need Most, Raising Girls, Raising Boys.

Complete Secrets of Happy Children, and The New Manhood. Visit www. stevebiddulph.com for details.

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To make your daughter strong, you have to change things around.

Protective factors are the ones that allow her to grow at her own pace, and not be pressured into conforming. Despite 60 years of feminism, girls are being ever more told how to look and behave because social media, and in fact

Raising teenage girls to be the women we want them to be.

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your life It’s

The place to be for teens

By Melissa Grant THE teenage years can be a challenge.

It’s a time of rapid change marked by a host of stresses, temptations and mental health issues.

It’s also a time when a young person can feel quite alone as they find it difficult to relate to their parents or reach out to them for support.

That’s where My Place comes in.

The youth facility has been helping teens in the Cardinia Shire since 2012 and is about to undergo a $1.5 million expansion.

Janaya Marino makes use of the computers at the youth facility.

It’s a place where young people can hang out, access computers for free, enjoy after school and school holiday activities, and have a chat to youth workers.

has also been opened a few doors down to help fill the short-term need for additional counselling rooms. Community groups can hire space at The Point to deliver youth groups and programs.

It’s also a facility where they can access support to vital services relating to education, training, employment, drug and alcohol counselling and mental health.

And the Oakwood School also runs out of the centre, with between 50-80 young people attending each weekday.

Cardinia’s youth population has grown so fast that My Place - located on Main St, Pakenham - can’t keep up with demand for the services it provides.

The $1.5 million in federal funding

Pakenham rapper Jye Simpson at the launch of The Point in April.

Pictures: Stewart Chambers will allow council to expand My Place.

“The funding isn’t just about providing a building,” Cardinia Shire Team Leader Youth Services Emma Firth explained.

“It allows us to support young people to build a safe and healthy life for themselves.”

Ms Firth said it was imperative that young people could access support services close to home.

“Before My Place opened there were

very few youth services based in or outreaching into the shire - young people had to travel into Dandenong or Narre Warren to access the services that they needed,” she said.

“Now young people can access them from My Place youth facility and some services are now providing outreach so that they can see young people in their local town at their school or home.”

Another youth facility called The Point

While parents can visit My Place if they have concerns about their child, the facility offers much more than programs for teens experiencing difficulties.

Ms Firth encouraged mums and dads to visit the centre to discover the programs and services available.

Young people can drop into My Place between 1pm and 5pm on weekdays to see a youth worker.

The facility is also open between 9am and 12pm weekdays by appointment only.

Kids just want to have fun

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WINTER 2019 7

your life It’s

How to keep your kids safe online experience something they feel uncomfortable about, is one of the best ways to encourage open dialogue about what they might be experiencing online.

At eSafety, we know it can be tricky talking about sensitive issues in a way that doesn't alarm children or give them more information than they need, so we've developed age-appropriate conversation starters to help parents take the plunge (www.esafety.gov.au/ parents/skills-advice/hard-to-haveconversations).

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant.

THE internet can be a dangerous place, especially for children.

With the threat of exposure to pornography, violence, cyber bullying and predators, it's no wonder parents are fearful of what their teens - and even younger kids - are getting up to online.

However, with the internet so ingrained in our daily lives it's impossible to keep our children out of this virtual playground - so how do we keep them safe?

As the country's eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant is responsible for promoting online safety for all Australians.

She tells Kids reporter Melissa Grant what parents can do to protect their children online.

How early should parents educate their children about cyber safety and what should the message be?

With our research showing 81% of parents have given their pre-schooler access to an internet-connect device, good digital habits should be encouraged from the get-go. It is never too early to get involved with your kids' online lives or to start the chat about using the same positive manners and behaviours they would use offline.

The reality is that sometimes things go wrong online. But by having the chat before anything negative happens and letting them know they can come to you for help if they or a friend

How important is it for households to invest in filtering software? What are the best filters to keep children safe from offensive and illegal content?

While there really is no substitute for being actively engaged in your children's online lives, technology tools can help.

Filtering technology is improving and over the past year we have seen a range of device level controls being launched on iPhones, iPads and Android devices. There are a range of filtering software products available on the market, which can be a helpful way to block sites known to host offensive material. eSafety supports the operation of safety programs such as the Family Friendly Filter Scheme that allows Australians to inexpensively obtain protection from offensive and illegal content for their home network and family devices. These accredited filters have gone through rigorous independent testing to ensure they meet certain criteria including effectiveness, ease of use and configurability.

Parental controls on devices, gaming consoles or streaming services can be another way to block or limit your child's access to certain content. Using safe search settings on search engines can also help limit your child's access to inappropriate material.

What is the best way for parents to monitor their child's internet activities?

We encourage parents to use a range of protective strategies - which may include parental controls and filters - to monitor their child's internet activities and minimise online risks. But be aware not to 'set and forget', as tech savvy kids can find ways to circumvent technological protections or may be accessing online content from a friend's home or device.

Beyond these technological protections, there really is no substitute for active engagement in your children's online lives. Speak to them about potential risks and help them develop good cyber judgement and resilience for when they do come across inappropriate content. Most importantly, let them know you'll be there to support them if anything goes wrong online.

How safe are baby monitors that are hooked into Wi-Fi? Can they be hacked?

The truth is, Wi-Fi-connected baby monitors can be vulnerable to hackers for the same reasons other connected devices can: a lack of security, so be sure to check with the privacy, safety and security protections built into any product you chose.

Usually baby monitors have 'default device security', meaning you have no direct control over the password that secures your device. The availability of lists containing thousands of pre-installed passwords, which are sometimes the same for all devices from one manufacturer, can make baby monitors even more vulnerable to a hack.

Before purchasing a baby monitor, make sure you can change the device password. Check your home Wi-Fi network settings – update the default password (if you haven't already) to something that is strong, hard to guess and memorable. It is also wise to change this password on a regular basis. If you use a smartphone to control the baby monitor, ensure the appropriate protections are in place and updates installed.

Statistics show one in five young Australians has been cyber bullied.

What should parents do if they discover their child is a victim?

As parents, our first instinct may be to ban our children from social media, disable the Wi-Fi or turn off the data access. But it's important to remember cyber bullying is a social and behavioural issue playing out in a technological sphere and not caused by technology itself. This is why we encourage parents and educators to focus on building positive behaviours and skills in young people, including developing the 4 Rs for the digital age: respect, responsibility, reasoning and resilience. These valuable social and emotional skills will not only help guide more positive experiences online, but also offline.

If you discover your child is being cyber bullied, there are four simple steps that can help minimise the harm: report the cyber bullying to the social media service where it is occurring; collect evidence of the cyber bullying material; if the material is not removed within 48 hours, make a report to eSafety; block the offending user.

Most importantly, remain calm, listen to your child without judgement, and let them know you will be there to support them through this.

Research also shows that one in four teens has been contacted by a stranger online. If this happens, what should a parent do? At what stage should authorities be contacted?

Young people need to be aware that not everyone they engage with online is who they say they are, and they may not always have the best intentions.

Parents can play an important role in helping young people handle these risks and explore safely online by talking to them early and often.

Here's some things you can do to help: ■ Ensure your child's social media accounts are not publicly available, help them with adjusting privacy settings and establish rules around what types of content they should share online.

■ Encourage your child to delete contacts they don't know or talk to from their friend or follower lists on social media.

■ Encourage your child to delete friend or follow requests from people they don't know. A good tip is to get them to check whether new requests share mutual friends. If they feel unsure about someone, encourage them to delete the request.

■ Let your child know they can talk to you at any time if they receive any contact that is inappropriate or makes them feel uncomfortable - and there are steps you can take together.

■ If your child receives any unwanted contact from someone they know or a stranger, encourage them to report and block this person on the site or service used to contact them. Our eSafety Guide has online safety information and direct reporting links for different apps, games and social media services.

■ If the contact persists, or they feel they are in physical danger, contact your local police.

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With the amount of pornography online, children are bound to be exposed to it. The topic of pornography can be awkward to talk about - how early should parents be raising it with their children?

Absolutely - when it comes to our kids being exposed to online pornography, unfortunately it's not a matter of 'if' but 'when'. Parents are right to be concerned about this issue, so they should be proactive and take steps to help minimise the risks of exposure and potential long-term impacts of online pornography.

Understandably, many parents report feeling embarrassed talking to their kids about porn. But these conversations are important because allowing children to think things like violent porn are normal can have harmful consequences for their wellbeing and future relationships.

It's encouraging to see from our research that more parents want to take responsibility for this issue, but we know they need some help starting the 'porn chat', which is where those conversation starters at our website.

What are the most common negative experiences teens can have online?

Our research shows the most common negative online experience reported by young people is unwanted contact, experienced by one in three teens. One in four teens have also been socially excluded or had threats and abuse

directed to them online. These kinds of negative experiences can potentially have devastating impacts on a young person affecting their emotional, psychological and physical wellbeing.

Reassuringly, our research also showed us that 66% of young people were able to reflect on their experience in a positive way and learn from their negative online encounters. And 40% became more aware of online risks, while 33% became more aware of who their real friends were, and 23% learnt to use the internet in a more balanced way.

What are the key things parents should be telling their teenagers about the

online world to help keep them safe?

As parents and carers, we know our children better than anyone and have the best opportunity to support and guide them to have safer online experiences. The best way to help guide them on this journey is to be open, supportive and actively engaged in their online lives.

As teens develop their independence it can become harder for parents to enforce rules about their technology use. However, if these are introduced from a younger age, it can be easier to adapt and grow trust between you both.

Rather than telling, it's more about

doing. It's not only important for parents to regularly engage with what they're child is doing online and set ageappropriate rules, they also need to be modelling responsible behaviour in their own technology use. This can be as simple as asking your child's permission before sharing a photo of them.

Respectful communication, responsible use of technology, the resilience to withstand harmful conduct or contact online, and the ability to reason and critically evaluate online content - these are the behaviours and skills that will help prepare young people for the range of different experiences they may encounter online.

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WINTER 2019 9

your life It’s

Mums want not a pretend

honesty,

perfect life

By Melissa Meehan

added author to her many talents.

AMELIA Lamont is a midwife and sleep consultant whose own kids had moments when they refused to sleep.

"I was getting regular messages from mums and pregnant women and found that I was answering the same questions day in and day out," she said.

Midwife Mumma Amelia Lamont tells it how it is on Instagram. life on Instagram, Amelia celebrates the highs but doesn't hide the lows.

THE MIDWIFE MUMMA'S PREGNANCY GUIDE includes:

"People don't tell you the truth on Instagram or often in real life when it comes to parenting," she said.

■ Week to week of pregnancy from conception to birth

Armed with all the tricks of the trade, she couldn't get her son Alfie to sleep when he was three months old and her second child wasn't much better.

"So I thought 'what better way of putting together all the information, in my own honest words and how I speak, than to do a book?'

"I'm a midwife and I know all the settling techniques but even today Essie is such a little turd and she can be up until 10 at night.

"I'm a sleep consultant and my daughter Essie is the worst sleeper," she laughs.

"So I wrote my preggy guide and then all these mums asked me when I was writing a book on birth - so I'm doing that now."

"I'm a sleep consultant and I've been through it - and it's nice to be able to tell people that there is a light at the end of the tunnel because I've been there."

She has plans to grow the series too, covering birth, birth classes, postpartum and the fourth trimester.

Not academically minded at school, Amelia always wanted to have kids and worked full-time as soon as she finished high school.

"I just say it how it is."

It's that honesty that has seen her grow her Instagram following to 38,500.

Better known as The Midwife Mumma, Amelia maintains she herself is the worst sleeper out of anyone.

Her mind doesn't stop and when she does finally lie down, she puts her phone down, gets an idea and picks it back up again.

So it's no surprise that as well as working as a midwife, a sleep consultant and running a successful blog - she

"I think mums on social media are desperate and tired and want someone to relate to, and I think that's why I have such a loyal following - it has been organically grown and I'm my authentic self," she said.

"I'm the same on my Instagram stories as I am in real life and people seem to respect that."

While most people portray the perfect

Picture: Rob Carew

But with so much focus on kids and babies - she thought there was more she could do.

So she applied to become a midwife.

"And it's been the best thing ever," she said.

"It was an intense course but look at where it has brought me six years on."

■ Info on your first GP visit to health professionals you may see throughout your pregnancy ■ Public vs private ■ General pregnancy info from her point of view ■ Things that no one tells you about your pregnancy & loads more Go to www.themidwifemumma.com. au to buy your copy.

GIVEAWAY The Midwife Mumma is giving five lucky readers a copy of her Pregnancy Guide.

Register online to WIN - go to caseycardiniakids.com.au/ competitions and click on Midwife Mumma

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There’s an invasion of fun happening at our place for the whole family to enjoy

Intrude Some very large white illuminated rabbits have been popping up at festivals all around the world and now they’re invading... Bunjil Place (gulp).

The kids will go cray cray when they see these giant size inflatable rabbits that light up at night. Fur-real this is going to be fun for the whole family!

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your life It’s

Facepaint artist Mel, from Paint n Sparkles, at the hub's playground.

Picture: Rob Carew

Bright start for

Doveton's family hub DOVETON has a spectacular new community hub.

The $5.27 million Autumn Place Community Hub includes a redeveloped four-year-old kindergarten with outdoor play spaces, two maternal and child health consulting rooms and a multi-purpose room, kitchen and courtyard.

It also features an improved outdoor park, playground and barbecue area.

The hub's official opening celebrations on 25 May included free family activities, a sausage sizzle, face painting and a mobile animal farm.

Mum Justine Ilott with Benji in the stunning interior of the Autumn Place Community Hub.

"It will be an important hub for inclusion and community engagement as well as the sharing of knowledge and ideas, fostering new connections."

The centre was jointly funded by the State Government with $3.6 million through the Growing Suburbs Fund, and Casey Council contributing the remaining $1.67 million.

Casey mayor Amanda Stapledon said the integrated community hub in the "heart of Doveton" was a place for residents to "meet, learn, play, socialise and connect".

Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams, who opened the facility, said it would help local families "meaningfully connect".

Along with offering kindergarten and maternal and child health consultations, the centre also hosts programs, events and activities for residents and has spaces available to hire.

It was critical for the development of young children, she said.

Autumn Place Community Hub is located at 29 Autumn Place, Doveton.

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your life It’s

Guiding mums on their breastfeeding journey

By Melissa Meehan

often other medical professions are working with outdated information.

COLOURFUL author Pinky McKay demands attention when she walks into a room.

"It's not life or death if the baby has one bottle of formula - but often the mum just needs to have something to eat and drink and have a lie down."

Her bright pink hair might stand out from miles away but she's Australia's most recognised breastfeeding expert and best-selling author of four books.

Her gentle approach and quick wit make for great reading - but her real passion is to see mums happy.

"There's a lot of noise out there - but I take more of a holistic approach and if mums want support I am happy to provide it," says the lactation consultant.

"What we do know is that mums are doing their best, and I want to let them know that breast is normal and I want to support people that want to breastfeed."

Pinky said stress often limits the hormones that produce milk and mums often need gentle support without being "bulldozed".

"If the mum wants to do it (breastfeed) she doesn't need to be told not to do it," she said.

"Every woman is different, every baby is different and every birth is different - it takes a while for things to work out."

You may also know Pinky as the producer of the famous 'Boobie Bikkies', a brand that supports breastfeeding mothers.

And that doesn't mean that mums with little supply or other issues that affect their ability to breastfeed are failing their babies - it just means that there may be another approach.

After seeing far too many exhausted and stressed mothers who don't have time to have a shower let alone bake some lactation cookies, she decided to take matters into her own hands.

Pinky said she recently assisted a mum who had glandular tissue and was never going to have a full supply of breast milk and helped her use donor milk.

"A friend said to me that I should make them - new mums don't have the chance to," she said.

"I'm here to help the people who want to do it," she said.

"I see all the hard stuff and I think it would be fabulous if lactation consultants were on Medicare because

"I was in Sydney at the time and came back to Melbourne and the rest is history."

Go to www.pinkymckay.com.au for more information on breastfeeding or to find where you can buy one of Pinky's books.

Breastfeeding expert and author Pinky McKay.

GIVEAWAY: PINKY McKay is giving five lucky readers a copy of her book and some Boobie Bikkies.

Register online to WIN your very own copy - go to caseycardiniakids.com.au/ competitions and click on Pinky McKay.

Boobie Bikkies, natural and organic cookies created by Australia’s most recognised and respected lactation expert – Pinky McKay are available from Go Vita Berwick.

Go Vita Berwick 10 Blackburne Square BERWICK PH 9707 1148

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your life It’s

probably ‘‘ They were parents through an era where it was women's work

Refresher classes for grandparents BECOMING a grandparent is one of the greatest joys in life.

help grandmothers and grandfathers feel confident about navigating their new role.

Most people are overcome with excitement when they discover they're about to become a 'grandma', 'nanna', 'grandpa', or pop' for the first time.

The classes are all about providing useful advice so grandparents can give valuable practical support to the new parents.

They may also feel a great deal of anticipation about their new role.

"It's not necessary about taking the baby, but about how they can be the best support to the new family," Maternity Unit Manager Amanda Owen explained.

After all, it's probably been a long time since they've looked after an infant.

While the fundamentals of baby care have remained the same, some things have changed.

St John of God Hospital, Berwick, runs regular grandparent education classes to

Topics covered include how to recognise a sick baby, how to wrap and settle a baby and how to support the mother in feeding their infant by breast or bottle.

Ms Owen says there have been changes in the breastfeeding space in recent decades, with the focus now on the baby being full rather than specific measurements of milk.

There has also been the development of safe sleeping guidelines.

The other major change, she says, has been a shift in the roles of fathers.

"Usually, they (expectant grandparents) went through a baby phase where we weren't necessarily encouraging the involvement of the dad - it was about the mum looking after the baby," she said.

"They probably were parents through an era where it was women's work."

During the sessions, participants are also given a guided hospital tour and a run-down of the visiting rules.

The sessions are only offered to grandparents and significant others, such as aunts, of children born at St John of God Hospital, Berwick.

Participants are asked to make a $5 donation. Coffee and tea is provided at the sessions, which are held once every two months and run for 2.5 hours.

For more information, call 8784 5300.

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your life Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Socialise, play and learn at playgroup

FINDING a place where your child can socialise, play and learn before starting school is not always an easy task. There are many different settings and businesses screaming for your attention. But one alternative you could think about is joining a playgroup. Melissa Meehan spoke to Playgroups Victoria CEO Danny Schwarz about what playgroup is and why you should join one.

What is playgroup?

Science Month, Letters and Numbers month, and so forth. With this we provide members with an activity booklet to make the most of all wonderful things activities and events happening, plus homemade and simple things to do. It does not have to be whizz-bang to be good for us. Playing in the garden is one of the best things to do. Playgroup encourages families to explore different topics, bond over shared interests, learn new things together, discover amazing things about the world around us.

Playgroups bring young children, parents, families and communities together to learn and develop through informal play activities and social interaction.

It's here to help families to have fun, relax and to build friendships that last beyond playgroup. Playgroups work best when they are inclusive of all, creating an open, welcoming and friendly environment for all children and their families, no matter their circumstances, backgrounds or cultural identity.

Why is this so important?

Why should you join playgroup?

Playgroup is fun! At playgroup you get to meet other people going through similar experiences, ease the isolation that can come with caring for young children and find out about local community, health and support services. It allows families to enjoy this precious time with their kids while they develop and grow. It also provides reprieve from the daily grind. Parents - you can have a cup of tea and unwind while your children play in a safe space.

What are the benefits of playgroup?

There is significant evidence about the benefits of playgroup and it continues to build. Vital development occurs in the first five years of life, and the first year is especially critical.

The neurons in the brain are

connecting, laying the foundations for the year to come. The social, emotional, physical and intellectual development that occurs through the play and interaction at playgroup is great for the mind and body.

Knowledge builds and skills are refined.

Children learn social skills and language skills. It readies children for the next step into kinder and prep.

Playgroup is not just about the kids, it's also about parents are carers. Their job is one of the best in the world, but raising children is not always easy. Playgroup is here to lighten the load. You can connect with other people in the same stage of life as you. At playgroup you can share,

have a coffee, relax in a safe environment. It helps to reduce isolation you may feel and discuss things of interest to you. Playgroup also provides you will access to local services you may need.

Does it help kids socialise and learn through play?

Playgroup is all about socialisation, creativity, imagination, sharing, reading, learning, outdoor play, self-expression and fun. We know that play helps children to learn and so we encourage lots of it, in a variety of ways. Playgroup Victoria has a monthly calendar of different themes: Healthy Habits, Creative Play, Active Play, Music Month,

Learning through play is the most human thing we do. Children are particularly good at it. They are curious and eager. They want to be part of the fun and they desire more information - so they go out and get it, often without the inhibitions of adults. While playing, they explore, they alert their senses to feel, smell, observe and listen. They collect subtleties while at play. This is how they make sense of the world when they do not yet have the words or ability to express it as they would like. As Albert Einstein said, "Play is the highest form of research". Play allows children to study, investigate, communicate, bond, show love and distress - and truly, it is fun which also makes it memorable.

Continued on Page 18

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your life It’s

From Page 17 Can parents attend or can they drop their kids off?

Playgroup is a time for parents, carers and kids to come together. In the early stages of a child's life, their parents are their first educators. Right down to facial expressions, voice and scent, there is a profound link and this is where children first begin to learn, with the comfort of their parents close by. This support at playgroup gives children an extra confidence boost to explore and play.

Some children are very young who attend playgroup and it is essential for their parents to accompany them.

Are there playgroups with facilitators?

Some playgroups are run by facilitators while others are run by supported playgroup leaders, volunteers or parents. Playgroups can be run anywhere but are commonly held in halls, schools and community centres.

Increasingly, nature playgroups are run in the great outdoors.

What are the differences between structured playgroups and those run by parents?

Structured playgroups usually have a routine: an activity, snack time, free play, story time and a song. Parent-run playgroups are more flexible and may have different activities, nature play or outings. All playgroups are unique and the members of that group are free to make it whatever they would like it to be.

FIND YOUR LOCAL PLAYGROUP To find your local playgroup, visit www.playgroup.org.au We have also listed all the playgroups in Casey and Cardinia on our website at www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

What age can kids join playgroup?

Any children aged 0-5 can join playgroup. We have baby playgroups sprouting up, that your Maternal Child Health nurse can usually direct you to, or at least that can guide you in the right direction to playgroup.

Depending on your area, you can find something to suit you. Often, it is good to have a range of ages at playgroup, so that they can learn from one

another. If older children are bounding ahead, activities or an older aged playgroup can be a better fit for them.

Is it a good introduction to learning away from home? A lead in to kinder?

Playgroup is a great introduction to a child's education journey. It prepares them for kinder and prep in a range of different ways.

How many children across Victoria are enrolled in playgroup?

There are around 10,000 Playgroup

Victoria Members and around 40,000 children attending playgroup each week.

What if there isn't a playgroup in my area?

Visit our Find a Playgroup page and search your area. From here you can extend your search to surrounding areas. If you are having difficulty, feel free to call our membership team and they will assist you in finding a group: 1800 171 882 (within Victoria) or (03) 9388 1599 (outside Victoria)

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Boosting your basics Simple recipes for healthy kids

WHETHER it's breakfast, lunch or dinner, every meal is an opportunity to introduce your children to the joy of eating, help them discover new tastes and textures, and boost their nutritional intake.

of recipes and mealtime advice to provide inspiration and ideas for family-friendly food that's healthy, simple to prepare and packed full of flavour.

Following on from their highly successful debut cookbook, the hugely popular One Handed Cooks (Allie Gaunt, Jessica Beaton and Sarah Buckle) have created a new collection

■ Introduce solids, textured meals and finger foods to babies in ways that encourage mindful eating and food acceptance

The book aims to help parents:

■ Make every meal count by

maximising the nutritional content of favourite home-cooked meals, snacks and sweet foods using easy swaps and additions, to support your child's growth and development

■ Use daily structure, mealtime routines and pre-meal sensory-based activities to reduce anxiety around eating and instead encourage discovery and enjoyment

■ Manage and move on from common fussy eating behaviours, including food jags and food refusal

■ Adapt a single meal to suit the whole family - baby, toddler and adult

■ Create happy family mealtimes that nurture positive associations with food

CHOC CRUNCH MUESLI

METHOD

NO-BEEF BURGERS

MAKES 5 cups (500 g)

1 Preheat the oven to 160°C (140°C fan-forced) and line a baking tray with baking paper.

MAKES 8 small burgers

2 Place the cacao, maple syrup and oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the cacao has dissolved and the mixture is evenly combined, then set aside to cool.

■ 2 tablespoons olive oil

3 In a large bowl, combine the oats, puffed rice, coconut, seeds and macadamias and stir to combine.

Add the melted chocolate mixture and stir to coat.

■ 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

4 Place the mixture on the prepared tray and spread evenly. Bake for 5 minutes, give the pan a shake, and bake for a further 20 minutes, checking at 3-minute intervals, 3 or o until toasted to your liking. Allow y tto cool and stir tthrough the dates.

SServe with milk or Greek-style G yoghurt. y

■ 400 g tin brown lentils, drained and rinsed

PREP TIME 10 minutes COOKING TIME 25 minutes ■ ¼ cup (25 g) cacao powder ■ ¼ cup (60 ml) pure maple syrup ■ ¼ cup (60 ml) coconut or macadamia oil ■ 1¼ cups (110 g) rolled oats ■ 2 cups (70 g) puffed rice or Rice Bubbles ■ ¾ cup (60 g) shredded coconut ■ ½ cup (80 g) mixed seeds, such as pepitas, sunflower seeds, chia seeds ■ ½ cup (70 g) roughly chopped macadamias ■ 4 medjool dates (80 g), pitted and chopped milk or plain Greek-style yoghurt, to serve

B BOOST YOUR BASICS: Seeds, B nuts, cacao powder and oats all contribute to an impressive list of valuable nutrients and antioxidants that you wouldn't expect to see in a chocolate muesli.

STORAGE: Keep in an airtight jar for 10 days.

There's something about chocolate cereal that takes you straight back to the holiday mornings of your childhood. But what if it didn't have to be something to be eaten only on special occasions? Thankfully, our chocolate muesli is healthy enough that it can be enjoyed every day - by adults or kids!

20 WINTER 2019

ALLERGIES/ INTOLERANCES: Gluten/wheat: use quinoa, quinoa flakes or buckwheat flakes instead of the oats as a gluten-free option and rye or barley flakes as a wheat-free alternative to the oats. Nuts: replace the macadamia oil with coconut oil, and the macadamias with extra seeds or simply omit. Dairy: use dairy-free milk, and instead of the yoghurt, serve with a dairy-free alternative such as coconut yoghurt.

PREP TIME 20 minutes COOKING TIME 16 minutes ■ 1 carrot, peeled, coarsely grated ■ 1 brown onion, finely chopped ■ 1 clove garlic, finely chopped ■ 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup ■ 1 egg, lightly beaten ■ ¾ cup (60 g) rolled oats ■ ¾ cup (55 g) fresh multigrain breadcrumbs

■ 1 small handful of flat leaf parsley, chopped ■ Pinch of salt and pepper ■ 8 small multigrain bread rolls, to serve ■ 1 cup (40 g) baby spinach leaves, to serve ■ Fried onion, ½ cup grated cheese, tomato sauce or favourite toppings, to serve Always on the hunt for that elusive no-beef burger recipe? We think this one fits the bill. So easy to make, these burgers hold together beautifully and when topped with your favourite sauces and fried onion, there will be no holding back!

METHOD

■ Cater to common allergies and intolerences (such as dairy, gluten and wheat) with simple substitutions that don't compromise on nutrition

pan over medium-low heat. Add the patties and cook for 3 minutes each side, or until golden brown.

Drain on a paper towel and continue with remaining mixture.

4 Serve on bread rolls with baby spinach, fried onion, grated cheese and tomato sauce or other toppings of your choice.

BOOST YOUR BASICS: Some young children find a loaded burger literally too hard to wrap their head (or mouth!) around. Try mixing up the way you serve it: some may like it in a soft bun, while others prefer it chopped into fingers between 2 slices of bread - or simply just slice the patty and offer as finger food.

STORAGE: Store cooked patties in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. To freeze, you can either flash freeze before or after cooking.

Store with baking paper dividing each patty in a freezer-proof bag for up to 2 months.

ALLERGIES/INTOLERANCES: Gluten/wheat: use gluten- or wheat-free breadcrumbs and bread rolls, use quinoa flakes instead of rolled oats, use gluten-free Worcestershire sauce or omit. Dairy: omit the cheese. Egg: omit the egg or substitute a 'chia egg'.

NOTE: Traditional Worcestershire sauce contains anchovies, so choose a vegan version or substitute with g soy sauce for a vegan alternative.

1 Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a non-stick frying pan over rrot medium heat. Add the carrot and onion and fry for 5 he minutes or until soft. Add the garlic and fry for a further 2 minutes. Add the maple syrup and cook for 3 minutes or until slightly m caramelised. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly. Stir through the Worcestershire sauce and egg until well combined.

2 Combine the onion mixture, rolled oats, breadcrumbs, lentils and parsley in a food processorr and season with salt and pepper. Pulse the mixture until it just comes together,, being careful not to over-process and turn it to mush. Use a ¼ measuring cup to scoop and shape the mixture into patties.

3 Heat the remaining oil in a large non-stick frying www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Active Kids

Creating pathways to

international basketball success ENVISION Basketball is a local skill enhancement academy founded on a vision to create pathways for basketball students transitioning from secondary school to their initial post-secondary destination.

to add to Australia's basketball culture the minute he stepped on Australian soil from New York. He simply wanted to provide opportunities to help students achieve their basketball dreams in Australia and internationally.

Whether they want to pursue a basketball career via the Australian Institute of Sport, a local University/Tafe, US college, overseas university, or the NBL/WNBL - Envision Basketball upskills players and helps them build a plan to make it happen.

With so many Australians pursuing a basketball scholarship at a US College, Envision Basketball recently launched a USA Skills Tour, to give students the opportunity to train with Micah Lancaster and his NBA skills team.

The international nature of basketball, together with Australia's solid reputation internationally, means there are endless opportunities for Aussie kids to play here and abroad.

Envision Basketball's Skills Program Director, Kareem Drayton.

GIVEAWAY: Envision Basketball is giving away a private one-on-one session with a certified basketball trainer from the USA. The session is for a child aged 8 to 18.

To put your child in the running to WIN this awesome prize, visit www. caseycardiniakids.com.au/competitions

Fidgeting

There are 27 Australians playing at the highest level in the 2018/19 European basketball season. In the 2018/19 NCAA Division 1 college basketball season, there are approximately 65 Australian men and 84 Australian women playing.

Let's not forget about our players currently in the NBA and WNBA including Ben Simmons, Joe Ingles, Andrew Bogut, Aron Baynes, Patty Mills, Liz Cambage, Leilani Mitchell, just to name a few.

Envision Basketball's Skills Program Director, Kareem Drayton, had a vision

Micah is one of the world's most respected skill development trainers who has worked with NBA superstars such as Kyrie Irving, Victor Oladipo and Karl-Anthony Towns.

Envision Basketball will also host students at several university tours and conferences, giving students an opportunity to network and build connections in America.

Kareem says: "Nine out of 10 kids tell me that they want to play College basketball in America, so we're simply bridging the gap and creating pathways for ambitious ballers in Australia to combine basketball with studying at a US college".

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Available at: DOES your restless child drive you mad?

The good news is that their constant fidgeting appears to be great for their health.

In fact, a new study shows that fidgeting kids could be burning off an extra 3kg per year.

Researchers found children who frequently changed posture when doing sedentary activities like colouring and watching TV, burnt more energy than peers who sat still.

The world first study, led by Deakin University and published in journal PLOS ONE, looked at 40 children aged 4 to 6 from the Illawarra region of New South Wales.

Researchers measured the number of 'posture transitions' each child made - going from sitting to standing, lying to sitting, squatting to kneeling - across a 65 minute period.

They found a significant difference in the lowest number of transitions - 11 - to the highest - 53.

Lead researcher Dr Katherine Downing said measuring posture change could be a crude but convenient proxy for an underlying tendency to fidget.

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"The fact there's that much variation when children are instructed to sit shows that some children are far more prone to fidgeting or restlessness than others," she said,

From Ages 8 to 18 years+

Dr Downing said when the results were scaled up across a whole year, fidgeting kids could be burning off an extra 3kg per year.

"That's pretty significant in helping to prevent unhealthy weight gain," Dr Downing said.

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"Young children also spend a significant amount of time sedentary each day, around 10 hours.

"So this study provides some nice preliminary evidence that childcare centres, pre-schools, and anywhere children are spending a lot of time sitting, they should be encouraging children to stand up and move more."

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WINTER 2019 21

Virtual reality

help sick kids could

VIRTUAL reality technology could reduce the pain, anxiety and distress of children undergoing needle procedures.

A world first trial led by Monash Children's Hospital, in collaboration with the Royal Children's Hospital, included more than 250 children aged 4-11 who underwent intravenous cannulation or venepuncture procedures.

"The virtual reality sequence reframes the scary hospital environment with a reassuring underwater adventure," paediatric research fellow at Monash Children's Hospital and lead author Dr Evelyn Chan explained.

"While the needle procedure takes place, the child experiences waves washing and fish nibbling on their arms, reframing the entire experience."

Parents like Rachelle Stewart, whose 12-year-old son Kai used the VR headset for the first time during a blood test last month, are excited to see the where the trial's findings will take pain management for children.

Kai, who has cystic fibrosis and requires up to 12 vials of blood to be taken twice a year, typically dreads pathology appointments and is highly distressed around needles.

"Seeing Kai totally at ease when having the procedure that would usually result in kicking and screaming was definitely a welcome change," Ms Stewart said.

The trial has been published in The Journal of Paediatrics, and researchers are now looking to expand the use of VR in other departments and hospitals.

Virtual reality reframes the scary hospital environment.

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FREE PORRIDGE RECIPE 1 cup buckwheat nibs 1 cup mylk 2 cups water 3 tablespoon maple syrup ¼ Himalayan salt 2 tablespoon hemp seeds 1 tsp chia seeds 2 tablespoon hemp and almond muesli MethodCombine buckwheat nibs, water, mylk and salt in a pot and bring to the boil on medium-high heat.

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Pregnant women should be warned of

serious virus

By Melissa Grant

per cent of infected infants can develop problems in later childhood.

ALL pregnant women and those trying to conceive should be warned about Cytomegalovirus and its potentially harmful and lifethreatening impacts on babies, obstetricians say.

In an official list of recommendations to prevent CMV, The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists calls for women to be given information about how to prevent the virus as part of their routine antenatal or pre-pregnancy care.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can be passed from person-to-person through body fluids including saliva and urine, with young children the most common source of the infection.

Women who catch the infection while pregnant may pass the virus to their unborn child, with the highest likelihood of transmission being during the first trimester.

The virus - which affects up to 2.2 per cent of births - has been linked to cerebral palsy, learning problems and stillbirth.

While most babies infected before birth develop normally, around 10-15

They want hygiene practices to be recommended to all expectant mums and women trying to conceive.

Pregnant women can reduce their risk of contracting the virus by not sharing food, drinks or utensils with children under the age of 3.

They are also advised not to put a child's dummy in their mouth, avoid contact with saliva when kissing a child and to thoroughly wash their hands after nappy changes and feeds. www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Winter illnesses and when to seek help

By Melissa Grant APART from dreary cold weather, winter can also bring a succession of insipid illnesses that can leave the whole family sneezing, wheezing and coughing.

But how do you know whether your child is just suffering from a common virus that will eventually pass or something more serious?

Emergency medicine specialist Dr Catherine Kizana says the colder months can bring various viral illnesses, the flu, pneumonia and asthma flareups.

But in most cases, she says, parents need not worry when their child is unwell.

"Parents can get really worried when their kids aren't flying around like whirlwinds," Dr Kizana said.

■ Fluid intake: How much fluid they are getting in and how much they are getting out? If a baby is taking half their usual bottles then that's a concern. Not many wet nappies can also be a sign they need to go into hospital and be re-hydrated

■ Wheezy breathing: Cold air can also trigger asthma, which is caused by airway spasms - that's when you get that wheezy sound. The medication we give make the airways wide again. We generally don't diagnose children with asthma until they are at least 2 - you want to be sure it is the correct diagnosis. Young babies can get viruses that affect the chest where you can get a wheezy noise.

Here's Dr Kizana's advice on what parents should be observing:

■ The child's behaviour: Obviously we wouldn't expect an unwell child to be running around as normal. But if they are more seriously unwell they will be listless and unwilling to play.

Dr Kizana, of My Emergency Dr, encouraged any parent with serious concerns to seek immediate medical assistance.

■ Fever: A fever in itself isn't a major concern. It's a normal body response - it's actually the body fighting the virus. The common misconception is that the height of the fever tells how unwell a child is. The height doesn't matter. If the fever goes on for more

■ Difficulty breathing: Children with pneumonia exhibit signs that they're having difficulty breathing. When you look at a child and they're struggling to breathe they actually suck in the muscles between their ribs.

"As adults when we get sick we want to sit down and not do much - children are the same.

"If your child is eating and drinking reasonably well, and if they are less jumpy around but still interactive - you can be pretty reassured by that."

As most viruses don't have a specific treatment, you generally have to wait until they pass.

WHEN TO SEEK MEDICAL HELP When it comes to winter illnesses, there are various red flags that indicate it's time to seek medical assistance.

than five days then that's a red flag.

Also, if a child is less than two months old they always need to go to hospital if they have a fever

"With any concern you can phone My Emergency Dr through our smartphone app or go to the emergency department," she said.

"We would rather people come and be reassured rather than not come at all."

Paul Sadler Carrum Downs 149 Hall Rd Carrum Downs (03) 9782 9444 carrumdowns@paulsadlerswimland.com paulsadlerswimland.com www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Paul Sadler Narre Warren 101 Seebeck Drive Narre Warren (03) 8790 5540 narrewarren@paulsadlerswimland.com

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LEARN FROM THE SURVIVAL SPECIALISTS

WINTER 2019 23

‘Dear Google,

am I a bad mother?’

PREGNANT women and new mums are Googling terms - including 'am I a bad mother?' - that may indicate signs of anxiety and depression, according to Beyond Blue.

The organisation has analysed global Google data for terms that may indicate signs of anxiety and depression during the perinatal period.

Commonly Googled terms included the following: ■ "I don't love my baby" was searched 3,840 times last year ■ "Am I a bad mother?" was searched 3,800 times last year ■ "I hate being pregnant" was searched 15,600 times last year ■ "Does my baby love me?" was searched 4,680 times last year ■ "I feel alone in my pregnancy" was searched 2,040 times last year Beyond Blue Clinical Adviser Dr Grant Blashki said many new parents may not recognise that they are experiencing perinatal anxiety or depression, or that there is help available.

"Many parents navigate the journey alone, believing symptoms are just part of being a new parent, but it's important to recognise when feelings affect day-to-day life," Dr Blashki said.

Research shows one in 10 women will experience depression during pregnancy, one in six women will experience postnatal depression and anxiety - and one in 10 fathers will experience postnatal depression.

Beyond Blue has launched a new Perinatal Depression and Anxiety (PNDA) campaign, Strength in Numbers.

The organisation is encouraging new mums to complete the Mum's Mental Health Checklist - a set of 10 questions designed to give new and expectant mothers, and their health professionals, an insight into how they're coping.

To find out more, visit healthyfamilies.beyondblue.org.au or access the Mental Health Checklist for Mums.

Beyond Blue support service line 1300 22 46 36, www.beyondblue.org.au Lifeline 13 11 14 www.lifeline.org.au

Creating the right sleeping environment for your baby to play a little louder than what you think. Think water rushing over your head in the shower as a comparable volume).

Ideally, the room temperature would sit somewhere between 18 and 22 degrees celsius. What you want to think about is that come 4am-5am is the room still going to be sitting within that range?

with Lisa Dinnie WHAT does the optimal sleep environment for a baby look like?

Coming into winter, one of the most common questions I get is 'what should my baby wear?'

A super common outcome of a baby being too cold in the morning is early rising.

Let's start with the basics - you really want your baby's sleep environment to be calm, relaxed and not too hot/not too cold.

Think about when you go to a day spa for a massage ... how relaxing it is - the lights are dim, you never feel too cold and it is really easy to fall asleep.

YES that is what we want for our baby.

Between 3am and 5am is actually the coldest time of the day, so making sure they are still cosy at that time is key.

So start with a nice and dark bedroom. I recommend a 9 on a darkness scale of 1-10. This can help decrease stimulation when babies come to the top of their sleep cycles and can help eliminate early rising when the sun comes up.

I always recommend ensuring that everything on baby's bed and what they are wearing is made of natural fibres. Natural fibres are breathable which means it can help your little one maintain a regular temperature.

Polyester, synthetic materials contain the heat, which means babies can sweat a lot, and can lead to them also becoming cold once the sweat soaks into their clothing.

I also highly recommend the use of white noise. Low rumbling, natural sounds are best as it can help remind baby of the womb (it is recommended

You also need to check your mattress protectors, blankets, baby sleeping bags/suits and clothing. So what should baby wear? Most tog rated sleeping

bags will come with a general guide as to what should be worn in what temperature, which is reassuring. Over winter, I would suggest a bodysuit/ singlet, then a onesie (long legged/long arms) and then either a 2.5 or 3.5 tog rated sleeping bag (one that meets Australian standards).

A baby that is too hot will sweat on their core body (chest and back). Most professionals would suggest dressing a baby in one layer more than what you would wear yourself, keeping in mind that as an adult we can regulate our body temperature by pulling a doona up over ourselves, or snuggling into our partners arms. Our little babies haven't yet mastered that yet.

If baby has mastered the rolling skill, a cold baby may tend to roll over onto their tummy and move into a heads down, bottoms up position with their arms tucked in, like a little frog. Also important, as per SIDS guidelines, is to make sure the cot is clear of padded bumpers/pillows, loose sheets and doonas as well as soft toys/teddies to decrease the risk of SIDS. Lisa Dinnie is a mother of three young children, certified sleep consultant and the founder of Cherish Your Sleep. For more information, visit www.cherishyoursleep.com.au

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Teens and teeth whitening

By Melissa Grant

completely, and for any orthodontic t t t to t be b completed. l t d treatments

PERFECT white smiles greet us every time we open a magazine, turn on the TV or log onto social media.

The selfie phenomenon is also driving people to look as beautiful as they can be - and that includes having a set of pearly whites.

So it's hardly surprising that more and more teenagers are demanding teeth whitening.

But do they really need it? And is it safe?

Peter Alldritt, a distinguished member of the Australian Dental Association (ADA), says there are a range of things to consider before a teen whitens their teeth.

It's important for them to understand teeth whitening probably won't deliver dramatic results.

"They haven't been exposed to lots of tea and coffee and certainly not to cigarettes and red wine (I hope), so the results of teeth whitening might not be very spectacular in many teenagers," Dr Alldritt said.

Unfortunately however, through no fault of their own, some teens do have yellow teeth and have actually been teased.

Dr Alldritt says there isn't a particular age at which it's safe to whiten teeth.

But he recommends waiting until adult teeth are in place and have erupted

There is also a risk that the pulp chamber (nerve space) will be much bigger, making it easier for the whitening agent to penetrate.

Side effects Teens considering whitening need consider the following side effects: tooth sensitivity, gum irritation and multicoloured teeth.

Dr Alldritt says teeth can become sensitive to cold drinks and even breathing in cold air, while gums can be irritated or ulcerated from the bleaching agent.

Multi-coloured teeth can also be a huge problem when using DIY kits.

Selfie generation... the rise of social media is fuelling the desire for perfect white smiles.

Avoid DIY Whitening Teens may think DIY kits are a good option, especially with so many celebrities endorsing them on Instagram.

Some products also use alternative whitening products, usually combined with citric acid, which can erode tooth enamel.

But these kits are extremely risky.

First of all, the concentration of whitening agent (hydrogen peroxide) may be unknown.

"It may be too weak to be effective - a waste of time and money," Dr Alldritt said.

"Or, it may be too strong, causing much greater risk of side effects sensitivity, gum ulceration or burning of the gums."

Friendly specialist

There is a real risk the product will ooze onto the gums due to the absence of a custom made try to hold the bleaching agent in place.

"There is also a greater risk of swallowing the bleaching gel which may cause ulceration to the oesophagus and irritation to the stomach," Dr Alldritt said.

A final word of advice - consult your dentist first.

the final year dental students at the university.

is the place to go for all your orthodontic needs.

Dr John Paul Bradley joined the practice earlier this year, bringing a wealth of experience.

What satisfies Dr Bradley the most about orthodontics is the huge improvement in his patient's self-esteem as a result of orthodontic treatment. Dr Bradley loves living in Melbourne with his two dogs and socialising with his friends. As much as he loves living in Melbourne he still enjoys travelling back home to Ireland to see his family and also exploring other travel destinations.

Early diagnosis and treatment can help with tooth eruption, guide facial growth, often prevent more serious problems from occurring and prevent more extensive treatment once the child is older.

Raised in the north of Ireland, Dr Bradley graduated from the University of Manchester in the UK with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery Degree and practiced general dentistry for 16 years.

He moved to Australia in 2002 and later undertook three years of full-time specialist orthodontic training, completing a Doctor of Clinical Dentistry Degree at the University of Melbourne.

He was also a clinical demonstrator for

"They can discuss the options, advise whether your teenager is a suitable candidate for teeth whitening, and also supervise the process so that you get the best possible results."

joins South East Orthodontics

SOUTH East Orthodonticss has ha welcomed a new specialist orthodontist to its team.

Not only is he an excellent orthodontist - he's also very friendly and fantastic with adults and kids of all ages.

Teeth whitening is a popular dental procedure.

All orthodontists at South East Orthodontics are members of the Australian Society of Orthodontics and have done three extra years of full-time study.

If you have a child aged 7 or above, or you yourself are interested in having treatment then South East Orthodontics

The practice is a provider of Spark Clear Aligners, a new treatment that uses a series of almost invisible plastic aligners to move teeth into position.

Patients can also opt for lingual braces, SureSmile which is used alongside braces to speed up the time in treatment, or the popular Invisalign aligner system.

South East Orthodontics is located at 2/31 Clyde Road, Berwick For appointments, call 9796 2794.

Dr John Paul Bradley joined South East Orthodontics earlier this year.

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WINTER 2019 25

The friendly team at Casey Dental Group.

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Affordable orthodontics

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GETTING the family to the dentist can be a painful exercise.

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While kids may fear sitting in the dentist chair, many parents are worried the visit will hurt their wallets.

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236 Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road, Narre Warren South Po un

Bookings can now be made online through our website: www.caseydentalgroup.com.au

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The practice offers orthodontics for only $5700, with weekly plans for $59 and family discounts available.

It also bulk bills for the Medicare $1000 Child Dental Benefits Scheme.

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But at Casey Dental Group, orthodontics has never been more affordable.

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For insurance patients there is no out of pocket charge for a check-up, clean or x-rays. And if you don't have insurance, check-ups and consultations are free.

In addition, Casey Dental Group offers up to 24 months interest free payment plans on all services, including specialised treatments like implants, Invisalign and half price deals on crowns and cosmetic dentistry.

"Being the largest and longest established practice in southeast Melbourne, we can pass our operating

savings onto our patients, while maintaining the highest standard of dental care," Dr Jayson McNaughton explains.

Casey Dental Group is the preferred provider for major health funds.

The practice has a special focus on orthodontics for both children and adults, and Invisalign which is available for teens.

The friendly team aims to provide the best ongoing dental care with services including digital X-rays, laser whitening, implants, ceramic crowns/ veneers and all other aspects of dentistry.

The practice has extended its opening hours to include evening sessions that run until 9pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings.

Casey Dental Group is located at 236 Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road, Narre Warren South.

For bookings or more information, phone 9705 1755 or visit www. caseydentalgroup.com.au

YOUR LOCAL PAKENHAM DENTIST

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Expert advice on dental products and care

Dr Alan Zhang, Lynelle and Jess from Pakenham Dental.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time for a

mouthguard check AS we enter winter, the days are getting colder and the only time we seem to go out is for the kids' sports commitments.

We're halfway through the season for most sports - so it's important to check mouthguards are still fitting well and providing comfort and support for the kids' teeth.

If you have any concerns, it's a good idea to give Pakenham Dental a call.

Dentist Dr Alan Zhang says changes in the fitting of mouthguards are quite common as kids tend to grow quickly.

"One of our friendly dentists can examine your child to ensure their mouthguard properly fits," Dr Zhang said.

It's important to have regular checks and cleans during orthodontic treatments, as a general dentist may pick up smaller issues and act upon them before they get to big.

"Again, you don't want to get your braces off and realise that additional fillings needed to be done," Dr Zhang said.

"It's always a good idea to get a full comprehensive dental check-up and clean straight after an orthodontic treatment is completed.

"It is a fantastic opportunity to assess all the teeth and provide a thorough clean just so all that hard work with the braces isn't wasted."

"The last thing you want is an ill fitting mouthguard not being worn and then an accident on the field!"

The Medicare Child Dental Benefits Scheme is still running, so eligible patients will be able to get all this dental work for no out of pocket charge.

There are also lots of teens going through Invisalign and braces treatments.

Pakenham Dental is located at 3/61-63 Main St, Pakenham. For appointments, call 5941 1214.

THE team at Renew Dental Care is often asked about what dental products to purchase and what is better for your teeth.

When you walk down the supermarket dental aisle, you are often bombarded by the mind-boggling array of toothbrushes, toothpastes, flosses, etc.

Dental products also constantly pop up online and are often being promoted by some healthy, young, attractive 'influencer'.

So, how do you decide what is best for you and your family?

Renew Dental Care dentist Dr Nic Cheah says that rather than focusing on the product, you should concentrate on how long you're actually spending on your teeth.

"No product is ever going to do what it claims if you only give your teeth 30 seconds or less every time you brush," he said.

"We have a saying here at Renew Dental Care and that is 'don't rush when you brush'."

Also, buying the most expensive product will not make a difference.

"Companies spend a lot of time and money on marketing and making a product look special, but clinically there is very little evidence that any of the more expensive products are actually better for you," Dr Cheah said.

Dr Nic Cheah says you shouldn't rush when you brush.

Just follow the simple rules of brushing with a soft toothbrush, using fluoride toothpaste, and taking your time when brushing.

Renew Dental Care is located at 3/106 Henry Rd Pakenham. For appointments phone 5945 3289.

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WINTER 2019 27

Holiday fun at the dentist The friendly and caring team at Beaconsfield Dental.

SPECIALIST ORTHODONTIC CLINIC

and female dentists at beaconsfielddental.com.au and view the clinic's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.

Beaconsfield Dental offers a unique, caring and fun dental experience for you and your family.

Beaconsfield Dental offers the Child Dental Benefits Scheme, which if eligible, can provide your child with up to $1000 of dental treatment.

Each child receives a toothbrush chart to take home to record their morning and evening brushing.

The patient lounge offers a relaxing retreat for all with iPads, a Playstation car racing game and television viewing.

Dr Andy Ong BDSc (Hons) Melb, DCD Melb, M Orth RCS (Edin)

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IF you haven't visited Beaconsfield Dental yet with your children, then now is the perfect time with school holidays approaching.

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Every dentist at Beaconsfield Dental enjoys meeting and treating your children in a relaxing environment.

Futuristic technology in each treatment room allows you to clearly view your child's teeth on the TV screen.

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Each treatment room provides space for the whole family and can easily accommodate prams.

For your convenience, the bathroom accommodates a baby change table and ample room for your family.

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Friendly receptionists can assist you in checking your eligibility of Medicare Bulk Billing.

All private health funds are accepted, and the clinic is a preferred provider for Medibank, BUPA, HCF and CBHS which means Beaconsfield Dental provides members with higher benefits.

The multiple award-winning clinic welcomes new patients of all ages and is located at 1-3 Cardinia Street in Berwick, opposite Akoonah Park.

Phone the clinic today on 9707 3508 - the team is happy to help with any query. Bookings can also be made online at www.beaconsfielddental. com.au Beaconsfield Dental - Caring for the community and the environment. Look for the big smile!

Book for your routine check up and clean.

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We offer affordable general dentistry including dental implants, whitening, wisdom teeth extractions and much more.

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Education

Homework in primary schools - do we need it?

By Danielle Galvin IN a changing digitised world, one education expert believes it's time to shake-up the traditional approach to homework and get with the times.

Dr Ian Lillico has been working as a teacher, deputy principal and principal for 31 years in Western Australia.

He believes there's a different approach to learning, homework and after hours activities that many schools have adopted, and parents should consider.

It's called the homework grid.

Dr Lillico spells out the approach by way of example.

He believes sending children to their rooms to study, revise and complete daily projects or tasks isn't doing our kids any favours.

Different "cells" represent a different task - so daily tasks, which could be counted as homework, doing a chore around the house, discussing bills or helping a parent with the shopping, taking part in an activity outside, or even meditation.

He believes a major factor in children leading sedentary lifestyles is the fact that they spend hours of a night time locked up in their rooms, either completing homework tasks for the next day at school, or in front of a screen.

"Everything in our schools has changed," he said.

"I suppose we as teachers and parents expect kids to do the old analogue form of learning, which is copying things out and so on.

down when they are at home, we have got to get them moving, get them active, and get them talking with adults and with other people.

"The other reason for a change in homework is that kids are already very sedentary and we've got to make sure we keep them moving and active because they are sitting down at home, they are being driven to school, and then they sit down at school and then they come home and sit down again.

"And at the moment, as we know, kids are very happy to sit behind a console or a screen."

"It ties in with some research, some years ago, that showed homework, particularly in primary schools, was really a waste of time. It was a construct that parents wanted, it was a way of keeping kids quiet and under the thumb.

"But it wasn't really successful in making them productive."

While he doesn't believe in ditching homework all together, he says there are ways that it can be redefined.

Some ideas include getting kids to read to their parents, playing a game with an adult, or doing something creative.

"Traditional homework still has some role in areas where you've got this assignment due in a week's time," he said.

He says the idea of the homework grid is to marry up the school's approach to homework, as well as family life.

It's about getting kids to contribute in a small and meaningful way at home, get talking to their parents again, as well as revising and learning some key principles like learning to read and times tables.

"The types of jobs they will be doing are very different - we have to give them those skills to think on their feet and be interpersonal with other people, to know how to provide themselves some leisure some physical activity and communicate with adults.

"Writing things in a book or memorising things doesn't do that."

There's also merit in encouraging the two-way dialogue with parents and children.

"When that happens they can that fit that in with sporting connections, family things, it allows kids to manage their time within that week or within that fortnight.

As we know, with parents leading increasingly busy, hectic lives, that communication can be lost. And it's something all parents have to work at, putting the phone down, switching off from work and commitments, and engaging with your child.

"We have to be aware they already spend a fair amount of time sitting

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, a leading child psychologist, has spoken about the

need for parents to engage with their children for just eight minutes a day.

Dr Lillico agrees. He believes many kids would be lucky to get eight minutes of their parent's time and undivided attention each day.

"We want (parents) to spend time with their kids by going out and playing, doing chores together or doing activity with their child," he said.

"When they are sitting there doing something complex (like homework) something they should really be doing in the classroom, it's not actually giving the parent and child the opportunity to interact positively.

"I find a number of researchers, like myself, are finding the interaction between parents and child sometimes is zero in a 24-hour period."

Hillcrest gets arty

'ARTY Week' was an explosion of creativity and artistic expression at Hillcrest Christian College.

The Clyde North school dedicated lunch and recess times, during the second week of May, to celebrate all things arty.

The Visual Arts faculty spent weeks planning and preparing for Arty Week, and one of the preparations involved creating bunting.

The bunting was specially crafted during art clubs across primary and secondary groups. Students helped by tie-dyeing the fabric, cutting and sewing. The colourful triangular flags were placed in trees, along buildings, fences and added a particular festive charm in the courtyards where the art

activities were held.

Activities included pom pom making and chalk drawing where students created public masterpieces on the courtyard footpaths, street art style.

There was also a sticky note competition, where students submitted a sticky note artwork to win some exciting prizes. There were over 250 submissions across primary and secondary school. All sticky notes were displayed as a pop-up exhibition across class windows and the art gallery.

Further art making activities included God's eye, mindful colouring, resin art, banner painting and painted branches.

There was also a Staff Exhibition, where Hillcrest staff displayed their creations in the Visual Arts Centre foyer. Staff presented

Hillcrest Christian College students get creative during ''Arty Week''. a variety of artworks such as photography, pottery, drawing and textiles.

"The week was a celebration of talent and inspiration for the whole community," said Ysabelle Ruddle, Head of Visual Arts.

"In the near future, we look forward

to an outdoor mural to be painted by a commissioned artist to celebrate the themes of young people, art, design and Christian faith.

"Overall, Arty Week was a success and the perfect way to celebrate the creative arts at Hillcrest Christian College."

Rivercrest Christian College

Î International Baccalaureate World School Î Inquiry Learning with a Christian World View Î New Middle Years Campus Î Year 7 starting 2020 RIVERCREST CHRISTIAN COLLEGE Ferdinand Drive Clyde North Enter via Gate 6 T: 03 9703 9777 W: rivercrest.vic.edu.au 12411865-CG26-19

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

WINTER 2019 29

Centre run on love

Education

for Kool

Pilot training is on offer at St Margaret's and Berwick Grammar.

Kids ready for future THERE are many people who attempt to frame what it is that students in this century and beyond need to be able to think, say and do to function effectively and compassionately in a global world.

All educators aim to prepare students (and adults) for a world where the only constant is change.

Many observers will claim that little has changed regarding formal education methodologies for over 200 years. We know this not to be the case.

School structures and classrooms, curriculum, pedagogies and assessments have all changed considerably.

So much so that I often hear parents comment "I wish I could have learned like that".

One aspect that is unrecognisable to older generations is that of careers education. Young people today are encouraged to explore their passions, explore the world of work and seek mentoring and other opportunities that permit the selection of a pathway after schooling that is likely to be satisfying and rewarding.

MARIA Dimoulas and Janette Karavatis are the mother and daughter team behind Kool Kidz Narre Warren.

All the rooms have access to spacious outdoor areas and there are dedicated sleep areas and a separate kitchen.

Both women love children and in February they realised a long held a dream to open their own childcare centre.

A feature of the centre is the earth room where children have lunch along with incursions and special learning experiences.

"We are a family run business, looking after your family," said Janette.

Their classroom is now the world.

Such an approach at St Margaret's and Berwick Grammar School that complements the focus on STEM, entrepreneurship and innovation are the recent opportunities offered to the students to obtain a drone licence or a recreational pilot's licence.

Maria has a degree in early childhood education and a post graduate qualification in teaching children with special needs.

Drones are used in a broad range of occupations including surveying, engineering, photography, film making and science research. Australia and globally

She has extensive experience as a kindergarten teacher working at numerous childcare centres over 15 years.

Janette has also worked in childcare for more than a decade.

The light, bright centre was completely refurbished before the doors opened to new families in February.

we are facing shortages in pilots.

A partnership with Casey Technical School also facilitates access to state-ofthe-art technology.

Staff work with children across seven classrooms - two baby rooms, three toddler rooms and two kinder rooms.

We believe these initiatives will assist the young people to know themselves better, know what they stand for, as well as giving them the transferable skills to embark on newly developed career opportunities.

Kidz

Janette and Maria looked at various childcare models before settling on Kool Kidz.

"The standards are so high in terms of the curriculum and the support we receive from the franchise," Janette explained.

Kool Kidz Narre Warren has capacity for 130 children and offers the Kool Beginnings Curriculum as well as a Little Sports Heroes program.

Janette and Maria also hope to introduce a music and a language program in coming terms.

Kool Kidz Narre Warren caters for children from six weeks to six years.

It is open week days from 6.30am to 6.30pm at 17 Cranbourne Road, Narre Warren. Phone 9705 1532.

- Annette Rome, Principal St Margaret's and Berwick Grammar School

CARING & FAMILY FRIENDLY Kool Kidz Narre Warren is a purpose-built Early Learning, Childcare and Kindergarten facility that provides a safe, fun and exciting environment to explore, learn and grow in for children aged

Phone 9705 1532 to speak with Janette or Maria to ENROL NOW 17 Cranbourne Road, Narre Warren www.koolkidznarrewarren.com.au

12420356-DJ26-19

6 weeks to 6 years.

Janette and Maria with some of their young charges at Kool Kidz Narre Warren.

School

in Action

We welcome you to visit and discover the extraordinary opportunities on offer from ELC to Year 12.

Wednesday 7 August Officer Campus - Senior Boys Berwick Campus - Senior Girls Monday 12 August & coeducational ELC to Year 6.

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30 WINTER 2019

TICKETS: www.trybooking.com/423187 Bookings essential at www.stmargarets.vic.edu.au www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Early Learning Kinder

Our centres offer:

Regular excursions and incursions

Indoor & outdoor play Long opening hours Flexible session lengths

RNE CRANBOU NORTH CLYDE NORTH

PAKENHAM RTH CLYDE NOC ESCENT MOROAK R

Book a tour of your local centre today

childrensprograms.ymca.org.au

(03) 8371 0500 12412289-LB14-19

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

WINTER 2019 31

Education

Selecting the right

school

CHOOSING a primary school can be a stressful decision for mums and dads.

Berwick Lodge Primary School Principal Henry Grossek explains why the decision is a difficult one and what parents should consider.

Around this time of the year many parents of kindergarten age children make decisions regarding their child's school enrolment.

Declan, Tyler and Hayden celebrate their achievement.

Harkaway kids on world map

Over the years I've met with many parents for whom this is a very stressful decision to make.

The underlying reason being that they don't want to make a mistake that will impact negatively on their child.

For those parents comfortable with sending their child to their local, zoned public primary school, the choice is simple.

For many others, however, it can be quite complex.

There are so many variables to consider starting with choice of sector, public or private.

Do non-zoned, nearby public schools accept out of zone enrolments? What type and range of programs does the school offer and that would best suit my child?

How large is the school in terms of enrolments? Is the school open-plan or not in design? What is the school's reputation as a learning centre?

Then, of course, what impression did you gain of the school when you

Berwick Lodge Primary School, Learning For Life. visited? The list goes on.

We at Berwick Lodge Primary School are very proud of our school.

We believe that our record and reputation justifies that pride.

Why not check us out - talk with people in the wider community, especially those who have some firsthand contact with our school, access our website where there is a lot of valuable information featuring our students.

Come and visit us for a personal tour of our school - there's lots to see and yes, we do take a limited number of out of zone students.

Berwick Lodge Primary School is located at 139-145 Mansfield St, Berwick.

For enrolment enquiries, phone 9707 1766.

HARKAWAY Primary School students have taken on the world after flying to America for the 2019 VEX Robotics World Championship.

They joined 15,000 students from 40 countries in Kentucky for the competition where they designed and built a robot in a game-based engineering challenge. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what to expect,â&#x20AC;? said Declan, one of the three member team. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is a real honour to represent Australia,â&#x20AC;? 12-year-old Hayden said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yeah - and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve only been using a table tennis table instead of an actual competition field,â&#x20AC;? Tyler added.

The three Grade 6 boys started their journey after the school was donated some money for helping at the Berwick show last year.

When given the choice, the students decided on a robot.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe how well they took to the building and coding elements,â&#x20AC;?

Principal Leigh Johnson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The beauty of this competition is that students from different schools (and countries) compete with each other - not against each other. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They split the points earned and the team that has accumulated the most points is declared the teamwork winner.â&#x20AC;?

The Harkaway kids must be a very friendly crew. Event after event, they kept on winning - including the Australian National Championships.

They were the only Victorian state primary school to get through to the Worlds.

The team performed impressively at the international level, improving their world rankings significantly. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to get back and start working on the next robot,â&#x20AC;? Tyler said.

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www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Education

Challenge develops good digital citizens volunteer commenters who are allocated student blogs each week to ensure students are interacting with a safe and trustworthy audience.

Education Matters

"These commenters are screened to ensure they are involved in education.

Some of our commenters are teachers, retired teachers, pre-service teachers, librarians, school administrators, students who have taken part in the challenge in the past, and others who work in education."

with Rob Kelly

HAVE you heard of the Student Blogging Challenge?

The program is about children embracing all of the benefits of blogging - from learning digital writing skills, and digital citizenship, to developing an authentic audience and connecting with others around the globe.

As the Student Blogging Challenge moves into the next decade of our ever changing digital landscape, what will the future hold for Kathleen and the future of the Student Blogging Challenge?

Since 2008, the Student Blogging Challenge has run twice yearly, beginning each March and October. It's a great way for children to safely develop their voice and agency to communicate their ideas, beliefs and learning experiences to the world.

Kathleen Morris, an Australian primary school teacher and edublogger, is one of the leading forces behind the challenge.

"The Student Blogging Challenge founder Sue Wyatt ran the challenge for 10 years before deciding to step back in 2018. I was a big fan of using blogging and global collaboration in the classroom and I've always enjoyed supporting students and teachers with blogging and connecting. I felt like leading the Student Blogging Challenge was a natural extension of this so I happily put my hand up," Kathleen explained.

Some of the topics that the challenge

focuses on include; digital literacy skills, copyright, global collaboration, problem solving and agency.

Kathleen also acknowledges that "some topics simply focus on fun and creativity too, like emojis and music.

Digital citizenship is interwoven into all of the topics; students develop their understanding of how to be a safe and responsible member of an online community throughout the challenge".

As the Student Blogging Challenge is a global experience, one question that it raises is how safe it is for children

to participate in.

"One of the fantastic things about the Student Blogging Challenge is it allows students to develop important digital citizenship skills in an authentic way.

Rather than learning about the theory of digital citizenship or publishing on a closed platform, our students get real world practise. With the support of teachers and commenters, students learn about publishing online and interacting with others safely and positively."

Kathleen and the Student Blogging Challenge team work to recruit

"In order to thrive in our rapidly changing world, global competency is a must for all students. So, I hope to keep spreading the word about the challenge to encourage participants from a diverse range of countries and communities. The challenge will always be about publishing online safely and positively while learning about the world and forming global connections.

As our digital world continues to evolve, so will the challenge. It's exciting to see where the challenge will go in the years to come!"

You can learn more about the Student Blogging Challenge by visiting studentchallenge.edublogs.org/about/ or connect with Kathleen Morris on Twitter @kathleen_morris.

Maranatha Christian School

OPEN MORNING Friday 26 July 2019 10 am to 12 pm

EARLY LEARNING - YEAR 12 JOIN US FOR A FREE MORNING TEA MEET OUR FRIENDLY STUDENTS AND DEDICATED TEACHERS LEARN ABOUT OUR EXCLUSIVE OPEN DAY OFFER 12419898-CLG26-19

Endeavour Hills Year 7 - 12 Primary opening in 2021

Officer ELC - Year 6 Secondary opening in 2021

Doveton ELC - Year 6

maranatha.vic.edu.au www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

WINTER 2019 33

Education

An easier way to find

local schools IT is now easier for parents to find out what school zone they live in thanks to the launch of a new interactive website.

The state government has created a simple and clear website so, for the first time, Victorian parents can enter their home address online and see their local school zone.

The 2019/20 Victorian budget includes $880 million for the rollout of subsidised three-year-old kindergarten program.

A number of anomalies in school zoning have also been addressed.

Previously, some homes were excluded from a school zone, and in some cases, school boundaries overlapped.

The Find My School website also includes zones for the new schools opening in 2020.

The website allows parents to search for their closest school as well as find other nearby government schools.

Schools can be found by typing in a residential address or suburb, or searching by school name or categories such as primary, secondary, or specialist school.

The new website aims to provide parents with clarity and consistency on what their government school options are.

Parents can look up school zones online at: www.findmyschool.vic.gov. au

Three-year-old kinder a major

By Melissa Grant

winner in budget

entire state in 2022.

ALL Victorian children will have access to at least five hours of subsided threeyear-old kindergarten by 2022.

The rollout of the major kindergarten initiative will begin next year, with the state government allocating $880 million in its 2019/20 budget.

The plan is to offer 15 hours of subsidised kindergarten programs for all three-year-old children by 2029.

The rollout will begin next year in six regional local government areas: Buloke, Hindmarsh, Northern Grampians, South Gippsland, Strathbogie and Yarriambiack.

It will be further expanded to another 15 regional areas in 2021, before being expanded across the

The 2019/20 Victorian budget also includes another $6 million for a kindergarten facilities program to improve playgrounds and buildings, and provide equipment to help kinders be more inclusive and accessible for children with additional needs.

will also be added to the Free TAFE list from 2020.

Other education initiatives funded in the 2019/20 Victorian budget include: ■ $1.82 billion to rollout the next phase of the school building boom, including the construction of 13 new schools to open in 2021

There's also $92.4 million allocated to support early childhood teachers and educators through more professional development.

■ $402 million for school infrastructure in non-government schools

"The rollout of three-year-old kinder will start next year, and there will be more investment in teacher training so our kids continue to get first-class support," Education MInister James Merlino explained.

■ $58 million to expand the School Breakfast Clubs Program to an extra 500 schools

The Diploma and Certificate III of Early Childhood Education and Care

■ $20.7 million for free tampons and pads at government schools

■ $7.5 million boost to the state's community language schools ■ $179.5 million to respond to and remove asbestos that poses a risk to student health by the end of 2020

Be Known at Nazareth College

Enrolments open for 2020 & 2021 Catholic Co-education for Years 7 -12

Select places available for 2019

Manning Drive, Noble Park North VIC 3174 | (03) 9795 8100 | www.nazareth.vic.edu.au 12419803-CG26-19

34 WINTER 2019

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Education

Their full

potential realised BEFORE your children even come to school, you, as parents, have taught them so much.

They've learned to listen, to ask questions, to be filled with wonder, to say thank-you, to wash their hands, to pick up after themselves and to look out for each other.

Our job at St Clare's is to continue these life lessons and nurture the holistic development of each child.

For the St Clare's family, numeracy and literacy skills are core elements of education; but so is religious education

Warning on exam stress

- developing empathy, social justice and a strong moral compass.

Above: Creativity is encouraged at St Clare's.

We encourage active play and healthy bodies; understanding other cultures through learning languages; and the confidence that comes with developing creativity through the performing and visual arts.

Left: Numeracy and literacy are core elements of education at St Clare's.

At St Clare's our aim is to have each child reach their potential; to be a well-rounded individual - within a supportive and caring learning environment.

- St Clare's Principal, Helen Staindl HEADSPACE, the National Youth Mental Health Foundation, has warned parents to be alert to stress and anxiety faced by teenagers during exam time.

Headspace Senior Clinical Advisor, Nick Duigan said young people face many life challenges, one of them being school, and particularly exam periods.

stressful periods in their life without experiencing a mental illness."

Current statistics show that: ■ 75% of mental health difficulties first onset is before the age of 25.

■ Anxiety disorders first onset is predominantly younger in age, under 16 years old.

These can be stressful.

Mr Duigan said it was important to note that stress was different to anxiety.

"Many young people are able to manage stressful life events and

"When a young person is supported by their school and family to work through times of difficulty, this can build resilience," Mr Duigan said.

"A supportive school and family

environment provides information and resources that help young people feel in control, and help young people build a range of strategies that support them to do the things they want to do, even in times of stress and difficulty.

"It is important to make sure young people have access to the information they need to recognise the early warning signs and symptoms of mental health difficulties. This can help them to intervene early and can also help them to put in place healthy habits to support their mental health and prevent a mental illness from developing."

St Clare’s Catholic Primary School is called to serve the local community, to teach the Catholic faith, to promote educational excellence and to nurture the growth and well-being of all students.

Igniting the mind & spirit...

SCHOOL TOURS - Every Monday at 9:15am

Preparing students for a bright future

Contact the School for information 95 Majestic Drive, Officer Phone – 5940 6777 enrolments@stclaresofficer.catholic.edu.au

9700 6068 www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Our FAITH leads to WISDOM and COURAGE

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Call to book a tour

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Enrol now for 2020-2021

WINTER 2019 35

Cathy-Lea

Entertainment

The cost

kids parties

- experts in entertainment education

of

CHILDREN love celebrating their birthday and parents don't mind spending a bit on making it a memorable occasion.

SINCE 1991, Cathy-Lea has been training students in performing arts including ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary dance, hip hop, drama, singing, musical theatre and instrumental music.

School, Patrick Studios Australia, Melbourne City Ballet Company, Ministry of Dance, Kelly Aykers Studios and Dance Spectrum. They have also performed professionally in Australia and overseas.

Many have gone onto careers on the stage in Australia and abroad.

Cathy-Lea's Elite Training Program features tuition by professional performing artists, highly qualified coaches and master teachers from around the world.

Thousands have also gained confidence, coordination, fitness, friendships and a love of performing arts from their experience at CathyLea.

Research shows Aussie parents spend an average of $270 on kids birthday parties.

Interestingly, many mums and dads feel pressured to throw Insta-worthy parties for their kids.

Renowned for its high standards, disciplined classes, and friendly, qualified, expert staff; Cathy-Lea encourages students of all abilities to shine, training through recognised syllabi and affiliated with professional associations including Cecchetti International Ballet, The Australian Teachers of Dancing, and AMEB.

Seven out of 10 who responded to a Real Insurance Australian Family Values Survey agreed that social media and celebrities have put more pressure on parents to throw visually impressive parties they can share with others online.

When it comes to gifts, parents spend an average of $185 on their own children.

But apparently you can go too far when celebrating your child's birthday.

But how much should you spend on presents for someone else's child?

Around two in five parents admit to judging other mums and dads on their child's birthday party or other celebrations for being too extravagant.

According to the research, we spend an average of $46 on our children's friends birthdays. With the average child attending around eight parties a year, the costsw can add up quickly!

In July, Cathy-Lea will begin offering the 'Ready, Set, Dance' pre-school program (as seen on Nickelodeon), thus expanding and enhancing its already hugely successful pre-school performing arts program taught by qualified dance teachers and educational professionals.

But thankfully it's still the thought that counts, with nine out of 10 parents agreeing with this sentiment.

Cathy-Lea graduates have studied at the Australian Ballet School, Victorian College of the Arts Secondary

On the flipside, less than 10 per cent of parents said they had judged other parents on putting on celebrations that were too modest or simple.

Parents are feeling the pressure to throw visually appealing kids parties, according to research.

More than 100 young dancers and performers engage in this program each year, experiencing the highest standards of conditioning, technique and performance training.

Recreational classes are offered in all styles including hip hop, contemporary dance, drama, singing, musical theatre, acrobatics, commercial jazz and Broadway jazz.

Students of all ages and abilities are welcome. Special discounted fee packages are available for students taking multiple classes.

With close to 150 classes per week on offer in dance, music and drama, Cathy-Lea is sure to have a class that meets your needs.

To find out more, please contact Cathy on cathy-lea@cathy-lea.com, 9704 7324 or visit the website at www. cathy-lea.com

Fresh & Fruity Family Fun This Summer /0%. %6%29$!9 !- 0-

7E HAVE 5 0ICK &RUIT !,, 9EAR s FRUIT TASTING ADVENTURE TOURS

Ride around the farm behind the tractor a covered trailer - discover a new fruit, sample tasty fruit in season, Pick your own fruit straight from the tree. Suitable for ALL ages, eat as much as you like taste at least 8 fruit varieties.

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Cathy-Lea encourages students of all abilities to shine.

Visit our fruit plant nursery located on the farm stocking 100â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s of fruiting plants, specialising in dwarf varieties.

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Visit our farm cafe and check out our latest range of Jams, chutneys, preserved fruit & fruit leathers.

www.raynersorchard.com.au www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Entertainment

Hit kids cartoon Bluey fetches a second series

PARENTS and kids rejoice - more Bluey is on the way.

The much-loved Aussie animated children's series has been renewed for a second season, with 52 brand new episodes to screen next year.

The show, which airs on ABC Kids, has won over the hearts of kids and parents alike with its warm and humorous take on modern family life.

Set in Brisbane, where creator Joe Brumm lives, the show is about a family of Blue Heelers - sisters Bluey and Bingo, mum Chilli and dad Bandit - who turn everyday life into extraordinary adventures.

In the second series, Bluey will play fun and elaborate new games with her sister, Chilli's relationship with her girls will be further explored as she juggles work and family life, and Bandit returns with his wry sense of humour.

Bluey has been an amazing Aussie TV success story. It's currently the number one children's series on metropolitan TV and has amassed a whopping 75 million program plays

on ABC iview.

"We've all been amazed and overwhelmed by how Australians have taken Bluey into their hearts and we're totally stoked to be making another 52 brand new episodes," said Charlie Aspinwall, Bluey Executive Producer.

The show is created, written, animated and post-produced in Brisbane.

Production on the second series was due to start in late May. In more good news for Bluey fans, three books based on the series will be available in time for Christmas.

And it looks like the true-blue Aussie series will soon go global.

"The response from global clients has also been phenomenal and we think it will be embraced by audiences worldwide," said Henrietta HurfordJones, Director of Children's Content at BBC Studios, which commissions the show with ABC Children's Studios.

"We can't wait to introduce the world to this Blue Heeler family who will clearly resonate everywhere."

Hit kids cartoon Bluey has been renewed for second series, with 52 episodes to air next year.

A picturesque day out on Puffing

Billy

STEP back in time at Australia's favourite steam train: Puffing Billy, located in the Dandenong Ranges.

Puffing Billy is one of the finest preserved steam railways in the world and operates every day of the year, except Christmas Day, thanks to the tireless efforts of volunteers.

The excitement begins from the moment you arrive at the station with the sight of the historic locomotives, the smell of the steam and the sound of the train's whistle.

The Railway was built in 1900 to serve the local communities that lived in the hills, carrying anything from passengers to timber, livestock, potatoes and plants.

Today, Puffing Billy Railway is a major tourist attraction and incites visitors to come and experience a century old tradition. Ride in the open sides carriages as the historic steam trains continue to run on their original mountain track between Belgrave and Gembrook, in the natural surrounds of the magnificent Dandenong Ranges.

Start at Belgrave Belgrave Station is the headquarters of the railway and only a short walk from the Belgrave township.

After boarding, Puffing Billy chugs away and you and your family can take in the spectacular scenery of the beautiful Sherbrooke Forest, a superb temperate rainforest with native 'Mountain Ash' trees. Within minutes, you will cross Puffing Billy's most famous landmark - the iconic Monbulk www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Puffing Billy is one of the finest preserved steam railways in the world.

Creek trestle bridge.

Start at Lakeside (Emerald Lake Park) Escape the crowds and enjoy a family outing aboard Puffing Billy from Lakeside (Emerald Lake Park) to Gembrook.

Emerald Lake Park is the perfect spot to enjoy for families before or after their journey, and offers BBQ facilities and picnic tables, playground facilities, a wading pool and paddle boats for hire.

Once your journey is underway,

Puffing Billy skirts the unspoiled Wright State Forest and as the train climbs towards Gembrook, there are spectacular views of rolling farmlands and distant mountain ranges. www.puffingbilly.com.au WINTER 2019 37

Marine fun at RSL PHILLIP Island RSL is thrilled to be a partner of the Island Whale Festival and will present three children's workshops.

A whale watching cruise is a great way to get up close to the marine mammals.

Have a

whale of a time on Phillip Island

HUMPBACK and Southern Right whales will frolic in Phillip Island waters these school holidays as they make their way north to their winter breeding grounds.

The Island Whale Festival celebrates the arrival of these majestic creatures with an immersive three-day event on Phillip Island from 5-7 July.

The weekend features a range of whale related activities to enjoy.

Explore the Bass Coast Whale Discovery Trail, which includes some of the finest whale lookouts in the Bass Coast region.

Of course whale-spotting will be a highlight, and visitors have the option to do this from either land or sea. Meet a marine biologist at one of the many whale lookouts and learn how to spot the tell-tale signs of whales cruising along the coast, or join one of the whale watching boat tours to circumnavigate the island and search for both whales and dolphins.

Kids of all ages will enjoy the Whale out of Water activity which involves climbing inside a 19-metre inflatable whale for a fun.

You can also experience a range of intercultural activities celebrating the majestic whales and our marine environment including a whale blessing, drumming circles, storytelling and art activities.

For detailed program information on these and many more great activities happening in July, visit islandwhales. com.au or find the Festival on Facebook and Instagram at @islandwhalefestival For accommodation and things to do, visit visitphillipisland.com

Children will be taken on a journey as they learn about the visiting whales during the workshops at the RSL, which are ideally suited for children aged 5 to 12 years.

Bookings are essential for all three workshops. To book, visit www.pirsl. com.au/events To learn more about joining Phillip Island RSL and its Joey's Kid's Club, visit www.pirsl.com.au/membership For details about other events being held during the Island Whale Festival, check out www.islandwhales.com.au

The workshops are: ■ Friday 5 July, 10.30am: Children can make a soft sculpture using calico, and paint to create whale tail cushions thanks to local artist, teacher and author Karen Allen.

■ Sunday 7 July: Karen Allen returns with another workshop for children, this time using mixed media to create a whale inspired painting that will become a treasured memory for the whole family.

■ Monday 8 July, 10.30am: Seaweed Sally comes to town with her fascinating array of marine exhibits and a hands-on experience for kids aged between 5 and 12 years. Children will experience the mysterious

The Seaweed Sally exhibits provide a hands-on marine experience for kids.

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For the landlubbers among us, there

are some great information sessions on marine research and plastic reduction, movie screenings, Boomerang Bag craft, and hands-on activities. Take part in a photography workshop or tour, listen to presentations on identifying whales and learn about the whales that visit the region.

The festival celebrates the annual arrival of some of the ocean's most majestic creatures, with the island's coastal waters playing host to humpback and southern right whales, and even the occasional orca.

world of marine life - the animals, their environment and how to preserve and protect them. There will be preserved specimens and live touch tank animals.

38 WINTER 2019

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

Explore Antarctica on Phillip Island HAVE you ever wanted to visit Antarctica and explore the world's most extreme continent - but all from the comfort of a warm base?

Imagine the smile on your kids' faces as they stand on an ice floe and see themselves up on the big screen as they reach out to pat a virtual penguin, stroke a playful seal or interact with an orca as it appears to breach out of the Southern Ocean!

Well, now is your chance! Load the kids in the car and embrace the cool change this winter at the spectacular Antarctic Journey - an indoor educational and interactive multimedia exhibit at the cosy and warm Nobbies Centre on Phillip Island.

Embark on a virtual tour into the wonderful augmented reality of the Southern Ocean and Antarctica and engage with the many immersive and interactive experiences in this joint venture between Phillip Island Nature Parks and WWF-Australia.

'The Lab' is full of fun with hands-on activities such as 'Feel the freeze', where participants can compare their thermal image with an Emperor penguin. The new 'Touch and Smell' exhibit allows you test your senses as you try and identify the mystery Antarctic objects.

Kids can explore the newly installed research pod to gain an insight into the

Explore Antarctica from the warm Nobbies Centre on Phillip Island this winter. lives and tasks of the people who work in this frontier territory. Learn about the perils faced every day by Antarctic wildlife through the new Marine Debris interactive, or find out all about ice cores and the secrets they can tell us about the earth's climate in ancient times.

Antarctic Journey at the Nobbies has disability and pram access, with interpretive displays and experiences at wheelchair height, and 20 minute guided tours are available daily.

Outside, take a stroll along the clifftop boardwalks and enjoy spectacular views of the Nobbies rock

formations and Seal Rocks, located 2km offshore and home to the world's largest colony of Australian fur seals.

Bundle and save with a great value 4 Parks Pass which includes entry to the Antarctic Journey, Penguin Parade, Koala Reserve and Churchill Island.

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WINTER 2019 39

Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit offers a go kart experience like no other.

All tracks lead to

world famous circuit PHILLIP Island Grand Prix Circuit offers non-stop fun and excitement, with activities suited for the entire family.

Lap up the entertainment at your own pace and experience a whole day of adventure at the world famous attraction.

Move into the fast lane with go karting on the 750m replica Grand Prix Circuit. Situated alongside the Circuit and overlooking Bass Strait, it’s a go kart experience like no other.

Try and beat the fastest times of the day, or just compete against your personal best with the lap time print outs. Groups are welcome and tandem karts are available for the youngsters.

Take a stroll through the History of Motorsport display and admire authentic sleek machines of yesteryear including vintage, classic and contemporary cars, as well as the newly added world’s largest collection of Grand Prix motorcycles.

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Follow in the footsteps of racing superstars on the daily Guided Circuit

Tour which provides access to exclusive and restricted areas such as the control tower, media centre, pit roof, and of course that ‘hero’ photo opportunity on the winner’s podium.

Get behind the controls of Australia’s largest GP slot car track, or challenge your mates on the race simulators with a virtual race of the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.

Wander through the tranquil water gardens that lead to the viewing mound, capturing some of the most unique and invigorating panoramic views of Bass Strait and Cape Woolamai that Phillip Island has to offer.

After all the excitement, Champions Cafe has all the answers with a fresh daily menu featuring plenty of choices.

The gift shop at the Visitor Centre has a wide selection of apparel, merchandise and souvenirs to choose from so you can take a memento home with you.

For more information, phone 5952 9400 or visit www.phillipislandcircuit.com.au

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40 WINTER 2019

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

reality bites

Samantha Lamour, pictured with son Ollie, thinks the negative stigma attached to a caesarean birth needs to change.

Pictures: Rob Carew

The birth plan that

didn't go to plan

By Melissa Meehan

to meet my baby."

IF you asked Samantha Lamour about her birth plan, she was fairly relaxed, except for the idea of having a caesarean.

But when the early makings of the induction made little difference to her cervix, they decided it was too risky to break her waters - and would need to do it in surgery.

She didn't judge other women for having one - but her mum had 'natural' births and that's what she wanted too.

But as luck would have it, Samantha had no choice and her son Ollie was brought into the world by c-section.

A routine 36 week check-up turned into a rush to hospital after it was revealed Sam was suffering from pre-eclampsia and had extremely high blood pressure.

"I was 36 weeks and four days and they said they would induce me," she said.

"So here I was just going on maternity leave two days earlier and I was about

Ollie was surrounded by fluid and wasn't settled, which meant breaking Sam's waters could result in him having the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck.

"But because I wasn't to term and I wasn't in labour I kept getting pushed back for more urgent cases," she said.

Ollie with Mum Samantha Lamour.

the anaesthetic in Sam's back, so her sanity came from a friendly orderly who hugged her as the needle went in.

"It was such a weird experience, they had to lift my legs back onto the bed because you can't move at all and I think the thing no one warns you about is that once they cut you open - you don't feel pain ... but you feel everything," she said.

"It's like sitting on your foot and running your finger along it.

"But the caesarean itself wasn't too scary."

"Until I started getting contractions and I started to panic because they had told minutes earlier that there could be some issues."

Soon enough the curtain was pulled down and Samantha saw her beautiful baby boy.

They rushed her down to surgery at 10 at night.

"He was purple and wasn't breathing," Sam said.

Her partner Dylan wasn't allowed inside theatre while they were putting

"The nurse was violently rubbing him, and Dylan actually said to me 'oh they

Twins make five

But then the stress started,

"Even if it is a choice, you need a pretty valid medical reason," she said.

"And I did get some comments from random people who were super negative.

"The asked me if it was because I didn't want to mess up downstairs or if I was too precious to push ... which was horrible."

Asked if she would have another c-section with her next child, Sam said she'd loved to try a vaginal birth, but next time she won't be so cutthroat about her birth plan.

In contrast to now, her Austrian-born mother and Croatian-born father Ivan Movric arrived in Australia, bringing no family with them at all.

Preceding them are their mother Casey Jarrett, of Cranbourne, their grandmother Laurel Harraghy, of Hampton Park, and great-grandmother Wendy Lynch and great-greatgrandmother Frieda Movric, both of Doveton.

Her late dad had been a "freedom fighter" in Croatia. During the civil conflict, his brother and father were taken away and never seen again.

He fled to Austria, where he met his future bride Ms Movric. When they arrived they travelled widely, following work opportunities.

Each member of this "strong-minded" family have grown up in the South East, says a proud Ms Lynch, who cares for Ms Movric at home.

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

For Sam, she thinks the negative stigma attached to a caesarean birth needs to change.

When Ms Lynch grew up in Doveton, she was the only girl among five brothers.

THE birth of identical twins Lyla and Zoey has added an amazing fifth generation of females to a close-knit clan in the South East.

"They're good babies, they sleep well and they're always together.

Ollie ended up in the special care unit but has gone from strength to strength ever since.

generations of females for family

By Cam Lucadou-Wells

Of course, each of them love the newborn twins. Often being dressed in the same clothes, the girls are hard to tell apart, Ms Lynch said.

are cleaning him up' - and I was like 'no - he's not breathing'."

Five generations: Casey Jarrett, Zoey Jarrett, Frieda Movric, Wendy Lynch, Lyla Jarrett and Laurel Harraghy.

Picture: Stewart Chambers "You see them looking at each other all the time.

"They had baby photos done and

everyone thinks they're dolls - that they're not real. They're just so gorgeous."

Their children were born in Dandenong, Kooweerup and Mt Gambier.

When Ivan landed work at the Nissan factory in Dandenong, they settled in Doveton.

Ms Movric has lived at the same address for the past 50 years.

WINTER 2019 41

reality bites

Alex and Troy McDermott with their daughter Hazel.

Pictures: Stewart Chambers

Troy McDermott with nine-day old daughter, Hazel, on the day his cricket side, the Pakenham Lions, won a memorable premiership.

Hazel arrives in time for dad's cricket finals

By Melissa Grant HAZEL Maggie McDermott was born just in time to be part of the premiership celebrations with her father's cricket side.

At just nine days old, Hazel was among the crowd at Toomuc Reserve as her dad Troy and his Pakenham Lions teammates claimed a memorable premiership win.

It was the first time she had ventured out of the house with mum Alex, following somewhat of a tricky birth.

Troy and Alex actually expected Hazel would be born weeks before the West Gippsland Cricket Association (WGCA) premier league grand final.

But she kept them waiting, arriving 11 days after her due date.

Although the Officer couple were prepared for a potential match day arrival in the latter part of the cricket season, they never thought she'd be born so close to the semi and grand finals.

"It's funny when you just keep waiting and waiting. We were prepared for all the games (in the lead-up to the due date)," Alex said.

"I didn't expect to wait that long or have a c-section.

"But they had to get her out safely."

Hazel was finally born at 11.36pm on Thursday 14 March, 2019, at St John of God Hospital, Berwick, weighing 4.2kg.

It was pretty good timing in the end, with Troy able to get a full night's sleep before his team's semi-final clash.

Needless to say it was a relief when they were told Alex would be induced on the Wednesday before the Lions semi-final match.

Alex said taking Hazel to the grand final was somewhat of a challenge, with hot and windy conditions on the Saturday.

But the actual birth also took longer than expected.

But the following day, when the Lions claimed the premiership over Kooweerup, was much easier - although Hazel snoozed through most of the match.

"Hazel's heart rate was going up and down and she wasn't going anywhere," Alex recalled.

"After 15.5 hours of trying to have this little one, they said 'enough is enough'.

"It was easier as she slept in the pram," Alex said.

Hazel is sure to be regularly supporting

Hazel Maggie McDermott, pictured at seven weeks old. her father from the sporting sidelines.

The bub is already getting into the footy season, having been to support dad and his Nar Nar Goon team mates.

Soft toy obsession leads to dadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first book

By Melissa Grant

Fox on His Head, was released earlier this year.

THREE-YEAR-OLD Rio Chalmers is never far from his beloved soft toy 'Foxy'.

David says it was his time as a stay-at-home dad which put him on the path to publishing.

There was even a time when Rio constantly wore Foxy on his head, even if he was out in public.

The boy's obsession with the toy fox inspired his father, David, to write a story about it.

Every night, Rio enjoyed listening to his father's tale about the boy with the fox on his head.

David loved reading it too - although it never crossed his mind that other parents might also like to share the story with their children.

It was actually his wife, Fiona, who suggested he should try to get the story published.

"I sent a manuscript in and got a 42 WINTER 2019

"He even went through a period where he wouldn't take the Fox off his head - he couldn't be without it unless it was on his head!"

Before becoming Rio's primary carer and arriving in Australia, David ran a commercial relocation business in the UK for nine years.

Rio loses 'Foxy' at least once a week and often calls out for him at night.

"It was one of the hardest jobs I've ever done and one of the best things I've done as well," he said of his time as a full-time stay-at-home dad.

David has written another three books which he hopes to have published this year.

"The book came about just from hanging out with him (Rio) every day.

David Chalmers reads his book to son Rio. Picture: Rob Carew

"To start with, he had one toy fox he just loved - he's basically had it since he was born.

publishing contract straight away!"

David said.

"The fox was from London. We ordered about five and over the years he's found three, so know he walks

His book, aptly titled The Boy with a

around with three.

In the book, Rio actually wants to go to sleep but his cheeky fox has other ideas.

"I have heaps of material just from spending time with him (Rio)," he said.

"Even though I've gone back to work part-time, I get to hang out with Rio most of the time."

The Boy with The Fox on His Head is available on Amazon, Booktopia, Waterstones and the publisher's website Austin Macaulay. www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

reality bites

Little Tiger fan Ryan Sewell.

Pictures: Stewart Chambers

Baby Ryan already part of

Ryan decked out in his footy gear at four weeks of age.

the Tigers Cheer Squad

By Melissa Grant

date," Alarna said.

Daniel Rioli.

RYAN Sewell is one of the littlest faces of the Richmond Tigers Cheer Squad.

"Our first game of the season was on the 21st (of March). I was debating on whether to do round one heavily pregnant.

Ryan was awake for much more of his following game day experience - the Tigers' clash against the Bulldogs.

At just a few months of age, Ryan can regularly be found behind the goals among the Tiger army's most faithful supporters.

Decked out in a Richmond guernsey, beanie and wrapped in a blanket, he is cradled by mother Alarna, a diehard Tigers supporter.

Alarna has followed the yellow and black for as long as she can remember.

She signed up as a member as a teenager, became part of the cheer squad around 15 years ago and has been on the committee of the cheer squad for more than six years.

And she was never going to let becoming a mother stop her from cheering on her beloved Tigers.

In fact, the Officer resident always planned on giving birth outside the football season.

In July last year, Alarna and husband Leigh found out they were expecting.

She said the pregnancy was easy with only a bit of nausea early on.

But some match day duties became somewhat of a challenge as she really began to show.

"Usually I sit in the front row with the floggers - in the finals I had fun with that!" Alarna said.

Also, as it turned out, Ryan's due date was agonising close to the Tigers' round one clash.

"He was due on the 19th of March. I had been hoping for an earlier due www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

"I was asking my friend who is a doctor 'should I go?' but luckily it didn't come to that. I got induced (due to blood pressure concerns) and he came early."

Ryan Jack Sewell was born on 12 March 2019 at St John of God Hospital, Berwick, weighing 3.6kg Both mum and bub were discharged from hospital six days before the Tigers' first game of the season. Alarna watched her beloved team on TV, although the game ended up being a bit of a snoozefest for little Ryan as the club cruised home to a 33-point win over the Blues.

"He slept through it," Alarna said.

"The next week I actually set him up in his outfit and he slept the whole game (again)."

Ryan was only a week old when he went to his first 'making of the banners'.

However, a couple of interstate matches delayed his first game-day appearance.

He was five weeks old when he went to his first AFL match on Easter Saturday when the Tigers played the Sydney Swans.

Alarna went into the game fully prepared having purchased special ear muffs for Ryan and booking the car park at Marvel Stadium well in advance.

Ryan missed the Tigers' win - he slept through the entire game. The highlight, for the bub, was getting a ball at the end of the game from Tigers forward

Alarna expects her son will come along to quite a few matches this year.

"I'll still go every week - whether Ryan will come will be weather and time dependent," Alarna said.

"He's got plenty of arms to sit in."

Alarna said she Richmond Cheer Squad was "one big family".

"We promote the cheer squad as a family-friendly environment. We love to have the kids involved," she said.

"A friend has two kids - they're 10 and 7 - and they've been in the cheer squad since they were born."

Richmond Cheer Squad commitee member Alarna Sewell and her baby Tiger, Ryan.

Despite being a Geelong fan, Leigh will also find himself sitting among the Richmond Cheer Squad this season.

"I signed him up for a Richmond three-game membership this year. I was like if he (Ryan) is coming to the footy you can come to a few games too!"

Alarna said.

Alarna is also keen to keep up her long-standing tradition of attending one interstate match each season.

"I'll see if I can pull off the Gold Coast this year, but it's in the school holidays so it will be hard to get accommodation," she said.

However, the biggest decision is the number that will go on the back of Ryan's game day outfit.

"I was initially thinking Rancey but then he did his ACL. Now, it will probably be Rioli because Ryan was lucky enough to get his first footy from him."

Ryan in his game day ear muffs.

WINTER 2019 43

Adorable

winter fashion KEEP the kids warm and on-trend this winter with the latest fashion from Billy Lidz Children's Boutique.

Billy Lidz stocks leading Australian designer children's clothing brands and overseas favourites for kids aged 0 to 14, plus a selection of shoes, toys, gifts and accessories.

A host of new lines have arrived in store for winter.

Visit Billy Lidz at Blackburne Square, Berwick, or check out the range in their online store at www. lovemybillylidz.com.au

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WINTER 2019 45

46 WINTER 2019

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Games and gadgets

The Shaw family - Helen and Michael with their children Hudson and Eliza.

Pictures: Stewart Chambers

Taking time out together THE Reids are a family of four who love exploring Narre Warren and its surrounds.

Helen, Michael and children Eliza, 2, and Hudson, 8 months, enjoy walking together, visiting local playgrounds and doing coffee.

The children also love catching up with their beloved granddad Graham Shaw.

Here, the Reid family share their favourite things.

■ Coffee with grandad: Eliza and Hudson adore their grandad and we go out for coffee most days of the week. We try different cafes in Berwick and Narre Warren but our favourite is the cafe near Spotlight.

Eliza loves her babycino and gets excited choosing her naughty cafe treat.

■ Dinosaurs: Eliza is crazy about dinosaurs. Our local library surprised us with toy dinosaurs in the toddlers book section and it was great fun.

■ Hunting for painted rocks #vicrocks: We pretend that the painted rocks are dinosaur eggs and we hunt for the gorgeous artwork every time we go to a park.

■ Walking together #BerwickFitwalk: We walk together every Monday at the Wilson Botanic Gardens. We say www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

hi to the ducks and watch the baby birds growing up. There is a giant turtle in the back pond and a big orange fish in the first pond. Mum, grandad and Hudson do Parkrun on Saturday mornings, while Eliza and daddy enjoy the playgrounds.

■ Playgrounds: Our weekends are full of playgrounds. Daddy daughter time means slides, swings and climbing. Sometimes there is a surprise Elmo cupcake from the Timbarra bakery.

Eliza enjoys hunting for

rocks.

■ Sand: Sand is so much fun. Eliza pours it in the garden and has recently started making castles and turtles. Lots of digging and pouring and mixing.

■ Kitchen play: Mixing is great fun. We enjoy cooking together every day.

Eliza helps mummy make smoothie bowls for breakfast. We make animal shape cookies for birthday parties and Eliza helps decorate them.

Mixing is so much fun and Eliza has her own mixer. Hudson loves to watch his sister move and create.

Eliza has her own kitchen and is very clever with her tongs and whisk.

■ Throwing balls on the trampoline: We have a tall zippered trampoline and Eliza likes to try and catch the balls as you throw them over. We have fun calling out the different colours.

Eliza loves going down slides, whether it's at home or at the local playground.

Hudson in his bouncing chair WINTER 2019 47

books

Book celebrates the

changing face of Australian families

By Danielle Galvin

- we all have a place we belong."

THESE days, Australian families look very different from the traditional, nuclear family unit of decades gone by.

That's partly why author Tenielle Stoltenkamp felt it was time to do justice, in the form of a children's book, to the diverse, blended, co-parenting, single parent families and others who may not always be depicted in the pages of kids books.

Growing up, she was an only child with a single mum, with half siblings and step families.

Her new book, 'My Family Doesn't Look Like Your Family', depicts a more modern, changing world where families differ greatly.

"The reaction has been mostly positive. We've had so many people say 'finally - this is my story' or 'this is the book my family has been looking for'," she said."Other people may feel challenged by the notion that we're looking beyond just 'traditional' families in this book. This isn't the case at all.

"We're celebrating and depicting all families and embracing the reality that every family is a little different, but we are ultimately one big family after all."

Stoltenkamp hopes the messaging in 'My Family Doesn't Look Like Your Family' is clear to young readers.

"Our aim is for every child to see their own family on the pages of this book and to know that - even though every family looks and does things differently

It's this sense of belonging that's an important thread in the book.

Children are often very accepting by their nature, but may have questions about the make-up of a family that looks completely different to their own.

"How we, as adults, respond to these questions can shape their view on diversity," Stoltenkamp said.

"Whatever the makeup of a family unit, diversity is something we can all embrace and celebrate."

Talented artist and illustrator Go Suga is behind the breathtaking imagery in the book.

He wanted to bring it to life as well as breaking down the status quo of the traditional family structure.

Stoltenkamp said the style of the illustrations was incredibly important to complement the narrative.

"It was a tough brief for an illustrator - we were basically asking them to avoid as many stereotypes as possible, remove elements of race and gender, and ensure the counting element of the book was clear," she said.

"Go's unique aesthetic was perfect for the complexity of the task and his personal ethos and passion aligned with the vision of the book.

"Our goal was for every child to see themselves and their family represented on the pages of the book."

Stoltenkamp's vision is that the book will be read as a family, or even in

Children's author Tenielle Stoltenkamp with illustrator Go Suga. classrooms across the country.

unique traditions and cultures together."

"I like to imagine kids connecting over the similarities and shared interests between families, or learning about

'My Family Doesn't Look Like Your Family' is available at www.myfamilythebook.com

Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s books..

A Boy and a Dog

Mum for Sale

We're Stuck!

Boss Girl

Cowboy & Birdbrain

Shae Millward, illustrated by Jenni Goodman

Zanni Louise, Illustrated by Philip Bunting

Sue deGennaro

Hilary Rogers

ERROL, the lovable little penguin returns with a cheeky tale. It's a tale that many children will relate to - it's about being annoyed when your mum won't get off the phone!

GIRLS will love Boss Girl, the second book in the Girltopia trilogy by Melbourne based author Hilary Rogers. In the follow up to successful Girltopia, a city becomes gripped by a strange virus that only affects males. As the race heats up to find a cure for the virus, Clare and her best friend Arabella have to keep a big secret.

Things get really complicated when Clara starts getting messages from a group called The Girlhoods. Who can Clara trust? Who must she protect?

Adam Wallace, illustrated by James Hart

A BEAUTIFUL story about a chance meeting that turns into a special friendship between a lonely boy and a lonely dog.

EVERY morning in Building 24, on the busy side of town, a group of animals share a lift but never really talk to each other.

Before meeting, both feel totally alone and misunderstood. Together, the boy and dog discover true friendship and happiness.

But will their adventure be over when the dog's owner finally comes forward?

A heartwarming tale that explores the connection between animals and children.

With rhyming text and gorgeous illustrations, A Boy and a Dog is a joy to read to young kids.

New Holland Publishers, $16.99 48 WINTER 2019

After being ignored by his mother while she's talking on the phone to a friend about what happened to the Fryer family at Ice Mart, little Errol decides it's time to put his mum up for sale!

With fun illustrations by the talented Philip Bunting, this is a cute little read for kids aged 3+ Scholastic, RRP $17.99

Then one day the lights go out in the lift and they get stuck inside.

Poor little Turtle bursts into tears and reveals it's his birthday. Fortunately, the resourceful animals surprise little Turtle with a celebration of sorts before the firefighters arrive.

A lovely story about making friends from the award-winning author and illustrator, Sue deGennaro, that's perfect for kids aged 3+.

A thrilling read for kids aged 11+.

YOU know you're in for a wacky read when the cover warns 'We deliver F.A.R.T.S!' and this book doesn't disappoint. Mind you, F.A.R.T.S actually stands for Fast and Reliable Tracking Service as the main characters - Cowboy and Birdbrain - work for the I.F.F.Y delivery company where they deliver POOP (Parcels Or Other Packages). Hilarity ensues when they are given a package to deliver along with three rules, including do NOT say the P word. What could the P word be? For kids aged 7+.

Scholastic, RRP $14.99

Scholastic, $12.99

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WINTER 2019 49

kids

calendar

ALL WINTER CASEY WINTER ARTS FESTIVAL The 17th annual Winter Arts Festival is the largest arts event in the City of Casey.

It runs throughout June, July and August.

Enjoy live music, theatre, exhibitions, open studios and school holiday activities.

For the full program of events, visit www.casey.vic.gov.au/winter-arts-festival

1-23 JUNE INTRUDE Some very large white illuminated rabbits have been popping up at festivals all around the world - and now they have invaded Bunjil Place.

What ' s on this

Winter 1-5 JULY

5-7 JULY

HATCHIMALS CRAFT VILLAGE

ISLAND WHALE FESTIVAL

Hatchimals Craft Village is coming to the Waverley Gardens these school holidays!

Celebrate the annual arrival of the whales at Phillip Island. A host of activities will be held across the weekend, including whale spotting sessions.

8-23 JUNE

Kids can enjoy free craft activities and meet Draggle.

For full program details, visit www.islandwhales.com.au

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

11am - 2pm, near Target

The award-winning Windmill Theatre Company presents the timeless Disney love story, Beauty and the Beast.

1-6 JULY

The kids will love seeing these giant size inflatable rabbits that light up at night.

Bunjil Place, 11am-9pm daily

Featuring all your fave quirky characters like Mrs Potts, Lumiere, Cogsworth and Chip this is a trip down memory lane not to be missed.

Bunjil Place Theatre. Tickets: Adult $47, Concession $42, Children under 16 $38, Family (2 Adults/2 Children) $160

It's week one of the school holiday fun at Casey Central Shopping Centre, with poster painting and Casey Critters scavenger hunts from 11am - 3pm

STUFFLERS It's week two of the school holiday fun at Casey Central Shopping Centre. Make your own stuffed bear from 9am-4pm

21 JULY BUMBLE BEE BABY AND CHILDREN'S MARKETS With up to 65 stall holders you are sure to snap up bargains on new handmade and preloved baby and children's items. There will also be a coffee van on site. 9am-12pm, Berwick Fields Primary School Entry $2, children under 12 free

6 & 13 JULY HOLIDAY FUN FOR CRITTERS

8-13 JULY

MEET THE AVENGERS The avengers are visiting Marriott Waters Shopping Centre and Arena Shopping Centre - and there will be free face painting for the kids.

27 JULY PAKENHAM ANTIQUE AND COLLECTABLES FAIR The Annual Pakenham Antique and Collectables Fair features 44 stalls containing a wide selection of items from many periods.

David Freeman will be in attendance to value goods from 1pm onwards at a cost of $5 per item (no coins or stamps) and larger items can be valued from photo images.

Cardinia Cultural Centre, 9am-3.30pm

Marriott Waters: Meet Marvel Iron Man on 6 July, 11am-2pm & Marvel Captain America on 13 July, 11am-2pm

Cost: $5 per adult, children free. Profits go to relief centre 4C's.

Arena: Meet Marvel Captain America on 6 July, 11am-2pm & Marvel Iron Man on 13 July, 11am-2pm

9-11 AUGUST

8 JULY THE LISTIES

The Victorian State Ballet presents Swan Lake, a visually breathtaking performance with stunning seas of swans and mesmerising music.

The Listies return for more R.O.F.L.ING

Bunjil Place, Theatre

Bunjil Place Theatre. Tickets $16 (kids under 2 free if seated on carer's lap)

A comedy extravaganza of epic proportions, jam packed with magically stupid stuff.

Bunjil Place Theatre. Tickets $16 (kids under 2 free if seated on carer's lap)

5 July, 2pm (general admission, relaxed performance)

Bunjil Place Theatre. Tickets $16 (kids under 2 free if seated on carer's lap)

Adult $65, Pensioner $55, Senior $55, Student $55, Youth 16-24 $39, U16 $29, Kids under 2 free if seated on carer's lap.

Show times: 10am and 1pm

6 July, 10.30am (reserved seating)

Show times: 10.30am and 1pm

Show times: 7.30 pm (8, 14, 15, 21 & 22 June); 1.30pm (15, 16, 22 & 23 June); 4pm (9 June 2019)

25 JUNE ME AND MY SHADOW A girl makes friends with a shadow in a show that uses paper, light, shadow, colour, water, music, sound and words to create a world of play where the imagined becomes real.

50 WINTER 2019

5-6 JULY ROBOT SONG Based on a true story, Robot Song is an honest, deeply personal and intensely funny window into writer, director Jolyon James' experience parenting a child on the Autism Spectrum.

SWAN LAKE

Show times: 7.30pm (9,10 August), 2pm (11 August) www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

12410156-RC26-19

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au

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Fun

grows +(5( -8/< 6&+22/ +2/,'$<6 Hatchimals Craft Village is coming!

Monday 1st to Friday 5th July 11am - 2pm Near Target Kids get to join in the FREE craft activities and meet with Draggle daily.

For more details, head to the Waverley Gardens website.

HATCHIMALS™ & © Spin Master Ltd, used under license.

| Cnr Police & Jacksons Road, Mulgrave | (03) 9547 6088

12418625-LB26-19

52 WINTER 2019

www.caseycardiniakids.com.au