Geelong Coast Kids Winter 2021

WINTER 2021

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About Us

Warm winter vibes WELL hello there everyone!

It’s great to be back with you.

I’m absolutely loving our line up this edition. So much inspiration and great life advice to be taken from local and national legends.

First up, if you’ve ever dreamt of singing a love song into your husbands eyes without it sounding like a comedy act, then this couple will make you green with envy. With talent oozing out of their DNA and flowing into their children’s, let me introduce Nat O’Donnell and Simon Gleeson. They are two of Australia’s greatest musical theatre performers and we’re lucky enough to put a Geelong stamp on them. Find out how they have made lengthy careers out of performing, all whilst balancing family life.

I’ve never met him personally but he just screams of ‘excellent human’ don’t you agree? I’m talking about actor Samuel Johnson. You may recall Samuel created Love Your Sister, a ‘million strong village’ of Australians committed to vanquishing cancer. Well Samuel is now paying tribute to mothers with a book called Dear Mum. Ninety celebrities share heartfelt and intimate tales of appreciation of their cherished mothers.

At 58, celebrity Gretel Killeen truly believes the best is yet to come. With a colourful and diverse career this whip-

smart Aussie icon is most famous for her eight years hosting big brother, as well as being a stand-up comedian and author. Our reporter Danielle Galvin caught up to chat about her latest hilarious and profound book, My Daughters Wedding.

It’s a frightening stat that one in three women describe their birth experience as traumatic. I would certainly put my hand up in agreeance with that one. It’s also estimated that between 10 and 20 percent of first-time mothers sustain a long-term physical injury from childbirth.

This can all lead to both physical and psychological injuries. The sad thing is that too many women suffer in silence.

The good news is the Australasian Birth Trauma Association (ABTA) is working hard to change that. Check out our story on page 14.

We also tackle the controversial topic of kids on social media. There comes a time for all of us when we have to weigh up when to let our children start using social media. Is it as bad for them as we think? It has been reported that Facebook has started working on an Instagram for kids with heightened controls. Could this make things better or worse? Social media expert Meg Coffey gives us a family of different perspectives to help us make that big call.

As I said earlier, there’s so much to soak up in this one, So as the

Geelong Coast Kids magazine is a Star News Group publication.

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

Geelong Coast Kids 1/47 Pakington Street, Geelong West Phone: 5249 6700 Editorial

temperature drops a little, why not go an run yourself a bath and give yourself permission to take some time out to have a good old read. Don’t forget to keep in touch via our Facebook and Instagram.

We always love to hear about new ideas for stories in our great community.

Take care out there!

Alana Richards editorial@geelongcoastkids.com.au Advertising Sales Director Ben Sutton ben.sutton@starweekly.com.au Published by Star News Group Pty Ltd ACN 005 848 108. Publisher/Managing Director, Paul Thomas.

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

WINTER 2021

Contents IT’S YOUR LIFE

Swimming is a gift for life

Inspiring girls to choose STEM

PAGE 17

PAGE 25

Best yet to come for Gretel Killeen

Eye spy good health PAGE 18

Catching up on learning after Covid chaos

with

PAGE 4

Cooking preppy-style

PAGE 25

Talking about

Kick starting the AFL journey PAGE 4

PAGE 18

ENTERTAINMENT

New chapter for

A little magic for the family

Can my baby hear properly?

Laser focus on fun

PAGE 6

PAGE 19

PAGE 26

Making recycling plastics fun

Skirmish for the ages

Win a Laserquest party

PAGE 7

PAGE 19

PAGE 26

Angie’s catch-up with power theatre couple

HEALTH

Wiggles team up with Sesame Street

PAGES 8-10

Winter sniffles start early for families

Steve Biddulph on keeping our daughters sharp

PAGE 20

birth trauma GRETEL KILLEEN

COVER: Hugh Garvey is ready for winter.

Picture: Louisa Jones

PAGE 26

REALITY BITES

Geelong study uncovers dummy allergy link

The rise of the e-baby

PAGE 12 How to make a fairy garden

PAGE 20

The little boy with a really big heart

PAGE 12

Oral health lessons for kids

PAGE 27

Samuel Johnson on his new book

PAGE 21

Double the fun for federal MP

PAGE 13

Layers vital to winter warmth

PAGE 28

Why mud pies should be on the menu

PAGE 22

PAGE 13

EDUCATION

From tired dad to top author

Talking about birth trauma

Supporting teens heading into exams

PAGE 14 Mini Mates for fun and learning

Born ready to face puberty PAGE 30 Children’s books PAGE 30

CALENDAR What’s on this winter PAGE 31

PAGE 23 Mental health help

PAGE 15 Social media junior

PAGE 23 Childcare fees set for overhaul

PAGE 16 When teen anger is more than acting out PAGE 16

BOOKS

PAGE 27

PAGE 29

power theatre FAMILY

PAGE 24 Help to find your local school PAGE 24

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It’s Your Life

The best is yet to come

By Danielle Galvin LOOKING back at an incredibly diverse career, Gretel Killeen is confident the best is yet to come.

She’s known for her books, her TV career, and for her no nonsense approach and comedic flair.

She truly is in a league of her own.

Here, she answers questions on her new book, My Daughter’s Wedding.

I’ve heard you say you’ve been obsessed with the relationship or the love between mothers and daughters - how intense, complex, fraught it is that’s so true! Particularly around weddings and big events. I also really appreciate a book or a show that’s focussed on the relationship between women. It’s more common these days but the relationship between the significant women in our life can often be the most important. Have you had this idea for a long time?

Yes, for as long as I can remember I’ve been fascinated by the power of women, their intellectual and emotional strength and their extraordinary capacity to love. I’m intrigued by every facet of the mother daughter relationship as these pillars of strength both collide and support. But, please note, this novel is also a comedy.

Tell me about the central characters in the story and how they intersect (without giving too much away, of course!)

My Daughter’s Wedding is about mother-daughter love over three generations, but it’s also about the hilarious, safe and sometimes ridiculous support we receive from our friends, and our connection to our extended family.

The lead characters are the mother (Nora living with mother guilt and anger), her daughters (Hope and Joy,

one has a massive unexplained chip on her shoulder, the other is far too kind) and the grandmother ( Daphne, who’s living with increasing dementia.) The close friends are Soula (an amateur bikini-line waxer) and Thilma (whom they found in a cab in the 1980’s).

I believe you’ve said My Daughter’s Wedding doesn’t draw on your own personal life events particularly, is that right?

My Daughter’s Wedding only draws on my personal life in that I am both a mother and a daughter. I’ve found in writing this novel that the frustrating, beautiful and complicated bond that exists between mothers and daughters seems to be universal, so I added my imagination to the theory and focused on the broader picture.

Are there more stories/novels in the pipeline?

Yes, I’ve written many books in my life.

The novel I’m currently writing is about - well, the meaning of life.

I remember reading My Life is a Toilet when I was young (and loved it) - you really have had an incredibly diverse career. And of course some will know you for your work as an author, your time on Big Brother. Is there anything you’re most proud of, or a piece of work you look back on, as your best?

Thankyou. I’m proud of a great deal of the work I’ve done, but I think my best is yet to come.

For mothers of young girls - what do we have to look forward to? I’m often told the teenage years don’t compare to the toddler years. Which I find interesting!

Ah, you have some very interesting years ahead of you. In my observation ‘the toddler years’ are largely about a little person who is frustrated by their lack of independence, learning to express themselves as they discover

Gretel has a new book out exploring complex relationships between women.

boundaries. The teenage years can be that very same issue- but the teenager now has words, adult energy and power, and that can be mind-blowingly overwhelming. For the benefit of all of us our children need to develop their independence, but the process can be really painful ( especially for the mothers.) ps. Good luck and have faith, all will be fabulous in the end.

Kick starting the AFL journey

By Carole Levy DO you have a young child who would love to play footy at half-time during an AFL match?

Geelong Amateur Football & Netball Club can make that happen when kids aged between five and 12 sign up for its Auskick@Ammos program run on Friday nights at Queens Park.

David Maddock from the club says that their program is a ripper for young boys and girls.

Geelong Amateur Football Club puts kids through their footy paces.

4 WINTER 2021

“Registrations have been completed for this year, but kids and parents can still come along to see what Auskick is all about,” he says. “It’ll be a good chance for the kids to get a taste of footy and help them decide if they want to

enrol next season.

“Boys and girls play together and learn together - in an environment that’s completely safe and brimming with fun.

They pick up the skills of the game which can be transferred to a junior footy club when they’re ready and if they want.”

The freedom for kids to run, jump, kick, laugh and express themselves is what Auskick@Ammos is all about.

“We start from the very beginning, teaching all players the basics of the game. All children are different and learn differently and at different speeds, so to account for this we ensure our program is tailored to suit all individual needs.

“Parents can enjoy Auskick@Ammos

as well. We encourage active involvement during sessions - and we always welcome extra hands. In fact, many parents - even those without previous footy exposure - say playing with their kids is the highlight of their week.”

Auskick@Ammos kids also get to meet players from Geelong Cats at a Super Clinic held at Simmonds Stadium, and there’s generally a ‘Parents vs Kids’ showdown and presentation at season’s end.

NOTE: Half-time AFL kick is for children in Grades 2-6 only. Auskick@Ammos takes place at 4.30-5.30pm Fridays.

For further information, call David Maddock on 0499 447 775, or Josh Logan on 0422 213 673. www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

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WINTER 2021 5

It’s Your Life

Patch Theatre, ZOOOM. Picture: Matt Byrne

A little magic for the family WITH three of seven shows having already dazzled audiences from right across the region, the Geelong Arts Centre’s Love Central Geelong Family Magic 2021 program is unmissable.

Fun and fabulous theatre experiences await families, with an enticing variety of musical workshops, physical theatre and circus, literary favourites coming to life - and for the first time, an immersive performance specially designed for children with a broad range of access needs.

With four eclectic shows remaining between now and September, the program proudly showcases events supporting inclusion, and is designed to captivate, inspire and entertain children under 12, as well as their parents, siblings, grandparents and carers.

From June 11-12, delight in Jackie French’s much-loved book, Pete the Sheep, brought to life on stage by Monkey Baa Theatre Company.

Or perhaps you’re looking for the perfect outing for the July school holidays? On July 7, in an epic tribute to stupid fun, Gravity Dolls bridge the gap between generations of classic games, from retro video games to school yard classics, and give them a circus twist in Go, Go, GO! Come August 7, Patch Theatre’s non-verbal visual theatre show ZOOOM is an enchanting story of a child alone in her bedroom, unable to sleep and curious to understand. Part music video, part dream, and about all sorts of perspective, tread the line between old-school whimsy and state-of-the-art technology with this show driven entirely by child logic.

Finally, on September 11, hop aboard your very own spaceship and get ready for blast off! Suitable for children with a broad range of access needs, including those with multiple and complex needs and those on the autism spectrum, Sensorium Theatre’s Whoosh! is an immersive and multisensory performance that puts children at the centre of the action in an intergalactic adventure.

For many children in our region, the

6 WINTER 2021

Go, Go, Go! Tim Rutty, Tarah Carey and Nina Robertson.

Picture: Aaron Walker

Whoosh!

Picture: Sarah Walker

Love Central Geelong Family Magic program provides their first theatrical experience and is remembered fondly well into adulthood.

Chief executive Joel McGuinness says: “Geelong Arts Centre takes great pride in helping families spark a love for the arts that introduces their little ones to a world of limitless possibilities.”

Love Central Geelong Family Magic 2021 program is proudly supported by principal partner, Creative Victoria, and valued program partner Love Central Geelong.

Secure your seats at geelongartscentre.org.au/familymagic-2021 or by contacting the Box Office on 1300 251 200, 10am-3pm Monday-Friday. Single tickets are $24; groups of 4 or more are $20.

SPECIAL NOTE: Be the first to hear about exclusive offers and show announcements - sign up to the Geelong Arts Centre e-Newsletter via www.geelongartscentre.org.au.

GEELONG Arts Centre scrupulously adheres to Covid-safe practices.

Patch Theatre, ZOOOM.

Picture: Matt Byrne

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

It’s Your Life

Making recycling plastics fun

By Carole Levy JAMES Murphy, intrepid owner of Sea All Dolphin Swims, and a resourceful and intensely curious scientist, Adam Slater, from Zero Plastics Australia, are taking a plastics recycling show on the road and into local schools.

This project, Grassroots Plastic Recycling Workshop, is close to his heart and receiving enormous traction and positivity from the community – because the powerful benefits for locals, and the planet, are readily understood.

“What we do is get the school on board to encourage the kids to bring in plastic bottle tops or other simple plastic items. We bring impressive equipment with us, which the kids get to use. The plastic bottle tops (which, by the way, are unwelcome in recycle bins) are then melted into crazy colours and poured into moulds.

“One of the kids said: ‘We could make homeless shelters out of this!” And that’s the type of thinking we hope to ignite.

We’re a quite close to making big items, such as outdoor furniture and sports equipment for schools and other groups, but there’s no reason why we won’t get there sooner with the right support, clever thinking and determination.

“For now, the kids make something small, such as pens, clipboards, USB drives, figures and the like. It’s theirs to take home – along with, hopefully, a greater appreciation of our fragile world and ways we can all contribute to its health. Maybe one day one of those excited students will come up with a new way to tackle environmental issues.”

Adam delivers a SOEL session.

Most kids love interactive programs and Murph discovered to what degree physical interaction really works.

“We’d been thinking about automating our equipment, but once we saw kids hanging off a giant lever (safely) to control things, we knew the manual stuff had to stay. They love it.”

Recently, James heard from Christine Smith, the owner of award-winning Great Ocean Stays about Harris, a boy in a wheelchair with a terminal illness who’d been staying, as Murph put it, “at the best accessible and inclusive accommodation business in Victoria and wider”.

“We gave Harris a one-on-one plastic recycling session with Adam and we will not easily forget the look on his face as he looked down at the brontosaurus figure he’d created. ‘I made a dinosaur from dinosaurs!’ he said with a huge smile.”

“It was no time to tell him the idea that plastics come from oil, a fossil fuel ‘fed’ by dinosaur bones, is actually debunked. Like Harris though, I enjoy the dinosaur story.”

SUPPORTING SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH It all started when James accepted an invitation to a stakeholder meeting around local wildlife.

James, who also helms Great Ocean Road Surf Tours and not-for-profit Southern Ocean Environmental Links (SOEL), says lots of discussions with people in the community resulted.

“I realised that, while’s there was a

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

James Murphy with three 2020 Geelong Business Excellence Awards.

wealth of anecdotal knowledge, there seemed to be gaps in the scientific knowledge of local marine systems. This led me to talking to a professor in marine science at Deakin University, among others,” explains James, or Murph as he’s known.

“He told me that the lack of scientific data could be put down to limited funding for research.

“So this was the catalyst to my wanting to do something, to support our researchers and Deakin to improve our local environmental knowledge. So Sea

All Dolphin Swims and Great Ocean Road Surf Tours have begun charging participants a $10 environmental levy which goes toward local marine research and conservation.”

Murph also moved to support the Pope’s Eye camera system, which provides views above and below water of the Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park, believing it has “too much value for schools and scientific community to lose”.

For more information, call SOEL on 0493 130 940 or visit www.soel.org.au

WINTER 2021 7

It’s Your Life

Simon, Rafferty 9, Natalie, Molly 14, with their dog Freddie.

Pictures: Louisa Jones

Power theatre couple at home

By Angie Hilton THIS might sound creepy, but I seriously wish I was a neighbour of the Gleesons just so that I could eavesdrop on them singing in the shower!

Simon Gleeson and Nat O’Donnell are considered Australian music theatre royalty and we are lucky enough to call them ‘Geelong-ites’.

Simon is probably best known for his lead in Les Miserables as Jean Valjean around the globe, and Nat as leading lady in Mamma Mia! playing both Donna and Sophie.

Their life almost feels like a script from the Notebook or something. The award winning duo met at Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts and became the best of friends. They were such great buddies that they were hesitant to mess with that perfect bond by turning it into a relationship.

Well 19 years on and two adorable, uber-talented children later, this fairy tale has taken them all around the globe from stage to screen and beyond.

What strikes me about this couple is just how ‘normal and nice’ they are.

One could presume this level of talent would come with supersized egos, but Simon and Nat are two of the most grounded, humble and genuinely kind people you’ll meet. In fact, they are so modest that you can tell they feel uncomfortable talking about their achievements.

So I’d love to imagine life in the Gleeson home is like one big musical where you sweetly sing ‘Would you like a cup of tea?’ at breakfast time. What’s the reality?

(Laughs) Reality is chaos! But you’re

8 WINTER 2021

Nat O’Donnell.

The Gleeson family.

close to correct - we do often laugh that there’s always a dinner and a show!

I loved going to school here at Sacred Heart. I love the friendships I formed and the school provided great opportunities to explore my passions.

Simon: We are juggling quite a few hats at the moment! Both of us have branched out creatively over the last couple of years. So as well as performing, I’ve been spending a lot of my time writing and am working on a couple of film projects.

actor and was just blown away by the work they were doing and the care in which they did it. So it feels like a privilege to now be working with them as a producer. Performing wise, like Sime said, it’s a relief to feel like the industry is slowly recovering. We have a few concerts coming up and I’m really looking forward to being back on stage again.

Tell us about your upbringing and how you got into performing?

Happily it feels like the industry is starting to open up again after Covid.

There’s a long way to go but it’s buoying to see shows start to open again.

Nat: I was originally from Colac and then we moved here when my mum remarried my wonderful dad, Kevin. For me it was a wonderful place to grow up.

Nat: Like Sime, I’ve spent the last couple of years working in new creative roles.

I’m currently working as a producer with an amazing arts and social change organisation called Big hART. They’re an organisation I’d worked with as an

I really cut my teeth performance wise through an awesome youth theatre company called Doorstep which was run by the amazing Darylin Ramondo.

She is now like family, a mentor and Molly’s Godmother.

Simon: I grew up in a really small town called The Rock near Wagga Wagga. I absolutely loved it. Performing was not the done thing at the time, however my father would do amateur theatre in Wagga, so singing wasn’t discouraged in the home. However, I was really shy about my voice so I would wait until everyone had left the house.

So what’s going on professionally at the moment?

I remember the last day of Year 12, I went to rehearsals before I went to celebrate the end of school. In theatre I really found my people and it just gave me so much joy.

So it was a really personal thing for me before it became something I did for a living.

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

Simon, Molly, Nat and Raff at their Geelong home.

My sister was also in musical theatre from a young age and has gone on to be a very successful professional actor.

With her being older I think I just wanted to follow in her footsteps, or maybe I was just jealous of all the attention she was getting (laughs).

With everything you’ve done from stage to screen, what would be your favourite career highlight?

Simon: Actually a career highlight only happened a couple of weeks ago. I got to share the stage and sing a song with a hero and mentor of mine, Phillip Quast.

I spent my childhood listening to Phil through soundtracks like Les Mis and The Secret Garden and he was a real idol. So to sing ‘Lily’s Eyes’ (from The Secret Garden) with him was nothing short of magical. It’s a sad song but you couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.

Nat: We’ve both been so lucky and have worked on lots of great projects with some incredible people. Singing the anthem at the Australian Open was a ‘pinch myself’ moment.

In terms of shows Les Miserables was my first professional gig and I learnt so much, it really defined the way I work still today.

Mamma Mia! both times remain really cherished experiences for me as was playing Diana in ‘Next to Normal’.

That show was produced and directed

by Darylin Ramondo who started and ran the Geelong based youth theatre company ‘Doorstep’. This is where I fell in love with telling stories. So to work together professionally and take the show to Sydney was really, really special.

OK so take us to the scene of your biggest productions yet ... the births of Molly and Rafferty. And was Simon a good co-star?

Both our babies were posterior, which added a level of intensity and time!

Raff was also almost 10 pounds. I’m a pretty little person so, the midwives and obstetrician actually started laughing when they saw the size of him compared to me. www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

Picture: Louisa Jones

Nat and Simon met at the Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts.

Picture: Louisa Jones

We had Molly in London and thankfully Sime’s parents were over there at the time.

His mum was a nurse and had trained early as a midwife so I had asked her to be there.

She was just incredible.

Sime was an amazing support both times, during and after. We felt like a team and that was so important.

And what’s it been like watching these two cherubs developed into gorgeous humans?

They’re just awesome. They both enjoy singing and performing.

Molly has aspirations to follow in our footsteps, but all we want for them is to be happy in what they do and find joy in their work, which is what we’ve been lucky enough to do.

They’re great kids, they’re observant, resilient, very patient (laughs) and they make us laugh.

We have really enjoyed the last few years of parenting the most, where they’ve really come into their own and started to form their own world views.

Nat O’Donnell (centre) performing in Mamma Mia! with Jayde Westaby (left) and Alicia Gardner (right).

Picture: James Morgan

As Molly has become a teenager it’s been a really rich thing for us to observe how she’s changing and thinking. She is super clever and we learn so much from her.

Raff is such a dreamer. He has a really strong imagination and really just wants to connect and play with us which is so special.

How would you describe your parenting philosophy?

We believe strongly in boundaries. We feel they actually allow the kids to thrive.

I guess we also try to lead by example, in terms of the way you work in the world, just practicing kindness, respect and empathy is really important.

We also try to encourage them to think about different perspectives on life.

But honestly, sometimes I feel like they survive despite us (laughs). So we’re pretty lucky.

Simon Gleeson and Nat O’Donnell on stage.

WINTER 2021 9

It’s Your Life

Nat with her children Molly and Raff.

Pictures: Louisa Jones

Simon and Nat in a snapshot Describe your partner in three words: Simon: My best friend.

Nat: What Simon said!

Daughter Molly, aged 14, in three words: Vibrant, vivacious, kind.

Son Rafferty (Raff), aged 9, in three words: Gentle, hilarious, considered.

Favourite musical?

Nat: I have a few! Top three would be Once, Come from Away, and I’ve just seen Fangirls which is incredible!

Simon: Whatever I’m doing at the time.

Most annoying habit?

Nat: I am prone to be untidy.

Brother and sister... Molly and Raff.

Nat and Simon have been together for 19 years.

Simon: I am prone to be obsessive about tidiness.

Guilty pleasure?

From page 9 What is the reality of juggling two music theatre careers with family life?

How do you make it work?

Juggle is the perfect word. A few years ago we just realised we needed to sit down and talk through the pros and cons of every job and the benefit it would be for the family and then us as individuals. That’s how we decide whether it’s worth doing.

And then like most families, it’s just clever planning and scheduling.

Balance is super important.

Sometimes we get it right and sometimes we get it really wrong (laughs). Most of all we are lucky enough to have incredible parents who are so supportive and have helped us out so much.

fantastic art and tell great stories. And what I’ve learned is that sometimes I don’t know what’s best for me in terms of my career.

So we both really like staying open to new opportunities and I think that that also means looking at what there is off stage as well. That’s been a really rich experience for us both in the past couple of years - exploring the skill set we have beyond performing.

Simon, aside from starring on stage and screen, I saw on your CV that you were Creative Consultant for the Greatest Showman. What a thrill that must have been! What does a creative consultant do?

Any career goals you’d still like to meet?

Well, the director of The Greatest Showman Michael Gracey and I have been friends since we were teenagers and he asked me to come over to Brooklyn and assist him.

In our twenties, we had clear ideas of what we wanted, for example, landing lead roles.

Because the movie was essentially a musical, we had to rehearse it like a musical.

Whereas these days we just want to work with great people, create

We shot the whole film in the rehearsal room as an exercise and then

10 WINTER 2021

cut it all together to see how the film felt and what we needed to change before principal photography started.

I also had to go into all the recording sessions to help keep the story flowing.

I had little bits of input over seven years. It was a wonderful time for me.

Do you have any advice for young performers?

Simon: Um, I don’t know, marry rich?

Just joking ... sort of! I would say the best thing is to remain curious. It’s very easy to not be curious when you have so much information thrown at you.

But as storytellers, to remain curious about all forms of life and not just the ones you know, intimately. Be passionate, work hard, and try to have something else in your life that you love as much or nearly as much as performing, something that fuels you so that your self-worth isn’t entirely wrapped up in your work.

To keep an eye on Simon & Nat’s upcoming performances, you can follow them on Instagram at @ natjodonnell and @simongleeson

Simon: Having the chance to sit and watch the Bombers play on the tele with a quiet whisky in hand.

Nat: A beautiful facial and a cheeky gin.

Song that makes you cry?

Nat: Simon singing Billy Joel’s Lullaby.

Simon: Blowers Daughter - Damien Rice.

Song you love to belt out?

Nat: It Must have Love - Roxette.

Simon: Jon Bon Jovi - Bed of Roses!

Most embarrassing stage moment?

Nat: Taking a tumble centre stage on my professional debut in Les Miserables was pretty up there!

Simon: I once went on stage with my sideburns on upside down. I couldn’t work out what was making my colleagues break into hysterics until I realised I was the joke - I looked like a sad werewolf. www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

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www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

WINTER 2021 11

It’s Your Life

Daughters, dangers and inner signs Girlhood is wonderful, but we need our ‘weapons’ sharp, writes STEVE BIDDULPH. WHEN we first learn that our baby-to-be is a girl, we have a flood of emotions.

Joyful ones and, also sometimes, anxious ones. Because you can’t help but be aware that the world can be a very bad place for our daughters.

For most of my life as a psychologist, I was campaigning about raising boys.

But in the mid 2000s we began to notice something bad happening with the mental health of girls. Some of it was in the way girls’ lives had changed with social media and the huge emphasis on looks and general pressure to grow up too fast. Those were taking an enormous toll, and it started shockingly young.

But some of it was the old evils of a world that had always misused girls and women. Sexual predation, sexism and violence often terrify the parents of daughters as they move beyond our protective sphere.

In my talks on Raising Girls I tell the story of two girls - Kaycee and Genevieve. Kaycee is only 14 when she attends a party of one of her school friends, which has very poor supervision and lots of alcohol. A 17-year-old boy from her school persuades her to have sex with him in an upstairs bedroom. She then discovers that he has done it for a bet with his friends, and is crushed and

humiliated. She tells no-one for many years.

Genevieve is more fortunate. She meets a boy at 16, and for many months has the beautiful time we all would want for our kids, knowing how special young love can be. But he begins to want to have sex, and she is wildly confused. Luckily she is close to her mum, which Kaycee was not. And so she tells her mum all about it. Her mum listens for a long time as she pours out her feelings. Then she does something rather wise and amazing.

She says “sometimes our body knows what is right for us, even when our brain is mixed up. Our body sends us signals”. Instantly Genevieve can relate to this - “You’re right - I love being with him, but when he comes on too strong, I feel squashed and uncomfortable. I don’t want to rush into having sex”.

When I tell this story to an audience, the women in the room visibly nod their heads. They know what I mean - our bodies do know what is right for us.

Whether that is a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’.

life, and the migraines ended and have never come back. Somewhere inside her ‘knew’.

In a new book I have just finished writing, called Fully Human, I go deeper into this idea, from the latest neuroscience, that we have physical signals - a kind of ‘supersense’ even further down than our emotions, which knows when we are safe or in danger. It is our deepest self, below all the conditioning which girls receive to be polite and agreeable and think of other people’s feelings first. It says ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to everything around us. One friend of mine in her 40s had suffered from a migraine every week since she married, and then one day discovered that her husband had been having an affair all those years. She booted him out of her

Our body knows what is right for us.

We have to change the way boys and men treat girls and women but, in the world as it is now, hearing inner signals is a powerful weapon that you can encourage your daughter to sharpen.

And you can do it at any age.

Neuroscience shows we all have this ‘intuition’ but mostly don’t listen to it.

Steve Biddulph’s new book is Fully Human - a new way of using your mind, published by Pan Macmillan. www.stevebiddulph.com Steve Biddulph AM Author - 10 Things Girls Need Most, Raising Girls, Raising Boys.

Complete Secrets of Happy Children, The New Manhood and Fully Human

How to make a fairy garden

By Carole Levy

bedroom or on the kitchen window ledge.

MANY kids discovered the fun of growing things during lockdowns, with families kicking off veggie patches or doing fresh plantings to spruce up their yards.

FAIRY GARDEN IN A POT 1. Lay down newspaper or tarp to create a potting area.

Getting outside and putting hands in soil is always a joyful experience but not so much during winter.

When it’s cold and rainy outside, kids can still get into gardening indoors. It can be simple and rewarding and maintains their connection to growing and nature.

Here’s one idea that not only will the kids enjoy but it will look great in their 12 WINTER 2021

2. Three-quarters fill a wide bowlshaped pot with potting soil 3. Get cuttings of different types of succulents - just snap a piece off an existing plant and it’s ready to just pop into the soil.

Getting the succulent collection is part of the project - browse through gardens of family and friends to snaffle different types. Three to four varieties will be plenty for effect.

4. Collect pebbles in different sizes and shapes to ‘decorate’ on top of soil.

This is another part of the project that will keep the kids engaged.

5. They can also ‘paint’ some pebbles with craft glue, then sprinkle with glitter for a bit of drama.

6. Get some tiny fairy figurines - from $2 shops - and any other ornament the kids like, then arrange the garden.

7. Lightly water - succulents don’t need a lot, and are very hardy so not likely to disappoint by keeling over too soon.

8. Job done! Kids proud. Mum or dad supervises the clean-up - the only downside.

When it’s cold and rainy outside, kids can still get into gardening indoors. www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

It’s Your Life

Some letters to mum HE’S unconventional, disarmingly genuine and charming.

Samuel Johnson, who created Love Your Sister, a “million strong village” of Australians committed to vanquishing cancer, has brought together 90 celebrities and well-known Australians for ‘Dear Mum’.

He invited them to write a letter to their mums and it’s emotional, funny, brilliant.

Samuel answered some questions with Danielle Galvin at the end of his promotional tour for the book, which raises funds for cancer research.

Firstly congratulations on the new book.

I really love the idea of asking people what they’d tell their mums. Everyone’s relationship with their mums is so unique/complicated isn’t it? Is this a call to action that we all need to go and have a chat to our mums if we still can?

We know that we love people. We throw around “I love you“ without a second

thought. But how often do we take the time to really explore why we love someone? Exactly why. Or precisely how? Writing a letter, honestly and from the heart, inevitably opens a can of worms. You discover feelings you didn’t know you had. Stuff that’s been bottled up for years. You gain appreciation and insight. And the recipient is invariably left richer, and the letter invariably has a great impact. We like to be valued or the right reasons, especially by those closest to us. It’s been a truly cathartic experience for each and every contributor. Even if your mum is lost, like mine, and will never read the letter, it still helps to express it all. I’m immensely touched that many of our readers have given this book to their mums with their own letter inserted. The proverbial bus might hit us tomorrow. I’d rather die knowing my loved ones knew exactly how I felt about them. And letters just mean more. It’s like having a poem or a song written about you.

Recently you visited the Mornington Peninsula, and I saw a good friend’s mum got a photo with you! I went on to the LYS Facebook page and there were dozens of other people who you happily posed for photos with, and you look genuinely happy to meet people and hear their stories. Has this been a part of the Love Your Sister journey you love?

I’ve visited over 1200 towns during my tenure as Head of Cancer Vanquishment at ’Love Your Sister’ and it’s my face time with other families that fuels my work and provides a sense of belonging that I never felt in showbiz.

People think it must weigh heavy, given the horrific effects of cancer on families, but sharing our stories is never a tax, always an honour and energises me in ways that are hard to explain.

Is there a story/letter in the book that will particularly surprise/touch readers do you think?

Guy Pearce’s letter to his mum, lost to

dementia for 22 years now, is the letter that will never leave me. They all leave their mark, but Guy’s letter is indelibly etched into my soul. That letter isn’t going anywhere.

I’ve heard you describe the book as a wonderful montage for all kinds of mums. Even though we know mums can be flawed, complicated. I thought was so beautifully said. I can imagine collating the book was incredibly difficult at times too - such an emotionally charged topic?

Thankfully, our contributors respected my request for complete honesty, which, delightfully, means this collection of letters is an intricate of real mums, as opposed to some Hallmark tribute to the idea of mums. It’s what I’m most proud of about this book. It’s a true tribute.

Why mud pies should be on the menu

By Alana Richards GIVE a child a pile of toys and a pile of mud and it’s not hard to guess which one they’ll go for first. And why not?

It’s a kid’s rite of passage to enjoy getting covered in all things messy and fun and winter is the perfect time to let them get their hands dirty.

There’s no better time to get into a muddy mess than winter, so here are some good reasons from Early Childhood Australia to just let them go and worry about the washing later…

Teaches kids to engage with nature Mud provides a wonderful opportunity for children to discover and experiment. From drawing with it to moulding it into shapes, creative play is endless with all of the different thingss it can ‘make’.

Supports physical development Manipulating mud helps to develop fine motor skills for little hands, and the ever-popular mud slip and slide move is a great one for developing large motor skills. Imaginative play is inspired by mud inventions and social skills are built as children cooperate and play together. www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

Creates happy smiles The smile on the face of a muddy child speaks for itself, but a study from the University of Bristol found that bacteria in soil can activate a group of neurons that produce the mood-enhancing chemical serotonin.

Builds immunity It’s not new news that research tells us how good it is for a child’s immune system to play outside and get dirty from a young age. Exposing kids to mud, living creatures and germs as they explore the natural environment around them strengthens the immune system and this can lead to less allergies and a body that can fight off bugs as they grow.

Jack has some muddy fun.

So, let them create happy mud memories, smiling and free playing in their natural environment and tell them about the hidden developmental benefits later.

Mud pies anyone?

WINTER 2021 13

women who had suffered similar birth-related injuries but were further along in their healing journey.

It’s Your Life

“I got to connect with other women going through the same thing,” Amy said.

“When I got through the initial shock of the diagnosis and worked towards getting mentally better, I wanted to help other women.”

One of the main things the ABTA provides is peer support. There are more than 2500 women in the association’s private support group, where birth trauma stories are shared.

“The group supports women who have had babies weeks ago, months ago, years ago and even decades ago,” Amy explained.

Amy Dawes and first-born Eliya.

In a recent episode of Insight on SBS, a mother of three explained how she had never heard of prolapse until she had one.

“This wasn’t to be expected, I didn’t expect it, I didn’t know about it,” she said.

Pelvic organ prolapse is when one or more of the organs in the pelvis - the uterus, bladder or bowel - slip down from their normal position and bulge into the vagina.

It can be severe but not uncommon - more than half of all women who have given birth experience some level of prolapse, according to the Continence Foundation of Australia.

Yet too many women suffer in silence.

However, the Australasian Birth Trauma Association (ABTA) is working hard to change that.

Amy Dawes and her daughters Eliya and Indi.

Talking about birth trauma

By Melissa Grant WELCOMING a child into the world is meant to be one of life’s most joyous events.

However, for many women and families childbirth is an upsetting experience that leaves lasting physical or mental scars - or both.

In fact, one in three Australian women describe their birth experience as traumatic.

It’s also estimated that between 10 and 20 per cent of first-time mothers sustain a long-term physical injury from childbirth.

It’s not uncommon for women to experience incontinence, constant

Do you have birth trauma?

What links you to birth trauma is that, at some point during the process, you felt severely threatened and unsafe or you felt that your baby was unsafe and you experienced the helplessness and fear that goes along with that.

PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA The shock of what actually happened during birth can impact mental health and result in conditions such as; anxiety, depression, and other disorders. Some people experience severe emotional distress after a traumatic birth even though there was no physical trauma. It is also important to note that trauma can continue long 14 WINTER 2021

lower back pain, sexual dysfunction, pelvic floor injuries and pelvic organ prolapse.

Some suffer from psychological birth trauma, including anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder.

If the prevalence of birth trauma sounds shocking or surprising that’s because it is somewhat of a taboo topic.

There’s a strong narrative that women should be grateful for delivering a healthy baby, which often stops them from sharing their traumatic birth experiences or getting help.

Antenatal classes don’t tend to discuss the possibility of birth trauma most focus on the pregnancy, labour and breastfeeding.

after the birth, with distinct psychological symptoms.

Psychological trauma can present as: ■ Postnatal depression and/or anxiety (PNDA)

The charity is dedicated to supporting women, partners and families after birth-related trauma.

It provides peer-led support for those affected, while raising awareness about the types of trauma and the help available.

The association was co-founded four years ago by Amy Dawes, an Australian mother who suffered a birth injury from the forceps delivery of her first daughter, Eliya.

Amy sustained a third-degree tear but thought things would get better on their own. She had no idea of the extent of the damage until her daughter was 16 months old. Her pelvic floor muscle had been pulled off the bone and she was diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse, a condition she’d never heard of.

“I was a qualified personal trainer and I knew nothing of how crucial the pelvic floor is to how the body should work,” she said.

“When I was diagnosed I hadn’t heard of prolapse.”

There were also indications Amy was suffering from acute stress disorder as a result of her diagnosis. She sought support from a psychiatrist and, crucially, was introduced to other

separate the vaginal opening and the anus. Tears are usually graded by ‘degrees’ and you may hear the terms first, second, third or fourth degree tear.

■ Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) (For example obsessive thoughts that can affect our behaviour such as checking on baby constantly or recurring thoughts that impact your enjoyment of daily life).

Pelvic floor muscle damage: Occurs when the muscles and connective tissue no longer provide the support they once did. Injury to the pelvic floor is very deep and cannot be seen, so is difficult to identify at the time of birth.

It is often much later, when women have bladder or bowel problems, or the vaginal bulge feeling of prolapse, that the injury is recognised.

PHYSICAL TRAUMA Perineal tears: A laceration of the skin, muscles and other soft tissues that

Pelvic organ prolapse: When an organ (or organs) such as the bladder, uterus or bowel loses some of its

■ Post-partum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

“We support women who have had vaginal births, vaginal birth with interventions, emergency C-section, planned C-section, epidural or not... no matter how ‘normal’ it looks from the outside, you can still feel affected by it.

“Incontinence, for example, can impact women regardless of the mode of delivery. Many women think ‘this must be my new normal’ or when they do seek help they are told ‘you’ve just had a baby, what do you expect?’

“Many parents are so busy caring for their kids that they just think they should put up with it or don’t even realise that they can seek support.”

Then there are others, according to Amy, who seek support but have their concerns dismissed.

Amy says while birth-related trauma is often minimised by medical professionals, many women feel like they haven’t been given adequate information to prepare for birth.

The majority of mums who have sought support from the association said their antenatal classes didn’t discuss what happens when birth doesn’t go to plan and possible interventions, such as forceps or cesareans.

“The attitude that we can’t scare women, it’s not working,” Amy said.

“Statistically, one in five Australian women need an emergency cesarean, and one in three require assisted delivery. They are really big stats - we need to be informing women.”

The ATBA runs an annual awareness week dedicated to shining a light on birth-related trauma.

The theme of this year’s awareness week, from July 19-25, is Better Healing.

People are invited to take part in the annual ‘walk n talk’ event to start the conversation and fundraise for the ATBA, which relies solely on the donations of generous supporters.

The social media hashtags are #starttheconversation #saferbirthsbetterhealing #walkntalk.

“There is power in sharing the stories and reducing the stigma,” Amy said.

“The more we raise our voice the harder it is to ignore.”

To donate, or for more information, visit https://www.birthtrauma.org.au/

support and moves downwards through the vagina. symptoms can impact the enjoyment of daily life and adversely impact mental health.

Pelvic fractures: (public bone, coccyx, sacrum) Cesarean wounds: Pain from cesarean wounds usually subside by 3-6 months, but for approximately 11 per cent of women, incision wound pain persists for at least 12 months. Women can also experience pain elsewhere such as back pain and chronic pelvic pain; including pain with sexual function and using tampons 12 months after a C-section.

Source: Australasian Birth Trauma Association www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

It’s Your Life

Mini Mates for fun and learning LEARNING to ride a bike, making friends and experiencing new environments are among Sarah’s many achievements since starting in the Mini Mates program at Gateways Support Services.

Six-year-old Sarah - who loves chocolate, cute animals and learning how to do things - returns home from the program tired but happy and willing to share all the interesting things she got up to.

Sarah’s Mum, Rachel, registered her daughter for the program hoping it would help her become school-ready by broadening her social environment while having fun.

“I liked the idea that each day had the same beginning and end, thus meeting Sarah’s need for routine, while adding a playful challenge by having different activities and outings each time,” Rachel says.

“It was also great to know that all the staff actually understand the children’s needs.”

Mini Mates is a weekend recreation, social and skills development program for five to seven year old’s with an intellectual disability or additional needs. Participants require a current NDIS plan with Core - Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation funding to register.

outings include the Museum of Play and Art, We Rock the Spectrum, parks plays, BBQs, and yummy meals out to venues such as the Pancake Parlour.

friendships that continue to blossom as children get older and move through Gateways Support Services’ different recreation groups.”

Recreation Coordinator Ebony Bottrell says Mini Mates is a great program for younger participants to join in fun recreation programs that build on social skills and provide community engagement.

Rachel says her daughter has gained confidence and the ability to adapt to a range of environments and people.

“Our participants are supported by skilled workers who assist participants to build resilience in the community, peer relationships and emotional regulation,” Ebony says.

“There are opportunities to build

“Staff keep a calm demeanour with all the children and take the time to understand where each child is coming from,” Rachel says.

“Her favourite moment was when she came home and was beaming that she was getting better and faster at riding a bike,” Rachel recalls.

“The flexible structure makes it adjustable to any child, while also introducing some structured learning environments, making it an ideal way to assist children be better able to adapt to school.”

She says the professional approach, flexibility and knowledge of support staff ensured Sarah felt welcome and was able to settle into an unfamiliar setting relatively quickly.

Find out more or register for Mini Mates via the recreation section of the Gateways Support Services website http://bit.ly/MiniMates2021

12493111-JW23-21

Based out of Geelong, activities and

Sarah, 6, is learning so much through the Mini Mates program at Gateways Support Services.

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

WINTER 2021 15

It’s Your Life

Social media junior: Do you run and hide?

By Danielle Galvin

they can get them into Instagram when they are of age,” she said.

THERE were reports earlier in the year that tech giant Facebook was working on an Instagram for kids platform.

But according to Instagram boss Adam Mosseri, children who are under 13 are asking to use Instagram, and perhaps this would be a way to let them use the platform, and have it be a safe space.

It would reportedly allow children under 13 to safely use the platform, with heightened controls.

It certainly raises questions about the dilemma for parents: do you let your child have an introduction and a taste of social media, or ban them from it as long as possible in a bid to keep them safe?

Of course, there’s no right or wrong answer.

Social media expert Meg Coffey has an interesting take on it, and two differing perspectives.

“The cynical way is that they are just trying to get children on board early so

“The other side ... if it’s inevitable that they are going to use it, let’s give them a place that we can control it, where we can control as much of it as can be controlled. “(But) I also keep coming back to, again this is the cynicism, all of these tech guys don’t let their kids anywhere near social media or technology.

“And I go OK so you’re not letting your kids anywhere near it, but now you’re building a platform for kids? It’s an inner turmoil for I think everyone.”

Ms Coffey, who says she is not a

parent but greatly sympathises with the job of raising kids in the digital age, said parents play a role.

Similarly, talk to your younger children about what they know about social media.

Asking kids about who they are following, what are they engaging with, what they’re up to is critical.

Why do they want to be on Instagram or Facebook or YouTube?

She says the social media apps for kids, such as Facebook Messenger Kids, are a positive start.

She wants to believe they put the right boundaries in place so that kids can play and be involved, but they’re not bullet proof.

“It comes back to parents paying attention and having conversations, an open conversation, if something makes you feel uncomfortable come talk to me about it, don’t hide it from me,” she said.

“I think let the kids have access if you are going to be a parent that pays attention.”

What do they know about the platforms and what do they do if they see something strange or scary or that makes them feel icky?

In her view, find an age appropriate way to chat about it, and remember each child will be different in terms of their own maturity and understanding of the digital sphere.

From time to time, most parents will be guilty of handing their child an iPad and letting them scroll or watch whatever they like.

But Ms Coffey said just keep the lines of communication open, constantly talk to them about what they are seeing.

When teen anger is more than acting out

By Carole Levy HOW do you cope if your teen becomes aggressive or even violent towards you?

It is common to keep this kind of abuse behind closed doors and not confide in anyone. Many parents feel that they have failed to control their child, or that they are responsible for the behaviour in some way. In addition, they may not know where to turn.

However, any kind of aggression can be stressful, and can cause an atmosphere of tension and fear for the entire family, not to mention the possibility of physical harm if their teen becomes violent.

No parent should feel obliged to put up with an unruly teen, and as with any type of domestic abuse, help and support is available. There are a number of techniques and tips that you might find helpful.

DEFUSING HEATED ARGUMENTS It’s useful to remember that your own behaviour can improve or worsen an aggressive situation, so it’s important to be a good role model for your teen.

With that in mind, it is worth trying to maintain a calm and peaceful 16 WINTER 2021

presence. You need to be strong without being threatening. Remember that your body language, as well as what you say and how you say it, should also reflect this. Avoid staring them in the eye, and give them personal space.

Allow them the opportunity to express their point of view, then respond in a reasoned way.

If an argument becomes very heated, take a deep breath, hold it for a few seconds and then exhale. Repeat five times. This technique is very useful in intense situations. If your teen is becoming aggressive during arguments, suggest this technique to them when they’re calm, so they too have a way of controlling their anger.

If an argument feels out of control, you can also try explaining to them that you are going to walk away, and that you’ll come back again in half an hour. Given the chance to reflect and calm down, you and your teen will both be more reasonable when you resume your discussion.

As with toddlers, if you give in to teenagers because their shouting and screaming intimidates or baffles you, you are in effect encouraging them to repeat the unreasonable behaviour as a way of getting what they want.

If very heated arguments happen frequently, it may be worth suggesting counselling to your teen. They’ll benefit from talking to someone new and unbiased, someone who isn’t in their family and who won’t judge them.

Remember they may not know how to handle their anger, and this can leave them frustrated and even frightened.

Some guidance from an outsider can be very helpful.

DEALING WITH VIOLENT BEHAVIOUR Sometimes, teen aggression can turn into violence. If they lash out at you, or someone or something else, put safety first. Let your teenager know that violence is unacceptable and you will walk away from them until they’ve calmed down. If leaving the room or house isn’t helping, call the police &mdash; after all, if you feel threatened or scared, then you have the right to protect yourself.

you set. They need to know that any kind of violence is unacceptable.

■ TALK TO THEIR SCHOOL: Find out if their aggressive behaviour is happening there as well. Some schools offer counselling.

■ ARRANGE COUNSELLING: If your teen admits they have a problem and is willing to get help, book an appointment with a counsellor or psychologist as soon as possible.

Sources: Raising Children Network, Women’s and Children’s Health Network GET HELP: ■ Raising Children Network: Australian resource for parenting newborns to teens ■ ReachOut Parents: Online service to help parents help teenagers ■ 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 (24-hour, national sexual assault and domestic family violence counselling service)

GOOD ADVICE GIVE THEM SPACE: Once they have calmed down, you may want to talk to them about what has happened and suggest that they let you find them some help.

■ Police Assistance Line: 131 444 (24-hour)

■ BE CLEAR: Teenagers need to know that you will stand by the boundaries

■ Child Youth Health: Parenting and child health information

■ Kids Help Line: 1800 55 1800 (24hour)

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

It’s Your Life

Swimming is a gift for life Debbie Gill teaching little swimmer Lachie.

CHILDREN are our most precious resource, but every year in Australia we have a number of young children unnecessarily drowning or left with permanent brain damage through near drowning incidents. No one should die from drowning. It is hard to imagine the impact and grief of losing a loved one, knowing that good layers of protection are readily available.

Owner and Manager of Geelong Aquatic Centre, Debbie Gill, is an AUSTSWIM presenter who travels overseas, particularly in Asia and UAE to deliver courses to teachers to help lower the high drowning rates and help centres set up their infant, toddler and school age programs. She says swimming lessons from an early age provide parents and young children with the avenue to learn to respect the water and be constantly reminded about setting up layers of protection to avoid these incidents. “Ensuring barriers such as proper fencing and gates are in place and well serviced, learning resuscitation and having infants and children taught to swim in a quality, on-going year-round program with

qualified and experienced teachers, setting non-negotiable safety rules around the house and aquatic environment and enforcing them consistently,” Debbie says.

“It is essential to keep your eyes - not just your ears - on young children and toddlers at all times around water, as they can drown in the smallest amount of water without a sound. Good swimming lessons teach both parents and their children to respect the water and the dangers associated with it.”

Studies by Professor Robyn Jorgensen from Griffith University in Queensland have shown that infants and young children who have taken part in learn-to-swim lessons, are developmentally at least ten months ahead of their peers. They have a decided advantage over one who is either afraid of, or has no experience in water, other than the bathtub. The initial reaction to an unfamiliar situation or unexpected entry into the water, is panic. A baby or young child who has taken part in an early aquatic program will be more likely to rise to the surface

and turn automatically onto their back, floating happily and confidently, or turn to grasp the edge and monkey to safety.

“Young children who are happy and confident in the water will always be able to think themselves out of situations and will be in a position to most quickly, safely and enjoyably, learn to swim,” Debbie explains. “Early aquatics for babies and toddlers is valuable, not just for water safety, but also as a part of a child’s total development, particularly their perceptual and motor development and spatial awareness.

Infant aquatic lessons provide an opportunity to develop your child socially, emotionally, cognitively and physically in a safe, structured, multisensory environment. Your child will be able to creatively explore and practice skills safely, whilst developing selfconfidence and self-esteem.”

Geelong Aquatic Centre offers the ideal environment for babies from four months through to adult swimmers, to learn to swim. The centre is warm and all pools are heated and salt chlorinated. Children are comfortable

both in and out of the water, particularly important for babies and children and adults of all ages, who lose body heat rapidly. A warm hat and shoes on leaving the centre in the cooler months ensures that they are protected from the elements.

Debbie says staff at the centre are all AUSTSWIM qualified in a variety of levels and are passionate about what they teach and dedicated to the children in their care. “They teach them with love, care and enthusiasm and are kept up to date with professional development through conference, in-services and speakers. The centre is a family owned and operated business which offers no gimmicks, but good value. Their aim is to not to produce champions, but confident and capable swimmers who will be able to save not only their own lives, but those of others.”

“They firmly believe in their motto ‘Swimming Lessons, A Gift for Life’.”

For more information, phone 5222 5530, visit www.geelongaquaticcentre. com.au or visit the centre to watch a class.

Geelong Aquatic Centre Geelong’s No.1 Learn to Swim School

Family Owned & Operated Dedicated Learn to Swim Centre Quality

Salt — Chlorinated pools Controlled Warm Water & Air temperature Passionate & Qualified instructors Providing a developmentally sequential program NO Distractions or Gimmicks Value for money FULL 30 minute lessons

WE CARE ABOUT YOU & YOUR CHILDREN

“Swimming Lessons — A Gift for Life” admin@geelongaquaticcentre.com.au | www.geelongaquaticcentre.com.au 3 Bridge Street, Newtown 3220 | Phone: 5222 5530 12495505-CG24-21

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

WINTER 2021 17

It’s Your Life

Eye spy good health WILL your child’s eye exam be the most important exam they have this year?

It’s well known that 80% of what your child learns is through their vision. It’s a key tool required to read, to learn and to comprehend.

Principal optometrist at Kiddies Eye Care Nicky Kiparissis says 20/20 vision, however, isn’t everything.

“Bottom line vision doesn’t equate to just good sight. It demands both visual acuity as well as coordination between the two eyes to see the world,” she explains.

“As many as one in four children have an undiagnosed vision problem. If left untreated, these can manifest as learning difficulties, developmental delays and can affect your child’s ability to thrive at school and reach their full potential.”

As a mother of three children, Nicky understands the real concerns of parents. Her passion arose one Thursday afternoon, over twenty-five years ago in Corio.

am forever indebted to this caring nan, who opened my eyes and mind and allowed to me see him as a whole person and not just a pair of eyes. This story still gives me goosebumps today.”

These cases, unfortunately, are not rare. Since opening Kiddies Eye Care in 2014, the team have seen a number of children who are unable to excel at school, who are averse to reading, get headaches or are frustrated doing work.

“A holistic eye examination with one of our experienced behavioural optometrists can detect even the less obvious symptoms but at times, lifealtering ocular issues,” Nicky says.

“Having one of Victoria’s biggest child frame ranges makes this task even more fun.

“No child leaves the practice without finding a pair of glasses that they love. They are always so excited to get their glasses back.

“No child is too young to get their eyes tested, and it very well could be the most important exam they ever have. It just might change their perspective and outlook on life.”

Kiddies Eye Care, Suite 1, Ground Floor, St John of God Hospital - Granada Centre, 88 Myers Street, Greater Geelong. Enquiries: 5202 5911 or www. kiddieseyecare.com.au

“We are all really proud of the range that we have. There’s so much colour on our shelves and fun options to choose from, all of our big mummy and daddy patients wish they had the same choices too!

“I was asked to assess a six-year-old boy who did not fit into any school due to his behaviour. His grandmother needed someone to listen to her concerns. She needed someone to help.

This child had excellent vision and I could have dismissed the grandmother’s concerns.”

“With the grandmother’s attitude of ‘do something’ rather than ‘do nothing’, we prescribed learning/focusing glasses.

“This child blossomed. He became an A+ student and never looked back. I

Cooking, preppy-style THERE comes a time when every littlie wants to ‘cook something all by themselves’.

It’s almost a rite of passage that parents either welcome as a bonding experience and a chance to teach; or dread, because of the mess, danger or time/effort involved.

So it’s mighty handy to have a recipe at hand that doesn’t need an oven, cooktop or sharp knives, is easily supervised, and is a treat in school lunch box or as a healthy snack.

Here’s such a beast:

• A few drops of vanilla essence • 2 tbsps chocolate chips • Desiccated coconut METHOD: 1. Place broken up biscuits in a large sandwich bag and crush fine.

2. Add muesli, wheat bran, flax seeds, peanut butter and chocolate chips.

Mix well.

3. Knead mixture well into a dough using your hands.

4. Divide the mixture into 10 equal portions and roll out each into a ball

No-bake cookies

5. Flatten each ball between your palms to form a thick disc

INGREDIENTS: • 12 Marie biscuits

6. Roll the prepared cookies evenly in desiccated coconut

• ½ cup muesli

7. Store in an air-tight container

• 2 tbsp wheat bran • 1 tsp powdered flax seeds • ½ cup smooth peanut butter 18 WINTER 2021

Happy kid, happy parent, happy munching…

Kids love autonomy in the kitchen. www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

It’s Your Life

Can my baby hear properly?

By Carole Levy

detecting potential deafness in babies and children up to school age.

BACK in the day, mums and their newborns remained in hospital for at least a week but nowadays it’s more like two days and they’re sent home.

While lots of new mums are dying to take their bubs home, it can mean that the baby’s hearing screening doesn’t happen.

“The main thing to notice in a baby up to six months old is that loud or unexpected noises don’t cause a startled response, or they may appear generally less alert,” Marina says.

The neo-natal hearing screen is generally done in the first days, when electrodes are placed on the baby’s forehead, shoulders and neck and sounds are played through speakers.

The technique measures auditory nerve activity and is known as Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR).

If the baby ‘fails’ the AABR test, another screening will be carried out within the next two weeks to confirm results.

Experienced audiologist from Active Audiology, Marina Opacak, explains what parents should look for in

“After six months, a baby with possible hearing issues won’t turn to a sound source. At 12 months, they won’t be saying “mumma” or “dadda” - a speech delay can be another sign in babies and toddlers.”

Most parents will be questioning their child’s hearing ability well before the three-year-old mark. At this age, children can be examined via Play Audiometry at an audiology clinic.

Headphones will be placed on the child, with various noises played through the speakers that correspond to the game being played and elicit a response.”

Marina notes that hearing loss, which may be temporary or permanent, can develop after an initial neo-natal screening.

Skirmish for the ages HANDS up whose kids probably spend too much time on video games? What if something akin to a video game was able to be safely acted out in real life, an immersive experience with the thrill and tactics and flat out fun of the hunt? And gives a good dose of endorphins and healthy romping about - for anyone aged six to 96?

This kids’ - and big kids’ - paradise is better known as Next Level Skirmish in North Geelong.

Aptly described as paintball without the bruises and mess, Laser Skirmish has guns that fire beams of harmless infra-red light, using top-of-the-line SATR tech and instant hit-feedback.

Owner Amanda Bennetts says they have game modes to suit every age.

“Varying game modes give tactical players and kamikazes plenty to challenge them, but little kids have games tailored to their age,” he says.

“Our unique sport is also a powerful training tool. It incorporates fine motor skills, strength, tactical thinking, bravery, teamwork and, most importantly, heaps of fun.”

Nicki, a local mum of two, decided to book her seven-year-old’s birthday party at Next Level Skirmish. Here’s how she summed it up: “Despite there being what felt like 100 kids at the theme park, everything went smoothly. Staff were attentive - great with the kids, big and small.

The kids had an amazing time, and I was truly relaxed and enjoy myself.

“I even jumped in and had a go.

Next time I’ll be playing for sure.

“Geelong is an amazing city to live in and we have amazing venues like this right on our doorstep!”

All sessions are fun by a fun-loving team, trained to give everyone the best experience. Games and sessions run daytime and night.

WORTH NOTING: There’s also a free obstacle course included with party bookings.

Next Level Skirmish, 15 Douro Street (600 metres from train), North Geelong. Enquiries: 1300 318 967; sms 0401 290 560; or visit www. nextlevelskirmish.com.au

It’s important to diagnose hearing loss as early as possible.

“In children older than three, warning signs can include having iPad and TV volume too high, asking often for words to be repeated, and not responding to being called.

“By school age, it may be a teacher who first detects problems, with students unable to hear from the back of the classroom, or certain behavioural issues arise or schoolwork is in decline.”

Temporary deafness can be caused by a build-up of wax in the ear or an infection, which can be attended to by a GP. Sometimes, grommets are

recommended to drain fluid from the ears; this is a job for an ear, nose and throat specialist.

Babies and children with permanent deafness will be referred to Hearing Australia, with a hearing aid or other amplification system potentially fitted, and supports put in place.

Marina concludes with: “It’s important to diagnose hearing loss as early as possible since it can have a big impact on a child’s development, especially in the areas of language, communication and thinking.”

Like Paintball, without the bruises or mess

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www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

WINTER 2021 19

Health

Winter sniffles start early for families

By Danielle Galvin

usually means by the time your child goes to school they are much less likely to develop infections because they have built up their system.”

AT the beginning of the year, doctors warned they were seeing a nasty resurgence of respiratory illnesses, starting earlier in the season and impacting younger children.

Another common question she fields from parents is about the need to give your child supplements.

“People always ask do their kids need supplements, and really the take is that if your child has a varied and generally good diet they will get all the vitamins and minerals they need,” she explained.

Health professionals were seeing an increasing presence of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) among young children.

Royal Children’s Hospital paediatrician, Dr Lexi Frydenberg, said it was a significant increase.

“At the hospital we have had a 10-20 per cent increase in presentations to emergency compared to winter,” she explained.

“February and March has been worse than most winters.

“There’s been a significant increase in the hospital emergency department and the wards have been incredibly busy, predominantly viruses and common bugs.”

For some children, RSV presents as a mild cold, a runny nose, sore throat, but in others it can cause bronchiolitis.

“We didn’t see it last year which was incredible and we thought maybe we would have a great year ahead.

“What’s happened [is] we have had a late resurgence.”

In 2020, with schools shut down and kids at home for months on end, there wasn’t a notable cold and flu season.

With social distancing, extra hand washing, and all of the Covid-19 precautions, health professionals noticed fewer viruses around.

Dr Frydenberg, who has spoken to parents in an online community called

“Even picky eaters are usually not vitamin deficient.”

Younger children have copped an earlier resurgence of the RSV this year.

Mama You’ve Got This, said she was hearing anecdotally how rough it had been.

“What happens with your immune system, the more you face bugs, the more your immune system is primed; it develops anti bodies so you can fight infection better,” she explained.

“What happened last year, particularly in the younger kids who haven’t faced many bugs before, they are what we call immunologically naive, which means their bodies haven’t had to develop anti bodies and other techniques to fight acquired infection.

“So what’s happening now, their body is getting hit and they are having to work really hard to fight the infection.”

and I think as a society we are much better.

“Previously you would send your child to school with a sniffle give them a Panadol.

“Whereas now we are much more aware and conscious and cautious and school will send them home.”

While some might be getting complacent, Dr Frydenberg said Melburnians had shown how they can step up and wear masks, and other measures.

She hopes parents don’t take their child out of childcare, even if the bugs and constant sickness is hard to manage.

“You need to be exposed to bugs,” she said.

But she said the positive out of the Covid-19 experience is how much more aware parents and children are about spreading bugs and infection control.

“My take on it with childcare in general your child is going to be exposed, the immune system needs to learn to build up.

“The hope and the positive out of this whole Covid-19 nightmare is that all of us know techniques to decrease the prevalence of viruses an viral infections

“Sending them to childcare it can be onerous to parents who are working when it feels like your child is always sick, but it’s not a bad thing and it

“You actually only need a small amount of minerals and vitamins to function well and have good adequate nutrition.”

Dr Frydenberg does recommend getting a blood test and seeing your GP if you are concerned, particularly if your child is showing signs of an iron deficiency.

“If they have just got low iron stores, you might not notice,” she said.

“When they become iron deficient and anaemic, the signs are usually they might become more pale particularly under the eyes, tiredness so they might sleep more, in younger kids they become more irritable and grumpy the behaviour might change.

“I think we probably underestimate what iron is for brain development and behaviour.

“If we have a child who is lethargic, behaviourally difficult, pale or if say they are a really fussy eater ... if you take a dietary history and they don’t have many iron rich foods, but they do have a lot of milk which decreases iron absorption, I will often recommend doing the blood test.”

Geelong study uncovers dummy allergy link

By Luke Voogt A Geelong study linking sterilised pacifiers with an increased risk of food allergies in babies has gained international recognition.

The Barwon Infant Study compared dummy use and cleaning methods among six-month-old infants and those with a confirmed food allergy at oneyear-old in more than 700 participants.

The study, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, found infants whose dummies were sterilised with an antiseptic solution were more likely to have a diagnosed food allergy.

20 WINTER 2021

Centre of Food and Allergy Research investigator and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute PhD candidate Victoria Soriano said the findings warranted further investigation into how good bacteria in infants’ mouths and guts could help prevent food allergies.

put in the parent’s own mouth or not washed at all before being given to infants at six months of age.

Pacifiers are a source of microbial exposure in early life, according to study’s authors.

“This research should not discourage the cleaning of dummies, as this is a vital step in keeping a child safe from the more immediate risk of infectious diseases,” Ms Soriano said.

“These findings support the growing recognition of the importance of good bacteria, known as microbiome, in our mouth and gut on healthy growth and development,” Ms Soriano said.

“There is also no evidence from this study that cleaning dummies by other methods is harmful.”

A Swedish birth cohort found infants whose parents sucked their pacifier had reduced food sensitisation, asthma, and eczema at 18 months compared with infants whose parents used other cleaning methods.

The research found no increase in risk of food allergy at one year of age among dummy users when the pacifier was washed in tap water, boiling water,

With food allergies often causing life-threatening anaphylaxis and affecting up to 10 per cent of infants, more research is required to understand how to prevent allergies, according to Ms Soriano.

The Geelong-based research’s authors also cited another study finding lower total immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels in children 10 to 18 months if mothers reported sucking the infants’ pacifier.

High IgE levels can be a sign that the body overreacts to allergens. www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

Health

Oral health lessons for kids

ORAL health lessons are being launched in early learning centres and schools as research shows little more than half of Australian adults brush their teeth twice a day.

The Australian Dental Association and SugarByHalf are behind the new suite of lessons that integrate oral health into mainstream learning.

An ADA survey conducted late last year found only 53 per cent of Australian people were brushing their teeth twice a day.

ADA Oral Health promoter Dr Mikaela Chinotti said the research uncovered some concerning trends.

only brushed once a day, 12 per cent thought brushing more often wasn’t good for the teeth, while 37 per cent said they didn’t need to,” Dr Chinotti said.

“And 29 per cent of those who didn’t brush twice a day said this was because it caused pain and discomfort - which points to a very real need for these people to see their dentist.

“These results show there’s still some way to go, and education forms a large part of that.”

The suite of lessons use the purposebuilt storybook Guardians of the Gums, which has been produced in collaboration with Cool Australia.

“Worryingly, of those respondents who

The lessons will be used by teachers

to integrate oral health into everyday maths and science lessons, aiming to help kids make nutritional food and drink choices for early learning through to Year 2.

These lessons allow for oral health to be taught in schools Australia-wide, in alignment with the national curriculum.

Other findings from the 2020 ADA Adult Oral Health Tracker which demonstrate the need for greater education include: ■ Only a quarter of adults floss at least once a day, with 31 per cent reporting to ‘never’ clean between their teeth.

■ Two-thirds of adults aren’t aware that medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease can

impact on, or be impacted by, their oral health ■ 13 per cent of parents reported their children drank soft drink daily, while 39 per cent consumed soft drink 2-5 times per week. Just one can of soft drink takes people above the recommended daily sugar intake and can contribute to tooth decay and weight gain ■ 10 per cent of parents report taking their child to the dentist only when they have a problem, and 60 per cent do so every 12-24 months ■ 32 per cent of people aged above 15 have untreated tooth decay

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www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

WINTER 2021 21

Health

Layers vital to winter warmth How to layer your baby for winter A common question to midwives by parents with a winter newborn is, “how can I make sure my baby is warm?”

The team at Epworth suggests when it comes to keeping your baby warm in the cooler months, remember to think about layers.

appropriately for the room temperature.

A safe infant sleeping bag can be a good option for dressing your baby for bed. On cooler evenings, it is recommended that you dress your baby in appropriate layers underneath the sleeping bag. The ideal winter sleeping bag should have at least a 1.5 TOG rating if the house temperature is 20 degrees, but if your house is colder, a 2.5 or 3.5 TOG rating is advised.

Remember that while it’s important to keep your baby warm, it is also important that they don’t overheat, especially while they are sleeping.

Layered clothing traps heat between each layer, insulating your little one much more effectively. It also means that you can make subtle adjustments to their body temperature by varying the number of layers, rather than just pulling off one thick jumper or jacket.

Thin cotton layers work well, starting with a cotton bodysuit and then adding other layers as required, from grow suits to long sleeve t-shirts and pants.

A few simple steps to assess your baby is comfortable: 1. Place the back of your hand on your little one’s chest or tummy.

2. If they are perspiring or feel more than warm, remove a layer of clothing and then check again shortly after.

As a guide, dress your baby in the same number of layers that you are wearing, plus one extra layer for warmth.

When taking your baby outside in cold weather, make sure that they are covered from top to toe - especially their head with a beanie as they lose a lot of their body heat through this part of their body.

When travelling in the car during cold conditions, remember to remove any bulky jumpers or coats before placing your baby in the harness of their car seat. Bulky items result in the

3. If your little one feels cool, dress them in one thin layer at a time until they feel comfortable to touch. Snuggling your baby close to you is also a great way to both warm and settle them if they do wake up cold during the night.

Layering is the key to keeping bub the right temperature in the winter months.

harness not being the right fit to protect your baby if you did happen to be in a car accident. It’s also important to remove beanies and hats from your baby for car travel.

Picture: iStock

How to layer your baby for sleep For sleep time, it’s not necessary to monitor the room temperature or to leave the heating or cooling on all night as long as your baby is dressed

For the latest advice on keeping your baby safe while sleeping, visit www. rednose.org.au.

For more newborn tips and guidance videos, visit Epworth mobile midwife, available at www.epworth.org.au

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22 WINTER 2021

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

Education

Supporting teens heading into exams AS the end of the year creeps up and Year 12 students begin to prepare for their final exams, many parents worry about how best to support their teenagers.

Australian parenting website Raising Children Network has some simple tips to look after the wellbeing of the whole family in what can often be a stressful period.

Executive Director of Raising Children Network, Associate Professor Julie Green, says parents of teenagers can support their children through exams by encouraging the following good habits: Sleep Good quality sleep helps your child to concentrate and remember things vital for exams and exam prep. Conversely, poor sleep or not enough sleep affects concentration, memory and behaviour, making it harder for your child to learn.

Encourage a regular bedtime routine in

a dark room and electronic devices switched off.

Wind-down time Encourage ‘wind-down’ time to provide a relaxing buffer between studying and d bedtime. Relaxing activities might include a warm shower, writing in a journal, reading a book or magazine or listening to quiet music.

Exercise Physical activity has lots of benefits, including assisting with stress and helping sleep patterns in the evening.

Encourage your teenager to keep up with their normal sporting/exercise activities, where possible, during the study and exam period. Even a walk around the block in the fresh air can help.

Nutrition One of the most nurturing ways you can help your teenager through the study

and exam period is to provide nutritious meals and healthy snacks during the day. A healthy diet includes lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy, nuts and grains and proteins such as eggs, meat, legumes and fish. Try to avoid processed foods high in fat, sugar and salt.

Bedtime Turn off electronic devices an hour before bedtime. This includes loud music, mobile phones, computer screens and TV. Switching off mobiles can be hard for young people, but late night phone calls and text messages can lead to broken sleep.

Caffeine Ensure your teenager avoids caffeine (found in energy drinks, coffee, tea, chocolate and cola) in the late afternoon and evening as this can disrupt their sleep cycles, causing insomnia.

Support Your teenager still needs a strong relationship with you to feel confident as they meet the challenges of studying and exams. You can build this strong relationship by working on open communication and staying connected.

Mental health help AUSTRALIA’S first mental health literacy and action program is on its way.The program seeks to address the mental health and wellbeing needs of young people at school and is set to be delivered by researchers at Monash University.

The Monash research team involved in the project is seeking expressions of interest from schools across Victoria to take part.

The program was first developed

by Professor Joanne Riebschleger in the United States. Now, it has been adapted for Australian schools as a preventative approach to increase knowledge of mental health in the classroom and develop coping mechanisms for students, such as help seeking skills and resilience.

The research team, including Alexandra Marinucci, a PhD candidate who is leading the program evaluation as part of her doctoral dissertation, will work alongside other provisional psychologists to deliver the program.

During the peak of the Covid pandemic last year, a headspace report found one in three young people experienced a high level of distress.

This compares with data from before the pandemic that found one in seven young people were affected by a mental illness.

Along with these alarming figures, young people are five times less likely to seek help when distressed.

“Not only are we in a global pandemic, we are in a mental health www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

pandemic. It is critical we shift our focus to preventative approaches to mental health care and support through early intervention and increasing mental health literacy of our population,” Alexandra said.

Stigma or a lack of knowledge are common barriers to young people getting the help they need or helping others.

This program seeks to improve young people’s mental health, coping and resilience through an evidenced-based 10-session prevention program at school.

Research has shown young people prefer to go to informal methods for help, such as family, friends or the internet.

“Sometimes the internet does not provide accurate or age-appropriate information and so we want to give young people correct and practical information, also strategies to support their mental health that could benefit them now and into the future,” Alexandra said.

“Given the increased levels of distress experienced by young people exacerbated by Covid-19, we are in a critical moment to shift our focus to a preventative approach that directly promotes positive youth mental health.

“Evidence-based school programs surrounding mental health for youth are lacking and this project seeks to change that.”

Interested schools can contact Alexandra (alexandra.marinucci@ monash.edu) or Christine (christine. grove@monash.edu).

12495772-JW23-21

WINTER 2021 23

Education

Childcare fees set for overhaul

By Melissa Grant FAMILIES with two or more children in childcare are set to save thousands of dollars in fees each year.

Childcare subsidies for second and subsequent children will be increased to as high as 95 per cent and the subsidy cap removed for high income earners as part of a $1.7m spend on childcare included in the federal budget.

The changes aren’t due to begin until July 2022, however Prime Minister Scott Morrison says they could be implemented earlier “if possible”.

The fee overhaul means families with two children aged five and under in childcare four days a week, for example, would save between $41 and $125 each week.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says the policy is designed to make childcare more affordable and give parents the choice to work extra hours.

Currently, parents are given the same subsidy for their second child, which means the cost of childcare doubles.

Childcare subsidies are also capped at $10,560 per child, with families earning more than $189,390 having to pay full fees once the subsidy runs out.

Under the new subsidy system,

childcare fees would be subsidised between 80 per cent and 95 per cent for second and subsequent children. The subsidy cap would also be scrapped.

For example, a family earning $110,000 a year will have the subsidy for their second child increase from 72 to 95 per cent, and would be $95 per week better off for four days of childcare.

Education Minister Alan Tudge said the measures would further ease the cost of childcare and encourage workforce participation, particularly for larger families.

“These measures will help remove the barriers for parents, particularly mothers, to return to the workforce or to increase their hours, as their family grows,” he said.

Minister for Women Marise Payne said the investment in the Child Care Subsidy would deliver greater choice for Australian women and men as they balance their family and work responsibilities.

“For women in particular, it opens the door for those choosing to work or to work more, which is critical to their own economic security and a prosperous Australian economy,” she said.

“These changes strengthen our economy and at the same time provide greater choice to parents who want to

Childcare will be cheaper for many families from July 2022.

Benefit for families with two children in childcare for four days Family income

Current out of pocket childcare cost per week

Current subsidy

$40,000

$124.80

$80,000

New 2nd child subsidy

Future out of cost pocket childcare per week

Total better off per week

85%

95%

$83.20

$41.60

$149.18

82%

95%

$95.39

$53.79

$110,000

$232.38

72%

95%

$136.99

$95.39

$140,000

$315.58

62%

92%

$190.78

$124.80

$180,000

$416.00

50%

80%

$291.20

$124.80

work an extra day or two a week.”

However, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese says the federal government has “missed an opportunity” to reform childcare and boost women’s workforce participation.

Mr Albanese said “Labor’s cheaper childcare plan” lifts the subsidy and “smooths” the taper rate across the board, regardless of how many children a family has and how old they are.

He also claimed Labor’s childcare plan would assist 1 million families instead of 250,000.

“The many Australian families

struggling under the cost of out of school hours and vacation care will not benefit at all from the Morrison government’s lift in subsidy,” he said .

“Families desperately need immediate relief from soaring childcare costs, yet these changes are not even set to come in for over a year.”

Mr Morrison said the changes required to the current system were quite complex, while giving some hope fee relief could come sooner.

“If it’s possible to do these things earlier then we will certainly look at that,” he told Sunrise.

Website to help find your local school THE government’s Findmyschool website has been updated to provide parents with the latest information to find the school zone they live in.

The website allows families to find their closest, and other nearby, government schools, giving clarity on what their options are.

Schools can be found by typing in a residential address or searching by school name. Findmyschool will show the zone for the current enrolment year and the 2022 enrolment year.

Every child has the right to enrol at their designated neighbourhood government school or, if there is capacity, at another government school of their choice.

updated website includes school zones for the 14 new schools and campuses opening in 2022.

“We will deliver 100 new government schools by 2026 and when a new school opens, the zones around nearby schools have to change to accommodate it,” Mr Merlino said.

“The website takes the guesswork out of identifying their closest government school, giving families the clarity they need when deciding which school to enrol their child in.”

When the site was launched in 2019, it was the first time school zones were easily accessible in one place.

In the past five years, the government has invested more than $9 billion in more than 1600 school upgrades - creating more than 10,000 construction jobs - and is now ahead of schedule on its commitment to open 100 new schools by 2026, with 48 new schools opening between 2019 and 2022.

Acting Premier and Minister for Education James Merlino said the

Families can look up their school zone online at: findmyschool.vic.gov.au

No student currently enrolled in a school will be required to change schools.

24 WINTER 2021

Families can now look up their school zone online.

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

Education

Hallie Owers and Zara Plummer explore the Future You website, which is part of a campaign to smash gender stereotypes around STEM.

Inspiring girls to choose STEM

By Melissa Grant GIRLS are less likely than boys to pursue a career using science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

That’s why a nationwide campaign has been launched to inspire more female students to choose STEM subjects and open their eyes to careers that use these skills.

Even in primary school, girls are less interested in STEM subjects, with gender stereotypes having a major impact.

Studies, for instance, have shown that most children perceive science as a male profession.

When asked to draw a scientist, children draw nearly twice as many male scientists than female ones.

Furthermore, girls are perceived as not naturally suited to STEM subjects boys are seen as better at numeracy, while girls are seen as better at humanities.

It’s concerning given that STEM is a

big part of many new jobs and jobs of the future.

To tackle the issue, the federal government has launched Future You, an initiative that aims to smash gender stereotypes around STEM. Since launching in October, more than 2.3 million young Australians and their parents and carers have explored Future You, an online platform aimed at children aged 8 to 12.

The platform features 12 diverse and relatable characters, including a builder, miner, game designer, farmer, nurse, ecologist and a Moon to Mars Mission Director. It also includes video animations, skill-based games and information about STEM. Children’s perceptions of STEM jobs as being for women, or women and men equally, improved after engaging with the platform.

Before the campaign, only 20 per cent of girls aged 8-12 said they were ‘very interested’ in STEM but after seeing the Future You online platform, that

increased to 68 per cent.

Boys have also benefited, with strong interest in STEM increasing from 43 per cent to 60 per cent after interacting with the career videos, games and quizzes.

The Future You Initiative is led by Australia’s Women in STEM Ambassador, Professor Lisa HarveySmith.

She says the statistics are “extremely encouraging” given that two years ago, 27 per cent of Year 11 and 12 girls considered STEM-related subjects compared to 48 per cent of boys.

“Future You is showing the power of engaging with our younger generation to ensure women study, enter and stay in STEM careers down the track,” she said.

Prof Harvey-Smith said STEM skills would be needed in areas where there would be massive skills shortages, including digital, cyber security, green energy, manufacturing and the space industry.

“When you say STEM, people think of

scientists in a lab coat. But it’s environmental scientists, creating solar power in solar cars, digital skills we need in the internet age. Really, STEM is everywhere in every industry,” she explained.

Prof Harvey-Smith says there is a real need to smash gender stereotypes around STEM. Children as young as six years old, she says, are influenced by gender stereotypes which can impact their interest in STEM. By the age of 10-14 years, the STEM gap between girls and boys widens.

“We know the 8-12 year age group is critical to longer term interest in STEM careers,” Prof Harvey-Smith said.

“The Future You platform was designed to engage these children and excite them with the many career options that require STEM skills and more importantly, to show that these jobs are for everyone.” https://www.womeninstem.org.au/ futureyou/

Catching up on learning after Covid chaos

By Carole Levy MANY parents are worrying about their kids falling behind in their school work because of what may have been missed during Covid’s remote learning period.

A solution that many are turning to is private tutoring, but does the money invested actually help?

The short answer is yes, tutoring can be very effective in remedying learning shortfalls, as well as extending students beyond what they learn in the classroom.

Tutoring can also build confidence, and gives focus to children who may be distracted in a busy classroom situation.

A study conducted by the Education Endowment Foundation found that students who receive one-to-one tutoring www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

can make five months’ extra progress over a school year, while one Melbourne tutoring company’s internal research showed that 82 per cent of parents saw their child’s grades improve and 85 per cent noted an increase in confidence.

According to Melbourne’s Cluey Learning, measuring a valuable tutoring experience comes down to more than just exam marks.

Cluey co-founder Michael Allara says that at the end of the day, the learning program is the biggest indicator of tutoring success.

program, revision of the methodology, and whether you can see a shift in your child’s attitude towards learning.

■ Friendly and supportive nature, with an ability to communicate to someone who is struggling

“Quality tutoring requires relevant content developed by experts; it necessitates constant feedback from students, tutors and parents; and it demands tutoring in the context of the child.

■ A broad range of experience dealing with a variety of students/learning challenges

“A tutor should always pursue quality teaching, but they also need to be matched to the needs of your child.

There’s no point in assigning a disciplinarian if your child responds best to a softly-softly approach. Similarly, your playful child might learn best from someone with a more exuberant nature who can turn learning into a game.”

“The mode - online or in-person, private or group sessions - can enhance or detract from that but it doesn’t determine effectiveness,” he says.

QUALITIES TO LOOK FOR IN A TUTOR

“All of the component parts need to be considered, including the tutor, content

■ In-depth understanding of their subject area

■ Offers content that’s relevant and up to date ■ Provides consistent feedback and analysis A tutor’s resources need to be as useful as possible to each student, which means they must be aligned with what a student is actually covering in class.

Group and one-to-one tutoring is available, but busy parents (and children tired after a long day at school) may prefer online tutoring (such as Cluey provides) - with real-time face-toface interaction.

WINTER 2021 25

Entertainment

Laser focus on fun THANKS Timezone for 26 years of fun!

Welcome to Laserquest - and with the same team and in the same location, you’ll still have the same great fun!

Laserquest offers more than 120 arcade games to play, great prizes to win and with their state-of-the-art laser tag game, you can’t help but have the time of your life.

Check out the new ticket games Zombie Dunk and Crazy Doctor, shoot some hoops on the NBA basketball game or win big on one of the many instant win prize games.

School holiday fun Laserquest has two great specials for these school holidays: load $40 onto your Play Card and receive a bonus $15 on your card, or Load $70 and receive a bonus $30.

WIN a Laserquest party GEELONG Coast Kids magazine is giving readers a chance to win the ultimate party for 12 people at LaserQuest Geelong.

Birthday party celebrations Laserquest offers the ultimate birthday party experience for the young and young at heart.

Round up your mates and get ready to have a blast, with unlimited standard video games, 1 LaserQuest game, 10 ticket games, an exclusive party room and 90 minutes of guaranteed game time all included in the package.

The birthday package includes one game of Laser Tag, 10 ticket games per person, and unlimited standard video games.

Laserquest also has all the old favourites like Pinball, Daytona, Big Buck Hunter and Air Hockey.

Birthday packages start from $260 for up to 12 people – visit the website below for more details.

And with several new games arriving for school holidays, now is a great time to visit Laserquest.

Laserquest, 89 Malop Street, Geelong.

Opens 10am-10pm daily. Enquiries: 5222 6050 or www.laserquest.com.au

Scan the QR code to enter

Enter at www. geelongcoastkids.com.au/ competitions or scan the QR code for your chance to win this great prize! Geelong independent competition T&C’s apply.

Wiggles team up with Sesame Street SESAME Street and The Wiggles have joined forces to deliver two new music videos that are sure to get the kids dancing.

In May, the two children’s favourites released the video ‘ABCs of Moving You’.The video, which debuted on YouTube, features an updated version of the Sesame Street song (originally sung with Usher).

In the video, Cookie Monster, Elmo and Abby Cadabby and their friends The Wiggles dance and sing through the letters of the alphabet.

As part of the release, young fans also got to enjoy a playlist of favourite songs from Sesame Street and The Wiggles, featuring 20 tracks.

In June, Sesame Street and The Wiggles are releasing video number two.

26 WINTER 2021

This video is a reimagining of The Wiggles famous song ‘Fruit Salad’. It stars The Wiggles - Anthony Field, Lachlan Gillespie, Simon Pryce, Emma Watkins - and Sesame Street’s Cookie Monster, Abby and Elmo.

The music video is a lot of fun with fruit being dropped and passed between screens, adding playful and colourful elements.

The two music video collaboration is commemoration of a combined 80 years of children’s entertainment excellence.

Both brands recently celebrated major milestones, with Sesame Street marking its historic 50th season last year and The Wiggles kicking off their 2021 celebration of 30 years of children’s entertainment.

“What better way to celebrate the 30th year of The Wiggles, and 50 years

Two kids favourites... The Wiggles and characters from Sesame Street have teamed up to create some new music videos.

of Sesame Street in Australia, than with a brand new music video?” said Jenny Gioia, VP of Multimedia Programming, Sesame Workshop.

“We’re thrilled to team up and provide new content on our YouTube channels for kids and their families to laugh, learn and sing with some of their favourite friends.”

Blue Wiggle Anthony Field said: “Collaborating with Sesame Street feels so natural and makes so much sense.

We share the same desire to consistently make music that entertains and educates. It was particularly fun performing together on this Sesame Street classic.”

The videos can be viewed on Sesame Street’s YouTube channel. www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

Reality Bites

The rise of the e-baby

By Melissa Meehan IT was once the topic discussed in hushed tones.

But internet dating has become so popular, and successful, that by 2038 more babies will be born to parents who met online than offline.

And while 2038 seems a lifetime away, that’s when a Monash University report finds the so-called ‘e-baby’ generation will be in the majority.

Over the next 10 years they will make up 34 per cent of all newborns.

Using a nationally representative survey of over 2000 Australians and projections from current trends in online dating, the authors of the report pinpoint 2038 as the year when more than half of babies born will be born to online couples.

They are amazing figures, especially given few couples openly admitted they met online in recent years.

Casey Neill met her husband Kyle on Tinder back in 2015.

“We both swiped right,” she said.

Casey and Kyle, pictured with daughter Molly, met online.

Pictures: Rob Carew

“Kyle was with some older mates who wanted to know how this online dating stuff worked.

dating, so I just took it one day at a time.”

“So with them egging him on and a few drinks under his belt, he got up the courage to send me a message and we set up a date a few days later.”

They got married in October 2018 and their daughter Molly was born October 2019.

Online dating was already pretty popular back then, but Tinder didn’t have the daggy and desperate stigma some of the older websites had, she said.

But she still wasn’t keen to let people know how they’d met.

“I’m not sure I ever actually told my parents we’d met online - they might have found out in our wedding vows,” she said.

They moved out together within five months.

“For our first date we went out for dumplings and Kyle reckons that was it - after he saw me scoff noodles and dumplings he was sold,” she said.

“I wouldn’t say I thought I’d found my husband that night, and I definitely didn’t peg him as the father of my future child! I’d had a fair bit of bad luck with

The little boy with a really big heart

By Alesha Capone

counselling for young people at risk of homelessness.

WRITING a book at the age of eight is an impressive feat.

“Beverley, who does a lot of charity work, said that the Lighthouse Foundation looks after young children so I was very happy about this as it is all about kids helping kids,” Tommy said.

Deciding to donate profits from the sales of the book to a good cause is even more remarkable.

But Point Cook author Tommy Shen says that a simple desire to help other youngsters sparked his generous act.

“The pandemic has made people lose their jobs and now there are many unfortunate families whom I would like to help.

Tommy said he decided to donate profits from his book to the Lighthouse Foundation, after hearing about its good works from his mother’s friend Beverley.

“I want rich people to help the poor people, so when I grow up I will become an illustrator and earn lots of money to help lots of poor people.”

The charity, which was founded by former Melburnian of the Year Susan Barton, provides housing, care and

Tommy’s children’s book, Book About Dragons, has been published by Greenhill Publishers.

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

He proposed on a holiday to America in September 2017.

She’s 18 months old now.

It’s quite the love story, and it’s not unusual.

The report also found that couples who met online in more recent years (2014-2020), on average have 2.3 per cent more babies than those who met face-to-face (1.38 vs 1.35).

This suggests a key group of singles use technology to seek family-inclined commitments.

The report then considered current trends, finding that based on the share of births that are e-babies, an estimated 20 per cent of all babies born in this millennium are e-babies. Further, the report reveals that 21 per cent of online couples that had a baby did so within a year of meeting.

Aussie couples who meet online most commonly have one child (21 per cent),

Casey with daughter Molly.

with over one in eight (13 per cent) welcoming two children. Men are also slightly more likely than women to have children with a partner they met online (38.9 per cent v 35.4 per cent).

VP International at eHarmony, Romain Bertrand said the results of the report were good news.

“In our first ‘Future of Dating’ report with Monash University, we’re delighted to see that online dating has created so many Australian families, and that it will continue to increase this wonderful legacy.”

It is about 88 types of dragons and the relationships between them all. The book includes English and Mandarin text and illustrations provided by a Mexican illustrator.

With a Chinese mother and an Indonesian father, Tommy said that he developed a love of dragons from a young age.

“I was born in the Year of the Dragon and I think sometimes that this is why I love dragons so much,” he said.

Helping others is also something which runs in Tommy’s family.

His great-great grandfather founded an orphanage in Hong Kong in the 19th-20th century.

Tommy said his great-great grandfather “was a great teacher and he was really kind”.

“He taught children who didn’t have a home - he was a real good hero,” Tommy said.

Book About Dragons is available at www.lamoneta.org.au, $8.88 for an e-copy and $29.99 for a hardcover copy.

Tommy has written a book about dragons.

WINTER 2021 27

Reality Bites

Double the fun for Federal MP

By Danielle Galvin WHEN Labor MP Anika Wells spoke out in Federal Parliament to share a message in support of Multiple Birth Awareness Week, she had two special little guests with her.

The Member for Lilley held Ossian and Dashiell, her twin boys, to address the House and raise awareness about testing for zygosity and identical or fraternal multiples.

“I never expected to be standing in front of the House with twins, and that is the experience of many twin parents out there,” she said in March.

“I just ran into a twin mum, coming into this place, who said, ’Is it the case that Centrelink and Medicare still do not consider twins to be a multiple birth?’

“I said: ’Yes, that is the case.’

Centrelink and Medicare do not consider twins to be multiple births as it currently stands.

“She said, ’You get in there and tell that parliament that, when you are giving birth to twins, it definitely feels like two babies are coming out,’ and I promised to do that. So, twin parents: I see you, I hear you, and I’m here for you.”

The twins have an older sister, Celeste, to Ms Wells and her husband Finn.

Ms Wells explained why it’s so important to know about whether twins are identical or not.

“You’d be surprised how many parents out there don’t know for sure and they probably don’t think it matters.

“It’s important for health reasons.

Identical twins are more likely than fraternal twins to get the same illness. If one twin is diagnosed with a particular condition, the other can be checked for early symptoms.

“Identical twins are also always compatible for organ transplantation or bone marrow donation, if they ever need it.

“It’s important too for twins to know their own identity, and for parents to estimate the likelihood of giving birth to further sets of twins - only fraternal twins are an inherited trait.”

28 WINTER 2021

Lilley MP Anika Wells with Oshy and Dash in parliament.

When Ms Wells gave birth to the twins on 20 October last year, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese announced their safe arrival in parliament, noting how special it was that a sitting member of federal parliament had welcomed twins.

She says no two days are the same as a busy MP and mum of three.

“As fellow parents of small children can testify, there is no real “regular day”.

“Same with my work, which is incredibly dynamic and varied.

“The wheels can, and do fall off regularly. The baby might throw up on you as you’re dressed for work and ready to run out the door, you run out of nappies in the middle of the function you’ve brought the twins along to, you get to daycare only to discover you’ve left the twin backpacks at home.

“But we all just get on with it, we have to.

“Having a supportive partner who shares the load makes what I do as a Federal MP possible. Hats off to those parents who do it on their own.”

Many Australians might not know

that some government agencies don’t recognise twins as multiple births.

It’s an issue Ms Wells has been championing.

“When the Australian Multiple Birth Association (AMBA) first lobbied the Federal Government for the Multiple Birth Allowance in the 1990s, they were only able to secure the allowance for triplets or more.

“This still excludes the majority of families with multiples - those with twins.

“Financially it can be a challenge, because unlike with singletons, parents of multiples can’t “stagger” expenses like childcare, education, sports fees. And often the increased costs start during pregnancy, with multiples often leading to higher medical costs, mothers having to finish work earlier etc.

“There’s an AMBA research project underway to quantify these insights.

Once that data’s in hand, lobbying for the review of financial support for families of multiples will begin in earnest.”

In the months since Dash and Oshy were born, it’s been full of unique

challenges, but also unique experiences that only parents of multiple children experience, Ms Wells said.

She described it as a great privilege.

“It’s particularly special to witness their relationship with each other - how they reach out to hold each other’s hand when they are teething.

“Their bond is beautiful to see.”

She hopes she can be a voice for parents of multiples.

“A voice for multiple parents is important because they face some particular difficulties too.

“Because of the increased cost of care, parents of multiples are less likely to participate in the workforce.

“Another key difference is the increased likelihood of higher medical costs, with the health risks of multiples and their mother increasing by tenfold and the risk of post-partum depression is doubled. “That’s why it’s so important we review our childcare system in Australia, which is the most expensive in the OECD, not only for parents of multiples with for all Australian parents who are trying to manage the juggle of work and family.”

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

Reality Bites

From tired dad to top author

By Melissa Grant

started out as a self-printed first birthday gift for his daughter, Florence.

CARING for a sleep-troubled baby put Philip Bunting on the path to becoming one of Australia’s most popular children’s picture book authors.

“A couple of people said to me, you should send some copies off to the printers,” he recalled.

“For the first year and a half of his life he didn’t sleep for more than two consecutive hours.

“But the thing that always got him was reading.

“We read heaps of picture books to Leo when he was little - we were probably reading about 20 a day.”

Philip is now a prolific children’s author, having published 23 picture books in just four years.

He writes and illustrates the books. His illustrations are distinctive, although he jokes this is because he can’t actually draw.

His first book, Mopoke, actually

“I sent them off to eight publishers. I had eight offers in two weeks - they all wanted it!”

and the child at the same time,” he explained.

in the running for a coveted award and another has been read from space.

Good humour is a must, and it’s good to have a simple message although sometimes a book can just be a platform for fun between parent and child, he added.

Not Cute is on the shortlist for the Children’s Book Council of Australia Picture Book, a highly sought after award.

Mopoke, a cute story about a little owl’s struggle to find peace, was the first of four books Philip had published in 2017.

The father-of-three is now averaging seven to eight books a year after becoming a full-time author in mid2019.

Beforehand, the English native was in magazine publishing. He worked for Time Out Magazine in the UK, Dubai and Sydney before moving to Brisbane to be closer to Laura’s family. They moved to Eumundi on the Sunshine Coast in 2017.

Philip says simply being a parent has taught him what works when writing children’s books.

“A good book always has to work on two levels. You are writing for the adult

NDIS registered and quality accredited disability support.

Philip has co-authored books with his wife Laura, who was a journalist before she became a mum, and has also collaborated with others, including comedian Dave Hughes.

Philip and Laura usually only read their books once to their children Leo, 8, Florence, 6 and Arthur, 3.

“It’s probably because Laura and I have seen the book so many times that we don’t want to read it to the kids,” he said.

It’s an exciting year for Philip. Apart from publishing four books and another three due for release, one of his titles is

Give Me Some Space! was selected as the book for National Simultaneous Storytime. The book was read by astronaut Shannon Walker from the International Space Station on 19 May. But there’s another book he holds close to his heart.

“The one that means the most to me is Mopoke as it represented the biggest change in my life. As soon as that book was done and signed I knew I wasn’t pursuing the dreams of my 20s any more - I was on a different path.”

You can check out Philip Bunting on Instagram and at philipbunting.com

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“When our son Leo was born, he was a terrible sleeper,” the father of three explained.

Laura and Philip Bunting reading with their three children.

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Philip and wife Laura would read picture book after picture book to their son Leo in a seemingly never-ending battle to get him to nod off.

“I remember thinking ‘oh yeah, I’ll see what happens’.

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WINTER 2021 29

Books

Born ready to face puberty

By Melissa Meehan IN an online centric world, our kids are growing up quicker.

They have access to so much information, so much more than generations past.

So talks about the birds and the bees, puberty and other things our parents used to teach us by leaving a book on the end of the bed (and running in the other direction) need to happen earlier.

That’s where Michelle Mitchell comes in.

The author of A Guy’s Guide to Puberty and A girls Guide to Puberty says it’s completely normal to grapple with when those conversations need to happen.

“The good news is that they were born ready,” she said.

Michelle shares that she was recently giving a talk to a group of 10 year olds, one of whom was contacted by a modelling agency via social media and asked to give them her contact details.

“That kind of thing brings some urgency to those conversations,” she said.

“Because these young kids can be making really critical decisions for themselves.

“It is a much more sexualised world.”

Some signs they are ready: ■ Become embarrassed about being naked in front of others

Michelle, a former teacher, has spent the last 20 years working with disengaged young people and speaking at scools about puberty.

■ Start gravitating towards same sex friends

And she says it’s increasingly evident that parents are needing to have these conversations with younger kids.

■ Begin to discuss sexual concept without any degree of accuracy

“But between the ages of eight and 10 is the perfect time to make a start.

Previously they’d say 12 is a good time to talk about sexuality, but Michelle says between the age of eight and 10 is often the sweet spot.

“And they are important conversations to have, because they are being exposed to many things earlier than we were, because they are online.”

Each of child has their own special needs which may include trauma, birth order, disabilities, learning challenges or emotional maturity.

■ Curious about gender differences, pregnancy, sex

■ Interested in knowing more about their bodies ■ Ask questions ■ Look at parent’s bodies differently Michelle’s books act as a starting point which will open up the conversations at home.

The books, each aimed at either sex,

explains how to care for your body, emotions and brain.

“If we want open hearted conversations with our kids about tough topics we have to be prepared to initiative them in an open-hearted way,” she said.

“I personally think that they should never have to be the one who initiates difficult conversations, so always assume they need you and step into that space. Let’s be prepared to go to them, and in doing so grow with them.”

Her book isn’t a tough read either, it very cleverly includes cartoons that simplify some of the bigger issues and break it down so that younger kids can understand without being overwhelmed.

Children’s books...

Winner Winner Bin Chicken Dinner

Harmony

Kate & Jol Temple, illustrated

by Ronojoy Ghosh Our favourite bin chicken is back!

In this sequel to the popular picture book Bin Chicken, Ibis is looking for dinner but isn’t having much luck until she spies the most wonderful food wonderland of all ... the school playground.

Winner winner! There are a few hiccups along the way, but in the end the Ibis gets the last party pie.

This is yet another hilarious read about the pesky bird that everyone loves to hate!

Perfect for kids aged 3+ Scholastic, RRP $17.99

30 WINTER 2021

The Exploding Life of Scarlett Fife: Book 1

Kokey Koala and the Bush Olympics

Set in 1914, this young adult novel is a gripping love story that plays out against a backdrop of the First World War. Tom is in the blood-soaked landings of Gallipoli, while Gracie marries another.

Maz Evans, illustrated by Chris Jeavons

Trixie Whitmore

It’s not until American teen Noah joins his mum Deborah, grandfather Will and greatgrandmother Gracie in Australia that the secrets of the past are revealed - secrets that will take them back to the beaches of Gallipoli.

In this laugh out loud tale, Scarlett is in big trouble after her big feelings lead to a hamster getting into the vicar’s trousers at her aunt’s engagement party.

Richard Yaxley

A compelling multigenerational story about connectedness, family and the power of truth.

For readers aged 12+ Scholastic, RRP $18.99

Scarlett Fife has big feelings.

Unfortunately, every time she pushes her feelings down something explodes.

If she loses her temper again she will miss out on her trip to the best theme park on the planet.

This classic children’s adventure book is being republished just in time for the Tokyo Olympics.

Originally launched to coincide with the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Kokey Koala and the Bush Olympics is about a cute koala who participates in a series of Bush Olympics sports with the hope of winning a gold medal.

Kids will love exploring the book’s beautiful hand-painted illustrations that detail Australia’s native fauna and flora.

A fun book for parents and children who have, at one time or another, lost control of their feelings

The ‘find and discover experience’ is complemented by rhyming poems throughout.

Hodder Children’s Books, $14.99

Ocean Reeve Publishing, RRP $24.99 (hard cover) and $19.99 (soft cover)

A fun and educational book.

Bedtime is Boring David Campbell, illustrated by Daron Parton A hilarious sequel to Stupid Carrots, Bedtime is Boring features a funny bunny called Billy who just doesn’t want to go to bed.

He’s had his bunny bath, he’s read his bunny book but (you guessed it) he just doesn’t want to go to bed.

Billy is too busy for bed.

And bedtime is boring! Oh, and he needs to pee. But guess what happens when Billy Bunny finally hits the hay? A relatable story for many families!

For kids aged 3+ Scholastic, RRP $17.99

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

Kids Calendar

What's on this winter

JUNE 25 - JULY 10

JUNE 30 & JULY 7

UNTIL SEPTEMBER 11

OCTOBER 2-3

ADVENTURE PARK’S WINTER GLOW

PORTARLINGTON BAYSIDE MINIATURE RAILWAY

LOVE CENTRAL GEELONG FAMILY MAGIC 2021

DAY OUT WITH THOMAS

Discover a glowing winer wonderland with this festival featuring snow, lights, fire and ice.

Train operates 11am-3pm on the first and third Sundays of the month and Wednesdays during the winter school holidays.

Designed to captivate, inspire and entertain, experience the magic of theatre and all it has to offer.

Enjoy a day out with Thomas the Tank

Geelong Arts Centre, 50 Little Malop Street, Geelong.

opportunities and a giveaway pack for

Open 3pm-8pm daily at Adventure Park, 1249 Bellarine Highway, Wallington. www.winterglow.com.au

AT Portarlington Bayside Family Park, corner Point Richards and Boat Road, Portarlington.

http://geelongartscentre.org.au/ family-magic-2021/

Engine and friends in Queenscliffe with a 45-minute train ride, activities, photo kids.

At Geelong Steam Preservation Society, 20 Symonds Street, Queenscliffe.

JUNE 26 - JULY 27

CENTRAL GEELONG WINTER KIDS FUN GUIDE Keep the kids busy and entertained during the holidays with Central Geelong’s winter kids fun guide.

JULY 6-9

GOLDILOCKS AND THE 3 BEARS 3Triple2 4 Kids will delight families with this colourful and fun show.

Bookings required. www. bellarinerailway.com.au/day-out-withthomas

UNTIL OCTOBER 17

www.centralgeelong.com.au

At the Potato Shed, 41 Peninsula Drive, Drysdale

JUNE 28 - JULY 9

UNTIL JULY 11

FAIRIES AND DRAGONS FAMILY HOLIDAY PROGRAM

HOW CITIES WORK

Walt Disney Animation Research library

Make your own fairy garden, discover magic places and enjoy interactive stories.

An interactive family exhibition revealing the secret workings of our busy urban centres.

showcasing the creativity and

Botanic Gardens, 1-49 Garden Street, East Geelong.

Open 10am-3pm daily at the National Wool Museum, 26-32 Moorabool Street, Geelong.

www.geelongaustralia.com.au/gbg/ default.aspx www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

DISNEY: THE MAGIC OF ANIMATION An exhibition presented by ACMI & the

www.nwm.vic.gov.au

innovation of Disney Animation.

12pm-5pm weekdays and 10am-6pm weekends at ACMI, Fed Square. www.acmi.net.au/whats-on/disneythe-magic-of-animation-exhibition/ WINTER 2021 31

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32 WINTER 2021

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au