Knox Monash Kids Spring 2021

knox Monash

TODAY

SPRING 2021

Spring fun at

LYSTERFIELD LAKE Service in Clayton

HELPING MUMS The impact of

BIRTH ORDER Cooking with

KIDS IN THE KITCHEN

About Us

knox Monash

Spring a season of hope HELLO and welcome to the spring edition of Knox Monash Kids Today.

forward to the sunshine and freedom that spring brings.

It’s a time that we can hopefully dust off the cobwebs of being cooped up inside all winter, in front of a computer screen of zoom meetings and remote learning.

Lockdown is hard. It’s no secret.

As Victorians we’ve come to accept it as a way of life during this pandemic.

So when news broke of tougher restrictions I think many of us dug our heels in and were ready to cop it on the chin.

And then they announced playgrounds, kinder and childcare were closed.

In a world where most kids activities have been cancelled or at the very best continued remotely – the playground felt like the one true escape from the four walls of home.

We love supporting local groups, and St Kilda Mums recently moved into their new head office in Clayton so we speak to them about how the charity started.

So I’m sure, like me, you are looking

We also talk to Instagrammer Anna Du Rieu, better known as the Not So Perfect Mum, about all things motherhood, including juggling work with three kids.

How many children do you have? Do you have two kids who are so different you sometimes wonder how it is possible that they share the same gene pool? The reason for these stark differences is birth order, according to leading parenting and education writer Michael Grose. The author of the recently updated version of best-selling book Why First-borns Rule the World and Laterborns Want to Change It offers some interesting insights into how birth order can affect one’s

personality and disposition.

TODAY

You may be familiar with lifestyle and motherhood blogger Olivia White.

She has more than 150,000 followers on social media, with many drawn to the authentic, and sometimes hilarious, ways she shares the raw and sometimes unglamorous realities of parenting.

Knox Monash Kids Today magazine is a Star News Group publication.

Renowned psychologist Steve Biddulph is back with an interesting piece on parents’ innate ability to teach their kids inner-peace and we also welcome paediatric nutritionist Lucy Stewart with her Kids in the Kitchen column.

Knox Monash Kids

We hope you enjoy this edition as much as we have enjoyed putting it together!

Take care,

Knox Monash will be published quarterly prior to each of the school holidays.

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

Editorial Melissa Meehan melissa.meehan@starnewsgroup. com.au Phone: 5945 0666

Advertising Andy Jukes andy.jukes@starnewsgroup.com.au

CONTENTS

Phone: 5945 0643

IT’S YOUR LIFE

HEALTH

BOOKS

Helping mums across the state

Tips for parenting when sick

A wild way to read

PAGE 3

PAGE 13

PAGE 19

Benjy’s socks support storm battered Ranges

Researchers probe role of genetics in SIDS

Children’s books

PAGE 4

PAGE 13

Fostering teenagers

RECIPES

Political drama series for kids

Kids in the Kitchen

PAGE 20

PAGE 4 From Italy with love PAGE 5

knox Monash

SPRING 2021

PAGE 19

TELEVISION

PAGE 14

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.

KIDS CALENDAR

TODAY

Spring fun at

LYSTERFIELD LAKE Service in Clayton

Creating freedom by planning with kids

REALITY BITES

PAGE 5

Why birth order matters

In focus: Lysterfield Lake

PAGE 15

PAGES 6-7

Mum is boss of bargains

Cooking with

Steve Biddulph on teaching inner-peace

PAGE 16

PAGE 8

KIDS IN THE KITCHEN

The not so perfect mum

Pandemic having a big impact on youth

PAGE 17

PAGE 8

What’s on this spring PAGE 21

HELPING MUMS The impact of

BIRTH ORDER

Inside Olivia’s House of White PAGE 18

EDUCATION

Cover Tait in the colourful laneway on Wanda Street, Mulgrave.

Picture: Rob Carew

Giving children the best start PAGE 9 Our children looking forward PAGE 10 Focusing on being WELL PAGE 10 New plan to make kids cyber smart PAGE 10 Back to 1995 at Holy Trinity School PAGE 12 See Holy Saviour in action PAGE 12

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It’s Your Life

Rochelle Cannington with clothing and linen bundles.

Helping mums across the state

By Melissa Meehan IT all started as a stack of baby goods dumped in a photocopying room at a maternal health service in Chapel Street, Prahran.

Local mum Jessie McPherson was told by her maternal health nurse that the donated goods were really needed in the community, but staff just didn’t have the time to clean them up and pass them on.

So Jessie took matters into her own hands.

She started a Facebook page, hundreds of items were left on her front porch and St Kilda Mums was born.

But don’t be fooled by the name, St Kilda Mums helps families across the state.

Their head office and main warehouse is now located in Clayton after outgrowing their previous home in St Kilda, and they have warehouses in Geelong and Ballarat - under the names Geelong Mums and Eureka Mums, respectively.

They now help 20,000 babies and children each year.

“We distribute across Victoria, even in the far corners of the state,” spokesperson Rochelle Cannington told Kids Today.

“So even though we are called St Kilda Mums, the name really comes from where it all started.”

Those who benefit from the donations are put forward to St Kilda mums from social workers and maternal health care workers.

“We leave it up to the experts, they come to us with referrals and requests from their clients,” she said.

St Kilda mums offers 66 products for those who need them. www.KnoxMonashKids.com.au

Volunteer Avril with some donations.

But the hottest item, according to Rochelle, is prams.

“We can never ever get enough of them. We’re really fortunate to be able to get quite a bit about our stock donated, so last year 98 per cent of the things that we gave out were donations,” she said.

Workers at St Kilda Mums sort through donated items.

“But it’ll be a bit different this year because we couldn’t open due to the pandemic, we had to stop getting goods donations in for a little while.

“We did have to purchase a few more cots and prams and car seats than we usually would like in this current financial year but it was kind of out of our hands at the end.”

But despite the pandemic, the need does not end with big ticket items always needed, as well as linen and clothing.

The best way to donate is to get in touch with St Kilda Mums though their website www.stkildamums.org and make an appointment to drop off at their warehouses in Clayton, Geelong or Ballarat.

There are often local collection points too.

It’s the perfect way to move on your no longer needed baby things – especially after doing a spring clean.

The St Kilda Mums warehouse.

SPRING 2021 3

It’s Your Life

Benjy sends sock support

By Taylah Eastwell

organisations and more recently those in hotel quarantine.

BENJY Orwin can’t recall ever visiting the Dandenong Ranges, but when he heard about people suffering after the storm, he immediately wanted to help.

“I was walking home in the cold at night, it was very cold, and I just thought about people that didn’t have clothes to keep them warm. I wanted to do something to help them and wanted to come up with a thing I could collect,” he said.

Over 800 pairs of socks have made their way from Caulfield to the hills through 11-year-old Benjy’s charity, Socks4Support.

“They really needed them. Everything is really wet and their shoes and socks are getting soaked,” Benjy said.

“It’s been really hard for them to keep warm,” he said.

While he typically donates to charities, Benjy was overwhelmed by the thought of people freezing in the Dandenongs following the wild storm on Wednesday 9 June.

“David Southwick (Caulfield MP) told me about the situation in the Dandenongs and when I found out I really wanted to help. Socks would really help them,” he said.

Benjy started Socks4Support around three and a half years ago, having donated socks to numerous charities,

“I came up with socks because that’s something that’s really important but not many people really think of them as important, and not many people think to donate them,” he said.

With the help of his school, Benjy created his charity and placed donation boxes at Coles and Woolworths shopping centres around Caulfield, where generous human beings donate all kinds of socks.

During his short period as a not-forprofit entrepreneur, Benjy has been lucky enough to get a guided tour of a sock manufacturing company, where he was shown how socks are made and received a generous donation towards his collection.

“I want to get socks to as many people as possible,” Benjy said.

Benjy Orwin, 11, collects socks to donate to those in need through his charity Socks4Support.

Fostering teenagers A E M R O BEC ER CARE FOST

It’s a great fit for Laura’s young family “My husband Jake and I have two kids of our own, aged four and one, and we’ve been foster carers for around six years now. The way we learned about parenting was a bit backwards – first we were really experienced with teenagers, and now we’re learning about younger kids – but it has been an overwhelmingly positive experience for our whole family.

“In the last six years we’ve cared for around 15 young people. Some for only two nights and some up to a year. I think foster care is great because it gives the kids a chance of experiencing a consistent home environment with consistent parent figures. I feel like it creates a genuine family environment for them to grow up in.

Even teenagers need care...

Help them achieve the brighter futures they deserve.

Find out how you can become a Foster Carer by registering for an online information session. You’ll learn all about the different types of foster care and what becoming a carer involves. It doesn’t matter if you are working or at home, in a relationship or single or whether you have kids. Everyone can make a difference.

Information Sessions: 7.30 – 8.30pm Monday 13 September Wednesday 6 October Thursday 18 November To Register: 1300 889 335 | www.anglicarevic.org.au/fostering 12507486-HC38-21

4 SPRING 2021

“The overall experience of foster caring for us has been amazing, it brings a lot to our life. Of course we have some challenging times, we have tears here and there, but we resolve things and the young people know that they are safe and loved in our family. I think that’s really good for our children to see too, that we resolve things as a family.

“We’ve had a lot of highlights over the years, watching the interactions between our own children and the young people that have come to stay. I remember when one of the 16-year-old boys we had to stay would lift one of my little ones onto his hip and introduce them to his friends as his brother or sister – that is a massive thing for a 16 or 17 year old to do I think.

Fostering teenagers - It’s a great fit for Laura’s young family.

“For people considering fostering teenagers, I say go for it. There is often the misconception that teenagers, particularly boys can be aggressive or physical, but we haven’t ever experienced that – if fact we get the opposite, we have these amazing moments where we get to see a bit of their personalities, they are lovely kids and they become our family when they’ve been with us so long.”

Anglicare Victoria’s foster carers receive 24-hour on-call support, ongoing training and are reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses related to care.

If you would like to become a foster carer with Anglicare Victoria, call 1300 889 335 or register for a local information session by visiting www. anglicarevic.org.au/fostering www.KnoxMonashKids.com.au

seeing me in pain, but it was great to have her here,” Adriana said.

It’s Your Life

Sadly, due to Covid-19 and border restrictions Adriana hasn’t been able to see her family but keeps in touch regularly.

Adriana, who has recently been granted her permanent visa, says Australia is where she plans to raise the kids.

“For us, we plan to stay here – there are more opportunities for the whole family here,” she said.

“As much as I love my family and my country, this is the place for us.”

There are some very big and some other subtle differences about growing up in Italy compared to Australia.

For instance, Adriana grew up surrounded by a huge family by Australian standards.

She was the eldest of more than 20 cousins, so had a lot of practice babysitting.

In her village, made up of only 2000 people, everyone knew each other.

Adriana Saraga and Peter O’Brien with children Ava, 2, and Joey, 9 months.

Picture: Rob Carew

From Italy with love

By Melissa Meehan A SUMMER fling turned into life and babies on the other side of the globe for Adriana Saraga.

Adriana from Andezeno in north west Italy, met her now partner Peter when he visited her small village to attend a friend’s wedding.

The groom was Adriana’s cousin.

She was one of few people who spoke English, albeit self-taught from watching Disney movies.

They fell in love, she moved to Australia and now the Croydon couple have two young children together.

“It was supposed to be a summer adventure kind of thing,” she laughs.

“Before we knew we were in a little bit of trouble because we fell in love straight away.”

spent weeks on YouTube to try and learn more about Australia.

“It was scary at first, but it’s great,” she said.

“He’s an amazing person. It’s been really hard with Covid-19 not seeing my family and he’s been so understanding.”

But after a long chat with her mum, Adriana knew it was meant to be.

Her mum was lucky enough to visit and offer support after the birth of their first child, Ava – who is now two.

So she made the almost 15,000km journey knowing no one but Peter.

But she couldn’t bear to be there for the actual birth.

In the month before she left, she

“She thought she couldn’t handle

Ava and Joey, who is nine-monthsold, will learn to speak Italian too.

Adriana already speaks to Ava in Italian when they are alone, but in English when Peter is around because he doesn’t understand Italian.

“There are a few words she can swap easily between Italian and English. She knows she needs to speak Italian when on phone with Nonna and when she talks to my brother,” she said.

“And the way she says words in Italian - there’s a little bit of an accent, which is the cutest thing.”

For now, while the borders are closed, she’ll have to rely on video calls and her small Australian village, made up of friends from her mother’s group, organised by her local council.

“They have been fantastic, we still catch up now and it’s been such a great support for me. Some really great girls and friendships.”

Creating freedom by planning with kids

By Melissa Meehan

“People automatically associate plan with being quite restrictive and very prescribed and that you’re quite confined,” she said.

WITH five kids, Surrey Hills mum Nicole Avery has to be organised.

“I actually found it gave me more freedom.”

Her kids range from 12 to 22-yearsold – her youngest started high school this year and her eldest began his first post-graduate job.

If she had already prepared the meals for the week and was out late one night - she knew she could change up the meal plan.

Planning was not always something she’d been good at or focused on, she still doesn’t claim to be an expert.

And if it was too late, she could swap in takeaway night and cook that meal on Friday.

She’s just had a lot of practice.

She’s been working online, working with Planning with Kids since 2008.

“I had four kids at the time and kind of wanted to go back into the workforce in some way and it was about my own life. So it was a really easy choice for me to blog about it,” she told Kids Today.

“I probably was a more traditional mummy blogger at first – but sharing photos of the kids wasn’t my thing. I’m pretty private, so what I wanted to do was answer the questions that people asked of me in real life.

“How are you so organised?”

She always had menu plans and that kind of thing so thought she would share what she knew.

Because, she figured, it could help other parents.

“One of the things when you’ve had a few kids that you get better at, is self practice,” she said.

“I’m pretty process orientated, but wasn’t always natural that way, but I www.KnoxMonashKids.com.au

For Nicole, planning actually ended up giving her more freedom.

She also found that the more she had organised, the more she could delegate.

Getting your kids involved in planning is all it takes for them to take ownership, Nicole says.

did get to the point with my second child, where I worked out okay, I am going to step out of the workforce and I’m going to be at home full-time now,” she said.

“I can’t just be in this chaos thinking about what we’re having for dinner every night, you know like a baby crying on the hip and a toddler hanging off my legs.

“I was floundering a bit and it felt harder than it should be.”

And that’s where it started.

Nicole worked out if she could plan out five or six meals a week that would make meal time easier.

And it did.

“That was sort of like that clicking moment where I had all the skills I used in the workforce – but I wasn’t bringing that home,” she said.

“And I worked out that work things ran so much smoother and my work life would have been so much less stressful when I was really organised with it, home life is the same.”

And that mindset is applicable to doing the washing, vacuuming.

Stepping out of the chaos and having a plan made life with kids much easier.

But just because you have a plan doesn’t mean your life revolves around it, according to Nicole.

“I was able to say to my husband, here is the shopping list, could you please go and shop for it – the fact it was in an actual list form and not in my brain meant I could get some extra help,” she said.

“I found my life became easier and easier, and I became happier.”

It was the same for after school activities and sports.

When Nicole took it out of her brain and put it into a shared online calendar that her husband could see it made life much simpler.

These are just some of the tips you can read about in Nicole’s book Planning with Kids, or learn in her online course.

Find out more at www.planningwithkids.com SPRING 2021 5

It’s Your Life

Lake views. Kayaking one of the sports on the lake.

In focus: Lysterfield Lake KNOWN as one of the best lakes to swim in during Victoria’s warmer months – Lysterfield Lake has lots more to offer.

At the heart of the park, there are many ways to explore the large lake.

And while during lockdown the only think we can do is go for a walk to get our exercise, there’s plenty of things to keep the blood pumping when it’s all over.

Spring is the perfect time to go exploring too, whether it’s going canoeing or kayaking, searching for water birds or keeping an eye out for kangaroos.

Grab a barbecue spot near the lake and enjoy the day as the kids paddle in the ‘beach’ or run around on the grass.

There are nearby picnic tables and toilet blocks that make it perfect for a family day out.

Grab the kids’ scooters and bikes too and tire them out as they explore the beautiful setting.

Lake views.

6 SPRING 2021

A Pied Cormorant dries its wings.

Going for a sail on the lake.

A Kayaker on Lysterfield Lake. www.KnoxMonashKids.com.au

There are picnic tables with stunning views.

Picture: Gary Sissons

There are plenty of picnic tables.

The bike trail is a good way to tire out the kids.

One of the many BBQs at the park.

An old Visitor Centre. www.KnoxMonashKids.com.au

One of the many cute native animals.

SPRING 2021 7

It’s Your Life

Teaching inner-peace comes naturally THERE is a wild creature in you that knows how to parent, writes STEVE BIDDULPH A MUM is sitting, holding her baby. She is peaceful, and the baby is gazing up at her and making little noises of pleasure. Their eyes are gazing happily at each other.

Then the mum frowns. Instantly, the baby’s face crumples and they start to whimper.

If mum doesn’t smile again quickly it will turn into full on distressed crying.

This could be anywhere in the world, but it’s actually happening in a psychology laboratory and the baby has tiny wires attached to its head don’t worry, they are only sensors taped on, like one of those meditation apps.

But what the neuroscientists are noticing from behind their one-way mirrors will knock their socks off, and echo around the world of child development research.

What they could see on their computer screens was that the baby’s brain reacted to the mother’s change of expression in a less than a hundredth of a second. It’s as if the two human beings, parent and child, were really one creature, utterly attuned.

This is the way that we now understand how the brains of small children are shaped for good mental health - not that mum never frowns, but that by that loving interaction, children getting distressed by the natural events of life many times a day, and mum or dad being close at hand and soothing them. They learn that comfort is possible

and they can ‘down regulate’ their emotions by sharing them.

is what helps children grow their mental health.

Mum is cool with it! It’s also been discovered in the adult world too that post traumatic stress after terrible events is much worse if there is nobody nearby who is caring and understanding. Being able to cry, shudder and shake, and tell our story until our brain knows it is just a story now, something that happened, in the past and not still hanging around. It was terrible, but it is over.

So we have to learn that skill and the way to do it is surprising. We have to tune in to our own body first, before we can tune in to our child. It’s as if we have a wild creature, a panther, a brown bear (or in my case probably a twitchy nervous hamster) down inside our body. If we tune into the sensations down in our body, especially the middle of our torso, literally our gut feelings, we will instantly know if we are calm or in turmoil, and begin automatically to settle down. Then and only then, can we really be with our child fully. Let me just say that again - to be with our children, we first have to be with ourselves. It takes just a few seconds, a couple of breaths, a dropping of the shoulders, and perhaps some letting go

Babies and children do not care if they live in a mansion or a tin shed. But they are acutely aware of the emotions of the people around them.

And if those are seriously and long-term stressed, then it’s very hard for children to relax, learn and grow.

Mum or dad being absolutely present

of the headlong rush that our life so easily becomes. And a step into the quiet fountain of sweetness that is the ‘now’. That’s where your child is, waiting for you to show up!

Your mind settles, and then it can settle theirs. And this really matters.

Long after you are gone, when they are living their lives far in the future, they will think of you and smile. You taught them what peace feels like.

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

Pandemic having huge impact on our youth YOUNG Australians have been more affected by the Covid-19 pandemic than any other age group, early evidence suggests.

A new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) found, that compared to older age groups, young people experienced higher rates of psychological distress, job loss, and educational disruption during the pandemic.

8 SPRING 2021

The report, Australia’s youth, brings together data about young people (aged 12–24) and their experiences of school and higher education, mental health and wellbeing, employment, living circumstances, and personal relationships.

“Adolescence and young adulthood is a critical period in a person’s life.

Young people often experience rapid

physical, social and emotional changes in a time where they are transitioning from dependence to independence,” institute spokesperson Sally Mills says.

“This is a time when young people are finishing school, pursuing further training and education, entering the workforce, moving out of the family home, and forming relationships.”

And while data suggests that some

outcomes for young people have returned to pre-Covid-19 levels, Ms Mills said this is not always the case.

“For example, in April 2021 the average level of psychological distress among young people was below what it was in April 2020, but still higher than in February 2017,” she said.

“Ongoing monitoring is needed to fully understand the longer term impact of the pandemic.” www.KnoxMonashKids.com.au

Education

Giving children the best start THE early years are critical to a child’s development and through Niño Early Learning Adventures’ unique, educational and inspirational experiences every child is provided with the best start in life.

programs, led by Bachelor Qualified teachers, take place in a long-day care setting. Complementing the programs are specialist classes, including physical education, Spanish language, yoga and music.

Niño Early Learning Adventures’ carefully curated holistic curriculum brings together flexible indoor and outdoor learning environments, nutritional education and ageappropriate enhancement programs, making its early learning pathway offerings unique.

An Infant Specialist Program at the centres, led by an in-house infant specialised practitioner, sees educators and families learn the skills required to enhance the sleep and the settling of children. Niño ELA also use a primary caregiving model in their nurseries, allowing each child to develop a nurturing relationship with a primary educator so they can develop a sense of trust, security and safety.

Underpinned by the Positive Education Framework, the curriculum gives every child the opportunity to have meaningful learning experiences that incorporate their emerging interests to help them reach their full potential.

“The focus across our centres is to help children to develop skills that strengthen their relationships, build positive emotions, enhance resilience, promote mindfulness and enjoy a healthy lifestyle,” said company manager Melinda Ackerman.

“Our mantra at Niño ELA is ‘fresh, healthy food, every day’,” said Melinda.

Every child at Niño Early Learning Adventures is provided with the best start to their education.

“At Niño ELA, we value and welcome family involvement. Through a continual awareness of your child’s needs, abilities and talents, our approach is to see children graduate from their Niño ELA experience as confident, robust and adventurous individuals,” said Melinda.

Niño Early Learning Adventures’ programs are specially designed for each developmental stage of learning.

The ‘Small Steps, Big Footprints’ program carefully nurtures children as they make the transition between infancy and toddlerhood.

The 3 and 4 year old kindergarten

A seasonal nutritionally balanced menu is developed by nutritional ambassador, Dr Lauren Burns and cooked onsite daily by chefs. The children are empowered to self-serve, allowing them to have autonomy and serve themselves, fostering socialisation, sharing and turn-taking.

Niño Early Learning Adventures has centres across Melbourne to cater for the growing communities. Enrolments are now taking place. For more information, visit ninoela.com.au

12507035-DL36-21

Working together with families, educators create individual learning programs that consider interests, physical, personal, social and emotional wellbeing as well as cognitive aspects of learning.

It goes without saying that nutrition is important.

www.KnoxMonashKids.com.au

SPRING 2021 9

Education

Our children look forward THERE is no doubt a sense of trepidation for the future of our young people as schools such as ours continue to navigate through the pandemic.

At Scoresby Secondary College, whilst we don’t know exactly what lies ahead, we are ensuring we do not become preoccupied with the events from the past eighteen months or, as John Wooden, American basketball player and coach once said, “if we fail to adapt we fail to move forward”.

Our staff recognise the impact the pandemic is having on everyone; however, we can gain so much more by supporting student engagement, learning and wellbeing through the provision of much needed routine, predictability and security; after all, if we look back too long we will miss the opportunities for our students in front of us.

We can liken this to the following analogy about driving a car.

Can you imagine trying to drive your car forward, while ONLY looking into your rear vision mirror for clarity of direction?

Not ideal, is it?

Yet we can easily build a dangerous habit of a ‘rear-view focus’ into our emotional and thought lives.

Sure, ‘reflecting back’ has its place.

It’s good to learn from and be mindful of what’s behind us; there are also so many learnings during lockdown that can create a multitude of opportunities to innovate and build upon. Our car’s rear vision mirror is small compared to our forward-looking windscreen for a good reason!

The pandemic has fundamentally changed the way we live but, how long can we expect to safely navigate

Young people are dealing with growing and ever-changing risks associated with being online.

New plan to make kids cyber smart

By Melissa Grant Looking forward at Scoresby Secondary College

the road ahead, if our focus is constantly backwards?

As Principal of our growing school community, we promote and maintain a positive mindset and as I say to the students: “Don’t ever say you can’t, you can.

You might just have to find another way to get there!”

And get there they did!

Last year 100% of graduating students who applied for tertiary courses received a placement in their field of choice. We recognise that not all students choose to proceed to tertiary studies and celebrate equally their successes in obtaining apprenticeships, traineeships, employment, and other chosen pathways.

Gail Major Executive Principal

STUDENTS will be taught about grooming by sexual predators, sexting and fake news as part of e-Safety lessons.

The e-Safety Commissioner has launched national online safety education framework for Australian schools and teachers to help make kids cyber-smart.

The framework gives primary and secondary teachers guidance on students’ rights and responsibilities in the digital age, resilience building, current and emerging risks and help-seeking.

According to the framework, online safety education should address the range online harms kids may be vulnerable to.

This includes exposure to pornography, exposure to inappropriate content such as violence and animal cruelty, receiving or sharing unwanted

contact or content, sexting, contact with strangers, online child sex abuse including grooming by predators, cyberbullying, hate speech, exposure to fake news and political radicalisation. eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said the framework has been designed to guide and assist educators to help young people deal with growing and ever-changing risks associated with being online and lead to meaningful behavioural change.

“Now, more than ever, we need to ensure that young Australians are consistently being armed with the resilience and critical reasoning skills they need to discern online fact from fiction, to effectively respond to abuse and unwanted contact and to ultimately, manage online conflict,” she said.

For more information, visit https://www.esafety.gov.au/ educators/best-practice-framework

Scoresby Secondary College

Focusing on being WELL! ST. Jude’s School prioritises wellbeing.

They have even set up a classroom that they call The Well!

The Well is open before school, during play times and after school.

It is a place where adults and children can come to simply ‘Be Well’ by enjoying: their favourite activities, by socialising, by catching up with a friend or even speaking to one of The Well staff about how to improve mental health and wellbeing.

Why call this awesome place of fun and friendship ‘The Well’?

The Well is a symbol for community.

In ancient times a well was both symbolically, and often literally, located at the center of the community. From the Well, the community drew water, the basic sustenance for life.

Metaphorically, a well represented all 10 SPRING 2021

the social resources of the community that were necessary to endure and thrive. If the well fell into disrepair, if the life giving water was polluted or diminished in quantity, the community suffered.

Wellbeing is both practice and perception; action and awareness. It is a state of being well in body, mind and spirit.

At St. Jude’s they focus on deeply understanding the concept of ‘human dignity’ – this work brings us into kind and generous relationships with each other. Their school motto is ‘Serve the Lord with Joy’, also know as ‘Be Your Best Self’.

They are very proud of their commitment to wellbeing – if you would like to visit their school and see ‘The Well’ in action, simply contact the school office.

Focusing on wellbeing. www.KnoxMonashKids.com.au

Enrolments available for 2022 - 2023 Visit our website for a digital tour: www.sjscoresby.catholic.edu.au

EXCELLENT ACADEMIC OUTCOMES! OUTSTANDING WELLBEING PROGRAMS! “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl.

Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light“ Luke 11:33 St. Jude’s School is a welcoming community built on the foundations of a strong Catholic Parish. We welcome all families, Catholic and non-catholic. We celebrate diversity and offer outstanding educational programs and extracurricular opportunities. Our students enjoy a large school site, with generous playgrounds and facilities.

At St. Jude’s we believe in developing children with a strong sense of self-worth. We know that small positive actions matter every day - a welcoming smile, an understanding nod, a listening ear, a word of encouragement. Our students know we care and in turn care about themselves, each other and their learning.

We help every child shine brightly!

Our quality teachers, terrific academic results, enthusiastic student and parent engagement, all reflect a vibrant learning community.

School tours available - enquire now

Tim McMullen - Principal 53 George St, Scoresby VIC 3179 E: office@sjscoresby.catholic.edu.au www.KnoxMonashKids.com.au

SPRING 2021 11

12510109-AV38-21

P: 8761 9600

Education

Come and see Holy Saviour in action

‘Back to 1995’ at Holy Trinity School

ON behalf of the school community, I extend to you a warm welcome and sincerely hope that your association with Holy Saviour will be both happy and rewarding for you and your child. I invite you to come and see us in action, to gain an insight into the unique relationships that we share with our delightful children and their families.

Holy Saviour is a welcoming community in which all aspects of a child’s development are catered for, in partnership with parents and the broader community. Holy Saviour has a reputation for its focus on student wellbeing, strong academic results and being a spirit filled, vibrant and welcoming school community.

ANY school can teach a curriculum.

Amazing schools like Holy Trinity Primary School in Wantirna South is full of teachers actively and passionately exploring the possibilities of making their teaching practice more innovative, e, engaging and fun at every turn. This is the single ingredient that drives the most growth in their students.

The success they attain is not only evidenced by the assessment data – but it’s seen through the smiles and joy seen on students’ faces as a conceptt is grasped.

Holy Trinity commenced in 1985 and celebrated its 10th birthday by burying a time capsule. Twenty-six years on and the school is all set to dig up the time capsule with a ‘Back to 1995’ celebration. Past students and staff are invited to join the school community in this event on Sunday, 17 October, 2021, from 12pm – 2.30pm. There will be school tours, food stalls and live entertainment. A new time capsule,

It’s time to dig deep.......

The Holy Trinity school community is ready to dig up a time capsule.

representing the current staff and students will also be buried during the event.

Everyone is awaiting with anticipation to see what will be discovered from 1995!

engage parents as partners in the educational journey of their children.

Parents help to illuminate our knowledge of students in a way that helps us to reimagine the way schools and families can work together to achieve the best possible outcomes for all.

Our personalised approach to learning and the provision of contemporary learning spaces, enables all our students to flourish personally, academically and spiritually. Holy Saviour celebrates individual difference and believes that all students are capable of achieving positive growth in all areas of learning. In 2022, we are introducing our BOOST Program – an intervention and enrichment program for all our students.

Holy Saviour’s students are proud, capable and have a strong sense of social justice but more importantly, they are kind people ready to make a positive contribution to the world around them.

I warmly invite you to arrange an appointment to visit us.

Steve Evans

When a child enrols at Holy Saviour, so does the whole family! The students are always at the centre of all we do and we actively seek to

For more information visit the Holy Trinity Facebook Page.

Principal principal@hsvs.catholic.edu.au 9803 6828

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We know that kinder was again disrupted in 2021 so our Foundation Team is ready to meet the SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL and ACADEMIC needs of ALL students and 'fill the gaps' left by an interrupted kinder year.

Contact the school office on 9803 6828 to arrange a tour or to find out more.

Holy Saviour - A school where everyone is welcome!

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12 SPRING 2021

www.KnoxMonashKids.com.au

Health

Trying to parent while you’re sick can be an absolute nightmare.

Tips for parenting when sick

By Melissa Grant

Here are Edwina’s top tips to help you survive parenting while sick:

THERE’S nothing fun about being sick.

But feeling under the weather when you are a parent is the stuff nightmares are made of, especially if the kids are at home all day.

Do Less: Practice the same compassion for yourself as you would for others. There is no shame in slowing down and resting.

All you want to do is crawl back into bed. Meanwhile, all your kids want to do is run around, make a lot of mess and eat snacks.

Ask for help: Although it isn’t always possible, asking for help from a loved one or a childminder is a great way to ensure you have enough time to rest.

Sadly you can’t take a sick day (wouldn’t that be amazing). So how are you going to survive until you are feeling better?

Self-care: Whether it’s finding time for a bath or getting outside for some Vitamin D, making time for yourself and listening to what your body needs is really important.

There are things you can do to help ease the load even if you can’t get a babysitter, according to midwife and Philips Avent ambassador Edwina Sharrock.

Easy meals: Whether it’s ordering groceries to be delivered, getting takeaway or having eggs on toast for dinner, as long as the kids are fed and happy, that’s all that matters.

“Unfortunately, calling in sick isn’t an option when you are a parent,” she said.

Cancel plans: From after school swimming lessons to gymnastics, we’re always running around after our kids however prioritising your health is far more important. Cancelling plans every once in a while so that you can properly rest won’t harm your child’s development.

“We often pressure ourselves to constantly be on the go and to be the best version of ourselves for our kids.

“But, it’s important to take care of ourselves.”

Movie day: Everyone has different rules on screen time, however popping on a movie so you can relax on the couch when you’re sick is nothing to feel guilty about.

and organise for someone to look after your children.”

Telehealth: Getting out of the house to go to the doctor can be tough when you have kids to care for. Fortunately, there is a variety of medical services now easily available online through Telehealth.

“Your baby won’t catch most common illnesses like colds, flu, stomach bugs, fever and mastitis through breastmilk. In fact, it contains protective antibodies,” she said.

The last thing you want to do while you are feeling like death warmed up is to pass on your illness to your children or partner.

Edwina says the best way to prevent your illness spreading is to practice good hygiene by regularly washing your hands and coughing/sneezing into tissues or on your elbow. It’s also a good idea to educate your kids.

“Teaching your children good hygiene practices and explaining why they are important is an essential part of keeping your whole family healthy and well,” Edwina said.

“If you are really unwell, quarantine yourself in a separate room of the house

If you’re breastfeeding, Edwina said it is generally safe to keep doing so when you’re sick.

However, she said that breastfeeding while sick can be tiring so it is a good idea to get extra help to allow time to rest after feeding. It’s also important to stay hydrated.

“Even if you can’t stomach much food, your body will continue to supply milk if you are keeping up your fluids.”

Edwina also recommended using a breast pump so you can express in advance and let someone else take the night feeding shift.

“Even if you’re really unwell and cannot manage to breastfeed your baby, your body will still be producing milk so breast pumping is a great way to manage your milk supply in the meantime,” she added.

Researchers probe role of genetics in SIDS GENETICS could hold the key to preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Researchers are investigating the role of genetics in the devastating condition, which claims the lives of around 100 babies in Australia each year.

A state-of-the-art ‘genetic biobank’ has been developed by researchers at the University of South Australia.

The biobank comprises DNA from 25 babies who have died from SIDS in South Australia.

SIDS is the sudden, unexpected, and unexplained death of an apparently well baby, despite clinical www.KnoxMonashKids.com.au

investigations, including autopsy.

The genetic biobank is the only of its kind in the southern hemisphere and one of only a few that exist in the world.

It was supported by funding from River’s Gift, an organisation established

by Geelong couple Karl Waddell and Alex Hamilton following the death of their 4-month-old baby, River, to SIDS in 2011.

River’s Gift evolved from a pledge to Stamp Out SIDS and ensure that no other parent would endure the pain and suffering of the unexpected and unexplained loss of their child.

Molecular biologist and Head of

genetics at the Australian Centre for Precision Health, UniSA’s Professor Leanne Dibbens, says the biobank will provide unprecedented opportunities to examine genetic factors that have contributed to SIDS. “Within Australia and internationally, research into SIDS is not as active as it once was,” Prof Dibbens says.

“This is mainly due to successful education campaigns such as ‘safe sleeping’ of infants, which has significantly reduced the incidence of SIDS. Yet, every year in Australia, about 100 babies still die from SIDS and we don’t know why.”

Prof Dibbens said the genetic biobank

would allow researchers to analyse DNA from SIDS babies to look for genetic causes of the condition.

“By finding these, we will be able to test babies at birth to identify those who are at risk, with these babies being closely monitored in their first year of life,” she explained.

The groundbreaking research will also help identify mechanisms involved in causing death from SIDS so that future work can stop SIDS from occurring.

“Every baby’s life is precious. This research will help protect all babies and families from suffering the heartache of SIDS,” Prof Dibbens said.

SPRING 2021 13

Recipes

Creating a love of cooking

By Melissa Grant

snacks for kids, Well Fed Kitchen.

TEACHING your children to cook can serve up many benefits.

In her practice, she gives parents advice on a range of food-related issues, including fussy eating, reflux, constipation, eczema, allergies, and mood and behavioural issues.

It gets them tasting different foods, teaches them how to follow directions and even helps with their maths.

Most importantly, it helps set them up for a healthy future and positive life-long relationship with food.

That’s why we’re excited to welcome paediatric nutritionist Lucy Stewart as our new expert contributor.

Each edition, Lucy’s Kids in the Kitchen column will bring you a simple and nutritious recipe that you can cook in the kitchen with your children.

“It will be nourishing for them, they can help make it in the kitchen and we will always try to squeeze in extra veggies where we can,” Lucy said.

Lucy lives with her husband Matt and son Otis, 5. She also shares her time with step-daughters Faith, 15, and Daisy, 12.

This edition, Lucy shares a kidfriendly recipe for pumpkin maple bread. We hope you enjoy cooking it!

“It made me realise how critical it was to set up our children for life by eating the right food.

Pumpkin contains vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that help keep the immune system strong, and the eyes, heart and skin healthy. Pumpkin seeds are also a rich source of zinc that’s essential for growth, wound healing, immune function and perception of

taste (low zinc can contribute to fussy eating).

It’s an easy recipe to make with the kids - just a bit of whisking, sifting and stirring, pop it in the oven and, in about an hour, you’ll have a house smelling of fragrant spices and a delicious bread to enjoy for afternoon tea. There are options in the recipe to make it gluten and dairy free too, if you wish.

She advises parents to get their children involved in cooking family meals by writing shopping lists, going to the supermarket, washing and chopping vegetables and helping in the kitchen.

Lucy currently works as a clinical nutritionist, as a recipe developer and has just launched a range of nourishing

“When I was pregnant with my son I was learning about the importance of the first 1000 days of life.

IF your kids love banana bread, they’ll love this spiced pumpkin and maple bread.

One of the greatest things you can teach your children, Lucy says, is the ability to cook so they don’t rely on convenience and takeaway foods when they are older.

“I knew that was the direction I wanted to take my practice in - babies and kids nutrition.”

“I came from a 15-year career in TV PR (public relations). I’ve always loved food, I’ve always cooked,” she explained.

Spiced pumpkin and maple bread

“It affects our kids’ sleep, their learning and their behaviour, it affects everything,” she said.

“Kids who have invested their time in something are much more likely to try and eat it. It will be messy, yes, but you will be surprised that a child who is happy to chop up the capsicum will eat it at the table.

“You also need to set a good example - you can’t expect your child to eat well if you don’t.”

Another important thing is to cook easy recipes.

“I love cooking really simple food,” she said.

“When you have kids, dinner at the end of the day has to be quick, it has to be easy. It has to be really simple, nourishing food that the whole family is going to eat.”

Her career in nutrition began in 2015 when she was pregnant with Otis.

Our new expert contributor Lucy Stewart.

Diet, she says, has a huge impact on our children’s health and wellbeing, both now and in the future.

Directions ■ Preheat oven at 165C and line and grease a loaf tin

i th in the kitchen with Lucy Stewart

Makes: 1 loaf Prep time: 15-minutes Cook time: 1 hour Ingredients ■ 1 cup mashed pumpkin ■ 2 free range eggs, at room temperature ■ 1 ¾ cups gluten free or wholemeal flour ■ 1/3 cup pure maple syrup ■ 1/3 cup coconut oil or butter, melted ■ ¼ plant-based mylk or milk of choice ■ 1 tsp ground cinnamon ■ ½ tsp ground ginger ■ ¼ tsp ground nutmeg ■ ¼ tsp ground cloves

■ In a large bowl, whisk together the coconut oil and pure maple syrup ■ Add the eggs and whisk until combined ■ Add mashed pumpkin, mylk, spices, baking soda, vanilla and salt, and whisk to combine ■ Sift in the flour, and using a wooden spoon, mix until just combined ■ Gently fold in chopped dates ■ Pour the batter into your greased loaf tin and sprinkle pumpkin seeds over the top ■ Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean ■ Allow the bread cool in the loaf tin for 10 minutes, then gently transfer to rack to cool for 20 minutes before slicing ■ Enjoy warm, with butter and a drizzle of honey. Individual slices can be stored in the freezer and reheated in the toaster

■ 1 tsp baking soda ■ 1 tsp pure vanilla extract ■ ½ tsp sea salt Lucy Stewart and her son Otis cooking the spiced pumpkin and maple bread together.

Picture: Studio 74 Photography 14 SPRING 2021

■ 6 pitted Medjool dates, chopped ■ ¼ cup pumpkin seeds, to decorate

Lucy Stewart is a mum who is nutritionist specialising in babies and kids health, and a recipe developer.

You can find more of her recipes at https://lucystewartnutrition.com www.KnoxMonashKids.com.au

Reality Bites

Why birth order matters

By Melissa Grant

just two children.

PARENTS often struggle to work out why their children are completely different.

Grose said the Prince Harry Effect is stronger when both children are the same gender.

He described Harry and older brother William as the ‘poster kids’ for the first-born and later-born positions.

They may have one child who is outgoing and playful, and another who is uptight and anxious. This is despite the children belonging to the same gene pool and being raised in the same environment.

The reason for these stark differences is birth order, according to leading parenting and education writer Michael Grose.

He believes that in this era of small, planned families that birth order is more relevant than ever.

To better understand the power of birth order, Grose has written a timely update to his bestselling book titled Why First-borns Rule the World and Laterborns Want to Change it.

The size of families has changed since the original book was published in 2003.

Twenty years ago, the mean number of children in a family was three. That number is now two.

“Nothing has changed about birth order but the context has changed,” Grose explained.

“Around 60 per cent of families with kids under 15 are two kid families.”

The biggest impact of shrinking families has been the disappearance of the middle child. Traditionally there have been three birth order positions.

When Grose wrote the first edition the second child was often the middle child, but now they are often the youngest.

“There’s a fair bit of cynicism.

However, my point is that birth order is not just a neat set of numbers, it’s more a pattern,” Grose told Kids Today.

“Once you start to understand the rules, it starts to make sense in a family.

www.KnoxMonashKids.com.au

“William is your typical first-born.

First-borns are the family conservatives... they are the rule makers and the rule followers.

Prince William is your typical first-born, according to birth order expert Michael Grose.

Prince Harry is a second child who is also the youngest at a time when families tend to consist of just two children.

I like to call it a family constellation.

studies on birth order on a range of families, and each member’s likely personality and disposition.

“It’s often something parents don’t take enough notice of.

“It explains why kids often fight, why they compete and why two children with the same parents, same gene pool, two years apart - why they can be chalk and cheese.

“It’s about finding their niche.”

First-borns tend to be goal-setters, high achievers, perfectionists, responsible, rule keepers, determined, conscientious and detail people.

Second and middle children tend to be flexible, diplomatic, peacemakers, free spirits, generous, open-minded, sociable and competitive.

Youngest children are often risk takers, persistent, outgoing, charmers, ideas people, creative and challengers of authority.

There are variables that can impact birth order position within a family, including age gaps between children, genders and cultural expectations.

In some families, children may ‘leapfrog’ an older sibling to climb up the birth order chain.

In his book, Grose analyses the latest

The updated edition features new information including the demise of the middle child, the Prince Harry effect and the problem with first-borns.

THE DEMISE OF THE MIDDLE CHILD With most families consisting of two children, the amount of middle children has declined.

This has impacted the birth order positions.

Traditionally there have been three birth order positions - the first-born, middle child and youngest child. The second-born child was often the middle child.

However, now the second-born child is often the youngest.

Grose writes that later-borns have a tendency to borrow personality traits from the second, middle and youngest positions.

THE PRINCE HARRY EFFECT Prince Harry is a prime example of a modern birth order position. He’s a second child who is also the youngest at a time when families tend to consist of

“Then you have the second one. The second kids will be what the first one isn’t. You can’t have two responsible kids in the family, you can’t have two academic stars.”

He adds that younger kids don’t follow the rules in the family.

“Harry has broken all the rules, gotten married outside the typical family sphere,” he said.

THE PROBLEM WITH FIRST BORNS Every family, regardless of size, has a first-born.

So given that family sizes are shrinking, there are many more first-borns than middle and youngest children.

Grose said this has implications.

For example, there are more perfectionist kids in classrooms than ever before. There are also more anxious children as first-borns live with greater anxiety-inducing parental pressure and have a propensity for perfectionism.

There are also more only children who, Grose says, tend to have first-born characteristics that are exaggerated because they’ve never been ‘dethroned’ by a younger sibling.

Why First-borns Rule the World and Later-borns Want to Change It, Michael Grose, Penguin Life, RRP $34.99

SPRING 2021 15

Reality Bites

Amanda’s Instagram page, Bargain Boss, has over 14,000 followers.

Pictures: Stewart Chambers

Levi and Alyssa with their pooch Eva.

Mum is the boss of bargains

By Melissa Grant

Amanda would often go into work on a Monday and show off the bargains she had purchased over the weekend.

MOST mums love a bargain.

“They (colleagues) would always be amazed at how far I had gone for a bargain,” the former Consumer Affairs Victoria employee said.

Perhaps none more so than Melbourne mother-of-two Amanda, the creator of popular Instagram page Bargain Boss.

The page has amassed more than 14,000 followers in a little over two years.

Over the years, Amanda’s friends told her she should share her money saving tips with the world.

With money saving tips, side hustle ideas and bargain finds, there is plenty of useful and inspiring information for anyone looking to save some cash.

At the time, she had the idea starting a social media page but didn’t think it would get off the ground.

It was actually a trip to Fountain Gate with her son that prompted Amanda to get cracking on her own page.

Amanda’s love of Disney is peppered through the content, and there are also appearances from her two children Alyssa, 8, and Levi, 5 as well as their dog Eva, and their two recently adopted kittens.

“Krispy Kreme were celebrating National Doughnut Day by giving away free doughnuts… I took a picture of Levi eating his doughnut and I thought this is starting today.”

Bargain hunting has long been a passion for Amanda. Saving money has always been a priority and, at times, a necessity for her family.

Amanda and her husband, Steve, bought their first home in their early 20s after scrimping together a deposit, which involved a challenge to spend just $10 on work lunches for the week.

Shortly after buying their first home, Steve tore his ACL at soccer and was unable to work.

Amanda said they were unable to

BARGAIN BOSS TIPS SIDE HUSTLES Amanda says it’s not that hard to bring in a few hundred dollars extra each month from side hustles. “Even something simple like selling your kids’ old clothes can make a lot of money if done correctly,” she said. Amanda has already reached her goal of making $10,000 through side hustles this year.

LOYALTY PROGRAMS Amanda says a lot of money can be saved using loyalty programs and is amazed by how many people don’t have a Woolworths Rewards and Flybuys cards.

Recently, she cashed in $270 worth of Flybuys points which she used at Kmart to buy items for her kittens. The keys, she said, are to boost all the offers sent to you and not remain loyal to a specific grocery store. “Shop at whoever has the best sales and loyalty offers for that week.”

16 SPRING 2021

Afterwards, she went to Coles and took photos of their marked down bulk buys products.

Amanda with some of her bargain buys.

access any Centrelink payments.

“We needed to come up with ways to save,” she explained.

“That’s where my love of bargains kind of kicked in.”

PANTRY CHALLENGE Once every few months, Amanda tries to use everything possible in her pantry and just shop for essentials that week. The money she would usually spend on groceries is put aside.

SUPERMARKET MARKDOWNS Amanda says shopping around 6.30pm-7pm at Woolworths and Coles will get you the “best markdowns”. She often buys meat marked down to 50 per cent or less, and puts it in the spare freezer as soon as she gets home.

It also pays to know what stores do what markdowns.

“I know one store where I can get marked down bread. One store does cheese - that’s where I go if I feel like a cheese platter.”

Recently she bought a $35 bunch of flowers marked down to $2.50 and packs of bagels for 10 cents from Coles.

When she got home, she put Levi down for a nap, made a logo and created an Instagram account.

“I shared it on Facebook - some family and friends followed. I hit 100 followers, and I celebrated that milestone with a glass of bubbly. I never thought it would take off the way it has.”

GROCERY GUARANTEES Amanda says Woolworths, Coles and Aldi will refund the purchase price on their own branded items that customers aren’t happy with (the guarantee doesn’t apply to other brands). “Stores ask for the item, or what’s left of it, to be returned or in some cases the packaging will do, for example if it’s been cooked.” She says Woolworths has a Fresh or Free guarantee where they will replace ‘fresh food’ you’re not happy with.

SCANNING POLICIES Familiarise yourself with scanning policies at your supermarket and check your receipts.

“Basically, if an item scans higher than the advertised or shelf price you can get that item free, but there are some exclusions and terms and conditions,” Amanda said. Scanning policies are for specific supermarkets, not all stores, she added.

The Bargain Boss Instagram account has been going for just over two years.

Amanda spends endless hours creating content and responding to comments and messages.

“I enjoy chatting to people. When people send me a message I always reply. I’m often up until midnight just making sure I’ve responded. The content takes time as I want it to be perfect.”

She has also enjoyed some collaborations with businesses - but has turned some down.

“My biggest thing about my page is keeping it as authentic as possible. It takes a lot of work to build a following and trust and it can be taken away very easily.”

She said the best thing has been the connections made through her page.

“I’ve made some really amazing friendships through it,” she said.

She also enjoys hearing about the way her followers have saved money, although some admit to spending on things they shouldn’t have.

“It is a bargain page but it’s only a bargain if it’s something you are going to use!”

You can follow Amanda on Instagram at @bargain.boss

USE GOOGLE When you are out shopping, grab your phone and Google what you intend to purchase.

Many stores are happy to price match. “It’s saved me hundreds of dollars,” Amanda said.

PHONE AROUND If you have your eye on a certain item, it pays to phone around places that stock it. Amanda says she will often call electronics stores multiple times to make sure she gets the best price.

UTILISE COMMUNITY INITIATIVES Join your neighbourhood page on Facebook and look out for community gardens.

Amanda uses the community garden in her estate for herbs. People are often willing to swap items on neighbourhood Facebook pages, she added. www.KnoxMonashKids.com.au

Reality Bites

‘The not so perfect mum’ Anna with children Rachel, 18 months, Dominic, 5, and Reuben, 3.

Pictures: Rob Carew

Anna with baby Rachel and some sensory learning boxes.

The not so perfect mum

By Melissa Meehan

“It was hilarious. We couldn’t believe it.”

ANNA Du Rieu is not your average influencer.

The Melbourne mum of three actually tells it how it is and gives a warts and all view into the world of parenting.

“I run a blog, obviously, that is an honest parenting blog, and it shows my everyday life,” she told Kids Today.

“It’s none of these organised messfree, clean floors kind of gig, it’s the mayhem of every day, which I think is why I have such a following, because it is so brutally honest.”

The self-proclaimed “hot mess” uses her aptly named Instagram page @ thenotsoperfectmum, to share her experiences with her almost 60,000 followers.

She’s got followers from all around Australia, but the majority are from Victoria.

Anna is a typical modern-age stay at home mum, she works from home and looks after her three kids, Dominic, 5, Reuben, 3, and eight-month-old Rachel.

She runs a business creating sensory kits for kids, which she started two years ago after posting some of the activities she was doing with her own kids online.

“Everyone used to ask what I was doing, where I saw stuff from, and then a few people were asking me to make them for them and I said, ‘absolutely I can make them for you’,” she said.

“And I realised there was a business there - there was nothing similar on the market at that time here or overseas.”

She and her husband Joseph even joked that she might get 10 orders a month and she could just buy a little extra when she made stuff for her own kids.

They assumed it would be a hobby.

She set up the website and shared the post on her Instagram.

“It went nuts, like actually gangbusters from the moment we launched. Within 15 minutes of me launching the post on Instagram I had 17 subscription models already purchased,” she said. www.KnoxMonashKids.com.au

And it hasn’t stopped since.

It’s a lot of work, especially juggling three kids.

And, thanks to Covid-19 (and Anna’s propensity to be a bit of a control freak) she no longer can rely on staff.

On the flip side, Covid-19 resulting in a huge increase in sales.

“Every time Australia got locked down, it was just madness. I can’t remember the exact figures, Joseph said it was something like four or five times what I would usually get in a month in a day,” she said.

“People were locked in their houses and needed something to stimulate the kids.”

While she worked in real estate before having kids, Anna has no real teaching background but was able to bounce her ideas off her best friend (who is a teacher) as well as pick the brains of family members.

“My step mum was a teacher, my mum, my mother-in-law, and my Auntie, are both heavily involved in child education,” she said.

“My grandmother and my Nana actually brought in the Montessori School in South Australia.

“And the Montessori school logo that’s my brother’s hands.”

She plans to go back and do some further study as her passion grows.

But it hasn’t been an easy ride.

“I was working until like three or 4am in the morning and then the kids would wake up at six,” she said.

“Joseph would ask what time I came to bed and I wouldn’t have.”

But she has worked at finding a better balance.

“It was really overwhelming but it was also, for me, having been a mum and going from a pretty corporate position where I was organising people’s lives. I was used to always been busy so I kind of missed that, and really stimulated me and I actually found that I became a better mum because I had a distraction from cleaning nappies and

Parents Anna and Joseph with children Dominic, 5, Rachel, 18 months and Reuben, 3.

doing the dishwasher,” she said.

“I had my own thing and I could work from home and it just worked. It’s definitely not for everyone because it’s, it’s a lot like you don’t sleep and your house is always full of stock.”

And that’s all part of her charm.

Anna’s followers can resonate with the fact that her house isn’t always clean, that she’s exhausted and trying to balance a billion things - just like most other mums.

It’s quite the departure from your more well-known mummy bloggers - and it’s on purpose.

“If you’re a first time mum, it’s quite isolating actually seeing all these people like absolutely killing it and having babies and sleep, and all that stuff,” she said.

page solely to balance the negative and fake things out there.

And that’s where the name @ thenotsoperfect mum came from.

She started with a small following, but it soon grew into something much bigger.

At the start she shared everything, but as it grew she became more mindful of her influence and other people’s headspace.

“I try not to let that stuff impact what I’m sharing but say for example, you know, like I’m really careful about not sharing any of the kids in like a private environment so like I would never show them with no clothes on, or if it’s an intimate moment like they’re having a breakdown or something like that,” she said.

“He used to not sleep longer than 40 minutes for the first hour. I think it was like 10 months of his life. It was horrible.”

“I need to respect my children’s boundaries and their life, and I would hate for them to turn around when they’re 15 and be like, why the hell did you show that.”

She took him to sleep school and found it traumatic.

It also opens her up to others providing commentary on her life.

“I read a post by quite a well-known media person who had pretty much said that if you went to sleep school you were a s#!@ mum,” Anna said.

Some accuse her of favouring her youngest, Rachel, although as the boys get older Anna is making a conscious effort not to have the camera constantly in their faces.

“I actually started my account, because Dominic was the worst sleeper.

“So I commented, I really like following this account but I don’t think its fair to say that someone is a crap mum because they want their kids to sleep - sleep deprivation is actually a form of torture.

“I thought I was super chill, very measured - but she and her minions came after me and I thought this isn’t fair.”

So Anna started her own Instagram

“Next year when Dom goes to school, he’ll go off the blog, even more because I need to respect that I don’t want people knowing where he goes to school,” she said.

“I try not to let those comments change my content because if what I’m posting isn’t authentic then people pick up on it straight away.

“It’s my life and it can be messy.”

SPRING 2021 17

Reality Bites

Inside Olivia’s House of White Motherhood and lifestyle blogger OLIVIA WHITE is honest, daring and ambitious. She’s experienced and achieved incredible things since starting her popular blog House of White. The Victorian mother-of-two has amassed more than 150,000 followers on Instagram where she shares the raw and sometimes unglamorous realities of parenting. Here, Kids Today editor MELISSA GRANT speaks to the digital creator about birthing, her journey on social media and what she’s learned about motherhood.

Olivia White with her daughters Annabelle and Theodora.

First things first, how did House of White start?

I started it not long after I had Annabelle. My background was in PR (public relations). I had previously worked for Racing Victoria - I ran their fashion blog for fashions on the field and stuff like that. And I’ve always been a keen photographer. So I sort of decided I would start something while I was on maternity leave, with no real intention of it being anything. It was a blog before it was an Instagram. It naturally progressed and grew from there.

You have two beautiful girls, Annabelle (7) and Theodora (5). Tell us about their births.

They were two very different birth experiences. Annabelle was an emergency cesarean. I went in to be induced on her due date because I was starting to get what’s called PUPPPS my skin started to get really hot and itchy. I was in the public system - the care that they had at the time was pro-natural birth. I went in on a Friday night to be induced. I had the gel. I started getting contractions but nothing too much. They applied the gel again on Saturday morning. And again on Saturday evening. So the whole time I was labouring. On Sunday morning it still hadn’t really progressed, so they decided to break my waters and put me on the drip. They usually say that when you have the drip it will be a maximum of a few hours. But at 10 o’clock that night I was still on the drip.

I had an epidural, thankfully because they were really intense contractions.

In the space of about 12 hours of being on the drip, I had only progressed to like 4cm. So then they made the decision to do a cesarean. In the space of about 10 minutes from them deciding they were going to do that to actually getting wheeled down there, her heart rate dropped. They didn’t even have time to give me a spinal (block) - they just topped up the epidural. It was all a blur because I had been in labour for three days. It would have been maybe five minutes before midnight that I had her. She was so high and so stuck that I remember the anesthetist coming over the top of me and having to actually push down to get her out. She had already started 18 SPRING 2021

screaming before they got her out.

After that it was all such a blur … I was so exhausted. They took her to the special care nursery because I couldn’t stay awake. I pretty much lost consciousness. Then the next day I was demanding to leave - I didn’t want to be in a hospital anymore. Overall that experience definitely wasn’t what I expected. I think because they allowed me to go for so long, it was a really long recovery as well which sucked because I felt I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t hold her. I couldn’t have those moments because I was so exhausted emotionally, physically.

But then when I had Ted (Theodora), I put my foot down - I wasn’t prepared to go through that again. I elected to have a planned cesarean. I pretty much went in at 8 o’clock and had a baby by 8.15. It was a much better experience, it was much better for my recovery. It was much better for my mental health.

After you had Teddy, you posted a picture of your raw c-section scar. Why did you think it was important to post that picture?

It was probably about a year later that I posted it. It was a photo I took to send to a girlfriend. Most of my friends don’t have kids and the girlfriend who I sent it to didn’t. I sent it to show her that it (c-section) isn’t the easy way out. Even when it is a planned cesarean you still can’t get up and walk for at least 12 hours or until the next day. You’ve basically had layers and layers of flesh, muscle and organs moved out of the way. I think because I elected to have the caesar that second time, I did cop a bit of judgment. And subsequently having a profile on social media you always get those questions - do you regret not trying to have a vaginal birth? How do you feel that you’ve never birthed a baby properly, was something that was said to me. I was like, well there’s not really a proper way. It was a way to connect with those people who have experienced the same thing. It’s not necessarily easier.

You share some incredibly raw moments of your life. How important is it to be honest on Instagram, a medium

Pictures: Sarah Harris Photography

where it’s easy to fake perfection?

I definitely think that in the space that I’m in, and obviously having respect for the audience that I have, which is largely women and mums, is that we already have so many pressures that we put on ourselves, that society puts on us, expectations and all that stuff. It is an effort to fake perfection, to act like everything is fine when it’s not. I’ve always shown the raw side of life, even sharing my recent surgery, including the actual procedure. And I wanted to give a real-time experience to my audience, and not just the highlight reel.

You have done some pretty cool posts and you’ve had some good partnerships over time. You’ve done posts on Disney, 6ft6 Wine and Woolworths - it must be a lot of fun doing that?

I count my blessings everyday that I have been able to turn something that was essentially a hobby and a means to help me with my own mental health into a full-time job that allows me to be at home with my kids, provide income for my family and, on top of that - the cherry on the cake - is that we have these amazing opportunities that are real once in a lifetime sorts of things that a lot of people wouldn’t get the opportunity to do. I grew up with a single mum and even though we didn’t have much money, I never knew or felt like that because we had such a rich life growing up, rich full of experience. We travelled - it wasn’t always international, it could have been just a couple of kilometres down the road, but I feel my mum did whatever she could to create opportunity and experience.

And I feel that’s exactly what I’m doing now for my own children.

Your husband Jeremy is featured in quite a few of your posts. How did you meet?

We’ve been together for 16 years, nearly 17 years now. We actually met when I was underage and had a fake ID, getting into a nightclub at 3 o’clock in the morning on King Street. It’s definitely one to tell the grandkids! I definitely did not tell my mum that for like 10 years!

Motherhood is a fun and challenging journey. What have you learned so far?

As time goes on, when you are in the thick of it with babies and newborns and

Olivia with her girls Annabelle and Theodora.

all of that haze that comes with it, people say to you ‘enjoy these moments, they go past before you know it in a blink of an eye, don’t wish it away’. I’m like ‘please shut up!’ But now I am that mum.

Now Annabelle and Teddy are in school I’m the one telling everyone ‘it goes past so quickly, in the blink of an eye they’re not babies anymore’. The one thing I’ve learnt is that no one knows - nobody has all the answers. You can buy all the books, read all the blogs, and follow all the people on Instagram, but there will never be two alike journeys. So while I think it’s fantastic that more people are becoming more honest and sharing online, and showing the realities of real motherhood, you still have to take everything with a grain of salt and understand that no one else that no one else’s experiences or journeys are going to be collectively the same as yours. You just need to be a lot easier on yourself and have that understanding that what’s happening to you isn’t the same thing that’s happening to someone else, or how you feel or react to something isn’t going to be the same as someone else does. Just as all children are different, we learn differently, grow differently.

That’s the understanding that I finally came to one day - the switch kind of flicked for me.

Check out Olivia on Instagram @ houseofwhite_ and online at https:// houseofwhite.com.au www.KnoxMonashKids.com.au

Books

A wild way to read

By Melissa Grant IF your child is obsessed with animals, then the new interactive book by Australian zoologist and TV presenter Chris Humfrey is a must-have.

Dubbed as Australia’s own Doctor Dolittle, Chris is a leading expert on native creatures big and small.

His book, Awesome Australian Animals, offers amazing insights into a number of species through quirky facts (such as koalas poop 200 times a day) and QR codes linking to fun educational videos.

Small children will love the wealth of exciting and funny photos, primary school kids can read at their own pace, and older children can dive into deeper levels of intriguing detail.

Profiled animals include the koala, lace monitor, giant burrowing cockroach, saltwater crocodile, shingleback and jungle carpet python.

Awesome Australian Animals is the latest venture from the lifelong conservationist and animal welfare crusader.

Chris has an animal sanctuary, Wild Action Zoo, in the Macedon Ranges, which houses many rare native species including penguins, tiger quolls, snakes and even blue-ringed octopus.

He lives in a house designed for people and animals, which he describes as “unusual”.

blue-tongued lizard to give birth. I watched the whole process, it was awesome!”

“Currently, I have two joey kangaroos sleeping on my couch, two parrots walking over my laptop, 55 critically endangered mountain pygmy possums in my laundry/wine cellar, two black-headed pythons on the lounge room floor, two sheep sitting on the back veranda, two possums in the garage, an Eastern quoll and a koala and an owl in the garage. It’s bedlam!” he said.

Amazingly, Chris still has some animal friends from his childhood, including Freddo the green tree frog which he found sticking to a urinal at a public toilet block.

Chris’s passion for animals big and small stems from his childhood. He grew up in the foothills of Mount Dandenong, with his family’s backyard bordering onto the bush.

“I spent most of my youth jumping the backyard fence and exploring and interacting with local wildlife,” he said.

“I would spend the day chasing lizards, snakes, and frogs and only came home for dinner. I had hundreds of pets with which I lovingly shared my life.

“My mum helped me rescue and rehabilitate possums and injured birds and my dad built me a purpose-built insulated reptile house.

“I vividly remember sleeping outside in the reptile shed, waiting for my

Chris is “super pumped” about his new book, which took him almost a year to put together. He had to write the text, film the clips and take the photos.

Chris Humfrey loves all creatures big and small.

Chris believes kids are the key to saving Australia’s precious wildlife and, through his book, aims to empower a young army of animal allies.

“We must teach children the importance of protecting all creatures, not just their favourites,” he said.

“I hope that my enthusiasm and passion for all things wild is contagious, and rubs off on the reader.”

Chris Humfrey’s Awesome Australian Animals, Reed New Holland, an imprint of New Holland Publishers, RRP $19.99, available from all good book retailers or online, www.newhollandpublishers.com

Children’s books...

Chatterpuss

Backyard Birdies

Josh Pyke, illustrated by Daron Parton

Andy Geppert

THIS fun picture book from singer songwriter Josh Pyke is about a cat who just loves to chat. The problem is her friend Glen the Hen just wants some peace and quiet. Chatterpuss’s incessant chatter is a problem in class and during games of hide and seek. One day Glen cracks it - but just as he begins to enjoy some quiet time a bully emerges and he discovers that having a loud friend can be helpful!

With rhyming text and colourful illustrations, this book is great for kids aged 3+ Scholastic Australia, RRP $17.99

THIS new title is somewhat of a factual introduction to Australia’s most common backyard birds for kids who are ‘birdie’ obsessed.

The book even features the giant inflatable swan commonly found in backyard pools!

Also kookaburras don’t actually laugh at everyone’s jokes. And why are common pigeons common?

The book was born after the author found himself attaching personalities to each bird he and his young daughter saw in their backyard.

An entertaining read full of personality and humour plus a host of bright and bold illustrations.

Hachette Australia,

Meet Ella Spotty Puppy Rebecca McRitchie and Danielle McDonald ELLA from the best-selling Ella and Olivia franchise has her own series! Meet Ella is a series of books based on Ella during her first years at school. The first instalment, Spotty Puppy, is a cute read about six-year-old Ella trying to reunite a lost pup with its owner even though she really wants to keep him. The second instalment, New Teacher, has also been released.

With simple vocabulary and a large to read font, the series is perfect for kids aged 5+.

Scholastic Australia, RRP $7.99

Skin Deep

Bella the Brave

Hayley Lawrence A compelling novel that follows the journey of a young girl named Scarlett who is badly burnt in an accident, and must come to terms with her new appearance and physical limitations.

Scarlett is desperate to escape the modern world for the desolate and isolated Matilda Mountain. However, in the wilderness she ends up finding unexpected friends who challenge her ideas about perfection and her place in the world.

This insightful book gently explores relevant themes for tweens and teens including trauma, beauty, self-worth, family and friendship.

Rebel Wilson Illustrated by Annabel Tempest Aussie movie star Rebel Wilson is releasing a picture book series to inspire young kids.

Bella the Brave stems from Rebel’s journey from shy girl in Sydney’s western suburbs to international movie star.

Bella is a girl who has much to say but is too shy. But when Bella’s mum brings her to the local choir it may just be her time to shine.

Rebel says the stories in her series are picked from personal experiences where she learned valuable life lessons.

For kids aged 11+.

Bella the Brave is due for release on October 27.

Scholastic Australia,

Hachette Australia,

RRP $15.99

RRP $19.99

RRP $19.99 www.KnoxMonashKids.com.au

SPRING 2021 19

TELEVISION

Political drama series for kids A political comedy-drama for kids is coming to free-to-air TV. Production has begun on The PM’s Daughter, a 10-episode series that will be filmed in Canberra and Sydney and broadcast on ABC ME next year.

The series follows young activist Cat Parkes Perez whose relatively ordinary teen life is turned upside down when her mum unexpectedly becomes prime minister.

As major disruptions begin to occur at Canberra landmarks – all seemingly designed to directly sabotage the PM Cat and her new friends, Sadie and Ollie, set out to track down and unmask a rogue faction within a youth action group called ACTION UPRISING. The clues will take them across the capital and lead them to investigate even their own schoolmates.

Libbie Doherty, Head of ABC Children’s Production said the show has it all.

“This series has the lot! Political intrigue, full on teens, great fashion and oh yes, life in ‘The Lodge’ as imagined by a stellar team of Australian creatives,” she said.

“We’ve had a lot of fun developing the series and are delighted to be launching the careers of this super cool cast.”

The cast of The PM’s Daughter: Natalie English (who plays Sadie), Nya Cofie, Cassandra Helmot (Cat), Jaga Yap (Ollie), Amelia James Power (Georgina).

The PM’s Daughter boasts an exciting new cast of young talent, including Cassandra Helmot as Cat, Natalie English as Sadie, Jaga Yap (Babyteeth) as Ollie, and Claire Fearon as Prime Minister Isabel Perez.

Sally Caplan, Head of Content at Screen Australia said the show was original and inspiring.

“This is an intriguing and thoroughly original concept from creators Tristram Baumber (The Unlisted, Born to Spy) and

Matthew Allred, and in the capable hands of the standout creative team behind the series we expect The PM’s Daughter will engage and inspire children around Australia when it heads to ABC ME.”

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Kids Calendar

What's on this spring

11-26 SEPTEMBER VICTORIA NATURE FESTIVAL The Nature Festival returns for its second year.

Featuring more than 80 events and experiences, the festival is full of creative ways to connect with nature.

You can get out and explore the wonders of Victoria’s nature or you can connect from your own home with live-streamed events and immersive videos.

This exhibition contains original sketches and rare artworks from 1928 to the present day. See over 500 artworks from your favourite animations, and step inside a scene from the Disney classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Tickets $17-$26.

ACMI, Swanston Street and Flinders Street, Melbourne For more info or tickets, visit https:// www.acmi.net.au/

Go on a bush walk, learn from Traditional Owners about Caring for Country and join exciting panel events.

shoes and a water bottle.

EVERY SATURDAY

10am-12pm, Corner Henderson Road and Ferny Creek Trail, Rowville.

JELLS PARKRUN

Parking available along Henderson Road, near the bridge.

Jells Parkrun is a 5km run, jog or walk.

It’s non-competitive as it’s you against the clock.

17 OCTOBER

The run takes place at Jells Park, Waverley Road, Wheelers Hill every Saturday at 8pm.

STRINGYBARK FESTIVAL

It costs nothing to take part but you have to register before your first run and bring along a printed copy of your barcode. Register at https://www. parkrun.com.au/register/

This popular annual festival features a huge range of activities including sustainability workshops, colourful stage programs, a makers market and cooking presentations.

The festival will be delivered in compliance with the state’s Covid-19 restrictions and may be adapted to a virtual program if required.

Each event and experience will comply with Covid Safe settings. All events will be hosted on the Victoria Together platform.

Free entry.

More info: https://www.together.vic. gov.au/victoria-nature-festival

10am-5pm Rowville Community Centre, 40 Fulham Rd

24 OCTOBER 9 OCTOBER WALK FOR PREMS NATIONAL TREE DAY CELEBRATIONS The City of Knox will be hosting National Tree day along the Ferny Creek Trail, Rowville.

DISNEY - THE ART OF ANIMATION

Reconnect with nature by helping to plant over 2000 indigenous plants which will help improve water quality along the Corhanwarrabul Creek and provide important habitat for local wildlife.

Discover the creativity and innovation of almost 100 years of Disney Animation in ACMI’s latest Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition

Plants and equipment are supplied and volunteers are asked to bring gardening gloves. Also wear sunscreen, a hat, long sleeves, sturdy

UNTIL 17 OCTOBER

www.KnoxMonashKids.com.au

Enjoy a great family day out at Melbourne’s flagship Walk for Prems event at Albert Park Lake.

There will be a free live children’s entertainment show before the walk around the lake, plus a variety of food vans on site.

ALL SPRING SHRINE KIDS The Shrine of Remembrance is offering a free self-guided program for families with primary school-aged children.

There are four different activity cards that provide a starting point for fresh perspectives of the Shrine. Kids are asked to consider and conjure their creative responses to a range of questions related to different aspects of the Shrine.

Bookings not required. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Shrine of Remembrance, Birdwood Ave, Melbourne

If Covid-19 restrictions are enforced, then the walk will become a virtual walk.

8.30am-1.30pm, Albert Park Lake For tickets and more info, visit https://www.walkforprems.org.au/ events/5/walk-together-melbourneSPRING 2021 21

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