Geelong Coast Kids Summer 2021

SUMMER 2021-22

with creative mum fighting

LONG HEALTH BATTLE

Great prizes in our

TOY GIVEAWAY How to deal with

SCHOOL REFUSAL

12520055-BL48-21

2 SUMMER 2021

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

About Us

Season of excitement Well hello there!

It’s great to be back with you as we move into an exciting season of new beginnings.

I was at the Geelong Waterfront recently and it was wonderful to see how full of life it was. It’s like everyone has a new appreciation for the things we may have taken for granted.

This issue is a ripper full of inspiration, starting with mother Claire DeStratis.

Parents often say they would give their life for their children. Well Claire was faced with a terrifying prospect, when her 6-year-old son Jake had two days left on life support with a mystery illness that caused his liver to fail. Claire discovered she was a match to be a donor but was told that the surgery was life threatening to her. “That was probably one of the things that scared me the most. But I knew that Jake was going to get what he needed regardless of anything that happened to me,” she said.

I caught up with gorgeous mother of three Sandra Torrance who has lived with chronic fatigue for 20 years. Sandra was super fit and living her dream as a PE teacher at Kardinia College when she was struck down with an illness that led to chronic fatigue. Grieving the loss

of all her long term plans, she had to think outside the square to find a job that would work in with her limited energy levels. Inspiration struck when she was toying with her hobby of crocheting and decided to write up a pattern for something she made. Now she has a thriving business selling crochet patterns worldwide with her business Little Golden Nook.

Geelong Coast Kids magazine is a Star News Group publication.

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

Four Geelong mums are doing our town proud as they take out awards in the AusMumpreneur Awards. Among them is cancer survivor Justine Martin, who won the Victorian Coach of the Year award for teaching art for wellness and her resilience.

Just in time for Christmas we’ve teamed up with some great brands to give our readers the chance to win some incredible toys. The comp is running until 2 February, so head over to our website and get your entry in.

Also, paediatric nutritionist Lucy Stewart returns with another yummy recipe you can make with the kids, herb and feta quinoa patties, while renowned psychologist and author Steve Biddulph has written an interesting piece about how parenthood - especially for fathers - used to be all about ‘control’ but now a new

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

generation is learning it is all about connection.

So great to connect again.

Now get out there and enjoy this beautiful region of ours!

Until next time, stay well.

Editorial Melissa Grant editorial@geelongcoastkids.com.au Advertising Group Advertising Sales Manager Mandy Clark mandy.clark@starnewsgroup.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.

SUMMER 2021-22

Contents Mum’s amazing act to save her son’s life

HEALTH

BOOKS

PAGE 4

Birth, Bump & Bub

A ‘Wandi’ful book for kids

with creative mum fighting

All aboard for a fun day out

PAGE 15

PAGE 21

LONG HEALTH BATTLE

PAGE 5

Time for Aussie teens to get physically active

Children’s books

Local mum shares a tale of too many toys

PAGE 15

PAGE 21

PAGE 5

Insights into picky eating

KIDS CALENDAR

Group connects dads

PAGE 16

What’s on this summer

EDUCATION

PAGE 22

PAGE 6 Fathers not using flexible work PAGE 6 A big change in our dads

PAGE 17 What to consider when selecting child care

Angie’s catch-up

PAGE 17

PAGES 8-10

How to deal with school refusal

Kids in the Kitchen

PAGE 18

Are you ready to get back on the hamster wheel?

SCHOOL REFUSAL

COVER: Charlie Hanneysee on the Geelong Waterfront.

Picture: Louisa Jones

Caring for vulnerable kids PAGE 19

Strengthening parent support

Mum’s experience helps acne sufferers

PAGE 12

PAGE 19

Win great prizes in toy giveaway PAGE 13

Geelong mums win big at entrepreneur awards

Entertainment hitting targets

PAGE 20

PAGE 14

Pandemic pregnancy from London to Melbourne

PAGE 14

How to deal with

REALITY BITES

PAGE 11

Child minding for special needs kids

TOY GIVEAWAY

Preparing for prep

PAGE 7

PAGE 11

Great prizes in our

PAGE 20

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It’s Your Life

Claire and Beau with their children Jake, Mia and Evie.

Mum’s amazing act to save her son’s life Matching scars... Claire and son Jake.

By Melissa Grant

At the RCH, Claire and her partner Beau met with transplant surgeons and Jake was put on transplant waiting lists in Australia and New Zealand.

SIX-YEAR-OLD Jake Shiels had only two days left on life support when his mum gave him an incredible life-saving gift.

Due to the urgency of the situation, both Claire and Beau underwent tests to see if it was possible one of them could donate part of their liver.

The Victorian boy was battling a mystery virus that had caused his liver to fail and he needed a transplant to have any chance of surviving.

Claire was watching her son on life support when a surgeon called to inform her she was a match.

Time was running out to find a donor when his mum, Claire DeStratis, discovered she was compatible but donating part of her liver meant risking her own life.

“The surgeons said ‘look, one in four you’re going to have a major complication and one in 200 don’t survive the surgery’,” the mum of three said.

“That was probably one of the things that scared me the most. But I knew that Jake was going to get what he needed regardless of anything that happened to me.

The following day she was admitted to the Austin Hospital for a six-hour surgery to retrieve 20 per cent of her liver. Under police escort, the partial liver was then rushed to the Royal Children’s Hospital for Jake’s 12-hour transplant surgery.

Jake spent weeks in hospital.

Medical Centre in Clayton.

The youngster’s skin had also turned yellow and blood tests revealed he had a viral hepatitis.

“He wasn’t going to get it any other way because they couldn’t find a donor and they could only keep him on life support for a maximum of five days.”

Two weeks of tests failed to uncover what exactly the virus was, but it was clear that his immune system had begun attacking his liver.

The nightmare ordeal started in February this year, less than two weeks after Jake returned to school.

“They said ‘we are going to have to transport him to the RCH (Royal Children’s Hospital) because his liver is failing. He’s going to be going to the transplant ward and he’s going to need a liver transplant’,” Claire explained.

All of a sudden the usually healthy and happy boy felt extremely ill.

“We thought he had gastro but within 24 hours of him vomiting his eyes turned yellow and I knew that wasn’t normal so I rushed him to our local GP,” Claire recalled.

Claire ended up taking Jake to the emergency department at the Monash 4 SUMMER 2021

“There was no stopping the onslaught of it. There was no minimising the symptoms or anything like that, his liver was failing.

“I watched him deteriorate over 11 days… my heart was just breaking.”

Fortunately Jake responded well to the transplant, with his skin returning to a healthier colour in less than 24 hours.

The entire time, Beau was with Jake while the couple’s daughters Mia and Evie were cared for by their aunt and grandmother. Claire’s workplace rallied to raise over $17,000 while a GoFundMe raised more than $10,000 for the couple.

“Our family and friends showed such great support financially,” Claire said.

“We were able to put all our energy into Jake’s recovery and my recovery without the financial worry.”

Claire spent an entire week laying in a hospital bed wondering how her little boy was faring.

When the pair finally reunited Jake’s face lit up and he proudly pointed to the scar on his stomach.

“I said to him, ‘mum has one too honey’,” Claire said.

Claire has recovered well and it is believed her liver has regrown and returned to its pre-surgery size.

Jake had some complications following his life-saving surgery - his lung collapsed and a blood clot that formed on his liver had to be removed.

After the transplant, it was discovered that Jake’s mystery illness was slapped cheek, a virus he previously caught and fought off but had caused an immune response so heightened it attacked the liver.

Jake will take immunosuppressive medication for the rest of his life and is on a low-fat diet to ensure his liver isn’t under undue pressure.

Apart from that it’s been pretty smooth sailing post-surgery for Jake, who celebrated his 7th birthday in October.

“You look at him today and you wouldn’t even think he has had an organ transplant,” Claire said.

“He is such a good kid and he is such a fighter. Even four of five days after the transplant he was trying to get up and walk… he just took it all in his stride.”

Claire is eternally grateful to the talented surgeons who performed the life saving transplant surgeries.

“Without them and the knowledge they have we wouldn’t be where we are today.

“Jake was operated on for 12 hours, I was operated on for six hours - that’s incredible.

“I can’t thank them enough.”

To register to become an organ and tissue donor, visit donatelife.gov.au www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

it’s your life

An hi historic the attraction.

A t i station t ti iis partt off th tt ti

Lauren, Olivia, Saacha and Nicholas Hyland enjoy a day out at the Portarlington Bayside Miniature Railway.

Pictures: Louisa Jones

Ronnie Frank gets into the driver’s seat.

Families get a real thrill out of the attraction.

All aboard for a fun day out

By Melissa Grant

Miniature Railway Inc vice-president Brian Coleman is getting the word out.

TOOT toot!

“It’s the only miniature railway situated by a foreshore in Australia,” he said.

It’s all aboard Portarlington Bayside Miniature Railway this summer.

The railway is getting back on track after Covid lockdowns, offering families a fun and low-cost day out on Sundays.

Located on the foreshore with stunning bayside views, the railway is a unique attraction.

Although the miniature railway has been operating since 1999, some families in Geelong and the West don’t even know it exists.

That’s why Portarlington Bayside

“Come on down and have some fun.”

The railway stretches 1.2km and is situated on eight hectares of open picturesque and native parklands and overlooking Port Phillip Bay. The train does two laps of the track in eight to nine minutes.

“The kids get a great thrill,” Mr Coleman said.

The miniature railway operates every Sunday from 11am-4pm

throughout the summer months.

BBQs, toilets and ample parking.

Mr Coleman is hopeful many people will be able to enjoy the attraction over the holidays, following a spate of closures due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The railway’s summer season began on 3 October and will last until June.

He said the railway is entirely run by volunteers, with any revenue ploughed into upkeep or expansion and, at times, donated to charity.

“We don’t pay anybody, we are not out to make a quid,” Mr Coleman said.

“We are out to make fun!”

There’s plenty of fun to be had too, with a children’s adventure playground part of the attraction.

There is also a kiosk, plus sheltered

In winter, the train only runs on the first and third Sundays of the month between the hours of 11am and 3pm.

Tickets for adults and children are $4 each. Family passes and seasonal tickets are also available.

The railway is located is situated within the grounds of the Portarlington Bayside Family Park, Corner Point Richards and Boat Roads, Portarlington.

For more information, visit https:// miniaturerailway.com.au/ or check out Portarlington Bayside Miniature Railway Inc on Facebook.

Local mum shares a tale of too many toys

By Melissa Grant

toys and needs his family’s help to save the day.

LIKE many parents, Jan Juc author Stef Gemmill knows that far too many plastic toys can end up in the bin.

The book, beautifully illustrated by Katharine Hall, highlights the huge amounts of plastic waste generated by consumer culture.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Stef has fond memories of being a young girl constantly playing with a hand-me-down doll that was well-loved and well-worn.

The doll had one eye, so Stef took her to the local toy hospital to be repaired.

She loved the doll so much that it never crossed her mind to replace it.

The doll is the inspiration behind Stef’s latest children’s book, Toy Mountain.

The book highlights why we should opt for toys that last by following the story of a boy named Sam who becomes a toy tester for a toy factory.

Sam, who was growing tired of his toys, ends up with a heap of plastic toys in all shapes and colours.

However, he soon finds himself at the bottom of a mountain of broken plastic www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

about a cat on a castaway island who makes unexpected friends with a colony of penguins. The story has an underlying message about homelessness and refugees.

It aims to empower children to take sustainability into their own hands by reminding them that their choices count.

Her other children’s book is called In My Dreams, an illustrated story that empowers the reader to embrace their imagination and chase pirates and ride wild winds on the back of a dragon.

“This book is about putting change into the hands of children and getting them to consider the impact of consumer choices,” Stef said.

“Generally I write stories that usually have an element of peril but they are stories of hope and heart and all have a social message,” Stef said.

“It’s by self discovery that he (Sam) ends up with this huge pile of plastic junk... his treasured toys are at the bottom and he has a change of heart.”

Stef has already started her next project, a novel aimed at children aged 8-12 years.

Stef, a mum of a 13-year-old boy, said it was crazy to think about how much plastic toys there were on the market and how that contributes to the amount of waste we produce.

Toy Mountain, EK Books RRP $24.99, is available at local bookstores. Signed copies are available at Torquay Books, Gilbert St, Torquay; Dymocks, Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre; Great Escape Books, Great Ocean Rd, Aireys Inlet.

Toy Mountain is Stef’s third published book. The former music journalist has also written A Home For Luna, a story

For more information about Stef, visit https://www.stefgemmill.com

Jan Juc mum and author Stef Gemmill.

SUMMER 2021 5

It’s Your Life

Fathers not using flexible work WORKPLACE culture and masculine norms are preventing dads from asking for flexible working hours including paid parental leave, new research suggests.

University of South Australia researcher Dr Ashlee Borgkvist has investigated barriers and facilitators for men to access and use flexible work arrangements.

She found that many fathers felt pressure from their organisations not to use flexibility for family reasons, with this sentiment also echoed across societal norms.

Australia has one of the lowest rates of fathers taking paid parental leave.

Dads Groups help dads feel connected.

Group connects dads

By Melissa Grant

child,” he said.

JOINING a mothers group is pretty much a given for new mums.

“Some mums don’t trust the dads. I’ve got group leaders who have told me their partners weren’t comfortable with them going out with the child without them.”

For years, mums have had the opportunity to connect with other new parents in their local area.

Dads haven’t really but that is finally changing.

Dads Groups are popping up all over the country, including Geelong and the surf coast.

An organisation called Dads Group is the driving force behind the groups and a number of other initiatives targeted towards fathers.

Their mission is to change the culture of fatherhood for the better, while reducing isolation for new and expectant fathers.

WHO CAN JOIN Victorian State Manager Adam Tardif says all fathers and father figures are welcome.

“Some people have the idea that it’s for dads that are struggling. It’s not. It’s a place for dads to form friendships with other dads in their local community,” he said.

“You don’t have to be the paternal father - you can be a grandfather, uncle, stepfather - anyone who is a father figure.”

However, the dad or father figure must bring their child along.

The catch-ups are generally just a chat over a coffee at a cafe or a playground.

THE BENEFITS Adam says joining a Dads Group allows dad to bond with their child, gives their partner some alone time and makes them ‘learn on the fly’ when it comes to ‘managing situations’.

“It’s common that dads come along with a 3-month-old and it’s the first time they’ve been out alone with their

6 SUMMER 2021

Adam said Dads Groups help dads feel connected, while gaining confidence and enhancing competence in their parenting abilities.

“We allow mums to come by if need be,” he said.

“But they come back and see bub has all their limbs and that baby is okay - they can see that dad can do it.”

Adam says the impact of Dads Group is clear to see and in some cases has been quite profound.

“We have had dads tell us point blank that it has saved their life, saved their marriage, saved their relationship with their children,” he said.

THE STORY BEHIND DADS GROUP The first Dads Group dad is Tom Docking, who started the organisation with wife Kate in 2014 after realising how little support there was for fathers.

Kate fell pregnant a few weeks into the couple’s two-year around the world adventure, sending Tom into shock.

After bubs was born he went searching for support for new dads. He discovered there really wasn’t anything available.

One day he spent time with a couple of other new dads and their babies. It was then he realised what was missing - a place for dads to feel connected in a way that wasn’t clinical and sterile.

DADS GROUP IS GROWING It’s likely you’ll start hearing more about Dads Group. Over the next three years, the organisation is aiming to support at least 10 per cent of new fathers in Dads Groups across Australia - that’s more than 30,000 new fathers!

The organisation has also started

rolling out programs in hospitals, where they are essentially working with midwives running classes for first-time parents.

Adam says this is all about creating change in the health system. He said many slides in parenting classes don’t even mention the word dad.

“Part of the project is we review the slides they are providing and ‘dadifying’ them,” he said.

MAN WITH A PRAM Man With A Pram are local events that bring fathers and families together on Father’s Day for a walk to combat isolation and bring the community together. Anyone can put their hand up to run one - and it doesn’t have to be on Father’s Day. So far, more than 25 of these events have been held across the country.

DIGITAL DADS GROUPS When Covid hit, Dads Group teamed up with their partner Movember to create Digital Dads Groups.

At 10am every day, dads can visit https://www.dadsgroup.org/, click on a Zoom link and connect with any dad across the country. The calls are hosted by an experienced dads group leader and there are usually between four and five dads on each call.

HOW TO FIND YOUR DADS GROUP Visit https://www.dadsgroup.org/ and click on Dads Groups. Scroll down and you’ll find a Google Map where you can search for your closest Dads Group. If there’s none in your local area, you can send a message to Dads Group and they will work with you to start one.

The following groups are listed for the Geelong Coast: Dads of Geelong, Dads of Belmont, Dads of Surf Coast, Dads of Torquay, Dads of Ocean Grove/Barwon Heads, Dads of St Leonards.

You can also follow Dads Group on Facebook at https://www.facebook. com/dadsgroupaus

Dr Borgkvist says the low uptake of formal flexible working arrangements by Australian fathers is primarily due to a perceived, and quite often objective, lack of support from workplace managers and colleagues.

“Workplace flexibility is typically accepted as an option for mothers, but when it comes to dads, flexibility is unlikely to be as readily accepted – and in some cases not even considered,” she said.

“Workplace and societal norms play a big role in the lack of flexibility for dads, with many men feeling pressure to conform to stereotypical concepts of the male ‘breadwinner’.”

Dr Borgkvist said while Australia’s national Paid Parental Leave scheme is gender neutral, the stigma of asking for flexibility, along with the need for mothers to utilise the whole Paid Parental Leave period, is limiting its uptake by dads.

“One father I spoke to said he’d stepped back from visiting schools with his wife and child because he felt he’d taken too much time off; another father said he wouldn’t ask for flexibility because he didn’t ‘want to be seen as ‘someone who tries to get out of doing work’.

“So, while the desire and need for flexible work hours is there, it’s being squashed by restrictive workplace cultures. As you can imagine, these ideas around flexible work also have impacts for how women who use flexibility are perceived within workplaces.”

Dr Borgkvist said cultural change was vital.

“Evidence shows that when fathers are provided with wellcompensated, targeted and extended parental leave, they are very likely to take it.”

“Australia is very conservative when it comes to fathers and parental leave. Only when governments and businesses can commit to tangible and practical change will we see flexibility become a real option for Aussie dads.” www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

It’s Your Life

A big change in our dads Parents have realised that children struggle with their ‘big feelings’.

Parenthood - especially for fathers used to be all about ‘control’.

But a new generation is learning it is really about connection, writes STEVE BIDDULPH SOCIAL media is a great gift, for someone like me who lives on an island and is also quite shy. And now I have stopped my life of touring and doing shows for parents around the world, it can be a warm-hearted connection to folks who read my books. These mums and dads are enthusiasts for parenthood and family who think love matters more than fashion, say, or material possessions or ‘success’.

I’ve avoided Instagram or Twitter, but manage two Facebook communities, one for parents of boys, and one for girls - and they are full of life and heart, they really keep me going. I dip into Facebook cautiously, aware it can be like a bush track which you can easily slip off and go careening down through prickly scrub to a rocky landing!

Often my Facebook feed sends me posts from a rather heart-rending page called Dadventure, where mostly American fathers seek help and emotional support from each other as they struggle with the many challenges of kids’ health, behaviour, as well as marriage strife, and making a living while still being a good dad.

It’s such a window into the world of dads, both heart rending and inspiring in about equal amounts. And there is something very striking that you can’t

miss, a kind of watershed moment happening in fatherhood. The old giving way to the new.

Whenever someone posts a question about kids’ misbehaviour, the old guard are there weighing in with things like ‘kids have to know who is the boss’ and ‘my old man taught us respect with his belt, and it worked for me’. I used to work with those dads when I was a family therapist, as they gradually admitted that, well, in fact they hated their dads for most of their childhoods and were noticing that their kids were starting to hate them too.

There is a whole skip bin full of denial inside a great many men, and they are almost buried under it, but one day they do get out.

But most heartening is the number of commenters who have made a very big fundamental shift to realise that parenthood is not about control. It’s not about dominating kids into behaving well by yelling, threatening, hitting or contriving punishments - at least, not as the first line of defence. It’s been one of the greatest leaps forwards in

parenthood that we have realised that children struggle with their ‘big feelings’ and our job is to help them find a way through the frustrations, negotiations, and griefs and fears which every childhood brings, so they can give space to their emotions but express them in words, and not in actions that might hurt those around them or themselves.

Plenty of adults in our generation knew no other way to express their grief or fear than to punch a hole in the gyprock, or walk out and get drunk, or be abusive or horrible to a partner just trying to help. Plenty of readers will have partners who still struggle to be vulnerable and communicate, instead of merely reacting. So we have to urgently help our kids learn these skills.

When our four-year-old or six-year-old goes into a meltdown or misbehaves terribly it takes incredible grace to not just lose it, or yell at them or go all cold and rejecting, but instead to calm ourselves, really connect with them and reassure them that we love them, and we want to help. But I see this all the

time now in parks and shopping malls, and the homes of young friends and family. A child struggling - and a mum, or dad, crouching down, or sitting with them and talking it through. If they will allow it, holding them close. And seeing that child’s feelings subside, and happiness be restored.

It doesn’t mean mollycoddling kids or giving them everything they want, or letting them call the shots. It’s still okay to say, “I am getting cold and bored now, and I want to go home” when they’ve been almost an hour at a freezing playground! Your feelings count too. But being a parent who is committed to teaching their kids - at the peak of their misbehaviour - that we can all find a way through our feelings, is worth more than gold. Who wouldn’t love to have a parent like that?

Visit Steve on Facebook at Steve Biddulph’s Raising Boys, and Steve Biddulph’s Raising Girls communities.

Steve’s books including Raising Boys, The New Manhood, and Fully Human - are in over a million Australian homes. www.stevebiddulph.com

The top things stressing out Aussie teens SCHOOLWORK is the number one cause of stress and worry among Aussie teens, according to a new report.

felt stressed about their schoolwork and 42 per cent cited it as their biggest worry.

cent), what people think or say about them (31 per cent) and missing out on their goals (24 per cent).

Alarmingly the report also reveals that many don’t talk to anyone when they are struggling.

Other causes of stress included: ■ Feeling anxious about what might happen (41 per cent)

The 2021 MyStrengths Youth Wellbeing Report surveyed nearly 10,000 high school students aged 11-18 years to understand how stress, sleep, social media, and relationships are impacting teen mental health.

■ Self-esteem/feeling low (35 per cent)

The report found that many teens weren’t seeking help - professional or otherwise. One in three students (32 per cent) don’t talk to anyone when they are struggling. Teens who do reach out are more likely to turn to a friend (45 per cent) than a parent.

However, 62 per cent said they feel understood by their parents.

The report found 66 per cent of teens www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

■ Friend problems (27 per cent) ■ Family difficulties (27 per cent).

The biggest worries among teens included what they will do in the future (38 per cent), the way they look (34 per

Only per 3 cent of students surveyed

seek support from their teachers at school.

The report also found students who go to bed later are more likely to experience mental health challenges.

The release of the report coincided with the launch of MyStrengths’ Raising Resilience course, a 10-step course designed to turn the tide on teen mental health. The course includes videos and daily challenges for parents to watch with their teens.

SUMMER 2021 7

It’s Your Life

Malya,16, George, 5, Sandra, Blake, and Harper, 13.

Pictures: Louisa Jones

Family and hobby help mum in long health battle

By Angie Hilton MOTHER of three Sandra Torrance, 44, looks like a picture of health – glowing, gorgeous, stylish and toned. You would never guess the struggles she faces on a daily basis.

At the age of 21 everything was looking up. She’d met the love of her life, was fit as a fiddle, and was working as a PE teacher at Kardinia College.

But Sandra was to be hit by a life curveball. She was struck down by Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

Her dreams of being a successful teacher who would then go on to do a masters and teach in a university began to fade away year by year, as she grieved the loss of her plans and surrendered to the reality that life had changed for good.

Twenty years down the track and Sandra has discovered the silver lining.

Whilst looking for a way to work that would accommodate her changing energy levels, she turned a hobby into a thriving niche market – a crochet pattern design business called Little Golden Nook.

8 SUMMER 2021

Sandra oozes kindness and compassion. Her effervescent 16-yearold daughter Malya bounces in while we’re chatting and declares, “I want to grow up to be just like mum. She’s my idol”. I think this sums up the kind of parent Sandra is.

How did you and hubby meet?

We actually went to school together, although I was five years above him!

He was mates with my little brother, and when I became unwell with a post-viral illness (ME/CFS) after my first year of teaching, I moved home for a while and that’s when we got to know each other as adults and started dating.

What makes Blake so special to you?

He has always loved and accepted me as I am, disabled or able, up or down, weak or strong. He has a strong faith, and he puts us first even with business decisions and ultimately holds us together.

Can you tell us about your birth experiences?

I had a caesarean birth for our first-born due to my illness, and health

The Torrance children.

deterioration during pregnancy. My sister was in her final year of midwife training and we were very lucky to have her present at the birth of Malya.

Harper was born in Cairns in Queensland and although we aimed for a natural birth, she ended up being a beautiful caesarean baby too. And that was it, more than enough for us. We had said, no more kids, after Malya!

Seven years later our little ‘bonus baby’ George was born – amazingly he was a VBAC2C, vaginal birth after two caesareans, and he arrived on Christmas Day! My sister Judy fully supported me through this pregnancy and birth, and while the labour was incredibly hard the entire journey is a beautiful memory, and the courage it took has very much added to my strength as a person. I suffered from perinatal depression with all three babies, and with George I felt that the support I had and courage I found in myself helped me to walk through the process with more awareness and growth, and this newfound strength really inspired the birth of my creative outlet, my little business.

Having babies must have been a big decision with your health. Can you share with us how your health took a turn for the worse?

In my final year of uni, I ran my first half marathon here in Geelong and was busy working part-time and commuting to Ballarat in pursuit of becoming a Phys Ed Teacher. After this run, I felt a shift in my energy levels and stress levels, but I pushed through for a few months, I’d never been prone to illness, and never had reason to stop and rest. Towards the end of the year my symptoms of unexplained fatigue, and muscle pain and weakness meant I had some blood tests which revealed I’d recently had Glandular Fever and currently had CMV (cytomegalovirus).

By then I was under even more stress, juggling casual jobs and job applications, and was carrying a growing weight of unresolved issues from my teens. All of this was an excellent recipe for post viral illness, and despite fighting hard and beginning my teaching career the following year, I never recovered and was eventually diagnosed with ME/ CFS which I’ve now had for 20 years. www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

Bl k and d Sandra.

S d Blake

Sandra with her ‘bonus boy’ George.

The Torrance family.

How does CFS affect you on a daily basis?

Each day is a little different so it’s really difficult to plan ahead.

I’m not like any of the other mums.

I’m not the one who can drive to school, then gymnastic, then swimming, then home. Blake does all the taxiing.

Without him having such a servant heart I don’t know where I’d be. He just accepts that I will do whatever I can.

Blake has done all the nights with every baby and even now with George.

He just knows that if I’m awake I’m awake for hours and then my next day is over.

If I’m having intense symptoms like light and sound sensitivity, migraines, nausea, dizziness and upper body myalgia I’ll stay home, and be happy to manage a short walk late afternoon.

Requests from each child take a huge www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

amount of effort to comprehend and manage and George’s energy means when he comes near me I have to defend myself from a playful punch or accidentally being used as a landing pad for his ninja leaps because everything hurts on those days.

I like to think that the other two thirds of the time my days are better. I’ll manage half days with George and we craft or go to the park or see some friends.

The beauty of my work is that I can do a lot of it while I’m resting, so on a good day I’ll do half a day of parenting and half work/rest.

So in your hunt to find sustainable work that complemented your health needs, you found it in an unexpected place?

That’s right. So I taught myself to crochet about 10 years ago while a friend and I were having fun crafting for markets.

Meanwhile Blake renovated our little Highton home into a spacious vintage provincial space complete with a sunny reading nook which inspired my Instagram handle @littlegoldennook where I shared my creative makes and family life. After George was born I stumbled along for a few months, crocheting a few stitches here and there with one hand while he was permanently attached. I had no plans at all to make an income from my craft.

I saw a knitted jumper one day, and decided to try to make a crocheted version for myself. It worked, I loved the process of designing, and was a big hit with my followers which gave me the drive to write the pattern down. The pattern writing and testing process was a big journey for me, but once I started the ideas kept coming and I’ve been fortunate to have collaborated with some wonderful yarn companies both locally and all over the world.

I just couldn’t believe this had turned into a job. I was just so thankful that I could have a job when I had given up on all my previous dreams. I had three beautiful children to raise and a job that people were interested in.

How do you look after your health these days?

I have two jobs now (as many mums do), and I have very little spare energy.

I never go out at night, and social events are extremely rare. I’ve dreamt of managing a full day of teaching to re-enter the education system, but even a half day would involve recovery time so that never fully worked out. But I don’t dwell on the limitations. I have a beautiful family, a creative outlet, and I

can walk and find joy in nature and smaller social connections. I eat well and stay away from most inflammatory foods (gluten, dairy, sugar), I have a constant battle with iron storage, and have to work hard to avoid anaemia. I have a complex lists of supplements and medications now, but it’s all manageable.

I believe you also had a more recent life-changing discovery. You joined me in the ADHD tribe!

Yes! So two years ago, I was describing some issues I was having to my GP and she asked, had I ever been tested for ADHD. I said no, and was doubtful because I knew nothing about it aside from the (usually incorrect) stereotype of the hyperactive child. She referred me to a specialist and that led to a diagnosis and with treatment, a real change in my ability to focus, and distribution of energy throughout the day. For me it was another layer of understanding of myself, another reason for some of my struggles as a teen, and of my anxiety as an adult.

My ADHD means I’m impulsive so I’ll plan things on the fly and then have to cancel or really struggle to recover from something that seemed like a great idea at the time.

One of the hardest things is regularly talking myself out of making plans, it feels like I’m doing the opposite of what life is about.

But in order to have energy for my kids and husband and home and work I have to be painfully stingy with other things.

Continued page 10 SUMMER 2021 9

It’s Your Life

Malya, George and Harper.

From page 9

Blake, George, Harper, Malya and Sandra Torrance at their Highton property.

Kids Promotions and The Australian Broadcasting Corporation present:

Do you have a parenting philosophy?

If I was put into a parenting category it would be gentle parenting for sure. And it’s taken years and our ‘bonus boy’ to land in this space. I’m grateful that our eldest daughter is so resilient and strong because we were definitely tougher on her, and my only parenting regrets were from when she was little.

After having two perfect sleepers, and patting ourselves on the back for their ‘achievements’, George came along and taught us a huge and most valuable lesson, that we can’t control his needs and force him to be independent (like his sisters) before he is ready. We learned that he needed us to help him sleep, long after the old parenting books said it was ‘normal’, and we found out that this way was normal and gentle, and nurturing.

As the girls have grown, we’ve worked hard on three things: ■ Teaching them about our faith, and giving them the opportunity to know they are adored no matter what they do. The things they inevitably absorb at school and on social media tell them they can’t ever really measure up. So the chance to understand that they are completely accepted as they are is a gift we feel honoured to share.

Tel: 03 9739 6300 www.kidspromotions.com.au www.abc.net.au/playschool @Australian Broadcasting Corporation 2021 10 SUMMER 2021

■ Apologising to them regularly for our parenting mistakes. Blake and I are far from perfect, and it’s so important for the kids to see how imperfect we are and also to see us apologise and ask for their forgiveness for when we hurt them or confuse them with anger or unreasonable expectations or missing opportunities to say yes to them. They also need to see that we are human too, and modelling openness and willingness to be wrong is really important.

■ Honesty is a biggie in our house. Kids can be secretive, some more than others, depending on how sensitive they are to disapproval. We’ve tried to encourage our kids that telling the truth about small things means they won’t get in trouble. Sometimes the confessions are hard enough for them, so giving them a hug and saying thankyou for being honest is the best thing we can do. We can then build on this when they are tempted to be dishonest with the bigger things.

Sandra Torrance.

Pictures: Louisa Jones

■ Name: Sandra Torrance ■ Age: 44 ■ Profession: Small Business owner, Little Golden Nook Crochet Pattern Design ■ Husband: Blake – patient, cheerful, leader.

■ Kids: Malya (16) – extrovert, independent, positive.

Harper (13) – caring, fun, empath.

George (5) – loud, clever, cute.

■ Favourite quote: “What draws people to be friends is that they see the same truth. They share it” – C. S. Lewis.

■ Favourite movie: Fargo or Life is Beautiful.

■ Guilty pleasure: True Crime podcasts.

■ Biggest parenting fail: It hurts my heart to think about them all.

■ Proudest parenting moment: All of the little ways they each shine bright and show kindness, and courage out in the world.

■ Something you’d love to tell your younger self: Slow down.

You are beautiful. Laugh as often as you can.

Check out Sandra’s Instagram page @littlegoldennook www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

It’s Your Life

The finished product.

Herb and feta quinoa patties Makes: 20 Prep time: 10 mins + 1 hour Cook time: 20 mins Ingredients: ■ 2 ½ cups pre-cooked quinoa ■ ½ cup rolled oats ■ 4 free range eggs ■ 180g feta cheese Lucy Stewart in the kitchen with her son Otis.

Pictures: Studio 74 Photography

■ 4 shallots ■ 1 cup chopped fresh herbs – parsley, dill and mint work well

Kid-friendly patties DID you know herbs can pack in just as much nutrition as vegetables? Just like green leafy vegetables, fresh herbs are a good source of vitamins A, C and K and contain polyphenols – powerful plant compounds that have both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Herbs are also alkalising and help support the bodies natural detoxification processes.

Growing herbs is a great way to help kids understand where their food comes from and research shows that children who are involved in the preparation of their food – especially vegetables – develop a more positive attitude

i th in the kitchen with Lucy Stewart

towards, and preferences for, those foods. You don’t need a big garden to grow them in either, just a few pots on the window sill will do.

Some of my favourite herbs for kids to grow include: mint, basil, dill, chives and parsley. Their fragrance and mild versatile flavours mean kids can happily pick, smell and eat the leaves raw or sprinkle them over some of their favourite dishes - even just a small amount goes a long way to giving them a nutritional boost.

These little herb and feta quinoa patties are full of freshness and make a great lunchbox addition or vegetarian burger option. Quinoa is high in protein and fibre, two important nutrients that work to keep kids tummies feeling fuller for longer and their energy levels stable.

■ Zest of half a lemon ■ Olive oil for frying Instructions: 1. In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked quinoa, oats, eggs, feta cheese, chopped herbs, shallots and lemon zest and mix together until everything is well combined. Place in the fridge to set for one hour.

2. Using a tablespoon of mixture, form 20 small patties with your hands.

3. Heat olive oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Add the patties and fry for about 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown.

4. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to five days.

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

Are you ready to get back on the hamster wheel?

By Julie Cliff - professional organiser

IF you’re a working mum in Victoria there is no doubt you have been juggling a lot of things during the various lockdowns over the past 18 months: remote learning, your own paid work, keeping everyone fed, bathed and clothed. It’s a lot to do in the confines of your own home with very little outside help.

As we venture out again, I ask you to think about how you are spending your time now and take stock. By taking stock of where you are at and keeping one eye on the future (where you’d like to get to), you can start to put things in place to organise the life you want.

Take stock of the things you are juggling. www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

As you go through each day, take stock of all the things you’re juggling.

■ How many hours are you working each week and how much ‘me time’ are you scheduling?

■ Are you spending time on meal planning?

■ How much exercise are you squeezing in each day?

your tasks and priorities and leave the office on time? Or do you need to get a new job?

■ Want to work more from home?

■ Want to eat healthier food by creating a set of four to six weekly meal plans?

■ Who’s doing the home chores and when are they done?

■ Want to spend more time with specific people?

Get it in the diary.

Plan now for the future Are you ready to get back on the hamster wheel? Do you want things to go back to ‘normal’ and run around like a headless chook or do you want to make some changes?

■ Want to get the family involved in running the household? Say no when someone tells you it’s your job. Have a detailed discussion now about who does what.

Now is an amazing opportunity for you to organise the life you want. With a clear picture of how you want your future to look, you can make a plan with systems and processes to support your ‘new’ future.

What next?

Among all your juggling now, have one eye on the future. Start to create the systems around you at home to support the life you want to live.

Space and Time which helps busy working mothers live easier, far less stressful lives through simple, easy to implement organising systems to clear the clutter - both mentally and physically. Sound familiar?

■ Want to work shorter hours? Do you need to work smarter or be clearer on

Need help?

Julie Cliff is a professional organiser at

Julie would love to hear from you via info@spaceandtime.com.au

Now is a great time to take stock of your life before getting back on the hamster wheel.

SUMMER 2021 11

It’s Your Life

Strengthening parent support FOR most parents and carers, having a peer support network and the opportunity to socialise are incredibly valuable. It provides a safe place to talk about worries, concerns and achievements related to caring, and provides parents with the reassurance, validation and feedback needed to feel empowered in their caring journey.

Gateways Support Services understands how important peer support is, but the experience of many parents and carers of children with disability and/or additional needs is that it can be difficult to find someone to provide support in an understanding and validating way.

All parenting and caring journeys can be stressful, but parents and carers of children with disability and/or additional needs must navigate added complexities that carers of neurotypical or able-bodied children are less likely to encounter. Navigating this complex territory can cause many parents to feel additional stress, pressure and social isolation.

In acknowledging the many unique challenges that these parents and

carers may encounter, the Victorian government established the Strengthening Parent Support Program (SPSP) to support parents in an adaptable, accessible and inclusive way. Within the Barwon region, parents and carers of children with disability or additional needs have access to the SPSP through Gateways Support Services, located in North Geelong.

The SPSP provides support through weekly parent support groups, workshops and information sessions, and one-on-one support from a Gateways Support Services SPSP worker.

The main goal of SPSP is to be inclusive, accessible and adaptable, ensuring every parent or carer of a child with disability or additional needs looking for support in the Barwon region has appropriate access to these. These children do not need to be accessing an NDIS plan, or have a formal diagnosis, in order for parents to access the SPSP as a parent or carer.

In 2022, Gateways Support Services will be expanding the support provided to parents and carers within the Barwon region through their SPSP, after being

Gateways Support Services will be expanding the support available to any male carer of a child with disability and/or additional needs in 2022.

granted funding that will go towards providing male carers with increased peer support options. These supports are available to any male carer of a child with disability and/or additional need, and will be delivered through peer support groups, keynote speaker nights and recreational activities. The service will be offered in North Geelong, West Melbourne, Warrnambool and Colac.

Gateways is currently in the process of establishing these supports and co-designing these with male carers within the Barwon region. To be involved in this process, or express

interest in these supports, please email parentsupport@gateways.com.au To learn more about this program and the support available, please visit www.gateways.com.au

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It’s Your Life

Great summer toy giveaway KIDS Today magazines have teamed up with some great brands to give away a heap of cool toys this summer.

A Wahu pack valued at $139.92 which includes:

To put yourself in the running to win one - or all - of the prizes, visit geelongcoastkids.com.au/competitions

■ Wahu Mega Slide 7.5m, RRP $59.99: Kids will love racing down this massive 7.5m super slide. The continuous water spray means you’ll be zooming down the slide and into the plash bumper in no time! Ages 6+

Hurry! Entries close 2 February. Here’s what you can win...

VTech pack valued at $224.80 which includes: ■ Play & Chase Puppy, RRP $49.95: Get playtime on a roll with the interactive Play & Chase Puppy. More than 65 songs, melodies, sounds and phrases help children learn vocabulary words along with lively tunes. Ages 12 months - 3 years.

for an added challenge. Can also be filled with water in its’ base to play on land too! Ages 6+

■ Wahu Hole in Won, RRP $24.95: This inflatable game set includes 1 Hole in Won game board plus 4 sandbags. The waterproof PVC base floats and moves in the water

■ Surfer Dudes Classic, RRP $29.99: Surfer Dudes are the world’s first self-righting, self-surfing toy! Toss your dudes into the surf. They’ll catch and shred the waves, throwing down rippin’ tricks all the way back to you! Ages 6+

■ Blue’s Clues & You Mail Time with Mailbox, RRP $39: Drop the letters in Mailbox and raise his flag to hear phrases from the show. Listen as Mailbox delivers each letter featuring a special message.

Just Play Christmas Pack, valued at $183.99 which includes: ■ Barbie Fashionistas Styling Head, RRP $20: Barbie’s thick flowing hair is perfect for brushing, twisting, and pinning into chic styles! Use the barrettes and hair ties for a fancy up-do; use the brush and hair twists for a sleek top bun!

■ Toot-Toot Friends 2-in-1 Dinosaur Park, RRP $89.95: Get ready for a Dinosaur adventure in this truck which opens up into an amazing Dinosaur Park. Explore the park with the Park Ranger and interact with the dinosaurs.

Place characters onto the MagicPoint location to see them respond with fun phrases, sing-along songs, lively sounds and more. Ages 1-5 years.

■ Disney Junior Minnie Mouse Ring Me Rotary Phone, RRP $24.99: This vibrant pink phone has a glitter bow and features adorable Minnie Mouse phrases, realistic telephone sounds and fun light up effects!

■ Disney Doorables Puffables, RRP $20: Discover this fun unboxing experience which includes a 10-inch squishable plush Stitch, Frozen or Mickey Mouse plush hidden inside a tiny house with characters featuring signature Doorables stylised detailing and sparkly glitter eyes.

■ Disney Doorables Multi Peek Pack x2, RRP $15ea: Discover the Magic Key to reveal a secret image behind the door. Use the key to search and find how many Hidden Mickeys are in the image!

■ Play & Go Puppy Salon, RRP $49.95: Open the pet carrier to groom your pup. Lights and sound effects enrich playtime as you pretend to wash, comb, dry and clip this soft pup. Ages 2-5 years.

■ Switch & Go Dinos Smash & Crash Crew, RRP $34.95: Stomp into the cool, crazy world of prehistoric creatures that turn into vehicles with the Smash & Crash Crew! Crash the Switch & Go Dinos into another one to see them explode with smash-andcrash light effects. Ages 3-8 years.

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

■ Wahu Pool Pets Croc, RRP $24.99: Kids will love these awesome new inflatable pool racers in bright funky Wahu colours. Perfect for racing up and down the pool or try and balance on them.

■ CoComelon Stacking Train, RRP $50: Children can get their numbers, shapes, and colours right on track with the CoComelon Stacking Train. Each big, colourful block features numbers 0-9. Use the blocks to build a train with this 40-piece construction set.

Spark curiosity and get kids ‘zooming’ in on nature (think leaves, flowers, feathers and insects) with this super portable, hand-held microscope.

Osmo Math Wizard and the Fantastic Food Truck valued at $99.99 The newest release from STEAM toy experts Osmo, this is a geometry-focused game that introduces kids to core maths concepts like angles, area and volume. Combining digital gameplay with active, hands-on learning, Osmo’s Math Wizard helps children build confidence in their maths skills through imagination, reasoning and exploration. Players become chefs who use kitchen appliances and a dash of magic to customize dishes, from pizza to sushi, sandwiches, pastries and more!

■ Paper Binoculars - Bird Spotter, RRP $12: Make your own set of paper binoculars, then head outside for all manner of feathered discoveries in the backyard or local park.

Tiger Tribe Nature Explorer Activity Pack valued at $100 ■ Outdoor Activity Set - Back to Nature, RRP $25: Jam packed with engaging activities, hands-on projects, a handy magnifying glass, coloured chalk and notetaking pencil, this kit encourages observation and interaction with nature.

■ Explorer Microscope Set, RRP $35:

■ Bug Spotter Kit, RRP $13: Designed to safely catch and release garden creepy crawlies (and observe them up close with the magnifying lid), this kit comes with an illustrated activity book providing bug tips and best places to spot.

■ Magic Painting World - Aussie Animals, RRP $15: Use the magic paintbrush to discover a bunch of cute Aussie animals. Simply add water to bring them to life with every brush-stroke.

Products are part of Tiger Tribe’s charity partnership with the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife (FNPW).

SUMMER 2021 13

It’s Your Life

Get outside, have some fun and work on your communication and team building skills at Next Level Skirmish.

With 7000m² of space, Next Level Skirmish is a COVID safe activity for all ages.

Entertainment hitting targets IT’S time to break out and have some real laugh out loud fun while running around a battlefield shooting lasers.

Laser Skirmish is like paintball without the mess and bruises - a super fun sport that gets you working autonomously and as a team member.

When you play, you improve your communication skills. It’s a team building experience, helping you to hone your leadership and strategy building abilities. It also involves constant communication amongst

players while devising a watertight strategy to attack opponents.

Next Level Skirmish allows your mind to think and plan strategies which can outwit your opponents. It’s this use of full body and mind that makes it feel so rewarding.

Suitable for ages 6 to 96, if you can walk and hold a gun, you can fight in the laser war that is raging in the industrial estate of Geelong North. It is one of the only activities around where kids, grandparents and parents alike

Serene Specialist Babysitting Service

You don’t have to take it too seriously - you can always just run around shooting people, screaming, laughing, getting shot, having epic death scenes and heroic comebacks from the dead!

Channel your inner spy and set yourself up behind a barrel, shooting everyone as they run past with your sniper, not once breaking a sweat. Whatever you choose to do it is bound to be a good time!

“It’s the best stress relief I have ever

had,” says Joanne, a Belmont mum of three boys under 12.

“We are coming back next week!”

Don’t miss out on an adventure likely to be one of the best experiences you have this summer. Book online and play the best sport in the world! Bring your friends - the more players the more kills!

Next Level Skirmish is located at 15 Douro Street, North Geelong. For more information, phone 1300 318 967 or visit www.NextLevelSkirmish.com.au

Child minding for special needs kids

Providing specialist, bespoke childcare with in-home expert support and care - whatever the unique needs of your child are.

1h con r free sult atio n

Serence Specialist Babysitting Services provides a professional and safe service for children who have experienced or display behaviours in relation to: • Trauma

• Autism

• ADHD

• Conduct Disorder

• Sensory Issues • Children who find it difficult to regulate their emotions • Children who find it difficult to engage with others • Children who engage in problematic sexualised behaviours

Working with Children Check, St Johns First Aid certificate, COVID vaccination certificate & Australia Wide Police Check can all be provided.

To contact Barbara Kent phone 0401 186 599 or email admin@serenespecialistbabysittingservice.com.au www.serenespecialistbabysittingservice.com.au 12494005-BL48-21

14 SUMMER 2021

can play and have a great time.

SINCE 2005, Barbara Kent has been practicing as a social worker, and as a trauma counsellor and case manager she has gained considerable expertise in the specialist field of the impact of trauma.

With a degree in social work and a postgraduate qualification, Barbara is able to understand and manage children in an informed and gentle way.

She is experienced in dealing with challenging children whose behaviour may be aggressive, angry, withdrawn, or disruptive due to a variety of reasons. It is imperative that parents of a child with specialist care needs feel they can leave their child in safe and competent hands. This is why when it comes to highly skilled special needs babysitting services, Barbara offers specialist, bespoke childcare by administering in-home expert support and care.

With sensitive cultural training, she is experienced in working with Indigenous families and has worked in the community, understanding the importance of land, culture and family to First Nations people.

Barbara provides a free one-hour consultation to meet your child, discuss their needs and any existing behaviour management plans, and to ensure that a trusting relationship can be formed.

Barbara Kent is highly skilled and experienced in working with children with special needs or exposure to trauma.

Serene Specialist Babysitting Service respects the privacy and confidentiality of your family and children.

Barbara provides care to children in Geelong and the Surf Coast, as well as Werribee, Hoppers Crossing, Point Cook and Colac areas.

Rest assured your children are in safe hands - Barbara is fully vaccinated against Covid-19, has a current Working with Children’s Check, St John’s First Aid Certificate, and Australia-Wide Police Check.

For more information, visit www. serenespecialistbabysittingservice. com.au or phone 0401 186 599. www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

Health

Bump, Birth & Bub The team at Epworth Maternity has distilled decades of knowledge and practical tips to create Bump, Birth & Bub.

PLANNING to have a baby or discovering you’re expecting is a special time, but you might also find that you have more questions than answers.

which can be overwhelming. Even well-meaning loved ones can offer advice which is outdated or unhelpful,” Nicole said.

The team at Epworth Maternity has distilled decades of knowledge and practical tips to create ‘Bump, Birth & Bub’, which is fast becoming an invaluable resource for all parents to be.

This fresh approach to pregnancy, birth and those precious newborn weeks is easy to read and it will become your “go to” maternity book.

The Bump, Birth & Bub book.

“This book has quite literally been a labour of love for our team. As with everything we do, it’s centred around our patients. A number of our families helped shape the content, while others have shared beautiful, raw moments with us within the book’s gorgeous images.

“Families should feel supported and empowered about their pregnancy, birth and newborn care. There is an incredible amount of information online

“We’ve placed QR codes throughout the book as an easy link to our Mobile Midwife videos, available from our Epworth website. These short videos cover topics like nappy changes, baby

Birth Suite Nurse Unit Manager, Nicole Paine, says “it’s important to get the right information when you’re pregnant”.

bath time and lots more.

“Bump, Birth & Bub also discusses the importance of your physical and mental wellbeing. With expert advice from Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA), we hope to help normalise support for mental health issues, by highlighting warning signs and how to seek help.

“We know that babies don’t come with a handbook but Bump, Birth & Bub might be the next best thing,” Nicole said.

To request your free copy of Bump, Birth & Bub by Epworth Maternity visit Epworth.org.au/maternity or scan the QR code to learn more.

Time for Aussie teens to get physically active

By Melissa Meehan A new study has revealed Australian teens are some of the least active in the world.

The study, published in The Lancet, ranked Aussie kids 140th out of 146 countries for physical activity.

And in 2018, a physical activity report card have Australian kids a D-minus for overall physical activity levels.

It found that only one in 10 Australian adolescents meet the World Health Organisation’s guidelines for daily physical activity.

When comparing differences in genders, boys were more than twice as likely to meet the physical activity recommendations than girls (21 per cent compared to 9 per cent), with girls citing a number of personal barriers to participating in physical activity, the most common being feeling selfconscious when undertaking physical activity.

Girls were around twice as likely to note feeling self-conscious, with 30 per cent of girls reporting this, compared to only 16 per cent of males feeling this way.

When looking at reasons for being physically active, girls were more likely than boys to report weight management as a reason, with 77 per www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

Aussie kids are lagging behind when it comes to physical activity.

cent of girls reporting this compared to 73 per cent of boys.

The Cancer Council of Australia called on increased support for younger Australians to get active.

Clare Hughes, Chair of Cancer Council’s national Nutrition and Physical Activity Committee said very few young people are meeting the recommended guidelines.

“Physical activity in teenage years sets up good habits for your adult years,” she said.

“Being physically active reduces the risk of unhealthy weight gain and reduces the risk of developing 13 different types of cancer later in life including endometrial, breast and bowel cancer so we really want to see as many teens as possible setting up good exercise habits while they are young.”

Ms Hughes continued, “When we look at the combined cohort, over half (52 per cent) said a lack of physical activity options in school was a barrier and almost as many (48 per cent) said they were too far from school to walk or ride.”

The study was based on 298 schoolbased surveys from 146 countries including 1.6 million students aged 11-17.

SUMMER 2021 15

Health

Insights into picky eating

By Melissa Grant

likelihood of picky eating.

PICKY eating is something many parents deal with.

On the flip side, the most commonly reported external factors that decrease the likelihood of picky eaters are family meals, responsive parents, and involving the child in the preparation of food.

When your child rejects a substantial amount of food it can be frustrating and cause you to worry about their nutritional intake.

So, why does a child become a picky eater and is there anything you can do to get them to eat a greater variety of food?

New research from the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) has identified the most common external factors that increase and decrease the likelihood of picky eating in children under the age of 10.

USC student and academic Laine Chilman reviewed 80 health industry studies, largely based on parents’ reporting of their children’s picky eating, for her PhD paper ‘Picky Eating in Children’.

Her research found that authoritarian parenting, rewards for eating and pressuring a child to eat were external factors that appear to increase the

The study also found that a child’s personality and increased sensitivity, particularly to taste and smell, were the most common internal features of a picky eater.

Furthermore, firstborns seemed to have a higher likelihood of being a picky eater. This is something that rings true for Ms Chilman - her eldest son is picky when it comes to food.

USC PhD student Laine Chilman sharing a meal with her children.

practical or psychological impacts for parents/caregivers.

She said the papers she researched noted that picky eating tended to be a toddler-appropriate behaviour.

easier said than done as these things take time, which many families don’t have a lot of.

The aim of her study is to help families with mealtimes.

“Developmentally, they are learning different rules of the world but they are also quite protective - they don’t like change,” she said.

“I hope my research provides insights that help support – not blame – parents, caregivers and health professionals,” she said.

“It’s quite developmentally appropriate. The concern is if it keeps going.”

Ms Chilman, who has worked as a nurse and occupational therapist, is continuing her PhD on picky eating.

“With the other two it was more like this is what we are having.”

So what are the things you can do to help address the issue?

Ms Chilman said picky eating was an umbrella term for consistent behaviours such as rejecting substantial amounts of food based on texture, novelty or appearance, with associated

Ms Chilman suggests finding a time for the family to have dinner together and getting picky eaters involved in food preparation.

The findings of Ms Chilman’s PhD paper, with co-authors from USC, the University of South Australia and The University of Queensland, have been published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

“I think it’s different when it’s the first (born) because you have more time to make alternate meals and I wonder if I did a few things that weren’t perfect,” the mother of three said.

Although she added that this was

Epworth Geelong Maternity

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www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

Education

Preparing for prep There are steps you can take at home to prepare your child for Prep.

By Melissa Grant

exact,” she said.

STARTING school is a major milestone in a child’s life and a major transition.

“Walk them through the routine - the night time routine including getting ready their school uniform, lunch box, drink bottle.

So how do you best prepare your child for Prep?

Deakin University parenting expert Dr Elizabeth Westrupp says there are steps parents can take now to help with the transition.

Dr Westrupp, a clinical psychologist and senior lecturer in Deakin’s Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development (SEED), says that while most kids are very adaptable, it’s important parents exude a “calm confidence” and happily answer any question their child may have about school.

Here, Dr Westrupp shares her top tips for helping the transition go more smoothly: ■ Talk about school: Kids are usually pretty excited about going to school, but it is helpful for parents to talk about what happens at school. Dr Westrupp says parents should explain what going to school is all about.

“Talk about a typical day in school, it doesn’t have to be perfect or

“As a parent you want to set your child’s expectations so there aren’t many surprises on the day.”

She says it’s also important to talk, in an age-appropriate way, about any questions or worries your child may have about starting school.

“Some children tend to worry about things. Give your child a base to chat about anything that’s on their mind.

“The way parents respond is how it shapes the child. If they are calm and confident that will reassure children. It’s really important that kids start with some enthusiasm so making it sound exciting, a positive, exciting thing.”

Mark the milestone with a celebration and/or take some photos of your child in their uniform before you take them to school for the first time.

■ Get your child involved: As your child’s first day of school approaches, get your child involved and make it

fun. Dr Westrupp says it’s a good idea to get your child involved in preparing everything for their first day. This includes their school uniform/outfit, deciding what will be in their first lunchbox and what is going in their school bag.

“When kids are involved in planning it makes it more fun and makes them more confident,” she said.

■ Make adjustments to sleep: Over the summer holidays, many families relax bedtimes and routines. Dr Westrupp says it’s helpful if you give your child a week or two to adapt to the school routine before they actually start. This means getting up early or setting a time to wake up.

“I suggest families set an alarm clock at the time their kids need to wake at school time, at least a week beforehand,” she said.

Although kids may be grumpy to start with, it should only last a few days.

■ Practice concentration: Learning in a classroom requires long periods of concentration.

“It might be good in those couple

of weeks before school getting them to do some reading, sitting down and doing shared book reading, puzzles, artworks and writing letters, ” Dr Westrupp said.

You should also explain to your child that in school they will have to listen to what their teacher wants them to do and sit for periods of time.

■ Nutrition: You need to make sure you are providing your child with the right fuel as nutrition is important for brain development. Dr Westrupp says to keep nutrition simple with healthy foods like sandwiches and fruits.

■ Prepare for a tired child: When a child starts school, their little brains do so much as it’s a big transition.

“The new rules, the way classrooms work is quite a jump from kindergarten which is play-based,” Dr Westrupp said.

“Most kids will be a bit more grumpy at home because home is the safe space, so they can let their feelings out at home.”

This means you will have to be a little more patient and gentle with your child, and make sure they go to bed on time.

What to consider when selecting child care ■ Do your preferred options have waitlists? Are there spots on the days you require care for? How early can you drop your child off and how late can you pick them up?

By Melissa Grant THE new year is a popular time for parents to enrol their children in child care.

■ How much will it cost? Are you eligible for the Child Care Subsidy?

Providers will be able to advise you of their fees and you’ll need to check how much child care subsidy you are eligible for.

Mums and dads may be going back to work or study, need occasional care or want their child to start spending time in an educational setting.

Whatever the reason, there is a lot to consider when you have decided to put your little one in child care.

■ Is your child up to date with their immunisations? To get the child care subsidy, your child must meet immunisation requirements.

Firstly, you need to determine what kind of care is appropriate for your circumstances.

■ Have you submitted your child care subsidy claim with Centrelink? Be sure to do this early as it can take time to process. The government pays the subsidy directly to your child care provider to reduce the fees you pay.

Should you enrol your child in a long day care centre, find a family day care service or consider hiring a nanny?

The answer will depend on how many hours of care you require, your child’s needs and, perhaps, your financial situation.

Then there’s the process of finding a suitable child care option and applying for the child care subsidy.

When arranging care for your child, here’s what you should consider: ■ How many hours of care do you need? www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

Child care... there are a lot of things to consider and arrange before enrolling your child in a child care service.

■ Do you want your child cared for at a centre or in a home environment?

■ Do you need care that’s close to home or work? What options are there in the area?

■ What are the quality ratings of the child care services you are considering? You can check the quality ratings at the Starting Blocks website https://www.startingblocks. gov.au/find-child-care

■ What will you have to pack when you send your child to child care?

Does the service provide nappies and food? How many changes of clothes do they recommend?

For more information about the child care subsidy, visit https://www. servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/ services/centrelink/child-care-subsidy SUMMER 2021 17

Education

How to deal with school refusal

By Melissa Grant FOR most kids, getting to school each day is pretty uncomplicated. They have breakfast, brush their teeth, put on their uniform and go.

However some students find attending school difficult and struggle with what’s called ‘school refusal’.

In its simplest form, school refusal is when a student can’t go to school. They don’t want to be there and will show features of emotional distress such as headaches or stomach aches.

Prolonged lockdowns in Victoria have led to more families experiencing school refusal.

Before the pandemic, an estimated 2-5 per cent of students were school

refusing. It’s estimated those rates tripled when school returned between lockdowns.

Education expert Dr Lisa McKayBrown says school refusal can happen at any point, but can be linked to periods of transition. It also seems to be more prevalent between Years 5 and 9.

This is because of shifts in friendship groups and increased challenges of schooling at this time, according to Dr McKay-Brown who is part of the learning intervention team at Melbourne University.

She says there are usually warning signs for parents.

“Often you’ll hear things like ‘I don’t feel well today’, ‘I have a headache or a stomach ache, I don’t think I can face it’. Generally the symptoms subside if they don’t have to go to school,” she said.

She said children may also negotiate about going to school by asking to be picked up early, or struggle to get out of bed, the house or the car.

The return of school after the weekend or holidays can also be particularly challenging, with children becoming clingy or tearful.

In these situations, Dr McKay-Brown said it was important to note that school refusal might just be one of the things going on.

“Research shows around 50 per cent of children presenting with school refusal have a mental health disorder,” she said.

Dr McKay-Brown said while there is anecdotal evidence that school refusal rates had tripled since the pandemic, more research is taking place.

“It’s been a time of high stress,” she explained.

“I think some people who may have been at risk of school refusal before the remote learning experience, for them it (remote learning) became an experience that the feelings of anxiety and worry when they had to go to school lessened.”

She said parents and schools had to be careful when considering remote learning or home schooling as a solution to school refusal.

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18 SUMMER 2021

“Anecdotally we find that young people who are school refusing are less likely to engage in those types of learning situations,” she said.

It’s important to address school refusal. In the short-term, school refusal can impact on a young person’s education, learning and peer relationships. Leaving school altogether can have long-term impacts as the young person won’t achieve their educational potential. Any mental health issues that aren’t address can have impacts into adulthood.”

So what can you do if your child is school refusing?

Dr McKay-Brown suggests the following: ■ Have conversations with your child to get a better sense of what is happening. Ask questions like ‘how are you feeling about school?’ and ‘are there some things that are difficult for you at school?’

■ Communicate with your child’s school. You don’t want absences to continue so let the school know what’s happening and ask them if they have any support or advice ■ School relationships. Relationships are important when returning to school.

What check-ins can be organised? Is there a way of having peer connections maintained?

■ Seek professional support. A GP is your first point of call. They will determine if there needs to be some kind of mental health referral.

Starting this process is important given the long wait times to see mental health professionals.

■ Maintain school routines. If you are at home it’s important to maintain the routine of a school day. Get your child out of bed, get them sitting at the table when it’s class time and keep them from more pleasurable activities such as gaming. If you are going to go for a walk do it in recess time.

■ Self-care. Parents need to think about their own self-care. They may need to seek support and family counselling can be helpful as school refusal is something that can impact the family unit.

The good news is that with the right support, young people who are school refusing can return to the classroom.

“It’s not forever - we know we can get young people back to school, it just takes time and it takes working on it,” Dr McKay-Brown said. www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

Reality Bites

Caring for vulnerable kids Grovedale’s LIBBIE ARNOTT has provided a dozen of our most vulnerable children with a safe home to laugh, play and thrive since early 2016. She speaks to LUKE VOOGT about the challenges and “privilege” of being a foster carer.

Libbie Arnott.

LIBBIE Arnott’s passion for protecting and caring for some Geelong’s most vulnerable children began with a move to help a friend with their newborn twins.

The Tasmanian-born former Melburnian moved down in February 2015 after studying a diploma of youth work.

“They already had two sons and the eldest has Down syndrome,” she said.

“They just needed a little extra help.”

A few months after moving, Libbie began putting her training to use working for MacKillop Family Services in residential care homes across Geelong.

She worked morning, evening and overnight as one of a team providing 24/7 supervision for homeless and orphaned children, or children from unstable, abusive and dangerous home environments.

“It was quite an eye-opening experience that we have young people in our community that have to live in this environment,” she said.

“Your teenage years are hard enough – let alone living with strangers and not having that family home and support.

“There were difficult times, but it was

always in the back my head that there was an underlying reason for the behaviour.

“I absolutely loved getting to know these young people and having the opportunity to support them.

“Studying youth work and working in residential care made me acutely aware of the number of children in the area who need safe homes.”

In early 2016 she decided to open her own home to a 16-year-old girl living in residential care.

“She was unable to live with her parents,” she said.

“They asked if I would be interested in being a foster carer for her. It was very tough, at times – she had lots going on.”

But Libbie persisted, looking after the teenager until she was old enough to move into a home of her own.

Several years later, the young woman has a daughter and has followed Libbie’s path into social work, completing a certificate III in community services. They still remain in touch.

“She is an amazing mother,” Libbie said.

Picture: Louisa Jones

“Her daughter calls me grandmother, which is hilarious, because I’m 32.”

Libbie is now looking after a fouryear-old and their six-year-old cousin, the latest of about a dozen children she has fostered while working reduced hours in residential care.

“I feel privileged to be part of their lives,” she said.

“It’s a huge privilege to be able to create a safe space for them to thrive and see them laugh, play and be a child without having to worry about anything else that’s going on.”

But foster carers like Libbie face added financial strain due to the under-funding of essential support services, according to Foster Care Association of Victoria (FCAV).

According to the association, three quarters of foster carers say having a child in their care has had a negative impact on their finances.

Fifty-nine per cent regularly use their own money to pay for child-related expenses and 55 per cent struggle to navigate child protection systems and processes.

Covid-19 has further increased these

difficulties, according to FCAV. While Libbie said MacKillop had provided “great support”, she agreed services for foster carers were “hugely underfunded”.

“I think more funding needs to go into these crucial services to protect young people,” she said.

Libbie pays for sports and swimming classes for her foster kids out of her own pocket, services she believes should be government-funded.

“That’s a choice that I make because I want the kids to be doing those things, which are really important for their well-being,” she said.

She also admits to occasional difficulty navigating Victorian Child Protection Service processes, despite working in the sector.

“There would be so many people that don’t understand half the stuff that is being said,” she said.

Many foster carers have to chase child protection for refunds of expenses they should not have had to pay in the first place, according to FCAV. And a lack of access to birth certificates and Medicare cards can make getting extra support more difficult, meaning foster carers often feel pressured to pay for health and education expenses not covered by their care allowance, the association says.

Victorian Child Protection Minister Luke Donellan recently announced streamlined arrangements for obtaining birth certificates and committed to developing a reformed client expenses framework, changes Libbie hopes will help make life easier for foster carers.

“It’s crucially needed,” she said.

But for her the joys of being a foster carer still easily outweigh the challenges.

“When people hear I’m a foster carer, they think you have to be some kind of superhero, but it’s not like that at all,” she said.

“You just need love and space in your heart and home for these precious children – you get back far more than you put in.

“There are so many children who need our support.”

For details on becoming a foster carer visit mackillop.org.au or phone 1300 791 677.

Mum’s experience helps acne sufferers

By Melissa Meehan WHEN Judy Cheung-Wood was a teenager, she suffered terrible acne.

And it followed her into adulthood.

“I started all of the brands at the supermarket but I found they ended up irritating my skin, so by the time I was in uni I was using very expensive products – I didn’t care if the bottle was $50 and when it didn’t work I just kept trying he next product,” Judy told Kids Today.

“So it got to the point that I had exhausted the market and I was reading some research about the benefits of vitamin B5 and I was absolutely fascinated.”

From there, this busy Melbourne mum of one started her holistic business, called SkinB5 that saw her win the gold in the 2021 AusMumpreneur Global Brand Award as well as a silver for product innovation and multicultural business excellence.

“For decades, no one challenged the conventional approach to treating acne – using harsh chemicals to kill bacteria associated with acne breakouts, merely managing the symptoms,” Judy said.

“These wins showcase the traction www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

that we have made and help refuel our passion to help acne sufferers with our nutraceutical Australian made products.”

SkinB5 is an Australian made skincare product composed of dermanutraceuticals, which treat acne holistically without side effects.

And it now has health professionals are recommending SkinB5 as an alternative to prescription acne medication.

The patented vitamin formula found in SkinB5 addresses the underlying causes of acne rather than just the symptoms.

Thousands of acne sufferers have left 5 star reviews and they call SkinB5 a ‘game changer’.

“In healing my own skin, I’m deeply driven to help others confidently present their full face and vision to the world,” Judy said.

It is no surprise she went down that path either, her grandfather was a chemist and manufacturer of natural skin products too.

She believes she has inherited his expertise and passion for traditional, nutritional medicine and creation of

natural skincare products.

It is no mean feat creating a skincare empire with a young daughter in tow, she’s now seven, but Judy says it’s really important to set aside some me time.

Judy built the business from a ground up, launching online with no advertising.

However, with a little help from her friends at AusTrade – who invited her on an international trip to sell her wares before she even had a product.

“We had an idea, but no product – so we had to get that sorted before we went on that trip,” she said.

Now, she sells her product worldwide, includes Singapore, Philippines.

“I always use the philosophy of putting on an oxygen mask on yourself when in a plane before you out it on your child, and in life I think we have to do that,” she said.

“I actually schedule a walk every day in my calendar because it doesn’t happen otherwise.”

To read more about Judy’s product go to www.skinb5.com

Melbourne mum Judy Cheung-Wood started her own business based on her experience with teenage acne.

SUMMER 2021 19

and three heart surgeries since her diagnosis.

Reality Bites

Justine won silver for the disabled business excellence and creative entrepreneur categories, and bronze for pivotting her business and overcoming the odds.

But she described her coaching award as the most special.

“I want to be known, not just for my disability, and to be at the top of that category proves I’m more than just my disability,” she said.

Armstrong Creek GP, businesswoman and mother-of-two Saba Qutub won both the Multicultural Business Excellence and Health Business awards for Victoria.

“I feel honoured, elated and inspired,” she said.

Marshall grandmother Justine Martin won gold at the AusMumpreneur awards for her coaching and mentoring.

Geelong mums win big at entrepreneur awards

By Luke Voogt

the Year award for teaching art for wellness and her resilience coaching.

“There’s never been a more poignant time for that than now.”

CANCER survivor Justine Martin is among four Geelong mums who have won big at the AusMumpreneur finals.

In her coaching Justine helps clients with everything from setting up a planner to navigating the obstacles of starting their own business.

Justine made the AusMumpreneur finals in 10 categories, and has spoken about her artistic journey after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2011.

“I’m just blown away,” the Marshall resident said.

“What that will do for my business is huge.”

Justine won the Victorian Coach of

“It could be that they’ve had a breakup with someone and want to get their life back on track, or they’re in a job they hate and want to start their own business,” she said.

“I was told I would never be able to work again. Never tell me ‘can’t’,” she said.

She has also survived three cancers

“I greatly admire the other women and finalists in the AusMumprenur awards. Every single one of them is an incredible woman and doing such an amazing job at being a mum and a business owner.”

Dr Qutub and her husband migrated from India several years ago before opening their practice, Armstrong Health, in 2017.

During the pandemic she has juggled adapting her practice to the challenges of Covid-19 with pivoting her skincare business online and home-schooling her children – from work.

Her daughters, aged 8 and 11, stayed at home during last year’s lockdowns with her parents-in-law, who lived with them at the time.

Hushabye Baby founder and Bannockburn sleep consultant Amy Huebner won silver in the People’s Choice Well-being category, while Torquay artist Katharine Rattray also won silver at the awards.

From Melbourne to London for pandemic pregnancy

By Melissa Meehan BEING pregnant during the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns is tough.

But imagine being stranded on the other side of the world, numerous flights cancelled and having only two weeks before you’re no longer legally able to fly.

This was a reality for Melbourne mum Radhika Sahu and her husband Utkarsh.

The pair were living in London when Radhika was first pregnant and lived there for seven-and-a-half months of her pregnancy.

It was during the height of the pandemic in the UK – all retail and services were closed.

“It’s safe to say we did a lot of walking, discovering London on foot,” Radhika said.

But while seeing London from a different view was exciting, the reality of the pandemic coming to an end sooner than later seemed like an impossible dream.

It seemed unlikely they would be able to travel home with the new baby 20 SUMMER 2021

or have family come visit.

“Thankfully we had flights booked through my husband’s work, but despite that we had five cancellations before we were able to board a flight home,” she said.

“If we were cancelled once more, I doubt we would have been able to come home. I was two weeks away from not being able to fly while pregnant.”

So the couple flew to Brisbane where they completed their two week quarantine and then to Melbourne.

“There was definitely tears when we landed, we thought thank God we made it,” she said.

From there they had seven weeks to find somewhere to live and buy all of the baby necessities.

Luckily for them, the shops were open during that time.

Baby Aneeka was born on 8 February 2021. Melbourne went into a snap lockdown just one day later.

Thankfully the lockdown only lasted five days, and Radhika and Aneeka were able to connect with other mums and bubs through their local mothers group a few times before the longer lockdown of 2021.

“I have the most amazing mum’s

Mum Radhika and her daughter Aneeka.

group, I am so thankful for them,” she said.

Picture: Rob Carew

She said being able to meet face-toface allowed them to bond before they were forced to connect virtually.

“We are just so thankful to be back in Melbourne. That was our priority and looking at the bigger picture, I’m just so happy to be in the same city as my family,” she said.

And while her pregnancy wasn’t exactly what was expected, being able to live in the same city as her family (pandemic or not) gave Radhika some perspective on the issue.

“Sure there are things we would have loved to do, including getting some more travel in or being a little bit more prepared in terms of shopping – but we are just so glad that we got back home.” www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

Books

A ‘Wandi’ful book for kids

By Melissa Grant THERE’S a true story about a dingo pup that fell out of the sky and into the backyard of a Victorian home.

Now that story is being shared in the form of a children’s book to raise awareness about purebred alpine dingoes, a species in need of protection.

Critically acclaimed author Favel Parrett wrote the book Wandi, named after the dingo that she’s come to know incredibly well.

Favel volunteers at the Dingo Discovery Sanctuary, where Wandi has lived since falling from the sky in August 2019.

Marks on Wandi’s back suggested he was picked up by a wedge-tail eagle or an owl and taken from his home in the mountains and dropped into a suburban backyard in Wandiligong, near Bright.

A woman found Wandi, who was just five weeks old at the time, crying in a garden and initially thought he was a dog or fox. However, DNA testing revealed he was in fact a purebred alpine dingo.

Wandi was taken to Dingo Discovery Sanctuary, where he was nursed back to health and paired with a female cub.

Wandi became an overnight sensation, with his incredible survival story making headlines around the world.

It’s a story Parrett wanted to tell in a children’s book. She longs for young readers to fall in love with alpine dingoes like she has.

Parrett met her first dingo a few years ago while visiting the sanctuary for a ‘cuddle a cub’ tour.

She thought she would be cuddling some cute cubs, but was instead blown away by what she discovered about the species.

She knew she was in the “presence of greatness” when she learned that they could hear human heartbeats from 25 metres away.

“They are hyper intelligent, their intelligence is beyond,” she said.

“Also, wherever their head can fit, they can fit. They can dislocate both of their shoulders and their hips.”

Parrett is at the sanctuary twice a

Wandi the dingo dingo.

week and has seen Wandi come leaps and bounds since meeting him as a four-month-old pup.

The wonder dingo recently became a dad to six cubs and has amassed more than 56,000 followers on Instagram.

Wandi’s journey to fatherhood is central to the book. According to Parrett, it’s a story of hope as it ends with the famous dingo having his own family. However he is missing his own parents and siblings and wishing they could all be free in the wild.

Author Favel Parrett is passionate about dingoes.

Unfortunately, Parrett says it’s impossible to “rewild” the sanctuary’s dingoes due to the threats they face. including being shot by hunters.

of great need,” she said.

Parrett hopes her story can rewrite the role of alpine dingoes and teach children to be proud of the apex predator.

She believes Wandi’s fall from the sky has a purpose.

Wandi is available at local bookstores.

The book is also available at wandithedingo.com.au, with all proceeds from the book and merchandise going to the sanctuary.

“Wandi has come here for a reason, we believe Wandi came to us at a time

You can also follow Wandi on Instagram at wandi_dingo

“He’s our ambassador to show, let’s give dingoes a chance… and say, hey let’s be proud.”

Children’s books...

Cookie

Little Big Bully

Isabelle Duff, illustrated by Susannah Crispe

Trace Moroney

A heartwarming book about the beautiful bond between Girl and her Border Collie Cookie that is a sensitive exploration of childhood depression. The inseparable pair play together and learn how to make each other happy, even on the days when Cookie is the only one who can make Girl smile. The book is inspired by the author’s personal experiences with acute depressive disorder and anxiety, and by her wonderful dog, Saffy, who has been an invaluable support to her. A valuable resource for reducing stigmatism around mental illness, and a tribute to the loved ones who are able to get you out of bed when nothing else can.

A thoughtful book that sensitively describes how and why bullying happens. It explores a range of wellresearched techniques to develop coping skills and proactive strategies that describe what to do when bullying occurs.

Little Big Bully is part of Trace Moroney’s new My Emotions Series about big feelings for little people. The first of two titles in the series (the other is The Grief Wave) which equips kids with valuable skills to navigate their way through life’s ups and downs.

A must read for kids aged 4+ eQ Publications, RRP $20.99

Kid President Totally Rules!

Who’s a Goose?

Deltora Quest

Scott Stuart

Emily Rodda

Jack Health, illustrated by Max Rambaldi

A hilarious book about two gaggling geese that will make kids giggle. The geese are grappling with how collective nouns apply to a variety of animals, from a barrel of monkeys to a cool waddle of penguins. One goose is goose, and two goose is geese… you get the idea! Serious Bruce is trying to teach silly-billy Bill but it’s not going that well. And when some foxes arrive, the lesson is pretty much over! With animated illustrations and rhyming text, this is a fun read for kids aged 3+

A special 21st anniversary edition of Deltora Quest from award-winning author Emily Rodda that features the much-loved series of eight books.

What would your child do if they were president? In this comedy from award-winning Aussie author Jack Heath, Jaxxon has accidentally been elected as the first Kid President. He wants free ice-cream in schools, homework to be made illegal and national parks to become skate parks. Sounds awesome, right? Well not everyone is happy and they want Jaxxon kicked out of the presidential office. Can Jaxxon remain president and show everyone that he totally rules? For readers aged 9+ Scholastic Australia, RRP $17.99

Scholastic Australia, RRP $17.99

Three companions - Leif, Barda and Jasmine - are on a quest to find the seven lost gems of the Belt of Deltora. Once the belt is complete the evil rule of Shadow Lord will be overcome.

This gripping novel is set in the fantasy world of Deltora, a kingdom of magic and monsters, bordered by the sea and a vast, curving mountain range, beyond which is an unknown territory called the Shadowlands.

For readers aged 8+ Scholastic Australia, RRP $39.99

EK Books, RRP $24.99 www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

SUMMER 2021 21

Kids Calendar

What's on

this summer

UNTIL 7 JANUARY

11 DECEMBER

31 DECEMBER

FLOATING CHRISTMAS TREE SOUND AND LIGHT SHOW

CREATIVE GEELONG MAY’D FESTIVAL

DAWNBUSTER FUN RUN

Geelong’s spectacular Floating Christmas Tree sound and light show will be staged each night between 8.30pm and midnight. Each show lasts about 6 minutes and plays every 15 minutes.

The tree is 25 metres tall and is moored at Steampacket Quay, Waterfront Geelong, near the Carousel.

You can watch the show in person or online via a live feed.

Free event.

Steampacket Quay, Eastern Beach Road, Waterfront Geelong

A festival showcasing local makers and an opportunity to meet local artists, makers and creators of all things made locally. Entry is free and all items are for sale. A great opportunity to support local makers and do some Christmas shopping.

UNTIL 7 JANUARY CHRISTMAS PROJECTIONS

Centrepoint Arcade, 10am-3pm

24 DECEMBER CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT GEELONG The show is going on! Although carollers won’t be able to able to attend the event at its traditional home this year, it will be broadcast on C31 (Channel 44) from 7.3pm to 9.30pm.

Stunning Christmas themed projections will again light up City Hall this festive season.

The digital wonderland will screen nightly from 8.30pm until 11.30pm.

Shorts Place, a short walk from City Hall, will also be illuminated by festive projections each night.

You can also watch the projections online.

You can also get a sneak peak on 17 December at 7.30pm on C31 (Channel 44).

Free event. City Hall

It is the Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club’s single biggest fundraiser for the year, with around 1000 runners taking to the pristine hard sand track from the Point Lonsdale light house to the main beach at Ocean Grove.

27 DECEMBER RIP TO RIVER Join one of the oldest fun runs in Australia! The 10km surf beach run stretches from ‘The Rip’ at Point Lonsdale to Ocean Grove near the Barwon River.

Point Lonsdale Beach, nr lighthouse (10km Classic Run & Walk start); Ocean Grove Main Beach (5km Run & Ripper Nipper 1.4km Run start) Wadawurrung Country, Ocean Grove SLSC, 9.30am-1pm

UNTIL 7 JANUARY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS TREES During the festive season there will be 31 Christmas trees, each decorated by local school students, displayed along Little Malop Central and in the forecourt at Johnstone Park.

Cost: $20-$50. More information https://oceangroveslsc.asn.au/events/ rip-to-river/

A 5km fun run that extends along the Geelong Waterfront, starting/finishing at the Carousel on Eastern Beach Road.

7am-8am Cost: Adult $20, Child $10 (under 16) More information at the Geelong Cross Country Club website http://www.gccc.asn.au

22-26 JANUARY FESTIVAL OF SAILS Discover Victoria’s oldest ongoing sporting event and the largest annual keel boat regatta in the Southern Hemisphere.

First held in 1844, the Festival of Sails annually attracts around 300 yachts and 4500 sailing competitors to Melbourne and Geelong over the Australia Day holiday period.

There are more than 15 different race series, with something for all spectators.

There is also plenty of shore-side entertainment including live music, children’s entertainment, free discover sailing experiences, food trucks, market stalls and interactive activities.

MARCH 4-6 GEELONG REVIVAL MOTORING FESTIVAL Rev-heads big and small will love this action packed motoring festival, held on Geelong’s picturesque waterfront.

Over three days, see the huge motor show, exhibits, entertainment, food trucks, personalities and more.

The Geelong waterfront will be covered with over 600 quirky, valuable and fascinating vehicles. Celebrations kick-off with the Friday Night Cruise, featuring over 300 vehicles.

There will also be classic boats, vintage trucks and 4WDs displayed at the event.

The Geelong Revival Motoring Festival is a free and ticketed event.

More info: http://www.geelongrevival.com.au

Royal Geelong Yacht Club, Waterfront Geelong More information: https://festivalofsails.com.au

26 JANUARY OCEAN OPEN WATER SWIM FESTIVAL An event featuring some great swims in the blue waters of Ocean Grove’s Main Beach. The festival is a fundraiser for the Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club.

EVERY SUNDAY

Adults $60 - 400m, 1.2km or 2.5km

PORTARLINGTON BAYSIDE MINIATURE RAILWAY

Child: $30 - 400m, 1.2km or 2.5km Registrations open around November.

More info: https://oceangroveslsc.asn.au/

18-20 FEBRUARY GEELONG BOOK FAIR

Free event.

Visit the Geelong Book Fair for thousands of bargain books, including fiction, cooking, classics and children’s books.

You can tag your photos and share the festive spirit on social media with the hashtag #GeelongChristmas

The Rotary Book Fair is the major fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Geelong West. The books have $1 and

22 SUMMER 2021

$2 price tags, with proceeds contributing to community projects supported by Rotary.

Cost: Gold coin donation.

Geelong West Town Hall, 153 Pakington Street, Geelong West More info: https://geelongwestrotary.com

All aboard! Portarlington Bayside Miniature Railway is open every Sunday between 11am and 4pm over the summer period.

This miniature railway is situated within the grounds of the Portarlington Bayside Family Park, Corner Point Richards & Boat Roads, Portarlington (Melway Map No. 444 – C5).

Tickets are $4 each. Family and seasonal passes are also available.

More info: https://miniaturerailway.com.au/ www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

AND

INSTANT IT

GASFITTER

ARE HERE TO HELP!

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is Geelong and the Sufcoasts only specialist tennis and squash retailer.

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Located at the iconic Geelong Lawn Tennis Club in Belmont, we are a full service tennis and squash shop ranging the best brands at the best prices. Our racquet range includes Yonex, Wilson, Head and Babolat whilst our tennis shoe range includes ASICS, Wilson, KSwiss and Head. We also offer a professional restringing service with experience stringing at the Australian Open and other major tennis and squash tournaments.

Nutrition Consultations Now Available in Person and by Zoom.

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Whether you need to move locally or further afield we are here to help you.

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Free Health Appraisals Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis All Enquiries Welcome On 0402 738 537 Based in Grovedale www.nourishbodywellbeing.com

Give your home a beautiful new look!

• Interior & Exterior Repaints • Weatherboard House Specialist

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and let us make your moving experience smooth!

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12-20 Sommers Street (Geelong Lawn Tennis Club) Belmont Vic 3216 | Ph: 5244 4112

Paintworx

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0478 088 244

• Free racquet demonstration service • Expert advice • Great range • Super competitive prices Come in and see us and #shoplocal

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We also offer a packing service and an unpacking service..

Please phone us now on 2001084616_1-LB04-20

SURFCOAST RACQUETS

Specialising in Children’s Health

Milestone Boards Only $5

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

Call Leland on 0421 373 438 or visit www.InstantITHelp.com.au

5229 7405

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SUMMER 2021 23

Retire to the Surf Coast

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E4 STAG NOW G IN SELL STAGE 4 FROM:

LIMITED SELECTION AVAILABLE IN STAGE 3 FROM:

$570K $530K

FEATURING THE QUEENSCLIFF STAGE 4 AT ARMSTRONG GREEN IS SELLING FAST! Situated on the doorstep of the beautiful Bellarine, and with a range of designs to choose from, don’t miss this opportunity to secure your retirement lifestyle in our active and friendly community.

To discuss this exciting opportunity, call a Sales Specialist today.

Freecall: 1800 777 898 armstronggreen.com.au

Display suite open seven days. 10am–4pm Villa 2, 722–742 Barwon Heads Road, Armstrong Creek 3217 For more information about our range of retirement communities visit: rcavillages.com.au 24 SUMMER 2021

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au