Casey Cardinia Kids Autumn 2022

AUTUMN 2022

Berwick mum’s

sensory toys Why dad

groups matter It’s time

to play

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

AUTUMN 2022 1

About Us

Exploring in autumn AHHH autumn is here!

The air is that little bit crisper, the leaves are turning magnificent yellows and reds and the crunch of the ground underfoot let you know those uncomfortable hot nights are on their way out.

It’s the perfect weather to mix and match the kids wardrobes too – it’s not just their “summer” wardrobe to choose from anymore – it’s cute leggings with t-shirts and slacks and tops.

Autumn is also the perfect time to go exploring. There’s nothing like falling leaves, dropping gumnuts and pine cones all around and the chance to see more wildlife as they forage for food before the winter.

It brings a chance to change up arts and crafts too – painting with autumn leaves is somewhat a pastime in our home as is setting up our very own pinecone weather station ( they open or close depending on the weather).

We really hope you enjoy reading our Autumn 2022 edition, we’ve spoken to some pretty amazing people with some memorable stories to share.

Don’t forget to check out our website for up-to-date stories or follow us on facebook or Instagram.

We hope the season leafs a smile on your face.

Casey Cardinia Kids magazine is a Star News Group publication.

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

Casey Cardinia Kids Cnr Princes Hwy and Army Road, Pakenham, 3810 PO Box 9, Pakenham, Victoria 3810 Phone: 5945 0666 Fax: 5945 0777

CONTENTS

Editorial

IT’S YOUR LIFE

HEALTH

REALITY BITES

Melissa Meehan melissa.meehan @starnewsgroup.com.au

Sensory toys and tools

Supporting long Covid in kids

Keeping kids entertained

Phone: 5945 0666

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PAGE 31

Photography

Playgrounds you should visit

Luv making eco choices

PAGES 4-5

PAGE 20

ACTIVE KIDS

Rob Carew Stewart Chambers Gary Sissons

Helping dads to step up

Unusual pregnancy symptoms

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PAGE 21

PAGE 32

Building respect in schools

Diagnosis using MRI

PAGE 6

PAGE 21

Chances for dads to connect PAGE 7 Program showing Dads Matter

DENTAL The orthodontic experts PAGE 22

PAGE 7 What’s in a naming ceremony?

Offering affordable dental care

Advertising

Opening Night’s new space

advertising@starnewsgroup.com.au Phone: 5945 0666

PAGE 32

Advertising Manager

Cathy-Lea marks 30 years

Mandy Clark

PAGE 32

Published by Star News Group Pty Ltd ACN 005 848 108.

PARTY TIME Make your own marshmallows PAGE 33

PAGE 22

PAGE 8

Dance enhances life skills

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.

Much success for Mushrock

Berwick’s fantasy playground

EDUCATION

PAGE 33

PAGE 9

St Clare’s seamless transition

Paint a pot for all ages

Lightning can strike twice

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PAGE 33

PAGES 10-11

Kinder is crucial

Special cubby for a special kid

PAGE 23

ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE 12

Explain the pandemic to kids

Creating your best life

PAGE 24

PAGE 13

Moving forward in 2022

AUTUMN 2022

Berwick mum’s

Family-friendly shows at Bunjil

sensory toys

PAGE 34

Why dad

Walhalla Goldfields Railway PAGE 34

groups matter It’s time

to play

KidSafe advice on poisoning

PAGE 24

PAGE 14

Why quality kinder matters

Don’t ignore osteoporosis signs

PAGE 25

PAGE 14

Preps off to a flying start

Leap into Lazy Frog for a gift

PAGE 26

PAGE 14

Brain’s learning barriers

ACTIVE KIDS

Big topics with little people

PAGE 27

Something to cheer about

PAGE 16

Too much screen time

PAGE 37

Miracle James happy, healthy

PAGE 27

PAGE 18

Free glasses for kids

Make cheesy broccoli bites

PAGE 28

GAMES AND GADGETS

BOOKS

PAGE 19

Family first at Kool Kidz

Lucas family share their faves

Meet a young cat-loving author

Explaining cancer to kids

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PAGE 40

PAGE 44

PAGE 38

School’s nurturing environment PAGE 29

FASHION

Discover new children’s books

Mums share business journey PAGE 39

Putting parents at the centre

Cardinia Cultural Centre PAGE 35 Get creative at Robert Gordon PAGE 36 www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Neutral and natural for autumn PAGES 41-43

PAGE 29 Backing our future farmers PAGE 30

caseycardiniakids.com.au

facebook.com/caseycardiniakids

AUTUMN 2022 1

Cover: Eden Jones, 3, plays with the autumn leaves.

Picture: Rob Carew

PAGE 44

KIDS CALENDAR What’s on this autumn PAGE 46

instagram.com/caseycardiniakids

It’s Your Life

Caitlin (left) and her Mum Vicki with Lincoln Egerton holding the “ Smoosho Jumbo Crystal Ball “.

Pictures: Rob Carew

Covering kids with sensory toys

By Melissa Grant WHEN Caitlin Edgerton needed to buy a sensory chew toy for her son she couldn’t find anything locally.

She had to resort to giving her son random household items to chew as they waited for the delivery of sensory toys she had ordered online.

Around that time, Caitlin was keen to get back to work but wasn’t sure how to make it happen as a mum with two autistic children.

It was then that she had her lightbulb moment and Sensory Poodle was born.

In February last year, Caitlin and her mum, Vicki Brown, launched the online business which is all about making it easier for parents to find sensory toys and tools for their kids.

“The idea of it was to serve the local community so people have somewhere to pick stuff up urgently... and they didn’t have to order online and wait for postage,” Caitlin explained.

“But it sort of blew up beyond that pretty quickly.”

Last year, Caitlin and Vicki processed more than 3500 orders.

Caitlin estimates Sensory Poodle is now getting about 22 orders a day. The most popular items are large jellyfish sensory lamps, emotional regulation tools and ‘chewies’.

The business has grown so quickly that Caitlin and Vicki are already looking to get a warehouse.

“Hopefully we will get a warehouse base or something soon because we’ve taken over my mother’s five-bedroom www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Lincoln Egerton with a Smoosho Jumbo Crystal Ball.

house - there is stuff everywhere,” Caitlin said.

Sensory Poodle caters to the needs of kids who are neurodiverse and those who are gifted.

They are needs that Caitlin is familiar with - her son Lincoln, 6, has autism and is also gifted, while her daughter Evie, 4, is autistic.

Caitlin is also familiar with the stress parents of special needs kids experience when they can’t quickly get their hands on sensory toys and tools.

“With pick-ups I will message people..

if it’s a chewy toy or something I can tell is urgent I will message them and say ‘hey you can come and get it in half an hour if you need it’ and we’ve had people do that,” she said.

“A huge goal of ours is to be able to provide that because when I was looking for that for my son it just wasn’t around and I sort of had to find random things around the house or pay for express shipping in the hope it would come in time.

“A lot of neurodiverse kids are really struggling, so having that locally we are hoping it can alleviate some of the stress

for the parents.”

For Caitlin, Sensory Poodle has also alleviated the stress of trying to earn an income while juggling motherhood.

“It was definitely an end goal to be able to work from home and work around the kids because I obviously can’t go into a typical job with my kids’ needs,” Caitlin said.

“If I have a typical job it’s not that easy to say ‘hey I’ve got to go home and sort this out’. So it does make life a lot easier and I can work around my kids’ therapies and schools and all that sort of stuff.”

Caitlin tries to make herself available to customers as much as possible, often working into the night.

And it hasn’t gone unnoticed.

“We’ve had really good feedback about quality of our stuff and customer service. I do try to go above and beyond because I do know what it’s like for parents of kids with special needs,” she said.

AUTUMN 2022 3

It’s Your Life

James Alexander Reserve, Endeavour Hills will be updated.

Playgrounds you should visit KIDS rejoice! A dozen playgrounds in Casey are being upgraded this year.

The playgrounds will be fully refurbished with new equipment reflective of present-day needs and trends.

The community has also had input into the designs. Last year, the City of Casey asked residents to fill out a survey about what they wanted and needed in their local playgrounds, including the type of play equipment they’d like to see.

Kids were also asked to draw their ’dream playground’.

The installation of the playgrounds are expected to be complete by the end of June 2022.

The 12 playgrounds scheduled for renewal are: ■ Banjo Paterson Reserve Playground, Lynbrook ■ Berwick Springs Wetland Reserve East Playground ■ Bill Hudson Reserve Playground, Berwick ■ Bournevale Drive Reserve Playground, Berwick ■ Fordholm Road Reserve Playground, Hampton Park ■ Highfielde Avenue Reserve Playground, Berwick ■ Hunt Club Reserve Playground, Cranbourne East ■ James Alexander Reserve Playground, Endeavour Hills ■ Melville Park Playground, Berwick ■ Merinda Park Playground, Cranbourne North ■ Norfolk Drive Reserve Playground, Narre Warren ■ Tara Court Reserve Playground, Hallam 4 AUTUMN 2022

Banjo Paterson Reserve, Lynbrook is undergoing a facelift. www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Fordholm Road Reserve, Hampton Park is one of the playgrounds being renewed.

Pictures: Stewart Chambers

Hunt Club Reserve at Cranbourne East will look a lot different by the end of June.

Merinda Park in Cranbourne North is among the parks being refurbished. www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Hallam’s Tara Court Reserve is part of the Casey council’s playground renewal program.

AUTUMN 2022 5

It’s Your Life

Help! My husband is not good with kids

By Steve Biddulph FIRST the good news! Twenty first century dads really are stepping up to the mark. Compared with generations before, dads today are so much more affectionate, involved in day to day parenting, and able to team up as an equal partner.

But as with all progress, it’s a bit uneven, and some dads still really struggle. If you’ve got a husband who is too harsh, angry and judgy it can be a source of real anguish, as you watch him damage your kids’ mental health right before your eyes. It can even be a marriage breaker. And of course, as often lightly touched on in Bluey cartoons, a dad who is not quite up to being firm and in control when needed is also a bit of a pain, as it leaves mum to be the bad guy. It’s exhausting.

When we started working with families in trouble many years ago, it became clear that often helping dad was the key to things going better. But the question was how to do that. One answer lay in looking to a father’s own childhood. It’s a whole lot easier to be a good dad if you had one yourself. But what if you didn’t? Was your partner one of those dads who had a terrible father? Some men somehow turn things around, determined to do better.

But some go into denial, and that just doesn’t work…

Rick is a dad of a four- year old boy.

Cathy, his partner, is really worried because Rick just doesn’t get it right. He is distant, gruff, and quite tense around their son. If he says anything at all, its often a put-down. Rick doesn’t play easily like other dads, and their son is growing to think that he is just not good enough. Kids this age don’t blame their parents, they just think something is wrong with them.

But when we talk to Rick, it turns out he had a nightmare dad. He was fun sometimes, doing recreational things like camping and fishing (Rick is one of five brothers) but when Rick was six, his dad took off with another woman. In fact, he had always been unfaithful, a problem drinker, and a terrible husband. Rick’s mum eventually had to raise all five boys on her own. So Rick never saw fathering done well.

And he had quite low self-esteem as a result.

With encouragement from us, and being in a dad’s group with other dads finding their way, he learned to be more hands on, and today has a great relationship with his son.

I think the turning point was when, after gradually feeling more safe, Rick spoke in tears with the other dads in the group about how alone he felt after his dad had left.

I have seen this sudden wave of grief come out in men who were bashed by their fathers. Or told they were no good.

Or whose father never ever spent time with them doing fun things. Or who had successful and rich dads who put impossible expectations on them. Men put on a brave face, a mask to cover their pain, and they soldier on. But they just can’t get it right with their kids.

The pain gets passed on to another generation.

Only when they can own the pain of their childhoods, and feel it in a safe environment, talking honestly with their partner, or with other men, or with a counsellor, then they become determined and resolved never to be the kind of man their dad was. Or to realize that he too had his struggles, and forgive him, and themselves, and make a fresh start.

As a young dad, I used to watch the

dads who were good with their kids, and what they did and how they did it.

Gradually I learned fatherhood. Its never too late. If your partner is struggling, he isn’t alone, and he really can change. Ask him about his boyhood, and encourage him to take off his armour and be human. It can make all the difference in the world.

Steve Biddulph is the author of Raising Girls, Raising Boys, and The New Manhood, which addresses lots of these questions of men and their struggles.

Its in audiobook too.

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

Emphasising respect in schools students can thrive,” he said.

A concerning rise in incidents of aggression towards school staff from parents and carers has sparked policies and resources to promote respectful behaviours in schools.

The policy and resources are linked to the state government’s recently passed Education and Training Reform Amendment (Protection of School Communities) legislation, which strengthens protections for school staff against parent and carer aggression.

The state’s new ‘Respectful Behaviours within the School Community Policy’ sets out guidelines on the expected standards of behaviour for parents, carers and other adults in the school community.

A School Community Safety Order scheme will be introduced to all schools in mid-2022, allowing school principals to issue safety orders in response to harmful, threatening, abusive or disruptive behaviour at work.

The policy aims to reduce the risk and incidence of work-related violence towards school staff, ensuring all education workers feel safe and supported at work.

It includes strategies and resources to help schools prevent and manage unacceptable behaviours from parents and carers.

Posters and communication materials are being provided to schools to communicate the new policy – and the 6 AUTUMN 2022

Respect... the state has launched a new policy to foster respectful relationships between parents/carers and school staff.

expectations around adult behaviours.

Education Minister James Merlino said school leaders and staff had been incredible throughout the pandemic and deserved to be treated with respect.

“This important work is about keeping schools safe and supporting staff to make sure schools are places where everyone feels safe and respected – creating an environment where

These new laws will also allow schools to prohibit parents and carers from engaging in threatening or abusive communication through social media and other channels.

To view the policy, visit education.vic. gov.au/Pages/Respectful-Behaviourswithin-the-School-Community-Policy. aspx www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

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

It’s Your Life

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.

Dads Groups help dads feel connected.

Connecting dads

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

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.

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

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

Dads haven’t really had the same opportunity but that is finally changing.

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

Dads Groups are popping up all over the country, including Melbourne’s southeastern suburbs.

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

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

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’.

them going out with the child without them.”

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.

“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 child,” 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.

“Some mums don’t trust the dads. I’ve got group leaders who have told me their partners weren’t comfortable with

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

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.

There’s already a Dads Group in Clyde North. There are also others listed for Melbourne’s southeast, including Dandenong and Belgrave.

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

Fun for dads in the City of Casey

By Melissa Grant

evening and weekend time slots.

DADS in the City of Casey are cooking, building and reading with their kids as part of a program that helps them meet other fathers.

Dads Matter Project Officer David Hawkins says the program is all about supporting dads and giving them the opportunity to spend quality time with their children and meet other dads.

The program, called Dads Matter, has been running since 2007 and was launched to engage, support and celebrate dads.

It offers a variety of activities for dads and father figures whose children are aged from 0-6 years.

There are also other events, such as the Dads Matter Forum and Campfire Night, for dads with kids of all ages.

Each year, the council funded weekly programs and community events bring together nearly 1000 dads and father figures from across the municipality.

Activities are delivered during school terms, with a choice of daytime, www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

“Dads become empowered, confident and proud of the role they play in their child’s life,” he explains.

“Dads also get a chance to meet and chat with other dads and talk about fatherhood experiences – which can sometimes be difficult to do with other friends or family members.”

The current Dads Matter activities are: ■ Cook It with Dad where dads get in the kitchen and help their children develop life skills and healthy eating habits ■ Dad’s Little Builders, which allows dads and children to create and develop a woodwork project together

■ Read Play Make, which offers fun activities, craft and story-telling ■ Daytime Dads at the Old Cheese Factory in Berwick, which is an outdoor play session for dads and their children.

safe environment for dads and father figures to come together and spend quality time creating and engaging with their children, while forming friendships with other dads in the community,” he said.

The activities are facilitated by council staff who offer quality experiences, support, mentoring and referral pathways for dads and children.

“This quality time strengthens the bond between fathers and their children, giving them the best possible start to life.”

During lockdowns there has been phone support available for dads and father figures.

The Dads Matter Forum was held online for the first time in 2020, welcoming Dr Michael Carr-Gregg as guest speaker, and in 2021 dads gained amazing insights online from AFL legend Rodney Eade.

David says that Dads Matter really matters because it celebrates dads and encourages positive relationships.

“The Dads Matter program provides a

Want to get involved? All dads and father figures are invited to come along and see which programs suit them and their child.

To find out more, email the Dads Matter team dadsmatter@casey.vic. gov.au or call 9705 5200 and ask to speak to the Dads Matter team.

Community members can also check out the Dads Matter page on the City of Casey website to find future Dad’s Matter events and activities.

AUTUMN 2022 7

It’s Your Life

What is a naming ceremony?

By Melissa Meehan WHEN you first thing of a celebrant - a wedding is what probably first springs to mind.

But for mum and celebrant Sophie Cooper - it’s a chance to engage with families starting their lives together, bidding farewell to loved ones or celebrating new life.

Her favourite? A baby naming ceremony.

“Welcoming a baby or child into a family, is something special. It’s tangibly heartwarming, feeling the love surrounding a brand-new addition to a family,” Ms Cooper told Kids Today.

It’s even more special because of her special bond with 18-month-old son James.

She’s noticed how Covid-19 restrictions have influenced the socialisation of babies and toddlers - even her own.

When restricitons eased, Ms Cooper said she noticed her son getting upset if a fmaily member approached him or even made eye contact.

“I’ve spoken to many other mothers about the effects COVID restrictions have had on their growing children, and I hear the same story,” she said.

“That their children are finding it difficult in social situations, getting used to the presence of others and making friends, as they’ve been in an enclosed household bubble of just a few people for so long,” she said.

Having a naming ceremony can be a gentle way of easing a child into a social situation, as you call the shots.

It can be a quiet private ceremony, dressed up (or down) with the child’s favourite things.

“Some family members may not have had a chance to meet the newest edition to the family, so this can be a great excuse to gather the family together,” she said.

“We all need that family connection, and especially after the last two years, I think it has really highlighted how important family is to us and to our growing children.” *What are naming ceremonies?* A naming ceremony is an official way of welcoming a baby or child into the

Sophie with her son James.

family circle. Naming ceremonies usually take place, a few days, months or even years after the birth of a child.

It recognises the child’s arrival and addition to the family.

Traditionally parents and extended family have chosen to celebrate a naming ceremony on the child’s first birthday. *Who writes the ceremony?* The naming ceremony is written by the

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celebrant and tailored to the family’s requests.

The celebrant will write about the child and their personality, the hopes, and dreams of the parents for their child, and the promises they, and supporting adults will make to their child.

The celebrant will also talk about the meaning behind the name chosen and why the parents decided to call them their name.

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It’s Your Life

Fantasy playground becomes reality KIDS rejoice! Berwick’s long-awaited fantasy themed playground has opened.

The $3.54 million Hilltop Park playground features castles, knights, princesses and fairies. It includes a castle with an Excalibur sword set in stone, a gnome house and adjacent mushroom area, multiple slides, and a life-size steel ‘climbing’ horse.

There’s also an array of accessible features, such as a quiet space complete with teepees, all-access walkways, and shaded accessible swings. Plus there are facilities for community events, including an amphitheatre, BBQs, free WiFi and plenty of seating.

The $3.54 million Hilltop Park playground features castles.

with Variety – the Children’s Charity, and thoughtfully designed by Urban Edge to cater for children and families of all abilities.

Kerry Balci, Project Director at Minta said: “At Stockland we are committed to creating inclusive playspaces for all children to enjoy together. We are thrilled to be bringing this magical park and reserve to the community.

“Our parks and playspaces are an integral part of all of our communities and provide an opportunity for residents to come together and enjoy a healthy and active outdoor lifestyle.”

The park, located in Stockland’s Minta estate, opened to the public in Decemeber.

Adjacent to the fantasy playground is the Hilltop Park, featuring an artwork ‘Calling of Creation’ by prominent Indigenous artist Robert Michael Young which tells a Dreamtime story.

The playspace and reserve was developed by Stockland in collaboration

The park is located at the corner of Soho Boulevard and Carnival Road.

Pictures: Rob Carew

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The fantasy theme runs right through the park.

The playground is designed to capture young imaginations.

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Tickets available at www.pakenhamracing.com.au

One of the slides at the fantasy themed park. www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

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AUTUMN 2022 9

It’s Your Life

Rachel with Portraits of Caden (left) and Ava (right).

Lightning can strike twice

By Melissa Meehan THEY say lightning doesn’t strike twice, but when it does, Rachel knows its a rough journey ahead.

She’s a mum to three, but only three-year-old Kai is earthside.

Her other two children Caden and Ava live on in their memories.

Rachel, and her husband Blake, have had more than their share of heartache.

After a routine pregnancy with Kai, they decided to expand their family.

They got pregnant quickly and were excited to share the news they would soon welcome a baby brother for Kai. Rachel did all the usual testing, including the genetic checks at 11 weeks and they all came up normal.

But, in the throws of the Covid-19 pandemic, her 20 week scan raised some concerns.

grandparent, would get a scan every three days to see if the baby’s heart was still beating.

Alone and afraid, Rachel lay in silence as the radiographer scanned her belly for two hours without saying a word.

They were met with the false hope that maybe he could survive.

She knew then something wasn’t right.

Later a specialist scan would confirm her deepest fears and she was told the baby wouldn’t survive another two weeks.

A doctor told her that the baby would be born stillborn and there was nothing anyone could do.

But serious chats were being had with the medical professionals about what that would look like if he were to survive, whether it meant severe disabilities or being in a wheelchair for life.

They were also asked whether they would want to cremate or bury her unborn child if he didn’t make it.

“I don’t think we’ve processed it still, and it’s been two years,” Rachel told Kids Today.

“That was really overwhelming, like we had prepared ourselves for the worst, but deciding whether we cremate or bury a baby I could still feel kicking me was devastating,” Rachel said.

For weeks Rachel and Blake, with nine-month-old Kai at home with his

Just after she reached 24 weeks, Rachel was having lunch at her parents

house when she started to bleed.

At first she thought it was her waters breaking, but she knew something wasn’t right and they called an ambulance.

She went into labour that day and Caden was born alive.

He was rushed off to NICU while she received blood transfusion after losing more than three litres of blood.

Caden wasn’t well the entire time he was in NICU, he had a minor brain bleed in his first few days but on day six the found a level four brain bleed.

Rachel and Blake chose to cease life support and held him as he slipped away.

“I felt angry because I didn’t want to decide, I wanted my body to have made that decision,” she said.

“But he was too sick.”

Subject to change following government guidelines.

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www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

They were told that there was no genetic reasoning for Caden to have not made it.

on in awe and a giant needle going into my belly while I was wide awake,” Rachel says.

That they had been unlucky, or struck by lightning.

“It helped for a few days before they needed another.”

Eight months after Caden passed, Rachel and Blake decided to try again.

Ava was born at 27 weeks, via caesarian section.

They knew being pregnant would bring back a lot of the trauma, but were reassured that it couldn’t and wouldn’t happen again.

But to everyone’s surprise she cried when they lifted her out.

But it did.

“The whole room heard her cry,” Rachel said.

Again the first part of Rachel’s pregnancy was pretty textbook.

“And she did so well for a few days - she was breathing on her own and crying lots.”

Sure she had a bleed early on, but many women do.

But on day eight, Ava’s heart and kidneys started to fail.

They even held an extravagant gender reveal to celebrate their final pregnancy and welcome their little girl into the world.

The medical team did everything the could, but there was nothing else they could do.

The same doctor who had delivered the news about Caden was there beside her again telling her she could either watch Ava flatline or take her into the butterfly room and watch her slip away.

With such unimaginable heartache its difficult to process how Rachel and Blake could get up each morning, their burden of heartache all consuming.

But they have Kai to look after and care for. And he’s there on both the good and bad days. And can even force a smile on the toughest days.

Social media has also played an important tool in Rachel’s journey.

She wants to share her story so others don’t feel so alone but uses it as a way to share how she feels without burdening friends and family.

Again, at the 20 week scan the couple received some devastating news.

“Because of what I had been through Blake was able to come with me even though lockdown rules didn’t allow him to,” she said.

“So we were just in shock when they told us many of the same things they had said about Caden.”

They were soon told they didn’t think their baby girl would make it either exactly one year from Caden’s death.

The Mercy Hospital did everything they possibly could to give their baby the best chance of survival; including an inter-uterine infusion.

“It was like a scene from Greys Anatomy - doctors and nurses everywhere, medical students watching

“I don’t think some people understand why it helps, but after being stuck in

Rachel with Portraits of Caden (left) and Ava (right). Behind are husband Blake and son Kai (2).

lockdown after both losses, I had no real way to express my heartache and frustrations,” she said.

“And there is only so much you can burden the people you love with this stuff - so I found it really helped me.”

For now, she just wants people to acknowledge that Caden and Ava existed. And share her story so that others don’t feel so alone.

Follow @our_rough_journey on instagram

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AUTUMN 2022 11

It’s Your Life

Marley enjoying his new cubby house.

Marley Reddington.

Cubby house a wish come true

By Melissa Grant

of his own to share fun, smiles and laughter with his friends and brother.

delivering prematurely as her first son was born at 30 weeks.

WHEN boy Marley Reddington was born at 24 weeks, doctors didn’t know whether he would survive.

“At first he was overwhelmed, then couldn’t stop smiling and got straight to work role-playing,” Kellie said.

After showing signs of labour at 23 weeks, Kellie was put on bed rest at the Mercy.

He spent the first 180 days of his life in hospital and has been diagnosed with multiple complications from extreme prematurity, including chronic lung disease.

“Ever since, he has wanted to play in it every day from the moment he woke up.”

“A few days later my waters broke, so we knew we weren’t going to make it to our goal of 32 weeks,” she recalled.

Kellie said the cubby house provided a safe play space for Marley, who was often not well enough to venture too far from home.

“After a few more days of bed rest I got an infection, at which point it was safer for the baby ‘to be out rather than in’.”

“Marley has a complex range of conditions, arising from his extreme premature birth at 24 weeks. Every system in his body is impacted in some way,” she explained.

Marley was delivered via emergency caesarean.

But after a rocky start to life, Marley is now a happy, engaging and determined five-year- old who loves George from Peppa Pig, collecting rocks, playing ‘floor is lava’ and Duplo.

The energetic boy also loves pretend play, however going to parks is really difficult as he requires oxygen.

But late last year, he was gifted a safe place to play outdoors when the Starlight Children’s Foundation granted his wish for a new cubby house.

The cubby - which features a wellstocked kitchen, seating area, Avengers pillows and a barista machine - was a complete surprise for Marley, as Starlight had installed it while he was out at appointments.

He was blown away by the cubby reveal where he was greeted by Captain Starlight, confetti and cupcakes as he walked down a red carpet.

Mum Kellie and Dad Steve say the cubby has given Marley a special place

“He requires oxygen, tube-feeds and also has a tube for bowel washouts.

“Doctors didn’t know if Marley would survive and his journey in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Special Care Nursery (SCN) was rocky and not straightforward,” Kellie said.

“Parks are risky not only from a health perspective - illnesses such as colds, Covid, but also from a safety perspective - risk of tubes getting caught/pulled out; risk of falling from heights.

“Marley ended up spending 180 days across Mercy Hospital for Women, Royal Children’s Hospital and Geelong Hospital before he came home for the first time.”

“Marley’s cubby house provides a place for him to simply and safely enjoy independent play, whenever it suits him.”

However Marley was only home for two days before being readmitted to hospital where he spent the next two months.

Marley weighed just 687g and was 29cm long when he was born at 24 weeks.

Marley continues to have multiple stints between Geelong and the Royal Children’s hospital, with visits ranging from an overnight stay to weeks or months.

Kellie had been under the care of the Mercy Hospital from early on in her pregnancy as she was at high risk of

He also has regular appointments at

both hospitals and weekly sessions with his therapists at Kids Plus Foundation, and undergoes multiple surgery visits each year.

The Starlight Children’s Foundation has had a long involvement with the Reddington Family, with Captain Starlight often visiting Marley’s hospital room.

Kellie said Starlight had been a blessing for Marley, who often becomes upset in hospital while separated from family and friends.

“Captain Starlight is seen as a friend and puts a smile on his face,” she said.

Kellie said the visits also provided Marley with a much-needed break from the ongoing medical treatments and monitoring that make up most of his days in hospital.

She encourages people to support the Starlight Children’s Foundation, which makes a difference to the lives of sick kids like her son.

“They support kids who don’t get to enjoy the same freedoms as others the same age,” she said.

“Starlight’s contribution is not just about putting a smile on a child’s face, but also the warm fuzzy feeling their parents and guardians get when they see their child happy.”

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

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It’s Your Life

Create your best life at Orana NESTLED in Melbourne’s rapidly growing South East, Orana by Balcon promises a vibrant and nurturing community fostering creativity, wellness and sustainability.

Balcon Group have been building homes across Melbourne since 1981 and as their business has grown, so has their vision. Ambrosia master-planned community in Cranbourne is a shining example of their commitment to the wellbeing of its residents and care for the environment. The family-owned company are now proud creators of Orana, a 4,000-home community in Clyde, North in City of Casey.

Homes with heart Orana offers future residents a choice of vacant land, house-and-land package, or a beautiful townhouse. Build your dreamhouse or relax and let the team at Balcon handle the finer details with their designer townhomes.

serve as a haven for local wildlife.

Prefer to travel on your own steam?

Get on your bike and take one of the many tree-lined paths that wind through the town or lace up and take a walk to nearby shops, schools and parks. Balcon have taken design inspiration from cities such as Copenhagen and Amsterdam, renowned for their cycling culture.

Sustainability is built into the very foundation of the master plan, with the Urban Development Institute of Australia awarding Orana their maximum six-Leaf EnviroDevelopment sustainability accreditation. As well as carving out dedicated green spaces across the 42 hectares of parks and waterways, Balcon Group have implemented modern waste and energy reduction and recycling measures to lower the environmental impact of the community. When creating our master-planned community Orana, Balcon wanted to ensure the health and wellbeing of our environment, and residents. That’s why they have initiated and implemented the Orana Green Strategy, which aims to increase tree canopy from 22 per cent to 40 per cent by 2040.

Green is the new black Balcon Group recognise the importance of a healthy environment to the health and wellbeing of local residents. That’s why Orana features 42 hectares of parkland and waterways, including six parks, several sports grounds, and three gorgeous wetland reserves that will

Made for everyone At Orana, everything you need is just outside your front door. Residents will enjoy the local shopping precincts, featuring supermarkets, specialty shops and cafes. Office, leisure and entertainment spaces can also be found in town; down the road, Officer South

Meaningful connections Clyde North is conveniently situated near the Mornington Peninsula Freeway, South Gippsland Highway, Monash Freeway and Eastlink – making it the perfect gateway to some of the best attractions across Victoria. Buses link up with surrounding areas, and Cranbourne train station, a fifteenminute drive away, goes all the way into the heart of Melbourne city.

Employment Precinct is opening up further opportunities for work with over 1,000 hectares of commercial and industrial spaces in development.

Little ones are also catered to at Orana, with a local pre-school and government primary school offering quality education and care for young children. New government and independent P-12 school Clyde Grammar is also opening up in development adjoining the Orana community.

Get creative with it Balcon Group is proud to be a principal partner of Bunjil Place Arts Fund, supporting the arts in the City of Casey.

Orana welcomes a culturally diverse community, with a vision to promote and celebrate local and emerging artists through initiatives such as arts-based events and festivals.

Contact Orana today The sales office is open by appointment only at 1 Fresco Place, Clyde North. Call 1800 696 726 or email through your enquiry to hello@oranaclydenorth.com.au.

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Wherever your new home adventure takes you, buying at Orana supports the Homes for Homes initiative. This social enterprise tackles homelessness head-on by providing social and affordable housing to those most in need. Balcon Group donates 0.1 percent on the sale

price for every lot sold in Orana to Homes for Homes.

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AUTUMN 2022 13

It’s Your Life

Take the product container with you to the phone – the poisons information centre will want to know what ingredients are in the product

Keeping kids safe HAVE you ever noticed that toddlers love to place everything that they find in their mouths, no matter what the object is or how hygienic it may be? This behaviour can start anywhere from as early as 2 months of age and is your little one’s way of exploring and learning about the environment around them.

How common is childhood poisoning?

Every year in Australia over 1,800 children aged 0-14 years are admitted to hospital due to unintentional poisoning – that’s around 34 children every week.

Aside from the inconvenience of every item in your home being covered in drool, this natural curiosity and eagerness to explore can also lead them into danger, particularly if they come into contact with poisonous substances.

When the word poison is mentioned, many people think of dishwashing detergents, bleach and household cleaners – however, did you know that there is another substance that is more commonly involved in childhood poisoning incidents?

The most common cause of poisoning lives in many homes and bags

Most incidents occur in children under the age of 5, with those aged 1-3 at greatest risk.

Don’t ignore early signs

Those who have not visited the store in a while will be pleasantly surprised at the amount of beautiful baby gifts, and everyday products in stock.

Osteoporosis is not a rare disease by any stretch.

It most commonly affects over-50s but has been known to be present in younger populations, too.

As with many diseases, early diagnosis and treatment helps you to manage the disease more effectively, maximising quality of life and minimising discomfort.

Unfortunately, osteoporosis is known as a ‘silent disease’.

Many people don’t experience early symptoms or even realise they have the

Many medications - along with other poisons such as household cleaners come with child resistant lids or packaging. However, it’s important to remember that these are not child proof.

They are made to be difficult for children to get into, but not impossible – you may even find that some kids can open them easier than adults can.

DID you know that Lazy Frog Gifts is a stockist of a huge range of beautiful, quality baby products?

One of the most common problems experienced by older people is a condition called osteoporosis.

The disease aids the deterioration of bone tissue, causing a decrease in bone mass and a higher risk of fracture and pain.

Poisoning incidents often occur due to unsupervised access, including when items such as medications are left out after being used or when they are stored in easily accessible locations such as handbags.

Don’t most of these products have child resistant packaging?

Leap in for a gift

AS we age, our bones naturally lose mass and therefore become more prone to certain osteal (bone-related) conditions.

In fact, about 1.2 million Australians have an osteoporosis diagnosis, with a further 6.3 million experiencing low bone density.

The majority of child hospitalisations due to poisoning involve pharmaceuticals. This can include over the counter medications such as paracetamol or cough and cold remedies, as well as prescription medications such as those used to treat blood pressure.

To children, medications can look like lollies, so they may think that they have just found Mum’s, Dad’s, or their grandparent’s secret stash of treats, not realising the dangers that these items can pose.

TOSHI is just one of the big brand names in-store.

condition until after their first fracture.

In some cases, the fracture itself can cause the disease.

The Lazy Frog team has just completed unpacking the 2022 autumn/winter collection, which has some beautiful colourways in knitwear, onesies, hats, blankets and plenty more.

It is therefore imperative that you remain proactive in understanding the subtle signs of osteoporosis and go for screening regardless of whether you have symptoms or not.

The store has also just recently become a stockist of the very popular SMOOSH silicone range.

A failure to diagnose osteoporosis is more likely to result in more serious injury such as hip fracture, requiring surgery.

It is BPA-free and a food-grade silicone which is free from nasties.

The Bond Radiology team wants to help.

Book an x-ray or BMD scan and take proactive steps to preventing fractures and maximising good bone health.

Bond Radiology Pakenham is at 2 Stephenson Street, Pakenham. Call 7037 3102.

Lazy Frog is now online, where shoppers can easily find products from the convenience of home, including other everyday ranges: Ecoya, Tilley, Palm Beach, and Mews Candles and Diffusers, T2, Willow Figurines, Essential Oils, Maine Beach

Lazy Frog Gifts owner Sharlene.

body products, a vegan range of handbags and wallets, Sploshies for the whole family, planters, artificial plants - the list goes on and on.

Shoppers can easily click and collect or the Lazy Frog team can post items.

Lazy Frog Gifts is located at 109 Main Street, Pakenham (next to the post office).

There is ample parking at the rear of the shop.

It’s open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, and Saturdays 9am to 3pm.

For any inquiries, call 5941 2225. The team is more than happy to assist over the phone.

To keep up with all the Lazy Frog new arrivals, follow the store on Facebook and Instagram.

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AUTUMN 2022 15

It’s Your Life

Author Jayneen Sanders.

Having big chats with little people

By Melissa Grant SOME chats are difficult but necessary to have with little ones.

It’s important to talk about issues such as consent and body safety, but where and when do you start?

These discussions can take place relatively early on, provided they are age-appropriate.

That’s the view of body safety advocate and award-winning author Jayneen Sanders, who has launched a new book series to assist parents with crucial yet sometimes ‘tough’ topics for early learners.

The series, called Little BIG Chats, features 12 books suitable for children aged 2-6 years.

The titles include Consent, Secrets and Surprises, Private Parts are Private, My Safety Network, Feelings, Everyone is Equal and Empathy.

They feature interactive questions designed to bring a child’s own experiences and understandings into the conversation, and inside the back cover there are discussion questions for parents, caregivers and educators.

16 AUTUMN 2022

Jayneen, from Maccelsfield, passionately feels that we can do more to keep our children safe by teaching them age-appropriate and empowering prevention education.

A decade ago she wrote ‘Some Secrets Should Never Be Kept’ to help protect children from unsafe touch by teaching them to speak up.

“I’m not a survivor of sexual abuse but I am a mother of three daughters and I’m a teacher,” Jayneen explained.

“I’ve had a number of friends who were sexually abused as children. They said to me we need to do something before they (children) are in the perpetrator’s web because once they are in the web it’s very complex.

“I went to the children’s school council and I said, ‘you know we should be doing some protective behaviours on body safety’ and everyone was really uncomfortable.

“That was really like a red flag to a bull for me. I thought OK, we need to do this. That’s when I wrote Some Secrets Should Never Be Kept.”

Jayneen went back to teaching but soon felt the need to write more books.

“Instances came up… particularly where young girls couldn’t say no to the boys around them all the time wanting to hold onto their hands,” she recalled.

“I thought, wow we have to do more about empowering kids about consent.

From there, gender equality comes into it as well and then social intelligence and empathy. The whole gambit began.”

Jayneen says her book My Body!

What I Say Goes! is a must-read for children aged 4-10 years, with the title covering personal body safety, feelings, safe and unsafe touch, private parts, secrets and surprises, consent and respect.

Last year, Jayneen decided to break down body safety and consent for kids aged 2-6 year-olds and Little BIG Chats was born.

She says parents can start teaching consent and body safety from a young age by asking to dress their child and calling genitals by the correct names.

“If kids are educated (to say) ‘that’s my vagina, don’t touch it’, the perpetrator will run a mile,” she explained.

Jayneen likens teaching body safety

and consent to putting your child’s seatbelt on.

“You put it in place, you hope you never have to use it but it’s there just in case,” she said.

“We are not with them 24/7 and and believe me, predators groom families and they groom kids.

“Look at the news cycle. It’s always there and it’s the person you least expect.

“We are seeing a lot more child on child abuse too. The average age for a boy is 11 to see pornography. Once they see it they can’t unsee it, and it’s very traumatic and sometimes they will outplay that trauma on younger siblings and children.”

However, she says the positive is that prevention through education is really empowering.

“An empowered child is an empowered teenager - it’s very powerful,” she said.

The Little BIG Chats books are available individually in hard back or can be purchased as a complete soft cover set.

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AUTUMN 2022 17

Ebony, Sarah was sent to specialist in cardiology and genetics to get to the bottom of it.

All the scans came back clear and Sarah, who was booked to have James at the Angliss Hospital, was transferred to Mercy Hospital for Women and told it would be a long journey.

It’s Your Life

“We weren’t given any definitive answers, but they threw a diagnosis out there of hyperplastic left heart syndrome which needs many, many surgeries to survive,” she said.

“Even the chances of death or severe illness are extremely high.

“We were pretty broken by that.”

James had a number of trials but has come out healthy and happpy.

Faced with a rather life changing decision whether to proceed with the pregnancy, Sarah worried about Ebony.

She didn’t want her brother’s illness, and expected countless hospital stays and surgeries, to affect her life and learning.

Sarah’s miracle boy

By Melissa Meehan A SLIGHT sniffle or cough can bring on an anxiety attack in an instant for Sarah Honeybone.

She lives on tenterhooks, forever scared that her one-year-old James will stop breathing again.

“I am so worried that he’s going to stop breathing, I’m still a little bit traumatised,’ Sarah says.

“That image of James not breathing still sits there in the front of my mind.”

It was just one frightening chapter to a rather long journey but James is none the wiser - now happy and healthy playing with his farm animals.

Their journey started when Sarah was just 13 weeks pregnant.

She went in for her usual scan and they found he had a large nuchal fold in his neck, and later found a abnormality in James’ heart.

The left side was marginally smaller than the right.

Already a mum to a 12-month old,

“We had so many appointments and conversations based around medically interrupting the pregnancy, but before we could make a decision we needed a second opinion,” she said.

That’s when they met Dr Paul Brooks from Melbourne Paediatric Cardiology.

He did a scan on James’ heart and gave a realistic, but more optimistic idea of that to expect. And he was almost certain that it wasn’t HLHS. It was the news they needed.

Sarah was 23 weeks pregnant at the time, and they needed to make the decision whether to interrupt the pregnancy at 24 weeks. They decided that James would fight.

At 27 weeks, Sarah lost her mucus plug and went into spontaneous labour.

By the time the paramedics had arrived, she was already starting to have contractions.

They raced for an hour to get to

Mercy Hospital where they were able to stop the labour progressing.

But Sarah gave birth to James two days later on December 6, 2019.

He was immediately rushed to NICU and put on drugs to ensure his heart would survive until he was strong enough for surgery.

He was born at 27 weeks and 3 days, weighing just 1457 grams.

The Mercy Hospital would become the duo’s home until January when James was moved to theRoyal Childrens Hospital.

They ruled his heart was functioning within a normal range and sent him back to Mercy Hospital to “grow big, fat and happy”.

He allowed to finally go home at 37 weeks. But was rushed back to hospital three days later.

“He was diagnosed with bronchiolitis and had three episodes of apnoea and I had to perform CPR while we waited for the ambulance to arrive,” Sarah said.

“It was pretty scary - I had brought him to bed with me because he was snuffly and in the morning I noticed he was quiet, unresponsive and grey.”

Bronchiolitis, simply put, is a common cold. This all happened in February and then the coronavirus pandemic hit in March.

“That for us was so scary, because we had seen what had happened to him with a cold - and we, honestly thought coronavirus would kill him if he contracted it,” she said.

He’s a happy and health one-yearold now - meeting all of his markers and milestones.

Sarah admits she’s still on tenterhooks, rushing to the doctors whenever he gets so much of a cold and self-isolating as a precaution during the pandemic.

But it’s all worth it - because through the hardship, she’s got her perfect baby boy.

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It’s Your Life

Cheesy broccoli bites BROCCOLI can stir up some pretty strong emotions – it seems people either love it or hate it, and it’s more often the later when it comes to kids. But broccoli is actually favourite vegetable, and I’m here to convert even the toughest of critics with my Cheesy Broccoli Bites.

Broccoli is rich in calcium, potassium and magnesium, is a fantastic source of vitamins A, C and K, and full of fibre and folate. It’s also high in glucosinolates, which help the body get rid of toxins. It has a prominent flavour but can be delightfully grassy and even rather sweet. For maximum nutrients choose broccoli with dark green, densely packed and tightly closed florets.

i th in the kitchen with Lucy Stewart

CHEESY BROCCOLI BITES Makes: 28 Prep time: 1-hour Cook time: 12-minutes Ingredients:

How you cook your broccoli makes all the difference too - no one enjoys the taste or sulfurous smell of mushy over-cooked boiled broccoli, right?

Steaming your broccoli for a short amount of time, retains the most nutrients and also prevents the formation of unpleasant odors and flavours. The addition of cheese and a little garlic in these bites, always makes broccoli taste better too. Serve them warm from the oven, and with a tomato salsa or a yoghurt dipping sauce for added yumminess.

■ 2 heads of broccoli (500g) ■ 1 clove garlic, minced ■ 3 eggs ■ 1 cup grated parmesan cheese ■ ½ cup sourdough breadcrumbs or almond meal ■ ½ tsp sea salt ■ Olive oil Pictures: Studio 74 Noosa

Instructions: 1. Cut broccoli into florets and steam for 2-3 minutes. They should start to turn bright green but still be lovely and crunchy. Let them cool completely.

2. Preheat oven to 200’C and line a baking sheet with baking paper drizzled with a little olive oil.

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3. To a food processor, add cooled broccoli florets and pulse to a crumb – rice-sized pieces, not pureed, small enough to be rolled in it to balls.

4. To a large bowl, add broccoli, breadcrumbs, parmesan, whisked eggs, garlic and salt and stir to combine.

5. Use a tablespoon to scoop out the mixture and squash together to form a ball – add some extra breadcrumbs if you need more “glue” - then place on baking sheet.

6. Cook for 12-minutes until slightly golden.

AUTUMN 2022 19

Health

Supporting long Covid in children

By Nadia Peach, naturopath WHILE there is no standard definition of long Covid, and the syndrome itself is quite variable, having symptoms that persist for more than 28 to 30 days following the onset of Covid is increasingly being labeled as long Covid in medical literature.

Long Covid might be relapsing and remitting in nature.

Post viral symptoms are known to exist following other viral infections including Epstein Barr virus and Ross River fever virus.

What actually causes persistent symptoms following viral infections, including Covid, remains the focus of researchers.

The viral infection persisting itself is not as likely. Other theories include chronic inflammation, blood flow disturbances or nervous system damage.

The most common reported symptoms are headache, fatigue, sleep

disturbance, concentration difficulties, low mood, abdominal pain, muscle or joint pain, congested or runny nose, cough, chest tightness or pain, loss of appetite or weight, disturbed smell or anosmia, and rash.

In most of the studies on children, symptoms did not persist longer than 12 weeks.

In Australia thus far, our statistics for children with long Covid seem to fare a lot better than European countries did last year.

This might be due to different Covid strains.

However, in Australia we do not currently have definitive information on how many children this can affect and how long it can last.

One Victorian study on children found 8 per cent of 151 children had mostly mild infections had some persistent symptoms for up to eight weeks.Apparently, all these children fully recovered by three to six months.

Three to six months is still a long time to recover from an infection, and this

Naturopath Nadia Peach.

poses the question: how can we support long Covid?

This first question I ask with post viral infections, as a naturopath, is regarding a history of low vitamin D in the child or parents.

The role of vitamin D is important in the prevention and reduced severity of viral infections in children (by modulating the immune response to the virus) particularly in those that are low in vitamin D. Other important immune nutrients that might need assessment include zinc selenium and vitamin A, all of which have an important role in healthy immunity and supporting lung and throat tissue.

Children at an age where they can swallow a capsule might benefit from Quercetin.

Quercetin has anti-viral properties and it is considered antioxidant, immune supporting and pain relieving.

Quercetin also seems to support respiratory health and has been found to reduce inflammation in the lungs.

For mood and sleep symptoms, good

quality protein is important with sound nutrition and I would suggest seeing your health care professional for an assessment to support brain nutrition and reduce inflammation.

Fish oil might also be indicated to support inflammation and mood-related symptoms.

The EPA component of fish oil is quite anti-inflammatory and the DHA component is very important for brain health and memory.

Certain probiotics might be useful for long Covid such as bifidobacterium based probiotics as these boost immunity. Consuming kim chi, sauerkraut, good quality yogurts, kefir and other fermented foods might provide these in a food dose, but supplements can provide a more therapeutic dose.

The benefit of probiotics with children is they are generally gentle and easy to give. Increasing microbial diversity with prebiotics, fermented foods and eating high fibre plant foods is very important.

Your good bacteria in your gut need to have a diverse population for good health - to support this, eat more than 30 different plant foods per week.

This is easier than you think.

For a lingering cough, specific herbs that might be of benefit include marshmallow root, myrrh, licorice, ivy leaf, and elderberry.

Always check with your health care professional when giving herbs to children, especially children under 4 years old.

For reduced energy and other long Covid symptoms, herbs and nutrients might need to be individually selected by a naturopath or relevant health care professional.

However, it is worth mentioning several products are available to support the mitochondria and reduce inflammation.

Making eco choices doesn’t cost the Earth LUVME Eco is changing the planet, one bamboo nappy at a time.

CEO and co-founder Kendall Seddon took the leap from a corporate sales and marketing job into starting her own business almost 15 years ago.

The corporate lifestyle was eating into the mum of three daughters’ family time.

She wanted freedom and to leave a legacy.

With support from her husband, Craig, and business partner and mum Laurie, Kendall set out to make the best eco nappies.

“In Australia alone, 5.6 million nappies are dumped into landfill a

day,” she said.

right choice for sensitive skin.”

“These nappies then stay on our earth for up to 500 years.”

Luvme’s Pandas eco bamboo nappies received silver at last year’s Clean and Conscious awards.

Her kids have very sensitive skin, so she was drawn to bamboo, which has smooth fibres that are less likely to irritate the skin.

“Going eco doesn’t mean having to settle for something that doesn’t perform,” Kendall said.

“This is why we use bamboo. Bamboo is naturally organic.

“Some species grow 1 metre a day, and the bamboo trees absorb so much water, which makes them naturally the

“It is with great honour to accept this incredible award,” Kendall said.

“We strive to make a difference to our environment by creating smart eco brands for the whole family.

“The superior quality, strength and absorption in our eco bamboo nappies have impressed even the pickiest and most sensitive of tushies in Australia.

“Our 85 per cent biodegradable nappies are saving the earth one nappy

at a time.

“The Clean and Conscious awards celebrate exceptional products that work in perfect harmony with our bodies, our environment and our society.

“The awards are run by a team of women who believe that educating people to consume mindfully, at the same time as motivating brands to manufacture responsibly.

“Our journey has taught us over the years that eco living and caring for our earth really is helping to create a better future for our children.

“Our number one priority is to share this message.”

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Luvme Panda Nappies and Wipes Available at Berwick Bulk Foods Where your health comes first Expert friendly professional advice | Dedicated team that speaks over 7 languages | Locally owned and operated.

Blooms the Chemist Casey Central are here for you and here for the community.

bloomsthechemist.com.au 20 AUTUMN 2022

CASEY CENTRAL

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Visit us at www.berwickbulkfoods.com.au

BLOOMS THE CHEMIST CASEY CENTRAL P 9704 8166 | E casey@blooms.net.au

9a Blackburne Square, Berwick

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Health

Unusual signs of pregnancy SOME of the signs of early pregnancy are well known and fairly obvious, such as missed periods or swollen, tender breasts.

But what about some of the symptoms that you might not know about, or dismiss as something else?

Epworth Maternity midwife, Stacey Goad, says there can be some telltale signs that indicate you may be pregnant.

“Everyone’s body is different and even each pregnancy can be different.

Some early pregnancy signs can mimic how you might feel just before you get your period,” Stacey explains.

These often include: ■ fatigue ■ tender or swollen breasts ■ nausea ■ mood swings ■ bloating “There’s also a number of less common symptoms, where you might not even realise are signs you’re expecting.”

These can include: ■ increased urination ■ excessive saliva

■ more than normal amount of vaginal discharge ■ feeling lightheaded ■ feeling warmer than normal ■ constipation ■ food/smell aversions “It’s important to be kind to your body and your mind when you’re pregnant.

You are growing new life and your body is doing a lot of work to make that happen,” says Stacey.

“You may not realise when you’re pregnant, your blood volume increases by an incredible 50 percent - you even grow a new organ: the placenta. This amazing organ is vital to your baby’s health and growth, delivering nutrients and oxygen to your baby, while also removing waste from your baby’s blood supply.”

You might feel your mood swings are more dramatic than usual. While hormones can cause mood swings and you may experience an emotional rollercoaster, they’re vital to sustaining your pregnancy.

If you suspect that you’re pregnant, the next step would be to take a home pregnancy test and visit your GP.

Learn more about early pregnancy by scanning the QR code.

Picture: iStock

W O N N PE O

Inside a diagnosis MRI technology - what’s it all about?

IN November last year, I-MED Radiology brought its trusted brand to the Pakenham community, opening a comprehensive, purposebuilt, modern clinic at 20 Main Street, Pakenham.

MRI technology forms part of that service offering.

MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging, which lets radiologists see inside the body to identify and diagnose a wide variety of possible medical conditions.

It uses a powerful magnet, radio waves, and special coils to detect electrical signals from your body.

A computer then turns this information into detailed images, which radiologists can use to help determine what might be wrong.

Which body parts are best seen using MRI? Pretty much all, however the soft tissue structures such as brain, knee ligaments and spinal cord are most commonly imaged using MRI. MRI is very safe as there is no ionising radiation.

This makes it optimal in paediatric imaging in a variety of conditions such as assessment of wrist fractures and sporting injuries. Parents can find more information about MRI scanning on the I-MED Radiology website, i-med.com.au, where there is a whole page dedicated to MRI imaging.

It features a video on what to expect during an MRI. The team at I-MED Radiology looks forward to caring for your family during their next appointment at our new Pakenham clinic.

Call 5947 7000.

I-MED Radiology Pakenham

I-MED Radiology – bringing our trusted brand and premium service to the Pakenham community in a modern purpose built facility.

Why choose I-MED Radiology Pakenham?

• • • • •

Bulk Billing available for most Medicare-funded examinations Off street underground parking for all patients State-of-the-art equipment No appointment necessary for general x-ray On-site radiologist specialist expertise to supervise and tailor examinations • Comprehensive service includes CT, ultrasound, general x-ray including dental OPG, 3D tomosynthesis (mammography), MRI, bone mineral densitometry (DEXA) and interventional procedures.

Book online at i-med.com.au

PRINCES HW

Address: 20 Main Street, Pakenham VIC 3810 T: 03 5947 7000 F: 03 5947 7055 Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9.00am - 5.00pm

I-MED Radiology Pakenham

Off street underground parking for all patients.

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For appointments call Sonographer Greg, radiographer Liz, clinic director Dr David Wang, chief radiographer Joel, office supervisor Melissa, and account manager Xia.

03 5947 7000 i-med.com.au 12529559-SN03-22

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

AUTUMN 2022 21

DENTAL

Orthodontic experts SOUTH East Orthodontics has been servicing Casey for more than 20 years, and is located at a purpose-built practice on Clyde Road.

To ensure the premises are Covid safe, South East Orthodontics sought the advice of Professor Laurie Walsh from Queensland University and Steven Kent from the Doherty Institute.

South East Orthodontics offers clinical excellence using the latest orthodontic developments and techniques.

Dr Nishan Fernando DR Nishan Fernando, from New Zealand, completed a Bachelor of Science in physiology, and Post Graduate Diploma in Science, in pharmacology and toxicology from the University of Otago.

Nishan later completed his Bachelor in Dental Surgery at Hong Kong University.

Nishan was then employed in the Department of Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics at Prince Philip Dental Hospital as a House Officer.

He treated complex cases and medically-compromised children, as well as orthodontic patients under the supervision of his orthodontic professor.

He volunteered his time with a cleft

The expert team at South East Orthodontics.

lip and palate team which went to Cambodia.

Upon returning to New Zealand, he registered with the New Zealand Dental Council and The General Dental Council (UK).

After a few years in private general dental practice, Nishan completed his Doctoral in Clinical Dentistry (Orthodontics) at the University of Adelaide.

South East Orthodontics is located at Suite 5, Level 1, 18-24 Clyde Road, Berwick. Call 9330 0702 or visit www.seortho.com.au.

Dental care service for all GETTING the entire family to visit the dentist can be like pulling teeth.

Kids are afraid the check-up will be painful, and parents are worried it will hurt the wallet.

But Casey Dental Group are committed to providing the highest standard of dental care at affordable prices, offering many specials to help everyone afford their dental treatment.

The trusted group is one of the longest established dental practices in the City of Casey and have recently moved into a new state-ofthe-art premise, offering families all their dental needs under one roof.

A caring and professional team of 14 dentists and 22 nursing and support staff aim to provide the best ongoing dental care with services including digital X-rays, laser whitening, implants, ceramic crowns/veneers and all other aspects of general dentistry.

And perhaps the best part is that you don’t have to break the bank to have strong, beautiful, pearly whites.

“Many of our dentists have a particular focus comprehensive orthodontic treatment for children and adults, and we offer family discounts and the options of clear (ceramic) braces,” Dr Jayson McNaughton said.

“We offer flexible payment plans and family discounts as well as bulk billing for the new Child Dental Benefits Scheme. We have a special focus on children’s dentistry with our

caring clinicians highly experienced in dealing with patients of all ages.

Casey Dental Group’s opening hours are: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8am until 6pm, late nights available on Wednesday’s 8am until 9pm and Saturday 8am until 1pm.

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

Phone: 9705 1755 Fax: 8790 2327.

Website: www.caseydentalgroup.com.au Ongoing specials offered by Casey Dental Group: ■ Bulk billing for the Medicare Child Dental Benefits Scheme.

■ Complimentary orthodontic consultations.

■ Half price crowns and porcelain veneers (after first full priced crown/veneer subsequent crowns prepared at the same visit charged at half price, participating dentists only).

■ Ask us about our implant special.

■ Non-insurance patients: Free check up and quote.

■ Take Home Whitening Kit $295.

■ Insurance patients: We do not charge the gap on your health insurance claim for check ups, cleans, X-rays including OPG’s and sealants.

■ Finance available interest free for 12 months.

WE MAKE CASEY CARDINIA SMILE

Orthodontics and Invisalign from $59 per week.

Implants from $39 per week • We BULK BILL for the $1000 Medicare Child Dental Benefits Scheme • HALF PRICE CROWNS* *after first full priced crown.

• INSURANCE PATIENTS: We Do Not Charge the Gap on Your Health Insurance Claim for Check Ups, Cleans, X-Rays and Sealants*

Dr Kip Homewood and Dr Nishan Fernando make Casey Cardinia Smile

• 24 months interest free on all treatment services • NON INSURANCE PATIENTS: FREE Check Ups! • Government Emergency/General Dental Vouchers accepted

The team at South East Orthodontics who have been proudly supporting and servicing Casey Cardinia for over 20 years

Orthodontic Treatment for children and adults utilising the latest technologies including SureSmile, Invisalign, lingual and clear appliances.

We offer flexible, interest free payment plans to make orthodontics accessible to everyone.

Participating Providers and Dr Jayson McNaughton

Dr Guy Turton

Dr Alina Bratu

Dr Shannon Gune

Dr Harjot Gill

Mr Joseph Hanna

Dr Robert Otken

Dr Deon Nguyen

Dr David Abdel-Malek Dr Melanie Cole Dr Rachel Fong Dr Quinn Tao Ms Chrysi Kroone Dr Ragy Labib Dr John Tia

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

Phone: 9705 1755

Narre W a Cranbo rren urne Rd

NEW LOCATION

• Whitening take home kit only $295

d

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 8.30 am to 5.30 pm Suite 5, Level 1/18-24 Clyde Rd, Berwick Phone: (03) 9330 0702 info@seortho.com.au | www.seortho.com.au 12521265-BL50-21

22 AUTUMN 2022

Mon and Fri 8am to 6pm, Sat 8am–1pm, Tues, Wed & Thurs 8am to 9pm Bookings can now be made online through our website: www.caseydentalgroup.com.au

Casey Dental Group is Here!

Greaves Rd 12472308-JW51-20

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Education education; but so is religious education – developing empathy, social justice and a strong moral compass.

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

Due to Covid-19’s impact on schooling in 2020 and 2021, St Clare’s discovered digital technology was an integral part of the learning experience in this connected world and at St Clare’s, a student’s capacity for safety, courtesy, critical literacy and independent learning online using the most current mobile learning technologies is emphasised.

Student achievement is measured not only by academic growth but by each child’s emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing.

Faith in learning ST Clare’s Catholic Primary School continues to grow and now has more than 550 students enrolled One of the school’s major developments is substantial landscape works to incorporate further sport fields and playgrounds.

Xavier College’s Officer campus.

This provides a seamless transition from early childhood to secondary education with state-of-the-art facilities.

St Clare’s continues to go from strength to strength.

Each learning space has been designed by education award-winning architects to provide a rich environment conducive to relevant, meaningful learning.

As part of the parish of St Patrick’s in Pakenham, the school is on site with the early learning centre and St Francis

Areas are spacious and wellresourced so as to meet the diverse needs of all learners.

Before children come to school their parents have taught them so much.

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

St Clare’s continues these life lessons and nurtures the holistic development of each child.

For the St Clare’s family, numeracy and literacy skills are core elements of

Being part of a faith-filled community instils St Clare’s students with a sense of identity, a feeling of belonging and above all, a powerful sense of selfworth.

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

Visit www.stclaresofficer.catholic. edu.au and take a virtual tour to get a real feel for the school.

School tours are also available.

Contact the school on 5940 6777 to book a time.

For all enquiries or to receive enrolment documentation, call 5940 6777 or email enrolments@stclaresofficer.catholic. edu.au.

Kinder is crucial It is important for providers to work with children and families to provide a strong education foundation that takes children through to school.

Family-owned Narre Warren Early Learning Centre and Kindergarten is focused on doing just that.

Owner Sandra Fynmore said the centre provided high-quality care and educational programs to children from six weeks to five years of age.

“We provide nurturing, stimulating learning environments using natural resources to promote children’s learning to help them discover the world around them by using their imagination,” she said.

“We create our programs based on children’s interests, ideas, strengths and stages of development to support and guide their learning.

“Programs focus on continually extending children’s play and using their own interests to build and develop purposeful learning.

The centre has outdoor furniture and equipment in spacious, shady yards, and all meals are cooked fresh each day.

But centre manager Katherine Lester said the educators were its most valuable assets Bachelor-qualified kinder teachers work five days per week running funded, highly-educational kinder for three and four-year-olds.

The program includes excursions, incursions, support from preschool www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

field officers, school readiness funding, extra learning materials such as Letterland, and much more.

“It is extremely important at Narre Warren Early Learning Centre and Kindergarten that we provide children with consistency and high-quality education and care,” Ms Lester said.

“We are committed to each individual child in a nurturing way, enabling them to develop with varied learning and fun in a stimulating environment.”

“Our open door policy invites parents to always be willing to discuss issues.

“We believe effective and open communication is essential.

“It is important to us that families feel comfortable and engaging at the centre. “Establishing trusting secure relationships with families is our top priority.”

The centre has vacancies available now and is holding an open day on Saturday 19 March from 10am to 1pm, but show-throughs are always available.

Tours can be booked through www.narrewarrenearlylearning.com. au.

Narre Warren Early Learning Centre and Kindergarten is open 51 weeks per year, closing on public holidays. Opening hours are 7am to 6pm.

It’s located at 36-38 Victoria Road, Narre Warren.

Call 8753 7755 or email reception@ narrewarrenearlylearning.com.au.

Join us on our

OPEN DAY Saturday 19th March 10am to 1pm Anyone attending our open day, who enrol before the end of March, will receive their first week FREE. Brand new privately owned centre striving for excellence in care and education.

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KINDER is a crucial time in a young child’s life.

To provide all children with a place to grow in the first five years of life.

We are committed to providing support and encouragement to our families and local community.

36-38 Victoria Road, Narre Warren

Ph: 8753 7755 www.narrewarrenearlylearning.com.au

AUTUMN 2022 23

Education

How to explain the pandemic WHILE we’ve been living in a pandemic for almost two, children begin to notice changes at different ages.

And while we are about to move into Covid-19 normal, there are still outbreaks and isolation periods kids need to understand.

By Principal Henry Grossek, Berwick Lodge Primary School

Kids who were babies when the pandemic first came in are now starting to talk and take much more notice of what is happening around them.

And those who were toddlers when it begun are now at kinder or primary school and learning to live with remote learning at times.

It’s important to try to limit the confusion about what is happening and take into consideration their feelings when talking about social distancing and lockdowns with your children.

Raisingchildren.net.au says children will cope better if they have accurate, age-appropriate information about Covid-19 , physical distancing and self-isolation.

They also need plenty of opportunities to ask questions and talk about feelings. The steps below can help you talk through this situation with your preschooler or school-age child.

Moving forward in 2022 A question I am frequently asked, as we move through what is now the third year of this pandemic, is “how are the children doing?”

The government funded website says the following tips can help make sure your child feels supported.

1. Make time to talk about COVID-19, physical distancing and self-isolation 2. Use a calm and reassuring tone 3. Find out what your child knows about physical distancing and self-isolation 4. Explain physical distancing and self-isolation in a way your child understands 5. Tune into your child’s feelings about physical distancing and self-isolation And remember – if you’re all well, plenty of cuddles can help you all feel better.

It is quite a straightforward question yet, in being so, answers are multi-layered.

There’s been a lot of media coverage on this question, with evidence indicating that some children are doing well, with others struggling to varying degrees both academically and mentally.

In short, as would be expected, the impact of the pandemic on children has been varied, with predictions of long-term consequences being varied, depending on many factors.

What I’ve noticed at our school is that the vast majority of children have bounced back well from the moment they have returned to school.

Just being at school, interacting with their friends and returning to the familiarity of their school routines has been incredibly therapeutic for them and, by extension, school staff.

By the way, that’s not to ignore the very real negative impact on some children, both socially and academically.

For those children it is vital that schools, ours included, work very closely with their families in rebuilding the educational framework for them.

That’s most certainly a significant challenge and one in which we cannot afford to fail.

The lesson to be learnt from the positive ‘bounce-back’ to school by the bulk of students is that as adults, in our role as custodians of children’s education and wellbeing, parents and teachers, we can at times underestimate children’s capabilities.

Children feed off our emotions – that’s worth remembering, too.

VISIT OUR VIRTUAL SCHOOL TOUR TODAY Our virtual school tour allows you to experience Berwick Lodge Primary School spaces as though you are physically there.

Using emerging technology, we have mapped spaces across the school to create 3D tours and 360-degree walkthroughs.

Immerse yourself in the spaces, move around, explore and look out for LODGIE BEAR along the way.

Empowering Curious Minds Find out how our world-class International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program and expert ELC andJunior School staff can help your child flourish in their learning through action in our intimate learningspaces and classes.

For more details visit: www.berwicklodgeeps.vic.edu.au

Kevin Heinze Best School Garden Award 2018

Non-Selective | Non-Denominational Small Classes | Co-Educational ELC and Junior School Dedicated Senior Girls and Boys Schools

P: 9709 6700 F: 9796 2198 E: berwick.lodge.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au

StMargarets.vic.edu.au

Visit our website to check out the virtual tour www.berwicklodgeps.vic.edu.au 12528481-NG11-22

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Education

It’s important to get kinder right THE research is out: quality kinder matters.

Kinder benefits children both during and after the school years, and the research also shows that two years of kindergarten have a greater impact than one.

What does quality look like in a kinder? How do you know your current kinder is right for your child?

Educational programs are created by well-trained teachers who understand early childhood development, and who have individual knowledge of your child.

Ask your child’s kinder teacher to explain the plan they have for your child.

Have you been given the opportunity to provide input?

The program should provide a combination of teacher-initiated and child-initiated activities.

This should reflect free play and structured play.

For example, children should have a choice of what activities they would like to play with, and activities that are led by teachers specific to learning outcomes are facilitated.

Ask what is on your child’s program.

Children are given the opportunity to learn about, and from, the world, problem solve, and process information.

You might see your child increase their understanding of self-worth and confidence, their ability to work with others, and have an increased interest in completing or attempting challenging tasks.

How is this reflected on your child’s plan?

Kinder should foster a love for books, reading and writing.

However, kinder isn’t for teaching reading and writing if children aren’t ready.

How does your kinder facilitate this?

Getting your child’s kinder year is an important step towards lifelong learning. Ask questions.

If you’re not happy, look around for the right fit for your child.

Contact Cardinia Lakes Early Learning Centre to book a tour of its kinder or child care classrooms.

Cardinia Lakes Early Learning Centre Book a tour today!

Vacancies for 2022 are limited

Cardinia Lakes ELC is an integrated child care centre with 3 and 4 year old Government Funded Kindergarten. All classrooms are run by qualified Teachers and Educators.

Meals cooked and planned for by a qualified chef.

We are open between 6:30am and 7:00pm Operating 52 weeks of the year and closed on public holidays.

3 Atlantic Drive, Pakenham VIC 3810 P: 9066 1144 E: manager@cardinialakeselc.com.au Cardinia-Lakes-Early-Learning-Centre www.cardinialakeselc.com.au

Email manager@cardinialakeselc.com. au, call 9066 1144, check Cardinia Lakes Early Learning Centre on Facebook or Instagram, or visit www.cardinialakesec.com.au.

12536737-DL11-22

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

AUTUMN 2022 25

Education

A flying start FOUNDATION students at Don Bosco Primary school are off to a flying start this year, thanks to a focus on wellbeing and transition.

The first day of primary school is a very special occasion for students and their parents, and with good reason.

Once a child puts on their school uniform for the first time, feelings of excitement, pride and some trepidation abound…and that’s just the parents!

At Don Bosco, educators recognise the importance of this milestone for both the students and their families, and place a big focus on supporting everyone through the transition to school.

In 2022 this has been more important than ever, after two years of the pandemic resulted in many students having limited kindergarten or preschool experiences.

In response to this, a number of targeted strategies were implemented such as having a meeting point at the front gate to greet students and parents, and then walking as a group to the classroom to begin our day.

This soft start to the morning alleviated many nerves and helped students to transition positively to the school day.

Teachers have also made an effort to

include parents in the day-to-day activities of the classroom by creating videos of classroom activities that were shared on a digital platform. These videos provided parents with a snapshot of life at school, and gave them an opportunity to see their child settled and happily enjoying classroom activities.

In addition to this, a focus on social skills, developmental play and creating a positive classroom culture have all contributed to a fantastic start to the school year.

These students and their families are certainly well placed to take on the rest of their foundation year at school.

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Education

Dr Michael Nagel.

Brain science key to learning

By Melissa Grant

teachers to get better learning outcomes for boys and girls.

DO boys and girls really have different learning needs?

Dr Nagel says the books aren’t about suggesting one gender is better than another.

Child development expert Dr Michael Nagel believes so, and has written two new books to give teachers and parents greater insights into why that’s the case.

Drawing on the latest brain science, the books focus on the neurological differences between the sexes and what they can teach us about educating and raising boys and girls.

Released late last year, Oh Boy …

Understanding the Neuroscience Behind Educating and Raising Boys explains what is really going on inside the head of a boy. It explores aggression, learning difficulties, behaviour, emotional problems, toxic masculinity and the challenges of technology.

It’s A Girl Thing … Understanding the Neuroscience Behind Educating and Raising Girls explores female aggression, self-esteem, relationships, emotional problems, peer-contagion and the challenges of technology.

Both Oh Boy and It’s A Girl Thing offer solutions and ideas for parents and

Rather, they are about helping those involved in educating children understand that there are some behaviours that happen for a reason.

“Males and females share more similarities than differences,” he told Kids Today.

“But the differences that do exist are very pronounced and can have a huge impact, particularly on individuals at a young age.”

According to Dr Nagel, boys often get in trouble for fidgeting and being impulsive in the classroom when they aren’t wired to sit for long periods of time.

“We know that movement actually stimulates the mind for males and females alike. For boys, it’s almost a biological imperative. The irony is a lot of boys come into class and are often asked to sit for long periods of time in ways that just don’t feel natural for them.”

He said boys can also get frustrated when they are unable to do something in class.

“One of the things that boys are exceedingly bad at is being able to explain why they are struggling or why they are having problems, because for boys not being able to do something is not good.”

Dr Nagel says that while girls tend to do well on most measures academically, there is a point where social and emotional development can impact their learning.

“As girls hit puberty and adolescence they tend to form very close relationships with one or two individuals and when things go wrong, they can really go wrong,” he said.

“So social and emotional development (in girls) is probably more of a concern for parents and teachers than anything else rather than academic and scholastic.”

According to Dr Nagel, when puberty kicks in girls tend to jump into areas of relational aggression or ‘aggression in pink’.

He believes that how girls and boys express aggression is important for

The impact of too much screen time Chiropractor Dr Cody Hanish has warned a “generation of tech injuries” is emerging in young adults, with many experiencing back and joint pain. They are more prone to injury and have less coordination, according to Dr Hanish.

“We are now seeing a generation come through who have back and joint pain earlier in their lives because of the way their bones have developed following long periods of screen time, especially sitting in awkward positions or with unnatural repetitive movements.”

Dr Hanish said children were moving less with four out of five kids hunched over screens for more than two hours a day.

“When your child tilts their head forward because they’re bent over a phone or tablet, the angle of the head puts additional strain on the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the neck,” Dr Hanish said.

“Children also tend to round their shoulders forward, which creates additional wear on the back and the www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

upper part of the spine but often the long-term impact won’t be obvious until they are older.

“People don’t realise how bad this is for a child’s development as their bones have not solidified until they are 25 which means they will grow in a way they are not supposed to.”

Dr Hanish said the long-term impact of spending too much time on screens in a poor posture “exponentially” increases the risk of degenerative joint disease throughout the entire spine.

He said the most common long-term effects of prolonged screen time on the body are muscular and skeletal strain, increased risk of obesity, susceptibility to chronic health conditions such as degenerative joint disease and migraines.

“There were a lot of girls that were doing very poorly at school and who identified that they had been bullied, but no-one had picked up on that because they would go to class and just be quiet,” Dr Nagel said.

Dr Nagel said there were strategies teachers could use to accommodate for gender differences in learning, citing an example of a teacher who had students do exercises for 5-10 minutes at the start of classes to help the boys settle down and be ready to learn.

“She found if she did that, when they got into class, they weren’t as restless,” he said.

Oh Boy … Understanding the Neuroscience Behind Educating and Raising Boys and It’s A Girl Thing …

Understanding the Neuroscience Behind Educating and Raising Girls – have been published by AMBA Press and are available in bookshops and online.

The first 2 years of life are a time for rapid growth and development, where children build a foundation for future learning. At Aspire Cranbourne West, our Nursery Hubs provide a nurturing environment, where babies feel safe to explore and discover. Our Nursery Hubs focus on creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for your baby to commence their learning journey and support emotional and social development in this phase of life.

But the fallout from spending a lot of time on tablets and phones during childhood is starting to be seen in people aged in their 20s - and it isn’t good.

Leaning o over er at a unnatural nnat ral angle during d ring screen time can lead to an array of problems.

And while boys are more likely to express aggression physically, girls tend to show more relational aggression. This aggression can be in the form of spreading rumours or causing others to be isolated from their peers.

Nursery Hub

WE all know excessive screen time isn’t great for kids

“Too much time spent on screens can mean missed opportunities to be physically active, which is incredibly important for growth and development of hand, eye coordination,” he explained.

learning outcomes.

Why Choose Us

Spots Available!

Call Now on 9789 3807 to secure your enrolment.

A separate Room for 0-12 Months

Routine is the backbone

Following individual family routine

Supporting Sensory Development

Outside the Box activities planned for babies

Empowering curiosity & Wonder

Spaces to enhance & challenge physical environment

Rooms being cleaned regularly with Covid cleaning spray

ra Looking fo cure safe & Se for ent environm Bub? your little

If you think your family would benefit from starting your learning journey with Aspire Cranbourne West, get in touch with us to learn more about our Nursery hub and book a tour today.

Phone:

9789 3807 Email: info@aspireearlyeducation.vic.edu.au 12536694-HC11-22

AUTUMN 2022 27

Education

Free glasses for 1000 kids CHILDREN with undiagnosed vision problems often find it hard to concentrate at school.

This presents challenges when it comes to actively engaging in their learning.

However, many Victorian parents avoid having their child’s eyes tested due to the prohibitive cost of glasses.

That’s why the state government has funded a free Glasses for Kids program.

The Victorian-first program, which is managed and delivered by State Schools’ Relief, has helped more than 22,000 Prep to Year 3 students at 395 schools have their eyes screened and, if needed, receive free glasses.

Last year, Minister for Education James Merlino announced the 1000th

pair of free glasses had been prescribed to a student.

So far, the state has invested more than $2 million into the program to help ensure a child’s education isn’t disadvantaged by easily treated issues like vision impairment.

“Giving every Victorian child the opportunity to thrive at school goes beyond providing great education programs – it’s about making sure nobody is left behind because of easily treatable issues like vision impairment,“ Mr Merlino said.

“It’s fantastic to see an extra thousand Victorian students seeing more clearly and concentrating better thanks to Glasses for Kids – and that’s exactly why we’ll continue to invest in this vital program, and in our kids’ health.”

Victorian students have access to a free Glasses for Kids program.

Taking Enrolments for 2022 and 2023

Early learning with a family focus FAMILY comes first at Kool Kidz Childcare.

The centre in Narre Warren is owned by mother and daughter, Janette Karavatis and Maria Dimoulas, who are passionate about looking after families.

Both women love children and realised a long held dream when the doors of Kool Kidz Narre Warren opened in February 2019.

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

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

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

“The standards are so high in terms of the curriculum and the

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28 AUTUMN 2022

Kool Kidz Narre Warren has capacity for 130 children.

“We are a family run business, looking after your family,” said Janette, who encourages parents to pop in for a tour of the centre.

“Maria and I both love children and, as we have a passion for this area, we want to give our best to the community.”

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

The centre caters for children from six weeks to six years.

Kool Kidz Narre Warren is open weekdays from 6.30am to 6.30pm at 17 Cranbourne Road, Narre Warren.

Phone 9705 1532.

Janette, Taylor and Maria from Kool Kidz Narre Warren.

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Kool Kidz Narre Warren is a purpose-built Early Learning, Childcare and Kindergarten facility that provides a safe, fun and exciting environment to explore, learn and grow in for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years.

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

support we receive,” Janette said.

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Education

A nurturing environment Putting parents at the centre

“IT feels like a community where my child will be nurtured, cared for and known.”

This is what parents and guardians say is their main reason for choosing Lakeside College, according to principal Tom Brennen.

“As a Christian College in the Lutheran tradition, we couldn’t be happier that families are experiencing exactly what we set out to provide,” he said.

“Education is all about relationships - between teacher and student, family and staff and school and community.

“Lakeside College prioritises these critical relationships as we carry out our service to the local community.”

As a smaller Christian school of 461 students (growing to 650 students) from Years Prep to 12, there is a richness of relationships and attention to individuals that set the college apart from others.

Students are nurtured across the curriculum through innovative learning opportunities in core subjects, a vibrant arts program, technologies and sport.

Highly qualified and committed staff know each child deeply through the intentional pastoral care program and

SHROUDED by the natural beauty of lush, green rolling hills, Harkaway Hills College punches well above its weight for a school that only opened five years ago.

Lakeside College Principal Tom Brennen.

relish in the opportunity to teach students across the school’s different areas.

The college boasts excellent facilities including access to the co-located facilities provided through the Cardinia Cultural Centre, the Toomuc Playing Fields and the Cardinia Life gym.

As an open enrolment Christian college, all families are welcome regardless of their faith tradition.

“As principal, I relish taking families on tours each week on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons and at other times as needed - please take me up on the offer,” Mr Brennen said.

This year’s student highlights include winning the interschool cross country carnival, taking out a statewide poetry competition and coming out on top in a local short story competition.

The Burgers, who were among the founding parents of Harkaway Hills College, were drawn to the PARED model of education because of the encouragement it provided parents as the first educators of their children.

“There were families in Melbourne who wanted the same support, so we got together, and here we are today, the first PARED school in Victoria,” Tatiana said.

The school’s bumper NAPLAN results were also a highlight following more than a year of remote education.

The couple said friendship was a vital aspect of PARED schools because friendship made for a beautiful community.

College parents Damien and Tatiana Burger said the key to the school’s success laid in supporting the parents.

“Parents can gather in our dedicated parent room anytime for a coffee and a chat,” Tatiana said.

“By focussing on developing and supporting the confidence of parents, we end up helping the students in the best way that we can,” Damien said.

“It is also a wonderful benefit for parents to get to know the parents of their children’s friends because it becomes such a wonderful support for them as they raise their children.”

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ENROL FOR PREP TO YEAR 8

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www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

AUTUMN 2022 29

Education

A new $5.5 million fund will help Victoria meet the demands of its growing farm, food and fibre sector, which needs more workers with digital, IT, business and marketing skills.

Backing our future farmers THE Victorian government is backing secondary schools across the state to support more students with ambitions to embark on a career in agriculture.

Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas says the government is supporting educators to deliver new programs for students through the $5.5 million Secondary Schools Agriculture Fund.

The program is part of the government’s $30 million Future Agriculture Skills Capacity Fund, delivered by Agriculture Victoria in partnership with the Department of Education and Training, to support TAFEs and other education and training providers to develop students’ skills and

carve pathways into agriculture.

The Secondary Schools Agriculture Fund will help Victoria meet the demands of its growing farm, food and fibre sector, which needs more workers with digital, IT, business and marketing skills, plus food and fibre entrepreneurs who can take products to international markets.

Some $4.5 million will go towards investing in programs and resources that will boost pathways into agricultural careers, meeting the needs of communities and Victoria’s agricultural industries.

Funding will be available for a range of agriculture education activities that could include designing programs,

engagement with local industry, purchasing equipment and other identified school needs.

The Secondary Schools Agriculture Fund will also allocate $1 million in funding for tech schools to invest in state-of-the art resources and new technology to deliver online and outreach agricultural technology programs that meet the needs of industry as farming practices evolve.

The Future Agriculture Skills Capacity Fund is part of the government’s $50 million Agricultural College Modernisation Program supporting more Victorians to pursue exciting careers in agriculture.

The fund also supports the

government’s broader reforms to vocational education, to help every Victorian student to get the skills they need for the job they want, no matter their future goals.

The Future of Agriculture Training in Victoria Review was also launched in June to examine how the TAFE system can continue to meet the changing needs of Victoria’s growing agricultural industry.

Expressions of interest for the Secondary Schools Agriculture Fund opened for tech schools in late 2021.

Expressions of interest will open for secondary schools by mid-2022.

For more information visit agriculture. vic.gov.au

Catholic, welcoming school where everyone We pride ourselves on being a Catholic is valued and respected. Our committed and professional staff provide a safe, caring environment where we aim to engender a love of learning in every student.

ENROLMENTS NOW OPEN Ph: 5943 9000 or email office@stppakenham.catholic.edu.au to book a school tour 136 Princes Highway, Pakenham | www.stppakenham.catholic.edu.au | (03) 5943 9000 12537229-AV11-22

30 AUTUMN 2022

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Reality Bites

Jodie Kist has worked as an early childhood teacher for more than 20 years.

Pictures: Rob Carew

Ways to keep the kids busy

By Melissa Meehan WHETHER the weather outside isn’t great, the dreaded pandemic has caught up with you or you’re scambling to keep the kids entertained while you work from home over the school holidays - we’ve got you covered.

Yarra Ranges early childhood teacher Jodie Kist has more than 20 years in the industry and was more than happy to share her knowledge and guidance with Kids Today on how to engage with your children when they are at home with you.

As summer winds down and the cooler, wetter days are upon us, a visit to the playground can’t always be on the cards - but Jodie says the great outdoors should be an option rain, hail or shine.

“As a mum of two older boys, I get it, you want to find a balance between doing things with them but also giving them the independence to do some things on their own,” she said.

watching them fill with rain, she says.

And then in turn let the kids use items they find outside to mix in with that water and scoop, mix and create.

Another favourite is going exploring on a nature hunt, Jodie says.

“Mud, gum leaves, gum nuts, bark, feathers - you name it,” she said.

“They can all be brought home and added to something else - you might make a funny face out of the items you find, or make a potion in the puddles.

Anything goes.”

But if outside isn’t an option, there are many ways to keep the kids entertained and engaged inside without touching the remote.

“Science experiments are great fun and can be created using common household items like bicarb soda, dishwashing detergent and water,” she said.

“Even adding food colouring to jars filled with water and creating a rainbow on paper towel... there are so many things you can do.”

“But spending time outdoors is important and the weather shouldn’t affect that as long as you are dressed appropriately.”

Her favourite, and a bonus for parents with fussy eaters, is getting kids involved in cooking treats and every day meals.

Jodie says getting out in the rain is beneficial to children young and old as it allows them to explore their senses, as well as take part in activities that link back to maths and science.

Giving them a sense of ownership often helps those kids who are fussy try new things - plus reading the recipe counts as literacy, and measuring the ingredients as numeracy.

It’s as easy as getting some containers from the kitchen and

Give Jodie’s suggestions a go, and tag us in your photos on social media.

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

literacy Getting the kids to take part in cooking helps with numeracy and literacy.

AUTUMN 2022 31

Active Kids

Dance can enhance life skills

By Jenan Taylor DANCE can be challenging, but there are many rewards. For all the sore muscles and hours of practice and focus, there’s the conditioning it returns, not to mention the surge of endorphins that also helps students think and feel better.

However, from ballet to Zumba, dance can also impart tools that have the potential to serve a student for life.

Time management From dealing with homework and exams to meeting deadlines, how to manage time is something that every

person has to navigate at some point or another. Developing an awareness of what that means – including learning how to prioritise certain activities over others, and balance wants and needs – is something that dance styles like ballet and jazz in particular can help refine. Ballet, for instance, is all about organisation, coordination and discipline. Lessons are highly structured and schedules are strict, so a sense of managing time can start from the moment students begin and then aim to prepare, say, for their first end of year concert.

Social skills The ability to cooperate with others is,

Opening Night’s new retail space THE year ahead is an exciting one for Opening Night Supplies, with the store doubling in size over the holidays, including the installation of a dedicated shoe fitting area as well as a fabric and trims area.

The store welcomed new brands Bloch, Claudia Dean, Gaynor Minden and Sonata Dancewear to its already large brand offering.

With an exciting pointe shoe fitting program starting, the staff at Opening Night will help customers to understand why they should wear the style chosen for them, and how to best maintain their foot health and shoe quality.

Priding themselves on a high quality of service and a wide range of products and suppliers, Opening Night Supplies caters to all performers locally as well as far and wide.

Opening Night Supplies services calisthenics clubs, dancing schools, costume designers and other performing enthusiasts around Australia.

Owners Melinda Moutsos and Carolyn Grant have been involved in calisthenics and dance for more than 20 years, and love helping performers reach their full potential and shine on stage.

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The growth of the business over the past three years has enabled Melinda and Carolyn to hire young local performers to work at the shop, and

Melinda fitting ballet shoes for Pippa as part of the new extension at Opening Night Supplies.

the business looks forward to supporting local events such as the Morwell Festival of Dance, Longbeach Calisthenics Competition and Moe Dance Eisteddfod later in the year.

Opening Night Supplies is located at Shop 2/32 Treloar Lane, Pakenham.

For more information, visit www. openingnightsupplies.com or call 5941 5713.

Opening hours are Monday to Tuesday, 10am to 5pm, Wednesday to Friday, 9.30am to 5pm, and Saturday, 9am to 1.30pm.

and deepen understanding.

Creativity Dance is communication in movement.

While dancers bring their own flair to particular movements, some genres actively encourage individual expression. In hip hop dance for example, many practitioners come up with their own blend of freestyle twists and turns. Of course, this requires strong problem-solving and imaginative approaches to initiating change. As a Swedish hip hop community outreach program found such creative activity can equip individuals with the fortitude to make positive changes to their own lives as well as the world.

Join the Cathy-Lea dance community CATHY-LEA Studios is celebrating 30 years in Casey in 2022 and wants new students to join in.

Enrolments are now open for all ages and abilities via cathy-lea.com.

Offering tuition in ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary dance, hip hop, lyrical, acrobatics, drama, singing, musical theatre and instrumental music, Cathy-Lea has been a leader in performing arts training in Melbourne’s south-east since 1991.

Scores of graduates have pursued careers in performance and thousands have gained confidence, co-ordination, fitness, friendships and a love of performing arts from their training at Cathy-Lea Studios.

Renowned for its high standards, disciplined classes, and friendly, expert staff, Cathy-Lea encourages students of all abilities to shine using recognised syllabi and affiliations with professional associations including Cecchetti International Ballet, The Australian Teachers of Dancing, Ausdance VIC and AMEB. Cathy-Lea is also a provider of VCE and VET Dance.

The highly awarded Ready Set Dance and Ready Set Ballet pre-school programs teach confidence, coordination and creativity to boys and girls aged two to five.

Classes are jam-packed with engaging music, bright props and fun routines.

New pre-school acro classes teach

basic tumbling and co-ordination skills.

The elite training program at CathyLea offers talented and dedicated students extension training, performance opportunities and preparation for performing arts careers.

Teachers are professional performing artists, highly qualified coaches and master educators.

All-abilities fun classes develop confidence, co-ordination, fitness and friendships.

New 16-plus classes offer young adults with prior dance training the opportunity to dance for fun and fitness.

Cathy-Lea graduates have studied at the Australian Ballet School, the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School, Brent Street studios in Sydney, Patrick Studios Australia, Melbourne City Ballet Company, The Ministry of Dance, Kelly Aykers Studios and Dance Spectrum, as well as performing professionally in Australia and overseas.

Class rates are reasonable with family discounts and special unlimited class passes available.

All students have opportunities to perform in concerts and soirees. Exams and competitions are optional.

With more than 150 classes per week in dance, music and drama on offer, Cathy-Lea is sure to have a class to meet each student’s needs.

Contact Cathy on cathy-lea@cathy-lea. com or 9704 7324, or visit cathy-lea. com to book a free trial class.

We have doubled in

size

NEW Pointe shoe fitting area NOW OPEN Personalised Pointe fitting service Shop contact details: ph: 03 5941 5713 Shop 2, 32 Treloar Lane, Pakenham 3810 S online: www.openingnightsupplies.com 32 AUTUMN 2022

arguably, an important strength, and a 2017 Greek study has found that recreational dancers tend to outshine both athletes and non-athletes in that respect. This could be because dancers have to interact with others, especially in group or partner situations, regularly, which goes a long way towards promoting respect and encouraging co-operation skills. Another perspective about how dance enhances social adaptability, is that participating in dance genres that are closely linked to other cultures, including Bollywood dancing and African styles, give students valuable exposure to other traditions and expressions and may thus encourage strong bonds

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www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Party Time

Marshmallows Ingredients: ■ 2 cups caster sugar

Sweeten the party with vanilla marshmallows.

■ 3 satchels gelatine powder ■ 2/3 cup glucose syrup

part; turn the heat on high and remove your spoon. Allow the mixture to bubble away for 1 minute. It will be a bubbly, frothy consistency.

■ 2 tablespoons vanilla sugar ■ 1 tablespoon Queen pure Madagascar vanilla extract ■ 1/2 cup cold filtered water ■ 1/4 cup room temperature filtered water For dusting and rolling the marshmallows: ■ 2/3 cups cornflour ■ 1/2 cup powdered sugar Utensils ■ 1 x baking pan size 20x20 ■ Spatula ■ Baking paper ■ Olive oil spray ■ Handheld electric beater or standing bench electric mixer Method: Before you start, line the baking tray with baking paper and generously spray olive oil over the baking paper.

WITH OLIVIA C ENEA-BRAIN

The marshmallow mixture is extremely sticky to handle, so you’ll need the oil spread evenly to make it easy for the marshmallows to be removed once set.

1. In a medium sized pot, place sugar, vanilla sugar, glucose syrup and 1/4 cup filtered room temperature water.

2. Prepare your electric mixer, plugged in and ready for use. In a large bowl, place the contents of 3 satchels of gelatine powder, stir in the 1/2 cup of cold filtered water set aside near your electric mixer.

3. Place the pot containing the sugar/ glucose/water on the stovetop, over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar crystals melt. This takes approximately 5 minutes. Time this

4. (You will be slowly pouring the hot sugar syrup into the gelatine mixture).

Remove syrup from heat and take the pot to the bowl of the gelatine mixture.

Mix on low initially, the gelatine crystal will have solidified, so start the mixed on low so that they don’t fly out of the bowl. Gently pour the syrup, mixing well. Pouring should be made in four parts roughly. Start with a quarter of the mixture and follow with another quarter every minute or so, mixing on medium in-between. For the last bit of liquid, turn the mixer on high and mix well. Now add in the vanilla extract. Once all the syrup is in the bowl, mix on high for another 5 minutes.

5. Pour the mixture into the prepared, lined pan and using a spatula, scrape the bowl.

6. You’ll need to remove some of the bubbles in the mixture. To do this; lift the pan off the bench, not too high, and drop it. You’ll see bubbles surface and pop. Do this twice.

7. Place the marshmallow in the fridge and allow to set overnight.

8. Combine the cornflour and powdered Sugar in a bowl. Mix. 9. Using a sieve, sprinkle the surface of a chopping board as well as the top of the marshmallow.

10. Gently remove the marshmallow from the pan, removing the baking paper and place the marshmallow on the board.

11. Slice as you wish, I did little cubes, sprinkling the dusting mixture as needed to avoid the sticky sides.

12. Store in an airtight container, in the pantry or fridge for up to a month... if they last that long!

Enjoy.

Much success The Pakenham store specialises in gothic and alternative-style decor and fashion, witchcraft-related decor and spellcrafting tools, and books relating to witchcraft, crystals and self-care.

Owner Sarah Cappadona launched Mushrock online in August 2020 and opened a physical store in January this year.

“We started in my garage in Lakeside Pakenham and quickly moved to a storage shed before being able to rent a factory within three months of opening,” she said.

She dreams of being successful and self-sufficient on the back of hard work doing what she loves.

And it seems she’s well on her way.

Mushrock has more than 10,000 likes on its Facebook page, and Ms Cappadona takes pride in building a loyal customer base.

“We are small, family-run and welcoming to anyone and everyone to shop, chat and learn,” she said.

“We value and respect all of our

customers regardless of way of life, belief system, appearance, style, sexuality, gender identity etc and this is an integral part of our mission.”

Mushrock stocks leading alternative brands including Killstar, Sourpuss, Rogue and Wolf, Kreepsville 666, and Demonia.

Mushrock offers click and collect in one hour and same day delivery within 40 kilometres, plus buy now, pay later options with Afterpay, Latitude Pay, Klarna, Humm and Zip. Mushrock is having a March Madness sale.

“New offers will be posted on our website and in emails every few days,” Ms Cappadona said.

“Customers can always get 10 per cent off with the code Mushfam online or in-store.”

Mushrock is located at Factory 23, 24 Bormar Drive, Pakenham, and is open 9.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Wednesday, 9.30am to 7.30pm Thursday and Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10.30am to 4.30pm.

Get in contact via mushrockers@ gmail.com or @mushrockonline on Facebook or Instagram.

You will be amazed Yo

at what you will find.

Factory 23, 24 Bormar Drive Pakenham www.mushrock.com Instore or Online • Open Tuesday to Saturday www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

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Paint and party PAINT a Pot Art Studio is bringing people together for the shared purpose of being creative.

With a great soft play area and hundreds of shapes to choose from, Paint a Pot has the piece of pottery to make your child’s next birthday a memorable one.

Paint a Pot caters to kids of all ages - big and small, young and old - with a wide selection of pottery options.

The on-site cafe allows the grownups and spectators to relax, and enjoy a coffee while the kids are in their creative element.

And after they have explored their creativity, they can run off the last of

Paint a Pot KIDS

their energy in the soft play area.

At the end of the party, guests can choose to take their piece home straight away, or leave it overnight to be fired for collection the next day.

There are ready-to-paint ceramics for all ages from pots, plates, bowls and mugs to animal figurines.

The studio can also be hired for adult art social events.

Teachers conduct a range of classes such as resin art, resin jewellery, acrylic pouring and chalk masterpieces.

Also on offer are kid’s art classes and the keepsake casting of hands, feet and even little paws.

O child friendly venue offers Our a range of activities for kids: - a large range of CERAMICS animals/characters to cater for all children to paint as they wish!

- a SOFT PLAY area for kids of all ages - a full CAFE with lots of variety for kids and adults to get through a busy art filled day!

- art classes for kids from ages 5-12.

- choose from one of our amazing PARTY PACKAGES and let us do all the work so you and your guests can enjoy yourselves!

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MUSHROCK has built an extraordinary customer following in less than two years.

4/1 Vesper Drive, Narre Warren Ph: 8794 9997 | www.paintapot.com.au Follow us on @paint.a.pot and Paint a Pot Narre Warren AUTUMN 2022 33

Entertainment

Trees, trapeze and more BUNJIL has a bunch of family-friendly shows on the way this autumn.

The 13-Storey Treehouse will come to life on stage on Sunday 3 April at 2.30pm and Monday 4 April 10.30am, following sold-out seasons at the Sydney Opera House and theatres across the country.

The play is based on Andy Griffiths’ and Terry Denton’s best-selling book except they forgot to write it!

Using colourful props and a humorous twist, the performers show their imagination on screen while simultaneously interacting live with the audience.

It’s recommended for ages 3 years and up and costs $5 per person.

Girls With Altitude will swing into the theatre on Saturday 23 April at 7.30pm

Where will they find flying cats, a mermaid, a sea monster, an invasion of monkeys, and a giant gorilla?

From the environment to equality, the world-famous Flying Fruit Fly Circus will propose new perspectives on the future using youthful energy and high-level circus skills.

The 60-minute show is perfect for kids aged 6 to 12 years. All tickets are $16.

The superheroes of tomorrow are female and are changing the world!

Teeny Tiny Stevies will hit the stage at 11am on Sunday 8 May.

A clown and her faithful dog yearn for a summer getaway, so they decide to create it in the Bunjil Place Plaza at 11am and 3pm daily from Sunday 10 to Thursday 14 April.

Modern day role models like Greta Thunberg and Jacinda Ardern are inspiring a whole new generation of young people who want to make a difference.

The 45-minute A Thoughtful Tour show will feature songs from the group’s 2020 ARIA Award-winning album ‘Thoughtful Songs For Little People’.

With the help of the families on site, they will build an imaginary world of play, relaxation and togetherness.

Holiday Island is crafted specifically for the Bunjil Place Plaza.

The 70-minute show combines the cartoons of Australian artist Judy Horacek, with the world-class skills of the young artists of the Flying Fruit Fly Circus.

Like a silent film, the stage action is captured via a live camera feed onto the large screen.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $16 for pensioners, seniors and students, and $15 for groups of four or more.

Walhalla Goldfields Railway

Tickets are on sale from Thursday 1 July at 10am and cost $40.

On Wednesday 11 May, at 10am and noon, join the enchanting adventure of Little and Big Nutbrown Hare as they discover the magic and colour of the seasons, in a new stage adaptation of Sam McBratney’s beloved ‘Guess How Much I Love You’ books.

The playful story of love and nature unfolds on stage with puppetry, music and laughter for children aged 3 years and up. Tickets are $16 each.

Bunjil Place is at 2 Patrick NE Drive, Narre Warre.

Prams are not permitted inside the theatre. Children aged under 2 years can attend free of charge if seated on their carer’s lap.

Visit www.bunjilplace.com.au for tickets and more information, or email bunjilplace@casey.vic.gov.au or call 9709 9700 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Saturday.

Experience Walhalla Goldfields Railway SPEND an unforgettable day with the family at Walhalla Goldfields Railway.

Relax and take in the breathtaking views as the train winds its way through the spectacular Stringers Gorge on what is considered one of the country’s most picturesque rail journeys.

Departing the historic Walhalla Station on your one-hour journey, you will travel through the station yards with the sheer, stunning cliff face on one side and the winding Stringers Creek on the other side.

OPEN DAILY DURING SCHOOL HOLIDAYS Trains operate 11am, 1pm & 3pm

Upon arrival at Thomson Station, passengers disembark and have the opportunity to peruse the station and surroundings before re-boarding for your return journey.

For young train buffs we also offer a Ride in the Cab Experience for a small extra fee.

Please note: due to restrictions bookings must be made online and all passengers over the age of 18 must provide proof of vaccination.

Get up front and experience a different perspective from the vantage point of the locomotive cab.

See the amazing track work and bridges and chat to our knowledgeable crew along the way.

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34 AUTUMN 2022

Winding through the gorge past Happy Creek Station on your way towards Thomson Station you cross seven bridges - which are a marvel of engineering - before reaching the spectacular Thomson River bridge.

Make Walhalla Goldfields Railway your next family day out.

Huddy enjoys the Ride in the Cab Experience.

Trains depart Walhalla at 11am, 1pm and 3pm Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday weekly.

During school holidays the railway operates daily, except Christmas Day. Bookings can be made at www. walhallarail.com.au. Call 5165 6280 for more information.

Please note that due to current restrictions, all passengers over the age of 18 years must be fully vaccinated and provide proof of this when checking in. www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Entertainment

Sure to entertain IF it’s entertainment you want, look no further than Cardinia Cultural Centre.

Festival and Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Whether you’re seeking fun kids’ activities, live shows, or workshops, or maybe you’re all set to line up a babysitter to enjoy a night out with some grown-ups, Cardinia Cultural Centre’s autumn program is sure to please.

It’s on stage at CCC on Wednesday 23 March.

Enjoy a night out with someone special or a group of friends, where the only people asking for a snack will be you, as you enter CCC’s Vista Cafe for pre-show drinks and nibbles.

Adult audiences will enjoy a whole host of performances at CCC this autumn, kicking off with the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow on Friday 14 March at 8pm.

If you need your beauty sleep and a night out is off the cards, CCC’s daytime program, titled Sip and See, is jampacked with incredible talent and performances you might not expect to see.

Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only The Piano Player was a runaway success in London’s West End, at the Edinburgh

Hold onto your pastries, Paris Nocturne explores the “city of light” in an enchanting music biography, performed by Nikki Nouveau.

Audiences will be seduced and inspired as Nouveau and her band bring to life the bygone era of French jazz and intimate cabaret from the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s.

Paris Nocturne is on Wednesday 20 April.

Toyshop, Victorian State Ballet’s enchanting production featuring the finest of classical ballet moments.

The morning performance runs for an hour and is ideal for younger children.

Rounding out the autumn line-up of Sip and See is Unsung, a rollicking, raucous celebration of songs and stories from 1960s Australia, performed by cabaret powerhouses Amelia Ryan and Libby O’Donovan.

The Magic Toyshop is one of the world’s most-loved children’s ballets, with its colourful and exciting musical score that has audiences on the edge of their seats from beginning to end.

The afternoon performance is a full two-hour ballet.

All daytime Sip and See performances start at 11am, with complimentary morning tea served from 10am for ticket holders.

The story is retold through excellent staging, simple and direct mime, superb classical ballet technique and choreography which bring to life an unforgettable and magical theatre experience.

But if it’s something for the kids you’re after, you can’t go past The Magic

It’s on at CCC on Saturday 9 April with two performances, at 10am and 2pm.

See Unsung on Wednesday 25 May.

To see what’s on at CCC, including kids’ workshops, school holiday movies, exhibitions and much, much more, visit www.cardiniaculturalcentre.com.au or call the CCC Box Office on 1300 887 624.

Cardinia Cultural Centre is located at 40 Lakeside Boulevard, Pakenham.

Cardinia Shire Council is proud to present Cardinia Cultural Centre’s kids’ and family programming.

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www.cardiniaculturalcentre.com.au | 1300 887 624 12535335-NG11-22

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

AUTUMN 2022 35

Entertainment

Get creative at Robert Gordon ANYONE can get creative at Robert Gordon, with workshops for all ages.

If you’ve never worked with ceramics before you needn’t worry. Friendly staff are on-hand to show you how.

Robert Gordon offers workshops in wheel throwing, hand building and painting your own pottery.

The paint your own pottery workshop is popular with families. All you have to do is choose your pot, decorate with paint and collect your masterpiece 14 days later.

If you’re after something more extensive, you should check out Robert Gordon’s six-week pottery course.

The course covers hand building, wheel throwing, moulding, sculpture and painting in a friendly atmosphere.

The workshops take place in a new studio space at Robert Gordon Pottery factory outlet.

Located in the heart of Pakenham, the outlet is a great place to visit with the family.

Online bookings for the paint your own pottery and workshops are essential.

Call 5941 3302 or visit www. robertgordonaustralia.com.

Robert Gordon is a great place to visit with the family.

12508748-CG38-21

They have a large selection of homewares, baskets and textiles. There’s also the Nancy Eatery, which serves up relaxed, homestyle meals with coffee.

Robert Gordon is located at 114 Mulcahy Road, Pakenham and is open seven days, 9am to 5pm.

36 AUTUMN 2022

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Your Community Destination

Lots OF Fins Aquarium Driftwood Cafe

Table service, takeaway and catering.

Gluten free, dairy free and vegan.

Delicious Cakes, Gourmet Toasties, Focaccias, Hot Dogs, BEST Smoothies & Thick Shakes

reakfast and lun n for b ch Ope Monday to Friday

12538086-JC11-22

Our youth trainee team serve gourmet roasted coffee, specialty teas, cakes, slices, salads, pies and more.

This NEW little “Gourmet Café is set amongst a tranquil environment of tropical fish & marine coral reefs

18 8 Golde en Gre een St.. Pa akenha am www.th heliime ebox xca afe.c com m.au Ph: 046 66 839 9 94 44

Located at Lots of Fins Aquarium

The Great Australian Bakehouse, Pakenham

PH: 8738 7549

145 Main street, Pakenham

Barista

Buy 1 Coffee Get 1 Coffee

Come in and grab a delicious pie and hot coffee or choose from our great range of cakes and pastries

FREE 96 Victor Cres Narre Warren (opp Toyota & next to Fernwood Health)

12538221-JC11-22

OPEN 7 DAYS 10am-6am

Open 7 days early until 3pm

AHA 2021 HEAD CHEF OF THE YEAR AWARD LUNCH: 11:45AM - 2PM DINNER: 5.30PM - 8PM BOTTLE SHOP OPEN: 10AM - 8PM

Cardinia Park Hotel would like to thank all our customers for their continued support & invite any new customers to give us a try.

P: 9707 1188 For menu and specials go to

P: 5941 3262

www.cardiniaparkhotel.com.au or

Cardinia Park Hotel

200 Beaconsfield-Emerald Rd, Beaconsfield

PRESENT COUPON Expires May 14th 2022

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WIN A $100 GIFT VOUCHER TO SPEND

Cakes for all occasions Open Mon - Sat until 3pm Cake delivery within 5-10 km, check our website for online ordering

15 Treloar Lane Pakenham (opposite Pakenham Marketplace)

M-F: 8am - 4:30pm SAT: 8am - 2:30pm www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

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03 9707 4 4 4 6 www.lavainberwick.com.au facebook.com/lavainberwick facebook.com/lavaloungeberwick 25 High Street Berwick

order online or phone to pre order and pick up

5940 9295 www.vanillebistro.com.au

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(Located Inside of New York Barbers)

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30 ADAMS LANE, BERWICK

AUTUMN 2022 37

It’s Your Life

Kristy Telford has self-published a children’s book based on her cancer journey and from the perspective of her young daughter.

Mum’s heartfelt book explains cancer to young children TELLING a young child that their parent or a loved one has cancer and what that means is extremely difficult.

It’s an overwhelming situation, and one which Victorian mum Kristy Telford faced after being diagnosed with breast cancer while pregnant with her second daughter, Isobel.

Her eldest, Anna, was just a toddler when she received the devastating diagnosis.

In an instant, life for the young family was turned upside down.

Kristy was induced at 37 weeks and after delivering Isobel began undergoing surgery and therapy to treat the aggressive disease.

How would she explain it all to her toddler daughter? She pulled out her laptop and started writing a story about her cancer journey from the perspective of her little girl.

At the time, the story was purely to help Kristy talk to Anna, and eventually, Isobel, about their life and how cancer was a big part of it.

Late last year, Kristy’s story was published as a children’s book called ‘Annabel’s Mum’, a title incorporating the names of both her daughters, now aged 6 and 4.

38 AUTUMN 2022

The story is based on the family’s journey with cancer, which began as Kristy and her husband Scott were preparing for the arrival of their second child.

“I would have been about six months pregnant or earlier when I first found the lump in my left breast but I didn’t think a great deal of it,” Kristy explained.

“There are a lot of breast changes happening anyway, but also in the back of my mind is the fact that my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer and she was quite young too - she was 31 when she was diagnosed.

“Then a couple of months went by and I was noticing lots of different things - mood changes, I just didn’t feel right, the lump began to grow and then my skin became quite red around the lump too and I thought ‘yes it’s time to go see a doctor’.

“I think deep down I always knew what it would be but I didn’t want to come to that at that point.

nodes. The young mum had only just started chemotherapy when she received some heartbreaking news.

“I had scans, which I couldn’t have when I was pregnant, that showed that the cancer had already spread to my lymph nodes and my liver, so it was now suddenly stage 4,” Kristy said.

“I’ve been on many treatments since.

I recently started a new oral chemotherapy; hopefully it can do some good things for me.”

Kristy says while Annabel’s Mum is largely a positive story, it doesn’t conceal the serious realities of cancer.

“At the end it says sometimes in life people will pass away for reasons we don’t always understand - but thankfully we are able to keep memories of those people and fortunately we always have the gift of new life, just like when Annabel’s baby sister is born,” Kristy said.

“I was 29 years old and 29 weeks pregnant when I was diagnosed.”

“It mentions the word cancer because we have been open with that word. I think that children need to know that word - it shouldn’t be hidden from them.

Kristy had a lumpectomy and after delivering Isobel underwent surgery to remove more breast tissue and lymph

“There’s definitely no heavy content.

It’s designed to open up conversations with children.

“A lot of friends who have read it to their kids said there were so many questions that flowed afterwards… it’s good they are asking these questions and trying to make sense of it all.”

Kristy self-published Annabel’s Mum with the help of an organisation called Dreams2Live4, which helps grant dreams for cancer patients.

The book, illustrated beautifully by Ada Rovai, is aimed at children in preschool and primary school.

Kristy’s aim is to get copies of the book into schools and educational settings, and out to cancer organisations that can distribute it to families who may benefit.

Although Annabel’s Mum explains a difficult topic, it is a celebration of family, love, new life and cherished memories.

“It’s all about remaining positive, which is what I like about this story - even though it touches on death it tries to keep it in a positive light,” Kristy said.

To purchase a copy of Annabel’s Mum, visit Kristy’s Instagram account cancers_grace

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

It’s Your Life Fran Woods and Jo Clark are two busy mums with a successful business.

Jo and Fran met at a set of traffic lights in Melbourne’s inner-west.

Mums share incredible business journey CREATING an international brand is no mean feat, particularly when you throw in six kids and a pandemic.

Jo Clark and Fran Woods knew they were onto something when they created Franjos Kitchen after meeting by chance on a street in Melbourne during 2014.

“Slowly but surely it started turning around. Then Covid hit and we thought ‘oh my god it’s going to be the end of us’,” Jo said.

But in 2020 Franjos Kitchen experienced 81 per cent increase in online sales.

Business success story...

Jo Clark and Fran Woods.

At the time, Jo had a naturopathic clinic in Flinders Lane and her own range of healthy biscuits called Kooka’s Natural Cookies, a homage to her dad’s Kooka’s Country Cookies.

What started off as two flavours of breastfeeding biscuits soon expanded to a product range to support mums and mums to be.

Jo said the remarkable turnaround was the combination of stripping back the business and the rise in mums wanting to increase their breast milk supply during the pandemic.

While the business grew the women, who have three kids each, were busy juggling the demands of motherhood and hit a major financial hurdle.

Jo and Fran were able to finally start paying themselves a proper wage and are now running a very profitable business.

“We were totally consumed with being mothers to all these children and keeping things ticking on,” Torquay mum Jo explained.

It’s incredible to think that their business success story started on a street in Kingsville. Jo and Fran, who both resided in the inner-west suburb at the time, were out walking their firstborns when they struck up a conversation while waiting to cross the road at a set of traffic lights.

Jo then changed the recipe to make the biscuits more nutritionally sound.

They both had very different careers - Jo was a naturopath, while Fran was, and still is, a practising lawyer. But they shared a passion for baked goods.

“It was just snapped up like that by all the local mums. We drove around and dropped off samples and that’s how it all started.”

After meeting on the street, Fran went home and started to think about how she had been struggling to make enough breast milk for her daughter.

Business picked up faster than Jo and Fran anticipated. After 10 months, wholesalers and retail shops were sending them messages seeking product. Distributors then started hearing about them.

“I think we ended up having about $1000 left in the bank and thought ‘oh my gosh, what are we going to do here?’

“This was just before Covid hit and it was pretty dire.”

At the time Jo and Fran, who had just moved her family to New Zealand, stripped the business back by putting product development and extra spending on the backburner, and concentrated on getting their team right. www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

She started Googling and found a recipe for lactation cookies.

Fran’s lactation cookies were working but thought Jo could use her knowledge as a naturopath to make them healthier.

She called Jo to tell her about her business idea.

“I trialled it at home and we took it out to the factory where we were making our other biscuits and they did a run of 180 packets. Then Fran popped it up on the inner-west mums and bubs Facebook group,” Jo recalled.

The women also began developing more products, including a pregnancy product for nausea and biscuits for kids.

Their sales success during Covid also meant they were able to develop a formula called Arepa to support cognitive function and reduce mental fatigue of mums experiencing ‘baby brain’.

Franjos Kitchen now has products going into New Zealand and Singapore, and is also working with China and Hong Kong.

“It’s reaching far and wide now. We have around 1000 stockists in Australia and are in some really great talks with some big retailers looking to take us on,” Jo said.

Jo and Fran also plan to launch three new products this year.

Needless to say the women, who came so close to calling it quits, have well and truly carved out a niche in the motherhood wellness industry.

AUTUMN 2022 39

Games And Gadgets

Mairead, Stephen and Flynn with their fitness watches.

Mairead, Stephen and Flynn with their fitness watches.

Mairead with her dolls.

Flynn and Stephen gaming.

Lucas family shares their favourites THE Lucas family are an active bunch.

Stephen, Flynn and Mairead reading.

There’s dad Simon, mum Kelly, eight-year-old twins Stephen and Mairead, and four-year-old Flynn.

The Officer family love the outdoors, but also enjoy online games and watching TV. Twins Stephen and Mairead actually appeared in the Games and Gadgets feature in our second edition back in 2015. Back then their favourite things included a double pram (they were only 2 years old), ukulele, playground visits, the water and dancing.

Here, the Lucas tribe share their favourite things they now do as a family: ■ Swimming: They all love the water and getting out for a swim. All the Lucas kids have swimming lessons and their Gran and Pap have a pool they enjoy too.

Stephen, Flynn and Mairead love swimming.

40 AUTUMN 2022

■ Television: Netflix, Stan, Prime or Binge, it doesn’t matter because the Lucas family always finds something to enjoy. Bluey is a very popular choice.

■ Dancing: The Lucas family loves to dance. The kids all learn ballroom and Latin dancing at Granda Dance Center, Hallam where Kelly teaches.

Mairead also dances ballet, tap, jazz and Acro.

■ Reading: There are lots of books in the Lucas house as well as ereaders (Kindles). Stephen is enjoying the ‘Percy Jackson’ series. Flynn loves lots of picture books and Mairead loves magazines.

■ Fitness trackers: Each family member wears a fitness tracker. The kids love to reach their goal and then play the online games. Kelly likes to see how each workout has gone. The kids play tennis and are always on their scooters or bikes, so it’s an easy goal to reach each day.

■ Nintendo Switch: Stephen and Flynn love the Switch. Every day they hope for the chance to play Minecraft together. They also play online with two close friends.

■ Our Generation dolls: Mairead loves her ‘Our Generation’ dolls. They have outfits, beds, skates and a bike. www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Fashion

Neutral and natural for autumn

MALO Baby is an Australian made product using simple and clean ingredients. One of the products include a Nappy Rash Spray which was developed by the owner of Malo Baby and the packaging is modern and minimalistic. The “super seed Belly oil” is another great product for the mamas with lots of natural ingredients that help nourish the skin through pregnancy and beyond.

Munster Kids AW22 Collection “ride this Way” is an Australian brand that is fun and colourful. Quality is outstanding and Munster Kids are a favourite brand for the kids aged 2-14.

Cozy Dinkum Dolls the newest in the Dinkum Doll range from Australian Label “olli Ella” the cozy dolls are super cuddly and cute, sleeping soundly in there warm furry suits. A great bedtime companion who never makes a peep.

There is Bunny Moppet, Lamby Pip, Teddy Mini and mousy pickle.

Two Darlings AW22 “maple Collection” Another Australian label this collection has lots of basics in bodysuits and harem pants as well as some cool corded overalls. From stripes to florals there is something in the collection for everyone.

The store also sells lots of baby hardware products from Nappy bags to high Chairs and Bassinets baby rockers to lactation products. The lovey French label Charlie Crane, other international labels the Swedish brand Garbo and Friends for their beautiful range of swaddles and Bed linen. To the German brand Senger Naturewelt and the ever popular Cuddly Goose which is a Heat and cooling bag, the Silly Silas tights from Sweden and the French label Main Sauvage have some beautiful cuddly toys and teethers. www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

AUTUMN 2022 41

Fashion

42 AUTUMN 2022

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

AUTUMN SEASON IN STORE NOW PLUS GREAT GIFT IDEAS OPEN Mon - Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-3pm Shop 6, Blackburne Square, Berwick Phone: 9707 5593 12536421-SN11-22

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

AUTUMN 2022 43

Books

Girl shares a ‘pawsome’ story

By Melissa Grant WRITING doesn’t come easily for Melbourne girl Adelaide Hogan, but her adoration for a neighbourhood cat has led to her authoring a children’s book.

Adelaide’s book, simply titled A Cat’s Story, is based on one of four cats that regularly visits her garden, a feline she calls Coco.

The 11-year-old’s story is told from Coco’s perspective and follows the challenges the cat faces as she transitions from street-cat to shelter cat, to the beloved companion of a young woman.

Adelaide wrote the story after her mum Amy saw the Cat Protection Society of Victoria advertise its Furry Tales Children’s Story Competition last year.

Adelaide Hogan, 11, has just had her story based on a neighbourhood cat turned into a children’s book.

Her story was judged the winner of the junior category from over 260 entries - a significant achievement.

win a cat cuddle session with my friends, I wanted to win because they love cats, too!

“Winning a story award is very special to us given that Adelaide has dyslexia and writing is not always easy for her,” Amy explained.

“I like cats because they are soft and cuddly. My friend’s cat, Jasmine, is super friendly and lets me pat her any time I visit.”

“She can really identify with cats which is why she wrote the cat from Coco’s perspective.”

Adelaide’s story has been turned into a Children’s Book professionally illustrated by Leah Lux Artist and Photographer.

Adelaide wrote the story over three or four days. Her goal was to show how the Cat Protection Society of Victoria helps injured cats go from living on the street to finding their forever home.

She was also particularly excited about one of the prizes on offer.

“I love cats, and write most of my school creative writing stories about cats and kittens,” Adelaide said.

“When I saw there was a chance to

Stories entered in the Society’s competition were judged on how they help educate the community on responsible cat ownership or raise the profile of cats as companion pets.

Annie Bell, primary school teacher and judge of the Junior Category said Adelaide’s story was very heartwarming.

“I found this story particularly moving

which is a testament to how well it is written,” she said.

“It reinforces the importance of cat adoption so there are less vulnerable cats roaming the streets. It also reminds the reader of the love, companionship, and utter joy that cats can provide for us.”

A Cat’s Story can be purchased for $25.00 at www.catprotection.com.au/ furry-tales/ or at the Cat Protection Society of Victoria’s retail store located at 200 Elder Street, Greensborough.

The hard cover book is a ‘flip book’ that also features ‘The Very Best of Friends’ written by Sue Moossajee, the open-age winner of the Society’s competition.

Proceeds from the book will go towards continuing to provide care for and rehoming of cats and kittens in need at the Society.

Children’s books...

The First Book of Bush Sounds Fred Van Gessel A fun book that teaches children about animals that live in the Aussie bush, including the sounds they make.

From growling Koalas to stridulating crickets, kids will love learning these characteristic animal noises.

This beautifully illustrated sound guide covers Koala, Common Brushtail Possum, Sugar Glider, Yellow-bellied Glider, Red Fox, Dingo, Greyheaded Flying-fox, Asian House Gecko, Bush Thick-knee, Southern Boobook, Australian Mole Cricket and Black Field Cricket.

The book also features a heap of cool facts about Aussie bush animals.

Yesterday Crumb and the Storm in a Teacup Andy Sagar Yesterday Crumb is no ordinary girl. She was born with fox ears that have cursed her to a lonely life working in the circus and her origins are a complete mystery. When she embarks on the adventure of a lifetime, she learns she is a strangeling who has lost her magic. She finds herself in a magical, walking teashop filled with fantastical customers, a flying teapot turtle and spells in every teacup. As she begins to rediscover her magic, a mysterious figure tries to send her new life crashing down.

Hachette Australia, RRP $16.99

A - Z of Australian Animals

Dare to be Different

A Far Wilder Magic

Ben Brooks

Allison Saft

Jennifer Cossins

Words can have great power.

Children will enjoy discovering 26 fascinating animals on this illustrated journey through Australia’s unique wildlife with Tasmanian artist Jennifer Cossins.

Ben Brooks, the global bestselling author of Stories for Boys Who Dare to be Different, has brought together 100 people who have all in some way or another used words to do wonderful things. Some may have changed a life, while others have changed the course of history for almost everyone on earth. But whether their effects were big or small, these individuals’ speeches, letters, poems, songs, stories and advice prove one thing: words can make the world a better place. An inspiring and comforting read for kids.

In the gothic town of Wickdon, Maggie Welty lives in an old creaking manor. Maggie’s mother recently left town, leaving her with just her bloodhound for company.

This stunning picture book is full of interesting facts and is perfect for young conservationists and students with a keen interest in the world.

On an expedition through the alphabet, kids encounter some of Australia’s rare and enchanting animals, from the gorgeous azure kingfisher and the sleepy koala, to the shy numbat and the friendly zebra finch. A fun and educational read for young ones.

Hachette Australia, RRP $39.99

But when Maggie spots a legendary ancient fox-creature on her porch, everything changes. Whoever tracks down and kills the hala in the Halfmoon Hunt will earn fame and riches – and if Maggie wins, she knows her mother will want to celebrate her. This is her chance to bring her home.

But she will need help.

A fantasy love story for young adults, and perfect for fans of Sorcery of Thorns and Finbar Hawkins.

Hachette Australia, $17.99

Hachette Australia, RRP $18.99

A fun read for the entire family.

New Holland Publishers, RRP $24.99 44 AUTUMN 2022

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Let us help 2021 enrolments for 3 and 4 year old Funded Kindergarten are now open We offer education and care for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years.

Qualified Bachelor trained Kindergarten Teachers and Educators.

All main meals and snacks are provided and prepared by our qualified Chef.

Open from 6:30am - 7:00pm

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

140 Windermere Boulevard, Pakenham

ILY FUN DA FAM ORANA Y! DISPLAY VILLAGE 12537929-BL11-22

EAT. CRE AT E . SHOP.

114 Mulcahy Road

CONTACT I 03 5941 3302

Pakenham VIC 3810

robertgordonaustralia.com

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3 Atlantic Dr, Pakenham 9066 1144

12539281-SN11-22

12539274-AV11-22

12389117-CG25-18

you..

CELEBRATE WITH US! Join us for a spectacular day of family fun, explore our brand new display village featuring 34 home designs from 15 of Australia’s best builders and attend the Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision charity house auction.

WHAT’S ON FOR THE FAMILY THIS AUTUMN

ENTER OUR GIVEAWAY FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A SHARE OF $5,000 WORTH OF PRIZES T&C’s Apply

Roll down the road to Bunjil Place for the most unreal family entertainment in the south east!

For bookings and more information, jump onto bunjilplace.com.au or phone 9709 9700

Saturday 26 March, 11am - 3pm Orana Park, 1 Fresco Place, Clyde North VIC 3978

Information is correct at the time of printing.

For current details please check our website.

12473578-SN51-20

Empowering Curious Minds 12433523-SG50-19

Phone: 9705 1755

dR

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Mon and Fri 8am to 6pm, Sat 8am–1pm, Tues, Wed & Thurs 8am to 9pm Bookings can now be made online through our website: www.caseydentalgroup.com.au 12509547-CG37-21

Casey Dental Group is Here!

Greaves Rd

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P: 9707 1766 F: 9796 2198 E: berwick.lodge.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au Visit our website to check out the virtual tour www.berwicklodgeps.vic.edu.au

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 8.30 am to 5.30 pm

9330 0702 www.seortho.com.au Suite 5, Level 1/18-24 Clyde Rd, Berwick

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BERWICK LODGE PRIMARY SCHOOL 12523466-DL50-21

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un

Book online at www.paintballgames.com.au

236 Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road, Narre Warren South Po

Ph: 1800 813 395

For all your general dentistry needs.

StMargarets.vic.edu.au

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Th Three Locations: L i Ballan, Cockatoo, Coldstream

Orthodontics and Invisalign from $59 per week.

Implants from $39 per week

Enrol now for 2023 Contact the school on 5940 6777 For more information

Kids Calendar

What's on this Autumn

2, 9 & 23 MARCH, 6 APRIL

11–14 MARCH

20 MARCH

8 MAY

Kew Traffic School

Moomba Festival

Children’s Week Picnic

Mother’s Day run

These sessions require full adult supervision as children learn traffic rules and play in the miniature village houses on their scooter or bike.

Set on the banks of Melbourne’s Yarra River, Moomba is an annual free festival held over the Labour Day long weekend in March.

This free event will feature interactive activities with a focus on education and learning, from 10am to 4pm at Werribee Park, K Road, Werribee.

Tens of thousands of people will unite for the Mother’s Day Classic to celebrate and honour those affected by breast cancer and raise vital funds for research.

A pre-booked ticket is required, from www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/ childrensweekpicnic.

Feel free to bring a picnic rug and snacks to feed the hungry riders.

Kids aged up to 6 years ride 9am to 10.30am, and ages 2 to 10 years ride 11am to 12.30pm. $10 per child.

3 & 4 APRIL

Kew Traffic School is at Cotham Road, Kew.

12-13 MARCH Curbside Carnies Join the crew for a FREE and fun circus program at Menzies Creek Hall then Park Road and Yarra Junction Community Playground on Saturday, then Belgrave Big Dreams Market on Sunday.

Learn new skills in mini workshops, play with circus props and see roving entertainment - even mums and dads can get involved!

Knox Festival

Register at tix.yt/ curbsidecarniesartattacklongweekend.

Andy and Terry are going to bring their stories to life in their first EVER play – except they forgot to write it!

Where will they find flying cats, a mermaid, a sea monster, an invasion of monkeys, and a giant gorilla?

Perfect for children aged 6 to 12, the 60-minute show will hit the stage at Bunjil Place Theatre, 2 Patrick NE Drive, Narre Warren, at 2.30pm on 3 April and 10.30am on 4 April.

Tickets are $16. Visit www.bunjilplace. com.au.

6-10 APRIL Gluttony Festival

This free all-ages, family-friendly, drug and alcohol-free event will run 10am to 10pm.

The Victorian premiere of Gluttony On Tour will celebrate music, circus, burlesque and the best food and wine the region has to offer.

Visit stages and food stalls, participate in craft and sports activities for kids, enjoy live music and amusement rides and watch fireworks.

The Adelaide Fringe Festival favourite will feature something for everyone.

Croydon Park is at 213-215 Mt Dandenong Road, Croydon.

Wally Tew Reserve, 6 Lyndale Court, Ferntree Gully.

16 & 17 APRIL 19 & 26 MARCH, 2 APRIL Easter Egg hunts Boronia Big Flix Festival Enjoy three weekends of free outdoor cinema events featuring a food truck park, kid’s activities, local traders and family friendly movie selection.

From 6.30pm to 10.30pm at 257 Dorset Road, Boronia.

6 MARCH National Umbrella Day Duldig Studio will honour one of the world’s most useful inventions - the umbrella - with fun activities in its sculpture garden.

Attend between 2pm and 4.30pm at 92 Burke Road, Malvern East.

46 AUTUMN 2022

Visit mothersdayclassic.com.au for more information or to register.

The 13-Storey Treehouse

Visit www.boroondara.vic.gov.au for more information.

5 MARCH

There will be up to 70 event locations nationwide where supporters can walk, run or jog for the cause on Mother’s Day.

Luna Park will host a scramble for chocolate eggs from 11am to 10pm.

The St Kilda icon is also open Good Friday (15 April) and Easter Monday (18 April) from 11am to 10pm.

28-29 MAY Blacksmiths Festival The Blacksmithing and Metal Art Festival (Blacksmiths Festival) returns to from 10am to 4pm with metal forging classes and displays, live music, food and drinks.

There are ‘taster’ sessions for beginners and a special fire-free kids zone for ages 5-12 to cold forge small items under the guidance of experienced blacksmiths.

Waterside Metal Art Studio and Maribyrnong riverfront, 60 Maribyrnong Street, Footscray.

YEAR-ROUND

UNTIL 25 APRIL

Shrine Kids

19 MARCH

The Gecko and the Mermaid: Djerrk’u Yunupi’u and her Sister

Shrine Kids is a free self-guided program for families with primary school-aged children.

Live at Warrawee!

Geckos, turtles, lizards and mermaids!

This summer’s NGV Kids exhibition introduces two significant contemporary Yol’u artists from Northeast Arnhem Land to the youngest of visitors.

Four different activity cards provide a starting point for fresh perspectives as children are asked to consider and conjure their creative responses to a range of questions related to different aspects of the Shrine.

The National Gallery of Victoria is at 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne.

Shrine of Remembrance, Birdwood Avenue, Melbourne.

Get your family and friends, bring a chair or picnic rug, and watch the sun set over Warrawee Park while enjoying live music, food trucks and a pop-up bar.

The festival runs 4pm to 9pm at Warrawee Park, 95 Drummond Street, Oakleigh.

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Local Trades & Services CONCRETING

NATURAL, HEALTHY PRESERVATIVE FREE COOKED ROLLS AVAILABLE IN 6 VARIETIES OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AUSTRALIAN-MADE AND OWNED ALSO AVAILABLE PURE FRESH MEATS

¾ GARAGES ¾ DRIVEWAYS ¾ PATHWAYS ¾ UNIT SITES ¾ CROSSOVERS 12535808-SN11-22

BUY ONLINE

www.thepetfoodspot.com.au Free Delivery for all orders over $70

FOR PHONE ORDERS CALL 9769 2123

First Class CONCRETE PAVING

¾ KERB & CHANNEL ¾ EXPOSED AGGREGATE ¾ PLAIN/COLOURED CONCRETE ¾ EXCAVATION DRAINAGE ¾ MUCH MORE!

Where Your Music Journey Begins • Piano / Keyboard Lessons Jaison George

0499 559 957 12536723-SN11-22

LEARN THE SKILLS AND TACTICS OF THE DYNAMIC OLYMPIC SPORT OF FENCING. SFA Fencing Club located in Narre Warren weekly on Tuesdays.

Holiday Programs and Birthday Parties available upon request. Ages 7 and above.

Contact Chris 0409 013 171, chris@swordfightersaustralia.com 12538840-JC11-22

4/1 Vesper Drive, Narre Warren Ph: 8794 9997 | www.paintapot.com.au Follow us on @paint.a.pot and Paint a Pot Narre Warren

A boutique hire company with a difference offering magnificent White Bouncy Castles, Luxe Ball Pits, Balloon Garlands and Stunning Preserved Flowers.

You’re next event will look absolutely dreamy whilst offering guests a whole lot of fun.

12538763-AV11-22

Book now for Easter School Holiday programs

- a large range of CERAMICS animals/ characters to cater for all children to paint as they wish!

- a SOFT PLAY area for kids of all ages - a full CAFE with lots of variety for kids and adults to get through a busy art filled day!

- art classes for kids from ages 5-12.

- choose from one of our amazing PARTY PACKAGES and let us do all the work so you and your guests can enjoy yourselves!

12538999-JW11-22

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY AUSTRALIAN AIRCONDITIONING DISTRIBUTORS

Alaska’s White Castles

Our child friendly venue offers a range of activities for kids:

Paint a Pot KIDS

12538572-SN11-22

airconic_air

Sword Australia Fighters

Simone Corfee | Personal Trainer 0413 888 637 simone@befit4you.com.au Website: befit4you.com.au

0433 542 413

Lic. 53320

0435 371 633

PHONE MARCUS FOR FREE QUOTES

• Women’s Only • Group Fitness • Personal Training • BE FIT 4 KIDS! • Virtual and Face-to-Face classes

Domestic - Commercial - Industrial Heating - Cooling - Ventilation

matt@airconic.net www.airconic.com.au

jaisonpiano@yahoo.com Genesis the school of music

Let us help YOU be the best YOU that YOU can be!

Airconic is Melbourne’s specialist in residential and commercial Air-Conditioning.

From sales, service to installations.

Call us today for a Free Quote.

12538603-JC11-22

ALL TYPES OF

12538814-CG11-22

THE PET FOOD SPOT

E: Hello@alaskaswhitecastles.com.au M: 0422 204 611 W: alaskaswhitecastles.com.au

WANTED

WASHING MACHINES

• We BULK BILL for the $1000 Medicare Child Dental Benefits Scheme • HALF PRICE CROWNS* *after first full priced crown.

• INSURANCE PATIENTS: We Do Not Charge the Gap on Your Health Insurance Claim for Check Ups, Cleans, X-Rays and Sealants* • 24 months interest free on all treatment services • NON INSURANCE PATIENTS: FREE Check Ups! • Government Emergency/General Dental Vouchers accepted • Whitening take home kit only $295 Participating Providers

Collector looking for front & top loading automatics, 40 years & older. Brands like Frigidaire, Bendix, Wilkins Servis, Inglis, Simpson & Pope Norge.

and

Narre W Cran arren b o u rn Rd e d dR un

236 Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road, Narre Warren South Phone: 9705 1755

Mon and Fri 8am to 6pm, Sat 8am–1pm, Tues, Wed & Thurs 8am to 9pm Bookings can now be made online through our website: www.caseydentalgroup.com.au

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au

Dr John Tia Dr Melanie Cole Dr Quinn Tao Ms Chrysi Kroone

Casey Dental Group is Here!

Greaves Rd

12538390-JC11-22

Dr Shannon Gune Dr Deon Nguyen Dr David Abdel-Malek Dr Rachel Fong Dr Ragy Labib

Po

202202159273_1-JW10-22

Dr Jayson McNaughton Dr Alina Bratu Dr Harjot Gill Dr Robert Otken Dr Guy Turton

Leon 0409 637 712

• • • • • •

Landscaping Concreting Synthetic Grass Retaining Walls Decking & Pergolas Paving • Excavation

12538327-AV12-22

Orthodontics and Invisalign from $59 per week.

Implants from $39 per week

Email: info@tylerslandscapes.com.au @tylerslandscapes tylerslandscapes 0432 071

280

12538565-BL11-22

AUTUMN 2022 47

12534833-SN11-22

Enrol Now!

48 AUTUMN 2022

www.CaseyCardiniaKids.com.au