Geelong Coast Kids - Winter 2022

WINTER 2022

365 days of

play for winter

Together we are better with with

Steve Biddulph

Fritzie Punsalang www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

WINTER 2022 1

About Us

Warming up for that winter glow AHH the crisp air of winter has arrived.

boost your immune system.

As we brace for the rain and winds of winter we realise the cold weather doesn’t mean we need to stay cooped up indoors.

And that’s something all families need as we approach our first winter without a lockdown in some years.

There are many benefits of getting outside and lettings the cold air into your lungs and exploring what the local area has to offer.

Doctors say there are many positives of getting outdoors and breathing in the cold air and getting some sunlight increases circulation, vitamin D and can

There are so many great places to explore, restaurants that will warm those winter bellies and places to take the kids to explore.

So rug up and get outside, the kids will love it and you can support so many local businesses who have spent the last few years doing it tough.

inside with the kids, local mum Erica Carew has you covered with 365 days of play or for those winter rashes, Torquay author Charlotte Rassmussen has got you covered with natural remedies.

I can’t wait to take the kids outside to splash in muddy puddles and play in the rain.

Stay healthy and have fun,

Geelong Coast Kids magazine is a Star News Group publication.

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

Geelong Coast Kids 1/47 Pakington Street, Geelong West Phone: 5249 6700 Editorial Melissa Meehan melissa.meehan@starnewsgroup.com.au

And for those of you wanting to stay

Sales Gayle Williams gayle.williams@starweekly.com.au

Contents IT’S YOUR LIFE

HEALTH

KIDS CALENDAR

Play to while winter away

Food and fertility

What’s on this winter

PAGE 3

PAGE 12

PAGE 23

You can’t do it alone

Smiles for your dials

PAGE 4

PAGE 13

Prepare to hit the road

EDUCATION

PAGE 4

Freshwater Creek PS

Let nature guide you

PAGE 14

PAGE 5

St Therese Catholic PS

Avoiding winter burns

PAGE 14

PAGE 6

Surf Coast SC

Munch time musings

PAGE 15

PAGE 6

See Amazing initiative

Angie’s Catch-up

PAGE 16

Published by Star News Group Pty Ltd ACN 005 848 108. Publisher/Managing Director, Paul Thomas.

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

WINTER 2022

365 days of

play for winter

Together we are better with with

PAGES 7-9

Fight VCE stress

Swim year-round

PAGE 16

PAGE 10

Finding local schools

Family magic on stage

PAGE 16

PAGE 11

BOOKS

Katie’s fight for life

Get ready, Mama!

PAGE 17

PAGE 22

Why not dig in?

Discover new

PAGE 18

children’s books

School holiday fun

PAGE 22

Steve Biddulph

Fritzie Punsalang www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

WINTER 2022 1

COVER: Áine Jones (14) enjoying a bit of ‘snow’ in her backyard in Geelong.

Picture: Louisa Jones

PAGE 18 Beetroot red velvet cakes PAGE 19 Diabetes and motherhood PAGE 20

geelongcoastkids.com.au 2 WINTER 2022

facebook.com/geelongcoastkids

instagram.com/geelongcoastkids www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

It’s Your Life

365 days of play to while the winter away WINTER is upon us.

As the sun shines less and the sky rains more, we may find ourselves spending more time inside as a family trying to entertain children of all different ages.

The stress of entertaining children can seem overwhelming when sending them outdoors is not an option.

Geelong mum Erica Carew says she will not let us return to the lockdown lives we lead in 2020 by turning ourselves inside out trying to find ways to entertain the newborn, the toddler and the primary school student at the same time.

Here are three of my favourite activities and the simple ways to adapt them regardless of whether your children are 3 months, 3 years or even in Grade 3 at school.

Treasure hunts ■ 6 months - Have baby on their tummy or sitting up and place some items close by them. Cover these items with a cloth and help baby to discover what is hiding underneath.

■ 12 months - Place larger and well loved items in easy to see places around the house. Maybe it’s a teddy sitting on a chair at the table, in their bed or in the bath and ask your little one to help you find them.

■ 2 years - Now that your little one is on the move, have them search for well loved and recognised items. Draw or show them pictures of the items you have hidden or items they might find around the house.

From this age you can also start using our treasure hunt printables.

There are a few ways to use these printables.

Print two copies of these images, cut one up and sticky tape or blue tack them to door frames, furniture, walls or even tree trunks outside. Once these images are found you can take them back to ‘home base’ and match them with the second printed copy.

Give your little one a copy of the treasure hunt list and have them go and find the items in the image. We often place the printout in the middle of the floor and then make a circle around using the items we find.

■ 6 years - As our children grow we can begin to involve them in the set up of play activities. Take turns where one of you hides the items and the other has to go and find them.

Another option is to draw a map and have x’s in the spots where the items might be hidden.

Our treasure hunt printables are also perfect for any age.

Obstacle courses The main thing you have to think of is - How can my child move using these obstacles?

Over, under, around and past.

The next question is - How will they move?

Jump, skip, hop, crawl and run In which direction?

Forwards, backwards, in a circle or a straight line. www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

Make sure you are only providing activities for your children that you know they have the motor skills to participate in and make sure they are safe.

■ 6 months - Carry baby over, under and around obstacles in your house.

Holding them in your arms like they are an aeroplane is another great way for baby to participate in this style of activity and is also great for their neck strength.

■ 12 months - Set up an obstacle course that provides opportunities for them to challenge their bodies abilities and to practise new skills. Have them climb over pillow mountains, crawl under chairs and tables and walk while holding onto tables.

shares a simple way to play for every day of the year. These activities have been created for children 0-6 years of age however many of the activities have the ability to be adapted to be perfect for the whole family.

Many more simple and easy play ideas like these can be found in her book 365 Ways to Play and over on her instagram page @ chroniclesofplay.

Picture: Arm Lee Carlon Photography @myleecarlonphotography

■ 2 years- Set up the course around the house using everyday household items. Crawl under the table, climb over the bed, skip around the laundry basket. Trial it first by showing them how to move around each obstacle.

■ 6 years- Set up an obstacle course as above however this time you can also introduce more language around how they can move through the course. Jump over the pillows like a kangaroo, do the entire course backwards, time how quick each person can make it through the obstacle course and even encourage them to discover new ways of moving around the same objects in your house. They could pretend the floor is lava and they have to get from point A to point B without falling in.

*Painting* ■ 6 months- Slide a piece of paper inside a zip lock bag, add a few drops of paint on to the paper and close the bag. Tape this bag to the floor or high chair and baby can finger paint without the mess.

■ 12 months- FInger painting time.

Tape a piece of paper to the bottom of a plastic tub and add a few drops of different coloured paint. Now they can finger paint and mix up colours without the risk of the paint sliding off the edge of the paper.

■ 2 years- Find different objects that can be used as paint brushes. Forks, foil, cotton wool balls, sticks and bubble wrap all make some really interesting patterns. A great way of using these items is to attach a peg to them and use the peg as the ‘paint brush handle’ ■ 6 years- Recycling and painting into one. Pick a box out of the recycling bin and be inspired. Use some paint, stickers, pom poms and pipe cleaners and turn the simple box into an amazing creation. Is it a castle? Is it a robot? Is it a race car? Your imagination is your only limit!

Erica’s ethos and ideas are not about being grand, they are all about using what we have at home to create fun, play experiences for our children.

Simple little tweaks to each of these activities will hopefully have your children entertained for long periods of time as this wintery weather sets in.

In her book ‘365 Ways to Play’ she WINTER 2022 3

It’s Your Life

We all need each other to feel okay We all need each other to feel okay, writes STEVE BIDDULPH ONE of my biggest heroes is a psychiatrist called Dr. Gabor Mate. He works in Vancouver, Canada, with street people and especially drug addicts. He is well into his 80’s, and on you can find him on YouTube. He looks like a kindly turtle with scrawny neck and big soft eyes. My family tell me I am slowly turning into him!

Gabor had a rough childhood. He was born in Hungary just as the Nazis were invading. And he was Jewish.

Baby Gabor wasn’t sleeping very well, and his mum rang their family paediatrician.

The old doctor told her - yes my dear, (and these words still send a chill down my spine) none of my Jewish babies are sleeping. The message of this story, which he often shares, is that when the parents are worried, then the kids are worried too. To use a not very scientific term - “they pick up on it”.

Coming back to the present day, this puts every one of us who is bringing up children - of any age, into a difficult position. We know, almost instinctively, that our kids really do best if we ourselves are calm and happy. But you can’t fake those things. And all around us are reasons to be very very stressed.

This is not a family friendly world that our politicians or employers have created, and just buying or renting a house and feeding everyone is getting

harder. Every family feels it.

I am hearing this every day from families on my Facebook community for parents of boys. Each month I award a Comment of the Month prize for the best comment, and this month’s was to a nurse and mother, who had three special needs children, and a partner who was on deployment in the army!

She made such great comments about how impossible life was becoming with the dual expectations of school and work. Others were coming onboard, with supportive or agreeing comments.

We couldn’t do much practical, but it was good just to share stories. For a brief half hour, we all felt like we were a tribe, in the same boat, and caring about each other.

Social media is a two edged sword, it can turn nasty in a matter of seconds and leave you feeling worse. But the point is true. We really need connection

every single day with people who have time for us, and listen to us, and don’t shame us for the pain we are in.

the evening is often the only time we have to really be a family, this mini break can get it off to a better start.

So this is the message I want to give you (sorry, it was a slow way to get around to it). - you can’t handle life on your own, we just aren’t made that way. Human beings are needed to make other human beings feel okay. A baby cries and we soothe it. A child comes home from school ratty, and we hug them and let them chill, or sit and listen to what has gone wrong today.

Parents getting back together at the end of a long day might need to stop the headlong rush to make dinner, and first thing have a quiet drink, some nourishing snacks, and just get into rhythm with each other to make the evening go well. Not too much talking.

Not “who had the worst day” competitions. Just smiling at each other and breathing a deep breath in. Since

If you are parenting alone, then a caring friend is absolutely essential. You can feel your body letting go of stress when someone who loves you meets your eye, gives you a hug, is clearly happy to see you. We can do this for each other, we parents. Us oldies with our scrawny necks and big soft eyes can look out for the young struggling parents in our street or family circle.

When parents feel loved, then they can love their children more. Together we make the world get better.

Steve’s new online talk THE FULLY HUMAN PARENT is being offered by Manningham City Council on June 7th - booking link: https://www.trybooking.com/BZAAB

Be prepared before you hit the road THE following is a message from VACC Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Gwilym:

and a portable phone charger. Take cash, a torch and spare batteries, blankets and water. Carrying jumper leads is also essential.

We are approaching school holiday time and for many families that may mean the first road trip in a long while.

■ Importantly, tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll be back.

Driving is an economical and fun way to create a memorable holiday but, whether you’re going off-road or glamping, things won’t always turn out how you plan them.

When it comes to road safety, the two most important things you can influence are the condition of your vehicle and your ability to drive it with care and concentration.

So, here are some tips to get you there safely.

■ You should regularly conduct both internal and external visual checks of your vehicle: check whether your seatbelts, lights (including indicators and brake lights) are functioning correctly, and if there is any dangerous body or windscreen damage. Inspect all tyres for wear and ensure they’re inflated to the recommended pressure – that goes 4 WINTER 2022

■ There will be lots of people on the roads during the holidays. Be patient, be courteous, and take regular rest breaks.

Make sure you and your family make it to your destination and back safely these school holidays.

Picture: Supplied

for trailers and caravans, too.

■ Before heading off, check you have a roadworthy spare tyre and wheel on board, and you know how to change it.

■ Never change a tyre on the side of the road if there’s traffic close to your vehicle. Call a breakdown service instead.

■ If towing a caravan, trailer or boat, connect it properly, checking all

lights work, and you have correctly positioned the driving mirrors.

■ It is also important to make sure you know how to safely manoeuvre your vehicle and the load behind. If your skills need brushing up, be sure to practice before you leave home.

■ Fill up your tank and carry spare fuel in a safe container if you visit remote areas.

■ Keep a first aid kit in your vehicle

Maintaining your vehicle in optimum condition is a partnership involving you and your local repairer. Keeping your vehicle serviced and maintained by a trusted automotive technician is crucial.

A thorough professional inspection using up-to-date specialist equipment can detect dangerous deficiencies, like worn brake pads and leaking brake lines, degraded suspension components, and misaligned wheels.

Importantly, never stop learning.

Road safety is not everyone else’s responsibility. It is yours. So, make sure you and your vehicle are fit for the road, and that way, we can all have a fun and safe holiday. www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

It’s Your Life

Charlotte Rasmussen at her desk

Charlotte’s book

Letting nature guide you

By Melissa Meehan

products,” she told Kids Today.

“Someone said you should write a book, and because English isn’t my first language I wasn’t so sure – but I strongly believe that this is stuff people should know.

WHEN Charlotte Rasmussen came to Australia, she found it difficult to find natural, organic skincare products and remedies similar to those she had used in her upbringing in Scandinavia.

‘It’s like cooking in the kitchen, once you know what ingredients are good for you can make a delicious meal.”

When her daughter was young, she suffered from eczema and was not keen on putting strong chemicals on her face – so the single mum of three from Ocean Grove made her own.

In the new book, From Earth: Create Your Own Natural Apothecary Charlotte has written an accessible and practical guide to home apothecary.

Once the other parents at mums group saw what her natural oils could achieve they asked her to make them some, and then more and more products.

Whether you need moisturiser for dry skin or a decongestant for your child, discover the natural benefits and properties found in various roots, flowers, herbs found all over the globe to make your own soaps, skincare, fragrances and shampoos without nasty chemicals or parabens.

And her business was born. Almost by accident.

Charlotte launched From Earth, a business that became an organic reality as others were looking for the same natural remedies.

Her aim is to re-educate others about skincare and haircare, and shed more light on natural remedies.

That was almost seven years ago.

in Torquay,(which sadly closed during the pandemic) her now successful business ships products across Australia and overseas.

From Earth is her first book.

Pictures: Ivan Kemp

It came about after chatting with some people at a trades show.

“I wasn’t planning on becoming an author but I was telling people how easy and simple it is to make your own

“I’d love it to become basic knowledge for people to know,” she said.

“It’s much easier than people think.”

12549913-JW22-22

From humble beginnings in her kitchen in 2017, to having her own store

Product on display

Charlotte said that there is a trend to move away from chemicals towards natural health, especially parents buying for their babies.

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

WINTER 2022 5

It’s Your Life

Keeping your little one safe from burns and scalds this winter WINTER is here, and the cold weather has definitely set in! It’s the season where a lot of us look towards hot drinks, hot food, a nice warm bath, or cosying up by an open fire to help keep warm and dry. While all of these bring a sense of comfort, they can also pose a risk of burns and scalds, particularly to those who are most vulnerable children.

help you identify and reduce the risks posed by a range of common household burn and scald hazards.

If a burn does occur, it is important to remember to: ■ Remove - remove yourself from danger. Remove any clothing and jewellery from the burn area unless well stuck to the skin ■ Cool - place the burn under cool running water for twenty minutes.

Never use items like ice, oil or butter on a burn as these can make it worse

Common causes of burns and scalds The home is the most common location for childhood burn injuries, with the majority occurring in the kitchen particularly when a child is near someone cooking.

Common burn and scald hazards for children include hot drinks and food, hot water, household heaters and fires, and appliances such as irons and hair straighteners.

It may be surprising, however, items such as treadmills and vehicle exhausts are also common causes of burn and scald injuries.

■ Cover the burn with a clean dressing ■ Seek medical attention if the burn or scald is on the face, hands, feet, genitals or buttocks, is larger than a 20-cent coin or blistered

It’s important to watch kids in the kitchen.

Prevention and treatment There are some practical things we can all do to reduce the risk of burns and scalds, including keeping hot food, drinks and appliances out of children’s

reach and restricting their access to the kitchen when meals are being prepared.

Kidsafe have developed a free Burns Safety Checklist with practical tips to

Research has shown that giving school children an extra five minutes to eat their lunch before play is likely to benefit them in a variety of ways.

For more information about the prevention and correct first aid treatment of minor burns and scalds, please visit https://www.kidsafevic. com.au/home-safety/fire-safety-burnsand-scalds/.

Picture: iStock

Do kids have enough munch time at lunch?

DO kids have enough munch time at lunch time?

Recent research conducted by Deakin University’s Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN) and School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences (SENS) has revealed some interesting information about kids and their lunchtimes.

Most primary-aged kids only receive around 10 minutes to eat their lunch at school, despite the fact that many parents and teachers agree that this is not enough time.

The Deakin University study showed that most parents believed children needed at least 15 minutes to each their lunch before being permitted to go outside to play.

“Our research found that some parents also believe that limiting eating 6 WINTER 2022

times influences the types of food their children wanted to take for lunch,” says Dr Melissa Burton from SENS. “For example, with less time to eat, children are more likely to prioritise the most appealing foods in their lunchbox, such as the treats, which are often nutrient poor,” she says.

“These findings not only have implications for children’s health but also their ability to learn, as research tells us that good nutrition is necessary to help children thrive academically.”

Dr Claire Margerison from IPAN said that though research revealed parents reporting their children would be more likely to finish the contents of their lunch box with more time, there are mixed views on whose responsibility it is to encourage healthy eating, among other things.

“About half of the parents and teachers surveyed said only parents and children should choose what food they eat at school, while one quarter of parents and one third of teachers believed that schools should have a responsibility to monitor food brought from home,” says Dr Margerison.

“Criticising individual children’s lunchboxes was generally viewed as inappropriate among both parents and teachers,” she says.

However, the study also showed that parents were open to general suggestions and feedback about the contents of kids’ lunchboxes.

“Many parents thought teachers should eat their own lunch with the children, believing this would be a good opportunity to role model healthy eating to children,” says Dr Margerison.

This sentiment wasn’t as popular with teachers as it was with parents.

“Children spend so much of their time at school, the lines between what is the parent’s responsibility and what is the teacher’s responsibility is often blurred, and these research findings certainly highlight some of those grey areas,” Dr Margerison says.

The study clearly shows that giving children an extra five minutes to eat their lunch will be beneficial and has the potential to increase children’s ability to focus and learn.

“How we find that extra five minutes is what we want to look at next,” says Dr Margerison.

“Do we take it from play time or class time, or could we have an educational lunch and teach about nutrition at the same time?” www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

It’s Your Life When you arrived did you know anyone? How did you start to establish yourself?

We only knew one person – and that’s my mom’s older sister, my beloved Aunty Ging. She’s an absolute legend.

She had so much faith in us and in our skills. This really helped us gain confidence to take risks, which is often hard when you’re in a new environment.

We only had $800 when we arrived in Australia. This clearly isn’t enough to start a new life in a new country especially with a 3-year old in tow. But we got into action pretty quickly.

Salted Fish Acoustic duo

It was close to summer when we arrived so lots of places were looking for kitchen staff. Lucky Jordan studied culinary arts in the Philippines so he immediately got a job cheffing at a pub in the Bellarine.

We saved just enough money to buy our first car – a second hand red Mazda 121, it was tiny but reliable. We rented a small unit in Herne Hill with furniture and basic household items from op shops and garage sales. The only ‘new’ items we had were the fridge and washing machine which were factory seconds.

We actually still have the same fridge – it’s still working!

I started teaching in a university which was good but realised I wanted to try something new. I got a job curating local performing arts events in a youth arts centre. This was so much fun – I met so many like-minded people and was introduced to the bustling performing arts scene in Geelong.

In 2009, I gave birth to Page and Adam started primary school. I took a break from work for about 12 months. It was quite full on especially because we didn’t have our usual network of supports. But we focussed on what we can do and we had, instead of what we can’t do and what we didn’t have.

Tell us about the birth of your babies Adam was born 2 days early. My water broke as I was washing dishes from breakfast. I didn’t sleep well the night before because I was already experiencing some form of labour pain, but it wasn’t enough to make me go, this is it. So I was confused when my water broke.

Performing across the world

By Angie Hilton FRITZIE Punsalang and her husband Jordan moved to Australia from the Philippines with just $800 to their name and a 3 year old in tow. It was a case of sink or swim.

But their tight bond, optimistic outlook and determination saw them establish their roots firmly in Geelong and form strong bonds with the local performing arts community.

15 years down the track, they have a thriving performing arts school called Parallax and their two children Adam & Page are excelling in the professional music theatre world.

Let’s start with your journey to Australia. What brought you here and

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

what was life like in the Philippines?

We just became tired of the politics in the Philippines. It didn’t seem like things would change so I made the decision to get out of the country.

Jordan wasn’t too keen to leave. He was a sought after choreographer and events director in the Philippines. We ran a boutique events and dance company. I did the marketing and wrote event scripts. Jordan would direct the shows, source talents and choreograph dances. We loved it, especially after pulling off a show or a live event. But the lead up was always stressful and work was seasonal.

I was also working as a lecturer in a university in Manila, teaching and doing research in language and literature. I

did that for about 8 years - although I did take a break for a year to work at the Senate of the Philippines while I was writing my dissertation. I finished my doctorate degree in June 2006 and in October 2006, we arrived in Australia.

I was the only one in my family who decided to move to Australia. The rest of my family (my mum, dad and siblings) moved to the US. I was a fan of a postcolonial book called ‘The Empire Writes Back’ by Australian writers Bill Ashcroft, Gareth Griffiths and Helen Tiffin. I was hoping to continue my academic career in this field.

I’ve also always admired Melbourne’s vibrant arts and culture scene. But most of all, I thought it’s better to stay on this side of the world and be one of the first to celebrate New Year’s!

It was a stormy day and Jordan drove through heavy rains, possibly speeding, to get us to the hospital. We got there only to be told that it may still be a while. After about 15 hours of labour and everyone around me getting impatient, Adam came to the world via C-section at 1am the following day.

Page on the other hand decided to come out the day after her due date. We had some friends over the day before so I was pretty tired when I headed to bed that night.

I started feeling labour pains a bit after midnight and could not sleep. The pain escalated and at around 3am Jordan drove me to the hospital half awake. We got there and once again were told that it may still be a while.

After more than 10 hours of active labour and people around me getting impatient, Page finally arrived at around 1pm via C-section.

Did you have any support network in Geelong to help you?

It was really the performing arts community in Geelong that became our first support network here. We were passionate about the same things and everyone was just so warm and welcoming.

You seem like such a tight family unit.

What do you put that down to?

The assurance that we will always have each other’s back, no matter what.

WINTER 2022 7

It’s Your Life

Pictures: Louisa Jones

Tell us about Parallax Performing Arts and how it came to life?

Jordan had burnout after a hectic summer in the kitchen. He couldn’t see himself working as a chef and dreaded the thought of another summer. He wanted to dance – choreograph, teach, make dance shows.

for auditions, shows, scholarships, exams, competitions, live music and songwriting.

He combed through job ads and eventually saw an ad for a funk / hip-hop teacher. He applied and got the job. Word got around and he was hired to teach in more dance schools.

Parallax has a proven track record of providing quality training with many of our former students now working as industry professionals here and abroad.

In May 2007, he decided to start his own dance school – Parallax Dance Company.

He started with 1 class on a Sunday night at the old Geelong Performing Arts Centre (now Geelong Arts Centre).

There were only 2 students in his first class, but he persevered.

Each week more and more students joined so he offered more classes. We even opened a class at The Potato Shed in Drysdale.

Word about the quality of his work started spreading and he was invited to choreograph some local musical theatre shows. In 2012, he was given a Choreography Award by the Music Theatre Guild of Victoria for one of his works.

In 2014, we decided to start offering dance classes for kids, primarily because Adam and Page started showing interest in the performing arts. We thought it would be good for them to learn with others.

In 2016, we rebranded ourselves as Parallax Performing Arts to cover dance, singing and acting.

I teach / coach most of the singing classes – private and group, preparation 8 WINTER 2022

Most of our current students are strong dancers, singers and actors. They’re passionate about what they do and they always strive to take their skills to the next level.

Your children are both highly successful. What is the secret to their success and tell us about their journeys to success.

Some kids find joy in sport or creating things with their hands, Adam and Page find joy in the performing arts.

They’re both able to express themselves more fully when they sing, dance or engage with an audience.

Adam joined The Voice Kids when he was 10 – no singing experience, he just wanted to meet Joel Madden because he also wears hats.

He then realised he liked singing and performing in front of people and would often ask me when he can perform again. I saw an open call for Matilda the Musical on social media and I asked if he’d like to audition seeing he was looking for an opportunity to perform in front of an audience. I showed him a video of Revolting Children to give him an idea of what the show is about. He instantly said yes. The audition process was tough and he prepared really hard for it. So he was so happy when he got the role of Eric as part of the original Melbourne cast of Matilda. He also had the opportunity to perform in Sydney and Brisbane. www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

Frozen

Matilda

After that, he did Carmen for Opera Australia at the Arts Centre, then Siddhartha the Musical where he played Young Siddhartha at the Athenaeum Theatre, and finally as Fletcher the son of Whitney Houston’s character in The Bodyguard at the Regent Theatre.

His interests have shifted a bit now. He is more interested in choreography, directing and writing music rather than performing. He also just started law school and absolutely loves it.

Page’s love of musical theatre started when she played Tam at Footlight Productions’ Miss Saigon. She enjoyed being on stage and watching all the singing and dancing.

When she was 7, she was cast in Peter Pan at the Comedy Theatre featuring Tim Maddren and Todd McKenney. She totally loved it, especially working with an amazing cast and making friends with kids like her.

Soon after she played Young Yasodhara in Siddhartha the Musical at the Athenaeum Theatre. Both kids were in the show and it was so lovely to see them together on stage.

Most recently, Page played Young Elsa in Frozen the Musical at Her Majestys Theatre. She also had the opportunity to train and perform in Sydney before the show came to Melbourne, as well as perform at last year’s Carols by Candlelight at the Sidney Myer Bowl.

She’s currently in Year 7 and is playing Matilda in her school’s junior production of Matilda the Musical.

creative process and everyone behind the scenes. They find time to sharpen their tools and give themselves time to recharge.

They radiate joy when they perform.

What makes a great performer?

Authenticity.

They know their ‘why’. They perform to express, not to impress.

They honour their audience, the

What would you say to anyone else who is new to the country?

Everything is hard at the start, but keep at it. Australia is a beautiful country, with beautiful people. It won’t take long for you to call it home.

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

Were you and Jordan brought up in performing families?

Yes. Jordan comes from a family of dancers. His older cousins are accomplished professional dancers and dance makers who toured the world.

My grandfather was a violin player and wrote patriotic songs, mostly in Ilocano (regional language in northern Philippines). Both my parents play the guitar and sing (my mum is great at harmonies). All my siblings sing - my brother was a lead vocalist in a band, as well as my youngest sister (she also wrote songs).

What did you take from your own upbringing that helps you parent today?

Lead by example.

My parents practised what they preached. I saw them persevere, problem solve, learn from and laugh at mistakes, nurture relationships / friendships, and prioritise family at all times.

What was the hardest part about migrating to Australia?

Getting used to the weather! Especially where we are – 4 seasons in a day literally. Also not having your usual network of supports around you.

Snapshot of Fritzie…

Profession: Communications and Engagement Professional by day, Singing Teacher by night (Parallax Performing Arts), Professional Musician some weekends (Salted Fish Acoustic Duo) Husband: describe in 3 words Jordan - family oriented, mentor, visionary Children: describe in 3 words

Fritzie tells of her decision to come to Australia.

Adam (18) - creative, articulate, great listener Page (13) - independent, brave, nurturing Favourite quote: “If a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower” Alexander Den Heijer Favourite song to belt out in the shower: Anything musical theatre, 90s, Adele, Carole King, Lady Gaga…also Filipino tunes

Favourite movie: Forrest Gump (but closely followed

by Pride and Prejudice) Favourite thing to do with your kids in Geelong: Eat out - we love food! Watch a movie, check out some live music or local shows. Hang at our studio to sing and dance!

Your secret to happiness: Travel light and always be grateful.

WINTER 2022 9

It’s Your Life

The benefits of year-round swimming Geelong Aquatic Centre is a dedicated Learn to Swim centre and is ideally set up to cater for school’s intensive swimming programs.

LEARNING to swim is not only a sport, it is an education and valuable life skill that will be a basis for recreation, fitness and most importantly, survival.

achieve better results than those who only attend intermittently. They are also fitter, stronger and better able to resist colds and flus over the winter months.

Once the learner is a strong and competent swimmer, they can decide whether to pursue swimming-related sports. Until they reach that point, it is our responsibility to ensure learning is continuous and progressive.

Geelong Aquatic Centre (GAC) provides the ideal winter fitness pursuit.

Swimming in a warm, indoor pool, protecting children from the harsh elements they often encounter on a football field or netball court. Year round swimming is actually recommended for asthmatics, and many of our famous swimmers took up swimming as a treatment for their asthma. A warm hat, clothes and shoes are recommended to ensure that they are protected from the elements when they leave the centre.

Children thrive on routine. If swimming lessons are regular and ongoing, they become familiar with the pool and instructors, and develop valuable skills. They will enjoy lessons so much that they will want to attend regularly year round.

Studies have shown that children who continue their lessons year round

Australia has a large coastline with wonderful beaches, many inland waterways, lakes, dams and an

ever-increasing number of backyard spas and pools, which will always attract children, so it’s very important that children feel confident in and around water. GAC is a dedicated Learn to Swim centre and is ideally set up to cater for school’s intensive swimming programs for the following reasons.

With two indoor 25m pools, a learner’s pool, changing facilities, trained and qualified staff, equipment for all levels and the ability to cater for children with special needs, GAC is the place to go to equip your child to be ready for the future.

Geelong Aquatic Centre is located at 3 Bridge Street, Newtown. For more information, phone (03) 5222 5530 or visit www.geelongaquaticcentre.com.au.

Learning to swim is not only a sport, it is a valuable life skill.

Pictures: Supplied

Geelong Aquatic Centre Geelong’s No.1 Learn to Swim School Family Owned & Operated Dedicated Learn to Swim Centre • • • • • • •

Quality Salt — Chlorinated Pools Controlled Warm Water & Air Temperature Passionate & Qualified Instructors Providing a Developmentally Sequential Program No Distractions or Gimmicks Value for Money Full 30 minute Lessons

“Swimming Lessons - A Gift for Life”

WE CARE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN admin@geelongaquaticcentre.com.au | www.geelongaquaticcentre.com.au 3 Bridge Street, Newtown 3220 | Phone: 5222 5530 12541110-AI13-22

10 WINTER 2022

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

Entertainment

Get some family magic GEELONG Arts Centre’s Family Magic program has returned this year with a diverse range of fantastic family-friendly productions.

Made up of a variety of dynamic, engaging, accessible performances, the Family Magic program is designed to captivate, inspire and entertain kids under 12, as well as their parents, siblings, grandparents and carers.

The immersive and multi-sensory performance Whoosh! has already sold out two shows running on Saturday June 4, where children board a spaceship and copilot an intergalactic adventure.

Edward the Emu has three shows running from Friday July 29 to Saturday July 30, based on the much-loved books

by Sheena Knowles and Rod Clement.

The 12pm show on Saturday July 30 is a Relaxed Performance, welcoming audiences with autism, sensory sensitivities, learning disabilities or dementia, as well as those with anxiety or who have experienced trauma.

The atmosphere of these performances is non-judgemental and noisy enthusiasm is embraced.

Audience members are also welcome to bring headphones to reduce noise if

2 0 2 2

they wish. With dimmed lights, open auditorium doors and moderated technical elements such as sound effects and strong lighting. For young ones who prefer a more supportive environment, Relaxed Performances enhance the theatre experience for all children, while keeping the beloved story of Edward and Edwina the Emu completely unchanged.

Lastly, There’s a Sea In My Bedroom introduces children to live classical music featuring musicians from the Australian Chamber Orchestra, with the show running on Tuesday August 23.

Having started in March and running through to August 23, the Family Magic Program is proudly supported by the Victorian government through Creative Victoria, major artistic partner Deakin University and program partner Geelong Connected Communities.

For many children in the G21 region, the Family Magic program provides their first theatrical experiences.

Geelong Arts Centre takes great pride in helping families spark a love for the arts, introducing young people to a world of limitless possibilities.

“Geelong Arts Centre takes immense

Edward The Emu will be showing in late July thanks to the Monkey Baa Theatre Company.

Picture: Supplied

pride in providing young people with a window into the world of the arts and making world-class arts experiences accessible to the many diverse families across our region,” says Joel McGuiness, Geelong Arts Centre CEO and Creative Director.

Youth and Creative Learning.

The enticing 2022 program consists of a variety of musical and theatrical experiences, literary favourites coming to life, and for the very first time, an immersive performance specially designed for children with a broad range of access needs.

Ticket prices for shows to Geelong Arts Centre’s Family Magic program are $32 for adults, $22 for children and $25 for groups of six or more.

“We are delighted to welcome children and families of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to engage with, and be inspired by, creativity across so many artforms,” says Kelly Clifford, Geelong Arts Centre Senior Producer - Families,

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“The Family Magic program offers immersive, imaginative and creative experiences that blur the boundaries between actor and audience while creating magical moments that spark joy and laughter.”

For full program details and to make a booking, visit www.geelongartscentre. org.au/family-magic-2022 or phone 1300 251 200 between 9am - 5pm, Monday - Friday.

Don’t miss out on any upcoming show announcements! Sign up to Geelong Arts Centre’s What’s On newsletter at www.geelongartscentre.org.au.

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THERE’S A SEA IN MY BEDROOM AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

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www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

WINTER 2022 11

Health

Food for your fertility thoughts IF there is ever a motivation for looking at what you’re eating, it’s the prospect that a healthier approach could help you fall pregnant more easily, if that is your goal.

Epworth maternity nurse unit manager, Papa Xuereb, says that healthy habits help prime your body for pregnancy - the choices you make now can have significant and long-lasting benefits for you and your baby.

“When it comes to what to indulge in, natural is best - go for a variety of plant-based products, including fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds and wholegrains to boost beneficial antioxidants,” says Papa.

“Try to avoid overly processed foods, which often have more salt and sugar.

Complex, low GI, high fibre carbohydrates from wholegrains are a great choice, along with seafood, which may have a positive association with fertility,” she says.

“It’s just as important to consider what to leave out of your diet, if you’re preparing for pregnancy. This includes reducing your alcohol intake and perhaps pulling back on the amount of caffeine you consume. Also make sure you quit smoking and stop any illicit drug use.”

“Energy drinks also won’t do you and fertility favours.”

“To enhance your chances of conceiving, aim for a healthy body weight. Studies have found that if you are underweight, or overweight, you may find it harder to conceive.”

“It’s also important to maintain a healthy weight during pregnancy to reduce the risk of premature birth and pregnancy complications.”

“There is plenty of support for couples who are trying to increase their chance of conceiving through lifestyle changes.

You can consult a nutritionist, dietitian, exercise physiologist or physiotherapist.

If you’re planning to fall pregnant, it’s important to take note of what you consume even before you conceive.

Picture: Supplied

A great place to start is at your GP, who can refer you to the appropriate specialist,” Papa says.

For more pre-pregnancy tips from Epworth maternity experts, scan the QR code to download your free copy of Before the Bump.

Epworth Geelong Maternity

The perfect place for life’s moments

Scan me to learn more about Epworth Maternity

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With expert obstetricians and midwives to support you through every phase leading to a beautiful new life.

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Epworth Geelong | call 03 5271 8322 Enter from Pigdons Rd, Waurn Ponds (next to Deakin University) | epworth.org.au

12 WINTER 2022

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

Health

Put a smile on your face

By Elle Cecil

instruction to release chemicals to make you feel angry or low.

STUDIES have shown that genuine smiling and positive mood is associated with a longer life.

Aside from serotonin and endorphins, which can also be natural pain relievers, smiling also triggers a release of dopamine in the body.

The physical action of smiling can prompt a chemical reaction in your brain, prompting it to release important hormones including serotonin, endorphins and dopamine. A vital chemical in the human body, your brain releases serotonin when you smile. This natural mood stabiliser is thought to help to control muscles, heal wounds and regulate sleep patterns.

The movement of your facial muscles into a smile also triggers the release of endorphins in the brain. It will release endorphins in a process known as the facial feedback hypothesis. In a study conducted by the Journal of Nonverbal Behaviour, this concept occurs when the positioning of one’s facial muscles feeds information to the brain and chemicals are released accordingly.

Whether it’s a real or forced smile, your brain doesn’t differentiate between the two. If your mood is low but you smile, your body will process this sensory feedback and actually boost your mood by releasing ‘happy’ chemicals. Facial feedback hypothesis also works the other way around: if you have a scowl or frown on your face, your brain will interpret this as an

Often referred to as a ‘feel-good’ chemical, dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain that can produce a good mood. Achieving something satisfying produces an increase in dopamine, resulting in feelings of satisfaction, pride, pleasure and motivation.

■ Give compliments to people as you go about your day. Whether it be praising a family member or admiring a stranger’s shoes, you can brighten someone’s day with just a few words.

■ Send a nice message to your friends and family. There doesn’t need to be a reason, you can just let them know you appreciate their friendship, love and support. It will make them feel warm and fuzzy inside!

Keeping your kids smiling will not only make sure you’re happy, but it’ll benefit their health as well!

Picture: iStock

Ideal levels of dopamine can improve your focus, alertness and productivity levels, and it is also known to produce temporary feelings of euphoria. Dopamine also plays a role in maintaining healthy blood flow and a regular heart rate, as well as proper functioning of organs such as the heart, kidneys and pancreas.

A few ways to help others crack a smile: ■ Tell jokes to your friends and family.

■ Complete one random act of kindness for a loved one, acquaintance or stranger.

■ Smile at everyone you come across throughout your day. Not only will this promote your mood, it will encourage them to smile back!

The importance of child dental care WHY is child dental health so important? As children grow and develop, so do their teeth. It’s therefore extremely important for your children to visit a dentist, such as Happy Dental, to check the placement and eruption patterns of the adult teeth coming through.

Adult teeth often come through into the mouth with deep grooves on the biting surface which can trap bacteria and develop decay, as it can be hard to brush properly. At times, fissure seals would be recommended to avoid decay - this is a very simple painless procedure that protects the teeth from cavities as they continue to form.

From two years old, Happy Dental recommends visiting the dentist for an introduction and a quick look. Happy Dental works with the children’s abilities to make it a fun experience, rather than a daunting one - as many adults fear their own dental visits.

Making dental visits a positive experience can encourage patients to get regular check-ups that can help prevent problems occurring down the track.

Many people don’t realize that children aged from infants to 17 may be eligible for $1026 of dental treatment through Medicare, known as the Child Dental Benefit Schedule (CDBS).

Happy Dental makes parents and guardians happy as well, with bulk billing and no gap payment for all eligible children.

Getting your child used to the dentist early in life can establish a regular dental health routine and familiarity with a dentist’s office. Picture: Supplied

Happy Dental is a small, welcoming and most of all friendly team who will make yours and your child’s dental visit as fun and as comfortable as possible. With a television screen to play your child’s favorite show, time for a ride in the dental chair, and a little gift or toy at the conclusion of their appointment, your child will be asking to visit the dentist again in no time!

Happy Dental is located at 116 Shannon Avenue, Geelong West.

For more information, visit www. happydental.com.au or phone (03) 5229 6668 to check whether your child is eligible for free dental work.

12550437-AV-22

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

WINTER 2022 13

Education

Respect, gratitude and compassion

Supporting their needs

By Elle Cecil FRESHWATER Creek Steiner School (FWCSS) was founded by a group of dedicated mums in the late 1980s. Since then, it has evolved into a primary school as well as a kinder and currently has 177 students between playgroups, the kindergarten and all the way to Year 6.

Set on 24 acres of farm and bushland in Freshwater Creek, the school has a partnership with the farm next door, allowing children to engage deeply in the farming and environmental care program.

Steiner Education is a growing international movement, with more than 1500 schools worldwide offering playgroups to Year 12.

The curriculum is based on Dr Rudolf Steiner’s childhood development principles and is aimed at creating an environment and activities that allow each child to fully develop their unique physical, academic and emotional capacities and identities.

Steiner Education is a very different

approach to mainstream schooling. The students develop strong relationships with the staff.

They are supported to grow as individuals while developing the knowledge, skills and sensitivities they will need to grow into capable and confident teenagers.

Primary children have lesson units focused on world stories from different eras. These are supported by specialist subjects including Japanese, handcrafts, music (singing and instruments), painting, farming, gardening and lots more. All subjects are taught through the creative arts, with many hands-on activities, camps and incursions.

“FWCSS provides a creative education of the highest quality, supporting the children to develop clarity of thinking, sensitivity of feeling and strength of will,” says Head of School Gabby Brennan.

FWCSS is located at 52 McIntyres Road, Freshwater Creek.

For more information, contact info@ fwcss.vic.edu.au, phone (03) 5264 5077 or visit www.fwcss.vic.edu.au.

ST Therese Catholic Primary School Torquay has served the learning needs of Surf Coast families for over thirty years. Founded on the principles of gratitude, compassion and respect, St Therese School provides a comprehensive foundation to year six curriculum that is differentiated and made accessible to students of all learning abilities. Well-resourced, the school grounds consist of spacious classrooms, outside sporting surfaces and an indoor multipurpose centre, along with specialist art, music and technology spaces.

The school’s ties to the Nazareth Catholic Parish provide its students and families with unique opportunities to participate in local events, charity work and social justice within the community.

With an enrolment of close to 300 students, St Therese provides a diverse range of learning experiences including art shows, performing arts demonstrations, sporting carnivals, camps and excursions.

The school celebrates the gifts of each child and recognises the importance of supporting social emotional development. To this end, the school employs wellbeing specialists including psychologists and therapists to ensure that students feel a sense of belonging, safety and inclusion.

St Therese provides students with a comprehensive and compassionate Catholic education.

Picture: Supplied

St Therese School is currently accepting enrolments for the 2023 school year.

It welcomes prospective families to contact the office for more information about the exciting opportunities a Catholic education at St Therese can provide for your child on their learning journey.

St Therese Catholic School Torquay is located at 50 Grossmans Road, Torquay.

For more information, phone (03) 5261 4246 or visit www.sttorquay.catholic. edu.au

ENROL MENTS OPEN FOR 2023

12549540-AI22-22

teaching

GROUP TOURS AVAILABLE Contact the school for dates & times *Bookings essential

03 5261 4246 | info@sttorquay.catholic.edu.au | www.sttorquay.catholic.edu.au 12550323-SG22-22

14 WINTER 2022

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

Education

Engaging in learning

Despite its relative youth, Surf Coast Secondary College is proud of its traditional values: to Strive, Unite, Respect and Flourish.

SURF Coast Secondary College (SCSC) opened in 2012 as the only stand-alone government secondary school in Torquay. The school is committed to ensuring that every student is challenged, motivated and engaged in their learning and feels that they belong in their school community. As a relatively new school, SCSC has always had a focus on ensuring that it is catering to the modern needs of its students and facilitating a curriculum that develops students as capable and active citizens of both the local and

global community. Most commonly mentioned by school visitors on a tour or visit is the welcoming and vibrant atmosphere that flows freely in every corner of the school.

This atmosphere does not just happen - it is an aspect of the school that every staff member works hard to ensure is present in everything they do, and stems from the college values of Strive, Unite, Respect and Flourish.

Long gone are the days when using blackboards and sitting in rows constituted the majority of the school day. A key focus of principal Erin Wright and her team is the promotion and

facilitation of independent and active learning.

The teaching staff at SCSC believes in the premise that the more actively a student participates, the more they will engage in their learning, which more than often translates into improved outcomes and greater depth of learning.

SCSC aims to provide a supportive and caring environment that takes into account the different needs of each student. Teachers and staff are focused on providing students with meaningful learning experiences that are catered to each student’s current level of

learning, with a focus on students growing as learners and always continually furthering their knowledge and skills.

A dynamic curriculum, combined with state-of-the-art facilities and outstanding teachers, provides all students with a well-rounded education as well as the skills to set them up for life in the 21st century.

Surf Coast Secondary College is located at 75 White Street, Torquay.

For more information, phone (03) 5261 6633 or visit www. surfcoastsecondarycollege.vic.edu.au.

75 White Street, Torquay Victoria, 3228 P: (03) 5261 6633 | E: surf.coast.sc@education.vic.gov.au W: www.surfcoastsecondarycollege.vic.edu.au F: https://www.facebook.com/surfcoastsc

STRIVE | UNITE | RESPECT | FLOURISH www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

WINTER 2022 15

12550318-SG22-22

By Elle Cecil

Picture: Supplied

Education

All children are amazing A Sesame Street Muppet with autism is helping families create new routines and build flexibility.

Sesame Workshop has expanded its Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children initiative.

New resources featuring Julia, a 4-year-old Sesame Street Muppet with autism, are designed to help families cope with change during turbulent times.

Exceptional Minds prepares young adults on the autism spectrum for careers in animation and beyond, and

partnered with Sesame Workshop on a new animated video featuring Julia.

She learns how to handle her fear of the dark by drawing what she’s afraid of - helping her brother along the way.

A team of artists on the autism spectrum wrote, produced and animated the video.

New printables and colouring and activity sheets accompany the video, including Good Night routine cards to help children develop a healthy bedtime routine.

Sesame Workshop’s social impact

New resources featuring a 4-year-old Sesame Street Muppet with autism are designed to help families cope with change during turbulent times.

senior vice president Dr Jeanette Betancourt said autistic children and their families were facing unprecedented challenges.

“And Sesame Workshop is here to help kids create healthy routines, develop self-regulation and calming strategies, and build resilience,” she said.

The Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children initiative aims to increase public awareness of autism, foster greater empathy and understanding, and support families with free resources.

Studies show that small, regular breaks between study sessions can improve mood and productivity. As you approach upcoming SACs and start thinking about the looming exam period, remember that it is not maintainable to be constantly anxious.

You should have time to destress and think about something other than exams and study for a while.

Here are some ways to combat feelings of stress during your VCE studies: ■ Positive self-talk: using negative language with yourself is neither 16 WINTER 2022

Sesame Workshop is the non-profit behind the television show that has been reaching and teaching children since 1969.

Visit www.sesameworkshop.org for more information.

THE Victorian government has updated it’s Find My School website as parents look to begin the process of enrolling their children for next year.

The website now reflects 13 new school and campuses set to open in 2023, as well as some small changes to existing school zones.

It allows families to find their designated neighbourhood government school and other nearby government schools, giving families clarity on what their options are when enrolling their children.

It’s important for VCE students to properly manage their stress during the year.

AS many secondary students would be well aware, VCE is a time of stress, uncertainty and hard work. It is important to balance this stress with relief, uncertainty with predictability and hard work with relaxation.

With one in 70 Australians diagnosed with autism, this initiative is designed to show that all children - autistic and neurotypical alike - are amazing in their own ways.

How do I find my local schools?

Fighting feelings of stress during VCE

By Elle Cecil

It was developed in consultation with more than 250 organisations and experts within the autism community.

beneficial nor deserved. Make an effort to recognise how much work you’re putting in and allow yourself to see how well you’re doing. You have worked hard to get this far, and you need to maintain your health and wellbeing throughout the year.

Try to think of five things that you’re proud of yourself for doing either in or outside of your school life and reiterate that you’re capable of what you want to achieve. Visualise yourself doing well in your studies and receiving positive news when you receive results or feedback.

■ Use some tangible grounding tools: have a cup of tea, play with your pet or scribble in an adult colouring book. It’s okay to forget about study for a while. In fact, it’s beneficial to spend some time after you study to allow the information to consolidate in your brain, so pick up a book or

Picture: iStock

make yourself a snack and keep your mind occupied for a moment.

■ Move your body: get the blood flowing! Whether you put on your favorite dance playlist and boogie around your room for a while, do some yoga or go for a stroll with a friend, getting active will refresh not only your body but your mind as well. It will also assist in creating and releasing endorphins to improve your mood and relieve feelings of stress.

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

“We’re making huge progress on our work to open 100 new schools – and with new schools popping up right across the state, we’ve made some small changes to zones to make sure everyone has access to a fantastic local school,” education minister James Merlino said.

It’s likely that you’ve heard it plenty of times, but VCE is not the be-all and end-all of life. Despite the outcome you receive on ATAR day, there are always a variety of ways for you to get into your desired career.

“As families begin to consider their children’s enrolments for next year, we’ve made sure they can get all the information on schools in their area in one spot – the Find My School website.”

Life will go on after high school and it is there to be lived, so make sure you make the most of it. Best of luck to all VCE students this year!

Families can look up their school zone online at findmyschool.vic.gov.au www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

Katie’s stage four bowel cancer had spread to her liver and she would need to undergo 12 rounds of chemotherapy.

It’s Your Life

“I just had a baby and was ready to start the next stage of our life. It was pretty devastating,” she said.

Katie’s fight for her life IT’S supposed to be the happiest time in a pregnant woman’s life, bringing a healthy newborn baby home as a mum for the first time. For Katie Potts, the elation was abruptly and painfully cut short. Fatima Halloum talks to Katie about an illness that affects an estimated 15,540 Australians a year.

Not many people would describe being pregnant as “really enjoyable”, but Werribee’s Katie Potts does.

“All my blood tests and observations and everything was all perfect the whole way through,” she said.

“I barely had morning sickness, I was energetic, I went to the Foo Fighters a week before [my son] was born, It was the smoothest pregnancy you could possibly ask for.”

On March 14, Katie brought her son Magnus into the world and instantly became enraptured with him.

“I was in that newborn bubble, he’s everything you could dream of, just everything you want when you give birth.” Katie said.

The bubble popped a week later, when Katie began feeling unwell.

“I thought it was potentially postnatal depression just because ... I just had a baby and emotions are going everywhere and hormones and all that sort of stuff,” she said.

But as Katie grew weaker day by day she began to sense what she experienced couldn’t just be normal new parent exhaustion.

“I still kind of thought it was in my head and then three weeks after he was born, I came to stay with my parents and that’s when we went to the doctors,” she said.

Katie’s blood test results showed irregular liver function and she was rushed to hospital.

“They thought there was an infection, for three days they were looking for infection and then they sent me for a CT and that’s when the bad news came,” she said.

The bad news was a diagnosis that was both inoperable and incurable.

“My initial thought was ’cry’ and then I was like, ‘alright, I’m gonna beat this’ because I have to. I’ve got this brand new baby who needs his mum and I’ve got so much life to live.”

Katie said she’s tried to keep positive and believes she can beat the odds.

To give Katie and her family physical and financial respite, her friend Jess started a GoFundMe page to help raise money.

In the seven days the page has been online, Katie has received more than $35,000 in donations and support from loved ones and empathetic strangers.

“It’s so humbling, there’s been such an outpouring from my work, from my friends, from my family, people that I haven’t heard from since primary school, I’ve been lost for words really,” Katie said.

Jess has known Katie for more than 10 years and knows from when her own father was unwell how much of toll financial stress can have.

“I just thought if there’s anything that can make life easier for Katie and for Ben and especially for Magnus, that’s something I knew that a lot of people would want to do,” Jess said.

“So many people, I’m sure have said to her, ‘if there’s anything you need’ and I just wanted to give people an avenue to help and to do something.”

Jess said although the support has been overwhelming, it wasn’t surprising.

“I knew that there would be a lot of people that wanted to be there for her but I think it’s still quite overwhelming to

Katie and her baby Magnus together in hospital. Picture: Supplied

see where it’s gotten so far,” Jess said.

Katie says she hopes people learn from her story and don’t hesitate to seek professional advice.

Katie encourages people to live their lives like tomorrow isn’t a given.

“Especially the last two years when we’ve been in lockdown, it’s been a hard fog to come out of but I think life is not guaranteed, and I just want people to get out there and take all those opportunities and look after themselves,” she said.

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WINTER 2022 17

It’s Your Life

Dig in!

BUILDING a sandpit is almost a parental rite of passage and can bring back long-buried childhood memories Sandpits give kids a chance to play with others, learn to get lost in the moment and connect with nature and the earth.

Cognitive development and imagination benefits aside, here are a few tips from Richgro to get the most from your sandpit.

LOCATION Choose a spot in your yard that gets sunlight throughout the day, as rainfall will keep your sand damp without sun exposure.

Building under a tree that drops its leaves will lead to extra maintenance.

BORDER OR CONTAINER Building a border around the sandpit will allow spill-over sand to discreetly fall into mulch as opposed to disturbing your green grass.

Use a small clam-shell pool for the flexibility to move the sandpit, or a

simple wooden DIY border would also do the job.

SAND QUALITY It’s important to get washed and soft sand for sandpits, selected from a clean, weed-free environment.

SEASONAL CONSTRUCTION The past summer was particularly good for plant growth – including weeds - thanks to La Nina’s wet weather patterns.

Sand can help keep weeds at bay during summer and even improve soil conditions for some types of plants.

During winter, a sandpit can provide endless hours of entertainment if positioned undercover or in a sunny spot in a container.

DRAINAGE If you are using the sand to create a natural pit in your garden, make sure there is plenty of drainage.

Choose an area that isn’t too damp underneath or could be affected by heavy rainfall.

Kids and sandpits go hand in hand.

Wadawurrung Dja: Awakening Country is on display 24 June – 13 November.

Pictures: Supplied Realm by Laura Alice is on display 24 June – 10 July at Geelong’s National Wool Museum.

School holidays at the National Wool Museum VISIT the National Wool Museum this winter and experience award winning galleries, inspiring exhibitions, and fun workshops.

in walls, shadows made with recycled materials, mystical animations, and Laura’s illustrations, all bringing moments of joy and storytelling.

Realm, an imaginative world of play and mystery, is coming to the National Wool Museum for the school holidays.

Created by award winning local artist Laura Alice, the space encourages imaginative and creative play.

Celebrate the new life each season brings and connect with country through the artwork of Deanne Gilson, Wadawurrung Dja: Awakening Country. Through her work, Deanne captures the changes throughout the six Wadawurrung seasons by painting her Dja (Country), people, plants and animals. The six seasons artworks capture one being traversed through

This stunning interactive experience is filled with magical projections, light play, soundscapes, and illustrations. All young visitors will enjoy giant colouring18 WINTER 2022

different layers of country from the under country to the sky country, all is accepted as being linked as one.

interactive, encouraging curiosity about Geelong, environment, farming, the region’s traditional owners and sheep!

The Bogong Moth Ceremony highlights that country is changing with the environmental changes happening now, with the moth being on the endangered list.

The youngest visitors can also experience the collection and exhibitions through the regular Museum Explorer series. Be immersed in the museum experience by taking part in a Mini Maker workshop, enjoy interactive story telling or take part in a sensory play day.

Don’t miss this multi award-winning gallery On the Land: Our Story Retold, which tells the story of people and places and our impact on the land.

Suitable for the entire family, the exhibition is contemporary and

The National Wool Museum is open Daily 10am-3pm. 26 Moorabool Street, Geelong. Visit www.nwm.vic.gov.au. www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

It’s Your Life

Beetroot Red Velvet Cupcakes

Beetroot is a superfood, according to Lucy.

IF you ask me, beetroots are a proper superfood for kids.

They’re packed with essential vitamins and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamins A, E, C & K, and B vitamins, all of which help kids brains to function optimally and keep their heart and blood vessels happy. If you’re child suffers from low iron – a common condition I see in kids today, especially among picky eaters – then beetroots may help them to beet it (get it?) thanks to the plant-based iron they contain too.

Beetroots are an excellent source of fibre that supports healthy digestion, gut function and elimination. The naturally occurring nitrates in beetroots can help improve the efficiency of our energyproducing cells making them a great energy-boosting food for active kids too.

Beetroots are also considered a ‘good mood food’ because they contain

in the kitchen with Lucy Stewart compounds that help to calm and relax the mind and contribute to a sense of well-being and happiness.

Let’s not forget about the beauty of beetroots ruby red hue either that make for a wonderful sensory experience for kids.

When veggies look this good, there’s no need to hide them and beetroot’s earthy sweetness works perfectly with a hint of chocolate in these cupcakes.

Getting kids involved in the kitchen is fun for all.

Ingredients: Cupcakes: ■ 2 medium beetroots, washed, peeled and grated

Topping: ■ 2 cups thick Greek or coconut yoghurt ■ Zest of 1 lemon

■ 1 cup almond meal

■ 1 Tbsp pure maple syrup

■ ½ cup brown rice flour

Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 180’C and line 6 muffin pans with muffin cases or use a silicone muffin pan.

■ 1/3 cup cacao powder ■ 1/3 cup pure maple syrup ■ ¼ cup olive oil ■ 2 free-range eggs ■ 1 tsp baking powder ■ 1 tsp vanilla extract ■ ½ tsp cinnamon ■ Pinch of sea salt

Pictures: Studio 74 Photography

2. Add all ingredients to a highpowered blender and process until you have a smooth batter.

3. Divide the mixture evenly between muffin cases and cook for 40-minutes.

4. To make the topping, mix all ingredients together until combined and spread over the top of your cooled cupcakes.

Beetroots are an excellent source of fibre

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

WINTER 2022 19

It’s Your Life

The juggle is real Ashley with her daughter.

By Casey Neill

Ashley also counted herself lucky to be “in this generation of women who have access to tech and devices that can help monitor my blood sugars more closely”.

FEARS and concerns are often front of mind during pregnancy.

For most, diabetes doesn’t need to be one of them, but it topped the list for Cranbourne mum Ashley Ng.

During pregnancy, she was adjusting to physical and hormonal changes while also managing her food intake.

“We tried as much as we could to plan things ahead so we wouldn’t have any unexpected surprises,” the type one diabetic said.

“Food is the main contributor to fluctuating blood sugars - it was always at the forefront of my mind,” Ashley said.

“It was one of my biggest worries: how was diabetes going to play out.”

“At the start it was actually quite nice.

In the first trimester when everything’s growing and developing, that’s when we often get low blood sugars.

Everyone labelled her daughter, who was 15 months old when we spoke in March, a ‘lockdown baby’.

“But it was planned, in that we’d got married, got a house, and the next logical step was to have kids,” she said.

“I knew my biological clock was ticking, especially with a chronic condition like diabetes.”

She climbed back into bed and lay awake for the next two hours, before getting up to double check those two blue lines had really appeared.

“That’s when I woke my husband up,” she said.

“It’s such a mixed bag of emotions.”

Ashley’s diabetes is atypical, so no one could tell her how pregnancy was going to affect the condition or vice versa.

But she had the support of a health care team, including a referral to a specialist.

“Being an automatic high-risk 20 WINTER 2022

pregnancy sounds daunting, but it was comforting that extra things were put in place to make sure things were going well,” she said.

“It was a really good safety net for me.

“My first pregnancy was actually really chilled because we were in lockdown most of the time.

“A part of me is still really nervous.

That is probably the biggest thing I’m nervous about,” she said.

Juggling work has also been a challenge, especially when Covid restrictions closed childcare centres.

“I think post-pregnancy was probably where I struggled most.

“You’re expected to work like you don’t have a kid.

Fellow mums with diabetes told Ashley to have snacks on hand and to always sit somewhere low while feeding in case she passed out.Her mum made her a caddy packed with snacks, wipes and nappies to carry around the house.

She’d woken at 4am to use the toilet, so decided to take a test.

Ashley’s second daughter is due in June. She’ll speak to a midwife for advice on preparing for a smoother breastfeeding journey.

“I was keen to go back to work, but I really struggled in terms of trying to balance it all,” she said.

“You can see your blood sugars plummeting as you’re breastfeeding.”

“It wasn’t a surprise, but it was also a surprise and an ‘oh crap’ moment - this is actually happening,” she laughed.

“I chose one day when I was in an OK mood and pushed through it.

Something just clicked for both of us, and we just got it.”

“I could think ‘I’m going to have that ice cream’ and I wouldn’t have to worry so much.

“When you’re trying to breastfeed, it sucks the energy out of you.

Ashley and her husband conceived within a couple of months.

breastfeeding could help with the clog.

Adding to the challenge, her daughter was born with a tongue tie and struggled to latch.

“Breastfeeding was really painful. I wasn’t sure if I was doing something wrong,” Ashley said.

“I ended up exclusively pumping for a little bit because I found it way easier.

“I was working from home. There was no pressure to go anywhere or be super busy.

“There was a lot of pressure from everyone in terms of ‘you really should be just breastfeeding off the boob rather than using a machine’.

“So I think that was a blessing in disguise.”

“I ended up getting mastitis a couple of weeks in. Even the GP said

“You have two jobs.”

And both cause guilt. That built up recently when her husband had to work extra hours.

“It broke me. I had to make an appointment with the GP and make a mental health care plan,” Ashley said.

“The GP said ‘you need to start to let things go, understand that pre-baby you were a high achiever, you were probably a perfectionist, you did a lot of things with your life, but now priorities have changed’.

“It’s about adjusting your expectations.

“But I really don’t want to adjust my expectations. I want to be able to do it all.

“A few friends said to me ‘being able to do everything is a myth, there’s a time and place for everything’.

“Sometimes you have to pause things and come back to them.” www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

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Books

Turning the tables in the morning

By Casey Neill

special moments in the day, even during challenging times.”

WAKING up her ‘reluctant riser’ daughter every morning inspired author Sharon Giltrow to pen a humorous and heartfelt picture book.

She hopes both parents and children will see themselves in the book’s pages.

She said Get Ready, Mama! also came from her personal experience as a teacher.

“I see parents arriving at school a little frazzled. I can see that they have had a challenging morning,” Sharon said.

“I wanted to write a sympathetic story for them.

“We are not alone in trying to get reluctant risers up, ready for the day and at school on time.

“My favourite line in the book ‘you’re never too late for cuddles’ - will remind parents to take time for those

“Children will think it is funny seeing a parent playing the role of a child and the child playing the role of a parent,” she said.

“As a parent I wish someone would help me get ready for the day.”

Sharon said the book was also filled with heart, thanks to the child and parent bond portrayed through Arielle Li’s illustrations.

“The book also offers a practical tip - The ‘Get Your Mama Ready Pack’,” she said.

“This is a pack that could be kept in the car for those times when a child hasn’t brushed their hair or teeth.

She said the book would also help

Author Sharon Giltrow.

children to develop empathy.

“Children can literally see a child who has swapped places with a parent,” she said.

“Throughout the story there are great opportunities to discuss how the characters are feeling.

“More importantly how the reader would feel if they were trying to get their mama ready for the day.”

Get Ready, Mama! followed Sharon’s debut picture book Bedtime, Daddy.

“I have two more picture books coming out this year and next year,” she said.

“One is about taking a grandma shopping and the other is about taking a grandpa to the beach.

“So, once these books are released my ‘how to’ picture book family will be complete.”

Children’s books...

WHAT TO SAY WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY From the award-winning author of All the Ways to Be Smart, comes a warm and whimsical guide to negotiating new experiences and big emotions with empathy, kindness and words from the heart.

I’m not brave enough today.

Maybe next time.

You’re hurting my feelings right now. Want to join in?

A warm and whimsical guide to negotiating life’s little moments and big emotions with empathy, kindness and words from the heart.

From award-winning and much-loved author Davina Bell and exciting new illustrator, Hilary Jean Tapper. $21.99 Hachette Australia

Bluey: Perfect Based on the hit ABC KIDS TV show!

It’s Father’s Day! As Bluey and Bingo make cards for Dad, will Bluey learn that sometimes perfect doesn’t have to be . . . perfect?

A gorgeous hardback book with a special wipe-clean card for drawing. This will make the perfect Father’s Day gift.

Bluey is an award-winning preschool show about Bluey, a blue heeler pup, and her family. Airing on ABC KIDS, the show has amassed legions of dedicated fans and hugely popular ranges of books, toys, clothes, games and more. $16.99 Penguin

Willa and Woof 1: Mimi is Missing Adventure, imagination and loads of fun.

From the bestselling author of Alice-Miranda comes this humorous and heartfelt series about eight-year-old Willa and her best four-legged friend, Woof!

Willa’s in trouble. Mimi – the famous racing pigeon owned

by Frank, her neighbour and best old-aged friend – is missing. And Willa is pretty sure she’s the one who left the cage door open . . .

She’ll need her most creative ideas (along with the help of Tae, her best same-age friend, and her trusty sidekick Woof, the albino Irish Wolfhound) to track Mimi down before Frank finds out!

Can Willa find Mimi before it’s too late?

Cop and Robber

L PLATERS

A new nailbiter from the bestselling author of Two Wolves.

A must-read guide for parents of teenage girls that explores what our girls need us to know in order to support them through the unprecedented pressures of growing up in today’s world.

If your mum was a cop and your dad was a crim who needed your help to commit a crime, would you do it to save him? At what cost?

Nash Hall’s dad is a criminal who just can’t seem to go straight. He wants Nash to help him commit a robbery. A big one. The trouble is, Nash’s mum is a cop. And the robbery is at Nash’s school. But Dad owes a lot of money to some very dangerous people and if Nash doesn’t help him do the job, it could cost both their lives.

From the bestselling author of Two Wolves, The Fall and Detention. $16.99 Penguin

To support our girls, we need to understand the pressures this generation is under by listening to what worries them and what they need – and journalist and social commentator Madonna King has done just that.

Having consulted 1000 young women, along with parents, senior educators and health care professionals in her research for this book, L Platers delivers the answers we need as parents to help our girls on the road to adulthood. $16.99 Hachette Australia

$12.99 Penguin 22 WINTER 2022

www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

Kids Calendar

What's on this Winter UNTIL 12 JUNE

18 JUNE

25 JUNE

28-30 JUNE, 1 & 2 JULY

TOORAK VILLAGE SCULPTURE EXHIBITION

AUSTRALIAN GIRLS CHOIR OPEN DAY

BANTU AFRICAN FEST

PLAYABLE STREETS - REFLECTION

Toorak Village links the arts with business to exhibit contemporary sculptural works in the shop windows and on the sidewalks of Toorak Road.

This free event in Balwyn will run from noon to 2.30pm.

From noon to 5pm at Barwon Valley Activity Centre, Geelong, enjoy live music, drum and dancing performances, food, market stalls and kids’ entertainment.

This interactive installation in Prahran Square features artworks from artists of all ages, as part of the Roola Boola Children’s Arts Festival.

Visit www.geelongaustralia.com.au for more information.

Find more at www.stonnington.vic.gov.au.

Visit www.toorakvillage.com.au/ sculpture for more information.

5 JUNE

Does your daughter love to sing, dance and perform? The choir offers fun and dynamic classes to transform a love of music into a rich educational experience.

It runs 10am to 5pm.

28 & 30 JUNE, 5 & 7 JULY

Register at ausgirlschoir.com.au.

COMMUNITY PLANTING DAY

TRASH PUPPETS

Help Melbourne Water and NatureWest to revegetate the reserve next to Skeleton Creek at Hoppers Crossing.

The holes will be dug, the plants will be ready from 9.45am to noon. Wear sturdy shoes and gardening gloves.

These free puppet making workshops run from noon to 2.30pm at The Mezz in Prahran. They empower children to get creative using clean recycled and reused materials. They’re recommended for ages 6 to 12 years.

Register via www.wyndham.vic.gov. au/greenlivingseries

Find more at www.stonnington.vic.gov.au.

25 JUNE

FIREFLY NIGHT MARKET

23 JUNE - 10 JULY

WINTER GLOW Adventure Park Geelong will host a glowing winter wonderland of snow, lights, fire and ice these school holidays.

5, 12, 19, 26 & 29 JUNE, 3 & 6 JULY

MINIATURE RAILWAY This passenger-carrying miniature railway within the Portarlington Bayside Family Park grounds runs on the first and third Sundays of the month from 11am to 3pm from June to September, plus special school holiday services.

Trains run at frequent intervals, takes about 10 minutes, costs $4 and is free for children aged under 2 years.

Visit miniaturerailway.com.au for more information.

This fusion of street food, artisan stalls, cultural activities and live performances will run from 4pm to 9pm at Penrose Park, Tarneit.

THE KAZOOS

There is fun for the whole family with roving performers, interactive art and more.

Musical comedy Dress Up Box explores character, gender-identity and role play. Children are invited to the stage to select items out of the box. What they choose directs where the show goes next!

Visit www.wyndham.vic.gov.au for more information.

Entry is free for people under 90cm tall, $29.50 for 90cm to 120cm, and $34.50 for over 120cm.

Family friendly group The Kazoos brings its dress-up fun to the Knox Community Arts Centre from 11am.

Tickets are $16 for adults, $12 for kids and $45 for a family of four.

Visit www.knox.vic.gov.au for more.

Visit www.adventurepark.com.au.

10 JULY

25 JUNE

WINTER CONCERT SERIES

ASHBURTON-A-FAIR

Clayton Theatrette will host free kids’ show Cosmic Cats, a cover band for kids and adults alike, from 2pm to 3pm.

Ashburton Community Centre will host this free market with fun for all ages from 9.30am to 2.30pm.

Book at www.trybooking.com/events/ landing/891571.

Visit ashburtoncc.org.au for more information.

15 JULY 25 JUNE - 10 JULY

LUNA PARK Winter school holiday fun at Luna Park will feature heart-pumping thrill rides, family rides, and gentle rides for the little ones. There’s something for everyone.

Visit lunapark.com.au for all the details. www.GeelongCoastKids.com.au

4 JULY

REGROWTH FESTIVAL Hills Creative Alliance and the Kalorama Collective will host a Regrowth festival at Kalorama Memorial Reserve, including a smoking ceremony, indigenous dances, children’s activities, and tea and cake, from noon to 8pm.

Find more at www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au.

WINTER 2022 23

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