Kids West Today Autumn 2022

AUTUMN 2022

Twenty first century dads are

stepping up Starlight ensures happy life after

rocky start

with

milliner mum www.KidsWest.com.au

AUTUMN 2022 1

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www.KidsWest.com.au

About Us

Autumn: time to explore 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).

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.

Kids West Today magazine is a Star News Group publication.

Kids West Today will be published quarterly prior to each of the school holidays.

Kids West Today Unit 6/1-9 Thomsons Road, Keilor Park Phone: (03) 8318 5777

We really hope you enjoy reading

Sales Director Ben Sutton ben.sutton@starweekly.com.au

CONTENTS

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

IT’S YOUR LIFE

EDUCATION

BOOKS

Family travels inspire new book

Onwards and upwards

Girl shares PAWSOME story

Published by Star News Group publication ACN 99 006 310 498.

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PAGE 15

PAGE 21

Publisher/Managing Director, Paul Thomas.

Cubby house a special gift

Just keep swimming

Children’s books

PAGE 5

PAGE 16

PAGE 21

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

Amazing parks in Hobsons Bay

REALITY BITES

KIDS CALENDAR

Kids in the kitchen

What’s on this autumn

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PAGE 22

PAGE 6 Angie’s catch-up PAGES 8-10 Mums share incredible business journey PAGE 11

HEALTH

AUTUMN 2022

Mum’s book explains cancer to kids PAGE 19 Making marshmallows PAGE 20

Top tips to protect their vision

Twenty first century dads are

stepping up Starlight ensures happy life after

PAGE 12

rocky start

Vision and learning PAGE 13 How to keep kids safe

with

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milliner mum www.KidsWest.com.au

AUTUMN 2022 1

Cover: Lara Egginton plays with autumn leaves.

Picture: Rob Carew

kidswest.com.au

facebook.com/kidswestmagazine

instagram.com/kidswesttoday

It’s Your Life

Jessica Tsigros, her husband and their two children in their caravan.

Family travels inspire new book

By Molly Magennis

and inspiration to work on her book.

A Hobsons Bay mum of two has self-published her own children’s book, inspired by a life-changing caravan trip she embarked on with her family.

“I had so much time and space to think and enjoy and be inspired by the outdoors and obviously not having the distractions of being back at home and work and everything else,” she said.

In December 2020, Jess Tsigros and her family bought a caravan, packed up their bags and left their Altona home after re-evaluating their life.

“We did a bit of a self-audit and we realised that the dream house isn’t making us happy,” she said.

The family embarked on a ninemonth journey and went three-quarters of the way around the country, visiting places like South Australia and camping on beaches in the outback, before returning home in August this year.

“For us the whole journey wasn’t just the trip, it was buying the van and changing our life,” she said.

“It was very much a spiritual kind of experience.”

Jess has always had a love and passion for writing, but it was being on the open road that gave her the time 4 AUTUMN 2022

“I could just hone in and focus on my book which was something that I’d always wanted to do but it just really came to life through just being inspired on the road.”

‘We Live in a Caravan’ is a reflection of life with meaningful values, Jess said.

“It’s about family togetherness, it’s about cherishing experiences over possessions.

“It’s also a tool to inspire family travel and inspire people to live and create the dream life that they’ve always wanted and if we’ve done it you can too.”

Although this is Jess’s debut book, there are definitely more projects in the pipeline. “It’s not the end for me, it’s really the beginning of a career in creation and book writing,” Details: https://jesstsigros.com.au/ home

Jessica Tsigros and her book ‘We Live in a Caravan’. www.KidsWest.com.au

It’s Your Life

Marley enjoying his new cubby house.

The Starlight Children’s Foundation gifted the cubby house and organised a fun reveal.

The cubby house offers Marley a safe place to play.

Cubby house a special gift

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

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.

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

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

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

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

“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.

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

Marley at the wish reveal.

Marley Reddington.

The Reddington family.

“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.

Mercy Hospital from early on in her pregnancy as she was at high risk of delivering prematurely as her first son was born at 30 weeks.

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

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

Kellie had been under the care of the

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

“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.

“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 was delivered via emergency caesarean.

“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.

“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.”

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

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.

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/ AUTUMN 2022 5

It’s Your Life

Curlew Community Park, Laverton.

Pictures: Joe Mastroianni

Amazing parks in Hobsons Bay PLAYGROUNDS have long been a place for children to get outdoors and have some fun.

But the past couple of years have really highlighted their importance as community hubs.

While much of the state was locked down by coronavirus restrictions, local playgrounds were vital for children and their parents and caregivers to interact, explore and recharge.

Hobsons Bay is home to 233 parks, with 130 dedicated to family and social recreation activities, including 88 featuring playgrounds.

“Hobsons Bay has a truly unique public open space network,” said former mayor Jonathon Marsden.

“Almost one third of the geographic area of the Hobsons Bay municipality contains some type of open space.

“Not all of this is public land or accessible to the community but all of it contributes to the health and biodiversity of our special area.

“Council has worked hard to meet community needs and has upgraded many of our parks over the past couple of years, ensuring that our outdoor play areas evolve with our community, encouraging exercise, connection, creativity, exploration and fun.”

Paine Reserve, Newport.

6 AUTUMN 2022

Skate zone at Curlew Community Park, Laverton. www.KidsWest.com.au

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www.KidsWest.com.au

AUTUMN 2022 7

It’s Your Life

Superstar JLO wearing one of Rebecca’s creations

hours from the first labour pains to coming out. And he would’ve come out sooner, however he was posterior. So once again, only had time for the gas.

I just remember lying in St. John of God, birthing suite saying to the Midwife “I can’t believe I’m back in here”. And she said, “If I had a dollar for every person that said that”.

Millinery is not an everyday career. How did you end up exploring this field?

I was in year 11 at Bendigo Senior Secondary College and I was only 16 at the time. My Fashion teacher, Margaret Harvey, took us on an excursion to the Bendigo Cup. Rebecca and superstar Jennifer Lopez

A dead set dynamo

By Angie Hilton GEELONG’S own award-winning Milliner Rebecca Share is a dead set dynamo.

Hard working disciplined and resilient.

And it’s no surprise when you hear the back story of how she worked at her parent’s fruit market every weekend from the age of 8 for 50 cents a weekend.

She runs a tight ship at home and her adoring boys know the drill. In fact, when I walked in to interview Rebecca, 14 year old Kai was half way through a basket of ironing… and still smiling. She must have some serious parenting superpowers!

proof that you can get through your darkest days and create the life you want.

OK Rebecca. I like to start at the very beginning of your parenting journey.

How were your births?

Ha ha!! Oh my gosh. Well Kai was a pretty stock standard nine hours. He was 41 weeks, so he was very well cooked. I didn’t know what I was having with Kai. I think I was pretty much shock for a couple of weeks at how full on the whole birthing process was. I only had gas as there was no time for anything else.

Her hard work ethic paid off when she received international acknowledgement for her Millinery in the form of an exclusive headpiece order from a mega star.

Nothing smacks you in the face more than when the midwife hands you your baby and says “Here’s your baby and you’re responsible now”. It was completely that turning point in my life where I thought, holy hell, it’s not just me anymore, I have to look after this beautiful little human”.

But life hasn’t all been parades and race days. It took a marriage breakdown for Rebecca to rediscover herself, refocus her priorities and reboot her Millinery career.

Jarvis was only born 16 months later.

Dealing with a little toddler running around, being eight and nine months pregnant with no immediate family in Geelong was pretty exhausting.

Now, 5 years on, Rebecca is living

Jarvis came within three and a half

8 AUTUMN 2022

The class had to make our own outfits and enter the Fashions on the Field. I didn’t know anything about horse racing or the fashions, but it was super exciting, and it opened up a whole new world for me.

I won the young innovators category and from then on, I was addicted to sewing clothes and trying to piece together outfits and hats to enter more Fashion events.

After year 12, I moved to Melbourne and studied fashion design at RMIT. I’m pretty gung ho and want fast results. After realising that fashion was such a slow process and discovering that hats can be made within a day and can completely transform an outfit, I knew Millinery was for me. I left RMIT and began my hat making journey, learning all the traditional techniques and processes to creating headwear.

So how did this little Bendigo girl manage to get the world’s attention?

I guess my break came when I met socialite Lilian Frank. Through her connections I ended up making hats for all the Toorak scene including people like Ann Peacock.

Lilian took me under her wing, helped me enter the world of parades and connected me with designers like Alannah Hill and John Cavill and pretty soon my career took off.

What would you say has been your biggest achievement?

Oh, making exclusive headpieces for the J-Lo tour in 2019. I received an email via my contact form on my website claiming to be J-Lo’s stylist. I was actually on the train to Melbourne with my friend Fiona and laughed telling her about the ‘hoax email’ I had just received.

She encouraged me to respond just for fun and within 10 minutes I had a phone call and it was all happening. I was asked to make 28 visor headpieces for Jennifer Lopez’s upcoming ‘It’s My Party’ USA Tour.

I said to my partner Brett, “How good would it be to see the concert and he said, “Well, why don’t we go?”

So on a Tuesday night, we looked at the tour dates and by Friday night we were in Las Vegas ready for the show on Saturday night. We literally spent 40 hours in Vegas.

We got VIP tickets to the show and were invited backstage after the show to meet JLo and have a photo. It was an incredible experience, a pinch me moment!

For all the excitement in your life, you’ve had your share of challenging times. How did you manage to pull yourself though a tough marriage breakdown?

Initially I didn’t think I’d survive it.

However, you don’t know how strong you can be until you’re forced to be strong.

I knew I had to let myself feel the full brunt of emotions and not mask them.

So I was doing everything I could, whether it be yoga or mindfulness, long walks and just taking some time out for me. I spent 18 months discovering who I was again. A friend once said to me “never say no to an invitation” and that made me get back into living and meeting people, which at times was the last thing I felt like doing.

But here I am, 5 years later and life has never been better.

I can actually say I’m so grateful for the experience of what I went through, because I’m in a much better place in my life now. I have genuine people in my life and it’s forced me to be stronger.

It’s forced me to rely on myself and pursue different avenues such as having my own home for the first time, getting out of my comfort zone, making new friends and setting up a second business.

Having the support of Brett who has been such a positive force in my life for over three years now has been a beautiful, welcomed surprise. My boys adore him and he really is the most incredible father figure for them.

www.KidsWest.com.au

Rebecca Share Age: 45 Job: Milliner (hat designer) Two businesses – Rebecca Share Millinery (25 years) Hat Atelier (online courses) Partner: Brett – positive, calm, funny How did you go staying creative throughout that time?

I didn’t make hats for a couple of years.

I was MIA from social media. I spent that time with the boys, giving them my full attention and rediscovering who I am.

I decided I was going to make one last hat for the 2018 MYER Fashions on the Field Millinery Award before I changed my career entirely. My girlfriends came to cheer me on. It was so nerve wracking standing on stage at Flemington with the top 10 finalists.

When they announced my name it felt like more than just winning an award.

It wasn’t about beating other Milliners or being the best. It was about proving to myself that I won’t be kicked when I’m knocked down. It was the best feeling to step out on that stage and hear my girlfriend’s screaming and I just thought, “Yeah, I’ve got this. I’m going to be okay”.

I’m fascinated to learn about your parenting strategies. It just blew me away that you had a 14 year old boy doing a basket of ironing without grumbling. Please help!

Single parents might overcompensate by doing everything for their children.

And I think that that’s the worst thing for them. Helping kids to understand that the house is a team effort is really important.

I get the boys involved in pretty much everything that we do at home.

They mow the lawns, garden, iron, cook with me, do washing and make their own lunches.

They understand the costs and I don’t buy them absolutely everything they want, but they’ve got absolutely everything that they need.

We don’t have an X-Box anymore.

They rarely fight but when I noticed the negative impact the X-Box was having on them 2 years ago when they had a www.KidsWest.com.au

fight about who’s turn it was, I simply walked up to it, pulled it out of the wall and it’s never gone back since. If something is not working and it’s a negative in the household and bringing everyone down, then something needs to change, my boys know I mean business when it comes to boundaries.

They’re only allowed to watch TV at night time. Instead, it’s bingo, cards, Monopoly - good old fashion fun and connection. We also have a pizza oven, so Friday night is family time where we all make our own pizzas and put on some great music to relax.

What did you take from your own upbringing that has helped you with how you parent?

My dad is hilarious, everything is an adventure and my childhood was spent on 14 acres where we made our own fun. We’d be out in the paddocks catching tadpoles, chasing sheep and building huts.

But from eight, we had to work. My parents had a fruit and veggie stall at the Castlemaine and Bendigo markets so Friday nights after school, I would be in the cold or boiling hot shed, bagging up and weighing kilo lots of onions, potatoes and carrots.

And then we would be up at five o’clock every Saturday and Sunday to work at the market all day. I was adding up and weighing everything, serving customers, carrying boxes and cutting up watermelons and pumpkins.

And I got paid 50 cents for the entire weekend!

And even then, Dad must have though we weren’t doing enough because he got my sister and I the job of cleaning the market after everyone had gone. We had to clean the toilets, empty bins and pick up every little bit of rubbish in the whole market.

However, we were paid $15 between us which was like hitting the jackpot!

So yes, that is where the work ethic

came from. As hard as it sounds, there was a lot of love in the house and never a dull moment.

So you’ve moved in to online courses?

It’s incredibly important to give as much of my time to my boys and I wanted to maintain being home for them as much as I could. Therefore, I needed to have a passive income and so I started to film, edit and create online Millinery courses for my second business ‘Hat Atelier’ 6 months prior to Covid-19 hitting.

Luckily I was ready to transition to online teaching when Covid hit and I set myself the goal to launch 15 courses in the first year, which I achieved. The courses sell around the world and have allowed me the flexibility to be more available for the boys which is my number one priority.

I’ve also expanded the business to film other Milliners courses now, it is going from strength to strength and it a wonderful feeling to have control and consistency in my life with something I am so passionate about.

■ Kai – 14 – creative, hilarious, passionate ■ Jarvis – 13 – witty, kind, thoughtful Quote: “Just when the caterpillar thought her life was over, she began to fly”.

Mantra I live by: I don’t have a Mantra I live by but there have been times I should have listened to my gut, so now I “Listen to my gut”!

3 people living or deceased I’d love to have over for a pizza night?

Only 3…I’m stretching it to 4! I’d love to fire up our pizza oven for The Seinfeld cast and have a dance off with Elaine!

It’s a running joke in our family that we are the cast of Seinfeld and we call each other Jerry, Kramer, George and Elaine.

I had no plans of ever meeting anybody or having another relationship.

Guilty Pleasure? Wine! I love nothing more than spending Friday afternoons with my partner at Cellar Door in Geelong. Yummy cheese, incredible wine and lots of cuddles… the best way to kick off the weekend.

Brett is the only partner I have dated and given his calm, kind and hilarious nature I was drawn to him in an instant.

Favourite Geelong Coffee Spot?

Born and Bread in Newtown, the pastries are to die for!

And part of your new life is a new love?

I was never looking for any hole to fill, as I truly believe that if you are happy within yourself then you don’t ‘need’ anyone to fill a hole. But I do know now that there are really good, genuine people in the world and sometimes you have to go through the storm to realise that. With the boys coming into teenage years, Brett has been an amazing father figure who always makes the time to guide them and show them the right way. They really adore him and he has been an integral, positive role model in their lives.

Worst habit? Picking at my fingernails! I know, it’s yuk but when I have glue stuck to them from making hats I can’t help it. I have been having my nails done of late, so I am slowly breaking the habit (slowly!)

If I had a full day just for me how would I ideally fill it?

It’s a no brainer, I’d Fly to Hobart for a day exploring Mona followed by dinner in Faro Restaurant + Bar. The perfect balance of escaping to indulge in art, wine and food.

AUTUMN 2022 9

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 10 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.KidsWest.com.au

It’s Your Life

Mums who met in the street 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’s west during 2014.

What started off as two flavours of breastfeeding biscuits soon expanded to a product range to support mums and mums to be.

While the business grew the women, who have three kids each, were busy juggling the demands of motherhood and hit a major financial hurdle.

“We were totally consumed with being mothers to all these children and keeping things ticking on,” Torquay mum Jo explained.

“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.

“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.

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.

Jo and Fran were able to finally start paying themselves a proper wage and are now running a very profitable business.

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.

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.

Business success story... Jo Clark and Fran Woods.

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.

She started Googling and found a recipe for lactation cookies.

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.

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.

Jo then changed the recipe to make the biscuits more nutritionally sound.

“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.

“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.”

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.

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.

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AUTUMN 2022 11

Health

Myopia: Top four tips to protect their vision

By Dr Rasha Altaie, Ophthalmologist AS a child grows, his or her vision passes through key developmental phases which are profoundly integrated with their overall development. Vision can therefore often become the key to understanding how your child is progressing through developmental milestones.

One of the most common eye problems in children is myopia, often referred to as ‘short-sightedness’, and which causes blurred distance vision.

The management of myopia and the importance of early detection is critically important as myopia cannot be reversed.

Knowing your child’s potential risk of myopia and taking action early can benefit their academic and physical performance, personal growth and overall health.

Top four actions you can take now: 1.) More Green Time Less Screen Time Children are spending a lot of time on close-up work, mainly devices and screen time, and less time outdoors.

Such lifestyle factors including low levels of outdoor activity may influence

the development of myopia.

More research is needed to determine if it is to do with the intensity or brightness of the light or the distances that children focus on, but what is proven is that there is a link between outdoor time and its benefit to a child’s myopia development.

Given that outdoor play is free, “more green time less screen time” is a timely reminder for moderation in an increasingly digital world.

2.) Limit prolonged near tasks Minimising screen time, taking short breaks every 20 minutes, using good lighting when reading and doing close-up work may help to prevent or reduce your child’s myopia progressing. Regular check-ups are even more important than usual with the increase in screen time and close-up work.

3.) Have your eyes examined by an Optometrist Optometrists are able to diagnose myopia and may be able to slow the progression of myopia in children. It’s therefore important for a child to see an optometrist early in their developmental years, even if there are no known

problems, as high myopia is associated with lifelong increased risks of eye diseases and children may be unaware their vision is not as it should be.

4.) Discuss myopia management options As a parent it may be comforting to know that there are new techniques and strategies emerging to limit progression of myopia. You can familiarise yourselves with these myopia management options that are now available, to have an informed discussion with the optometrist or ophthalmologist Several interventions have been explored to slow the progression of myopia.

1. Pharmacological: Atropine eye drops 2. Contact lenses: Special designs of soft lenses and orthokeratology lenses 3. Glasses: Special designs of spectacle lenses Treating myopia in children doesn’t mean just getting glasses. The above options can induce changes in the structure and focusing of the eye to reduce the development and progression of myopia.

Get eye health on your child’s health check-up list

Regular eye examinations are very important. Similar to regular dental check-ups, your Optometrist can help to prevent bigger problems in the future.

As recommended by the New Zealand Association of Optometrists, a child’s first eye test should be with an optometrist before starting school and at regular intervals thereafter.

Good vision is key to a child’s physical development, success in school and overall well-being, so the earlier an eye problem is detected, the earlier an appropriate treatment can be recommended to ensure successful vision correction and life-long benefits.

Aussie children tell us what they like to look at and why it’s important to look after your eyes - https://www. childmyopia.com/videos/looking-afteryour-eyes/

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You’re never too young to have an eye test, and Koa shows us exactly how when optometrist Liz Muller checks his vision.

Health

Vision and learning – what’s it all about?

By Elle Cecil

concentrating on their work start enjoying reading and learning again.”

WEARING glasses from an early age gave Liz Muller real insight and kicked off her special interest in children’s vision. She realised early on, as an optometrist, how visual challenges could significantly impact the quality of a child’s learning.

The current generation of young learners also do a lot of their tasks using screen based devices. This is a lot of work for a young visual system which has been traditionally used to more flexible visual tasks, and fatigue of the eyes is very common.

“The appropriate use of glasses or contact lenses, and vision therapy when required, has helped many children to reach their full potential without the added deficit of a vision problem,” Liz explains.

“I saw the incredible amount of time that my own kids spent on screens during remote learning, and then afterwards in their leisure time - I explain that this is like trying to do push-ups with your eyes all day!”

“It’s very satisfying to see kids who have come in with symptoms of eyestrain, blurred vision, and trouble

This is a major concern for the parents who bring their children in for an eye test. Apart from having a

comprehensive eye test that assesses all the near visual skills, getting an appropriate amount of time outside can reduce the risk of longer term visual problems such as myopia, more commonly known as short-sighted eyesight.

“Going outside, moving, getting sunlight, and letting your eyes be flexible is so important for developing eyes,” Liz says.

Eyecare Plus Altona offers visual processing testing and uses the

Readalyzer for tracking and eye movement assessment for children whose vision problems may be impacting on their ability to develop adequate reading skills.

Eyecare Plus Altona is located at 90 Railway Street South, Altona. Opening hours: 9am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, 9am to 2pm Saturday; and Thursday night by appointment. For more information, phone (03) 9398 1344, visit www.visionadvantage.com. au or www.eyecareplus.com.au/ altona.

More than just 20/20 At Eyecare Plus Altona, we understand that vision is much more than just seeing 20/20. Our examinations assess eye function as well as eyesight and eye health.

Assessment of eye movements, eye alignment (using two eyes together) and focusing skills are crucial to understand how well our visual system is working, especially when visual demands are high.

An eye test in early childhood, before starting school and during the school years ensures that your child has strong visual skills that are needed to learn efficiently.

The ReadAlyzerTM is an eye movement analysis technology that records and understands how eyes perform when they read. It produces a complete eye tracking analysis when reading, looking at whether reading speed, eye movement accuracy, and comprehension, are inefficient or normal for age.

Visit our vision therapy website at www.visionadvantage.com.au or www.eyecareplus.com.au/altona for more information.

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Eyecare Plus ALTONA 90 Railway St. South, Altona I 9398 1344 altona@eyecareplus.com.au

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Eyecare Plus AUTUMN 2022 13

Education

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

How to keep your kids safe from poisoning commonly involved in childhood poisoning incidents?

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

Many medications - along with other poisons such as household cleaners come with child resistant lids or

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.

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.

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.

What can I do to reduce the risk?

The good news is that there are some simple steps you can take to reduce the risk of accidental poisoning from medications: ■ Store all poisonous products out of sight and reach of children, at least 1.5 metres off the ground in a lockable cupboard ■ If medicines need to be kept in the fridge, use a small, lockable container for them ■ Always read instructions carefully and return all poisonous products to their safe storage area immediately after use ■ Administer medication in a well-lit room and keep a record of the time and amount of each dose, to reduce the risk of accidental overdose ■ Never refer to medicines as ‘lollies’ as this can confuse children

■ Keep handbags, including visitor’s bags, out of reach of children e.g. on a hook up high ■ Dispose of expired or unwanted medications. You can contact your local pharmacy for advice on how and where you can do this safely What should I do if I think my child has ingested a poisonous substance?

If you think your child may have ingested a poisonous substance: ■ Call the Poisons Information Centre straight away on 13 11 26 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Australia wide).

They will be able to provide you with expert advice and guide you what to do next ■ Never try to induce vomiting ■ Take the product container with you to the phone – the poisons information centre will want to know what ingredients are in the product ■ If they have collapsed, stopped breathing, or are having a seizure or anaphylactic reaction, call 000 for an ambulance For more information and advice on poisoning or other unintentional injury topics, please visit kidsafevic.com.au

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Education

Onwards and upwards at St Aloysius St Aloysius is dedicated to making an affordable Catholic education available to talented young people.

By Elle Cecil ST Aloysius College in North Melbourne is widening its reach in providing quality Catholic education, launching a new school crest and taking steps to welcome boys to the school community in 2023.

The school will commence its new coeducational status next year when it welcomes a cohort of Year Seven boys.

This change is backed by two years of research through Mercy Education Ltd

and Catholic Education Melbourne, with St Aloysius College becoming the City of Melbourne’s first Catholic coeducational secondary school.

“We recognised a need in the St Aloysius North Melbourne community from families seeking a faith-based coeducation for their sons and daughters in their secondary years,” says Mercy Education’s Chief Executive, Christopher Houlihan.

This move is expected to reach its full effect in 2028, following the continued

Picture: Supplied

introduction of a new group of Year Seven boys each year until the entire school is a cohesive mix. With a purposely appointed committee to oversee the transition to coeducation, St Aloysius is building on over 130 years of history. The school is dedicated to responding to community needs and making affordable Catholic education available to all talented young people, while still remaining faithful to the vision of Catherine McAuley, who founded the Sisters of Mercy in Dublin in 1831.

The school’s new crest has been

designed by Year 12 Team Leader and Arts Teacher, Ms Daniela Franze Hamra, celebrating the rich history of St Aloysius and also looking forward to the college’s exciting future. The school is also launching an upgraded website in 2023, as well as new college publications set to support the coeducational environment.

St Aloysius College is located at 31 Curran Street, North Melbourne. For more information, visit www.aloysius. vic.edu.au or phone (03) 9325 9200.

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AUTUMN 2022 15

Education

Babies as young as four months old can start formal swimming lessons.

Swimming lessons are one of the few lifesaving interventions we can do for our children.

Pictures: Supplied

Just keep swimming SWIMMING lessons are one of the few lifesaving interventions we can do for our children. With the impacts of COVID closures over the past two years, regularly scheduled formal swimming lessons were limited for kids around Australia.

According to the Royal Life Saving National Drowning Report 2021, drowning deaths increased by 20

percent on the previous year and tragically, deaths among children aged zero to four years increased by 9 percent compared to the 10 year average. It’s therefore incredibly important to teach children skills to swim safer and encourage adults to know what they can do to reduce the risk.

Babies as young as four and five

been teaching children to swim and survive since 1972. Their program is specifically designed to teach children the survival skills they need to be safer swimmers. They spend a minimum of 10 minutes per class in deep water, where they teach treading water, deep water recovery (safety circle), mobility on front and back until children have achieved 2 minutes treading water. These skills will gradually develop as their capacity expands.

months old can start regular, formal swimming lessons. By this age, babies are able to regulate their body temperature for the duration of a 30 minute class. It is a great time to start water familiarization and a great opportunity for parents and carers to connect with their babies.

Paul Sadler Swimland has multiple locations across Melbourne’s west and offers classes from four months old all the way through to adults. They also offer four and five month old babies to swim for free, so there’s never been a better time to start lessons. Free assessments are also available for a limited time at the Bacchus Marsh, Braybrook, Essendon, Hoppers Crossing, Laverton, Melton, Parkwood Green and Westgate - Altona locations.

Priding itself on being survival specialists, Paul Sadler Swimland has

Visit www.paulsadlerswimland.com for more information.

Discover The Geelong College difference at our Open Days on Wednesday 6 April and 4 May. Register or explore more dates at www.tgc.vic.edu.au or phone 5226 3156.

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COURAGE

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opportunities for everyone at Sunbury downs College Sunbury Downs College is a vibrant year 7 to 12 coeducational secondary college in Sunbury, offering a rich educational experience in an environment that encourages excellent outcomes for all students.

The college offers a wide range of programs catering for all students, with a strong emphasis on developing individual wellbeing and positive interpersonal relationships.

The curriculum provides a comprehensive teaching and learning program in core subjects: English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities, Health and Physical Education, Arts, Technology and Languages (Italian). The college also offers a range of VCE subjects, including Vocational Education and Training (VET) together with a structured and rigorous VCAL program in years 11 to 12 which caters for students with an interest and passion for applied learning.

Sunbury Downs College is the only secondary school in the area that offers an Accelerated Curriculum and Enrichment (ACE) program, extending students through a challenging curriculum including early commencement of VCE. The ACE program is a select entry course with enrolment from the feeder primary schools for students in years 7 to 9.

The college offers a wide range of inclusive activities and programs which cater to all students, including debating,

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public speaking, maths club, drama club and choir. There are year level and specialised camps and excursions, including a bi-annual overseas Italian study tour. It also offers instrumental music and presents a highly acclaimed musical production, enabling students to excel in an environment that fosters participation, responsibility and teamwork outside the classroom.

Sunbury Downs College is proud of the work and support provided to students and the college community by its wellbeing team, learning support team and careers coordinator. Wellbeing programs complement teaching, learning and extra-curricular programs. Learning support focuses on assisting students with additional needs while the careers coordinator provides valuable advice as students transition to university, TAFE and the workforce.

The college values of respect, resilience, Ambition and Community are embedded within the school’s teaching and learning practices. These core values support a culture of participation and excellence based on developing positive relationships and personal growth by all community members.

Sunbury Downs College is located at 148-174 Mitchells Lane, Sunbury. For more information or to book a tour, visit www.sunburydowns.vic.com.au or phone (03) 9744 0500.

AUTUMN 2022 17

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.

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 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.

18 AUTUMN 2022

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. www.KidsWest.com.au

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.

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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.

“I was 29 years old and 29 weeks pregnant when I was diagnosed.”

Kristy had a lumpectomy and after delivering Isobel underwent surgery to remove more breast tissue and lymph 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.

“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.

“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

AUTUMN 2022 19

Reality Bites

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

THIS is possibly the coolest recipe ever; seeing the marshmallow fluff flourish is such a treat!

What you’ll need to make a one batch of vanilla marshmallows: Ingredients: ■ 2 cups caster sugar ■ 3 satchels gelatine powder WITH OLIVIA C ENEA-BRAIN

■ 2/3 cup glucose syrup ■ 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.

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/

6. You’ll need to remove some of the

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.

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

Enjoy.

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Enrolments now open for 2024 and beyond We invite you to join us for a tour of St Aloysius College to discover our inspirational environment, meet our leadership team and learn more about the exciting transition to co-education from Year 7, 2023. www.aloysius.vic.edu.au 31 Curran Street, North Melbourne VIC 3051 P 03 9325 9200

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

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.

Sunbury Downs College

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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.

Sweeten the party with vanilla marshmallows.

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 www.KidsWest.com.au

AUTUMN 2022 21

Kids Calendar

What's on this Autumn 2, 9 & 23 MARCH, 6 APRIL

11–14 MARCH

19 MARCH

8 MAY

KEW TRAFFIC SCHOOL

CURBSIDE CARNIES

LIVE AT WARRAWEE!

MOTHER’S DAY CLASSIC

This session requires full adult supervision as children learn traffic rules and play in the miniature village houses on their scooter or bike.

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.

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.

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.

The festival runs 4pm to 9pm at Warrawee Park, 95 Drummond Street, Oakleigh.

There will be up to 70 event locations nationwide where supporters can walk, run or jog for the cause on Mother’s Day.

20 MARCH

Visit mothersdayclassic.com.au for more information or to register.

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.

Kew Traffic School is at 374 Cotham Road, Kew. Visit www.boroondara.vic.gov.au for more information.

Learn new skills in mini workshops, play with circus props and see roving entertainment - even mums and dads can get involved!

Register at tix.yt/ curbsidecarniesartattacklongweekend.

CHILDREN’S WEEK PICNIC This free event will feature interactive activities with a focus on education and learning, from 10am to 4pm at Werribee Park, K Road, Werribee.

A pre-booked ticket is required, from www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/ childrensweekpicnic.

3 & 4 APRIL THE 13-STOREY TREEHOUSE

5 MARCH KNOX FESTIVAL This free all-ages, family-friendly, drug and alcohol-free event will run 10am to 10pm.

Visit stages and food stalls, participate in craft and sports activities for kids, enjoy live music and amusement rides and watch fireworks.

Wally Tew Reserve, 6 Lyndale Court, Ferntree Gully.

17 MARCH-15 DECEMBER, VARIOUS DATES MUSEUM EXPLORERS - MINI MAKERS Babies and pre-schoolers will play with paint, glitter, paste, sand, clay, slimy spaghetti, chalk, and more to create art and craft that uses their entire body.

Free for carers, $5 for kids, including museum exhibition entry.

Bookings are essential at www.nwm. vic.gov.au.

The National Wool Museum is at 26-32 Moorabool Street, Geelong.

6 MARCH

19 & 26 MARCH, 2 APRIL

NATIONAL UMBRELLA DAY

BORONIA BIG FLIX FESTIVAL

Duldig Studio will honour one of the world’s most useful inventions - the umbrella - with fun activities in its sculpture garden.

Enjoy three weekends of free outdoor cinema events featuring a food truck park, kid’s activities, local traders and family friendly movie selection.

Attend between 2pm and 4.30pm at 92 Burke Road, Malvern East.

From 6.30pm to 10.30pm at 257 Dorset Road, Boronia.

22 AUTUMN 2022

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 The Victorian premiere of Gluttony On Tour will celebrate music, circus, burlesque and the best food and wine the region has to offer.

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.

The Adelaide Fringe Festival favourite will feature something for everyone.

Waterside Metal Art Studio and Maribyrnong riverfront, 60 Maribyrnong Street, Footscray.

Croydon Park is at 213-215 Mt Dandenong Road, Croydon.

YEAR-ROUND

UNTIL 25 APRIL

SHRINE KIDS

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.

Geckos, turtles, lizards and mermaids!

This summer’s NGV Kids exhibition introduces two significant contemporary Yo’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. www.KidsWest.com.au

Local Trades & Services Kelly’s Spiritual Den

Custom Benchtops for Trade and DIY Renovators

Kelly is certified by world renowned Psychic medium Lisa Williams

Laminate, Solid Surface & Timber Benchtops. Visit our website. Then upload or email your design for a quote.

• Psychic / Medium readings • Meditation classes • Aura / Reiki healings • Spiritual development classes / Workshops • Available for home or community demonstrations

Cocokanela Design is a one-stop shop for online jewellery

Items for sale

Showroom: Unit 7/17 Felstead Drive, Truganina Contact Info (03) 9314 1003 Email: sales@workingsurfaces.com.au www.workingsurfaces.com.au

Call or text Kelly on

0428 555 757 www.kelly’sspiritualden.com.au

ANY TREES LOPPED

0475 063 536 www.cocokanela.com @cocokanelaesign Cocokanela/Design

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If you are looking for a Jewellery Bohemian Wholesaler in Melbourne

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Where Quality Counts, Look For… EMU WIRE INDUSTRIES Heritage Woven Wire & Gates are Powdercoated in 8 standard colours.

They are also available in a galvanised finish. Gates come in 7 different pedestrian and driveway styles.

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All Foliage /Rubbish Removed Fully Insured $10m Pensioner Discount

For your local distributor please call:

1300 360 082 Fax: (03) 9308 5822

General plumbing | Roofing Downpipes & Spouting | Sewer Blockages Repairs to tap wares & replacementwashers/ceramic Same day hot water service replacements Paul Catoggio:

0448 411 593

Email: sales@emuwire.com.au www.emuwire.com.au

pccplumbing@outlook.com

New Patients/ Walk-In Patients Welcome Phone consults available for patients that have attended in the last 12 months

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OPEN 7 DAYS 8AM-9PM Including All Public Holidays

ONSITE PHARMACY

Ph: 9749 2766 233 Heaths Road, WERRIBEE www.wyndhamhealthcare.com.au

www.KidsWest.com.au

OPEN 6.30AM -6.30PM • ‘Home away from home’ philosophy • Funded 3-year-old kinder program • Funded 4-year-old kinder program • Home cooked meals • Kids Edge sports program with parent portal for all ages What sets us apart? Our exceptional team of educators Meeting in all 7 Quality Areas of the National Framework Wallaby Childcare Sanctuary Lakes 80 Sanctuary Lakes North Boulevard Point Cook 3030 | 03 7036 6209

Kip McGrath Education Centres Footscray Call Oskar on 9687 1799 Office 3 / 250 Barkly St Footscray VIC 3011 www.kipmcgrath.com.au/footscray

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AUTUMN 2022 23

We’ve been teaching children and adults to swim and survive in deep water since 1972!

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FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

LEARN FROM THE SURVIVAL SPECIALISTS Enrol now at any one of our seven great Paul Sadler Swimland centres located in Melbourne’s West: Bacchus Marsh / Braybrook / Essendon Hoppers Crossing / Laverton / Melton / Parkwood Green WESTGATE ALTONA COMING SOON!!

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