MARCH 2013

Wishing our readers a safe and happy EasterY O U R N E W F R E E PA R E N T I N G M A G A Z I N E F O R T H E G E E L O N G R E G I O N

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AS a mum of two beautiful children, I stumbled across a blog recently which made me take a close look at how much I, and parents around me, use our mobile phones.

I wouldn’t say my phone use is excessive, but I will admit after reading this blog, I did feel a little bit guilty.

The blog by Rachel Stafford starts with an observation from a concerned woman who has cared for babies since 1977, revealing a disturbing recipe… How to Miss a Childhood.

“I can recall a time when you were out with your children you were really with them. You engaged in a back and forth dialog even if they were pre-verbal. You said, ‘Look at the bus, see the doggie, etc.’

“Now I see you on the phone, pushing your kids on the swings while distracted by your devices. You think you are spending time with them but you are not present really. When I see you pick up your kids at day care while you’re on the phone, it breaks my heart. They hear your adult conversations. What do they overhear? What is the message they receive? I am not important; I am not important.”

She says all it takes is one child and one phone and this tragic recipe can be yours.

Here are some steps:

KEEP your phone turned on at all times of the day. Allow the rings, beeps, and buzzes to interrupt your child midsentence; always let the caller take priority.

CARRY your phone around so much that when you happen to leave it in one room your child will come running with it proudly in hand.

GO to your child’s sporting event and look up periodi-cally from your phone thinking she won’t notice that you are not fully focused on her game.

CHECK your phone first thing in the morning… even before you kiss, hug, or greet the people in your family.

DON’T look up from your phone when your child speaks to you or just reply with an “uh huh” so she thinks you were listening.

Rachel says while it is the 21st century, the whole world is online, the communications for your job are impor-tant and at times you must be readily available. But, you do not have to sacrifice your child’s childhood; nor do you have to sacrifice your life.

Now, here are a couple of steps on How to Grasp a Childhood:

LOOK into your child’s eyes when they speaks to you… Your uninterrupted gaze is love to your child.

TAKE time to be with them - really be with them by giving your full attention … The gift of your total pres-ence is love to your child.

GREET them like you missed them when they were not in your presence … Seeing your face light up when you see her is love to your child.

PLAY with him … Your involvement in his activities is love to your child.

She says the recipe for “How to Grasp a Childhood” requires only one thing: You must put down your phone.

Whether it is for ten minutes, two hours, or an en-tire Saturday, beautiful human connection, memory making, and parent-child bonding can occur every single time you let go of distraction to grasp what really matters.

I would really love to hear your thoughts about this blog, which can be found at www.handsfreemama.com

Lastly, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Bec Launer and I am the new editor of this magazine. And, I would like to share with you who matters to me, my gorgeous son Cooper and beautiful daughter, Bella.

Thanks for reading!

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EDITORRebecca Launereditor@kidsvoice.com.au

BUSINESS MANAGERMichele MItten

ADVERTISING SALESCath Dunningcath@kidsvoice.com.au

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERAlan Barber

GRAPHICSElise Blach

PO Box 54, Ocean GroveVictoria, 3226Phone; 03 5255 3233Fax: 03 5255 3255

Find us on Facebookfacebook.com/Kids Voice Geelong

COVER MODELBella Launer

No part of this magazine, incudling the advertisements, may be reproduced without permission of the editor.

The opinions expressed within Kids’ Voice magazine are not necessarily the views of the publisher, but those of individual writers.

Kids’ Voice TeamKids’ Voice is a monthly publication for parents with children of all ages. Each month the magazine will be jam-packed with news, views, reader stories, feature articles, advice columns as well as product, book and website reviews.

There will be somethng for everyone.

Experts have joined our team and will provide regular columns to ensure you’re in the know about all sorts of issues in the areas of health, education and alternative therapies.

Welcome to the world...

Matthew William Tate 17.02.2013

Amelie Janice Rowe 15.01.2013

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Page 5Contents

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READER STORY6 Calmbirth helps Sara deliver

8 First chapter of parenting

9 Charity inspires Kokoda trek

18 What if all the mums were dads?

KIDS’ CORNER14 Candid photos of kids and funny things they say

FEATURE16 Kristi’s mission for hope

LIFESTYLE20 Planning a party on a budget

PET CARE23 How to make your pet more polite

SCHOOLS IN FOCUS11 Goodstart Early Learning - Geelong East

12 Bellaire Primary School

13 Geelong High School

LETTERS15 Readers share their views

HEALTH19 Moderation is the key this Easter

REVIEWS 24-25 Books, dolls and stunt planes

WHAT’S ON27 Events happening in the Geelong region

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THE first time I heard of Calmbirth was from my wonderful obstetrician.

After some hurdles to fall pregnant with my first child, he said to me, “I really think calmbirth would help you feel in control of your birth and take out some of the anxiety you may feel about pregnancy and labour.”

What I think he really meant was, “Sara, now we both know you are a bit of a control freak and anxious to see your precious bundle arrive safe and sound, so I think you should consider calmbirth to help you through what can be a very stressful time.”

Whatever the reason, calmbirth helped me through two very different births. As most people who sign up to undertake Calmbirth, we all aim to have a calm, natural, drug free birth. While I was sceptical, I wanted to do everything possible to ensure I had a calm, safe birth with minimal intervention.

Now, after welcoming two beautiful boys (only 17 months apart), I can say the experience was defiinitely worth it, and we didn’t realise the full extent of this until after the births, when we reflected on the whole experi-ence.

We took a calmbirth course over two weekends with a lovely midwife, Janne Burchell. We learnt a lot about how the body dealt with pain and how to work through this with breathing and visualisation. We found it a really positive way to look at labour. After this, both my hus-band and I meditated most days using the tapes on our ipods and practised our breathing.

My first son Finn was born in May 2011. My ‘official’ labour time recorded by the hospital was five hours,

with two hours of this spent in the birthing suite.

On the evening of May 30 my waters broke at home. The contractions started a few hours later and went from being quite mild to very intense quickly and my breathing skills learnt during the course really kicked into action.

During this time, my husband Chris was instrumental in keeping me focused using the skills he learnt from Calmbirth.

Every now and then during a really strong surge, when I was losing focus and starting to shallow breathe, he brought me back to my slow rhythmic breathing, allowing me to concentrate on this rather than what I was feeling with the contraction.

He also reminded me to relax, focus on a ‘special place’ and allowed me to realise that each surge would eventually end and bring some relief, so I found myself looking forward to this during each surge, giving me a ‘goal’.

Finally, we felt the timings were getting too close for comfort and called the hospital and told them we were coming in.

We arrived at the hospital at 2am and immediately went to the birthing suite. After moving into the show-er, it was here I experienced the most intense contrac-tions and I found myself at one stage really losing focus and getting quite panicked.

However, my husband Chris talked me back to focus on my breathing and I was able to come back to my ‘special place’ in my mind.

Calmbirth helps Sara deliverReader Story

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Almost at the end of the ‘transition stage’ I became overwhelmed and asked for drugs, but the midwife knew my wishes for a calm birth and told me I was almost there, which allowed me to once again focus on the final goal.

A few moments later I was standing and just felt the urge to push and started to push!

This caught the midwife off guard as she didn’t think I was at this stage yet! But, my body knew exactly what to do and after a quick examination they realised I was 9cm dilated!

Once the urges became stronger (and the obstetrician had arrived) I started my strong rhythmic breathing and without even realis-ing it, breathed my baby down the birth canal. Finally, at 4.55am on May 31 (our due date) my baby boy Finn Frederick was born.

Looking back there was no way I could have had such a calm, drug free, uncompli-cated natural birth without the Calmbirth course. It really was a text book ‘calm’ birth.

My second son Ollie was born in October 2012 and began very much like my first labour. My waters broke at home, I stayed at home as long as possible, and after a very quick labour of four hours Ollie was born.

However, the time at hospital just before I gave birth was very different. The pain of my second birth was much more intense, and while my first labour saw me walking and pacing around the birthing suite, all I could do with Ollie was crumble into the foetal position on the bed.

Luckily, my husband once again kept me on track, and I was able to get through the contractions without an epidural. But as the pain became unbearable I opted for a shot of pethadine.

Once my obstetrician arrived, the reason for my intense pain became apparent. Ollie was posterior, was stuck behind my cervix, and also had the cord around his neck. After a few moments of chaos and the assistance of the vacuum cap, Ollie was finally born.

Again, in hindsight my calmbirth experi-ence got me through what was a very fast and intense labour.

My obstetrician actually confided in me a few weeks after the birth, that if he didn’t have such faith in my mental and physical ability (after seeing how I handled my first labour), he would have definitely sent me to theatre for an emergency caesarean with Ollie.

At that moment I really took pride in what I had achieved with my skills learnt through my calmbirth course.

While your birth may not go to plan, Calmbirth gave me the confidence and knowledge to believe that I could get through two very different births.

- Sara Bonici

Reader Story

My husband Christalked me back to focus on my

breathing and I was able to come back to my ‘special place’

in my mind

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MY baby is almost eight months old now. The first few months are such a blur in my memory.

I remember those first nights home from the hospital in the dead of winter, sleeping next to the cradle in the lounge room, because it was the only room that we could heat. The condensation dripped down the insides of the window panes, looking out over those bare plane trees.

Night and day I wore the same clothes. My hair was per-manently on end, bed headed. Perry cluster fed for eight or nine hours straight. I was a prisoner of the couch for weeks. Al used to cut my food up into little pieces and hand feed it to me along with the mantra, “You keep Perry alive, and I’ll keep you alive”, and so that’s what we did.

We were set to move to Geelong when Perry was five weeks old, and I managed to pack a box or two a day, inch by inch. My baby slept through the night when he was one week old. I thought I had a ‘good sleeper’. He only ever slept through the night again once more, but he was still pretty good at night, sleeping in stretches of five or six hours.

He stopped napping during the day a few days after we brought him home. He kipped in tiny snatches. I would take photos of his slumbering face, filled with aching love, and then he would awaken.

“Sleep when the baby sleeps”, is the advice given to every new mother. “They” say that newborn babies sleep for 16-18 hours a day. It was a cruel refrain to me. That was when I first began learning that babies are not all the same, and that they do not conform to any set rules, no matter what “they” say.

Some time in that first five weeks, when being able to have a shower was a monumental challenge unless I was prepared

to leave my baby screaming -and I wasn’t- and while I was learning the vagaries of one-handed eating,

I decided that this was the time to prepare a curry from scratch, for the first time in my life. The vindaloo was fra-grant and delicious, and a great lesson in priorities; it totally wasn’t worth the stress, and I needed to accept the tempo-rary constraints placed upon me, culinary short cuts along with it.

I still cried often, in the cold, lonely hours of early winter mornings, and told Al that I could not do this, be a mother to a baby who did not sleep. But I could, and I did, and all throughout, I fell more and more deeply in love with my son.

I managed to pack the house, and we moved to Geelong. At the other end was a well heated cottage, and we nested into it, and continued to feel our way along. I began to wear Perry in a sling to get him to sleep, walking up and down the hall and singing softly to him.

Geelong enchanted me quickly, by way of those gorgeous Sullivanesque streets and the winter sunshine glittering on the water at Western Beach; the gorgeous old carousel and boardwalks; by the stories told by the painted bollards, and the charms of Eastern Beach.

Perry stopped being a good night sleeper at three months and my zombie days began in earnest. There was no dis-cernible reason - except that he was a baby. He woke every 1.5-2 hours, and fed. He did this for months.

My maternal child health wanted to book us into sleep school but I wasn’t comfortable with the idea of sleep train-ing, or with the idea of babies being pigeon holed as good or bad based on the amount that they slept.

I tried to imagine what mothering would be like if I had never read any books or articles, or subscribed to any theories, and concluded that I would mother by instinct and intuition.

I wouldn’t feel guilty or inadequate for parenting against the grain of current theories of sleep training. I won’t say that it is easy, and some nights are better than others; some nights, as Al has said, I am not so much close to the edge as over it, but we survive and Perry thrives, and I know that people say this all of the time and others probably don’t believe it, but I would not change our lives with a baby for anything. Parent-ing is worth it.

We make it up as we go along, and that is our story. Check in with me in a month, or a year, or five - we are, after all, only finishing chapter one.

-

- Dani Nethercliftwww.sandhasnohome.blogspot.com.au

First chapter of parenting Reader Story

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Reader StoryCharity inspires Kokoda trekWHEN I was in grade 6, I remem-ber one night dad going to hospital because he had a lot of pain in his back.

I remember how scared I felt, Dad was never sick. He was in hospital for a few days and came home. He was to have a few more tests but the doctors said he had a 16cm cyst on his kidney, which would probably have to be drained, but that everything would be alright.

It was about a month later after, a doctors appointment, that mum and dad sat us all down at the kitchen table and told us the news, that dad had kidney cancer. I really didn’t know what that meant, but I knew it was serious and I knew I felt scared.

About five months later when my brother Nathan was 16 years old, we went on a family holiday and Nathan had his first ever epileptic seizure. I’d never seen anything like it, I didn’t know what it was or what was happening, I was terrified.

After lots of tests and a brain biopsy we were told that Nathan had many brain tumours, a very rare type and they could not operate on them to remove them all. I felt really scared again.

Mum joined my older sister Emma, Na-than and I at CanTeen. I began to feel a little less scared because now we weren’t the only family going through this, there were other families like ours.

We went on our first program with Can-Teen and from then on I began to feel a little better about my life. This group of people were special, they were all like me - affected by cancer.

Best of all they were open, they under-stood, they provided support and encourage-ment. It was a place I felt I really fit in. They are accepting, it’s okay to be sad, you can talk about how you feel and they just get it.

Although dad was very sick, he was a fighter. He wanted to be at his and mum’s 50th birthday party in September, dance with Laura at her deb and go on a family holiday, which he managed to achieve.

He also just reached his actual 50th birthday in December before his condition declined beyond saving.

While Nathan’s future is uncertain, we are trying to make the most of today. Nathan faces each day with courage, courage I be-lieve is passed down from our dad.

Throughout these unbelievably challeng-ing times, CanTeen has always been there for Nathan, Emma and I. They are an amazing team and improve the quality of life for so many young people living with cancer.

To help CanTeen support others, Emma has signed up for the ‘CanTeen for Kokoda’ challenge.

It was on the Kokoda Track in 1942 that Australian soldiers fought on Australian soil (PNG being an Australian Territory at that time) to defend the country from attack by a hostile enemy (the Japanese).

At the village of Isurava there is a memo-rial to those who lost their lives. It features 4 large granite plinths – on each is carved one word: courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice.

These are qualities that many cancer suf-ferers exhibit, and qualities which CanTeen

seeks to embed in its legacy.

Emma leaves on March 25, 2013 and is currently busy fundraising. On March 8, we are having a movie fundraiser night supporting Emma’s trek. The movie “Oz the Great and Powerful” starts at 6.30pm at Readings Cinema Waurn Ponds and tickets are $20.

For tickets please contact Kathy on 0407 484 195 or Emma on 0433 399 379.

Or, if you wish to donate please use the web address below. The link can also be used for anyone who may be interested in following Emma’s Kokoda for CanTeen Challenge!

Visit www.everydayhero.com.au/emma__morrissey_KokodaforCan-Teen

- Laura Morrissey, Year 12, Clonard College

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Summer is here& kids will be kids...Keep this list of dental Care Tips handy incase your child has a dental emergency.

Dr. Alastair McCallum - Dental SurgeonTrak Arcade, 73 The Terrace, Ocean Grove Ph: 5255 2584

Dental EmergencyReference Guide

TOOTHACHE - Painful tooth with throbbing ache or excessive sensitivity.Rinse the mouth vigorously with warm water to clean out debris. Use dental floss to remove any food that might be trapped between the teeth. If swelling is present, place cold compresses on the outside of the cheek. (Do not use heat or place aspirin on the aching tooth or gum tissues.) See your dentist as soon as possible.

ORTHODONTIC PROBLEMS - (Braces & Retainers) Painful or loose wires, brackets, or bands.If a wire is causing irritation, cover the end of the wire with a small cotton ball, beeswax or a piece of gauze. See your dentist as soon as possible. If a wire is embedded in the cheek, tongue, or gum tissue, do not attempt to remove it. Go to your dentist immediately. If an appliance becomes loose or a piece of it breaks off, take the appliance and the broken piece, and go to the dentist.

DISPLACED TOOTH - Tooth out of position with bleeding of the gums.Try to reposition the tooth. Go immediately to the dentist.

KNOCKED-OUT TOOTH - (Permanent teeth only; do not replant baby teeth) Tooth completely out of its socket.If the tooth is dirty, rinse it gently in running water. Do not scrub it. Gently insert and hold tooth in its socket. If it is not possible, place the tooth in a container of milk or cool water. Go immediately to your dentist (within 30 minutes, if possible) Don’t forget to bring the tooth.

BROKEN TOOTH - Fracture of tooth with severe pain or sensitivity.Gently clean dirt or debris from the injured area with warm water. Place cold compress on the face, in the area of the injured tooth, to minimize swelling. Go to the dentist immediately.

Dr. Samantha Ho has recently joined us from Wales and has moved to Australia for a new adventure with her husband. She is enjoying the coastal lifestyle and has settled well into the practice.

She has very high standards and enjoys improving people’s smiles. She is a gentle dentist and enjoys treating children as well as adults. Before her move Samantha worked in a dental practice in Wales and also worked in a dental hospital in the children’s clinic.

Dr. Samantha Ho

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Schools In Focus - Kinder

GOODSTART Early Learning Geelong East is a non-for-profit early learning centre serving in the community to meet your child’s needs.

We are excited to be offering a kinder program for children aged between 3-5yrs old.

Goodstart’s three guiding principles are evident in our everyday practice.

1) Children are central to everything we do

2) Families are our primary partner

3) Being a valued part of our community

We believe in encouraging the kinder children to play an active role in co-constructing their own learning environ-ments, and that each opportunity is a potential learning experience for your child to discover or share something new, while recognising their own potential and achieve-ments through play.

This year we’ve seen the kinder children take us on a jour-ney through the magical world of their imaginations. We have discovered rainbows, bugs and even explored the many important roles of our emergency services.

You picture the children in years to come and can see our future architects, train drivers, dancers and pop stars, their future possibilities are endless and it all starts now.

Here at Geelong East we pride ourselves on creating a sense of belonging for all families.

We understand your child is coming to us with a whole world of knowledge and information to share in our deci-sion making and learning process for the year, and pride ourselves on creating an inclusive environment for every-one.

At this busy start to the year it is great to build relation-ships between educators and parents and see them work collaboratively together to provide their child with a unique opportunity to enjoy their pre-school year.

This year we have welcomed many of our grandparents into the kinder room and love the sense of family they bring to us. We look forward to continuing these relationships and inviting our grandparents on picnics, cooking adventures,

Goodstart Early Learning -Geelong East

story times and excursions throughout the year.

We recently had a grandparent share their special talent and played some nursery rhymes on an accordion for the children to sing and dance to, which was enjoyed by all.

Many of our families and children got on board for Valen-tine’s Day, where kinder children eagerly made a personalised letter box and exchanged letters, gifts, and drawings – it was great to see so many families and children get involved in this adventure – it was definitely an experience that was loved by all and created a sense of love and care towards one another.

Here at Goodstart Geelong East we believe in allowing children to participate in their communities, broadening their experiences, and relationships.

So far this year we have provided children with the op-portunity to build relationships with our local supermarket, bakery, library, vet and fire department. It is great to see so many community helpers in our local community stop to share their environment with our kinder children. Providing them with an opportunity to learn about the roles and build new relationships with people.

We offer an amazing music program called Happy Feet, where kinder children eagerly await to greet Miss Andrea, who provides the children with a new adventure each week.

Happy Feet is a program which has been designed to encourage children to learn about healthy choices and fitness through fun and entertaining classes comprising of dance, song, yoga, tai chi, magic movement and amazing costumes and props.

Children are also offered an opportunity to participate in our sporting program – Kelly sports.

Kelly sports is an active sports program which offers chil-dren an opportunity to build fundamental sport skills.

Children are being provided with the opportunity to ex-plore concepts such as over/under, big/small, front/ back, and left/right which are continually reinforced to build spacial awareness and utilise each child’s imagination.

The first five years of a child’s life has a profound influence on their future.

We are proud to be sharing this journey with all our families.

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Schools In Focus - Primary

AT Bellaire Primary School we like to have the ‘small school feel’ despite being one of the largest primary schools in Geelong.

All of our students work in learning communities, devel-oped to create a sense of belonging and wellbeing.

We have four learning communities catering for students from Prep – 6, where students and teachers work in an age appropriate collaborative learning space, with access to broader curricula activities, such as art, science, cook-ing, etc.

We have Prep, Junior (Years 1 and 2), Middle (Years 3 and 4) and Senior (Years 5 and 6) Learning Communities all learning in dedicated shared spaces just for their learn-ing community, creating virtually four sub schools across our large campus.

Our 2013 Preps started their year in a new Prep Learn-ing Community space, filled with interactive learning. There are five home groups, each with their own space and teacher.

They all share a wider space inclusive of experiential play, theatrette, art and science. There is a combination of iPads, interactive white boards, wireless lap tops and digital cameras also on hand to enhance learning.

Outdoor spaces include a dedicated playground for Preps, a play shed with sand pit, a covered basketball court and outdoor deck. Students also go to weekly les-sons in their home groups for Art, Physical Education, French and Drama.

Preps work on their focused literacy and numeracy with their home group teacher but interact at other times with students across the learning community and in the playground.

Transition into school life has been very smooth, with students genuinely enjoying their space, their friends and their learning!

The inclusion of play spaces that children enjoy at kinder, such as dress up and home corner, assist in mak-ing the transition from kinder to school and encourage oral language and socialisation.

While focusing on literacy and numeracy, we also aim to harness the creative learner in our thematic study, provid-ing opportunities for children to create, imagine, explore and interact.

Teachers have received specialised training and work together on ‘emergent curriculum’ that is responsive to the individual child’s interests and needs.

Linking literacy and numeracy to life experience and interests enhances the learning for our students! Soon we

will start setting their individual learning goals to ensure every child’s individual learning needs are met.

Goal setting starts in Prep and is scaffolded each year as students move through the learning communities. By the time students reach the Senior Learning Community, they are experts in reflecting on their learning goals with their home group teacher and begin to create their own timetables based on their individual need and interests, preparing them for their secondary schooling and future lifelong learning.

We are very proud of our wonderful students, dedicated staff and enhanced learning environment as we collabora-tively work together to ‘aim high’ to achieve and be our best!

For further information go to our website www.bellaireps.vic.edu.au

Bellaire Primary School

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Schools In Focus - Secondary

GEELONG High School is heading in a new direction this year with the appointment of Principal Glenn Davey in term 4 last year, and the election of two high calibre school captains for 2013.

There are some exciting new concepts and initiatives being introduced across the school, as well as an upgrade of school facilities.

The staff and student mantra for the year is POSITIVITY + HIGH EXPECTATIONS + EFFORT = IMPROVE-MENT. Staff at the school are busy re-evaluating the school’s values and priorities and there is a general buzz of energy and enthusiasm around the place.

In exciting changes to the school, the school’s historic Shenton Church was redeveloped over the holidays to provide the drama faculty with a brand new state of the art theatre. Wooden church pews were replaced with comforta-ble tiered seating, and modern lighting and a fantastic sound system have been installed.

The theatre can house just over 100 guests and every seat in the house has a fantastic view of the stage. VCE Drama student Simone Costa said; ‘I think it’s great we finally have a facility that matches the enthusiasm and passion we have for performing arts here and it’s so important to have a place to express ourselves.”

The theatre is available for use not only by the Drama Faculty but other subject areas across the school as well as groups in the Geelong community.

In addition to the work in Shenton, Barry Gillard (a Senior Art and Photography teacher at Geelong High School) has recently opened The Long Gallery in one of the school’s oldest buildings in a very successful attempt to brighten it up and encourage and inspire student and staff creativity.

Barry came up with the concept for this gallery after dis-cussions with Principal, Glenn Davey and Assistant Prin-cipal, Ken Stewart. With some lateral thinking it has taken shape after only a few solid weeks’ work and looks amazing.

The gallery includes work from students and staff and will involve a variety of different displays and exhibitions throughout the year – the current display being an exhibi-tion on the theme of ‘Redhead Matchboxes’

In addition to such positive improvements in facilities, the school this year has a very high calibre of school captain leading the student body forward - Holly Vanderpol and Matthew Crooks.

When asked what he hopes to achieve as School Captain this year, Matt said, “Through my positive attitude, effort and commitment to my studies, I hope to lead the school in a new exciting direction where not only students achieve their goals but the school as a whole improves as well.”

During the summer holidays Holly was one of 450 stu-dents from across Australia to attend the National Youth

Science Forum in Canberra. She was selected for this camp by Rotary Bayside Geelong after a vigorous application pro-cess where she spent a day completing interviews and group activities.

Holly was also awarded the Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholar Award for Melbourne University last year as well as the Regional Debating Swannie Award for scoring the most points in C Level debating across all schools in the Geelong Region.

Holly’s goal as school captain this year is to strengthen the student’s sense of school community so that students feel proud to be a part of not only the school but of the Greater Geelong community itself. She stated, “I want us to be more involved in the community, doing things like fundraising. We are in such a good place to do that”.

Matt too has achieved some outstanding accolades during his time at Geelong High School. He received Academic Excellence Awards in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012. In 2011 he was awarded the Ian Tresize Leadership Award and last year was the proud recipient of the Vague Family Scholarship which is presented to a year 11 student who shows commit-ment to their studies.

When asked about their future aspirations, Holly enthusi-astically explained she intends to complete a double degree in Arts and Science with the plan to become a Medical Phys-icist. She wishes to continue her Japanese studies through this course and is keen to spend some time in Japan after year 12 before starting at University.

Matt hopes to follow his passion for numbers and planning and study Commerce and Law at University with a possible focus on Accounting. He has set a personal goal for himself this year of maintaining an effective and regular study rou-tine with the aim of achieving an ATAR score in the 90s.

For more information on Geelong High and to keep up to date with the school captain’s progress through their online blog, please visit: http://www.geelonghigh.vic.edu.au

-Anna Wild

Geelong High School

SCHOOL CAPTAINS: Holly Vanderpol and Matthew Crooks.

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c o r rn e

My daughter Marley caught this fish herself! Hayley Spangaro, Clifton Springs

Funny things our kids say...

My son Harrison who is 3, randomly came up to me in the kitchen and said, “Mum, you have no doodle”. I replied ‘yes Harry, that’s right, I don’t”, to which he quickly informed me “doodles are better than no doodles”.

Kerryn Messimore, Corio

I said to my grandson, 3, that I was so hungry I could eat a horse. He looked at me puzzled and said, ‘’Nana, but it would get stuck in your throat?” Helen Adam, Leopold

I asked my son Lachie what the best part of his first day at school was? He replied, “When you and daddy left.” Jodie Toohey, Newtown

I overheard my 8-year-old daughter talk-ing to her school friend. When asked by my daughter if she was going to get married, she replied “no”, to which my daughter then asked, “Why, are you planning on becoming a lesbian?” April Jones, Waurn Ponds

My sons Zach and Harry at Disneyland with their R2D2 Mickey ears and Zach in his Aussie shirt!

Kerryn Messimore, Corio

My twins Asha and Xavier like to play dress ups. Xavier is the dragon and he will chase Asha the princess all around the house and try to eat her - it’s a bit cute! Bec Read, Clifton Springs

My daughters Indi and Charli felt like princesses at their aunty Lauren’s wedding. Photo: Steve Sowden Photography

Rach Rew, Newcomb

My daughter Tahlia and her friend Alenna Coburn on holidays at Surfers Paradise.

Allison Natonewski, Highton

I’m in my early thirties and my daughter, 4, asked me, “Mummy, who is old like you?” Trace Adams, Waurn Ponds

My son Fynn said, “ Mum, they should’ve put my nose on the other way, so i can hang my Ninjago key ring on it and it doesnt fall off.” Megan De Kook, Wandana Heights

Send your photos and stories to editor@kidsvoice.com.au

Page 15

AT a certain point in your kid’s life you start thinking about what made you the person you are today.

Where did your values come from? How do you instill in a budding stock broker, say, the qualities most of us want for our children - a caring, shar-ing, loving individual, confident in themselves.

Of course, parents take a great share of credit or retribution on this score.

But many of us were brought up going to a church of some sort. And, somewhere around my mid to late 30s as my babies started asserting their own

- let’s be polite - strong-willed personalities, I won-dered what role this had played in my upbringing.

As the eldest, not particularly rebellious child, I wound up attending Sunday School until the end of Year 10. And then, like most people my age, I rejected church and only attended for weddings and funerals.

I didn’t really think about it much, until my own children started becoming little people and, as in all things, I wanted the best for them.

At church we found community, friendship and creative-minded people.

Since moving to Ocean Grove two years ago, we spent some time ‘church shopping’ before dis-covering the Point Lonsdale-Queenscliff Uniting Church.

I should confess that they offered me a job and then we began attending. But we were already attracted by their strong affiliation with the arts - they host regular art exhibitions and concerts. And later by their inclusive and thoughtful services. Another plus; the community welcomed us with open arms.

So what have we gained by introducing our girls to church?

Besides the fact that the youngest thrills at being the know-all in RE, they have a community that cares for them and are learning that there is a place in the world that values those old-fashioned things like acceptance, honesty and kindness. And that’s good enough for me! HEATHER GALLAGHER

LETTERS

I HAVE just spent a moment with a cuppa and your publication ‘Kid’s Voice’ (February edition).

I picked it up from playgroup and was initially impressed and excited with such a great lo-cal Geelong publication. I am a primary school teacher and a mum of three children. I spend my days immersed in children’s activities, teething stories, kindergartens and schools.

After reading your article on ‘emotional connec-tion’ I felt compelled to write to you. I found the article written by Maxine Therese (“childhood wellbeing specialist”) disturbing.

What starts as an article that suggests that lis-tening to your children is a good idea goes on to make statements such as these, “bedwetting is usually a repressed fear of an authority figure (father)”, “if your child is allergic, they may have a strong dislike for someone or something”.

This article should have had a great big sub-title printed underneath it which reads “this article contains bizarre and unfounded opinions from a person with no medical qualification”.

A re-occurring theme in my encounters with other mums and dads is that as parents we tend to over-think what are normal childhood behav-iours. As far as human beings go, children are not really all that complex.

Their needs (all be them time-consuming) are simple. Articles such as ‘emotional connection’ have the ability to stress parents even further and make them question their natural parenting abil-ity.

I believe that the article ‘emotional connection’ could be damaging to relationships between parents as well as the children’s relationships with their parents as it suggests that usually children who wet the bed are fearful of their fathers.

‘Usually’ is a strong word to use here. How can Maxine be sure that the issue is not actually medical or genetic?

KRISTY HARMON, HIGHTON

Article does moreharm than good

When the Spirit is willing...

Kids’ Voice reserves the right to edit letters at its discretion. Submit letters to editor@kidsvoice.com.au

facebookParenthood can be a bumpy ride at times, especially for those of us becoming a mum or dad for the first time. For those of us with a bit of experience under our belts, what is the best piece of advice you can share?

I would say constant communication with each other... have a plan of action and to let each other have some time out for themselves... in other words share the responsibility equally and of course share the love. - GAVIN C. COUZENS

Don’t worry too much about the little things. Enjoy having a bub while they are little. I love my kids now as big kids, sometimes you can miss the old days when they were little. - LISA FORSYTH

Love, love and more love!! - CAROLE COUZENS

Read as many books as you can on being a parent! Becoming a parent is one of the most challenging jobs out there but you don’t need any formal training. Read from those with experi-ences on loads of areas. - OCEAN GROVE REMEDIAL MASSAGE CENTRE

Page 16

Feature

Kristi’s mission for hopeKristi Van Es’ love for people and her desire to make a difference is taking her to India next month, where she will bring hope to women and young girls “others” have deemed worthless. She shares her story...

K RISTI Van Es will soon face her biggest challenge.

With a passion for helping others, the 29-year-old will set off to India next month on a mission to help victims of the human trafficking industry.

The Christian College teacher will work alongside locals to oversee plans for a shelter, which aims to provide refuge and restora-tion for woman and young girls many deem “invisible” and “worthless”.

“Having travelled quite extensively, I have seen a lot of poverty, hunger, the sick and orphans,’’ Kristi says.

‘’But I’ve never felt as compelled to do something as when I saw women who have been stripped of everything and put into situations my mind can’t fathom.

‘’ I am very passionate about seeing them

restored and giving them an opportunity to live a life of hope again.’’

The Women’s Shelter will aim to provide each woman with counselling, psychiatric treatment, English lessons and opportunities to learn new skills such as tailoring.

To make her vision a reality, Kristi set up ‘One hundred for 100’, a campaign which aims to raise the $100,000 she needs to fund the shelter. And thanks to the generosity of the Geelong community, she is more than half way there.

“At first $100,000 seemed impossible, how-ever, when I broke it down, to seek out 100 people that would be willing to donate or raise $1,000, it seemed possible,’’ Kristi says.

“At the moment, after three months of running the campaign, we have had 61 pledges, which has been just amazing.

“It has been incredible to see the generosity of people all around Geelong, from students at school willing to busk or work in order

to raise $1,000, to families willing to invest $1,000 into these women’s lives in India.

‘’It’s only when people come together with a passion and heart to see change that we will make a difference.’’

Kristi has always had a heart for others, particularly the disadvantaged and vulner-able; a result of her Christian upbringing

and her strong relationship with God.

At 19 she embarked on her first mis-sion trip. This adventure took her to India and she immediately fell in love with the country.

“I loved the sights, the smells, the tastes, but most of all I loved the people,” Kristi says.

Page 17

Reminiscing on that time she distinctly remembers thinking as she left India, “I’ll be back one day.”

Since then her sense of adventure has lead her all around the world; through Africa, Europe and Asia.

Never one to shy away from a challenge, Kristi has bungy-jumped, sky-dived, swam with great white sharks and ridden an ostrich.

But her greatest and most memorable ad-ventures have always involved people. Dur-ing her travels she has worked extensively with non-profit organisations in South Africa, Kenya, Malawi, Central Australia and, of course, India.

She spent six months in Africa after com-pleting her Bachelor of Education degree, her first “long-term” mission trip.

Feature

I’ve never felt as compelledto do something as when I saw

women who have been stripped of everything and put into situations

my mind can’t fathom

The challenge of new cultures; of time away from family and friends; of language barriers; and of coming to terms with ex-treme poverty really changed her and fuelled her desire to do whatever she could to bring hope and healing to people in need.

In 2010, she returned to India, and since then has lead two short-term trips to the country working alongside highly reputable organisations, Jacob’s Well and Justice &

Care.

When she’s not travelling the world chang-ing lives she is changing the lives of students as a secondary school teacher.

Not surprisingly, Kristi has done incred-ible work in her school to raise awareness of issues of poverty and injustice around the world, as well as raising funds to help combat these issues.

She will now put teaching aside for one year to fulfil her next challenge in India.

But looking back over her life and the journey she has taken to get here, there is no doubt that if anybody can get this job done, Kristi can.

If you would like to help, visit www.onehundredfor100campaign.com

Page 18

Reader Stories

How different would the world we live in look, if all the mums staying at home bringing up their kids, were dads doing the same?

I watch my husband on weekends when he gets to hang out with the boys and I realise how much better he is at this par-enting business than me.

He is patient for one. Now, thankfully, he also loses it on the fifteenth request for the three year old to get his shoes on, or dodging the fourth piece of toast that gets flung from the hand of the one year old.

But I probably would have started the count down on the third request and given up on the toast all together.

He loves being outside. Just like the wild child and the crazy baby, he happily spends hours outside, all day even.

He builds and fixes and makes and mends. I water the plants and bring the washing in and play with the boys, but if I had my choice, I would much rather lie on the trampoline reading a book.

So I wonder, what would our kids be like if most of the primary carers were dad’s? Now I know these ideas don’t fit every dad, but they do apply to some.

Would kids happily live on meat and fruit? Potentially not even being able to recognise a zucchini or capsicum?

Would they roll around and wrestle and sort it out themselves, without the high pitch female voice telling them to stop?

Would they wear really badly matching clothes? Who would care if they did? Or like in my house in summer, would just

shorts suffice?

Would they happily watch any kind of sport on the telly, just as long as it had men competing?

Would hair ever get washed with any-thing stronger than water?

Would parks be filled with men hanging out with their kids, chasing and running and throwing balls and riding skateboards? This is a picture I love. I just wonder how many extra kids might have a plaster cast on an arm or leg.

Would kids learn to put dishes in the dishwasher and clothes in the basket? Or would this all happen on one afternoon a week when the mess gets too much? How much more fun could you have if you only had to clean up once a week!

Would prams become obsolete as men just carry their kids around, on shoulders, backs, upside down, with one hand?

It is a world I love the look of. Happy, busy, outside kids. Few hanging out in ca-fes or shops, instead going to the hardware store or taking the take away coffee to the look-out to climb and jump and play in the dirt. Kids might learn to fish or ride bikes earlier or throw balls higher.

But then maybe this is all so appealing to me because I have boys and I know that boys need awesome men around them to grow into awesome men themselves.

Maybe I just wish for a world where there is more part time of everything for everyone. I don’t know but I’d like to see how it goes for a while.

- Laura Gordon

What if all the mums were dads?

Teacher, blogger and mum of two boys www.wildchild.aussieblogs.com.au

“IMAGINATION is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited... ” – Albert Einstein.

When I first stumbled across this quote at about age thirteen or fourteen (no idea how we used to find such things prior to Google) I thought I’d never heard any-thing so profound and cool.

Fast forward a decade and a half and I’m thinking Einstein might be a bit of a d--khead. I mean apart from the whole Theory of Relativity thing, and ignoring the fact that I’m hoping to make a career from my imagination one day, at the mo-ment the machinations of imagination are giving me the creeps.

You see, my kid has an imaginary friend. I’m suspicious of the imaginary friend at the best of times, I didn’t have one and could never understand how other kids got away with pinning their pooey pants on fantasy Fred, or getting away with two bags of Burger Rings because their “friend” had to have one too.

Now after reading multiple texts on abnormal psychology, which fosters a deep and paranoid suspicion of any reports of auditory and/or visual hallucinations, my inexplicable fear of somehow ending up

with a sociopath in the family has just been exacerbated by the emergence of my son’s make believe mate.

Schizo-Dissociative disorder diagnoses aside, the most troubling part for me is that it’s not a “friend” as such, that he talks to or invents games with or even blames for his misdemeanours; which could possibly convince me of his flourishing creative streak.

It’s an invisible piece of chicken.

Yep, that’s right. He has conjured up a tiny piece of chicken that he randomly goes to collect from various places around the house, outside in the yard, often and insistently from cars (usually the boot, and usually as we’re half way to wherever we’re driving), and last week Tooty (uh huh, it’s got a name) kept “appearing” just outside shop doors whilst we were spend-ing half the day doing grocery shopping, banking, post officing and searching for 3M Command hooks in a town without Bunnings.

This meant walking in and out of multiple retailers. Sure enough, Tooty (pronounced ‘toot’-y, as in chook-y ,chook, chicken, so forth and so on) just happened to be wait-ing out every shopfront.

So just as I was in the middle of intensely questioning salespeople about the merits of their generic stick-on hooks, or try-ing to remember my pin number at the check-out, the boy has to purposefully stride out the front to pick up the illusory morsel from the shop doormat (or just the plain old dirty footpath), place it in his mouth, become immediately satiated, then wonder back as though he was a normal, chemically balanced, undisturbed child.

And sure enough, each time the entire shop stood still to observe the eccentric little charade playing out before them.

I figured I had two choices: Try laugh-ingly to explain what he was doing (“Oh it’s just his imaginary friend, hahaha! Which is a piece of chicken, hahaha! That he eats...ha....ha”). Or, I could just ignore it. I chose to ignore it, leave the shop im-mediately and not make any eye-contact.

As you can imagine, the drive home was one of panicked reflection. Wishing I could just “unfriend” the stupid chook and have it all disappear, I frantically picked through my brain for answers. anxiously wondering: Why does he have an imaginary friend? Why is it a piece of chicken?? Why does he EAT IT???

It’s just so weird. It’s so not normal. It’s so embarrassing. It makes me really uncomfortable. Cue light bulb pinging now. He doesn’t care. He’s just mucking

around, and I’m pretty sure he knows that old mate Tooty is just a bit of fun (not to mention a sure fire way to grab Mum’s attention).

Then why does it get to me so much? I suppose it’s because, when your child does something that’s off the grid, like smelling clothes pegs (hmmm...maybe he’s not so average) or that old classic: head-banging – you automatically think it’s due to your own parental incompetence.

I suppose it’s a good time to stop and acknowledge that, as much as you try your hardest to steer them away from a life of non-conformity, freakish behaviour or abnormal social conduct, it’s highly unlikely at this stage, that letting them indulge their imaginations’ evocations will lead them towards a career of criminality or moral ineptitude.

Even though I’m pretty certain my boy’s Tooty isn’t whispering the physics behind E=MC² on the way to his digestive tract (paving the way for some Good Will Hunting type genius), I am starting to feel more confident that he’s also not harbour-ing the reincarnation of Charles Man-son inside that little piece of imaginary chicken either.

- Jessica Sawyer www.maviemaman.com

Imagination: Unfriend

Page 19

HealthModeration is the key this EasterWITH Easter fast approaching, the issue of children and chocolate is foremost in the minds of many parents.

How do we best manage the consumption of chocolate at Easter time?

Early Years Dietitian, Hilary Hoevenaars, says parents often follow one of two options.

Ms Hoevenaars says parents either sit their children down with the lot for one big ‘choc fest’ and then throw out the rest, or they me-ter out the chocolates in small portions over the days and weeks following Easter.

“One thing to consider in deciding your approach is what pattern of behaviour you are modelling or instilling for future years,” Ms Hoevenaars says.

We do not want to deny our children chocolate, after all who doesn’t enjoy wak-ing up to see whether the Easter Bunny has called. However, moderation is the key and brushing teeth after eating chocolate is recommended.

And, have you ever wondered where the Easter Bunny’s friends the Tooth Fairies live?

Well, some of them are based at Bellarine Community Health in Point Lonsdale where all children 12 years of age and under can visit. At the School Dental Clinic children can receive oral health advice as well as gen-eral check-ups and treatment.

Children are recommended to have a check-up twice before three and a half years and then regular check-ups as advised during school age years.

The School Dental Program is free for chil-dren listed as dependents on a health care or pension card; otherwise a $30.50 fee applies for all treatment. For more information on the program at Bellarine Community Health or to make an appointment, please contact the Dental Clinic directly on 5258 0828.

Dental Co-ordinator, Fiona Provan, says it’s very important to establish good oral health habits during early childhood.

“Regular dental check-ups are an impor-tant part of your oral health care, however what your child does between visits is just as important,” Ms Provan says.

The five healthy teeth tips to remember are:

EAT WELL: encourage your children to eat a wide variety of nutritious foods, limit sugary foods, especially between meals.

DRINK WELL: choose water rather than sweet drinks.

CLEAN WELL: practise regular tooth brush-ing and flossing, twice a day, after breakfast and before bed.

PLAY WELL: encourage regular, safe active play every day.

STAY WELL: create healthy habits and visit your local health and dental services for regular check-ups.

To help parents with the “eat well” and “drink well” tips, the end of February saw the release of the long awaited revision of the Australian Dietary Guidelines and Infant Feeding Guidelines. Interested parents can access these guidelines at http://www.eatfor-health.gov.au.

The Australian Dietary Guidelines use the best available scientific evidence to provide information on the types and amounts of foods, food groups and dietary patterns that aim to promote health and wellbeing, reduce the risk of diet-related conditions and reduce the risk of chronic disease.

Parents seeking additional nutritional advice for their children will find the Early Years Dietitian from Bellarine Community Health’s child health team a useful resource, with ap-pointments available for children aged 0-12 years on 5258 0812.

BCH’s child health team is composed of a wide variety of child health specialists, and caters to children aged 0-12 years, with services being free to children listed as dependents on a health care or pension card.

Bellarine Community Health Phone 5258 0812

Robert Throng (dentist), Isabell O’Neill (patient), Tracy Taylor (standing Dental Assistant) and Kerry Smith (dental assistant).

Page 20

Lifestyle

For many parents the idea of organising a kids party can be a daunting experience, especially if you’re trying to watch the pennies. But a party doesn’t have to be a grand gesture of bouncy castles, entertainers and overpriced gifts to make it a special event, as HELEN EVANS explains.

Planning a party on a budget

THEME

Whatever your budget having a theme re-ally adds a special touch to your party and makes it more memorable for the guests.

Start straight away by sending themed invites. For example, if you’re having a pirate theme why not make your own treasure map invites by using the pages of an atlas? Dip them in tea, scrunch up and burn the edges to make it look old. For a princess party, just write your own invites on pink paper and add some glitter into the envelopes. Make sure you let them know on the invite to dress up!

Decorations can end up costing a lot so why not make your own? A pinata is a good one to do if you have the time.

FOOD

The best time to hold your party on a budget is in-between meal times so peo-ple won’t expect you to give their child a full meal.

Around 3pm-4pm is a good time. You only need to provide a few nibbles such

as sandwiches, bowls of chips, cut carrot/cumber and dips, pizzas, fruit kebabs (blunt sticks) and biscuits.

Avoiding nuts and having vegetarian options is always good practice. Con-venience costs money so forget the paper plates and cups and use your own.

Place food in interesting ways like filling jars with sweets or cutting up sandwiches into shapes. Jugs of cordial save money too instead of cans or bottles of soft drink.

ENTERTAINMENT

Hiring an entertainer can be expensive so find a friendly neighbour/relative to help you out and learn some easy face-painting techniques. Make them dress up too in some wings or an appropriate hat so they blend in!

Get the kids to make their own fun by having an arts and crafts area to make a magic wand or something particular to your theme.

They can even help you out with the food by decorating their own fairy cakes or

Page 21

Lifestyle

GENERAL TIPS

HIDE anything breakable/valuable out of the way.

PUSH all furniture out of the way for space.

CLOSE all other doors in house. Put up no entry signs if you don’t want visitors in there.

KEEP the numbers maganagable for your first party 10-15 is about right.

biscuits that you’ve baked.

Music is important to achieve a party atmosphere so make sure you’ve got some planned by creating a special playlist on your ipod or have some cd’s playing so they can have a dance around.

PARTY FAVOURS

It is nice to give your guest something to go home but it can end up costing a lot to fill up a bag with gifts.

All you really need to give at the end is

usually a bit of birthday cake, some sweets and something small like stickers and a bouncy ball.

It’s a nice idea to get the host child to give out the bags so they can thank everyone individually when they go home.

Olivia Fiorillo, 3 and her brother Ashley, 1. Photos: KATIE FIORILLO

FOR CRAFTY CREATIONS TURN TO PAGE 26

Page 22

Reader Story

A LICIA is a mum to 17-month-old ball of muscle, Henry, and is expecting baby number two in May 2013.

Alicia works as a midwife at Geelong Hospi-tal and lives on the Bellarine Peninsula with her husband Craig.

Alicia had a ‘difficult’ first pregnancy and the difficulties began even before she fell pregnant! Craig and Alicia tried for two years to conceive, with no success.

They were eventually referred to an IVF Clinic, where they endured countless inves-tigations, blood tests, hormone injections, and invasive procedures.

During treatment, Alicia managed to fall pregnant three times, but unfortunately suf-fered recurrent miscarriages.

Eventually, Alicia underwent a laparoscopy, and she was found to have endometriosis, which is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (called endome-trium) grows in the surrounding organs, with consequent swelling, inflammation and difficulties with pregnancy.

After receiving this news, Alicia and Craig took a break from the IVF process and went for a holiday. They decided to keep going with the IVF treatment, and on the very first cycle after their return from holiday, Alicia fell pregnant with young Henry.

During early pregnancy, Alicia suffered from two bouts of ‘hyperemesis gravidarum’ or severe morning sickness. This required hospitalisation on both occasions.

At 17 weeks, Alicia was hospitalised with a kidney infection, which was treated with intravenous antibiotics for five days. Shortly after this time Alicia was hampered by severe back pain and hip instability.

This resulted in Alicia having to stop work at 19 weeks. She was treated by a physi-otherapist for the rest of her pregnancy and all activity was severely hampered.

At 36 weeks into the pregnancy, Henry was served an eviction notice by the obstetri-cian, and Alicia was induced. By this stage Alicia was having difficulty walking because of the back pain.

The induction involved a gel being administered to dilate the birth canal. The gel resulted in 24 hours of spurious labour

pains; the contractions cause pain but do not work well enough to dilate the birth canal.

After having the waters ruptured the labour started to progress, also with the help of an oxytocic infusion. Labour advanced so well that Henry was born five and a half hours later.

During labour Alicia had an epidural anaesthetic administered, but it did not work as well as she would have hoped, probably because of her spinal arthritis. Alicia also used the Nitrous Oxide gas for pain relief.

After a difficult pregnancy it seems labour went rather well for Alicia. Henry was deliv-ered by forceps, (which according to Alicia was not a traumatic experience at all) and he was in great condition at birth.

He weighed in at a whopping 3.44kgs at 36 weeks gestation. Due to Henry’s prematu-rity his blood sugar was monitored; and he was admitted to the Special Care Nursery.

Despite this, the family were discharged home on day three, which is great consider-ing Henry was premature.

Henry is now a delightful young man, and Alicia is looking forward to baby number two.

This pregnancy was conceived naturally and Alicia is also much healthier this preg-nancy, has not required hospitalisation for any medical problems, and is still working.

Alicia is a lovely, kind midwife and I’m sure her experience of birth has allowed her to give very empathetic care to other young mums and dads.

We look forward to meeting Henry’s brother or sister!

- Jennifer Carr

Alicia’s tough road has happy ending

Alicia, left, with her w

ork mate, N

atalie.

Associate nurse unit manager Special care nursery

Geelong Hospital

Page 23

Pet Care

Breed: Bull Arab x KelpieAge: Approximately 12 Months oldSex: MaleAxle is a big, goofy boy who likes to play. At times he doesn’t know his size and can get a bit rough, so we recommend he is homed with large animals only. He will be a loyal,

loving dog with the right owner, who needs some basic obedience. Axle is looking for his new home and will come desexed, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed, and flead.

Breed: Burmese x Siamese x Domestic Long HairAge: 10 years oldSex: MaleBeau is a beautiful boy with so much love to give. he is an adult cat with no kitten training needs. Beau has long hair that

will benefit from regular brushing. He will need a reasonable amount of human attention, and is not suited to being left alone for extended periods of time. He is desperately seeking his forever home, could it be with you?

Sex: Male rabbitThis lovely male rabbit comes to you already desexed, vaccinated and microchipped. All he needs now is a safe place to live, clean water and good food and he will be a lovely pet for your family. Why not visit today?

Axle Beau SnowID: 12171 ID: 11434 ID: 12082

5248 2091 gaws.org.au

Sponser a pet by advertising on this page. Phone Cath on 0448 007 021 or email ads@kidsvoice.com.au

Adopta pet

MARCH is “Polite Pets” Month. This is an initiative by the Australian Veteri-nary Society to promote good pet behaviour, training and responsible pet ownership in our communities.

Behaviour problems are sadly now con-sidered to be the most common reason for euthanasia of pets and are a very common reason for re-homing though animal shelters.

Problems with pets may range from mild irritating concerns, such as the dog jump-ing up, or the cat scratching the furniture, to more serious lifestyle issues, including inap-propriate toileting and aggressive behaviour.

Owners of problem pets will seek advice from a range of sources - the internet, breed-ers, trainers and veterinarians. In many cases conflicting advice may be confusing for pet owners, so it is important to recognise the source or the cause of the problem before trying to find a solution.

From a veterinary point of view, it is neces-sary to always rule out any medical problems before a diagnosis of a behavioural disorder can be made. For example, a cat that is inap-propriately urinating indoors may have an underlying urinary tract infection, which no amount of training will assist with, and may be potentially life threatening if untreated.

If medical problems have been excluded, then vets will often refer more complex be-havioural problems to an experienced, trusted

and qualified trainer, or a behaviour specialist veterinarian.

Some common behaviour problems you may be faced with as a pet owner:

CATS with inappropriate toileting be-haviours: Cats that have not been desexed are more likely to spray urine to mark their territory, we recommend desexing at five to six months of age, before this is an established behavioural pattern.

Ensure your cat’s litter tray is always clean, immediately remove any faeces and clean out urine daily. As a general rule of thumb, there should be one litter tray for each cat in the house, plus one extra. A litter tray should be provided even if your cat usually prefers to toilet outdoors.

BARKING dogs: Dogs bark for many dif-ferent reasons, however, it is important you understand what it is they are trying to tell you.

Barking is a dog’s way of alerting their “pack” of a potential danger. Here is a simple three step process to assist in preventing unwanted barking

1. Thank your dog: When your dog barks, say “Thank you” in a bright tone. This acknowledges the dog for doing its job of warning you, without encouraging further noise. Using a bright tone shows the dog you are not worried about whatever it is they are unsure of. Shouting at them to be quiet will do the opposite, and even validates their

initial reaction.

2. Have a look: After having thanked your dog, if he continues barking, go to wherever they are and calmly have a look around, then you can walk away calling your dog with you as you go. You are showing your dog you have decided there is nothing to be worried about.

3. Time out: If your dog persists barking once you have had a look, gently take them by the collar (if they don’t wear a collar, slip a lead over their head) and without saying a word or making eye contact, place them in a time out until they are quiet. A laundry or bathroom is ideal, make sure they are on their own and

cannot see you. You are showing them that if they continue to bark they could lose contact with you.

FEAR of thunder - thunderstorms or even the threat of one, can reduce some dogs and cats to a quivering mess. It can be very distressing for owners to witness their pet in such a state, however there are some things you can do to help the situation.

1. Create a safe environment: If your pet is outside, bring it in to the house or garage where there is reduced noise and they are sheltered.

2. Less is more: Avoid making a fuss. Hu-mans respond to comfort when in need of consoling in a scary situation, however, reacting this way if your pet is scared can turn their anxiety in to fear.

3. Lead by example: Show your dog you are not worried about the thunder and it will go a long way in helping them to feel calm. Go about your normal routine without reaction to the storm.

4. Limit space: If your dog wants to hide under the bed or the table, let it. If your dog is racing around the house, place it on a lead and sit quietly together until it calms down. Creating a safe cubby (eg. a blanket over a table) or just restricting the amount of space your dog has to worry about protecting can help them relax.

Newtown Veterinary Clinic, 121 West Fyans Street, Newtown. Ph. 5221 5333

How to make your pet more polite

Toby, a Samoyed x Golden Retriever, has a lovely personality and makes a great family pet, but lacks socialisation skills with other dogs during walks.

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ReviewsROBERT IRWIN DINOSAUR HUNTERBy Jack Wel ls - Random HouseRobert Irwin, son of Steve Irwin and resident at Australia Zoo features in a series of books as a keen dinosaur hunter, along with a friend called Riley. The first in the series, entitled The Discovery, takes Robert on a trip to the Dinosaur Museum to celebrate ninth birthday. The second book, Ambush at Cisco Swamp finds the boys at Cisco Swamp in Texas surveying alligators, while the third book, Armoured Defence, is set in the Canadian Badlands and The Dinosaur Feather – book number four is set at the Australia Zoo.

Jack Wells is the author of these books, along with some input from Robert Irwin, whose illustrations also appear in the book. Younger readers will enjoy these books as there is plenty of adventure included. Robert Irwin has the following to say about his books “My series of books, Robert Irwin: Dinosaur Hunter are really fun, exciting, action packed adventures, where kids can learn about more unusual dinosaurs as they travel back in time with me and my friend Riley to discover incredible prehistoric creatures. I think reading opens up a whole new world where you can discover and learn new things.”

Overall these books are a quick fun read that have the added bonus of a Field Guide at the back of each one, providing facts about dinosaurs.

To win a set of 4 books, LIKE our Facebook page facebook.com/KidsVoiceGeelong and send us a message telling us why you’d like to win.W

IN

LA DEE DA DEE LOVES LE BUNFuntast icWith their Rowdy, Shouty and Chic fashions, La Dee Da dolls are turning fashion dolls from ordinary to extraordinary! Dee Loves Le Bun – Dee’s new signature look is inspired by her favourite fashion hound Le Bun and even her glasses match her favourite pooch! Her skirt is reversible and customisable with bows and hearts. Each La Dee Da Dee Loves Le Bun doll comes with outrageously detailed hair, make-up and fashions, plus accessories like her hairpin, glasses, handbag and cute heart shoes, plus a doll stand and storybook.

BITSIT SERVICES

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· Anti-Virus, Malware & Spyware Monitoring

We providea managed ITsupport plan for:

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Reviews

To win a copy of this book, LIKE our Facebook page facebook.com/KidsVoiceGeelong and send us a message telling us why you’d like to win.W

INMEET NED KELLYBy Janeen Br ian - RandomhouseThis beautiful picture book, written in ballad style, is about notorious bushranger Ned Kelly. The story, aimed at younger readers, is a great introduction to Ned Kelly and the bright illustrations will capture their attention. There is a very informative timeline at the back of the book which is a good reference for teachers, parents and students.

AIR HOGS SKY STUNTFuntast icThe Air Hogs Sky Stunt remote control is the easiest to fly stunt plane ever! Perform gravity defying stunts with the push of a button - Loops, Stalls, Corkscrews, Banked Turns are all so easy to do! In fact Sky Stunt is so easy to use, anyone can do it! Just press the stunt button and watch Sky Stunt do amazing stunts – even in really tight spaces! With its air race-inspired styling, the Air Hogs Sky Stunt looks as hot as its stunts. Featuring hobby grade innovation and technology, the Sky Stunt has RF communication for outdoors action.

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Crafty Creations

You will need:One cake mix Round cake pan2 packets of party 1 bag of smartiessize Kit Kats

Frosting Coloured Ribbon(usually in the packet mix) (wide ribbon preferably)

You will need:Thick card for template Fabric pencilFabrics in co-ordinating Pinscolours

Fabric scissors IronIroning board Bias tape

/ribbon

InstructionsYou can use shop bought packet mix or any favourite cake recipe

Follow cooking instructions as per recipe on packet or book and once cooled, level off the top of the cake with a knife.

Spread frosting all over top and sides of the cake

carefully separate the Kit Kats and place around the edge of the cake (the frosting will help stick the Kit Kats on).

Wrap the ribbon around the Kit Kats and tie in a bow securing the Kit Kats onto the cake

Sprinkle Smarties onto the top of the cake...

Instructions1. Make a triangular template from card to your desired size and draw around the template on the wrong side of your material with a pencil.

2. Cut out two triangles for each flag to be sewn together.

3. Place the two pieces of material together with the right side facing in and sew up the two sides, leaving the top open to reverse. Repeat for all 10.

4. Turn your flags the right way around pushing the end point through with a pen or pencil. Iron them flat.

5. Take your bias tape or thick ribbon and make a loop at the end to hang up and secure with a few stiches.

6. Place your flags along the bias and run through the sewing machine at regular intervals.

7. Hang up and enjoy!

TIP: For a ‘no sew’ alternative why not try this idea with patterned card and glue onto ribbon?

- Helen Evans

KIT KATSMARTIES CAKE

B U N T I N G

Add colour and yum to your party

and serve :)

Katie Fiorillo Photography

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What’s On

Trade Directory

Education

Children’s wear

BITSIT SERVICES

IT support

PartiesHealth

Hair

List your business in the Kids’ Voice trade directory.Phone 0448 007 021 or email cath@kidsvoice.com.au

EducationHealth &fitness

Schools

Mums

Youth

EVERY MONDAY: Road to Reading, age-group sessions between 9am-3pm, at Uniting Church, Anderson Street, Torquay.

EVERY TUESDAY: Road to Reading, age-group sessons between 9am-1pm, Western Heights Uniting Church, Dou-glass Street, Herne Hill

FRIDAY, MARCH 15: South Geelong Primary School Carnival, 4pm–8pm

TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS: Freshwater Creek Steiner play groups- toddlers group and 3-year-old groups- experience baking, singing, storytelling, crafts and free play. Phone 5264 5077 or visit www.fwcss.com.au

EVERY WEDNESDAY: Pregnant Young Mums Club, Newcomb Community Health Centre, 104-108 Bellarine High-way, Newcomb. Phone 0423 603 633 or 52603333

FIRST FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH: Greenmums, Moby, Esplanade, Torquay, 10am.

THE MUSICAL GARDEN: fun, educa-tional music classes for young children in Geelong West. Contact Liz on 0415 977 860 or visit www.themusicalgar-den.webs.com

GEELONG GALLERY: Thursday, April 11 - Creative kids workshop - animal portraits, 11am. A workshop inspired by wonderful creatures and experiment with a variety of drawing materials. For children aged 5 to 12 years. Bookings and pre-payment essential on 5229 3645.

School holidays

EVERY MONDAY: Parent and toddler group fitness, 9-10am, Barwon Heads Community Hall, corner of Hitchcock Avenue and Ozone Street

EVERY WEDNESDAY: Yoga and dance, 9.30am-10.30am, Barwon Heads Commu-nity Hall, corner of Hitchcock Avenue and Ozone Street

KIDS DANCE CLASSES: Tuesday to Friday evenings, 4/22-26 Essington Street, Grovedale. Phone 0420 998 596

GIRL CONNECT 3241: Free communi-ty art program for women 14 and over.

Programs will run on Wednesday in Winchelsea from February to June. Phone 5221 6333 or email geelong@ywca.net

The fOrT Drop In youth centre, St Georges Rd, Corio (Old Tourist Information Centre-Stead Park), open Monday, Thursday and Friday, from 4pm, for anyone aged 12 to 25.

MONDAYS: Food for fOrT, 4-6pm.

THURSDAYS: Movie Night, 4-7pm.

MUSIC LESSONS: guitar and drums – bookings 0488 443 778.

RAINBOW RIDERS: Horse riding and farm activities. Phone 5264 1175 or visit rainbowriders.com.au

KOOMBAHLA PARK EQUESTRIAN CENTRE school holiday program, phone 52562742.

Submit your listings for What’s On at editor@kidsvoice.com.au

FestivalsMARCH 23-24: The Deans Marsh Festi-val - two days worth of exciting activities planned. The new Saturday Showcase comprises of bike rides, winery, sustain-able garden and house tours and a special evening meal and poetry recital, all in the Deans Marsh Community.

Sunday sees the return of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Marsh, dog jump, chil-dren’s activities and games, market stalls, fantastic food and many other festivities. For further information visit www.deans-marshfestival.com.au

EYE SPY CHILDREN’S TOURS: Wednesday, April 3 at 10.30am/ 11.30am and Wednesday, April 10 at 10.30am/11.30am - Join us for a fun adventure tour of the Geelong Gallery. Suitable for children aged 4 to 8 years. Free! Bookings essential.

MarketsSUNDAY, MARCH 24: Piccadilly Market, Deakin Waterfront Campus, Geelong, 10am-4pm

GOOD FRIDAY, MARCH 29: ‘KIDS BUSKING FOR THE KIDS’ held in the main street of Queenscliff.

MARCH 23-24: Leighfest at Inverleigh - fantastic, free, family friendly activities. Leighfest is at Lawson’s Park, Inverleigh.

Leighfest kicks off with a movie night for the kids at 4pm on Saturday. This will be followed by two bands from 8pm – 10pm. On Sunday, free entertainment will be provided by a host of acts from 10am – 4pm. Free activities for the kids will include jumping castles, trains and so much more!

SUNDAY, MARCH 17: Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon at Eastern Beach

Fundraisers

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