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Babywearers
Set up your own Teddy Bear’s Picnic
what a surprise for your little one when they stumble upon a real
teddy bears’ picnic!
Steam Train Adventures‘toot, toot!’ bringing to life your little
one’s storybook train friends.
get wrapped up in the tradition
FREE Issue 2, 2012 parenting in central victoria
2
Meet The Team
Motivated Mum – Ren Doyle And
Natural Rascals
My Little Monster & In The Toolbox
Out And About – Steam Train Adventures
Shop – My Little Room
A New Little Local – Olivia Louise Kelley
Meeting Up – Sharing The Babywearing Flair
Your Story – Linking Up Online
Fashion – Retro Wears
Story Time – Alison Lester’s Romping Reads
Eating Out – Klua Sathorn
Special – Today’s The Day The Teddy Bears
Have Their Picnic!
Health And Wellbeing – My Pelvic What??
Little Green Thumbs – In The Autumn Garden
Your Story – Camping Is Cool
Make – Warming Colours For Cooler Days
Little Foodies – Yummy Tummy Warmers
Contents
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8
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15
16
18
20
22
26
27
28
30
32
34
36
39
4 5
Editorial
It has certainly been a busy season for the
Little Locals team since the first issue came out!
Thank-you so very much for the excited and sup-
portive feedback we have received from busi-
nesses and parents alike! It was great to hear
from you.
Last December, just after the first issue was
released, we were very grateful to receive a
Community Assistance Grant from the Bendigo
Council, which has allowed us to purchase a
good quality camera and some software to help
in the production of the magazine. It has also
been exciting to have our team joined by some
additional people, and we hope you enjoy the
changes these new team members and the
council-funded equipment have brought to
the mag.
We have continued to receive invaluable
encouragement and support from Women’s
Health Loddon Mallee, who have been so kind
to us all. Please pop into the centre on Myer St,
and say hello to them!
We have thoroughly enjoyed compiling this
issue, with lots of exciting articles and ideas
coming together to make a great celebration
of the autumn and winter seasons in our area.
We have particularly loved receiving contribu-
tions from parents who wish to share their stories
and experiences. Please keep the input coming!
Flick through to read about camping in the area
with little ones, to gain some creative and warm
craft ideas, to be inspired to create your very own
teddy-bear’s picnic, and much, much more.
Happy reading,
The Little Locals Team
WELCOME...Please get in touch with us, we’d love to
hear from you!
Emily O’Brien – 0410819256
Heidi McIntosh – 0411703184
Find us and like us on Facebook – Little Locals
Front cover image taken by Tara Pearce:
www.tarapearce.com.au
Two corrections from last issue:
The article “So Many Toys!”, pg 27, was written by and included
photographs taken by Heidi McIntosh, not by Amy Holmes from Shape
Rattle and Stroll and Emma Clohesy from Embrace Images as was
credited.
On page 15, “Christmas Ideas”, despite the description, the third
item was not a handmade mobile by The Bear and the Whale (you can
see this mobile in the current issue on page 15), but rather was the
RSPCA dog ‘Elliot’, that can still be bought brand new for $2 from the
RSPCA Op Shop - 194 Hargreaves St, Bendigo, (03) 5443 9260.
Meet The Team
Emily O’Brien – Editor/Writer.
Emily is a full time mum to 18 month old
Charlie and a university student. With many
years experience in childcare she has a
passion for working with children.
Heidi McIntosh – Editor/Writer
Heidi is the stay-at-home mum of Salva-
dor. She has a teaching and psychology
background and has loved the last two
years she has lived in Bendigo.
Christian Mangantulao – Graphic Designer
A new addition to the Little Locals team,
Christian has completed 3 years of Graphic
Design at Latrobe and is currently continuing
on to do 4th year Honours Program.
Lea Lockwood – Sub-Editor
Lea is a mother of four who has taught
literature and classical Greek at La Trobe,
and Latin at CEB. She is writing a Master’s
thesis on Homer’s Odyssey.
Tara Pearce - Photographer
Photographer and Designer Tara Pearce
has a love of all things Central Victoria.
Having grown up in the area and returned
to raise her family, she appreciates all this
region has to offer. Tara’s passion is pho-
tography and design with a vintage feel.
Alison Mulqueen - Photographer
Alison is a Bendigo photographer who
specialises in creative baby, children and
family portraits. She has lived in Bendigo
her whole life and is mum to Jayde 7 and
Meg 5 and married to husband Jodie.
Emma Clohesy - Photographer
A pro photographer for over 10 years
and an enthusiastic mum of 2 joyful and
spirited toddlers Matilda and Tasman,
Emma is passionate and excitable about
people and what brings them joy. She
loves being able to capture a moment that
becomes a treasured memory.
Rose Vincent - Writer
Rose helps both the Quarry Hill and Long Gully community gardens
to grow and loves sharing her gardening passion and produce with
others. She has three older children.
Tammy Higgs - Writer
Tammy grew up on a farm near Bendigo and has always loved stories
and books. She now enjoys her job as the manager of Children and
Family Services at the Goldfields Library Corporation.
Amy Holmes - Writer
Amy Holmes is a personal trainer, healthy lifestyle consultant and
owner of Shape, Rattle ‘n’ Stroll, with personal training, pre and
post natal fitness and sports nutrition qualifications. She is the busy
mother of three boys.
Sue Boniwell - Writer
While taking care of her little boy Robbie, Sue manages to find the
time to make lots of lovely crafts and artworks.
Gemma French – Writer
Gemma has a background in nursing and has been a long-time local
to Bendigo. She loves discovering new things that Bendigo has to
offer her family!
Catherine Kelley – Writer
Catherine is a mum of 19 month old Cameron and 3 month old Olivia.
Having worked as a primary school teacher for almost 10 years, she
is currently on family leave and is enjoying spending time at home
with her children.
Megan Gladstone – Writer
Megan grew up in Bendigo and returned with her husband Josh to
give their little girl Poppy the same experience. She works full time for
Victoria Police.
Sarah Cody - Writer
Sarah Cody loves to explore new places locally and further afield with
her husband and two small boys. They are currently enjoying the fun
of camping, where the kids can run free and the cost is minimal!
Ash French - Artist
At 24 years old, Ash French manages to fill up his days as a full time
art teacher at Rochester Secondary College, a father to Henry Law-
rence French, husband to Gemma and part time graphic designer and
musician.
6 7
Ren Doyle and Natural RascalsWords by Emily O’Brien, Photography by Alison Mulqueen
from Lollypop Photography
Motivated Mum
After moving to Bendigo, Ren found many
local parents around her were interested in
cloth nappies and the practice of elimination
communication.
Determinetd to stay at home with her son,
Ren decided to start her own home - based
business selling and providing information
on environmentally friendly alternatives to
disposable nappies. Her business, Natural
Rascals, includes a range of modern cloth
nappies, degradable nappy liners, degra-
dable disposable nappies, slings and baby
carriers, and many other natural parenting
products.
Ren has taken her passion even further,
and has begun to prepare a report for the
local council outlining the effect of dispos-
able nappies on the local landfill.
Ren hopes that the report will lead to the
local council providing more support for
parents wishing to use cloth nappies.
Ren Doyle has always loved the outdoors,
so it’s only natural that she is passionate
about protecting the wonderful environment
we have here in Australia.
When Ren became a mother, she was
very aware of the impact particular baby
products had on the envirtonment.
Driven by this, she looked into modern
cloth nappies as an alternative to disposa-
ble nappies. When she began her research,
she was shocked by the amount of landfill
that was produced by disposable nappies,
and so began her venture into cloth nappies.
Ren was pleasantly surprised at how easy
it was to use modern cloth nappies, and
even took it one step further by practising
Elimination Communication (Nappy Free).
She began to learn the signs her son
showed when he needed to eliminate.
By tuning in to these signals, Ren was able
to sit her son on a potty and minimize the
amount of nappies needed.
Ren was pleasantly surprised
at how easy it was to use
modern cloth nappies.
8 9
When transitioning from cot to bed, we have
found it useful to choose a time of the year that is
dark at bedtime. In a dark room, the child is less
likely to get out of bed and wander or play.
In the initial days of adjustment, we place the
cot mattress on the floor beside the bed so that
any falls are softened. – Julie, Bendigo visitor.
Send us your ‘My Little Monster’ moments
and ‘In the toolbox’ tips: every contribution
printed in the next issue receives a $15
voucher for The Cornerstore Cafe,
305 View St, Bendigo.
Send your stories and ideas to :-
We’ve been to the beach a bit lately, and the
sand is always really hard to brush off my little
man’s skin, and particularly his bottom!
I have found that putting a bit of talcum powder
over the sand helps it to brush off really easily,
and it leaves him smelling nice, too. – Gemma,
Quarry Hill.
If you lay out a sheet on the ground and tip your
kids’ Lego, Duplo, or small toys onto it before
play begins, it is really easy to pack it all up when
play is finished. You just pick up the corners of
the sheet and tip the pieces back into their box. –
Krista, Quarry Hill
In the Toolbox
Artwork by Ash French
Our seven-year-old is the king of hide-and-seek
at our house. Recently, when we had friends over,
he found a great hiding spot in the bathroom
under the towel rails, and none of his play-mates
could find him. After I had managed to extract
him for lunch, he confided in me that while he
was hiding he realised that he didn’t know what
to do if one of our visitors had come in to use the
toilet. Thankfully, everyone had strong bladders
that day!
My little 4½-year-old commented to me while
chewing on a chop bone: ‘Mum, why do you put
bones in the meat?’
Josiah, 5, must have been contemplating the
football he’d been watching recently with his
Dad: ‘Mum, I’ve got a wise idea.’ ‘What’s that
sweetheart?’ ‘When they play football, they
kick the ball through the poles close to where
the audience sits... and sometimes they do
very big kicks. I think they should put the poles
in the middle.’
My daughter Isabelle (2½) put her Christmas
T-shirt on at the start of December and said,
‘Oh, look, a rein-goat.’ I guess a reindeer could
like a goat if you’re 2½!
My Little Monster
10
‘Toot, toot!’ Bringing to life your little one’s story
book train friends, the Victorian Goldfields Railway
gives families the opportunity to experience first
hand what it was like to travel by steam train.
Waiting on the station platform and watching the
steam train’s engines being stoked and readied
for the journey, the anticipation of the upcoming
ride is just as thick in the air as the steam surrounding
the engine! With the old-fashioned tickets clutched
tightly in eager hands, boarding the wooden
carriages and choosing a seat only serves to
heighten the excitement.
Then, with a gentle jolt and a series of huffs,
puffs, and toots, the train is off and an authentic
rattle-and-sway motion is established as the train
begins its journey.
The slide windows can be opened, and gusts
of wind carrying a smoky smell can be felt on
the face as hands wave out the windows to those
watching the train rumbling past. The train brushes
up against the occasional willow, and winds its
way through the forest and open grazing country
between Maldon and Castlemaine, travelling over
numerous bridges and up and down hills.
When the ticket collector comes by, there may
even be a chance for your little ones to stamp
their own ticket and pretend for the moment
that they are in charge of all the passengers
on the train!
Beginning its operations around 1880 as a
goods and passenger line helping to break up
the isolation of the area, the Maldon-Castlemaine
train line was deemed redundant and closed in
1976. Even before it closed, however, a group of
volunteers dedicated to preserving the history of
the Victorian railways got together and decided to
turn the railway into a tourist line to allow people
to continue to experience steam train travel.
It took a lot of hard work and years of rebuilding
the line before the first tourist ride was opened in
1986, and even then the ride was just one kilometre
long, with the steam engine pushing the carriages
out of the Maldon station and pulling them back
in again! The line as we know it today officially
opened in March 2005 and travels the full stretch
between Maldon and Castlemaine.
You can board the steam train at either Maldon
or Castlemaine, and if you wish for a shorter ride,
a midway drop-off point at the Muckleford station
is an option. The train runs on most Sundays and
Wednesdays, and some Saturdays, with special
services running also on most public holidays.
Head to the website of the Victorian Goldfields
Railway for fare prices, times, and more details.
Steam Train AdventuresWords by Heidi McIntosh, Photography by Alison Mulqueen
from Lollypop Photography.
Out & About
12 13
Would you like to advertise
with Little Locals?
for all the details
For parents who care about what they leave behind...www.naturalrascals.com.au
Contact: [email protected] Tel: 0434 224 090
All your modern cloth nappy needs, baby carriers, children’s books, Vanilla Mozi and more...
Shop
1. Bird Mobile by the bear & the whale $50
www.thebearandthewhale.com.au
2. Wall Art - pair of robots by MoonMum $45
www.moonmum.typepad.com
3. Ned Cot Quilt by Darcey and Grace $120
www.darceyandgrace.com.au
1.
2.
3.
My Little Room
Out & About - continued
To make a day of it, catch a train before
lunch and have a picnic or cafe lunch in
either Maldon or Castlemaine, and then
in the afternoon return on the train to
your point of departure.
Don’t forget your camera, and if you feel
particularly adventurous, consider dressing
up in period clothing and taking a step
back in time.
The rhythmical rocking of the train on the
tracks, combined with the unique sound of
its mechanics and the smell of soot in the air,
may just lull your little one happily to sleep
on the way home after an adventurous day
of trains!
14
A New Little Local
Olivia Louise KelleyWords by Catherine Kelley, Photography by
Emma Clohesy from Embrace Images
Now we knew...
we were having a little girl.
My husband and I always knew that we
wanted to have our children close together in
age, so when our son was 8 months old we
decided it was time to try for another baby.
I stopped taking my birth control tablets,
and by the time Cameron was 9 months old we
were expecting our second child.
We were a little surprised by how quickly every-
thing happened, but were very excited about the
prospect of having another baby: a little brother
or sister for Cameron.
Pregnancy
When I was pregnant with my son I worked in a
very busy, time consuming, and demanding job
up until 36 weeks, so I was looking forward to a
more relaxed pregnancy and having some down
time to rest.
That would have been the case had I not had an
active toddler to run around after. No time to sit
and rest or really think about how tired I was.
The pregnancy seemed to go very quickly,
and apart from three or four weeks of morning
sickness, where I felt terribly nauseated for much
of the day, I had a very easy and stress-free
pregnancy.
After finding out the sex of our first child I was
keen, much to my husband’s disappointment,
to have a surprise with baby number two. As the
weeks went by I held strong to my decision.
On the day of our 20 week ultrasound the
anticipation was too much, and we made the
decision to find out if we were expecting a little boy
or girl. I told myself that it would be easier to get
organised if we knew the baby’s sex; however,
it wasn’t to be.
The baby’s umbilical cord was in the way and,
despite all of our coaxing and changing posi-
tions to get a better look, it would not budge.
After much toing and froing over the weeks
that followed, we made the decision to book an
ultrasound with the sole purpose of finding out
the baby’s sex. Now we knew... we were having
a little girl.
Over the following weeks and months we
decided on our baby’s name and painted and
decorated her room, all the while not telling our
families that we had, in fact, found out her sex.
It was a little tricky at times, and we found
ourselves doing a quick check around the house
for tell-tale items and inventing reasons why they
couldn’t go into her room whenever family and
friends came to visit.
Birth
When I was pregnant with my son I was advised
that a caesarean section was the safest option
for us, and that any additional children would
also need to be born this way. After undergoing
an emergency caesarean with our first child I had
mixed feelings about going through this proce-
dure again. I struggled with the decision between
having another caesarean and attempting a
natural birth, but after weighing up the options
and the strong possibility of complications we
took the advice of our doctors and I was booked
in and eagerly awaiting the birth of our baby girl.
My husband and I arrived at the hospital at
7:00am on the morning of our daughter’s birth,
leaving our 16-month-old son and excited
extended family at home eagerly awaiting the
news of her arrival. At 11:00am it was finally
our turn to head down to theatre.
Perhaps I had watched one too many episodes
of ‘One Born Every Minute’, but this time I was
very aware of the process of the operation,
and somehow this put me at ease throughout
the procedure. I was happy to see a familiar face
in the operating room, with the doctor deliver-
ing our baby having also been at my son’s birth
almost a year and a half earlier. At 11:57am on
January 6th Olivia Louise was born. She was
a petite 6lb 13oz, a stark contrast to my previous
9lb 10oz baby boy.
Life as a family of four
Time in hospital passed without any problems,
and gave me a chance to get to know my baby and
reacquaint myself with the needs of a newborn.
After a four-night stay it was time to take our little
girl home and juggle life with an active 16-month-
old and a newborn baby.
It was wonderful to be at home again with
my son and husband, and, despite his initial
hesitation in acknowledging his new little sister,
Cameron soon embraced her and now smoth-
ers her with affection. They share many gentle
cuddles, and he spends his time ‘oohing’ and
‘aahing’ at her little nose, fingers and toes.
We are now getting into a good routine and
finding what works best for us, our new little
family of four.
16 17
The mums who form the Central Vic
Babywearers enjoy the intimacy of carrying
their babies in slings close to the body,
and also appreciate the extra freedom that
having two hands free affords them to get
things done more efficiently and easily.
As one mum likes to say, “I don’t have
‘me’ time, I have ‘up’ time!” and it appears
agreed that their kids are happier when
being carried in slings.
They also caution that there are risks with
babywearing, particularly when younger
babies are wrapped in such a way that
it is difficult for them to breathe freshly
and freely. These risks make the shared
knowledge, support, and instruction of
the babywearing community very valu-
able. The laughter and friendship shared
by the group also make the meet a much-
anticipated date on the calendar for its
members.
The Central Vic Babywearers are very
welcoming, and love to encourage and
coach parents new to babywearing.
If anyone is interested in coming along to
their meets or to learn more, look them up
on Facebook and talk to Renae (Ren),
one of the group’s moderators.
Gathering under the shady trees of the
Castlemaine Botanical Gardens, a group
of mums, surrounded by colourful lengths
of finely woven fabrics, keep an eye on
their little ones playing in the nearby
playground, and chat over a picnic lunch.
They are the ‘Central Vic Babywearers’,
a group who meet up once a month to
encourage each other in their love of
babywearing, play with and learn different
sling positions and styles, and share their
journeys as mums.
Babywearing is the age-old technique
of carrying babies and toddlers in slings,
practised by parents in many cultures
around the world.
It has gained popularity in the last few
decades in Western countries, helped along
somewhat by theories of attachment
parenting; however, not everyone who
babywears holds to these philosophies.
Little ones can be carried on the back, on
the side, or at the front, and, wrapped in
fabrics or slings of beautiful designs and
colours, can look very stylish.
Words by Heidi McIntosh, Photography by Tara Pearce
from Tara Pearce Photography
Sharing the Babywearing Flair
Meeting Up
I don’t have ‘me’ time,
I have ‘up’ time!
18 19
Words by Megan Gladstone, Photography by
Alison Mulqueen from Lollypop Photography
Linking Up Online
Your Story
The page has turned into our mothers’
group’s event planner and go-to place for
advice on anything baby-related.
Since starting the page I have discovered
that there are lots of local pages and sites
online where parents can go to link up with
others for baby-related advice, services,
and events.
I highly recommend getting online and linking
up with other parents around town. You may
be amazed to discover the variety of networks
in Bendigo and surrounding areas that offer
free events, educational activities, and even
babysitting, for when you need to go on an
adults-only play date!
If you have a social networking page or
resource site that you would like to share,
feel free to post a link on the Little Locals
Facebook page to let other parents know.
When I started my journey as a new mum,
I was one of the first in my social group to
have a baby. The newest member of our
group was a big hit, but my friends were not
so good on the advice front.
I found myself in need of reassurance that
I wasn’t alone with my new little person and
that there were other people going through
the same things as me.
Attending a mothers’ group and being linked
up with other mums and bubs of a similar age
was very useful to me, and it became a great
network for advice, encouragement and,
of course, play-dates!
The mothers’ group I attended was very
large. I realized quickly how important it would
be to maintain contact with the group.
In order to keep in touch with my new net-
work of mums I started a Facebook page to
organize our weekly catch-ups.
20 21
Fashion
Photography by Tara Pearce from
Tara Pearce Photography
Many thanks to our lovely models and
to the Bendigo Pony Club for the use
of their character-filled club rooms which
acted as the backdrop for these photos.
www.bendigoponyclub.com.au
22 23
‘Maxi Dress’ $60by Pollyanna by Belinda,
direct from Belinda herself,
0411 391323,
‘Stag’ by Bao Bab, $29.95
from Much Loved,
95 Mostyn St, Castlemaine,
www.muchloved.com.au
‘Green Hoodie’ by Minymo Kidzone, $20 from Bendigo Kidz Biz, Shop 47 Strath
Village, Strathdale, 5444 0864
‘Billy Bob Board shorts’ by
Pollyanna by Belinda, $45
direct from Belinda herself,
0411 391323,
‘Billy Bob Board shorts’ by
Pollyanna by Belinda, $45
direct from Belinda herself,
0411 391323,
‘Shiboril Shrug’ by Oishi-m, $49.95from Milt and Joe,
374 Hargreaves St, Bendigo,
www.miltandjoe.com.au
‘Autumn Skirt’, $1
from Vision Australia Op Shop,
3 Wills St, Bendigo, 5445 5700
‘Stella Skinny Jean’ by Oishi-m, $59.95 from Milt and Joe,
374 Hargreaves St, Bendigo,
www.miltandjoe.com.au
‘Striped T’ by Tiny Minymo Kidzone, $15 from Bendigo Kidz Biz, Shop 47 Strath
Village, Strathdale, 5444 0864
24 25
Klua Sathorn
Eating Out
Words and photography by Emily O’Brien
Where: 32 Johnstone Street, Castlemaine
When : Open six nights a week from Monday to Saturday, 5pm – 9pm
What : Thai restaurant, Dine in, Take away, Functions
With : Play area, High chairs, Children’s menu
Set in the charming town of Castlemaine, Klua Sathorn is an authentic and family friendly Thai restaurant.
The cosy, historic building creates the perfect setting for a nice family night out. Split into several rooms, the restaurant caters for different dining experiences from group dining to din-ing with the little ones.
A family dining room makes this restaurant stand out as a great place to take the kids. The room is set aside for families, which means you don’t need to stress about the little ones disturbing other guests.
It is complete with a play corner full of books, toys, and a rug to chill out on, so the kids will be able to keep themselves busy while you enjoy the dining experience.
The menu caters for everyone, with a choice of five levels of hotness as well as gluten free and vegetarian options. A kids’ menu ensures that the little ones are happy, and with a variety of Thai-inspired dishes it is a refreshing change from the typical chicken nuggets and chips found on most kids’ menus.
Nice fresh food, a well-set-up venue, and a beautiful building make for a great dining experience, but it is the friendly staff that really tops it off. The staff were quick to welcome us and make sure my son was happy, bringing him toys and even singing him songs. It is easy to tell that the owners really do have a special place in their hearts for children.
Story Time
For those of you who are wondering, ‘Are We
There Yet’ is the story of Lester’s own family’s
trip around Australia, adventurous, funny, warm,
heartfelt, and so easy to relate to if you have ever
travelled with children. It is a lovely book to own
with lots of information about Australia.
Are We There Yet?
Imagine a perfect beach where you can swim,
surf, splash, make sandcastles, explore, fish,
and build a bonfire under the stars…
With evocative rhyming text and gorgeous sun-
washed illustrations, Lester takes us there in the
blink of an eye and the turn of a page. This one
is my personal favorite, and is suitable for slightly
older children.
Magic Beach
A perfect ‘romping read’ for 2-5 year olds,
featuring the loveable Noni the pony who is
‘friendly and funny’ and loves ‘trotting and dancing’
her way around the farm with her best friends
Dave Dog and Coco the Cat. It boasts gentle,
rhythmical text without too many words,
and endearing illustrations from an author who
understands horses and farm life well.
Noni the Pony
The National Year of Reading will feature Alison
Lester’s picture book ‘Are we there yet?’,
with state and local competitions for great prizes,
and a national travelling exhibition of the art
works and props. It seems like serendipity to
review a few of the very talented Alison Lester’s
beautiful picture books.
It’s Australia’s inaugural National Year of Reading!
There will be lots of great things happening on a
national, state, and local level, so keep your eye
on the National Year of Reading website www.
love2read.org.au and that of Goldfields Library
Corporation www.ncgrl.vic.gov.au to stay informed.
Words by Tammy Higgs from the Goldfields Library Corporation
Alison Lester’s Romping Reads
26 27
With the winter weather not too far away,
what better way to celebrate the last of the warm
autumn days than with a teddy bears’ picnic!
All you need is a rug, some comfy cushions...
and lots of furry friends.
Begin by making a special invitation for your child.
Take a photo of your child’s favourite teddy or toy
and paste it on the back of an envelope.
Place a card inside with a special message invit-
ing your child along. Your little one will love the
idea that their teddy has sent them mail.
Keep the food simple by packing your child’s
usual lunch into a special lunch box. (For some
reason it tastes better when eaten outside and
out of something new.)
If you would like to include a special treat for
your child to enjoy after their lunch, why not
consider making some ‘Mars Bar Teddy Cars’.
Simply buy the bite-sized Mars Bar pieces and
stick Smarties on the sides for wheels with a bit
of melted chocolate.
Push Tiny Teddies into the top of the Mars Bars
and you will soon have a whole race track full of
teddies driving yummy cars.
Pick a shady spot in the garden and set
up the gathering of teddy bears before your
child arrives. This will encourage the fantasy
and make-believe world in your child’s mind.
Oh, what a surprise for your little one when they
stumble upon a real teddy bears’ picnic!
Special
Today’s the Day the Teddy Bears Have Their Picnic!Words by Sue Boniwell, Photography by
Alison Mulqueen from Lollypop Photography
28 29
Cool days, Snug babes
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Health and Wellbeing
Most women won’t have heard the term
‘pelvic floor’ until they have given birth to
a baby. I know I didn’t. Up until that
stage it just worked, without question,
without prompting, and certainly without
exercising it!
Your pelvic floor muscle is quite often
forgotten when exercising. It’s certainly
not the first thing that gets put into a gym
workout! You probably won’t even think
of it until you run or jump, and then have
that horrible feeling of needing to go to the
toilet... and in a hurry!!
So what is your pelvic floor muscle
anyway? It’s part of the group of muscles
that contribute to your ‘core’ strength.
That’s right, your ‘core’ isn’t just your
abdominal area, it’s also your hips, pelvic
region, and lower back. That’s why the
most common reason for a weakened
pelvic floor is pregnancy and childbirth.
All that growing and stretching your body
does during pregnancy, and your baby
using your pelvic floor like a trampoline for
nine months, is sure to do it!
My Pelvic What??Words by Amy Holmes from Shake, Rattle and Stroll,
Photography by Heidi McIntosh
The good news is that pelvic floor weak-
ness is reversible. Because it’s a muscle
like any other in the body, it’s open to
strength training.
I have encountered women who are now
grandmothers and still have bladder leak-
age due to weakened pelvic muscles asso-
ciated with childbirth – so don’t waste any
time, get into pelvic floor exercises pronto!
To get started, lay on your back with your
knees raised and feet flat on the floor.
Breathe in, and on the breath out squeeze
your pelvic floor muscle and try to draw
it up towards your belly button (imagine
that you are trying to squeeze your pelvic
bones in towards each other). Try to hold
the muscle contraction for 3-5 seconds,
release, and repeat.
Take care, love life, and be healthy.
Amy
30 31
Little Green Thumbs
The Autumn GardenWords and photography by Rose Vincent
We are still enjoying the last of the summer
fruit and vegies: strawberries and melons;
corn, tomatoes, and zucchini. The autumn
harvest is eggplant, capsicum, rhubarb,
pears, figs, and many more.
As these crops finish, we will clear the
beds and plant out the winter produce
such as broccoli, brussels sprouts,
cabbage, kale, and snow peas.
Good soil is the basis of a good spring harvest.
Add plenty of cold manure, autumn leaves,
and straw, layered like a ‘lasagne’.
Water it and let it ‘cook’ while the weather
is still warm, then pop the seedlings
straight in and watch them grow.
I love that Bendigo has four distinct seasons,
autumn is my very favourite. The days are
beginning to cool and the plants (and the
mums!) seem to appreciate that.
It’s never too early to introduce baby
to the joy of being outside in the garden.
Watching the breeze in the trees may be
something a very little one can do from a
pram for some of their wake time.
It need be only a few moments, long
enough for mum or dad to water a few pots,
pluck some weeds, squash some grubs, or
maybe just sit in the garden and unwind. I
remember being caught by my midwife in
the vegie-patch, harvesting a cauliflower,
the day after our first child was born!
A round, plastic wash basin can become
a useful way of including a ‘not quite able
to sit up’ babe alongside you while working
in the garden.
I often plant quick-growing radish seeds in
the shape of a smiley face or a child’s initials.
They are ready to eat in no time at all.
It’s a good time of year to pop a bulb in a
pot and watch it grow. I am always glad in
the middle of winter to have some bright,
happy blooms.
To help children notice the change in
seasons, we collect seed-pods and differet
shaped leaves for our nature table.
Talk lots about autumn: plants and trees
sleeping above the ground during the cold
weather, but lots of work happening under-
ground their imaginations will love it!
It’s a good time of year to build a scare-
crow together. The children at Havilah Rd
Preschool have A4 laminated photos of
their faces under the straw hats. They are
very cute!
For those with limited space, plants can
grow in pots and gumboots and plates on
window sills and balconies.
Community gardens are a fabulous way
to get involved in your neighbourhood.
Through the gardens we have been part
of we have met other families, older neigh-
bours, university students, and refugees,
and we have made wonderful friends.
Bendigo has a growing number of vibrant
community gardens, which are great places
to share gardening tips, recipes, and life.
What a lovely way to inspire our children to
be tomorrow’s gardeners.
32 33
Teddington Reservoir is in the St. Arnaud Range
National Park, just a very short drive (or slightly
longer bike ride with two boys in a bike trailer)
from Stuart Mill, near St. Arnaud. Google ‘Parks
Victoria’ for excellent information about where to
camp right across Victoria.
With the backdrop of the reservoir (if you closed
your eyes it could be anywhere in the world an
exotic lake perhaps), and gum trees with a blanket
of yellow paper daisies underneath, the location
for an entirely outdoorsy experience was perfect.
We took off after the regular Friday swimming
lessons for both boys in Bendigo, and travelled
directly to Teddington. Only one hour or so, both
boys asleep, easy.
One camper trailer. One ute. Some clothes,
some books, toy trains, some bikes and a bike
trailer.
Food and drinks. Two adults. Two children under
four. No power, no TV, no showers, no heating, no
cooling apart from what nature provided. Perfect.
It seemed like a great idea to go camping with
our two young boys… and it was!
Fortunately selecting a gloriously sunny weekend
sandwiched between two other wet and windy
ones, we certainly experienced the best of what
Teddington Reservoir had to offer.
Words by Sarah Cody, Photography by 4 year old
Sachin Cody
Camping is Cool
Your Story
you don’t have to travel
long distances to find
great places to stay.
the paper daisies; riding in the bike trailer; rolling
toy trains over tree trunks; riding a balance bike
around the campsite; ‘helping’ set the annexe
up/use tools/make a fire; playing with new friends;
using the tent as a personal cubby; taking countless
photos of the adventure; enjoying the peace and
quiet; being disconnected from the world; having
a chance to reconnect with nature; enjoying time
with your children free from distractions; and
creating precious memories.
Apart from the initial set up, our weekend away
cost only our petrol money. Caravan parks only
charge a small fee for a site, making camping an
affordable holiday, and you don’t have to travel
long distances to find great places to stay.
On arrival, it took one flip of the camper trailer
canvas and we had a tent. Another hour and the
annexe was up. A little setting up, a walkto check
out the water, then back to light a fire (just be-
cause) and cook a barbecue for tea. Lovely.
On a short stroll to the single, basic toilet block,
we met a family of five, including a nine month old,
on their third camping adventure (a camper
trailer, too).
They were from Avoca, but found it easy to
feel transported even though they were only half
an hour from home. The kids connected while
we chatted, as kids do, and the bush was their
playground till dusk.
Our second day was relaxed – no deadlines,
no routine. It’s amazing how easy it is to fill in
a day without the things we THINK we need to
keep occupied. Before we knew it, it was Sunday,
and time to return to Bendigo.
The cool things to do while camping, wherever
and whoever you are, include: playing with sticks;
digging in holes; running under logs and through
It’s amazing how
easy it is to fill in a
day without the things
we think we need to
keep occupied.
34 35
Words and Photography by Gemma French and
Heidi McIntosh
Warming Colours for Colder Days
Make
You will need:
- A selection of colourful autumn leaves
- Scissors
- Clear contact paper
Autumn is a great time to get out and about with your little ones. Why not take a walk and explore the beauty of this colourful season, collecting leaves of all shapes and sizes along the way.
Stained Glass Autumn Leaf WindowsThese stained glass autumn leaf windows are
a great way to make use of all the unique leaves you have collected.
To make these stained glass autumn leaf windows, place autumn leaves face down on the sticky side of clear contact paper. Then simply stick the contact paper directly to a window.
It’s an easy activity to do with kids, and a great way to instantly bring all the colours of autumn right into your home.
You will need:
- A plastic or glass jar with no label
- Rice
- Food dye
- Paper and pen
- Packing tape
- A jumbled collection of small things found around the house and outside
This is a cozy inside or car game for the kids, as well as a fun creation to assemble.
With vibrantly coloured rice, it complements the autumn atmosphere and gives a good excuse for a scavenger hunt!
A Jar of I SpyIn a plastic bag, add food colouring to rice.
Twist to secure, and rotate the rice within the bag to allow the colouring to penetrate the rice. Lay outside on trays to dry.
Meanwhile, go on a scavenger hunt with your children throughout your home and outside in nature to collect a variety of small items that can be included in the game. We used about twenty.
Alternate layering the rice and the collected items in the jar so as to ‘hide’ the items as the jar fills. Do not completely fill to the top, to allow space for the rice and items to move around.
Write out the list of items ‘hidden’ in the jar on a piece of paper and tape it to the top of the jar, simultaneously securing the jar shut. Now twist and turn the jar and see how many items you can spy!
36 37
Little Foodies
Try these tasty recipes with your children;
ours have loved them! Then send us your own
children’s favourites, and include a photo,
for a chance to receive a Kiddies Food Kutter,
a clever little knife that cuts food and not fin-
gers to encourage your little one in the kitchen!
Yummy TummyWarmers
Ingredients:
- 300g diced bacon
- 2 leeks
- 2 chillies or to taste
- 300g mushrooms chopped
- 10 medium potatoes
- ½ cauliflower
- 60g butter
- 1 litre chicken stock
- parmesan chees
- parsley
Winter White Soup
Fry the mushrooms and chilli in a little oil and set
aside. Quarter and finely slice the leeks and sauté in the
butter in a heavy-based large saucepan until cooked.
Add in 200g of the bacon and continue to fry until well
cooked. Add in fried mushrooms and chilli, peeled and
quartered potatoes, chicken stock, and cauliflower cut
into chunks. Put lid on saucepan and bring to boil over
a medium heat. Turn heat back and allow to simmer for
approx. ½ hour or until all vegies are well cooked.
Blend the cooked soup to form a nice puree and serve
topped with the remainder of the bacon, fried, as well
as parmesan shavings and parsley.
Ingredients:
- 2 eggs, slightly beaten
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup canola oil
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 ½ cups shredded carrot
- 1 cup shredded zucchini
- ½ cup chopped dates
- 1 cup plain flour
- ½ cup wholemeal flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp ground ginger
¼ tsp baking soda
Carrot and Zucchini Slice
Preheat oven to 180 ˚C . In a large bowl, whisk
together the eggs, brown sugar, oil, honey, and vanilla.
(Don’t worry about clumps of the brown sugar;
they will dissolve as it sits while you prepare the
remaining ingredients.) Then fold in the carrot,
zucchini, and dates. In another bowl combine the flour,
baking powder, ginger, and baking soda. Whisk to blend
together. Add the flour mixture to the wet mixture.
Stir until just combined. Spread batter into an
ungreased 30x20x5cm baking pan. Bake about 25 min,
or until a toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean.
Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
You will need:
- An assortment of unwanted sheets, clothes,
and fabrics.
Creating a new play-thing from old rags is so
satisfying! And the simple wrapping required in
making this ball will be a good inside task for
your child to enjoy on a cooler day.
Simply rip and tear up your old fabrics into
strips roughly 5cm wide. Old sheets work partic-
ularly well as long lengths of fabrics are achieved.
Then, start wrapping!
At first your ‘ball’ will look more like an oddly-
shaped lump, but don’t give up! Allow the fabric
to scrunch together as you roll, as this will make
your ball look more spherical, make your ball
grow more quickly, and ultimately give it a
softer feel.
Rag Ball
Make - continued
When you get to the end of your fabric length,
make a button-hole slit in the end of your current
length, and feed the end of the new length firstly
through this button-hole slit and then through
a similar slit made at the other end of the new
fabric piece. Pull the new fabric length tight
through both slits, and a flat tie will be achieved
without the bulkiness of a knot. (Or you could just
tie a knot!)
Keep going until you achieve the size you want,
and then weave the end multiple times into the
ball to make it secure.
Make several smaller-sized balls as juggling
balls, or a larger one for littler hands to play with!
And don’t worry if the ball starts to unravel,
for the unravelling and rewinding forms part
of the fun!
38
Women’s Health Loddon Mallee
have baby changing facilities and
provide a safe, quite and comfortable
place for you to feed your baby.
Why not browse through our library
and enjoy a cuppa while you are here?
All welcome - Open weekdays
47 Myers Street, Bendigo5443 0233
