Kids on the coast

All mums employed by the Queensland Government will now be able to breastfeed at work in a clean, safe and private environment. Under the new policy, mums can feed their babies or express milk during lactation breaks of up to one hour, access a fridge for milk storage and take advantage of flexible working hours.

Keep Australia Beautiful is encouraging locals to show the nation how they sustainably care for Townsville’s beaches and foreshores. The Clean Beaches competition applauds heroes who prevent litter, protect the environment, manage waste, save water or preserve heritage and culture. Queensland’s Cleanest Beach will be eligible to compete for the title of Australia’s Cleanest Beach. To find out more, visit: www.kabq.org.au

Keep Australia Beautiful is encouraging locals to show the nation how they sustainably care for Gold Coast’s iconic beaches and foreshores. The Clean Beaches competition applauds heroes who prevent litter, protect the environment, manage waste, save water or preserve heritage and culture. Queensland’s Cleanest Beach will be eligible to compete for the title of Australia’s Cleanest Beach. To find out more, visit: www.kabq.org.au.

More than 300 Gold Coast children aged 3-5 years are getting healthy and active, as part of the Healthy Active Kindy exercise program run by personal trainers at 10 local childcare centres. Healthy Life Clinic Director Marco Renai said the program aimed to improve coordination, enhance balance, teach team work and reinforce the importance of being active from a very young age. Kids enjoyed playing with hula hoops, soft balls and doing simple activities. Childcare director Renee Berry said the children absolutely loved it. “We were hearing children talk about how they play sport on their WII games, but now we see them playing the games they learn in the playground,” Ms Berry said.

Laurie Lawrence’s Kids Alive Do the Five pantomime will be seen by an extra 16,500 children in South East Queensland, thanks to a $227,000 from the Federal Government in a bid to reduce the number of child drowning deaths. The show teaches school kids about the five steps of water safety: fence the pool, shut the gate, learn to swim, be supervised and learn how to resuscitate. Founder Laurie Lawrence said “it is absolutely achievable to have zero drowning fatalities among children.” The show has visited more than 225,000 students since the year 2000. To find out more, visit: www.kidsalive.com.au

Nannas and Grandpas will now be honoured with their very own special day, with the Premier announcing that Queensland will hold its very first Grandparent’s Day on November 7. With around 14,000 families in Australia now relying on grandparents as the main carer for their children, Grandparents Day is a chance for grandchildren, children and the community to say thanks for their love and support.

Haven’t heard of the Evian roller-skating babies? The 60-second advertisement for bottled mineral water company Evian appears on YouTube featuring cute babies in vests and nappies perform skate park stunts to the hip-hop backing track and rap lyrics. The ad, part of Evian’s ‘Live Young’ international TV and web campaign, has become a sensation with almost 4 million views. There is now even a range of limited edition t-shirts!

Ladies and local clubs from all over the Sunshine Coast (as far as Kilcoy, Maleny, Kenilworth and Gympie) have been sewing up a storm in a ‘quilt-a-thon’ charity project to provide personalised quilts to foster kids. A range of hand designed and personalised lap, cot and single bed quilts will soon be delivered to kids in care. If you’re keen to thread up your needle (or would like to donate some material to the cause), contact Chris Potter on 5447 7110.

Spray fountains, a water cannon, spiral tunnel and a mega soaker are just some of the fun attractions for kids at a new interactive water park coming soon to Cotton Tree Aquatic Centre. As part of a joint venture between Swim Fit and Sunshine Coast Council, the current toddlers’ pool area will be replaced by a water park designed with safety and water conservation in mind. Try it out at the Centre’s free family day on Monday 27 September. More information is available at www.swimfit.com.au