Mums & Bubs event makes a splash
THE first IWC North Burnett Mums & Bubs event of 2019 made a big splash on January 17.
Held in the waterworld fund of Gayndah Shire Pool, more than 30 North Burnett mums, grandparents and children turned out to learn about swim safety and receive health and wellbeing advice.
“With the hot weather here, we drew on the local pool as a gathering place for this event,” said IWC North Burnett Assistant Manager Cynthia George.
“The sessions are being provided on the third Thursday of each month by IWC to provide a fun and supportive environment in which families can ask questions of health professionals, and seek assistance.”
IWC has held regular monthly Midwife sessions in North Burnett since 2014, and the Mums & Bubs events are a natural flow-on from that. IWC is non-government, Aboriginal community-run and a registered charity, offering a wide range of health and wellbeing services across the North Burnett for all people, Indigenous and non-Indigenous.
“While the hot weather is here, the pool is a great venue, and we thank Amy and Ben Golchert for working with us,” said Cynthia. “We will meet again on Thursday February 21, and invite our local mums and their bubs or children to come along from 10am to noon. It is free, friendly and here for everyone.”
The Mums & Bubs event on 17 January included a demonstration on water safety rules, and also how to help toddlers enjoy water as they learn to swim.
“Amy, assisted by local mum Kathy Ratcliff, showed the parents how to help their toddler learn to kick their feet, and get their children used to water running over their face so that they can eventually learn how to hold their breath and duck their head under the water,” said Cynthia.
“We also provided a demonstration to children on how to react if pushed unexpectedly into a pool or into a river – how to roll on to their back, get their bearings, and get back to safety without panicking.
North Burnett mum Stacey Bramley said: “It was great that the mums and bubs had the pool to ourselves, and we really enjoyed chatting, breastfeeding and exchanging bub information all together.
“Everyone had a great time. We can’t wait to do it again next month.”
Local grandmother Donna McLean took along grandchildren Zoe and Jackson Euler.
“I appreciated the updated advice about water safety for children,” she said, “and in such a relaxing and enjoying group environment.”
The regular sessions will run during 2019, moving to an indoor venue once the weather cools.
IWC courtesy transport is available – just call IWC North Burnett on 4161 4800 to book your place at the next session.
