Are you a farmer experiencing financial difficulty from recent flooding events, labour shortages or rising input costs?

You may be eligible for the Farm Household Allowance (FHA).

FHA is an Australian Government support package for farming families doing it tough.

Applying for the FHA can provide you with financial breathing space while you work through flooding events on crops, animals and pasture, and labour shortages – especially during harvest time.

Every eligible person gets paid the full allowance.

The program provides eligible farmers and their partners with a package of assistance that includes:

• up to four years of fortnightly income support (in every 10 year period)

• ancillary allowances such as Pharmaceutical Allowance, Telephone Allowance, Rent Assistance and Remote Area Allowance

• a professional financial assessment of the farm business (worth up to $1,500)

• funding to help develop skills, access training and pay for professional advice (up to $10,000 and can include reasonable travel and accommodation to undertake training).

• regular support of a case manager.

You can get Farm Household Allowance for up to 4 years (1,460 days) at any time between 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2024. You can apply for your second tranche of four years from 1 July 2024.

FHA gives you time to improve your circumstances. You do not have to receive all payments in one go. You can stop and start your payment as many times as you like. Stopping and deferring your payments can save them up for future hardship.

You will also get ongoing support from your own:

Farm Household Case Officer (FHCO)

Rural Financial Counsellor (RFC) (if you choose).

To find out if you’re eligible for FHA, call the Farmer Assistance Hotline on 132 316 between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday – or visit: https://fal.cn/3uTWa.

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By the end of the school holidays, you may be feeling a little frustrated.

The excitement of Christmas has been and gone, finances may be a little tight, and the kids have been ‘bored’ ever since they left school.

While it’s tempting to keep them occupied online, there are some simple activities families can do together to break the boredom. As an added bonus, they’ll help everyone to get fitter and feel better.

Let’s get moving!

Apptivities

Let’s face it, dragging kids away from their screens can be a challenge, so what if you combined screen time with fitness?

There are a number of apps that make getting active fun. Pokemon Go has been around for years now and is still a fun way to get walking. Catch imaginary creatures on your screen as you walk, and visit public places like parks to top up with special items. It’s amazing how far the kids will want to walk to ‘hatch an egg’ to get a new Pokemon!

Treasure Hunt

Whether you create a competition to see how many shells can be collected at the beach, or create an actual treasure hunt with clues and prizes, these mystery games can eat up hours of a day and keep the kids active for longer than they realise.

Get Crafty

Remember Mary Poppins? Well, there’s still joy in flying a kite, especially if it’s one the kids had a hand in making themselves. Scour the internet for instructions on how to build a kite, then pick a breezy day to try it out down at the beach. Pack a cricket set or frisbees and watch the hours melt away.

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Images: Artist impression of the new Muscle Garden gym opening soon in Bucasia

Kay Nyenuh

Hi, this is Kay from Muscle Garden.

I’m very excited to announce that we will be opening our fourth gym - Muscle Garden Bucasia this April!

When I first started Muscle Garden Personal Training right here in parks around Mackay in 2012, I had no idea that we’d be where we are today - three gyms in Mackay, Marian, Andergrove and a fourth, Bucasia opening soon!

And I’m very grateful for all the support we’ve received from our town so far.

It is this support that has helped us to be in the position where we are able to reach more everyday people and make fitness accessible for them in an environment that is free of intimidation, where they feel welcomed, comfortable and supported to train so they can achieve their health and fitness goals.

As much as we’d love to open Muscle Garden Bucasia sooner, our hands are tied. We have to wait for our state-of-the-art technogym gear to be delivered from Italy - pushing our official open date to either April 16th or 29th.

Muscle Garden Bucasia is located in the Hibiscus Shopping Centre on 52 Downie Avenue.

We will be open 24/7 with plenty of parking. We will also run some of our beloved classes in Bucasia, and as with our existing facilities, Fitness Passport members are gladly welcomed.

We are currently looking into the possibility of providing a space for parents to leave their kids while they workout. It is something we hope to confirm over the coming weeks.

Members are now welcomed to take advantage of our presale offer. Join today and pay absolutely NOTHING until we open. $0 Joining Fee plus a FREE 2023 Muscle Garden T-shirt/Singlet.

Can’t wait until we open? No problem! Join today and start using our existing branches in Mackay, Marian and Andergrove on our Premium Membership option and lock in a discounted rate of $20.95 per week! That’s a saving of at least $7 per week!

The discounted flat rate will not change for the life of your contract. But you must sign up before February 28th, 2023 to lock it in!

Go to musclegarden.com.au/bucasia-gym/ for more details or contact us at info@musclegarden.com.au / 07 49440119.

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The start of a new year can unveil a mixed bag of emotions for many people.

While some are excited at the prospect of a fresh beginning to set themselves up for a better year than last, others struggle with financial strain following Christmas, loneliness of partners returning to work and back-to-school anxiety.

Sometimes the smallest changes can bring about the best outcomes for your mental health and wellbeing.

1. Don’t Hold It In

Bottled up emotions tend to explode like a bad batch of ginger beer. Instead of letting problems simmer, talk them through with someone you can trust. Often we feel a situation is ‘all on us’, yet, talking to a friend, colleague or partner may present a solution you hadn’t considered. As they say, a problem shared is a problem halved.

2. Make time for self-care

Choose a list of things that make you happy and schedule them into your lifestyle, as if they are just as important as other tasks, because they are! It could be a weekly bath, a weekly walk on the beach, a monthly massage or time daily to read a book. Clarity through relaxation will help you to tackle life’s bigger issues.

3. Set achievable goals

If you are struggling financially, seeking the help of a budget guru may help you to get your bank balance back on track. Often this stems from setting achievable goals and brainstorming solutions to help you cut back on unnecessary items while you get your bills under control.

The new year does not have to be a brand new you straight away.

These things take time.

If you find yourself not making progress over time, consider reaching out to a mental health professional to arm you with the tools you need to unlock your potential.

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Switching the painkiller codeine to a prescription-only medicine in 2018 led to a 37 per cent overall drop in its consumption across Australia, according to new findings from wastewater sampling published in the journal Addiction.

The samples, taken from 49 wastewater treatment plants, which cover catchment areas for 10.6 million Australians, show the dramatic effect of withdrawing the country’s most misused legal opioid from pharmacy counters, cutting dependency, and potentially saving lives.

Scientists from the University of South Australia and University of Queensland compared wastewater samples taken between 2016 and 2019, 18 months before and after codeine was rescheduled and low-dose formulations removed from over-the-counter (OTC).

Codeine concentrations were converted to per capita consumption estimates, revealing an immediate decrease of 37 per cent nationally after the rescheduling and between 24 per cent and 51 per cent in all states and territories.

UniSA scientist Associate Professor Cobus Gerber says the samples – representing 45 per cent of the country’s population – demonstrate the effectiveness of the Federal Government’s decision to take tough measures on the popular painkiller.

Opioids are among the most widely used analgesic medicines globally, with more than 61 million people using them in 2018.

Their misuse is responsible for two thirds of all drug-related deaths, due to abuse and dependence.

Codeine has been the most widely used legal opioid in Australia, with its per capita use steadily increasing. 2013 data showed Australia took more codeine as a country than the United States, despite having roughly seven per cent of the population.

The study is the first to evaluate a national drug policy change via wastewater sampling.

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Welcome to 2023!

This is my first article of the year and I’m setting the intention in writing that it’s going to be a good one.

While I cannot guarantee that, because some things are out of our control, what I can guarantee is that you’ll have plenty of fun and laughs to listen to every weekday morning starting the 23rd of January! This is when the new brekkie show, Scotty and Rach with Kaley, returns to the airwaves. Rach is off on maternity leave with a new bundle of joy so I’ll be keeping her seat warm.

I do not have children myself but I know all you parents out there that are starting to return to work probably want to pull your hair out and crawl your way to the finish line that is school holidays, and with that comes back to school shopping! I’m only 27 so I still have fond memories of that time. The new pencil case and bag – that have to be aesthetic and match, otherwise what’s the point!

Who doesn’t love the smell of a new pencil and the way a fresh pen glides across the paper, new books, shoes and uniforms as well! One thing my mum used to do when I was in school is make sure I had themed books. I still remember to this day her staying up way too late after getting all her jobs done for the day to cover my books in contact. It was mainly cartoon themed – my favourite was the pink SpongeBob contact she did one year.

But is that still a thing? Or is everyone just going raw nowadays?

If you do cover in contact let me know about it at Star 101.9 Mackay on Facebook or Instagram.

Happy New Year to you,

Kaley

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Well, it’s hard to believe the Christmas holidays are over.  I hope that everyone had a great Christmas break and that 2023 is prosperous for everyone.  

We are continuing to progress our major capital liveability projects.  December saw the completion of the first stage of the River Wharf project, the development application lodged for the Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trail, architects appointed to undertake the detailed design for the Northern Beaches Community Hub stages 1A and 1B, and civil works have begun for the road and drainage works.  The Seaforth Esplanade upgrade is progressing well, along with the upgrade to Woodlands Park.  Council has more than 700 projects in its Capital Works program for this financial year.  However, COVID-19, inflation and shortages of material and human resources continue to impact the delivery of the program.

Let’s turn our focus to Australia Day.  The awards night is held on Wednesday, January 25, where the Australia Day Award recipients for 2023 will be announced.  I’d like to congratulate all nominees and thank those who have taken the time to nominate someone.  A citizenship ceremony will then be held Thursday morning to welcome new Australian Citizens to our region.

Council also offers grants to community organisations to hold Australia Day events.  This funding will support 13 true-blue Australia Day celebrations by local not-for-profit groups. Be sure to attend one or a few of the following events:

● Armstrong Beach Progress Association – 2pm to 8pm, Llewellyn Hall

● Eimeo Surf Lifesaving Club – 11am to 2pm, Eimeo Surf Lifesaving Club

● Finch Hatton Progress Association – 10am to 3pm, Finch Hatton Showgrounds

● Habana and Districts Progress Association – 3pm to 7pm, 1091 Mackay-Habana Road

● Mackay Bowling Club – 9am to 4pm, Mackay Bowling Club, Nebo Road

● Mackay Contract Bridge Club (come and try) – 10am to 3pm, 414 Shakespeare Street

● Mackay Junior Motocross (come and try) – 8.30am to 1pm, Riverside Track, 2 Hume Street

● Mackay Sailing Club – Sail Away, 11am to 3pm, Kinchant Dam

● Mackay Surf Life Saving Club – Beach Party, 10am to 4pm, Mackay Harbour

● Sarina Surf Lifesaving Club – 1pm to 5pm, Sarina Beach

● Seaforth Bowls Club – 1.30pm till late, Walsh Avenue

● St Helens Beach Progress and Environment Association Inc – 9am to 4pm, Repulse Esplanade

● Banksia Scout Group – Open Day, 10am to 1pm, Jaycee Park, Bedford Road.

Cr Karen May

Deputy Mayor

Mackay Regional Council

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Image: Pool passes make Coral Sea Resort Hotel an attractive day-trip destination from Mackay

A day-trip destination which delivers on style, service and spectacular views; Coral Sea Resort Hotel provides a plethora of places to perch for the day, whether you seek shade under an oceanfront umbrella or the sun on the white sand beach loungers.

The iconic hotel ranks as one of the most picturesque resorts within Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays, successfully combining an enticing array of facilities, outstanding hospitality and a passionate team dedicated to delivering you a wondrous experience that exceeds expectations along with memories to treasure.

With the re-introduction of pool passes, Coral Sea Resort Hotel is now an appealing day-trip destination from Mackay.

Continuous upgrades at the hotel means the pool now has more seating options than ever, with seaside loungers and umbrellas as well as built-in 2-people lounger beds at each end of the pool. Not to mention the abundance of seating on the lawn, the beach and at the restaurant.

The restaurant, The Rocks, is located by the pool and offers an amazing location to wine, dine and relax whilst enjoying the best views. The poolside lawn area includes a tropical beach located on the water’s edge as well as an Insta-worthy swing for capturing the setting sun.

Poolside ordering has been made easy with a QR code at every poolside seat. Enjoy the convenience of cool beverages and tasty casual fare being delivered to your lounger as you relax in complete bliss.

Once you arrive, there’s nothing left for you to do other than dip, sip and relax. Of course should you choose to extend the bliss, the hotel offers a range of accommodation options, including configurations with spa baths on the balcony, for the ultimate getaway.

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Image: The Comedy Circus Stunt Show at Caneland Central. Photo source: Caneland Central Facebook page

The Comedy Circus Stunt Show at Caneland Central proved to be a hit over the school holidays, with children and parents packing in the Centre Court area near Myer to watch free entertainment.

The family friendly comedy show had people of all ages chuckling, with hilarious comedy, incredible circus stunts and entertaining tricks. The 45-minute Comedy Circus Stunt Show had spectators 'oohing' and 'aahing' at the mind-blowing contortions, impressive juggling and ludicrous comedy.

On top of the free entertainment, Caneland Central is also hosting Kids Magic Workshops.

The 30-minute Magic Workshops will run four times daily, from Mon 16th Jan – Sat 21st Jan, located in Centre Court, near Myer.

Workshop One 9.30am – 10.00am

Workshop Two 10.30am – 11.00am

Workshop Three 1.00pm – 1.30pm

Workshop Four 2.00pm – 2.30pm

Limited spots are available, so book in now to avoid disappointment!

Book your tickets via Eventbrite, visit the Caneland Central Facebook page for the link.

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Image: Visitors to the Homestead at Lotus Creek enjoy tasty milkshakes and hearty country fare. Photo credit: Photos by Nell

Nestled in the southern hinterland of the Mackay region, sits a historic homestead offering travellers and day-trippers an oasis to refuel and refresh.

The Homestead at Lotus Creek is becoming a favourite place to take a drive, see wildlife as you meander through the bush and then enjoy country hospitality and hearty tucker.

Owners, the Kemp family, are third generation graziers who have been in the area for 52 years.

Their family-operated business is positioned just a few kms down the road from The Homestead, and their ties to Lotus Creek go way back to the 70's when David can remember buying a paper bag full of lollies for just a few cents, or selling homegrown eggs for a bit of pocket money.

The old Lotus Creek Service Station which for decades was an iconic stop for fuel, milkshakes and ham-and-cheese toasties, had been lost to the community following Cyclone Debbie in 2017, leaving no stopping point for travellers on the stretch of highway between Marlborough and Sarina.

“Living remotely there's a lot you learn to live without, but we felt the community needed a connection point, a central hub to bring everyone together, and a destination for those travelling through,” the Kemps said.

When Lotus Creek Tourist Park hit the market, the prospect of bringing some life back to the place was exciting, so the Kemps embarked on a new adventure.

The Homestead at Lotus Creek is located less than two hours from Mackay via a picturesque journey through the Sarina Range.

For those wanting a real rural experience, there are powered, non-powered and caravan camping sites ready for you to switch off and slow down. If you have a well-behaved pet, you're welcome to bring them with you.

Caravanners and campers can spend their days swimming, kayaking, fishing and wildlife spotting, and their evenings catching up around a campfire.

The newly renovated Homestead has an onsite cafe/restaurant, guest laundry, and shower/toilet facilities. Based on online reviews, the food is great and the milkshakes are touted as being among the best people have ever had.

Koalas are regularly spotted in the surrounding trees, making it a great place for a family adventure.

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The fourth book in a series lovingly produced by a group of local volunteers has hit the shelves, bringing the community 30 stories of individuals and couples who have contributed meaningfully to the town of Collinsville.

From the previous mayor Sir Peter Delamothe to Sister Forrest who delivered babies at Collinsville Hospital, the spectrum of those featured is both diverse and inclusive.

A volunteer team of six people work together to bring the stories and photos to life, these are then edited and artfully placed on pages to create a book.

Jenn Honnery is responsible for designing the book and she says that the whole community is involved with the project.

Using the power of social media on the Collinsville Locals page, most of the stories were collated from comments made by people who knew the characters featured.

“Pages and pages of comments were filtered through, we got stories from eulogies, word of mouth and also lots of cups of tea and conversation,” said Jenn.

“We also have a database of 12,000 photos which we can match names against.”

Bringing together a good photo with a meaningful story was a complicated process that often took hours of volunteer time, but the outcome is impressive, and the team believe the success of the ‘Our Mates’ book could be the first in a series.

“We have an aging population here in Collinsville and unfortunately every year we lose a couple of characters,” Jenn explained.

“It’s sad to think that we could be missing some of these stories and so creating these books was a way we could capture their stories before the older generation can’t tell them anymore.

“Once we started the project, we just kept coming across more and more great stories, we already easily know of 100 more people we could include and we just want to help keep the momentum going.”

Every book produced is self-funded by the last and all proceeds go straight towards the following years’ project.

This year, they published 350 copies, and the limited editions are selling fast.

They are available from the Collinsville Connect Telecentre.

“They are a great reference for kids at the local library and they also make great presents which look nice on a coffee table,” said Jenn.

The project started four years ago when the team of volunteers released their first book entitled ‘Our Stories Unearthed’ which paid homage to 100 years of mining.

The success of this book was soon followed by ‘A Miner’s Best Friend’, the story of the much-loved Pit Ponies and last year, a book celebrating 100 years of Collinsville State School, held a precious memory to many.

With plans already in place for a sequel to ‘Our Mates’, anyone in Collinsville who has an interesting story to share is welcome to connect with the team.

Through projects like this, the valuable and unique local history of Collinsville is preserved for generations to come, keeping the spirit of the local community alive.

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Jamaine Miller, Karla Fisher, Laurie-Anne Williams, Leola Janz, Cindy Winston. Photo supplied

Each book tells an important part of Collinsville’s vibrant history, preserving it for generations to come

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What was referred to by locals as the Happy Bay wreck was a great source of interest and uncertainty for many years – a popular local theory being that it was a Spanish galleon, possibly fanned by the fact that old Spanish coins had been found in the area. Some familiar names involved in trying to identify the wreck were the Altmann family, Walter Tronson and George Sax.  

Over the years, as the resort of Happy Bay was being established, several items of wreckage had been carted up to the homestead area and could be easily found around the grounds. Some pieces had been burnt and around the fire could be found hand wrought nails of copper and the sort of iron spikes, preceding the bolts and rivets used by modern-day shipbuilders. Lumps of galley coal and pitch were retrieved from the sands. Fragments of crockery – white China pieces with a blue edging and decorative Chinese motifs – were also found.  (Many of the crew of the ‘Valetta” were Chinese). Iron fragments were also found - prominent was an iron box about 37 centimetres square, evidently the step in for a large mast.

In time, most of these wrecked items disappeared and by the time the Mountney family purchased the resort in 1949, all efforts were channelled into upgrading facilities. The wreck became just another item on the list to be checked out. This did not, of course, deter those who occasionally turned up with shovels to dig around the wreck area.

In the early 1970s, during another upgrade, the Galleon Bar was established featuring five cannon balls linked by association to the “mystery galleon of Happy Bay”. Guests were encouraged to “dance the night away with the Buccaneers.” Clearly, the wreck was not forgotten.

By 1978, John Mountney was at the helm of the resort. It was assistant manager, Ian McClintock, who set in motion a chain of events that ultimately solved the mystery of the wreck. He contacted David Hopley at James Cook University regarding “the possibility of radiocarbon dating and wood analysis of some timbers removed from a wreck at Happy Bay.”

Subsequent research by Hopley and McClintock produced a number of references to an occurrence of a wreck at Long Island. After a process of elimination and the discovery of an eyewitness report in the ‘Sydney Gazette” dated September 15, 1825 of “circumstances attending the loss of the ‘Valetta’ in a bay near Cape Gloucester”, both men were certain they had identified the wreck.

The establishment of the Department of Maritime Archaeology of the Queensland Museum in 1981 led to renewed interest in the site which ultimately resulted in the department’s expedition to Happy Bay in 1983 and a thorough examination of the remains.

On June 30 1983, a small article appeared in the “Courier Mail” –

For those who are interested in a comprehensive account of the story of the “Valetta”, this can be found in Ray Blackwood’s book, “The Whitsunday Islands – An Historical Dictionary” – an intriguing read!

Story and photos courtesy of Proserpine Historical Museum, Marion Eaton (nee) Hallam and Qld Museum

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The Valetta remains at Happy Bay. Photo credit: Qld Museum

A relic from the Valetta wreck

Playing a grandfather who is the owner of an ailing Californian vineyard in his most recent movie, ‘Love By The Glass’, which was shot by an American production company in Brisbane late last year, local actor Jean-Pierre Yerma (JP), has just returned to the Whitsundays for a well-earned break.

Motivated to start a career in the performing arts when a chance encounter with a filming crew saw him offered a job, JP has been working on everything from commercials to movies since 2006 while also studying and fine-tuning his talents.

Originally from Melbourne, he moved to Sydney and then Noosa where he discovered a love of Queensland, enticing him to move to work on Hayman Island for several years.

He now owns an apartment in Airlie Beach and loves spending time here when he is not on set.

For the past decade JP has been studying his craft, becoming a student at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA) in 2014 and learning from some of the best teachers in the country.

Since then, his career has taken off and last year he played the father in a movie called ‘No Harm Done’, which was shot in Sydney.

This movie tackles the complex topic of a father being told his son is gay and, coming from a footballing family where he is the coach, learning how to understand the revelation.

“I often get cast as a father or a caring person, someone who’s struggled in life, experienced trauma and tragedy but not let that get the better of him,” said JP.

“I love telling stories and spreading really good inspirational stuff - stories of hope.”

Both movies will be released this year so keep an eye out for them.

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Actor Jean-Pierre Yerma (JP) has just finished filming ‘Love By The Glass’

In the movie he had to grow a beard to become a 70-year-old grandfather

With just over a week of school holidays remaining, there is still time to participate in one of the family fun activities at a local library near you.

Whitsunday Regional Council Libraries have been hosting regular events throughout the holidays and they are all available for free.

Providing our youngest community members with interactive, entertaining and educational activities, these events offer a wide variety of distractions, perfect to fill the lazy summer days.

From computer coding to crime scene science labs, mosaic craft to canvas art and chess club, there are plenty of ways to keep you little family members active and engaged.

Here is a timetable so you can discover an activity near you:

Bowen

Tuesday 17 January

10am - QAGOMA: Superpowered On Tour Drop-In Session

2pm – Crime Scene Science Lab – bookings essentials (12+)

Thursday 19 January

10am - Introduction to Coding – booking essential (3–5-year-olds)

2pm – SRC ‘I Spy Activity Game’ drop-in session (6+)

Cannonvale

Tuesday 17 January

10am – Mosaic Craft – bookings essential (8+)

Wednesday 18 January

10am - SRC ‘Australia Day Storytime’ drop-in session (6+)

3pm – Chess Club drop-in session (6+)

Thursday 19 January

10am – SRC ‘Canvas Art’ bookings essential (7+)

3pm – Maker Space drop-in session (6+)

Saturday 21 January

9am – Mini Makers drop-in session (5 years and under)

Proserpine

Tuesday 17 January

10am - Introduction to Coding – booking essential (3–5-year-olds)

Thursday 19 January

10am – SRD ‘Build Your Own 3D Town’ bookings essential (all ages)

Collinsville

Tuesday 17 January

10am – Summer Craft bookings essential (3+)

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Finding the right school shoe is the foundation to every child’s development throughout the year - here are some tips to pick the right shoe for you and your family:

Choose age-appropriate fastenings: Look at whether they want Velcro or laces, it could be more practical to opt for Velcro if they are younger as this will save you more time in the morning.

Bring socks: When buying a new pair of shoes make sure you try them on with the same socks your child would usually be wearing to school.

Do the wiggle test: There needs to be enough room to wiggle your toes at the end, about 1cm is the perfect amount of growing room. If there is any more room, then the sole will flex in the wrong place and will not last as long.

Watch out for width: Most people think it is just the length of the shoe that matters but it is important that the width is comfortable too.

Be relaxed: Children pick up on attitudes around them, if you are stressed and frantic, they will be too. Try to be relaxed and calm, leave plenty of time to choose the right shoe, don’t rush.

Ask a specialist: Always check with a fitting specialist as your child may say that they fit well on them, but they could have lots of extra room at the back without them realising. The friendly team at Shoe Biz are always ready to help, simply call into their Proserpine or Airlie Beach stores today.

“Come in and see us, sit down in the relaxed atmosphere and get them fitted properly.”

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