Well done everyone who took part in Give It A Flick 2012!! Now that the month has finished, it would be great to update you the reader, on our success..........unfortunately Auskick is on hold for the school holiday's, so we won't know total $$ figures for another two weeks.
But what I can tell you is that parents are feeling better, healthier, skinnier and have plans of what to do with their extra dollars (which will probably be spent over school holiday's!). I along with others talked about the month with a sense of accomplishment and someone even said 'I have to admit, I was a bit worried at the start...I don't know why, it was too easy'.
If you are here, it may be that you have also finished your month of alcohol free time. If you would like to share your thoughts, give feedback or suggestions for 2013 feel free to post it up here. This has been set up to help and support parents, clubs and anyone who would like to talk about anything that came from being involved in Give It A Flick.
Again, massive pat on the back to all participants and over the coming weeks I'll drop back in to give you a wrap up.
Superb effort!
Nia Allen
Monday, 2 July 2012
Tuesday, 26 June 2012
I've had a few people over the last few day's say to me what a fantastic thing Give It A Flick is for Auskick, a great way to raise money and help raise awareness of how much alcohol really does play a part in alot of people's lives. I've also had alot of people say, that sounds great but I couldn't do it - no one would sponsor me because I hardly drink. I've also had alot of people say - No way! I wouldn't even do it for 24hrs, nothing wrong with having a drink!
It's interesting the concept behind how much or how little we see ourselves as 'drinkers'. The National Health Medical Research Guidelines suggest that for both men and women, no more than 2 standard drinks per day will reduce chances of alcohol related illness over a lifetime. They also recommend no more than 4 standard drinks on a single occasion. Give It A Flick did a small survey on some of the parents participating this year on June 1 - day one. From the group surveyed the average number of drinks consumed over a week was 5. That comes well within the safe levels of drinking, but when you multiply that by 52 that equals 260 drinks per year. This might not seem like much at all, but when you start to do the maths and think about young children watching parents and siblings and family friends around them, and it's every night at dinner or every weekend....that number becomes quite big! From that perspective, taking 'time out' is not a bad thing at all.
Just something to think about as we're nearly at the end of the month. Will this make me change my habits? I don't think of myself as a big drinker,.....but when I do have a drink, it's mostly always at home around my kids...I think I'll be more aware.... and maybe wait until they go to bed!
4 more day's to go - I wonder what other GIAF parents are feeling?
It's interesting the concept behind how much or how little we see ourselves as 'drinkers'. The National Health Medical Research Guidelines suggest that for both men and women, no more than 2 standard drinks per day will reduce chances of alcohol related illness over a lifetime. They also recommend no more than 4 standard drinks on a single occasion. Give It A Flick did a small survey on some of the parents participating this year on June 1 - day one. From the group surveyed the average number of drinks consumed over a week was 5. That comes well within the safe levels of drinking, but when you multiply that by 52 that equals 260 drinks per year. This might not seem like much at all, but when you start to do the maths and think about young children watching parents and siblings and family friends around them, and it's every night at dinner or every weekend....that number becomes quite big! From that perspective, taking 'time out' is not a bad thing at all.
Just something to think about as we're nearly at the end of the month. Will this make me change my habits? I don't think of myself as a big drinker,.....but when I do have a drink, it's mostly always at home around my kids...I think I'll be more aware.... and maybe wait until they go to bed!
4 more day's to go - I wonder what other GIAF parents are feeling?
Thursday, 21 June 2012
Heading into Last full weekend and homestretch!
What happens in a week that makes you so busy that you don't have time to sit down and collect your thoughts? Who knows! Whatever it is, I'm back a week later with some more reflections. I think everyone collectively looks forward to the end of the week even if life includes a busy Sat & Sun, the word Friday just gives the body a message it's time to relax, wind down, let go of routine. From the last few weeks of non drinking, I can say that alcohol really has little to do with the 'winding' down process. Hitting the couch with kids and DVD's, staying up studying, climbing into bed to read has not really required the obligatory glass of wine I usually associate to my Friday night.
BUT this friday night might prove a little different - I'm going out! Yes I am, and not only does that mean leaving the sanctity of my home, it means socializing with other people who are getting together - WITHOUT KIDS AROUND! A get together, a get to know each other night, a night where it's easier to have a few drinks because the kids aren't coming. I'm already designated driver (hopefully I can collect a few sponsors)....I'll let you know how I go!
BUT this friday night might prove a little different - I'm going out! Yes I am, and not only does that mean leaving the sanctity of my home, it means socializing with other people who are getting together - WITHOUT KIDS AROUND! A get together, a get to know each other night, a night where it's easier to have a few drinks because the kids aren't coming. I'm already designated driver (hopefully I can collect a few sponsors)....I'll let you know how I go!
Saturday, 16 June 2012
This morning was the first morning back at Auskick after the long weekend. I took a trip to the Montrose center to see how parents were going (and if they were still talking to me!!) A great conversation started with one mum, reflecting on how easy this really is and how much tea (someone else beside me!!) has been drunk. Another parent proudly boasted no matter how many button pushing moments have happened over the last few weeks, not a drop has passed lips. I heard about water and resolve, social occasions made a little more interesting by staying sober and an inch or two off a waistline.........
To be honest, I went along this morning not just to see how everyone was going but in reality it felt good to share the experience. This is a great thing, even though we're doing Give It A Flick together, we all live separate lives and probably wouldn't see each other throughout the week. I'm the only person in my home, in my street, at work staying away from alcohol in the name of football - it felt good to get connected!
One comment came up this morning that was the same as last year - 'I don't really drink that much, but I've realized that all my social occasions involve alcohol.' This is exactly the message behind Give It A Flick - it's not to say that all drinking is bad or harmful, it's simply to raise the awareness of how much alcohol we do drink and when.
It's the third weekend, half way through - it's only going to get easier!
To be honest, I went along this morning not just to see how everyone was going but in reality it felt good to share the experience. This is a great thing, even though we're doing Give It A Flick together, we all live separate lives and probably wouldn't see each other throughout the week. I'm the only person in my home, in my street, at work staying away from alcohol in the name of football - it felt good to get connected!
One comment came up this morning that was the same as last year - 'I don't really drink that much, but I've realized that all my social occasions involve alcohol.' This is exactly the message behind Give It A Flick - it's not to say that all drinking is bad or harmful, it's simply to raise the awareness of how much alcohol we do drink and when.
It's the third weekend, half way through - it's only going to get easier!
Sunday, 10 June 2012
Friday, 8 June 2012
Seems that winter has well and truly set in. Every thought of going for a walk, heading outside seems to be followed by more rain and a resolve to stay inside and enjoy the warmth.
However, if you are like me and prone to cabin fever here's a few things on this weekend that might take your fancy:
Mind, Body and Spirit Festival - need to detox anyone???
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
1 Convention Centre Place South Wharf VIC 3006
The 51st Speculative Fiction Convention - for all the weird and wonderful including Sci Fi
Rydges on Swanston
701 Swanston Street
Carlton 3053
The Melbourne International Jazz Festival - music for the soul
Melbourne Recital Centre
31 Sturt Street Southbank VIC 3006
Journey Through the Machine - Animation by young ones - something for the kids!
Artplay, Birrarung Marr Batman Avenue Melbourne VIC 3000
Just checking the weather and it looks like another day of wet and grey and then we'll round up our long weekend with a nice sunny day. Might be a good chance to hang out, watch some movies, play some games, sleeping, and spend time feeling healthy and enjoying the chance of hangover free weekends!
And to those nice bottles of red smiling at me from the pantry, you've been sitting there for awhile now and you can sit there for a bit longer!
There's a break from Auskick this weekend, so it'll be interesting to catch up with others next week and see if others are feeling the same as me!
However, if you are like me and prone to cabin fever here's a few things on this weekend that might take your fancy:
Mind, Body and Spirit Festival - need to detox anyone???
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
1 Convention Centre Place South Wharf VIC 3006
The 51st Speculative Fiction Convention - for all the weird and wonderful including Sci Fi
Rydges on Swanston
701 Swanston Street
Carlton 3053
The Melbourne International Jazz Festival - music for the soul
Melbourne Recital Centre31 Sturt Street Southbank VIC 3006
Journey Through the Machine - Animation by young ones - something for the kids!
Artplay, Birrarung Marr Batman Avenue Melbourne VIC 3000
Just checking the weather and it looks like another day of wet and grey and then we'll round up our long weekend with a nice sunny day. Might be a good chance to hang out, watch some movies, play some games, sleeping, and spend time feeling healthy and enjoying the chance of hangover free weekends!
And to those nice bottles of red smiling at me from the pantry, you've been sitting there for awhile now and you can sit there for a bit longer!
There's a break from Auskick this weekend, so it'll be interesting to catch up with others next week and see if others are feeling the same as me!
Thursday, 31 May 2012
JUNE 01 - Game On!
Well done to all those involved in getting Give It A Flick up and running in 2012! Today is the day myself and other parents take on the challenge of a alcohol free month with the hopes of raising some great money for our Auskick center and benefiting ourselves by getting a little healthier!
I hope anyone visiting this page in the coming month might want to share their experiences alongside me. I'm going to log my month of time off and hopefully be honest enough with myself (and you!) as to how, when and where I find myself remaining alcohol free. I will start by saying that I don't think I'm a big drinker, a bottle of wine over a weekend / or shared with a friend in one night. Social occasions, parties, having friends around does however always seem to have a glass of something involved. I like the taste of it (have you had pear vodka???), my association to relaxing with a glass of wine, and sometimes even walking into a certain large alcohol supermarket can send a little thrill down my spine - just being honest!
I think we all understand that alcohol and kids don't mix, that children do learn from their parents behavior and that while the saying ' do as I say, not as I do ' it's something that just doesn't cut it these day's.
I have two children, one of them lives and breathes his AFL football hero's, his footy, his team and he watches what others around him are doing...all the time. Hopefully Give It A Flick can help parents get the message across to other parents, kids and their friends that drinking alcohol and footy don't always have to mix. GIAF hasn't been created to say that all drinking is harmful, it's about role modelling healthy lifestyle choices and taking a break.... and raising money!
So, please share what your thoughts are along the way. This morning I started the day with a coffee, pilates, a little bit of sunshine and a little bit of homework (it just won't go away!). I'm looking forward to a quiet healthy month and the chance to test my will power around seeing friends.
Got any suggestions for the next 29 days?
I hope anyone visiting this page in the coming month might want to share their experiences alongside me. I'm going to log my month of time off and hopefully be honest enough with myself (and you!) as to how, when and where I find myself remaining alcohol free. I will start by saying that I don't think I'm a big drinker, a bottle of wine over a weekend / or shared with a friend in one night. Social occasions, parties, having friends around does however always seem to have a glass of something involved. I like the taste of it (have you had pear vodka???), my association to relaxing with a glass of wine, and sometimes even walking into a certain large alcohol supermarket can send a little thrill down my spine - just being honest!
I think we all understand that alcohol and kids don't mix, that children do learn from their parents behavior and that while the saying ' do as I say, not as I do ' it's something that just doesn't cut it these day's.
I have two children, one of them lives and breathes his AFL football hero's, his footy, his team and he watches what others around him are doing...all the time. Hopefully Give It A Flick can help parents get the message across to other parents, kids and their friends that drinking alcohol and footy don't always have to mix. GIAF hasn't been created to say that all drinking is harmful, it's about role modelling healthy lifestyle choices and taking a break.... and raising money!
So, please share what your thoughts are along the way. This morning I started the day with a coffee, pilates, a little bit of sunshine and a little bit of homework (it just won't go away!). I'm looking forward to a quiet healthy month and the chance to test my will power around seeing friends.
Got any suggestions for the next 29 days?
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