Being the absent FIFO Mum or Dad parent makes the joy of sharing a bedtime story almost impossible. Every parent knows that pang of not being there, at the end of the day, to share something special before a child goes to sleep. Until now.
Now, we have Stories My Nana Tells.
A new Australian-first website for families with kids helps parents and children share stories through Social Media and the Internet: Stories My Nana Tells
With this resource, parents can share unique and engaging stories with their children. It will encourage them to read and help overcome the anxiety of separation.
“Stories My Nana Tells provides a unique connection between adults (parents and grandparents) and children, anywhere in the world.” Lesley Dewar said.
Created with the FIFO Industry in mind.
Lesley Dewar is a respected and well known children’s author, and is the driving force behind the creation of the website.
She says “Employment in the mining sector is financially compelling, but the Fly In, Fly Out (FIFO) lifestyle disrupts many family lives. Nevertheless, the FIFO lifestyle is entrenched into the community.”
She continues, saying “The DIDO (Drive In Drive Out) employment compounds the disruption of FIFO, as well. It may bring parents home at night, but with long absences and early departures. Within the Armed Services, extended periods of parental separation from children becomes the “norm” and this affects a high number of families. Very often, a grandparent becomes one of the core family support personnel, especially when both parents are working.”
“Our service helps overcome separation anxiety for children. Families can have multiple downloads to share the same story. They can chat by phone, over Skype, or using Facebook live,” she said. “In addition, the child has their own printed book, which they will treasure for years.”
7 Ways Stories My Nana Tells provides an unique and unrivalled service
- The child who will be the reader becomes the focus of the story.
- Lesley Dewar writes all the stories, and personalises them after she confirms the details with the parent or grandparent.
- Each story has a PDF version, the companion to a full colour, glossy print copy, bound and delivered to the home.
- Depending on the choice of story, up to four children can be part of the same adventure.
- With internet downloads, the child’s story can be shared within the family between parents and grandparents, or when there is co-parenting.
- Lesley Dewar writes every original story and she may modify a story line to suit a new reader.
- Regular donations to NFPs and wildlife groups, as well as a fundraising option, means Stories My Nana Tells is part of the community.
Writing for 6-11 year old children
“I write personalised stories for children aged 6-11 yrs that spark their curiosity, entertain and educate them.
Each story includes the child’s own photograph, favourite foods, sport, interests, birthday and their best friend.
They are very personal to the child,” Ms. Dewar said. She remarks her sense of humour is well known, too.
Story topics include pets, travel, nature, history, science, wildlife, adventure, and unusual things.
“In addition, I have published three educational children books. Each has questions included, and links to internet research sites. Stories My Nana Tells encourages reading and learning in a family environment,” she concluded.
Living where the FIFO families live in W.A.
Lesley Dewar lives in Mandurah, in the heart of the Peel Region, although she says the move from first, the hills, and then the inner city, was quite a change.
The majority of FIFO employees in Western Australia live in the Perth-Peel Region, accounting for approximately 70% of the workforce. Other WA regions provide about 14%, and employees from interstate contribute approximately another 14%.
Source FIFO Facts – Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia
“In 2008, the ABS predicted an employee figure of 135,000 persons as at end of June 2009. This prediction excluded persons paid by commission only, non-salaried directors, volunteers and self-employed persons such as consultants and contractors.
“It was further predicted that by 2013, an estimated 38,000 additional employees being required by the minerals and energy sector. Many would be women, as part of a total workforce of 173,000. We know those predictions have not been realised.” said Lesley.
How many people work FIFO, now, in WA?
Estimates are that at the end of 2015, the resources sector employs 65% of the WA workforce, or 60,000 – 65,000 persons. (sourced from FIFO FACTS [1])
The resources sector workforce is comprises more than exclusively single young men as some would have you believe!
- The majority of the FIFO workforce is in the 35-54 age group. Most resources sector workers based in Perth are between 25-44 years.
- When it comes to relationships or children, there are few differences between metro, regional and FIFO work forces. 86% are in a relationship, and around 65% have children.
- 73% of resources sector workers have partners who are in active employment.
- Around 20% of the sector’s employees are female.
- More than 25% of employees have a university education, with another 30% having trades/technical qualifications.
Source FIFO Facts – Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia
Stories My Nana Tells is FIFO mobile friendly
Stories My Nana Tells is a family oriented, creative outlet for a passionate children’s writer. Through the Internet, it is simple and easy to share the stories, from anywhere in the world, with children you love. It offers:
- free or sample stories Stories My Nana Tells
- Nana’s Blog, where moderated comments and questions can be posted.
- link to Facebook Facebook Page
- connection to Twitter
- A Facebook Fan group will soon be available.
- Security is a high priority, so downloading the personalised PDF requires a password, delivered separately by email.
Try us out for free.
Grrk The Motorbike Frog is a brand new story and you can Try this story for free
Filled with lovely images of painted rocks by local Peel artists, it’s a entertaining story for your children.
Lesley Dewar’s Background
Business
Lesley Dewar has recently retired from a very successful career in sales, real estate and financial planning services spanning over 40 years. An Australian grandmother, she resides in Mandurah, 70kms south of Perth. As a long term published writer, Lesley is an avid surfer of the net. In addition, Lesley travels constantly, browsing, researching and uncovering the unusual, which she delivers through her stories.
Adventure
She has been bungy jumping in New Zealand; flown in helicopters across icy mountains and rocky deserts; trekked across a volcano crater, been white water rafting in Bali and swimming with dolphins in Hawaii. Travel, health, family, pets and quirky ideas make Stories My Nana Tells very engaging for the whole family.
As a grandparent, she encourages children to be adventurous and enjoy life! As a Nana, she writes on a wide range of topics including haiku, travel, gardening, the internet and beyond. Her stories are entertaining as well as educational, with widely endorsements from Perth to New York.
“It’s a really hilarious “investigative” story, and I’m thrilled to be mentioned along with the authors of a number of very prominent Velcro (TM) applications! With many thanks for your message & story, Lev Neymotin- Physicist, New York (via email) PS: Internet makes our continents so close, as if they never split…”
Social Media
Her first eBook Networking To A Plan discusses how to use Twitter and email to support face to face networking for business. This book has had wide international success, with internet distribution across the world. Extensive interviews in the media regarding Social Media confirm her experience, including writing for a time for the Australian ABC as their “Silver Surfer” – a quirky nod to her age. Lesley continues to blog on various Social Media topics.
[1] Who Are FlyInFlyOutWorkers in WA? – Published by Chamber of Minerals and Energy for Western Australia
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