After five kids, Queanbeyan mum Robyn knew she had to pass this knowledge on
There are few things guaranteed to send a parent into panic mode faster than a child with a fever.
It’s 2am, they’re burning up, Google is telling you 17 different things and you’re standing in the kitchen in your pyjamas wondering whether to reach for the Panadol or the car keys.
For Queanbeyan mum-of-five Robyn Barraclough, it’s a scene she’s lived through many, many times.
Now, after raising five children and spending more than 25 years helping local families as a natural health practitioner, Robyn’s co-written a book she hopes will make winter a little less frightening for parents.
Treating Fever Without Fear is all about helping parents, grandparents and other carers understand what fever is, what it isn’t and when they genuinely need to worry.
“Most of us have been taught to fear fever,” Robyn says.
“But fever is something almost every child will experience and understanding what’s happening can help parents feel much more confident.”
Robyn Barraclough and co-author Molly Knight.
Like thousands of Queanbeyan mums, Robyn remembers the dreaded daycare phone calls, the sleepless nights and the scramble to juggle work with sick kids.
“With my first child I felt exactly like every other parent,” she says.
“Every fever felt scary. But by the time my younger children came along, I had more knowledge and that changed everything.”
The book, co-written with veteran herbalist Molly Knight, explores the history of “fever fear”, explains why the body develops a temperature during illness and offers practical guidance on recognising when medical attention is needed (and importantly, not needed).
For many parents, it’s reassurance they’re desperate for during cough and cold season.
With winter illnesses already sweeping through local schools and childcare centres, Robyn says understanding fever can help replace panic with confidence. She’s sharing that message with local families at a free author talk at Queanbeyan Library this Thursday evening, where she’ll discuss the book and answer parents’ questions.
Because if there’s one thing every mum is likely to deal with over the next few months, it’s a child with a fever. And a little less fear at 2am might be the best medicine of all.
The details
What: Author Talk with Robyn Barraclough, Treating Fever Without Fear
When: Thursday 11 June 2026, 6pm to 7.30pm
Where: Queanbeyan Library, 257 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan
Bookings: https://events.humanitix.com/author-talk-robyn-barraclough
View Robyn’s Treating Fever Without Fear book, course and free fridge sheets here
About the Author: Briony Winchester
Part bogan, part wannabe plus-size model and part journalist, Bree's the woman behind Q! News. A born storyteller, she's been writing locally, nationally and internationally for more than 30 years.
