by Joseph Sumegi and Dave Berick
Dads all over the Inner West will be wearing their new socks and ties with pride this week after Father’s Day presents were unwrapped on Sunday to celebrate fatherhood. But a dad’s role has changed over the years, ac cording to some local fathers.
Dulwich Hill’s “Fighting Father” Dave Smith is a diverse bloke – he’s been a pro boxer, is a six-dan black belt and of course is a parish priest at Holy Trinity Anglican Church.
But on top of all that, Reverend Smith is also a father to two daughters. So while every Sunday is important to him, last Sunday was especially significant with it being Fathers Day.
The Reverend said fatherhood has changed since he was a kid.
“With fatherhood, the expecta tions have grown,” Reverend Smith said.
“You now have to try and find a better balance with work and play, and being authoritarian and being gentle. Australian men are working through this but on the whole, not very well.”
Growing up, the Fighting Father said he was raised in what was essen tially “a blokey environment”, but he had a lot of respect for his father.
“The thing that strikes me about my father was that I always respected him,” he said. “It’s important that I can look back on my dad and see him as someone I want to emulate. I don’t think we see a lot of that nowadays.”
Reverend Smith hoped he could have the same affect on his kids.
“I’d like my children to think that their dad was a cool dude and when they grow up they want to be like him,” he said. “I couldn’t ask for more than that.”
Croydon novelist Noel Dixon said sport was a great interest that fathers could share with their children.
“From playing together, going to a ground or just sharing a team, sport provides a great link,” Mr Dixon said. “A five year old can share the same passion and interest as an 80 year old.”
A confessed rugby league nut, Mr Dixon has just written a novel about a struggling halfback and his country side, the Western District Goannas.
But this devotion and love of League apparently hasn’t flowed on: his two Sons play soccer, usually an insult to rugged league types.
“I don’t think it’s like that at all. I took my eldest son to an AFL match at Croydon, a rugby league match at Five Dock and a soccer game in Burwood.
“It’s his life, I told him to enjoy what he wants although 1 admit I’d love to see him play rugby league.”
Team sports were vital as they gave children exercise and a chance to meet other kids
“They’re all running around, mak ing friends, learning how to win and learning how to deal with losses.”
On parenting, the only advice he gave was to make sure dads enjoyed fatherhood while it lasted.
“They grow so quickly: one minute they’re little kids and then they’re strapping teenagers. They’re only there for a short time and then they’re off you’re hands?”
Inner West Courier
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