Father’s Day in Dunedin

By Robert Free

In an effort to stimulate some recognition for fathers a group of Dunedin dads got together to put on a family picnic in the Woodhaugh gardens as a focus for Father’s Day.

That was four years ago.

Every year since, when they should really have been putting their feet up and enjoying being pampered by their families, they have instead put in a huge voluntary effort to organise and host this annual community event.

This year was no different as the Father and Child Trust Otago invited the entire community to come and join in the fun and games for young and old. There was a sausage sizzle, music, spot prizes and a chance to sign N.Z.’s largest Father’s Day card.

Activities included a soccer match, piñata, tug-of-war, sack-races, three-legged-races, sprints, piggyback-races, chocolate eating games, face painting and Frisbee throwing.

It was great to see the enthusiastic involvement of everyone and all the smiling faces.The Trust was also able to prompt the mid-week Star newspaper into running a kids drawing competition for Father’s day this year and coverage by the Otago Daily Times of the picnic was really positive.

It is hoped that the celebrating of fatherhood will increase each year as the commercial focus of Father’s Day is replaced with a more appropriate one of family recognition.

Why Dads?