An Absolute Joy

Every Sunday morning, without fail, for the last 13 years, fathers across Australia have received the weekly newsletter to inspire fathers and encourage families. For many dads our weekly newsletter and our TV ads are an absolute joy but this week the joy is two days late. The reason: a combination of both overwork (lack of help) and electrical problems. Ron Hellyer who has faithfully edited the newsletter, found the pictures for 13 years and given us the joke each week had an explosion in his power box which left him without electricity.

In our digital age, electricity is everything and you don’t know what you got till it’s gone. But here is Dads4Kids, pushing through both the electrical and the lack of help barrier, with some joyful inspiration for you anyway. The subject this week is all about asking people to partner with Dads4Kids Fatherhood Foundation to bring joy to Australia’s children and help turn the tide of fatherlessness

As Dr Wade Horn says, “fatherlessness is the most harmful demographic of this generation”. As fatherlessness increases children are more prone to poverty, higher risk of drug taking, juvenile crime, higher risk of going to gaol, higher rates of physical abuse, higher rates of sexual abuse, psychological problems, higher rates of suicide and self-harm, truancy, teenage pregnancy, higher levels of insecurity, homelessness, poor educational performance and higher rates of relationship breakdown as adults.

While I was writing this newsletter I got a phone call at the Dads4Kids office from Daniel, a single father on behalf of a mate, who was going through hell in the Family Law Court. He had just seen our “Love your Children TV CSA”. He was so excited that there was a group in Australia speaking up for children and for fathers. As he said, “There is just nothing out there for men”.

We chatted for a while and I told him that while I was a happily married man with five children and five grandchildren, I was very much aware of the incredible anti-male bias men are still experiencing in the judicial system. His words were, “Tell me about it. I was falsely accused by my ex and my two young boys were taken away from me. Because of the trauma I went through and the anguish of losing my two children and being shut out of their lives by an unjust system combined with the false accusations, I suffered a mental breakdown.“

“My ex was instrumental in me being put in a mental home for three years. During this extended period I struggled with suicide. I was depressed and I did not know where to turn. Once I had a shotgun in my mouth but for some strange reason, maybe it was my love for my children, I did not pull the trigger. I am so thankful I did not.

“Barry Williams from Lone Fathers was a big encouragement to me. His words gave me the confidence to start again when my life was at the bottom with nowhere to go. Your Love Your Children TV ad has done the same for me. Now I have been vindicated in spite of the lies and the system and my boys have come back to me. I have changed my ways. I have made a new start and now I have full custody of my two children and they are both doing well.”

“Thanks for being a voice for the fathers who love their children and for the children who love their dads. It is desperately needed.”

Please find below a screen capture of the Dads4Kids TV CSA that Daniel was inspired by.

Click this link here if the link below does not play.

Daniel is not alone in his appreciation of the work for Dads4Kids. Here are some more comments from other people who have seen this advert on national television.

Dear Dads4Kids

I would just like to say that your ad on TV running at the moment is without question “The Best” ad on at present and one of the best I have ever seen on TV.

It is like a “Flawless Diamond” on a floor full of small bits of broken glass . The state of advertising on TV and in general has been slipping over many years along with the inane shows that pass for “Entertainment” and I wonder where it is all heading…… God Help us !!!!!!

Your Ad brings a smile to my face every time and it is like meeting an Old Friend that you never grow tired of .

WELL DONE !!!!!!!!! Russell
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Dear Dads4Kids

Just wanted to let you know that your latest Ad is really great and is doing far more good than you probably realise.

Thank you for your obedience and commitment.

Andrew
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Dear Dads4Kids

I just want to say how much I love the Dads 4 Kids ad screening at the moment. I especially love the last little girl kissing her Dad at the end of the ad. What an absolute joy, she always puts a smile on my face and a tear in my eye.

As the mother of a son who has had to fight for the last 6 years to have access to his two girls, I have experienced the cruelty, and heartbreak that mothers can cause by thinking Mothers are the boss.
During this time, whilst supporting my son at court, I’ve had occasion to hear other fathers at the court in total despair for the same reasons.

Let’s support the men who are subjected to the heartbreak and despair caused by manipulative and cruel ex-spouses. The female is not always the victim. I feel very strongly about this. Heather
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Dear Dads4Kids

I love ur advert on TV, every time I see get so emotional the best add ever keep up the good work. Anonymous
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Dear Dads4Kids

I just wanted to write a quick email to say thank you! I am sitting in Daylesford with my husband and I saw your television ad. I then looked you up to see what you were all about. I’m so thankful that someone in our Australian community is bringing awareness to this.

I had a wonderful upbringing but very absent father and this did affect my life in a negative way. We have since mended our relationship and it’s made a huge difference in my life. We have a young daughter and this is something my husband and I talk about regularly, I’m very blessed to be married to an amazing husband and father. It makes a huge difference in a happy, contented life.

Keep up the great work! I’ve subscribed to your newsletter and I look forward to following your work.

Thanks again! Nicole

These are just some of the wonderful email comments Dads4Kids have received from those who appreciate the Love your Children TV CSAs. (More in the News section) Sadly we have many who complain about this Community Service Announcement because of the pain of their own father wound, loss or disappointment with the male of the species. So much so that we had to defend our case before the Advertising Standards Bureau as to why our ad should be allowed to run on TV on a work and safety issue. (They always try to close you down on a technicality).

Without the kind help of Brent Blonde, a barrister who acted on our behalf free of charge, we would have been taken off the air as the last Be a Dad Campaign was. The good news is Dads4Kids won the case so our advertisements are still on TV, bringing joy to millions of people. Thank you for your help to produce that adverts and the one coming up for Fathers Day 2015.

Lovework

The mission of the Dads4Kids Fatherhood Foundation is to improve the well-being of children by increasing the proportion of children growing up with involved, responsible, committed and loving fathers. Our ‘Love your Children TV CSAs’ are part of that strategy. Dads4Kids’ real goal is to bring joy to children so they can flourish. Each year we run our End of Financial Year ‘Help the Children Appeal’. To date we have received an offer of $13,000 as matching funds by some generous donors. On top of this offer we have received $550 in donations to the end of year tax deductible appeal which becomes $1,100 because of the matching funds.

Our goal as stated last week is $75,000 by the end of June 2015. Only $73,900 to go! How exciting. Your donation will help bring joy to children as we skill and encourage fathers to be the best possible fathers for their children. Donate NOW.

Yours for bringing more joy to our children
Warwick Marsh

PS. Thanks for all you do for the children of Australia. Together we are making a difference as the above letters show. See more letters in the News & Info section about how the Love your Children TV CSA has helped bring healing and encouragement to children of all ages. After all, no matter how old, we are always someone’s son or daughter.