1st September, 2006

WARWICK MARSH

Well, well, well, it's that time of year again. Father's Day is next Sunday, 3rd September, here in Australia. We all know that Father's Day is close because of all the adverts for tools coming on our television and filling our mailbox.

PICTURE: Neil Gould (www.sxc.hu) "The challenge before us is to not let the market demean the true spirit of the day itself. Men as fathers make a wonderful contribution to families."

How did it all start?

It actually started with a woman. Sonora Louise Smart Dodd, first conceived the idea of a Father's Day while listening to a Mother's Day sermon. Mother's Day was first celebrated by the ancient Greeks and then again in 17th century England as "Mothering Sunday". In the US, Anne Jarvis revitalised the concept during the American Civil War and it was eventually officially made a holiday in the early 1900s.

Sonora Smart Dodd wanted to honour her father, William Smart, who was a veteran of the Civil War, and a very devoted father. When his wife died in childbirth with their sixth child, Mr Smart was left to raise the newborn and his other five children by himself on a rural farm in Spokane, Washington. It was only when Mrs Dodd became an adult that she realised the strength and selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single dad.

The first Father's Day was celebrated on 19th June, 1910, in Spokane, Washington. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Father's Day. In 1936, a National Father's Day Committee was formed. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the third Sunday of June Father's Day. President Nixon followed that up by making Father's Day a permanent national holiday. People in the US and UK celebrate Father's Day on the third Sunday of June, while in Australia it is held on the first Sunday in September. The concept of Father's Day has spread right across the world to the point where most countries celebrate this time to honour and appreciate fathers.

In many cases market forces have taken over Father's Day as just another excuse to sell more socks and undies. I might point out that many men appreciate these presents (how else do they stock up on such essentials?) The challenge before us is to not let the market demean the true spirit of the day itself. Men as fathers make a wonderful contribution to families. I once asked a young girl why she thought fathers were important. Her simple but profound answer was one I'll never forget: "If we didn't have fathers, mothers couldn't have babies."

This brings me to my next point. Fathers and mothers, and the relationship they are able to enjoy and sustain, are the key to happy families. Recently, I had the privilege of attending a round table in Sydney on marriage, hosted by Byron and Francine Pirola from www.celebratelove.com. There was representation from Federal Parliament, the media, Relationships Australia and the who's who of the marriage/family movement. Professor Bill Doherty and his wife were major contributors to this exciting time of discussion. Almost everyone agreed that there is a desperate need to encourage marriage as a means to encourage family. In my contribution I mentioned the need for more people like American Diane Sollee from www.smartmarriages.com to stand up and be counted in the fight to restore honour to marriage, fatherhood and motherhood for the families of Australia.

Perhaps there is a lesson here for us as men: how important and valuable is the contribution made by the women of the world in supporting us as fathers?

Lovework

Practice saying, "What a beautiful pair of socks", or "Just what I needed, another pair of undies."

Enjoy Father's Day. It's your celebration. Have fun with your family, make it a special day. Don't forget there wouldn't be any fathers without mothers.

Yours for more socks.

Warwick Marsh is the founder of the Fatherhood Foundation. He has been married to Alison for 30 years. He is the father of five children, four boys and one girl, ranging in age from 25 years to 13 years. Warwick is a musician, songwriter, producer and public speaker who likes to think he can still laugh at himself.

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