Stephen Gill says a parent’s job is to pay attention to their kids and give them opportunity to explore
When Stephen Gill’s kids began learning piano he jumped behind the keys too. It wasn’t a token gesture but a sign of his unrelenting commitment to be active in his kids’ lives.
Geelong
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WHEN Stephen Gill’s kids began learning piano he jumped behind the keys to motivate them
and learn himself.
It wasn’t a token gesture but just one sign of his unrelenting commitment to be present and active in his kids’ lives.
“My rationale for doing it was just to set an example. It’s a journey and (my daughter) Siena and I did our grade 3 exam this year,” Stephen, 45, says. “I would spend four times more practising than they do.”
At a recent piano exam for Siena that Stephen sat as well, he was about “40 years older” than anyone in the room.
But that’s not where it will stop for the Barwon Heads dad who wants to get to grade-six level which he says may take another two years of practice.
Stephen’s presence in his kids lives extends to being a soccer and football coach for his son Elliott, 8; being the school council president at the school where his kids attend, pushing them onto waves while surfing and other physical activity.
“Our job is to pay attention to our kids and try and give them opportunity to explore. Being a parent is life’s most rewarding task,” Stephen says.
All this is done against the backdrop of being a medical researcher, who holds a PhD, and emergency department and paediatric physiotherapist.
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In a partnership with the AFL that aims to use findings to develop injury prevention strategies, Stephen is also working on a study to understand if female footballers are injured in different ways to males.
“Stephen loves to fit things in the gaps. If there’s a moment spare he’s doing something,” wife Annabel says.
Stephen says his job as a dad is made easy because of his wife’s ability to prioritise the wellbeing of their children and family “above all else.”
Originally published as Stephen Gill says a parent’s job is to pay attention to their kids and give them opportunity to explore