Port Adelaide star Travis Boak on memories of his dad and why he’s partnering a campaign to help those in isolation this Father’s Day
Travis Boak was just 16 when he lost his dad. He has opened up on the man he calls his ‘hero’, why his perspective on Father’s Day has changed and why it’s motivation to help those struggling in isolation or in need.
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Fifteen years after losing his dad, Travis Boak says his perspective on Father’s Day has changed and it’s one he’s willing to share more than ever due to the Covid crisis.
The Port Adelaide star was just 16 and yet to be drafted when his dad Roger lost his battle with cancer at the age of 48, and while Boak still misses him desperately, he says he thinks about the time they had rather than what they haven’t got now.
It’s why he’s put his name and underwear from the family business ‘Rogers’ to a Father’s Day campaign helping those in isolation and frontline healthcare workers in need.
“Obviously early days it was challenging and still to this day I miss dad a lot, we miss dad and mum does a hell of a lot, but my perspective on Father’s Day has changed a bit over the last couple of years,” Boak said.
“And it’s sort of what we’re doing through this campaign - sharing moments with your dad, speaking to him and telling him things you might not normally speak about or tell him how much he means to you.
“Certainly I look back on that now and I’m so grateful for what he gave me, the support whether with sport or school or showing me the right way to be a good person, I am so grateful for and even more so on Father’s Day now.
“I miss him but I think about the good times we had and the memories.”
Boak and Richmond captain Trent Cotchin, who owns a sock business, were approached by ‘Hugs And Heroes’ - a website started by two men out of work due to Covid - to be part of gift packs containing a ‘belt, jocks, socks and chocs’ for those who won’t be able to see their dad, shop for them or make gifts at school this year.
Boak provided the Rogers underwear below cost price allowing money from the packs to also fund a coffee for a frontline healthcare worker in Victoria and 10 meals for people in need through OzHarvest.
“Once I heard what the campaign was all about, myself and my business partner were really keen to get involved,” Boak said.
“Obviously it’s really challenging times for everyone and Father’s Day is going to be different for a lot of people this year, so if through this we can give back some of the small things and hopefully put a smile on some faces that will be great.
“And it’s a gift that keeps on giving so we are really proud to be part of it because to give back in some way on Father’s Day is special for our family and business as well.”
Together with his sisters, Cassie and Sarah, Boak rings home and speaks to his mum Chicki on Father’s Day which is September 6 this year.
“We check up on each other and see how we’re doing, but there are going to be a lot of kids out there without dads and we encourage them to remember the good times and those are always with us,” he said.
“In life right now we think ‘we need more and more’ and all of us would love to have our dads in our life for as long as we can, but the reality is I don’t and there’s a lot who don’t, but looking at what I’ve learnt from dad and the gratitude I have for the relationship we had.
“Rather than being angry at the world and think ‘why us?’, I like to think about the good and see the value in what we had.”
One of Boak’s favourite memories is when he ran out with his dad when he played his 200th game for Torquay.
“I actually cried that day, I was shi**** myself running through the banner with my older sister, I think I was scared of the banner,” he said.
“It’s funny you can tend to forget a lot of the good stuff, you remember dad going through cancer and hospitals, and it takes a while to go back and remember the good times but that was certainly one of them.
“And even just working with dad in the backyard, he used to take me out to one of the local farms and we’d mow the lawns and tidy up the yard, those little memories are pretty special.”
Boak also played one senior game for Torquay in his dad’s No.5 guernsey, before he was drafted to the Power with Pick No.5 in 2006.
Roger was a distributor for confectionary companies in milkbars and shops, making him very popular along the Surf Coast and in the Boak household.
“Especially us kids - he’d bring home new lollies and chocolates and chips that had just been released and we’d get a few snacks,” Boak said.
Having just turned 32, Boak also says he would like to become a dad himself one day.
“Absolutely, hopefully I’ll be half the dad my dad was, he was my hero and no doubt I’d love to do that one day and help my kids to grow up to be good people,” he said.
“Exactly what my dad was able to teach me.”
More information on the Father’s Day gift boxes can be found at hugsandheroes.com.au.
BOAK NOT KEEN ON A REST
PORT Adelaide midfielder Travis Boak says he isn’t putting his hand up for a rest and fatigue is not to blame for the Power’s 10-goal loss to Geelong on Friday night.
The reigning best-and-fairest has been in stellar form for the ladder leaders this season but they were convincingly beaten by the Cats at Metricon Stadium.
The Power plays Hawthorn on Saturday then has a seven-day break into Sydney before the bye, and Boak says he isn’t keen on missing a game because of load management.
“Not a chance, my body feels really good right now and even today it’s pulled up great,” said Boak, 32.
“Unless I’m injured, I just love footy too much to sit back and watch and if I don’t have to I don’t want to.
“We have a big block of games coming up to hopefully push for finals. We will do the right thing in terms of what’s best for the team but right now if I’m feeling great I want to be out there and helping the side perform as best I can.”
Port Adelaide was completely out-played by the Cats on Friday night but Boak says it wasn’t because of tired legs.
“I think it’s a challenge for everyone in this space, they (Cats) were coming off a four-day break, we were coming off a six-day break so there’s no excuse there,” he said.
“They were able to control the game a lot better, play it on their terms, and we weren’t able to wrestle it back.
“We didn’t adjust well enough to the way they wanted to play, they controlled the ball and our pressure wasn’t there - which is something we really pride ourselves on.
“There’s no fatigue or tired legs, everyone is in the same sort of category in that space with the season as it is, so it was just a really disappointing result.
“We’ve been playing good, consistent footy this year and that just wasn’t our day or the way we want to play.”
Fellow midfielder Tom Rockliff is due to play his 200th AFL game this week and Boak said he was excited to be part of it.
“He’s kept it pretty quiet, I didn’t really know until last week,” he said.
“He’s been great since he came back in the side, he adds so much to our midfield group in his pressure and tackling and also his smarts and leadership around the ball.
“It’s a big one for him and I”m really excited to be a part of it, it’s been a journey since he (arrived), we pushed pretty hard to get him over here and I’m pumped for him to play 200 and to be running out alongside him.”
reece.homfray@news.com.au
Originally published as Port Adelaide star Travis Boak on memories of his dad and why he’s partnering a campaign to help those in isolation this Father’s Day