How Toowoomba dads are helping other dads to be better dads

It is hard being a dad. It is hard balancing work and family life, hard to be stern and caring and hard to know what to say when your kids or partner needs help. But this group is doing what it can to lighten that load.

Ross Van Der Werff with his son Lowen at the Man with a Pram event on Father's Day. Picture: Kevin Farmer

IT’S always a shock when the midwife hands a new father his child.

For the past nine months the mum has been doing all the hard work and all of a sudden the bloke has to jump into action.

It can be a time of great joy and terrible fear.

There’s no rule book, no user’s manual for being a father so men do what they have always done and kind of make it up on the fly.

Greg Chambers with son Michael Chambers the Dad’s of Toowoomba Man with a Pram meet up. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Now a group of young men are getting together to help each other.

They are called Dads of Toowoomba and they held their inaugural Man with a Pram meet up in Newtown Park on Father’s Day.

It was aimed at getting dad’s out of the house and playing with their kids.

Organiser Kim Godfrey said the Toowoomba chapter was part of a national movement where dads share their stories online.

Phil Degraaf with his kids (from left) Mason Ashenden, Archer Degraaf, William Degraaf and Mia Degraaf. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“Dads often feel isolated before, during and after birth,” he said.

“Dads join the group as dads looking for support or as mentors.”

The group is non-religious, non-affiliated and non-judgemental.

From talking about balancing work and family life, to the stress of disciplining kids to how best to support mums – no subject is off limits.

GALLERY: Father’s Day celebrated

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“We had a bloke post the other day, he was having a vasectomy and he was really worried about it, so the other dads who have had vasectomies were able to give him advice.”

To join the group search for ‘Dads of Toowoomba’ on Facebook.