A powerful Men’s Summit, a heartfelt Father’s Day reflection, and one father’s remarkable story remind us why being present matters for generations.

What an incredible Men’s Summit we had at The Tops Conference Centre last weekend. Men travelled from all over Australia to be there (shout out to Ps Brendan Edwards and all the fellas from Mary Valley in Southeast Queensland who travelled down by bus – check out their fantastic video here). A huge THANK YOU to all the men who joined us, all our incredible volunteers, especially Dads4Kids’ amazing Board Members, and our valued Supporters who helped make the weekend happen.

If you were unable to join us in 2026, planning is well underway for next year’s Men’s Summit happening 13^th – 15^th August 2027. Save the dates and plan to be there – more details coming soon! My father, Dads4Kids cofounder Warwick Marsh, and I will provide more in-depth reports on the Summit, including some great images captured by our friend David West, in the coming weeks.

A Weekend Celebrating Men and Fatherhood

Here in the Oceania region of the world, we celebrate a very important and special occasion this weekend: Father’s Day. Unlike the USA and other countries which honour fathers in June, in Australia, the first weekend in September is our day for dads.

Whether you’re a new dad, a more experienced dad, a single dad, a stepdad, a grandad, or an adoptive dad, happy Father’s Day! I hope you’re able to celebrate with your loved ones this Sunday.

In our household, Father’s Day is usually a weekend-long celebration. It involves gifts, beautiful handmade cards, fine foods, and me generally being spoiled. I’m not gonna lie, I love it! But for many, Father’s Day can be a difficult time.

Father’s Day Can Bring Joy and Heartache

For my beloved wife Jodi, growing up without her dad Neil at home, Father’s Day was difficult. From the age of 7, the first Sunday in September was an annual reminder of the dad-shaped hole in Jodi’s life.

In her teen years, Jodi worked hard to rebuild the relationship with her dad, something that became a great source of strength and joy for us. Sadly, Neil passed away in late 2023 after battling a brain tumour, but I’m so thankful for God’s grace and Jodi’s persistence. Father’s Day is still a hard day for Jodi, but it’s a day we are grateful for the good times shared.

This weekend I’m thinking of and praying for all the single dads, grandparents and family members who can’t spend Father’s Day with their families due to relationship breakdown or bereavement. If this is your experience, my heart goes out to you. If you’re not able to see your children, or if your father or grandfather has passed on, I’m thinking of you and Dads4Kids is here to support as much as we possibly can. Please be encouraged to keep on keeping on.

I hope the real and at times raw TEDx talk from Correctional Officer Calvin Williams above moves you as much as it moved me. Filmed at Ironwood State Prison in Blythe, California, in 2014, Williams powerfully speaks about the importance of being a father.

Amazingly, this was the first-ever TEDx event held inside a California state prison. Filmed in the prison gymnasium in front of hundreds of inmates and outside visitors, Williams’ message is compelling, especially when you consider he’s speaking to men that he’s in charge of supervising.

The Fierce Fight to Be a Father

A single father of three, Correctional Officer Calvin Williams, speaks about his “biggest job, being a father”. He talks about his upbringing without a father, and how his “means of passage”, his process of becoming a man and making his own way in the world, was negatively influenced by those who didn’t have a positive influence themselves. He explains:

“My means of passage was how hard I could hit. My means of passage was how big was the knife in my pocket. My means of passage was how well could I hold my liquor.”

Williams says it was “like the blind leading the blind”, sadly, an all-too-common experience for around 50% of Black American children who grow up in households without a father physically present in the home.

Williams is moved to tears speaking about his wife of 23 years, who passed away a few years before his powerful TEDx talk was filmed. Considering the absence of his father, and the loss of his wife, he speaks of his “firm fight to be a father”. He says, “Being a provider is a piece of cake compared to being a single parent.” Indeed. He encourages all of us dads to be present in the lives of our children, to commit ourselves to being a positive influence and a source of validation for our kids.

Williams’ story and his message of embracing the “fierce fight” of fatherhood are inspiring. Watch and share the video — I hope it encourages you this Father’s Day.

Lovework

If you’re a dad, remember that no matter where you’re at, fathers are important. What you do and say matters. The memories you make with, and for, your kids will last a lifetime.

Once a father, always a father. Being dad is a lifelong commitment that doesn’t end when your children grow up or leave home. Yes, it can be challenging at times, but my prayer this Father’s Day is that we dads find the strength to be the best possible dads we can be. As Correctional Officer Calvin Williams says, this will change the world.

Yours for fathers forever,
Nathaniel Marsh

PS: If you’re encouraged by the work of Dads4Kids and can support our vision to help dads be the best they can be for their children, please call 02 4272 6677 or visit Dads4Kids’ website to make a tax-deductible donation. If you’re a dad, consider joining our upcoming Courageous Online Fathering Course to be the best dad you can be.

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Image courtesy of Pexels.