Dads on the Air

Dads on the Air (06 Feb 2012): Familists V Feminists

admin@dadsontheair.com.au (Dads on the Air | 2GLF 89.3FM | dadsontheair.com.au) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:30:00 +0000

With special guests:

Kingsley (Kip) Miller
Gil Ronen

Kingsley (Kip) Miller

Kip Miller is a fathers’ rights activist who is described by Lord Justice Thorpe of the UK Family Division as having a history of responsible campaigning and writing on issues relating to family relationships. He holds qualifications in Research Methods and is trained in Child Psychology and Child Sociology with a Masters Degree.

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Dads on the Air (30 Jan 2012): The Stats that Matter

admin@dadsontheair.com.au (Dads on the Air | 2GLF 89.3FM | dadsontheair.com.au) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:30:00 +0000

With special guests:

Kyle Lovett
Barbara Kay

Kyle Lovett

Kyle Lovett is a Research Editor and Author at A Voice for Men. Kyle is based in Washington DC in the USA but even at that distance he cannot help but be disturbed about the National Council of Australia’s plan supposedly directed at reducing violence against women.

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Dads on the Air (23 Jan 2012): Testicular Cancer and dealing with the unexpected

admin@dadsontheair.com.au (Dads on the Air | 2GLF 89.3FM | dadsontheair.com.au) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:30:00 +0000

With special guests:

Ben Peacock
Dr Andrew Penman AM

Ben Peacock

In our first show for 2012 we focus on a serious health issue for men, particularly those under 50. Ben Peacock is a survivor of testicular cancer and the author of a book titled Lessons from my Left Testicle: A turbulent tale to help put life in perspective first published in 2009.

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Dads on the Air (12 Dec 2011): Europe for Christmas

admin@dadsontheair.com.au (Dads on the Air | 2GLF 89.3FM | dadsontheair.com.au) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 23:30:00 +0000

With special guests:

Benjamin Wondergem
Ken Thompson
Peter Tromp
Robert Whiston

In our last show for 2011 and in the leadup to Christmas we have a European flavour. In the studio we are joined by Benjamin Wondergem visiting Sydney from the Netherlands and Ken Thompson who is well known to listeners in connection with the Hague Convention and more generally in the area of reforming the law on International Parental Child Abduction.

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Dads on the Air (05 Dec 2011): Breaking the Silence on Male Victims of Domestic Violence

admin@dadsontheair.com.au (Dads on the Air | 2GLF 89.3FM | dadsontheair.com.au) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 23:30:00 +0000

With special guests:

Dr Elizabeth Celi
Emily Tilbrook

In the wake of White Ribbon Day 2011 and the recent amendments to the Family Law Act relating to domestic violence our show today presents an opportunity to discover the real story.

We speak first to Dr Elizabeth Celi an internationally recognised expert in the field of men’s health.

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Dads on the Air (21 Nov 2011): Pillars of Strength

admin@dadsontheair.com.au (Dads on the Air | 2GLF 89.3FM | dadsontheair.com.au) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 23:30:00 +0000

With special guests:

Gary Sillett
Michael Bourne

We have an opportunity in today’s show to draw inspiration from the way one father has responded to a tragedy in his family by speaking to Gary Sillett. Gary has established an Australian first, a program to help Dads cope when their newborn baby is in need of intensive medical care and to provide support if their baby loses the fight for life. This new program is called Pillars of Strength.

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Dads on the Air (14 Nov 2011): Our Grande Finale Salute to International Men’s Day

admin@dadsontheair.com.au (Dads on the Air | 2GLF 89.3FM | dadsontheair.com.au) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 23:30:00 +0000

With special guests:

Geneuvieve Twala
Diane Sears
Donald Berment

Today we present the final show in our series on International Men’s Day (IMD) 2011 where the theme is:

Giving Boys the Best Possible Start in Life

We start out in Africa going to the home of the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency, namely Botswana, and finish up in Trinidad and Tobago via the USA.

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Dads on the Air (07 Nov 2011): International Men’s Day on different continents

admin@dadsontheair.com.au (Dads on the Air | 2GLF 89.3FM | dadsontheair.com.au) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 23:30:00 +0000

With special guests:

Glen Poole
Cathleen Williams
David Hatfield

International Men’s Day (IMD) 2011 will be celebrated in over 50 countries around the world on 19 November and the 2011 theme is:

Giving Boys the Best Possible Start in Life

This week we drop in on the IMD coordinators in the UK, the USA and Canada to hear directly from the organisers some of their achievements since being appointed and what they have planned for 2011. The speakers are all entertaining and inspiring as we go across the world to hear from them. IMD is fast approaching as we devote the second of three shows to this important event.

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Dads on the Air (31 Oct 2011): What International Men’s Day Means to Me

admin@dadsontheair.com.au (Dads on the Air | 2GLF 89.3FM | dadsontheair.com.au) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 23:30:00 +0000

With special guests:

Mick Kenny
John D Evans

International Men’s Day (IMD) 2011 will be celebrated in over 50 countries around the world on 19 November and the 2011 theme is:

Giving Boys the Best Possible Start in Life

IMD interfaces with MOVEMBER and also with Universal Children’s Day on November 20 and in focussing on the main challenges boys all over the world face, asks how we can come up with local solutions to global problems.

At Dads on the Air this week we explore what IMD means to organisers in Ireland and the USA. Listeners are invited to share their own thoughts on giving the best start to boys by contacting the IMD coordination team at http://www.international-mens-day.com/ The best solution oriented approach will be awarded a prize certificate for the IMD FLAGSHIP PROJECT.

Across the sea to Ireland

Our first guest today is Mick Kenny, the Chair of Men in Childcare Ireland coordinating a celebration of IMD in Ireland. Mick has been working in childcare for 19 years, for the last 15 years in the early years sector (preschool / kindergarten) and he speaks to us from Kilkenny.

Mick is fortunate to be working in an area he loves. He is working towards his vision of seeing children feel it is normal to be cared for by both men and women.

Hear what the community gains from accessing men for this career and also the benefits to the male childcare workers themselves.

Mick’s efforts to increase the contribution of men in raising boys fits neatly with the IMD theme in 2011 and it is told with a lilting Irish accent.

The IMD Poet in the USA

Today we are honored to welcome back to Dads on the Air John D Evans who is the Illinois Regional Coordinator for IMD in the USA. John is an educator, humanitarian, folklorist, author and poet whose literary work Diary of a Renaissance Man was named Children’s Choice 2008 by the International Readers’ Association, the Children’s Book Council and 10,000 school children.

In talking to John we find out how IMD will be celebrated in the Illinois area of the USA in 2011 as well as hearing something of what was achieved in 2010. We hear about a writing competition that is open to writers around the world.

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Dads on the Air (24 Oct 2011): MOVEMBER coming

admin@dadsontheair.com.au (Dads on the Air | 2GLF 89.3FM | dadsontheair.com.au) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 23:30:00 +0000

With special guests:

Jason Hincks
David Gregory

With MOVEMBER (the month formerly known as November) only a week away we speak to Jason Hincks who is the Chief Operating Officer of MOVEMBER. This is the movement that started in Melbourne in 2003 and which now has campaigns in ten countries around the world including South Africa, the UK and the USA.

MOVEMBER encourages men to grow moustaches for the 30 days of the month and raise money for serious men’s health issues, specifically prostate cancer and male depression. We discuss why prostate cancer and depression were the chosen areas to support and how the funds raised by MOVEMBER are being directed.

Since 2003 Mo Bros and supporting Mo Sistas have raised over $AUS178 million. Listen in to find out what is in store this year and how you can join the movement.

Our second guest is David Gregory who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in late 1999 and was operated on three months later. David speaks openly about his personal experience and with that first hand knowledge discusses the reasons men often give for not being tested. At a time when close to 3,300 men die annually of prostate cancer, equal to the number of women who die from breast cancer, this is a most important topic. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Australian men. David tells us how the information available has improved since his own diagnosis and shares his passion in bringing this information to men over 40. This is mostly done through Prostate Cancer Support Groups affiliated with the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. Listen in and find out what you and your partner should be asking your doctor.

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Dads on the Air (17 Oct 2011): BLACK DOG DAZE and R U OK?

admin@dadsontheair.com.au (Dads on the Air | 2GLF 89.3FM | dadsontheair.com.au) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 23:30:00 +0000

Black_Dog_DazeWith special guests:

Andrew Robb AO MP
Rebecca Lewis

We welcomed Andrew Robb on to the show for the first time today. Andrew has distinguished himself in leadership positions for many years resulting in his high public profile. These positions have ranged from being the head of the National Farmers’ Federation (“the NFF”), the Director of the Federal Election campaign for the Liberal Party in 1993 and 1996, being a consultant to Kerry Packer and since 2004 being the Member for the Federal Seat of Goldstein. Andrew is currently on the shadow front bench as the Shadow Minister for Finance and Debt Reduction as well as Chairman of the Coalition Policy Development Committee.

What the public did not know until recent times is that Andrew Robb has for over 40 years been battling a debilitating condition, a condition that he could not admit even to himself. In 2009 Andrew with typical courage and determination decided to go public with his condition and take immediate leave from his senior position in the Parliament so that he could devote his full attention to dealing with his condition which now had a name, diurnal variation.

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Dads on the Air (10 Oct 2011): The Journey

admin@dadsontheair.com.au (Dads on the Air | 2GLF 89.3FM | dadsontheair.com.au) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 23:30:00 +0000

With special guests:

Ken Thompson and
Heath Cole.

Both our guests today have been on a bicycle journey.

Ken Thompson became well known when he decided to take direct action after his child was abducted overseas by the other parent. After riding on his bicycle around Europe publicising his quest to find his child Ken was contacted by Interpol with news that his child had been located. Ken is now part of an international movement to help parents who have been the victim of this destructive behaviour and to agitate for changes in the law to make this type of child abduction a crime in all countries, including Australia. Ken presents a lucid explanation of the problem of international parental child alienation, what is being done about it and what we all hope is the way forward.

Our second guest is Heath Cole. Last Friday Heath completed with his team of four other riders a 1000 kilometre ride in the Riverina to raise funds and awareness of mental health. Heath received a warm welcome in the towns of Tumbarumba, Tumut, Cootamundra, Temora and Griffith and finishing the course where he started in Wagga Wagga. Heath spoke candidly about his own battles with the “Black Dog” and how the bike ride has helped in raising his own spirits as well as raising funds for Riverina Bluebell, the local charity dealing with mental health issues. Heath talks about the warning signs of depression and what you should do about it. This is very to pical in view of World Mental Health Day on Monday 10 October 2011 and the ongoing Mental Health Month in NSW.

Dads on the Air (05 Jul 2011): Events Of The Week

admin@dadsontheair.com.au (Dads on the Air | 2GLF 89.3FM | dadsontheair.com.au) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:30:00 +0000

Discussion of the week’s events:

With most of the team away during the school holidays, we were still able to muster a couple of stalwarts who engaged in a lively and informative discussion on the weeks events. There are many issues affecting parents and children today, that in the past were not a matter of concern or not even on the radar. However with modern technology and modern medicines, our lives have been changed considerably over the years, some things for the better while others for the worse.

How our society deals with some of these issues are the topic of discussion on today’s show, and well worth a listen if you are a modern day parent.

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Dads on the Air (28 Jun 2011): What Makes Us Tick?

admin@dadsontheair.com.au (Dads on the Air | 2GLF 89.3FM | dadsontheair.com.au) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 00:30:00 +0000

With special guests:

John Flanagan and
Hugh Mackay.

The author of an interesting new book, ‘What Makes Us Tick?’ is Hugh Mackay, who is widely regarded as Australia’s preeminent social researcher and he joins us today to discuss his latest book. Hugh Mackay has spent most of his working life exploring why we do the things we do, ranging from the television programs we watch or the politicians we vote for, to the decisions that shape our lives - who (or whether) to marry, where to live, whether to have children, what job to do.

Written as part reflection, part psychological analysis, ‘What Makes Us Tick?’ is a highly personal account of the things Mackay has learned from the experience of listening to people talk about their dreams, their fears, their faith, their hopes, their disappointments, their frustrations and their fantasies. It makes for a most interesting interview and is definitely a must listen.

We open the show with a long overdue interview with well informed John Flanagan, who is the Deputy Registered Officer of the Non-Custodial Parents Party (Equal Parenting). John speaks with passion about the proposed new Family Law amendments and claims that if passed by Parliament in its present form, the Family Law Legislation Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Bill 2011 will significantly reduce contact by children with both parents after divorce/separation.

John makes the point that at first glance, there appear to be many more submissions supporting the Bill (in a ratio of approximately 2:1), but has observed that when studied more closely, many of the submissions supporting the Bill would appear to have been actually written by the same author.

He suggests this is particularly the case with regard to the many submissions commencing with the words “I am writing to express my support”. If this should be correct, surely some questions need to be asked such as, 1. is there a process of verifying the authenticity of submissions?, 2. what that proccess might be?, and 3. how does the AG propose to answer these claims of subversion of the political process?.

Editor

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Dads on the Air (21 Jun 2011): Dads and Children

admin@dadsontheair.com.au (Dads on the Air | 2GLF 89.3FM | dadsontheair.com.au) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 00:30:00 +0000

With special guests:

Ken Thompson and

David Vernon.

Our first guest today is a Dad who has personal experience of what has become a type of epidemic in our community, namely the international abduction of children by a parent (IPCA). Ken Thompson was able to find his son Andrew and return to Australia after a three year search.

For many parents, particularly when the abducting parent goes to a non-Hague convention country there is unlikely to be any reunion.

It is estimated that at least 300 Australian children are abducted in this way every year which is an enormous toll on the community, the parents and the abducted children.

Ken brings us up to date with what is happening to help combat this practice which although being a criminal offence in the US and the UK does not appear in the Australian criminal law.

Ken gives some practical advice on what vulnerable parents should do to protect their children and also focuses attention on the upcoming Senate Inquiry.

Our second guest is David Vernon a Canberra based author who is the editor of Men at Birth. A second edition of this book was released in May 2011 and David came onto DADS ON THE AIR to discuss what he found after hearing about the birthing experiences of 23 men.

Compared to earlier generations, David Vernon believes men’s attitudes have changed:

More than ever before:

* Many men now want to be part of that moment when the baby is born – to be with their partner, sharing the creation of their new family.

* More men are attending ante-natal classes with their partner. They plan to attend the birth and are motivated to know what to expect.

* Men are usually surprised by the reality of birth – and how tough and intense it can be for their partner.

* Men realise that they do have a real role in supporting their partner – and that she is often relying on them for them to help if there is a crisis or tough decisions need to be made.

* Men are keen to know more about birth — not just the mechanics but how they can do ‘their bit’ to bring a new life into the world.

David tells us

‘It is my hope that men who read Men at Birth, by becoming familiar with birth, will be able to let go of any excessive anxiety they may have about their upcoming experience. By becoming familiar with birth they will be better prepared.’

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