Dads on the Air

Dads on the Air (23 Aug 2012): Daddy's OK launch - Sydney

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

Dads on the Air was privileged to be invited to the Sydney launch of Dean Mason’s new book Daddy’s OK: Fathers’ stories of separation, divorce and rebuilding. The launch was held at Better Read than Dead bookshop in Newtown on Thursday 23 August 2012.

Leading up to the launch Dean has been on the airwaves, both radio and TV, telling us about his new book which sets out the real life experience of dads caught up in the Australian Family Law system. Many of the stories are heartbreaking. But even as we get emotionally involved through the printed page there is an underlying message about what fathers can and should be doing if they find themselves in this all too common experience.

The message here is not just for the dads, but for all their family and friends and those who may know someone going through the hell of family separation.

If you would like to share the experience of hearing from Dean about his book and listen to what was revealed at the launch by Michael Green QC and Phil York from DIDSS, listen in to our exclusive broadcast of a special night in Sydney with national implications.

Daddy’s OK: Fathers’ stories of separation, divorce and rebuilding

By Dean Mason, New Holland Publishing, ISBN 9781742572239, $RRP 29.95

Available in bookshops from August 2012

What Michael Green QC, Author of Fathers After Divorce and Shared Parenting says: Dean Mason has picked it in one brilliant sentence: “The cause is actually irrelevant, what matters most of all is how people cope with such a deep part of themselves being thoroughly challenged and exposed for the world to see.’’ (p182) The recovery for a separated man is to learn from the past, to move on and to become a whole and useful person in his new world. Through the stories and journeys of men after separation and divorce, he provides the scaffolding for men to climb to new and better lives. No blank negatives here: while he acknowledges the deeply disturbing traumas of men experiencing the loss of family, he assists them to positive attitudes with processes to accept what has happened and to emerge as competent fathers, persons and partners.”

‘Daddy’s OK’ ventures into the intimate experiences of 14 men who have been through a family break-up. At each step, from the moment the man realises his relationship is in serious trouble through to finding, or nearly finding, fulfilment in life as a separated, or, in some cases, as a re-united parent, Dean captures what it is that keeps the man going, what hope enlightens him, what tools he finds to help him take a more positive approach than the many negative alternatives that tempt him along the way.

These are ‘affirmation stories’ because in their respective family break-ups, these ‘average’ Australian men have suffered some of the worst trauma they will ever experience, but they have also found, or, are still finding, healthy and rewarding ways to rebuild after that experience. A family break-up is not pleasant for anyone. There is no doubt that children are the worst affected and that mothers and fathers both suffer significantly. The effects on grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins, and the wider social group, can also not be easily measured. With over 50,000 couples separating every year in Australia, this amounts to a high level of social fragmentation with many unfortunate long-term consequences.

Daddy’s OK was written to provide the man’s perspective of what this experience is like and to encourage all men and their families to be more confident about listening to what is going on in their inner world. For each man interviewed this was the first step in identifying the areas of their health and well-being they would like to improve and in becoming more confident to pick up the many tools and forms of help that are available. What each story shows is that men can, and often do, become better parents, partners and community members through these experiences.

There is a range of family law, child support, child protection, and general social welfare systems and processes that a family break-up usually involves. For everyone working in these or related fields, Daddy’s OK provides some useful insights that may alleviate some of the difficulties they experience in their work, and may help the individuals and families they are working with get to ‘rebuilding’ faster.

Dads on the Air (17 Jul 2012): Powerful Training for 21st Century Men

admin@dadsontheair.com.au (Dads on the Air | 2GLF 89.3FM | dadsontheair.com.au) — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 00:30:00 +0000

With special guests:

Patrick Bishop
Paul Mischefki

The role of men has been changing rapidly in the last generation and while the responsibilities have increased there has not been a corresponding increase in men’s rights and expectations. The role as breadwinner still falls largely to the men but what about the changes in what it means to be a father, lover, community member or a friend?

With the growing number of fatherless families and the state playing an increasing role in our every day lives there are times when all men feel lost and needing some direction.

Our guests today tell us about two successful groups that provide training for men by men as a way of reconnecting with men’s essential masculinity. These programs are not just for those men who are struggling to cope with the changes in the 21st Century, they are for all men who want to reach their potential by accessing the huge untapped energy that is within us.

If you want to hear about men who have gone from counting their years to living their days join Patrick and Paul on our program today.

Patrick Bishop

Our first guest today is Patrick Bishop who previously worked as a teacher and assisted homeless people in Sydney. Now he is an Elder, Trainer and Administrator with The Mankind Project (MKP) having been associated with the group for over 10 years. MKP is a not-for-profit organisation providing training for men at every stage of life mainly through its New Warrior Training Adventure weekends that are held around the country.

MKP is open about its core values and goals; it is inclusive and has no affiliation with any religion. Patrick tells us about a typical New Warrior Training Adventure weekend where a group of between 15 and 40 men will gather at a camp or retreat facility. Over the weekend there will be stories told; there will be laughs but also there will be challenges and in some cases a few tears shed.

Upcoming events are in Bellingen NSW on 24 August and later in the year in WA and Queensland. More information is available on the MKP website.

Paul Mischefski

Our next guest is Paul Mischefski who is the Editor of Mentor Magazine for Men’s Wellbeing a group with origins going back over 15 years. Men’s Wellbeing all began with a few good men who saw the need for men everywhere to spend quality time in the presence of other men in a healthy affirming respectful way. In 1998 their activities had grown such that it was necessary to create an incorporated not-for-profit association.

Paul tells us about some of the programs at Men’s Wellbeing including Common Ground Men’s Groups which are 9 week facilitated programs that explore the issues and challenges common to all men around masculinity, relationships, fathering, sex, intimacy and much more.

Other programs offered include Elders Circle and Rite of Passage to help men make the transition from one role to another. Men’s gatherings have welcomed men from 18 to 80 from all walks of life. To learn more about the various programs make sure you check out Mentor Magazine the next issue of which is due out in about a month’s time.

Song selections by our guests:

Patrick Bishop: Games People Play by Joe South
Paul Mischefski: The Living Years by Mike and the Mechanics

Dads on the Air (10 Jul 2012): Let's Prevent Diabetes

admin@dadsontheair.com.au (Dads on the Air | 2GLF 89.3FM | dadsontheair.com.au) — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 00:30:00 +0000

With special guests:

Helen Edwards
David Gillespie

Our show today is dedicated to National Diabetes Awareness Week and its theme Let’s Prevent Diabetes. Type II Diabetes accounts for about 85% of all cases of Diabetes and is the focus of the week. The overall rates of Type II Diabetes in the Australian population have led to it being described as an epidemic by Diabetes Australia and the rate in Indigenous population is seven to eight times higher than in other segments of society. And it affects men much more than it does pre-menopausal women which may be due to the effect of the female hormone oestrogen.

In Australia the number of people with Diabetes II has increased from just over 200,000 in 1981 to over 1.2million in 2005 and the curve is getting steeper. With Type II Diabetes set to become the leading burden of disease in Australia by 2017 it is time for governments in Australia to make diabetes prevention a priority.

Helen Edwards

Our first guest today is Helen Edwards, a Social Worker, Mental Health Worker and Diabetes Educator. Helen can speak first hand about the disease of diabetes having being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 1979 when she was still a child.

Helen founded Diabetes Counselling Online after seeking support for herself and finding there was precious little available for people with this condition. Helen tells us that people with Diabetes suffer twice the rate of depression and other mental health issues so this lack of services was exacerbating an already fraught situation. Now Diabetes Counselling Online has celebrated its 10th birthday.

There are now projects that target men and farming families with free online counselling, online forums and chat rooms to ease the isolation of men finding themselves in this situation. One of the best is the “Men with Diabetes Shed” in which she has tailored the very successful Men’s Shed movement to provide support where it is needed most.

Hear from an expert what should influence you to get a medical check for diabetes. If you are diagnosed with this increasingly common condition Helen provides a wonderful example of how to live your life fully and avoid the trap of depression and other forms of mental illness as a consequence.

David Gillespie

Our next guest today is David Gillespie who has recently released his third book titled Big Fat Lies: How the diet industry is making you sick, fat and poor. In his previous book called The Sweet Poison Quit Plan David described the incoming tide of Type II Diabetes as follows:

In 1965 Type II Diabetes was not recognised as a disease in its own right. This has changed to being one of the major causes of premature death in most countries. In virtually every developed society Type II Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness, kidney failure and lower limb amputation (3000 diabetes related amputations were performed in Australia in 2008) and is a significant risk factor for death from heart disease. There are predictions that the disease will wipe out whole races of Indigenous peoples in the Pacific within 100 years.

David has responded to this giant threat by deciphering the biochemistry jargon and the advertising buff to confirm in a very readable and entertaining way what many of us suspected, namely that if sugar is so bad for teeth it cannot be doing much good for the rest of you.

The surprising aspect of David’s investigations is that sugar is so insidious and ubiquitous. So much of what we see in the supermarket has high levels of sugar including fruit juice which is usually labelled as a “health drink”.

David links sugar not just with obesity but importantly with Type II Diabetes. If hearing David leads you to investigate his books and change your lifestyle accordingly it could be the most important 25 minutes of your life.

Song selections by our guests:

Helen Edwards: 100 Years by Five for Fighting from the album The Battle for Everything
David Gillespie: Sweet About Me by Gabriella Cilmi

The sound file for the show will be up on our website next week. In the meantime you can catch the interviews on our station 89.3FM 2GLF’s On Demand system here.

Dads on the Air (03 Jul 2012): NAIDOC Week

admin@dadsontheair.com.au (Dads on the Air | 2GLF 89.3FM | dadsontheair.com.au) — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 00:30:00 +0000

With special guests:

Rick Welsh
Uncle Gerald Brown

We have a great music selection in our program today, starting with the Jimmy Cliff song Many Rivers to Cross as featured recently in the award winning MABO telemovie on the ABC. This is followed by a song from Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu from his Rrakala album. Translated this song refers to the Salt Water People and that describes our second guest today. The songs selected by our guests reflect some important messages that they pass on to us.

Rick Welsh

Rick Welsh is a Gommeri man from North-West New South Wales coming from a background where his father was a member of the stolen generation. He has developed a strong interest in men’s issues. Rick considers himself fortunate in many ways; he is able to work in the Aboriginal community and is seeing positive outcomes from innovative approaches taken to help men at risk of serious stress and even suicide.

Rick has worked in Federal and State Government positions in public administration. But when he found himself in the position of needing some personal assistance there were not any services available. This inspired Rick to make a difference. Rick is now the Manager of The Shed based at Emerton and also the Project Officer at the Men’s Health Information & Resource Centre UWS.

The Shed at Emerton is different from other sheds in the Men’s Shed movement. This shed addresses family issues, addiction and legal problems and the clientele is mainly from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, with Elders actively involved. Through this service Rick helps men trying to see their kids when there are Family Law issues and generally tries to help the men achieve their full potential. A different type of Shed and a different type of man!

Uncle Gerald Brown

Our next guest is a Yuin male, Uncle Gerald Brown, who is known widely in the Illawarra region south of Sydney as Uncle ‘G’. As a Salt Water person described in the song by Gurrumul he cannot live far from salt water.

If you are not sure what it means to be an Elder listen in to Uncle ‘G’ who was a NAIDOC Award winner in 2010 when he was awarded Aboriginal Elder of the Year for the Illawarra region. Uncle ‘G’ likes to have a yarn with men of all shapes and sizes, young and old where he can pass on the wisdom he has acquired in becoming an Elder.

Uncle ‘G’ is involved in many local programs including BAD V (Brothers Against Domestic Violence Program) and SKIPP (School Kids Indigenous Peer Program) under which primary school-aged boys are taught anger management. As Chairperson of the Illawarra Koori Men’s Support Group he encourages a love of the Aboriginal culture. He teaches the importance of respect for all Elders and for everyone to stay in good health, both physical and mental.

Uncle ‘G’ has lots of stories and is a delight to speak with.

Song selections by our guests:

Rick Welsh: When angels fall by Charlie Trindall
Uncle Gerald Brown: He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother by The Hollies

Dads on the Air (26 Jun 2012): Parental Alienation Action

admin@dadsontheair.com.au (Dads on the Air | 2GLF 89.3FM | dadsontheair.com.au) — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 00:30:00 +0000

With special guests:

Jill Egizii
Karen Lebow

In the USA just as in Australia there are many judges, lawyers, psychiatrists and psychologists who have no idea of the damage done by parental alienation. Many in the general public do not even know there is a name for what they see happening to friends, workmates and even themselves.

For this reason it is vital that we improve the awareness and education relating to parental alienation. With that awareness of the damage done to children and parents will come social change.

Today we cross to the USA to talk to two highly motivated women who have their own personal stories to tell. They tell us how they used their own experience as a springboard to develop networks and action plans for dealing with this form of child abuse.

If you are not sure about what can be done to respond to this blight on our parenting practices listen in to hear what our guests are doing in such a big way.

Jill Egizii

Jill Egizii is an Alderwoman in Illinois and to put it mildly she is very active politically working towards legislative change and judicial education as it relates to a change in divorce culture. To work towards effecting this change Jill is serving on the Illinois Family Law Study Committee to reassess divorce law in total. As well as being President of Parental Alienation Awareness Organisation, Jill is a Board member of the not-for-profit organisation Children Need Both Parents and on the Board of The Weitzman Center in Chicago and on the Board of the International Support Network for Alienated Families.

When not serving on these Boards Jill has written a novel The Look of Love and is the host of Family Matters radio show which focuses on parental alienation. In conjunction with Judge Michele Lowrance she has released a work manual on the topic The PA 911 Workbook.

Of particular interest is the Parental Alienation Awareness Day which has found a home in the USA on 25 April each year. Jill also tells us about a full day seminar on parental alienation to be held in Chicago in a few days’ time on 30 June 2012 with recognised experts Dr Amy Baker and Lawyer Brian Ludmer both of whom have been guests on Dads on the Air.

It is a treat to be able to talk to Jill and you do not want to miss out.

Karen Lebow

Our next guest is Karen Lebow who is the Founder, CEO and President of ISNAF (International Support Network for Alienated Families). Karen tells us how being a loving mother, a qualified social worker with two masters degrees and an honorary doctorate did not prevent her from becoming an alienated parent. And when she looked for help from support groups in 2008 she found there was nothing there.

Not being one to die wondering Karen contacted Dr Amy Baker who answered the call, not by suggesting the name of a support group but rather by saying that Karen should start her own group.

From little things big things grow and following that phone call the first meeting took place in a living room in Santa Clarita, California. In 2010 ISNAF held its first major conference and ISNAF became established as an educational presence in the community. The third international conference will be held later this year.

Karen remains on the front line when there is a call for help and she now provides the support and direction to others that she was looking for in 2008. ISNAF provides comfort, hope and education for alienated families and tells the Dads on the Air audience how people in many countries have benefitted since that small beginning. It is inspirational to hear from Karen and to listen to her chosen song by her friend and fellow as an alienated parent, Janis Vaile.

Song selections by our guests:

Jill Egizii: Goin’ Back by Glenn Shorrock and Renee Geyer
Karen Lebow: Icicles (I will wait for you) by Janis Vaile

Other original tracks played on this week’s show:

One Life by Jade Michael and his band 17 Stories featured on his website Artists Against Misandry
Parental Alienation from the album Our Stolen Children by Peter van de Voorde

Dads on the Air (19 Jun 2012): Men's Health Week - Part 2: We're not going to sit in silence

admin@dadsontheair.com.au (Dads on the Air | 2GLF 89.3FM | dadsontheair.com.au) — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:30:00 +0000

With special guests

Professor John Macdonald
Melissa Abu-Gazaleh

Today we present the second of our special shows to recognise Men’s Health Week which this year ran from 11 to 17 June 2012. Our guests today are activists, great people in our community who have recognised a problem and then decided to get out there and do something about it. Professor John Macdonald joins us from the Men’s Health Information and Resource Centre at the University of Western Sydney having recently returned from Zambia and he puts the local men’s health issues in an international context with his broad experience derived from a career which has taken him to Pakistan, Nicaragua, South Africa, Botswana, Hong Kong, France, New Zealand and Senegal among other countries. Our second guest is Melissa Abu-Gazaleh, a young woman who is passionate about the welfare of young men. Melissa realised at the age of 19 that young men were not engaging in the community and this was disadvantaging them as well as causing the community to miss out. This led Melissa to becoming the Managing Director of Top Blokes Foundation and being able to provide a platform for young men to shine.

Professor John Macdonald

Professor Macdonald was last on the show in April 2009 when we spoke about the release of Australia’s first National Men’s Health Policy. It is interesting to hear from John what has happened in the two years since the release of the policy, a policy which benefitted from his involvement.

The health policy is not limited to the usual medical issues. There is a focus on wellness and the question is asked, what can we do to engage men more and make them happier and more engaged in society? As part of this approach and while wearing one of his many hats in the area of Men’s Health, John is a patron of the very successful Australian Men’s Shed Association and he is able to give us an insight on the great achievements of this organisation.

John recognises that “father deficit” in our society is a health issue for men and will continue to be so until a fairer system of parenting following separation is introduced. There are also some interesting comments on feminism in Australia from an international perspective.

Listen in to hear John’s wisdom, distilled like a good bottle of Scotch, and don’t miss his song selection.

Melissa Abu-Gazaleh

Our second guest is Melissa Abu-Gazaleh, the Managing Director of Top Blokes Foundation, based in Wollongong New South Wales. Her day job is to inspire and motivate young men to develop and display the highest forms of character. When you listen to her it is hard not to feel inspired and motivated no matter who you are.

Melissa was never convinced by the negative stereotypes of young men that are often presented in the media, so at the age of 19 she determined to do something about it. This involved finding a way to provide positive reinforcement to young males for their positive contributions. The volunteer contributions of young men are celebrated in the Top Bloke Awards with the Illawarra Award date set for Friday 31 August 2012.

An important part of the Foundation’s work is their link with Living Works which works in the area of reducing the high suicide rates in young males.

In keeping with the young approach Melissa makes extensive use of social networking to get the message out. But if you are more traditional you will find all you need to know on the Top Blokes website. Young and old will enjoy hearing about Melissa and the great work she is doing.

Song selections by our guests:

Professor John Macdonald: I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers

Melissa Abu-Gazaleh: The Voice by John Farnham

Dads on the Air (12 Jun 2012): Men's Health Week - Part One

admin@dadsontheair.com.au (Dads on the Air | 2GLF 89.3FM | dadsontheair.com.au) — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 00:30:00 +0000

With special guests:

Rob Koch
Greg Millan

Men’s Health Week runs from 11 to 17 June in 2012 with the theme “environMENts” so that the focus is not just on specific ailments and illnesses. The idea is that all Australians - men, boys, women and girls - should become involved in creating better environments for males in our society.Some of these environments are active and involved Fathering, hobbies and sports and social and family relationships.

Today’s guests are leaders in the field of actively promoting men’s health and well-being. In Victoria and New South Wales they tell us what are the critical issues, the services they offer and some exciting new developments that they are involved in.

If you want to make an assessment of your own health and well-being there is no better place to start than by listening to these experts in the field.

Rob Koch

Rob Koch is the founding Director of Better Men Australia & President of Male Health Victoria, one of the partners of Men’s Health Week. Rob has an interesting background from working on Chinook helicopters through to a pastoral ministry in Queensland and now with a focus on fatherhood issues. He has been given a mandate to trial all kinds of initiatives in the multi-cultural municipality of Greater Dandenong. Another hat is as President of the recently established Male Health Victoria, a peak body aimed at improving the health and well-being of men and boys.

Through his own consultancy Better Men Australia Rob offers a range of services including mentoring, adventure sports, events, practical seminars and consultancy. One of these we discuss in the show is “Pit Stop”, a parenting tune-up for every father who wants to see his family firing on all cylinders.

As might be expected Rob’s courses and events are strongly patronised and listeners will get an insight into the success of these programs. Rob’s choice of song is one from Robbie Williams that could have been written for his consultancy.

Greg Millan

Our next guest is Greg Millan who is the Director of Men’s Health Services and Chairman of the newly formed Men’s Health Forum NSW based in Newcastle, New South Wales. Greg is one of Australia’s leading experts on men’s health and well-being with over 23 years experience in this area. He is also the author of the widely praised book Men’s Health and Wellbeing an A-Z Guide which is currently being reprinted for a second edition.

Greg disputes the often quoted pronouncement that men are not interested in their own health and are reluctant to access services. Greg tells us that in discussions with GP’s he has made some practical suggestions to make men feel more comfortable in waiting rooms. This might include some male oriented magazines rather than the usual dated women’s mags. It might also include some posters other than the usual ones directed at specifically women’s heath issues. Another suggestion would be to change the hours of opening to allow for working men to attend without taking time off.

Greg’s website is www.menshealthservices.com.au which provides strategies and information on programs and training. While waiting for Greg’s book to become available you can hear a little about why it has become so valuable for men. It provides a context for men’s lives: their physical, emotional, social, psychological, spiritual and cultural environments in a practical and easy to read guide. Greg’s song selection is from a brush with fame.

Song selections by our guests:

Rob Koch: Better Man by Robbie Williams

Greg Millan: Spicks and Specks by the Bee Gees

Dads on the Air (05 Jun 2012): A brighter future for our youth

admin@dadsontheair.com.au (Dads on the Air | 2GLF 89.3FM | dadsontheair.com.au) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 00:30:00 +0000

With Special guests:

Chad Kolcze
Martin Fisk

Our show today features up front a beautiful and haunting song by Janis Vaile about Parental Alienation. Icicles (I will wait for you) will be part of an upcoming special on the topic.

After a long time away from the studio our return to the airwaves was graced by the presence of two people who are doing something about boys at greater risk. At a time when there are so many one-parent families we know these risks.

Boys in families without Dads are more at risk of suicide, to have behavioural problems, to drop out of school and they represent over 70% of the inmates in juvenile state institutions.

To help counter these social problems there are good people providing mentoring services and other assistance. Today we cross to Byron Bay in the north of New South Wales and then to the nation’s capital, Canberra, to hear what Chad Kolcze and Martin Fisk are doing about keeping our youth happy and healthy.

Chad Kolcze

Chad Kolcze is the Coordinator of the Uncle Project which was established in 1997 by youth and community worker Michael Light. Chad is ideal for his role as the Uncle coordinator with a background as a father, a teacher, the author of the RAD children’s books series and as a former professional sportsman.

Uncle is based in Byron Bay and has a management committee of seven local members of the community. Uncle is an incorporated community association registered for DGR status meaning that all donations are tax deductible.

Uncle supports one-on-one mentoring relationships and arranges a wide variety of activities with “uncles” who give their time to interact with their charges after getting the approval of Uncle and the relevant parent.

Chad tells us that it is not just the young men who benefit from mentoring; the mentors themselves gain a lot by participating in this service. After listening to this inspirational talk with Chad others may take his lead and decide to give something back after successfully navigating their own path in those early years between the ages of 6 and 12.

Chad’s choice of song is a great one from Paul Kelly with a special meaning for those wanting to get the best out of people.

Martin Fisk

Our next guest is Martin Fisk, the CEO of Menslink based in Canberra. Martin had a successful career in both public and private enterprise before deciding to devote his energies to the community sector. In April 2011 Martin joined Menslink, a dynamic not for profit association that supports young men through mentoring and a therapeutic life-coaching service.

Menslink has assisted over a thousand young men over the last decade to reach their full potential. It is so important that these young men develop social skills that will allow them to break out of the social isolation they feel.

The volunteer program provides services for young men over a wide age group and while they participate in activities such as abseiling, bushcraft and canoeing they are learning how to build resilience while forging some important relationships.

Martin is getting out and doing something about the problems in our community and that includes raising funds for a camping trip Menslink is offering to young blokes by putting his body on the line in the next Canberra half marathon.

Martin made an interesting choice in selecting a song. The message is that this is what we do not want, this is what we want to get away from, all encased in a good tune.

Song selections by our guests:

Chad Kolcze: From Little Things Big Things Grow by Paul Kelly

Martin Fisk: Just the Way You Are (Drunk at the Bar) by Brian McFadden

Dads on the Air (19 Mar 2012): Our Closing the Gap Special

admin@dadsontheair.com.au (Dads on the Air | 2GLF 89.3FM | dadsontheair.com.au) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 23:30:00 +0000

With special guests:

Aaron Stuart
Craig Hammond

We cross today to the frontline when we speak to Aaron Stuart who is the Manager of Aboriginal Projects at Centacare in Port Augusta South Australia. It is hard for many of us to imagine what it would be like to be the first person called after a suicide by one of our people. And then for it to happen again and again. Aaron is facing an endemic where the Aboriginal rate of suicide is four times greater than for non-Indigenous Australians and with children sometimes as young as 8 succumbing. Aaron provides some inspiring lessons about the positive action he is taking and tells us how he copes with the terrible stresses that go with his job.

Next we speak to Craig “Bourkie” Hammond who is the Leader Indigenous Programs, Family Action Centre, University of Newcastle. Craig is involved with a number of projects including the Nar-un-bah and Thou Walla engaging Aboriginal Fathers project. Fathering roles in the Aboriginal community extend to grandparents, uncles and older brothers. As one of eleven children himself and with a background as a youth worker Bourkie brings his skills and reputation to provide guidance and assistance in strengthening the relationship between Indigenous fathers and their children.

Aaron Stuart

Aaron Stuart grew up in a remote area in the far north of South Australia. As a young boy he was told the dreamtime stories by his elders and soon realised that Aboriginal education never ends. It is a way of life that includes five pillars, namely song, dance, story, art and culture.

With this upbringing after being taught by his father and two grandfathers about his culture he was able to venture into the white man’s world. After completing his schooling he served with distinction for 18 years with the SA Police Department before joining Centacare Catholic Family Services. He has been recognised with many awards including the SA Great Commendation for Outstanding Achievements.

Now Aaron is on call 24 hours a day in counselling and saving the lives of suicidal Aboriginal people. When he cannot save those lives Aaron helps the families deal with the “sorry business”. Aaron believes the only way to prevent suicide by Aboriginal males is to do it the “Blackfella way”. Go back to the five pillars and go back to the bush maybe in one of the healing camps that he runs. Aaron has also written and produced a DVD and a book called Yudum telling the stories and filmed around Oodnadatta SA.

Craig Hammond

Our next guest is Craig “Bourkie” Hammond in Newcastle. Craig has lived and worked with Indigenous communities mainly in metropolitan and regional areas. With a background as a youth worker Bourkie has worked for almost ten years as part of the Engaging Fathers and Boys in Schools programs at the Family Action Centre.

By visiting schools and talking to the children it was found that children often do not feel able to tell their dads what are the real things they would like to do when they are together. Bourkie has used the input from these children to develop community posters which will help counteract negative portrayals of Indigenous dads in the media and promote their profile with children aged from 0 to 6.

A particular challenge for the father/child relationship is when the parent is in jail. Bourkie tells us something of the Brothers Inside Project which facilitates workshops for Aboriginal fathers in local correctional centres. This program was trialled in Cessnock Correctional Centre and has since been run in St Heliers and Kempsey Correctional Centres. The report on Brothers Inside is available on line and is filled with information and quotes.

Listeners can also access a DVD called So Now You’re a Dad and other materials produced by Craig.

Listeners to the show today will hear the real stories on the work that is being done to Close the Gap. It is a chance to pick up some of the wisdom needed for the role of Aboriginal men in growing up the next generation. This is a special show.

Song selections by our guests:

Aaron Stuart: Blue Highway by George Thorogood and The Destroyers

Craig Hammond: Love in the Morning by Archie Roach

Dads on the Air (12 Mar 2012): Good Sports and Great Dads

admin@dadsontheair.com.au (Dads on the Air | 2GLF 89.3FM | dadsontheair.com.au) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 23:30:00 +0000

With special guests:

Peter FitzSimons
Neil Young

Our guests today have both written about what it means to be a father and they let us in on some of the influences that have shaped the way they relate to their children.

Peter FitzSimons is well known through his exploits on the rugby field and as a wide ranging author, journalist and commentator. We talk to Peter about his family values that were implanted as part of a big family growing up in Peats Ridge New South Wales.

Neil Young grew up in England but having come under the spell of life in the Byron Bay region he became a late blossomer on the soccer field and most importantly as a father. Neil has some great stories, some funny and some poignant, about his experiences on and off the field.

Peter FitzSimons

Peter FitzSimons had written over twenty books before he turned his attention to a memoir on his own life growing up in a close family on the outskirts of Sydney. In his book A Simpler Time dedicated to his late great friend Matt Laffan and his late parents Peter and Helen, Peter tells stories about his childhood and the range of characters that he encountered. In talking to us on the program he tells us why it always seemed to be sunny in that simpler time.

This is a very personal interview with a special focus on Peter’s father and some insights from his mother Helen. We hear about Peter’s initiation as a FitzSimons man. We hear that when Peter ran out to play his first Test match with the Wallabies his father was watching from the grandstand.

Peter inherited his great story telling from an Irish past. These stories are full of love and inspiration with the importance of family as a central theme. Listening to Peter will undoubtedly make listeners think of their own personal stories. The time goes all too quickly.

Neil Young

Our next guest, Neil Young, is an actor, writer, director and co-author of a new book on fatherhood One Got Past the Keeper. The book follows the story of a group of men who got together to play in a local six-a-side soccer competition on the North Coast of NSW. There was a first season to get themselves fit and in some cases learn the rudiments of the game.

This group of men with different ages and different backgrounds fronted up for a second season of sport and mateship but found there were big changes going on. Over the second season all but one of the players found themselves in a state of pending fatherhood.

Neil invited each of the Dads to tell their stories, not as experts at either childbirth or football, but to give an honest, often hilarious, account of what really went on as they became fathers and the team changed its name from the Rusty Trombones FC, to the Fertile FC, and later the Trombones FC.

And for those who would like to hear a Dads on the Air exclusive, Neil Young sings us a lullaby. Make sure you tune in.

Song selections by our guests:

Peter FitzSimons: Tangled Up in Blue by Bob Dylan from his Blood on the Tracks album

Neil Young: Kooks by David Bowie from the album Hunky Dory. David Bowie dedicated the song to his son Zowie

Dads on the Air (05 Mar 2012): Raising awareness in our society while dealing with the myths

admin@dadsontheair.com.au (Dads on the Air | 2GLF 89.3FM | dadsontheair.com.au) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 23:30:00 +0000

With special guests:

John Forsyth
John Cook

John Forsyth

John Forsyth is a Scottish journalist who was a co-founder of Men in Scotland a blog which has now developed into a registered charity Abused Men in Scotland (AMIS). The problem that John describes sounds all too familiar to us in other parts of the world, namely that when the issue of domestic violence is raised there is a silo vision restricting the view to only male violence against their female partners.

John tells us that although support services for men and their children suffering from domestic abuse are pitifully inadequate in Scotland there are a few “green shoots” that give some cause for optimism. AMIS has received some government funding. At the Scottish Parliament level over 50 Members from all parties have signed a motion acknowledging the importance of the issue and the contribution AMIS has made to support men who are often in a desperate predicament.

AMIS provides support and help for victims while exposing the real figures on domestic abuse or violence. It does not seek the reallocation of current funding to women affected by domestic violence but until all victims are recognised this type of violence will remain a blight on Scottish society.

Finally John tells us his special reason for making his song selection which informs us a little about his personal story.

John Cook

Our next guest is John Cook who is the Climate Change Communication Fellow for the Global Change Institute at the University of Queensland, and the co-author of The Debunking Handbook.

Ever wanted to kill a myth stone dead but found that after you have used all your best arguments the myth seemed to multiply like the heads of Hydra in Greek mythology? John’s work in this area reveals that refuting misinformation involves dealing with complex cognitive processes. Our brains do not work by simply downloading data in the way that your hard drive does. The evidence is that no matter how vigorously and repeatedly we correct information, mud sticks!

The Debunking Handbook gives practical tips on how to effectively debunk misinformation and yet avoid the backfiring effects. One area where myths are prevalent is domestic violence. As just one example, Federal Minister Tanya Plibersek issued a statement that “domestic violence claims more Australian women under 45 than any other health risk, including cancer.” The reality is that domestic violence does not figure in the top 5 causes but this false “statistic” has never been corrected and keeps appearing. John praised the One in Three website as dealing with myths in exactly the way set out in The Debunking Handbook.

John gives us some practical advice on how to deal with the barbeque know-it-all as well as the deliberate misinformer. For more information you can go to John’s website Skeptical Science or refer to a book by Chip and Dan Heath called Made to Stick. In the meantime listen in to hear from John directly and find out just why he chose a great song from Crosby Stills Nash and Young.

Song selections by our guests:

John Forsyth: Days by The Kinks
John Cook: Teach Your Children by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

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 Teachers’ Certificate and a Masters Degree.

The author of even Toddlers Need Fathers joins us today from Southampton in the UK. Kip Miller wrote to the Australian Attorney-General Nicola Roxon on 16 January 2012 with the support of the Shared Parenting Council of Australia about particular concerns with the contribution to Australian law making of Psychologist Dr Jennifer McIntosh.

Jennifer McIntosh has been trying to influence Australian lawmakers and even those of some other countries including the UK and Israel to adopt the theories of Dr John Bowlby dating from 1951. In his theory of attachment called ‘Maternal Deprivation’ Bowlby links mothering to the state of mental health in children. The faulty understanding of the theory leads to some odd conclusions such as that a child under two years old who sleeps overnight in her father’s home is going to be harmed in some way by the experience, although it is OK to sleep there during the day.

Kip Miller brings real expertise and the wisdom of the world leaders in this area of research as a welcome respite from the feminist twaddle that passes itself off as an authoritative voice.

Gil Ronen

Our next guest comes to the program from Israel where Gil Ronen is the Founder and Chairman of The Family Lobby. While feminists call him a chauvinist he prefers the description of “familist”. Gil is a social activist and is considered a leading figure in the growing camp that opposes militant feminism in Israel.

We hear about the conflict between the Halacha (traditional Jewish law) and the state legislation. The state legislation has a “tender years” clause which grants women automatic custody of children up to the age of 6. The effect however is not limited to children under 6 because if there are several children involved, the courts will not split them. When this is coupled with draconian child support legislation under which the father’s real income may not even be considered and the excessive use of “visitation centres” for supervised access it amounts to a family crisis.

Of interest to Fathers in Australia and elsewhere is that an Israeli fathers’ group went to the United Nations to seek an investigation. Following a report by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights the UN demanded that the Israeli Government amend its laws. And following this demand the Israeli Minister of Justice, Yaakov Neeman has declared that divorced parents must now share custody of children in accordance with recommendations from the Schnitt Committee which has been debating this issue for over five years. And into the Schnitt deliberations came an inappropriate intrusion from Australia’s own Jennifer McIntosh with her half-baked research to muddy the waters. She was subsequently accused of persistently meddling with Israeli families. But the battle is far from over.

Listen in to get a personal perspective from a man of action on some issues in common and how we can fight them.

Song selections by our guests:

Kip Miller: Lonely Boy by Andrew Gold
Gil Ronen: Lady Madonna by The Beatles

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.

Some of the recommendations of the Plan have already been implemented following the amendments made to the Family Law Act late last year expanding the definition of what legally constitutes “domestic violence”. Others to follow may include formalising new sexual assault laws which will define legally consensual sexual intercourse. Unless a man gets verbal consent to perform various acts following a direct question he could be facing a rape charge. Furthermore consent can be removed after the fact if the woman claims she was coerced under a broad range of vague or implied threats. And it is the man who has the burden of proof if these types of allegations are made by the woman.

Even the title of the Plan causes great concern: Time for Action: The National Council’s Plan for Australia to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2009-2021. Note the use of the word “their” when referring to children. What about the Dads? And the Plan does not even address the physical, emotional or sexual abuse of children.

As to the statistics on which this draconian Plan is supposedly based hear Kyle show where the findings have been ignored, twisted and in some cases deliberately misrepresented.

The Plan has to be of major concern to all fair minded men and women who are witnesses to the vanishing civil rights of Australia’s men.

Barbara Kay

Also in our show today as a special feature we are delighted to welcome back Barbara Kay who is a columnist for the National Post newspaper in Montreal Canada.

Barbara has recently posted an article The awkward truth about spousal abuse. In the article Barbara recognises the achievements of feminists in the 1970’s to redress some of the wrongs from 60 years ago. But now in the 21st century the feminists are fighting among themselves about who are the real feminists and the denial of domestic abuse is still with us, only it has shifted from the female victims to the males.

Honest researchers were surprised to find in study after study that intimate partner violence is mostly bidirectional when feminists and governments still act as though the only victims of domestic violence are women. Erin Pizzey who opened the first refuge for battered women in England in 1971 was expelled from the feminist movement because she dared to ask women about their own violence.

With regard to domestic violence men are where women were 60 years ago.

Listen in to hear Barbara’s candid and eloquent analysis of the current situation and what we should be aiming for in our social, judicial and political attitudes towards violence.

Also check out our new feature where we will be inviting guests to choose a song for the program. Kyle and Barbara both picked interesting songs and they tell us why they made their choice. If you enjoy listening to the song One Life you can find out about Jade Michael and the Tennessee band 17 Stories … and more … by going to his website Artistry Against Misandry.

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. Ben was happy to tell us that it is now five years since his diagnosis which is a critical milestone for all forms of cancer.

Ben tells us today about the importance of acting quickly and going to your doctor if you have any suspicious lumps or changes in your body. We hear in a no-nonsense way what to expect before and after you know for certain that you have cancer.

Want to know what it is really like for the person with cancer? What suddenly becomes more important in your life? How should carers, family and loved ones respond to the crisis? Listen in to hear how Ben stayed motivated and the messages he now has for all of us.

Dr Andrew Penman

Our second guest in today’s show is Dr Andrew Penman AM, Chief Executive Officer, Cancer Council NSW. Dr Penman is well qualified to give expert advice on the topic of testicular cancer with degrees in biochemistry and medicine. His experience in public health derives from working in Australia and overseas countries before being appointed to his present position in 1998. In 2010 Dr Penman was appointed Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his contribution to public health.

The incidence of testicular cancer is increasing for reasons that are still unknown. What we do know is that football injuries, tight undies and hot baths are not risk factors and that is a relief for all of us.

We hear what are the real risk factors and the current success rate in treating testicular cancer. Dr Penman addresses the most common fears in this area and tells us what the Cancer Council is doing to get the message out. The Cancer Council Helpline is an invaluable resource for people unsure of what to expect and their number is 131120.

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.

We cross to the Netherlands where we speak to Peter Tromp who is a Child and Educational Psychologist. Peter is the Chair Father Knowledge Centre Netherlands and the Secretary Platform for European Fathers.

To speak to our next guest we cross to the UK and speak to blogger Robert Whiston, Chair Men’s Aid UK. We hear directly about the recommendations in a recent report on Family Law made to the British Government. This report has made headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Benjamin Wondergem

Benjamin is a serving Police Officer in the Netherlands who holds Masters Degrees in Health Care Management and Criminal Investigation. Benjamin was authorised to conduct a survey dealing with the attitude of the Dutch Police Officers and the prosecuting authority when dealing with a family conflict.

When we hear about the problems in the Netherlands it becomes apparent that fathers face enormous difficulties around the world in trying to maintain contact with their children after separation and divorce.

Ken Thompson

It was a pleasure to welcome Ken back to the program. Ken knows both Benjamin and Peter Tromp well from his time in the Netherlands so it was a bonus to have him in the studio. Ken and Benjamin are joint winners of the Netherlands 2011 Father of the Year Award.

Ken discusses with Benjamin the current situation in the Netherlands and has some important messages about International Parental Child Abduction including a plea for support for Stephen Watkins, the father from Canada who is now in Poland awaiting a legal decision on whether his abducted boys will be able to go back home to Canada.

Peter Tromp

When Peter Tromp travelled to the EU in Brussels in connection with consideration by the Parliament of paternity leave he discovered that fathers were not represented. With the support of the Dutch Greens Party Peter set about establishing the Platform for European Fathers (PEF) and since then the growth has been rapid. The PEF now has nineteen fatherhood and equal parenting organisations representing twelve European countries and including Switzerland, a non-EU country.

It would be great if other Greens parties around the world would recognise the injustice and support similar action.

PEF is a voice for fathers in Brussels when the EU is considering issues that affect fathers.

In addition to his work with PEF Peter operates the Father Knowledge Centre in The Netherlands where help is offered at an individual level. Peter sees this as particularly important as we approach Christmas when many fathers are going to be deprived of spending time with their children.

Robert Whiston

Our final guest is Robert Whiston who joins us from Westminster in the UK. Robert gives us an insight into the recent Norgrove Report to the British Government and some of the people behind it. Unfortunately that includes Jenn McIntosh from Australia who for some inexplicable reason was consulted for the report. Her contribution is evaluated by Robert in his blog Norgrove and McIntosh’s ‘junk science’.

It is illuminating to hear from someone whose expertise is in the figures to see how this particular psychologist has distorted the findings based on her small samples to come up with the conclusion she wanted.

One has to wonder why Norgrove resorted to a report published by McIntosh in 2009 when there are far more reliable reports using larger samples available from UK and US sources. Listen to Robert to see how far this much criticised Norgrove Report is likely to affect the law making agencies and the possible international repercussions.

DADS ON THE AIR FOR 2011

This is our last show for the year but we hope that listeners will take the opportunity over the break to visit some of the highlights in our shows over the year… and don’t forget to join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

In the leadup to Christmas we hope all the dads out there get together with family and friends. From Dads on the Air we wish you all the very best for a merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.