CELEBRATING FATHER'S DAY | WE CHAT TO BRUCE

I’m looking forward to us all being together and a little bit of the focus being on me! Then receiving some pretty funny, useless gifts that I would never normally receive!

Being in Melbourne, I presume that we will still be in lockdown which will stop us from going and sitting in a restaurant or café for breakfast/lunch. We will still be together anyway which is the best part of the day.

That lockdown will be finished, my kids can go back to school, and that Michelle and I can tell the kids that we can go to Queensland and have a holiday on the Gold Coast! A set of new golf clubs as well would not go astray.

I was one of 4 children and we had a very happy childhood. My dad and I were pretty close so I always enjoyed Father’s Day with him. Mum was a great cook, so my memories are of sitting around with my siblings and grandparents eating a big Sunday lunch. Our favourite Father’s Day meal would be a roast lamb with vegetables and crunchy roast potatoes, finished off with the great Australian dessert of Pavlova with cream and strawberries.

They are all memorable - as I said, I feel very lucky and blessed to have three healthy, happy and rather awesome children. A favourite was being at the birth of each child, alone with my wife Michelle and the midwives - it was very special as I truly felt a part of bringing my children into this world. Other special moments include the kids starting to walk and I still remember the smile of each child’s face as they learned to ride their bicycles, which I spent a lot of time teaching them. 

I make sure to be a very present dad in listening and talking with my children each and every day. I tend to do most of the cooking and shopping for food, taking them to most of their appointments and social arrangements because Michelle works full time. I am really proud of supporting Michelle in her career as a professional designer at ANZ Bank.

Get involved, I mean really get involved. I changed nappies and I helped to feed them, which has helped me bond with my children from the beginning. Make sure to support your partner as much as possible, enduring the sleepless nights, and accept being exhausted because the rewards are beautiful.

The love I feel for my children is hard to explain, even when they are driving me crazy - I am sure that any parent can understand what I mean. I have no doubt it is the best thing Michelle and I have achieved together.