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Our Thanks Dad Photos Story ... a brief version.

Simply displaying positive photos of dads with their children was first suggested to Chris Hawke in July 2000 by Michael Hawton a Family Court Counsellor in Lismore and Greg Schlieman one of the co-founders of Northern Rivers Mensline telephone support based in Lismore NSW. The program is auspiced by Youth Connections North Coast in Lismore NSW and we are funded by FaHCSIA - Men and Family Relationship Services Programme.

Chris Hawke had just started in July 2000 as a men and family relationships worker funded by the Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services in the Lismore area. His aim was to continue to run Father Son Weekends and provide dads with other activities like sporting days to bring men and boys together. This positive photo idea was a great way to get to know the local community.

The 2000 Fathers Day Photo Competition was organised in six weeks with the support of local media and schools with cash prizes provided by Lismore businesses and presented to winners in front of K-mart in Lismore Shopping Square. The Lismore Camera Club and several local schools were involved, local judges and also peoples choice voting. A trophy was also given to be best primary and secondary school photographer by Darcy McFadden, a well known and recently retired photographer with The Northern Star.

The impact was amazing. In organising the competition, Chris became involved in hundred of discussions with men and women who were keen to share their positive stories. Many men were delighted to have positive photos of themselves with their kids displayed in public. The public people's choice vote seeded many thoughts and stimulated many discussions within families or with the exhibition attendants. Some also wanted support to rebuild broken or struggling relationships with their children and partners.

The 2001 Fathers Day Competition and Exhibitions expanded to include people voting for their favourite photo at Ballina Shopping Fair, schools and community venues. The regional newspaper The Northern Star provided cash prizes and promotion for a Regional Schools Workshop at Richmond River High School. Ian Causley our federal parliament representative presented prizes with several speakers including Jacklyn Wagner photographer fromThe Northern Star.

In 2002 we went national after many requests from around Australia. We visited many schools, community groups

A second regional schools workshop was run in conjunction with the NSW Camera Clubs Convention with speakers and school students from 15 schools across the region, speakers and prizes.

In 2003 the People's Choice Exhbitions also toured for three months around the south coast and southern highlands of NSW with the NSW Mens Health and Wellbeing Association.

The community continues to respond to this positive strengths based approach to creating the space for men and their families to both share what they already do well and how to strengthen their relationships for the future.

In 2004 the name was changed to Thanks Dad to reflect the core sentiment of this national photo competition, exhibitions and various other activities. The Thanks Dad name was subtitled 'Affirming all men for positive time with our children' to include grandparents, step dads, uncles, sports coaches, teachers and any male with a significant positive relationship with children and young people.

Westfield Shopping Plaza in Liverpool Sydney held a Thanks Dad Shopping Centre Competition with local stores providing thousands of dollars worth of prizes. These entries were also entered in the national competition.

2004 Winners were announced and some presentations were made at the worlds first Fatherhood Festival in Bangalow Northern NSW. The name has been refocused to Thanks Dad Photos: National Photo Competition and People's Choice Exhibitions.

Chris Hawke has moved to Alice Springs a few years ago now and has left the programme and its continued growth in the hands of Kay Knights, who is the project coordinator - also assisted by a wonderful volunteer Chrissie Smart.

Many thousands of Australians continue to be stimulated by this positive preventive activity affirming the positive times that men are already having with our children and young people. We have produced cards that area available to give to men who are important in your life as well as bookmarks and fun sheets for children - all that are given out at the exhibitions. There will also be a calendar available online that people can download to give to their dad on Father's Day. There are also newsletters sent out each month or that are available off the website.

We are now in 2010 in our tenth year and receiving more entries from around the country then ever before. Last year we received over 1,000 entries and expect to exceed that this year. The People's Choice Exhibition travels every month around the country and we have, over the last couple of years, reached into all states and received incredible feedback from people who have enjoyed viewing the exhibition. The Exhibition visits libraries, shopping centres and other events and we encourage you to talk to us about hosting an event in your area - you can email Kay Knights (the project coordinator) on tdp@ycnc.com.au We would love to talk to you about also holding your own local competition where your local entries will also become part of the National event.

PS Please personally thank the many men who you personally know do have positive time with the children in their family and/or local area.

2010 Winners

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