A shout out to the Dads!

Celebrating Father’s Day at Barfoot & Thompson.

Fathers do all sorts of things that make them special. Some offer inspiration for learning. Others show us what kindness, courage and commitment look like. Many are champions for family and community. And then there are the odd few who can actually tell a good joke! Our dads are protectors, providers, teachers, supporters, friends and role models all at once. Which is why it’s great to celebrate Father’s Day, and show our appreciation for all they do.

This year at Barfoot & Thompson, we asked a few of our team members what they love most about being a dad, and how it has influenced or changed them. Here is what they said.

Eugene Tuhaka

Associate Salesperson, Pokeno

“Being a father changes you every day of your life. I look forward to the day seeing my sons becoming dads.”

When I found out my wife Paula was pregnant with that first arrival I was so happy. I couldn't wait. Being at the birth of your children will change any man. We have four boys, Gavin (31), Luke (21), Cody (19) and Bronson (11). I love chilling with them and I’m happiest when they’re all at home. Over the years I’ve coached them in rugby, league, touch and softball. Playing sports and coaching in your community is like being in a BIG family. You make friends with parents, you watch the kids grow up together, and you look out for them. As a ‘Real Estate Family’ in Pokeno - Paula, me and now Luke, who has just joined our team - we love our community and support it where we can, e.g. sponsoring Duffy Books at the school, Pink Ribbon fundraising, manning the BBQ’s and helping Santa at the Pokeno Christmas Parade. I believe dads are just as important as mums. And this year I’ll be taking time out to wish all dads ‘Happy Father’s Day’ on the Facebook group Kiwi Daddys. It's a great group of over 60,000 dads - from new dads, to old dads, to dads down with depression right through to dads offering help and support. The love on this site is infectious and I'm proud to be a member. Arohanui.

Aidan Salmon

Residential/Rural Sales, Mangawhai

“Let’s be honest, dads have it pretty good. If I can take the kids out and give their mum a break, then awesome. Even better if I don’t get told off for giving them ice creams!”

I’d say that being a dad challenges you to be your best. You want to be a good role model so that your kids can look up to you. I have two kids, a boy and a girl, and we love going to the beach. The same beach can offer up a totally different learning experience from one day to the next. One day it can be about building and creating something, then the next it can be about collecting plastic or watching crabs crawl under rocks. For me it’s a chance to switch off and be 100% involved with the kids. Something else I love to do is coaching the under 6’s at the mighty Mangawhai football club. My daughter was supposed to play but pulled out after game one! As frustrating as this was, I said I’d coach for the whole season and it’s been awesome to see a group of kids learn and have fun - but it also goes back to being a role model. If I say I’m going to do something for someone, I want my kids to see that I follow through. I was lucky to have a dad and a stepfather who were both involved in my upbringing. On reflection, they taught me to be the best version of myself, as they both tried to be their best in what was not always an easy situation. Father's Day gives me a chance to say thanks to my dads.

Simon Casey

Chief Information Officer, Support Centre

“We like to be active together… snow skiing and riding BMX. I try to be faster than my son in those sports because within a few years he will overtake me!”

Charlie is my only child. He is 6 years old. Being a dad has changed me in that I focus on family time on the weekends now, instead of focusing on myself. My son and I really like to be active together, with our preferred sport being snow skiing and riding BMX. I am active in church and since I’ve had Charlie, I teach children in Sunday school and I am also the Chairman of the Board of the Glendowie Christian Kindergarten. My own dad volunteered a lot of his time in the education sector too, and in the local Lions Club. I remember him bringing home a lonely man to have Christmas dinner with us one year, with his advice being ‘always be ready to give a helping hand’.

Kenny Bhosale

Head of Talent Development, Support Centre

“It takes a village to raise a child. It was important for me to be involved in this village, and also be seen as a role model for my kids.”

When I became a father, I felt I had to grow up and be more responsible to provide for my whanau and set a good example. Interestingly, my leadership style at work also changed - I found myself more patient, understanding and empathetic! I have two boys, Tristan (10) and Dylan (8). I’ve always tried to treat them like grown-ups, and I involve them in what I do around the house, like DIY, building stuff, cleaning and other dad duties. It gives me a lot of pleasure seeing them grow into responsible boys, who one day I hope will become good men and role models in society. It’s important to my wife Stephanie and I that the boys have a village around them. There is only so much we can give them, and I want them to be able to socialise with other kids, see other adults and know how to be part of a community. By way of example, I have been a Volunteer Firefighter in Greenhithe for several years, and have also been involved in the Tauhinu Sea Scout Group as a Cub Leader, coached soccer for kids and been a member of the board at Greenhithe Primary School. In terms of advice my own dad gave me – ‘convince your kids that anything is possible, but they have to work for it’! Dad has said he thinks that perhaps he should have done more for my brother and me. We were an immigrant family, Mum and Dad worked multiple jobs, so there wasn’t a lot of hands-on parenting. But that actually made us more resilient and self-reliant, and motivated to make our own way in the world. My message for other dads on this day - don’t lose the sense of who you are, and the importance of your value as a male influence and role model for your sons and daughters. Today, more than ever, the world needs strong male role models.