FATHERS and father figures filled the school grounds in Clarkson on Friday at an annual breakfast.
St Andrews Catholic Primary School hosted more than 350 fathers and grandfathers with their children for the Fathers Day breakfast on September 2.
Assistant principal Warren Smith said the annual event had “grown exponentially” since it started with 80 people 13 years ago.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOW“It’s probably one of our premiere ways of getting our dads on site and spending time with their children,” he said.
“It gives our staff a wonderful opportunity to meet the dads who we otherwise might not get to see.”
Mr Smith said children whose fathers had died or were otherwise unavailable brought other significant adults in their lives.
Clarkson resident Ryan Hosken attended the breakfast with his older daughter Emily (5), who said the best thing about her dad was that he loved her.
“We play lots; we go to the park lots; we ride our bikes,” Mr Hosken said.
“We do lots of chores together; we wash the cars; we fix things – she has her own tool box.”
With another daughter Rachel (2), Mr Hosken said he also makes pancakes for the family every Sunday and this Sunday would be no exception.
Carramar resident Steve Wynne has three children – Jaylin (10), Tighe (5) and Ryan (4) – at St Andrews.
“Kids just make everything fun,” the builder said.
Mr Wynne said they were planning to spend Fathers Day driving go-karts.
Staff arrived at school early to prepare the breakfast, which included a sausage sizzle, fruit and hot drinks, and Year 2 students led a Fathers Day assembly afterwards.