The ideal dad

Captain Craig Exon from the Berwick Salvos Community Church, with daughter Chandra and son Kaeyl, says the Pitstop parenting course encourages fathers in the City of Casey to be “the best parents they can be.” 26490 Picture: Luke Plummer

By Kelly Yates
CREATING strong families that connect, communicate and grow together was the aim of a recent Casey-based parenting course.
Pitstop, run by the Berwick Salvos Community Church, is an eight-week course designed to make fathers with children up to 18 years “the best parents they can be.” Captain Craig Exon, minister of the church, told the News 12 fathers from within the City of Casey, aged from late 20s to mid 40s, took part in the course.
Nine fathers successfully completed Pitstop, which began in February, receiving a certificate to mark the occasion.
“The fathers learnt effective discipline strategies, parenting styles and communication techniques through interactive tools such as power point presentations, videos and discussion sessions,” he said. Captain Exon said it was important for fathers to be involved in their children’s lives.
“Kids don’t come with manuals so that’s why it is important to be a good father in every aspect,” he said. The Berwick Salvos Community Church offers the course twice a year, during terms one and three.
Narre Warren father Leonard Harris, 47, who took part in the course, said he enjoyed the informative sessions. Mr Harris said he took part in Pitstop in an effort to better himself as a dad.
“It helps men understand their children and create a balance between their work and home life,” Mr Harris said.