Support group being formed | Northern Rivers News | Local News in Northern Rivers

25th June 2009

SUPPORT FOR SINGLE DADS: Grant Edwards, from Ballina, is founding the local branch of the national Lone Fathers Association. He is pictured with the national secretary, Fae Stacey, in Ballina.

GRANT Edwards wanted support.

But he didn’t want to go down the path of being a burden on friends and family.

He wanted someone to talk to.

Mr Edwards is one of the growing number of single dads in the community.

His search for support led him to the organisation, the Lone Fathers Association of Australia, and he is now trying to found a branch in Ballina.

Mr Edwards separated from his wife of five years in November last year, and the couple is in the midst of formalising arrangements for the shared care of their five-year-old child.

Mr Edwards said it’s been a ‘very emotional time’ since the separation, with periods of feeling lonely and isolated.

He said it was difficult to talk about his experiences with his mates – and some would say they just ‘don’t want to know’.

“I have found speaking with other men in my situation, the men have no idea what sort of support is out there, and what sort of future they can achieve for their family,” he said.

“I felt like a fish out of water with little support – I had family support, but I didn’t like to lump my family with the burdens of family breakdown.”

The Lone Fathers Association of Australia was founded 36 years ago by Barry Williams.

When Mr Williams became a sole parent, there was no income support for single men with custody of their children, and there was a move to take the children from him because he was a male.

Since forming the group, Mr Williams has been heavily involved in lobbying governments on single-parent issues.

While the group focuses on men, it is open to women as well.

Mr Edwards said the group would provide advice on where to go for legal help to do with shared parenting arrangements and other matters, and for help sorting out things like Centrelink payments, and many other issues single parents face.

He said the group also would provide a social outlet where single parents could meet with people who are in the same situation.

The inaugural meeting of the Ballina branch of the Lone Fathers Association of Australia will be held at the Ballina RSL Club on Monday, June 29, starting at 7pm.

Mr Williams will be present along with representatives of the Child Support Agency.

For more information, phone Mr Edwards on 6681 6767.

The group won’t accept membership from men who refuse to pay child support.

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