My dad, Phil Hillier, passed away last week. It was not unexpected but it was still very sad, as will be his funeral this week. While he was born in Sydney and lived in Tasmania and Queensland, so much of what made my father the man he was happened in the west of Melbourne.
He grew up in Benbow Street, Yarraville, with his mum and joined the RAAF, which posted him to Townsville where he met my mother. He was then posted to Laverton, where I was born. Dad was a motor body builder at the RAAF base in Laverton and we lived off the base in Ulm Street.
A few years back, dad visited and was completely blown away by what had become of his old workplace and the fact there was a rapidly growing suburb where he used to work. Across the highway in Point Cook was an explosion of houses where he used to take us mushroom picking.
Williamstown Beach used to be a day trip for us. Mind you, getting to Point Cook can still take you a day depending on traffic.
Dad’s passing made me think of how the role of a father has changed. Dad was the breadwinner, mum stayed at home and did the household duties. Dad did all the around-the-house work like lawn mowing and mum did all the cooking and cleaning. Mum did the shopping and dad did the finances. Mum was there when we got home from school and dad was there when we got into trouble (to boot us up the backside).
The parental roles today are so much more flexible and shared, and I am so glad that is the case. In so many families now, dad is not the one who brings home the bacon and mum is not chained to the kitchen.
We have learned to share the responsibilities of parenting and working. Hopefully that is a positive thing for our children and the generations to come. Stay-at-home dads and full-time working mums is something my dad would never have thought possible in his youth.
I know dad would not have changed a thing in his life, but I am glad that life has changed for me and my children.
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