I think it’s fair to say I’ve not always had a super close relationship with my father.
We have different personalities and approach certain things from a different angle, which led to quite a few disagreements, particularly when I was living at home.
But, as I’ve grown older, I have been able to reflect on where he might have been coming from at times and we get along fine now.
I’m sure this is a fairly common occurrence.
While I know dad will admit he, like everyone, is not perfect, I do appreciate that he has been there to offer advice on work, sport, and life in general, while he often sends a morning text message to wish me a good day.
We’re now able to enjoy the simple things together, like catching up for coffee or going for a bushwalk around the Central Coast.
It has not always been easy, but we have, overall, led a privileged life compared to some other Australian families.
As the nation prepares to celebrate Father’s Day in a little over a week’s time (Sunday 6 September), we’ve featured the journey of Fletcher-based father of five, Charles Gashufi.
Charles and his family had made a life for themselves in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but were forced to disband in 2005, with Charles fleeing to Burundi in East Africa with his disabled daughter Llana for treatment.
After searching for their father, the family was reunited in 2007 in a refugee camp in Burundi, where they then lived for 11 years, before arriving in Australia in 2018.
Two of Charles’ children, John and Charlotte, pay tribute to the sacrifices their father made to give them a better life on pages 9 and 10.
