that lad called dad From the moment our dads pop us into the highchair to the day we hold their timeworn hand for comfort – it’s easy to understand why fatherhood is a beautiful aspect of life. We catch up with four busy Bendigo dads to chat about life, love and relationships from a very fatherly perspective. - Jacqui Mott Dad’s the word. And love is the other word. Strong and capable, standing up for you and as soft as a sigh in the same breath. Gee aren’t they great? With Bendigo’s population peaking 100,000 this year, it’s no surprise the city is overflowing with dads of all denominations. It’s pop-land and we’re proud of it.
A Cornford-combo It’s a bit Brady-Bunchish at Andrew Cornford’s home. You see, even though he’s a Victorian Police officer – it seems that when Andrew sits at the breakfast table in his Bendigo home, he’s bamboozled by the peak hour traffic. “Our home is completely and utterly ‘out there’, there’s people coming and going all over the place … kids appear from every corner – it’s like a zoo. It’s all South Park and Simpsons.” With the comings and goings of four children aged between 12 and 21, Andrew and wife Fran found a special detour this year, with the birth of their first child together, Maeve. Kids-wise there are four girls and one boy in the Cornford-combo-clan, Jessica, Laura, Rene, Monique and Jack. Rene is Andrew’s 16-year old while Fran’s four complete the picture. Now, newborn Maeve makes six. But with so many female souls under one roof, Andrew has been feeling in the minority with only Jack by his side. “I was hanging out for a boy – either that or a bigger shed. “So it looks like I’ll be spending more time in the shed,” he said jokingly. According to Andrew, second-time-around-fatherhood is a very different experience. “Last time I was only 23, so I had no idea. I didn’t know what was expected of me as a father. The only fathers I knew were older dads. I was also working in Melbourne, gone for 15 hours a day.” Rene was only 10-months old when Andrew took on a single parent role. He said that life has been challenging at times.
“For a while it was just the two of us. It’s been difficult for Rene, then coming into a new family, well for a while she felt as if she was the odd one out - but now she’s got a new sister – well she’s very excited.” Andrew is discovering what a positive affect a newborn has had on the whole family. “The kids all feel they share something in common – it’s great.” “And now (with the new baby) I can sit back and enjoy life, because I know what is expected of me. We’re both working full time so I know I’ll be doing the night time feeds, the nappy changes and everything else that comes with it.” Having a new baby has turned Andrew’s life around in more ways than one. He’s given up smoking and focussed on fitness. “Having a young child to raise makes you aware of the need to be around for a lot longer, you’re conscious of your own mortality – and the need to project a positive image for the whole family.” When Andrew arrived in Bendigo 15 years ago he started work with the Victorian Police ‘sexual offences and child abuse unit’. He said his job exposes him to seediness and he admits his outlook of the world is coloured accordingly. “Most parents don’t see the side of life I see, it makes me more paranoid – but my cautiousness frustrates the kids. They don’t know why I’m being so protective. If I suggest anything, the kids think I’m a stick in the mud, a silly old fool - I can’t seem to educate them.” Andrew said he leaves the conveying of street-wise strategies to Fran. “The kids seem to take advice better from a mother,” he said. “But conflict also arises when children think they are a lot older than they are, they think life is like it is on the Simpsons and Big Brother, and it’s not.” But for baby Maeve life’s just not that complicated. Andrew and Fran both agree they’re happy to go with the flow, from toddler time to touring. “The three of us can go places, we’ll be able to travel, hire a campervan – we’ll keep the same plans we’ve always had – but modify them slightly for our baby girl, I’m looking forward to that. ➤ 43