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The DUC Club has been specifically designed to offer our dads the opportunity to meet, socialise and share a laugh with other dads in an understanding environment. All DUC club activities are relaxed and group oriented and create opportunities for dads to make new friends with other men going through similar situations.
A product of the DUC Club is the Dads Helping Dad's Program, developed by a group of fathers who wanted to assist other Challenge dads while their children were in hospital. Dads Helping Dads assist families with basic gardening and house maintenance. A free lawn mowing service is also available for parents requiring extra support, allowing more time to be spent with their children.
A Dad's DUC Experience
By Patrick Laffy
'The Gas Fire Fog Attack' was the title of the Challenge flyer that my wife Geraldine handed me and it looked promising. Like most boys I had always wanted to be a fireman and here was my chance.
So I signed up for the Saturday afternoon session at the CFA training ground. I met up with Micka and after an introduction to the other dads we had a BBQ lunch and were then on our way.
We started by putting on all the fire fighting gear and then we put out different types of fires, for example wood, paper, petrol and electrical using the appropriate fire extinguishers for the type of fire that was burning.
Then after a quick break we were given instructions by a ‘real’ fire fighter and had practice runs with the fire hoses. Our task was to work as a team to put out a gas bottle that had caught fire and was threatening the building.
It was great to see what it must be like for a fire fighter to go through to put out a fire. We had about 5 goes so that everyone got to have a chance to do a different job in our team like ‘the leader, the fog operator and the hose feeder’.
It has opened my eyes as to how fire fighters put their lives on the line every day.
We were completed drenched and if I do it again I will remember to bring a change of clothes! It was great to have a fun day, especially as we are all going through a very difficult time with sick children.
Thank you Challenge.
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