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Long days and sleepless nights are what Lavington dad Zane Wolffenbuttel remembers from when his daughter, Melody, was born.
He'd practised changing nappies on a teddy bear with his partner, Bronnie Harris, but nothing could prepare him for the duties of fatherhood.
“Being able to teach someone, to guide her and give her everything I never had - give her a good life - that's what I love about being a dad,” Mr Wolffenbuttel said.
“Sleep wasn't something I got much of, but it was just something I did - Mel needed me and so did Bron, so it was a no brainer.”
With Father's Day on Sunday, the couple reflected on their time as parents.
Miss Harris described her partner as “the party boy” when they first met, but that quickly changed when they were told they would have trouble conceiving.
When she did fall pregnant, she began having daily gall bladder attacks.
Soon after Melody was born, Miss Harris was back in hospital to have her gall bladder removed, leaving Mr Wolffenbuttel to take on both parenting roles.
Soon he was warming bottles and learning how to feed.
He was changing nappies, doing housework and groceries all while working as a full-time disability carer.
Like so many other fathers, all of his learning-curves, love and hard work will be celebrated on Sunday.
He'll be served pancakes and ice cream for breakfast, but what he looks forward to most is spending time with his daughter and partner.
“Last fathers day I took her to the park for the first time and now we have a little boy on the way,” he said.
“I love everything about my daughter - she is ridiculously amazing.
“And I'm stoked to be having a second child.”
Mr Wolffenbuttel's desire to do things for Father's Day, rather than receive things, is echoed by many dads in Australia.
New research by RedBalloon, which surveyed 2500 participants, revealed 67 per cent of dads prefer memorable experiences over objects.
High on the list was rally car driving, flying lessons or sailing trips.
Only 15 per cent of those surveyed wanted a power tool, tie or aftershave for Father's Day while almost half have more socks than they know what to do with.
Meanwhile rural kids were more generous with 79 per cent buying their dad a present compared with 49 per cent in metropolitan areas.