Father & Son Breakfast Captures Lessons from the Angolan Minefields

On 12 and 13 August, the Boys' School celebrated their annual Father-Son event in the lead up to Father’s Day. This year, the event returned with a twist: after last year's mother-son breakfast, the fathers and sons had the chance to share a meal together. Held at the Ellerslie Events Centre on two crisp winter mornings, the boys of Cargill and Chalmers Houses gathered on the first day, with Wishart and Hamilton Houses following the next morning.

The boys and their fathers arrived bundled against the cold, excited for a warm and hearty breakfast. Fathers were treated to a classic eggs brekkie, while the boys delighted in stacks of pancakes topped with all their favourites. The room was filled with chatter despite the early morning, as the boys and dads enjoyed their meals and connected with those at their tables.  Although the feed was good, the highlight of the morning was a talk by guest speaker David Karam, CEO of APS Complete Property Service.

David’s message was captivating from the get-go. Drawing from his experiences leading a three-year campaign clearing minefields in Angola and Mozambique, he spoke on leadership, teamwork, mental health, and the dangers of complacency. His words resonated deeply, particularly his closing sentiment. “Leadership is simply about growing and developing the people around you so you are no longer needed.” Karam's vulnerable storytelling of courage in the face of extreme danger were complemented by a special hands-on experience, as he brought along deactivated landmines for the boys to examine and hold – a physical reminder of the stakes of his mission.

The event wrapped up with a round of spot prizes, generously donated by Spark Business Hub, bringing joy to a few lucky boys and their dads. Other supporters of the event included Winger Motors, Matassa, APS, Generate, and H&E, whose contributions helped make the mornings a memorable success.

As the buses departed to return the boys to school, it was evident that the morning had strengthened the bonds between fathers and sons. Each participant left not only with a sense of fulfilment from the hearty breakfast but also with a profound takeaway from David Karam's message – a call to continually strive towards personal growth and development.