For Mark Bates, playing hockey alongside son Eddy this season has been something to cherish - beyond the thrill of a father sharing the field with his son.
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Last year Bates' world was turned upside down when he was diagnosed with a stage-four metastatic melanoma of the brain.
"About mid-August last year I had some fatigue," he recalled.
"I was just really tired all the time."
When things didn't improve he thought he was either "really tired" or there was something more serious going on.
"I got an image and it turned out it was a melanoma," he said.
"They said it could be a glioblastoma.
"When they came back and said it was probably that, I had it taken out."
He was diagnosed with R type, which has a 55 per cent resistance to therapy.
"I didn't think the treatment was going to work but I thought I'd give it a go," Bates said.
Fortunately it did.
Initially on immuno therapy, which he said he is "really quite thankful" for, he is now on IV and goes down to Newcastle regularly for scans and check-ups.
Bates admits it was a huge shock.
"I was always fit and healthy," he said.
For most of his life he had participated in some form of physical activity.
In recent years he had concentrated on running, competing in the Tamworth Trail Blazer last year and other similar events.
With a new appreciation of life, when the chance to play hockey with Eddy came up (Eddy was eligible to play men's this season), Bates thought he'd give it a crack.
"My wife said I should try it this year," he said.
"I've been watching it for long enough."
Eddy has been playing since minkey hockey.
After participating in the come-and-try days the father and son duo have been teaming up for the South United Blue third-grade side.
Both switch between half and wing, and on occasion have found themselves playing on the same side.
"It's been quite rewarding the whole experience," Bates said.
"Hockey is just a great game for all ages and all abilities."
He admits he still has a lot to learn, joking that it is certainly a lot easier watching on from the hill.
"I'm like a happy puppy - keen but clueless," he said.
The weekend is usually pretty full with hockey for Eddy, who also plays for Souths' under-13s in the junior Saturday morning competition.
Next weekend he will suit up for the Tamworth under-13 As at the State Championships at Grafton.