The very first Father's Day was celebrated in 1910, an American tradition to complement Mother's Day (which at the time, was already being celebrated).

A young lady by the name of Sanora Smart Dodd was behind it all. She reckoned her dad, a single parent who was raising six children, deserved a little extra recognition. Fair enough too.

It wasn't a great success in the early years; ironic, given how many American traditions we have adopted in Australia. It was perceived as just another attempt by retailers to cash in on the success of Mother's day. Who'd of thought!

Still they came around in the end, and fathers took their rightful place (for us that's the first Sunday in September each year - where in many other countries it is celebrated in June).

So who is the average 'Joe'? Or probably a better question: Is there an average Joe?

A quick snapshot shows us dads make up 20 per cent of Australia's population. There are approximately 4.6 million dads in Australia.

Stay at home dads are growing in number. In 1981, just 1.9 per cent of two-parent families had a stay-at-home dad. In 2016, it was 4.6 per cent. (*Source: Australian Institute of Family Studies)

The average age of a new father is 33.1 years.

We have a few dads in our office, and some about to become new dads. I guess that makes them 'one in a million' or more.

So to them, and all the dads out there, hope you have a fantastic day.

"It is a wise father that knows his own child."

William Shakespeare

"A dad is someone who wants to catch you when you fall. Instead he picks you up, brushes you off and lets you try again"

Unknown

"I am not ashamed to say that no man I ever met was my father's equal, and I never loved any other man as such."

Hedy Lamarr

"My father gave me dreams. Thanks to him, I could see a future."

Liza Minnelli

"A father carries pictures where his money used to be."

Steve Martin

Fiona Ferguson

Editor - Northern Daily Leader