More than 800 people attended Uniting’s Dads 4 Kids Festival with guest Andrew Daddo.

Uniting's Margaret Ann Mould said the day was about celebrating and recognising the role the dad played within the family unit.

There were a range of services and activities on offer, all provided free of charge thanks to government grants.

It’s the second time Mr Daddo has been the special guest at Dads 4 Kids.

“I’m a dad. I’ve got three of my own an 18, 16 and 13-year-old, and I know it’s important for dads to be present for their children. It’s really important, it’s significant, and it’s easier for me to do it than a lot of guys out here,” he said.

Spending the morning at the Dads 4 Kids event may not look like much, Mr Daddo said, but it was a big deal.

“It’s hard, parenting is properly hard, so it’s a good chance for dads just to get out and see other dads,” he said.

His own dad used to work all the time, the celebrity said. But Mr Daddo said there was no excuse for dads not to spend some time with their children.

Mr Daddo said being a dad to him was about “setting his kids up forever”.

“I can tell them some things and then other people can fill in the gaps but it’s just to try and prepare them for life and hope not to give them too many things that they go ‘oooh dad’,” he said.

“I learnt early not to show up anywhere in Speedos. And not to change from your Speedos into your shorts under a towel on the beach.”

Mr Daddo said he had a simple message for the dads of the city. He simply wanted them to spend more time reading to their kids.

“For boys especially the man is the key to early literacy. Every boy loves their dad, so if the dad can read to them and make books cool then there’s more chance they’ll become a reader too,” he said.

The Dads 4 Kids Festival was a genuinely good idea, Mr Daddo said, and something he didn’t see elsewhere.

Uniting Dubbo also holds a regular Dads 4 Kids get together the second week of every month. For more information call 6885 2353.