For Pete Vidins, Father's Day is a bit of an emotional roller coaster.
While he spends the day having fun with his children Zoe and Eli, he also experiences moments of profound sadness.
"My firstborn son, Daniel, died soon after his birth, and even though he died over 10 years ago, Father's Day is still bittersweet," he says.
"It's a special day to mark being a dad to my living children, but there is also still a real sense of loss that Daniel is not here with us.
"For many men, Father's Day may be a very dark place – many men even question their identity as a dad."
Vidins is one of 106,000 bereaved dads who wake up on Father's Day with heavy hearts. But although it can be a difficult day, there is no need for them to suffer in silence.
Bereavement charity Sands offer a dedicated support line for men, staffed by volunteers such as Vidins who have been there.
"By being a Volunteer Support Parent, I can help other men realise they are not alone, and I can remind them that even if they aren't holding their baby on Father's Day, they are still a dad," he says.
Vidins says that men often feel like they need to put their own grief on the back burner so that they can support their partner, but it's important for them to work through their own feelings too.
But while one-to-one telephone support can make the world of difference, Vidins also notes that a lot of bereaved dads need practical support with specific scenarios.
"We have a SANDS Facebook group for bereaved dads where guys can ask for really specific advice. Stuff like, 'I'm going back to work, what can I expect?' or 'my wife has been crying for six months, what else can I do support her?'" Vidins says.
Sands chairperson Lyndy Bowden notes that there is a big difference in the way that men and women deal with the loss of a child.
"Women tend to openly talk to each other. Men are often forgotten – they're seen as the strong ones, they field all the questions about the mum. But it's important that we don't forget about bereaved dads, especially around significant milestones like Father's Day."
So how can we better support bereaved dads? Bowen says that phone support via dedicated help lines can be great.
"Callers can be anonymous if they want, and they can call whenever it suits them – and they are talking to someone who understands what they're going through. It's a safe space for men to feel what they are feeling," she explains.
But phone lines are not for everyone, and Bowden says that some men may also find the more "touchy/feely" support group sessions a bit intimidating. Rather, she thinks that activities that give bereaved dads a chance to talk while they do something would be beneficial.
"Get them together doing something hands-on – a barbeque, or making something. They'll be able to talk and reflect more. It allows men to openly chat, without the pressure of an agenda," she says.
Bowden encourages bereaved dads to reach out for support, especially around Father's Day.
"There is someone missing, but you're still that child's dad," she says.
For Pete Vidins, time has been a great healer. He wants bereaved dads to remain hopeful for the future.
"I think about my son every day, but it's not as tough and as hideous as it was," he says.
"Not every Father's Day will be as painful as the first. It stings now, but it won't always be so hard."
Learn more at the Sands website, or call 1300 072 637.