My name is Lee Patterson. My Dad was nothing short of hard working to provide the very best for our family. He was a workaholic from a young age, accepted as an apprentice, then eventually started his own business, which when moving to Mollymook to settle to have children, my Dad established a life lasting successful business all on his own, which is exceptional to appreciate his tireless efforts to build an empire. My Dad ensured we had every opportunity in life, from home education being raised in a respectful & responsible environment, being fully supportive of our sporting choices, to the best schooling.

A daughters legacy in honour of her Dad John "Patto" Patterson from Tiger Signs, Ulladulla. To raise awareness about Prostate Cancer

In 2017 I learned my Dad had Prostate Cancer,  which I knew nothing about, all I knew was Cancer is not good & my Dad seemed very down mood wise, as anyone would with a Cancer prognosis. I was raising my two babies as a sole parent 1.5yo & 3.5yo, so had my hands full, but had my Dad & mum over at least every second day, between my babies day naps, be it for drop in visits, bbq's, lake swims, Christmas light looking in my car, or for him to push his grandbabies on the swing at mine while I went for a walk around the block for a break. If I needed milk or anything, my Dad would get it & drop it by either on his way to work very early morning or between jobs. Any excuse to see his cherished grand babies. My Dad's face would light up & glow as soon as he saw his granddaughter & grandson.

My mum had let me know discretely to protect my Dad's pride, that his first Prostate surgery resulted in incontinence due to complications, which I eventually learned can be a common risk. My Dad was a tough man, a real man's man, so he was not one who liked to get emotional, but I did manage to have a couple of conversations one on one with him trying to get him to open up. I asked him how he was feeling & to be real with me. I'm sure he didn't want to worry me as he said he didn't know how I was parenting two babies all on my own. My Dad told me he didn't feel like his anti depressants were working, so I encouraged him & made him promise me he'd go back to his doctor to ask to try an alternative as often some aren't the right chemical balance for different brains. I offered to go with my Dad but he said he would be okay. Unfortunately his trip back to his GP told him to stay on those tablets, despite being on them for many months. I was quite upset when my Dad told me this & while we awaited his second surgery appointment in 2018 which I was going to be driving him & my mum up to out of town, in the interim I guided my Dad & again made him promise me to seek a Psychologist to talk to which could benefit him. My Dad took my advice & went for his first session, which was mainly for introductory, information gathering purposes. Before he could have a second session, my Dad was planned to come to my house the day after he had a prior engagement, to see me & the babies again.

That horrific day, I was at a play date & rushed home to get the babies to sleep, all morning I had a niggling feeling to check in with my Dad but I didn't want to be rude at a friend's by being on the phone. Only minutes after I walked throughy door & put my babies to bed, I had a knock on my door no one should ever recieve. It took me a moment to register why they were there, then I said "Oh he hasn't has he?!" & their heads dropped, as I collapsed to the ground continuously crying "No" over & over. This is by far the worst day of my life. My Dad had taken his own life.

In 2021 after I sought help to cope, by going through the diverse range of grieving from a parents suicide which no one can imagine if not unfortunate enough to experience, whilst raising my babies alone still I saw strength in believing me going through such trauma could only be for one reason, to help others.

I equipped myself with enough basic knowledge in between raising my babies & I have since been raising awareness on social media in my spare time, about Prostate Cancer PSA testing, and raised over 3.5k for the Prostate Cancer Foundation Australia, as well as fundraising for Lifeline.

Now, I need our Governments help.