More than 400 children, dads and father figures connected at the Paper Planes and Pizza Night, held at St Mary's Star of the Sea, Milton, on Monday, June 24.

Notes went out from St Mary's, Ulladulla and Milton Primary Schools inviting dads to the evening. Co-organiser Jon Louth praised the group for making it such a memorable event.

READ MORE: Milton-Ulladulla Apex launches The Fathering Project

431 people attended, 190 pizzas and 40 garlic breads were eaten and the room was covered with more than 1100 paper planes, which were all recycled.

Mr Louth said Apex members were rapt to see three locals schools connect, showing a strong community.

"The paper plane building and throwing activities were chaotic, loud and funny. We had lines of kids dragging their dads up on stage to throw the planes they had made out into the audience to lots of cheering and laughs."

David from the Fathering Project also gave a short talk about the importance of father figures in children's lives.

Two points that resonated with the group was when he asked the kids to look into their dad's eyes and thank them for being there, and later in the night, when dad's returned the favour and told the children what was special about them.

Mr Louth praised the support of his fellow Apex members and St Mary's staff for running the event.

The next children's event will be held in term three at either Milton or Ulladulla Public Schools. A dad-only event, focused on building better relationships between fathers, will also be held in the future. Stay up to date at the group's website https://thefatheringproject.org/dads-group/milton-ulladulla-apex-dads-group.