Sunrise sports presenter Mark Beretta has been named the 2019 Australian Father of the Year by The Shepherd Centre, a charity for deaf and hearing-impaired children.
Mark, or ‘Beretts’, as he’s affectionately known, was today announced as this year’s Australian Father of the Year at an intimate SCG function in recognition of his strong family values and ongoing commitment to community-focused initiatives.
As a father of two children – Ava Beretta (15) and Daniel Beretta (12) – this award recognises Mark’s dedication to his family and his charitable efforts as an ambassador for several foundations and organisations supporting and inspiring Australian children.
Mark Beretta said he was humbled to be awarded The Shepherd Centre’s Australian Father of the Year, “This is a huge and unexpected honour! Being a dad is a tremendous privilege and I am very grateful for a wife and kids who teach me so much. Becoming a dad is a special experience and it does change your life in a very fulfilling way – all my favourite memories involve my family. So many dads out there are doing a great job with their families and I am regularly inspired by the role they play in bringing up brilliant Australian kids. I take my hat off to fathers across Australia for all they do; they deserve a pat on the back.”
Beretts joins an alumni of distinguished Fathers of the Year including his colleague and friend Sunrise host David Koch; entrepreneur Dick Smith AC; former New South Wales Premier Mike Baird; His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC FTSE, Governor-General of Australia; high-profile GP Dr Jamal Rifi; basketballer Andrew Gaze and Aussie Home Loans founder John Symond.
Sunrise host and 2007 Australian Father of the Year David Koch said: “It is an enormous honour to be chosen Father of the Year. I could not think of a better father to represent all us dads than Beretts. No one’s perfect but he is way ahead of most of us. His two gorgeous children, Ava and Dan, are a wonderful testament to the parenting and love of Mark and Rachel. Every time Mark talks about his kids, his eyes light up. He takes such an interest in, and devotes so much time to supporting, the lives of Ava and Dan that he is a role model to all dads.”
