VIC:Euroa father of four Vic dad of the year

AAP General News (Australia)
08-26-2010
VIC:Euroa father of four Vic dad of the year

MELBOURNE, Aug 26 AAP - Victoria's father of the year admits he's a soft touch.

Which may explain why Chris Berry's daughter Aimee thinks he's the best dad in the state.

Mr Berry, a builder and landscape gardener from Euroa who's as dedicated to the local
football and netball club as he is to his family, was on Thursday named the state's Father
of the Year.

The 48-year-old says he's a soft touch at home where he has brought up three girls
and a boy, looks after his two grandchildren and gives respite care for a five-year-old
Down syndrome boy.

"If the kids need something I'll do my best to accommodate or help them, and my wife
is exactly the same," he said.

"This is a great honour and I'm sure there are thousands of dads who deserve an award
like this and I'm lucky enough that my kids think enough of me to nominate me."

He was nominated by his 21-year-old daughter Aimee who wished everybody had a dad like hers.

"Everyone should be so lucky to have a dad like ours," Aimee said.

"He always supported all of us 100 per cent in our dreams - even when they're a little
crazy - and he'd do anything for us, anytime."

Mr Berry says the award came as a complete surprise.

"I knew nothing about the nomination and I didn't overhear any little hints," Mr Berry told AAP.

"It blew me away when I got the phone call on Monday to tell me the news."

The Berry family is heavily involved in the sporting scene in Euroa.

Mr Berry's wife Rowena recently passed the 300-game mark for the netball team - his
daughters are also players.

He is a trainer for the Euroa football team in which his 20-year-old son Hayden plays.

Chair of the Father's Day Council of Victoria, Don Parsons, said Mr Berry was a wonderful
role model for fathers.

"He's an inspiring person valued highly not just by his children and grandchildren
but also by the wider local community for his contributions to other families' lives,
through the local football club and netball club and as a respite carer," he said.

AAP jxt/pmu/it/

KEYWORD: FATHER (SUPPLIED PIX AVAILABLE)

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.