Pakenham’s finest dad Andrew Streader was named the Victorian Father of the Year and attended the award ceremony at Melbourne Town Hall yesterday (Wednesday) with his fiancee’s daughter Kimberley, left, and his children Lachlan and Hayley.By Danielle Galvin
THERE wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Pakenham single dad Andrew Streader accepted the award for Victorian Father of the Year.
Mr Streader’s wife Tina died three years ago and the self-proclaimed part-time father had to step up to take care of his daughter Hayley and son Lachlan.
On Wednesday, the Father’s Day Council of Victoria announced that the humble machine operator and doting dad was the Victorian Father of the Year for 2011.
The 44-year-old was nominated for the YMCA Cardinia Community Father of the Year award by his daughter Hayley.
Chairman of the council Don Parsons said the Streader family’s story tugged at the judges’ heartstrings.
“When Hayley wrote the letter to the Cardinia YMCA, she absolutely touched a nerve. When we read it, we knew this was our man for 2011,” he said.
In the last two years the awards have been given to outstanding, everyday dads.
“It’s a community based award. He’s not high profile. He’s just a great example of a dad who has gone the extra mile,” Mr Parsons said.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Streader described himself as a one-time ‘weekend dad’.
“He said that he was there for the kids on the weekend to take them to football. His wife looked after them. But now he’s absolutely a full-time father,” Mr Parsons said.
Eleven-year-old Hayley has neurofibromatosis, a disease where non-cancerous tumours grow on her nerve tissue.
It’s a condition that has made the St Patrick’s Primary School student appreciate everything her dad has done for her.
“He’s brilliant,” she said.
Mr Streader said that it was an honour to accept the award on behalf of all hard working fathers.
“With kids there is no manual, you have to learn on the run,” he said.
The Pakenham father said the last few days had been a whirlwind and being in the spotlight is a new experience.
“I’m over the moon. No father expects to win an award like this.”
He’s also found love with fiancée Tiana Moore and the kids have embraced her 12-year-old daughter Kimberley as part of the family.
On Friday, the Streader family will celebrate Andrew’s birthday and he said he has already been given the best present possible.
“It’s a dream come true. What more could a father ask for?”
