Father of the Year

Use the slider above to scroll through the timeline and see all the winners from way back when the award began

The Shepherd Centre Australian Father of The Year Award.

 

Welcome to The Shepherd Centre Australian Father of the Year awards, a national campaign that raises awareness of the vital contribution that fathers have on the development of children, families and communities in Australia.

Two awards for two fabulous fathers...

Australian Father of the Year

Spanning over fifty years, the prestigious Australian Father of the Year award has been presented to high-profile, famous fathers, from prime ministers & politicians to sportsmen and business leaders, acknowledging the support, guidance and love they show to Australian children.

For 2009, the search is over and Australia's favourite Father of the Year for 2009 has been found.  International ballet dancer turned stockbroker and author Li Cunxin has become The 2009 Shepherd Centre Australian Father of the Year. The award was announced by the Father's Day Council and The Shepherd Centre in recognition of Li's remarkable record as an inspirational father and his ongoing commitment to his children and family.

Li began life in an impoverished part of rural China where at the age of just 11, he was chosen to train at Madam Mao's Beijing Dance Academy. He went on to become one of the world's best ballet dancers and built his character of perserverance and passion. At the age of 34 Li pursued a new career in stockbroking that has also flourished. He has never lost his humility or deep love for his family that was engrained in him by his own father and he continues to extend to his three children, Tom, Sophie and Bridie.

 

Li is pictured here with his wife Mary and daughters Sophie and Bridie.

Click here to go the press room and see what Paul Roos says about winning the award in 2008

Community Father of the Year.

Local fathers were nominated in the hundreds and NSW Police Sergeant Chris Cotter won the NSW Community Father of the Year award for 2009. Chris was nominated by his three sons for his love, compassion and dedication as a Dad. Chris developed a community program to improve the lives of young people after the Macquarie Fields riots in 2005. He counts his sons as 'his best friends' and was surprised when he son showed him that he had been nominated in the local newspaper.

Chris is pictured with his wife Cheryl and three sons, Joshua, Brandon and Cameron.

click here to go the press room and see what Dermot McCutcheon says about winning the award in 2008