Alexander Fynes-Clinton | 29th August 2010
Sunshine Coast Daily
Beerwah High School chaplain, Mike Turner.
AN 82-year-old female bikie?
You better believe it.
The second annual Ride For Chappy drew bikers from all over Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast yesterday but it wasn’t all about riders of the muscled, tattooed variety.
The event is one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for Beerwah High chaplain Mike Turner, who relies heavily on community support to keep his program running.
Joan Anderson, on her first group ride in her 80s, hopped on her scooter to show her support for the important role school chaplains play.
“It’s my first ever group ride today,” Mrs Anderson said.
“My husband got me into riding when I was 50. He loved bikes.
“I’ve been an advocate for chaplaincy for many years now.
“We’ve got one of the highest (youth) suicide rates and chaplains do a tremendous amount of counselling and prevention work.”
The journey took more than 70 riders through Somerset, Esk and Kilcoy, before returning to the Uniting Church in Beerwah.
Mr Turner said the riders were supporting an important cause.
“Chaplaincy buys support for kids at risk,” he said.
“I’ve seen over 300 kids in my time at the school.
“We run a dirt bike program and do a lot of work mentoring students. It’s part of the furniture at the school now.”
Event co-ordinator Jaimie Kerr said bikers loved to rally behind a good cause.
“Bikers always like to get out and get behind a charity,” he said.
“It gives them a real sense of purpose to help others in the community.”
http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2010/08/29/cruising-down-highway-at-82-ride-for-chappy/
The Father of the Year for the Sunshine Coast was featured in the Sunshine Coast Daily today! Check out the attached PDF:
Ben Dillaway | September 1st, 2010
Gold Coast Bulletin
Gold coast and Logan area Father of the Year Salvatore Barnaba with two of his five daughters (L-R) Nicole Barnaba 18 years and Stephanie Barnaba 16 years. Pic: Kate Czerny
A LOVE of shopping helped Sam Barnaba through the darkest days of his life and won him the Gold Coast Father of the Year award.
After wife Julie died three years ago, the 60-year-old was left to care for his two teenage daughters.
”I was a chef working late nights, seven-days-a-week and I knew my wife was there to carry on the goals we had set for our kids, then all of a sudden she was gone,” he said.
”I had to drop everything. I couldn’t work. I dedicated my whole life, 24 hours a day, to them.
”It was daunting at first but there are millions of other fathers out there doing the same thing.”
Mr Barnaba said shopping brought the trio together during tough times.
”It may sound silly but I think if you’re a father of girls you have to love to shop and I am a shop-aholic. I love shopping,” he said.
Stephanie, who nominated her Dad, said he helped both herself and her sister cope with their mum’s sudden death.
”He was and still is the driving force behind our recovery and progression through the loss … especially mine,” she said.
Stephanie said they were not as close to their Dad but have come to confide in him.
”He’s mum. We sit down and we gossip with him, he makes us hot chocolates and we sit there at night talking,” she said.
Along with shopping, the three also share a love for soccer.
”Steph and I both play soccer, so he’s always looking for that extra thing to make us better players and people,” said Nicole.
”I look at Dad and think if I was half the person he is I would be pretty satisfied.”
Mr Barnaba, who has three adult daughters from a previous marriage, said he was humbled by the award.
”It’s a tough job being a father and most should get an award,” he said.
”When you start a family you never think you’re going to be named Father of the Year. It is just something you do,” he said.
Mr Barnaba, who had his first daughter at 26, said the secret to being a good parent was getting your children to read, keeping them committed to something such as a sport or instrument, having discipline and love.
”You just have to love them to death. It doesn’t matter what they do, just love, love and love,” he said.
Mr Barnaba is one of seven regional winners across the state in the running for the Queensland Father of the Year, to be announced tomorrow at the Sanctuary Cove Hyatt Regency.
http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2010/09/01/252011_gold-coast-news.html
Sam Beattie
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
© The Cairns Post
Ultimate gift: Far North Queensland Father of the Year Kerry Eaton (centre) with his daughters Belinda (left) and Fiona. Picture: CHRIS HYDE
PERHAPS it’s no surprise Kerry Eaton is officially Cairns’ best dad – he’s been a father to more than 200 children.
With his wife, Anne, the father-of-five has looked after scores of foster kids in the past 20 years.
He was nominated as Queensland Father of the Year by daughter Fiona Cats, who thought it would be the ultimate Father’s Day gift.
“It’s a bit overwhelming. That my daughter nominated me in the first place is pretty special,” Mr Eaton said.
“I personally don’t think I do a better job than a lot of other fathers out there.
“But over the last 23 years we’ve cared for more than 200 children, so I’ve had a bit of practice.”
The answer to the golden question, “What makes a good dad?” is simple, he said.
“It’s tolerance – being able to accept your kids for who they are and being supportive of them.”
Ms Cats, who has two children of her own – Joshua, 6, and Cayleb, 3, said: “He’s special. He’s not my biological dad.
“I didn’t really know my dad, so Dad’s become my dad.
“He’s become the only male role model who’s been in my life forever.
“I think the world of him.”
The Cairns Father of the Year award is from youth and children’s charity SU Qld.
SU Qld’s North Queensland manager, Gavin Morgan, said: “We believe that the role of fathers is becoming undervalued in society.
“We wanted to find some dads who are doing what they do every day but don’t necessarily get the recognition they deserve for it.”
Mr Eaton will go on to face six other top dads in the state finals.
http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2010/09/01/124951_local-news.html
31 Aug 10
Northside Chronicle
BRACKEN RIDGE: David Howell is Brisbane’s nomination in the Queensland Father of the Year awards.
Mr Howell, a father of nine children, received recognition for his nomination at the Salvation Army’s Lawnton Pocket Rd headquarters on Monday.
Mr Howell is a volunteer worker at the Pine Rivers Salvation Army.
Mr Howell, whose wife died last year, worked within the army’s emergency services department, the frontline in dealing with hardship cases.
“I have been in that boat and I know it is hard,’’ he said in relation to his volunteer work.”
“It is nice to be there for someone, to look someone in the eye, to say there is hope, to give them a hug or a hamburger – whatever they need.’‘
Mr Howell was thrilled to be nominated by his children for the Brisbane award.
“The whole thing is about fatherhood. A lot of kids need dads, men to stand up and be dads,’’ he said.
The Queensland father of the year will be decided on Thursday.
http://northside-chronicle.whereilive.com.au/news/story/brisbane-father-of-the-year/
