Children's Charity, The Shepherd Centre, has named Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG as the 2013 Australian Father of the Year.
Brisbane-based Corporal Roberts-Smith is the father of twin daughters, Eve and Elizabeth, 3, with wife Emma. He was presented with the Award in honour of his devotion to his family, and his significant contribution to the wider Australian community.
Ben Roberts-Smith today accepted the Award on behalf of all families who’ve sacrificed time away from loved ones while serving in the Australian Defence Force.
“Being awarded Australian Father of the Year, to me, is obviously a great honour, and something I take as a representative of Defence families,” he said.
“All parents, whether they’re fathers or mothers in Defence, have really made that sacrifice so that other families in Australia can live in safety and really enjoy that time with their own families.”
Chairman of the Australian Father’s Day Council, Maurice Newman, said Ben Roberts-Smith is an inspiration to other Australian fathers.
“The Australian Father of the Year Award is given to celebrate the critical importance of good fatherhood to a child's development,” Newman said.
“Corporal Roberts-Smith is a career soldier who has seen service overseas - including Afghanistan, where he received a Victoria Cross for his heroic actions. However, we have equally been inspired by his actions away from the battlefield, where, as the father of twin daughters, he has demonstrated that away from duty, he is a normal dad who is devoted to his children.
“We are delighted than Ben Roberts-Smith has agreed to accept the 2013 Australian Father of the Year Award. He is a worthy recipient. He agrees that being a good father to his little girls is every bit as important as being awarded the Victoria Cross.”
Ben Roberts-Smith was awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia in 2011 for action in Afghanistan. He was previously awarded the Medal for Gallantry in 2006, also for action in Afghanistan.
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