Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos has been named 2008 Father of the Year by the Australian Father's Day Council.
Roos, 45, who is father to Dylan, 14, and Tyler, 12, was given the title for his commitment as a parent, and the significant role he plays in mentoring young sportspeople.
"I am honoured to accept this award," Roos said at a presentation ceremony at NSW Parliament House in Sydney on Friday.
Roos joins an esteemed list of Fathers of the Year including Ken Done (1989), Slim Dusty (1999), Mark Taylor (1995), Steve Waugh (2005), and Dr Bruce Shepherd (1991).
Dr Shepherd's charity, which assists hearing impaired children, runs the award in conjunction with the Australian Father's Day Council.
"I want to see my children grow up to enjoy some fundamental privileges: to communicate, to be understood, and to be able to make friends easily," Roos said.
"Unfortunately, not all Australian children have these opportunities. In fact, each week in Australia a child is born with a hearing impairment.
"For them, being heard and understood is not a given."
In 1991, Dr Shepherd was given the title for his contribution to helping children with hearing impairment, including his own two. He established The Shepherd Centre to assist children aged one month to six years who are deaf or who have a hearing impairment.
The awards, launched in 1957, also recognise 21 regional NSW finalists, all of whom were at Friday's presentation ceremony.
