‘Everyday dad’ awarded

By Jade Lawton
The award, usually the domain of politicians and sports stars, this year went to ‘everyday dad’ Bruce Mayer after he fought to save the family home from the Black Saturday bushfires.
Ten-year-old Lucy nominated her dad through Warragul Leisure Centre’s YMCA, and her words touched the hearts of the judges on the Father’s Day Council of Victoria.
“I reckon my Dad is brave because he fought the Black Saturday bushfires,” she wrote.
“It (the bushfires) unfortunately burnt our house down. I’m lucky that dad is still here to look after our family. I love my Dad.”
Father’s Day Council Chair Don Parsons said Mr Mayer won because “ordinary people can have an extraordinary impact on their children’s lives.”
The pewter tray will take pride of place in the Bruce, Narelle, Lucy and 12-year-old Jack’s temporary home, a bus, until their house is rebuilt.
“Surprised is an understatement – I didn’t know what the magnitude of father of the year would be,” Mr Mayer said.
“But the award had been great for the community. Labertouche has been forgotten in all this and I don’t think I won this for myself – it’s a win for the community, letting people know we still need help.
“And the kids are pretty strong, but I think winning this has lifted their spirits.”
On Black Saturday, Bruce and some friends were at his 20-acre property, preparing for a fire they thought had no chance of reaching them.
“We were pretty surprised it even came to us. We are not in dense bush -opposite our property is six or eight hundred acres of flat pasture. But it was unstoppable,” he said.
“We had grabbed a couple of bits and pieces that morning only because friends pushed us to. If they didn’t, we wouldn’t have taken anything.”
While Narelle, Lucy and Jack were all safely elsewhere, Mr Mayer fought to save the house. Also a thoroughbred trainer, he managed to get two of his horses picked up before the roads were blocked.
The house, which was being renovated, was lost, along with a shed containing tools and all the saddlery and feed associated with the horses.
Pakenham Rotarian Tim Ahern, who is co-ordinating the Labertouche drop-in centre, tracked down a bus which has become the Mayer’s temporary home. Mr Mayer said the family has also received support from the Drouin football, cricket and netball clubs, RSPCA and Red Cross.
“The fires didn’t stop for about three weeks, but I still had to work – so I would be working in the shed with the roller door up and one mate, George Burke, was sitting outside watching the fires,” Mr Mayer said.
And while Mr Mayer hopes the family home will be up to the lock-up stage by Christmas, he is already dreaming of his next big win.
“I actually said to Governor of Victoria (Professor David de Kretser, AC, who presented the award) ‘Gee, it would be nice to win the Cox Plate and hang it next to this’,” he said.