In honour of Father’s Day, we have rounded up a list of our favourite Aussie TV dads.
From Packed To The Rafters’ Dave (Erik Thomson) to Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher) from Neighbours – here are our all-time favourite father’s from the small screen.
Darcy Proudman – Offspring:
What the show is about: The messy love-lives of Melbourne obstetrician Nina Proudman (Asher Keddie) and her family and friends.
Why we loved him: The late Proudman patriarch and self-confessed ladies’ man, Darcy (John Waters), was far from perfect. But he usually owned up to his shortcomings as a dad.
Kids: Adopted daughter Nina, Billie (Kat Stewart), Jimmy (Richard Davies), Ray (Chance Charles) and Will (TJ Power).
Scene to remember: When Darcy recreated Nina’s dream eight-year-old fancy dress party for her 35th birthday – the same episode she learnt she was pregnant.
Alf Stewart – Home and Away:
Why we love him: Alf (Ray Meagher) has four biological children, but he’s a second dad to many. And while he seems like the town grump, he’s actually a big softie at heart.
Kids: Ruth “Roo” (Justine Clarke and later, Georgie Parker) and Duncan Stewart (Benedict Wall), and Quinn Jackson (Danielle Spencer), and Owen Dalby (who is an unseen character).
Scene to remember: When Alf was undergoing surgery and his late wife Ailsa (Judy Nunn) appeared in a vision to show him what life in Summer Bay would be like without him.
Jim Knight – Doctor Doctor:
What the show is about: Disgraced cardiac surgeon Hugh Knight (Rodger Corser) is sent back to his country hometown of Whyhope to work as the local GP as punishment for his party-boy lifestyle.
Why we love him: Unlike many other people in the small town, Hugh’s estranged dad, Jim (Steve Bisley), isn’t one to be fooled by his son’s charms.
Kids: Hugh and Matt Knight (Ryan Johnson).
Scene to remember: All the painfully awkward father-son moments when Hurricane Hugh comes crashing back into town.
Dave Rafter – Packed To The Rafters:
What the show was about: Dave (Erik Thomson) and Julie Rafter (Rebecca Gibney) have a full house when their three adult children and Julie’s father Ted (Michael Caton) move in.
Why we loved him: Tackling job loss, a reunion with his dad and the arrival of baby number four in his 40s, tradie Dave proved grown men do cry.
Kids: Rachel (Jessica Marais), Nathan (Angus McLaren), Ben (Hugh Sheridan) and Ruby Rafter (Hannah Storey).
Scene to remember: When Dave consoled his grieving son Ben after the shock death of wife Mel (Zoe Ventoura).
Brendan Jones – A Country Practice:
What the show was about: Through a small country hospital, we got to know the residents of Wandin Valley as they battled various physical and social problems.
Why we loved him: Affable nurse Brendan (Shane Withington) stole hearts with his caring attitude to his patients and his tender love affair with quirky wife Molly (Anne Tenney).
Kids: Chloe Jones (Emily Nicol) and Christopher, who died shortly after birth.
Scene to remember: Brendan’s agony when Molly lost her fight with leukaemia had Aussies reaching for their tissues.
Molly’s Death on A Country Practice
Cleaver Greene – Rake:
What the show is about: The misadventures of Cleaver Greene (Richard Roxburgh), a Sydney criminal defence barrister with a penchant for boozing and bedroom antics.
Why we love him: Cleaver’s dysfunctional relationship with his son means the younger Greene often ends up playing the role of parent.
Kid: Finnegan “Fuzz” Greene (Keegan Joyce).
Scene to remember: When Cleaver imparts some parental wisdom to his son, encouraging Fuzz and friend Monique (Melina Vidler) to have sex.
Bobby Rivers – All Together Now:
What the show was about: When washed-up rocker Bobby (Jon English) learns he’s the father of twins, the 15-year-olds and their guardian, Tracy (Rebecca Gibney), move in.
Why we loved him: As a big kid himself, Bobby was incapable of parenting. But you had to give him credit for trying.
Kids: Anna (Jane Hall) and Thomas Sumner (Steven Jacobs).
Scene to remember: When the kids’ mum, Beth (Kerry Armstrong), knocked on Bobby’s door, much to his surprise. Turns out, she didn’t die in a plane crash after all!
George Turner – 800 Words:
What the show is about: Reeling from the death of his wife, a Sydney father-of-two swaps their big-city life for a quiet town in New Zealand.
Why we love him: Newspaper columnist George Turner (Erik Thomson) tries to make a fresh start in Weld, but struggles with his grief – and modern dating.
Kids: Shay (Melina Vidler) and Arlo Turner (Benson Jack Anthony).
Scene to remember: When George’s teenage kids reveal he could be the father of his boss Jan’s (Bridie Carter) twins. Yikes!
Karl Kennedy – Neighbours:
What the show is about: The long-running soap explores the lives of families living in and around Ramsay Street in the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough.
Why we love him: Town doctor Karl (Alan Fletcher) has made mistakes – including multiple affairs. Yet somehow, we and his wife, Susan (Jackie Woodburne), always forgive him!
Kids: Malcolm (Benjamin McNair), Libby (Kym Valentine) and Billy Kennedy (Jesse Spencer), and Holly Hoyland (Lucinda Armstrong Hall).
Scene to remember: When Susan confronted Karl about his affair with Sarah (Nicola Charles). The almighty slap she gave him was heard around the world.
Susan slaps Karl on Neighbours
Matt Hammond – Skippy:
What the show was about: A boy named Sonny (Garry Pankhurst) and his kangaroo pal, Skippy, who teamed up to solve mysteries in the fictional Waratah National Park.
Why we loved him: Matt (Ed Devereaux), the head ranger at the park and a single dad, had to juggle his job with raising his often unruly sons.
Kids: Sonny and Mark Hammond (Ken James).
Scene to remember: When Matt took in another ranger’s daughter, Clancy (Liza Goddard), so she could continue her studies in Sydney after her dad was transferred.
Roger Knight – Puberty Blues:
What the show was about: A snapshot of life in 1970s Sydney, as told through the eyes of two teenage friends, Debbie (Ashleigh Cummings) and Sue (Brenna Harding).
Why we loved him: Roger (Dan Wyllie) is the fun-loving dad we wished we had as teens. He’s laid-back, but sometimes a bit too easy on his daughter Sue.
Kids: Sue and Lori (Rachael White).
Scene to remember: Roger drank too much at a boozy lunch and relieved himself under the table during a work meeting.
John Taylor – Always Greener:
What the show was about: Two siblings – one in Sydney, the other on a farm in Inverness, NSW – joke about switching homes. The joke soon becomes a reality.
Why we loved him: Despite many mishaps, social worker John (John Howard) was always determined to grasp his new opportunity in the country.
Kids: Marissa (Michala Banas), Jason (Daniel Bowden) and Kimberley Taylor (Natasha Lee).
Scene to remember: When John tried to smooth things over in the town by offering to host the church barbecue, his good intentions went up in smoke.
Tom Fletcher – Home and Away:
What the show is about: Follows the the residents of the beachside town of Summer Bay.
Why we loved him: Tom (Roger Oakley) was a devoted husband to Pippa (Vanessa Downing) and dad to his kids – biological, adopted and foster.
Kids: Christopher Fletcher (Shaun Wood) and daughter Sally Fletcher (Kate Ritchie, left).
Scene to remember: Tom’s return in Sally’s vision 18 years after his death, when he asked Sally to tell Pippa he loved her.
Ted Bullpitt – Kingswood Country:
What the show was about: A sitcom about the suburban Bullpitt family, made up of highly conservative father Ted (Ross Higgins) and his more socially progressive wife and kids.
Why we loved him: It was hilarious to see stubborn Ted at odds with his wife Thelma (Judi Farr), highly sexed son Craig (Peter Fisher) and daughter Greta (Laurel McGowan).
Kids: Craig and Greta Bullpitt.
Scene to remember: Any time Ted used a far-fetched excuse as to why the family couldn’t use his beloved car. “You’re not takin’ the Kingswood. I just Glad-wrapped the aerial!”
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