Courtney’s dad is the best

By Elisa Scarton
Her dad just beat a number of other very deserving fathers to be crowned YMCA Local Community Father of the Year.
Not that Courtney was surprised.
“My dad is the best dad ever because he makes me and my brother happy and always takes care of me,” Courtney said.
“He’s a very loving person and is nice to everyone I know, especially my friends. For me, he was always Father of the Year, whether he won or not,” she said.
The Grade 6 student from Beaconsfield Primary nominated her dad as part of a school project.
She said he deserved the award because he was always doing things for the family and was good at everything from fishing to football, but not cooking.
“He’s not a very good cook. He’s not terrible, he just dirties the kitchen sometimes and mum gets upset,” Courtney said.
When not making a mess in the kitchen, Mr Buttie is heavily involved in the Beaconsfield Junior Football Club as assistant coach for the Under 13s gold.
His son, Tyler, also plays for the team.
The Beaconsfield builder received his much-deserved award at the YMCA Cardinia LiFE Centre in Pakenham this week. He said he never expected such an accolade.
“When I took the kids swimming, Courtney saw the Father of the Year sign and told me she’d entered me in it. I had no idea what she was talking about,” Mr Buttie said.
“I’d heard about other people winning it, but it was something I never thought I’d win in all the 13 years I’ve been a father,” he said.
“It’s completely overwhelming and fantastic. I’m over the moon.”
The Local YMCA Community Father of the Year is awarded in every region where there’s a YMCA.
Cardinia LiFE community and family co-ordinator Mel Overdyk said Courtney’s entry stood out for its sincerity.
“Some kids wrote that their father deserved the award because he bought them things,” Ms Overdyk said.
“Courtney’s, on the other hand, was about all the caring things her father did for her, things that money can’t buy,” she said.
Mr Buttie will now be considered for Victorian Father of the Year.
Courtney doesn’t know if he’ll win, but said she already knows what she’s going to buy him for Father’s Day.
“A cup that has ‘Father of the Year’ on it because this year he actually is!”
Here’s what Courtney wrote on her Father of the Year entry form:
“I think my dad is the best dad ever because he’s funny and he makes me laugh all the time, even when I’m angry or sad! When I am sad, he cares for me and he makes me happy! When I am sick, my dad is always there and he turns my sad face into a happy face! My dad is a great dad and to me is Father of the Year whether he wins or loses! My dad is a great dad at all types of things like fishing, football and building stuff. My dad takes me out and lets me have a good time. I think my dad is one of a kind and I believe he is the best dad ever! He is friendly towards others and he is truly nice and I love my dad for who he is!”