WHY JASON’S OUR SUPER DAD

GEELONG MAN’S INSPIRING TALE AFTER TRAGEDY

ASK any young girl who she looks up to, and her dad usually tops the list.

But as Geelong dad Jason Stack accepted his award for Victorian Father of the Year yesterday, he said it was his three daughters who were the real heroes.

The Stack family was hit by tragedy three years ago when Jason’s wife Kim tried to take her own life just three days before Mother’s day. The mother of three never fully recovered and required fulltime care in a nursing home until her death last year.

Mr Stack said the grief brought him and his three teenage daughters, Adele, 14, Kyralee, 16, and Courtney, 19, even closer together.

“It strengthened us,” the 46year-old said. “We didn’t let it stop us living our lives . . . we became this team that loved and supported each other through it all.”

Raising three teenage girls is a task for any dad. But doing it alone presented a whole new set of challenges for Mr Stack.

From learning to cook to shopping for bras, the dad and his daughters approached every new and sometimes awkward experience with positivity and humour.

“We try to remember — life is good and we try to have fun,” he said.

“I wanted to hide for a long time. My daughters taught me how to live again.”

Mr Stack said while he felt a little out of his depth following past winners including Neil Mitchell, Bert Newton and Bob Hawke, he hoped by sharing his story he could help other families.

“I want people to reach out and ask for help . . . there are other options,” Mr Stack said.

Now in its 61st year, the Father’s Day Council of Victoria and YMCA receives more than 1000 nominations a year for outstanding father figures.

If you have been affected by this story, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

‘I wanted to hide for a long time. My daughters taught me how to live again.’ JASON STACK, PICTURED WITH COURTNEY, ADELE AND KYRALEE