Wayne Gill

A father who has given his daughter a ‘childhood he never had’ has been nominated for Parent of the Year.
Wayne Gill has taken care of Stephanie as a single parent since she was one, alongside her two older brothers. 
‘Being a single father hasn’t always been easy, but my children have always been my world,’ he said. 
Mr Gill most enjoys seeing the people his children slowly become. 
Stephanie hopes to be a paramedic, while one of his sons wants to be a police officer. 
‘Watching them work hard towards their goals has been one of the most rewarding parts of being a parent.’ 
Christmas has always been Mr Gill’s favourite time of year, as he loves seeing his children smile. 
‘Those moments mean everything to me.’ 
Daughter Stephanie said her father had never missed an important moment in their lives. ‘Every school play, every achievement, every disappointment – he has always been there.’ 
She recalled one summer when Mr Gill taught her to swim. 
‘It taught me that with someone who believes in you, you can achieve anything.’ 
Mr Gill believes parents can be friends too, according to Stephanie. He deserves the award, she said, because he provides the love and security he never had.
‘I don’t see myself as doing anything special – I just tried my best to be the father my children deserved,’ he said.