Father’s Day 2022: Celebrating Mr. Wonderful

This Father’s Day, we’re celebrating the dads who are all kinds of wonderful.

This Father’s Day, David Jones are spotlighting a diverse cast of dads and their children from all over Australia, celebrating those special moments, big and small, that make them Mr Wonderful. From chefs and photographers to Instagram stars and iconic performers, there’s no limit to the unique and wonderful forms a dad’s love can take. 

Originally from Western Australia, Nathan McGuire is a proud Indigenous man and successful model. Through his initiative Mob in Fashion, he works to promote First Nations representation in the fashion industry. He says it was his father Morris, an elder of the Whadjuk people of the Noongar Nation, who helped instil this appreciation for culture.

It’s easy to see the love Api Robin has for his four children. Playing around on the set of our shoot, there are plenty of chuckles as the doting dad and his youngest son Buddy, eight, take part in a handstand competition. While Api has amassed a huge social media following as comedian Celeste Barber’s ‘Hot Husband’, his favourite role is clearly being a father to Buddy, Lou and older sisters Kyah and Sahra. 

Simon Upton’s career began as a professional swimmer, competing at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. Although he has since traded the pool for an equally stellar photography career, his 16-year-old son Koby is continuing the family legacy. And Simon couldn’t be prouder of the man his son is becoming.

For Jarrad and Michael Duggan-Tierney, the path to fatherhood was a little unorthodox. Yearning to become parents, the pair turned to international surrogacy, welcoming son Reid 12 years ago. These days, they share candid details of this experience, as well as their lives as same-sex parents in Australia, on their popular Instagram page, @the_real_dads_of_melbourne. Not surprisingly, they say Reid has completed their family, while he’s grateful for their constant support – and love of good music. 

Stephen Page

Stephen Page and his son Hunter Page-Lochard are bonded by a deep love for creative storytelling. Their unique father-son relationship is also one of talented collaborators: Stephen, of the Nunukul people and the Munaldjali clan of the Yugambeh Nation, has run Banagarra Dance Theatre since 1991, and Hunter started dancing with the company at age seven. This year, the pair have collaborated on Bangarra’s first-ever dedicated work for children, Waru – Journey of the Small Turtle – a chance to indulge in their shared passion for performing as well as learn new things about each other.

His rise to the role of executive chef at Sydney’s renowned modern-Asian restaurants Mr. Wong, Ms. G’s and newly opened MuMu has put Dan Hong’s name on the map and earned him a number of accolades – including several chef hats, TV show appearances as well as the prestigious Josephine Pignolet Best Young Chef Award in 2008. Despite his impressive résumé, it’s his three children – including five-year-old Indira, who he is pictured with – who are his biggest joy.