Proud father: Peter DaRose with daughter Jade and son Ben.By Ben Hope
THERE are some days when a father can’t help feeling proud of his children’s sporting achievements.
For former Cranbourne shire councillor Peter DaRose watching his son be named man of the match before returning home to hear his daughter rode a winner at the Pakenham Racecourse was one of those days.
“It was a proud moment,” Mr DaRose said.
“The chances your son being awarded man of the match the same day as your daughter rides a winner are pretty slim.”
Mr DaRose was at the Pakenham Upper Recreation Reserve to watch his son Ben make 61 to help Cardinia set a 179 target for Kooweerup on Saturday 28 February. Ben was made man of the match after Kooweerup fell 34 runs short of its target.
“This is the second year in a row he won, so that’s a pretty good effort,” Mr DaRose said.
“It’s an honour for me to be there and watch my children do well.”
But the family’s success didn’t end on the cricket field. Returning home after the match Mr DaRose learnt his daughter Jade had ridden Identify for a win in race eight at the Pakenham race course.
The 28-year-old left school at 14 to become an apprentice jockey and had her first professional ride in July 1999. Since then Jade has built a promising racing career, including racing a treble in Bairnsdale last month.
“I think she followed in her grandmother Elaine Robinson’s footsteps,” Mr DaRose said.
Jade’s fiance, Brendan Fenech, also rode a winner – Royal Destination in the Wharf Hotel Class 4 Handicap over 1100m in Devonport – topping off a weekend of sporting success for the family.
Mr DaRose is no stranger to sporting success himself, winning the South West Gippsland’s best-and-fairest award in 1979 at the age of 24.
