Melbourne, July 19: Former Australian cricketer Dean Jones 2007 Father of the Year award was revoked following his admission that he had an affair for nine years with Sydney flight attendant Kerri-Anne Hamilton and has had a child with her but who he has never seen.
Father of the Year Council president Don Parsons said the decision had been made because of Jones, 49, open admission. From now on, 2007 will simply show as blank — that’s our attitude, Parsons was quoted as saying in the Herald Sun.
“To take off and have a love child, and that he hasn’t even seen the child, we are somewhat rocked by it. What sort of fathering is that? He said it was the first time the council had encountered such a problem. “These awards have been made since 1956 and we have never had to revoke one,” Parsons said. “But we have no hesitation in revoking it,” he added.
“Father of the Year should mean that you’re in a happy relationship, your children love you, and you love them. We’re not a bunch of old fuddy-duddies, but there’s an image to being Father of the Year, and he's stepped outside it.
The council had bestowed the honour on Jones to mark his work with the Bone Marrow Institute, as well as for being a good father.
Jones’s mistress is believed to have sold her story to A Current Affair and in an interview with the programme says she still loves the former Australian cricket legend, and that she didn’t know he was married when the affair began.
Jones has been married to wife Jane for 24 years and has two daughters with her, Phoebe, 19, and Isabella, 14.