Andrew Daddo is best known as a celebrated Australian actor, radio personality and decorated author. But for many locals on Sydney’s northern beaches, he is a friendly and familiar face around town.
In the lead up to Father’s Day, we caught up with him in our Manly store for a cup of Skittle Lane coffee. Along with his children Jasper and Felix, we asked him to contemplate the essence of fatherhood, and how his world within the Australian media landscape and coastal living has held significance in his life.
Can you tell us about your perspective on being a father?
Fatherhood: The great leveller - the reminder that it’s not all about you but those you’ve brought into the world. Being a father is literally the best part of my life. It’s been inspirational as an author, as well.
You’ve had a well-rounded career from television to penning quite a few children’s books. What is your favourite part of what you do?
I’m pretty lucky to do lots of different things, so I suppose the variation is one of the best bits. We’ve been making RBT for 17 seasons, that’s always been fun. Over the past 20 or so years I’ve managed to write a little over a book per year, mainly for kids. And I get to fill my travel boots around Australia with Subaru’s Great Australian Detour - so there’s a lot of different things going on, which is great.
You’re a recognisable face around town, notably within our own store often dropping in for a Skittle Lane coffee. What do you enjoy the most about the Manly lifestyle?
As a Melbourne boy, arriving in Manly in the late 90’s was a revelation. The fact that you can live in the same place you can surf, you can fish on the beach, catch sand worms, play golf, have your kids play AFL and your dog go mad at Queenscliff Lagoon is quite incredible. Living here is like living in a holiday, with the city a short ferry ride away. It sounds like an ad, but Manly - the whole Northern Beaches for that matter - is so far removed from where we grew up it feels like another world. It’s also better and cool, in the old fashioned very genuine sense that it is a very cool place to live, there’s great shops, great food and the people are funky. It’s quite possibly better than anywhere…
What aspects of coastal living do you love?
The ocean seems to be the great healer, doesn’t it? All year round, warm or cold, any day is better after a swim - and that’s whether you’re hot or hung over or have a stinking cold. So, it’s the ocean - the thought of a cooling afternoon breeze, the chance to fish from the beach or just walk with the Pacific as your companion and have the chance of seeing anything from a whale to tube ride.
Lastly, what is one thing your Father taught you that you have carried through to your family?
There are the things you might expect - the back yard Dad things that are fun - how to kick a footy, how to swing a golf club, even how to drive. But the family dinners at the table were hugely important. It’s where we learnt manners, respect, trust, storytelling and the importance of family and togetherness. It’s certainly something we do with our family. There are some nights in front of the telly, but most are round the table without phones or TV, just music and conversation and catching up. It’s fun.
