The Top Ender Magazine June July 2022 Edition

WHAT IS A COMMON QUESTION THAT
PEOPLE ASK YOU?
People often ask me what time I get up in the
morning, and the answer is 3:35am (sometimes
3:36am or 3:37am if I am lucky!). I arrive at the studio
of Sunrise 7 at 4:30am to prepare for the day and
start on air at 5:30am. You have to love this type of
work and enjoy your team to stay motivated. We
have an awesome team who have worked together
for 20 years, however it has not been great for my
social or family life at times. But, through this
experience, I have had some amazing opportunities
and met some incredible people over 18 years on
Australian breakfast television.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
Firstly, staying healthy for my family and keeping up
with my kids. I am also really inspired to work with
charities to help raise awareness, especially the Tour
de Cure, which I have participated in for over 14
years.
I find a huge sense of purpose when I get involved
with something that doesn’t give me something in
return (other than personal satisfaction). I have
worked hard all my life, so I wanted to give back to
the community, then I found Tour de Cure. Overall, I
have helped to raise around $14m in cancer funding.
This is an incredible result for cancer research, and it
couldn’t happen without the support of Channel 7
and our audience. I am easily inspired by inspiring
people.
WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO JOIN ARMY
RESERVES IN 2019?
Enlisting into the Australian Defence Force (Reserves)
was always something I had wanted to do, and I
genuinely regret not doing it earlier. I was having a
few drinks with some ADF recruiters and had the
forms, but never sent them off. I have only been
enlisted for a couple of years, but thoroughly enjoyed
the opportunities and how much is possible within
Defence. I have also been working with a group of
veteran mentors in Queensland and have really
enjoyed seeing veterans succeeding.
WHAT SKILLS/LESSONS HAVE YOU LEARNED IN
THE MILITARY THAT YOU USE REGULARLY?
Being in public affairs, I am often dealing with crisis
situations and managing unexpected situations. I have
learned a lot about people management and trying
something new, even when it is unfamiliar or seems
challenging. It has been interesting to step outside my
comfort zone, but I see a strong sense of service and
dedication amongst my comrades and I admire that.
Military training has really challenged me. I remember
starting training to become a Specialist Service
Officer at Duntroon, standing there at 6:00am in the
morning with my sheet over my shoulder – it was an
eye-opening experience for me. I had been so
comfortable before I enlisted and competent in my
day job that I had forgotten how to challenge my
comfort zone. I realised things that I didn’t know I
could do. My initial ‘fork and spoon’ camp was an
eye-opener, but a great experience, except needing
to get ready within15 minutes – that was fun! It was
also refreshing to be a ‘recruit’ and not Mark Beretta
the television personality. I was expected to do a job,
learn my role and was not treated differently, which I
love.
I was working out at Holsworthy once and I
noticed a mess lady looking at me strangely for
quite some time... She finally approached me to tell
me that I look exactly like my famous twin brother!
That was a moment I will never forget and it always
makes me laugh when I think about it.
WHAT IS YOUR STRONGEST PERSONALITY
TRAIT?
Perseverance. My dad always told me that you may
not be the most talented person in the room, but
you can be the hardest working. I have always been
willing to do what needs to be done and it has always
paid off. You can work your way to where you want
to be.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WEAKNESS?
Chocolate… definitely… No, I am working on that. I
love to eat, but I need to work harder on my fitness
to keep it off. Punctuality could be my greatest
weakness.
HOW WOULD YOUR BEST MATE DESCRIBE
YOU?
They would probably say, “pretty much always late”.
Don’t ever plan for me to be on time, but I am good
fun to be around. I am also not the first to buy a
round of beers, but I can often help out with sporting
tickets and events. I’m a very loyal mate - if you ever
need me, I’ll be there.
Photo: Sunrise’s Mark Beretta OAM
BEST MOMENTS OF YOUR LIFE?
Struth! Ummm….. I think it’s magic when your kids
are born. Finally finishing my Engineering Degree is
also a highlight. I once sat on the back of Mick
Doohan’s bike around Phillip Island at 300km per
hour - that was pretty crazy!
Any day of commentating the Olympics Games is
also an amazing day! I have also been the MC at
Buckingham Palace for the Queen’s Baton launch of
the Queensland Commonwealth Games, where I got
the opportunity to introduce the Queen and Prince
Phillip. Here I am, commentating live on BBC and she
didn’t come out! Standing out the front of
Buckingham Palace, sweating profusely, everyone
waiting… 3 minutes later, she walked out when she
was ready… It was quite surreal and an incredible
opportunity for me.
WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER
RECEIVED?
To follow your dreams and give things a go.
Someone needs to do it and it may as well be you.
This was my Dad’s advice and I have seen him
succeed so many times with hard work. I try to teach
my own kids this as well - your dream job does exist
and you can be happy at work, it might just require a
bit of hard work to get there!
Photos: Mark Beretta with Dick Johnson and the Peter Brock Trophy.
Photos: Sunrise’s Mark Beretta OAM
WHO IS YOUR HERO?
Oooooooh geeez….. In life; probably my Dad. He
did so much, not just for his family, but his
community. He had his own plumbing business, three
sons and managed to support his family in so many
ways.
In sporting: I have always been a fan of Greg
Norman. He blazed his own trail and put Australian
golf on the international stage. My favourite footballer
is Gary Ablett Senior – amazing man. Roger Federer
is awesome with his passion for sport. I am also a
massive Steve Waugh fan. So many to mention, but
Peter Brock was something else - I worked with him
a lot earlier in my career.
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD CHANGE
ABOUT YOUR CAREER / LIFE?
To be honest, I love media and sport is my first love.
If it wasn’t for that, I would have enlisted into the full
time Army many years ago. In hindsight, I wish I had
spent more quality time with my kids in the earlier
years when my work consumed a lot of my time and
I wasn’t home with my family. Life is always about
balance, but I wouldn’t change much about my
journey.
FAVOURITE BAND?
This is the easiest question you have asked me!
AC/DC without a doubt. I have a treasured AC/DC
Rock or Bust album, signed by the world's greatest
EVER guitarist Angus Young. The last concert I went
to was AC/DC and it was the best concert of my life.
I interviewed Brian Johnson for Channel 7 –
AMAZING!!
FAVOURITE MOVIE?
Hands down - Talledega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky
Bobby.
FAVOURITE PLACE IN AUSTRALIA?
It would have to be Whitehaven Beach on Hamilton
Island. It’s an incredible place to swim, gorgeous
scenery and still so untouched.
FAVOURITE PLACE IN THE TOP END?
Of course this would have to be Hidden Valley
Raceway (laughs)!
I also love Cooinda Yellow Waters in Kakadu. We
stayed overnight and went out to watch the sunrise. I
love the Top End so much.
I do have memories of driving with Mark Skaife when
the NT was an autobahn, and we made the best time
ever from Darwin to Kakadu. I have never been a
racing driver myself, but I did participate in the Grand
Prix celebrity race for a bit of a laugh.
Interviewed by Deb Herring
Committee Member
The Top Ender Magazine
6 The Top Ender | Tri-Services Magazine Incorporated JUNE/JULY 2022 7