Heartfelt tribute: Gladys Berejiklian’s dad Krikor dies, aged 90

This week, former premier Gladys Berejiklian and her family said goodbye to the man who shaped them the best way he could — quietly and privately.

Gladys Berejiklian’s most ardent supporter and number one campaigner, her father Krikor, has died at the age of 90.

Krikor Berejiklian passed away on Sunday, July 10, following a short illness.

Arsha, his devoted wife of 52 years, and the couple’s three daughters — Rita, Mary and the former NSW Premier — were by his side at a Sydney hospital when he died.

At Mr Berejiklian’s funeral, held at Chatswood’s Armenian Apostolic Church, the former boilermaker and welder, who proudly counted working on the Sydney Opera House as one of his great achievements, was remembered as a humble and spiritual man who loved his family, loved to dance, loved Brazilian soccer star Pele, and always looked on the bright side of life.

Following a traditional Armenian funeral service and burial attended by Sydney’s close-knit Armenian community, eldest daughter Gladys addressed mourners at a wake also attended by members of her former government staff.

Gladys Berejiklian with her beloved dad Krikor at the Opera House, which he helped build. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Speaking both in English and Armenian, the language spoken almost exclusively at the family’s North Ryde home, Ms Berejiklian spoke of the family’s “overwhelming grief” following her father’s death.

“Our father was a humble man. He was a true gentleman, a real character and a friend to all he came into contact with,” the popular former premier said. “His smiling face always brought great joy,” she added.

Family pictures of a young Gladys Berejiklian with her dad, Krikor.

Offering insight into the family values that shaped his three daughters, Ms Berejiklian said her father taught his daughters to “work hard, be thoughtful to others, contribute to society and be proud of our Armenian heritage”.

“My parents were grateful that fate and circumstance had allowed them to raise a family in the safety and opportunity Australia provided,” she said of the Armenian Genocide survivors who migrated to Australia from Syria and Jerusalem in 1964 and 1969.

“As a sign of his gratitude, my father would adorn our balcony at the family home in North Ryde with the Australian flag on Australia Day,” the recently appointed managing director of enterprise, business and institutional at Optus said.

Ms Berejiklian described her father as “optimistic” and “young at heart” to the end. “When he was in hospital he was asked by the medical staff how old he was and without hesitation he answered ‘only 90’.”

The close-knit Berejiklian family celebrates Gladys’ 2019 election win (from left) Mary, Arsha, Gladys, Krikor and Rita. Picture: Getty Images

In 2019, while campaigning for his daughter, Krikor Berejiklian told this newspaper his daughter had a “great future” regardless of whether it continued to be in politics.

As with his love for his daughter, his love for his adopted country was also only barely contained.

“I come here Wednesday. I found a job,” he said. “They said ‘you work tomorrow’ and I say
‘No, Monday’ – I had to rest a couple of days. And then I started.

“‘I come here and the next day I find a job – that’s why I love Australia, I never see such a country … it’s the most important thing.”

Krikor Berejiklian counted the creation of the Opal card as one of his daughter’s greatest achievements.

As Ms Berejiklian told mourners on Thursday, just three weeks before his death — despite declining health — the 90-year-old managed to abscond from the family home one last time for his last great adventure, a ride on a State Transit bus from North Ryde to Wynyard and home again.

Got a news tip? Email [e-mail]