Mark Beretta’s mystery girlfriend is REVEALED as stunning decorated soldier and activist – following Sunrise star’s marriage split

by

Mark Beretta’s mystery woman is a mystery no more.

Sources have confirmed that David Koch, a longtime host of Sunrise, is dating Renata Hickson. She’s a highly respected soldier and manager at the Indigenous Marathon Foundation, and has been a source of support for him during a very difficult year.

Beretta, 59, hinted he’s been getting support from a close friend as he leaves his position at Sunrise, deals with the recent loss of his father, David, and supports his mother, Joan, through her cancer treatment.

At the time, he refused to name her, simply saying, ‘Dad loved her, which is great. She’s great.’

The beautiful woman who has been supporting Mark through a difficult time and as he starts a new phase of his life has been identified as Renata.

Mark was seen taking a leisurely walk with Renata and her dog near Balmoral, on Sydney’s Lower North Shore, on December 9th.

They looked completely in love, strolling along together and chatting happily while enjoying the beautiful sunshine.

An onlooker told Daily Mail they appeared ‘very connected and very comfortable together.’

This builds on a previous clue Mark dropped online in October. He shared a cheerful picture of himself with Renata at Admiralty House in Sydney.

I spotted a lovely moment recently – the runners gearing up for the New York City Marathon had a special event, and they got to meet Governor General Sam Mostyn! It was great to see such inspiring athletes getting some recognition before their big race.

Although Mark didn’t identify the person he was with in the photo originally, it now shows Renata was with him during important times in his life, even before they announced their relationship.

Mark developed a close connection with Renata, even extending to his father. Beretta shared in an interview that his dad had become very fond of Renata before he died on September 28th.

Okay, so you HAVE to know about Renata! She’s seriously amazing – she’s from Hobart, Tasmania, which is already cool, but get this: she’s not just smart, she’s educated. She has a law degree AND a degree in Political Science from the University of Tasmania, and on top of that, she’s a qualified teacher with a Master of Teaching! Honestly, is there anything she can’t do?! I just… I admire her so much.

She served in the military for 17 years and made history as the first Australian woman to command a tank squadron in combat.

She held a key planning position with the United States Special Operations Command in Syria, and her work there was highly recognized with several awards.

She’s currently dedicated to amplifying First Nations perspectives through her role at the Indigenous Marathon Foundation.

Daily Mail has reached out to Mark Beretta for comment. 

The popular Sunrise host hasn’t been publicly seen with a partner since his divorce, though there were rumors of a brief relationship with nutritionist Sarah Di Lorenzo.

Mark and Rachel married in 2001 after first meeting in 1999. They announced their separation in October 2023, bringing an end to their 22-year relationship.

They share children Ava and Ben and are grandparents to Ava’s young son Arlo.

After a lot of thought and 22 wonderful years together, my wife Rach and I made the difficult decision to separate. We realized it was the best path forward for both of us, and it was something we came to together at the start of the year. It’s never easy, but sometimes change is necessary.

We’re still close friends, and our children and grandchildren are what matter most to us as we move forward with kindness and mutual respect.

The popular sports presenter has privately experienced a difficult year filled with loss and change.

In September he announced the heartbreaking loss of his dad, sharing a moving tribute on Instagram. 

He described himself as kind, generous, adventurous, fun-loving, and hardworking. He added that he would always cherish being Dave’s son.

Colleagues like Sam Mac, Edwina Bartholomew, Larry Emdur, Kylie Gillies, and Dr Chris Brown all sent messages of support.

Mark recently shared that he became a grandfather last year, calling it ‘the best feeling’ and playfully hoping he can teach his grandson, Arlo, to say ‘cool Pa’ before too long.

After 22 years with Sunrise, Beretta announced in early December that he’s leaving to focus on his family.

His final show will air on Friday December 12.

‘After a lot of long nights thinking about it, the time is right for me to step away,’ he said.

My dad passed away from cancer two months ago, and my mom is currently battling the illness. It’s changed my perspective on life.

‘Family time has become even more important.’

Read More

2025-12-10 13:34