Australian of the Year

[Julia]

Australian of the Year is Lee Kernaghan (apologies if the spelling is incorrect).

What does everything think of this choice?

I was taken aback that a country music warbler could be awarded this honour.
To be fair, although I didn't know this, apparently he has also done some charity work.

He's probably a very nice bloke, but I would have thought he hardly qualified for Australian of the Year.

 

[wayneL]

Should be renamed to "celebrity" of the year.

 

[roland]

Australian of the Year is Lee Kernaghan (apologies if the spelling is incorrect).

What does everything think of this choice?

I was taken aback that a country music warbler could be awarded this honour.
To be fair, although I didn't know this, apparently he has also done some charity work.

He's probably a very nice bloke, but I would have thought he hardly qualified for Australian of the Year.

Julia, it's the current mentality we have - the more media attention the more the lemmings will follow.

I would have thought that maybe one of the SES people who risk their lives to help people from bushfires or floods would have been more appropriate.

Maybe some of the women from the CWA who are helping our farmers from committing suicide would have been more appropriate.

Wow, I could think of a lot of other's but I would get too depressed just think that they were missed out

 

[Broadside]

He has apparently done heaps for charity so good on him. I am not really that comfortable with the whole "Australian of the Year" thing in general though.

 

[roland]

He has apparently done heaps for charity so good on him. I am not really that comfortable with the whole "Australian of the Year" thing in general though.

Many others have done more, and, with less financial resources. Some do amazing things for free and no thanks to boot!

 

[dalek]

Probably is a nice bloke and an OK singer if you like "my baby done me wrong "songs.....but Australian of the year !?!?!?
Next thing you know we will be making pimply 16 year olds that trash their neighborhood into celebrities....just a minute !!

While i'm not sure what the selection criteria is for Australian of the year, surely we need to set the models for our aspiration and inspiration a little higher.?

 

[roland]

Probably is a nice bloke and an OK singer if you like "my baby done me wrong "songs.....but Australian of the year !?!?!?
Next thing you know we will be making pimply 16 year olds that trash their neighborhood into celebrities....just a minute !!

While i'm not sure what the selection criteria is for Australian of the year, surely we need to set the models for our aspiration and inspiration a little higher.?

Last years Australian of the Year was a joke in my opinion - what a waste of a title, Shane Waugn would have been better.

 

[2020hindsight]

nothing to do with his singing
it's his generousity that won it (with his time, and charity campaigning for the bush) .."Pass the hat around" tours (apparently)

Spirit Of The Bush - Lee Kernaghan, Adam Brand & Steve Forde

"Is the spirit in the rock
or pass the hat around... "

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/25/2146989.htm

Kernaghan named Australian of the Year
Posted 3 hours 51 minutes ago
Updated 2 hours 30 minutes ago

Country music singer Lee Kernaghan OAM has been named Australian of the Year 2008 at a ceremony in front of Parliament House in Canberra.

Micro-finance entrepreneur David Bussau AM was named as Senior Australian of the Year and MotoGP champion Casey Stoner was announced as Young Australian of the Year.

Johnathon Welch of Choir of Hard Knocks fame was announced as Australia's Local Hero 2008.

Kernaghan's musical achievements - which include 24 golden guitars at the Australian Country Music Awards - are well-known, but tonight's award reflects his efforts to help rural families through his 'Pass the Hat around' tours.

The tours have raised up to a $1 million for communities in need.... etc

btw "Johnathon Welch of Choir of Hard Knocks fame was announced as Australia's Local Hero 2008."

 

[wayneL]

Nobody is saying Lee ain't a jolly good fellow, but that there are plenty of "non-celebrity" people who do much more.

It seems that unless you're famous, you don't count.

 

[sam76]

Nobody is saying Lee ain't a jolly good fellow, but that there are plenty of "non-celebrity" people who do much more.

It seems that unless you're famous, you don't count.

I agree Wayne.

My father has been awarded an Australia Day medal, but it has taken him over 50 years of solid community service to be recognised and it was only after being put up after his collegues insistance that it eventuated. However, my father is not a celebrity and is not well known by the general community and the effort and strain he has put on on our family to ensure the broader Victorian community is safe when they sleep. The country needs a pinup boy/girl but unfortunately the real hearoes - as always- continue on being unnoticed.

 

[sam76]

Sorry I've come home after a few.

I shouldn't be talking about this until Australia Day

 

[2020hindsight]

well wayne - no way am I gonna win an argument against the combined weight of Julia and yourself.
What chance has an Aussie got against a Canack and a Kiwi on this subject, lol

PS I don't have any problem with it personally.
If he's a tall poppy, then it was a drought year for poppies.

 

[Sean K]

Who's Lea Cernigan?

 

[2020hindsight]

Love Shack - Lee Kernagahan

Lee Kernaghan - Livin' In Australia

 

[Sean K]

I thought he was American.

 

[wayneL]

I thought he was American.

It's the subterfuge required to make it in couountry muusic. You just gotta sound like your from Hicksville Tennessee.

 

[2020hindsight]

lol , kennas - his accent would fool you, you're right
not too many country western singers (except Chad Morgan maybe?) (or Slim Dusty?) sing with an Aussie accent )
JASON KEANE CHAD MORGAN

My favourite Aussie of the year of all time?
probably Weary Dunlop
Weary: The Story of Sir Edward Dunlop

 

[wayneL]

My favourite Aussie of the year of all time?
probably Weary Dunlop

I'll second that.

 

[2020hindsight]

then there was Ian Kiernan... Order of Aus if not Aussie of the year - but no matter ...

Clean up Australia etc - all that paper and plastic and stuff ...

then someone suggested they should give him a tika-tape parade

 

[barnz2k]

met his brother a few times, helping with setup for the backgrounds on Lea's Tour haha.

As for Australian of the Year, I think we all know who should win next years.