WTF has he done besides earn millions of dollars for himself  to be Australian of the Year??


Australian of the Year Geoffrey Rush is urging local writers to tell the stories of asylum seekers who try to make the perilous journey to Australia by boat.


The multi-award winning actor on Wednesday was named Australian of the Year at a ceremony outside Parliament House in Canberra in front of a crowd of 10,000, including Prime Minister Julia Gillard


http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8408879

David Hicks.

smack yez!

Poofters, pansies, and parasites need NOT apply.

NO actors, pollies homos, Abos, immigrants.

And if you are a 'doctor' or a 'lawyer', a 'sportsman', or a 'woman', smack OFF!

Parasites!

blackadder wrote on Jan 25^th, 2012 at 7:23pm:

WTF has he done besides earn millions of dollars for himself  to be Australian of the Year?? Australian of the Year Geoffrey Rush is urging local writers to tell the stories of asylum seekers who try to make the perilous journey to Australia by boat. The multi-award winning actor on Wednesday was named Australian of the Year at a ceremony outside Parliament House in Canberra in front of a crowd of 10,000, including Prime Minister Julia Gillard http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8408879

god we are a sorry lot we really are... Geof Rush... OMG..

up against people like Fa Riley and the Morecombs.  I could scream..

and we talk about getting rid of the Queen.. LOL.. we are growing up...LOL>.

sorry shaking my head in disbelief..

if I was Geoff Rush I would have been embarrassed I was even mentioned..let alone given the honor??

well it isnt an honor anymore is it? its a joke.

cods wrote on Jan 25^th, 2012 at 8:06pm:

I could scream..

And so you should, dear. Shame Labor Shame. There will be no carbon tax under a government I lead, the most incompetent government in Australia's history, etc, etc, etc.

Know anyone who's won an Oscar, Cods? Who does I don't know how many movies a year and still finds time to do plays?

By the way, Matty is the youngest Australian ever to be nominated for an Order of Australia, so we're in good company in this thread - if he posted, of course.

Cods, have a scream, have a spit, take a Bex and tell us in the morning how you feel.

Australian of the Year Geoffrey Rush

He is not a bad actor but I never realised he played cricket.

blackadder wrote on Jan 25^th, 2012 at 7:23pm:

WTF has he done besides earn millions of dollars for himself  to be Australian of the Year?? Australian of the Year Geoffrey Rush is urging local writers to tell the stories of asylum seekers who try to make the perilous journey to Australia by boat. The multi-award winning actor on Wednesday was named Australian of the Year at a ceremony outside Parliament House in Canberra in front of a crowd of 10,000, including Prime Minister Julia Gillard http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8408879

The man is an outstanding actor. Great man. Great Australian. What exactly is your problem?

Oh, you must be joking! I was shaking my head in disbelief. This should have definitely gone to Father Riley or the Morcombes. What a disgrace. Also, the young Australian of the year? What has she done to benefit anyone?? AOY has lost all significance in my eyes, an absolute disgrace that they won.

The Aboriginal woman from Arnhem Land definitely deserved to win the Senior award, as did the NSW woman to win the Local Hero. The other two, though? What a joke.

Were you up for Young Australian, Matty?

Old Troll Of The Year.

Always a bitterly fought award.

Life_goes_on wrote on Jan 25^th, 2012 at 10:28pm:

Old Troll Of The Year. Always a bitterly fought award.

Sorry, Julia Gillard has nothing to do with this.

Life_goes_on wrote on Jan 25^th, 2012 at 9:23pm:

Cods, have a scream, have a spit, take a Bex and tell us in the morning how you feel.

didnt work feel worse....grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...


sorry sorry sorry if its the best we can do.. how about we forget about this non event Australian of the Year...its embarrassing..we must have a very low IQ in this country..an actor!!!! a person who spends his life doing makebelieve....RIGHT!


thats right up there isnt it?

Life_goes_on wrote on Jan 25^th, 2012 at 10:28pm:

Old Troll Of The Year. Always a bitterly fought award.

I know that isnt funny but... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D


this is such a joke...

Ok choice IMO. 

But has there been a more influential Australian than Julian Assange over the past year or two?

Doctor Jolly wrote on Jan 26^th, 2012 at 8:15am:

Ok choice IMO.  But has there been a more influential Australian than Julian Assange over the past year or two?

Probably not.

But then, he has been incorrectly branded a criminal by Gillard.

I'd go for him as Aussie of the year, no worries.

Love Geoffrey Rush. But how the hell does he become an Australian of the Year?>

How 'shallow' that we must still judge our 'nationalism' byh the extent of our 'expatriots'.

Mind you - if a bunch of 'Televisual' Australians make Rush 'their' Australian of the Year. Good on em.
Just waiting for the Australian Internet Community to put up their Australian of the Year

...what, no takers?

No wonder the gips still rule this country.

Wonder if we would ever get some dirty dreadlocked Feral (the University type, not the 'dopey' Hippie type from the far north) from the Tall & Old Growth Forests of Tasmania, who has sacrificed much in his/her life to keeping for us something wonderful and appreciative in regards to nature against the villiany of John Howard and his "Just leave the trees along the Roads so everyone will think the Forests are still there." trick.
?

I guess, Australia Day and Australian of the Year caters just to a certain type of Australian?
(Televisual, UK & USA<Western> affiliated, Commercial, etc)

Reminds me of Pinochet in Chile and how he celebrated 'Chile Day' with shallow Flag flying and not much else for good reason, while he played the Enemy to the USA on TV but took their money under the table when the USA was sure no one was looking.

Can't wait for the Art Industry (Computer, not TV traditional: paints, etc) to take over this country in the 'Power' stakes ...at least people won't have to grovel to the UK and USA like the GG & PM to earn more.

It_is_the_Darkness wrote on Jan 26^th, 2012 at 8:34pm:

Love Geoffrey Rush. But how the hell does he become an Australian of the Year?>

Criteria:

#1 - "Demonstrated excellence in their field"
#6 - "Contribution in the relevant field (how has the nominee 'put back' into their field to benefit others)"

http://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/pages/page560.asp

Demonstrated excellence:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001691/awards

Not all that hard to figure out really.

Uncle Meat wrote on Jan 28^th, 2012 at 9:35am:

It_is_the_Darkness wrote on Jan 26th, 2012 at 8:34pm: Love Geoffrey Rush. But how the hell does he become an Australian of the Year?> Criteria: #1 - "Demonstrated excellence in their field" #6 - "Contribution in the relevant field (how has the nominee 'put back' into their field to benefit others)" http://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/pages/page560.asp Demonstrated excellence: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001691/awards Not all that hard to figure out really.

A lot strong candidates though.
In my last role in Australia in healthcare, I spent a day with a surgeon who worked in the Children's area of healthcare.

A single day with that guy and what he had to see, do, explain to parents from children losing arms, to changing their lives with spinal chord surgery etc - that single day for me was exhausting.

He has done it everyday for 25 years.

Geoffrey Rush - bloody good bloke and a tremendous actor but what lives has he changed in comparison.

I know who is more worthy of Australian of the Year in my mind.

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Jan 28^th, 2012 at 9:40am:

Uncle Meat wrote on Jan 28th, 2012 at 9:35am: It_is_the_Darkness wrote on Jan 26th, 2012 at 8:34pm: Love Geoffrey Rush. But how the hell does he become an Australian of the Year?> Criteria: #1 - "Demonstrated excellence in their field" #6 - "Contribution in the relevant field (how has the nominee 'put back' into their field to benefit others)" http://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/pages/page560.asp Demonstrated excellence: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001691/awards Not all that hard to figure out really. A lot strong candidates though. In my last role in Australia in healthcare, I spent a day with a surgeon who worked in the Children's area of healthcare. A single day with that guy and what he had to see, do, explain to parents from children losing arms, to changing their lives with spinal chord surgery etc - that single day for me was exhausting. He has done it everyday for 25 years. Geoffrey Rush - bloody good bloke and a tremendous actor but what lives has he changed in comparison. I know who is more worthy of Australian of the Year in my mind.

The medical field has been well represented in the past (and rightly so).

The award is shared around.

Sports stars, doctors, scientists, etc.  They all get a go.

This year is was the arts.  That's just how the award works.

There'll be another recipient from the medical field in the future.

http://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/?action=list&type=2&cat=0

Geoff seems like a decent bloke and he has done heaps for the arts industry in this country so I can see no reason for all the haters.

adelcrow wrote on Jan 28^th, 2012 at 10:46am:

Geoff seems like a decent bloke and he has done heaps for the arts industry in this country so I can see no reason for all the haters.

I agree on both counts.

I just believe though there are stronger candidates and I don't agree in the "Give the Arts a chance this year".

An Australian of the Year should be an Australian of the year whatever.

Sports stars just make the thing a laughing stock by the way.
And I love sport.

There will always be better candidates no matter who gets the gong.
Geoff is a good choice for this year and I would have thought choosing him was the least controversial choice outside of the sciences and medicine for awhile.

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Jan 28^th, 2012 at 11:22am:

adelcrow wrote on Jan 28th, 2012 at 10:46am: Geoff seems like a decent bloke and he has done heaps for the arts industry in this country so I can see no reason for all the haters. I agree on both counts. I just believe though there are stronger candidates and I don't agree in the "Give the Arts a chance this year". An Australian of the Year should be an Australian of the year whatever. Sports stars just make the thing a laughing stock by the way. And I love sport.

I don't love sport, but I'm glad sports stars have been selected in the past (maybe not that pugilist though).

Nobody would seriously argue that actors are more important than doctors (that's not what the award is about), however, everyone plays an important part in society and recognition of the various fields they participate in is essential.

Without sport and the arts, Australia would be a pretty dull place.