Mick Fanning awarded the Order of Australia
From now on it's not just Mick Fanning, but Mick Fanning OA.
Overnight the three time World Champion was awarded the Order of Australia, today he'll be conferred the distinction, and tomorrow and forever onward he'll have the suffix OA.
The award is in honour of his efforts both in and out of the water and as a supporter of a range of charitable foundations. Mick is a Starlight Ambassador, an active supporter for Wings for Life spinal cord research, and he's also involved in other overseas charities.
Mick also donated his $75,000 pay cheque from a 60 Minutes interview to Aussie shark attack victim Matt Lee. Lee was attacked by a Great White Shark at Ballina.
After a tumultuous 2015 season where he was attacked by a shark, lost the world title by a painfuly narrow margin, and also had a brother, his second, pass away, Mick then took much of 2016 off.
“This is right up there with the world titles,’ Mick told the Daily Telegraph after the announcement. “I couldn’t believe it really. I’m chuffed and very honoured.’’
Mick will retun to the full time competition when the Championship Tour resumes in mid-March.
Comments
Sneaky nuts.
Onya Mick.
Well deserved for his efforts in and out of the water.
What a fucking joke! surely someone actually did something important, invented something, helped out other people who needed it(oh yes his donation to the shark attack victim but how much on top of that did he make selling and reselling his shark fighting image) and I imagine his other mentioned charity interests are much the same mutual interest deals. Rather than throwing medals at rich sports stars maybe they need to look a bit further for candidates? Sorry I know this is a surf orientated website but really? The judges obviously never been around him on the piss or behind him on a wave. Sorry MF but you are no order of Australia
I don't entirely disagree, but it's not an award for sainthood. I wonder what Sir Andy Murray reckons?
"how much on top of that did he make selling and reselling his shark fighting image) and I imagine his other mentioned charity interests are much the same mutual interest deals. Rather than throwing medals at rich sports stars maybe they need to look a bit further for candidates? "
Mate. you sound a little bitter.
good question-how much DID he make selling this shark-fighting image? I wouldn't have a clue. Do you? And to be fair...what is wrong with that?
You "imagine" his other charity interests etc etc...
So you are really only assuming, and have not a real clue about them? What they are or what he does for them etc???
I can tell you this. I have a dear friend in Sydney, with an 11 year old boy who loves nothing more than surfing and like any grom has his idols. This young grom was suddenly fucked up with a very rare form of brain cancer on his brain stem. He's been op'ed on to remove as much as possible and had a stroke during this op. now he's left with a lot of OT after loosing use of his left side...
Mick Fanning...This guy with "mutual interests", has fronted up at the hospital ward where little mate virtually lives while going through Chemo and Radiation Therapy, and donated tonnes of shit to this little fella and made his fucking decade, signed stuff, and stuff you just can't get other than if you're a pro, I guess. Granted (I can already hear you saying) it's no skin off Micks back to give some his sponsors shit away....He's written him a letter to keep him charged for his recovery and this has helped my little mate so much. He's sent out Instagram's on his own account to wish my little buddy well and keep him charged...you can't put a price on that sort of gear, man. You just can't. He didn't have to do ANY of that. He could have just kept doing his own thing...but things like this not only has helped my little bud through a really shit time, but his Mum also...and that shit is inspiring. How many other surf pro's do we know like this?
I think it's awesome we've got someone from the surfing fraternity thats just been awarded this medal.
Shit mate.. Obama got the Nobel PEACE Prize, FFS. Question THAT one.
What a fucking terrible bloke Mick is, eh.
So campbell, you'd rather have MF awarded with the Medal of the Disorder of Australia, so it would be Mick Fanning DAM instead of Mick Fanning OAM?
OAM isn't a queen's award Fong. Australian honours system to replace titles from the Queen.
Charitable work is pretty good reason to be getting one. I've got no problem with this, good luck for this year Mick.
Good opportunity for that surf brand OAM to sign Mick up to their deck grips. Would take some serious coin to get him to leave Creatures tho
Really! Is mick getting this award going to seriously change your life? Let him have his honour and you keep yours by not being judgemental.
Good post Dave.
Onya Mick, congrats.
even Alf got one ! ...... flamin mongrel
http://www.smh.com.au/national/2017-australia-day-honours-list-julia-gil...
Mick great Aussie bloke. Couldn't go to a better person. As for dropping in who doesn't drop in and burn at snapper. If you haven't you dont get a wave.
Mick was awarded the OA (Officer of the Order of Australia), not the OAM. The OA is the second highest honour after the AC (Companion).
https://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/honours/ad/ad2017/slkh83...
Mick has been awarded the Order of Australia for "his service to surfing as a professional competitor at the national and international level, his support of a wide range of charitable foundations and for his really excellent signature thongs with the built-in bottle opener."
Well, that sounds fair enough.
p.s. I'm not taking the Mickey too much. Mick, with his success and diligence promoting his sport and supporting charities and helping people out behind the scenes, is a worthy choice.
Mr Campbell too easy to shoot a poppy down. Mick isn't perfect no one is but I reckon he is a legend and deserves every bit of it. Always good to look in ones own backyard before throwing the proverbial at an easy target. As for dropping in he didn't down here and was perfect gentleman
Mr Campbell too easy to shoot a poppy down. Mick isn't perfect no one is but I reckon he is a legend and deserves every bit of it. Always good to look in ones own backyard before throwing the proverbial at an easy target. As for dropping in he didn't down here and was perfect gentleman
But wait theres more.................................A new species of Spider named named after
Mick Fanning
Mickfanningi
The spider of snapper.