Opinion

The year positively

What has moved some generous soul to nominate me for the Australian of the Year Awards 2010? My being a nice person? That I'm getting old? Something I've written?

The letter from National Australia Day Council chairman Adam Gilchrist, who must have missed my columns on the world's most tedious game, arrived yesterday as I prepared to write of what I see as my best work in 2010. "This year more than 2500 people were nominated for the Australian of the Year Awards," Mr Gilchrist wrote. "Being nominated is a great honour, and I hope you feel proud of the impact you are having in your community and the nation." As you know, a great many people do not view that impact at all positively!

If it was something I've written that spurred someone to nominate me, I wonder what it was. In my column in The Herald today I have patted my own back for a few of my columns during the year, and one that my blogging regulars will recall for the ensuing abuse was that determining which of Taree, Kempsey or Coffs Harbour was the tattoo capital of the coast. A teacher of communications told me recently that he uses this column in lessons, but I'm inclined to the view that his cause would be better served by using the reams of abuse that was lodged on this blog.

Anyone got a dollar on Robert Borsak at a billion to one as the nominator? Mr Borsak - who could forget! - is the chairman of both The Shooters Party, which wants to shoot in national parks, and the government's NSW Game Council, and more to the point he is a thrill killer of elephants in Africa.

Might it be one of the Islington street prostitute's clients charged after I protested against the unfairness of charging the prostitutes and just cautioning their clients when both are equally in breach of the law?

If I persuaded one of my readers during the year that Australia's and our media's dumping of Schapelle Corby is appalling, my columns on this shameful episode have been worthwhile.

Which columns or blogs during the year do you remember as interesting? And why? And if you write something nice about me you are free to rip me to shreds in my blog tomorrow about my year's regrets.

And if you nominated me for Australian of the Year, thank you!

Posted By: Jeff Corbett on 21/12/2009 4:49:00 PM | Comments (33)

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Date: Newest first | Oldest first

Maybe the letter was just as tongue in cheek as your columns?

Posted by G, 22/12/2009 9:18:33 AM, on The Herald

No no no, ridgey-didge, G.

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 22/12/2009 9:23:58 AM

Jeff, you being a member of the countries most maligned and vilified underclass - push-bike riders, I can only assume it was another fellow rider that completed the suggestion.

Posted by MizJasper, 22/12/2009 9:24:51 AM, on The Herald

I'm sure it was because of the riveting accounts of yourself - your camping expeditions, your cycling, your family, your pets, your alcohol intake and of course, more recently, your simply amazing blood test results, albeit poor Jeff, a tad high in the BGL.

Posted by YAWN!, 22/12/2009 9:37:04 AM, on The Herald

You're remarkably well read, yawn!

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 22/12/2009 11:00:17 AM

It will be DS!

Posted by Buell, 22/12/2009 9:45:37 AM, on The Herald

Maybe you can look at it as an encouragement to keep on the job to wake up people minds from complacency, hypocrasy and sometimes stupidity? Tough call -but someones got to do it? ps watch out for red dots that follow you around?

Posted by notashrink, 22/12/2009 9:51:22 AM, on The Herald

You did produce a series of titillating prostitution articles over a short period of time. You even have a gang of 'buddies' - such as SSS, DS, Nafe, Abundance, leahfk etc - there were even hints of a Hangover type road trip at one stage - but I don't think any of them nominated you. In fact, I have in mind one prime suspect.. Take a bow Scott Hillard!

Posted by stevo, 22/12/2009 10:01:12 AM, on The Herald

climate change was certainly the most prolific, but the religion vs ethics was my personal favourite. Nutters on both sides of the debate, and hysterically insupportable comments offered as facts. Gold. Enjoy your Xmas JC and the same to the regulars on here, even the nutters.

Posted by Perspective, 22/12/2009 10:18:18 AM, on The Herald

I enjoyed your work this year Jeff as well as your goodwill and kind words. I also enjoyed the company and banter of the bloggers. Hunting Schappelle Corby was indeed very persuading and a credit to you but the light hearted ones like World without men and Beachy grossness were good fun.I thought Buell's post on the Nice guys blog about her son was good too.It is a different sought of job you have Jeff but one you do well. Merry Christmas to you and all our blogging team and i hope you feel chuffed to be nominated for the Australian of the year.

Posted by chaff and oats, 22/12/2009 10:19:35 AM, on The Herald

If you were not a handy journalist, what else could you be ?You enjoy being amongst a lot of working girls,your an early riser, like to be fit, not put off by others urinating in public,like to be out and about,you have a good eye for both a good udder and a good set of legs and when you finish work your ready for a cold glass or four.I think you would make a good dairy farmer, you like to till the soil and grow crops as well.The cows are calling!

Posted by chaff and oats, 22/12/2009 10:19:50 AM, on The Herald

But dairyfarming, chaff and oats, is gruelling work! I have always, though, much enjoyed working outside in the elements, whether the elements be wet, dry, hot or cold. Still, most people don't realise just how good their job is or was until they've had a horror.

Posted by Jeff Corbett on 22/12/2009 10:41:26 AM

It wasn't me even if I enjoy reading your column/blog but well done anyway. I did get a laugh out of the one about hand holders and the one about people with tough guy stamps (tattoos) but I think the one about legal wimps and their poor air conditioning upset a few in the legal fraternity,so thumbs up for that one as well.

Posted by Phoney Clown, 22/12/2009 10:44:24 AM, on The Herald

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