Josephus, without a lot of detail, got an O of A for doing their job, so does Bill the plumber. I actually don't agree with many of these awards, tend to be who you know, how high profile you are, rather than what you have actually done. No need to be sarcastic, Gough and Paul nonsense.

Paul, you are quite within your rights to ask or question anything regarding the public agenda.
This includes your questioning this one, BUT, we must understand that firstly she has been a positive influence in society, through her helping men, for one reason or another.
Those of us who accept the decision of her getting the award don't have any problem with it because we see in her, as a ray of hope, and comfort for those who would otherwise probably die a very acrimonious and lonely death.
She is a unique form of social worker.
What has she done to deserve the award, you ask?
Well the only answer I can come up with is: Whatever she has done.
Which even though she might say, "I've done nothing to deserve this award", those who dish out the awards, would disagree and if not for this other bitch spewing and ranting to have her stripped of her award, she would not have wondered why she was overlooked, had she not received it in the first place.
Paul she hasn't lied or mis-represented herself or her qualifications, it's only because she didn't do things the traditional way, just like her choice of career, that she was not in the public arena.
She is now.

ALTRAV, I like your above post, not a maggot in site. I stress I don't disagree with what Arndt has to say. In fact as I've said numerous times on this thread I believe some men get a very raw deal when it comes to relationship break ups, particularly where children are involved. I don't see this a political issue, but rather a social one, regardless of a persons political persuasion they can be as nasty and vindictive as each other, men as well as women. A recent case here in Brisbane, known to my wife;

A Maori girl with one little boy, her man, a violent bloke, drugs, other women etc. The black eyes, the mistreatment, the promises of reform, all worthless at the end of the day. It was too much, she managed to kick him out. He's made her life hell, "someone" slashed her tyres and damaged her car, reported to the police but they could do nothing, no evidence to incriminate anyone.

She was allowing him to come over and see his son, seems it always degenerated into an argument. She wants her son to see his father, but now she denies this bloke access, as he has threatened to "take the kid where you wont find him!" What is she to do? My wife and other Maori elders have got involved following a request from his mother in NZ. Unfortunate the wife's brother who is now 4 years dead, and he was very much the leader of the community in Brisbane, not a man to mess with, he would have sorted this bloke out quick smart, and I don't mean violently. He would have packed him off back to NZ, into the hand of whanau over there to look after. The "aunties" have tried talking, they have tried to persuade him to "go home", as his mother wants, but he refuses, they don't have the same influence to order as brother once had.

Paul, even though I have mentored and helped the 'odd' person/ friend in my day, I was suddenly drawn in to your story with thoughts of how I would attempt to help this situation.
It does not always turn out well for EVERYONE involved, but we have to begin with the welfare of the child/children first, then we can consider the mother.
I feel a little frustrated that I can't even offer suggestions, because I have not been privy to the situation, so I can only sympathise, which is of itself a useless gesture, especially when someone needs 'actual' help, not more useless words, as they see it.
He seems, set in his ways and not prepared to compromise.
Paul, maybe this is one of those times when physical intervention and a clear message, maybe in the way of a threat, need to be used.
He sounds like he won't comply, so if it were me, and I had the human resources, or manpower, I would be tempted to use whatever means possible, because if you care about this woman, I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I think you know where this is going.
We have lived long enough to have at least heard about these tragedies where men get given a VRO and the obvious ends up happening by the hand of the guy in question.
Good luck with this one, but I feel someone is going to have to get tough with this guy and make the situation very clear, OR ELSE!

Paul,

If you take the same stance virtually every OA recipient will be stripped of it.

Take Tim Flannery for example, what has he actually done? Why is the Aus of the year?

Terrible incident in Brisbane yesterday, an estranged father Rowan Baxter set alight his three children and their mother Hannah Baxter in Ms Baxter's car. The three children died at the seen from burns, and their mother passed away in hospital later. The father died at the scene from self inflicted stab wounds. A shocking tragedy at anytime.

In some un-explainable moment of madness the chief copper investigating Inspector Mark Thompson, came on TV and had the gall to suggest killer Rowan Baxter may have been "driven too far". Of course Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll removed this unthinking flat foot Thompson from the investigation immediately. What a bloody stupid thing to say.