Ernie Awards

Wow. I had no idea there were that many awesome awards available throughout the world.

I particularly can't believe I've never heard of the Ernie Awards before.

An Australian Award, the "Ernies" are awarded to individuals and companies who make sexist remarks or do something sexist. It is named after former Australian Workers Union secretary Ernie Ecob, who was known for his sexist remarks. One of his best-known remarks was "Women aren't welcome in the shearing sheds. They're only after the sex," which is why there is a sheep on top of the Gold Ernie. 400 women attend a dinner each year and the remark that receives the loudest booing from the audience is deemed the winner. Past winners include these gems:

• 1996: Magistrate Ron Gething, Magistrates Court of Western Australia: (upon finding a man not guilty of stalking a woman for seven years), “I don't think he was intimidating her, he was just being persistent. He was like a little puppy dog wagging its tail.”
• 2005: Sheikh Feiz Mohammad, Islamic cleric: “A victim of rape every minute somewhere in the world. Why? No one to blame but herself. She displayed her beauty to the entire world…strapless, backless, sleeveless, nothing but satanic skirts, slit skirts, translucent blouses, miniskirts, tight jeans…to tease men and appeal to their carnal nature.”
• 2003: Stellar Call Centre: for docking the pay of a pregnant woman for taking too many toilet breaks.
  

Of course, I do remember this event, and I'm glad someone awarded it the 2009 Ernie Award. Pastor Danny Nalliah blamed the Black Saturday bushfires on Victoria's abortion laws. His exactly words were:

"God's conditional protection has been removed from the nation of Australia, in particular Victoria, for approving the slaughter of innocent children in the womb."

Noice.