Bandit from Bluey, the patriarch of ABC Kids hugely successful cartoon has won the 2019 Gurgler Person of the Year in the most one-sided Person of the Year voting ever.

Of course it is not the first time a non human has won our Person of the Year (Reggie the Rabbitoh 2014), nor is it the first win for a character from an ABC Kids show (Farmer from Shaun the Sheep 2017). But the margin of victory was a first.

Not that the other nominations were quality, but we guess the wider Gurgler readership have connected with the Heeler family and the cartoon with Brisbane origin.

We figure in a year where the world was a real dump at times, especially with weather and politics, it is nice to have a happy story for Person of the Year, for this website that is usually swimming in cynicism and barely interesting football statistics.

The kids TV Show Bluey has been a runaway success for the ABC throughout 2019, smashing download records for the ABC, and even receiving an Emmy nomination.

At the heart of the show is our 2019 Person of the Year.

For once a TV Dad isn’t a bumbling oaf, or a certain Martin Kelly type from Hey Dad, but a competent parent who appears to enjoy his children. Making the mandatory repeat viewing of the latest favourite show quite bearable, and dare we say, enjoyable.

Add the positive is that the whole show is a cartoon based in Brisbane for a change, with CityCats, New Farm Park and the CBUS building in the background instead of the generic cartoon background. Kevin Pietersen might not like Brisbane, but many do.

It also helps that the character is voiced by former Custard front man Dave McCormack, a Brisbane man also.

So, although we figure he’ll never be able to accept the award in person, like every other winner, we salute Bandit from Bluey, the 2019 Gurgler Person of the Year.

2019 PERSON OF THE YEAR VOTING RESULTS

Here’s how you all voted.

2019 OTHER PERSON OF THE YEAR NOMINATION FORM GUIDE

Want to know more about why the above list were nominated? Then help yourself to the form guide below.

GREG NORMAN

It is fair to say we have always loved Greg Norman as a champion and charismatic golfer, but the joint 2018 Person of the Year really tickled our fancy with his revealing Sports Illustrated shoot in 2018.

To be fair, who wouldn’t like a mostly nude ripped 63 year old former number one golfer in the world.

He became an favourite in 2018, and when he doubled down on his 2018 photo shoot, with another display of his physique and a bold claim he want to live to 110, he ticked the right boxes for another Person of the Year nomination.

But Greg Norman is more than a pin up for Over 60 sportsmen, he is a super business man worth over 400M, he is still a shrewd voice on the state of golf, big on charity and helping out people, and is a friend of Donald Trump.

Even the latest addition of a beard makes him even more distinguished.

Follow his Twitter account, and there’s even motivational material to get you moving. Greg cares, and so do we.

For the record, we hope he gets to the 110.

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ASH BARTY

Australians like a number one, and they also like a number one who is a battler with a great back story.

Prior to her stellar 2019, she already had a Tennis Court named after her in Springfield. As Ipswich Town supporters in Football, it was refreshing to see some sporting achievement from someone out of any Ipswich in 2019.

Her 2019 honour roll includes the 2019 French Open, gaining and retaining the number one ranking, winning the WTA finals and pocketing a cool $4.42 million, winning the coveted Don Award, and getting food named after you.

Amazing to think after some success as a junior that she gave it away for a little bit to play Cricket in the Women’s Big Bash, and then re-discovered the love for Tennis all the way to number one.

You know you have made it when the change great Australian icon Vegemite to Bartymite. And getting a 2019 Gurgler Person of the Year nomination of course.

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ADEABAYO AKINFENWA

Following on from a battler-come-good in Ash Barty, comes our favourite current footballer Adebayo Akinfenwa, aka The Beast, aka Football’s Strongest Man.

Akinfenwa, who is currently 37 years old and in his 16th season of the Football League continues to assist, score, and dance. In the third division. For the currently table topping Wycombe Wanderers.

The great back story here is that after he led AFC Wimbledon into League One by kicking the final penalty of the League Two playoff final, he was advised his services weren’t required in the third tier.

After scoring 29 goals and 20 assists in two seasons in League Two, Wycombe were promoted to the third division, and although Adebayo Akinfenwa’s scoring has slowed a little, it hasn’t stopped, and with his team sitting top of the third division, we can only hope they get promotion to the second division and seeing what he can do. So plenty good enough for the third tier then.

And good enough for an impact role in the Championship next season, especially based on his performances against some big sides in the FA Cup in recent seasons for Wimbledon and Wycombe.

For now, it is another nomination for The Gurgler’s 2019 Person of the Year.

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JACINDA ARDERN

In a year where politics in Australia arguably hit a new low, it is refreshing to see a Prime Minister that is likeable, competent, and appears to be a decent human being that gives a shit.

New Zealand’s 40th Prime Minister has handled a lot of things in 2019, like the Christchurch shootings and the recent White Island volcano tragedy. Actual stuff, not arguing about who is/isn’t to blame for fires or sitting at various sporting events.

In a year where the leaders of the world and Australia showed the very worst in behaviour, we nominate someone who showed some good.

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AIR CONDITIONING

With the world getting hotter and hotter thanks to climate change, spaghetti monsters, or Michael Slater, thank goodness for Air Conditioning.

Although the need for Air Con is probably a cause for rising power usage leading to increased temperatures, we challenge anyone to live without it.

An unsung hero of summer, since it seems to be hot enough in Australia for eight months of the year, we think that an object is just as deserving of a 2019 Person of the Year nomination than a person.

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MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE

2019 saw Australia win an Ashes Series in England for the first time in nearly two decades, and whilst most of it was down to Steven Smith, our 2019 Person of the Year goes to the man who made history by replacing him – Marnus Labuschagne.

With Steven Smith still on the shitlist for the sandpaper despite his Ashes heroics, we gravitated to the Queenslander for our favourite cricketer of the year for his hard graft, and ability to cope with many pressure situations to guide Australia to Ashes success.

He has gone on to make those hundreds he deserves, and has been a massive part of a decent summer for Australia so far.

And of course, is many, many times more likeable than the other main star of the Australian team this summer

ANTONY GREEN

2019 saw one of the more interesting Federal Elections in recent years, with certainly one of the more surprising results.

As ever, the only man to listen to was the Sultan of the Swing – Antony Green.

Few command, or deserve as much respect on their field of expertise as Antony Green and the ABC Election coverage.

Even fewer deserve our full attention as he does leading up to and on Election night.

We salute, and nominate him for the Gurgler 2019 Person of the Year.

PREVIOUS PERSON OF THE YEAR WINNERS

It is a pretty eclectic mix our Person on the Year nominations, so you should see the previous winners list.

2018 – SBS WORLD CUP COVERAGE & GREG NORMAN

2017 – FARMER FROM SHAUN THE SHEEP

2016 – CHARLES STRUNK

2015 – WILLIE MINOGA

2014 – REGGIE THE RABBITOH

Theydon Bois http://www.thegurgler.com Born and raised on the banks of Yebri Creek, Theydon Bois has always been obsessed by sport.

A stellar career of Underage B sides, RSL Social Golf, C Grade Warehouse and D Grade Indoor Cricket didn’t showcase much talent, but provided a window into the love for any game, any time.

Theydon follows as much as he can and will provide opinion, ideas, and best tips and bets for most sports*.

A particular interest in English Football sees Theydon Bois up every Saturday night until 2am with two laptops, smartphones, IPad and a radio feed of Soccer Saturday.

A lifelong fan of underperforming, mediocre, disappointing teams will not sway his enthusiasm for sport.

*Rugby Union not included. See author's posts