First, there was the story of the internet poll that named a research ship Boaty McBoatface. The name was ultimately rejected by the powers-that-be. Then naming polls across the globe followed suit, which gave us Trainy McTrainface and Horsey McHorseface, among others. Would we expect any different results when Australia named one of its six new ferries Ferry McFerryface? The New South Wales Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Andrew Constance, announced the naming of Ferry McFerryface in November, stating that the name came in second only to Boaty McBoatface, which already had its day in the sun. But now the news has surfaced, thanks to a Freedom of Information request, that Ferry McFerryface was NOT the winning name from the poll at all.
A 9NEWS freedom of information investigation has revealed the competition to name a new fleet of ferries costs a whopping $100,000.
Documents reveal Ferry McFerryface was not only ineligible to be accepted under the government’s own criteria but it attracted just 182 votes.
Clean Up Australia founder Ian Kiernan was the clear winner for the ferry’s naming rights with 2025 eligible votes.
It appears that people in the real world have grown tired of the naming meme. Ian Kiernan had actually been told that his name had won before the announcement was made. So now will he get a ferry named after him? No, because Constance said the boat will be named after the children's book author May Gibbs. Read the roundup of news that tells the whole story at Digg.
(Image credit: NSW Public Transport)