SNOOKER star Neil Robertson has been honoured by the Australian State.
Robertson, 42, has won 24 ranking snooker titles, including the World Championship in 2010 and three UK Championships in 2013, 2015 and 2020.
The Australian cueist is also a two-time Masters winner, with his second victory coming in 2022.
And to commemorate his glittering career, the Australian State wrote to the Thunder from Down-Under to inform him he would be receiving the Order of Australia award (OAM) for services to snooker.
The letter to former World No.1 Robertson said: “Dear Mr Robertson.
“I wrote to you recently advising that you were being considered for an award within the Order of Australia.
“It is now my pleasure to inform you that your Medal of the Order of Asutralia General Division has been approved by the Governor-General in their capacity as Chancellor of the Order of Australia, with effect from Sunday 26 January 2025.
“The Governor-General has asked me to extend their congratulations to you.”
The letter continued by asking him to keep his official new title a secret until it was announced on the “Australia Day 2025 Honours List”, which came out today.
As a result Robertson can now use the initials of OAM after his name.
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Taking to social media, Robertson said: “Wow what an honour.
“The proudest moment of my career!
“A kid growing up in Australia I could never imagine something like this.”
The OAM award dates back to 1975 after being established by Queen Elizabeth II on the recommendation of then Australian prime minister Gough Whitlam.
Robertson’s emergence saw him become the most decorated Australian snooker player and most successful outside of the UK.
He is also the only non-UK born player to have completed the coveted Triple Crown.
Many snooker stars rushed to congratulate Robertson on the achievement.
Mark Williams said: “Congratulations.”
Ken Doherty said: “Richly deserved Neil. Congratulations.”
Reanne Evans MBE added: “Congratulations.”
A MAN who bought an abandoned oil rig lifeboat with the goal of turning it into his dream home has showed off the epic finished product.
Despite having no prior construction knowledge, Johnny Sturgeon took on the huge challenge and spent a total of 678 days converting the abandoned 64-tonne lifeboat, called Orla.
Now it’s finally finished, the boat is fully functioning home, with all a lush with a bathroom, kitchen, living room and cosy bedroom, which he showed off on TikTok.
In the viral video, Johnny explained that it wasn’t just the inside that needed some love, but the outside of the boat also needed a lot of attention.
He applied a lick coat of paint, and installed 1,100 watts of solar panels, as well as patching up plenty of holes.
But, it’s the inside of the boat that really leaves people amazed.
What was once a dusty, empty space now looks like a luxurious pad anyone would be happy to live in.
First, he showed off the brand new bathroom, which now has a posh shower and composting toilet, as well as loads of space for storage.
The open plan living and kitchen area is just as impressive.
Complete with a cosy seating area for relaxing, a table for working and eating and more counter space than you might expect for such a small space, it’s easy to see why the DIY whizz was proud to show it off.
“Where the engine once sat is now my kitchen, decorated with tiles I hand-pressed from recyclable materials,” Johnny explained in the clip.
“My sink is positioned by a sliding window which I custom built so I can watch the world go by as I’m washing up,” he continued.
Not only that, but the cosy benches can be used as beds too, he noted.
Meanwhile, his own bedroom is towards the back of the boat and is the perfect snug sanctuary.
And he even managed to keep some of the boats original features for some added charm, like the lifeboat’s original control panel, which he rewired so be used as light switches.
The boat tour quickly went viral on TikTok and it’s currently amassed a whopping 2.5 million viewers, many of whom praised Johnny’s DIY efforts.
One said: “Congratulations on your success! Now go enjoy Orla!”.
And a second commented: “Congratulations, followed your journey from the start. Awesome achievement, enjoy.”
“The transformation is crazy! Spent a lot of time in those boats doing drills and whatnot offshore,” a third chimed in.
“You should be proud of all you have achieve, looks awesome,” someone else added.
Johnny also thanked the social media users who watched the journey and said: “It’s been two years of blood, sweat and many tears.”
“Yes, Orla is a million miles from the shell I bought. But so too am I! I wasn’t a particularly well young man when I started the boat and watching the smile on my face at seeing her complete is the achievement I am most proud of,” he added.
By Jonathan Rolande
Property expert Jonathan Rolande told Fabulous: The reason we are seeing more creative ways of finding a home: super-high property prices and rents. Younger people are remaining in the family home later in life to avoid paying high prices and to save for a deposit. With increasingly busy lives, staying within a larger family group makes sense, chores such as gardening and housework can be shared.
Garages are rarely used for their intended purpose as cars are far more reliable and less prone to rust and so are perfectly happy outside. On the other hand, the amount of property space per person has been shrinking – converting a garage can make great sense.
Things to consider. (the boring stuff)
Usually easier than building from scratch but still a lot to do to turn a garage in to a habitable space.
You’ll need to check if you need planning (more likely to be required if the garage is detached).
Building Regulations stipulate many things to make homes safe and secure. Consider
Walls, are they cavity?
Roof height
Windows
How will you get plumbing, electrics and drainage connected
Insulation – it will be cold!
Fire safety
Damp proofing
Also consider if, by converting, you are adding or deducting value from the main home. Garages can add value in busy urban areas where parking is limited.
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