Local Man Awarded for Award After Heroically Debunking Satirical Articles Like its Satire Bingo Night
- Riley Corbett
- Aug 4
- 2 min read
Riley Corbett | Crimes Reporter | Sutherland Shire Gazette
4 August 2025
A local man is being formally recognised this week for his tireless commitment to factual correction in deeply unserious spaces, after spending the past year debunking satire with the urgency of someone defusing a bomb made of irony.
Ray Rowley, 62, has been nominated for a “Literal Legend” Community Service Award, for his self-assigned role as the Shire’s last line of defence against sarcasm disguised as news. He describes the work as “a game of satire bingo - only with higher stakes and fewer laughs.”
His most recent claim to comment-section glory came after posting a furious response to an entirely fictional article about a proposal to install facial recognition scanners on Cronulla beach towels.
“This is Orwellian nonsense,” he declared. “The government can already track us through our Fitbits - now they want to spy on us while we’re drying off?” He concluded by calling for a full audit of all satire pages and the prosecution of “whoever’s behind this nonsense.”
Ray’s friends say his commitment borders on performance art. “He once submitted a complaint to the ABC over an episode of Shaun Micallef’s Mad as Hell,” said Sharon from Como. “Told them he was neither mad nor laughing.”
His truth crusade recently went live, too. During a Comedy Gala Night at the Sutherland Pavilion Performing Arts Centre, Ray stood up mid-set and bellowed, “This has got to be a joke!” - which, as it turned out, it was. The audience applauded, assuming it was part of the act.
Ray will be honoured next week at a subdued civic tea near Menai Library, provided he doesn’t loudly denounce the invitation as a prank.
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