Victor the Viking was so pleased, he lost his club allegiance momentarily and started quoting Tommy Raudonikis, the legendary Western Suburbs and Kangaroos halfback.
"It's like Tommy used to say: 'I'm not pinching myself, I'm slapping myself'," the Canberra Raiders' much-loved mascot declared when he was finally able to share news of his Australia Day award.
"I've had to keep this [award] a secret for so long; to be honest, it's a relief everyone can now know."
Tony Wood, who has been in the role of the Raiders mascot for 38 years, said he had been the recipient of a deluge of congratulatory phone calls and best wishes since news of his Medal of the Order of Australia went out on Australia Day.
"The whole Raiders group and management have passed on their congratulations," he said.
"I feel very honoured and humbled by it all.
"I've always taken the view that this is a fun thing you do not for yourself, but for the community. You don't expect any accolades."
Always physically busy at the rugby league games and "working" the crowds to buoy his beloved Raiders, Mr Wood said that he had gone on a diet and fitness program in the past few months and dropped 10kg in readiness for the upcoming season.
"Last season was tough for fans to stay connected with the team because of COVID so I'm hoping we can have a much better 2021," he said.
He said that his positive feelings about the team's prospects for the coming season are shared around the club.
"We've been building since 2019; Ricky [Stuart, the coach] has a plan and we have some really strong years to come with this playing group," he said.
"We're really building momentum."
Mr Wood was not just recognised for his contribution to rugby league but also for his work in respite care, and in support of Rise Again, the cancer-relief charity for Canberra and the surrounding region.
