User:Feedyourfeet/Stephen Battaglia

Stephen Battaglia is an Year 11 student at Carey Grammar School. He was brought to fame when he hugged the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr John Howard with a screwdriver in his hand.

The Hug
The hugging incident occured on John Howard's 67th birthday. As John Howard went on his usual morning walk, he was met by some rowers, who sang him Happy Birthday. Stephen then went to give the Prime Minister a congratulatory hug, unaware that he was holding a screwdriver in his hand. Stephen claims it was a spur-of-the-moment act, and he had forgotten that he was holding the screwdriver. Stephen has said that "It's first time I've ever done anything like this. I'm not really the kind of guy that jumps up on stage and sings a song just at a bar. I'm like the shy guy," he said.

Security Scare
When Stephen Battaglia went to hug Mr Howard, he was still clutching a screwdriver which he had been using to repair a boat rudder. That brought him to the attention of the Prime Ministers's security staff and the media. In the news videos, you can see a member of the security staff doing nothing as Stephen rushed passed him. While there was no suggestion Battaglia had any malicious intent, newspapers questioned why Mr Howard's security had failed to stop him. Mr Howard's office declined to comment.

Media Reaction
Since the hug he has been mentioned in the SMH, The Age, On Melbourne Radio station Triple M & every commercial television station in Australia. He has even been mentioned in South African News. On the 2nd of August, Craig Reucassel, of ABC's The Chaser's War on Everything, approached John Howard during his early morning walk on the Gold Coast branding a oversize axe. They were making fun Stephen Battaglia's hug with his screwdriver.