Clean Up Australia founder Ian Kiernan was told his name would grace one of six new Sydney Harbour ferries alongside other prominent Australians, only to have the offer suddenly withdrawn in favour of a joke.
Three of the new Emerald class ferries have been named after Australian doctors: heart surgeon Victor Chang; obstetrician Catherine Hamlin; and ophthalmologist Fred Hollows.
Two have been named for the indigenous leaders Pemulwuy and Bungaree.
But Transport Minister Andrew Constance announced on Tuesday the last vessel would be given the joke name Ferry McFerryface following a public competition attracting 15,000 suggestions.
Mr Constance said the decision was "one for the kids" which he hoped "brings a smile to the faces of visitors and locals alike".
Despite being told several weeks earlier that his name would be on one of the six new ferries, Mr Kiernan said the day before Mr Constance's announcement he was contacted by a staff member to say this was no longer the case.
It is understood the staff member suggested his name might be used in another context, such as the naming of a RiverCat.
Mr Kiernan told Fairfax Media he was "deeply disappointed" at the decision. His environmental efforts were recognised when he was awarded Australian of the Year in 1994.
During the ceremony he assisted the then NSW Premier John Fahey in thwarting an assassination attempt on Prince Charles.
"If they think I'm not worthy why did they pick me in the first place?" he asked.
"I'm not here for politics, I'm here for the health of the environment."
Transport for NSW last year launched a competition inviting the public to name six new inner harbour ferries.
In his Tuesday announcement, Mr Constance said the most popular names were Victor Chang, Catherine Hamlin and Fred Hollows.
He said Boaty McBoatface - the name that topped a British competition - and Ferry McFerryface were "the next most popular".
On Wednesday Mr Constance said the selection panel "made recommendations, but the final decision on each was for the NSW Government."
"The first five vessels in the Emerald Class were named based on the panel's recommendations and public nominations," Mr Constance said.
"The decision to include Ferry McFerryface was made by the NSW Government based on the number of nominations received from the public."
The Maritime Union of Australia has slammed the Ferry McFerryface decision, accusing Mr Constance of treating public transport "as a joke".
MUA assistant branch secretary Paul Garrett reportedly told Channel 7 they would consider industrial action.
"That's just an insult to the iconic history of Sydney Harbour and Sydney ferries," Mr Garrett said.
"There's a serious discussion going on at all about whether we'll work the vessel or leave it alongside the wharf until it gets a proper name."
