NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian congratulated Fearnley after he was bestowed with the honour at an award ceremony held at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney on Monday night.
“He has captured the hearts of the nation with his positivity,refusing to let disability get in the way of his aspirations and that’s a wonderful example to us all,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Fearnley,who hails from Newcastle,was born without part of his spine.