Global InformationAustralian Antarctic Medal information
| Australian Antarctic Medal | |
|---|---|
  Medal and ribbon | |
| Type | Medal (Meritorious)[1] |
| Awarded for | Outstanding service in scientific research or exploration, or in support of such work, in the course of, or in connection with, an Australian Antarctic expedition[2] |
| Description | 32 mm nickel-silver octagonal medal, ensigned with a hexagonal ice-crystal device, surmounted by a plain suspender bar, and suspended on a 32 mm snow-white moire ribbon, edged with three shades of blue.[3] |
| Presented by | Australia |
| Eligibility | Australian Antarctic expedition members and support staff[2] |
| Post-nominals | AAM[4] |
| Status | Active |
| Established | 2 June 1987 (as Antarctic Medal)[5] |
| First awarded | 22 June 1987[6] |
| Last awarded | 2023 Special Honours |
| Total | 110[7] |
| Total awarded posthumously | 4[8] |
| Total recipients | 103 |
| Order of Wear | |
| Next (higher) | Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM) |
| Next (lower) | Royal Victorian Medal (RVM) |
| Related | Polar Medal |
The Australian Antarctic Medal (stylised AAM as post-nominal), originally designated the Antarctic Medal until 18 December 1997, is a meritorious service award of the Australian honours and awards system, instituted by Letters Patent[note 1] on 2 June 1987 (amended 18 December 1997 and 13 December 2011).[10]
Unique among the Australian meritorious service awards, the Australian Antarctic Medal may be awarded to the same person more than once.[11] The medal may be awarded to anyone who has given outstanding service in connection with an Antarctic expedition, in scientific research, exploration, or in support of such work.[12] Except in exceptional circumstances however, the medal will only be awarded if the nominee has also worked at least 12 months (cumulative) in Antarctic climates south of latitude 60° South, or in similar climate and terrain conditions elsewhere in the Antarctic region.[13]
The Australian Antarctic Medal is also unique in that (other than the first time when it was awarded, which occurred on 22 June 1987) awardees are announced in their own Midwinter's Day (21 June) awards list.[14]
The Australian Antarctic Medal has only in one instance been awarded to the same person twice - to Graham Robertson - and only four times posthumously (to Howard Burton, Neil Adams, John Oakes, and Patrick Quilty AM).[15]
- ^ Meritorious Service Awards (PDF) (2nd ed.). Canberra, Australia: Government House. 2014. p. 7. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- ^ a b Meritorious Service Awards (PDF) (2nd ed.). Canberra, Australia: Government House. 2014. p. 42. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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- ^ Meritorious Service Awards (PDF) (2nd ed.). Canberra, Australia: Government House. 2014. p. 39. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- ^ "Australian Antarctic Medal". Australian Antarctic Division. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
the first recipients of the Australian Antarctic Medal were announced on 22 June 1987.
- ^ Governor-General Annual Report 2022-23 (PDF). Governor General of Australia. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ Refer:
- Burton "Government Notices Gazette". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. No. GN 8. Canberra, Australia. 24 June 1987. p. 296. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
- Adams "Special Gazette". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. No. S 75. Canberra, Australia. 21 June 2012. p. 1. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- Oakes "Government Notices Gazette" (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. Canberra, Australia. 21 June 2018. p. 1. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- Quilty "Midwinter's Day Honours List" (PDF). The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia. Government House. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ Jordan, Roy (8 September 2003). "A Rare Form of Law Making: Legislation Made Outside Parliament" (PDF). Department of the Parliamentary Library: Research Note. Canberra, Australia: Commonwealth of Australia. pp. 1–2.
- ^ Refer:
- Letters Patent Constituting the Antarctic Medal 1997, cl 2
- Letters Patent (1997) Amending Letters Patent Constituting the Antarctic Medal, cl 3
- Letters Patent (2011) Amending Letters Patent Constituting the Australian Antarctic Medal, cl 3
- Meritorious Service Awards (PDF) (2nd ed.). Canberra, Australia: Government House. 2014. pp. 39–40. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
- ^ Refer:
- Australian Antarctic Medal Regulations (Cth) reg 4(2)
- "Australian Antarctic Medal celebrates 25 years". Australian Antarctic Division. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
Unique among the Meritorious Service Awards, the Australian Antarctic Medal can be awarded to the same person for a second and subsequent occasion, and there is no quota imposed on the number of awards per year. The medal can be awarded posthumously and it may also be withdrawn.
- ^ Refer:
- Australian Antarctic Medal Regulations (Cth) reg 4(2)
- Letters Patent (2011) Amending Letters Patent Constituting the Australian Antarctic Medal, cl 3
- ^ Australian Antarctic Medal Regulations (Cth) reg 4(3)
- ^ Meritorious Service Awards (PDF) (2nd ed.). Canberra, Australia: Government House. 2014. p. 7. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
- ^ Refer:
- Robertson - 1st "Special Gazette". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. No. S 204. Canberra, Australia. 21 June 1989. p. 1. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- Robertson - 2nd "Special Gazette". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. No. S 75. Canberra, Australia. 21 June 2012. p. 1. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- Burton "Government Notices Gazette". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. No. GN 8. Canberra, Australia. 24 June 1987. p. 296. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
- Adams "Special Gazette". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. No. S 75. Canberra, Australia. 21 June 2012. p. 1. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- Oakes "Government Notices Gazette" (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. Canberra, Australia. 21 June 2018. p. 1. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- Quilty "Midwinter's Day Honours List" (PDF). The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia. Government House. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
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