FOR MEDIA 9 JANUARY 1991
Her Majesty The Queen has approved Letters Patent and
Regulations establishing nine new Defence Force awards
for use in operational situations. They are the Victoria
Cross for Australia, the Star of Gallantry, the Medal for
Gallantry, the Commendation for Gallantry, the
Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Service
Medal, the Commendation for Distinguished Service, the
Unit Citation for Gallantry, and the Meritorious Unit
Citation. This brings to fifteen the number of new awards for the
Australian Defence Force that have now been approved by
The Queen on the recommendation of my Government. These
awards have all been established in pursuit of our
commitment to develop a comprehensive and indigenous
system cf Australian honours and awards.
The Queen approved in 1988 the Australian Active Service
Medal, the Australian Service Medal, and the Champion
Shots Medal. In 1989, Her Majesty approved the Nursing
Service Cross, the Conspicuous Service cross and the
Conspicuous Service Medal. The Queen has now approved
the following awards:
The Vintnrfa Crs will be the highest Australian
decoration. Like its Imperial counterpart, it will
accord recognition to persons who perform acts of the
most conspicuous gallantry, acts of valour or selfsacrifice
or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of
the enemy. Persons awarded the Victoria Cross will be
entitled to use the post-nominal " VC".
The Qaij-antry npnnrmtin will be awarded to members of
the Aust~ ralian Defence Force and certain other persons in
recognit~ ion of gallantry in action. Three levels of the
award are proposed: the Star of Gallantry, the Medal for
Gallantr7y, and the Commendation for Gallantry. Persons
awarded the Star and Medal will be entitled to use the
post-noranals " SG" and ' MG" respectively.
The AIuaY-allan nigtingnighpa Sprvinp D~ norat-inng will
accord recognition to members of the Defence Force and
certain other persons for distinguished command and
leadership in action or distinguished performance of
duties : Ln warlike operations. Three levels of the award
are proposed: the Distinguished Service Cross; the
Distinguished Service Medal; and the Commendation for
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Distinguished Service. Persons awarded the Cross and
Medal will. be entitled to use the post-. nominais " DSC" and
" DSM" respectively.
The Unit . Xat in will recognise gallantry in action or
outstanding service in warlike operations by units of the
Defence Force and the defence forces of other countries.
Two decorations are provided for: the Unit Citation for
Gallantry; and the Meritorious Unit Citation.
The approval of these awards by Her Majesty now completes
the Government's program to have in place a
comprehensive, indigenous system of military awards and
decorations within an indigenous Australian honours
system. The placement of the new awards in the
Australian Order of precedence of Honours and Awards, as
approved by Her Majesty, will be published in the
Commonwealth Gazette.
I would like to congratulate the Ministers for
Administrative Services and Defence Science and
Personnel, and their predecessors, for the efforts in
developing and putting in place a comprehensive system of
Australian Defence Force awards. Their efforts will
enable a proper recognition of the valuable contribution
made by Australian service men and women, and other
associated persons, in both operational circumstances and
in times of peace, for many generations to come.