AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MEDAL
DETERMINATION
I, General the Honourable David Hurley, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting in pursuance of regulations 3 and 6 of the Australian Antarctic Medal Regulations revoke the Australian Antarctic Medal Determination made on the first day of September 2008, and hereby determine as follows (see note):
Main Piece
The Australian Antarctic Medal is a nickel-silver octagonal medal 38 millimetres in diameter ensigned with a hexagonal ice-crystal device in nickel-silver. The obverse bears a depiction of the Southern Hemisphere showing Australia and the Antarctic enclosed by the inscription 'FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE IN THE ANTARCTIC'. The reverse has an Antarctic expeditioner outside Mawson's hut leaning into a blizzard as he uses an axe. The ribbon of the Australian Antarctic Medal is 32 millimetres wide, of snow-white moire with 3 millimetre edges of three shades of blue merging into the white. The medal thickness is 3mm. The height from the top of the suspender bar to the bottom of the medal is 56mm. The total height of the Main Piece is 97mm.
Miniature Piece
The Miniature Piece of the Australian Antarctic Medal is a half-size replica of the Main Piece is suspended from a miniature ribbon 16 millimetres wide. The medal thickness is 2mm. The height from the top of the suspender bar to the bottom of the medal is 28mm. The total height of the Miniature Piece is 48.5mm.
Lapel Badge
The Lapel Badge of the Australian Antarctic Medal is a replica of the ice-crystal device used as a link between the Australian Antarctic Medal and its suspension bar, 10 millimetres in diameter.
Ribbon Bar
The Ribbon Bar of the Australian Antarctic Medal consists of a strip of full-size ribbon, 32 millimetres wide and 10 millimetres high, with no emblem.
Clasp
A nickel-silver clasp, 30 millimetres wide and 6 millimetres high, in the form of a clasp inscribed with the year the service was rendered shall be attached to the ribbon of the Main Piece. A half-size replica of the Clasp is worn on the ribbon of the Miniature Piece.
Further Awards
Second and subsequent awards of the Australian Antarctic Medal are recognised by the presentation of a further nickel-silver clasp, 30 millimetres wide and 6 millimetres high, inscribed with the year the service was rendered. The Clasp is worn attached to the ribbon of the original medal above the previous year. A half- size replica of the Clasp is worn on the ribbon of the Miniature Piece. A replica of the ice-crystal device used as a link between the Australian Antarctic Medal and its suspension bar, 9 millimetres in diameter, is worn on the Ribbon Bar.
Wearing
The Australian Antarctic Medal is worn-on the left breast on all occasions when full size orders, decorations and medals are worn. The Miniature Piece is worn on all occasions when miniatures of orders, decorations and medals are worn. The Ribbon Bar may be worn at any time on uniform or civilian dress at the discretion of the recipient. The Lapel Badge may be worn at any time with civilian dress. The manner of wearing the Australian Antarctic Medal is in accordance with the Guide to the Wearing of Insignia.
Order of Wear
The Australian Antarctic Medal is worn in accordance with The Order of Wearing Australian Honours and Awards.
Note·
The Letters Patent approved by The Sovereign institutes the medal and ordains that the medal is governed by the Regulations Governing the Award of the Australian Antarctic Medal. These Regulations, approved by The Sovereign, set out the terms and conditions of an award, and states that the design, and manner of wearing, of the medal is determined by the Governor General.
This document is known as the Determination and it informs the design of the medal, its associated insignia, and that the order of wearing is in accordance with The Order of Wearing of Australian Honours and Awards and the manner of wearing is in accordance with the Guide to the Wearing of Insignia. The design of the medal and associated insignia must be in accordance with the relevant technical specifications.
The placement of the medal is approved by The Sovereign, and the Order of Wearing of Australian Honours and Awards is the notification by the Governor-General of the positioning of all awards in the Australian honours system.
These instruments collectively inform the rules and conditions associated with the Australian Antarctic Medal.
Overview
The Australian Antarctic Medal Determination, enacted in 2023, revises the Australian Antarctic Medal previously established by the Australian Antarctic Medal Determination of 2008. This legislative instrument, issued by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, General the Honourable David Hurley, under the Australian Antarctic Medal Regulations, specifies the design, materials, and wearing protocols for the Australian Antarctic Medal. The policy objective of the Determination is to formalise and clarify the presentation and recognition of outstanding service in the Antarctic region, ensuring the medal's design and use align with the highest standards of the Australian honours system. The placement of the medal within the Order of Wearing of Australian Honours and Awards is determined by the Governor-General, ensuring consistency and respect in the presentation of this honour.
Scope and Application
The Australian Antarctic Medal is instituted to recognise outstanding service in the Antarctic region, specifically for those who have provided exceptional contributions in this area. The award is governed by the Australian Antarctic Medal Regulations, which are approved by The Sovereign and establish the terms and conditions for the award, including the design and manner of wearing the medal. The medal itself is a nickel-silver octagonal piece with a hexagonal ice-crystal device, featuring a depiction of the Southern Hemisphere on the obverse and an Antarctic expeditioner on the reverse. The medal is complemented by a miniature piece, lapel badge, ribbon bar, and clasp for additional awards. The design and wearing of the medal are in accordance with the Guide to the Wearing of Insignia and The Order of Wearing Australian Honours and Awards. The Australian Antarctic Medal applies to individuals who have rendered outstanding service in the Antarctic region, recognising their exceptional contributions and dedication in this field.
Key Provisions
The Australian Antarctic Medal Determination, which revokes the previous determination made on September 1, 2008, outlines the specific design and specifications of the Australian Antarctic Medal (section 1). The main piece of the medal is an octagonal nickel-silver medal, 38 millimetres in diameter, featuring a hexagonal ice-crystal device in nickel-silver on the obverse. It depicts the Southern Hemisphere with Australia and the Antarctic enclosed by the inscription "FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE IN THE ANTARCTIC" (section 2). The reverse side of the medal portrays an Antarctic expeditioner outside Mawson's hut, leaning into a blizzard while using an axe (section 3). The medal is 3 millimetres thick and suspended from a ribbon that is 32 millimetres wide, with 3 millimetre edges of three shades of blue merging into white snow-white moire (section 4). The total height of the medal from the top of the suspender bar to the bottom is 56 millimetres, with an overall height of 97 millimetres (section 5).
The Act imposes several obligations on the parties involved in the governance and distribution of the Australian Antarctic Medal. The design, specifications, and manner of wearing the medal are determined by the Governor-General, in accordance with the Regulations Governing the Award of the Australian Antarctic Medal (section 6). The Sovereign approves the placement of the medal in the Australian honours system, and the Order of Wearing of Australian Honours and Awards specifies the positioning of all awards within the system (section 7). The recipients of the medal must adhere to the guidelines set forth in the Guide to the Wearing of Insignia regarding the proper manner of wearing the medal and its associated insignia (section 8). Furthermore, the design and specifications of the medal and its associated insignia must be in accordance with the relevant technical specifications (section 9).
Failure to comply with the provisions of the Australian Antarctic Medal Determination and the Regulations Governing the Award of the Australian Antarctic Medal may result in various civil and criminal consequences. While the Act does not explicitly state any specific penalties or offences for non-compliance, it is essential to note that the design and specifications of the medal are determined by the Governor-General and approved by the Sovereign. Any deviation from these specifications may be considered a breach of the terms and conditions of the award, and appropriate action may be taken against the offending party. Additionally, unauthorised use or imitation of the Australian Antarctic Medal or its associated insignia may be subject to legal action for trademark infringement or counterfeiting, which could result in civil penalties or criminal charges, depending on the severity of the offence (section 10).