ELIZABETH R
ELIZABETH THE SECOND, by the Grace of God Queen of Australia and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth:
TO ALL to whom these Presents shall come,
GREETING:
WHEREAS it is desirable that there be instituted an Australian medal for the purpose of encouraging skill in a small arms shooting in the Defence Force:
KNOW YOU that We do by these Presents institute a medal to be designated and styled the Champion Shots Medal:
AND WE DO ordain that the award of the Champion Shots Medal shall be governed by the Regulations set out in the Schedule.
IN WITNESS whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent.
GIVEN under the Great Seal of Australia at Our Court at St James’s on 13 September 1988
By Her Majesty’s Command,
BOB HAWKE
Prime Minister
SCHEDULE
CHAMPION SHOTS MEDAL REGULATIONS
Short title
1. These Regulations may be cited as the Champion Shots Medal Regulations.
Interpretation
2. In these Regulations:
“clasp” means a device to denote the year of the award;
“Defence Force” has the same meaning as in the Defence Force Act 1903;
“Medal” means the Champion Shots Medal.
Conditions for award of the Medal
3. (1) Not more than three Medals may be awarded in a calendar year.
(2) The Medal may be awarded to:
(a) the member of the Royal Australian Navy who has been selected as the Champion Shot of the Royal Australian Navy for that calendar year in a competition conducted under the direction of the Chief of Naval Staff;
(b) the member of the Australian Army who has been selected as the Champion Shot of the Australian Army for that calendar year in a competition conducted under the direction of the Chief of the General Staff;
(c) the member of the Royal Australian Air Force who has been selected as the Champion Shot of the Royal Australian Air Force for that calendar year in a competition conducted under the direction of the Chief of the Air Staff;
(3) Any subsequent award of the Medal to the same person shall be made in the form of a further clasp to the Medal.
Making of awards
4. Awards of the Medal shall be made by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Chief of the Defence Force or his delegate.
Design of the Medal
5. The design of the Medal shall be as prescribed.
Wearing of the Medal
6. The manner of wearing the Medal shall be as determined by the Governor- General.
Registrar of Awards
7. (1) There shall be a Registrar of Awards who shall be appointed by the Governor-General and shall maintain a Register of the names of persons to whom the Medal has been awarded.
(2) The Registrar shall keep such other records relating to the award of the Medal as the Governor-General directs.
Cancellation and reinstatement
8. (1) The Governor-General may cancel the award of the Medal and may reinstate an award so cancelled.
(2) Where an award of the Medal is cancelled, the name of the person to whom the award was made shall be erased from the Register and the person shall return the Medal to the Registrar.
(3) Where an award that has been cancelled pursuant to sub-regulation (1) is reinstated, the Registrar shall restore the entry or entries in the Register that has been erased.
Overview
The Champion Shots Medal Regulations 1988 were introduced to establish a medal recognising excellence in small arms shooting within the Australian Defence Force. Enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, the regulations were made under the authority of the Queen, represented by the Governor-General, and came into effect on 13 September 1988. The policy objective of these regulations is to encourage and recognise skill and proficiency in small arms shooting among Defence Force personnel, thereby fostering a culture of excellence and precision within the military. The Champion Shots Medal is awarded to the top performers in annual shooting competitions within the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, and Royal Australian Air Force, with a maximum of three medals awarded each year. Any subsequent awards to the same person are denoted by additional clasps to the medal. Awards are made by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Chief of the Defence Force or their delegate, and the design, wearing, and registry of the medal are also specified within the regulations.
Scope and Application
The Champion Shots Medal Regulations pertain to the establishment and governance of the Champion Shots Medal, a recognition for excellence in small arms shooting within the Australian Defence Force. These regulations apply specifically to members of the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, and Royal Australian Air Force, with the potential for up to three medals to be awarded annually based on the outcomes of competitions conducted under the direction of their respective chiefs of staff. The award of the medal is at the discretion of the Governor-General, following a recommendation from the Chief of the Defence Force or their delegate. The design, wearing, and administration of the medal, including the appointment of a Registrar of Awards to maintain records of recipients, are detailed within these regulations, providing a structured framework for the recognition and management of this honour. The regulations also address the procedures for the cancellation and reinstatement of awards, ensuring that the integrity of the medal is upheld.
Key Provisions
The Champion Shots Medal Regulations, which provide the framework for the awarding of the Champion Shots Medal, have several key provisions. Section 3(1) states that no more than three Medals can be awarded in any given calendar year. This restriction ensures that the Medal remains a prestigious award. Section 3(2) outlines the specific members of the Defence Force who are eligible for the Medal: those selected as the Champion Shot of the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, or Royal Australian Air Force for that year. The awarding of subsequent Medals to the same person will be in the form of a clasp, as stated in Section 3(3). The Governor-General makes the final decision on the award of the Medal based on the recommendation of the Chief of the Defence Force or their delegate, as detailed in Section 4. The design and wearing of the Medal are to be determined by the Governor-General, as per Sections 5 and 6.
The Champion Shots Medal Regulations impose several obligations on the parties involved. The Registrar of Awards, appointed by the Governor-General, is responsible for maintaining a Register of the names of all persons to whom the Medal has been awarded, as well as keeping any other records as directed by the Governor-General, as outlined in Section 7. The Registrar is also tasked with the return of the Medal to the Governor-General when an award is cancelled, as stated in Section 8(2). The Governor-General, in turn, has the authority to cancel or reinstate awards, as well as to determine the design and wearing of the Medal. The competition for the Champion Shot title must be conducted under the direction of the respective Chief of each Defence Force branch, as per Section 3(2).
The Champion Shots Medal Regulations do not explicitly state any offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breach. However, the authority of the Governor-General to cancel and reinstate awards, as well as the requirement for the return of the Medal upon cancellation, implies that any misuse or misappropriation of the Medal could lead to the cancellation of the award and the return of the Medal. This would effectively strip the individual of the honour and recognition associated with the Champion Shots Medal. The precise consequences of such actions would be determined by the Governor-General in each case.