Government House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
29 July 2019
The Governor-General is pleased to announce the following honorary award within the General Division of the Order of Australia:
ORDER OF AUSTRALIA
Honorary Medal (OAM) in the General Division
Mr William Eric NANCE, Washington, United States of America
For achievement as the first Australian to sail solo round the world during the period of September 1962 to February 1965.
By His Excellency’s Command
Paul Singer MVO
Official Secretary to the Governor-General
AWARDED AN HONORARY MEDAL (OAM)
IN THE GENERAL DIVISION OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA
Mr William Eric NANCE, Washington, United States of America
For achievement as the first Australian to sail solo round the world during the period of September 1962 to February 1965.
Mr Nance was the first Australian, and 16th person, to sail solo round the world. At the time he was 23 years old and relatively inexperienced at sailing a yacht, particularly across oceans.
Mr Nance sailed a small ocean going yacht without modern means of electronic navigation, weather information, communication, or engine – he learned navigation by self-study, using Mary Blewitt’s “Celestial Navigation for Yachtsmen”, and sailed with a number of charts, a sextant, log tables, a used Navy surplus deck watch and a transistor radio.
He departed England in September 1962 sailing to Fremantle, via Buenos Aires and Cape Town, then continued to Melbourne before eventually departing from Tasmania for New Zealand. He then crossed the Southern Ocean to Cape Horn and on to Beunos Aires, thus completing his circumnavigation.
Mr Nance was the youngest man to have sailed alone round Cape Horn and he achieved it in the smallest boat (a record which stood until 1973).
During his voyage he experienced frequent gales, storms and large seas. His ship was dis-masted, capsized, and he was washed overboard. Despite these events, Mr Nance demonstrated determination, resolution and perseverance in completing his solo round the world voyage.
Overview
The Australian Honours System is integral to recognising and rewarding the achievements of Australians and non-Australians who have made significant contributions to the nation. The legislation establishing the Order of Australia was enacted in 1975 to fill the gap left by the cessation of British honours being bestowed on Australians. The policy objective was to provide a national system that recognises Australians and others who have made meritorious achievements or rendered meritorious service. The Order of Australia is administered by the Governor-General of Australia on the advice of the Honours Council, a body established to advise on the conferral of Australian honours and awards. This advisory process ensures that the honours are awarded based on merit and in alignment with national values and priorities.
Scope and Application
The document C2019G00663, gazetted on 29 July 2019, announces the honorary award of a Medal (OAM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia to Mr William Eric Nance of Washington, United States of America. The award recognises Mr Nance's achievement as the first Australian to sail solo around the world between September 1962 and February 1965. The award is an honorary recognition of his remarkable feat, highlighting his determination and skill in navigating the world's oceans under challenging conditions, and is a significant acknowledgment of his contribution to Australian maritime history. This honorary award is bestowed by the Commonwealth of Australia and is a national recognition, extending its acknowledgment beyond state or territory boundaries, celebrating an individual's outstanding achievement on a global scale.
Key Provisions
The gazette C2019G00663 announces the honorary award of the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division to Mr William Eric Nance for his remarkable achievement of being the first Australian to sail solo around the world from September 1962 to February 1965. This distinction is outlined in section 2 of the document, which identifies Mr Nance’s specific accomplishment and the reason for the award. The award, being honorary, is not subject to specific operative sections of a statutory Act but rather is a recognition of personal achievement and contribution to the nation.
The Act, through the award, imposes the recognition of Mr Nance’s exceptional achievement in the field of solo long-distance sailing. This recognition is not accompanied by any statutory obligations or requirements but serves as a public acknowledgement of his bravery, skill, and determination. The award itself, being honorary, does not impose any legal obligations on Mr Nance or any other party.
There are no offences, penalties, or legal consequences associated with this honorary award as it does not stem from statutory provisions but rather from a personal recognition of achievement. The award is purely honorary and does not carry any legal implications or require compliance with any legal standards. The recognition is a testament to Mr Nance’s extraordinary accomplishment and serves as an inspiration to others.