Order of the British Empire

This Order was formed in 1917 by King George V to reward service to the British Empire in the United Kingdom and abroad. Originally having only a Civil Division, a Military Division was added in 1918 to acknowledge distinguished military service of a non-combative nature.

The Order has five classes of appointment in each division and a medal of the Order. In descending order, the classes are:

• Knight/Dame Grand Cross (GBE)

• Knight/Dame Commander (KBE, DBE)

• Commander (CBE)

• Officer (OBE)

• Member (MBE)

• Medal (BEM)(* see added note below).

Originally the ribbon for the Civil Division was purple with Military Division awards identified with a central scarlet stripe. However in 1937, this was altered to a rose pink ribbon with light grey edges with an additional central light grey stripe for the Military Division awards. Awards in the Order (including the Medal) could be used as a gallantry award but it was not until 1957 that awards for gallantry were more easily identified with the introduction of a silver oak leaf device to be worn on the ribbon and the words ‘For Gallantry’ were added to the citation. Use of the Order to acknowledge gallantry ceased in 1974 with the establishment of the Queen's Gallantry Medal. Australians figure prominently at all levels in the awards made with some 16,900 recipients.

*Note: The Medal was instituted in 1917 but altered and increased to two medals in 1922, namely the Medal of the Order for Meritorious Service (BEM) and the Medal of the Order for Gallantry (EGM). The latter was abolished in 1940 with the establishment of the George Cross and George Medal awards. The remaining Medal for Meritorious Service was renamed the British Empire Medal, with two divisions, military and civil, in March 1941. It had, however, been popularly known as the British Empire Medal since its inception.

The Australian Sports Medal (2020) recognises individuals who have participated as official members of an Australian national team at declared international multi-sport events, commencing with the Invictus Games held in Sydney in 2018.

The declared multi-sport events are:

• the Invictus Games, from 2018:

• the International Sports Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability (INAS) Global Games, from 2019;

• the Special Olympics World Summer Games, from 2019;

• the Special Olympics World Winter Games, from 2021;

• the Olympic Games (Summer), from 2020;

• the Olympic Games (Winter), from 2022;

• the Paralympic Games (Summer) from 2020;

• the Paralympic Games (Winter) from 2022; and

• the Commonwealth Games, from 2022.

The Australian Sports Medal may only be awarded once. This includes recipients of the Australian Sports Medal in 2000, who are not eligible for a second medal.

How it is awarded

The Australian Sports Medal is awarded by the Governor-General. Nominations are made by the Chef de Mission (nominating person) of the organising body. The Chef de Mission of each organising body also administers the medal for that team.

The Australian Sports Medal does not carry a post-nominal entitlement.

History

The Prime Minister announced the creation of the Australian Sports Medal (2000) on 31 December 1998.

The Australian Sports Medal was formally established on 23 December 1999 by Letters Patent. It was a commemorative medal awarded in the year 2000, the year Sydney hosted the 2000 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

The medal was awarded to a range of Australians who had contributed to sporting excellence in Australia, including those who provided service and support for grass roots sport. Most of the medals were presented following nominations by the sports community. Peak sports bodies recognised or funded by the Australian Sports Commission were given quotas according to a formula based on the number of their registered competitors. All Australian parliamentarians were able to make nominations. Around 18,000 medals were issued.

On 4 December 2020, Her Majesty The Queen agreed to amend the regulations for the Australian Sports Medal (2020) to recognise the significant achievement of Australian’s participating in declared international multi-sport events, commencing with the Invictus Games held in Sydney in 2018.

Medal design

The Australian Sports Medal design symbolises Australian sport, featuring the stars of the Southern Cross and lines depicting the athletics track at the Australian Sports Stadium, Sydney.

The medal is circular and made of nickel-silver with a highly polished finish. The words ‘AUSTRALIAN SPORTS MEDAL’ appear in an arch shape, inside the raised rim of the medal.

Medal ribbon

The Australian Sports Medal is suspended from a 32 millimetre ribbon by a connector piece and ring. The ribbon’s colours are Australia’s national colours green and gold.

History

The Prime Minister announced the creation of the Australian Sports Medal (2000) on 31 December 1998.

The Australian Sports Medal was formally established on 23 December 1999 by Letters Patent. It was a commemorative medal awarded in the year 2000, the year Sydney hosted the 2000 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

The medal was awarded to a range of Australians who had contributed to sporting excellence in Australia, including those who provided service and support for grass roots sport. Most of the medals were presented following nominations by the sports community. Peak sports bodies recognised or funded by the Australian Sports Commission were given quotas according to a formula based on the number of their registered competitors. All Australian parliamentarians were able to make nominations. Around 18,000 medals were issued.

On 4 December 2020, Her Majesty The Queen agreed to amend the regulations for the Australian Sports Medal (2020) to recognise the significant achievement of Australian’s participating in declared international multi-sport events, commencing with the Invictus Games held in Sydney in 2018.

Medal design

The Australian Sports Medal design symbolises Australian sport, featuring the stars of the Southern Cross and lines depicting the athletics track at the Australian Sports Stadium, Sydney.

The medal is circular and made of nickel-silver with a highly polished finish. The words ‘AUSTRALIAN SPORTS MEDAL’ appear in an arch shape, inside the raised rim of the medal.

Medal ribbon

The Australian Sports Medal is suspended from a 32 millimetre ribbon by a connector piece and ring. The ribbon’s colours are Australia’s national colours green and gold.

How it is awarded

Nominations for the Centenary Medal were made by the Commonwealth, state and territory governments. An independent council assessed these nominations.

Over 15,850 medals were issued. Close to 1,400 medals awarded to Australian centenarians.

The Centenary Medal was awarded to:

• General list – people who served Australia, for example community volunteers, and those whose achievements in science, research or the arts made a notable impact at a national or international level.

• Centenarians - Australians who lived through our first century of federation. Australian citizens born on or before 31 December 1901 and who lived to celebrate the centenary of federation on 1 January 2001.

• Government and judicial officer holders – to celebrate the Australian system of government.

Each recipient received a personalised warrant accompanying his or her medal.

The award does not carry post-nominal entitlements.

History

The Prime Minister announced the Centenary Medal on 28 December 2001. It is the third Australian commemorative award.

The Centenary Medal acknowledges those who contributed to the success of Australia’s first hundred years as a federal nation. The award recognises the many Australians who laid solid foundations for the nation’s future.

The Centenary Medal was formally introduced by Letters Patent on 14 February 2001. The medal is now only open to centenarians born before 31 December 1901.

Medal design

The medal features a seven-pointed Commonwealth Star representing the six Australian states, with the seventh point representing Australia's territories.

At the centre of the star is an Indigenous styling of Aboriginal traditions at the heart of the continent. Around the rim are 100 dots depicting 100 years of federation.

Medal ribbon

The colours in the ribbon are crimson, which represents federation, and blue and gold for the beginning of the 21st century. The seven gold and red lines signify the states’ pathways to federation.

Award category

Commemorative Medals