Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal
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| Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal | |
|---|---|
| Awarded by Australia | |
| Type | Medal |
| Eligibility | Australian civilians and members of the Australian Defence Force |
| Awarded for | Humanitarian service overseas |
| Status | Currently awarded |
| Statistics | |
| Established | 1999 |
The Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal is an award in the Australian honours system. The award is presented to those who perform humanitarian service in a foreign country, in particular those working in dangerous environments or conditions or during a humanitarian crisis. The award was introduced by a letter patent on 16 April, 1999, following a review of the Australian honours and awards system beginning in 1995.
Prior to 2005, potential recipients had to prove they had worked for a minimum of 30 days in the location depicted by the clasp, during a period of time set in the award criteria. In addition, potential recipients had to be working for an aid organisation recognised by the criteria or with a United Nations taskforce during that timeframe. In 2005, new criteria was established for people working during the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake or the 2005 Sumatra earthquake, with a maximum time period of 7 or 14 days depending on the time frame.
The medal was originally intended for civilians, and to act as a parallel to the Australian Service Medal. Among the changes made in 2005 was the provision for the medal to be awarded to Australian Defence Force personnel who otherwise qualified for the Indian Ocean clasp
Contents |
[edit] Description
The Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal is a circular medal. The obverse features a stylised eucalyptus tree in the centre, with its branches reaching to the edge of the medal. A pattern of gumnuts rings the eucalyptus, which is repeated on the reverse. The name of the recipient is engraved on the reverse, inside the gum nut circle.
The ribbon is eucalyptus green, divided vertically by a gold stripe. These colours are associative with the green and gold, Australia's national colours, while continuing with the eucalyptus themeing; symbolising hope and regeneration after the disaster.
[edit] Clasps
Fourteen clasps have been declared for the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal as of October 2006, [1] to indicate what region(s) the recipient worked in. These are detailed below:
- Afghanistan
- Balkans
- Zone 1 - Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia
- Zone 2 - Serbia, Kosovo, Republic of Albania, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
- Cambodia
- East Timor
- African Great Lakes
- Indian Ocean
- Iraq
- Mozambique
- Northern Iraq
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- South Vietnam
[edit] Recipients
As of June 2005, 300 medals and 62 additional clasps had been awarded.
Notable recipients of this award include:
- Andrew MacLeod
- the nine ADF personnel killed in the Shark 02 crash
[edit] References
- ^ Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal - Guide to Eligible Groups. PDF document produced by the Australian Government. Last updated 18 October, 2006. Last accessed 27 November, 2006
- It's an Honour - Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal. Commonwealth of Australia (2006). Retrieved on 2006-11-27.
