The Anniversary of National Service 1951-1972 Medal is awarded to Australians for their service in post-war National Service schemes.
About the award: More than 300,000 Australians served in two postwar national service schemes that played an important role in the country's defence. In the 21-year period 187 national servicemen died in active service and 1,500 were wounded. The Prime Minister the Hon. John Howard MP, announced the medal on 26 April 2001. It was established on 10 October 2001 by Letters Patent.
How it is awarded: The Governor-General awards the Anniversary of National Service 1951-1972 Medal on the recommendation of the Chief of the Defence Force or their delegate. Former national servicemen and their next of kin can apply for the medal. For an application form, write to:
Directorate of Honours and Awards
T-1-49
Department of Defence
CANBERRA
ACT 2600
Or phone the free-call number: 1800 111 321
Medal design: The Anniversary of National Service 1951-1972 Medal is a bronze medal ensigned with the Crown of St Edward.
The obverse depicts an Australian Defence Force emblem with the crossed swords of the Army taking precedence. The Federation Star surmounts theemblem. The words 'Anniversary of National Service' are on the perimeter of the medal and the years 1951-1972 are on the central bottom edge. The reverse shows the Southern Cross overlaid on spreading rays and surrounded by a cog: a traditional symbol for the spirit of co-operation between the Australian Defence Force and the community.
Medal ribbon: The medal ribbon has a central gold stripe flanked by dark blue stripes which in turn are flanked by stripes of white, green, light blue and ochre.
NUMBER AWARDED:
111,500 as at June 2006
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Anniversary of National Service
1951 -1 972 Medal Regulations 2001
1 Name of Regulations
These Regulations are the Anniversary of National Sewicc 1951-1972 Medal Regulations 2001.
2 Definitions
In these Regulations:
Defence Force m.eans tb.e Defence Force constituted under the Defence Act J903.
Medal means the Anniversary of Natiorml Service 1951-1972 Medal in.sti.tuted under the Letters Patent establishing these Regulations.
Minister means the Minister of State for Defence or the Minister Assisting the Minjster of State for Defence.
Register means the Register maintained under subregulation 10 (2).
Registrar mean.s the Registrar of Awards appointed under subregulation. I0 (1).
3 Design of Medal
The design of the Medal is as determined by the Governor-General..
4 Conditions for award of Medal
(1) The Medal may be awarded for service under the NationaI Service Act 1951 between 1951
and 1972.
(2) The service for which the Medal may be awarded is:
(a) service under the National Service Act 1951 for which a person was called up, or for
whicb a person volunteered, that satisfied the requirements applicable to that service
under that Act; or
(b) other service that discharged a person's liability to perform the service mentioned
in paragraph (a) and that has been determined by the Governor General to be service
for which the Medal may be awarded.
(3) The other conditions for the award of the Medal are as determined by the Governor General on
the recommendation of the Minister.
(4) The Medal may be awarded only for service that fulfils the conditions for the award of
the Medal.
5 No effect on entitlement to other awards
Award of th.e MedaI does not affect the entitlement of a person to any other award.
6 Making of awards
(1.) An award of the Medal may be made only by:
(a) the Governor General on the recommendation of the Chief of the Defence Force or his
or her delegate; or
(b) a person to whom, under section 11, the Governor-General has delegated the power
to make an award of the medal,
(2) The Medal may be awarded posthumously.
7 Cancellation of award
(1) The Governor General may on the recommendation of the Chief of the Defence Force or his
or her delegate, cancel an award of the Medal.
(2) If an award of the Medal is cancelled:
(a) the Registrar m.ust note the cancellation in the Register; and
(b) the person holding the MedaI must return th.e MedaI to the Registrar.
8 Reinstatement of award
(1) The Governor-General may, on tbe recommendation of the Chief of the Defence Force or his
or her delegate, reinstate an award that has been cancelled.
(2) If an award is reinstated the Registrar must:
(a) note the reinstatem.& in the Register; and
(b) reissue the Medal to the person to whom it was awarded.
9 Wearing of Medal
The manner of wearing the Medal is as determined by the Governor-General.
10Registrar of Awards
(1) The Governor-General must appoint a Registrar of Awards.
(2) The Registrar must maintain:
(a) a Register containing the name of each person to whom.the Medal has been awarded; and
(b) and such other records relating to the Medal, as the Governor-GeneraI directs.
11Delegation
(1) The Governor-General may, by writing, delegate the power to make an award of the Medal to:
(a) the Chief of the Defence Force; or
(b) a person from time to time holding or occupyng an office in the Defence Force or
the Department of Defence specified in the instrument of delegation..
(2) The Governor General may, by writing, revoke a delegation under subsection (I).
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COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
DECLARATION AND DETERMINATION UNDER THE
ANNIVERSARY OF NATIONAL SERVICE 1951-1972 MEDAL
REGULATIONS
I, PETER JOHN HOLLINGWORTH, Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia, pursuant to the Anniversary of National Service 1951 - 1972 Medal Regulations 2001 contained in the Schedule to Letters Patent dated 10 October 2001 ("the Regulations") and on the recommendation of the Minister for Defence, hereby determine under Subregulation 4(3) of the Regulations, that the other conditions for the award of the Anniversary of National Service 1951 - 1972 Medal are:
(i) The Medal may be awarded to a person who was registered and was called up for national service under the National Service Act 1951 and completed not less than 90 days service between 12 April 1951 and 24 November 1959 as such a member;
(ii) The Medal may be awarded to a person who was registered and was called up for national service under the National Service Act 1951 and completed not less than 2 years full time service between 1 January 1965 and 7 October 1971 as such a member;
(iii) The Medal may be awarded to a person who was registered and was called up for national service under the National Service Act 1951 and completed not less than 18 months full-time service between 8 October 1971 and 5 December 1972 as such a member;
(iv) The Medal may be awarded to a person who was registered and called up for national service under the National Service Act 1951 and was serving on 5 December 1972 as such a member;
(v) The Medal may be awarded to a person who was registered under the National Service Act 1951 and elected to meet his or her obligations under that Act by completing part-time service in the Citizen Forces and completed such service;
(vi) Service as described in subparagraphs (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v) of this Instrument may be deemed by the Chief of the Defence Force or a delegate of the Chief of the Defence Force to have been established if it was terminated due to the death, illness or injury or other disability due to service.
(vii) Service as described in subparagraphs (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v) of this Instrument may be deemed by the Chief of the Defence Force or a delegate of the Chief of the Defence Force to have been established if it was terminated due to grounds of exceptional hardship, under the National Service Act 1951.
(viii) The Medal may not be awarded to the following categories:
a. A person who was exempt fiom registering for national service under the National Service
Act 1951 by reason of being a member of the permanent defence service;
b. A person who was registered under the National Service Act 1951 but did not serve as such
a member including a person may have been called up for such service but did not serve as
such a member;
c. A person who was discharged for disciplinary reasons during a period of national service under
the National Service Act 1951.
Governor-General
By His Excellency's Command
ROBERT HILL
Minister for Defence
