Recognising acts of bravery by bestowing awards on those who risk their lives to save others.

Awards

Society Awards

The Society’s Awards are the Galleghan Award, Gold Medal, Silver Medal, Bronze Medal, Certificate of Merit, Letter of Commendation and the Sir Neville Pixley Award. The latter is a special award to recognise bravery by a young person in the performance of a humane act.

Galleghan Award

The Galleghan Award, instituted in 1996, recognises the most outstanding act of bravery in the year.

It is designated by a bar reading “Galleghan Award” affixed to the ribbon of the medal award.

The winner of the Galleghan Award is nominated by the Society for consideration to receive the Stanhope Gold Medal.

The award is named after Brigadier Sir Frederick Galleghan DSO OBE ISO ED, who was the Society's Secretary from 1958 - 1971. Sir Frederick was twice wounded in the Great War, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in the Second World War for his leadership and gallantry when commanding the 2/30th Battalion at the battle of Gemas in Malaya.

The Stanhope Gold Medal

The Stanhope Gold Medal, which is an award of the Royal Humane Society (England), was instituted in 1873 as the English Society’s highest award for bravery each year. In 1962 all kindred Commonwealth Societies were invited to nominate each year their best cases for adjudication for this Award.

Since that time, nominations by the Royal Humane Society of New South Wales have been successful on twelve occasions:

1963

Frederick John KNIGHT

1965

Lieutenant Barry J CAMPBELL, RAA

1980

Bruce Wallace McPHERSON

1982

Dulcie KALMS

1992

Rodney Stephen PETERS

1994

Aaron John LEDDEN

1996

Senior Constable lan Maurice BOUGHTON

2001 Dr Richard MORRIS
Ambulance Paramedic Christopher WILKINSON
Ambulance Paramedic Paul FEATHERSTONE
2006 Oguz (Alex) TASKUN SC
2013 Mr Andrew COCHRANE
2020 Nicola Gilio
2021 Jamie Ingram

Medals and Certificates

With the permission of the New South Wales Government, the obverse of the medals includes part of the Arms of the State of New South Wales, surrounded by the name of the Society. The reverse of the medal exhibits a Civic Wreath, which was the Roman reward for saving life, with the words, "Awarded to ………………… for Bravery". The name of each medal winner and the date of the act of bravery is engraved on the reverse of the medal. The medal is also numbered on its edge to indicate the consecutive number of the award by the Society.

The ribbon for all medals is light blue with a strip of dark blue on either side.

The Certificate of Merit is a scroll bearing the Arms of the State of New South Wales. It is inscribed with the recipient’s name and the brave deed and it is signed by the President and Chair.

Wearing medals and ribbons

Recipients of Medals are entitled to wear the medal or ribbon (as appropriate) on the right breast.  When only the ribbon is worn, a silver or bronze star emblem is worn centrally on the ribbon to denote the class of medal awarded to the wearer.  Such wearing is officially authorized for the members of all uniformed services.

Recipients who may not wish to wear their original medals or who may wish to wear their medals Court mounted may purchase replica medals by completing an on-line request form on the Society’s web-page. The purchase of additional ribbon for repairs or Court Mounting or the puchase of additional Lapel pins  also can be made by completing an on-line request form available on the Society’s web-page.

Lost or stolen medals may be replaced to the recipient after appropriate investigation.

Contact the Society here.

Latest recipients

Peter O’Malley awarded a Certificate of Merit

Timothy Brown awarded a Bronze Medal

Kenneth Harrison awarded a Bronze Medal