By
CPL Cameron Jamieson
A lot more metal will be on display next Anzac Day as the newest
medals to be issued to ADF personnel start to make their way to
eligible recipients.
Production of the Afghanistan and Iraq campaign medals has commenced,
the Australian Defence Medal (ADM) is now open to tenders for
manufacture and the final administration processes for the issue
of the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (HOSM) are in progress.
An initial production batch of 144 Afghanistan and 108 Iraq campaign
medals has now been distributed among the three branches of the
ADF.
The first medal to be issued was an Iraq campaign medal to Wing
Commander Angie Rhodes, who had served as a Senior Air Traffic
Controller in Baghdad. The medal was presented to her shortly
before her death from a terminal illness in October. The next
of kin of members who died on operational service in Afghanistan
and in the Sea King tragedy will also receive priority for issue.
The medals were produced by the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra
and major production batches will soon follow. Issue of these
medals is expected to occur from late February 2006, ensuring
that medals will go directly to members who have been posted to
new units over the Christmas – New Year period.
The Director of Defence Honours and Awards, Irene Wilson, said
while the delay in producing the medals was regretted, quality
was the factor that determined the timetable for issue.
“We had quality issues with the initial tenderer,” Ms
Wilson said. “We had to cancel the contract because they
weren’t up to standard. We now have a great product, and
I think people will be happy with the quality and design of the
medals and their ribbons.”
The ADM is also making progress following the release of a Tender
for Manufacturing and Dispatch, which closes on November 21.The
eligibility criteria for the medal still has to be finalised by
the Federal Government, however Ms Wilson said that current planning
projected a mid-2006 date for the initial release of the ADM.
“The ADM will feature a revised design to that released in
September 2004,” Ms Wilson said. “Unfortunately the
new design is still confidential pending final official approval,
but we hope to make it public as soon as possible.”
The HOSM is also nearing its issue to ADF members. Last month
a determination identifying the eligible organisations involved
in the 2004-2005 tsunami and Nias Island relief efforts was released
by the Administrator of the Commonwealth of Australia. Twenty
organisations have been deemed eligible, including the ADF, to
receive the HOSM with the clasp “Indian Ocean”.
The process for the issue of the medal to ADF members differs
to that of service medals and campaign medals. As the HOSM is
a Commonwealth award, recipients must be asked if they are willing
to accept the award. This is the same process used for the granting
of honours and bravery medals.
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