Order of Australia Medal (OAM) General Division

Order of Australia Medal

The Order of Australia is a system of honours and awards established in 1975 and approved by Queen Elizabeth II.

“WHEREAS it is desirable that there be established an Australian society of honour for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service” -Prime Minister E G Whitlam, 1975

There are two divisions of the Order of Australia. The General and the Military Division. In the General Division there are five levels, this is the Medal of the Order OAM.

“At the request of Government House, Canberra, the Mint produced sets of insignia for the new Australian Honours. Models were received from Mr Stuart Devlin from which master dies were produced for the following items……..Order of Australia -Medal………..In addition…full size insignia, miniature medals, badges, brooches and ribbon bars were produced for each honour and were assembled in presentation cases.” -Royal Australian Mint Thirteenth Annual Report 1976-1977

The design, by silversmith Stuart Devlin, who designed our decimal coins, is representative of wattle blossom surmounted by a crown. The medal is .925 silver gilt and is suspended on a blue ribbon with Golden Wattle.

Order of Australia Medal Set

The back of the convex gilt medal is inscribed with the awardee, Monteith William McDonald of Tasmania who was awarded this medal on 9 June 1997. Monty, as he was known, was born on 25 February 1923 and passed away 8 Jan 2008. He served our country (TX10288) joining the Corps at the age of 17 and was discharged 26 March 1946. He served in Darwin in the 101 Lt A/A Regiment and later with Z Special on Fraser Island. He then took up the position of finance manager for Webster Woolgrowers until his retirement in 1983. Throughout his later years he was praised for his tiresome efforts in veteran golfing.

Awarded to Monteith William McDonald

Coin Information