Cross of Valour (Australia)

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Cross of Valour
CrossofValourAustralia.jpg

AUS Cross of Valour.png
Awarded by Australia
Type Medal
Eligibility Australian citizen
Awarded for "acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril "[1]
Status Currently awarded
Post-nominals CV
Statistics
Established 14 February 1975
First awarded 1989
Last awarded 2003
Total awarded 5
Order of wear
Next (higher) George Cross (GC)[2]
Next (lower) Knight/Lady of the Garter (KG/LG)
Related Star of Courage
Bravery Medal
Commendation for Brave Conduct
Group Bravery Citation

The Cross of Valour was established in 1975 as the highest Australian Bravery Award. The awards were established as part of the institution of the Australian Honours System. The Cross of Valour has been awarded to five Australian civilians and although there has been no Australian military recipient, they would be eligible in situations where normal honours to the military do not apply.[3]

The Cross of Valour is awarded "only for acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril". The award carries the post-nominal initials CV; awards may be made posthumously.

Description

  • The Cross of Valour is a gold, straight-armed cross pattée with diminishing rays between the arms. It is ensigned with the Crown of St Edward.
  • The obverse has the shield and crest of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms surmounted by a Federation Star. A suspender bar is engraved with the words 'For Valour'.
  • The ribbon is 38mm wide, magenta with a central 16mm blood-red band. The two reds in the ribbon represent the colours of venous and arterial blood.

List of recipients

To date, the Cross of Valour has been awarded to five recipients.

1989
  • Mr Darrell Tree, Captain of Mount Damper Fire Brigade, SA - Rescued a 3-year-old child from electrocution.[4][5][6]
1995
1998
2003
  • Mr Richard Joyes, WA - Entered the bombed Bali nightclub to rescue a badly injured woman, and then continued to search for survivors despite personal injury and ongoing explosions.[11][12]

Decoration allowance

The Australian Department of Veterans’ Affairs may grant an allowance, called decoration allowance, to a veteran who has been awarded the Cross of Valour if the veteran is in receipt of a pension under Part II of the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VE Act) and the award was for gallantry during a war to which the VE Act applies or during warlike operations. So far there have been no awards of the Cross of Valour during wars or warlike operations as required by the VE Act. The allowance has been A$2.10 per fortnight since the Goods and Services Tax in Australia commenced on 1 July 2000.[13]

See also

References

  1. Cross of Valour, itsanhonour.gov.au
  2. The order of wearing Australian honours and awards, Commonwealth Gazette No. S192, 28 September 2007. The GC is a British award and is listed second on the Order of Wear after the VC and VCFA which are deemed equivalent awards and before the Cross of Valour. A note states ‘all imperial British awards made to Australian citizens after 5 October 1992 are foreign awards and should be worn accordingly’. The only living Australian GC recipient received his award in 1978.
  3. The order of wearing Australian honours and awards, Commonwealth Gazette No. S192, 28 September 2007. The GC is a British award and is listed second on the Order of Wear after the VC and VCFA which are deemed equivalent awards and before the Cross of Valour. A note states ‘all imperial British awards made to Australian citizens after 5 October 1992 are foreign awards and should be worn accordingly’. The only living Australian GC recipient received his award in 1978.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External Links

Cross of Valour Association of Australia - official website