Mr C Pearce MHR
Federal Member for Aston

Unit Seven – 426 Burwood Highway
Wantirna South VIC 3152

Australia Day 26th January 2005

Reference: The Australian Defence Medal

Dear Mr Pearce

With the advent of the Australian Defence Medal to an estimated 400,000 former service persons, purportedly scheduled for mid 2005, I am writing to suggest that the distribution of these awards be undertaken in much the same manner as the Certificates which were issued under the recent ‘Their Service – Our Heritage’ program.

The reasons for this suggestion are twofold. Firstly, many ex-servicemen and women have never have had their service acknowledged by having their awards presented to them at a ceremonial divisions or parade. For example, in my particular instance, while I have five medals issued to me for service to Australia, all have been sent by mail. There is nothing as impersonal as qualifying for a medal for either long and devoted service, or indeed war or operational service, then receiving this award in the mail.

I have no doubt that serving service personnel will receive this medal at a ceremonial parade, which will do wonders for their morale and encourage those who witness the presentation that devoted service, because of its contribution to the national interest, does receive recognition.

Far from being a logistical nightmare, in many instances former service persons will obtain application forms for the issue of this award, from their local Federal member. In doing so, their names could then be recorded and a request placed with the relevant service medal issuing authority for the medals to be forwarded direct to the MHR concerned. When sufficient numbers of awards were obtained, the MHR could then contact those who he/she has medals for, and make the presentation a memorable occasion for not only the recipient, but for his/her family as well.

Secondly, the obvious cost savings are fairly self-evident. Posting out medals individually is doubtless a very expensive and time consuming exercise for all concerned. Having a medal presented by a person of some stature in the community would, I feel, mean a lot to people such as myself, who have never had the honour of having any of their awards/medals presented to them with any degree of public recognition. If this process can be undertaken for the Certificates mentioned above, it should surely be done for the award of the Australian Defence Medal.

Given your and the Government’s obvious enthusiasm and support of former and still serving servicemen and women in the recent past, I await your response to this suggestion with much interest and anticipation. I commend this concept to both yourself and the Minister(s) concerned.

Regards

Dr. John R Carroll PhD EdD MAPsS
On behalf of the HMAS Sydney & VLSV Assoc (VIC)