ELIZABETH R
ELIZABETH THE SECOND, by the Grace of God Queen of Australia and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth:
TO ALL to whom these Presents shall come,
GREETING:
WHEREAS it is desirable that there be instituted an Australian medal for the purpose of according recognition to members of Australian fire services for distinguished service:
KNOW YOU that We do by these Presents institute a medal to be designated and styled the Australian Fire Service Medal:
AND WE DO ordain that the award of the medal so instituted shall be governed by the Regulations Governing the Award of the Australian Fire Service Medal set out in the Schedule.
IN WITNESS whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent.
GIVEN under the Great Seal of Australia at Our Court at St James’s on 12 April 1988
By Her Majesty’s Command,
BOB HAWKE
Prime Minister
Schedule
Regulations Governing the Award of the Australian Fire Service Medal
Short title
1. These Regulations may be cited as the Australian Fire Service Medal Regulations.
Interpretation
2. In these Regulations—
“Australian fire service” means a Commonwealth fire service or a fire service of a State or Territory of the Commonwealth;
“Commonwealth fire service” means a fire service of a Commonwealth agency (other than a fire service of the Australian Capital Territory);
“external Territory” means any of the Territories of Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Norfolk Island;
“Medal” means the Australian Fire Service Medal;
“responsible Minister” means—
(a) in the case of a fire service of a State—the Premier of that State or a Minister of the Crown of that State acting for and on behalf of the Premier;
(b) in the case of a fire service of the Northern Territory of Australia—the Chief Minister of that Territory or a Minister of that Territory acting for and on behalf of the Chief Minister;
(c) in the case of a fire service of the Australian Capital Territory—the Minister of State for the time being responsible for administering that Territory;
(d) in the case of a Commonwealth fire service, the Minister of State for the time being responsible for administering the relevant agency; and
(e) in the case of a fire service of an external Territory, the Minister of State for the time being responsible for administering that Territory.
Design of the Medal
3. The design of the Medal shall be as prescribed.
Conditions for award of the Medal
4. (1) The Medal shall be awarded only for distinguished service by a member of an Australian fire service.
(2) The number of awards of the Medal in respect of each State in each calendar year shall be—
(a) one award for each 1,000, or part of 1,000, full-time permanent members of the fire service or combined fire services (as the case may be) of that State serving on 30 June in the year immediately preceding that calendar year;
(b) one award for each 25,000, or part of 25,000, part-time, volunteer or auxiliary members of the fire service or combined fire services (as the case may be) of that State serving on 30 June in the year immediately preceding that calendar year; and
(c) one additional award.
(3) One award of the Medal shall be made in each calendar year in respect of the fire services or combined fire services (as the case may be) in each of the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory of Australia.
(4) One award of the Medal shall be made in each calendar year in respect of a Commonwealth fire service.
(5) An occasional award (not exceeding one per calendar year) may be made in respect of the fire service of an External Territory as determined by the responsible Minister.
Making of awards
5. (1) An award of the Medal shall be made by the Governor-General and notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette.
(2) The Medal shall only be awarded upon the nomination of a responsible Minister.
Wearing of the Medal
6. The manner of wearing the Medal shall be as determined by the Governor- General.
Designation of holder of the Medal
7. Persons to whom the Medal has been awarded are entitled to have the letters "AFSM" placed after their names on all occasions when the use of such letters is customary.
Registrar of Awards
8. (1) There shall be a Registrar of Awards who shall be appointed by the Governor- General and shall maintain a Register of the names of persons to whom the Medal has been awarded.
(2) The Registrar shall keep such other records relating to the award of the Medal as the Governor-General directs.
Cancellation and reinstatement
9. (1) The Governor-General may cancel the award of the Medal to a person and may reinstate an award so cancelled.
(2) Where an award of the Medal is cancelled, the name of the person to whom the award was made shall be erased from the Register and the person shall return the Medal to the Registrar.
(3) Where an award that has been cancelled is reinstated, the Registrar shall restore the entry in the Register that had been erased.