Item NU 18242 Medal - Royal Humane Society of Australasia, Australia, Awarded to John Doody, 1879

Summary

Bronze Royal Humane Society of Australasia medal awarded to John Doody for his act of bravery in Victoria on Wednesday 22 October 1879 (case number 131). The medal was presented in 1880. The Royal Humane Society of Australasia was founded in 1874 as the Victorian Humane Society. In 1882 it became 'The Royal Humane Society of Australasia', the first federal institution in Australia. The first object of the Society was to bestow award upon people who risked their lives to save others; the second object was to assist recipients who were disadvantaged or disabled as a result of their brave actions, or to assist their surviving dependents. For many years the Society was located in the Old Customs House, Flinders Street, Melbourne.

Physical Description

An mounted and issued bronze prize medal of the Society (39 mm diameter with purple ribbon) It features a female placing a wreath on the head of a kneeling male beneath the Southern Cross and provides the name of the winner, John Doodythe date October 22 1879 on the reverse within a wreath.

Obverse Description

Woman in Ancient Greek clothing standing at left placing wreath on head of young man kneeling at right below Southern Cross; around, VIRTUTE PARATUM

Reverse Description

At centre within olive wreath AWARDED / TO / John Doody / October 22/ 1879; around, ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY OF AUSTRALASIA INSTD. A.D. 1874 (the name of recipient and date are engraved)

Edge Description

Plain