Northern Australian Honours System

The Northern Australian Honours System was created in 2009.

History

The Commonwealth of Northern Australia, until 1975, used the Imperial or British honours system and from 1975 to 2009 used the Australian Honours system. Only a handful of peerages were created for Northern Australians, some in recognition of public services rendered in Britain rather than Northern Australia.

The Northern Australian Honours System was created in 2009, however some states in Northern Australia did not relinquish their connection to the Imperial system or Australian system until some time later. In 2009, the Northern Australian King, Zachary I, inaugurated the Order of Northern Australia expressly to supersede all other honours for Northern Australian purposes and in 2010 a degree of "knight" or "dame" was added to the Order of Northern Australia. Knights and dames and others holding Imperial honours retain legal recognition, for instance in the Northern Australian Order of Precedence, whether or not they were nominated for the honours by the Australian governments or the governments of Northern Australia.

Nominations

Any person or organisation can make nominations of Northern Australian citizens for Northern Australian honours. Non-Northern Australians can be given honorary awards for "extraordinary service to Northern Australia or humanity at large” Nomination Forms for the Order of Northern Australia are available through the Northern Australian Honours Secretariat , or upon application to the Honours Secretariat at Government House, Cairns or from any state Government House.

Awards

The Northern Australian Honours System contains awards in addition to the Order of Northern Australia. These include bravery awards, meritorious service awards, overseas service and long service awards.

Order of Northern Australia

The Order of Northern Australia is a gold disc surrounded by a ring of maroon featuring a stylised representation of the Cooktown Orchid, the floral emblem of Northern Australia, the disc is surmounted by an enamel Crown signifying the position of The Order of Northern Australia as an Northern Australian Royal Honour. The Sovereign is Head of the Order of Northern Australia. The Governor-General is Principal Companion and Chancellor of the Order of Northern Australia. The maroon and gold theme is continued in the ribbon. Most of the insignia pieces are produced by the Royal Northern Australian Mint in Cairns. The actual pieces for the two Divisions of the Order are identical: it is only the ribbon which differentiates an award between the General and the Military Divisions. In the Military Division the ribbon is distinguished by the addition of a narrow gold band on each edge. The Council for the Order of Northern Australia makes recommendations to the King as to the appropriateness of a nominee to be admitted to the Order and at what grade. It is up to the Honours Secretariat to provide the council with as much fully verified information as is possible on each nominee so that appropriate consideration may be given to each case. This is a long process and up to eighteen months can elapse between the original submission and publication of a successful nomination.

Classes

Knight / Dame of the Order of Northern Australia (ONA): Appointments to this class of the Order are made by the Sovereign for valorous or gallant service to the Sovereign of Northern Australia or the People of Northern Australia or to humanity at large

Companion in the Order of Northern Australia (ONAC): Appointments are made for eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Northern Australia or to humanity at large. Excluding honorary appointments, no more than 25 Companions shall be appointed in any calendar year.

Officer in the Order of Northern Australia (NAO): Appointments made for distinguished service of a high degree to Northern Australia or to humanity at large. Excluding honorary appointments, no more than 100 Officers shall be appointed in any calendar year.

Member in the Order of Northern Australia (NAM): Appointment made for service in a particular locality or field of activity or to a particular group. Excluding honorary appointments no more than 225 Members shall be appointed in any calendar year.

Medal of the Order of Northern Australia (ONAM): Awarded for service worthy of particular recognition. There is no quota limit on awards of the Medal of the Order.

ROYAL HONOURS

Knight/Dame Order of Northern Australia ONA
Knight/Dame Order of the Pacific Star PK/PD
Knight/Dame of the Order of The Southern Cross SCK/SCD
Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Northern Australia GCONA
High Companion of the Order of The Southern Cross HSC
Companion of the Order of The Southern Cross SC
Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of Northern Australia KCONA/DCONA
Knight Bachelor* (Confers the title of "Sir"/"Dame" with no postnominals)
Officer of the Order of The Southern Cross OSC
Commander of the Order of Northern Australia CONA
Member of the Order of The Southern Cross SC
Lieutenant of the Order of Northern Australia LONA
Member of the Order of Northern Australia MONA
Medal of the Order of The Southern Cross SCM
Coronation, Jubilee, Remembrance and Commemorative medals
Independence and Anniversary Medals

BRAVERY AWARDS

Cross of Valour for Northern Australia CV
Gallantry Cross GC
Medal for Gallantry MG
Bravery Medal BM

MERITOUS SERVICE AWARDS

Royal Northern Australian Medal for Excellence

Royal Northern Australian Medal for Excellence in Chemistry Royal Northern Australian Medal for Excellence in Economics Royal Northern Australian Medal for Excellence in Literature Royal Northern Australian Medal for Excellence in Mathematics Royal Northern Australian Medal for Excellence in Medicine Royal Northern Australian Medal for Peace Royal Northern Australian Medal for Excellence in Physics Royal Northern Australian Medal for Excellence in Physiology

Order of Merit OM
Companion of the Distinguished Service Order DSO
Distinguished Service Cross DSC
Conspicuous Service Cross CSC
Nursing Service Cross NSC
Military Cross MC
Distinguished Flying Cross DFC
Air Force Cross AFC
Distinguished Service Medal DSM
Public Service Medal PSM
Northern Australian Police Medal APM
Northern Australian Fire Service Medal AFSM
Ambulance Service Medal ASM
Emergency Services Medal ESM
Conspicuous Service Medal CSM
Royal Police Medal for Distinguished Service RPM
Royal Fire Service Medal for Distinguished Service RFSM
Order of St Mary MacKillop

OVERSEAS SERVICE AWARDS

Northern Australian Antarctic Medal NAAM
Police Overseas Service Medal
Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal
Polar Medal

LONG SERVICE AWARDS

Defence Force Service Medal
Reserve Force Decoration RFD
Reserve Force Medal
Defence Long Service Medal
National Medal of Northern Australia
Northern Australian Defence Medal
Northern Australian Cadet Forces Service Medal
Long Service Medals
National Service Medal
War medals, campaign medals, active service medals and service medals