Share this post:

medals

Medals are available to National Servicemen who served and meet specific eligibility criteria.

Application forms for the Anniversary of National Service and the Australian Defence medals may be obtained from your Local Federal Member of Parliament, the Returned and Services Leagues of Australia and the Directorate of Honours and Awards webpage found within the Department of Defence web site.

The Anniversary of National Service 1951-1972 Medal

an medal

an medal 2

The Anniversary of National Service 1951-1972 Medal (ANSM) was introduced in 2001 to recognised those who completed their obligation under the two National Service schemes that had operated in Australia between 1951 and 1972.

The Medal

The medal is bronze with front having a central device derived from the current Australian Defence Force Emblem reflecting, more historically, national service as it related to the defence force during the 1950s and 1960s, with the crossed swords of the Army taking precedence, being the arm predominantly affected by national service.  Surrounding the outer edge are the words ‘ANNIVERSARY OF NATIONAL SERVICE’ and at the central bottom edge, the years ‘1951-1972’.

The reverse side bears a central device of lines radiating from a nucleus, over-layered with the stars of the Southern Cross, representing national service being influential in the machinery of the defence force during a time of need and its broad impact in Australia.  Surrounding the central device is a cog, the traditional symbol representing the spirit of cooperation between the Australian Defence Force and the Australian community, thus recognising those who accepted the obligation to serve as part of national service.

The Ribbon

The ribbon has a central yellow stripe, flanked by two dark blue stripes, which are in turn flanked by white, green and light blue strips and ochre edges.  The central yellow and dark blue stripes represent Australia’s national colours of the time; the white, green and light blue represent the Navy, Army and Air Force, and the outer ochre stripes represent the Australian soil.

Eligibility

Eligibility is dependent upon a persons obligation to serve and upon this obligation being fulfilled under the National Service Act 1951 (as amended), as it applied to the individual at the time of his service.  Additionally, he must not have been discharged for disciplinary reasons.

The Australian Defence Medal

def medal

def 2 medal

The ADM was established to recognise Australian Defence Force Regular and Reserve personnel who have demonstrated their commitment and contribution to the nation by serving for an initial enlistment period, or four years, whichever is the lesser.

The Medal

The ADM is a cupro-nickel medal.  The front shows a stylised version of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms used on the Australia Service Medal 1939-45 above a sprig of wattle and surrounded by the inscription ‘THE AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE MEDAL’.

The reverse side has the inscription ‘FOR SERVICE’ below the Crown of St Edward all surrounded by a wattle wreath.  The use of the wreath acknowledges the sacrifice of those who have died in service or been discharged due to injury resulting from service, a secondary qualification for the medal.

The Ribbon

The ADM ribbon is red with black edges, the colours of Flanders Poppy that represent the Anzac spirit of the Australian Armed Forces.  The white stripes divide the ribbon into three, to denote the three Services and also represent service contributing to the peace of Australia.

Eligibility

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA EFFECTIVE 3 SEPTEMBER 1945

All Permanent Force and Reserve Force Members and National Servicemen who after 2 September 1945, efficiently completed either:

  • their initial enlistment period or four years of service (whichever is the lesser) and all of the relevant service was after 3 September 1945.

Included are former Defence Force Members who did not complete the qualifying period because they:

  • died in service,
  • were medically discharged with a compensatory injury or
  • Unable to complete their initial enlistment period due to Defence Policy workplace at the time.

 

 



Share this post:

NSAA

img033

 

NSAA

In March 2010, The OTU Association joined the National Servicemen’s Association of Australia as an affiliated body.

The NSAA was formed in 1987, and is the second largest ex-service association in Australia. It was the driving force behind the National Service Medal, and the $500,000 National Service Memorial at the Australian war Museum, which will be dedicated in September this year.
The NSAA is open to all who were conscripted between 1951 and 1972, and currently has a membership of over 15000 nashos.
All financial members of OTU Association are automatically members of NSAA, as part of your annual subscription pays your NSAA membership.
Currently Frank Miller and Roger Nation are elected to sit on the NSAA National Council.
More information about the NSAA can be found at their website:
www.nashoaustralia.org.au

 

Nominal Roll

In total over 287,000 National Servicemen served during the period 1951 to 1972, of whom 212 died on active service, 2 in Borneo, and 210 in Vietnam.
There is no official listing of National Servicemen. The NSAA is creating this ROLL and invites you to enrol your service details on it.
The ROLL is held on the NSAA Web Site. It will be there forever. You can search the ROLL for old mates and even contact them. Your children, grandchildren and even your great grandchildren will be able to search this ROLL and see your name, service number and details of your service.
It is only YOU who can add your name to this ROLL. To add your name to the Roll, visit the website,
www.nashonomroll.org
download the form and send it together with $5 to the specified address. Your entry will be added to this auspicious NOMINAL ROLL and you will receive an official certificate.
The ROLL is administered on behalf of the National Servicemen’s Assn. of Australia Inc. by the Gold Coast North Branch.
OTU members are encouraged to register.



Share this post:

Youth Leadership

One of the Objectives of the OTU Association is:

To promote youth leadership and development training in order to provide a  life enhancing opportunity to young Australians.

Over many years our efforts and support have been primarily focused on the Lord  & Lady Somers Camps in Victoria. The following report details the activities for 2010.

 

In addition The Association has  this year made donations to an Anglicare Youth Development Program based in Healesville, Victoria., and to a Queensland based youth mentoring program.

 

 

 

Lord and Lady Somers Camps – 2012

 

Altogether the OTU Association sponsored twenty nine young people to this year’s Lord and Lady Somers Camps. These are held annually at Somers, on Westernport Bay in Victoria. For 2012 there were fifteen boys and sixteen  girls. Five attendees were nominated by NSW Chapter and the rest came from Victoria, with eight of these co-sponsored  with Healesville Rotary Club.

 

OTU Association members are always welcome to visit the camp, watch the activities then join in with the “Groupers” (participants), “Slushies” (instigators of discipline) and staff for lunch.

 

If it’s possible to draw a parallel with Scheyville, the Groupers are the Junior Class and the Slushies the Senior Class. The “Slush”, however can (and do), wreak their havoc around the clock, interrupting sleep at any time of night should it be deemed necessary – or even not necessary should that be the case! I can’t recall that being so with our experience. They do, as per the script, moderate their tone to the point where they become quite friendly by the end of the week!

 

Team building and stretching the Groupers’ endurance boundaries forms a crucial part of the programme. Each camp comprises five separate teams of twenty young people and the camaraderie built up in these is something to behold! There develops an enormous esprit de corps in each with Groupers doing all they can to help their colleagues achieve their very best. It is a great way for them to gain confidence through expanding their understanding of their physical and mental limitations and developing leadership skills.

 

Guest speakers address the Groupers at many of the meal sessions. Included in these over the years have been Chief Commissioners of Police, notable sports personalities, senior politicians and other prominent personalities. Younger people with lifetime experiences highly relevant to the Groupers’ stage in life are also included.

 

OTU’s association goes back to the mid ‘eighties. We have focused our efforts on sponsoring young people from the less privileged schools and areas. For so many it has been a life-changing experience – giving them an extra confidence, so vital at that stage of life.

 

We take great heart from the “thank you” letters we receive from grateful people we have sponsored. As well, a number come back in years after to assist in running the camps.

 

 

 

 

Sponsoring young people to attend the Lord and Lady Somers Camps is one way The OTU Association can assist in the development of Australia’s youth. I’m certain that, state by state there are many other opportunities. We’d be keen indeed to hear of any. After all, Youth Development is one of our core objectives – and funding is available.

 

Frank Miller.

 

National Chairman.

 

Somers-Boys-2012

 

Brian  Scantlebury, Peter Whitelaw, Paul Ford and Rob Youl with attendees 2112