Nursing Service Cross


The Nursing Service Cross is a conspicuous service decoration of the Australian honours and awards system, instituted by Letters Patent on 18 October 1989.
The Nursing Service Cross is awarded to medics and nurses of the Australian Defence Force for outstanding devotion and competency in the performance of nursing duties, or for an act of exceptional dedication in the performance of such duties, in warlike or non-warlike conditions.
There have been 28 recipients, and 29 awards, since the Nursing Service Cross was instituted on 18 October 1989. Jonathan Aharon Walter is the sole awardee to have received the Nursing Service Cross more than once, first in 2004, and then again in 2007.
The current Australian Army Command Sergeant Major – Forces Command, Warrant Officer Class One Kim Felmingham is also a Nursing Service Cross recipient. As of March 2010, nominations for the award of the Nursing Service Cross were suspended by determination of the Chief of Defence Force.

Design

The Nursing Service Cross is a four-stepped sterling silver equidistant straight armed cross, ensigned with the Crown of Saint Edward, surmounted by a plain sterling silver suspender bar. The obverse has a transparent red enamel cross insert, overlaid on a flecked pattern radiating from the centre of the cross.
The reverse of the Nursing Service Cross has a horizontal panel that displays the recipient’s details, superimposed on a design of fluted rays of varying lengths.
The Nursing Service Cross is suspended on a 32 mm ribbon, that has a central deep red band 12 mm wide, flanked by two white vertical bands 8 mm wide, and is edged in gold bands 2 mm wide. The symbolism of the colours used on the ribbon for the Nursing Service Cross is that the gold represents the colour of sand, white represents purity, and the deep red colour used is a link between a natural Australian colour and the red cross.
Second and subsequent awards of the Nursing Service Cross are recognised by a sterling silver bar with a superimposed central 6mm wide red enamel cross insert, worn on the ribbon above the medal.
The miniature of the Nursing Service Cross is a half-sized replica of the cross, suspended from a miniature of the ribbon that is 16 mm wide.
A lapel badge, being a 10 mm wide replica of the cross, is also provided to awardees.

History

The award of medals for conspicuous conduct can be traced back to 1643. Before 18 October 1989, eligible Australian Defence Force members could be awarded the Royal Red Cross under the Imperial honours system. About 250 Australian nurses received one of the two classes of the Royal Red Cross between the Boer War and the Vietnam War. The last time the Royal Red Cross was awarded in Australia, which had never been intended as a specific award for Australian military nurses, was on 31 December 1981.

Origin

When Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke came to power in 1983, he declared his government would no longer be making any recommendations for Imperial honours and awards. On 26 January 1986, Hawke announced the intention to seek Letters Patent for a new military award to recognise outstanding operational and non-operational service by Australian Defence Force nurses, to be called the Australian Nursing Service Cross. On 17 July 1986, the Australian Government announced a competition to design the Nursing Service Cross. On 12 December 1986, the competition winners had their design concepts and ideas forwarded to qualified designers, sculptors and engravers for finalisation.
On 18 October 1989, the Queen of Australia, Elizabeth II, issued Letters Patent instituting the Nursing Service Cross decoration.

Suspension of new nominations

On 3 March 2010, the Nursing Service Cross was closed to new nominations by determination of the Chief of Defence Force. Awards to eligible defence members for outstanding devotion or exceptional dedication to nursing duties are now considered under the Order of Australia, Distinguished Service and Conspicuous Service awards criteria, as applicable.

2017 commemorative coin

In 2017, the Royal Australian Mint produced for News Corp Australia a 20 cent non-circulating legal tender coin and card to commemorate the Nursing Service Cross, that was available from participating newsagents in April 2017. The nickel plated copper coin had the following features:
There have been 28 recipients, and 29 awards, since the Nursing Service Cross was established on 18 October 1989. Jonathan Aharon Walter is the sole awardee to have received the Nursing Service Cross twice, first in 2004, and then again in 2007.
Rank
NamePost-nominalsServiceDate awardedCitationNotes
FLTLTRAAFFor outstanding devotion and competency in the performance of nursing duties as the critical care Nursing Officer on Operation CATALYST within the USAF Theatre Hospital, 332nd Expeditionary Health Group, Balad, Iraq.
CAPTArmyFor outstanding devotion and competency in the performance of nursing duties with the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia.
CAPTArmyFor outstanding devotion and competency in the performance of nursing duties as the Second-in-Command of the Army Parachute Surgical Team and Officer Commanding Holding Company of the ANZAC Field Hospital deployed in support of Operation SUMATRA ASSIST.
SGTArmyFor an act of exceptional dedication in the performance of nursing duties as a member of the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps, Defence Co-operation Program – East Timor.
FLTLTRAAFFor outstanding devotion to duty and tireless work in the delivery of lifesaving care to the injured, and solace to their friends and relatives as a member of the Operation BALI ASSIST Aeromedical Evacuation Team, October 2002.
CPLArmyFor acts of exceptional dedication in the performance of nursing duties as a member of Special Operations Task Unit 637.1 during Operation SLIPPER, Afghanistan 2005.
SSGTArmyFor outstanding devotion and competency in providing medical treatment to vehicle accident casualties on 14 January 2000 while on Operation STABILISE in East Timor.
SQNLDRRAAFFor outstanding performance of nursing duties at No 3 RAAF Hospital.
CPLArmyFor exceptional dedication and devotion to duty to the Australian Army, particularly following a motor vehicle accident near Paluda Camp in Malaysia on 23 September 1993.
FLTLTRAAFFor outstanding devotion and competency in the performance of nursing duties with the Royal Australian Air Force aeromedical evacuation team during Operation SUMATRA ASSIST.
WGCDRRAAFFor outstanding achievement as the Commanding Officer of Number 6 Royal Australian Air Force Hospital, Royal Australian Air Force Williams, and as the Commanding Officer of the United Nations Military Hospital, Dili, East Timor.
SQNLDRRAAFFor outstanding devotion and competency in the performance of nursing duties as the Nursing Administrator at the No 3 Royal Australian Air Force Hospital, Richmond NSW.
PORANFor outstanding professionalism, expertise and devotion to duty while on board HMAS.
CPLArmyFor outstanding devotion and competency in the performance of nursing duties as the Medical Assistant on Operation CATALYST with the Australian Army Training Team in Northern Iraq.
WO2ArmyFor an act of exceptional dedication in the performance of nursing duties as a member of the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps, Defence Co-operation Program – East Timor.
CAPTArmyFor outstanding devotion and competency in the performance of nursing duties as the Operating Theatre Nursing Officer while serving with the Australian Medical Support Force in Rwanda.
CAPTArmyFor outstanding devotion and competency in nursing duties on Operation CATALYST at the United States Air Force Theatre Hospital, Balad, Iraq.
FLTLTRAAFFor conspicuous nursing service to the Royal Australian Air Force at No 3 RAAF Hospital.
CPLArmyFor outstanding devotion and competency in the performance of medical duties with the 1st Combat Service Support Team in East Timor.
CPORANFor outstanding devotion to duty and competency as the senior health services member in HMAS.
CPLArmyFor outstanding devotion and competency in the performance of nursing duties while serving as a medical assistant with the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia.
CPLArmyFor exceptional dedication in the performance of nursing duties as the Regimental Aid Post Corporal Medic, B Squadron, the 3rd/4th Cavalry Regiment.
FLGOFFRAAFFor outstanding devotion and competency in the performance of nursing duties with the Australian Medical Support Force, Australian Contingent, United Nations Mission Assistance in Rwanda.
SQNLDRRAAFFor exceptional dedication to the RAAF in the field of nursing education
CAPTArmyFor outstanding devotion and competency in the performance of nursing duties with the Australian Medical Support Force, Australian Contingent, United Nations Mission Assistance in Rwanda.
SGTRAAFFor outstanding devotion and competency in the performance of nursing duties as a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Medical Assistant at the Health Services Flight, No 304 Air Base Wing, Edinburgh
PTEArmyFor outstanding devotion and competency in the performance of nursing duties in warlike operations as the Medical Assistant/Nurse for Delta Company, AUSBATT VIII, whilst deployed on Operation CITADEL.
CPLArmyFor exceptional dedication in the performance of nursing duties as a member of Special Operations Task Unit 637.1 during Operation SLIPPER, Afghanistan 2005.
CPLArmyFor outstanding devotion and competency in the performance of nursing duties as the Medical Assistant for the Peace Monitoring Team Arawa during Operation BEL ISI, Bougainville.