Major Award

Clarke Medal

The Clarke Medal is awarded for the single most outstanding act of bravery considered by the Society each year. It is the highest honour the Society bestows and is normally presented by the Governor-General.

Founded in July 1881 by the Honourable W. J. Clarke M.L.C., the medal is not tied to a fixed set of criteria but to distinction: from all the acts recognised in a given year, one stands above the rest. Only recipients of the Society’s Gold, Silver and Posthumous medals are eligible to be considered.  Where no-one is eligible in any given year, the Clarke Medal is not awarded.

1881

First awarded

Annual

Frequency

Gold, Silver & Posthumous

Eligibility

Recipients

Last ten recipients

The Clarke Medal – our highest honour is determined in August each year

2025

First Class Constable Dean Wotherspoon TAS | Clarke Gold
First Class Constable Adam Filler TAS | Clarke Gold
First Class Constable Mark Johnston TAS | Clarke Gold

2024

N. Law | Clarke Gold

2023

Lisa Marie Mandeltort VIC | Clarke Posthumous

2020

Thomas Leslie Jackson England | Clarke Posthumous

2019

Andrew James Black | Clarke Silver

2018

Zachary Brian Rolfe NT | Clarke Gold

2017

Bridget O’Toole VIC | Clarke Gold

2016

Timothy John Bunyan | Clarke Gold

Act of bravery

Know an act of bravery that deserves recognition?

If you know someone who risked their own safety to save another person's life, you can nominate them at any time. Nominations can be made by anyone. You do not need to have been there, and you do not need to be related to the person involved.