Major Award
Rupert Wilks Trophy
John Wilks JP, Rupert Wilks’s father was president of the Society from 1876-1889.
Rupert Wilks served on the Court of Directors from 1927 -1947, and for the last 10 years he was president.
In 1952, in memory of her husband, Rupert's wife Mrs Rupert de C Wilks founded The Rupert Wilks Trophy to be awarded annually for the most outstanding act of bravery by a child under 13 years of age.
1952
First awarded
56
Trophies Awarded
Annual
Frequency
Aged under 13 years of age at the time of the brave act
Eligibility
Recipients
Last ten recipients
The Rupert Wilks Trophy – for those aged under 13 years of age is determined in August each year
Zayde Talor QLD
Cooper Sampson VIC
Tatum De Koning VIC
Matthew Joyce VIC
Luke Joyce VIC
Jake Riley Thomas VIC
Melissa Quilliam TAS
Shane Edward Davey TAS
Emma Grace Sauer TAS
Timothy John Bunyan | Clarke Gold
Latest Rupert Wilks Trophy recipient
“Being awarded the Rupert Wilks Trophy was an incredibly special moment for me. It was an honour to be recognised for something that happened when I was younger, and being able to share the day with the other award recipients and my family made it even more memorable. I’ll always be grateful for the experience and will remember it for the rest of my life.”
Zayde Taylor awarded the Rupert Wilks Trophy in 2025
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.