Bronze Medallion (New Zealand and Australia)
Encyclopedia
In New Zealand
and Australia
one must gain a Bronze Medallion in order to become a qualified Surf Lifesaver.
(However the 400m swim of sidestroke, breaststroke, survival backstroke and freestyle is correct)
The following types have been issued. The numbering is arbitrary and other types may exist.
Type 1. Circa 1910.
Obverse: Two swimmers in the water, one rescuing the other. The head and upper body of the person being rescued is visible but the figures of the people are not very clearly defined. In the background is an indistinct shore. Around the edge in a sans-serif font are the words “THE ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY ESTABLISHED 1891”
Reverse: Around the edge in the same sans-serif font are the words “QUEMCUNQUE MISERUM VEDERIS HOMINEM SCIAS” which may be translated as ‘Whomsoever you see in distress, recognize him as a fellow man.’ In the centre in two lines in a roman font are the words “AWARDED TO” followed by a space in which the recipient’s name and the date of awarding were added.
The medallion is 32.5mm in diameter and nearly 3mm thick. It has a loop at the top for a ribbon suspension.
Type 2. Circa 1920.
Obverse: Two swimmers in the water – one rescuing the other, one with his/her hands on the side of the head of the second person. Only the heads can be seen. In the background are some hills, trees, and clouds. Otherwise details as Type 1.
The medallion is 30mm in diameter and about 2.5mm thick. It has a loop at the top for a ribbon suspension.
Type 3. Circa 1930.
Obverse: Two swimmers in the water – one rescuing the other, one with his/her hands on the side of the head of the second person. The whole bodies of both swimmers are clearly seen. The background shore is indistinct. Otherwise details as Type 1 but the wording is in a roman font. Edge of this side has a milled pattern.
Reverse. As Type 1 and the edge has a milled pattern.
Size is 30mm diameter and 2.5mm thick. With loop for ribbon suspension.
Type 3A. Circa 1937.
As Type 3 but 32.5mm diameter and 3mm thick. Oddly, the “LI” of “ESTABLISHED” is in a slightly larger sized font.
Type 3B. Circa 1928.
As Type 3 but with the words “FOR LIFE SAVING SKILL WITH SURF LIFE LINE” on the reverse in a sans-serif font.
Type 4 Circa 1940-47.
Obverse: Instead of swimmers the central part consists of a crossed boat hook and oar forming quadrants. In the centre is a clover form made from rope, Around this item are the words “ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY” in a sans-serif font. The word “LIFE” is uppermost. Around the edge in the same sans-serif font are the words “QUEMCUNQUE MISERUM VEDERIS HOMINEM SCIAS” as in Type 1 reverse.
Reverse: Around the edge in a roman font are the words “ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY” and in a smaller size “ESTABLISHED 1891” In the centre in two lines in a roman font are the words “AWARDED TO” followed by a space in which the recipient’s name and the date of awarding were added.
Size 32mm diameter and about 3mm thick. With loop for ribbon suspension. For a photograph of the medallion see Royal Life Saving Society UK
.
Type 4A Circa 1954.
Very similar to Type 4 but the centre clover shape is flat rather than rounded. Slightly smaller at just under 32mm in diameter.
Type 5 Circa 1960.
Almost the same as Type 4 but the reverse has “ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY” in a sans-serif font. In a smaller size in a roman font is “ESTABLISHED 1891” The numbers are in ranging style. i.e. the tail of the ‘9’ drops below the baseline of the other numbers.
Size otherwise the same but slightly under 2mm thick.
Type 6 Circa 1970 - present.
A small version of the obverse of Types 4 & 5 but it is uniface only, that is the reverse is plain although sometimes the recipient's name is added there. It is 25mm in diameter.
Other Royal Life Saving Society medals or medallions exist such as the Intermediate Star, the Award of Merit, (early ones in hallmarked silver) and the Bronze Cross
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
one must gain a Bronze Medallion in order to become a qualified Surf Lifesaver.
Testing & Exams
The qualifying test to become a Surf Lifesaver includes both theoretical and practical components.Theoretical
This includes- Resuscitation (CPR, EAR is no longer because of changes last year)
- First Aid
- Signals
- Communication/radios
- Workbook
- Exam
(However the 400m swim of sidestroke, breaststroke, survival backstroke and freestyle is correct)
Practical
- Timed 400m swim in either a 25 or 50m pool
- 4 rescue techniques (tube, board, spinal board and spinal carry)
- Scenarios
- 3 and 5 man carries (5 man phased out in coming seasons)
- Timed run-swim-run in less than 8mins (200-200-200)
Requirements
- Must be within one calendar year of turning 14
- You must swim 400 m in less than 13 minutes : 100m freestyle, 100m survival backstroke, 100m sidestroke, 100m breaststroke
- 400m swim in less than 9 minutes (freestyle, can be in pools greater than 25m)
- You must perform a tube and a board rescue
- You must demonstrate putting a patient in the recovery positionRecovery positionThe recovery position refers to one of a series of variations on a lateral recumbent or three-quarters prone position of the body, in to which an unconscious but breathing casualty can be placed as part of first aid treatment.An unconscious person The recovery position refers to one of a series of...
- You must demonstrate CPR
- You must demonstrate radio communication & first aid
- You must pass a written test on First AidFirst aidFirst aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by non-expert, but trained personnel to a sick or injured person until definitive medical treatment can be accessed. Certain self-limiting illnesses or minor injuries may not require further medical care...
as well as all Surf Lifesaving practices.
The Bronze Medallion
The Bronze Medallion has been issued in New Zealand in a number of styles.The following types have been issued. The numbering is arbitrary and other types may exist.
Type 1. Circa 1910.
Obverse: Two swimmers in the water, one rescuing the other. The head and upper body of the person being rescued is visible but the figures of the people are not very clearly defined. In the background is an indistinct shore. Around the edge in a sans-serif font are the words “THE ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY ESTABLISHED 1891”
Reverse: Around the edge in the same sans-serif font are the words “QUEMCUNQUE MISERUM VEDERIS HOMINEM SCIAS” which may be translated as ‘Whomsoever you see in distress, recognize him as a fellow man.’ In the centre in two lines in a roman font are the words “AWARDED TO” followed by a space in which the recipient’s name and the date of awarding were added.
The medallion is 32.5mm in diameter and nearly 3mm thick. It has a loop at the top for a ribbon suspension.
Type 2. Circa 1920.
Obverse: Two swimmers in the water – one rescuing the other, one with his/her hands on the side of the head of the second person. Only the heads can be seen. In the background are some hills, trees, and clouds. Otherwise details as Type 1.
The medallion is 30mm in diameter and about 2.5mm thick. It has a loop at the top for a ribbon suspension.
Type 3. Circa 1930.
Obverse: Two swimmers in the water – one rescuing the other, one with his/her hands on the side of the head of the second person. The whole bodies of both swimmers are clearly seen. The background shore is indistinct. Otherwise details as Type 1 but the wording is in a roman font. Edge of this side has a milled pattern.
Reverse. As Type 1 and the edge has a milled pattern.
Size is 30mm diameter and 2.5mm thick. With loop for ribbon suspension.
Type 3A. Circa 1937.
As Type 3 but 32.5mm diameter and 3mm thick. Oddly, the “LI” of “ESTABLISHED” is in a slightly larger sized font.
Type 3B. Circa 1928.
As Type 3 but with the words “FOR LIFE SAVING SKILL WITH SURF LIFE LINE” on the reverse in a sans-serif font.
Type 4 Circa 1940-47.
Obverse: Instead of swimmers the central part consists of a crossed boat hook and oar forming quadrants. In the centre is a clover form made from rope, Around this item are the words “ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY” in a sans-serif font. The word “LIFE” is uppermost. Around the edge in the same sans-serif font are the words “QUEMCUNQUE MISERUM VEDERIS HOMINEM SCIAS” as in Type 1 reverse.
Reverse: Around the edge in a roman font are the words “ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY” and in a smaller size “ESTABLISHED 1891” In the centre in two lines in a roman font are the words “AWARDED TO” followed by a space in which the recipient’s name and the date of awarding were added.
Size 32mm diameter and about 3mm thick. With loop for ribbon suspension. For a photograph of the medallion see Royal Life Saving Society UK
Royal Life Saving Society UK
The Royal Lifesaving Society UK, also known as Lifesavers, is the governing body for lifesaving and lifeguarding in the United Kingdom. The Royal Lifesaving Society also exists in the Republic of Ireland under the title RLSS Ireland.-History:...
.
Type 4A Circa 1954.
Very similar to Type 4 but the centre clover shape is flat rather than rounded. Slightly smaller at just under 32mm in diameter.
Type 5 Circa 1960.
Almost the same as Type 4 but the reverse has “ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY” in a sans-serif font. In a smaller size in a roman font is “ESTABLISHED 1891” The numbers are in ranging style. i.e. the tail of the ‘9’ drops below the baseline of the other numbers.
Size otherwise the same but slightly under 2mm thick.
Type 6 Circa 1970 - present.
A small version of the obverse of Types 4 & 5 but it is uniface only, that is the reverse is plain although sometimes the recipient's name is added there. It is 25mm in diameter.
Ribbons
Some of these medallions were issued with ribbons. The very earliest ones, c 1910, were just a plain darkish blue ribbon. Later ones were a grey-blue ground with a thin central white strip and a thin dark blue strip on either side. There is sometimes attached at the top of the ribbon a clasp containing a bar with “R. L. S. S.” Additionally another bar may be placed centrally with the then current season years on it. e.g. “1961-62” (A southern hemisphere season crosses two calendar years.)Other Royal Life Saving Society medals or medallions exist such as the Intermediate Star, the Award of Merit, (early ones in hallmarked silver) and the Bronze Cross