Royal Humane Society of Australasia
Encyclopedia
The Royal Humane Society of Australasia, formerly the Victorian Humane Society, is an Australia
n charity dedicated to the recognition of those who risk their own lives in saving or attempting to save the lives of others. It also provides assistance to persons injured as a result of their bravery, or to their next of kin if they perished in the attempt.
The roots of the organisation lie in an act of bravery that inspired the citizens of Melbourne
, Victoria
. In July 1873, the pilot
schooner
Rip was badly damaged in a storm off Point Nepean. Able Seaman James Marr, clinging to a broken mast in the water, urged the crew to save the ship by cutting the mast, and himself, adrift. In the wave of public commendation that followed his act of heroic sacrifice, a suggestion was made by newspaper correspondent John Wilks to form a society to recognise and reward brave acts, along the lines of the British Royal Humane Society
. At a public meeting at the Melbourne Town Hall
on 28 September 1874, the Victorian Humane Society was formed, with George Coppin
elected its first President. The society was a great success, and within only a couple of years there were moves to extend its operations to the rest of Australia, led by the society's secretary, John Ellis Stewart.
In 1881, Sir William Clarke
donated a sum of ₤250 to the society, from which the Clarke Medal was created. Struck in gold or silver, it remains the society's highest honour.
In 1882, the directors of the society obtained Queen Victoria's consent to alter its name to the "Royal Humane Society of Australasia". In 1886, the society extended its operations to encompass the whole of Australia and Fiji
, thus becoming the first federal institution in 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...
n charity dedicated to the recognition of those who risk their own lives in saving or attempting to save the lives of others. It also provides assistance to persons injured as a result of their bravery, or to their next of kin if they perished in the attempt.
The roots of the organisation lie in an act of bravery that inspired the citizens of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. In July 1873, the pilot
Pilot boat
A Pilot Boat is a type of boat used to transport pilots between land and the inbound or outbound ships that they are piloting.-History:The origins of the word pilot probably disseminates from the Latin word pilota, a variation of pedota, the plural of pēdón which translates as oar...
schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
Rip was badly damaged in a storm off Point Nepean. Able Seaman James Marr, clinging to a broken mast in the water, urged the crew to save the ship by cutting the mast, and himself, adrift. In the wave of public commendation that followed his act of heroic sacrifice, a suggestion was made by newspaper correspondent John Wilks to form a society to recognise and reward brave acts, along the lines of the British Royal Humane Society
Royal Humane Society
The Royal Humane Society is a British charity which promotes lifesaving intervention. It was founded in England in 1774 as the Society for the Recovery of Persons Apparently Drowned, for the purpose of rendering first aid in cases of near drowning....
. At a public meeting at the Melbourne Town Hall
Melbourne Town Hall
Melbourne Town Hall is the central municipal building of the City of Melbourne, Australia, in the State of Victoria. It is located on the northeast corner of Swanston and Collins Streets, in the central business district. It is the seat of the Local Government Area of the City of Melbourne...
on 28 September 1874, the Victorian Humane Society was formed, with George Coppin
George Selth Coppin
George Selth Coppin was a comic actor, entrepreneur and politician, active in Australia.-Early life:Coppin was born at Steyning, Sussex, England, son of George Selth Coppin and Elizabeth Jane, née Jackson. His grandfather had been a well-known clergyman at Norwich...
elected its first President. The society was a great success, and within only a couple of years there were moves to extend its operations to the rest of Australia, led by the society's secretary, John Ellis Stewart.
In 1881, Sir William Clarke
Sir William Clarke, 1st Baronet
Sir William John Clarke, 1st Baronet was an Australian landowner.He was born on 31 March 1831 at Lovely Banks, Van Diemen's Land, the eldest of three sons of William John Turner Clarke, and his wife Eliza, née Dowling....
donated a sum of ₤250 to the society, from which the Clarke Medal was created. Struck in gold or silver, it remains the society's highest honour.
In 1882, the directors of the society obtained Queen Victoria's consent to alter its name to the "Royal Humane Society of Australasia". In 1886, the society extended its operations to encompass the whole of Australia and Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
, thus becoming the first federal institution in Australia.