Wearing of Medals

The following has been received from our Life Member, Jim Blackburn.
Years of work (in my own case more than 40) have been put in to get the various medallic recognitions you now all enjoy.  These medals have been awarded and issued to you for the duty you have carried out. It is a great disappointment to me to attend Funerals of our shipmates who have ‘Crossed the Bar’ and see only a few of you wearing your medals.
You’ve Got ’em, Wear ’em. You should always, as a mark of Respect and Honour to the deceased, wear your medals to the funeral of a Serving or Ex Service person.  Indeed, if one was “bloody minded” it could be construed as a mark of disrespect not to wear them.
Medals should also be worn for other formal occasions such as ANZAC Day or any Ex Service Associations Reunion Church Services etc. Miniatures should not be worn unless you are in Formal Evening Dress.  Also I would remind you that “Commemorative Medals” or any Medal not officially issued by the “Crown”, unless they have been specifically authorised by the “Crown” (e.g. P J M) must NOT be mounted with Official medals. These unofficial medals cannot be worn, even on the right breast when official medals are being worn on the left. See the “Order of Wear Regulations” on the Defence Medals website.  So come on, do the right thing.