Lot 943

Description

The Surgeon John White Medal, an oval medal in gilt (49x90mm), designed by Major General John Pearn AM, RFD, obverse depicts five examples of Australian flora and fauna identified by John White and includes a waratah, a southern leaf-tailed gecko, a red-bellied black snake, White's seahorse and a blue-bellied parrot, the snake being a symbol of medicine and the waratah is the state emblem of NSW, with the legend, "That Health And Healing/Might Flourish"; reverse bears the inscription, "The/Surgeon-General/John White/ Medal/For Service To/Health/In Its/Many Forms", unnamed. In damaged fitted case of issue, a few surface marks and some edge nicks, otherwise uncirculated and scarce.

The Surgeon John White Medal is a commemorative medal in honour of the first Surgeon-General in Australia and Chief Surgeon of the First Fleet in 1788. It was designed by Major General John Pearn AM, RFD and features some Australian flora and fauna identified by Surgeon John White and is awarded for outstanding service in Australian health services including Australian Defence Force Health Services. One notable recipient in 2007, the first year it was issued, was the Immediate Past Surgeon-General Air Vice-Marshall Bruce Short AM, RFD.