Christchurch Medals for Bravery & Community Service

There are two Christchurch Medals that USANZ can bestow upon an individual. The Christchurch Medal for Bravery is awarded to an individual who has demonstrated extraordinary acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances, and the Christchurch Medal for Community Service is awarded in recognition of urologists who have given exceptional community service.
 

Background

The USANZ 2011 Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) was being held in Christchurch at the time of the devastating earthquake on 22 February 2011, which claimed the lives of 185 people. The Board of Directors, at its meeting on 1 May 2011, resolved to introduce the Christchurch Medal, to recognise urologists who demonstrated outstanding acts of bravery and self-sacrifice for the benefit of others immediately following the earthquake, delivering immediate medical attention in such hazardous and life-threatening conditions.

At the 2012 ASM, the Medal, constructed from building debris metal resulting from the earthquake, was presented to four members of the Society: Dr Stephen Mark (Christchurch), Dr Lydia Johns-Putra (Ballarat), Dr Stuart Phillip (Brisbane), and Dr Julian Shah (London). The legacy of their heroic actions will forever be enshrined in the history of the Urological Society.

For further information about the inaugral Christchurch Medal recipients and their extraordinary acts, of bravery, see: Christchurch Earthquake 10th Anniversary. The four inaugral Christchurch Medal recipients came together to deliver the Harry Harris Oration on Remembering Christchurch at the USANZ & ANZUNS 2023 ASM. This session was recorded and is available to watch on YouTube.
 

Eligibility

Christchurch Medal for Bravery Award: the nominee risked personal injury and/or death to save the life or render assistance to someone in need

Christchurch Medal for Community Service Award: the nominee substantially contributed to the improvement of the quality of life of members of a community through humanitarian endeavours

In the spirit of acknowledging outstanding global endeavours, this honour is available to a urologist who may or may not be a USANZ member and may reside outside Australia and New Zealand. The medal is NOT a membership category. Being awarded the medal has no effect on annual subscriptions to the Society. Awards may be made posthumously.