OMRS NZ Branch – 2024
The New Zealand Branch has experienced another successful year organising and hosting meetings on a two monthly basis in the Wellington region. The themes for the meetings ranged from The Order of the British Empire and New Zealand (Gregor Macaulay), Metropolitan Police Jubilee and Coronation medals 1887 – 1911 (John O’Reilly), Medals linked to Intelligence Operations (Todd Skilton), Our First Foreign War: The impact of the South African War 1899 –1902 on New Zealand (Nigel Robson (senior historian at the Office of Māori Crown Relations — Te Arawhiti)), as well as the annual Xmas quiz and member’s own meeting.
This year the branch supported and presented at the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand (RNSNZ) Conference at Wellington during October. The medal presentations included: A misunderstood long service medal: the anomalies of the Kings South Africa Medal (Ryan Darby), Admiral Sir William Goodenough (Chris Bilham), Panel Discussion – the Medal Market (Christopher Mellor-Hill (Noonans), Marcus Budgen (Spink) and David Galt (Mowbrays)), Intelligence Corps in WW1 (Mark Wilson), Distinguished Flying Crosses: Overpriced? (Dr David Dickens), George VI long service medals awarded to the NZ Division of the RNVR, RNR and RFR (John O’Reilly), 1914-15 Star (Phil Beattie), Lack of recognition made to NZSAS in Vietnam (Dr Rhys Ball), Medals to New Zealanders with Special Operations during World War 2 (Mark Brewer), The Order of St John Donat Badge (Prof Brett Delahunt), Military medals of the US Mint (Adam Rohloff), and The DSO in the Order of St John New Zealand (Todd Skilton). The comprehensive and varied programme of presentations is a reflection of much time and effort by many members, both local and international, to organise, support and present. The efforts of the conference organisers and presenters are to be commended and are appreciated. Todd Skilton (Branch President) was also recognised at the conference dinner when he was presented the OMRS Distinguished Service Medal by Marcus Budgen (on behalf of the OMRS) for his leadership and innovation of the branch over a number of years.
The passing of Graeme McLeod (OMRS 4019) shortly after the annual conference was a shock to many of the branch membership. Graeme was a knowledgeable collector of long standing who normally hosted the branch’s February meeting at his home, usually preceded by lunch at a nearby hostelry. During 2021 he published the New Zealand Honours and Awards 1840—2020 (704 pages) containing 50,000 entries (both military and civil) detailing honours, awards and coronation/jubilee medals to New Zealanders. This work is a fitting testament to his passion for medal collecting and research.
Planning for 2025 branch conference has commenced with the date of Saturday 4 October 2025 being locked in for this Wellington event. This date is the weekend immediately following the Canberra OMRS conference.
On behalf of all members of the OMRS NZ Branch we would like to extend to our society friends across the globe our best wishes for 2025.