FGA National Awards Program

For more than 50 years VFGA and FGA members have been recognised within their branches for outstanding contributions that have made a lasting impact on the hunting, clay target and conservation pursuits of the association and the administration of our organisation.

Since 2010, Field & Game Australia (FGA) members and branches have been eligible to win awards for making considerable contributions to the Association.

The awards system

The highest award that can be bestowed on a Field & Game Australia member is FGA National Life Membership for outstanding levels of service to the national organisation.

Association Awards presented by the FGA Board:

•           FGA Life Membership (National)

•           Appointment as a Patron of FGA (National)

•           The Dr Hugh Martin Medal (nominated by branches)

•           The FGA Member Service Award (nominated by branches)

Association Awards presented by FGA Branch Executives include:

•           Branch Life Membership

•           25 Year Membership Badges

•           Certificates of Appreciation

Branches are eligible for the following awards, presented at the Annual General Meeting each year:

•           The Blue Wing Trophy (conservation and habitat)

•           Media Award (publicity and media)

•           Pest and Vermin (pest animal control efforts)

Each award has unique criteria and offers the opportunity to honour members whose application to and belief in the FGA ideals makes them stand out clearly as valued and respected members of the FGA community.

Each year at the AGM, the Board of FGA will announce recipients of national awards and recognition. There is no maximum number of awards that may be given in any year. However, nominations must be submitted in the format outlined for the particular award being sought.

The Dr Hugh Martin Medal

This award is named in honour of Dr Hugh Martin, whose vision and organisational skills cemented the VFGA (as it was in 1958) as Australia’s leading wetland conservation organisation. Dr Martin’s leadership and enthusiasm brought together Victorian waterfowl hunters in a way that delivered direct conservation benefits to wetland areas right across the state.

The medal recognises outstanding contributions in the leadership, planning and administration of affairs made by members at a branch or regional level. This may include exceptional contributions to the conservation, hunting or clay target facets of FGA or to the broader scope of information, community liaison or membership services and attraction. This level of contribution may have been to one or more FGA branches.

The FGA Member Service Award

This certificate award is presented by the FGA Board to members who have demonstrated exceptional support for the aims of FGA membership.

The number of years of membership required for receipt is not stipulated however a nomination for this award needs to show a lengthy commitment to service at one or more branches over an extended period and clear respect and gratitude from fellow branch members for the work undertaken.

This award is particularly appropriate for members who have made a long-term reliable contribution to one or more aspects of branch operation.

Blue Wing Trophy

The Blue Wing Trophy is presented to branches that have shown commitment to improving habitat and dedicated conservation work. Branch executives may nominate their branch for consideration for this award. While conservation is an ongoing task, the Blue Wing Trophy concerns the previous 12 months’ activities for the nominated branch.

Branches may submit documents supporting their eligibility for this award, including photographs, conservation and habitat project reports, minutes of meetings, and documentation of outcomes. These should be attached to the branch nomination for consideration.

Media Award

FGA’s Media Award is presented to branches that have represented themselves, FGA, and the values of the association admirably through their media and publicity efforts.

Branch executives may nominate their branch for consideration for this award. As for the Blue Wing Trophy, submissions for this award should cover the previous 12 months’ activities for the nominated branch. Branches should write a short letter describing the media and publicity they have undertaken and may submit documents supporting their eligibility for this award, including photographs, articles (copies/scans), and video files. Social media statistics or reports, or links to articles online, can also be submitted. Please be sure to attach all relevant information when nominating for this award, as nominations without supporting documents may be ineligible for consideration.

Vermin Control Award

This is awarded to the branch that has shown dedication to pest and vermin control throughout the year.

Branches that conduct pest or feral animal control should regularly submit pest and vermin reports to the FGA national office. The regular and timely submission of these reports plays a large role in deciding the winner of this award.

Branches may nominate themselves for consideration for the award; however, without pest and vermin reports, they may be ineligible for consideration.

Nomination eligibility

Any member, other than serving members of the Awards Committee, may be nominated for the Dr Hugh Martin Medal or the FGA Member Service Award. Any member, other than serving members of the Awards Committee, may nominate a candidate or write a supporting letter for consideration in the awards process.

Nomination for member awards

For all member awards, the Awards Committee will consider the nominee’s contribution to:

•           leadership in FGA activities,

•           the breadth of the contribution made by the nominee,

•           individual and group activity contributions, and

•           the quality of endorsements accompanying the nomination.

It is important that the nomination is received in the proper format with the proper cover form. The format is designed to enable the nominator or branch to convey the full scope of the achievements of the candidate to the Awards Committee.

The quality of the nomination and the supporting letters is very important. Keep in mind that in some cases those involved in the selection process may have no personal knowledge of the candidate and will lean heavily on the documentation for the information they need to make reasonable judgments.

Preparing a member nomination

When preparing any nomination, please do the following:

•           Be discreet.

•           Use the correct nomination form and complete all details.

•           Check with the national office if you are unsure of any nominee details.

•           Complete the name of the candidate and branch – no initials or abbreviations.

•           Take care with the wording of the citation.

•           Carefully select the people you will ask to write supporting letters.

The citation

The citation is the formal wording used to explain why the nominee is being given the award. It should be concise (approximately 50 words) and convey the specific reasons why the nominee is being recognised (eg, “for contributions to…”, or “for demonstrated leadership of…”).

Endorsements

The selection of endorsers is important. An endorser should have personal and detailed knowledge of the candidate’s contribution(s); and/or be capable of submitting the promised letters within the timeframe expected by the nominator (this is the nominator’s responsibility).

Please note:

•           Three letters are required for each nomination. For the Hugh Martin Medal, these need to be substantial. For the Member Service Award, the letters of endorsement can be short – 50 to 100 words.

•           One of the three endorsement letters may be submitted by a person who is not a member of FGA. Only one such letter may be included with the nomination.

•           One of the endorsement letters may be submitted by a person who is a current member of the FGA Board. Only one such letter may be included with the nomination.

•           Endorsements may not be written by serving members of the Awards Committee or FGA staff.

•           Endorsement letters can be brief and to the point – as long as they highlight the reasons for the nomination, they will assist the Awards Committee in its work.

Submitting an award nomination

Each member award nomination requires that:

•           Three people associated with an FGA Branch (two must be members) decide that a particular member should be nominated for an FGA National Award.

•           The nominators decide if a Dr Hugh Martin Medal or an FGA Member Service Award is appropriate.

•           One person completes the appropriate nomination cover sheet (the nominator need not write an endorsement letter but can attach letters from three other people).

•           Three people prepare letters of endorsement supporting why the award should be made to the nominated member.

The cover sheet and letters are forwarded to:

The Chairman

FGA Awards Committee

605 Lake Road, Connewarre VIC 3227

Or, email to: lucas.cooke@fieldandgame.com.au

Nomination deadline 

Nominations are to be submitted at least seven (7) days prior to the AGM date.

A nomination for FGA Life Membership (National) is made through a simple letter of request to the FGA Board. It is expected that the members of the Board will be very aware of the contributions and achievements of any nominated member.

Life Membership is presented only when a candidate is identified as having made a clearly exceptional addition to the developmental, administrative, and influential aims of the association in a national context. The Board will consider the ongoing significance of the member’s achievements and their impact on the association’s continued growth and effectiveness.

Note: Nominations for Life Membership (National) or Patron must be made with a letter of recommendation to the Board of FGA. The process for each of these nominations differs from the Dr Hugh Martin Medal or the FGA Member Service Award and is addressed with considerable discretion by the full board of the association.