The Royal Humane Society of New South Wales is an Australian nonprofit organization dedicated to recognizing acts of bravery and lifesaving efforts. Founded originally as the Royal Shipwreck Relief and Humane Society of New South Wales in 1877, the organization has a long-standing history of honoring individuals who risk their lives to save others or contribute significantly to rescue efforts[3][4].

History

The Society was instituted on 25 July 1877 and quickly gained community support, with subscriptions exceeding £2,000 within days of its first meeting[3]. In 1902, King Edward VII granted permission for the Society to be known as the Royal Shipwreck Relief and Humane Society of New South Wales[4]. The name reflects its origins in providing relief to victims of shipwrecks and their families, as well as recognizing courageous acts in lifesaving. Over time, the Society expanded its focus beyond shipwrecks to acknowledge a broad range of acts of bravery and lifesaving within New South Wales.

Purpose and Activities

The Royal Humane Society of New South Wales aims to afford relief to widows, orphans, and dependents of seamen lost at sea and to recognize heroic efforts in lifesaving[5]. The organization publicly acknowledges individuals who have performed acts of bravery, particularly those involving risk to life in attempting to save others. Awards are presented to commend these courageous efforts, and the Society upholds a tradition of celebrating heroism in the community.

Awards and Recognition

The Society confers awards to individuals who demonstrate bravery and lifesaving actions. While specific types of awards conferred by the New South Wales branch are detailed through the Society’s records, it follows a tradition similar to other Royal Humane Societies worldwide, granting medals and certificates recognizing gallantry and successful resuscitation efforts. These awards serve both to honor the recipients and to promote awareness of heroic lifesaving within the community[1][5].

Governance and Status

Functioning as a registered charity, the Royal Humane Society of New South Wales continues its mission under Australian nonprofit regulations. It maintains a commitment to its founding principles of humanitarian relief and recognition of bravery, evolving as needed to serve modern community needs.

This summary provides an overview of the Royal Humane Society of New South Wales, a distinguished Australian nonprofit organization honoring acts of lifesaving and bravery since the late 19th century.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Humane_Society [2] https://royalhumanesociety.org.uk/the-society-history-and-archives/history/notable-dates/ [3] https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/articles/2430 [4] https://collections.sea.museum/objects/169177/royal-shipwreck-relief-and-humane-society-certificate [5] https://www.forbravery.org.au/royal-humane-society-of-nsw-aw