Applications close 1 November
The J.N. Hobbs Memorial Medal complements other awards made by BirdLife Australia (including the D.L. Serventy Medal and the BirdLife Australia Distinguished Service Award), honouring the contributions of individuals to ornithology.
Up to two Hobbs Medals may be awarded each year to amateur birdwatchers , or jointly to two individuals, who have made a significant contribution to the knowledge or conservation of birds in Australia. This includes contributions to Australian ornithology through the organisation of and participation in BirdLife Australia’s collaborative programs.
The emphasis is on the amateur status of the recipient’s contribution. Nominations are called annually.
John Hobbs (1923–1990) was a policeman in the NSW Police Force who was stationed in various towns across southern and western NSW. His police rounds provided ample opportunity to observe the local birdlife on his beat, and he developed a great enthusiasm for them, keeping copious notes and publishing many papers on their occurrence, behaviour and ecology in journals including The Emu, Australian Bird Watcher, Corella and Australian Birds. His paper ‘Birds of South-West New South Wales’, published in The Emu in 1961, reflects his meticulous record keeping and remains the seminal work on birds in the region. Even after retirement in 1980, he continued his amateur ornithological work, studying the local songbirds of his area. He also contributed hundreds of valuable records of breeding birds to the RAOU Nest Record Scheme.
Apart from being a devout birder in the field, he was a long-time member of the RAOU’s Records Appraisal Committee, from 1975–89, helping to assess the validity of records of rare birds reported around Australia.
John Hobbs was the epitome of an amateur ornithologist, highlighting the importance of amateur observers in our understanding of Australian birds.
Please download and complete the J.N. Hobbs Medal Nomination Form provided below. Once completed, upload it using the submission form at the bottom of this page.
Nominations must be submitted by 1 November each year to the Chair of the Hobbs Medal Subcommittee.
Nominations are called annually through BirdLife Australia’s communications channels, including Australian Birdlife magazine, the BirdLife Australia website, and e-News updates in August and February.
J.N. Hobbs Memorial Medal Nomination Form
The Hobbs Medal is awarded to amateur birdwatchers who have made a significant contribution to the knowledge or conservation of birds in Australia. This includes contributions through BirdLife Australia’s collaborative research and conservation programs.
The Hobbs Medal will only be awarded to living, past or present members of BirdLife Australia (or living, past members of BOCA or Birds Australia).
Up to two medals may be awarded each year — either to two individuals nominated separately or to two people who have worked closely together in a joint nomination.
The award is not necessarily made every year.
Previous Hobbs Medal awardees include:
Please attach your completed J.N. Hobbs Medal Nomination Form here. Nominations must be submitted to the Chair of the Hobbs Medal Subcommittee by 1 November for consideration in the following year.
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