Historical information

These medals were awarded to Patricia Catherine Vines of the Australian Navy and Royal Australian Navy Nursing Service (RANNS).

Extracts from Sea Power Centre website (listed in references):
"Patricia Catherine Vines was born in Fairfield, Melbourne on 5 September 1925. Educated at the Catholic Ladies College, East Melbourne, on completion of her Intermediate Certificate, Vines undertook secretarial training before working at the Department of Aircraft Productions and then the Gun Turret Factory at Fairfield where she was still working when World War II ended in 1945. It was while she was working in the X-Ray Department at St Vincent’s Hospital that she decided to become a nurse, beginning her training in December 1948 and becoming a Registered Nurse in 1952, and a qualified midwife two years later.
In 1959, in search of something different, Vines applied for a civilian nursing role at HMAS Cerberus, Flinders Naval Depot where she was employed until leaving to travel to New Zealand, Canada and the United States in 1962."

"Commander Vines was presented with a Royal Red Cross in early 1972. The medal, presented by the Governor of Victoria, Sir Rohan Delacombe, was awarded for ‘exceptional competence and devotion to duty’. Also awarded were Sergeant Leslie Bending of the Naval Police (left) who received the British Empire Medal for dedicated service, and Lieutenant Commander Winston James (right) who received the Distinguished Service Cross in recognition of outstanding leadership and bravery while serving as commander of the RAN Helicopter Flight in Vietnam.
During that time (1971-1980) she was also appointed an Honorary Nursing Sister to Queen Elizabeth II. In 1972 Patricia was awarded a Royal Red Cross (RRC) 2nd Class in the New Year Honours List and in January 1981 this was upgraded to a Royal Red Cross 1st class. The awards officially recognised her exceptional devotion and competency in performance of nursing duties in the RAN."

"Following a 16-year career in the Navy and having reached retirement age, Patricia Vines retired from the RAN in 1980 and ran her own nursing business in Melbourne until 1995.
Patricia Catherine Vines passed away in Melbourne on 15 February 2010, aged 85 years."

Vines was a consistent paid member of the Returned Nurses Club (Returned Nurses Sub Branch RSL Victoria) from 1989 to her passing.

Physical description

A mounted set of six miniature medals (approximately a quarter of the size of the medals they represent) of various coloured metals with ribbons of many colours.

The Royal Red Cross miniature medal is in the "shape of a golden cross... the obverse enamelled red, with a circular medallion, bearing an effigy of the reigning monarch [Queen Elizabeth II] at its centre. The words "Faith", "Hope" and "Charity" are inscribed on the upper limbs of the cross, with the year "1883" in the lower limb. The reverse is plain except a circular medallion bearing the royal cypher of the reigning monarch" [Wikipedia - see References], on this miniature medal the initials are ER. The ribbon is a dark blue stripe between crimson edge stripes and forms a landscape oriented bow that the medal hangs from the middle.

The Australian Service Medal 1945-75 is "nickel-silver with the Australian Coat of Arms surrounded by the words The Australian Service Medal 1945-1975 on the obverse. The reverse has a Federation Star... The ribbon has central stripes of yellow and green, flanked by navy blue, khaki and light blue stripes from the Australia Service Medal 1939-45. A nickel-silver clasp with the name of the theatre or action for which the award is made is presented with the medal." [Australian Government Defence website - see References] This miniature has the PNG clasp and the navy blue stripe has faded to look more purple in colour.

The Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal 1977 comprises a "silver disc with, on the obverse, the words ELIZABETH II DEI GRA. REGINA FID. DEF. (Latin abbreviation for "Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith") surrounding an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, symbolising her role as fount of honour.[6] On the reverse is a crown atop a wreath that contains the words THE 25th YEAR OF THE REIGN OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II 6 February 1977 in six lines... The ribbon is white with cardinal red bands along the edges...and a... garter blue stripe down the centre, bisected by another... line of cardinal red" [Wikipedia - see References]

The Defence Force Service Medal is a "cupro-nickel circular chamfered medal. The obverse has the Joint Service emblem. The reverse is inscribed For Efficient Service In The Permanent Forces around the circumference. The ribbon has 3 equal stripes of gold and azure-blue edged with azure-blue. The colours were the national colours of Australia at the time of introduction." [Australian Government Defence website - see References] the blue stripes have faded to look more purple in colour.

The National Medal is "bronze. The obverse shows the Arms of the Commonwealth of Australia within a rim carrying the inscription The National Medal For Service. The reverse is plain. The ribbon has 15 alternating gold and blue stripes. The colours were the national colours of Australia at the time of introduction." [Australian Government Defence website - see References] Again, blue has faded to purple on the ribbon.

The Australian Defence Medal is "cupronickel. The obverse has a stylised version of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms as used on the Australia Service Medal 1939-45. This is surrounded by the inscription The Australian Defence Medal above a sprig of wattle. The reverse has the inscription For Service below the Crown of St Edward surrounded by 2 sprays of wattle leaves and blossom. The ribbon is red with black edges, the colours of the Flanders poppy that represent the Anzac spirit of the Australian armed forces. The white stripes divide the ribbon into 3 to denote the three Services and represent service contributing to the peace of Australia." [Australian Government Defence website - see References]

The miniature medals are court-mounted on a rigid backing with a long pin and the backing covered with a full size strip of ribbon in the Royal Red Cross medal colours.