The Centenary Medal was announced by the Prime Minister on 28 December 2001. The Medal was created to honour living persons who have made a contribution to Australian society or government.
This includes Australians who have lived through all our first century of federation (‘Centenarians’) and other persons who have made a contribution to the nation or their locality. The colours in the ribbon are crimson for federation (Sir Henery Parkes “The crimson thread of kinship”) and blue and gold for the beginning of the 21st Century. The seven gold and red lines represent the pathways to federation of the states. There are 100 dots around the outer edge of each of the obverse and reverse symbolising 100 years of Federation.