By Roselyn Fauth
Artists and designers have long helped communities recognise courage and service. Medals are one way we do this. A bravery medal is more than a piece of metal. It is a symbol. When a medal is designed, images and words are carefully chosen to honour courage, care for others, and actions taken in difficult moments. Today, you can be the designer.
The Alexandra Lifeboat has been part of Timaru’s maritime story since 1862. It represents rescue, risk, loss and extraordinary bravery at sea. This worksheet invites you to design a bravery medal that reflects those stories and the people who faced the sea to help others.
Design your own bravery medal
Designing a medal lets you honour bravery and remember important actions. A medal may be small, but what it represents is powerful. It shows what a community values and who it chooses to thank.
When you design a bravery medal, you:
- decide what kind of bravery you want to recognise
- choose symbols, shapes and words that express courage and care
- turn a story into something meaningful and lasting
Throughout history, bravery medals have been awarded to people who acted in dangerous or difficult situations. Some medals were worn proudly. Others were kept carefully and passed down through families as reminders of service and sacrifice.
The story of the Alexandra Lifeboat reminds us that bravery can mean facing storms, helping strangers, working as a team, or putting others first.
Use this worksheet to design a medal that recognises bravery connected to the sea, rescue, community or remembrance. Think about who your medal is for and what you want it to say.
Your medal does not have to be perfect. It just has to be meaningful. Create it, and feel free to share it with your friends, family and WuHoo Timaru.
Why are medals round?
Many medals are circular because the shape has long symbolised wholeness, unity and continuity. A circle has no beginning and no end, making it a powerful way to represent ongoing courage and remembrance. Medals are often designed to be held in the hand, worn on a ribbon, or kept safely as a reminder of a moment that mattered. The shape you choose for your medal is part of the story you tell.
Why are medals double-sided?
Most bravery medals are designed on both sides. The front usually shows a symbol or image that represents courage, service or the group giving the medal. The back often tells more of the story. It might include words of thanks, the reason the medal was awarded, a date or place, or the name of the person being honoured. Having two sides allows a medal to both symbolise bravery and record a moment in time. When you design your medal, think about what belongs on the front and what belongs on the back. Together, the two sides help tell the full story.