THEY’RE two very different groups of people, but they’ll soon have something “very special” in common. 

Canberrans 100 years of age and over, and babies born on Canberra’s 100th birthday, will each receive a special Centenary Medallion to acknowledge the significant birthday milestone they share with the nation’s capital.

Centenary of Canberra Executive Director Jeremy Lasek says the Centenary Medallion was an idea put forward by former Governor-General of Australia and Centenary of Canberra Patron, Sir William Deane.

“As Canberra’s most senior of citizens, many of those aged 100 years and over in 2013 have grown up alongside the capital and have seen and shared in the successes of Canberra’s first century,” Mr Lasek said.

“Sharing such a significant milestone birthday with Canberra should be celebrated and the commissioning of the Centenary Medallion is a fitting acknowledgment of this and a delightful keepsake for the recipients and their families.”

Centenary of Canberra Creative Director Robyn Archer says the idea is among the best of a number of ideas for Centenary medallions that had been put forward by the community in the lead-up to 2013.

“Its criteria are very clear and don’t involve choosing or excluding. If you’re an ACT resident, one hundred or older in 2013 you get the medallion. If a new ACT citizen is born on March 12th 2013, that infant also gets a medallion,” said Ms Archer.

“It is something special to reach 100 , and to be born on Canberra’s 100th Birthday, so 2013 is the perfect opportunity to recognise our Centenarians and our ‘Centenary Birthday Babies’ – these medallions will be treasured by the families concerned for generations to come,” said Ms Archer.

More information on the medallions and aspects of Centenary of Canberra celebrations can be found at
http://www.canberra100.com.au/.