In 2023, the Royal Society of Tasmania established the Louisa Anne Meredith Medal to be awarded every four years to a person who excels in the field of arts or humanities or both, with outstanding contributions evidenced by creative outputs.
The Medal honours Louisa Anne Meredith’s contributions to the areas of natural history art, scientific art, literature, history and to the Royal Society of Tasmania.
Louisa Anne Meredith (1812-1895) (née Twamley) came to Tasmania in 1840 and proved to be a prolific artist and author while in Van Diemen’s Land. She published over a dozen books, many of which she illustrated herself. Louisa became the first female Honorary Member of the RST in 1881. The RST owns many of her sketches and watercolours and some of her books.
The Louisa Anne Meredith Medal was established in 2023.
Click here to view the guidelines.
2024 – Professor Cassandra Pybus & Fiona Hall AO
The Royal Society of Tasmania acknowledges, with deep respect, the traditional owners of this land, and the ongoing custodianship of the Aboriginal people of Tasmania. The Society pays respect to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge that Tasmanian Aboriginal Peoples have survived severe and unjust impacts resulting from invasion and dispossession of their Country. As an institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge, the Royal Society of Tasmania recognises Aboriginal cultural knowledge and practices and seeks to respect and honour these traditions and the deep understanding they represent.
On 15 February 2021, the Royal Society of Tasmania offered a formal Apology to the Tasmanian Aboriginal people. Read more