John Hobbs

John Nelson Hobbs (1923 – October 31, 1990) was a British-Australian career police officer and amateur ornithologist, best known for his involvement with the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union.

Early life Hobbs was born in London, England in 1923. After the war, he joined the Metropolitan Police Force in London. During this period, he developed an amateur interest in ornithology and made detailed studies of local birdlife, including the article "The birds of south-west New South Wales." Hobbs' interest in ornithology also extended into his law enforcement career; he diligently prosecuted illegal bird trappers and shooters in the districts where he was serving. He was survived by his wife Shirley and four sons: Peter, Michael, Bruce, and Gregory. The medal was initially awarded by the New South Wales branch of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union (now BirdLife Australia), before being upgraded to a national award four years later.