Chapter 102: The Title of Knight
Based on the current per capita income in Australia, obtaining any one of the three medals would grant an annual sum of at least 120 pounds.
This was significantly higher than the annual income of most Australian households. The average annual household income in Australia was just over 40 pounds—not even half of the base reward from a single medal.
More importantly, the tenfold per capita income reward was merely the basic benefit of these three medals. The specific conditions and reward structures would be announced later.
What did this imply? Although the methods for obtaining the three medals and their rewards would differ, the actual benefits would certainly exceed just 100 pounds a year.
It was no exaggeration to say that earning any one of these medals could guarantee a lifetime of financial stability for oneself and one's family, even benefiting future generations.
This was precisely what made the three medals so enticing. Judging by the reactions of the Australians below the stage, it was clear that most people were deeply moved by their announcement.
In truth, this was Arthur's goal: to use rewards that could touch the hearts of the majority to inspire Australians to strive for these medals.
And all three medals were reserved for individuals who were exceptionally patriotic and had made contributions to the nation and the royal family.
Under such conditions, a considerable number of Australians could be drawn to contribute to their country in hopes of earning a medal.
"The Victoria Commemorative Medal and the Royal Knight Medal will be awarded personally by me. The Australian National Medal will be awarded by the current Prime Minister. I hope that many Australians will one day receive these medals, becoming role models for the entire Australian people, the pride of the nation, and pillars of both the country and the royal family," Arthur said with a smile.
Since the purpose was to elevate the prestige of these three medals, having Arthur personally present the awards was a wise choice.
As the ruler of Australia, Arthur's status and position were supreme within the country.
A medal awarded directly by the monarch of the nation would naturally carry far more value and significance than any ordinary decoration.
Of course, this would also increase the intrinsic worth of the medal and the benefits associated with it.
"Additionally, the Royal Relief Committee will commence its relief work for the new year. Last year's efforts were quite effective—at least 800,000 low-income individuals received our relief grain, ensuring that they did not go hungry at any time. I hope that in the new year, the scope of the Royal Relief Committee's efforts can expand to cover the whole of Australia, and even the New Guinea colony. May all great Australians live happily in this country, without fear of hunger or hardship. That will be the goal for which the royal family and national government strive!" Arthur said firmly.
What do common people love to hear most? Naturally, it's news about welfare policies—covering everything from food and clothing to housing and transportation.
Arthur's plan was simple: use the country's large-scale construction projects to provide jobs for the majority of Australians, enabling them to earn a decent income.
At the same time, offer relief to those unable to work due to physical reasons—such as elderly people living alone, orphans, and the disabled.
Policies that treated these individuals well could easily stir emotions among Australians, as they often represented the lowest levels of society.
If even these people could be guaranteed a normal life, didn't that mean anyone in a similar situation could receive proper assistance?
As Arthur's speech concluded, the National Day celebrations came to an official end.
What followed—the government's detailed explanations of the three medals and the Royal Relief Committee's new round of aid programs—was now beyond Arthur's involvement.
During this long-awaited national holiday, Arthur could finally take some well-deserved rest.
The government acted swiftly. Even during the official National Day break, detailed information about the three medals had already been posted on the bulletin boards at government buildings and would be published in the next editions of the Victoria Times and the Australia Daily, reaching even more people.
Among the newly issued medals, the Victoria Commemorative Medal stood out as particularly special.
It was the hardest of the three to obtain. Although it was open to recipients worldwide, only those who had made significant contributions to the prestige of the royal family and the monarch—or had protected them during a major crisis—would be eligible.
Of course, it also came with the most generous rewards. In addition to the annual tenfold per capita income granted by all three medals, recipients would be awarded the honorary title of Australian Knight, which was non-hereditary.
While it did not confer land ownership or the right of inheritance like hereditary nobility titles, it was still considered the lowest rank among noble titles, and it certainly had great appeal for Australians.
Additionally, the direct descendants of recipients of the Victoria Commemorative Medal would be granted direct admission into universities when of age, exempt from the national admissions process.
This was a particularly attractive condition in a country like Australia, where university students remained relatively scarce.
After all, each year's university admissions attracted thousands of applicants, but very few were accepted. In the first year, only 800 were admitted, and the second year saw even fewer—just over 600.
Under such circumstances, the chance to bypass the admissions process and gain direct entry to university was a highly appealing prospect.
The other two medals were similar in difficulty to obtain; one simply had to make a significant contribution to the royal family or the nation.
In particular, the Australian National Medal was the easiest of the three to earn, but it also offered the most modest rewards.
Awarded personally by the current Prime Minister, the Australian National Medal included, in addition to the monetary prize, a promotional campaign throughout Australia—through newspapers, announcements, and more.
Despite being the least lucrative, these rewards were still quite attractive to many Australians. After all, if one had done something great, who wouldn't want national recognition—especially through official announcements and newspaper publications?
Just by earning the Australian National Medal, one could be celebrated as a national hero and a source of pride for the people. Just imagining it was enough to stir excitement.
Although the difficulty of obtaining the medals left some feeling disappointed, the generous financial rewards and benefits still sparked great interest among many.
It was easy to predict that in the near future, a wave of people would emerge, doing everything they could to earn one of these medals.
And that was exactly what the government and Arthur wanted to see. Because no matter how hard the people tried, the ones who ultimately benefited the most would always be the royal family and the government.
(End of Chapter)
Get 30% off on my Patreon and enjoy early access to new chapters.
You can also purchase the next 100 chapters of the novel directly from my Patreon page.
Hurry up! The promotion ends on January 2, 2026.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Kira1997