Memories were to the fore when Governor-General Sam Mostyn took to the podium at Canberra Museum and Gallery on Tuesday to launch a petite but significant exhibition, Celebrating 50 Years of the Australian Honours system.

Looking back over the 50 years since the Australian awards had been inaugurated by Prime Minister Gough Whitlam in February 1975, it was worth remembering, she said, that many of the first recipients had been related to Cyclone Tracy, which had devasted Darwin in the previous December.

Those honours included the Emergency Services Medal, Australian Sports Medal, Bravery Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Nursing Service Cross, the Order of Australia.

The CMAG exhibition, she said, was a way of “journeying with people whose impact had been strong”.

As the first Canberra-born governor-general and chancellor of the Australian honours, she declared herself particularly pleased to see that Canberra arts, history and culture were at the centre of “the story we love to tell” and drew attention to the cross-section of Canberrans honoured over the years, many of whom were present, while reminding those present that  the Australian honours spoke to the “depth, character and diversity of all Australians.”

As was the case with a parallel exhibition at the Royal Australian Mint, she said, the history of the gongs had been brought to life through medals, artworks Looking to the future, she said, we needed to single out young people in the awards and with that seemingly in mind, on her way out she chatted to schoolchildren visiting the CMAG to explain who she was and what she did.

Celebrating 50 Years of the Australian Honours System, Canberra Museum + Gallery, until August 30.