Australian Legends.html

The Australian Legends is an annual series of commemorative postage stamps issued by Australia Post since 1997. The stamps commemorate living Australians who have made lifetime contributions to the development of the Commonwealth's national identity and character. Prior to 1997, the only living persons who could appear on Australian stamps were members of the British Royal Family.^[1]

As examples of Australian graphic art, the stamps are designed to tell the story of events and personalities that shaped contemporary Australia. Each becomes part of a collective Australian memory which reflects Australian values and documents the development of Australia's national identity.^[2]

In addition to the philatelic commemoration, the honor is also known as the Australia Post Australian Legends Award.^[3]

Issue details

1997 – Sir Donald Bradman, one of the world's greatest cricket players
1998 – Australian Olympians, Betty Cuthbert, Herb Elliott, Dawn Fraser, Marjorie Jackson, Murray Rose and Shirley Strickland
1999 – Arthur Boyd, one of Australia’s most famous and prolific artists of the 20th century
2000 – The Last Anzacs, Roy Longmore,^[4] Walter Parker and Alec Campbell^[5]
2001 – Slim Dusty, a celebrated country music composer and performer
2002 – Medical Scientists, haematologist Professor Donald Metcalf, microbiologist Professor Nancy Millis, immunologists Professor Sir Gustav Nossal and Professor Peter Doherty, and epidemiologist and public health researcher Professor Fiona Stanley
2003 – Tennis Champions, Margaret Court and Rod Laver
2004 – Dame Joan Sutherland, world-renowned soprano opera singer
2005 – Fashion designers, Prue Acton, Jenny Bannister, Collette Dinnigan, Akira Isogawa, Joe Saba and Carla Zampatti.^[3]
2006 – Barry Humphries, satirist and actor
2007 – Legends of Australian Horse Racing, George Moore, Roy Higgins, Bart Cummings, Bob Ingham, John Tapp and Arthur "Scobie" Breasley.^[1]
2008 – Australian Legends of Philanthropy, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, Victor Smorgon and Loti Smorgon, Lady Mary Fairfax, and Frank Lowy.

Notes

^ ^a ^b Australia Post: "Racing Legends are first past the post," 2007.
^ "156 years collecting Australian graphic art," Priority (Australia Post), 2000.
^ ^a ^b Australia Post: "Previous Australia Post Australian Legends," 2005.
^ Goldstein, Richard. "Roy Longmore Dies; Australian 'Legend,' 107," New York Times. July 2, 2001.
^ "Australia Day: Australian Legends," Stamp Bulletin (Australia Post), p. 3.

References

"Australia Day: Australian Legends," Stamp Bulletin (Australia Post). No. 254. March-May 2000.
"156 years collecting Australian graphic art," Priority (Australia Post). Issue 32, 2000.