2005 Australia Post Australian Legends Award

Six fashion designers joined the exclusive ranks of Australians who have featured on a postage stamp during their lifetime.

The six designers - Prue Acton OBE, Jenny Bannister, Collette Dinnigan, Akira Isogawa, Joe Saba and Carla Zampatti AM - were named as the 2005 Australia Post Australian Legends.

Australia Post selected the six designers based on their contribution to the evolution of contemporary Australian fashion as well as their influence on our national identity.

2004 Dame Joan Sutherland

Opera diva, Dame Joan Sutherland, was honoured with the 2004 Australia Post Australian Legends Award.

The Sydney-born singer's performing career spanned nearly 40 years, during which she graced the stages of all the world's great opera houses and sang nearly 60 different operatic roles.

Dame Joan's stage career ended in 1990 when her farewell performances drew packed audiences, first in Sydney, and later at Covent Garden. Since retiring, Dame Joan still travels the world to help fine tune voices of the future and judge singing competitions.

2003 Tennis Champions

Two of the world's greatest ever tennis champions Margaret Court and Rod Laver have been honoured with the 2003 Australia Post Australian Legends Award.

Despite fairly modest and remote origins, both Margaret Court and Rod Laver pursued their passion and excelled in a game that has often been associated with affluence and privilege.

Characterised by raw talent, fierce determination and an ability to capitalise on every opportunity, these two country kids overcame many obstacles on their way to becoming Australia's - and perhaps the world's -greatest tennis players ever.

2002 Medical Scientists

The 2002 Australian Legends award honoured the work of five Australian medical scientists who have contributed significantly to their respective fields. They were haematologist Professor Donald Metcalf, microbiologist Professor Nancy Millis, immunologists Professor Sir Gustav Nossal and Professor Peter Doherty (co-recipient of the Nobel Prize for Science in 1996) and epidemiologist and public health researcher Professor Fiona Stanley.

Through their work, these scientists, have made lifesaving scientific discoveries in the areas of microbiology, immunology, cancer research, child health and indigenous health.

2001 Slim Dusty
      

In 2001, the Australia Post Australian Legend was bush balladeer and country singer, Slim Dusty. Slim’s career has spanned six decades, during which he has dominated country music in Australia.

Slim Dusty, who wrote 'Pub With No Beer' Australia’s biggest selling single, and sang 'Waltzing Matilda' at the closing ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, is the nation’s most successful recording artist.  He has recorded a staggering 101 albums and sold more than 5.5 million albums in his career to date.

2000 The Last Anzacs

The 2000 Australian Legends series paid tribute to the last surviving Anzacs. Roy Longmore, Walter Parker and Alec Campbell were Australian soldiers who fought at Gallipoli, where the Anzac tradition was born.

The 45c Legend stamps carried portraits of the three veterans whilst young men, photographed just prior to their departure to Gallipoli. The fourth stamp featured the 1914-15 star medal which was presented to all those who fought in campaigns during those years.

Walter Parker (1894-2000) enlisted at 21, carried vital ammunition and life-saving water to the troops at the front. 

Roy Longmore (1894–2001) also enlisted at 21. At Gallipoli, he was a tunnel digger responsible for burrowing under the enemy positions and laying mines.

Alec Campbell (1899–2002) enlisted at just sixteen. He carried water to the men in the trenches at Gallipoli.

1999 Arthur Boyd

The 1999 Australian Legends stamp issue paid tribute to Arthur Boyd (1920-1999) – one of Australia’s most famous and prolific artists of the 20th century. His compelling images convey the uniqueness and beauty of the Australian landscape and form part of Australia’s art legacy helping shape Australia’s cultural development, identity and international standing.

The 1999 45c stamp featured a portrait of Arthur Boyd and a reproduction of his painting ‘Nebuchadnezzar’ on fire falling over a waterfall.

In 1993, Arthur Boyd arranged for his property, The Bundanon Estate, to be given to the people of Australia on the condition that it never be sold or sub-divided. His vision for the property was that it becomes a centre for all the arts.

1998 Australian Olympians

Six of Australia’s greatest Olympians were recognised on the 1998 Australian Olympic Legends stamps. Betty Cuthbert, Herb Elliott, Dawn Fraser, Marjorie Jackson, Murray Rose and Shirley Strickland captured our imagination with their inspirational feats.

Betty Cuthbert - known as the Golden girl - won 3 gold medals at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.Cuthbert became the first Australian woman to win three Olympic gold medals. After contracting multiple sclerosis in 1969, Cuthbert became active in raising funds to help fight the disease.

Herb Elliott became the youngest athlete to break the four minute mile. From the time he won gold in the Rome 1960 Olympics to the time he retired in 1962 Elliott had not be beaten over a mile or 1,500m.                  

Dawn Fraser won eight Olympic and Commonwealth medals throughout her extensive swimming career. A former Balmain publican and independent MLA for Balmain, her larrikin spirit has always endeared to the public.

Marjorie Jackson was one of the finest sprinters in the history of the Olympic Games.At the Helsinki Olympics in 1952 Jackson streaked away from the rest in the 100m final in a stunning three-metre victory.

Murray Rose is one of the greatest of all Australia’s Olympic swimmers with a medal record of four gold, one silver and one bronze from two Olympic Games.

Shirley Strickland won seven Olympic medals, more than any other woman in track and field. Her tally of seven was achieved over three Olympics, from 1948 to 1956. When Shirley won two medals in 1952, she was 31 years old and a mother of a young son.

1997 Sir Donald Bradman

The first stamp issue in the Australian Legends series paid tribute to cricketer Sir Donald Bradman. Bradman is not only regarded as one of the greatest cricketers the world has ever seen – he is considered a national treasure.

Sir Don chartered Australia’s course as a sporting nation. For more than 20 years he set records for batting that have stood the test of time.

However he represented more than a sporting hero to Australians. In the depression years he gave hope to a country that had been severely battered.  In the post war era, Bradman helped revitalise the spirit of all Australians after what had been six bleak years.

Sir Donald Bradman A.C. (1908-2001) was the first living Australian to be featured on a postage stamp. The only living persons featured on Australian stamps prior to this were members of the British Royal Family.

2006 Australian Legends products

• Philatelic product  now available.