Set of stamps
Set of stamps
Product Id: 17150671
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Technical details Issue date: 20 January 2012 Issue withdrawal date: 31 July 2012 FDI withdrawal date: 18 February 2012 Denominations: 8 x 60c Stamp & product design: Michaela Gaunt, ESP Prestige book design: Simone Sakinofsky Printer: McKellar Renown Paper - gummed: Tullis Russell Printing process: Lithography Stamp size: 26mm x 37.5mm Perforations: 14.6 x 13.86 Sheet layout: Modules of 50 National postmark: Sydney, NSW 2000 |
In 2012, the Australia Post Australian Legends award celebrates eight doyens of football. In a departure from previous years, in 2012 our living legends comprise one all-time great and one current star from each of these widely embraced games: Ron Barassi AM, Gary Ablett jnr, John Raper MBE, Billy Slater, David Campese AM, David Pocock, Joe Marston MBE and Mark Schwarzer OAM.
Sport has a long history in post-settlement Australia, and its social and cultural impact cannot be overstated. Whether or not one is a participant, sport shapes the lives, routines and the weekends of many Australians, binding people across cultures and generations through participation and spectatorship. And it undoubtedly contributes much to the expression of our national consciousness. But no sport achieves these things quite like football: Australian rules, rugby league, rugby union and soccer, as we commonly know the latter in this part of the globe. While regional and cultural elements define each code's territory and popularity, throughout the playing season all four games command the attention of players and coaches, the passion of thousands of followers, and hours and pages of media coverage.
In Aussie rules, Ron Barrassi and Gary Ablett junior are both acknowledged champions, premiership players and inspirational leaders. In rugby league, John Raper famously played in eight consecutive premiership-winning teams at St George, while Billy Slater is renowned as the cornerstone of Queensland's six successive State of Origin victories. In rugby union, David Campese achieved the ultimate individual and team success as a Wallaby at the 1991 World Cup, while another Wallaby, David Pocock, was selected as a Legend because of his consistently stellar performances in a still nascent career. In soccer, Joe Marston was the first Australian to play in an FA Cup final, while both and he and Mark Schwarzer are decorated Socceroos who have also pursued highly successful careers in European football - some 45 years apart.
