Royal weddings are usually very grand affairs orchestrated amid great pomp and ceremony, and, since Princess Margaret’s wedding to the Earl of Snowden in 1960, watched on television by millions of viewers worldwide. The expected viewing audience for the royal wedding of HRH Prince William to Miss Catherine Middleton is expected to exceed recorded viewing numbers for earlier royal weddings.

Westminster Abbey, featured on the minisheet of this official stamp issue, has been the traditional venue for royal weddings since Prince William¹s great-grandfather, the then Duke of York, married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the late Queen Mother, there in 1923. The next royal wedding to be held in the Abbey was that of his grandmother, the then Princess Elizabeth, now Queen Elizabeth II, to Prince Philip in 1947.  (read more)

published April 24th, 2011

Queen Elizabeth II was born at 2.40am on 21 April 1926 in Mayfair, London, and celebrates her 85th birthday this year. Christened Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, the Queen was the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York, who later became King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.

Following tradition, the official Monarch’s birthday is celebrated in Australia every year in June, with the exception of in Western Australia, where it occurs in late September or early October. To honour the Queen’s birthday in Australia an annual ceremony is held at the Royal Military College at Duntroon in the Australian Capital Territory.

(read more)

published April 8th, 2011

The unique landscape of Lake Eyre and its vast and changing environment has been beautifully captured in these stamp designs. A great salt lake of tectonic origin, Lake Eyre lies asymmetrically in the south-western corner of the closed inland drainage basin in the heart of the Australian continent. The four stamps in the issue include one domestic rate stamp – The dry (60c) and three international rate stamps – New growth ($1.55), Bird life ($2.25) and In flood ($3.10).

Lake Eyre is the centre of the vast Lake Eyre Basin located 700km north of Adelaide in the deserts of central Australia. With an area of 1,140,000 square kilometres Lake Eyre Basin is one of the largest areas of internal drainage in the world. Some parts of Lake Eyre are 15.2 metres below sea level making it the lowest point in Australia.

(read more)

published April 6th, 2011

This stamp issue celebrates the 150th anniversary of the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) and features five paintings by Australian artists drawn from the collection of the NGV.

Flowers have long been a favourite subject of artists, and this stamp issue features a selection of floral still life paintings. 

• A bunch of flowers (1930) by Nora Heysen (1911-2003), who was best known for her exquisite still life paintings and portraits. Heysen was born in Hahndorf, South Australia.
• Camellias was painted by the artist, teacher and critic Arnold Shore (1897-1963) in 1937. Shore adapted his postimpressionistic painting style to depict the Australian bush, and also painted still lifes and occasional portraits.

(read more)

published March 27th, 2011

The five stamps in the issue feature colourful photographic depictions of popular flower species – the gerbera, jacaranda, Australian everlasting, violet and tulip.

The flowers featured in the stamp issue each represent a better known floral festival, and together the stamps represent festivals in urban and regional areas across the country. These festivals draw attention and participation both nationally and from overseas and they are important to the local culture and economy of their respective communities. 

(read more)

published March 16th, 2011

This stamp issue marks the retirement of the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) most prominent aircraft – the F-111 “Pig”. After 37 years service, this stalwart of aviation combat is being replaced from 2010. The aircraft represent a range of military functions and capabilities and includes F-111’s replacement.

F-111
The F-111 “Pig” is a twin-engine, swing-wing aircraft that can take off and land at relatively low speeds. The aircraft gets its nickname from its ability to hunt at night with its nose to the ground due to its terrain-following radar. The aircraft was introduced to the RAAF in 1973.

F/A-18F
The F/A-18F Super Hornet is the new strike fighter that replaces the long-serving F-111. The Super Hornet, is a battleproven aircraft with a multi-role capability. It has exceptional manoeuvrability and a limitless angle of attack.

Wedgetail
The Wedgetail functions as a surveillance aircraft and entered Australian service in 2009. It has sophisticated (read more)

published March 2nd, 2011

Austrailia Post has recently released a great issue to commemorate the International Women’s day.

 International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. It is the story of ordinary women as makers of history and is rooted in the struggle of women to participate in society on an equal footing with men. The IWD global centenary is celebrated in 2011.

 The first IWD was held on 19 March 1911 when more than a million European women united, calling for the right of women to vote, work and hold public office and an end to discrimination. In 1910, at an international conference of women held in Copenhagen, a woman named Clara Zetkin (leader of the “Women’s Office” for the Social Democratic Party in Germany) tabled the idea of an International Women’s Day. Clara would go on to launch the very first International Women’s Day on 19 March the following year.

(read more)

published February 21st, 2011

The recipients of the 2011 Australia Post Australian Legends Award each rose to prominence during the 1970s, the period during which second-wave feminism flourished around the world, receiving official recognition when 1975 was declared International Women’s Year by the United Nations. During this decade, our four Legends each addressed various issues of women’s inequality in Australia and internationally through their writing, activism, judicial work, advocacy or a combination of these activities.

Eva Cox AO
Eva Cox is a founding member of the Women’s Electoral Lobby, established in 1972 as a feminist, non-profit, non-party-political organisation dedicated to influencing powerbrokers to adopt policies that would improve the position of women in Australian society.

(read more)

published February 18th, 2011

The celebration of St Valentine’s Day on 14 February is a time when lovers send flowers and Valentine cards to express affection.

The Valentine’s Day tradition of giving red roses is believed to date from the 18th century, when the French monarch King Louis XVI gave red roses to his Queen, Marie Antoinette, as a symbol of his love. During the 19th century, ribbon, paper lace and cut-outs of flowers, doves and cupids were used in the designs of handmade and manufactured cards.

There are two very distinct designs in this issue: the lasting beauty of red roses and a more contemporary design using hearts and vine leaves in a pattern of love.

(read more)

published February 16th, 2011

The remote Cocos (Keeling) Islands are dependent upon boats in their daily life and are also a haven for water-based activities. This stamp issue features four types of watercraft used around the islands.

Jukongs (60c) These Malay sailing boats are an end result of generations of Scottish and Malay adaptations. The bottom is broad and bears a keel of about 150mm. Larger jukongs are sailed at least once a year during Hari Raya festivals.

Small boat ($1.20) Small boats are popular with the younger generation and are ideal for travelling across the lagoon or similar short trips.

Glass-bottom boat ($1.80) This Glass bottom-boat allows tourists to observe the unique marine life swimming beneath them.

(read more)

published February 11th, 2011

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh and Australia Post Managing Director and CEO Ahmed Fahour announced the release of Australia’s first Charity Stamps to raise funds for those affected by the Queensland floods.

The Premier and Mr Fahour made the announcement at the official Australia Day Lunch at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Featuring five images from the Queensland floods, the 60 cent stamps will be available in a sheet of 10 that will be sold for $8, with $2 from the sale of each sheet to be donated to the Queensland Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal.

Australia Post has printed an initial run of 250,000 Charity Stamp sheets but will print as many stamps as required to meet demand.

Australia Post hopes the initiative will generate substantial additional support from around the nation for the Premier’s Appeal and importantly maintain awareness of the plight of so many Queenslanders over coming months.

(read more)

published February 10th, 2011