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Philanthropists stamped as 2008 Legends

On January 23, 2008 at 4:45 pm by Vanessa Meachen - Permanent Link
Categories: stories, news
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This afternoon I attended the Australia Day 2008 Luncheon, at which the Australia Post Australian Legends Award was presented. Issued each year to coincide with Australia Day, the Australia Post Australian Legends Award “recognises great Australians who have made life-long contributions to the development of our national identity and character”.

For the 2008 Legends series, Australia Post has chosen to honour some great Australian philanthropists. Dame Elisabeth Murdoch AC DBE, Victor Smorgon AC and Loti Smorgon AO, Lady (Mary) Fairfax AC OBE and Frank Lowy AC have been bestowed the title of 2008 Australia Post Australian Legends and will be immortalised in a stamp series. At today’s ceremony, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch and Victor and Loti Smorgon were present to accept 24-karat gold replicas of their stamps in recognition of the honour.

The 2008 Australian Legends stamp issue features 4 x 50c stamps, a first day cover and a set of maxicards. A commemorative book, A Lasting Legacy: Legends of Australian Philanthropy by Paul O’Farrell, accompanies the stamp issue. Philanthropy Australia was consulted and quoted in the production of the book, which contains an excellent introductory chapter on the history of Australian philanthropy, and also explores the lives and giving of each of the 2008 Legends in detail. Full Members will shortly be receiving a complimentary copy of A Lasting Legacy.

Philanthropy Australia congratulates the 2008 Legends, as well as Australia Post for recognising and celebrating the lasting contribution of Australia’s philanthropists to our community.

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Hello My Name is Lydia Cowie,
I have been researching Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, Lady (Mary) Fairfax, Victor and Loti Smorgan and Frank Lowey. I am Doing a Student Convention and I wish to write an essay about them to win a prize it is about the new stamps created in honor of these Great Australin Legends. I am an Avid Stamp Collecting and working hard to get my hands on a first issue of the Stamps. I wish to get a letter from my Australian Legends if you could possible give me there address I would be throughly Thankful Thank you

Comment by Lydia Cowie — June 25, 2008 #

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