2012 Australia Post Australian Legends Award

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1 Embargoed until Friday, 20 January Australia Post Australian Legends Award The Australia Post Australian Legends Award is presented annually by Australia Post to honour a living individual or group of individuals who have excelled in a particular field of endeavour. The award recognises outstanding individuals for their part in shaping the social and cultural life of Australia. The announcement and presentation is part of the Australia Day celebrations. In recognition of the honour, each recipient is depicted on a postage stamp. As part of the official Australia Day luncheons, held in capital cities around the nation, each recipient is presented with a 24-carat-gold replica of the stamp on which they appear. When the inaugural Australian Legends Award was presented to Sir Donald Bradman in 1997, he became the first living Australian to be honoured on an Australian stamp. Prior to that, the only living people featured in their own right on our nation s postage stamps were members of the royal family. Past recipients of the Australia Post Australian Legends Award are: 1997 Cricketer Sir Donald Bradman 1998 Olympians Betty Cuthbert Herb Elliott Dawn Fraser Marjorie Jackson Murray Rose Shirley Strickland 1999 Artist Arthur Boyd 2000 Last ANZACs Walter Parker Roy Longmore Alec Campbell 2001 Country musician Slim Dusty 2002 Medical scientists Professor Sir Gustav Nossal Professor Fiona Stanley Professor Nancy Millis Professor Donald Metcalf Professor Peter Doherty 2003 Tennis players Rod Laver Margaret Court 2004 Opera singer Dame Joan Sutherland

2 2005 Fashion designers Prue Acton Jenny Bannister Collette Dinnigan Akira Isogawa Joe Saba Carla Zampatti 2006 Entertainer Barry Humphries 2007 Racing personalities Roy Higgins Bart Cummings John Tapp Scobie Breasley Bob Ingham George Moore 2008 Philanthropists Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Victor Smorgon and Loti Smorgon Lady (Mary) Fairfax Frank Lowy 2009 Academy Award winners Cate Blanchett Russell Crowe Nicole Kidman Geoffrey Rush 2010 Novelists Peter Carey Bryce Courtenay Thomas Keneally David Malouf Colleen McCullough Tim Winton 2011 Advocates for Eva Cox women s equality Elizabeth Evatt Germaine Greer Anne Summers

3 2012 Legends Australian Legends of Football In 2012, the Australia Post Australian Legends Award celebrates the four codes of football played Australia Australian rules, football (soccer), rugby union and rugby league. Eight of Australia s greatest footballers have been honoured, with one all-time legend and one current playing legend representing each code. Ron Barassi AM and Gary Ablett Junior are celebrated as the Legends of Australian rules football; John Raper MBE and Billy Slater head the field in rugby league; David Campese AM and David Pocock are named the giants of rugby union; and Joe Marston MBE and Mark Schwarzer OAM are recognised for their stellar careers in football (soccer). The 2012 Australia Post Australian Legends were chosen because they have each made a remarkable contribution to Australian sporting culture, playing a vital role in shaping Australia as a great sporting nation. Ron Barassi all-time Australian rules Legend Ron Barassi AM played or coached a remarkable 17 grand finals for 10 wins in a career that began in As a ruck rover (midfielder), Ron played until 1969, during which time he competed in 254 games and scored 330 goals. As a coach, he presided over more than 500 games. In his 12 years with the Melbourne Football Club until 1964, the team reached the finals 11 times and won six premierships. Lured to Carlton as a captain coach, Ron led the Blues to its first premiership in 21 years in Having retired from playing in 1969, Ron coached the Blues to a famous victory against Collingwood in 1970 a match that revolutionised the game. In 1973, Ron took up the coaching challenge with North Melbourne, before returning to his beloved Demons in Ron s final stint of coaching took him to NSW in 1993, where he spent three seasons with the Sydney Swans. Ron was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1978 in recognition of his service to the sport of Australian rules football. He became one of only two Legends in the AFL Hall of Fame in 1996, after becoming a life member of the AFL in 1979 for his contribution to football as a player and as a coach. Inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1987, he was elevated to Legend in He is a Legend and life member of the Melbourne, Carlton, North Melbourne and Sydney Swans football clubs, and in 1996 was selected in the AFL Team of the Century. He was named Victorian of the Year in Gary Ablett current-playing Australian rules Legend Gary Ablett Junior was drafted to Geelong on the father son rule and played as a forward early in his career, before becoming a midfielder. He played with Geelong from 2002 to 2010 and was instrumental in helping the team capture two premierships in three years, before joining the Gold Coast in 2011 as captain. This elite midfielder has collected many of the code s highest individual accolades, including the Brownlow Medal for best and fairest and the Leigh Matthews Trophy as the AFL Players Association s most valuable player, which he has received a record three times. Gary has also been selected to five All-Australian sides, once as vice-captain and, in 2011, as captain. He is a dual premiership player and has three times won the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year. His several media awards include the Australian Football Media Association s player of the year award.

4 John Raper all-time rugby league Legend The name John Raper MBE is synonymous with rugby league. A player then coach, he began his career with Newtown in 1957, but after two seasons he joined St George in There he played in eight consecutive premiership-winning teams between 1959 and 1966, during the team s remarkable run of 11 titles. Leaving St George in 1969, he was captain coach for Newcastle s Wests for three years before joining Kurri Kurri, in 1973, for his last two playing years. During his playing career, John represented Australia in 33 Test matches and six World Cup games, captaining Australia on eight occasions. Playing in the second Test of the 1963 Kangaroo Tour, he was part of the greatest victory that Australia had ever achieved over England (50 12), taking home the Ashes for the first time in 50 years. By the time he played his last match, John was regarded the best lock-forward the code had ever seen. His success on the field can be partly attributed to his commitment to a gruelling training regime. In 1980, John was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his contribution to the game of rugby league. He has also been named in the list of Australia s 100 greatest players ( ) and lock in the Team of the Century. He was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1985 and the NSW Hall of Champions in 2002, and elevated to the status of Legend in both in Billy Slater current-playing rugby league Legend Billy Slater is a gifted athlete, getting his first real break in rugby league with the Brisbane Norths in 2002 after leaving behind a potential career as a jockey. In 2003, he was drafted to the Melbourne Storm, the team in which he continues to play in the National Rugby League (NRL), and since 2004 he has played State of Origin for Queensland Maroons. Billy s is the Storm s record holder for try scoring and he has been the cornerstone of Queensland s sixth successive State of Origin series victories over New South Wales. Billy is known for his ability to turn a game, for his punishing fitness regime and for the pure skill he displays on-field. He has represented Australia in the international arena since 2008 and has now played 14 Tests for his country. He won rugby league s Golden Boot award in 2008 and was named the International Rugby League Player of the Year in 2008 and in Billy was also awarded the Clive Churchill Medal in NRL in 2009, the Wally Lewis Medal in State of Origin in 2010 and was named the Dally M medallist for the best and fairest player in the NRL in David Campese all-time rugby union Legend David Campese AM is one of the most recognisable names in recent decades of rugby union. David first played for the Canberra Whites and within three years he was selected to represent Australia in the Under 21s. During his stellar career, David represented Australia for 15 years and NSW for 11 years. At the forefront of a new breed of players, he played union year-round, his clubs including Petraca (Padua, Italy), Randwick and Amatori Rugby Milao (Milan, Italy), as well as in state and national teams. David played for the Wallabies in three World Cups in 1987, 1991 and At the 1991 Cup he was awarded the prestigious title of player of the tournament, having scored six tries in six games, with the Wallabies taking out the trophy. David holds the world record for the most tries scored in top-tier Test matches: 64. He was also first in Australian rugby history to play 101 Tests for his country and is one of a small handful of players worldwide to have achieved more 100 games at an international level. Following his playing career, David began coaching both young players and professionals. In Australia he has run

5 clinics for children and coached the University of Sydney s Sevens program. Internationally, the beneficiaries of his coaching include Singapore, New Zealand and the Natal Sharks. Besides being voted player of the tournament in the 1991 World Cup, David was inducted into London s Rugby Hall of Fame and received the Centurions Award in 2002 and was inducted into the NSW Hall of Champions in In 2002, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to rugby union football, as a player and promoter of the sport to the community. David Pocock current-playing rugby union Legend David Pocock was raised in Zimbabwe before immigrating to Australia with his family in He was scouted in 2005 to join the Western Force, the team with which he remains. Playing for Australia A in the 2007 IRB Pacific Nations Cup, he earned man of the match several times during the tournament. In 2008, he played his first game for the Wallabies against the All Blacks in Hong Kong, and in 2009 was called up again, playing in 13 of Australia s 14 Test matches. Following the retirement of legendary Wallaby George Smith in late 2009, David became the firstchoice open-side flanker for Australia. In 2010, David won the John Eales Medal the highest honour in Australian rugby. His hard work and aptitude was recognised at an international level after being nominated alongside five other players for 2010 IRB Player of the Year, an award given to the best player in world rugby. He was also recognised with the Australia s Choice Wallaby of the Year and the Rugby Union Players Association Medal of Excellence. Besides his passion for rugby, David has a strong social consciousness and is committed to helping disadvantaged communities in his native Zimbabwe. He works to improve the health and life chances of others through his eightytwentyvision.org charity and his recently launched the Heroes Boots project, which is focused on the ethical manufacture of sportswear. Joe Marston all-time football (soccer) Legend Joe Marston MBE played football (soccer) for Leichhardt Annandale before moving to England and becoming the first Australian to compete in an FA Cup final, playing for Lancashire s Preston North End. The team, which had been in the second division when Joe joined it in 1950, went all the way to the FA Cup final in 1954, defeated only in the last two minutes of play by West Bromwich Albion. Playing right-back and centre-back during his career, Joe went on to make 185 for the famous Preston club, of which he was voted one of its greatest players. Joe returned to Australia in 1955 despite having been offered 80,000 to play for Arsenal. On his return, he was made captain of the Australian team and he eventually went on to coach the Socceroos, among other local clubs. In all, he represented Australia 37 times. Joe is an inductee in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame and was awarded an MBE in 1980 for his services to his sport. The PFA recognised his contribution to the game by awarding him one of the two inaugural Alex Tobin Medals in Joe has a medal named after him, and since 1990 the Joe Marston Medal has been awarded for the best player on the ground in the A-league grand finals. Mark Schwarzer current-playing football (soccer) Legend Renowned goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer OAM is the most capped player in Socceroos history. He played in junior clubs Colo Cougars Penrith and Blacktown Association before joining the national league club Marconi Stallions in In 1994, Mark began playing in Europe, for Dynamo Dresden, Kaisersluten, Bradford City and Middlesbrough, before joining his current team, Fulham, in 2008, playing in the English premier league. Mark has played almost 500 games in

6 top-flight football in Europe and has represented Australia in the under 17s, under 20s and Socceroos. He represented Australia in both the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups. In 2009, he was awarded an Order of Australia medal for his service to football, particularly as an international representative player, and to the community. In 2009 and 2010 he was named the Football Federation of Australia footballer of the year; he was also as named Football Media of Australia Australian player of the year in 2009, the Professional Footballers player of the year in 2010 and the English premier league player of the month in February As well as achieving so highly in football, Mark has been heavily involved in charity work and has written several children s books. Selection process To select the 2012 Australian Legends, Australia Post established expert judging panels for each of the four codes comprising a journalist, a broadcaster and a former champion player. The committees comprised the following members: Football (soccer) Ray Gatt, senior soccer writer, The Australian Ray Baartz, former Socceroo and now head of Newcastle Jets advisory board Andy Harper, former NSL player and respected Fox Sports football analyst AFL Mike Sheahan, journalist, Herald Sun Kevin Bartlett, former champion player Dennis Cometti, broadcaster Rugby union Jim Tucker, journalist, Courier Mail Simon Poidevin, former champion player Gordon Bray, broadcaster Rugby league Phil Rothfield, journalist, Daily Telegraph Ron Coote, former champion player Ray Warren, broadcaster Stamp Images and Products The 2012 Legends stamps and products have been designed by Michaela Gaunt of Elite Sports Properties. Products in the stamp issue include eight x 60-cent stamps, a stamp pack, first day cover, maxicard set, eight x stamp booklets, booklet collection pack, large prestige booklet and postmark. The Top of Their Game Australia Post has published a commemorative book to celebrate the launch of the 2012 Australian Legends stamps. Titled The Top of Their Game, the book is written by John Harms, Ray Gatt, Mike Sheahan, Jim Tucker and Phil Rothfield, and details the life stories of the 2012 Australian Legends. For more information, please contact Julia Balderstone on or at Julia@curriecommunications.com.au