Australia Post honours touring car ‘living legends’

The recipients of Australia Post’s Australian Legends Award for 2023 have been announced, with four greats of Australian Touring Car Racing honoured with a stamp bearing their likeness.

Introduced in 1997, the Australia Post Australian Legends Award honours living individuals who are considered to have made outstanding contributions to Australia’s social and cultural life in a variety of fields and endeavours, demonstrating traits such as tenacity, perseverance, integrity and compassion.

Released on 27 April, this year’s four Legends Award stamps feature Mark Skaife OAM, Craig Lowndes OAM, Dick Johnson AM and Allan Moffat OBE, with the driver’s portrait and an image of their signature race car on each. In addition to being honoured with the stamp, all four living legends also receive a 24-carat gold replica of their stamp.

The stamp of five-time Supercars champion Mark Skaife features the Holden VX Commodore from his Bathurst triumph in 2002. Speaking of his award, the six-time Bathurst winner said: “Driving with Jim Richards at Bathurst in 2002 to win the great race and the championship in the same year is a great career highlight. In sport, there is no substitute for hard work and dedication, so it's great to be recognised by Australia Post in such a special way.”

Seven-time Bathurst winner Craig Lowndes is featured alongside the Triple 8 Holden VF Commodore in which he conquered Bathurst in 2015. Commenting on his award, Lowndes said: “It is an enormous privilege to be recognised for my contribution on and off track. The Australia Post Australian Legends Award stamp series is a renowned collector’s item, so to be included in this prestigious group is very humbling.”

Dick Johnson’s stamp features his XD Falcon from the 1981 Bathurst 1000, where he won after the infamous ‘Rock’ incident from the year before. In response to being chosen as an Australia Post Australian Legend, Johnson said: “To be recognised for doing something that has been a lifelong job, of which I’ve enjoyed every single moment, is a great honour.

“To be identified by Australia Post in this way is very special. My hope is to encourage younger generations and demonstrate that no matter what your goal is, you can achieve it if you try hard.”

The fourth and final stamp in the 2023 Australia Post Australian Legends Award series features four-time Australian Touring Car Champion Allan Moffat and his XC Falcon from the iconic Ford 1-2 finish at Bathurst in 1977. An Australian citizen since 2004, Moffat’s deteriorating health has seen friends and former racing rivals manage his affairs for most of the past decade. In 2019, Moffat was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and has been a Dementia Australia Ambassador since 2020.

“These versatile, skilful and athletic drivers achieved excellence on the track in the Bathurst 1000, the Australian Touring Car Championship and the Repco Supercars Championship,” said Australia Post Group Manager Philatelic, Michael Zsolt, of this year’s Australia Post Australian Legends Award recipients.

“This year’s legends are also being recognised for their achievements off the track, including their continued involvement in the industry and in advocacy, education and charity work.”

For details on the Moffat/Johnson/Lowndes/Skaife Australia Post Australian Legends Award stamps and related collectables, go to auspost.com.au/sending/stamps