Surfing Australia fiftieth anniversary stamps from Australia Post

Australia Post marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Surfing Australia organisation with four stamps. The four domestic base rate (60c) stamps feature vintage images of surfers, showing three 1950s girls with surfboards, a Sixties-style Surfing Australia logo and surfer, a truck carrying surfboards parked at a beach and a surfer riding the waves.

Surfing Australia is a not for profit national sporting organisation, established in 1963 to 'guide the development of surfing and promote the sport in Australia'. In the years following its establishment, a whole culture developed around surfing, with a whole generation of surfers following in the footsteps of the pioneer surfers such as swimmer Duke Kahanamoku who demonstrated surfing in New South Wales in 1914.

Andrew Stark, chief executive of Surfing Australia, said: 'Surfing Australia is thrilled that Australia Post has recognised surfing in this way and is supporting our 50 year celebrations. We hope this stamp issue creates awareness and inspires people of all ages to take up this healthy sport.'

Michael Zsolt, philatelic manager of Australia Post, added: 'We are delighted to celebrate, with Surfing Australia, a great sport and leisure activity that has become integral to Australian identity. We trust this stamp issue will be popular with surfing enthusiasts and the general public alike.'

For more on Australian stamps, visit the Australia Post website.

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