January 25, 2016
The “Boy from Blackbutt” – or should that be Nukku? – tennis champ Roy Emerson is being celebrated on a new stamp issued by Australia Post.
Eleven of Australia’s most loved singles tennis players are being honoured by Australia Post as the recipients of the 2016 Australia Post Legends Award.
The tennis elite being singled out for praise are Pat Cash, Ashley Cooper, Roy Emerson, Neale Fraser, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, John Newcombe, Patrick Rafter, Tony Roche, Ken Rosewall, Frank Sedgman and Fred Stolle.
The 2016 Legends feature on a $1 stamp, in a stamp pack set, first day cover, a set of maxi cards and booklet of 10 stamps for collectors.
Each Legend will be presented with a 24-carat gold replica of their stamp.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that my photograph would be on an Australian postage stamp,” Roy Emerson said.
“What an honour it is for me to be chosen, I am delighted.”
It’s wonderful that Roy Emerson is being featured on the Australian $1 stamps along with nine other tennis greats.
In previous years, two of the greatest players of all time in Margaret Court and Rod Laver were featured on the issue of special Australia Day award stamps. It’s wonderful that 10 of the other stars of world tennis dating back to the 1950s are now being honoured to coincide with Australia Day awards being held throughout the South Burnett and the remainder of the nation.
The present superstar of women’s tennis in Serena Williams is still chasing Court’s long term record of overall victories. I am certain that Roy Emerson, with his imposing list of singles victories at Wimbledon in the same era as Laver, would agree that the Rockhampton “Rocket” was among the best of all time.
Both Laver and Court are still regular visitors to the four major world tournaments in Melbourne, Paris, London and New York.
Wouldn’t all of our past champions love to have been recipients of the massive prize money which is now being distributed where superstars can become millionaries in just a few short years plus they can also afford to pay coaches, trainers and other associated staff? Of course,this applies now to most other sports throughout the world where sponsorship also plays a key role.