Two years ago Busselton Stamp Club member Neil Chaplin had an idea for a stamp to commemorate the Busselton Jetty’s 150th anniversary.
He brought the idea up at a meeting, the club then approached Australia Post to request that the Busselton Jetty be put on a stamp.
One year later, the club received a letter from Australia Post to say while they would not be able to issue a stamp in time for the anniversary they would include the jetty on stamps with the theme of piers and jetties.
The Busselton Stamp Club president Tony West said it was Mr Chaplin’s idea for the jetty to be featured on a stamp but the whole process went through the club.
Mr Chaplin said it was great when the club found out.
“When something comes to fruition it is nice,” he said.
There are four stamps in the issue which feature three other jetties from around Australia including the Tumby Bay Jetty in SA, the Shelley Beach Jetty in Victoria and the Kincumber Jetty in NSW.
“They chose a good photo [of the Busselton Jetty] with a pink atmosphere and emphasised the Busselton Jetty out of all the others,” Mr Chaplin said.
“It will go worldwide.”
An Australia Post spokesperson said they were happy to include the Busselton Jetty with their issue of piers and jetty stamps because it was the longest wooden jetty in the world and it had celebrated its 150th birthday in 2015.
Australia Post worked closely with the Busselton Jetty Environment and Conservation Association to come up with a design for the jetty stamp.
BJECA put forward Adam Taylor’s name to take the photo and much to their surprise, it all happened very quickly.
Busselton Jetty chief executive officer Lisa Shreeve said to the Mail back in September that being featured on a stamp was a great opportunity to promote the Busselton Jetty across Australia and would promote the region to a huge audience.
“Postage stamps are nearly as iconic as the 151-year-old Jetty, and both overseeing organisations are going through a reinvention at present to be exciting, new and relevant in 2016 and beyond.”
The Busselton Jetty stamp will be available from Australia Post from February 21 and will cost $1.
The Busselton Stamp Club has run for the last eight years and meets on the first Monday of every month from 5pm to 7pm at the Seventh Day Adventist Room on Pettit Crescent, West Busselton.
People interested in collecting stamps or would like to have their collection appraised can contact the club secretary Kevin Keally on 9754 2992 or president Tony West on 9755 2904.
