On the morning of Monday 18 July 1966, the first Australian episode of Play School appeared on the nation’s screens. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) had been screening the British program of the same name (which began in 1964 and ceased production in 1998) for two months prior. Fifty years later and Play School is Australia’s longest running children’s television program. Generations of Australians have taken a look through the Windows and sung along to the iconic theme song “There’s a Bear in There” by Richard Connolly and Dr Rosemary Milne. The 50 Years of Play School stamp issue celebrates half a century of this icon of Australian television.
More than 90 presenters have been part of the program over this time, many of them professional actors and many becoming much-loved audience favourites. They have sung songs, dressed up, played games and made craft around a daily theme, then checked the time on the Play School clock before story time. The presenters, talking directly into the camera to their audience, interact with a cast of toys, including Big Ted, Little Ted, Jemima and Humpty, who have becomes icons in their own right. With the help of the presenters, the toys join in the activities and sometimes even embark on an adventure outside.
Lorraine Bayly, Dianne Dorgan, Kerry Francis, Anne Haddy, Donald MacDonald and Alister Smart formed the initial cast of presenters in 1966. Dianne Dorgan and Don Spencer also appeared on the British version of the program (and Lorraine Bayly appeared as a guest storyteller in 1972). Benita Collings featured in a record 401 episodes between 1969 and 1999.
Products released in this issue
- Minisheet
- Covers (blank pictorial, gummed)
- Stamp pack
- Special sheetlet pack
- Maxicards
- Postal numismatic covers x 2
- Medallion cover
- Booklet of 10 x $1 (self-adhesive)
Technical specifications
- Issue date
- 26 July 2016
- Issue withdrawal date
- 31 January 2017
- Denominations
- 1 x $1, 1 x $2
- Stamp design
- Jonathan Chong
- Product design
- Australia Post Design Studio
- Printer - gummed
- McKellar Renown
- Paper - gummed
- Tullis Russell Red Phos
- Paper - self-adhesive
- C100
- Printing process
- Offset lithography
- Stamp size
- 26mm x 37.5mm
- Minisheet size
- 135mm x 80mm
- Perforations
- 14.6 x 13.86
- Sheet layout
- Module of 50 no design
- FDI postmark
- Humpty Doo NT 0836
- FDI withdrawal date
- 23 August 2016
On the $1 stamp, iconic Play School characters Jemima and Humpty are at a party, as a reference to the 50-year celebrations. The stamp features the closing lyrics of “There’s a Bear in There”, the much-loved theme song of Play School that continues to this day.
On the $2 stamps, Big Ted and Little Ted are ready to play ball, to highlight Play School’s focus on play and play-based learning. The stamp features the opening lyric to the iconic Play School theme song. Some of the other song lyrics are filled in on the minisheet.
This content was produced at the time of the stamp issue release date and will not be updated.
