Face of AustraliaIssue : 1 Jan 2000 This sheetlet of 25 stamps – Australia Post’s official celebration of the year 2000 – is a snapshot of our nation at this point in history. In addition to the twenty-five x 45c stamps of the sheetlet, this issue includes the Face of Australia stamp pack, a set of five maximum cards and the Face of Australia book . First day covers are sold in sets of five, with each cover featuring five of the 25 stamps. Because the names of the individuals are printed on the back of the blank first day covers (five names each) blank covers for Face of Australia will also be sold in packs of five.

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The people behind the Millennium Stamp Project announced: Australia Post introduces the Faces of Australia

Twenty-seven everyday Australians will make history when they are introduced to the nation as the first people to feature on the first stamp series of the new century called Face of Australia (see attached for full list of 27 names and locations).

A special media conference was held in Sydney to introduce the 27 faces of Australia and commemorate their place in history.

Many of the 27 Faces of Australia have travelled great distances and embarked on a personal journey of discovery to be in Sydney.

Each of the people featured on the 45c stamps can expect to see their image some 13 million times over from January 1st 2000, as the stamps make their way around Australia and the world.

What is Face of Australia?

Face of Australia is an historic stamp issue comprising 25 stamps which celebrates the diversity of the Australian people and presents an historic "snapshot of a nation" as we near the 21st century.

Face of Australia is unique because it is the first time regular citizens have featured on the nation's stamps (other than Australia Post's Olympic Legends and Australian Legends issues).

In March 1999, Australia Post invited everyone to participate in a national photographic competition to find the people who together would represent the face of our nation. The competition closed in April 1999, attracting 30,000 entries.

A panel of State Selection Committees was established, choosing 25 images from each State and submitting them to the Stamp Advisory Committee (SAC), which made the final decisions on the photographs.

Australia Post Managing Director Mr Graeme John said Face of Australia is a triumph for the Australian people and a personal triumph for each of the 27 people featured on the stamps.

"It is a great honour for them and for Australia Post, and we are confident all Australians will embrace the stamp series as we believe it holds a mirror to our society," Mr John said.

When can I buy Face of Australia?

Face of Australia was released for sale at the Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne GPOs on Saturday January 1st 2000. All other post offices sold the series from Tuesday January 4th. For keen stamp collectors or Australians after the perfect turn of the century souvenir, a special red ink postmark will be available from the Canberra GPO between 10:00am and 12 noon. Attached: Introducing the Faces of Australia.

Introducing the Faces of Australia -

The first Australians to feature on the first stamp series of the new century. State Name Town/suburb New South Wales John Thurgar Bredbo (near Cooma) New South Wales Miguel Alzona Harris Park, Sydney New South Wales Paris Hansch Tennyson, Blue Mts /td> New South Wales Donald Whatham Nelson Bay (near Newcastle) New South Wales Alex Payne Balmain, Sydney New South Wales John Lodge Gunnedah New South Wales Justin Allan Leichhardt, Sydney Victoria Peta (mother) and Samantha (child) Stewart Yackandandah (near Wodonga) Victoria Dr John Matthews Mt Eliza, Mornington Peninsula Victoria Edith Dizon-Fitzsimmons /td> Shepparton Victoria Necip Akarsu Newborough Victoria Wadad Dennaoui East Bentleigh, Melbourne Victoria Jack Laity Bruthen Queensland David Willis Townsville Queensland Meghan and Nicholle (twins) Victoria Point (near Brisbane) Queensland Philippa Weir New Farm, Brisbane Queensland Rachael Thomson Sunshine Coast Queensland Kelsey Stubbin Annerley, Brisbane Tasmania Mary Simons Summerdale South Australia Gianna Rossi Hope Valley, Adelaide South Australia Natasha Bramley Port Noarlunga (near Adelaide) Western Australia Cyril Watson Wingellina (WA/NT/SA border) Western Australia Mollie Dowdall Belhus Western Australia Robin Louise Dicks Kalgoorlie Northern Territory Stacey Coull Pine Creek (near Kakadu National Park)

For information on obtaining an emailed image of the above people and how they will appear on the Face of Australia stamp series, please phone: Anna Scott or Melissa Clare, 02 9956 7755