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50 Years of Play School

Issue Date: 26 July 2016

Overview

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