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APRIL • MAY • JUNE
CIRCUS – UNDER THE BIG TOP
15 May 2007
Circus began in Australia more than 150 years ago, and there have been many different
circus acts performed ever since. Most circus acts need great strength. Many acts need
nerves of steel. And some just need a good sense of humour.
Some of the crazy acts that have been performed in Australian circuses appear on our
stamps. There’s the Burning Bicycle, where a man is doing tricks on a bike while juggling
flaming clubs. The Inside-out Man is in a very strange position with his bottom in the
air. The Dental Trapeze artist is holding a trapeze performer in the air by his teeth. The
Banana Lady is doing an upside down backbend while being held in the air by a very
strong man. And finally the Human Cannonball, in which a girl is being exploded out
of a cannon! (Don’t try these tricks at home kids!)
BIG THINGS
5 June 2007
Have you ever seen one of these REALLY big
landmarks on your holidays, or maybe just
near your home? They are used to promote
or advertise places of interest. Some people
like them and others don’t, but one thing is
certain – they catch your attention!
Common belief is that the first Big Thing in
Australia was the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour,
NSW. How many Big Things have you visited?
HISTORIC SHIPWRECKS
1 May 2007
THREATENED WILDLIFE
26 June 2007
The Pygmy-possum is
a very shy and rare animal
and is hiding somwhere
on the island.
Right up until the 1960s, the main way people
travelled to Australia was by sea. During the 19th
century, the voyage was very long and perilous,
with ships powered by sail or steam. Sometimes
ships didn’t reach their destinations at all!
Our three stamps feature the wrecking of
the Admella, the Loch Ard and the Dunbar along
Australia’s coast during the 19th century. Many
passengers and crew lost their lives in these
terrible disasters.
Looking after our wildlife is everyone’s responsibility.
Many of Australia’s unique animals and birds are threatened
with extinction. The habitat (or environment) of the Mountain
Pygmy-possum and Grey-headed Flying-fox is being destroyed
or disrupted. Another threat to their survival is the introduction
of feral animals, such as cats and foxes. They hunt our wildlife and
compete with them for food. Sometimes fishermen accidentally
capture and kill creatures such as the Flatback Turtle and
Wandering Albatross while they are fishing. See what you
can do to help.
ISLAND JEWELS
5 March 2007
SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC
3 April 2007
Many people believe that the day you are born can tell you
something about your personality. For instance, if you were
born between 21 March and 20 April, your sun sign is Aries,
which might mean you are dynamic and competitive (among
other things). Each of the signs relates to where the sun was
at the time you were born, and is named after a constellation
of stars in the sky. There are 12 signs – Aries, Taurus, Gemini,
Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn,
Aquarius and Pisces. Find out what your sun sign is and
what it might tell you about your personality.
Australia is the biggest island
continent in the world, and it’s
surrounded by some small beautiful
islands of natural and cultural
significance. They are all very
different and some can be found
on our stamps.
They are Maria Island (Tas),
Rottnest Island (WA), Green Island
and Fraser Island (Qld), Kangaroo
Island (SA) and Lord Howe
Island (NSW).
An interesting fact that you may
not know, is that Rottnest Island
is Dutch for “Rats’ Nest Island”.
Dutch mariners in the 17th century
mistook the native marsupial
quokkas for rats and named the
island after them!
SPECIAL OFFER
89
APRIL
– JUNE 2007
Medallion included in each product
10% off
NRL & AFL
We’ve got your favourite team just in time for this
season! You can use this voucher to get a 10%
discount off the recommended price at participating
Australia Post outlets while stocks last.
$14.95
$11.95
AVAILABLE
FROM APRIL!
If undelivered return to: Australian Stamp Explorer
PO Box 4000 FERNTREE GULLY VIC 3156 AUSTRALIA

Hi Gang
Wow! This Explorer is full of unusual and interesting things –
HUMONGOUS objects, stunning islands (as well as Explorer
Island, of course!), crazy circus acts and the list goes on! Maybe
I should join the circus. I could be a performer or even a clown!
I already know how to do tricks. Postie Kate might try out, too.
She can sort through hundreds of letters in a very short
time. Amazing! Well, I’ve got to go practise my circus act.
To subscribe, or just to
drop us a line, our address is:
Australian Stamp Explorer
Subscriptions
PO Box 4000
FERNTREE GULLY VIC 3156
Love Sniffer and the Stamp Gang
WHERE WAS THE LUNAR NEW YEAR PIG HIDING ON EXPLORER 88?
Look under the railway track in the drain!
SA: Kelsey Armstrong, Emma Easthope, NSW: Irena Muss, Aranie Sritharan, Makayla Rees, Brittany Williams, VIC: Chloe Juri, Emillie King,
James Mitchell, Jamie Dower, Monica Hu, WA: Brandon Edmiston, Benjamin True-Arrow, James Mitsou, QLD: Sarah Balsillie, Leticia Wark,
Jaime Spragge, Jordan Chamaa, Hunter Thompson, Tegan Baker

COLOURING IN

!

ACTIVITY
Make your own Sailing Ship!
Get some friends together and make your very
own sailing ship using recycled “bits and pieces”.
You will need: Four good-sized cardboard boxes, old
sheets, newspapers or craft paper for the sails, packaging
tape, curtain rods, broom or mop handles (you may
be able to borrow these), scissors and crayons or felt pens
(for decoration).
Use the illustration shown here, and your imagination,
to put your “ship” together and then, SHIP AHOY!
STAMP FACTS
Which stamps are Australia’s
largest and smallest?
Five-dollar Jumbo Stamps that were
issued in 2004 and 2005 are Australia’s
largest stamps. They measure 105 x 70
millimetres, which is nearly 10 times
bigger than an ordinary 50c stamp.
The $5 Treasures from the Archives
stamps showed rare stamps from the
National Philatelic Collection, of which
Australia Post is custodian.
More than 100 years ago, people
in Victoria and South Australia
used Australia’s smallest stamps.
At a time when each state issued
its own stamps, Victoria and South
Australia produced tiny half-penny
(about half a cent) stamps showing
Queen Victoria’s head. The half-penny
stamps were just 13 x 22 millimetres
in size, which is about two-fifths the
size of an ordinary 50c stamp. One
hundred years ago, people had to be
careful not to swallow the tiny stamps
when licking them!
NB: Ordinary 50c stamp refers
to definitive issues, which are 30 x 25
millimetres in size.

To contact the Australian Philatelic Bureau or order other products:
Please enclose a cheque/money order (no cash) for the total amount
payable to Australia Post. Send this order in an envelope to:
(REMEMBER! No stamp required if posted within Australia)
Order form

Products not shown to scale
PRIVACY POLICY Your personal
information is collected to enable
us to administer this competition.
Entries without all or part of
this information are not valid.
Winners’ names will be published
in a future edition of Australian
Stamp Explorer. Entries may be
published in a future edition of
Australian Stamp Explorer. You may
request access to your personal
information while it is stored with
us and we will assess your request
in accordance with the law. We will
give you reasons where we deny
access. Your personal information
may also be disclosed to third
parties who form part of our
products/services delivery, such
as mailing houses that administer
competitions, so that they can help
provide the products/services to you.
Packs will be awarded to the 20
entries judged to be the best.
All entries must be received by 15
April 2007 to be eligible.
For your chance to win one of 20 Big Things prize packs, tell us in 25 words or less
What you think would make a really good
“Big Thing” and why.
Competition closes
15 April 2007.