Australia Post honours CHOGM 2011 in Perth with new stamp
Tuesday, 18 October 2011
Australia Post is marking the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in Perth, Western Australia in October 2011 with the release of a domestic rate (60c) stamp. The stamp issue is available 18 October 2011.
"Australia Post is delighted to commemorate the 2011 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting with this stamp issue," said Australia Post Managing Director and CEO, Ahmed Fahour. "The hosting of CHOGM 2011 in Perth will provide a great opportunity to showcase Western Australia to the world."
CHOGM 2011 is the most significant international event to be held in Perth for almost 50 years and marks the third time that Australia has been host. The main venue this year will be the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre and will be held from the 28 to 30 October. Previous meetings were held in Melbourne, Victoria in 1981 and Coolum, Queensland in 2002.
This event will be the largest ever gathering of world leaders in Australia. It will attract around 3,000 delegates, including Heads of Government, Foreign Ministers, senior officials and support staff. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as Head of the Commonwealth will also attend. Queen Elizabeth II will be accompanied on her visit by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. The media will provide coverage to more than 50 nations.
CHOGM is a biennial meeting of the Heads of Government from all Commonwealth nations. Every two years the meeting is held in a different member state, and is chaired by that nation's respective Prime Minister or President, who becomes the Commonwealth Chairperson-in-Office.
The Commonwealth, formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is a voluntary, inter-governmental organisation of 54 member states. The Commonwealth believes in establishing partnerships between governments, business and civil society to build stronger democratic institutions and procedures and is home to two billion citizens of many faiths and ethnicities.
There have been meetings of Commonwealth leaders since 1949 when just eight countries were members. At the leaders meeting in Singapore in 1971, the term Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) was adopted to describe the unique gathering of presidents and prime ministers.
The stamp issued to commemorate CHOGM 2011 depicts the Perth skyline. Recently rated as one of the top 10 most liveable cities in the world, Perth is currently enjoying unprecedented growth and development fuelled by the boom in mineral resources.
The CHOGM 2011 stamp was designed by Rachelle Flynn of the Australia Post Design Studio. Rachelle's recent stamp designs include Cocos (Keeling) Islands Boats and Special Occasions Love (2011).
The CHOGM stamp products include a first day cover, stamp pack, maxicard and a sheetlet of 10 x 60c stamps. The stamps and associated products are available from participating Australia Post retail outlets, via mail order on 1800 331 794 and online at www.auspost.com.au/stamps from 18 October 2011 while stocks last.
