Margaret Fulton OAM, Maggie Beer AM, Stephanie Alexander OAM, Neil Perry AM and Kylie Kwong where recently announced as the recipients of the 2014 Australia Post Legends Award.
Ahmed Fahour, Managing Director & CEO, Australia Post, said this year’s award celebrates five Australians who have each played a distinct role in the emergence of a sophisticated Australian food culture.
“These five individuals have taught Australians to appreciate our abundant fresh ingredients and to embrace the flavours of multiculturalism,” Mr Fahour said.
Michael Harden, independent culinary writer and member of the industry selection panel, believes the current food culture we have in Australia would not have been possible without the input of these amazing and visionary cooks.
“The people on this list have been integral to the way we eat now, and their innovation, imagination and integrity will keep the inspiration going into the future. It’s enough to make you hungry just thinking about it,” Mr Harden said.
“I’m a sentimentalist and I’ve got every letter my mother wrote me while I was overseas, so being on a stamp makes me very proud. There have been so many parts of my life that I’ve had to pinch myself about, and this is one of them.” Maggie Beer AM
Mr Fahour explained that the Legends Award began 16 years ago when Sir Donald Bradman was the first living Australian to be honoured on an Australian stamp. Prior to that, the only living people honoured on our nation’s stamps were members of the royal family.
“It is just such an amazing honour and I am deeply humbled to have been chosen. Monarchs’ and Heads of State are on stamps, as well as music legends like Barnesy, so to be named amongst them feels like an incredible achievement.” Neil Perry AM commented.
“I’m absolutely chuffed. I don’t even think it’s sunk in yet; I’m still digesting the enormity of it. It fills me with such pride and it makes me want to do even more for this country and to take what I do that step further.” Kylie Kwong commented.