After years of waiting, Pastor Sir Doug Nicholls has been recognised for his significant contribution to Australian society with Australia Post releasing a stamp in his honour.
The stamp commemorates the 50th anniversary of the knighting of Sir Doug, the first Aboriginal Australian to be knighted, and coincides with NAIDOC Week.
Pastor Sir Doug Nicholls, a Yorta Yorta man, born at the Cummeragunja Aboriginal Mission, began his footballing career with the Fitzroy Football Club in the VFL and was the only Aboriginal player in the league.
He played with Fitzroy until a knee injury ended his football career in 1937.
He was also appointed Governor of South Australia before he resigned due to poor health in April 1977.
Following the death of his mother, he re-embraced Christianity, was ordained as a preacher in 1945 and became the inaugural pastor of the first Aboriginal Church of Christ in Australia.
He and his wife, Lady Gladys, would go on to become passionate advocates for Aboriginal rights and welfare, and in 1972 Sir Doug was the first Indigenous Australian to receive a knighthood.
Australia Post's executive general manager of retail Catriona Noble said it was special to be able to mark the occasion in this way.
"It's about celebrating Indigenous culture but it's for all of us to celebrate and be really proud of," she said.
The daughter of Sir Doug and Lady Gladys, Aunty Pam Pederson, said the family had been waiting for years to have the stamp after her niece, Bev Murray, wrote to Australia Post requesting it.
"She was writing letters to Australia Post enquiring about a stamp being launched for Dad.
"Now it has happened after so many years and we're so grateful."
Ms Pederson said her dad would have been humbled by the honour, and she hoped the story of her father would be spread right across Australia.
"I do hope the teachers in some of the schools have that stamp to show the children," she said.
"Then the education starts with the teachers telling the students about who my father was and what he did for our people."
The photo on the stamp is of Sir Doug at Government House, and Ms Pederson said it was the perfect photo of a day she would never forget.
"I look at that photo and every time I look at it I think how hot it was that particular day," she said.
"I remember some of the people were fainting because they had to stand up so straight and it was the hottest day, so I will never forget that."
