Gulf News

Journalist Kate Webb featured on Australian stamp

Webb, who died in 2007 at the age of 64, earned a reputation as a fearless reporter during the Vietnam War

- New York Times

Acrusading Agence FrancePres­se correspond­ent who enjoyed a storied career covering wars and other historic events has been commemorat­ed on an Australian stamp.

Kate Webb, who died in 2007 at the age of 64, earned a reputation as a fearless reporter during the Vietnam War and covering other momentous stories in Asia during a career spanning four decades.

She is featured on one of five new stamps unveiled yesterday to mark Remembranc­e Day on November 11, when a minute’s silence is held to honour those who have fought and died for their country. The stamps will be issued on October 6.

“This stamp issue, the fourth in a series commemorat­ing a century since World War I, acknowledg­es the important roles women have played in war and conflict,” said Michael Zsolt of Australia Post.

Webb, who was born in New Zealand but moved to Australia with her family as a child, is shown on a stamp marking the Korea and Vietnam wars, along with Red Cross worker Rosemary Griggs.

In 1971 while covering the Vietnam War, Webb was reported killed after she was ambushed and taken prisoner by North Vietnamese troops in Cambodia, who marched her and five others through the jungle in a 23day ordeal.

A front-page published in the and the body of another woman wrongly identified as hers — but just as her family held a memorial service for her in Sydney, Webb and the other captives were freed.

First World War, Second World War, the conflicts in Afghanista­n and Iraq, and Australia’s role in peacekeepi­ng operations also feature in the stamp series.

Prior to and including the First World War, the involvemen­t of Australian women in conflict zones was almost entirely limited to nursing.

By the Vietnam War, they held many roles, including as members of civilian medical teams, obituary was Red Cross support, entertaine­rs, and journalist­s. Today, women are employed throughout the armed forces.

AFP in 2008 launched the annual Kate Webb Prize to recognise exceptiona­l Asian journalist­s doing difficult and dangerous work across the region.

The 2017 edition is currently welcoming applicatio­ns, with the winner receiving €3,000 (Dh13,132) in cash, which will be awarded at a prize-giving ceremony.

The contest is open to locally hired Asian photo, video and text journalist­s, for work published during 2016.

Applicatio­ns close on November 1.

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