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Thursday 9 October is World Post Day – a day to celebrate the role of the post and the contributions of postal people.
Postal people are renowned for their dedication: dedication to their jobs, to their customers, and to their communities.
Jenny Patroni, the owner of the Koumala Licensed Post Office in Queensland, has served her community for 46 years. Koumala is a country town about 50km south of the city of Mackay in North Queensland.
She started as postmistress at the Koumala Non-Official Post Office, as it was then known.
“Back then, I was a single mum looking for a job in the local community that didn’t involve travel,” recalls Jenny.
Jenny managed her postal and parental commitments the way that many young mothers in the post office have over the years – by getting up early, having the kids around when sorting the morning mail, and later on popping the kids in the back seat of the car while delivering mail.
For the last 15 years, Jenny has also held the local mail contract. The mail run is 111km long, with 138 delivery points. It’s a three-days-per-week contract, covering a mixture of country, beach, and cane growing areas.
Like many Licensed Post Office owners, Jenny is involved in just about every local community group. She’s heavily involved in the local horse gymkhana. She has been on the executive of Country Women’s Association for 35 years. Jenny is part of the local Rural Fire Service – she drives the truck! In fact, she was responsible for the fire service getting the fire truck. She’s also a member of the local State Emergency Service.
“A break from the post office? What's that?” says Jenny.
Over the years, opportunities to take time away from the business were limited to long weekends and Easter. Jenny didn't get a proper break from the post office until her daughter (pictured above with Jenny) started working in the post office, along with another casual staff member.
Jenny has just had her longest break from the post office - a caravan trip to South Australia and back.
She has made a promise to herself that she will take Thursdays off, but she's not always successful in honouring that promise – the lure of the post office counter is too strong!
Jenny is a long-serving member of POAAL’s Queensland Committee, and is POAAL’s Queensland Chairman.
“I’ve loved being part of POAAL because I love talking with other Licensees,” says Jenny.
“I’ve attended POAAL meetings around Australia. I’ve been able to see other parts of Australia and meet more post office people thanks to my involvement in POAAL.”
As a POAAL representative, Jenny has helped many Licensees with post office issues over the years. She consults regularly with Australia Post in Queensland on post office matters, making Licensees’ voices heard at the highest level.
Jenny is a life member of POAAL. She was awarded life membership in recognition of her many years of service to Licensees in Queensland.
“The post office is a big part of the community – but like all small businesses it has to be supported by other local businesses and local people,” says Jenny.
Jenny wants good service levels in postal services maintained in country areas. She recognises there can be difficulties in taking on a business in country Australia, but she has noticed more young families are coming into her area - possibly because it's affordable compared to the major cities - even though living in a country town might mean driving to a larger regional centre for some services that aren’t available locally.
About World Post Day
World Post Day is celebrated each year on 9 October. The event was declared by the 1969 Universal Postal Congress in Tokyo as a means to mark the anniversary of the Universal Postal Union's creation in 1874.
The purpose of World Post Day is to bring awareness to the Post's role in the everyday lives of people and businesses, as well as its contribution to global social and economic development.
