Posties push for parcel record

WHEN it comes to making deliveries no one can compete with Father Christmas, but your local postie goes mighty close.

Today is expected to be the busiest day in Australia Post’s history, with postmen and women across the nation delivering a whopping 2.5 million parcels, thousands of them in the Geelong region.

Bankrolled by the rising popularity of online shopping, today promises to be the peak of an unprecedented preChristmas rush that started in October, and the start of the postal service’s busiest week of the year.

Australia Post’s Bob Black said record parcel volumes were being processed through major sorting facilities across the country yesterday, with more people than ever before opting to have their Christmas gifts delivered to the door.

“We know Australians love online shopping and we will have our biggest ever parcel delivery day tomorrow, with over 2.5 million parcels expected through our network,” Mr Black said yesterday.

“Australians are shopping online more than ever, with an unprecedented growth rate of 15 per cent in the first half of 2017. Online shopping festivals like Click Frenzy and Black Friday have also proven to be extremely popular this year and we expect to be busy right up until Christmas.

“This year we’re seeing homewares and appliances, toys and games, and fashion as the top categories being bought online.

“With Christmas only eight sleeps away our posties are working hard to get everyone’s Christmas presents delivered ahead of the big day.

“We’re also offering customers more flexibility with weekend parcel deliveries, and we’re keeping post offices open longer.”