Calling time on 50 years
Horsham’s Ian Jackson plans to become a ‘grey nomad’ after more than 50 years delivering mail to people throughout the Wimmera.
Mr Jackson officially retired from Australia Post on Friday.
“I decided about a month ago it was time to go,” he said.
“There has been more of a move towards modern technology, and I’m not a real modern technology person.
“I also want to enjoy retirement while I am fit and healthy.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet. I’ll believe it when I don’t have to get up and go to work.”
Mr Jackson said he and his wife Dianne had bought a caravan and were planning significant trips around Australia.
“We are going to travel the east coast of Australia for three to four months,” he said.
“After that we will look at the west coast and do a few little trips in between.
“My wife is retiring as well and we are going to be grey nomads and head somewhere warm for the winter.”
Mr Jackson joined Australia Post – or the Post-master General’s Department, PMG, as it was then known – in 1968.
The PMG was responsible for postal and telegraphic services across Australia and Mr Jackson worked in a variety of roles.
“I’ve done a lot of different things, from being a driver to working inside the mail room,” he said.
Mr Jackson was born and bred in Minyip and started his career in his hometown branch of the PMG.
“My first role was as a junior postal assistant,” he said.
“One week I had a postie round and was sorting mail and the next week I was a night boy on the phone exchange.”
Mr Jackson transferred to Horsham in 1972.
“I didn’t move far, but Horsham was big enough for me,” he said.
“Twenty years ago a job as a postie came up and I never looked back.
“I never liked being inside, perfect for me.
“Riding a motorbike made things a lot easier.”
Mr Jackson said he had seen a wealth of changes throughout his time in the industry.
“When I started all the mail was brought up by rail,” he said.
“Everything was in bags, which had to so it was be unloaded. There were certainly some sore backs.
“These days the mail is all in containers, which are moved using a forklift. A lot of heavy handling has gone from the job.
“Once upon a time everything was done in writing, in books. These days everything is done on computers, which does allow you to track a lot of things.
“Letters are gone – they have decreased dramatically – while packages and parcels have increased beyond expectations due to online shopping.
“Ten years ago we wondered what we were going to do for jobs, with the decrease in mail, but with all the parcels these days, we are quite busy.”
Mr Jackson said although he loved his job, he had considered becoming a roof tiler alongside his brother-in-law, when Australia Post was struggling.
“But at the time, the building industry wasn’t doing so well either,” he said.
“I’ve never regretted not leaving. My back would have been gone by now if I did.”
Mr Jackson said the biggest highlight of his career was the people he had met along the way.
“Because I’ve been there so long I’ve had so many bosses and made so many friends through work,” he said.
“Back when it was the PMG you were doing up pays for 200 people. It’s a lot different these days.
“Obviously I’ve had some down times but overall I’ve loved it and I’m glad I stuck to it.
“The amount of people you meet on the job is amazing and most of them appreciate what you do.
“You could tell a lot of people who stayed home all the time got bored and the postie was someone else for them to talk to.
“I will miss the people – particularly the peaches and stuff they used to bring me in fruit times.”