MOREE has always been rich in good people, but the town grew infinitely richer when ‘man of letters’ Tony Gadsby began serving customers at Moree Post Office in 1990.

After 40 years’ service with Australia Post, Tony stamped his last envelope on Christmas Eve – and 35 of those 40 years were spent manning the front counter at Moree’s Frome Street depot.

Born-and-raised in Bourke, Tony, now 67, plans to enjoy retirement in Moree with wife, Faye.

Their daughter, Renaye, also lives in Moree, and their son, Brenton, lives in Sydney.

Tony’s Australia Post journey began in 1986, about 10 years after he left Bourke High School.

“I finished school in 1975 and became an apprentice butcher,” Tony said.

“In 1986, I was given the opportunity to join Australia Post, and thought it might be a good career change.”

Tony left Bourke to work at Strathfield and Rozelle Post Offices, but the bush beckoned.

“After six months in Sydney, I returned to the bush and took up a position as a postal clerk at Brewarrina in early 1987,” Tony said.

In 1990, Tony transferred to Moree Post Office as a postal clerk – and his friendly nature and warm smile has been greeting customers ever since.

“I was only going to stay three years – we were supposed to be on our way to the coast,” Tony smiled.

In 1999, the postal manager’s position became vacant and after 12 months acting in that position, Tony was promoted to the role.

“I have been postal manager ever since, although the title changed earlier this year to ‘team leader’,” he said.

A lot has changed in the industry during Tony’s time at the helm in Moree.

Australia Post has experienced a revolutionary transformation during the last 30-odd years, from a traditional mail-focused government department to a commercial and retail business.

The shift, driven by the rise of online shopping and parcel deliveries, as well as a deep decline in letter volumes, is ever-evolving.

Post Offices across Australia now offer a diverse range of services, well beyond mail. These include banking and finance facilities to pay bills and utilities, and government services like passport applications and identity verifications.

In the 1990s, there were more than 30 people working at Moree Post Office.

“Nowadays, we’ve got eight staff,” Tony said.

“I’ve witnessed a lot of big changes over the forty years I’ve been with Australia Post.

“I remember in the early years, at Brewarrina as well as Moree, telegrams were a major source of communication, then later faxes.”

With telegrams, messages were paid by the word. Therefore, they were short, sharp and to the point.

Facsimile messages allowed customers to send important documents instantly, and replaced teleprinter and telex services.

Even the popular posties have seen enormous change in recent years. They once rode iconic Honda 90 step-throughs with a mail-bag either side, but now manoeuvre electric three-wheeled delivery vehicles, introduced to handle increased parcel volumes, improve safety and reduce emissions.

Then came the computer age – and the entire world changed forever.

“Post offices switched to computers in 1995 – a major shift, which made things a whole lot easier,” Tony said.

“Before that, everything had to be written down in balance books; these days, it’s the press of a button or the click of a mouse.

“People can now pay their bills, do their banking and purchase stationery, gifts and household items or collectables at their local post office,” he said.

With the computer age, came a whole new way of communicating.

“Due to the advancement of technology, letter volumes have decreased by 50 per cent and parcel volumes have increased immensely because of online shopping,” Tony said.

“Today, emails are nearly everyone’s way of communicating plus mobile phones, of course.”

Tony said working in a post office in a small town, where ‘everybody knows your name’, offers a personal touch seldom seen at big city mail centres.

“Letters and parcels arrive on a daily basis with no addresses on them, only a name, but due to the local knowledge of our staff here at Moree, nearly every item gets delivered,” Tony said proudly.

Tony’s position as team leader at Moree will be filled by long-serving employee, Theresa Mills, whose friendly smile and sense of humour is also well-known in the Moree community.

“I have had the pleasure of working with Tony for the past 12 years,” Theresa said.

“Tony has been a great boss and mentor during that time, and he’s had a great relationship with all staff at Moree, past and present.

“Tony will not only be missed by the current staff, but the customers are going to miss him as well – he can talk about anything from sports to crops, and the weather,” she laughed.

“It has been a pleasure working with Tony over the years. I wish him all the best and a happy retirement.”

Away from the stamp pad and computer screen, Tony has been heavily involved in local sport over the years, including cricket, rugby league and rugby union.

He also loves a day at the races, especially when roped in to hold the bag or push a pencil for local bookies Terry and Chris Picone, or Joe Lahood.

“I regularly get asked if I have any ‘late mail’,” Tony chuckled.

Terry Picone said Moree’s favourite ‘postie’ needs no introduction.

“Tony’s a champion bloke,” Terry said.

“He’s always polite and respectful, but will tell you where you stand if provoked – that’s how they breed them out Bourke way,” he laughed.

“We’ve travelled thousands of kilometres over the years in our quest to earn a living out of the racing game, and the one common denominator is the fact there has never a car radio to interrupt his yarns, especially about cricket.

“When we’ve got David Jurd in the car, we take the full kit – helmet, forearm protection and double-sided pads – because the yarns come from all directions.

“But seriously, we talk about everything – except religion. Cricket is top priority, but rugby league and racing are a dead-heat for second.

“I think one of Tony’s greatest achievements was telling Jim Maxwell how to commentate cricket at a recent function in Moree,” he grinned.

“Tony is a great town person, who has done a lot for young cricketers in Moree, and has the respect of everyone in the community.

“Well done, TG. Enjoy your retirement,” Terry said.

Out on the pitch, Tony was involved in senior and junior cricket as a player, coach, umpire and administrator.

He was afforded life membership of Moree Junior Cricket Club in 2009.

“That is an honour I feel quite humble about, but something I’m very proud of as well,” Tony said.

“When Covid arrived in 2020, I ceased my involvement with cricket.

“I also refereed rugby league for about ten years, and gained a lot of enjoyment with Moree Rugby Club at the Weebolla grounds, running water for the players from 2013 to 2019,” he said.

Now that he’s hung up the ink pad, Tony plans to get in a lot of walking, and spending more time with Faye and their five grandchildren.

“I reckon I might also catch up with a few mates over a beer and watch a bit of sport on television, too,” he grinned.

“I’ll still occasionally work at the races for Terry, Chris and Joe when they need a hand.”

Tony thanked the entire Moree community – a community where he knows every person by name.

“I sincerely thank everyone for their friendship across the counter at Moree Post Office, and to the people I’ve worked with over the past 40 years, thank-you for your help and support during that time,” Tony said.

Tony’s last day at the counter on Christmas Eve was bittersweet, with many goodbyes, handshakes and hugs.

“It all seems a bit surreal,” he said.

“I started in the workforce 50 years ago, in December as a matter of fact, and 40 of those years were with Australia Post – they’ve been good times.”

Words and Images: Bill Poulos