NEWS v District Louise Michael reports:
Retirement will deliver a new lifestyle for Joy
A GREAT JOURNEY OVER 35 YEARS FOR AN ADMIRED LADY ...
JOY sorts her last mail at Pinery post office and (right) relaxes with pal Millie
W
hile June 30 signified the end of the financial year for us, it also marked the end of an era for Owen’s “Mail Lady” Joy Cunningham. After 35 years, Joy’s contract with Australia Post as the road side delivery (RSD) lady, ended. Joy started her contract in 1977, which involved driving to Balaklava every weekday morning at 8am to collect the mail for Owen, Barabba and Pinery residents, and drive it back to the Owen Post Office for sorting. At 10.30am, Joy would pop in to pick up the mail from Owen Post Office, and start her run to the Barabba and Pinery Post Offices. Her trusty charcoal coloured Commodore was a welcome sight for the residents who would often be seen standing outside the post offices for their mail. Joy also delivered some Advertisers and recalls farmer Stan Evans (now deceased)
standing at Pinery every day waiting for his paper. After initially doing the Barabba/Pinery run, Joy took on the Balaklava/Whitwarta/ Mount Templeton and Bowillia mail runs. The latter run, with 31 roadside deliveries, was travelled three times a week, making the total travelled a whopping 659kms per week! Joy has provided mail services to 15 boxes at Barabba and 42 at Pinery, while also collecting outgoing mail from post boxes at both towns.
“Biggest change over the years was the increased number of parcels delivered,” Joy said. “On-line shopping has made a huge difference to Australia Post.” “Sometimes there was hardly any room for me in the car, especially around Christmas,” she said. It’s ironic Joy was awarded the Barabba mail contract as there was a longstanding family connection with that post office. When mail first came to Barabba in 1877, the
official postal duties were carried out in the school house. In 1927 local residents built, at their own expense, a small roadside Post Office. It was unique as it was the smallest PO in South Australia, having letter boxes from 1-15. Joy’s grandfather, Joseph Hallion, had box number six. This box number remained in the family until January 2012 when Catherine Hallion died. The key was handed in by her son, Vincent. For the first time in 85 years, box number six was vacant!
Joy (nee Snook) grew up on her family farm outside of Owen. She attended Owen Primary School and once finished there, went home to help her father, and brother Colin, on the farm. She married Keith Cunningham, the local butcher, in 1956 and helped him in the butcher’s shop. The couple had two daughters, Helaine (Cunningham) and Paula (Lloyd). Sadly, Keith passed away in 2009, but Joy kept on with her postal duties. Her niece, and current Owen Postmistress, Derily Snook, has kept her on her toes too. Prior to working for Australia Post, Joy had been a school bus driver for 18 years. “I had a great time driving the bus. Some of my passengers were little horrors, but they turned out to be some
of the best men and dads around,” she said. But that’s another story, and don’t worry lads, your names are safe with Joy – and me! Joy enjoyed her time as the RSD lady. Travelling regardless of the weather gave Joy some interesting trips, especially after big rains. She met many people who became good freinds. “It was a happy but hectic time, but I really enjoyed it. It’s been a great journey,” Joy said. This groovy granny intends spending her retirement enjoying time with her family and six grandchildren, helping in her community of Owen and relaxing in her garden. A great achievement for a great lady!
Health
Wellbeing & Beauty HAMLEY Bridge Medical Centre team (from left) rear, Dr Chris Roach, co practice manager, Jo Eastwood and Dr Frank Graham. Front, nurse Mary Graham and receptionist Lisa Martin
Dr Frank Graham & Dr Chris Roach Same day appointments usually available 9-5 Thurs - Riverton | 9-5 Mon & Fri - Clare
BALAKLAVA
❋ ❋ ❋ ❋
General Foot Care Foot Pain Foot Othoses Biomechanical Assessment
• Medicare Bulk Billing on all Enhanced Primary Care Treatments • Department of Veterans’ Affairs Claims
FOR ALL APPOINTMENTS
JACK MILLER
8250 3732
Pearl Dental SA Denture Clinic Located at Gawler, Female Prosthetist For all your Denture needs: • New Acrylic or Chrome Dentures (Full or Partials) • Repairs or Relines • Mouthguards • Deal direct with the Dental Laboratory and SAVE!!!
Phone: 8523 4877
Ring now for an appointment Mobile: 0409 001 787 - Shop 2, 1 Todd St, Gawler
12 www.plainsproducer.com.au
We Welcome New Patients
NEW SWISSE SKIN CARE
The NEW Swisse Body range includes seven unisex body, hand & hair products & two dedicated men’s & women’s aluminium free deodorants
◆ In: Vitamin enriched formulas that work July Cat. ◆ Out: Chemicals and processes that harm your body, wellbeing or environment Out Now
1 Wallace St, Balaklava Phone: 8862 1274
PILATES Mondays 5.30pm Fridays 12 noon
Ring or email for a booking
HAPPY HEARTS FITNESS
Phone: 0407 818 782 - Mallala Web: happyheartsfitness.com.au
Specialists add to quality care The list of visiting specialists is growing at Hamley Bridge Medical Centre. Clinical psychologist, Dr Nicole Rossotti, is now available for appointments on Wednesdays. Dr Rossotti has worked for 28 years as a clinical psychologist, and having done her Master’s degree in Hong Kong in 1981, she completed a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in London in 1999, and later a Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy. She worked in England for 22 years before coming to Australia. Dr Rossotti has extensive experience of working with clients with depression, anxiety, panic attacks, grief, loss, trauma, bullying, relationship difficulties and sleep problems. She believes listening empathetically
and forming a trusting relationship with clients is of paramount importance. Other visiting specialists include a podiatrist, dietician, diabetes educator and an audiologist. Hamley Bridge Medical Centre, situated in Light Street, has two doctors, Dr Frank Graham and Dr Chris Roach with practice nurses Mary Graham and Joan Peterkin, who provide a number of services including pap smears, spirometry, ECG’s, wound dressings, immunisations and more. n Consulting hours are Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm, but later appointments to 6pm are available on Wednesdays. call Jenny, Jo or Lisa on 85 282 070 with any queries or to make an appointment.
Plains Producer, Wednesday July 4, 2012