Thanks a Million: Australia Post staff going above and beyond

Craig Whiteford isn’t just any postie. He is the postie that’s called on all over the state when other posties need a break.

In tomorrow’s Sunday Mail, you’ll find a special way to say thank you to all our frontline workers who have helped Australia through a year like no other.

Australia Post has partnered with the Sunday Mail — and newspapers across Australia — to give our readers a free postcard to send to a frontline organisation, community group or caring individual who has gone above and beyond in 2020.

Such as postal worker Craig Whiteford. The 55-year-old from Sturt works as a reliever, a job that takes him all over the state, stepping in to provide holiday and relief cover wherever needed.

Delivering up to 100 parcels a day, his travels have taken him from Morphetville to Mount Gambier.

Postie Craig Whiteford. Picture: Mike Burton

Mr Whiteford, who has been nominated for the Sunday Mail’s Thanks A Million campaign (a Pride of Australia initiative now in its 16th year), said he loves being on the road but it’s helping out his fellow posties that gives him the most job satisfaction.

“We have great management and we work as a team,” he said.

“If I finished my deliveries early, I go and check on other posties and take some of their bundles (of mail) off them. That’s what we do, we help each other out.”

As a reliever, Mr Whiteford has the opportunity to connect with many communities across the state and loves helping to brighten a customer’s day.

“One lady had been in isolation and came out to the letterbox for a chat as she hadn’t had anyone to talk to for so long,” he said.

“There are lots of other people out there like that who don’t have any friends or family nearby, so I suppose we’re a little sunshine for them.”

Craig Whiteford on the job in Somerton Park. Picture: Mike Burton

In the past month, Australia Post delivered a total of 52 million packages as hordes of online shoppers drove extraordinary growth in Christmas parcel deliveries — an almost 20 per cent increase on the previous year.

“Our postal workers have worked incredibly hard to deliver to Australia,” said Australia Post executive general manager of community and consumer, Nicole Sheffield.

“We’re incredibly proud of them and all of the frontline workers in our country and extremely grateful of all the work they’ve done.

“We encourage everyone to take this opportunity to send a ‘thank you’ card to the unsung everyday heroes in our community.”

Get your postage-free postcard with your Sunday Mail tomorrow and say Thanks a Million to the people who deserve it.

To nominate someone and say thanks, go to thanksamillion.net.au and they could receive a $200 Woolworths Gift Card.

Terms and conditions apply. For full terms and conditions, visit thanksamillion.net.au

Originally published as Thanks a Million: Australia Post staff going above and beyond