Queensland family with 100 years combined tenure at Australia Post over three generations

In a South West Queensland town, two of the posties who ride around delivering mail and parcels, and saying g’day to residents, are also carrying on a generational family tradition.

While most of the world still sleeps, Michelle Roydhouse and her son, Kyle, are already at work, sorting parcels, packages and letters for the residents of Roma.

The mother-son duo are part of a family dynasty of Australia Post employees, with more than 100 years experience between them, who get to work before dawn most mornings to sort and deliver post.

Mrs Roydhouse said she began work experience with Australia Post in the late ‘80s, where her mother worked at the time.

She said her mother, Maureen Larfield, would work the morning shift, and she would work in the afternoon.

Mrs Roydhouse’s sister, Rhonda Larfield, also followed in their mother’s footsteps.

Left to right: Maureen Larfield, Kyle Roydhouse, Michelle Roydhouse.

Now, Mrs Roydhouse’s 22-year-old son, Kyle Roydhouse, has also joined the ranks of Australia’s posties.

All four family members still work for Australia post, Maureen and Rhonda Larfield in Darra, and Michelle and Kyle Roydhouse in Roma.

Across three generations of the family, their combined tenure is upwards of 100 years.

Mrs Roydhouse said she finds her job exceptionally rewarding, and takes great pride in getting to know the residents on her mail run.

Left to right: Kyle Roydhouse, Maureen Larfield, Michelle Roydhouse, Rhonda Larfield.

“I love going out there and meeting all your customers,” she said.

Part of the job, she said, of going above and beyond when people need it most.

“I was watching Kyle deliver mail one day, and I saw him get off the bike and walk all the way up the stairs to hand (an elderly woman) her parcel,” Mrs Roydhouse said.

Kyle Roydhouse is the third generation in his family to work for Australia Post.

She said her son really didn’t need to take the additional extra time and effort to hand the parcel straight to the woman, but for her it likely made all the difference.

The most enjoyable part of her job, she said, is when she is able to help customers find a package they are looking for.

She said it’s incredibly fulfilling to hand someone the package they’ve been waiting for.

“Australia Post has definitely changed over the decades,” Mrs Roydhouse said.

“Even just simple things like the fact that we don’t deliver as much mail anymore – it’s shifted to packages but we adapt – we always do.”

At the end of the day, the people she meets on her mail runs are really what make every early morning worth it.