Thanks A Million: Sydney postal worker praised for bringing joy during COVID-19 lockdown

Get your postage-free postcard with tomorrow’s Sunday Telegraph and help us say Thanks A Million to frontline workers such as postie Rachel Arraiza.

Tomorrow’s Sunday Telegraph gives readers a special way to thank frontline workers of the past year.

Australia Post has partnered with us — and newspapers across the country — to include a free postcard to send to a frontline organisation, community group or caring individual who went above and beyond in 2020.

North Kellyville postal worker Rachel Arraiza, for example, delivers up to 120 parcels a day throughout Sydney’s West.

Ms Arraiza is one of many Australia Post employees daily delivering hundreds of thousands of parcels to isolated Australians, providing regular contact and comfort during some dark days.

“A lot of my customers, especially the elderly, have been stuck at home and haven’t seen their family for months,” Ms Arraiza said.

Australia Post postal worker Rachel Arraiza has gone above and beyond to deliver mail to Australians during COVID-19. Picture: Tim Hunter

“As I deliver their parcel(s), I spend some time with them at a distance and ask about their day — they’re so grateful for that.”

Ms Arraiza, who has been nominated in The Sunday Telegraph’s Thanks A Million campaign, (a Pride of Australia initiative now in its 16th year), said many postal workers have been cut off from normal social interaction due to COVID-19.

“We’ve had to take extra precautions like wearing masks and washing our hands when handling packages to ensure everyone’s wellbeing,” she said.

“The worst part was not being able to physically hand the parcel to each recipient. I found myself apologising to everyone, but it was expected.”

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 tomorrow’s Sunday Telegraph and help us say Thanks A Million to those 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: Sydney postal worker praised for bringing joy during COVID-19 lockdown