Home Hill woman Cara Tingle takes over town’s 100-year-old AusPost

A North Queensland mother has taken over her town’s century-old Australia Post office to keep this vital service alive in her community. See what plans she has to breathe new life into it.

Home Hill's new AusPost licensee, Cara Trindle.

A Home Hill mother has taken over her town’s Australia Post in an effort to keep the service alive in her community.

Cara Trindle has spent the past 20 years working at Wilmar Sugar as a loco driver and safety adviser, but when her town’s ageing post office went on the market, she decided it was time for a change.

“I knew it was up for sale, and I figured there should always be a post office in Home Hill,” Ms Trindle said.

“I took over last week (October 28), and the building happened to turn 100 years old that Sunday.”

Ms Trindle takes over from former owners Tony Chiandet and Lorraine Connell, who are now settling into retirement.

Home Hill's new AusPost licensee, Cara Trindle.

As part of the purchase, Ms Trindle is the owner of the building, the AusPost licensee, and the delivery contractor for the region.

This means she, and her one staff member, are responsible for sorting all mail and delivering them to home addresses between Home Hill, Inkerman, Kirknie and halfway to Groper Creek.

Ms Trindle is also busy changing the interior of the store, removing blue velvet wall coverings and revealing old boarded-up windows.

“I had a lot of family and friends who’ve been helping out,” she said.

“I’ve got two small boys, and I hope having this business can be something for my family.”

Ms Trindle also has plans to eventually sell a range of “last minute” items at the post office, including giftware.

“There are not a lot of shops left in Home Hill, and it will be good to increase the variety of what we have here in town,” she said.

Originally published as Home Hill woman Cara Tingle takes over town’s 100-year-old AusPost