Community cohesion on mail run in outback QLD
In the past six years, she's driven more than 300 thousand kilometers along her mail run in outback Queensland spending much of the time alone in the car.
Transcript
00:00 In Outback Queensland, Bec Climey's mail run is longer, harder and more intense than
00:13 that of her city counterparts.
00:15 But she wouldn't trade her route for anywhere else.
00:18 Honestly, just the feeling of community.
00:21 Like, there is just this part of being a semi-important cog in a wheel, I suppose.
00:26 You know, if it's the middle of the mustering and they need food, they rely on the mail
00:30 to bring the food.
00:31 Or they break down and there's a part coming in the mail, or a part from a shopping town.
00:35 There's so many small elements, I guess, that make it into a great job.
00:40 Julia Creek is a small town about three hours east of Mount Isa, on the Flinders Highway.
00:48 It's from here that Bec Climey's mail run begins.
00:51 Twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays, she heads out on a long journey through the towns
00:56 of McKinley and Kynuna in north-west Queensland.
01:02 It's roughly 600 kilometres a day, so twice a week, so 1200km a week.
01:06 And there's 34 stops, but most of those are just mailboxes, so I don't see that many people
01:13 each mail run.
01:15 In her seven years as the postie, she's introduced a book club, morning teas, Secret Santa, even
01:22 Lotto.
01:23 And today on the mail run, it's show day.
01:27 Julia Creek does not have a traditional agricultural show.
01:31 There's a lot of people on the mail run that are very arty and crafty and very good at making
01:35 things and so I thought, well, we could have our own show and I try to relate everything
01:40 we do back to the mailboxes.
01:41 So mail run show is an agricultural show with a difference, I suppose.
01:48 For most homes across Australia, the mailbox is at the end of the driveway, but in the
01:54 outback, that can mean kilometres from the front door.
01:57 Cutest pet nominee.
01:59 Right, we have to take photos so we can remember.
02:02 From cutest pet to best photography, the Top Scones and Smoko Delights, mail run show has
02:09 something for everyone.
02:12 And if not, they can make up their own category.
02:16 This show day is happening during school holidays.
02:30 And it wouldn't be a proper show without show bags.
02:33 What do you reckon, Hank?
02:36 Would you like a show bag, Hank?
02:37 Oh, look at all your stuff.
02:38 You guys have been so busy.
02:39 There we go.
02:40 The arts and crafts alone at Brayside were enough to fill a pavilion at the Yekka.
02:50 This one's a big one.
02:51 Oh, it's another rainbow.
02:52 So clever, Molly.
02:53 My apple turnover's.
02:54 Smoko Treats was a very competitive field this year.
02:55 Oh my god.
02:56 We've got me, we've got John, there's Frankie, Jackson, Molly, Billy and Hank.
02:58 Smoko Treats was a very competitive field this year.
03:03 Oh my god.
03:04 We've got me, we've got John, there's Frankie, Jackson, Molly, Billy and Hank.
03:10 Smoko Treats was a very competitive field this year.
03:11 Oh my god.
03:12 We've got me, we've got John, there's Frankie, Jackson, Molly, Billy and Hank.
03:13 Smoko Treats was a very competitive field this year.