From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli – 12 September

Australia Post has lodged a draft notification with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission seeking an increase in the basic postage rate.

If agreed, stamps will increase from $1 to $1.10 from next year, as Australians continue to stop writing letters. The proposed increase does not include the cost of a priority sticker. A UK 1st class letter costs about $1.25, and they have a Saturday delivery. My generation wrote letters. We used a fountain pen (my first was a Parker 51 given me by my sister, Nita); Quink black ink; personalised, watermarked paper with raised printing; and fully-lined lined envelopes.

I am, like my late mother, Beria, an inveterate letter writer, although Australia Post has almost defeated me. With the tardiness in delivery you might just as well send an email. The red post boxes claim: Post by 6PM for next day delivery. In which parallel universe, I ask? Ballarat posted mail goes first to Melbourne before being returned. Fascinatingly, if you complain of a delay you are bombarded with a by-rote diatribe, which includes no ‘delivery time guarantees’. If a management sold tickets to a theatre production with no guarantee of a performance the punters would raise the theatre. To lessen the consequences of a near $200 million loss from its declining letters business, Australia Post contends the proposed increase will ensure the viability of local postal services as Australians continue, in their droves, to stop sending letters. Is anyone really surprised? Check with your friends. Count how many have stories of late deliveries; or even worse, lost in the system, and with no compensation.

There was a time when Nanas across the country, would, without fail, send grandchildren a birthday card, enclosing a five-shilling postal note. With planning, it arrived, always, in time for the big celebration. The adrenalin rush of arriving home from school to rip-open the waiting card was palpable.

I have a cache of letters from my mother, and which, from time-to-time, I read, again. In my mind, I can hear the cadence of her voice which is locked into her idiosyncratic turn of phrase. Letters have been a big part of my life. Every weeknight at boarding school mail was handed-out after dinner. It was a special time of the day.

Whatever happened to telegrams which were sent by Morse code? London to a brick, some thirty-something decided, in their infinite wisdom, they were ‘so yesterday’! Even The Queen has fallen victim. The Royal telegram has been replaced by a signed card. Like so many things which have disappeared out of our lives, I do not remember being consulted about the telegraphic demise. The great joy of any opening night in the theatre was the delivery of telegrams which were read, shared, and then cello-taped around your make-up mirror. Telegrams came from friends all over the world.  An email does not have quite the same appeal – or style!

Australia Post has promised there will be no increases in the 60-cent concessional, or the 65 cent seasonal greeting card, stamps. I should think not! I posted some forty Christmas Cards on Monday, 18 December, fantasising they would arrive exactly on-time for Christmas. None arrived before the day, not even the one I sent to my neighbour, Audrey Holloway, who lived in the house opposite. Most arrived at their destination on, or about, 27 December. In the case of Miner’s Rest, it was the 4 January. I cannot imagine why I bothered with a priority sticker. It made no difference, absolutely, and only served to increase the cost of the letter.

Australia Post and their delivery incompetence has become my bête noire. No matter how much one complains, and I do, nothing changes. Nor will it!

Probably best to send Roland an email to [email protected], or you can hear him every Monday morning – 10.30 – on radio 3BA.