Christmas spirit lives on at the post office

ALTHOUGH the grinches at Australia Post’s head office have discontinued Santa mailboxes, staff at Heathcote Post Office are ensuring kids’ letters will all be answered by the jolly fat man himself.

After six years at the post office, licensee Rhonda Linnell said she knows how much joy a letter from Santa can bring.

“We’ve actually been answering them ourselves for a few years as Australia Post used to just send each child a standard letter with the name changed,” she said.

“Children were always disappointed when they all got the same letter.

“We have a team of volunteers who help us to write personal replies, based on what the children have said in their letters, and we try to be diplomatic, of course.

“Parents and grandparents often tell us how much their children appreciate the special replies.”

Santa’s mailbox is situated just inside the front door of the post office and newsagency, and children from Heathcote and surrounds are welcome to post their letters to the North Pole.

“Sometimes we get letters from other areas, and that’s fine, we still send them a reply,” said Ms Linnell.

“It’s completely free. A small thing but it makes children happy.”

Tickets for a Christmas raffle in support of Legacy can also be purchased at the Heathcote Post Office.

“The prizes are all centred on a Christmas theme, including a beautiful Christmas wall hanging donated by Rita Stratton,” said Ms Linnell.

The raffle will be drawn on Friday 22 December and tickets are $1 each or six for $5.