CABARITA’S post office is in desperate need of new volunteers to cope with the circumstances of COVID-19.
The post office shares premises with the Merbein Golf Club and is run entirely by volunteers.
Golf course secretary Melinda Binding said post office hours were slashed at the start of the pandemic after vulnerable volunteers were told to stay home.
Other volunteers have since quit altogether, leaving just three to cover eight shifts per week.
“Before the pandemic, our opening hours were 9.30am until noon daily and we also had Tuesday and Thursday, 4pm until 6pm, to help our customers working full-time,” she said.
“Our Saturday morning from 11am until noon has stayed, but we’ve had to reduce daily hours to 10am until noon.
“We still want to be able to provide this service, but it has been challenging to cope with the higher demand.”
Ms Binding said the number of parcels being sorted at the office each week had increased by 500 per cent when compared to the same time last year.
Last month, Australia Post recorded its biggest month in the nation’s online shopping history, with online purchases up 8.9 per cent when compared to the 2019 pre-Christmas peak.
Victoria is leading the way in online shopping growth, with the state recording 170 per cent year-on-year compared to the national rate of 85 per cent.
Dennis Berry has been volunteering at the post office for just over two years.
He said the extra pressure he experienced each shift was making the job harder to enjoy.
“I have enjoyed it, but not so much at the moment as it’s just a few of us doing the whole week now,” he said.
“As you can see, we’re getting quite a few parcels through at the moment and it is a lot of extra pressure.”
Ms Binding pleaded with the community to support the service.
“Our community is expanding rapidly and, with our new clubhouse being built soon, our goal is to expand those hours even further than what they were,” she said.
“We would at least hope to have the Tuesday and Thursday afternoon shifts filled again to help those people who can’t get their post during the day.
“Volunteering is a good way to build up confidence again and get out there to meet people.
“You only need a Working with Children Check and to complete our onsite training and you’d be taking a positive step to getting our mail delivered.”
Interested residents should call Melinda on 0447 790 949 or email royal.merbein@gmail.com.
