Beerburrum Post Office has new owners
By Kirra Livingstone
MUCH loved locals Ron and Joy Ratcliffe have decided to retire after running the Beerburrum Post Office for 14 years, with Beerburrum couple Jess and Tim Roberts taking over the reigns.
What was meant to just be a five year stint at the franchise turned into more than a decade of happy memories.
Ron said he made a huge switch in careers when he took over the post office.
“I’d been working 50 years in the chicken industry and I was working in Beaudesert so I’d be there for two weeks and only be home for the weekend,” he said.
“Joy said the post office was up for sale and I was ready to retire, I was 65, but I thought alright we could work together.
“So that’s what we did, we took it on, it was a five year project and she was old enough to retire but it turned into 14 years.”
Ron reminisced on all of his fondest times at the post off ice, noting he stayed so long because he loved serving the community.
“What we have loved most about running the post office is supporting the community and being a part of it, this is really the hub of the town,” he said.
“This is unique as there is no town delivery, everybody comes into the post office to pick up their mail, they either rent a box or they just come and pick up their mail.
“One of my favourite moments was when we had a return to sender parcel because a unit number wasn’t added, and since I know everyone’s name in a block of flats, I returned it to the right person.”
The pair is now looking forward to travelling in their retirement.
“I want to do something while I can still walk and not in a wheelchair,” Ron said.
“It’s time to call it a day and do a bit of travelling. “In a week we’ll be in Airlie beach, in April we’ll be in Singapore and Hong Kong and then a year from now we are going to Aotearoa for a week.”
Ron moved from the UK to Australia 43 years ago, and in his second marriage, Joy and him have six kids between them, seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
He has lived in Beerburrum, Rosewood and Glass House Mountains since moving to Australia. Ron and Joy signed over the business to new owners, Jess and Tim Roberts on November 18.
Jess said she is very excited to take on this new challenge. “We’re feeling good taking over the post office, I’m a bit nervous but we’ve had three weeks of good training from Australia Post,” she said.
“The easiest thing for Ron is knowing the people and the hardest part for us is getting to know the people.
“It’s just one of those things that will happen over time, we are trying not to put too much pressure on ourselves.”
The new owners have been local for four years, and when presented the chance to take it over, it was “too good of an opportunity to pass up”.
“Tim did some IT work for Ron and he joked around and said we could take it over, and Ron agreed and asked to meet up, and here we are now,” she said. kirra@gcnews.com.au
