The phrase ‘learning curve’ suggests a gentle incline, but when Jan Elliott and Lee Mead talk about their journey to becoming Postmistresses, they describe a very steep slope indeed.

They have recently been reflecting upon their six years running Maldon Post Office, between 2006 and 2012, in light of the repaint of the Main Street pillar box. The Tarrangower Times chatted over coffee to Jan and Lee about postal procedures, including shades of red (but more about that later).

Originally inner-Melbourne dwellers, they sold up and shipped out to Maldon because they saw an opportunity here when the post office building and business was listed for sale. “We already liked Maldon, we loved the heritage,” said Lee. Coming from a background in medical research, neither had any experience with retail or business. Jan laughs at the memory of them leaping in unawares. “How hard can it be to sell stamps?” But before gaining approval from Australia Post to step into the business, thorough training and assessment was required. The whole process took about eight months, with an enormous amount to learn. “Even things they don’t do at the post office, you need to know about because people will ask,” Jan said.

They had both worked extensively in science labs and they now believe this made them well-equipped to cope with Australia Post (AP) procedures, with skills such as following systems and using mathematics to calculate postage and weights. They shared some aspects of the running of the business and split others, but both agree that the customers were the best part of the job. “It was the greatest way to move to a small town, people were so welcoming,” Lee said. And while sometimes sorting, delivering and managing the mail can induce stress on both sides of the counter, Jan had a handy tactic: “The trick is to just keep smiling.”

Lee and Jan both look back fondly on their time as Postmistresses and they share a variety of happy memories including the ‘zero commute’ of living next door to work and the literary connection with Henry Handel Richardson, who famously wrote The Getting of Wisdom based on childhood memories of living at Maldon Post Office.

In 2009 they welcomed their dog Bubbles, who became a post office celebrity (see Doggos of the Goldfields in the 7-2-25 edition of the TT).

These days they miss the daily chats with customers, but both are very active community members, each volunteering with numerous groups from the CFA to the Tarrangower Cactus Control Group.

And as for the new hue of the historic pillar-box on Main Street? Lee and Jan are concerned that it’s not the Australia Post corporate colour. “You can’t do anything related to Australia Post without it being ship-shape,” said Lee. Plus, they believe that a classic ‘pillar- box red’ is appropriate for history’s sake. Jan said small changes to the streetscape will make a difference in the long run. “If we want to maintain Maldon’s uniqueness, we have to maintain what’s here.”

These former Postmistresses care deeply about the mail and this town; their many contributions show that the steep ‘learning curve’ was worth the trek for them and for Maldon. 

This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 21 February 2025.