Tailem Bend postie Allen Burt hangs up his mail bag
A familiar face around his town for more than 50 years, Burtie will be out of uniform the next time you see him.
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After more than half a century delivering letters and parcels, Tailem Bend postman Allen “Burtie” Burt is hanging up his mail bag.
After 53 years on the job, he’s officially calling it a day – much to the surprise of locals who assumed he’d simply keep going forever.
Burtie, a quietly spoken figure who has always preferred to stay out of the spotlight, has been part of daily life in the town for generations.
Known for his kindness and willingness to help, he’s been far more than just the postman – he’s been a steady, familiar presence in the community.
He began his rounds on a pushbike, graduated to a motorbike, and in more recent years has occasionally used a van, mainly to cope with the modern avalanche of parcels.
“There’s a lot more of them now,” he admits, in what might be the understatement of the online shopping era.
Asked about his retirement plans, Burtie doesn’t hesitate: he’s planning on doing “as little as possible” – a goal many admire, but few achieve with such commitment.
Over the decades, Burtie has delivered mail to the same families across five generations, watching children grow up, move away, and often return again.
For him, that’s been the best part of the job: the people, the connections, and simply being part of the community.
As he steps away from his round, Tailem Bend farewells not just a postman with his trademark moustache, but a constant presence – one who will be genuinely missed.
Correction: The spelling of Mr Burt’s name has been corrected.
