On 13 March 2018, 20 Members of the  Club  and friends travelled to the Australian Post Centre in Dandenong, which covers an area of 25 Hectares.The facility was opened in 1999, merging with 7 mail centres, the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere.The group was given a very interesting and informative guided tour by staff member George, an employee for 20 years, initially a Postie, now admin.staff. 

The total number of employees including transit staff is 1100, and it is in the top 10 for employment in Australia.  Approximately 6.5 million letters a day are processed to ensure that people receive their mail reliably and cost effectively. Mail is collected from post boxes, business hubs, and post offices and taken to the processing facility, which works for 24 hours a day 6 days a week, to sort mail into destinations. Letters are processed at up to 35,000 letters an hour.The sophisticated machinery from Japan and Germany enables the huge amount of mail to be delivered each day. Express mail is sorted very quickly to meet transport connections for next day deliveries. Posties deliver mail to household and business addresses by van, motor cycles, bicycles or on foot. Remote areas are delivered by road transport, sea and airmail. Posties deliver approximately 1000 items to 10 streets on their daily rounds.   

Following the tour, all were invited to enjoy tea, coffee, or cold drink in the staff canteen.The group then had  very enjoyable lunch at the Dandenong Club.

Thanks to Ken Falconer for planning and arranging this interesting outing.

Janice Ashmore