Happy community vibe at Loch Post Office

LOCH’S vibrant community spirit came to the fore when it appeared the town would be left without a post office, with an enthusiastic band of volunteers keeping the service going.

The post office now has a new setting in the 1903 building previously occupied by the freemasons, joining another community enterprise ‘Opportunity Lochs’.

Jan Ashton is coordinator of the new post office team, managing the other volunteers.

Loch Community Development Association (LCDA) took over the town’s post office service in March, continuing to operate it at its old location for five weeks before a move to its new home at the Masonic Lodge on the corner of Victoria Road and Roy Street.

Previously, the business was run under a community post office contract.

“We took it over as a community run post office,” volunteer Cynthia Love said.

“You get a smile and a chat.” 

A number of customers popped in during the Sentinel-Times’ visit.

Local Margaret Connor was one of them, expressing gratitude for the community post office initiative.

“It’s convenient and you get to see people,” she said, explaining she enjoys catching up with the volunteers and other customers.

“They’re always friendly and helpful and it’s what you need in a small town,” Margaret said of the volunteers.

Stuart Matthews lives some distance away but is delighted to be able to collect parcels from Loch rather than having to travel further to Korumburra.

Loch Post Office’s profits will flow back into the community through LCDA, assisting in a variety of projects and initiatives.

While it is yet to be determined what those will be, volunteer Howard Booth said the LCDA has recently beautified parts of Loch Village as well as adding extra seating and has contributed to improvements at the local bowls club and preschool.

Post office income will also pay rent for its section of the building, including the old Masons’ chamber behind the post office counter that will be available for community groups’ meetings and to show films, following improvements such as the addition of a kitchenette.

Despite its new setting, the Loch Post Office appears well established, with an impressive locally made wooden counter fashioned from a trestle table.

Touches such as photos borrowed from the Loch & District Historical Group, scales once used in the town’s old post office, and a replica Loch Butter Factory sign add to the charm of what is a welcoming community hub.

Local Mal Barker’s handiwork was responsible for elements that transformed the building into a post office, including the counter, the neat pigeonholes behind it and the swing doors.

While there are currently 13 volunteers working at the post office, others have helped behind the scenes and working bees were held in the lead up to the recent relocation. 

Despite its old-world setting, Loch Post Office has convenient modern technology, benefiting its volunteer staff and customers.

An inventory of stock is kept electronically and items for collection are scanned, alerting customers that they are ready to pick up.

While the community run service doesn’t house the usual retail items found in commercial post office branches, information on community events and ticket sales for some of them, as well as free publications such as the Loch Express are on offer.

Books on the history of Loch are available to buy.