Williamstown postie Greg Morgan has been a familiar sight along local footpaths for more than a quarter of a century.
But after countless letters, parcels and kilometres, the man affectionately known as ‘Bulldog’ is in his penultimate week on the job.
“It’s time,” said the 70-year-old of his pending retirement.
“My kids have been at me for a couple of years. I’m just wearing out.”
Mr Morgan’s final day will be Friday, July 4, but until then he’ll continue stopping at letterboxes and knocking on doors around Williamstown from 6am to 5pm, five days a week.
“It’s generally down Victoria Street to the rifle range then along the beach,” he said of his usual route.
“You do half one day and half the next.”
In the past Mr Morgan would’ve done that route on the back of one Australia Post’s signature red motorbikes, but these days it’s a more sedate from of transport that gets him around the neighbourhood.
“I’m in a golf cart thing,” he said of his electronic delivery vehicle or EDV, which is slower than a postie bike, but much larger too, something necessitated by the other big change Mr Morgan has noticed since joining Australia Post in 1999.
“Parcels have taken over. Since Covid parcels have gone through the roof,” he said of the shift in what the postal service delivers.
Despite these changes, Mr Morgan still described being a postie as “a good solid job,” and recommended others consider it as a career.
He said the best part was just getting out and about in the community and meeting people.
“Just getting to know the punters. You take an interest in them. Kids coming and going, people passing away that you miss. Things like that.”
As for retirement, Mr Morgan plans to travel, while remaining involved in local sports, including umpiring for the Yarraville Cricket Club where he played from 1977 to 2014.
And as a long suffering St Kilda supporter, hopes to finally see them win another premiership.
“I’ll probably go and watch the Saints train and give Ross Lyon a bit of advice.”
