More Than Mail

The Braeside mailbox is about 500m from the house, and I never knew why. Turns out it's thanks to Murphy. The dog. Murphy doesn't love the mailman.  Debbie Malone tells me that the Braeside mail used to be dropped in Kynuna, and someone had to do the 60k round trip to pick it up. We also chat about her years teaching her boys on school of the air, retiring (or not) from the mustering team and craf...

Emigrating to Australia as Ten Pound Poms, Sheila Edwards and her husband Ken uprooted their lives to start the first of their big adventures. With their two year old daughter in tow. Sheila tells us about how she went from Devon, England, to Postmistress in McKinlay, Qld during the 1980s. Population 50. And I could never have guessed that Queen Elizabeth II would play a role in a story on More Th...

Shannon Rae is not currently on the mail run. But her epsiode more than belongs on a Thursday as she's been on the mail run on three seperate occasions, at three different properties. Shannon has also been on three of the seven mail runs that leave from Julia Creek. We should probably investigate to see if anyone can beat her!  Plus, she's still a part of our mail run book club. Shannon has been f...

The McKinlay Shire is big. 10,000 square kilometres or so. And the mail run covers the southern part of the Shire.  Today I chat with Luke Spreadborough, from Spoonbill. Spoonbill is the northern end of the McKinlay Shire, over 300kms away from some of the properties I carry mail for. I and Luke talk about our loose connection - Sedan Dip, him being president of Julia Creek Campdraft, kids, campdr...

Gaining experience across a really wide cross section of the agricultural industry, Lachy Smith has spent time working with sheep, cattle, cropping and in an agricultural analytics team. Now at Redland Park, Lachy tells me about growing up with extended family in mixed farming, working for a foreign investment company, and making the move from NSW to Queensland. Lachy once got two pairs of the sam...

'Here if you need'. If you've every played netball, you'll recognise that phrase. And for Zara Margolis, netball really was there when she needed it. Zara is the ABC North West Queensland Breakfast presenter. Zara and I chat about all the things that are involved in working for the ABC in a rural location, making Mt Isa home and creating and keeping friends - enter netball - and the weather (of co...

Happy Easter!  No epsiode today, as the mail run doesn't go on public holidays.  It would be amazing if you were able to take today's break to catch up on previous episodes. You can follow More Than Mail adventures on Instagram , on Facebook , or at morethanmail.com.au  Or, you can send me an email hello@morethanmail.com.au More Than Mail will be back tomorrow.   

At some point in their lives, I'm pretty sure every country kid dreams of becoming a vet. Hannah Smith at Redland Park was a little kid with that same dream. Although, her first few tastes of vet life when young could have steered her away from the idea, she didn't let fainting at the sight of a needle deter her.  Hannah left Redland Park for school, uni & her first years as a vet. But she's now b...

You know that feeling you get when you are devouring the best book you've ever read? You can't think of anything else, right? Imagine being able to write those books!  Today I talk to author Rachael Johns. We talk about the writing process, but also the way to publicise your books, and how that has changed thanks to TikTok. #booktok And you might be surprised how many loose connections Rachael has...

Today's guest is busy. Always on the go. And never fails to stop for a catch up. Rachael Anderson can be found on mum duty, using her nursing skills wherever they are required, being secretary of Dirt n Dust, whipping up school tuckshop, cooking for workers...oh so much cooking!...or tantilising our tastebuds in her new adventure - Little Moo Cafe . Today's chat was a lot of fun. You can follow Mo...

When someone comes on the mail run with me for a little side project, obviously I'm going to ask them to do a podcast epsiode.  Sharon Maxwell of Sharon Maxwell Images thankfully said yes! We talk about what so great about living out here, and some of the challenges. And kids and horses. You can find Sharon Maxwell Images on Instagram and Facebook . You can follow More Than Mail adventures on Inst...

The Wyreema mailbox went viral in early 2022 after it got stolen. Every person between Kynuna and Emerald was on the case. And while she's still not back in her spot, she has found her way home. A few repairs, and hopefully she'll be fully operational. Soon. Today I catch up with Jamie Zammit (and sort of his wife Trina, too!). They came from Japponvale to Wyreema in 2011. Wyreema is unique in tha...

You know it's going to be a good story when it starts with "I was dressed as a superhero..." Dress up parties really are something special, except if you get lost on the way...in the outback...with no phone reception. It's definitely character building. Today I chat with Cat Simmons from Clarafield Station. We talk rainbow mailboxes,  AFL footy, the decision to have a family when living in North W...

From being her govie, to her friend, I've watched today's guest have a go at anything.  Jessica Bridges is the mail run relief driver, teller of good yarns, owner of bold hats and a lot of horses.  She was also the very first person I interviewed for the podcast, because I knew she'd be happy to re-do it if it was awful!  You can follow More Than Mail adventures on Instagram , on Facebook , or at...

Bang on time, most of us can be found listening to a radio somewhere at 12 o'clock every week day. The Country Hour is an institution, keeping us up to date with all things rural Australia. It's also Australia's longest running radio program. Queensland Country Hour presenters Amy Phillips and Arlie Felton-Taylor had a chat with me about what it means to be sitting in the hot seat, and the importa...

 Jo Cranney is newest member of the mail run, living at Hampden Downs. Jo wears many hats, including owning  Wattle I Gift - making beautiful giftboxes using products sourced from regional Australian producers, creators and makers.  Jo jumped in with me to deliver some mail and have a chat. And I for one, had an absolute ball! Get ready to feel the bumps. You can follow More Than Mail adventures o...

This is the first year in my six years on the mail run that everyone is experiencing a good wet season. Past season have been patchy, with some parts of the mail run good, other parts not so lucky. For the people on my mail run, it's finally their chance to post on Facebook's Who Got The Rain? And today I chat to Who Got The Rain?'s founder and admin, Jenny Gordon. Couldn't have picked a better se...

Today's guests are Frank and Debbie Wust, publicans of the Walkabout Creek Hotel in McKinlay, Queensland.  We chat about all things Crocodile Dundee (obviously!) and about their time running the iconic pub.  Come join us at the bar! Find Walkabout Creek Hotel on Facebook here . You can follow More Than Mail adventures on Instagram , on Facebook , or at morethanmail.com.au  Or, you can send me an e...

More Than Mail's first episode takes you right back to the beginning. The question of why the podcast came about is answered. And you'll learn all about the mail run. You also get a bit of background about me, Bec Climie. And that background leads us to today's guest. I catch up with Dan Finlayson, my brother in law. Dan was the person who introduced me to station life, which lead to my Queensland...

Welcome to More Than Mail, dropping twice a week to take you on an adventure on the Kynuna McKinlay mail run in North West Queensland. Come along and enjoy our stories from those who live here. Please let us know your thoughts! Send us an email; hello@morethanmail.com.au And help this little poddy grow by following us @morethanmailpodcast on Insta and More Than Mail on FB.