Residents’ rally last chance for Glebe post office

A rally in protest of the closure of Glebe Post office this Thursday is possibly the last chance before the branch’s closure.

Local state member for Balmain, Verity Firth and Federal member Tania Plibersek are scheduled to speak at the rally, which aims to highlight the value the post office has to the local community.

The rally will take place at the Glebe Post Office, which is located on the corner of Glebe Point Road and St John’s Road in Glebe, at 10.00am on Thursday, January 20.

“Glebe Post Office caters to the Glebe Estate and provides an essential service for elderly and less mobile people in our local area,” Ms Verity Firth said.

“These residents rely on the service to pay their bills and stay in touch with their friends and relatives. Shutting down Glebe Post Office is not acceptable to the local community.”

While the local member has previously stated she would fight the closure of the post office “all the way” she has recently been joined by Federal member for the seat of Sydney, Tanya Plibersek, and Minister for Communications, Stephan Conroy.

A spokesperson for Minister Conroy said that after receiving letters from both Ms Firth and Ms Plibersek advising him of community concerns he had requested that “Australia Post give further consideration to the impact the proposed closure will have on residents”.

Australia Post defended the closure saying there had been a decline in customers and it had to observe commercially sound practices to remain self-sustaining.

“Glebe post office customers have four alternatives within a 1.3-kilometre radius,” reports from Australia post said.

But local business owners and community members have hit back at the claim saying the post office provides services to local community members who are not able to access alternatives.

“I’m on disability, so movement is an issue for me,” local and post office patron Carolyn Ienna said.

“I have chronic fatigue syndrome. So there is a limit to what I can do.”

Ms Ienna said she used the post office for sending parcels and paying her bills as well as paying her rent and utilities.

“It’s much easier for me to just go to Glebe from where I am,” she said.

President of the Glebe Chamber of Commerce, Sofi Lidgren, told City News the Post Office also acted like an ”anchor” for businesses in the local community.

“We need a centre that anchors people to the community, somewhere they come to,” she said.

“Glebe post office is such a place, people come to post a letter, or pay a bill and they stay for a coffee and maybe shop a little, get something from the supermarket while they’re here.

“Without the post office that’s all gone.”

The rally will take place this Thursday January 20, at 10.00 at Glebe Post Office.

By Simon Black