Keith and Leonie Norman show off their success at Beaconsfield Post Office after recently winning Victorian Licensed Post Office of the Year.By Sarah Schwager
WHEN a local Berwick couple took over the Beaconsfield post office 14 months ago they dreamed of developing it into a hub for the whole community.
Keith and Leonie Norman recently exceeded all expectations when they won the Victorian Licensed Post Office of the Year title.
The award moved them into Tier 1, making them one of the leading post offices in the state.
Mr Norman said he and his wife had worked hard at expanding the business in the past year but that Beaconsfield being such a growth area had definitely helped.
After buying the post office from the previous owners, who had been there for 35 years, Keith and Leonie decided to move the post office from its 70yearold Wood Street location to the Beaconsfield Plaza as they thought it would improve business.
“I give entire credit to my wife,” Mr Norman said. “She’s the brains behind the business.”
The post office has become a family affair. Mr Norman’s brother Peter helps sort mail, his other brother Rod, who is a financial adviser, is a business partner, and Mr Norman’s youngest son Christopher, 14, helps out three days a week after school.
Mr Norman said he and his wife were delighted by the award.
“It’s a big learning curve when you go into business for yourself,” he said.
“You make a lot of mistakes.
“I did my training at the Pakenham Post Office so I definitely have to thank them as well,” he laughed.
At the dinner at Le Meridien in Melbourne, the Normans received a bottle of red wine and a certificate from Australia Post which read: “In recognition of your commitment to achieving our shared goals of excellence in customer service, store image and growth in sales.”
Mr Norman said when one of the directors came out to see their business recently he was so impressed he was going to use them as an example for other post offices.
“We get 350 to 400 people coming in per day,” Mr Norman said. “We have 630 PO boxes which is huge for a local post office. We will have to put more in to expand.”
Mr Norman previously sold computer software while Mrs Norman worked as a personal assistant for a managing director.
Mr and Mrs Norman and their three sons Joel, 25, Chisholm, 21, and Christopher, have lived in Berwick for the past 12 years.
Mr Norman said he hated travelling into Melbourne every day. “Now when I hear all the traffic snarls, I grin,” he said.
Mr Norman said he and his wife planned on sticking around at the post office for a long while.
“The fun bit about the job is meeting different people in the community,” he said.
