Waterloo - Photograph of Tom Kruse, the outback mailman, with a truck of Harry Ding's: Tom later purchased the mail contract from Ding. South Australia
*Tom’s truck driving career started in 1932 working for the Yunta storekeeper and postmaster John Penna. Tom was eighteen years old. In 1934, pioneering outback transport operator and mail contractor Harry Ding moved his operation from Olary to Yunta. He bought out Snow’s garage and John Penna/s business and offered Tom a job.
The expanding Ding enterprise won the tough and potentially lucrative Birdsville Track mail contract. On January 1st 1936, in searing 45 degree heat, Tom drove his first Marree to Birdsville mail run. Mail, fuel, supplies and the occasional passenger had to get through. Tom battled the sandhills, dust storms, flies and floods, swollen rivers and creeks along the Birdville Track every fortnight. Round trips usually took six days, but when the Cooper flooded across the track, it could take as long as a couple of weeks.
*Waterloo celebrates Tom Kruse
The town of Waterloo overflowed with people who came from many parts of South Australia to celebrate the centenary at the birth place of the late Tom Kruse MBE.
Born at home in a small cottage at the township of Waterloo not long after WW1 was declared, Esmond Gerald (Tom) Kruse entered the world on 28th August 1914, who would later become well known as the Australian Outback legend who bought news and essential commodities on the back of his “Badger” truck to outback stations along the treacherous 500 km Marree to Birdsville track.
Chairperson for the Waterloo Hall Peak Body Robin Schwartz said it has taken the committee two years to organize and prepare for today’s centenary tribute to Tom’s life.
“It would have been extra special if Tom could have been here but sadly he passed away three years ago on June 30 at the age of 96 and is now resting peacefully at the Carlsruhe Lutheran Cemetery just south of the town,” Robin said. The local community, members of the Kruse family and the assistance of Ian Doyle and Keith Webb for producing the documentaries Waterloo has many unique history treasures at the hall site.
The committee was fortunate to purchase the artwork of Clayton Edwards who designed and created four panels depicting Tom’s life journey.
Tom’s son-in-law Colin Hamp drove to Clunes in Victoria to collect the original panels from the artist workshop who was delighted that they would be placed at Tom’s birth place and home town at Waterloo.
Visitors at the celebration on Sunday were privileged to see the new double collection to celebrate Tom’s remarkable life which includes his Waterloo story being released and premiered with exclusive never seen before footage to celebrate the 100th birthday celebration “A Tribute to The Mailman Back of Beyond”.
Funding has been provided by the Tom Kruse Bust Appeal sponsored by BizBoost with all proceeds from the sale of the entertaining DVD collections helping to support the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
The film features the 25 students from the Manoora Primary School contributing in a history project to commemorate the special day.
Each student wrote and sent letters that travelled “the longest mail run in the world” first by regular mail to Port Augusta, then on a plane to Birdsville, stopping along the way at the remote places Tom Kruse would have visited back in his day.
A couple of local identities Ken Horne and Peter Faint also featured contributing information.
Clare & Gilbert Valleys Mayor Allan Aughey, together with Tom’s daughter Helen Hamp and Robin Schwartz, had the privilege to unveil the large colourful information signage dedicated to the town legend and famous son in the adjoining public shelter shed of the Tom Kruse community park at Waterloo.
Mayor Aughey said the Waterloo community and the Hall’s peak body had made a significant contribution to capturing the history of this small town with an event such as this.
He especially mentioned the great work of the committee groups in the council area, he hoped by having seed money available through the council to further support these projects to help preserve local town’s early history.
Ref: Northern Argus 3-9-2014 article by Glenys Quick
Ref: Mail for the Back of Beyond
Waterloo - Photograph of Tom Kruse, the outback mailman, with a truck of Harry Ding's: Tom later purchased the mail contract from Ding. South Australia
*Tom’s truck driving career started in 1932 working for the Yunta storekeeper and postmaster John Penna. Tom was eighteen years old. In 1934, pioneering outback transport operator and mail contractor Harry Ding moved his operation from Olary to Yunta. He bought out Snow’s garage and John Penna/s business and offered Tom a job.
The expanding Ding enterprise won the tough and potentially lucrative Birdsville Track mail contract. On January 1st 1936, in searing 45 degree heat, Tom drove his first Marree to Birdsville mail run. Mail, fuel, supplies and the occasional passenger had to get through. Tom battled the sandhills, dust storms, flies and floods, swollen rivers and creeks along the Birdville Track every fortnight. Round trips usually took six days, but when the Cooper flooded across the track, it could take as long as a couple of weeks.
*Waterloo celebrates Tom Kruse
The town of Waterloo overflowed with people who came from many parts of South Australia to celebrate the centenary at the birth place of the late Tom Kruse MBE.
Born at home in a small cottage at the township of Waterloo not long after WW1 was declared, Esmond Gerald (Tom) Kruse entered the world on 28th August 1914, who would later become well known as the Australian Outback legend who bought news and essential commodities on the back of his “Badger” truck to outback stations along the treacherous 500 km Marree to Birdsville track.
Chairperson for the Waterloo Hall Peak Body Robin Schwartz said it has taken the committee two years to organize and prepare for today’s centenary tribute to Tom’s life.
“It would have been extra special if Tom could have been here but sadly he passed away three years ago on June 30 at the age of 96 and is now resting peacefully at the Carlsruhe Lutheran Cemetery just south of the town,” Robin said. The local community, members of the Kruse family and the assistance of Ian Doyle and Keith Webb for producing the documentaries Waterloo has many unique history treasures at the hall site.
The committee was fortunate to purchase the artwork of Clayton Edwards who designed and created four panels depicting Tom’s life journey.
Tom’s son-in-law Colin Hamp drove to Clunes in Victoria to collect the original panels from the artist workshop who was delighted that they would be placed at Tom’s birth place and home town at Waterloo.
Visitors at the celebration on Sunday were privileged to see the new double collection to celebrate Tom’s remarkable life which includes his Waterloo story being released and premiered with exclusive never seen before footage to celebrate the 100th birthday celebration “A Tribute to The Mailman Back of Beyond”.
Funding has been provided by the Tom Kruse Bust Appeal sponsored by BizBoost with all proceeds from the sale of the entertaining DVD collections helping to support the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
The film features the 25 students from the Manoora Primary School contributing in a history project to commemorate the special day.
Each student wrote and sent letters that travelled “the longest mail run in the world” first by regular mail to Port Augusta, then on a plane to Birdsville, stopping along the way at the remote places Tom Kruse would have visited back in his day.
A couple of local identities Ken Horne and Peter Faint also featured contributing information.
Clare & Gilbert Valleys Mayor Allan Aughey, together with Tom’s daughter Helen Hamp and Robin Schwartz, had the privilege to unveil the large colourful information signage dedicated to the town legend and famous son in the adjoining public shelter shed of the Tom Kruse community park at Waterloo.
Mayor Aughey said the Waterloo community and the Hall’s peak body had made a significant contribution to capturing the history of this small town with an event such as this.
He especially mentioned the great work of the committee groups in the council area, he hoped by having seed money available through the council to further support these projects to help preserve local town’s early history.
Ref: Northern Argus 3-9-2014 article by Glenys Quick
Ref: Mail for the Back of Beyond