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COGGER/GOVEY - Sybil operated the Redesdale P.O.

After the Kelly's left the Redesdale Post Office in 1941 Sybil Govey ne้ Cogger was recruited "to mind it until they find someone". She retired from the Post Office 26 years later when the post office was moved to Willing's Store. Apart from being the postmistress, her duties included: plane spotting during the war (in which her two sons were killed), Commonwealth Bank manager, rainfall reporter, regional switch board operator (8am - 10 pm daily, Sat 8am - 1pm, Sun 9 - 10am ... but no-one took notice of the hours), bush fire or flood co-ordinator, sometime Parole Officer for local intransigents, etc. And a few other things - bush nurse (she was especially good on ear aches and convulsions), held meat and ice for people after it was delivered by the mailman (one of whom was Fred Taylor), made soup for the kids at the school over the road, and heated their pies, minded babies when the parents went to Kyneton, milked her own cows and fed the chooks, quite apart from the housework, remembering that there was no electricity until the late 1950's. (1950's photo by Leigh Strawhorn of Barfold, notes by Kay Cook ne้ Govey)

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