IF you are keen to know the names and addresses of those who live in and around Canungra asking Nicole Krause would be a good place to start.
Nicole has been the district’s parcel and large item postie for almost seven years.
In that time she has literally been everywhere as more and more people go online to buy items.
Mind you if you asked her to divulge anyone’s name and address you would be met with total silence.
“I love my job which certainly keeps me fit and healthy as I jump in and out of the parcel van hundreds of times a day,” Nicole said.
“While that’s great for me personally I also enjoy my interaction with the many residents I call on daily and while I’m super busy as the parcel load gets bigger every month I always find time to say hi.”
Nicole was born in Switzerland and migrated to Australia in 1978 with her parents when she was only 10 years-old taking up residence on the Gold Coast.
After graduating from the local high school Nicole made the bold decision to move back to Switzerland to live with her grandmother for a year while she fast-tracked what was meant to be a four year hairdressing apprenticeship.
Dedicating herself to her chosen career she managed to cut three years off her apprenticeship by attending a specialist training college.
“My father was a Swiss Army officer and was always dedicated to his causes and that rubbed off on me at an early age,” Nicole said.
“After earning my certificate I returned home to Australia and shortly after at just 19 years of age I opened a salon at Ashmore.
“Two years after that I opened a second one, this time at Carrara, so I guess you could say I was a young entrepreneur in those years.”
Nicole later married and had two children before moving to Canungra a decade ago where they bought a 66 acre property at Illinbah.
She still resides there even though the rest of the family has moved on.
He decision to get behind a parcel delivery van was brought about by a passing comment from a delivery driver who said she’d enjoy the job and that she should apply because there was a vacancy.
The rest is history and Nicole is now a welcome drop-in visitor to many in the region as their “must have” online parcels arrive.
It hasn’t all been plain sailing on her delivery run.
“Over recent years I have dealt with washed out roads, fires, floods and even a hurricane,” she said.
“No matter what’s happening we always find a way to deliver and at the same time provide contact for many isolated residents who are keen to know what’s happening in emergency situations.
“Once with the help of innovative local residents we had to rig up a flying fox across a flooded causeway on Upper Coomera Road to send the parcels across to the other side.
“It has always been interesting and I’ve enjoyed it, although I believe I’ll hand the keys back when my clock reaches 60 years-of-age, fortunately I still have a few years to go.”
