A new post box stands proudly on the street and an Australia Post sign is up on the building at the corner of Ocean Drive and Bartlett Street. There are 30 per cent more post boxes, disability friendly access and plenty of Australia Post products photocopying and faxing inside.

“We are glad to have had the opportunity to buy the business and keep this service in the community,” Jon said.

“I think the site will be good. We have high visibility and we’re close to the road so customers can simply pull over and use the post office. We still have our real estate office with Sharon and I. Fiona Bambling and Natalie Smith will be on the front desk to help customers with their postal or rental requirements.”

Former postmaster Peter O’Donohue said he is looking forward to taking a break from work, concentrating on his family and their post office in Bowraville.

“I’d like to thank the Bonny Hills Progress Association and community for their support over this difficult time when I faced eviction,” Peter said.

“It was the progress association and the community who forced Westpac to think about their community obligations.”

Bonny Hills Progress Association president Roger Barlow and the team visited Peter last week to show their appreciation.

“On behalf of the Bonny Hills community, the progress association committee members thank Peter for his excellent service as postmaster under trying circumstances, and wish him well in his future endeavours”.

Peter has run the Bonny Hills Post Office for five years from the Jungarra Crescent shopping centre.

The centre was owned by developers GR8M Group. In 2007 the group lodged a development application successfully with Port Macquarie-Hastings Council to redevelop and expand the centre.

The developers had arranged to keep the postal service running during the demolition and redevelopment of the centre. The post office was the only remaining tenant at the time. The global financial crisis saw the group try to sell the shopping centre, presenting Peter with an uncertain future.