Mailman of the Birdsville Track: The Story of Tom Kruse

by Kristin Weidenbach

The Birdsville Track is one of the best known - and loneliest - tracks in Australia, and for twenty years Tom was the mailman, battling everything from searing heat and floods to mechanical breakdown.

He began in the days before reliable vehicles, good communications and air access in case of emergency. He made running repairs to the truck, and he loaded and unloaded tons of stores to ferry his cargo across flooded creeks.

Tom Kruse always got the mail through - come drought, hell or high water. This is truly a classic Australian story, and captures part of our history that is fast vanishing.

Genres: Biography, Australia, History, Nonfiction

313 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Kristin Weidenbach writes creative non-fiction focused on Australian history. She is the author of Tom the Outback Mailman, which is a picture book for junior primary readers based on her Australian bestseller, Mailman of the Birdsville Track: the Story of Tom Kruse.

She is the author of Rock Star: the Story of Reg Sprigg, and has written for Outback magazine and Australian Geographic.

Kristin is a PhD immunologist who specialised in forensic science and worked at Stanford University, USA, before she switched to a writing career.

Reviews

[Chris Waterford · Rating 3 out of 5]

My interest in this book came from driving the Birdsville Track 50 years ago---a much easier trip than Tom Kruse used have. A good history of Tom and the people of that area, but not a great piece of writing.
6/10

[Garry Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the May school holidays in 1975 I went with some friends on an XL250 Honda trailbike up the Birdsville Track. A few years before (1971) I had gone as part of an expedition across the Simpson Desert, so I had been to Birdsville before, and knew a little of the countryside.
I went with some teacher friends that I was sharing a house with at the time - Bob Easther and his wife Jo, and two others. I did not know how to ride a bike in sand when I left, but I did when I got back.
The Track was an easy two-day ride for the Honda. I can recall swimming in one of the bores, and camping under the stars, and loving the vast expanse of everything.
When I read Kristin Weidenbach's biography of Tom Kruse many of the names were very familiar - Clifton Hills, Mungerannie Bore, Goyder's Lagoon, Marree, and others. Likewise, when the bikes left Birdsville to go back home via Cordillo Downs, Innamincka and the Strzlecki, before rejoining the Adelaide road at Copley, familiar names and places reappeared.
Tom Kruse made this part of South Australia his patch for 30 years, mainly delivering mail, but also carting water to Coober Pedy, digging dams and carting anything that needed carting to the stations and work camps throughout northern South Australia.
When I was little I can recall the name of George Ding being mentioned. To me he was just someone that Mum and Dad knew who lived in a tiny town called Yunta, which had the distinction of being the coldest place in South Australia. We went there once, and I couldn't see the attraction. It just seemed to be a big service station, where lots of trucks would pull in. Mailman of the Birdsville Track fills in the background to George Ding, his brother Harry Ding, Harry's employee Tom Kruse, and the reasons why the Dings were such an important family in that vast area where SA, Qld and the NT meet.
Mostly, though, Mailman of the Birdsville Track is about the determination and ingenuity of the second and third generation settlers of the furtherest reaches of European settlement - places like Marree, Clifton Hills, and Birdsville itself. Tom Kruse took almost everything in his stride (except, eventually, the mighty Cooper) to deliver the Royal Mail. His story is fascinating and inspiring.

[Janelle]

I didn't get far into the first chapter. Maybe I'm too much of an impatient reader, but I was very bored.

[Dale · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not as good as the other Birdsville texts I have read. Abandoned 11%.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolutely amazing man, Tom Kruse! He typifies everything Aussie, and is certainly an icon in this country.
A few quotes from the letters he received at the end of the re-enactment of the mail run from Marree to Birdsville, in October 1999, after his famous 1936 Leyland Badger truck was lovingly restored:
'a legend to inspire future generations of Aussies'
'a living part of Australian history'
he epitomised the 'Aussie spirit which can get the job done, against all the odds'
'May we prove that we deserve the great accomplishments of our pioneer generation and the courage and success of such a splendid man as Tom Kruse!'
'Ride well big fella and God Bless.'

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and the history of the Birdsville Track. The hardships of the people who lived in this era, from the mid 1930's and beyond. I also found out my husband remembers being taken with all his school class to see the movie made in the early 1950's called The Back of Beyond about the history of Tom Kruse and the mail run. It won the title of best documentary at the 1954 Venice Film Festival.

All in all, a wonderful book, one I would recommend to everyone, not just Aussies!

[Peter Langston · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting but very dry ... much like the setting for the book. I found behind the scenes descriptions of the film "The Back of Beyond" intriguing. What comes across clearly is the extraordinary life this plan ordinary bloke has led. Living outside a major city for such a long time, I've met many blokes like Tom Kruise.

[Belinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating man, I'm amazed at the strength and the effort he had to deal with every day. He's truly a real Australian.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this years ago now and it is one of my favourite books. I loved Tom and his life and when he passed away on June 30, 2011, I was so upset. But it was his time and he had a life fulfilled. Loving the outback myself, I connected with Toms life with such enthusiasm and after reading the book and writing to the publisher, I was invited to his birth-home in SA for an unveiling of a Bust dedicated to him. I was even given a special mention amongst all that had gathered there for the same reason of admiration, and given specific time for just Tom and myself to chat. Truly one of the most incredible experiences of my life to meet this beautiful man and read about his journey. This book is a treasured possession.

[Genevieve · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to Mailman of the Birdsville Track as an audiobook, and in hindsight, listening to it likely saved me from just abandoning the book. While the subject matter is interesting, this vanilla style of storytelling just seemed to drone on and on. Tom Kruse was an interesting character, but the way that the story was framed was just not that appealing. Plus, the latter part of the book is basically a detailed account of the rebuild of one of his beloved trucks, so that it could rest in a museum. I found that account unnecessary to the story of his life. Was it filler? Who knows. Two stars.

[Dave Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read for every Australian.

The story of a man, a country, and a way of life that shows why Australia is a great country.
Nothing is impossible for you if you have the patience and determination to overcome and keep going.
A life well lived and a story well told. Thank you.

[Leonie Youngberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook- such an interesting life and captures the personalities and landscapes of the outback. Fantastic effort to document the life and times of a true Australian character and a piece of our history the the restoration of the mail truck.

[Growlcat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting - good description of the tough life in the red centre during the first half of the 20th century. A bit hard going at times but worth it.

[Nicole Hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important book for every Australian to read

[Goldenwattle · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read, bringing to life the Birdsville Track and surrounds. Tom Kruse was a very capable ‘bushy’.

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! An excellent documentary about an extremely resilient and ingenious Australian character that stamped his place in our history.

[Any Length · Rating 2 out of 5]

It takes one back to the times when people worked very hard for a living and considered selling their well trained sheep herding dog for 3 pounds.

[Denise Tannock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is fabulous. Tom Kruse epitomizes the true Australian spirit.

[Brendan Hough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eye read maybe 2008
7.1/10 The stark life of a postie on a crazy long route through parts of the middle of oz, and how he delt with things.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

not an easy read, (it feels a bit awkward) but a facinating glimpse into life in the outback and the type of people who helped make Australia what it is