Susanna Freymark
The seagull that used to hang over the entrance to the Woodburn Post Office is finally back.
Post office licensee Anika Stevenson calls it the “stupid seagull” because she was always worried it would fall off its perch fixed to the wall of the post office. Now it sits up high on the chimney on the roof.
It’s safe from falling and safe from floods.
Anika has been in a temporary post office along River Street for four years – in March this year she moved back to the original 1903 post office building after it was severely damaged in the 2022 floods.
It hasn’t been an easy journey getting back.
Anika’s biggest battle has been with the insurance company and given the post office is a heritage building it complicated matters.
The insurance company ripped out the red cedar and she spent two years fighting with them, she said.
“And then I had to find a builder willing to rebuild and work on a heritage building.”
Anika said it takes “five steps to get to work” as she lives out the back of the post office.
She’s been working in the post office business for 10 years.
”Now I’m back in here, I feel a lot better, being in my own place,” she said.
The metal letters spelling out Woodburn Post Office are yet to be hung – they’re coming soon.
The seagull though has made its way back.
”I like the seagull up there,” she said pointing to the roof.
It is another milestone in the flood recovery for Woodburn residents – to have their post office and that ‘stupid seagull’ back in action.