21 May 2025, Cr Liesbeth Long - Dunolly Welcome Record

Published on 21 May 2025

A deep loss.

Recently I, along with many others attended the funeral to celebrate the life of Dunolly Postmaster Michael John ‘Bertie’ Rayson.

I remember vividly when and where I was when I received the heartbreaking phone call of Michaels’ passing. I was shocked, numb and even now, still, I am struggling with the fact that this tragic accident actually happened.

Sometimes, a single person becomes a living symbol of a community’s identity. 

Someone who holds collective memory, traditions, and values. When such a person dies, the community can feel as though it has lost part of itself. Michael was more than just a familiar face - he had an infectious personality, was a tireless organizer, and a beacon of unity in our ever-growing town. 

Michael showed us that community is something you build, protect, and cherish.

In rural and small towns, the Postmaster is more than a job title. It's a role deeply embedded in the community’s rhythm.

The funeral cortege from Maryborough to the Dunolly Cemetery saw Broadway fall unusually silent, with many people lining the street to pay their final respects. Then arriving at the cemetery, I was blown away by the sheer number of people there. A true testament to the high regard he was held in.

Because Michael didn’t just deliver mail. He delivered kindness, every day. He represented trust, consistency, and care - things the digital world can’t deliver in a package.

We’re not just mourning a man. We’re mourning the role he filled. He knew this town like the back of his hand and we knew him as part of our own.

Vale Bertie, you will be missed.