Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[roverdriver]

Tom Kruze, who became famous because of his dedication to the job of outback mailman has died aged 96.

Here is a brief story from the ABC.
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Outback legend, Tom Kruse, dead at 96


One of Australia's best-known outback characters, Tom Kruse, has died in Adelaide, aged 96.

Known as the Birdsville Mailman, Mr Kruse delivered mail and other supplies to a wide region of the outback from 1936 until 1957.

The story of his two-week road trips was recorded in a 1954 documentary Back of Beyond, putting him on the national stage.

Esmond Gerald (Tom) Kruse was the 10th of Ida and Henry Kruse's 12 children and started life at Waterloo Corner, just north of Adelaide.

Mr Kruse was awarded an MBE in 1955 and was inducted into the National Transport Hall of Fame in Alice Springs in 2000 and recognised as an Outback Legend by Australian Geographic magazine in 2003.

The Governor-General's wife flew to Birdsville in 1955 as part of an outback tour to present the MBE, but Mr Kruse could not make it to the ceremony because of outback flooding. He later got the medal in Adelaide.

A funeral service will be held in Adelaide. Mr Kruse's wife Valma died last year.

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Here is a link to a clip from the movie 'The back of Beyond' which in many ways was a documentary about him, made in 1954.

http://aso.gov.au/titles/documentaries/back-of-beyond/clip2/

Here is some more about him-

http://www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/kruse.htm

His Leyland truck was collected from its outback resting place and restored a few years ago.
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Dane- roverdriver but not a Viking.