Six months ago, Tracy Ward was a woman with a vision. The vehicle to make that happen was a post office and her imagination.

Tracy’s vision was to make “Hearts soar higher than a river ever could”. She never expected just how high that would be.  

With children's excitement surrounding her Christmas “Nice List” and the tasks for the elderly in the community, she transformed “Ettie” (named after its first postmistress) into a gingerbread house.

Tracy’s efforts have been recognised within the community, statewide and internationally.

The 2022 floods severely impacted Tracy’s life. Another challenge in a life that has not been easy. But Tracy’s courage, vision and effort to not lose sight of her dream has been “successful beyond words.”

“For as much as people think that I bring joy to the community, this community has saved me and my family.  

“Lismore has stood by me.

“You’ve held me and this space in which people are allowing me to create, allowing me to be exactly who I am, and asking nothing of me other than a smile - this place where I feel so fully accepted and safe standing in my own presence exactly as I am.

If you haven't seen Ettie, yet, make sure you get down to see the whole effect...

“I am home for the first time in my life. I am home.”

Tracy has worked exceedingly hard for weeks to make a special Christmas event happen, and on the big day when the Rail Trail opened, and Santa was due to arrive at the Post Office, she spent the morning in hospital with one broken and two dislocated fingers!  

Just making it back in time, Tracy got to see the Mayor, Steve Krieg, as a jolly Santa, making the children laugh and show pure delight when they got to ring the Santa Bell. Tracy also got to take in her daughters, stepping up their own efforts for the community.

The various works Tracy has been involved in have seen countless words of appreciation from the community, and more formal acknowledgement has started coming in. 

Australia Post has voted her on the NSW State Council for licensed post offices in Australia. “That is a big deal, even for someone that has been at post for 20 years. I feel very privileged to be recognised.”

The Faculty of Education at Southern Cross University has recognised her efforts, and Tracy has been awarded the 2024 Dean’s Honour List. Tracy was surprised and honoured to receive the award for Outstanding Achievement in her studies where she is currently working towards supporting children's experiences in a program called Quantum Kids.

“It’s about offsetting the long-term implications of adverse childhood experiences with the objective of lowering the occurrence of domestic violence, a subject close to my heart."

Last week saw Tracy recognised in a competition she didn’t know existed, let alone entered into - the National Christmas Lights Display competition. This has generated global attention, and on Saturday, CNN was at the Post Office wanting to speak with Tracy about it.  

One of Tracy’s goals was to make Ettie into an Australian Icon. She has had visitors from interstate and even overseas, but having a global media network on her doorstep was something she never counted on. 

Tracy is delighted that Lismore is being recognised internationally for more than the 2022 floods.

Tracy's youngest daughter, Heidi, played Santa at the light up. (Image Credit; Tracy Ward)

However, Tracy acknowledges that recovery is still very real and is particularly concerned about the younger generation who had the double whammy of covid and floods.

“There is a whole generation of children that didn't get to go to birthday parties. They didn't get to go to circuses or movies or understand what it was to go to a show and look at the chickens.”

In Tracy’s eyes, this reality makes the children's efforts even more impressive. “We actually achieved 960 Christmas cards for our elderly and underprivileged residents. That’s a spectacular effort.

“We wanted to hit 1000, but we aren't finished, we've still got a couple of days before Christmas.”

Posting letters for Santa and the community on the Rail Trail opening day.

There is one thing that concerns Tracy about her new venture, and that is whether or not Ettie can survive another flood. Tracy has been applying for grants to get her lifted.  

“I am working tirelessly to achieve a grant.

“If we can't raise her, we may not be able to sustain her through another big flood event, and that would be absolutely devastating.

“Not just because it's the hub of our community and my personal family business, but mostly because she's been there since 1880 - she has served the community for that long, and she served it largely with single women at the helm.”

There is a way for people to help, and Tracy asks, ”We need loads of support—letters of support from the community. If you love us, if we've served you well, and if you'd love to see us continue to operate, write that letter.

“From your business, write that letter personally from your family, flood us with support so we can take it to all of the grants that are available and demonstrate how incredibly important Ettie is to the community.”

Tracy is fighting for more than a building.

“Every day I go to work, and I'm happy. Every day, my customers come in, and they laugh with us. If you gave me any job on the planet, I don't think I would ever find myself as happy and as at home as I am in Ettie at South Lismore.”