Word spread through a farming community near Tallangatta last week that there would be no more parcel deliveries to them and it sparked an immediate uproar.

There were irate phone calls and letters to Australia Post with the North East operations manager Corey O’Bryan saying he had “30 to 40 calls”.

Some people even contacted local federal parliamentary representative Sophie Mirabella to vent their feelings.

The misinformation focused on them having to drive from the Tallangatta Valley to Tallangatta to collect their parcels.

In some cases, that would have meant trips of 80 to 100 kilometres.

Farmer Brian Fraser was quick off the mark and sent a letter to Australia Post at Wodonga.

Mr Fraser said a return trip for him to the Tallangatta Post Office was 68 kilometres.

“To introduce this action just before Christmas is quite incomprehen- sible,” he said.

But his fears have been allayed by Mr O’Bryan, who is based at Wodonga.

“They will be getting exactly the same service,” Mr O’Bryan said yesterday.

He said in fact they may get an enhanced service but they have to ring him for advice on relatively simple forms they have to send to him.

Mr O’Bryan said the rumour about the cessation of parcel deliveries had gone through the valley “like wild fire”.

The one condition for parcel deliveries is that Australia Post is not liable for any loss or damage.

The parcel delivery service was a good one for farmers, according to Mr O’Bryan, where parcels are delivered to their main gate or in some circumstances right to their house.

The Tallangatta Valley Progress Association president Stuart Morant was one of those to quickly fire off a letter of protest.

Mr Morant said yesterday he was pleased the situation has been resolved.