Audience members share hand written letters as 'Google doodle' celebrates Penny Black postage stamp
/ By Simon Leo BrownGoogle's doodle of the Penny Black, Britain's world-first adhesive postage stamp released in 1840, has prompted many on social media to profess their love for the handwritten letter.
Letter enthusiast Michelle Mackintosh spoke about her book Snail Mail with Del Irani on 774 ABC Melbourne, saying "I think there's nothing like receiving a hand-written letter, it's so beautiful to go to the post box and have lovely handwriting and stamps and just something heartfelt inside".
The listening audience responded with stories of letters they've kept and cherished.
We asked some of those listeners to share their treasured letters with you.
Darling Julie. Hello my angel, I love and miss you very much. This week at sea has been a horror in one way or another.
Julie Stanyer's husband, who was in the navy for 21 years, writes to her in 1985."My husband was in the navy for years and we sent letters all the time," says Julie Stanyer.
"I still have them all even though we have moved many times."
Ms Stanyer gave us a photo of this letter her husband sent dated 22-2-85.
It has a sender's address of "At Sea".
"The hours have been long and usually for nothing," he writes.
"We let the powers to be play their games and we just carry on doing our own thing.
"The weapons people have achieved quite a bit and I guess the seaman side of things have sharpened their ship handling skills etc. as we have been doing a lot of convoy type work."
Dear Mother, Thank you for your letter that I received a couple of days ago. It was nice to hear that you all are well. I am also well and I am still working with the same things. It is nice weather here with sun shine every day.
Jan Nordin writes to his mother in Sweden while working in Western Australia at the age of 18.Karin Grima's father Jan Nordin died when she was two years old, but she has the letters he wrote to his mother in Sweden when he first arrived in Australia aged 18.
"He worked all over WA, on the railways, mines and electricity lines," says Ms Grima.
"He was only just 18 and I'm amazed by his courage and adventurous spirit - leaving his country, speaking very little English and working in country WA."
The letters document his work on the Kalgoorlie railway and his travels around Western Australia.
"It's an insight into his personality and character," says Ms Grima.
One letter includes a small line-drawing of a piece of machinery he worked on.
It also details how he shopped for a confirmation gift for his sister Laila.
"I visited Calgardia yesterday (Saturday) for some shopping and I sent a necklace to Laila," he writes.
"I have written and sent her a letter today. I bought the necklace for her in Perth, it is silver and I paid 60 kroner for it. It was the best I could find and I hope she will like it.
Please ask Laila to send me a photo of her in her confirmation dress."
In case I shan't be able to send another letter in time, I want to send you my very best wishes for a happy day on the 20th... Hope you have a jolly good birthday!
Hilton David writes to his wife-to-be Miriam, 1951Hilton David's wife Miriam died three years ago. They had been married for 57 years.
"Among my late wife's belongings I found a box of letters," says Mr David.
"They were letters I wrote to her in 1951."
Mr David sent us a photo of one of those letters, written at sea before docking at Colombo.
"There is something I wish to mention - OF VERY GREAT IMPORTANCE," he writes.
"Three weeks from today I'll be landing in Sydney... I'm very much looking forward to this.
"There is just one thing I hope for & that is you will be able to come along to the wharf to meet me.
"You'll try to be there won't you? Please?"
Well congratulations... it's a little beauty, 8 lbs, boy won't that John poke the old chest out now.
Vincent Grace's letter to his daughter Sue Ferguson on the birth of her first child.Sue Ferguson says the most memorable letter she's ever received was from her father Vincent Grace, who was away with work when she gave birth to her son Paul.
"Firstly he sent a telegram to the hospital and followed it with a very proud and happy 'first time Grandpop' letter," she says.
"He had the most beautiful hand writing and expressed himself in words exactly how he spoke."
While the telegram simply reads "Congratulations and welcome Love Grandfather", the letter is more effusive.
"No doubt as I write this you are feeling sorry for yourself, but I guess in a couple of days you will be OK again," he writes.
"You know I can see the little blighter, just like you many years ago...
"Gee I'm happy, fancy me having a grandchild all of my own."
My darling Delnaaz, H Gr. and myself are fine, nothing to worry about. Dear, I am worried about you.
Del Irani's grandmother writes to her from IndiaABC presenter Del Irani has her own story of receiving precious mail.
She still has the handwritten letters she received as a child from India, sent to her by her maternal grandmother.
"We immigrated to Australia when I was eight, and it was the only way of communicating," she says.
"There was no email back then and long distance phone calls cost a lot of money."
She has shared one of those letters, which includes a lot of grandmotherly advice about her health.
"Please listen to my advice and do write me a lengthy letter with dad, all the details about the above, and also some interesting news about yourself, your study & other things," it reads.
"God help you. Make it a point to pray, at least in your holidays."
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