Cars, guitars and country music: Jimmy the Postie strikes a chord

by Stewart Medland

Jimmy has been delivering my mail for the past 15 years.  I’ll never forget our first driveway meeting. “I’m as lost as a goose in a snow storm,” he exclaimed. The phrase was as unfamiliar as the deep southern accent.  

Jimmy told me he was from Arkansas, US of A.  I must confess, after that brief introduction, I immediately looked up Google having no idea where  Arkansas — pronounced Ar-kan-saw — was.

Over the years there have been many driveway meetings with a variety of topics discussed, mostly around music, guitars and cars. His is an interesting story and one I was keen to share. So here’s a snapshot of Jimmy Cushing aka Jimmy The Postie.

Jimmy the Postie was “as lost as a goose in a snowstorm” on his first post run.

Growing up close to the town of Little Rock, capital of Arkansas, music was all around especially for the Cushing family who owned and operated Benton Wholesale Piano Company.  

It was a real family affair with Jimmy working alongside his Father, Mother and siblings.  Travelling sometimes great distances to acquire pianos which they would strip down and return to their former glory. The store sold all types of pianos from traditional uprights to full concert grands.  Arkansas is famous for producing ex-president Bill Clinton but also legendary Country Music stars Glen Campbell & Johnny Cash. Along with the incredible piano player Teddy Reidel, who for a time worked at the piano store.  

“Teddy was a genius who came to us so he could learn piano tuning, he actually turned down a chance to join Elvis Presley’s band so he could do his own thing,” recalls Jimmy.  Another famous Country star was Charlie Rich, who lived close by.  “He was the local musician that made the big time. My cousin Vicki stopped on a single lane bridge to let a car through one day. It was Charlie with Elvis sitting in the passenger seat”.

Finishing on a Friday afternoon Jimmy would often hit Highway 40 straight to Nashville, a six-hour drive, so he could spend all weekend watching the biggest Country stars of the day. 

As general interest in pianos began to wane and the building owners wanted to develop the site, the family business came to an end.  

Jimmy moved on, undertaking a number of jobs, working for Chevrolet, factory hand positions and selling medical supplies.  

During this time he had been invited to a BBQ where he met his future wife, an Australian Nurse, Lyndall. Jimmy first visited Australia in 1984 and met Lyndall’s family a further five times. In 1995 they both returned to Australia and settled on the Sunshine Coast where Lyndall’s parents had retired.

Jimmy had a cousin back in the States who was involved in the manufacturing and supply of Emergency vehicle sirens and lights.  Jimmy became the middle man for the importing of the equipment, as it was at a time when the old sirens and lights of emergency vehicles were being updated. 

Tiring of the coast lifestyle, with half a mind to return to America Jimmy took a drive.  He rolled into Palmwoods and immediately thought ‘This is a nice little town’.  

“Most definitely if it wasn’t for Palmwoods I was heading back to America,” he said.  This was 1998 and an opportunity arose to become an Australia Post mail contractor.

His current run covers about 100kms and around 500 properties.

Involving himself in the local community through his love of music, Jimmy has performed many times at Australasian Country Music Hall of Fame in Yandina, where he was a member for 15 years and served as president of the club for a time.  

He’s also a regular player at the Maroochy River Country Music Club & the Caloundra Country Music & Blues Club.  Playing alongside Lyndall in his own group Ozark Moon. 

Jimmy played me one of the many songs he knows, but not on piano, on guitar.  Needless to say it was a great performance delivered with the ease and polish of a seasoned player.  

He also has a great collection of guitars, “can’t help myself, every time I go back to the States I see a guitar I just like” he smiled.  

He has a great love of classic American cars and has owned some beauties.  

While having lunch at a Palmwoods café he overhead another diner mention Riding for the Disabled. He introduced himself and within no time had become a volunteer, naturally, as he also loves horses.  

Jimmy combines his passions to hold fundraisers at the Riding for the Disabled venue with a classic car and music show.  

He is one of the original members of Thumpers Car Club and a member of Suncoast Rod and Custom Club.  

Attending classic car events and driving his Red Convertible led him to being the instigator of the Nambour Anzac Day Memorial car parade. 

He’d been driving a 1975 Pontiac Firebird but “had been looking for something a little more rock n roll”.  “And I found just the thing on ebay,” he said.  

All Jimmy’s classics have been from the States.  “My daughter Crystal lives in Tulsa and the car was in Oklahoma City so it was perfect.”

Crystal was able to send a number of photos and Jimmy’s heart was set on this car.  

He flew back, spending time with his family, especially his beautiful daughter, whom he misses terribly and still calls every day. A photo album shows the original condition of the car which had sat neglected for many years. 

The highlight of my visit to Jimmy’s home was when he opened the garage door and there was the result of thousands of hours of restoration.  

“Every spare minute I had went into this car,” he said. “My 1959 Galaxie Town Victoria is the only one that I know of in Australia that is equipped with the 3-speed manual transmission and with the factory continental kit. It is also equipped with factory power steering.”

Many parts had to be custom made even down to replacement window rubbers.  I have never stood next to a car that has left me speechless. “C’mon lets go for a ride,” he said. 

Jimmy wanted something more rock n roll, and he certainly found it. As we cruised along people stopped, stared and took photos as we passed. I just grinned like a Cheshire cat.

With the huge increase in mail Jimmy still manages to spend a few moments with residents as he hands over the mail, always keen to know how you are.  

From the many grateful recipients of your delivery service we thank you.  The guitar playing, classic car driving, all round nice guy “Jimmy The Postie.”