Age, Biography and Wiki

Tom Kruse (Esmond Gerald Kruse) was born on 28 August, 1914 in Waterloo, Australia, is an Australian mail carrier (1914–2011). Discover Tom Kruse's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 97 years old?

Popular As Esmond Gerald Kruse
Occupation miscellaneous
Age 97 years old
Zodiac Sign Virgo
Born 28 August, 1914
Birthday 28 August
Birthplace Waterloo, Australia
Date of death 30 June, 2011
Died Place Adelaide, Australia
Nationality Australia

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 28 August. He is a member of famous Miscellaneous with the age 97 years old group.

Tom Kruse Height, Weight & Measurements

At 97 years old, Tom Kruse height not available right now. We will update Tom Kruse's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
Height Not Available
Weight Not Available
Body Measurements Not Available
Eye Color Not Available
Hair Color Not Available

Who Is Tom Kruse's Wife?

His wife is Audrey Valma Fuller (m. 1942–2010)

Family
Parents Not Available
Wife Audrey Valma Fuller (m. 1942–2010)
Sibling Not Available
Children Pauline Kruse, Jeffery Kruse, Phillip Kruse, Helen Kruse

Tom Kruse Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Tom Kruse worth at the age of 97 years old? Tom Kruse’s income source is mostly from being a successful Miscellaneous. He is from Australia. We have estimated Tom Kruse's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income Miscellaneous

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Timeline

1914

Esmond Gerald "Tom" Kruse MBE (28 August 1914 – 30 June 2011) was a mail carrier on the Birdsville Track in the border area between South Australia and Queensland.

1934

However, due to the Depression, he "went 'bush'" around 1934 to work in John Penna's haulage business which ran out of Yunta in the mid-north of South Australia.

1936

In 1936 Henry Edgar (Harry) Ding (1907–1976) bought the mail contract from John Penna, and Kruse began his first run on 1 January of that year.

Kruse worked the Birdsville Track mail run from 1936 to 1957, driving his Leyland Badger truck.

He delivered mail and other supplies including general stores, fuel and medicine to remote stations from Marree in north-west South Australia to Birdsville in far western Queensland, some 325 mi away.

Each trip would take two weeks and Tom regularly had to manage break-downs, flooding creeks and rivers, and getting bogged in desert dunes.

The collection includes hundreds of photographs, documents and memorabilia from Tom's Marree to Birdsville mail run, including a floor board and the original grille from the 1936 'Back of Beyond' Leyland Badger and a signed and framed mailbag used in the production of 'The Last Mail from Birdsville - the Story of Tom Kruse' in 1999.

1942

Kruse married Audrey Valma Fuller (known as Val) on 24 January 1942 in Adelaide, South Australia.

They had four children: Pauline, Helen, Phillip and Jeffery.

1947

Kruse bought the mail contract in 1947.

1952

Shooting on the film began in late 1952.

1954

He became known nationally as the result of John Heyer's 1954 film The Back of Beyond.

Tom Kruse came to fame with the release of John Heyer's documentary The Back of Beyond in 1954.

While the film follows a "typical" journey made by Kruse, showing the various people he met along the Track and the sorts of obstacles he faced, this particular journey was closely scripted and includes a number of re-enactments and a 'lost children' story.

John Heyer had undertaken a research trip with Kruse earlier.

1955

He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1955 New Year Honours, "for services to the community in the outback".

Kruse was born at Waterloo in South Australia to Harry (Heinrich) and Ida Kruse.

He was the tenth of their twelve children.

He left school when he was 14 years old, and worked as a casual labourer on local farms.

He was appointed MBE in 1955.

1957

Kruse abandoned the truck on Pandie Pandie Station near Birdsville in 1957.

1963

He sold the contract in 1963.

1984

Kruse retired in 1984, and moved to Cumberland Park in Adelaide.

1986

It was located in the desert in 1986 during the Jubilee Mail Run re-enactment, and retrieved in 1993.

In May 1986, South Australia's 150th Jubilee, Tom Re-enacted his run, with 80 vehicles joining in the northbound convoy.

1996

A group of enthusiasts led by Neil Weidenbach, with the help of Tom, fully restored the Badger between 1996 and 1999.

The truck was gifted by Tom and Valma to the people of Australia and is now on display in the National Motor Museum, at Birdwood in the Adelaide Hills.

It is one of the featured vehicles in the National Motor Museum's installation Sunburnt Country, Icons of Australian Motoring.

1999

There was a second re-enactment in 1999, and in October of that year the Leyland was trucked to a few kilometres out of Birdsville so Tom could drive it into the township for celebrations.

The next morning it was loaded with mail for "The Mail Truck's Last Run" to Marree.

A major reason for the event was to raise funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

This run resulted in another documentary, Last Mail from Birdsville – the Story of Tom Kruse.

As well as a book about Tom's life written by Kristin Weidenbach entitled Mailman of the Birdville Track.

2000

In 2000 Tom was inducted into the National Transport Hall of Fame in Alice Springs, and in 2003 he was officially recognised as an Outback Legend by Australian Geographic magazine.

2003

Also in 2003, Tom and his truck, the Badger, were nominated South Australian icons by the National Trust of Australia.

2008

In 2008, bronze busts of Tom were placed in the National Transport Hall of Fame in Alice Springs, National Motor Museum at Birdwood, at Waterloo (his birthplace), and at Birdsville and Marree.

Publicans Phil and Marilyn (Maz) Turner of the iconic Marree Hotel commissioned Ian Doyle, Executive Producer of 'The Tom Kruse Collection' to curate and with Mark Metzger to build the Tom Kruse Museum in the renamed Tom Kruse Room in the Marree Hotel.

2011

Kruse died in Adelaide, aged 96, on 30 June 2011.