A VICTORIAN town is fighting for its local postie to be allowed to continue his longstanding Christmas tradition of decorating his bike and spreading the festive spirit.

Cam McFarlane has been delivering letters, gifts, and Christmas cheer throughout Torquay on his well-recognised tinsel-festooned bike for the past five years.

He is famous in the coastal town for his colourful decorations and his enthusiasm, and has been recognised for both in years past by local newspapers and other public forums.

But this December Australia Post decided to crack down and issue the much-loved postie with a grinch-like warning.

News.com.au understands Cam was scolded for speaking with the media after appearing in a local newspaper article, and instructed to remove decorations from his delivery bike.

Australia Post denied Cam was told “no decorations”, but asked to remove those which were considered a safety hazard.

A community-driven social media campaign has defended the postie’s right to spread Christmas cheer and members have flooded Australia Post with complaints.

Since the disappointing news spread through Torquay late last week, a Facebook group dedicated to campaigning for Australia Post to allow Cam to continue to decorate his bike has notched up close to 900 followers.

“Cam our amazing local postie brings so much happiness to our community,” one of the group’s initial posts read.

“Australia Post we are so disappointed, please allow Cam to decorate his bike for Christmas and all other significant times.”

On the page, members have praised Cam as a “true icon of the area” and a “local treasure”.

“Nothing better than catching a glimpse of his beautifully decorated bike as you hurry along during this crazy busy time. He is the true spirit of Christmas,” Paul Dunstan wrote.

“Cam is a truly wonderful person in our community, putting a smile on every face here with the wonderful creations,” wrote Faith Simone.

“Please let him keep decorating his bike. For some of our older community people in this town he is the only person they see every day. Kids at the school wait just to see how Cam has his bike. I think to take this from him will crush him and the whole town.”

Community members have used the discussion group to pledge to band together to “change Aussie Post’s mind” and labelling the organisation “grinches”.

“Shame on you Australia Post, surely you have better things to worry about,” Caroline Wise wrote.

“Where’s the Christmas spirit gone Australia Post?” asked Nicole Fraser.

“Bah humbug to you Australia Post,” said Ceri Price Lavelle.

The woman who created the page, which Cam himself did not request or have any involvement in, said she thought it was “crazy anyone would stop Cam bringing so much joy to our community”.

“They did advise him to stop decorating himself and the bike,” she wrote.

“Our community have now spoken and let’s hope they reverse this ridiculous decision.”

Following the community outrage, Australia Post appears to have softened to allow Cam to keep some of his decorations.

More recent comments on the organisation’s Facebook page have been met with responses permitting decorations “as long as they don’t obstruct his visions, pose any risk of becoming tangled in his wheels, or compromise the handling of the bike”.

In a statement sent to news.com.au, Australia Post spokeswoman Michelle Skehan said: “We encourage all of our people to share the Christmas spirit — from our posties dressing in Santa suits to our post offices from around the country decorated top to toe. It’s important though when celebrating that we do it safely.

“It’s great to see postie Cam spreading Christmas cheer in Torquay but we want to keep him and other motorists safe, so we’re making sure the decorations don’t obstruct his vision or post any risk of becoming tangled in the bike.”