Backpackers Welcome

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURESBy Sandy Bauer – Country to Canberra Teen Blogger

Whilst working on a cattle station you will almost always come across one or two backpackers who will fulfil certain roles on the station, generally of the domestic kind – mowing, cleaning and odd jobs.

If someone was to come from overseas as a backpacker and work in Australia part of their requirement is to spend some time working in a rural area. These requirements were some that Michelle our Danish/Irish backpacker who works with us, decided to take on.

Unfortunately Michelle’s rural work stint is a month from ending, from here she will explore numerous other places in Australia with her best friend before heading home early next year.

Just six months ago the original Michelle that I met was hella shy and would keep to herself.  Now you barely have five minutes where she isn’t joking around, talking and making everyone smile.

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Michelle

Even though she isn’t a permanent worker on the station she plays a vital part to keep the station in operation mode; from cleaning the guest quarters to mowing the lawn. At the end of the day everyone appreciates her for stocking the bar fridge!

Just to spice things up, in Michelle’s time here she was lucky enough to participate in the camp operations. This entailed riding a horse (after not having ridden for a year), mustering cattle and helping in the processing operations of our weaners. All jobs which usually involve hard work, sweat and determination.

So if you’re from overseas and wish to visit Australia, consider giving the station life a go!  To the Australian Government – please don’t raise the tax rates for backpackers – rural Australia needs these workers, they make up an important part of our remote workforces and help make things interesting here in the bush. People from other countries should be able to experience life in Australia and it is important they get to see what outback Australia has to offer too.