stories

Living in the Wild West

an experience of the outback

An authentic Australian experience is joining the 'brown-gold rush' to help the iron ore effort. Seems the Chinese can't get enough of the stuff.
 
I've found that living in the mining camps can be a bit of a surprise. Things are generally quiet because there's someone walways sleeping what with round-the-clock shift.
 
The mining companies have set up rudimentary camps using dongas or portable buildings.
 
An interesting feature of life out here are the signs that let you know you're not in the city any more. Here's one on the wall of the mess area where our meals are served. It's about catching snakes. Terrific! That's all I need - a king brown lolling over my bloody toes under the table while I'm trying to enjoy a bowl of soup and bread roll at the end of a shift. I suppose the equivalent is catching a stray cat in the towns. But not in the wild west. It's rough and it's dry. Pretty much every living thing out here wants you dead (including my ex-). But the money's good. Let's hope the Chinese keep buying our ore.

 
Thanks to
Matthew Strahorn
from Brisbane
on 14/07/2008

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