House sitter required on the Wheatbelt, near Brookton, WA
Bruce and Bev said
06:58 PM Oct 22, 2015
Hi All
We are currently on a sheep and mixed grain farm of 7000 hectacres about 25 mins out of Brookton (which has a pub, newsagency, IGA and two servos, plus a few other shops like chemist and hospital). The larger town with a Coles and plenty of shops is about an hour away
We are here till end of December and the couple who own and run the farm (both in their 70s's !!!) would like us to return sometime in February and stay as long as we like.
We cant return unfortunately as we have family commitments in Perth.
You will have a one bedroom cottage with shower, toilet, kitchen and air con - basic - but fine. We actually use our 'van which is parked beside it and get our power from the cottage and use the toilet and shower. There is full TV covereage of all the channels, but no TV provided.
The duties are to feed the hens/roosters, 1 x Emo and two Roos which love to be petted as well as water the small vege garden (reticulated but needs to be turned on with a manual timer) each day. Takes two of us about an hour or so.
They would like the person(s) staying to help bottle feed the orphaned lambs as well next year.
She is a very religious person (although she doesn't mention it or preach to you) and not sure about him - hes a typical farmer who has been working the land for over 50 years now. She is out a lot and he works the farm with his live-in farm hand 7 days a week. Both are friendly and happy to chat.
If youre interested, PM me and I will give you her email address so you can chat directly to her
-- Edited by Bruce and Bev on Friday 23rd of October 2015 12:26:29 AM
villatranquilla said
10:50 PM Oct 22, 2015
please remind them of the importance of getting photo ID and checkable references from anyone they have on the property. Those farmers who had the Stocco's on their properties are now wishing they had checked into their background. Many country people are too trusting.
Bruce and Bev said
12:25 AM Oct 23, 2015
Thanks for that guys. They've had sitters for years now and have a farmhand and his wife living fulltime at the farms "hub" as well as other family members who have farms in the area that visit regularly. We talked about it the other day and as someone directly connected to their farms are always here, they don't see any risk :))
-- Edited by Bruce and Bev on Friday 23rd of October 2015 12:29:45 AM
villatranquilla said
08:37 AM Oct 23, 2015
Bruce and Bev wrote:
Thanks for that guys. They've had sitters for years now and have a farmhand and his wife living fulltime at the farms "hub" as well as other family members who have farms in the area that visit regularly. We talked about it the other day and as someone directly connected to their farms are always here, they don't see any risk :))
-- Edited by Bruce and Bev on Friday 23rd of October 2015 12:29:45 AM
there seemed no risk with these people. They came across as decent, farm experienced men whom our friends thought were doing a good job for the 5 mths they were there, until the job finished and they weren't needed anymore. That was until they had gone, then damage and thefts were discovered. At other places they sneaked back in the dark and did more damage.
Bruce and Bev said
11:29 PM Oct 23, 2015
as they say Jenny - you can lead a horse to water........". Genuine country people really are so nice and trusting that they cant comprehend characters like this father and son duo.
We obviously enjoy meeting and talking with people like this - its so refreshing from our cities. We walk down the street in the local town and locals greet you with a big smile and a cheery hello and always keen to chat if you want to. Today we went to the rose show at Beverley and it was like taking a step back 50 years. Lots of old ladies sitting round drinking tea and eating little cakes, raffles, home made cakes and some nice roses (but not that many - we were only in there for about 10 mins) and "modern" flower displays that city slickers would now snicker at as going out of date years ago. But all the people were lovely to talk with and all smiled, rather than look at their feet and walk past as most do in cities.
villatranquilla said
03:52 PM Oct 25, 2015
yes Bruce I agree, that's one of the reasons we enjoy our 'rural' work.
We have been so lucky with the families we have worked for and have become friends with and all want us back when we are in their area. We enjoy the local fetes and 'socialness' of these areas.
Weevil said
09:31 PM Oct 25, 2015
Beverley is one of my favorite towns Bruce, I noticed how friendly the locals were too.
Great Council CP there too, stayed there a number of times, just walk straight through to the main street.
We are currently on a sheep and mixed grain farm of 7000 hectacres about 25 mins out of Brookton (which has a pub, newsagency, IGA and two servos, plus a few other shops like chemist and hospital). The larger town with a Coles and plenty of shops is about an hour away
We are here till end of December and the couple who own and run the farm (both in their 70s's !!!) would like us to return sometime in February and stay as long as we like.
We cant return unfortunately as we have family commitments in Perth.
You will have a one bedroom cottage with shower, toilet, kitchen and air con - basic - but fine. We actually use our 'van which is parked beside it and get our power from the cottage and use the toilet and shower. There is full TV covereage of all the channels, but no TV provided.
The duties are to feed the hens/roosters, 1 x Emo and two Roos which love to be petted as well as water the small vege garden (reticulated but needs to be turned on with a manual timer) each day. Takes two of us about an hour or so.
They would like the person(s) staying to help bottle feed the orphaned lambs as well next year.
She is a very religious person (although she doesn't mention it or preach to you) and not sure about him - hes a typical farmer who has been working the land for over 50 years now. She is out a lot and he works the farm with his live-in farm hand 7 days a week. Both are friendly and happy to chat.
If youre interested, PM me and I will give you her email address so you can chat directly to her
-- Edited by Bruce and Bev on Friday 23rd of October 2015 12:26:29 AM
-- Edited by Bruce and Bev on Friday 23rd of October 2015 12:29:45 AM
there seemed no risk with these people. They came across as decent, farm experienced men whom our friends thought were doing a good job for the 5 mths they were there, until the job finished and they weren't needed anymore. That was until they had gone, then damage and thefts were discovered. At other places they sneaked back in the dark and did more damage.
We obviously enjoy meeting and talking with people like this - its so refreshing from our cities. We walk down the street in the local town and locals greet you with a big smile and a cheery hello and always keen to chat if you want to. Today we went to the rose show at Beverley and it was like taking a step back 50 years. Lots of old ladies sitting round drinking tea and eating little cakes, raffles, home made cakes and some nice roses (but not that many - we were only in there for about 10 mins) and "modern" flower displays that city slickers would now snicker at as going out of date years ago. But all the people were lovely to talk with and all smiled, rather than look at their feet and walk past as most do in cities.
We have been so lucky with the families we have worked for and have become friends with and all want us back when we are in their area. We enjoy the local fetes and 'socialness' of these areas.
Beverley is one of my favorite towns Bruce, I noticed how friendly the locals were too.
Great Council CP there too, stayed there a number of times, just walk straight through to the main street.