I was wondering how many Grey Nomads who are full time on the road are working around Australia.
We have been on the road for two years doing all sorts of jobs.
Rod has been a handyman come builder. Tractor driving, working in factories and the great thing about it, you go and stay in small country towns for 1-3 months, getting to know the locals who welcome you with open arms.
I work from the van 4 days a week for a Solar Company.
We do volunteer work on a farm in Woodend at least twice a year for 2 weeks.
We love this life and I am interested to read what other GN's are doing?
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"No matter what happens travel gives you a story to tell"
We love this life and I am interested to read what other GN's are doing? Waiting to die ,,,but having a great time till then,,,,,,,,hehehe,, Billeeeeeee
we have been 'on the road' for 3 years and have to work part time to support ourselves as we are not at pensionable age yet. We have worked in QLD during grain harvest - I took over the household and Barry did general farm jobs. Then in WA we have done the same during planting. Also cooked and done farm work on sheep and cattle properties in southern WA as well as working for 6 mths in the Pilbara on a station. We are currently on a farm near Warrnambool Vic - milking and general handyman stuff and I am also a volunteer at the local adult day centre. We have been very lucky with our jobs and have remained friends with all the families who want us back again
Plus 2 X2 weeks house/dog sitting in Perth last January- that was good because it was hot and most caravan parks near the beach were booked out and very expensive. Just need to ensure there is adequate room for the van (and that the houses had air con )
-- Edited by villatranquilla on Wednesday 12th of November 2014 12:26:49 PM
-- Edited by villatranquilla on Thursday 13th of November 2014 10:02:28 AM
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Jenny and Barry
2009 Roma Elegance / 2013 Colorado. Permanent travellers 2011-2015 now just travel for 4-6 mths
As John Williamson sings...."working hard at being lazzzyyy".....we've been on the road for 4 1/2 years now..left home base in S.A. January 2010...however we are doing it a bit different..and alternate between living in Caravan and renting homes for periods of time....whilst we've been in Eaglehawk/Bendigo my wife has completed Certificates 4 in Aged Care and Disability to give us <her!..lol> more flexibility with finding work when we get serious about travelling....she currently works part time doing night shifts at a Nursing Home here in Bendigo to gain more experience <and money>..she sleeps during the day after she has worked, and I go gold detecting..I do all cooking and bottle washing..<don't attack me girls for being a chauvinist pig...I dig work a lot of years whist she did the family work and she's considerably younger than me>....these are our current arrangements anyway......
Flexibility and an OPEN mind are the main things....when it becomes real/hard work it's time to hit the road again...We had a year in Heathcote Vic., and I did volunteering while Julie went to TAFE for her Aged Care Courses.. .. helping to build Corrals for Riding for Disabled....built a walk way near the local Mens' Shed...and cut fire wood for oldies in the Town and weeding etc....met quite a few decent folk through their Outreach Group which did the organising.....no money just satisfaction and exercise.. We are both heading off to Laverton W.A. June next year to go gold prospecting...that will be hard work......but someone has to do it....<said with tongue in cheek>.....I prospected round Kalgoorlie May of this year...wouldn't be dead for quids....Hoo Roo
-- Edited by Golddetectornomad on Wednesday 12th of November 2014 02:52:12 PM
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'Without Going, You Get No Where'.
' Aspire to Inspire before you Expire'
Where Gold be....is where Gold be......old Cornish saying......
The older we get the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.......
Though we have been home based for the last 7 years, before that we : worked in tourist operations up north - in Qld and NT (me cooking, reception, housekeeping; him grounds work, taking tours, operating canoe hire service, dishwashing). Worked in packing shed in mango harvest at Giru - me packing, him sorting. Worked in a school in a remote aboriginal community - but not for long! Did 5 months on a construction site - mining related - in Pilbara (me Site Clerk, him Safety Officer and general go-fer). The last job paid the best, but I loved the jobs in the remote tourist places best, and would still be doing those seasonal jobs if The Driver's health had not deteriorated.
Property in Winton, helping out in kitchen (me) and house yard and working dogs (Mrd )
Driving during bean harvest in Bowen, then bringing bean trucks back to Laidley for next harvest (Mrd)
Prairie Hotel, Parachilna 3 months - housekeeping and maintenance (both)
Viterra, SA - Grain Harvest (Mrd)
Port Vincent Caravan Park (both)
Caravan Park in Kalgoorlie (self)
CBH WA - Grain Harvest (both)
Two love jobs, in return for power and water, William Bay and Mundijong, WA
three house sits in WA
Volunteer work on cattle station in NQ
One current and three more in short term future - house sits in SEQ & NNSW
In my spare time, I write freelance for Caravan and Motorhome on Tour...
We applied for Grain Harvest in Qld this year, but due to the drought, they did not put on many/if any casuals, so I have to write harder next year to compensate, as 12 weeks work between us is a good top up for our bank /super balance.
-- Edited by Dunmowin on Wednesday 12th of November 2014 06:14:01 PM
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Pay it forward - what goes around comes around
DUNMOWIN is no longer on the road and still DUNMOWIN!
wife and I thinking of trying for work in either of the two Grain harvesting companies (WA and Eastern States). Keen to know what jobs you did and was it heavy work or did you did the sit down/stand up stuff. Did you find the employment people with these organisations helpful or didn't care less?
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
CBH, WA - I did weighbridge, Mr D did receivables. I sat in weighbridge office (demountable/donga, but airconditioned) and pushed computer buttons to weigh trucks in and out. Mr D waited at grid and supervised the driver unloading his trucks. Probably the hardest role for all concerned is "sweeping" as this is a constant ongoing job for all. The other job for females (usually) is sample hut, where you spear the grain in the truck (fair bit of muscle required for this), put it through some scientific equipment to test for type of grain, suitability, etc. Training for this is week long course, I was not available for this training, hence the weighbridge. We found CBH's recruitment process OK, better than Viterra in SA, which was disorganised. Both Viterra and CBH sites were very hot (although CBH site did get some very cold/wet/windy days as well - typical of Southern WA weather) CBH Site was West River, 42km west of Ravensthorpe, Viterra Site was Balaklava, near Port Wakefield.
Graincorp, QLD, applied and requested a region, and stated our availability. Moved from Darwin through QLl to be in the area by 1st October, only to be told (when we rung them) that they were not putting on any casuals this harvest due to the drought. Disappointed to say the least, but feel for the farmers. Had we know, we would have applied elsewhere.
CBH, Graincorp and Viterra all have on-line recruitment, start looking round June - August each year.
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Pay it forward - what goes around comes around
DUNMOWIN is no longer on the road and still DUNMOWIN!
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