Aussie invasion: why we took over 'Whistralia'

Desert Dweller · Guru

Thank Goodness For Backpackers

DMaxer · Guru

I like the backpackers. I remember my younger days driving around Europe and the UK in a camper and it can be a bit daunting at times.

I found the ones that I have met in my travels in Oz always are courteous and friendly. Like most people, if you engage them in conversation and know a little bit about their country of origin they really open up. A few litter and clog up car parks but so do some of the locals. I have never had to put up with drunken, loutish behaviour or hooning that I have experienced by some of our ferals.

My old dad used to always encourage us kids to speak with people from overseas. He had the philosophy that anyone who spoke with an accent meant they could speak at least two languages. My mother would disagree and say that it might also mean they can only speak one, and badly.

elliemike · Guru

Desert Dweller wrote:
We've just arrived home from a 3 week fly/hire car Darwin/Top End trip staying in lodges & stations.
Everywhere we went backpackers were doing all the work at these places. Manning reception desks, making beds/cleaning rooms, serving meals/drinks etc.
Some Aussies enjoy criticizing them but we found them courteous, friendly & helpful.
They certainly come from a variety of countries, USA, Ireland, England, Germany, France, Canada, Holland etc.
If these young overseas people weren't doing all the work out in these remote areas, who would be doing it, no-one probably?

We are just back from Canada. A young Canadian in a shop in Vancouver got talking to us, asking where we were going.Whistler, Jasper, Banff, and a few more places in the Rockies.

He said we would be right at home there with all the Kiwis and Australians working there. While in Jasper talking to the Tourist Information lady, she mentioned that it was about four out of five of the temporary working/visitors keeping their shops, restaurants, rides, services going were Australian or Kiwi young people. We certainly met quite a few from down under. Who always groaned (jokingly) when 16 of us got their table,bus ,boat, tour, etc. We Australians Kiwis, notoriously "do not tip" so while it was fun for them meeting people from Home, they got very little Gratuity from Australians. They rely on tips as that is how they make their money for the next Ski Season or financing their travels. We usually did tip, but we tend to forget as it's not what we do at home.

Heaps of other young people as well from all over but noticeably Ozzies and Kiwis.

Love to see Young People getting their "Knees Brown" and seeing the World.

-- Edited by elliemike on Saturday 30th of September 2017 11:13:38 AM

villatranquilla · Guru

agree, we have worked with backpackers at Pardoo and most of them were great and so interesting to talk to. The increase in their tax rate that the gov.t proposed is ridiculous. They only work so they can fund the next part of their travels. They don't take much money home when they eventually go. They work in places many young Aussies would not go and do jobs Aussies don't want.
Our grand daughter is currently doing the working/backpacker thing in the UK and she will get her tax back when she leaves the UK.

Cupie · Guru

I too have found backpackers mostly to be polite and interesting.

We still have a nice toy teddy bear that one young lass gave SWMBO for our grandchildren. It was obviously her much loved traveling companion.

We always go out of our way to swap stories with them.

villatranquilla · Guru

a few years ago some French backpackers shared our campfire on the Nullabor. They said their Aussi language skills were not very good but we assured them they were better than our French skills. We shared our Kangaroo steaks and at first they were unsure till they saw us eating them , then we bought out some Tasmanian Mersey cheese which they said was as good as any French cheese and took the wrapper intending to buy some in WA. Lovely kids

macka17 · Guru

You get good and bad everywhere with all breeds.

Normally. You get what you give. Although there are some lowlifes everywhere too.
Unfortunately.

The only difference between backpackers are their places of origin.
Mostly kids.
trying to see a bit of life b4 buckling down to make a living.
It ALL helps everybody.

We all learn differing languages. and, to a point, Cultures.

And I'd think MOST of us travelled when younger too. Work or\and pleasure.
No difference really.

Desert Dweller · Guru

This post was about backpackers in the hospitality industry, not about some of the eclectic overseas youngsters that live on tinned baked beans & two minute noodles, ****ting behind bushes.

Some of them do real work that locals wouldn't even consider doing.

Dick0 · Guru

Yep, DD, met many backpackers whilst doing the Lap this Winter. They all spoke excellent English and were working in the tourist industry. Those that were free camping were well behaved and polite, as opposed to a lot of adverse comments on this forum. If I get to meet the "nasty" ones I'll post a comment separately. smile

SouthernComfort · Guru

Thank goodness for this positive thread, shows a refreshing perspective IMO. Frankly I'm sick and tired of moaners in here continually knocking foreign backpackers (as if we Aussies are somehow all perfect!). The vast majority of them are great & well mannered kids, just like ours. We've travelled the world pretty well over the last 40 odd yrs and take as we find. Our "good people" experiences in all age groups and in all countries have far, far, outweighed the bad by a country mile.

brickies · Guru

Our farmer can't operate without them , Like DD it's only when you get out there you see who are doing those jobs , Most Australian want to stay close to the coast even Grey nomads .

Dick0 · Guru

SouthernComfort wrote:
Thank goodness for this positive thread, shows a refreshing perspective IMO. Frankly I'm sick and tired of moaners in here continually knocking foreign backpackers (as if we Aussies are somehow all perfect!). The vast majority of them are great & well mannered kids, just like ours. We've travelled the world pretty well over the last 40 odd yrs and take as we find. Our "good people" experiences in all age groups and in all countries have far, far, outweighed the bad by a country mile.

Absolutely, give credit where it is due. smile smile smile

macka17 · Guru

Ditto ABOVE. Threefold.

Tony Bev · Guru

I find that backpackers in the free camps, are just the same as the rest of us

I normally casually mention, (probably telling them a white lie, as I am picking up rubbish), that leaving rubbish laying around is an opening for someone to close the free camps
This usually brings a comment that they will not be leaving their rubbish behind

I have also been served by backpackers, in the more remote areas
So I therefore say, as others above have said, credit where credit is due

newhorizons · Senior Member

Just because somebody "moaned" on here about backpackers doesn't mean they don't appreciate the many good ones they meet along the way. After cleaning up their mess, we are entitled to have the occasional "moan".
I agree with DD that the ones encountered in roadhouses are polite and very helpful. Their employers must think so too as there are very few young Australians working in these far-flung places. Maybe they are all working in overseas places.

elliemike · Guru

newhorizons wrote:
Just because somebody "moaned" on here about backpackers doesn't mean they don't appreciate the many good ones they meet along the way. After cleaning up their mess, we are entitled to have the occasional "moan".
I agree with DD that the ones encountered in roadhouses are polite and very helpful. Their employers must think so too as there are very few young Australians working in these far-flung places. Maybe they are all working in overseas places.

Aussie invasion: why we took over 'Whistralia'

Spot the Aussie? It's not hard in Whistler, Canada.

The Canadian village of Whistler is home to so many Australians that it has been dubbed 'Whistralia". Ben Groundwater finds out what they're doing there.

The Australians have taken over. In fact, they took over long ago. Everywhere you go in Whistler, Canada, there's an Australian. You couldn't throw a snowball without hitting an Australian.

Read more: http://www.traveller.com.au/aussie-invasion-why-we-took-over-whistralia-20ckx#ixzz4uQxuKz7o
Follow us: @TravellerAU on Twitter | TravellerAU on Facebook

madaboutled · Guru

newhorizons wrote:
Just because somebody "moaned" on here about backpackers doesn't mean they don't appreciate the many good ones they meet along the way. After cleaning up their mess, we are entitled to have the occasional "moan".
I agree with DD that the ones encountered in roadhouses are polite and very helpful. Their employers must think so too as there are very few young Australians working in these far-flung places. Maybe they are all working in overseas places.

Totally agree.... where's the like button!.