Violet on the job, looking smart with her decals

At 35 I went for my driving test at Harden Police Station in NSW.

The sergeant and I set off in my old brown Rover to do a lap of the town. I did the hill start okay, but had trouble reverse parking between two cars. Finally, I picked a spot you could have parked a semi in, but the policeman’s frown wasn’t encouraging.

Setting off again, it began to rain. I switched on the wipers and one became stuck in the sill. The car started to fill with smoke from the wiper motor. Screeching to a halt outside the station, I jumped out and yelled to my friend on the steps, “The car’s on fire, the car’s on fire!”

Remembering the policeman, I looked at him. He crooked his finger at me and said to come inside. Behind the desk, he looked at me and finally said, “I’ll give you your licence as long as you realise your capabilities.”

I took that to mean only drive to town and to church on Sundays. Since then, I have been to every state in Australia and gotten lost quite a few times as well.

MEET VIOLET

I was working in hospitality for mine sites in Queensland when I bought my Toyota HiAce camper from Apollo Motorhomes in Brisbane. She’s a 2003 ex-backpacker van named Violet.

We have travelled extensively over the past 12 years, both for pleasure and through my job as a casual relief kitchenhand for Eurest Support Services (ESS), and she now has 610,000km on the clock with the original motor.

The ESS relief pool sends its employees Australia-wide to sundry mine sites and rigs. Many camps are in remote areas. One I’ve been to is Gingko, servicing sand mine workers 135km inland from Wentworth in NSW, while others have been in townships such as Moranbah and Blackwater in Queensland, where huge coal mines dot the area.

Sometimes a lift is needed

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

We tend to stay in dongas, which are metal transportable buildings with ensuites. Camp amenities include kitchen, dining, recreation rooms, bar area, offices and shops. Bigger camps sometimes have gyms, ovals and swimming pools too.

Most working days for me are a set routine in the kitchen on breakfast or dinner shifts. It’s a 10-hour day and, most often, 14-day stint at any camp.

The camps’ occupancies range from a few hundred to more than 3000 mostly male workers. It’s a huge logistical challenge to keep all  happy, fed and bedded, and requires constant teamwork for us workers.

The weather plays its part as well, with desert temperatures of 40C-plus in high summer and winter in the negatives.

Working on mine sites mean this is a common sight

TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS

A few years ago, we were evacuated from floods at Roma, Qld. I drove through localised flooding via St George to Goondiwindi. The water was lapping the verandah of the Wind Gully pub as I drove past.

I made it to Goondiwindi to find hundreds of truckies — stranded by range closures and with a shared sense of misery — in Target buying socks and jocks. Luckily, the roads south were open, and I was headed to Victoria.

Another natural disaster happened at Taloona, our camp out of Roma, when we had a mouse plague — even the feral cats wouldn’t touch them.

TRAVELLING WITH VIOLET

The first item fitted to Violet was a good, solid bull bar and it has saved me from damage as a lot of kangaroos have run into it over the years — not to mention feral goats, cattle, emus and even a camel that have crossed my path.

The second item I fitted was a  UHF radio. I keep it on Channel 40 as I encounter many wide loads, often without much warning.

Been and Gonn (NSW)

Most importantly, I have good comprehensive insurance with Ken Tame. Over the years, I have claimed windscreens and kangaroo damage, among other things. The worst was with a ute towing a tinnie that wasn’t secured well. The tinnie came off the trailer at roadworks in Barnaby and smashed into the back of Violet on the driver’s side, taking out half of her back door and lights. Ken Tame paid for repairs and accommodation, no problems.

I also have breakdown service Australia wide. Last year, in high summer in Roma, I couldn’t find my sunglass case and as I had the seat up to check fluid levels earlier, I wondered if it could have dropped into the motor. Sure enough, there it was wedged next to the fanbelt. The serviceman had to lay on the boiling hot ground under Violet to retrieve the case — now that’s service for you!

My biggest expense is fuel. I use fuel vouchers and avoid places where it is usually at least 10 cents/litre dearer than elsewhere. As an itinerant worker I can claim 66cents/km at tax time, which helps a lot.

A firestorm at Moree, NSW

I also have SCV status with my water containment and chemical toilet, which allows me to stay at CMCA RV Parks like Ingham and Bundaberg while enjoying shared company.

My company flies casuals to sites but many are DIDO (drive in–drive out) which suits me as I much prefer the freedom and flexibility to stay wherever pleases me, take my time or detour on the way, as you do, meeting like-minded nomads following their agendas.

WHERE TO NEXT?

Now, officially past retirement at 69, I still enjoy my working life  and am very privileged to choose jobs suiting my lifestyle. My leisure time is spent at the beach — 1770 in Queensland is a favourite — and visiting family and friends in every state, plus going to farmers’  markets, op shops for my books and wineries, too. One place I’ve visited and greatly enjoyed is Mildura, Vic. Mildura esplanade is beautiful with paddle steamers and houseboats.

Street art at the Marrickville Markets

Wherever there is a rest area like Kimba Lions Park, SA or Mackenzie Park at Duaringa, Qld, I leave a donation. At Duaringa, the information centre lady said their donation box was stolen so I donated to them at the centre. It is a very popular rest area with showers as well — please support these council facilities to keep them open.

Violet has now been wrapped on the front with vinyl from sign writers and looks really smart, ready for my next adventure or work — whichever comes first.

Not exactly incognito anymore

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Written: Sun 01 Mar 2020
Printed: March, 2020
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