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Post Info TOPIC: Cattle stations


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Cattle stations


What is it like to work on a cattle station??? Thanks

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Senior Member

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bloody hard work, in what capacity, do you want to work IHoward and I have worked on 2. Both places horrible. Isolated. No internet access. I worked about from 5.00am to 11pm each day. need I say anymore.

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lynette and howard hall


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I don't know what it's like to work on a cattle station but welcome to the forum Micknoreen. I'm sure you'll get some help and suggestions.

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NeilnRuth



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Thanks for the reply. Sounds interesting.No need to say more.

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Hi There, We had a very positive experience on one of the largest cattle stations in WA. I would go back with the click of a finger, the only thing we really found is we were there at the wrong time of the year the heat, was climbing up to 48% this last xmas something we had never had before. Work was what we expected but not hard, and we had time to ourselfs, very special time and great family.. Like i said woulddo it again...



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The Happy Helper

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Welcome to the site Micknoreen - friends of mine manage a station in NT - they were nomads, and initially took on the job for about three months, have been there about two years now, with some time off for an OS trip, and to visit family on the Qld coast. They love it - but I think you have to be a solitary person anyway - possibly wouldn't suit me, I love talking to people.

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jules
"Love is good for the human being!!"
(Ben, aged 10)



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Welcome to you. Working on a cattle station is a lifestyle for which you get paid.
I need more information to determine what you may face out there in the big paddock.
Did you want to work with cattle or do other jobs? They need machanics, grader drivers, gardeners/handy person, bore man/windmill tenderer. You need to be multiskilled but not necessarily qualified or ticketed. You could have horse skills as well. One young fellow aged 19 flew the station Cessna. I went for an early morning flight with him, and it was wonderful to see this young bloke doing what he loved, and was very good at. He also worked hard on horses out in the yards.
You have to be prepared to work.
I worked on 2 stations in the Kimberly in 1996/97 as a housekeeper, cook, gardener, stores manager, bore man's offsider, hostess to visitors, tour guide. Gardening meant mowing and growing. Oh, and cleaning and maintaining the pool.
I looked after the chooks and other random animals which came my way.
I arrived at the station in October, just in time for the build up. Temperatures in the mid to high 40's, humidity up to 100%. The nights were warm. I only wore cotton clothing. I drank about 5 litres of water a day, then beer at knock off time. The westerly breeze was always the saving grace.
We had phone, fax and TV, but the internet was not available out there yet at the time. They have satellite internet now.
We woke at about 5am, the best time of the day out there. The work day started at 6am, smoko mid-morning, lunch at 12, 2 hours rest, unless they were mustering, then back to work to 5pm aka "beer o'clock".
There are many personalities to deal with, but most are good fun and all work hard.
The first station was up the Gibb River Road, about 50 kms from Derby. The second was 250 kms south of Broome, on the boundary of southern Kimberley and northern Pilbara. Similar jobs, more intense on the second.
A Kimberley build up and wet season is a phenomenal experience. I felt energised by the storms, but not the cyclones.

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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment.
Transport has no borders.

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