$100,000 to dig a ditch with dingos...

**tri boy** · 29th February 2008, 06:57

$1600 gross, less tax = approx $1000.
Divided by 90+ hrs, + camp life,+ isolation etc etc etc.
It looks good for the first few months, but quickly becomes a drag.
Rostered shifts (night/day) lack of sleep, boozing work mates making a racket.
If mining isn't in your blood, then it's not a good life style.
Oh, 5 days off. Takes 3 just to catch up on sleep,

and get your city life sorted, then your back on a plane.

**janno** · 29th February 2008, 08:01

Yes, on paper it sounds good, but in reality a lot of people go out there with stars in their eyes and simply can't hack the heat, cold (in winter the desert is freezing), living conditions, snakes and flies.

But a lot of kiwis, especially Maori, go over and do extremely well, and just love the lifestyle.

Other half has done minework as a boilermaker, but could make as much metro because he's highly skilled so he's back in Brisbane. But once he's got his welding inspector's ticket he'll be out there again on big bikkies.

It all depends on how much you can tolerate, and how disciplined you are with your money as to whether it's worth a crack or not.

For a young person starting out, or a tradey, it's a great way to get money behind you - if you can hack it.