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Farm Experiences ( Contract )

First Time - March 2002

When I called up the backpacker ( Stanthorpe's Countrystyle at Stanthorpe ) on March 2002. The room was fully occupied. The Manager/Owner, Mr Wayne ask me " Do you have tent ?". Ok, I bought one. After bought all the can food, I started my journey from Brisbane to Stanthorpe. It was very cold to sleep in the tent at Stanthorpe. Stanthorpe is the coldest place in Queensland. 

Mr Wayne is a honest guy, he will get you a job as soon as possible. I ever called him on July 2002 ( Winter ) and early November 2002, asking any job over there, he honestly told me no job. By then I called him end of December 2002, he told me there was jobs. Besides, live in Stanthorpe's Countrystyle is pretty cool, I mean Country Life style, sleep with the natural. Anyway, I didn't go to Stanthorpe and went to Gatton. If you go to Stanthorpe's Countrystyle, please mention my name YEN and send my regards to him. Thanks.

After 2 days ( it was public holiday, Easter Day ) standby, I got a job at strawberry farm. It's seem like a hard job and "bad" money. Didn't know the right technic, back pain and tired. At the end of the day, I earned around S$ 70.00 for 8 hours,  contract basic.  2nd day - $92 for 8 hours, 3rd day - $98 for 8 hours and the following I earned nearly $180 for 10 hours per day. Some of them earned more than $250 per day. 

It was good money. Anyway, I am too late to have this job. It last for a week only.  The strawberry season was over.

The following week, I worked in the tomato and zucchini farm. $10 per hour (after tax), worked 6 to 8 hours per day.

A list of workers earned at this farm : - Daily 10 hours

New Zealand Guy A - A$ 260.00 Spain Girl - A$ 90.00 New Zealand Guy B - A$ 170.00
Myself - A$ 170.00 PNG Guy - A$ 120.00 Germany Girl B - A$ 120.00
Germany Guy - A$ 200.00 Korean Girl - A$ 200.00 England Girl - A$ 110.00
Japanese Guy - A$ 90.00 Germany Girl - A$ 110.00 Australian Guy A - A$ 130.00
Japanese Girl A - A$ 90.00 Holland Girl A - A$ 110.00 Australian Guy B - A$ 150.00
Japanese Girl B - A$ 100.00 Holland Girl B - A$ 110.00 French Girl - $ 110.00

 

Second Time - July 2002

Six or seven friends were following me went to Bundaberg. We were so excited. Due to limited of transportation, we were divided into 2 teams. One Bangladesh guy and PNG guy were following me.

My team got jobs and the other team was crying for job. It was winter, no job, that not what I heard from the Backpacker receptions through telephone conversation. ( Not honest like Mr Wayne ).  That team have to leave, they were very disappointed. I feel bad and one or two guys even not happy with me. So, next time don't go to Bundaberg on winter.  Note : If you wanted me to recommend a farm job to you, why not refer Backpacker (Farm Job), try your luck, choose one at the place that you are prefer and give them a ring, k ? Good luck.

I got a job at tomato farm at Bundaberg through City Central Backpackers at Bundaberg. Contract basic. They paid S$1.15 per bucket only. I picked very fast, was tiring. But still earned a little money. For 2 days (4 hours per day), I earned S$52.00 only !!! 

The Bangladesh guy left after one day; I and PNG guy left after 2nd day of work. So the CC Backpacker Manager was unhappy with us and scold we were Ridiculous ! Ridiculous ! Ridiculous ! Ridiculous ! If you go to CC Backpackers, please don't mention my name YEN, ok ?   Thanks. 

A list of workers earned at this farm :- 4 hours per day

MySelf - A$ 25.00 Bangladesh Guy - A$ 15.00 English Girl - A$ 20.00
PNG Guy - A$ 20.00 Germany Girl - A$ 25.00 Brazil Guy - A$ 27.00

 

Third Time - January 2003

I got this job through Ms Fiona at Gatton. She is a helpful person. I am currently working in Gatton Farm, quite tiring at the moment. I will tell you more about this farm later , k ? Yen..January 15, 2003.

 

 

My Friends Experiences - Contract System ( How much you work. How much you get )

Australian Guy - Picked tomato on November 2001, A$ 150.00 per day at Stanthorpe.

Australian Guy - Picked apples on April 2002, A$ 150.00 for 8 hours at Stanthorpe.

Bangladesh Guy - "Shallock" on September 2002, A$ 20.00 for 7 hours at Gatton.

Laos Gal- Picked tomato on April 2002, A$ 50.00 per day at Gatton

Korean Guy - Picked tomato on September 2002 at Bowen, 4 person in one group, on average, A$195.00 per person per day

Zimbabwe girl - Onion on October 2002 at Gatton, $40.00 for 8 hours.

www.often.tk 2004