Amazulu

Something interesting happened last night. I was looking at engineering jobs on www.seek.com.au. I saw an ad for contract substation designers (part of what I do) & thought what the heck & emailed my CV off just to see what the reaction would be. About 10 minutes later the phone rang & it was the agent asking when could I go for an interview!. After explaining my situation I had an interesting conversation with him about the job situation in QLD. At the moment there seems to be a lot of major infrastructure projects coming up especially in power & rail (my fields) & there is a lack of qualified design people. For the job I applied for he was paying $50/hour +.

downunderpom

That'll keep you in Twisties and beer!

Whereabouts in QLD is it?

Amazulu

He wasn't giving too much away, but it was in the Brisbane area. It's a good rate, even by UK standards.

downunderpom

Yep, on a 37.5 hour week, that's $97500 a year. Reasonable!

I was just a little concerned that it might be Mt Isa, or Cloncurry, or Townsville.... The head office where the interview is being held might be Brissie, but make sure it's not a 'roving' commission...

Amazulu

Thanks for the tip, Townsville, I could handle but not Mt Isa!. Are you in Engineering?.

downunderpom

Nah - computer jockey. My dad was, and I lived in Mt Isa for 2 and a half years. I loved it, but it was a bit of a culture shock for the folks!

Amazulu

The thing is they do some damn fine engineering on these remote mines, just like in South Africa. I wouldn't mind it so much, but I have a wife & baby son & it wouldn't be for them.

downunderpom

It's isolated. We did Mt Isa when I was 11, and Kambalda (WA) when I was 16. Kambalda was brand new then, and I used to travel 50+ miles to Kalgoorlie by school bus each day.

I thoroughly enjoyed my early life in 'primitive' Oz, but it's not for everyone. Mt Isa was a town then, not the city it is now. No TV, and a very strong sense of 'community'. Kambalda was 'raw'.

MrsDagboy

Hmmmmm I'll know what to suggest if Dagboy ever wants to give up being a geek & go back to being an engineer. Hell I could think of alot worse places to live than Mt Isa

downunderpom

Blackstone? That's where we went after the Isa. The only good thing I can remember about that was being sent home to watch Neil Armstrong walking on the moon! (Now THAT'S dated me!!)

MrsDagboy

I was thinking Inala or Woodridge, so you were close LOL.

I didnt get sent home from school to watch the moon landing, I dont think kindergarten was on on that day

downunderpom

Sprog!

MrsDagboy

Old fart

WBB

ladies please, some decorum.

downunderpom

That's MR Old Fart SIR to you, young lady!!

And tell that youngboybilly to keep quiet while his elders are talking!