What changes when you move 3000kms away from your family, friends and home?
Absolutely nothing!
The idea of moving away from a life you have already set up may seem completely ridiculous to some people, but we do things a little differently around here. A farm, 2 houses, the beginning of a beautiful beef herd, a small pig breeding operation, established jobs, 2 years of marriage and even plans to have children in the near future. We made the decision to actively seek work on a station in Northern Australia.
We told our families, some were happy, others couldn’t understand the dreams we had for the future. It was a hard road trying to find a place that would take on a first year ringer, and his wife, who has basically zero experience in cattle work on a scale any larger than a 140 cow dairy herd. The applications were never ending. Queensland seemed like our best bet. And I’ll always remember the night, in December, that we were both offered jobs at a station 150km north of Julia Creek, a first year Ringer, and a Governess. A dream that S had had his whole life was now about to come true. What had we done!?
But the next few months were filled with preparations to our house as a rental, and packing up the entire home. And on a cold night in early March we said goodbye to our families. And as we drove out the double gates, we held each other’s hands, and cried together, knowing that we were leaving for at least a year, not entirely sure that the decision we had made to leave was the right one. And we drove on for 3 days, to our new home.
Along the way I have learnt that despite the physical distance, it does not make the heart grow fonder. I don’t miss my home as much as I thought I would and sometimes it appears those you leave behind don’t always miss you as much as you would like them to. But in saying that is always so nice to hear from them one way or another.
Life on a station is more than I ever thought it could be. I think I had an idea of what I would in for, but never truly understanding just how much I would have to give of myself.
I have learnt how to live alone, and truly alone, more than 150km from the nearest town, and at least 70km from a neighbour, who I am not even remotely familiar with. I have spent weeks separated from S, crying in the night because I have been stuck in a place that I really hadn’t had the chance to settle into yet. Something that I have never experienced before, on such an extreme level, is the complete isolation.
I have learnt what it means to be a teacher, friend and mentor to young children, who only see their friends, extended family and neighbours once in a while. How to be there for them when they are struggling and it is all too tough. This in itself is something I am comfortable with, as I have spent quite a bit of time with children. However, this is like nothing I have experienced. These little people need you more than you know. They require your friendship and love just as equally as they need your guidance as their governess.
I have also learnt how to survive on my own, without being constantly connected and surrounded by family and friends. I have become a part of a new family, and enjoy my role within that. Where things lack in that department, I know I will always have S, but also some wonderful new friends, who have truly welcomed me into their lives with nothing but kindness and love.
Along with all the hard experiences, in my short three months here, I have also learnt what it means to have the strength and will power to do something that so many believed was absolutely crazy! I have found new ways to cope with my fears and anxieties of living on a remote property. My determination to be more than just a wife for the rest of my life is only growing stronger, as I am searching for the right career path for myself. Alongside all of that, I have been welcomed into a community, and a family, with open arms, and have met so many new people, while making some incredible friends along the way.
But the one thing I have learnt is that nothing changes when you leave a place. Life carries on as it always did. Families fight. There is tension in households. People still don’t call. There are new babies, birthdays, engagements and weddings. And in all this, you have to make a conscious choice what you can be there for and what you will have to miss out on. People can’t be angry at you for realizing a dream, and living that dream. The fact of the matter is, at the end of the day, it really is YOUR life. And these are YOUR choices and mistakes to make.
