I realise I haven’t been clear yet about what I’m going to be doing in the next few months.
I was all set to get a pretty good job in The Netherlands and work and travel there for the time being, when I decided to accept a job offer in Meekatharra, a town of 1000 people in outback Western Australia. Some people find this very strange.
To understand this decision, we have to rewind to my childhood (sorry!). My father is a builder/carpenter and in 1990 we moved from Perth to Bidyadanga (200km south of Broome) because he got a job as builder coordinator with the aboriginal community there. In 1991 we lived in Nullagine (between Marble Bar and Newman) and dad was the general coordinator for the aboriginal community. Then we moved down to Bridgetown, back to The Netherlands, then back to Australia and he’s been building houses but also has had project management jobs, and for quite a few years was working with disabled people (there’s a more politically correct term isn’t there?).
So he wanted a change, and I was talking to a friend who knew there was a position free in Meekatharra as CDEP coordinator (Community Development Employment Projects). Dad got that job and has been up there since July. Mum is also there and has just started work as a carer in the small nursing home.
Now they need a facilities/office manager, and I happen to have a bachelor degree in facilities management (management of buildings, vehicles, office, maintenance, cleaning etc) and experience in office management. I also have a strong interest in working with a small local company, vaguely (or not), ‘social justice’ related. It’s about creating employment for local people. There’s not much out there, and not everyone can or wants to work in mining! Not to mention discrimination, poverty and having a completely different culture.
So I’ve got a 3 month contract with Yulella, will be living with my parents some of the time and housesitting at other times, and I start work next week. Just waiting for my father to come back from The Netherlands (funeral :( ) and then we drive up there on Tuesday. I will be working part time, leaving enough time to manage EnjoyPerth! (EnjoyPerth is another reason why coming back to WA made sense, and the fact that I’m definitely home here now!).
I’m excited! :D
Here some more about Yulella and Meekatharra. It was written in 2007, so things have changed a bit since then.
Yulella is a community body that oversees the local CDEP (Community ?Development and Employment Program) initiative in Meeka – as well as several outstations in Cue, Mt Magnet, and smaller remote localities in the region. It also runs several businesses in town – a very successful building company, a general goods store (also doing quite well), a mechanical services business and other business ventures that are currently mothballed – largely due to management issues. Up until a few years ago Yulella managed it’s CDEP quite effectively too. However since the change over to DEWR as our funding manager, and the change of focus on how CDEPs now go about doing the business – we have shifted from what was once a program involved in creating social change and empowerment (through good community development practices), to becoming another Job Network Provider for DEWR. CDEP no longer has a community development focus – they are now only required to manage a program that is ALL about employment goals and outcomes.
Meekatharra is a small town situated on the Great Northern Highway. It’s situated approximately 850 km from Perth, is at least 5 hours inland from the coastal town of Geraldton, and approximately the same travelling distance from the major mining town of Newman – north of Meekatharra. Meekatharra is predominantly a mining town – with a goldmining history – but is also surrounded by large pastoral leases, where the Stations in the region run both cattle and sheep. Meekatharra can be quite hot in Summer (mostly over 40 Degrees C), quite cool in winter (close to desert type temperatures and conditions), and dry for the most part – though this is subject to wet bursts depending on cyclones running down the west coast during the wet season up North. If you enjoy prospecting for gold – then Meekatharra is a good place to be.
