Westmeath native Kenny Dowling says he loved his time working on farm in in Cordillo Downs, South Australia.

Kenny Dowling and Anne Marie Flattery had not intended to work on a two million-acre farm in rural Australia, but that’s what happened.

Kenny, 24, who is from Athlone, Co Westmeath, and his girlfriend Anne Marie, 25, from Ballymahon, arrived in Australia in early 2009 and saw a ‘help wanted’ ad for station hands on the remote Cordillo Downs cattle station in South Australia.

“We thought we’d stay for three months so we could get the second year working holiday visa, but we ended up loving it and staying for 10 months,” Kenny told the Irish Echo while on holiday with Anne Marie and his parents John and Phyllis in Cairns.

Backpackers from Ireland and many other countries are helping to fill gaps in the rural workforce, often doing jobs Australians no longer want to do.

This has become so prevalent that ABC television’s 7.30 Report recently made a programme about the trend, with Kenny and Anne Marie the centrepieces of the story.

For Anne Marie, who has no rural background, the ways of the Outback were a steep learning process.

“After the flies and the mozzies you kinda get used to it pretty quick. But it’s definitely something you have to get used to, the heat and everything, but it’s good,” she told ABC.

Kenny took a little while to adjust to the sheer vastness of Cordillo Downs.

“It’s unbelievable compared to what I’m used to. It’s acres upon acres of sand and grass compared to small fields at home. You know, it’s just bare compared to what we’d be used to,” he said.

Anne Marie vividly recalls the first night they spent in a mustering camp.

“There was a couple of cattle coming in, [they] took our water that night where we were and I nearly had a heart attack. I was waking Kenny. But you know, you get used to everything,” she said.

Kenny says the remoteness and getting away from it all was what attracted him to the Outback. “It’s the beauty, isn’t it lovely? It’s relaxing compared to the hustle and bustle in the city. You know, you come out here, it’s a lovely way of life,” he said.

Kenny has learnt a lot in his time on the station. “Even breaking horses is different here,” he said.

The Irish couple’s employers Janet and Anthony Brook say the station’s isolation makes hiring staff difficult. “I think [people] are too used to creature comforts in and around the cities; the cinemas and the cafes and things like that,” Anthony said.

“Our nearest town is 180km away but it is a two-and-a-half hour drive. So that’s where the nearest pub is,” Janet said.

“We’ve put ads in papers and we’ve left them in there for a month and got two people apply. So generally we’ll take anyone. Anyone who answers the ad.”
Kenny and Anne Marie answered their ad. “We’ve just been very lucky over the last couple of years to have this Irish crew come through,” said Janet, who formed a strong bond with the Irish backpackers.

“We eat together, we work together and we have fun together. We go to the gymkhanas, and the races and have our own barbecues. So you do actually form these good ties with the people who are working with you at the time,” she said.

“When you get on well with them, it’s taking it to the next level. They become friends instead of a boss,” said Kenny.

Taking part in a rodeo was another thing Kenny was unlikely ever to get an opportunity to do in Ireland.

“Buck jumping was something I have always wanted to do, and you only ever see it on TV. And to get the opportunity to go out on a rodeo was absolutely great,” he said.

Next up for Kenny and Anne Marie is the far more sedate environs of Canberra. Having secured their second year working holiday visa, Kenny, who is a qualified carpenter, is hopeful a friend can line up some work for him. Anne Marie, who managed a sports store in Ireland, is hopeful of finding similar work in the capital.

But they’ll never forget their time at Cordillo Downs.

“To come out and see what central Australia and the Outback really is, is just unbelievable. No matter how much you see on TV or how much you read about it, when you come and experience it, it’s unbelievable,” he said.

by Pádraig Collins