Fly in Fly out workers

[j.sabourn]

Recently on current affairs programs here in WA they have been pointing out how the life of the fly in and fly out workers family life is disrupted. Usually I believe the system in the mines is 2 weeks on and 1 week off. Offshore was 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off on the rigs. Money for such work is very lucrative, working conditions I am lead to believe is good. When I think back what we and our familys had to endure, and suppose still have to in some cases, where we signed on 2 year articles, which sometimes actually meant 2 years, although at time of signing on were told different, it makes me wonder how some of these younger men and their wives would ever have managed to cope. As they cant cope with being apart for 2 weeks, there is no way in hell they would ever have managed 2 years. Different people, different world, different times, we were maybe born too soon. Regards John Sabourn.

[James A Stuart]

Hi John, Interesting to read your postings on the above subject. I first lived in W.A. in 1968 and went to work up in Port Headland June 1969.
Whilst the campsites were pretty good, at that time Headland was the pits. We had to work ten hour days, six days a week, Sunday was optional. We were taken from the camp at 06.00 in the open back of an old Datsun Ute (What safety belts) come rain or shine. Believe me, winter was freezing and summer was scorching. It was said people who had never taken a drink in their life came back to Perth as piss pots. The drive up there took two days, one night in Geraldton and one in Roebourne. The tarmac ended at Caernarvon, after that corrugated dirt. You were guaranteed to hit the odd roo or emu. However, I survived to tell the tale as did many others, and to return to sea again in 1975. What did I prefer? The sea absolutely, those beautiful tropical breezes, no travelling to work and mostly great friendship.
Best wishes James A Stuart (Tony)

[happy daze john in oz]

Not just a question of two years away, but sometimes the conditions of those two years. Stuck on aytramp with poor feeding and other hadships made it no picnic, but it produced some very good and resourceful people. Today with the two weeks on, two off they have all mod cons, every thing thye need and paid some amazing salaries into the bargain. They have it so easy compared to the past.

[Ivan Cloherty]

Not just a question of two years away, but sometimes the conditions of those two years. Stuck on aytramp with poor feeding and other hadships made it no picnic, but it produced some very good and resourceful people. Today with the two weeks on, two off they have all mod cons, every thing thye need and paid some amazing salaries into the bargain. They have it so easy compared to the past.

My longest trip 19 months, no mobile phones, no internet, no phone connection from shore as in some places had to be booked 24 hours ahead and you either sailed before then, or there was no connection, no matter how many times you tried (and the cost made it prohibitive) never spoke to my loved one from the day I sailed out of Avonmouth until I docked 19 months later in South Shields, and don't forget the letters that followed you around the world from one port to the other and received two and three months after they were written. But we survived and our relationships were the stronger for it, the letters eagerly waited for and treated like treasure when received as you never knew when the next one would be in your hands

Met my future beautiful wife two days before I sailed on my 19 monther our only contact was by mail during all that time with letters received months after they were written, some never received at all, got married shortly after my return and had 28 years of honeymoon together before the big"C" took her early in her life, cancer in both lungs and the liver and she didn't smoke or drink.

Different times, different worlds, the men who sailed before the mast no doubt would have thought that we had it easy in our times, but I still think we had the best times in the 50's and 60's, when ships were ships , men were men and women were glad of it

[j.sabourn]

Hi Stuart, I worked out of Dampier for a number of years supposed to be 6 weeks on and 6 off. Very rarely got the 6 weeks off as usually sent elsewhere during your leave. However I considered this a piece of heaven both workwise and weather wise. Have no complaints working in fly in and fly out during my time. I think people expect too much these days and dont want to leave their own firesides. Regards John Sabourn

[Capt Bill Davies]

Loaded here on numerous occasions but never ventured ashore. An incident which happened here in 1972 on a Kaiser ship, and subsequently a the General Directive to all US companies, put a stop to Master and/or Mate leaving the ship whilst loading.

Brgds

Bill

[English Margaret]

Well said Ivan, men were men in those far off days, and women knew their place in the home etc and before anyone says anything, it has been this way since the beginning of time. Todays men are pram pushing nancy's. who ever heard of a man looking after the kids while wifey goes on the p9ss? men are becoming more effeminate and the women more butch, role reversal? Yes. now they are offered maternity leave as well. to do with bonding. For what!!! to have brats like they are today, dont make me laugh.

[j.sabourn]

Hi Bill, never loaded ore here, the offshore bases were at the other end of the Harbour. I worked on supply and anchor handling vessels out of here. Also Seismic vessels, although all crew changes on seismic boats were mainly by helicopter out at sea. I also worked as towmaster (mostly during my leaves) when rigs were being shifted. As said was heaven compared to the North Sea, especially in winter. The only bad weather was usually during the cyclone season Oct, through to april, they used to take the Rig crews off in this case leaving a skeleton crew on board and used to put seamen on if Cyclone was expected to hit. (cannon fodder). However conditions on these ships and rigs were excellent to me compared with North Sea and had no complaints. What they are whinging about now beats me. Best Regards John Sabourn.

---------- Post added at 11:23 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:10 AM ----------

Bill you werent missing anything by not going ashore as only one pub the Mermaid. If you have seen the film Red Dog the scenes of Dampier harbour are very life like. You probably had more facilities on board than what there was ashore. Cheers John Sabourn

---------- Post added at 11:48 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:23 AM ----------

James sorry about that addressed you as Stuart, must be seeing double as relooking your christian name is james and not Stuart. My mistake. Cheers John sabourn

[Capt Bill Davies]

John,

Did you work the ports Gladstone or Mackay

Bill

[Ivan Cloherty]

Well said Ivan, men were men in those far off days, and women knew their place in the home etc and before anyone says anything, it has been this way since the beginning of time. Todays men are pram pushing nancy's. who ever heard of a man looking after the kids while wifey goes on the p9ss? men are becoming more effeminate and the women more butch, role reversal? Yes. now they are offered maternity leave as well. to do with bonding. For what!!! to have brats like they are today, dont make me laugh.

Thank you Margaret, my "thank you" button has disappeared again and taken my "Like" button with it, I do hope they will be happy together as when they were visible they kept telling me I was not logged in, even though I just had