Adventure Calls Again – the Pilbara Life

If you’re a member of our family or a close friend in Perth, you’ve probably heard rumours (or from us directly) about us seriously considering a big move: to a small town in the northwest of WA called Tom Price. Yes, it is a strange name for a town – named after a steel company VP who was one of the main initiators and supporters of opening up the Pilbara region to iron ore mining – but it’s a pretty little place, truly like an oasis in the Pilbara.

Today I signed a new contract that makes this decision official, and we thought it would be fitting to resurrect this old blog to address some questions that may come to your mind regarding the move. In a way, writing this down is also a good way for us to test/affirm the validity of the Big Decision and all the Little Decisions behind it.

So, without further ado, I present an interview between Aipwiajo – an acronym for An Imaginary Person Who Is Actually Just Us – and the real us.

Aipwiaju: Wow, Tom Price, why on Earth would you want to move there?

Tim: there are a few reasons, some personal and some professional. Ultimately it’s a mining town and a hub for a few of the Rio mines, so there’s work for me there. I’ve really been enjoying my job in Perth, but getting experience in mine geology has been on my list for years and the timing is right this kind of adventure: the age of the girls, the opportunities within the team/role I applied for, Kathryn’s eagerness for an adventure…

Kathryn: it’s important to understand that Tim’s experience of Australia and mine have been very different. When we met we connected over our love of adventure and travel, but while his job has taken him to most of the major Australian cities (Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney) and all kinds of exotic bush locations, I’ve basically been a mom in the suburbs for 7 and a half years. It’s time for us to have an adventure that involves the whole family!

Aipwiaju: When is this happening?

Tim: I’ll be starting on FIFO (fly-in, fly-out) on the 28th of May, hopefully for just a few swings while we get relocation details sorted out. We’ll probably all move up as a family sometime in June or July.

Aipwiaju: Is there anything up there besides the mine and the town?

Kathryn: Of course! Karijini National Park is only about an hour outside of town: amazing gorges, camping, quintessential Pilbara beauty. Coral Bay, Exmouth, Onslow, Karratha/Port Hedland are all within a few hours drive. The 260km-long Ningaloo Reef runs along the western coast of Australia and is only a few hours drive away; many people say it’s as spectacular as the Great Barrier Reef, but you can actually walk/snorkle straight into it from shore!

Tim: There are also a lot of stations (the Aussie version of ranches) throughout the Pilbara and surrounding region, some of which I’ve stayed at through the course of exploration, in addition to bush camps and watering holes. I’ve been dreaming for years about going prospecting and bush camping as a family… it could be really fun and exciting, or possibly a horrible whinge-fest – depending maybe on how much gold we find – but you never know until you try!

Just two lovebirds standing in front of the greenest grass in the Pilbara (in Tom Price)

Aipwiaju: Fair enough – how long do you think this will last? Will you come back to Perth?

Tim: We’ve committed to a minimum of 2 years, but every time we’ve made a move in the past we’ve just gone in without thinking further ahead. We might absolutely love it up there and stay in TP [Tom Price] until retirement, or maybe it’ll turn out to be a disaster and we’ll be scrambling to get out ASAP. We always try to approach new situations with an open mind and make the most of what each one offers, however long it lasts. We never even planned to move to Australia, but the door opened and here we are 7 years later as dual citizens. Returning to Perth is certainly possible, but there’s no plan beyond TP, so we just don’t want to promise anything.

Aipwiaju: What’s the deal with the job anyway? What sort of roster? Is it all about the money?

Tim: The work schedule is an 8/6 roster, alternating eight 12 hour days of work with 6 days off; this is to align with our FIFO colleagues, except I’ll get to be home every night and still get those 6 days off every fortnight. I’ll be working as a mine geologist, so there’ll be a substantial amount of day-to-day routine, with various projects on the side as time (and operational demand) permits. My parents taught me never to disclose my salary to anyone, much less the internet, but the money is good and there’s no doubt we’ll be able to get further ahead financially than we could with our current situation in Perth. Our major savings goal will probably be an extended trip around Australia sometime down the track.

Aipwiaju: What about Kathryn and the girls – will they continue with home schooling? What about fostering?

Kathryn: I think we will continue home schooling initially, even if it’s just so there’s one less thing to adjust to in the short term. It’s a small town, so on the one hand there should be plenty of opportunities to make friends and socialize outside of school, but school can also be a great way to integrate with the community… we’ll see. We’ll take some time to figure out what’s best for us all. As for fostering, Wanslea – the agency we foster through now – doesn’t have an office in the northwest, but once we’ve settled in we may look into fostering directly through the Department of Child Protection if the need is there.

Aipwiaju: Aww, we’ll miss you.

Tim: We’ll miss you too Aipy – can I call you Aipy? It’s a tricky thing, being adventurous like us whilst also really appreciating local community. Wherever we go we’ve always tried to get stuck in, make friends and build meaningful relationships. We have made some great friends in Perth, as we did in Fredericton, Labrador, and our respective university towns, and we’re thankful that modern technology allows us to stay connected in some sense whilst satisfying our wanderlust. We always take the chances we have to visit loved ones around the world and we hope you’ll do the same if you ever end up in our neck of the woods.

Aipy: I know I will. Thanks so much for your time guys, and all the best in your new adventure!

Tim: Thanks Aipy, good on ya mate

Kathryn: Cheers cob, too easy