Fruit Picking the way 'Round

WHILE many grey nomads are wealthy enough to be able to travel without having to worry about work - there are many others who are not in such a fortunate position.

Happily, there are still plenty of ways to answer the call of the road and keep the cash coming in. If you visit any fossicking areas like the zircon fields near Alice Springs, or Emerald in Queensland, you will no doubt find an army of grey travellers seeking a gem or two.

A harder - but perhaps more reliable way - to make a dollar is by following the fruit-picking trail. Brian and Linda Wall from Mandurah in WA have been criss-crossing the country for the past four years in their 1972 Millard caravan. They travel with their Maltese Terrier, Mitchell, and have been having the time of their lives.

"I'd say that a good 50 per cent of the people doing what we're doing are in our age group," says Brian. "We have met some great people and had a fantastic time. Not everybody who retires just want to sit on their behind or go fishing.

"We have found that many places are absolutely desperate for labour and we have had jobs that last six weeks, or two or three months. The best thing about it is that you can choose yourselves. If you don't like a place or don't want to stay - you just move on."

The Walls have been involved in blueberries, grapes, citrus, apricots, figs, and cherries and have worked everywhere apart from the Northern Territory and Tassie.

"The first year of picking was quite difficult," admits Brian. "We really didn't know what we were about. There are some bad employees out there and we didn't know what was a good job and what wasn't.

"However, you soon become part of a little network and they can help you keep in touch with what's happening and where the good work is. A lot of places now offer hourly rates.

"You choose your lifestyle doing this and I bvalways encourage other people to give it a go. We have never met anybody who said 'I've been doing this for three months now and I've had enough of it.' Everybody sort of falls into it. I think after a while it gets into your blood."

Linda could not agree more. "It's just great getting away from the power bills, the rates, insurance and all of that," she says. "You can just leave it all behind. This is the life for me."

•  Your thoughts on this story? Email us