I’m Italian and I came in Australia at the beginning of the 2020 with the WHV (417) that if you wanna apply for the second year of WHV you have to do 88 days of farm work. Is something pretty common for European young people that they move in Australia but I told to myself that I will never do it, because I wanted to stay in Australia only one year and I knew that the farm work is really hard, bad conditions and minimum wage. But after four weeks that I landed in Brisbane the global pandemic COVID-19 comes also in Australia and I lost the jobs that I just found andI get afraid to stuck in the city and I decided to go to the countryside trying to get some money, promise to myself to come back in the city ASAP.

FIFTH WEEK IN AUSTRALIA MOVING TO MUNDUBERRA

All the things that I get I lost them at the beginning of the fifth week, on Monday at 12 am in the end of March everything closed so I lost my jobs and I didn’t know what to do anymore. I did expect a world Pandemia while I’m in the opposite side of the world alone.

Monday 23.03.2020

I started the week on Monday like usual I did the housekeeping job totally in panic, with don’t know what to next and thinking what’s better just go home in Italy or try to stay in Australia. At the lunch time fortunately appears Chiara the German girl that I met during my tour in Malaysia and Singapore, she comes to my hostel and then we went to drink something together in an bench in the city center because everything was closed, than in the evening I talked with my gf by phone whiteout know what to do and I thought to come back home or try to stay without find any solutions.

Tuesday 24.03.2020

I woke up full of energy and motivation and I decided to stay in Australia and find a farm job, so with my laptop I stay in front of it all the day and I tried to find a solution. I started to post an article in all Facebook group hoping that someone could help me and then I found few contact while I was talking with a lot of people. Finally I started to talk with a girl in my same situation and she found a place to stay in Munduberra that was the place that I wanted to go because the fruit season will might start soon, and well I booked the Hostel than I met her for a drink down to my hostel and we talk a bit to what we should bring and stuff like that and then I bought also the train ticket and the bus ticket and I ended the day like this.

Wednesday 25.03.2020

I woke up early I went to buy few stuff for go to the countryside to do the farm work, and in the afternoon I went to the bar Mr&Mrs G to have a phone call with the owner of the place while our manager Antonio give us some food to take home and he offered me to leave my luggage in the office of the bar so I come back home I bought a luggage just for 29$ and went home I put all my stuff not useful for the farm in the big luggage and Antonio by car comes to pick that up and then I did the other luggage and I prepared everything to leave the hostel.

Thursday 26.03.2020

I woke up at 8 am, I finished to prepare all the things and than I had a breakfast I said goodbye to few people in the hostel and the I went to Roma Street station where I met Laura the Italian girl that she’s coming up to the farm with me and we wait the train that left at 11 am to Bundaberg while we will arrived at 3:30 pm, from there we took a bus at 4 pm to Munduberra while we arrived at 7 pm more less and on the bus we met two guys that they were staying in the same Caravan Park. Once we arrived in Munduberra we did a little stop at the supermarket and than we walked all four together till The Big Mnadarin while we did the check in and we talked a bit with the owner for the farm work situation and he said that the farmer will comes here to give us the contract to sign up, than we enter in ours bedroom and we went to sleep quite early tired for th trip of the day.

Friday 27.03.2020

I woke up at 8:30 shower and than breakfats with Laura and than we went by car to the supermarket in the main street with our Italian neighbour , today was the first day even here in Australia that we have to do the queque to enter in the supemarket and take 1.5 metre of distance. After the food shopping we went back in caravan park and we walked around a bit we had a lunch than a nap and for the sunset we went in the hill to watched the sun goes down with few people of the camping and than we talked a bit out of our bedrooms.

Saturday 28.03.2020

I woke up at 8:30 am as well shower and brakfast than I went with Laura to the swimming pool trying to get tan and enjoying the lovely weather and than we went to the main street to buy something an than we wnet back for lunch I spent all the noon at the laptop writing and arraging photos and the same in the evening a bit depressing because I didn’t had any news regarding the farm work unfortunateky but everybody said that the farmer will come at the Caravn Park next week to sign the contracts.

Sunday 29.03.2020

I woke up at 8:30 am I did breakfast and than thinking about the jobs and after lunch I went to take the sun in the swimming pool later I start the exercises for the body and in the evening we went to watch the sunset all together like Friday.

SIXTH WEEK IN MUNDUBERRA

The begging of the quarantine in Australia 01.04.2020

Monday morning we went with Alessandro around all the farms to look for a job but unfortunately nothing and than in the noon I just rest because the swimming pool they closed it for the virus and than I went to the supermarket. The day after the same morning calling all the farm then noon arranging photos, body exercise. And all the day all together talking about the jobs hoping to find something. Basically all the week the same I started to work out and doing the diet, I tryed to not drinking alcool and being healty. And one morning I went with one of my friend of the camping to see the cangaroo in the early morning to see the sunrise. So I spent all the days in my room arranging the picture to print and writing the blog and trying to find a solution for the job calling all the farm and exploring the village Mundubbera.

SEVENTH WEEK IN MUNDUBBERA

It was a bit boring week but on the other side was nice because we started to get know each other a bit more step by step, we went to see the sunrise and cangaroo one more time and also horses and exploring the neighbour hood and than we started to organize everything for easter just between Italians basically organizing a BBQ that was the easiest things to organise all together and we spent a good day all togethe, drinking and having fun. All the caravan park started to get more cooperative like Twerk classes, football games, Volley ball, Muai Thai all kind of phisical activity together, birthdays and parties even if w eweren’t allowed because we were in quaranine so the police was going around all day and checking all the people and coming during the night to stop the parties even the locals started to hate us because they thought that was our foult for the Virus etc. 

EIGHT WEEK IN MUNDUBERRA

Monday sun in the morning with Laura it was the day after Easter so we kind of celebrated with Sangria and than Tuesday I went to the supermarket with a vaucher thanks to the help center of Munduberra that they give me a free food and than I tryed to get sun and than keep doing exercises. All the week basicaly the same just that was a bit more boring because few people started to work so the Caravan Park get a bit empty in the morning and I started to felt a bit frustraited because I couldn’t find one and than Sunday finally we did a BBQ all together because was raining so noone was working, we had a lot of fun and we enjoyed the day all together drinking a lot.

NINTH WEEK IN MUNDUBERRA

Monday a bit hangover from the cheat day before and than I had a huge discussion with my gf so I wasn’t on the best mood, Wednesday I went to the party at the Finnish Ghetto in the opposite side of the camping which we drink all together had fun and than I went to my bedroom to do a video call with one of my bf that she had the degree. Than the day after I was very depressed for the Covid – 19 situation and for the work that I couldn’t fin it by myself, and without money so I talked with the charity association of the area the keep help me with the food and for the rent the owner help me calling an other association that they could pay the rent for me, and than Friday the owner of the camping offer me a job with other two girls it wasn’t my turn because he makes a list of who arrived earlier or later and he pass me before so I could pay the rent and survive. Saturday morning at 7:30 am I went with the other girls to make the induction and sign the contracts. After when I went back we had a party all together and we started to drink and we had fun talking and drinking all together till late and than the day after most of us we were off so we moved in the new house in the camping as well but in the opposite side in a house me, Sara, Eleonora, Arianna and Valentina, five Italian girls all together. As a first day we did a dinner all together also with the others Italian of the campingwhich they comes to visit us.

TENTH WEEK IN MUNDUBBERA

** Start the farm work – picking Mandarins **

Monday 27.04 was my first day of work at Quebec Citrus it was very hard but thanks to my flatmates it was better because they are working in my same company and we asked to stayed with them in the same group and we woke up together everyday and we are going by car all together, it’s very hard almost impossible this job it’s keep you all the energy and your body is totally destroyed. Fortunately Friday we had a day off so we could enjoyed we went to Gayndah and than we cooked pizza all together and had a dinner together. And than Saturday and Sunday we worked again.

ELEVENTH WEEK IN MUNDUBBERA

** Farm work – picking Mandarins **

We worked all the week from Monday till Sunday it was horrible almost impossible, Wednesday they moved us in an other farm in Derri Derra a little village next to Mundubbera which it was a small farm very nice with an amaizing view at the biggining it was just for few days an than after we worked till Sunday there, it was very hard all my body was hurting full of scratch.

TWELFTH WEEK IN MUNDUBBERA

** Farm work – picking lemons **

Monday we had a day off all together we went to Gayndah to the opportunity shop ( second hands shop ) which we bought a lot of things for the winter and we had a breakfast there anfter we went back to our house and than we spent the afternoon in the swimming pool enjoying the nice weather all together and than in the evening we had a dinner with girls us plus Laura and Daina ( Agentianian girls that she was living in the room next to mine in the caravan park before ). Tuesday we went at work we started with the lemons because the Iperial mandarins are finished so we did one day of picking lemons and than we went back home in holiday till the 21st of May before the other type of Mandarin. Wednesday it was our first day on holiday so we clean all the house and than we had a lunch a I spent all the noon at home and than we went to see the sunsent, on Thursday we went to buy the food in the morning in the church I mean is a bazar of food that thew church is doing a bit cheaper than the supermarkets, after I worked out and than I enjoyed the noon doing basically nothing and for the sunsent we went gain at the lookout to see the sun goes down. Friday morning I stayed att home alone the others girls the went to Gayndah to the dentist and at home comes to visit me Laura and than we went to the supermarkets to organize an aperitif in her house I went back home lunch, work out and than we went to house of Laura to cook for the aperitif and we started to drink and enjoye dthe night there having fun between us italians. We went also to visit an house next to the caravan park because in the house at the caravan park was a bit too expensive so we decided to move in a private house. 

Weekend in Bundy

Saturday we stayed at home preparing everythings to go in Bundaberg so when Sara she comes back home around 4 pm we went to Bundy by car thinking to do camping there so we drove like 4 hourse we arrived at the camping and it was closed due to the Corona Virus still so we tried to call all the camping but all of them were closed Hostel and Motel as well so we didn’t know what to do anymore, we just went to Hungry Jack to eat some junk food and for the accomodation we decided to post somenthing on the group of Bundy backpackers on Facebook , and fortunately an Irish guy answer us telling us that he has a place for us so we went to his house in Baragara near Bundy next to the beach very nice we really appreceate it he was really nice with us we drink some wine together and than we went to sleep. On Sunday we woke up early in the morning we went to buy a breakfast also for him while he was sleeping and than we went back give him a brioches and than all together we went to the beach next to his house but was very windy we didn’t enjoy very much the day it was too much and very cold later we moved a bit in the Kelly’s beach we had a lunch there and than we prepare to go back to his place for the second night but our farm boss texted us that we had to go back in Mundubbera to work onmonday inb the shed at 7 am, so we went to the supermarket and we bought we quickly things and than we saied bye to Lockie the Irish guy that host us and we went back in Mudubbera in the night.

THIRTEENTH WEEK IN MUNDUBBERA

** Farm work – quality & control of mandarins **

Monday we started to in the shed in the quality and control of the mandarins before the delivery, it was really nice and easy instead picking mandarins we worked a lot like 8 hours but when we come back at home I wasn’t tired for th efirst time actually I could do everythings even the bosy exercice, the day after the same but we did less hours and fater when we come back we preparete everything for Diana’s birthady that we cooked tiramusu and we celebrated all night together and the next day we went at work as well, our boss told us that they decided to move us in the packing so we were so happy for the notice that we couldn’t even immagine that something like that can happend. Thursday morning was horrible I woke up totally destroyed I didn’t sleep because my thoots were hurting too much so I went to the hospital in Mundubbera and the doctor did anything and than I booked an appointment to the dentist the day after on Friday in Gayndah at 8:30 am. So Thursady was pretty bad day was raining and I was kinda of metheropathic very tired and we spend the noon all together writing a lot and chill, and our boss for the picking told us to go to work in picking for three days but was raing and Friday I skip it for the dentist. The day after I went to Gayndah with Sara for the dentist and we pased by the Opportunity Shop and than we come back at home for the lunch and writing in the noon while the other girls were at work. Saturday I went at work for the last day of picking it was kind of good cuz I knew that was my last day of picking and than we did just half day and when we went back home we decided to partecipate to the wine tasting in the camping we prepared sangria and we started the game at 6pm it was very funny and kind of a crazy night but good enough to celebrate my third month in Australia. Sunday totally hangover we moved to the new house next to the camping precisely 29 Wilson Avenue, Mundubberrra 4626. We spent all day cleaning and arranging everything and than we had a dinner and we went to sleep very early. 

FOURTHEENTH WEEK IN MUNDUBBERA

** Farm work – packing mandarins **

Monday we supposed to start the day in the farm working in packing mandarins but we went to work and they told us to work on Wednesday, since we already woke up arly we went to Bundaberg during the day just for some shopping and buying food and than we went back around 5 pm we went to the camping and we had a dinner with Daiana in our new house. Tuesday again day off so in the morning went to the camping we sayed hi to all of our friends there and than we went next to river to do some excercices all togethere and than back home relax and pictures around a bit and than dinner all together Valentin cook risotto for all of us. Wednesday finally it was our first day of work in packing shed, we worked around 8 hours it was a fully day and than we went back home totally destroyed, we just passed few minutes in the camping to say good bye to one of our friend that she leave the camping to go back in the cities. Thursday it was a short day but I was very tired, we went back home and I went to the center with Eleonora and we eat a lot of junk food cuz we were a bit sad and than we wnet to rest a bit and when I woke up I went to the house of Laura to say happy birthday and drink a bit of wine and than we went back home for the dinner a and we went to sleep. Friday work but again just few hours because the machine in packing get fucked so we wnet back home I did the exercices we went to the skate park than camping nad later home.Saturday we worked 10 hours was very hard but good, and after we wnet straight to the birthday party of Laura in the house of Federico that is a villa in the middle of the countryside so we could do all the noise that we want and feel free to party, it was really great I drunk a lot and after a while we went to the camping but the party was almost over and with us there was also our collegue as well italian and we finish the night in his house smoking and drinking. The day after totally hangover I was very destroit and fucked it wasn’t happend since January probably, for luch we wnet to the river here in Mundubbera chilling and enjoing the nice weathere and later we passed by the camping and than we wenat back home dinner and than straight to sleep because I was too tired, probably thenight before I slept two hours it was the first time that we come back home so late.

FIFTHEEN WEEK IN MUNDUBBERA

** Farm work – packing mandarins **

The week started like usually very boring and all the day at work and after work we went to the supermarket and I did the exercices as usual and than we passed by the camping a bit and day the day again quickly over again. Tuesday work all day than I wasn’t in the best mood so I went to wold and cry a bit by myself and than I stopped in the house of Laura and after I went back home we talked a bit and than we went to sleep. Wednesday we woke up in the morning kind of early we went to the OP shop in Mundubbera and than in Gayndah as well we did some shopping, breakfast and than we went back for the lunch time and we spent all the day at home I was writing and doing exercices and in the night we went to sleep early. Thursday morning we were at home all together we did the breakfast and than we went to the church to buy some food and to the supermarkets after we went back for lunch as well and than I spent all noon at home alone and than in the evening before dinner we went at the pub in the city center that finally open after the COVID-19, it was very emotional had the opportunity to go in a pub here in Mundubbra couldn’t even imagine that. Later we stopped in the camping that there was the firewell party of three girls. And than Friday I slept a bit in the morning and I was kind of in hangover I did nothing in the morning than we waite Sara for lunch and than in the noon I went to walk with Eleonora and in the evening come Daniel our collegue that I cooked a pasta for us and than we went to sleep. Saturday the others girls the went to walking and I stayed at home I clean everything and than I went to the camping with Daina to visit here and stay a bit with her and than we discovered that there was the degree party of an other girl in the camping so we started to drink in the morning till night and partying and drinking, that was really nice and I like it because I could socialize also with the other people of the camping that I almost never talked. The day after horrible as usual hangover day, Valentin come for lunch with Julian ans Ale and he made a carabonara for all us and we had a lunch together. After lunch passed in the camping and than we went to watch the football game in the village at the foot ball camp. And than in the evening we cooked sushi at home that was really nice learn that and than we watched Chocolat all together.

SIXTEEN WEEK IN MUNDUBBERA

** Farm work – packing mandarins **

The week start as usual pretty boring working Monday and Tuesday just that basically in the evening we watched a TV series all together and Tuesday Daiana and the other guys of the camping comes to visit us. Wednesday we went at work but just few hours and than we come back home and we went at the camping to celebrate the birthday of Emy and drink all together. Thursday I went at work as and and the noon I went to visit Laura and I stayed at her place few hous to chatting and than also the boys comes and we were drink and talking. Friday I was off so I spent the morning at the laptop and cleaning the house all together I did the exercices and than after lunch we went at the park with our collegue, than we come back home and we watched few episode of Sex Education all together after and during dinner. Saturday it was pretty calm I spent all the morning in my bed doing things on my laptop and than in the noon we wnet at the camping to do the group pic and later in Vicky’s bedroom we started to do the make up and make us ready for the party at the French Mafia that for the first they organize a party like club for the first timethat was eally nice I like it a lot but for me was a bit boring because I stopped drinking for one month before my birthdayit was a bit hard see everyone drunk. Sunday was great because I wasn’t in hangover so I could do my things and do the exercise and relax a bit.

SEVENTEENTH WEEK IN MUNDUBBERA 

** Farm work – packing mandarins **

Monday working and than in the evening our friends comes to visit us and Tuesday and Wednesday work, in the evening we did and aperò together as a good bye of a french girl and than Thursday we were off and we just chilled and relax a bit and than Friday back to work but just few hours we finished at lunch time and we went back home preparing all the stuff for the week-end in Noosa.

Weekend in Noosa

Two nights at Coral Beach Noosa Resort.

I decided to do a week-end in Noosa with all the other people of the camping to stay with Daiana a bit more because she’s leaving the camping the week after and I never been in Noosa and this supposed to be our last period off from the farm work so I decided to go and than also the other decided to came, we book two apartment in Noosa for 14th people, the french group the booked in an other place three apartment for 15th people and than the Finnish as well they book an other apartment for 10 people more less. And a guy that was living in the camping and moved in Noosa invite us to a bus party for Saturday night.

So, we left Mundubbera in two cars in the direction of Noosa is like three hours by car, we waited Sara that she finished to work and we arrived in Noosa around 9 pm, we stopped at Hungry Jack for the dinner and than we arrived at the apartment, we get ready and we went at the Franch apartment for an house party all together and than we come back home around 3am to rest. Saturday we woke up kind of early we went at Wooly to buy some stuff to eat and than we went to the beach I stayed with Daiana at the Little Cova Beach and the others they went to walk at the National park later all the other reach us but it starte dto rain we tryed to walk to an other beach but nothing still raining a bit and so around 4 pm we went home totally cold and went, I immediately took a hot shower. I can say that we weren’t very lucky for the weather even if in the winter also in Queensland is a bit cold. Than we eat something randomly and we started to play drinking games in our apartment all together and drink and later the owner come to complain abount the noise so we called Uber and we went to the Bush party that was like 10 minus by car, unfortunately was raining a lot but the place was a bit covered and it was really nice we had fun and we enjoyed the night except the rain and the cold weather. Sunday we had the check -out at 10 am that was awful totally in hangover we tryed to clean everything and we left at the time and than we went to serach a place to have a breakfast and than we went to relax at the Main Beach but after we need to change the parking so we move dthe car and we walked in the Natinal Park for 30 minutes almost and we went to the Fairy Pool that’s like a natural pool in the rock, I didn’t even bath in this week-end because wasn’t too hot and the water was freezing. After we passed at the supermarket and than we left Noosa and we arrived at home around 10 pm and Daiana arrived a bit earlier because she was in an other car and she moved to hous huse for few day to not pay the rent at the camping.

EIGHTEEN WEEK IN MUNDUBBERA

** Farm work – packing mandarins **

Monday we went at work and we worked just few hours and our boss told us that we will have all week of break till the next Monday, so we went back home and I relaxed at lest I tried because I was very sad about staying one more week without a job. Tuesday it was a bit better in the morning I did the exercices and thank Vicky an Argentinian girl from the camping friend of Daiana comes as well to live with us and we had a lunch all together and than after lunch we went at the camping and in the park to relax and chill a bit all together and than we come back home to cook, Sara and Valentin ( half Italian and half Russian ) they decided to makes two different type of pasta, Carbonara and Spaghetti alle cozze, we had fun and we enyoied the night all together. Wednesday in the morning I did the exercices again and than relax and gym than we spent the day at the camping with the little kittens and few others of the camping than we did the fire and drink hot chocolate and hot wine all together to say good bye to Daiana and Vicky that they left Thursday morning at 6 am with the bus in Mundubbera.Thursday was prtty chill exercices and relax and organizing everything for the big bush party on Saturday all together. It was a areally good party except that was very cold and I went home at 2 am. Than the day after totally hangover mostly for my housemates that they come back home at 8 am, basically Sunday we did nothing.

NINGHTNEEN WEEK IN MUNDUBBERA

** Farm work – packing mandarins **

Monday I went to work and than home exercices and rest, Tuesday as well and after I went to the pub with Laura Sara and few of them collegues. Wednesday after work we went to the camping me and Valentina because our boss sent us home earlier than the others and Thursday pretty chilled just work and home later. Friday was pretty bad because happened few things at work actually our boss send home me and Valentina for the second time of the week that’s mean our salary was worse than the other so we felt very bad and than our boss told us that we were the worse worker. So after work I just tried to keep calm and find a solution I went to Laura’s house to talk to her because I knew that after the week she was going back to Brissy so I went to talk to her and ask if she can give me her job in packing at her farm, unfortunately the place was taken. So the only option was go back to Brisbane with Laura actually because at the bar were I was working it was open again the only problem was the hostel but I guess that afternoon I made the decision to go back in Brissie. After at Laura’s house came also Sara and the other girls so we had a dinner all together, we tried to cook a Pad Thai, and than after dinner we went home because I was pretty tired. Saturday I woke up eary and I went at the house of Laura we went till the center we had a breakfast and we bought few souvenirs and we tried to organize everything for come back in Brisbane I called the hostel and my boss of the bar. Than we went to have a lunch at my house all together than we passed by the camping and we wento to buy everything for the night that at 7 pm we wnet at the Hostel where all my collegue lives, it was a really nice dinner and party we had a lot of fun. Sunday morning I packed everythings I inform the owner of the house that I was leaving and I took few pic of the house and with the girls and than I moved to Laura’s house and we organize our firewell party at her house with the pizzas that two of our friends mad it and we enjoyed the night together drinking and talking and than I slep in Laura’s house.

TWENTY WEEKS IN AUSTRALIA

Last day in Mundubbera

Monday at Laura house chill and lunch together than sunset all together good bye hostel camping and dinner at Laura’s house all together for the last time and than I slept at the Laura’s house than on Tuesday we did the lunch with Federico at Laura’s house we left at 2 pm with Sara Federico and we stopped in Gayndah to pick up Judith and we arrived in Brisbane at 8 pm so I went to sleep immediately because I was too tired, and for the first night we paid and we booked a room and than for the days after no because we started to work in the hostel as I was doing before, and I come back at the Nomad Hostel.

Back to Brisbane

Summary of the three months of farm work:

• First month moved to Mundubbera looking for farm work.
• Second month picking mandarins.
• Third month packing mandarins.