cruiser replied:

Tell me this, how does someone who has just retired and is looking to get work while travelling get a start at fruit picking if they have never done it before.

I have been looking at various "Harvest Trail" websites, and everyone including the person who posted this, wants "experienced" workers.

I have found the same with the cotton and wheat harvesting. Seems like you have to know someone who knows someone.

All I want is a chance to have a go at it. I might not like it or be able to handle it, but it would be nice to get a start and see.

Makes it hard I reckon, surely someone out there is prepared to give unexperience people a go, but I am buggered if I have been able to find out who.

MADEC replied:

In my experience many growers would trade experience with reliability, This job is such a job. The growers in the Riverland desire grey nomads in preference to other group because of their attitude towards work, life and reliability. All grey nomads should have no trouble gaining employment in the riverland from mid may. I will be looking for 300 people, I'm available on phone or email. Remember nomads normally come with vehicles, licenses and accommodation, this should place you high in the pecking order. Buy a picking bag, give me a call, I'll send you a application ( sorry it's a requirement) and we hopefully will see you in may
Cheers Leighton

cruiser replied:

It is comforting to read some of these responses and it makes me realise that I am not alone.

I was beginning to think that it was just me and that in turn makes you wonder "what is it about me, am I expecting to much, or do they think that I have to heads, or that I am to old or something"

I have had a look at the rates of pay and wondered if it was a case of the farmer being able to pay less to backpackers because they are itinerant workers and are willing to accept a lower rate of pay cause they need to top up their funds.

I know this practice is probably only occuring on a small scale (or would like to think it is), but when you get repeated knock back cause you dont have experience, you tend to think of all sorts of silly reasons as to why you cant get a start.

It only takes 1 person like Leighton and if thats what you want to do, then you are away, so I applaud him for giving me some encouragement to keep trying and to have a go.

I am only 56 years young and whilst not the fittest for my age, I am willing to give it a go cause there is still life left in this old bugger.

Garbutt replied:

A mate of mine (sadly now dead from cancer) had a thousand jobs in his day, and always said that he could get a job by saying yes he could do it. Never said I can't do that. He shore sheep, drove trucks, boats and forklifts, packed shelves, did everything under the sun because he never said I can't. He always claimed that he was never unemployed longer than he wanted to be.

GB

Mike Harding replied:

It's interesting that you deleted one commercial post today but permitted another one (this one) to continue - do you have any kind of consistent rule on this? I don't mind, you understand, but potential advertisers might?

Mike Harding