Why Don’t You Go to Darwin? – Part 3: Touchdown

From the moment I signed the contract to the moment I landed in Darwin it was exactly one month.

I moved my stuff back into my old room at my parents’ place, packed one bag, and left.

It was the biggest risk I’d ever taken in my life but to be honest, it felt like more of a risk not to go.

I felt alive.

I’ve always loved throwing myself into things with no expectations.

I was open to whatever happened.

The flight to Darwin was four hours.

The moment I stepped off the plane, the humidity hit me like a wall. It was hot. Thick. Still. I loved it.

My company had put me up in a hotel for three months all expenses paid while I completed induction and got certified. I had to pass a heap of exams before I was qualified for the role.

Day one of induction arrived.

And I was completely out of my depth.

I was easily the most inexperienced person in the room.

Everyone had some kind of background, medical, university degree.

I realised quickly how lucky I was to even be sitting in that chair.

Apparently over 100 people had applied.

Only seven got hired.

Only three were selected for Nhulunbuy.

And I was one of them.

I started asking around who were the other two?

One was T a genuinely great guy who would end up becoming one of my best mates.

We lived and worked together for the next 18 months.

The other was J another good man I clicked with instantly.

We were chatting one day, and J said to me:

“Mate, you’ve made a great decision. It’s a really good job…

But you’re going to have one problem.”

I braced myself.

Already? A problem?

He grinned.

“The only problem you’ll have… is figuring out what to do with all your time.

It’s so quiet out there, you’ll hardly do anything.”

No work?

Good money?

I’d hit the jackpot.

They hadn’t even mentioned the penalty rates in the interview but now it was clear:

I was going to be earning significantly more than I expected.

My accommodation was fully covered.

The universe had rewarded the risk.

Those 18 months in Arnhem Land were life changing.

Great money.

No bills.

New friendships.

Plenty of laughs.

But more than anything, it gave me the space and stability to reinvent myself.

I look back on that time in Arnhem Land with deep gratitude.

It changed my life.