Utopia not across the Tasman

Press, 1 November 1977, Page 23

Utopia not across the Tasman

Like many other young New Zealanders, JANET HOBSON, of Christchurch, set off for a working holiday in Australia. But, she reports, finding a job there is not so easy . . .

Sydney — city of great opportunities, a place to make fast money and to gain experience?

Don’t you believe it. I left New Zealand with great expectations, but was very soon disheartened and disillusioned- Opportunities do exist, but they are few and far between, and you have to fight for them.

You also have to reasure the Sydneyites that you are not one of the hundreds of Kiwis who will be nipping back to the nirvana of New Zealand after only a couple of weeks. Those in their right mind do.

My fall to Sydney’s rock-hard ground made me realise that I had expected too much, too soon. And so I went west — to Perth, where I will stay and attempt to shake off my critical and biased view of Australia. I would like to believe there is another side to this vast continent which I haven’t stumbled across yet. I am even attempting to get a job but — as in Sydney — even here vacancies are limited.

Despite professional qualifications, I now find myself fighting for a waitress/barmaid position. I know I’m going to be physically stumped — the prerequisites include a willingness to wear a scanty skirt and reveal a naked 36-incn bust.

Australia, land of opportunities? Well, I suppose there are few, if any, places in New Zealand where I could get a job like that. I expect it all depends on what you are looking for. If it’s experience in topless waitressing then there are numerous opportunities and openings for bold and buxom girls.

But for the rest of us? There must be something around the corner. Isn’t there?