What does it take to be a shearers' cook? | Landline | ABC Australia

"A good cook should be able to make anything out of nothing." This couple know how the secret behind a good feed. 🍴 This story is from 2016. Reporter: Tim Lee.
Subscribe ✅ and tap the notification bell 🔔 to be delivered Australian stories every day: ab.co/ABCAus-subscribe
Join the ABC Australia community on social media!
abc.net.au/
Facebook: / abc
Twitter: / abcaustralia
Instagram: / abcaustralia
This is an official Australian Broadcasting Corporation KZbin channel.
********
Contributions may be removed if they violate ABC's Online Conditions of Use www.abc.net.au/conditions.htm (Section 3).

[@sonofagreatsouthernland]

Can't beat the honesty and warm hearted nature of country folk! Puts the city ppl to shame!

[@kanesmith8271]

@John Holmes true

[@LordGriebenschmalz]

I live in a city due to work relations. Every time I visit my mother its kind of a shock to go back to the city. If I get the opportunity Ill move back towards the countryside.

[@sidneyangevin4957]

true dat

[@colinmayes9446]

Proper people doing a damn good job, bless them.

[@rodneypeters5504]

Worked as a shearer’s cook for a few years, bloody hard work but I enjoyed every minute of it, I cooked for the best bunch of blokes that you could wish to meet, there was lots of humour and piss taking.

[@albertlanger2339]

With the kilojoules spent in one of the hardest jobs, only a good cook can deliver what the shearers need to keep going for the next. I "tips me lid" the shearers and the cooks.

[@fazem137]

What a cool couple they are.. the old boy seems so wholesome! The type of man you would want for a dad.. wish you the best and many more years

[@beckyduggan1755]

He is the type you want for a dad! I should know. He has been the best dad ever! Xx

[@SheldonBeldon]

Everybody they interviewed had a unique personality and seemed extremely lucid and intelligent.

[@andrewhahne5626]

When you see these types of stories , it makes you so proud to be Australian seeing. People work so well in a close knit team well done to all of these types of Aussies

[@JBoogie1977]

Look at his knuckles at 2:52! He's lived a hard life. Props to him & his wife for still working at their age.

[@0whc]

Nice spot

[@flip8654]

@@0whc I mean it’s hard to not spot it

[@janethartwig774]

Dick and Cheryl are absolute treasures. They are going to be hard, if not impossible, to replace. Greetings from California USA

[@gerrykelly5164]

Salt of the Earth. Love their attitude..and the classer!

[@davidmayers8981]

I have worked in wool sheds in my adult life but I remember as a young boy in the 70’s we were on a family holiday. We went to a shearing shed and as we walked in the Boss of the floor yelled, ‘Swans on the pond’, every person working in the shed stopped talking. My father asked the Boss what he had just said. The Boss replied, ‘Your wife and daughter are here. They won’t talk while they’re here in case they swear’.

[@eldoradorail8891]

Someone show this to Karl Stefanovic, this is what real Australians are

[@cococharliematenga4829]

One of my all time favourite episodes of Landline. Thank you.

[@noahcount7132]

This story deserves multiple thumbs up!

[@paulwilfridhunt]

Yes indeed

[@DomingoDeSantaClara]

I worked in a shed in NZ when I left school at 15,I remember overhearing the shearers planning to shear my long hair off so I was ready for them at lunchtime. Three of them made the move and I legged it out the door and down the road with no escape except over an electric fence,I happily took the shock then stood on the other side giving them the middle finger,happy days and a great bunch of guys.I still had long hair when i left....

[@seanodwyer4322]

sounds like- ''aTaihape.''

[@mc8885]

A good cook is worth their weight in gold. I haven't been a shearer, I was working in the middle of the NQ outback looking for gold. Our cook was what made my day bearable. "A way to a man's heart, is through his stomach"

[@looking8030]

What a legend! At his age out an about

[@rohanpotter8895]

I've worked with a couple of those types, some days you're almost a little scared for them but they all deserve nothing but respect still wanting to be out working at that age

[@LynHannan]

My grandfather (born 1900) was a shearer's cook that was in demand throughout Victoria and possibly beyond. We have preserved an envelope that states "Bill Wright, Shearer's Cook, Maryborough, 3465." No street address or number, but it arrived without any trouble! Later on, my dad (born 1940) went with him as cook's assistant (to also escape the draft for Vietnam, I think - they couldn't draft him if they couldn't find him) for about three years. My husband thinks its a shame that those cooking skills weren't passed on to me :(

[@johntrueblue]

I was a Rousey for several seasons working for 8 on the board, friggin hard work, time the dinner bell rang you could eat a horse but we mostly ate mutton, was so fit back in my late teens, was good times. My hat goes off to the cooks, food in the gut and i was out like a light for the night :) then it began again at 4am.

[@peterah7957]

These people are great! I love how they all appreciate one another

[@camronolson5777]

Dick Dugan is a f***ing legend where I'm from, if you don't know you better ask somebody

[@archninjaa7507]

From one bush cook to two others. I thought my driller guys could eat!!. Keep up the good work . Bless.

[@hernandezfernandez1565]

Great story.... hard yakka.... no frills but u can see they all appreciate each other

[@kaze987]

Incredible. I love these untold stories of folks' everyday lives, its so interesting to others outside of this world

[@lukewise1227]

Look for the movie 'On Any Sunday' with Jack Thompson. It's set in 1955 when there was a Shearer's Strike. Great memories of another time. I loaned it to a Jackaroo and Roustabout who said he enjoyed it so much he watched it again immediately after. I spent some of my youth on the New England Tablelands, where Dad was a plumber who was regularly on farms preparing or repairing the shearers quarters and shearing sheds. The smell of the lanolin mixed in with all the sheeps poo underneath the shed never leaves you. Old shearers never retire, they just work harder.

[@TheLinKrust]

My grandma was a shearers’ cook - talk about hard work - she’d describe the variety of things she’d have to make especially for smoko! Crikey!!

[@PS-Straya_M8]

What a lovely couple, amazing work ethic them and all the team!

[@andrewroberts4736]

Real work, done by real people you can respect. Not all whining about everything and trying to use a worthless degree in media studies.

[@alexoh9671]

Love these stories! Different aspect of aussie life

[@michaelclayton1827]

Is there a hall of fame for shearers cooks? If not! There should be!!!!!!

[@angemaidment5640]

Yep, it’s in Hay

[@mikeyarnam9272]

Ive always found the smaller sheep stations are more accommodating i.e food,drinks,cold towels and cooling fans. But when going to large sheep stations you just get the obligatory case of beer to share at the end of each day. But when youre making 700-1000 bucks a day you don't really care.Hard work though I could only last 10 years

[@nemoanon5615]

Most people couldn't stand a day working like that, let alone a decade.

[@GL-ys8je]

My whole family was in the shearing gang business left school at 15 and straight into shearing I was done after 10 years as well you pay a big price later in life with back pain my old man suffered pretty bad later in life.

[@mikeyarnam9272]

@@nemoanon5615 yes it was bloody tough I just did it to help get a mortgage at a young age my back still has issues to this day.

[@mikeyarnam9272]

@@GL-ys8je Yes similar to mine I grew up on a farm with both my uncles shearers who got me into it I left school at 17 to take it up as a job but was too much on my body in my late 20s now I just class.

[@mikeyarnam9272]

@@oscarwhite6544 yeah depends on how many you get through normal rates in Aus are 2.70-3.80 dollars per sheep depending on how good you are and the current market I once got 4 bucks a sheep when wool prices were through the roof. I could normally get through 150-180 a day some upwards of 200 on a regular basis.

[@mozdickson]

Loving the older generation being rightly held up high by Landline - this couple, the traveling Saddlers, the Station Chefs. Some bloody good people in Strayah

[@leannek9062]

My Dad was a shearers cook. I used to help him in school holidays. I used to make smokos. Gas stove! Thats a luxury! Dad used to have to get up around 4am to get the wood stove going. Shearers are the fussiest eaters!

[@andreaknibbs9328]

Awww loved the pics of her children all messy and having fun. Who cares if they were dirty they obviously were happy and they all got clean in the end 😂

[@indigocheetah4172]

I laughed when she said, my kids look like they have come out of the bog, lovely couple.

[@steveread4021]

I can't help wondering if they inspired the Kevin Bloody Wilson song "the kid, he swears a little bit."

[@Beetlejuicer]

I wish companies were owned by older generations. Feeding your workers should be standard... like they're already busting their ass for low wages so you might as well feed them

[@bartpowers9972]

My daddy always said tell your cook you love um every day happy cook happy life 👍

[@icarii9366]

Absolutely precious.

[@TheAcousticWarfare]

These folk are the salt of the earth :)

[@justadroid]

That was really interesting, hard working Aussies!

[@mattyallen3396]

Mostly kiwis

[@phoenixkb134]

I love these documentaries ABC! So heartwarming. Greetings from Kiwiland.

[@VBHB83]

Such hard workers all of them. Keep up the good work!

[@Torontokid]

Great stuff. Cheers from Canada to all the labourers.

[@brucelamberton8819]

Same as the army - a good cook is essential personnel

[@beachobsession29]

They look like dedicated cooks. To feed a big crew 5 meals a day. I enjoyed watching them.

[@herbmarsh8519]

God bless the pair of you, what an amazing life. Cheers.

[@MareeStone798ms]

35 yrs ago when I was young and blung, we had Mabel, who cooked up the best meals while under the meanest alcoholic shakes I've ever seen afflict someone.

[@okbutthenagain.9402]

Got this on my recommended list for some reason. Few years back visited Aus for two months and had the opportunity to go to one of these shearing stations. Was taken by an old pop that we met during an evenings drinking. Christ. Dusty, noisy, and people every where working like demons. Even got to try my hand at shearing. One old sod called me the Sweeney Todd of sheering after my pathetic attempt LOL. Got to stay two days at the shearing and made some life friends there. Have the upmost respect for the shearers et. Hard working honest good people. Oh and the food wasn't bad tucker at all.

[@stephenbone7034]

Salt of the Earth,great people

[@boonnathan9827]

How good is Australia 🇦🇺

[@robertalan2427]

Wonderful story God bless you both .... keep on making... keep on cooking from Toronto

[@jennyc1846]

Fantastic story thankyou!!! Amazing couple..ouch rheumatoid arthritis must be painful as hell, but 81 and still going strong...what champions. Well done to al, of you, life in the outback..you earn your pay there for sure!!! Merry Christmas from Western Australia 🦘🦘🦘

[@ryanlad1299]

These guys are shearing in luxury. I've been shearing 25 years and not once have we ever had a Shearer's cook or even been served a plate of food lol. But beers at the end was always mandatory.

[@jamesmalone261]

So what did you eat?

[@ryanlad1299]

@@jamesmalone261 we brought our own lunch

[@dannymate1209]

Sounds like you’re from down south

[@johntrueblue]

you must have worked privately. I worked several seasons with a crew working several locations, and few weeks, always had a cook on hand.

[@kellymita6572]

They were usually hired during "stay out gangs"

[@bizzybugseverywhere7801]

real people , i love the smell in the shed , reminds me of my childhood

[@clarissafarmer3547]

Awesome, I love this country

[@terryirons1966]

Funny ... no mobile phone reception ? ..... nobody lying around peering at a mobile .... GREAT .... there is another world out there .

[@mabamabam]

The best is when there is reception in one little corner of the shed. Or if you just climb the fence and stand on one leg. The you get a whole bunch of people crowded around all trying to stand in the same spot

[@ConcreteRiver]

Dick Duggan is a warm, kind hearted man who loves his wife. A type of man to aspire to be like

[@lincroyableprocrastinateur5414]

"First dinner no meat - that was my introduction to cooking for shearers!" That poor woman, it would have been a rough learning curve.

[@errolandrade4235]

Total respect for them 💓

[@trevorward1690]

Beautiful story loved it thankyou 😊😊😊

[@johnnunn8688]

Salt of the earth, kudos.

[@666108]

Grew up with a lot of time on my grandparents station. Shearing season is still one of my fond memories from back then

[@isnoo1]

I LOVE re watching this video - EVERY TIME!! Oh the memories it brings back!!

[@casshendry]

Salt of the earth folks. Hard work shearing and the cooks are the main cog of the shearing machine. Great clip.

[@catlikepizzagaming8280]

Surprisingly really enjoyed that video thank you

[@suesmith5381]

Love it and subscribed. We are getting older and love seeing Australia so might do stuff like this etc.. one day. Thanks for being there for them all.

[@craigdutton6072]

Went to a station 🚉 it had more rusted camp ovens and Billy pots and giant cooking vessels rusted out the back it was as high as a car 🚘 of worn out pots and pans 🫶huge feat to achieve in the heat the remoteness 👍and it’s were I got my real passion in life ❤❤wood stoves their the other hero’s lol 😂

[@hernandezfernandez1565]

Beautiful couple

[@MariAmmaSar]

Reminds me of the Uni days when we worked the Friday night shift (8pm to 5am) at a local Safeways supermarket stacking shelves. Some of these boys would wash down a half bottle of whisky along with food in that one shift.

[@rrrohan2288]

its like a mine site/oil rig. nothing makes you forget your away from home and bit home sick like a good cook. they defintley not underated on the sites ive worked. often they get the most respect. plenty of site people will tell you off for not taking your plate back when your done because they know your making the cooks take longer to knock off.

[@iheggis86]

Shearing looks like an aging workforce, nice to see many in their later years working hard and going strong 💪

[@jmdjasonday]

That smoko feed was so aussie

[@rabbitskinner]

Yes vile lol they can shove dim Sims

[@johngraham5948]

I enjoy 'woolshed' food nothing like a mutton sandwich with onions and tomatoes and a mug of tea

[@jobsonchelsea6434]

nice...loved aussie outback

[@masonpeace8824]

Anybody else notice she gave the used knife one swipe with a rag and put it in the dry rack

[@ulrikezachmann7596]

These are the people that keep things going.

[@nightrunnernightrunner2474]

True aussie legends

[@sidneyangevin4957]

makes me proud to be Aussie

[@altaylor3988]

Salt of the Earth

[@northislandguy]

These meals would be so good Home cooked goodness 👍

[@redditislife7997]

My pop used to drink a carton of fosters a day while shearing when he was young and fit.

[@MATT-xv4bh]

Love it!

[@oudonbail]

i wont name the station but mid 2000's bosses wife made a egg and bacon pie for lunch , had magotts in it but they said just extra protein. Even the boss ate it so they believed haha then silverside from beef belly flaps too nothing like some boiled salted fat haha

[@robertcampbell6521]

You really haven't done a days work until you've worked shed's ,being born in the city i had to prove myself to not be the typical townie and also being the partner of the station masters daughter made it even harder . Respect is earned and not a given until you prove yourself but if your a goer and you put in and get the job done Respect follows . We always had a good selection of lollies in the shed as sometimes you just need that quick sugar hit to pep you up a bit .

[@matthewthechalk]

I adore this video ❤️

[@brendanmichaelwelsh6260]

True Australians through and through ! Let me buy you a beer anytime !

[@anandlakshmanan9708]

death wish to mess with a good cook

[@newbleppmore7855]

81 wow lots of life in that guy still

[@kimsherlock8969]

Great Story Really Beaut

[@NoTaboos]

Knew a lady on a station near Nyngan who used to use emu eggs. One egg scrambled fed 10 shearers.

[@Simon-nv5zj]

Shearing would be up there with some of the most physical jobs in the world. Much respect!

[@bignedau]

I found that every cook was different, the good ones were fantastic.

[@lesliedevlin8501]

Great show landline thanks 👀👀👌👌

[@robertchinnock8017]

My aunty and uncle owns a couple sheep farms at yass and remember as a kid hearing my uncle saying it a guy place in the shed and u could swear but not around the ladys.. my aunty was a old pub cook and her cooking was amazing.

[@kaze987]

What confuses me is that they keep saying how hot it is, yet I see folks wearing fleece sweaters? Explain!

[@rachelmorton4734]

Aussie legends❤

[@annemuskee9004]

Being a shearers cook is HARD work. I would rather cook in a bistro pumping out 200 meals a shift. My best memory was a comment by an older dude. DUCKS ON THE POND. I still have a laugh.

[@richrcwx1685]

Lovely people, an the food looks great

[@KoxenBols]

I don't know how I got here but the barking sheep caught my attention

[@steveclifford1239]

That is what we all should aspire to👍🏻

[@jillbuchan5339]

That was a lovely video amazing 😃