Living in a tent, relaxing with pythons and chasing crocodiles – all in a day’s work for Scottish expat Kat Mee. Words and pictures Lisa Young
“In 2005, at the age of 23 years old, I left the east coast of Scotland on a round-the-world trip,” says Kat Mee. “Little did I know that over the next few years I’d become the supervisor for one of Australia’s top eco-lodges, and be chasing massive crocodiles across the wetlands of Australia’s Northern Territory.”
After obtaining her business degree at university, Kat decided to pack her rucksack and travel the world. Her plan was to visit South America, New Zealand, Australia, South East Asia and India and then head home to Scotland after one year.
“I ended up in Australia. Within two days of arriving I landed my first job. Due to visa restraints, I was only allowed to work three months in each job. I worked as a receptionist and a waitress in Melbourne before moving into a career in hospitality, which took me to various places around the country.”
Kat thought Australia was an ideal place to stay and to make some money to fund her future travels to South East Asia and India. “In South East Asia I soon realised that I had no reason to go home to Scotland. I cancelled my UK return flight and went back to Australia, only this time to Darwin in the Northern Territory.
“I still had time on my visa, so I went to a job agency for backpackers in Darwin. The agent was interviewing another girl when I arrived. The phone rang, the agent answered and I heard her say the she had two perfect girls sitting in front of her who would be ideal for the job.”
Kat’s new job was cooking and cleaning on the building site of a new lodge called Bamurru Plains, located on a buffalo station in the middle of the wetlands, one hour’s plane ride south of Darwin. The closest town is Humpty-Doo, north of Kakadu National Park.
Read the full article in out August 2009 issue.
