Profile information
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Host rating
100 %
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Last replied
9 Nov 2026
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Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 5 days
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Feedback
20
Total number of feedback received and left
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ID verified
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Email verified
Badges (4)
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Details
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Description
Over the last 6 years we have had over 100 volunteers help to build and run an organic aquaponics system in a 400 sq m greenhouse. We also developed our permaculture garden while working on art and photography projects.
This year I hosted a big photographic exhibition as part of Margaret River Region Open Studios. It featured innovative interactive installations and became a very popular exhibition. Now there is a lot of follow up work to do, video editing and creating online content from it for social media campaigns.
We live on 55Ha (126 acre) property in the beautiful Margaret River region. The farm is jointly owned by 4 couples in our family who want to leave a legacy for our future generations. We are trying to be as " off grid" and sustainable as possible. However we do have good internet!
The farm is surrounded by vineyards, has heaps of forest, dams, a creek, netted orchard, lots of nut trees and some pasture. Less than 15 minute drive to pristine awesome beaches.
Our house was reconstructed from a railway goods shed. The are two spare rooms. We share the house with dogs, a cat and birds.
Natalie works casually as a Veterinarian. John completed an aquaponics farm design course and has put it into practice. We need help to run it and to keep developing our permaculture gardens. -
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Light gardening
Creative DIY projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Light maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
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Interests
Videography
Technology
Sustainability
Pets
Culture
Van life
Farming
DIY & crafts
Languages
Art & design
Gardening
Plant care
Photography
Drawing & painting
Carpentry
Animals
Outdoor activities
Team sports
Nature
Water sports
Fitness
Camping
Beach -
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
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Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We will welcome you into our home and family. We are just a down to earth Aussie couple. We love meeting travellers and sharing stories. You will get to interact with some Aussie wildlife and explore areas that tourists rarely get to.
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Help
At the moment, my priority is creating marketing content from the videos, photos and testimonials arising from the Georgette 150th Photographic Exhibition.
We also need help with food preparation for two families living here.
We usually want help to run the the greenhouse and permaculture gardens. It is a lower priority at the moment. For that, you don't need to already be skilled with tools. John is a great, patient teacher. However if you have no carpentry or plumbing experience it would be better if you planned a longer stay so that you get to hone your skills and warrant the training time.
There are other projects such as building animal enclosures, chainsawing, collecting firewood, burning bonfires, pruning, building worm farms etc that you may help with too.
We are no chefs so help with food preparation is also appreciated. -
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
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Accommodation
There are a few options. There is a boat cabin, camping area or you are welcome to sleep in a spare room in our 3 bedroom house. One room has an ensuite and a king sized bed. The other is a single room. There are two bathrooms.
We will share most evening meals but sometimes feed yourself. You will be welcome to help youself to the fridge and kitchen whenever you like. We tend to be very casual with eating. -
What else ...
John plays inline roller hockey. You are welcome to try it out.
There isa one-eyed cat, a one winged parrot named Floyd and fresh eggs from our backyard chooks .
The area has heaps of caves, cellar doors, art galleries, bush walks, beaches to explore. -
A little more information
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Internet access
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Limited internet access
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We have pets
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We are smokers
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Can host families
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Can host digital nomads
We have Starlink. It is reliable, 300 Mbit, limitless.
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Space for parking camper vans
There is a camping area with camp kitchen, flusing toilet and hot shower. However we have no septic dump facility.
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Can possibly accept pets
Pets considered.
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How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
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My animals / pets
Harold and his Hens
Harold is a Light Suffolk Rooster and he has five Isa Brown hens living with him in the hen hotel out the back. So we have plenty of eggs.
Floyd
Floyd only has one wing after being hit by a car 10 years ago. He has been part of the family ever since.
Elsie
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (10)
I stayed with him for only three weeks, but I was genuinely sad to leave. I didn’t have a car and we were quite far from everything, but despite that, I never felt bored or isolated. John has his own routines, … read more
Sara gets on … read more
He did some earthworks for us, helped out in the greenhouse and helped bring back to life an old slapaphone (musical instrument made from plumbing pipes). Plus his cooking is masterchef quality!
Olie has had a really interesting life and has many stories and insights to … read more
Pia has a natural affinity with plants and all living … read more
Even though I basically grew up … read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
(5.0)
I stayed with him for only three weeks, but I was genuinely sad to leave. I didn’t have a car and we were quite far from everything, but despite that, I never felt bored or isolated. John has his own routines, … read more
Sara gets on … read more
He did some earthworks for us, helped out in the greenhouse and helped bring back to life an old slapaphone (musical instrument made from plumbing pipes). Plus his cooking is masterchef quality!
Olie has had a really interesting life and has many stories and insights to … read more
Pia has a natural affinity with plants and all living … read more
Even though I basically grew up … read more
They helped doing all sorts of things - growing veggies and selling at the market, building a camp bathroom and kitchen, cooking and painting very cool pictures.
We did some … read more
The work has been nice, between plants, farmer market and building a dunny in the forest for their new little house boat.
Live with them for a month has been a big pleasure and an experience will bring forever.
Please, don’t miss … read more
I found Olena really interesting and she was also a … read more
They are amazing person and hosts always ready to share good time and good conversations.
During my short stay at their place I grew up a little myself.
I would definitely go back if … read more
We stayed with them 5 weeks and we learned a lot of new skills. John taught us how to use chainsaw, circular saw, angle grinder and other different tools. We learned what’s an aquaponic farm and how does it work. We helped … read more
Together they make a very good team. The big job they did for me was to construct a large 2.4m x 17m grow bed from timber plus a smaller 4.8 x 1.2m bed for my … read more
Apparently, we were their first workaway guest but if there was a skill level for workaway hosts, they would have level 100!
We where warmheartedly welcomed to their farm and both had the time of our lives.
I (Sybren) had daily technical conversations and jobs which I learned a lot … read more
