Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Feedback
29
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
I live in beautiful, East Gippsland, Victoria, in the small town of Swifts Creek, up in the Victorian Alps, kind of halfway between Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra.
(Melbourne is 4 to 5 hours away by car, longer by bus. Canberra likewise. Sydney is about 8 by car, longer by bus.)
Swifts Creek is close to the mountains, national parks, walking and bike tracks, and caves. It truly is a glorious little place. We are driving distance to some other beautiful areas, including the local alpine resorts.
I moved here in January 2016, as local minister/priest but a large part of my work is as a comunity development worker and social worker in some remote mountainous villages ...
After years of drought, and developing a program of drought support and relief, we are now expanding this to include supporting those in my region badly affected by fire. I hope you can help us.
I appreciate travel companions. I frequently travel amongst part of the lovely Snowy Mountains, and many of my workers have had the chance to see some amazing places- often in parts of the world few usual tourists would go, especially in the regional national parks. You might be able to help out with community events, if you wanted to.
My garden used to be a showplace, and is only now getting back to a decent state. It has potential. Your help would be appreciated.
My house is comfortable, with several bedrooms, with double and queen beds. One bathroom shared by all. Household help is MUCH appreciated
Summer is lovely here. I have lots of cosy bedding. I live in the Victorian Alps. I love exploring the mountains. It might be cold, cool or warm, but it will be beautiful!
Swifts Creek is accessible by public transport. There is none in town though, so we walk, or I drive us. Still we are talking small town here, so distance is not great.
Life gets hectic here at times, but there are always interesting things to do and see, and people to meet... Even in my own job sphere you will meet fun and quirky people.
Maybe you enjoy creating gardens and lovely places, or would just like to explore rural Australia, and help out for a little while in a remote but happy house? Maybe you could help in the garden? Or in the house? I am thinking perhaps part of the day, say 4 hours, and then you can just chill out?
Come visit, and find out for yourself.
#############
You should ensure that you have your own travel insurance cover as you stay here at your own risk. I cannot accept responsibility for any loss, injury or damage.
The city of Melbourne, or indeed Sydney or Canberra, is too far to go there and back in one day. Eg. You can't pop down to Melbourne to shop and be back here in time for dinner.
My hosting will suit 2nd year visas... Volunteer work is acceptable in a fire-region charity. I organise such a charity
Based on recent experience, you should look at a map before contacting me. A applicant has only just discovered that my house is a long way from Cairns!
I am sorry but I do not provide Melbourne /Avalon airport pick-ups or drop-offs. It is too far from my home. I can provide some travel advice to you.
Some things to note:
Meals provided.
If you have diet requirements, please advise in your enquiry contact.
Smoking not accepted inside.
Small shops in town.
No night clubs or cinema.
Daytime buses to bigger towns and shops.
Wifi available
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Gardening
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You would see an amazing and iconic part of Australia.... Famous, beautiful, remote and untouched by human hands. Not even many Australians get to see this, and explore. This would be a unique opportunity for you to see the fabulous, fabled High Country.
You will meet some great Australian farmers, and find out how they live in this challenging environment.
Come and see how real Australians live, in mountains and valleys!
Help
Maybe you enjoy creating gardens and lovely places, or would just like to explore rural Australia, and help out for a little while in a remote but happy house? Maybe you could help in the garden?
Occasionally you may be asked to help out with a community charity project.
I am thinking that for part of the day, say 3-4 hours, you help, and then you can just chill out?
Come visit, and find out for yourself.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Accommodation
I live alone in a comfortable house
You will have:
Own bedroom..
Shared bathroom and living room
What else ...
Some things to note:
Swifts Creek is too far from Melbourne to pop down and back in a day.
Internet wireless provided.
Meals provided.
Small shops in town.
No night clubs or cinema in my town
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
3 to 4 hrs a day 5 days a week
Feedback (13)
We stayed with Rowena in Swifts Creek for a week at the beginning of June and what a wonderful experience for our family!
Rowena is lovely, patient, kind, understanding and full of knowledge and wonderful… read more
Jessica was due this afternoon. I live in a small town, only two streets, my house next to the church on the main road. I am the only minister in my town. There is only one church. Everyone knows me. I had sent her my contact info.
She emailed me to say she had spent an hour walking around town, couldn’t find the church, and… read more
Thank you,… read more
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:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
We stayed with Rowena in Swifts Creek for a week at the beginning of June and what a wonderful experience for our family!
Rowena is lovely, patient, kind, understanding and full of knowledge and wonderful… read more
Jessica was due this afternoon. I live in a small town, only two streets, my house next to the church on the main road. I am the only minister in my town. There is only one church. Everyone knows me. I had sent her my contact info.
She emailed me to say she had spent an hour walking around town, couldn’t find the church, and… read more
Thank you,… read more
During their time with me, I was sick, and finally hospitalised. They were… read more
He was trustworthy, and committed to his tasks.
He was interested in my part of the world here, and I enjoyed his company.
She was interesting to speak with and was interested in my life here.
Khee would be welcome back any time!
A very positive experience.
Callie did work in the house and garden, and was a good cook.
She was also a good travelling companion.
Couldn’t have asked for better!
She took me around the area to local places and events, for example cattle market, and willingly told and showed… read more
Eva was a great cook. She kept the house and garden tidy. She helped with driving. She assisted me with charity events.... Nothing was too much trouble!
She often sang as she worked, and I enjoyed listening to her voice.
Eva, I miss you.… read more
She was fabulous! Kind, funny, very helpful, trustworthy, showed initiative, and took direction well.
What more could we want?
Sophie was a fabulous helper!
They were trustworthy, interested in life in my community, and were most interesting to talk with about their lives.
I can most certainly recommend them!
Keith cooked really well. Everything was clean and tidy. I trusted him around the house.
Right in the midst of his stay, all my belongings arrived, after months of storage. Keith was remarkable in his ability to unpack, sort, carry, and keep calm. I was SO thankful for his help.
He also helped me sort out some work plans for… read more
The work was ont hard and we were happy to help Rowena.
Rowena is very kind, mindful of the others, and was always ready to share some stories with us.
We enjoyed our time here and would… read more
They cooked, cleaned, and gardened... Worked hard, were trustworthy... And produced good results, especially with the cooking!
They traveled with me on some long work trips, and were helpful and interested in what we were doing.
They helped friends of mine, with… read more
Good cook.
She helped me pack up my old house, move, and settle into the new house.
This was a very… read more
Rowena picked us up late in the evening and was kind to paid for us pizza. We enjoyed helping in the garden, house, shopping, cooking (always pleasure), making lot of orange juice (now the orange tree is naked :)). We also enjoyed helping with packing and painting fourniture/wall.
Rowena is very kind and openminded, she has… read more
Both worked hard... In the garden, with housework, minding my hens, shopping, and, best of all cooking! Very good cooks....
As I am in the process of moving house, and having an injured leg, they were very useful with packing and cleaning.
Thy were trustworthy, and had some interesting stories to tell of travel and so… read more
Colleen was hard-working, trust-worthy, kind, competent, took direction well, showed appropriate initiative, interesting to be with and was interested in my life and community.
She cooked, gardened, cleaned the house, helped me move house, and was a great travel companion when I travelled for work purposes.
I could not… read more
When I was sick, she was particularly kind and… read more
One night, a most delicious meal was cooked.
My hens enjoyed their attention!
The Daniels came to my church, and folk enjoyed meeting them, as they were friendly.
A good workaway… read more
Mel was kind, interested in the community… read more
