88 days and a different life - From Argentina to Ivanhoe
Jessie Rogers, daughter of Philip and Trish Palmer, with Argentinian backpacker and qualified psychologist Karen Muller. Image: The Riverine Grazier/Kimberly Grabham.
By Kimberly Grabham
We rarely wake up in the morning and go about our day reminding ourselves how lucky we are to live in Australia. But maybe we should.
Comparative to other nations, we have a strong economy, high quality of life, access to nature, high inclusivity and a generally safe environment.
I recently went to Ivanhoe to see and take part in their community day, which featured a first aid course and visits from a duo of osteopaths. There I met Karen Muller, a backpacker from Argentina. Karen and her partner came here to Ivanhoe for their obligatory 88 days of work in an agricultural setting. What they discovered was a whole new world, opportunities, independence and lifelong friends.
Karen is a qualified psychologist and her partner Naz is a qualified lawyer. They got off the plane, arriving in Australia three weeks ago. Boasting vast natural resources, including minerals and enormous expanses of industrious land, Argentina was once one of the richest countries in the world.
A 2023 article written by ABC Australia said nowadays annual inflation in Argentina is running at more than 100 per cent and the pesos in your hand are worth less all the time. Comprehensive mismanaged politics has caused systemic collapse of economy. For young people such as Karen and her partner, this means the qualifications they have worked so hard for, the life they have pushed to build, all their effort translates into very little tangibly. Their average wage was $200 a month.
The future the average Australian works towards means their hard work and effort gets them where they want to be. Regardless if this is considerable travel, enjoying experiences or asset building, the vast majority of Australians see something in return for their effort. A future for them, their children and their families, we work for a comfortable life, and get it. People in Argentina work just as hard, but their failing economy means some of them cannot even earn enough to sustain the comfort of a roof over their head.
When Karen and her partner first arrived in Melbourne, they lived in a share house with others from different nationalities including French nationals, who have all come to Australia for the same reasons as them.
Fate drew Karen and Naz across the path of the extended Palmer family. They began work on Philip and Trish’s property two weeks ago, incredibly excited at trading hard work for a good and equitable income. They have hit the ground running, so to speak. They are fervently practising their English, with Trish attesting to their vast improvement in English in a few short weeks. Their original language spoken is Spanish. In love with the area and their new home, they plan to work for a time, and then incorporate travel once they have earnt some money.
Whilst not sure how long they will stay in Ivanhoe, they love the culture in Australia.
“People everywhere are so kind, from when we arrived in Australia at the airport, people are lovely.
“The culture here is similar to Argentina, we all enjoy the beers,” she said, chuckling.
“We love the life and culture here, the chance to connect with nature, and the opportunity for a good work life balance so we can do these things. “The safety is also very comforting; you can go out at night and be confident you are not going to get belongings stolen.”
Not only is Karen lovely, but to see her motivation and drive to attain what we were largely born into, and have as Australian citizens is an eye opener we all need once in a while.
