I’d take a croc over a four-hour commute any day
Tailah Warr moved to Darwin this year, but stayed with her Melbourne-based agency. It turned out that saltwater crocs were less scary than her four-hour daily commute. And while she didn’t expect such a remote set up to be possible, she now thinks all employees should have the opportunity to make a move without handing in their resignation.
I put my agency’s open-mindedness to the test earlier this year.
Despite having a flexible arrangement to work part-time from home, after spending two years commuting from Pakenham to inner-Melbourne, two short holidays to traffic-free Darwin was all it took to think ‘maybe I should move here’. And those who live in the outer suburbs will understand when I say the risk of saltwater crocodiles and monsoons is less frightening than the four-hour daily commute.
“I’d take a croc over a four-hour commute any day”
The “risk of saltwater crocodiles and monsoons”. Give me a break. Bigger risk walking across Bourke St.
While I accept that is (hopefully) tongue in cheek, this Croc Dundee stuff is ridiculous and an insult to Darwinites in particular and “remote” Australians in general.
We are not bloody savages out here in the sticks banging rocks together you know (I have been working remotely for 20 years so you know).
Get over yourself mate, you’ve missed the whole point of the article.
Not everyone is out to insult you, try getting into the NT spirit and developing a more positive attitude ?
I understand the article perfectly, nor am I in the NT. And to do what I do and did needs to have a positive attitude.
My point is that it does not need to resort to ridiculous cliches about bloody crocodiles and the like.
That’s like saying I “moved to Tassie and braved the devils”, or (in my neck of the woods) moved to WA and braved the quokka selfie. Or Sydney and braved the hipster.
Yes Tailah made a great move and I applaud her for that. The Croc Dundee humour was not offensive, just not necessary IMO
Great to hear you’ve been able to work remotely for so long. I hope this encourages other companies to consider letting their employees do the same.
After all the Territory and rural towns in general need population growth and an economic boost. I hope these kinds of arrangements can form part of the solution and that more people get to experience the great lifestyle that is Territory living. Apologies for the offensive Croc Dundee humour 😉
Take a chill pill Dave.
The article was indeed tongue in cheek and simply one person’s advocacy of flexible working practises – which I agree with!
But thank you for paving the way in this arena, you’re a pioneer and an inspiration to us millennials who dream of working from home in our tracksuits (occasionally) – In fact, I consider you on par with explorers and frontiersmen like Davy Crockett and Ferdinand Magellan.
Hey Tailah, It brought me great joy to read your piece and connect with another one of the remote and regional tribe. I commend your agency for making this happen, especially for an Acct manager, which is one of the roles most people still feel they need on the ground in my experience. Glad to hear you are loving Darwin life!
Nice piece! And very refreshing. I’m surprised how many agencies are still obsessed with having the team sit at their desks from 9 to 6 every day, with no option for flexibility. Visibility doesn’t equal productivity and I find it depressing when managers don’t trust their staff to work unless they are in the office all day, every day.
A happy team member who feels valued and respected will be far more of an asset than someone who isn’t trusted unless they can be seen!
Hi Tailah,
It’s so great to read that you’re enjoying your time in Darwin. Good on your agency for embracing and assisting you with your move up here. It was so great to see Verity. Pop into Drybar Darwin to say hi if you’re in the ‘city’.
Carly Govers (McCahon)
Drybar Darwin