western australia

A blow for a small town

@JudyEv (382412)

Rockingham, Australia

January 18, 2024 9:23pm CST

We used to live in Ravensthorpe, a relatively isolated country town in the south-east of Western Australia. Over the decades, there has been sporadic mining in the area and the town has gone from boom to bust several times over. For the last few years, it has prospered from a big nickel mine and the workers that are employed there. Now, the company is saying that it is putting off 1,000 workers. While many of these are FIFO workers (fly in, fly out), many others have made their homes there. The mine is only half and hour’s drive to Hopetoun, a very popular beach town. With so many families leaving any town, there is a huge impact on schools and local businesses. I imagine the townsfolk are reeling a bit from this news. The photo is of the Ravensthorpe Hotel, typical of our West Australian country pubs.

21 people like this

22 responses

@shaggin (74987)

• United States

19 Jan 24

It’s sad that business has gotten so bad there. The poor people who will now have to find a new job.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Jan 24

There isn't much work available down that way so I think many would look at moving.

2 people like this

@shaggin (74987)

• United States

19 Jan 24

@JudyEv that has to be really hard to have to up and do without having planned it in advance

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

20 Jan 24

@shaggin True and all the problems of finding somewhere to live, finding new schools, new doctors, etc.

1 person likes this

Vicki, #1 Creek Girl

@1creekgirl (44560)

• United States

19 Jan 24

That's terrible for all those families.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Jan 24

It's very sad. Mining is a risky business these days.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (502729)

• Italy

19 Jan 24

I love this photo, this is exactly the kind of architecture that I liked, NOT the actual shoe boxes buildings. I am very sorry that the mine company is putting off 1,000 workers. This is a lot for a small town.

2 people like this

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@LadyDuck (502729)

• Italy

20 Jan 24

@JudyEv I loved that style.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

20 Jan 24

Many of our country hotels seem to be built on corners and in a similar style to this one.

1 person likes this

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@noni1959 (13058)

• United States

19 Jan 24

That's so sad. I hope the town can find a way to survive. It will be a ghost town if not.

2 people like this

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@noni1959 (13058)

• United States

23 Jan 24

@JudyEv That is so sad. It would be a nice retirement type town for those able to stock up and not have to travel too much.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Jan 24

It's been through hard times before but it may end up with a lot of empty houses and no-one to live in them.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

31 Jan 24

@noni1959 They have a grocery store, a doctor and hospital but for anything other than routine medical stuff, you'd need to travel at least a couple of hours.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (323168)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

19 Jan 24

I'm sorry the mine is putting off so many workers. I'm sure it will have a huge impact on the area.

2 people like this

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (323168)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

20 Jan 24

@JudyEv I'm sure they are.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

20 Jan 24

It's a great shame indeed. People must be devastated.

1 person likes this

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@Beestring (15372)

• Hong Kong

19 Jan 24

Sorry the workers have to find a new home.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Jan 24

It will impact heavily on the town.

2 people like this

@GardenGerty (169534)

• United States

20 Jan 24

That sounds very discouraging for the entire town.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

20 Jan 24

Those who have lived their whole lives there must be sighing and thinking 'here we go again'.

@ptrikha_2 (49775)

• India

22 Jan 24

Such is the state of affairs where a lot of things are under private control. This is not to say that Government owned enterprises prive great in every place but such job cuts, apart from Financial distress also impacts families - mentally and psychologically. I hope that the impacted people get alternative livelihood means quickly. Is the Aussie Government supporting the workers in some way?

1 person likes this

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@ptrikha_2 (49775)

• India

22 Jan 24

@JudyEv Perhaps their Provident Fund money can help but it is often not enough for more than a few months.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

22 Jan 24

There are 'unemployment benefits' in place and various pensions - elderly, disability, carers pensions. I don't know that these particular workers will be specifically helped.

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@allknowing (153529)

• India

20 Jan 24

Laying off is common everywhere I just heard Amazon is doing it

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

20 Jan 24

Yes, it seems to be the case.

1 person likes this

@rebelann (117264)

• El Paso, Texas

20 Jan 24

Those kinds of events always cause trouble for smaller towns unless they have some other means of support.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

21 Jan 24

Yes, that's very true. Workwise there isn't much else down there.

1 person likes this

@RebeccasFarm (91297)

• United States

1 Feb 24

What a dang shame Judy.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

2 Feb 24

That poor town has seen so many changes of fortune. It's gone up and down numerous times.

1 person likes this

@jstory07 (148764)

• Roseburg, Oregon

19 Jan 24

That is sad those people will have to find new homes.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Jan 24

Yes, they might have to move to find work.

1 person likes this

@Juliaacv (56358)

• Canada

19 Jan 24

I feel for the people of that town, and the shop keepers who will be affected with less people coming through their doors. My hubby commuted 20 minutes every day to another town for a job. The year that his company opened so did 5 other companies, and there were alot of people coming and going daily for their jobs in that town, of Tilbury. Some moved their families to that town, some just commuted as my hubby did, but in the end his was the last of all of those companies to close, and the third in that calendar year.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Jan 24

Businesses seem to be very volatile these days. People have to make really hard decisions sometimes.

2 people like this

@porwest (112890)

• United States

19 Jan 24

Sad about the job losses but of course, that's just a fact of life. Jobs are never guaranteed, and people should not treat them as such, although many people unfortunately do. Beautiful building.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

20 Jan 24

The mining industry in particular is very volatile at the moment. Our old country towns have some lovely buildings.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

21 Jan 24

@porwest Don't forget to come to the west. It's the best. (See what I did there?)

1 person likes this

@porwest (112890)

• United States

20 Jan 24

@JudyEv Australia continues to be a place high on my list of places to one day visit.

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@snowy22315 (209108)

• United States

19 Jan 24

In my hometown all the major manufacturing plants have shut down over the years. They have done some adapting..but have also lost slot of population.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

20 Jan 24

Things don't stay the same for long, do they? Not where business is concerned.

changjiangzhibin89

@changjiangzhibin89 (17243)

• China

19 Jan 24

It looks like a pricey hotel ! Sadly so many people lost their job !

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

20 Jan 24

With so many people leaving the town, the hotel in particular will be impacted as miners usually like their drink.

1 person likes this

Anne Marie Guyer

@LeaPea2417 (40052)

• Toccoa, Georgia

19 Jan 24

That's very sad. I am saddened for the people who have to find new jobs.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

20 Jan 24

Some will find it very difficult. It is indeed sad.

1 person likes this

@wolfgirl569 (135944)

• Marion, Ohio

19 Jan 24

Sad that many are losing jobs

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

20 Jan 24

I am glad we are retired and no longer have this type of worry.

1 person likes this

@RasmaSandra (98072)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

19 Jan 24

That is a lot of workers with no jobs, Bad situation since it will probably be difficult for these people to find jobs unless they move elsewhere,

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

20 Jan 24

And moving elsewhere brings more problems like finding a house, new school, doctor, etc.

1 person likes this

@LindaOHio (222728)

• United States

19 Jan 24

Many people will probably have to move. That's sad.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

20 Jan 24

There will be a lot of empty houses but accommodation is hard to find in the cities.

1 person likes this