Connecting Every Australian
Monday, 28 November 2011
For around 10 Activ8me installers scattered through the Top End it is a race against Mother Nature to get our specialised satellite dish phones installed in Indigenous communities with less than 50 persons, before the wet season kicks into gear in Far North Queensland and N.T.
Out braving the heat and the elements they are working hard to get the job done. A typical work day starts at around 6am and goes flat out until 6pm only breaking for water and a quick lunch. They push themselves to try and get a phone installed and running in 2 days and then it is off to another site to start all over again. It can sometimes take a few days of driving to get to the next installation site, driving for 10 hours a day then pulling over on the side of the road and sleeping under the stars or at a motor inn on the middle of one of Australia’s never ending highways.
Traveling such great distances though the outback our installers get to see some things many Australians will never get to see in their lifetime. Whether it be the majesty of the Gulf of Carpentaria close-up, the might of the rivers in full flight or being able to camp in Australia’s most remote and beautiful national parks, they see it all. Some of the luckier jobs include installing the phones on islands off the mainland with beautiful crystal blue waters, white sand and some of the best fishing in the world. It is a just reward for working so hard.
Installer Hitesh enjoying some fishing on a much deserved break at the end of the job.
Some stories do venture back to the office with the installers. One of the favorites is how a wild donkey stole a wrench from the back of one of the trucks and an installer had to chase the donkey on foot and pry the wrench back out of its mouth (this story may have been be slightly embellished for a good yarn). After successfully retrieving the wrench the donkey then decided to follow suit and started chasing the installer around to get some revenge.
The Activ8me-designed phones help communities keep in contact with the outside world and help break down the isolation barrier experienced by those living in such remote locations. There is no mobile coverage and land lines are non-existent so these solar powered satellite public phones are a very welcome addition to the Indigenous communities. There are over 180 satellite phones installed throughout Australia with about 300 in total scheduled to be installed by mid 2013.
Installers Hitesh and Tony happy to nearly be finished with the install.
Other articles in this section: