Jason Watkins
Age: 37
Home town: Scone, NSW
WORKING on a cattle station is far more luxurious than it once was, according to Manbulloo's head stockman Jason Watkins.
He started out as a ringer on the Barkly Tableland at 23 years of age.
"It was pretty good. It was pretty hard, though - harder than it is now," Mr Watkins said, slowly drawing out his words in that typical Territorian way.
Plush living quarters with hot water and mandatory days off after extended periods of work "was never heard of" back when he first started.
"You pretty much had lunch while you were running," Mr Watkins said.
"You'd grab a sandwich, some bully beef and hoe it down while you were working in the yards.
"But now we pull up."
Not that he is complaining.
This is his sixth year as a head stockman and his first with Manbulloo.
When asked what he enjoyed most about working in the Top End, Mr Watkins summed it up quite simply.
"I just like riding horses and chasing cows, I suppose - you should just do what you like doing."
