Working FIFO (Fly-In, Fly-Out) is a vocation choice that not all are familiar with. It is a particularly Western Australian thing, with the northwest of our state being rich in minerals, and residential infrastructure sparse, it became a standard solution for mining companies keen to expand their human resource pools last century. A myriad of pencil-tied city recruiters would offer terms and conditions such as: ‘Your family can stay in the city while we fly you up to work, house you in prefabricated accommodations, feed you, and fly you home for your r&r.’
Sounds grouse, many young tradies and operators responded last century. How long will we be away for?
‘How does twelve weeks sound?’
WHAT? How long will I be home?
‘A week should do you, huh?’ the recruiters would smirk.
Are you insane?
‘Did I mention the hourly rate?’ they’d say, slipping a three-digit number under a hungry nose.
Seeya Marge, look after the kids, those tradies would then kiss-kiss their families and head outback into the Wild West for months, returning to neglected households with fat pockets and an uncanny ability to reverse into parking spots for the remainder of their shortened lives.
(Apparently. At least, that was my own observation at the time.)
Nowadays work-life balance incentives, driven by horrendous divorce statistics resulting from those early unbalanced options of last century, have somewhat tamed the Wild West.
FIFO: 2 weeks on, 1 week off. 2 on, 2 off. 4&4. Or, the ultimate: 7&7 (days).
Camp accommodations with pools, gyms, golf facilities, Michelin star chefs.
Big money, happy families, happy lives – living the dream!
Ray had written a short story that we only recently came across, from back when he first took the FIFO bait and headed north in the mid 00’s, A Story to Pass Time by Ray Kehlet. “Tomorrow I board a plane to start the fight to get our dreams,” is a line in the opening paragraphs. Later it continues: “You see we have a dream, to make the banks happy at our expense. A dream to have that little place of dirt to call our very own. To have our sheep, cows, chooks and geese,” which suggests the context of Ray and Jennie’s journey in the years thereafter.
He had accepted a loader operator gig at West Angelas, after their rural agricultural services business failed to lay the golden goose egg. To say he hated that first FIFO role would be the understatement of the 21st century, and he was on a respectable 2&1 roster... I won’t share more of that story, because to be honest I needed an eye-bleaching and strong whiskey to sanitise myself after reading it. Although, it was well written. Suffice to say, he missed Jennie. . . immensely.
Later in the 00’s, Ray moved to Cloudbreak mine in the Pilbara, and a few years afterward he and Jennie managed to secure the ultimate FIFO work-life balance solution, both working the same roster – two weeks working away together, one week at home on their rural property, for those remaining many years.
Living the dream, until March 2015.
From the coroner’s findings, para. 37:
Ray and Jennie both worked for Fortescue Metals Group (FMG), with Ray starting in 2009 and Jennie starting in 2012. They worked together at FMG’s Cloudbreak mine site. Ray worked as a plant operator, and also did some stand-in work as a supervisor. Jennie worked as a dump truck operator. Within the work setting they were also described as always being together, and seeming happy there.
The following messages were received from workmates of Ray and Jennie’s, some sent two or three years back, others very recent. They are shared anonymously and in no particular order. I have omitted parts when people have made comments about the third party in Ray and Jennie’s fateful prospecting trip, suffice to say that my and these workmates' feelings are mutual.
I hope that you will glean from these messages what everyone who knew Ray and Jen feel about their love, their lives and their loss.
Hi mate,
I was a good friend of Ray and Jens, I worked with them at Cloudbreak for a fair while and used to pop up to Beverley to see them every couple breaks.
I was just stepping off the dump trucks at CB, Supervisor asked who wants to train me and everyone put their head down, Ray chimed in and said he will teach me.
That was the best thing that could have ever happened to me honestly mate, along with training me on a dozer along the way he taught me so much great life advice about absolutely everything, from farming, mining, women advice I was having at the time.
I’m so greatful the time that he gave me.
G'day Dave. Quick introduction. My name is [...]. I helped train Jenny when she first started at Cloudbreak. Amazing lady. So much fun. I also knew Ray but didn't work so closely with him. Lovely people. Very sad story.
Here's a quick anecdote. Absolutely loved training Jen. Can't remember exactly where it started but I nicknamed her Boosh. Out of the blue, almost daily, I'd get a side bump from Jen. Be it lunch time, waiting for the bus before work, the mess. Always made me laugh and made me feel better about the mining gig. Definitely made a dull day brighter seeing her smiling face.
Take 'er steady mate.
I myself am a mining supervisor now for [another mining giant]. I use a lot of things that Ray taught me. Ray was very reserved at work, but as my room was just down from him and Jen’s I used to just sit on their step with them and talk about everything. Jennie was the mother of our crew, honestly she was so caring and loving and had so much time to give to everyone.
I’m so grateful for knowing both of them.
Hi Dave…I worked with Ray and Jenny at Cloudbreak…they were one of the nicest people I’ve met mining.
Ray…Razor, I’m sure we called him that…always had a smile…quiet always had time to say hello.
Jenny…she was gorgeous…just like Ray friendly and always smiling.
They looked so happy together.
I was reading your story this morning…it was hard to put it down….I’m on night shift at a new mine…..I had to stop reading, will finish it tomorrow
While reading…I could see everything you wrote….I felt for poor Ella…I couldn’t believe how many people were so close to the scene…
I can still see Ray and Jenny at Cloudbreak…smiling…
Ray and Jenny are meant to be together…
If I could help…. I’ll let you know
I will always remember my friends Ray and Jenny
Hello
I’m sorry to disturb you. Are you Ray Kehlet’s brother?
I worked with them at fmg ..I loved Jen & we were getting close when they went missing
Jen is/was such a beautiful soul she would change the vibe of any room she walked into.. I was looking forward to us becoming great friends & was deflated this happened to them..they were so great together
Ray was very quiet & a nice guy
All I knew was they were going prospecting, I think it was their month off.. I didn't realise they even knew [...] until it all came out.
All I want is to find Jen and reunite her with Ray.. he is too beautiful to be lost.
Everyone of us who worked with [Ray and Jennie] saw the love they had.
Hey mate just watched murder in the goldfields
Your book is so much more detailed and I really hope they bring someone to justice!
I worked day in and day out with Ray and Jen at Cloudbreak on the same crew for years
Even had a smoke and chat with them at smoko a few days before they went on there r&r to go on this trip
I hope one day the case is solved
They were such beautiful people
And I really appreciate your enthusiasm and writing mate
I have one memory but about Ray, one night we were kicking the footy in oval at CB,
It had just been raining and Ray and Jen were waking back to their room. Someone kicked the ball towards Ray, he ran and marked it, went to kick it (wearing work boots) slipped and fell flat on his back😂
Got up and walked it off, “nah fellas I’m all good” haha
Was an amazing man, had all the time in the world for anyone, him and Jen, and I really do miss them.
Hello Dave. I’d just like to share with you this photo.
It was taken the swing before Jenny and Ray went on their camping trip they never returned from.
Jenny and I were sitting outside a rec room having a dart and a coffee as we often did before heading off to work.
I had recently started seeing my now second wife and was totally in love, and upon seeing these two lovebirds, Jenny said they reminded me of her and Ray. Always by each other side, and having each others back. It gave me hope that in my new relationship I’d be like her and Ray, and these two.
Whenever this photo shows up in my memories, or scrolls across my computer screen, it saddens me no end to think Jenny isn’t with the love of her life.
To Dad and Jen’s workmates I am certain that you all meant as much to them as they did to you 🧡
That last one 😭😭😭