Mining Family Matters reader Vicky spent Christmas on a mine site. The experience proved to be such a huge eye-opener that she thought she'd share her story (plus a couple of photos of the Christmas lunch provided). Here it is ...

We were invited to the mine site my partner works on over Christmas. The site is in the Pilbara – literally in the middle of nowhere – and I thought it would be a good idea to share the trip with others.

It was not quite like I’d imagined – no big party town, just lots of friendly, tired people.

It had the most beautiful landscapes when the sun was coming up or going down, it was red and hot like I would never have imagined. I have never seen so much red dust.

My partner works a 2/1 roster and has worked FIFO for nine months. I had lots of issues when he first started and mainly security concerns. I thought it would be one big party there, so it was really interesting to see and speak to the different people.

The employees and managers work, on average, 12-hour days, followed by an hour-long bus trip going to and from their work areas. Most of them go directly to their rooms when they arrive back to the village, while others go to the wet mess for drinks.

I found the wet mess area quite funny – they had just finished night shift and here they were having a few mid strength drinks and a laugh. There would not have been any more than 30 people doing this, out of probably a good 200 employees on site at the time. It was all very harmless.

There doesn’t seem to be a great deal of time for much more than working, eating, showering, doing your own washing (this is the only household chore people do) and sleeping. It is hot, very hot – I think it is like this most of the year.

When my partner first went there I thought that everyone would be doing everyone, but I don't think that would happen very often after visiting site. Most people had families at home that they were missing, some people worked with their partners and the odd few seemed to like the single lifestyle and being able to just drink and do what they want, which wasn't much.

I sat and stared at people and the way they interacted with each other, as I was so intrigued with life away from home for them.

I have a better understanding and more faith in knowing that the majority go to work and only work. It is hot, they work really long days or nights and there isn't really that many hours in between when you allow for sleep time.

My partner likes to sleep and isn't a big drinker, so now I know I'm one of the lucky ones and as much as I really miss him and the two weeks away seems to go forever, I have a little more comfort now in knowing how the site works.

I met some really nice people (both partners of workers and workers).

If you ever get the chance to visit your partner's site, make sure you go. It's a really good experience and gives you a better understanding of what their life is really like.

Note: unfortunately Mining Family Matters was not granted permission to name the company or the mine site - although Vicky would like to say thank you to both for a wonderful experience.