CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
Local Irish national, Niamh Beochaoineadh (22) says she really can’t imagine any other scenario in the universe where she would be able to tell you who Mick Molloy is.
She also can’t imagine a world where P!nk tours every year, and is rotated on every single major FM radio station.
But here she is, working the lollipop outside a residential construction job in Betoota’s Flight Path District.
Niamh is just one of the thousands of Irish backpackers and permanent residents who make up the Australian lollipop-sign sector, no one really knows how these woman came to dominate the industry but the last five years has seen the industry experience a sharp increase of interest from motorists.
While she wishes she was allowed to wear headphones, Niamh says she’s been reprimanded several times for the safety hazard that could be caused by a stop-go traffic controller who isn’t exposed to the absolute to dribble coming from the Bulldogs supporters laying the slab one metre away from her.
It’s because of the Australian obsession with OH&S that Niamh now knows every radio station in Betoota’s format.
Namely Triple M – which appears to be the number one favourite for all the Ice Break warriors she’s working with on this current job.
“Umona Trepple Um Siyett Nowa” says Niamh.
“Ar Noo Evry Fooken Woord Tew Thut Jummy Buhnes Shite”
While Niamh says she initially couldn’t understand why such an iconic Australian rock ballad was sung by a man with a visibly Scottish twang, she ended up just assuming that the lead singer of Cold Chisel was probably in a similar situation to hers back when he wrote it.
After just one week she has completely memorised the lyrics to Khe Sanh, Cheap Wine and Flame Trees.
“Thaay Fooken Lurve Bun Juvi Tew” she says.
