Before moving to Australia, I was working in China as a video director on documentaries and reality shows. I wanted to experience something different, and chose to come to Australia. I started my journey in Queensland doing farm work, then moved into hospitality roles in the Whitsundays and later worked for a winery in South Australia.
I heard about Journey Beyond Rail from a friend who worked for the company, I applied and got the role as a Hospitality Attendant on the trains. I feel like all the jobs I had experienced in Australia prepared me to work on the trains – from what I learned about local produce during farm work, to knowledge about wine varietals while working at the winery, and all of my hospitality jobs in between.
Working on the trains was always busy but incredibly fun, there was something new to look forward to on every trip. My favourite train route is the Great Southern as it travels through four states and the view along the way is so varied. The off-train excursions are amazing and I had the opportunity to visit places that I wouldn’t on my own like Tin City, Great Western, and Coffs Harbour.
One of my favourite memories was the train journey I worked over Christmas, it was special in every way. We decorated the train for the guests, and when I woke up in the morning there was bag of chocolates on my door handle. One of the guests also gave me a handwritten card and a gift. The whole crew had Christmas lunch together and we did Secret Santa. It was the best Christmas I’ve had in Australia.
Although I’m a video director by background, I found that working on the trains really suited my personality. I am interested in people and their stories, and I loved interacting with guests. Working on the trains, we’re all there for the same goal – to provide the best service for the guests and creating lasting memories. In twenty years’ time, our guests may not remember me specifically, but they’ll remember the journey they had with us and look back on it fondly.
In 2021, I moved into the role of Content Producer in our head office. In this role, I produce videos that tell the stories of our people across the business, and I develop eLearning programs for staff. Having previously worked in a guest-facing role has been incredibly helpful as I have a good understanding of what of our teams need to be successful and what is important for them to know before starting out.
My advice for someone looking to work in the travel industry is be prepared for anything! Journey Beyond is such a unique business with a variety of different opportunities. Remember to always embrace the changes that may come your way and the chances they provide.
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