Spring 2003.
'Discover the real Australia' is now Colin Statham's motto since retiring 12 years ago.

"I'm a 68-year-old who has not looked back since retiring from the NSW railways" Colin said. "I guess the urge to explore has been in my blood from a young age. The map of Australia that I mark all my journeys on is now covered in a crisscross line of red dots.

"I started WWOOFing as a host and a traveller 12 years ago. I must have stayed with more than 300 hosts by now; spread far and wide from coast to coast, as each year I travel on average to about 30 places, in the space of four months. I do this on the pension, using my rail pass when possible."

What is WWOOF?
"My travels are made possible due to the remarkable WWOOF organisation, a non-profit venture that exists in many countries around the world," he said. "It's been going for many years, enabling people of all ages to travel. Not just on the cheap, although that is a big plus. WWOOFing is about meeting people and becoming one of the family while you lend a hand with chores and odd jobs.

"The letters "WWOOF" are the initials of Willing Workers On Organic Farms, but not every WWOOFing experience takes place on farms. Like me, I'm a host and I live on a yacht. In return for help typing my autobiography, I offer a few nights board and sailing in lovely Moreton Bay just north of the Gold Coast," he said.

Win-win situation
"How would you like to be able to have a free home-stay at any of the 1700 host members of WWOOF Australia," Colin said. "Anyone who wants to travel, and do a little work along the way, can stay at any of these hosts and get good food, accommodation, and good old country hospitality, with tips on local attractions you would not get from a travel agent. The host, in turn, gets help to finish all those odd jobs, which they were putting off until they could find more than 24 hours in a day!

"Work varies according to the individual, and everyone has some talent or skill that will be useful. You can do mulching, tree planting, fencing, painting, computer work and childminding. In the process you'll learn about organic farming practices."

Memorable holidays
"One of my favourite spots was the beautiful old homestead called Bedervale, near Canberra," Colin said. "It was being restored to its former glory and if you visit you can admire the fresh paint that I applied! I also had a great time restoring the old gaol that's now a budget accommodation lodge in Mt Gambier. This isn't work to me. It's satisfying and fun being part of a group of international travellers who help fix up buildings and farms.

"Most WWOOFers are young backpackers because it's been mainly promoted to them. I think more retirees like myself might want to get into it if they knew about it. To date we have relied on word of mouth, and a few articles in backpacker guides and alternative magazines such as Earth Garden, in which I write a regular column," he said.

How to join
"It costs just $50 to get involved as a traveller, or to register as a host in Australia. These annual fees include your liability insurance cover. If you have an urge to head overseas, don't forget you can do WWOOFing in countries such as the UK, NZ and Canada," Colin said.

"WWOOF has diversified into WWOOF/ ACE (Australian Cultural Experience), so if you don't have a farm you can still join. Hosts are listed in a directory that gets updated. I'm the only one in the book that has a yacht for a farm, so I come under the cultural side. If I'm not tying travellers in knots with my rope tricks, I'm tying them in knots of laughter with my Aussie sayings and attempts to teach them Aussie strine," Colin said.

International friendships
Some of the girls and guys who come to stay become like Colin's family. "They send letters and postcards from back home, and then in a year or so, another letter arrives to say they want to come back. One of my favourite travellers is a young Austrian woman. During her trip around Australia she'd suffered a bad back injury. She was without friends and low on money. Well she had a great time sailing around the islands and her health and morale quickly improved. She came back a year later with two of her friends, and it was a very happy reunion," Colin said.

"I am like a shark, I must move to stay alive, and WWOOF has given me the impetus, the physical work, mental stimulation, and contact with like-minded people, to keep me on track, and in touch with the earth. I would meet at least 1000 people a year, imagine that! My life's been enriched through characters I've met, and the laughs we've shared. If you're a 'restless retiree' like me, give WWOOFing a go to see the real Australia and meet some great people."

Cost to join:
Individual annual membership - $50;
Couples annual membership: $60.

WWOOF directories are published every six months.

Length of placement:
The average stay is five to seven days but some hosts offer longer stays.

Number of hosts:
1700 in Australia

The experience:
Five hours a day of farm work using organic methods and/or odd jobs, in return for food and board

WWOOF Australia Buchan, VIC 3885.
Tel: (03) 5155 0218;
Email: wwoof@wwoof.com.au

Website: www.wwoof.com.au