Sheep shearing is probably the most iconic activity in rural Australia. A back-breaking profession, there are few other industries where people burn more calories, and work up incredible appetites. These workers no doubt rely heavily on the hard working and talented shearer’s cooks to fill their bellies and provide fuel to keep them going, and satisfied.

Aileen Clarke (pictured above) is a well-known district local. For many years, she has been a shearer’s cook in the region. She vastly enjoys her work, even though the days are long.

“We get up at 5 am, sometimes earlier,” she said. “I will immediately begin preparing breakfast, often sausages, spaghetti, bacon and eggs, for 15 people.

“Sometimes I have cooked for as many as 27 people. “Shearing is an intense job, so they eat every two hours. “Morning tea will be mini quiches, or toasted sandwiches, or sausage rolls.

“Lunchtime can be a range of meals including chicken or lasagne with salad. Afternoon tea will be sandwiches, watermelon, oranges, and homemade slices, cakes or biscuits.

“Dinner will be pork or mutton with vegetables.”

Aileen’s working day concludes at 8pm. She tries to work right through a shearing run, with one day off.

“It is great work, and I love what I do,” she said. “It can be tiring, and when I get home there will be days where I will sleep all day, and just rest.”

She has been a shearer’s cook for more than 20 years, and also does roustabout work. Aileen is currently into her sixth week of a shearing run. She works for various shearing companies, and has travelled to places such as Tilpa and Louth. Sometimes shearing runs can last for up to two months.

“I love doing what I do; you meet so many different, and lovely people, and see places I might otherwise never see,” Aileen said.

An experienced cook such as Aileen doesn’t need to make meal plans or follow recipes. She mixes up the meals day to day to ensure variety, and has good preparations and items in the freezer to grab and go.

“I like to keep it interesting, and changing it up so it doesn’t get boring,” she said.

She loves the lifestyle, and says she will still be in this line of work for a long time to come.

“Wherever there’s work, I will be there,” she said with a smile. When she is at home, Aileen loves relaxing, looking after her grandchildren and enjoying life. Friendly, happy and well-known about the district, many shearing teams and farm operations would just not be the same without institutions like Aileen.