When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Sewing
Sydney Morning Herald
Wednesday January 22, 1992
Delivering pizzas, driving taxis, washing dishes or car windows, cleaning houses, baby-sitting or gardening - whatever the job, in a recession, there are people out there willing to have a go.
Enterprising or desperate, they are doing work they may once have sneered at.
Hamish Thompson, 22, once worked as a well-paid clerk at the stock exchange, but now cobbles together a living from bar work, demonstrating kitchen equipment and managing a band.
Three years ago he found work at the stock exchange slowing down, so he decided to take the risk and travel, and let the future take care of itself.
But the days of going adventuring and being certain of a job on return are over.
"I have had friends doing the traditional Australian overseas jaunt, come back and find themselves completely stuck," he says. "There isn't the opportunity there was before."
His reference from the stock exchange read: "Hamish performed his duties in a most efficient, professional and courteous manner ... His maturity, strength of character and honest nature will stand him in good stead."
None of this did him much good.
Returning to Sydney in November 1990, he found that getting by in a recession required more than personality and willingness.
"You are up against so much competition that unless you are in early and you are lucky you don't really stand even the chance of an interview," he said.
"Without the opportunity to prove yourself to prospective employers by going to an interview, you have no chance of a job.
"I found you really had to work to find employment. You can't sit back and look through the jobs in the paper. You have to go around to all the different places and put your name down.
"I have only got my jobs through persistence."
Broke, his first venture back in 1990 was to make shoulder bags with a friend. They bought a sewing machine and material, and sold the bags, mainly through word of mouth, for $20 each.
But the work was tedious. Hamish was glad to see the end of it and moved behind the bar for three months at the Native Rose in Chippendale.
"It's a good pub. Overall, I generally enjoyed working there, although it could be a bit quiet at times," he said.
Now he is working several days a week demonstrating kitchen appliances and showing people how to cook with modern equipment at Bamix in Centrepoint.
Toasters, blenders, graters, slicers, he can show you them all.
"There is a lot of social interaction," he says. "There are things I would prefer to be doing at times but on the whole it is painless."
At the same time, he is managing a dance band called Space, which have just released its debut single, Statement of Intent.
This basically involves a lot of ringing around to find work for the band.
"I really enjoy it," he says. "It is a hobby as well as work. It is something I can achieve at.
"It is not terribly lucrative but it does produce some income and is another string to my bow."
And he also does some photographic work, mainly of bands, although he says he probably spends as much as he makes.
"In normal times I would probably have more career-oriented jobs, rather than piecing things together to make a living.
"By doing all the bits and pieces, I hope a career will eventually come together."
The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics labour force survey shows full-time employment in NSW was down 3.2 per cent for December, while part-time employment was up 1.8 per cent.
© 1992 Sydney Morning Herald