Chief I can see where you are coming from. I met a heavy duty plant mech 3rd year apprentice who was on 75k a year with TAFE and 2 weeks extra training a year paid for by the company.
Last year I was working with a Radio LAME in his late 70's who had problems some days remembering his license number.
Piggy how about a job , Would love to work a month on and month off ;-)