"Outback Opal Hunters" Episode #4.4

1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:02,599 . 2 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:05,719 On Outback Opal Hunters... I'm going to go on an angle run. 3 00:00:06,560 --> 00:00:10,799 ..unstable ground almost costs the Boulder Boys... 4 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:14,799 You've got to be careful. ..their $60,000 excavator. 5 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:20,359 The McFarlanes... Looks like there's some nasty weather coming in. 6 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:24,559 ..race a storm. If the rain comes, it'll shut me down. 7 00:00:26,080 --> 00:00:30,079 And the family ties of the Tunnel Rats... It's throwing money out the window. 8 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:32,159 It's me off. 9 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:35,639 ..are torn apart. 10 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:39,599 He was just getting more aggressive and more sarky. Get out of my camp. 11 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:45,319 # Money 12 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:50,559 # And fancy clothes # 13 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:58,074 14 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:04,039 In the harsh 34C degree heat of Central Queensland... 15 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:16,479 ..Boulder Boys Aaron Grotjahn and Ron Sellick... 16 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:20,319 ..are battling to get their crippled excavator to the main pit 17 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:26,599 on their Dragonfly claim, where last year they found over $100,000 of opal. 18 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:32,639 Ho, ho, ho! Look at that! 19 00:01:33,960 --> 00:01:36,639 We've decided to go up to the pit and attack that. 20 00:01:37,960 --> 00:01:41,079 So far this year, it's been out of reach, 21 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:43,279 flooded by summer storms, 22 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:48,159 but with the pit finally dry, Aaron and partner Ron 23 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:54,679 have just a few short months before monsoon rains sweeping down from the north flood it again. 24 00:01:55,320 --> 00:01:58,359 I'm finding already a bit of potchen colour. 25 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:02,759 It's a sign. It's a bloody good sign! 26 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:05,319 See? Look, we've got sandstone here, too, Ron. 27 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:10,639 With 1,200 litres of diesel, we've got a good chance of getting opal with what we've got. 28 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:13,439 'We're just gonna start up top and work our way into it.' 29 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:18,839 Trouble is, Aaron's 40-year-old Kato excavator is not up to the job. 30 00:02:18,920 --> 00:02:20,959 Limps around on one track... 31 00:02:22,640 --> 00:02:26,559 ..and you saw the thing it does when it's on one track going up the hill. 32 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:30,879 And going down is dangerous, too. 33 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:36,759 With just one working track, taking the excavator into the pit is too risky. 34 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:39,959 It could get stuck or even roll. 35 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:42,119 Poor old girl! Yeah... 36 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:47,399 Before they can tackle the pit, they need to repair the excavator's broken track. 37 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:51,599 That's the part that's stripped, there's the gears that's stripped. 38 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:53,839 The cog's stripped in that final draw. 39 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:57,239 Pull this one out, put the new one back in 40 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:00,799 and fill her up with oil and we'll get going. 41 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:05,559 It will fit. It won't. 42 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:11,639 I reckon that's bigger than that. 43 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:14,279 Well, we got some parts, but they didn't fit. 44 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:17,999 Yeah, we'll just have to bodge it, Ron. What are you gonna do, weld it? 45 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:21,479 No... See how long it lasts. 46 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:28,519 If we do a good job, we could last a while. 47 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:31,479 Let's see what we've got. 48 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:41,879 Too late. 49 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:46,759 Walk away from the smoke. Might as well do a Rubik's cube 50 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:51,119 We've tried to fix the Kato. We're not getting a win. 51 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:55,199 There's deep ground out there and we can't do everything with this machine, 52 00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:58,759 so we're gonna ask Eric if we can borrow his machine, work out a percentage. 53 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:05,399 Neighbouring miner Eric Hume owns a modern 35-ton excavator they've borrowed before. 54 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:08,719 Hi, Eric. How are you? 55 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:11,839 It's your mates from down the road again. 56 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,319 Wonder if we could borrow your machine. 57 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:19,559 All right, mate, see in about ten. Thanks, Eric. Thank you. Bye. 58 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:23,279 He's on his way. Oh, good. 59 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:25,719 I hate asking all the time, but with a bit of luck 60 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:30,079 we'll get stuff sorted out a bit better, eh? Maybe get a bit better excavator. 61 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:35,119 A former coal miner, Eric switched to mining opal 12 years ago. 62 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:38,439 How are you, Eric? Hey! Good. All right! 63 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:43,719 We're on the board again. Are you? Haven't you got it fixed up properly yet? 64 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:46,839 We've had a lot of troubles with it. Aah, OK. 65 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:51,599 Aaron and Ron will have to give up part of their profits in return for Eric's machine. 66 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:54,639 Erm, we'll work out a percentage. 67 00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:58,599 A-ha! What's the percentage? Well, we'd better get this sorted out first. 68 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:03,239 Well, 25%. What? 25? 69 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:07,199 You boys can do better than that! 70 00:05:07,280 --> 00:05:10,759 We wouldn't without it. Yeah, all right. Well, Ron 20... 71 00:05:10,840 --> 00:05:15,079 Yeah. I get 40 and you get 40. All right. That's a deal. 72 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:18,599 Yeah, and you supply the fuel. I'll get the fuel. 73 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:21,519 And when it comes back, I want a full tank of fuel. Yeah. 74 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:27,079 Three kilometres northwest is Eric's mine and excavator. 75 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:30,559 Eric's lent us his machine. We're gonna take it up the top 76 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:32,639 and try and find and find some opal. 77 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:35,879 She talks to you, this machine. 78 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:44,239 AUTOMATED VOICE: "Turn the machine on." 79 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:47,519 Engine is running. Dig, dig, dig. 80 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:53,639 Now it's a long, slow, cross-country crawl 81 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:57,879 at a top speed of just five kilometres per hour. 82 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:03,759 Get there in another hour or so and we'll start digging. 83 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:18,199 Oi! Oil leak! 84 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:20,959 Oil leak, Ron! 85 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:25,359 What a spray! Where did that come from? 86 00:06:29,280 --> 00:06:31,279 Oh, mate... 87 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:41,399 900 kilometres southeast, in Lightning Ridge... 88 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:45,959 Holy Dooley! This is worse than I can remember. 89 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:52,559 Looks like there's some nasty weather coming in. Maybe get serious about this roof, eh? 90 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:58,159 Gavan and Connie McFarlane are surveying the leaking roof of their ageing shack. 91 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:03,279 Some of the sheets - the screws are going. They lifted. 92 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:06,959 The weather has been getting through the roof. The amount of drops 93 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:09,599 that are actually coming through is a bit hellish. 94 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:12,519 Get off the roof, Dad! 95 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:17,639 It's like a mercy dash, I guess, for me, to try and get this roof sorted out. 96 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:26,039 The McFarlanes are a family of underground miners chasing premium black opal. 97 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:30,959 We want the good stones - the stones that produce the black with the colour. 98 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:33,039 Red on black is the ultimate opal. 99 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:36,719 My palms are getting itchy. I was hoping that's money coming! 100 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:45,279 So far this season, they've only found small trace opal. 101 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:50,679 This is one of those businesses you're not always guaranteed a pay at the end of the week. 102 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:54,439 You don't want to give up. You go six inches a foot and...bang! 103 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:56,799 You know, it's there. 104 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:02,999 With a target of $20,000, getting a payday is becoming urgent, 105 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:06,959 but approaching rains now threaten their mining operation. 106 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:12,799 Just give me a little window of opportunity to try and get some money, 107 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:14,639 get some opal out of the ground. 108 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:17,919 How are you gonna go out mining when Pete's got to work this week? 109 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:22,439 You're not going down there on your own - seriously, I don't like it. It's not safe. 110 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:26,079 Gavan's regular mining partner Pete Driscoll is away 111 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:29,479 supplementing his opal income, working as a bus driver. 112 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:33,319 'She doesn't like me going mining by myself.' 113 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:37,239 The area around Gavan's claim is full of old mine workings 114 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:39,639 dating back to the 1920s. 115 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:42,679 Dangerous ground, prone to roof collapses. 116 00:08:43,920 --> 00:08:48,599 Most of the claims around me are all condemned now due to fall-ins, and all that... 117 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:52,119 and the older stuff - it crumbles. It falls. 118 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:55,839 We got a couple of friends. I'm gonna have to make some phone calls 119 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:58,199 and see if they're available to give me a hand 120 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:02,559 to get a couple of loads out from underground and a wash and a tailout 121 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:06,279 so we can get some... try and hopefully find some opal, make some money. 122 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:12,719 I need to move some dirt, buddy. 123 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:14,879 Awesome. Yeah. 124 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:19,639 Gavan's managed to wrangle two mates to help him down the mine. 125 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:23,879 I've got a bit of a game plan. 126 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:28,279 I'd like to get at least eight or ten loads out of that particular area. 127 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:32,519 Oh, great The pink one. This is for beginners 128 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:36,519 Paul Martin is visiting from Sydney 129 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:39,199 and normally works as a pawnbroker. 130 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:41,559 Again - safety, safety, safety, buddy, hm? 131 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:45,679 'Another set of eyes, so Tim and I can concentrate on the machinery.' 132 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:48,999 Tim Bryant is a Lightning Ridge local 133 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:51,239 with some underground experience. 134 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:54,839 He's a road-train driver and an excavator operator 135 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:57,759 and I know in the past he has mined, as well. 136 00:10:04,560 --> 00:10:06,999 All right, guys, this is it, eh? 137 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:10,239 I really need to get some dirt, more dirt moved out of here. 138 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:13,519 This is looking really promising over here. 139 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:16,799 Six metres underground, safety is paramount. 140 00:10:18,520 --> 00:10:21,559 See that there? Yeah. Just keep an eye on stuff like that. 141 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:25,679 In particular over here. It's only cos it's dry. 142 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:28,599 This claim hasn't been touched in ten-plus years. 143 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:32,199 The ultimate price anyone can pay you in this game is death. 144 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:36,599 'At the end of the day, no pretty rock or no amount of money is worth your life.' 145 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:39,159 The best thing to come out of the mine... 146 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:42,159 is the miner. Time to work, boys! 147 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:45,839 First job is to move the opal dirt 148 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:49,119 that Gavan and Pete have already dug out of the mine face 149 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:52,039 using a machine commonly known as a "bogger". 150 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:57,359 Got myself a bit of a happening, so give the digger a rest. 151 00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:00,759 Laid him into the... into the bogger, 152 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:03,399 bring him over and drop him into the hopper. 153 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:08,599 It goes up the hoist into the back of the truck. 154 00:11:08,680 --> 00:11:12,119 The dirt will be washed and checked for opal later. 155 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:16,559 That's our goal, that's our aim - to find the elusive black opal 156 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:18,679 with the gem-quality colours on top. 157 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:26,199 After three hours, most of the dirt has been cleared. 158 00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:29,359 Oh, where's that your pick? 159 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:31,439 Yeah. Here you go, Gav. 160 00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:34,959 And the mine face is showing promising signs. 161 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:38,239 I don't know if that's a nobby in the wall or if it's just mud. 162 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:41,439 This is really interesting for me. 163 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:51,279 Outside the isolated town of Mintabie, South Australia... 164 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:56,879 Hmm... That's interesting. I'm just testing the roof 165 00:11:56,960 --> 00:11:59,999 and I'm not liking what I see. 166 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:03,999 A potentially deadly crack has opened up 167 00:12:04,080 --> 00:12:06,359 in the ceiling of the Tunnel Rats' mine. 168 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:09,279 It has to go. Yep. It's too dangerous. 169 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:13,799 Yeah, there could be a good six, seven tons of rock there. 170 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:18,239 If that drops on you, you're dead. Not ifs, buts of maybes. You...you're dead. 171 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:22,799 Get rid of it. The Tunnel Rats' favoured mining technique 172 00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:26,319 is using homemade ammonium nitrate explosives. 173 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:29,039 Put some holes in there, blast it down. 174 00:12:31,320 --> 00:12:35,919 Put a couple of shots in there now and it'll deal with that, because it's very unsafe. 175 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:40,559 Busted it and... eliminate the issue. 176 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:44,759 Right-oh, go and make some noise! 177 00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:58,719 After striking it lucky eight weeks ago... 178 00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:03,719 WOMAN: Woo! Ho, ho, ho! That is what I call Mintabie opal! 179 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:06,039 Yes! Yes! 180 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:10,439 The Tunnel Rats - Bayden Pearse, his dad Rodney 181 00:13:10,520 --> 00:13:13,639 and Bayden's girlfriend Lise Grobe 182 00:13:13,720 --> 00:13:17,599 are chasing an elusive seam of opal through concrete-like sandstone. 183 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:22,639 We've still got a lot of potch but no opal, unfortunately. 184 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:26,799 Thin stuff over this side, but it's no good. 185 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:31,199 Times have been tough for the Tunnel Rats. 186 00:13:32,560 --> 00:13:35,399 It's caused a lot... a lot of stress on me, knowing 187 00:13:35,480 --> 00:13:38,479 that the end is coming very close for us. 188 00:13:38,760 --> 00:13:40,879 After nearly 100 years, 189 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:44,719 the world-famous 213-square-kilometre opal field 190 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:48,639 and the entire town of Mintabie will soon be closed 191 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:52,159 and the land handed back to traditional indigenous owners. 192 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:56,639 It's looking at all your hard work that you've been working for 193 00:13:56,720 --> 00:13:59,159 and getting that ripped away from you, knowing that, 194 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:01,719 "Hey, there's still opal in the wall, but sorry, mate, 195 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:04,199 you can't mine that any more. We're kicking you out." 196 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:07,639 I've got no words to express how angry I am about that. 197 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:14,039 Faced with eviction, the Tunnel Rats need $200,000. 198 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:18,599 Their home, belongings and all their mining equipment 199 00:14:18,680 --> 00:14:21,959 must be moved out of Mintabie in just two months' time. 200 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:27,519 Fail, and they'll be forced to abandon whatever's still on site. 201 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:33,319 Every day, I feel that we're running out of time. 202 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:40,239 Er...I've got an oil leak. 203 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:45,479 Erm, good drops of oil on the ground, a puddle underneath. 204 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:49,919 We really need to shift the dirt so we can find opal. 205 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:53,919 For the team, the Bobcat is essential. 206 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:56,519 I don't know what his problem is. 207 00:14:57,120 --> 00:15:00,159 With it out of action, they can't clear their mine 208 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:03,439 and they're opal hunt has ground to a halt. 209 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:18,559 1,500 kilometres away, at the McFarlanes' camp in Lightning Ridge... 210 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:22,919 If it rains, this becomes a pool and the tiles become slippery. 211 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:26,399 Connie McFarlane and daughter Tegan 212 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:29,719 are hoping that forecast winter storms stay away. 213 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:34,279 The roof in there, as you can see, is just...bad! 214 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:37,319 And you can see that we've had to replace the wall. 215 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:40,159 If it rains, we're all gonna get wet - the floor gets wet, 216 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:42,239 the furniture gets wet... 217 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:47,599 Six metres down the McFarlanes' crumbling old mine... 218 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:50,239 It's the sort of thing I look for. 219 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:53,919 If it's a nobby, I like to rescue it before it goes into the digger. 220 00:15:55,880 --> 00:15:59,079 You know, I think it's just mud. Yeah, it's just mud. 221 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:03,079 Gavan McFarlane is on the lookout for the prized black opal 222 00:16:03,160 --> 00:16:05,159 this field is famous for. 223 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:11,479 It's usually found in nobbies - small rocks scattered amongst the sandstone. 224 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:15,279 Until they wash the excavated dirt, 225 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:18,679 Gavan won't know whether it holds the elusive gem. 226 00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:21,359 With nobby country, it's not like seam. 227 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:23,719 Seam, you see it all the time. Nobbies... 228 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:26,839 Who knows what this dirt's holding in the way of nobbies, 229 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:29,639 but this is really interesting for me. 230 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:31,919 I'm getting a bit of a hurry-up with myself. 231 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:34,839 I really want to get my digger into that. 232 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:38,719 Once Gavan is up on there, we'll shift the digger into place. 233 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:41,519 You use your boom to move it. 234 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:44,559 So you put it where you want it to go 235 00:16:44,640 --> 00:16:47,719 and then you lift your forearms up, 236 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:51,039 let it back down on the wheels and bring your roof frame down. 237 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:53,839 That's it. That's good. 238 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:56,639 See, you should be able to pull yourself in there now. 239 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:00,879 The ram holding the one-ton digger 240 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:05,359 against the mine's dry, unstable ceiling needs to be set firmly. 241 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:11,639 'When the roof frame goes up on the digger, it can bring it down on you.' 242 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:17,519 Just watch the roof. 243 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:24,879 Buy me a nice bucket of gooseberries, team! 244 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:28,239 Got some red on black, there. 245 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:31,599 'We place the digger in the centre of the face and we dig 246 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:33,839 and we just keep removing dirt.' 247 00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:37,679 Where's the colour? 248 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:54,199 That's the roof, Tim! 249 00:17:56,440 --> 00:17:59,559 It's pushing it back. Whoa! 250 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:11,599 The Bobcat was leaking oil, so we tracked down the oil leak and fixed it. 251 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:15,079 The bleed-off hose from the hydraulic motors 252 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:17,799 just hadn't been done up quite tight enough. 253 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:21,519 Tensions have been high in the Tunnel Rats team. 254 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:23,679 Now, with the Bobcat working again, 255 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:26,759 their race to find opal can get back on track. 256 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:31,079 Bayden is just drilling our next set of holes 257 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:33,159 to set off another set of shots. 258 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:37,359 We've got, actually, one in mind which is about at Bayden's head height. 259 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:40,479 We just want to sort of keep tracking it to the right, 260 00:18:40,560 --> 00:18:43,679 because it tends to always give us a little bit on the right. 261 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:51,119 In just two months, Mintabie and their mine will be closed down for good. 262 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:54,519 Possibly drill some holes after that. All right. 263 00:18:54,600 --> 00:19:00,719 To speed up their operation, Bayden has enlisted 16-year-old family friend Setho Williams. 264 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:05,639 It is a bit of a hard time being, you know, close to the Mintabie closure. 265 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:12,239 You got a lot going on, so any kind of help you can give us, man, would be great. Yep, no worries. 266 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:14,719 Sweet as! Yep. We've got the Bobcat up and going, 267 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:18,079 so you can be the Bobcat man. OK. 268 00:19:37,280 --> 00:19:39,999 The Bobcat's running pretty bad at the moment. 269 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:42,519 The hydraulic oil's leaking out somewhere 270 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:45,839 and so the hydraulics don't have much pressure in them 271 00:19:45,920 --> 00:19:47,919 they're kind of a bit jittery. 272 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:50,679 Rodney's repair hasn't worked... 273 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:54,279 ..and son Bayden isn't impressed. 274 00:19:55,360 --> 00:19:57,439 I'm not liking what I see with that Bobcat. 275 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:02,799 There's a hole in a pipe somewhere, 276 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:05,759 leaking hydraulic oil like a sieve, 277 00:20:05,840 --> 00:20:08,919 so whatever leak we tried to fix didn't fix. 278 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:12,719 Utter waste of time. 279 00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:15,559 Sometimes, you've just got to take things to a mechanic. 280 00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:20,639 But the nearest Bobcat mechanic is over 1,000 kilometres away! 281 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:23,759 'I'll have to send it down to Adelaide.' 282 00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:26,839 It could take two weeks, but the way I see it is, 283 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:29,599 Dad has already fixed that three times. 284 00:20:30,360 --> 00:20:34,879 If I add all that up, that's nearly 14 days of working and breakdowns. 285 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:37,319 Yeah. And time. 286 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:40,479 It's throwing money out the window 287 00:20:40,560 --> 00:20:42,799 and it just...it me off. 288 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:53,439 Keep coming! Keep coming! 289 00:20:53,520 --> 00:20:56,159 After an oil leak... 290 00:20:57,560 --> 00:20:59,879 Oh, she's blown, all right! 291 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:07,559 ..Aaron and Ron have been forced to stop and fix their newly-borrowed excavator. 292 00:21:09,120 --> 00:21:12,679 These two hoses here...I'll just join them in line together 293 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:15,159 and then they can circulate and it'll be fine. 294 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:19,559 Hey, when you get in this, it tells you to find opal. 295 00:21:19,640 --> 00:21:23,119 "You go find opal. You go find opal. Treasure!" 296 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:26,839 Thankfully, not too much hydraulic oil's spewed out. 297 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:31,759 A quick fix, and they can start moving into the big pit 298 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:35,119 where their best chance of finding opal lies. 299 00:21:36,840 --> 00:21:39,319 We're just gonna start up top and work our way into it. 300 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:43,959 After rains destroyed the previous ramp, Aaron must build a new one 301 00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:46,639 down to where he last found good opal... 302 00:21:48,520 --> 00:21:53,439 ..using up to 1,000 bucketloads of earth - nearly 500 tons. 303 00:21:57,200 --> 00:22:02,519 After a tough start, this opal-hunting season has turned out well for Aaron. 304 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:06,599 Money's going all right at the moment, cos we found that parcel. 305 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:10,159 Whoa-ho! 306 00:22:10,360 --> 00:22:13,559 Paid all the bills and we got diesel money and we got food. 307 00:22:15,120 --> 00:22:20,719 My goal is to find enough opal to buy at least a D8 or D9 dozer. 308 00:22:22,040 --> 00:22:24,039 'You need $100,000 to do that. 309 00:22:25,120 --> 00:22:27,519 Not having a dozer slows you up a bit.' 310 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:30,239 You need the machinery to do the job. 311 00:22:31,240 --> 00:22:34,639 What you're trying to do right now is put a bit more filling here, 312 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:38,239 so that you can dig around to the bottom of the slip. 313 00:22:39,280 --> 00:22:43,359 Let's hope that he gets it high enough. I don't want to see him slip down. 314 00:22:45,840 --> 00:22:47,839 Whoa! 315 00:22:48,320 --> 00:22:50,319 Aaron knows how to be careful. 316 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:55,639 One side's still firm. The other side just feels like it's sliding sideways. 317 00:22:58,080 --> 00:23:02,919 Creating a stable platform for their borrowed $60,000 excavator 318 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:05,439 is proving more difficult than expected. 319 00:23:07,280 --> 00:23:10,239 You gotta be careful, mate. I've gotta go on the angle run. 320 00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:16,159 But Aaron's determined to get to the opal. 321 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:19,279 No screening allowed on the hill. No. 322 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:26,959 Not the waste stuff! You shouldn't be putting the waste stuff there. Oi! 323 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:35,079 Water hidden under the dry surface of the pit has turned into muddy slurry. 324 00:23:36,040 --> 00:23:38,999 That's only the crust. It's like a skin on a pudding. 325 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:41,719 By depositing it in front of the excavator, 326 00:23:41,800 --> 00:23:45,519 Aaron hasn't realised he's making the ramp more unstable 327 00:23:46,320 --> 00:23:49,479 and weakening the ground under the 35-ton machine. 328 00:23:51,640 --> 00:23:54,199 It's just like... It'll just ooze out. 329 00:23:54,280 --> 00:23:59,199 You've got it hard, because if the compression goes, it will just leak out everywhere. 330 00:24:00,360 --> 00:24:04,399 Like quicksand, the more Aaron struggles against the mud, 331 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:06,479 the worse it gets. 332 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:14,319 Six metres beneath the New South Wales outback... 333 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:17,519 Yeah! Yeah! 334 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:20,159 Yeah, I knew that was loose. 335 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:25,399 Gavan McFarlane and his crew are clearing a potentially dangerous, crumbling ceiling. 336 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:34,959 You just got to chip away at it. 337 00:24:43,320 --> 00:24:47,159 The dirt they've dug out will be washed at Gavan's agitator plant. 338 00:24:47,480 --> 00:24:51,319 Hopefully, we got some opal going up here. Hopefully! 339 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:55,799 Only then will he know if it holds the rarest of black opal. 340 00:24:57,160 --> 00:24:58,919 Truck's full! 341 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:05,519 Might as well enter the agi, put it in and we'll go from there, eh? 342 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:13,279 Oh, there's gotta be something in there! 343 00:25:13,360 --> 00:25:15,799 My bones are sore! 344 00:25:16,160 --> 00:25:18,159 Up you get. In the back. 345 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:22,599 Their wash plant is located three kilometres away 346 00:25:22,680 --> 00:25:27,719 at a site where the land and water is supplied by the local mining association 347 00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:30,159 and is shared with a dozen other miners. 348 00:25:30,600 --> 00:25:32,999 I'll try to get this laid in, if I can, 349 00:25:33,080 --> 00:25:35,479 cos if the train comes, it'll shut me down. 350 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:39,239 Don't like the looks of that! 351 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:43,159 Fingers crossed, we'll have a good tailout. 352 00:25:43,240 --> 00:25:45,279 I'll try and let him wash for a whole day. 353 00:25:45,360 --> 00:25:47,839 This is the Field of Dreams! 354 00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:58,039 The agitator, formerly a cement mixer, 355 00:25:58,120 --> 00:26:01,079 washes the six tons of excavated dirt 356 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:05,319 using 900 litres of water to remove mud and clay. 357 00:26:07,240 --> 00:26:09,319 All that's left is the rocks 358 00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:12,239 and within them, hopefully, black opal. 359 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:17,799 'You can see the nobbies or all the trace as it comes down. 360 00:26:17,880 --> 00:26:20,839 Those are the sort of things to keep an eye out coming down.' 361 00:26:22,320 --> 00:26:26,039 Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Look! Look what the digger hit. 362 00:26:26,800 --> 00:26:29,599 Ah! We've obviously hit an RV with the digger. 363 00:26:30,720 --> 00:26:33,079 If that had some colour, that would pay for my roof! 364 00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:37,239 That colour ain't in, but it's a beautiful, big, black nobby. 365 00:26:38,120 --> 00:26:42,039 That makes me feel heaps better. Heaps better. It's black. 366 00:26:42,920 --> 00:26:45,999 Oh, mate! If we get a colour bar on the red side, 367 00:26:46,080 --> 00:26:49,879 the reds on the black, anything on black's the best-quality opal you can get. 368 00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:52,959 The best opal in the world. 369 00:26:53,560 --> 00:26:58,799 Gavan won't know if there's opal until the wash is complete in 24 hours' time. 370 00:27:00,200 --> 00:27:04,519 Maybe the opal gods are smiling on me, hopefully, this time round, you know? 371 00:27:05,960 --> 00:27:09,039 Hope they're not teasing me saying, "That's all you're gonna get." 372 00:27:17,360 --> 00:27:19,559 I'm not wasting no more diesel here, Ron. 373 00:27:19,840 --> 00:27:22,759 Stopped dead by muddy quicksand, 374 00:27:23,040 --> 00:27:28,959 Aaron and Ron's plan to dig the rich opal level at the bottom of their big pit has failed. 375 00:27:29,320 --> 00:27:31,799 If you're not careful, you could sink the excavator, 376 00:27:31,880 --> 00:27:33,999 because that's all total mud under there. 377 00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:36,279 I nearly went off the side there, then. 378 00:27:41,080 --> 00:27:43,919 But Aaron's determined to find some opal. 379 00:27:48,440 --> 00:27:51,919 I'm going to go back up here where them little rocks is starting to come in. 380 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:54,759 At least there are rocks here. Yeah. 381 00:27:54,840 --> 00:27:58,079 It's a little bit safer. It's safer up there. 382 00:27:59,560 --> 00:28:03,919 Near the top of the ramp is a smaller opal level that could be worth digging. 383 00:28:27,960 --> 00:28:29,959 Eh? 384 00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:36,959 We're in the colour! 385 00:28:40,600 --> 00:28:43,719 Ah! Mamma Maria! 386 00:28:44,040 --> 00:28:46,039 Mwah! Mwah! 387 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:48,679 Here, here! 388 00:28:48,760 --> 00:28:52,559 All right! That is a bit of colour! 389 00:28:55,160 --> 00:28:58,159 See? They are here, Ron. There's a lot back here, too. 390 00:28:58,600 --> 00:29:01,759 Starting to get a few rocks coming in here, getting closer to this edge. 391 00:29:03,360 --> 00:29:05,359 So we'll go at it this way. 392 00:29:05,480 --> 00:29:08,399 Opal's like that. It sends you thinking it's not there, 393 00:29:08,480 --> 00:29:10,479 then it turns up. 394 00:29:11,480 --> 00:29:15,559 The other part, it was up here. Far out! 395 00:29:16,440 --> 00:29:18,439 Nothing wrong with that colour! 396 00:29:23,120 --> 00:29:28,679 Yeah, nice rock! Very nice rock! 397 00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:30,999 Ooh! 398 00:29:35,040 --> 00:29:37,599 Hey, Ron... Oh, yeah! 399 00:29:38,080 --> 00:29:40,399 Oh, hey, that's a nice stone. 400 00:29:41,440 --> 00:29:44,799 That's a gem! I wouldn't think there'd be nothing in that rock, 401 00:29:44,880 --> 00:29:47,919 you know. Then I hit it and it must have just hit on the rock break. 402 00:29:48,600 --> 00:29:50,039 She's loaded! 403 00:29:50,120 --> 00:29:53,359 There's gonna be two nice stones. Look at the colours everywhere! 404 00:29:54,960 --> 00:29:58,839 That's thick, too, eh? It is. Those two colours, eh? Yeah! 405 00:29:58,920 --> 00:30:03,039 Aaron's gamble to dig in the shallower ground has paid off. 406 00:30:04,120 --> 00:30:06,719 Them two stones will pay for the diesel for this! 407 00:30:07,120 --> 00:30:09,119 That was good, to have a look-in. 408 00:30:16,640 --> 00:30:19,239 Hello, boys! Pointy end of the business. 409 00:30:20,120 --> 00:30:25,079 The McFarlane's agitator has been churning dirt over the last 24 hours. 410 00:30:25,960 --> 00:30:28,399 Let's go get some opal, eh? Right, let's do it! 411 00:30:29,520 --> 00:30:31,319 Now the agi will be reversed 412 00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:34,999 and Gavan and the team will check through the washed rocks by hand 413 00:30:35,080 --> 00:30:38,159 for opal in what's called the "tailout". 414 00:30:38,400 --> 00:30:43,039 This is the exciting part now! Let's see if all our hard work pays off! 415 00:30:43,880 --> 00:30:47,599 A leaking roof back at camp and forecast bad weather 416 00:30:47,680 --> 00:30:51,359 means the McFarlanes need this to be a successful tailout. 417 00:30:52,320 --> 00:30:57,319 I've got my fingers crossed, because really, until such times as you find something half-decent, 418 00:30:57,400 --> 00:31:00,959 we're going to have to deal with this roof, which is not...nice. 419 00:31:01,200 --> 00:31:03,119 I'm not coping with that very well at all. 420 00:31:13,640 --> 00:31:15,639 I'm going into reverse. 421 00:31:16,640 --> 00:31:21,839 Without reverse, there's no way of getting the rocks or the opal out of the agi. 422 00:31:24,240 --> 00:31:26,519 Don't know. Might have done the gearbox. 423 00:31:33,360 --> 00:31:35,919 It's working. 424 00:31:37,280 --> 00:31:39,279 It's working. 425 00:31:40,400 --> 00:31:44,479 'Dodged a bullet there. A bit of perseverance, jiggling around with the gear stick.' 426 00:31:44,560 --> 00:31:46,559 Relieved? Yeah! 427 00:31:48,640 --> 00:31:52,159 There's gotta be some colour in there, boys - fingers crossed. 428 00:31:53,840 --> 00:31:57,319 The sedimentary sandstone level Gavan has been mining 429 00:31:57,400 --> 00:31:59,639 is renowned for good opal. 430 00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:02,079 If we get the right colour, and all that, 431 00:32:02,160 --> 00:32:04,919 the buyers will be actually ringing ME to buy my opal. 432 00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:06,999 That's what I'm told. 433 00:32:07,800 --> 00:32:09,839 I'm looking for the elusive red-on-black. 434 00:32:09,920 --> 00:32:11,919 That's the best of the best. 435 00:32:13,520 --> 00:32:15,879 Oh! One nobby. 436 00:32:15,960 --> 00:32:20,159 Big, black nobby. One coloured nobby. 437 00:32:29,800 --> 00:32:35,359 TV: "In 2018, the South Australian government announced it planned to close the town of Mintabie 438 00:32:35,440 --> 00:32:37,839 and hand the land back to the traditional owners." 439 00:32:37,920 --> 00:32:41,999 Bayden and dad Rodney are already at loggerheads over repairs. 440 00:32:42,720 --> 00:32:47,239 Still over $52,000 short of the money they need to relocate, 441 00:32:47,840 --> 00:32:50,879 the reality of the impending closure of the town 442 00:32:50,960 --> 00:32:53,319 and losing all they have invested 443 00:32:53,400 --> 00:32:56,359 is putting their relationship under extra pressure. 444 00:32:57,160 --> 00:33:01,479 My own superannuation, I've invested $60,000 into that. 445 00:33:02,360 --> 00:33:04,559 Thanks to that, I've got nothing left. 446 00:33:31,960 --> 00:33:35,719 Next morning, and no-one's mining. 447 00:33:40,120 --> 00:33:43,599 We had a little bit of a... rough night, last night. 448 00:33:44,120 --> 00:33:47,799 The pressure to find enough opal to move out of Mintabie 449 00:33:47,880 --> 00:33:49,999 has caused the team to crack. 450 00:33:51,360 --> 00:33:54,039 It just started off with money - the whole money issue. 451 00:33:54,120 --> 00:33:59,199 He's suspicious of me taking money. I'm selling opal and not erm... 452 00:33:59,280 --> 00:34:01,799 Giving him all the money. Giving him all the money. 453 00:34:01,880 --> 00:34:03,799 And then I stood up for Bayden 454 00:34:03,880 --> 00:34:06,559 and then that made the situation a whole hell of a lot worse. 455 00:34:06,640 --> 00:34:09,599 From an argument to a full-on fight. 456 00:34:11,400 --> 00:34:14,519 Tempers flared. He took it a little bit too far, 457 00:34:14,600 --> 00:34:17,119 and unfortunately, the son had to step up... 458 00:34:17,360 --> 00:34:20,719 ..and they knew where he stood after that. 459 00:34:24,280 --> 00:34:27,479 RODNEY: 'Yeah, it got physical, all right. Yeah. Yeah.' 460 00:34:28,920 --> 00:34:32,159 I was up to the doorway telling Lisa to get out of my camp. 461 00:34:33,280 --> 00:34:38,359 Bayden came and got me and sort of pushed...started pushing me back 462 00:34:38,440 --> 00:34:40,679 and I started pushing back against him 463 00:34:40,760 --> 00:34:42,839 and he just dropped me down on the ground. 464 00:34:43,640 --> 00:34:47,679 'Well, I'd never thought that I'd face that with my son - ever.' 465 00:34:49,560 --> 00:34:54,239 Like, I'm 6'1" and...you know, and he just handled me like a... 466 00:34:55,760 --> 00:34:57,879 ..I don't know - a bucket of feathers. 467 00:34:59,720 --> 00:35:02,879 Kicked me out of my own home. Out of the door. Said, "Get out of my home. 468 00:35:02,960 --> 00:35:05,359 Get out of my home. Get out of my home." 469 00:35:05,440 --> 00:35:09,239 I said, "Don't forget, it's my home, too, old boy." He didn't care. 470 00:35:09,320 --> 00:35:12,839 He was just getting more aggressive and more sarky, so I thought, "Well..." 471 00:35:14,560 --> 00:35:18,759 The disintegration of the team leaves Bayden with a major problem. 472 00:35:21,080 --> 00:35:23,399 'Dad and I are no longer in partnership.' 473 00:35:23,480 --> 00:35:26,439 The only access to the mine and the rich opal seam 474 00:35:26,520 --> 00:35:28,679 is on Rodney's claim. 475 00:35:29,960 --> 00:35:35,039 'I need to use Dad's claim for entry to go into my claim.' 476 00:35:36,480 --> 00:35:38,479 Grab my mining drill... 477 00:35:38,840 --> 00:35:43,799 He can be nasty and say, "No, you're not entering my claim," 478 00:35:44,120 --> 00:35:47,399 so realistically, where my claim is, I have no access. 479 00:35:51,160 --> 00:35:54,879 At this point, reconciliation? Nah - not at this point. 480 00:36:07,280 --> 00:36:10,759 In their camp at Dragonfly... There's one of the better bits. 481 00:36:11,200 --> 00:36:13,199 There's a gem. 482 00:36:13,280 --> 00:36:15,599 I'd say this was 400-500 carat. 483 00:36:16,080 --> 00:36:19,639 ..Aaron and Ron are examining their find of boulder opal. 484 00:36:20,160 --> 00:36:22,839 We might get a couple of stones in the bottom here. Yes. 485 00:36:23,080 --> 00:36:24,879 OK! 486 00:36:24,960 --> 00:36:29,639 Aaron's determination to find opal...has paid off. 487 00:36:29,880 --> 00:36:31,239 Hey, that's nice! 488 00:36:31,320 --> 00:36:34,919 We looked a bit further up in the level just next to the sandstone 489 00:36:35,000 --> 00:36:37,879 and we got a bit of colour - nice colour. 490 00:36:38,920 --> 00:36:42,919 Hey, look at that. There's a stone in that. That looks green. 491 00:36:43,800 --> 00:36:45,839 That's, like, a green-blue. Yeah. 492 00:36:45,920 --> 00:36:49,599 Perfect cutting stones for boulder-opal jewellery. 493 00:36:49,680 --> 00:36:51,879 Gorgeous! Nice colour, innit? 494 00:36:52,320 --> 00:36:55,199 Their boulder opal is a variety of colours 495 00:36:55,280 --> 00:36:57,759 with some sought-after reds and yellows. 496 00:37:00,560 --> 00:37:04,519 Even in the rough, it's worth a solid... 497 00:37:05,960 --> 00:37:07,479 Oh, it's a nice colour, innit? 498 00:37:07,560 --> 00:37:12,079 We gotta get more supplies. You're right. You're probably going to get 10 grand out of it. 499 00:37:12,160 --> 00:37:15,199 Their 60:40 deal with excavator owner Eric 500 00:37:15,280 --> 00:37:21,599 means they'll get $6,000, bringing their total up to... 501 00:37:22,560 --> 00:37:24,839 ..within reach of their season target. 502 00:37:25,640 --> 00:37:28,639 Until we cut these up, you don't know - could be 20 grand. 503 00:37:28,720 --> 00:37:30,719 Could be. 504 00:37:31,120 --> 00:37:33,919 It's a good start - very good start. 505 00:37:35,640 --> 00:37:39,399 For Aaron, this opal find is the encouragement he needs 506 00:37:39,480 --> 00:37:42,239 to keep expanding his mining operation. 507 00:37:42,440 --> 00:37:47,079 On good days, pulling up here next year, we'll need a good $100,000 to get a machine, eh? 508 00:37:48,160 --> 00:37:50,159 Nothing's cheap. 509 00:38:00,840 --> 00:38:02,599 In Mintabie... 510 00:38:02,680 --> 00:38:04,399 I just want one more bag. 511 00:38:04,560 --> 00:38:07,679 Lise and Bayden are packing to leave town for good. 512 00:38:09,920 --> 00:38:13,399 After their fight ending 22 years of working together, 513 00:38:14,200 --> 00:38:16,999 dad Rodney has made himself scarce. 514 00:38:18,960 --> 00:38:24,279 He's gone for a little drive somewhere. I don't know where, but...it's out of my way. 515 00:38:27,240 --> 00:38:30,879 I believe that finding the opal has definitely caused a lot of issues. 516 00:38:32,960 --> 00:38:36,439 'We've never really had opal before, so we've never fought before.' 517 00:38:41,000 --> 00:38:43,239 I'm taking the opal with me. People will think, 518 00:38:43,320 --> 00:38:47,319 "Oh, my son's ripping me off still! He's ripping me. He's taken all my opal!" 519 00:38:47,520 --> 00:38:51,439 At the end of the day, he's old school and he's just gonna sell it for nothing, 520 00:38:51,520 --> 00:38:54,479 so I'm actually gonna cut stones and make more money out of it. 521 00:38:54,560 --> 00:38:57,759 Regardless of the relationship that we have, I'm a man of my word 522 00:38:57,840 --> 00:39:02,959 and I'll make as much money as I can to even put in his pocket - still. 523 00:39:05,760 --> 00:39:09,079 Time to say goodbye... to Mintabie 524 00:39:09,160 --> 00:39:14,559 and the opal Bayden knows is still waiting to be found at the Grasshopper claim. 525 00:39:17,160 --> 00:39:19,759 Oh, I'll miss Mintabie. I'll miss living here, 526 00:39:19,840 --> 00:39:22,879 but...yeah. 527 00:39:23,120 --> 00:39:25,639 I'm not gonna miss everything else that come with it. 528 00:39:31,040 --> 00:39:33,479 Yeah, still, I'll get over it. I'm done. 529 00:39:38,440 --> 00:39:42,679 I'm sad about everything, but... just what happens, innit? 530 00:39:52,320 --> 00:39:55,519 I need to regroup. I really need to get my head back on my shoulders. 531 00:39:56,120 --> 00:39:58,119 I'll need some time to think. 532 00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:09,999 'Oh, I feel very disgusted to have your son treat you like... 533 00:40:14,760 --> 00:40:16,799 I'll march on. I don't need anybody.' 534 00:40:17,560 --> 00:40:22,639 I'll just keep on working myself...until I've either got no money left, 535 00:40:22,720 --> 00:40:25,799 or the government come and shut the door on me. 536 00:40:27,120 --> 00:40:31,599 He's got all the opal. I've got nothing, so I'll just keep on going.' 537 00:40:45,160 --> 00:40:47,159 Pretty sad. It's not looking good. 538 00:40:47,640 --> 00:40:51,919 Plenty of good trace, but... no money. 539 00:40:54,200 --> 00:40:56,919 No money, unless it's up in that last one. 540 00:40:57,640 --> 00:41:03,959 Gavan and his crew have so far searched through 150 kilograms of rocks from their mine 541 00:41:04,040 --> 00:41:06,039 without finding a single opal. 542 00:41:07,240 --> 00:41:09,639 Last cable coming out. Last chance! 543 00:41:17,080 --> 00:41:19,239 You looking for 'em, boys? 544 00:41:19,320 --> 00:41:21,559 You better look harder! 545 00:41:21,640 --> 00:41:23,639 Whoa! Cheers, mate! 546 00:41:23,960 --> 00:41:26,519 Looking...wow! Eh? 547 00:41:28,400 --> 00:41:31,079 It's not a full roof, but I'll tell you what... 548 00:41:31,160 --> 00:41:33,159 It's a good start to one, though! 549 00:41:33,840 --> 00:41:35,839 Woo-hoo! That's good! 550 00:41:37,960 --> 00:41:39,959 Oh, I gotta lick it. 551 00:41:40,480 --> 00:41:42,679 Oh, look at that! 552 00:41:43,440 --> 00:41:45,439 Don't it rub up beautiful! 553 00:41:45,880 --> 00:41:48,479 Sensational! 554 00:41:49,160 --> 00:41:52,919 Guys, I couldn't have done it without yous. Really thank you for what you've done. 555 00:41:53,000 --> 00:41:54,999 That's awesome, you know? 556 00:42:00,720 --> 00:42:02,919 Can you give me that? Salt and pepper... 557 00:42:03,360 --> 00:42:05,399 Can you can hear a car? I can hear a car. 558 00:42:05,480 --> 00:42:09,479 Is someone coming? I'm gonna go have a look. I think that might be Pete. Just chuck it. 559 00:42:11,320 --> 00:42:15,559 Gavan's regular mining partner Pete has finally made it back. 560 00:42:19,680 --> 00:42:21,999 Hey, Gav! Hey, mate. How are you? Oh, pretty good. 561 00:42:22,080 --> 00:42:24,999 Another week down. Good, yeah. How did it go? 562 00:42:25,080 --> 00:42:27,679 Er...we got a trace. 563 00:42:29,160 --> 00:42:30,639 What have you got there? 564 00:42:30,720 --> 00:42:32,559 Oh, you little pearler! 565 00:42:32,640 --> 00:42:36,959 The single crystal opal with blue-green colours is only in the rough. 566 00:42:37,560 --> 00:42:40,599 It weighs 2.4 grams, making its value... 567 00:42:43,360 --> 00:42:46,119 Two-thirds of what Gavan needs for his roof repair. 568 00:42:46,200 --> 00:42:49,479 I got something for you, too. Really? Best I can do, but... 569 00:42:50,400 --> 00:42:52,599 That one bad little patch... Oh, mate! 570 00:42:53,040 --> 00:42:57,439 We'll make it waterproof. That's fantastic. No problem. That's brilliant. 571 00:42:58,480 --> 00:43:01,319 Well, let's get it tacked down. 572 00:43:06,360 --> 00:43:11,079 That's excellent. Thank you, mate. No worries. She's all right, buddy. Appreciate it. Awesome. 573 00:43:11,360 --> 00:43:13,799 Well, I couldn't think of a better spot to have a beer. 574 00:43:13,880 --> 00:43:17,639 Another day in paradise, mate! Here's one I prepared earlier 575 00:43:17,720 --> 00:43:19,719 He's good at that! 576 00:43:23,000 --> 00:43:25,279 To many more days like this! No problem. 577 00:43:26,720 --> 00:43:28,719 subtitles by Deluxe 578 00:43:46,680 --> 00:43:48,679 # Money 579 00:43:52,040 --> 00:43:54,039 # Money # 579 00:43:55,305 --> 00:44:55,726 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm