"Outback Opal Hunters" Episode #4.10

1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:03,279 NARRATOR: On Outback Opal Hunters... 2 00:00:03,360 --> 00:00:08,599 I'm sick of this. ..the Bushmen battle opal thieves on land... 3 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:11,959 There he is. ..and in the skies... 4 00:00:12,040 --> 00:00:13,439 Bloody hell. 5 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:17,079 ..wild weather again forces the Boulder Boys... 6 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:20,159 There's no shortcut. ..to dig their way out of trouble... 7 00:00:20,240 --> 00:00:21,559 There we go. 8 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:24,039 ..and, as summer heat end's their season... 9 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:25,719 Too hot. Look out. 10 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:29,199 ..Gav McFarlane puts rookie son Zac through his paces. 11 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:30,919 Get the out of here! 12 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:35,039 # Money 13 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:41,439 # And fancy clothes... # 14 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:49,074 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm 15 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:59,759 Putting some fuel in it, are you, Les? Yep, get it ready for tomorrow. 16 00:00:59,840 --> 00:01:02,639 Did you know there's a car over here? Oh, yeah. 17 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:15,639 Nigel, stay! I'm gonna go and see who this is, Les. I'm sick of this. 18 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:21,239 That's why you sort of pay attention to an unknown car around. 19 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:23,999 I've had a gutful of this. 20 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:27,239 How many times do you have to deal with these bastards? 21 00:01:27,320 --> 00:01:32,439 Rod Manning is chasing down another suspected opal thief. 22 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:34,519 There he is. 23 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:37,759 Gone down there. 24 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:39,839 He's a bit quicker than me. 25 00:01:40,960 --> 00:01:43,399 This season he and partner Les 26 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:46,759 have lost thousands of dollars to thieves. 27 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:48,839 I got no hope of catching him. 28 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:50,999 'Makes you angry.' 29 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:54,159 Unfortunately on opal fields, you're always going to have raiders. 30 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:56,159 Couldn't catch him, Les. 31 00:01:56,240 --> 00:02:00,039 They're just scummy little parasites, you know. 32 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:03,599 Not good. We'll have to keep a bit more of an eye out, that's all. 33 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:06,839 Makes you start thinking when you go to work in the morning, 34 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:09,159 "What has some mongrel taken now?" 35 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:13,519 That's what they do this time of year, see. The fields are starting to clear out. 36 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:16,679 Not as many people around, not so many eyes watching them. 37 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:23,439 What if we get the dogs on top the hole as our security while we're down there. 38 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:26,839 That's a good idea. At least, they'll let us know if they come back. Yeah. 39 00:02:26,920 --> 00:02:29,599 All right, yous two, yous are on duty, all right? 40 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:32,079 You got to let us know what's going on. 41 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:36,479 Bondis, we've been doing all right there 42 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:39,879 and it's a race now to get as much out of there as we can. 43 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:42,719 There is only a certain amount of time 44 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:45,319 we can work there before that heat comes. 45 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:47,839 Once that heat comes, you know, 46 00:02:47,920 --> 00:02:50,359 there is not much you can do. 47 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:55,959 Summer temperatures in the region can reach well over 45 degrees Celsius, 48 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:58,559 making it impossible for miners to work. 49 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:04,399 The Bushmen have just weeks before they down tools. 50 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:08,399 They're on the hunt for black opal, 51 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:10,759 but are still short of their season target, 52 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:15,399 with most of this year's earnings eaten up by repair costs and debts. 53 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:22,439 It's a vicious circle, you get a bit and then someone else wants it. 54 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:25,199 Bed's a bit bloody rough at the moment, 55 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:28,119 the cupboards are pretty bare cos we buy in bulk. 56 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:32,599 The diesel man won't give me any more diesel till I've paid my bill. So... 57 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:35,359 we've got to have some money come in very soon. 58 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:41,639 First job, get their two-ton digger working again. 59 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:46,839 The leg ram that pushes her up into the roof to lock her in place, 60 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:51,639 we got a hydraulic leak in the bottom hose so we just fixed it up. 61 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:54,799 We'll stick the leg back in now, shouldn't take too long. 62 00:03:56,560 --> 00:03:57,999 Whoa. 63 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:00,079 Push a bit more. 64 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:09,279 There we go. 65 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:15,959 When I have to tip it back this way, with this particular digger, 66 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:18,119 I've got to be a little bit careful 67 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:21,999 cos if I let her come over too quick she's going to bloody keep on going 68 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:24,119 and end up laying on this other side again. 69 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:28,999 Let's push it. 70 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:32,319 Jesus...Christ! 71 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:41,759 Everything is going not bad today, so far. We're on fire, mate. 72 00:04:41,840 --> 00:04:45,079 Now, we're just about to dig up a big lump of opal. 73 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:56,279 Too hot, hence why the ice. 74 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:59,559 Oh, God. Sweltering. 75 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:04,959 70 kilometres to the northeast, 76 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:08,679 the first hot spell of summer is hitting the McFarlanes hard. 77 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:15,239 Over 40 - 42, 43, 44, 45 - every single solitary day. 78 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:23,839 Including my flushing toilet. Why the hell do you need wire... 79 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:28,639 ..for a toilet? God give me strength. 80 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:31,319 For months, a shortage of opal 81 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:35,159 and cash has put essential home improvements on hold. 82 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:40,799 I will nag until the cows come home. I don't care what they say. Nagging will get there for me. 83 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:45,559 Teagan, get your shoes off those sheets, get out of the bed. Move, go goodbye. 84 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:51,039 For Connie and 16-year-old daughter Teagan, the uncomfortable has become unbearable. 85 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:55,199 My pillows are covered in dirt. They're filthy. Yes, they are. 86 00:05:55,280 --> 00:06:00,199 For privacy I only have a curtain and you can see through it. 87 00:06:00,280 --> 00:06:03,239 I'd like a wall and I would like for the roof 88 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:06,199 to not fall on me when I'm sleeping. 89 00:06:06,280 --> 00:06:09,799 This stuff just brings down dust and dirt. 90 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:13,199 As you can see, dirt just falls and that's just gross. 91 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:16,599 I got a lot of pressure on me at the moment. 92 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:19,239 I need to make money to get my camp sorted. 93 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:23,839 Our roof is a priority. It would be just so nice to be able to get 94 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:28,919 that one lot of money to be able to go and order all the materials in one hit and go, there's our roof. 95 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:32,039 Just to make it a home and not a shack. 96 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:36,279 With a target of $20,000, 97 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:40,359 Gavan has found just $2,200. 98 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:44,879 The season's getting pretty much to the end. 99 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:50,639 Time is ticking. Time is always ticking isn't it? 100 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:56,159 With one last dig left of the season, Gavan needs help. 101 00:06:56,240 --> 00:06:59,879 Zac finally moved here. We're so excited to see him. 102 00:06:59,960 --> 00:07:02,799 The McFarlane's 19-year-old son, Zac, 103 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:07,239 has just moved over 600 kilometres from the coast with his young family. 104 00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:09,319 Hello, everyone. 105 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:11,879 Yeah, so I've finally made the move up to the ridge 106 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:14,239 and I'm real happy we're up here now. 107 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:16,119 Closer to family, it's real good. 108 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:17,759 We missed you. 109 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:21,879 Is that your bottle? Hello, my other little man. Hey, Dad. Hiya, buddy. 110 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:26,199 Dad's definitely trying to make sure he doesn't let the girls down with the shack 111 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:29,399 and he wants to make them feel comfortable and happy. 112 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:33,999 That's why I'm here to help him. I'm here to tell him that he can do it and I've got his back. 113 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:37,519 Mwah! Yes, I'm going to work. I need to go to work. 114 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:41,199 But Zac has never mined before. 115 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:45,679 I'm here to learn, help out and provide. 116 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:48,279 I'm going to go help, Poppy. Where's Daddy going? 117 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:51,679 There is plenty of pressures - young parent and whatnot, first kid. 118 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:55,639 Work my arse off - seven days a week, 24/7 if I had to, you know. 119 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:57,999 Anything to make him happy. 120 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:00,079 Bye, guys. Bye, everybody. 121 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:03,639 Ready to go. 122 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:08,279 Finger's crossed and the opal gods are kind to us. He might even bring us a bit of luck. 123 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:17,159 900 kilometres to the north, in tropical Queensland... 124 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:19,799 Have a look at that, Ron. 125 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:23,039 RON: Bloody hell. 126 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:27,479 Wow! 127 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:29,999 No wonder it's leaking in. 128 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:33,119 That's a lot of water. 129 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:44,119 I was listening to the radio. It said 6 to 8 mil we'll be getting 130 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:46,679 and got 75 and then 15 the next morning. 131 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:51,199 Tomorrow is 90 mil. Well, we can't stop the rain. 132 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:58,439 A freak thunderstorm has saturated the Boulder Boys' 27-hectare mine site, 133 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:02,199 including their main pit, and the water level is rising. 134 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:07,199 That's gushing in, look at it. 135 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:09,919 She's actually running in like a spring. 136 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:11,839 That's a gusher. 137 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:16,839 The source of the rising waters - a flooded neighbouring open-cut mine 138 00:09:16,920 --> 00:09:19,879 known as Col's Cut. 139 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:24,159 That's all coming from Col's Cut. That's coming through, mate. 140 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:26,839 Look at that, eh? Back to square one, Ron. 141 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:29,759 She's got us again. We can pump that out, 142 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:33,799 but there's no point pumping that out if she just keeps running through here. 143 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:36,199 Just disheartening. 144 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:42,359 For the Boulder Boys, the Dragonfly claim is nearly all dug out. 145 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:46,599 The pit is their last chance of big opal. 146 00:09:46,680 --> 00:09:49,479 Well, I think there's opal up there in the pit. 147 00:09:49,560 --> 00:09:52,319 My dad said that's our best chance of getting opal. 148 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:57,439 To stop water seeping into the pit, 149 00:09:57,520 --> 00:10:02,039 the boys must somehow lower the water level in Col's Cut. 150 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:07,079 We'll put in trench in there somewhere, eh? 151 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:09,919 We're gonna have to. Yeah. 152 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:12,079 Me and Ron will put a trench in from Col's Cut. 153 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:15,839 At least, if we drop ten feet of water we won't have this problem here. 154 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:19,639 It's all we can do. Let's do it, eh? All right. 155 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:35,799 It's all costing time and money. 156 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:40,719 Every hour, the excavator burns through $50 of diesel. 157 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:46,879 There's no shortcut for what we're doing. 158 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:55,079 We're nearly finished the trench now, 159 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:57,759 so, I'll get it forward and break the last bit out. 160 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:00,839 Bit of luck, we'll get water coming out. 161 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:06,959 The best thing to come out of a mine at the end of the day is the miner. 162 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:09,159 For Zac McFarlane, 163 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:11,759 it's day one of mining school. 164 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:15,559 And you'll hear it in our voice and I want you to move like a gazelle. 165 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:18,079 Faster than you can move, OK? Yep. 166 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:21,799 Zac's training ground is his dad's claim, 167 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:24,159 littered with old, condemned mines. 168 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:30,039 First lesson: how to survive a tunnel collapse. 169 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:33,479 So, we're gonna give you a go, give you a run at the emergency exit. 170 00:11:33,560 --> 00:11:37,279 It's a necessity. It's... This will save your life. You need to know. 171 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:41,639 It could happen any time like, "Get the out of here!" Yep. And then go? 172 00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:47,399 You need to know the route, 173 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:50,239 you need to know which way your emergency ladders are. 174 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:54,679 You just gotta keep going, moving forward. Don't look back. 175 00:11:54,760 --> 00:11:57,639 Look forward and go. Go, go, go, go. 176 00:11:57,720 --> 00:12:00,879 Excellent. Well done. 177 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:04,039 That's just to give you an idea that that's how quick it can happen. 178 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:07,719 Zac has moved to Lightning Ridge with his young family 179 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:10,119 to build a new life as an opal miner. 180 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:13,039 You did well, it was good. At only 19, 181 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:16,879 I'm a dad now with a little... a little boy, Levi. 182 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:20,359 I love him to death. he's my whole world. He is. 183 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:23,959 My number one priority, really, is to make sure he's happy and healthy. 184 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:29,359 The ultimate price anyone can pay in this game is death. 185 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:33,719 So, we've put in as much safety and precaution as we can 186 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:36,999 to stop anything like that happening to us. 187 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:41,319 Now to move in and start in on the face. 188 00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:44,959 One of the most dangerous and difficult tasks underground 189 00:12:45,040 --> 00:12:47,119 is moving the one-ton digger. 190 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:51,199 Movin' the diggers...it's hairy stuff. 191 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:54,399 It can happen so quick, it can go over, tip over. 192 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:57,359 And then that... Tippin' it over, you just gotta 193 00:12:57,440 --> 00:12:59,679 run away as far as you can. You don't wanna try 194 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:01,999 and stop it from tippin', mate, it'll kill ya. 195 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:04,719 If I say, "Get," Just get... The back. Yeah. 196 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:07,079 Get away from it. Don't go anywhere near it. 197 00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:09,239 Look out. 198 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:13,759 See, it's that quick. 199 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:16,279 The arrival of experienced 200 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:20,479 digger operator Tim Bryant is a welcome relief. 201 00:13:20,560 --> 00:13:22,919 Ah, aren't you a sight for sore eyes. 202 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:25,399 What're you doing you silly, old freak? 203 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:28,239 How are you going? How are you? Trying not to roll the digger. 204 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:30,959 Well, mate, you know what? It's all yours. 205 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:33,479 It's all right, mate. Thanks, buddy. Good to see you. 206 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:39,079 This is the last dig of the season. 207 00:13:39,160 --> 00:13:43,919 And for Zac, his first and last chance to find opal. 208 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:47,079 That's what we want. We want colour, colour. 209 00:13:50,560 --> 00:13:53,639 Dad. What have you got? Look at that. 210 00:13:53,720 --> 00:13:56,399 Can you see it? 211 00:13:56,480 --> 00:14:00,519 Down there having a bit of scratch, sees himself a bit of trace. 212 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:02,919 I think he might be bringing us the luck we need. 213 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:05,719 Right there, where your light is. 214 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:09,159 Up. To the left a touch. Look at that. Yeah? 215 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:14,119 Bet that's a nobby. Yeah, it is. 216 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:17,159 Yep. Yep. There is it. It is, it's a nobby. 217 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:19,559 Jesus, let's hope there's some colour in it. 218 00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:31,839 So, yeah, another five minutes, we should start draining Col's Cut. 219 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:34,759 In remote Queensland, Aaron and Ron, 220 00:14:34,840 --> 00:14:37,239 are digging a 60-metre-long trench 221 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:41,719 to relieve water pressure on their last remaining opal pit. 222 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:46,319 There we go. 223 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:52,479 That should take a lot of the pressure off. 224 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:05,239 I'll reckon that'll drop a third of it, that's all we need. 225 00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:09,159 Well, it's doing the job. Good gutter, eh, Ron? Yes. 226 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:12,279 The water level in the pit is dropping, 227 00:15:12,360 --> 00:15:14,359 but there's still a problem. 228 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:16,999 We can't tunnel now. No, that'd be too dangerous. 229 00:15:17,080 --> 00:15:20,919 The walls of the pit are too wet to tunnel into. 230 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:23,719 We do want a mine in there, at least get a tunnel in. 231 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:27,199 We don't want the tunnel to fill up with water, which it will. 232 00:15:27,280 --> 00:15:28,959 It gets a bit disappointing. 233 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:32,079 If they're going to find opal, 234 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:35,519 the Boulder Boys will need a new plan. 235 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:39,439 Well, the Dragonfly's had 95% of it dug. 236 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:43,919 We can't dig anywhere around here. They're all too big a jobs. 237 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:46,959 I think I'm gonna start looking for new ground. 238 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:49,039 We'll get another lease out here. 239 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:52,279 Two-and-a-half kilometres to the east, 240 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:55,759 Aaron has an exploration permit, or EP, 241 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:58,719 covering 1,000 hectares. 242 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:03,119 Let's hope we get it. It allows them 243 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:05,959 to explore for signs of opal. 244 00:16:06,040 --> 00:16:10,199 If successful, they can take out a lease and start mining. 245 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:14,999 Well, we're hoping to find opal, a lead on the EP that we can some shallow opal. 246 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:17,359 Pretty easy to dig in. 247 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:21,479 Most boulder opal lies 10 to 15 metres below ground, 248 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:23,879 but clues lie on the surface. 249 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:26,639 It's good to see we're still getting throw-outs of rocks 250 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:30,079 coming up towards the hill. So, we're gonna try it. 251 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:33,679 Throw-outs are traces of opal. 252 00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:36,199 Queensland boulder opal is formed 253 00:16:36,280 --> 00:16:39,839 when silica-rich water becomes trapped in cavities 254 00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:42,159 within hard ironstone rocks. 255 00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:47,879 This lot, I reckon it's close to blue. 256 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:54,479 Purple anyway. Yeah. Wherever we've got purple, we've always got opal, eh? We have. 257 00:16:54,560 --> 00:16:57,479 Probably bring the excavator in and trench right through. 258 00:16:57,560 --> 00:17:00,079 No use doing a little trench. We'll trench the whole lot. 259 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:02,239 Might take a day, but we'll get result. 260 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:11,439 Borrowed from a neighbouring miner, is this 35-ton excavator. 261 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:14,839 But they have only two days before it must be returned. 262 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:19,719 We haven't got the excavator for long, so we'll get into it. 263 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:39,319 Like a half a boulder. 264 00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:41,919 Not quite like a...the right colour. 265 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:44,079 We're gonna have a look at everything. 266 00:17:47,560 --> 00:17:49,559 Not right, eh, Ron? 267 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:52,559 Well, Ron, that looks like absolute...to me. 268 00:17:54,080 --> 00:17:56,279 It can turn it into gold, though, you know that. 269 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:11,959 I really like the ground. It's changing. 270 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:14,559 So we might be onto something, mate. 271 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:17,159 Bloody hope so, it's about time. 272 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:20,879 With summer temperatures on the rise 273 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:23,399 and the end of the season just weeks away, 274 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:27,479 the Bushmen are pushing hard to end with a big find. 275 00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:29,999 We just gotta get stuck in to start movin' dirt. 276 00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:32,079 And hopefully we'll hit a little bit. 277 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:35,479 Watch yourself while I'm doing this roof, Les. 278 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:38,679 Just not sure about this bloody roof. 279 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:40,759 One of the concerns with this hole 280 00:18:40,840 --> 00:18:42,999 is the amount of sand we got in the roof there. 281 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:46,119 Two foot, three foot up in there, up into the roof, 282 00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:48,639 there could be another thin layer of sand. 283 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:50,999 Where that sand seam is, 284 00:18:51,080 --> 00:18:54,079 it'll separate and your roof will drop. 285 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:58,399 It matters if the roof drops because...it'll kill ya. 286 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:02,719 Yeah, the way that's going up in there where it's... 287 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:04,479 It's as soft as buggery. 288 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:07,199 Yeah, I... I don't know what's happening, mate. 289 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:09,279 There's a line. 290 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:12,599 You all right? Yeah. 291 00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:16,199 The harder you push, the more chance you've got of something going wrong, 292 00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:18,279 uh, and getting' hurt. 293 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:26,599 Leakin' oil again. The weld. 294 00:19:26,680 --> 00:19:29,599 Where Les welded it up, it's cracked again. 295 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:32,759 It wouldn't have been my weld that let go, it would've been another - 296 00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:36,319 Oh, of course it wasn't your bloody welding. An air block hole. 297 00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:40,839 You don't find opal on the end of a spanner. 298 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:43,559 And I'm sick of fixing things, so if we can get it to last 299 00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:46,079 we'll pull it out at the end of the day, 300 00:19:46,160 --> 00:19:50,319 and we'll fix it up tonight, and it'll be ready for the mornin'. 301 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:55,719 It's hard but... Jeez, it's hard. 302 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:58,079 The whole digger's struggling. 303 00:20:00,360 --> 00:20:02,919 That hard stuff's getting thicker, Les. Yes. 304 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:05,119 We might have a bit of bother here. 305 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:09,159 Man! 306 00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:15,919 Nah. We've got trace, so... 307 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:19,639 it would be a shame to stop going this way. 308 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:22,439 But there's no way I can get through that. That's hard. 309 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:32,359 It'd be good to get a payday before the end of the year, 310 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:34,759 but we gotta keep trenching. That's how opal is. 311 00:20:34,840 --> 00:20:38,799 Start a trench there, then we're gonna trench right through. 312 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:41,599 Flooding has forced the Boulder Boys, 313 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:45,279 to abandon work at their productive Dragonfly claim. 314 00:20:45,360 --> 00:20:48,039 Two-and-a-half kilometres away, 315 00:20:48,120 --> 00:20:51,119 they're now pinning their hopes on their exploration lease 316 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:54,599 delivering signs of opal. 317 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:57,119 The name of the game in this job, 318 00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:00,119 you gotta find new leads to go to mine. 319 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:02,639 They have less than two days, 320 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:05,159 before they must return the borrowed excavator. 321 00:21:12,320 --> 00:21:15,239 Where you wanna go now? Right straight through the guts? 322 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:17,679 There's the next one, then the next one. Right. 323 00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:22,879 They're looking for hard ironstone rocks 324 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:25,319 embedded in the sandstone. 325 00:21:28,560 --> 00:21:32,159 But trench after trench...nothing. 326 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:40,719 I can't go any slower. 327 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:43,919 That yellow... To me it ain't a level, mate. There's a level skin - 328 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:45,959 We going broke here. 329 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:48,239 I'm not impressed with it. 330 00:21:48,320 --> 00:21:50,319 Come on, Ron, give me your opinion, mate. 331 00:21:52,200 --> 00:21:54,199 Violet Crumble gone wrong. 332 00:21:56,160 --> 00:21:58,639 I'm sick of looking at potch, Ron. I know. 333 00:21:58,720 --> 00:22:02,639 We used 200 litres of fuel here and all we're seeing is yellow and potch. 334 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:06,359 Yep. Every trench we put in, every level's been flat, Ron. 335 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:08,799 Nothing to write home about, is there? 336 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:11,879 No. You wouldn't be able to afford a postage stamp. 337 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:14,879 Wanna go over and have a look at this? Yeah, let's do that 338 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:17,399 We'll keep going, Ron. Well, we will. 339 00:22:19,880 --> 00:22:22,799 You wont believe this, Ron. I pulled up right here. 340 00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:25,559 I'm seeing a bit of blue on the ground. We got surface trace. 341 00:22:25,640 --> 00:22:27,639 Have a look here. 342 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:30,759 That's good trace. Hey, look at this. 343 00:22:30,840 --> 00:22:34,839 Green. Oh, that is too. That's a very good sign. 344 00:22:34,920 --> 00:22:37,319 Blue, green. Colour. Wow. 345 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:41,319 Well, that's the best sign we've seen for a few weeks, mate. It is. 346 00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:45,039 I think we just have a good look around and decide where to put a trench. 347 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:53,679 I think you wanna get a screwdriver and come and dig this out, mate. 348 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:56,119 Little bit at a time, mate. Yeah. 349 00:22:56,200 --> 00:22:59,559 There's no rush. It's been sittin' there waitin' for millions of years. 350 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:01,919 Few more minutes ain't gonna hurt it. 351 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:03,999 On his first-ever opal dig, 352 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:06,919 Zac McFarlane is hoping to be the good-luck charm 353 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:09,519 his dad so desperately needs. 354 00:23:10,520 --> 00:23:13,319 Oh, here we go. 355 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:16,439 Here we go. There it is. There it is. 356 00:23:16,520 --> 00:23:20,559 There you go, Tim. Take 'em up into some real light and have a look. 357 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:22,759 That's one hell of a big nobby. 358 00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:27,239 Oh, look at that. Look at that green there and the purple. 359 00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:32,159 In the last dig of the season, 360 00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:35,719 a good find now could save the McFarlanes. 361 00:23:39,560 --> 00:23:41,559 Oh, yeah. Yes. 362 00:23:44,120 --> 00:23:46,759 Some greens, some blues. 363 00:23:46,840 --> 00:23:49,439 Purples, yeah. Seeing purple too. Look in there. Yeah. 364 00:23:49,520 --> 00:23:53,319 Beautiful nobby. Finger crossed it's got some colour in there 365 00:23:53,400 --> 00:23:55,399 and there's gonna be a bit of pay for us. 366 00:23:55,480 --> 00:23:58,799 So, hopefully, that's a sign of what's coming up in front of us. 367 00:24:02,120 --> 00:24:05,639 Who knows what's in that pile of dirt? We'll know when we wash it 368 00:24:05,720 --> 00:24:07,919 and tail her out. 369 00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:10,759 Last bucket. Last bucket goin' up. 370 00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:13,839 Well, that's a full truck. Yep. 371 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:17,559 We'll, uh, go up, shut her all down, lock her all up. 372 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:21,039 Take her over to the agi. Sure. Put her in the agi. 373 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:29,239 We've got a loaded truck and we're about to head off over to Pete Cooke's agi. 374 00:24:29,320 --> 00:24:31,839 He's doing some washing for us. 375 00:24:31,920 --> 00:24:36,879 The agi, or agitator, is a converted cement mixer 376 00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:40,759 that washes rocks to expose any opal. 377 00:24:40,840 --> 00:24:43,039 I'll show you how we load the agi, buddy. 378 00:24:43,120 --> 00:24:46,399 It's just like rowing a boat. 379 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:48,719 Every now and then you give it a kick. 380 00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:52,639 Don't worry about scratchin' anything. 381 00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:55,799 Got the first load in the agi. 382 00:24:56,600 --> 00:25:00,399 She's turnin' over, makin' mud. Washin' down nicely. 383 00:25:00,480 --> 00:25:05,159 It's Zac's first and last chance this season to make opal pay. 384 00:25:05,240 --> 00:25:10,319 Fingers crossed. Lots of rainbows called opal. 385 00:25:18,080 --> 00:25:22,239 Ratters, you know, they're a scourge but they're smart buggers. 386 00:25:22,320 --> 00:25:26,559 They're listenin', they're watchin' all the time. 387 00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:33,679 Opal thieves, repairs and now, impenetrable rock 388 00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:39,119 are keeping the Bushmen from mining the best ground they've seen in weeks. 389 00:25:40,120 --> 00:25:42,119 All hard opal mining. 390 00:25:43,400 --> 00:25:46,479 This is why probably 95% of the guys 391 00:25:46,560 --> 00:25:48,799 that come down here to go opal mining fail. 392 00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:53,599 The 95% that go home have got a few brains and the 5% of us that stay here 393 00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:55,679 got none at all. 394 00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:59,439 Yeah, I can't dig that any more, Les, it's too hard. This digger won't dig that. 395 00:25:59,520 --> 00:26:03,359 Seem to have more bloody days not minin' than minin' 396 00:26:03,440 --> 00:26:05,879 because of things that go wrong. 397 00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:08,119 What you doin' mate? Nige. 398 00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:12,919 Oh, Amanda's tried to call me a couple of times. Four times. 399 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:16,399 What's the problem? There's been four missed calls from 'ya. 400 00:26:16,480 --> 00:26:18,119 Oh. 401 00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:21,239 Les. Yeah? We gotta go home. 402 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:29,079 Go and see what the problem is, Les. Yeah. 403 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:32,159 What's happened, girl? We've run out of water. 404 00:26:32,240 --> 00:26:33,879 Yeah. 405 00:26:33,960 --> 00:26:37,439 Was about to do the washin' up, and then... Ew. Yeah. 406 00:26:37,520 --> 00:26:40,759 Yes, we have run out of water. 407 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:43,759 We'll have to go and get a load, Les, and then go back to work. 408 00:26:46,520 --> 00:26:49,879 With temperatures now over 40 degrees Celsius, 409 00:26:49,960 --> 00:26:52,639 a constant supply of water is critical. 410 00:26:55,240 --> 00:26:58,119 70 kilometres from the nearest town, 411 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:02,519 249 people live out in the opal field. 412 00:27:02,600 --> 00:27:06,519 Let her rip, Les. For them, the only source of water 413 00:27:06,600 --> 00:27:09,599 is this 1,500-metre-deep well. 414 00:27:15,560 --> 00:27:17,559 Got him? Yeah. 415 00:27:23,640 --> 00:27:26,479 Amanda! Yeah. Try that now. 416 00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:29,079 Or I can, I suppose. 417 00:27:29,600 --> 00:27:32,959 Ho, ho. BOTH: Eww. 418 00:27:33,040 --> 00:27:35,519 It's a bit dirty-looking. It's a little bit. 419 00:27:36,120 --> 00:27:39,639 Should clear. There. 420 00:27:43,520 --> 00:27:45,519 Yuck. 421 00:27:45,600 --> 00:27:48,079 Ohh! You get a feed and a drink. 422 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:51,759 The drought's broken. It has. Yeah, we're going to go to work, OK? 423 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:54,759 All right, then. See you later. 424 00:27:54,840 --> 00:27:56,839 See ya'. 425 00:27:56,920 --> 00:27:58,799 I can't... Mwah! 426 00:27:58,920 --> 00:28:00,759 Go away. 427 00:28:00,840 --> 00:28:05,199 The water's flowing so we better get back to work. Yep. 428 00:28:05,280 --> 00:28:07,679 What's that up there? Is that a drone? 429 00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:10,519 Yeah, we've got someone following us. 430 00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:13,879 Why would a drone be followin' us, Les? 431 00:28:13,960 --> 00:28:15,959 Don't know. 432 00:28:16,040 --> 00:28:18,159 I'll slow down. 433 00:28:25,200 --> 00:28:27,399 It's slowing down with us. Yeah. 434 00:28:28,080 --> 00:28:31,079 Somebody's spying on us. That's a bit dodgy. 435 00:28:31,160 --> 00:28:35,479 If it's us, it is. It's flyin' off there now, look. Yep. 436 00:28:36,560 --> 00:28:38,959 We might have some bloody hi-tech ratters. 437 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:47,599 Yeah, that's a bit of a worry, Les. 438 00:28:47,680 --> 00:28:52,159 It is. What do you do? Bring the rifle over. 439 00:28:52,240 --> 00:28:54,799 The .45-70 should be able to reach him, shouldn't it? 440 00:28:54,880 --> 00:28:56,879 I reckon it would. 441 00:28:58,440 --> 00:29:01,399 I'd like to find out who's flying the first. 442 00:29:01,480 --> 00:29:04,239 The ratters have been active in a couple of places. 443 00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:07,159 We'll just have to keep an eye on it and 444 00:29:07,240 --> 00:29:11,359 if they get caught, well, they're gonna have to suffer the consequences. 445 00:29:14,520 --> 00:29:16,519 That might have a bit of potch in it. 446 00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:19,719 It's a very good sign. 447 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:25,039 The Boulder Boys 448 00:29:25,120 --> 00:29:30,039 are on their final day of an exploration dig with a borrowed excavator. 449 00:29:30,120 --> 00:29:33,359 We found the sandstone. 450 00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:35,639 We just need to hit the level where 451 00:29:35,720 --> 00:29:38,639 the sandstone ends and the clay begins. 452 00:29:43,680 --> 00:29:46,159 Oh-ho. Ron, have a look at that. 453 00:29:46,240 --> 00:29:49,159 That's all right. Look at that. What have you got, Ron? 454 00:29:49,240 --> 00:29:51,879 You on a a bid too, are ya? Yeah, what is it? 455 00:29:51,960 --> 00:29:55,439 That's a pair of earrings. Whoa, have a look at this. 456 00:29:55,520 --> 00:29:57,719 We've got colour here. Wow. 457 00:29:57,800 --> 00:30:01,639 That's nice, it's a good feeling. We might get onto what we've been looking for, 458 00:30:01,720 --> 00:30:05,599 bit of shallow opal. True. About time too. Very good. 459 00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:08,959 If we don't have a little bit of success, 460 00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:13,079 we've just got to be a bit patient and we'll work through it. 461 00:30:22,160 --> 00:30:25,919 Oi! Oi! What, mate? Bring it back down. Eh? 462 00:30:31,560 --> 00:30:34,799 You mongrel! 463 00:30:40,280 --> 00:30:42,479 Lucky Ron got on to me. You can blow hoses on these 464 00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:44,919 and drop 200 litres of oil pretty quick, actually. 465 00:30:45,680 --> 00:30:48,279 Today she just went - and I got a shower. 466 00:30:49,280 --> 00:30:51,519 A major loss of hydraulic oil 467 00:30:51,600 --> 00:30:54,239 will cripple the excavator and the mission. 468 00:30:54,320 --> 00:30:56,919 See how it's all dirty? It's been leaking for a while. 469 00:30:57,000 --> 00:30:59,279 It's a simple fix, replacing the O-ring. 470 00:30:59,360 --> 00:31:02,839 Probably done an O-ring, mate. We've got the O-rings, that's one. 471 00:31:02,920 --> 00:31:04,999 Now I've just gotta get one of these to fit. 472 00:31:05,080 --> 00:31:07,359 That one there. 473 00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:09,599 No, we don't have the right size. 474 00:31:09,680 --> 00:31:12,799 I got every other spanner, but I got bugger all Allen keys. 475 00:31:12,880 --> 00:31:17,239 With no excavator, the dig is over. 476 00:31:18,400 --> 00:31:21,079 We've done an O-ring. It's not that bad but we haven't got the 477 00:31:21,160 --> 00:31:24,399 gear to fix it. We were just starting to get a bit trace too. 478 00:31:24,480 --> 00:31:28,599 Well, the opal gods will put everything in front of you when there's colour there. 479 00:31:28,680 --> 00:31:32,959 The more you chase it, the less you find it, eh? You stumble across it sometimes. 480 00:31:33,040 --> 00:31:36,359 Sometimes you do, mate. And then you blow an O-ring. 481 00:31:41,720 --> 00:31:43,719 Back at camp... 482 00:31:45,600 --> 00:31:49,079 ..time to assess if the opal trace holds enough promise 483 00:31:49,160 --> 00:31:51,959 to lay claim for next season. 484 00:31:52,040 --> 00:31:54,879 There's potential there Ron, eh? There is. 485 00:31:54,960 --> 00:31:57,759 It's a good sign, Ron, eh? 486 00:31:57,840 --> 00:32:00,879 What about that? It's got a flash to it. Yeah. 487 00:32:00,960 --> 00:32:03,919 That one goes into red, look at that. I know. 488 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:07,399 Aaron and Ron's opal is boulder opal. 489 00:32:07,480 --> 00:32:09,839 It's in the rough, 490 00:32:09,920 --> 00:32:13,599 blue/green in colour, and weighs 3kg. 491 00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:17,599 What do you reckon it's worth, Ron? 492 00:32:17,680 --> 00:32:19,959 Two grand? Nah, 1,500. 1,500. 493 00:32:22,200 --> 00:32:27,159 The signs are good for the boys to return here next season. 494 00:32:27,240 --> 00:32:29,119 No worries, Ron. 495 00:32:29,200 --> 00:32:32,239 Finished up on a good note but let's see what happens. 496 00:32:32,320 --> 00:32:34,399 Bit of luck, we've got a bit of luck going with us. 497 00:32:34,480 --> 00:32:38,479 And you never know, this opal mining's a funny game. 498 00:32:39,520 --> 00:32:42,479 When you think you know it, you got no idea. 499 00:32:52,720 --> 00:32:56,119 This is what all the hard work underground leads up to. 500 00:32:56,200 --> 00:33:00,759 This is the...the washing and then the tail-out. The tail-out's the exciting bit. 501 00:33:00,840 --> 00:33:04,679 For the McFarlanes, it's their last tail-out of the season 502 00:33:04,760 --> 00:33:08,079 and son Zac's only chance of an opal payday. 503 00:33:08,160 --> 00:33:12,959 This is the first time I've helped them with the dirt going in the agi, so that's pretty exciting. 504 00:33:13,040 --> 00:33:16,799 Fingers are crossed it's going to be a big Christmas tree, full of colour. 505 00:33:16,880 --> 00:33:20,559 All right, you ready, boys? Yeah, mate. Yeah. Send her down. 506 00:33:20,640 --> 00:33:22,639 Righto. 507 00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:27,239 Yeah, this is the pointy end of the business. 508 00:33:27,320 --> 00:33:32,039 We want to tail out and hopefully find ourselves some beautiful gems. 509 00:33:32,120 --> 00:33:36,319 Oh, yeah. It would amazing if I could go home to the missus and 510 00:33:36,400 --> 00:33:40,519 me boy with a good handful of nobbies and colour. That'd be great. 511 00:33:43,320 --> 00:33:47,079 It's trace mainly at the moment, mate. Mainly trace. 512 00:33:47,160 --> 00:33:52,959 They're just bits of potch and amber and what we call trace. 513 00:33:53,040 --> 00:33:55,599 Yeah, it wasn't looking too good at the start. 514 00:33:55,680 --> 00:33:57,959 We were all starting to lose a little hope. 515 00:34:00,240 --> 00:34:02,159 Pete. 516 00:34:02,240 --> 00:34:04,959 Hey. Hey, yeah. Hey, er, boys. 517 00:34:05,040 --> 00:34:07,719 Hey. I found something, too. 518 00:34:07,800 --> 00:34:11,079 What have you got? Oh, mate. 519 00:34:11,160 --> 00:34:13,639 I think it might beat yours, mate. I think so. 520 00:34:13,720 --> 00:34:16,359 Maybe not in size but definitely in colour. 521 00:34:16,440 --> 00:34:18,279 Oh, beautiful. 522 00:34:18,600 --> 00:34:20,599 Can't stop kissing it? No, I can't. 523 00:34:22,680 --> 00:34:26,879 That's what it's all about. That's what you're looking for. That's what we're looking for. 524 00:34:26,960 --> 00:34:30,559 Really cool. I'm pretty happy about it, not gonna lie. 525 00:34:30,640 --> 00:34:32,879 Look, see that? Yeah. 526 00:34:32,960 --> 00:34:35,239 Isn't that sensational? 527 00:34:35,320 --> 00:34:37,519 I saw that and I was like, "Oh, yeah! 528 00:34:37,600 --> 00:34:39,999 Yeah, this is cool. I like this." 529 00:34:40,080 --> 00:34:42,999 He's goin', man. Yeah, that's it. He's hooked. He's hooked. 530 00:34:43,080 --> 00:34:45,599 He nearly licked it. What do you reckon? Guesstimate. 531 00:34:45,680 --> 00:34:48,719 Two, maybe three grand? Beautiful. 532 00:34:48,800 --> 00:34:51,199 Well done, mate. Phew. 533 00:34:52,600 --> 00:34:54,319 Whoo-hoo. 534 00:34:59,480 --> 00:35:02,039 Another beautiful day in paradise, eh? 535 00:35:02,120 --> 00:35:05,279 They've battled ratters, repairs 536 00:35:05,360 --> 00:35:10,879 and rocketing temperatures. Now the Bushmen are facing cement-like rock. 537 00:35:10,960 --> 00:35:15,519 Big solid wall that comes in there that we couldn't dig through. 538 00:35:15,600 --> 00:35:17,599 Too bloody solid. 539 00:35:17,680 --> 00:35:21,679 And it's running right across there, so we've changed direction a little bit. 540 00:35:34,880 --> 00:35:37,359 Whoa. Whoa! 541 00:35:37,440 --> 00:35:40,679 We're in diamonds. All around the way? Yep. 542 00:35:40,760 --> 00:35:42,959 Where's my... Wait a minute. 543 00:35:43,040 --> 00:35:45,199 Oh, we're getting the prayer mat!" 544 00:35:45,280 --> 00:35:47,439 Bloody hell. It is serious. 545 00:35:47,520 --> 00:35:49,519 Whoa-ho! 546 00:35:50,520 --> 00:35:53,039 It's big and it's cheesy. 547 00:35:53,120 --> 00:35:55,239 About two inches long, isn't it? Yeah, 548 00:35:55,320 --> 00:35:57,879 and there's a fair bit on the ground too, Les. Yeah. 549 00:35:57,960 --> 00:35:59,959 We've hit some nice colour. 550 00:36:00,040 --> 00:36:02,359 It's big, thick. There's a fair bit on the ground. 551 00:36:03,560 --> 00:36:06,119 We've got colour in the wall. 552 00:36:06,200 --> 00:36:09,439 Gotta be happy with that, Les. Yes. 553 00:36:09,520 --> 00:36:11,519 We're on it again maybe, Les. 554 00:36:11,600 --> 00:36:15,239 This hole might be all right for us. We're doin' all right down here. 555 00:36:15,320 --> 00:36:17,119 I hope the money doesn't go to my head. 556 00:36:17,200 --> 00:36:19,959 I don't wouldn't know how that'd work cos I've never had money 557 00:36:20,040 --> 00:36:22,239 to go to my head in the first place. 558 00:36:22,320 --> 00:36:24,719 We'll have a look at it, right. 559 00:36:24,800 --> 00:36:26,999 That's a nice little piece. 560 00:36:27,080 --> 00:36:29,239 It's not bad colour, really, is it? 561 00:36:29,320 --> 00:36:31,399 It's bright. 562 00:36:31,480 --> 00:36:33,519 We just need more of it, Les. 563 00:36:33,600 --> 00:36:37,319 I think we'll take this up and chuck her in the tumbler, Les, 564 00:36:37,400 --> 00:36:39,919 and see what it does for the morrow, eh? Yeah. 565 00:36:40,000 --> 00:36:42,159 All right, I'll see you on the top side. 566 00:36:45,920 --> 00:36:48,079 Back at Rod's camp, 567 00:36:48,160 --> 00:36:51,079 the Bushmen need this find to stack up. 568 00:36:51,160 --> 00:36:53,399 Yeah, we're fast running out of time. 569 00:36:53,480 --> 00:36:56,319 The heat's coming. Nothing's going to stop it. 570 00:36:58,080 --> 00:37:01,519 We'll give this a bit of a wash, mate, and see what's in it. Yep. 571 00:37:02,760 --> 00:37:04,439 OK. 572 00:37:06,720 --> 00:37:09,919 Can you hear that? No, I can't hear anything, mate. 573 00:37:10,000 --> 00:37:11,999 Yeah, well, I bloody can. 574 00:37:13,800 --> 00:37:17,279 The claim's one thing, but not at the bloody camp. 575 00:37:26,440 --> 00:37:28,719 Where did it go? 576 00:37:28,800 --> 00:37:32,079 I sort of reacted before I thought too much. 577 00:37:32,160 --> 00:37:35,119 He looked out and seen it and then he ducked straight inside... 578 00:37:36,480 --> 00:37:38,399 ..and got the artillery out. 579 00:37:38,480 --> 00:37:40,879 The claim's one thing, your camp's different. 580 00:37:40,960 --> 00:37:43,439 It's where I live, it's where my missus is. 581 00:37:43,520 --> 00:37:45,719 I can't see it from this side. 582 00:37:45,800 --> 00:37:48,159 They can't go spying on your camp so 583 00:37:48,240 --> 00:37:50,479 you gotta take real action when that happens. 584 00:37:51,760 --> 00:37:55,359 Yeah, we're gonna stick it in the tumbler, and all the tumbler is, 585 00:37:55,440 --> 00:37:57,999 is a couple of rotating little drums. 586 00:37:58,080 --> 00:38:01,879 You stick 'em in there, and they rotate around on themselves, a bit of water. 587 00:38:01,960 --> 00:38:05,799 Knocks all the bloody dirt and clay and stuff off 'em 588 00:38:05,880 --> 00:38:08,239 just so you can see 'em a bit better. 589 00:38:08,320 --> 00:38:11,679 Right-o, Les. We'll let this spin around for a little while, eh? Yeah. 590 00:38:16,760 --> 00:38:19,679 Now, Les, let's have a look what we got here, eh? Yeah. 591 00:38:22,440 --> 00:38:25,759 That didn't clean up too bad. Look at that. 592 00:38:25,840 --> 00:38:28,919 Looks better now the dirt's off it a bit. 593 00:38:29,000 --> 00:38:31,559 That one's all right. 594 00:38:31,640 --> 00:38:35,759 Ah, yeah, it's got some nice bloody blues in there. Look at that. 595 00:38:35,840 --> 00:38:38,319 Yeah, that come up better, didn't it? 596 00:38:38,400 --> 00:38:41,239 On black too, mate. Yeah. Bit of purple. 597 00:38:43,680 --> 00:38:45,319 Oh, yeah. 598 00:38:45,400 --> 00:38:48,399 We probably got a few dollars here, Les. 599 00:38:48,480 --> 00:38:51,719 There's not a lot but there's a few nice colours, 600 00:38:51,800 --> 00:38:54,199 that's going to make a decent stone. 601 00:38:54,280 --> 00:38:57,479 Yeah, there's a few nice pieces amongst them. 602 00:38:57,560 --> 00:39:01,199 The Bushmen have uncovered crystal opal. 603 00:39:01,280 --> 00:39:05,439 It's in the rough. Mostly blue/green in colour. 604 00:39:05,520 --> 00:39:10,079 Les, what are you guessing? Oh, 1,500, couple of grand. 605 00:39:10,160 --> 00:39:13,119 If we sell it we'd ask for two, but take 15. 606 00:39:13,200 --> 00:39:15,439 1,500 it is, mate. 607 00:39:15,520 --> 00:39:18,119 1,500 it is. 608 00:39:18,200 --> 00:39:21,119 Gettin' closer all the time, Les. 609 00:39:21,200 --> 00:39:25,199 With an estimated value of $1,500, 610 00:39:25,280 --> 00:39:27,759 the Bushmen are inching ever closer 611 00:39:27,840 --> 00:39:29,919 to their season target. 612 00:39:30,000 --> 00:39:32,759 But the way these ratters are, mate, 613 00:39:32,840 --> 00:39:35,479 I reckon we ought to put this away and get a bigger batch. 614 00:39:35,560 --> 00:39:37,719 Bigger parcel. Yeah. 615 00:39:37,800 --> 00:39:41,679 Couple of dollars more than we had yesterday, so that's gotta be good. 616 00:39:42,120 --> 00:39:47,119 Yeah. You know, even if you're only just finding diesel money, it keeps you goin' 617 00:39:47,200 --> 00:39:50,719 Yeah. Well, it keeps the diesel fella happy anyway. 618 00:39:58,880 --> 00:40:01,319 Whoo-hoo. 619 00:40:01,400 --> 00:40:04,759 This is what it's all about. This beautiful thing here. 620 00:40:04,880 --> 00:40:07,639 To get something like that out of the pointy end of the business, 621 00:40:07,720 --> 00:40:10,959 makes it all worthwhile. Doesn't always happen, 622 00:40:11,040 --> 00:40:16,119 but when it does happen - elation. It makes you feel damn good inside, I can assure you. 623 00:40:16,200 --> 00:40:18,759 In his first-ever opal dig, 624 00:40:18,840 --> 00:40:22,879 Zac McFarlane has discovered opal, valued conservatively 625 00:40:22,960 --> 00:40:25,439 at $2,000. 626 00:40:25,520 --> 00:40:28,359 Oh, pulling the stone out. Finding the colour, 627 00:40:28,440 --> 00:40:32,319 I'm through the roof happy. Through the roof. 628 00:40:32,400 --> 00:40:33,719 Well done. 629 00:40:33,800 --> 00:40:36,919 For the McFarlanes, the season is over. 630 00:40:37,760 --> 00:40:41,759 With a total of $4,200, they've fallen well 631 00:40:41,840 --> 00:40:44,399 short of their $20,000 target. 632 00:40:44,480 --> 00:40:49,159 But for Gav, there are some things more important than opal. 633 00:40:49,240 --> 00:40:51,599 The biggest highlight I think for the season for me 634 00:40:51,680 --> 00:40:54,599 is having my family unit back together and having my son working 635 00:40:54,680 --> 00:40:58,519 side-by-side with me underground. Watchin' him pick up the little things, you know. 636 00:40:58,600 --> 00:41:02,199 Gettin' in there, gettin' his hands dirty and doin' it, you know. 637 00:41:02,280 --> 00:41:03,599 Beautiful. 638 00:41:05,160 --> 00:41:08,399 You still get a few things done around the camp for the girls. 639 00:41:08,480 --> 00:41:11,559 One of the main ones for Connie, I guess, would be 640 00:41:11,640 --> 00:41:14,159 the ability to flush a toilet. 641 00:41:17,240 --> 00:41:21,359 But Teagy, you know, she wants a little bit more privacy in her room. 642 00:41:21,440 --> 00:41:23,559 So, just those little things. 643 00:41:24,760 --> 00:41:27,239 G'day, g'day. Hey, Pete. How are you, mate? 644 00:41:27,320 --> 00:41:30,839 You ready to go to work? Got a few of the lads comin' round, 645 00:41:30,920 --> 00:41:34,439 bit of a workin' bee, and I told 'em I'd put a barbecue on, a few beers. 646 00:41:34,520 --> 00:41:38,439 I'd like to put one of them panels there. The refrigeration panels. 647 00:41:38,520 --> 00:41:40,519 We'll get that up today, mate, real quick. 648 00:41:40,600 --> 00:41:43,079 Onto the table. 649 00:41:43,160 --> 00:41:47,039 Yeah. Oh, yeah, 2-3. Yeah, 2-3 30. 650 00:41:47,120 --> 00:41:50,999 That should stand up there, Tim, with a bit of luck. If we stand him up... 651 00:41:51,080 --> 00:41:53,999 like that... Mate, that's perfect. 652 00:42:07,840 --> 00:42:10,439 Hello, lovely. Hello, darling. 653 00:42:10,520 --> 00:42:12,639 OK. How are you, Connie? 654 00:42:12,720 --> 00:42:16,079 So what do you reckon? We haven't got the peephole happening any more, 655 00:42:16,160 --> 00:42:18,519 got a door closed, got to be happy about that. 656 00:42:18,600 --> 00:42:20,439 I love it, darlin'. OK. I love it. 657 00:42:20,520 --> 00:42:23,759 Dad's done a pretty good job, actually. Not half bad. 658 00:42:23,840 --> 00:42:27,439 It's actually so good. You got a wall. I got a wall. 659 00:42:27,520 --> 00:42:31,239 It's pretty good. I got a wall. Thank you, Dad. That's all right. 660 00:42:33,440 --> 00:42:35,559 Look, watch, watch. No, I want to do it! 661 00:42:35,640 --> 00:42:37,799 Do it once. 662 00:42:37,880 --> 00:42:40,919 It flushes! How cool's that? 663 00:42:41,000 --> 00:42:45,799 It works. I'm so proud of you! Gold stars. 664 00:42:45,880 --> 00:42:49,279 Thank you. You're welcome, my gorgeous. 665 00:42:49,360 --> 00:42:51,359 So, who would like a beer? 666 00:42:51,440 --> 00:42:55,199 It was cool. It was an experience. I'm really enjoyin' it. 667 00:42:55,280 --> 00:42:59,599 I'm keen to keep goin' for years and years, that's for sure. 668 00:42:59,680 --> 00:43:03,439 Thanks for the season, great season, great to have my boys with me. 669 00:43:03,520 --> 00:43:05,759 I couldn't have done it without yous all. 670 00:43:05,840 --> 00:43:09,479 My girls are happy, I'm happy, everybody's together now 671 00:43:09,560 --> 00:43:11,559 and I just want to say cheers and thank you. 672 00:43:11,640 --> 00:43:14,399 Here's to you guys. ALL: Cheers! 673 00:43:18,160 --> 00:43:19,919 subtitles by Deluxe 673 00:43:20,305 --> 00:44:20,642 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm