CAREER choice can be a deal-breaker at this time of the year in Bathurst, with some people working outdoors in the heatwave while others are as cool as a cucumber.
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So far this week the severe heatwave has seen the mercury soar to 34.4 degrees in Bathurst on Monday, 36.6 on Tuesday and 37.5 on Wednesday.
Bathurst landscaper and postie Ian North is among those slogging it out during the heatwave.
His postal run usually starts at 4am and then he turns to his lawn maintenance and gardening work from around midday.
“I collapsed [a couple of years ago] on a job, I was sweating profusely and it was a day when it was about 38 degrees,” he said.
“I ended up in hospital for 10 hours after I collapsed, they were pumping fluids into me for a few hours.
“It took a few days to recover.
I collapsed [a couple of years ago] on a job, I was sweating profusely and it was a day when it was about 38 degrees,.
- Postie and gardener Ian North
“It was really hot that day and there was no air moving and it was about the fourth job of the day and I’d only drink half a bottle of water.”
Since then, Mr North said he drinks a lot of water and does not “overdo it” while working outside during the heat.
“I’d drink around four litres of water a day on a day like this,” he said.
Out at Chifley Dam, Bathurst Aqua Park owner Michael Hickey said he was not sure whether he has the hottest or the coolest job in town.
“It’s the coolest job in that you’re out on the water looking out for people, but it’s hot for some of the lifeguards walking up and down the bank looking after the park,” he said.
“The lifeguards are able to go in for a quick dip, they’ll jump in and out [of the water].”
The aqua park opened in early November and Mr Hickey said it had been a hive of activity during the heatwave with people looking for a fun way to cool off, but even the dam water had become warm.
“It’s now up to 27 degrees at the moment,” he said of the current water temperature.
“We had 100 people here at the first session this morning [Thursday].”
Meanwhile, the heatwave has kept Bathurst’s firefighters busy with a number of call outs during the past week and a total fire ban declared in the Chifley region, which includes Bathurst, Oberon and Lithgow, on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
Temperatures are predicted to hover around 40 on Friday in Bathurst, while the weekend could see a little rain.
The mercury is predicted to drop to the mid 30s on Saturday and early 30s on Sunday, with the possibility of up to 10 millimetres of rain.
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Nadine Morton
Nadine Morton covers emergency services and breaking news for the Illawarra Mercury. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Nadine Morton covers emergency services and breaking news for the Illawarra Mercury. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au
