Plenty of us have had a crack at panning for gold at local tourist hot spots. You know the ones – you’re usually muddy, cold and standing in a few centimetres of water. You swirl a pan around and see nothing but sand and rocks, perhaps the occasional glimmer… that turns out to be nothing. But the Syzmik crew are proud to have a genuine treasure hunter in the crew who pans for gold as part of her job! It’s time to meet Mel – a real-life gold digger!

Tell us a bit about yourself including who you are and what you do for work.

My name is Melanie Wood, I am 48 years old, and I own a small-scale gold mining operation in the WA goldfields.

Why did you get into your field?

I decided to quit my office job 4 years ago to try something different and completely out of my comfort zone. I was asked to go gold prospecting and it sounded like a great way to explore the WA goldfields. At the time I wanted to go on an adventure. It was a huge risk though as I had no idea if I was going to like it or succeed. I took a leap of faith, and it paid off.

What inspires you and your work?

I’m really inspired by the old timers and how they mined over 100 years ago with no air-conditioned machinery - just hand tools and candlelight. It’s pretty incredible how they would walk for weeks to find gold and dig down into the ground and build mine shafts, chipping away at the gold. We are so lucky to have heavy machinery and metal detectors these days.

What was your first key memory in your profession?
My first key memory is the first time I went out metal detecting and found my first piece of gold. It’s an incredible feeling digging up a gold nugget that has been in the ground for millions of years.

Have there been any significant events or milestones in your profession?

A significant event for me was being asked to help struggling gold miners turn their luck around by being a part of a TV show called Aussie Gold Hunters Mine SOS. I made some incredible friends and it’s an amazing feeling to be able to give back to the community.

What do you do on a day-to-day basis?

My days are always different which I love but I always start my day with gratitude. I write ten things I’m grateful for and five things I want to focus on for the day. I do this before I look at my phone and get distracted - it’s a great way to start the day. Some days I help run the processing plant by bringing dirt over in the loader, other days I go out metal detecting. We also look at other leases and sample the ground. Or you can sometimes find me down the huge pits we dig looking for a quartz vein that may have gold in it, each day is a different adventure out here!

Did you always know you wanted to do this?
Gold prospecting was not even on my radar. I met someone who was a full-time gold prospector and after a few months of dating, he asked if I wanted to move 1000km away to try it myself. If it was any other time of my life, I would have laughed it off, but my gut instinct was telling me to try it - to take a leap of faith and go on an adventure. I always believe the universe rewards people who take risks and just go for it.

What is your favourite part about your industry/field?

My favourite part about my job is that I get to go on real life treasure hunts everyday searching for gold. I also find beautiful bottles left by the old timers from over 100 years ago. I’ve found old coins, buttons, and locks too.

If there is something you could remove from your job what about it be?

If I could remove anything from my job it would 100% be the flies!

If you could only have one tool for the rest of your life, what would you pick?

If I could only have one tool for the rest of my life it would be my trusty pick - I have dug up many nuggets with it.

What's the weirdest thing you've seen on-site?

The weirdest thing I’ve seen on site was lights up in the sky one night, I’m still not sure what they were… 👽

If you went back in time to visit your old self at the beginning of your career, what advice would you tell yourself?

If I could go back in time to visit my old self at the beginning of my career, I would tell myself to not compare myself to others, to relax and have fun, to celebrate the small wins as they all add up and to trust in the universe and the process - everything will be okay.

What is your favourite Syzmik garment? How does it serve your job?

My favourite Syzmik garment is the women’s Outdoor long-sleeve shirt. It’s super lightweight and has breathable underarms which helps being out in 50-degree heat! I love the feminine fit and the colours. Another thing I love about them is after you wash them and hang them out to dry, they are crinkle free, and look like they have just been ironed – they’re the nicest shirts I’ve ever worn.

What do you like to do out of work?

In my spare time (which isn’t often!) I love to go back to the city and get down to the beach - even just to walk along the coast. I find the ocean so therapeutic and relaxing. I also love to travel. I haven’t been everywhere but it’s on my list.

What's your favourite sitcom?

My favourite sitcom is probably The Big Bang Theory, but I also love watching old episodes of Sex and The City.

Syz: What are you ordering at the pub?

My favourite pub meal is steak with mash potatoes and veggies.

What's one thing about you that would surprise other people?

One thing about myself that would surprise other people is that I spent almost two years in ICU fighting for my life with a rare blood disorder. I had my spleen removed and have been in remission for 18 years.

What is one phrase tradies say on-site that no one else would understand?

One phrase said on-site that no one else would understand (unless you are from Australia) is ‘yeah nah’ (no) and ‘nah yeah’ (yes).

Your boss finally gives you Saturday off, what are you doing?

It’s a Saturday and I’ve allowed myself a day off…I would read a book, watch a good documentary, or build Lego.

Syzmik love having Mel as part of our crew. She’s the perfect example of how you can succeed with passion, a strong work ethic and work-life balance. To find out more about Mel and to follow her gold digging adventures, follow her on Instagram.

Image credit: https://www.perthnow.com.au/