Jen Walsh had very little knowledge about gold until she decided to try her hand at metal detecting. Her limited understanding mainly came from watching her beloved reality show, Aussie Gold Hunters, on Foxtel. Inspired by the series, the 49-year-old rented a metal detector during a weekend camping trip to Maryborough, located in the gold-rich region of Victoria near Ballarat.
Jen Walsh poses proudly with the 52 grams of gold she unearthed just last month, as shown on her Facebook page, Chicks with Picks. Venturing just a few steps away from a rugged trail, Walsh stumbled upon “the smallest glimmer of gold.” Describing the experience as an exhilarating rush like no other, she recalled, “It consumed me in a way they describe as gold fever.”
After getting her first taste of success, Walsh’s life took a dramatic turn. She left her job as a learning support teacher at a primary school in Melbourne and relocated to Maryborough to pursue a career as a full-time gold prospector. The move, which she made five years ago, was a daunting decision as she didn’t know anyone in her new surroundings.
Transitioning into the world of prospecting as a newcomer came with its own set of challenges, Walsh confessed. The terminology used by experienced prospectors initially left her feeling overwhelmed. Terms like ground noise and reefs sounded foreign to her, and she struggled to grasp their meanings.
“It felt like learning a whole new language, and I felt lost from the very first conversation,” Walsh recalled.
Jen Walsh created the community Chicks With Picks to provide a support system for fellow female prospectors. Initially feeling intimidated in the male-dominated prospecting industry, Walsh shared how men kept their favorite spots secret and would mislead newcomers. Over time, she found acceptance among local prospectors and a sense of peace being surrounded by nature in the Australian bush.
While Walsh hasn’t struck gold with any large nuggets yet – her largest find weighing 23 grams – she has discovered numerous smaller pieces of gold that have brought in a significant income, especially with the current high prices of gold. Digging up 52 grams of gold last month earned her $5000, proving to be a lucrative endeavor.
Despite the financial gains, Walsh treasures the connections she has made within the gold-hunting community the most. Motivated by her own struggles when starting out, Walsh established the Chicks With Picks group to provide a platform for female prospectors to connect and support each other. Through regular prospecting events and a growing Facebook following, the group has become a valuable resource for women in the industry.
Men and women gather together regularly to participate in mining events organized by Jen Walsh’s group called Chicks With Picks. According to Walsh, it’s not just about finding gold, but also about building strong friendships. She mentioned the diverse group of people who join these events, creating a special bond that she calls her “golden family.” The group continues to grow beyond her expectations.
Tyler Mahoney, a 26-year-old fourth-generation miner, spends her days searching for gold in the Australian outback at Kalgoorlie. She recalls starting her prospecting journey with her parents at a young age and even playing a game with them to decide where to search for gold. One day, her mother found gold where Tyler had suggested, making her feel like the coolest kid in the world.
Tyler Mahoney, a fourth-generation gold prospector hailing from Western Australia, has made some impressive discoveries in her time. While the largest nugget she’s uncovered weighs in at five ounces, her most profitable find was actually an ironstone load she came across a few years back.
Mahoney explains, “An ironstone load is essentially where the gold originates from, within the ironstone, before nuggets separate from it. The ironstone load I found in the desert turned out to contain around $100,000 worth of gold finds – now that was truly exhilarating.”
Despite her successes, Mahoney acknowledges that it’s no easy task to make a living solely by prospecting for gold nowadays. She credits her family background and being born into a long line of prospectors for her ability to pursue this full-time. As Mahoney puts it, “Without my family and our history of prospecting, there’s no way I could survive solely as a gold prospector.”
Mahoney also appears on the Discovery Channel’s reality TV series “Gold Rush,” showcasing her adventures and discoveries in the gold mining world.
Tyler Mahoney commented that while there have been improvements for women in the mining industry, there are still obstacles to overcome due to the predominant male presence. She also mentioned that a mix of different factors has made the search for gold more challenging than ever before.
“Right now, the mining companies hold all the cards in terms of having access to the best land. It’s almost like trying to find a needle in a haystack to secure good ground these days.
“Back in the day, the gold rush was a distant memory until metal detectors made it feel like a new gold rush all over again. Now, finding surface gold is like searching for a nugget in a haystack; you really need some heavy machinery to strike it lucky.
“If you ask my folks, being a full-time gold prospector two decades ago was the dream job. It was low-key and relatively simple to come across gold. Nowadays, it’s a whole different story as the hunt for gold has become a tough grind.”
Tyler Mahoney discovered a large nugget weighing five ounces, sharing her find on Instagram. In her book, “Gold Digger: Chasing the Motherlode in a Man’s World,” Mahoney discusses the obstacles she faced as a woman in the male-dominated mining industry, despite the increasing number of females in the field. She has been aware of the casual sexism present in mining from a young age.
“I noticed the way my mom was treated compared to my dad,” Mahoney explained. “My mom is actually better at prospecting than my dad, but everyone automatically assumes my dad has the knowledge and goes to him for everything. I remember feeling like my mom wasn’t respected as much as my dad.
“I also experienced this firsthand. I would walk into a room with my younger brother, who has less experience than me, and he would automatically be given respect – whereas I always had to work to earn it.”
Despite these challenges, Mahoney remained optimistic about the future. “Progress is happening slowly,” she noted. “We just have to keep pushing and reminding women that we deserve to be there and to take up space.
“There are so many opportunities in the mining industry. I would encourage any woman interested in it to pursue their goals.”
