When Jen Walsh first started using a metal detector, she had little knowledge about gold. Her main source of information came from watching her favorite TV show, Aussie Gold Hunters on Foxtel. Inspired by the series, the 49-year-old decided to rent a metal detector during a weekend camping trip to Maryborough, a quaint town located north of Ballarat in Victoria’s goldfields region.
Jen Walsh, along with the 52 grams of gold she unearthed recently, had quite the exhilarating experience. While exploring off the beaten path, Walsh stumbled upon “the smallest speck of gold”. She described the thrill as unlike anything she had ever experienced before. Walsh recounted how it consumed her, likening it to the legendary gold fever that is often talked about.
The initial taste of success completely transformed Walsh’s life in a monumental way. Leaving her job as a learning support teacher in Melbourne, she took the plunge and became a full-time gold prospector in Maryborough. The decision was partly influenced by her poor mental health in Melbourne and the desire for a fresh start in an unfamiliar place. However, transitioning into the world of prospecting posed its own challenges for Walsh, who struggled to grasp the unfamiliar terminology and concepts. The experience felt like navigating a foreign land where even the simplest terms seemed like a different language altogether.
Jen Walsh established the Chicks With Picks community to provide support and encouragement to fellow female prospectors. Initially feeling a bit overwhelmed in the predominantly male industry, she recalled seeking guidance on where to search for gold, only to receive misleading information. Over time, Walsh managed to gain acceptance in the local prospecting circle and discovered a sense of tranquility in the Australian outback.
Exploring the wilderness and making calculated decisions on where to prospect has been mentally empowering for Walsh. Although she hasn’t struck it rich with any large nuggets yet, her discovery of numerous smaller pieces of gold has proven to be financially rewarding, especially with the current high prices for the precious metal. In fact, the gold she uncovers now serves as her primary source of income.
Despite the material gains, Walsh highlighted that the true treasure she has unearthed lies in the friendships and connections she has forged within the prospecting community. Motivated by her own challenges as a newcomer, Walsh established the Chicks With Picks group to offer support to other women in the field. Today, the group organizes regular gold hunting activities and boasts an impressive following of nearly 6000 supporters on their Facebook page.
Men and women often gather to participate in mining events organized by Jen Walsh’s group, Chicks with Picks. According to Walsh, the camaraderie and friendships formed during these events are just as important as finding gold. She describes the group as a close-knit “golden family” that continues to grow over time.
On the other hand, 26-year-old Tyler Mahoney, a fourth-generation miner from the Western Australian outback in Kalgoorlie, has been chasing gold seams since she was a child. She fondly remembers playing a game with her parents where they would mark spots they believed had gold while exploring the bush. When her mother found gold where Tyler had suggested, she felt like the coolest kid in the world.
Tyler Mahoney, a gold prospector from Western Australia, comes from a long line of gold hunters. She recently uncovered a five-ounce nugget, her biggest find to date. However, it was an ironstone load she discovered a few years ago that turned out to be her most profitable discovery. An ironstone load contains primary gold, where the gold forms within the ironstone and nuggets break away. Mahoney found an ironstone load in the desert that contained about $100,000 worth of gold, a thrilling find for her. Despite her success, Mahoney admits that making a living as a full-time prospector is challenging in today’s world. She credits her family’s background in prospecting and her generational knowledge for her ability to survive in the gold hunting industry.
Tyler Mahoney acknowledges that there have been some positive changes for women in the mining industry, but notes that there are still obstacles to overcome when working in a predominantly male environment. She also mentioned that various factors have made the search for gold more challenging than before.
“The mining companies really have the upper hand now, with the best land all taken up. It’s almost like finding a nugget of gold in a haystack these days! And let’s not forget, the first gold rush happened over a century and a half ago, followed by another one when metal detectors came into play.
Finding gold near the surface is a real challenge now, you definitely need some serious equipment. My parents would tell you that being a full-time gold prospector two decades ago was a breeze. It was laid-back and you could easily stumble upon gold nuggets – nowadays, it’s a whole different story.”
Tyler Mahoney, a female miner, shared that the largest gold nugget she discovered weighed five ounces. Despite the increasing number of women entering the male-dominated mining industry, she still faced challenges due to the casual sexism prevalent in the field, a topic she addresses in her book “Gold Digger: Chasing the Motherlode in a Man’s World.” Mahoney has been aware of this bias since a young age as she pursued her career in mining.
“I noticed the differences in how my mom and dad were treated,” Mahoney revealed.
“Even though my mom is a better prospector than my dad, people always assumed he had the knowledge and would go to him for things.
“I could see that my mom wasn’t getting the same level of respect as my dad.
“It was the same for me too. I would enter a room with my brother, who is younger and less experienced, yet he would automatically receive respect while I had to earn it.”
Despite this, Mahoney noted that there were positive changes happening.
“We just need to continue to fight and remind women that we deserve to be there and be seen,” she emphasized.
“There are so many opportunities in mining, so I urge any woman interested to pursue it.”
