Independent LawnMowing Contractors Of Australia Forum
Page 1 of 9 123456789 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 124

Thread: How long can we do this work?

  1. #1
    Member of forum jd's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    williamstown north, vic
    Posts
    149

    Default How long can we do this work?

    Had a few friends ask me recently how long did i think i could do this work for? While raising an eyebrow and asking them if they knew something i didn't, it got me thinking. I'm 51, been doing this for 10 years and have just presumed that i'd be pushing a mower till i'm 70. But when i think about it i don't see too many above 55. What's the verdict out there?? Who is the Mick Jagger out there??

  2. #2
    Senior Member geoff's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Clyde
    Posts
    3,528

    Default Re: How long can we do this work?

    mate i am pushing 59 and actually over 25 years plus in this game i have never have been so busy and never worked so hard..actually i am thriving on it and cannot see why i cant put many more years in...secret is work smarter not harder...this is a record year for me and reckon i can do it gain and again.....i know one man who `pulled stumps at nearly 80 and he did fine.....my oldies live on a farm in their 80s and still whipper cut fire wood and flogged the ride ons,so i be happy to follow their footsteps lol...if you are lucky and have no medical conditions its fine ,some i know have knees back and so problems and that makes it harder to push on..trouble is its really good money and you be hard pressed to earn that working for the man...

  3. #3
    Member Rye Victoria great nature's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Rye Victoria
    Posts
    288

    Default Re: How long can we do this work?

    Jd, i see heaps of 55ers out there mowing and gardening. Most of them are beer money bobs though. :[

  4. #4
    Member Matt1972's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Albion Park NSW
    Posts
    239

    Default Re: How long can we do this work?

    Been thinking the same thing lately. I'm nearly 42 and been doing this for over 9 years. I'm hoping to get another 15 years at least, but I have aches and pains that I didn't have before starting. My wrists and forearms give me trouble and have to do regular stretching to relieve the aches. My left knee and ankle give me trouble because of pre existing injuries (multiple ankle sprains from football and falling downs the stairs once and a cartilage tear that I have no idea how I did it) so I wear lace up boots and a knee guard when it plays up. I get tendonitis in my left shoulder, which I have to ice when it gets bad. My back plays up so I get a massage and go to the chiropractor every 4 weeks. I also have a growth on the tendon that runs across the arch of my right foot ( plantar fibromatosis ) that will require surgery at some point (apparently it's the bodies repair system over reacting). But I love the work and don't want to give up, the aches and pains still beat the hell out of putting up with the politics and pettiness of my previous jobs.

  5. #5
    Senior Member PaulG's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Posts
    4,991

    Default Re: How long can we do this work?

    I'm 40 and I give myself about another 12 months. I need one hip, at least, replaced at this point due to bone damage and arthritis from medication for an ongoing chronic illness. Really worried about what's going to happen to me and my family after that.

  6. #6
    Member Tomo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Melbourne south east
    Posts
    84

    Default Re: How long can we do this work?

    Lol.......Please bring your own equipment, and blowing machine.

    The job usually takes between 1.5-2 hours

  7. #7
    Senior Member imoww's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Southern highlands NSW
    Posts
    3,321

    Default Re: How long can we do this work?

    I made the change from an office job to this industry at 48. Now nearly 51 and loving it. ( few aches n pains but they go away)
    Ive heard allot of gardeners throwing the towel in around 70 odd. Thats good ods.
    Everything looks good with a haircut.... ɐuıɥɔ ɯoɹɟ pɹɐoqʎǝʞ ɐ ʎnq ı ǝɯıʇ ʇsɐl ǝɥʇ sʇɐɥʇ

  8. #8

    Default Re: How long can we do this work?

    Quote Originally Posted by geoff View Post
    mate i am pushing 59 and actually over 25 years plus in this game i have never have been so busy and never worked so hard..actually i am thriving on it and cannot see why i cant put many more years in...secret is work smarter not harder...this is a record year for me and reckon i can do it gain and again.....i know one man who `pulled stumps at nearly 80 and he did fine.....my oldies live on a farm in their 80s and still whipper cut fire wood and flogged the ride ons,so i be happy to follow their footsteps lol...if you are lucky and have no medical conditions its fine ,some i know have knees back and so problems and that makes it harder to push on..trouble is its really good money and you be hard pressed to earn that working for the man...
    You have have good luck, good genes, good management of your body young fella! Many do not.
    If my body is not going to keep up I will make sure I have put some money into good equipment which should make my job a little easier and a little different to the average fella going around.

    Been at it since Feb 94 with a little break with a heart problem near 2000. No long service leave this coming Feb

  9. #9
    Senior Member Mow And Go's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Revesby NSW
    Posts
    969

    Default Re: How long can we do this work?

    until you fall down ...or cant stand up anymore ..whichever comes first :P
    I dont break things ...I just use them beyond their operational limitations
    www.mowandgogardening.com.au

  10. #10
    Senior Member fairdinkum's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    St Clair NSW
    Posts
    1,109

    Default Re: How long can we do this work?

    Until the next long dry spell. My family won't survive another 9 month stint with bugger all work

    Jason Forrest
    Fair Dinkum Lawn & Garden Care
    Servicing St Clair, Erskine Park, Colyton, South St Marys
    0407 435 642


    fairdinkumlawns.com.au

    facebook page

  11. #11
    Senior Member head1956's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Hunter valley nsw
    Posts
    198

    Default Re: How long can we do this work?

    A mate told me once you need 3 sources of income - good advice and good if you can achieve it. I don't do anywhere near as much as you guys, a couple to three days a week because lucky to have another source of income however rolled a previously injured ankle last week and that pulled me up in the mowing believe me. I have been looking into setting up a small nursery to operate from home and last week made that seem a bit more important. Turning 60 in a couple of years and although reasonably fit and not too many aches and pains due in part to not playing much sport when younger I know mowing lawns is not a long term business for me to depend on. Shame though because in good weather like we are now having its a good business and lifestyle.

  12. #12
    Senior Member SunM's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Victoria, Australia
    Posts
    130

    Default Re: How long can we do this work?

    This is probably something important to think about, you can still work until retirement but if you have an accident it will be harder to recover from than when you were younger. In trees a lot of guys go from climbing/ground work to crew leaders/consulting, getting Dip of Arboriculture enables you to write reports at $150hr+ while still keeping you active and using your knowledge you've gained over the years. Is there an equivalent for you guys? Something that gets you off the tools but keeps you going in the industry?
    Cert III Arborist

  13. #13
    Senior Member Wyadra's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Hawthorn East
    Posts
    161

    Default Re: How long can we do this work?

    I started mowing 7 years ago, then did a cert 3 in landscape construction. Next year I'm doing a diploma of landscape design, get rpl cert 3 for arboriculture and then continue with diploma of arboriculture. At 49, I know I could continue to do physical work for another 15 years, but I have accumulated enough knowledge of horticulture/arboriculture that I am wasting my time doing the physical stuff. I'm not intending to give up exercise, I'd just rather get it from swimming, surfing etc. Though I hope to drop trees for the rest of my life, nothing I enjoy more. I don't think it is really that hard work. Moving soil, digging, that type of work I find is much harder. Pushing a lawn mower is no big deal, it's just the loading and unloading, but there are ways around that. I know grandma's in there 80's who cut their own lawn.

  14. #14
    Senior Member AJD Mowing's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Southerland Shire NSW
    Posts
    2,877

    Default Re: How long can we do this work?

    Your as old as you feel... Dont let that space between your ears mess you up.

    Just keep swimming

    AJD Mowing Giving Back Your Life

    http://www.ajdmowing.com.au/

  15. #15

    Default Re: How long can we do this work?

    Quote Originally Posted by AJD Mowing View Post
    Your as old as you feel... Dont let that space between your ears mess you up.

    Just keep swimming

    I don't listen to that little voice. I just keep buying more equipment so the body doesn't toil so hard.
    It is the doctor, chiropractor who keep telling me what my body is saying. ****e got some scans of my hands soon - possible arthritis the chiro says and got to see the heart specialist for a echocardiogram

Page 1 of 9 123456789 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •