Broad Arrow Tavern, Western Australia: “I live in the bush with my uncle. He’s a ‘roo shooter.”

This is Fiona, the bartender at the Broad Arrow Tavern. I can’t believe this beautiful, delicate-looking young woman actually works at this roughneck, outback bar. She looks like she should be a ballet dancer in London or an aerobics instructor in Perth or a barista in some hip Sydney coffee shop.

I had a short conversation with Fiona. It was short because I had no idea how to respond to what she said. Sentences were spoken that just plain stumped me.

This is the conversation. Verbatim.

Jim: You work out here in the middle of nowhere, but where do you live? (I really thought she’d say “I commute from Kalgoorlie.”)

Fiona: I live in the bush with my uncle. He’s a ‘roo shooter.”

A ‘roo shooter, in case you haven’t figured it out, is someone who shoots kangaroos for a living.

Now if perchance you’re a speed reader and accidentally skimmed over that sentence, please allow me to repeat:

HER

UNCLE

SHOOTS

KANGAROOS

FOR

A

LIVING!

I was speechless. But I’m not sure which concept surprised me more — the fact that she lives in the bush or her uncle’s chosen profession.