ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact

Australians from all walks of life rose to news this morning that they can expect a few hot days coming up.

The seasonably warm weather has taken a number of people by surprise, as it does most years.

A Betoota Heights roofer, who says folk in his industry have it especially tough this time of year, said this latest heatwave that the mainstream media have been reporting on today has snuck up on him.

Oscar Daymen, owner operator of Daymen & Sons Roofs and Gutters, said he was going to make sure he and his team drink plenty of water and be sun smart during this week’s working week.

“Who would’ve thought?” he said.

“Five consecutive days over 30 in the Queensland desert during January? Every year, the news of an impending heatwave sneaks up on me. One minute I’m thinking about packing a jumper,”

“The next, I’m getting my apprentice to rub sunscreen on my back. Tell you what, climate change has really scrambled the weather out here.”

Equally as bemused by the news, a local primary school teacher said heatwave conditions at her workplace would be much more manageable if the state and federal governments diverted funds away from the town’s private schools and into public schools.

Jenny Dearden, who teaches the K1 composite class at Lake Betoota Primary School in Betoota Grove, said that she and her class often swelter in their seats when the mercury slides past 30.

“Every classroom at The Whooton School has aircon,” she said.

“But back to what you were saying. News of an upcoming heatwave surprised me this year, I thought we’d broken summer’s back but no. It’s about to get harder before it gets easier.”

The Advocate reached out to the Bureau of Meteorology for comment but have yet to receive a reply.

More to come.