two weeks drilling, page-38

Grub.
They crew would probably be on a roster so they work the roster regardless of public holiday’s.
I have worked construction remote for years.
When your away from home you just do the rostered days on until leave. They might have a day off like you can’t work more than 13 days in row so every second Sunday.when away from home it’s about overtime extra pay for long shifts.
Otherwise construction workers get bored in remote areas and generally want the hours of work to get the cash to take home when on leave.
If the team where local to Mt Isa they may have packed up and went home being only 4 or so hours back to Isa.