Community
21 May, 2025
Outback Queensland wins over Danish student
Eva Ousager says she's loved her time in North West Queensland.
Mount Isa has a new European ambassador in Eva Ousager as the teenager prepares to return home after 10 months in the Outback.
“I’m going to have winter depression in summer because I’m not going to be going to school with palm trees,” she said.
Eva told North West Weekly that she nominated Australia as her destination because she had an older brother living in Brisbane, but admitted that she hadn’t heard of Mount Isa before learning she was being sent to the mining city.
“You pick the country but then the host families in that country get to pick you and that’s where you end up,” she said.
“I think I’m happy with how it worked out.”
Immediately after landing, Eva was whisked to Buchanan Park for the iconic Mount Isa Rodeo.
However, it wasn’t all fun and games in the grandstand.
The Dane was quickly put to work as a volunteer, with her host “parent” Tash Hydon working at the rodeo for Zonta.
Then it was off to school, where Eva was placed in a Year 11 class at Spinifex State College.
“In some ways it’s the same as the Danish schools,” she said.
“The biggest difference is that it’s an ‘outdoor school’.”
The teenager said she was blown away by the hospitality of her peers at school and the general community.
“The people are very laid back and open,” she said.
“I’ve met a lot of people that I obviously wouldn’t have otherwise and it’s been really nice.”
While staying with Tash and Dave Hydon in Mount Isa, Eva made the trip to Birdsville, as well as an expedition to Melbourne.
The heat wasn’t a concern, especially as she avoided Mount Isa’s scorching heatwave while she was visiting Victoria.
“I thought (the weather) was really nice because I got to tan and swim in the pool and we were on our drive to Melbourne when it was really hot,” she said.
Eva, who leaves Mount Isa next week, said she would miss her friends and would speak glowingly of the city in her future travels.
