The best job in the world taken

NewFrockTuesday

Its finally gone. I voted for the Irish guy. Brilliant way to spend the Summer. I love the way it says his "vanquished rivals"


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8035168.stm

British man has been appointed the new caretaker of an Australian tropical island, a six-month position described as "the best job in the world".

Ben Southall, 34, a charity fundraiser from Petersfield, Hampshire, emerged from a field of over 34,000 applicants.

His new job requires Mr Southall to live and report from Hamilton Island, on Queensland's Great Barrier Reef.

The process gave a global profile to Australian tourism, which has gone into decline amid the worldwide recession.

Mr Southall was chosen from among 16 finalists competing for the A$150,000 (£73,500; $110,000) position.

Island blog

He was named as the successful candidate in a reality TV-style ceremony by Tourism Queensland.

Mr Southall said: "To go away now as the island caretaker for Tourism Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef is an extreme honour.



Parents "amazed" at son's new job
"I hope I can fill the boots as much as everybody is expecting. My swimming is hopefully up to standard and I look forward to all the new roles and responsibilities that the task involves."

Mr Southall, who was congratulated by his vanquished rivals as his name was announced, will now begin the arduous task of preparing for life alone on the picture-perfect island.

As well as the salary, the post of caretaker at Hamilton Island comes with a three bedroom beach home, a swimming pool and golf cart.

The job description requires Mr Southall "to explore the islands of the Great Barrier Reef, swim, snorkel, make friends with the locals and generally enjoy the tropical Queensland climate and lifestyle".

As a thoroughly modern caretaker, Mr Southall will also be expected to report back to Tourism Queensland and the world via blogs, a photo diary, video updates and interviews.


My swimming is hopefully up to standard and I look forward to all the new roles and responsibilities that the task involves

Ben Southall
He was chosen after the finalists spent four days on Hamilton Island undergoing a rigorous selection process involving snorkelling, barbecues and time at a spa.

The finalists also had to demonstrate their blogging abilities, take swimming tests and sit through in-person interviews.

The BBC's Nick Bryant, in Sydney, says Tourism Queensland deliberately chose to launch the campaign back in January, in the midst of the northern hemisphere winter, but did not expect anywhere near the global response.

Web users viewed the online job description from almost every country except North Korea and a few African states, our correspondent reports.

4zn76tysfajdxp

What a load of shít.

johnny_knoxvile

And here was me thinking being the masuse for the swedish ladies beach volley ball team was the best job in the world?

Noopti

I thought this was going to be about that Horse W@nker job advertised recently.

DonkeyStyle \o/

Noopti wrote: »

I thought this was going to be about that Horse W@nker job advertised recently.

+1
I went looking for it on the Fas website earlier, but it was gone

My name is URL

I hope he drowns

Dubh Geannain

No hits from North Korea! Hmm, I smell a rat.

*shifty eyes

Also that guy collected money for charity. So does he volunteer or get paid? I wonder if he failed to be more specific in the interview process.

Ruu_Old

I'll keep my job as cow shite sweeper over that any day!

4zn76tysfajdxp

Ruu wrote: »

I'll keep my job as cow shite sweeper over that any day!

Well you have years of experience of that, thanks to your days as a Boards mod.

samhail

i had forgotten about that !
fair dues to him - sounded absolutely deadly.

Jumpy

I was hoping the Russian porn star would win it.

Ah well. I bet he gets eaten by a shark in less than 50 days.

Galvasean

Damn, I needed that job.

kwestfan08

Best job gone, ha I think not, I still have my job as a secret agent astronaut millionaire!!!

phasers

I saw your man on the news there, he sounds like a total arsehole.

I hope the island is actually the island from LOST and we never hear from him again

Dampsquid

preparing for life alone on the picture-perfect island.

Sounds like a fairly crap job to me.

JohnCleary

How the **** is this the best job in the world?

You'll be working as a caretaker, NOT lapping up the luxuries of the islands. The way it's being made out is that you'll be going to an exotic island and snorting coke off naked ladies.

FFS and what about when the owner or whatever decides to spand a vacation there - you'll be his b1tch cleaning the pool while HE snorts coke off naked ladies

giggsy664

Naked ladies you say?

Sea Sharp

He'll be mauled by a wild animal or bitten by a poisonous insect.

seanybiker

sounds like the hardest job in the world.
He will be alone on the island but has to make friends with the locals. How does that work out?

Saibh

kwestfan08 wrote: »

Best job gone, ha I think not, I still have my job as a secret agent astronaut millionaire!!!

Not a secret any more.