For six long months, this blogger can say life's a beach
SYDNEY - A bungee jumping, ostrich-riding British charity worker was named the winner yesterday of what's been dubbed the "Best Job in the World" - a six-month contract to serve as caretaker of a tropical Australian island.
Ben Southall bested nearly 35,000 applicants from around the world for the dream assignment to swim, explore, and relax on Hamilton Island in the Great Barrier Reef while writing a blog to promote the area.
The 34-year-old was selected for the 150,000 Australian dollar ($111,000) gig by officials from the tourism department of Queensland state.
Southall and 15 other finalists spent the past four days on the island for an extended interview process, which required applicants to snorkel, gorge themselves at a beachside barbecue, and relax at a spa. The finalists also had to demonstrate blogging abilities, take swimming tests, and sit through interviews.
The job is part of a tourism campaign to publicize the charms of northeastern Queensland, and officials say it already has generated many millions of dollars in publicity. It became a viral marketing hit, spreading across the world via YouTube and social networking sites such as Facebook.
"I hope I can sell the reef as much as everybody is expecting," Southall said after he was chosen at a ceremony on Hamilton Island. "My swimming hopefully is up to standard."
Southall once was a tour guide in Africa and most recently worked raising money for a charity. In his application video, he expressed a love for adventure and featured photographs of himself riding an ostrich, running a marathon, scuba diving, and kissing a giraffe.
"From the time he was announced in the Top 50, and then the Top 16, Ben has excelled in showing a true passion for Queensland," Queensland Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor said in a statement. "His ideas for how he will make the role his own . . . plus his initiative and ability to rise to a challenge impressed the selection panel and secured his place in the top job."
Although unquestionably a publicity smash success, the contest also attracted a fair bit of trouble since it was unveiled in January.
First, the website crashed due to a deluge of visitors, angering many hopefuls who couldn't lodge their video applications. Then one finalist was ousted after it was revealed she had connections to the adult entertainment industry.
Southall will live for free in an airy, three-bedroom oceanfront villa with a private pool and sweeping views of the surrounding islands. He plans to bring his Canadian girlfriend to the island. He starts "work" on July 1.
