British man announced as caretaker of tropical island
Ferry Online Travel News 07/05/2009
Ben Southall gets job as new caretaker of Hamilton Island on the Great Barrier Reef.
A charity fundraiser from Petersfield Hampshire, Ben Southall, has won the competition to become the caretaker of Hamilton Island off Australia’s Queensland coast. The 34 year old came through a reality style show beating 35,000 other applicants.
He now has to prepare for six months alone where his job will entail reporting on life on Hamilton, snorkeling, exploring the islands off the Great Barrier Reef and building relationships with the locals. His salary for the six month stint is expected to be 73,500 pounds. In addition to this he will be staying in a three bedroom beach house with a swimming pool and has been provided with a golf cart to transport himself around.
“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,” said the BBC’s correspondent in Sydney. The competition gave Australia’s tourism a boost, which had dropped since the worldwide recession hit.
It is estimated that Tourism Queensland have invested over 600,000 pounds in the project but they suggest that it is equal to 70 times that amount in global advertising received since January.
“I hope my swimming is up to standard!” Said Ben Southall, on preparing to enter his new home for the next six months.
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