NEWS AND NOTES
Blue Water Sailing
January 12, 2009
Australia offers 'best job in world' on paradise island
12 Jan. 2009: Wanted: one 'island caretaker', must be able to swim and willing to move to Hamilton Island in Australia's tropical Whitsundays to begin July 1. Flexible hours, six-month salary of $150,000 (£75,000), non-negotiable.
An Australian state is offering internationally what it calls "the best job in the world" -- earning a top salary for lazing around a beautiful tropical island for six months.
The job includes free airfares from the winner's home country to Hamilton Island on the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland's state government announced on Tuesday.
In return, the "island caretaker" will be expected to stroll the white sands, snorkel the reef, take care of "a few minor tasks" -- and report to a global audience via weekly blogs, photo diaries and video updates.
The successful applicant, who will stay rent-free in a three-bedroom beach home complete with plunge pool and golf cart, must be a good swimmer, excellent communicator and be able to speak and write English.
"They'll also have to talk to media from time to time about what they're doing so they can't be too shy and they'll have to love the sea, the sun, the outdoors," said acting state Premier Paul Lucas.
"The fact that they will be paid to explore the islands of the Great Barrier Reef, swim, snorkel and generally live the Queensland lifestyle makes this undoubtedly the best job in the world."
Lucas said the campaign was part of a drive to protect the state's 18 billion Australian dollar-a-year tourism.
"This is a legitimate job which is open to anyone and everyone."
The job search was launched on January 11 and overnight, over 200,000 have visited the www.islandreefjob.com website in the first 24 hours. 200,000 netizens have accessed over a million pages in the website and submitted over 200 applications.
Applications are open until February 22. Eleven shortlisted candidates will be flown to Hamilton Island in early May for the final selection process and the six month contract will commence on July 1. Job-seekers can apply on Islandreefjob.com. From AFP.
