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Briton Ben Southall, who has fought off thousands to win the "the best job in the world" in Australia, describes himself as “the adventurous, crazy, energetic one”.

Photo: AFP

By KRISTEN GELINEAU (AP)

SYDNEY – A bungee jumping, ostrich-riding British charity worker was named the winner Wednesday 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, 34, of Petersfield, beat out 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 for while writing a blog to promote the area.

He 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 through crystalline waters, gorge themselves at a beachside barbecue and relax at a spa. The finalists also had to demonstrate their blogging abilities, take swimming tests and sit through in-person interviews.

The job is part of a AU$1.7 million tourism campaign to publicize the charms of northeastern Queensland, and officials say it has already generated more than AU$110 million worth of publicity for the region. It quickly became a viral marketing hit, spreading quickly 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 crowned the winner at a ceremony on Hamilton Island. "My swimming hopefully is up to standard."

Southall once worked as a tour guide in Africa, but most recently has worked as a charity fundraiser. 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 scandal since it was unveiled in January.

First, the job's Web site crashed due to a deluge of visitors, angering many hopefuls who couldn't access the site to lodge their video applications. Later, the tourism department was forced to admit it had created a popular video "application" showing a woman apparently getting a tattoo expressing her love of the Great Barrier Reef.

Then one finalist was ousted after it was revealed she had connections to the adult entertainment industry. And a prankster identifying himself as terror mastermind Osama bin Laden posted a video of himself on YouTube reciting reasons why he was the best pick for the job.

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 with him to the island for the duration of the job.

Southall starts "work" on July 1.

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By Bonnie Malkin in Sydney

Mr Southall, an adventurer from Petersfield, Hants, has already travelled the world on fundraising expeditions.

He worked as a tour guide in Africa after graduating from university with a science degree and then came back to the UK where he has spent the past few years working as a charity events manager and fundraiser.

The 34 year old introduced himself, in his one-minute video pitch for the Queensland job, by saying: “Hi, I’m Ben, otherwise known as the adventurous, crazy, energetic one.”

Mr Southall describes himself as a dynamic, gregarious and hardworking go-getter.

“The most important thing to me in life is to have an exciting job that makes me happy, puts smiles on peoples’ faces and achieves challenging goals,” he said in his application.

He has ridden an ostrich and his interests include scuba diving, bungee jumping, mountain biking and photography.

In his spare time, he also manages a music festival and keeps fit running marathons and climbing.

He took a 1986 Land Rover Defender 110, after it had been worked on by his engineer father, Duncan Southall, around Africa as part of a fundraising marathon.

Mr Southall and his friend Owen Dredge, who met at Alton College in Hants in 1995, have also worked on numerous projects together including a millennium party for 500 pals and witnessing total eclipses around the world.

Mr Southall has recounted his exploits with journals and video blogs on his website www.afritrex.com and has done newspaper and magazine stories and TV and radio interviews about his adventures.

He was born on March 6, 1975 in Ropley, Hants and says his strengths include determination in adversity, meticulous planning, working and playing hard and being energetic.

His weaknesses include no musical or artistic ability, the fact that he cannot say no, never reads instructions and is erratic, he says.

Some of his likes include the Summer, challenges, working on cars, meeting people, feeling scared, loyal friends, festivals, Friday at 5pm, planning projects, all kinds of sport and keeping fit.

But his self-confessed pet hates include selfishness, giving up, arrogance and egos, hangovers, and the months of October to March in the UK.


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