Day 1!

It's officially starting! Ben (along with his girlfriend, Bre) has started his first "work day" in paradise! I'm excited to read about Bens adventures over the next 6 months, and the board of tourism has him set up right. You can follow a schedule to see where and what he'll be exploring next.

Please join me in congratulating Hamilton Islands new caretaker as he starts The Best Job In The World!!!

CONGRATS TO BEN!!!

Congratulations to Ben! The following is the official announcement from Tourism Queensland. For those of you still following, check back in July for Ben's first set of blogs about his new job in paradise!

After a truly global search, the atmosphere was electric when the Caretaker of Islands of the Great Barrier Reef was announced by the Premier of Queensland - congratulations Ben Southall!

Ben S was chosen from more than 34,000 applicants for the Best Job in the World after a selection process that culminated on beautiful Hamilton Island today before an excited crowd and media from around the world.

Tomorrow morning, Ben S will be officially handed the keys to their new home - the gorgeous Blue Pearl villa overlooking the Coral Sea and their base from which to explore Queensland's magnificent Islands of the Great Barrier Reef.

Wild Card

Sorry for the delay, folks. It's been a few weeks, but i haven't given up on the blog.

With the selection process being so long (for the wild card voting) i decided to let this run it's course and step in when the action started picking up again. Though this will be a short entry, be sure to check in next week for announcements on who made the short list for interviews!

News from the Reef Job site says that one person was excluded from voting for violation of the terms of agreement, and another person pulled his application on his own accord. TQ made it clear that they would not be replaced with other applicants since the voting time was far too short. Drat! And I thought i would have another chance to take the job. :)

Voting closes very soon! If you haven't already done so, check out the finalists and make your mark!

Time is up

Time is up, and though the winners won't be announced on the Island Reef Job for another day, i've done enough research to know that i'm not going to be contacted or considered for the final rounds. All people considered for the short list of 50 candidates were to complete an online test by the end of this last weekend to be eligible. All of those applicants were to be contacted by e-mail, and unfortunately i didn't see anything in the inbox.

I knew, from the beginning, that the competition was going to be very tough, and now that i think about the content in the video, i could have done some things differently. Don't get me wrong, i think it was a clever move, and i was pleased with how it turned out. But I would have needed some other resources to make it what i really wanted. Over all i had some great fun with the project, and i had some outstanding support from friends and family. Thanks to all of you for the encouragement.

Some people will be wanting to see how all of this turns out, and the main site should have all of that available to the public over the next several months.

http://www.islandreefjob.com/

For those who want to keep up with what's happening next, there is a FAQ section of the site that has many good comments on the next steps. I encourage you to check it out!

http://www.islandreefjob.com/#/faq

I'm sure some of you will ask: "Well, Wes... what's next for you?"

I think i'll keep the blog open for a while. I may wind up changing the name, but not for a while. I'll certainly follow the job and update people on what's going to happen next. When the position is filled, i'll like everyone to the new blog and site that they will maintain. After that i may change this one up a bit, but i'll likely keep blogging. It's been fun.

So... STILL more to come! Stay tuned...

Australia

Just a couple of days before TQ starts voting on more than 19,000 applications. Can you believe it? Not even a week ago they announced that they had hit the 15,000 mark and, of course, it was still climbing.


I've been trying to view other videos in my spare time, but i'm not able to load them from work. There have been several impressive submissions, and i've noticed that this uphill climb against the competition seems more like a straight vertical shot. I'm happy with the video i made, and i think i had a creative and innovative approach to capturing TQ's attention. Surely i'm not the only person to think of getting a head start on one of the job details, but we'll see how that goes. What can i say, i'm determined!


Lately i've been getting some feedback from friends and other viewers. One of the questions that keeps popping up was my experience in Australia, and what that was like for me. A "tie-in" question that i got, since then, was if my previous visit there effects how i'm looking at this job. I think that's a great question, actually. The answer to that is: "Yes and No..." My visit to the Kambalda/Kalgoorlie area was fantastic, and i have so many things to share about it, which i will do shortly.

I've always wanted to visit the Great Barrier Reef. And regardless if i get this position or not, i'll be visiting before i leave this earth. When i was young, i thought about what i was going to do as i got older. I was huge into planes, military especially. I had always wanted to pilot F-14s or F-18's. My plan was to join the Navy after i graduated high school (talked to the recruiter and everything) but those plans fell through when i was accepted for EMT and paramedic courses through the local emergency response teams. I also dreamed of being an astronaut... like many other kids do. I think most of that was tied into the flying thing. And a few other "jobs" fell in line with those dreams, but the only other one that i remember REALLY wanting to work with something involving marine biology. At the time i thought i wanted to "work with dolphins" which was the only thing that really registered in my little brain. Obviously there's more to it than that, but when you grow up in small town Missouri, there isn't a lot of talk or education about the marine biology world. For me... i think that missing out on such an opportunity (which is nobodies fault but my own) that's what makes this job so intriguing to me. My experience dreaming about such a job, when i was young, was a precursor to that. The experience, more recently, among the Australian people and culture just pique my interest that much more.

The Kambalda area is a far cry from a tropical island feel. You're talking desert, and lots of it. In fact, water is highly coveted. It can be so scarce there that they have to run all pipes above ground in case there happens to be a leak, that way they can isolate it much faster. As you travel the roads to and from town, it's common to see pipes running along side the road. The earth there is beautiful, some of the most deep and rich shades of orange and red you'll see. After taking a walk in the bush, i came across a small water hole, likely from rains that came through before we got there. I found tracks scattered around the water, which was interesting. Not knowing the area, and what animals may live out there, you wonder if they're tracks from kangaroos... or perhaps quokkas? Not likely in that area. I did see several red kangaroos though. Some of the prettiest birds i've seen were a common sight there. Galahs are nice to look at, but you don't like them so much around 5:00am.

Between Kalgoorlie and Kambalda there are plenty of eye opening landmarks to see. One of the biggest landmarks is the "Super Pit" which is Australia's largest open cut gold mine. Some of the largest loading trucks known to man are hauling out around 900,000 ounces of gold every year. There's no way to really describe how huge this thing is. The pit (according to it's website) is (at the moment) about 3.5 kilometers long, 1.5 kilometers wide, and about 360 meters (about 1080 feet) deep. In other words... it's big. Mining is the staple of the community in that area, the Super Pit started somewhere around 1893. Another cool sight is when traveling to Red Hill in southwest Kambalda, you'll pass by many old mining buildings and museums. You can hike your way to the top of the hill, and when you crest it you find a stunning panoramic view of Lake Lefroy's salt flats, which looks like a deep blanket of snow as far as your eyes can see.

Regardless if the areas rugged terrain, it's a beautiful place to visit. I would have to say one of the best trips i've ever been on. As i had mentioned in my first entry, the people were extremely friendly and welcomed us to the area. The experience there was exotic enough to know we were definitely away, but warm enough to feel right at home.

So here's to all of those living in the Kalgoorlie/Kambalda area. I simply can't wait to go back! Hopefully the next time i visit Australia is when i take up residence on the island... May the environment there be as open and warm as it was there.

*disclaimer*

I intended to post photos along side the blog. I promise to come back and fill this in soon. I'm afraid i don't have them at the moment, as i'm at my work computer. So, check back!

Video is finally up!

http://www.islandreefjob.com/#/applicants/watch/FoTR8r4zalw

OK, so i got a head start on the blog. I had been planning this method for a while, and didn't want to waste any more time by waiting for the public video. So, for those of you who are looking for more information on me, either scroll down the page to the posting with all my photos on it, or you can click the "January" link of the blog archive. You'll find that among the contents to the left.

I'm very excited about this finally going public. It had been several days since i submitted the application, but i realize now that TQ has to screen for content and make sure videos don't violate other terms of agreement.

Thanks for visiting! Be sure to check back weekly as i update the blog and share some stories about other places i've had the opportunity to visit.

Blessings to you all!
Wes

Victorian arson.

I'm sure most of the world knows about the fire disaster in the Australian state of Victoria. The more recent news being that they think the fires were deliberately set, which just makes me sick to my stomach. At this point they expect that about 171 are dead with more expected as the fires rage on. The following articles have some amazing stories of survival, as well as stories of heartache.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29123220/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29067017

A few years back some friends of mine and I came to know a couple of Australian gems (Rob and Nev) as they were staying in the States. Every few weeks Nev will write and give us updates about his adventures down under. Recently he wrote our group with the following:

Well things aren't to good over here me ole mates, we have got some bloody bad bush fires in the state next to us, Victoria, last count was 108 killed, over 700 houses burnt & heaps of people injured. One small town was completely burnt out. Our little part of the woods is ok at the moment, if it gets down there, there will be hell to pay, we have got thousands of of acres of blue gum & pine trees all around us...

And an update shortly after...

The closest fire to us down at home was about 60 miles away, closer to Uncle Rob though about 30 miles I'd say. The death toll is horrific, some family's have lost so much it's very sad. I think the death toll will be even higher yet. There's been about 830,000 acres burnt so far & there's still 52 fires still burning, at the moment the death tolls 130 people but they reckon it will top 200. The sad part is that Queensland is having massive floods if you could only even it out. The heat & wind has been terrible ... Police have shut whole areas down after the fires have gone through & classed them as murder sites. To read a paper over here its very hard not not to have a tear in your eye, some stories are just so sad. Anyway gang all we can do is pray for rain & bloody heaps of it.
Loves you lots mates, look after yourselves.
Nev

I'd like to take a moment to encourage fellow readers to pray for those involved in this disaster. From the people defending their own homes and farms, to those fighting the flames and risking their lives. Pray for their safety and that the winds calm down and rains pick up enough to help stop the spread.

Enlightenment

I had to think about the timing on this post. Following my introduction post doesn't quite seem to fit, but i think it's important enough to let that slide.

In the midst of the excitement about the job, i've been interested in learning more about island life in the South Pacific, especially near the reef. I happened to be reading the news (as i do when i get to work in the mornings) and came across an article on an island nation that's slowly "sinking". Honestly, i had never heard of Tuvalu until this point. The country itself is the 4th smallest in the world, with somewhere around 12,000 inhabitants scattered through it's 9 islands. At it's highest point, the land sits about 3 meters (roughly 15-16 feet) above sea level.

I've read many stories about how global warming has been threatening our way of life for quite some time, and that if we don't do something soon we may lose a lot more than we can imagine. And i know there's truth to that, but being nestled in the middle of America, it just doesn't seem to have all that much impact. At least personally. And my family tries to help in any way we can. We recycle about everything we can, we're not driving huge SUV's, we're even buying "green" energy blocks from out electric company. So we're trying to contribute in ways we know how, but as i said, we're not seeing a lot of the effect. When i read about this country slowly starting to sink, i think something clicked in me. Knowing that the people of Tuvalu could essentially lose everything, and it won't take too long for that to happen. And it's not like the tsunami incident, that happened a few years ago, where people can clean up the mess and rebuild after the fact. Some of the children on these islands won't live their full lives there because the islands may not have enough land and natural resources left to support the community.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/01/26/eco.tuvalu/index.html

The link is attached for a series of photos of the island and it's people. There are only a few, but the captions make the point clear. I've gained a new appreciation just by reading up on this, i'm glad i stumbled across the original article. It will help me appreciate the experiences i'll have on the reef as i make my way from one island to the next. I'm looking forward to processing that and reflecting back on what i've learned here.

For more information on Tuvalu, and the issue of global warming affecting the islands, visit the following link.

http://www.tuvaluislands.com/warming.htm

For more information on practical and easy steps anyone can take to help cut back on warming, please consider some options at the following link.

http://globalwarming-facts.info/50-tips.html

The job i've been waiting for!

You can ask anyone that knows me, and they will verify the response to this question. If anyone asks me: "what do you want to do with your future?", I often half jest with the response: "I want to be a rock star or a beach bum!". After all, it's the American dream, right? To lay around on the beach, soak up the sun with a cool drink by your side... gazing at the sunset and letting your troubles blow away with each passing breath of the ocean breeze? Well, I'm not a betting man, but i think it's safe to assume that a vast majority of humankind shares a similar dream of living in paradise and making a living out of it. And i never thought I would see the day where the opportunity was just OFFERED to me! Well... me... and the rest of the world. Still, how can one pass it up?

My name is Wesley. I'm 30 years young and reside in Columbia, Missouri, USA. And I've applied for the "best job in the world" which is being presented by Tourism Queensland. For my "initial" application I had only 60 seconds to somehow hook the attention of the employer, which is why I'm also taking time to offer up some information about myself on a blog. I figure the best way to tell my background is by offering up something that will be a major part of the job description. Besides, there are far too many reasons why i could qualify for this position that i do not have nearly enough time to compress them into 60 seconds of video.

I'll begin with why I'm applying here. On top of many reasons, I think it's time for a change. I've thought that for a while, but sometimes it's hard for me to put my finger on it. Some of it might be the monotony of working with the same company for over twelve years. It may be a sense of wanting to live my dreams while I'm still young. Or, it may just be boredom. I've lived in the same state my whole life, and it's been a good life here. It does get a bit old at times, as I'm sure most places seem after so long. However, it is home, but i often think of what it would be like to live elsewhere and enjoy different climates and cultures. That's where adventure kicks in for me. Being able to step out of bounds and see what the rest of the world has to offer. I recall an interview i read while researching this job, and the gentleman being interviewed said that one of the things they fear most is getting the employee to return back home after the 6 month stay is complete... Sure, i could see that. Spending 6 months living (rent free) on an island, in one of the most beautiful places in the world, while getting paid for it? Naturally, people aren't going to want to give that up.

And I can't say that I'd want to return back to Missouri for the weather. What you're looking at here is a shot from my front door. It's about seventeen inches of snow that was dropped (over night) last year. It's not always like that though. Example: For those of you who don't know what the weather here has been like, in this season, the morning i started this process, i had shivered my way into the office and saw that it was a balmy -2 degrees outside. (-19 or so for you in the land of metric). Our windchill made it feel much like -16F. In a couple of days, we could see our high temperatures climb back into the 50's... and that's the way it goes here. There's no happy medium with the weather in the state of Missouri. The summers are outrageously hot and humid, and mosquitoes tend to rule the skies. The pleasant temperatures tend to drift our way in the spring... bringing thunderstorms and tornadoes. Fall is lovely... for about a week. So you can see why the appeal of a steady tropical climate is in the air right now. But, home is home. And i can't see myself leaving it behind forever anyway. I would imagine that I'll be homesick while working on the reef. So, don't worry for me, Queensland! I'm sure I'll be sad to go, in the end, but I will be prepared to return home.

I've been Australia only once before. My mother in law married a gentleman from Kalgoorlie/Kambalda area and moved back to western AU with him. About 3 years ago we took a 10 day trip to visit. For anyone that knows a lot about Western AU, there is not much to "see" in the Kambalda / Kalgoorlie area, but the history there is very intriguing. One of the most interesting experiences in Australia was to see that the culture was exotic enough to know we were away, but the people were beyond friendly. We can hardly wait to go back. For having gone to visit family, it was one of the best "vacations" I've taken. We felt right at home with the population there. Especially when we spent our last couple of days in Perth. I can only imagine what the people are like on the reef.

Another reason I can't pass this up, is because I love the ocean. Of course, it's been that way for me as far back as I can remember. I have several family members who live in Florida, and over the years my family would make the 24 hour drive to the southeast for our summer vacations. Perhaps that's where i get the tropical crave from. I have had a fascination with the sea since i was a small child. Even now, standing on the beach with my feet in the water is one of the most exhilarating feelings i know.

As i had mentioned before, there are many reasons why I think that I qualify for this position. When visiting family in Florida, growing up, they could hardly keep me out of the Atlantic. I would swim as long as i possibly could. And though i am not a "certified" diver, I do have experience with some diving and snorkeling in the sea. In anticipation of this job, I'm also planning to take a diving class with a friend of mine. I've had some experience with diving in the past, but living in the middle of the US doesn't give me a lot of opportunity to put such skills to use. Regardless, i'm planning on traveling with friends in 2010 and there will be plenty of chances to explore the reefs of the Caribbean. I hope to be certified by this summer if i can make it work out. On a similar note, I'm an accomplished swimmer with plenty of experience in life guarding and a swim team. Snorkeling and inspecting the reef won't be an issue, i can guarantee that.

Aside from my love for the sea, I also have a lot of experience with the outdoors on land. On the family farm i had 60+ acres to explore, which seemed like all the land i would ever need as a kid. My father, grandfather, and great grandfather, taught me to hunt and fish from our farm. These experiences have helped me learn more about my surroundings in the outdoors rather than just enjoying it. I've spent several weekend theres to relax and get away from the city life for a while. Camping, hiking and floating (Google "float trips" if you're not familiar) are some of my favorite past times. I feel that i connect with God most when I'm experiencing His creation. I think a lot of my draw to the ocean comes from that experience, to know that the seas are vast, hold immense power, and are full of life that we haven't even discovered yet. With about 900 islands and 130,000 square miles to explore, i don't think I'll have enough time to see everything on the reef, but i simply can't wait to be in awe of living around one of the most complex ecosystems on the planet. Far too much to explore, so you may have to keep me longer. :)

The most important quality (and I've had some laughs from discussing this with others) is the fact that I'm a dedicated worker. I've spent 12 years with the same company that i started working for shortly after graduating high school. Why would that matter for this job? Well, for one, it IS a job, and I'm sure that Queensland wants someone in this position that's going to represent them the best possible way. I've had experience here with all aspects that you need in the perfect candidate. As much as I'd like to say that I'm only going for the surf and sand, I'm going to be working there. (I DO plan on having as much fun as possible, just for the record...) And not only working for Queensland, I'm working for the people who are interested in visiting the reef (and territory) to discover all it has to offer them. Hence the reason I'm doing this blog, and the blogs that I'll follow up with each week, until I'm either picked for the final interviews or passed up. And if i DO get picked, with permission of my new employer (wink wink nudge nudge) I'll roll my blogs into the work i do for the reef.

I've done customer service with my company for over a decade now, and it's part of me to make sure that anything i do for my job, I'm doing it for the benefit of the clients and the company. This is where i get the laughs. Do i really think that matters? Well... in short: Absolutely. A reliable, responsible and confident employee is needed. And i think i fit the bill. I'm comfortable with keeping up the blogs, presenting myself to the media, and becoming a spokesperson for the reef. So why not give me a shot? I've got the background, I've got the drive.

I'll close with this. I realize that this is a steep mountain to climb, but I've learned that if you don't start chasing your dreams, when they're right in front of you, they'll get far enough away that you can't catch them. The competition for this job is cut-throat, at best. I'm up against many qualified people. But I'll work as hard as i can to be the right person for you to tell the world about one of the most exquisite places on earth. And i appreciate you reading this blog, for your honest vote on my video, and for your consideration at handing me the opportunity of a lifetime. For the rest of the applicants applying with me: Good luck to you all! No matter what the outcome, we'll enjoy the journey together over the next year one way or another.