Best Job In The World? Probably

If Carlsberg did job offers...................................this could be yours.



During these days of doom and gloom you can trust the Australians to give us some cheer with a job offer to end all job offers - a (Aust) $150,000 six month contract based on a Great Barrier Reef island.

Tourism Queensland has launched a search for someone to be a a six-month caretaker on the tropical Hamilton Island.
The paradise island boasts year-round sunshine, sandy beaches, warm lagoons and sea life galore. Chores apparently include feeding the turtles, watching whales, oh and collecting the post. Damn, that's taxing!



The successful candidate will also have to go scuba diving, snorkelling and hiking and enjoy at least 25 nearby island resorts. Thrown in is a luxury three-bedroom home and transportation to and from the island.

Acting Premier Paul Lucas said the campaign was part of the State Government's push to drive international tourism during some of the toughest international tourism climates every experienced.

He said: "The successful applicant will live on Hamilton Island for six months and travel to other Islands of the Great Barrier Reef and report back on their adventures to a global audience via weekly blogs, photo diaries, video updates.

"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.

"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."

Not surprisingly, the offer had already attracted 200,000 potential whales-watching, turtle-feeding postmen - crashing the website. Closing date in February 22. Good luck!

Coral reefs under threat

New Year New Gloom with research in Science journal indicating that coral on the Great Barrier Reef is growing at its slowest rate for at least 400 years.
The hidden threat to corals comes from global warming which is increasing acidification of the seas and stunting their growth.
Researchers used x-rays to measure the annual growth rings and discovered that while growth between 1900 and 1970 increased, it has now started to decline rapidly from 1.43 centimetres per year a decade ago to 1.24 centimetres per year.
Prof Glenn De'ath, who carried out the research at the Australian Institute of Marine Science, believes that the increased acidification of the sea due to the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is the main culprit.
With CO2 levels expected to double in the next 50 years, he believes the changes in the biodiversity are "imminent".
The Canberra Times said that if we are not careful, the reef could be gone in the next 40 years.