JOE meets Ben Southall, winner of The Best Job in the World as caretaker of Hamilton Island.
By Genna Patterson
JOE interviewed Englishman and honorary Australian Ben Southall, winner of The Best Job in the World in 2009, and tried not to be jealous. Ben’s job included living in a mansion villa for six months and being caretaker of the island.
Ben is currently a judge for the Havana Club Year Out competition, which gives one lucky person the opportunity to embark on the adventure of a life-time and visit 12 countries and live 12 unforgettable experiences over 365 days.
The experiences include: partying with the locals at London’s Notting Hill Carnival; sampling Tokyo’s nightlife in the company of a top local DJ and celebrating Catalan culture in Barcelona during the Festa de la Mercee. Not exactly a bad prize then.
JOE: What do you think made you stand out to win the Best job in the world?
BEN: I was told at the time it was “having a Queenslander’s way of life” – loving the great outdoors, being a social butterfly and enjoying a BBQ! I’d say there was a little more to it than that though, the job itself was pretty full on for the entire six month period so the three day final on Hamilton Island held in front of the world’s media was a great test to see exactly how much energy the finalists had left and how well they’d handle the pressure over an extended period.
Whilst others around were backing out of the situation I just decided to embrace it and roll with it.
JOE: Of all your experiences, island living, mountain climbing etc., which was your favourite and why?
BEN: Anytime I can get outdoors and explore somewhere new I feel this great sense of adventure coming over me. As humans we’re very much out of touch with Planet Earth these days, the majority of us live in cities and we quite often forget about how important the flora and fauna of this world are.
Every time I put on my SCUBA gear and head underwater life just takes on another meaning, I forget about all the troubles above the water and can only concentrate on living in the moment; it’s a superb way to cleanse the mind and build respect for the natural world.
JOE: Were you ever lonely on the island? Did you have visitors?
BEN: Haha, this question always comes up!
The Best Job in the World involved travelling to over 60 islands all up and down the reef so I didn’t spend long sat in the same place or without company. My friends and family did visit from the UK and they got the best deal; housesitting my $3.5million beachside villa.
JOE: Just how remote was the island? Any electricity/phones/plumbing?
BEN: Some of the islands were pretty remote, operating on solar and wind power, but Hamilton Island has everything you’d expect from a modern resort… including flushing toilets.
JOE: What was the worst part of life on the island? Was it dangerous?
BEN: Any adventure has a certain degree of risk associated with it, that’s part of the deal. Swimming and diving on the Great Barrier Reef was no different, I came face to face with whales, sharks and huge manta rays.
But the most dangerous of the lot was a tiny jellyfish about the size of your fingernail called an irukandji, which put me in hospital overnight on a fix of Valium and morphine. Apart from that it was pretty much plain sailing for six months.
JOE: The question is always asked, ‘If you could bring three things to a desert island what would they be?’ Having lived on an island, what three things would you recommend for life on an island?
BEN: Being an engineer by degree there’s always things to be repaired or fixed, so definitely my Leatherman multi-tool as one. Life for me is about capturing the moment so a little waterproof camera for taking great shots under water, there’s no need for a big DSLR just something I can stick in my pocket.
And finally I’d have to say my beautiful wife Sophee, of course, we could while away the hours doing… well whatever you do when there’s nothing else to do.
JOE: Did you have much opportunity to spend your wages while living on the island or did you save it up for more adventures?
BEN: During the six months I spent virtually nothing on the island so I managed to save the bulk of the cash from the Best Job and bought a house with it – not that I’ll be staying there for too long, as the world is now our oyster so we’ll use it as an investment. I never thought I’d own a house to be honest, just my Land Rover and a roof tent.
JOE: Who owns the island anyway? Who pays the bills?
BEN: Hamilton Island is owned by the Oatley family who are a pretty well off bunch, they have vineyards, a luxury resort, a golf course and a super yacht… so owning an island is just another way of making some good hard cash.
JOE: Would you ever settle down and live the quiet life?
BEN: I’ve learned over the years that we get one chance on Planet Earth so we have to use it. There’ll always be other countries to visit, other people to meet and other adventures to embark on. Sophee and I plan to head to Asia from here in a few years’ time to see what’s on offer there. Sleep when you’re dead!
JOE: What’s the manliest thing you’ve ever done?
BEN: Haha great question. I suppose it would have to have been when I was travelling alone around Africa in the Congo.
The ferry across the river had been delayed for three days and I had to deal with a difficult border guard who had an AK47 strapped to his back. Imagine this huge guy telling me in French that I hadn’t got a ticket even though I was holding it in my hand. I got pretty angry, argued back in his face looking as tough as I could and he eventually backed down.
Considering the situation and the fact I was by myself with no one there to witness it I think that was pretty manly.
JOE: What are you up to now? What future plans have you got?
BEN: Adventures, lots of adventures. I’m about to try and set a world record running up the tallest mountains here in Australia, I run my own production company and I still work for Tourism Queensland part time.
I’m also on the judging panel for the Havana Club Year Out, which is giving one lucky winner the chance to visit 12 unique destinations over 12 months. Hopefully the Irish can bring something to the table and go for the win!
JOE: Did someone succeed you as island caretaker or is that job up for grabs again?
BEN: The Best Job in the World was a one off, so I can quite happily say I’m the only ever Island Caretaker for the Great Barrier Reef that there will be.
I would encourage all your Irish readers to enter the Havana Club Year Out competition through the Havana Club Ireland Facebook page, which you can enter here.
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