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"Best job" contenders treated to Aussie spas

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-05-06 11:02

HAMILTON ISLAND, Australia -- Candidates vying for "the world's best job" as caretaker of an Australian tropical island soothed their last-minute nerves with spa treatments Tuesday, organisers said.

The 16 hopefuls, selected from more than 34,000 applicants globally, were treated to facials, massages and pedicures a day ahead of an announcement on who is to get the dream role on the Great Barrier Reef's Hamilton Island.

"I've never done anything like this, I've never been to a spa, so this is wonderful," Germany's Mirjam Novak said.

Related readings:  Countdown begins for 'best job' finalists  Interpreter wins wild card for 'world's best job'  Woman from Taiwan into final 11 for 'best job in the world'  34,684 down to 50 for 'best job in world'  'World's best job' website flooded in final hours

Hailey Turner, one of two Australians in the running for the caretaker position, dubbed "the best job in the world" by co-ordinators Tourism Queensland, said the judging process had been one "big adventure".

The applicants were put through their paces this week, diving the waters of the Great Barrier Reef and lunching on local delicacies cooked by gourmet chefs under the watchful eyes of the judges.

Tourism Queensland will on Wednesday announce who among the 16 has been selected as winner of the competition, which has attracted worldwide attention and garnered free publicity worth an estimated 110 million Australian dollars ($77 million).

The successful candidate will receive 150,000 Australian dollars for six months' work in the tourist paradise.

They will be expected to have as much fun as possible -- soaking up the sun, swimming, snorkeling and sailing -- and report to a global audience via weekly blogs, photo diaries and video updates.

"We started with the theory that there are 600 islands here and it's the best-kept secret in the world," said Tourism Queensland's chief Anthony Hayes.

"So step number one is to try to get that message out. What we have to do now is to convert that into business for the Great Barrier Reef."

The 16 finalists hail from 15 countries, including Korean journalist Juweon Kim, Japanese receptionist Mieko Kobayashi, manager Yi Yao from China, sports teacher Greg Reynen from Singapore and DJ Anjaan RJ from India.

Local betting agencies are tipping sky-diving interpreter Clare Wang from China's Taiwan as favourite for the job.

Wang won a wildcard spot among the finalists after attracting 151,676 votes from the public in an online poll, almost three times as many as her closest rivals.

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