Sam the Koala

Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Thursday led mourning for Sam the koala, whose rescue from deadly bushfires inspired the nation but who has died during surgery for a sexually transmitted disease.

Rudd said he had been saddened to learn of the death of "that wonderful koala" in an operation for cysts caused by chlamydia, describing it as a tragedy.

Sam was found thirsty and severely burned in February and shot to fame when footage of her drinking bottled water offered by a fireman circulated widely on the Internet.

"The symbol of hope for so many people around the world was the great picture of that wonderful koala being fed water by one of our firefighters," Rudd said.

"I think that gave the people of the world a great sense of hope that this country, Australia, could come through those fires, as we have.

"Sam the Koala was part of the symbolism of that, and it's tragic that Sam the koala is no longer with us."

Footage of helmeted fireman Dave Tree giving Sam water scored almost 150,000 hits in two days on the Internet video site YouTube, and was shown on TV news bulletins the world over.

The cuddly marsupial died Thursday after surgery to remove cysts associated with chlamydia, said Peita Elkhorne, spokeswoman for the animal shelter where she had been living.

"(Sam) lost her fight for life today after undergoing life-saving surgery to remove cysts associated with the debilitating urogenital chlamydiosis, which affects 50 percent of the koala population," Elkhorne said.

Elkhorne said Sam's carers were "devastated with this loss" adding that she had inspired survivors of the fires and those engaged in the relief and emergency effort with her determination.

Entire towns were flattened and 173 people died when fire swept through vast tracts of bushland outside Melbourne. Millions of unique native animals, including koalas, kangaroos and wombats, were also estimated to have perished.

Rescuers had hoped to return Sam, who was of an unusual breed that is fluffier and larger than other koalas, to her home in the Strzelecki Ranges in southeast Victoria state once she had recovered from her burns.
~MSN News

Q ... Some one, PLEASE TAXIDERMISE it. He's such an Icon of Hope. Deeply saddened.

Vocation Vacation

Best Job in the World ^^.

As they say, it's not a job. It's a calling.

More than 18,000 people from nearly 200 countries have applied for the "best job in the world," hoping to earn good money for lazing around on an Australian island,

officials said Tuesday.

The deadline for applications for the post of "caretaker" of tropical Hamilton Island on the Great Barrier Reef looms on Sunday -- and the competition is already tough, the Queensland state government warned.

"We've been really overwhelmed by the lengths people are going to to draw attention to their applications," Tourism Queensland spokeswoman Nicole McNaughton told AFP.

"Potential applicants have sent out press releases, sourced their own media coverage and established websites dedicated to their applications."

Candidates are required to create a video application in English of up to one minute explaining why they are uniquely qualified for the job.

The job pays 150,000 Australian dollars (about 100,000 US dollars) for six months and includes free airfares from the successful candidate's home country to the white sands and clear waters of Hamilton Island.

In return, the winner will be expected to have as much fun as he or she can -- soaking up the sun, swimming, snorkeling, sailing -- and report to a global audience via weekly blogs, photo diaries and video updates.
The successful candidate -- who will stay in a multi-million-dollar three-bedroom beach home -- must be over 18, a "fantastic and charismatic" communicator, and able to speak and write English.

"We need a special person. They are going to be pretty busy having a good time"

Anthony Hayes, Chief Executive, Tourism Queensland


"There are hundreds of islands scattered along the Great Barrier Reef," Mr Hayes told the BBC. "We are looking for someone who can go and explore all the different islands then report back to the world on what they see.

The campaign is a key element in a drive to promote the northeastern Australian state's 18-billion-dollar a year tourism industry during the tough global economic climate,

officials say.

A shortlist of 50 applicants will be announced on March 2, the final 11 candidates will be flown to the island for interviews from May 3, and the winner will be announced on May 6, Tourism Queensland said in a statement.

Job-seekers can apply on www.islandreefjob.com.

Can this be for real?

I'll quit my job like immediately!

Q

2008 Australian House of the Year: Mandalay Coral Gardens

Mandalay Coral Gardens, a 4749sq m waterfront estate exquisitely situated in northern tropical Queensland, Australia, was voted Australia’s House of the Year by the Australian Master Builders Association, and is now on sale with Christies Great Estates. The property even has its own helipad to allow residents and guests to enjoy the many attractions of Australia's most famous tropical region. With New Zealand stone, automatic sliding glass walls, Italian marble and endless terraces, the house is designed to make the absolute most of its stunning setting and panoramas over the surrounding Whitsunday ‘bounty bar’ islands.

Designed by architect Peter Connelly, Mandalay Coral Gardens was constructed in 2005 by owner Bill Sharpe, whose firm was the continent’s 2007–2008 “builder of the year” in Australia.

It is understood more than $15 million will be needed to secure the estate which includes a caretaker’s house, office and gym.

Source: Christies Great Estates Images: luxist

Australia Offers AUD$150,000 for "The Best Job in the World" on Hamilton Island

Would you like to get paid a salary package of AUD$150,000 and live for six-month contract as Island Caretaker on the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia? Anyone could apply from all walks of life all over the world. Your duties while in the Great Barrier Reef would be:

• Clean the pool
  
• Feed the fish
  
• Collect the mail
• Make friends with the locals
• Enjoy the tropical Queensland climate and lifestyle
• Report to a global audience weekly via blogs, photo diaries and videos
• Talk to the media
• Love the sea, sun and outdoors

The job, tagged as the best in the world, was announced this week by Queensland's tourism department, which is seeking to promote the islands of the Great Barrier Reef. Since then, its website has had four million hits, crashed several times due to the influx of applicants all over the world.

Successful applicants will stay rent-free in a three-bedroom beach home complete with plunge pool and golf buggy, must be a good swimmer, excellent communicator and be able to speak and write English. “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,” said acting state Premier Paul Lucas. “This is a legitimate job which is open to anyone and everyone.”

Applications are open until February 22. Eleven short-listed candidates will be flown to Hamilton Island in early May for the final selection process and the six month contract will commence on July 1. Interested applicants can apply on www.islandreefjob.com

Hamilton Island

Whitehaven Beach

Hayman Island

Snorkeling

Via: AFP /Photos & videos via: islandreefjob