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Local’s lead widens in job quest

Taiwanese interpreter Clare Wang’s (王秀毓) hopes of winning a dream job as caretaker of an unmanned island off the coast of Australia took a step forward on Thursday after the No. 2 candidate was disqualified.

Tourism Queensland removed Russian candidate Julia Yalovitsyna from the top-50 shortlist because she featured in an “inappropriate video.” The judging panel was also probing claims that Yalovitsyna worked as a porn star.

With the 37-year-old now out of the picture, the gap between the Wang, who is in her 30s, and the other candidates widened further.

Since Tourism Queensland launched the campaign to find a caretaker for six months for Hamilton Island, which is part of the Great Barrier Reef, more than 35,000 people worldwide have applied, lured by the US$100,000 pay and the scenery.

As of yesterday, Wang had 145,339 votes from online voters, with applicants from Canada (49,146 votes), Ireland (28,388), the US (20,497) and France (15,354) trailing far behind.

In her videotape, Wang describes herself as good at breaking the communication barrier, “super curious” and adventurous. She says she likes swimming, diving, mountain climbing and bungee jumping.

That she has never been to the Great Barrier Reef is “one more reason you should vote for me!” she says in the video.

Media reports in Taiwan said it was a miracle that Wang has become so popular, suggesting her warmth, enthusiasm and fluency in English could have played a role.

Wang, from Taipei County, told local reporters that she wanted the job because it would be a special experience.

She said Tourism Queensland’s recruitment advertisement was so well made that after she watched it she was convinced that anyone could apply for it, so she went right to it and made a video to apply for the job.

Tourism Queensland will pare-down the shortlist to 11 candidates on April 2, by choosing 10 names, adding in the candidates chosen by the online vote.

It plans to interview the 11 finalists on May 3 and announce the winner on May 6 and Hamilton Island’s new caretaker is due to start work on July 1.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY STAFF WRITER
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