Fed: Reef trip no sweat for Santa

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-2009
Fed: Reef trip no sweat for Santa

By Jessica Marszalek

HAMILTON ISLAND, Qld Dec 14 - There were no reindeer and no sleigh when Santa and his
island caretaker friend Ben Southall made a special delivery on Queensland's Great Barrier
Reef on Monday.

Whipping up the ocean on a jet ski, the pair arrived on Hamilton Island in Aussie style
to the cheering of 20 local children.

Still sporting a traditional white beard but swapping his red and white pants for boardies,
Santa and Ben handed out presents, including a bucket and spade.

Most kids were excited, although one was concerned for Santa's welfare out of his normal
winter wonderland backdrop of the North Pole.

"It's really hot today," she told one of the organisers.

"Isn't Santa going to get sweat under his arms?"

She was assured Santa was a professional and was wearing deodorant.

The stunt was part of a Christmas campaign directed at those suffering a chilly Christmas
in the northern hemisphere, urging them to consider spending the holidays in sunny Queensland
next year.

Ben, from Hampshire in England, will leave his six-month post on December 31 after
earning $150,000 from the Tourism Queensland gig, "Best Job in the World".

AAP jmm/pjo/cjb

KEYWORD: TOURISM JOB SCENE (PIX AVAILABLE)

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