Page 110 - Port Douglas Magazine 39

SURVIVING In the early 1990s, in a motion picture

‘Dreamrider’, a wise James Earl Jones tells a
male teen who became a leg amputee after
a motorcycle accident: “We look upon the
SAMOA loss of a life as tragic, the loss of a limb as

a disaster, but the loss of time, moment
and opportunity as catastrophic. Time is
opportunity, it is the very essence of life.

WORDS by Michael Warren You waste your time, you waste your life.”
A DREAM IN THE MAKING “experts” as “too fast, too soon”, or “too on my game, apparently, I failed to build a
Close to a year ago it was this exact quote hard, too early”. rapport with the majority of my tribemates.
that placed itself at the very forefront of my Well screw that cautious, softly, softly mindset A lot of Survivor, incidentally, happens
mind as I lay starving, sleep deprived and or approach. at night, when things slow down and the
dehydrated under a murky Samoan night As someone who lives their life with a bold, players are around the campfire.
sky during what proved one of the most adventurous and daring mindset I promised After only a few nights in I consciously
incredible, unforgettable, pulsating and myself I’d play in a proactive manner. decided to go it alone. A risky move perhaps
memorable experiences of my life. That philosophy meant playing a pivotal but once I ascertained some of the individual
I was a contestant on a series of Australian role in striving to initiate and instigate motives of fellow tribe mates, they lost me
Survivor: Heroes v Villains. Filmed in conversations with tribemates that revolved and my vote.
Samoa, the whole thing proved a bucket list around regularly identifying my biggest It was seriously disheartening to learn
experience. perceived threats and finding a way to send that they had applied for the show to gain
Being cast on Australia Survivor was a them home at Tribal council. It was really leverage, promotion or publicity to basically
20-year dream turned into an incredible that simple. increase their individual profiles. Knowing
reality. I had watched every US Survivor I wanted to find idols, get security and move other castmates possessed a desire to gain
season for two decades and marvelled at a the game ahead as much as I could. more followers on Instagram, establish
game played in incredible global locations Consumed by exhaustion it is fascinating to clothing brands, or lock in further public
that required an extreme level of mental, see how the human body and mind copes. appearances just didn’t seem worthy to a
physical and psychological strength in order I genuinely do not think anyone can answer Survivor die hard.
to participate. this question until they are in a similar As a purist, I would have played the game
I always knew, one day, I would get my situation. whether there were cameras or not, or zero
opportunity. I was built for this game. By Day by day I was obsessed with doing prize money. It didn’t matter to me. What
nature, I’m a risk taker. I’m not afraid to fail, everything I could to make it another day in did was playing in the spirit of the game –
or to take on challenges that others baulk at the game. In reference to the movie quote play hard, honest … for the crown of sole
and walk away from. above, I wanted to make every second, every Survivor.
I don’t overthink things. My preparation moment, count as a contestant playing the
heading into the game revolved around game. BEHIND THE SCENES
simulating scenarios and situations I knew My overriding mindset was that I was Survivor is a huge beast. It’s quite incredible.
I’d encounter on the island. not attached to an outcome; I didn’t care What’s even more fascinating is what goes
For example, for 30 days before leaving for where I finished, as long as I played the on behind the scenes. The impacts and
Samoa, I limited myself to four hours sleep a game I wanted to play. After all, there had effects of filming were stark; while viewers
night. I’d go to bed at midnight, and wake at been months, no years, of planning for this see quick one liners and heroic storylines,
4am, no excuses. opportunity in my mind. what they don’t grasp is the literal reality,
I drastically reduced my food intake over the As one of 24 players on a reality TV show, behind the reality show. The mental
same period. From 6am - 3pm for 30 days frustratingly, at times, you are only as good breakdowns, the tantrums, the arguments
straight I allowed myself one coffee. That’s as the tribemates you are cast with. over sleeping arrangements, constipation
issues and the tears.
right, one sole coffee between these hours, I found it incredibly stifling being alongside
to get an idea of the level of starvation I’d castmates whose game plan seemed to be For me, well, the lack of sleep was totally
face on the island. to fly under the radar, almost playing with h-o-r-r-e-n-d-o-u-s.
Fitness wise I did a lot of beach work. That is, fear, a lack of urgency or trepidation. A How do you feel after only getting three
running through beach waters, carrying and different tact to my now buddy, Simon, and hours of sleep one night? Right, well, now
lifting things, changing directions, balancing, I, who preferred to brave it, stand tall and think how you’d feel if you got only 30
remaining in freezing cold water etc. focus on trying to vote out the main threat - minutes a night for six nights in a row?
in one word, George. Diabolical. That’s no typo. 30 minutes a
MINDSET, STRATEGY, GAME night – add starvation on top of that and
PHILOSOPHY FIGHT TILL THE END OR DIE tell me how you feel. This isn’t woe or poor
Determined to make every second count TRYING me either, these are the realities of Survivor.
Constant rain, high water intake, being
out on the island I played a game that was So, to the burning question – my vote off constantly wet and horrendous levels of
later critiqued by some armchair Survivor at tribal council. My downfall: So focused

112 Port Douglas Magazine & Travel Planner