Have you been watching Australian Survivor on television? If so you may have seen an ex-Mount Isan.
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Australian Survivor premiered on Channel 10 on August 21, to see 24 individuals compete on the reality game including ex-Mob FM radio announcer Barry Lea.
Barry will compete in an isolated location, where he must provide food, water, fire, and shelter for himself. He will then compete in challenges against the other contestants for rewards and immunity from elimination.
The contestants are progressively eliminated from the game as they are voted out by their fellow contestants, until only one remains, the ‘Sole Australian Survivor’ and is awarded $500,000.
Father of three boys, Cairns radio host Barry is a confident, articulate, laidback Aboriginal/South Sea Islander Aussie larrikin who has the gift of the gab.
With a big personality, Barry saw himself going into the game as a loyal and motivating team player.
He told Channel 10 he was planning to play the game with integrity and loyalty, Barry was hoping he would inspire people watching to have a go at life.
“The reason I wanted to be on Australian Survivor is to show other indigenous people to believe in themselves and not sit back and wait for things to happen. Take the opportunity when it comes your way,” Barry said.
Barry said his main goal was to “get through each night without screaming too loud if something touches me on the foot, leg, arm, ear, hand or head. Sleeping in the jungle and being in the dark is freaking me out.”
Barry said the closest he had come to roughing it was sleeping in the back of a car in a car park of a prestigious resort in Port Douglas.
“I also camped in the backyard one night until I heard a noise, got scared and ran back to bed and slept with the lights on,” he said.
While fear of the elements concerns him, Barry thinks he has what it takes to win.
“Money doesn’t drive me. I’ve told my partner if I won, half of the winnings would be donated to charity. I’ve always been big on helping those less fortunate and I want my sons to carry on that legacy.”
Before working in radio, Barry was a rodeo clown and appeared in Australian feature films Paperback Hero and the television series The Straits.
Barry is also known for his passion for rugby, playing for Mount Isa Euros Rugby Club. He is also known for his professional sporting background playing for Australia in the Wallabies and the 7’s. He was also part of the Queensland Reds and the English Rugby club, Sacarens.