“The tribe has spoken.” These famous words have captivated millions of die-hard Survivor fans worldwide since the first episode was aired by CBS in May 2000.
This popular reality show has also changed the lives of thousands of crew members, including Ty Craine of Coolum, who is the construction manager of the magnificent Survivor US tribal council sets, where the fate of contestants is sealed by fellow players.
Survivor has also opened a whole new world for Ty’s wife, Bree and their children, Elkie (9), Van (7) and Navie (4). Now, Bree and the young ones spend many weeks with Ty at the base camp in the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji, where they have formed a strong bond with local villagers.
Ty has been involved with the American production of Survivor for 10 seasons and loves the family-friendly culture on set, as well as his fantastic crew of fun Fijians. He’s come a long way since working part-time at Kawana’s Rafters Cafe at the age of 13, followed by an apprenticeship as a carpenter with his father.
“Back then, I was more interested in playing sport, especially rugby league for Maroochydore Swans. Thankfully, I finished my apprenticeship and was glad I did, as in 2009, it got me the job of building challenges on Survivor US, which was being filmed in Samoa,” Ty says.
While there have been many romances and marriages between crew members over the years, Ty and Bree met many years prior to Survivor.
“I quit the show because I didn’t want to be away from Bree anymore, and went to work at a mine, but it just made me depressed. Then I got a call to work on Survivor in the Philippines, and Bree joined me, getting a job as a dream teamer.”
Dream teamers rehearse the challenges before the contestants perform them.
“At that time, there were 24 contestants who were each assigned a dream teamer,” Bree explains.
“Apart from testing the challenges, we had to carry the cameras and tripods to the set, which could be a kilometre into the bush. Once your contestant got voted out, we would be put into the art department to do painting or sewing the reveal rugs.”
After working on Survivor in Nicaragua and travelling to Guatemala and Mexico, the couple returned to the Sunshine Coast in 2014 to get married. For 10 years, Ty worked as a site manager on commercial builds, braving the busy commute and dreaming of returning to the Survivor set.
“I wanted to go back because I missed it. It was always in my heart.”
In 2024, a chance meeting at Marcoola Surf Club with Survivor crew member, Simon Ross, changed the family’s life.
“Simon offered me an eight-week gig to get everything ready before the shooting season started. Then the construction manager for the tribal council set left, and I got the job.”
Ty and hundreds of other crew members are housed in a resort on Mana Island, part of the Mamanuca Islands, a stunning archipelago located on the west coast of Fiji. Many of the challenges and tribal camps are on neighbouring islands. Manu Island is closed to the public during filming.
Bree and the children join him for weeks at a time, spending their days swimming in the resort pool or at the beach, doing a bit of homework sent by their teachers at Good Samaritan School in Bli Bli and playing with their Fiji friends in the traditional village adjacent to the resort.
“It’s been really good for the kids to see the contrast between rich and poor,” Bree says. “In the village, people are living in shacks and sleep on the floor. The more time we spent in the village, the more we were accepted, and they became our friends.”
They have been able to assist the villagers, taking suitcases of clothing, books and gifts on their last visit. Bree has also helped single mum, Gina, to launch a small business making colourful sarongs, creating an Instagram page – Paneta Sarongs – named after Gina’s two children.
Ty’s typical day has changed dramatically since his stressful time as a site manager on the Sunshine Coast. The art department sources all the materials he needs to build the tribal council sets and he’s swapped his ute for a pushbike.
“When the family is there, I wake up with the kids and have a coffee on the balcony while Bree goes for a run. I ride my bike to the office at 7am, have a debrief with the art directors and then meet my 29 Fijian crew members on location and start building the sets,” he tells salt.
“We have smoko at 10, followed by a lunch break from 1pm to 2pm, when I meet the family for lunch and a swim in the pool with the kids. Then it’s back to work until 6pm. It’s a big day, but I get to see the family more than when I’m home.”
Ty’s eyes light up when he talks about his crew.
“The energy that my local crew create on site is amazing – the positivity, the fun we have, the music. We sing all day long. They even surprised me with a cake for my birthday.”
Ty says a huge staff works on Survivor with around 500 local crew members and 250 international members, including more than 20 from the Sunshine Coast.
“The beautiful thing about the show is that it picks up local crew members in every country it has filmed, and some of them have become international crew members. It’s like a global village.
“The show is a lifeline for many people who have been able to put their kids through school and send money home,” he adds.
Bree and Ty’s favourite season is the shipwreck-inspired season 49, which features a 150-foot beached pirate ship resembling a 17th-century galleon. Built by Ty and his crew, the boat is named HMS Navie Van Elkie after their three children.
Bree acknowledges that their amazing experiences are tempered with some hardships. “Sometimes, we must spend time apart, which is extremely hard, especially for the kids, but it has strengthened our family unit. When we are together, we are so happy.”
In Australia, Survivor US is aired live on 9Go.