The story of a historic Northam-born adventurer will be featured in this year’s Adventure Travel Film Festival.
The story of Ben Carlin will be shared in a rare screening of Odyssey of the Half Safe, an American TV documentary from the 1960’s telling the tale of the first and only person to circumnavigate the world in an amphibious vehicle.
Carlin transformed at 1942 Ford GPA into the vehicle named Half-Safe, which is now exhibited at Guilford Grammar in Perth.
He and his wife started testing the vehicle in 1947 and after a number of failed attempts sent off on their journey a few years later.
The vehicle traveled around the United States, Europe and the Middle East before returning to Australia.
The tour of Australia begame in October 1955 in Perth before reaching Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
The vehicle needed significant modifications to make it seaworthy including a boat-like bow, a larger cabin and additional fuel tanks.
Carlin’s feat is recognised in the Guinness Book of Records.
The film features rare interview footage with Carlin as well as footage of his 10-year circumnavigation of the globe.
The film festival will be showing 32 independent travel films and 11 adventurers presenting on their latest travels.
This is the first time the festival has been in WA, previously running out of London for nearly a decade.
The Adventure Travel Film Festival will be held in a number of venues in Guildford on 25 – 27 May including, the Guildford Town Hall, the Mechanics Institute, St Matthew’s Church, Rose and Crown Hotel Chapel Hall and St Matthew’s Church Parish Hall.
Tickets for the weekend long event can be booked HERE.
Ticketing
- Weekend pass – $100
- Friday day pass – $35
- Saturday day pass – $50
- Sunday day pass – $50
- Festival Taster – $25
- Family pass – $240
For more information on the event visit http://marshallarts.net.au/atff/