Ben Carlin book: THE LAST GREAT AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURER

[Mike Kelly]

Came across a new book published this year, the local library is linked to libraries across the state .

THE LAST GREAT AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURER author Gordon Bass. 365 pages. With quite a few previously unpublished photos of Ben Carlin.

I have read parts of the book. Quite an eye opener , the book details Ben Carlin's life with many previously unknown stories revealing his lifetime of adventures.

The book is honest and it doesn't portray Carlin as an angel with a halo over his head . It is a warts and all portrayal. Ben was not the type of guy your would bring home to meet your parents ! At age 50 he married a 20 year old woman.

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Mike

For those of us who are not connecting name, country, and adventure could you add a bit of information.

Think I know who he is and what he is most known for? Half-safe?

Cheers Phil

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Phil Waterman

Hi Mike

For those of us who are not connecting name, country, and adventure could you add a bit of information.

Think I know who he is and what he is most known for? Half-safe?

Cheers Phil

Phil,
Ben Carlin was an Australian who adapted a Ford GPA amphib jeep and circumnavigated the World with it during the 1950's. First leg was across the Atlantic from North America.

Here is a photo of Half Safe at Corowa Swim-In in 1999, yours truly standing in front of it.

halfsafe.jpg

[Lang]

Here is the wiki bit on Ben Carlin.

I am going to the Adventure Film Festival in Bright Victoria to introduce the redone documentary on Ben's amphibious travels (narrated by him for an American adventure TV program in the 60's)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Carlin


Mike

"At age 50 he married a 20 year old woman" That has got to be a plus in anyone's books!

Lang

[Mike Kelly]

A few interesting themes from the book.

Buccaneer Ben was married three times, the first and third lasted around 12 months. He probably was a borderline alcoholic.

Elinore felt like she was used and became bitter , she didn't feel like commenting on anything to do with Ben Carlin or the Atlantic trip.


Ben Carlin had became rather unstable in his 50's and he was proposing marriage to almost complete strangers, even trying to get his best friends wife to abscond to the USA with him ! More than one acquaintance described him as being very strange.

A Trove search reveals that the Australian print media had more or less lost interest in the trip by the mid 50's. Only a few very short paragraphs is all you can find.

Reminds me of Errol Flynn

[lynx42]

Ben and Eleanor in Melbourne in HalfSafe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diuiv5iCAw4

Regards Rick.