AROUND THE SCHOOL
The story the world needs to hear!
Author researching new biography of
great West Australian adventurer
One of Guildford Grammar School’s
most famous sons, Ben Carlin, will soon be
the subject of a new biography, researched
and written by American author Gordon
Bass. Despite being the first and only
person to circumnavigate the world in an
amphibious vehicle, Ben Carlin remains
largely unknown. Through his book, which
will be published by Random House in
2017, Gordon hopes to bring Ben’s story
to a wider audience across Australia and
around the world. Gordon visited the School
for two days in September, researching
Ben’s time at the School and spending time
with Ben’s daughter, Deirdre Carlin.
Ben’s epic journey around the world, in an
amphibious jeep he named Half Safe, set
a world record that is yet to be broken. He
crossed four oceans and five continents
and became the only person in history to
circumnavigate the globe by both land
and sea in the same vehicle. The Guildford
Grammar School Foundation purchased the
Half Safe outright in 1984 and it is currently
housed on the campus in a purpose built
shelter.
Gordon has a strong family connection
to Ben, with his grandfather, Robert Bass,
living down the street from Ben when he
was living in Maryland. Being a ham radio
enthusiast, Robert helped Ben to install a
radio in his jeep and they stayed in touch
over the next 20 years. As a 15-year old
boy, Gordon’s father recalls spending long
afternoons watching Ben work on his jeep,
preparing for his next journey. Gordon feels
Deirdre Carlin with Gordon Bass aboard Half Safe.
that this experience in some way inspired
his father to achieve his own dream, going
on to become the “father of underwater
archaeology”, investigating shipwrecks
around the world and founding the Institute
of National Archaeology.
Two books have already been published
documenting Ben’s adventures, Across the
Atlantic by Jeep and The Other Half of Half
Safe; however, Gordon’s book will be as
much about the man as the voyage. “Ben’s
journey was indeed epic, but I want to dig
deeper and find out what drove him, what
kept him going year after year and what
happened once he’d completed his voyage.
Ben is more than just the jeep and the trip:
He was clearly a complex, highly intelligent
and driven man.”
Foundation Speakers for 2016
Paul Dillon with Russell Lester.
12
The Guildford Grammar School
Foundation was established over 40
years ago to provide ongoing financial
support and independence to the School.
under the Foundation Speaker Series.
Last year the Foundation funded student
and parent presentations by Paul Dillon
and Michelle Mitchell.
The Foundation also manages the money
used to fund various scholarships and
bursaries offered by the School. This
money has usually been donated or
bequeathed for the specific purpose
of providing someone with the same
opportunity as the donor.
Next year’s Foundation Speakers have
been booked, and as well as Paul Dillon
and Michelle Mitchell returning to the
School, we are pleased to advise that
Maggie Dent will be our third speaker for
the year.
Throughout the year, the Foundation
sponsors visiting authors and presenters,
Keep an eye on the Bulletin and social
media for details of our 2016 Foundation
Speakers.