SENIOR SCHOOL
What I appreciate
in particular is how
Gordon included so
many little details
of Ben Carlin’s story.
It is clearly telling
the truth, all while
providing a very
enjoyable story.
story behind the yellow car, The Last Great
Australian Adventurer by Gordon Bass is a
good place to start.
Isaac French (Year 10)
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The Last Great Australian Adventurer by
Gordon Bass tells the captivating story of Ben
and Elinore Carlin’s trip across the world in a
WWII Ford GPA amphibious jeep.
Bass keeps the story of the Half-Safe’s
journey infinitely engaging in the way he
breaks up the story, whether it’s through
technical breakdowns of the journey, flash
backs and flash forwards, or Ben’s lesser
known but equally fascinating exploits.
Possibly the best part of Bass’ book is his
ability to show more than just the well-
known side of Ben. As a student of Guildford
Grammar School, I have heard many times of
the exploits of Ben Carlin and his Half-Safe,
but this is the first time that I have seen the
other faces of Ben Carlin. While Bass doesn’t
bag Ben as a bad person, he shows the side
that he hid from the public, or that the public
refused to see.
accomplices and friends who helped him
on his journey is done with great historical
accuracy, which is what makes this so
worthwhile to read.
What I appreciate in particular is how Gordon
included so many little details of Ben Carlin’s
story. It is clearly telling the truth, all the
while providing a very enjoyable story. Elinore
Arone, Ben Carlin’s first wife and companion
on the Half-Safe vessel appeared to me to be
a woman with a great sense of initiative.
Ben Carlin’s character developed greatly over
the period covered by the book. As the book
progressed it was clear that Ben was growing
more and more tired of the trip. However,
even with everything going on in Ben’s
head, we could still feel his passion and his
commitment to the difficult global trip.
Overall, I liked how real The Last Great
Australian Adventurer feels. It truly gave me
an insight into Ben Carlin’s life that was both
enjoyable and illuminating.
This book is a great read for anyone who
enjoys Australian history, or wants to learn
more about the man behind the adventure.
After all, the story of Ben Carlin is one of the
truly remarkable parts of Western Australian
history.
Kale Kendall (Year 10)
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Can you imagine travelling 80,467 km
around the world in a second hand, faulty,
amphibious jeep? Neither can I. Yet in 1948,
Ben Carlin set off from New York City with
his wife Elinore, beginning a 10-year trip of
stormy seas, searing hot deserts, and bustling
cities. The Last Great Australian Adventurer
by Gordon Bass covers every single day of
Carlin’s adventure.
At first, I was a bit apprehensive to pick
up my copy of the book. The Last Great
Australian Adventurer didn’t exactly appeal
to my personal interests. However, battling a
bout of the ‘flu, I decided to give the book a
crack, and I was pleasantly surprised. Rather
than providing a dry, day-by-day analysis of
Carlin’s travels, my senses were intoxicated
by vivid descriptions of exotic destinations
travelled to, whether it be the silky sands
of Casablanca or the delightful spices of
Calcutta.
The book covers all aspects of the adventure,
including the less recognised aspects. The
Half-Safe really was only half safe – from the
numerous failed attempts (2 years’ worth to
be precise) to Carlin’s erratic, and at times,
death-defying behaviour. Bass expertly
intertwined the raw facts of the trip with
Carlin’s constantly changing moods, not
an easy feat considering the wide-ranging
spectrum of whims. If there’s one lesson
Carlin taught me, it’s that even some of the
greatest achievers aren’t perfect.
I would recommend the book to anyone who
wants something different, something that
you wouldn’t normally read. Read The Last
Great Australian Adventurer if you want to
enrich yourself with a great and unique part
of Guildford Grammar School’s history.
Zachary Matthews (Year 10)
The Last Great Australian Adventurer is not
just biographical but will appeal to anyone
who enjoys adventure stories and also to
anyone interested in the private life of Carlin
and his fellow adventurers.
Ashton Reid (Year 10)
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The Last Great Australian Adventurer by
Gordon Bass is an amazing representation
of Australian historical figure, Ben Carlin.
Gordon Bass has not only summed up
Ben Carlin’s hardships, but his amazing
representation of Carlin and all his
Deirdre Carlin, author Gordon Bass and Guildford Grammar School Archivist
Rosemary Waller with Half-Safe.
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