Remarkable/Extraordinary; these words are often used lightly, sprinkled casually through conversation. Few people are truly remarkable and extraordinary: one such person is George Hubert Wilkins. 

Some called him a genius, others a wildcat. Certainly he was a moving picture pioneer, pioneer aviator; decorated WWI photographer; polar aviator; biologist; explorer; polar submariner - even competitor in the inaugural Great Air Race of 1919 between Britain and Australia. He was also a peer, and rival, of Douglas Mawson. 

Born in the north of South Australia, to the east of the ‘unviable’ side of Mt Bryan, Wilkins’ early years were scarred by the devastating horrors of the 1901 Federation Drought. He saw, and smelt his world shrivel and decay. 

This set his life-long mission - to understand the earth and its long-term global weather patterns. He embraced the exuberance and speed of change sweeping through the dawn of the twentieth century, and enthusiastically grasped the potential of film and aviation to inform understanding, and change perspectives.

In a major piece of cinematic research, Peter Maddern has brought together the photos and films of Wilkins for the first time. It is fascinating to gain such an overview of the breadth of Wilkins’ achievements, his failures, the extent of his exploration of the world, and the depth of his resilience.   

It is all part of a long-term project driven by Maddern to effectively ‘bring Wilkins home’  so that the wider public understand more of the man and his achievements. Judging by the enthusiastic response in the theatre, he is well on his way!