A Scouting Journey
A Filmmaker’s Adventure into Leadership Discovery
Scouting has long been a powerful platform for youth development, offering not just adventure but also lifelong lessons. For many like Michael Dillon AM Scouting became a gateway to building friendships, experiencing the outdoors, and developing leadership skills. Scouts Australia Youth Ambassador, Amelia caught up with Michael recently to learn about his Scouting journey and his story behind his new film “The Great White Whale”.
Michael first joined a local Scout group from Scout NSW (4th Strathfield Scout Group) when he was thirteen, and those early experiences shaped his path in ways no one could ever have anticipated. From rainy camping trips to bike-hiking expeditions, Michael’s time as a Scout planted the seeds of curiosity, resilience, and global awareness that would define his future. This journey, beginning in youth, eventually intertwined with his passion for filmmaking and the natural world.
“The most formative experience of my Scouting years was attending The Australian Jamboree at the age of fifteen.” says Michael. Meeting Scouts from all across the globe has opened Michael’s consciousness to the vastness of the world, sparking a desire to explore beyond his identity as an Australian to a more global perspective.
As a Venturer Scout, Michael had the privilege of being led by Rick Jamieson, a pioneer who introduced rock climbing, caving, and canyoning into Scouting. This exposure to challenging outdoor activities instilled a sense of adventure in Michael. The group, led by Rick, experimented with what we called “bike hiking,” which involved strapping packs to our bicycles and venturing into the Snowy Mountains—a precursor to modern mountain biking.
These outdoor experiences were not just about physical challenges but about learning persistence and teamwork, lessons that became crucial in Michael’s later filmmaking career.
Michael’s creativity began from his early years where he discovered a passion for storytelling through film. Without access to a real camera, he created his own films using long strips of paper, dividing them into frames and colouring each one in painstaking detail. His very first film was called “The History of The Earth”, where he wrote the script and his sister narrated as he carefully wound each frame through a makeshift cinema that he had built out of the early equivalent of LEGO. It was a primitive setup, but it was the beginning of a lifelong passion for filmmaking.
Through Scouting, Michael first encountered a camera, from his mentor Warwick Deacock, who filmed pioneering expeditions, and he found his calling as a filmmaker. Deacock’s influence was pivotal—not only in shaping Michael’s love for adventure but also in guiding him to become the first Australian to earn the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award. These experiences in Scouting provided the foundation for his future career, filming stories of people who set incredible goals, from Everest climbers to young adventurers taking on personal challenges across the globe.
In Michael’s latest film, The Great White Whale, he brings to life the daring and little-known expedition to climb Big Ben, a towering 9,000 foot volcanic peak on Heard Island. This remote and icy island lies deep in the Southern Ocean, halfway between Australia and South Africa. The film traces the team’s early attempts in 1964 to ascend this smoking, glacier-ringed volcano, including their audacious return under the leadership of legendary explorer Bill Tilman, after a previous setback in some of the world’s most treacherous seas.
This adventure is one of Australia’s boldest yet least known expeditions of the 20th century. Michael’s storytelling captures the grit, determination, and humor of those involved. Using beautifully preserved archival footage, the film immerses viewers in the era, while Paul Jarman’s evocative score underscores the sheer magnitude of their quest. The Great White Whale pays tribute to this audacious Australian adventure, showcasing the persistence and courage of the explorers who tackled one of the world’s loneliest and most challenging outposts.
Looking back, Michael’s journey in Scouting has been instrumental in shaping his character as an adventurer and his creativity. It instilled in him a love for the outdoors, the importance of community service, and the resilience to face life’s challenges head-on. These values have carried into his 50-year filmmaking career, where he has had the privilege of documenting the incredible pursuits of adventurers around the world.
” The two best things scouting does in this challenging age we live in is to take us out into the natural world which is so good for us, and to give us the chance to help others,which is good for us as well. We know that beyond our screens is a beautiful world full of unlimited possibilities, and know that if we are ever troubled, turning our attention to helping others is the ultimate fix for that.” – said Michael
Scouting taught Michael that no matter the size of the challenge, perseverance, teamwork, and a passion for discovery are key to success. He continues to carry these lessons with him, both in his career and in his ongoing efforts to give back through initiatives like the Australian Himalayan Foundation.
Click buttons on the left:
– Learn more about Michael’s Scouting journey from his interview with Amelia (Scouts Australia Youth Ambassador), Scouts NSW.
– To find out more about “The Great White Whale” and upcoming screenings and Q&A sessions.
