In the Steps of the Black Cat - Free Film night
8 June 2011
In 2008, Peter and Rev. Trish Stuart-Smith (Priest-in-charge of St Michaels at Hall) circumnavigated Australia in their homebuilt SeaRey amphibian aircraft. The trip was a combination of adventure, holiday, pilgrimage, and a fund-raiser for the "Catalina Flying Memorial" based in Rathmines, on Lake Macquarie, central coast NSW.
The trip commenced at Rathmines, and proceeded anticlockwise around the coast over 8 weeks. They visited all the Catalina WWII operational sites of significance including Bowen, Cairns, Horn Island, Karumba, Melville Bay (Gove), Darwin, Cockatoo Island, Exmouth, Perth, and Lake Boga.
The trip was recorded by video with an emphasis on capturing what remains of the historic sites and interviewing locals wherever possible. Peter's particular interest in the trip was to experience some of the places his father operated from as a Catalina captain during WWII. The trip also retraces Peter's father's last flight in a Catalina at the end of WWII.
The film is the "home video" edition of their epic journey and includes remarkable coastline views from 500 feet, Television reportage and 'exciting moments'. You can share this adventure at a special showing coming up soon:
Friday 8th July7.30 pm at The Cottage. Length about 100 mins. (see Coming Events)
Refreshments. Gold coin donation