Not many have seen Australia’s highest mountain and most Aussies have never even heard of it! Very few have summited Mawson’s Peak on Heard Island, and the first attempt very nearly ended in disaster.

Michael Dillon's new film "THE GREAT WHITE WHALE" takes us back to the summer of 1964 and a crew of 10 adventurers aboard the schooner Patanela, battling the worst seas in the world to reach Heard Island, deep in the wild Southern Ocean. Braving the huge shore break to land then risking crevasses, blizzards and frostbite to hope to be the first to reach the summit. What an adventure!

They are particularly looking forward to the Ballina screening, as Michael will be joined in the Q&A by two of the key people involved in making the film the multi international award winning film it has become. Mullum's Michael Balson has climaxed 50 years of his brilliant editing talent on this film and we will meet him in the Q&A, and Ballina Sound Designer Michael Worthington, who has added his own touch of brilliance, will join us too. This is very much a Northern NSW production, and Michael spent quite a bit of time in the region working with the other two Michael's to together make this film so special.

The film is getting very enthusiastic receptions from audiences of all ages but first we need to get them into the cinema, where you get mind blowing surround sound, choctops and the joy of seeing and sharing it with friends. Some cinemas (including the Orpheum!) are supporting us, but mostly we are simply hiring cinemas (in Ballina's case the Dendy Ballina Fair) and trying to fill them ourselves. So we really need YOUR HELP to spread the word… It's funny, it’s gripping, the music is amazing, it’s a precious piece of Australian maritime and adventure history - don’t miss it!

Click the linkfor the trailer, ticket links for Ballina and background to the film and the expedition.