By Oliver Lees
Woodend resident Michael Dillon AM has been awarded the Grand Prize of the International Alliance for Mountain Film (IAMF), in recognition of a career that has seen him traverse the world’s highest peaks over his 50-year career in the industry.
The award makes Michael the first person from the southern hemisphere to win the prestigious accolade, alongside film icons the likes of Werner Herzog.
Growing up in New South Wales, Michael’s environment was his classroom and inspiration.
As a child he would spend his spare time riding his bike out into the Blue Mountains and rock climbing with friends.
That connection to nature was something he always felt, he said, but the introduction of film into his life happened by chance.
“I saw an ad in the newspaper,” he said.
“Somebody was wanting a camera person to go to Portuguese Timor, which is now known as Timor Leste.
“I bought one of their secondhand cameras and so I went along and shot this documentary, and a few months later I shot another one in the Himalayas.
“I learned by just doing it and making mistakes. I didn’t go to film school, because there weren’t any.”
Michael got his big break when he was selected to film Sir Edmund Hillary – who was the first person to summit Mount Everest – as he set off in a jetboat expedition across the Ganges river in 1977.
Michael’s relationship with Edmund continued for 25 years, with filming projects in Fiji and Nepal.
In his adventures around the globe, Michael’s work regularly drew him back to mountain landscapes.
In 1969, Michael replaced a sick film crew member on an expedition to Everest.
He then returned three years later, this time leading the project called ‘A Himalayan Journey’, which was aired on the BBC as one of the first public broadcasts of the mountain range.
In 2006, aged 60, he returned to Everest reaching 7300 meters as part of a small team that included a father, his 15 year old son, and Everest veteran Lincoln Hall.
Despite the inherent challenges of carrying gear up the sheer face of a mountain range, Michael said there was something unique about being present to capture these moments.
“You’re in this this beautiful environment, and all you’re thinking about is you know, the next day’s climbing,” he said.
“It’s very engrossing to be right out in the middle of there in the mountains and to be engaged in a single task. It’s quite addictive.”
Mr Dillon said he hopes to travel to Slovakia later this year to collect the award.
