Ken Warby and Robert Apathy on the tail plane of SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA
Photographer
David Watson
Date8 October 1978
Object numberANMS0532[072]
NameNegative
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Tumut and Adelong Times
DescriptionKen Warby with his long-time advocate and project coordinator, Major Robert Apathy.
Warby had originally met 'Bob' Apathy in Tumut when SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA set the Australian water speed record. Apathy was highly organised having spent 17 years in the Army and at that point was working with the St Johns Ambulance Brigade. He quickly came on board with Warby's project and became an integral part of team.HistorySPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA is an Australian designed and built jet-powered, wooden, 3-point hydroplane that has held the world water-speed record since 1977. Breaking both the 300 mph and 500 km/h barriers, SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA raised the world record to 511kph in 1978 at Blowering Dam near Tumut NSW.
Ken Warby, SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA's designer, builder and driver, achieved his world water-speed records on a shoestring budget. Warby built his hydroplane over two years in the backyard of his suburban Sydney home, using stringers, brackets, stock bits of timber, plywood, screws, epoxy and a military-surplus jet engine that cost $65. He eventually launched the boat in 1974.SignificanceKen Warby had only a small team behind him on both his record attempts. 'Bob' Apathy was with him on both of those and took pride of place on SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA when the 300 mp/h barrier was broken.