Ken Warby shaking hands with Robert Apathy
Photographer
David Watson
Date8 October 1978
Object numberANMS0532[185]
NameNegative
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Tumut and Adelong Times
DescriptionKen Warby shaking hands with project manager Major 'Bob' Apathy.
Apathy had been part of Warby's campaign since meeting at Tumut in 1976 during a test run at Blowering Dam. Apathy was the divisional officer for the St John's Ambulance Brigade who was looking after much of the safety requirements for Warby's attempt. He soon became Warby's operations manager and close friend.HistoryKen Warby, SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA's designer, builder and driver, achieved his world water-speed records on a shoestring budget. The boat was built over two years in the backyard of his suburban Sydney home, using stringers, brackets, stock bits of timber, plywood, screws and epoxy, and launched in 1974.
Warby first claimed the world record in 1977, taking his home-made hydroplane to a speed of 464.44 km/h and breaking American Lee Taylor's ten-year-old record of 458.98 km/h. But where Lee Taylor's record had cost close to $1 million in 1967, Warby built his boat in a suburban backyard with a military-surplus jet engine that cost $65. In 1978 he returned to Blowering Dam in the southern highlands of New South Wales and pushed his record to 511.11 km/h (317.68 m/h), where it still stands.
Warby was awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire) in recognition of his achievement. More information about SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA's construction, configuration and condition can be found on the Australian Register of Historic Vessels www.anmm.gov.au/arhv.SignificanceRobert Apathy joined Warby's project as an operations officer but first he had to be convinced that SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA could succeed. After meeting Warby, Apathy said he knew that Warby was 'fair dinkum'. Their mutual respect and agreement to approach the record attempt slowly and rationally was part of the success at Blowering Dam.