Ken Warby and Robert Apathy on tail plane of SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA
Photographer
David Watson
(deceased)
Date8 October 1978
Object numberANMS0532[253]
NameNegative
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Tumut and Adelong Times
DescriptionKen Warby and Robert Apathy, arms aloft in victory, celebrate on tail plane of SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA.
Major 'Bob' Apathy met Ken Warby in Tumut in 1976 whilst Apathy was the divisional officer of the St John's Ambulance Brigade in Canberra who was overseeing some safety aspects of Warby's run that year. He was highly organised and became a close friend and ardent supporter of the journey of SPIRIT OF AUSTRALIA.
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 the head of operations 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 in 1977 and 1978.