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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1)
2014-11-19 Daily Xml
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Donald Campbell

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (15:18): I rise today to speak about a very important 50th anniversary of the Donald Campbell world water speed record attempt at Lake Bonney at Barmera. It is an honour to be the patron for these celebrations. The committee have done a fantastic job to organise a commemorative dinner on the Saturday night and a Bluebird Splash-a-thon on the Sunday.

Donald Malcolm Campbell was born on 23 March 1921 in Surrey. The son of Sir Malcolm Campbell followed in his father's footsteps, with his father breaking 13 world speed records during the twenties and thirties. After his father's death in 1948, Donald showed interest in attempting to obtain new speed records on both land and water. This passion inspired him to design a jet-propelled hydroplane—the Bluebird K7. A British TV journalist once asked, 'Are you ever afraid, Donald?' to which he replied, 'Of course, I'm afraid every time I get into the Bluebird. Courage is not being fearless. Courage is overcoming and smashing through fear.'

Donald Campbell would go on to set seven world water speed records between 1955 and 1964. After becoming the first man to break the 400 mph (650 km/h) limit in a wheel-driven vehicle on Lake Eyre and receiving a Beatlemania-style reception in front of an estimated 200,000 people along King William Street, Donald set his mind to doing the double and achieving the world water speed record.

On 19 September 1964, Lake Bonney at Barmera in South Australia's Riverland was selected for a new world water speed record attempt. The weather, high river and physical limitations of the lake limited his maximum speed to 260 mph (347 km/h), but he still set an Australian speed record. Not long after the Riverland attempt, Donald was successful in breaking the world water speed record at Lake Dumbleyung in Western Australia at 444 km/h. Wanting to take one more shot at raising his water speed record to 300 mph (482 km/h), in 1967 on his return run at England's Lake Coniston, Campbell flipped the Bluebird at an estimated speed of 528 km/h where he tragically died instantly.

Donald Campbell's Lake Bonney attempt is an important part of the Riverland's history, and today there are plaques to acknowledge the Australian record he set. We also have the Bluebird Cafe which occupies the boatshed where the Bluebird K7 was once housed. There have been numerous efforts to set up a museum and create a replica Bluebird. Many international visitors travel to the region, following the history of Donald Campbell.

I look forward to the weekend's events and I am encouraging those who can to attend the dinner on Saturday night and the splash-a-thon on Sunday, where there will be displays of vintage boats, cars and bikes, demonstrations from wakeboarders, skiers, dinghies and powerboats, as well as entertainment and markets. It will be a great event.

I would also like to take the opportunity to thank all those people who have been involved in organising this commemorative weekend: Mike Fuller, Brian Caddy, Lorraine and Graham Masters, Eddie Howarth, Robert Drogemuller and a number of other committee members and local volunteers who have dedicated their time and effort.

I will continue to work with the committee to establish a life-size Bluebird replica car and a museum to commemorate Donald Campbell's legacy, and I look forward to the 50th celebrations of a man who encapsulated the adventurous Riverland spirit. If anyone is in the Riverland over the weekend and does want to drop in to the 50th anniversary, do go to the Bluebird Cafe and ask Eddie for one of his famous Bluebird burgers, because they are sensational.

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