Vale David Blaby
With much sadness the ANARE Club Club announces the passing of David Blaby on Monday 19 April, 2026.
| Station | Year | Season |
| Casey | 1970 | Winter |
| Mawson | 1980 | Winter |
David Blaby was a Senior Diesel Mechanic at Casey in 1970 and was the Plant Inspector at Mawson in 1980.
A funeral will be held at 2:30pm Pinnaroo West Chapel on 8 May.
– Notified by email from Brian Gaull, 20 April 2026
Vale David (Brutus) Blaby
It is with great sadness in my heart that I bring you the latest tidings from Lynda: David is no longer with us; he has passed away peacefully, yesterday afternoon/evening.
Brutus was a trooper, a man with incredible energy, and zest for life. We all knew him as one of the Mawson, 1980 true leaders, who lead by example, rather than word. He also had an enormous sense of humour that kept us entertained, even in the most difficult times. On traverse, on our way back from Mt King, there were many times when we were trapped inside our respective capsules with raging blizzards that lasted for days at a time, and he kept his troops calm and happy.
So, he is a man who is going to be missed by all who knew him; especially his loving family, whom he spoke of so often, and fondly. He has gone to a better place, they say, where he can fraternise with all who have gone before him.
Fare-thee-well Brutus, may you enjoy your new home at such lofty heights, and waving to us all below. You have been loved by everyone who knew you, as we saw into the soul of a very kind, positive and good human being. We will continue loving all those memories that are with us all: thank you mate!
Brian Gaull (Mawson 1980)
One of the Australian Antarctic community’s favourite sons, David Blaby, passed away on Sunday 19 April 2026. David was a diesel mechanic at Casey in 1969 and plant inspector at Mawson from 1979 to 1981.
David’s cheerful spirit, optimism and love of life will be sorely missed by his wife Lynda, his family and friends.
Phil Wolter, WA Branch
Certainly a sad time for us all with the passing of our good mate and comrade.
Brutus was a good man who I believe was loved and well respected by all at Mawson and was always there in times of need to offer a lending hand and advice.
I’m sure we all learned many things from Brutus – although we both came from farming backgrounds with tractors, he taught me how to operate a dozer, how to remobilise a train after stopping, how to bleed iced up fuel lines etc etc etc.
I had the privilege of being part of the Mt King–Mawson return traverse party in early 1980 under the leadership of Brutus and with his skill and traverse experience, safety was never a concern.
Similarly as a member of the fuel depot traverse with incoming members of the 1981 party to Peak 7 (Northern PCMs) – it was comforting that we were in the competent and capable hands of a well seasoned traverse man — David Blaby ably assisted by George Hedanek, and Syd Kirkby.
Snoopy (Gary Hardie) , Godfather (Syd Kirkby) and I witnessed first hand the exceptional skill displayed by Brutus in the successful recovery operation of the deeply slotted D5 Loretto near Mt Henderson.
I will always remember many morning smokos in Brutus’s office – coffee and Arnott’s mint choc biscuits from a 20L drum.
Brutus was a true expeditioner — when there was work to be done, he was always there, boots and all – and when the work was done, he could play hard with the rest of us.
My deepest sympathy to his wife and family.
Jumbo (Graham Pryde)
Syd Kirkby (left), David Blaby (right). Mawson 1980.
Vale David (Brutus) Blaby
Reflecting on my youthful year at Mawson in 1980, many role models come to mind, but especially the confident and energetic David (Brutus) Blaby. The Mawson mechanical workshop was a busy and welcoming place. Brutus and his team generously offered their time helping me to learn and fine-tune many practical mechanical skills from safe operation of heavy machinery to welding (which I put to practical use in the maintenance of our dog lines).
More subtly, I was learning through osmosis the power of effective teamwork and the influence of great leaders – key amongst them David Blaby. When I read, and regularly re-read the later reflections of our Mawson 1980 OIC – the great Syd Kirkby, I realise now that I had been absorbing and thriving on the Spirit of ANARE.
Our remarkable Mawson 1980 team bonded and flourished under great leaders including David. That bond remains evident when we reunite across the decades. To David’s wife Lynda, his family and his friends, my sincere condolences.
Kevin (Shep) Shepherd
David Blaby, Australian Antarctic Medal, 1987
The citation for David Blaby’s Antarctic Medal award in 1987 reads:
David Blaby, Plant Inspector, wintered at Mawson in 1980 having previously wintered at Casey in 1970. Throughout the year David made an outstanding contribution to the expedition. Power and mechanical services were maintained at an exemplary level and the standard of service and installation was much improved through the year.
He also participated in a number of field trips where he displayed diligence, courage and will, which consistently lifted the morale and performance of the party.
Commitment to the ANARE Club
David Blaby was a member of the ANARE Club for 57 years.
