Line of fire: Tim Vibert's tank park in Mullengandra.
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Over the years, many of us discover work, or a hobby, that becomes a passion and strongly influences our lives.
However, Tim’s story really ‘takes the cake’.
Tim Vibert is the fourth child of Nancy and Vince; born into a busy family – and educated at Geelong College and RMIT, where he studied architecture for four years.
However, his interests became clear to his family early in the piece. He liked to build things.
Meccano sets took him only so far; however, his Uncle Stuart had a blacksmith shed on his orchard, with a smithy — a clever man who introduced the bin and cart system to orchards locally and, eventually, to the world.
I’m hoping he was also a patient man, else young Tim would have driven him crazy with his questions. Here, however, is where Tim learned the basic mechanical skills.
He built a motorised billy cart that was powered by the motor from his dad’s lawnmower and, just a few years later, he built himself a car, from the wreck of a 1928 Morris — found on a farm.
Tim’s version had a plywood body and tin mudguards and today, Vic Roads would be most unlikely to approve registration (The photo I’ve seen though, definitely has number plates, HSF 143).
Tim helped his dad maintain machinery in the family woodwork factory, enjoyed what he was learning and stayed put. He worked on various vintage cars over this time but a couple of things had aroused his interest in military equipment.
In the 1950s, he attended his brother Peter’s CMF passing out parade, which included a Saracen APC roaring in and disgorging troops.
There was also a firepower display, with three very new Centurions demonstrating their skills. Then in the early 1970s, Colin Anderson arrived at the Shepparton Show, with a Bren Gun Carrier. Colin was to be a key figure in Tim’s world; with a shared interest in military equipment, he became a lifelong friend with whom Tim travelled the globe. Initially, they scoured scrap yards for anything of interest.
When the Vibert family wound up its business in 1984, after almost 100 years in the local building industry, Tim had more time to devote to his passion. Along with Colin, he took his 1942 Chev for a huge D-Day rally in the UK.
There he met with Peter Gray, the founder of the military vehicle movement in the UK. And this was one of the keys to his future; he became interested in importing gear.
Over the years he imported many vehicles, including a Dodge command car, a Harley WLA and ‘a heap of militaria and tyres’.
Tim’s real passion — the Centurions
In 1987, the Federal Government advertised the sale of Centurion spare parts. Tim put in a tender and was successful. Later in the year, he negotiated a major purchase of Centurion spares after they were unsold at an army auction. He had a mountain of spare parts — but no tanks. Fortunately, Tim now had a farm at Mullengandra (north-east of Albury).
In 1988, the government decided to sell the Centurion fleet — a request for tender ran in the newspapers. This was what Tim had been waiting for; he did his homework.
The purchase of 105 tanks, even in unknown condition, was a significant one. Tim mortgaged his farm but that was far from enough. A chance conversation, at a local fire brigade barbecue, interested his neighbour Vince Ryan, who joined the venture.
The critical, final dollars came from his brother Peter. In March, Tim drove to Canberra, to put the tender into the box with his own hands. The result would be known in 10 nail-biting days — except it wasn’t. Tim kept up a constant stream of letters and phone calls over four months. Then he’d had enough nail biting. He was paying 23 per cent interest on his mortgage (This was the recession we had to have!).
He wrote an anonymous letter to the city dailies — and (this really interested me) it was published as a news story, carrying a headline ‘War veterans likely to go to the scrap heap’.
The newspaper ran the story without checking with the Department of Defence — and this resulted in something of an outcry, in the press and in Parliament. What was happening to the Centurions? A few days later, a letter arrived from the department advising Tim that he had won the tender — and requesting a substantial and immediate deposit. Several newspapers covered the story; one headline stated ‘Why I need 105 Army tanks’. (Why indeed, Tim?)
Light at the end of the turret
There was so much work to do but, Tim says, “It was a great feeling when a tank roared back to life”.
It eventuated that around 30 people had tendered to buy one Centurion, which did not meet the government’s intent. As a result, there were 30 early sales and the financial pressure eased. Then from Denmark, came a huge order for spare parts (In the 1950s, the Danish army had been given 800 Centurions by the US Government). Eight turret-less tanks were also sold as work platforms.
Tim had built a huge shed for parts, on his property, which housed about half of the stock and had to be extended. Vince built a huge shed on his property, which housed 20 of the best tanks — the rest lived outdoors.
In what Tim describes as “a strange twist of fate” he became official supplier of Centurion spare parts to the UK during the first Gulf War.
Then he went visiting — to the Military Vehicles Preservation Convention in Chicago, accepted an invitation from Denmark and visited the army tank depot — and visited dealers in Holland. He made several purchases.
In 1991, he and two mates (Mike Cecil and Glen Dore) were the first westerners permitted to visit the classified Kubinka tank museum — 50km from Moscow. It had been assumed that the German Maus (of which only two were built before the end of World War II) had been destroyed, However, there was one in Kubinka. The Russians had got the jump on the Americans and photos of the Maus were banned (Maybe they confidently brought it out and sent it to Ukraine and it has been smashed to smithereens!).
No purchases were made from Russia — negotiations failed — they were far too expensive.
Many trips to the UK followed — tendering on and buying armoured vehicles. Prior to the Chinese takeover of Hong Kong, Tim purchased 35 Saracens and sold four, direct from Hong Kong to Papua New Guinea.
Hollywood comes calling
On the big screen: Tim’s tanks were used in the Hollywood film Courage Under Fire.
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Fox Studios had commenced filming Courage Under Fire with Denzel Washington, Matt Damon and Meg Ryan, when the US Army reneged on an agreement. They were, apparently, to supply 15 Abram tanks (on hire) for the movie; however, they felt the film did not show the army in a positive light.
The local Fox Studio agent contacted Tim to arrange inspection of the Centurions and a deal was struck for 15 tanks, which were to be converted to Abrams by the special effects people. This was September 25, 1995. By a superhuman effort, all 15 were on the wharf, ready to go. Three came home, the studio had decided they could manage with 12.
Strings were pulled and pulled fast. Flights were organised for Tim and mate Mal French, as well as the usually elusive work permits. They met with their studio contact in Long Beach, California — and the tanks arrived the next day. They were floated 11km to a truck wash (couldn’t have any good old Aussie soil mixing with Yankee dirt) and the tanks were then taken on a 1600km truck trip to El Paso on the Mexican border.
Tim reports that despite the efforts of the quarantine people, the tanks still left a long trail of Aussie dirt as they were unloaded. Vince and Colin arrived to complete the Australian contingent.
The tanks were converted — all turret and hull fittings were cut off to allow the metal shell to be placed over the tank. The barrel was cut and a larger one fitted. Tim said the result was good and “hard to pick”. The battle scenes were shot over nine nights and, according to the fellas, it was a dangerous, cold and tiring affair.
They would leave their motel at 2.30pm to be on site by 3pm. Tank maintenance until 8.30pm, filming for 12 hours, then back to the motel for a couple of Bloody Marys to unwind. Then sleep until 1.30pm.
Camels were a part of the last scene and our guys were amused to see baby camels coming from a motel room.
Finally, it was all over and they left the tanks, looking lonely in a line (Fox later sold them to Melody Ranch Motion Picture Studio.).
For all those interested, reports are that Denzel Washington is a great guy.
And today
A divorce settlement made the sale of the Mullengandra property necessary — and if you think moving house is difficult, try this one. Tim held two auctions in Albury, which helped a little. He then slowly moved the tanks and tonnes of spares into rented sheds in Wangaratta.
In 2004, he bought some land in Winton and built a shed. By 2021, all tanks were sold and Tim now concentrates on selling spare parts to vehicle customers. Tim and his wife, Suzy, have a home in Wangaratta.
Tank you, Tim (Sorry everyone! I couldn’t help myself!).
Tim pulled out all stops to help me through this story — by email, snail mail, express post and phone calls. It’s not that I know little about tanks; it’s that I know absolutely nothing at all about them! He has written and compiled several books (five, I think) but I’ve had to keep the word count down. We both feel we’ve made a new friend and he’s coming to Shepp for a catch-up before — he says — we get any older.
My apologies to readers who have contacted me. I’ve had to hold letters over, until next week. Thank you for understanding.
11°C