Calendar of events
Victoria
Gala Dinner & Trade Show
13 September 2025
New South Wales
Gala Dinner & Trade Show
20 September 2025
STAY TUNED!
Western Australia
Broome Member Night 4 September 2025
Gala Dinner & Trade Show
25 October 2025 Queensland
Gala Dinner & Trade Show 8 November 2025
South Australia
Gala Dinner & Trade Show 15 November 2025
The events advertised include current and planned events (which are subject to change). To get tickets or view a planned event’s status, log in to myCAP and click on events. For further information please contact our Events team.
Member Directors play a key role in ensuring that the decisions Capricorn makes are always in the best interest of Members, Preferred Suppliers and the wider industry. Your participation is key to shaping the future of Capricorn, so make sure to have your say!
New South Wales / Australian Capital Territory and Victoria / Tasmania Shareholders are invited to vote for a new Member Director to represent their zone on the Capricorn Board.
Voting Opens: Tuesday, 2 September 2025
Voting Closes: Tuesday, 30 September 2025 Your voice mattersbe part of the
CEO’s message
Late last month, we started announcing our first ever Rising Stars Region Winners, celebrating some of the outstanding apprentices in our Community. We had over 350 nominations received for our awards this year and are thrilled to be able to celebrate winners in each of our regions before announcing an Overall Winner towards the end of the year.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to recognise their apprentices and please join us in celebrating and congratulating these worthy recipients — you can find out who won for each region on our website and social media channels. I look forward to sharing more Region Winners throughout the next few months.
Last month, we also started to roll out multi-factor authentication (MFA) and Capricorn ID. These additional cybersecurity measures and identification protections will help Capricorn keep your information safe and secure online. When eligible, you’ll receive an email with information on how to set up your Capricorn ID and I encourage you to do so straight away. If you have any questions, you can give our friendly Customer Service team a call or speak to your Area Manager.
This year we’re holding a Director Election in in VIC/TAS and NSW/ACT, regardless of the outcome we will have a new Director in VIC/TAS as Mark Cooper has reached his maximum term after many years of service. Eligible Shareholders will be invited to vote in the Director Election from 2-30 September 2025 and I strongly encourage you to do so. Member Directors play a really important role on our Board, representing the Members from their zone. Please visit cap.coop/elections for the latest information.
Finally, this month Capricorn will be releasing our 2025 State of the Nation report, sharing how our Members are feeling about the automotive industry. Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the survey and share your experience, I look forward to sharing the results with you soon.
Brad Gannon Group CEO
you can opt-out at any time by logging into myCAP and updating your Account
4 GROWING GRACEFULLY
Ross shares lessons from building his business.
8
BUILDING MOMENTUM FOR THE FUTURE
How our career expos are helping to tackle the skills shortage.
10
THE BLADE ELECTRON
The forgotten homegrown history of Australia’s first EV.
14
MEMBER RETURNS
Why putting more through pays off.
16
A BLUEPRINT FOR CREDIT CONTROL
Managing your cash flow in the face of cost-of-living pressures.
GROWING GRACEFULLY
Ross
shares lessons from building his business.
Most 19-year-olds, fresh out of their apprenticeship, aren’t thinking about buying a workshop. But Ross Menniti wasn’t most teenagers.
GRACEFULLY
Iwas very ambitious at that age,” Ross said. “I still am, but I was full of confidence. I just really wanted to get ahead, and I understood that pretty well the only way to do that in this industry was by owning your own business.”
Ross had already started his own mobile mechanic business when a friend mentioned that Midway Autoport in Ryde in north-west Sydney—the area where he grew up—was for sale. Ross saw an opportunity.
“I went and spoke to the guy who owned it and we struck up a deal,” Ross said. “Within two weeks, I was running the show.”
He’d not long turned 20. That was fifteen years ago, and in that time Ross has transformed the business. He’s grown it from two staff to four, tripled the daily volume of vehicles being serviced, invested in technology—including an innovative app that’s about to attract a lot of attention in the automotive aftermarket—and focused on improving processes and efficiency.
There have been plenty of challenges along the way. Ross describes those early years as “sink or swim”. Fortunately, he’d gained some insight into how to run a workshop during his apprenticeship, when he and the other apprentices were often left to open and close, order parts, deal with customers and issue invoices by themselves.
“It removed that mental barrier for me very early on; I saw that it could be done,” he said.
Being so young, perhaps Ross’s biggest challenge in those early days was establishing his credibility with Midway’s customers.
“I felt I had a point to prove to everyone, so I did whatever I could,” he said. “I went above and beyond—and I still do go above and beyond—to do whatever I could to ensure customer satisfaction, because people could see my age in my face, whether they said it or not. I would try very hard to win their approval.”
There were also the usual realities of running a business. An apprentice he inherited with the business had to be let go (although they’re still friends today). He had to find and learn to manage staff. He had to learn about accounting, financial management and workshop workflows.
“Being as organised as possible is fundamental,” he said. “Having a process for the how the day flows. We have a cap on the amount of cars we can take in, which at the moment is roughly seven or eight, plus 10 to 15 for registration inspections each day. Get the bookings in, get the cars dropped off early, take them straight out for a test drive, get the reports written, then within an hour you need to be sitting down, making those phone calls, getting approvals. Nothing gets done without approval.”
Ross said he’s strict about the kinds of services and repairs the workshop takes on.
“We know what we can do and we don’t get in over our head,” he said. “If you can’t do it, it’s better to give the customer a recommendation and move them along. I’ve never had someone say they were offended because I sent them elsewhere.
Communication is key. It’s sticking to the process, making sure the work flows, being transparent with customers, and just earning their trust through competency.”
These days Ross is focused on digital innovation. After three years of development, he recently launched Autoport, a comprehensive vehicle management app that he believes represents the future of customer service in the automotive aftermarket.
“It’s essentially a virtual garage for customers,” Ross said. “They put in their registration plate and their car’s details are automatically uploaded. It tracks when their insurance and services are due and it stores all their documents, policies and service records about the car.”
It also does everything from locating service points to explaining dashboard warning lights to finding the nearest petrol station and details of their current fuel price.
The app provides a central channel for customers to book in services, receive their invoices, view inspection reports, and receive reminders when services are due.
Ross gives it to his customers and the public for free, and its available as a subscription for any workshop to use.
At the business end, there’s a second app that takes bookings, enquiries and payments and is used to issue inspection reports.
It’s all aligned with Ross’s wider business philosophy—the one that’s seen him build a successful business by the age of 35.
“Everything works like clockwork; that’s where the secret really is,” he said. “When you do that day after day, week after week, month after month, everyone who comes in leaves smiling, happy and saying thank you. We keep the workshop immaculate. We never have a situation where a customer comes in at the time we told them to and the car isn’t ready. You can’t make any issue experienced in the workshop the customer’s problem. It’s our job to fix problems and make it look like a magic trick.”
GROWING GRACEFULLY
From Queensland to South Australia:
BUILDING MOMENTUM for the FUTURE OF OUR INDUSTRY
How Capricorn is helping tackle the skills shortage by connecting young talent with real opportunities. Inspiring the next generation of automotive professionals - one expo at a time.
Capricorn’s Queensland Trade Shows have always been a highlight on the calendar - but over the past year, they’ve taken on a whole new purpose. In partnership with the Motor Trades Association of Queensland (MTAQ), we transformed our Brisbane event into a dynamic careers expo, giving young people a real-world introduction to the automotive aftermarket.
And the response? Outstanding.
More than 200 students and their families joined us at the Brisbane RNA Showgrounds in May, eager to explore what a future in automotive could look like. With over 825 attendees in total - including Members, Preferred Suppliers, students, and guests — the event was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when industry comes together to invest in its future. A practical response to a pressing challenge
The automotive industry is facing a skills shortage. As vehicles become more complex and technologydriven, the demand for skilled technicians continues to grow, but the pipeline of new talent isn’t keeping up.
That’s why Capricorn is stepping up. By hosting careers expos alongside our Trade Shows, we’re creating a space where young people can connect directly with employers, ask questions, and see firsthand the breadth of opportunities available in the industry. It’s a practical, grassroots approach to a national challenge and it’s working.
MTAQ CEO Rod Camm described the partnership as “the number one school careers event in the country - bar none.” And with good reason. These expos aren’t just about inspiration, they’re about action. At every event, someone walks away with a job offer.
Changing perceptions, opening doors
For many students, this is their first real exposure to the modern automotive workplace. Gone are the days of greasy overalls and backyard repairs. Today’s workshops are clean, high-tech environments where diagnostic skills and digital knowhow are just as important as a good set of tools.
“These events help open people’s eyes,” Rod said. “We still hear young people say, ‘I don’t want to be a grease monkey.’ But the reality is, you’re more likely to be working with a laptop than a wrench on your first day.”
And it’s not just students who are learning, parents are attending too, gaining a clearer understanding of the career paths available and the skills their children will need to succeed.
Growing momentum across the state
This year, Capricorn and MTAQ brought careers expos to Roma, Toowoomba, Cairns, Bundaberg, the Sunshine Coast, Hervey Bay, and Brisbane. Attendance is growing, especially in Brisbane, where numbers nearly doubled compared to last year. It’s a clear sign that the appetite is there — from students, schools, and employers alike.
Capricorn Chair Mark Rowe summed it up perfectly: “MTAQ provide the students and future apprentices, and we provide the Members who need them. It’s a perfect match.”
Next stop: South Australia
Following the success in Queensland, we’re excited to announce that Capricorn will be partnering with the Motor Trade Association of South Australia and Northern Territory (MTA SA/NT) to bring the same energy and opportunity to our South Australian Trade Show.
If you’re a Member in South Australia, this is your chance to get involved — to meet the next generation of automotive professionals and help shape the future of our industry.
At Capricorn, we’re committed to supporting our Members and the broader automotive community.
Tackling the skills shortage won’t happen overnight, but through initiatives like these, we’re making meaningful progress — one conversation, one connection, and one career at a time.
Blade Electron
The Blade Electron
THE FORGOTTEN HOMEGROWN HISTORY OF AUSTRALIA’S FIRST EV.
The Blade Electron
Here’s a pub quiz question that’ll stump even the most dedicated student of motoring history: What was Australia’s first commercially available EV?
If your first instinct was to answer, “the Mitsubishi i-MiEV”, that’s understandable, but you’d be wrong. In fact, it was a pioneering little vehicle called the Blade Electron. If you’ve never heard of it, that’s hardly surprising: only 50 of them were ever made, between 2008 and 2014. And if you don’t remember seeing one on the road back then, that’s not so shocking either, as the Blade Electron was somewhat incognito. It used the body of a Hyundai Getz—a 40kW/90Nm electric motor and 16 kWh prismatic lithium-ion phosphate battery replaced the 1.4-litre four-litre petrol engine and 45-litre fuel tank.
But the Blade Electron is well worth remembering—not just for its notable place in Australian automotive history, but as a genuinely remarkable achievement.
It was the passion project of Ross Blade, a vocational education teacher from New South Wales with no background in cars or engineering but with a deep interest in politics.
“The Blade Electron was born out of the belief that oil, by 2006, had become a driver of Machiavellian mischief,” Ross writes in his upcoming history of the vehicle. It was his view that a reliance on fossil fuels was the catalyst for negative geopolitical actions across the globe (including Australia’s actions in its dispute with Timor Leste over the revenue rights from oil platforms in the Timor Sea) that drove him to seek change.
Oil and gas were, and still are, central to most modern economies. Ross realised if you disrupt oil, you can disrupt everything from the school run to global trade. It was what happened to personal mobility that concerned him the most. So, he asked a fundamental question: “what technology could mitigate that risk, given enough time and effort?”
He landed on EVs.
But then Ross did something truly remarkable. Not content to just answer the question, he decided to build the solution. After a 12-month research phase, he began to experiment with the concept of a short-range EV. It would get you 80 kilometres with intermittent charging. It was enough to get most people to the shops or the kids to school, but it was clear from Ross’s research that Aussies wanted at least 100 kms in range.
He landed on lithium-ion phosphate as the safest battery chemistry available and sourced the batteries out of China at about a quarter of the price they were available at home. He worked with Ballarat University to design and build a battery management system. He acquired an AC system from a Canadian company. Research by the US Department of Defence showed a one-pedal driving system with regenerative braking was the key to achieving that all-important 100 km range.
The innovations were coming thick and fast. Ross was able to close the efficiency gap between city and highway driving and even demonstrated its ability to tow a load (bearing in mind the Electron’s body was a GETZ, Ross describes that “load” as “a modest trailer load to the local tip”). In 2009—after the vehicle was commercially available—the Electron became one of the first vehicles in Australia to operate with full Vehicle-to-Grid and Vehicleto-Home charging functionality (enabling bidirectional power flow between the car, the grid and the household).
The first commercially available Blade Electron hit the roads in Victoria in 2008. It cost just $48,000.
“We would buy the Hyundai GETZ new and we’d take them through second-stage manufacturing, and they would be approved as one-offs through Vic Roads,” Ross said.
“When we got to the sixth vehicle, that’s when the politics started.”
The Blade Electron had come to the attention of the larger vehicle manufacturers— themselves racing to develop the EVs they hoped Australians would one day rely on.
Ross received just $167,995 in Federal funding to develop and produce his EVs. At the same time (2008) the Federal Government announced $6.2 billion in assistance to local vehicle manufacturers to produce “A New Car Plan For a Greener Future.”
The odds were stacked against him. He faced continual pressure from regulators to prove his vehicles were safe. Ross said the Blade Electron rose to every challenge, including an expensive crash test, but by 2014, with just 50 Electrons on the road, it was clear his incredible ride was over.
“I was having a meeting with senior public servants in Victoria and one of them said, ‘we’re really surprised you’ve lasted this long’,” Ross said.
For all that, Ross said he has no regrets and no anger.
“If you wound the clock back and said, ‘would I do it again?’ Absolutely. It was the right thing to do and it was the right time to do it."
“I try to look at it in a positive light."
“But was Australia the right country to do it in? Probably not. If I was based in America, it would likely have been a very different story. If I had my time over again, I’d do it in America.”
While many Australians might not recall the Blade Electron, it’s certainly a vehicle worth remembering. Fortunately, it’s remarkable history has been recorded. Not only is Ross writing the story of the Blade Electron, but he’s donated one of these historic vehicles to the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney.
And that’s as it should be. Because the Blade Electron should be more than the answer to a difficult quiz question. It should be remembered for its proud and pioneering place in automotive history.
RETURNS Member
Why putting more through pays off .
One of the things that makes Capricorn special is that we’re owned by our Members. That means we’re always here to support you and to help you build a stronger business, but it also means that we're able to deliver a number of significant financial benefits.
At the end of the day, it boils down to a simple equation, the more that you put in, the more you’ll get out.
Trade rebates
One of the ways we deliver a financial benefit is in the form of an annual discretionary trade rebates. The trade rebate you may receive is based on how much you’ve put through your Trade Account over the course of the financial year — the more purchases you’ve made, the larger the rebate that you’ll be eligible to receive.
This means that it isn’t just easier and more convenient to make the most of your Trade Account, it literally pays off as well. You can use our extensive network of Preferred Suppliers to access a lot more than just parts and equipment. In fact, there’s everything from accounting and bookkeeping services to electricity and gas suppliers, telecommunications, property repairs and maintenance and much, much more.
The trade rebate is paid to Members in the form of Capricorn Rewards Points*. These can then be used to redeem products and experiences from our Rewards shop, used to purchase big-ticket items through Rewards+ or even used to pay off your Trade Account (which frees up your own funds).
If you haven't already, why not take a good look through your Purple Pages for the Preferred Suppliers available in your area to see if there’s anything more that you can charge to your Trade Account to maximise your possible trade rebate?
Rewards Points
The trade rebate isn’t the only reason to try and make the most of your Trade Account. Every eligible purchase you make through your Trade Account earns you Rewards Points, which means you’re effectively getting a bonus for things that you may need to buy for your business anyway.
There’s a number of different ways you can use your Rewards Points—whether that’s treating yourself or your team or paying off your Trade Account and putting some funds away for a rainy day. Either way, the equation is simple: the more you put through your Trade Account, the more Rewards Points you’ll rack up. For a thriving business, this can really add up to some significant extra value over the course of the financial year!
Share dividends
Because we’re owned by our Members, it means that our Members are our Shareholders.
If Capricorn earns a profit, that profit may be distributed to Members as a cash dividend at the end of the financial year. These dividends are calculated on the number of shares held by Members — the more shares you own, the greater the dividend that you receive.
Shareholders can choose to have their dividend paid via direct credit
or reinvested into additional shares through the Dividend Reinvestment Plan.
Shares are priced at $1 each. Each financial year, Members can also apply to purchase additional shares up to a maximum of either of the following (depending on which is greater):
$2,500
The value of Rewards Points earned in the previous financial year (excluding Bonus Rewards Points).
You are also able to sell them back to Capricorn, a feature that many Members use as a handy nest egg for their retirement.
Over the last three years alone, we’ve delivered a total of AU$35.1 million in share dividends to Members.
Check out your returns
Our Community thrives when we all work together. By maximising the use of your Trade Account to purchase from our network of Preferred Suppliers and/ or purchasing additional shares, you’re contributing to what makes us tick.
Beyond that, you’re also doing yourself a favour by maximising the financial benefits that we’re able to deliver to you as a result. It really is a win-win for everyone.
Want to learn more about your possible trade rebate or share dividend? If Capricorn declares Member returns, these are issued in the end of September and you can check by log in to myCAP using your Shareholder login.
If you need more information about ways to increase the value you get back from your Capricorn membership, talk to your Area Manager.
Please note that all figures quoted are in AUD. The past performance of Capricorn is no indication of future performance or returns. Shares are issued by Capricorn Society Limited (ACN 008 347 313). No offer of shares is made in this article or publication. An offer of shares will only made in, or accompanied by, Capricorn’s Prospectus and any Supplementary Prospectus which is available on request or may be viewed at capricorn.coop under “Corporate Documents.” Before making any decision to apply for shares you should consider the prospectus and any supplementary prospectus. Any application for shares must be made on the application form in or accompanying the Prospectus.
*Participation in Capricorn Rewards is subject to the Capricorn Rewards Terms and Conditions which can be found at cap.coop/tc.
Managing cost-of-living pressures on customers
A guide to credit control
There is no doubt that the current cost-of-living crisis is putting a strain on many household and small business budgets.
In fact, data from the 2024 Capricorn State of the Nation report supported this, with 45 percent of Members identifying price-sensitive customers and cost-of-living pressures as a significant challenge. In order to help and retain customers who are struggling financially, it’s not uncommon for workshops to offer credit, a practise that can leave them facing an uncomfortable dilemma.
On one hand, workshops owners are often empathetic towards customers that they have built long-term relationships with. On the other hand, they need to manage their bottom line to keep their operation profitable, a situation that has not been helped by many people deferring the servicing/ repair of their vehicles for longer periods of time due to cost-ofliving pressures.
It’s a precarious situation to manage, so we’ve put together a guide that can assist workshops with the maintenance of both satisfied customers and a positive cashflow.
Implement a credit application process
The days of walking into the local petrol station or supermarket and obtaining credit are long gone. Given
this, it’s unreasonable to for customers of modern workshops to expect to be given access to credit simply by asking for it or sometimes even expecting it to be offered.
At the very least, customers who ask if credit can be arranged should submit to a formal credit application process, and like other industries, credit might be considered only for high-value customers, such as a trade client who runs a fleet of vehicles and services them with your business.
Use signage to educate your customers
If people asking for credit is a mounting problem, put up a prominent sign at the front counter to make your position quite clear. Such signs might say:
Credit no longer available.
We don’t offer credit, please don’t ask.
Payment is required on collection of your vehicle.
How will you be paying for that today?
If a customer is going to have issues paying when they pick up their car, it would be preferable to know about it before any time is spent working on their vehicle. This puts you back in control of the situation. The best way to achieve this is to simply ask the customer when they drop off the vehicle 'How will you be paying for that today?'.
How they are going to pay is not the point of the question, but if the customer is hoping they can access credit, their intentions will be made clear right up front. This approach also plants the seed in the customer’s mind that they are going to have to pay as credit is not an option.
Have the invoice ready before the customer arrives
The number one reason why retail customers are sometimes given credit is that the workshop doesn’t have the invoice ready when the customer picks up their vehicle. It’s too easy to say 'We’ll send you the invoice.' This is a recipe for disaster. It may save you some time in the short term, but it will increase your workload in the future when you have to send out accounts and chase payment, and it certainly sends the wrong message that some customers may continue to exploit.
It must be standard policy that all invoices are printed and ready to present before the customer walks in the door. If the business ignores this priority it would seem to be time for a serious review of financial procedures. There should be no alternative, changes must be implemented to ensure invoices are ready for the customer.
Offer a finance solution
It’s only human nature that a business owner will become emotionally attached to a customer’s situation to the point of feeling obliged to offer them credit. This gesture of good faith has backfired on many occasions, leaving the business owner out of pocket.
Instead of reacting with a flat 'no credit', it might be possible to retain the customer by suggesting an alternative finance solution such as a 'buy now, pay later' plan. This is where the workshop signs up to a 'buy now, pay later' lender, which allows the customer to pay off the debt in instalments and the lender takes over the debt. This means the workshop gets paid, less the fee charged by the lender.
Watch for the signs, if a customer can’t obtain credit by conventional means, it could be a sign that they have credit issues and more pressing debts that they will need to take care of before they pay yours.
Adopt a debtor collection procedure
Debtor collection is a task nobody enjoys, and the best solution is to not offer credit in the first place. Regardless, it is best to have a routine procedure at the ready, rather than only reacting when you notice holes in your bank balance.
Run an accounts-receivable report on a weekly basis and follow up the late payers. Make detailed notes of conversations and promises — names, dates, times, what was promised. Always be firm, fair and friendly, and stick to facts. Don’t let the conversation develop into an emotional argument as nobody wins when this occurs.
Workshop operators will often have to deal with good customers who might be under significant personal or business financial pressure that requires a repayment plan to be developed and agreed. It can often be better to help such customers through and be paid over a period of time than to alienate them and never be paid at all.
However, it’s ultimately your responsibility as a business owner to assess each situation.
Re-educate serial late payers
Businesses don’t like losing customers, but sometimes tough decisions have to be made. Every workshop will have customers that the business might be better off without – the serial late payers.
If you want to retain their custom, they will often need some re-education about the importance of settling their accounts on time. Your first action should be to stop servicing or repairing their vehicles until their
debts are cleared. You then open the door to a discussion about resuming your relationship on the condition that future invoices are to be paid on time.
It’s normal to feel sympathy for families and other businesses currently doing it tough, but you need to remind yourself that, as a business owner, your first responsibility is to maintain a positive cashflow and protect your bottom line. To extend credit too easily is to court disaster, and your customers’ cashflow struggles can quickly become your own.
Stay focused and strong with your credit policy, because at the end of the day, that’s the only way to protect your profitability and keep customer relationships intact.
Secure What Matters Most with Life Insurance for Your Family and Business
Capricorn Insurance Services, through our referral partners at Steadfast Life, now offers tailored life insurance protection that can help secure your family’s financial future.
Peace of mind knowing that your loved ones can be financially protected.
Confidence knowing that unexpected events don’t need to derail your future.
Preparedness for life’s unpredictable challenges.
Stability for your family or business, no matter what lies ahead.
We’ve helped Members protect what matters for years — from businesses and vehicles to homes and more. Now, we’re here to help you protect your greatest asset: your family’s future.
Personal Cover: Protect your family’s future by securing your income and lifestyle.
Business Cover: Minimise risk by safeguarding your business from the loss of key people.
Fun Zone
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE (5 differences to find!) Last
Submit your entry at cap.coop/funzone by 30 September 2025
July winner CASEY AUTOMOTIVE who WON 5,000 Bonus Rewards Points
Please
WORD HUNTER (15 words to find!) Blade
Electron
Momentum
Pressures
South
On 22 October, scan or visit capricorn.coop and log in to myCAP to explore the product specials and use your Rewards Points! ONE DAY ONLY! Wednesday, 22 October 2025 8am - 8pm AWST, 11am - 11pm AEDT Save on selected Capricorn Rewards Availability will be limited – get in while stocks last!
Special offer valid from 8am(AWST)/11am(AEDT) to 8pm(AWST)/11pm(AEDT) Wednesday, 22 October 2025. Only while stocks last. Participation in the Capricorn Rewards program is subject to terms and conditions available at capricorn.coop/tc
