Genuine Article Australia Edition 12

Welcome to Edition 12 of the digital version of the Genuine Article.

We have been busy preparing some exciting offers and content for our 2023 editions of the Genuine Article, including some great product inclusions for our store.

In this edition, we have some great articles for you to read and some great products for you to redeem with your points. We have included some of our range on pages 12-18. Visit rewards-shop.com.au for the full range of rewards.

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Raising awareness for worthwhile causes is something we continue to pride ourselves on. The Dunga Derby is a community charity raising funds to support families and individuals affected by life-limiting medical conditions. Check out page 10 for more information on this amazing charity, and how to donate your points towards car 69 in the Dunga Derby 2023.

You will also find additional information on Beyond Blue on page 33 and the Maddy Jones Foundation on page 9.

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If you have any comments or queries, please contact us on 1800 438 436 Wishing you all the very best from the team at GetGenuine.

Contents

E

dition 12 | D ecember 2022

News

Motorsport News 3, 5-8, 24-25, 28 Industry News 26-27, 29-32

Supporting our Community

Maddy Jones Foundation 9

Dunga Derby

Beyond Blue

Dealers

10

Rex Gorell Group Inside Cover

Chadstone Mitsubishi 4 Mercedes-Benz Toorak 5 Stillwell Motor Group 7 Dealer Directory 34 - 35

Promotions

Competition Corner 2

Rewards

Vegepod Feature 11 Reward Picks 12 - 17 Merchandise 18 Dream Rewards 19 Winc Partnership + Rewards 20 - 21 Flight Centre 22 - 23

LEWIS CREATES HISTORY AS THIRD BATES TO WIN TITLE

Lewis Bates became the third member of his family to win the Australian Rally Championship title after finishing second in the Coffs Coast Rally. Combined with codriver Anthony McLoughlin, Bates joins his brother Harry, and four-time winning father, Neal, as Australian title holders.

The younger brother of team-mate Harry, Lewis went into the event needing to finish strongly to claim the title, and when his brother crashed out two stages from the finish, the title was his to lose. He won the title in style too, setting the fastest time on the final Power Stage.

Kiwi Hayden Paddon took the overall rally win in his Hyundai, but Australian Rally Championship honours went to local hero, Nathan Quinn, in his Hyundai i20 G4, complete with Mitsubishi Lancer engine and running gear.

In second place, Lewis Bates was followed by another Toyota Yaris AP4, driven by Irishman Richie Dalton.

The rally used many of the roads made famous by Rally Australia from 2011 to 2018, and while wet weather has been the common feature of this year’s national series, hot, dry and extremely dusty conditions greeted crews.

Harry Bates had been the dominant force through the opening three rounds of the 2022 title race, but 2018 had retirements on the last three rallies – two from mechanical failures.

Next year’s Aussie series gets underway in March when crews head to Tasmania for Rally Launceston, the first of six rounds.

Garry and Warren Smith

JAGUAR TCS RACING REVEALS ELECTRIC I-TYPE 6

The new Jaguar I-Type 6 is designed to win the 2023 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

That’s according to Jaguar TCS Racing which adds the lighter (by 74kg), more powerful and faster electric race car has a 321km/h top speed.

It also has no conventional rear brakes because the EV’s regenerative braking so powerful, Jaguar explains.

“It is the first FIA Formula E race car to feature both front and rear powertrains, as 250kW regen is added to the front and 350kW regen added at the rear, doubling the regenerative capability over the Gen2 model and removing the need for conventional rear brakes.”

And the brand says technology transfer from the Jaguar I-Type 6 will support reimagining Jaguar’s future as an all-electric modern luxury brand from 2025.

A new asymmetric livery from Jaguar’s Creative team means unique cars for drivers and a distinctive new identity for the Gen3 era, says Jaguar TCS Racing.

Drivers Kiwi Mitch Evans and Briton Sam Bird are returning for the new season which starts in Mexico City on January 14, 2023.

HARRI JONES AMONG TWELVE UPAND-COMING RACERS EAGER TO BECOME THE NEW PORSCHE JUNIOR

Australian Harri Jones was one of twelve particularly accomplished racing drivers that recently took part in a three-day shootout in Jerez, Spain, with the intention of becoming the 2023 Porsche Junior.

All twelve are no older than 24 and have finished in the top five of one of the more than 30 Porsche one-make cup series around the world in the past year, driving the ca. 375 kW (510 PS) 911 GT3 Cup. And they all had to showcase their prowess on and off the 4.428-kilometre Grand Prix circuit.

The jury took into account not only top lap times and the general performance on the track, but also looked at how they interacted with the race engineers, their technical competence, their interaction with the media as well as the results of mental and physical tests. In the coming days, the intensive analysis of the collected results and findings will serve as the basis for deciding who will be allowed to compete as the new Porsche Junior in 2023.

Of all twelve young drivers from ten countries, the longest journey was made by Australian Harri Jones. The 23-year-old was crowned 2022 Porsche Michelin Junior Champion at the end of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship.

Porsche’s Junior programme has boosted the careers of 28 racing drivers since 1997. Of particular note are the careers of today’s Porsche brand ambassador Timo Bernhard (Porsche Junior from 2000 to 2001), Marc Lieb (2000 to 2002), Earl Bamber (2014): All three won the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans at least once with the Porsche 919 Hybrid, as well as titles in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Carrera Cup Australia has produced two Junior Shootout winners to date: Matt Campbell (2016) and Jaxon Evans (2018) who both have gone onto forge international careers with Porsche.

SARGENT CLAIMS SPRINT CHALLENGE TITLE AT PHILLIP ISLAND

Thomas Sargent did everything he needed to do to claim the 2022 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia Series in the final round at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. Ryan Wood swept to the final round win with a pair of race victories, but couldn’t overhaul his season-long rival in the title battle.

A pair of second place finishes in two races held at the high-speed Victorian circuit capped off a remarkable year for Sargent, who finished first or second in every race this year.

It was also the second consecutive one-make Porsche title for Sargent’s CHE Engineering / Tegra Australia team, who claimed the 2021 Carrera Cup title with Cameron Hill, and also

comes in the same year the two drivers teamed up to win the Bathurst 6 Hour endurance race.

Meanwhile, Brett Boulton claimed the Morris Pro-Am class title victory, his first in one-make Porsche competition, while Danny Stuttered won the round.

Lachlan Harburg claimed the Class B title, while home-town hero Jacob Li dominated the final round to take the weekend. The Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia Series returns in 2023.

talkmotorsport.co.nz

The Stillwell Motor Group was founded by Bib Stillwell in 1949 and today is an award winning, highly respected, second generation family business.

“You can’t really script what was playing out, it was a difficult weekend,” Bates said. “I was probably being too careful coming into the rally trying to look after the car too much, it’s a rough event.

“I think in the end it played in our favour, we made it to the end and yeah I’m super happy.”

Paddon and Kennard dominated the final day of the event winning five of the six Special Stages and taking the 2022 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship title. The 2023 RSEA Safety Motorsport Australia Rally Championship will commence with Rally Launceston, Tasmania from March 24-26.

WHAT IS SEPSIS?

Maddy Jones was an 18-year-old Honours Law student in the prime of her life. She was intelligent, beautiful, very independent, wickedly funny, sarcastic, and sometimes irreverent. She died from Sepsis in October 2017. Had there been greater awareness around Sepsis, Maddy's symptoms would have been recognised by both family and healthcare professionals. Maddy's death was preventable.

Sepsis is a life-threatening infection that may look like the flu or gastro and start with any infection such as chest, throat, skin or urinary tract. Symptoms include:

The Maddy Jones Foundation aims to eliminate preventable deaths and disabilities resulting from a lack of Sepsis awareness, speedy diagnosis and immediate medical treatment.

If you detect even a few of these symptoms, seek medical help immediately. Just ask, “Could this be Sepsis?”

Over

The 2022 Dunga Derby was yet another resounding success, with $584,026 raised for Queensland families facing tough times. GetGenuine member Pialba Smash Repairs are a regular participant in the Fraser Coast Dunga Derby, proudly reaching their fundraising target of $5,000 raised.

Pialba Smash Repairs have enjoyed entering the Dunga Derby adventures every year since it all began in 2015. They say they will continue to join in every year and chip away at their already incredible donation tally – currently over $42,000.

The Dunga Derby started in 2015, when a group of local businesses came together after a friend’s child was struck down with an aggressive brain tumour. Shortly afterwards, a teenage dancer in the community was diagnosed with bone cancer.

The group of businesses wanted to raise money to support the families’ medical, travel and loss of income expenses. And so the Rally for a Cause Dunga Derby concept was born.

VEGEPOD POD-TO-PLATE

Sam Goodwin’s Pesto & Vintage Cheddar Pull-Apart Scroll

Written by Sam Goodwin, Masterchef 2017 participant

My Vegepod has been a revelation for growing herbs, never have I seen such lush, green and sturdy herb growth; even soft herbs like coriander, which is notoriously fragile to grow, are booming. So, here’s a little segment to get you inspired to grow herbs in your Vegepod and reap the benefits in the kitchen.

I’ve got an entire medium pod dedicated to herbs. It is probably my most important and favourite Vegepod, providing flavour bombs that elevate dishes to the next level. Depending on the size of your backyard or alfresco, small or medium Vegepods are perfect for easy access herbs that can be placed just outside your kitchen or next to the BBQ. Having them right there within arm’s reach whilst cooking allows you to create quick condiments and sauces to compliment any dish.

Here’s a quickfire list of examples of how to use your fresh herbs:

• Cooking steak? You can’t go past an Argentinian style chimichurri using oregano and parsley.

• Fish and chips? Fresh tartar sauce loaded with dill and parsley.

• Nam jim, with a punch of a good punch of coriander, is my go-to Thai style dipping sauce or salad dressing

• The allrounder – Italian style salsa verde using any combination of parsley, basil, or mint, works perfectly whether you’re cooking seafood, chicken, beef or vegetables.

Storing & Preserving

If you’re using any of the above sauces, they will hold in the fridge for 1-2 weeks if they are stored in an airtight container or jar.

Alternatively, a great way to preserve your herbs for months is to freeze them. This is best achieved by blitzing them into an oil (I’d recommend extra-virgin olive oil, or grapeseed if you prefer neutral flavour) and freezing them in ice cube trays. Then, all you need to do is pop them out as you need them & add them into your favourite dish.

Conditions apply: Whilst every endeavour has been made to give accurate points required for the rewards (or replacement product), we reserve the right to adjust the required amount when redeeming to reflect current pricing, and generally the right at any time with or without notice to cancel or change a particular reward. All rewards are subject to availability.

PESTO & VINTAGE CHEDDAR SCROLL

This recipe uses another method not mentioned above but one you will all be familiar with – pesto. Traditionally, the authentic Pesto Genovese from Italy uses only basil leaves, which is the flavour most people would be familiar with. However, like the sauces above, you can play around with herbs depending on what you have coming out of the Vegepod.

In this instance, I had an abundance of rocket which has quickly become my go-to base for my everyday pesto. In this rendition, I have added herbs that were thriving in early winter - parsley, chives, and tarragon.

This scroll is the perfect spring starter to be shared in the middle of the table – pulled apart and served with a bowl of soup or slow cooked casserole.

Click here to see the full recipe

From 19,200 pts

FIRST ENTRY CONFIRMED FOR LIQUI MOLY BATHURST 12 HOUR

A POWERFUL collaboration between Europe and Australia heralds the first official entry into the 2023 LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour. Famous German-based Porsche team Manthey will join with Australian team EMA Motorsport to commence the 2023 season at Mount Panorama.

The pair join forces under the ‘Manthey EMA’ banner and confirm their entry of a Porsche 991.2 Generation Porsche GT3R in the February 3-5 event next year. After successful events in Europe, the Australian-German effort will be hard to miss as they come together to send the iconic green and yellow

‘Grello’ Porsche 911 GT3 R to the Mountain with a Pro driver effort.

EMA Motorsport makes a first appearance at the Bathurst 12 Hours with the Porsche 911 GT3 R, having raced at the Mountain as part of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia grid earlier this year. The race will also be one of the final appearances for the 991.2 iteration of the GT3 R in top-flight competition, ahead of the new 992 generation joining grids from later in 2023.

Further details of the drivers are set to revealed early in the New Year.

HARROLDS VOLANTE ROSSO ENTERS BATHURST 12 HOUR

Harrolds Volante Rosso Motorsport will enter the 2023 LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour, contesting Australia’s International Enduro for the first time. The team has confirmed the initial entry of their #101 Mercedes AMG GT3, with Ross Poulakis named as the lead driver.

The Mercedes AMG Customer Racing squad maid their racing debut in the Fanatec GT World Challenge powered by AWS this season and has impressed with a series of highly competitive performances.

As well as taking several GT3 Am class race victories so far this year,

the highlight saw the team claim a stunning third outright at Mount Panorama recently, in the three-hour GT Endurance Championship finale’.

There, Poulakis and international Aussie Jordan Love starred; Love qualifying fastest of the pro drivers, before the pair chased the leading Brad Schumacher-run Audi and the Triple Eight / Johor Motor Racing Mercedes all day - finishing on the lead lap and on the podium.

The result was doubly impressive given it was Poulakis’ first attempt at taking on Mount Panorama.

FORD RANGER PLATINUM COMING NEXT MAY

The high specification Ford Ranger Platinum is due in Australia in May 2023, combining capability and versatility with unique styling and premium features.

The three-litre V6 turbo diesel Ranger Platinum has a recommended Manufacturer List Price of $76,9901.

Ford Australia says the Ranger Platinum meets the demand for a luxury product which is also a flexible work truck, assisting active work and family needs.

The five-seat double cab Ranger Platinum produces 184kW of power and 600Nm of torque, power delivered through the Ranger’s electronically controlled full-time four-wheel drive system, combined with Ford’s 10-speed automatic transmission.

Key exterior enhancements include a unique grille, 20-inch alloy wheels, ‘Platinum’ hood badging, Silk Chrome trims, Matrix LED headlamps, a damped tailgate, and Ford’s Flexible Rack System (FRS).

“We listened hard to our customers throughout the design and development of the nextgeneration Ranger, and in doing so we reinvented the pick-up truck segment,” says Ford Australia president and chief executive Andrew Birkic.

“We’ve seen growth in high-end variants in this segment over recent years, so we challenged ourselves to create a vehicle that provides all of our customer’s wants and needs.”

Its maximum braked towing weight is 3500kg, like the whole Ranger line-up.

The Ranger Platinum will also be available in the Equinox Bronze paint colour, previously available only on Everest.

Ranger Platinum will go into production as an MY23.50 model from April 2023, with first arrivals in May 2023.

The three-litre V6 turbo diesel Ranger Platinum has a recommended Manufacturer List Price of $76,9901.

MAZDA CX-60 PRICING AND SPECIFICATION CONFIRMED

The Mazda CX-60 is available to order in Australia, due to arrive in June 2023.

The debut vehicle from Mazda’s Large Product Group introduces three new powertrains – all hybridised and including inline-six turbocharged petrol and diesel engines and Mazda’s first plug-in hybrid (PHEV).

The powerplants can be mated to any one of three model grades – Evolve, GT or Azami –and customised further with safety and styling option packs.

They are priced from $59,800 (Evolve petrol), $61,800 (Evolve diesel) and $72,300 (Evolve PHEV).

“The Mazda CX-60 is more than an exciting new SUV; it’s the evolution of Mazda Premium – a high-quality concentration of design, driving dynamics, technology and comfort developed around our customers and what they want from a mid-sized SUV,” says Mazda Australia managing director Vinesh Bhindi.

At the top of the range is the first Mazda plug-in hybrid – the e-Skyactiv PHEV, with a combined 241kW system output and 500Nm torque from its 100kW motor and Skyactiv-G 2.5-litre, four-cylinder direct injection petrol. Its zero to 100km/h sprint time is 5.9 seconds.

Overall range in EV mode is 76km at speeds of up to 100km/h – comfortably exceeding the average Australian daily commuting distance by almost five times without the need to revert to the petrol engine.

Fuel consumption is rated at a low 2.1L/100km, corresponding to CO2 emissions of 49g/km.

The 355V, 17.8kWh high-capacity lithium-ion battery onboard battery can be fully recharged from empty in 2.5 hours using a 7.2kW AC charger.

The six-cylinder turbocharged petrol and diesel both share a 3.3-litre capacity and join the lineup for the first time, each utilising Mazda’s 48V M Hybrid Boost technology.

The e-Skyactiv G turbo petrol engine results in performance well above that of the Mazda CX-5’s 2.5 litre turbo (0-100km/h in 6.9 seconds), but with much better fuel economy – closer to a naturally aspirated 2.5 litre.

The 3.3 litre e-Skyactiv D delivers a maximum power level of 187kW and 550Nm torque at 1500-2400 rpm. Acceleration to 100 km/h from rest takes 7.3 seconds. Fuel consumption on the combined cycle is 4.9L/100km, with CO2 emissions of 128g/km.

All engines in the Mazda CX-60 range are combined with a newly developed SkyactivDrive eight-speed automatic transmission.

The new rear-biased i-Activ All-Wheel Drive system is also fitted to all versions of the Mazda CX-60, supported by Mi-Drive, which helps the driver easily switch between five different driving modes: Normal, Sport, Off-Road, Towing and EV (PHEV only).

JOHNSON WRAPS UP TA2 MUSCLE CAR SERIES TITLE

In front of grandfather Dick and father Steve, Jett Johnson became another third generation driver to win a major touring car title by claiming the TA2 Muscle Car Series – framed by HYTEK at the final round at Winton Raceway.

The series battle came down to the wire, with Johnson’s NAPA Auto Parts Mustang taking the title by 108 points from the Illawarra Engineering Services Camaro of Graham Cheney, with Nicholas Bates Mustang in third overall and winner of the Circo Master Class.

Cheney battled all weekend to finish after suffering a lung infection and spending time in ECU in the lead up to the weekend.

Johnson now sits alongside another thirdgeneration racer in Aaron Seton to have won a TA2 title. Cheney finished the season in second overall from Nicholas Bates in third who claimed the Circo Master class series win and the Racetech Rookie of the Year Award.

BRITISH CONSORTIUM WORKING ON HYDROGEN HILUX PROJECT

A consortium of British engineering and industry bodies is developing a zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell-powered version of the Toyota Hilux.

Led by Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd (TMUK) and funded by the UK Government through the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), the project will develop the technologies to integrate the second-generation fuel cell components from the Toyota Mirai within an electrically-propelled Hilux.

The consortium comprises engineering consultancy Ricardo, European Thermodynamics Ltd (ETL), Thatcham Research and D2H Advanced Technologies.

Scheduled to run for two years, the project will see prototype vehicles built at TMUK’s

Burnaston site in 2023 with small series production a consideration. The project represents an opportunity to support the decarbonisation of the transport sector in a hard-to-electrify segment.

“The UK’s fast-approaching 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel-powered vehicles includes pickups, and that has implications for the off-highway, construction, and utilities sectors that depend on these workhorses,” D2H project senior engineer Adam Evans says

“Toyota’s hydrogen fuel cell technology, as proven in the Mirai, provides one possible solution to the challenge of keeping these industries on the move in environments where battery-electric powertrains often prove impractical,” he says.

MORE CONNECTED TOYOTA RAV4 ARRIVING IN SHOWROOMS IN DECEMBER

Toyota Australia has upgraded its RAV4 SUV by introducing Toyota Connected Services functionality as well as the brand’s latest multimedia system and new active safety features..

It will arriving in local showrooms in December priced from $36,550 plus on-road costs.

The updated RAV4 receives Toyota’s latest-generation multimedia system that debuted on the all-new Corolla

Cross SUV, along with an increase in touchscreen display size on certain variants.

Toyota Australia sales, marketing and franchise operations vice president Sean Hanley says the upgraded RAV4 offered customers the latest technologies to keep them connected on the road and provide greater peace of mind.

TOYOTA HILUX LEADS NOVEMBER NEW CAR MARKET RECOVERY

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) has confirmed there were 95,080 vehicles were sold in November 2022 bringing the yearto-date total to 993,509.

It says this result represents a 17.9% increase on the same month in 2021.

Toyota led the market with a total of 20,107 vehicles sold. Mazda was second with 7549, followed by Ford (7165), Kia (6120) and Mitsubishi (5559).

The Toyota Hilux was the highest selling model with 5440 sales reported.

Ford’s Ranger followed with 5073. Toyota’s Corolla was third with 3732 followed by MG’s ZS (3051) and Toyota’s Landcruiser (2296).

Sales of battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid vehicles continue to rise with a total of 13,415 zero and low emission vehicles sold in November. These were made up of 4457 battery electric, 8529 hybrid and 429 plug-in hybrid vehicles.

In November rental fleets are up 36.3% with 6599 vehicles sold as operators prepare for the first major holiday period since border restrictions eased.

Sales across all States and Territories were up. Western Australia increased by 36.5% with 9668 vehicles sold; Queensland, 28.9% (20,621); Tasmania, 23% (1783); Victoria, 19.1% (25,534); the NT, 14.1% (815); South Australia, 12.3% (5673); New South Wales, 7.5% (29,545); and the ACT, 2.5% (1441).

“The automotive sector is continuing to recover from pandemic related shutdowns, a global shortage of microprocessors and the general supply chain uncertainty we experienced over the last two years,” FCAI chief executive Tony Weber says.

“The industry will deliver the one millionth vehicle to the market in 2022 next week.”

“While this is positive news, many customers are still facing extended wait times for their vehicle, with expected delivery dates for some models beyond 12 months.”

HYUNDAI MOTOR GROUP ELEVATES DONCKERWOLKE TO PRESIDENT AND CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER

The Hyundai Motor Group has promoted Luc Donckerwolke to the role of president and chief creative officer as it responds to a rapidly-changing global business environment and continues to drive business performance.

The Group also elevated Hyundai Motor Company senior vice president Kyoo Bok Lee to executive vice president and appointed him as the president and chief executive of its logistics and distribution arm Hyundai Glovis.

It has also established a Global Strategy Office (GSO) to lead future mobility strategy.

The Group says Donckerwolke will continue to strengthen the identities of each of its mobility brands – Hyundai Motor, Kia, and Genesis – through leading the Group’s advance design and concept model design. He has also led the Group’s creative projects such as Genesis House New York, and customer experience for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM).

“I am very honoured by this new responsibility. I would like to thank the Group for the trust it has shown in me, and I recognise the Hyundai, Kia and Genesis design teams for their consistently outstanding performance,” Donckerwolke says.

“We have together challenged the status quo and we will continue to promote a creative, challenging and positive attitude within our Group,” he says.

Donckerwolke will also continue to oversee the Group’s brand communications based on creative contents and projects and continue his efforts to strengthen the brand identities of Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis.

Lee has diverse experience in Hyundai’s global sales and finance roles including his role of chief finance officer at Hyundai Motor Brazil. Recently he has been leading Group’s process innovation aimed at sustainable growth.

He is expected to lead Hyundai Glovis to become a global smart logistics provider by accelerating the implementation of future new business strategies and creating synergies with the Group.

The Group says it established the Global Strategy Office (GSO) to accelerate its transition into a future mobility solutions provider and strengthen the synergy between the group’s core businesses.

The GSO will be responsible for establishing the Group’s future mobility strategy with regards to software, hardware and mobility services. GSO will have a decisionmaking body composed of experts in each field for timely and consistent implementation of strategies.

It says President of Strategy Planning Division Young Woon Kong; President of Innovation Division Youngcho Chi; and former president and CEO of Hyundai Glovis Jung-Hoon Kim will now take the role of advisors.

A kid with a fuse

Ross spent a long time bottling up his feelings and eventually, this started to take a toll on his mental health. “I always had this sort of short fuse that would kind of just go off.”

Ross Read grew up in the 80s on his family’s dairy farm in central Victoria. Even as a kid, Ross put in long days helping with the cattle. He was used to being frustrated, shouting or swearing when something wasn’t going right. “My brother would just walk the other way. Mum or Dad would probably just absorb it. They just thought I was angry because the cow was doing something wrong,” says Ross. “I just thought that was who I was.” While he didn’t recognise it at the time, Ross was bottling up something that had happened to him years earlier. As much as he tried to bury these feelings, they started to seriously affect his mental health.

Taking over the farm, dealing with drought

In the mid-90s, Ross and his brother took over the farm and expanded, taking on more land and more cattle. Then came one of the worst droughts on record in Australia’s south.

By the late 2000s, the drought still hadn’t lifted. The strain of life on the farm, coupled with Ross’ anger, started to take a toll on his relationships. With his brother, his wife and two young children. And with himself.

“I was going off; I had no control. It was just me venting... letting out everything that I could at that point.” says Ross. “I felt like I didn’t have control of the situation, that I was a failure and I started hating being a dairy farmer. My stress levels were off the chart, my mental health was terrible, but if you asked was I okay, I would have smiled and said, ‘I’m fine’.”

Reaching a crossroads, asking for help

All of this came to a head one day in 2008 when Ross was driving home from a trip to Adelaide.

“I was driving and I remember the sign in front of me was an arrow to Sydney, and an arrow directing me back home. And I sat at that intersection for half an hour or so, just deciding which way.” The turn to Sydney represented escape - Ross had convinced himself that his wife and two young boys would be better off without him. After some time, he chose to go right. Back to his farm. To his family. And to face his anger. That’s when he booked an appointment with his GP.

Uncovering trauma, understanding the impact

At that appointment, somewhat unexpectedly, Ross opened about something he had buried for a long time: the abuse he had experienced as a child.

“It started when I was about five. I didn’t recognise it as abuse. I knew it didn’t feel right. It was just what happened,” says Ross. “I couldn’t tell anyone. Mum and dad never knew. It was kind of this wall that I put up.”

The GP walked Ross though a mental health treatment plan and referred him to a psychologist.

“My first few sessions were an emotional roller-coaster. I don’t think I have cried as much as I did in those first few visits, but it was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.”

Coping strategies

It’s well over a decade on and Ross has been seeing his psychologist ever since those first sessions.

“[My psychologist] was able to explain how traumatic events that happen in your life that are no fault of your own. They can develop into a serious mental illness if not diagnosed and treated properly,” says Ross.

Therapy has helped Ross to understand his anger and why he reacts as he does when he feels like he’s not in control. He’s learnt that he needs to take a breath, think about who or what is causing him to feel angry and why that might be happening.

Making peace with himself Ross has come to realise that despite the strain of trying to run the farm through drought, the property holds a special place in his heart and continues to play a vital role in Ross’ healing. Along with his family, his GP and his psychologist, it is a critical part of the management plan Ross follows to maintain his wellbeing. “With mental illness it’s not something that you can treat once, and it just goes away,” he notes. Ross is proud of having stuck at it. But mostly, he is grateful for the life he’s built. And for taking the right turn at that intersection so many years ago.

To read more, click here . To donate points click here .

If you need assistance visit Beyond Blue’s support services. Our mental health professionals are available 24/7 on1300 22 4636, Web chat (3pm-12am AEST) and email (responses within 24hrs). For immediate support call Lifeline on 13 11 14 and in an emergency, always call triple zero (000)

ABARTH

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State Town/City

Chrysler Jeep Dodge Newcastle  NSW Wickham

Chrysler Jeep Dodge Artarmon NSW Artarmon Cricks Sunshine Coast QLD Noosaville

KIA

Dealer

State Town/City Cricks Sunshine Coast QLD Noosaville GWS Chadstone Mitsubishi & Kia VIC Oakleigh

LAND ROVER

Dealer

State Town/City Solitaire Automotive Group SA Mile End ULR Automotive VIC Port Melbourne ULR Automotive VIC Malvern

LEXUS

Dealer

State Town/City

Lexus of Rockhampton  QLD Rockhampton Sunshine Toyota QLD Caloundra

MASERATI

Dealer

State Town/City Solitaire Automotive Group SA Mile End

MAZDA

Dealer

State Town/City

Max Kirwan Mazda VIC Preston

MG

Dealer State Town/City

Whitehorse Motors  VIC Croydon

MERCEDES-BENZ

Dealer State Town/City

Mercedes-Benz Toorak  VIC Richmond

MINI

Dealer State Town/City

Melbourne Mini Garage VIC Southbank

MITSUBISHI

Dealer State Town/City

Orange Mitsubishi  NSW Southbank

Western Plains Automotive NSW  Dubbo

Cricks Sunshine Coast QLD  Maroochydore

Cricks Sunshine Coast QLD Nambour

GWS Chadstone Mitsubishi & Kia VIC  Oakleigh

NISSAN

Dealer State Town/City

Western Plains Automotive NSW Dubbo

Bathurst Motor Group NSW  Bathurst

Cricks Sunshine Coast QLD Nambour

North Lakes Nissan and Village Renault QLD North Lakes

SUBARU

Dealer

State Town/City

Bathurst Motor Group NSW  Bathurst Cricks Sunshine Coast QLD Maroochydore Subaru Geelong VIC Geelong

SUZUKI

Dealer

State Town/City

Bathurst Motor Group NSW  Bathurst Cricks Sunshine Coast QLD Maroochydore Booran Motors VIC  Dandenong Eastern Suzuki VIC  Croydon

TOYOTA

Dealer

State Town/City

Canterbury Toyota  NSW  Belmore Fergusons Toyota  NSW  Hurstville

Orange Toyota NSW Orange Ian Weigh Toyota QLD Rockhampton

Sunshine Toyota QLD Caloundra Le Mans Toyota VIC Deer Park Le Mans Toyota VIC Footscray Yarra Valley Toyota VIC Croydon Yarra Valley Toyota VIC Lilydale Scarboro Toyota WA Osborne Park

VOLKSWAGEN

Rex Gorell Nissan                 VIC Geelong

Ringwood Nissan VIC Croydon Yarra Valley Nissan VIC Lilydale

RAM TRUCKS

Dealer State Town/City

Cricks Sunshine Coast QLD Nambour

RENAULT

Dealer State Town/City

Cricks Sunshine Coast QLD Maroochydore

Village Renault And North Lakes Nissan QLD North Lakes

Barry Bourke Renault  VIC  Berwick

Eastern Renault  VIC  Croydon

Rex Gorell Prestige  VIC  Geelong

SKODA

Dealer State Town/City

Cricks Sunshine Coast QLD Maroochydore

Dealer

State Town/City

Volkswagen Hornsby NSW Waitara Cricks Volkswagen QLD Maroochydore Solitaire Automotive Group SA Mile End Rex Gorell VIC Geelong Waverley Volkswagen VIC Glen Waverley

VOLVO

Dealer

State Town/City

McCarroll’s Automotive Group NSW Newcastle McCarroll’s Automotive Group NSW Waitara Solitaire Volvo SA Mile End Rex Gorell Volvo VIC Geelong

SMG Automotive Parts VIC Mentone

ULR Automotive VIC Port Melbourne

ULR Automotive VIC Malvern Volvo Cars Berwick VIC Berwick