Journeys Winter 2024

Rock star test driving Responsible off-roading

Dine out with a view

Travel news

Explore our state with Nola James 37 The pit stop Campbell Town 38 Tread lightly Responsible off-roading by 4WD enthusiasts

46 What’s up, winter? Rug up and soak up Tassie’s brightest season

The latest RACT community news

Changing gears The big issues affecting RACT and our members

State growth National Road Safety Week

Member rewards Savings available now

Puzzles Crossword and quiz

We acknowledge the ancient history of the traditional owners of Lutruwita, and their continuing connection to family, community, and the land, sea, and waterways. We pay our deepest respects to those who have passed before us and acknowledge today’s Tasmanian Aboriginal people, and their enduring connection to this island. We stand for a future that profoundly respects and acknowledges Aboriginal perspectives, culture, language and history.

call

Rear view Snapshots of Tasmania

Balancing income and stability to support your lifestyle in retirement

Retirement is the perfect time to travel and explore new destinations but balancing the need for regular income while trying to preserve the value of your investments can be challenging; especially in an ever-changing financial market environment.

With TPT Wealth cash and income funds you can take comfort in knowing an experienced in-house investment team reviews funds daily to manage that balance on your behalf. It’s how they’ve been successfully managing investments through economic cycles for decades.

Founded as a Tasmanian trustee company in 1887, TPT Wealth’s local commitment runs deep. The organisation proudly honours its heritage with ongoing work to administer estates and charitable trusts.

Everyone’s future looks different. There is no way to predict it, but you can make financial choices that help you maintain your lifestyle in retirement. Find out more at tptwealth.com.au.

welcome.

A word from our CEO

As the chill of the season sets in, we find ourselves reflecting on a year of significant milestones and looking forward to the journey ahead. In this winter edition of Journeys, we delve into themes that resonate deeply with our mission and values.

National Road Safety Week (NRSW) holds a special place in our calendar, reminding us of the ongoing commitment required to ensure the safety of all road users. It’s a time for reflection, awareness and action, highlighting the critical importance of road safety, especially for our youngest drivers.

Our launch of a new road safety campaign breaks the mould of traditional road safety messaging, targeting young drivers specifically and elevating the conversation about the risks associated with getting behind the wheel. We launched the campaign during NRSW with the ambition to empower young drivers with knowledge and awareness.

As we wrap up our centenary celebrations, we reflect on our journey from humble beginnings to becoming a cornerstone of the Tasmanian community. In March we held our final centenary event, recreating our first Club Run from 1923. It was great to see so many of our members showing off

their classic and special-interest vehicles as we journeyed from Hobart to New Norfolk. These moments of connection underscore the essence of RACT – a community united by shared values and aspirations.

Moving forward, we remain dedicated to advocating for the safety and wellbeing of our members, embracing new technologies and services that align with our commitment to excellence and community service. Our journey over the past century has been shaped by the support and trust of our members, for which we are profoundly grateful. Together, we look forward to navigating the future, continuing to serve and support the Tasmanian community with dedication and passion.

Thank you for being a part of this journey. Stay safe, stay connected and let’s embrace the magic of Tasmania’s winter together.

Mark Mugnaioni // RACT Group CEO

BOARD

JOURNEYS MANAGING EDITOR

Alison Flakemore

VICE PRESIDENT Pieter Kolkert

Tony Coleman, Ralph Doedens, Mark Grey, Alex McKenzie, Keryn Nylander, Jenny Richardson, Ian Gillespie RACT GROUP CEO

Mark Mugnaioni

Ben Hansen

LETTERS

Speed limit confusion

I travel along West Tamar Road and come upon a school zone with a speed limit of 50km/h. The road sign indicates I can legally travel at 50km/h for the length of the school zone but in doing so, I pass a school bus displaying a 40km/h sign. Can I be issued an infringement

notice for travelling at 50km/h in a 50km/h school zone? Regardless, why should this 50km/h school zone even exist on West Tamar Road at Riverside, when all other school zones in Tasmania are 40km/h zones?

Paul LeFevre

Editor’s note

In general, regardless of the speed limit assigned to a road, exceeding 40km/h within 50 metres of a bus displaying a school bus warning light is an offence. Speed limits within school zones are set by the Commissioner for Transport. The variation in speed limits in school zones between 40km/h and 50km/h depends on the road environment and other relative components. The default speed limit for a school zone in Tasmania is 40km/h; however, it could be set to 50km/h due to many reasons like less pedestrian activity than regular school zones, or where the school is on a road with a higher speed limit prior to the school zone. Other reasons could be road type, traffic volume, safety concerns etc. This is determined by the Transport Commission in consultation with the relevant council.

Community Transport Services Tasmania (CTST) is

Push for affordable EVs

I would love to be able to purchase something like a Citroën ami-e, Fiat Topolino or Microlino in the sub-$20k price range, but we need to create a new category of light urban vehicles like they’ve done in the EU, UK and USA. It would really help if respected organisations such as RACT would push the government to help democratise EVs because it seems they’re only available to the wealthier classes of AU citizen.

Clive Austin

A call for common sense

I purchased a near-new car. Recently, the engine was replaced under warranty. When I tried to advise Transport Tas of the new engine number I was told a roadworthy ticket was required for a replacement of the faulty engine. When I sold my 28-year-old car, no roadworthy ticket was required. This is madness. Please lobby the incoming government to employ people to manage Transport Tas who have at least half a brain.

Ken Treanor / Retired automotive mechanic, mining plant and equipment

maintenance planner

Shocking road conditions

I recently had visitors from Queensland. They were horrified by the atrocious road conditions from Gladstone to Musselroe Bay which forms part of the East Coast tourist road (track). They said it was worse than outback Queensland tracks. When is the government going to rectify these tracks?

Ian Hardman

We’re keen to hear your thoughts on any motoring or travel-related topics and auto questions. Please keep them brief – we reserve the right to edit.

WHY MOVE?

Future proof your home with a stairlift from the specialists: Indoor and outdoor, straight and curved.

Statewide installation and service.

Checkout our displays at:

M.R.S Healthcare Tas, 129 Holbrook Street, Invermay

23 Derwent Park Road, Derwent Park

Reviving road safety education

Regarding the CEO’s intro in Autumn Journeys, what a great idea to push for road safety education in our schools. This is a case where ‘everything old is new again’. Road safety education was part of the curriculum when I was at school in the late ’60s. There was a team of road safety officers that drove around the state giving governmentfunded road safety education to schools. I remember a regular visitor to our school in Scottsdale and part of his presentation involved him setting up a slot car display to demonstrate road rules. This was much anticipated and enjoyed by me. I’m not sure but I presume there was one officer employed for each of the three geographical areas of the state. These officers also looked after the school crossing guards. Road safety education in schools is certainly not a new thing, but sadly road safety officers are a thing of the past.

Peter Riggall / Riverside

At the Truffle Farm in Deloraine, winter is the perfect time to join second-generation truffle farmer Anna and her truffle-hunting dogs on a quest for rare black truffles. Once you’ve got your truffles, settle in for an afternoon by the fire pit with a truffle pizza and a glass of Tasmanian wine or beer. There’s also a farm-gate shop with boutique truffle products and fresh truffles for sale. Bookings essential.

For more, visit thetrufflefarmtasmania.com.au

what’s on.

29 JUNE - 20 JULY

BICHENO BEAMS

Catch this vibrant family laser light show at Bicheno Lions Park. Free and fun, it’s a celebration of light for locals and tourists alike with synchronised tunes. Come for two nights and enjoy two different shows. bichenobeams.com

25-28 JULY

Devonport Jazz Festival

Celebrating its 23rd anniversary, this annual four-day event features different sub-genres of jazz at a variety of venues. Think trumpets, horns, guitars, gypsy jazz, 1930sand ’40s-style big bands and more. There’s also events for the kids, plus local street food. devonportjazz.com.au

FROM 1 JULY

Table Cape Sound Walk

Sound artist Rachel Meyers has created a soundscape composition, based on field recordings, for the inaugural “Permission to Trespass” event showcasing the North West Coast. Scan the QR code to listen on the self-guided walk between the Table Cape lookout and lighthouse. tablecapexp.com/sound-walk

10-12 JULY

Melbourne

International Comedy Festival Road Show

Australia’s biggest comedy spectacular is on its annual road trip, with stops at Burnie Arts Centre, Hobart’s Odeon Theatre and Devonport’s Paranaple Arts Centre.

20 AUG -17 SEP Nipaluna/ Hobart Lunchbox Concerts

The Tuesday Lunchbox Concert Series returns to the Hobart Town Hall. Curated by Van Diemen’s Band artistic director, Julia Fredersdorff.

22-25 AUGUST

Australian Antarctic Festival

This four-day festival at Hobart’s Sullivan’s Cove celebrates the city’s role as one of the world’s pre-eminent gateways to the Antarctic.

Want to tell us about your event or product? Reach us on journeys@ract.com.au

13 AUGUST

Chocolate Winterfest

With 40 events at 31 venues, chocolate lovers will rejoice at this dessert-led festival. Held in Latrobe, just a 10-minute drive from Devonport, there’ll be choc high tea, a chocolate cake decorating master class, a lollylicious chocolate mousse decorating session and more. chocolatewinterfest.com.au

11-22 JUNE

Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap

Directed by Aussie theatre icon Robyn Nevin, this new Australian production of this genre-defining murder mystery play takes to the stage at Hobart’s stunning Theatre Royal. Added bonus: RACT members get a 10 per cent discount on tickets. Visit ract.com.au for details on how to access the discount.

6-13 AUGUST

Beaker Street Festival

This annual week-long celebration promises a packed program of scienceinfused entertainment and discussions on the hottest science topics. This year, it’s all about Antarctic science. All the action will take place in an expanded festival precinct in Hobart’s waterfront and CBD. beakerstreet.com.au

27 JULY Wilegitimate

Host of the ABC TV shows Gruen, Question Everything and podcasts Wilosophy and TOFOP, comedian Wil Anderson returns to the festival circuit with a new stand-up show, his biggest tour in more than five years, including this one-night stop at Hobart’s Odeon Theatre. odeontheatre.com.au

wildlife sanctuary owner

As the owner of Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, Greg Iron’s days (and sometimes nights) are filled with caring for animals. Even his honeymoon featured a dramatic animal rescue. He chats with Sarah Aitken.

after a delayed wedding thanks to Covid, Greg and his wife Mel were finally taking some time off from rehabilitating animals and raking up poo at Bonorong, the native animal sanctuary they run together near Hobart. They drove off around Tasmania with their little caravan to enjoy a couples-only break.

“I think it was on day two, I turn around and see Mel’s off swimming in freezing cold water down at Port Arthur plucking an injured penguin out of the water!” laughs Greg. “With me cheering from the shore, because I swim like a rock – there would’ve been two things being rescued if I’d gone in.”

That was a typical holiday for the Irons, who tend to take small trips close to home and stay within phone coverage for any emergency calls from the sanctuary.

“Every time we go away, I guarantee you, we will either find an animal on the way or have one be injured right in that area the second we get there. It’s just Murphy’s Law I think,” says Greg.

Running the sanctuary and rescue service is more than a full-time job. Mel and Greg live on site with their baby, Lara, and it’s not unusual for one of them to be up at night with either the baby or an injured animal, or both.

They wouldn’t have it any other way.

It’s a 24/7 job running the sanctuary , says Greg. “A lot of people think that’s not really sustainable but, you know, when it’s your passion – and thankfully it’s Mel’s as well – you’re happy to live and breathe it.”

Greg has been living and breathing it his whole life. At the age of seven, young Greg went to a birthday party at Bonorong and was hooked, telling his mum, “I’m going to own this place one day!”

By the age of 25 he was the owner. “The way I describe it is that musicians know they want to

A mile in THE SHOES OF A

do music and artists know they want to do art. It was the same really, it was just always animals for me.

“I’ve never been able to put my finger on what it was about animals that just captured my imagination and fascinated me, but at those book fairs in primary school everyone would come home with a fiction book, and I’d come back with an animal encyclopaedia. I was always revolving around animals somehow.”

Growing up in suburban Sandy Bay, Greg would bring home all sorts of creatures needing help, creating makeshift enclosures in the backyard. As he grew, so did his passion, though his skills were self-taught and he struggled to find a university course that focused on native animals.

He became known as the guy to call if you found an injured animal anywhere in greater Hobart.

“People would bring them to me and there was just no one to call for help. I’d be doing all the wrong things, everything that I now advise people not to do, because there was just no one to guide me. And I guess that’s where my passion for wanting to start a rescue service began: the fact that that felt really unacceptable to me.”

Greg had been working for Bonorong for about five years when his parents agreed to let him use the flat beneath the house to run the first rescue service in Tasmania. Then the opportunity to lease, then buy, Bonorong came up and Greg jumped at it.

He transformed it from a wildlife collection to an active and evolving rescue and rehabilitation centre with a sanctuary for those animals that can’t be released. The team has developed training courses to teach carers the things Greg wished he’d been taught in his early days.

There’s a veterinary hospital with a large window so visitors can view surgeries. They’ve gone from having six staff to 77 and have recently

funded a raptor rescue service in the north of the state. As a social enterprise, the work is funded by people coming through the gates and by donations.

“We could have been done and dusted within six months if people hadn’t supported it,” says Greg. “But you know, what we’ve found is a huge community of people who really care. We’ve discovered very quickly that, you know, people do support good things.”

Last year 17,000 animals needed assistance through Bonorong. “It’s a number that’s growing, sadly,” says Greg. “If those numbers keep going up, we’re gonna have to really keep growing. Or start robbing banks. One of the two. Maybe both.”

For more information: Bonorong.com.au

Bonorong Rescue Service: For injured or orphaned wildlife, call 0447 264 625 any time of the day or night.

Clockwise from far left Greg with 15-month-old orphaned wombat Millie; a young echidna; Greg and Greens candidate Tabatha Badger with an echidna; Greg, Melissa and baby Lara.

DINING ROOMS WITH A VIEW

From Hobart’s waterfront to Launceston’s Tamar – not to mention the delightful array of seaside towns – Tassie is not short on scenic vistas. Nola James rounds up top spots to wine and dine while you soak in the view.

1 The Agrarian Kitchen, NEW NORFOLK

Ninety per cent of the produce served at The Agrarian Kitchen comes from its one-acre kitchen garden, but you can’t see it from the restaurant’s Nordic-inspired dining room. Instead, diners kick off their 12-dish set lunch in the garden’s tropical greenhouse, surrounded by the waft of cardamom plants and shaded by banana trees. You won’t find that anywhere else on the island.

2 The Point Revolving Restaurant, SANDY BAY

Wrest Point’s revolving dining room makes no apologies for its nostalgic value, with lobster thermidor on the specials menu and boozy prawns flambéed tableside. Nowhere else could you find such lovingly preserved décor amid 360-degree Nipaluna/Hobart vistas. Indeed, some of the regulars have been coming since 1973.

3 Maria, HOBART

This hot new eatery, a downstairs sibling to waterfront institution Aløft, brings coastal Mediterranean flavours

to Brooke Street Pier, with views across to the Eastern Shore and a seafood-y menu centred around a wood-fired grill at the heart of the kitchen. To catch the winter sunset, drop in for a late afternoon aperitif and snack before dinner service kicks off.

4 Boatyard, LAUNCESTON

The views across Launceston’s Kanamaluka/River Tamar might look a million bucks, but dining at Boatyard will set you back a lot less. This eatery, which moved into the old Hallams site last year, offers affordable indoor and outdoor dining, from eggs on toast in the morning to oysters and garlic prawns as the sun goes down.

5 Penguin Beer Co., PENGUIN

Keep it casual with a burger and brew at Penguin Beer Co., which offers all-day dining seven days a week just metres from Johnsons Beach. If the weather is calm, grab a bar stool on the outdoor deck and channel summer holiday vibes over fish tacos, loaded fries and buffalo wings.

3 2 4 1 5

drive

Greetings, I am bZ4X

Sounding like a Star Wars character, bZ4X is Toyota’s new all-electric SUV that recently landed Down Under. The first electric Toyota may be late to the party, arriving more than a decade after Tesla’s Model S, but the world’s biggest car maker is promising 10 electric models by 2026. A mid-sized SUV, the bZ4X is built on the same dedicated skateboard architecture as its technical doppelgänger, the Subaru Solterra.

But where the Subaru is all-wheel drive only, Toyota has an entry level front-wheel drive bZ4X 2WD and better-equipped bZ4X AWD ($66,000 MRRP and $74,900 respectively). The 2WD boasts outputs of

18 / AUTO NEWS

21 / 0-100: MITSUBISHI’S NEW TRITON

23 / IN REVERSE: THE JENSEN INTERCEPTOR

24 / ROAD TEST: SUBARU BRZ TS

150kW/266Nm from its single electric motor, while the twin-motor AWD punches out a more emphatic 160kW/337Nm. Both feature a 71.4kWh lithium-ion battery integrated into the vehicle structure enabling a claimed range of 436km (WLTP) for the 2WD and 411km (WLTP) for the AWD. Both models are roomy and comfortable with quiet, relaxed driving manners and decently responsive performance, but the extra oomph of the dual-motor AWD makes it our preference.

For more, visit toyota.com.au

auto news.

What’s that, Skip?

Tasmania is known around the world for its many natural wonders, but something the state can be less proud of is the amount of native wildlife killed on its roads each year. Roadkill is a seemingly constant phenomenon wherever you drive throughout Tasmania, but a new Volkswagen Australia initiative may lead to a welcome reduction in vehicle and animal strikes. Developed by Volkswagen and DDB Group, in consultation with the University of Melbourne and WIRES, RooBadge is designed to help reduce collisions between vehicles and kangaroos, which reportedly make up 90 per cent of onroad wildlife accidents throughout Australia. The device connects to an in-car app that calibrates a vehicle’s GPS coordinates with kangaroo distribution data, then uses a directional speaker, integrated into the circular Volkswagen badge of the Amarok ute, to send a high frequency audio signal that deters kangaroo species inhabiting the location. University of Melbourne Associate Professor Graeme Coulson says the device does something other kangaroo deterrents have been unable to achieve, producing different sounds based on GPS data to deter different kangaroo species. Dr Helena Bender, whose research has been used extensively in the project, says the technology could also be adapted to alert deer. After three years of research and trials, RooBadge is set to move into stage four trials, involving kangaroos in the wild. For more, visit volkswagen.com.au

BY

THE NUMBERS

The Australian new vehicle industry

Australia’s new-car market sees more than 50 brands import hundreds of model variants into a market a fraction of the size of the UK and US.

1,216,780

The number of new vehicles sold in Australia in 2023, the best year ever for new vehicle sales in this country, surpassing the previous record set in 2017.

54

The number of individual passenger car brands listed in the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries December 2023 new vehicle sales report, ranging from Alfa Romeo to Volvo.

345,071

The number of new vehicles imported from Japan in 2023, making it our number one supplier, followed by Thailand, which supplied 264,253 vehicles.

Photos:

X MARKS THE SPOT

Mercedes-Benz has conducted the world’s first X-ray analysis of a vehicle crash test, with the technology promising to provide new insights into what happens inside a vehicle – and to crash test dummies – during an accident.

The German luxury car maker says the proof-of-concept demonstration shows that high-speed X-ray technology can be used to visualise dynamic internal deformation processes, including previously invisible changes. MercedesBenz has been researching the use of X-ray technology in crash tests for

several years, but says the breakthrough came via the use of a linear accelerator which is far more powerful than previously used X-ray flashes, and which generates a continuous stream of X-ray pulses resulting in up to 1000 images per second.

During the crash test, the beams shine through the bodywork – and any dummies – from above, with a flat detector located under the test vehicle serving as a digital image receiver. In the milliseconds of impact time, the X-ray system shoots around 100 still images

which, when combined into a video, provide highly accurate insights into what happens inside vehicle components and in the dummy’s body during a crash.

The development is the latest in the car maker’s long history of crash test analysis, dating back to its first crash test in 1959. Mercedes-Benz conducts up to 900 crash tests each year and around 1700 sled tests at its Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety in Sindelfingen, Germany.

For more, visit mercedes-benz.com

Latest and greatest

The biggest overhaul to Mitsubishi’s workhorse ute range in almost a decade means buyers need not be frightened by a Triton.

Story Harry Weller

In the battle for dual-cab ute supremacy it’s become something of a truism that the brand with the latest new model is often also the brand with the greatest new model. That brand right now is Mitsubishi, which this year launched the long-awaited sixthgeneration version of its well-regarded Triton.

It’s been almost a decade since the fifth generation debuted so this update was due, despite a major facelift and technical upgrades in 2018. Sharp pricing saw that model come to be seen as something of a bargain among its rivals, despite being undercut by Chinese newcomers like GWM and LDV.

Cheap and cheerful positioning looks to be a thing of the past as Mitsubishi seeks to reposition Triton as a high-quality, Japanesedesigned-and-engineered model. There are cheaper Triton dual cabs, including the GLX 2WD which starts at $43,690, along with GLX, GLX+ and GLS 4x4 variants, but buyers are increasingly stumping up for top-of-the-line variants that can handle work and play.

The new model is based on ladderframe underpinnings to be shared with the forthcoming Nissan Navara and is powered by a new 2.4-litre bi-turbo four-cylinder diesel engine that produces category-competitive outputs of 150kW/470Nm. Riding on a longer wheelbase and with dimensional

improvements to both the cargo tray and cabin width, the new Triton is a bigger, more comfortable, more capable machine.

Suspension remains independent via double wishbones up front and live axles with leaf springs at the rear, but changes have improved wheel travel and ride quality, while braked towing capacity has been boosted from 3100kg to a competitive 3500kg. The twin turbocharged engine drives through a six-speed automatic transmission delivering impressively eager response, with peak torque arriving at a low 1500rpm and remaining strong through to 2750rpm.

Out on the road the engine feels smooth and relaxed, with plenty in reserve for confident overtaking, while the cabin environment is quiet. Capable off-road performance is assured via Mitsubishi’s Super Select 4WD-II system with high and low range, plus a standard rear differential lock and terrain control system.

The boxier, more rugged exterior design is in keeping with contemporary ute-buyer tastes, enhanced as it is with 18-inch glossblack alloy wheels, and contrasting black on the wheel arches, roof rails and sailplane. The roomy interior is well designed, with plenty of storage spots, leather seat trim and an integrated 9.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto. Other features include wireless smartphone charging, surround-view camera system, tyre-pressure monitoring, dual-zone climate control, and keyless entry and start.

Safety has also been significantly upgraded, with eight airbags and a plethora of new driverassistance features, including an absurdly annoying driver attention alert. After years

in the wilderness, Mitsubishi has done well to catch up to the dualcab class leaders with this Triton, which offers a highly competitive package backed by one of the best warranties in the business.

THE SPECS

MAKE/MODEL Mitsubishi Triton GSR dual-cab 4x4

BODY STYLE Four-door dual-cab pickup

RETAIL PRICE $63,840 (MRLP) SEATING 5

FUEL CONSUMPTION 7.7L100km

ANCAP SAFETY RATING 5 stars (2024)

ENGINE Aluminium-block 2.4-litre 16V MIVEC DiD diesel, twin turbocharged (150kW/470Nm)

TRANSMISSION Six-speed torque converter automatic

DRIVE TYPE Part-time and full-time four-wheel drive

For more visit mitsubishi-motors.com.au

MODEL

Jensen Interceptor Mk III

ENGINE

440-cubic-inch (7.2-litre), high-deck big-block Chrysler V8 (250kW/596Nm)

CLAIM TO FAME

This stunning 1970s English grand tourer featured a hand-built body designed by Carrozzeria Touring of Italy and a thundering V8 heart from the good old US of A.

Power, prestige and passion

The Italian-styled, British-engineered and American V8-powered Jensen Interceptor remains a head-turner today, but the originals were beset with quality problems that made them a challenge to own.

Story Harry Weller

In 1966, when the Jensen Interceptor debuted in England, it looked every bit a machine for the jet age, with its striking fastback coupe body designed by Carrozzeria Touring of Italy, handmade leather-trimmed interior and rumbling Chrysler V8 powerplant.

It was the latest in a long line of Jensen cars made in the English coach-building tradition at the Jensen Motors factory in West Bromwich, England. Like its predecessors, the Interceptor was handbuilt using traditional coach-building techniques, with specialist metal workers welding, filing and fitting components by hand. The beautifully crafted interiors were put together by expert motor trimmers using walnut inserts and highquality Connolly leather hide specifically chosen for each vehicle.

But it was the 6.3-litre (383ci) Chrysler V8 driving the rear wheels through a three-speed TorqueFlite automatic and a limited slip rear differential that gave the Interceptor its stunning acceleration and

133mph top speed, enabling it to compete with the likes of Aston Martin and Jaguar, as well as Italian-styled and Americanpowered rivals such as the AC Cobra. Included in the Series I line-up was the FF or Ferguson Formula variant, which featured a revolutionary all-wheel drive system that predated similar systems later introduced by Subaru and Audi.

Despite being hand-built in a complicated, time-consuming and costly manner, Interceptors were plagued with problems including electrical gremlins, fit and finish defects, and overheating engines. By the time Interceptor II debuted at the 1969 Earls Court Motor Show many of these problems had been sorted and it is generally regarded as a much better car, boasting improvements to the suspension, brakes, gearing and tyres. This model also introduced air-conditioning as an option, a crashpad dashboard and new rocker-style switchgear, although the reliability gremlins were never entirely put to bed.

After a three-year model run, during which some 1128 Interceptors were built, the Series II was superseded by 1971’s Interceptor III, the model that many regard as the greatest of all. The Interceptor III began life with the same 6.3-litre (383ci) V8 and three-speed TorqueFlite automatic as its predecessors but soon moved to the more potent 7.2-litre (440ci) low-compression Chrysler V8, including a performance variant, the Jensen SP, with high-compression engine and six-pack carburettor system.

With its larger-capacity V8 engine, GKN alloy wheels and myriad other changes the Series III cemented the Interceptor’s international reputation via left-handdrive exports to the USA, and to Australia, Japan and Hong Kong. Built in coupe and convertible body styles between 1974 and 1976, an estimated 4255 vehicles make this the most common of the three Interceptor series. It was also the last, as economic changes wrought by the oil shocks of the 1970s forced the closure of Jensen Motors in 1976.

Later efforts to revive the brand by new owners included an updated model based on the Series III known as the Series IV, which was manufactured in low double-digit volumes between 1986 and 1993, followed by another ill-fated attempt with the Ford V8-powered S-V8 in the early 2000s.

For more Jensen history, read Richard Calver’s 2015 book, A History of Jensen.

ROAD test

Leaving her book club and knitting behind, Fiona Stocker takes to the Tasman Highway for a girls’ day out from Launceston in the latest Subaru BRZ tS sports coupe.

Photos Prime Perspectives

when your usual ride is the family estate, the promise of test-driving the ‘ultimate joy ride’ Subaru BRZ tS is an exciting prospect. The addition of ‘tS’ to the name signals the car’s refinement by Subaru Tecnica International, the company’s motorsports division no less. Think sharper steering, Brembo brakes and firmer suspension for an enhanced racetrack-ready feel.

My friend Rhonda and I are perhaps an unlikely pair to put any sports coupe through its paces. We met at book club and enjoy knitting. But we also love a drive in the country and have reached that time of our lives that’s more about unashamed pleasure than younger folk might suspect.

We meet at Launceston’s Punchbowl Park where dappled sunlight makes the BRZ’s signature WR blue coat sparkle. The BRZ is low to the ground undoubtedly, but years of yoga sees us folding ourselves into its cocoon-like interior.

While there’s a full digital instrument cluster and touchscreen for the all-important on-road stats, the temperature controls are big, brightly lit intuitive dials. Plush, super-comfortable seats have tactile suede trim and seat-warmers, a welcome luxury on this crisp wintry day. Overall, the capsule impressively combines a motorsport and five-star luxe feel.

Soon we’re hightailing it eastwards on the Tasman Highway where the firm suspension makes itself known, the rigidity and balance of the chassis making us hug the road. I’ve been anticipating the hairpin bends up to the Sideling Lookout with a measure of excitement, and rightly so. As we wind up the mountainside, the BRZ’s meticulously engineered 2.4-litre boxer engine, rear-wheel drive and pointy directional handling make for an exhilarating drive. Sunlight flashes through the tall, old eucalypts as we pass underneath, perfectly balanced and leaning tightly into the corners.

Visitors taking in the country-and-coast views from the lookout are soon doing double takes at the BRZ’s sleek lines and quiet power. When we picked up the car from the dealership, Shane at Subaru told us we’d feel like rock stars in this car. Throughout the day it inspires admiration from strangers drawn to its shiny blue magnetism.

“On the long, swooping stretches... I shift into sports mode and it’s transformative.”

North of the pass there’s a newly resurfaced ribbon of road into prime dairy country. The absence of surface disruption brings a fresh appreciation of the BRZ’s road-hugging balance as we descend in a rhythm of smooth turns. Tasmania’s sweeping country roads are the perfect backdrop for the BRZ, and it sells more per capita here than in any other state.

Stopping at the roadside farm stall outside Scottsdale, we stock up on apple pies and fresh cinnamon scrolls. Then it’s a slow patrol past the town’s shops through utes and trucks, and on towards lunch at the seaside.

On the long, swooping stretches of the Bridport Road I shift into sports mode and it’s transformative. The engine practically whinnies as the six-speed transmission selects gears for a more visceral throttle response. Steering which has been tight is now pin-sharp. Braking which has been firm now becomes touchy-feely underfoot. “Ooh, eat my dust,” murmurs Rhonda as we head towards the coast.

As we park in front of Bridport Café, my neighbour happens to be lunching with a friend. Her eyes widen as I unfurl myself from the driver’s side.

“Beautiful car!” she chuckles, and I explain that it’s mine for one day only. On the street the BRZ is attracting attention again, and not just because of the photographers leaping from their support car to snap away.

Manoeuvring into and out of the BRZ, I’ve noticed that the lower edge of the door sweeps upwards. It’s a sleek design feature and also means there’s no corner to catch on pavements, if you were to use the BRZ to do your weekly shopping. Speaking of which, we found the BRZ’s boot more capacious than expected, easily stowing farm-gate purchases and woolly winter layers.

THE SPECS

PRICING Starting from $52,323 drive away depending on location

BODY STYLE Coupe

SEATING 4 seats

FUEL CONSUMPTION 9.5L/100km (manual) and 8.8L/100km (automatic) combined

SAFETY 5-star ANCAP Rating

ENGINE TYPE Horizontally opposed

Boxer 4-cylinder petrol engine

TRANSMISSION 6-speed manual or automatic transmission

DRIVE TYPE Rear wheel drive

MAX POWER 174kW@7000rpm

MAX TORQUE 250Nm@3700rpm

Last stop of the day is the foodie haven Fork It Farm at Lebrina for a restorative platter of pork terrine and cauliflower pickle. Performance driving has made these two ladies hungry. With its sports-coupe clearance, you wouldn’t habitually take the BRZ off-road, but that lowered centre of gravity, stability and traction makes the dirt-road approach to the farm a cinch.

There’s a slow drive into the sunset as I take the BRZ home overnight. As I roll it under the carport where the boxer engine quietens to a purr, my teenage son emerges from the house. “This is pretty cool,” he says with a sheepish grin. It’s the most animated he’s been around me for some time. He passed his P-test the week before and asks if he can take the BRZ “for a spin”. I turn him down gently. Some pleasures are for grown-ups only.

Scan the QR code or visit ract.com.au/ membership/journeys to see this Road Test brought to life on video.

COMPARABLES

From $47,567

• Softer front and rear suspension for a smoother ride

• Rear end more prone to drift

From $50,690

• Smaller and lighter for better fuel efficiencies

• Not such a spacious cabin feel

MAZDA MX-5

TOYOTA GR86

“Tasmania’s sweeping country roads are the perfect backdrop for the BRZ...”

Snuggle up in front of a cosy gas log fire, relaxing on a luxurious sofa, warm cuppa in hand in awe of the Great Southern Ocean swells smashing with explosive force onto the magnificent rock formations directly in front of your retreat, just 50 metres away.

The retreats projecting outward, arrow shaped, floating on a cantilevered floor, like the bow of a ship stand solidly taking on the full brunt of the roaring forties winds. The floor to ceiling large spans of double-glazing leave nothing of the spectacle outside to the imagination, it is all real and enthralling.

Nature’s roaring 40s spectacle is intensified from June through to August and one to be experienced.

Visit our website for Winter specials with further discounts to RACT members*

*Book direct to save 5% by typing the promo code RACT on the booking page at: www.ettrickrocks.com.au or contact us at info@ettrickrocks.com.au or phone +61 1300 195 596

travel news.

Explore our state with Nola James

MADE IN BICHENO

Bicheno Brewing has moved into The Farm Shed, which operates as a central cellar door for the East Coast’s 20+ wineries. Beers are made on site – watch the brewers work as you sip the latest creations, poured to order from rotating taps, or drop in to pick up a few tinnies to take home.

NIGHT LIFE

With a 3am licence, Launceston’s new laneway spot, Reggie, promises good times until the wee hours.

“We’ve been calling it a late-night social club,” says co-owner Luke Tucker of the Studio-54-inspired bar, which spills out into the laneway for a beer garden vibe. For now, it’s DJs until late, with a band room (and live bands) on the way. Matt Adams of nearby Timbre Kitchen is consulting on the food offering, which will be ready by summer.

WORLD HERITAGE LUXURY

Discovery Parks – Cradle Mountain has $20 million worth of new facilities, with a recent cash injection adding 30 new cabins, including a luxury option, to the heritage-listed national park. Rates start at $45 a night to pitch a tent, with rates from $320 a night for a hotel-style premium mountain cabin with kitchenette, soaking tub and heated floors.

SCHOOL’S IN

In Tassie’s northeast, the 100-year-old Winnaleah Hotel has been transformed into an artist’s retreat by the founders of Artable, which hosts workshops, classes and retreats around Australia for amateur artists. And while the 10-bedroom, 10-bathroom hotel is reserved for creative pursuits, all are welcome at the pub, which dishes up pizzas and burgers Wednesday to Saturday.

3 TO RYHISTORICCIN MAS

The Paragon Theatre

The Paragon Theatre in Queenstown, built in 1933, doubles as a live music venue. Self-guided tours are available on weekdays from 10am.

State Cinema

See arthouse films in historic sandstone surrounds at Hobart’s State Cinema, which screened its first feature in 1913.

The Star Theatre

This art deco cinema in Invermay, Launceston, operated from 1937 to 1969, and was restored to its original glory in 2018.

The natural stop on a drive through the Midlands between Hobart and Launceston, Campbell Town offers reasons beyond its firm place in history to linger on those north-south migrations, writes Andrew Bain.

Campbell Town

EAT

The Campbell Town Hotel presents twin food personalities. There’s classic pub grub – four varieties of parmi, a pasta of the day, even snags of the day – in the bar, and the attached JJ’s Bakery has an equally traditional selection of pies, lamingtons and vanilla slices, with a separate coffee bar. Sweeten the finish at nearby Faba Gelateria.

SHOP

Descend beneath the Foxhunters Return to discover a strong collection of books (and maps) on Tasmania, titles by Tassie authors and an interesting mix of new and second-hand fiction at The Book Cellar. The way to a state’s heart is through its stomach, and The Tasmania Shop is stocked with all things gourmet and local, from granola and honey to gin and wine.

SEE

Ross and Richmond might get all the bridge oohs and aahs but Campbell Town’s 1838 Red Bridge was also built by convicts, using more than 1.5 million bricks (it was so well constructed that it’s never required major repairs in its 186-year life). Continue the convict theme by walking the brick trail through town, with each red brick imprinted with the name of a convict and their heinous crime – the likes

of sleeping in barns or stealing cheese. Note the statue of Eliza Forlong and a sheep across the road – she introduced Merino sheep into southeast Australia here in 1829.

DRINK

The new top bean in town is Sweetbrew, which has expanded from Launceston into Campbell Town. The city-style shots are aided and abetted by a small selection of toasted pide and slices.

STAY

Hallelujah for Haven on High, set inside a 19th-century bluestone church. The original stained-glass windows and vaulted ceiling have the secular additions of a mezzanine bedroom and 70-plus board games on hand.

ESSENTIAL STOPS

• The Campbell Town Hotel

• Faba Gelateria

• Foxhunters Return

• The Tasmania Shop

• Sweetbrew

• Haven on High

From top 1838 Red Bridge; Foxhunters Return; The Book Cellar.

The PIT STOP

CAMPBELL TOWN

Tread lightly:

off-roading

responsible in Tasmania

Tasmania’s tracks and trails provide abundant opportunities for 4WD enthusiasts. Ruth Dawkins meets some of the drivers who have embraced sustainable, low-impact off-road exploration.

from long stretches of firm white sand to muddy forest tracks with a bog-hole around every corner, Tasmania offers an unrivalled diversity of landscapes suitable for off-road adventures.

Whether you’re seeking a self-drive experience, a tag-along tour or a fully guided day trip, there’s an option available for every level of experience and budget. What unites them all is a commitment to responsible, respectful off-road practices.

Responsible off-roading means more than just driving safely. It also encompasses principles such as planning ahead and securing any necessary permits, minimising impact on the environment, protecting wildlife, and proper disposal of waste.

Collectively, these principles are known as Leave No Trace – a philosophy that applies to all outdoor recreation, not just off-roading, that has been adopted by organisations and land managers worldwide to build awareness and appreciation for natural and cultural heritage.

Roaming responsibly

RoamWild Tasmania provides adventure tourism activities around Queenstown, including in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Its guided 4WD tours include an exclusive No Dams Mt McCall experience, which involves a trip to the summit of Mt Owen followed by a drive deep into the Wild Rivers Heritage Area to learn about the region’s rich history of environmental protest.

“For us, 4WD is a mechanism,” says Anthony Coulson, co-owner of RoamWild. “It’s less about the driving itself and more about bringing small groups of highly engaged people into World Heritage Areas. It’s great for people who might be a bit older or less physically capable, or who may not want to spend several days trekking or rafting, because it allows them to experience that incredible sense of wonder that Tasmanian wilderness inspires.”

SAFETY TIPS FOR 4WD IN TASMANIA

Look after your car

Keep your vehicle mechanically sound.

Pack the essentials

Take adequate water, food, fuel, basic spares and a first aid kit on trips.

Keep in touch

In remote areas always travel with another vehicle and stay in radio contact at all times.

Stay on track

Keep to formed vehicle tracks at all times.

Get the OK

Obtain permission before driving on private land, and never disturb livestock.

Share your trip

Plan ahead and give your trip details to a friend, as you may end up in areas with no mobile phone or radio coverage.

Clockwise from far left 4WD in muddy Smithton; a coastal 4WD track in Smithton; rugged Gardiner Point. Previous page Taking on the Tarkine Wilderness in a 4WD.

SLOW

DOWN FOR ROAD WORKERS

Anthony and the team at RoamWild fully embrace Leave No Trace principles. They travel on established tracks, regularly clean their vehicles to remove any debris, and are fastidious about ensuring no waste is left in the wilderness. Rather than simply avoiding damage, the company’s ethos is to actively try and leave places a little better than they found them.

“Every time we go into places like Mt McCall or Wild Rivers, we know it’s an absolute privilege to be there,” Anthony says. “Part of our responsibility in exercising that privilege is to care for the environment, so if we notice something that needs to be fixed, we’ll always stop and do that. We’ll collect litter that has been discarded by others, and we’ll remove any foreign or invasive weeds we see and report those instances back to Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service for monitoring.”

Low-impact activities

With three World Heritage Areas, 19 National Parks and nearly 800 reserves under its care, Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) is responsible for the management of almost 50 per cent of Tasmania’s landmass. Contrary to what you might expect from an organisation tasked with conserving the state’s natural heritage, PWS is not opposed to off-roading; instead, it tries to provide opportunities for people to pursue that interest in a sustainable way.

Nic Deka is PWS Regional Manager for North West Tasmania, a region that encompasses some of the state’s most iconic and popular 4WD tracks including Sandy Cape Track, Climies Track

“Part of our responsibility in exercising that privilege is to care for the environment.”

between Granville Harbour and Trial Harbour, Balfour Track and Montezuma Falls.

“As an organisation, our perspective is that off-road vehicle use is a legitimate outdoor recreation activity,” he says. “Our aim is not to stop off-roading from happening, but to direct people to the appropriate places where they can enjoy those opportunities without having too much of an impact on the natural or cultural values of the reserve.

Exploring Mount Owen with RoamWild Tasmania.

“We want people to enjoy the activity, but we want them to do it in a sustainable way. If you’re on reserved land, stay on the track. Don’t spin your wheels going up a hill if you don’t need to, because that leads to erosion. There are a number of techniques drivers can use to minimise their impacts and those are the behaviours we encourage.”

The PWS website is a valuable resource for anyone seeking information about which tracks require permits, and what rules are included in the Code of Conduct for reserved and Crown land.

But according to Rob Saltmarsh, Operations Manager and Guide with Tall Timbers Adventure Tours in Smithton, there is no substitute for calling or visiting a PWS field office and speaking to the rangers directly.

“If people come here with the right frame of mind – a respectful frame of mind – they’ll have a good time. Part of that – especially on the West Coast where we have so many important Aboriginal heritage sites, and especially if you want to do beach driving – is looking at the conditions day by day. Don’t be impatient and tear straight down to Arthur River without stopping. Talk to Parks and Wildlife or go into the Visitor Information Centre and speak to the people there who can give you an informed heads up on how things are looking.”

A caring community

Drivers with the equipment and experience to tackle Tassie’s tracks independently, rather than with a guide, may be familiar with 4WD Tasmania – an umbrella body for the off-road community, with affiliated local clubs located across the state.

The organisation’s secretary Barnaby Campbell has been a 4WD enthusiast for more than 25 years and says that members are motivated by many different interests. “Some drivers love the challenge of a track, but others want to access bushwalks, go camping or do some diving at a remote spot. For me, it’s just about getting into the outdoors and enjoying Tasmania.”

The work of 4WD Tasmania includes arranging insurance for members, representing the off-road community in discussions with land managers, and community engagement at events like Agfest. It also provides training courses that teach drivers how to use their vehicles in a safe manner that minimises environmental impact.

“When we say things like ‘don’t leave your rubbish behind’, or ‘don’t do wheel spins and cut up the track’, a lot of that might just seem like common sense,” says Barney. “But it’s important to educate people who might not have had the opportunity to learn previously. We try to teach drivers how to avoid the pitfalls and enjoy a trip without causing any harm to themselves or to the environment. If we can do that, then we’ll be able to keep having fun out there – and that’s what everyone wants.”

Scan the QR code or visit ract.com.au/ membership/journeys for our round-up of Tassie’s best 4WD trails and tours.

Note: RACT Roadside Assistance does not cover vehicle service on off-road tracks.

From top A 4WD and mountain biking tour of Mount Owen; crossing the river at Smithton.

What’s up,

winter?

For some Tasmanians, winter is a time for hibernation or holidays to warmer parts of the world. For those of us who brave the winter, there are a surprising number of reasons to rug up, go out and soak in Tasmania’s brightest season.

marked by the turning of the fagus late in autumn, Tasmanian winters can turn bracingly cold. But it’s during our driest season that we can experience our thriving arts and agri-food scenes – pedigrees recognised by UNESCO naming Launceston a City of Gastronomy and Hobart a City of Literature.

The celebrations begin in the south with Winter Feast, the Festival of Voices and the Huon Valley Mid-Winter Festival, when communities come together to dance and sing. There’s fire aplenty –and whisky too – so dust off your Tassie tux, and don your scarves and beanies for a look around the island this winter.

Debaucherous Dark Mofo

While Tassie’s annual mid-winter arts and culture festival Dark Mofo is officially taking a break this year to refresh the festival’s vision, the Dark Mofo team will still bring the community together over two weekends of cultural and culinary celebration. As artistic director Chris Twite says, “while the festival rests in 2024, the solstice does not, and we’re excited to gather once more and present two popular pillars of the Tasmanian mid-winter along with some exceptional extra events”.

This year you can expect the best local food and drinks served with a twist on the Hobart waterfront over two weekends of the Winter Feast, as well as two nights of debaucherous partying and performances as part of Night Shift. You can also jump on the ferry to Mona in Berriedale for the launch of its newest exhibition, Namedropping, which explores status and the way we think about things, and includes a signed cricket bat from the 1980s.

As usual, Dark Mofo culminates in the annual nude swim at Sandy Bay, which celebrates the return of light after the longest night of the year. This year’s event has an increased capacity but by the time you read this all places will have been allocated.

But everyone within 50km of Hobart will be embraced by the festival as Spectra , with its constant beam of light, illuminates the cold dark sky.

Clockwise from far left

Last year’s Dark Mofo; artist Genesis Owusu; a dish of smoked yula; the nude solstice swim; dining at Dark Mofo.

Sing

it

big at the Festival of Voices

Choirs around the country will soon descend on Hobart for Australia’s leading singing soiree, which has been bringing people together through song and a great big bonfire for almost 20 years. This year’s festival will include a range of choral, contemporary and cabaret performances as well as multi-day singing and songwriting workshops for the vocally inclined.

The headline act is art-pop darling and former Australian Eurovision entrant Montaigne, set to wow audiences with their acclaimed music and powerful voice. Visiting choirs pop up in unexpected locations around Hobart city to charm and bemuse passersby. Perennial crowd favourite The Big Sing will be back for another year of heartwarming connection through song that’s big on joy and even bigger on fire.

Huon Valley’s favourite festival

Now in its 11th year and sadly drawing to a close in 2024, Willie Smith’s Mid-Winter Fest is an appleinspired festival that celebrates age-old winter solstice traditions. This includes the burning of a giant effigy and wassailing to the good health of the old apple trees over a colourful weekend of music, dancing, storytelling and cider.

Expect to encounter the weird, the wonderful and the whimsical at this gathering that promises rollicking fun for all ages. This year’s theme is Reflections, as the festival looks back on a decade of winter memories and lights up the valley’s night skies one last time. Tickets are limited this year to maintain the ‘welcoming local vibe’ that the festival is renowned for, so don’t hesitate to get yours and soak in the solstice, Huon-style.

Clockwise from left Willie Smith’s Mid-Winter Fest; The Wolfe Brothers will perform at this year’s Festival of Voices; revelers at Festival of Voices 2023; the Big Sing Bonfire; local fare at AgriCULTURED.

Get agriCULTURED In Launceston

Celebrating Tasmania’s agri-food sector in the state’s City of Gastronomy, agriCULTURED blends art, music and farming to connect us with our food and its origins. This year’s keynote speaker is backyard garden enthusiast, author and Grow it Local cofounder Paul West, who’ll share his insights into growing, cooking and community. There’s a host of talks and masterclasses taking place over the four-day festival, and of course plenty of the state’s best food and drinks to commune over.

Celebrate Tassie’s favourite bivalve

Dig out your peacoat and captain’s hat to mark the start of scallop season at the Tassie Scallop Fiesta in Bridport in the state’s north. This little festival, just an hour’s drive from Launceston, celebrates the town’s fishing and maritime heritage with food, wine, whisky and gin masterclasses, and a whole lotta live music throughout the day.

There’s also a pie competition and a scallopsplitting challenge but, as the organisers say, “unless you’re a ridgy didge pro splitter our insurance won’t cover you for lost fingers or gashed hands”. So you can leave the shucking tools at home.

A fringe program of events includes the Mariners Muse storytelling night on 26 July as well as 40-odd stalls to explore at the Makers and Growers Market on 3 August.

TASSIE MUST-DO EVENTS

Winter Feast

13-16 + 20-23June

Hobart darkmofo.net.au/winter-feast

Festival of Voices 28 June to 7 July

Hobart festivalofvoices.com

Willie Smith’s Mid-Winter Fest

12-13 July Grove williesmiths.com.au/ mid-winter

agriCULTURED

1-4 August Launceston agricultured.com.au

Tassie Scallop Fiesta 4 August Bridport tassiescallopfiesta.com.au

Oatlands Heritage & Bullock Festival

10-11 August southernmidlands.tas.gov.au

wcwr.com.au

“Tasmania is famous for its walks, but less so for winter wandering.”

Step back in time

Enjoy the big views of the state’s Midlands on a scenic drive to historical Oatlands for its annual Heritage & Bullock Festival. Taking place at Callington Park next to the historic windmill and overlooking Lake Dulverton, the festival celebrates rural heritage with displays of bullock teams and vintage machinery, and a charming old-fashioned street parade full of local characters. Many of the town’s old buildings will also be brought to life with community performances and demonstrations. Period costume is encouraged.

Take a walk or get in the tub

Tasmania is famous for its walks, but less so for winter wandering. Take advantage of low rainfall, cool temperatures and sunny days to road trip the Great Eastern Drive. There are noticeably fewer tourists at this time of year – perfect for a visit to Maria Island and its wildlife, spectacular fossil cliffs and convict-era heritage; or Freycinet with its worldclass views and white sandy beaches. If you’re a bit of a sook in the cold, book a stay at Freycinet Lodge (RACT Member discount available) or Rocky Hills Retreat for their outdoor hot tubs, to take in your surrounds from the comfort of warm water.

From top Rocky Hills Retreat’s tub with a view; Maria Island’s painted cliffs.

61/

62/ MEMBER

65/ PUZZLES

66/ REAR VIEW

Youth in the spotlight this National Road Safety Week

This year’s National Road Safety Week left a significant imprint on Tasmanians, with RACT leading several initiatives that brought the community together to reflect on, and improve, road safety.

A central feature of the week was the unveiling of a stark installation in Hobart, which featured a crashed car as if it

were in situ following a traumatic crash. Positioned against the city’s waterfront, this confronting exhibit drew public attention to the devastating consequences of road trauma, urging onlookers to reassess their driving behaviours and strive for safer roads.

continued on page 54

Have you ever wondered how vehicles earn their safety ratings? We’re giving you the chance to witness cutting-edge vehicle safety testing at ANCAP’s stateof-the-art facility in Sydney. Flights and accommodation included. Visit ract. com.au/community/ win-a-trip-to-ancap for entry details.

the latest .

Iconic landmarks, including MyState Bank Arena and the Tasman Bridge, were illuminated in yellow throughout National Road Safety Week, serving as poignant reminders of the lives tragically lost on our roads.

Steering through generations

From securing children in car seats to guiding young adults behind the wheel, RACT has long been a trusted partner in the driving journeys of Tasmanians like Zac Moore.

Zac’s relationship with RACT began in his earliest days, being fitted in his first car seat by RACT’s experts. Now, as Zac transitions from passenger to driver, he’s guided by RACT’s certified driving instructors.

Mike, Zac’s father, sees this as a continuation of a family tradition.

“RACT has supported my family for generations, from my mother to my son. It’s reassuring to know they’re with us every step of the way,” says Mike.

As Zac navigates his driving lessons, Mike appreciates the highquality instruction.

RACT further engaged Tasmania’s youth through an interactive event at MyState Arena, which included educational activities like a distracted driving course, and breathalyser testing from Tasmania Police. These activities not only demonstrated the effects of impairment and distraction on driving, but also emphasised our commitment to integrating road safety education into all Tasmanian secondary schools, equipping young drivers with necessary awareness and skills from the outset.

We also hosted free sessions in libraries across the state, focusing on clarifying five commonly misunderstood road rules. Run by members of our Community team, these sessions helped demystify aspects of road safety, enhancing community understanding.

The week’s events were crucial in conveying RACT’s message that driving safely protects everyone on the road. It’s clear initiatives like these are vital in continuing the dialogue on road safety and making tangible changes that will save lives.

To find out more about NRSW, scan the QR code or visit ract.com.au

parent. Having such supportive lessons available is a big relief,” says Mike. With each lesson, Zac’s confidence and appreciation for RACT grows.

“RACT offers a lot of different services, particularly when you’re first learning how to drive, and their teaching style is really encouraging,” Zac notes.

Zac’s journey is a testament to the enduring support that RACT provides to each member. It’s a relationship that highlights the trust and confidence families place in RACT, evolving with them through every life stage, ensuring safety, confidence and peace of mind for all Tasmanians. continued from page 53

“The teaching styles at RACT surpass anything I could provide as a

HEARTFELT HELP AT BONORONG

RACT is committed to supporting our community, including Tasmania’s native wildlife.

Over the past few months, our team has participated in multiple volunteer sessions at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, engaging in activities ranging from enclosure cleaning and revamping to filling kangaroo feed pouches. These efforts have not only strengthened the sanctuary but also our team’s bonds through shared contributions to wildlife conservation. Each session includes a guided tour that offers insights into the lives of the sanctuary’s beloved animals. This ongoing commitment is further supported by our volunteer leave policy, which grants every staff member a paid day each year to engage in meaningful community service. Whether joining

DID YOU KNOW?

organised activities or supporting a cause of personal passion, our staff are encouraged to make a difference.

Ella Beardsley, one of our enthusiastic volunteers, says, “Being able to lend a hand and make a difference to such an important organisation was a highlight of my year.”

We value these opportunities and invite our members to learn more about how these efforts are helping preserve Tasmania’s unique wildlife.

For more information on our community initiatives, please visit our community support page at ract.com.au/community/ community-support

RACT runs free road-safety programs at learning centres and schools. To book your students in and have our community team come for a visit, go to ract.com.au/community/community-education

CAR MEDIC

QAny specific components of my vehicle that need extra attention due to colder weather?

AYes, your vehicle will require checking over during winter, especially the tyres (including tyre pressure), wiper blades and heater/ air-conditioner. Does your coolant have the correct ratio of antifreeze? Is the engine oil at the correct level? Are your brakes working properly? Are all exterior and interior lights working, including headlight alignment? All these checks are included in a pre-winter vehicle service.

If your vehicle is parked outside you might need to prepare for ice on your windscreen. You may also have problems with your battery due to the change in seasons. A cold engine requires optimum cranking power to start your vehicle. Whether you call RACT Roadside on 13 11 11, or book with our new online battery booking service, our experienced team will provide you with the battery to suit your vehicle. EVs also have decreased battery performance in cold weather and use more battery power to provide heating and airconditioning. Ensure you have adequate charging to complete your trip.

Julian McGarry, Roadside Patrol, Hobart

Braving the cold, braving the conversation

As a partner of SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY, RACT will proudly be baring our legs later this month for Shorts Day on 21 June, in support of raising awareness for mental health.

“As we brave the cold in our shorts, we’re building a warmer, more understanding Tasmania where mental health is openly discussed and supported.”

“Just as wearing shorts might be uncomfortable when it’s cold, starting a conversation about mental health can also be challenging. Shorts Day was created to empower Tasmanians to don a pair of shorts on the shortest day of the year as a visual reminder of the importance of starting the conversation even if it’s a bit uncomfortable,” SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY founder Mitch McPherson says.

RACT’s engagement goes beyond a fashion statement; it’s a commitment to fostering a supportive workplace and community, emphasising the importance of mental wellbeing.

“We’re honoured to partner with an organisation that promotes the importance of discussing mental health issues, seeking help and fostering mutual support,” RACT Chief Experience Officer, Karla Wasinski, says.

“As the state’s largest member organisation, we’re committed to improving the lives of Tasmanians, and through our work with SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY, we’ve enabled both our members and staff to access tips on improving mental health and encouraging everyone to check in with those around them.”

As we brave the cold in our shorts, we’re building a warmer, more understanding Tasmania where mental health is openly discussed and supported.

CLUB RUN

A CENTURY OF CONNECTION

Back in March, RACT concluded its centenary celebrations with a recreation of our inaugural club run from 1923.

Starting at Government House in Hobart and making its way to New Norfolk, the event featured a convoy of heritage and special-interest vehicles, including the iconic RACT Ford Escort panel van and the new 100 Years community van.

Against this historic backdrop, a highlight was engaging with our members and their stories. Donald Cornish and his classic red MG caught everyone’s eye, but it was the tale behind his membership card,

dating back to 1923, that sparked an interesting conversation.

J Walch and Sons, a stationery and printing company established in 1836, held one of the earliest RACT memberships. “It was handled by the managing director. Before I joined in 1965, it was Sir Jeffrey Walch, who then handed it down to his son Richard Walch,” Donald shares. This legacy was entrusted to Donald when he stepped in as managing director in the ’80s.

When the company closed in the early ’90s, Donald approached RACT to keep the membership alive under his name, preserving a slice of history.

Our conversation then shifted to another historical gem in Donald’s care – his 1972 MGBL. Among the last of its kind made in Australia, this vehicle stands as a testament to craftsmanship and is a treasured heirloom.

“It belonged to my late brother-inlaw and has been in the family for over 25 years. I love its simplicity – even the worst home mechanic could work on them which is probably why they were and still are so popular,” Donald says. Donald’s story really brings to life what our centenary celebration was all about – the long road we’ve travelled together and the strong ties we’ve built along the way. Sharing these stories and memories is what makes our community feel like a big, connected family.

To read more about our club run and view a gallery from the day, please scan the QR code

Changing gears

A community drive toward safer roads for young Tasmanians

In the next five years, more than 40,000 young Tasmanians will embark on a significant rite of passage: obtaining their driver’s licence.

The journey towards becoming a licensed driver is filled with excitement. Ensuring this journey is safe is essential, and involves a collective community effort.

Recently, during the Tasmanian election campaign, RACT advocated for a progressive approach to youth road safety. Understanding the importance of this issue to our members, we successfully secured cross-party support for a commitment of $8 million over five years. This funding will enable RACT to collaborate with other road safety stakeholders to craft and deploy

a comprehensive road safety education program targeted at Year 9 to 12 students. This initiative is about engagement and empowerment – it will offer young drivers practical, hands-on experiences and classroom-based sessions in every Tasmanian secondary school to start their driving education early.

It aims to empower not only learner drivers but also their families, providing them with essential guidance. The program also assists disadvantaged young Tasmanians to safely accumulate their required driving hours.

Stark statistics reveal the necessity for a new approach to road safety. Road crashes are the second leading cause of death among Australians aged 15 to 24. Each year, an average of 67 young Tasmanians are killed or seriously injured on our roads. These aren’t just numbers; they represent lives altered forever, dreams derailed, and families and communities impacted by tragedy.

As a community, it’s vital that we maintain an ongoing dialogue about this critical issue. We need to explore every avenue to support young drivers as they develop the understanding, experience and skills necessary for safer road usage. In their first few years behind the wheel, young drivers are particularly vulnerable. By continuing conversations about highrisk situations – such as driving at night, long trips and driving under the influence, – we can guide them towards making safer choices.

Over the next 18 months, our team is excited to work alongside experts, young Tasmanians, educators, parents and carers, and government partners to develop a road safety program that resonates with the needs and realities of our youth. This program will not only educate but also engage young drivers in a way that fosters lifelong safe driving habits and brings about generational change.

We also pledge to keep raising awareness and encouraging broader conversations about road safety. Together, we can drive a significant change and ensure that our roads are safer for everyone.

The only person to survive on our roads

Discover the shocking reality of human vulnerability on the roads with Graham, a lifelike sculpture challenging our perceptions of road safety.

The human body is ill-prepared to handle the forces of a serious car crash. Our bodies may be strong, but they can only withstand so much force before breaking.

The fact that we are not invincible is confirmed by the road toll. Each year around 1200 people are killed on Australian roads and around 40,000 people seriously injured.

Since 2014, more than 360 people have died on Tasmanian roads and more than 2800 seriously injured.

The arrival of a lifelike sculpture, known as Graham, to the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) in Hobart, demonstrates human vulnerability and is encouraging visitors to challenge traditional road-safety thinking.

Graham was brought to TMAG in May as part of National Road Safety Week, for which Tasmania was the host state.

In 2016, Victoria’s Transport Accident

Commission (TAC) partnered with a leading trauma surgeon, a crash investigation expert and internationally renowned Melbourne-based artist Patricia Piccinini to create a lifelike sculpture that shows us what we might look like if we were built to survive on our roads.

Given that humans evolved long before the invention of cars, our bodies are not designed to handle the extreme forces created by a collision with heavy motorised vehicles – collision forces at just 30km/h are enough to be fatal.

death or long-term injury. Our transport system cannot and should not be designed to avoid every crash. But it should keep people alive and in full health.

PEOPLE HAVE DIED ON TASMANIAN ROADS SINCE 2014

Both lifelike and unnatural, Graham encompasses art, science and education. He is built to show what we would need to be like if we were to survive a crash. Beyond his interesting appearance, Graham also challenges us to reconsider the way in which we think about road safety.

Extensive research clearly demonstrates that it is much more efficient to build and operate a safe road-transport system than to rely on improving individual roaduser behaviour. We must work towards a road transport system that is ‘fail-safe’ so that human mistakes do not lead to

Graham’s unique features have all been designed to protect him from injury in a crash or to prevent the crash altogether. An extra-large skull to protect the brain, a short neck to prevent whiplash injury, extra ribs with fluid pockets designed to act like airbags, a lot of energy-absorbing fatty tissue on his face and double-jointed knees all help his body to be more capable of withstanding the violent forces of an auto crash. His spring-like lower legs and feet enable him to jump to avoid crash situations altogether.

Graham is on display at TMAG until early August and we encourage all road users to make the trip to see this thought-provoking exhibit, which features interactive content to give visitors a greater understanding of this artwork, and the evolutionary adjustments that make Graham a crash survivor.

More information on Graham can be found at meetgraham.com.au/about-the-project

Don’t throw caution to the wind

We know it gets windy all across Tasmania, so let’s make sure our loose items such as outdoor furniture, trampolines, BBQs and more, are all well secured.

Tie your trampoline

We recommend that trampolines of all sizes should be anchored down to the ground. Regardless of how heavy they might be, your trampoline mat will still act like a sail in strong winds. Anchors can be found through your trampoline manufacturer, Bunnings, and other online stores.

Brace your barbie

If your BBQ is on wheels, we recommend making sure it’s secured to a permanent structure or concrete pad using an anchor or occy strap.

Fix your furniture

For loose items of furniture, make sure you can keep them secure during high winds. If your chairs are light but table is heavy, consider tying the chairs around the table to keep them secure.

Check your roof

Rain can wreak havoc on our homes, and our best defence is to ensure our roofs are in good order and repair, and that water can effectively drain away from your property.

For tiled roofs, ensure no tiles are missing or cracked.

For colourbond and steel roofs, ideal condition means no rust spots or corrosion, no holes and no gaps around roofing screws.

You should always ensure your gutters and drains are secure and working as they should, allowing water to drain away effectively with no blockage or build-up of debris. If you’re concerned, engage a professional to assist, and consider whether a preventative measure may assist / might help in the future, such as gutter guard, to stop the debris entering your gutters.

Inside the home, if you find any signs of water on your ceiling that are unexplained, this could be a sign there’s an issue. Engage a professional as soon as possible to assist in exploration, and to ensure the root cause is addressed before it worsens. Your home insurance policy may not cover damage which worsens over time due to lack of maintenance.

ract.com.au

Holiday at home this winter

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mawsons-huts.org.au/antarctic-festival

Mainmark Ground Engineering Pty Ltd. TAS Building Licence No. 104771555

1 Which car company recently collaborated with OpenAI to have ChatGPT in its cars?

2 Which of the following is not in Tasmania: Burnie, Scottsdale, Hobart or Bendigo?

3 What do the initials PAYG stand for?

4 The 1989 film Sweetie was the feature film debut of which director?

5 Orange is the New Black was one of the first series by which streaming company?

Across

particular interest in food (6) Down

1 Writing something by means of a typewriter (6)

4 Full of energy, enthusiasm, and determination (8)

10 Subzero (5,4)

1 Take away a number from another (8)

11 Chilly or cold (colloq.) (5)

12 Silly; being ridiculous or mildly ludicrous (5)

13 Hydrocarbon gas used in welding (9)

2 Deliciously refreshing aromatic white wine (8)

14 Central or typical value in a set of data (7)

25 Dense bread roll in the shape of a ring (5)

French words for pine and black (5,4)

26 Length of hair, straw, rope, or other material made up of three or more interlaced strands (5)

27 Viral respiratory infection (9)

28 The act of designing something again (8)

7 Put upside down or in the opposite position (6)

29 Matching set of china for serving tea (3,3)

Down

1 Sled (8)

8 Obtrusively bright and showy; lurid (6)

16 Atmospheric water vapour frozen into ice crystals (4)

19 A dish of meat and vegetables cooked slowly (4)

3 (especially of a previous period) flourishing or successful (5)

7 Liquid, usually white, used to cover mistakes in writing or typing (6)

8 Bed inside or outside the house for lying or resting on during the day (3,3)

9 Give a new name to (6)

15 Joint inflammation (9)

18 A plant of a genus that comprises the Old World pitcher plants (8)

20 River which has it's source in Lake St. Clair (7)

2 A piece of clothing, made of warm material, that is put on by pulling it over your head (8)

9 Main body or mass of a structure (6)

21 Inclined to be merciful; lenient (7)

24 Bad-mannered, rude (9)

5 Elegant and cultured in appearance, manner, or taste (7)

3 Containing a lot of news that is personal or not very serious (5)

5 Affirm one’s faith in or allegiance to (7)

6 Rhinitis (5,4)

15 The inability to feel pain (9)

17 Range of wavelengths falling between two given limits (8)

Chipset,

17 Tight-fitting stretch trousers, typically worn by women (8)

18 Loyal, especially for a long time; able to be trusted: (8)

20 Making or becoming warm (7)

21 Arrange according to a plan or system (6)

21 Food made from the pressed curds of milk (6)

22 Knitted garment typically with long sleeves (6)

23 Item bearing identifying information about the individual whose name appears thereon (2,4)

22 Finding something funny or entertaining (6)

25 Savagely violent person or animal (5)

23 Relatives by marriage (2-4)

25 Dried, fermented, fatty seed of the fruit of a South

6 In what year did Port Arthur close as a prison?

7 What is the tallest Australian bird?

8 Which ship was the flagship of the First Fleet?

9 What is the prime minister’s Canberra residence called?

10 What does the slang term ‘dukes’ refer to?

Want to find out how you did? Find the answers online at ract.com.au/puzzles

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP // Rob Shaw captured the morning sun on Cradle Mountain above Flynns Tarn; inside The Tunnel at Tunnel, by Wendy Fehlberg; Mariah Terry snapped this sunrise at Georges Bay, St Helens; a seahorse, as seen by Mim Schulz while diving at The Monument at George Town.

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