As a V8 Supercar driver for the Ice Break Racing team, my day to day activities are generally very unpredictable and varied. My days can include an early morning fitness training session, followed by planning for, and undertaking sponsor’s promotional events, driving the Mack transporter to and from events, working as an Advanced Driving Instructor, general maintenance and preparation on race cars and on the team transporter – and of course practice and race days at different circuits around Australia. There is never a dull moment and there is always something I can be doing to improve my competitive package as I strive to be the best in my field. That is one of the reasons that I love what I do.

My story started in 1993 at the age of 5 when I was fortunate enough to have my first drive in a go-kart. I was instantly addicted and the dream of being a V8 Supercar driver was quickly planted.

I don’t come from a wealthy family but they supported me as much as they could over a 6 year period of competitive kart racing until the time came to get behind the wheel of a race car at the age of 12. At this point it was out of my parents league but thankfully I gained support from a number of backers who made possible the next crucial steps in chasing my dream.

From that perspective I have been fortunate to have had the supporters who have made it possible for me to race at the pinnacle of Australian Motorsport while gaining 8 national titles thus far on my journey.

The highlight for me would be my 4 Bathurst 1000 V8 Supercar starts. To race wheel to wheel with guys who I aspired to from a young age was special and at that point I knew I was living the dream. I had always felt that I had what was required to compete at the highest level but I knew that I would need ongoing support and the help of others along the way to make each next step possible.

I have been fortunate to have had that support and now I operate on a ‘Pay It Forward’ philosophy to try to help others. That is one of the reasons I admire and support the Scuba For Change concept.

Scuba For Change – a social enterprise – is supporting people from lower socio-economic countries providing them with the tools required for them to move forward, reduce Tourism Leakage, boost their economy and living standards.

I believe that the concept of helping others yet expecting nothing in return fits with my personal philosophy.

I know how challenging it can be to get ahead when you have limited resources and support. This is why I am such an enthusiastic supporter and ambassador to the Scuba For Change organisation.

It was a few years after I had first ventured into the equatorial countries that I found myself in the Solomon Islands. I was walking back from the village gardens with a handful of different coloured flowers for my next experiment.
Having volunteered to teach at the one of the small island community schools, and, having had a lot of fun in science class myself, I wanted to pass this curiosity and intrigue on to the eager young minds I had before me. But how would my science class be relevant to them and their lives? Even if they did want to learn more, where was this opportunity?
I decided then and there that I wanted to help to find a way to offer these children an education, so that they could further their understanding of the world around them and pursue their potential. These beautiful cultures, one might altruistically label socially isolated, were being affected by the very real effects of globalised industry, and environmental mismanagement, seldom of their own making. A lack of education left them and theirs, vulnerable to over exploitation.
Working toward capturing the most amazing parts of these unique and incredible socio/environmental islands (I say this because they are intrinsically linked) on film, I found a great need to alert others and work towards a positive outcome for both the people and the planet.
I’ve been freediving since I was very young, living off the sea and have now spent years studying the marine sciences. So when I started filming my TV pilots about the worlds oceans, I was naturally asked “What makes them interesting? Why should we bother protecting them?” As if would know the question to that… My response was to show the person who questioned me a video of one of the ocean cultures, living in their environment, depending on it, and responded, “Ask them.”
I feel a great alignment between the goals of “Scuba for Change” and my own. Aiming for both social and environmental sustainability. I want to see every child be given the opportunity and encouragement to reach their full potential, and that through collaboration and support, we can help communities reach those goals.