Colin Merz

A bit of a rev head at school! Started work in the Dept of Defence in 1968 and directed my savings towards the all consuming automobile. I devoted lots of energy and money achieving my goal of driving a single seater racing car. A learning curve lasting some three years followed before I became competitive. I then enjoyed reasonable success as a racing driver and the financial burden was eased by prize money and sponsorship deals. About this time I realised there was more to life than racing cars and fell in love with someone other than a car.

In 1975 I married Julie (from Tasmania, but that is another story) and settled into family life and a mortgage. I continued to build my career in the Dept of Defence in the financial management of naval ship acquisition projects and ship maintenance activities. I’ve had some really good jobs working for the Navy and also some fairly ordinary jobs. However, it was all good experience and I have leaned a lot. I also have an active role in the family sheep property producing fine Merino wool. Farming can be a great way of life but it is about as profitable as motor racing — and that’s in a good year! In the meantime, Julie and I have had two wonderful boys that have kept us on our toes with the eldest turning eighteen recently (I just hope he doesn’t do the things that I did when I was 18 plus).

I am now semi-retired and loving every minute of it. My employment status has changed from a Finance manager to a casual truck driver and I am enjoying the challenge of proving to the young whipper snipers of the transport industry that us grey headed oldies can still do a fair days work.