Driven by Passion B333FY

I was born and raised in Singapore before making the move to Melbourne, Australia when I was approximately 12 years old. Adjusting to the different lifestyle in Australia took some time, but I have grown to love it immensely. I cannot imagine calling any other place home.

My teenage years in Melbourne were filled with wonderful experiences. It wasn't until I turned 21 that I discovered the world of programming. Starting with Turbo Pascal, I decided to enroll in a course to deepen my knowledge in Information Technology, earning my Certification IV. This period was quite demanding as my studies consumed my life, fueled by my determination to excel. Meanwhile, my friends were already driving and had their own cars. During that time, I borrowed vehicles from my parents, my girlfriend (who is now my wife), and even my younger brother.

After successfully completing my course, I secured my first programming job, and since then, I haven't looked back. Of course, life presented its fair share of challenges along the way, but with the support of my family and friends, I persevered and forged ahead.

I purchased my very first car relatively late, at the age of 25. It was a brand new 1999 Subaru WRX. The day I went to the car yard to pick it up remains one of the happiest moments of my life. It felt like a remarkable achievement, given all the sacrifices and persistence I had invested. I am grateful to my amazing wife, Rachel, who has always supported my passion for cars, and now, even gaming.

That love of cars inspired a group of mates and me to establish GT Car Club in 1999 - a community I have proudly been running ever since. Along the way, I had the honour of organising Melbourne's first ever Cars & Coffee event, and have since been involved in 22 Cars & Coffee events in total. These are two things I am genuinely proud of, and they remain a big part of who I am.