IT’S two very different stories for a pair of Gold Coasters impacted by Melbourne’s lockdown – one stuck in a landmark high-rise, while the other lives it up on the Gold Coast.
Surfers Paradise’s Sean Buckley, owner of car repair and roadside assist giant Ultra Tune, has more recently been based in a Crown Casino apartment where he will see out Victoria’s six-week lockdown starting midnight Wednesday.
The entrepreneur shares custody of his two-year-old daughter but after lockdown ends, it will be six months since he’s seen two other teenage daughters on the Gold Coast.
“It’s half a year wasted without seeing them,” he said. “If they were to come down, it’ll be two weeks in quarantine then maybe a week with myself and their mum, then another two weeks of quarantine when they return home.
“That’s 28 days stuck in a hotel room and I’m not going to put them through that. We were hoping to see them soon, because their mother – who I’m no longer with but lives around the corner – is unwell.”
Gold Coast girl turned Melburnian Cheryl Sheppeard made it back to the Gold Coast to visit family just one week before the virus surge in Melbourne.
Cheryl Sheppeard said she was lucky to have travelled back to the Gold Coast before the outbreak spread in Victoria.
“I was able to return to Queensland on compassionate grounds last month,” she said.
“I see my family every month, but because of the borders it had been at least six months. I had actually moved my flight forward by a week and lucky I did, I may have been stuck.”
While her home in St Kilda isn’t a declared hot spot, surrounding suburbs are.
“I am considering moving back to the Gold Coast for good, it is a beautiful sunny and safe place to be at the moment.”
Here at Ultra Tune, we can’t get enough of a roadie! Whether it be a quick weekend trip, or a longer holiday, there is something so special about hitting the road and finding some space. In the current climate it’s not possible to travel so freely, but we thought it would be fun to highlight some of our favourite roadies to inspire you once we can all travel safely again.
Australia is known for it’s unreal landscape and this makes
a driving holiday all the more amazing. Whether you want the coast or mountains
or desert, there is something for everyone!
Here are our top 5 iconic and thrilling car journeys in Australia:
The Great Ocean Road – this is such an iconic drive and for good reason – the coastline in Victoria is just spectacular and awe inspiring. This roadie is perfect for a shorter trip; as you can drive it in a day. But a weekend would give you more time to explore the local beaches and towns. At the start of the road is Bells Beach which is popular with surfers for its beauty and dramatic surf. This stretch of road is famous for the 12 Apostles, huge limestone rocks which rise out of the sea and are located in Port Campbell National Park. Perfect for an all year round roadie, but especially great off season, as Summer is much more busy with tourists. At the end of the drive is Cape Otway Lighthouse – Australia’s oldest mainland lighthouse, and visit the Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre where you can learn about ancient aboriginal life.
The 12 Apostles, Great Ocean Road
East Coast of Tasmania – This stretch of coastline is just beautiful, including the famous Bay of Fires where the beaches have some of the whitest and finest sand in the world. Binalong Bay is a must see – it was voted the best beach in the world by Lonely Planet and for good reason. Another stunning beach here is Jeanneret Beach, framed by the orange linchen-coloured boulders which are famous in this conservation area. Another great stop on this trip would be Freycinet National Park which features the infamous Wineglass Bay. Starting in Hobart, you could easily drive up to the Bay of Fires in a long weekend but we recommend give yourself 5 days in order to really explore. You won’t want to leave!
Bay of Fires, TAS
Gibb River Road WA – This is an iconic 660km adventure and one for a longer trip, encompassing some of the most spectacular scenery Australia has to offer! It is only open outside of the wet season, and a 4WD is a must through this rugged Kimberley wilderness. Must sees on this trip are the Windjana National Park where there is a brilliant camping spot and swimming at Lennard Gorge. Also the El Questro Wilderness Park which takes you past the popular swimming spot at Durack River crossing, Jack’s Waterhole, the Cockburn Ranges and the outstanding Pentecost River. One for a longer trip, we recommend taking 2 weeks to really explore and relax.
Alice Springs to Uluru – This trip takes you to the red centre of Australia, with the magical Uluru taking centre stage. Alice Springs is the at the epicentre of the Explorers Way (a 3000-kilometre route from Adelaide to Darwin), and is the main hub for anyone looking to explore the Northern Territory’s outback. The beautiful landscape here is simply breathtaking, with indigenous dream trails and many places to camp under the stars. Our favourite spots include swimming at Ellery Creek Big Hole and Ormiston Gorge as well as hiking Mt Sonder.
Ellery Creek Big Hole, NT
Melbourne to Daylesford – This is a short day or weekend trip which is perfect for city dwellers to escape to the country. Driving out of Melbourne into this part of Victoria is so relaxing and when you get to Daylesford there are so many things to do. At it’s heart is Hepburn Springs, home to the largest concentration of mineral springs in Australia with Hepburn Bathouse a calming oasis and a great place for a weekend retreat. Visit the Daylesford Lake for a walk around the jetty or you could hike a trail nearby such as the Goldfields Track. A short roadtrip out of the city but well worth it.
Lake Daylesford, VIC
Ultra Tune keeps you safe on the road! From car tuning, to roadside assist, we are never far away! Download our app, available on iTunes and Microsoft.
Our new Unexpected Situation has aired! Starring the one and only Pamela Anderson of course!
Here at Ultra Tune we are so proud of this ad and the hard work the team put into it. Working with an icon such as Pamela Anderson was truly brilliant, she was lovely and a lot of fun on set. Alongside Pamela Anderson, we also featured our much loved rubbergirls Parnia Porsche, Laura Lydall and Tyana Hansen as well as the legendary Warwick Capper.
Also making an appearance was our very own Rod Cedaro and we think you will agree it could be our best one yet?!
ULTRA TUNE SIGNS PAMELA ANDERSON FOR LATEST IN THE SERIES OF UNEXPECTED SITUATIONS TELEVISION COMMERCIALS (TVC’s) AND PAMELA CHALLENGES SCOTT MORRISON TO STAND UP FOR JULIAN ASSANGE
Ultra Tune Auto Service network, recently signed iconic Baywatch actress and animal activist; Pamela Anderson to star in their latest incarnation of their “Unexpected Situations” series of television commercials.
Photo credit – David Fierro
Ultra Tune Executive Director, Sean Buckley stated Pamela is a perfect fit for our brand. She’s sassy, smart, funny, beautiful and a true crusader for women’s rights. Some of our commercials have been called “sexist” and “out of touch” supposedly portraying women in an out-dated manner as “victims” with men always “saving” them. Some have even been banned after complaints to Ad Standards from a verbal minority of politically correct zealots. So we thought, let’s tip this on its head. This time Pamela will be the hero, Pamela will take charge. Let’s see if the politically correct brigade still get their knickers in a knot when a woman saves the day?!
Ms Anderson is expected to be in Australia for filming in the later part of 2019, with the new TVC expected to first air in conjunction with the 2020 Australian Tennis Open and Big Bash Cricket. I enjoy traveling to Australia. I’ve watched the previous Unexpected Situation commercials. I see them for what they are; tongue in cheek hyper-reality and comedic. Having seen the concept for this next edition of Unexpected Situations, I think this will take the comedy to a whole new level. What is also important to me about this visit is the opportunity to speak to the Australian people and petition Prime Minister Morrison to intervene on behalf of Australian citizen, Julian Assange, who is being made a scapegoat of and suffered inhumanely for disseminating factual information we all should know about. Mr Morrison made a series of personally, disparaging remarks about me and I’d like to challenge him to debate this matter in front of the Australian people.
When pressed as to what the next TVC will be about Mr. Buckley was somewhat candid and coy. Pamela will feel right at home location wise for this shoot. She’ll be joined by some familiar faces including the Rubber Girls, Warwick “the Wiz” Capper and our Roadside Assistance guy, but this time we’re going to dial the drama (and comedy) up and rely on Pamela to save the day.
Ultra Tune is Australia’s leading, independently owned after-sales automotive service provider with some 270 franchise stores across Australia.
For more information contact Ultra Tune National Marketing Manager Rod Cedaro at rodc@team.ultratune.com.au or on 0419390318
To discuss interviewing Ms. Anderson during her visit to Australia please contact her manager Matthew Berritt at matthew@pamelaandersonfoundation.org or call + 1 305 3103210
Hollywood superstar Charlie Sheen has been filming the new Ultra Tune ad in Williamstown, Melbourne, for the next installment of the Unexpected Situations series! It has been fantastic working with Charlie to make this advert the best yet!
He is in Australia to film the ad as well as go on tour for ‘An Evening with Charlie Sheen’ in Melbourne on the 3rd of November and in Sydney on the 4th of November. Tickets for the evening are available at https://www.charliesheenlive.com.au/
Another amazing line up of fights in Bendigo this September 8th, with the main event is a junior middleweight bout as Tim Tszyu takes on Marco Jesus Cornejo, 19-3 (18KOs).
Numerous complaints to the ad watchdog about sexism, sexualisation and the promotion of convicted rapist Mike Tyson in Ultra Tune’s latest ad have been dismissed.
In a detailed response to the complaints, the brand said: “The advertisements do not promote nor endorse any sexual harassment, or assault. He [Tyson] has been punished for his crime committed over 25 years ago in accordance with the law.”
A majority of the complaints featured in the Advertising Standards Board’s ruling focussed on the inclusion of Tyson, who was convicted of rape in 1992.
In response, Ultra Tune said it takes its responsibilities – including the AANA Code of Ethics – very seriously and noted the brand “agrees sexual harassment, assault and rape has no place in our society”.
“However, we note that Mr Tyson served his punishment, publicly acknowledged his deep regret and remorse for that period in his life, and has re-joined society. Since that time, he has rebuilt his career as a celebrity personality.”
It also noted: “Our use of Mr Tyson does not promote his convictions nor condone sexual harassment in any way.”
The advertiser went on to detail its view that the ad could not be found to vilify, humiliate or ridicule women because “the advertisements are clearly designed to be hyper-realisatic and comedic”, noting “a road incident can happen to any person, regardless of gender.”
Ultra Tune also refuted the claim the ad exploits or degrades women, arguing: “At all times the female actors are fully clothed in fancy dress clothing. The fancy dress clothing was used to reinforce the comedic aspect of the advertisement. Their clothing is clearly not the focus of the advertisement.”
The Board also didn’t take issue with the women’s attire, saying it is consistent with Hen’s parties or costume parties. It said the women’s appearance was “sexy, [but] their behaviour is not sexualised”.
It also again noted the “hyper-real” nature of the advertisements, which in its view, ensured the community would not take safety pointers from the women’s actions: “The Board considered that the fantasy nature of the advertisement, the likelihood of a tiger appearing in the street, and the fact the vehicle was shown to crash all amounted to an overall impression that would be unlikely to suggest or condone swerving to avoid an animal on the road.”
The Board thus dismissed all the complaints against Ultra Tune’s ad.
Ultra Tune are proud to launch our new advert with Mike Tyson during the Australian Open 2018 today!
The ad is part of the Unexpected Situations series and stars the legend Mike Tyson as well as rubber girls Parnia Porsche, Tyana Hansen and Jasmin Rainbow. We filmed in 2017 in Las Vegas with the fantastic director Mark Richie who really brought our ideas to life! It was a great time on set and a wonderful experience working with Mike Tyson who was a total professional and a lot of fun!
Sean Buckley (Executive Chairman Ultra Group of Companies) onset in Las Vegas with Rubber Girls – Jasmin Rainbow, Tyana Hansen, Parnia Porsche, Mike Tyson and Roadside Assistance Driver – Rod Cedaro
We look forward to hearing feedback from our customers and follow us on Twitter and Facebook for regular updates and more behind the scenes info!
Working with Mike Tyson on the new Ultra Tune ad was absolutely fantastic and the entire team had such a great time filming in Las Vegas!
As part of our Unexpected Situations series, we also featured our rubber girls Parnia Porsche, Tyana Hansen and Jasmin Rainbow.
Sean Buckley (Executive Chairman Ultra Group of Companies) onset in Las Vegas with Rubber Girls – Jasmin Rainbow, Tyana Hansen, Parnia Porsche, Mike Tyson and Roadside Assistance Driver – Rod Cedaro
“I finally got him. For our brand, a very male-orientated market for our car servicing, he is perfect for it,” Buckley has told The Daily Telegraph. “He is an icon, people over 40 all know him. We welcome the controversy because it gets people talking.
“The more complaints we seem to get about these ads, the more our sales go up. Australia used to be a land of fun and comedy but everything has become politically correct to another level, so much so people are scared to do something different or funny … you can’t do anything without offending someone.”
We are so excited about the upcoming ad which will be screened during the Australian Open in Janaury 2018!
Another exciting night of boxing is heading to Melbourne on the 10th November 2017 at Malvern Town Hall!
Brought to you by Peter Maniatis Events and Ultra Tune, there are a huge number of stellar match ups including our very own Randy Ultratune Petalcorin taking on the ‘assassin’ Oscar Raknafa!
This fight card is one to remember with the undefeated prospect Danny Hookz vs Indonasian Mijuyong!
And also:
Brandon-Lee Rocco vs Daniel Dwyer
Emmet Brown vs Hunter Ione
