Famed for his humour and honesty, Daniel Ricciardo is one of the biggest personalities in Australian sport. In a candid interview, he speaks to the writer Emma Pegrum about his Perth origins and competitive nature, plus the strategies that have seen him through a tough few years on the track.
“My vision for T Australia in its first year was to feature cover stars who are quintessentially Australian. Dan is a perfect fit,” says Publisher and Editor in Chief, Katarina Kroslakova. “Not only is he a positive role model, representing Australia on a global stage, he is the epitome of the Australian spirit: he’s funny, ambitious, determined and charismatic. And he has the whole country cheering for him.”
Ricciardo was shot on location at the state-of-the-art McLaren Technology Centre in Surrey, England, by the London-based photographer Yvan Fabing. For this special shoot, T Australia tapped the celebrity stylist David Bradshaw, who has collaborated with luxury brands, including Prada and Tom Ford, and is renowned for his work with Madonna and Michael and Janet Jackson for the multi award-winning music video, Scream.
The theme of the issue — Legacy — is explored in the sprawling feature “Tomorrow’s Heroes”, which includes interviews with Maddison Brown, Zoe Terakes, Matthew Skerritt, Zaachariaha Fielding, Macinley Butson and Sallie Jones. These six inspiring Australians are challenging the status quo in fields ranging from dairy farming to accessible fashion.
The feature was compiled at a time when much of the country was in lockdown and had to be photographed remotely, via Zoom and FaceTime. The portrait photographer Kelly Geddes composed each scene, then photographed her computer screen and had the images processed in a darkroom. The result is a series of timeless black-and-white portraits that offer a window into the lives of these extraordinary Australians during lockdown.
“The photographs are a powerful documentation of a significant moment in time,” says Kroslakova. “The stories are equally arresting, offering fascinating interpretations of legacy and leadership from young Australians who are determined to do things differently.”
Other features that explore the Legacy theme include a sobering column by the brilliant nonfiction writer Bri Lee (of “Eggshell Skull”); the designer Anna Sui’s recollections of New York’s punk scene in the 1970s; a review of the iconic car models that will shape our electric future; and an exclusive look at the National Gallery of Victoria’s upcoming exhibition “Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto”.
This issue is on sale now at over 3000 newsagents nationally, as well as some good bookshops. You can order a single copy of the magazine online or take up our Christmas subscription offer and have it sent straight to your door.
