Peter Wherrett
Encyclopedia
Peter Wherrett was an Australia
n motoring
and motor sport journalist
and race car driver.
Wherrett learned to drive when his parents got their first motor car when he was twelve. Angry at the lack of motorsport newspaper coverage, he complained to various newspapers and was hired in 1958 by The Sydney Morning Herald
to write for them on the sport.
Wherrett was best known as the presenter and co-writer of Torque, a popular motoring television show from 1973 to 1980.
race for Mazda
, in 1970
in a Ford
and in 1974
, 1975
and 1976
in Alfa Romeo
s.
program series Torque and later a historical series called Marque, which is the only television program on that topic to be produced for free-to-air
television.. During the 1980s he explored the need to explore alternative energy sources in the series The Balance of Power. He also served as the motoring guru in the Channel Ten
infotainment production Healthy, Wealthy and Wise
, which aired from 1991 to 1999.
sedan. Only 1016 cars were produced, which were commissioned after Wherrett complained about the GH Sigma's handling and was challenged to design a better car by the Mitsubishi Chief Engineer.
and moved to Lake Macquarie in New South Wales
.
In 1985, Peter was caught driving under the influence of alcohol. A second driving incident attracted another sensational round of publicity.
Peter Wherrett wrote a memoir entitled Desirelines with his brother Richard
, who died in 2001. The book recounted Peter's interest in cross-dressing
. As a child, Peter discovered their mother being abused by their father which led to an "empathy for his mother as an abused wife, and passion for women generally". He later discovered his father was also a cross-dresser and consulted a psychiatrist who said that Peter's behaviour was obsessive but harmless. Peter went on to write The Gender Trap which examined the "compulsive nature of cross-dressing".
After Wherrett and Mathers separated in 2006, Peter went to live as a woman, Pip, at Lake Macquarie. Pip lived as a woman for the last two years of her life, and she described this as "my last great achievement". Wherrett died in 2009 from prostate cancer.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n motoring
Motoring
Motoring may refer to:* 310 Motoring, an automotive customization garage based in Los Angeles, California* AA Motoring Trust* Best Motoring International, Japanese automobile magazine* Driving* Motoring...
and motor sport journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and race car driver.
Wherrett learned to drive when his parents got their first motor car when he was twelve. Angry at the lack of motorsport newspaper coverage, he complained to various newspapers and was hired in 1958 by The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by Fairfax Media in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831 as the Sydney Herald, the SMH is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia. The newspaper is published six days a week. The newspaper's Sunday counterpart, The...
to write for them on the sport.
Wherrett was best known as the presenter and co-writer of Torque, a popular motoring television show from 1973 to 1980.
Advanced driver training
In 1967, Peter Wherrett set up Australia’s first post-licence driver training school as "Peter Wherrett Advanced Driving". In 1980 he sold the school to his manager Peter Finlay.Motor racing
Peter Wherrett drove in the 1969 Bathurst 10001969 Hardie-Ferodo 500
The 1969 Hardie-Ferodo 500 was the tenth running of the Bathurst 500 production car race. It was held on 5 October 1969 at the Mount Panorama Circuit just outside Bathurst...
race for Mazda
Mazda
is a Japanese automotive manufacturer based in Fuchū, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.In 2007, Mazda produced almost 1.3 million vehicles for global sales...
, in 1970
1970 Hardie-Ferodo 500
The 1970 Hardie-Ferodo 500 was the twelfth running of the Bathurst 500 touring car race. It was held on 4 October 1970 at the Mount Panorama Circuit just outside Bathurst...
in a Ford
Ford Australia
Ford Australia is the Australian subsidiary of Ford Motor Company and was founded in Geelong, Victoria, in 1925 as an outpost of Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited. At that time, Ford Canada was a separate company from Ford USA...
and in 1974
1974 Hardie-Ferodo 1000
The 1974 Hardie-Ferodo 1000 was the 16th running of the Bathurst 1000 touring car race. It was held on 6 October 1974 at the Mount Panorama Circuit just outside Bathurst. The race was open to cars eligible to the locally developed CAMS Group C touring car regulations with four engine capacity based...
, 1975
1975 Hardie Ferodo 1000
The 1975 Hardie-Ferodo 1000 was the 16th running of the Bathurst 1000 touring car race. It was an endurance race for Touring Cars complying with CAMS Group C regulations. The event was held at the Mount Panorama Circuit just outside Bathurst, New South Wales on 5 October 1975 over a distance of...
and 1976
1976 Hardie-Ferodo 1000
The 1976 Hardie-Ferodo 1000 was the 17th running of the Bathurst 1000 touring car race. It was held on 3 October 1976 at the Mount Panorama Circuit just outside Bathurst in New South Wales, Australia...
in Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of cars. Founded as A.L.F.A. on June 24, 1910, in Milan, the company has been involved in car racing since 1911, and has a reputation for building expensive sports cars...
s.
Television
From 1973, Peter Wherrett presented the ABC TVAustralian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
program series Torque and later a historical series called Marque, which is the only television program on that topic to be produced for free-to-air
Free-to-air
Free-to-air describes television and radio services broadcast in clear form, allowing any person with the appropriate receiving equipment to receive the signal and view or listen to the content without requiring a subscription or one-off fee...
television.. During the 1980s he explored the need to explore alternative energy sources in the series The Balance of Power. He also served as the motoring guru in the Channel Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
infotainment production Healthy, Wealthy and Wise
Healthy, Wealthy and Wise
Healthy, Wealthy and Wise was a pioneering lifestyle television program shown in Australia. It was shown on Network Ten and was seen from 1991 until 1999. The programme also helped re-invent the then-ailing network after its financial collapse of the late 1980s...
, which aired from 1991 to 1999.
Wherrett Sigma
In 1981, Mitsubishi Australia produced a limited edition "Peter Wherrett Special" GH Series SigmaChrysler Sigma
The Chrysler Sigma is a version of the Mitsubishi Galant automobile that was built by Chrysler Australia in Adelaide from 1977. When Mitsubishi Motors Australia took over Chrysler Australia's manufacturing facilities in 1980, they renamed the vehicle the Mitsubishi Sigma...
sedan. Only 1016 cars were produced, which were commissioned after Wherrett complained about the GH Sigma's handling and was challenged to design a better car by the Mitsubishi Chief Engineer.
Personal life
Peter Wherrett was married and divorced three times. His first marriage was to Denise Wirth. They had a son, Steven, and a daughter, Jane, and had six grandchildren. His second marriage was to Lesley Brydon, former Executive Director of the Advertising Federation of Australia. His third marriage was to Kim Mathers. When Kim obtained employment in Europe as a chef, Wherrett remained in Australia. Because of their physical separation, they decided to divorce amicably in 2006. Following that divorce, Peter sold the house that they had shared in QueenslandQueensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
and moved to Lake Macquarie in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
.
In 1985, Peter was caught driving under the influence of alcohol. A second driving incident attracted another sensational round of publicity.
Peter Wherrett wrote a memoir entitled Desirelines with his brother Richard
Richard Wherrett
Richard Bruce Wherrett AM was an influential and successful Australian theatrical director, whose career spanned 40 years.Richard Wherrett was born in 1940...
, who died in 2001. The book recounted Peter's interest in cross-dressing
Cross-dressing
Cross-dressing is the wearing of clothing and other accoutrement commonly associated with a gender within a particular society that is seen as different than the one usually presented by the dresser...
. As a child, Peter discovered their mother being abused by their father which led to an "empathy for his mother as an abused wife, and passion for women generally". He later discovered his father was also a cross-dresser and consulted a psychiatrist who said that Peter's behaviour was obsessive but harmless. Peter went on to write The Gender Trap which examined the "compulsive nature of cross-dressing".
After Wherrett and Mathers separated in 2006, Peter went to live as a woman, Pip, at Lake Macquarie. Pip lived as a woman for the last two years of her life, and she described this as "my last great achievement". Wherrett died in 2009 from prostate cancer.
External links
- Obituary - Sydney Morning Herald.