The AADA lifetime achievement award recognises individuals and businesses who have given more than 50 years of service to the automotive retail industry
At its chairman’s dinner, the AADA and its members honoured Terry Keating for his service as AADA chairman.
Life in cars: At a celebratory dinner during the recent AADA Convention and Expo, the organisation and its members honoured Terry Keating for his service to the industry.
The AADA also gave lifetime achievement awards to the four Queensland dealers featured on this page.
The AADA also gave lifetime achievement awards to these Queensland dealers:
- Joe Camilleri – Grand Prix Auto Group
- Don Russell – Wippells Autos
- F.R. Ireland – Ireland’s Group
- John Woelders – Motorama Group
Terry Keating began his career with JT Fossey – which was established in 1937 by Joe Fossey and is the second-longest current serving Ford dealer in Australia – in Tamworth in 1970 as the dealership accountant.
Over the next half a century, the AADA said Terry made his mark not just on the dealership, not just on Tamworth, but on the Australian retail automotive industry as a whole.
Terry bought the JT Fossey business in 1977 when it was only a Ford car and truck dealership.
In 1986 the business was appointed as a BMW dealer and in 1988, added Nissan to the group.
Over the years, the JT Fossey Group then expanded by adding Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Isuzu Ute and MG to its stable of brands, as well as the truck franchises of Volvo, UD, Mack and Fuso.
In 2002 Terry established Gunnedah Automotive in Gunnedah NSW with Mazda and Nissan brands.
He spent 18 years on the Ford Dealer Council, including eight as chair and 10 as vice chair. He also spent four years with the BMW Dealer Council, including two as chair.
Terry’s dedication to the wider industry saw him serve as president of the MTA from 1996 to 1999 and chair of the AADA from 2016 to 2021.
As AADA chairman, he put the association on a strong footing, presiding over landmark changes to franchising laws, turned back the tide on parallel import proposals and steered the AADA and its members through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The association said Terry’s sense of service has also extended into the community, with four years as chair of the Tamworth Development Corporation and three years as president of the Long Yard Golf Club Tamworth.
“A life in cars and a life in service. Thank you, Terry Keating.”
David Russell – Wippells Autos
By Neil Dowling
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