Driving Change: The Legacy of Allan and Rhonda McCormac

Allan McCormac was born on October 1st, 1941, in Ashfield. His childhood was defined by the constant relocations that come with being part of an army family. His father, a veteran of World War II, served his country dutifully, which meant the family frequently moved around Australia.

At the age of 13, they left Sydney behind for Adelaide, where they settled for nearly three years.  However, the family’s journey didn’t end there. In 1957, his father’s military duties took them to Malaya, where Allan attended a prestigious British Army school. Despite the upheaval, Allan thrived, becoming head prefect and school captain, showcasing his natural leadership abilities.

Upon his return to Australia in 1960, Allan decided to pursue a career outside of the military. Despite his upbringing in army schools and cadet programs, he chose to enter the banking industry.

It was during his time in banking that Allan’s life took a significant turn. He met Rhonda, the woman who would become his partner in life.

Rhonda, a Sydney native, was born in 1945 in the tranquil neighbourhood of Five Dock, just after the war ended. After completing her education, she found employment at a bustling bank in Sydney, where she met Allan, the love of her life.

Allan and Rhonda were married soon after, embarking on a journey of love and partnership that would span over five decades.

As they settled into married life, Rhonda made the decision to resign from her job to focus on raising their two children.

After some time, Allan also left the banking industry and ventured into the world of corporate PR agencies, gaining valuable experience along the way. His journey eventually led him to establish his own advertising and marketing consulting firm. Teaming up with his business partner, Gordon McNamara, Allan embarked on diverse ventures, among which was the famous Driver Reviver program.

The Driver Revivor program began with a fortuitous connection – Allan was lecturing in marketing, at TAFE School of Business Administration one day when one of Allan’s students employed at Nestle, approached him with a proposal. Nestle sought a community service program to sponsor, thus igniting the spark for Driver Reviver. Together with Gordon, Allan spearheaded the initiative, laying the groundwork for what would become a nationwide phenomenon.

With Nestle’s sponsorship backing the initiative, they launched a groundbreaking KitKat & Nescafe campaign that captured the essence of road safety and community engagement.

The campaign’s premise was simple yet profound: encouraging weary travellers to take breaks at designated Driver Reviver stops for refreshments, with KitKat bars and tea/coffee as the centrepiece offering.

The iconic “Have a break, have a KitKat” slogan worked well with Driver Reviver sites nationwide, resonating with drivers of all backgrounds. It served as a gentle reminder to prioritise rest and refreshment during long journeys, embodying the core values of community and safety that Driver Reviver stood for.

However, shortly thereafter, Allan’s business partner, Gordon, decided to pursue other endeavours, leaving and Allan took over responsibilities of the whole program.

Amidst these developments, another significant transition occurred – Allan’s wife, Rhonda, joined the journey. After a hiatus as a stay-at-home mum, Rhonda returned to the workforce, running a retail business with her partner before deciding to redirect her efforts towards Driver Reviver. Joining Allan in the endeavour, Rhonda took on key operational responsibilities, ensuring the program’s smooth operation and growth. Together, Allan and Rhonda tackled the program’s administrative tasks with unwavering dedication.