RUSSELL Klose was born in Melbourne and moved to Yackandandah with his family when seven years old.
He returned to Melbourne then shifted to the NSW north coast city of Coffs Harbour.
Russell then relocated back to Yackandandah when married and having children, citing the town as great place to bring kids up and has lived in Yack ever since.
What do you do workwise?
I started out working at Yackandandah Motors (apprenticed to my father) as an apprentice motor mechanic.
Latest Stories
It offered a great variety of work - a country garage working on farm machinery, lawnmowers, chainsaws, cars and so on. I was a ‘Jack of all trades’ because we needed to actually make things and repair things as so many parts weren't readily available.
I then opened Jappo Donks in Wodonga with my wife Julie and we owned it for 30 years.
It was great being able to give second hand parts and tyres from Japan a second life in Australia.
It was fun and felt worthwhile as we saved so much good stuff being scrapped when still having lots of life.
After retiring, I was asked by Yackandandah local Matt Grogan (one of the original Totally Renewable Yackandandah members) and my son Cam Klose (a climate activist) to start importing and selling second hand electric vehicles (EVs) by using my friends and connections in Japan.
It was a perfect fit with the Yackandandah ethos of being renewable and climate friendly.
Kilowatt Cars was born.
At Kilowatt Cars, we find that making used, affordable EV’s available is a valuable community resource, and in our own way, are doing our bit to try and make a difference in regards climate change.
The EV’s (Nissan Leafs) are checked in Japan (battery and body condition) before importing, making them a great, reliable, excellent alternative to buying new, which is a great win for people’s pockets and the environment.
What do you do in the community?
Since starting Kilowatt Cars, I’ve learnt much about EV’s and electrification in general.
This has led to me giving talks with various groups – such as Farmers for Climate Action - about EV’s and electrification. It’s definitely something I wasn’t expecting, but very much enjoy.
What do you see as one of the most important current world issues?
Climate change.
Instead of working to solve climate change, we don’t seem to be doing anything - the will just doesn’t seem to be there.
If the person you would most like to meet came to Indigo Shire (past or present), or was already here, who would that be, what would you show them, and why?
Greta Thunberg.
She is so young, with such conviction and has had a noticeable effect on discourse in the world.
Even those who disagree with her (many) by speaking out against her, she keeps bringing her message to the forefront.
She truly has pushed a lot of people’s buttons right to the very top and created awareness of the climate crisis.
I would love to show her what steps Yackandandah as a community is doing to try and cut down on its carbon footprint.
What book are you reading?
The Three Body Problem (Science Fiction) By Chinese author Liu Cixin.
Great read about where planet Earth has its first encounter with an alien species delving back into the past, present and future.
Really well researched and written, with a fresh take on an old theme.
