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Australian model, Mavis, suffered in reversion to former type (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

atavism

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'reversion to former type' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'australian model mavis suffered' is the wordplay.
'australian' becomes 'A' (common abbreviation).
'model' becomes 't' (Ford Model T car).
'suffered' indicates anagramming the letters (I've seen 'suffers' mean this).
'mavis' is an anagram of 'avism'.
'a'+'t'+'avism'='ATAVISM'

'in' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for atavism that I've seen before include "Reversion to the primitive - I am vast (anag)" , "doing things the old way" , "Reversion to a former type" , "reverting to type" , "In reversion to primitivism" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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