Holden men hold their heads up high

Holden enthusiasts Geoff Light, Lindsay Wealands, Kevin Duff and Ron Colvin with their beloved lion-badged vehicles. 174168 Pictures: KYRA GILLESPIE

By Kyra Gillespie

As the last Holden rolls of the line today, a group of Kooweerup mechanics that spent their working years servicing Holdens reflect how their lives were shaped by the lion-badged vehicles.
The Holden tragics Kevin Duff, Lindsay Wealands, Ron Colvin and Geoff Light each completed their apprenticeships in Kooweerup and have all restored their own vintage Holdens.
Each mechanic’s love for Holden started as young boys, saying they were working on cars since they were about 14 years old.
“I still remember driving the first Holden 48-215 off the assembly line in 1948”, Mr Duff said.
“The closure is an absolute disgrace to Australia.”
77-year-old Geoff Light, owner of G and J Light Mechanical Repairs Kooweerup, is disappointed by the news but vows he will remain loyal to the company.
“It’s a very sad day”, Mr Light said.
“It’s one of those things that I always knew would happen eventually.
“These days, they’re making cars for half the price that they should cost. You simply can’t compete with such cheap labour.
“It won’t stop me buying and servicing Holden.”
Mr Light has passed on his passion for cars to his son and daughter, who now both work at the repairs shop.
As for their dad, he has no plans to give up the business any time soon.
“I’m nearly 78 and still going”, Mr Light said with a laugh.
“I can take the cars out 45 times in a year with the club plates, and I plan to make the most of each of those days.”