Tony Travers worked at Ford for 28 years and is one of 17 members of his family who were employed at the Geelong factory across its history. He still wears a jacket with the Ford logo. 'I still miss the factory. If it was open, I'd still be there,' he said.
The Geelong plant operated for 90 years and was a major employer. At its peak, about 5,000 people worked across the two sites. The factory produced parts for models including the Falcon, Fairlane and Territory, which were assembled at Broadmeadows. During World War II, it manufactured long-range fuel tanks for aircraft. After the war, it became a draw for migrants seeking steady work.
Ford announced the closure in 2013, saying its Australian operations had lost more than $600 million over five years and that costs were double those in Europe and nearly four times those in Asia. About 1,200 manufacturing jobs were cut. When the doors finally closed on October 7, 2016, many workers had already left or been redeployed.
Travers stayed until 2017 working on prototypes. After that, he found a series of short-term jobs building camper trailers, filling potholes and replacing traffic signs. He said none of it compared to his time at Ford.
Mr Travers describes the suburb of Norlane as 'the town Ford built'. The closure left a lasting mark on the community.