Holden Retirees Club News
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On yet another cold, blustery and wet Melbourne day, 90 members and visitors attended our 183rd Holden Retirees Club Lunch.
President Bill Hooper, started the proceedings as usual by welcoming members and our Guest Speaker, Don Loffler, noted Holden 48-215 authority and author.
We then moved on to our usual order of business:
We have two new members who have joined since the June Lunch:
- Joe Rogowski – Engineering, Fishermens Bend
- Stephen King, Plant 1 Press Shop Die Maintenance, Woodville SA
Bill then named the colleagues who had passed away in the last three months, and we paused for a minute of silence to remember them.
Our excellent Lunch followed.
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After Lunch, Bill introduced our Guest Speaker: Don Loffler - noted early model Holden Historian and Author.
Born in Kapunda, South Australia, Don gained an Arts degree and two Education diplomas from the University of Adelaide. His late wife, Lois, was also a graduate with similar degrees from the same university.
Some people guess that Don is the son or relative of a Holden dealer, or a former Holden factory employee, or someone closely connected with the motor trade. He is none of these, but a retired German, Latin and Chemistry teacher.
He taught Latin and Chemistry for five years at Adelaide suburban Unley High School before transferring to Adelaide’s St Peter’s College, where he taught Latin and German for twenty-nine years.
In his retirement, Don has been enjoying the process of writing books on his passion – the early Holden models from the original 1948 48-215 ‘FX’ to the 1977 HZ, as well as the many makes of cars on the market during the same era.
Of the eleven books he has written so far, five are histories of the 48 and FJ Series Holdens; four are coffee-table-style photo books featuring families’ old black-and-white photographs and colour slides of the Holdens they owned between 1949 and 1977; the tenth book is an identification handbook of the 48 and FJ Series Holdens; and finally, the eleventh is a multi-make book, featuring old black-and-white photos and colour slides of all makes of car on the road in the 1940, 50s and 60s.
Don hopes that his second multi-make photo book will appear early next year, and he is now working on a third multi-make photo book, but before that one is published, he hopes that Volume Two of his first book will appear.
“If that’s retirement,” he says, “I can’t get enough of it!”
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Don's subject was "The untold story of Australia’s first Holden utility”, based on much of his remarkable original research, detailing how he has uncovered the true story of how the first Utility came into being, and the surprising part that Laurance J Hartnet played in it, showing extraordinary vision for the times. Even more remarkable is that most of the early cars involved in this development are still in existence!
Don has permitted us to publish a voice recording of his presentation, together with the slide pack which accompanied it. The slides contain, amongst other things, photos of the early cars that Don demonstrates were fundamental to the design of the iconic Holden Ute.
The members showed their appreciation of Don's work and presentation by their applause.
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General business followed.
- Our Vice President, Russel Nainie, has tendered his resignation for personal reasons, effective immediately. Bill thanked Russel on behalf of the members for his efforts for the Club over a long period.
- On 10 and 11 October, there will be a weekend visit to Adelaide on the anniversary of the launch of the Monaro, and Mike Simcoe will be along to talk about the inspiration and creation of the Monaro legend. A detailed itinerary was published in the June newsletter. If more information is required, please contact Russel Nainie [
- As mentioned in the Newsletter, we have had a request for help from a member of the public, Paul Baker. His note follows:
Hi, my name is Paul. 30 years ago I was a panel beater/coach builder when I was attacked and became a quadriplegic today I am working on a project to reproduce quarter panels and eventually other unattainable panels for Australian muscle cars so I am on a hunt for ex-Holden engineers who were responsible for the design and manufacture of the Sheetmetal moulds and dies who could assist me with the design of the moulds and dies I need to produce these panels. Last week we scanned the first car, a HQ Coupe, and next week we are scanning a few HKTG Monaros. Would you be able to help with anyone that have CAD experience who could assist me. I have a website under development www.heritageautopanels.com.au. If you share the link with anyone, please let them know the website is not functioning currently. If you can assist me with this I would be incredibly grateful.
If anyone would like to be of assistance, you can contact Paul on
- The remarkable service to Australia by ex-Engine Plant employee and HRC member Abdur Rahman has been documented on the website and elsewhere, including his appointment as a Governor of the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance. Now, as a further honour, an illuminated panel in the Peacekeeping Gallery of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra has been dedicated to Rahman and his service in Timor. The AWM has also released a video of the panel, introduced by a AWM Senior Historian, Dr David Sutton. The video can be viewed here.
Congratulations Rahman, a well deserved honour!
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The Lucky Door prize draw was next, with the usual $30, $20 and $10 cash envelopes from the Club, plus two special prizes, for which we are very grateful:
- Our speaker, Don Loffler, kindly donated one of his books, "She's a Beauty Vol 1", as a door prize and personalised it for the winner.
- Our March speaker, Peter Xiberras, owner of Premiair Racing, generously donated four custom A1 size posters, each signed by his two drivers, Jayden Ojeda and Declan Fraser, Team Principal Roland Dane, and himself. One went to the Holden Manufacturing Heritage Centre in Elizabeth and the remaining three became door prizes for June, Sept and Dec lunches.
All prizes were happily received.
Bill thanked everyone for attending and closed the lunch at 3:40 PM.
Some Happy Snaps:
The Holden Gold Coast Retirees Club Lunch was held at Club Southport (CSI) on September 3.
From L-R :-Rod Alford, Garry Dryden, Bevan Rawson, Ted Bryant, Sue Bryant, Maureen Roberts, Phyllis Coverdale, Graeme Roberts, Graeme Coverdale, Christine Hewitson, Grant Hewitson, Garry Newsome, John Ashmore, Jill Ashmore, Pat Dryden, Sue Colman, Ron Colman, Jan Alford.
Out of shot - Ron Stewart.
Thanks to Ted Bryant for this information.
Sydney group Lunch on 5 June 2026
Left to right, Stan Kennedy, Brian Kelly, John Arthur, Lenny Parry, Marcus McInnes, Tony Hamilton, John Geber, Peter Smith, Tom Southwood.
We meet on the first Friday of June and December at the Sydney Juniors Club, (South Sydney Juniors) in the Bistro.
Thanks to Marcus McInnes for this information
Ex-Holden Employee Discounts on GMANZ products
"General Motors Australia and New Zealand (GM ANZ) are pleased to now offer exclusive discount certificates on the full range of GMSV and Cadillac vehicles to all former Holden and GM ANZ employees, offering attractive savings.
Over the years, we’ve seen how much value an employee discount program has brought to our people, and we are excited to now be able to extend these discounts to all former GM Holden and GM ANZ employees."
For details of how the scheme works and how to apply, download the brochure here.
Members who are users of Social Media might like to know that there are some pages of interest to both current and retired Holden employees. The first is the “GM Holden Alumni Group” on Facebook, which at the time of writing, has 1,647 members. This is a Private Group, so you must apply on the site to join, but only other members can see who is in the group and what they post. It is a lively group, started and moderated by HRC member, Thalia Abramzon.
The second is the “Holden Engineering Alumni” Group, which also a Private Group on Facebook, but you must have been a member of Engineering at some time to join. It currently has 465 members and is moderated by Sharmy Francis and Rod Pettit. Quote: “The aim of the Group is to share photos, news, stories & thoughts between past & current Holden Engineering team members. Any group member can invite others to join. All members MUST have been Holden Engineering Team members. Please ensure that people you invite to join meet this simple criteria. Posts must be positive, professional & appropriate. No GM Confidential information.”
Lastly, for users of LinkedIn there is a “GM Holden Alumni” page with 367 members in the network at present, again administered by Thalia Abramzon. The direct link to the Group is: www.linkedin.com/groups/12295307.
All these groups are recommended to interested members who want to keep in touch with current and past mates.