Holden Dream Cruise, street parade and auction of three deluxe cars to mark Adelaide carmaker’s last week

ACTIVITIES and events marking Holden’s closure this week, will mark the start of community reflection as South Australians come to terms with the deep bonds established with the carmaker.

• Bill Shorten’s $1bn fund to create post-Holden industrial jobs
• Join the ‘Q to say goodbye
• Percat family’s deep ties with Holden

WHEN the final gleaming Holden rolls off the Elizabeth production line this week, it begins a new period of uncertainty for hundreds of workers and their families.

For Holden workers such as Michael Hatchard, the closure of the northern suburbs’ main employer for 55 years will not hit home until the following week.

“Everyone understands that it’s going to happen but I don’t think it will really kick in until that last car rolls of the line. It will be a sad day watching it all end,” Mr Hatchard said.

“And then on Monday when we wake up and realise we don’t work at Holden any more, it will really kick in.”

DRIVEN HOME: Michael Hatchard, who has worked at Holden for 28 years, with some of the last cars to roll off the line at Elizabeth. Picture:Russell Millard

The State Government on Saturday announced it would extend a counselling service that had already helped about 200 workers, with an extra $600,000 from taxpayers and Holden.

Automotive Transformation Minister Kyam Maher said Beyond Auto Connected would run until mid-2019 and help workers transition to other industries and keep them engaged with the community.

“Our thoughts are with auto­motive workers and their families at what we know is a challenging time,” Mr Maher said. “We are committed to standing with them, to make sure they are fully supported when leaving and starting the next chapter in their life.”

The Government has already contributed more than $23 million in programs supporting automotive workers.

Mr Hatchard, who has spent 28 years at Holden, is among hundreds who are still grappling with finding alternative work to the only job many have known.

“I have spent the past two months looking for new work but as yet nothing concrete has come up — and a lot of people would be in the same situation,” Mr Hatchard said.

The company is determined to make its final week of production a source of pride for its remaining workers and ex-employees, kicking off with a Holden Dream Cruise event today.

A street parade of vehicles, including the first and last models of Holden built in Australia, will traverse the northern suburbs before a free family day at Elizabeth Oval.

Three deluxe, limited-edition Holdens — a Director V8 auto sedan, a Motorsport V8 auto sedan and a Magnum V8 auto utility — will go under the hammer in a charity auction after rolling off the line on Wednesday.

Holden executive director of manufacturing Richard Phillips hopes the auction will raise $360,000 to be donated to the Bev Brock-The Lighthouse Foundation and the Smith Family, which will sponsor the education of 55 young people through its Learning for Life program.

“We know how much Australians love their Holdens and these three are very special ... hopefully they’ll inspire some fierce bidding,” Mr Phillips said.