Authors pen book on history of Ford manufacturing in Australia

TWO self-confessed Ford tragics have taken their love for the blue oval to the next level by writing a book about its Australian manufacturing history.

Authors Michele Cook and Doug Wallace with their book about the history of Ford manufacturing in Australia.

TWO self-confessed Ford tragics have taken their love for the iconic automotive brand to the next level by writing a book about the organisation’s Australian manufacturing history.

And Doug Wallace and Michelle Cook, from Lower Templestowe and Templestowe respectively, didn’t have to look far for source material given they work in Ford’s archives.

Their project, Ford Australia — the Cars and the People who Built Them, was designed from the start to be more than just a book about cars, Mr Wallace said.

“We wanted to tell the history of Ford from the perspective of the people who worked there and made it the great company it was,” he said.

Both have a long history with the organisation, with Mr Wallace working as a manufacturing engineering manager at Broadmeadows and Ms Cook working in IT.

“I was writing another book and made contact with Michelle to do some research and as a result of that I started volunteering there one day a week, so we’ve been working together for five or six years now,” Mr Wallace said.

“Then when they announced they were closing manufacturing, we … thought we have to something about recording the history.”

At no stage did either find the labour of love to be a chore.

“If you work there for 20 years and spend a few years volunteering, one, you’re an automotive tragic and, two, you’re a Ford tragic,” he said.

The book is available at bookshops or at automotobookshop.com.au.