Final Fords to help fund community charities

FORD Australia has auctioned off four of the last vehicles from its Broadmeadows assembly plant, with proceeds going towards its long-time charity partner Give Where You Live as well as funding the expansion and creation of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) programs at local high schools.

The final Falcon XR6 Sprint, which was sold for $122,000, will fund the Geelong-based Give Where You Live that facilitates the delivery of services and programs to help disadvantaged people in the area of education, jobs, family violence, addiction, hunger and homelessness, as well as managing programs that help the disadvantaged.

Meanwhile the last regular Falcon XR6, Falcon Ute XR6 Turbo and Territory sold for a combined total of $231,000, all of which (minus tax) will go towards funding STEAM programs – particularly robotics – at two local schools, which will be done in conjunction with Ford engineers.

The two schools are Hume Central Secondary College in Broadmeadows, and Northern Bay College in Geelong – two areas that historically have had a large manufacturing presence for the Blue Oval.

Hume Central principal Irene Iliadis said that the funds will help promote students getting involved in STEAM-related curriculum.

“The funds donated by Ford will support staff and students to take STEAM curriculum to a new level with additional infrastructure and programs that will inspire engagement and pathways in STEAM,” she said.

The investment could also potentially be beneficial to Ford, which conducts a lot of its research and development in Victoria, with robotics being a key area for the future design of cars.

Ford Australia president and CEO Graeme Whickman said he hoped the investment would help spur innovation among the students of the respective schools.

“As the leading local automotive R&D investor and employer going forward, we also want to support the country’s quest to spur more innovation and tap into our unique talent base,” he said.

“Our Australian team developed the Ranger and Everest at our innovative virtual reality design lab in Broadmeadows, massive 950-hectacre test track with one of the world’s most advanced wind tunnels outside Geelong and through some of the world’s toughest terrain across the country.

“While the scales are different, STEAM kids have to program robots to take on tough challenges in a similar way.”

The four cars were put to auction on October 15 through car auctioneers Manheim. The Territory Titanium fetched the lowest price at $68,500, followed by the XR6 Turbo ute at $81,000, the blue XR6 at $81,500 and finally the white XR6 Sprint at $122,000 for a combined total of $353,000.

Ford will maintain ownership of the final, non-registered Falcon, Falcon Ute and Territory, which will eventually go on display at key enthusiast events before being loaned out to museums in the longer term.