IN ITS 100th year of operation in Australia and New Zealand, Ford acknowledged its dealer network and awarded outstanding contributors in the categories of President’s Award, the three Foundation dealers who have an unbroken 100-year relationship with Ford, and 12 longstanding dealers.

Foundation Dealers with Bill Ford, Elena Ford, Kay Hart, Jeff Marentic and Andrew Birkic

The Australian Gold Winning dealers for 2024 are Caroline Gallagher (Torque Ford, North Lakes); Daniel Foley (Fraser Coast Ford, Hervey Bay); Mark Janus (City Ford, Sydney); Peter Fattore (Dominelli Ford, Sutherland); Dean Oven (ELN Ford, Wyong); Tim Harkness (Courtney & Patterson Ford, Heidelberg); Nick Dempsey (Sunbury Ford, Sunbury); Travis Holt (Bendigo Ford, Bendigo); Wayne Phillis (Wayne Phillis Ford, Noarlunga); Michael Ainslie (Challenger Ford, Rockingham); Peter Gwinner (Scenic Ford, Beaudesert); and Ben Rogers (Pioneer Ford, Robinvale).

The New Zealand winners are Richard Burns (Avon City Ford); Andrew Collett (Fairview Motors); Paul McKendry (McKendry Ford); Nathan Abernathy (Regional Ford); and Mark Quirk (Wanganui Motors).

“On behalf of everyone at Ford Australia, I’d like to congratulate each of our 2024 President’s Award Gold-winning dealer principals on their outstanding contributions to the Blue Oval,” said Ford Australia and New Zealand president and CEO Andrew Birkic.

Michael Murdock – Murdock Motors, Yorketown, South Australia. Michael Murdock used to be the DP of this Dealership, and attended to represent his daughter Lexie, current DP, who was unable to attend.

“The dealers recognised through these awards offer high levels of customer service, satisfaction, and overall experience, and I thank them for their ongoing contributions.

“Our dealers are the face of Ford in communities across Australia, so as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of our operations in Australia, we also celebrate the important role our dealers have played in our journey.”

Mr Birkic said that the award winners in 2024 were acknowledged for delivering record sales results, servicing vehicles, driving parts sales, and providing great experiences for Ford customers.

He said that the Ford team also acknowledged dealers for the time taken to improve their skills and knowledge by participating in Ford Academy Training programs.

Jason Greenwood – Arnoldt & Greenwood, Kerang, Victoria

As part of the 100-year celebrations, Ford Australia and NZ also honoured representatives from three dealerships that have had continuous Ford representation since July 1, 1925.

Over the past century, these dealerships have not changed hands. They were present when the first Model T rolled off the line of Ford’s first Australian assembly facility in Geelong.

They are Tim Olsen from Davey and Olsen in Dungog, New South Wales; Lexie Murdock from Murdock Motors in Yorketown, South Australia (Lexie was unfortunately unable to be there so her dad, Michael Murdock, who was dealer principal for 20 years represented her); and Jason Greenwood from Arnoldt & Greenwood in Kerang, Victoria.

Ford also recognised 12 Ford dealerships that have had a continuous representation in their community for the past 100 years, although some had changed hands over that period.

These dealers are Emerald Ford (Emerald, Qld); Northern Rivers Ford, Lismore, Qld); Fraser Coast Ford (Maryborough, Qld); Fraser Ford (Proserpine, Qld); Toowoomba Ford (Toowoomba, Qld); Cowra Motors (Cowra, NSW); Goulburn Ford (Goulburn, NSW); Hillis Ford (Wagga Wagga, NSW); Bayford (Epping, Vic); Blacklocks Ford (Wodonga, Vic); Bendigo Ford (Bendigo, Vic); and Sale Ford (Sale, Vic).

Gold Winning Dealers (Australia)

• Caroline Gallagher – Torque Ford, North Lakes
• Daniel Foley – Fraser Coast Ford, Hervey Bay
• Mark Janus – City Ford, Sydney
• Peter Fattore – Dominelli Ford, Sutherland
• Dean Oven – E.L.N. Ford, Wyong
• Tim Harkness – Courtney & Patterson Ford, Heidelberg
• Nick Dempsey – Sunbury Ford, Sunbury
• Travis Holt – Bendigo Ford, Bendigo
• Wayne Phillis – Wayne Phillis Ford, Noarlunga
• Michael Ainslie – Challenger Ford, Rockingham
• Peter Gwinner – Scenic Ford, Beaudesert
• Ben Rogers – Pioneer Ford, Robinvale

Gold Winning Dealers (New Zealand)

• Richard Burns – Avon City Ford
• Andrew Collett – Fairview Motors
• Paul McKendry – McKendry Ford
• Nathan Abernathy – Regional Ford
• Mark Quirk – Wanganui Motors

Foundation Dealers

• Tim Olsen from Davey and Olsen in Dungog, New South Wales
• Lexie Murdock from Murdock Motors in Yorketown, South Australia. Lexie was unfortunately unable to be there so her Dad Michael Murdock, who was dealer principal for 20 years represented her.
• Jason Greenwood from Arnoldt & Greenwood in Kerang, Victoria.

Longstanding Dealers

• Emerald Ford – Emerald – QLD
• Northern Rivers Ford – Lismore – QLD
• Fraser Coast Ford – Maryborough – QLD
• Fraser Ford – Proserpine – QLD
• Toowoomba Ford – Toowoomba – QLD
• Cowra Motors – Cowra – NSW
• Goulburn Ford – Goulburn – NSW
• Hillis Ford – Wagga Wagga – NSW
• Bayford – Epping – VIC
• Blacklocks Ford – Wodonga – VIC
• Bendigo Ford – Bendigo – VIC
• Sale Ford – Sale – VIC