It's hard not to find anyone who has not got a connection to the famous Holden brand.
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The first car many Shoalhaven residents had or their families owned was a Holden and now they lament the demise of this former champion of the Australian motoring industry.
Many Holden owners and fans are still coming to terms with the recent announcement made by the manufacturer's US parent company General Motors (GM).
The news the GM would close down the brand in both Australia and New Zealand and close operations by the end of the year left many people shaking their heads.
"Sad day", "so heartbreaking" and "an absolute disgrace" were just some of the responses on social media.
Greg Stubbs is one of many local people saddened by Holden's demise.
Mr Stubbs, who runs Greg Stubbs Automotive in Nowra, has owned and worked on more than his fair share of Holdens over the years.
He feels the brand was allowed to die.
"I guess where I get very disappointed is the fact Holden itself has been slowly dwindling away over the last five to 10 years," he said.
"It's such an iconic name in Australia and yeah it seems a shame mate."
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Mr Stubbs said you can't help but feel the loss.
"There is a whole sadness in it (the announcement) and it's an end of an era and it would be like Chevrolet closing down in America," he said.
"It was an iconic part of what we did in Australia (drive Holdens) and it was part of the Australian way."
He has owned the odd Holden, or 30.
"I probably owned around about 20 to 25 or maybe 30 Holdens - if I sat down and counted them up," he said.
Mr Stubbs still has his favourite Holden.
"That is my HT Monaro - a 1970 Monaro," he said.
"I learnt on the HT Holden back many-many years ago and that is why there is that passion for the car."
Growing up in Australia you were either a Ford or a Holden supporter but not any more.
"Who rivals the Fords now? Fords are iconic and Holdens are iconic and now there is nothing," he said.
"Toyota versus Ford just does seem to have the same sting - does it?
"A lot of the stuff (like plants) with the Fords and Holdens were built during the war which helped with the war effort."
He said it was a sad day all round and he will miss the brand and the name.
Mr Stubbs believes GM America, by getting rid of Holden, missed a great and viable business opportunity.