GASAA - The First 70 Years

The story of the Graphic Arts Services Association of Australia - 1923 to 1993

Author: Max J Farley
Publisher: The Graphic Arts Services Association of Australia
Copyright 1993 ISBN 0 646 12857 4

Downloadable PDF Version coming

Contents

1. Early Days (1908 - 23)
2. The "First" Federation (1923 - 1938)
3. The "New" Federation (1938)
4. The Issues
5. GASAAs' "Names"
6. GASAA Conventions
7. GASAA Companies
8. GASAA People
9. Bibliography

On arrival at a picnic spot at Royal National Park, Sydney – 1921
Standing: W.T Baker, A.A. Lawson Jnr, A. Lyell, E.R. Morris, F.A. Randle Snr, A.A. Lawson Snr, E.J. Hyde Snr.
Sitting: F.Middows, J.Patterson, G. Woods.
(Several others are unidentified)

Foreword

For many years the GASAA Executive has been keen to have someone prepare a history of the organisation. It has never been done.
This is partly because the "someone" has not been found who was prepared to undertake the work and partly, I suspect, because the word "history" was seen as too intimidating. It implies a scholarly project of major magnitude and largely devoid of human interest. The project, perhaps for that reason alone, failed to capture the enthusiasm of any likely author.
In putting together the following pages I have therefore conscientiously avoided approaching the task as a "history".
The word "story" is, I hope, more appropriate.

Emphasis throughout has not been upon policy issues nor on conflicts with trade unions, governments and fellow employers but upon people. Some brief reference to the activities of the Association are included but this has mainly been done to provide balance.
From its original formation in 1923 as the Master Process Engravers Association of Australia, through its several name changes and the traumas of the Great Depression and World War II, GASAA has always drawn its strength from the hundreds of individuals who have given it their support. These have been Proprietors and Senior Executives not only of "full members" (trade houses) but also of "Associates" (supply houses) because the latter, too, have been major contributors to the story of GASAA.
The organisation has achieved much for its members and also for what we now call the "pre-press" section of the printing industry. Nevertheless, whenever members gather they talk not of the past achievements but of the enjoyment they have had in each others' company over the years.
It is this bond of friendship upon which GASAA has been built. It is why the Association has constantly shown great resilience in riding through the threats to its continued existence which have been posed from time to time by the unions, other associations, economic hardship and, more recently, technological change.
Whilesoever pre-press people continue to share and expand their knowledge and take pride in being at the cutting edge of the graphic arts, GASAA will itself seek to adapt its own structure and activities to help them do so.
It is appropriate to record my own thanks to a number of people.
First and foremost I record my gratitude to the Executive of GASAA for the strong support it has given me with regard to the production of this "story". Certainly it was the Executive's own initiative which caused its preparation in the first place but the Executive's willingness to accept without question my own proposals concerning its content has been most pleasing.

Appreciation is also extended to many individuals. These include Fred Randle, Bill Ryan, Jim Parker, Tom Roache and many unnamed others (such as Wal Theaker and Bill Devers whom I do name) for help in supplying and checking facts. Record, too, is made of the work done by Ken Gillies and his colleagues in the Victorian Association for supervising the production and printing of the volume.

Finally I'd like to place on record my thanks to the GASAA Secretary/Treasurer (Garry Knespal of Association Management Pty Ltd) who as my present "employer" and current Secretary/Treasurer of GASAA has been unreservedly generous of his own and his company's time in allowing me to work on the project and in providing essential staff support.

MAX J FARLEY

Healesville, Victoria 1923
The First National Executive
Back Row:
Jno. Patterson (Vic) Vice President
G W Illingworth (SA) Vice President
S A Best (QLD) Vice President
Front Row:
E J Hyde (NSW) Hon. Secretary-Treasurer
FA Randle (NSW) (President)

Delegates attending the Third Conference of the M.P.E.A.,
Warburton, Victoria, 1929.

Back Row:
A. Hughes, J.C. Smith, L.E. Courtin, C.B. Shugg, H.R. Wheeler, J. Enticott, E.J. Martin, T. Smith.
Second Row:
T.G. Coventry, T.W. Brown, C.P. Theaker, E. Howard, H.S. Elderfield, G. Hughes, W.T. Baker.
Front Row:
C.P. Shugg, C.H. Taylor, E.E. James, E.S. Bolle.