The 2014 NSW SGIAA golf day went off without a hitch in perfect playing weather, giving printers and their suppliers a day of networking outside the office.
The event, hosted by the Speciality and Graphic Imagery Association of Australia, pitted 52 players in 13 teams of four from across the industry against each other at Kogarah Golf Club.
SGIAA NSW president Grant Cunningham says the annual golf day is one of several social events the association organises to promote cooperation and sharing of ideas among its members, which include screen, wide format and specialty digital printers using new mediums like textiles.
“Screen printing has always been more open to sharing than traditional offset. It’s good to talk about how everyone in the industry is dealing with issues we all face,” he says.
[Related: More wide format news]
The perpetual trophy was hoisted by Steve Ellery, John Holden, Oli Mauri and Ryan Bruce from Steve Ellery Screen Printing, who won by only a quarter of a shot and beat out a Dynamic Colours team that has won six of the past eight years.
Senior printer and Ellery’s brother-in-law Mauri says the four printers worked together to win the day, including his own more than 10m putt.
“Johnny’s consistent drives, Steve’s putts and some good luck got us home,” he says.
“Usually someone makes a mistake and we lose but this time no one had a bad shot the whole day, and the weather was perfect too.”
Christian Macgregor from Smithfield-based digital printer Abbey Manufacturing Group had the longest drive and closest drive to the hole.
SGIAA also announced its new online training program that is ‘suited to both the complete novice and seasoned professional’ and comes with an internationally-recognised certificate; and that it has just engaged NSW Chamber of Commerce to provide discounted industrial relations support for members throughout Australia.
Cunningham says SGIAA tries to help printers adapt to industry changes.
“Large format digital is growing and new technologies like fabric printing are opening up new markets to sell to clients that can save on shipping costs and are less vulnerable to damage during transport,” he says.
“The industry is changing and there are a lot of new opportunities out there for those thinking outside the square.”
Comment below to have your say on this story.
If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@sprinter.com.au.
Sign up to the Sprinter newsletter