Ricky Bannister, who worked with Heidelberg for 18 years, suffered a major spinal injury in April after a horse-riding accident. On Tuesday 20 August the print and graphic media industry rallied around Ricky in a great show of support raising more than $54,000 to assist Ricky and his family at the Heidelberg Benefit lunch.
90 guests attended the Benefit including Ricky’s brother Jordan Bannister, an AFL umpire and former Carlton and Essendon player. The AFL 360 Team from Fox Sports – Mark “Robbo” Robinson, Gerard Whateley and Mark Maclure - joined Jordan. And David “Kingy” King, a former North Melbourne champion and Fox Footy commentator, was the MC.
- Richard Timson (L), Heidelberg managing director and Jordan Bannister.
Richard Timson, Heidelberg Australia and New Zealand managing director, said: “The turnout to support Ricky was fantastic. This industry is great at supporting its own and we were incredibly pleased with the result. I know that Ricky and his family are very thankful for the kindness and generosity shown to them in this time of need”.
Special thanks are extended to the Full Colour Trust in New Zealand for their incredibly generous donation of $5,000. Full Colour Trust provides financial and emotional support for those working in the printing, advertising and related industries who are faced with urgent, short-term need. (To find out more about the Trust visit www.fullcolour.org.nz)
Another auction item has also become available – a unique, one-off artwork created by Neville Smith, a compositor by trade and the owner of one of New Zealand’s largest collections of wooden type. Smith is an award-winning collage artist and he has generously donated an amazing piece of work that features wood type dating back to the mid-19th century. The collage contains 120 pieces in total and features elements used in letterpress printing, brass, lead, and wood with a copper electrode. This one-off collage is valued at $5,000 (please refer to the attached document for more details).
If you would like to propose an offer for the Neville Smith Collage, or make a donation to the Ricky Bannister Benefit please contact Elizabeth Harper at Heidelberg on 03 9263 3341 or email elizabeth.harper@heidelberg.com