Long term industry veteran Robert Black has retired after 50 years working in the printing industry. The accomplished educator and industry identity is leaving on a high, celebrating the revival of TAFE print training at Holmesglen, Victoria.
Black was the driving force behind Holmesglen’s new printing program that was officially launched on Tuesday with an initial intake of more than 85 apprentices.
“I’m over the moon,” says Black. “It’s been an exciting journey and we’ve accomplished a great deal here over the past 18 months which I'm very proud of.
Black thanked the printing industry for its generous support. “I’ve been overwhelmed by the support we’ve received from the printing industry, from David Cooke and Konica Minolta, who supplied $1 million in equipment, from Karen Goldsmith and the whole Visual Connections board and several VisCon members, as well as from DIC, Ball & Doggett, EFI and the PIAA.”
The industry veteran’s last day on the job on Thursday was a hectic one. “I’m trying to do a lot of things in a short time today but it’s great.
“It was just time for me," he says. "I feel like I’ve done all I needed to do, the set-up here is going very well and it’s time for the next stage. We’re in a good spot but now it needs someone else who will be around for a few more years to take over. Paul Ross, an experienced industry advisor and an ex-printer himself will be taking my role as printing program manager."
Black has a knee operation scheduled which will keep him out of operation for a couple of months but says he will continue to serve on industry advisory groups. "I’m retiring and will have the procedure on my knee in a week or two but I won’t be going away just yet.”
The Konica Minolta Digital Print Centre at the Holmesglen's Chadstone campus includes an Accurio Label C71cf digital label press – the first in Victoria – as well as the latest bizhub in-line booklet maker, two Accurio digital presses and wide-format colour inkjet printers.
Our courses will give you the skills to work in this highly competitive industry, and beome a highly skilled print machinist and operator. From conventional forms to ink-jet technologies, large format printing, digital packaging applications and 3-D printing, the printed form remains highly relevant in a digital world.
Printing Open Day, 6pm-7pm, Thursday 09 August.
Bookings essential.