SWUG breaks new records

Taking as its theme ‘Simply the Best’, last weekend’s 2004 Single Width Users Group (SWUG) conference held on the Gold Coast proved to be just that with a record number of delegates and packed sessions over three days.

Highlights of the conference for the 240 delegates included a visit to the new Gold Coast Bulletin print centre and the annual SWUG dinner and awards night. Rural Press at North Richmond, won both the Brissett Rollers shield for Best Overall Print Quality in a newspaper (Michael Gee of Rural, above, is congratulated byTerry Brissett ) as well as the Coates Australia shield for Best Four Colour Newspaper. Harris Print at Burnie in Tasmania took out the Flint Ink shield for Best Coldset Commercial Publication.

Opening the conference, SWUG president, Bob Lockley said that the purpose of the conference was to encourage the flow of information and communication within the industry.

“We are here to learn,” he said. “We must give the best we can and work together as an industry to lift standards.”

This year’s overseas guest speaker sponsored by The Collie Trust was Jo Newell from the Surry and Berkshire Press in the UK while the keynote speaker at the final conference session was motor car racing legend Dick Johnson.