SWUG apprentices take tour de force

Three dedicated SWUG apprentices visit newspaper printing plants around Australia.

This year’s SWUG Apprentice of the Year, 24-year-old Hesm Noureddine, a supervisor at Rural Press Murray Bridge in South Australia, along with 24-year-old Sarah Weldon, apprentice at the Border Mail, Albury-Wodonga and 27-year-old James Johnstone, electrician for the Canberra Times spent most of last week travelling interstate to see and learn about some of the latest technologies in the market.

With guide, Angus Scott of Ace Rollers, the four-day tour which spanned three different states saw the trio visit The Age printing centre; DS Chemport; News Limited Brisbane; Rural Press Ormiston; the Gold Coast Bulletin; Marrickville Print and Design; Hannan Print; Offset Alpine; Lanier; DIC and Rural Press in North Richmond.

Pictured: (l-r) Angus Scott; James Johnstone; Sarah Weldon; Hesm Noureddine and Lanier's Denise Thompson at the Ricoh showroom in Sydney.

The unanimous verdict from all three visitors was that Offset Alpine’s newly installed Sunday 4000 press was one of the highlights. “It was just awesome,” said Johnstone.

Each of the apprentices is keen to continue a career in the printing industry. Weldon, who occupies an unusual position as a female press operator in a male-dominated industry, sees no reason for other females to shy away from the occupation.

“I can’t see any reason why girls don’t do it [printing],” she said, “so long as they don’t mind getting a bit dirty.”

Scott is highly confident that each of three apprentices will contribute greatly to the industry. “People like this are the future leaders of newspapers and newspaper production,” he said.