Yo ho ho! JPE 70th birthday bash broadside

It was back to the future for over one hundred movers and shakers, representing all aspects and ages of the printing industry, as they celebrated the NSW JPE Association’s 70th Birthday Anniversary. In the beautifully restored 19th century ambience of The Tea Room, in Sydney’s iconic Queen Victoria Building, members, nominators, past presidents and their partners, re-lived past glories, re-told old stories and reminded each other of how past battles were fought and won.

Nostalgic memories were tickled as attendees inspected an impressive array of photographs, documents and other JPE memorabilia, meticulously compiled for the occasion by the current president, Franca Balsamo, and her committee.

Guests were delighted and amused by the piratical theme of the evening’s festivities with elaborate table decorations of ships’ wheels and treasure-chests over-flowing with trinkets, gold coins, and jools.

“Where are my buccaneers?” someone was heard to ask, but no answer was forthcoming.

Cutlasses and pistols were put to one side as a spirit of goodwill and camaraderie permeated the whole evening while the young mixed with the not so young. Special reference was made to some of the post-war pioneers of the JPE movement, including Laurie Malouf, Ken Law and Bill Cooney. Mention should also be made of Noel Chrichton and David Konnecke, who kindly lent some of the JPE material on display.

The point was made that the NSW JPE movement continues to be strong, notwithstanding its mixed success in other states. Testament to this, was the attendance of so many former JPE Presidents – still displaying their youth, vitality and good looks.

In her speech, president Franca paid tribute to her predecessor, past-president Kelly Bourke. Printing Industries was well represented on the night, a demonstration of its on-going support. Other sponsors included CPI Group for the supply of paper; Impress Printers for the printing of stationery, Labelcraft for the printing of labels and SOS Print & Media Group for printing of banners. Additionally there were many prize donators: Canon Australia, Faber-Castell, Adobe Systems, Bit Brasserie, and Jet Boat Sydney.

JPE (originally called the Young Master Printers) was established in Sydney in 1936 to foster career development for young members of our industry. On a personal note my grandfather, W.J.Cryer II and my father, W.J.Cryer III, both attended the inaugural meeting, as I noticed in one of the many old photographs on display.