SWUG takes a breather after hot Darwin event

Feb 04, 2015 at 03:08 pm by Staff


Australia's SWUG technical conference will take a break in 2015, reverting to its regular March slot next year.

President Bob Lockley says the decision follows last year's later Darwin conference - deferred to May to accommodate the 'Top End' heat and humidity - and "in light of everything going on".

"(A conference this March) would have been too early, and this way we're looking after users and suppliers," he says.

From modest beginnings, the Single Width Users Group has grown to be the country's major newspaper technical event with a full weekend programme including technical sessions, a gala dinner and a high-profile motivational speaker. At a cost: In addition to delegate registration fees - mostly underwritten by publishers including Fairfax Media, APN and News Corp Australia - it relies on sponsorships from industry vendors and a host publisher. Last year's host, News entertained delegates at its Northern Territory News print centre and provided two speakers.

Lockley - who is also print and logistics chief executive for Fairfax - says several sites for a 2016 conference are under consideration including its North Richmond, NSW, plant named the inaugural PANPA print site of year. The site uses a variety of technologies including coldset, UV and conventional heatset printing, plus automated mailroom and robotics to print a variety of work including metro daily the Sydney Morning Herald.

"Above all, we've got to provide good content to make it worthwhile," says Lockley.

Right: United Borneo Press chief executive Sim Yong Lian was a speaker in 2014

On our homepage: Boxer Danny Green (left) gets Bob Lockley motivated at the conference

Sections: Newsmedia industry

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