Well known Sydney print identity Joe Farr is set to retire next month after 43 years in the print business, beginning as a letterpress apprentice
As time rushes by at an ever increasing pace 1966 seems an age ago; a pre-digital, pre-colour, pre-internet era when life rolled along at a more manageable level.That was the year that Joe Farr, now production manager at trade house Rotoflex Coatings, first entered the print industry, as a new letterpress compositor apprentice for MS Simpson & Sons in Kingsford. Joe says, “In those days we had a hand fed machine with a little donkey engine on the back to see when power blackouts occurred, which were all too common in those days.”
Farr then followed the well worn path of working for several printing companies as the years went by, including Berk Printing in Alexandria, and William H Sellen in Zetland, where he changed career path to get out of the production environment and went on the road as a sales rep, a role he also enjoyed at Scott Brothers in Mortdale. Looking for another change Joe then moved to trade house Varnishing and Laminating as production manager, working with Bob Minto, who remains his boss today. When Minto left to form his own company, Rotoflex Coatings 14 years ago Farr went with him, and has remained there to this day, although June 4 will see the curtain come down on almost half a century in print.
Farr says, “I’ve seen the print industry turned on its head in the last 43 years, especially with the rise of digital production, but I’ve got to say that the principles of business main the same; if you can provide two out of the three of price, service and personality then your business will do well.”
To aspiring young people joining the industry Joe says, “Aim to learn as much as you can from as many people as you can and about as much technology as you can. As I moved to different companies I always took the opportunity to familiarise myself with the different machines that were there, which stood me in good stead as I moved into production management.”
Farr also cites his working relationship with company owner Bob Minto as key to his successful time in the industry, he says, “Bob has always given me an open hand, and that has worked every well.”
There will be a sausage sizzle at Rotoflex Coatings in Silverwater on June 2, 3 and 4, where all Joe’s many friends and colleagues are invited to pop in and farewell one of the industry’s long timers.
