Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
THE churning of both the modern and traditional offset presses have continued at Bart N Print throughout the coronavirus pandemic, but three products close to the heart of the business are missing - the YABBA, El-Vee and BFNL Record.
The printing of the three programs for the Heathcote District, Loddon Valley and Bendigo leagues have been a core part of Bart N Print since the 1980s, but with all three leagues currently missing in action, so too is a large chunk of business for the company that was founded by Steve Bright in 1977.
But it's not just the printing of the programs, it's the associated work generated from leagues and clubs that Bright estimates has cost the company about $100,000 in business while there is no 2020 season being played.
"Collectively, we might do $100,000 worth of business for football clubs and leagues from the programs through to the printing of membership cards, raffle tickets, ball tickets, holiday program brochures, umpire cards and at the moment that business just isn't there, so it's certainly a big hole in our turnover," Bright said this week.
"To be honest, I've written this year off. I don't believe there will be anything there as far as leagues playing.
"We've printed a lot of membership cards for clubs this year that they can't use, so we'll reach out to them as a goodwill gesture and do them next year for no charge given they have already paid for something they can't use if there's no seasons."
Bart N Print began producing the BFNL Record in 1982, the El-Vee in 1983 and YABBA in 1985.
Roughly, that equates to about 850 editions of the BFNL Record, 810 of the El-Vee and 760 of the YABBA to accompany footy and netball supporters at games all across the region, with the three programs all evolving over the years along with technology advances.
"The programs have been a big part of my life and the business has built on that," Bright said.
The programs have been a big part of my life and the business has built on that
- Steve Bright
"What it takes us now to produce three programs would take us double that back years ago just to produce one with all the changes in technology."
These days the three programs - which up until she passed away in 2003 were always proofread by Bright's mum Ruth - are the domain of pre-press manager Shane Blackman, whose work on the production usually starts on a Sunay in readiness for the Wednesday print run.
"There's probably between 50 and 60 hours a week collectively spent on them... collating the information, printing, they have to be guillotined, stitched and packed for the various freighters, so you're probably looking at 10 different sets of hands producing them from Shane setting them up to being delivered," Bright said.
"Shane is a wizard with them and we just leave him to his own devices."
All throughout the printing of the books, one of the key components have been the club notes that too have evolved with technology from faxed and hand written that posed some challenges to decipher to now being submitted via e-mail.
"I remember there was one club scribe who would write in all capitals with no punctuation, so not only did you have to typeset, you had to correct it as you were going along," Bright said.
"And Forbesy (former Loddon Valley publicity officer who started the El-Vee in 1977) probably had the worst hand writing you could get.
"But with John, he writes the way he talks, so if you couldn't figure out what the words were you'd hear him in the back of your head and you'd get through it that way.
"One of the things we had from early days was if there was any criticism we'd take if out because the programs are there to provide information, not for people to grandstand and use it as an avenue to vent their frustrations."
Meanwhile, Bright fondly remembers his weekly dealings with long-time Heathcote District league secretary David Roulston, who passed away earlier this year.
"David was an amazing man. He'd come in his shirt and tie on a Friday afternoon to pick up the programs after he'd been on the tractor all day," Bright said.
"He'd deliver to Heathcote, Toolleen, Colbinabbin, wherever the games were played the next day, so I always had a lot of time for David.
"Between David and Fobesy they are probably two of my favourite administrators."
While there are no programs being printed for the meantime, Bright anticipates it being a pre-cursor to the coming years and a focus likely to shift from hard copy to digital versions.
"The quantities have reduced because the younger ones I don't think really want it and probably the printed version only has a couple of years left, if that," Bright said.
"It will be a sad day, but we might get to a situation where we only produce 50 or so for each game, but it will be available digitally in an online version. I think that's something we'll need to look at."
If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Bendigo Advertiser, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thankyou very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Bendigo's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.