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Bruce Cattenach of Fairfield did talk shop with Howard Bressington (also of Fairfield) and Howard sometimes passed the time of day with Carl Dawson of Carramar, who occasionally exchanged visits with Ron Bidwell of Fairfield. Howard Bressington also fraternised with Tome Hughes of Blacktown.
Eventually, Bruce Cattenach's suggestions that some sort of price stabilisation should be practiced, resulted in a meeting at Bruce's home.
This meeting was attended by Bruce Cattenach, Bruce Ruston, Carl Dawson, John Clifton, Howard Bressington, and Tome Hughes.
They all attended a second meeting at Bruce's home a couple of weeks later with Ron Bidwell an interested participant. Barry Russell, John Craig and Ken Miller are others whose names come to mind in remembering ensuing meetings.
6th March 1967... This ever growing group attended a meeting at Howard Blessington's place with the inclusion of Ray Boyd of Merrylands and Peter Elmore, an employee of Westside Signs (Howard's firm)
Bruce Cattenach was elected Chairman for the night. After some debate, the title 'Signpact Signwriters' Association' was adopted, which later was abbreviated to 'Signwriters Association' by Mr A.H Kington (the solicitor who drew up the articles of association).
Bruce Ruston moved, that the night be declared the Associations 'Inaugural Meeting', Tom Hughes seconded the motion which was carried unanimously!
The First working committee President,Vice President,Secretary,Treasurer, 3 Committee members.
then elected and comprised the following...Bruce Cattenach, Tom Hughes, Howard Blessington, Bruce Ruston, Carl Dawson, Ray Boyd (Ray dropped out in July 1967), John Clifton
Invitations were mailed to all writers in the Sydney Metropolitan area as listed in the 'Pink Pages' inviting them to our first official meeting which was held in the Parramata East Progress Association Hall, North Parramata.
More than 40 writers attended, some accompanied by their wives.
Two representatives of the Master Printers Association offered the opinion that we would never get our Association of the ground- 'It has been tried before by Dave Claney and others'- and that we would be better served by being members of the M.P.A.
After the meeting, Lorna Dawson, Shirley Bressington and Dolly Bidwell provided supper.
The First Price List recommended and hourly rate charge out of $3.00, this price list prompted by Max Picard visiting Australia from New Zealand, who forwarded us the NZSDA Newsletters and price list, the format of which was adopted by NSW.
In October 1967 a Signwriter from Melbourne breezed into Carl Dawson's workshop and was invited to attend our General Meeting on 5th Oct. His name- Russell Martin. Russel accepted the invitation and informed us that the Victorian Signcraftsmen's Association had been formed in 1963 and that the members might entertain some liaison with our members.
Our First Social Event was held on a Wednesday December 6th 1967 at the Westella Ballrooms, Auburn. Cost was $4.00 per head and 160 participated! |
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The name was changed to 'Signcraftsmen's Association' as an acceptance of the Victorian Association's description of the varied application in our industry.
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| The first convention was held at Strathaven Country Club, Wyong on the Queen's Birthday Weekend. The title was 'Sign Seminar Seventy Two' and representatives of the Victorian Association attended. |
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First national magazine was produced to publicise the existence of The Signcraftsmen's Association and to promote 'Sign Seminar Seventy Three'. The second convention was attended by Canberra and District Signwriters' Association representatives Joe Deren and Ian Hodges. This Association evolved during the previous year.
Also participating in this seminar, were 'writers from the Newcastle area - Keith Greenwood, George Bear and others who informed us 'The Master Signwriters Association' had been formed in Newcastle in 1964 growing to a membership of more than a dozen in 1965, when the 'First Annual Dinner' was held. Through lack of support, the Newcastle venture petered out in 1967 or 68 virtually overlapping the emergence of the Sydney commencement. |
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| John Cox, of Kiwi Signs Western Australia, was the prime mover in instigating the formation of the Signcraftsmen's Association of W.A which was inaugurated in September of that year and was affiliated with the Confederation of Industry in the State. |
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| The first national meeting was held at 'Sign Seminar Seventy Six' on the 11th September. This was, of course, not the official First National Meeting- as the Queensland Association had not yet been formed, however the Queensland contingent, the N.S.W and Victorian Committees were in attendance. Later, on the 8th of November in Brisbane, the Inaugural Meeting of the Queensland Branch was held. With three members of the N.S.W Committee in attendance, Brian Oxley (NSW President) chaired the election of officers. The South Australian Signwriter members of the M.P.A altered their section to the 'Signcraftsmen's Association of South Australia' remaining however affiliated with the Master Painters Association. |
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November: Don Prairie from Tasmania attended a National Meeting in Melbourne with a view to forming a Tasmanian Association. It was eventually decided, however, that affiliation with Victoria was the most feasible course because of lack of sufficient numbers to set up a committee.
The Sign Association of Australia is now operative in the entire eastern seaboard of Australia, with the West Australian Association operative in W.A. South Australia is the only state where the Signcraftsmen operate under the M.P.A |
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Members who have shown by example a professional and committed approach to the Sign Industry in their State over a long period of time. Members who have given of themselves to support their Association have earned the right to life membership in the State Branch to which they belong..
We hope over time that this area will grow with details about the life members and their accomplishments, we look forward to gathering information toward this end.
Please let us know if you have any details relevant to these pages, it has been hard going finding information for some of these people especially their photos. We won't give up, so please keep checking back in.
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| Western Australian Life Members |
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Frank Cruthers
Frank Cruthers’ Sign Writing History
Frank’s first opportunity to work in a sign shop came at age 13 ½ at Modern Sign Co, Perth. His mother had found an advertisement asking for a “message boy with own bike.” His immediate supervisor was Mr Harry Young, a brilliant sign writer in his own right – a creative letterer. Frank thought this man was years ahead of the rest of the sign writers. Mr Theo Muller, a partner at Moderns, had much to offer his budding apprentice (Frank). Frank described him as being very artistic with displays and screen-printing. On 6th March 1939, Frank commenced his sign writing apprenticeship. His apprenticeship was disrupted when he enlisted for war but on returning, his sign writing study was completed and passed on 1st July 1949.
Frank loved his sign writing and became very involved in getting a new association off the ground, The Signcraftsmens Association. They had their first meeting at a hotel in Inglewood, with many sign writers attending. Masters Painters, Decorators and Sign Writers Assoc, was the only other assoc around at the time. Frank thought that sign writing was a completely different trade to painting and needed better representation. There needed to be some control of teaching apprentices.
Frank was appointed an apprentice examiner in 1980. As he loved his work, he wanted to assist those who needed more support in their chosen career of sign writing. He spent many hours making calls on students with a union representative, to assess their progress. Frank would examine apprentices in their fourth year. He noted that back in those days, apprenticeships were done over a five-year term. Frank also said that there were many apprentices who were given their papers even though their employers weren’t properly trained. These were the ones who specialized in spray painting or screen-printing.
Frank remembers one such apprentice who he examined. He thought the kid would have no chance in the world as he had no one to properly train him. He turned out to be the best apprentice that Frank had ever examined, absolutely brilliant. During the examination Frank asked him how he had possibly learnt all that he had, only to discover that he had taught himself. He had studied good sign writing on his own, he knew the difference, he had an inbuilt talent, he knew what was good, he copied and practiced good work in his own time.
Frank ran an evening class for early 4th year apprentices at Cruthers Sign Service – his own business, to assist in their training. Frank was helped by volunteer tradesmen during this time. He found this to be very rewarding. He was also thanked by one of his students in the year 2001, who now runs his own business in Mosman, - being told that the work done in this area was very helpful. He also received a certificate of appreciation from the Minister of Education for helping students with work experience from local high schools.
After retiring Frank continued in small projects and voluntary work the RAAF Association – Aviation Museum. He also became efficient in the art of calligraphy and enjoyed gold leaf work for school honour boards. He noted that gold leaf work was a dying trade. Frank stated that gold leaf is a skill that needed to be taught to apprentices as there are not too many sign writers left who have this skill. Technology is taking over much of the hand work but the signs done with hand skills will remain long after some of us are gone. |
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| Frank Cruthers hard at work |
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Keith Gaisford OAM. CitWA. JP.
Born in 1932, educated in Guildford and Midland, Western Australia.
Leaving school at 14 year at the end of World War II, jobs were not easy to come by. After 2 years as a delivery boy, office boy, drafting assistant and cycle repair man Keith took an apprenticeship with the WAGR (Government railways).
1948 Apprentice for 5 years as a Coach Painter & Signwriter.
4 years, Night School at Ticket Writing, Commercial Art and Life drawing.
1953 left Railways and started “Wellrit Signs” with another WAGR apprentice.
1954 Married and worked for Parnell Signs in Fremantle.
1960 Travelled Australia, working in Melbourne and Sydney.
1968 Artist Designer for Renner Neon Signs in Myaree WA.
1970 Teaching Painting, Signwriting & screen printing Port Moresby, PNG.
1974 Works Manager Renner Neon Signs.
1976 Established Rockingham Signwriters, Rockingham WA.
1998 Retired and sold partnership to son Grant.
1999 Part time Secretary for WA Signcraftsmen Assoc. (now ASGA WA)
2004 Set up Studio and Gallery for fine art.
Keith was involved in several sporting pursuits, Professional Cycling, Swimming and Archery. Archery took Keith all over the world and to four Olympic Games 1980, 1984, 1988 & 1992 as Manager and Coach.
In 1981 Keith was awarded an Order of Australia, OAM for sport & community.
In 1991 Keith was awarded a Citizen of WA, CitWA also for sport & community.
Also in 1991 received an Order of Merit from WA Sports Federation.
Life Member of the Archery Society of WA, Archery Australia and the WA Olympic Council of which he was Vice President for 12 years.
To cap all that, Life Member of the ASGA for being a Signman - the job that gave Keith the opportunity to pursue his Olympic ventures. |
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