High-end Melbourne UV printer, Ego Print, has printed commemorative stamps for the centenary of the Gallipoli landing, which Australians and New Zealanders will commemorate on Saturday.
Ego Print won the Australia Post contract to produce five Gallipoli centenary stamps that pay tribute to Albert Jacka VC, alongside four key phases of the Gallipoli campaign: the landing, the Turkish counter attack, the British offensive, and the withdrawal. Speaking with Australian Printer, Tim Smith, Ego Print manager of security products, says it is an ‘honour’ to print the stamps, especially since it is the centenary. Smith says, “Australia Post does a lot of commemorative stamps and given that it is the centenary of the Gallipoli landing, for us to get the chance to be part of that makes us proud to be a high-end printer, that can produce such special prints.” Michael Zsolt, Australia Post philatelic manager, says the stamp issue was the second in a five-year series, relaying the chronological order of the nation’s involvement in the First World War. Zsolt says, “The Gallipoli campaign is such an iconic battle in our nation’s history. Remembering the inspirational service of men and women who served and revisiting their heroic stories is part of annual commemorations on Anzac Day.
“It is a real honour to present this stamp issue as we join with the rest of Australia to commemorate the Anzac centenary.” Mt Waverley-based printer, Ego Print, which specialises in UV magazine printing, packaging and is an accredited security stamp printer, says the business has been on a steady rise since it started to print stamps. “I have been in security stamp printing for 15 years, and when I joined Ego Print four years ago, I wanted to spread our offering, and our UV printing and finishing capability allowed us to open the business to stamp printing,” Smith says. “The business overall has seen up to 20 per cent growth in revenue as a result of packaging and security printing.”
According to Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the Gallipoli landing was to prevent the Turkish defences from guarding the Dardanelles, to re-establish communication with Russia, and release wheat and shipping locked in the Black Sea by Turkey. On the first day of the landing, as the Turkish reinforcements arrived to defend their country, the Anzac position became increasingly precarious leading to more than 2000 of 16,000 Australians being killed or wounded. Smith says, “For us to be a part of the commemoration is something that we are proud of. Even if it is in a small way, we have made a contribution to the sacrifice that our forefathers have made for us to enjoy the freedoms that we have today.” The full coverage of the Anzac Day Dawn service will be broadcast on ABC TV on Saturday April 25, which marks the centenary of the Gallipoli landing.
Comment below to have your say on this story.
If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@sprinter.com.au.
Sign up to the Sprinter newsletter