On Thursday night, dozens of industry figures met at the Hilton to celebrate the anniversary.

The evening was a multigenerational affair, with the likes of elder statesmen of the LIA, twins Bill and Harry Prius, mingling with 2011 LIA Graduates of the Year.

LIA national president Bernie Hockings said: "Fifty years of the LIA is a big milestone and we have only reached this milestone thanks to the efforts of everyone in the LIA."

Ron Jackson, the association's federal secretary, told guests it was "a night of reflection".

"There aren't that many companies or associations that last 50 years so we must be doing something right," said Jackson.

Guests included the likes of Rob Chesney from Aegis Security Printing, who joined the LIA in 1978 and met his wife through the association.

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