One of the major figures of Australian print, Noel Crichton, passed away peacefully at the weekend. Crichton, 87, was awarded an Order of Australia (AM) in 1994 for his services to the graphics arts industry, and was a past president of Patifa, the employers’ organisation that preceded the PIAA. In the late 1960s he was instrumental in bringing together half a dozen disparate associations to form the PIAA, which happened in 1971. He was also the industry leader in reforming training, bringing the apprenticeship system into the modern era. He was a major figure and president of the National Print Industry Training Council (NPITC).
Crichton was managing director of one of the biggest printers in the country, Simmonds, located opposite Sydney University, in fact it was the first publicly owned print company. Following two years in the RAAF he began as a management trainee at Simmonds in 1946 aged 20, became production manager in ’52, general manager in ’56 and managing director in 1960. He left in 1976 and established his own consultancy. He was still involved in the print industry up to a couple of years ago, working as a consultant and professional witness. Contemporary Neil Mulvaney, who was founder of Champion Communications before it was bought by Hannans in the late 1980s says, “Neil was simply a fantastic bloke. He dedicated his life to the industry, and brought in many reforms that enabled it to grow. We were all the better for his input and now the poorer for his passing.” Former Heidelberg man Greg Grace, another leading light in industry training says, “It is very sad news. Noel was such an important person in our industry in many ways but from my point of view his greatest contribution was to the advancement in training and education within the graphic arts industry.” Brian Haines at PIAA says, “Noel was a great mentor and source of information to me all during my industry career, I will certainly miss him.” The funeral is this Friday February 28 at 3pm, at the Ann Wilson Chapel on the corner of Barrenjoey Road and Darley Street in Mona Vale.
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