Jubilee booklet design chosen

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 15, 9 September 1986, Page 3

Jubilee booklet design chosen

A design submitted by a graphic artist from Marton has been selected for the cover of the Ohakune Borough Council's 75th Jubileee booklet which is to be published next month. Catherine Steel's design was one of 108 competition entries received, including 106 from the junior classes at Ohakune Primary School! Only two adult competitors - one of whom is a resident of Ohakune - submitted entries. The competition was held. not only to find a suitable design for the cover of the booklet. but also to encourage some communiy involvement in this forthcoming Ohakune Jubilee project.

While there was an enthusiastic response containing many great ideas and drawings from the junior classes at Ohakune Primary School which indicated the children had thought carefully about Ohakune and its history, none of these entries was finally chosen because of the reproduction difficulties that would have been encountered. The other adult competitor submitted several alternative designs featuring symbolic shapes. These were carefully considered but it was felt that the geometric patterns were too modern and contemporary in appearance to convey what the booklet was all about: a photographic and nostalgic review of Ohakune's history over the past 75 years.

Catherine Steel's design seemed to "fit the bill" exactly. It featured a montage of early photographs combined with a style of decorative shadow lettering appropriate to the historical theme of the Jubilee. Mrs Steel — - who learnt of the competition through the Waimarino Bulletin which her employees (Marton Printery) receive regularly used thfe Ohakune Borough Council colours of green and brown in her design. In her written submission in support of her design she anticipated that the second colour, brown. would produce the sepiatone photographs so characteristic of the period. Mrs Steel, 22, formerly of Palmerston North. has had no formal training as a graphic designer but she has worked in the printing industry in both Palmerston North and Marton as manager and graphic artist. since she left school. This is the first design competition for which she has entered. and although her . submission has been accepted. the "prize" apart from the satisfaction of seeing her work in print — is yet to be determined. The 40-page Jubilee booklet , for which she has designed the cover, is due to

be published in early November with a special "launching" at the Ohakune Hotel. The booklet will contain many early photographs of Ohakune's past and it is anticipated that the 2000 copies will be in great demand as an historical reference for both old-timers and new-comers to the area. Supported by local advertisers the booklet will probablv sell for about $2. The Borough's 75th birthday occurs in early December but. because of pre-Christmas functions. it will be celebrated with a week-long series of events in February next vear. This is likelv to be the last such jubilee enjoyed by the Ohakune Borough in its own right. With prospects of amalgamation looming future anniversaries will probably be celebrated with Waimarino County and Raetihi Borough under the title: Waimarino District Council.